Friday the 13th

Eeekkk!!!! It’s Friday the 13th!!! Hope you’re not superstitious…. 😉

Every time the 13th comes around and it lands on a Friday I get this sense of excitement, like a random burst of energy. It might sound crazy, but I love it, it’s great!! Superstitions circling this particular day have been in existence for centuries. It has always fascinated me how so many people take certain precautions to avoid such unlucky behavior that is associated with this mysterious day.

If you’re not familiar with the term paraskevidekatriaphobia, it simply refers to the fear of Friday the 13th. Unfortunately, there are those who are seriously afraid of this day and their reasoning is just as unique as the individual is who possesses the fear. In fact, they can be so affected that they will disregard normal routine by staying indoors, taking the day off from work and some are so extreme that they won’t even get out of bed. There is belief that the Middle Ages could possibly be the origin of such a superstitious day, birthing from the story of Jesus’ last supper and crucifixion where thirteen people were present in the Upper Room on the thirteenth of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night prior to Good Friday which was the day of Jesus’ death. While doing some research, I discovered USA Today’s article, Friday the 13th: 5 things to know. I checked it out and found it to be quite informative, thought you might, too.

This frightfully intriguing day has never created nail-biting experiences for me. Actually, when I was a senior in high school, I remember prom being on Friday the 13th. I didn’t go and it wasn’t because of superstitious belief either. I chose not to go because it was the first weekend of The Crow’s release and I wanted to see the film instead. The theater was completely packed, it was awesome!!! Loved it!!! In case you don’t know the film, here’s the intense trailer……

But in all seriousness, if you are superstitious…. then by all means, I give you the utmost respect when I say this…… avoid anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Tomorrow is Saturday the 14th…. have a beautiful weekend. Stay safe!! Much love & Light!

~ Sheila 💋

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Auld Lang Syne

“Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot, and auld (old) lang syne?” Ahhh…. the long familiar song associated with this time of year.

Auld Lang Syne: “For (the sake of) old times.”

‘Tis the end of another year, my friends. 2022 is coming to a close as 2023 approaches. Did you all have a wonderful Christmas? I sure did. I was extremely grateful to spend a relaxing holiday at home with my family. We carried on the annual Christmas Eve tradition of driving around looking at the local Christmas decorations. Then, once we arrived home we watched the classic film, A Christmas Story starring Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, along with Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon who played his parents and Ian Petrella who played his pesky little brother, Randy. My family and I have seen the movie countless times, but every time we watch it, it still cracks us up.

And then on Christmas day, we stayed home opening our gifts as we sat by the fireplace. It was definitely a wonderful time!

Tomorrow is the first day of the new year and I’m certainly ready for it. Are you? I’m really looking forward to this next year! What does 2023 have in store for you? I’d love to hear about it! What are some of your holiday traditions and what exciting plans have you got for the upcoming year?

As we celebrate this festive holiday season, always be safe and enjoy. Life is for remembering, not regretting!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

~ Love & Light, Sheila 💋

Krampus

As Christmas vastly approaches, many of us celebrate with family traditions and regaled storytelling. However, some tales aren’t so lavish and magical. In fact, some are the makings of horrible nightmares. The story of Krampus is certainly one not to be ignored.

Krampus, a humanoid creature bearing a pair of wicked looking horns atop his head, resembling that of a sinister being set out to wreak punishment on all misbehaving youngsters during the Christmas holiday season. Unlike his jolly counterpart, good ol’ Saint Nick, Krampus doesn’t have a fantastical list of names that “he’s checking it twice and gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”. Nope, according to tradition that began centuries ago in Germany, Krampus begins appearing throughout the towns on the eve of December 6th known as Krampusnacht. His mission? To seek out the ungrateful children, snatch them up and take them back to his lair where he commits unspeakable acts of torture. This Christmas Devil is quite nefarious and isn’t exactly my cup of hot cocoa when it comes to memories of a warm holiday season, but still rather interesting. Interesting enough that a feature film has been released throughout the cinematic world titled, Krampus.

Folklore claims that this evil beast is the son of Hel. In Norse Mythology, Hel is a female who rules over the realm also known as Hel where many dead are said to go. According to Norse Mythology, Hel is the daughter of the shape shifter referred to as Loki and the phrase “Go to Hel” simply means to die. Not exactly an idyllic family tree compiled of warm holiday sentiment.

So, my question is this….. Since Krampus is a dark being of irrefutable fear that weeds out the bad children from the good, is he in cahoots with our beloved Santa Claus in order to help restore the light in humanity? Hmmm…. Question to ponder…. 🤔

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Men In Black

“Here come the men in black, the galaxy defenders……” ok, no worries, I’m not going to start singing the song. I’m sure Will Smith wouldn’t approve and luckily for you, by reading this, you’re not tortured by hearing my unmelodious voice. 😉 And I’m not here to talk about the hit film starring the very talented Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. However, I am a huge fan of their movies!

