Life has a fascinating way of orchestration. It brings people into your orbit precisely when your soul is searching for an anchor. Following the heavy, disorienting loss of my own dad last year, this year introduced someone truly extraordinary into my world: a man named Ray.
Through his own profound sadness and the recent transition of his beloved wife to spirit, Ray and I didn't just cross paths—we collided in a shared, deep understanding of grief. In a world that often rushes past pain, finding someone who can sit quietly in it with you is a rare gift.
A Bumpy Start and the Magic of Timing
Our story began with a simple poster in Letterkenny. Trying to align our schedules at the outset was a bumpy ride, full of missed beats and crossed wires. But looking back, I realize it was all part of the design. As I always say, spirit makes things happen when they are ready.
When the timing finally clicked, Ray became a cherished regular in my space during the pre-launch phase of my book, The Way of the Twelve. He began coming over for tea on a few occasions, bringing a quiet warmth into the room. Little did I know the monumental milestone our meeting would represent for him, which he later revealed in the most touching book review.
Listening Beyond Words
Ray struggles with his hearing, but don't let that fool you—he listens to life at a profoundly deeper level than most. He is the kind of man whose presence commands stillness, the kind of person you just want to sit and listen to all day long. When he leaves your space, he leaves behind a lingering sense of deep reflection and an authentic gratitude for life that is rarely witnessed in today's frantic world.
He amazes me in so many ways, not least of all through the tender, enduring love he carries for his wife, who now walks in spirit.
When I look at Ray through the lens of my book, I see him instantly as Simon. Simon is the apostle who questions, who tests the boundaries of what he is being shown, but ultimately submits to the deeper wisdom of what he learns. Ray has that same beautiful humility. He doesn't just accept things blindly; he weighs them, turns them over in his mind, and then opens his heart entirely to the truth of the lesson. Watching him engage with The Way of the Twelve with that exact spirit of inquiry and surrender has been nothing short of a privilege.
A Shared Journey Through Time and Memory
When Ray picked up the book, it sparked something unexpected. His review wasn't just a critique; it became a bridge connecting our different generations, our shared reflections on childhood, and the evolution of the human spirit.
Here is what Ray shared in his deeply moving review:
"You are certainly a very gifted lady. That was amazing deduction and brilliantly explained, put together and written. I am sorry to hear about your experiences in childhood. In days gone by, parents were very strict and ruthless, they expected far too much from kids even in school. The teachers would discipline you with cruelty towards the children, and nobody seemed to bother. I’m glad that that era is long gone.
Bringing in the Apostles, and the significance of the chakras to each Apostle, made it so very interesting—you didn't want it to end. And the explicit reference to Seraphims who are the Light and Sound, with the final Seraphim Meidre who stands at the Twelfth Gate... it really made excellent reading. As your recommendation, it needs to be read again.
I’ll let you into a little secret: The Way of the Twelve is the very first book I have ever read from start to finish in my life! As life moved so quickly, time was never your own. Congratulations, it was very interesting and educational.
As a child, we were taught the Bible at school, old and new, and it brought back a lot of memories. Thanks again."
Families of the Heart
Reading Ray's words—learning that a man who has lived a full life had never read a book from cover to cover until mine—brought an overwhelming wave of emotion. It highlights how stories find their way to the exact hands that need to hold them.
Ray has been a profound grounding force for me this year. He has taught me that families come in all shapes and sizes, and they are not always bound by blood. Sometimes, they are forged in the quiet spaces of shared grief, over a cup of tea, through the pages of a book, and in the quiet strength of a man willing to question, learn, and submit to the heart's true guidance.
I found a new friend, a kindred spirit, and an unexpected guide the day Ray walked into my life.
Ray is pictured here with my close friend Eamon.
With love, light, and blessings,
Dawn Darling
Spiritual Medium, Trance Medium, & Author of The Way of the Twelve
www.whereangleswhisper.ie