DECEMBER- "I was still stopped dead in my tracks with goosebumps all over my skin"

I was walking aimlessly along a riverfront one day, talking in my head to Matt- one of my dearest friends, an incredibly wise person and important influence on my life who had passed away. I asked Matt, somewhat jokingly, if he now knew all the secrets of the universe. Then, more seriously, I asked him how we as people came to be from what seems to be a very mechanical universe full of little unthinking particles. What are we supposed to be doing here anyway?

A light breeze began to move through the trees. I turned and felt compelled to look at one of the dozens of park benches that was sitting facing the river. I walked around to the front of it. On the bench was a plaque that read, "Love is the answer."

My heart feels that this may have been him telling me the answer to my question--the most simple, yet most profound answer available--love. Whether or not it was him, and whether or not I need to look at this as one of those perfect moments in the universe.... I was still stopped dead in my tracks with goosebumps all over my skin, nothing but the wind moving around me. 

Anonymous

Poznan Poland

Artist: Peter Gagilas   Kent, United Kingdom  Peter's Website

NOVEMBER- "The feeling of the presence only got stronger until I turned around..."

I was working in the woods one day with my aunts boyfriend who I was staying with in Italy. We had to cut down a portion of an oak tree so that we could replant it. We were also doing some other work that day in the forest and the garden. I went into the back of the property and into the forest to start helping him cut the tree and he said, "Don't worry I'll take care of this tree and finish cutting the rest of the wood off of it. You just go up a little further to collect dirt and soil for the vegetable garden."


So I walked about 50 yards deeper into the forest, not too far away from my friend. As always, there is a significant presence in these parts of the woods, a certain vibration. The feeling was very prevalent that day. I started walking on until I felt that I found a good place to dig. As soon as I began digging, out of nowhere hundreds and hundreds of leaves around me began to fall to the ground. I could barely see what I was doing, they were everywhere. All of a sudden I felt this overwhelming feeling that there was something watching me. I stood up and turned around and all I saw were trees. So I continued digging. The feeling of the presence only got stronger until I turned around to notice that I was standing directly in front of a massive, ancient oak tree. 


I got this eerie feeling that the tree itself was demanding to know the reason for my presence in the forest . I felt like it was staring directly into me, questioning my intentions. I can't begin to describe that feeling or explain how I could have understood something that a tree was trying to communicate to me, but I did. So the only thing I could do was respond. Meanwhile, the leaves were still falling as far as I could see. I directed my thoughts to the tree communicating that I was collecting soil for the garden and that we were only trying to save the other oak tree down by the property, not harm it. After I completed that thought, the leaves stopped falling abruptly, completely all at once, just as if it had never happened and everything around me fell silent again. When the leaves stopped falling I felt astonished and also a strange sense of relief that the so-called interrogation was over. 


I walked down to the property and asked my friend if he had noticed any leaves falling and he replied that he hadn't. He looked at me a bit strangely, because I probably appeared a bit shaken. His response meant that the leaves had only fallen right around me and that my environment in those moments had made a direct, interactive connection with me. I felt as if that tree had peered right into my soul, and I will never forget that.

Thomas Januzzi, Italy

Aritst- Karen Prosen Karen's flickr

OCTOBER- "I saw it and heard it with total disbelief"

I'd been visiting mother's home in Queensland, another state. I had travelled by plane with my 7 month old and 4 year old. 

The trip from the airport had been a little harrowing. My wonderful neighbor offered to pick us up in my car... or maybe it was his wife's idea :)   He probably regretted it as the baby howled for most the trip.

So when I got home I tried to unlock the front door. In a fit of security-consciousness, I had apparently deadlocked it but I had forgotten to take the deadlock key with me. We were locked out.

Forgetting keys had become an all-too-common occurrence for me at this time. Another fantastic neighbor had brought his ladder across a couple of times already and climbed through my bathroom window. I had also already paid a locksmith to let me in on another occasion. To be honest, it was getting embarrassing. It hadn't occurred to me to leave a spare key with a neighbour, maybe it was all the stress, toddler ear infections and night feeds but my brain wasn't in the best space at that time.

I was determined that I wasn't going to ask for help. By now, however, both children were crying. They were hungry and I had to change the baby's diaper on the side deck. I had also found my time with my mum very stressful, so I wasn't in a great mood. 