BUT……. I am talking about the supposedly real-life individuals known as the “Men In Black” (MIBs). Just like the Hollywood portrayals, these non-fictitious characters primarily wear black suits, white button-up shirts and black ties. They are reportedly some sort of secret organization that has been obviously denied by certain officials. It’s been said that the mysterious Men In Black appear anytime UFO sightings have been experienced. Why? Possible cover-up involvement? To insure that UFO witnesses remain quiet about what they have seen? By intimidating and threatening those who dare to speak publicly about any sort of UFO interactions?

Throughout recent decades, many supporters/investigators of ufology have supposedly been harassed and some have even died by mysterious causes. Are the MIBs to blame for all of this misfortune? Who knows?? It’s also alleged that the Men In Black have taped and recorded UFO hunters’ phones.

I personally have never experienced anything like this nor have I seen an alien or UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) of any kind. I’ve only witnessed shadow people, clairaudient experiences, touched by spirits and other paranormal encounters similar to those, but never aliens. I do know people who have claimed to have seen visitors from other planets, but none of them have ever told me about any visitors from the “Men In Black”.

So, do these well-dressed individuals actually exist or….??? I wouldn’t wanna find out…….

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A Ghostly Perspective

This next post was inspired by a film that I’ve recently watched titled, The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia. The film is based on a true story and here is its description: “A historic Southern home’s new residents come face to face with a malevolent force.”

While watching, that was when it dawned on me that I was already familiar with the people portrayed in the film. I had seen them on other paranormal shows talking about their story and discussing the daughter’s ability of clairvoyance and communicating with the dead.

After I finished watching the film, it got me to thinking about ghosts and why some of them seem to be so malevolent. Perhaps their spirit isn’t actually malevolent at all. Maybe they just seem that way because they are trying to convey a message to the living. And after countless failed attempts of communication with the living, the ghosts become enraged because they have something to say but have no way of reaching the other side.

I know it may sound crazy, even far-fetched, but it made me think. So, by the time these ghosts finally find someone with whom they are able to communicate, they’re ready to unleash all their built-up emotions. And with the rush of feeling (and the fact that they’re dead) it’s easy to understand why the living can get so terrified by a paranormal encounter.

It makes total sense to me. Put yourself in their position. One day you’re walking down the street and all is well, then unfortunately something tragically out of the blue happens and you’re no longer part of the living. You’re now on the other side. You’re terrified, freaking out and you have no one to turn to. You try so hard to communicate with the living, but nothing – nadda. You try and try until one day your persistence finally becomes successful when you’re able to communicate with someone. But by this time, when you’re able to speak to a clairvoyant or whomever, you’ve got all this rush of excitement and that’s what scares the living because it becomes too overwhelming for them to handle.

Now this isn’t me in any way, shape or form, discarding all malevolent entities as non-malevolent. Extreme caution should always be utilized when investigating the paranormal because there are evil creatures/beings on the other side. So, be careful!

But the film did make me think and I wanted to share……

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The Endeared

One, two, three and four.
The petals are soft, but they still hit the floor.
Plucked from the bloom, the rose lays bare
in the hands of the jaded without a care.

A bodice draped in elegant lace
defines the figure of Victorian grace.
Staring out the window, vision’s a blur
from tear filled eyes longing for a cure.

Strong is the will waiting to survive,
creating the happiness to make one feel alive.

Suddenly, a love that’s been removed
now comes into view,
a view that’s been long over due.

The faint smell of a cigar quickly fills the
room with no smoke in sight.
Accompanied by a warm, curious feeling,
nothing of fright.

The ghostly vision comes clear
as he approaches her near.
To him she says sadly, “I’ve aged a bit.”
He sweetly replies, “Not in my eyes. I still see you as exquisite.”

Then he caresses her cheek softly and full of love. He adds,
“I still see you as my beautiful dove.”
A smile sweeps across her wrinkled face,
so elegant and full of grace.
She whispers, “I love you, my dear for all eternity.”
He nods, “I know, my sweet for our love shall forever be.”

(A poem by Sheila Renee Parker)

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Suicide Forest

Sounds like such a frightening place doesn’t it? Suicide Forest, full of despair and darkness. It’s located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan and is also known as Aokigahara. This fourteen square mile forest is so thick with trees and other natural formations that it makes it difficult to hear anything that doesn’t belong there.

If anyone wants to visit the Sea of Trees, be forewarned for it harbors an egregious reputation. It’s reported to have an association with demons and more than fifty suicides took place among the woods in 2010. Sadly, this forest is one of the top three most popular locations worldwide for suicide. Up until around 1988, nearly thirty reported suicides occurred yearly. These lost lives have not gone unnoticed. Because of their tragedies, a warning sign has been erected at the beginning of the trail pleading that anyone contemplating suicide to please consider their loved ones and to contact a suicide prevention hotline.

