I cannot begin to tell you how many times I tried to sit down and write my monthly blog for December, but it never seemed to happen. Even for me, who understands what's beyond this earthly plane of materialism, stresses and demands, I somehow got wrapped up in the December madness. All I seemed capable of doing was to concentrate on what needed to be done before Christmas: the shopping, the decorating, the cards, the baking, the plans, the menus...the list is endless, no matter how much I tried to simplify things and get back to the true meaning behind the season. How would I get it all done? It can be overwhelming, to say the least, and I am certainly no exception. It wasn't until the blizzard hit Long Island this past weekend when I actually took a step back. I had no choice. I was at home and I couldn't leave. Previous plans and obligations were put on hold. I had time to breathe finally. As I roamed around my house looking at all the decorations and trees I so carefully placed about (over a period of two weeks I may add) I stopped and looked at the angel atop my Christmas tree. With her perfect porcelain face gently smiling down upon me, she seemed to say, "You missed the boat" and I did. Me, like so many others, got wrapped up in things that really don't matter. So this year, instead of making eight different kinds of homemade cookies from scratch, I decided to make one. I was able to live with this, and even my kids were able to live with this, although they were slightly disappointed I have to admit. What I'm trying to say is that we need to take control of our lives and get back to the basics. We also need to understand that although it doesn't quite seem like it, we do have help from the other side, if only we would ask.
I've written to you about orbs and EVP's and it's evident that our loved ones who have passed stay with us and help us on our journey. We also have spirit guides we can call upon. There does exist yet another realm in which we can turn. It is the angels we can call upon, and they are ready, willing and able to help us if we let them. What better time to write about angels than in December? It is the perfect time to contemplate this unique aspect of the paranormal. We seem to think a lot about angels during Christmas, however, angels have appeared in many other non-Christian religions including Judaism, Hinduism, Islamic and they also appear in Egyptian, Roman and Greek mythology. Angels have been portrayed in the Bible, in art, in poetry and in romance. Simply put, angels are everywhere. Over the past several years there has been an onset in popularity in believing in angels. People are looking toward spirituality in a tumultuous world, and angels are one of the things people are turning to.
I have a wonderful book called "The Element Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Hauntings" by Theresa Cheung. The author describes angels as being "An immortal supernatural being which mediates between God and humanity." She then goes on to reveal that the word 'angel' comes from the Greek word angelos, which means 'messenger'. Are there angels among us? Most definitely. A lot of people claim to have had experiences with angels because they do often take on human form. You may not know that you have encountered an angel until after the interlude. They, like spirit guides and our deceased relatives, are there to help us on our journey, and they are one of God's most precious beings.
Sometimes angels appear to us in dreams. Others have reported being saved from burning buildings or terrible car wrecks by someone who appeared "not of this world". Someone I know personally believes that she and her sister were rescued by angels as teenagers when they were swept out to sea in an undertow and were on the verge of drowning. When people have an angel encounter they don't know it at the time. As quickly as the "person" appears in time of need, he or she quickly disappears without a trace. It is truly remarkable. In other cases angels take on human form for a longer period of time. In this case, the angel has received a "Divine Assignment" here on Earth. Their goal is to spread their teachings and healing energies to humans. This information came to me in a wonderful little book by Doreen Virtue called, "Earth Angels". It had been recommended to me by Joy Barker, California host of a blog radio show Joe Giaquinto and I recently appeared on called "Angel Talk Cafe", along with her co-host, Diane The XS Medium from Long Island. You can listen to the show by logging on to my website, http://www.ghostsoflongisland.com/. Psychic medium Sylvia Brown is another advocate for angels. There is a wealth of information out there on angels, and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about them. In fact, I am in the midst of my sixth book, a novel which touches on the main character coming in contact with an angel in human form. People love angel encounters; that's why TV shows such as "Highway to Heaven" and "Touched by an Angel" made it so long. It really hits the heartstrings and touches a cord. Angels give us something to believe in, something that will bring us closer to God and closer to the other side.
So during this hectic holiday season, take a look at the angels around you. Know that their help and guidance are there for the asking. If you've had an angel encounter, I would love to hear from you, as would my readers. I have learned a considerable amount over the last few years where metaphysics, spirituality and the paranormal are concerned. There is always more to learn and explore, even for me, so I welcome your comments and stories. I leave you with the words to a beautiful song which was sung by the country group "Alabama" many years ago. Knowing my interest in angels, my mother-in-law recently gave me a copy of this very special song. I'd like to share with you some of the lyrics....
