Every once in a while, I will be approached by a deceased soul. It doesn’t happen very often, and I am not 100% sure why sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but I can tell you that when it has happened to me, it has been an amazing (and sometimes confusing) experience.

My most recent experience with this was no different.

On a recent trip back to Seattle for my son’s high school graduation, we were able to escape the city and do one of our favorite things to do as a family, go camping! Our favorite place is near a small town named Cle Elum in Eastern Washington. The spot we chose was beautiful. Huge Evergreen trees, a crystal clear fresh water river and deer surrounded us for four relaxing days.

As we were in the middle of nowhere, we washed all our dishes and laundry in the river. It was fun! You felt like a pioneer.

One evening I walked down to the river to get some water to boil. I was leaning over a rock, pot in hand and my back towards our campground. It was dusk and my husband and boys were up relaxing around the campfire.

“Ma’am?”

I turn around and see no one, but I am confident I heard a distinct male voice behind me. Realizing I was likely being contacted by a deceased soul, I said, “Is someone there? I’m sorry. I can’t see you. Where are you?”

Now, let’s be real. If someone (my family included) had seen me having a conversation with an invisible man, they would have

thought I was bananas. They probably would have put me right into a straight jacket. Fortunately, this did not happen.

Here’s what did happen…

In my mind’s eye, I see him and I know exactly who he is. He appears as a young man in his late 20’s. He wore a wide-brimmed cowboy hat and had a pleasant looking face, but overall was very non-descript. It was almost as if a shadow from the sun hid the details of his face, but I could see the overall shape. He was leading a medium-sized brown horse wearing a large saddle with saddle bags on the side. I knew his name was James.

He says, “I seem to be lost.”

“I know. I understand.”

(I really did know and I really did understand. Weird.)

He looks around, confused. “Things seem so different and I am not sure where to go.”

“Go to the light, James. I promise you will be fine. You will find your way and what you are looking for. I promise.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I will. Thank you.”

With that, he was gone. 

Not 10 seconds later, a pretty young woman showed up, who I intuitively knew went by the name Mary. Mary was pretty but still non-descript. I could see her bonnet and her dress, but as with James the features of her face were hidden by the shadow of her bonnet and the sun.