Archive for the ‘Travel and Leisure’ Category

The September edition of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala newsletter is now available for your reading pleasure.

I’m discussing Finding Your Creative Mojo, Calling in Fall, sharing news about a new paranormal fiction novel, along with a great way to support the recovery from the oil spill in the Gulf and empowering you to change your thoughts about Mercury Retrogrades.

Sound like a good time?

Come on over and sit for a spell and find out what’s new!

Click Here to Read it All Right Now!

Much love, joy and Happy Fall!

*~Kala~*

The Beekman Arms Inn located in Rhinebeck, New York, was established in 1766 and is recognized as the oldest operating Inn in the country. A gentile piece of history, the Inn allowed the 4th Regiment of the Continental Army to practice on its front lawn in preparation for the American Revolution. Over the years, the Inn has seen its share of action and honored guests, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benedict Arnold, William Jennings Bryan, and Franklin Roosevelt have all slept here and all of the above have enjoyed a drink at the Inn’s Tavern, including most recently Bill Clinton.

Located in the center of the Village of Rhinebeck, the Inn is charming and inviting and as an added treat, has been updated to accommodate modern amenities. The result is pleasing and comfortable and welcoming to any traveler and the Inn continues to provide hospitality with the grace and allure of the old traditions.

During my recent journey to Rhinebeck, I stayed at the Beekman, in the Townsend House. The room was spacious, comfortable and to my surprise, included a fireplace, a writing desk, two wing back chairs and a decanter of sherry waiting to warm me from the evening air. The room also had an enormous walk in closet, so large that it included a sink, a mini fridge and enough room to store 10 to 12 suitcases or trunks.

Settling in to sleep that evening, I woke at 3:30 am to the sounds of hearing heavy boots stomping across the floor in the room. Alarmed, I sat up and turned on the light next to the bed, as I assumed that the sound was coming from my husband, who must be up and moving something around in the closet. As I turned the light on and sat up in bed, the noise stopped. Calling out to my husband, I heard a snorting next to me and turned to see that he was deeply asleep next to me in bed. Fully awake at this time, I sat up for a few minutes, thinking that I must have been dreaming and that the sound I had heard had come from a dream.

This further perplexed me, as I am a person who has been able to remember at least three dreams every night of my life since I was a young girl and I teach about dreams and dream interpretations. I wake each morning and review my dreams and categorize them into dreams that are teaching me something, dreams from the other side communicating with me, and dreams from my subconscious that help me to work out what is going on in my life. There are also dreams that mean nothing, that occur when one is not feeling well or ate something too heavy before going to bed.

As I sat in bed thinking about how I woke up, what troubled me was that I remembered the dream that I had been having, and it had nothing to do with a man stomping around and walking. That noise, had actually entered into my consciousness and interrupted my dream and woke me up, with the feeling that someone was in the room. Taking a sip of water, I looked at the clock which now read 3:45am and I resigned myself to going back to bed, as tomorrow was an early day. As I turned off the lights and prepared myself for bed, the stomping of the boots began again! This time, I knew it wasn’t a dream.

I could clearly hear the stomping of the boots and the sound was coming from the enormous closet room. Instead of turning the big light back on, I grabbed my little flashlight that I carry with me everywhere and walked into the closet room to investigate. As I entered the room, I ran straight into the full body apparition of a male ghost, dressed in 18th century period clothing and pacing back and forth across the room, his heavy boots making a loud sound on a floor, that looked nothing like the carpet there today.

As I continued to watch him, he was frantic in his movements. He would walk to the desk and look at a letter there on the desk and each time he would read it, he would become upset. In his hands, he held another letter and as he opened it and read the contents of that letter, it appeared that the information in the letter on the desk, was in complete opposition to the letter he held in his hand. This was causing him a great deal of conflict as he was uncertain as to what his final decision would be. As he paced back and forth in the room, he stopped midway, looking to his right. During that time, another presence appeared near him, a woman with brown hair and he appeared to be very fond of her. The mood changed in the room as he interacted with her and I could feel the love between them. This was the only time that his angry energy melted away as he reached out to stroke her cheek. This lasted only a brief moment and then she disappeared and he went back to the desk. From what I could discern, the decision he had to make between the letter on the desk and the one in his hand, would decide the fate of many people, including himself and his female companion and he was deeply torn as to which decision he would make.

