Voices to Visions May 2011 by Alice Herden

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Workshop Articles

Alice Mary Herden

Cheryl is a certified parapsychologist with over 30 years’ experience. She is clairvoyant and remembers communicating with spirit companions from a very young age. Cheryl brings to our group the ability to communicate with disembodied spirits, providing information and insight to our investigations. “If you keep your mind open, you will see far beyond your beliefs.” Founder of Dust and Shadows, a Paranormal Investigation and Research Group Alice is a freelance photographer and sports photographer for Hernando Today. Her experiences with the Paranormal go back to where she resided with her family in Largo. Encounters with the paranormal have been from breathing to a full black mass apparition.

I met Cheryl during our investigation of the West Pasco Historical Society and was completely drawn to her. She was like a magnet of happy energy. We bonded so fast, our friendship bloomed. I am so happy that she can squeeze time in to be in our Dust and Shadows group and write the workshop articles for our magazine.

For this magazine, I wanted to share as much information about the paranormal without all the adversity. Showing ghost as creeped out artwork, like they are from some horror film, really upsets me. Don't get me wrong, I love dark gothic art, but reality for the paranormal that just doesn't fit. I do hope the readers learn as much as we do with each month we put this magazine together Our Magazine is non-profit. You only pay for printing and shipping. You can also purchase prints from our investigations and daytrips.

Karen Bashak Article writer for Famous places Karen and I work together at the same retail establishment for over 5 years. She is talented, smart, beautiful and just a joy to be around. I am so happy that she has time to write some for our magazine.

Voices to Visions Prints

Jesselee Lang Concept Art for Paranormal Folklore

Cheryl Smeed

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Jesselee Lang is a superb 3D fantasy-based artist that tells astounding stories through digital art. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he provides design, artwork and graphics to the web, print, and video game industries. He offers free images for download at his website, and you can also find his art spray-painted on the sides of train cars. Jesselee enjoys crafting powerful stories, projecting them into a single work of art for others to appreciate. His works put you in the middle of the action.

page, half page or quarter page advertisements, and a link on our website.

I met Jesselee through a stock photography site. I enjoy his artistic view and creative imagination. He is a great addition to this magazine. http://www.darkgeometry.ca/

For more information about becoming a sponsor, please email us at:

Issue Contents

Editor@voicestovisions.com

All material and information gathered within this magazine are researched and/or solely opinions stated by the writer. You choose your opinions and beliefs upon your own conclusion with each expressed view or article written. Photography Artwork All photography and artwork within this magazine are property of the photographer and/or artist. Interviews Interviews are conducted via e-mail. If possible, some interviews are conducted in person and recorded.

Special Thanks A special thanks to my husband, Don. You have been the light of my life and I love you will all my soul. Thank you for being a huge supporter in all my goals. I could have never lived without you. Don Capone is a voice over actor, very talented and very funny. Thank you for all your advice and help with the radio ad. His Website:

Our Sponsors

http://doncapone.com/

Vision-Vault LLC

Marissa and Michelle Sanzone for their help with creating this months cover.

Green-Fly Media (coming in 2012) Merchandising Professionals LLC Action Sales and Merchandising INC Arrowwear USA Become a sponsor Sponsors donations help with the yearly payment of the website. Free advertising within our print magazine, full

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE • Editors Views Paranormal Teams • Interview John Robert Colombo • Encounters Personal Contact • Paranormal Folklore Birds • Famous Places Battle Abbey • Famous Hauntings Bell Witch • Readers Ghost Stories Paul J Bunnell • 101 Paranormal Teams • PTM Ghost Head Soup • Dust and Shadows Location Reviewed in our Next Issue

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Editor View

Haunted Locations and Paranormal Teams An asset or an inconvenient As I stated in our last issue, when ghost hunting became a fave for enthusiasts and the curious, a lot of people wanted to become paranormal investigators. Some people just wanted to get the experience of paranormal encounters, and some wanted to know more about the paranormal. Has all this tarnished the meaning of investigating the paranormal? Has having so many request to investigate a known haunted location bring an inconvenient to the location, to the owners, to the employees? There are mixed answers to these questions. Let’s think about this. Say you own a location that was known to have paranormal activity. You called a paranormal team to come to investigate this activity. For one reason is to get proof that there is activity and to prove to you, you are actually witnessing these, if so, paranormal activity. That paranormal team investigates your location and then they truly collect the evidence to brand it as “haunted”. So, that word gets out and other paranormal investigators are in thriving need to investigate more locations. So searching for new locations (through other paranormal group’s website), they find your location. Suddenly you get a call or an email from another paranormal group requesting an investigation. Then another call for a request comes in, then another and so on. You accept a couple of groups to come in. You rearrange your schedule for them to do their investigation. They complete their overnight investigation and say thank you and good night. They come back to you and share their experience and evidence. Nothing more said. That might be the case for some paranormal groups. So here is another paranormal group that wants to investigate your location. By this time, it’s getting out of hand and an inconvenient for you to change your schedule to fit their overnight investigations. Then another paranormal group that is truly passionate about the paranormal. They want to find out more information, take the time to talk to you one on one and find out the history of your location. This paranormal group wants to find out about the

ghosts/spirits that reside in your location. Who they really are and why they are there. But after you have dealt with other paranormal groups, you decline this paranormal group’s request. This is all understandable. It must be so hard to deal with so many calls and rearranging your schedule, making sure there is someone there at all times during your investigation. Now some owners or persons that are in charge of a location, enjoy having paranormal groups to come out to conduct an investigation. Number one reason: publicity. This gets people out to their location, and if there is a hint of paranormal activity, the curious will come. If the paranormal groups have collected some evidence from that location, other paranormal groups would want to see if they could capture something different or even more evidence. More groups and more visitors come to your location and your exposure is becoming well known. But after all this, what is in it for you, the owner. Paranormal groups gather all the evidence from your location and they either keep it from the public, as the owner requested or they share it on their website. Does this help you, other then branding your location being haunted? Would you allow longer investigations to collect more evidence from a paranormal group? Can those groups find more solid evidence to find out more about who they are or who are still lingering there? Ghosts that reside in your location do not act on cue. The hours are different when they appear. It could be 11 in the morning when they are seen or heard or it can be 2 in the afternoon. It depends on them (ghost or spirits). So, would a week’s worth of investigation and research help? If I was able to be at a location for a week, my main priority would be to find out who is there, why they are there and give the owner more solid proof other then a couple of evps. More video collected, more digital recordings collected, as well as photos. I really don’t think we can touch the surface and the knowledge that we can gain by just investigating for one day or night. Could we find out more in a week? Could we find out who still resides there? Could we find out names, dates, messages? Yes, I strongly believe we can.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ • When did you realize that your location was known to have paranormal activity? Here I asked a couple of owners/ operators of locations that have been stated to have paranormal activity about paranormal groups that have investigated their locations. • Can you give us a brief historical background of your location and your position at this location?

~ Tom Muir ~ Before taking the job of curator I read several web postings and archived news articles describing paranormal activities and folklore at the building.

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ Probably after the first investigation a couple of years ago, anything prior to that would have to be from the previous owner. • Have you or anyone else within your location ever experience any paranormal activity? ~Tom Muir ~ The articles indicated the previous curator and other staff had been interested in possible paranormal activities in the building.

~Tom Muir ~ The old Polk County Courthouse first opened to the public in 1909. It is the third courthouse structure to occupy the 100 block of East Main Street in Bartow. The first historical objects were displayed in the building during the celebration of Polk’s centennial in 1961, and the first museum curator was hired in 1979. As the usage of the building was gradually vacated by the Clerk of the Court the building under went a decade of rehabilitation before reopening as the Polk County Historical Museum in 1998. As the center of many Polk County community affairs, the building has over one hundred years of rich and sentimental history for our citizens and visitors. I have had the privilege of serving as Curator since 2006.

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ Pat (maintenance mechanic) and I spent the most time in the theatre, we have heard creeks and we hear movements of the building, but it’s built in 1921 but I don’t always attribute that to anything. The only thing I thought seem a little odd was coming from the back stage one night. As I am leaving, I knock on the stage when I pass by, something that I do as a habit, and as I was walking by the stage, the hairs on the back of my neck went straight up. I felt weird and needed to leave, about a month later the same thing happen, and still felt that I had to leave. Again, for the third time coming from the back stage, the hairs went right up on the back neck. That was the last time I experienced that. There really haven’t been any experiences, other then that. I have never heard any moans, never seen things out of the corner of my eye, or movements, or strange things. I would like to be able to tell people that we do, but we have to be honest and to date I really don’t believe this place to be haunted. • Did you contact a paranormal team to investigate your location? When and why.

