Paranormal Q and A: What type of selectivity do we have for calling spirits? What if a spirit doesn’t want to come?

Each week, I'll answer a question about the paranormal, whether a general question, or one about human or animal ghosts (Earthbound) or spirits (crossed over). Here's this week's question: 

QUESTION: What type of selectivity do we have for calling spirits? What if a spirit doesn’t want to come?

ANSWER: I don't have any control over who comes through. Since we maintain our personalities in death as they were in life, the boldest or most vocal spirit will come through first. For example, I'd love to talk with my dad in spirit more, but since my mother passed, she does all the talking in spirit as she did in life! It's really up to the spirit if they want to talk or not.

For Rob Gutro's 7 books on the paranormal, visit: www.amazon.com. All of Rob's books were written to help explain the paranormal, and teach readers how to find signs from spirit. 

Happy New Year- Start 2021 with a GREAT PODCAST: Bob Heske brings Mediums Ruthie Larkin and Rob Gutro back for "Negative Energy"

 It's the perfect way to start 2021, with an interesting podcast discussion who Bob Heske, host of "Afraid of Nothing" podcasts. In this BRAND NEW episode, he welcomed back Ruthie Larkin, the Beantown Medium (rated 1 of America's TOP 100 medium/psychics) and medium/author Rob Gutro to talk about Negative Energy and how to dispel it.  

LISTEN: https://afraidofnothingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/828433/7049647-afraid-of-all-this-negative-energy?fbclid=IwAR0l7yP88_T0QhZTji_2HZqGHLd0CcT-kyOzDbj44gf6kILGrlH7sY5DN14

We close out 2020 with an episode on ... what else? ... negativity.

Here to help cleanse our chakras and smudge our minds are two of our most popular guests from the past year: Author/Paranormal Investigator/Pet Medium Rob Gutro and Spiritual Healer and Medium Ruthie Larkin.

ABOUT ROB GUTRO

Meteorologist by day, Rob Gutro moonlights as an author, medium and ghost hunter in his spare time. Rob has written many books about his experiences and to teach people how spirits of loved ones send them signs from the afterlife. Also known as a Pet Medium, Rob's episode "Afraid of Connecting to Your Pet on the Other Side" was by far the most popular episode in 2020.

Rob's website/blog is here and you can find him on Amazon (and buy his books) here. Look for Rob's new book coming in late January: "Pets and the Afterlife 3".

You can also message Rob on Facebook.

ABOUT RUTHIE LARKIN

Ruthie Larkin has had psychic and healing abilities since childhood. She used them for the benefit of her family and close friends until 2007... when she decided to embrace her calling. She now has a substantial following around the country. Ruthie is frequently asked to do house clearings when families feel that their home has negative energy. She also gives complimentary readings to parents who have lost a child through death. Her long-term goal is to found a non-profit organization of psychics to help parents and law enforcement agencies locate missing children.

Visit Ruthie's website for more information.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

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Haunted and Deadly Lake: A Georgia lake's dark and deadly history has some people seeing ghosts

Here's a story about a lake in Northern Georgia that was manmade and has been responsible for hundreds of deaths and very odd, seemingly paranormal activity. The lake was formed over unmarked graves. Here's the story from CNN (It appeared on Halloween): 

A Georgia lake's dark and deadly history has some people seeing ghosts

By Faith Karimi, CNN

Updated 4:03 AM ET, Sat October 31, 2020

(CNN)Legend has it the ghost of a long-dead woman roams this lake in a flowing blue dress. Mysterious arms reach out for swimmers from the watery depths. Angry spirits call people home to submerged graves.

These and other spooky tales have haunted Lake Lanier, in the foothills of the northern Georgia mountains, for decades.

To many Georgians the large, serpentine lake northeast of Atlanta is a recreational hotspot, popular for boating and water sports. But supernatural lore and urban legends about the lake have found a receptive audience on social media, where they've found legions of believers.

The lake was created in the 1950s by flooding valley communities that contained a cemetery, fueling beliefs that it's cursed. Historians say some unmarked graves and other structures were swallowed up by its waters.

More than 200 people have died in swimming and boating accidents on the lake since 1994, adding to its dark history. And the Netflix drama "Ozark," which has its own high body count, films scenes at the lake.

The stories about mysterious underwater sightings are eerie -- especially at Halloween. But the true backstory of Lake Lanier, built over an underwater ghost town, is just as interesting.

