I had the privilege of spending the majority of my evening last night with the wonderful folks at Haunted Hamilton on one of their very popular walking ghost tours (and apparently one of the most active paranormal hot spots!) in the small town of Ancaster, Ontario at the reportedly very haunted Hermitage Ruins. {The town of Ancaster is is in fact the third oldest community in Ontario next to the City of Kingston and the beautiful yet quaint Town of Niagara-On-The-Lake}
Our tour guide for the evening was the lovely "Lady Elizabeth" who with her black shawl and dimly-lit oil lantern guided our small group of roughly ten people along the dark, wet trails through the forest and eventually to the site of the Hermitage Ruins, all the while telling us chilling tales and ghostly stories associated with the ruins and the surrounding area of Ancaster.
The rain was quite heavy and constant at the onset of the tour, though it did eventually let up at points throughout the evening. Needless to say, the foul, damp weather certainly added to the ambiance and the atmosphere for all who were present, ever so slightly increasing the creep-factor of our ghostly tour.
As the tour got under way, our guide Lady Elizabeth would have us stop at points along the dark, eerie trails to tell us ghostly tales and stories, and accounts of the supernatural which I must say she did very well! Once we arrived at the entrance to the Hermitage Ruins we proceeded together as a group onto the site which was, at first-glance, a marvelous looking structure even as it is today (what is left of it anyway) and there certainly is an "aura" about it; I could definitely feel "something" in the air around me, and surrounding the ruins, that's for sure. At this point I decided to take out my digital camera and began snapping pictures at will, ultimately hoping to at least catch something strange or paranormal.
{Be careful what you wish for, it may come true!}
Now there were several experiences that happened to certain individuals with in my group over the course of the tour; one person actually complained of feeling "suddenly ill" while myself and another gentleman thought that at one point we could smell the faint aroma of a cigarette or cigar even though nobody around us was smoking; a few others thought they could hear what sounded like someone walking around in the dense forest around the perimeter of the grounds, nowhere near us or any of the other tour groups for that matter. Hmmmm, makes you wonder.
Our tour lasted for approximately 90 minutes or so, perhaps even a little bit longer after which we were led back towards the trail to the parking lot by our ever-so-lovely guide Lady Elizabeth (I keep wanting to say Lady Evelyn for some reason.......). I have to say one thing, she certainly did a wonderful job and helped to make the experience a truly eerie yet enjoyable one!
Now I come to today ~ after a good night's sleep I decided to upload the pictures I had taken at the Hermitage Ruins to the computer in order to get a good look at them, hopefully catching something paranormal. Well let me tell you, I certainly got more than I bargained for!!!
After close analysis of all the pictures, I noticed that I had captured some images that are truly creepy and somewhat disturbing to say the least!
I won't go into too much detail on the pictures, but I will be posting a few of them on this site for anyone to look at for themselves. I captured many "Spirit Orbs" in several photographs, but the 2 most disturbing photos are what appears to be a sinister looking apparition of a male figure peering out the window of the Icehouse (hard to see but when zoomed in you can actually make out the eyes, nose, chin, body etc.) as well what appears to be two clearly distinct ghostly faces in one of the group shots ~ creepy as hell!!
All in all, it was well worth the trip out to the Hamilton area for this ghost tour and if you haven't experienced anything like this I would strongly recommend it! I would also like to thank Dan & Stephanie of Haunted Hamilton and the lovely Lady Elizabeth for providing a wonderful evening of entertainment.
For more information, you can follow the Haunted Hamilton link that I have posted in my Links section on this site. Remember, we are never alone ~ if you do end up taking this or any of the other tours I strongly suggest a raincoat, good walking shoes, a flashlight, and an open-mind.
Sleep well.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
An Unexplained Occurance ~ My Personal Account
I just want to take some time here today and tell you about an unexplained occurrence that happened to me just last, and actually came to fruition a few days ago. My family, including my parents hail from Glasgow, Scotland and for centuries the Scottish have been known for their superstitious beliefs and psychical abilities.
No one in my immediate family has "the gift of psychic ability" as far as I am aware but growing up I've always been told stories of or relating to family members and strange happenings, most of them unexplained and quite amazing to hear about.
Roughly a week and a half ago, my mother and I were chatting and walking through the living room (in my mother's house) toward the back door to go and sit outside on the back patio as it was a beautiful day. Against the wall leading to the back door, is a large antique "stereo/credenza" with framed pictures on it as well as a few other nick-knacks. As my mother and I passed by it, we heard a thump/bang and my mother turned around to see what it was that had made the noise and startled us both.
She noticed that one of the pictures on top of the credenza/stereo had fallen over ~ immediately my mother said to me "uh oh, it's our picture and this means that someone in the picture has just died or is going to die". I sort of laughed and chuckled when she said this, as it was just another silly superstition in my mum's family; I thought nothing at all of it.
(Now I should explain who is in the picture: the black and white photograph is of 7 individuals, all of whom are on my mother's side of the family ~ my mother, her grandmother, another woman, her cousin John, and 2 of her sisters....if I am correct.)
Anyway, 2 days ago I received a call from my Aunt who lives just outside of Belfast, Ireland. She had called to tell my mother that her cousin John (who was retired from MI6 and living just outside of London, England and whom I had met a few years ago in Scotland, a very interesting and great man!) had been found dead in his home just the previous morning by one of his daughter's who had come to pick him up and take him for lunch.
He had apparently slipped and fallen down the stairs striking his head off of a "credenza" strange enough, and was killed instantly. Very sad indeed. My heart and condolences go out his daughters, my mother, my Aunt Margaret (John's sister in Glasgow and my mum's first cousin) and everyone else who at this time is grieving. As of today the funeral has not yet happened, this is very recent but what boggles my mind is the fact that when that picture fell over my mum said that someone in the photograph would die, and that is indeed what happened!! Strange? Weird?
