Last month I wrote about mediumship. This month I would like to go over some of the senses a medium or psychic may have. These may include clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience.
I had a wonderful opportunity recently to attend a workshop given by Scottish Medium Bill Coller, who gave a presentation entitled "Learn to Improve Your Connection with the World of Spirit". If you are a medium already, or if you are someone just trying to form better communication with the spirit world, Bill Coller's lecture is one I would definitely recommend. Having over thirty years experience as a medium, Mr. Coller travels all over the world and works with translators in order to help others get messages from the other side. During the presentation I attended, he gave the audience an exercise to do with a partner for fifteen minutes. We were told to give the person we were sitting next to a "reading". There were only a handful of non-mediums in the room, myself included, so I knew this would be a challenge for us. The woman next to me claimed she had no psychic abilities of any kind. We sat there staring at one another wondering where to begin. We tried to concentrate and as we did, we were both getting a "sense" of a spirit coming through on the other side, but we doubted ourselves, wondering instead if we were taking lucky guesses.
Mr. Coller had asked everyone in the room to bring through one family member and find out five details or points. The details included, male or female, relationship to the person you were reading, from what side of the family was this person, what type of personality did the person have, what kind of relationship did the person being read have with this person in spirit, and/or a possible description of the person in spirit to name a few. I had picked up on my partner's grandmother and she had picked up on my father. But how could we be sure? We called Bill over to help us. He said to go with it and to listen to our intuition and senses. We remained still, open and aware. Through Bill's guidance, he helped me to "listen". Within five minutes I knew I had made contact with my partner's grandmother on her father's side, that the woman had a very strong personality, but was softer with her granddaughter, and that they were very close when my partner was young. I also told my partner that her grandmother stays with her and helps her from the other side. I don't know who was more amazed, me or my partner. She has had readings from professional mediums before and it is always her grandmother on her father's side who comes through, she revealed. Everything I told her made sense to her, and everything was confirmed through Bill. When it came time for my partner to read me, my father came through. She described him physically, which was correct; she told me he died fairly young of an illness, she described our relationship and also picked up that we lived very near one another. Everything she told me was accurate as well. She was shocked that she was able to do this.
It convinced me that although many people are born with the gift of mediumship, we all have the "ability" to be a medium, and at the very least, we can all develop some sort of communication with spirits on the other side. In having studied the paranormal for years, I have seen first hand that it is truly possible to communicate with spirits even if you are not "gifted" so to speak.
There are three terms which relate to the ways people can communicate with spirits on the other side. The term most people are familiar with is clairvoyance. Clairvoyance is a type of extrasensory perception or ESP. It is also considered to be part precognition and part telepathy. The word itself comes from the French and means "clear seeing". A person who has the ability to see a person, event or image from the past, present or future is a person who has clairvoyance. Physically the eyes cannot "see" what is before them. Instead, what is visioned comes from the "inner" eye. It is a form of receiving information through visual images or symbols. The clairvoyant learns to interpret these symbols or images which may be given to them by people or animals in spirit form. There are many types of clairvoyance and this form of communication has been studied throughout history. I am only touching on it here. A whole blog can probably be written on clairvoyance alone.
The next term is clairaudience, which is what paranormal investigator and friend Joe Giaquinto experiences. Clairaudience is the ability to receive voices, sound and music psychically. It is not audible through normal hearing. The word in French means "clear hearing". Sometimes the "inner voice" we think we hear may not be us at all. It is possible the voice is that of a spirit telling us what to do or giving us advice. In Joe's case, since he is advanced in this form of communication, he can sometimes carry on a conversation with a spirit clairaudiently. For the average person we may hear something through clairaudience and not even know it. It may be the voices of deceased loved ones or possibly angels or spirit guides.
In clairsentience, a person receives information from the spirits through touch, taste, smell, a gut feeling or through intuition. It is difficult to describe, because in a sense, you just "know" that a spirit is around or is giving you information. I am most familiar with this form because I have experienced it myself during the writing of Ghosts of Long Island II, More Stories of the Paranormal. I just "knew" and "felt" things and information coming from the spirits, but I could not explain how it was possible. The word clairsentience in French means "clear feeling" or "sensing". While writing, researching and investigating I was more open and aware of what was around me which enabled me for the first time to experience this unique phenomenon.
Pay attention to things such as intuition, sense, sight, sound, fleeting images and feelings. You may begin to notice a pattern as to what you may be sensitive to. As I mentioned, we all have the ability to communicate with the spirits. It is up to us to be willing to open our hearts and mind to a whole new realm...the realm of spirit communication.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Mediums and Psychics
I receive a lot of questions at lectures about mediums and psychics: what are the differences, and who is legitimate and trustworthy? In response to these questions, in my book Ghosts of Long Island II, More Stories of the Paranormal, I included a chapter on well-known, Long Island medium and personal friend, Richard Schoeller. In a no-holds-barred interview, Richard explained how he became a medium, the difficulties he encountered, and how he uses his mediumship today to help communicate messages from the other side, or to help others through their grief. It truly is an amazing story and one in which I hope you will read.
People are often confused as to what the difference is between a medium and a psychic. I have had readings from both, and they are two totally different experiences. The medium's sole purpose is to act as a channel of communication between those living on the earth plane and those in spirit form. In other words, they communicate with the dead and provide valuable messages for us. Oftentimes, mediumship begins at an early age. Parents often disregard it. I have to point out however, that many children do see spirits. Children have just come from that world and they are more open and accepting of the spirits than adults usually are. So don't disregard a child's "imaginary friend" or tell your son or daughter to go back to bed when they claim to see someone in their room. This is not to say that children who experience these things will be mediums later in life. Most children outgrow these experiences. It is the ones that continue to see spirits as they age, who probably have the gift.
