I lost my brother suddenly and unexpectedly. He was only 35 years "young."  I checked out a grief book from my local library and the author said we can talk to our loved ones on the other side and ask for signs/symbols that they are still around us, and sometimes to disprove coincidences, they give a trifecta of signs. I asked for an orange butterfly. I never told anyone about this or my request.

My brother's favorite color is orange.  While he was alive, he dabbled in art as a hobby.  He painted a picture of a waterfall in a rainforest jungle.  It was beautiful and he gifted it to me but I felt like it was missing an added touch so I asked him to add a butterfly.  He did. 

Within one week to 10 days later, something arrived at my backyard.  My teenage daughter was outside dribbling a basket ball at the time and she screamed for me to come outside.  As I walked towards her, I shouted 'Is it a butterfly?'  When I approached her, I saw an orange butterfly on the ground.  She looked at me and asked, 'How did you know mom?'  I replied, 'I didn't know, but was hoping so.'

A couple of weeks later, I wanted to buy a window frame for this 'butterfly'.  I was in shock and a part of me still did not believe it was a sign from my brother and I was doubtful- I wrote it off as coincidental.

The nearest Aaron Brothers Frame store recently closed in our community so my neighbor recommended the local Good Will and said she has found gently used items at a reasonable deal.  So, I checked it out and although I couldn't find a window box frame I saw a frame that was a craftsman green  (one of the main colors my brother helped me paint my house in) it was almost the identical shade of green!  I couldn't resist and picked it up off the shelf to inspect it.  There was a postcard inside that appeared vintage.  I pulled it out and flipped over the postcard to see a postmark date showing my brother's birthday but of the year 1905.  I though it was a sign I should purchase it, so I did.  It wasn't until I got home to show the rest of my family the postcard inside that I continued to read the rest of the message- it was signed off as 'Your brother...'.  My jaw dropped to the floor as I stood there in awe.  My brother set off an series of events that led me to this postcard- endearing thoughts of a brother to his sister who lived a thousand miles away. 

Lastly, as an added bonus, the stamp of Benjamin Franklin is valued at $300-$500 as a collector item. And boom, there it was: T.R.I.F.E.C.T.A.

Feel free to contact me for pictures/validity.

Background Information:

Was this experience difficult to express in words?     No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?          Yes

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?       No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?       No

Did you see the deceased?       No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased? No

How long did the experience last?      It was a series of events that took place over 4-5 weeks.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?      Well, the experience of it all was gradual but the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          Yes

I felt love and a sense of peace from my brother.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?          no

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          Experience was definitely real

          Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:   There were other unexplained phenomena immediately after my brother left us happening in and around the house.

          Was the experience dream like in any way?  Yes

In addition to processing grief and a whirlwind of emotions, I was also in shock and awe  

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:  At the beginning of the experience, doubtful. When I finally came to the realization it was my brother sending me these signs he is okay, it was a mixed bag of emotions: relief, happiness, comfort, sadness.... it was almost as if I was watching a dormant volcano become active and finally exploding.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience? Yes

Yes, but it took months before it fully sank in.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     I lost my brother and best friend.  We can no longer have a two way conversation.....but now I realize we just have to learn how to converse and communicate in creative ways, listen with open ears and an open mind.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes                Describe:     Prior to losing my brother, I have always been a frugal spender.  I am now more generous and flexible with my spending habits, especially when it comes to splurging on family and friends.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience? Yes    I now believe my brother has a conscious and he reached out to me from an afterlife and is doing well.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?         Yes    I now firmly believe in an afterlife.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?         No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?         No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?         As I mentioned, mixed.  But mostly, relief and sense of peace to hear that my brother is doing okay wherever the heck he is now.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          Yes

My daughter found something unusual in our backyard.  She asked me to come take a look.  As I ran towards her I asked if it was the sign I asked for.  Never had I shared this with information with my daughter before. and she confirmed

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Yes

For months following my brother's departure to the "other side" I felt numb.  I felt like I was in my body going through the motions of daily life, work, kids, household chores but I was not exactly 'present' or in the moment.  When 'this event' occurred, it began the healing of my soul.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?         No

Did you become aware of future events?      No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience? No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?  No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?   No

Did you see a light?        No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?     No

Have you shared this experience with others?      

Yes    I tried to share my experience with my brother's best friend, but he has been grieving so hard that it was difficult for him to hear and process.  Every person who has loved my brother has been brought to tears when I share this story- it has been extremely hard on family, although it brings good news, the experience still reminds us my brother John is gone.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?       Uncertain

I can't recall...maybe not.

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience? The smoke detector in John's room was working just fine, until he passed. Within a couple of days, it went off. I changed the batteries myself and installed fresh batteries.  Within a day, the smoke detector went off again.  I swapped out the fresh batteries for a different set of fresh batteries.  It finally stopped. I think that was another way my brother was reaching out to us.  Also, our dining room chandelier has been flickering for the past 3 years my brother has died.  It never used to do this as often as it does today.

My brother moved in with me when my husband and I purchased our home in 2011.  The previous home owner planted a gardenia bush in our front yard and it typically blooms no more than a dozen flowers at any given time, even during full bloom spring just a small handful.  Within a few days of my brother's passing mid October 2015 there were as many as 50+ gardenia blooms on this bush!  You see, the gardenia fragrance is one of my favorites and I didn't put 2 and 2 together at the time it occurred, until I look back and realize all these signs my brother has sent and I was too entrenched in my own sadness and grief to see it at the time.

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?          No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?    No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?     No 

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?                     Yes

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.       It's always nice to be able to start a thread/dialogue with other people who have experienced similar events. A chat box or comment log would be great!  And, lastly, thank you for putting this website together and giving us a chance to relive these enlightened moments all over again.  The healing process in grief is eternal until we meet our loved ones again.