Haunted Trails - Batona Trail, New Jersey

The Travel Channel covered haunted trails in the U.S.  and this one is the Batona Trail, New Jersey

The 50-mile long Batona Trail runs through the Pine Barrens in rural New Jersey, home to the legendary Jersey Devil. Folklore dates back to the 1700s, when Mrs. Leeds, upon learning she was pregnant with her 13th child, cursed it by wishing it were the devil.
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AND A SECOND LOCATION ON THIS TRAIL - The curse (supposedly) came true, and shortly after giving birth, the devil child killed Mrs. Leeds and flew into the neighboring swampland, where it’s been terrorizing Pine Barren locals ever since. The creature is often depicted as having a kangaroo-esque body, goat-like head, cloven hooves, dragon wings, horns and a tail. Claims of Jersey Devil sightings persist to this day, from people hearing its screeching cries to campers claiming it attacked their tents at night.

Britain’s historic ghost villages

There could be ghosts in the places highlighted in today's blog, thanks to the UK Guardian, but they are not identified. Instead this story talks about "Ghost Villages." That is, villages in the United Kingdom that have been long abandoned. I also had the pleasure of visiting England and you can read about my encounters with the ghosts there in my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation," available on Amazon.   Here's the story the Ghost Villages: 

Britian's Historic Ghost Villages
Whether abandoned because of plague, erosion or MoD requisition, ghost villages will make for fascinating and salutary visits – once they reopen
Source: The UK Guardian Newspaper, David Bramwell Sat 23 May 2020 06.00 EDT https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/23/historic-ghost-villages-tyneham-dunwich-imber

 The former Seagram’s Farm in Imber, the Wiltshire village requisitioned for second world war training. Photograph: Jane Tregelles/Alamy

Most of Britain’s ghost towns were abandoned after a previous pandemic – the Black Death – wiped out entire populations from hundreds of villages. The greatest losses were in Norfolk and Suffolk, often the landing points for plague-infested ships.

Coastal erosion also contributed to settlements in these counties disappearing into the sea. The most famous, Dunwich, was a thriving port, equivalent in size to 14th-century London, before the sea swallowed it and its eight churches, earning Dunwich the name England’s Atlantis. While the majority of British “ghost villages” have all but disappeared, a few still offer rewards – and warnings – for the curious.

At the outbreak of the second world war, the Ministry of Defence commandeered several villages for target practice and manoeuvres. Imber, in Wiltshire, is still used for this purpose. On Open Days, visitors can wander deserted streets lined with skeletal houses, a Norman church and a bullet-riddled pub (Imber hopes to be open for August bank holiday this year).

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 The former schoolroom in Tyneham village. Photograph: Wayne Farrell/Alamy

Equally eerie is Tyneham in Dorset (currently closed, but usually open most weekends). Six days before Christmas in 1943, it was requisitioned for D-day landings practice by order of Winston Churchill. On the day they left, residents pinned a note to the church door: “We have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations, to help win the war … We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.”

Churchill’s promise of a postwar return was never kept. In the schoolroom, pupils’ nature books remain open from their final lesson: a study of corvids, archetypal harbingers of doom.

A hundred miles east, Balsdean, in the South Downs near Brighton, was once a hamlet with manor house, church and “lunatic asylum” but suffered the same fate as Imber: its only remains are desolate farm buildings. In 2012, musical duo Grasscut released an album called 1 inch: ½ mile, complete with a map and walk around Balsdean. But be wary: Balsdean is a cold, strange place. Local folk singer Shirley Collins is not alone in having seen spectral figures here.

Abandoned or drowned villages are bound to attract ghost stories. The bells of Dunwich are said to peal below the water at midnight, while children’s voices ring in empty village buildings. Our politicians would do well to heed such warnings: after a crisis, it seems the ghosts of land and water never forget a promise.

Celebrate PRIDE month; Read "Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriended a Spirit"

June is National Pride month, and we celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community. One of my books, "Kindred Spirits," is about how the spirit of a gay man has come through to me for the last 14 years and I've actually befriended him. The book examines the amazing signs he's given to prove he's around, sent a look-alike to save us from being lost in England, and helped solve the mystery around his own death... plus more!

