Haunting (4 min) Video: A Few Odd Minutes in Howard County: Patapsco Female Institute (Interview of Rob Gutro)

Earlier this month, Producer Tony Hoos of Howard Community College interviewed me about the ghosts at the Patapsco Female Institute in Ellicott City, Maryland. This 4 minute video will give you an insight about what and who lingers there on this Halloween!

Haunting: A Few Odd Minutes in Howard County: Patapsco Female Institute 
Rob Gutro, author and medium in the Inspired Ghost Tracking group was interviewed about the ghosts that linger in this structure. 
Go inside the ruins of a once-famous institute for young women. The former site of the Patapsco Female Institute is filled with history and some paranormal reminders of the past. From former students to wounded soldiers, these spirits seem to inhabit every floor.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GCC2zInm31Q

Part 1: Belmont Mansion Ghostly Happenings: Amanda the Ghost

Ronda of IGT asking questions to the ghost in "Amanda's bedroom"

The Inspired Ghost Tracking group of Glen Burnie, Maryland leads public ghost investigations at the historic Belmont Mansion (in Elkridge, MD) several times throughout the year through the Howard County Parks Department. The tours are $20 and the funds all go to support the mansion. The registration is through the parks department.

On the most recent investigation, Friday, July 16, there were several experiences where we talked with intelligent haunts (ghosts who answer questions).

There were 21 people who signed up for the investigation. So, the Inspired Ghost Tracking teams split into two groups. One for the first floor and basement, and the other for the second floor. I covered the second floor with Ronda, Amy and Jimmy.

A GHOST NAMED AMANDA - On previous investigations we learned that there is a 6 year old girl named Amanda who died of the flu and still plays in the house. People have seen her. I got all the info about her name, age, and death on a previous investigation - as I channeled her while Ronda asked me questions (we work so well together).
  

The ball lit up with an affirmation

LIGHTING UP TO ANSWER - One of the things we use to get "Yes" or "No" answers is a ball that lights up when moved or affected by electrical activity. It's actually a cat toy, but it's easy enough for ghosts to affect it (since they're energy). Well, Ronda asked questions and Amanda answered confirming her presence. A visitor in the group asked Amanda if she knew what was pictured on her shirt (they were butterflies), and the ball lit up. Another question was asked and the ball didn't light. Then a woman asked if Amanda knew what was on her shirt (cats) and the ball lit up.  Other questions were asked and received no response.

TV TIME - At the end of the questions we were about to leave when suddenly Amanda turned on the television in the room. We were all startled as the remote was in a drawer and no one was near the television. Again, ghosts can do that because they're electrical energy. Maybe Amanda was acknowledging she was done with her visitors and wanted to watch television.

If you want to participate in one of the IGT investigations of the Mansion, Call 410-313-0200 or register online:
www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Recreation-and-Park

Join the locally inspired ghost tracking team as they guide you on a tour and paranormal presentation of Belmont Manor House, grounds, and cemetery. Learn from and meet experts in the field, paranormal authors, investigators

and mediums. Acquire knowledge of equipment including a video camera, voice recorder, EMF meters, and ghost box. Cameras and your own  equipment are welcome. Who knows what you will find on this paranormal investigation of Belmont! Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather.

Be sure to like the page: Inspired Ghost Tracking's Ghosts of Belmont Mansion:
https://www.facebook.com/inspiredghosttrackingbelmontghosts 

NEXT: Ghostly Proof at the Belmont Manor: The White Haired Woman

Big Announcement! Updated and Revised for 2016: Ghosts and Spirits 2nd Edition!

I'm proud to announce the publication of the 2nd edition of my first book "Ghosts and Spirits."  
 This 2nd edition has been updated and revised for 2016. It has also been reformatted and editing for easier reading. I've learned a lot since I published the first edition of this book in 2009 and I've revised the book to reflect it. I think you'll get a lot of the book, and will learn a lot about human (and even animal) ghosts and spirits. 
LOOK FOR THE PURPLE COVER BORDER to ensure you have Volume 2. *NOTE: Vol. 1 is still out there under "Used Books" on Amazon. This Volume is MUCH more detailed and comprehensive. 
- Rob Gutro 


HISTORY - I published the book in December 2009, and have learned a lot since then, especially as my abilities developed and I joined the Inspired Ghost Tracking group in 2010 as a medium.
 WHAT'S IN THE BOOK  - 
   This was my breakthrough book that DEFINED the difference between a Ghost and a Spirit. The difference lies in energies and how they affect the living.
  The book has a lot of amazing experiences in it, including a chapter about how my Dad passed in 2008 and helped me convince my entire family that he was around during the week of his services. The book also includes the original story and the first dozen signs from my puppy Buzz, who proved he was still around in spirit, and showed me how pets communicate from the other side. He was the inspiration for this book.
   You'll walk through historic places and meet the ghosts that dwell in them, You'll also read stories from others with their encounters of Earth-bound ghosts and spirits, and a great chapter about a mother and son's experiences with both.

