Video Blog: Helping Children Through Grief
In today’s video blog, Psychic Medium Mollie Morning Star interviews Madison, a young girl whose father passed from cancer two years ago. The video is intended to help children, but can also be an important tool for adults to understand the grief process from a child's perspective. Madison gives her honest answers on several important questions grieving children face such as:
- What’s kept you going on bad days?
- How do feel now compared to two years ago?
- What was most helpful in the beginning right after your Dad’s passing?
- What signs have you seen from your Dad?
Madison’s answers are fresh and inspiring for everyone who has lost someone dear to them and needs help rebuilding a joy-filled life.
In today’s video blog, I am interviewing Madison, a young girl whose father passed from cancer two years ago. The video is intended to help children, but can also be an important tool for adults to understand the grief process from a child's perspective. Madison gives her honest answers on several important questions grieving children face such as:
- What’s kept you going on bad days?
- How do feel now compared to two years ago?
- What was most helpful right after your Dad’s passing?
- What signs have you seen from your Dad?
Madison’s answers are fresh and inspiring for everyone who has lost someone dear to them and needs help rebuilding a joy-filled life.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015. Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Is My Child Growing Up in the Afterlife?
All bereaved parents have bittersweet moments when they look around at their other children, or their nieces and nephews, and see them getting taller. Or they watch their children's classmates graduate and get married and wonder, "What would my child look like now? Would he still laugh the same way? What would she be doing with her life?" The very thought of this can cause profound sadness.
All bereaved parents have bittersweet moments when they look around at their other children, or their nieces and nephews, and see them getting taller. Or they watch their children's classmates graduate and get married and wonder, "What would my child look like now? Would he still laugh the same way? What would she be doing with her life?" The very thought of this can cause profound sadness.
Countless bereaved parents have asked if their children are growing up in the afterlife. When they too pass and are reunited in spirit, will their children have aged?
When you have a reading with a medium, the medium will describe your loved one in a way that you recognize. That does not mean a specific age. It means only that: in a way that you will recognize them.
I have had it go both ways. A seven-year-old child who passed 15 years ago will "come through" at age seven and reassure his parents that when they pass, their relationship will pick up right where they left off. And not as often, I will have souls communicate from an adult perspective, when they actually passed during their youth. The difference rests in the parents' minds: what they expect their child is like now. If you think of your child as having grown up, then that is the perspective she'll communicate from.
This is basic logic, if you take a moment think about it.
When the body dies, the Soul is returned to Spirit. We measure the growth of a physical body by height or years, but a Soul is eternal. The Soul is not "growing up" in a physical shell that literally no longer exists. Nonetheless, the soul of a child who has died continues to grow and mature. We are also going through that process, right now as we live and breathe.
At all points in time, the Soul is maturing, growing, learning expanding-with or without a physical body.
What I have learned over the years is that at the point of reunion, when a parent passes over and is reunited with a dead child, absolutely all feelings of "missing out" are gone. All parts of you are made to feel "whole" once again. I feel confident stating this after conducting countless sessions where my sitter (the person having the session) has lost both a sibling and a parent. The parents always communicate the same emotion, "It was such a relief to be with him/her again."
I remember one particular case where I did a session for a woman who had lost everyone dear to her-husband, parents, spouse and her brother. The very first communication in that sitting was from her mother who "came though" with her arms around her son, who had died long before her. She communicated that they were reunited and the relationship was "whole again." They had left their troubled past behind them.
This particular reading provided deep comfort for my sitter, because the mother had disowned the son and ended her relationship with him here on Earth. And then he died. The mother had to live for years with an unhealed relationship and then the loss of her son.
Bereaved parents need a lot of comfort to get though milestones like missed birthdays or graduations. No matter what the situation or age of a child's passing, when you are reunited the feelings of missing out and loss are healed.
We can't know everything about the afterlife in a completely conclusive way from our Earthly perspective. When the wave of sadness rolls onto your shore, reminding you of what you are missing out on in Earthly years, gently tell yourself that this time apart is a period of growth and maturation for you and your child.
I often say about my brother, who passed at the age of 30, that "His Soul grew too big for his body, so he left it."
Take comfort where you can find it. We are always growing more glorious. And while we may not know every detail about the afterlife, I am absolutely sure that the vast chasms in our hearts created by our loved ones' departures are filled completely when we too, grow too big for our bodies and complete our work here.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015. Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
To Persevere Through Pain
Few things are more trying than persevering through loss. Every time you make a choice to keep going after a set-back, you are one step closer to realizing your dream--perhaps that's peace, healing or to experience joy again. I was incredibly inspired by Jason Day's life story after his tremendous win at the PGA tournament this week in my hometown.
Yesterday I cried because of golf. Seriously! Not that I take golf all that seriously, but my hometown hosted the PGA tournament and the win was an amazing thing to witness.
The champion, Jason Day, a 27-year-old Australian, brought something special to the game—his heart and authenticity. This was his first win at a major championship, after many near misses. As his ball rolled into the 18th hole, tears of joy, and probably relief, started rolling down his face. Waiting nearby was his pregnant (and gorgeous) wife, Ellie, and toddler son, Dash.
Jason’s story is inspiring, one of perseverance paying off. When he was 12, his father, Alvin, died of stomach cancer. Jason’s life took a turn for the worse. He began drinking and getting into trouble. I’ve read articles about the financial hardships his family went through and the extreme measures to which his mother had to go to provide for the family. She even took out a second mortgage on their home so she could send Jason to a private academy, where he would be able to thrive. There he met Col Swatton, his mentor and coach. Swatton served as his caddie at the tournament.
Jason’s story is public, so it can serve as a great inspiration to us all. Your story is private, but it is no less inspiring to those who know you. We all face losses, and they are unfathomable at times. Many are so tragic, unfair and heartbreaking that any level of recovery seems impossible. People we love are ripped from our arms by untimely deaths; partnerships disintegrate after trust is broken; jobs that provide our very sustenance become suddenly obsolete. Often we feel like we must be obsolete, too.