For adults who become mediums, it is often quite alarming. Although Richard did experience spirits in his room as a child, it wasn't until he was an adult that he actually became a medium. His mediumship was brought on one night and he actually thought he was dying. He saw both sets of his grandparents in his room, all of whom were dead. So for the person who has been given the gift of mediumship, it requires careful training to be able to control it. It is imperative for the medium to be able to function normally in society. The medium who has learned to control this gift, can then share it with others. They offer a valuable service to those who are grieving or those who simply want to communicate with their loved ones on the other side. The medium provides people with messages that are beneficial to them. Many people, especially skeptics and those who don't believe in an after life, are blown away from the experience. Mediumship is a way of proving that life definitely does exist after this one, and that the after life, Heaven or whatever you may choose to call it, is a wonderful and positive place. It also gives us the comfort of knowing that our loved ones who have passed over are still with us and are helping us on our own life's journey. They are there for us. All we have to do is ask for their help and guidance.
A psychic is something different, although there are quite a number of mediums who are also psychic mainly because they are already "sensitive" to things. A psychic who is not a medium, however, does not communicate with the dead. In general, a psychic is someone who obtains information through ESP (extrasensory perception). Psychics usually tell us things about our own lives and can often tell us of future events or happenings. Interestingly enough, everyone has the ability to be psychic, but most of us choose not to tap into it. Some people are born with psychic ability, some people tap into it later in life, while still in other cases it can be brought on when something triggers it. Like mediumship, psychic ability is considered a gift and should be used wisely.
Since human nature tells us to be frightened of the unknown, many people are skeptical when it comes to mediums and psychics. It goes back to my old saying, just because you can't prove something, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. On the other side of the coin, you should definitely be cautious when choosing to have a reading from a psychic or medium. It's like anything else in life. Check the person out. Make sure they are reputable and/or come recommended. When you are in need of a doctor, lawyer, accountant or any other professional person, are you going to open up the yellow pages and just pick one? Most times you are not. You will ask your friends and family who they recommend and what their experience was. The same thing holds true when looking for a reputable medium or psychic. Do not open your phone book and call 1-800-psychic, ask around or do a thorough internet search until you find someone you are comfortable with. When you do, you will have a wonderful and rewarding experience.
During any reading, be open to the spirits and they will come. You will be amazed at the information you will receive. It truly is a remarkable gift.
People are often confused as to what the difference is between a medium and a psychic. I have had readings from both, and they are two totally different experiences. The medium's sole purpose is to act as a channel of communication between those living on the earth plane and those in spirit form. In other words, they communicate with the dead and provide valuable messages for us. Oftentimes, mediumship begins at an early age. Parents often disregard it. I have to point out however, that many children do see spirits. Children have just come from that world and they are more open and accepting of the spirits than adults usually are. So don't disregard a child's "imaginary friend" or tell your son or daughter to go back to bed when they claim to see someone in their room. This is not to say that children who experience these things will be mediums later in life. Most children outgrow these experiences. It is the ones that continue to see spirits as they age, who probably have the gift.
For adults who become mediums, it is often quite alarming. Although Richard did experience spirits in his room as a child, it wasn't until he was an adult that he actually became a medium. His mediumship was brought on one night and he actually thought he was dying. He saw both sets of his grandparents in his room, all of whom were dead. So for the person who has been given the gift of mediumship, it requires careful training to be able to control it. It is imperative for the medium to be able to function normally in society. The medium who has learned to control this gift, can then share it with others. They offer a valuable service to those who are grieving or those who simply want to communicate with their loved ones on the other side. The medium provides people with messages that are beneficial to them. Many people, especially skeptics and those who don't believe in an after life, are blown away from the experience. Mediumship is a way of proving that life definitely does exist after this one, and that the after life, Heaven or whatever you may choose to call it, is a wonderful and positive place. It also gives us the comfort of knowing that our loved ones who have passed over are still with us and are helping us on our own life's journey. They are there for us. All we have to do is ask for their help and guidance.
A psychic is something different, although there are quite a number of mediums who are also psychic mainly because they are already "sensitive" to things. A psychic who is not a medium, however, does not communicate with the dead. In general, a psychic is someone who obtains information through ESP (extrasensory perception). Psychics usually tell us things about our own lives and can often tell us of future events or happenings. Interestingly enough, everyone has the ability to be psychic, but most of us choose not to tap into it. Some people are born with psychic ability, some people tap into it later in life, while still in other cases it can be brought on when something triggers it. Like mediumship, psychic ability is considered a gift and should be used wisely.
Since human nature tells us to be frightened of the unknown, many people are skeptical when it comes to mediums and psychics. It goes back to my old saying, just because you can't prove something, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. On the other side of the coin, you should definitely be cautious when choosing to have a reading from a psychic or medium. It's like anything else in life. Check the person out. Make sure they are reputable and/or come recommended. When you are in need of a doctor, lawyer, accountant or any other professional person, are you going to open up the yellow pages and just pick one? Most times you are not. You will ask your friends and family who they recommend and what their experience was. The same thing holds true when looking for a reputable medium or psychic. Do not open your phone book and call 1-800-psychic, ask around or do a thorough internet search until you find someone you are comfortable with. When you do, you will have a wonderful and rewarding experience.
