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 spirits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirits. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Can Ghosts Play Practical Jokes?
I would never have believed that ghosts could play practical jokes until it actually happened to me. It was back in 2006, when paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto and I set out for Eastport one miserable rainy and foggy afternoon We had plans to interview Lloyd Gerard of Lloyd Antiques on Main Street. He was going to tell us the story of his great-great-great-great-uncle Levi, who’d been haunting the place for years. He’d become sort of a legend in Eastport, according to Lloyd.
Andrew Simon Levi came from Russia to Long Island in 1860. He was a teenager determined to avoid serving in the Russian Army — in a sense a draft dodger. He became a traveling salesman, a peddler, selling needles and pins door to door. It is said he walked two months from Brooklyn to Montauk to Greenport to Orient, and then back to New York for supplies. He traveled alone, and never married. Levi died in 1926. For reasons unknown, his spirit has returned to haunt his great-great-great-great-nephew’s store.
“I’ve always been a skeptic,” Lloyd told us. “But what I see, what I hear, and actually what I smell…I have to believe, skeptic or not. Levi used to smoke cigars, and we have smelled cigar smoke. I don’t let anyone smoke in here, but we have smelled cigar smoke. Not only me, but the girl who works here once a week. She said to me one day, ‘Boy, who’s smoking a cigar around here?’ I said, ‘Nobody.’ A few minutes later she said, ‘But I smell cigar smoke.’ I said, ‘Well, it’s Uncle Levi.’ ‘Who’s Uncle Levi?’ she asked. I had to explain to her who Uncle Levi was. He’s here.”
Uncle Levi had always enjoyed playing practical jokes, and Lloyd said he still does. “He tips over tables, knocks things off shelves. He told one of my customers that a table upstairs was $65.00. It was a $400 table, and he tells this guy it was $65.00.”
Joe had asked Lloyd if he did, in fact, sell the table to the man for $65.00 and Lloyd replied, “I thought I better sell it for $65.00, or else. I didn’t want to incur his wrath. He’s been seen. He’s been heard. I hear him. He walks around upstairs. It could go for months with no indication that he’s here, then all of a sudden he’ll knock something off a shelf, something will fall over in front of you when you’re walking down the aisle.”
The apparition of Uncle Levi has appeared to many people, although Lloyd himself has never seen him. “Logical or not, people come to see me and say, ‘Where’s Levi?’ and I say, ‘It beats the hell out of me,’ but usually he’s upstairs. People go up to see him. Little kids come in and say how do we get to see Levi? He does come down here, though, and knocks stuff down. He loves practical jokes. People used to play practical jokes on him when he was alive."
After Joe and I had finished our interview, Lloyd said we were more than welcome to look around the store and take some photographs, adding that maybe Uncle Levi would knock something over for us. Joe and I laughed and headed to the infamous “upstairs,” talking about Uncle Levi and his jokes. It was quiet up there, and Joe walked around with his recorder while I took photos. Back then, on assignments, I had been shooting both manual for black and white, and digital for color. I had just taken some photos with my manual camera, and set it down in the middle of a table behind me. I picked up my digital camera and turned slightly to take a photo, when suddenly my manual camera crashed to the floor. Besides being concerned about its condition, I was completely stunned. I had a bag over one arm and a battery pack over the other. Possibly I might have knocked it over, but it was not as if the camera had been at the edge of the table. I’ve had my manual equipment for twenty years, and have never dropped it, damaged it or even scratched it, ever. I found this “accident” hard to believe.
I remember Joe looked at me and said, “Uncle Levi?” Luckily the camera itself was just fine. But the protective lens filter was broken, and the flash attachment had taken a bit of a beating; the part that attaches to the camera was broken. I was still in disbelief, trying to figure out how this could have happened.
Several days later, I had an e-mail from Joe. He had picked up some EVP’s on his recorder. He wrote, I honed right into the camera episode which I thought would be a good starting point, since I also asked Levi to talk to us afterwards. The best EVP is when your camera crashed and I said something like, “Oh, Levi? Was that you?” Right after, you hear a guy go, “Psssst!” Like someone is saying “Come over here.”
I listened to what Joe sent over, and sure enough, I heard the voice saying “Pssst!” In another EVP maybe five minutes later, the sound of glass breaking could clearly be heard. There was definitely no glass breaking in the store at that time. We would have heard it. Was Levi making fun? Perhaps this time the joke was on us.
You can read the extended version of this story in the chapter entitled "The Ghost of Uncle Levi" in Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal. Stay tuned to blogtalk radio on Thursday, January 5th when Joe and I will be discussing Uncle Levi and his practical jokes on the air. Visit us at www.blogtalkradio.com/kerriannandjoeshow.
Andrew Simon Levi came from Russia to Long Island in 1860. He was a teenager determined to avoid serving in the Russian Army — in a sense a draft dodger. He became a traveling salesman, a peddler, selling needles and pins door to door. It is said he walked two months from Brooklyn to Montauk to Greenport to Orient, and then back to New York for supplies. He traveled alone, and never married. Levi died in 1926. For reasons unknown, his spirit has returned to haunt his great-great-great-great-nephew’s store.
“I’ve always been a skeptic,” Lloyd told us. “But what I see, what I hear, and actually what I smell…I have to believe, skeptic or not. Levi used to smoke cigars, and we have smelled cigar smoke. I don’t let anyone smoke in here, but we have smelled cigar smoke. Not only me, but the girl who works here once a week. She said to me one day, ‘Boy, who’s smoking a cigar around here?’ I said, ‘Nobody.’ A few minutes later she said, ‘But I smell cigar smoke.’ I said, ‘Well, it’s Uncle Levi.’ ‘Who’s Uncle Levi?’ she asked. I had to explain to her who Uncle Levi was. He’s here.”
