"He was never supposed to die!!" the woman on the phone said to me.  This statement was in response to her husband in spirit giving me a sudden pain in my chest to indicate a heart attack.  This was quickly followed by his flashing a photo of a Hawaiian cruise into my mind.  The distraught woman on the phone acknowledged that she had planned a cruise to celebrate her husband's retirement.  What she hadn't expected (or planned for) was that, on the day he retired, her husband would die of a massive heart attack.  Years before on their wedding day, she had decided that they would live happily ever after and the phrase "til death us do part" had been purposefully left out of their vows.  The story of their lives together didn't have an ending as far as she was concerned.  So, when death suddenly interrupted the story that she had lived by, it made her very angry. 

While reading this you may scratch your head and wonder how someone could overlook such an obvious fact of life.  And yet, we all choose to overlook the possibility that someone we love may die in a way or at a time that is completely unacceptable to us.  I've come to discover that one of my greatest responsibilities as a medium is to give the spirits opportunities to revise and rewrite the stories of their lives and co-create new storylines with their loved ones living on earth.

These new storylines often begin with two words . . . "I'm sorry."  The spirits have reported to me that after dying they were able to view their lives without the benefit of any rationalizations or excuses.  They experience the ramifications of their own actions, both positive and negative.  This broadened awareness allows those in spirit to interact with us in ways that are often different from how we might expect.

As I've written in my book, I'm Not Dead, I'm Different, "Death is life changing."  Change, as we all know but maybe don't accept, is the only constant in life and death (and that's actually the good news).    In my experience, the spirits exhibit enthusiasm for change.  For instance, during a recent phone session, a brilliant inventor and father in spirit apologized to his daughter for disapproving of her creative desires as a young girl.  As a result of her father's discouragement and to please him, she became a doctor instead of an actress.  However, as her father readily acknowledged during the session, he now recognizes how his own fears in life limited the self expression of his daughter.  During the session, he declared himself an ally in her creative projects and supported that fact with a number of specific references made regarding the plays that she hopes to bring to the public.

One of the things I love the most about my work is witnessing how the spirits inspire us to rewrite our own stories and co-create a new way of living and relating to them.  A mother in spirit expressed tremendous concern about her son who had been recently diagnosed with diabetes.  "I never took care of my blood sugar," she confessed.  She also stressed that her son didn't have to suffer as she did, which included losing part of a leg and going blind toward the end of her life.  Her son was shocked when his mother in spirit reported a conversation that he had had with another family member almost word for word.  "Yeah, I'm going to go the way Mom did.  Nothin' much I can do about it," he had stated.  Well, his mother disagreed with him and made it clear that she would provide signs of encouragement on the path to his wellness.  Her son has now lost almost thirty pounds and may very well avoid suffering through to the end of the story he used to relate.

Spirits may also help us to rewrite what we tell ourselves (and others) about their deaths. When a sister in spirit who had died in her early twenties in a car accident came to visit during a session, she made it clear that she literally "didn't see it coming."  This was a tremendous relief to the sister she had left behind who had lived for many years with the fear that her sister's last moments on earth were terrifying.  The younger sister in spirit went on to say that she was watching over her sister and all whom she loves.  In one masterful stroke, the younger sister in spirit changed the story of "My sister died alone and terrified" to "My sister loves me and watches over me and those I love."  What a difference!

The freeing, healing and empowering messages of hope that loved ones in spirit bring can raise questions about what we hold onto as "the way things are."  The spirits support the grain of truth in each story, but ask us to reconsider the interpretations we've added on and the endings that we assume are foregone conclusions.  The way the spirits tell it, the stories of our lives are new beginnings in the making.  And they want to help us discover those new beginnings even in the midst of what we consider our greatest loss.

For the wife whose husband died before they could enjoy retirement, their story together really hasn't ended.  For the daughter whose father was discouraging, she can embrace her dreams with the knowledge that he applauds her accomplishments.  For the big sister who thought her younger sister died in fear, she can leave her own fear behind knowing that she is protected.  For the son who thought he had no choice but to suffer illness as his mother did, a healthier life is now a reality. 

In writing these columns, I usually answer questions that I'm asked.  Today, however, I feel prompted by the spirits to ask a question instead.  "What is your story?"  Whatever the answer is, I know that your loved ones in spirit are ready, willing and able to help you change it for the better.

For those of you on Facebook, please share your story of hope (and how a loved one in spirit is helping you co-create a new one).

Hollister's Office (View Venue)
12925 Riverside Dr
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

When times are changing that's when the spirits can help us the most. Medium Hollister Rand provides specific messages from loved ones living in the spirit world.

Experience spirit communication in an up close and personal way.  Hear what loved ones have to say about your life in a friendly and comfortable setting.  Sit with Hollister as she feels, sees, hears and connects to those who want to say hello to you.

This is an intimate event limited to 10 people.  Everyone in attendance receives a message. Please note that this is a public group setting and is different experience than that of a private session.

Ticket Price: $120 (Tix available through BrownPaperTickets links below.) 

DATES:  

Sunday, August 14 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Sunday, August 7  

10:00am - 6:00pm 

*Hollister speaks at 3pm!

Radisson Hotel
4545 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660 

Visit Hollister at the New Earth Expo in Newport Beach, where she'll be selling and signing copies of her book I'm Not Dead, I'm Different.  She'll be speaking at 3pm.

Admission is $10 ($5 for seniors and teens), and tickets are available at the door.

Monday, August 8 - Wednesday, August 10 

Hollister has limited time available for in-person private sessions in Anaheim.  Please contact Claire at HollisterRand@gmail.com 

with "Orange County private" in the subject line if you are interested in booking something.

Friday, August 19  

7:30pm - 9:30pm 

Awakenings Metaphysical Bookstore 

(View Venue) 

25260 La Paz Rd. Suite D

Laguna Hills, Ca 92653

TICKETS:   

$25 - Pre-registration w/ purchase of I'm Not Dead, I'm Different 

$35 - Pre-registration price     

$44 - At door  

*Tickets available by calling 949-457-0797.

Saturday, August 20   

2:30pm - 4:30pm 

Awakenings Metaphysical Bookstore 

(View Venue) 

25260 La Paz Rd. Suite D

Laguna Hills, Ca 92653

When times are changing that's when the spirits can help us the most.   Medium Hollister Rand provides specific messages from loved ones living in the spirit world.

Experience spirit communication in an up close and personal way.  Hear what loved ones have to say about your life in a friendly and comfortable setting.  Sit with Hollister as she feels, sees, hears and connects to those who want to say hello to you.

This is an intimate event limited to 10 people.  Everyone in attendance receives a message. Note: No one under the age of 18 will be permitted to attend.   

Ticket Price:    $150 per person

                        $240 per pair (a $60 savings)  

*Tickets available by calling 949-457-0797.