There Is No Timetable for Grief: 16 Years Without My Mam
When I first sat down to write Walk with Angels, I had one simple hope. I hoped it would help people feel a little more connected to themselves, to their intuition, and to the angels who quietly walk beside them every day. I wanted it to be a gentle companion. A book that would help people pause, breathe and remember that they're never truly walking through life alone. Never, not even for a second, did I imagine it would inspire someone else to write music. Yet that's exactly what happened. It all started with one simple idea Walk with Angels is a 30-day guided journey designed to help people build their own relationship with the angels. The first week is all about meeting your Guardian Angel and learning that everyone has one. From there, the journey explores how angels communicate with us, the signs they send, how to recognise their guidance, and the different Archangels who support us throughout life's challenges. More than anything, I wanted people to experience the angels for themselves rather than simply read about them. Earlier this year, my friend Carol Maher read Walk With Angels. Before picking up the book, connecting with angels wasn't something she'd ever really explored. As she journeyed through the four stages, something began to shift. When I later asked Carol what inspired her to write the songs, this was her reply: "Because this book has been so powerful for me, I wanted to find a way that would be easy for me to stay connected with the Angels on a daily basis, and continue to enjoy the comfort, peace, love, joy and inner strength that connecting with the Angels has brought. I was inspired to write four songs to remind me of all the Angels and the four sections in this book while including some of the key learnings along the way." Reading those words alone meant so much. Then she went and did exactly what she'd described. She wrote four original songs. One for each stage of the Walk with Angels journey. The moment I first heard them The first time I listened to the songs wasn't at home. I was on holiday in Tenerife with my husband and friends. We were sitting by the sea, cocktails in hand, enjoying the sunshine, the conversations and everything that comes with slowing down for a few days. Then my phone buzzed. Carol had sent me a WhatsApp message. The songs were finished. Of course I pressed play straight away. But with the sound of the waves, people chatting around us and music playing nearby, I couldn't really hear them. So I stopped. The strange thing was that, although I was having a lovely afternoon, all I wanted to do was get back to the hotel room. I had this nervous excitement inside me. I couldn't wait to hear what she'd created. As soon as we got back, I went straight to the bedroom. I put my headphones on, lay across the bed and pressed play. I wanted to experience them quietly, just me and the music, before hearing anyone else's thoughts or opinions. Within seconds, I was crying. Then came the words about the butterfly. If you've followed my work for a while, you'll know how much that means to me. Before my mum died, the blue butterfly became the sign she promised she would send me from spirit. Since then, it has become such an important part of my life that it's now the logo for my work. To hear Carol weave a butterfly into that very first song completely took me by surprise. It felt like someone had wrapped my heart in the biggest hug. I didn't just have a few tears. I sobbed. As the songs continued, it wasn't only the lyrics that moved me. It was the way Carol had somehow captured the essence of the angels. Each song reflects one of the four stages of Walk with Angels, weaving together the Guardian Angel, the Archangels, their colours, their qualities and the messages woven throughout the journey. I've spent years trying to describe what the angels feel like. Through readings, healing sessions, workshops and finally through writing Walk with Angels, I've searched for words that might help people understand their presence. Then Carol wrote these songs. Somehow, Carol captured their essence in a way my own words never could. That is an incredible gift. A soundtrack to the journey For the rest of the holiday, my headphones were never far away. Song 3, Coming Home to Me quickly became my Tenerife soundtrack. It's centred around Archangel Michael, who has always held such a special place in my own life, and every time I listened to it, I felt elevated and connected to myself more. Since the album was released on Spotify this week, the songs have been on repeat. In the car. Around the house. Even in my head. And something unexpected has happened. Even though I've worked with the angels for many years, these songs have deepened my own connection with them. I've found myself spending time with Archangels I wouldn't naturally connect with every day, simply because the music invites me to pause and spend time with them. I honestly never imagined music could become another way of connecting with the angels. Yet that's exactly what it's become. More than a book One of the biggest lessons this experience has taught me is that we never really know where something we create will lead. When I wrote Walk with Angels, I thought I was writing a book. I never imagined it would become something people could read, listen to and experience. For that, I'll always be grateful to Carol. Her gift for songwriting has brought the journey to life in a way I could never have imagined, and I'm so honoured that the message of the angels is now reaching people through music as well as words. I'd genuinely love to know which song speaks to you the most. Mine keeps changing. Each time I listen, a different lyric seems to arrive exactly when I need it. Perhaps that's the beautiful thing about music. It has a way of meeting us exactly where we are and touching our heart.
