I have to give credit for this awesome photo to my sister Cassie.
Spinner, this adorable and lovable, yet often skiddish country dog, is just one of several who have found and adopted my parents (specifically, my father) over the years. Spinner has always been known to love the nightlife, running all over the neighborhood, through the fields and the woods, and who knows where else. You’ll be outside walking one of the inside dogs in the dark, and suddenly you hear the galloping of his long legs and the flapping of his ears off in the distance, which is honestly a bit startling! You just know he’s coming for you, because it’s time to play! During the day, he takes it easy and sleeps.
Spinner has a sad and rather frustrating story that led him to my dad. My sister knows the details better, but a local *cough cough A$$ H%!#* farmer ran Spinner off because he was so disgusted that he was “gun shy”, therefore he had no use for him. Scum. But now he runs free on his adventures and returns home for shelter and food. On a good day when I’m home in Lexington for a visit, usually when Meril is with me, he’ll let me love all over him. Other days he’d rather keep his distance.
Spinner has always been a completely innocent soul, sometimes slow to trust, but that’s understandable. He reminds me of a cartoon character, just goofy and awkward (and no, not THAT Goofy, or even the other famous beagle), but completely innocent. Just like humans that sometimes share the same personalities and qualities, Spinner is sometimes taken advantage of or bullied by “mean dogs”. An incident happened several weeks ago where he was ganged up on by two notorious four-legged neighborhood bullies. Spinner was left bloody and sore, and when my father tried to care for him he ran off. Shame? Embarrassment? Would he come back? I cried hearing about it over the phone and almost drove the three hours to see him. He returned, and dad managed to put him in a pin to heal and rest for as long as he could stand it. He’s just not happy there. He has to run free.
The wounds healed and things seemed to be back to normal, then last week I heard that Spinner was not his usual self. He was struggling to stay on his feet, making my dad wonder if these were the dreaded signs that he’s seen too many times before. He put him back in the pin to keep an eye on him, but he didn’t go far… couldn’t go far. Dad reluctantly took him to the vet.
The doctor gave him some shots and mentioned wanting to keep Spinner over the weekend to keep an eye on him, just in case he bounced back from whatever this was. If not, it was understood that Monday could be a day where Spinner would be assisted across the Rainbow bridge. Updates over the weekend didn’t sound promising. He seemed to be completely paralyzed other than his head. I was happy that my sister was able to visit him to give him company from a familiar face. She said his eyes lit up when they entered the room. How miserable of a weekend it must have been for him.
I shared Spinner’s photo on my Facebook feed and asked that people keep him in their thoughts and prayers, and though he doesn’t know many people on Facebook, he suddenly had several fans sending him love. But in my heart I didn’t feel great about his recovery. When Monday morning arrived, I sent tons of energy and prayed, and tried to pass on a message that went a little like this: “Hey Spinner Dog! I love you and hope you’re not in pain. If you’re going to get up, and if you’re able to, NOW IS THE TIME! Get up! And if you’re not able to, just rest and it’ll be okay.“
My sister left a voice mail while I was at school yesterday, and it left me in tears! Spinner was doing better and was due to go back home… and he did. I couldn’t believe it!
When I called dad to get the story, I was blown away. Spinner apparently had some kind of “Coonhound Paralysis” that tends to be temporary. Dad intended on keeping him inside while he got better and gained strength. He took him outside with a leash (rrriiiiight) to get him some exercise, and Spinner broke away and ran around the house at lightning speed, around the lake, and out of sight! Dad, who was obviously shocked, was able to catch up with him later and put him back into the pin again. It was funny to hear dad cursing and calling him a “faker” over the phone… Ha! Spinner Dog just has to be free and do things his own way.
Proof of the power of positive thought and prayer? I’m not sure… but I feel bad that I didn’t have more faith that he’d pull through.
You don’t hear about UFOs too much on this blog, but this game being developed by a group of smarties at Space Enigma Studios, is so fascinating to me! It is currently a project on Kickstarter. I’ve included the video preview below, but be sure to check out the project on theirKickstarter page! I’ve also included a press release below the video, which was sent to me by the director of Space Enigma Studios, Maximillian Kovtun. (P.S. I’d love to have his name for a few days.) What do you think? Are any of you video game fans?
New files have recently been discovered that are of KGB and GRU (soviet military intelligence agency) origin – the contents of said files talk about extraterrestrial life. These files where [sic] given to cosmonauts who are now developing a video game called Space Pioneer. Space Pioneer will be based on scientific facts, hypotheses and theories – one thing that our game addresses is the possible existence of advanced alien civilizations, and we want to accurately represent that within Space Pioneer.
