10 Common Signs a Deceased Loved One is Coming Near

October 7, 2026

What if you smelled a loved one's perfume in an empty room, heard their favourite song at an unexpected moment, or woken from a dream that felt completely real, you may wonder what it means. Many people experience these kinds of things when they lose their loved one and most of them don’t talk about it for fear of sounding unreal or weird.

In this guide, we explain the most common signs people experience after the death of a loved one and how to differentiate between a meaningful experience and a coincidence. It will also tell you what to do next and when it is appropriate to contact someone.

Some of the signs people commonly associate with a deceased loved one being near include a sudden sense of presence, familiar scents, vivid dreams, meaningful songs, repeating symbols and a feeling of calm during grief. No single sign proves anything. A repeating pattern that brings comfort is worth noticing.

How to know that a dead loved one is close to you?

Many people are shocked by how common this is. A 1971 study by Welsh physician W. Dewi Rees, published in the British Medical Journal, examined bereaved widows' and widowers' experiences. About 47% reported sensing the presence of their deceased spouse. Sensing the presence of someone who has died has been documented as an experience during bereavement. Experiencing this does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong.

Whatever you believe about the afterlife, many people find real comfort in spiritual signs from deceased loved ones. Psychic mediums such as Scott Stonebridge often hear similar stories from people experiencing grief. Most of the after death signs people describe are small, so they're easy to miss on a busy day. They show up in everyday situations, such as washing up or sitting in traffic.

10 Signs People Associate With a Deceased Loved One Being Near

Everyone experiences grief differently, but these are some of the experiences people commonly describe.

1. A Sudden Sense of Presence

You feel someone standing nearby, but no one is there. Most people say it feels calm and warm rather than frightening, and it often happens when things are quiet, such as sitting in a favourite chair or lying in bed. It's the most commonly reported of all the signs a deceased loved one is near you. People describe it like this:

A sense of company: As if someone has just walked in.
A change in the air: It feels warm or still.
A sense of being cared for: Safe, never threatening.

2. Familiar Scents

Pipe smoke, roses, fresh bread, a certain aftershave. You can clearly smell it, but nothing nearby explains it. Smell is closely tied to memory, so it can feel very real and very sudden. Many people say it is the strongest of the signs from loved ones who have passed, particularly when it's one person's scent. Here are a few examples:

Perfume or aftershave: The exact brand they always wore.
Cooking smells: A Sunday roast or baking in the kitchen.
Tobacco or flowers: A pipe, a cigar or a favourite garden flower

3. Feathers, Coins and Robins

One of the oldest signs people talk about is finding a white feather on your path or finding a coin in an odd place. In the UK, people associate the robin with someone lost, especially when they stumble upon one near them during a difficult week. These small items are viewed by others to be messages from the spirit world that come on the day that they need them the most such as a birthday or an anniversary.

4. Flickering Lights and Electrical Glitches.

A light turns on, a radio turns on by itself, or a clock stops at a time that matters to your family. Sensible to do a wiring check first, there is normally a simple cause. However, if the timing feels personal, some people see it as an indication that a loved one is visiting you. These are things that people usually see:

Lights that change color at specific times: Frequently when you are talking about it.
Things that start automatically: A radio on their favourite station.
Clocks that stop: Typically at a time that has significance to the family.

5. Vivid Dreams

The dream seems very real. Your loved one looks healthy and can talk, and you wake up feeling calm and not aggravated. Many believe dreams are the least intense of the after death indications, as the mind is slumbering during sleep. Generally, they are different from normal dreams in a few ways:

They feel real: colours, voices and small details are clear when you wake.
They coax serenity, instead of distress: You feel comforted, not distressed.
They remain in your memory: You can remember them vividly for days, even years.

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6. Songs at Just the Right Moment

As soon as you think of them, a song that holds special meaning for them plays. It may be in a store, the car or at a wedding. Some people experience it more than once in the same week, and the words may match their thoughts. One of the most common signs is music, which is closely related with memory and emotion. If it's just a coincidence, it can still be comforting.

