Second Sight: A Paranormal View

Hauntings at Lakeview Cemetary: Cleveland pt. 1. Garfield Monument

2010-09-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure of walking through Cleveland Ohio's historic Lakeview Cemetery. Final resting place of famous Ohio sons like Elliot Ness and JD Rockefeller, it is also the location of President Garfield's memorial chapel and mausoleum. Not only is this monument an outstanding example of fine architecture and religious artwork, you can visit Garfield and his family under a gold dome. You may be taken aback when you first see the flag-covered coffin of Garfield, lying there next to his wife and the ashes of other family members, but the wrought iron gates that surround him give you a sense of the importance of this quiet and perhaps forgotten President.

It may be no surprise that President Garfield is said to haunt this location and show himself to visitors. He was assassinated, giving him that extra reason for coming back to a perhaps unresolved life. He is also said to have been very interested in the paranormal during his life, and often spoke of communicating with his deceased father via seances.

According to Cleveland writer Nathan Paige:

"Garfield, who would partake in seances to communicate with his dead father while in office, was said to have predicted his own death. Shot by an insane man in July 1881, only four months after having been sworn in, Garfield was even reported to have identified the killer and the method of murder beforehand.

More puzzling to doctors was the fact that Garfield lingered for 2 1/2 months before dying from the gunshot wound. Some say that Garfield's spirit had already left the body and had started wandering.

It has been reported that the wandering continues even today. Some stories may seem far-fetched, like the one where the ghost of Garfield partakes in a game of chess with John Rockefeller, moving tombstones like pieces on a chess board in the darkest hours of the night. (According to experts who have investigated the "Matter of Moving Tombstones at Lake View," this explanation has been determined to be the least plausible.)

Other stories, however, have been proven to be true. In 1979, it was reported that a man, identifying himself as Garfield, called the fire department to inquire about a fire on the grounds that had yet to occur. When a fireman mockingly scoffed at the inquiry, "Garfield" then said: "But I did not say that the fire had already happened--it is going to happen." Ten days later the maintenance roof caught fire at Lake View.

That day, visitors to Garfield's monument reported seeing a "brilliant force" streaming through the air. It was accompanied by two male voices, laughing."

No matter if you believe in the life after, the Garfield Monument and the Lakeview Cemetery are definitely worth seeing if you are in the area. Stay tuned for more ghost stories from this breathtaking location.

Click here to see Nathan Paiges original blogpost.

Back to School Special: Haunted Schools

2010-09-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Back to School Special: Haunted Schools

Although the normal goings on of grade or high school is frightening enough, haunted schools take the usual Monday meat loaf scare up a notch. Attached to various stories of depressed students, psychotic teachers or overly loyal custodians, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to haunted school buildings. Here are a few worth checking out.

Lourdes High School: Chicago IL

Located at 4034 W. 56th Street, Lourdes High School has been the fodder for ghost-hunting teens in the area for decades. Reports of unexplained footsteps, voices and music have been documented by teachers and students and provide plenty of spooky taunts for incoming freshmen.

Huron High School: Ann Arbor, MI

Focused around the school’s theater, frightening apparitions and paranormal activity here is attributed to the death of a student in the 1970s. According the story, a student fell from the catwalks that run above the stage and died. “Mary” now makes her self known to students by presenting herself in the guise of a girl in pink and enjoys adding her name to prop room wall… upside down and 17 feet up… about where she started her tragic descent all those years ago.

Holy Rosary Catholic School: Kenosha, WI

The library is busy day and night at this school and flying books, along with unexplained footsteps haunt this otherwise quiet location. The computer lab seems to be a hotspot here, possibly due to the availability of energy to use to manifest phenomenon.

Finally, enjoy this video clip ‘True Ghost Story: The Haunted School from Daily Motion.com, and good luck with the new school year!

photo by Rob Shenk

Titanic: Hauntings as Big as the Ship Itself.

2009-12-01T12:38:00.001-08:00

The Titanic. One of histories greatest tragedies, which has broken the hearts and captured the imaginations of people for decades, has, without surprise, incorporated some paranormal elements into its tale.

The great drama around the Titanic sinking would lead most investigators to believe that current places associated with the event would play host to spirits of the people lost to the ocean, and they would be right. A recent trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia allowed me to visit the Fairview Lawn Cemetery which is home to some of the sorry souls whose bodies were brought there, and a current traveling exhibit of Titanic artifacts reminded me of rumored haunting of the items presented.

Although some have said that the Titanic graveyard in Halifax is haunted, I did not feel the presence of any spirits there, although the area had a heavy atmosphere around it, making the viewer feel as if his own brothers and sisters were kept there. Although I didn’t see any Titanic spirits there, there were a few from a well-known Halifax explosion roaming the cemetery.

The Titanic exhibit has been investigated and documented by many sources including the TAPS ghost hunting team from the SCIFI channel. Apparitions and disembodied voices and footsteps have been reported at many locations on the Titanic exhibit tour and volunteers who work the exhibit tell of feeling an eerie presence around them while walking through the artifacts. I am visiting the exhibit soon and will report on any spirits I encounter there.

Check out part of the Ghosthunters episode on the traveling exhibit here or catch the exhibit as it travels to your area to decide for yourself.

Haunted Nova Scotia

2009-09-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Haunted Nova Scotia

As I ready myself for a trip over the border I was investigating some possible haunted locations to check out in Nova Scotia and wanted to share my results with you.

Nova Scotia is a small island like community at the edge of Canada alongside the Atlantic Ocean. Scenic and historic, this wind blown location has its share of ghosts. Here are a few of the locations you might want to check out.

Cape Breton: Fortress of Louisburg

Visitors have reported a few ghostly interactions at this historic location including the weeping apparition of a nurse and poltergeist activity around the King’s Bastian Bakery. Echoes of past battles can be heard on quiet nights including gun and cannon fire and the screams of soldiers.

Caledonia Mills: The Mary Ellen Spook House

Legend has it that Mary Ellen was an adopted child whose presence at her new home was met with unexplained fires, a demon dog and ghostly footsteps where no one walked. Unique for the early 1900’s, the family’s home was investigated by parapsychologists who used automatic writing to make contact with an unnamed dark entity. With no resolution, the home mysteriously burnt to the ground. Beware if you visit this location as the story goes that the devastating fires that felled this historic home follow visitors who take a relic of burnt wood back to their home.

Halifax: Five Fisherman Restaurant

The building goes back to the 1800’s and was home to a few schools and one mortuary. The mortuary helped lay to rest several victims of the great Titanic disaster as well as helped deal with the numerous victims from the Great Halifax Explosion that claimed 2000 lives.

Ghost stories are shared on the restaurants webpage and include the following eerie notes.
“Many of the staff of the Five Fishermen Restaurant are so used to odd occurrences that they wouldn’t even bat an eye when a glass flies off a shelf with no one near, or when cutlery on a table shifts then falls to the floor by itself. There are many sinks in this building, and with so many sinks come many taps… taps that like to turn themselves on and off with no human assistance. One server related a story about being there late at night and he was sure he was the only one left in the dining room. As he was checking the lights near the salad bar, he heard someone go through the swinging doors leading down into the kitchen. He turned quickly enough to see the doors swing shut, but on further inspection, he could find no other human presence.
Another waitress tells of being there late at night. As she nears the grand stairwell that leads down to the Maitre’d stand, she sees a gray apparition, a fog-like mass moving down the staircase… she chose not to linger.
Many staff members can relate to you the feeling of passing through cold air pockets on the warmest of nights, or the sensation of what it feel like to have a spirit move through you. Nor is it uncommon to hear voices, especially your name being whispered or even called out when there’s no one else around.

In the middle of one busy night, a server was using the credit card machine when he felt a tap on his shoulder, trying to finish what he was doing before turning to respond he felt a second tap… “Whaaat!” he turned, impatiently, to find no one there.
In behind the salad bar, the Five Fishermen has a private room (The Captains Quarters), commonly referred to as the P.R. by the staff that works there. One night, after all the customers had left, a waiter passed the PR and heard two people arguing, the voices of a man and a woman he says. When he went to investigate the commotion, the voices stopped – the Captain’s Quarters was empty. On another occasion a server, the last in the building, was locking the doors and turning out the lights. When she approached the PR, she noticed someone enter it. Relieved that she had not locked the sole remaining customer into the building for the night, she entered the Captain’s Quarters and checked it thoroughly, but found the room empty… how odd considering that the entrance is the only exit!

One day in the middle of the summer, on a sunny afternoon it fell to this certain young fellow the task of setting up the salad bar. He would arrive at 3:00 in the afternoon. The salad bar items were brought from the floor above o four large trays, through the swinging doors, around the bar to the salad bar area. On one of his passes he heard a loud crash, but because his hands were full, he could do nothing about it. Upon returning for the next load, he decided to investigate the noise he had heard. When he looked around the corner of the bar, he found several pieces of an ashtray on the floor. He bent down to retrieve the pieces and when he stood up he was looking directly into a mirror, and in the mirror he could see the reflection of an old man, walking away from him down the aisle. He was tall with long gray hair and was wearing a long black coat that seemed to be from another time. Startled, for he was sure he was the only person in the restaurant, he turned to see who this could be but there was no one there. When he turned back to the mirror, the image had disappeared. Thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, the brave young fellow shrugged and returned to his duties.

Several years later, the assistant manager was having a conversation with a customer on the phone at the station across from the salad bar. Again it was 3:00 in the afternoon and he was the only one in the dining room. At one point he saw an elderly man standing on the landing below. “Excuse me sir, I’ll be right with you.” After he finished his conversation he went to see how he could help this gentleman but couldn’t find him anywhere. He wasn’t on the landing, and he wasn’t in the foyer below. He checked the doors, and they were locked so there was no way anyone could get in. Later on that evening he described this odd experience to some of his fellow staff members, one of who was the same young fellow who was setting up the salad bar several years before. “Was he an older gentleman with long gray hair, and was wearing a long black coat, like an outdated greatcoat?” Apparently they had both encountered the same apparition!

It was late one night as another server was resetting her section, looking forward to going home. Suddenly she heard a loud tapping coming from behind her. When she looked around she couldn’t establish where it was coming from, so she returned to her work. Again she heard the tapping, this time she surmised that it was coming from the window across the room. As the restaurant is high on the second floor, she found this to be very odd and slightly disconcerting. She went to investigate, and as she approached the window she could see a misty gray shadow hovering outside the window. She hesitated but eventually gained the courage to continue forward. By the time she reached the glass pane, the image was gone.

Most of these occurrences seem to happen before the restaurant opens or after it closes when there are few people about, but not always. This final story took place in the middle of a busy night. A hostess was in the process of showing a young couple to their table, when she stopped at the salad bar to explain its offerings. Suddenly she felt a harsh brush against the side of her face, but when she glanced around she could detect no cause for it. She finished sitting the couple and upon returning to the hostess stand the Maitre’d asked, “What happened to your face?” There was a red handprint on her cheek as if she had been slapped, though if you ask her it was nothing so violent. In fact, the antics that have occurred at the Five Fishermen Restaurant seem to be just that, mischievous, maybe, unable to ignore, but in the end harmless. “ (from www.fivefishermen.com)

So, bring your ghost hunting equipment when you cross the border into Canada and relay your experiences here when you get back.

The Cyber-Psychic Connection

2009-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of email psychic readings lately, and I know a lot of people may wonder how that works. With normal readings I do, I have to get a “grip” so to speak of the persons energy in order to make a connection. I then am able to read their energy to determine health issues and answer questions about future developments in their life and lifestyle. During readings in person I may be able to connect with the persons spirit guides and relatives who have passed away. Doing it via email is a bit more difficult.