There are two glass sliding doors on the side of the house we lived in then. To let air in, I had locked them slightly open. Not enough to fit through, of course. I hoped against hope that I hadn't locked at least one of them. They were, however, both firmly bolted and key locked into the top of the frame. Irrationally I tried to force one open by pulling. I pulled and pulled and I prayed and prayed but it wouldn't budge. Then it all became too much and I stepped back and started to cry.

I stood there looking at the door and crying and then, to my utter amazement, the bolt slid down. 

I saw it and heard it with total disbelief. It just happened by itself as if an invisible hand had inserted a key and unlocked it for us. It's embarrassing to admit it now but when I slid that door open I was so overcome with gratitude that I fell to my knees and prayed.

Anonymous, Australia

Artist- Luke Wyman  Margate, United Kingdom     Luke's Flickr

September- "If for nothing else than to ask her when the picture of me in her bed, sound asleep was taken..."

Julia! I met Julia in a random way, but that's not my story. It was long after we had our time together and she became my "one who got away". Last year she had moved to Chicago and we hadn't spoken in sometime. Before she left she had a showing of her photos at a small rented out space. I walked through the makeshift gallery and before I read the placard I knew exactly which photos were hers. I felt as if there was still that connection strong enough for me to feel her eye and her aesthetic. I saw her at the other end of the space with her new boyfriend and before I could say hello I decided to bypass an awkward moment and make my exit. That night I had a dream about her. She owned a photo studio and was a well known photographer. There was a fire that spread throughout her photo studio, and in this dream I was the firefighter who put the flames out. Soon after the showing she made her move to Chicago and we lost touch. Out of the blue one day she sent me a random cordial text message asking how I was doing. In response I told her about my dream. She told me it had always been her dream to have a photo studio. I said "Well, if my dreams come true it will burn to the ground. Bittersweet." To this day she has no idea that I was at that showing and ever since, I regret not living through an awkward moment with her and her new boyfriend. If for nothing else than to ask her when the picture of me in her bed, sound asleep was taken that she included in her show.


Keith McCarthy, Chicago, Illinois


Artist- Colie Parks  Orlando, Florida
Colie's Flickr

AUGUST- "Exactly where I had been standing minutes earlier, laid a majority of the maple tree."

It was a typical beautiful summer day in August of my eighth summer, and I had only one thing on my mind: kickball. Like any other red blooded American kid, summer vacation to me meant three months of pure bliss and competitive backyard games. This day was no exception. It was the typical slew of characters: my older brother, my best friend, and a few kids from the neighborhood. Since the days of summer vacation were quickly dwindling and our lush green grass would soon be covered with snow before we knew it, the intensity to win was rising with every game.


I'll set the scene: it was a girls versus boys game where the winners get bragging rights and the losers walk away shamed. As a team comprised of little sisters, we had a lot to prove. The girls team was up, it was the last inning and bases were loaded. And with backyard kickball, I use the term "bases" very loosely. First base was the sprinkler, second base was the hydrangea bush and third was a maple tree. That's where I was, third base. My feet were planted between the sinewy roots with my eyes affixed at home plate (aka the gate to the front yard). The whole game was riding on a good kick and me making it home. Suddenly, ad mist my anticipation for the pitch, I felt the urgent need to call my mother. Regardless of the groans surrounding me I hurriedly ran inside and dialed her number. She had just answered and I let out a reassured sigh of relief when suddenly I heard a scream from outside. I hung up and ran to the door to see what all the commotion was about. Exactly where I had been standing minutes earlier, laid a majority of the once majestic maple tree. Apparently the tree had been ridden with termites and collapsed without a warning. Had I not had the urge to call my mother, I would have been a kickball casualty. I had never felt an urge so strong prior, or since that moment to do something. Still fourteen years later, it is inexplicable, but I am thankful to whomever, or whatever, saved me that day.


Alayna Mallon, Long Island, New York


Artist: Emily Simpson, Howell, Michigan
Emily's flickr

JULY- "His soul was bigger then his body and it filled the room."

"This is an experience I had with someone at a car dealership. I brought my car in to get it inspected. As I was sitting in the waiting room I heard this very soft gentle voice say Mr. H. I stood up and looked over at the doorway. I noticed a guy about 5'8, Blonde hair and blue eyes walking my way. He was the mechanic that looked at my car.

I stood there to listen to what he had to say and he told me that there was nothing wrong with my car. While he was speaking I had looked down at the ground for a minute. All of a sudden I started gasping for air, in which I noticed I could not breath. It was a feeling of great beauty that came over me. I started to have to breath heavy because I felt the presence was almost too beautiful for my human heart and mind to comprehend.

