Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Join me, Kala Ambrose, Your Travel Guide to the Other Side as I take you through the spectacular Haunted History this Fall exploring two of my books: Ghosthunting North Carolina and Spirits of New Orleans sharing what I experienced personally as a psychic medium and my research into the reports of supernatural activity in each location. Along the way, we’ll shop, dine, stay and party at the most delightful places in North Carolina and in New Orleans.

This week I’ll be at the beautiful, historic
Grove Park Inn
on
Saturday, October 27 from 2pm – 5pm
where I’ll be signing copies of my book: Ghosthunting North Carolina

Chapter Twenty: The Gentle Touch from the Pink Lady at the Grove Park Inn, excerpt from Ghosthunting North Carolina by Kala Ambrose:

“An enchanted life has many moments when the heart is overwhelmed with beauty and the imagination is electrified by some haunting quality in the world or by a spirit or voice speaking from deep within a thing, a place, or a person.”-Henry Louis Mencken

In 1998, I first visited the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. I had not previously heard of the Inn until some of our neighbors invited us to tag along with them for a weekend there.   We arrived at check in to find that we all had rooms in a part of the hotel called the Main Inn.

The Grove Park Inn is a stunning hotel built from granite quarried from the surrounding mountains.  The granite has a mixture of quartz crystal inside. Quartz crystal can hold energy and amplify this energy at a greater level. An example of how this energy can be magnified is the vortex that Gary Spivey opened at the Star Hotel, connecting with the quartz crystal in the land, which energized both the land and the crystals.  Quartz absorbs energy and reflects this energy back outward. When quartz is in the stone of a building like the Grove Park, it radiates with the energy of the people who work and visit the Inn.

Whenever I visit the Grove Park, I have an “instant experience” which is very positive in nature.  Each time that I enter the inn, I can feel the vibrational energy coming from the stone structure and it resonates with the happy energy of the many guests who have visited over the decades

A partial list of famous people, who have stayed at the Grove Park, includes: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Will Rogers, George Gershwin, Harry Houdini, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Presidents that have stayed at the Inn include: William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and most recently, Barack Obama.

The Inn opened in 1913 and was the architectural vision of two men, E.W. Grove, who made his money selling an elixir called Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic, and Grove’s son-in-law Fred Seely.  Grove found Asheville to be good for his health and the area inspired him to build a restful and rejuvenating inn. It took over four hundred men twelve months to build the inn, during which time they dragged hundreds of tons of boulders up the mountain using mules, rope, and pulleys.   The result is spectacular; the inn is warm and welcoming and it blends into the natural surroundings.  As my husband, son and I drove up to the entrance of the hotel; I fell in love instantly with the Old World charm of the stone buildings and rocking chairs waiting out front to greet guests.

We entered the Great Hall, which is over one hundred and twenty feet long with ceilings soaring over twenty-four feet high. At one end of the Great Hall are doors leading out to the Sunset Terrace with spectacular views of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Two enormous fourteen feet tall fireplaces in the Great Hall immediately drew our attention.

At check- in we were given our keys and, to our surprise, we were directed to the elevator attendant standing by the fireplace. My husband and I looked at each other, both thinking the same thing– elevator operator by the fireplace? We approached him and asked him to direct us to the elevator.   Like something out of a Harry Potter movie, he led us to a door located in the fireplace.  The elevators are hidden inside the chimneys of the stone fireplace!  The operator rode with us, pushing the gate closed and working the elevator up to our floor.

The elevator door opened to our floor and we stepped off into the Main Inn, entering an area called the Palm Court Pavilion.  It was a nice open space to lounge with chairs and tables set with reading lamps. The décor made me feel like I was stepping back into the Roaring 20’s.

We were tired after traveling across the state of North Carolina. We settled in that evening to sleep and I was awakened about an hour later by my son’s coughing.  In his childhood he suffered from breathing problems and he was experiencing some difficulty that evening.  I gave him his medicine and we sat up together for a while. He still wasn’t feeling better and the room felt a little stuffy, so I threw on my robe and took him to sit out in the Palm Court area. The air was lighter there than in our room and I took a book to read to him to calm him down while we waited for the medicine to kick in and help his breathing. We sat side by side and were relaxing and talking and I was stroking his head and speaking softly to him.