ON AMAZON:  CLICK HERE to buy on Amazon

  (Just $6.99 paperback and $3.49 ebook) 

   ABOUT THE BOOK:  It's uncommon for a medium really get know a spirit so well that the living person considers the spirit a best friend. But that's exactly what happened to medium and paranormal investigator Rob Gutro. When Rob met his partner Tom in 2005, Ed's spirit came along for the ride. Rob never knew Ed in life, but Tom did. Now, Ed often communicates to Rob and has revealed his sense of humor, his heart, and helped solved the mystery of his passing. Ed's "Spirit Treasure Hunt" showed his family he's with them, too. Ed even sent a look-alike to rescue Rob during a vacation in England. As you read about this special spirit named Ed and his sometimes funny communications, you'll learn signs your loved ones send. This book will teach you how to be more aware of messages from your loved ones in spirit. "Being a friend with Ed in spirit is like having a friend who lives in another state" - Author Rob Gutro describing his relationship with Ed's spirit.

It's National Paranormal Day! Read Rob Gutro's Paranormal Books to Celebrate

  Each year on May 3rd National Paranormal Day people who believe in paranormal activities are encouraged to get together and share their experiences with each other. You can read about many of them in Rob Gutro's 8 true paranormal books about his encounters with earthbound ghosts or spirits of both people and pets!  All books are under $10 on Amazon /$3.99 kindle). See books, descriptions and links below! 

Paranormal is a term used to describe occurrences that can’t be explained by ordinary scientific measures. They are outside the norm. Many words leap to mind when speaking of the paranormal. Ghosts, hauntings, spirit, or poltergeist name a few. However, an extraterrestrial and clairvoyance also fall into the category, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalParanormalDay

Explore the paranormal – if you dare. What’s your favorite ghost story? Discover paranormal hotbeds in your area. Even those who don’t believe in the paranormal can participate in the day. There are a wide variety of movies, documentaries, science-fiction books, and television shows specializing in this genre. 

ABOUT ROB'S BOOKS:

About Rob's Books

I've written 8 books on true paranormal topics, from earthbound ghosts to spirits of loved ones who have crossed over. I'm known as a pet medium, meaning I can communicate with pets who passed, but I also communicate with people. That includes earthbound entities that I call Ghosts; or Spirits of loved ones who have crossed over.

Below is a summary of my books. I wrote them to Educate people on how ghosts and spirits exist, how and when they communicate, how they use energy, and how to look for signs. All of these books are available on Amazon and all under $10, because I want people to learn about them and get comfort that their loved ones are still around in spirit. Check them out!

Rob BOOKS (in order from newest)

1. Pets and the Afterlife 3
2. Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking
3. Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriended a Spirit
4. Pets and the Afterlife 2
5. Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation
6. Pets and the Afterlife 1
7. Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead
8. Ghosts and Spirits (BEING REVISED IN 2021)

BOOK SUMMARIES

Pets and the Afterlife 3: Messages from Spirit Dogs

This third volume in a series of books authored by Rob Gutro on pet communications from

the afterlife focuses solely on how dogs and how they communicate from spirit. In addition, there is a special chapter by a licensed professional on how to cope with grief.

Through personal stories, pet parents relate how their dogs in spirit gave them signs and messages either directly or through a reading with Rob. This book will teach you how to recognize signs and receive messages on your own, and how to work through your grief. You'll learn when it comes to spirit there is no such thing as a coincidence.

"Your books made me understand a sign that our dog sent me, when she had died. It is true that, without the guidance you give, such signs would remain odd little events with no explanation." - Grazia Piombo

Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking

When earth bound ghosts have traumatized families in their own homes, Inspired Ghost Tracking (IGT) of Maryland has gone in to cross them over. In this collection of IGT cases, you’ll read about a very haunted Maryland mansion, many ghosts of Baltimore’s Federal Hill, the Burned Ghost, ghosts of two different time periods in one building, the dark things Ouija boards brought into homes, a ghostly attachment, a Steelworker’s ghost, poltergeist activity, the famous IGT “Double Murder Ghost Investigation” and many more. You’ll also learn about ghosts vs. spirits, energy and lots of Q&A. So, come along with us on these IGT investigations and learn that the paranormal is quite active!

Kindred Spirits: When a Medium Befriends a Spirit

It's uncommon for a medium really get know a spirit so well that the living person considers the spirit a best friend. But that's exactly what happened to medium and paranormal investigator Rob Gutro. When Rob met his partner Tom in 2005, Ed's spirit came along for the ride. Rob never knew Ed in life, but Tom did. Now, Ed often communicates to Rob and has revealed his sense of humor, his heart, and helped solved the mystery of his passing. Ed's "Spirit Treasure Hunt" showed his family he's with them, too. Ed even sent a look-alike to rescue Rob during a vacation in England. As you read about this special spirit named Ed and his sometimes funny communications, you'll learn signs your loved ones send. This book will teach you how to be more aware of messages from your loved ones in spirit.