During any reading, be open to the spirits and they will come. You will be amazed at the information you will receive. It truly is a remarkable gift.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Do Animals Have Souls?
This is a question so many people have asked. I remember when I was in the third or fourth grade and I asked a teacher 'Do animals have souls and go to Heaven?' and her reply to me was 'No, animals do not have souls or go to Heaven. Only people do.' Well, I was completely devastated and cried the whole way home from school. Luckily over time, I found out how very wrong that teacher was. Not only do animals have souls and go to Heaven, but you can also communicate with your beloved pets on the other side. They can, and do stay with us during our earthly journey, and it is said that our pets are the first to greet us on the other side. Can you imagine how wonderful that must be? I have always been a huge animal lover, having had many dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish and even a horse for twenty-five years. I'll have a whole bunch of animals to greet me!
It is extremely difficult losing a pet. It is completely heartbreaking and most often only true animal lovers can relate to our loss. If you have some faith and you are open, you will become aware of your pets existence in spirit form, and it will bring you comfort. I have had many signs from pets. Two years ago we had to put down our Golden Retriever who was thirteen-and-a-half. She lived to a wonderful age, but it was still devastating to us to let her go. My children took the loss terribly. It was the first time they experienced the loss of a pet. My youngest son was especially distraught and I didn't know what to do to help him with his grief. Several months went by and we finally got to the point where we could at least mention the dog's name in my son's presence. We also had a new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy which helped a bit. Well, one day when our new dog was asleep in the kitchen, my son brought a ball upstairs and began rolling it in my bedroom which has hardwood floors. I live in an old house, but our floors are completely level. My son rolled the ball and it stopped about five feet away. He sat still and looked at the ball for a moment. It then began rolling back to him. He came upstairs to my office and told me what had happened. 'I think Jennie was playing with me,' he said, and I told him it was probably true.
Another time I took a photo of our new dog lying under the kitchen table. This was a place our previous dog had stayed as well. When I looked at the photo I saw an orb next to our new dog. I knew it must be Jennie. What's interesting is that I believe other animals can see both humans and other animals in spirit. Animals have more psychic sensitivity than most humans and often "pick up things". A friend of mine had to put a dog down a few years back. When she got another one, the new pet ran immediately to the spot where the previous dog had been buried. My friend assured me the hole had been quite deep. Her new dog often rested in this area over the years.
In my own house, I know my Cavalier has seen my Golden on at least two occasions that I know of. My office is on the third floor of our colonial and there is an eyebrow window located in the room under an alcove . I used to call the area Jennie's lookout tower. When writing my earlier books she would sit there and stare out the window for hours. She did this until she could no longer climb the steps to my office and I always missed her being there. When my Cavalier was finally housebroken I started letting her up into my office. She was too small at the time to see out the window, but she always ran back and forth in front of the alcove. One day when she was running by she stopped dead in her tracks. She turned toward the window and started backing up and growling. Her fur started to stand up as well. She then quickly ran away from the alcove. I knew without a doubt that Jennie must have been there, and it made me happy that she had come to visit her favorite spot.
The second time my Cavalier saw Jennie was in my living room in front of the fireplace, which had been another favorite spot of Jennie's. My husband and I were sitting on the couch when our Cavalier walked into the room. She started barking at the fireplace suddenly and then she began backing up. It was simply amazing to watch, and I had wished that I could see Jennie there too.
The most direct contact I have had with my pets since their passing, has been through my good friend Richard Schoeller, a wonderful medium on Long Island. When I have a reading with him, both my dog and my horse usually come in, as well as some animals from the past. Richard told me things about my pets that there was no way he could possibly know, especially where my horse was concerned. To know my horse was in spirit form right next to me gave me the most incredible comfort. My dog communicated with me and thanked me for letting her go when we did. Through Richard, she said we did the right thing. My husband and I could not watch the vet put her down. We stayed in the other room and visited her afterwards. During my reading Richard said to me, 'You weren't in the room when she was put down, were you?' I answered, 'No, we weren't'. He had no prior knowledge of this detail. He then proceeded to tell me that my father, who is in spirit, was in the room. My father wanted me to know that he was with Jennie while she was being put down, and that afterwards it was he who carried her up to Heaven with him.
So when people argue with you and tell you that animals don't have souls, don't listen. It simply isn't true. They are the most special of God's creatures and they have been given the most beautiful of souls which remain with us always.
It is extremely difficult losing a pet. It is completely heartbreaking and most often only true animal lovers can relate to our loss. If you have some faith and you are open, you will become aware of your pets existence in spirit form, and it will bring you comfort. I have had many signs from pets. Two years ago we had to put down our Golden Retriever who was thirteen-and-a-half. She lived to a wonderful age, but it was still devastating to us to let her go. My children took the loss terribly. It was the first time they experienced the loss of a pet. My youngest son was especially distraught and I didn't know what to do to help him with his grief. Several months went by and we finally got to the point where we could at least mention the dog's name in my son's presence. We also had a new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy which helped a bit. Well, one day when our new dog was asleep in the kitchen, my son brought a ball upstairs and began rolling it in my bedroom which has hardwood floors. I live in an old house, but our floors are completely level. My son rolled the ball and it stopped about five feet away. He sat still and looked at the ball for a moment. It then began rolling back to him. He came upstairs to my office and told me what had happened. 'I think Jennie was playing with me,' he said, and I told him it was probably true.