For most of the 20th century; scientists actively sought to discover signs of other-worldly life. In 1971, the Soviet Union hosted the first international conference on the search for alien life, wherein scientists from various countries agreed on a common strategy for the search of intelligent extraterrestrial life – this strategy was named SETI (Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Numerous radio observatories are still making use of SETI.
On the 15th of August, 1997 – the radio telescope Big Ear, which belongs to the Ohio State University Radio Observatory – received a clear and strong signal from space that most likely was of artificial origin. This signal was so significant that the person who found it – Jerry R. Ehman – wrote, “Wow!” on the signal’s printout. This is the name that was then given to this signal. The mystery that surrounds this signal has yet to be uncovered. Space Enigma Studios and SETI Berkeley have teamed up to try to uncover the mystery that is the Wow signal. If you want to know all the facts on UFO’s, if you want to experience what it would be like to contact other alien civilizations, and if you want to help us uncover the mystery that the Wow Signal holds – then become a supporter of Space Pioneer!
Hello friends! Today I want to share just how super excited I am about attending a weekend event in March at Belvoir Winery, which is close to home for me, in Liberty, Missouri. After seeing the fabulous Chip Coffey in St. Louis this last fall, I just had to splurge for this two-day event where he, along with Amy Bruni, Britt Griffith, and Adam Berry will be special guests! Rumor has it that their last even was so spectacular, they immediately planned another one… and as soon as I saw this meme I was on board. I purchased my ticket a few months ago, so I’m not aware if they’re sold out or not. I’ll be fresh off the plane from my spring break trip to Cancun, so though I know I’ll be tired, I look forward to experiencing and blogging my way through it all, just for you.
You may recall that TAPS visited this site in Season 9 of Ghost Hunters in an episode titledVintage Spirits.
For more history on Belvoir Winery, formerly The Odd Fellows Home,visit their site.
You might also like:
10 important reasons to go see Chip Coffey at a “Coffey Talk” near you! (Big Séance)
Chip Coffey’s “Growing Up Psychic” (Big Séance)
I Still Watch Ghost Hunters. So What? (Big Séance)
Psychic Skill Items Revealed! This is a photo I took the evening of the original blog post, and the items have remained in these exact places since then.
The item on the left is a brick from the Lexington High School/Middle School that I, along with several generations of my family, attended in Lexington, Missouri. I actually attended from the fourth to the eighth grade. The school, which was built in 1927, was demolished ten years ago. I was hoping someone would get some energy from this item.
A photo of the demolition of the old school. This view is of the main entrance on the opposite side of the view you see in the black and white photo above.
The Boy with the Fish
The item on the right is a ceramic boy with a fish that was given to me by an uncle when I was little. I’ve always had it somewhere in my room or in my home since then.
So how did you do?
Sam Crust mentioned an award in his description, which makes me wonder if he could have been seeing the shiny gold plate with inscription glued to the front of the brick. He also mentioned a toy (specifically, Huckleberry Hound), which is a standing character (two legs, arms, facial features, etc.) similar to my boy with the fish.
Kevin D’Arcy mentioned “ceramic”, which is a good call. I can also see how he may have gotten a “bobble head type figure” from my boy with the fish.
Paranormalogistically mentioned the characteristics of “square or rectangular” and “box”, which would connect with my brick. I can also see how she could get “bumpy texture like hobnail glass” (which I had to look up to know what it was) with the boy with the fish. She mentioned “keepsake” as well, which I would consider both of these items to be.
Both Phyllis and Brandie Sellers used the word “box” in their descriptions, connecting them to the brick.
Randall Keller listed several colors, which you could argue is represented somewhere in both items. He also used the term “rectangular”, connecting it to the brick, and “smooth textures”, connecting it to the boy with the fish.
Shall we try this again sometime?
I really had fun doing this and I hope you found it interesting… or at least entertaining. I’d love to try it again sometime, would you? And if anyone decides to try this on their own, let me know. I’d love to participate.
To those who practiced their psychic skill for this exercise, thanks so much!
Inspired by Debbie at Spirits and The Paranormal, I’ve decided I want to have a fun little exercise to test everyone’s psychic skill! Here at Big Séance, these “call to action” posts sometimes bomb. DON’T LET THIS ONE BOMB! It’ll be super fun. Please reply and give it a try! I tried it on Debbie’s page and I was way off!
