The Whispered Ones Rise...

I was asked by my dear friend (and fellow blogger) to provide some writings for her new site, LoveSpeakes.com. Her first guest “bloggist." (or as she called it “BlogGuest”). Initially, I was touched, flattered and started pouring through my journal happily seeking appropriate material. My enthusiasm quickly dampened, however, when it became apparent that scrolling through my files of past readings was like finding yourself in the middle of an episode of Jeopardy from Hell…

Contestant: I’ll take “Devils and Demons” for $400.
Host: Moving objects, scratching people and other impish behavior is characteristic of these entities?
*ding* (contestant rings in)
Contestant: What are poltergeists?

Asking me to write for a site like LoveSpeakes is like asking Steven King to write a romantic comedy; destined to end up in an episode of “What the Heck Were They Thinking?”

You see, I’m what most people would think of (thanks to the popular TV series) as a “Ghost Whisperer." Yes, ladies and germs, “I see dead people." And it’s not that there isn’t any love present during these encounters, (in fact, there’s SO much that at times I fear my poor heart might just burst!) It’s just that most of the ghosts responsible for eliciting fear in people? Aren’t what I would describe as “outwardly lovable."

Like the character in Ghost Whisperer, I’ve seen spirits/ghosts/the dead all my life. But, perhaps unlike the character from Ghost Whisperer, I was just too curious (or too stupid) to realize that I was supposed to be afraid of them (either that or I was just so hard up for friends that I didn’t care if they were living or dead!) The only thing I lacked as a child, was the knowledge of WHAT to do when I happened upon them, (or they happened upon me as the case may be). Much to my family’s chagrin, they became welcome visitors, guests, and in many cases? Friends.

In all honesty, I cannot claim that I was never afraid. I was. In my early 20’s I lived in an old house just a few blocks from a cemetery. (Can you guess where this is going?) *ding*

Contestant #1: Uh...it had a great deal of paranormal activity?
Host: That's correct!

Lights and appliances turning on and off, images of people in the windows, and my favorite? Playing with the volume on the stereo. My roommate/boyfriend and I had a running joke~asking “Mr. Ghost” to turn the volume either up or down (and happily “Mr. Ghost” would oblige!) It became a game; something all three of us seemed to enjoy.

One night I was alone in the house and getting ready for bed. I was taking out my contact lenses when I heard, quite clearly, someone whisper my name; (and I thought I was the ghost whisperer). I guess I must have set boundaries in my mind because although I was quite comfortable with the ghostly images, flickering lights and the blender going on and off by itself, (who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing smoothie now and then?) but saying my name? Was crossing the imaginary line I had unconsciously drawn in the sands of time. With one contact in and one out, I drove clear across town to my parent’s house and only when I was positive my boyfriend was home, did I dare return and share with him my night of terror.

I credit his reaction with my continued growth in this ability. After restlessly listening to me recount the events of the evening, he literally jumped out of his chair and exclaimed, “That’s AWESOME!” I beg your pardon? Maybe you missed the part where they WHISPERED MY NAME!? “I know,” he said, seemingly oblivious to my growing annoyance with his lack of sympathy, "They talked to you!! And you heard them!!! That’s SO cool!!” Although it still didn’t feel particularly “cool”, there was an undeniable logic in his words; they talked and I listened. Simple. Besides, it’s not like they threatened me. They simply acknowledged me. Seemed only polite to acknowledge them in return.

And so it began. Or, (as I later discovered), so it continued… (but that is another story for another day).

Back to the task at hand... trying to explain how someone who admittedly befriends ghosts, entities and poltergeists could possibly have anything to contribute to a forum such as LoveSpeakes. Simple. I wouldn't be capable of doing what I do without extending unconditional love and compassion to those most in need, those most deserving. It's not something I give, nor something I share. It's simply something that I allow to flow freely and uninhibitedly through me. I'm not the candle in the window for these lost souls, I'm simply one of many mirrors that reflects it. I would gladly face the darkest forces of Hell if it affords me but a moment in Heaven. And it does. It truly does.