"I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above they come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love."
Merry Christmas and the best of health and happiness in the new year! And remember to get in touch with your angels.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
In my book Ghosts of Long Island II; More Stories of the Paranormal, I describe Electronic Voice Phenomena (otherwise known as EVP's), as "spirit voices" that are said to manifest themselves on audio recordings. I first learned of this term from paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto back in 2005 when we started working together. I have always been open to things, but I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure of EVP's. It sounded "too out there" for me. Joe explained that since digital recorders have replaced the old mini tape recorders, the spirits have found a new way to communicate. Combining their energy with the energy from the recorder, the spirits are able to manipulate it. They use the energy to, as Joe puts it, "monkey around with the electronic equipment". They leave their "mark" so to speak....a spirit voice. Just like the spirits have used digital cameras to form orbs, they use digital recorders to leave us a message to let us know that they're here.
I received my very first EVP on the first assignment I had for Ghost I. Oddly enough, Joe wasn't with me, nor was I even in a haunted house. I was interviewing a couple who had lived in an extremely "active" house, and they were sharing their experiences with me. It was terrible weather the night I set out to do this. Joe was coming from Hampton Bays and the weather caused him to be an hour late. I met with the couple and started conducting the interview. The three of us sat in a large living room. I had my recorder in the middle of the room on a large square table. I sat on one couch, maybe three to four feet away from the recorder, while the couple I was interviewing sat on another couch and was about the same distance away from the recorder. There were no other people in the house, the television was not on and the phone did not ring, therefore no answering machine was on. I went about asking questions and was later joined by Joe. Several days later I went to transcribe my recording. I sat with pen and paper writing everything down. Now, you know the difference when you listen to a recording about how far away a person is. For instance you would hear the difference between someone who was talking into the recorder from three or four feet away and someone who was holding the recorder up to their mouth and speaking. Well, about forty-five minutes into the interview, the voice of a little girl speaking in a loud whisper directly into the recorder could be heard. She simply said "Hold me". I almost fell off my chair. This had taken place before Joe got there with no other people in the house. I played it for my husband, who was scared to death, and then I played it for just about everyone I know. EVERYONE heard it, clear as day.
I emailed it over to Joe who said to me, "Congratulations! You just received your first Class A EVP!" To this day, I feel it was necessary that I received that clear EVP, if not, I may have always second guessed Joe. It was truly amazing, and since then I do on occasion get some EVP's on my recorder. Class A is the most audible. It sounds like you or me talking. It is clear as day. Class B is not as clear. The voice sounds similar to a robot, or sounds as if it is coming from a tunnel. Usually you can still make out what the spirit is saying. A Class C is the least audible. You understand that something is there, but it is usually unclear what the spirit is saying.
As you read this blog, you still may be thinking, "I don't know if I really believe this". Well, I give a great example about believing things when I give my lectures, and I will share it with you now. Let's pretend it is no longer 2009. Instead the year is 1800. I have a captive audience in front of me. I wheel out a flat screen, HD TV. Everyone is watching me and wondering what it is. I turn it on and I tell the audience that they are watching a man from London, England speak to them live...right now. What would they say? How would they react? They would say they don't believe it. It is not possible. I would tell them, but it is possible. You can see it for yourself. Even though they would be seeing it with their own eyes they still would not believe it. It is a trick, they may say. In those days it would have been thought impossible. Now let's go to 1950. Everyone is driving around in those cool cars. I tell them that one day they won't need to read a map anymore. One day we will have a small computer (whatever that is) in our car, and a computerized woman will give us directions and tell us where to go. We will put all our trust in what she is telling us. Sounds crazy, yet it is today's GPS system. Would they believe me? Of course not. It's impossible! There are tons of examples of this. No one believed that there could be airplanes up in the sky. People must have thought the Wright Brothers were crazy. Where would we be today if they didn't give the impossible a shot? Or what about putting a man on the moon? Another impossible feat! What I am trying to say here is to be open. Be open to things you cannot yet understand. Just because we are adults, went to school and succeeded at our jobs, doesn't mean we know everything or have to know everything for that matter. Just be open to the possibility and you may be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you who are interested, on your own computers you can listen to many of the EVP's Joe and I captured while working on both Ghost books. Listen for yourself. We leave it up to you to decide. We're simply putting the information out there for you. To get to them, go on to Joe's website at www.joegpi.com You will see on the left hand side "EVP's for Ghost I and EVP's for Ghost II". Click on whatever book you want and they will come up. You can even follow along with the book. So give it a try and see what you think. It just may amaze you after all.