Uncle Levi had always enjoyed playing practical jokes, and Lloyd said he still does. “He tips over tables, knocks things off shelves. He told one of my customers that a table upstairs was $65.00. It was a $400 table, and he tells this guy it was $65.00.”
Joe had asked Lloyd if he did, in fact, sell the table to the man for $65.00 and Lloyd replied, “I thought I better sell it for $65.00, or else. I didn’t want to incur his wrath. He’s been seen. He’s been heard. I hear him. He walks around upstairs. It could go for months with no indication that he’s here, then all of a sudden he’ll knock something off a shelf, something will fall over in front of you when you’re walking down the aisle.”
The apparition of Uncle Levi has appeared to many people, although Lloyd himself has never seen him. “Logical or not, people come to see me and say, ‘Where’s Levi?’ and I say, ‘It beats the hell out of me,’ but usually he’s upstairs. People go up to see him. Little kids come in and say how do we get to see Levi? He does come down here, though, and knocks stuff down. He loves practical jokes. People used to play practical jokes on him when he was alive."
After Joe and I had finished our interview, Lloyd said we were more than welcome to look around the store and take some photographs, adding that maybe Uncle Levi would knock something over for us. Joe and I laughed and headed to the infamous “upstairs,” talking about Uncle Levi and his jokes. It was quiet up there, and Joe walked around with his recorder while I took photos. Back then, on assignments, I had been shooting both manual for black and white, and digital for color. I had just taken some photos with my manual camera, and set it down in the middle of a table behind me. I picked up my digital camera and turned slightly to take a photo, when suddenly my manual camera crashed to the floor. Besides being concerned about its condition, I was completely stunned. I had a bag over one arm and a battery pack over the other. Possibly I might have knocked it over, but it was not as if the camera had been at the edge of the table. I’ve had my manual equipment for twenty years, and have never dropped it, damaged it or even scratched it, ever. I found this “accident” hard to believe.
I remember Joe looked at me and said, “Uncle Levi?” Luckily the camera itself was just fine. But the protective lens filter was broken, and the flash attachment had taken a bit of a beating; the part that attaches to the camera was broken. I was still in disbelief, trying to figure out how this could have happened.
Several days later, I had an e-mail from Joe. He had picked up some EVP’s on his recorder. He wrote, I honed right into the camera episode which I thought would be a good starting point, since I also asked Levi to talk to us afterwards. The best EVP is when your camera crashed and I said something like, “Oh, Levi? Was that you?” Right after, you hear a guy go, “Psssst!” Like someone is saying “Come over here.”
I listened to what Joe sent over, and sure enough, I heard the voice saying “Pssst!” In another EVP maybe five minutes later, the sound of glass breaking could clearly be heard. There was definitely no glass breaking in the store at that time. We would have heard it. Was Levi making fun? Perhaps this time the joke was on us.
You can read the extended version of this story in the chapter entitled "The Ghost of Uncle Levi" in Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal. Stay tuned to blogtalk radio on Thursday, January 5th when Joe and I will be discussing Uncle Levi and his practical jokes on the air. Visit us at www.blogtalkradio.com/kerriannandjoeshow.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Lighthouses, Legends and Lore
When we think of lighthouses, all sorts of images come to mind. Perhaps you picture a man of the sea smoking his pipe while looking over the vast ocean, or perhaps you see treacherous storms, or a life of loneliness and solitude; mystery and intrigue. Oddly enough, a great majority of people envision a ghost, the spirit of a previous lighthouse keeper who could not leave his watch, and who remains at his former post indefinitely. Are lighthouses truly haunted? If so, why? Or is it our imaginations conjuring up romanticized visions of days gone by?
An Internet search reveals hundreds of haunted lighthouses from all over the world. In the United States they stretch from Maine, to Georgia, to Florida, to Oregon and to California, just to name a few. And then of course, there's New York, home to its own haunted lights.
Lighthouses in general are intriguing, so if you add a ghost or two, all the better. Most of us can't imagine the life of the lighthouse keeper. It was an extremely difficult lifestyle. It is because of this, that many believe that some of the keepers may have lost their minds, and that upon their passing, their spirit remains. Their energy trapped within the conical walls of the towering spire.
I've had the privilege of having private tours of several of Long Island's lighthouses because I've written about them throughout the years. Eaton's Neck Lighthouse, Montauk Point, Huntington, Fire Island, and my personal favorite, Execution Rocks Lighthouse. Although I'm not a fan of climbing endless flights of spiral staircases, especially while carrying heavy camera equipment, I definitely have a fondness for these wonderful, historic places. I'm someone who loves to be out on the water as well, so I've jumped at every chance to visit these fascinating pieces of history.
The Huntington Lighthouse, as well as the Eaton's Neck Lighthouse, I have visited and written about in my earlier books on Huntington, where the focus was on preserving history, not ghosts. Do I think they could be haunted? Sure, but I'd have to do a thorough investigation to really find out. The Fire Island Lighthouse and Execution Rocks, were places I wrote about for the "Ghost" books. Both are presumably haunted.
