Signs & Synchronicity: THE MAGIC OF SOUL-SPEAK

By Tricia Brennan

SIGNS AND SYNCHRONICITY – THE MAGIC OF SOUL-SPEAK
Have you ever stood at the crossroads and asked to be given a sign on which direction to take?
Do you ever question when it's time to move on or stay in a job or a relationship?
Have you ever noticed a peculiar series of random events that you simply can't ignore?
None of us are born with a map or a guidebook to help us choose which path to follow in life. Logic and reason will take us only so far when it comes to making decisions that satisfy our heart. Despite how lost, alone or confused we may feel at times, we are all individually guided by life's little whispers on a day-to-day basis. Signs and messages are all around us to help us discern the best solution or course of action to take. The challenge is learning to read those signs and trust our intuitive senses.
Signs & Synchronicity is a heart-warming book that offers guidance on how to interpret and read the signs life presents when we are willing to stop, look and listen. Drawing on 30 years experience as an intuitive counselor, international author Tricia Brennan shares a selection of true stories about overcoming fear and limitation and living a life inspired by love, wisdom, and purpose.
Compelling and poignantly written, each chapter conveys a relatable message about the struggle we experience when we are torn between our head and our heart. Filled with tips, tools, and daily practices, Signs & Synchronicity teaches us how to transform confusion into clarity, procrastination into purpose and fear into faith. The stories and lessons guide us to make wise, life-altering choices by learning to tune-in and decipher the language of "soul-speak."
Signs and Synchronicity is a bold reminder of how important it is that we are true to ourselves and follow our intuition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Oct 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781922328540

Tricia Brennan

Tricia Brennan is an internationally acclaimed intuitive counselor, author and spiritual teacher. Building on two decades work as an art director in film and advertising, Tricia has authored five books on metaphysics and an accompanying series of best-selling CDs.As a gifted visionary, she has guided thousands of people on journeys of self-discovery to acknowledge their true potential. Her wisdom and insight enable her to pinpoint a persons core issues and life lessons with great ease and accuracy. Her heightened perceptive abilities allow her to retrieve valuable information from the subconscious of an individual and decipher messages from the Higher Realms.A powerful and charismatic communicator, Tricia is a regular media commentator and has hosted her own talkback show called Talking Truth on Sydney’s Radio 2GB as well as writing a weekly magazine column called Soul Revival. She currently leads a series of seminars based on exploring The Map of the Soul - Discovering your True Purpose.

Book preview

Chapter One: Listening to Life's Little Whispers

The Universe always provides us with everything we need to discover our full potential. Signs and messages are all around us to help us discern the best direction to take. The challenge is remembering to stop, look and listen to interpret the language of life-speak.

None of us are born with a map or a guidebook on how to solve problems or choose which path to follow in life. There are times we wonder if we have a higher purpose, a higher power, and contemplate the nature of our fate. Although we may have dreams and ambitions, many of us still draw a blank when it comes to knowing our soul’s calling and are haunted by thoughts that there is something more we’re meant to be doing. Deadlines, duties, and agendas often take precedence over happiness and times of quiet reflection. We can easily get stuck or feel very alone when it comes to finding our way. Yet whether we’re asleep to the fact, or consciously aware of the interplay, we’re all individually guided by life’s little whispers on a daily basis.

At times, the information can be cryptic, appearing as subtle clues. You may be drawn to a caption in a magazine or watch an inspiring movie that presents a solution to a problem. A song might play on the radio at a time when the lyrics are uncannily relevant, or a license plate with a significant word may grab your attention at the traffic lights. Those little synchronistic events that show up in your world are there to make you stop, think, and ask yourself an essential question – Am I following my heart and considering my full potential? 

Messages from the Universe are delivered through a variety of means, including chance encounters with strangers who randomly offer you advice or a snippet of wisdom. If three different friends in the space of a week recommend a particular book, the likelihood is it will offer clarity or direction to help you move forward. The messages may be as subtle as a hummingbird appearing regularly in your garden to remind you to focus on the sweetness of life, or as blatant as a succession of flat tires cautioning you to stop and boost your morale. 