~Tom Muir ~ We have hosted a few investigations in the

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ The capitol theatre opened in 1921 as movie/vaudeville house showing silent films back in the 1920’s to the plays and shows currently being seen today

museum beginning in 2007 and more recently in 2010. Groups included Doug Kelly and Spiriteam (Punta Gorda), and Apollo Paranormal ( Apollo Beach ). The goal was to gather information in support of public presentations at the museum.

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ No, due to the previous owners’ stories of the Capitol Theatre being haunted, there was no need

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ to contact any paranormal group to conduct paranormal investigations. They all have come to us.

groups who would like to conduct individual investigations of the building.

• Can you share your experience with dealing with the paranormal group that investigated your location?

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ We are always open to paranormal

~Tom Muir ~ All the individuals who have participated in

An asset or an inconvenient

investigations at the museum during my tenure have been respectful of the museum and a pleasure to work with and get to know. As an observer of the investigations, there have been a few instances where I have witnessed the unexplainable.

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ The groups would come in and I would give them a tour of the theatre, share some history and let them set up. I would hang in the background and let them investigate.

investigations.

~Tom Muir ~ Certainly the enthusiasm and support for sharing Florida history and preserving historic places by paranormal investigators is an asset. The priority should always be presenting well researched and accurate interpretation of the past to museum audiences. It is not always convenient to serve the schedules and needs of avocational investigators for a controlled environment which suites their individual investigation needs at a public facility.

• Did you learn any valuable information through their investigation? Tom Muir Photo, provided by Tom Muir

~Tom Muir ~ The information and perspectives that investigators have shared about the art, science and techniques of paranormal investigation have always been interesting and entertaining for the museum’s public and myself.

~ Jeff Hartzog ~ No one has ever come back and said, oh yes there’s something specific here; it’s been more so on the psychic part of it. They have had feelings, or felt something, but I have not seen anything that has come back. As far as the only valuable information, there has been nothing definitive. When the Psychic Kids from A&E did come in to do an investigation here last year, those kids did pick up on something that was more telling then any spike from an emf detector. I would like to have some evidence, solid evidence. • Would you consider accepting more paranormal groups investigate your location?

~Tom Muir ~ From our experience, modern electrical and mechanical systems in the building and the layout of interior spaces do not make an ideal environment for scientific investigation. We are not planning any additional investigations in the near future. At this time, due to our limited time, staff and fiscal resources, we are not able to serve the many small

Jeff Hartzog Photo, by Alice Mary Herden

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Interview

John

Robert

Colombo

Mr. Colombo, thank you for taking the time to fill my request for an interview for our magazine. I am pleased that you are interested and pleased to be asked. • Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your interest in the paranormal. Urge your readers check my website (www.colombo.ca), where they will see that I have a number of identities – as does everyone else. (The word "my," by the way, is the short version of the word "many.") For instance, I work as an author and anthologist. I am known as the Canadian "Bartlett" for my collections of quotations, as "the Master Gatherer" for collections of lore and literature, and "Canada’s Mr. Mystery" for my thirty-odd books about the paranormal and the parapsychological, etc. The latter interest is the longest-lasting of the lot, for my earliest memories are of experiencing "the sense of awe and wonder" in the face of the starry indifference of the universe. • The books that you have written are Haunted Toronto, Strange But True, Ghost Stories of Canada – just to name a few. What inspired you to write about the paranormal, not only once but several times. Not "several times" but innumerable times. I have pioneered the research and publication of popular books about the mysteries of Canada. Two books preceded mine – the first written by the psychical researcher R.S.

Lambert, the second written by the parapsychologist A.R.G. Owen. My own book Mysterious Canada is the third. (I give the titles of the two earlier books in the prefaces to the various volumes that I have compiled.) After I travelled the highways of Canadiana in such tomes as Colombo’s Canadian Quotations and Colombo’s Canadian References, I resolved to travel the bypaths in a series of books about Canadian mysteries. The pathways are "the mysteries." Puzzles may be solved, but not mysteries. Most of these – like the abandonment of the Marie Celeste, the most famous mystery ship of all time, and the Great Amherst Mystery which was responsible for the events that later took place at Borley Rectory, "the most haunted house in England" – were ignored by generations of historians, psychologists, and sociologists. So I tackled them. I then specialized in gathering "told-astrue" accounts of strange and unusual experiences. I have over 700 of them. I have argued that these narratives, which I call "memorates" (using the folkloristic term), constitute the best evidence for operation of the paranormal in everyday life. Not proof, but evidence. These are stories people tell one another. I discuss their three-fold characteristics in the prefaces of my books. •Before taking on the long task of gathering all these ghost stories to include in your books, would it be necessary to be somewhat of a non-skeptic of the paranormal? Belief is incidental. Does the lawyer "believe" his client? Maybe; maybe not. I do not believe in ghosts; I do not dosbelieve in ghosts; I am interested in ghost stories. Few people are interested enough to study the reports of their appearances – and disappearances. • Of all the ghost stories that people have shared with you, is there one particular story that made you leery of the existence of the paranormal and is there one story that made you question your own belief?

No, no. While I do not believe in ghosts or spirits, I remain very interested in stories about them. In a sense I believe in these, the stories, in that I assume the narrator is telling "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." In some instances (often the most exciting instances) I have my doubts as to whether the informant would recognize the truth if he or she saw it. But I am willing to give him or

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ her the "benefit of the doubt." Simply seeing a ghost or sensing the presence of a spirit does not in any way guarantee the existence of that ghost (entity) or spirit (power). What has yet to be explained is their enduring interest. • In your statement: "The field is an interesting one but its perennial fascination is that it leads to no proofs — no firm conclusions". Would you consider that there is proof of the existence of spirits or ghosts, but rather no logical explanation of why existence?

There is no proof, a point that the celebrated lexicographer Samuel Johnson made in the mid-eighteenth century, alluding to the curious fact that after two thousand years of civilization, people are still divided on the subject. It reminds me of chiropractic – after more than a century of the practice, people are still maintaining, "It really works." If it clearly worked, people would not be vehemently making that claim. The same with acupuncture, only in this instance it is more than a millennium of practice. The claims are too grand and unspecified to be meaningful.

• If there was a chance that you have personally encounter a paranormal experience, not just one experience but several experiences over a long period of time. How would you handle that experience and how would you explain that to a non-believer. How can anyone "encounter a paranormal experience"? Someone has an experience or someone does not have an experience. Perhaps a person can encounter a ghost or spirit; perhaps not. I am not a medium or a psychic or a "sensitive," but I do not doubt that some people may be so described. Only one experience rattled me and that was when my wife Ruth and I visited a psychic in the small town of Petrich in Bulgaria, and the aged blind seer began to tell us details about our lives that she could not otherwise have know. It was an uncanny performance. What interests me is not the details that she shared with us, but the context of the experience itself, its aura. • If you put yourself on the other side of reality, a dimension of light and spirit where only the sight of your existence is a faded sheer of mist and you have one opportunity to communicate by leaving a letter to the

other side of reality. What words of poetry would you express? Whatever is "the other side of reality"? Whatever is "a faded sheer of mist"? I take it you are referring to physical death and along with it the "survival hypothesis," i.e., the dead continue to live but "on another plain." Yet nothing in psychical research or parapsychology establishes the existence of ghosts or the presence of spirits. It may be true "you cannot die" but it is a belief, a faith, nothing more. The lines of verse that I would recall are these: "Where I come from, / Nobody knows. / Where I am going, / Everybody goes. / The wind blows, / The sea flows, / And nobody knows.

• Thank you again, Mr. Colombo!

Remember, "I shall return ....