At Fire Island, tales of pirating, illegal rum-running and shipwrecks abound, as do tales of ghostly phenomenon. The lighthouse is a now a beautifully restored museum. The volunteers I spoke to during the time I did my research, didn't believe in ghosts, but they did say that the rumor began after a children's book came out in 1987, which was written about a little boy who lived with his family at the lighthouse during the late 1970's to early 1980's. According to the story, the boy was lonely so the lighthouse became his friend. The boy said he heard the lighthouse talk to him. Not long after, workers at the lighthouse made up the name George, and claimed he was the one who haunted the old building. However, other stories I came across told of a lonely keeper who hung himself from the tower. Some claim to have heard footsteps on the metal steps, and music and moaning coming from the tower. Could this be the spirit of a keeper making his way back to the tower?
When I visited Execution Rocks lighthouse, I had a very different experience. Talk about a spooky place! Paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto and I, were taken out in a 25-foot Homeland Security Response Boat with the United States Coast Guard, to the abandoned lighthouse which sits in Long Island Sound. We had an entire tour of the boarded up 2 1/2 story, lighthouse keeper's house, and of the sixty-foot tower. It was an incredible adventure. Surrounded by treacherous rocks, I shuddered as I recalled the stories of the hideous acts that may have occurred there. As the legend has been told, during the Battle of Long Island in the Revolutionary War, British soldiers rounded up "American rebels" in order to put them to death. Because they did not want to "fuel revolutionary passions," they quietly took the Americans away for brutal torture and execution.
It has been said that the British secretly took them to this island of rocks and beat them, then drove spikes into the rock reef, and then chained them to the rocks at low tide. As the tide rose, the American prisoners drowned beneath the icy waters. Other tales reveal that many of the prisoners met their fate by hungry sharks that happened upon a free meal. As if this wasn’t enough, the newly captured were chained next to the skeletal remains of their former comrades…a way of torturing them mentally before they met their own watery demise.
There is a line in the Declaration of Independence which reads, “…the murders they commit on the inhabitants of these States…” According to my research, several historians believe that this line refers to accounts of the brutality that took place on Execution Rocks, and that the line was included in the Declaration as a memorial to those who died there.
It is said that the ghosts of the condemned prisoners remained. There is even one legend that suggests the ghosts sought revenge against the British. Not long after the hideous acts had taken place, a shipload of British soldiers were sent to pursue General Washington while he retreated from Manhattan to White Plains. The ship was wrecked at the reef, killing all the Redcoats aboard. Many people have claimed that the ghosts who haunted the reef caused the shipwreck.
Every lighthouse has its fascinating legends and lore. You can read more about these and other haunted locations in my books, Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal and Ghosts of Long Island II; More Stories of the Paranormal. Both books are available in local bookstores and on Amazon.com in hardcover and in e-format.
An Internet search reveals hundreds of haunted lighthouses from all over the world. In the United States they stretch from Maine, to Georgia, to Florida, to Oregon and to California, just to name a few. And then of course, there's New York, home to its own haunted lights.
Lighthouses in general are intriguing, so if you add a ghost or two, all the better. Most of us can't imagine the life of the lighthouse keeper. It was an extremely difficult lifestyle. It is because of this, that many believe that some of the keepers may have lost their minds, and that upon their passing, their spirit remains. Their energy trapped within the conical walls of the towering spire.
I've had the privilege of having private tours of several of Long Island's lighthouses because I've written about them throughout the years. Eaton's Neck Lighthouse, Montauk Point, Huntington, Fire Island, and my personal favorite, Execution Rocks Lighthouse. Although I'm not a fan of climbing endless flights of spiral staircases, especially while carrying heavy camera equipment, I definitely have a fondness for these wonderful, historic places. I'm someone who loves to be out on the water as well, so I've jumped at every chance to visit these fascinating pieces of history.
The Huntington Lighthouse, as well as the Eaton's Neck Lighthouse, I have visited and written about in my earlier books on Huntington, where the focus was on preserving history, not ghosts. Do I think they could be haunted? Sure, but I'd have to do a thorough investigation to really find out. The Fire Island Lighthouse and Execution Rocks, were places I wrote about for the "Ghost" books. Both are presumably haunted.
At Fire Island, tales of pirating, illegal rum-running and shipwrecks abound, as do tales of ghostly phenomenon. The lighthouse is a now a beautifully restored museum. The volunteers I spoke to during the time I did my research, didn't believe in ghosts, but they did say that the rumor began after a children's book came out in 1987, which was written about a little boy who lived with his family at the lighthouse during the late 1970's to early 1980's. According to the story, the boy was lonely so the lighthouse became his friend. The boy said he heard the lighthouse talk to him. Not long after, workers at the lighthouse made up the name George, and claimed he was the one who haunted the old building. However, other stories I came across told of a lonely keeper who hung himself from the tower. Some claim to have heard footsteps on the metal steps, and music and moaning coming from the tower. Could this be the spirit of a keeper making his way back to the tower?
When I visited Execution Rocks lighthouse, I had a very different experience. Talk about a spooky place! Paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto and I, were taken out in a 25-foot Homeland Security Response Boat with the United States Coast Guard, to the abandoned lighthouse which sits in Long Island Sound. We had an entire tour of the boarded up 2 1/2 story, lighthouse keeper's house, and of the sixty-foot tower. It was an incredible adventure. Surrounded by treacherous rocks, I shuddered as I recalled the stories of the hideous acts that may have occurred there. As the legend has been told, during the Battle of Long Island in the Revolutionary War, British soldiers rounded up "American rebels" in order to put them to death. Because they did not want to "fuel revolutionary passions," they quietly took the Americans away for brutal torture and execution.
