Tag Archives: cemeteries
A haunted weekend full of spirit communication experiments with Patrick and Karen A. Dahlman for Part Two of a special road trip to the Haunted Castle House in Brumley, Missouri. Experiments include the Estes Method, spirit box, Ouija, and the SLS camera.
Other Listening Options
Direct Download Link
Continue reading
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: 157, battle, battlefield, big seance, big seance podcast, big seance podcast #157, big seance podcast episode 157, bigfoot, brumley missouri, cemeteries, cemetery, civil war, civil war campsite, death, doctors, estes method, fat cookie, ghost, ghost hunting, ghosts, graveyard, graveyards, haunted, haunted castle house, haunted castle house part two, haunted house, haunted roadtrip, historic, I'm dead, karen A. DAhlman, karen dahlman, mass grave, medical, nuwati herbals, ouija, ouija board, paranormal investigation, podcast, portal, seance, sls camera, spirit, Spirit Box, spirit communication, spirit energy, spirits, spooky closet, steve and judy, supernatural, the warrior tea, war | posted in Cemeteries, EVP Research, General, Ghosts in General, Haunted Spots, Interviews, Mediums/Psychics/Sensitives/Intuition, Ouija, Paranormal Evidence, Paranormal Fun, Paranormal Investigation Topics, séance, Spirit Communication, The Big Séance Podcast
Body snatcher. Grave robber. Mad scientist. Brilliant surgeon. And did he really hang the corpse of his daughter in Mark Twain Cave? Plus the ghosts of the Gratiot Street Prison. Delve into the macabre world of St. Louis’s Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell with Victoria Cosner and Lorelei Shannon, authors of Missouri’s Mad Doctor McDowell.
Pssst… Are you looking for the SpeakPipe Link?
Get to this episode in iTunes!
Direct Download Link
Continue reading
Like this:
Like Loading...
2 Comments | tags: amanda mcdowell, big frog, big seance, big seance podcast 48, big seance podcast episode 48, body preservation, body snatching, book discussion, book interview, brilliant surgeon, cemeteries, changing ghost, civil war, civil war medicine, coffin mark, confederates cadavers and macabre medicine, doctor ephraim mcdowell, dr. ephraim mcdowell, fox sisters, ghost stories, gratiot street prison, gratiot street prison st. louis, grave robbers, hanging a corpse in a cave, haunted purina lot, haunted purina lot st. louis, joseph nash mcdowell, lorelei shannon, lorelei shannon interview, mad doctor mcdowell, mad dr. mcdowell, mad madame lalaurie, mark twain cave, mcdowell medical college, missouri's mad doctor mcdowell, my paranormal world, paranormal spiritual, podcast, preserving a corpse, purina lot, saint louis missouri, seance, spectral edition, spiritualism, st louis mo, st. louis missouri, Victoria Cosner, victoria cosner interview | posted in Book Discussions, Cemeteries, Haunted Spots, Interviews, The Big Séance Podcast
Are you brave enough to stay the night at the haunted Myrtles Plantation? I did. Join me as I talk about the exciting stops on my summer vacation through the south, here in the US. Other paranormal spots included the King’s Tavern in Natchez, MS, Oak Alley Plantation, and the Lalaurie Mansion in New Orleans.
The haunted Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, LA.
Get to this episode in iTunes!
