Signs & Synchronicities: Listening for Magic
- Emily Lily
- May 1
- 4 min read
🌿 A Note Before You Read
What I share here in this blog is rooted in my own lived experience. This isn’t a guide or a prescription—just reflections from my spiritual path, offered in case they spark something meaningful for you.
I want to name and acknowledge that not everyone has the capacity, privilege, or safety to pause and reflect, especially in times of crisis or survival. We’re all moving through life at different rhythms. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and honor where you are. I don’t have any answers—just a willingness to share what’s helped me find clarity in the chaos.
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I know world we live in is far more than what we can see with our eyes. Sometimes it can be difficult to place our attention here, but beneath the surface of daily routines, texts, traffic lights, inboxes, and to-do lists, there’s another dimension—a world of energy, frequency, and connection. Some call it 5D, the unseen realm, the spirit world, the matrix.
For me, the more I slow down, the more I notice. And what I’ve come to realize is that signs and synchronicities are everywhere.
Not because I’m special or have any secret abilities—but because when I have the capacity to pay attention, I ask. And the more I ask, the more I notice.
This kind of dialogue with the unseen world tends to ebb and flow—it often meets you exactly where your energy is.
So, what are signs and a synchronicities?
A sign is usually a direct message—something personal that you either ask for or instinctively recognize. For example, after my Nana passed, I started asking her to send me cardinals. Now, when one appears, especially in an unexpected moment, it feels like her saying hello.
A synchronicity is a meaningful coincidence that feels divinely timed—like when you're contemplating a big decision, a book to read, a place to visit, and suddenly three different people bring up the exact topic/book/place you’ve been quietly sitting with. You didn’t ask, but the universe answered anyway. A cosmic nudge nudge, wink wink.
Both are ways the unseen world speaks to us—sometimes in whispers, sometimes in neon signs.
Ask, Again and Again
One spiritual practice I’ve learned is asking the universe, my guides, and my loved ones who’ve passed for signs. I often get specific: “Pepé, if you’re with me today, send me something that reminds me of you.” For him, it might be a playing card, a dollar bill, or the scent of landscaping equipment—all things tied to my memories of his charismatic energy.
When I’m thinking of my Nana, I look for cardinals, the rosary, images of Mother Mary, and the time 11:11. (Every time I see it, I smile and say, “Hi, Nana.”)
Whether the signs show up in waking life or in dreams, they’re like gentle nudges from the other side. The more we pay attention, the more we realize how supported we really are.
Nature and the cosmos are communicating with us
The natural world is one of the richest sources of signs. Have you ever had an animal cross your path in a way that made you pause? Maybe a butterfly landed on your hand, or a hawk circled overhead just as you were thinking about someone you miss.
One night, I was sitting in a hot tub with a friend under the stars. I had just been diagnosed with my second ovarian tumor, and I knew the surgery ahead would change me forever. I was deep in grief—grappling with fear, uncertainty, and questioning everything I believed—definitely a "WTF, universe?" moment for me.
In the middle of our conversation, I mentioned that I had never seen a shooting star. Not even 30 seconds later, one streaked across the sky, right above us.
It was undeniable.
At that moment, it felt like the universe was saying, I’m here. And maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t alone in it after all.
The Feeling Matters
Signs aren’t just about seeing a certain number or spotting a bird. It’s about the energy that comes with it.
When I experience a sign, I pause and ask myself: What am I feeling? What is this moment trying to show me?
Sometimes the answer is clear. Sometimes it unfolds slowly. And sometimes… I know the sign is for me, but I also know I’m not ready to act on it. That’s okay too.
As Laura Lynne Jackson writes in Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe:
“The universe is always communicating with us. The key is to learn how to listen.”
Developing Your Language with Spirit
You don’t have to be a psychic or medium to receive messages from beyond. You can build a personal, daily connection with the unseen world. You can ask for signs. You can set intentions.
You can even say, “I need that one more time, please. Louder.”
Your signs don’t have to look like mine or anyone else’s. They’re for you. Over time, you’ll develop your own spiritual shorthand with your guides, ancestors, and the universe itself. Like a sacred inside joke between you and spirit.
Let’s Explore This Together
This month, I’m holding two spaces for us to explore this magic:
✨ Month Ahead Energy Call – May 6th, 7-8pm (ZOOM) A donation-based call where we’ll tune into the astrology of the month and set aligned intentions.
🌙 Circle: Signs & Synchronicities – May 18 4-6pm (in-person - Portland, OR) We’ll gather to share stories, slow down, and reflect on the messages the universe might be sending us. Together, we’ll reclaim silence, stillness, and sacred attention.
If you’ve ever wondered if a sign was “real,” this is your invitation to trust your knowing. If something feels meaningful—it is.
Warmly,
Emily
