Montauk , Long Island has always been a very special place for me. I spent many a summer out there as a child, and I still go back now with my own family. It's just one of those magical, mystical, and beautiful places. It's also known to be...well...haunted.
All sorts of stories abound in Montauk, from haunted resorts to haunted lighthouses; from Big Foot to time travel and even more recently the alleged "Montauk Monster" which washed ashore in the summer of 2008. What many people don't realize however, is that it's also a very historical and spiritual place, which could also be the reason for a variety of paranormal activity which has taken place there.
Archeological excavations have shown that Montauk was inhabited by Native American Indians more than 3,000 years before any white man set foot in North America. The tribe called the land Montauket, meaning “hilly country.” The tribe itself was known as the Montauks, and the Indians were called the Montauketts. They were a peaceful tribe who fished the waters and farmed the land. By 1620, Chief Wyandanch had become known as the greatest chief in Montauk history. Unfortunately, his friendship with Lion Gardiner, and his tribe’s involvement with the British settlers would ultimately cost the Montauk tribe their land in years to come.
The Montauketts lived in peace with the white men, but they were almost constantly at war with more aggressive tribes from New England, the Pequots and the Narragansetts. In 1653, the Narragansetts once again set foot in Montauk, waging a surprise attack on the Montauketts. The fierce warriors nearly destroyed the Montauk Indians in one of the worst attacks ever made on the tribe. The ambush took place at the foot of the present-day Montauk Manor. Because of the terrible losses inflicted on the Montauketts, the low-lying land just east of Fort Hill next to Signal Hill became known as “Massacre Valley.”
The land on which the Montauk Manor stands is therefore very much connected with the Montaukett Indians. There were camps, bloodshed and burials there. Next door to the Manor is Fort Hill Cemetery, which was established by East Hampton Town during the 1980’s. It was named Fort Hill after the fort the Indians once had there. There are many Indians buried in this area, although the graves are not marked. The entire area was disrupted during the Manor’s construction.
It was Carl Fisher’s dream in the summer of 1925 to create the “most fabulous summer resort ever imagined in the western world"...a magnificent English Tudor-style “castle on the hill." Fisher was a multimillionaire industrialist who was responsible for the development of Miami Beach, Florida. He envisioned Montauk as having a beach club, a yacht club, polo fields, a golf course, a ranch and a health spa. His centerpiece would be the Montauk Manor, a 200-room luxury resort hotel. In 1927, part of Fisher’s dream became a reality when the Manor was officially opened. The rich and famous of the day flooded its grand ballrooms, played croquet on the rolling front lawn, drank tea on the veranda overlooking the Manor’s 10,000 acres, and ate in the finest of restaurants, which served international cuisine.
Did anyone at that time know the events that had once occurred there? Did they know about the amazing history that lay beneath the massive structure … Indians, wars, plagues and graves?
The Montauketts weren’t the only ones who died on the land. During the late 1890’s many of Teddy Roosevelt’s soldiers came down with yellow fever. It spread among the troops so quickly that Roosevelt decided to lead them up to the sacred site on the hill. The hill was steep, and the soldiers struggled in their weakened conditions to climb it. It is said that over 300 men died en route. Some died in a detention hospital that was set up near the present Manor. The soldiers were temporarily buried above Indian remains, both at Fort Hill and nearby at Lake Montauk. Eventually, most of their bodies were exhumed and sent home. Neither of the makeshift cemeteries were marked.
Throughout the years, many people visiting the Manor have claimed to see an Indian chief in full headdress wandering the floors. Some guests were so alarmed they had reported what they saw to the front desk. Strange banging sounds have been heard coming from a fourth floor room when no one was there, and another story, apparently more recent, mentioned a cleaning lady. The woman was cleaning the men’s sauna downstairs when she heard the door slam. That noise was followed by a baby’s cry. Terrified, she ran to the management and said she would never work there alone again.
