Over ten years ago, my mother blessed me, my sister and daughter to a three and half week adventure to her families native land, Portugal. My mother felt a great need to go back to the home land of her family before she passes and wanted us to go with her. Unfortunately, in my mother's family, Portugal was rarely talked about. What an incredible gift she bestowed us!

Interestingly, I realized when I returned, not many people talked about this wonderful, undiscovered land. Portugal should be revered more as it is an amazing place with many gifts. From the beautiful coastline, to Fatima's miracles, to the garden island of Madeira -- the hearty and affordable cuisine and the all embracing and wonderful people! I was taken back by Portugal's art of ceramic tiles, proudly displayed- everywhere. I was in awe of the hand work of embroidery -- very much alive in Portugal but forgotten with many in the U.S.

Interestingly, I had been thinking strongly about the shine at Fatima for months before my mother announced this incredible gift she wanted to bestow us! It was on my list of places I knew I had to visit for some reason!  At the Fatima shrine, I was sitting on one of the endless steps, witnessing the entire contents . I turned my eyes to the right and noticed an amazing alcove of candles, lit by Fatimas visitors. The energy of light from that sacred space was memorizing. One could feel each lit candle. It was as if each was blessed and all candles had a deep and healing intention of love pouring forth from each flame. I called over to my sister, who was an ear shot away---"June, we must go over there. This is absolutely amazing!"  My sister and I ended up bringing back a handful of candles. I didn't know "all of the why's" at the time but it felt I was pushed to do this. For years, I gave away many to those I felt needed something tangible to help them through their issue.  I was in meditation one day and I was told to share these with the world. I thought I was making this up and for months I continued to ask, ----"if this is what I'm supposed to do, please give me billboard clarity!"   I had difficulties with this message because it just seemed wild to me. The healing gifts I created before this guidance made more human sense. I would share this insight with close family and friends to get their take and they all said...go with the guidance....I began having dreams and I was told to do research on candles,which are very ancient symbols,  after the research, it would be crystal clear! And so it was.....I also began understanding, our humanness is very different than the guidance we receive from above!

In Oct of 2004, I was on the phone with two friends, preparing for a meditation and prayer session - One friend lives in Texas, the other, New Mexico. Before we began to meditate, I asked them to light a candle. I lit my Fatima candle. After the meditation and prayer, I looked up at my candle and there was something forming from the wax dripping from the candle. I informed my friends and also in amazement I told them that this candle was drip less -- it was very odd for this to happen! Or was it? :)   I also mentioned, I burned many of these candles but nothing like this has happened before. Days passed and I lit the candle three more times. I meditated and prayed each time. Below was what fell off of the candle. I immediately felt it was St. Joseph.

What's so fascinating, I had felt many Saints' presence during that time and months following. One day, I was invited to a friends warehouse in San Francisco to view his latest purchases for his next antique auction. Many of the pieces were purchased from an old church in the Midwest. When I arrived, I immediately noticed a huge statue of a Saint. I walked up to it and held his hand and asked... "Who are you?"  A name came into my head immediately... St. Joseph. I called out to my friend, who was almost a half a block away in the huge warehouse... He walked over and I asked... "Who is this?" He told me... St. Joseph.