The Importance of Debunking

Just because you hear a creak in the house, or think you see something paranormal, it could be a house settling or some living thing that moved, or an object that resembles a former living being.
I received an email and this photo through facebook from someone who was going to purchase the house this photo was taken in. This is a picture of the attic, and the person thought they saw a ghostly dog in the attic and took the photo. If you look to the right side of the photograph, you can see that the spiderwebs actually form an outline that resembles a dog's face, but it is the spiderwebs!
Keep in mind that if you're looking for something paranormal your mind can trick you into thinking that you're seeing something. It's always good to try and debunk whatever you can. Those that can't be explained are likely paranormal!

A Woman's Interesting Water Stories

SPIRIT SHOWER ENCOUNTER - I recently met a young woman from South America who told me that soon after her boyfriend was killed, she often felt his presence while she was in the shower, like she was being hugged.
EDITOR'S COMMENT: Spirits (those who have passed into the light) can use different forms of energy to communicate with the living. Water, especially moving water is one of those energies. That's why you find haunted towns typically have a river or stream running nearby. One example of that is Ellicott City, Maryland, where the Patapsco River runs through it. Interestingly enough, I've received messages in the shower. My friend Kathy's mom has come to me while I was showering twice. I didn't see her, but she gave me messages (in a telepathic manner).

BOWLS OF WATER - She also told me that it is a custom to place bowls of water around a room after someone in the family passes away. EDITOR'S COMMENT: I neglected to ask her what country she was from... but if anyone has heard of this, please let me know. I asked why that was done and she didn't know. Perhaps it was so the spirit of the person could use the energy in water to cross into the light.

An E-mailed book review

I just received this email yesterday:
I just finished reading your book and it definitely gets two thumbs up! It's well written and very insightful. Anyone who wants to validate their own experiences will especially enjoy it. Maryland

A Presence Attached to Hitler's Car in a Museum

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story was shared with me, and it's a prime example of how energies can attach themselves to objects. I've run into this before with entities attached to a mattress or a piece of furniture. In this case, it's a car!
The Lyon Air Museum is located on the west side of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. It was founded by Major General William Lyon. In the museum you'll find authentic aircraft, rare vehicles and related memorabilia, with emphasis on World War II.
The museum has a Mercedes that used to belong to Adolph Hitler. It was likely one of his staff cars. The interior in the front of the car is the original leather interior, also the hand hold on top of the window of the car which Hitler gripped when saluting to the crowd is intact. No one is allowed inside the car but Gen. Lyon's driver stood in the car, grabbed the hand hold as to imitate Hitler's pose which is portrayed in a poster in front of the car. He claims a strange feeling overtook him that he couldn't explain. He got out of the car very quickly.

Email Question: - Logical Thinking and Spirits

I received an email from a gentleman asking about how to determine whether his parents are at peace. His background is similar to mine, a background in science- so we were "taught" to both be logical thinkers. Because our logical mind always tries to explain things and usually discards unexplainable events, and calls things "coincidences" we don't recognize signs from spirits (those who have passed into the light). For the person that doesn't have mediumistic abilities, the only way that those spirits of passed loved ones can communicate is by coming to us in our dreams.
In fact, in this case, both parents did appear in this man's dreams. One thing I've noticed in speaking with a number of people, however, is that usually within the first year or two loved ones who have died will appear in a relative's dreams. However, that tends to fade.
After thinking about it, I believe that the spirits have given the person left behind, a year or two's worth of signs that they're okay in the afterlife. After that, they hope the living relative moves on with their lives and stops grieving. It's important that we who are left behind understand these signs, and that our loved ones who pass want us to move on.
We can, however call to those who have passed, and they will hear us. More on this in a future post.

Article on Book in Prince George's County Gazette

An article came out today in the local county newspaper about the book!
(PHOTO: Leah L. Jones/The Gazette
Bowie author Rob Gutro, photographed at his home Feb. 11, wrote Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium. It was published in December.)

Bowie author details contact with afterlife in ‘Ghosts and Spirits'
by Dennis Carter | Special to The Gazette
Rob Gutro says he can't go anywhere without chatting with a ghost or spirit.
Gutro, a Bowie resident and author of "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium," said he even had contact with the afterlife during a cruise in the Eastern Caribbean Sea this month. After a spirit identified himself as "John" three times, Gutro approached the woman "John" was trying to communicate with.
The woman said she had an Uncle John, and Gutro said she thanked him for approaching her.
Gutro said that this happens a lot since he encountered his first spirit — his deceased grandfather — at 14. In 2005, Gutro began detailing his dozens of otherworldly encounters, and adds analysis and the crucial differences between spirits and ghosts in his book, which was released Dec. 30. Gutro, deputy news chief at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt and a former radio weatherman, said ghosts have not yet crossed over into the afterlife because they might have "some unfinished business" or simply don't understand what happened to them.
"Sometimes they're not aware that they're dead yet," said Gutro, 47. "When people get killed suddenly — like in car accidents, for example — it takes a while to process that you're actually dead."
In contrast, spirits have accepted their new form and entered the white light seen by many who live through near-death experiences, he said.
"They've passed on to the next stage," said Gutro, adding that there's a surefire way to know if your loved one has become a spirit: "You can dream about them."
Ghosts, Gutro writes in his book, won't play a starring role in your dreams.
Gutro said he strived to support his experiences with scientific analysis. This often helps skeptics embrace the idea of an afterlife and separates Gutro's findings from unproven superstitions passed down in folklore.
"Energy can only be transformed; it can't be destroyed," he said. "Science is much more effective in convincing people that it's a reality. ... If you have a theory and you're a good scientist, you try to prove it."
And it's not just people who contact Gutro from the great beyond. After his dog, Buzz Wyatt, died, Gutro said the animal made 13 attempts to contact his owner.
"One of the times was the sound of claws on the hardwood floor," Gutro said with a chuckle as he rattled off a string of Buzz Wyatt memories.
Gutro said his dedication to honing his sensitivity to the afterlife is a very different path than the one taken by many mediums. Seeing a ghost or spirit for the first time sometimes frightens mediums so much that they avoid further contact with the deceased.
He admits seeing his grandfather materialize before his eyes 34 years ago made him flee the house, but Gutro is determined to maintain contact with those who have passed on, both family members and strangers reaching out to their spouse, child or friend.
"This is a gift," Gutro said, "and not something to fear."
"Ghosts and Spirits" is available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and Virtualbookworm.com.
Follow Gutro's blog at http://ghostsandspiritsinsights.blogspot.com/.

ARTICLE LINK: http://www.gazette.net/stories/02252010/entepri152057_32547.php