An email reading is basically all about making that connection with the person long-distance. I usually close my eyes and imagine that person and try to find them in the universe. A photo of the person helps me to connect and gives me an anchor on which to meditate. From there the reading is very much the same, including all the basic information people look for, plus communication with loved ones who have died. Communication with a person’s “spirit people” is almost the easiest thing I do during an email reading, as location is no barrier to the spirit world, and they simply present themselves to me wherever I am.

One thing that is an interesting development in the email readings is that the information I receive is often typed with my eyes closed, much like “automatic writing” in the historical sense. Automatic writing is basically giving up your conscious control over your writing and although it’s typically done via hand script, email readings are a natural use for this type of communication.

I request no further information from my clients other than a photo, and I encourage anyone who has any reading of any kind to limit the amount of information they initially give their reader to avoid what is called “cold reading” scams. Thus far my email readings have been as successful as my personal readings, and it’s interesting to me how the psychic reader or psychic medium has evolved along with technology.

Photo by sling@flickr\flickr.com

Haunted Dolls: The Creep Factor

2009-09-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

I was watching an episode of Destination Truth last night and they covered this haunted island full of super creepy dolls. I know I have talked about Robert, the Haunted Doll in the past, but this episode got me thinking about dolls and their penchant for getting all hauntified.

The island from Destination Truth was in Mexico, and the story went that a young girl had drowned there, and people began leaving dolls to comfort her. Of course, these dolls are now all battered and decapitated, leading to a spectacular vision of “Yikes.” The “Truth” team did experience some possible paranormal experiences there, including a doll opening her eye. Follow this link to watch the episode about the Haunted Isle of the Dolls.

Robert the Haunted Doll is a creepy tale of a man and his personal doll fixation, blending a traditional haunting with tales of voodoo, and is covered ad nauseam on the internet. Mandy, the haunted doll, however, may be a new story for you.

Mandy is a 100 year old doll that was donated to the Quesnel Museum in British Columbia. A typical tattered doll, the woman who donated her told the museum curator that she was often awoken at night to the sounds of a baby crying. She had no baby, and tracked the sound to the room the doll was in. The noise stopped once she got rid of the doll.

Museum staff have claimed that since the dolls arrival poltergeist type activity has occurred including objects being moved, as well as electronic disturbances, like people’s camera batteries draining. Some even claim that the doll moves and changes positions.

No reason for this dolls haunting has been discovered, so is it just the “old doll creepy factor” or is it the spirit of a past owner come to play with the living? Do you have a creepy haunted doll story? Share it here!

Back to School Special: Haunted Schools

2009-08-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

I’ve written articles about haunted places all over the world and they all have one thing in common. Every place I have ever written about has had at least one haunted school.

Be it grade school, high school or college, nearly every state in the US and other places abroad has a haunted school. It’s no wonder why. Schools, like hospitals, are jam packed with residual energy, and if the school has been home to a particular tragedy, spirit students may feel most comfortable in their old school setting. Psychics have no trouble hearing the residual energies in a school, the ringing of bells, the laughter of children, the opening of doors and thrumming of feet in the halls, but ghost hunters really enjoy the more active intelligent haunting that occur in many old schools. Here are some particularly infamous haunted schools for your consideration.

Lourdes High School, Chicago IL

This active school has no shortage of reports from teachers and students about eerie music, disembodied voices and footsteps in empty hallways. No particular reason for the spirit activity is identified.

Eastern Illinois University – Charleston, IL

A female ghost lovingly referred to as “Mary” seems to reside in the female dormitory called Pemberton Hall. Lots of poltergeist activity is reported including electronic equipment being turned on or off and the rattling of doorknobs. The hauntings are attributed to a legend of a dorm counselor named Mary who was supposedly killed at the school by a custodian in the early 1920’s.

Metz Elementary School in Austin, Texas

This building that was built in the early 1900’s was scheduled to be torn down due to age and size and apparently didn't agree with the ruling. Construction workers reported hearing children’s laughter, having equipment failures and odd writing appearing on forgotten chalk boards. Eventually the building was leveled, but the events that occurred there and the documentation by early journalists in the area make it one of the most well known school hauntings written about.

Got a haunted school story to share? Please tell us your tale in the comments area. Meanwhile, check out these haunted school YouTube links:
Chester Haunted School
George Wright Haunted School

Photo by www.flickr.com/photos/joelf/430142535/

The First Ghosthunt? The Drummer of Tedworth Case

2009-07-04T13:41:00.003-07:00

You can barely swing a dead cat these days (not that I advocate that,) without hitting a ghost hunter, but paranormal researchers go back in history well before our more “enlightened” time.

Perhaps the first recorded ghost hunter and paranormal researcher’s exploits were published in 1668 under the title Sadducismus Triumphatus. In it, Joseph Glanvill, a clergyman, describes poltergeist activity related to a drum confiscated from a musician during a legal case. The plaintiff in the case received the drum as part of his settlement (or to punish the drummer) and began to report typical poltergeist activity including drumming, moving objects and unexplained noises. Much like the Amityville case of our day, the Drummer of Tedworth case became well publicized amongst citizens of the British Isles.

Glanvill examined the case, and indeed witnessed activity himself. He ruled that the drum was haunted, although others from that time believed the drums owner had used witchcraft to put a curse on the drum so that it would wreck-havoc in the new owners home.

Other investigators cropped up to look at the case and it was later believed this activity was a hoax and that the home owner had people knocking on walls outside while ghost hunters were inside. Of course, they didn't have all the bells and whistles modern day ghost hunters have, so it’s hard to blame them for their possible misdiagnosis.

Real or false, paranormal activity has intrigued and challenged men’s intellect since early days and the fascination continues. Perhaps Glanvill broke ground for all of us fascinated with the mysteries of this world and the next.

I've Got Your Number

2009-07-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Numerology is the belief that our lives are intertwined with the universal language of numbers. Numbers are thought to generate our life path and are determined by the number of letters in our names or our birth dates. An easy and fun way to get a horoscope style reading, there are plenty of places online for you to investigate the basis of your personality, past and future. Here are a few to check out.
Go to: http://www.sanatansociety.org to get your psychic number based upon Indian beliefs. You input your birth date and it will automatically calculate your numbers. Meanings for your unique numeric identity are listed there as well.

Next,check out the Psychic Numerology-Master Numbers web site and with a few calculations you will be on your way. This is a pretty comprehensive web site with plenty of information that may inspire you to take an even closer look at numerology.

If you want one more opinion, check out stargaze.com. A more traditional approach, you put in the month you were born then browse to find your exact date. Comparing all the numerology sites may give you a good overview of your motivations in life and what the future might hold.

Image by: www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb

Preston Castle and The Ghost Adventure Team

2009-06-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Ghost Adventures, the Travel Channel series I love to hate is back with new episodes. All set to be irritated, I sat down for the season premiere waiting with bated breath for the rude antics of Zak Bagans and crew. I have to say, they must have mellowed since last season.

Sure, Zak still carried a leather whipping strap around with him and threatened the Juvenile delinquents and young criminals with his "new supervisor"y techniques, but all in all, I would have expected worse from him.

The location was great.

Preston Castle in California, an old abandoned and decrepit facility had plenty of personality and the prerequisite shady past. Not only were young offenders apparently mistreated and some died under mysterious circumstances, one of the most active spirits haunting the place is said to be the spirit of a house keeper whose brutal murder on this site was never solved.

After a tour by a local ghost hunting leader, the team unnecessarily "locked" themselves into the establishment and began collecting evidence of both auditory and physical manifestations.

There were some scratches, and some really far fetched EVP translations, but the creepiest thing about this episode was the supposed possession of Zak himself.

I have to say, I liked the kinder, gentler more possessed Zak, who inexplicably began to hum, smirk and communicate with the female housekeeper from the past. Eerie and yet not fully developed in the episode, we never see him actually come out of the trance like state, but obviously later we see him donning his trademark dumbass hat, so apparently he's back to normal.

All in all this episode was worth watching for both the fruitful location and the apparent possession. If you missed the premiere episode check out highlights online at the Ghost Adventures website or watch your travel channel listings for repeated episodes.
You can make arrangements to do your own ghost hunt at Preston. Click here for more information about Preston Castle.

Photo by atomicpuppy68 FLickr.com

Zak is Back

2009-05-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

If you have been missing (missing hating that is) Ghost Adventures, the Travel Channel has been posting a mini series following a Bob Mackey ghost hunt the guys did with some other ghost hunting enthusiasts.
During their original go-round with this famous haunted location, Zak suffered a well deserved back scratch from what he deemed was a "demon." In the web-episodes the gang invites along a man-of-the-cloth to help with the demonic presence. Predictably, the Reverend or priest gets into the act of calling out the spirit and suffers a little reminder that one should always mind their manners when dealing with those on the other side. The ghost hunting tag-alongs seemed to get their money's worth on this adventure as I am sure you'll agree.
Love em or hate em, they are entertaining during the mid season drought of ghost hunting shows. Check out the broadcast here. Ghost Adventures Web Episode

Exorcisms and the case of Annaliese (Emily Rose)

2009-04-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

Some of the recent Paranormal State episodes have involved demonic possession, a condition either believed to be myth or fact. Movies like “The Exorcist” dramatically illustrate what can happen during a demonic possession, but also portray the eternal struggle of good vs. evil in such a way that some people cannot believe it to be an actual real occurrence.

Although exorcisms seem to be so far removed from ordinary life, I think that people would be surprised at the commonality of the event. It would not take much research to find a priest in your area that either can or has performed an exorcism. I met a local priest who, when asked, admitted to being present at an exorcism, but other than saying he strongly believed in good and evil and demonic possession, he was unwilling to discuss his experience. He said it was frightening.

Exorcisms like the one shown in the “We are Six” episode of Paranormal State show that truly removing a demon is difficult work. The movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” shows that a demonic possession does not always have a remedy and the final result can be tragic to the host. The real story of Annaliese Michel, whom the movie is based on, is even more disturbing than the film portrayal.

According to reports from the actual case, Annaliese was possessed by several demons including Lucifer, Judas Iscariot, Nero, Cain, Hitler, and Fleischmann, a disgraced Frankish Priest from the 16th century. Although four people were convicted of negligent homicide in the case, some of Annaliese’s injuries included the ligaments in her knees rupturing due to the 600 genuflections that she performed obsessively during each exorcism session. A genuflection is an act of reverence consisting of falling onto one or both knees (called a "double genuflection.” She was exorcised 67 times in 10 months.

Whether you believe she was really possessed or truly a victim of human negligence, the case is significant due to the amount of photography and audio evidence. Check out more photos and evidence from the case at chasing the frog.com
Be sure to check out the audio of her speaking in tongues here it is SUPER creepy.

So, do you believe in demonic possession?

Ghostly Phone Calls

2009-03-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was in the middle of a super spooky book about exorcism and demons when the phone rang. My cell phone, which I only use for emergencies or when I travel was ringing, and since all my friends knew I was at home in Kentucky, there really was no reason for it to be ringing. Yet here it was. Playing “Sweet Child O Mine” by Guns and Roses, shaking me out of my fiction induced state of horror. I picked up the phone and said “Hello.” In return I got a barrage of language in a foreign tongue. Not just foreign, but, like Super Foreign. It was some form of Arabic I would say from the sounds of it, and after a minute or two trying to interrupt the conversation, I suddenly got a thought about the connection to what I was reading. Was my reading about demons conjuring up some kind of freaky phone call that I didn't understand? I freaked myself out. Although this call was probably harmless, it did get me thinking about ghostly phone calls.

Ghostly phone calls can be anything from a phone ringing without any sound on the other end, to the voice of a dearly departed loved one on your answering machine. After my mother died I frequently had my phone ringing with no one.. actually, more than that.. an absence of anything... on the other end. After this would happen a few times in a row, I would talk to my mother in the space of my empty living room and the calls would stop. I know I am not the only one who has had ghost calls like this, and here are a few stories I found online to share with you.