Direct Download Link
In this episode:
- A quick summary of this episode! :38
Natchez, MS
- We arrived in the beautiful and historic Natchez, MS. View the photos I took around the city in my Natchez album on Flickr. 3:14
- King’s Tavern — Featured on Ghost Adventures in Season 7, episode 18 from 2013. Kings Tavern is the oldest standing building in the Mississippi Territory and Natchez and its history goes all the way back to 1769. 3:36
- Plan B and stumbling into a beautiful surprise! 4:17
- Dinner at the historic Bowie’s Tavern — We talked to some residents who recommended we have dinner at Bowie’s Tavern, which is on Broadway in Natchez. And they made a great choice for us. Good food and really nice people. The historic building overlooks the Mississippi river and was originally a cotton warehouse. They also proudly display a mahogany bar that was built around 1880. They also have lodging on the upper floor with a view of the river! 5:04
Natchez City Cemetery
- The mysterious and unique grave of Florence Irene Ford (Sept 3, 1861 – Oct 30, 1871), who died of yellow fever at the age of 10. This grave was constructed with a set of open concrete stairs that descend next to what would be the head of Florence’s body, with the headstone above. Learn more about this grave at GhostInMySuitcase.com. 8:05
Monmouth Mansion
- Before leaving Natchez, we toured the Monmouth Mansion (built in 1818) and the beautiful gardens and small cemetery that surrounds it. Check out my Monmouth Mansion photo album on Flickr. 10:03
The Myrtles Plantation
- The Myrtles Plantation (built circa. 1796) in St. Francisville, LA — If you are as big of a paranerd as I am, you’ve probably seen the Ghost Hunters investigation of Myrtles from way back in 2005, episode 1 of their 2nd season. You’ve also probably seen the The Ghost Adventures crew investigate the place just last year in season 9, episode 2. 10:46
- The lovely Miss Hester 11:33
- Some audio with a little bit of the atmosphere of the haunted Myrtles Plantation. 12:25
- The Myrtles Plantation Tour 14:15
- Some of the legends of the Myrtles Plantation 16:18
- The ghost of Chloe — Probably the biggest legend of the Myrtles. Chloe was supposedly the slave closest to the Woodruff family, who purchased the home in 1820 and remodeled it. Was she Mr. Woodruff’s mistress? Did she poison Mrs. Woodruff, along with Cornelia and James, two of the children? Was one of her ears cut off? And was she hung from a nearby tree? 19:03
- The nursery, or the “Ruffin Stirling Room”, which is where we stayed for the night. The two children, Cornelia and James Woodruff, were apparently taken to this room, where they later died. 21:26
- Kate, Cleo, Voodoo, and other deaths at the Myrtles. 21:47
- More about the “terrifying” bed shaking experiences that have been reported in the nursery/Ruffin Stirling Room. 22:34
- Before bed we tried to reach out to any of the spirits of the Myrtles by conducting an EVP, Spirit Box, and Ouija session in the nursery. 23:06
- Who changed the track on my recorder while we were sleeping? 26:23
- More audio of me touring the grounds of the Myrtles, including the pond and cabins around the back of the property. 28:26
- View my Myrtles Plantation photo album on Flickr.
Grace Cemetery, St. Francisville, LA
- Our visit to Grace Cemetery and the Grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville, LA. You can find the Grace Cemetery photo album on Flickr. 30:18
Oak Alley Plantation
- The beautiful and reportedly haunted Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, LA. It’s one of the more popular plantations. In fact, you’ve probably seen it in photos or even as the Hollywood backdrop of a movie or two. It was featured in Season 4, episode 19 of Ghost Hunters in 2008. The rows of 300 year old oak trees are breath taking. Check out my Oak Alley Plantation album on Flickr. 32:36
French Quarter in New Orleans
- Heading to New Orleans and the overwhelming heaviness or anxiety that I was feeling. 33:45
- Our spectacular dinner and experience at the Oceana Grill 35:30
- Incense, sage, tarot cards, and my mom’s visit to the Voodoo shops (Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo and Reverend Zombie’s House of Voodoo)! 35:43
- On the way out the French Quarter, mom dropped me off at the Lalaurie Mansion. Hopefully you remember my interview with Victoria Cosner Love, who authored the book on Madame Delphine Lalaurie, the real life murderess portrayed in American Horror Story: Coven. If not, you can check out episode 7 of the podcast from August 6, 2014. 36:47
Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans
Long Beach, MS
- What’s the opposite of the French Quarter in New Orleans? Long Beach, MS, which was the last leg of our trip. Long Beach is not far from Gulf Port, MS. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for a few nights. 38:28
- On our first night we had dinner at Shaggy’s right on the beach near Gulfport. 39:26
- The Papa Johns delivery guy in Long Beach is a fellow podcast nerd! 39:49
Shout Outs!
- Shout Outs! Thanks, StevenXm and American Ghoul for your iTunes reviews, and Tracy for the spooctacular photo and the e-mail! 40:47
- What’s coming up next week? 42:30
- This week’s blooper — a visit from my four-legged son Meril, who was apparently very thirsty! 44:32
- Don’t forget to tweet me @BigSeance!