The truth is, recovery is available at some level for those who persevere through the hardships. Jason wanted to win this for his dad. Maybe that was the key part of the motivation that kept him going through all his failures over the past 15 years.
I’m not saying it is easy. But it is attainable for most people. It begins with making a solid commitment to your recovery. That means doing whatever it takes to carry on in a healthful way.
When you are nursing grief, you have to feed your soul every single day. When “hunger pangs” set in, your will to persevere is the first thing to get eaten up.
“I’m never going to get out of this mess.”
“My life sucks!”
Does this sound even remotely familiar? Those are the messages hunger pains from your Soul send to your head.
When I come home from a bike ride, I am ravenous. I head right to the kitchen and grab the first morsel of food I see. If I’m really on top of things, I have a container of precut veggies and almonds ready. Some days the only thing in there is ice cream…uh oh…Wait, why did I go for a bike ride?
Don’t let your spiritual fridge fill up with junk—it’s the first thing you’ll reach for. Have an emergency plan in place for the times you start losing your will to persevere.
Here are some tips for keeping healthy alternatives to despair easily at hand:
1. Get a list of friends who are further along in their grieving and recovery than you are. Put their numbers on speed dial in your phone. You need people who understand your loss, and you need several. No one person can be available to you all the time, and no one person will be able to help every time. Make sure your list is diverse enough that you’ll be able to find the support you need 24-7.
2. Get to class! It’s time to learn new things and broaden your interests. This can be a life line. You might find your interest is now in spiritual topics, art or exercise.
3. Speaking of exercise, there are few pastimes that are cheaper, easier and more spirit lifting than going for a walk. It is a proven fact that the body releases endorphins when you move. Endorphins help you feel less pain and less stress. Get moving!
Adapting to a new life gracefully means learning the steps of a new, challenging dance. Forward, forward, backward, backward: It’s all part of the flow.
Here’s a quote from the champ himself on his win:
“The biggest thing that prepares you for something like this is just the sheer experience of failure, looking at failure not as a negative but as a positive, knowing that you can learn from anything, even if it’s bad or good. If I didn’t have that failure, I wouldn’t be standing here today with the trophy. Some people get there quicker than others, some people make it look easier than others.”
Stay the course my friends, one step at a time, even when it’s two steps forward, one step back. A sense of peace comes to those who carry on.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: What Does My Loved One Do All Day?
In today's video, I answer a question from a viewer who is curious about what her loved ones in Heaven are doing all day. I share specific examples from three private readings where Spirit communicated about this--one of which is hilarious! Also brought up for consideration is the relevance of time to us on the Earth versus the eternal plane and why it's difficult to prove what exactly the Souls are doing in the afterlife.
In today's video, I answer a question from a viewer who is curious about what her loved ones in Heaven are doing all day. I share specific examples from three private readings where Spirit communicated about this--one of which is hilarious! Also brought up for consideration is the relevance of time to us on the Earth versus the eternal plane and why it's difficult to prove what exactly the Souls are doing in the afterlife.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Learn to Connect with Loved Ones in Spirit
This past weekend I was sightseeing with a friend, celebrating the 4th of July holiday. While we were taking pictures with our iPhones, she asked, “Do you know of a way to zoom in all directions, rather than just vertically?” She ran her finger across a slider bar on the screen.
I replied, “Yes, you just swipe the screen with two fingers in a pinching motion. Don’t use the slider bar.”
“Oh, wow, that is so easy!”
Problem solving at it’s easiest. She just needed a little more information.
The most pervasive issue I see with people who have suffered a loss is a lack of knowledge about how a loved one in Spirit can and will communicate with them...
This past weekend I was sightseeing with a friend, celebrating the 4th of July holiday. While we were taking pictures with our iPhones, she asked, “Do you know of a way to zoom in all directions, rather than just vertically?” She ran her finger across a slider bar on the screen.
I replied, “Yes, you just swipe the screen with two fingers in a pinching motion. Don’t use the slider bar.”
“Oh, wow, that is so easy!”
Problem solving at it’s easiest. She just needed a little more information.
The most pervasive issue I see with people who have suffered a loss is a lack of knowledge about how a loved one in Spirit can and will communicate with them. Too often, people just want a medium to give them that stunning validation, rather than working to connect on their own. But when you rely upon an outside source for your validations, you're missing the beauty of a loving connection that is always available to you.
A few years ago I was in the really uncomfortable position of having hundreds of people on a wait list for a private session with me. It was a ridiculous waiting period for them and a stressful situation for me. I do not want anyone waiting years for a much needed connection and relief from grieving!
I began thinking very seriously about the best way to help others. What did I really want to do with my ability? I realized my most passionate interest lies in helping as many people as possible learn to recognize the connection with a loved one who has passed, on their own—with no medium present. It’s the old parable of, “Give a man a fish, he eats for the day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”
I want you to be forever able to feel the connection to a loved one who has passed, not just during the few minutes we might spend together.
So I decided my efforts would be focused on writing and hosting group events for people to learn more.
The biggest myth about mediumship is that mediums “talk to the dead.” Sure, you can talk to anyone, living or passed—but the strength and clarity of the connection, or lack of it, will greatly affect how you perceive their replies. A medium communicates with a living spirit, and it’s nothing like having a live conversation. There are no ghosts to see, no faint whispers to strain to try and hear.
The very best thing newly bereaved people can do is educate themselves to the fullest extent possible on the ways their loved ones communicate with them energetically. This means reading books and attending group events with many mediums to see differences in how the information is received and interpreted. It’s also tremendously helpful if you take up a spiritual practice of awareness, such as meditation. When your mind is quiet, the signal from your loved ones tends to be stronger.
Last year I wrote three in-depth articles explaining the basic steps to recognizing the connection. These are still available on line (links below).
Your loved ones who have passed may not come through every time you try to contact them. But they’re around you—and the messages I’ve gotten from them, without exception, have been loving and kind. They want you to know that they can see you, they love you, and they are there to support you. And you can begin to recognize the signs from them as you acquire more information about how your connection with them works—at your own rate, without any hype from television shows or the “I’m scared of ghosts” drama.