It was close to midnight and the Inn was dead quiet. I felt a sudden chill in the air and pulled my robe tighter around me. My son also felt the chill and he snuggled in closer to warm up.  A few moments later, I felt someone around us and as I looked up from speaking to my son, I saw the ghostly image of a woman standing next to us. Not wanting to alarm my son, I remained quiet, observing her to see what she would do next.

At that time, my son looked up as well and saw the same woman.  It wasn’t alarming to either of us, as her energy felt compassionate and sympathetic towards both of us. She stood next to my son and seemed concerned for him and reached out her hand toward him, as if she meant to stroke his hair along with me.  She was with us for a few moments and then disappeared from our view.

My son and I looked at each other with wide eyes and smiled. It wasn’t the first time that we had seen a ghost; we had experienced several paranormal events together in a haunted house where we had once lived in Florida.  We headed back to our hotel room where my son jumped up on the bed to wake his dad and tell him the story.  My husband couldn’t believe he had missed it all. He was surprised that he had slept through everything, but that’s what the fresh mountain air does for you, relaxes you into a deep sleep.

My son was still not feeling well, so we packed up and left early to get him back home. As we were checking out, I asked the people at the front desk if they had ever heard any reports of a ghost at the Inn. They asked me why and I explained what had happened with my son and I in the Palm Court. The front desk clerks crowded around to hear my story.  They told me that I had seen the ghost of the Pink Lady, as she is known at the Inn.

The legend of the Pink Lady states that in the 1920’s, she fell, or was pushed from the hallway outside her room over the rail where she fell to the floor of the Palm Court Pavilion below.  The room that she stayed in was 545 and there have been reports from people who stayed in the room of experiencing cold spots in the room and sometimes seeing her apparition.

Some paranormal investigators might think that the Pink Lady is a time loop energy imprint apparition, replaying her death over and over in the Palm Court, but that is not what we experienced.  When she appeared to my son and I, she was engaged with us in the present moment and she was aware that my son was not feeling well. She stood by wanting to comfort him in a motherly way, just as I was doing.

The front desk employees told us that a few years prior to our visit, a doctor had stayed at the hotel and reported seeing her and that he had also reported that she seemed very welcoming to children.

Since that visit in 1998, we have returned to visit the Grove Park many times.   We’ve celebrated Christmas at the Grove Park, as well as Thanksgiving and Easter.  We’ve also visited many times to enjoy the inn’s new spa and I’ve been there for “girlfriend getaways” and romantic weekends with my husband and have wonderful memories with family and friends.  Ironically, we never stayed again in the Main Inn, preferring the wings and sometimes the Club Floor.

But each time we visit we do hop on the elevator with our friends and spend some time in the Palm Court in the late evenings, hoping that the Pink Lady will visit us again.

I traveled again this past year to the Grove Park to conduct further research for this book on the Pink Lady, as well as to research any other paranormal activity in the hotel. I brought a video camera along in case she decided to visit with me.  I didn’t see her during my visit and have come to the conclusion that she is really drawn to young children and that’s when she appears most often.  I’ve never slept in her room on the fifth floor, but have heard from employees at the inn that many guests report feeing her presence in the room and are often awakened by her in the evening.

While investigating paranormal activity at Grove Park I heard some other interesting stories from the employees about the hotel’s nightclub called Elaine’s. It is said to be the most haunted spot in the hotel.  We’ve been to Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar during several of our visits and it’s always a very entertaining way to spend the evening. I’ve never seen a ghost or any sign of paranormal activity while there, but the employees report that the activity usually happens when Elaine’s is quiet and they are cleaning up the area the day after a long party the evening before in the club. Music is often heard playing inside Elaine’s club when no one is inside. Several ghostly apparitions have been reported to appear on the dance floor by the employees. They appear to be attending a party from decades ago as they are dressed in attire from the 1920’s and the music heard also appears to be from that time. Photographs taken at Elaine’s often show a large variety of orbs in photos, as the ghostly guests appear to enjoy being around the alcohol, the music, and the lively atmosphere.