If big demands are placed on you at work or home, and then you are rear-ended in your car, you may subconsciously feel as though people are far too pushy or that you are at the mercy of other people’s ignorance or agendas. You project those thoughts and emotions into your world, which acts as a mirror. It shows you just how much you’re progressing in life and offers you feedback on where you need to change and grow. The same way your subconscious uses symbols and metaphors when you dream, it uses your waking life as means to communicate through the language of life-speak. 

Following life’s little whispers or life-speak can lead to inspiration, insight, or sudden realizations, opening the way to valuable aha moments. Signs and messages are all around you to help you discern the best solution or course of action to take. The challenge is taking the time to stop, look and listen – and above all – consider whether you’re holding your best interests at heart. 

To illustrate how the information is delivered, let’s take a look at an intriguing sequence of events that showed up in Dianna’s world, which ultimately led to fulfilling her heart’s desire. To paint a backdrop of her past, she initially approached me when she noticed a distinct pattern in her relationships with men. Habitually playing the classic rescuer, she propped men up while they let her down. With a heart of gold and a boisterous laugh that filled an entire room, she was an absolute joy to be around. As a tall, full-figured woman, with shiny black hair and ruby-red lips, Dianna stood out in the crowd. She was known for her playful nature and unwavering compassion. Her apartment was like a halfway house for weary travelers who popped in for comfort, counsel or a home-cooked meal. Even though she was extremely generous, when it came to returning the favor, men were downright stingy. En route to their next adventure, they would grab their hat and coat at the door, leaving her with a hug, an IOU and a pile of dirty dishes. As everyone’s friend but no one’s lover, Dianna’s esteem was in need of an overhaul. 

For almost twenty years she was secretly carrying a torch for Adrian, her teen years’ heartthrob. Although she admired him from a distance, when they did interact, they were terrific playmates. With compatible interests and similar backgrounds, they notched up impressive credits in the fun stakes. Sharing the same taste in music, literature, social topics and food, they never ran out of things to do. Adrian was intelligent, charming and incredibly handsome, with the reputation of being a ladies’ man. His dance card was usually full, but Dianna was always his backup. As passionate individuals, they embraced life to the max and enjoyed their freedom. While Adrian was busy traveling for work or dating a list of women, Dianna would be on standby waiting for him to show up again. 

As a foreign correspondent, he would fly in and out of the country, often landing on her couch. However, if the truth were known, it would have been Dianna’s preference to have him in her bed. Keeping her at arm’s length when it came to romance, but close when it came to accepting love and support, she was his loyal confidante and constant cheerleader. Although Adrian knew Dianna deserved the same amount of attention, he told her he wasn’t willing to cross that line unless he was ready to commit. His excuses about needing his freedom were punctuated with glowing comments about how special she was to him. For Adrian obviously, that wasn’t enough for him to fully engage; while he took center stage, it forced Dianna to wait in the wings. 

Adrian wasn’t the only man who tested Dianna’s patience. Michael, her martial arts trainer, also challenged her. A man with a hard shell and a soft center, he was prone to getting himself in hot water. During those times, his defenses would melt, and Dianna would come to his rescue. Lean, ripped, and at times impulsive, Michael was a sucker for petite blondes who would inevitably stab him in the back. Although Dianna warned him to be more discerning, he would often get hoodwinked. The message finally hit home when his fiancée cleaned out his bank account and ran off with her boss. As a loyal and trusted friend, Dianna helped him emerge from a pile of debts and mend his broken heart. 