You can read my articles by clicking through the links here:
Recognizing the Connection: August 5th
Validating the Connection: September 2nd
Receiving the Communication: September 8th
As always, if you have questions after reading these, you can get in touch with me. Why not submit your question for my video blog? But I really do mean it when I say on my web site, “I’m here to help.”
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Who Communicates During Group Sessions?
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers a question from a bereaved parent in Dallas, TX who has a concern that young children might be unable to communicate during a group event. Mollie explains why you may, or may not, receive validations from any specific Soul at a group event, what to expect at a group and the right reasons to attend this type of session.
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers a question from a bereaved parent in Dallas, TX who has a concern that young children might be unable to communicate during a group event. Mollie explains why you may, or may not, receive validations from any specific Soul at a group event, what to expect at a group and the right reasons to attend this type of session.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Clearing the Path.
Shortly after I moved into my home, I totally redesigned the entry. The previous owners had erected a fence that blocked access to the yard. From the moment I first saw my house, this struck me as off. Once I removed the fence and rerouted the walkway, I carefully chose landscaping that would create a sense of being welcomed. I wanted guests to feel drawn in, then enveloped in comfort.
Over the winter, several of my boxwoods were killed by the harsh weather. Nothing says, “Welcome!’ quite like a bunch of woody, dead bushes bordering your entry. (Ha!) The work involved in removing the bushes is ridiculous. I spent over an hour and a half on just one! As I hacked and dug away the gnarled root system, I couldn’t help but to think about how hard it can be to start over.
There is so much to clear away before we can even begin to plant again.
I hope you are enjoying the official start of summer. It’s still chilly here in Wisconsin by the lake. The temperature was only in the 40s when I woke up this morning. The cool weather has given me a chance to tackle an ambitious gardening project, the removal of some older, struggling bushes near my front entrance.
Shortly after I moved into my home, I totally redesigned the entry. The previous owners had erected a fence that blocked access to the yard. From the moment I first saw my house, this struck me as off. Once I removed the fence and rerouted the walkway, I carefully chose landscaping that would create a sense of being welcomed. I wanted guests to feel drawn in, then enveloped in comfort.
Over the winter, several of my boxwoods were killed by the harsh weather. Nothing says, “Welcome!’ quite like a bunch of woody, dead bushes bordering your entry. (Ha!) The work involved in removing the bushes is ridiculous. I spent over an hour and a half on just one! As I hacked and dug away the gnarled root system, I couldn’t help but to think about how hard it can be to start over.
There is so much to clear away before we can even begin to plant again.
It’s just like loss. Whether the loss comes from the passing of a loved one, a relationship that ends, a job that is terminated, or a harsh winter, we still have to go through the process of cleaning up the old before we can truly begin again.
It’s hard for me. I’m impatient: I wanted it all to be perfect yesterday. I was warned when I planted those bushes ten years ago that I wasn’t giving them enough space. I didn’t care— I wanted them to look full and perfect RIGHT THEN.
Having patience with ourselves as we clear the path to rebuilding our lives is a key element in thriving after loss. I don’t have the strength to remove those bushes in one day, but I know can get it done within 2 weeks.
As I honor the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year, I’m going to sit out front and ponder what landscape I will next create so I can welcome guests to my home.
- Take a minute and think about what you need to clear up so you can take the next step forward.
- Where is your energy so thickly tangled up that new life cannot take hold?
- What difficult situation needs to be sifted through so seeds of love can be planted in its place?
Ideas are great, but it is ultimately action that creates change. The Summer Solstice is a wonderful time that supports the energy of change.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Learning to Trust the Signs
I'm sharing this story again in honor of my brother Bill's 50th birthday today. I've been telling him for weeks I want to find $50 as a sign from him--so far I have found 2 pennies and 4 quarters. (The beginning of a fortune!) Enjoy the story!
The very best communication a person can have with a loved one in Spirit is the one that happens on it's own, without the help of a medium. I simply validate the connected presence of a loved one, but I don't make it happen. Because a Soul who is no longer present in a body can't simply show up and talk to you, we have to learn how to trust the synchronicity and coincidences that display their love for us.
This was originally posted on March 18th 2014. I'm sharing it again today, June 9th, in honor of my brother Bill's 50th birthday today. I've been telling him for weeks I want to find $50 as a sign from him--so far I have found 2 pennies and 4 quarters. (The beginning of a fortune!) Enjoy the story!
The very best communication a person can have with a loved one in Spirit is the one that happens on it's own, without the help of a medium. I simply validate the connected presence of a loved one, but I don't make it happen. Because a Soul who is no longer present in a body can't simply show up and talk to you, we have to learn how to trust the synchronicity and coincidences that display their love for us.
My ability to communicate with Spirit works at it's best when I am completely objective of the connection. This is why I insist on anonymity prior to a session. If I know your story, it's hard for me to know what information is already in my consciousness and what information I am mentally receiving from your loved one. Because of this, when I want to connect with my own loved ones, I'm in the same boat you are. I have to rely on the signs I receive to get my "hello" from Heaven. Last year, I realized how I was missing one of the clearest signs I regularly receive.
I went to a lecture in Chicago to see the medium, John Holland. During the presentation, he spoke about how many people receive coins as signs from loved ones passed. In my mind I laughed and thought, "Ah! Too bad for them, I always find bills!" It's true, last Spring I found a $5 bill nestled into the first green tips of the daffodils in my garden coming up. I have stepped out of my car in an empty parking lot on to a pile of a few hundred dollars. It's like paper money FINDS ME, it's been happening for years. After the event, I walked out with my friends and as I stepped onto the street, I said, "Hey, is that money?" I bent over and obscured by the snow and salt was a five dollar bill. I picked it up and told my friends that during the lecture I was silently laughing since I always seem to find paper money. I held in my hand the proof.