It has been said that the British secretly took them to this island of rocks and beat them, then drove spikes into the rock reef, and then chained them to the rocks at low tide. As the tide rose, the American prisoners drowned beneath the icy waters. Other tales reveal that many of the prisoners met their fate by hungry sharks that happened upon a free meal. As if this wasn’t enough, the newly captured were chained next to the skeletal remains of their former comrades…a way of torturing them mentally before they met their own watery demise.
There is a line in the Declaration of Independence which reads, “…the murders they commit on the inhabitants of these States…” According to my research, several historians believe that this line refers to accounts of the brutality that took place on Execution Rocks, and that the line was included in the Declaration as a memorial to those who died there.
It is said that the ghosts of the condemned prisoners remained. There is even one legend that suggests the ghosts sought revenge against the British. Not long after the hideous acts had taken place, a shipload of British soldiers were sent to pursue General Washington while he retreated from Manhattan to White Plains. The ship was wrecked at the reef, killing all the Redcoats aboard. Many people have claimed that the ghosts who haunted the reef caused the shipwreck.
Every lighthouse has its fascinating legends and lore. You can read more about these and other haunted locations in my books, Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal and Ghosts of Long Island II; More Stories of the Paranormal. Both books are available in local bookstores and on Amazon.com in hardcover and in e-format.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Ghosts from the Whaling Days
Having investigated over sixty presumably haunted locales over the past several years, it's nice every once in awhile to go back and revisit some of these wonderful ghost stories. The very first place I had written about appeared in one of my earlier books on Huntington's history, and later, I re-investigated it for my book Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal. It was the story of three ghosts who haunted an old inn in Cold Spring Harbor, and it remains a fascinating tale filled with history, ghosts and intrigue.
Way back when in the 1980's and early 1990's, it was known as the Old Whaler, and it had been converted into a pub-style restaurant. It was a fun place to visit, and I recall being there one night for dinner when I ran into Davey Johnson, manager of the '86 Mets. I was a huge Mets fan back then, so it was a thrilling experience to meet him and get his autograph. During other visits to the Old Whaler, I overheard conversations about ghosts. Could it actually be haunted? Who would have thought that years later I would be there ghost hunting with a paranormal investigator!
During my first interview at the Old Whaler, I was primarily interested in the building's history, since the Ghost of Long Island books weren't even a thought in my mind yet. Still, I couldn't help but ask about the rumors I had heard about the ghosts. Once I was told the stories, I was hooked! I decided to write about its history and the ghosts and it turned out to be a huge success; something I would pursue with other places years later. So it was the Old Whaler that started this whole ghostly quest of mine.
Located across from the picturesque seashore along Route 25A, the Old Whaler has changed hands many times, and I've had the opportunity to interview the various owners throughout the years. Currently, the upscale restaurant is known as Harbor Mist, and is owned by a delightfully friendly couple, Michelle and Barman. Although the names and owners have changed, the ghosts have most certainly remained.
It all began back in the mid-1800's. Cold Spring Harbor was a bustling whaling port, and a man by the name of George Van Ausdall purchased a tavern and inn from Oliver Jones for $2100. Shortly thereafter the name was changed to the Van Ausdall Hotel, and whalers from around the world would visit the inn when they were in port. Throughout its history, many have claimed the hotel was also used as a brothel. Several women from the town would work there because their husbands were away at sea for long periods of time and they were lonely, and they needed money.
On one occasion, a tired whaler came back from his long voyage a little earlier than expected, and decided to have a drink at the tavern before going home. Well, to his surprise, he found out his wife was working at the inn! Before anyone could stop him, the whaler ran upstairs and killed both the wife and the seaman she was with. The seaman's name was Van Whether, and he became the first ghost to haunt the place. The wife is believed to possibly be the second.
A strange story surrounds the third ghost. Through my research, I uncovered a newspaper article which spoke of a terrible accident that took place in the building in 1960. The article indicated that "a woman slipped in the ladies room and cut her throat on the ragged edge of a soap dish". That sounds very odd indeed. Perhaps it was a suicide, but in any case, the woman died in the bathroom before the ambulance arrived. This woman's presence, as well as the ghosts of the two who were killed there, have been strongly felt by many psychics over the years.
All sorts of phenomena has been reported. Doors would open and close, lights would turn on and off, faucets would run on their own, and a stereo would play music when no one had turned it on. This type of phenomena, on occasion, still occurs today.
Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go back to Harbor Mist with clairaudient medium and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto, and well known Long Island medium Richard Schoeller. This was Richard's first time at the "inn" and we were interested in what he'd pick up. Without any prior knowledge about the resident ghosts, Richard spoke about the types of ghosts who haunt the place, as well as the possible locations of where certain events took place, including the ladies bathroom!
Twenty years have gone by since I did my first interview there when it was the Old Whaler. Although much has changed over the years, one thing is for certain. Harbor Mist remains a hot spot for not only good food, but for the spirits who have haunted it since Cold Spring Harbor's infamous whaling days.
For more information on this story and others, visit www.ghostsoflongisland.com.
Way back when in the 1980's and early 1990's, it was known as the Old Whaler, and it had been converted into a pub-style restaurant. It was a fun place to visit, and I recall being there one night for dinner when I ran into Davey Johnson, manager of the '86 Mets. I was a huge Mets fan back then, so it was a thrilling experience to meet him and get his autograph. During other visits to the Old Whaler, I overheard conversations about ghosts. Could it actually be haunted? Who would have thought that years later I would be there ghost hunting with a paranormal investigator!
