Signs from the Other Side: A Medium Details Christmas Messages from Loved Ones

The holiday season often stirs memories of loved ones who have died, but for some in the spiritual community, those memories come with tangible signs. A feature built around a well-known medium recounts how, after his grandmother’s death just after Christmas, signs began appearing in everyday moments—pennies, animals, and numerical echoes that the practitioner says are messages from the departed. The account emphasizes that while such signs can be comforting, they are personal experiences that recipients interpret within their own beliefs about life after death.

Travis Holp, described as a certified medium with nearly a million followers online and author of the book Are You There, Spirit? It's Me, Travis, discusses how his grandmother’s passing prompted him to notice small, persistent cues that he interprets as communication from those who have crossed over. He frames signs as a form of validation rather than spectacle, noting that premade expectations about what a sign should look like can be misleading. For him, the signs are a language the heart recognizes, a reminder that a loved one’s energy remains present in daily life. Holp also stresses that recognition of signs does not replace free will or personal agency, but can offer reassurance and connection during seasons that intensify grief for many.

Among the commonly cited signs are butterflies, which Holp frames as symbols of transformation and transition. He recalls a client whose mother had died years earlier; a butterfly landed on her hand shortly before a session, an event she interpreted as a direct message from her mother. The butterfly metaphor aligns with a broader belief that death represents a doorway to a new form of existence, with the natural world serving as a conduit for communication.

Birds also feature prominently in the accounts Holp shares. Across cultures and traditions, birds are viewed as messengers from the spirit realm, with various species appearing in moments of emotional significance. In one anecdote, Holp describes delivering a message to a mother in a Los Angeles audience: a flood of cardinals appeared in the woman’s mental visualization, a signal that resonated with her personal associations—she collects cardinal figurines and has long linked the birds to her son. Such moments underscore how sign interpretation is deeply personal, anchored in memories and associations that hold meaning for the individual receiving the message.

Deer are another recurring theme in Holp’s discussions of signs. He recounts an instance in which a client described a heightened sensitivity to signs from her departed father but struggled to notice them. During a session, he says a deer appeared visually, and days later the animal’s presence became more pronounced—specifically, a deer pressed its head against the client’s car window. The moment, Holp emphasizes, was memorable for the intimate, almost tangible nature of the encounter and its alignment with the client’s experience of receiving gentle, nonverbal nudges rather than overt dramatic signs.

Numbers and timing—often called angel numbers—represent a broad category of signs that Holp uses to illustrate synchrony and reassurance. Repeating sequences such as 444, 333, or 1111 are discussed as reminders that a person is where they is supposed to be, and that a departed loved one is nearby in spirit. Holp notes a personal pattern of noticing the sequence 414, which he connects to a former address, and frames these numbers as comfort rather than a fixed code. He describes occasional “sign walks,” during which he remains open to messages while moving through familiar environments, such as city streets during a holiday season in New York.

The broader conversation around these experiences, Holp says, involves balancing belief with personal autonomy. He cautions against using signs as a tool to control life, underscoring that individuals still exercise free will even as they remain open to subtle confirmations from the other side. While he speaks from a place of personal conviction, Holp positions his reflections within a larger context of spiritual practice—the public sharing of readings, demonstrations, and a forthcoming book promotion that invites others to consider the ways their own departed loved ones might communicate.

For readers who approach such reports with skepticism, the narrative nevertheless highlights a cultural moment in which personal experiences with loss and memory become part of a broader entertainment and cultural discourse. Holp’s approach blends testimony with a framework intended to normalize a spectrum of signs, from the mundane to the magical. He emphasizes that signs can occur in ordinary settings, including the holiday season when the emotional landscape is heightened and memories of family members who have died are particularly vivid.

Holp’s public profile includes work as a medium who offers readings to clients around the world, public demonstrations, and media appearances. His book, Are You There, Spirit? It’s Me, Travis, positions these experiences within a personal narrative that readers can explore in their own time. While the signs he describes may differ from person to person, the underlying message—comfort through connection with loved ones—speaks to a universal impulse to remain connected with those who have left physical life.

The article from which these details are drawn frames Christmas as a period when memories of loved ones are most intensely felt, and when signs can appear at the edge of ordinary life. The phenomenon described here reflects a broader cultural interest in spiritual experiences and the idea that the bond between the living and the dead persists through everyday occurrences. Whether one views these encounters as proof of an afterlife or as psychologically meaningful patterns, the reported experiences contribute to a dialogue about loss, hope, and the ways people seek reassurance during the holidays.