Your Angels' Messages about Life Purpose, Relationships and Health

Your guardian angels are continually giving you messages, frequently through signs, such as seeing rainbows, repetitive number sequences, finding coins or feathers, and hearing meaningful songs.

In this fascinating book, Doreen Virtue and her son Charles teach you how to understand the signs that are always around you. You'll gain comfort from reading true stories of how angels have answered prayers by giving clear signs revealing their love and protection. You'll also learn how to ask the angels for signs, along with specific prayers for your relationships, career, health, and other vital areas of your life.

The following excerpt is taken from the book SIGNS FROM ABOVE: Your Angels' Messages about Your Life Purpose, Relationships, Health, and More by Doreen Virtue and Charles Virtue. It is published by Hay House (January 2009) and is available at all bookstores or online at: www.hayhouse.com.

Introduction

Your angels are always with you and are always talking to you - especially in answer to your prayers. When life is stressful, you may not necessarily hear their soft angelic voices, which come in the form of intuitive feelings and thoughts. In those instances, these heavenly beings take their messages to a more concrete level and send you signs from above.

Signs are:

· Repetitive
· Out of the ordinary
· Personally meaningful
· Timed to coincide with your prayers or questions that you've posed to the Divine

Throughout life, we experience celebrations, challenges, hard times, joyous occasions, losses, and reunions. At times, even the most spiritually minded people can feel as if they're walking alone, without a helping hand. Yet since the angels are constantly around us, so is their guidance.
These celestial messengers are here to help us be peaceful and to guide us in helping other people be the same. Yet, the angels won't intervene without our permission or violate our free will. After all, we're here to learn and to evolve on a soul level, from both the good and the bad. Before we're born, we select a series of goals and lessons for our time on Earth. This is a form of sacred contract that determines what type of life we're going to live.
As a soul, you're destined to experience everything life has to offer. Whether you were born as an aristocrat or an average citizen, this lifetime is your opportunity to encounter what you need in order to develop on a soul level.
When angels help us through life, sometimes they do so in ways that may not be immediately recognizable to us. That is because they're here to guide and protect, not to lead and direct. They often deliver answers, hints, messages, and warnings through signs-signals, or anomalies in life, which let us know that they're with us. While this form of communication is as old as humankind, it's not widely known, understood, or recognized. The angels want to change this because signs are their most common and direct mode of getting in touch with us. They wish to help us all become aware of the fact that they're constantly sending us messages every day of our lives.
Today, you've already been shown several signs . . . and you're going to come across more before you go to sleep.
There are two steps to experiencing signs from above: (1) believe in them, and (2) notice them. While their magnitude and consistency vary from person to person and situation to situation, signs are abundant and are here to help us. Amazing life transformations occur when we learn to see and use the messages the angels give us in everyday life, in all situations, big or small.
Look back on the last major challenge you faced and recall any repetitive signs that you received in response to your prayers for assistance. How were you guided through? Were there any aspects of that particular situation or occurrence that just seemed to fall into place? If you answered yes, then you probably followed the signs you were shown.
Not all signs are small, and not all are monumental. Each one is there for a specific purpose, be it to comfort you, help you finalize a decision, or confirm something you already knew but weren't sure about. Following your signs not only guides you through situations, but also helps you make decisions that support your life path and goals. Paying attention to one sign leads to more, ultimately improving every aspect of your life and giving you the fulfilling and uplifting feeling that you're living with a purpose - your purpose.
Listening to your signs demonstrates to the angelic realm that you're open, receptive, and willing to be shown more . . . it encourages them to give you additional ones! If you ever feel as if the signs are eluding you, just ask your angels to show you something different or make their offerings more obvious or applicable to you.
Our job is not to search for signs; it's to notice them. The difference is subtle. Frantically seeking them out leads to tension, which makes angelic communication more difficult. By being relaxed about it, we keep our bodies and souls aligned with the angelic energy that surrounds, flows through, and protects all of us.
So just as you're letting the information in these pages be revealed to you, sit back and enjoy the show as you learn to ask for, see, and recognize signs from the angels.

Asking for a Sign

Sure, signs are great way-showers, and they're often miraculous. But if they aren't coming to you automatically, how can you "activate" them in your life? Well, regardless of what rituals you may have heard of, communicating with the angels and asking them for signs is easier than reading this paragraph! Anytime you think, wish, will, or otherwise manifest something, you are praying for it and the angels are listening.
That's why it's important to monitor your thoughts and keep only what you do want on your mind at all times. Although the angels are around to help and to make sure you're on your correct path, they also understand that everyone is here to learn and evolve. Therefore, they'll be sure to accommodate you even when your thoughts aren't always in your own best interests.
This is because the law of energy is so absolute and complete in this Universe that it's our job to make sure only the highest, most positive and loving energy is allowed to flow through us. This isn't an overnight accomplishment, since our natural inclination is to handle everything ourselves and therefore dwell on whatever seems significant. So when we focus on bad things in our lives, we perpetuate negativity. This might sound like a catch-22, because how on earth are we supposed to solve anything if we can't process it? That's where the angels come in. . . .
Have you ever heard the saying "Let go and let God"? If there were ever truer words to live by, we haven't heard them. One of the most amazing and blessed things about having angels around us is that they'll do almost anything to ensure that our lives are happy, fulfilled, and in the light. They also make certain we're comforted in times of need, given a sense of companionship when we feel alone, and lent strength when we feel weak or helpless. And for all of this help, the angels ask nothing more in return than for us to be happy and believe that they exist.
Here are steps you can follow whenever you'd like the angels to send you a sign of comfort or guidance.

