Signs from a Loved One After Death: Butterflies, Cardinals, Flowers, and More

Have you ever felt like someone you’ve lost was sending you a sign?

Maybe it was a cardinal landing in your path, a song you hadn’t heard in years suddenly playing on the radio, or a flower blooming in a place it never has before. Some call it coincidence. Others call it a spiritual message or sign. But when your heart is aching for someone you love, and the world offers up a moment that feels too perfect to ignore… you just know.

It’s been five years since my sister died in May 2020. A year after her passing, I wrote this poem to capture what I felt deep in my bones: she may be physically gone from this world, but she’s never far from my heart.

She is in the rustling of the willow trees

  and the blossoming of the wildflowers.

She is in the melody of the bird song

  and the flare of the firefly.

She is in the warmth of the sunshine

  and the glow of the moonbeams.

She is in the strength of the riptide

  and the grit of the sand.

She is in the beat of your heart

  and the heat of your argument.

She is in the joy of your laughter

  and the beauty of your reflection.

She is in you.

Since starting this business, I’ve heard so many beautiful, personal stories from customers and friends—stories that continue to affirm that love most definitely leaves a trace.

One of the most touching stories I’ve heard came from a friend who asked me to make a custom print for her friend who had recently lost her sister too.

The last known photo of her sister showed her smiling beside a tall red flower. A few months after she died, a tall red flower spontaneously appeared in their front yard (pictured below). They hadn’t planted it. They’d never seen one grow there before. But there it was. A message. A reminder. A sign. 

This story then became this print with a tall red gladiolus flower and the quote, “But what is grief, if not love persevering?”

So many of the cards and prints I make are inspired by stories and ideas like this. Each one acknowledges that there are always little signs and symbols from our loved ones if we pay close enough attention. Here are a few more.

Cardinals

One of my oldest friends lost her sister many years before me. She shared that shortly after her loss, she remembers crying and praying, “please… just let me know you’re okay.” The very next morning, while driving to work, she spotted a cardinal standing on the yellow line in the middle of the road. She immediately felt it was a sign from her sister.

A cardinal is often seen as a spiritual messenger. The phrase “when cardinals appear, angels are near” has become so familiar because of stories like this one. 

Other Birds

A bluebird is a symbol of renewal, hope, and happiness, and can be a good omen or connection to a departed loved one. A hummingbird is a messenger of joy, hope, and good fortune, and a sweet sign that a loved one is nearby. A songbird, too, brings comfort and messages through their melodies.

Butterflies & Dragonflies

For many people, a butterfly fluttering nearby can feel like a soft hug from someone who is missed or a dragonfly can be a glimmer of their presence on a hard day. Below is a photo my Mom took of a butterfly fluttering around the garden where we have a little memorial for my sister.

Poppy Flowers

A poppy flower is a symbol of remembrance and eternal rest. They’ve appeared in war memorials and tributes for over a century. Part of a famous poem of remembrance, “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, says:

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row…

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.”

Inspired by this poem, I made this lovely quote print that says, "Our loved ones rest among the flowers, forever blooming in our hearts.”

Other Flowers

Inspired by my sister’s brave and carefree spirit, one of the first flower prints I ever made was a wildflower definition print. To celebrate her birthday after she passed, I got a tattoo of wild roses and incorporated a couple of flames from her DJ Amanda Blaze logo as the leaves.

There are many other flowers that might remind us of our loved ones too. Like a forget-me-not, peony, or sunflower.

Rainbows

A friend of mine recently wrote a blog post about the grief of losing her young daughter, Ayla. While reading about her, I learned that her daughter’s favorite color wasn’t red or blue or pink—it was “rainbow.” I have a rainbow print, but I decided to make a custom name print in her memory. Rainbows remind us there is still beauty after the storm.

Are there any special signs or spiritual messages you’ve received from a loved one? Share your story in the comments below.

With love,

Alison Rose

Social media: @alisonrosevintage

Shop: alisonrosevintage.com