  Published by CreateSpace, Available in E-book and Paperback on Amazon.com.

ABOUT GHOSTS AND SPIRITS 2016: 2nd Edition

  Learn the difference between a ghost and spirit, the energies that drive them and enable them to communicate with the living. Learn why some stay behind. Follow the author on paranormal investigations and encounters with both entities- even his own dad and his dog who proved they are still here. Read about historic haunted homes and ghost walks the author experienced and personal hauntings encountered by Rob and others. 

  Rob was inspired to write this book after a puppy he had was tragically killed in an accident. The puppy's spirit returned many times in different ways.  

  Learn some ways people and pets can give you signs: from a heart of flowers, to music, electricity, apports, appearances, temperature changes and more.

  Rob wrote this book to offer comfort for anyone who lost someone dear to them, and provide proof that our departed loved ones are still around us, guiding. Influencing, protecting us and helping teach us lessons.

  The author lived in a haunted house in college (by accident). Read about the ghostly face of a cruel southern General on a building in Savannah and the ghostly actor from a Tombstone theater.

  Also available by Rob Gutro: Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead, Pets and the Afterlife, Pets and the Afterlife 2.

Rob's 2 hr interview about Haunted History: Beyond the Grave You Tube program

If you missed Rob's 2 hr interview about Haunted History on the Beyond the Grave You Tube program, you can watch it here!
    Beyond the Grave Radio Presents Rob Gutro. Author, Medium and Ghost Hunter. Hosts Christina and Roger talked with Rob about about haunted places Rob visited and encountered ghosts. The Montpelier Mansion, the Belair Mansion, the Benson-Hammond House, and a lot of ghostly activity in the very haunted New Hope, Pennsylvania. We also touched upon the difference between ghosts and spirits, and even some spirit pets.
  Most of the stories they covered were from Rob's books:  "Pets and the Afterlife," "Pets and the Afterlife 2" (just published in 2016) "Ghosts and Spirits" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" at Amazon.com


VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/HOQWqKPW2LY?list=PLSOumkAIzx0739V1rnIvfoqJzc5hwS7B8

  

ROB'S BOOKS AVAILABLE - AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: amazon.com/author/robgutro or

http://www.amazon.com/Rob-Gutro/e/B003UNTASW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1456078180&sr=1-1

Email Question about a potential haunting

I receive emails and questions from time to time, and I try to respond as quickly as possible. The following email came

to me and I urged the person to get help from local paranormal investigators. I'm sharing it with you in case you or someone you know is experiencing something similar. Here's the email exchange:

Ever since our roommates left , it's just me my son and daughter. (My son) has been "falling " down stairs and says I push him which I did not. But you could see him get pushed. He said this stranger wakes up the baby every time he says it she's awake.

  Also, something cut [a piece] out of my hair. Am I losing my mind or should I contact someone for help. Things have followed me since I was very young.

MY RESPONSE: 
It sounds like you could have an intelligent ghost in the home- so I recommend that you contact a local ghost hunting group to do an investigation.   You can search them using Google. Just search on "paranormal investigation and (your town, state)."
  Meanwhile, bring a lot of light into your home, play instrumental music to bring in positive energy, and tell whatever may be there that it's your home, and to leave you and your children alone. - It could be a ghost, or just negative energy that needs to be cleared out. Either way, a ghost group can help you do that.
Sincerely, Rob

What is a "Haunting"? Who Haunts People- Ghosts or Spirits?

With Halloween this week, I thought this a great time to address what

"Haunted" really means.

I was inspired to answer this question when a friend of mine asked i if I was being "haunted" by a spirit of someone I love, who visits from time to time

In my books "Ghosts and Spirits" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" I explain the difference between GHOSTS and SPIRITS. 

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE? - The physical energies in living bodies (people or pets) combine with our memories and personalities and we stay on Earth or cross over. That's the difference between a ghost and a spirit.  

WHAT ARE SPIRITS? - Spirits have "crossed over," gone to heaven, Valhalla, Paradise or whatever you want to call the other side. Spirits come back from time to time to give us messages, guide us, help us make decisions, protect us, help us learn lessons and let us know that they're still watching over us and love us.

