In the News:(and a Caution) U.K. Man 'killed by family in botched exorcism'

      One of the most dangerous things that people do is take their beliefs to the extreme. In some cases, it results in the death of someone. Such is the case of a family in the United Kingdom who thought their ill family member was suffering from "demonic possession" and restrained him until he died.
     Instead of using common sense, they jumped to crazy conclusions based on their religious beliefs. Now a man is dead and 7 adults are facing charges of manslaughter. I'm sharing this story as a caution to people who think someone's erratic behavior (likely a mental illness) is a "demon."  
    Use your head and think past your religious beliefs. Look at the person. Look at the symptoms. Consult a doctor. Don't do something foolish. 
 
Kennedy Ife death: Man 'killed by family in botched exorcism' 


Feb 4, 2019 BBC NEWS 
 

 Seven members of Kennedy Ife's family deny manslaughter, false imprisonment and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

A "vulnerable" man was tied up and killed by his own family as they carried out a form of "exorcism", a court has heard.

Kennedy Ife's parents and brothers mistakenly believed he was "possessed by evil spirits" and set about "curing" him, the Old Bailey was told.
They allegedly used cable ties, rope and handcuffs to restrain the 26-year-old at home in Enfield, north London.

Seven members of his family all deny manslaughter.Mr Ife's parents, Kenneth, 64, and Josephine, 56, and brothers Roy, 33, Harry, 32, Colin, 26, Samuel, 20, and Daniel, 20, also deny false imprisonment and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult between 19 and 23 August 2016.

Dad Kenneth Ife, 63 (front) and son Roy, 32, are among five family members accused of manslaughter (Image: central news)

Prosecutor Tom Little QC said: "His own family decided that because he had become and remained unwell he should be restrained with cable ties, rope and handcuffs.

"They decided that he should be restrained in his own home with them rather than calling 999. Ultimately that restraint was a cause of his tragic death."

'Misguided religious beliefs'

When Mr Ife showed signs of illness in August 2016, his family believed he had become possessed by evil spirits and decided to restrain him, the court heard.

Mr Little said: "The family put misguided religious beliefs about this young man being possessed by a demon or evil spirits before the obvious and common sense conclusion that he needed help and did not need to be restrained."
They made an emergency call, but Mr Ife could not be saved, the jury heard.
The prosecutor added: "Instead of calling 999 or seeking other expert assistance they sought to 'cure' his perceived illness through prayer and restraint.
"Whether this was some form of exorcism will be a matter for you in due course. In short, the Ife family took the law into their own hands."
The trial continues.

Tarot Tuesday: The Tower

Every Tuesday, my friend Joy Andreasen brings us Tarot Tuesday. Today's card is the  Tower Joy Says:  Today you may learn a truth that upsets your world in an unexpected way. We all must go through these upsets at times in order to take us to our next stage in the drama of our lives. Sometimes if everything just goes along the normal course, we are not forced to make important changes. Look at the truth and know you are better off knowing it than not and make necessary adjustments.

ABOUT THE CARD:  
Depiction: The image of the Tower card is powerful, depicting a solid tower being struck by lightning, and fire crawling out from the small windows at its top.

Meaning: The Tower is commonly interpreted as meaning danger, crisis, destruction, and liberation. It is associated with sudden unforseen change.

Upright card (keywords): Unexpected change, Renovation, Catastrophe, Destruction, Accident or damage

Reversed card (keywords): Obstacles, Volatile situation, Losses, Illness

BIOGRAPHY: Joy Andreasen is an author, shamanic practitioner, psychic medium, spiritual consultant, Reiki Master Teacher and wedding officiant. She has been giving messages from Spirit for almost twenty years. She teaches spiritual development and shamanic classes in Winchester and Herndon Virginia which are always highly acclaimed.

For more about Joy Andreasen, visit: https://www.facebook.com/whispersofjoy/ 
Email: joyandreasen@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.WhispersofJoy.n

Video: My Ghostly Encounter at the Old Thatch Tavern (Ghosts of England book)

 In my book Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation by Rob Gutro, I met the ghost of a woman still working in the Old Thatch Tavern, working hundreds of years after her passing. I learned her name and even sketched her. That sketch appears in the book in the chapter about the town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, where the tavern is located.
   The Old Thatch Tavern became the brewery for Stratford-upon-Avon in 1470 when it was also a pub. It has been a licensed pub since 1623 and it is claimed that it is the oldest pub in Stratford.
It is the only thatched-roof property in Stratford's town center.
   Here's the video I made right after I met the ghost of Emily:
 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dqS9DfLaTKc



