May 25, 2008: 11:10 p.m.
Post investigation.
Uhm, OK. As I sit here....I am putting up images onto the art site (deviant art and my own). I kept hearing my door (the door by my desk) acting as if it was being pushed against (it sometimes does this if there is extreme wind flux as well; however, I closed everything up and as far as I can tell, this should not be happening)....this happened for about a minute. I looked and counted all of my pugs. They are all here. (The pugs sometimes sit against the door, making it make similar noises). I had just finished listening to the EVP from tonight on my recorder (nothing much, but three spots...one maybe breath, one may be ajumple of voices, and I'm not sure on the others). Anyway, I looked at the door and finally said, "Please stop pushing on the door. The investigation is over." Since I said that out loud, it has stopped. Will add to my other site for documentation. No reaction from the pugs. The only reaction they had was when they heard themselves barking on the EVP.
4-8-08, 2:18 a.m.
Pugs (Odysseus, Achilles, and maybe one other) jumped off the bed and started to bark. Reasons unknown. Elder pugs did not bark; tried to see where they were looking and it was at the foot of the bed and at me (as I was yelling at them for waking me up!)
May 15, 2008:
Woke up this a.m. to find a book of mine on the floor. I was not there when I got up to turn on a/c and use restroom at 3 a.m. The book was “Goddesses” and sits on the edge of my bookshelf, though I am not certain where I had it shelved. It was about 2 feet away from my exercise bike. Could have fallen, I suppose. However, it’s been up there a long time and has not fallen; I put it on the edge of the shelf, just to see what might happen, and it’s still pretty steadfastly there.
May 19:
This is my side of an IM conversation describing what happened here 2 nights ago (May 17). I wanted to get the initial reactions down; curious to know what others think (hence, no transcribing). Has anyone seen an "orb" like this? I can assure you that while I was "winding down" I was NOT lying down nor was I asleep. I was sitting up on the bed, petting the pugs. I also had the radio up as I loved the song (which is by Serg Tankian (SP?) -- not a slow song, I assure you). This would be one of the very very few visual things that I've seen in my life, if it is, indeed, something at all. I tend to be skeptical as I've had migraines since 2000, though I rarely get visual disturbances from them. There are only one known "visual" issue that I have -- little specks of light that "zip" across an area. I always recognize them as migraine-related and they are highly identifiable from my POV. This was NOT that at all. I've never seen anything like it. This was not a night with a migraine, either. I'd like to hear from others who have "seen" orbs to see if there is any comparison.
I plan to have an investigation here with my own group Sunday, May 25.
Relating to events, Saturday, May 17:
Brandy Stark: I will say that I had one other odd phenomena here.
Brandy Stark: I was listening to the radio in the dark.
Brandy Stark: I swear I may have actually seen an orb.
Brandy Stark: It was not light phenomena (My migraines show light tiny dots -- white -- that zip around).
Brandy Stark: This was a small tennis ball sized ...I dunno, colorless (though I thought "light white") not glowing....round ball that was about waist high.
Brandy Stark: It moved in front of me heading towards the rat cages.
Brandy Stark: It was almost like solid air?
Brandy Stark: I don't know how to describe it. I followed it for about 2 seconds with my eyes, and that was it. It wasn't moving incredibly fast, either, which is why I don't think it's migraine related.
Brandy Stark: Maybe at the pace of someone walking at a moderate stride.
Brandy Stark: Yeah, this caught me off guard, but no reaction from pugs.
Brandy Stark: Or rats.
Brandy Stark: So, I dunno.
MN: any physical symptoms on your part?
Brandy Stark: No. I wasn't expecting it.
Brandy Stark: I did not "feel" anything but calm, other than realizing that this was a bit strange.
Brandy Stark: No panic, no excitement. Just ... "Huh, will you look at that?"
Further details:
I can say that it had a definite sensation of motion -- I felt as if the ball, itself, were swirling a bit (or rotating). It moved in a straight line but vanished a few feet short of the rat cages. I only saw it manifest for maybe a total of 4 feet of movement (maybe 2 or 3 "strides"?). There was no jigging around -- straight line, no bouncing. However, I felt that it was independent of my eyes. I have noticed with the mini-lights from migraines that they tend to stay to the corner of my eyes. This was dead set in the center of my vision and my eyes moved to follow it....
However, I posted a soundfile from my room made about 3 weeks ago when I got my new digital recorder. I can explain the noises at the very end of the recording (I did say "stop that" very softly to the pugs) but NOT the noises that occur right before hand. It sounds like a whisper or a statement, but I can't make out the words. The recording was also made right next to the rat cages (actually recording my "singing rat", Patch).
April 4, 2008
This morning I got up at 6:30 to take the pugs out. I came back in and went back to bed at 7:30-ish. I turned on my "white noise" (ocean sounds) that I play every time I try to sleep (I have used it for years as a way to let the pugs know that it's time to go to bed; it's sorta a trainer for them AND for me). Anyway, as I was lying on my left side, I swear to you that I heard someone whispering something in front of me, as if they were standing a short distance from the bed. I remember that I had been resting, but wasn't near the gray state of sleep yet. I even thought to myself -- I am too awake for this to be "gray state"...did I hear something or was it just the clock?
I thought about getting up to write it down but with the pugs any additional movement is chaos -- they all get up with me. I stayed in bed and thought that I'd remember it. Naturally, I don't know what was said now. I knew that when I heard it I only heard one to two words of the phrase and the rest was too soft for me to make out. I do remember that the phrase was something in the negative (not a negative phrase, but a "negative statement" -- i.e., I do not want to do this, or something like that). It was very strange.
So....here are the options: Audio ink blot (hearing things).
Stress: (I am scheduled to see a neurologist for my headaches in April).
Clairaudience: In the past I have had the following over the past 16 or so years.
Around 1998-99 I came home from work to let the pugs out and to eat lunch. I came in through the back door into the dining room and I heard a man's voice say "Oh, honey, you're home" (Yes, I thought that was strange, too). TV was off, I was home alone except for the pugs. I don't think that I'm their honey.