A local TV station was once located in the building next to the Grove Park Inn and it is said that a ghost would often interfere with the equipment and enjoyed playing pranks on the staff. Some believe that the ghost is Alice, a servant who haunts the building, which originally was the Battle Mansion owned by Dr. Samuel Battle.  Others believe that the ghost was the Pink Lady from the Grove Park who enjoyed visiting the grounds and nearby home.  The ghost of Dr. Battle was also seen on occasion at the TV station. The TV station has since moved out of the Battle Mansion and the building was later demolished. New construction is ongoing on the site of the old Battle Mansion. It will be interesting to see if any haunted activity is reported during construction by the workers or by the new residents of the building.

The Grove Park Inn is a beautiful, warm and welcoming place to stay.  I’m surprised that it doesn’t have more ghosts who check in and never want to leave.

Kala on book tour speaking at Barnes and Noble

Award winning author, national columnist, inspirational speaker, and host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Radio and TV Show, Kala Ambrose’s teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Whether she’s speaking with world-renowned experts on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, writing about empowering lifestyle choices, reporting on new discoveries in the scientific and spiritual arenas or teaching to groups around the country, fans around the world tune in daily for her inspirational musings and lively thought-provoking conversations.

A highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire, Kala teaches and writes about ancient wisdom teachings and how their techniques can be used in modern day living. Her books, The Awakened Aura: Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body and 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled both cover these topics.

In addition, Kala shares her love of history, travel and the spirit world in her books Spirits of New Orleans and Ghosthunting North Carolina. Her books are designed to explore the history of cities in an entertaining manner while sharing haunted stories and offering travel tips on how to best see the cities to shop, dine, stay, and visit the haunted sites.

Kala writes for the Huffington Post, the Examiner, AOL, Yahoo and Fate Magazine and presents workshops nationally on the Mind/Body/Spirit connection including Auras and Energy Fields, Developing Business Intuition, Haunted History, and Wisdom Teachings at the Omega Institute, John Edward Presents Infinite Quest, the Learning Annex, LilyDale Assembly, and Daily Om. More about Kala at www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

This FREE event will be available on Thursday, October 11th from 7:30pm – 8:30pm EDT

CLICK TO REGISTER

Join Kala Ambrose on this special evening of her book tour, live on Shindig, on Thursday, October 11th from 7:30pm to 8:30pm Eastern, as she shares behind the scenes information about her new book, Spirits of New Orleans.

As “Your Travel Guide to the Other Side,” Kala shares insider’s tips on the best places to stay, shop, dine and party while in New Orleans! Chat with Kala as she takes you back to her roots to discover the Spirits of New Orleans.

During this journey, Kala explores the haunted history of the city and searches for those who decided to make New Orleans their eternal home as a resting place for some and a point of revenge for others. Prepare to embark on an enticing journey into the haunted history, paranormal activities and supernatural rituals and practices in order to fully understand and embrace the cultural significance of the variety of beliefs, superstitions, legends and lore.

Visit the resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery #1, have a drink at some of the most haunted bars in the city and spend the night in your choice of haunted hotels. With Kala as your guide, you’ll tread carefully through haunted Pirates Alley and down the streets of the French Quarter where ghosts, vampires and other supernatural beings lurk around every corner.

More info about Spirits of New Orleans at: http://www.exploreyourspirit.com/neworleansbook.html

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE EVENT ON SHINDIG

Magical Mystical Charm Gates in New Orleans. Join Kala Ambrose, your travel guide to the other side as she explores the Spirits of New Orleans.

Read an excerpt from my book Spirits of New Orleans here on Kala’s Bohemian Blog, where I share my experience at the Court of Two Sisters: …Stepping into this courtyard, one walks back in time and the city outside these doors no longer exists. This is the enchantment of the courtyards designed in New Orleans, where homes were built with the courtyard in the middle so that residents could enjoy a protected and peaceful atmosphere. The name Court of Two Sisters originates from the previous owners, two Creole sisters named Emma and Bertha Camors. Their shop was here on Royal Street and they made their living providing women in New Orleans the best gowns, gloves, perfumes and other fashion accessories. The two sisters (born in 1858 and 1860) spent their entire lives together and according to the history and local lore, they died within months of each other and were buried side by side in 1944 at St. Louis Cemetery #3 in New Orleans. The ghosts of both sisters are often seen throughout the restaurant, both inside the building and strolling around the courtyard.   Read the rest of the story… It’s time to explore the Spirits of New Orleans. Join me, Kala Ambrose, Your Travel Guide to the Other Side as I take you through the haunted history of New Orleans, sharing what I experienced personally as a psychic medium. Along the way, we’ll shop, dine, stay and party at the most delightful places in New Orleans. Let’s go! Entertain *~* Educate *~* Inspire *~* Enchant *~* Delight *~* Empower *~* Explore *~*