Another time I took a photo of our new dog lying under the kitchen table. This was a place our previous dog had stayed as well. When I looked at the photo I saw an orb next to our new dog. I knew it must be Jennie. What's interesting is that I believe other animals can see both humans and other animals in spirit. Animals have more psychic sensitivity than most humans and often "pick up things". A friend of mine had to put a dog down a few years back. When she got another one, the new pet ran immediately to the spot where the previous dog had been buried. My friend assured me the hole had been quite deep. Her new dog often rested in this area over the years.
In my own house, I know my Cavalier has seen my Golden on at least two occasions that I know of. My office is on the third floor of our colonial and there is an eyebrow window located in the room under an alcove . I used to call the area Jennie's lookout tower. When writing my earlier books she would sit there and stare out the window for hours. She did this until she could no longer climb the steps to my office and I always missed her being there. When my Cavalier was finally housebroken I started letting her up into my office. She was too small at the time to see out the window, but she always ran back and forth in front of the alcove. One day when she was running by she stopped dead in her tracks. She turned toward the window and started backing up and growling. Her fur started to stand up as well. She then quickly ran away from the alcove. I knew without a doubt that Jennie must have been there, and it made me happy that she had come to visit her favorite spot.
The second time my Cavalier saw Jennie was in my living room in front of the fireplace, which had been another favorite spot of Jennie's. My husband and I were sitting on the couch when our Cavalier walked into the room. She started barking at the fireplace suddenly and then she began backing up. It was simply amazing to watch, and I had wished that I could see Jennie there too.
The most direct contact I have had with my pets since their passing, has been through my good friend Richard Schoeller, a wonderful medium on Long Island. When I have a reading with him, both my dog and my horse usually come in, as well as some animals from the past. Richard told me things about my pets that there was no way he could possibly know, especially where my horse was concerned. To know my horse was in spirit form right next to me gave me the most incredible comfort. My dog communicated with me and thanked me for letting her go when we did. Through Richard, she said we did the right thing. My husband and I could not watch the vet put her down. We stayed in the other room and visited her afterwards. During my reading Richard said to me, 'You weren't in the room when she was put down, were you?' I answered, 'No, we weren't'. He had no prior knowledge of this detail. He then proceeded to tell me that my father, who is in spirit, was in the room. My father wanted me to know that he was with Jennie while she was being put down, and that afterwards it was he who carried her up to Heaven with him.
So when people argue with you and tell you that animals don't have souls, don't listen. It simply isn't true. They are the most special of God's creatures and they have been given the most beautiful of souls which remain with us always.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Angels
I cannot begin to tell you how many times I tried to sit down and write my monthly blog for December, but it never seemed to happen. Even for me, who understands what's beyond this earthly plane of materialism, stresses and demands, I somehow got wrapped up in the December madness. All I seemed capable of doing was to concentrate on what needed to be done before Christmas: the shopping, the decorating, the cards, the baking, the plans, the menus...the list is endless, no matter how much I tried to simplify things and get back to the true meaning behind the season. How would I get it all done? It can be overwhelming, to say the least, and I am certainly no exception. It wasn't until the blizzard hit Long Island this past weekend when I actually took a step back. I had no choice. I was at home and I couldn't leave. Previous plans and obligations were put on hold. I had time to breathe finally. As I roamed around my house looking at all the decorations and trees I so carefully placed about (over a period of two weeks I may add) I stopped and looked at the angel atop my Christmas tree. With her perfect porcelain face gently smiling down upon me, she seemed to say, "You missed the boat" and I did. Me, like so many others, got wrapped up in things that really don't matter. So this year, instead of making eight different kinds of homemade cookies from scratch, I decided to make one. I was able to live with this, and even my kids were able to live with this, although they were slightly disappointed I have to admit. What I'm trying to say is that we need to take control of our lives and get back to the basics. We also need to understand that although it doesn't quite seem like it, we do have help from the other side, if only we would ask.
I've written to you about orbs and EVP's and it's evident that our loved ones who have passed stay with us and help us on our journey. We also have spirit guides we can call upon. There does exist yet another realm in which we can turn. It is the angels we can call upon, and they are ready, willing and able to help us if we let them. What better time to write about angels than in December? It is the perfect time to contemplate this unique aspect of the paranormal. We seem to think a lot about angels during Christmas, however, angels have appeared in many other non-Christian religions including Judaism, Hinduism, Islamic and they also appear in Egyptian, Roman and Greek mythology. Angels have been portrayed in the Bible, in art, in poetry and in romance. Simply put, angels are everywhere. Over the past several years there has been an onset in popularity in believing in angels. People are looking toward spirituality in a tumultuous world, and angels are one of the things people are turning to.
I have a wonderful book called "The Element Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Hauntings" by Theresa Cheung. The author describes angels as being "An immortal supernatural being which mediates between God and humanity." She then goes on to reveal that the word 'angel' comes from the Greek word angelos, which means 'messenger'. Are there angels among us? Most definitely. A lot of people claim to have had experiences with angels because they do often take on human form. You may not know that you have encountered an angel until after the interlude. They, like spirit guides and our deceased relatives, are there to help us on our journey, and they are one of God's most precious beings.
