The Woman in White

It was Saturday, June 7th 2008 when friends Anna and Tommy* came for a reading at the house. I was ready for them with the tea brewed and the fragrance of sweet incense emanating from the other room.  They had booked their session in advance, wanting to split the reading between the two of them before a fun night out on the town.

​Tommy was a jolly fellow, quick to smile and we hit it off immediately. His beautiful hands were easy to read, and the words flowed effortlessly off my lips as I traced his lines, and analyzed shape of his hand and fingers. I don't remember the details of his reading (common for me), but I do remember all of us laughing and being delighted at the accurate details that were coming through. After about 30 minutes, his reading was over, and it was time for Anna.

She was very excited, as was I, looking forward to a fun and illuminating experience just like the one her good friend Tommy just experienced. As I took her hands, however, I felt something I had never experienced before. There, above her right shoulder stood a figure in white, who seemed female, and maternal. She was very powerful, and looking right into my soul.

I blinked, and thought to myself, "Oh Jim, you are really obnoxious. Seriously??? A figure in white??? What a cliche! If you are going to make something up, try to do so with some creativity! Now stop this nonsense and concentrate on the reading!"

Despite my disbelief, and my attempts to ignore this specter, the woman in white remained. As much as I doubted what I was 'seeing' and as much as I feared sharing this with my client, the figure stood there. The thoughts ran through my mind, "You can't tell her this, you're a palm reader, not some kind of psychic medium! What if you're wrong about it? You could really freak Anna out, or even damage her!"

That's when the figure in white started tapping on my forehead, which made focusing on reading the palm even more difficult. Unlike the first reading, and most of my readings, the words did not flow from at all. I was stammering, clearing my throat, and saying "umm" a lot while trying to describe the Anna's lines and hand shape.

I took both a deep breath and a huge leap of faith and said, "Okay - look, I am sorry - this has never happened to me before, but... there is a figure in white standing behind your right shoulder. This feels like a maternal figure, but could be a mom, aunt, or grandma, and she is sending me some really strong emotional messages, and with urgency. First, she is full of deep and painful regret towards you - she is saying, 'I am so sorry.' Second, she loves you like crazy - her love is overwhelming and strong. Finally, she is definitely a mamma bear - protective of you, and watching over you with great power." I sighed, both relieved that I had finally gotten this out into the open, but also worried about the response I might get from my clients.

I looked up at Anna's face. She was wide eyed and had pulled her hands back from me. We stared at each other for a moment, then she blurted out, "I don't have a mom. I mean, I was raised by foster parents."

I had a sinking feeling in my gut, and I started to wonder if I had just made a huge mistake. "You don't have to pay for the reading!" I quickly offered, but Anna insisted on paying, and they quickly left.

I didn't expect to ever hear from them again, and was, over the following days, very worried about the reading, and how Anna was doing.

Three days later, I received an email from Anna telling me how significant the reading was, and that her and Tommy had been talking about it non-stop. She explained that her mother didn't "pass away" - she had made some wrong turns in life and ended up becoming a victim of the Green River Killer. Anna said that her mom never had a chance to change, and is sure that the person she was when she died was not the person she would have wanted to be remembered as. Having a chance to hear from her mom was deeply meaningful to her, adding "...the best money I have ever spent."

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There have been many times in my life when I have had a lack of faith. Following the fearful path has often led me to more suffering than was warranted. In this instance, I had a choice, and had to make that choice in full confrontation of my fear of being wrong. My faith was also tested, for three days anyway, that I had made the right choice in telling my client what I was seeing.

My client also had a choice - to listen to the palm reader and allow herself to re-connect with the idea of her mother, now enlightened, whole, and complete -- or to discount the entire experience. I believe that Anna found some sort of healing from the visitation of her mom, and I am so grateful that Anna chose to have faith as well.

What do we do when our knowledge, our talents, our identity is pushed beyond their limits? I invite you to consider listening to that inner voice of the Divine, have faith, and make that choice.

In Love and Light,
Jim Barker

* This story is a true experience, but the names and specific identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.