The Meaning Behind My Logo: The Blue Butterfly & The Feather How Spirit, Signs, and My Mam Led Me Into My True Identity as “I Am Karen Walsh” I’m so delighted to finally share the story behind my logo, the blue butterfly and the feather. These symbols hold years of love, loss, healing, and the most beautiful signs from Spirit. My hope is that this story brings comfort to anyone who is grieving, missing a loved one, or searching for reassurance that Spirit truly is near. The Blue Butterfly: A Promise From My Mam My mam’s birthday is the 28th of July. This year would have been her 74th birthday, and her 15th in the spirit world. Just days before she passed, she told me despite being a devout Catholic that she wasn’t sure what awaited her after death. I asked her, gently, to send me a sign if she could… something unmistakable… to let me know she was safe. She promised that if possible, she would return as a blue butterfly. I had never seen a blue butterfly in my life. Then, five years after she passed, as I sat in my garden, a tiny blue butterfly danced around me. I cried instantly, I knew it was her. Later that same day, my dad rang me in tears saying a blue butterfly had been circling him too. That was the moment we both received her promise. Not long after, I got a blue butterfly tattoo on my arm to honour her love. Her Birthday Signs, and the Butterfly Who Returned This year, on her birthday, our family visited her graveside. I know she’s not there in spirit, but honouring the day felt important. The signs began early. My daughter opened a box of doughnuts she’d been gifted, on two of them were delicate blue butterfly decorations. At the graveside, as I told my little grandson Khylin stories about his Great Nanny, a tiny blue butterfly hovered around us. Later, while sharing the earlier signs with family, the same butterfly circled us once more. That evening, my daughter found a white feather in her garden, another sign from both the angels and our loved ones in Spirit. It felt like Mam was wrapping us in love the entire day. Why I Chose the Feather Feathers have always been a powerful sign from Spirit for me, but they’re also deeply connected to the angels who have guided my entire life and spiritual work. Archangel Michael, especially, has been a constant companion. I wanted the feather in my logo to honour that connection, a symbol of protection, guidance, and the angelic presence that surrounds us. Stepping Into My True Identity: Why My Brand Is Now “I Am Karen Walsh” When I began this journey, I thought I needed a spiritual business name, something that described what I did. But as I grew, healed, and stepped more fully into my gifts, I realised something important: I’m not hiding behind a brand anymore. I am the work. I am the channel. I am the connection. My work is about guiding people to reconnect with their own soul, their own light, their own power, and their own inner wisdom. And to teach that authentically, I had to walk the same path myself. I had to stop shrinking. Stop hiding my gifts. Stop standing behind names that were “safe.” Stop waiting for permission. So I stepped forward into the identity that feels truest: I Am Karen Walsh. A woman who walks with Spirit. A healer. A channel. A medium. A guide. A soul who helps others reconnect with themselves. The blue butterfly and feather don’t represent a company, they represent my journey, my mam, my angels, and the work I am here to do. A Message For You Our loved ones are always sending us signs, butterflies, feathers, songs, numbers, scents, dreams… Little reminders that love continues beyond the physical world. If you’re missing someone today, take a moment to ask for a sign. Be open, gentle, and trusting. Signs come in divine timing, always when your heart is ready. Your guardian angels stand with you too, but because we have free will, they can only intervene when invited. A simple intention whispered from the heart is enough. If You Need Support If you’re grieving, seeking clarity, or longing for connection with your angels or loved ones in Spirit, I’m here. You’re welcome to reach out any time. With love, hugs and angel blessings Karen Walsh #1 Amazon Bestselling Author • Psychic Medium • Spiritual Healer & Guide