The lake was mired in controversy from the start

The controversy surrounding the lake, as described by author and historian Lisa Russell, started long before its construction.

Before the land was buried in water, it was lush and fertile, with rabbits and squirrels scampering around. Communities thrived, with fancy names like Castleberry Bottom, Russell said.

Then came the US Army Corps of Engineers, which wanted to create a lake to provide Atlanta and surrounding counties with power and water.

The government offered locals money for their farmland. Most of it had been in families for generations, making it almost impossible to put a price tag on it, said Russell, a writing instructor at Georgia Northwestern Technical College and author of several books on the lost towns of North Georgia.

"At first, the government assured land owners that they were being paid for the true value of the land and buildings, but residents found it hard to price generations of memories, hard work and deep roots," Russell wrote in her book, "Underwater Ghost Towns of North Georgia." "A host of emotions accompanied the talk of relocation: anger, resentment, fear, anxiety, bewilderment and apprehension. To them, their land was priceless."

Eventually, some 700 families sold a total of 56,000 acres to the government, which built a dam on the Chattahoochee River to form the lake.

As their land filled with water in 1956, locals jammed roads and bridges to watch as history vanished before their eyes. Whatever they had abandoned was covered by the the rising waters.

Even the lake's naming was contentious, Russell said. Some local officials wanted to name it after Georgia politicians. Others sought to name it after a legendary football coach. Eventually they decided to name it after Sidney Lanier, an 18th-century Georgia poet who wrote "Song of the Chattahoochee."

Some families later regretted their decision once they realized they couldn't survive on what the government offered, Russell told CNN.

But the lake brought multiple benefits, including flood protection from the Chattahoochee, which flows west of Atlanta. Today Lake Lanier has about 625 billion gallons of water -- the equivalent of 950,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

And they yield mysterious stories.

What lies beneath

To prepare the land to be filled with water, the Army Corps of Engineers demolished or moved anything they considered dangerous. They uprooted trees and hauled them away. Barns and wooden structures that could float and endanger watercraft were moved. Major infrastructure such as bridges and water intakes were relocated.

But ... the community had a cemetery. While the Corps identified and moved marked graves, it's likely that some unmarked ones were inadvertently left behind, said Cesar Yabor, a spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

"The technological capability to identify and verify unmarked burial sites through subsurface scanning or other means was far less robust 70 years ago," Yabor told CNN.

"While the Corps made every effort at the time to locate unmarked burials," he added, "the limited capabilities of the time make it probable that unanticipated finds of human remains are possible, whether from the antebellum and Civil War periods or of Native American origin from pre-colonial and ancient times."

An old auto-racing track near Gainesville was also left behind. It remains at the lake bottom, although the Corps removed its bleachers so they wouldn't float to the surface and cause a hazard for boats, Yabor said.

The concrete block foundations of some small buildings also were submerged, Yabor said.

Some people have claimed to hear church bells from a sunken church. But Yabor told CNN that's not possible.

"No such structure was known to be left behind due to the height issue -- if it had a steeple -- as well as the floating wood issue," he said.

Over the decades, when the lake's water levels dropped during drought, submerged roads, tire parts and other artifacts have been exposed, said Russell, the historian.

Russell believes unmarked graves also were left behind because they were not easily identified and there was no family to claim them.

 

Watery sightings and the Lady of the Lake

Over the years, divers have reported creepy sightings beneath the murky waters. Some tell stories of freaky catfish as big as a Volkswagen. YouTube is filled with divers showing videos of sunken houseboats and piles of debris.

Between 1994 and October this year, 203 people have died in drownings and boating incidents at Lake Lanier, according to Mark McKinnon of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

In 2017, longtime diver Buck Buchannon told local media that he sometimes felt body parts in the lake during his many excursions. "You reach out into the dark and you feel an arm or a leg and it doesn't move," he said.

But that has not affected the lake's popularity. With about 12 million visitors last year, Lake Lanier was one of the most-visited Corps-built lakes in the nation, said Yabor of the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates 464 lakes in 43 states.

One of Lake Lanier's most popular urban legends involves a car wreck. According to the story, a Ford sedan carrying two women careened off a bridge in April 1958 and tumbled into the lake. Some say the ghost of one of the women, dubbed the "Lady of the Lake," wanders the bridge at night in a blue dress, lost and restless.