Pets and the Afterlife 2

Pets and the Afterlife 2 is a follow up to Pets and the Afterlife. The book explains how al pets can provide signs from the afterlife, includes messages Rob received and stories from others. These stories show ways dogs and cats are linked to their loved ones on Earth. The personal detail that pets can convey is amazing including one dog who gave specifics on his unique and favorite place in the world and spelled out his grandmother's name with a different pronunciation! Read about a dog spirit's warning to pet parents, and how various cats and dogs provided a variety of signs to their parents.

Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation

In author and medium Rob Gutro's new book: Ghosts of England: On a Medium's Vacation, you'll meet the many ghosts Rob encountered during two visits to England that may inspire a visit: *A ghostly screaming queen! *A prince's ghost who haunted Rob's room *A ghostly nobleman who acted as castle tour guide *Several ghosts shared their deathly pain *Friend's spirit sent his look-alike to help *Meet several famous historic ghosts, explore royal palaces, churches, structures, and cities. Come on this personal journey and meet some of the ghosts of England!

Pets and the Afterlife (1)

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. The author provides the science of how pets learn and use that knowledge to communicate. A scientific study of a pet's brain is included that proves they experience the same emotions as people.

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 and how one of the author's dogs solved a paranormal investigation. Three other mediums have chapters where they communicated with their dogs on the other side. Read about spirit cats and how a ghostly dog rescued a girl.

Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead: Answer Guide to the Paranormal

Medium Rob Gutro's second book is written to answer any questions you may have on the paranormal. In this 2016 revision, six chapters have been added and information on ghosts and spirits updated throughout. Learn the difference between a ghost and a spirit and the energy foundation. Learn lessons spirit want us to know to live better on Earth.

Experience a "Spirit Treasure Hunt" of messages that prove a spirit was with all the members of his family and prove he didn't commit suicide. Meet the ghost of John Wilkes Booth and see photo proof of a ghostly face from a "Double Murder Ghost Investigation."

Experience cemeteries, battlefields and historic places. Learn about spirits of suicide, murder victims, angels and demons, poltergeists, ashes, slow death experiences, how to protect yourself, reincarnation and how infants and animals pass messages to the living. Many questions that you may have about the paranormal and how your love ones are trying to communicate can be found in this comprehensive book.

Ghosts and Spirits (BEING REVISED IN 2021) 

Rob Gutro is a medium on the Inspired Ghost Tracking Team. He has been able to sketch ghosts and get confirmations from residents, and has helped cross ghosts over. The author explains the difference between a ghost and a spirit and how energy is the key to how they exist and communicate with the living. 

In the news: Ghosts that 'haunt' the M6 explained as 'most haunted roads in UK' unveiled

 In my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation" I wrote about the many ghosts I encountered during my two vacations there. One of them was a ghost I saw on the road, and apparently there are many of roadside ghosts. Here's a story from the UK Daily Star in October 2020 about one of those road ghosts: 

        (photo: The M6 is said to be the most haunted road in the UK (Image: Cheshire Live WS)

Ghosts that 'haunt' the M6 explained as 'most haunted roads in UK' unveiled

UK Daily Star (click for link) 

The M6 is not just the longest road in the UK – it is purportedly the most haunted too. And a spiritual expert has explained why he thinks Roman soldiers and UK based armies could be the reason behind ghostly sightings and unusual crashes.

Motorists travelling on the M6 have claimed to see ancient soldiers cross their paths, spectres glare at them from bushes, and witness other ghostly goings on along the 232 mile long M6.

One stretch of the road is said to date back 2,000 years to when Roman’s occupied England, while parts of the M6 are also believed to have been the battleground for violent clashes between Scottish and English armies in times of old.

Internationally renowned psychic, Mike Brooker, nicknamed J16-19 as “Cheshire's Bermuda Triangle” while talking to Cheshire Live as he reviewed the unusually high number of car accidents not he motorway.

He said: “I personally know people who have lost their lives and families who have been affected by accidents on this stretch of motorway."

"I am leaning towards the theory that it can be connected to Saxon involvement. There are reports of a Roman burial ground and that there was an historic clash between Scottish and English armies. There are so many variables and possibilities."

“For decades now, the amount of accidents on the M6 motorway between junctions 17 and 19 is completely unprecedented and, statistically, this is without doubt one of the worst ‘accident black-spots’ on any motorway network in the UK."

He continued: "There appear to be two principal answers that come up, one is that the motorway was built on a Roman burial site and the other, is that it was the site of the slaughter of a number of the Scottish army dating back over 200 years."