The Exercise
I’ve placed two objects right here on my desk. They’re sitting to my left as I type. They’re not usually in this location, but they’ve been in my possession for years. This evening I took a picture of these two items on the desk, and it is this picture that I’ll share when I reveal the items on Sunday. I’ll keep these items right here on the desk until we’re done with the exercise. The items don’t necessarily have anything in common with each other, I just thought it would be interesting to try this with two. Can you identify or describe even a few of the characteristics of one or both of the items?
Give it some thought, close your eyes, meditate, whatever it is that will tune you into my desk and these items.
Some things to think about before replying in the comments…
What colors do you see?
Are you picking up any energy from either of the items?
What shapes or sizes do you see?
What texture? What materials?
Or just flat-out tell me what the two items are.
I’m excited to hear from you! Please be brave and give it a try! Ready GO!
All winter long I’ve been anxiously awaiting the perfect day to return to Bellefontaine Cemetery under snow cover. I’d been once before, though things were much greener then, and I didn’t have my new camera, or the photography skills that I’ve gained this year.
Hilts Bronze Angel
Opening in 1849, Bellefontaine (pronounced “bell fountain” by most St. Louisans) was designed by Almerin Hotchkiss (Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York) and consists of 314 acres of park-like beauty with mausoleums as far as the eye can see. It truly is a small city. Among other big names from the region, you’ll find the resting places of Adolphus Busch (beer giant), William Clark, Sara Teasdale, and the infamous Lemp family.
Since it was 28 degrees and I knew once I made it there I’d be on foot for a few hours, I bundled in layers and prepared as if I was on a journey to climb Mount Everest. The always-kind and wonderful workers in the office mentioned that the roads were drivable, but they didn’t seem too confident in that statement, so I decided to walk. They encouraged me to take a map and keep the office number on hand. I guess that’s what they do when they see out-of-shape fat guys drop by for photos in the winter. I figured I’d stay close to the main entrance and photograph what I could until it got cold or I felt I was going too far into the cemetery. I didn’t know until later that I’d walked a pretty massive circle that covered most of the popular and historical monuments on the driving tour.
As I bravely started out, I couldn’t help but notice that my car was the only guest car in the lot. It appeared I was going to be very alone on this journey. Awesome! It was also very quiet, other than the crows flying around, keeping their distance, and warning others of my presence. It was creepy and cool at the same time.
With every hill I kept finding beautiful excuses to keep going further. I was impressed that I found a few sites by memory, such as the famous “Girl in the Glass Box”. Even as I detoured off the road and trudged through snow as I found interesting shots, I felt confident I knew where I was and what direction I’d need to head once I decided to go back. I never pulled out the map, or my iPhone, for that matter.
The famous Luyties “Girl in the Glass Box”
I’m not entirely sure I can describe to you how pleasant and enjoyable this was for me. I mean, I obviously enjoy spending time in cemeteries a little more than the average person, but to be alone (truly alone, I never saw another guest) in the middle of such a beautifully massive city of buried souls, in the middle of winter, enjoying the peace and quiet, with the added risk of getting lost or frozen before dark, was truly an amazing experience. I suppose this risk of being found frozen Jack-Nicholson-in-“The Shining” style could be why one of the workers came by in a cemetery truck as I was on the opposite end of the cemetery an hour and a half later… just checking. I waved and smiled and continued on.
Tate Mausoleum
Close up of the Tate Mausoleum doors
.
The Francis Grieving Woman
I have to be honest, two hours later, as it got a bit darker, there was a moment when I wasn’t sure exactly where I was or if I was going in the right direction. I wasn’t lost for long, but I made the conscious decision to stop photographing so that I could focus on looking for the main entrance. It’s at this point that I nervously picked up the pace and started to feel the burn in my hips and joints. I couldn’t wait to find the car. A few minutes later I found it off in the distance, but I couldn’t believe how far away I was on the complete opposite side of where I’d been. I truly had made a pretty big circle. When I got to my car, the same cemetery worker was standing guard at the gate, probably relieved that he wouldn’t have to go searching for me again in the dark. I’d made it back forty-five minutes before the gates close and had been walking just over two hours.
The massive and very popular Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum
Through the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum
Close up shot of the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum
These decorative symbols are a part of the bottom of the gate of the Adolphus Busch (of Anheuser-Busch Brewery) Mausoleum
I sat for a while and relaxed in my car as if I’d truly conquered my own Everest. I had hundreds of photos that I was so very excited about! I couldn’t wait to get home and check them out. I took a deep breath, texted Joe to let him know I was alive, and then I drove the hour-long trip home with a wind-burned face.
