My Dad Gives a Christmas Present

There is no such thing as a coincidence. This year, I got a special treat from my dad who passed in August 2008. - All you have to do is recognize messages. My mother flew down to celebrate Christmas with my partner and I this year and stayed for a week.
  During her visit she pulled out a wallet that she said she found in my dad's desk. She asked me if I would like to have it (I immediately accepted!). She said that she just happened to find it before Christmas. I know that she didn't happen to find it - It's obvious to me that my Dad guided my mother to his old desk and into that drawer where the wallet was located.
  It was brand new, still in the packaging and had the price tag on it. My dad used to give gifts at Christmas and forget to remove the tags, so it was even more obvious it was from him! Thanks, Dad!

Ghosts, Spirits and Hatred on Earth-

Hatred in any form on Earth is wrong. Because of my ability to communicate with ghosts and spirits, I've learned a lot about what happens to entities after they pass if they hated,  discriminated or abused others in any way during their time on Earth. 

  I address this, because this weekend something positive happened in the U.S. Congress to end bad behavior. Yes, it's political, but it's also about those abuses I've addressed. This weekend, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed.

 - I've explained this in the context of ghosts and spirits, to help you understand why hatred and intolerance in any form is unhealthy and unjust to the victim AND the perpetrator. I try not to bring politics into this blog, but treatment of others is CENTRAL to what happens to us and others in the afterlife.

 

"WHY REPEALING DADT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO:   Congress finally did something sensible by repealing this law encouraging hatred and division. Why? Because 1) It is discrimination. 2) gay men and women work in EVERY profession 3) Everyone uses discretion and professionalism in their job - those who don't should be fired (like male bosses that come onto female secretaries who are married).  4) Discrimination, hatred and intolerance for anyone is wrong. 5) The military has asked soldiers to lie about themselves when Truth is demanded in the military.  (I work with gay people who even know I am, but they don't come on to me.)

SO, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HATRED? Answer:  Ironically, Right-wing "Religious conservatives"  who literally interpret the Bible. I find it ironic that the very people who are supposed to be loving and accepting are the ones who judge, hate, and treat others unlike them like human garbage. If you are a Christian, ACCEPT EVERYONE as Jesus did. Teach those right-wing people who falsely call themselves Christian what it REALLY means to be a true Christian. Love and accept everyone. Forgive others. Help others. Don't hate, separate or abuse others.

WHAT DO PEOPLE WHO PASS AND CROSS OVER SAY ABOUT HATING OTHERS? -   I believe in God. Thanks to my gift, I've talked with people who have crossed into the light onto the other side. They've shown me what awaits them there. What do they say?  They say how SORRY they are for mis-treating people on Earth. That includes parents and others who were mentally or physically abusive, murderers, alcoholics, thieves, drug addicts, suicide victims,  people who hated others because of their race, gender, sexuality, religion, weight, disability, or anything else.  

  In all instances these souls are very sorry for being hateful or abusive to themselves or others. They always ask for forgiveness from those left on Earth. They hope to get messages across to those left alive on Earth NOT to treat others as they did. Unfortunately, ghosts and spirits usually can't get that message across. So, what happens?  People on Earth make the same hateful, stupid mistakes that those who have passed learned way too late.

WHAT CAN WE DO?  1) Stop being hateful. 2) Treat others as you would expect them to treat you. 3) Put yourself in their shoes- how would YOU feel dealing with abuse and hatred? 4) Stop yourself and Stop others. TELL OTHERS you hear who is being hateful to anyone that they are people, too. 5) REACH OUT to someone like that. Get to know them. You'll change your ways. We are all on Earth to share it, live together, and HELP EACH OTHER.

WHAT IF YOU KEEP UP DISCRIMINATION AND HATRED? 

Discrimination and hatefulness in any form is something you WILL atone for after you pass. Even a relative of mine was trapped on Earth for over 20 years begging for forgiveness from my own mother. For an entity to remain on Earth is indeed what hell is like for them. Think of all the ghost hunting programs that pick up audio saying "Help me." Those entities want forgiveness and help crossing into the light. The ones that don't get it are trapped here for eternity and experience a living hell. Don't let it happen to you.

Telephone Signals / No Coincidences

I was at the local post office one Saturday this month mailing a couple of signed copies of my book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium," and the woman behind the counter asked me how I wanted to ship the packages. I told her that they were books I had written and media mail was fine. She inquired about the kind of book. I told her the book is about my ability to communicate with ghosts and spirits, and that I try to help others who are dealing with losses. She stopped and looked up.

   She then told me that she has been trying to explain something that has been happening ever since one of her two closest girlfriends died. She said that about 10 times when she and another close friend (who was also close to the girlfriend who passed) talk on the phone they hear something like bells or chimes over the line. It doesn't happen all the time, and she said that she and her girlfriend both think that their mutual close friend who passed is trying to send them a message. I explained how spirits are energy and how they "power up," etc.

  **I told her that her late girlfriend certainly is trying to let them know that she's also on the phone.  Spirits will sometimes even call people and when the phone is picked up there will be no one there. Or, sometimes you'll actually hear the voice of the deceased person (if the spirit is strong enough).

  As I was leaving, the postal worker said to me "I feel like you were brought to my counter." I told her that I know I was lead there by her girlfriend to help give a little understanding about how spirits work *There IS NO such thing as a coincidence - spirits lead us to people and places at given times.*

 The postal worker was very grateful, and I gave her a card to contact me.

A Soldier Comes to Me During a Show

When we attended Lisa Williams (Medium) show in November, there were about 6 women sitting in front of us that came in together.As soon as they sat I got my tell-tale headache that there was a spirit or ghost in the vicinity. I knew that it wasn't a ghost haunting the theatre and was instead a spirit that came to give a message to one of them.
   One of the women was quite older than the other 5 and I assumed her to be a mother of some or all of them. Sitting to her left was a younger woman (about 35) with dark hair who was clearly upset and kept crying into kleenex.I was drawn to her. I sensed that the spirit was a man, tall, well-built and he showed me that he was wearing "fatigues." That's what I associate with the military- so that's what he showed me. Turns out he was in the Air Force, but to me it was enough to say "Military." The man was standing behind this woman through most of the show. He was sad, and there was a lot of love there. In fact, so much it choked me up and he told me to give that younger woman a hug from him. He also said that he wanted her to stop smoking (she later showed me a cigarette/pack of cigarettes in her purse).

This is similar to the image I saw in my mind.

   At the end of Lisa Williams' show when everyone was packing up to leave, I stopped her and asked her about the man. She said that her father had just passed on Oct. 19th. She and her sisters were really taking it hard and she had hoped he would come through. I explained the visual and the messages. I also explained how his showing me fatigues may not directly represent "Air Force" but military, which is how I associate with armed services of any branch (I know  they are very different,  but this is not an exact science).
  I told her that her dad really wanted me to give her a hug and that he's okay. When I hugged her we BOTH broke down into tears. The love was very powerful.
  She asked if I'm a medium and I told her I'm "developing" and that I get messages when I get them. She also mentioned that her mother who was with her was skeptical. It's okay to be skeptical, because we all eventually learn the truth. So, it turned out that one of the most moving experiences that night was the message I received from this man who wanted to let his daughter(s) know he was still around and loved them very much.