Although Michael was grateful, his good deeds and courteous demeanor were interspersed with fits of anger. Although his bark was worse than his bite, he often tore Dianna to shreds with his cutting remarks. Scanning her heavyset figure, Michael would criticize her weight and tell her she was weak. Venting his pent-up rage toward women, rather than confronting his shame and resentment, he used Dianna as his emotional punching bag. Following one of his tirades, Michael would storm out of her apartment and disappear for days. He then re-emerged carrying a box of organic vegetables from the farmers market, pretending nothing had happened. Being the forgiving soul that she was, Dianna would offer him a seat at the kitchen counter and make a hearty pot of soup, and the friendship would get on track again.  

Having done a considerable amount of soul-searching, Dianna was well aware of the fact that Michael was a projection of her father and their relationship was mirroring her childhood beliefs. When she was a child, Dianna’s dad was cruel and belittling toward her, wishing he’d had a son. He ruled with an iron fist and was rigid, stubborn and strict. Despite his bullying manner, she remained a dutiful, devoted daughter and spent much of her time in the kitchen. To curb her anxiety as a teenager, she took up the ritual of smoking. Whenever she was angry or disappointed, rather than communicate her feelings, she masked her emotions by puffing on a cigarette. Dianna created a buffer and a smokescreen between her and life to shield her vulnerable heart. Although Dianna played out the victim, she was also a heroine. There were times she shielded her mother from her father’s tyranny and protected her younger siblings by vigilantly consoling them. Dianna took on the role of being the rescuer and the guardian and needed to break that pattern. For her to claim the love and affection she rightly deserved, Dianna was best served by playing the role of guardian and rescuer in her relationship with herself rather than tend to others. 

It was time for Dianna to let go of the past and focus on a bright future. Part of the process was to give up viewing Adrian through rose-colored glasses to make way for someone new. Ready to embark on a journey of change and self-discovery, she booked in for a coaching session. As we sat and enjoyed tea together in my courtyard, we reviewed her issues, and I stressed just how vital it was that she remained true to herself. Taking that stand would allow her to get in touch with her genuine preferences and align with true north – the path of happiness and graceful creation. Taking a deep breath, she rested her cup on the table and took a moment to get in touch with her heart. It was then that Dianna realized just how much she longed to be in an intimate, loving relationship with a supportive partner. Rather than dive into more self-analysis, I suggested she make an explicit declaration to the Universe of precisely what she wanted and stay open to receiving the relationship as a gift. Once she set her intention, the next step was for her to pay attention to life-speak. 

After a few sips of Earl Grey, I told Dianna to stay open to being guided by life’s little whispers on a daily basis. For her to stay on course, it was important for her to watch for the signs and respond to the messages while she remained focused on what she ultimately wanted to create. With her inner compass set to true north, her heart and soul would show her which direction to take and flag what to sidestep. We paused our conversation to watch a small, black-and-white Willie Wagtail bobbing along the fence. Fixing his gaze on Dianna for several minutes, he stopped to offer her a sweet song and wagged his tail from side to side. I couldn’t help but think this cheerful, gregarious little creature was cheering her on and showed up as a timely example of life-speak. 

By nature, Dianna was independent and willful. To recognize the signs, she would need to approach life with a beginner’s mind in an impressionable state. Life’s little mysteries are always revealed to those who travel through life with an open mind and an open heart. Being that receptive would allow her to interpret the signs using her intuitive senses and not just logic and reason. To help Dianna stay focused, I suggested she note all of her insights in a special journal. Tracking her soul’s whispers or, soul-speak, was a way for her to gauge her progress and receive further clarity and direction. The idea inspired Dianna, and she wanted to know what sort of things to watch for. She took out her pen and notebook, and I explained the different ways the soul communicates. Knowing that Dianna was a stickler for details, I offered her a breakdown while she jotted down notes. 

Apart from life-speak, messages are delivered through people-speak. If someone unexpectedly shows up offering insight, knowledge or wisdom, these are often synchronistic events in line with the guidance we’re seeking. If a conversation sparks our curiosity or oddly captures our interest, it’s wise to pay attention. These direct encounters are soul to soul whispers and often remind us we’re not alone on our path. The people we attract in our lives can also highlight where we give our power away or where we shine in the world. When Dianna received one of my books as a gift, she read a particular chapter and felt as though I was talking directly to her. The book was undoubtedly life-speak, and now that I was delivering the messages in person, the people-speak was loud and clear: Dianna was being nudged by her soul to follow her heart, and I was the emissary to voice that task.