Again, the Hilts Bronze Angel
Before I leave, I wanted to make you aware of my Flickr page, where all of my newest and favorite photography, including this set, is being stored. Please feel free to drop by, comment, or share any of the photos.
Today is February 5, 2014. It is also my 2nd Blogiversary! In honor of this day, I give you 15 candid reasons to befriend a paranormal nerd! Hopefully, some of you will be encouraged to find a new friend TODAY! Or maybe you’re sitting at home with a spirit box or set of dowsing rods in your hands. Yeah I’m talking to you! No plans this weekend? You’ll want to share this immediately!
15 Reasons to Befriend a Paranormal Nerd Today!
1. As we tend to very open-minded, we don’t think you’re crazy when you tell us about your experiences, but depending on what subgroup of the paranormal we belong to, don’t be offended when we set out on a mission to “debunk” it.
2. Think you have a ghost or spirit trying to contact you? We’re likely to have a plethora of meters and gadgets to help make that connection, and we can’t wait to show you how it all works! And if our gadgets don’t spark a conversation, we’ve always got plenty of friends who claim to be “sensitive”.
3. According to my friend Tim, we “know whether it’s time to buy a new lamp or if Aunt Matilda’s threat to haunt you was legit.” Ohhh Tim… does this come from experience?
4. We can help to explain our favorite acronym lingo, such as EVP, ITC, EMF, IR, UV, OBE, ADC, DBE, ESP, PK, K2, and mG.
5. On a serious note, according to Rachel, “They are intuitive and empathic. They don’t see the world in black and white, they see many more colors! Plus, there is a sense of peace about them. Maybe it’s because they have some insight on the afterlife.” I absolutely love Rachel’s way with words.
6. Are you at a party or with a group of people who tend to be on the boring side? That awkward silence doesn’t bother us. We’re used to carrying on conversations with ghosts that typically don’t answer back, therefore we don’t easily get bored. Though we’ll likely keep the conversation going, don’t be offended if we accidentally blurt something like “If you can hear me, knock three times” or “How did you die?”
7. Are small animals disappearing from your neighborhood? Have no fear. We’re on it… and we know exactly what a Bigfoot call sounds like!
8. We’ll be the first to tell you that your no-good horrible very bad day was not your fault, because Mercury is in retrograde!
9. We’ll prove or disprove the orb photo taken at your nephew’s birthday party in no time flat! (Ahem… the ones who know what they’re talking about will tell you that even though it appears to have a face inside, or devil horns, or a personality, or like to be called “Beverly”, there are eleventy-thousand likely explanations for it, and then let you decide for yourself.)
10. We paranormal people who are also investigators are often willing to invite others to the next big investigation! And we can’t wait to share our favorite stories or our “Class A” EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena).
11. Not feeling well? Going through a bad experience? We can break out the crystals and send you rooms full of “love and light”!
12. We know how to begin the research to learn the history of your home, or genealogy research to learn about your ancestors!
13. Ever suspect your family pet of learning how to access the refrigerator while you’re sleeping? We’ve got night vision cameras. Just ask us.
14. Need sage for house blessing or clearing? We know just where to get it.
15. Need to borrow a black shirt, polo, or hoodie? Take your pick. Oh sorry… here’s some tape to cover up that logo.
Through social media, I went to some of my friends and faithful readers for help on this one. I’d like to thank Rachel, Tim, Stacey, Cassie, Cathy, and Dar for their additional thoughts and contributions to this post!
You might also like:
10 important reasons to go see Chip Coffey at a “Coffey Talk” near you! (Big Séance)
After some investigation, I think I can confirm that I would have been about 3 years old at the time of this memory. I remember making a visit to what I now know was a college campus. I remember the older buildings that just scream “college”. I remember the mature trees. I remember the weather was nice. I’m almost sure I remember music, like from an instrumental ensemble or orchestra. Often when I hear the popular graduation tune,Pomp and Circumstance, I flash back to this memory, though this visit wasn’t for a graduation. I’m not sure why the song stands out. I suppose it could be bleed-through from another memory, or perhaps there really was a group there playing it. My mother and I were apparently taking an uncle of mine to his freshman orientation, and it would have been in the summer of 1981.