Holy Chihuahua! A Dog comes to me

Back in October when we went to Medium Barb Mallon's "double medium" event in Virginia, I got a couple of messages myself, and one was very, very clear. What's interesting is that it wasn't from a human, it was from a dog. In fact, it was from a little Chihuahua. The dog came to me and told me his name was "Chico," and that he was connected with someone in the room.
   Yes, dogs do have the intelligence and personality to come through. Cats and horses also can come through and give messages. All of these animals have been determined to have the intelligence of young human children. Dogs and horses have been recognized as having the intelligence of a 4 year old human, while cats are estimated to have that of a 2-3 year old (Stanley Coren, author of "How Dogs Think.").
  When Chico came to me, he showed me that he loved to burrow under blankets and sleep on chairs. Now that may sound pretty common, and it is, but he gave me his actual NAME. Further, he showed me that whoever he was connected to has a black or dark colored dog (dogs can see blue, yellow and everything else in shades of gray or black). Chico said that he comes in from time to time and visits the black dog guiding it with its current master.

This is what Chico looked like to me.

  I wondered who this dog belonged to, but didn't get a chance to talk about him during Barb's event. So, after the event ended I had a stack of books that I was signing if anyone wanted them. (An article had just appeared in the Washington Post that day, Oct. 30th, so people knew who I was). After one woman came up and bought a book, a second younger woman came up, and Chico TOLD me he was connected to her!
   So, I asked her if she knew a Chihuahua named "Chico" and she said "Yes, that was my grandmother's dog who passed." I explained what Chico had told me and she confirmed that she does indeed have a black dog. She left me astounded that she just got a communication from beyond from a dog that she knew. I was just astounded that Chico actually directed me to the one person in the entire room of 50 people that he belonged to. Wow.
  So, if you have a dog, cat or horse that has passed, watch for signs. From nails on the floor to moving objects to a song on the radio that reminds you of them. They come back from time to time to say hello and remind you how much they love you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May this Thanksgiving find you all with family or friends - and if you're alone for some reason this Thanksgiving, you're really not. People who love you are around you in spirit. Happy Thanksgiving! Rob

Enjoyed Lisa Williams, Medium

My partner and I enjoyed an evening performance of Medium Lisa Williams. She's really an amazing woman. We first saw her on television on a show carried by Lifetime. This year she had 2 shows on the Style network, and we hope its brought back as a regular program.

   Lisa Williams is a medium that I can only hope to be as good as. She receives messages with amazing clarity and was right on target all night.

   One of the most astounding readings she gave was about a murder-suicide. She explained that a man had killed his wife then killed himself. Both appeared in spirit beside her with messages for their grown daughter who was in the audience. The daughter identified herself after Lisa gave more information. It was amazing. Lisa explained that the father and mother were on "different levels" in the afterlife, although they could speak with each other. The father was seeking forgiveness for taking his wife's life and then his own. The daughter in the audience had forgiven him. The details Lisa provided were just astounding.

Lisa Williams. Credit: Lisa Williams.com

  For more information about Lisa Williams, visit her website: http://www.lisawilliamsmedium.com/

A MUST READ: "Helping Ghosts" by Louis Charles

I recently finished reading a great book called "Helping Ghosts: A guide to understanding lost spirits" by Louis Charles.

- I actually "met" Louis through the Facebook page for my book on ghosts. Louis contacted me and we've befriended each other through our authorship and our insight into ghosts.

- Louis' book is a MUST READ. He really makes readers look at ghosts as not something so much "paranormal" as "they were once people." He really humanizes ghosts and explains that they all need our help to cross into the light, even the angry ones.
- There are a lot more insightful things in this book, and I can't recommend it enough. Every "Ghost Hunter" group and television program should have a medium or someone like Louis who can help these wayward entities cross over. They don't belong here.
TO ORDER THE BOOK: http://www.amazon.com/Helping-Ghosts-Understanding-Spirits-Angels/dp/145284707X
  Just as some background about Louis from his website: http://www.angelsghosts.com/helping_ghosts_louis_charles Louis Charles was born in Canton, Ohio and raised in a small farming community nearby. While growing up, he always had a fascination with ghosts and spirits. Through various careers, Louis Charles honed his skills in sales, marketing, speaking, and invention. He never lost his passion to learn more about ghosts and haunting.
  In 2004, he launched the website Angels & Ghosts in order to better study ghosts and spirits. By using the submissions he received from around the world, Louis began comparing potential evidence shared in stories, images, videos, and audio recordings. CHECK OUT THE ANGELS AND GHOSTS WEBSITE: http://www.angelsghosts.com/
WHAT IS THE WEBSITE ABOUT? Ghost pictures. Proof that ghosts & angels exist? Ghost pictures, photos, web cams of ghosts; angel pictures & stories. Study paranormal & spiritual ideas about angels & ghosts. Investigate stories of ghosts & angels. Explore evidence of ghosts & angels.

A Birthday Observance

This morning I'm remembering my dad, whose birthday is today.
It's difficult to believe that my Dad passed over 2 years ago in August 2008, because he's always still around in some way: either through the letters I write to others (which he always did) books I read, Dunkin' Donuts coffee (he liked it black with sugar- yes, I remember) or many other things.
So, today in honor of what would've been my dad's birthday I started reading a book by one of his favorite authors. I'm reading Vince Flynn's "Extreme Measures" (fiction) which is a thriller featuring Mitch Rapp, a character who works for the CIA. I think that as I read it (even through my thoughts) that dad can hear it, as if I'm reading it to him. Happy Birthday, Dad, I know you can hear me!
*I suggest that if you've lost a loved one, do something that they used to enjoy doing, and tell them you're doing it for them as a remembrance. They would want us to remember them in a good way, and doing something they would enjoy is a nice tribute to them.

Big Event this Weekend:Ramblewood Paranormal Fall Fest 2010

Big Event This weekend!  Ramblewood Paranormal Fall Fest 2010

3 Day Event includes numerous vendors and paranormal teams, talks, tours of haunted Ramblewood house and more!  

LOCATED: 2564 Silver Road, Darlington, MD 21034

TICKETS: call the 24 hour Ticket Hotline at: 410-558-6365.

OR: http://www.hauntedramblewoodhouse.com/fest_tickets.html

**I'll be making an appearance Sunday, Nov. 7 from 9am-5pm at the Inspired Ghost Trackers Vendor Table Book signing/Meet and Greet. 

MORE INFO:   http://www.hauntedramblewoodhouse.com/fallfest2010.html

Ramblewood House was once a stop on the 

Underground Railroad.

Photo: courtesy MPRT

BACKGROUND: Don’t miss the upcoming “Ramblewood Paranormal Fall Fest 2010,”  planned for Friday through Sunday, November 5th – 7th at haunted Ramblewood House in Darlington, MD. The event kicks off at 5:00 pm on Friday, November 5th, with a “Meet and Greet” reception for ticket holders and guest speakers. Click on the above link for complete details. “Ramblewood Paranormal Fall Fest 2010” is organized by the Maryland Paranormal Research Team (MPRT).  MPRT has investigated Ramblewood numerous times over the last several years and amassed an impressive collection of paranormal evidence from this site.

