Letters from people I've worked with.

The first time I viewed the house where I now live, I was met by my realtor, Steve, at the sliding door. He was sweating and flustered and immediately told me, ‘This is not the house for you.’ O-kay, I replied. But can I have a look and decide for myself? ‘I guess so,’ sez Steve, still being weird. ‘But we should probably not waste our time.’ I insisted. And after almost buying a few other properties, my wife and I kept coming back to the one Steve had hated, and eventually - following our guts - bought it.

It was only years later that Steve - a friend, and one of the straightest, most conservative people I’ve ever met - told me what had happened that first day. He’d been upstairs looking around, and saw a ghost. When I met him at the sliding door, he was sprinting his way out of the house, totally freaked. This was a most un-Steve-like revelation. In the meantime, about ten different friends and family members had told us, independently of one another, and quite confidently, ‘There’s a ghost in your house.’ Those who gave a location for said spectre all agreed that it resided in a small bedroom (the very room I’m sitting in right now, in fact, which I turned into my office), and specifically in the closet. My father- and mother-in-law, while sleeping in the room, had each had nightmares about a young boy coming out of the closet and attacking them. Without knowing any of this, my children also both thought there was a ghost in this room, which they had to pass on their way to the bathroom at night. They insisted that we keep the hallway light on, and if the door wasn’t closed all the way, my son would wake us up to close it. Steve’s belated admission set the cherry on the cake.

By chance, I was talking to a woman [Mama Jo] who told me that she saw spirits and often helped them to transition. I shared my story, hoping that it would put her at ease and gain some trust, and she offered to come and help me with my problem. For my kids’ sake - okay, and out of curiosity - I agreed.

There was no weirdness or shenanigans when the spirit-whisperer [Mama Jo] visited. She walked calmly around the house, eventually stopping at this room. I had given her no clues at all, but like everyone else she confidently declared that the ghost was here, and specifically focussed on the closet, which held a lot of pain and terror for him. He was a boy of about twelve. She even gave me a tentative name. And then she went to work. While I waited outside (listening), she talked gently and compassionately with this young lad. She told him that she knew what he’d been through, that she understood his hurt and anger. She told him that none of that was his fault. She informed him that some good people were now living in this house, a happy family with young children, and that his presence was scaring us. And she explained to him that his pain was keeping him stuck here, stuck in his suffering, when he could let go and move on to something better.

Eventually she emerged and told me that she thought he had left. And sure enough, my kids stopped mentioning the ghost, and stopped being afraid of this room.

After the death of our beloved cat in August of 2023, my husband and I decided to adopt another one from a local rescue. We brought our new cat home in October of that year understanding that there would be a "settling in period". Our new cat, Millie, however, proved to be a more difficult case. She was an extremely angry and untrusting cat, prone to sudden, unprovoked attacks (usually at my poor husband, but also to me on occasion). Her biting, scratching, and overall bad behaviour and temper were hard to take. We were at our wit's end!

We consulted with the rescue quite frequently during that time, over our inability to settle her down. Their suggestions were helpful, but unfortunately didn't seem to work. We asked more about her history to help us understand what was driving her anger and mistrust. We learned that she had been with a family for a short time after her birth, but that they eventually decided (for whatever reason) to get rid of her. She was only one and a half years old when we got her.

We persevered for approximately 8 months giving Millie the space that she needed to feel safe. We talked to her, gave her treats, tried patiently to earn her trust, but she always retreated into herself. Time and time again, out of frustration, my husband declared we should just give up and give her back, but I refused to do that.

By chance, around that time, we met Jo-Ann and her husband at a summer fair in June of 2024. This chance meeting proved to be a lifesaver! On hearing about our cat difficulties, Jo-Ann wanted very much to meet with our cat. We invited both her and her husband to our home where Jo-Ann met for the first time with Millie. Right from the moment Jo-Ann entered the room, Millie appeared alert and interested. She came out of her basket and approached Jo-Ann cautiously. This was something I had never seen her do with anyone! Millie then appeared completely at ease in Jo-Ann's presence.

After her departure we noticed quite a shift in Millie's attitude towards us. She was no longer attacking us for no reason! She seemed more calm and even seemed somewhat interested in us. Jo-Ann's second meeting with Millie produced even better results! She became much more settled and friendly.

Today Millie is thriving! She has become a happy and well adjusted cat and is a beloved member of our family. She even sits and sleeps on my lap, showing her complete trust in me. I credit this profound shift in Millie entirely to Jo-Ann and her ability to communicate with animals. She was an answer to our prayer! We are so thankful that Jo-Ann came into our lives and helped us with a very difficult situation. I would highly recommend her to anyone needing help with animal behaviour. She truly has an amazing gift!!