At this point, I attempted to make contact with him, to determine whether or not he could see me and communicate, but he could not. What I was experiencing is called an “imprint haunting”. Basically in this type of haunted activity, something happens that is very emotional and stressful and the energy is so strong that it leaves an imprint behind in the space. The imprint creates an energy recording that is similar to a tape being recorded and it plays over and over, repeating the incident. LIke watching a video, you can not interact with the people on the tape, it is just an imprint of that moment that was captured and can be viewed and felt, a little piece of history captured in that moment.

Because of this, I was not able to speak with gentleman to find out his name or what the letter contained or his connection to his female companion. I was only able to observe. As a psychic and paranormal researcher with the Rowan Society, I’ve seen a wide variety of haunted and paranormal activity over the years. The ghost of Beekman Arms is a friendly sort and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Inn and hope to return there again. I’m sure that given a longer length of time to explore both the Beekman Inn and the village of Rhinebeck, I would find many more ghosts with tales to share.

Did you miss part one of this story? If so, go here to read: http://www.examiner.com/x-18975-Metaphysical-Spirituality-Examiner~y2010m8d3-A-splendid-choice-for-Chelsea-Clinton-and-for-the-body-mind-and-spirit This is part one from my column as the National Metaphysical Spirituality Writer for the Examiner. While you’re here, subscribe to my Haunted History column here, up at the right hand corner. It’s free and you’ll receive an email every time I write a new article. Explore the paranormal with me and don’t miss any haunted mysteries. *~Kala~*

Rhinebeck, New York is one of those natural treasures in the world, that when you’re lucky enough to find your way there for a few days, it becomes a memory of a lifetime.

As I made plans to travel and teach a weekend workshop on – Energy Anatomy: Exploring and Healing Your Aura and Chakras with Elizabeth Harper at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck in July, I toyed with the idea of flying or driving. I decided to drive, so that I could take in the sights and perhaps the road less traveled, slowing down to see this part of the country, rather than flying over it all in an hour, and potentially missing what nature had to offer me.

The result? Delight, surprise and splendor! The road to Rhinebeck greets you with the soft, gentle Catskill Mountains, in various shades and textures of green, welcoming you in for the day. Alongside the mountains, the Hudson River rambles along in soothing tones, relaxing my body, mind and spirit further. I drove oohing, aaahhing and gasping at some turns on the road, marveling at the sheer beauty. As someone who has lived in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Florida, I’ve seen my share of natural beauty and I’m going to rank the Rhinebeck area up there with all of these spots. Truly inspiring, as a writer, I was ready to check into my hotel room and pull out my trusty Mac and write through the night.

Speaking of the hotel, my first stop was The Rhinecliff, a country hotel just outside on Rhinebeck, located right on the Hudson River. Every room has a view of the river. I stayed on the third story with a balcony that looked out at the Hudson. The room was spacious, with wide plank wood floors, a cathedral ceiling with beams, room for a sofa and a bathroom to rival a spa experience. Early the next morning, I entered the bathroom, which came with battery operated candles to light for ambience, which I promptly lit and used them as my only light in the bathroom. I settled into the two person whirlpool bathtub, filled it and set the jets to bubbling. Relaxing back in the tub, I noticed a rectangular window, even with my head now that I was sitting in the tub. I cranked open the window and to my delight, it opened up to a spectacular view of the Catskill Mountains with the Hudson River in front. I may have taken the longest bath of my life, the jets of the whirlpool massaging and restoring my body after a long drive to New York and my mind and spirit being lifted and rejuvenated breathing in the fresh air while watching the sun rise over the mountains and spill into the river before me.

