I first came across Laura Lynne Jackson’s work when I stumbled upon her book Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe. Having grown up in a deeply spiritual household, I’ve always believed we exist in two realms.

There’s the horizontal world — the rational, physical reality we experience through our five senses. And then there’s the vertical world — our relationship with something greater than ourselves, something that can’t always be measured, proven, or explained by cause-and-effect science.

To me, a life lived only in the horizontal realm risks becoming hollow. It’s the vertical realm that gives life meaning and depth. That connection shows up differently for everyone — through religion, spirituality, God, nature, or simply the awareness that there are larger forces at play. I love stepping into that vertical world, and Laura Lynne Jackson’s work has consistently been a beautiful gateway.

Her Goop Lab episode “Are You Intuit?”, along with her earlier book The Light Between Us, only deepened my curiosity. So when her latest book, Guided, was released, it felt like a natural next step.

Laura Lynne Jackson is a teacher, speaker, and psychic medium, certified by both the Windbridge Research Center and the Forever Family Foundation. In Guided, she explores mediumship, universal communication through signs, and the growing body of research that supports humanity’s connection to the vertical realm. Interwoven throughout are powerful stories from clients, strangers, and loved ones who have tapped into this realm for comfort and guidance during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

I’ll admit — I’m deeply sentimental. Reading this book in public was impossible. I found myself regularly in tears, not from sadness, but from being profoundly moved. These stories reflect our shared human experience — love, loss, grief, hope — and remind us that we’re not alone in navigating it all.

The stories themselves are too rich to summarise here, but below are some of my favourite takeaways from Guided — insights that might help you decide if this book is for you.

Key Takeaways from Guided

1. Plants may experience fear
In 1966, scientist Cleve Backster discovered that plants appeared to respond emotionally — much like humans — when under threat. Initially dismissed, his findings were later supported by Russian scientist Konstantin Korotkov, suggesting plants may possess a form of extrasensory perception.

2. ESP has been observed in humans — particularly in people with autism
Research by Diane Hennacy Powell suggests that some autistic children demonstrate ESP abilities, potentially because they are less tethered to material distractions and more attuned to the present moment and shared information field.

3. The Butterfly Effect is real
Meteorologist Edward Lorenz showed how tiny, almost imperceptible changes can lead to dramatic outcomes — a concept now applied far beyond weather, reminding us how small actions can have vast consequences.

4. Trauma can be passed down through generations
Emerging research suggests trauma may influence DNA and affect future generations, either biologically, behaviourally, or through collective experience.

5. Unselfconscious art is a powerful intuitive practice
Children create freely because they haven’t yet learned self-judgement. As adults, reclaiming creativity without expectation or critique can reconnect us to intuition and something greater than ourselves.

6. Dreams can lead to genius
History is filled with breakthroughs born from dreams — from the discovery of insulin, to the periodic table, to iconic songs by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Dreams can be inspirational, lucid, pre-cognitive, or deeply connective.

7. Earthing (grounding) supports wellbeing
Direct contact with the Earth — like walking barefoot on grass — has been shown to improve sleep, reduce pain, relax muscles, and support overall health.

8. Nature is being prescribed as medicine
In some countries, doctors now prescribe time in nature: walking a dog, touching the sea, appreciating clouds, feeding birds, or simply feeling the wind.

9. Art can be medicine
Observing or creating art has been shown to boost serotonin, increase pleasure-related brain activity, foster new ways of thinking, and help us imagine hopeful futures. Even more fascinating — shared artistic experiences can synchronise our heartbeats.

As Laura Lynne Jackson reminds us, many ideas once ridiculed — from germ theory to quantum physics — are now accepted truths. The same may one day be true for concepts like reincarnation, life after death, and past lives.

To live an engaged, guided, and illuminated life is to remain curious, open, and willing to explore the unseen bonds that connect us all.

Guided is a powerful place to begin.

Happy reading!

Jacqui x