Psst… Are you looking for the SpeakPipe link?
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: AHS, american horror story coven, atmosphere, big seance, big seance podcast, big seance podcast 36, bourbon street, bowie's tavern, cemeteries, cemeteries galore, cemetery photography, chloe, cleo, concrete stairs, cornelia and james woodruff, deaths at the Myrtles Plantation, episode 36, EVP, EVP session, florence ford, florence irene ford, florence irene ford 1861-1871, french quarter, ghost, ghost adventures, ghost hunters, ghosts, Grace Cemetery, Grace Episcopal Church, graveyard, gulfport mississippi, gulfport ms, hanging, haunted, haunted mirror, haunted myrtles plantation, hilton memphis, historic, history, hotel saint marie, hotel st. marie, kate, king's tavern, LA, lalaurie mansion, lamberts cafe, legends, legends of the myrtles plantation, long beach, long beach mississippi, long beach ms, louisiana, madame delphine lalaurie, madame lalaurie, mansions, Metairie Cemetery, metairie cemetery new orleans, miss hester, monmouth mansion, myrtles mirror, myrtles nursery, myrtles plantation, myrtles plantation miss hester, natchez city cemetery, natchez mississippi, natchez ms, new orleans, NOLA, oak alley plantation, oceana grill, ouija, paranormal, photography, plantations, podcast, ruffin stirling room, saint francisville, seance, spirit, spirits, spiritual, st francisville, st. francisville LA, the vacherie restaurant, vacherie la, vacherie louisiana, voodoo, woodruff family | posted in Cemeteries, Ghosts in General, Haunted Spots, Ouija, Paranormal Fun, Photography, séance, Spirit Communication, The Big Séance Podcast
How much do you really know about the goth community? Have you considered that the goth and paranormal subcultures might have a lot more in common than you realized? Enjoy this fascinating discussion with The Count and Mark, the hosts of the Cemetery Confessions podcast.
Get to this episode in iTunes!
Direct Download Link
In this episode:
Episode Preview :00
- Meet The Count and Mark (AKA DJ Gomez), the hosts of Cemetery Confessions 4:03
- Why the name “Cemetery Confessions”? 10:24
- Goths and cemeteries 10:47
- How does the goth culture view death and mortality? 14:07
- Do the paranormal and goth subcultures have a lot in common? 16:46
- Explanation of the goth lifestyle 18:49
- Isn’t spirit communication and talking to the dead a little goth? 20:28
Patrick works to earn an honorary goth card 21:14
- Fall and Halloween… a time to be goth 22:28
- Mark’s memories of October and Halloween 27:10
- The Count properly celebrates Halloween for the first time! 28:45
- Have the hosts of Cemetery Confessions had any paranormal experiences? 30:15
- Religion and the paranormal 33:16
- The ghost at The Count’s house! 34:55
- Was that paranormal? 37:17
- The Count asks me (Patrick) about some of my views 39:01
- Sylvia Browne and life on The Other Side 43:28
- Mainstream culture and fearing death 45:18
- Thoughts and experiences with the Ouija board as a spirit communication tool 48:24
Shoutout to Diane and Denise of the History Goes Bump podcast! Thanks for the 5 star rating and lovely review! 52:48
- Kids and goth/What are the biggest misconceptions of what goth is? 54:20
- Nerd culture in and outside of goth 1:02:30
- More about Cemetery Confessions, The Belfry Network, and where to find it! 1:06:43
For more about Cemetery Confessions
Cemetery Confessions on The Belfry Network
Cemetery Confession on Facebook
The Requiem
Psst… Are you looking for the SpeakPipe link?
