A Spirited Conversation with Deb Lantz
This time of year, many think of ghosts... But, for someone like Deb Lantz, ghosts are a daily occurrence. Deb is a psychic medium who was born with a gift, or curse as she sometimes calls it. Her journey was truly recognized as a young girl after the passing of her beloved grandmother. Just three nights later, Deb says her grandmother appeared at the foot of her bed, glowing, youthful, and happy. Her message was simple: “We never truly die. I will always be here for you.” That unforgettable experience brought Deb comfort and shaped her lifelong understanding of the connection between this world and the next. It was this connection that has shaped what Deb has given to those that grieve or want clarity on.
Of course, spooky-fanatic little ol’ me wanted to know more. So, I asked Deb the questions we all want answers to...
What’s the most unexpected or surprising message you’ve received during a reading?
I was doing a reading for a young lady who looked and felt so familiar to me. I asked her all the usual questions, such as where did she grow up and where did she work? We couldn’t find any connections. As I started my reading with, her deceased brother came to me, and he brought my only sibling and my deceased brother with him. The reading was emotional for both of us filled with messages of love and connection. My brother had never come through a reading before, so this was a bit of a shock to me. Our connection or that sense of feeling that this lady was familiar to me had nothing to do with our work or our physical proximity to each other, but on a deep emotional level. The understanding of loss of our brothers who in life had lived very similar lives. Both being athletic and extremely good in school and who both had passed away quite unexpectedly in their teens. These two spirits had become friends on the other side and just wanted to stop by and tell their sisters they still watch over and love us completely.
Do spirits have a sense of humor?
There have been so many readings that I have conducted over the years, that spirit
never fails to surprise me or make me laugh out loud. One that comes to mind is when I was out to lunch with my best friend in Ohio. Her mother was seriously ill with lung cancer so I thought it would be nice to give her a break and spend the afternoon enjoying a nice quiet lunch together. Boy was I in for a shock! No sooner had we been seated at our table when a very animated older gentleman ( in spirit ) jumped up on our table, waving his one hand at me like a mad man and in the other he was holding a small black and white dog. Apparently, he had been trying to get my attention for some time, so he was desperate and decided to jump right on up in front of me. I’ve had to learn over the years to ignore spirits, otherwise my life would be absolute chaos. I need me time just like everyone else. I described the spirit I was seeing to my friend, and she confirmed who I was seeing was indeed her long-deceased grandpa. The message was personal to her, so I am not going to share that part, but this spirit certainly made me chuckle. He had a wonderful sense of humor and did not hesitate to share his frustration with me regarding my ability to ignore him.
For someone who has never had a psychic or mediumship reading, what should they expect when they sit down with you for the first time?
I have both abilities. That of a psychic as well as mediumship. One can expect absolute honesty from me with a dash of humor tossed into help keep things light. There is nothing to fear or be anxious about when you sit down with me. Although, I do not conduct personal readings anymore since I am semi-retired. If you want a reading from me you would need to attend one of my gallery style reading events that I do several times a year through Franklin Walking Tours. Gallery style is simply when I read for random people in the audience that I feel pulled towards energetically. Alecia King Marshall is who you would need to reach out to. My next gallery style reading is scheduled for October 24th at Cherry Manor here, in Franklin. Tickets are still available at franklinwalkingtours.com.
What do people most often misunderstand about mediums and the work that you do?
I think people have a preconceived notion that mediums can just drop whatever they are doing or thinking about to answer a question for someone who wants to use them for their gifts. It is understandable but can still be very annoying. It’s not that we can’t do this for them, but it doesn’t come without a cost to us, the physic medium. When we tune in, it takes our energy to do so. We need to match frequencies with the dead in order to connect. This requires a vibrational match. They are vibrating at a much higher speed than those of us still in the physical. This requires energy to do so. Too much draining of one’s energy is neither healthy or polite. When I am preparing for an event, such as a gallery reading for Franklin Walking Tours, I prepare myself by meditation and prayers. This is the time that I ask their departed loved ones to come through with a message for the living. Not when I am at the grocery store or driving down a road. I set aside specific time just for spirit communication. Although not all spirits comply.
What’s the one piece of advice or encouragement you find yourself giving people over and
over again?
Don’t hold on to anger and grief. It serves no purpose. Instead, always reach for the light, the positive and blessings that we receive every day. Even the simplest ones, such as waking up every morning. The more you show gratitude for what God has blessed you with, the more of these types of experiences you will receive. Life is too short not to make the most of it. Ride out the storms in your life and just know that the sun will shine again.
Where are the most active Spirited places in Williamson County?
This is a hard one to answer. Franklin is crazy packed with paranormal activity, but I would have to say, for me, one of the most active places would have to be a toss-up between Carnton Plantation and the Cotton Gin Site Park, located near the Lotz House.
Trick or Treat for Adults
BOOish Beverages for Halloween
Halloween is not just for the kids, and we have some tasty treats for adult "spirit" seekers. Commune with the dead and enjoy some of these ghoulish spook-tails.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian
METHOD
Mix 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon sugar and 3 tablespoons of finely crushed graham crackers on a shallow plate
Wet the rim and dip glasses into the graham mixture
Pour 3 oz. and 2 shots of both vodka and pumpkin spice creamer
1.5 oz. and 1 shot Kahlua into a cocktail shaker filled with ice
Shake until combined and cold to the touch. Pour cocktail into glasses and top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice
The Haunted Graveyard
METHOD
Pour ½ cup bourbon
⅓ cup maple syrup into a cocktail shaker
Add 1 cup ice
4 orange slices, and a sprig of rosemary to the shaker and shake for at least 30 seconds. Add ice to a short whiskey glass and strain the cocktail into the glass. Finish with a sprig of torched rosemary for enhanced aromatics and flavor
Monster Mash Margarita
METHOD
Combine 2 oz Silver Tequila
4 oz blood orange juice
1 oz lime juice
Ice, and simple syrup to taste in a cocktail shaker and shake until well combined and chilled. Strain mixture over a glass of ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, slice of blood orange and lime, and a gummy eyeball stir stick for an extra Halloween effect
Witches Blood Cocktail
METHOD
In a pitcher, combine ½ cup of cherry schnapps
½ cup of vodka
1 cup of whiskey
1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice.
Stir in ice and 4 cups of cherry soda over top. Rim glasses with sugar and garnish with spooky (fake) spiders to serve.