Photo provided by Mr. Colombo

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Encounters

There are some people that have claims they have been touched, pushed, the feeling of being chocked and even scratched by a ghost or spirit. And of course there are people that have their explanation on why ghost or spirits do have physical contact and the non-believers give their logical explanation of the sensations that you are feeling. As you know, with the reality shows and with some paranormal groups during their investigations, ASK for the something to happen. Why? People, it’s a reality show. But in your reality, it’s happening, and the drama is something you really don’t want to deal with. You really want to scream at the television, say what you have to say, and tell them, if you could only go through what I have gone through or I am going through.

Personal Contact I have first hand experience on personal contact with the unknown. I can tell you that this is the most frightening experience I ever encountered in my life. If you have ever experienced some type of personal contact with a spirit or ghost, it can make you extremely unsettled, or it can not bother you at all. There could be times that you experience this personal contact on a daily basis, and then again there are times it happens very seldom. You don’t know who or what it is, or even why they are personally touching you. Personal Contacts: • Touching

I do know that if you do experience the subtle approach of a spirit or ghost, could you embrace it? You don’t know who that spirit is; it could be a lost loved one, a beloved pet that passed on, or even someone that is comforting you when you’re sad. For the harsher ones that do have an aggressive approach, leave them alone. Don’t push the issue, and don’t dramatize the situation. Apologize and leave their space when this does happen. Would this help your situation, it doesn’t hurt to try. This could be just a one occurrence, but if this personal contact continues, it might be the time to get some type of closure. You could call a local paranormal group and go from there. They might be able to find out how this spirit is and help you find some type of clousure. Your experiences might mean something different, to them. So explain to them everything that you are encountering. Would or should they collect evidence first and then go into a second investigation. That would be wise. Just remember, no matter how subtle or advanced your situation may be, the paranormal team should and never provoke these spirits. When I had that experience at our old house, yes, I was confused and didn’t know what was going on. I really don’t remember much after that. Did I tell my mom? I don’t know. Was I scared after that? I don’t know. Did I block it out, most likely.

• Pulling of the hair • Pushing • Scratching

Remember, you have to conclude what is happening in your own personal encounters, this might help you accept what is going on. Our family just carried on with our day to day life, could this help you? You can try.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ To understand more about this, I asked an expert. Some of you might recognize Mr. Senate. He is one of the featured experts from the television show Ghost Adventures which airs on the Travel Channel.

phantom to get the attention of the living. Ghosts can be manifest by all of the five senses as well a sixth sense --psychic impressions. Most often this feeling is described as the feeling of being watched or stalked. I do not believe ghosts who touch are in any way different from other contacts--even if some of the touching can be described as negative or scary. I believe these touches are a sort of message. • When a person gets touched or their hair pulled, do you feel that this is one way to get their attention? Yes, the spirit is seeking to be known. This is one means to do so. Also some of the touching can be symbolic--as a way to identify who the spirit is. Normal Vincent Peel told of feeling the caress of his mother only to learn she had passed over that same day and hour. • There are claims that some people get pushed, would this be considered one way that the ghost or spirit shares some type of emotional release?

• Can you share with our readers about you and how long you have been interested in the paranormal? I am a historian and Archaeologist, spending much of my career working in museums. It was while I was on a dig that I encountered a ghost monk at one of the California Missions. I wasn't expecting it nor was I seeking a ghostly experience. This was in July of 1978. I have been seeking answers to what happened from that night on. I have been to well over 200 haunted sites and I have authored 18 books so far. I continue to investigate and try to discover the true nature of ghosts and haunted places. I have had the good fortune to work with some of the greats in the study, from Dr. Thelma Moss, to the late Dr. Hans Holzer. In 2010 I was listed as one of the Top Ten ghost hunters in the United States, a high honor indeed. I have found ghost hunting has grown from a hobby into a second career and I have met some wonderful people in this quest. • What are your thoughts or theories about ghosts or spirits that personally have human contact by touching, pulling of the hair and so forth? I believe touching is just another form of communication-like hearing, seeing and smelling. It is a way for the

Yes, but I am skeptical about many such claims. It is dramatic but perhaps overly so. So many ghost TV shows have what I call the "gotcha moment" when one of the star ghost hunters yells "Something touched me!" Is it real? Perhaps. Or is it just to gain ratings? Hard to say. Ghosts are, I believe bundles of energy. There is little logic with ghosts--just emotions trapped in time and space. • When a person claims that they have been scratched, could this possible be a ghost or spirit of an animal whether then one of a human ghost/spirit? Scratches could be supernatural or they might be something else. A person can scratch themselves. Many look like they were caused by a needle of some sort. I am skeptical but open to the possibility. Again, when they are part of a TV show I wonder if they are caused by a desire to gain ratings rather than a real event. I have never had such an experience myself even when I have demanded that the ghost punch or scratch me. If it’s real, it might be related in some fashion to the phenomena of the stigmata. The mind is a powerful thing and may well be causing these wounds. • What would your conclusion be if one person in a family of 6 was the only one in that family to experience any of these encounters?

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ One theory might be that the one person is psychic and the others are not. Or that the phantom has somehow selected this one person as his focus for some reason. It might also mean that this one person is seeking attention. Each case is different--that I have learned--it is a foolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s errand to attempt to generalize when it comes to ghosts and haunted houses. Each one is unique. â&#x20AC;˘ I have been through some experiences of personal contact and I do have a story to tell. I would like to have your response and/or opinions about this story. While at our old house, I was taking a nap. I awoke to the feeling that I could not move. There was a pressure like someone was actually lying on top of me. I could not move, could not move my arms, nor could I scream. I struggled so hard to let loose. After a few minutes I was released. A very common sort of story. Answer One: You were not fully awake in that dream world between sleep and being awake. You only thought you were awake and dreaming the while thing. Answer Two: You were suffering from a pinched nerve of some sort. Answer Three, a ghost or evil spirit was tormenting you. Take your pick but I lean on the first answer. These sorts of events are very common. Thank you so much for your time! I hope these answers help you in your project--we have much to learn about the nature of the paranormal. Richard Senate Photo provided by Richard Senate http://richardsenate.com/

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Paranormal Folklore

Birds In Folklore, Birds are known to be everything from messengers of the Gods to souls of the dead. You have African Folklore to Egyptian Folklore. Each folklore legend has its own symbolic meaning to each bird. There are too many to list, here are the main two birds most common in Folklore.

The Crow/Raven

(http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven. html) Both the Crow and the Raven look similar in appearance but have differences in the behaviors, habitats and color. The Crow is smaller then the Raven as well as having a green tint when the sun is shining upon their feathers. The Ravens feathers have a blue or purple tint. Ravens can live up to 30 years as only the Crows’ life span is only around 8 years. • Crows and ravens: harbingers (foreshadows of what is to come) of death Ravens are also known to be the Keeper of Secrets. • In Native American, Black is the color of magical power. As for the Raven, is the mystery of that yet to to be formed? The Raven is also known in Native American folklore to be guardian of ceremonial magic and healing circles. In China, Ravens are considered the solar symbol in Chinese mythology. Crows are symbolic to the spiritual aspect of death or the transition of the sprit to the afterlife, as the Raven is looked upon as a negative aspect of death. Another statement is that crows are kind birds and known to take care of their old and weaken parents. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_piety) Germany: Crows were able to find the souls of the dead. Sweden Lore: Crows calls were those of the souls of murdered people who have not been buried properly.

When we first hear the word Crow or Raven, Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “The Raven” comes to mind.

But then you get the dark side of the crow and raven; in European folklore, Ravens were considered in Europe Christian times, darkness, destructive and evil. They believed that the Raven would be the transformation of Witches and the Devil.