Why the dark history? It’s believed that an old Japanese custom referred to as ubasute was practiced there until the 1800s and that the victims of this tragic era are to blame for the hauntings. Ubasute refers to an act where an elderly relative would be taken to an isolated location and left there to perish, be it by starvation, exposure to the elements, dehydration, etc….. all for the sake of euthanasia.

A feature film titled, The Forest starring Natalie Dormer and Taylor Kinney was released a few years ago regarding the topic. Here’s the cinematic trailer…

Suicide is nothing to take lightly and should be treated as an extremely serious matter. The following is contact information for suicide prevention.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (website)

Phone Number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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Below is a photo of the warning sign pleading that anyone contemplating suicide to please consider their loved ones and to contact a suicide prevention hotline.

suicide forest sign

Slumbering Terror

The door cracks open, a light shines through.
Boney fingers appear and I don’t know what to do.

I’m frozen still, trembling with fright.
Been stuck in this room for more than a night.

A frail body emerges with a smell that’s grotesque,
Carrying what might be a meal at best.
“Thought you could eat.” Their voice simply implies.
Then they remove the tray’s cover and that’s what makes me cry.

Before me, a vision so vile,
Causing me to taste my own stomach bile.
My urge to erupt becomes quite clear.
“You don’t like what I made for you, my dear?”
The feeble one asks then becomes enraged.
This four wall prison feels like a cage.

“Why are you doing this?” I tearfully implore.
“Because you are my pet.” They reply while walking out the door.
The sound of locks quickly engage,
Reminding me that I am their hostage.

I begin to convulse and scream obscenities I feel,
Trembling so badly that I wake from this wretched ordeal.

It was just a dream, a nightmare, a fright
That kept me from peaceful slumber all through the night.

(Poem by Sheila Renee Parker)

Slumbering Terror

Heaven Sent

Often tiny little things occur that make us reminisce about days of old. The sound of someone’s laughter, the aroma of a favorite dish or even the discovery of a family heirloom can bring back memories of yesteryear.

Sometimes it makes me wonder if these little happenings are actually the result of messages being sent from the other side. A form of communication from our loved ones who have moved onto the afterlife. The reason why I’m bringing all this up is because a few days ago I found tucked away in my jewelry, a beautiful butterfly necklace that my mother had given me many years ago. A piece that I hadn’t worn for quite a while. I was so excited by its finding that I quickly snapped its photo and sent the photo to my mother. She was happy to know that I still had it because the necklace originally belonged to her for years before she decided to pass it down to me.

My mother reminded me that at the time of purchase, she also bought a similar butterfly necklace for her mother. That’s when I remembered that after my grandmother’s passing, when my mom gave me her necklace, she had also given me my grandmother’s necklace, but where could it have gone to? It had been years since I had seen it. I had no idea until a couple of days passed when I was putting away some laundry. In my drawer sat a small lavender colored box that I hadn’t looked into for a really long time. Then, I got this strong urge to open the box. And guess what I found when I did? The butterfly necklace that my mother had bought my grandmother so many years ago! I was elated, couldn’t believe my eyes! What a discovery because I wasn’t even looking for it. But I couldn’t resist the unexpected urge to look inside the box.

Was it my grandmother’s way of sending a message, a sweet little “hello” perhaps? Who knows….. some people may chalk it up to coincidence, but not me, I don’t believe in coincidence. Life is full of surprises, from the mundane to the miraculous. It all depends on one’s perception on how extraordinary they truly are.

Here is the butterfly necklace that my mother passed down to me.

butterfly necklace

And here is the butterfly necklace that my mother bought for my grandmother.

nana

Paranormal Investigative Equipment: What’s Your Pick?

There are so many different types of equipment that one can use while conducting a paranormal investigation, even supposedly fully equipped ghost hunting kits that claim to have everything one needs. Interesting…. do these kits come with an unlimited supply of batteries? Ghosts are known to drain batteries for the energy. So, if these kits don’t come with batteries, they’re not fully equipped now are they? Just a random thought… 😉

Anywho, the pieces of equipment that an investigator can add to his/her collection can be quite impressive to say the least. The technology and research required to create such devices go way beyond my level of education. Such devices like a full spectrum digital camera that can be used to capture videos and photos. Another one is the Ghost Box Ovilus that “converts environmental readings into real words”. Then, there are Rem Pods that detect energy disturbances and fluctuations. And, there’s even digital thermometers that are created to locate temperature changes. The list goes on and on with the various tools that one can use in hunting the paranormal. Pendulums and divining rods are a couple of other ones as well. The routine and methods used are as unique as the investigator conducting the investigation.

Here is where I want some interaction. From you, the daring individuals who aren’t afraid to go out and search for the unknown. Tell me, share with us all, what’s YOUR favorite piece of equipment to use while investigating the spectral realm? And why?

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