Every few moments I would sigh and think, it just doesn’t get much better than this, no wonder Chelsea Clinton selected Rhinebeck as the location for her wedding. As I settled back in the tub and continued to watch nature’s show du jour, a small bird, perhaps a finch, alighted on to my window and kept me company for a while. He would look out at the sunrise over the river and take it in and then turn his head to look back at me, as if to say, can you believe this, this is beautiful, are you getting this? Birds have always been one of my totem animals and his company was appreciated this morning.

Later that day, I checked out from the hotel and ventured into the village of Rhinebeck. Villages like Rhinebeck must be the reason that the words charm and quaint were invented by writers. I’m surprised that more filmmakers haven’t made movies here, as it has held on to its history, preserving it so well, and the love and pride that the residents have for their community is apparent on every tree lined street, with houses well kept and honored. The village was bustling with activity with preparations for the upcoming nuptials of Chelsea Clinton.

As I approached the hotel that I would be staying in this evening, photographers were outside in the garden, setting up their shots and were discussing with each other, “let’s put Bill here and Hillary here and Chelsea can stand here…” Entering to check into the hotel, I had arrived at the Beekman Arms, the oldest operating Inn in the country. The Beekman opened its doors to the public in 1766 and has been operating as an Inn ever since. Beautiful and historic, one can sleep in the same room as George Washington once did, as well as have a bite to eat and drink in the Tavern, where many presidents have dined, including Bill Clinton. I stayed in one of the Townsend rooms, which like the proceeding hotel, was spacious, warm and accommodating. My room had a fireplace, two wing back chairs, a writing desk, a comfy bed and a huge walk in closet with a mini fridge. I had the feeling of being in an old European Inn and there was even a decanter on the table filled with sherry to welcome me in from my journey.

Let me just say, I could live at the Beekman Arms for a couple of months to write my next book, it was that warm and welcoming and with its location being right in the center of the village of Rhinebeck, one simply steps out the door and is within walking distance of restaurants, shops and entertainment.

While walking around the area, a gentle rain began to fall and the stoic and well prepared residents, opened their umbrellas, continuing to run their errands in stride. Rhinebeck is only roughly 100 miles from New York City, but the pace is so opposite. People are relaxed here, enjoying their life and have a sense around them of knowing how life should be lived and how people should be treated. One of the memories I’ll remember most from this day, was when the rain began to fall, there were several ladies walking down the street. Each of them paused to open their umbrellas and their umbrellas were painted in brilliant colors and decorated like giant flowers. One was a pink daisy, another a red tulip and a third a yellow sunflower. As I watched these women continue down the street, it was like watching flowers wandering through a garden, simply poetic.

My journey in Rhinebeck was only beginning, I was here to teach a weekend workshop at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies beginning that Friday evening. Little did I know, I would be awakened early the next morning while sleeping in the Beekman Arms by an 18th century ghost still wandering in the hotel.

Visit here again tomorrow for part two of this adventure, as I continue my tale of Rhinebeck, Omega and the ghost of Beekman Arms…

What do Wal-Mart, Starbucks, VISA, and Comcast have in common? They’ve hired Laura Stack to teach their employees how to improve their personal productivity. Her new, extraordinary book will hit bookstores next week on MONDAY, AUGUST 9: SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best (John Wiley & Sons). Laura Stack is an international author, productivity expert and speaker, and founder of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in creating Maximum Results in Minimum Time®. She is the bestselling author of several other books: The Exhaustion Cure; Find More Time; and Leave the Office Earlier.  Laura has been a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, Xerox, and Office Depot, and she is the creator of The Productivity Pro® planner by Day-Timer.

Laura commands fees of over $10,000 for one HOUR.  You can discover the secrets she teaches to Fortune 500 audiences for less than $20! To be successful in the business world and reach your full potential in life, it’s not enough to be simply competent. Our modern, super-competitive world is full of opportunities for the go-getter, but to take advantage of them, it’s essential to become “SuperCompetent.” The SUPERCOMPETENT person is one that companies fight to get, fight to keep, nurture as team players, and see as future leaders in their business growth.

SuperCompetence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something that you can learn, no matter where your strengths lie or what industry you work in. In SUPERCOMPETENT, productivity expert Laura Stack identifies the behaviors that build leadership skills, boost organizational efficiency, and blast high potential producers to the top of their fields.