Sleepless Nights and Ghostly Phone Calls

Here's the story of my haunting. In the summer of 2000, when I was 11 years old, me, my mother, and her boyfriend all moved to a small house in the town of Deal, New Jersey. Despite it's small size, The house was quite luxurious with it's tastefully decorated rooms, dual sink bathrooms with Jacuzzi bathtubs, and it's unique features, such as the old record player in the family room. My mother and her boyfriend stayed in the main part of the house, while I got the whole second floor to myself. You would think a nice luxurious house with the whole second floor to myself would make a kid happy, but I wasn't. For some odd reason, I could never really warm up to the place. I wasn't in the best situation either, me and mom or me and her boyfriend would get into fights every day about one thing or another, and I was always getting picked on in school.

My life was really going downhill. I would wake up, get teased for six straight hours at school, come home either pissed or sad, get in a fight with my mom and her boyfriend, and lay awake in bed either enraged or crying, and that was a good day for me. However, anger and sadness weren't the only things that kept me up at night. For some reason, I always felt oddly uneasy in my room, or floor rather, at night. It was like the way you feel when you go to bed after watching a really scary movie; you know nothing's going to happen, but you lie awake scared that there's a monster under the bed anyway. So, I did what anyone else would do, blamed it all on my own imagination and ignored it.

Then, just when my life couldn't get any worse, the frightening oddness of the house dramatically escalated. I began to notice that the upstairs floor of the house was always freezing cold, no matter how high the thermostat was set, my insomnia was to the point where I had to take benadryl just to get a few hours of sleep at night, and I would always feel the room getting darker. It wasn't the lights actually dimming; it was like the darkness was coming into the room rather than the light coming out of it.

This is the part of the story where I stop believing that it's just my imagination and start to question whether it could be something more. If I told my mother that the undead inhabited my room, she would probably have sent me to the crazy house, so I was forced to live with the demonic presence in my floor of the house, until things went too far.

One night while I was lying awake in bed, I saw this glowing green light in the shape of a clawed hand appear in the middle of my room, stay there for about second, then disappear. It took me a few minutes to even register what I just saw. I was completely terrified, all I could do was sit up in my bed, stare wide eyed at the walls of my room, and wish that the sun would come up. After that incident, I considered going to live at my father's house. However, it would take one final incident to push me over the edge.

It was about two weeks later when I saw something again, something far worse. I was lying awake in my bed again when I heard what sounded like feet shuffling across my floor. My mother and her boyfriend were both asleep so it couldn't have been them. The pair of shuffling feet became two pairs of shuffling feet, then two became three and three became four until shuffling filled the whole room. I was frozen with fear once more.

Then came the voices. The voices weren't the usual inaudible whispers you would expect to hear from ghosts, but rather the jumble of voices you hear when you're in a crowded place where everyone's talking and you can't make out what any individual person saying. Just when I thought things couldn't get more terrifying, they did. I heard a bunch of phones ringing all at once. It couldn't have been a real phone because there were no phones on the second floor. In the midst of all this shuffling, talking, and ringing, one voice rang clear. It was the voice of a woman.

She picked up one of the phones, said hello, and then I heard her say "yes sir, the file is ready." Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything stopped. No more talking, no more ringing, no more shuffling, just silence. After that, I moved into my fathers house quicker that you can blink an eye. Ever since I moved, I feel no more uneasiness; I sleep sounder than a baby, and the only demons I stay awake watching are the ones on Inuyasha. It's been four years since I've seen that house, and when I look back on it all I sometimes wonder why the hell would a ghost be talking about some damn paperwork?  -Mandy. (story from http://www.guardiantales.freewebspace.com/Sleepless.html)

Another freaky story...

On a very warm summer afternoon, I was alone in our house and was taking a nap on the sofa in our front room. I was having a strange and melancholy dream about my brother who had died a little over a year ago. I don't remember the details of the dream but I remember that he kept telling me a certain number over and over and over again! When I finally woke up, the number was still sticking in my head... it was a seven digit number. After several minutes I realized that the string of numbers was a a very familiar phone number. I just couldn't place the number at first. Then, suddenly, I realized that it was the phone number of my grandparents who lived in San Diego. They had died over ten years prior. My deceased brother and I were very close to them and often called them to talk when we were in our elementary school years ( which is why it was such a familiar number! ). I don't know if it was because of the heat or because of the lingering emotions brought on by my dream, but I got a crazy notion to call the number.

The phone on the other end rang four or five times, and then someone answered. My heart started racing, because I was expecting a message that the number had been disconnected! I really didn't know what to say... so I asked, "Is Dottie there?" ( Dottie was my grandmother's name. ) There was a pause, and then the voice said, "Who IS this?". I said, "This is David." Then there was what I would describe as surprised laughing on the other end of the line. Then the female voice chuckled "Oh my God! It's been so long!" I asked, "Who is THIS?". The voice sounded slightly perplexed and she said, "Why, it's Nana!" ( That is what my brother and I used to call my grandmother. ) Only our family and my uncle and his family knew that we referred to her as Nana! I felt my stomach getting queasy from fright and disbelief, and I squeaked out "Nana?" The voice said, "Yes! It's so good to hear from you David! Let me go get your Grandpa. He's out in the 'Rumpus Room' out back." My grandparents had a part of their garage in the backyard that had been converted to a full bar with a pool table and couched in it, which they referred to as their "Rumpus Room".

The line got very noisy, then there was a squealing sound, and then the line went dead. I felt a mixture of relief from the creeps I was getting from talking to my long-since dead grandmother and disappointment that I didn't get to talk longer to her, or at all to my grandpa. I have called the same number again in the recent past and got the message that "This number is no longer in service.." I really don't know what to make of that phone call. It seemed that the person really was my Nana. It sounded kind of like her voice -- but younger than what I remembered -- and because she knew about the "Rumpus Room"... Is it really possible to make a phone call to the Other Side?

Story from http://www.castleofspirits.com/stories02/otherside.html Got your own ghost phone call story? Share it here.

photo by mscaprikell flickr.com

Ghost Photography

2009-03-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

Ghost photography is the practice of attempting to catch ecto-plasm or ghostly apparitions on film. Whether you believe they are dust particles in the air, faulty camera lenses or true spirits caught on film, the Internet has hundreds of these images online for your judgement.

Ghoststudy.com has a large group of ghost images online plus some handy tips on how to take your own ghost photography. Follow this link to check them out for yourself and learn how to create your own.
Ghoststudy.com

Got any ghost photos of your own? Email me and I will post them here!

The Powerful Energy of Anger: The Opera Man

2009-02-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

Sometimes its not always disembodied spirits that can haunt, or create drama in the psychic field. As an Empath, I could also pick up strong emotions in others, and feel the echoes of past trauma or emotionally charged exchanges in homes and around objects.

People who have very strong emotions are at times able to project those thoughts out into the universe to be picked up by the Empath. My experience with the “Opera Man” was one of these times when a person still physically on this earth was able to connect with me in a psychic – and negative way.

A group of friends and I went to visit a dear friend in another state. We were all looking forward to the getaway, having felt burnt out in our jobs, and in our personal lives as well. We were at a fork in the road of our lives, and didn’t even know it. All of us, at various stages in our careers, in various degrees of involvement in unhealthy relationships, we were taking a break together to further develop our friendships and trust in each other.

Lily was fairly new to our “group” having only worked with us all for about a year, and enjoying our monthly “diner’s nights” whenever she could. She seemed like a confident professional, with the soul of an injured bird. We could all tell Lily had had a rough life, although we weren’t sure of the details. She remained somewhat skittish, both reaching out for our friendship, and holding back from hurt she must have experienced before. Her coming with us on this trip was a huge step in trust and friendship, and we all wanted to make sure she had good times and many smiles while we were away.

After a short plane trip, and drive to our final destination, we all sat back and relaxed and caught up with our old friend. As usual, Lily mostly listened and absorbed, offering advice and information only when drawn out by one of the others.

As we chatted, my psychic journey was discussed. The group was split. Two friends believed and wanted to hear more as the weekend went on, the other two, Lily included, were more skeptical and uncertain as to what they believed I was really experiencing and feeling.

Finally, as the night grew old, we went to sleep in two rooms, Lily and Carol, the other skeptic in the living room, Myself, Mary and Kay in the bedroom. As I laid my head down and adjusted myself on the floor, I began to hear music.

“Do you guys here that?” I asked my roommates in the small bedroom.
“ Hear what?” Kay replied.
“ I hear opera music? You don’t hear the opera music?”
Kay laughed as Mary laid her head against the floor, trying to determine the origin of the noise. “ I don’t hear anything.” She declared.

As quickly as the words left her lips, the music I heard grew louder and I felt a weight pressing down upon me. “I think there is something wrong” I panted out, as I felt a pressure, a presence on me, trying to get inside.

Suddenly I felt chaos. I felt pressure, heard the music and felt a strong angry energy around me and on top of me. I felt as though I was being punished, or abused because I had done something wrong.

“What should we do?” Kay shouted.
“Help me, help me…” I stuttered as I madly began to practice the things I was taught about protection and the power of the white light.

Having just discussed these things with my friends, Kay and Mary immediately joined me in creating a dome of white light around us. Eventually the attack ended. I was afraid to sleep, but had asked for greater protection to get me through the night. Exhausted I fell asleep.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of whispered voices in the living room. Kay was telling Lily and Carol what had happened the night before, about the opera music, and my attack.

Lily listened intently, quietly until Kay finished.

“You know, Michael didn’t want me to come on this trip.” She stated, talking about her live- in boyfriend. “He really didn’t want me to come.”

“He listens to Opera music, sometimes, when he is drunk, when he gets mad…” she continued quietly. “He listens to Opera music when he hits me.” She finally said.
An hour later, the five of us sat quietly, absorbing all the stories of abuse and fear that our new friend had finally felt safe enough to tell us about. She was planning on leaving Michael, but wasn’t sure how, and was afraid of him.

“Do you think that was him, last night, Diane?” Kay asked me later in the kitchen.

“It was him,” I replied, ”He knew she was with us, he must have been angry, and his anger is so powerful it can take form. We have to help her get away.”

Looking back, I am not sure if what I experienced was a form of astral projection (sending ones spirit out while remaining connected with ones body) from Michael, or a very strong Empathic connection, reading Lily’s own memories and fears. Whatever it was, it was powerful, had shape and energy, and made believers out of the women who experienced it that night.

Photo by Energetic Spirit flickr.com

The Spirit in the Machine:Ghosts on YouTube

2009-02-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

YouTube has made stars of everyday folk by allowing all of us to post our home made videos online for others to enjoy. Ghost hunters and of course hoaxsters also take advantage of this format to spread the word about their own hauntings, or to pull the leg of their cyber audience. Sometimes cheesy and obvious in their trickery, sometimes intriquing and mesmerizeing, ghost recordings can at the very least be entertaining for YouTube fans. Got some time to kill and want to see some spooky videos, here are some to check out.

Ghost in the closet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfTihjLCBww
Looks superimposed to me, but see if it gives you a shiver.

Amityville Ghost video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk79cV4sHKQ
Interesting clip from a History Channel show about the Warren's and their video from the Amityville house. Worth watching.

Ghost photo montage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6trH81xpko
Nice montage of some classic ghost photos.

Ghosthunters TV show montage of evidence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gjtvx2UfIc
Nice grouping of evidence from TAPS investigations.

Got a favorite YouTube ghost video? Share the link here!

A Haunting Story: My Personal Experience

2009-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

I shared an office with a woman named Jennifer. She and I saw things differently on many subjects, but we had mutual respect and affection for one another, having shared an office and many work hours together for over 5 years. Jenny knew about my psychic tendencies, but being a Christian had many misgivings about dipping into the world of ghosts’ spirits and lost souls. Although we talked about it occasionally, we usually avoided all controversial subjects such as politics, religion and seeing dead people.
On a Tuesday in December that all changed.