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.examiner.com/ghost-hunting-in-national/haunted-ramblewood-house-hosts-upcoming-parnormal-fall-festival-2010

Interesting Book : Asheville Ghosts and Legends

I recently took a trip to Asheville, NC and enjoyed an historic tour and a ghost tour of the town. The history is always fascinating to hear about and the ghost stories make it more interesting. Of course, some of them are bound to be hyped up, but others will make you think. I did buy a book from the tour and found it enjoyable from an historic and ghost hunting perspective. It's called "Ashville Ghosts and Legends by Ken Traylor and Delas M. House Jr. It makes for an interesting read!
SUMMARY FROM AMAZON.COM:

Product Description

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina's share of the Smoky Mountains, Asheville is one of the South's most haunted cities. The picturesque landscape of this charming mountain destination belies what is in truth a violent, ghoulish past. Asheville has seen its share of horror, ranging from the suicide of the city's financial manager during the throws of the Depression, to hosting a tuberculosis sanatorium, to a night of murderous rampage in 1902.

With wit and style, authors Ken Traylor and Delas House use their years of experience as the owners and lead guides for the "Haunted Ghost Tour of Asheville" to steer readers on a journey through the city's eeriest sites, from Riverside Cemetery to the Battery Park Hotel. Drawing on an unmatched repertoire of spectral lore, Traylor and House present a variety of ghastly accounts that are both thrilling and chilling.

Traylor's personal experience as a guide and interpreter of local ghostlore adds a unique twist to this collection of macabre stories. Through years of research, he has amassed an intriguing collection of the area's haunted tales, and with Asheville Ghosts and Legends he seeks to share the gruesome details of Asheville's wicked past.

Washington Post Story and Video

The WASHINGTON POST ran a story about my abilities and my book today. You can see it at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102804028.html?sid=ST2010102804311

The Washington Post put together a pretty cool video about the speaking event I did at the Baltimore Book Escape (in Federal Hill) and the ghost hunt that followed soon after in the basement.

Why Is My Book Different from Other Books on Ghosts?

I've received a lot of good questions about my book, so I wanted to share some answers: My book is different from other books on ghosts in that it's VERY personal, and explains things using Science.   

I wrote the book based on my abilities to communicate with those who have passed. Because I'm a meteorologist/scientist, I provided scientific explanations on the how and why ghosts and spirits  exist and are able to communicate.  

I always get a headache whenever I'm in the presence of a ghost or spirit (and there is a difference)- which I also explain in the book. I explain such as why towns near water have more activity. The book contains my personal experiences on and off ghost tours and in historic places and the experiences of some others- where I explain what the  ghost or spirit is trying to convey.

Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium

by Rob Gutro

WHO INSPIRED ME TO WRITE THE BOOK? - My puppy Buzz was killed at 6 months old in front of me when his leash opened. He's come back to me about 15 times in many ways.  He was a HUGE inspiration, and my dad died as I was finishing the book. He's come back to me and helped me prove to my family that he's around. My book is "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium." 

Rob Gutro

Amazing Ghostly Orb at the L.B. Jackson Bldg in Asheville, NC

This is the second site we visited during the Ashville "Ghost and Haunt Tours" was even more revealing than the first (Thomas Wolfe house). At the L.B. Jackson building located at Pack Square we captured the most incredible orb ever on film. See below. Built in 1924, this was the site of several jumping suicides. One was a businessman who jumped from the 12th floor during the day of the stock market crash in 1929. Another was a woman leaning out the 5th floor window. They're still wandering around outside of the building where they died. The orbs prove that. These photos were taken one after the other in sequence.


WHAT ARE ORBS? - Per GhostStudy.com: Orbs are believed (by many) to be ghosts in the form of balls of light. They are life forms that travel in groups and are believed to be the human soul or life force of those that once inhabited a physical body here on earth. It is theorized that ghosts prefer the form of an Orb (ball of light) because it takes less energy thus being the mode of choice among the ghosts. The consensus is that small orbs take up the least amount of energy and apparitions and other fuller shapes take up the most. MORE INFO: http://ghoststudy.com/a_what_are_orbs.html

First photo of the L.B. Jackson Bldg... no orbs.

Second picture of the LB Jackson Bldg has an
orb in the middle right side.

Amazing orb with colors and designs
(that's how you know its not dust or a bug)

3rd photo has no orbs.

Fun at the Bowie Senior Center -Speaking Event and Great Questions!

Today I had the wonderful opportunity (thanks, Jenny) to speak about my experiences with Ghosts and Spirits at the Bowie Senior Center in Maryland. There were about 20 people in attendance, and I received great questions. I thought I would share some of the questions and experiences while they're fresh in my mind.
1) SPIRIT AT A GRAVESITE - One person told me that she laid flowers at her son's grave (he was killed in the military) and she took several photos of the gravestone all newly decorated. She said that in one of the photos there appeared to be two pole-like white mists. She realized that they were her the legs of her son, who was standing there watching her.
- Ghosts and spirits don't continually haunt cemeteries. However, when a person goes to a cemetary to honor their loved one, they are filled with love and hope that their loved one is in the light. That love is the energy needed to power a spirit up to appear or give a sign at the cemetary, while their loved one is there. I would love to see that photo.
2) SUICIDES -I was asked about suicides. Yes, people who commit suicides do pass into the light. Some take longer than others to move into the light, but its all about when the develop that awareness that it was wrong to take their own lives. Once they realize that (just like people who experience sudden death in an accident need to realize they're dead), then they can move into the light. People who commit suicide do not go to "hell." That's a religious fallacy.
3) ANIMALS AND GHOSTS- One man mentioned that his cat would often stare at an area in his basement. He said one time a white mist (ectoplasm, apparently) came from the corner and the cat ran. Yes, cats and dogs have a higher sensitivity to movement, and can see ghosts and spirits. In that case, even the owner could see the ghost!

Photos of Ghostly Orbs at the Thomas Wolfe House/Museum

During a recent visit to Asheville, North Carolina we took the "Ghost and Haunt Tours" (Tel. 828-355-5855) and got a great look and history of buildings in downtown. The tourguide was incredible, and the information about the buildings and the ghost stories were great. The day following the ghost tour, we took a tour of Author Thomas Wolfe's house to get an inside look at it, and where Thomas Wolfe's brother passed away. You'll see why in the photos below.

About the Thomas Wolfe House/Museum from http://www.wolfememorial.com/: Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe's colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and the Old Kentucky Home boarding house earned the historic Victorian home a place as one of American Literature's most famous landmarks.

This is a window on the 2nd floor on the left side of the
Thomas Wolfe House. We approached it from the left side of
the house on the tour and I sensed something up there in that room.

Here's the front of the Thomas Wolfe House.
The room I sensed something in is on the 2nd floor -right side
of this photo. Note there was no orb in this photo, but one
appeared immediately in the next photo.

Notice the Ghostly ORB in this photo in front of the 2nd floor
window of the home. Turned out that that was the room where
Tom's brother died in bed and Tom was sitting beside him.

