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 

A Mother's and Grandmother's Messages at the Baltimore Book Festival

While at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sept. 29, in addition to hearing people's ghost stories and stories of loved ones coming back, I also received a number of messages for the people who stopped by the table.  It was difficult to tune into ghosts and spirits during the festival, though, because of all the noise (there was a band playing not to far away, and it was very loud, and played all day). Getting messages requires concentration. I did, however, manage to get a powerful message from a mother who passed, that help comfort her grieving daughter.

Rob discusses his book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead"

 A MOTHER'S MESSAGE OF PEACE - One of the most emotional messages was from a mother to her grown daughter, whom I'll call "Sue." Sue stopped by the table and looked at the books. I sensed an older woman around Sue and asked if it was her grandmother that passed. She said that the older woman is her mother (as I said, sometimes it's difficult to tune in with music blaring). I told her that I sensed guilt around her and she nodded. I asked if her mother was in a managed care facility, because that's what I was shown (which I thought odd for a younger woman's mother to be in managed care unless she was critically ill). Sue said "yes, she was in a managed care facility."
   Sue confirmed that she did visit her mother often but she did harbor guilt. That's when her mother's spirit told me that the guilt is because Sue wasn't there when she passed away.  I asked Sue if she was there, and she said "no." I told her that her mom said that no one was in the room when she passed, and she wanted it that way. She passed on her own because she didn't think that Sue or her sister could handle the emotional trauma of watching their mother pass.
   Sue understood what I was saying and we were both dealing with tear-filled eyes. She thanked me for the message and said that now she understands why her mother passed without anyone around.
   That was a really powerful!!

My friend I.R. Harris, author,  meets Jen from BGL newspaper

VIKASH'S GRANDMOTHER - A young man from India named Vikash stopped by to ask questions. He asked about how our loved ones cross over and give messages. He said that he was close to his grandmother - and she came through. Oftentimes, spirits will fill me with emotion, and with two others I met it would be overwhelming. With Vikash, his grandmother showed me that he was protected by her. It sounds odd, but he was radiating love and positive energy. His grandmother instructed me to give him a hug and let him know that she's around. That was a really cool, but short reading.

A Son's Amazing Message During the Baltimore Book Festival

My appearance at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sept. 29, 2013  brought some amazing messages. The three messages I passed on were pretty powerful. This one really stood out for me.

Rob talks with a visitor who had questions about spirits

A SON'S  MESSAGE - The third message I received while selling books at the Baltimore Book Festival was from a son to his mother.  A woman stopped by my table and just kept looking down at the books. I knew she was brought there for a reason, and the reason was standing behind me when I developed my "spirit-indicating" headache that tells me when a ghost or spirit is around.
  I sensed there was a male spirit behind me, but I didn't yet identify who it was when the woman asked me about where people who are murdered go after they die (which is a chapter in my "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" book). I knew that the male figure behind me was the reason she was there, and had to be connected to the murder.

Rob signing at the Baltimore Book Festival

  She told me that her son was murdered, so now I knew who the male spirit was beside me. I came around the front of the table and let her son tell me what his mother needed to hear. He said that he knew that he was in the wrong place and that it was his time to pass. He said he knows how horrendous this has been for his mom in her grief, but his passing had to happen to teach some others who were around him, a valuable lesson about life.
  He told me that he does come around his mom from time to time, and he is fine on the other side. One critical thing he told me was that just before he died his spirit left his body and his pain was blacked out. He doesn't remember experiencing pain on the other side, and his death was apparently very quick here. His mother looked at me with tears in her eyes, said thank you and had to walk away to compose herself.
  Of course, I had to walk back behind the book table and sit down to compose myself, too. Not only was I overcome with emotion, but it physically and mentally wiped me out to channel her son. At least she has some closure on her son's death.

Upcoming Events: October and Novermber... and 2014!

I have a number of events coming up this month and beyond if you'd like to tune in or come by. I would love to meet you and hear your stories!
Rob Gutro

Saturday, October 12 at 10 p.m. EDT
Live Radio Interview with "End of Days" Radio show
Rob will be interviewed by Michael, the host - about his books and experiences.
Podcast heard on ninjashoes.net.