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered – Edgar Allan Poe

Intelligent birds they are, the tainted negative side will tarnish them. If you do see a Crow or a Raven, take the time to really look at them. Look at how their feathers have that beautiful color tint when the sunlight glistens up on them.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------(http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19453359/Birds--African-Folklore) http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_C row/lifehistory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions _of_ravens (http://www.suite101.com/content/ravens-andcrows-halloween-symbols-a73933) http://www.druidry.org/obod/lore/animal/raven .html Raven photo by Jesselee Lang

http://www.avianweb.com/vultures.htm

Vultures The Black Vulture photo by Alice Mary Herden My favorite bird would be the vulture. I always considered them to be soul keepers. One reason is because they are carrion. While consuming the flesh of the carrion, they are inhaling their souls. Between the Old World and New World Vultures, there are about 20 different species. Most common are the Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture around our area. The Vulture can live up to 18 years and larger species can live to around 50 years. In African Folklore, Vultures were highly respected and stories told that Vultures were the reincarnated souls of warriors who have died bravely in battle. Persian lore: Guardians of the Gates of Hell Greek Lore: Guarded wisdom about life and death

Get the tee:

Egyptian Lore: Symbols of Power

http://www.zazzle.com/raven_and_skull_tshirt235558742974980358

Sources: (http://www.suite101.com/content/vulturesspooky-birdsfor-halloween-a74108)

Raven and Skull illustration by Alice Mary Herden

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Famous Places Battle Abbey

The most daunting part of writing about Battle Abbey has been deciding where to begin. To say that it is a combination of post Middle Age buildings of massive size and grandeur built among the ruins and remaining structures of a medieval religious complex in England supposes that we are all very knowledgeable and conversant regarding British history and landmarks. Congratulations to the history buffs out there who are well versed, but this article is geared mainly to the rest of us as an “offbeat” history lesson of sorts. Knowing a little bit about the factions we will discuss, namely the Normans and the Saxons, is important. The Normans, whose name is derived from Northmen or

Norsemen, were mainly descended from the Vikings who founded Normandy in France. They were famed for their culture, music, architecture and naval/military prowess. The Saxons or Anglo-Saxons were a collective of Germanic peoples who invaded or migrated to Britannia around the time of the collapse of the Roman Empire’s authority in the area. Tradition claims that they protected Britain’s coast from incursions by the Irish and other groups. Four Saxon realms emerged in a more unified Britain: Essex, Middlesex, Sussex and Wessex. An interesting, but unrelated footnote about the Saxons was the fact that in th the 13 century many migrated to inhabit an undeveloped area, in of all places, Transylvania. Now, I will introduce the major players. First is AngloSaxon King, Edward The Confessor born in 1003, crowned in 1043 and died in 1066 A.D. Edward was an ineffectual, wishy-washy King but a fanatically pious and celibate man, refusing even to sleep with his own wife in order to produce an heir. The lack of an heir to the throne and King Edward’s inability to be decisive would lead to a conflict of epic proportions. Next we will meet Earl Harold Godwinsen, a distant relative and courtier of Edward The Confessor. Harold often found fault with King Edward’s Norman (French) ideologies and allegiances. And, finally we will learn a about Duke William of Normandy also known as William the Bastard because his parents never married. The ambitious William often played the cordial sympathetic host to King Edward when he visited France. Now we will move on to the meat of the story. Allegedly, King Edward the Confessor first promised the throne to William of Normandy in 1051 as a reward for kind treatment and hospitality received as a guest of William’s in Normandy. William thought it was a done deal; he would be the next King of England. True to form, however, Edward the Confessor changed his mind on his deathbed and proclaimed his kinsman Harold Godwinsen his heir. Harold as a member of the King’s Anglo-Saxon bloodline was quickly confirmed by local law and crowned King Harold in early 1066. Across the English Channel in France an incensed William felt betrayed that his “legitimate” claim to the throne had been usurped, he appealed to the Church in Rome. William was quickly rewarded with papal confirmation that he was indeed the rightful King of England as yet uncrowned and further the Pope also sanctioned a Holy War against Harold and the Saxons.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Many intrigues were to follow over the next few months in this medieval soap opera, with Harold and William playing a fiercely competitive and deadly game of cat and mouse. Sides had been chosen by the populace and on the morning of October 14, 1066, on an isthmus of land divided by Telham Hill in Hastings, Sussex, England, the 2 armies made ready for the decisive battle. The Normans armed with kite shaped shields, massive spears and swords and mounted on their steeds stood ready. The Saxons arrived on foot, wielding only heavy axes and clubs. Despite the apparent mismatch the battle went on for several hours with heavy casualties on both sides. Neither side could boast a huge advantage but historians in the field of military strategy, believe that if Harold and the Saxons had held their position they most likely would have emerged victorious. But, at twilight William’s Norman army faked a retreat and when the Saxon army advanced to pursue they were left out in the open, unprotected. William’s men turned around with stampeding horses and slaughtered most of the unprepared and surprised army of Anglo-Saxons. King Harold held out till the very end but was reportedly slain by a sword being thrust through his eye and into his brain.. He died instantly, the last AngloSaxon King ever to rule England. In the morning, Norman corpses were carefully identified and buried while the Saxon corpses were left to rot on the ground. According to legend one of William’s first decrees after the Battle of Hastings was to immediately begin to build an Abbey at the site, with a High Altar to be erected at the exact site where King Harold had died. It was said that King William built the Abbey Originally named the Abbey of Saint Martin, as a means to atone for all the lives lost during the Battle of Hastings. On Christmas Day of 1066 at the newly completed and consecrated Westminster Abbey, William the Bastard was crowned King William. History recalls him as William the Conqueror. The building of the Abbey was slowed by many construction problems, chiefly the difficulty in quarrying huge stones and transporting them from far far away. Nearly 30 years went by before the Abbey was consecrated in February of 1095, and though William the Conqueror oversaw the building and completion of many castles and landmarks (most notably the Tower of London) he did not live to see Battle Abbey as it was familiarly called, completed. During the years of the Abbey’s construction a small town sprang up adjacent to the

building site as residence community for the construction workers and their families. The town was named Battle and it was named for the Abbey not vice versa. Today little of the original Norman Abbey remains. The massive Gatehouse built around 1338 as well as some later structures still stand surrounded by gardens and fields. Long gone is the High Altar built at the site of King Harold’s last stand- in its place is a commemorative plaque set in the ground. This setting so steeped in history and accentuated by the grandeur of castle like structures that have stood in vigil for centuries make this a likely place for paranormal investigation. Indeed one might expect rampant paranormal activity, and yet while it is one of Great Britain’s most haunted locations it boasts only a handful of documented phenomena. Five spirits are said to frequent the Abbot’s House, 3 of them have been seen, and the other 2 remain unseen. A Norman Knight has been seen sitting on his trusty steed in the huge Common House and interestingly he usually appears on or near the anniversary th date of the Battle of Hasting, October 14 . A monk clad all in black appears from time to time in the guest house, the Monk’s Walk and at the vicarage of Saint Mary’s Church. King Harold has also been seen, often with a sword or arrow protruding from his head. And, finally there is an unsubstantiated rumor that after a storm the blood of those who perished at The Battle of Hastings seeps from the ground.. Whether or not these apparitions and events actually occur as reported is predictably up for debate. What would draw me to this place is the possibility of supernatural encounters against the backdrop of this serene corridor in the beautiful English countryside with an ability to hold and transmit the energy, history and echoing memories of days gone by. Inevitably the aura of such a place would transport my senses and imagination through the portals of time and space to a spine tingling experience where the past and present coexist…..And that would be irresistible!!!

By, Karen A. Bashak. Written and submitted in loving memory of 1 tiny angel, my recently deceased Chihuahua, Dixie Chick (Dinkie). Till we meet Again!

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Famous Hauntings

Bell Witch

animal, then it disappeared. From that time on, strange things seemed to happen to him and his family. Over time, the spirit gained more strength and became more enticing to pranks and so forth. Everything from gnarling, whispers, voices, knocking and pulling the sheets off the children’s beds, were stated by the family. But at times, it is told, she wasn’t that bad. She was nice, read scripture and even sang. When Mr. Bell told a neighbor about the experiences he was having, the word got out about these strange occurrences the Bell Family was encountering. The activity of the Bell family even reached its way to Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s curious mind swayed his travels to visit the Bell Family to witness this phenomenon for his own satisfaction. Not only did Kate Batts have it out for Mr. Bell, but also his daughter Betsy Bell. It is said she haunted Betsy until she broke off the engagement to her first love Joshua Gardner. Why she wouldn’t let her marry him… maybe Kate foresaw the future and didn’t feel that Joshua would make a good husband. Everything settled down after the death of Mr. Bell and when Betsy broke off her engagement, so not much else has been told. Was this a true haunting by Kate Batts or someone else? Did Andrew Jackson really visit the Bell Family and witness any poltergeist activity? Not sure, maybe someday we can visit this place.