With Stack’s Six Keys, you’ll be able to consistently improve your performance, develop the confidence that will propel you forward, and achieve breakthrough results in your career.

1. Activity: The value and importance you place on your tasks and priorities
2. Availability: The ability to master your schedule and protect your time
3. Attention: The capacity to focus intently and concentrate on critical activities
4. Accessibility: The skill to organize your workflow and quickly find information
5. Accountability: The extent to which you assume personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes
6. Attitude: The intensity of your motivation, drive, and proactiveness

However, DON’T buy her book! Yes, that’s right—don’t buy it—until August 9.  If you purchase the book on that day from any online or retail bookstore, you’ll receive free bonus gifts from the speakers listed at http://supercompetentbook.com/bonuses.php AND gifts from her partners and sponsors (including me!) at http://supercompetentbook.com/sponsors.php.  You’ll receive:

• Kala’s Guided Meditation as a mp3 – Spirit of Hawaii
• Dianna Booher is providing a free eBook Write to the Point.
• Joe Calloway is providing the eBook Becoming a Category of One.
• Eric Chester is providing the eBook Employing Generation Why.
• Terri Sjodin is providing a free subscription to the Presenters post quarterly e-newsletter.
• Chris Widener is providing his “Totally Motivated” eBook.
• Mark Sanborn is providing you with access to his in-depth Encore Assessment, a regular $25.95 value.

Just purchase your copy from any of these online stores on AUGUST 9 and forward your receipt to Book@TheProductivityPro.com:

1. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/SuperCompetent-Keys-Perform-Your-Productive/dp/0470599154
2. Borders: http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0470599154
3. Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/SuperCompetent/Laura-Stack/e/9780470599150/?itm=7&USRI=laura+stack
4. Booksamillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9780470599150?id=4744525508253
5. CEORead: http://800ceoread.com/book/show/9780470599150-Supercompetent

So, what should you do now?  MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Monday, August 9, so you don’t miss out on these incredible bonus resources!  Buy your copy and forward your receipt to Book@TheProductivityPro.com.  I will send you a reminder about the August 9 BUY DATE to receive your bonuses!

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More about Kala Ambrose: Kala Ambrose is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala Ambrose is a highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire. She lectures on the Ancient Wisdom Teachings of Egypt and the Mystery Schools, Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). More information about Kala at: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Welcome to the ‘Quick Five’, where I chat with fascinating authors, artists, teachers and researchers and ask them five questions about their work. Our guest today is Elizabeth Harper, an internationally acclaimed soul therapist, color intuitive, healer, and teacher. Originally from England, she has appeared on British and American radio and television, presents workshops and offers consultations worldwide, and is a faculty member of the renowned Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in New York. She is the author of Wishing: How to Fulfill Your Heart’s Desires, creator of the Chakra Workout Meditations CD, and designer of the color-coded Sealed With Love jewelry.  Elizabeth’s infectious fun, laughter, love and her obvious embodiment of spiritual truth, touches her work with magic.

Kala: Elizabeth, welcome to the Quick Five. You teach about Color Intuition and how the colors we choose at any given moment reflect messages from a deeper part of our being. How does color reflect our inner self and can we enhance our lives through color?

Elizabeth: Every day you choose color on some level, the clothes you wear, the color of your surroundings, what you choose to eat and drink, even your car color can reflect who you are. If you understand the symbolic meaning of color then all these choices you are making every day can give you clues into what is happening in your life on a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and prophetic level. You can also use the power of color to invoke certain energies. For example, blue is a color of communication, peace, and creativity. Wearing blue to an interview for instance will help keep you mellow, inspire your thoughts, and encourage the interviewee to view you as a diligent and trustworthy worker. If you are a writer or an artist and need inspiration then blue can help with this too.

Kala: You have a weekly Colorscope video, where people choose the color that they are most attracted to and then you explain the meaning behind the color. In this form of divination, what have people discovered about themselves and the colors they choose?