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: big seance, cemeteries, cemetery confessions, cemetery confessions interview, cemetery confessions podcast, DJ Gomez, DJ Gomez interview, do the paranormal and goth subcultures have a lot in common, fear of dying, fearing death, goth, goth and the paranormal, goth and the paranormal with cemetery confessions, goth card, goth community, goth culture, goth lifestyle, goth misconceptions, goth subculture, goths and cemeteries, goths and halloween, goths and paranormal experiences, halloween altar, how does the goth culture view death and mortality, kids and goth, life on the other side, mainstream culture and fearing death, mark, misconceptions about goth, misconceptions about the goth community, nerd culture, nerd culture among goths, ouija, ouija board, paranormal, paranormal community, paranormal culture, podcast, religion and the paranormal, seance, spirit communication, spiritual, subculture, sylvia browne, Sylvia Browne and Life on the other side, the big seance podcast 35, the big seance podcast episode 35, the count, the count interview, the goth community, the goth lifestyle, what is goth | posted in Cemeteries, Interviews, Other Paranormal Topics, The Big Séance Podcast
Suffering from the winter blahs? Cabin fever starting to kick in? The winter tends to be a time when many paranerds out there, struggle to find enough paranormal activity or content to keep them happy. If you’re truly one of these nerds, the autumn/Halloween season just isn’t enough to keep you going for the rest of the year. For some, the days seem longer, even though they’re shorter, and maybe you’re longing for fall once again… or at least spring. Well I’m here to get you out of that funk with 9 tips to keep the paranormal alive in your life throughout the winter.
Get this episode on iTunes!
Direct Download Link
In this episode:
Tip #1: Find a good book on a paranormal, spiritual, or metaphysical topic… or even just a good ghost story!
Here are 4 recent books that I’ve read and can recommend to you:
- “Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones” – Raymond Moody
- “Paranormal: My Life in Pursuit of the Afterlife” – Raymond Moody
- “The Spirit of Creativity: Embodying Your Soul’s Passion” – Karen A. Dahlman
- “Soul Sensing: How to Communicate With Your Dead Loved Ones” – Janice Carlson
I’m currently Reading “Soul-to-Soul Connections: Comforting Messages from the Spirit World”, by future guest, Carole J. Obley.
If you’re looking for a more detailed list of book recommendations and reviews, you can check out my Recommended Reading page. I’m very often adding to and updating that list.
Tip #2: Plan and hold a séance with a small group of friends!
Tip #3: Consider reading a how-to book on something like channeling, meditating, Ouija, Tarot, Astral Travel, EVP, or another equally interesting topic.
By the way, I plan on producing a kind of “how-to EVP” episode sometime soon. I know quite a few people who have talked about giving it a try, or have expressed interest in learning how to go about it. And I know these folks would be great at it and get a lot out of it. So stay tuned. And maybe you could let me know if you’re one of those people. Get in touch with me.
Tip #4: Find a cozy place to stay for the weekend. It doesn’t even have to be haunted. It certainly helps if the place has some interesting history to it, or maybe it just looks haunted!
- Probably just about every region has a few cute bed and breakfasts.
- How about the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado?
- Or how about the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas?
- Or the famous Lemp Mansion here in St. Louis?
Tip #5: Watch an old black and white spooky movie… or two or three. And I have a few suggestions:
Listener Feedback!
- A Big THANK YOU to some wonderful listeners who have written kind reviews in iTunes!
- Some exciting news and an update on a psychic development circle started by Marion, a medium and listener from the UK!
Tip #6: Start an interesting or vintage collection, perhaps one that causes you to dig into some history or genealogy.
Tip #7: Visit an old Cemetery with a camera (especially after a pretty snow!)
Tip #8: Start a Grave Adoption project.
- If you listened to Episode #11 from September 4, 2014, I suggested that listeners consider starting a new fall tradition of adopting graves.
Tip #9: Invite a paranormal investigation team into your home or a friend’s home and convince them to let you help investigate!
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
Like this:
Like Loading...