Then as I tried to get my breath back an over whelming presence of unconditional love came over me and the inside of my head was literally vibrating with energy. The feeling was none I had ever experienced on this earth.

The next thing that happened was I started to notice I was feeling this guys soul. His soul was bigger then his body and it filled the room. This guy I had came in contact with was so beautiful. His soul was pure love I, could feel him. It was as if I was bathed in his love.

This experience happened in January of 2009. I did not know what to take from all of this. A number of things was running through my head about who this guy was to me for me to be able to feel his soul the way I did. I questioned, was he someone very close to me in a past life, was he a soul mate, was he a highly advanced entity, or maybe someone who is not originally from earth.

All I know is my heart aches to feel that again. It was the highest of highs. It was beyond this earth to be exact. I can't get over how beautiful his soul was and how I am honored to have came in contact with him."


Anyonymous


Artist- Danielle Stormes, Orlando, Fl
Danielle's flickr

JUNE- "...we had uncovered a small secret and only her and I shared it".

 

"I think we have all experienced moments where we have been in the presence of a creature or animal and have felt absolute awe at their majesty and beauty. Once, while visiting Muskoka my sister in law and I were taking a nature trail when suddenly she stopped with such force that I almost toppled her over and myself. I was about to complain about this interruption in our walk when I saw her eyes glued to a near bye spot in the woods. There standing only 10 feet away from us way a small doe. She was staring straight at us. The air was so still and time seemed to stand still as we all watched each other. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. There was this halo of mist around her and the sun seemed to shine on her regally.


I remember feeling slightly frightened because we were in the woods and there was simply no telling what an animal would do if they felt threatened. This was a moment of absolute awe for a creature that belonged to God. The Doe had been in a realm of serenity and natural bliss and we had trespassed, yet it had let us in, if only for a few short minutes before bolting. The experience left us both amazed and we walked away that day feeling almost as if we had uncovered a small secret and only her and I shared it."




Franca Licardi, Ontario, Canada
Franca's blog


Artist: Dawn Frary, Iowa City, Iowa
Dawn's website

MAY- "Then I noticed the guy in front of me, and he looked as mesmerized as I was".

"Everything would have seemed quite mundane; was on the bus on my way to work staring out the window, and someone infront of me was looking out the same window, at the same bridge that millions of cars go over, but when I looked at the grass around it I felt it. It felt like my spirit was looking at the world, and I could understand how it saw the beauty which existed in a single blade of grass. And then billions of blades of grass, and the curves of the roads; everything inside of my being felt immense gratitude and love for everything. And then I noticed the guy in front of me, and he looked as mesmerized as I was and I pondered if he too was feeling something too, and intuitively I knew he was, and I felt like both of us knew we were sharing the same moment, looking out that same window, and we were grateful."


Michael Wong, Barcelona, Spain


Artist: Alessio Semucci, Budapest, HungaryAlessio's flickr

APRIL- "I began to ask her who she was when she dissolved into the air."

"At the age of 19 and thereabouts, things got really interesting.
I had already had the experience of waking through the night and seeing people and occasionally animals slowly fade out of view. I'd always put that down to hallucinations associated with dreaming.
My sister had left home but hadn't quite made a full transition, in that she'd occasionally spend the night. My brother was in the airforce so I had moved into his room, leaving behind my old room with the double bunks.
J, my sister, had been to see one of the "Nightmare of Elm Street" movies and scared herself silly. She asked if I'd sleep in the old room with her and when I refused she relocated to my bed. She particularly didn't like this room. Despite this, she fell asleep quickly, as she always does. I, on the other hand, have always taken some time to fall asleep. This suited her well growing up as she always felt reassured with me listening to her before she nodded off.
Having been raised a catholic, with my parents using the daily 8.30 mass as a kind of childcare, I was in the habit of praying before sleep. I had my body turned in towards my sister and was praying when I got a distinct feeling of someone behind me. I rolled over to see.
Standing there was a little girl, solid but kind of luminescent. She was about ten with straight blond hair and I could see freckles on her nose. I believed she was physical, having wandered in off the street. It was hot and our front door was open with just a screen door to keep out insects. The expression on her face was serene, maybe mildly inquisitive. I began to ask her who she was when she dissolved into the air."


Anonymous, Australia
Artist: Michele, Georgia, United States http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperlilies/