Channeling Erik

Erik was born on September 21, 1989 at 3:00 in the afternoon. He greeted the world without a whimper. Instead of howls of protest at the bright lights and cool air, he seemed content to take in his surroundings peacefully. Until he was around 12 or 13, he was such a happy boy.

As a child, Erik had a keen eye for beauty. He adored women and was not afraid to tell them how beautiful their hair or eyes or dress was. His love for the female spirit was so deep; he proposed marriage to several teachers in preschool. Whenever he walked with his classmates, he'd get distracted by every flower, every insect, every weed, and would stoop to admire these things, much to the dismay of his teachers.
Erik also adored all things macho. He loved military garb and paraphernalia. He loved motorcycles, motocross, motor anything. He enjoyed working on engines, fixing his friend's cars, installing stereo systems and lift kits for them. Erik was also quite the clotheshorse. He loved dressing up in "Pappa suits," and in the months before his death, he would often walk around in a suit and tie for no reason at all. He was truly a man's man.

In keeping with his penchant for masculine endeavors, Erik longed to participate in all the sports his father engaged in: motorcycle racing, motocross, slalom skiing and other activities that caused me, as a mother and wife, to close my eyes and cringe. But he was clumsy like me, and Rune is a very protective father, so Erik never did get to participate in all of those death-defying endeavors to the extent that he wanted. How ironic. I think his clumsiness is a sign that, like me, Erik is more comfortable in spirit than in the physical.

As masculine as Erik was, he was also a sensitive boy. He instinctively knew when people needed a hug or a kind word of encouragement. Even as young as 9 months old, he would pat our backs to comfort us when we held him in our arms to provide him with comfort!

Erik never wanted to upset anyone. I remember one day when he was around two or three years old, I brought him home from the pediatrician's office, thighs and arms littered with Band-Aids from immunizations and blood tests. It had been a tough afternoon for the little guy. But when his father asked how he was, Erik answered with smile on his tear stained face, "I have a good time."

As he grew up, Erik's charm and charisma only blossomed more. Oh, and that smile, that laugh could light up a room. He never knew a stranger and would talk the ear off of anyone he met. As much as he could talk about his life, he was even better at asking about theirs. Erik was a master at listening to others with great patience and compassion. And he reached out to those he felt were struggling like him. I can't begin to count the number of "strays" he brought home for Mama's cooking and the nurturing companionship of our family.

Erik's sense of play was infectious. He loved being silly, playing pranks, and crafting wonderful jokes for all to enjoy. None of these were mean-spirited. They were all loving and endearing.

Erik had noble priorities compared to many of his peers in our socioeconomic class. He was far from spoiled and was grateful for everything he had and often said so. He loved to share, to give to others. What he cared the most about was family and friends. Erik was never a petty person with false pride. He had a big heart and soul and was quick to apologize sincerely when he said or did something hurtful, even to his siblings.

Erik had his struggles, though. He suffered from learning difficulties making school an unwelcome and often overwhelming undertaking. Despite our encouragement and understanding, his academic shortfalls ravaged his self-esteem. Peers and even some thoughtless teachers called him "stupid" to his face. To make matters worse, he also suffered from Tourette's, so his odd tics and mannerisms left him vulnerable to unkind remarks. It was during his middle school years that I began to see this happy, charming, affectionate child transform into a stranger. He slowly built a shell of toughness to protect himself from a cruel world. He wore spiked leather bracelets and long pocket chains, smiled less often and was involved in a number of fistfights at school.

And so began the darkness. It crept into his life like a toxic infection sucking the light from his heart and soul. But this darkness was still no match for the love within. Let me tell you all a story that highlights this perfectly. His sister, Michelle, only just shared it with us day before yesterday. She and Erik were so close; they may as well have been twins.

Michelle had a few tragic romances as only teenagers can collect. When she was 18, she met Chris, the "love of her life," and vowed to marry him only a week or two after they met. This was not a happy announcement for my husband and I, because Chris...well, you know those guys who, at 30, are still living in their parent's basement playing X-Box and smoking pot all night while skateboarding and drinking beer all day? If only he had such aspirations. Now, he's behind bars. I guess 18-year-old girls don't have the best judgment sometimes.

When Michelle and Chris broke off their engagement, she shared her tragic story with Erik as they drove home together. Naturally, she began to sob, as this was to mark the end of life, as she knew it. Back home, my husband and I were also crying back, but ours were tears of relief and joy. No sooner had Michelle begun to cry than Erik joined in. He held her and sobbed with her the entire way home. It was as if he had been the victim of the breakup.

When someone's heart broke, Erik's broke as well. If someone he cared about felt pain, so did he. What courage it takes to feel the pain of others. It's hard enough to bear the weight of one's own troubles without taking on the grief of others. Such a heavy burden for a young, loving, sensitive boy. I supposed that eventually, it got the best of him.

By the time he was fifteen, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and started on medication. Despite weekly sessions with both a therapist and a psychiatrist, Erik slid into a deep depression. He found solace in drugs and alcohol partly to give credence to that tough exterior, partly to ease the pain. As parents, we did everything we could to help him feel better about himself. As with all of our children, not a day would go by that we didn't tell him how much we loved him and how grateful we were to have him in our lives.

Eventually, Erik seemed to improve somewhat. He stopped the drugs and alcohol and embarked on a career path to becoming a welder. But as happiness seemed to elude him still, he developed an insatiable appetite for material possessions to fill the empty void: a stereo system for his truck, a new welder, equipment for a new sport or hobby, or a new bike. When he ran out of money, he pawned nearly all of his other possessions for the next "fix." He also had an intense yearning for friendships. Sadly, he was well aware of the fact that many of his "friends" answered his calls only to hang up immediately once they realized it was him. Many regarded him as odd and quirky and, as a result, he often felt deeply lonely. I find this so ironic, because Erik was so caring toward others whether they were friends, acquaintances or strangers. He wouldn't hesitate to give anyone the shirt off his back and often brought home troubled strays in need of a home cooked meal and a place to sleep. In all of his twenty years here on Earth, I have never heard him utter a critical or disparaging word about another person. Perhaps because of his struggles, he was one of the most compassionate, nonjudgmental people I have ever known.

Erik was often misunderstood by so many. He sometimes came across as intense and disheveled. He was tormented by tics and an addiction for cigarettes. But behind all that was a diamond in the rough. Few were kinder. Few were more loving. Few were as understanding. Few were as willing to sacrifice for others.

Sometimes I felt like the only one in the world who saw the real soul that Erik was. This was a lonely feeling. That changed when I received a loving email from one of his friends, I share this with you now lest you think I'm just braggart mom:

Dear Dr. Medhus,
It is with much respect and condolences that I accepted your invitation to be on your friend list for face book. I have thought about your son Erik and your family often, praying that you find any comfort possible in your egregious loss of his untimely death.
My last memory of Erik was at Starbucks. I have been employed there for 3 years, and this is how I have come to befriend Erik.
He truly was one of my favorite Memorial students, which actually says a lot. I did not have patience (sometimes still don't) for many of their adolescent behaviors and attitudes. Erik was different than most of the students and I was always happy to see him. He was always ready to offer a smile, or help to keep the peace on the porch when I had to ask them to behave. We chatted often at the bar or on the patio.
It was very close to his death when he came into the store seeming withdrawn, not his usual self (at least with me)
I gave him a drink on the house and we chatted some. I was a little concerned; embarrassed to say that I chalked it up to a bad day or a bad week...he'll get over it.
He asked me if I would be his friend on Facebook and I was happy to say yes. He added me that day.
It was only a few short days later before I got the news of his suicide.
I wish that I would have listened to my instinct and tried to reach out to Erik more. He was a great kid.
I started reading your blog, and it is inspiring, heart warming to believe that he is still with us on this earthly realm, watching over his friends and family. Though he has peace on the other side, I want you to know I still pray for your family often!
I wish I could offer much more to you, it is unfortunatel

Then came that horrible Tuesday, that deep chasm that tore my life into two parts, the "before" and the "after." Erik seemed to be stable and happy that day. Those last few months, he had finally found friends he could trust, friends that loved him as he loved them. My sister, Teri, was visiting from her home in California and she, two of my daughters and I planned to go out somewhere for lunch. I asked Erik if he'd like to join us, but he declined, saying he preferred to stay home and "chill." He asked how long we'd be gone, and I told him we'd return in no more than an hour.

Five minutes into the drive I received the worst phone call of my life. Maria, our housekeeper who had helped take care of Erik since he was 16 months old, said she heard a "loud noise" and was scared. Although I had no reason to suspect anything, I instinctively knew. I asked her if it sounded like a gun and she replied, "yes." I begged her to go upstairs to check on Erik and she did. The bloodcurdling scream I heard moments later would forever be etched in my mind-a scream that marked the beginning of a nightmare from which we would never awaken, a scream that dashed our hopes along with our sense of inviolability. It marked the beginning of our emotional collapse into a car full of hysterical sobs.

We were home in a matter of minutes, minutes that seemed more like decades. I was so afraid to go upstairs and confront what I knew to be the tragic truth, but as a physician, I needed to be sure he was truly dead. What if he still had a pulse? Maybe I could administer CPR and save him. But upon seeing my son sitting in his desk chair, eyes opened and lifeless, with an obvious gunshot wound to the head, it was clear he was gone forever and could not be brought back to life. Only days later would I discover that he had pawned other possessions and asked a 21 year-old friend to purchase a handgun. In great despair, I flung myself into his lap, screaming like a wounded mother wolf mourning the loss of her cub. It felt like I was out of my body peering down upon this broken shell of a woman whose hands were bathed in the blood of her own child.

The days that followed were torture. No mother should have to bury her child, much less hired a crime scene cleanup crew to pull out his carpet and scour the walls.

It's amazing how one decision, one ill-fated decision to pull back that trigger a few agonizing millimeters was all it took to cleave our lives in two: the wonderful before and the intolerable after. Our entire family was catapulted into a new world of grief, bewilderment, anger, and guilt. As a mother, the effect seemed to take an even greater toll, as if that physical connection that began between us 20 years and nine months ago had been ripped apart so violently that a heavy pain permeated every part of my body and soul. It leached into every cell, distorted every memory and haunted every thought.

For months, I found it difficult to trudge outside to get the mail and newspaper. More days than not, I longed for death so that I might hold Erik in my arms once more. Grief enveloped me so deeply that I forgot I wasn't alone. My husband, my four other children, countless relatives and close friends were also in pain. I had to make a conscious effort to encourage them to share the burden, to cry on my shoulder and to lean on what little strength I had left.

After months of stumbling blindly through my new and cruel darkness, I decided that enough was enough. Although my son is dead, I am still his mother. I wanted that relationship to not only survive, but also to thrive. This meant treading on dangerous territory where answers are elusive and indistinct and disappointment might lurk in every shadow. Somehow, I had to find the courage within to ask the tough questions and publish the answers in the form of a blog. Through a psychic medium, I channeled these questions directly to Erik. Why did he take his life when he had so much to live for? What was death like for him? Where is he now? What is he now? Is there an afterlife, and if so, what is it like? Although some of his answers were difficult to hear, most provided comfort and solace.

Over time, my short list of questions grew and eventually blossomed into a journey to uncharted territory. Many strangers from all over the world have joined me in that journey, submitting their own poignant and thought-provoking questions to Erik as well. These strangers, now friends, consider Erik's insight to have been life-changing for them. For some who were on the brink of suicide themselves, he has inspired them to live and live with meaning. From this insight, a book is born. Erik is the author. I am but his scribe.

Sathya Sai Baba

In continuance of the celebrity channeling, the Channeling Erik blog welcomes the wisdom of Sathya Sai Baba:

Me: Let's interview a religious or spiritual figure, now. What do you think about Sai Baba? Are you up for hunting him down, Erik?
Jamie: Oh, I've always wanted to talk to him!
Me: Good, so can you get him for us, Erik?
Erik: Sure
(Erik leaves)
Jamie: I've seen him twice!
Me: For real?
Jamie: Uh huh.
Me: Or in spirit?
Jamie: Well, not for real. He was still alive when I saw him the first time. He manifested in the room, and then I saw him after he passed away; I asked for him.
Me: Oh! How awesome.
Jamie: The first time, I didn't ask him to come. He just sort of arrived, and the other people in the room saw him as well!
Me: Oh, how amazing!
Jamie giggles when Erik comes back with Sai Baba.
Sai (jovially): Hello!
For some reason, I expect gurus like Sai Baba to comport themselves with great solemnity and poise, so to have him announce himself with such unabashed glee takes me aback!
Jamie (shyly): Hi. Oh, I'm going to act like a little girl; I can feel it!
Me: I bet! I hate to admit, I really only just heard about him from a blog member, so I know nothing about his life! Hello, Sai Baba! I can say your name over and over again and have all sorts of fun with it. It just rolls off the tongue so playfully. It's almost like music.
Jamie (laughing): That makes him smile!
Sai: Thank you.
Me: So, I'm sure you know why we've summoned you here. Let's see if you can knock some sense into this crazy world of ours with some of your wisdom.
Sai: Unfortunately you can't push wisdom on anybody.
And it begins.
Me: So true. Now the first question I'd like to ask is this-you can interject any time you want, of course-Reflecting on your life, do you think you accomplished your spiritual mission?
Sai: From the moment I was born, I accomplished my spiritual mission.
Me: Really? Can you explain?
Sai: I accepted and surrendered into the work I knew I had to do.
Me: So, was that part of your spiritual mission, to surrender? To let go? Is that what you're saying?
Sai: Yes.
Me: Okay. Were you here to learn anything or were you just here to teach?
Sai: I was only here to teach.
Me (giggling): You're a man of many words!
Sai: Words can wield more power when there are fewer of them, sometimes. The more words a person utters, the less others listen.
Me: Isn't that the truth! So, what were you here to teach?
Sai: That life, love, all of your cravings, all your needs you create for yourself in life-they begin in the heart and they resonate in the heart.
Me: Mm.
Sai: I'm-
Jamie (laughing at Sai): Whatever!
Jamie (to Erik and me): He doesn't consider himself to be the world's greatest teacher.
Sai: I mostly came to live a life of example of what it could be for so many others. I denounced material possessions and with that-
Erik: Wait, why would you do that?
Jamie and I giggle.
Me: Oh, and when did you do that?
Sai: When I was a young teenage, I think. I didn't pay much attention to time passing by, so I really didn't know my exact age. Once I was able to cut that tie to material things, I was able to see life without the demons we create that get in our way.
Me: Ah! So, I'm sorry I stepped on Erik's question there. Erik, you asked him why he let go of material goods, and I interrupted. Sorry.
Erik laughs.
Jamie (laughing): He's turning away from me, and I couldn't hear him; he's talking directly to Erik. I'm going to move and get in his way!
Me: All right! You show Sai Baba who's boss!
(Pause)
Jamie (touched): He calls Erik "Son."
Me: Aww.
Sai: Son, you make a choice of identifying what you need in life, and then your second choice is identifying what you do not need in life; in the action that follows, this is choosing to be honest with yourself about the difference between the two. In my life, I believe in following through with what you think is best instead of going with the herd.
Me: What a wise lesson for all of us to learn. We need to have the self-honesty necessary to distinguish between our wants and our needs.
Sai: Indeed! It's the one facing everyone on Earth! It's the one that is collapsing the world economy.
Me: Sure! Everyone wants, wants, wants. They confuse their wants with needs.
Sai: Yes.

Me: I feel funny asking you this, but do you have any regrets?
Sai: No.
Me: Because?
Jamie giggles at his answer.
Sai: I never took a step in my life without consciousness. This is why I have no regrets.
Me: How wonderful! Not many can say that. Can you share a past life that may have influenced your most recent one?
Sai: It was a life where I was a turtle. I lived for over a hundred years in the heat and the rain, and I loved only one. And it was through this patience that was forced upon me because of the size of my body and by the-
Jamie (to Sai): I'm sorry. I don't know that word. Condemption? It's almost like being condemned to live a long life.
Me: Oh, okay.
Sai: Yes, I was condemned to a long life, and because of my size, I moved slowly. This allowed me to understand the subtleties of the earth and what she teaches us. Through this I gained the wisdom I needed to know how to be the human I wanted to be.
Me: Were you one of those gorgeous, huge Galapagos Island turtles?
Jamie: That's exactly what he's showing me! Don't they live a really long time, like a couple of hundred years?
Me: Yes. Really long lives. Fascinating. My dad once rode a Galapagos Island turtle. I'll have to find that picture.
Jamie: Really?
Me: Yeah. Now, have you reincarnated yet or do you plan to?
Sai: I will return to earth after the change is made to be able to sustain the people's needs and desires.
Me: Okay. Can you tell us a bit about your afterlife?
Sai: Life is expansive and so is my afterlife. I stay in the constant state of meditation and-
Jamie (stumbling to say a word that starts with a d): Can I say it in my words?
Erik: Go for it, Jamie!
Jamie (to Erik, giggling): No, Erik. I'm asking Sai Baba!
Everyone laughs.
Jamie: It's confusing. His words are very graceful, but he's sharing that he stays in meditation so that he can divide himself and work with thousands of people at a time. He's constantly manifesting for centers and individuals and groups on earth to communicate with them and continue his teachings that he had on earth.
Me: Wow.
Sai: It was my will and my desire and my time to leave. I was told it was my time. I knew. Therefore, I agreed to it and accepted it, yet I still enjoyed the role of showing.
Me: So, before you passed away, you were already dividing yourself and manifesting yourself in various places, just like you did when you appeared before Jamie and the others while you were still alive.
Sai: Yes.
Me: Fascinating. Now, what do you think about the state of humanity now?
(Pause)
Me (in the high-pitched voice of a begging child): Be gentle, please!
(Pause)
Jamie sighs.
Sai: Thoughts and words and deeds shape others and they shape you and they have shaped the governments of every country. There should not be any dislike or distrust on language, age, sex, race, nationality, and socioeconomic status.
Me: So what you're telling me is what you envision the state of humanity to be if it were perfect? It sure isn't like that now!
Sai: To be clean, to be pure, one must first clean out.
Me: Clean out what?
(Long pause as Sai Baba explains to Jamie.)
Jamie: Ooo! He's talking about cleaning out the judgments that humans think they have the right to hold.
Me: Yeah.
Sai: For so long, the children of the world were set free, and they gained a false sense of security and power. Now we must learn the untruth. You cannot and do not get attached to worldly pursuits and things. Be in the world, but do not let the world be in you.
Me: Wow. Any other advice or messages for us?
Sai: Everyone wishes to seek enlightenment, but the spiritual process is right living.
Me: Living right?
Jamie; Yeah, living right.
Sai: Good conduct, moral behavior, honesty-these are the spiritual progress; these are enlightenment.
Me: Okay, last but not least: Erik do you have any questions you'd like to ask?
Erik: What do you want to tell mankind? I know you're already told them a lot.
('Gosh, was Erik listening?' I thought.)
Sai: For what the people need now, I wish I could go to every person and tell him or her that patience is all the strength that man needs.
Jamie: When he says man, he's referring to men and women.
Me: Yeah, humanity. But who are we kidding? We know it's mostly men who need that, right, Jamie? Women are perfect!
Jamie (giggling): He smiles and then laughs.
Me: I'm just kidding, of course.
Jamie: You know he's not really that straight-laced. He's very relaxed in his posture. He looks comfortable and shifts his weight from one hip to the other.
Me: Well, thank you so much. I look forward to meeting you in the future.
Jamie: He puts his hands together and bows.
Me: I can just see him! Thanks so much, again.
Sai: Thank you, and I look forward to visiting you soon.
Me: Oh, I hope so! We'll try to spread your wisdom to the masses.
Sai Baba leaves.
Jamie: That's so cool! He said thank you, and he gives blessings on your book.
Me: Aw, thank you!
(Enough with the thank you's already!)
(Pause)
Me: Wow. Just wow. The whole turtle thing just blew me away.
Jamie: That was really, really awesome! To hear him talk! He's got that big hair! Big fuzzy hair!
Me: I don't know what he looks like. And fuzzy hair? Really, Jamie? Isn't all hair fuzzy?
Jamie laughs.

If you want peace and if you want happiness you must live in love. Only through love will you find inner peace. Only through love will you find true happiness. Love flourishes through giving and forgiving. Develop your love! Immerse yourself in love!

...Love is the basis of everything. It is the single most important quality that has to be developed. All your thoughts must become immersed in this quality of love... then truth will naturally establish itself in your heart.

In the next few sessions, Erik expands on the exact nature of The Shift. This will not be an overnight metamorphosis. In fact, it will likely take years and has already begun, to which many of you can attest. We are the butterflies in our cocoons ready to be unleashed and free.

Channeling Transcript 9/5/11

Me How are you doing?

Jamie: I'm doing good! How are you?

Me: Pretty good, all things considered!

Jamie: All eyes are focused on you.

Me: Really?

Jamie: Yeah, as you juggle your life and everything that's going in it.

Me: Oh god. It's a nightmare! What's next, locusts? So, I guess you're here, Erik? How are you, Baby?

Jamie: He's been doing fine. He says he's been just as busy as you.

Me: I bet. Now, is there such thing as Santa Claus? Let's just get that deep and mysterious question out there first.

Erik (laughing): Mom, you know the story. It was based on some dude. No, he wasn't fat and he didn't wear a red suit and he doesn't live in the North Pole. All this was created just to tell the story to kids.

Me: Okay. So, there's no Santa spirit, I guess?

Erik: Yeah, well there is Saint Claus spirit.

Me: Oh! So he really is a spirit that exists?

Erik: Yes!

Me: Good, cuz I had y'all believing in him when you were into middle school. I'm such a great liar. I'd have so much fun making up ways for you to believe.

Erik laughs.

Me: Now, another person wants to know if there will be another big earthquake on the east coast since that one originating in Virginia?

Erik: Yes, and the epicenter will be further up towards New York.

Me: Okay. Will it be bigger?

Erik: Yes.

Me: Oh no! Are you saying it'll be more destructive?

Erik: Most likely, because all the homes built on the fault line aren't really prepared for any kind of big earthquake.

Me: Another person wants to ask more about the Shift. Will it be mostly a shift in perspective like a focused intent on another dimension or reality? While someone is focused on fear based things, others are focused on loved based ones, so it sort of splits into two dimensions just because two polar thought pools create two different realities?

Erik: Yes, Amen! It's going to be a good world, Mom.

Me: Oh, good. It's gotta get better. When the Shift occurs, will we still have physical bodies?

Erik: Yeah. The third dimension will still be alive and well. We'll just be able to use our minds and our capacity beyond the 3rd dimension.

Me: Will we be in the same dimension as you're in, Erik? (wishful thinking here)

Erik (laughing): You wish!

Me: Oh, no!!

Erik: We'll have more cross over, but you won't be 100% in the same dimension I'm in, because of the quality of a lower energetic life. You know, you need that as well. But telepathic stills, telekinesis, those will begin to be available. And with telepathy, you'll also be able to communicate more clearly with us.

Me: Okay. What will happen to those in the fear based dimension?

Jamie (giggling): I'm sorry. He was giving me a funny visual. What will happen with what?

(I repeat the question.)

Erik: Most commonly, what they'll do is self-destruct.

Me: How weird, because I just got this image of spontaneous combustion! How terrible!

http://youtu.be/PAMfCG6nn1w

Stay tuned for The Shift, Part Two tomorrow!

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I've learned so much about myself, life and the greater reality from Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth, that I feel compelled to share some nuggets with you all from time to time. I'm paraphrasing here, but the message is still powerful. Erik was the one who urged me to read this book, and I'm so glad he did.

When you say, "my life," the life you are referring to is all about content: your age, your finances, your profession, your mental and emotional condition, your past, present and future and all that happens to you.

So what is other than this content? That which enables content to be. If you know yourself only through content as so many of us do, then you will also think you know what is good or bad for you. You also differentiate events that are good for you and bad for you. But when you label, sort, judge, compare and categorize, this fragments your perception of the wholeness of life in which everything is interconnected and everything has its place and function within the totality. It helps create that illusion of separation. But totality is greater than the surface appearance of things--more than that sum total of its parts, more than whatever your life or whatever the world contains. Although life seems often like a random and chaotic succession of events, there is more. Life conceals a higher order and purpose. This Zen saying says it best: "The snow falls, each flake in its appropriate place."

We can never understand this higher order by thinking about it, because whatever we think about is content. The higher order emanates from the formless realm of consciousness from the universal intelligence of which we are a part. But we can glimpse it and align ourselves with it which means: We can be a conscious participant in the unfolding of that higher purpose.

**********************

If you haven't done so already, please vote for the blog by clicking on the big yellow star. I really would be grateful.

Also, how many of you would be willing to have a phone conference call channeling? Maybe we could get the CE channelers to help! I can also ask Jamie if she's channel Erik for us. If so, would you be willing to pay a small fee to her---maybe just 5-10 bucks? I'll take a head count so let me know if you're interested.

Last, we have so many new members. Welcome all. I hope you introduce yourself on the appropriate forum thread. Be sure to work your way from the first post on, because there is so much channeled info about death, the afterlife, the nature of reality and time, aliens, bigfoot, you name it.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Elisa

Blog member, Libby, shared her amazing Erik story with me, and it brought such immeasurable joy. After all I've been through, I'm still floored by confirmations like these. Perhaps I need to have a bit more faith and let go of that last thin thread of doubt. But how? Here is her Facebook message to me.

Happy New Year!! I went to see a medium over the Holidays and wanted to shAre my joy with you. My mother came through loud and clear and funny as ever;) There were so many folks clamoring to talk the medium had to center herself again half way thru the session and ask the folks to please - one at a time - hahaha! She let me ask questions at the end of the session and I asked if my friend Erik stopped by. She asked him the name of a living person connected to him so she knew it was him - he said Michelle:) She said he is a bit of a rebel and loves music - in fact he's hanging out with a bunch of musicians. She also mentioned that he had taken drugs as a means of escape in his life prior to his suicide. He said he knew I had Tarot cards and I should use them, could do this on the side:) His energy was making the medium a little woozy so I didn't press for anything more from Erik.

The thing is I didn't tell her anything about Erik - in fact I called him my friend and didn't even think about that until later. Erik is the only friend I have that became my friend after his passing - and that is because of you and the beautiful blog community you've created.

Thank you Elisa and Erik - I am most grateful!!

Love & Light XXOO - Elizabeth Schrader

The medium is a gal named Glennie Turner and she lives in Atchison Kansas. Please do post it on the blog and you can use my name:) It never even dawned on me to mention I didn't get the chance to know Erik in life - because I feel like I know him so well and that is because of your wonderful blog and all that the two of you have shared.

XXOO Elizabeth

Be sure you email me if you're coming to the Austin event. One of the main things Erik will teach us, besides pranking us and answers our individual questions, is how to channel our deceased loved ones and guides. Again, this should be a life changing weekend for all of us and a chance to meet lifelong friends.

If you haven't nominated CE and my daughter's blog (www.prettyshinysparkly.com) yet for the Bloggies and if you think it's made a positive impact on you and others, please do. Karma is a bitch. (heehee) Plus, you don't want Erik to prank you until you cry uncle! Just click on the big fat yellow star to the right and follow the directions.

Love you all!

Patrick Swayze

Erik: Mom, I already picked out our next one.
Me: Really? Who? Go ahead,\; fire away!
Erik: Mom, I'd like to introduce you to Patrick Swayze!
Jamie giggles.
Me: Oh, okay!
Jamie (whispering): Oh my god, he's the Dirty Dancing guy, right?
Me: Oh, yeah! Let's see, I'm pretty sure he's on the list. I just need to circle his name.
Jamie: Aw, I guess I remember seeing him in movies where he's a lot younger, but he's actually showing in an older way.
Patrick: Good morning!
Me: Good morning! How are you?
Jamie: He's got a great voice!
Me: He was and is a wonderful human being. Anyone who loves horses like I love horses-
Patrick: You and I grew up in each other's backyard, I hear!
Me: Oh really?
Jamie (to Patrick): Are you from Texas?
Patrick: Yes!
Me: Yeah! Thank you, Patrick, for taking time out of your very busy schedule in the afterlife.
Patrick: This is wonderful!
Me: Hopefully, we'll help and provide comfort to many people with this book.
Patrick: You know, I'm always a person who loves to give back, and I was wondering if, because this book is going to be such a success, are you going to take some of the profits to help people reunite with their loved ones as well?
Me: Oh, yeah! Of course! That's the whole point. We want to provide spiritual services like past life regression, channeling, and other things for those who can't afford it.
Jamie: Oh, he's so happy about that!
Me: Yeah. So, let's start out with Erik. Erik, do you have any questions for Patrick?
Erik: No.
Me: Okay, well, I'm going to ask you again later, so be thinking. Mr. Swayze, what beliefs did you have about death and the afterlife?
Jamie: He totally talks over you, before you can even finish your sentence.
Patrick: Oh, Roman Catholic, what else. The heart of all religion, right?
Me: I don't know.
Jamie: He kind of laughs at himself.
Patrick: Yeah, but that didn't hold up for my entire life. I wonder why? Isn't that the one religion with the most loopholes?
Me: Probably. But I don't know very much about different religions. I was raised Catholic, but then my parents became atheists when I was under the age of five, so I was very confused as a child! So, did you believe in the tenets of Roman Catholicism for quite a while?
Patrick: Oh, they had us right in the Catholic schools, raising us, but I think what saved me was my love for athletics.
Me: And how did that save you?
Patrick: I don't know. It kind of got me away from religious routines, attending the services, saying your prayers, having your rosaries.
Jamie: He's just waving his hands around like, "This and that and this."
Patrick: Because you know, I had to practice, and I had to study. I was into everything. You give it to me, from football to ballet to gymnastics to martial arts, to ice skating. You name it, I went across the board.
Me: That's amazing! I don't know what to do with my body half the time. But, yes, you really had an incredible amount of control over your body in three-dimensional space. Just uncanny.
Jamie: That's true. I never thought about it that way, but I always remember what a freaking great dancer he was!
Me: He's probably over there blushing. Are you, Patrick?
Jamie (chuckling): No, he's saying, "I'll show you some moves, ladies."
Me: Ah oh! Oh boy, promises, promises!
Jamie laughs hard.
Jamie: I like him!
Me: Oh, he's wonderful! Now, after you crossed over, how did your beliefs change?
Patrick: Oh, it was like waking up! Waking up, realizing, ah, honestly, my first thought was for my poor parents. They really held tightly to the idea of Catholicism. It gave them comfort. I saw what it did for them, so it wasn't anything I wanted to shake up.
Me: Yeah.
Patrick: Coming out of life and crossing over, I realized, 'Ah, this is so much easier!' And it's too bad that we aren't taught that faith and belief can be easy. It's not about dedicating your life and making vows. It really is about trusting in oneself to find your own beliefs and your own faith.
Me: Yeah, you don't need those nuns with their rulers, do you? No.
Patrick: I tried a bit of everything when I was alive.
Jamie (to Patrick): Oh my god; it sounds like a list of your athletics!
Patrick: Scientology, meditation, Buddhism, but I really didn't get that much support.
Me: Well, what made you embark on that sort of search? Did anything put you on that path of spiritual exploration?
Patrick: Because I was in the acting realm and got to be exposed to so much more, that gave me encouragement to explore. You know, my sister committed suicide.
Me: Oh, no. I didn't know that.
Patrick: And that right there, according to Catholicism, meant she was going to Hell for the rest of eternity. I just knew in my heart that this was not true, and that compelled me to dive deeper into different cultural and spiritual beliefs. And I found meditation, Buddhism, gave me the structure I needed to identify with spirituality.

Me I see. What was your transition like for you?
Patrick: It was damn near a perfect release. It was my time to go; I know it. I don't question that for a second. In the process of my death and dying, I was able to raise awareness-
Jamie (to Patrick): Oh that's right, you had cancer, didn't you?
Me: Yes, he had pancreatic cancer.
Patrick: I raised awareness and money. I found, you know, not absolute cures, but I found ways to prolong life with cancer. I'm very proud of what I've done.
Me: Well, I remember early in your disease you said you were going to beat your cancer. You're quite the fighter, and you really did persevere for quite a while!
Patrick: I did! Longer than expected. In many ways, I beat it down in the eyes of many people, and now they see it as a cancer that needs more attention and research.
Me: Absolutely! Okay, so can you describe your actual death?
Patrick: I remember I thought I was going to fight it that day like I did every day, but that day happened to be a day of complete peace. You know, after all the treatments and the surgeries, my body didn't feel like my own. Radiation, all these healing techniques that the medical field considers pertinent to my situation.
Me: Yes.
Patrick: I used what I considered complementary techniques that helped me bring the peace and openness I needed to embrace this death rather than fight it, and it happened to be on a day when I was accepting. My family was all with me; I felt completely at peace; I said my goodbyes. I had done everything. Looking back, it was the most perfect ending to a magnificent life.
Me: Wow.
Patrick: I don't have any regrets. I was able discuss and talk about anything and everything. I was always a man of honesty, and if I didn't do it in that moment, sure enough five or ten minutes later, I would turn around and give you my honest opinion. I just couldn't hold it that long.
Me: Well, we could all learn a lot from you. So you really had no regrets? That's one of my questions.
Patrick: No, no.
Me: It seems like you had the perfect life.
Patrick: Well, thank you! Of course there was hardships and disappointments, but that all comes with the package of what life is. I think that's why we're so challenged and intrigued by coming back and doing this all again.
Me: How is your wife doing? Lisa. Such a lovely woman. Is she doing all right?
Patrick: She has her days. Mostly she's doing very well. She's continuing the discussion about pancreatic cancer and continuing her donations.
Me: Well, good.
Patrick: I'm very proud of her.
Me: Wonderful. So, when you left your body, what did you see? Were there people to meet you? What were your surroundings like?
Patrick: I was able to help my family in the room. I created a sense of joy, even though there were tears. It was a recognition that we all knew how great that moment was. And then when that was complete, I kind of fell back into another place. I was greeted by my parents, everyone I loved that had died, everyone that I had worked with that had passed away. I remember one of my friends yelling out that he had lost his bet, thinking that I would live much longer than I did.
Jamie and I chuckle.
Patrick: I was peaceful; I was happy-
Me: Now, you say you were able to create a sense of joy in the room. How were you able to do that? Were you able to manipulate peoples' emotional energy or-
Patrick: No, no, I wouldn't do that! You can change the mood in the room by expanding your being out into everyone, and I was trying to show them that I was happy, and I knew they could feel it. They felt it; they looked at each other; they knew-there was an unspeakable knowing. And that's how I left my last touch on them.
Me: How wonderful! What a great gift! Was it your destiny to die when and how you did?
Patrick: Yes.
Me: Why?
Patrick: I have no doubt about that. It was part of my way of helping to raise awareness for cancer. I know in my death I'll be helping other people with this same type of cancer.
Jamie: He says it's not common.
Me: It's definitely one of the worst ones.
Jamie: It is?
Me: Yes. Very aggressive. He really battled it heroically. So, it seems like you were destined to die relatively young, because you fit so much in to such a short period of time in your life. It's almost as if you knew all along.
Patrick (chuckling): I think so. I think that's a complement right there.
Erik laughs.
Me: Can you describe where you are now, your surroundings? Describe your afterlife, including what you do as your life's work there.
Patrick: My surroundings are your surroundings. I'm still very much involved with my family members. That's who I stay with first and foremost. I help her, my wife, use the funds that we have to continue on. She just does so much in my name, in my interests, that I do want to be a part of who she is.
Me: So you hang around the earthly plane? Is that what you're saying?
Patrick: Yes.

Me: Okay. What insights do you think you gained given your new perspective in heaven?
Jamie (giggling): His first response is that he's going to do it again!
Me: Oh boy, some peo

Me: Erik, let's see if we can get Freddie Mercury for us. Jamie and I are big Queen fans.
Jamie: Oh, Erik just left. He didn't even say anything.
(Pause)
Jamie: And here he is. Mr. Freddie Mercury. He's got his moustache!
Me: Oh good! Hello Mr. Mercury!
Mercury: Hello ladies.
Me: We're friend. I mean fans-and friends, of course. You were-and are-so incredible. Such power from the heart when you sing. I just don't know how to describe it.
Jamie: He says thank you very much, but does he have a lisp?
Me: A little bit of a lisp, yeah. He did.
Jamie: Huh. Really? I never heard it, but of course I guess you don't really have a lisp when you sing.
Me: Yes, isn't that something? The same thing with stuttering.
Jamie: All right. Sorry. Go ahead.
Me: Okay, what beliefs did you have about death and the afterlife while you were alive? What did you think was going to happen?
Freddie: I thought that you would die, and the gods would come for you. Then, they would judge you on the life that you lived and that would determine how well you lived in the afterlife.
Me: Really? How interesting. What kind of religion is that?
Freddie (laughing): I think it's a bit of my own!
Me: Wow, not too many people create their own religion, Freddie!
Freddie: Where I grew up-
Jamie: It's weird. It's kind of like Catholic, but not in a Catholic place. Let's see if that makes sense. Can you explain that to me, Freddie?
(Freddie gives details to Jamie)
Jamie: In a different country? So he says he was raised Catholic, but in a country that was not Catholic in itself. So he heard multiple viewpoints on religion as a young boy and kind of put together the two, because when he was younger, he said anyone who could give me multiple viewpoints on the same topic just proved to him that nobody really understood it.
Me: Ah!
Freddie: So, I just threaded together what I liked about all of them. I guess that was for my own comfort, because I didn't believe in what the school was teaching.
Me: After you passed over, how did your beliefs change?
Freddie: That didn't happen at all!
Jamie giggles.
Me: Surprise!
Freddie: Thankfully, I wasn't judged for who I was. If I had been, I clearly would have defended myself. I felt that I lived a life that most people wanted, because I did what I fell in love with. It didn't matter if it was proper or improper, if it was boys or girls, I did what my desires led me to do.
Jamie: He laughs. He kind of recants his words.
Freddie: There was a good sized portion of my life where I was very selfish. As you know, when I became ill, that part I also did all that I desired, but it wasn't selfish. It was very unselfish. I know you're going to ask me what did I learn; that is what I learned how to do.
Me: Oh, okay. Now, what was your actual transition to heaven like for you?
Freddie: I believe I smiled.
Me: Aw.
Freddie: I was in my room. I remember there was never a quiet moment. You could always hear the people outside.
Jamie: Oh, you had people outside?
Freddie: Yes, sometimes I would have someone hold up a mirror so that I could see out the window and down.
Jamie: He must have been on a hill or up in a second story room. It's not clear, but he looks like he's up higher. He wanted the mirror to held in a way that he could see what was happening.
Freddie: I always felt loved by the people who enjoyed my music. I never felt like I was being stripped or robbed of my creative expression.
Me: Aw, that's good! So your death wasn't very painful? It was peaceful, then? Like a release? Is that what you're trying to say?
Freddie: Well, the medications helped. I think without that, it would have been very painful, and my body-I was never once afraid. I knew it was coming; I welcomed it. I had been sick for a very long time, and I just wanted death to come rescue me.

Me: Yeah, I can imagine. Can you describe your thoughts when you realized you had crossed over?

Freddie: You know, I really did ask, 'Where the hell are the bloody angels!' I said it really boisterously.
Jamie, Erik and I laugh hard. We could just hear him.
Freddie: And what followed soon after was laughter. I knew then that I had the right heaven, that I hadn't gone to hell.
Jamie and I laugh.
Freddie: My family was there. It was a white room with no walls, but I knew it was a room. I knew I was contained somehow.
(Pause)
Jamie (sounding a bit choked up): Aw, the emotions that come across are way heavier than the words themselves.
Freddie: I took a moment to release; I took a moment to cry.
Jamie: The energy that comes out of him kind of chokes me up a little bit. That's how much he was looking forward just to die.
Freddie: Yeah, my body ate me alive.
Me: Oh, what an awful disease. Well, was it your destiny to die when and how you did? If so, why?
Freddie: I believe it was. You know, I don't think I would have been happier growing old and not being able to perform. I only wanted that life on the stage, and I got that right up until the end.
Me: Were you meant to die from that particular disease?
Freddie: I think it was very selfless of me to follow through with this. It wasn't until my death that this disease really got mapped, got noticed.
Me: So you were meant to bring AIDS awareness and understanding to the world?
Freddie: Yes.
Me: Was that meant on a different level than for your own personal reasons? Was it also to teach us about compassion and acceptance toward groups of people who are often targeted and maligned and who often bear the brunt of fear-based emotions and thoughts?
Freddie: Absolutely. A lot of people like to categorize me as a gay man. I think I appropriately fit the category of a man who loved whomever was best for me-male or female. Bisexual doesn't do it do it justice, because there was nothing in me that was divided that way.
Me: Interesting.
Jamie (laughing): He likes to call it "all sexual"!
Me: There we go, and all sexual man! So, can you describe your afterlife now? What do you do there? Do you have a life's work? What does it look like? You know the drill.
Freddie: I have a place to come home to, but I rarely find myself doing so. Most of my passion is devoted to working with artists who are still living who find an inspiration in me, and I help them with the writing of the music, the singing of the music, the expression. I feel a bit like everyone's mother in the fact that I want to keep them out of the limelight's harm.
Me: Oh, yeah. Did you gain any new insights once you were in the afterlife?
Freddie: I gained that what I wanted to believe about heaven while I was on earth actually exists.
Me: Anything else.
Freddie (chuckling): I think that should cover everything.
Me: So, you shared what you were here to learn; do you have anything else to add to that?
Freddie: No, but I really think I was here to teach the all sexual thing.
(Pause as I wait in vain for him to expound.)
Me: Do you have any regrets?
Freddie: Actually, when I look back, when I was alive, I still have a little regret for not handling my band mates with more respect.
Me: Okay. What past life affected this last life the most?
(Pause)
Jamie: Um, he's kind of joking with Erik right now. I'm not really in the conversation with them, but they're joking about a life where-
(Pause as Jamie eavesdrops further)
Jamie: Are you guys for real!! Just tell me if this is for real or not!
(Jamie giggles)
Jamie (to Erik and Freddie): You're joking? Okay. I'm gullible! I'm gullible, I know!
Me: I am too.
Jamie: They were talking about a life of being an orangutan, and Erik and him are just slapsticking back and forth. The smell and the hair of the orangutan and what the sex is like!
Me (Laughing): Oh my god!
Jamie: I'm gullible. You got me, boys. So tell me a past life for real!
(Pause as Jamie listens to Freddie)
Jamie: He shows me this image of a blond-headed, curly, curly-haired girl. She's probably four or five years old. Kind of still has some baby fat features, you know, round cheeks. Kind of like a blond Shirley Temple.
Me: Okay.
Freddie: I recall vividly in that life-
Jamie: I asked him, 'Where was it' and he shows me snow and ice that goes on forever!
(Pause)%u2028Jamie: Oh, he jokes. He says it's probably close to where you have your cabin. Like a Nordic region.
Me: Yeah, in Norway!
Freddie: I remember being told in that life that the water was hot and not to touch the water and that the ice was cold and not to be out in the cold too long. There were rules that were more about life and death to protect you and keep you safe, because it was such a harsh environment. And I remember thinking, 'Why are they telling me this? Why can't they just let me be?' I just wanted to be on my own.
(Pause and Jamie listens more)
Jamie (to Freddie): Well that's not a great story.
Me: What?
Jamie: He tells me what happened was that he continued to go against what his parents were saying. He had a mother, father, large family. (counting) One, two, three, four-five children. He was one of five. He's the youngest. Doesn't really get paid attention, can do his own thing, walks out into the snow and didn't dress appropriately. So, he froze, died in the snow.
Me: Aw.
Jamie: At such a young age.
Me: Aw, how sad.
Freddie: I remember leaving that life, saying, 'Why couldn't I trust those people?'
Me: Ah!
Freddie: I was really hard on myself for doing that and thought, 'Maybe some people actually do care!'
Me: So, maybe you learned how to trust?
Freddie: Well, I didn't learn it in that life, but it definitely sat really heavy with me to listen to people in the life that I came into. And I didn't have any outlet, musically or otherwise. It was a very bland life. So, I thought the complete opposite would satisfy me. That's when Freddie Mercury was created.
Me: Ah! And there was nothing bland about your life as Freddie! So Erik, do you have any questions for Mr. Mercury?
Erik: Yeah. What was Bohemian Rhapsody really about?
Visit www.channelingerik.com to find out the rest!

Channeling Bob Marley

Me: I know it might be a little bit too early, but I'd love to interview Steve Jobs! Whaddya think? (Mr. Jobs passed away the day before this interview.)
(Pause)
Jamie: Oh, sorry. Erik's doing something, not to me, not talking to me. (to Erik): Who are you talking to? (pause) So, not today?
Erik: No. But I'll do my best to set it up for our next conversation, but Steve is not available now.
Me: I can imagine not. I figured. Well, let's hunt down Bob Marley then. Remember we already interviewed him, but I accidently erased the recording. I'm so bad! Ugh!
Erik disappears and reappears with Mr. Marley who is laughing and laughing as he comes in.
Bob (chuckling loudly): Hello, again!
Me: So, sorry, Bob! Dang it. And I remember it was a stellar interview. It was amazing.
Bob: Well thank you! That just gives us a chance to talk again!
Me: Oh good. Thanks for understanding. I know you know the drill, so I guess we'll just start! I think I remember a lot of what you said, but I need it word for word. I guess your answers could even change over time.
Bob: Oh, you remember me?
Me: Of course! I adore you, Bob! I do. You were all about love, and that's what I'm all about-at least that's what I aim for! Love is all there is!
Jamie (giggling): I wish I could talk the way he does in that island accent.
(She tries, but fails miserably. I try and am even worse.)
Bob: Sing it! Sing it, Mama!
Jamie giggles.
Me: You don't want to hear me sing, trust me!
Jamie laughs hard.
Me: So what beliefs did you have about death and the afterlife before you crossed over?
(Pause)
Jamie: He's talking about him teaching about God, and the r-re-in-oh, his accent! Yay! -Reincarnation of Jesus.
Me: Is he saying he is the reincarnation of Jesus?
Jamie: No, he's talking about teaching it to the people.
Me: Through song?
Bob: Through song-it shows up in every part of my body, in all my words. I had my own place where I would minister or preach.
Me: What were you raised to believe?
Jamie: He's only talking about the Rasta-
Me: Oh, Rastafarian?
Bob: Rastafarian, yes.
Me: Did those beliefs change after you crossed over?
Bob: No.
Me: Well, what is the Rastafarian belief?
Bob: It is de belief and de love of all; Dee acceptance dat God is in everything-de use of de plant, de life of de plant to help expand de love of One.
Jamie: He's saying it has a basis in Christianity almost.
Me: Hmm, okay. But not in the sense of organized religion where man often oppresses and controls man.
Bob: No, none of dat.
Jamie (giggling): I just still keep wanting to imitate him better.
Me: I know! I know! It's coming through fine, though!
Bob: It is not about-too many men are living life with der eyes, seeing man and woman seeing race against race. It is-
Jamie; Back up; back up. I'm so sorry.
Jamie giggles like a little girl.
Jamie; It's like his tone of voice and the way he talks is almost like a Jamaican rap session. You know, bud dum, bud dum, bud dum.
Nice try Jamie!
Me: It's got a rhythm to it, doesn't it?
Jamie: Yeah.
Bob: I believe mon should not live with der eyes; they should live with de heart. My father was a white mon; my mother was a black woman.
Jamie (to Bob): Really? You're a mix? Is that a metaphor?
Me: I was going to say, yeah! Oh my gosh.
Bob: No it's not metaphorical.
Me: Well, maybe it wasn't planned that way, but being the product of a racially mixed couple makes you a symbol of acceptance and love. Pretty cool!
Jamie: Yeah!
Me: You're a spiritual metaphor, Bob!
Bob (laughing): I am jest a child of God.
Me: As are we all!
Bob: That's what I wanted everybody to know. It is my belief dat God loves you for who you are; it doesn't matter if you're de good child or de bad child. All dat matters is dat you are dat child. People spend too much time living life with der eyes and judging one another when day should be living life through der hearts.
Me: Yes! Now, do you still feel the same way about using plants like weed?-and I don't know if you did psychedelics like peyote, mushrooms, you know?
Bob (laughing): I have tried dos.
Me: Of course you have! But do you still feel they're safe from the broader perspective you now have over things?
Bob: Yes!
Me: What was your transition like for you?
Jamie: He takes a deep breath, then kind of squints his eyes. He moves his hair back. Funky hair! (She giggles.)
Bob: My transition was a blessing. It pulled me away from my music, which nurtured me while I was alive. It was my time; it was my contract; I knew. I knew I would not live trough what I was going trough.
Me: Yeah. Did you suffer a great deal?
Jamie: Weird kind of question.
Bob: It took me a long time to let go and pass away.
Me: You had skin cancer, didn't you? Melanoma?
Bob: That's right. And yes I did suffer, but mostly it's dat I had a hard time letting go. It went to my lungs, my brain, so der was pain.
Me: So, when you transitioned, tell me what you saw and what thoughts you had once you realized you had passed on.
Bob: I rejoiced! I called God to come to my side! I called everyone I knew to come to my side.
Jamie: He sounds like he was very much in control!
Me: Yeah!
Bob: We sang; we embraced; I knew my pain was over.
Jamie: He's saying he had a short life.
(Pause)
Jamie (to Bob): How old were you?
(Pause)
Jamie: Thirty-Six! Really? I thought you were older than that!
Me: Aw. Can you describe what you saw when you first crossed over?
Bob: I saw light. I think what resonated mostly with me is dat I heard light and I saw music.
Me: You probably thought that was one hell of a trip!
Bob (chuckling): I really tot dis was de nicest way to go.
Me: Yeah. Now, was it your destiny to die when and how you did? You were awfully young.
Bob: Yes.
Me: Why is that? Why did you have to die the way you did and so young.
Bob: God blessed me with de chance to heal myself if I would pay attention to myself and give up de stage. If I would give up de people, and serve myself, then I would live, but dis is not something I was willing to do. I know it was de test and I was de sacrifice. I did not give it up, so I was very comfortable knowing dis was de end.
Me: Okay. Why cancer?
Bob: I don't know why cancer. Maybe you should ask de Mon.
Me (laughing): I'll get right on it, sir.
Jamie and I giggle.
Me: Well, can you describe your afterlife right now-the one you're in? And what all do you do there?
Jamie (laughing hard): God I just wanna imitate him!!
Bob: It is beautiful, mon, beautiful.
Jamie giggles.
Me: That's good, Jamie! Keep it rolling.
Jamie (giggling): I keep feeling like it might offend him if I keep imitating him. But you just want to do it so bad! He talks about the beautiful buildings and the colors that rest on them.
Bob: De colors of gold, de embrace dat your heart feels when you're in dis place. Dis is truly de, heaven among heavens and earth is truly de hell among hells.
Me: Tell me about it! What do you do there, Bob?
Bob: I help what little light shines on earth shine bigger-mostly through music and inspiration.
Me: So, you are a muse working with other musicians?
Bob: Yes.
Me: What insights did you gain once you crossed over and had that broader perspective as a free soul in Heaven?
Jamie: He just smiles so big at me! You know, his face isn't really shaven, but it's not like a full beard or anything. Kinda scraggly. When he smiles, you see a full set of teeth.
Bob (talking through his smile): I was just thinking about dis de other day!
Me: Oh!
Jamie giggles.
Bob: My focus and my life was more for community, for unity-to pull people together- to learn to live with each other. I wanted it so bad dat I created my family. My family is large. I have many children with different mothers-
Jamie (to Bob): What is that word?
(Pause)
Jamie (giggling): Use a different word, because I don't know it.
Jamie (to me) Probably some Rasta word! It means like wonderful or delicious.
Bob: It's delicious to be in love. So, I found love with so many women and created families with dem and children. I felt dis was a calling for me. And what I recognized here where I am-blessed to be here-I focused so much on community dat I unknowingly didn't focus on de individual enough. I missed knowing more about my children as dey grew, because I saw dem as part of a whole instead of as an individual.
Me: Fascinating. What do you think you were here to learn?
Bob: I was here to learn how to rise a nation-to motivate, to speak from de heart and belly of de soul and not from de eyes and de mouth.
Me: And that is a perfect segue into the next question: what were you here to teach? That must be exactly what you were hear to teach, right?
Bob: Yes. I was here to teach the people to live from the heart.
Me: Any regrets?
Bob: That goes back to my children and seeing them as individuals.
Me: Okay. What was your proudest-
Bob (laughing): And because I died so young, not being able to fall in love with more women!
Me: Oh, boy! What a womanizer! You have plenty of women over there, I'm sure! Right?
Bob: Oh, yes! Love is everywhere!
Me: Now, while you were in the physical, what did you feel was your proudest accomplishment.
Bob: Every song that went on a record.
Me: Good! And now that you're in heaven, do you still consider that your highest achievement?
Jamie: Um, he's kind of tugging at his black headband with his fingers.
Me: Okay.
Jamie: He adjusts his hair a lot!
Bob: Looking back with dis new perspective, I can see my proudest accomplishment is de changes people made when dey listened to my music. When I was on earth, my proudest accomplishment was creating de music. Now, as an observer, I can see de reaction to my music. (Pause for effect) Now DAT is my proudest accomplishment!
Me: Ah, of course! Can you talk about a past life that may have influenced your last one? These are always fun!
Jamie: They are, aren't they?
Bob: There are so many!
(Pause as he considers the question)
Bob: I liked being an old man.
Jamie (to Bob): Asia? So, where in Asia? (pause