Indicators also appear through the language of  dream-speak. The soul communicates through imagination and feelings, sending subtle messages through dreams via the subconscious and inner senses. During sleep, our night dreams are a means for us to gather insight as well as receive direction. When I mentioned the power of dream-speak, Dianna told me she’d recently had a dream about an impending tidal wave and wondered if it was prophetic. Knowing dreams are usually symbolic, I asked her what was going on in her life at the time. It was during a period when Dianna was experiencing conflict with her family and was concerned about drowning in other people’s negative emotions. Her soul was whispering to her to move to higher ground to gain clarity and feel secure. Rather than get caught up in the undertow and lose her footing, she needed to take a stand for herself. My interpretation made sense to Dianna, and although the dream was disturbing, it was a necessary caution from her soul. 

When physical ailments appear in our world, the volume of life-speak dramatically increases and becomes body-speak. It’s a warning to pay attention to suppressed emotions and is a shout from our soul that we’re out of balance. Dianna mentioned she’d recently had the toenail on her big toe fall off and was curious to know if that was a sign. Knowing interpretations can vary for individuals, I offered a suggestion and asked her to sense if it felt correct intuitively. From my perspective, it was an indication that on a deeper level she felt overly vulnerable, raw and exposed while stepping into her future. Bypassing her feelings, she’d ignored a few cautions in her life and pushed ahead. Life was now forcing her to tread gently and temper her stride. 

With a newfound trust, Dianna left my apartment knowing if she mindfully asked her soul or the Universe for clarity or guidance, the answers would eventually come. From the moment she exited the building, she was alert to the whispers and placed a reminder on her phone to stop, look and listen. That evening Dianna made a note on a fresh page of her new journal, listing her intentions. Shuffling the deck of her priorities, she knew her happiness and well-being had to be at the top. She’d been so caught up in taking care of everyone else, she often lost sight of her own needs and neglected her health. 

Two primary objectives took precedence on her game board. The first was to start dating, and the second was to give up smoking. After our session, she knew the formula for success could be summed up in three words: intention – attention – action. She knew the only way to overcome her addiction was to replace it with a healthy substitute. Consequently, Dianna would start swimming on a regular basis to help with her breathing. More importantly, she promised to communicate authentically, voicing her emotions instead of stuffing them down with each drag on a Marlboro Filter. It would take strength and courage for her to start dating and push away the cigarettes; the smokescreen between her and the world was about to disappear, and she would become more visible. 

During our conversation about dream-speak, I told Dianna her subconscious responds to symbols that evoke specific thoughts and feelings. To help her muster her strength and courage, she chose the lion as her visual cue. It served as a reminder for her to be proud and speak up and stand out in the world. Curiously enough, lions started to appear as life-speak whenever her strength began to wane. Feeling particularly down one morning, she picked up a coffee at an urban café and was craving a cigarette. With her latte in hand, she strolled along an alleyway adorned with graffiti. Stopping dumbfounded in her tracks, her eyes widened as she came face-to-face with a massive image of a lion’s head. She took it as a direct sign that the Universe was encouraging her to be resilient in the face of challenge. For the next few weeks, the king of beasts showed up in a passing parade of T-shirts, stickers, and emblems, including a random drawing of a lion given to her by her six-year-old niece. 

Although she was extremely proficient in martial arts, when it came to men, Dianna was more like a pussycat than a lion, and she needed to find her roar! One afternoon she came to see me. In tears, she complained about her friend Michael’s hostility. I underscored the fact that she needed to take a stand for her self-worth and tell him to back off. Although most of her family and friends adored her, when it came to single men, Dianna often got thrown under the bus. Instead of forfeiting her pride and cowering in shame, she would need to roadblock Michael’s renegade ways and tell him that it was her way or the highway. He either needed to treat her with care and respect or find himself another pit stop. 