I walked into our office that morning, expecting to see Jenny on the phone already, or munching on a donut from the snack machine. Instead I found her assistant rummaging over the top of her desk, shoveling through the “organizational system” Jenny used to plan her daily activities with her clients.

“Hi Beth, what’s going on?” I asked as I took off my coat and sipped from my morning diet Pepsi.

She turned to me, looking more harried than usual. “Mary sent me down here to find Jennifer’s schedule. She won’t be in for a while.”
“Is she sick?” I asked, knowing deep down it was more than that.
“No,” she replied, “ she had to drive to Minnesota, her mother had a bad car accident. They don’t think she is going to make it.”

Knowing what a close relationship Jen had with her Mom, I knew this was going to be bad. The next day we got the news that Jenny made it to the hospital only minutes too late to say goodbye.

A week went by, as Jennifer tied up loose ends in Minnesota, and we covered her sessions in Milwaukee. I thought of her a lot, and of her mother, who I had never met.

Jen returned to work the following Monday, we embraced, we cried, and I offer whatever weak solace I could. I wanted to do more for her, and I told her so.

That night, I was offered a chance. As I lay down to go to sleep, the room illuminated by a small night light behind a dresser, I began to do my protection meditations, and contact my spirit guides to thank them for their help, and to ask for further guidance in my quest to communicate. As my eyes drifted open and closed I suddenly felt a presence standing next to the bed.

My eyes opened wide and I saw the perfect black silhouette of a woman. She was about 5’6 medium build, and stood over me in silence.

I wondered who she was and received the answer that she was Jennifer’s mother, and she wanted me to pass along a message to Jen.

Knowing Jennifer’s feelings about me and my connection to the spirit world, I refused. I didn’t want to upset her, or open any fresh wounds with talk of visits from her mother. Although some people would have found it consoling, I thought that coming from me in this manner would only confuse and upset her.

The next night Jenny’s mother was back. Again, she stood at my bedside and made her request. Again I refused, asking her to go to her daughter directly, or through dreams to give her a sign or message.

Night after night I received the visitor. As nights passed, Jennifer’s mother became more insistent, and suddenly I found myself in the middle of what can only be described as a haunting.

Each night as I would lay down to sleep, she was there, standing over me, making me afraid to surrender to sleep, and potentially lose myself in the process. As I would begin to drift off I would see her more clearly. Suddenly I would be outside myself, and see my self and my surroundings in a spotlight. I could feel the energy in the air; I would feel chaos around me. Objects flying through the air, I would feel afraid, and out of control. I would have to shake myself to break the hallucination, but it would come back each time I tried to drift off to sleep. After about a week of this, I realized I had to appease this spirit and do what she asked. I had an opportunity later that night, as Jennifer and I would be at a work dinner together.

After the dinner Jen and I walked out to our parked cars together, discussing the evenings events. As we approached her truck I turned to her and began to broach the subject of her recent loss.
“Jen, can I talk to you about your Mom for a minute?” I said.
She looked down at the street, “ Sure.”
“Listen, you know about my “psychic tendencies,” and I have to tell you, I have been getting messages from your Mom for about a week now.”
She said nothing as I continued, “I haven’t wanted to say anything to you because I wasn’t sure how you would take it, and I didn’t want to upset you.”
“No, that’s okay, Diane, what have you got?”

I explained to her the events of the last week. I began with a description of the silhouette by my bed, with the persistence of the message, and lastly with the message from her Mother. “She just thought it was really important for you to know that she loves you, and that it didn’t matter that you didn’t make it to the hospital in time to say Goodbye. There are no good-byes Jenny, she wanted you to know that. She also wanted to let you know that she is around you still, and that you do feel her, and you should trust your own instincts there. Basically, she is okay, Jen. She is okay.”

Jenny looked at me, and laughed a little. “Diane, this is weird, but over the last week I have been praying and praying for my Mom to get in touch with me. I wanted to hear from her so much, and I was asking her to contact me somehow. She found you! You are right, I have felt her around me, but I think because I have been so upset, I haven’t seen her signs.” She continued, “My brother got a sign from her the other night. He was driving home at night, and was thinking about her. He, too, wanted a sign, and just as he thought that, he saw her face at his windshield! He couldn’t believe it! I really wanted a sign from her too… and now I have gotten it. Thank you.”

We embraced, and I felt an immediate calming around me. As if Jenny’s Mom was with us in the parking lot, and was finally at peace, having consoled her daughter. As I drove away from her that night, I realized that I had purposely avoided this conversation with Jenny. That perhaps I could have helped her sooner, but I had chosen not to. It was that night that I made the decision that in the future, if I received a message, I would pass it along. That I would be a communication device, if I could, and would try not to censor or control the messages that I received. It was then that I truly began my journey into mediumship and the paranormal.

Photo by artiefischer flickr.com

L'Italia frequentata: Haunted Italy

2009-01-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

Italy is renown for it’s beauty and history, and it should be known for it’s ghosts as well. From the watery depths of Venice to the crumbl ing grandeur of Rome, centuries of plaques, natural disasters, religious fervor and conflicts have made this a country that echoes with the voices of its past. If you are planning a getaway to see Italy, put some of these spooky places on you list of must-sees. Known as the Island of Horror, visit Poveglia Island in Venice. Once a dumping ground for the corpses of those who died of the bubonic plaque, those both dead and alive who suffered from this painful plaque were forgotten and left here. People who get permission to visit this island get a sense of the horror from the water surrounding the island and claim to hear voices whispering along the current. Later the home of a poorly and at times criminally run psychiatric hospital, Poveglia Island is filled with the energy of those wronged.

Heading back to dry land check out Lucedio Abbey. This building dates back to the 1100’s and once housed Cistercian monks who had lost their Christian way. Investigated by the TAPS team (Ghost Hunters television show on SCIFI channel,) visitors here claim to feel a menacing presence and a pillar that seems to cry. Eerie and elegant be sure to check it out.

Talk to the staff at the site of the ruins of Pompeii. Although the tragic history of this locale is well known, some may not be aware of the shadow people, echoes of screams in the night and pervasive smell of sulfur. Much more here than what meets the eye, so go with all your ghost hunting equipment.

Finally, check out Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. Currently being featured in the soon to be released “Angels and Demons” movie, this location is well known for being haunted and is included on most of the Haunted Rome tours. Final resting place for Roman Emperor Hadrian, the haunting are attributed to his family who were executed right in front of this fine building. Locals believe that the Archangel Michael appeared here in 590 and ended the plaque that thrived amongst the population here. Take a guided tour to hear more scary history.

Road Trips: Route 666

2009-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

If you are traveling through Colorado, New Mexico or Utah be on the lookout for the old route 666 signs, but don’t travel at night!
Route 666 has always gotten a bad rap for it’s unfortunate numbering and whilst locals claim the road is cursed, it continues to be one of the safest highways in the area. Hard to find these days as states have caved into pressure from superstitious residents and renamed most of the road Highway 191 or 491 depending on where you are, route 666 travelers can still tell the difference when their tires hit the pavement. Whether it’s the yellow-eyed hounds of hell chasing your car through the darkness, shredding your tires and driving you mad, or the ghost truck that careens around the curves driving you off the road, route 666 has some special experiences for those who choose to ride the road after dark-fall.
Locals also claim to have seen an apparition of a girl in white and a ghostly hitchhiker so be forewarned and don’t pick up anyone on the route after dusk. Native Americans in the area also tell tales of the road, believing that skin-walkers or shape shifters haunt the road in the form of wolves, eagles and crows.
Most of the mischief seems to be done by humans including the actual thievery of the route 666 signs, but troubling are the reports of satanic rituals and sacrifices of animals along the route.
I have had the pleasure of traveling this route myself, during the daytime, and felt nothing untoward about it, however people still claim to have had experiences here, whether they are the result of an active imagination or real demonic presence is hard to tell.
Have you ridden along the route? Share your stories.

They're Back: Your Favorite Paranormal Shows New Seasons

2009-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, so if you’re like me you are probably going through paranormal TV DT’s, but fear not, the end to our bleak evenings of repeats is nearly over. January brings back new episodes of some of our favorite paranormal series so set your Tivo or DVR and get back in the game.

Paranormal State is a terrific show, if you have been living under a rock, based upon a ghost-hunting team from Penn State. They investigate local cases of paranormal activities including hauntings and demon-attacks, all led by Roman Catholic investigator, Ryan. New episodes begin January 19th.

Set your Tivo now though for the premiere of Ghost Hunters International on the SCIFI channel. The new episode begins on January 7th, so be sure to set your DVR to record or mark it on your calender. You'll enjoy the European locations with a familiar crew of investigators.

Friday nights you’ll find the British are invading! The Most Haunted team is doing a tour of the US including favorite locations like Waverly Hills Sanitarium and the Stanley Hotel. The travel channel show will also hit the New London Ledge House and “Sleepy Hollow” NY as well, so stay tuned.

Finally, the show I love to hate Ghost Adventures. It’s great to watch the episode before excerpts appear on The Soup, and right now you can catch repeats on the Travel Channel Friday nights just before Most Haunted. New episodes are on their way, so they say, but no dates have been set as yet.
If you can't wait to get your paranormal fix, visit any of the above webpages for online episodes, downloads and even games!
If you hear of a premiere date for any of these shows, please share the information here.
Photo by Mr TGT flickr.com

New Years Eve Ghost Story

2008-12-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

I found this little ghost story on About.com Paranormal Phenomenon and thought I would pass it on to all of you. It's always good to start the new year with a scare. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

New Years Eve Ghost
by Steven B.

On New Years Eve 1987, two friends and I stayed the night at my friend's house to celebrate the New Year. We were all roughly 13 to 14 years of age at the time. We were left alone in my friend's house as his parents left for a party. To pass the time, we spent much of the 11:00 p.m. hour playing with a Ouija board trying to contact dead relatives. We failed on every attempt except for one. We made contact with Lewis, an elderly gentleman that lived next door and had died three years ago of an untimely death. The hospital that he stayed in for a routine procedure neglected to raise the side rails on his bed. He fell, broke his hip and died of a heart attack. We asked him how he was, he said lonely, waiting for his wife. We told him who we were, but he could not remember us. Lewis knew it was New Years, though, as he told us his wife was sleeping and that he is watching her. We told him to come next door, but his only response was, " I can't." He told us that three times in a row. We then lost contact.

This was the only time that we ever made contact with a spirit. Now here is where it gets really weird. At five minutes till midnight, about 20 minutes after our reaching out experience, we were huddled around the TV watching a New Years Eve special. We were in the family room in the basement of the house. Upstairs in the refrigerator was an unopened bottle of wine that my friend's parents left for us to share at the stroke of midnight. We frequently throughout the night eyeballed the bottle, eagerly waiting to drink it, as any teenage boy would. Just as I rose up, we started hearing a loud noise coming from upstairs. It sounded of doors slamming! We were scared out of our minds. Then we heard a loud thump as the ceiling vibrated. My friend had two dogs and one cat, but they were downstairs too. The smallest dog, one of those little wiener dogs, started to run up the stairs barking. He went up about three stairs and made a quick U-turn and came back down. He stayed at the bottom of the stairway barking. The cat ran behind the TV, which was at the opposite end of the family room from the stairs. The other dog, a golden retriever, stood next to the wiener dog barking his head off and also staring up the stairs. These are normally two fearless dogs, but they wouldn't go up the stairs for nothing.