WHEN DO SPIRITS VISIT?  Spirits come from time to time and don't live with us. They visit on Birthdays, Anniversaries and Holidays for the most part) and lets us know he's fine on the other side. Spirits do NOT "Haunt" people. Only ghosts do.  

WHO HAUNTS PEOPLE?  -  Haunting is a "ghost-only thing. Here's why:
      
WHAT ARE GHOSTS? Ghosts are Earth-bound entities.Ghosts usually stay in one place - usually the place they lived (and liked when alive) and are always there, "Haunting" it.  Ghosts stay for a number of reasons, like unfinished business, or perhaps they were mean or evil when living and don't think they deserve to cross over, so they linger trying to get forgiveness. Sometimes they can attach themselves to an object or a person (if the person is very negative, depressed, angry or has any negative emotion).  Earth-bound ghosts are isolated from peace and stuck on Earth in a kind of isolation (hell) - they know of their relatives in spirit but can't communicate with them or cross over until they get what they need (often forgiveness or a medium to cross them over).

Spirits, like Ed, are at peace in the afterlife. So, NOPE, Ed isn't haunting us, just coming back to say hello and "I love you" from time to time - and usually whenever I call him (as any spirit will come back to people and give messages if asked). 
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To Learn the difference between Ghosts and Spirits and how they communicate with us, check out Rob Gutro's 2nd book:  Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead 
$8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book on AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde

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SUMMARY for LESSONS LEARNED: Follow Rob on a treasure-hunt-style journey in Virginia as he and others try to explain what appear to be random and obscure words, signs and symbols from a spirit, that all wind up being intensely personal to the spirit.Explore the science behind how they communicate. Learn how to receive their messages, where they appear, and important messages in how to live your life. Rob takes you into cemeteries, battlefields, and historic places. You’ll see what happens to victims of suicide and murders, and how infants and animals pass messages to the living. Featuring: Inspired Ghost Tracking and mediums Barb Mallon, Troy Cline and Ruth Larkin.

Picture Proof of a Ghostly Face: in "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" by Rob Gutro

Original orb in the furnace room

Here's an inside look at my second book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" - that offers picture proof of a female ghost.
  It's a rare occasion to get such an amazingly clear picture of a ghost, and I'm not a big believer in orbs, but this photo certainly added a lot of proof that orbs are the most simple form a ghost can take.   These photos were part of an investigation where a family was experiencing a lot of paranormal things. - Without knowing any details I entered the home with medium Troy Cline (we're both on the Inspired Ghost Tracking group) and over a couple of hours determined two women were brutally murdered in the home. We sensed they were murdered and dragged through a furnace room in the home.

enlarged top part of the orb

  Later, investigators went back and took photos and captured an orb in the very same furnace room!  Seen here. We enlarged it and found what I believe to be the face of one of the murdered women. They linger to help protect whatever new family is living in the home.
 - We confirmed the double murder after our investigation, with ages, names, etc. Read the entire investigation in my book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" by Rob Gutro.

the face in the orb

full investigation in my book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead"

FOR  ROB GUTRO'S BOOKS: BOTH BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ((Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.99 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead  for $9.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book:  http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde

NEXT: Getting a Message Part7: Things in the Environment 



FOR  ROB GUTRO'S BOOKS: BOTH BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ((Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.99 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead  for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book:  http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde

 For Rob Gutro's books: "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead," "Pets and the Afterlife" and the new book "Pets and the Afterlife 2" -  visit Amazon.com   (or click this link) 

Pets and the Afterlife 2, Pets and the Afterlife

Figuring Out if You Have a Haunting

This is a short article that I wrote for "WalkontheWeirdSide.com":

Adams Home, Quincy, Mass. Credit: R.Gutro

Figuring Out if You Have a Haunting
by Rob Gutro

Ghosts absorb physical energies and negative emotional energy. They also emit negative energy (even if the ghost is a benign personality). The emission of negative energy causes discord in a home, such as fighting, impatience, anxiety, fear. So, if someone in the home is arguing, they're feeding the ghost, and the ghost is in turn, feeding them back with energies that would make them more prone to have the negative emotions. In my books "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" and "Ghosts and Spirits" I explain the difference between ghosts (earthbound) and spirits (crossed over) and how they use energies to strengthen and transmit signals or messages.

If you live in an older home the chances are that a lot of noises happen from the house settling. However, if things move in front of you on their own accord, then you may have a haunting. If its an intelligent haunting you may be able to talk to the ghost and get answers either verbally or by noises, or through electricity. If it's residual, it's just an emotional thumbprint of an event that happens over and over, and cannot communicate with you - like watching a movie.

