Unfinished Business: Why Some Souls Don’t Fully Cross Over

From childhood sightings to energetic contracts, understand the soul stories behind what we call “ghosts" in this compassionate guide to recognising unhealed energies and restoring spiritual balance.

Sensing the Unseen

We are, and are becoming, so much more aware of our ability to sense what is unseen.

To FEEL the energy of other souls around us.

Sometimes, the feeling is simply Divine - a warm bubble that encompasses us and holds us in sacred energy, aligned with unconditional love.

At other times, it can feel slightly ‘off’, affecting our mood or triggering our gut instinct.

And at the far end of the spectrum, we can see or know the energy of the lost soul, the energy that has left the physical body and has yet to return to Source. This ability is highly common in children who are often able to see their guides and many other energies until they learn (we teach them) to close it off. All those imaginary friends? I’m sure you get the picture!

Children often readily see the unseen. Image by Jason Grant

My First Encounter

The first time I remember clearly seeing an entity was terrifying to say the least. It occurred in outback Australia in a wonderful old room in a hotel built in 1875 that had been made over for accommodation. I had been fast asleep in a massive antique bed and woke to see a woman in a white nightgown standing between the footend and the fireplace. It sounds so cliche! She held her gaze, looking at me directly and then, as I reached for a light, disappeared.

When I finally returned to sleep it was with the bedside light on for the remainder of the night.

But these were early days and there have been many more occasions of contact with lost or disembodied souls since then - and a number I can now identify that occurred before this experience.

When you reflect on this, do you have a similar experience? It can feel uncomfortable or create a sense of fear when we don’t understand death and beyond.

If you have you had a similar experience or felt the presence of something unseen I’d love to hear your story if it feels right.

Becoming a Lost Soul

As our physical body fails and our energy separates returning to the non-physical once more, we are invited to return to Source by following the path of light that presents. Sometimes, the spirit does not notice this path or if it does, does not recognise it for what it is. If this happens, spirits of deceased humans can become Earthbound, trapped within the first layer beyond the physical Earth Plane - commonly referred to as the 4th Dimension.

How does this Happen?

Sometimes the soul does not realise it has passed or may not desire to move on, or may not realise how to leave. In biblical terms this state was referenced as 'purgatory'. Now we understand purgatory is not a place of punishment, but rather any energetic point beyond the physical realm that remains connected to the physical.

This ‘entrapment’ within inbetween dimensions can occur for many reasons, for example, traumatic or sudden 'accidental' death, starvation, distorted love, delirium, suicide, grief, or a belief in sin that caused the conviction of 'unworthy'.

• Accidents* can occur so swiftly, the person's spirit may look down at the death scene and caught up in confusion, not recognising they have passed, nor noticing those who are there to support them to move on. *It is rare that accidents are actually an accident. We have a life plan that includes our exit point/s.

• Guilt and remorse are common distractions, and occur where the deceased is seeking forgiveness and to right a perceived wrong. This focus can create a strong connection to the physical realm they are no longer a part of.

• Addictions can stimulate particularly low vibration activities that can distract the deceased from moving on. The focus is usually self-serving, as the spirit seeks to satisfy its 'needs', the appetite and desire for food, drugs, alcohol, or personal power vicariously.

• Resentment and revenge are also strong distractions from the natural return to Source. If an individual dies angry, resentful, or holding a strong belief in revenge, they can be so focused on the object of their anger, they are resistant to or distracted from returning to Source.

• Distorted love can work against ascension in a number of ways. A jealous partner may attach energetically to their widow/er. A widow/er may hold their partner to the earth-plane through excessive grief. Concern for the well-being of a dearly loved one, or the misguided promise to return may also hold the deceased energy from ascending. This can also occur over many lifetimes and is a source of unhealed karmic connections.

• Children's spirits can miss the signs to return to Source, feeling lost, confused or fearful, not understanding why they are being ignored by those they can still see in the physical.

• Belief in sin. One of the most unnecessary interruptions comes from religious dogma the individual unquestionningly accepted while alive. The belief in sin and lack of worthiness is damaging to our soul. Consider the lines we use before Eucharist, 'I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and (I) my Spirit shall be healed' causes us to be oblivious of the Divine light within ourselves and interferes with the spirit's ability to recognise that it is of the light. There is a whole other article to be had about this topic.

Focusing on our ‘sins’ as evidence of our unworthiness will make our spirit ill. Image by Simon Ray

• Not ready. When we have lived a strongly egoically led life, we may think we have control rather than trust in our Divine plan. This can lead the soul to remain focused on the physical.