Sometimes angels appear to us in dreams. Others have reported being saved from burning buildings or terrible car wrecks by someone who appeared "not of this world". Someone I know personally believes that she and her sister were rescued by angels as teenagers when they were swept out to sea in an undertow and were on the verge of drowning. When people have an angel encounter they don't know it at the time. As quickly as the "person" appears in time of need, he or she quickly disappears without a trace. It is truly remarkable. In other cases angels take on human form for a longer period of time. In this case, the angel has received a "Divine Assignment" here on Earth. Their goal is to spread their teachings and healing energies to humans. This information came to me in a wonderful little book by Doreen Virtue called, "Earth Angels". It had been recommended to me by Joy Barker, California host of a blog radio show Joe Giaquinto and I recently appeared on called "Angel Talk Cafe", along with her co-host, Diane The XS Medium from Long Island. You can listen to the show by logging on to my website, http://www.ghostsoflongisland.com/. Psychic medium Sylvia Brown is another advocate for angels. There is a wealth of information out there on angels, and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about them. In fact, I am in the midst of my sixth book, a novel which touches on the main character coming in contact with an angel in human form. People love angel encounters; that's why TV shows such as "Highway to Heaven" and "Touched by an Angel" made it so long. It really hits the heartstrings and touches a cord. Angels give us something to believe in, something that will bring us closer to God and closer to the other side.
So during this hectic holiday season, take a look at the angels around you. Know that their help and guidance are there for the asking. If you've had an angel encounter, I would love to hear from you, as would my readers. I have learned a considerable amount over the last few years where metaphysics, spirituality and the paranormal are concerned. There is always more to learn and explore, even for me, so I welcome your comments and stories. I leave you with the words to a beautiful song which was sung by the country group "Alabama" many years ago. Knowing my interest in angels, my mother-in-law recently gave me a copy of this very special song. I'd like to share with you some of the lyrics....
"I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above they come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love."
Merry Christmas and the best of health and happiness in the new year! And remember to get in touch with your angels.
I've written to you about orbs and EVP's and it's evident that our loved ones who have passed stay with us and help us on our journey. We also have spirit guides we can call upon. There does exist yet another realm in which we can turn. It is the angels we can call upon, and they are ready, willing and able to help us if we let them. What better time to write about angels than in December? It is the perfect time to contemplate this unique aspect of the paranormal. We seem to think a lot about angels during Christmas, however, angels have appeared in many other non-Christian religions including Judaism, Hinduism, Islamic and they also appear in Egyptian, Roman and Greek mythology. Angels have been portrayed in the Bible, in art, in poetry and in romance. Simply put, angels are everywhere. Over the past several years there has been an onset in popularity in believing in angels. People are looking toward spirituality in a tumultuous world, and angels are one of the things people are turning to.
I have a wonderful book called "The Element Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Hauntings" by Theresa Cheung. The author describes angels as being "An immortal supernatural being which mediates between God and humanity." She then goes on to reveal that the word 'angel' comes from the Greek word angelos, which means 'messenger'. Are there angels among us? Most definitely. A lot of people claim to have had experiences with angels because they do often take on human form. You may not know that you have encountered an angel until after the interlude. They, like spirit guides and our deceased relatives, are there to help us on our journey, and they are one of God's most precious beings.
Sometimes angels appear to us in dreams. Others have reported being saved from burning buildings or terrible car wrecks by someone who appeared "not of this world". Someone I know personally believes that she and her sister were rescued by angels as teenagers when they were swept out to sea in an undertow and were on the verge of drowning. When people have an angel encounter they don't know it at the time. As quickly as the "person" appears in time of need, he or she quickly disappears without a trace. It is truly remarkable. In other cases angels take on human form for a longer period of time. In this case, the angel has received a "Divine Assignment" here on Earth. Their goal is to spread their teachings and healing energies to humans. This information came to me in a wonderful little book by Doreen Virtue called, "Earth Angels". It had been recommended to me by Joy Barker, California host of a blog radio show Joe Giaquinto and I recently appeared on called "Angel Talk Cafe", along with her co-host, Diane The XS Medium from Long Island. You can listen to the show by logging on to my website, http://www.ghostsoflongisland.com/. Psychic medium Sylvia Brown is another advocate for angels. There is a wealth of information out there on angels, and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about them. In fact, I am in the midst of my sixth book, a novel which touches on the main character coming in contact with an angel in human form. People love angel encounters; that's why TV shows such as "Highway to Heaven" and "Touched by an Angel" made it so long. It really hits the heartstrings and touches a cord. Angels give us something to believe in, something that will bring us closer to God and closer to the other side.
So during this hectic holiday season, take a look at the angels around you. Know that their help and guidance are there for the asking. If you've had an angel encounter, I would love to hear from you, as would my readers. I have learned a considerable amount over the last few years where metaphysics, spirituality and the paranormal are concerned. There is always more to learn and explore, even for me, so I welcome your comments and stories. I leave you with the words to a beautiful song which was sung by the country group "Alabama" many years ago. Knowing my interest in angels, my mother-in-law recently gave me a copy of this very special song. I'd like to share with you some of the lyrics....
"I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above they come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love."
Merry Christmas and the best of health and happiness in the new year! And remember to get in touch with your angels.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
In my book Ghosts of Long Island II; More Stories of the Paranormal, I describe Electronic Voice Phenomena (otherwise known as EVP's), as "spirit voices" that are said to manifest themselves on audio recordings. I first learned of this term from paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto back in 2005 when we started working together. I have always been open to things, but I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure of EVP's. It sounded "too out there" for me. Joe explained that since digital recorders have replaced the old mini tape recorders, the spirits have found a new way to communicate. Combining their energy with the energy from the recorder, the spirits are able to manipulate it. They use the energy to, as Joe puts it, "monkey around with the electronic equipment". They leave their "mark" so to speak....a spirit voice. Just like the spirits have used digital cameras to form orbs, they use digital recorders to leave us a message to let us know that they're here.