Elizabeth: People have realized just how intuitive they are! I get some wonderful feedback from this weekly offering. I am always inspired by my guides to use certain colors – different ones each week – and of course they inspire my words so the interpretations are occasionally surprising, but apparently “spot on!” This is a great tool to help people realize the multifaceted symbolism of color, plus it’s colorisciously fun!

Kala: You create Sealed With Love Jewelry, which offers personal designs.  Tell us about your jewelry line…
Elizabeth: In my work as a color intuitive I offer advice and guidance based upon the colors I see in the personal energy field of the person I am working with. I have spent years telling people what colors they need to “eat, drink, meditate with, wear, and surround themselves with” in order to move through obstacles, change consciousness, and to heal their lives. One day it dawned on me that by creating jewelry I could not only offer them the color they needed, but I could also bring healing into their lives through making the jewelry myself. My line of color-coded jewelry reflects the meaning of the colors I see in the aura. For instance, the Open to Receive bracelet is lilac and pink. I see these colors in the energy fields of those who are opening their hearts to receive love and abundance in their lives. When someone wears this bracelet this is exactly what it does. The Shake it Off! Bracelet was completely inspired by my spirit guide Alim. He directed me to create a piece with black, grey, and white specifically for healers to help them release the energy they picked up during the healing session. The colors you are drawn to reveal what you need at this moment so each piece of my jewelry that attracts you also acts as an oracle.

Kala: You and I will be teaching together in July 2010 at the Omega Institute in New York. Our workshop is entitled:  Energy Anatomy: Exploring and Healing Your Aura and Chakras. From your perspective, what will this workshop offer that has not been shared before?

Elizabeth: Many people who educate others on the auras and chakras have never actually seen them, so I feel that we both bring this experience to the table and coming from different perspectives and backgrounds just adds to our work together. I have seen auras and energy fields since I was a child, so my experience and knowledge as a color intuitive plus the unique and profound guidance of my guide Alim can offer students a more personal approach to this subject matter. I like to bring unique and fun exercises to open up the intuitive senses. Because it’s fun it can take the edge off of performance giving people permission to play with the idea of seeing, sensing and healing energies. We also work really well together.

Kala: Your Intuitive Soul Guidance works with Aura Soma Therapy, which some people are not familiar with. Can you explain Aura Soma Therapy and how it works?

Elizabeth: I was introduced to this system in England during the 1980’s when I trained as a Color Therapist. The bottles contain oil and water, one or two colors, aromatherapy oils, crystal essences and herbal essences. There are currently 107 differently colored bottles as well as complementary essences that are used to invite certain energies in. The idea is that the colors you choose reveal your journey through life at this moment. Each bottle you choose has a specific name and meaning. The contents of the bottles can be used on the physical body for healing, but I like to use them as a visual tool for healing and prophetic use. It is a really beautiful system and one that I use together with other techniques.

Kala: Elizabeth, thank you for joining us here on the Quick Five. Looking forward to teaching with you again in July at the Omega Institute. Dear readers, if interested, visit the Omega Institute for information on the workshop and to register.

Elizabeth: Thank you Kala, I look forward to our class in July too. The Omega campus is a really magical place for us to share our work together. The energy is amazing and I know that people who come to our class will have a truly memorable and wonderful weekend.
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Enjoyed this article? Kala welcomes your comments and reads them all.  Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe by clicking the button at the top right corner of this article. By doing so, you’ll receive e-mail updates every time a new article by Kala Ambrose is posted – and it’s free! To read archived articles by Kala Ambrose, visit her main page at National Metaphysical Spirituality Examiner.

Join Kala in July 2010 as she teaches at the Omega Institute for a weekend workshop entitled:
Energy Anatomy: Exploring and Healing Your Auras and Chakras.

More about Kala Ambrose: Kala Ambrose is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include a sacred site trilogy including Spirit of Hawaii, Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey. Kala lectures on Wisdom Teachings, Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine).

“The tender word forgotten, The letter you did not write, The flower you might have sent, dear, Are your haunting ghosts tonight” – Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

You’ve heard of haunted houses, but what about a house designed by the haunted to keep the ghosts at bay?