During my first interview at the Old Whaler, I was primarily interested in the building's history, since the Ghost of Long Island books weren't even a thought in my mind yet. Still, I couldn't help but ask about the rumors I had heard about the ghosts. Once I was told the stories, I was hooked! I decided to write about its history and the ghosts and it turned out to be a huge success; something I would pursue with other places years later. So it was the Old Whaler that started this whole ghostly quest of mine.
Located across from the picturesque seashore along Route 25A, the Old Whaler has changed hands many times, and I've had the opportunity to interview the various owners throughout the years. Currently, the upscale restaurant is known as Harbor Mist, and is owned by a delightfully friendly couple, Michelle and Barman. Although the names and owners have changed, the ghosts have most certainly remained.
It all began back in the mid-1800's. Cold Spring Harbor was a bustling whaling port, and a man by the name of George Van Ausdall purchased a tavern and inn from Oliver Jones for $2100. Shortly thereafter the name was changed to the Van Ausdall Hotel, and whalers from around the world would visit the inn when they were in port. Throughout its history, many have claimed the hotel was also used as a brothel. Several women from the town would work there because their husbands were away at sea for long periods of time and they were lonely, and they needed money.
On one occasion, a tired whaler came back from his long voyage a little earlier than expected, and decided to have a drink at the tavern before going home. Well, to his surprise, he found out his wife was working at the inn! Before anyone could stop him, the whaler ran upstairs and killed both the wife and the seaman she was with. The seaman's name was Van Whether, and he became the first ghost to haunt the place. The wife is believed to possibly be the second.
A strange story surrounds the third ghost. Through my research, I uncovered a newspaper article which spoke of a terrible accident that took place in the building in 1960. The article indicated that "a woman slipped in the ladies room and cut her throat on the ragged edge of a soap dish". That sounds very odd indeed. Perhaps it was a suicide, but in any case, the woman died in the bathroom before the ambulance arrived. This woman's presence, as well as the ghosts of the two who were killed there, have been strongly felt by many psychics over the years.
All sorts of phenomena has been reported. Doors would open and close, lights would turn on and off, faucets would run on their own, and a stereo would play music when no one had turned it on. This type of phenomena, on occasion, still occurs today.
Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go back to Harbor Mist with clairaudient medium and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto, and well known Long Island medium Richard Schoeller. This was Richard's first time at the "inn" and we were interested in what he'd pick up. Without any prior knowledge about the resident ghosts, Richard spoke about the types of ghosts who haunt the place, as well as the possible locations of where certain events took place, including the ladies bathroom!
Twenty years have gone by since I did my first interview there when it was the Old Whaler. Although much has changed over the years, one thing is for certain. Harbor Mist remains a hot spot for not only good food, but for the spirits who have haunted it since Cold Spring Harbor's infamous whaling days.
For more information on this story and others, visit www.ghostsoflongisland.com.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Ghost of Abraham Lincoln
In celebration and in memory of President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday was on February 12, I thought it would be interesting to explore Lincoln's past, as well as the ghostly phenomena which surrounds our 16th president.
There are many rumors as to the White House being haunted by former presidents, but none seem to be as popular as those surrounding President Lincoln. There are several well-documented records which claim that Abe Lincoln has made his presence known in spirit form. It's not only the White House he presumably haunts, but Ford's Theatre where he was assassinated, his old homestead, his grave site and his funeral train.
It's important to look at Lincoln's life while on the earth plane first. He served as president during an exceptionally difficult time in our nation's history. It was the time of the Civil War, and it is said that it was a period of great sorrow for Lincoln. He was often seen at the window of the Oval Office with his hands behind his back, looking out toward the bloodied battlefields across the Potomac River. He was greatly saddened by the loss of life on both sides. Lincoln's greatest toll, however, was a personal tragedy which befell his family on February 20, 1862 when his young son Willie died from an unknown illness. It is said that President Lincoln took his son's death so terribly, that Abe was on the verge of committing suicide. His wife Mary was no better. She was completely distraught.
Abraham Lincoln had a strong interest in Spiritualism early on, and after Willie's death it became even more prominent in his life. In 1842, Lincoln wrote a letter to his friend Joshua F. Speed which stated that he 'had a strong tendency to mysticism' and that he often felt compelled 'by some other power than my own will'. He claimed this power came 'from above'. Mediums frequented the White House, and many believe that through their guidance and those of the spirit world, Abraham Lincoln came to free the slaves. Seances were even held at the White House, and many Spiritualists were guests there. Lincoln claimed that Willie's spirit was with him, and he often said he could 'feel' his presence on a regular basis. Some believe that Willie's spirit lingered before crossing over to the other side because Lincoln was so obsessed with the boy's death.
Lincoln was very private about his Spiritualism, and kept his beliefs from the public. His wife Mary, on the other hand, was very open and was later criticized for her beliefs. Through mediumship the Lincolns were able to connect to their beloved Willie, which ultimately helped to ease their grief. Abe Lincoln was 'sensitive' to the spirit world and he often had visions and premonitions including that of his own death. His report of this vision, which came to him in a dream, was written down and is well documented. It occurred ten days before his assassination from John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.
