Can we reconnect with someone we have lost—even after years of feeling their absence? And can a mysterious encounter with a deceased parent help heal wounds that began in childhood?(please note there is no byte sized this week as the entire episode is important to understand the miracle!)In this deeply moving episode of Byte Sized Blessings, poet, interfaith minister, and pastoral counselor Elizabeth Herron shares an extraordinary story of childhood trauma, spiritual transformation, and an unexpected reconnection with her mother after death. Her experience raises profound questions about the bonds that connect us, the possibility of an ongoing relationship with those who have died, and the mysterious ways healing can arrive when we least expect it.Elizabeth grew up in a deeply challenging household. Her mother struggled with mental illness and addiction and died by suicide when Elizabeth was just 12 years old. For years afterward, Elizabeth felt no sense of her mother's presence. Their relationship had been profoundly painful, and the wounds of childhood would take years of spiritual exploration, personal work, and courage to begin healing.Then something remarkable happened. And yes, this is the teaser! You'll have to listen to Elizabeth's remarkable story to understand the healing and reconciliation that happened!Can Spirituality Help Heal Childhood Trauma?Elizabeth's story is also an inspiring exploration of healing childhood trauma through spirituality. Drawing on years of study, personal experience, and her work as a pastoral counselor, she describes a journey that moves through shattering, the darkness of feeling lost, the unexpected arrival of help, and eventually a renewed connection with spirit.Her understanding of spiritual transformation embraces many traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Indigenous spiritual teachings, and the divine feminine. She is particularly drawn to the idea of the wounded healer: the possibility that the experiences that have wounded us can eventually help us connect with and support others.One of the most significant turning points in Elizabeth's life came when she was invited to teach in jails. What began as an unexpected opportunity became a ten-year experience that helped her recognize the value of everything she had survived. Her own history of trauma gave her a way to connect with people struggling with substance abuse, historical trauma, and profound personal difficulties.For Elizabeth, the past did not suddenly become painless. Instead, it began to take on a different meaning.Ancestral Spirits, Sacred Nature, and the Feeling That We Are Not AloneLiving in the Zuni Mountains of northwestern New Mexico, Elizabeth feels deeply connected to the land, the natural world, and the ancient cultures whose presence surrounds her. Nature is more than a beautiful setting in her life; it is a place of refuge, grounding, and spiritual connection.She also describes feeling held by a circle of loving ancestral spirits—a sense of being supported by presences that encourage her to keep growing and becoming who she is.Her reflections invite us to consider the mysterious experiences that sometimes arise during periods of grief and transformation. What happens when a dream feels like a visit? What might it mean when we suddenly sense the presence of someone we have lost? And how can we make room for experiences that bring us comfort and meaning, even when we cannot fully explain them?Elizabeth does not suggest that everyone's spiritual journey will look the same. Instead, she reminds us that healing may arrive through unexpected encounters, meaningful relationships, creative expression, spiritual practice, and the natural world.Poetry, the Healing Power of Creativity, and the Beauty Waiting to Be BornThe conversation also explores Elizabeth's beautiful poetry collection, Poetry for the Ear of God, which grew out of her work on healing childhood trauma through spiritual transformation.Two poems receive special attention: The Bell Buoy and Frog Noise.In The Bell Buoy, the sound of a weathered bell carries through fog and storms, calling ships and frightened children toward safety. The image becomes a moving metaphor for the guidance, refuge, and help we long for when life feels dangerous or uncertain.In Frog Noise, the arrival of rain awakens frogs from their hidden places, filling the world with a wild celebration of life. Elizabeth connects this image with resurrection, renewal, and the mysterious process of becoming ourselves again and again.Her poetry reminds us that healing is not always quick or comfortable. Sometimes we are in the long, difficult process of becoming something new. Sometimes the pressure feels unbearable. And sometimes, after a period of darkness, something beautiful finally emerges.This is an episode about more than surviving the past. It is about discovering meaning, finding unexpected connection, and allowing the experiences that once wounded us ...
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