Over the past few weeks, I have dreamed almost nightly of going to every place my mother ever lived, looking for her, only to remember she doesn’t live there anymore.

I know it is my subconscious expressing my sense of losing home when I lost Mom. It wasn’t where she lived; it was that she lived. She was my touchstone.

In all this processing, though, it has led me back to my heart, where every other spiritual journey has led (grief is most definitely a spiritual journey.) Yup, I looked inside, and Mom is right there, living on, bringing me encouragement and reminding me of her stellar example. She’s in my mind when I am questioning myself, and God knows, she’s in my mirror! I see her face, expressions, and discerning eyes looking back at me every day.

This is when my spiritual journey brings me comfort.

Years ago, I could not have been this calm about losing a parent. I wasn’t when my father passed almost 29 years ago. It took forever for me to realize he wasn’t nearly as gone as I had feared. He, too, remains close in my heart and encourages me from beyond (but thank goodness he’s not in my mirror.) As a medium, I, of course, visit with them. Still, the memories and foundation my parents provided stand out for me daily. Their presence, though not physical, is a constant source of encouragement. This journey has taught me that our loved ones never truly leave us, and that realization has brought me a sense of calm and peace that I never thought possible.

My quest has brought me to redefine what it means to be home and at home in my very soul.

Where do you find home? Where do those who you have loved live within you? How can you strengthen that bond? For me, it is constantly conversing with them, remaining silent so I can hear their responses. And they always answer.

Mary