Listen to the show on: Explore Your Spirit RADIO On this episode of Explore Your Spirit Radio, Kala speaks with producer/director Stephen Olsson about the new TV series, Global Spirit. GLOBAL SPIRIT is a unique inquiry into humankind’s belief systems, wisdom traditions, and states of consciousness. Hosted by author and spiritual seeker Phil Cousineau and featuring renowned experts such as Deepak Chopra, Karen Armstrong, Robert Thurman, Riane Eisler, and many others, this new critically acclaimed series takes viewers on a mind and soul-expanding journey, exploring the relationships between ancient wisdom traditions, diverse belief systems, world religions, metaphysics and modern science.

Join Kala Ambrose as she travels to speak about her new book, Spirits of New Orleans.  She’ll be handing out Mardi Gras beads along with lively discussion at each event as she shares the haunted history of New Orleans along with describing her work as a travel guide to the other side, offering tips on the best places to stay, shop, dine and while in the Big Easy, party! BOOK SIGNING and DISCUSSION with KALA AMBROSE Barnes and Noble, Cary, NC September 27, 2012  7pm Click here for directions

Watch the Book Trailer for Spirits of New Orleans  As your guide, I’ll point out the history, mystery and legends of the city that you may have passed by before without knowing what lay in wait inside. I’ll also share with you which ghosts are still actively haunting the city and why.  By the end of this journey, you may also find yourself enchanted and charmed by the spirit of Louisiana and New Orleans.  FANTASTIC INTERVIEW AS KALA IS INTERVIEWED BY JIM HAROLD

Are You a Member on GoodReads? Enter for a chance to win a copy of Spirits of New Orleans by Kala Ambrose on GOODREADS   *Winners announced on October 12th, 2012

BUY THE BOOK Spirits of New Orleans here:      The First Reviews Are Out about Spirits of New Orleans! Join Kala Ambrose, your travel guide the other side, as she takes you back to her roots to discover the Spirits of New Orleans. Visit the resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery #1, have a drink at some of the most haunted bars in the city and spend the night in your choice of haunted hotels. With Kala as your guide, you’ll tread carefully through haunted Pirates Alley and down the streets of the French Quarter where ghosts, vampires and other supernatural beings lurk around every corner. Explore Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses, Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead with Kala Ambrose and prepare to be supernaturally and eternally charmed by the city of New Orleans. Spirits of New Orleans takes you behind the scenes with detailed information about each destination including the best places to shop, dine, stay and party! “Seeing a ghost in New Orleans is as common as having a bowl of gumbo. The question is not when, but where best to savor them both. Each person who lives or visits the city of New Orleans quickly finds their favorite haunts, which they return to time and time again.” – Kala Ambrose

Stay Connected with Kala Explore Your Spirit App Get the App Here

Hey NC! Are you in Raleigh this weekend? Come check out the Pagan Festival at the NC State Fairgrounds.

Drop by the Explore Your Spirit Radio Booth to get your FREE Mardi Gras Beads (while supplies last) as we celebrate the release of my new book Spirits of New Orleans!

We’re also giving out other free goodies for my book Ghosthunting North Carolina too including Psychic Fish!

Here’s a spooky shot of Pirate Bones, hanging from the booth as we set up today.

Could these bones be from the infamous pirates who hid their treasure along the Carolina coast like Blackbeard and his men? Or perhaps they are from the time of Jean Lafitte and his band of men who ruled New Orleans and for a time, had Presidents, Kings and Queens all ask for his assistance.  Any ECU fans want to come verify for us? Ok, they’re our bones for the booth, but you get the idea.

Check out Ghosthunting North Carolina and Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses, Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead to hear the rest of the story…

Information about the Pagan Festival event at: http://cncpaganpride.org/

Charm Gate at the Court of Two Sisters in New Orleans Photo by Kala Ambrose

Excerpt from Kala Ambrose’s New Book – Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses, Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead.