I've gotten a number of orb photos at the Manor, and on one very foggy and quiet night I heard Indian drumbeats on the property when no one was around. Next door at Fort Hill Cemetery, a nine-year-old girl who lived next door claimed to have seen an American Indian in full headdress “perched on top of the hill” two years after the new cemetery was established in the 1980’s. Before she could show anyone, the man was gone.
In recent years, ghostly phenomenon has begun to slow down at the Manor. Perhaps the Indian chief has passed on. You could always check out the Montauk Lighthouse then, which is also rumored to be haunted. I have yet to research and investigate the lighthouse, or you can take a hike in the old Camp Hero which is loaded with all kinds of stories. I don't know who or what you'll run into there.
Even if you're not into ghosts, Montauk remains for many, one of the best places to vacation on Long Island, whether you're staying at the Montauk Manor or in one of the motels in town. Do take a trip up to Fort Hill Cemetery though. It is a beautiful and spiritual place, and offers one of the most spectacular views of Montauk.
Excerpts from this blog have been taken from my book Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal. If you're interested in reading more about the history and haunted phenomenon in Montauk, check out the chapter entitled, "The Spirit of an Indian Chief at Montauk Manor."
Showing posts with label orbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orbs. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ghost Hunting Tools of the Trade
It's my busy time of year, and I've been spending the last two weeks of October lecturing on Ghosts of Long Island II: More Stories of the Paranormal. I give lectures year round, but due to the nature of my books, things tend to get a bit busy around Halloween. During my lectures I often get asked what kinds of tools or ghost hunting equipment do paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto and I use during our investigations.
There are many tools-of-the-trade, but Joe and I choose to use only a few. We mainly rely on our own intuition, but there are a few items which come in handy while we're working. Our two main pieces of equipment are our digital cameras and our digital recorders. Digital cameras are great for getting orb photos, and we've even captured an apparition or two. Digital recorders are used for getting EVP's, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. When Joe first told me about EVP's I thought he was crazy. Spirits can leave a message on a recorder? It seemed hard to believe. I wasn't convinced until I received a Class "A" EVP during my first interview with a couple in Greenlawn, NY. Right there in the middle of our conversation, was the voice of a little girl in spirit who said "hold me" in a loud whisper. I almost fell off my chair when I heard it! Although Joe is clearly the expert when it comes to EVP's, I'm proud to say I've capture several more over the years.
For Ghost II I started using an Electromagnetic Field Indicator, more commonly known as a ghost meter. The meter is designed to pick up energy, or electronic fields, at various frequencies. If you are away from an electrical source in a particular area, and all of a sudden your meter starts beeping and going wild, chances are there is a ghostly disturbance taking place. Spirits use energy to manifest themselves. The EMF detector can help capture this. Once the area of the energy source has been determined, you can then use your camera and photograph with the hope of capturing a ghostly image or orb. Use your digital recorder too, and ask the spirit who he is and if he's willing to say something. Ghost meters simply lead us in the right direction. They are fairly inexpensive and can be found and purchased online.
Joe Giaquinto on occasion will use divining rods, also known as dowsing rods. It works similar to the ghost meter in that it locates energy sources and paranormal activity. The history of the diving rods goes way back. Its use during paranormal investigations is relatively new. These L-shaped metal rods were used for centuries as a way of finding underground water. In fact, it is still used to find water today. Other uses for the rods have included locating treasures or minerals. They have even been used for determining the sex of an unborn child. When used by a paranormal investigator, the short end of the rods are held loosely, while the longer ends point out, away from the body. As one walks around, the rods will point in a particular direction. The investigator will follow until the rods cross, which means the source of the energy has been found. To confirm it is actually a ghost being tracked, the paranormal investigator will often use the EMF detector in conjunction with the diving rods. If the EMF detector also shows an energy source, chances are you are dealing with paranormal activity.
The Ouija board is a tool I do not recommend for the inexperienced ghost hunter. What appears to be simple play, can often have a very negative impact. A Ouija board is a powerful tool that can create a vortex for all kinds of spirits to enter. Many of these spirits can be strong or menacing entities. The Ouija board is not something I feel comfortable using for these reasons. There are so many better ways to communicate with spirits which bring about positive results.