Although Dianna and Michael’s relationship was merely platonic, the Universe was presenting her with an opportunity to break her pattern with men by speaking up. This little test would be where the rubber met the road for Dianna to indicate if she was moving in the right direction toward attracting a loving partner. Our time together helped her to realign with her priorities, and she intended to call Michael and resolve the issue once she was home. 

Driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic to her apartment, she had plenty of time to rehearse the imminent conversation in her head. Her train of thought was interrupted when a song called Thunder, by Imagine Dragons, started playing on her car radio. Turning up the volume, she knew it was life-speak when she listened intently to the lyrics that applied to exactly where she was:

"I was uptight, wanna let loose. 

I was dreaming of bigger things and wanna leave my old life behind. 

Not a yes sir, not a follower – fit the box, fit the mold. 

Have a seat in the foyer, take a number. 

I was lightning before the thunder.

Thunder, feel the thunder – Lightning then the thunder."

The words struck a chord, for Dianna knew she was being inspired by her soul to let loose, free herself up, be bold and stand out! A few minutes later, she received a clear confirmation that the timing of the music wasn’t just a coincidence. Slowing her pace, she watched as the car next to her changed lanes and cut in front of her in the traffic. Right before her eyes, the license plate displayed the word, ROAR in bold letters. As she did a double take, there was no doubt in Dianna’s mind she was on the right track. 

By the time she pulled into her driveway, she was fired up sufficiently to call Michael and announce she’d had enough. When he picked up the phone, Dianna could tell that he was still in a huff. Unruffled by his brevity, she voiced her concerns and set her boundaries, concluding with an ultimatum. A little unnerved by the silence on the other end of the phone, she wondered if Michael had hung up. However, much to her delight, his icy shield melted and he sheepishly offered her a warm and sincere apology. Hit by the strength of Dianna’s conviction, Michael realized just how insensitive he’d been and gave her his word he would curb his scorn and criticism. The tender exchange marked not only a significant breakthrough for Dianna but also a wake-up call from the Universe for Michael to be more conscious of his impact. Fearful of losing one of his closest friends, he responded to the thunder in her voice, struck by the intensity of her words. 

From that point on, things started to change for Dianna, affectionately nicknamed DD. Although she still had moments of self-doubt, she approached the world with growing confidence with a little help from life-speak. The following morning after her call to Michael, it was more than a coincidence that she drove to work behind a vehicle with the license plate LOVEDD. Her trust in the whispers rapidly developed as the signs continued to appear. On a day she questioned why she still hadn’t met a potential partner, she received a clear message as a response. Pulling into a bay at the car wash, she spotted a white Toyota with the plates CWORTH. The answer to her question was right under her nose. The life-speak was a big clue for Dianna to consider her level of self-worth to increase her powers of attraction. To cap off a week of synchronistic events, she was shocked when she drove behind a car displaying the license plate I♥UDD. For her, this was clear evidence that her soul was lovingly guiding her through the language of life-speak.

Still following the formula of intention – attention – action, Dianna chose online dating to raise the stakes when it came to romance. Playing her cards right took patience and perseverance; she had to learn how to say no before she could say yes to what she genuinely wanted. Dianna had a habit of selling herself short and overcompensating by giving too much to men who took her for granted. For things to work in her favor, she would need to stop carrying them on her back or being swept off her feet by Prince Charming – only to be dumped again. Up until now, she’d never had a half-decent romantic encounter with a man and had always been single. Dianna was about to turn forty and was done playing Cinderella. She was ready to attract an equal relationship with a partner who was strong and sensitive – just like she was. With that being the order of the day, she opened her laptop and scanned the profiles of a parade of eligible men, spinning the wheel of fortune.