• Energetic attachments. Any of these reasons or simply not being ready to exit this lifetime can cause an disembodied energy to attach to a living being or remain in a location.

Regardless of the reason, lost souls are unhealed energy connected to an unresolved lifetime and they do not beneficially contribute to nor belong on the Earth-plane.

But what About...

Some will connect with the energy of loved ones who have not returned to Source and see them as guides or ‘protectors’. When we connect with these energies, we may encounter certain scenarios that bind them to the Earth plane, such as:

• Someone in the physical may strongly hold the belief that the energy of their loved one is protecting or guiding them in some way.

• Grief of either the deceased or the person left behind, or both, can be so great it acts as an enerfetic anchor.

• The person who remains on Earth may be so fearful of what it will be like not to have the energy of their loved one connected to them that this fear is the anchor.

• As energy, we may be fearful of not being connected to our loved ones still in the physical - in the non-physical we can still hold the belief that we are needed in some way.

• As energy, we may still be seeking conclusion before we move on. This may be seeking forgiveness or justice or have young children at our time of death and fear for their needs, rather than trust in each person’s Divine plan.

• In the physical, we may not trust the energy of our loved one will return or be available to us once it has moved to Source, leaving us behind.

You may have noticed the common thread of fear in the above scenarios. This is the untrusting Ego at play.

After death, our energy must return to Source, first and foremost. In this process of return, our energy is revitalised from the fear, trauma and the low vibrations associated with the Earth plane. Returning as a fragment of All That Is, cycles us through several of stages of restoration, examining the life for lessons and growth, and regrouping with our Soul Family, Guides and Teachers, etc. This process of energetic ascension elevates the level from which we can support our loved ones still on the Physical Plane.

Lost Souls make questionable guides. Image by Evie S

How to Tell If Your Guides Are Aligned with Source

As an acid test if, when we are speaking to our guides or other energies, they report they are here to 'protect' us or will 'never leave or abandon' us, we should automatically be on alert. We are Divinely guided, supported, loved, and protected by our Higher Being, in this and every lifetime we have ever lived. Our energy and the energy of our loved ones are part of the same Source and often part of our Soul Family- our grouping within Source- and we are united in the physical and the non-physical. Energy cannot be separated and there is no separation - regardless of our Egoic beliefs.

That is not to say we don't have legitimate guides because of course we do. They can, however, come from a range of points of ascension. If they are here to 'protect' us we generally know they need to go through the process to return to Source before they can offer true clarity.

Are you Attracting Lost Souls?

As high vibrational beings, Lightworkers, and so on, we will attract non-beneficial/unhealed energies. This occurs for a number of reasons.

Occupation

Quite often, the Lightworker, and those here to heal will choose an occupation that exposes them to low vibrations. Consider doctors, nurses, and other medical staff; police/protective services; disability workers; carers; mental health professionals; etc. These occupations present greater opportunities for energetic attachments as workers are often surrounded by people who are experiencing low vibration.

Empaths

Healers are often particularly empathic - sensitive to other's energy. This can be an energetic magnet for unhealed or lost energy. Remember there is a purpose for this sensitivity and it is not a detrimental/unchangeable condition but an invitation to remember the importance of FEELING and to create healthy boundaries.

Right place, right time

If we are at the scene of an accident or in places where people are dying, we can attract unhealed energy.

Why 'right place, right time'?

Disembodied energy can see our energy as a place of comfort and/or realise we have the ability to safely guide them back to Source.

Be aware that this attachment can feel like an energetic attack. Strong feelings are always signals to get our attention. Instead of seeing it as a negative and sinking into fear, we can choose to see it as an opportunity to refine our energetic balance and to restore the lost energy to Source.

Ancestral entities

When we choose an ancestral line with one or more unhealed energetic attachments we ambitiously hope we will remember our ability and heal this ancestral line.

Past/Present/Future Lifetimes with unhealed energetic attachments

This may be the attachment created with a promise or contract such as the soldier's hopeful promise 'I will return', the lover’s contract ‘I will be yours forever’, or committing to a religious order with perpetual vows for poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Our words have the power to bind us to another and to a state of being that hold for many lifetimes. Egoically forgetting our human-ness is temporary and that we are already connected through the energetic whole can undermine our energetic freedom or Sovereign being-ness.

Unhealed entities - mind, body, spirit

These can come from various energetic points. Their purpose is to slow the progression of ascension energy on Earth and to sustain chaos and imbalance for purposes of manipulation and imbalance.

This is nothing to fear. We attract these unhealed energies because we have the ability to make a difference - simply transmute it and send it to Source.