Once we were in the car, we began talking about the readings that day, and like everyone else in the room, I had asked my special loved one in Heaven to say hello if he could. It suddenly dawned on me....and I CAN NOT believe I missed this all these years....my brother in Heaven is named BILL. I can't believe I missed that one! I took that bill around to my group readings for quite a while, until I met a woman in Minneapolis who also had a brother in Spirit named Bill, I gave it to her as a reminder of his ongoing connection. I trust I'll find another one when the time is right.
Bill is the blonde on the right, and I am the cutie second to the left. Bill passed away at age 30, almost 20 years ago.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
The Importance of Doing Nothing.
Last week in Chicago, during the final group session on my Spring Tour, I delivered a message that is still dancing in my head. There was a young woman in the audience whose close friend had recently passed from cancer. The friend came through loud and clear to me. There was no doubt it was her, communicating from a higher realm. Her message was simple: “Thank you for doing nothing.”
Last week in Chicago, during the final group session on my Spring Tour, I delivered a message that is still dancing in my head. There was a young woman in the audience whose close friend had recently passed from cancer. The friend came through loud and clear to me. There was no doubt it was her, communicating from a higher realm. Her message was simple: “Thank you for doing nothing.”
The woman in the audience was deeply touched. “I would go to her house and lie in bed with her while she was sick,” she said, “and we’d do nothing.”
“She says thank you, thank you so much.” I continued. “You gave her a gift she was able to take with her.” It was all I could do to not burst into tears on the spot.
Over lunch that afternoon, I discussed this message with my daughter. I was still fighting back tears, remembering that scene. A few days earlier, I had done some nothing myself. A friend of mine had back surgery, so I took a day off to visit with him. We spent the day sitting, playing cards, drinking tea, and I led him out for walks around the block. A whole lotta nada, really.
My time to do nothing has arrived. I travel like a crazy woman in the spring because it gives me the freedom to take extended time off in the summer. The spring travel and work obligations are just go-go-go! I’m very ready for slow-slow-slow.
So, if you need me, I’ll be in my garden dividing plants and pulling weeds.
Or you might find me on the bike path, sitting on a bench, still as stone trying to get a good look at an indigo bunting. This could take hours.
Or I’ll be in front of my easel, working on a pair of crane paintings that I just started. It may take me all summer to finish, because if a friend stops over, we’ll have to go sit in the garden and count the violets. I’ll still be available for private sessions, but at a more relaxed pace. This is my season for recharging myself-and my connection with Spirit.
As much “get up and go” as we have (or don’t have), there is lasting value in doing nothing. It’s a gift we give the people we love, as well as ourselves. A break from rushing, doing and producing. A chance to allow your mind to get reacquainted with your soul space. Make a trip into the inner parts of your heart to see what’s up within yourself.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: Do Children Grow in Heaven?
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star answers a question from a viewer who's granddaughter passed at 7 weeks of age, 15 years ago. Mollie's shares her experiences in connecting parents with children that have passed and the different ages they may present themselves at during a session. There is also discussion on the difference between the growth of a physical body and a soul.
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers a question from a viewer who's granddaughter passed at 7 weeks of age, 15 years ago. Mollie shares her experiences in connecting parents with children that have passed and the different ages they may present themselves at during a session. There is also discussion on the difference between the growth of a physical body and a soul.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Mother's and Father's Day for the Bereaved Parent
With Mother’s Day just behind us, and Father’s Day coming up soon, I’ve been reflecting on what a bittersweet job parenting can be.
A parent creates life, and then at some point has to release their most precious creation to the will of the Universe. In the toughest scenario, parents have to endure the death of their child. I remembered how I struggled when my two children hit their 20s and moved out of our home to permanent residences in their college town. It took me three months to stop crying and readjust my life. But no matter how sad I might be that my children have moved on with their adult life, they can still come back, fill my house with noise, and be a part of my physical reality. A bereaved parent’s options are far fewer.
With Mother’s Day just behind us, and Father’s Day coming up soon, I’ve been reflecting on what a bittersweet job parenting can be.
A parent creates life, and then at some point has to release their most precious creation to the will of the Universe. In the toughest scenario, parents have to endure the death of their child. I remembered how I struggled when my two children hit their 20s and moved out of our home to permanent residences in their college town. It took me three months to stop crying and readjust my life. But no matter how sad I might be that my children have moved on with their adult life, they can still come back, fill my house with noise, and be a part of my physical reality. A bereaved parent’s options are far fewer.
Metaphorically, they can either learn to swim or drown.
While interacting with a diverse section of bereaved parents, I’ve found there is no time frame for healing. It’s not something that can be gotten over, like an illness. It has to be incorporated into your life. As a medium, I deal mostly with spiritual people, or at least those who are open to the idea of the afterlife. One common thread I see with parents who are thriving after a loss is their dedication to helping others. You might expect that it’s those parents who realize their child is still with them spiritually who move through grief most easily. But in all honesty, it’s those who reach out to others whom I see thriving instead of merely surviving. They haven’t necessarily changed their lives or careers, but they do take the time to help others. And in doing so, they inspire hope.
I liken this phenomenon to what I’ve seen in New York City. Folks from Manhattan get a bad rap as being tough, yet my experiences with groups there have been the exact opposite. Nowhere have I seen people come together in community as closely as I have in NYC. Whenever someone receives a message, every person in the room is just as thrilled as if he or she had received one. It’s a beautiful solidarity. My feeling is that the recent tragedies of 9-11 and Hurricane Sandy have helped create this bond between neighbors. And bereaved parents understand each other. The comfort one bereaved parent can offer to another is woven through with a deep empathy that someone who has not experienced this loss cannot comprehend.
Helping others get through the grief of losing a child can be a temporary thing you do for a few years as a part of your healing. Or it can be something to which you dedicate the rest of your life. The loss of a child creates a particular void, different from any other, and parents need an outlet for the nurturing energy they previously devoted to their child. Being an active parent to a deceased child is an arduous task! I always say, “A bereaved parent’s work is never done.” Instead of cooking, laundry and baseball games, the grieving parent’s work becomes spiritual growth, lessons in patience and faith, and often a dedication of personal time to helping others.