Have a wonderful Halloween, and be open to the real spirits!
I received my very first EVP on the first assignment I had for Ghost I. Oddly enough, Joe wasn't with me, nor was I even in a haunted house. I was interviewing a couple who had lived in an extremely "active" house, and they were sharing their experiences with me. It was terrible weather the night I set out to do this. Joe was coming from Hampton Bays and the weather caused him to be an hour late. I met with the couple and started conducting the interview. The three of us sat in a large living room. I had my recorder in the middle of the room on a large square table. I sat on one couch, maybe three to four feet away from the recorder, while the couple I was interviewing sat on another couch and was about the same distance away from the recorder. There were no other people in the house, the television was not on and the phone did not ring, therefore no answering machine was on. I went about asking questions and was later joined by Joe. Several days later I went to transcribe my recording. I sat with pen and paper writing everything down. Now, you know the difference when you listen to a recording about how far away a person is. For instance you would hear the difference between someone who was talking into the recorder from three or four feet away and someone who was holding the recorder up to their mouth and speaking. Well, about forty-five minutes into the interview, the voice of a little girl speaking in a loud whisper directly into the recorder could be heard. She simply said "Hold me". I almost fell off my chair. This had taken place before Joe got there with no other people in the house. I played it for my husband, who was scared to death, and then I played it for just about everyone I know. EVERYONE heard it, clear as day.
I emailed it over to Joe who said to me, "Congratulations! You just received your first Class A EVP!" To this day, I feel it was necessary that I received that clear EVP, if not, I may have always second guessed Joe. It was truly amazing, and since then I do on occasion get some EVP's on my recorder. Class A is the most audible. It sounds like you or me talking. It is clear as day. Class B is not as clear. The voice sounds similar to a robot, or sounds as if it is coming from a tunnel. Usually you can still make out what the spirit is saying. A Class C is the least audible. You understand that something is there, but it is usually unclear what the spirit is saying.
As you read this blog, you still may be thinking, "I don't know if I really believe this". Well, I give a great example about believing things when I give my lectures, and I will share it with you now. Let's pretend it is no longer 2009. Instead the year is 1800. I have a captive audience in front of me. I wheel out a flat screen, HD TV. Everyone is watching me and wondering what it is. I turn it on and I tell the audience that they are watching a man from London, England speak to them live...right now. What would they say? How would they react? They would say they don't believe it. It is not possible. I would tell them, but it is possible. You can see it for yourself. Even though they would be seeing it with their own eyes they still would not believe it. It is a trick, they may say. In those days it would have been thought impossible. Now let's go to 1950. Everyone is driving around in those cool cars. I tell them that one day they won't need to read a map anymore. One day we will have a small computer (whatever that is) in our car, and a computerized woman will give us directions and tell us where to go. We will put all our trust in what she is telling us. Sounds crazy, yet it is today's GPS system. Would they believe me? Of course not. It's impossible! There are tons of examples of this. No one believed that there could be airplanes up in the sky. People must have thought the Wright Brothers were crazy. Where would we be today if they didn't give the impossible a shot? Or what about putting a man on the moon? Another impossible feat! What I am trying to say here is to be open. Be open to things you cannot yet understand. Just because we are adults, went to school and succeeded at our jobs, doesn't mean we know everything or have to know everything for that matter. Just be open to the possibility and you may be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you who are interested, on your own computers you can listen to many of the EVP's Joe and I captured while working on both Ghost books. Listen for yourself. We leave it up to you to decide. We're simply putting the information out there for you. To get to them, go on to Joe's website at www.joegpi.com You will see on the left hand side "EVP's for Ghost I and EVP's for Ghost II". Click on whatever book you want and they will come up. You can even follow along with the book. So give it a try and see what you think. It just may amaze you after all.