Ghost Box Radio Podcast - Talks with Rob Gutro about "Pets and the Afterlife" - How they communicate from spirit

On Dec. 20, author/medium Rob Gutro was interviewed by Greg Bakun, host of the Ghost Box Radio program. Rob has become known for his communications with pets in the afterlife. Rob has written 2 books called "Pets and the Afterlife" and "Pets and the Afterlife 2" about his many communications with dogs, cats, horses, birds and other pets around the world. (Both books are available on Amazon.com) Learn how your pets communicate from spirit in this Ghost Box episode (58 minutes). 

LISTEN:   https://www.am950radio.com/?powerpress_pinw=16204-podcast

Paranormal Q and A: What would you say is the most memorable moments you’ve felt while connecting with your pet in the afterlife?

Each week, I'll answer a question about the paranormal, whether a general question, or one
about human or animal ghosts (Earthbound) or spirits (crossed over). Here's this week's question:

QUESTION: What would you say is the most memorable moments you’ve felt while connecting with your pet in the afterlife? 

ANSWER: Getting the first signs from my puppy Buzz when he passed. After the accident that took his life, I was standing outside of the veterinary practice with 2 other friends. Buzz wanted me to know that he's still very much alive, and did so by showing me
and the other 2 people a physical sign - Suddenly, with no wind, and no animal around, the lid on the trash can popped off and flew into the air several feet. All of us were surprised and looked for an explanation. That's when I heard him say "I'm still here, dad." That was one of the first signs for many to come.

 I had several with our other dog Sprite who connected with the spirits of my dad and our friend Ed who passed. I wrote about them in my "Pets and the Afterlife" book (the story is too long to convey here).

 For Rob Gutro's 7 books on the paranormal, visit: www.amazon.com. All of Rob's books were written to help explain the paranormal, and teach readers how to find signs from spirit. 

20 Min. Video: Medium Rob Gutro Encountered 3 Ghosts of Christmas Past at Ford's Theatre

 If you missed the 20 minute special video on my encounters with the 3 "ghosts of Christmas past" at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, you can see it here.  It was sponsored by the Westminster Library of Maryland.. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vQmgFQuqkz4

Coming in January; Pets and the Afterlife 3: Messages from Spirit Dogs!

 In January, I plan to release my 3rd book in the Pets and the Afterlife series, because pets are so incredibly communicative from spirit, and you need to learn how to recognize the signs!  This book is about messages from spirit dogs, AND it includes a special chapter from a friend of mine who is licensed medical professional that offers you ways to work through your grief and sense of loss. 

 Pets and the Afterlife 3: Signs from Spirit Dogs will be out sometime in January in paperback and E-book on Amazon.com 

While you're waiting, check out Pets and the Afterlife 1 and 2 on Amazon!  Both contain messages from dogs, cats, horses and some birds, too! 

 

Happy Christmas from me and Inspired Ghost Tracking!

Merry Christmas! 

Earlier this month, the core investigators of Inspired Ghost Tracking got together for a "Zoom" Christmas call. It was the most fun holiday party! Thanks to IGT founder and manager Margaret Erhlich!

We all shared updates and a lot of laughs for a couple of hours. What a great way to celebrate friendships during this pandemic.

Margaret also advance mailed everyone little surprises., like hats, holiday head antlers, or ties (which is what most of us are wearing).

Come join the team of Inspired Ghost Tracking at https://www.facebook.com/inspiredghost

If you want to know what we do in Inspired Ghost Tracking, pick up a copy of Rob Gutro's "Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking" book in paperback or e-book on Amazon.com. You'll read about the paranormal investigations we're taken part in. You never know what to expect!

Tune in tonight at 7pm ET to Hear about Real Christmas Ghosts! -

Tune in tonight at 7pm ET to Hear about Real Christmas Ghosts! - Last week I pre-recorded a special 20 min. Christmas Ghost/Spirit program: Meet the 3 Ghosts of Christmas Past from the Fords Theatre. Rob Gutro Talks about 3 ghosts he met on this Westminster Public Library special program.

Link https://www.facebook.com/WestminsterBranchLibrary/

Alex Matsuo's Blog: Why Did We Stop Telling Ghost Stories at Christmas Time?

 Alex Matsou is famous in paranormal circles and she has a great blog and podcast. Early in December, she wrote a great blog about why ghost stories are no longer told at Christmas. Here's that blog:

Why Did We Stop Telling Ghost Stories at Christmas Time?