I asked a few bereaved parents what comforts them on days like Mother’s and Father’s Day.
Susie shares: “I think of earth as a school for learning love lessons. Our son "graduated" early and is home, in the loving arms of our Father, where we will all be reunited some day.”
Jan shares: "Almost every Mother’s Day, my departed son finds a way to give me a gift—if only I pay attention! This past Saturday, I visited my four-year-old niece Caroline, whom I hadn’t seen in a year and a half. She’s normally very shy. But as soon as I saw her, Caroline gave me a big hug and insisted on spending every minute by my side. I went away feeling cherished and loved. Later I realized that our son was whispering in Caroline’s ear, urging her to give me some loving. It worked—and completely changed my Mother’s Day weekend."
Marsha shares: “It’s been five years since my daughter, Molly, departed, and I truly think there is no way a mother’s heart ever returns to normal after such an unexpected loss. I believe a mother’s love for her child is immeasurably fierce and is matched only by God’s unlimited love for us. In my quest to find my daughter, I think SHE found me and has been wrapping her spiritual arms around me, encouraging me to take that love and do positive things with it. Like our children who have departed and still send us their love, it can be very comforting to find a way to plant something good where something so infinitely precious was taken."
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: Dream Visits
In today's video blog I answer a popular question about dream visits from loved ones passed. Not only are these visits real, they can prove to be deeply healing gifts. I discuss the differences between spiritual visits and typical dreams, frequency, and why a loved one may choose to pass a message to you through someone else's dream.
In today's video blog I answer a popular question about dream visits from loved ones passed. Not only are these visits real, they can prove to be deeply healing gifts. I discuss the differences between spiritual visits and typical dreams, frequency, and why a loved one may choose to pass a message to you through someone else's dream.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
How Hard is Doing the Right Thing?
I’m wrapping up my Spring Tour and heading home for two Wisconsin events this weekend. Being on the road can be tiring, but you sure do learn a lot when you are out of your comfort zone and making your way through unfamiliar territory. One thing I have learned being on tour this past month is the importance of doing the “right thing,” according to your heart.
I’m wrapping up my Spring Tour and heading home for two Wisconsin events this weekend. Being on the road can be tiring, but you sure do learn a lot when you are out of your comfort zone and making your way through unfamiliar territory.
One thing I have learned being on tour this past month is the importance of doing the “right thing,” according to your heart. In Texas a woman in the audience received a message from a grandmother who had passed. The grandmother was communicating such love and gratitude toward her granddaughter. She kept showing me bottles of nail polish, along with the emotion of her love. The granddaughter started crying, tears of relief mixed with joy, and told us that they’d had a difficult relationship. But after her grandmother crossed, she took actions that she felt were the “right thing to do.” She painted her grandmothers’ nails before laying her to rest, because the grandmother always had perfect nails and she wanted to honor her in that small way. Even though their relationship on Earth was not the greatest, the woman’s final small act of kindness paid off big.
When we leave hurts in the past and act with kindness towards those who have injured us, we create a whole new relationship. It doesn’t matter if the body is alive or dead--what matters is the love that is always alive.
There was a similar message at the group in Pennsylvania this weekend. A woman in the audience had taken care of an elderly family member who was quite demanding and picky before her passing. But in Spirit the elderly woman came through with so much love and gratefulness for the assistance she had received. Sometimes we don’t express, or maybe even feel, the deep sense of gratitude and love that people inspire in us until we actually cross over and see life from a bigger perspective.
The underlying theme with both messages is that when you choose to be kind, you don’t just change the world of the person you are directly relating to. You change the world as a whole.
Last week I spent a few days wandering the streets and subways of New York, which is honestly one of the best opportunities anywhere to see a cross section of humanity. In just minutes you can come across a massive disparity between standards of living. You may walk past someone who’s completely destitute and looking for hot food and, at the next turn, brush shoulders with someone wearing shoes that cost more than most peoples’ mortgage payments. I offered a genuine smile to everyone I could. I smiled widely at a distracted teenager sitting across from me on the subway (she probably thought I was crazy) and, minutes later, at a man dining with friends at a fancy lunch spot on the Upper East Side. (he looked alarmed, like maybe I might come in and ask him for money.)
One man I crossed paths with is still with me in my heart. It was Saturday morning, and I had just been to the market at Union Square. I was headed back to the subway. I could hear singing as I walked down the stairs to the train platform.
“All you need is love…”
It was an older black man, probably homeless or at least really struggling, with a small CD player. He was sitting on a bench, playing the Beatles and letting the world hear his deep, melodic voice.
“All you need is love….”
Smiling, I looked down the platform and saw a woman about my age grinning at the singer. She and I looked at each other, burst into laughter and started singing with him.
“All you need is love…”
Love is all you need, people. Everyone, without fail, is trying to overcome some hardship. On a completely crappy day, you can still receive a smile and some random kindness from this world. You can also choose to give it out, simply by lifting your eyes, turning the corners of your mouth up, and maybe even singing along.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: Which loved one is sending me a sign?
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers a question from a viewer with multiple loved ones in Spirit. She is wondering how to tell which one is sending her a sign. Mollie shares an endearing, personal story of how she overlooked a very specific sign from her brother who passed away 20 years ago. She also discusses the higher purpose of signs and how you can also send them to a loved one.
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers a question from a viewer with multiple loved ones in Spirit. She is wondering how to tell which one is sending her a sign. Mollie shares a personal story of how she overlooked a very specific sign from her brother who passed away 20 years ago. She also discusses the higher purpose of signs and how you can also send them to a loved one.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Quieting the Peanut Gallery
Back when my children were young, to try and save myself some embarrassment whenever we dined at friends’ homes, I taught them they could use one of two answers if asked if they liked the food: “Yes! Thanks for cooking!” or “It’s interesting. Thanks for cooking!” Blurting out “It’s horrible!” wasn’t helpful or kind. A meal is a gift, not a place to inject negative opinions.