Saturday, October 19 Appearance and Talk
Celebrate the Book Festival in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
St. Patrick’s Parish Activity Center
85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle PA 17013
(Cumberland County Pennsylvania.) Easily accessible from Interstate 81.
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Authors, book sellers and resellers, illustrators, publishers, and storytellers will fill a fabulous program of events and booths. Authors, great speakers! Publishing panel, writer's workshops offered! Bring your children to participate in the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party and Celebrity Story Time! Lots of fun, activities, and educational programs. $5 for adults; children 12 and under free! Food, free parking! CONTACT: Lynn Hofer at 717-440-0869 or "lhofer @ frogswitch.com" MORE INFO: http://www.celebratethebook.com/


Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m.- Halloween Open Mic with Ghostorian Mike Ricksecker!(15 mins.) /Book Signing FREE EVENT Open to Public) Calvert Library, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick, MD More information: Robyn Truslow, rtruslow@somd.lib.md.us; Tel. 410-535-0291

Wednesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. - Introduction to Ghostly Science and Ghost Hunter Equipment (with Margaret Erlich) -
and a GHOST HUNT with the PRISMD Ghost Group
Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore, Md.
Ticketed event
1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. www.thebmi.org/‎

Saturday, November 2, 2013 -Meet and greet/vendor
"Motivating Spirits" conference talk by Dustin Pari and John Tenney

Holiday Inn Historic Gateway '

333 Front Royal Pike

Winchester, Virginia 22602

 
Friday, November 8, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM EDT
Rob's Free talk about "Messages from Spirit on Birthdays and Anniversaries
at Inspired Journeys, Jessup, Md.
*Free and Open to the Public**
To register, email:
inspiredghst@aol.comDirections: http://www.inspiredeventsofmd.com/upcomingEvents.html

Friday, Nov. 29, 8-9pm m EDT
Interview with Ryleigh on Club Para Radio
http://www.clubpara.com/

2014 EVENTS

Saturday, January 25, 2014 6:00 PM

Private Investigation of the Benson-Hammond House, Linthicum, Md.
with the Inspired Ghost Tracking Group

http://inspiredghosttracking.webs.com/

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 9 p.m.

Guest with host Jim Malliard of the Malliard Report

www.italkparanormal.com/live
Podcast available on ITunes and Stitcher.

814-350-2917

Saturday, June 28, 2014
Frederick Book Festival - Talk / Book SigningsSaturday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Hampton Inn, 5311 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Maryland, 21704
http://frederickbookfestival.com/

A Ghost in an Annapolis Building

 

Audubon Store in Annapolis

   Since I was a kid I've been able to sense Earth bound ghosts or spirits who have crossed over - and I always get a light headache in the back side of my head whenever they're around. Entities are energy and they give me an "energy overload," thus, the headache.  Anyway, while a friend was visiting, my husband and I walked around Annapolis, Md. and I ran into some residents who still live there after one or two hundred years....
  For those reading this from outside of Maryland, Annapolis (on the Severn River, connected to Chesapeake Bay) is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County.  The city was actually used the temporary capital of the United States in 1783−1784! The city was founded in 1649, so there were bound to be some Earth-bound ghosts... and there were.
  While walking around the quaint downtown area, we turned onto Maryland Avenue. It was there that I encountered on man who continues to linger there 80 years after he died.

THE MAN FROM THE 1930s - 

the ghost appeared similar to the man in the middle

   One store we went into was the building that houses a store for the Audubon Society.   As soon as I walked up to the front of the building I got my ghost-indicating headache. The store was on the first floor of this multi-story building, on the left side of the entrance.
  The building appeared to be an old apartment building with shops on the first floor and a doorway between the shops that go into a narrow hallway/lobby with an elevator.

  It was in that hallway/lobby I sensed a larger man, dressed in a 1930s suit with a hat. He passed from a stroke, but this was his building. He owned it. He wanted it and still wants it. My hubby also sensed a presence there as well.
   The ghost was stubborn, and didn't seem to care that he was separated from his other loved ones who died decades ago. Obviously he was materialistic in life and maintained that personality (as we do) in death. Sadly, he was so materialistic that his family doesn't matter as much as owning that building. So, we let him be and walked on. There are some Earth-bound ghosts that simply can't be convinced they need to move on, and if he hasn't learned that in 80 years of lingering in that apartment lobby, he'd likely be hard to convince.

