Through the Eyes of a Scaredy Cat: Open Communication With the Great Beyond

“I’m so scared!” My eleven year old niece squeezed my hand. She wasn't the only one. We were standing inside a hundred year old house built on top of Indian burial grounds. Or at least what is presumed to be the burial grounds, because when the British came through in the 1700’s they desecrated the Catholic sympathizing village beyond recognition. Stories tell of the British making pipes and forks out of Indian bones. Later, part of the land was used for one of the oldest cemeteries in the country, and part of it built over. Those are the stories, anyway.

The room was dimly lit. A man with a round belly and a pleasant disposition was standing in the middle of the small room, talking to our little crowd. The old boards of the house creaked around us, restless by this late-night activity. In the corner of the room was a large TV screen that was segmented by various security camera views covering every room in the house—including the attic. We wouldn’t want to miss anything creepy, just in case the ambiance wasn’t creepy enough.

The man began to tell us about the resident ghosts—ones that he had become so familiar with over the years that they felt a bit like family. He passed around those anxiety-inducing meters with the flashing lights that turn on when a presence is near. I was glad to not hold one. Then he picked up the divining rods, and introduced the crowd to the ghost of a nine year old girl. He used the divining rods to receive “yes” or “no” answers to his questions, depending on whether the rods crossed or turned outward. He also used them for pointing. He asked her who she would like to speak to.

It was one of those moments akin to school days, when you could rely on the only time the teacher calling on you to answer a math question being the time you really didn't want her to. My niece and I both sensed it, and watched as the rods turned to us. My niece shook her head vehemently. I tried to politely decline a discussion. What can I say—I’m a wimp.

The man proceeded to introduce us to several other ghosts within the room, and passed around a few more sets of divining rods. It was interesting to watch the atmosphere of tension in the room turn to ease, like a dinner party. Guests began to mingle, making an effort to have open discussions with the spirits. Before I knew it, the divining rods were passed my way and I found myself trying to have a discussion with a male spirit. The conversation went like this:

“Do you want to talk with me?”

The rods turned outward to say "no".

“Who do you want to talk to?”

The rods pointed to a woman across the way.

Alright then, I wasn’t in favor. I passed them across the way, but she didn’t have much luck at a conversation either. He seemed to not be in a sociable mood. Meanwhile, across the room a lady was laughing hysterically. She was having an avid conversation with an ex-soldier spirit. She had asked him if he wanted a hug, the rods moved in opposite directions, and she announced that she felt hot all over. The hug lingered.

Shortly thereafter my niece and I exited the building. The idea was to show my niece a good time while she visited me, doing something that eleven year old girls love to do—get scared. It was meant to be a bonding experience, and I think it was.

Being a natural born scaredy cat, this was a brave action on my part. I walked away from the experience actually not that frazzled. I don't know exactly what I believe about what took place, but I didn't expect it to be so calming to openly communication with the great beyond.

It was fun. I just might convince myself to do that tour again sometime. Maybe, but probably not. Born a sissy, always a sissy.