Back when my children were young, to try and save myself some embarrassment whenever we dined at friends’ homes, I taught them they could use one of two answers if asked if they liked the food: “Yes! Thanks for cooking!” or “It’s interesting. Thanks for cooking!” Blurting out “It’s horrible!” wasn’t helpful or kind. A meal is a gift, not a place to inject negative opinions.
Well, it’s been an “interesting” week for me. Like anyone else who is coping with the human condition 100% of the time, I can handle most stresses if they come at me one by one. But when stress comes slapping in from every angle, it’s time to stop and regroup before I reach the breakdown point. That’s the “interesting” meal the Universe cooked up for me this week. Family, work, health, and tax day…one big, simmering pot of chaos.
When I logged online, I found a nastier-than-usual dose of comments from the Peanut Gallery called Facebook. I’m not going to share the details of what I regularly receive, but it goes way beyond, “This is devil’s work!” But alas, it’s Facebook, and lots of people spew their hate in 30 seconds and move on. Then there’s the Peanut Gallery called my Inbox: I’m amazed when people take the time to email me nasty comments or even “helpful” suggestions that aren’t helpful at all. All of this adds up to a lot of chatter in my head. Not the dead people this time—just me, The Peanut Gallery of Mollie, chiding myself and sinking deeper into the problem instead of the solution.
I was so stressed out I couldn’t sleep—which is one trouble I never have. Being a traveler, I’ve learned to sleep wherever I am. I gave in at 3 a.m. and decided to have a cup of tea. As I sat there sipping, I tried to dream up logical answers for each situation, and I just couldn’t. So instead I prayed and asked for angelic help, for Spirit, for God, for my dead brother—-anything, anyone who could show me the path to serenity.
The angels didn’t manifest. There was no sudden miracle. Geez, I couldn’t even get my brother to make a light to flicker to show his presence. I felt lost, except for one small thought that popped into my head.
The chaos would keep cranking up until I changed course.
I knew it was true. Change is the only way out of an issue. Either the issue changes, or you change yourself.
I realized my work schedule needed a major overhaul—and how disappointing that would be for some people. I realized that my injured back needs to be babied for the next few weeks. Lots of inconvenience there! The other situations lay outside of me. I could only change my reaction to them.
I gave thanks to the stress for showing me the areas I need to work on. I also gave thanks to the Universe, or God, for giving me this lesson in a compassionate way. I’m in a challenging situation that I can’t transform quickly. But even on a lousy day there is always a “best case scenario” that can happen within the framework that exists. I crawled back into bed and got up two hours later, still exhausted and with a migraine. That’s when grace started unfurling on my behalf, and I saw the best case scenario playing out right before my eyes.
During an early morning work meeting, I was encouraged to stay strong and reminded that, “It’s darkest before the dawn.”
A good friend with whom I haven’t spoken in months sent me this text out of the blue: “Don’t worry. It will all be all right.” You’ve got to be kidding! His Soul was picking up my spiritual SOS. Trusting his intuition, he responded to my energetic plea for help.
And while the troublesome situations sat and simmered unchanged, I checked out of life for three hours to receive the gift of a massage and water therapy for my back at a beautiful spa. The gift was given by someone who loves me and wants me to be able to work pain-free. I protested when it was offered, thinking it was just too much to accept. But then I realized it was the Universe conspiring to help me. As I relaxed into the hot water, I told the Peanut Gallery of Mollie it had two choices: shut up or give thanks. So, for the next three hours, I silently expressed gratitude for everything and focused on my trusty affirmation of many years, “ I am healthy, happy, whole, well, loved and abundant.”
In the massage room there was a small card waiting for me with a picture of a flowing stream and a quote.
“Hardships often prepare people for an extraordinary destiny.” --C.S. Lewis
“Go with the flow,” I thought, looking at the picture of the stream. That’s when I thought of you. The thousands of people who look to me to be a light seen from the depths of their grief. The extraordinary, everyday people I meet who are living through the hell of loss, and who can’t change a damn thing about their situations.
I walked out of the spa feeling much better. Nothing had actually changed. I still have schedule, family, health and tax-day stresses to confront. But now I’m sure I can handle them, especially knowing that I have coworkers, friends, strangers and even a Higher Power willing to encourage, comfort and inspire me along the way.
Perhaps you need to give your Peanut Gallery an ultimatum, too. Taking a break, even a few hours, from situations you cannot change and infusing your being with gratitude can help get you through the day more peacefully. Prayers are often answered by our friends. Accept the Divine’s response to your requests through the people directed into your life. Just say “Yes!” And don’t forget to add a heartfelt “Thank you!”
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: Addressing the Myths of Suicide.
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers questions from a bereaved woman who has experienced phenomena in her home after her fiancee's suicide. Mollie shares her knowledge and puts to rest some of the myths associated about what happens to a soul who completes suicide. The blog wraps up with recommended resources for those who are rebuilding their lives after this type of loss.
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers questions from a bereaved woman who has experienced phenomena in her home after her fiancee's suicide. Mollie shares her knowledge and puts to rest some of the myths about what happens to a soul who completes suicide. The blog wraps up with recommended resources for those who are rebuilding their lives after this type of loss. The Alliance of Hope can be found at www.allianceofhope.org Click HERE to visit their website.
You should also read this article from 2014: Opening Up About Suicide
We'd love for you to submit a question for the next video blog! Please use the form found HERE.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Comfort vs. Healing
I've just returned from a wonderful five-city tour of the Upper Midwest that involved driving about 1,300 miles. Let me tell you, my back hurts! When I would sink into my car, I'd turn the seat heater on high because it provided some comfort for my aching back. Churning through my mind, though, was an incessant worry about what might be happening beneath the surface. Three years ago I had back surgery to remove pieces of a broken disk. I had suffered terribly for two years before that surgery, trying every possible therapy. The surgery finally provided the deep healing I needed.