There may something to say for superstitions after all ~ I just wanted to share this with you and also pose a question to you:
Are YOU superstitious?
No one in my immediate family has "the gift of psychic ability" as far as I am aware but growing up I've always been told stories of or relating to family members and strange happenings, most of them unexplained and quite amazing to hear about.
Roughly a week and a half ago, my mother and I were chatting and walking through the living room (in my mother's house) toward the back door to go and sit outside on the back patio as it was a beautiful day. Against the wall leading to the back door, is a large antique "stereo/credenza" with framed pictures on it as well as a few other nick-knacks. As my mother and I passed by it, we heard a thump/bang and my mother turned around to see what it was that had made the noise and startled us both.
She noticed that one of the pictures on top of the credenza/stereo had fallen over ~ immediately my mother said to me "uh oh, it's our picture and this means that someone in the picture has just died or is going to die". I sort of laughed and chuckled when she said this, as it was just another silly superstition in my mum's family; I thought nothing at all of it.
(Now I should explain who is in the picture: the black and white photograph is of 7 individuals, all of whom are on my mother's side of the family ~ my mother, her grandmother, another woman, her cousin John, and 2 of her sisters....if I am correct.)
Anyway, 2 days ago I received a call from my Aunt who lives just outside of Belfast, Ireland. She had called to tell my mother that her cousin John (who was retired from MI6 and living just outside of London, England and whom I had met a few years ago in Scotland, a very interesting and great man!) had been found dead in his home just the previous morning by one of his daughter's who had come to pick him up and take him for lunch.
He had apparently slipped and fallen down the stairs striking his head off of a "credenza" strange enough, and was killed instantly. Very sad indeed. My heart and condolences go out his daughters, my mother, my Aunt Margaret (John's sister in Glasgow and my mum's first cousin) and everyone else who at this time is grieving. As of today the funeral has not yet happened, this is very recent but what boggles my mind is the fact that when that picture fell over my mum said that someone in the photograph would die, and that is indeed what happened!! Strange? Weird?
There may something to say for superstitions after all ~ I just wanted to share this with you and also pose a question to you:
Are YOU superstitious?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"Bloody Mary"...Urban Myth, Urban Legend or Real?
For years children have been told of the the legend of Bloody Mary, whether sitting gathered around a campfire, or sleeping over at a friends house on a Saturday night. Either way, it is a story that strikes fear and terror into the hearts and minds of youngsters alike.
I remember growing up as a teenager, and friends of mine trying to encourage me to go into the bathroom and try it, though I'm not that stupid. Am I supertitious? Perhaps I am to some extent. The legend has been told over and over and there are many different variations of the legend that have been passed down though the basic fundamental of the story remains the same.
According to the legend of Bloody Mary, a person is said to go into a dark room containing a mirror (usually associated with a bathroom as almost every bathroom has a vanity mirror) and turn of all the lights, save for the light of a dimly lit candle (candlelight alone would help to create a rather "creepy" atmosphere along with the psychological factor of knowing what is "supposed to happen"). The person then chants out loud "Bloody Mary" 3 times (some versions of the legend say 5 times.....who knows, I'm not about to be a sucker and try it!) after which a terrifying and utterly frightening apparition is said to appear standing behind the person in the mirror!! What's even more frightening is the fact that when you turn around there is actually no one there!!!
(Now this is where versions tend to differ ~ some say that when "Bloody Mary" appears she will gouge out your eyes, and another version is that she will cut your throat with a knife while emitting an horrific scream (not unlike that of a banshee!!). Uhm, no thanks, i think I'll pass!
I have decided to add 2 video links here to give you, the reader, an idea of both of these versions........so here they are:
This first one is rather frightening in its own way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrSssBjDu84
This second one is more on the grotesque side:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwOS7jAJP0
If you want to know whether or not this legend is in fact just that of an urban myth, I suggest going into your bathroom tonight, turning off all the lights, chanting "Bloody Mary" 3 times and finding out for yourself.......if you dare.
Sleep tight tonight!
I remember growing up as a teenager, and friends of mine trying to encourage me to go into the bathroom and try it, though I'm not that stupid. Am I supertitious? Perhaps I am to some extent. The legend has been told over and over and there are many different variations of the legend that have been passed down though the basic fundamental of the story remains the same.
According to the legend of Bloody Mary, a person is said to go into a dark room containing a mirror (usually associated with a bathroom as almost every bathroom has a vanity mirror) and turn of all the lights, save for the light of a dimly lit candle (candlelight alone would help to create a rather "creepy" atmosphere along with the psychological factor of knowing what is "supposed to happen"). The person then chants out loud "Bloody Mary" 3 times (some versions of the legend say 5 times.....who knows, I'm not about to be a sucker and try it!) after which a terrifying and utterly frightening apparition is said to appear standing behind the person in the mirror!! What's even more frightening is the fact that when you turn around there is actually no one there!!!
(Now this is where versions tend to differ ~ some say that when "Bloody Mary" appears she will gouge out your eyes, and another version is that she will cut your throat with a knife while emitting an horrific scream (not unlike that of a banshee!!). Uhm, no thanks, i think I'll pass!
I have decided to add 2 video links here to give you, the reader, an idea of both of these versions........so here they are:
This first one is rather frightening in its own way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrSssBjDu84
This second one is more on the grotesque side:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwOS7jAJP0
If you want to know whether or not this legend is in fact just that of an urban myth, I suggest going into your bathroom tonight, turning off all the lights, chanting "Bloody Mary" 3 times and finding out for yourself.......if you dare.
Sleep tight tonight!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