I received my very first EVP on the first assignment I had for Ghost I. Oddly enough, Joe wasn't with me, nor was I even in a haunted house. I was interviewing a couple who had lived in an extremely "active" house, and they were sharing their experiences with me. It was terrible weather the night I set out to do this. Joe was coming from Hampton Bays and the weather caused him to be an hour late. I met with the couple and started conducting the interview. The three of us sat in a large living room. I had my recorder in the middle of the room on a large square table. I sat on one couch, maybe three to four feet away from the recorder, while the couple I was interviewing sat on another couch and was about the same distance away from the recorder. There were no other people in the house, the television was not on and the phone did not ring, therefore no answering machine was on. I went about asking questions and was later joined by Joe. Several days later I went to transcribe my recording. I sat with pen and paper writing everything down. Now, you know the difference when you listen to a recording about how far away a person is. For instance you would hear the difference between someone who was talking into the recorder from three or four feet away and someone who was holding the recorder up to their mouth and speaking. Well, about forty-five minutes into the interview, the voice of a little girl speaking in a loud whisper directly into the recorder could be heard. She simply said "Hold me". I almost fell off my chair. This had taken place before Joe got there with no other people in the house. I played it for my husband, who was scared to death, and then I played it for just about everyone I know. EVERYONE heard it, clear as day.
I emailed it over to Joe who said to me, "Congratulations! You just received your first Class A EVP!" To this day, I feel it was necessary that I received that clear EVP, if not, I may have always second guessed Joe. It was truly amazing, and since then I do on occasion get some EVP's on my recorder. Class A is the most audible. It sounds like you or me talking. It is clear as day. Class B is not as clear. The voice sounds similar to a robot, or sounds as if it is coming from a tunnel. Usually you can still make out what the spirit is saying. A Class C is the least audible. You understand that something is there, but it is usually unclear what the spirit is saying.
As you read this blog, you still may be thinking, "I don't know if I really believe this". Well, I give a great example about believing things when I give my lectures, and I will share it with you now. Let's pretend it is no longer 2009. Instead the year is 1800. I have a captive audience in front of me. I wheel out a flat screen, HD TV. Everyone is watching me and wondering what it is. I turn it on and I tell the audience that they are watching a man from London, England speak to them live...right now. What would they say? How would they react? They would say they don't believe it. It is not possible. I would tell them, but it is possible. You can see it for yourself. Even though they would be seeing it with their own eyes they still would not believe it. It is a trick, they may say. In those days it would have been thought impossible. Now let's go to 1950. Everyone is driving around in those cool cars. I tell them that one day they won't need to read a map anymore. One day we will have a small computer (whatever that is) in our car, and a computerized woman will give us directions and tell us where to go. We will put all our trust in what she is telling us. Sounds crazy, yet it is today's GPS system. Would they believe me? Of course not. It's impossible! There are tons of examples of this. No one believed that there could be airplanes up in the sky. People must have thought the Wright Brothers were crazy. Where would we be today if they didn't give the impossible a shot? Or what about putting a man on the moon? Another impossible feat! What I am trying to say here is to be open. Be open to things you cannot yet understand. Just because we are adults, went to school and succeeded at our jobs, doesn't mean we know everything or have to know everything for that matter. Just be open to the possibility and you may be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you who are interested, on your own computers you can listen to many of the EVP's Joe and I captured while working on both Ghost books. Listen for yourself. We leave it up to you to decide. We're simply putting the information out there for you. To get to them, go on to Joe's website at www.joegpi.com You will see on the left hand side "EVP's for Ghost I and EVP's for Ghost II". Click on whatever book you want and they will come up. You can even follow along with the book. So give it a try and see what you think. It just may amaze you after all.
Have a wonderful Halloween, and be open to the real spirits!
I received my very first EVP on the first assignment I had for Ghost I. Oddly enough, Joe wasn't with me, nor was I even in a haunted house. I was interviewing a couple who had lived in an extremely "active" house, and they were sharing their experiences with me. It was terrible weather the night I set out to do this. Joe was coming from Hampton Bays and the weather caused him to be an hour late. I met with the couple and started conducting the interview. The three of us sat in a large living room. I had my recorder in the middle of the room on a large square table. I sat on one couch, maybe three to four feet away from the recorder, while the couple I was interviewing sat on another couch and was about the same distance away from the recorder. There were no other people in the house, the television was not on and the phone did not ring, therefore no answering machine was on. I went about asking questions and was later joined by Joe. Several days later I went to transcribe my recording. I sat with pen and paper writing everything down. Now, you know the difference when you listen to a recording about how far away a person is. For instance you would hear the difference between someone who was talking into the recorder from three or four feet away and someone who was holding the recorder up to their mouth and speaking. Well, about forty-five minutes into the interview, the voice of a little girl speaking in a loud whisper directly into the recorder could be heard. She simply said "Hold me". I almost fell off my chair. This had taken place before Joe got there with no other people in the house. I played it for my husband, who was scared to death, and then I played it for just about everyone I know. EVERYONE heard it, clear as day.