The Court of Two Sisters is a restaurant in the French Quarter offering the most delightful courtyard to enjoy a meal. In the courtyard, the wisteria trees have interlocked and connected creating a natural canopy over the courtyard, bringing the space alive with sunlight peeking through the leaves. This delightful display is further highlighted by the presence of a bubbling fountain. I find wisteria to be such an interesting choice for this courtyard as by definition, wisteria means to “cling”. The wisteria canopy welcomes guests, expressing that dining experience will offer long lasting memories of the event.

The jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters is the perfect respite from an evening spent on Bourbon Street and the strolling jazz trio lifts the heart. While experiencing brunch in this manner, one begins to muse that every meal should be this grand. The thought of a quiet meal back home, sounds absolutely appalling.  The overall effect of the restaurant creates the feeling that one has just stepped into a painting. The scene is filled with old world charm, caught in a moment of boundless spring, highlighted by the tinkle of laughter coming from guests sitting at crisp white tablecloths enjoying private moments.

Stepping into this courtyard, one walks back in time and the city outside these doors no longer exists. This is the enchantment of the courtyards designed in New Orleans, where homes were built with the courtyard in the middle so that residents could enjoy a protected and peaceful atmosphere. The name Court of Two Sisters originates from the previous owners, two Creole sisters named Emma and Bertha Camors. Their shop was here on Royal Street and they made their living providing women in New Orleans the best gowns, gloves, perfumes and other fashion accessories. The two sisters (born in 1858 and 1860) spent their entire lives together and according to the history and local lore, they died within months of each other and were buried side by side in 1944 at St. Louis Cemetery #3 in New Orleans. The ghosts of both sisters are often seen throughout the restaurant, both inside the building and strolling around the courtyard.

Some of the most entertaining stories I have heard about the Court of Two Sisters is about the courtyard, where locals told me they have seen fairies dancing about in the trees and around the beautiful fountain that is in the center of the courtyard.  They say you can see them day and night and that there are many elementals, fairies and sprites that have lived in this courtyard for hundreds of years.

I certainly agree that there is a beautiful energy here that takes you out of the mundane world and makes you feel truly transported into somewhere ethereal.  This restaurant was my mother’s favorite restaurant in the world and each time she visited she would return back home and tell me about her evening from beginning to end.

She said that every time she visited, she had a feeling that she had been there before in a past life and she would remember the man she had been with whom she believed to be her husband. Each time she would dine at the restaurant, she would dream about the Court of Two Sisters later that evening. In her dream she said that she looked very similar to how she looked this lifetime with dark brown hair, green eyes and wearing a light dove gray dress and a cameo ring on her hand.

Cameo ring Photo by Kala Ambrose

Many years later when she visited the Court of Two Sisters again, a gentlemen friend presented her with a gift that he had purchased for her in a nearby antique shop on Royal Street earlier that day.  It was an antique cameo ring and it fit her perfectly.  She was in shock, as it looked identical to the ring she had seen in her dreams and now here it was on her hand at the very restaurant where she had dreamed that she wore this ring before.

Her friend had never heard her speak about the dream to him, nor had she ever mentioned a ring of this type to anyone. Years later she showed me the ring and explained how special it was to her in this lifetime. She felt that it was her ring from another lifetime that had found its way back to her again.  She said that it had been charmed and it carried an old spell in it that the owner of the ring would always find their way back to New Orleans.

My mother asked her friend where he had bought the ring and he took her to the shop the next day. While there she asked the owner where he had purchased the ring. He told her that a man from New York had entered his shop wanting to sell the ring. He had said that it was from his mother’s estate and that she had specified in her will that the ring must be returned to New Orleans upon her death. The man from New York was unsure of what that meant exactly, so he traveled to New Orleans. He first offered the ring to a museum, which declined the offer and so he sold it to the antique store here on Royal Street.  The ring had been here at the store for a couple of years and the owner said that many people had commented on it, but none had been interested in purchasing it until my mother’s friend had dropped in the day before.

My mother later passed this ring on to me, telling me that she knew that no matter where else I traveled or lived, that Louisiana was always in my heart and the land I call home.  It is a special treasure to me and every time I pull it out, I swear I can hear a siren song from the muses of New Orleans calling me back home to Louisiana.