We stood in the corner of the family room with our hearts pounding, practically in tears. After about three minutes of this, the two dogs finally stopped and ran upstairs. Ten minutes after that, we got up the nerve to climb the stairs. Every light on the upstairs floor was on, every cabinet in the kitchen was open, and the kitchen chairs were knocked over. I guess that explains the slamming and the ceiling rattling. Needless to say, we were really scared at that moment. We tried to think of a logical reason to explain this, but we could not. Maybe someone we know snuck into the house and to play a prank on us. But that doesn't explain the behavior of the pets. But what finally convinced us that this was a visit from the beyond was when I retrieved our long-awaited bottle of wine from the refrigerator. As soon as I grabbed it, I noticed something strange: It was really light. The wine inside was only about a quarter full - with the seal still in place. We all stared at it in amazement. One of my buds grabbed it and shook it upside down to test it for a leak, but nothing came out. The wine was somehow consumed without the seal ever being broken. Believe me, we new as soon as a half hour before that that puppy was full as we awaited our chance to drink it. But it looks like ole Lewis decided to drop by for New Years after all and have a drink on us. Future attempts to contact Lewis have failed.

If You Can't Go to the Ghosts, They'll Come to You: Ghost Cams

2008-12-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Are you stuck in a snowstorm and can't get out to ghost hunt? Maybe a webcam can help!
There are a number of cameras in traditionally spooky spaces that you can link onto and view. See a ghost, and let someone know to be part of the collection of paranormal evidence. Here are some places to start.

Go to www.ghoststudy.com first and check out their list of ghost cams available to watch including the Willard Library where you may see a lady in grey, a deserted hospital the Queen Mary ship and a the Paris Catacombs.

www.eeeek.com has another great list of ghost cams including a Gettysburg Battlefield cam and a cam at Llancaiach Fawr Manor.

Tpwghostcam.co.uk is a neat site with a set of twenty-six ghost cams in an old TB hospital. Looks pretty spooky so turn off the lights and study carefully.

www.asylumcam.com has another long list of ghost cameras and includes a couple of spooky attics, farms and a New York basement. Now THAT sounds scary.

Check 'em out and see if you can't make a connection with the spirit world. Good luck!

(Pyramid cam pictured above)

Haunted Greece

2008-12-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of reasons to go to Greece. Whether you love the historic architecture or the mythical gods and goddesses, this country is full of energy and echoes of ancient days and traditions. Although Greece isn’t on the top of most ghost hunters hit lists, there are some active locations around Greece that you should definitely check out while you are there.

Start at Daveli's Cave in Penteli Athens. Locals believe that this is a paranormal center filled with ghostly apparitions and even UFO visitations. Said to be where the ancient temple of Pan was located, this place is said to be full of unexplainable noises and creepy feelings.

A big cemetery fan myself, you know I would tell you to visit Maroussi Cemetery in Athens. Those who live around the area say they have seen an apparition of a young girl referred to as Anna near the cemetery gates.

Looking for the Lord of the Underworld? Check out the Necromanteion near Perga in the Amvrakian wetlands. Legend has it that this is where the Lord of the Underworld abducted the goddess Persephone so this spot is full of weird energy and a sense of the mystical.

Vampires are all the rage...so to speak…right now, so be sure to make a stop at Santorini Island. You'll have to board a boat to get there, but this is a Mecca for Vampire and Goth fans. Santorini Island is said to be the resting place for hundreds of people who were thought to be Vampires and modern age bloodsucker-wanna be's still head out there for events during the summer. A weird vibe is prevalent here, so be sure to bring your garlic necklace!

Overall, if you want to find some active spots, talk to the locals. There is nothing better than hearing a ghost story passed down from generation to generation or to see the excitement on someone's face who has had an otherworldly encounter.

Photo of the Acropolis at Night by adamsofen flickr.com

Haunted Holy Land: Waterbury Connecticut that is….

2008-12-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Holy Land USA was created by a grateful Yale Graduate, John Baptist Greco as a type of theme park for believers. It was meant to teach bible stories and give visitors a sense of what the "old world" would have been like.
Fallen into disarray during the 1980's, this theme park became a favorite spot for local teens to vandalize and spray paint. Although the statues and monuments were meant to be simple reproductions, the vandalism and decay of the theme park has left the place with a real sense of tragedy.
The first story of its haunting was reported in 1984. Passerby's claim to have seen a woman near the gate of the Holy Land who disappears in a phantom car when the gate is approached. There has only been this one reported sighting on this location.

Now owned by the Sisters of the Fillipini, the land is private property so ghost hunters will have to get permission to enter and investigate. Those who have share these stories.

One ghost hunting team reported feeling peaceful when entering the overgrown Holy Land and experienced an unexplainable battery drain on his camera. Some ghost hunters believe that batteries drain on equipment when in the presence of ghosts because they need the energy to manifest.

Some websites claim to feel murderous intention at this place, but records show that no murders or misdeeds, other than the vandalism, ever took place here.
The creator of Holy Land USA died at age 90. Hopefully his good hearted intentions and spirit will live on. I guess afterall, the only ghost here is the Holy Ghost.

Photo by ZiarciRose flickr.com

Ghosts of Mexico

2008-12-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Many of my four season friends may be heading out to Mexico this winter to get away from the cold and snow…but don’t think you will be getting away from the paranormal! With a cultural history going back to 1000 BC Mexico is a country filled with legends, drama, wars and stories of love and loss. If you want a little ghost hunting adventure after you are done tanning on the beach and walking through the Mayan ruins here are some places to start.

Check out Old Aqua Caliente Casino. Now in the process of being restored, this site is where legend has it that a singer from the 1940's poisoned her treacherous lover, and was shot by him before he perished! Visitors here speak of residual haunting phenomenon including the sounds of a woman singing and apparitions of the tragic couple.

Next stop, Cabo San Lucas and the Finestira Hotel. Staff here report that a ghostly maid makes her rounds every night and sometimes awakens unsuspecting guests! Sleep with one eye open.

Stop in Playa del Carmen and check out the hotel directly across from the famous Blue Parrot Bar. Cold spots, apparitions and weird sounds are reported coming from this location, so be careful and don't stumble upon this site alone after dark.

Finally, don’t miss the ghost tours of the Barrio Antiguo in Monterrey. The site of a double murder in the 1930's, people claim to see an apparition of a woman in white, experience cold spots and simply have a spooky time. Find it at 1026 Jose Aramberri Street.

Oh, and if you are crossing the border into Tijuana after dark be sure to look for the spirit orbs and balls of lights over the water along the border. Take lots of pictures and send them along to me here!

Photo of mexico by* CliNKer * flickr.com

The Granny Ghost

2008-12-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

As I meditated daily, I felt a stronger connection with the spirit world. I could literally feel them around me all the time. The air was different, it vibrated, and I welcomed the company. Usually.
I met Granny in the parking lot of the corner grocery store. I would stop in this store once a week or so to pick up last minute items, ice cream, cookies, and milk… the usual. I got to be familiar with the owners of the store, by sight anyway, and we had a cordial neighborly relationship. One night as I returned to my car and loaded in my bag, I noticed a different vibration in the car with me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her, “Granny” and she had a message.

Apparently Granny was a relative of one of the store owners, Rick. Rick had taken care of Granny while she was alive, shoveling her walk, bringing her meals, and she wanted to make sure he knew she was all right, and that she loved him.

Although I wanted to pass along her message, I also knew that I frequented this store, and didn’t want to take a chance on gaining a reputation as “that crazy psychic lady.” I told her that she could connect with him herself, through his dreams, or by some other means, and that I just could not do it.

She continued to sit there.

I asked her to get out of my car. She refused.

Granny and I drove 6 blocks together before I convinced her to move on. She was persistent, and I did feel a little bad about not helping her, but I was soon to learn a lesson on the ethics of mediumship that I would never forget. For that night though, I was still learning, but I think Granny took my advice and made direct contact with Rick. I hope so at least

Spooky Flicks for your Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-11-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, Thanksgiving means kicking back and watching some flicks. Not a football or parade fan, a good movie marathon and a bucket of popcorn can make for a special day for Norm and I, so I just wanted to share some of my favorite spooky flicks. Get your self to Blockbuster and enjoy them with me.

13 Ghosts
This is a pretty good frightfest featuring Tony Shalhoub and Shannon Elizabeth. The story goes that this family inherits a house from his ghost hunting brother and then finds an unpleasant warehouse of really bad ghosts locked up in the basement. Neat house. Wish I lived there (without the killer ghosts of course.)

Poltergeist- the first one.
If you have never seen this movie your in for a few good frights and some pretty good chuckles, if you haven't seen it in a while, you'll enjoy it all over again. Spooky but family friendly, even though it was made in the 80's it holds up today.

An American Haunting
This is a good flick starring Donald Sutherland that reflects on a "true" story of the Bell Witch. A period movie, the story-line and production of the movie makes it a must see for anyone at all familiar with the Bell Witch story.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Again, based on a true story, this movie was Really interesting and deeply frightening. Not a slasher or horror film, the scares come from the presence of a demon and the fight for a young girls life. Good stuff. Once you see it, check out the true story.

Silent Hill
Deeply scary with terrifying ghostly creatures, this one may give you nightmares. So, of course, I loved it. Dark and twisted, it follows a woman into another dimension looking for her daughter in a scary abandoned town. Run when the bell tolls cause all kinds of bad stuff will come out to get ya. Wait till after dark to watch it.

The Haunting
If you haven't seen this 1999 film featuring Catherine Zeta Jones and Owen Wilson, its worth a look. A psychologist takes a few people to an abandoned mansion to frighten them for scientific reasons, however, real frights ensue when restless spirits seek to destroy one of the special guests.

Well, I hope these movies keep you busy. Please share some of your favorite ghost flicks here so that I can add them to my list as well.
Happy Thanksgiving

Voice at the Stairs Part 2: The Next Day

2008-11-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

The next day, we were made aware that a board is not necessarily the only way spirits can communicate!

My boyfriend picked me up in his Lebaron sedan, and we drove over to Kathy’s house. The Lebaron, although not the typical cool-high school guy car, was luxurious with its fake velvet interior, fold up armrest, and shiny black paint job. We flipped the armrest up and I sat close to Tim as we discussed the last night’s events. Deciding to put it out of our minds, we arrived at Kathy’s house, locked up the car, and went inside.

We returned to the car about 15 minutes later on our way to a fast food place for lunch. Before we reached the car, Tim already knew something was not right. As we all bent down to look inside the roomy vehicle we noticed that the armrest in the front seat was flipped down and upon it sat an opened pack of cigarettes.

We all looked at each other questioningly. None of us smoked, and we couldn’t figure out who could have gotten into the locked car and why they would leave their cigarettes there! Shrugging it off, Kathy grabbed the cigs, crumpled them, and threw them on the street by the curb as we headed off.

It began to rain as we had lunch, and we returned to Kathy’s house for an afternoon of talking and baking cookies. We talked a little about the weird cigarette package, and Kathy admitted that she had experienced some weird goings-on as well since the previous evening. Strange noises woke her, and she was somewhat afraid of what we might have stirred up. Although it was odd, we decided that the things that were happening were not dangerous, and merely a sign from our spiritual friends.

When the rain finally let up, Tim and I made a dash for the car to go back to our respective homes. As I stood in the rain waiting for Tim to open the door, I glanced inside the vehicle. There, again, was a perfectly dry pack of cigarettes balanced on the armrest, the armrest we had left in the “up” position.
Spoooooky.

The Voice at the Stairs

2008-11-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

When I turned 17 years old, my interest was renewed in things spiritual, and psychic. The Ouija board again became part of the entertainment for my high school friends although I showed it more respect than I had before.

Around midnight one evening, my boyfriend, two girlfriends and myself hung out in my basement listening to albums and telling ghost stories. I snuck up the darkened stairs and retrieved the Ouija board from the dining room closet without waking my mother whom laid sleeping in the other room.

I brought it back to my friends and we began to try it out. Wondering if we could still get any answers from the neglected spirits, Tim and I laid our hands on the planchette.

