When Mediumship Isn’t Enough

Recently, I gave one of my strongest readings yet. It was the first time I received a full first name. That moment was huge for me. I’ve been working on names for six months, steadily refining my ability to catch the rhythm, syllables, and sometimes even the ending or first letter. At my last demonstration, I nailed the first letters for nearly every spirit who came through. Progress.

But yesterday’s reading was different. It was on Very Soul, and I connected with a woman's husband—a laborer, her lifelong partner since they were teenagers. He passed away in the bathroom from a heart attack early in the morning. I saw him: 5'9"–5'10", a cigarette smoker, a man who never really changed from his youth. He loved the same old music, had the same easygoing personality, always joking. He was a different ethnicity than his wife. And then—he gave me his name.

Enrique.

It was one of those moments where you know you’re dialed in. The connection was strong, clear, undeniable. And yet, when her feedback came in, she rated the evidence a 4 out of 5.

What?!

Now, I don’t take feedback personally anymore—good or bad. I show up, do my job to the best of my ability, and trust that what needs to happen, happens. But this one confused me. She had been so positive during the reading, confirming with so many “yes” answers. And Enrique had felt so present.

So, out of curiosity, I searched for his obituary.

Sometimes, I wonder if people agree during a reading out of nerves or politeness, even if they aren’t entirely sure. Grief is complex. The mind can play tricks. But if Enrique had given me his name so clearly, I wanted to see if I could validate the other details.

I had just enough information—his name, his wife’s first name, and her last name from the email she used to receive her Zoom recording—yes, the session was recorded. Thankfully, I didn’t have to rely on my imperfect memory alone.

When I found the obituary, I was not surprised to see that nearly every piece of evidence matched.

I knew it was a solid connection. I knew he was right there.

But what did surprise me? The date.

Enrique passed away less than two weeks ago.

That hit me. It made me realize something even deeper: Even when the spirit world comes through with clarity, even when the evidence is undeniable, sometimes people just aren’t ready.

Her grief may have clouded her ability to fully recognize him. And I get it—no matter how well I describe someone, I’m still just relaying details. I’m not bringing them back. That distance between expectation and reality? It’s not always something I can bridge.

But I am grateful for that reading.

I am grateful to Enrique, who showed me yet again that we can connect with the other side almost immediately.

Whether we’re ready for it or not—that’s another story.