7. A Soothing Touch

This could be a cool breeze with a closed window, a tap on your shoulder or a slight brush in your hair. People often attribute these to the spirits of deceased people they know because of the personal nature of the experiences. They're usually short and tend to occur when you're tired or depressed. Typical experiences include:

A flash of cold air: In a warm, still room.
A light touch: On your arm, shoulder or top of your head.
A hug like feeling: The feeling of being hugged and comforted.

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8. Animals Responding to Something Unseen

You see your dog looking at a chair that isn't being used, or your cat walking across the room and putting himself down on the floor, looking happy. Animals are sensitive to changes in their environment, whether it's their mood, their smell, or the sounds around their home. Many families see it as a sign, especially when the pet goes to the spot where their loved one used to sit. Sceptics say it's normal pet behaviour, and they might be right. Yet it can be a sweet reminder to the grieving family of the person they miss.

9. Repeating Numbers and Symbols

A birth date seems to keep coming or a butterfly flies by you in the middle of winter. Many interpret these as messages from the spirit realm which come at the opportune moment. This may be a house number, the same time on a clock, or a certain flower. It's not the event that matters, but the repetition: one event is typically just a coincidence. If the same symbol occurs repeatedly, identify how you feel each time the symbol occurs.

10. A Wave of Calm During Grief

It's a true sense of being at the centre of the pain, and then a deep calm descends upon you as if somebody wrapped an arm around you. To many, this is the most obvious indication that a loved one has passed away and is near, as it simply does not make sense to them otherwise. It usually happens without warning and may last for minutes or the entire day. It is typically said to be:

Relief: A lot of weight lifting, for a short period of time.
To reassure: To comfort by verbally calming a person.
Feel connection: The sense that the person is still close.

How to Tell If a Sign Is Meaningful or a Coincidence

No test can prove it. However, bereavement counsellors and mediums suggest simple checks that can help you tell the difference between a meaningful moment and a coincidence. They also provide you with a tangible method for find out if a loved one has passed away:

It's personal: The time, object or song is linked to your relationship with them.
It is consistent: The same sign keeps repeating, days or weeks, not just once.
It is comforting: You feel less afraid and less confused afterwards.
It happens spontaneously: you didn't look for a sign when it happened.

If most of these are true, the experience may feel personally meaningful. If none of these apply, that's OK. Grief can make everyday experiences feel significant, so take your time and try not to read too much meaning into any one moment.

Will a Medium Confirm These Signs?

A medium will give you a different perspective. Some wish for a name, a detail and a message only their loved one can know. That's why many people choose a Message From Spirit Reading when they see spiritual signs from the spirits of their departed loved ones in their daily lives.

Know that every reader works differently, so experiences and interpretations can vary. You may wonder, “Why can three psychics give three different answers?” This is why it is important to choose a reader with genuine, authentic reviews and to be cautious of anyone who guarantees a particular outcome. No honest medium can guarantee what a reading will reveal.

Scott has been a psychic medium for more than 20 years. He was diagnosed in 2020 with Motor Neurone Disease and continues to be involved in giving readings and fundraising for the MND Association. Many of our clients tell us that a reading helped them not feel so isolated in their grief and then afterwards they could see the signs from the spirit world.

Final Thoughts

The signs a deceased loved one is near you are usually small and personal. You might notice signs from loved ones who have passed in a scent or a song, feel spiritual signs from deceased loved ones as a light touch, or see after death signs in a vivid dream. Many people notice these experiences during stressful periods, around anniversaries, or at other emotionally significant times. For some, these moments become a comforting way to feel connected to the person they miss. Others feel signs from the spirit world only once, and for them that single experience is enough.

You do not have to prove any of this to anyone. If a sign brings you comfort, accept it, be patient with your grief, and ask for support when you need it. If you would like someone to talk it through with, Scott Stonebridge and his team are here to help.

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