In San Jose, California, a house just of this nature exists. It all began back in 1862, when Sarah Pardee married William Wirt Winchester, the manufacturer of the infamous Winchester repeating rifle. Sarah gave birth to a daughter Annie, who soon died from marasmus at only 42 days old. This fact is intriguing, as marasmus is caused by a lack of nutrients, displayed as energy deficiency (wasting away). Could the haunting of Sarah by spirits, already been around her at this time, depleting her energy and resources while pregnant? Her husband William later died from tuberculosis. Alone and grief stricken after losing her only child and husband, Sarah journeyed to Boston to speak with a spiritualist medium, seeking advice on why her life had been filled with such great misfortune.

The spiritualist medium reportedly told Sarah that she was haunted by the spirits of hundreds of ghosts, the spirits of those who had been killed by a Winchester repeating rifle. These spirits included soldiers from the Civil War, native americans and cowboys in the Wild West.

The medium went on to explain that in order to escape the continued hauntings, Sarah would need to move out west and to build a house. The house would not be an normal type of house, rather the construction must never cease. According to the medium, as long as construction was ongoing in the home, it would keep the angry spirits disoriented, while providing a place for the good spirits to commune with Sarah and protect her from further danger. In addition, the architecturial design was meant to be complicated and confusing in order to vex and confuse the angry spirits, which would distract them from finding and further haunting Sarah. Sarah took this advice to heart and moved from Connecticut to San Jose, California and bought over 160 acres of land, where she began and continued construction on a home, which is now referred to as the Winchester Mystery House.

After her husband’s death, Sarah received twenty million dollars along with shares of stock in the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It is reported that the dividends that she received averaged about one thousand dollars a day, along with her millions in the bank. This was in the late 1800′s, into 1900′s, when there was no income tax and the average rate of pay was less than a dollar a day.

With this unlimited amount of cash in hand, Sarah hired the best carpenters available and proceeded with

stained glass doors and windows – Winchester Mystery House
photo: Kala Ambrose

construction 24 hours a day non-stop. The craftsmanship and victorian design are stunning and quite a tribute to the men who built the home. She built a house seven stories tall with stairs leading up to nowhere, doors that opened to a two story drop into a kitchen, windows built into floors, staircases with forty four steps that are only two inches high each, a seance room, secret panels and passageways inside the walls of twisting hallways and the presence of the number 13 in a myriad of examples including windows with 13 panes, 13 bathrooms and 13 hooks in her seance room. As extravagant as it was bizarre, the decor included elaborate tiffany glass windows, gold and silver chandeliers, and rare woods throughout including intricate parquet floors. Her favorite pattern, the spiderweb can be seen in many windows and other designs in the home.

Though beautiful, the house exudes a macabre energy. In some rooms, the sense of fear is palpable, such as the daisy bedroom, which was Sarah’s bedroom until the 1906 earthquake damaged the front thirty rooms of the house. During the earthquake, Sarah was trapped in this bedroom until staff could remove fallen debris and reach her. Once she was pulled from the room, she stated that the spirits had punished her for spending too much time working on the front rooms, so she ordered that these thirty front rooms be bordered up and closed. These rooms remained closed up until her death.

As a psychic paranormal investigator, I visited the Winchester Home in September 2000. I was looking forward to spending some time in the seance room as well as the rest of the home and grounds to see what energy and spirits were around. Walking through the house is a maze at best and provides insight into the mind of Sarah Winchester and the decisions she reflected on each day as she gave new instructions to the workers each morning for the continued construction.

While in the home, I assumed that the seance room would be where I would feel the most intense energy if something was there, but during my time at the house, I experienced no paranormal activity in the seance room. I did however sense the presence of a spirit twice during my time at the Winchester House. The first encounter was while walking through the house. I was focused on the many twists and turns throughout the house and walked to a window to see how high up we had climbed. Looking out the window, I saw a crescent shape hedge on the grounds below. Standing by the hedge was the ghostly figure of a woman who was looking directly back at me. I stepped back to lift my camera to take a photo and by the time I had the camera in place, she was gone. The figure wore a white gown and appeared to be in her late 30′s or early 40′s. She did not appear to me to be Sarah, who was always described as wearing black, including a veil covering her face most of the time, with her hair pulled back in a bun. This women was dressed in white and her hair was free flowing around her.