When I was with a USF film crew investigating the Williams house, I heard whispering behind me. A few minutes before I had an unexplained spike on the meter which I could NOT get to replicate. After about 2 minutes of trying to get this to replicate, I heard the whispering behind me. I turned and the only thing behind me was a chair, above which was the image of John Williams (the original builder of the house and one of the pioneers of the St. Pete area). I snapped a shot with the digital camera and got a huuuuge colorful (not colored) orb in the area of the whisper, under the picture. I never disproved or proved that it was an orb. I couldn't replicate it, but there was also daylight coming in from a window near the chair. (I THINK that I have that investigation up on my site: http://starkimages.homestead.com/Williamshouse2.html)
I took dups of the chair (but left out the image of J. Williams above it as the original orb image didn't show it).
I'm trying to think if there were others....those are the major ones that I can remember.
So, I don't know what it was, but it was strange!
Brandy
March 24, 2008
I will say that for a couple of days I have felt a cool breeze blow around me (once in the bathroom. Geez, I HOPE not...) and I can't tell if that's just this funky weather or what. We have had another cold front come through and strange rain, pollen is up as well.
Actually, last night was also a strange series of dreams. I dreamt that I moved into a haunted house with Mom and that this place was filled with negative entities. The worst part of it was that this thing was just dark and I remember Mom saying, "Well, isn't this what you wanted? A haunted house?" At one point, we found a piece of plucked flesh that looked as if it was torn from the body of an animal. It had the eye still in place and as I was looking at it, the eye opened -- it was a blue cat's eye in this torn flesh. That freaked me out enough to wake up....and when I did, my eyes, in real life, fell upon a reflection from one of the blinds of a diamond-shaped "cat's eye" -- honest to Jove, down to the elongated pupil -- that was on the kitchenette cabinets directly across from me. This was filtered light that came through the blinds by the kitchenette window -- that freaked me out even more. But I was so tired, I tried to shake off the dream and go back to sleep. Sometimes I can talk myself into better dreams....not this time. Apparently, the dream continued but now I was staying in a haunted house owned by another. It also had a dark entity in it that was causing blindness -- one character, who reminded me of a real life Peppermint Patty from the Peanuts (ugh, I have NO IDEA on that!) had her eyes to explode out of her head (literally bursting open) while others simply went blind. Three of the people I was with, as I was the 4th, had this happen (1 explosion, 2 blindnesses) and I was the only one with sight left to see. I was very upset sitting in the hospital, waiting for the others' prognosis, I had the sensation that I was next.
Not a very good night for ghostly dreams, let me tell you. I have NO idea what the eye thing meant, though I've never really seen the "eye reflection" image in my room before (it's not to say that it wasn't there. I do get patches of moonlight that reflect in here so it's not really supernatural) but to wake up from a dream where I was being stared at to see the eye made of moonlight and shadow staring at me from the kitchen cabinet area -- well, that was fun. I outta go into writing "B" horror movies!
3-27-08
This was really weird. Two or three years ago, I had a toga made of silk cloth that I got for my MA graduation. I wore it to Dragoncon a couple years ago and when I returned I couldn't find it. It was missing for three years. I have looked for it for YEARS and YEARS and YEARS. I have cleaned that closet out every 6 - 8 months and had not found it. This includes the clothes, everything. I normally redo it to go through outfits, and put it back into a semblance of order. I have not found the toga.
Today I went in and sitting in the middle of the closet floor was my toga. I have no idea how it got there, unless it was wedged under something and the pugs found it? It is the strangest thing I have encountered in a while and it sorta caught me by surprise! Eventuallyh, we may have to try for another hunt here, as well.
8- 11-06
Night after night, the puppies bark at my door. It's almost always after 12 a.m. (it's going on now). I have no idea what they are barking at. Ih ave taken pics of the door....but this is pretty consistent and long lasting barking (particularly tonight).
I don't know what to do with it....I also found them barking at a hole in my sheet, and at a dried leaf one day. However, the puppy barking seems consistent with time and location....
I have a full bag of ghost equipment, but the issue is 1) I have just finished rennovations on the deck (the area that the door leads to). It's an area of high traffic for me and trying with digital or 35 mm cameras, I feel I get "false positives" with the orbs or rods. The room (now an art studio) leads to the outside and I suspect gets quite a bit of dust because it's an actively used exit (into a fenced yard for the pugs). 2) This house has strange EMF levels. I have an ELF meter but find them to be pretty useless except for massive cases of EMF or a haunting (I think I've only had it work one time on an investigation on an actual "ghost"...otherwise ELF meters tend to register a/c, power conduits, etc.) There may be a tube of wires running beneath the deck as well, which also alters my readings. I can try to see if I can get a base reading and maybe put the thing on its siren mode at night to see if there is some correlation.
In the past, I have had dreams that there was someone on the deck looking in and wanting to come in (I do sage this area I'm in because I sleep here; I also do white light out here and have placed many blessed and religious items around the room. I've had sensitives come here and say that they can "sense" a barrier around my room, which is fine!) It's usually male....
I also had a sensitive out here who was telling me about the "old lady" in the house (she an extremely mild haunt; mostly curious about who comes in here and is otherwise not an active presence). She suddenly turned to the door (leading to the then-deck) and said to take a picture; there was someone peeking in. I did and I got a big old orb. The odd thing is that the door to the deck was partially open (maybe a foot or so) and the orb is in that space that the door is open; not overlapping with the door, not in the room, etc.)
The elder pugs did this for years between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Now the puppies are doing it. The only problem with the puppies is, as I said, they are 10 months old and they bark at odd things. I am not kidding when I said that they barked at a leaf on the ground in here (It was out of place, so good for them for seeing it) and at a hole in my sheet (it tore when I was making the bed but I wasn't about to switch the thing out just then). In other words, I am not sure how reliable they are.
I wonder if the elders are "immune" to the presence because it's been here so long they just don't care (they both grew up here). I also wonder if the entity is seasonal or transitory....I guess I need to start tracking that on my paranormal log again, eh?
We'll see where this goes....
5/29/06
Well, on and off now, the pugs have been barking at something outside my door. Let me augment that...it's not all the pugs. It's Odysseus (not to be confused with Odyssey).
The interesting thing is that I started to keep a log of phenomena on my Ghostly Images site. Years ago, Iliad and Odyssey started to do the same thing at about the same time. It was usually Odyssey who started it and Iliad chimed in. Odysseus looked directly at the vicinity of the door.