Here's a close up of the ghostly orb. You can tell it's an orb
and not a speck of dust or a bug because it has colors
and designs in it..

WHAT ARE ORBS? - Per GhostStudy.com: Orbs are believed (by many) to be ghosts in the form of balls of light. They are life forms that travel in groups and are believed to be the human soul or life force of those that once inhabited a physical body here on earth. It is theorized that ghosts prefer the form of an Orb (ball of light) because it takes less energy thus being the mode of choice among the ghosts. The consensus is that small orbs take up the least amount of energy and apparitions and other fuller shapes take up the most. MORE INFO: http://ghoststudy.com/a_what_are_orbs.html

This is the room where Thomas Wolfe's brother passed away,
and is the room that is haunted by the brother.

The ghostly orb was seen floating directly outside in my other photos.

A Close Sister's Message to Me at a Convention

During the new life convention, a woman came to me at my table and explained that her sister passed recently. Her sister was a teen who was troubled. She mentioned a couple of other things, and her sister came through to me! She told me to tell her living sibling that it wasn't her fault (the woman before me said she did feel guilt and thought she should've helped her sister more). The sister who passed was very forceful in trying to have me convince her living sister that the one who passed knew it was her time. She chose to ignore the outreach of her sister, and knew her sister was a "rock" for her, but she had to make her own mistakes (that took her life). At the end of this brief, emotional reading the late sister told me to hug her living sister, which I did. We both cried. The woman knew that she was supposed to come to my table for some reason, and that's why. Her late sister had a message.
The message for anyone who knows a friend or loved one that takes their own life is that YOU should never feel guilty. That person chose to do that act. They do regret it in the afterlife, and always try to assure the living that they're okay and are watching over the living.
I was so emotionally drained afterward I had to sit down. It was unexpected (as they usually are) and wonderful, that it brought some peace to the woman who stopped by

Military Devotion in Ghosts / Poltergiests

When I was at the New Life convention I met a lot of fascinating people, and many of them had stories of their own encounters. One woman's story struck me. She is married to a military man who came back from Iraq, when some of the men in his company did not come back. In fact, they passed when they were there, but they've come back to be around him now that he's retired. His wife explained to me that he's very skeptical that they're there, but they've broken many of their glasses. They're still loyal to their commander, even in death.
- She said that she senses the men are around him all the time. She mentioned a daughter, and I asked if she was a teenager... why? because ghosts can sometimes enhance the energy of a teen dealing with conflicting emotions, stress or angst, and the teen can spark poltergiest activities, like breaking glasses. In fact, she mentioned that when her daughter wasn't there in the house, the activity had ceased.
- Meanwhile, I explained that she needs to "take command" and tell the soldiers' ghosts that she and her husband rule this "outpost" and they need to march into the light and leave.

TONIGHT! Speaking at the Annual Autumn Bacon Ball

Tonight, October 5th I'll be doing a talk at the Scarborough Fair Bed & Breakfast

**There may still be a couple of tickets left!

EVENT: , Annual Autumn Bacon Ball; A Spirited Event Benefiting Equality Maryland

WHERE: in the Federal Hill Neighborhood of Baltimore., MD

WHEN: Tuesday, October 5^th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Features a seasonal breakfast-inspired hors d’oeuvres menu, freshly prepared by the Innkeepers of the most award-winning Bed & Breakfast in Baltimore; speakers and more!

TEL: 410-837-0010

COST: $50 (Not available at the door) WEBSITE: http://www.scarboroughfairbandb.com/

Great Time w/Medium Barb Mallon @ the New Life Expo!

 Yesterday, I joined Medium extraordinaire Barb Mallon (www.barbmallon.com) at the Natural Living Expo at the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Ctr in Adelphi, Maryland. There were 110 Exhibitors who heal, entertain, enlighten and offer products *56 Dynamic, Creative Mind, Body and Spirit Workshops.


Barb and I shared a table/booth where she informed people of her services as a Medium (she's amazing- she's read for my mother and my partner and told them of things only THEY knew of!), while I spoke with people about my developing mediumistic abilities and signed copies of my book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium."

Barb Mallon and Rob Gutro enjoying the day

 

 

Barb getting some computer help from her son at the table

Rob's friend Troy (who also has the gift) stops by to say hello.

  It was a fun time, but a long day. Talking from 9am to almost 5 pm with a 5 minute break led to hoarseness! However, I met some wonderful people who had many interesting questions. I'll post several of those in the coming days.
  Near the end of the day, one woman who came to our table was someone I won't soon forget. Her late sister's spirit came to me and filled me up with a lot of emotion, and shared important messages through me to her sister (standing at our table). It was a wonderful experience for both myself and the woman, and I had to give her a big hug. Afterward, I was totally exhausted and emotional.
It was quite a day!
  *Tomorrow night in Baltimore, I'm speaking at a fundraiser for Equality Maryland at a Bed and Breakfast. More details on my blog*

Visit Me @ Natural Living Expo - Oct. 3, College Park, MD

If you're near Washington, DC this Sunday, come visit me on OCTOBER 3 at the Natural Living Expo
LOCATION: University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Ctr by Marriott, 3501 University Blvd East, Adelphi, MD
Booth #26 Sharing with Awesome Medium BARB MALLON!
WHEN: Sunday, October 3, 2010 TIME: 10am-7pm EDT
...WHAT: 110 Exhibitors who heal, entertain, enlighten and offer products *56 Dynamic, Creative Mind, Body and Spirit Workshops
ADMISSION: $10 (includes all exhibits and workshops!) MORE INFORMATION: http://www.naturallivingexpo.com/

Debunking a Frightening Alarm

The most important thing when dealing with ghosts and spirits is making sure that they're ACTUALLY communicating with you. This week I had to do some debunking.
We had recently installed a new digital alarm clock in our guest room (the floor over our bedroom). It was plugged in around 11:41 a.m. and we set the proper time on it.
We didn't read the directions (yes, I know I should have!) and didn't note the 4 settings on it, one of which was "alarm off." On this clock, if you leave the setting on "set time" the alarm automatically goes off at "12 a.m." (after about 15 minutes it stops itself). Well, last Sunday and Monday we were so tired we slept through the alarm going off at 11:41 p.m. (which is 12 hours from the time we originally set it).
Last Tuesday, however, I was awakened by it, and ran upstairs wondering if a ghost followed me home and was playing with things in the house. I immediately unplugged it and didn't sense anything.
It was plugged back in the next morning (and we overlooked the alarm off switch again). Of course, it rang again while we were sleeping and startled me! So I ran upstairs and unplugged it... wondering again if there was an entity in the house playing with the electricity. I picked it up and looked closely at the alarm and that's when I saw the "alarm off" setting. DOH!
So, this was a good experience in debunking communications from the other side. It could be a ghost, or it could be your own stupidity with alarms, as it was in my case!

Baltimore's Mt. Vernon Ghost Tour!