How Loved Ones Send Us Signs After They Die A gentle guide to recognising the subtle ways Spirit reaches out to us. When someone we love dies, the world changes. The physical connection is gone, but the love remains, and that love continues in ways that are often quiet, gentle, and deeply personal. Even when the grief feels heavy, our loved ones in Spirit are closer than we realise. They reach out to us in small, meaningful ways, offering comfort, reassurance, and reminders that they’re still with us, only in a different form. In this blog, I want to share some of the most common ways our loved ones send signs after they die, and how you can begin recognising them in your own life. 1. Signs Through Nature: Butterflies, Birds, Feathers Nature is one of the easiest ways for Spirit to make contact because it flows freely, gently, and without fear. Many people notice: Butterflies appearing at meaningful moments Birds visiting windows or gardens Feathers in unusual places Dragonflies, robins, ladybirds Sudden stillness, soft wind, shiver through your body when indoors and warm. A deep knowing that they are with you These signs often arrive when you’re thinking about your loved one, or when your heart needs reassurance the most. Butterflies, especially, are powerful messengers. For some, they represent transformation. For others, like me, they carry deep personal meaning. 2. Music, Songs & Lyrics Spirit often uses music because it goes straight to the heart. You might notice: A song that was meaningful to your loved one suddenly playing A lyric that speaks directly to your situation A tune that comes into your mind out of nowhere Music is one of the easiest ways for them to reach you, especially when you’re driving, resting, or in moments of quiet reflection. 3. Clouds, Shapes & Light Some signs are visual, subtle, and deeply beautiful: Cloud shapes resembling hearts, angels, feathers, animals Rainbows appearing unexpectedly Sunlight streaming in at a meaningful moment Flickering lights or gentle electrical disturbances These signs often appear around anniversaries, birthdays, or on days when you’re missing them deeply. 4. Thoughts, Feelings & Inner Whispers Not all signs are external. Some signs come as: A sudden memory A feeling of warmth A sense of their presence A phrase or sentence that drops into your mind A moment of peace that feels “not your own” Your loved ones use your intuition because it’s one of the easiest channels for them to reach. 5. Dreams & Visitations Dreams are a powerful form of spiritual communication. A true visitation dream feels: Peaceful Vivid Comforting Real Emotionally soothing Your loved one may appear healthy, glowing, or much younger, often exactly the way you remember them at their happiest. These dreams are not “just dreams.” They are visits. Trust and know this. 6. Objects Moving, Smells & Little Moments Some signs show up as: Their scent suddenly filling a room A photo falling A candle flickering Coins appearing Meaningful objects showing up in unexpected places These are subtle ways Spirit says: “I’m still here. I haven’t left you.” Why These Signs Arrive. Signs are not random. They come because: Love doesn’t end Spirit continues Your bond remains The connection changes form but not essence They want you to know you’re not alone They love you and want to comfort you And the most important part: Signs come when your heart is ready to receive them. Not a moment earlier. Not a moment too late. How to Become More Open to Signs You don’t need to do anything special. Simply soften. Here are some gentle ways to invite signs: Speak to your loved one as if they are sitting right bed=side you because they will be name Think of them Ask for a sign Invite them to be with you at a particular time and honour this as if going to an important appointment Speak their name Be curious, not forceful Trust what you feel Signs aren’t always dramatic. Most are quiet, soft, and deeply personal meant only for you. A Final Message If you’re grieving someone you loved deeply, please know this: They have not vanished. They have not stopped loving you. They have not disappeared into nothingness. They are walking beside you. They hear you. They see your pain. They send signs in the small moments when your heart needs it most. And when you’re ready, you will begin to recognise them. If you’d like support connecting with your loved ones, or if you’re in need of reassurance, guidance, or healing, I’m here whenever you’re ready. With love, hugs and angel blessings Karen Walsh #1 Amazon Bestselling Author • Psychic Medium • Spiritual Healer & Guide