First, both Odyssey and Odysseus are black pugs. Perhaps, since black pugs are already linked to a recessive color gene in pugs, they have more sensitivity? I have been on a few pug lists that debate if black and fawn pugs have different personalities (black pugs are usually a bit more active/hyper). Of course, Odyssey and Odysseus are both exceptionally bright boys (even Mom remarks at their intelligence) if I do say so myself. Odysseus, of all the pugs, seems to be the most sensitive to paranormal phenomena.
Secondly, I've had folks (of the sensitive type) tell me that someone walks on my deck. I've had dreams of someone walking on my deck at night (an old man). And during an investigation here at the home, sensitives pointed to my door, told me someone was looking in, and to take a picture. An orb showed up (an orb is usually defined as being "condensed spiritual energy) INSIDE the partially open door. T'was a large orb, too.
This has happened now on and off for 3 weeks, and Odysseus has been barking for the past three nights in a row. I do not encourage or discourage him (as far as I know) so he's not being trained to do it. (That's all I need is for this boy to learn THAT trick). I do not know if there is something that his puggy mind sees and is afraid of (shadows cast by the TV?) but it's odd that it happens at the same time each night. I'll keep documenting it for now.
The older pugs do not participate in it. Perhaps it is because they are immune, don't care, or are just ornery (not really. Both are quite charming little dears, you know).
Just thought I'd share.
12/15/05
Hey, all. Well, the SPIRITS had their holiday party yesterday. I got back some of the pictures today and for the third or fourth year in a ROW I've shown up with orbs around me. Now, the thing is I don't know who is coming with me on these parties (but at least I'm not going stag!). If you start at the top of the page you'll see a party from 4 years ago of Odyssey (my pug) and myself with and orb. (One, yes I take my pugs with me to parties. They are very popular! There were two images that the hostess took at the party and both times I was the only one with orbs around me. Only one image is posted; the other was a group shot and the orb was next to Ody and myself).
Further down is an earlier SPIRITS part in which a 35 mm disposable camera caught me with orbs (there were actually two images, but only one is on line and I think I was the only one with orbs around me at this party). Again, there were two pictures taken and both had orbs near me. (I took down one; I need to find it!)
Last year, orbs showed up at home (near the Christmas tree and over the group who came over for brunch). I have a close up of the orb by the tree but, because this was a mixed group who came to lunch and not all are comfortable with ghosts (one was a new widow) I've opted not to post the group shot. The one by the tree was when Mom and I (and the puggies) were alone.
This year, I took Iliad (my girl puggy) with me to the SPIRITS party. Once again, I have two orbs with me. I think I'm the only one to have orbs (and I think this is out of all the pictures taken at the party...but they are still possibly being processed and there could be others who have attachments this year. It's a much bigger team!)
Each of these images comes from seperate locations (Tampa, Pinellas Park, St. Pete, and now Valrico). Pugs are present for some, but not all.
Is it co-incidence? If so, why do 3 of the 4 parties have multiple pictures of orbs with me alone? Does anyone get a sense of who is with me? Just curious.
Anyway, here is the URL (which I copied and pasted directly from the page): http://starkimages.homestead.com/ghostlyimages.html
Would appreciate any thoughts. Please ignore the food in my hands. As you can see, both Iliad and I are quite intent on it! (She is begging so hard her tail is straight!)
Veni, Vidi, Volo in Domum Redire. (I came, I saw, and I wish to go home!)
Brandy
12/17/05
Tonight was the SPIRITS holiday party (now we get a break!). One person hired a psychic to come in and give readings so I went in for one. The odd thing is that the first thing she said is that I'm VERY intuitive, very powerful, but that I turn it off. (I know I do it as I want to be scientific -- objectivity is needed for investigations). She said that I've had experiences (I have) but that I keep shutting off the ability. (She is not the first one to tell me this).
In the meantime, I asked her about animal spirits. I've been seeing movement near the floor of my home late at night. She said that they are surrounding me...I attract their energy (I had a SPIRITS sensitive tell me tonight that I have a very powerful earth energy). She said I have animal spirits with me out the wazoo -- many cat-like creatures, and birds and others. She said I may need to do a cleansing since there are so many. She also said I had a boy with me from the 1900s, lost, who needed help. He knew I could help him. And I ended up being the only one at the party who had orbs in photos with me again this year (this is the third or fourth year in a ROW where this happens -- and it's just me with orbs).
So, anyway, other tidbits included opportunities that were coming up for the SPIRITS, writing again (a column for a small periodical that would take off in 2006), meeting my Significant Other in EIGHT FREAKIN' YEARS (Sigh)....the art taking off again in 4 years....(sigh)...and needing to adjust my job schedule somewhat (which I've been thinking anyway).
So, how odd is that? It was a lot of fun...and I hope that some of it, at least, is true. (Except waiting for another 8 years. Oh well).
Vale,
Brandy
Sept. 6, 2005
What do you think of the orbs? The odd thing is that when I got home, the next day I was working out in the garage when a strong aroma of flowers was all around me. I don't know why or how (my machine was next to the garbage can and it sure wasn't flowery. Just not enough room around here!)
July 15, 2005
Wel, I'm in this art show that has been vexing me. It's propeganda art trying to get folks interested in the arts locally. I have thought and thought about it....and out of no where, the idea of "Let your Inner Muse out" came to me. The idea of paper designed for poetry came with that, and it snowballed from there. :)
I have been having some strange things happen on my deck. I swear I see someone looking into the back door from the deck, but when I look directly no one is there. I have gotten orbs back there before. I've had dreams of someone on the deck (I also caught a peeping tom out there once). Sensitives have also felt someone there. The last time this happened was when I was starting on the paper art. I had a feeling that someone was just staring in, wondering what in the heck I was doing! (I always put my art on the deck to dry, so I guess s/he saw). It's very very odd. Sensitives also note that the eerie feeling on the deck does not come into my main bedroom/art area. It's where I do my work and sleep and I work hard to keep it protected....
Brandy
Sensitive's reply:
It's a male on your deck. He is slight in build, maybe almost 6ft tall, early 30's or looked older than his age,very quiet timid guy I would say has accounting type or bookish type energy around him.
He's the type that has a pocket protector with a pen in it in his shirt pocket. He has on dress pants and a short sleeved collared starched shirt. He wears glasses and I would say had brown hair. He is very curious over you for some reason and peeks in from time to time and I don't think he realizes you know he is there, as I don't feel he would want to bother you or anyone.