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Alex Matsuo (You should follow her at: https://alexmatsuo.com/)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Today, we don’t associate Christmas with the paranormal. Let alone see it as a time for ghost stories. Those traditions are for Halloween, right? Well, that’s not how it used to be. It’s oddly delightful that the most famous Christmas story of our time is also a ghost story. For hundreds of years, telling ghost stories on Christmas was a tradition. Some believe that the tradition pre-dates Christmas itself.

The History of Christmas Ghost Stories

Wait, so how in the world did ghost stories make it into Christmas tradition in the first place? This goes back to ancient times back to the pagan roots of Yuletide.

When winter came around, the nights got longer. People spent a lot of time indoors together and telling ghost stories was a popular past time. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Winter was considered a time when Mother Nature was sleeping and everything is “dead”, so to speak. The Earth is going through its process of rebirth during the Wintertime. From a psychological standpoint, people start thinking about death and lost friends and loved ones during the darkest time of the year. Since we’re stuck inside, we have a lot more time to reflect.

Also, it helps that the candlelight created spooky shadows in the darkness. Let’s not forget that the Victorians had an obsession with death as well!

Before Christmas, Winter Solstice and Yule were celebrated. During this time of year, folks considered the veil to be thinner. This means that ghosts have better access to the world of the living. Even during medieval times, Christmas and Yule were a time for telling ghost stories.

Cancel Christmas

The Puritans wanted Christmas out of the holiday narrative. It was a time of debauchery and other sinful activities with lots of indulgences. We’re talking about food, drink, and physical activities. The Puritans wanted it gone, no exceptions. In the mid-17th century, Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell admonished Christmas. He said this based on the argument that the Bible doesn’t condone it. He also included that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. Well, he isn’t wrong. Christmas was put on December 25th to appease those celebrating Yule and Winter Solstice.

Before Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, he wrote several other Christmas ghost stories. If you look them up, their plots and themes were eerily similar. They all include a man who despises the holidays, and they change by the end of the story.

Christmas in Dickens’ time was unimportant. People rarely took the day off. The Industrial Revolution had a lot to do with that. However, when A Christmas Carol was published, Britain commercialized Christmas. It resembles the holiday we celebrate today. Dickens certainly had a hand in that.

The Decline of Christmas Eve Ghost Stories

Dickens eventually stopped writing Christmas ghost stories, and that contributed to its downfall. In fact, Dickens thought that he killed Christmas and that its ghost was haunting him. You could argue that Dickens was responsible for the sentimental value of Christmas we have today.

The commercialized Christmas we celebrate today in the United States is based on Victorian customs. Christmas cards, Christmas trees, stocking stuffers, caroling…that’s all Victorian England. Of course, their roots being from pagan customs. But, one tradition didn’t come over; ghost stories on Christmas Eve. Today, we get ready for Santa on Christmas Eve instead of gathering around the fireplace telling spooky stories.

When Dickens took a step back from writing Christmas ghost stories, other authors tried to fill in the void. But they didn’t have that panache that Dickens possessed. Those ghost stories didn’t take off like A Christmas Carol.

Why Didn’t This Tradition Come to the United States?

Today, ghosts and ghost stories stay in the month of October. Well, at least traditionally. We don’t see ghosts and spooky decor during November and December. Since some of America’s earliest long-term settlers were Puritans, it’s not shocking that Christmas ghost stories didn’t become popular.

Granted, America had Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe. However, their stories are rarely associated with winter, let alone Christmas. Irving tried though. He’s responsible for creating our modern depiction of Santa Claus.

Another piece of this puzzle is the immigration of Irish and Scottish immigrants to America. What exactly did they bring? Well, Halloween.

It is a weird blend of Irish and Catholic traditions with Samhain and All Souls’ Day merged. For years, Halloween was a holiday for the Scots. They actually tried their hardest to disassociate Halloween from ghosts and make it more about Scottish tradition. It didn’t catch on. As we know today, their attempt was unsuccessful. Ghosts and all things spooky eventually transferred to the famous fall holiday.

Popular Christmas Ghost Stories

Did you know that The Turn of the Screw was a Christmas ghost story? Yes, the same Turn of the Screw that Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor is based on. The book by Henry James opens with a group of men telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve.

Another Fun Fact: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven takes place in December. It’s a Christmas ghost story!

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
‘Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door –
Only this and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.”

Excerpt from The Raven, 1845

One of the latest pieces of evidence of Christmas ghost stories came from 1915. Since then, it seems the ghosts and spooks of the winter went to Halloween for good.

So, who do we blame? The Puritans and Halloween.