7 Comments | tags: 9 paranormal tips, 9 tips, 9 tips for the winter, 9 tips to keep the paranormal alive in your life throughout the winter, adopting graves, afterlife, afterlife communication, bellefontaine cemetery, bellefontaine cemetery st. louis, big seance, big seance podcast, big seance podcast 25, cabin fever, cemeteries, cemetery photography, crescent hotel, electronic voice phenomena, electronic voice phenomenon, EVP, facilitated apparitions, find a cozy place to stay for the weekend, find a good book, find a good metaphysical book, find a good paranormal book, find a good spiritual book, genealogy, ghost hunting, grave adoption, have a seance, heaven, janice carlson, karen A. DAhlman, keep the paranormal alive in your life, keep the paranormal going in your life, keeping the paranormal alive in your life, keeping the paranormal in your life, lemp mansion, listener feedback, metaphysical, my paranormal world, other side, ouija, paranormal, paranormal activities, paranormal activity, paranormal content, paranormal in the winter, paranormal investigation, paranormal my life in pursuit of the afterlife raymond moody, plan and hold a seance, podcast, psychic development circles, psychomanteum, raymond moody, reading, recommended reading, reunions, reunions visionary encounters with departed loved ones raymond moody, seance, soul sensing, soul sensing how to communicate with your dead loved ones janice carlson, spirit communication, spirit of creativity, spirit voices, spirit world, spiritual, stanley hotel, supernatural, the innocents, the innocents 1961, the spirit of creativity embodying your souls passion karen a dahlman, the uninvited, the uninvited 1944, theatre of the mind, vintage collections, watch a black and white spooky movie, winter, winter blahs, winter paranormal | posted in Other Paranormal Topics, The Big Séance Podcast
Tim Prasil, writer and author, shares how he inherited the stories of Vera Van Slyke, one of America’s earliest paranormal investigators, from an ancestor who chronicled them. Find these stories in his soon-to-be-published book, Help for the Haunted: A Decade of Vera Van Slyke Ghostly Mysteries (1899-1909) by Emby Press. Who is Finbar Kelly? Tim explains. We also spend a bit of time talking about our common love of cemetery photography.
Get this episode on iTunes!
Direct Download Link
For More on Tim Prasil, or for up-to-date release information about the book:
Like Tim’s Facebook page.
Follow @TimPrasil on Twitter.
Visit TimPrasil.wordpress.com or GhostlyMysteries.wordpress.com.
Thanks, Tim!
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
Like this:
Like Loading...
1 Comment | tags: a decade of vera van slyke ghostly memories, americas earliest ghost hunters, americas earliest paranormal investigators, americas first ghost hunters, author, author interview, big seance, book coming soon, book review, cemeteries, cemetery photography, discovered manuscripts, emby press, finbar kelly, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost mysteries, ghost stories, ghost story, ghosts, grave yards, graveyards, great book, haunted, help for the haunted a decade of vera van slyke ghostly memories by tim prasil, help for the haunted a decade of vera van slyke ghostly mysteries, help for the haunted and vera van slyke my interview with tim prasil, help for the haunted by tim prasil, interview, lida parsell, mysteries, paranormal, paranormal investigators, seance, spirit, spirits, spiritual, spiritualism, tim prasil, turn of the century, vera van slyke, Vera Van Slyke Ghostly Mysteries, who is finbar kelly, writer | posted in Book Discussions, Cemeteries, Interviews, Paranormal Investigation Topics, Spiritualism, The Big Séance Podcast
Yesterday I carved my jack-o-lantern for 2014. As usual, I decided to go with a classic look that is very close to last year’s grin. And yes, that’s the Halloween Altar in the background, with the addition of the Beistle reprints that I ordered this year. As usual, I always have difficulty choosing which photos to share with you, so you’re getting several.
It has been so warm for October lately, and our 80 degree days will kill a jack-o-lantern in no time. I’ve decided that for the next few days we’re bringing them in late at night when we blow them out. That way they’ll be much more comfortable inside and away from the sun and heat during the day.
As you may know, Joe always has to break the mold with his jack-o-lanterns. Here is this year’s polka-dotted disco ball jack-o-lantern! We like the reflections on the post.
Another look at the Halloween Altar.
This evening I took a trip to the cemetery to pay my adopted souls a visit for my 2014 grave adoption project. I discovered so many beautiful trees that weren’t in this condition on my last visit. It cooled down quite a bit by the time I got there, and so it was beautiful weather. It’s still weird to be wearing gym shorts and a t-shirt in a cemetery on the week of Halloween.
