Do you ever feel a presence near you, but don’t see anyone around? While it might seem a bit spooky or unsettling, don’t fear. Feeling someone nearby without being able to see them might mean a deceased loved one wants to pay you a visit, if only to say hello and ease your mind. They might want to dispel any fears you might have about their well-being; they want to reassure you and let you know they’re okay. The spirit world can try to get your attention in many ways, but the following 11 are some of the most common signs that your loved one wants to contact you.

You have powerful visions while meditating.

The spirit world can convey messages to us in many ways, but most commonly, they talk to us when we silence our minds. Those voices that pop into your head during meditation can easily come from a deceased loved one, so pay careful attention during your meditation sessions or other quiet times. You might also get visions from them while meditating; maybe you see them doing one of their favorite activities, or even sitting down on the couch chatting with you.

“The spirit world is able to get through to you easily when your mind is still and clear. Meditation is often referred to as ‘sitting in the silence. Whenever you want to reach Spirit from this side of life, start by sitting in the silence.” - James Van Praagh

Your senses seem more intense.

Spirits communicate through smell, touch, taste, vision and sound. If you smell a perfume that your loved one used to wear, for instance, they might have come to pay you a visit. You might also see them manifest before your eyes, or hear their voice calling to you. You might also feel them brush up against your skin; the room may feel suddenly cold, like a draft from an open door or window. Finally, maybe you have a taste in your mouth from a food that they used to love cooking. All of these signs point to a presence with you.

Electronics suddenly malfunction.

A spirit may use electronics in order to communicate with you, as many of these provide excellent mediums for them to do so. For example, if you have a radio in your room, they might use one of the frequencies to try to talk with you. You’ve probably seen this happen in scary movies before, and many people have attested to this happening in real life. However, your loved one doesn’t want to scare you; they just want to find an easy way to get through to you in the Earthly realm.

“Remember that although bodies may pass away, the energy that connects you to a loved one is everlasting and can always be felt when you’re open to receiving it.” - Doreen Virtue

You feel them in the room.

You can’t explain it, but you just feel something with you that you didn’t feel before. The room just seems different, like someone you can’t see is in your presence. Instead of feeling afraid, however, you feel comforted, loved, and reassured.

You get goosebumps.

You might get chills on your body during an encounter with your loved one. This happens due to their colder temperature, so if you feel the room suddenly get chilly, then you might have a deceased loved one nearby.

Everything feels surreal.

You might feel a bit disconnected from reality, like you’ve entered another dimension. Your loved one came from a different dimension after all, so maybe you have been temporarily transported to their current reality. You might have an out-of-body experience, as the energetic vibration from their spirit affects your frequency. Looking back on it, you may have only glimpses of the experience in your head, and not be able to account for certain time periods.

You awaken feeling peaceful and refreshed.

You might wake up feeling totally well-rested, even if you normally don’t sleep well. Your loved one may have come to you in a dream, wishing for you to get better sleep, and sent you this gift as a way of looking out for you.

A review of 20 after-death communications found that people who had an encounter with the deceased felt more able to cope with the grief. This may have happened because people felt reassured by the experience, as it supported their spiritual beliefs.

You’ve had dreams about them recently.

Maybe you recall dreams you’ve had about your deceased loved one; this may mean they want to communicate with you. If you keep having dreams about them, they might very well be nearby.

You think about them more often.

Even though your deceased loved one passed away years ago, you think about them frequently. If this sounds like what you’ve been experiencing, then they may have returned for a visit with you. Don’t discount your thoughts; they mean a lot more than you’d think, especially in regards to our deceased loved ones.

You feel watched by someone.

We have the ability to feel someone in the room with us, even if we can’t see them. If you feel as though you’re being watched, this might be your deceased loved one looking out for you.

You have a sense of comfort.

If you suddenly feel comforted and safe, but can’t explain why, then look to the spiritual world for the answer. Our deceased loved ones want us to feel protected, loved, and looked after, so they will come to visit us when we need the support. If you’ve been going through a hard time lately but suddenly feel comforted and supported, then you might have a deceased loved one nearby.