The Steps to Receiving Signs from Above

1. Ask. Because of the Law of Free Will, the angels can only help you - including giving you signs - if you ask. So, if you want a sign, you must ask for one. It's best not to specify what type you want to appear. Instead, just notice the repetitive patterns that occur after you put in your request.
Although rituals aren't necessary, they can be helpful because we're all creatures of habit. If we can make a routine and an instinct out of communicating with our angels, then our lives become blessed beyond imagination. Thinking is a form of prayer, and realizing this will help us make sure that all of the requests we place with our angels are the ones we actually want.
A woman named Louise shares how asking for a sign helped her find peace in a traumatic situation. Now she receives regular, yearly signs that everything is okay.

We were devastated when our three-week-old son, Ricky, was diagnosed with a rare heart condition. Soon afterward, he passed away in my husband's arms.
A few days after Ricky died, my husband had to go back to work. I didn't know many other people where we lived, so I didn't really have anyone else to talk to. It was a desperately lonely and sad time. One afternoon about a week after Ricky had left us, I was sitting in front of our house with my husband. I was so sad, and I said to him, "If only I had a sign that he was okay. I just want to know that he's being cared for and that he's happy and not in pain anymore."
Just then our eldest daughter came running and shouting for us to go to the backyard. When we ran out back, there was the most spectacular rainbow straight over our yard. It was huge, and the colors were so bright! Although the rainbow was exceptionally beautiful, I thought that it was just a coincidence.
Then, as if to convince me that it wasn't, it started to snow - just softly, with tiny flakes that landed really gently. We stood with our arms out, just looking up at the snow falling, watching it melt on our skin, and gazing at each other in disbelief. It was on a bright sunny afternoon, and snow was just out of the question.
I asked other people if they saw the snow on that day, and they just looked at me like I was mad. I rang my sister and told her-she thought that the grief was too much for me and suggested that I see a counselor. But I knew that it really did happen, and it was a sign. Although we were the only ones who saw the snow, it gave me much peace, and I was able to move forward.
We also receive signs that Ricky is fine from the miniature yellow rosebush that I planted right before he died. Every year on the anniversary of his death and birthday, I always get a new bud. To me, these yellow rosebuds are my angels' way of letting me know that my son is okay.

2. Have faith. Trust that the angels are with you, and have faith in the signs that they send. Michelle Simmonds shows us that just asking and believing is often sign enough, and that faith is a very powerful tool:

I was living in my new adopted city of Melbourne, Australia, and I didn't know many people. So when a workmate kindly invited me to a party, I gladly accepted. As I was driving there, it was very cold and dark.
Although I'd been given directions, I was soon lost in the winding streets of a deserted industrial area. I was frightened, especially since I didn't have a cell phone or a map with me, so I prayed to God and my angels to please help me. I immediately felt a sense of calm come over me.
I kept driving and followed my intuition, as I could feel God and the angels guiding me. Soon I was on a main road, where there was a fast-food restaurant. I went to the drive-through, made a small purchase, and asked for directions. As I came out of the driveway, I saw a church across the road, and when I read their notice board, I burst out laughing. It said: "Lost? Let God show you the way!"

3. Trust in Divine timing. Every prayer is heard and answered, but sometimes the fulfillment seems delayed as the angels work behind the scenes to orchestrate the details.
Heather Succio's story illustrates how requests and prayers are answered exactly when they're supposed to be:

I only knew Grandpa Davis for the first six years of my life, which are those formative years when any kindness has a profound impact. My grandpa was my buddy. He constantly made a point of being there for me and doing little things that make such a huge difference in the life of a five-year-old child. For instance, he made me a witch's nose out of Silly Putty one Halloween and made sure to be there to take me out for my first trick-or-treat extravaganza! He made me a school-year scrapbook, with report cards, pictures, kindergarten worksheets, and drawings lovingly pasted in with handwritten captions.
My grandpa was also an avid stamp collector. He was fascinated by them - foreign or domestic, pristine or battered. He gathered, pasted, and proudly displayed countless postage stamps in books and boxes, which seemed to be bursting out of every storage closet in my parents' house. He simply loved the look of them and their connection to exotic travel destinations.
Although he worked for the airlines, he was "grounded" in the mechanic's shed. I've often thought that he must have had a romantic wanderer's heart, fantasizing about where he might go someday. After he passed away, I trusted that he was there somewhere "up above," although I wasn't able to touch, hear, or see him.
Feeling particularly wistful one evening, I pleaded for my grandpa to say hello. I knew not to ask for something specific. I just prayed that I'd know he was there, but by something more tangible than simply a feeling in my heart.
The morning after I asked my grandpa for that sign - 12 hours after pleading for some indication of his presence in my life - a postal package arrived. As I was sitting at the breakfast table, my husband said, "A package that I'd ordered arrived this morning - from Hong Kong, of all places! The entire box is absolutely covered top to bottom, left to right, with these incredibly beautiful postage stamps. Do you know anybody who collects them?"
My eyes filled with tears as I first thanked my husband, then my grandpa. Isn't life so precious and so wonderful, especially when we can know that we aren't going through it alone? Ask, and ye shall receive . . . even signs from above! Although I've always felt loved and protected by the angels, it's wonderful to get confirmation.

As Heather's story reveals, some prayers are answered immediately, while others can take a while. But the angels always hear and respond to every request for help.

4. Notice the signs. If you've asked for signs and believe you haven't yet received one, it could be that you haven't noticed or trusted those that have been delivered. Not to worry, though, as there's an endless supply! Ask the angels for other signs, and request that they help you recognize and understand them.
The angels are happy to keep repeating signs until you notice them. Even if you don't grasp the meaning of one, noticing it is important. It's a good idea to ask the angels to explain what it means, in addition to trusting your gut feelings and ideas about its significance.
Bev Black's fears were allayed because she trusted the lights that she saw (which, by the way, are a common sign that the angels are with you, protecting and overseeing you and your situation):

I was driving to pick up my husband at the Bellingham Airport. I'd traveled on two Canadian ferries and was now on the last leg of my journey from British Columbia to Washington.
The highway was already snowy and icy when a huge storm hit with thunder, lightning, and then hailstones so big and thick I could barely see in front of me. There was no place to pull over, as the road was narrow and dark.
I got really scared and started asking my angels to protect me and get me to my destination. Within minutes, I saw bright flashes of light right beside me on the car passenger seat and knew that my prayers had been answered. I had an angel sitting there keeping me calm and offering support. I drove the rest of the way calmly and with confidence, knowing that I didn't have to be afraid any longer.

5. Take action when guided. Signs from above often give you messages about actions you can take to bring about the answer to your prayers. As Lisa Hopp discovered, it's important to act upon this guidance:

I was having a very difficult day and didn't know how to cope. As I was driving to my parents' house, I looked up at the sky and screamed out loud: "How do I get out of this mess?!"
A gray Volkswagen van approaching on my left caught my eye. The way that it passed me attracted my attention more than the van itself at first: it came up fairly quickly, then seemed to lose speed once it passed.
The van had a white bumper sticker with purple flowers, and there was writing on the lower part of it. Since purple is my favorite color, this stood out to me. The bumper sticker read: "Simply Simplify." Unbelievably, as soon as I read it, the van sped up and drove off over a small hill in front of me. Seconds later, I drove over the same hill, but the van was gone from sight.
My gut told me that I'd just received an answer to my earlier prayer through this sign, but mentally I didn't understand the message and emotionally I didn't believe that I was worthy of this intervention, so I blew it off as a coincidence.
Two hours later, I was back at home in the living room, reading the Sunday paper. The television in front of me was tuned in to the first football game of the day. I laid each section of the newspaper out in front of me for better access to the ones that interested me.
The real-estate section was to the left. My attention kept going in that direction, and I didn't understand why. I even found myself picking it up, looking at the front, and putting it back down. Twice I did this before I finally succumbed to the urge and opened the first page. On the inside bottom left was a drawing of large, luxurious homes. Written on the front of these beautiful homes in big script were the words Simply Simplify.
Before I had time to react to these words, the volume on my television went up considerably on its own. I looked up instantly to watch the two football commentators on the screen. The first one said, "How do you think he was able to make these changes to the offense?"
The other commentator replied, "I know exactly how he made these changes: he simply simplified the offensive line."
Then the volume went back down. I began to cry. I thanked my angels and asked them to help me understand this message and make the necessary changes. Since then, I've simplified my life in various ways, and it has helped me cope - as well as hear my angels even better.

Doreen Virtue is a lifelong clairvoyant who works with the angelic realm. She is the author of the Healing with the Angels book and oracle cards; Archangels & Ascended Masters; and Angel Therapy, among other works. She recently released the Angel Blessings Candle Kit (with her son Grant) and her first children's book Thank You, Angels. Her new works, Angel Numbers 101, Magical Messages from the Fairies Oracle Cards, Angel Therapy Meditations CD, and her first novel - Solomon's Angels is available now.