On Saturday night, as a last minute idea, we decided to take the Mt. Vernon Ghost Walk in Baltimore, and it was very enjoyable!
SUMMARY: Mount Vernon, Baltimore's cultural center may be more "spirited" than you think. Admire the architecture while guides regale you with the history and haunted lore of this striking neighborhood that was home to many of Baltimore's leading citizens. Hear about those who have never checked out of the Belvedere, a séance gone wrong, and more than one grand dame who still oversees the activities of her home. Join us to pull back the curtain and peer into the other side. MORE INFO: http://www.fellspointghost.com/mtvernon.html

The Brass Elephant restaurant has closed now. It sits empty at 924 N Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. The building was built in the early 1800s and was a home where there was a "hidden" 4th floor where servants lived. The restaurant is known to have many ghosts.

Fireplace Dweller - This innocent looking apartment had a female ghost who dwelled inside and lingered by the fireplace. When a new tenant moved in, she was haunted by this ghost until she talked with her and convinced her to move on.

Haunting Face- This grotesque face was on one of the buildings in Mt. Vernon, next to a woman's club that had some hauntings.
ROB'S ENCOUNTERS - The ghost tour met in the "Owl Bar" of the famous Belvedere Hotel. I immediately got a headache inside. Turns out a woman haunts the bar. We learned that after the tour walked out of the bar. A couple who came out of the woman's club and who stopped to listen to part of the ghost tour guide had an older spirit of a man named "Arthur" attached to her that was watching over her (no, I didn't get to tell her). A woman in our tour group had the spirit of an elderly woman following her and kept calling her "cupcake."

4 Good Books: "The Haunting of Derek Stone" Series

I recently read 4 Scholastic novels (written for teens) by Tony Abbott. The books are in a series called "The Haunting of Derek Stone" and are well-written and hold your interest. You have to read them in order, however, or you could get somewhat lost. They premise is of a 14 year old, out of shape boy (Derek Stone) and his older teen brother and father take a train ride in Oregon, and the train goes off a bridge, killing people. All of the family seem to survive the accident. However, it turns out that an accident that occurred in that same spot, in that same manner in 1938 that was carrying prisoners - allowed the souls of the dead prisoners to linger and reanimate the newly dead victims (they refer to it as "translation of spirits" of the present day train accident.
The books build up the mystery, and I won't give it away. One of the reanimated dead, however is a prisoner who was a pyromaniac in 1938, and who leads the army of reanimated dead against Derek Stone (because he's "special"). Derek's brother Ronnie is reanimated by a good soul of a former prison security guard, and helps Derek and another train passenger. Again, I won't give away any more.
-I've noticed that you can find these as used books very cheaply, and they're worth the read. Enjoy them then give them to your teenager to enjoy. :)
THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
City of the Dead (The Haunting of Derek Stone, Book 1)
Bayou Dogs (The Haunting of Derek Stone, Book 2)
The Red House (The Haunting of Derek Stone Series 3)
The Ghost Road (The Haunting of Derek Stone Series 4)

New Book Event on Oct. 16th! Hard Bean Books in Annapolis

New Book Event!
On Saturday, OCTOBER 16 I'll be at the at HARD BEAN COFFEE & BOOKSTORE at 6 Market Space, Annapolis, MD 21401-1817 (Tel.410-263-8770. The store is located in historic downtown Annapolis, Md. and the event will go from 12pm-4pm EDT. I'll be signing books and talking with the ghostly curious! At 4pm, I'll give a brief talk about what it's like being a developing medium and talk with people about their ghost stories.
More info about the Hard Bean Coffee and Bookstore:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annapolis-MD/HARD-BEAN-CAFE/162710380913

Protection from Ghosts

One question I was recently asked was about protecting yourself from ghosts or spirits when you're sensitive to them. Here's something I learned from reading books by others: Imagine yourself surrounded by God's white light of protection- kind of like a shield.
This white light can be pictured around you whenever you go into a house that you may think is haunted or anywhere at any time. Usually when I get ready for sleep, I envision a white light around me and my family.
On the nights that I forget to do it, I tend to wake up at 2:30 a.m. or 3 a.m., when the spirits seem to be most active. The white light of protection really seems to work, and I believe that James Van Praagh and Maryann Winkowski mentioned it in their books. Give it a try!

3 Late Visitors in B&B

Today I went to a really cool Bed and Breakfast and discovered at least three ghosts inside. When I entered the building, I immediately got a dull headache in the back of my head, indicating that there were ghosts (beings of energy, Earth-bound) in the dwelling. I got the sense of a woman in the room on the first floor.
There was a lot of energy on the main stairwell as I ascended to the second floor. I also encountered the ghost of a man who passed in one room. As soon as I got into the room, he made me breathe heavily, feeling how he felt as he was dying in that room. Another room had a brilliant, calming, healing energy. It was a total emotional difference from the other room.
The B&B was in fact three different row homes (all built in the 1800s) before they were merged into this beautiful bed and breakfast. Each of those ghosts I encountered were not of recent times, but were residents of the homes in the past. It was quite an experience, as I haven't often encountered multiple ghosts in a place before.

Love Never Fades - it powers up Spirits who have crossed.

In a number of the events that I've been to and had the opportunity to speak with people about my book, the topic of love comes up often. Love the main emotion that powers spirits (those who have crossed into the light) to "power up" and come back to give messages or signs to those they left behind. Positive emotions help spirits who have crossed over while negative emotions (fear, anxiety, hatred) help earth-bound ghosts power up.
One instance of the power that love brings to a spirit happened when a man and his daughter came up to me earlier this year at The "Karmafest" event. As the man approached I sensed a spirit around him, a woman. He asked me about the book, and I explained that I wrote it based on my developing abilities to talk to ghosts and spirits. He asked about his wife who passed, and I instantly knew it was her around he and his daughter. His wife (who passed from an illness) immediately filled me up with so much emotion and love that she held for these two, that it caused me to visibly shake. It was overwhelming. She wanted them to know that she's around them all the time.
The man confirmed that some "odd things" happen around the house. He mentioned the strings from shades that he constantly finds wrapped in knots in the spare room (whenever he goes in there). He said that he and his wife shared a memory about knots, something from a movie they watched together. He said he couldn't understand how the knots kept happening, when neither he nor his daughter tied them, and there was no one else in the house. Obviously, it was a clear sign from his wife.
So, the love that the man and his late wife shared are giving her the power to tie those knots, and power enough as a spirit to make me visibly shake with the energy and love she has for her husband and daughter.
In short, love never fades. In fact, it powers those who have passed (and gone into the light) to send us messages they're still checking in on us from time to time, and leaving signs (if we're paying attention).