Because ghosts and spirits are energy beings they have the ability to manipulate electricity in the home. Although I would always check to ensure it's not a loose wire or frayed connection. When my dad died he played with the electricity in my mother's house (I wrote about that, too). If strong enough, ghosts can audibly say words that we can hear, or if not strong enough, their words can be picked up on digital recorders. Ghosts can also move items (apports) and hide them.

If you think you have a ghost, do NOT provoke him/her and say bad things to them. They will retaliate- after all they were once people (or pets). Think of a ghost as an uninvited guest you need to get out of the house.
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Lessons Learned, Ghosts and Spirits

For Rob Gutro's books: "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead," "Pets and the Afterlife" and the new book "Pets and the Afterlife 2" -  visit Amazon.com   (or click this link) 

Pets and the Afterlife 2, Pets and the Afterlife

Q&A About Ghosts and Spirits: Part 3

I received a number of questions via email, twitter and facebook concerning ghosts and spirits, and have decided to publish the answers to help anyone with the same questions. You can find more info in either of my books "Ghosts and Spirits Insights from a Medium" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" by Rob Gutro

Can a spirit reach you or does it reach you in different ways, later, when a long time has passed after they die?

ANSWER: A spirit can reach you any way at any time. However, they run into the block of grief we deal with when they first pass. They can't penetrate our grief. Often, after time passes, spirits can start getting through to us.

How can some people believe in things like "Heaven" and angels, etc., and yet still believe in "ghosts" and "hauntings"?

ANSWER: Because it's all about energy. Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. Our physical energies mesh with our consciousness /personalities and memories to become a "spirit" that crosses or an Earth bound ghost. Heaven is "place" where the energies run through the universe. Hell is being an energy that is Earth-bound. Angels are a higher level of energy - a more pure "soul" if you will.
The issue here is that every religion has it's own take on "heaven/Vahalla/perfection" whatever you want to call it. - religions provide ideas of the afterlife for people to have some concept of what happens. 

FOR  ROB GUTRO'S BOOKS: BOTH BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON ((Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium for $7.99 paper/$2.99 E-book and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead  for $9.99 paperback and $2.99 E-book:  http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgde 

Annapolis Ghostly Encounters and a Confirmation!

This is the second part of the ghostly encounters I  had walking through Annapolis, Md. recently. When I got home, I began searching for an image and what I found was astounding and was a confirmation.

Harriet Ridgely

 FEMALE GHOST ON MAIN STREET- When we were walking down the main street, we neared a bank in the middle of the street between the State House and the docks. That's when I sensed and "saw" a woman walking by me on the sidewalk with a bonnet and a gray-colored dress. I knew she lived around the time of the early 1800s as she walked past me.
CONFIRMATION: When I was writing this blog to try and figure out who it was, she apparently helped me. Here's why: I put in the Google search engine: "1800s woman annapolis, md."
  The first page of Google brought up about 30 photos, paintings and drawings under "IMAGES." I searched through them looking for the best likeness of the ghostly woman I saw. Most of them were too matronly looking, and were paintings of rich women posing on chairs. That's when I came to one that looked very much like the ghostly woman I saw!
   Here's the Proof: when I went to save the image, it took me to the page where it resided, and HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION FOR THE PHOTO: "Harriet Callahan, ( her married name is Mrs. John Ridgely) of the Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, Maryland. [Painting by] 1790 James Peale (1749-1831)." 
     
   The Hammond Harwood House is very close to where we were walking. This ghost was "Harriet Callahan (Ridgely)!" This is how ghosts and spirits work. They provide the clues to identify themselves and you have to put it together. This one was pretty amazing to me, because I didn't think I'd ever figure out who she was. Wow.

Hammond Harwood House Sign

  THE HAMMOND HARWOOD HOUSE - Hammond-Harwood House is located on the corner of Maryland Ave.at King George Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. This brick mansion was designed by architect William Buckland for Mathias Hammond, a lawyer and planter. The 18th century house is now a museum. Buckland died in December of 1774, but the construction went on for several more years. Oddly, Hammond never lived in the house.

THE SECOND GHOST- The next ghost walking the streets of Annapolis that I bumped into right after Harriet was a lot more difficult to pinpoint, because it was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy in the 1950s, around 1952. He was in full white-dress summer uniform and was wearing a hat when he "walked" past me.  Of course, the Naval Academy in right there in Annapolis so it makes perfect sense that a dedicated Admiral would be staying around as an Earth-bound ghost.

MORE INFO ABOUT MY BOOKS: "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" or "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium" by Rob Gutro