With so much time on the highway to think about the people I had met on the trip and the messages from their loved ones in Spirit, I found myself debating the qualities of healing versus comfort.
I've just returned from a wonderful five-city tour of the Upper Midwest that involved driving about 1,300 miles. Let me tell you, my back hurts! When I would sink into my car, I'd turn the seat heater on high because it provided some comfort for my aching back. Churning through my mind, though, was an incessant worry about what might be happening beneath the surface. Three years ago I had back surgery to remove pieces of a broken disk. I had suffered terribly for two years before that surgery, trying every possible therapy. The surgery finally provided the deep healing I needed.
With so much time on the highway to think about the people I had met on the trip and the messages from their loved ones in Spirit, I found myself debating the qualities of healing versus comfort.
A few years ago, when I stopped scheduling private sessions and turned to a wait list to manage the large number of people requesting appointments with me, I had to sit down and get very clear about my life purpose. Did I want to help three people a day, or did I want to commit to travel and writing? It wasn't difficult. I knew exactly how I hoped to use my ability to communicate with people who have passed.
I am here to help as many people as possible learn that communication with a deceased loved one is a natural process that is always available to them.
The problem with having a reading with a medium is that it's a one-hit wonder. It's an amazing validation that opens the doors of your mind to new possibilities, in which death becomes another type of birth to celebrate. Where we once saw only an ending, we now see another beginning. The relief and healing is nearly instantaneous. It usually makes people want another session right away!
But where do you go from there?
Having repetitive sessions with a medium provides comfort only. Your very first session is the one that proves to you that the connection to those you love is eternal. No one ever truly dies--only the body does.
We all need comfort sometimes. That is what my seat heater gave my back last week. Comfort. So did Tylenol. But did they heal my back? No. They simply helped me get through the day and be able to work. The underlying issue remains, and I need to know if I have again fractured a disk.
Healing on a spiritual and emotional level requires "surgery" of a different sort. It's an inside job. You have to remove the source of injury, which is often the fear-based thoughts.
Is my loved one okay?
Did my loved one transition easily or get stuck somewhere?
Are they angry with me?
Do they know how much they are loved and missed?
All these questions are sources of deep pain that arise from a lack of knowledge or experience with the afterlife. And all can be answered by increasing your spiritual knowledge as you make a conscious decision to reach for the light. You have to do the work. Sitting around waiting for a "sign" from a loved one isn't going to provide you with the healing you need to get back to the business of living.
If you have experienced the awe and wonder of a connection with a loved one through a medium, it's now time to cultivate that communication on your own. Here are some specific actions you can take that will provide comfort as you journey towards healing.
- Read books on spirituality and afterlife communication. I always recommend George Anderson's books.
- Attend spiritual seminars or go see a medium work in a live demonstration. There are a few large and awesome seminars that tour the US. These includeCelebrate Your Life!and I Can Do It! They often include mediums but are more directed to living consciously in a spiritual way.
- Join a group that is specific to your loss. Look toThe Compassionate Friends Network for those who have experienced the passing of a child. The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors provides understanding and support for those seeking light after such a tragic loss.
- Accept help from friends who offer to spend time with you. Sometimes the best dose of comfort can be found in the distraction that a kind friend provides with a cup of tea, a movie, a walk, a conversation, or a simple hour of companionship.
Make your healing a priority. Once you have an experience that truly changes your mind about death being the end of a relationship, you need to seek experiences that buoy your faith in the afterlife. This will help carry you through the moments when waves of grief come washing into your shore.
Even as a medium with a full knowledge of the awesome connection we share with our loved ones in Spirit, I can tell you this: You will still miss them. The sound of your child's laughter, the warmth of a mother's hug, or the scent of your beloved's perfume are incredible physical pleasures that can't be replicated. But all is not lost with their passing. They--their consciousness, their essential being--is alive, well and ready to communicate. All you need to do is learn the subtlety of their language.
It's not difficult. It only takes a willingness to believe that what you think may be a sign from them is just that. Trust your instincts-and the healing will come.
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
VIDEO BLOG: Receiving Communications and Signs from a Child in Spirit
Evidential Psychic Medium, Mollie Morning Star, answers questions from two bereaved mothers about afterlife connections with their daughters. One passed two weeks ago, the other, two years ago. Mollie gives both mothers helpful information on what type of communication to expect as the years pass. People often look for the same "signs" and yet, as they become more spiritually aware, the signs and communication change. The blog wraps up with 3 recommended blog articles from 2014 to help them learn more about recognizing the spiritual connection.
Today I am answering questions from two bereaved mothers about afterlife connections with their daughters. One passed two weeks ago, the other, two years ago. I give both mothers helpful information on what type of communication to expect as the years pass. People often look for the same "signs" and yet, as they become more spiritually aware, the signs and communication change. The blog wraps up with 3 recommended blog articles from 2014 to help them learn more about recognizing the spiritual connection.
You'll want to read these three blog posts from last year:
©Mollie Morning Star 2015 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
How Do You Perceive Reality?
Have you had upsetting thoughts about a passed loved one missing your important life events such as the birth of a child, weddings or serious illness? You need to read this article for an easy to understand explanation and validation of how your loved ones are definitely seeing what is currently happening in your life.
It’s Spring in the Upper Midwest! Hallelujah! The weather was bright and sunny today and the forecast is above freezing for the next week and a half. Melting snow and rain boot season is here, and it brings with it a vibrant energy of growth. There’s a lot of discussion about when spring really starts. Is it a specific date? When the crocus blooms? For me, it’s when I walk outside and the cold doesn’t hurt my face! (Very low standards here in Wisconsin.)
The return of the birds is one of my favorite signs of spring. They have been chirping their beaks off at dawn for the last two weeks. A few days ago, I saw a frustrated little chickadee out in my garden. It reminded me of one of my favorite analogies for explaining how loved ones in Spirit do not miss out on what happens in our lives.