Spirits and Child Prodigies

If you have a child that has an incredible talent, and you don't know where this talent came from, your child may be recalling a past life, and carried over the talent from that life into the present life.
- I know that some find this hard to grasp. However, there are a number of children that recall historic events in details they could never know. One such instance is this, according to ABC NEWS: Six decades ago, a 21-year-old Navy fighter pilot on a mission over the Pacific was shot down by Japanese artillery. His name might have been forgotten, were it not for 6-year-old James Leininger. Quite a few people — including those who knew the fighter pilot — think James is the pilot, reincarnated. James' parents, Andrea and Bruce, a highly educated, modern couple, say they are "probably the people least likely to have a scenario like this pop up in their lives." But over time, they have become convinced their little son has had a former life. FULL STORY: http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Technology/story?id=894217&page=3
On a related note, if a child has memories of a past life that can be proven by those who still live, then why wouldn't a child carry on some of the talents they acquired during a previous life? They would.
DEFINITION: A child prodigy is someone who at an early age masters one or more skills at an adult level.[1] One heuristic for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 15 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding field of endeavor.
One such child prodigy was in the news this past week. A five year old boy that paints like an impressionist painter. When you look at his works, you'll be as amazed as I was. I'm convinced that this child, Kieran Williamson of England, lived before as a painter. You will be convinced, too. Five year olds simply don't have this ability- it had to come from somewhere else, and that was likely a past lifetime.
Some information from his website about Kieron: Kieron was a typical energetic toddler with a passion for mud and water. He loved riding his bike and throwing stones into the sea and every available puddle. The walk to and from school was more like an assault course for Kieron and he would often appear out of the bushes with a stick or bug in hand. Today Kieron is one of the world's youngest, globally reaching artists. His recent work has seen bids from over 35 different countries. He has over 1800 fans on his mailing list, featured all over YouTube and the world's media websites..... See his work at his website: http://www.kieronwilliamson.com/Home/tabid/288/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Amazon UK Has a New Kindle E-Book! Mine!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Giving a new meaning to the phrase "Ghosts in the Machine," Amazon.co.uk's Kindle now offers a new E-book called "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium," by Rob Gutro.
"Ghosts and Spirits: Insight from a Medium" is also available in paperback, and is published by Virtualbookworm.com. In its first week of publication, the book rated #30 in popularity of paranormal books at the U.S.'s Amazon.com on January 9, 2010.
"To have my book available in the U.K. in both paperback and on Kindle is very exciting," Gutro said. "Kindle is a tremendously popular way to read books, and I'm thrilled that people with the service will now have the ability to learn about ghosts and spirits through my book."
Gutro is more recognized for his work on hurricanes at the U.S. Space agency NASA, but has recently published the book based on his inherited ability to communicate with Earth-bound ghosts or spirits.
"I'm looking forward to coming to the U.K. in the next year and visiting many of the haunted places," Gutro added. "Encounters with ghosts in the U.K. would be an entire book in itself, and one that I would love to write," he said.
For people who enjoy television ghost hunting programs, haunted houses or want to know the who, what, where, when and whys of ghosts and spirits, this book will provide insight and answers to better understand them.
Readers will learn the difference between ghosts and spirits and the ways they attempt to communicate with the living. Gutro will also share true stories of paranormal encounters submitted from his friends around the U.S. After each story, Rob explains the encounter and what the entity is trying to communicate. The book also highlights the author's experiences on ghost walks in various cities or in historic places around the U.S. "The purpose of the book is to educate people about what happens after their loved ones pass," Gutro said.
To order the book on Amazon.co.uk as a Kindle edition or paperback, go to:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Chapter Titles in my book: Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium

One of the challenges with getting a book for sale on-line, is getting the chapter titles out to the public. I know that I'd prefer to see the contents of the book to see if it appeals to me. SO, here are the chapters of my book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium"! Rob Gutro

CHAPTER OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Growing Up and Developing an Understanding
Chapter 2: What are Ghosts and What Enables Them to Appear?
Chapter 3: Two Kinds of Ghosts/Spirits
Chapter 4: Where Do Ghosts and Spirits Appear?
Chapter 5: Getting Rid of Earth-Bound Ghosts and Negative Energy
Chapter 6: How Can People Experience Ghosts?
Chapter 7: How I Experience Ghosts and Spirits
Chapter 8: My Life Among Ghosts and Spirits
Chapter 9: Messages By Water
Chapter 10: My Dad and Lessons He Taught Me About the Afterlife
Chapter 11: Tom's Late Partner Ed Visits
Chapter 12: Tom's Grandmother's Passing – Many Signs
Chapter 13: Some of My Other Experiences
Chapter 14: Experience Among Strangers – My First Public Readings
Chapter 15: Experiences in Various Houses and Locations
Chapter 16: Ghost Walks in Various Cities
Chapter 17: Dogs and Cats Do Go To Heaven: My Dog Buzz-Wyatt's Presence
Chapter 18: Ghost / Spirit Stories From Others (Part One): A Mother and Son's Experiences in Kansas and California
Chapter 19: Ghost / Spirit Stories From Others (Part Two)
Chapter 20: A Brief History of the Spiritual Movement
Chapter 21: Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author

In a Gym, Driving to Work...Spirits communicate anywhere.

Ghosts and spirits will talk to me anywhere. Over the last week I've heard them driving to work and in the gym I work out at. Although ghosts haunt places they're familiar with, and are restricted to communicating where they choose to dwell, spirits can communicate anywhere in the world. Once a spirit passes into the light it gives them that ability.
- Last week I was driving to work, and as I was nearing the office a co-worker's father came to me and gave me visions of a workbench, and kept calling the name "Johnny" or "Jonnie" - turns out that's the name of the co-worker's husband. Her dad also told me to tell her how proud he is of her, in her way of helping one of her boys pursue his dreams.
- Another instance happened when I went to the gym I work out at. I mentioned to a young woman at the check in counter that I wrote the book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium" and she wanted to know the difference between the entities, and a couple of other questions. She got distracted from our short conversation because she had to do her job... so Tom and I went to work out. While on the treadmill, I received a vision of a "grandmother-like figure" with grey hair pulled back in a bun, and wearing a red dress. She also showed me an apple (as in the color of an apple). I also got a message about a young man with one earring. Upon leaving, I talked with the woman behind the counter about these messages, and she confirmed that it was her great-grandmother, and that the last time she saw her great-grandmother alive she (the great-grandmother) was in fact, wearing a red dress. The message was that she's around the young woman and watching over her.
So, spirits can communicate anywhere... and do!

My late Puppy Buzz Makes a Birthday Visit to Medium Barb Mallon

Today, July 29 would have been my puppy Buzz Wyatt's 6th birthday. Buzz came to me as a birthday gift from a friend- and Buzz changed my life for the better. At first challenging to learn how to raise a pup, I learned unconditional love as he helped nurse Buzz back to health, as Buzz contracted pneumonia the first week they were together. Buzz had hospital overnight stays and I had him breathing steam, taking medications, etc. until he regained health, only to be taken away 4 months later by a speeding, reckless driver in Feb 2005. Buzz has come back many times and made his appearance known, to me, and our dogs Dolly and Franklin. We have his ashes in the house, and feel him around. Today, being his 6th birthday- I wanted to pay tribute to him and post some favorite photos, because that love never changes!
BUZZ MAKES AN APPEARANCE TO OUR FRIEND AND MEDIUM, BARB MALLON!
At 5:30pm EDT, Our friend and amazing medium, Barb Mallon called me tonight. She said that she was driving earlier today and thinking about me, when a dog appeared to have run in front of her car, in a gangly (clumsy) fashion, and as she went to slam on the brakes the dog vanished! She said she knew it was Buzz and verified that when she got home and checked facebook for my post about how today (7/29) would have been Buzz's 6th birthday.
Buzz was a puppy when he was tragically killed (when a leash opened and he dashed in front of a speeding car in 2005) and his feet were too big for him, so he tended to walk in a somewhat clumsy fashion. Barb's phone call of Buzz's appearance to her made my day.