The Legend starts back in 1817 in the hills of Tennessee, when John Bell purchased some land in Robertson County. The story of the Bell Witch has been told in a couple of different ways for over 200 years. First, who is the Bell Witch? The common name from story to story would be that of a middle aged lady called Kate Batts. The story goes, well one version is that Mr. Bell cheated her out of land and another story is Mr. Bell had a bad business deal with Kate Batts over some slaves. Whether the less, she had it out for Mr. Bell. So according to legend, on her deathbed, she swore to get revenge. And so it was told. Then another account of the Bell Witch is when Mr. Bell was out inspecting his crops, he noticed a strange unusual

Sources: http://www.prairieghosts.com/b-cave.html http://www.bellwitch.org/story.htm http://www.bellwitch.biz (Photo by Alice Mary Herden)

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Special Ghost Story

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 86-71836

THUNDER OVER NEW ENGLAND

ISBN: 0-8158-0436-9 Published again by

Benjamin Bonnell, The Loyalist

Paul J. Bunnell, UE

A Loyalist Story & Family Genealogy

Willow Bend Books

Including Other Loyalist Bunnell/Bonnell Genealogies

Westminster, Md. Copyright ÂŠ 2003

Chapter 13 CURIOSITY BROUGHT HIM BACK You Decide: Is It Benjamin? The Case of the Haunting Ancestor of Benjamin Bonnell, U.E.

New and Revised Edition

By Paul J. Bunnell, UE Revised & Updated

Previously Published By Paul J. Bunnell,, UE Copyright ÂŠ 1988 Christopher Publishing House Hanover, Ma. All rights released back to author

We all have had strange and funny feelings at times while researching our ancestors. An impulse to pull into a cemetery and finding a relative, the strong desire to open a certain book and discovering a record or history of on them, a compelling urge to look up a certain census suddenly finding your family you didn't know lived there. Or what about discovering a place you felt you have already visited? Better yet; how about being followed by your ancestor! Most genealogists cannot deny not having at least one of these feelings. I want to share my very special and shocking experience, which opened my eyes to the unknown and unexpected. Benjamin Bonnell, my seventh generation grandparent was possibly born in Morris County, New Jersey around 1744. After many years of intense research at the Trenton, New Jersey Archives, New York libraries, Connecticut historical sites, and the New Brunswick Archives at Fredericton, the Saint John Public Library, New Brunswick Museum and historical and genealogical societies throughout the Saint John area, I put together a fairly good picture of Ben's life. I found myself very attached to him, compared to other ancestors. This special bond grew with every bit of information gathered. Ben and I were buddies.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ The record picks up with him and his family being disowned by the Quakers in Morris County, New Jersey for having been involved with the Revolutionary War. I found that he was an American Loyalist. Losing everything in New Jersey, he fled to New York City as a refugee with his two children and wife, Sarah (Jones). He signed up with Brig. General, Benedict Arnold in the American Legion in August 1781. Ben and his family left New York City in the Great Exodus of 1783 when the British lost America. Between 30,000 to 100,000 Loyalists had to evacuate to many areas of the globe, mostly to Canada. In the July fleet of that same year, Ben and family landed at Saint John with very little. Living in tents for several months he and his small family were granted 10 acres of land on the West Side of Saint John in 1784. Conditions were horrible. By August 1786, Ben was finally granted 200 acres, a real place to settle, lot number one at the very end of Long Reach in Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick. 110 He built a modest home overlooking the Saint John River, carved out a beautiful farm and finally faded away from the Revolutionary War and all its terrible memories. They lived there from 1786 to 1811. John Crabb, another loyalist, had a place for sale across the river slightly north of Westfield in Greenwich Village on Devils Back Mountain just south of Brown's Flat. After selling his Long Reach property, Ben purchased the 200 acres at Devils Back. High up on the plateau, Ben and his family commanded a million dollar view of the Saint John River Valley in that area. His final retreat from society lasted from 1811 to 17 Feb. 1828, the day he died.

to enter the past of my ancestor on top Devils Back. I was hoping to get pictures of a possible cellar foundation to his old cabin and an old overgrown apple orchard near it. The feeling of awe ran through my entire body as I walked a narrow path by old farm fields overgrown, the apple orchard grown wild. I took my camera a snapped all around as I felt the history and life of my family tingling through my nervous system. In my mind I saw Ben's sons working the field, Sarah picking apples off the trees and Ben sitting on a porch whittling away on a piece of wood, rocking in his chair. What a beautiful life, I thought. The day was perfect. The sky was crystal clear with very few clouds. There was no trace of fog from the river three hundred feet below. I wandered to the edge of Devils Back and found a view of the Saint John River that was breathtaking. What a paradise, I thought. Suddenly I got the sensation to turn around and take a picture of the small path I just came down. It had no meaning or reason to me, but I did. There was a funky old chair just outside the door of a run-down shack that the Delong family probably built around the 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I did feel like a presence was around me but shrugged it off as my overall feelings of just being there.

Ft. Griswold stone read by psychic

Present Day Giving you a general description of his life brings you right up to the time I went to his last resting-place on top the Devils Back Mountain in the village of Greenwich on Tuesday, 27 August 1985 between three and four oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the afternoon. Present day Route 102 cuts right through the 200 acres, but a good 100 acres lay straight up the mountain to the area where Ben and Sarah lived and where Ben supposedly died. Butterflies fluttered throughout my stomach as I started to climb the steep hill. The Delong family was kind enough to give me permission

A few minutes later, I found myself drifting slowly back down the path and taking one last look as I turned around viewing the overgrown farm of my family. Wild berries were growing everywhere and the water table was so high the small springs were sprouting up out of the wild grass everywhere. There still were some big trees, pine and birch that survived the cutters ax. I pictured family

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ members sitting under their shady limbs, maybe beautiful Sarah Day getting her proposal for marriage from son Benjamin. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t locate the house foundation so I just took more shots of the landscape around me. My body shook with excitement just knowing and feeling the family all around me.

they were. Without hesitation she looks up at us and says that this is my ancestor and he is following me around, wondering why I was looking for him and researching him

111 My twelve-hour drive back home to Cape Cod, Massachusetts seemed to take one hour. I was in a daze the entire time thinking of the calm feeling I had while up on Devils Back. The following day I asked my wife to have my photos developed right away because I couldn't wait to share my experience, one quite similar to my visit to Fort Griswold, Connecticut where a terrible battle and slaughter took place in 1781 with Ben and Benedict Arnold and army burning New London to the ground and wiping out Patriot troops who were unarmed at Fort Griswold. So moved by that visit, I took a small brick fragment that I found from the center of the fort for a keepsake.

for so long. He also wanted to know why I was up on his mountain.

Ghost photo 1985. Ben is blue cloud in background. My wife, Leslie brought my pictures to my office and I gazed with pleasure as I showed her what moved me so much. She brought to my attention a few photos with spots on them (3), but one was very special because it stood out the most. I looked down at it in surprise. It was the one I turn and took the photo of the path and bushes for no reason, but a strong desire. The spot was bright blue and was drifting in the air in front of the bushes on the path. The strange spot was in the photo, not on the paper. I checked the negative and found the spot to be in with the grass and bushes, clearly not a developing problem. I looked up at Leslie and wondered; could it be? The following few days took my wife to several photographers to examine the photo. All judged it to be genuine and in the photo on the negative and not a case of sun glares, flashes, smoke or haze. Our excitement grew and the following week we discovered a psychic fair was in town. We had nothing to lose so we took the photos and a grabbed my brick fragment to add to our upcoming reading. Donna Miller was our choice of psychic, not ever meeting her before she had recently moved to Cape Cod from Florida. I felt that our $12, fifteen-minute meeting shot me like a bullet, a bullet to the heart. I first handed Donna the photos never saying a word about where, what or who

112 I nearly lost ten years of my life... How did this young girl know all this? I was shocked and surprise but not enough to hand her my little stone. This time she took a little time and held the stone in both hands closing her eyes. She suddenly became very upset and handed it back to me telling me she did not want to read into it any longer. Puzzled, I asked her what she saw or felt. She said; this stone is a very negative stone and I feel a lot of sadness with it. I see a lot of flames and fire with many bodies lying around a field. My genealogical foundations were now shaken loose. I couldn't believe what this girl was telling me. She saw everything. I quickly invited her to our home for a private meeting because I had ten thousand questions and documents I wanted her to find for me. Those few days wait drove me crazy. I checked over all kinds of problems I was having in my research. I didn't know what to throw at her. Then I decided to stay on the same subject and the same man.... Benjamin. I needed more information and proof of his birthplace and who his parents were. This would be the area I would concentrate on. Not telling Donna any new information or what I had on Ben in the colonies, I asked her to try to find

