For the past several months I have been interviewing New Englanders about their ghost experiences and have found a recurrent phenomenon. I'm writing today because I have had several individuals who visit this site take me to task for including "religious stuff" in a web site devoted to the ghost phenomenon. These correspondents want to study ghosts as a separate item, though there is nobody and no thing in the  universe that can stand on its own. My years of studying ghosts and associated phenomena has led me to believe that ghosts, psychic phenomena and the workings of our souls are inextricably bound. So I must talk about the spiritual side of life.

"Spiritual," to me, is a term that doesn't necessarily connote bended knees, prayers, The Bible, or singing hymns. These are all activities of a specific religion, and if they assist the individual to connect with the Creator, so much the better. But, every individual on this earth and in the universe beyond was created (or "issued," as a friend likes to say) from the same substance and, apparently by just ONE Maker. So all of our destinies seem to be linked. Our interactions serve a purpose that we often don't probe very deeply. Each individual must have a link to that great mind or force or purpose that lies at our beginning.

I use the world "spiritual" to refer to that link that each of us has with our Maker. Whether or not we acknowledge our purpose in being alive (and, having been a professional numerologist for over 25 years, I am certain that each of us has an overriding soul goal when we take up life) doesn't seem important, though we grow more quickly if we seek out that goal. Each of us has a link. So, our non-dying essence must be in constant contact.

Ghosts are slow (even strongly resistant) to let go of their individuality or some personal interest with which they have so strongly identified in what they call "my life."  That is why we encounter them. But the point of today's blog is to re-assert a principle from the Ancient Mystery Schools, where initiates were taught to more deeply understand what was called "Life." This is the  principle that "Like attracts like." We are, as Edgar Cayce used to say, always encountering our selves, and that idea probably means "our deepest selves," which our egos aren't very interested in facing, as it seems as if we can continue living a pretend life.



Over the past few months I have met individuals who, perhaps to enhance their egos or self-image (which very often seems to be a LACK of positive self image) worked with pagan or satanic groups, where the individual is glorified. And many of these people (some, happily now ex-members) found that their lives became fear-filled or chaotic. They never were taught the essential rules of the spiritual world (ex. "As ye sow, ye reap.") and have tried to glorify their ego self, casting spells on others or trying to force open the doors to deeper consciousness. These activities, because they are divisive in a world that was designed to be unitary, must reap troubling results. We are faced with living for ourselves alone (and reaping darkness and fear) or living for a higher purpose (where joy can be found amidst often-troubling experiences...which are simply invitations to change and grow). It seems simple to me that one should live within the highest unselfish, unity-producing, healing or holistic principles that he/she has learned. There is much less to fear.  So, if you find yourself fearful, try being more "whole," and stop depriving yourself of genuine togetherness. It is the only way "out."s as a separate item, though there is nobody and no thing in the  universe that can stand on its own. My years of studying ghosts and associated phenomena has led me to believe that ghosts, psychic phenomena and the workings of our souls are inextricably bound. So I must talk about the spiritual side of life.

"Spiritual," to me, is a term that doesn't necessarily conote bended knees, prayers, The Bible, or singing hymns. These are all activities of a specific religion, and if they assist the individual to connect with the Creator, so much the better. But, every individual on this earth and in the universe beyond was created (or "issued," as a friend likes to say) from the same substance and, apparently by just ONE Maker. So our destinies seem to be linked. Our interactions serve a purpose that we often don't probe very deeply. Each individual must have a link to that great mind or force or purpose that lies at our beginning. I use the world "spiritual" to refer to that link that each of us has with our Maker. Whether or not we acknowledge our purpose in being alive (and, having been a professional numerologist for over 25 years, I am certain that each of us has an overriding soul goal when we take up life) doesn't seem important, though we grow more quickly if we seek out that goal. Each of us has a link. So, our non-dying essence must be in constant contact.

Ghosts are slow (even strongly resistant) to let go of their individuality or some personal interest with which they have so strongly identified in what they call  "my life."  That is why we encounter them. But the point of today's blog is to re-assert a principle from the Ancient Mystery Schools, where initiates were taught to more deeply understand what was called "Life." This is the  principle that "Like attracts like." We are, as Edgar Cayce used to say, always encountering our selves, and that idea probably means "our deepest selves," which our egos aren't very interested in facing, as it seems as if we can continue living a pretend life.

I'm working on a 2010 book, New England Ghosts, and took a break yesterday while working on a Massachusetts story. One element of that tale involves a psychic woman seeking the cause of ghost activity in her house. Her intuition directed her to the portrait of her male ancestor which hung on the wall. It seems that the man was unable to make the transition into the light. What held him back, he told her, was the teaching of his childhood religion; he confessed to her that he expected to be in Hell the minute he released his hold upon the earth plane--therefore, he held on tenaciously. He willed not to be dead, though he was a goner. The punishment of Hell, he had been taught, was his lot because he had held sexual thoughts toward another female during his marriage. This scenario is not at all uncommon when dealing with ghosts--they remain in denial that death has occurred because they fear any alternative to the life patterns they once lived. All that many religious organizations can offer their adherents is fear, which paralyzes the free operation of the will.

Taking a break from the manuscript, I sat down to watch some news and instantly was thrust into the controversy over whether the government was going to initiate "death panels" under the proposed national health bill. Most thinking people have already disregarded this bit of nonsense, as it was raised only to scare (control)people. Still, many, many people who are disinclined to do their own research and who rely totally on media or political authority figures for their facts, are now in a situation similar to the old Massachusetts businessman whose portrait still hangs in Newton.

Occasionally, readers of this blog write to urge me to stick to what I know about ghosts, and to leave off my speculations about spiritual matters. However, the two issues are intimately joined, and one cannot address the one without reference to the other.

I have come to know the Creator of All That Is as an essentially benefic entity, incapable of punishment, though this Creator does let us take our lumps under the universal laws that were set forth long ago. We, in fact, through the Law of Cause and Effect, punish ourselves in the afterlife or its preludes. But if like leads to like, then what about the political purveyors of fear? Fear is diametrically opposite to love, so the fearmongers are operating in opposition to the Universal Mind. I wonder how many clergy across America are preaching this to their flocks. Sadly, religious teachers and political operatives too often choose to set up a negative force field constructed of fears as the easiest way to manipulate and control their members. And little fears will attract great fears for our nation--it is universal law--what we send out always returns to us. And I don't think that we need to have a massive 50% of the population cringing in paranoia in order to bring on very negative experiences for America.
As there has always been, there is much ego posturing and manipulation of the simple by individuals who seek simply their own glorification. In this world, they will reap a whirlwind--but the rest of us will have to endure it along with them. So it behooves truth-seekers to speak up.

And when the manipulators' time in the physical body is done, how can these fearmongers find companionship with the Loving Force that made us all? And what, then, will their spirits have to do to "make things right" in eternity?