I believe he might be a student or a teacher you knew that is now in spirit.
He's harmless, just curious. He was very curious in life, so in death. I don't feel he ever married but I feel a strong mother influence with him.
I am not surprised you don't recognize this guy as I feel he was very non descript and unnoticed in life and also apparently in spirit. But I did some thinking about it and this morning I woke up with the name Dan going around in my head. I don't know if this is this name or another reading I worked on also while I was off yesterday.
Anyway he is harmless. You must have done a good job as you said with your protection circle because it seems to be keeping out those spirits you don't want near you.
Always use your free will to control entities you haven't givem permission to be near you because you also attract them for some reason.
--
Kathleen
May 4, 2005
Sorry to be so quiet as of late; a lot of stressful things going. I'm up to a couple of art shows, and I had to curate an art event that I hadn't expected earlier this week in addition to what I'm already doing.
It's final exams week, which is always stressful because the students are coming out of the woodwork (you'd be surprised at what I'm getting this week) and things are totally nuts. I've had 30 e-mails from students wanting their grades alone! One had a death in the family, one suddenly has surgery scheduled for the exam date, and on and on it goes.
I have a bad sinus infection on top of all of it -- doctor's appt got me antibiotics which have not helped it. I'm going to an acupuncturist (well recommended) on Friday to see what they can do. Since I get these on a yearly basis (or more) I feel that medical science hasn't really done much to help me. So, we'll try it this way and see what happens.
BUT, now that the life's story is out of the way....ghost stuff.
For the past two weeks I've been seeing movement out of the corner of my eyes close to the ground. I thought it might be the pets....but they were sleeping and not moving around. (I also thought it might be a side effect of the antibiotics, though it's not happened before, or perhaps some stress....)
I had some of the SPIRITS here the other night before a ghost hunt and the sensitives did confirm my thought that there was someone here; a male energy on the deck (which also confirms the dreams I've had in the past of an old guy on the deck, standing outside my door).
The pugs, on occassion, also looked toward the deck's door as if someone was there. However, not all of the pugs reacted in unison, so I didn't know what to make of it. (I'd hope they'd all react the same to a strong presence!)
Today was an odd day...Noticed as I was getting changed to give a final exam this afternoon that two pugs(I had mine and my mother's with me at the time, as I was "pug sitting" -- a total of 7) were looking intently at the doorway (which was open at the time). For some reason, their behavior was enough to draw me out. (One of the two pugs that was looking was Odyssey, who is one of the more sensitive pugs...if that makes sense). I took the camera with me and took 4 shots, asking whoever was out there to be in the pictures. I had the idea that this is not what it wanted (to be voluntarily in the pictures), so I turned the camera and took a picture to my far left (the open area of the deck). At the end of the deck is a nice dark white orb with nucleus. It's shaped somewhat like a eart or butterfly (not dust as far as I can tell). No time to really look at images or type info down as I had to go for the exam (students do not like it if one is late) so I called a friend and told her on my way out the door, just so someone else "witnessed" the event.
Jan. 28 - 30, 2005:
Friday morning I had a horrible time trying to get warm. I was cold all day. I wore a sweatshirt, thick slipper/socks, and medium thickness pajama bottoms. I took a hot shower, and even went out for a 2 -3 mile walk. Still cold for most of the day. Been feeling very stronlgy "down" but I don't feel as if it is originating with me. Took pictures that night and scared myself a bit; in three of the images are orbs; one picture has a very dark textured orb. Wondering if Jason is back, or if this is someone else.
Saturday I had trouble warming up in the morning, and Sunday I had minutes of feeling very cold, but these were fleeting.
I'm a bit concerned because it's not that cold in Florida, and this was the same bone-numbing chill I'd associate with a post-investigation of very high activity. One sensitive said that Jason popped into her mind earlier this week, and she thought he was back. She theorized that my schedule and sadness over the death of Granny Chu, combined with copious amounts of stress and mass quantities of making art, has attracted him here again. She aslo suggested he was earth-bound and drawing energy from me. It's hard to say for certain.
Jan. 26, 2005
On my way home from USF, I felt someone kicking the back of my seat again. Pretty strong kick.
12-31-04
I got into the Micanopy Hotel (Bed and Breakfast). It's reputed to be haunted, and was checked by Andrew Nichols, the Parapsycologist in Gainesville CC. First, they are willing for us to do an investigation. I suggested summer, and they thought that was fine. June, July, or August (not around the holidays). Room rates for Fri, Sat, and holidays range from $189 - $89, on other nights the prices drop $20 each
(cheapest room is $69). We could probably get two people to a room,
splitting cost, and there is one room that has a triple bed. Dorothy's room
is one of the oldest rooms, dating back to the original structure (1845,
cost -- $119 to $139) and the Pink room is the room with 3 beds (cost $139 -
119). I don't know if they'd give us a price break or not for being off
tourist season.
I spoke with one of the owners. Here's the story: Inez was the daughter of
the house's original (I think) owner. She was 1 of 6 siblings. When the
parents died, there was a long struggle for the house between the 6
siblings. Inez finally won. One tradition has that she got the house,
moved in, and died the next day. Another says that she died elsewhere and
returned to the house as a spirit.
Reported investigations include Nichol's original (he says it's haunted) and
possibly some other groups. Information includes leaving a video camera on
in one room, leaving the room, and recording phenomena. I'm not sure of the
rest.
I took pictures of the hotel as I came in, and also after I spoke with the
owner about doing an investigation. I was amazed because the "before" shots
show nothing; the after shots (post Inez discussion) have a couple of orbs.
I didn't take the rest of my ghost hunting equipment as both Mom and the
neighbor were shopping a little ways away, I didn't know how the owner would
react, and I didn't want to scare off any of the guests already in the
rooms.
I was excited because after I spoke with the hotel owner, I had the feeling
that Inez would show up. I kinda let my intuition guide me a bit...for
example, I was certain she'd show up near the stairwell, and she did.
Now, some of it could be dust. I don't have anything else to validate the
experience at this point. But, I thought it was a nice start to things,
and for some reason I think it is her.
Dec. 18: In response to a question via e-mail:
First, I am so sorry for the loss of your pet. Trust me....I understand.
When I lose a pug it is utterly devestating. I dread that now; my pugs are
older (8, 9, 11) and it makes me cry just thinking about it.