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ any documents that could lead me to his home or just give me more information on him. This time she took a pencil and paper and closed her eyes and began drawing a map and to my surprise it was one of the New York/New Jersey coastlines. Then she took her pencil inland from New Jersey and drew the near perfect shape of Morris County, New Jersey. She blew me away. She then made a dot in the middle of that county and tried to spell out a town. This ended up being Succasunna. She told me his records were burned in a public building of some kind, like a courthouse or schoolhouse. I could possibly find these records elsewhere regarding Ben at this location. She also told me that he moved around a lot and that Ben was now at peace. She felt the town of Dover would play a part into his mystery. That night we both felt his presence with us. Donna said there was a special connection between Ben and I. She said his parents were possibly Benjamin and Abagail. The following day I put Donna's tale to the test. I wrote to the Trenton, New Jersey Archives and asked then to check their records on Succasunna for Ben. It didn't take long when I received a large envelope from the archives giving me the indictment papers for the arrest of Benjamin Bonnell in 1779 for carrying counterfeit money for the British. This document was from the New Jersey Supreme Court and recorded in the town of Succasunna, Morris County, New Jersey. This story doesn’t end here. I wrote a book on Benjamin’s life and upon near completion I wanted the cover picture to really mean something to this project. One early morning at 3 AM in 1986 I was awaken by a dream like vision. I saw three figures; a young boy with a jacket on holding fishing poles, a Farmer pushing a plow shear, and a revolutionary soldier. 113 What a perfect cover I thought. This vision presented the three phases in Benjamin’s life. The next morning at work I asked another employee who was a very good artist if he would draw out this image I had. I showed him a picture soldier, a boy and a Farmer. He took them and returned in a few days with an oval drawing of all three together. It was exactly what I wanted. I rushed it to my publisher and they bought the entire and started the process in making my first book, “Thunder Over New England, Benjamin Bonnell, The Loyalist” which would be printed in 1988.

In Mid-August 1986, I traveled to Westfield (Long Reach), New Brunswick, Canada to explore Ben’s land grant that King George III gave him for serving in the American Revolution. We found a Ferry at Westfield that would take us across the wide Saint John River to the shores of the Long Reach. As we approached the landing I noticed an old colonial building not far from the water’s edge. In back were a large campground and the old house served as a store in the bottom section. A large historical sign said “The Harding House built c. 1790”. I thought that this could not be true because I knew Ben was granted this 200 tract in 1786, and that the Harding family did not move into the house until into the 1800’s. I suddenly realized especially after talking to the owners, Howard and Diane Heans that the backside of this house was built by Benjamin. When Howard took me for a tour, I felt as if I was walking through a great religious experience. I was truly moved by it all. I did not realized until about a year later that I set foot on Ben’s land exactly 200 years later in August 1986, the same time as he did. The following year or two I kept in contact with the Heans family because Howard was restoring the home and was always finding artifacts. When my book was released in 1988, I traveled to New Brunswick for promotion and TV appearances. I made a point to stop by and visit the home. When Howard saw me he became very excited and led me into that old house to show me something. He said that the past May, during the loyalist celebration of their landing back in 1783 his workmen found something in the back part of the house. The section believed to be built by Ben. His excitement drove me wild. He grabbed a large box and first told me the story about their find. His workmen took down some old plaster exposing the opened beam wall to the original part of the house. And the found hanging on an old square nail the following items: A young boy’s loyalist jacket and a four-foot high twig fishing pole with the string still attached.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ York telling him the parentage of Ben. Richard Brotherton was writing from his home in DOVER, New Jersey! This letter was miraculously saved throughout the years to finally help solve this case. Going back to Benjamin’s indictment, I know find that after his name is a small entry that now clearly says, “Junior.” This is more proof that his father was Benjamin. The name Abigail turns out to be his grandmother’s name. Strange Message? October 2002

1780’s Loyalist Child Jacket, shoes and Fishing pole with string found 1988 in Ben’s wall. 114 He said the find brought the TV news out and the New Brunswick Museum wanted desperately to get possession of it because they did not have many civilian clothes from the loyalist period. They dated the jacket to be at least early 1780’s. I sat back against a table in pure shock. My god, this is my ancestor's clothing, and then I turned pale. Howard asked me if I was OK, but instead I grabbed him by the shoulder and instructed him to get a copy of my book I sent him a few months earlier. I stood there and stared at the jacket and pole until he returned. After he handed it to me, I pointed to the boy in my cover design, which became my logo, and then I pointed to the jacket and the pole that was uncovered from the wall. Howard stood back and now both our faces looked the same, my dream of two years earlier was before my very eyes. Nowadays, I look for anything leading me to my ancestor’s records.... Believe me; I am now open to any method. Update: 2 May 2002. Research conducted by William Austin regarding the identification of Benjamin’s parents brought to light one more key area that Donna Miller had noted during her readings. She said the town of Dover would play a part in solving the mystery of Ben’s source. In Mr. Austin’s excellent find of Ben’s parents, the major reference of proof comes from a letter dated 28 Nov. 1855 from Richard Brotherton to Charles Bonnell of Waterloo, New

My daughter and husband found a mouse in Haverhill, Massachusetts lying on a schoolyard parking lot. He was maybe one day old. Nearly an inch long and still very pink and blind they brought it to me hoping that I could save it. The poor creature was lost, hungry and I suppose very frightened. I covered him in a small cloth and sent my daughter to the drugstore for an eyedropper, and some canned milk. My infant instincts took over. For the next few days I fed him every two hours and held him close, as a mother would do to comfort her child. At night he was placed under a lamp for heat and I got up every two hours for feedings. 116 I became very attached to the little fellow, and he to me. I spent hours just staring at him take the food, holding the eyedropper and try to walk on my chest. He soon developed a little squeak and I could tell when he was hungry or mad. The outlook was not good after I checked out a care site on the Internet and found that the survival rate was only about 1%. That made me care for him even more. The poor little guy was so dependent on me for everything. I padded his small head and just kept him warm. I cleaned him as a mother would, but with a cloth to assure his toilet needs were met. But, on the fourth day I discovered my small friend had passed away sometime between 5:30 AM to 7 AM. I never thought such a short relationship could be so hard in accepting its loss. Living in an apartment gave me no choices for burial and the bathroom facilities in this case was not an option. So I chose a very special place in my town. The Amesbury Quaker Meeting House-ground. That was the spot I placed his very tiny body, wrapped in a sandwich zip-lock bag marked “Poor Little Mr. Haverhill Mouse.”

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________

Section today believed to be Ben’s outer building that is now in back of Harding House, Long Reach. When I sadly drove away after a brief service, I had suddenly thought what had just happened over the past four days. I had befriended a mouse that I buried at a Quaker Meeting House! If you recall at the beginning of this book, the fictional story I included about when Ben and his family were in the Rahway Meeting House for service and the little “Quaker Mouse” came running down the center of the room? This story was added in June 2002, five months before my encounter with a real “Quaker Mouse.”

Article and Photos provided by Paul J Bunnell Thank you! Paul, I wanted to tell you how much I really appreciate all that you have contributed to this issue of our magazine. You told me that your beloved wife passed on in 2008. I know she loves you and is so proud of you. The 41 years of love, life and laughter, her spirit will always live around you. It was an honor to meet you, share and learn from you. Don’t stop doing what you love. ~alice

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ 101

think about expenses, equipment, schedules and so forth. Plus you also have to find locations.

Paranormal Teams If we as paranormal researchers get more involved with each other, even though some of us have different views, standards and so forth, the purpose of being a paranormal investigator is what?

quaere vèrum

Building your team is the most difficult task to maintain. Some people want to get involved in a paranormal group because they have seen paranormal investigators on TV and it looks pretty cool. Others want to actually encounter something paranormal. “I just wish I could see something”, I tell them be careful what you wish for. Then the few that actually have a passion for this. One thing to remember is building your team on passion and doing the right thing. You are there to learn and find out the existence of the paranormal. Stop with the thrill, stop with the over drama and get to the research and finding out who they are and why they are here. Founders of paranormal groups that have that passion, really put 100% of their time into their groups. They eat, breathe and sleep the paranormal. Once that passion lets goes in the slightest, the group starts to fade. So keeping that passion going, is not an easy thing to do. You have to

Seek

the

truth.

