Here in the South, we have some traditions that many of you may find odd. In many yards, you may see Bottle Trees made mostly of blue bottles. These trees are based on a tradition from Africa that says that blue glass hung in trees protects your property from evil spirits. We don't know if it works (there is some evidence that it does), but these bottle trees are eerie and beautiful to behold.
Weeping icons — Religious experience, ghost story or condensation? Those were the possibilities debated in the early 1970s and middle 1990s when the namesake icon at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tarpon Springs began weeping. When the tiny drops formed around the eyes of the church's patron saint, believers noted that such weeping had predicted earthquakes and war in ancient Greece. While none of that happened in Tarpon Springs, thousands made pilgrimages to the shrine, including those who believe the building is haunted. While the glass-enclosed icon hasn't been observed weeping since 1996, you can still see the dried tear cracks on its face. 36 Pinellas Ave. (Alt. U.S. 19), Tarpon Springs; 727-937-3540.
This story is copied from a news story that ran in USA Today back in Oct of 2003. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/cityguides/tampa-stpete/2003-10-09-spotlight-spooky_x.htm "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the Mysterious. It is the source of all true Art and Science." Albert Einstein
Psychometry is a psychic ability to read objects or people from their objects.
This will be part of a longer blog I am working on, but it was a question I wanted to answer for someone. "Why do ghosts appear in different ways to different people?"
I think part of this is because of what I call ghost self image. I think some ghosts are so trapped in the moment or way that they died, that they see themselves that way and project that image to others. The reason some people may see the same ghosts in different ways is due to the living person's psychic ability or their personal views (glass half empty or full for example). Thomas Edison is remembered as one of the greatest inventors of all time. He was also fascinated with the paranormal. As a matter of fact, in the late 1920's he worked on equipment he had hoped would permit some sort of communication with the dead using a chemical apparatus with potassium permanganate or Condy's crystals.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. This location is not only very historically important, it's also very haunted. According to one story, a Park Ranger was investigating an alarm inside the property when he witnessed a ghost dressed in 1800's clothing making his way about one of the rooms. Guests who have visited the property have reported seeing ghosts of our Founding Fathers and several have heard the sounds of loud voices as these men helped set us on the path to freedom.
On July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg ends after the failed charge now known as Pickett's Charge.
Every year, thousands of park guests walk Pickett's Charge and many of them tell similar tales. You are walking along and making your way towards the Union lines. Historically, the Confederate soldiers walked shoulder to shoulder as they marched and at some point during the charge, as soldiers fell and died, the next soldier would have to close ranks and a new soldier would be shoulder to shoulder with you. Now, people walking the charge on their own, will feel "someone" bump their shoulders and walk with them for awhile before they fall away. During one of our investigations, guests became overwhelmed and began sobbing. Now this could be because of the importance of location, but the guests seemed to think it was more than that. Others have heard the sounds of buzzing past their ears and the moans of the wounded and dying. If you get a chance to visit Gettysburg, try to take some time and walk this important piece of history. On July 02, 1863, The Battle of Gettysburg continued for a second day. Battles continued to rage throughout the day, and ended with the South regrouping and planning one final assault against the Union line: Pickett's Charge. On the paranormal side, Day 2 of the Battle gave us Spangler's Springs, Devil's Den, the Wheatfield and the Triangular Field. These are some of our personal favorite locations to investigate. Check out our Evidence page to see some photos we captured during our investigations of Gettysburg. |
Southern Ghosts Daily DoseSGDD will collect daily tidbits of the paranormal and share them with you. Some will be historical, some will be informative. We hope all will be enjoyable. Got an idea for a Daily Dose or wanna share your own daily dose, share it here.
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