The ring sits here with me now as I write and she appears to be shining brighter than usual as if aware that I am telling her story now here on paper.  Curious about its origin, I recently had it appraised and was told that it dates back to the Victorian times. It is the most interesting piece, as I have seen many cameo brooches, but a ring the size of a brooch is quite distinctive.

Rings like other objects can be charmed and have spells put upon them and the energy in this ring feels as strong today as the day decades ago when my mother first showed the ring to me.  I know that if I place it on my hand, that I’ll soon be called back to New Orleans, as the energy is so strong.

Like the ring, the charm of the two sisters and their courtyard are delightful on their own. There’s true magic to be found at this location, in the courtyard with the fairies and elementals and at the entrance of the restaurant on Royal Street.

Waiting for you at the entrance of the Court of Two Sisters are ‘charm gates’, given to the two sisters by Queen Isabella of Spain in 1832. These gates were blessed with magic and are reported to be lucky. It is said that if you touch them, you will be the recipient of their charms.  Of course you know the first thing I had to do when I first saw these gates was to place both hands firmly upon them to tap into the energy as well as to tune in to what energy had been collected by the gates over the years. As a psychic with the added ability of psychometry, I can touch an object and see an experience that stayed with the object. I was very interested in seeing what stories the gates had to tell.

The iron on the gate was cool to the touch and the restaurant has attached small blue lights, which drape around the gates.  Standing there in front of the gates I gripped the iron and felt a cool breeze rush past me, giving me a slight chill. As I held on to the gate, I closed my eyes and could hear past conversations from the mists of time. At first there was the energetic download of hundreds of conversations that have been collected and then I began to see the young girls. Over the years, hundreds, maybe thousands of young women have touched these gates, with their wish being to find true love. More than any of the other hands that have touched these gates hoping for thousands of favors and wishes to be granted, it is the wishes of the young girls that have left the strongest impression upon these charmed gates.  It appears that the purpose of the gates is to help people find true love.

If you are looking for a place to get engaged, have a wedding reception or celebrate an anniversary, I believe that the Court of Two Sisters is one of the most magical and enchanted sites in which to conduct such a ceremony or celebration.

Begin by touching the charmed gate and then enter the enchanting courtyard where the elementals and the elements await your presence, ready to delight all of your senses and provide you with a romantic atmosphere to remember for a lifetime.

Charm Gate sign at the Court of Two Sisters. Photo by Kala Ambrose

If you can’t wait until your next visit to New Orleans and the Court of Two Sisters to tap into this ancient energy, simply place your hand on the charm gate photo shown here and allow the charm to pass through to you.
The magic has just begun and if the enchanted ring I’m wearing while writing this story has any say, you’ll soon be on your way to visit New Orleans to visit the Court of Two Sisters and their charmed gates.

Kala’s Travel Tips:

- The courtyard is best enjoyed in spring, fall or winter. Summer is a bit too warm for some to enjoy sitting outdoors, though on early mornings, I find it delightful in summer too.

- Try drinking a Sazerac here from the bar, one of the oldest cocktails in New Orleans.

- Most of the meals are served as a buffet, and unless you’re from Louisiana, you may not recognize some of the dishes prepared. It’s ok, be adventurous, you might like something new and if you don’t, that’s ok too, there’s plenty to sample and enjoy.

- Save room for bananas foster, a must have for dessert.

- The Jazz Trio Brunch is served daily and is a wonderful way to recover from a long evening spent on Bourbon Street.

- The restaurant is located on Royal Street, which is home to many wonderful antique shops as well. While you’re there, try your luck and explore some of these shops, perhaps you’ll find a charmed ring of your own.

About Kala Ambrose: Noted wisdom teacher, author, intuitive, inspirational speaker, and host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Radio and TV Show, Kala Ambrose’s teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Whether she’s speaking with world-renowned experts on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, writing about empowering lifestyle choices, reporting on new discoveries in the scientific and spiritual arenas or teaching to groups around the country, fans around the world tune in daily for her inspirational musings and lively thought-provoking conversations.

Kala is the author of four books including the award-winning 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled, Ghosthunting North Carolina,  The Awakened Aura: Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body and now, Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses, Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead.

A highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire, Kala writes for the Huffington Post, the Examiner, AOL, Yahoo and Fate Magazine and presents workshops nationally on the Mind/Body/Spirit connection including Auras and Energy Fields, Developing Business Intuition, Haunted History and Wisdom Teachings at the Omega Institute, John Edward Presents Infinite Quest, the Learning Annex, LilyDale Assembly, and Daily Om.

Spirits of New Orleans: Voodoo Curses, Vampire Legends and Cities of the Dead by Kala Ambrose

“Seeing a ghost in New Orleans is as common as having a bowl of gumbo. The question is not when, but where best to savor them both. Each person who lives or visits the city of New Orleans quickly finds their favorite haunts, which they return to time and time again.” – Kala Ambrose

Recently I returned back to my roots in the great state of Louisiana and spent some time in my favorite place in the world, the French Quarter of New Orleans. One never runs out of things to experience in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana). Truly it is captivating, a veritable feast for all five senses as well as the sixth sense.

The best way to describe how I feel in this city would be to use the word, “charmed”. New Orleans is many things to many people, but for me, it’s charming and embodies a spirit, a joy for living (joie de vivre) that is expressed throughout the city.

I remember the first time I returned to New Orleans after Katrina. I had no idea how the vibe of the city would feel after having going through such a horrific experience. My heart was thrilled to see that the great lady was holding her own with a state of grace, while still undergoing major renovations on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level.

I traveled around parts of the city riding the streetcars, taking in each neighborhood, enjoying the stunning architecture, the smell of honeysuckle and jasmine in the air, and chuckling at the sight of Mardi Gras beads hanging from the boughs of trees. As the streetcar delivered me near the French Market, the smell of beignets and coffee coming from Café du Monde lifted my spirit. Yes, I sighed with relief, New Orleans has been through the worst and still she stands, proud, strong and vibrant.

It is my sincere belief that New Orleans is ‘charmed’. Charmed by the artists and musicians when their music and art spill into the streets touching the soul at the core, charmed by the chefs who tantalize our appetites in sweet rhapsody with their culinary delights, and charmed by the people who are kind, good natured and some of the most loving and joyful people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

The Journey Begins

As we begin this journey into the Spirit and Spirits of New Orleans, we will be treading carefully into the Cities of the Dead and visiting the land of magical Voodoo Queens.  Growing up in Louisiana, I assumed people everywhere spoke about mojo, gris gris, ju-ju, and Voodoo and celebrated Mardi Gras and other joyous occasions for the simple joy of being alive and around family and friends. Later as I lived and traveled around the country, I soon discovered that Louisiana has a very unique style of living. There is no other place like this in the world.  I’m of French, Scottish, Irish and German origin and my family has lived in almost every area of the state.  My mother was a “Cajun Queen” born in Lafayette and my great-grandmother lived in South Louisiana where she supported her family by reading tea leaves and making folk remedies.

I grew up attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans from the advantageous position of being carried through the city on my father’s broad shoulders where I was free to stretch out my hands and catch beads as the floats passed by.  He tirelessly carried me through these parades, carrying bags of beads, doubloons and other items that I collected.  I first danced to the LSU Fight song at the age of three at a game with my parents where I danced during half time to the delight of family and spectators who remarked that even at this early age I had the rhythm and spirit of Louisiana in my soul.  I was raised Catholic, went to school where I was taught by nuns, played along the Red River, went crabbing, fishing and inner tubing and grew up in a state where people celebrated the joy in everyday life. I can’t really remember a weekend growing up where my parents weren’t having a party of some kind with family and friends dropping by and a huge variety of food being cooked and shared by everyone. Everyone I met was an honorary uncle or aunt and no one stayed a stranger for long.

I also grew up having psychic abilities as well as the ability to see ghosts and communicate with the spirit world. I began having prophetic dreams at an early age and communicating with beings that I first attributed to being my guardian angels. I spent the majority of my free time in the libraries getting my hands on every book I could find on the subjects of ancient mythology, ancient history, the ancient gods of Egypt, the Oracles of Greece, Celtic traditions, comparative world history and religions and ancient spiritual practices. I also loved to read ghost stories and legends. This passion for all of these topics began at the age of five or six and I have never looked back.