Are there more paranormal groups then researchers in this field? Could it be possible to group together? Could it be possible to form an alliance? Can we find the truth, can we to find out the answers? I would like is to have a founder of a paranormal group that I can really trust and depend on. A person we can share our experiences, as well as evidence. Debunk or authenticate any video, photography and digital recordings, we have collected. Go on future investigations; dig deep in the history of the location and getting more solid evidence, or is this too much of a competition in the seeking of the holy grail of paranormal evidence. For me personally, it’s finding out who these ghost/spirits are. Your Team: First, ask yourself why you want to form a paranormal team. Is it for a thrill or is it for passion to know the unknown. If it’s for the thrill, don’t do it. If you want to do this to find out answers about the paranormal, then don’t be a hunter (I hate that word), be a researcher. When you become a researcher, this makes your whole experience more educational and sweeter to your soul.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ You are finding out the history of these people that have passed on. That is what a paranormal investigator is all about. Seeking the truth and collecting evidence.

Forms:

Representing your team:

When you are representing your team, what you do outside from your investigations, reflects your paranormal group. Whatever you do, you are representing your paranormal team as an organization. You have to build a strong representation of yourself and your members as well. You’re talking about your reputation as a paranormal group. How you treat others, and what you do outside your group, tells others about your desire. Paranormal Envy: Yes, this does happen. Not often, but it does. I did have this happen to our group. The envy part was not by us, but by another paranormal group. When we were schedule to do an investigation at this one location, I did not know that the media was going to be there. I was so uncomfortable about this, since this was our first investigation, as a group. Well, another group got word of that and I guess you could say she was upset. Words were written and emotions were shared on their part, I pretty much let it go. What is important is how you standardize your team. Do you think it was appropriate for the groups’ founder to be “acting” like she did? How do you think other people view her and her group after this? You as a founder of an organization, you represent everyone in your team and that follows with every member in your group. From what every member does to how they perform investigations.

Founders should create some type of member form. This will detail what your standards are for the members of your group. Be very clear on your standards. They have to understand that you are not in this for a hobby, your creating this group to be professional and to enrich themselves with historical education and walking into the path of unknown experiences. Some experiences they encounter might be subtle while other encounters might be confusing and/or misunderstood. Also, you must stress that patience is a key to anyone involving paranormal investigations and research. Every member you have, regardless if they are a family member or close friend, they must fill out some type of liability waiver form. This protects you and them. Your liability waiver form should include accidents, property damage and physiological effects as well. Stress that they are joining this at their own risk. You should also have release forms to be signed by the owners before you conduct your investigation, especially if you do overnight investigations and residential investigations. Make sure every member has some type of health insurance; hopefully they have insurance through their work. Piggy Bank: Setting up a piggy bank for your group is a must. A PayPal account is a good way to start. You can add some extra dollars here and there to pay for any expenses or donations that you make to the locations you investigate. This is also a good savings account for future equipment you are in need of. This way every member knows where their contributions are going towards.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Identification:

Equipment:

Having some type of identification is essential for your group. Some ways you can identify yourself are tee-shirts, business cards, and photo badges. Finding locations: There are locations that have been ruin by trespassers and the less caring. Why they trespass and trash these locations, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. It just destroys the historical memories of these buildings. Luckily, there are some people that purchase these abandon places to keep that history and open those places up to paranormal investigators. I adore these people and commend them on their efforts to keep these places living in the historical time-line. Searching the web is a good place to start. Sometimes just going out there and driving around to unknown territories, you might find some places. But do not go in these places unless you contact the owner. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what is in there and how unsafe that location could be. You could get seriously hurt and put your team in an unsafe environment. There is nothing wrong about visiting locations over and over again. This is only if the owner or people in charge of that location allow you to so. Sometimes it might be months apart. Like I said, the first investigation is a base investigation. You build up from that by the evidence you captured. You can conduct your investigation by those findings. If you captured an evp of a name or date, then the next time you go to that location you can continue asking questions from that.

Depending on when you are conducting your investigations, having the right equipment is essential. Our group will not conduct any late night or over night investigations, so our equipment is really basic. Our equipment consists of four Digital recorders, Camcorders and a couple of Canon cameras. Very simple and the only major ongoing expense we have are gas and batteries. As far as anything else, I can not share that information with you. Just one thing I can stress the importance of, is when you are using a camera during your investigations, use a tripod or a monopod. In closure to this article, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget why you formed a paranormal group. Do not loose that integrity and passion. Be respectful to everyone that is involved and that includes the ghost and spirits, work with the owner or people that are in charge, and obey the law.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________

Concept art and photos by Alice Mary Herden Seek the truth tees available at our Zazzle Store

http://www.zazzle.com/dustandshadows

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Workshop One client had renovated an old house for his business. Shortly after moving his business and staff into the house, now an office, strange things started happening. First, they noticed that lights were on in rooms where everyone swore they had not turned them on. Doors opened and closed by themselves. Books, magazines, and other objects were relocated. The final straw was when everyone came into the office one morning and found the conference room chandelier placed carefully in the center of the conference table. There is no way the chandelier could have fallen without shattering and damaging the table. The wires were frayed as if the chandelier had been pulled down. It was something that a person could not have done without personal or property damage. My investigation revealed the spirit of a woman who had died in that house about a hundred years earlier! She did not know she was dead and had become extremely frustrated that no one seemed to be able to see or hear her. I simply told her she had passed away, but had not gone to the light; and to go to the light. While it was a longer conversation than this, much like we have seen on popular TV shows and movies, she passed on into the light! There was an immediate change in the energy in that old house and the folks at that office have not experienced any strange occurrences since.

Protecting Yourself From Unknown Energies By Cheryl Smeed Have you ever walked into an empty room and could swear that someone else was there, or that someone was watching you? Did you get an “icky,” anxious, or fearful feeling? Have you ever experienced insomnia, poor sleep, nightmares, or loss of energy when you were in certain places? If so, you may have been exposed to negative energy such as a frustrated spirit or entity that may not have crossed over or may not even know it is dead! As a paranormal investigator, I have encountered these feelings in the course of investigating abandoned buildings, old homes, places where violence occurred, and locations of reported paranormal activity. Many times, a spirit is simply trying to get someone’s attention. It may have a message it feels a need to pass along to someone who is still living, or perhaps it doesn’t want anyone to invade its space. It often does bizarre things to get attention such as moving objects, making sounds that come through our digital recorders, appear in digital photographs, and generally finding ways to make itself known. And if it can actually get someone’s attention, someone who can communicate with spirits, it will focus on that person.

We were all very lucky that this spirit was so accommodating and that she did not hurt anyone. That isn’t always the case. In the even you are dealing with an angry, vindictive spirit, or one that has experienced a violent death, there is so much more that must be done to rid a dwelling of negative energy. The best thing to do is to leave that dwelling, but first and foremost, protect yourself from the negative energy. Some people emanate negative energy without even realizing it. If a person is ill, in pain, sad, clinically depressed, or just going through a rough patch, the person can be throwing out all kinds of negative energy without meaning to. Common places where you will find this kind of energy are hospitals, nursing homes, funerals, and family gatherings where some of the family members clash with each other. Your first choice should be to avoid these places, but sometimes you just can’t. Often such energy is being directed to you from afar and can be powerful enough for you to actually feel it. Once again, your best course of action is to protect yourself from the negative energies.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ How Can I Protect Myself? Whether or not you know you are being affected by unknown energies, entities, and influences, there are many ways to protect yourself. The most common is simple visualization. Imagine the brightest, most radiant angelic white light that you can. Feel yourself surrounded by this light as if to be hugged by angel wings. Breathe in the glorious brilliance of this light throughout your entire being. Then go about your day knowing you are illumined in protective light. This light will expel any negative energies you have accumulated as well as repelling all negative energies or entities present. Use this light to surround others - it will make everything so much easier for you, especially if you are involved in staff meetings or otherwise must deal with folks who are not at the top of your list of favorite people. White light is tremendously healing! You can also use your favorite prayer of protection to ask your higher power to keep you safe from anything “not of the light” and ask for healing on all levels - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual - when you encounter negative energies.