Have a wonderful Halloween, and be open to the real spirits!
Friday, September 11, 2009
What are Orbs?
I hadn't planned on officially beginning my blog until next week, but because today is September 11th, I somehow was compelled to start writing. It is a difficult day for thousands of people who lost loved ones on that tragic day. The rawness of what happened comes flooding back. My husband was one of the fortunate ones, having been a survivor, but still we live with the horrific memories of acts too unbearable to fathom. As I sit here on this dreary, rainy, somber day I think of all the souls who made their way to a better place. My only wish for those who are left behind is the realization that the people with whom we loved here on earth are not gone. If Heaven, or whatever one may believe, is a perfect place then why would those we shared decades with on earth abandon us? Why would they not come back in some form to help us, to comfort us, to protect us or guide us on our own journey? Over the past several years I have come to realize, that without a doubt they are not only in a better place than we are, but that they remain with us and they find ways to communicate with us if we only would look.
I have experienced a lot of death over the past ten years or so, more than I would ever have thought for a person my age, so I am all too familiar with grief. Through my own faith and by writing my books, I have somehow come to terms with it, especially where the death of my father almost five years ago is concerned. He suffered with multiple sclerosis since he was diagnosed at age 48. He died way too young, just a few weeks away from his 63rd birthday. It was a difficult time for my family and I miss him terribly. I have come to understand, however, that he is with me and is still a part of my life. There have been numerous examples of him communicating with me since he passed over. One of the ways I believe, is through orbs.
Orbs are a relatively new phenomena which has come about with the onset of digital photography. Yes, there are those who claim that orbs are nothing more than dust on a lens, a water vapor from a raindrop, a refraction of reflected light. There is a difference though, and one thing I have going for me is that I am a professional photographer. I majored in photography in college, and I surely know the difference between a spec of dust and an orb. I always know my conditions when I shoot, and besides, dust particles will appear in every shot, not just one and they also don't move around a frame. They tend to be translucent, and each one is uniquely different just like people.
It is said that everything is made up of energy. It is believed that spirits have adapted a way to use the energy in our cameras to manifest themselves. It takes a lot of energy for a spirit to form a complete apparition. Revealing themselves as an orb requires less energy. Some orbs are spirits of those we loved who have passed on. Other orbs can be spirit guides or even angels who have never been in human form. There are orbs that were animals, perhaps a beloved pet, and they are with us all the time. It is just a matter of being open and of catching them on film.
I get orbs all the time. It truly is amazing, and I can find them in a photograph immediately. Since I am a photographer I am accustomed to looking at the entire image in a photograph. Most people who are not trained will simply look at the picture of how nice Aunt Sarah looked on her 85th birthday. What's happening around Aunt Sarah? You may be surprised. Did Aunt Sarah lose her husband 20 years earlier? Well there he is on the wall behind her, simply formed as a beautiful orb. He wouldn't miss her birthday if he was still alive on the earth plane....why would he miss it now?
I love looking at other people's photos and pointing out orbs that seem so obvious to me. The reply I get is "Oh my gosh! I never even noticed that" or "look, there's another". Take out your photos from the holidays, a family wedding, your son's graduation from kindergarten, chances are you have an orb there or maybe several. It is truly amazing!
My friends laugh because every time I am photographed (which is a rarity considering I take all the photos) there are always orbs around me. Yes, I have spirits around me all the time because of what I do, but everyone else has spirits in their lives as well. Last February my husband was in Germany on a business trip. He doesn't travel much and we are rarely apart. It was a cold winter night and I was feeling kind of down and lonely. I decided to take out my camera and go into the backyard. Looking up to the sky I said, "Tell me I am not alone. Tell me someone is here with me." No sooner did I say that, and several orbs showed up in my first photo, and in the next and in the next. Each time the orbs had moved and were in a different location. I smiled and thanked them for being with me, and I felt happier and safer when I went to bed that night.
One orb in particular appears wherever I am. It is a beautiful multicolored, stippling-type orb that is very large. It has appeared to me in my backyard, in Florida, in North Carolina and in Montauk just to name a few places. It has appeared inside my house and outside my house. This, I believe is my father. There is also another much smaller, very bright orb which I often get. Perhaps this is a spirit guide. In any event I take comfort in these orbs and you should too. I consider them to be an incredible gift, a way to communicate with the other side. It truly is remarkable.