As if things weren't odd enough, the body of Abraham Lincoln was buried and exhumed five times for various reasons including that of a potential grave robbery. To this day it is still unclear as to why the body had to be reburied so many times, and there is mystery surrounding the fact that perhaps Lincoln is not really in the grave he is believed to be in. His final resting place is in an underground vault, covered in concrete, in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln's wife Mary was buried in the catacomb as well. Before she died, Mary claimed to have talked to her husband everyday. She even hired a spiritual photographer to photograph her, and when the photo was developed, a faint image of Lincoln appeared behind her. At their grave sites people claim to hear weeping, footsteps and voices.
The old Lincoln homestead in Springfield is maintained by a historical society and is open to the public. There have been many reports of ghostly phenomena. Visitors have claimed to see the figure of a tall thin man holding the hand of a little boy, which is believed to be Willie. Others have felt cold spots, while some claim to have been touched by an invisible person. There have also been reports of objects moving around, music being played from unknown sources, and voices talking.
At Ford's Theatre, guests and actors alike claim to hear the haunted footsteps of John Wilkes Booth as he ran up the stairs towards the President. Some people have seen the apparitions of both Lincoln and Booth together, apparently trying to work out their differences. Strange sounds, laughter, and crying have also been reported as well as lights going on and off. From the stage, many actors have said that during performances they've seen lights mysteriously flashing in Lincoln's box which is permanently closed to the public.
As for the White House, there have been many sightings and occurrences. President Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman all claimed to have heard knocking on their bedroom doors. When the door was opened, no one was there. For reasons unknown, they all believed it to be the ghost of Lincoln. During Calvin Coolidge's stay at the White House, his wife reported actually seeing Lincoln in the Oval office. What she described was Lincoln staring out the window with his hands folded behind his back. As mentioned earlier, this was how he was often seen while he was alive. Lincoln's biographer, Carl Sandburg, claimed to 'feel a strong presence' of Lincoln in this same area, although he did not see him.
It was during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration when the ghost of Lincoln seemed to be most active. Many say it is because both presidents were in power during a time of war. Whatever the reason may be, during Roosevelt's thirteen year occupancy of the White House many people actually saw Lincoln's ghost. Lincoln's former bedroom had been turned into a study for first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She consistently reported having the feeling that someone was watching her or that someone was in the room with her. Without a doubt, she believed this to be Lincoln. One of Eleanor's maids actually saw Lincoln sitting on one of the beds in the White House, pulling off his shoes.
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was a guest at the White House during Roosevelt's time. She claimed to be awaken from sleep by a knock at her bedroom door. When she got up and opened the door, she saw the ghost of Lincoln standing before her, staring at her. She actually fainted from the site of him, and when she finally woke the apparition was gone.
One of the best stories I've heard has to do with Sir Winston Churchill's White House stay. Apparently Churchill was very into taking long baths. On one occasion he climbed out of the bath and walked naked into the adjoining bedroom. To his utter surprise, Abraham Lincoln was standing by the fireplace leaning on the mantle and staring at him. Churchill, who was never at a loss for words said, "Good evening Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage." The ghost smiled, looked away and then disappeared.
Things seemed to calm down after that, and since the Truman administration there have been less reports. During Truman's stay at the White House there was extensive remodeling done on the home. Perhaps Lincoln didn't like the changes. However, Lyndon B. Johnson claimed to have spoken to Lincoln's ghost, and Ronald Reagan's daughter Maureen and her husband saw 'a transparent figure' several times in Lincoln's old bedroom.
Lastly, Lincoln's ghostly funeral train was seen for years by hundreds of people. At the time of his death there was a great demand for the public to see his body, so a special funeral train carried him from Washington through New York State and then west to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. The trip took over two weeks because of the number of cities it stopped in. In total, over two million mourners filed past the open coffin. From that time on, every April two trains have been seen marking the anniversary of Lincoln's death. One ghostly train pulls a line of black-draped railroad cars, while the other train pulls a flatbed car on which Lincoln's casket rests.
The stories and mysteries surrounding our great president are endless. I've only touched upon them here. For reasons unknown, Abraham Lincoln's spirit has continued to visit the earth plane. As fascinating as this is, it is important to remember the president that he was, and the important role he played in the development of our country.
This story of Abraham Lincoln is dedicated to my nephew Peter.
There are many rumors as to the White House being haunted by former presidents, but none seem to be as popular as those surrounding President Lincoln. There are several well-documented records which claim that Abe Lincoln has made his presence known in spirit form. It's not only the White House he presumably haunts, but Ford's Theatre where he was assassinated, his old homestead, his grave site and his funeral train.
It's important to look at Lincoln's life while on the earth plane first. He served as president during an exceptionally difficult time in our nation's history. It was the time of the Civil War, and it is said that it was a period of great sorrow for Lincoln. He was often seen at the window of the Oval Office with his hands behind his back, looking out toward the bloodied battlefields across the Potomac River. He was greatly saddened by the loss of life on both sides. Lincoln's greatest toll, however, was a personal tragedy which befell his family on February 20, 1862 when his young son Willie died from an unknown illness. It is said that President Lincoln took his son's death so terribly, that Abe was on the verge of committing suicide. His wife Mary was no better. She was completely distraught.
Abraham Lincoln had a strong interest in Spiritualism early on, and after Willie's death it became even more prominent in his life. In 1842, Lincoln wrote a letter to his friend Joshua F. Speed which stated that he 'had a strong tendency to mysticism' and that he often felt compelled 'by some other power than my own will'. He claimed this power came 'from above'. Mediums frequented the White House, and many believe that through their guidance and those of the spirit world, Abraham Lincoln came to free the slaves. Seances were even held at the White House, and many Spiritualists were guests there. Lincoln claimed that Willie's spirit was with him, and he often said he could 'feel' his presence on a regular basis. Some believe that Willie's spirit lingered before crossing over to the other side because Lincoln was so obsessed with the boy's death.