My garden is very narrow and is shaded by the house most of the day. I usually move my computer up to my dining room to work so I can look out the window and enjoy the flowers. To help me get a better view of my roses, and to increase the amount of light the plants receive, I lean old mirrors against the fence. It’s really neat, and I can see so much more of the garden from my window.
I first spotted the chickadee through the kitchen window while I was pouring my morning coffee. He was hopping around on the snow in front of a mirror and would try to jump into it. He’d fall back onto the snow, shake his head, and do it again. This sort of scene carried on all day. He’d hop onto a hydrangea branch, stare at himself in the mirror and try to jump onto the branch that was reflected in the glass. He’d perch on the top edge of the mirror, lean over, look at himself and AGAIN try to somersault into what he perceived as another part of the garden.
Mirrors provide an interesting view, don’t they? In the chickadee’s case, he just couldn’t see beyond his own reality.
One of the great concerns people share with me during their grieving is that their loved ones didn’t live to see their grandchildren, graduations, weddings, etc.
But your loved ones in Spirit really do see what happens after they pass. They share those special moments with you, both the joyous and difficult ones.
To help people understand this better, I explain it like this:
Everyone has seen a television show with a police questioning room in it. The subject sits on a chair alone and is surrounded by walls made of two-way mirrors. All he can see is his own reality reflected back at him. Yet on the “Other Side” of those mirrors sit many people who are able to see through the glass and observe everything the subject is doing.
Easy to understand, right? We get very caught up in our reality, because it’s all we can see in the looking glass. But that is not true for our loved ones who have passed into the next dimension—call it Heaven, the Other Side, the Spirit World, or whatever you like. They don’t miss anything!
Just a few weeks ago I connected a family to their son who had recently passed. After his message, he communicated for me to “Tell my mom I see the new broom.” Sure enough, she had just bought a new broom for the kitchen. If he sees the new broom, he certainly sees the big things that are happening! It’s important to pay attention to these kinds of small details during a connection with a medium. They are so specific that only those living in the home will be able to validate them. Non-Google-able, as I like to say.
Try to remember the mirror analogy next time you feel that wave of sadness creep in and you think of what your loved one is missing. They see you. They send you their support and prayers.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
Preparing for a Wonderful Session
Every day I see people in need of a healing mediumship session sabotage their opportunity because they are uninformed about my number one top tip to ensure a wonderful connection. Over the past few years, the interest in mediumship has absolutely exploded. So many people are seeking a personal session but don't know where to start. I'm here to help! After years of doing professional readings, I'd love to share three of my top tips to make certain you have the helpful experience you need to take the next step on your path toward healing after a loss.
Over the past few years, the interest in mediumship has absolutely exploded. So many people are seeking a personal session but don't know where to start. After years of doing professional readings, I'd love to share my top tips to ensure you have the helpful experience you need to take the next step on your path toward healing after a loss.
1. Keep your information to yourself. If you only take ONE single piece of knowledge away from reading this article, please, let it be this. When you are seeking evidence validating the existence of the afterlife, it is absolutely VITAL that you do not share information about your deceased loved one, or yourself, with a medium prior to the session. It is the job of the medium to work with the Soul/Spirit of your loved one to obtain facts and evidence that validate their identity and proof of survival.
Actions to consider:
- Do not allow mediums to have access to your Facebook profile by being their "Friend" on Facebook.
- "Like" professional pages on Facebook and and opt to get notifications when they update their page. (If you don't opt for notifications, you will not receive their posts.)
- Have a friend book your session for you and use a false name. That's a bit extreme, but if you are concerned, then simply do it.
- Do not email a medium and tell them who you are hoping to reach. It will hinder, not help your connection.
I cannot stress this enough: this is the most important component of a great session and it is completely your responsibility to keep your information private. This is why I do not read for friends nor do I recommend repeated sessions.
2. Keep your connection options open. Very few people live within a reasonable driving distance of a reputable medium; having your session by telephone, Skype or FaceTime is almost always the best solution. I have been doing phone/Skype sessions for years with excellent success. I recommend it over an in-person session for three main reasons:
- Ease of scheduling and on-time appointments
- Access to reputable, excellent mediums no matter where you live
- Additional evidence can be given when you are not visible to the medium
The most interesting part of this is the last. I cannot tell you how many phone sessions I have done for people where their deceased loved one communicated something like, "Tell her I love her short, blonde hair." When in fact, the person on the other end of the phone had undergone a drastic hair change since their loved one's passing. During one phone session, a deceased husband communicated to his living wife that he saw a problem with his wife's neck, and he noted that it was quite serious. The reply was priceless, "Oh my!! I'm sitting here in a neck brace and I am having surgery in a few weeks!" None of that information would have been validating if the client had been sitting in front of me.
3. Learn all you can before your session. This is especially important for the newly-bereaved. Popular television shows have opened the minds of people everywhere to the possibility of the afterlife, and simultaneously, filled those same minds with a lot of erroneous information. Mediums do not see ghosts and talk to the dead. (At least the reputable, excellent mediums I know do not!) Communication with a deceased loved one is done by mental telepathy; it is a language of energy and of the Soul. It is very subtle. If you come into a session with the expectation of sitting down and talking to your loved one, you will be disappointed. The objective of a session is to receive validations and evidence of the afterlife, and you should expect that outcome. I personally will not conduct a session with anyone until they have allowed me to thoroughly explain how the communication takes place from a technical standpoint. Only then will I proceed with communication. For me to jump right into the session would be similar to offering the newly-bereaved a session in Japanese, when they don't speak the language. Want to know more? Here are some terrific books to get you started:
- All books by George Anderson including, "Walking in the Garden of Souls" and "Lessons from the Light"
- "Soul Shift" and "Messages from the Afterlife" by Mark Ireland
- The Power of the Soul by John Holland
These are just my top three tips, but there is so much more information available on my blog. Please take some time to read up to prepare yourself for a successful session with the medium you choose.
Oh, and one bonus tip since you made it all the way to the end: remember that celebrity mediums are still celebrities, and entertainment is not education.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.