One of my grave adoptions for the year. The small pumpkin is still going strong from 3 weeks ago. All of my small pumpkins that I kept in the comfort of my home rotted long ago, so I’m pretty impressed.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: 8 photos, an update in 8 photos, autumn, beautiful fall evening, beautiful fall evening in a cemetery, big seance, blogging, candelabras, candles, cemeteries, cemetery grave adoption, cemetery photography, class jack-o-lantern, disco ball jack-o-lanter, disco ball pumpkin, disco jack-o-lantern, disco pumpkin, fall leaves, grave adoption, grave adoption project, grave yards, graveyards, halloween, halloween 2014, halloween altar, halloween alter, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lanterns, jack-o-lanterns and a beautiful fall evening in the cemetery, jackolantern, jackolanterns, nature, orange, orange leaves, paranormal, photo update, photography, photos, polka dot disco ball jack-o-lanter, polka dot disco ball pumpkin, polka dot jack-o-lantern, polka dot pumpkin, pumpkins, ruhenpohl, seance, spiritual, trees, update | posted in Cemeteries, General, Halloween, Photography
2 Comments | tags: angel, big seance, blogging, cemeteries, cemetery, cemetery photography, crucifixion, Family Plot Cemetery, grave yard, grave yards, graveyard, graveyards, head stones, headstones, historic, historic cemeteries, jesus, lichen, memorials, monuments, nature, photography, saint charles missouri, saint charles mo, seance, st charles mo, st. charles missouri, st. peter cemetery, st. peter's catholic cemetery, st. peter's cemetery, statues | posted in Cemeteries, Photography
If you listened to episode 11 of The Big Séance Podcast on Cemetery Grave Adoptions, I promised to keep listeners updated on this year’s adoptions. Well today I took advantage of an absolutely splendid autumn-like day (finally!), and headed on out to a local cemetery that I’ve heard a lot about, but until today had never been. I had flowers ready to go, and I intended on finding two graves to adopt. I spent a little over an hour just taking photos and checking the place out.
Shortly after arriving, I met a Abby, who was very happy to see me. Once Sabrina, her owner, caught up with her, we had a very nice conversation about cemeteries and how much we enjoyed them. After Sabrina gave me some tips on where to find some of the older headstones, and after Abby (a dog, if I wasn’t clear enough) gave me a few last slobbery kisses, she got bored and ran off to find another friend, forcing Sabrina to follow. There were several four-legged friends and their owners enjoying the cemetery today. Just before leaving two hours later, a cute little doggie ran up to me as I was getting into my car. This little doggie looked almost exactly like my dog Meril, only smaller.
I was really having a hard time making this decision. After such a great experience last year, I really felt pressured to just be drawn to two graves. As I’ve said before, lately I tend to float through the cemetery with more of a photographer’s eye. Other than the ones I kept photographing, I wasn’t really feeling like I was being drawn or pulled toward any specific grave for adoption purposes. Then, like happens so often in my school gig with things like auditions and solos and choosing who gets spotlighted, I kept feeling guilt for passing up all of the other hundreds of graves and monuments. Don’t they all deserve to be adopted?
I couldn’t narrow it down to one named grave and one nameless (as I suggest in that same recent podcast episode), so what did I do? I decided to go with four of them. I may regret his decision in the busy month of October.
So here they are. I’ve done no research or genealogy at this point.
Schwester (Sister) Maria Georgia (1862) & Schwester (Sister) Maria Germana (1872), Requiescat in Pace
Sister Maria Germana’s monument is broken off of the base, which is right next to Sister Maria Georgia. One leaning on the other, it makes a beautiful photo, and I can’t help but wonder about the friendship these ladies must have had in life. I took so many photos of their crosses that I just knew I was adopting them this fall.
H.W. Rühenpohl (1812-1850)
I’m not entirely sure of the name on this soul, but the base behind the rest of the monument says “W.H. Rühenpohl”. To the best of my ability, the monument in front says “Hier Ruht” with a smaller inscription that I’m not able to make out (probably in German), and then “Rühenpohl”. Someone has tied the base and the top together with wire.
Unmarked
I’m really hoping this stone marks a grave. I can’t imagine it being anything else. It must just be incredibly old and weathered, or perhaps it is the base of a monument that no longer exists. This stone rests right in front of the crosses of Sisters Maria Georgia and Germana. I decided this was a good thing, because otherwise I’d have a hard time finding it.