In all honesty, the west is VERY slow in studying animal consciousness. I
think there is a reason for that...we are taught that God made nature, then
he made man to command it (see Genesis; Adam's naming of the animals is
significant). We consume animals...we kill them and displace them. We
don't want to know that they can think and feel. (Sorry, not meaning to
sound harsh, but it's true).
I have gone over to vegetarianism because of this. I just can't eat meat
anymore. I feel that animals know enough that they will die. If this was a
natural process (nature balancing itself out) that would be one thing. But,
we have thrown nature out of balance and we consume mass quantities of
animals; unnatural amounts. And we do it because we WANT to. We aren't
even HUNGRY (hunting is also something a bit different, if it's for
survival). The sacredness of animal death is gone (Tribal societies often
pray thanks to the animal for its death and it undergoes sacred rituals
after death). Even (in theory) world hunger could be abated if the 1st
world countries consumed 50% less meat....that says something.
Now, all of that having been said, I do believe animals have a soul. It may
not be quite like the human soul, but it exists. The basic idea of a soul
is the animating life's breath that comes with birth and ends with
death...humans gotta breath, animals gotta breath. We move, we think (I've
seen the pugs thinking...as odd as it may sound), and living is different
than being dead (cold, rotting, etc.).
I have actually studied the idea of ghosts in animals...I have a paranormal
pugs page (www.starkimages.homestead.com/paranormalpugspage.html -- I just
expanded it to a second page).
The general concensus is that animals reincarnate. They go on, rejoin
universal energy, and reincarnate from it. Depending on the animal, the
reincarnation may be immediate or it may take time. Various people believe
that animals come back as the same creature...it depends on who you talk to.
(I have asked my pugs to come and find me again...) If there is no pet
reincarnation, then there must be aspects of pets in Heaven. If Heaven is
all that is good, then my pets are good. They make me happy. If they
aren't there, then either am I.
I think the possibility of a ghost or spirit with an animal depends upon the
level of consciousness the animal has. Why aren't we beseiged with mosquito
ghosts? Why don't all animals produce ghosts? Perhaps animal contact with
humans is what helps the animal to define itself as an individual and
conscious being (staying in the wild might not permit that; more survival
instinct). That may be the case with your squirrel, too.
I actually would like to post this picture, if you don't mind, for Jan. I
think it brings up an interesting quetion and I'd like to see what others
have to say.
(I think the possibilities are higher that it may be a "hello", but as you
can see from the above, I'm biased).
We got the holiday card, by the way. I plan to open and pass it around at
the holiday get together this Sunday. :) Many good things are starting to
happen; let's hope it's an upward trend for 2005.
Thanks.
Brandy
December 17, 2004:
Doggone it, I'm remembering dreams again.
The first one scared me to death. We were doing a ghost hunt (and I think
it was at a place we'd done one before). I know Denise and I were there
(and there were others of you, but memory fades as to who was present).
During the investigation, which was, evidentially, the ghost of the
homeowner's mother (or an older woman, mother-in-law) the ghost actually put
its dead body in the backseat of someone's SUV-like car. It had to be
Denise's because the two of us got into the car to return the body to the
cemetary. I was completely unnerved. The body was positioned as such that
it was seated in the back seat, arms crossed, with one arm extended up, the
hand supporting the corpse's chin. The body also had a slight smile on its
face, though the eyes were closed. It was a newly dead person, so the body
was in pretty good shape...still...uhm, ew!
What was funny is that Denise was so calm and matter of fact about it. She
told me that the ghost didn't mean us any harm; it was just giving us proof
of some sort. We were going to drive the dead body back to the cemetary and
put it back in the grave. That was that. The last part I remember is that
we were driving it back to the graveyard (I can't remember who was driving,
I think I was. I remember looking into the rear view mirror at the body and
still being unnerved about it. I noticed fine lines of decomposition around
the lips and that unnerving grin). I woke up with a start.
Nov. 30, 2004:
I am sorry to say that fellow SPIRITS co-founder, Lee, died last night after a prolonged battle with lymphoma. He was a very nice man and our original sensitive.
What is odd is that last night I was awakened at 1:11 a.m. I had gone to bed at 11:30, after completing my fourth and final "masked cat" piece (custom order statue). I was awakened by this long loud screeching noise....like a stick being dragged across a chalk board. I have lived in my home for 14 years; I've never heard a noise like that. I jumped out of bed because I thought someone was trying to break into my window (near the bed), though it was closed (and, at this point, now tightly locked). My heart was pounding and I saw that the outside sensor light was on, but there was NOTHING and NO ONE in sight. No animals, no human, nothing moving or swaying...I don't know what the noise was. I did eventually calm down and got back to sleep. I woke up on time (a bit tired).
Today, I got the e-mail that he had passed on last night.
So, was the mysterious noise Lee, who came to say good-bye? (He always promised that he would stop by on his way)....or was it just co-incidence?
Nov. 2, 2004
Tonight when coming back from Eckerds, I felt something sitting behind me (in the car) again. I had the distinct sensation of something pushing against my back. Now, I'm in a Miata. Nothing should push against my back. I even felt behind me; there was nothing behind the seat, and it was well away from the back of the compartment. This lasted several minutes. As far as I can tell, it's not a back spasm. I don't know how it could be...but I definantly felt pressure against my back for a good part of the bridge ride. When I got over the bridge, the sensation stopped. But, cold patches of air were circulating on the passenger side of the car. STRANGE.
Ghost? Hallucination? Fatigue? Madness? Hm.
10/17/04
Car was freezing when I got in it tonight. Temps outside were in the 70's. The car windows were rolled up; it was so hot when I parked the car I was sweating. In the 3 hours since, the car cooled so much that it felt as if the a/c was running when I got in. Is this something that can be explained? If so, I'm not sure how. The Miata is unusually hot for a little car. I do not use a/c unless under extreme cases and this was not one of them -- windows only for me. I parked in a spot that was not particularly shady; and the car has not been that cool before or since. I replicated parking in the same spot under similar time and circumstances and it has not happened again. Hm.
9/8/04
I went out to walk today around noon. My school schedule is already being affected by the LAST hurricane -- for the rest of the term I must teach my class for 15 minutes longer on Fridays. Also, we had a Tuesday off; it is no longer off. I have to trek in Oct. 12 to teach.