Lincoln was very private about his Spiritualism, and kept his beliefs from the public. His wife Mary, on the other hand, was very open and was later criticized for her beliefs. Through mediumship the Lincolns were able to connect to their beloved Willie, which ultimately helped to ease their grief. Abe Lincoln was 'sensitive' to the spirit world and he often had visions and premonitions including that of his own death. His report of this vision, which came to him in a dream, was written down and is well documented. It occurred ten days before his assassination from John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.
As if things weren't odd enough, the body of Abraham Lincoln was buried and exhumed five times for various reasons including that of a potential grave robbery. To this day it is still unclear as to why the body had to be reburied so many times, and there is mystery surrounding the fact that perhaps Lincoln is not really in the grave he is believed to be in. His final resting place is in an underground vault, covered in concrete, in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln's wife Mary was buried in the catacomb as well. Before she died, Mary claimed to have talked to her husband everyday. She even hired a spiritual photographer to photograph her, and when the photo was developed, a faint image of Lincoln appeared behind her. At their grave sites people claim to hear weeping, footsteps and voices.
The old Lincoln homestead in Springfield is maintained by a historical society and is open to the public. There have been many reports of ghostly phenomena. Visitors have claimed to see the figure of a tall thin man holding the hand of a little boy, which is believed to be Willie. Others have felt cold spots, while some claim to have been touched by an invisible person. There have also been reports of objects moving around, music being played from unknown sources, and voices talking.
At Ford's Theatre, guests and actors alike claim to hear the haunted footsteps of John Wilkes Booth as he ran up the stairs towards the President. Some people have seen the apparitions of both Lincoln and Booth together, apparently trying to work out their differences. Strange sounds, laughter, and crying have also been reported as well as lights going on and off. From the stage, many actors have said that during performances they've seen lights mysteriously flashing in Lincoln's box which is permanently closed to the public.
As for the White House, there have been many sightings and occurrences. President Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman all claimed to have heard knocking on their bedroom doors. When the door was opened, no one was there. For reasons unknown, they all believed it to be the ghost of Lincoln. During Calvin Coolidge's stay at the White House, his wife reported actually seeing Lincoln in the Oval office. What she described was Lincoln staring out the window with his hands folded behind his back. As mentioned earlier, this was how he was often seen while he was alive. Lincoln's biographer, Carl Sandburg, claimed to 'feel a strong presence' of Lincoln in this same area, although he did not see him.
It was during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration when the ghost of Lincoln seemed to be most active. Many say it is because both presidents were in power during a time of war. Whatever the reason may be, during Roosevelt's thirteen year occupancy of the White House many people actually saw Lincoln's ghost. Lincoln's former bedroom had been turned into a study for first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She consistently reported having the feeling that someone was watching her or that someone was in the room with her. Without a doubt, she believed this to be Lincoln. One of Eleanor's maids actually saw Lincoln sitting on one of the beds in the White House, pulling off his shoes.
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was a guest at the White House during Roosevelt's time. She claimed to be awaken from sleep by a knock at her bedroom door. When she got up and opened the door, she saw the ghost of Lincoln standing before her, staring at her. She actually fainted from the site of him, and when she finally woke the apparition was gone.
One of the best stories I've heard has to do with Sir Winston Churchill's White House stay. Apparently Churchill was very into taking long baths. On one occasion he climbed out of the bath and walked naked into the adjoining bedroom. To his utter surprise, Abraham Lincoln was standing by the fireplace leaning on the mantle and staring at him. Churchill, who was never at a loss for words said, "Good evening Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage." The ghost smiled, looked away and then disappeared.
Things seemed to calm down after that, and since the Truman administration there have been less reports. During Truman's stay at the White House there was extensive remodeling done on the home. Perhaps Lincoln didn't like the changes. However, Lyndon B. Johnson claimed to have spoken to Lincoln's ghost, and Ronald Reagan's daughter Maureen and her husband saw 'a transparent figure' several times in Lincoln's old bedroom.
Lastly, Lincoln's ghostly funeral train was seen for years by hundreds of people. At the time of his death there was a great demand for the public to see his body, so a special funeral train carried him from Washington through New York State and then west to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. The trip took over two weeks because of the number of cities it stopped in. In total, over two million mourners filed past the open coffin. From that time on, every April two trains have been seen marking the anniversary of Lincoln's death. One ghostly train pulls a line of black-draped railroad cars, while the other train pulls a flatbed car on which Lincoln's casket rests.
The stories and mysteries surrounding our great president are endless. I've only touched upon them here. For reasons unknown, Abraham Lincoln's spirit has continued to visit the earth plane. As fascinating as this is, it is important to remember the president that he was, and the important role he played in the development of our country.
This story of Abraham Lincoln is dedicated to my nephew Peter.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Apparitions
Throughout my ghost investigating years I've covered over sixty haunted locales. One of the first questions people ask me is if I've seen an apparition. For non-ghost investigators I can understand why this particular question comes to mind almost immediately. After all, it's ghostly apparitions which appear in movies, TV and books, so people assume that seeing apparitions is a common occurrence when actually it is really quite rare.