She interviewed a variety of different contenders who varied from preened peacocks to lame ducks. Among the flock, there were a few standouts, like the successful entrepreneur who appeared to have everything on her checklist. Keen to see if he came up to scratch in person, she agreed to meet him at a local café even though her agenda was full. When he finally arrived fifteen minutes late, the mystery man strutted through the door with his head held high and ordered a cappuccino. Placing the key to his Mercedes on the table, he introduced himself and neglected to offer Dianna an apology for his tardiness. Launching into a concise report of just how busy he was, he incessantly talked about himself for the next twenty minutes, rarely stopping for breath. Unable to get a word in edgewise, Dianna was dumbfounded and stared at the bottom of her empty cup. Between bouts of singing his own praises and looking at his phone, he asked her an occasional question and promptly intercepted her answers. Dianna could smell more than the aroma of coffee in the air; she sensed a hint of her old heartthrob Adrian in her companion and knew he was the perfect partner for a lopsided relationship that would be all about him. Squeezing her hand, her slick date promised to give Dianna a call and made a swift exit. The date was over in less than thirty minutes, and she ended up with a pounding headache and the tab for his drink. 

Although the encounter left Dianna disheartened, it made her more streetwise. After getting her bearings, she jumped back into the game, ready for another round with a sweet and stylish Spaniard. Charming her endlessly over a plate of paella, Antonio was easy to be with, and Dianna was slightly smitten. Lost in his large brown eyes, she was impressed when he offered to pay for her dinner. Even though the casual eatery was cheap and cheerful, she thought it was a step in the right direction. That was, until he changed his tactics a few days later on their second date. Sipping a glass of chilled rosé, Antonio placed his hand on Dianna’s knee and asked her to lend him a hundred dollars. Noticing the distinct furrow in her brow, he explained that he was short of cash and thought she could help him out. Haunted by old memories of rescuing men, she left the bar fuming after paying for the drinks. The roguish young man, who fancied himself as somewhat of a gigolo, was the last contender in a long line of takers. Dianna was fed up with online dating. 

She now understood why she’d seen an alarming number of ambulances over the past month in the most bizarre situations. Two weeks earlier, she drove home late in the evening after helping one of her friends out of a terrible jam. Dianna felt spent, but her ears pricked up when the piercing sound of sirens broke the silence in the air. Alarmed by a bank of flashing blue lights, she cautiously approached the scene of a horrendous three-car collision. While scanning the twisted metal and shattered windshields, her body shuddered as she passed a fleet of rescue vehicles. A female police officer at a roadblock waved her on to a detour. Forced to take an alternate route home, Dianna was in for a long drive, when all she wanted to do was curl up in bed. Knowing this was her third encounter with ambulances in a week, she wondered if the Universe was trying to get through to her. Dianna was drained and exhausted and felt as though she was the one who needed rescuing, rather than going out of her way to consider everyone else.

The answer appeared in living color the day before her second date with Antonio. On her way to get a manicure especially for the occasion, she drove directly toward a large sign that read, Have a safe drive, posted on the overpass of the highway. All of a sudden, a loud chopping noise and the sound of whirring engines encompassed her vehicle. Completely stunned, her mouth dropped open as she looked above her head and watched a helicopter ambulance swoop down over the roof of her car. Wondering what the hell was going on, she was relieved as she watched the aircraft land on the viaduct positioned at the entrance to a hospital. As she drove through the tunnel, escaping the deafening sound, she knew this was a warning to pay attention. The Universe was telling her, in no uncertain terms, to stop rescuing others at her own expense. It wasn’t until after her date with the Antonio that the message sank in. Up until now, she wanted to know if her encounters with ambulances were just a coincidence or relevant life-speak. Now she had clear evidence.

On the night following her final encounter with the seductive Spaniard, Dianna was desperately craving a cigarette to calm her emotions even though it had been months since she’d bought a pack. Awake to the pitfalls, she knew that although a smoke would temporality curb her anxiety, in the long run she would only