Meet me and I.R.Harris,Author at Baltimore Book Festival Sun.Sept 29

Rob Gutro's first book!

Meet me and famous Adult Fantasy author I.R. Harris, side-by-side tomorrow (Sun. Sept. 29 from 12pm to 7pm) at the Big Baltimore Book Festival!  
http://www.baltimorebookfestival.com/
Tomorrow,  Sunday, Sept. 29th- Come by and say hello to me and my good friend and Adult Fantasy Author I.R. Harris at the Baltimore Book Festival under the Local Author's Tent!

I.R. Harris and hubby

   The Baltimore Book Festival is in the Mt. Vernon area of Baltimore on Charles Street, about 5-7 blocks north of the Inner Harbor.  The book festival takes up about 5 city blocks and has hundreds of authors, speakers and book dealers. 

Rob Gutro signing books

  We'll both be there from 12pm to 7pm doing a meet and Greet/Book Signing
 I.R. Harris is the Author of the Bound Trilogy and the new Legion series- CHECK THEM OUT HERE: www.irharrisbooks.com/‎)
  My books are: "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium" and "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead." 

Rob Gutro's 2nd book

 - I'm writing a book about pets in the afterlife, so if you've lost a dog, cat or horse, come by and share any messages you may have received from them.

What Happens When We Die? Energy!!!

I've learned a lot about what happens when our physical bodies die, since I've been able to communicate with those who have passed.
  I'm also a scientist - a meteorologist, who believes that science helps explain what happens when we die and it all centers on energy. 
   As I mention in my books, "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead," and "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium," we have energy coursing through our bodies.
   Think about it. Our thoughts are little electrical impulses.
WHERE DO THE ELECTRICAL IMPULSES COME FROM?  - According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the human brain contains about 100 billion neurons or nerve cells. Those cells have trillions of synapses or connections, and each connection transmits about one signal per second. Some connections (special ones) can send as many as 1,000 signals per second!
  MEASURING THE ENERGY IN OUR BRAINS - Doctors measure the electrical activity in our brains through the technique of Electroencephalography, also known as an EEG. An EEG records electrical activity along the scalp and measures the fluctuation of voltage fluctuations. The changes involtage happens within the neurons of the brain - basically, what happens when we think.  EEGs usually measure 20 to 40 minutes of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity.
    BIG DEAL. SO THERE'S ELECTRICITY IN THE BODY.  Yes, it is a big deal. There's also energy in the body as a result of blood pumping through the body, cells rebuilding and dying off, and the body in a constant state of activity. So, what happens to all of that energy after our physical body dies, and why does it have to go somewhere?
   THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY -In physics, the law of conservation of energy says that the total energy of an isolated system cannot change, it can only be changed from one form into another or transferred from one object to another.
   Although some other scientists (especially those who are not also mediums like me) discount this applying to ghosts, spirits or energy in the human body, I've come to understand that it DOES apply to the energy in the human (or animal) body. The Law also says that energy is conserved over time. Energy can change form; for instance, chemical energy can be converted to kinetic energy.
   HOW DOES THAT LAW APPLY TO PEOPLE? Consider the energy running through our bodies that I explained above. That energy has to go somewhere when our physical bodies die. It can't just "cease to exist." I've come to understand that that energy combines with our personality/consciousness/soul and makes a conscious choice to stay Earth-bound as a ghost (for various reasons) or crosses "into the light" into Heaven/joining the energy of the universe/Valhalla, etc. (call it what you will).

Busy Month of October Events!

October is always a busy month to talk about ghosts and spirits, and this year it's going to be very busy for me. The month starts a couple of days early with my appearance at the Big Baltimore Book Festival!   Hope you can come out and meet me! 

