The Difference Between Feeling the Spirit of a Loved One and Other Energies

5. How to Respond

If you believe you are sensing a loved one’s spirit, the best response is gratitude. A simple acknowledgment—whether through prayer, a few heartfelt words, or the lighting of a candle—can strengthen the bond. These small acts invite peace and remind you that love transcends even the boundaries of death.

If, however, you suspect that the energy is something else, it is important to set boundaries. Many people find comfort in surrounding themselves with positive affirmations, reciting familiar prayers, or asking for spiritual protection through their faith. Others use simple rituals that bring peace, such as keeping their home filled with light, music, or symbols of hope.

What matters most is creating an environment where you feel safe and grounded.

6. Trusting Your Intuition

At the heart of it all lies intuition. Deep down, most of us can tell whether a presence is loving or unsettling. That inner knowing is powerful.

When the feeling is warm, familiar, and filled with love, trust that it is your loved one reaching across the veil to remind you of their care. When the feeling is confusing, heavy, or fearful, trust that too—and take steps to protect your peace.

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My 9-year-old daughter baked 300 Easter cookies for the homeless — the next morning, a stranger showed up at our door with a briefcase full of cash. My daughter, Ashley, has always had a heart too big for her chest. Since my wife died, we’ve barely been making ends meet. We spent everything we had trying to save her from cancer. But when Easter came this year, Ashley told me she’d been saving up her own money to buy ingredients. “For the homeless,” she said. Her mom used to be one of them. She was thrown out by her parents when they found out she was pregnant with Ashley. When I met her, she had nothing — but she had the brightest smile and the sharpest mind I had ever seen. I fell in love with her. I took her and Ashley in. And from that moment on, Ashley became my daughter in every way that matters. So when Ashley said she wanted to help people like her mom once was… I didn’t stop her. For three nights straight, after school and homework, she baked. Her little hands worked nonstop. She found her mom’s old cookie recipe. She rolled every piece of dough herself. She decorated every cookie. She made three hundred cookies. On Easter, she handed them out one by one. She looked people in the eyes. She wished them a Happy Easter. Some of them smiled. Some of them cried. I stood there thinking it was the proudest moment of my life. I thought that was the end of it. The next morning, I was washing a mountain of dishes when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. An older man stood there in a worn-out suit, holding a scratched aluminum briefcase. His eyes were locked on Ashley. Before I could ask anything, he set the case down and opened it. I froze. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills — more money than I had ever seen in my life. “I saw what your daughter did yesterday,” he said, his voice shaking. “I want to give all of this to her.” My heart skipped. Then he added: “But you have to agree to ONE CONDITION.” My chest tightened. “What condition?” I asked. He stepped closer. He lowered his voice. And what he asked for in return made my blood run cold.