I emailed it over to Joe who said to me, "Congratulations! You just received your first Class A EVP!" To this day, I feel it was necessary that I received that clear EVP, if not, I may have always second guessed Joe. It was truly amazing, and since then I do on occasion get some EVP's on my recorder. Class A is the most audible. It sounds like you or me talking. It is clear as day. Class B is not as clear. The voice sounds similar to a robot, or sounds as if it is coming from a tunnel. Usually you can still make out what the spirit is saying. A Class C is the least audible. You understand that something is there, but it is usually unclear what the spirit is saying.
As you read this blog, you still may be thinking, "I don't know if I really believe this". Well, I give a great example about believing things when I give my lectures, and I will share it with you now. Let's pretend it is no longer 2009. Instead the year is 1800. I have a captive audience in front of me. I wheel out a flat screen, HD TV. Everyone is watching me and wondering what it is. I turn it on and I tell the audience that they are watching a man from London, England speak to them live...right now. What would they say? How would they react? They would say they don't believe it. It is not possible. I would tell them, but it is possible. You can see it for yourself. Even though they would be seeing it with their own eyes they still would not believe it. It is a trick, they may say. In those days it would have been thought impossible. Now let's go to 1950. Everyone is driving around in those cool cars. I tell them that one day they won't need to read a map anymore. One day we will have a small computer (whatever that is) in our car, and a computerized woman will give us directions and tell us where to go. We will put all our trust in what she is telling us. Sounds crazy, yet it is today's GPS system. Would they believe me? Of course not. It's impossible! There are tons of examples of this. No one believed that there could be airplanes up in the sky. People must have thought the Wright Brothers were crazy. Where would we be today if they didn't give the impossible a shot? Or what about putting a man on the moon? Another impossible feat! What I am trying to say here is to be open. Be open to things you cannot yet understand. Just because we are adults, went to school and succeeded at our jobs, doesn't mean we know everything or have to know everything for that matter. Just be open to the possibility and you may be pleasantly surprised.
For those of you who are interested, on your own computers you can listen to many of the EVP's Joe and I captured while working on both Ghost books. Listen for yourself. We leave it up to you to decide. We're simply putting the information out there for you. To get to them, go on to Joe's website at www.joegpi.com You will see on the left hand side "EVP's for Ghost I and EVP's for Ghost II". Click on whatever book you want and they will come up. You can even follow along with the book. So give it a try and see what you think. It just may amaze you after all.
Have a wonderful Halloween, and be open to the real spirits!
Friday, September 11, 2009
What are Orbs?
I hadn't planned on officially beginning my blog until next week, but because today is September 11th, I somehow was compelled to start writing. It is a difficult day for thousands of people who lost loved ones on that tragic day. The rawness of what happened comes flooding back. My husband was one of the fortunate ones, having been a survivor, but still we live with the horrific memories of acts too unbearable to fathom. As I sit here on this dreary, rainy, somber day I think of all the souls who made their way to a better place. My only wish for those who are left behind is the realization that the people with whom we loved here on earth are not gone. If Heaven, or whatever one may believe, is a perfect place then why would those we shared decades with on earth abandon us? Why would they not come back in some form to help us, to comfort us, to protect us or guide us on our own journey? Over the past several years I have come to realize, that without a doubt they are not only in a better place than we are, but that they remain with us and they find ways to communicate with us if we only would look.
I have experienced a lot of death over the past ten years or so, more than I would ever have thought for a person my age, so I am all too familiar with grief. Through my own faith and by writing my books, I have somehow come to terms with it, especially where the death of my father almost five years ago is concerned. He suffered with multiple sclerosis since he was diagnosed at age 48. He died way too young, just a few weeks away from his 63rd birthday. It was a difficult time for my family and I miss him terribly. I have come to understand, however, that he is with me and is still a part of my life. There have been numerous examples of him communicating with me since he passed over. One of the ways I believe, is through orbs.
Orbs are a relatively new phenomena which has come about with the onset of digital photography. Yes, there are those who claim that orbs are nothing more than dust on a lens, a water vapor from a raindrop, a refraction of reflected light. There is a difference though, and one thing I have going for me is that I am a professional photographer. I majored in photography in college, and I surely know the difference between a spec of dust and an orb. I always know my conditions when I shoot, and besides, dust particles will appear in every shot, not just one and they also don't move around a frame. They tend to be translucent, and each one is uniquely different just like people.
It is said that everything is made up of energy. It is believed that spirits have adapted a way to use the energy in our cameras to manifest themselves. It takes a lot of energy for a spirit to form a complete apparition. Revealing themselves as an orb requires less energy. Some orbs are spirits of those we loved who have passed on. Other orbs can be spirit guides or even angels who have never been in human form. There are orbs that were animals, perhaps a beloved pet, and they are with us all the time. It is just a matter of being open and of catching them on film.
I get orbs all the time. It truly is amazing, and I can find them in a photograph immediately. Since I am a photographer I am accustomed to looking at the entire image in a photograph. Most people who are not trained will simply look at the picture of how nice Aunt Sarah looked on her 85th birthday. What's happening around Aunt Sarah? You may be surprised. Did Aunt Sarah lose her husband 20 years earlier? Well there he is on the wall behind her, simply formed as a beautiful orb. He wouldn't miss her birthday if he was still alive on the earth plane....why would he miss it now?