The details of what we asked seem blurry to me now, except for the final questions of the night. My friend Liz had lost her father many years before. She never talked about it, but we knew it was a painful memory for her. Having been raised by strict German Catholics, Liz was a weekly church attendee, and really very wary of the use of Ouija and what it meant to talk to spirits in this way. She sat at a distance from the rest of us on the floor until the Ouija called her name.
“ I have a message for Liz” the board spelled out.

Liz shook her head, not wanting to hear it, but curious and well meaning; we encouraged her to allow us to go on.
“ It’s from Poppa.” The board spelled, and then continued to spell a few words in German. None of us except Liz spoke or knew it.
“Tell them to…” Kathy spoke out as the letters turned into words “Tell them to STOP.”
Quickly Tim and I raised our hands off the board and all four of us suddenly felt a chill go down our spines.

“ Diane!” my mother shouted from the top of the stairs that lead down to the basement.
Surprised to hear my mother’s voice so late, I jumped up and ran to the base of the stairs.
“ Yeah?”
“Are you kids playing with that Ouija board?”
“Yeah!” I replied, now stunned that she somehow knew this.
“ Put it away.” She said, appearing somewhat harried.
“Why?” I wondered.
“I was just woken up by a voice in my room. It said, Tell Them to Stop!”
We packed up the board, and I said goodnight to my friends, promising to get together the next day to discuss what was happening.
I brought the game upstairs and went to bed.
I awoke the next morning to find a crucifix hanging over my head, and the Ouija board packed away, again with a rosary atop it. Mom never did tell us where she hide it, and we never touched it again. At least not that particular board.

Stay Tuned for Part 2. The Next Day.

Photo by extranoise Flickr.com

I Watch, So You Don’t Have To: Ghost Adventures Sloss Furnace

2008-11-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

So, I decided to give the Ghost Adventures team another shot at pissing me off with their latest episode in Birmingham, Alabama.

The show begins with a little background and history of the region, featuring the civil war battles and the growth of manufacturing and the Sloss Furnace, the site of this weeks ghost hunt.

The Sloss Furnace representative relays to Zach some of the furnaces morbid past including the deaths of two workers and countless others that fell to their death from the catwalks. Two workers died in a fire blast, leaving me to wonder if Zach will set himself on fire to provoke the spirits.

The Ghost Adventures team meets up with another local ghost hunting group and they retell some incidents that they experienced during a vigil including physical manifestations and apparitions. The sounds of footsteps, and physical close encounters all tempt the crew to lock themselves in for the night. As usual.

A ghost lovingly referred to as Slag is the main focus of this ghost hunt and with his bad reputation will surely be the focus of Zach's flat-affected bravado.

The team immediately sees an apparition, not caught on film, and begins to talk to the spirits. They hear a child's voice and the camera man gets a supernatural punch in the face. It's as if the spirits could read my mind and obey my orders…

So, twelve hours or so later, the team leaves with some EVPs that were very garbled and some personal experiences that weren’t nearly as frightening as the hat Zach wears when he talks to the sound tech he brings his EVPs too. Yikes.

Once again Zach justifies his provocation of the spirits and happily listens to the spirit world's voice captured on tape saying "I hate Zak." Hm. That makes two of us.

Paranormal France

2008-11-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

Just the word "France" brings a look of romantic longing onto most Americans faces. With its history of royal families, heroic characters and war, and its landscape dotted with castles, caves and catacombs, ghost hunters will find no lack of entertainment and mystery on a tour of this beautiful country. Should you get a chance to visit, take a break from the museums and fashion boutiques to see some of the paranormal wonders that abound here.

Of course, you'd have to start at the Catacombs, where the TAPS crew found themselves surrounded by skulls and mysteries never before seen. The appearance of a tape recording lost by a wandering tourist (never seen again, by the way) only deepens the mystery. Tours are widely available so be sure to take your camera and do a little ghost busting.

The Chateau of Versailles is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but was the home to French royalty until the late 1700's. Yes, the famous Marie Antoinette is said to still visit here and can sometimes be seen wandering through the gardens. Try some EVP work here to see if you can make a connection.

While seeing how the "other half lives," be sure to walk through the Brissac Castle in Loire Valley. Known to be the site of a double murder of the owner's wife and lover, dwellers here find themselves to have a few extra guests. Is it the wife looking for her tragically lost love? Who knows, but the place has got a dark and creepy feeling.

No trip to France would be complete without paying your respects to Joan of Arc at the Basilica at Le Bois Chenu Domremy. People have caught apparitions on film here and reports of ghostly happenings go all the way back to the early 1900's. Spooky!

If anyone has been to France and has a ghostly encounter, be sure to share it here!

Photo by ricardo.martins flickr.com

Netherlands Netherworld

2008-11-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

As with most places, the Netherlands is filled with history both tragic and world changing. Visited by the Spanish Inquisition, witch hunts and executions and of course, home to Anne Frank, there are plenty of reasons a tourist would find ghosts in this beautiful country. If you are going to be making a trip there, there are some places paranormal enthusiasts should make sure to visit to learn and experience the past of this lovely and diverse area.

Starting with the historic and personal story of Anne Frank, you can visit the annex where she slept in Amsterdam. Tourists report weird cold spots there and some see the shadow of a girl in the window.

Then, book a room at the Hotel Berma. Central to all the other tourist locations such as museums and night spots, talk to the staff here to learn about the odd happenings previous guests report including a strong feeling of an unseen presence. Maybe the owners can enlighten you on the past of this spot so that you can address the otherworldly residents directly!

A dungeon is sure to be a place with paranormal energy, and the Amsterdam Dungeons will fit that bill. Sure, it's more an amusement park now, which seems insulting to the hundreds of souls who died and were tortured here, but you can still get an informative tour of this medieval place and learn about the terrible things the Council of Blood did in this area.

Europe has plenty of castles so be sure to take a tour of the Castle Duivestein in Voorschoten. Visitors and locals all say that there is just a pervasive strange energy around the place and nighttime photos of the drive up to the castles are always filled with weird orbs. As always, chat up the staff and tour guides to get the real skinny on paranormal activities and hot spots.

Photo by thegshow~ flickr

The Cemetery - A true encounter

2008-11-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

My mother, Shirley, grew up in a middle class neighborhood in a simpler day. In the 1940’s and 50’s children still went outside to play, and found companionship in each other instead of a computer generated killing spree game. She was lucky enough to have good and loyal friends and a bicycle on which to explore her universe.

Around the corner from the duplex where she lived was a cemetery. A perfect place for her and her mates to ride their bikes without fear of being run over by cars, or chased by dogs. One day she and her friend Marge discovered an open grave; a hole dug for an upcoming burial…surrounded by gravel and mounds of dirt. As an adult, the sight of an open grave brings about a weary sense of our own mortality, but to children, it is just another opportunity to play and explore.

As dusk set, Marge and Mom sat on the edge of the hole, tossing small rocks down inside, and around the nearby monuments. Laughing and pushing each other they gathered handfuls of tiny stones and tossed them gleefully until they realized the sun was low and they had to return home.

Hopping onto their bikes they made their way through the deserted cemetery roads towards the gated entrance. They glanced at each other questioningly as they heard tiny “pinging noises around them. They slowed their bikes and turned their heads just in time to see pieces of gravel, many pieces, zooming towards them from out of nowhere! Turning back toward the road ahead they dodged as unseen assailants tossed fistfuls of rocks and dirt, pelting their backs and arms! They yelled to each other and looked around for the culprits… but none were seen. As they finally pedaled out onto the main street, the stones dropped in the air, and were no more.

As Mom would tell this story, she would always end it by saying that we should always respect the dead… as they demand it.

Ghosts of Gettysburg

2008-11-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Gettysburg is well known as one of the most haunted locations in the United States. The site of one of the Civil Wars most tragic battles, the Gettysburg area honors the memory of thousands of brothers, sons and fathers. A drive through nearly any Civil War area will bring a sensitive person into contact with the spirits of past soldiers, and Gettysburg offers a high concentration of souls reliving their sad last moments.

I have been through this area myself and found spirits on the battlefield as well as walking along the roadsides throughout Pennsylvania. The ghosts I encountered on the battlefield were looking for brothers or friends amongst the dead or trying to get home to their loved one. Sad and most likely merely echoes of the past fueled by extreme tragedy and sorrow.

Whether you are a sensitive or not, the people of the Gettysburg area will share historical information as well as paranormal stories with visitors and tourists. The Black Cat tour or Patriot tour will give you a guided walk around the Gettysburg area introducing you to some of the most "popular" haunts. If you'd rather meander around on your own, here are some places to visit.

Start at the Jennie Wade house. Jennie Wade is known to be the only civilian causality during the battle as she was while baking bread for troops in her kitchen. The wayward bullet found its way to Jennie and she could not be saved. It is said that her house, now a tourist location is haunted by Jennie, her sister and indeed even the soldier who inadvertently shot her.

Then, move to Sachs Covered Bridge. This is the location of multiple hangings of soldiers and the site of apparitions and disembodied voices. Check it out after to dark to increase the fright factor.

Stay at Cashtown Inn, the historic bed and breakfast that was once occupied by Jefferson Davis and troops. TAPS visited this location and found it to be full of otherworldly footsteps and cold spots. Make your reservations early.

As with all locations, treat the area with respect as it is basically a cemetery for brave soldiers.

photo by intothelens4149

Ghost Adventures: Riddle House, West Palm Beach Florida.

2008-11-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

There is just something about Zach Bagan that makes me root for the ghosts.

This week the team goes to the Riddle House to investigate what is supposedly a very active home. Creaking stairs, moving objects and of course, a tragic history of suicide in the attic. Part of an overall paranormally active community, visitors and locals claim to have seen apparitions, and loads of other ghostly activity.

Of course, the team takes on the Rambo attitude that has quickly become their trademark and over dramatizes the history and claims of activity. Zach Bagan's excitement is barely contained as he continues his investigation.

After lockdown, Zach explains his provocation of spirits as only directed towards ghosts who harm the people working in the building, however, that really doesn’t justify, in my mind, to walking up in the attic with a hangman's noose.

As he tied the noose to a rafter, he explains again that he is not disrespectful; making me wonder how many emails they have gotten about their approach to ghost "hunting."

So, an hour later, the group wraps up the show with nothing more than a few noises and falling objects to relay as evidence of this haunting. I am sure I would have been scared as well, after hearing the flag fall out of a corner, or undetermined knocks and echoes, and for that, I find the show continually interesting.As for Zach and his approach...I am waiting to see more. If I was a ghost, I'd beat the crap out of him.

Photo by:thelastminute Flickr.com

Stull Cemetery -Kansas Gateway to Hell?

2008-11-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

Stull cemetery is a small rural cemetery off a beautiful state parkway. Surrounded by quaint old buildings and hordes of cyclists, this off road plot of land seems quiet. Is it really a gateway to hell?

The church on the property has a legendary past, that is, its past is mostly legend. Locals say that the building had been used by devil worshippers and other evil-doers and that they opened a hole to hell itself. Trespassers tell tales of feeling powerful energy at the base of the stairs of the old church, and Halloween nights fill the cemetery with groups of people waiting to see The Legion itself.

Prairieghosts.com shares this story. "In 1980, an article appeared in the Kansas City Times that added further fuel to the rumors about Stull Cemetery and the abandoned church. The article was quoted as saying that the Devil chose two places to appear on Earth every Halloween. One of them was the “tumbleweed hamlet” of Stull, Kansas and the other, which occurs simultaneously at midnight, is someplace on the “desolate plain of India.” From these sites, according to the article, the Devil gathers all the people who died violent deaths over the past year for a prance around the Earth at the witching hour."

Now, the old church has mysterious been torn down, some say in the middle of the night to avoid problems with locals, and the cemetery is fenced off and marked "Private." That didn’t stop me and Norman from driving out there to investigate ourselves.