Sunday, Sept. 29th- at the Baltimore Book Festival
under the Local Author's Tent!
Meet and Greet/Book Signing
I'll be next to famous Fantasy writer; I.R. Harris (Author of the Bound Trilogy -www.irharrisbooks.com/‎)
http://www.baltimorebookfestival.com/

Wed. October 2 at 7 p.m. - Speaking/Signing
Butcher's Hill Association Meeting
St. Andrew's Church (Corner of So. Chester and East Lombard). Baltimore, Md.
More information: http://butchershill.org/
Contact: Heather Gorius; President, BHA

Sat. October 5, 2013 10 a.m. - Live Radio Interview
With Ghosthunting Bill Hartley
LIVE STREAM at www.kzztv.com
Broadcast at 970 WAMD-AM Radio, Aberdeen, Md. and
1460 WKHZ-AM, Easton, Md. and 810 WYRE-AM, Annapolis, Md.
https://www.facebook.com/Gmps.Bill.Hartley


Mon. October 7, 2013 at 7:30 pm - Speaking/Signing
West Shore Book Club
Edgewater/Mayo, Md(Private book club)
http://westshorebookclub.blogspot.com


Saturday, October 19 Appearance and Talk
Celebrate the Book Festival in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
St. Patrick’s Parish Activity Center
85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle PA 17013
(Cumberland County Pennsylvania.) Easily accessible from Interstate 81.

Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m.- Halloween Open Mic with Ghostorian Mike Ricksecker!(15 mins.) /Book Signing FREE EVENT Open to Public) Calvert Library, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick, MD More information: Robyn Truslow, rtruslow@somd.lib.md.us; Tel. 410-535-0291

Wednesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. - Introduction to Ghostly Science and Ghost Hunter Equipment (with Margaret Erlich) -
and a GHOST HUNT with the PRISMD Ghost Group
Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore, Md.
Ticketed event
1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. www.thebmi.org/‎

Saturday, November 2, 2013 -Meet and greet/vendor
"Motivating Spirits" conference talk by Dustin Pari and John Tenney
 Holiday Inn Historic Gateway
333 Front Royal Pike, Winchester, VA 22602
 Tickets for their event: $55.00- (I'll be in the vendor area)
http://www.spiritwatch.net/#!motivating-the-spirits/c1b42

Great Skype with a Great group: TMPRG

Today, Saturday, August 31,  I had a great Skype Interview/conversation with Bob St. Andre, and members of the Massachusetts Paranormal Research Group. What an amazing and talented group. We shared experiences, theories, and investigation techniques. There's a great diversity in the group, too.  If anyone in central Massachusetts needs paranormal assistance, please give them a call. They're amazing! 
  A little about them from their website:     The Massachusetts Paranormal Research Group is an all volunteer organization. Our mission statement is simply this: We will assist people who are experiencing paranormal activity, events or episodes and provide them with a solution or explanation for their specific encounter while adhering to strict policies and guidelines to protect their confidentiality.
http://www.tmprg.com/

Ghostly Pets of Hampton Court Palace, England

I recently visited  Hampton Court Palace in England, and there are a number of human ghosts there, but there are two animal ghosts that have become famous. While researching this blog, I also learned that one of the kings that followed Henry VIII granted a special position to a certain breed of dog.

A ghostly dog? Cr: Engagget.com

The King's Staircase: Phantom Dog Hangout

Ghost cat  Credit: www.pxleyes.com

THE PHANTOM DOG -According to Hampton Court Palace's book "Is the Palace Haunted?: Palace Phantoms" - there's a dog that has been seen and heard at the King's Staircase in the William and Mary section of the palace.  Queen Victoria had banned all dogs from the palace except "lap-dogs, but this ghostly dog is reputed to be a mongrel dog. No one has a clue if this dog was a pet or a guard dog, but reports from State Apartment Warders (people that work in that part of the building) and others during the 1990s indicated that a ghostly dog had been seen and heard.

A GHOSTLY CAT - The old information center has been reported several times by information center staff and visitors. Especially during the 1980s and 1990s, visitors reported having to step over something and that was a white cat! However, there were no cats in the palace. Here's our Video from 2010 of the location where the ghostly cat has been seen: Hampton Court Ghost Cat Area

Charles II as an infant in 1630, painting attributed to Justus van Egmont

KING CHARLES II THE DOG LOVER- History shows that King Charles II was a dog lover. Under royal decree, King Charles II granted King Charles Cavalier Spaniels (named for him obviously) the ability to go anywhere in Parliment buildings.  The royal decree was referred to as the 'commons dogging charter.' Of course, he was displeased with Parliment, so this was one way of getting at them.  Charles II was the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland and lived from (May 29, 1630  to Feb. 6, 1685. His father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall Palace in London on January 30, 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War.
   It was obvious that he had an affinity for dogs since a painting of Charles II as a child depicts a small dog on his lap, that resembles a Charles Cavalier Spaniel.