Now to the important part of this memory…
…or at least the part that stands out and has remained in my head since then. I remember being on the upper floor of a building, in a foyer or hallway next to a set of stairs going down. When I picture it now, I picture the walls being white and everything being very bright. But the highlight of this memory is the kind smile and wave of a woman who was not familiar to me, peaking around the corner in a doorway. I’m sure my mother was engaged in a conversation ahead of us, and this woman was behind us. Clearly I was really cute and drawing attention from the ladies. That’s it. That’s the memory.
Why that moment?
Now why in the world would that be a memory that I remember and still replay in my head 32 years later? Oh sure, it’s easy to look back now and embellish the memory or make it into something it’s not. It’s easy to picture the woman surrounded by an amazing and beautiful white light, but did it really happen that way? And why that memory? Why that exact moment? I don’t have a ton of memories from that age.
Was it a ghost?
As you probably know, it is said that young children frequently see spirits, before society gradually teaches them that this is not acceptable. So was it a ghost? A family member who passed before I was born? Or was it just a random stranger who managed to find herself in a starring role in the cloudy memory of a toddler? I may never know… but whenever anyone asks me if I’ve seen a ghost, my memory takes me back to that day.
“True passion demands something from us. It requires a sacrifice on our part. If we’re really passionate about something, we’re happy to invest our time and money and energy in it. In fact, that’s one of the tests to help us determine what our passion is-whether we’re willing to pour ourselves into it.” – from Fred 2.0 by Mark Sanborn
This is a quote that a friend of mine recently shared through social media. I haven’t read the book, but I just might have to check it out. Fluffy quotes don’t typically do much for me, however, this one really got to me! My passions have definitely changed in the last several years. It really has been an exciting time. I have had several passions, though… and some seem to be outgrown. Sometimes they fight for my time and attention, leaving me tired and worn. Sometimes passions are scary… especially the new ones that hint at change, or the ones that play games, leading you to wonder what you want to be when you grow up… and you’re 35.
The wounds healed and things seemed to be back to normal, then last week I heard that Spinner was not his usual self. He was struggling to stay on his feet, making my dad wonder if these were the dreaded signs that he’s seen too many times before. He put him back in the pin to keep an eye on him, but he didn’t go far… couldn’t go far. Dad reluctantly took him to the vet.
After some investigation, I think I can confirm that I would have been about 3 years old at the time of this memory. I remember making a visit to what I now know was a college campus. I remember the older buildings that just scream “college”. I remember the mature trees. I remember the weather was nice. I’m almost sure I remember music, like from an instrumental ensemble or orchestra. Often when I hear the popular graduation tune,
Psychic Skill Items Revealed!
Psychic Skill Items Revealed! This is a photo I took the evening of the original blog post, and the items have remained in these exact places since then.
For the previous post, where I introduced the exercise, visit Fun with Psychic Skill!
The Brick
The item on the left is a brick from the Lexington High School/Middle School that I, along with several generations of my family, attended in Lexington, Missouri. I actually attended from the fourth to the eighth grade. The school, which was built in 1927, was demolished ten years ago. I was hoping someone would get some energy from this item.
A photo of the demolition of the old school. This view is of the main entrance on the opposite side of the view you see in the black and white photo above.
The Boy with the Fish
The item on the right is a ceramic boy with a fish that was given to me by an uncle when I was little. I’ve always had it somewhere in my room or in my home since then.
So how did you do?
Sam Crust mentioned an award in his description, which makes me wonder if he could have been seeing the shiny gold plate with inscription glued to the front of the brick. He also mentioned a toy (specifically, Huckleberry Hound), which is a standing character (two legs, arms, facial features, etc.) similar to my boy with the fish.
Kevin D’Arcy mentioned “ceramic”, which is a good call. I can also see how he may have gotten a “bobble head type figure” from my boy with the fish.
Paranormalogistically mentioned the characteristics of “square or rectangular” and “box”, which would connect with my brick. I can also see how she could get “bumpy texture like hobnail glass” (which I had to look up to know what it was) with the boy with the fish. She mentioned “keepsake” as well, which I would consider both of these items to be.
Both Phyllis and Brandie Sellers used the word “box” in their descriptions, connecting them to the brick.
Randall Keller listed several colors, which you could argue is represented somewhere in both items. He also used the term “rectangular”, connecting it to the brick, and “smooth textures”, connecting it to the boy with the fish.
Shall we try this again sometime?
I really had fun doing this and I hope you found it interesting… or at least entertaining. I’d love to try it again sometime, would you? And if anyone decides to try this on their own, let me know. I’d love to participate.
To those who practiced their psychic skill for this exercise, thanks so much!
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