by John Holland
There are moments in life that feel too meaningful to be explained away.
After nearly 30 years as a practicing medium, I can still say this with complete honesty: the intelligence of the Spirit World never ceases to amaze me.
Again and again, I’ve witnessed how our loved ones on the other side remain aware of our lives, how deeply they continue to love us, and how they find ways to remind us that they are still with us. The love you share is not lost. It becomes the bridge that keeps you connected. Love never dies.
Over the years, I’ve experienced countless moments that go far beyond coincidence. In my work, we often refer to these as After-Death Communications, or ADCs. These are not done through a medium, but are personal, meaningful signs, symbols, or experiences through which individuals perceive communication from loved ones who have passed.
They can arrive in many ways: through dreams, visions, or a strong sense of presence — and often bring comfort, reassurance, and a quiet reminder that the bond has never been broken.
Sometimes these signs are subtle. At other times, they are unmistakable. And occasionally, they arrive at the exact moment they are needed most.
This is a true story, and one of my favorite ADC experiences, shared with me by someone close to me… a gentle reminder of how a father’s love can still reach his son when it’s needed most.
They say that the sea speaks to the soul, and many times its sandy beaches hold very special treasures. Jeri and David had this beautifully romantic ritual that they always did together. They would head off to the local beach, not to watch the sunsets but to stroll, holding hands as they watched the beautiful ocean waves roll in. One thing they would usually do whenever they were on this specific beach was to look for sand dollars that had washed ashore.
It was their special time together, and it would be rare for them not to bring a few sand dollars home. Every token became a special memory of their romantic walks together.
Little did they know that one of these cherished treasures would someday mean more than they could ever have imagined.
They married and had a daughter, Riley, and two boys, Tegan and Logan. Everything seemed almost perfect. It came as a terrible shock when David developed an aggressive cancer and passed away far too quickly. Jeri lost the love of her life and her best friend; their children lost a doting father.
One day, some months after David passed, Jeri was hanging out in the living room with her youngest son, Logan, who was 14 years old at the time.
They’d both been thinking about David a lot recently. Logan was starting a new school year, his first year in high school, and she knew that he wished his dad could be there for support on this big day. Sensing Logan’s mood, Jeri reached out and whispered, “Do you want to join me for a walk down on Sand Dollar Beach?” — a name her children had given the beach years earlier when they were much younger.
Before she’d even finished asking, Logan had hopped off the couch with a smile and run to the door. That was his answer!
Without a word, they both started looking for sand dollars, just as Jeri and David had done together so many times before. They walked up and down the beach, pushing mounds of sand aside, scouring the shore for their treasure. Yet no matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t find a single sand dollar. Logan’s face couldn’t hide his frustration and disappointment.
Jeri looked up to the sky and said in her mind, “David, please send us a sign. Logan is starting school tomorrow, and he really could use a hello from Heaven from you right now.” Jeri turned away for a moment, so Logan wouldn’t see the tear trickling down her face. It was then that she noticed a small boat approaching the shore.
She could have sworn it wasn’t there before, and she didn’t know where it had come from. The man in the boat stood up waving and yelling, “Hi! Are you looking for sand dollars?”
“Yes!” the two yelled back in unison, a resounding roar of excitement.
The man smiled and pointed, “Give that sand bar over there a try!” Jeri and Logan thanked the man and ran across the beach. She glanced back for a second, but he’d already turned the boat around and left.
She thought how strange it was that this man hadn’t asked them if they were looking for shells, sea glass, or even heart rocks. Instead, he’d specifically mentioned sand dollars!
Logan ran ahead excitedly, hoping to find just one memento. He soon saw, to his amazement and delight, a crisp sand dollar sticking out of the sand! Then another and then another lay before him. The more they looked, the more they found.
Jeri smiled as she heard her son shouting in joy, “Mom, Mom, here’s another one!” They found so many, they filled every pocket they had. As they walked back up the shore, they counted a total of 43 sand dollars.
Logan looked up at her, smiling, his eyes full of tears. “Mom, this is better than winning the lottery!”
In her heart, Jeri knew it had been David who’d helped them. She closed her eyes as she felt a gentle breeze caress her face like a kiss. Her skin tingled with his presence.
Logan kept asking, “Mom, how did the guy in the boat know what we were looking for? I bet it was Dad saying ‘Hi’!”
I’m sure there will be many more sand dollars (and other ADCs) waiting for Jeri and her family. They will always bring back happy memories of the sun, the laughs, the carefree walks, the gentle embraces, and the loving kisses that will be treasured always.
Simple signs can be profound.
A special symbol, unique to you, has a way of filling your heart. Now, whenever Jeri walks along that special beach, whether alone or with her children, she knows that David is right beside her.
This is what I mean when I speak about the intelligence of the spirit world.
These experiences are not random. They are meaningful, personal, and often deeply timed. A simple sign, especially one tied to shared memories, has a way of reaching the heart in a way nothing else can.
The bond between loved ones does not end.
It continues. It changes form, but it remains just as real. And very often, those we love will find a way to remind us of that connection, if we are open enough to notice. So, when something happens in your life that feels a little too perfect, a little too meaningful, or a little too coincidental, pause for a moment and consider that it may be more than that.
Many people receive signs like this and then quickly dismiss them. I encourage you not to do that. Stay open. Stay aware. Acknowledge them, and let your loved ones in spirit know you recognize it was them reaching out to you.
Because sometimes, the signs we are looking for are already finding their way to us. And when they do, they arrive not by chance… but through love that still knows exactly where to reach you.
Inspired by:
Bridging Two Realms — Learn to Communicate with Your Loved Ones on the Other Side by John Holland, Hay House (2018)
John shares how to discover the signs and feel the presence of your loved ones reaching out from the afterlife in his exclusive online event with The Shift Network. Learn more here.
John Holland is a highly respected psychic medium, spiritual teacher, author, and founder of My Soul Community. In his demonstrations of mediumship in television shows and documentaries, he explains that he blends his own energy with that of spirit, to create a link and be able to communicate with the Other Side. He does this with his signature candor, integrity, humor, and a lightness of touch. He studied intensively in the UK for two years and has spent the last 30 years continually training and honing his gifts. He is the author of Born Knowing, Power of the Soul, Psychic Navigator, and Bridging Two Realms; of four oracle decks, including the best-selling Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck, and of Tarot and oracle deck mobile apps.