So dig up those photos and take a look. You may be surprised, or grab your camera and head outside one night and see what you get. Be calm and serious and treat them with respect. If you do, they more than likely will show themselves. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. They have not left you. They are with you through eternity.
I have experienced a lot of death over the past ten years or so, more than I would ever have thought for a person my age, so I am all too familiar with grief. Through my own faith and by writing my books, I have somehow come to terms with it, especially where the death of my father almost five years ago is concerned. He suffered with multiple sclerosis since he was diagnosed at age 48. He died way too young, just a few weeks away from his 63rd birthday. It was a difficult time for my family and I miss him terribly. I have come to understand, however, that he is with me and is still a part of my life. There have been numerous examples of him communicating with me since he passed over. One of the ways I believe, is through orbs.
Orbs are a relatively new phenomena which has come about with the onset of digital photography. Yes, there are those who claim that orbs are nothing more than dust on a lens, a water vapor from a raindrop, a refraction of reflected light. There is a difference though, and one thing I have going for me is that I am a professional photographer. I majored in photography in college, and I surely know the difference between a spec of dust and an orb. I always know my conditions when I shoot, and besides, dust particles will appear in every shot, not just one and they also don't move around a frame. They tend to be translucent, and each one is uniquely different just like people.
It is said that everything is made up of energy. It is believed that spirits have adapted a way to use the energy in our cameras to manifest themselves. It takes a lot of energy for a spirit to form a complete apparition. Revealing themselves as an orb requires less energy. Some orbs are spirits of those we loved who have passed on. Other orbs can be spirit guides or even angels who have never been in human form. There are orbs that were animals, perhaps a beloved pet, and they are with us all the time. It is just a matter of being open and of catching them on film.
I get orbs all the time. It truly is amazing, and I can find them in a photograph immediately. Since I am a photographer I am accustomed to looking at the entire image in a photograph. Most people who are not trained will simply look at the picture of how nice Aunt Sarah looked on her 85th birthday. What's happening around Aunt Sarah? You may be surprised. Did Aunt Sarah lose her husband 20 years earlier? Well there he is on the wall behind her, simply formed as a beautiful orb. He wouldn't miss her birthday if he was still alive on the earth plane....why would he miss it now?
I love looking at other people's photos and pointing out orbs that seem so obvious to me. The reply I get is "Oh my gosh! I never even noticed that" or "look, there's another". Take out your photos from the holidays, a family wedding, your son's graduation from kindergarten, chances are you have an orb there or maybe several. It is truly amazing!
My friends laugh because every time I am photographed (which is a rarity considering I take all the photos) there are always orbs around me. Yes, I have spirits around me all the time because of what I do, but everyone else has spirits in their lives as well. Last February my husband was in Germany on a business trip. He doesn't travel much and we are rarely apart. It was a cold winter night and I was feeling kind of down and lonely. I decided to take out my camera and go into the backyard. Looking up to the sky I said, "Tell me I am not alone. Tell me someone is here with me." No sooner did I say that, and several orbs showed up in my first photo, and in the next and in the next. Each time the orbs had moved and were in a different location. I smiled and thanked them for being with me, and I felt happier and safer when I went to bed that night.
One orb in particular appears wherever I am. It is a beautiful multicolored, stippling-type orb that is very large. It has appeared to me in my backyard, in Florida, in North Carolina and in Montauk just to name a few places. It has appeared inside my house and outside my house. This, I believe is my father. There is also another much smaller, very bright orb which I often get. Perhaps this is a spirit guide. In any event I take comfort in these orbs and you should too. I consider them to be an incredible gift, a way to communicate with the other side. It truly is remarkable.
So dig up those photos and take a look. You may be surprised, or grab your camera and head outside one night and see what you get. Be calm and serious and treat them with respect. If you do, they more than likely will show themselves. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. They have not left you. They are with you through eternity.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Welcome to My Blog!
Welcome to my newly created blog! Coming soon will be discussions on orbs, electronic voice phenomena, and paranormal and spiritual events. I will be able to explain these things in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. If you have any author related questions or topics we can cover that too. So check back soon to see what we'll be discussing first.
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