My sister passed away four years ago from breast cancer at the age of 46. I think it's beautiful to be able to visit someone's grave, but I still haven't been able to go. She's always in my memory and in my heart though, and right now that's enough.

I think that that is beautiful. nuns back then had a difficult life.

The essence of the person is there forever...

I still talk to members of four generations on both sides of my family when I go to the cemetery, which is not very often.They are all buried in that same small town cemetery. I don't believe that anything is there but their remains, not a spirit form at all. But I believe very strongly that we are all struggling and searching for some type of connectedness, a feeling of belonging, a certain feeling of sadness and longing. I see my maternal great grandmother's marker and I wish I could have met her as I was named for her.

My son died at age 29 five years ago and we talk daily.

I love walking in old grave yards. Sparks the imagination as you wonder what type of person was he who's named is etched in stone. I believe places hold energy, good and bad. I believe we can feel that energy around us. It's a big part of some of my decision making. For example, I won't purchase a foreclosed home or a home where someone might have been murdered. I feel that it would hold negative energy.
To answer your original question, yes I communicate with people who have passed. I do believe they can hear me.

I don't visit cemeteries, but yeah, I do talk to the dead.

A loved one is a loved one. I don't think has anything to do with any belief but feelings, your own feelings.

I went to the graveyard for D Day at Normande. I didn't expect the visitor's booth to have a name look up. There were a few with my common last name. Was quite heavy to see it on the grave stones....... kinda like the last scene in Saving Private Ryan.

I think one reason graves are so sobering is the inadvertent way they show us the reality of life and the cosmos. They remind us of life's impermanence and nature's callous dominance. We are not special.

As a devout agnostic, I am entirely uncertain as to the likelihood of your aunt being able to "watch" you from beyond this mortal realm. But I think it's great that you felt compelled to visit this deceased relative, give your regards and to leave flowers. It's very human and speaks to a spiritual need that many of us have. I truly believe humans need some rituals, even if they're rarely practiced.

I'd say like all rituals involving the deceased it's more a balm.to the survivors than to the dead...Even not believing in the supernatural it can be good to talk to those you've lost even if they do or don't exist on some other plane it's a good way to comfort yourself.

Sure, it's a good emotional release. Honestly, I do wonder if the person is not looking down at me, despite what I believe. It's probably part of the reason religion exists.