In short, Joe and I travel light when it comes to equipment. Many of the paranormal groups you see on television use a vast array of tools and technology. These may include such items as night vision equipment, thermometers and infrared thermal scanners. More equipment doesn't always mean more results however, and Joe and I stick to the fact that your own intuition is often your best tool.
In closing, anytime one is searching for ghosts it is important to remain upbeat and positive. Most of all show the spirits respect. After all, they are people just like us who have simply moved on to the next realm. We have found the more respect you have, the more the spirits will work with you, and the more you will discover. So happy ghost hunting, and have a wonderful Halloween!
There are many tools-of-the-trade, but Joe and I choose to use only a few. We mainly rely on our own intuition, but there are a few items which come in handy while we're working. Our two main pieces of equipment are our digital cameras and our digital recorders. Digital cameras are great for getting orb photos, and we've even captured an apparition or two. Digital recorders are used for getting EVP's, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. When Joe first told me about EVP's I thought he was crazy. Spirits can leave a message on a recorder? It seemed hard to believe. I wasn't convinced until I received a Class "A" EVP during my first interview with a couple in Greenlawn, NY. Right there in the middle of our conversation, was the voice of a little girl in spirit who said "hold me" in a loud whisper. I almost fell off my chair when I heard it! Although Joe is clearly the expert when it comes to EVP's, I'm proud to say I've capture several more over the years.
For Ghost II I started using an Electromagnetic Field Indicator, more commonly known as a ghost meter. The meter is designed to pick up energy, or electronic fields, at various frequencies. If you are away from an electrical source in a particular area, and all of a sudden your meter starts beeping and going wild, chances are there is a ghostly disturbance taking place. Spirits use energy to manifest themselves. The EMF detector can help capture this. Once the area of the energy source has been determined, you can then use your camera and photograph with the hope of capturing a ghostly image or orb. Use your digital recorder too, and ask the spirit who he is and if he's willing to say something. Ghost meters simply lead us in the right direction. They are fairly inexpensive and can be found and purchased online.
Joe Giaquinto on occasion will use divining rods, also known as dowsing rods. It works similar to the ghost meter in that it locates energy sources and paranormal activity. The history of the diving rods goes way back. Its use during paranormal investigations is relatively new. These L-shaped metal rods were used for centuries as a way of finding underground water. In fact, it is still used to find water today. Other uses for the rods have included locating treasures or minerals. They have even been used for determining the sex of an unborn child. When used by a paranormal investigator, the short end of the rods are held loosely, while the longer ends point out, away from the body. As one walks around, the rods will point in a particular direction. The investigator will follow until the rods cross, which means the source of the energy has been found. To confirm it is actually a ghost being tracked, the paranormal investigator will often use the EMF detector in conjunction with the diving rods. If the EMF detector also shows an energy source, chances are you are dealing with paranormal activity.
The Ouija board is a tool I do not recommend for the inexperienced ghost hunter. What appears to be simple play, can often have a very negative impact. A Ouija board is a powerful tool that can create a vortex for all kinds of spirits to enter. Many of these spirits can be strong or menacing entities. The Ouija board is not something I feel comfortable using for these reasons. There are so many better ways to communicate with spirits which bring about positive results.
In short, Joe and I travel light when it comes to equipment. Many of the paranormal groups you see on television use a vast array of tools and technology. These may include such items as night vision equipment, thermometers and infrared thermal scanners. More equipment doesn't always mean more results however, and Joe and I stick to the fact that your own intuition is often your best tool.
In closing, anytime one is searching for ghosts it is important to remain upbeat and positive. Most of all show the spirits respect. After all, they are people just like us who have simply moved on to the next realm. We have found the more respect you have, the more the spirits will work with you, and the more you will discover. So happy ghost hunting, and have a wonderful Halloween!
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.
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