The second encounter was in the bedroom described on the tour as Sarah Winchester’s bedroom, though

Sarah Winchester’s bedroom – Winchester Mystery House
photo: Kala Ambrose

it is reported that she slept in many different bedrooms throughout the years. In this bedroom, to the right of the bed seen in this photo here, I saw the same figure I had seen at the hedge outside. Could it perhaps be her niece who cared for Sarah?

Paranormal investigators and enthusiasts continue to investigate and tour the Winchester Mystery House for the house itself is as fascinating as the history. The Winchester Mystery House is located at 525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, CA and the website is www.winchestermysteryhouse.com

Consider it to be a must see should you be in the Bay area. During the month of October and on every Friday the 13th (Sarah’s favorite number), the house holds candlelight tours in the evening. Since my last visit, new areas of the house have been opened and are available to tour, including the basement, which is reportedly one of the most active areas for haunted activity, with the presence of a worker in coveralls seen by staff and visitors repeatedly.

Midsummer (June 23) in New Orleans is celebrated in a festival also known as St. John’s Eve. During Midsummer, it is said that the Goddess manifests as Mother Earth and the God as the Sun King. In Celtic lore, it regarded as the best time to see fairies and in pagan times it was the feast of the Goddess Aine. In later days as Christianity took over the holidays from the pagans, they changed the festivals to feasts for Saints.

Currently in Catholic celebrations, June 23rd is known as St. John’s Eve, with St. John’s Day celebrated on the 24th, as the day of his birth, though it is not confirmed whether this is the actual day of his birth. It is interesting to note that the pagan story commemorated the balance and changing of rule between the Oak King and the Holly King and then in Christianity, it became representations of the birthday of St. John to represent Summer Solstice and the birthday for Christ as Winter Solstice.

This eve culminates the celebration of Summer Solstice. It begins at dusk on the 23rd and continues till sunrise on the 24th. This day is one of several days throughout the year where the veil is thin and communication with the spirit world is strong and easily accessed.

Though the heat of Summer is just beginning, this date actually begins the ‘metaphorical’ decline of the Sun as it embarks on its journey to the Underworld, which will culminate on December 21st, the darkest day of the year. (See my article – Celebrate the ancient lore and ritual of Summer Solstice).

Loaded with symbolism, St. John’s Eve was and is still celebrated throughout Europe, with bonfires, parties and celebrations. Perhaps there is no place on earth where St. John’s Eve is celebrated like it is in New Orleans. The French people brought Catholicism with them as they moved to Louisiana and in New Orleans it mixed in easily with traditional African magic, rituals and rites. This blending of the two cultures found common ground in lighting candles in prayer to ancestral sprits and asking saints to intervene when help was needed, as well as revering divine feminine figures in both religions.

Home to famous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, St. John’s Eve has been celebrated in New Orleans for hundreds of years and Marie Laveau is undoubtedly the Queen of this celebration, having understood the esoteric rites to connect with spirit and the power of ritual to release the energy, moving all who participated. During these celebrations, bonfires are lit, drums beat and rituals, feasts and dancing are performed at Bayou St. John and other locations throughout the city.

This culmination of MidSummer celebration is a powerful time of transformation and purification through fire with bonfires and candles and by water, ritual baths and jumping into water are important rituals to remove stagnant and negative energy and create a new beginning.

While this ritual is dynamic, rejuvenating and renewing anywhere it is celebrated, it has been said that nowhere on earth is this magic stronger than in New Orleans, due to its unique location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, as the energy pours forth from the River into the Gulf — with New Orleans serving as the crescent bowl gathering and holding the energy. The ceremonies performed in connection with this powerful connection with water are similar to the ones performed in the times of ancient Egypt along the Nile.