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Note: I could use the term ‘Negative’ or ‘Evil’ entities here but I choose not to. Remember that energy is infinite and there is NO separation between energies. This means we are all one - they are us and we are them. Resistance and disassociation continue the dichotomy or illusion of separation.

Isn’t it time to move past this?

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Unhealed entities - home, property, other location

As energetically sensitive beings, we may detect unhealed energies in our homes, vehicles, or other spaces we visit. If you discern them, you can also guide this energy from 'purgatory', the lost state of forgetting we are each unconditional love, infinitely deserving of grace and to return to Source.

And doesn’t this create a whole new way of looking at haunted homes or spaces and the ethics of ‘Ghost Tours’?

A fundamental truth - we are one.

Simple Practices for Guiding Lost Souls Back to Source

There are a number of ways we can redirect Lost Souls to Source.

IMPORTANT: If engaging with Lost Souls feels beyond you at this time, don’t. There are many healers doing this work. Place the Divine Merkabah or pyramid around you and know that you are always safe and protected. If it feels right, seek the support of an Energy Healer.

Here are two you might like to use if it feels right.

To begin, anchor your energy.

Prepare yourself

Imagine yourself completely surrounded by a pyramid or Merkabah of golden light - around, above and below you. Know that in this space you are Divinely connected, safe and protected. You might like to state - I am a clear and perfect channel and Source is my guide.

then

1 -Engage

You can ask the energy why it is here and remind it that suffering is the illusion of Earth. If the energy presents as threatening, this is always a mask covering fear.

Go to step 2 now if it feels more comfortable. You have nothing to fear and nothing to prove.

If you feel confident to continue when this occurs, command it remove the mask and show you who it really is (generally a fearful, hurt child will present). Ask the energy to look up and notice the Divine channel of light waiting to guide it home. They may also notice those they love who have gone before, waiting to welcome them. Generally, you will sense the energy leaving. You might add, ‘Go in peace, and so it is’.

OR

2 - Without Engagement

If it doesn’t feel right, don’t engage.

Simply call on Source to surround the energy/entity with Divine light and return it to Source or wherever it needs to go to grow and evolve. I envisage a golden hand outstretched and surrounding the Lost Soul, guiding it home. You can do this with words or a mental picture. I might say something like this:

Source, I call on you to surround this Lost Soul with the unconditional love and grace of All That Is and return it to Source or wherever it needs to be to grow and evolve. It is not welcome here and it cannot stay.

Go in peace, go in unconditional love.

And so it is.

Years of experience has taught me to understand and offer compassion to Lost Souls regardless of the circumstances. Questions? Get in touch here -

If this Topic Resonates…

Perhaps you have sensed energies but aren’t sure, or perhaps you have felt fear at the thought of exploring what you sense.

A safe way to gain clarity is to find some quiet, reflect, and journal about your experience.

• What have you noticed? Perhaps a subtle shift in the room, a presence you couldn’t explain, or a deep knowing that someone or something was near.

• What did you feel physically, emotionally, or energetically?

• What did your gut instinct tell you it was?

• Did you trust your instinct, or second-guess it?

As you write, allow the first thought to be the answer. Writing this down helps you attune to your intuitive senses and opens the door for greater clarity, healing, and connection with your Divine knowing. You will find more on effective journalling below.

Unlock Emotional Clarity: 9 Ways Journaling Can Help You Find Peace

Meditating can also offer the answers we seek. You might like to bring your questions to your inner knowing using this meditation.

Enter Your Divine Self

Returning to Our Divine Selves

Our ability to sense what is unseen is not only natural—it's a sacred invitation to remember who we are beyond the physical. Whether we encounter energies that uplift or unsettle, each experience is a reminder of our connection to all beings and the role we can play in healing. Lost souls are not to be feared, but compassionately guided. As we continue to expand our awareness, may we do so with grace, discernment, and trust in our Divine connection.

And did I return to offer the woman in white a bridge or ‘hand up’ to Source? Yes, and many more since then. Stay tuned - more coming about gathering places for Lost Souls and liberating them to unconditional love.

Thank you for walking this path with me.

I am so glad you are here. If you have enjoyed this article please click the ❤️, subscribe, share, comment or donate. I appreciate you.

Blessed be

Michelle Cowles

Spiritual Healer/Teacher/Learner

Copyright Michelle Cowles 2025

Find more at: www.michellecowles.com

Disclaimer: The information on this page is general, lifestyle information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If this article raises mental health issues, please contact your General Practitioner, mental health worker, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia) OR find support by country at www.helpguide.org.