TONIGHT!! Interview on Crossroadspararadio! 10pm EDT

Tonight I have the pleasure of being a guest on the wonderful CrossroadsPararadio.com show with hosts Shawn Sellers and Jake Bell!
Here are the details:
When: Thursday, July 29, at 9 p.m. Central/10pm Eastern
Where: www.crossroadspararadio.com
www.crossroadspararadio.com
CROSS ROADS PARARADIO: Join us every Thursday night from 8 to 11 p.m. Central, as we talk about a variety of topics including current events, politics, the occult, UFOs, conspiracy theories, the Illuminati, and ghosts. The radio show covers all aspects of the unknown.

My Partner's Grandma Visits Us at her Gravesite

A TRIBUTE TO MY PARTNER'S GRANDMA - This weekend would have been my partner's grandmother Grace's 100th birthday. She passed 4 years ago, however, but remains strongly around today. Grandma has been tossing pennies to my partner since she passed. We drove to eastern Virginia with our dogs and went to her gravesite to pay tribute to her.
Not surprisingly, I received some messages at the cemetary. I got my tell-tale headache indicating there were some spirits or ghosts present. Now, cemetaries aren't "haunted," until living people come there with feelings of love and other emotions to "power up the spirits." If there were earth-bound ghosts there, negative energy would power them up, but love powers spirits who have crossed into the light. Grandma gave me several messages and one was her telling me how she would go out in the backyard kitchen (separate from the house) and bring ice cream to my partner when he stayed there as a kid. Hem confirmed that one for me. There were other images, some of which we're still trying to understand.
Grandma Grace was really funny. I only knew here about 6 months before she passed and 5 of those she spent in a nursing home. She had a good wit about her, and was loved by many people in the town. She did a lot of sewing for people, and Tom tells me she was a good cook, too, always canning and preserving something. She's very loved and missed.
I sensed some other spirits that were able to "power up" when we were there- one leaning against a tree, another sitting on his gravestone. I didn't get their messages though (we didn't stick around a long time as it was too hot!).

You, Your Pets and This High Heat - *off topic, but important*

I'm a meteorologist as well as a developing medium, so I thought I'd pass this information along because of the extreme HOT temperatures in the U.S. this summer.
With this dangerous heat, its easy for people and pets to get sick quickly from dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.
What causes heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, occur when your body can't keep itself cool. As the air temperature rises, your body stays cool when your sweat evaporates. On hot, humid days, the evaporation of sweat is slowed by the increased moisture in the air. When sweating isn't enough to cool your body, your body temperature rises, and you may become ill.
HEAT SICKNESS - Our Weimaraner Dolly was only out for 30 minutes at a time at Daycare yesterday (in a shaded run and with water) and she came home with heat sickness. She ate dinner then threw it all up. After I rubbed her down with a washcloth and icecubes, and gave her a bath in cool water, she was fine. ... then she was hungry. That was only 30 MINUTES!!

DON'T WALK THE DOGS ON HOT PAVEMENT IN THE DAYTIME - Asphalt tends to be 20 degrees HOTTER than the air temperature (once the temps get over 85F), so avoid walking dogs on asphalt. Think about walking on 105F pavement in bare feet. OUCH! When temps hit 90F, the asphalt can be around 120-122F in direct sunshine. ***WITH THE HIGH HEAT INDICIES, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG OUTSIDE FOR MORE THAN 15-30 MINUTES***
What is heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion happens when your body gets too hot. It can be caused by physical exercise or hot weather. You may experience:
•Heavy sweating •Feeling weak and/or confused •Dizziness
•Nausea •Headache •Fast heartbeat •Dark-colored urine, which indicates dehydration
What should I do if I think I have heat exhaustion?
If you think you have heat exhaustion, get out of the heat quickly. Rest in a building that has air-conditioning. If you can't get inside, find a cool, shady place. Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Do NOT drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks (such as soda). These can make heat exhaustion worse. Take a cool shower or bath, or apply cool water to your skin. Take off any tight or unnecessary clothing.
If you do not feel better within 30 minutes, you should contact your doctor. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it can progress to heatstroke
What should I do if I think someone has heatstroke?
If you think someone might have heatstroke, call emergency medical personnel immediately. While you are waiting for medical assistance, take the person into an air-conditioned building or a cool, shady place. Remove the person's unnecessary clothing to help cool him or her down. Try to fan air over the person while wetting the skin with water. You can also apply ice packs to the the person's armpits, groin, neck and back. These areas contain a lot of blood vessels close the surface of the skin. Cooling them with ice packs can help the person cool down.

Ronda's Encounter at Montpelier Mansion

Ronda wrote me with an experience she had, and has allowed me to share it with you. She wrote: "While reading your book I came across the section about the Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, Maryland. I use to work the "Needle Art" show there every year around July. I would get there early before all of the people arrived, open the doors turn on the lights, etc. One day while I was there alone waiting for the people to arrive, I was sitting in the breeze way (the one that goes between the house and the room with all the book shelves) cross stitching. When out of the corner of my eye I could see the bottom of a dress. The dress was a robins egg blue color and had a pattern kind of like herringbone. When I looked directly at door the where the person was standing, no one was there. This happened 3 different times, there was no doubt that there was a lady watching me sew."

I'm wondering if anyone else had a ghostly encounter at the Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, as Ronda and I have. Please write in and share them!

Entertaining Fiction Book for All: Dead Person Following My Sister""

I recently went to a Scholastic book warehouse sale with a good friend who found the paperback "There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around" by author Vivian Vande Velde.
I just finished the book (142 pages) and although its written for kids and young teens, I LOVED IT!
I learned the Ms. Vande Velde has written others like it, which I intend to read (even though we have no children). The Publisher's Website says of the book "Vande Velde continues her string of historical ghost stories, this time focusing on the Underground Railroad. The first-person narrator, 11-year-old Ted, is certain that his house in Rochester, NY, can't be haunted because it has been in his family for generations and there have been no secrets to speak of in its past. Then his five-year-old sister Vicki's imaginary friend Marella and the "bad lady" who seems to be chasing her prove themselves to be all too real. Ted decides to get to the bottom of the mystery and finds a journal belonging to one of his ancestors that recounts the tragic story of two runaway slaves, a mother and her five-year-old daughter, who drowned in the Erie Canal, which used to run through the family's backyard."
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It was a fun and enjoyable read.

Karma- It Will Get You on the Road!

I was driving to a doctor's appointment this morning on a road that was dropping down from 4 lanes to 2 lanes (one lane going each direction) and I was in the appropriate lane for the merge to go straight. As the lanes came together a young woman in a silver sports car raced past me on the shoulder and quickly swung in front of me, cutting me off (and forcing me to brake). She startled me, and I gave a quick toot on my horn. Of course, she put her arm outside her window and gave me the finger. Lovely.
Here's where the Karma part comes in;
1) There was a truck 3 cars ahead of her, so she couldn't speed excessively.
2) When she turned off, I followed (because that was the road I had to go on), and she must've been driving about 80 mph (it was a 40 mph road). She took off like a bullet and was out of sight. A couple of minutes later, I drove past her as she was PULLED OVER by a Police Officer for speeding! KARMA!!!

