The First Ghosthunt? The Drummer of Tedworth Case

You can barely swing a dead cat these days (not that I advocate that,) without hitting a ghost hunter, but paranormal researchers go back in history well before our more “enlightened” time.

Perhaps the first recorded ghost hunter and paranormal researcher’s exploits were published in 1668 under the title Sadducismus Triumphatus. In it, Joseph Glanvill, a clergyman, describes poltergeist activity related to a drum confiscated from a musician during a legal case. The plaintiff in the case received the drum as part of his settlement (or to punish the drummer) and began to report typical poltergeist activity including drumming, moving objects and unexplained noises. Much like the Amityville case of our day, the Drummer of Tedworth case became well publicized amongst citizens of the British Isles.

Glanvill examined the case, and indeed witnessed activity himself. He ruled that the drum was haunted, although others from that time believed the drums owner had used witchcraft to put a curse on the drum so that it would wreck-havoc in the new owners home.

Other investigators cropped up to look at the case and it was later believed this activity was a hoax and that the home owner had people knocking on walls outside while ghost hunters were inside. Of course, they didn't have all the bells and whistles modern day ghost hunters have, so it’s hard to blame them for their possible misdiagnosis.

Real or false, paranormal activity has intrigued and challenged men’s intellect since early days and the fascination continues. Perhaps Glanvill broke ground for all of us fascinated with the mysteries of this world and the next.

Greener Pastures: Pets in Spirit.

Those of us who love our pets know they are as much a part of the family as any human is.  Our constant companions, pals and best buddies, when our pets pass away, or worse yet, if we have to make a humane decision to euthanize, we grieve.

Recently a close friend of mine had to make this type of decision. Her beloved dog of 13 years suffered with arthritis and after three years of helping him to stand, laying awake at night to listen for him should he be pacing in pain at night and taking him about in a wagon when he couldn’t walk his usual routes anymore, she finally made the decision with her family to put him down. 

She and I cried together over this painful decision process, and then afterwards, she was inconsolable. Still unsure as to whether or not she made the right decision, missing her best friend so greatly; I reached out to the other side to see if her pet was all right on the other side and to see if there was anything I could offer to her to help her understand that her pooch was at peace.

As I entered a meditative place I looked for Murdock, her dog, on the other side.  I saw him running, and playing in high grass, as he wasn’t able to do in years past. He was happy, I could see that.  I tried to communicate with him, not in words, but in the pictures and impressions that I communicate with all spirits.    He showed me that he remembered being brought home by my friend when he was a puppy. He remembered someone speaking Spanish.

He also told me that he was with my friend’s stepfather, who had passed away about a year before.  I knew the man’s name, but didn’t really know if he had much interaction with the dog in life, as they didn’t live in the same city.  In my mind I saw Murdock, the dog, running around the stepfather (David) joyfully, playing, really by himself, while David merely held his hands out to him.  Murdock lay down in the grass beside him, and I knew that they were together. 

A few days later I traveled home to visit my friend and share her grief and listen to her stories about Murdock’s last days.  We cried.  As usual I hesitated to tell her my thoughts and impressions about Murdock, as my psychic abilities were not something we really talked about at length within our friendship.  I felt compelled though, so I dove in.

“I have to tell you something…” I said sheepishly and she just smiled slowly, as if she was preparing herself for a revelation.

“I set out to look for Murdock on Monday night, I knew you said you were going to take him to the vet on Monday, but I wasn’t sure if you went through with it, so I looked for him on the other side.  I found him.” 

I then relayed the rest of my impressions, including my images of Murdock and her stepfather together.

“Interesting. As far as the Spanish goes, my friend Maria was with me when I got him. She is Spanish…the thing with David is kind of weird Diane, David wasn’t really close with Murdock…” 

“I know…” I said, I had gotten that impression as well…. “ I am just telling you what I see… but overall, you have to know that Murdock thanks you for what you did for him, and that he is always going to be your Boy…”

We cried, embraced, and I left shortly thereafter.

The next day I got a phone call from my friend.

“ I have to tell you something,” she started, “after you left last night my Mom called, and I told her what you said about Murdock.  I told her what you said about him being with David, (her Mothers second husband.)”

“After I told her what you said about them being together my Mom was really amazed. She said she had been praying for David to find Murdock and be with him…can you believe that??” 

“Wow.”

I guess David, or someone, heard her prayers. 

The reason I am sharing this story is this: I just wanted to remind any of you out there that your pets do have spirit, souls, and energy that passes out of this life and into the next.  Their personalities are not lost when they die, and they do live on as do we all…just in another form.

Do you have a ghost-pet story? Please share it here….

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image:  Some rights reserved by Nena B.

The Morality of New Haunted Attractions: The Villisca Axe Murder House

I recently watched an episode of "The Dead Files" where the investigators checked out the familiar Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa.  I say Familiar, because this is not the first time this home has been investigated. 

The first time I heard about this haunted home and it's history was when it was investigated by the Ghost Adventures team. They went there on behest of the home owners who grew up there (as I recall) and were truly tormented by their memories of the noises and experiences they had there.  The guys went in respectfully when trying to communicate with the murder victims of this horrendous crime scene.