Another way to dispel negative energies is to replace them with positive energy. Think of something that makes you laugh; a comedian, comedy show or movie, a joke. Remember a happy time in your life. Look back at positive experiences, places, and things and feel what it feels like to experience these things once again. SMILE! Without really trying very hard, you will be emanating positive energy. Good always begets evil; positive energy always counteracts negative energy. If you live your life in a positive way - see the benefits in all of your experiences no matter how difficult they seem at the time - you will surround yourself with positive energy. Find the good in everyone. Like attracts like. You will always attract what you are.

As Deepak Chopra says, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Live your life with integrity and always reach for your highest and best good. You may be surprised at what a positive life you can enjoy!

-------------------Cheryl is a certified parapsychologist with over 30 years experience. She is clairvoyant and remembers communicating with spirit companions from a very young age. Cheryl brings to our group the ability to communicate with disembodied spirits, providing information and insight to our investigations.

“If you keep your mind open, you will see far beyond your beliefs.”

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Paranormal Team of the Month

• Can you tell us how your group got started and how each member of your group got involved to become a part of the Ghost Head Soup paranormal team? We all came from different backgrounds, different investigative groups, and we each had different research goals. Given that, we just couldn't help but notice how our interests overlapped. We're all prima donnas’. That's no secret. We all worked with each other and basically just had a good time when we were together. • How important is it for you and your team to prove or disprove the existence of the paranormal?

Ghost Head Soup (Dean Thompson, Nick Hanson, George Hawrylenko, Mark Schwabe and Tim Schmuldt) Interview with Mark Schwabe • Hello Mark, thank you for taking the time to be a part of May’s paranormal team of the month. • First, let’s start off with the name of your group. Could you tell our readers about how you and your team came up with this name of your organization? Well, that’s a good one. We wanted a website that would attract curiosity from other paranormal groups. Our goal is to get interaction among groups from all over the country and the world. Share ideas, evidence, whether it is photo, EVP’s, Video’s and yes, even Video Bloopers. Everyone has them while recording investigations. We also go outside the norm and experiment with the "oh so evil" Ouija Board in our laboratory. Everything goes when it comes to the paranormal. The name came from a couple of events that happened simultaneously. I had the radio on and “Angie” (which I detest) from the Rolling Stones album Goats Head Soup was playing, and for no reason, and this is how my mind works, I thought of an old story I read as a kid. The story is called Stone Soup. The crux of the story is that everyone pitches in their portion of an ingredient to make a soup…..thus, Ghost Head Soup…we want people to add their ingredients to our soup/website.

Not at all. We've seen the evidence. We've collected some of it, too. We've been blessed, in that, we work (and have worked) with some of the most talented people in the field. There has been credible evidence around for years. Unfortunately, the reality is that 50% of the population believes and 50% doesn't. Evidence or even "evidence" (if you want to use the quotes) isn't ever going to change a skeptic's mind. Non-believers need nothing short of a personal experience to open themselves up to the possibility-- just as it should be. Sadly, mere "evidence" will never provide that. From a personal standpoint, evidence of the paranormal isn't going to change the world. Contact will. • Is there a main objective you focus on before you investigate a location? Like everybody says, we are there to help the client and try to debunk any alleged paranormal activity. • Can you share with us some of your most valuable evidence you collected when you and your team had your first investigation as paranormal investigators? I think the first time I ever heard my name called was the most valuable piece of "knowledge" that I ever gathered from a hunt. It reminded me that some haunts are happening NOW. Not all of them are replays of past events. Endless loops. Some haunts, rare haunts, know you're there. They remember your name. Some even await your return. The passive events are, well... mindless, but if you have something that can learn your name, that indicates intelligence... real time intelligence. If it bothers voicing your name... it probably wants to talk. So much stuff….we have EVPs that will knock your socks off. Photos that cannot be explained... check out

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ www.ghostheadsoup.com and see a sampling of what we have. • About Reversed Evps, can you share with our readers about what this is and how important this is for paranormal researchers? All we have right now is one solid example of an "R" class EVP and a roomful of theories as to why and how that happened. Everything from possession to pareidolia has been discussed. And while we are slowly narrowing down the possibilities, we need more examples to study before we can make any kind of an informed opinion. In any case, it is one of the coolest things we've ever heard... it’s on our website. • In closing, can you share with us your top 2 locations you and your team have investigated? Eastern State Penitentiary is certainly a winner. Great building. A little closer to home, the Egyptian Theater has provided some of the most compelling evidence when it comes to communicating between planes. In fact, we have at least one member who plans on vacationing there after his death. Very classy place and it seems that we have already met one member of its eternal, in-house audience. Other great places our members have researched include the Stanley Hotel, the Axe Murder House in Iowa, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, and a local fraternal organization's lodge, which functions as an our active research site. We refer to it simply as, “The Lab”. Thank you again for your time.. ~alice IT’S AN ACQUIRED TASTE Ghost Head Soup is a group of paranormal investigators whose mission is to go beyond the boundaries set by most ghost hunt teams. Consisting of seasoned field investigators, accomplished historians, and even a former member of Naval Intelligence, “The Soup” specializes in the use of unorthodox theories and methodology in order to better define paranormal phenomena. While some teams focus on simply collecting evidence, GHS focuses on the how’s and why’s of paranormal phenomena.

When it comes to personnel though, Ghost Head Soup does have its mischievous side. While most ghost hunt teams don an “all too serious” approach for their investigations, members of “The Soup” are well aware of the benefits that gallows humor can provide for its members and clients alike. To be honest, not all paranormal activity can be classified as horrific. In fact, we’ve been able to identify some haunts that are rather playful in nature. As such, we feel that we have been able to successfully allow for a more light-hearted approach in a field where excessive drama seems to have become the norm. While our initial thrust will always be scientific, GHS also incorporates spiritual means by which to better understand the phenomena we study. Our research has demonstrated that the use of psychics, hypnotists and other spiritual advisors is not without merit. In fact, whenever operating with these spiritual advisors, our research becomes two-fold. Not only do we investigate sites for evidence of paranormal phenomena, we document our spiritual advisors and their abilities as well. This, we feel, provides us with an even greater understanding of the phenomena we study. Most importantly, each and every GHS member also wears the title of "Paranormal Theorist". Instead of simply mimicking the methods demonstrated on prime time television, we go to the pain and expense of applying new theories and technologies whenever the opportunity presents itself. From potential methods of communication to possible means of capture and eradication, our research techniques are limited only by our imaginations. And while new applications and ancient ideas may not always prove to be successful, they do allow us to remain on the leading edge of field and laboratory investigations into the paranormal. Every field has trailblazers. Every field also has its “class clowns”. A tasty mixing of the two is what has always been the goal of our organization. With that in mind, we invite you to try a heaping helping of Ghost Head Soup.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Here are some photos provided by Mark from their investigation at Waverly Hills.

093: Is in the morgue at Waverly Hills. We captured what appears to be a mist forming by the window to the left of the many IR camerasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; running at the place.

016: I saw what I thought was a person peaking around a door at me on the 4th floor at Waverly Hills, what was captured is this unexplained anomaly.

Photo #093

Photo #435

435: This is a photo I took of George while he was listening to the Ovilus....what appeared is a bald headed dude behind George looking through a window.....no one else was there

350: The hair was standing up at the time this photo was taken....what appears are a couple of Shadow People that are common at Waverly Hills.......

Photos provided by Mark Schwabe

Photo #350

Photo #016

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________

Dust and Shadows Our investigations will be in our June Issue.

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ In our next issue June 2011 •Editor Views Kids •Encounters Spirits of Children • Interview XXX • Paranormal Folklore Black Shuck • Famous Hauntings Borley Rectory • Famous Places Berry Pomeroy Castle • 101 Helping Children • Workshop Article by Cheryl Smeed • Dust and Shadows Boone, North Carolina

Don’t forget to submit your true ghost story to be featured in our Magazine. Paranormal Teams, enter your group to be featured as the PTM of the month! Email us at: Editor@voicestovisions.com

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________ Sponsors

Your Ad Poster Here! Email us at Editor@voicestovisions.com

Voices to Visions May 2011 __________________________________________________________________