Wesley's Spirit Gives Me Messages

Our friend Cynthia's dad Wesley passed this week. He was 88 and suffered from memory loss and dementia. On July 1 he was waked, and Tom and I went to the wake. As we were driving toward it, her dad came to me with a number of messages, many of which took me and Cynthia by surprise.
The first one was "Cindy Lou." That came to me over and over, and I didn't know who that was... turned out that it's what he called Cynthia. I was blown away by that! The next message was about one of her brothers and she understood what it meant.
The third thing he told me was what happened as he passed. He had bleeding on the brain, and he told me that he "heard a pop" in his head, and the next thing he knew, he (his spirit) was standing up in the hospital (ER) while the doctors were working on him. He stayed for a brief time (I believe 1-2 days) and then was ready to move on (that's when he passed). He said he feels no pain, and doesn't remember any (spirits typically don't remember any pain associated with passing).
He said that now that he's transitioning to the other side (he was still at his wake) he can think clearly now, like a great fog has been lifted from his brain. Now that he's passed he is free of the dementia, so his thoughts are clear.
He mentioned how he had missed "Honey Bun" (his wife) who is hospitalized in a different care center, but would now be watching over her.
The last thing he said was to "thank Cindy Lou" for all of the love, care and attention she provided to him, especially since he fell ill. When I told these things to Cynthia it brought her to tears, but happy tears. She's comforted to know he's okay.

BOOK: Gift : Understand and Develop Your Psychic Abilities

I just finished reading the book "Gift : Understand and Develop Your Psychic Abilities" by Echo Bodine. This is a good book for people who are developing mediums. It will give you a good sense of what kinds of messages to expect and how to interpret (or not over-interpret) them. If you're curious about what the Bible says about mediumship there's a long chapter included, where Ms. Bodine has done extensive research. She has also authored a number of other books that also sound interesting.

Airing July 5 on HBO: Mediums: "No One Dies in Lilydale"

HBO is airing a documentary tonight, JULY 5, called "No One Dies in Lilydale." The program showcases a town in upstate New York and the large number of mediums that reside there.
Whether or not you believe in people being able to cross over or communicate with the dead, you have to admit, the subject’s kind of interesting, especially when it involves a town with a concentrated population of so-called Mediums.
Located just south of Buffalo, tiny Lily Dale, NY, is home to the world’s largest concentration of mediums, people who claim to be able to communicate with spirits of the deceased. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to this quaint Victorian community to have their questions answered and grief assuaged. Directed by Emmy® winner and Oscar® nominee Steven Cantor (HBO’s Devil’s Playground), NO ONE DIES IN LILY DALE follows visitors on their emotional quests, chronicling their mysterious and deeply personal interactions with the town’s unusual residents, when it debuts MONDAY, JULY 5 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Good Book! Haunted Nantucket Island

I just finished reading a good book about 22 different haunted places on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The book is called "Nantucket Haunted Hike Presents: the Haunted Nantucket Island: Twenty-two True Nantucket Ghost Stories" by W.B. Alexander, a man who lives there and runs the ghost tours of the island. The book is extremely well-written, captivating, and has some really great stories in it that will make you want to visit Nantucket!
ISBN-10: 1413488935. I highly recommended it!

Dread and Anxiety Drive us from Haunted New Hope, PA

Tom and I visited New Hope, Pennsylvania this past Saturday and as soon as we crossed into the town line I started feeling anxious, nervous and miserable. It was like I walked into a thick blanket of negative energy. It didn't help that the bed and breakfast that we were going to stay at (but we didn't) was full of negative energy either, which is why we drove home that evening.
First, however, we walked through the town for about 2 hours. The first hint that things were screwy was a restaurant we went into. I sat while Tom went to the restroom for a minute. During that time (which was about 3 minutes) a waitress and her husband (they owned the place) walked up to me and asked for the order. Not knowing what Tom wanted the man said "you come to the cash register when you know." Um... so when Tom returned to the table I had to order at the cash register. Weird.
New Hope, Pennsylvania runs along the west side of the Delaware River (yes, the one that George Washington crossed on December 25, 1776, and he did so just south of New Hope). As I've mentioned many times before running water near a town adds to ghostly activity. This was off the charts for me and I couldn't block it out. The tell-tale headache I get that signals ghosts or spirits are around hit me when we came into town. The negativity, the sadness, the fear, anxiety, nervousness I felt were making me really, really uncomfortable.
In terms of the haunts, here is what Unsolved Mysteries.com says about New Hope, PA: "The New Hope area has been rumored to be haunted by a number of ghosts. So many, in fact, that it has been named “America’s Most Haunted Town.” Most [haunts] originate in “downtown” New Hope surrounding Bridge Street and the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge." (That's especially where I felt miserable and where we decided to leave the town that night and return home!
Unsolved Mysteries.com goes on to say that many places have ghost stories: the Inn at Phillips Mill, the Pickett House, the Logan Inn, Odette’s Restaurant, and the Van Sant Bridge. Each place has its own specific legend and the witnesses to back it up.

"The Inn at Phillips Mill is known for having a couple of ghosts spending their time inside its walls. There is rumored to be a woman who wears a long dress with a high collar roaming about around the staircase and the upstairs hall of the building. A rocking chair in one corner of the Inn is also claimed to have a spiritual presence about it."

"The Logan Inn also has a reputation for being haunted; in fact, so much so that the place has four ghosts. If you stay in room six, watch out for a man’s reflection in the mirror which disappears when you look around. Two children are also said to stay in this room sometimes. A Revolutionary War soldier also wanders about the Inn, taking refuge in different rooms including the bar, the basement, and the dining room. A portrait of a woman who enjoyed wearing lavender perfume hangs in a hallway, and many claim that they can still smell the scent when they pass by it. For men who wish to use the restroom, be wary if the steps leading to the one in the basement: it is believed that a man in knee breeches waits on them. And in the parking lot, a little girl who was known to have drowned some time ago lurks in the shadows."

"Joseph Pickett is a deceased artist who hauntes what once was his bedroom in the house he owned on Mechanic Street. He also, like many residents of New Hope, enjoys strolling along the towpath. Joseph likes to visit a house on Mechanic Street once owned by his cousin. Odette’s, which used to be called the River House and used to serve boatmen in the late eighteenth century, has occurrences of a ghostly woman who was rumored to be murdered during the time when the restaurant was called the River House. There are also moments of chills and voices in the restaurant, accompanied by a strong smell of perfume, much like in the Logan Inn."

"The Van Sant Bridge is also haunted by an unmarried young woman with an infant, who was thrown out of her house by her parents. She jumped to her death off the Van Sant Bridge, with her baby in her arms. The legend says that to this day, when you stand on the bridge, you can hear the baby crying. Horse thieves also used to be hanged from this bridge, and people can often still see one of them hanging there."

So, it's no surprise to me that it was especially walking over that bridge that I felt the most negative energy and we decided to leave the town. Between the suicide and the hangings from that location, there was way too much negative energy for me to block out.

Information from: http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm464955.html