We found the town of Stull, outside of Lawrence Kansas to be charming and peaceful. Beautiful in the autumn, we felt a bit out of place and conspicuous taking pictures of the cemetery off the main road. The crumbled church could be seen far off in the corner of the cemetery, and I must admit I did feel a weird energy about the place. Is it because of the devil himself or the amount of energy spent in this location by other ghost hunters… I don’t know. Check it out for yourself, but no trespassing!

The Black Angel of Iowa City

2008-11-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

A few people have asked me about the photo I use in my profile here, so here's its spooky story.
This is the Black Angel of Iowa City. Found in Oakland cemetery near the university, the Black Angel's story is mostly mythical, although the true story is no less interesting. But, first, here is the legend.
This stunning 8 foot memorial statue sits upon the final resting place of the Feldevert family. Standing since the early 1900's, this originally bronzed statue has turned black with normal oxidation, but that hasn’t stopped the lore's and legends from deeming it a more supernatural occurrence.
Some claim that Theresa Feldevert was somehow evil and that is the reason the angel turned black. You see, Theresa's son died at the age of 18 due to meningitis, but people gossip that perhaps it was murder. Doubtful.

Others say that the angel was struck by lightening and turned black. That by some supernatural occurrence this angel was deemed to have paranormal powers and to stand too close would lead to harm.

The true story? The angel was commissioned by Theresa for her family plot and created by a bohemian sculptor. The angel didn't turn out to be the price Theresa had bargained for and the stunning statue remained crated up for some time until the lawsuit was settled. Finally, the angel was placed over the burial plot of her son (whose smaller tree trunk monument can be found under the bush nearby) and ashes of her husband.

Today, this breathtaking statue brings college students to dare to kiss beneath it, for if you kiss beneath it, you will die the next day. Others say if you look into her face you will die, or become ill.

Interesting note: My husband Norm and I went there before we had actually moved to the area to check it out for ourselves. As I took picture after picture Norm wandered away to answer natures call, yes, right there in the cemetery. Later that day he was struck down with flu-like symptoms and was ill for several days. Was this the Black Angels revenge for his disrespectful kidneys or did we just have a bad beer at the local brewery? Hard to say, but I say, don't chance it. Pay your respects.

The Haunted White House

2008-11-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Since we are all feeling patriotic right now, I thought I would write a little about the ghost stories that take place in the First House… the White House.

There are many ghosts roaming the white house corridors, as noted by the first families and other visitors and guests of this great historic building. One of the most famous is the apparition of Abraham Lincoln. Many of the first ladies sensed his presence in the White House including Jackie Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt! Harry Truman even documented an encounter with the ex-Pres, saying he found him knocking on his office door. Abe’s not the only Lincoln to pop in now and again. His son, Willie, who died in the White House, was seen by Presidents Grant and Taft.

Thomas Jefferson is said to have been seen by First Families playing the violin in the Yellow room, and Andrew Jackson is said to enjoy frightening guests in the Queen’s bedroom by making himself known through his deep laughter and spooky knocking.

Even the outdoor Rose Garden is said to be haunted by its planner, Dolly Madison. She’s the gal who planted this famous spot and people have reported seeing her apparition wandering through the space- day or night.

So, if you ever get the chance to spend the night in the White House bring your ghost hunting equipment!

photo by: Bethany L King _ Flickr

Haunted Old Louisville

2008-11-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

Haunted Old Louisville

Historic Old Louisville is an area that encompasses a large neighborhood south of downtown and around the Central Park. Its large estates and brick Victorians immediately bring thoughts of a gentler time in the South. This old neighborhood is celebrated in Kentucky and local historic societies offer tours of the area to help bring the citizens and their accomplishments to life for modern day dwellers.
There is also a Haunted Louisville tour that takes you on a dark meander through this breathtaking environment, offering stories of the scandals and tragedies of our long-gone neighbors. Or are they?

Norm (my husband) and I took a drive out to this area on a bright and sunny Sunday, and found it to be as charming, and crowded with cars, as we expected from an old Louisville urban setting. Many of these fine homes are rented out, but several of the more infamous ones remain in the hands of the families of the old south.

1464 St. James Court is one of the supposedly haunted houses of this street. Hard to believe this interesting old home could possibly hold a mystery, but its true. The strangest haunting I have heard of, it doesn’t involve apparitions or gobs of ghastly ghouls, but one single moment of time, replaying itself over and over with marked regularity.

A gunshot. A single gun shot that rings out every evening in the foyer of this fine building. The story goes that the home housed a lovely girl who after a long courtship and separation due to war, finally was engaged to her prince charming. On the eve of their engagement party, it’s said that some of the groom to be’s army buddies came to the party and engaged in adolescent gun-play. An accidental shot rang out, and killed the bride as she stood looking on.

The current residents claim to not have heard the shot fire while they have been living there, but the house continues to have its reputation and place in history and lore.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T10:44:00.001-07:00

Halloween originates back in ancient Celtic culture. November 1st marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker, colder days and nights in what is now Ireland. Celts believed that on the 31st the veil between the two worlds blurred and that the dead could return to earth in the form of ghosts.
The ghosts could get unruly, and damage crops but would also communicate with Druid priests and give them information about the upcoming year.
The Druids would celebrate on this evening by dressing in costumes and telling each others fortunes based upon what the now loosed spirits told them. They would burn a sacred bonfire to help protect them during the long dark winter months ahead.

With the arrival of the Christians to the Celtic lands, Pope Boniface designated November 1st as All Saints Day, which was to be a time to honor the saints and martyrs of the Christian faiths. The night before was referred to as All Hallows Eve, now Halloween.

Whatever the history of Halloween, I am sure we all have our own favorite memories of Trick or Treating, costume parties and haunted houses. Some of my best times as a teenager revolved around Halloween festivities, and I still like to get spooked, pretty much any day of the year.

Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Please share it here in the comments section. Mine? I’d have to say seeing the Two Headed Llama costume walking down the street for trick or treat. Every year it would show up. Too good a costume to waste I guess.

Happy Halloween my friends.

Photo by Mike Swope ~ sxc.hu

Ghosts of Singapore

2008-10-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Singapore is as bright and bustling a city as any in Europe but its illustrious past of war crimes, murders and tragic mass suicides means its also a great place to do some ghost hunting. Full of legend and lore you’ll have a wonderful time trying to separate fact from fiction. Here are some places to check out if you are in the area.

The National Museum. The spiral staircase of this former monastery carries the ghost of a priestly apparationwith a dark side. Visitors feel like they are pushed when on stairways here and although now the staircase is closed off, a few lucky photographs may just show the mischievous spirit who has mastery over this public location.

The Old Chaghai Hospital. This is a popular spot for Singapore ghost hunting groups due to its connections with WW2 and the unseemly treatment of prisoners there.

The Bukit Brown Cemetery. Also known as Kopi Hills, this beautiful area is filled with paranormal energy and legends abound about its after-dark activity. The government has this location slated for relocation, so the potential for activity to increase is great.

Fort Canning. The old battle box here is the site of some paranormal activity and this historic fort put into commission in the 1800’s even has its own spooky cemetery.

Devils Bend. This curvy spot on Old Thomson Road has claimed many lives over the decades and locals say the spot has an oppressive and sad feeling about it. If you’re lucky you may even get evidence of the Orbs people claim to see here.

Final stop is Galang Island. Once a refugee camp for the Vietnamese it is the site of mass suicide and rampant mistreatment of war prisoners. An overall feeling of dread and oppression is present in this open air space and the Body Tree offers horrors all its own. The sight of hangings, photographers have caught orbs here and so can you. Be respectful as this is a tragic location.

Photo by Singapor3 ~ flickr

The Soldier and Other Wanderers

2008-10-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

As I worked on developing my skills, I began to open up to my friends about my psychic experiences. Many of them were interested and intrigued, and wanted to test my skills. So, feeling this would be good practice for me, and a way to build my confidence in what I was feeling and experiencing, I agreed to have a few people to my home to do “readings.”

A typical reading from me usually went like this. I would ask the person to sit quietly and I would do some meditation and protection visualizations before we would begin. Next, I would discuss physical issues, including past injuries, and health problems that may come up in the future, or could be avoided with changes made in lifestyle. After that I would “open the door” to any spirits or information I might get from a spirit guide, angel, or ancestor.

Opening the door was once described to me as creating a beam of light. A beacon that if not controlled or protected properly, would attract not just the desired benevolent presence, but also any wandering spirits who might be out there. As I was new to the process, I did learn the lessons of protection the hard way. It was during one of these readings that night, that a spirit who is only known to me as The Soldier came through.

As I stood behind the woman who was to be my subject I immediately felt a strong energy around me. The participant felt it also, and although I knew there was someone out there, I wasn’t prepared to address him at that time.

I continued my reading, discussing health problems and courses of action when suddenly the energy we were both experiencing decided to wait no more.

My hands vibrated and I was quickly immersed in a rapid paced slide show of human tragedy and images of war. Immediately I began to relay the messages, the images and words that were coming through to me to the people gathered around. We knew it wasn’t a spirit connected to any one in our group, and I felt strongly that the Soldier had seen the light, and was seeking to express himself.

The Soldier told me his first name, and I felt him as angry, confused and unwilling to go to the light. Unlike some other souls who lose their way to the light after death, or have unfinished business on the earth, and refuse to leave, all I sensed from the Soldier was his anger, and his desire to share his pain with whomever he could, in this instance, me.

After several minutes during this onslaught of imagery, pain and incredible energy flowing through me, I was able to call upon my spirit guides and protectors to help me with this soul, and to encourage him to find peace in the white light of creation.

He left, he did not find peace, and I am sure he is still out there wandering the dark abyss of his own creation.

This was not the last time I experienced Wanderers during my readings, or other moments of quiet. It seemed that during my learning and training period my “light” shone constantly, and I would often come across lost or dwelling spirits in homes I visited, or near people I would meet. Usually they were just sad, or confused, and needed some help to move along, It was a rare thing to be attacked as I was on that night.

Paranormal State: "We Are Six" Episode

2008-10-28T09:48:00.001-07:00

Much to my surprise my DVR recorded a new Paranormal State episode titled We Are Six. The theme of the show is demonic possession and exorcism as a reality. The team travels to a private home where a young woman is attacked on a regular basis, including words scratched into her skin, rape and attempted drowning by a powerful negative spirit – or demon.

The team discovers that the girl had felt a presence in the home, and did an EVP session with good results. Did she open a window to the other side without the protection those of us who travel there take care to create? It seems so.

During my beginning stages of medium ship I, too, dealt with some negative energies, not demons by any means, but spirits I had a hard time controlling and limiting. Do I believe in demons and evil? I’d have to say yes. That is why I am careful when I open a door to the other side and call upon my guides and my God to protect me.

After my first negative experience I had a priest do a blessing for me. He was a Catholic priest and had taken part in an exorcism himself. He would not speak about it or give me any details, but he believed, so I believed.

The rest of the show is an interesting look inside possession and the powers of evil. It reminded me of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Being faced with evils we cannot see is more frightening than taking on the evils we can. I guess these are lessons for us who experience the paranormal in any way, or try to look through the veil, to be careful and always do a protection prayer before entering into a conversation with the other side.

I will post a story of one of these negative encounters later. Until then, try to catch this episode of Paranormal State. Very Interesting.

Halloween Decorations for your Computer

2008-10-27T10:21:00.001-07:00

So, as expected, I get pretty excited about Halloween, and since I am glued to the laptop, finding and using a cool Halloween screensaver is just part of how I celebrate the holiday. I thought I would share some great spooky screensavers that I found online…maybe they can get you in the scary-mood for the big night.

