Feathers Brush My Heart: True Stories of Mothers Connecting with Their Daughters After Death

Featuring more than 70 stories collected as part of "the Feathers project," Feathers Brush My Heart is a comforting book for women in times of loss. Each story, ranging in length from a couple of paragraphs to several pages, speaks of some sort of communication between mothers and daughters; what they have in common is that in each case, the mother has already passed away. In every other way, each story is entirely different.

The women who contributed stories are of all ages and income brackets. Some write movingly of abuse and dysfunction during their childhoods, while others pen with equal grace tales of close, loving relationships with their parents. Some gifts are as simple as finally learning to make their mom's beloved peanut butter fudge. More complex tales show repeated instances of protection and strongly felt presences in the midst of physical danger.

Dreams, impressions, and objects all figure strongly, and many women write of the particular significance of a special flower, ribbon, vase, or article of clothing. Author Sinclair Browning ties this collection together with gentle musings and recommended readings, along with a few short stories of her own. And while the details vary, the core message remains consistent: those who love us are never truly gone, and contact is always available if you remain open to the possibilities. --Jill Lightner