TW: medical treatment, death.
Recently, I’ve been going through medical treatment to manage a rare disease I’ve dealt with for the majority of my life. Though I should expect it by now, I’m always surprised by when and where I’ll encounter the deceased.
While sitting in a leather recliner trying to “relax” while getting my infusions, a dramatic wisp of energy particles buzzed by me. I looked up from my book, and saw the spirit of an older woman walking towards one of the other patients who was also hooked up to an IV.
Who was she, I wondered.
I smiled briefly at the apparition, acknowledging that I could see her, but without looking too terribly obvious to everyone else that I can see dead people. A major part of what lead me to my path as a death practitioner (or witch). She took her place standing over the left shoulder of a woman wearing a cross necklace and a purple t-shirt with a bible verse adjacent to me getting therapy.
Telepathically, I asked who the spirit was, “I’m Sandra.”
The beeping of medical devices summoned a nurse to come by and check the patient’s vitals before resuming her treatment, and I quietly eavesdropped on the conversation that ensued.
“How’s your sister been doing since we last saw you?”
“She passed actually…”
“Oh my goodness. I had no idea—“
“—It’s okay,” The woman interrupted the nurse, “She isn’t suffering anymore. She was 20 years older than me and I cared for her until she had no more fight left in her.”
I glanced up again, and saw the female spirit place her hand on the woman’s left shoulder. I realized that the roles had reversed and dear Sandra had taken it upon herself to comfort and care for her younger sister from the other side while she, too, received medical treatment.
Tears filled my eyes—if only everyone realized just how near the other side is, as well as those who dwell in it.
Unfortunately, my own fear of religious opposition got in the way of me speaking up and sharing what I saw and heard with the woman. A shortcoming and flaw of mine that I am actively working to overcome. Even if the woman had been skeptical of my ability to see and hear, telling her that her sister, Sandra, was with her would’ve only brought comfort and solace to her. Quite possibly could’ve even made her a believer of psychic phenomena since I knew her sister’s name.
So to you, dear reader, I want to remind you that you’re more in tune than you realize, and fear is just that: fear. Something that lives solely within the mind, capable of being overcome. And often, our fear of what other people may think is directly related to the core of who we are, and only leaves room for missed opportunities and regret if we don’t learn to say, “Fuck fear…” and do the scary thing anyways.
I’m not great at it yet. But I’ll get there. And so will you. And next time something like this happens, I’ll do better. #FuckFear