While my friend and I were shopping around Mykonos, looking for gifts to bring back for our families, we wandered in and out of souvenir shops. Eventually, we stumbled upon this unique little store showcasing artwork from local Greek artists. An elderly man, probably in his 80s, was running the shop. He was incredibly knowledgeable about every piece I asked about, and his passion for the art and the artists was undeniable.
As we browsed, he warmly offered us a homemade digestif, an alcoholic drink of his own creation. We gladly accepted, raising our glasses saying “Yamas!” before taking a slip. The drink’s warmth spread through us, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of the shop.
Just outside, I noticed a black cat sitting near the entrance. It locked eyes with me, its gaze intense and almost mesmerizing. I crouched down as it slowly approached me, as if it had been waiting. Throughout my time in Greece, I saw so many street cats. I’ve always believed that cats have a connection with calm souls, and while I’m generally pretty relaxed, being on vacation amplified that feeling.
Anyways, we continued wandering through the streets when my friend decided to check out another souvenir shop that she felt drawn to. This time, an elderly woman was running it. She had a warm presence, and I immediately felt inclined to chat with her. As we talked, I suddenly felt an unexplainable strong pull towards the back of the store. There, among the rows of hanging t-shirts, I found myself standing in front of a mirror. Surrounding it were old paintings of goddess figures, and near a shirt-printing machine, I noticed a cluster of small, rusted cowbells.
Something about them felt out of place. I instinctively reached out and touched them, wondering what they signified. That’s when I felt it, a strong presence near the back door, as if something or someone was trying to communicate with me. The energy was so strong, almost urgent, but I chose to ignore it and walked back to my friend at the front of the store.
Still unsettled, I turned to her and said, “I feel like something is calling me from the back.” We were about to leave when she found a magnet she wanted to buy. As we approached the cash register, I noticed a framed photo of an elderly man sitting beside the register. The same intense energy I had felt in the back of the store was pulling at me again.
I hesitated before asking the shop owner, “Is that your husband?”
And I pointed at the back of the store. Her expression changed instantly. She nodded. I sense that they had opened the store together and had worked side by side for years. Then, tears welled up in her eyes as she softly told me to stop.
I froze. I had no idea what I had tapped into. But at that moment, I felt an overwhelming need to tell her: “He’s here. You’re not alone.”
The words came out before I could even mentally process them. I could feel her husband’s presence lingering, as if he wanted her to know she wasn’t running the shop by herself. I sensed that she had felt him before, too, in quiet moments when the store was empty. She gave a big hug and said “God bless you”
As we left, I could only hope that he would find peace and transition to wherever he was meant to go. Like god damn that was strong energy.
That experience was both exhilarating and shocking. I never realized I had the ability to receive intuitive messages.
Of all the encounters I had in Greece, this one left the deepest impact on me. It shifted my perspective on my intuitive abilities and strengthened my belief that we are all connected to something much greater than ourselves and to follow our intuition.