  ABOUT "GHOSTS OF ENGLAND ON A MEDIUM'S VACATION by Rob Gutro: What happens when a medium goes on vacation? Can a medium simply switch off their ability at will? Well…not exactly.
    Rob Gutro is a medium/author/paranormal investigator and a scientist who has written 4 books about his encounters with human and animal ghosts and spirits. In this book, you will read about his experiences on two separate trips to the United Kingdom. England’s rich history and many epic battles have caused an over-abundance of residual emotional energy. Everywhere he traveled, he had a paranormal experience.
   He explored royal palaces and spent the night in haunted castles. He encountered the ghosts of historical figures including a queen, a prince, and a nobleman; and several ghosts even shared their pain of death experience with him.
    On one occasion, the doppelganger of a loved one provided directions when he became lost while driving in the countryside due to a malfunctioning GPS. But not all of his encounters were of the human variety: there was also a very special visit from a canine ghost.
   This book is intended to be more than just a collection of personal ghost stories. In addition to relating my ghostly encounters, he has also included a short narrative history of the places where the experiences occurred. After all, knowing the history of a place is key to understanding why a ghost has decided to stay behind.
    So, join Rob as he relates his encounters with the ghosts of England. Rob has written 4 other books about the paranormal, two about people (Ghosts and Spirits and Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead) and 2 about pets (Pets and the Afterlife and Pets and the Afterlife 2). The books are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.

The 2 1/2 hour Interview: Pets and the Afterlife On Late Night in the Midlands

On January 30th, I enjoyed interviewing with Michael Vara, host of the Radio program "Late Night in the Midlands." We covered basics in paranormal, defined ghosts vs. spirits, and got into how pets communicate from the afterlife (based on my 2 books). In the last hour, Michael took a couple of callers who had interesting questions for me. My interview began about 33 minutes into the 3 hour show. You can hear it (and watch Michael) here: https://youtu.be/vmltZxkJMUA
 


MY BOOKS:    Pets and the Afterlife, Pets and the Afterlife 2, Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation, Ghosts and Spirits and Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead.
ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Rob-Gutro/e/B003UNTASW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1548257828&sr=8-1

Part 3: Haunted Devon, UK: The Great Ball of Fire at a Church

My latest book is called "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation" (by Rob Gutro) and conveys all of the ghosts I met as I traveled throughout England. There are a LOT more ghosts in England that I  did not (yet) meet, and here is the 3hird of several postings from Devonlive in Devon, U.K about some of them.. - Rob  

The Great Ball of Fire that killed four and injured 62 churchgoers at Widecombe

Photo: Snow returns to Dartmoor, Widecombe Church in 2004 (Image: Steve Pope)

No explanation has ever been found for this terrible event that stuck on sunday October 21 1638.
The Reverend George Lyde was preaching in Widecombe Church when a great ball of fire fell through the roof killing four people and injuring 62. The phenomenon is said to have occurred during a thunderstorm.

There are gruesome contemporary accounts telling how 'an extraordinary flame passed right through the church, filling it with a loathsome smell, like brimstone and a great ball of fire fell through the roof'.

The whole congregation dropped to the floor as a large beam crashed down between the parson and his clark. Neither was hurt but the congregation was hit. One man 'had his head cloven, his skull rent into three pieces and his brains thrown on the ground whole, but the hair of his head, through the violence of the blow struck fast to a pillar near him where it remained a woeful spectacle a long while after'.Rumours began flying around that Satan had come to take sinners - including Widecombe Jan, a wild young bachelor of the parish who was sleeping off his hangover in church when the lightning struck.

It was claimed that the devil was seen tethering his horse outside the church and dropping through the roof with the ball of fire: "Seizing Widecombe Jan, he threw him violently against a pillar, dshing his brains out, while the storm raged throughout the rest of the church, diverting everyone's attention from what was going on."

SOURCE: Devon Live: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/viking-ghosts-still-haunt-bloody-2286420  

Tune in TONIGHT at 9:30pm ET - Rob interviews on Late Night in the Midlands (online and on air)

Tune in TONIGHT at 9:30pm ET - Rob interviews on Late Night in the Midlands (online and on air)  www.latenightinthemidlands.com

Frostbite, Hypothermia in People and Pets

Given the Arctic air outbreak this week, here is some information for you about Frostbite and Hypothermia. These can also be experienced in pets. See info below and stay warm! 

FROSTBITE OCCURS – Within 30 minutes during these Arctic Outbreak temperatures the Eastern and Central U.S. is currently experiencing.

  For example, A  temperature of 0°F and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19°F. Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes. ... Extremely cold temperature can also cause hypothermia, when the body's temperature dips below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT DOES FROSTBITE DO? You have frostbite when your body tissue freezes. The most susceptible parts of the body are fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Symptoms include a loss of feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Get medical attention immediately for frostbite. The area should be SLOWLY rewarmed using warm, not hot water.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

• Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95°F. Determine your temperature with a thermometer.
• Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion.
• Get medical attention immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY. Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities. Warming extremities first drives the cold blood to the heart and can cause the body temperature to drop further--which may lead to heart failure.
• If you are helping someone else with hypothermia, get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm blanket. Be sure to cover the head and neck.
• Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any HOT beverage or food. WARM broth and food is better.
• About 20% of cold related deaths occur in the home. Young children under the age of two and the elderly (those more than 65 years old), are most susceptible to hypothermia.
• Hypothermia can set in over a period of time. Keep the thermostat above 69°F, wear warm clothing, eat food for warmth, and drink plenty of water or fluids other than alcohol and caffeine to keep hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol because it will LOWER your body temperature.

