Embracing the Spirits: True Stories of My Encounters With the Other Side by Barbara Parks (best ereader for graphic novels txt) 📗

The wheels were set into motion when Tony asked the

spirits to draw close to us. He made it clear that only ener-

gies coming from the light were welcome to make contact,

and asked for us to be shielded from lower-vibration entities.

Tony then told us that he needed to leave us for a little while, and began to zone out. He said that he needed to make sure

that the energy around the table was not threatening. If Tony

felt an increase in energy, it meant that we were dealing with positive, crossed over spirits. If however he sensed a drop, it was possible that negative energies were around us. If this was the case, we would have to end the séance.

We watched as Tony allowed himself to drop into a semi-

trance state, and smiled nervously at each other across the

table. I couldn’t believe I was really about to do this, was I really inviting contact from the other side? It wasn’t long

before Tony opened his eyes, and announced it was safe to

begin.

The room was in darkness except for the greenish glow

emanating from the exit sign, just enough for us to see each

other’s faces and the board before us. We were surprised by

how quickly the spirit contact was initiated. As our fingertips began to get cold, we looked at each other across the table.

The Night of the Poltergeist 15

Rob, seated directly opposite me, couldn’t hide his awe at what was happening.

“I feel it!” he said. His eyes grew wide as the table started

to vibrate.

Heidi made a pained noise as the table began to shake

more forcibly, the uninitiated amongst us staring fixedly at the table as it seemed to take on a life of it’s own.

“I feel sick!” said Heidi. “Ohhhh … it’s under my hands!

There’s tapping coming from under my hands!”

Tony’s composed voice restored some semblance of calm

as he addressed the spirits.

“Would someone like to make contact with Heidi?”

The table began to seesaw back and forth, tipping towards

Heidi as if in response to Tony’s question.

“Can you lift the table off the ground?” he asked.

Heidi looked as though she was about to pass out.

“Oh no …” she muttered, desperately trying to maintain

control. “Guys, I’m really freaking out here …”

We tried to comfort her (and thereby reassure ourselves) by

telling Heidi that everything was fine. Despite the indisputable evidence that we were in the presence of ghosts, the over-riding feeling was one of awe. This was more than just a fleeting visitation, we were actually in the company of spirits!

The table continued to rock. Heidi’s side seemed to be

straining to get off the ground.

“It’s certainly trying to lift off,” said Tony. “Let’s see if we can get some messages through with the glass.”

A moment later an upturned glass was in the middle of the

table, with each of us lightly resting a finger on top of it. We didn’t have to wait long before the glass started to move.

16The Night of the Poltergeist

Tony immediately tuned into a murder victim. He told us

it was someone who had “died as he had lived,” and had been

caught up in a crazy, full-on lifestyle. He told us the murder happened interstate, and asked if any of us could place him, as he was definitely connected to one of us.

“I know who he is,” said Sophie from where she sat record-

ing the séance. Tony said she’d better join the table, and her deceased friend proceeded to deliver his message.

On numerous occasions he tried to communicate with

Tony telepathically.

“Stop talking to me!” said Tony light-heartedly. “We want

you to use the glass!”

It wasn’t long before Heidi’s insistent spirit friend returned, and as soon as she identified herself, Heidi’s fear vanished in an instant. She was delighted to make contact with her best friend who passed away six years earlier, firing off one validation after another. By the time she stepped back to allow another spirit to enter, Heidi was positively glowing.

The glass continued to move steadily around the table.

This time it spelt out R-A-Y.

“Anyone know Ray?” asked Tony.

“He was my husband, “answered Karen.

Before poor Ray could even begin, the glass was seem-

ingly hijacked by a more insistent presence. The glass moved

quickly and forcefully towards me, stopping abruptly at the

edge of the table.

Once it had my attention, it skimmed across the table,

spelling out FEB 2.

“I think I know who you are!” I said excitedly, as I imme-

diately recognised my close friend, Deni’s birth date. Deni had

The Night of the Poltergeist 17

passed away thirteen years earlier as the result of a plane crash; the Tiger Moth joy flight being a thirtieth birthday gift.

My dear friend, Deni, all dressed up for a cocktail party (circa 1995.) Deni was quick to come through the first time I used an Ouija Board.

“Can you give me your initials?” I asked.

I can do better than that! He must’ve thought, because he quickly spelt out his entire first name D-E-N-I.

“Deni!” I gasped. “It is you!”

I could scarcely believe my best buddy had stepped for-

ward. Despite seeing his spirit for the first few years after his death, I hadn’t seen him or sensed his presence in over five

years.

18The Night of the Poltergeist

“U- NO- C- ME”

“You no see me?” read Rob. “You don’t see me perhaps?”

“Oh Deni!” I said. “I know I don’t see you any more. I

thought you might have come back as my son Danny …”

The glass wasted no time in whizzing across to NO.

I told Deni I loved him and that I was so very grateful for

his visit. Before he left, I had one last question.

“Do you love me?” I asked.

The glass began to move slowly towards the “YES.”

“Ummm … you’re not very convincing,” I joked. “Glad to

see you feel so strongly about me!”

With that, the glass sped straight towards the YES, which it

then proceeded to circle as if to prove a point.

“I know you do,” I said. And then as quickly as he had taken

charge of the Ouija board, he stepped back and