Freeze.com has some cool 3D Halloween screensavers including a scary mask and graveyard. If you need some eerie music and ghosts and bats flying around, this has it all. They also have some nice animated wallpaper so check it out. No charge for download at Freeze.com.

Halloween-screen-savers.com has a good variety of free savers and touts that it was voted the best Halloween screensavers of 2008. They claim to be spyware and virus free but you do have to agree to download Smiley Central and some other annoying little utilities you don’t need. If you can live with that, (and delete later) there are some fun Halloween savers here so it may be worth the download.

Screensavers.com has some unique 3D savers including flying pumpkins, black cats’ haunted houses and skulls. Downloading is easy and the price for this free screensaver is the downloading of a handy toolbar you can always delete later. You can also simply buy the screensaver and avoid all the extra bits.

Enjoy and send candy

Ghost Adventures: Is There Anything Scarier Than Zach Bagan’s Hair?

2008-10-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

The Travel Chanel has come up with another ghost hunting program to fill our unquenchable appetite for the spooky. Ghost Adventures is on Saturday nights and it began last week with an hour premiere “documentary” followed by the first installment.

Like most shows of this type, it’s interesting to get an inside look at some of the more well-known haunted locations around the US, locations that most of us won’t get the chance to “ghost hunt” and this show is no different. With visits already to the Bob Mackey Bar and a pretty interesting flying brick caught at another location, the latest episode takes the gang to Houghton Mansion in North Adams MA.

This interesting old house, now Masons gathering spot, has a rich enough history to indicate some paranormal activity, but is the group relying too much on knowing who the supposed ghosts may be?

As I watched the introduction and tour of the building, I find it hard to concentrate on the information because the host’s hair is more frightening than anything paranormal ever found. So, too, is the bravado-theme of the show where the host and his gang take pride in locking themselves in the haunted location, and spend hours taunting and daring the tragic spirits.

As I wonder to myself how much time it takes Zach Bagan to grease his hair in such a disturbing manner, the team installs a lock on the outside of the building to heighten the drama. Since I have already seen them jump out of a second story building, this show of courage seems mute to me.

Overall, although it’s interesting to hear EVPs I am sure are legitimate and see other somewhat questionable results, the lead ghost hunter’s attitude toward the pain and sorrow of earthbound spirits is disheartening. He has already been scratched when daring the devil himself to “harm” him, I wonder what it will take for this group to show some respect to the spirits they hope to make contact with.

So, ignoring all of that, and the fact that Zach must believe that the spirits are deaf as well as dead, I guess this show falls into the category, “Love to Hate.” I am hoping as the season goes on these ghost adventurers will learn to address the spirit world in a more caring way. Maybe the Ghost Hunters from TAPS can teach them a few things.

Ghost Story from Pakistan

2008-10-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

My friend from Pakistan was sharing a ghost story with me from his own personal experiences and allowed me to share it with all of you. It’s interesting to hear stories from different countries with different superstitions and belief systems. Enjoy.

“It was almost thirty years back. I was catching light insects [lightning bugs] in my village in a corn crop with my nephew. I was about 8 years old. There were many light insects in the field, and the moon light was bright and I saw someone sitting in the field.

Usually at that time the ladies of the village didn’t have toilet rooms like we did, so they went there in the open fields. My nephew asked me to go there, because we were young, but I refused saying some lady is there!

After about five minutes we observed the lady growing upwards and then going upwards into the sky! She was wearing a white dress and had some ringing ornaments on her feet. We rushed toward the light of her, and started weeping and crying. One of our old servants came and we told him what we saw, but the lady [ghost] went away.”

I asked my friend why he thought this spirit would have been there and he replied:

“Hindu’s lived in this area before the partition and [when people died] they burned the dead bodies. Older people say these people turned into vampires.”

Photo by Murtaza Imran Ali ~ flickr

Waverly Hills Sanitarium

2008-10-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Waverly Hills Sanitarium- Kentucky

Waverly Hills Sanitarium is said to be one of the most haunted locations in the United States, and being a current resident of Kentucky, I was able to visit it along with my friend Anne aka Frenchie.

We went on a 2 hour tour of the closed TB hospital last April and it was great. The ambiance of the place was spooky from the moment we drove up to the gate. A gigantic building that screamed “abandoned” in spite of the many stories of shadow people and “Timmy” the child ghost, the gargoyle in the front only enhanced the feeling as it crept up upon us as we turned the corner to follow the tour group in for our orientation.

As night fell, we began our tour with our very friendly and informed tour guides. We learned a lot about the epidemic that spread throughout the area and the many attempts at curing the disease. As we walked through the building we heard about ghost sightings and took in some very skillfully executed graffiti from the days when the building lay empty and unmonitored.

At times during our tour we participated in “experiments” meant to give each one of us a chance of touching the spirit world, but as a medium, I didn’t notice too much activity. I did feel the spirit of a woman named Frieda who apparently worked there, and my friend Anne got a sense of two shadows around her as she walked down a frequently “inhabited” hallway on her own. She also got an interesting photo which looked to me to have captured an apparition, but we are unsure.

Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend a tour to anyone in the Louisville area. Next time I will definitely go for a half night tour where the group is smaller and one has many more chances at meeting Casper or one of his friends. I have provided a link to Waverly’s website so you can get more information.

Wanderers

2008-10-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Spirit in the Car: Me and Granny

2008-10-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

Be Careful What You Wish For...The Will to Live or Die

2008-10-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Prior to my developing my gifts, I had always felt a powerful presence in my life. I instinctively communicated with it, and like most people, had not always been able to determine if I received an answer, or was actually ever heard. I just believed someone was out there… whether it was God, a Guardian Angel, or what, I didn’t know. I just felt the presence, and took comfort from its energy.

I felt the presence most strongly on the night I wished for my own death. I was 21 years old, and deeply in love with a man who had just told me he didn’t love me back.

I think I loved Tom from the moment I first saw him. He was a patient at the dental office where I worked and I felt the draw of his self confidence and good humor from the moment he walked in. When he called the office later that day to ask me out, I was elated. He was good looking, finishing up college, and on his way to the Naval Academy in Rhode Island. He was my knight in shining armor.

We had a whirlwind romance in the 6 months before he entered the academy, and although we were both young, he often talked about what our future would be like, and how much he wished he didn’t have to leave me. We maintained a long distance relationship for another 6 months, however, predictably, eventually, the relationship ended.

It was December 31st, and after a somewhat odd visit over the Christmas holidays, the strain in the relationship was undeniable. It was over, and an excruciating “goodbye” discussion that morning was final proof. Although Tom had never said so, I knew he had met someone new. You don’t have to be psychic to realize this may be a likely scenario in long distance relationship between two 21 year old, but I could see her in my mind’s eye. I felt like I almost knew her and I felt her presence with him from the moment he had stepped off the plane.

Be that as it may, it made the sting of rejection no less, and I took the break up very hard. I had hopes and despite my instincts, as I would learn over and over again, I could deny the truth in a situation as well as any one else. I was devastated and despondent.

After he left, I crawled into my bed, in my darkened room, and wept. I thought my life was over, and I could see no future without this man in my life. I had heard about a theory where people could “will” themselves to die. I had heard of it in the Native American culture, and having worked with frail elderly, I had seen it happen for myself. I tried it.

As I lay there in the dark, I went into my meditative state. I felt myself sink into a strange darkness, and in that darkness I made my wishes known. I felt the familiar presence of the energy of my “angels” or spirits around me. I felt the electricity: bumps grew on my arms. I heard a voice say, “are you sure this is what you want?” I said yes.
I felt a tug.

It was as if someone had opened the top of my head and was pulling my soul out of this suit I wore: my body. I felt the pull, I felt the emptying of who I was, and I felt fear. I knew this was the moment. I could release myself or I could change my mind. As the tug continued I thought frantically, “wait…maybe I can do this…” and I sunk back into myself.

After the panic subsided, I realized I had been given a gift. I came face to face with my own will to live, the inner strength I have but so often doubt. I saw my life from another view and saw that I had many days to go.

I think back to that day often. I look at what has come after it, and all the things I would have missed had I allowed myself to let go of this world prematurely. I continue to struggle sometimes, and, like many psychics, I wonder what my purpose is here, and if I can bear the load. The journey continues, and I have learned that one must be careful what one wishes for…the universe is listening and responds more often than you think.

Terms to know....

2008-10-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here I will try to define some of the more common terms that are used in describing psychic gifts.
Clairvoyance: The ability to see into the future.

Medium: A medium is generally defined simply as one who communicates with the dead. They may use many techniques to do this including automatic writing, which is basically allowing the spirit to write through a person in a meditative or receptive state.

Telepathy or ESP (Extra Sensory Perception): This refers to the ability to read persons thoughts.

Channeling: Channeling is the ability to connect with a spirit or personality on the other side directly and allow him/her to speak through them. A Channeler may have a distinctive voice change, or otherwise different way of speaking, and may experience direct emotions of the deceased such as anger and sorrow.

Empath: An empath feels the emotions of others as if they were their own.

Many people will have all or several of these gifts, and therefore find it much easier to just say “psychic” than to try to define themselves to clients. You may have had experiences of ESP or Clairvoyance at one time or another, and again, it is possible to expand on and explore your own inherent psychic gifts through meditation and practice.

An Introduction to Psychic Phenomenon

2008-10-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Psychic phenomenon is a broad term used for a wide variety of experiences that are unexplained through science or logic. ESP (extra sensory perception,) Clairvoyance, Empath, Intuition, and Channeling are all terms used to describe a type of communication many are able to employ to connect with persons long gone from this world. It is believed by most “psychics” that we all have the ability to communicate with the other side.
Historically speaking, Shaman, “Seers,” and Mediums are held in high regard in some cultures and evidence of the existence of psychic intervention in the form of medicine men, or Spiritualists goes back thousands of years. Unfortunately, as mankind developed and entered the realms of science and technology, the role of psychic became more of a parlor game and past time of sometimes-disreputable “gypsies,” than its original form of counselor, and healer.
The late 18th and 19th centuries brought about an increased interest in Spiritualism, and the popular interest spawned myths and legends of hauntings and seances whose credibility once again put the “Charlatan” label on anyone proclaiming to have the gift.

Harry Houdini was one of the most famous psychic debunkers in the 20th century, making it his mission to expose many con artists posing as mediums. As a magician, Houdini proved that ghostly noises and smoky shapes could be created with misdirection and technology. Generally not believing in the supernatural, he continues his debunking from beyond the grave, having stated that after his own death, if he could, he would make contact with friends and family. At this point, contact with Harry has yet to be proven.

Now, many people are turning back to spiritualism, generally defined as the belief that the human spirit, soul and personality live on beyond physical death and can be contacted and communicated with from this world. This “New Age” movement is really a return to man's historical regard for counsel and support from sensitive individuals. We also see a return of the universal belief that there is something: a guardian angel, spirit guide, elder spirits, totems, or God himself out there watching over us and providing us with information to make our journey through this world more meaningful.

Although many now search for a link to the other side and believe that life does go on past physical death, the title “ Psychic” still has the taint of disreputable 900 numbers and run-down store fronts. Gifted individuals now try to discern themselves, as I do, by trying to more clearly define the ways we connect, and intuit information—often hedging around the term “psychic” as if it were a label to shun rather than embrace and honor.

Meet and Greet

2008-10-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,
I am a psychic medium and paranormal enthusiast seeking to explore and experience all the things we can see through the thinning veil. Having been intuitive all my life, and connecting with other people through psychic readings, I have come to know that there is so much more to life than what we can see with our physical eyes.
I am an advocate for the truth, and want to share information both on how to discover what is going on in the universe around us, and how to unmask charlatans and those who seek to take advantage of loving people seeking to re connect.
This is a safe place where those of us who are aware of what is "above the normal" can learn about hauntings, spirits and ghosts and all things paranormal in nature.
I can't wait to begin....