This story concerning me and my family (and friends and students) begins in 1983, in Victoria, BC. That night I was awakened...by 'something'. I was unsure what this 'something' was, but I was sure that this 'something' was watching me through a small opening in the door. I was wide awake, but was unable to move, because I experienced terror. It was as though I was nailed to the bed.

In 1992 my father-in-law passed away and mother-in-law invited our family to move in with her, which we did in the Spring of 1994. Sarah was 16 and Tom 14. Sarah slept in the same 'little bedroom'. We had not lived in the house a few months when one morning...early, about 5:30 am Sarah ran screaming into our bedroom and fell sobbing onto our bed, shaking uncontrollably. She was suddenly aware of a 'presence' looking at her through the door, watching her. She was not able to move, and felt breathless. She slept in the living room for about 2 weeks, and then felt that she could return to her room again.

Then in 2006 a 24 year old male student arrived from overseas to live with us while doing studies at the university. He was very bright, precocious, and an ardent Atheist. He was with us for 12 months, living in the 'little bedroom.' Then we asked him if he would move to our little cottage so that our friends, a couple, arriving from out east could stay in this room. One morning my husband and I woke to screaming from this room. At breakfast we heard the real story: our friend had awakened in the night, and saw something through the crack in the door. He said it was a kind of apparition. As he was listening to this story, our student came in from the cottage and simply said.... "Oh Yes....I saw this apparition too." When I asked him why he had not told us this before, he just shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't believe in the spirit world."

I now decided I had to do something. I decided to tell my friend Jo-Ann. I knew she would help me. Shortly after that – she had come to our home for a visit – and heard banging and noises in various locations. She asked others there if they heard it – no one else had. The next day – she realized it was the Spirit – and then the Spirit started to communicate with her. She then decided to help me.

The day came with grey skies. She went in to the 'little bedroom' and opened the door and window. We sat together on our couch. She opened her Bible to the Psalms. She read a beautiful psalm and then she prayed a beautiful prayer addressing the 'spirit' asking the 'spirit' to please leave our home. She spoke to her with kindness and understanding but with a firm voice. When we opened our eyes, at the end of another prayer, the skies had cleared a little, and it seemed brighter in our home. This was March 2010.

We have not had another instance of this 'spirit' in our home again. I believe the 'spirit' is gone now. Our home is changed – it seems much lighter and brighter since. The home has changed, the furniture has changed.... even our marriage has changed – for the better.

Looking back, in 2026: “That seems so long ago… perhaps because our home was very different. There was a definite ‘before and after’ feeling in the house. Thank you so much for being willing to come and help. I knew I only want you and no one else.”

I had an extremely urgent need to be in contact with her. Recognizing that I was in a very vulnerable and grieving state I was very reluctant to contact some people in Victoria that claimed to be able to contact those that had passed on. I had little trust and enormous skepticism never experiencing this type of event.

One day I mentioned my search for a person to help act as a conduit to my Reverend and much to my surprise she mentioned that someone in our congregation had a gift in this area. I was now very skeptical that someone in our community could help me or possess this gift. I can tell you, I was utterly shocked when she gave me Jo-Ann's name.

I contacted Jo-Ann and discussed my needs with her. She was initially open to helping but mentioned she had limited ability to pass on information. I prepared a few questions that required yes or no answers and deliberately kept information from Jo-Ann as I was very skeptical of this process. My disappointment continued to mount throughout our session and I thought that no answers would come through this route. We finally went to a room that was a very sacred place for my wife and I. Finally in this space after prayer, Jo-Ann began to speak.

This experience is difficult to describe using words. I can tell you that at best I expected a few "Yes" or "No" answers to some questions. What I can tell you is that I received a gift from Spirit that is akin to a full Dolby Surround Sound 3 Dimensional IMAX Movie. This miraculous event provided me with an immense amount of detailed information, instruction, encouragement from my wife. Some of information shared included only information both my wife and I knew. The experience brought incredible healing, encouragement, love, direction and so much more than can be described.

She is modest though and would be emphasizing that she is merely a conduit for God's work – and she is right but that doesn't take away my deep gratitude for the gift she shares with many.

I had my arm x rayed again today and the doctor seemed happily surprised that the bone has totally healed already at 5 weeks…… I know my fast healing success has a lot to do with the extra help that has been sent my way. So thank you for all the healing. I still have some soft tissue stuff that is healing and quite a bit of work to regain my range of motion and strength….. but I'm up to the task! Sending my gratitude and hugs,

Thank you dearest Jo-ann from the bottom of my heart. Suki is so much more relaxed and content. Over the past few months she was more anxious than usual. Your Reiki treatments are making a huge difference. My precious baby is like herself again and more loving than ever. We are most grateful. Much love to you this day,