I love looking at other people's photos and pointing out orbs that seem so obvious to me. The reply I get is "Oh my gosh! I never even noticed that" or "look, there's another". Take out your photos from the holidays, a family wedding, your son's graduation from kindergarten, chances are you have an orb there or maybe several. It is truly amazing!
My friends laugh because every time I am photographed (which is a rarity considering I take all the photos) there are always orbs around me. Yes, I have spirits around me all the time because of what I do, but everyone else has spirits in their lives as well. Last February my husband was in Germany on a business trip. He doesn't travel much and we are rarely apart. It was a cold winter night and I was feeling kind of down and lonely. I decided to take out my camera and go into the backyard. Looking up to the sky I said, "Tell me I am not alone. Tell me someone is here with me." No sooner did I say that, and several orbs showed up in my first photo, and in the next and in the next. Each time the orbs had moved and were in a different location. I smiled and thanked them for being with me, and I felt happier and safer when I went to bed that night.
One orb in particular appears wherever I am. It is a beautiful multicolored, stippling-type orb that is very large. It has appeared to me in my backyard, in Florida, in North Carolina and in Montauk just to name a few places. It has appeared inside my house and outside my house. This, I believe is my father. There is also another much smaller, very bright orb which I often get. Perhaps this is a spirit guide. In any event I take comfort in these orbs and you should too. I consider them to be an incredible gift, a way to communicate with the other side. It truly is remarkable.
So dig up those photos and take a look. You may be surprised, or grab your camera and head outside one night and see what you get. Be calm and serious and treat them with respect. If you do, they more than likely will show themselves. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. They have not left you. They are with you through eternity.
I have experienced a lot of death over the past ten years or so, more than I would ever have thought for a person my age, so I am all too familiar with grief. Through my own faith and by writing my books, I have somehow come to terms with it, especially where the death of my father almost five years ago is concerned. He suffered with multiple sclerosis since he was diagnosed at age 48. He died way too young, just a few weeks away from his 63rd birthday. It was a difficult time for my family and I miss him terribly. I have come to understand, however, that he is with me and is still a part of my life. There have been numerous examples of him communicating with me since he passed over. One of the ways I believe, is through orbs.
Orbs are a relatively new phenomena which has come about with the onset of digital photography. Yes, there are those who claim that orbs are nothing more than dust on a lens, a water vapor from a raindrop, a refraction of reflected light. There is a difference though, and one thing I have going for me is that I am a professional photographer. I majored in photography in college, and I surely know the difference between a spec of dust and an orb. I always know my conditions when I shoot, and besides, dust particles will appear in every shot, not just one and they also don't move around a frame. They tend to be translucent, and each one is uniquely different just like people.
It is said that everything is made up of energy. It is believed that spirits have adapted a way to use the energy in our cameras to manifest themselves. It takes a lot of energy for a spirit to form a complete apparition. Revealing themselves as an orb requires less energy. Some orbs are spirits of those we loved who have passed on. Other orbs can be spirit guides or even angels who have never been in human form. There are orbs that were animals, perhaps a beloved pet, and they are with us all the time. It is just a matter of being open and of catching them on film.
I get orbs all the time. It truly is amazing, and I can find them in a photograph immediately. Since I am a photographer I am accustomed to looking at the entire image in a photograph. Most people who are not trained will simply look at the picture of how nice Aunt Sarah looked on her 85th birthday. What's happening around Aunt Sarah? You may be surprised. Did Aunt Sarah lose her husband 20 years earlier? Well there he is on the wall behind her, simply formed as a beautiful orb. He wouldn't miss her birthday if he was still alive on the earth plane....why would he miss it now?
I love looking at other people's photos and pointing out orbs that seem so obvious to me. The reply I get is "Oh my gosh! I never even noticed that" or "look, there's another". Take out your photos from the holidays, a family wedding, your son's graduation from kindergarten, chances are you have an orb there or maybe several. It is truly amazing!
My friends laugh because every time I am photographed (which is a rarity considering I take all the photos) there are always orbs around me. Yes, I have spirits around me all the time because of what I do, but everyone else has spirits in their lives as well. Last February my husband was in Germany on a business trip. He doesn't travel much and we are rarely apart. It was a cold winter night and I was feeling kind of down and lonely. I decided to take out my camera and go into the backyard. Looking up to the sky I said, "Tell me I am not alone. Tell me someone is here with me." No sooner did I say that, and several orbs showed up in my first photo, and in the next and in the next. Each time the orbs had moved and were in a different location. I smiled and thanked them for being with me, and I felt happier and safer when I went to bed that night.
One orb in particular appears wherever I am. It is a beautiful multicolored, stippling-type orb that is very large. It has appeared to me in my backyard, in Florida, in North Carolina and in Montauk just to name a few places. It has appeared inside my house and outside my house. This, I believe is my father. There is also another much smaller, very bright orb which I often get. Perhaps this is a spirit guide. In any event I take comfort in these orbs and you should too. I consider them to be an incredible gift, a way to communicate with the other side. It truly is remarkable.
So dig up those photos and take a look. You may be surprised, or grab your camera and head outside one night and see what you get. Be calm and serious and treat them with respect. If you do, they more than likely will show themselves. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. They have not left you. They are with you through eternity.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Welcome to My Blog!
Welcome to my newly created blog! Coming soon will be discussions on orbs, electronic voice phenomena, and paranormal and spiritual events. I will be able to explain these things in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. If you have any author related questions or topics we can cover that too. So check back soon to see what we'll be discussing first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)