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Signs


Synopsis


A modern guide to connecting with the other side, Signs is full of stories of hope. It teaches us how to recognise and interpret the life-changing messages from loved ones and spirit guides, by a renowned psychic medium.

Laura Lynne Jackson is a psychic medium and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Light Between Us. She possesses an incredible gift: the ability to communicate with loved ones who have passed, convey messages of love and healing, and impart a greater understanding of our interconnectedness. Though her abilities are exceptional, they are not unique, and that is the message at the core of this book. Understanding 'the secret language of the universe' is a gift available to all. As we learn to ask for and recognise signs from the other side, we will start to find meaning where before there was only confusion, and see light in the darkness. We may decide to change paths, push toward love, pursue joy, and engage with life in a whole new way.

In Signs, Jackson is able to bring the mystical into the everyday. She relates stories of people who have experienced uncanny revelations and instances of unexplained synchronicity, as well as others drawn from her own experience. There's the lost child who appears to her mother as a deer that approaches her unhesitatingly at a highway rest stop; the name written on a dollar bill that lets a terrified wife know that her husband will be okay; the Elvis Presley song that arrives at the exact moment of Jackson's own father's passing; and many others. This is a book that is inspiring and practical, deeply comforting and wonderfully motivational, in asking us to see beyond ourselves to a more magnificent universal design.

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction to Signs

* Definition of signs and their importance in communication.
* Types of signs: natural, artificial, and iconic.

Example: A natural sign is a rainbow, which indicates rain or a change in weather.

Chapter 2: The Structure of Signs

* Components of a sign: signifier and signified.
* Relationship between signifier and signified: arbitrary and conventional.

Example: The word "cat" is a signifier that represents the concept of a feline animal (signified).

Chapter 3: The Meaning of Signs

* How signs convey meaning through association and convention.
* Semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic levels of meaning.

Example: The traffic sign "Do Not Enter" has a semantic meaning (no vehicles allowed), a syntactic meaning (a prohibition), and a pragmatic meaning (potential consequences for entering).

Chapter 4: The Use of Signs in Communication

* Signs as tools for encoding and decoding messages.
* Types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, and written.

Example: Sign language uses gestures and facial expressions as signs to communicate.

Chapter 5: The Social and Cultural Context of Signs

* Signs are shaped by the social and cultural environment in which they are used.
* Cultural differences in interpreting and using signs.

Example: The same hand gesture may have different meanings in different cultures. In some cultures, a "thumbs-up" indicates approval, while in others, it signifies disrespect.

Chapter 6: The Power and Influence of Signs

* Signs can shape our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions.
* Propaganda and advertising use signs to influence opinions and actions.

Example: Political campaigns often use slogans and images as signs to convey their messages and persuade voters.

Chapter 7: The Evolution and Future of Signs

* Technological advancements have led to new forms of signs and communication.
* The role of signs in emerging technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Example: Emojis and GIFs have become common and widely accepted signs used in social media and digital communication.

Chapter 8: Ethical Considerations in the Use of Signs

* Ethical issues related to the use and manipulation of signs.
* Freedom of expression versus hate speech and misinformation.

Example: Social media companies grapple with the ethical dilemma of regulating content that contains harmful or offensive signs.