Tarot Tuesday: The 2 of Wands

Every Tuesday, my friend Joy Andreasen brings us Tarot Tuesday. Today's card is the  of Wands
Joy Says: Despite the fact that life is pretty good and you have stability and comfort in your current experience, you long for your next adventure. You are contemplating what is on the other side of the fence. Make a plan and move forward. Life standing still is not who you are.

ABOUT THE CARD:  The Two of Wands shows a man, dressed in a red robe and hat, holding a small globe. The world is literally in his hands, marking the enormous potential before him if he can expand his horizons accordingly. He stands within the confines of his castle, suggesting that while he is contemplating significant opportunities, the man has not yet left his comfort zone to pursue them; he is still very much in the planning phase. His hand rests on an upright wand, and a second wand is affixed to the castle’s wall, a further sign that he is still not ready to venture out. In the background, the land is fertile while also rocky, promising that he has a good chance for success, so long as he can overcome the challenges that will arise.
Source: Biddytarot.com

BIOGRAPHY: Joy Andreasen is an author, shamanic practitioner, psychic medium, spiritual consultant, Reiki Master Teacher and wedding officiant. She has been giving messages from Spirit for almost twenty years. She teaches spiritual development and shamanic classes in Winchester and Herndon Virginia which are always highly acclaimed.

For more about Joy Andreasen, visit: https://www.facebook.com/whispersofjoy/ 
Email: joyandreasen@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.WhispersofJoy.n

Hear the Podcast: Rob on House of Mystery Radio: Ghosts of England

Earlier this month, Host, Julie Sav of The House of Mystery Radio show had Rob Gutro on to discuss his book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation." They also talked about his books "Pets and the Afterlife 1 and 2" in the beginning of the show.  You can hear the 1 Hour podcast HERE: https://tinyurl.com/y76oklwj

OR Listen on these platforms:

RSS       

APPLE

GOOGLE

SPOTIFY

Show Notes

What happens when a medium goes on vacation? Can a medium simply switch off their ability at will? Well…not exactly. Rob Gutro is a medium/author/paranormal investigator and a scientist who has written 4 books about his encounters with human and animal ghosts and spirits. In this book, you will read about his experiences on two separate trips to the United Kingdom. England’s rich history and many epic battles have caused an over-abundance of residual emotional energy. Everywhere he traveled, he had a paranormal experience. He explored royal palaces and spent the night in haunted castles. He encountered the ghosts of historical figures including a queen, a prince, and a nobleman; and several ghosts even shared their pain of death experience with him. On one occasion, the doppelganger of a loved one provided directions when he became lost while driving in the countryside due to a malfunctioning GPS. But not all of his encounters were of the human variety: there was also a very special visit from a canine ghost. This book is intended to be more than just a collection of personal ghost stories. In addition to relating my ghostly encounters, he has also included a short narrative history of the places where the experiences occurred. After all, knowing the history of a place is key to understanding why a ghost has decided to stay behind. So, join Rob as he relates his encounters with the ghosts of England. Rob has written 4 other books about the paranormal, two about people (Ghosts and Spirits and Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead) and 2 about pets (Pets and the Afterlife and Pets and the Afterlife 2). The books are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.

Pets in the Afterlife by Rob Gutro Back in the Top 10 Best-Sellers on Amazon.com

I'm so glad that so many people have found comfort from reading how their beloved petscommunicate from the afterlife in my books. I'm also grateful for the emails I receive explaining how my books have helped comfort people who lost a pet (or a person).    Today, January, 26,  2018 "Pets in the Afterlife" by Rob Gutro is back in the Top 10 Best-Sellers on Amazon.com!

• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,198 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Reincarnation
  • #11 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Astral Projection
  • #32 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age & Spirituality > Reincarnation
  •  
  ABOUT THE BOOK
  To a pet parent, to lose a pet means to lose a child. The love we share with our pets never dies, and the author proves our pets do communicate with us from the other side. Learn how dogs, cats, horses and some birds have the intelligence and ability to send signs to the living after they pass. Take comfort in knowing our pets are around us from time to time and recognize the signs they give. Learn how they wait for us when it’s our time, what a pet’s ashes can do, and the difference between ghosts and spirits. Learn how and why living pets can sense entities. Follow one of the author's dogs on a ghost investigation. Read how spirits of the author’s 2 dogs and dogs from three other mediums communicated with them from the other side. Read about spirit cats and how a ghostly dog rescued a girl. The author also volunteers for Dachshund and Weimaraner rescues and has several dogs.