So if you are wondering if I've seen one, the answer is no. At least not yet anyway. It is when I wake up in the middle of the night and walk through the darkness to get myself a glass of water that I worry it will be the first time I happen to see one. In all honesty, I don't know how I would react, and I've been studying ghosts for years. If you've read my books you know that both myself and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto have captured apparitions on film. For me, my favorite is the photo I took of the ghost of a little girl at Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches. It is so blatantly clear it is amazing, yet I could not see her with the naked eye.
Joe has always told me that it takes a great deal of energy for an apparition to form; that is why capturing orbs is more common. It takes less energy for a spirit to form an orb apparently, than a full-blown apparition. I have interviewed many people who have claimed to see apparitions however, and will even swear to their existence. Interestingly enough, it tends to happen more to skeptics than to believers.
Apparitions have been around since the beginning of time. It can be described as a way in which a ghost manifests itself by appearing as a partial or full figure. Although an apparition can sometimes appear to be solid, it is more commonly transparent. Early apparitions have been those of religious figures including saints, angels and Jesus Christ. Apparitions have also been found in folklore and in literature. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is a great example of a well-known fictitious story which tells how apparitions appeared to poor Ebenezer Scrooge. Just like in the story, sometimes apparitions appear to us to give us information, to warn us or to even help us along our journey. It's just a matter of being able to interpret it correctly.
In my first Ghost book I wrote about Peter Underwood's "Ten Types of Ghosts". From London England, Peter Underwood is one of the most experienced ghost hunters in the world, and he describes many different types of apparitions. Probably the most common type of ghost or apparition is that of historical ghosts. These are usually the ghosts that haunt old houses and historical locations. The apparition is often seen wearing period clothing, and oftentimes they have suffered in some way or died of trauma. They sometimes cannot pass on to the other side, or they simply refuse to move on because they are attached to the place in which they haunt. That would make them "place-centered" or basically stuck in one location. One of the more famous places to see this type of apparition is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the old battlefields. More locally, at the Country House Restaurant in Stony Brook, Long Island, the ghost of Annette Williamson has been seen by the restaurant's owner, waiters and customers. Annette died in the house tragically during the American Revolutionary War, and her spirit lives on in the house today.
Another type of apparition is that of the modern ghost. These are ghosts of the recently dead. People are more likely to see the ghost of a recently dead person than any other type of ghost, although most people will not realize it is a ghost until it has disappeared. Very similar is the crisis apparition which are the ghosts of the recently dead that appear for a limited time, usually not more than four days. Often it is the spirit of a loved one coming to say goodbye or to give a final message. Thousands of examples of crisis apparitions were reported during both World Wars.
If you believe that you have seen an apparition I would love for you to share your story. It is perhaps, one of the most unbelievable paranormal occurrences you can experience, and it one you most definitely will never forget.
So if you are wondering if I've seen one, the answer is no. At least not yet anyway. It is when I wake up in the middle of the night and walk through the darkness to get myself a glass of water that I worry it will be the first time I happen to see one. In all honesty, I don't know how I would react, and I've been studying ghosts for years. If you've read my books you know that both myself and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto have captured apparitions on film. For me, my favorite is the photo I took of the ghost of a little girl at Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches. It is so blatantly clear it is amazing, yet I could not see her with the naked eye.
Joe has always told me that it takes a great deal of energy for an apparition to form; that is why capturing orbs is more common. It takes less energy for a spirit to form an orb apparently, than a full-blown apparition. I have interviewed many people who have claimed to see apparitions however, and will even swear to their existence. Interestingly enough, it tends to happen more to skeptics than to believers.
Apparitions have been around since the beginning of time. It can be described as a way in which a ghost manifests itself by appearing as a partial or full figure. Although an apparition can sometimes appear to be solid, it is more commonly transparent. Early apparitions have been those of religious figures including saints, angels and Jesus Christ. Apparitions have also been found in folklore and in literature. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is a great example of a well-known fictitious story which tells how apparitions appeared to poor Ebenezer Scrooge. Just like in the story, sometimes apparitions appear to us to give us information, to warn us or to even help us along our journey. It's just a matter of being able to interpret it correctly.
In my first Ghost book I wrote about Peter Underwood's "Ten Types of Ghosts". From London England, Peter Underwood is one of the most experienced ghost hunters in the world, and he describes many different types of apparitions. Probably the most common type of ghost or apparition is that of historical ghosts. These are usually the ghosts that haunt old houses and historical locations. The apparition is often seen wearing period clothing, and oftentimes they have suffered in some way or died of trauma. They sometimes cannot pass on to the other side, or they simply refuse to move on because they are attached to the place in which they haunt. That would make them "place-centered" or basically stuck in one location. One of the more famous places to see this type of apparition is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the old battlefields. More locally, at the Country House Restaurant in Stony Brook, Long Island, the ghost of Annette Williamson has been seen by the restaurant's owner, waiters and customers. Annette died in the house tragically during the American Revolutionary War, and her spirit lives on in the house today.
Another type of apparition is that of the modern ghost. These are ghosts of the recently dead. People are more likely to see the ghost of a recently dead person than any other type of ghost, although most people will not realize it is a ghost until it has disappeared. Very similar is the crisis apparition which are the ghosts of the recently dead that appear for a limited time, usually not more than four days. Often it is the spirit of a loved one coming to say goodbye or to give a final message. Thousands of examples of crisis apparitions were reported during both World Wars.
If you believe that you have seen an apparition I would love for you to share your story. It is perhaps, one of the most unbelievable paranormal occurrences you can experience, and it one you most definitely will never forget.
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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