The Tradition Continues
Today I introduced myself and explained my intentions with this grave adoption tradition. I’ll now return every two weeks (at least), leaving flowers or gifts, visiting with them (should they choose to be present), and praying that their souls are at peace. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some genealogy sometime soon. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Want to learn more about this cemetery grave adoption tradition? Again, check out episode 11 of The Big Séance Podcast to hear me discuss last year’s project, my inspiration for starting it, and my 8 tips for starting your own grave adoption tradition!
Stay tuned!
Like this:
Like Loading...
5 Comments | tags: adopting graves, adoption, autumn, autumn traditions, beauty, big seance, big seance podcast, cemeteries, cemetery grave adoptions, cemetery grave adoptions for 2014, cemetery monuments, cemetery photography, cross, crosses, fall, fall traditions, flowers, grave adoption project, grave adoptions, grave yard, graveyard, head stones, headstones, how to adopt a grave, introducing my cemetery grave adoptions, introducing my cemetery grave adoptions for 2014, nameless graves, nature, paranormal, photography, podcast, project, seance, spiritual, unmarked graves | posted in Cemeteries, Photography
Patrick shares stories of the New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions that he started last year, and meet Little Johnnie and Clara. He also gives tips and recommendations, so that you can begin your own grave adoption project.
Get this episode on iTunes!
Direct Download Link
For more on Little Johnnie and Clara, and for photos from last year’s grave adoptions, visit Adopting Graves 2013: My Thoughts and a Look Back on a New Tradition.
For Renae Rude – The Paranormalist’s post that inspired this tradition, visit Graveyards, churchyards and cemeteries: spending an afternoon with the dead.
.
8 Tips to start your new Grave Adoption Tradition:
- Know that you have the right to be in a cemetery to pay your respects, just be sensitive and respectful of others.
- Choose a grave or head stone that is interesting to you, most likely older, and out of respect, one that doesn’t already have signs of regular visitors, or family members paying respects.
- If you’re interested in the genealogy of this project, be sure to choose a head stone that still clearly displays a name and dates.
- Realize that the days will get shorter as you get deeper into the fall. Most cemeteries have times posted when the cemetery is closed, and it’s usually “dusk”.
- Bring meaningful gifts or flowers on each visit… but realize that you’re responsible for disposing of them later.
- Don’t be afraid to just talk casually, or even flat out describe your new tradition to your adopted soul.
- Take photos on each visit. Document the work you’re doing, if for nothing else, to inspire others.
- Have fun… don’t take it too seriously… and definitely don’t make it about MOURNING or being SAD.
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
Like this:
Like Loading...
4 Comments | tags: 8 tips, 8 tips and recommendations, 8 tips to start your new grave adoption tradition, adopting a forgotten grave, adopting forgotten graves, adoption project, autumn traditions, big seance, big seance podcast #11, cemeteries, cemetery adoptions, cemetery genealogy, cemetery grave adoptions, cemetery photography, cemetery research, cemetery rules and laws, choosing a grave to adopt, clara, episode 11, forgotten graves, genealogy, grave adoptions, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, graveyards, head stones, historic cemeteries, history, inspiration, inspire, little johnnie, my paranormal world, new autumn traditions, New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions, new fall traditions, new fall traditions cemetery grave adoptions, new traditions, paranormal, photography, remembrance, rest in peace, RIP, seance, spiritual, the big seance podcast #11, tips and recommendations, you have the right to be in a cemetery | posted in Cemeteries, The Big Séance Podcast
Are you brave enough to stay the night at the haunted Myrtles Plantation? I did. Join me as I talk about the exciting stops on my summer vacation through the south, here in the US. Other paranormal spots included the King’s Tavern in Natchez, MS, Oak Alley Plantation, and the Lalaurie Mansion in New Orleans.
Episode Preview :00
Patrick works to earn an honorary goth card 21:14
For More on Tim Prasil, or for up-to-date release information about the book:
Patrick shares stories of the New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions that he started last year, and meet Little Johnnie and Clara. He also gives tips and recommendations, so that you can begin your own grave adoption project.