So, what's the history? Ah, well, if you are unaware, in 1912,  8 people, including children, were killed in their sleep, one by axe, the rest by the back of the axe head. The crime is still unsolved and infamous by its brutality and young victims.

What's changed? Since the Ghost Adventures team investigated, the owners of the home have turned it into a haunted attraction.

What's my beef? I dunno. Is it too soon? Is it because of the young victims? Is it because of the blood dripping font on the sign out in front of the house that disrupts my calm?

My question to you.... Is it ethical, moral even, to turn a crime scene like this into a tourist attraction?

How is it different than the Lizzie Bordon House, you might ask... Well, in my opinion, it is because it doesn't involve children first of all.
If it was presented in a different way, would I feel better about it?  I don't know. 

here's the official site:  http://www.villiscaiowa.com/

What do you think?

image:

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Some rights reserved by Jennifer Kirkland

The Powerful Energy of Anger: The Opera Man

Sometimes its not always disembodied spirits that can haunt, or create drama in the psychic field. As an Empath, I could also pick up strong emotions in others, and feel the echoes of past trauma or emotionally charged exchanges in homes and around objects.

People who have very strong emotions are at times able to project those thoughts out into the universe to be picked up by the Empath. My experience with the “Opera Man” was one of these times when a person still physically on this earth was able to connect with me in a psychic – and negative way.

A group of friends and I went to visit a dear friend in another state. We were all looking forward to the getaway, having felt burnt out in our jobs, and in our personal lives as well. We were at a fork in the road of our lives, and didn’t even know it. All of us, at various stages in our careers, in various degrees of involvement in unhealthy relationships, we were taking a break together to further develop our friendships and trust in each other.

Lily was fairly new to our “group” having only worked with us all for about a year, and enjoying our monthly “diner’s nights” whenever she could. She seemed like a confident professional, with the soul of an injured bird. We could all tell Lily had had a rough life, although we weren’t sure of the details. She remained somewhat skittish, both reaching out for our friendship, and holding back from hurt she must have experienced before. Her coming with us on this trip was a huge step in trust and friendship, and we all wanted to make sure she had good times and many smiles while we were away.

After a short plane trip, and drive to our final destination, we all sat back and relaxed and caught up with our old friend. As usual, Lily mostly listened and absorbed, offering advice and information only when drawn out by one of the others.

As we chatted, my psychic journey was discussed. The group was split. Two friends believed and wanted to hear more as the weekend went on, the other two, Lily included, were more skeptical and uncertain as to what they believed I was really experiencing and feeling.

Finally, as the night grew old, we went to sleep in two rooms, Lily and Carol, the other skeptic in the living room, Myself, Mary and Kay in the bedroom. As I laid my head down and adjusted myself on the floor, I began to hear music.

“Do you guys here that?” I asked my roommates in the small bedroom.
“ Hear what?” Kay replied.
“ I hear opera music? You don’t hear the opera music?”
Kay laughed as Mary laid her head against the floor, trying to determine the origin of the noise. “ I don’t hear anything.” She declared.

As quickly as the words left her lips, the music I heard grew louder and I felt a weight pressing down upon me. “I think there is something wrong” I panted out, as I felt a pressure, a presence on me, trying to get inside.

Suddenly I felt chaos. I felt pressure, heard the music and felt a strong angry energy around me and on top of me. I felt as though I was being punished, or abused because I had done something wrong.

“What should we do?” Kay shouted.
“Help me, help me…” I stuttered as I madly began to practice the things I was taught about protection and the power of the white light.

Having just discussed these things with my friends, Kay and Mary immediately joined me in creating a dome of white light around us. Eventually the attack ended. I was afraid to sleep, but had asked for greater protection to get me through the night. Exhausted I fell asleep.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of whispered voices in the living room. Kay was telling Lily and Carol what had happened the night before, about the opera music, and my attack.

Lily listened intently, quietly until Kay finished.

“You know, Michael didn’t want me to come on this trip.” She stated, talking about her live- in boyfriend. “He really didn’t want me to come.”

“He listens to Opera music, sometimes, when he is drunk, when he gets mad…” she continued quietly. “He listens to Opera music when he hits me.” She finally said.
An hour later, the five of us sat quietly, absorbing all the stories of abuse and fear that our new friend had finally felt safe enough to tell us about. She was planning on leaving Michael, but wasn’t sure how, and was afraid of him.

“Do you think that was him, last night, Diane?” Kay asked me later in the kitchen.

“It was him,” I replied, ”He knew she was with us, he must have been angry, and his anger is so powerful it can take form. We have to help her get away.”

Looking back, I am not sure if what I experienced was a form of astral projection (sending ones spirit out while remaining connected with ones body) from Michael, or a very strong Empathic connection, reading Lily’s own memories and fears. Whatever it was, it was powerful, had shape and energy, and made believers out of the women who experienced it that night.

Photo by Energetic Spirit flickr.com