The Medium & The Message

October 14, 2010 marked eleven years since my mother crossed over, and it felt as if that time never went by. Over the course of the past decade, I have opened myself to receiving her guidance in the only way I know how: as a medium. I have always listened carefully and long enough to allow signs to unfold into a single message. I do that for my clients, but it is never so easy to do that for myself. I was determined, though, and remained positive that opening myself and trusting that it was right to do so, would reward me with a special communication with my mother. I wasn’t disappointed.

So often, people move through life missing the signs that create dialog between themselves and their loved ones on the other side. Some never receive the messages they long for, simply because they didn’t take time to relax and listen. With some people it is a matter of faith, and the loss of it. The only way to become aware of those signs and know how to receive them is through the act of faith. My acronym for faith (which I love so much that it is on one of the cards on my Hope Deck) is: Freely Acting In True Harmony. That is what true faith is. To have faith is to have a belief system that there is a Divine source of light (goodness) that inspires you from afar and is there with answers to the questions and emotions you experience while on this earth plane.

I’m sharing a snippet of a scene of the now-canceled Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt. I used to record the show and see it on the DVR later. This is the opening scene, but before you watch it, allow me to direct those who don’t know me personally, to the signs that make up this particular “message” from Mom.



Jennifer and her husband are helping their son to bury his turtle.Turtle is my animal totem as it is a reference to both my grandmothers: one we called Mertle The Turtle to tease her, and the other (psychic one) actually OWNED a huge turtle that she had on a leash!

I am Italian. The reference is that the turtle is, too.

Turtle’s name is Giovanni – which means John (my late uncle from California)

Palm tree- California.

Good listener: Mom

Finally, my mother’s name: Frances!

This is just one example of how signs are delivered to create a message. I hope it gives you some insight into the messages that are waiting to be delivered to you.

A Visit To Houdini's Grave - Was I pushed? You decide!

Houdini, Harry (1874–1926), U.S. magician and escape artist; born in Hungary; born Erik Weiss. In the early 1900s, he became known for his ability to escape from all kinds of bonds and containers, from prison cells to aerially suspended straitjackets.

I have long had a fascination with Houdini as an entertainer, and later, as a man who (rightfully) debunked some very famous so-called “mediums” in the days when spiritualism was all the rage in the parlors of the United States and Europe. I championed him for unmasking so many of those that preyed on the loss and misfortunes of others. And I felt sad for him as I followed his plight to communicate and receive a message from his own mother on the side.

Over the years, I have collected memorabilia and read a great deal about his life, and one thing I always wanted to do was to visit Houdini’s grave. Not because I’m a medium, as I usually stay clear of cemeteries because I know the dead are not there. (But that is another story for another blog). I wanted to go because it held the spiritual energy of another time and place. The Society of Magicians had a beautiful emblem made, along with a statue bust of Houdini to mount on top of it. Just like Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris, the bust has been stolen by zealous (or jealous) fans a couple of times and not replaced.


Houdini and his entire family are buried in MachPelah Cemetery in Jamaica Queens, a desolate area of blocks and blocks of cemeteries. This one has been closed down for over 20 years and it is certainly not a place I would go to alone, not as a medium or a woman. I didn’t know anyone else who was shared my passion. Then along came my friend, Steve. It was during a reading with me that Steve mentioned his own long fascination with the great escape artist. We were amazed to have known each other fourteen years and never once had either of us mentioned Houdini. I told him Houdini was an Aries, like me. We laughed and Steve offered to take me on the visit to Queens.

There were several signs from spirit once we were on our way, one was especially attention getting. In the middle of the ride, the keys literally flew out of the ignition while we were driving and landed between my feet on the passenger’s seat. The vehicle, btw, was still moving!

As we neared the rows of cemeteries with stones that spread out for miles, I could feel myself getting a little queasy, nervous, and excited. We had to pull off of the main street and into a carriage port circa 1800s and I was begging Steve to stop his pick up truck and turn around. It was overwhelming and unnerving and I could feel my head spin. I began to walk around with the video camera too soon. As you will see in the video, Steve comes around to help me. I am talking and trying to make light of how frightened I am by the energy I’m experiencing. As we move into the gravesite, Steve notices Houdini’s mother’s plaque. Not only was Houdini, my sign, but also it turns out that Steve discovered something about himself and Houdini’s mother!

I draw in for a close up with the camera so I can show all of you what Steve and I discovered and all of a sudden I have no control of the camera. As you will see, just before the end of the video clip, I am asking what is going on. Right after that moment, I felt people whispering all round me, close to my ears, and I felt a hand both push and pull me just before I took a nosedive into the monument steps. My fall was almost in slow motion.

I was lucky to escape serious injury and had to see the doctor to make sure. When I look back on the incident, I believe Houdini’s mother was trying to make her presence known to the first medium to visit there in a long time. Much of that cemetery has spirit lingering and it came as no surprise to me that she would reach out. Perhaps what I experienced is the residual energy of a mother who, even long after she is reunited with her son on the other side, still attempts to communicate with him.