In the meantime, with the new hurricane new wrinkles develop. I have gotten notification that Eckerds is closing for the second time in two weeks. A student told me that UT is closing (need to get the official word on that). That leaves SPC and HCC; not good. By law, I believe, we have to make those classes up.
I'm very concerned about this one. I keep hoping and thinking "Texas" -- I have nothing against Texas but I don't want it here! Maybe a nice empty part of the area, or maybe turning around and heading back out to the Atlantic to disappear? -- but this nagging hunch says it's gonna climb up this way. If so, it's a bad bad one. We will be sufering major losses; I have students who are still without power after 5 days from Frances -- a low grade hurricane.
However, the pugs are back to their nutty behavior (which I attribute to the storm). Floridians and St. Petersburgarians/Tampanians are very very very nervous and tense. For the second time in a month, Mom and I went hurricane shopping last night; we're going out again tonight for canned goods.
I figured I should walk, despite the heat, because I may end up inside all next week. Warm, yes, but sun is good when storms threaten. While out, I found a new tennis ball which I brought home for my babies (Ody, mommy's little genius, loves 'em). Then I saw this odd glimmer on the ground. I actually passed it the first time as it was so subtle; I almost didn't go back thinking it was a bottle cap or something. I looked again and this time it appeared to be a washer. But there was something funky about it. So, I took the three steps back and scooped it up.
What I saw was a circle attached to a cross with two bumps on it. It was a copper color (closer inspection shows that it is copper-coated).
At first glance, I thought it was an ahnk pendant that someone had lost (I taught about Amarna and Egypt today, so that was on my mind). But, the top was too round for that. Then I thought, with the two bumps, it was part of a gay pride pin or something -- a connector piece. Then, I saw light etchings on the piece. Then a figure. I stopped for a moment and realized I was looking at it upside down. The cross was actually a cruciform; the round part was a "crown of thorns". I realized what the two bumps were: this was likely the remains of a rosary ring.
So, it seems that I have found Jesus. On the cross.
Interesting.
I let Mom know (she was ecstatic, of course, and thinks that God is trying to tell me something. I don't doubt it, but I didn't think I was that Westernized. Must be the Roman in me). Understand, I teach compar. Religons -- I study modern and ancient World Religions. And I know Religions have a sense of humor...(I'm not mocking ANY religion).
But, what I do hope is that it is a good sign for the hurricane....Fingers and toes crossed. I will take any protections offered.
8/28/04
Today while packing my art for Dragoncon I felt a very very strong cool breeze next to me on my left hand side. Considering this is Florida, it's got to be at least 88 degrees outside with VERY intense humidity, and my art is stored OUTSIDE on a screened in deck, this cool breeze was really funky. Mom sat on the porch steps to my right; I mentioned feeling a cool breeze; no comment from her. I asked if her a/c was on (it was) but if she had left anything open -- a door or window...nope. I looked to verify and could not find an origin for the breeze. I don't know where this cool breeze came from, but with luck it's wishing me well for the Dragoncon Art Show. The SPIRITS have speculated I have an artsy ghost hanging around me. Hm.
8/3/04
Well, it's been an interesting week. Last Thursday, July 29th, I came home to find one of my fish jumped the tank. It was my 12 year old Pleco named Perry. He's never jumped before, and I can't fathom how he got out of the tank. He is a huge fish! I did manage to get him back in the tank in time to save him; he is still swimming today.
Sunday, August 1, I came back from grocery shopping to find that 12 of my fish were dead, and more were dying. The filters had failed (I have two) and the water, which was being treated for Perry's open wounds from the jump Thursday night,, was stagnant. Even as I began to pump air in and get water out of the tank, more fish died. It was horrible. I've NEVER had anything like this happen EVER before in 12 years of tank ownership (with many of those years having multiple tanks). Out of a once-stabilized tank of tropical fish, I was only able to save 4 fish -- Perry, my 6 inch bala shark, a kissing gourami and a single giant zebra dano. The rest, who showed no signs of other distress, were gone.
It concerned me because, according to Feng Shui, fish are guardians. When they die, they are sacrificing themselves to negative energy. In addition, 2 of my mother's fish had died, my hermit crab (one of two) died two days before Perry jumped, Iliad jumped off the bed and twisted her leg, and I wasn't feeling well again...so it was a strange and horrifying week.
In addition to that, two hematite rings I wear (grounding, protection from depression) broke...the newest one that I bought to replace the first one that broke shattered when I was touching the fish tank.
After enough distress, I finally decided to cleanse my area using sage smudging and the Feng Shui bell technique yesterday afternoon.
Here is where this entry picks up:
Here are a couple of unusual things that have happened post-cleansing.
4 involve the pugs:
Yesterday while I was exercising on my bike in the garage (where a
bright red Firebird is also parked), Odyssey did something odd. He very
carefully put his front paw in one of the holes in the Firebird's
bumper (it's not a hole, but design in the bumper, but I don't know how to
describe it) and for the first time ever, he raised himself up to see
over the hood (not sure it was successful; he's a little boy). On and
off over the past year, I've found myself looking at the car with the
idea that someone is looking back. Could be some form of discomfort
(exercising in a garage) or instinct (usually people sit behind the wheels
in cars, and my bike is at the front of the garage at the front of the
car). But, there have been some odd things with this car. For
example, one day the Firebird wasn't in the garage, but the Camry was. I had
the distinct impression of someone thinking "This isn't MY car" while
biking in the garage. Strange, but then again...exercise does put one
in an
altered state so I'm never sure how much to invest in these
experiences.
Yet, yesterday Odyssey's curiosity was strange. I've been working out
in the garage for a year, and this car has been here longer than
Odyssey has (he's 8, the car is 10 or 11) boy, and he's never shown this
curiosity before.
That was, I believe, before I cleansed my area.
After I cleansed the area I wanted to lie down for a while. I had 8
pugs (I was pug sitting for Mom yesterday) and myself attempting to
sleep. It didn't work well -- I had two phone calls...and out of nowhere,
Dovie, the 10 year old puggess who is visually impaired and a
bit...well...eccentric for a pug, stood up and started to bark. I have no idea
why; she was near the door, however, and I figured she heard a noise
from outside. She eventually settled down again.