Ghosts of England: On a Medium's Vacation

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. 

TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-England-Vacation-Rob-Gutro/dp/1985276577/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=rob+gutro&qid=1591021774&sr=8-8

Figuring Out if You Have a Haunting

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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Negative Energy Week: Advice on Clearing from The Beantown Medium: Ruthie Larkin

Since this is Negative Energy Week, I contacted my friend and experienced medium Ruthie Larkin, known as the Beantown Medium to get some additional tips from her about dispelling negative energy. 

Ruthie said:   I would also purchase a few Himalayan Salt Lamps that you can pick up at a Home Goods store for $20 - $30 each. Leave them on and place them around your home where your family usually spends the most time. 

(Photo right: Rob Gutro and Ruthie Larkin at a Pet Expo) 

I would also put a few sprinkles of Himalayan Salt between all your windows and the screens to keep negative energy from entering your home. 

If you live in a house you can also surround your home with a thin line of corn meal. This is a North American Indian way to smudge and is very powerful. 

All members of the family currently living and regularly visiting your home need to be assessed by a Psychic Medium while in your home and then your entire home needs to be cleared. There are also many Shamans who could perform this cleansing for you…be sure to get referrals.

Ruthie does comprehensive medium readings, and can be found at www.beantownmedium.com 

SOLUTIONS FROM OTHER WEBSITES: 

http://pranichealing.com/

http://www.holistichealthmalta.com/

http://amybscher.com/

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For more information, check out my books on Amazon.com - all best-sellers and all under $10. Particularly "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" which is a question and answer-type book to all things paranormal that I've encountered.

Negative Energy Week: GREAT PODCAST: Bob Heske brings Mediums Ruthie Larkin and Rob Gutro back for "Negative Energy"

  It's the perfect way to end "Negative Energy Week"  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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Paranormal Q&A: Can Negative People Affect Paranormal Investigations?

As I've noted in my books, Earth-bound ghosts both absorb and emit negative emotional energies like

fear, anxiety, depression and anger in addition to the physical energies like heat, light, water and electricity. So, recently I saw a question about if someone is doing a paranormal investigation and someone else is a pessimist, has anger issues or is depressed, is it possible to affect the investigation. Here's the question and my response:

QUESTION: Can a negative person in a paranormal investigation give off enough negative energy to give misreadings that a ghost is present?

ANSWER: No. Negative energy can be felt from ghosts, and also from living people, but the living during an investigation don't linger in one spot long enough to leave an imprint that can be mistaken for a ghost. However, sensitive people will pick up on a living person's negative energy, but they can distinguish it from a ghost's negative energy.
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MORE PARANORMAL Q&A? - check out Rob Gutro's "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" and "Ghosts and Spirits" - both available in paperback and E-book on Amazon.com.  Rob has many books about various aspects of the paranormal including pets and people, ghosts and spirits. 

JOIN INSPIRED GHOST TRACKING - For information on how to be a paranormal investigator in Maryland, contact IGT at: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspiredghosttrackingmeetup/

Negative Energy Week: Negative Energy Can Affect Your Health

It's  Negative Energy Week  In today's blog, you'll learn how negative emotional energy can affect your health. 

Before the COVID19 pandemic, we were out and around a group of people - several we didn't know, and they were apparently into "not so good" things. 

   For example, when people abuse things, like drugs or alcohol, commit violence to each other, or are into things like Ouija boards or dark arts (both not good if they have no experience to protect themselves or their homes), or if they have anger issues, are depressed or just hateful - bad energy sticks to them like trying to clean peanut butter out of a jar.

  Why do I bring this up?  Because it affects the people around them, too. Negative energy can affect innocent bystanders. Especially people who are emotionally sensitive or in tune with their own internal energies. 

  Such was the case with me and two other friends who came home and that night and all during the next day - all three of us were sluggish, fuzzy-headed and exhausted.  Even 5 days later I still don't feel not right. I have to concentrate to speak clearly. It's getting easier though.

  So, if you know of a negative person, you may want to avoid them. Many people have relatives and people they care for who are negative. In those cases, protect yourself. Before you see them, picture a shell of positive energy around you, play music that makes you sing, appreciate the simple sights around you, enjoy your favorite coffee or other beverage. Build up the positive so that the negative can't get through. I wasn't prepared, sadly, and I'm still dealing with it days later.

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For more information, check out my books on Amazon.com - all best-sellers and all under $10. Particularly "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" which is a question and answer-type book to all things paranormal that I've encountered.