He's 'Looking Down on You'

I go along with Dadda`s priest,, my mum has been dead , many years now, I have often felt ... can`t describe,, not her watching over me,, some guidance, in a smallish way, by human standards..I have often felt her "close" to me , many times.

They aren't watching. But I believe in some way we carry the love and the sense of comfort that our loved ones gave us with us after they are gone. That's what I feel about my parents.

I firmly believe that when you're dead, you're dead.

When Mum died it was my greatest loss. I don't believe she's at the cemetery where she's buried, not is she 'watching over me'.

She's in my mind and my heart and therefore I carry her with me.

I often ask myself, "What would Mum do?" or think, "Mum would love this" and it keeps her memory alive.

The reality is that those who want an afterlife can have it - this is the message in the bible. There are a lot of myths about this because we can't understand how time is linear for us while we are alive but is not afterwards. Our loved ones are in this other time so are not watching over us in our time. But love itself never dies and stays with us and that is the comfort for us.
As for a deity or supreme being watching you like a big brother, try him as a friend to walk beside and there is comfort there too. This is the other main message in the scriptures.
A friend of mine believes a white feather has dropped from an angelic wing - whether it is or not is irrelevant - the reality is that angels are always close to us.

When my mum died my sister in Australia knew before I told her because the candle by her photo went out. For me though it's utter tosh, however, I'd never try and convince anyone of that, because how could I? It could be that I'll be proved wrong which would be quite nice actually.
Memories are very strong however, good or bad, and so those strong feelings some people get; who's to say they aren't real?
We have white feathers in our garden all the time and on our dog walks. I know this because my Westie barks wildly and then, if I'm not quick off the mark, eats them! They are known as the 'evil feathers' in our family.

What do the spirits of the dead people do when they're not looking down on us, though?

I'd need an explanation that would at least partly made sense.

That can't be all they do!

Interesting thread. What about robins? A friend of mine always says if you see a robin it’s a close relative nearby. Comforts her.

After my husband died I found solace in a robin which constantly visited the garden. I was told that the dead reappear as a Robin to keep an eye on you. Of course, I didn’t for one minute believe it but it was comforting at the time and when in deep grief you’d hang on to anything and I chatted to the bird as I would have to DH.
My Mum was convinced in the after life and that gave her comfort as she aged.
I’d love to feel my DH was watching over me but having scattered his ashes here there and everywhere there’s no way he’s anywhere peeking at me. Of course, he’s evident in our daughters and our grandchildren and I often see his characteristics and looks in each and every one of them.

More things are wrought in heaven and earth than this world dreams of, as the bard said. Still true even with all tech etc nowadays. Beam me up, Scottie, can't be far off. Like Pandapatch I think everything is connected, even the past and the present and the future.

If I’m feeling sad I sometimes pat my own hand gently as my mother used to do. It really helps.I don’t believe we will see our loved ones in Heaven. I do believe that our bodies will go back into the earth- it says in the bible”ashes to ashes and dust to dust” and that is where our energy goes too in creating new life in nature. As another poster said “ energy cannot be created or destroyed “. Very deep thinking this am !!!!

Yes, that is a scientific fact.

One of those legacies from ‘Sunday School’ and a brief schooling at a RC school …with Nuns…very theatrical!
No don’t believe it but it lingers…I jolt myself out of it by thinking ….wherever They are up there or down there…it must be VERY**** Crowded by now!!😏

I don't believe in relatives looking down on me.
I dream about DH almost every night and I am reassured that he is still there in my memory.
My parents have been dead almost 40 years and I think I have only dreamt about them twice.

I lost my dad 2 years ago. I love him and miss him. I talk to him everyday from time to time. I feel contentment in my heart as I know he loves me. Realistically I don’t think there is an afterlife but he lives on in my heart and that’s my comfort. We played a video at his wake of him speaking to his granddaughter. He said “ Have faith in yourself and you won’t go far wrong.” That’s the advice I use when I have a problem now.

I think its probably a saying that was coined as a comfort thing, as it infers their loved ones have been allowed into heaven, as opposed to down in hell, therefore 'looking down' on them, it was something said when my mum & grandma were alive mostly, as catholics i think we were supposed to really believe all that- if i say it or similar i say 'if' they are, because we dont really know do we? But would hope it brings some comfort, or a feeling that they have done something to be proud of, and be proud of themselves for it.

Do I believe my late son is “ looking down” on me? No. Do I feel his presence? Yes every day. The robins. The white feathers. Yep. But also in the starry evening sky, the blue cloudless sky, strange unexpected little events that happen, in fact everything. I was blessed to have him for 50 years but now he has gone back to wherever he came from in the Universe. He surrounds me every minute. “Energy cannot be created or destroyed “. I cant explain more clearly. He is just here.
I’m sorry this is obtuse and maybe creepy but the thought brings me such comfort.

crazyH

I saw a white feather on my drive - I didn’t pick it up or think much of it. But where did it come from? I haven’t seen many white birds about 😂

We have white feathers all the time. It isn’t our dead relatives visiting, it’s next doors cat’s skill at catching pigeons!

If you believe it and it's a comfort,that's fine.

handbaghoarder

Do I believe my late son is “ looking down” on me? No. Do I feel his presence? Yes every day. The robins. The white feathers. Yep. But also in the starry evening sky, the blue cloudless sky, strange unexpected little events that happen, in fact everything. I was blessed to have him for 50 years but now he has gone back to wherever he came from in the Universe. He surrounds me every minute. “Energy cannot be created or destroyed “. I cant explain more clearly. He is just here.
I’m sorry this is obtuse and maybe creepy but the thought brings me such comfort.

The idea of the atoms being in the world, absorbed into the earth, swallowed by people, absorbed by everything - it is strange - but it's fact nonetheless.

It bought my daughter comfort when she struggled.

I hope my parents are not watching over me or they would be screaming at the mess I have made with my life!!!

And right in cue, the tune that played at my girls funeral has just randomly shuffled and is playing on spotify.

I believe our love ones are around us. Not all the time. Happily for me I believe there is an afterlife I could write a book of my experiences.

I’m very sceptical but I often think where was I before I became me, where did my soul actually spring from, where is it when I m asleep, what happens to it when I die, is my body just a vessel that looks after a soul until it dies and moves on elsewhere, it’s all very profound and J guess we ll never know but I ll keep talking to the little Robin that follows me in the wood when I m out dog walking, just in case it’s my mum, don’t want her to think I m ignoring her lol 🤷‍♀️😂, as the saying goes when robins appear loved ones are near, who am I to argue? 🤷‍♀️

Can the sceptics please explain this to me.

Some years ago, after my father's death I was having to negotiate the sale of my father's share in the business. Unfortunately my father's business partner had died many years previously and I was dealing with the son who inherited his share. He was rather a slippery character and during a meeting at my house, on a beautifully clear, windfree summer's day, he was spinning me all sorts of lies about my father. Suddenly the electrics went and the upstairs window rattled very loudly. That window did rattle in a gale, but never in good weather. No-one could reach the window from outside and there was no-one else in the house. We were both very shaken, but he more than I and he asked me what I thought it was and I immediately replied without a second thought, that was my father warning me. Well, whether it was or not, I can tell you, from then on he stopped his lies and negotiations went ahead successfully.

After he'd gone I went upstairs and shook that window as much as I could and it didn't budge.

If anyone has any other explanation, I would be truly grateful to hear it because I could think of none other

Love my Robin cushion always believed in this