In addition, I had TWO good things happen. A surprise gift from a
neighbor for my trip to Italy, which was so sweet, and I met with a former
student when I went to replace my phone cord. I found the last phone
charger for my type of phone in the store (though it's a car charger,
it's doable!) and the student, who worked there and was very
complimentary of my class, recognized me and I got an educator's discount. That
was really neat.
Last night (I was back down to my 4 pugs), between 11:15 and 11:30,
Lilo, the youngest of the pugs and the petite boy, burst out barking not
once, but twice. The lights were on the first time Lilo barked; I
looked outside and found nothing. I felt unusually tired last night and so
opted to go to bed a bit early, so, the second time, the lights were
off. He scared the wits out of me; in 2000 I had a peeping tom break
into the deck and I saw him. I think he had been in there at least one
time prior as I found things moved on the deck the weekend before; since
then, I take late night pug outburst seriously. (Of course, the pugs
didn't bark once when the peeping tom was here -- *I* saw him!). I
again turned on all lights and looked around; I found nothing. I don't
know what he was barking at!
I felt extreme fatigue yesterday. Though I have been sleeping, I've
been having a series of nightmares and uncomfortable dreams -- usually of
failing to get a job, forgetting that I promised to teach a class, or,
in one instance, being thrown to these giant angry shark-whales....
I've been waking up at night, too. Last night, I conked out early,
despite the barking outbursts -- around 11:45 -- and woke up at 8 a.m. I
did wake up once last night -- sweating, despite having the a/c on 78
(which, for me, is cool--I normally keep it on 80). I got up, changed to
a lighter night gown, and went back to bed. I had no nightmares; only
one dream -- I dreamt that I went to a mall where they had a new age
store of sorts. I had gone in and they had a sale on semi-precious gems.
In this dream, I was again searching for amethyst--said to enhance
psychic abilities and also hematite (a cleansing, grounding, reducer of
negativity stone). Two weeks ago, my hematite ring broke. It's said that
when the ring breaks, it has done its job of protecting the wearer
from a huge bout of negative energy. A friend gave me a replacement ring;
last weekend the ring broke when I put my hand against my fish tank. I
have not replaced the ring yet.
It's odd because I had a dream two weeks ago about buying an amethyst
ring in a similar store to last night's dream. Methinks that two dreams
is a sign of some sort.
The fish are doing great, and my other hermit crab is fine. No more
deaths so far. I dunno. Very strange. I feel more rested today than I
have i a long time....
Anyway, just thought I'd update.
7-16-04
Last night Mom told me something that had happened to her. She said that Thursday morning she couldn't find her car keys. She had to use a spare key -- a single key without a key chain. She drove to work, put it in her purse. She and a co-worker had to go to a lunch meeting. She drove. She had to use the spare key. She got to the rest. and went in with him. After the meeting, she had to dig and dig to find her spare key (one little key in a huge purse!) When they got back to the car, she discovered that her REGULAR key was sitting in the ignition of the engine. The car was still locked. She could not explain how her regular key got into the ignition when she was certain that she had been using the spare key for all of her driving.
So, I tried to give her a rational explaination. She had probably just misplaced her regular keys in her purse, forgotten that she was using the spare key, and had instinctively used her regular keys to start and drive the car to the rest. She got distracted as she got out (a lot going on) and forgot to pull them from the ignition. WHen she came back from the lunch meeting, she remember that she was using the spare key and went to look for it. That's when she discovered the other keys in the ignition.
She rather dismissed that idea -- she was certain she drove with the spare key all day. When I suggested a ghost, she scoffed and said "I knew you'd say that." Okay, then.
Denise got the idea that whatever was going on in the main house was something attached to Mom; I thought this was an interesting story.
Two other tidbits from here, then I'll let you all get back to your regularly scheduled lives. One: In one day, I blew three light bulbs. This happened right after I finished the chair. I turned on the bathroom light -- out it went, -- the fan light -- off, then the outside light --blip and fizzle. So, that was kinda cool. I think it's the SLI-der stuff again with the art.
The other thing; Yesterday I broke my hemotite ring. I wear it as a "grounder" and to "ward off depression" -- which is what it's supposedly good for. This ring lasted MUCH longer than my other hematite rings...a year and a half to two years. When it broke yesterday I was only a little surprised...I had seen a crack forming in it. It was strange; last night I had a dream...but it was not like most of my other dreams (nightmares!)...it was very positive. Mom and I were hosting some sort of summer camp and we had all sorts of friends here at the house. We had plugged into a program for councilors and we had this nice young man come out (he was my age or so). We got along fabulously, and my friends kept trying to push us together....and I also dreamed that the group went on a trip to the local downtown area. We went into a store where I was looking at rings to replace the one that I broke. Instead of getting a hematite ring, I was attracted to amethyst rings (psychic enhancers, so they say). Odd thing is that it was in the shape of a jade ring that I've seen and used to have. Anyway, very strange things.
7-10-04
Well, this was odd. Mom had to do an orientation at work today, so I had the house to myself. Because of the indoor nature of summer, I ended up cleaning the floors (too many puggies in one house for too long makes a rather doggy-smelling home). I swept the floors and noticed that Mom had left the windows open. I was surprised because I thought the a/c was on. In fact, I felt a cool breeze (as if the a/c was on). I closed the windows and kept cleaning. I got upset because the pugs were panting so hard, and I was sweating as I cleaned. Understand, though, that Mom keeps the a/c on at 83 in the house; I get 80 in the apt. Therefore, it is NOT unusual for me to sweat as I clean. Besides, I had done an hour and a half worth of exercise and gone out to spray the front lawn for weeds for another 40 minutes in the blazing hot Florida sun. No wonder! Still, it seemed odd that I was THIS drenched with sweat (heck, even at 83, the a/c pulls out the humidity and it's remarkably cooler than outside) and that the pugs were huffing as hard as they were. Yet, I felt the breeze again. No, no fans were on...but I did go to check the thermostat. It was 87 degrees in the house, with no vent -- the a/c was TOTALLY off.
I laughed at myself and turned the air on -- immediate difference in temperature, and several fans went on. I finished up and started to do a few other tasks. When Mom got home around 2, I told her the story, laughing a bit that she had "fooled" me (she has a thing about the a/c). Well, imagine my surprise when she said that she had also had the same thing happen to her! Her explaination was that the unit (which is brand new, I might add, as of April 2004) may be malfunctioning. It's an outdoor a/c unit, big boy...and if it's malfunctioning, this is the first time it's happened. Granted, new equipment has a greater chance of falling to a bug, I guess, but it's still odd.
