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

piece of validation.

I showed Matilda the photos, which made her feel a little

anxious.

“Can we work out who they are?” she asked nervously.

By now the lights were fleetingly showing themselves as

figures. They were vague, masculine outlines, and were obvi-

ously intent on letting Matilda know that they were there.

I suggested that we could use a pendulum to try and estab-

lish contact with the persistent spirits. Matilda offered her mother’s ring, which I tied to the end of a length of fine cotton.

Matilda 27

I asked Matilda to hold the pendulum. That way she would

be able to feel that it was moving of its own accord.

“Right,” I said once she was holding the ring steady. “Can

you please show us a YES?”

All at once, the pendulum began moving in a slow and

steady circle, becoming larger with each subsequent revolu-

tion.

I asked it to stop, after which I asked for the pendulum to

indicate a NO. At this request, the pendulum began moving back and forth; in a straight, deliberate line.

“Great,” I said. “Thank you! OK Matilda, you can start ask-

ing questions …”

Matilda was a little uneasy to begin with, but as the conver-

sation began, she became increasingly bolstered.

We discovered that the spirit sitting on Matilda’s left was a

young man named Gary, the brother of an ex-boyfriend. Gary

was an eager communicator and his replies came through

strongly. He was also quick to comply with requests to appear in our photos, and repeatedly showed himself as a small, vivid orb.

Meanwhile, the spirit to Matilda’s right waited patiently

beside her, occasionally wandering towards the staircase, but

never straying far from Matilda’s side. Once we’d promised

Gary that we would arrange for an opportunity for him to talk

to his brother, he was happy to step back and allow the other

spirit to take over.

We had thought Gary’s energy had been strong, but this

presence was even stronger.

“Are you related to me?” asked Matilda.

The pendulum began to go around in an ever-increasing

circle, spinning faster and faster with each turn.

Yes!

28Matilda

Matilda asked the pendulum to stop, after which she asked

if she was communicating with her father. The large circles

started up again.

Another Yes!

By now Matilda had cast her fears aside and was well and

truly savouring the moment. She asked question after ques-

tion, all of which validated Matt’s presence. Matilda took

things one step further as she asked for a physical sign.

“Can you make a noise for me Dad?” she asked.

A small bang came from the ceiling above us.

“Umm … can you do it a bit louder?” she asked cheekily, “I

really want a sign Dad!”

A louder bang came from the same spot on the ceiling, and the pendulum (which I was now holding) began to go berserk.

The circles it was transcribing were getting bigger and bigger, the pendulum was moving so rapidly it was beginning to look

like a blur. And then, as part of the grand finale, it flung out of my hand, flew across the length of the table where it landed with a triumphant clatter.

Matilda and I looked at each other, with eyes as wide as

our excited smiles.

“Thanks Dad!” she said happily, the fears she had walked in

with replaced by excitement and joy. She could barely contain

her excitement and wasted no time in getting on the phone to

tell her mother.

I knew then, that this was just the beginning of Matt and

Matilda’s story. Matt had a wonderfully strong energy and I

had no doubt he would put it to good use by proving to his

family that his spirit lived on.

chapter four

M a t t

Less than a week later, Matilda came by for another visit.

This meeting was arranged specifically with the aim of mak-

ing contact with Matt; and as such Matilda was joined by her

mother, Sue and two of her aunties.

Matt had been making his presence felt for the few days

since Matilda’s first visit and I was convinced that he wanted to make further contact with his family. I mostly saw him sitting on the downstairs lounge as a vague, luminescent figure;

but he would also catch my attention by periodically flashing

his bright spirit light.

On one occasion I saw him standing behind the bar; so

vividly that at first glance I thought it was my husband, Stu

preparing for drinks o’clock! Another time I was sitting in the kitchen with my son, Danny, when Matt suddenly appeared

above the island, radiating an intense purple light.

“Danny!” I exclaimed. “Look! Can you see the spirit with

us?”

29

30Matt

Dan looked towards Matt and smiled, then continued eat-

ing his breakfast.

“Yep,” he said casually.

“What colour is he shining at you?” I asked equally flip-

pantly.

“Purple!” he laughed.

I was consumed with happiness. Firstly, it’s always wonder-

ful to share your visions with someone else; it validates the

experience and nullifies any doubts. I was especially delighted that I was sharing the experience with Danny, as I’ve always

tried to nurture my children’s sensitivity to spirits. Embracing the existence of the spirit world has enhanced my life beyond

measure and I wish the same sense of joyousness for my chil-

dren.

I was also delighted by the fact that Matt was radiating a

purple, positive energy. This confirmed that he was well and

truly advancing on his spiritual path and was only dropping by in the hope of a visit with his family.

I couldn’t wait to try and facilitate contact between him

and his loved ones, especially since I knew that Matt was itching to do the same.

It’s times like these that my lack of clairaudience is partic-

ularly frustrating. How much easier would it be to just tune in and say Right! What is it you want me to tell them? Whereas all I’m able to do is say There he is … on the stairs!

I knew that Matt was eager to provide proof of his pres-

ence, so I thought of little else for days whilst I tried to work out the best mode of contact. The orb photos and communication

via the pendulum were compelling, but I just needed that little something more. I was hoping for a concrete