Create a ritual of your own for this Eve. For a purification ritual that can be used during this time,
see my article: Celebrate the ancient lore and ritual of Summer Solstice.

If you have the opportunity to be in New Orleans on June 23rd, make plans to attend a traditional celebration. Dress in white, including a white head scarf and experience a purifying ritual head washing.

‘I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it’. – Thomas Jefferson

Continuing on our journey through the spirit of New Orleans, the city itself showcases the diverse cultures that make up the gumbo of NOLA. The fascinating history of the Creole and Cajun cultures are portrayed in the music and cuisine, the Spanish and French architecture are apparent throughout the city and the soulful influence of the Caribbean and African people provide the pulse and vibe of the crescent city.

The most unique combination of ingredients blended together make the best gumbo and the same can be said about creating a city. Each culture, who settles in a region, indelibly leaves their mark and impact on the area. In New Orleans history, this includes the migration of the Irish. During the 1840′s, a great famine hit Ireland, referred to as the potato famine. The magnitude of this famine along with the politics of the time with the English, encouraged almost one million Irish people to migrate to the new world. During the influx of the Irish to America, the majority relocated to Boston and New York in greater numbers than in New Orleans, but like each piece of history that we explore here in NOLA dear readers, we can see the significant impact that each culture created in the city. When looking at American history, it can be said that Ireland’s loss was America’s gain, as the country benefitted in a myriad of ways from the Irish settling here in the U.S. Many of our cultural, religious and holiday celebrations were brought here by the Irish, including the celebration of Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day.

The Irish who migrated through the port of New Orleans settled into an area near the river called the Irish Channel. At great peril and with a tremendous loss of life due to disease, snakes and alligators, the Irish were instrumental in digging and establishing the extensive canal system in the city including the New Basin Canal which provided an important link from downtown New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. The building of the New Basin Canal was extremely difficult, as the Irish worked with water up to their hips while digging and were at constant risk of contracting malaria, cholera and yellow fever, all of which were fatal to many. Many of the Irish laborers who fell ill while working were buried at or near this area and it is estimated that the number could be as high as 30,000. This area is reportedly one of the most haunted in New Orleans, especially near Canal Street at City Park Avenue, which has a record of hauntings and active encounters including seeing full apparitions of ghosts walking down the street and ghostly funeral processions.

The Irish added to the diversity of architecture and culture in the city, building St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and establishing Hibernia Bank. One example of Irish architecture is the Gallier House on Royal Street, built by Irishmen James Gallier and his son James Jr. who were architects in the city. Another testimony to the strength and heart of the Irish is the statue of Margaret Haughery, an Irish immigrant who became a well respected business woman in New Orleans. Her business acumen was only matched by her good deeds and charity and the statue portrays her comforting an orphan in her arms. It is believed that this statue of Margaret is the first statue in the U.S. to honor a woman.

When in New Orleans, it’s always good to tap into the ‘Luck of the Irish’ and no place is more famous for being Irish in the city than Pat O’Briens. With their signature flame fountains (water fountains with fire in the middle), live music and special drinks served up in souvenir glasses, Pat O’Brien’s delivers on their motto created back in 1933, which is “Have Fun”! Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Pat O’Brien’s has an illustrious history, first as a speakeasy during prohibition and then operating as an Irish bar. Perhaps what it’s most famous for is the creation of the drink – the ‘Hurricane‘, which is still popular to this day. Dining and listening to music at Pat’s is an experience not to miss while in New Orleans. May the luck of the Irish be yours while you enjoy the food, music and festivities!

Kala’s tips on finding the ‘Luck of the Irish‘ while visiting New Orleans:

• Visit the historic Gallier House, now a local museum located on Royal Street
• Have a signature Hurricane drink at Pat O’Briens in a souvenir take home hurricane glass
• Order your very own Pat O’Brien’s Mardi Gras beads to wear at the next St. Patty’s Day party
• There’s no St. Patrick’s Day parade quite like the one in New Orleans where cabbages, potatoes and other produce are tossed from the floats
• Visit the haunted area of Canal Street at City Park avenue to try your luck at seeing a ghost