I tried to broach the idea of a ghost...uh, NO go with her. But, INTERESTING considering what's been going on the past couple of days, no?
7-8-04
Well, I finally got the inspiration for the chair..."Come into my parlor [chair]," said the Spider to the Fly"...it's a combination of dream catcher and spider web chair made from found objects. The pillows are made of screen stuffed with batting and "sewed" with wire. The "web" is made from wire rods and thin metal wire, augmented with found objects.
After a series of days, I'm nearly 2/3rds done with it. I need to add materials to the front and back of the chair (I will be making one more web for the back of the chair, and wrapping wire around the front bar; possibly hanging some "spiders")...I hope to finish it this weekend. It's close. I am making myself stop for tonight because my hands, shoulders, and back are starting to hurt from being hunched over the thing for so long. (I"m also supposed to get pictures of me working on the chair; I most have shots of the pugs looking at the chair as I take pictures of it...I shall have to hope that Maternal One can work my digital tmrw to get this done!)
The chair will be displayed locally and will be placed in a catalogue. It will ultimately be auctioned off for a fundraiswer for chairity, including the make-a-wish foundation.
Now, you all must know that I love paranormal investigation. It's been most unusual today because for most of the day I've heard popping sounds near me. This started earlier today when I was sitting alone in the classroom after HUM II. The students had an exam and had left; I was grading for my office hour. Twice I heard a thud/pop coming from the back wall of the classroom. I've been in that room twice a week for 2 months; this has never happened before. I dismissed it as possibly coming from workers moving things.
When I came home this afternoon, post lunch, I started to feel kind of tired and a bit down. It may relate to end of the semester fatigue, or the uncertainty I've felt lately about a lot of things. But, I noticed that the "pops" were back in my apt., this time coming from the area of the kitchenette. This is rare; it's near a window area that has been featured in my dreams as a portal, upon which twice in one night the verticals slammed back violently and loudly enough to wake me and my pugs up (window was closed; I got up to check, pugs were in bed with me. I have no reason for this to happen), and an area where orbs appear in photographs. I noted it, but didn't take it too seriously. I figured it related to the heat, or the a/c...
I started to work on the chair tonight. Because the paint is dry, I brought it in (very humid to try to work outside today). I had Mom's pugs with me, Murr was in, and my puggies were sleeping as I worked. They were remarkably well behaved (that is, in itself, paranormal). I finished up the first and did the second side of the chair. I wanted to take pictures of the chair to document how I was creating it over time. While inside, a light orb appeared by the chair. I did not notice it on the camera until I downloaded the images later.
After I worked on it, I feared for the safety of the chair inside (new things may be "marked" here if I'm not careful to remove them)...so I took it to the deck. I noticed a few more pops as I moved about (also heard them in the garage where I keep most of my art supplies).
The pugs were being very cute, as per usual. Since I was taking pictures of the chair, they had to get into the act. As I snapped pictures, I used a standard ghost hunting technique. I asked if there was an entity that had been hanging around me for the day to be in certain pictures (inviting it to be in certain images, but not all). Towards the end, I placed the cushions back into the chair and I invited the "person" to sit in the chair, and to show up for me on the camera as a bright big orb. (Yes, there are days when even I think I'm crazy, but since my only witnesses are the pugs and I kinda felt like trying it, what the heck? I was not invoking or evoking anyone or anything -- I never have. My home is my "down" place to get some rest and quiet).
Much to my surprise, orb images appeared in certain images. There appears to be a group of 3 - 4 orbs, one of which is the predominant orb (darkest) with three lighter orbs around it. Granted, my chair was on the deck, which I swept 8 hours before. I had just let the pugs out. Could be dust...but I just found it odd. I'd imagine that dust would be in EVERY shot; not selective. But, it could be misremembered information (I thought I noted which pictures I'd invited the entity to be in...oddly, as I type this, I heard a thud above me from the roof....could be an animal skittering across, though. Strange time!)
Happily, the orbs appear in pretty decent shots of the chair, so I can send them out together. I also caught a couple with the pugs being cute. My fav is the profile shot of Jasper. His tounge is sticking out; does he not like the chair? (Jasper has 5 teeth and a "wry" tongue -- a tongue that is distorted and hangs out because the teeth are not there to hold it in. Still, it could be his opinion on my art!)
So, now that I've taken all of your time, check out the images below. Let me know what you think (other than noting my descent into madness). Understand, there is more to do with the chair, but I am pleased with its progress. I just hope it's cohesive. I think the final touches (the web in the open spot on the back of the chair, the wrapped wires on the front bar) will just make it....:)
7/2/04
Saw Denise (SPIRITS) today. She mentioned that she sensed an older woman with white hair and slightly hunched back with her hands on my shoulders...comforting me. She saw the image constantly through the day....Louise? The Homeowner? Other?
6-10-04
This morning while I was preparing to ride my exercise bike (about 6:30 a.m.), the pugs did something rather odd. I was eating cereal as I rode. The pugs love it when I do that and always flock around the bike to beg. Iliad suddenly broke away from the group and started to bark at a specific corner in the garage. She stood silent, then barked again. I called to her and she ignored me. Eventually, she returned to the group. Next, Lilo broke from the group and did the same thing. He intently barked at the SAME spot that Iliad had focused on. He did not come when I calleduntil he finally returned on his own. He was not gone as long as Iliad. Odyssey and Jasper did not leave my side.
I got off the bike, left the garage (where it is stationed) and returned to the computer to get my camera. I went back out to the area and was planning to take some photographs. My mother wandered by and came out to talk to me for a few minutes. She is not a believer in ghosts, and does not share my interest in the garage. I waited until she went, feeling a bit foolish and hoping to get pictures of the garage before any more time elapsed. I took three pictures. The camera had trouble functioning; it was slow and delayed. It denied me the ability to have live display. I initially thought it was the batteries, but when I downloaded the images this afternoon I had no problems with the camera.
Of the three images, there is a light white orb hovering over the car, slightly askance to the area that held the pugs' attention. All three images have the orb.could there be some substance to the idea that I feel as if I am being watched in the garage? I find my eyes wandering to the area of the car often, sometimes feeling as if someone sits within it. Other times, I think that someone crosses in the doorway in front of me.
