Spiritual Awakening After Loss-with Peter Alessandria
In this powerful episode of Grief 2 Growth, I sit down with award-winning filmmaker and photographer Peter Alessandria, whose new documentary Every Soul Knows explores the eternal nature of our souls through near-death experiences (NDEs), mediumship, and spiritual awakening.
Peter’s story isn’t just about artistic reinvention. It’s a blueprint for how we can use life’s greatest pain—loss, failure, grief—as the very soil in which our purpose is planted.
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p.s.- I also had the honor of being IN the film!
Losing Everything—And Finding a New Path 🌱
Before Peter ever picked up a camera, he was a successful entertainment attorney. He had the degrees, the law practice, and a thriving career in Los Angeles. But when the 2008 financial crisis hit, everything crumbled.
“I literally lost my law practice in a matter of months,” Peter says. “It was gone. At first, it was really distressing—but eventually I thought, maybe this is an opportunity.”
That opportunity was photography and filmmaking—two things Peter had no formal training in. What began as a creative outlet became a new way of seeing the world… and himself.
The Inner Voice That Holds Us Back 🔁
Despite his growing love for photography, Peter hit a wall. For over two years, he couldn’t get traction. He set up websites, submitted work, and heard nothing.
The real problem wasn’t the economy or the camera equipment. It was internal.
“I was terrified to put myself out there. It was fear of rejection, fear of criticism. It was all self-talk. And I realized—I had become my own worst enemy.”
It’s a voice many of us know well. “Who do you think you are?” it whispers.
Peter began the long journey of shifting that voice. He started affirmations, visualization, cold calls—taking every action he once feared.
Slowly but surely, the voice changed.
“I became my own best friend. I had to learn how to support myself. That changed everything.”
From Imposter to Impact: A Creative Life Unfolds 🎨
With each courageous step, Peter’s world opened. He won over 75 photography awards. His images appeared in National Geographic, local newspapers, and eventually souvenir shops across New York City.
One of his turning points came from an unexpected place: a Facebook argument.
A stranger accused Peter of faking a photo. Instead of lashing out, Peter messaged the man privately, explained the image, and kept his cool.
The man eventually became a paying customer… and connected Peter with a major souvenir distributor. That single moment of grace snowballed into a five-figure licensing deal.
“It was transformational. I didn’t take it personally. And it taught me: when we shift who we think we are, the world shifts, too.”
The Birth of Every Soul Knows 🎬
Fast forward to 2020.
Peter is recovering from a torn calf muscle, and the world is locked down in a pandemic. While resting, he reads a novel by William Buhlman about out-of-body experiences and the afterlife.
Something clicks.
“I had this moment where the toast popped up—and the idea popped in: You have to make a documentary about this. Not on webcams. It had to be in-person. High-end. Real.”
So he did.
Over the next two years, Peter filmed over 60 near-death experiencers, mediums, spiritual teachers, and channels—people who had touched the veil and come back with a message:
You are not who you think you are. You are far more.
What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life 👁️
Across hundreds of hours of interviews, a few themes rose to the surface again and again:
1. You Are Not Your Body
Many NDErs described watching their bodies from outside themselves, not recognizing them at first.
“We’re not these physical containers,” Peter says. “That’s clear. The essence of who we are—our soul—is something else entirely.”
2. You Are Made of Love
Those who’ve crossed over often describe an overwhelming sensation of unconditional love. It’s not just something they feel—it’s who they are.
As Dr. Eben Alexander shared in a clip from the film, his guardian angel told him:
“You are deeply loved and cherished forever. You have nothing to fear. You are richly cared for.”
3. We Are All Connected
In the afterlife, separation dissolves. There is no “other.” Only unity.
“There was a sense of being part of something bigger,” Peter explains. “Leaves on the same tree. Fingers on the same hand.”
Soul Contracts & Why We Choose to Be Here 📝
One of the most mind-expanding parts of the film is its exploration of pre-birth planning and soul contracts.
As Peter and Brian discuss in the episode, many NDErs report that before we’re born, we meet with guides and soul groups to outline our lives.
Yes, even the hard parts.
“If you’re here, you volunteered,” one interviewee says in the film. “And you were probably excited to do it.”
So why would a soul choose grief, loss, or trauma?
Because these experiences catalyze growth. They awaken compassion. And they help us remember who we are.
Peter’s Personal Loss: The Death of His Brother 💔
Midway through making the film, Peter faced the unthinkable.
His younger brother passed away unexpectedly.
“It was the most difficult experience of my life,” Peter says. “All the grief, the questioning—it came rushing in.”
Despite everything he believed, Peter struggled.
“I had this intellectual understanding that life is eternal, but in that moment, none of it mattered. The pain was real.”
For three months, he couldn’t work on the film. But eventually, he returned to the footage—and something shifted.
“The film helped me heal. The stories brought me back. And I realized—this message is more important now than ever.”
His brother, once skeptical of the afterlife, has since come through in multiple medium readings.
“He’s part of this now. And I talk about him in every podcast. This film is for him.”
Living the Truth While We’re Still Here 🌍
So what do we do with all this spiritual knowledge?
How do we live what our souls already know?
Peter offers three simple, life-changing steps:
1. Remember: You Are Not Your Body
This gives you freedom. You are not your illness, age, or physical limitations.
“You’re the soul experiencing the body,” Peter says. “Not the other way around.”
2. Be Rooted in Love
Instead of seeking love outside, realize it’s your core identity.
“Most of us think we’re flawed. But what if that’s just programming?”
3. Act from Oneness
Treat others as part of yourself—because they are.
“What I do for you, I do for me. What I don’t do for you, I don’t do for me.”
About the Film: Every Soul Knows 🎥
The documentary is a deeply immersive, multi-sensory experience. It’s not just talking heads—it’s cinematic visuals, sacred geometry, guided meditations, and music composed by 20-year-old prodigy Joey O’Connor.
Best of all? The film doesn’t tell you what to believe.
It invites you to explore your own truth.
Peter even pauses the film three times for short meditative reflections:
“I say, you’ve heard what others think—now what do you feel is true?”
Explore More From Peter Alessandria 🔗
🌐 Film: www.everysoulknows.com
📘 Book: Be Bigger Than You Think You Are – www.bebiggertoday.com
💫 Nonprofit Mission: www.itstimetoremember.org
🎥 Don’t miss the free video library of full interviews with NDErs, psychics, and spiritual teachers: Every Soul Knows on YouTube
What About You? 🌠
Have you experienced a spiritual awakening after loss?
Do you believe your soul chose this life?
We’d love to hear your story. Join the conversation at:
👉 grief2growth.com/community
And remember…
You are deeply loved and cherished.
You have nothing to fear.
You are richly cared for.
Grief 2 Growth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