As my psychic abilities grew and developed, it did not take me long to realize that I had been born into a magical land. Louisiana is a land where magic still lives, a place where time stands still in a primordial fashion and portals in the swamplands open to the supernatural realms where fairies and other mystical creatures roam.

It is a land so ancient and powerful that the magic is still afoot. With a simple call to action, this energy rises from the fertile rich soil of the Mississippi Delta and the Gulf Coast and awakens to answer your call. I grew up with a healthy respect for this magic and with the understanding that this magic also lives within me.

I heard the siren song of the Muses who stand guard over Louisiana and I answered their call very early in life. Though I have traveled and lived in many areas of the U.S., I have always held the spirit of Louisiana in my heart and soul. She and I are one and her magic runs deep into my core.  Each time I return, the ancient magic stirs and recognizes that this is my home. Each day that I stay in New Orleans, deeper memories surface of past lives spent here in the city. Each time that I write about New Orleans, the people and their ghosts join me in remembrance of times gone by and in the hope that New Orleans is to be reborn once again.

author, intuitive and talk show host Kala Ambrose

Join me on this magical mystery tour as I become your “Travel Guide to the Other Side”.  As your travel guide, I’ll point out the history, mystery and legends of the city that you may have passed by before without knowing what lay in wait inside. I’ll also share with you which ghosts are still actively haunting the city and why.  By the end of this journey, you may also find yourself enchanted and charmed by the spirit of Louisiana and New Orleans.

For those of you who have never been to the city, I’m going to introduce you to the lady and beguile you into falling in love with her and for those of you have been to NOLA and haven’t been back in a while, I’m going to help you fall in love all over again.

In my book, Spirits of New Orleans, we will explore the history of the city and those who decided to make it their eternal home as a resting place for some and a point of revenge for others.  As the legendary Bette Davis once said, “Fasten your seatbelts, we’re in for a bumpy ride” as we delve into voodoo curses, vampire legends, lost souls, and the “Cities of the Dead.”

Once the romance of the city is fully in bloom, I’ll be your guide into the dark side of the city, where ghosts haunt the streets and every corner.  I’ll show you where I’ve run into ghosts and other supernatural entities in broad daylight and on foggy nights and share with you some of the most haunted sites in the city.

At the end of this ride, you’ll come away knowing a great deal about the history of New Orleans and her people as well as the ghosts who decided they never wanted to leave.

The city has been in the news lately regarding the politics, disaster recovery efforts (and non-efforts), crime and most recently, the Gulf oil spill and hurricanes.  Each report is extremely important and is of great concern.

I worry some days about the coming earth changes and if cities like New Orleans will one day be swallowed up by the oceans and remain only a distant memory. Perhaps we will tell future generations about the city that had such a generosity of spirit, that it threw the world’s biggest free party and Carnival every year for all who wished to attend. Magnificent floats were built, people wore elaborate costumes, and everyone danced in the street wearing boas and catching the free souvenirs being tossed to them, such as beads and doubloons.

I think about this and wonder, will these future generations shake their heads in disbelief, while living in cold steel cities where parades consist of little more than uniform marching bands with small banners. Perhaps they’ll laugh at these tales and compare them to the mythological stories of Atlantis and Lemuria.

For this reason I write, in the hopes that future generations will know that true magical cities did and do exist and if at all possible, those who can will move heaven and earth to see that New Orleans survives.  Her soul belongs to the Muses and the Bohemian’s who heed the call of art, music, literature, dance, theater, history, self- expression and love in all forms.

New Orleans is a unique and deeply important part of the United States that must be preserved. In many ways, it is the soul of this great land, where music, art and creative ventures are born and venture onward throughout the country on the wings of muses to the delight and joy of many.

My intent here is to share the beauty and the magic of New Orleans in harmony with the haunted history in a city so special and so unique that truly it deserves to be respected as a rich cultural treasure.

I’m pleased to serve as your travel guide to the other side. The stories and information I share here are true as to the best of my knowledge, experience, and research. History is never truly accurate in all accounts and many of these stories have been passed down verbally through the generations. As such, the possibility of some of the information being embellished and changed over time occurs when the stores are passed down over centuries. The story of the LaLaurie house is one example where further research recently by a group of people revealed a completely new twist to the haunted tale.  In due diligence, I’ve collected eyewitness accounts, local lore and legends, and stories based on these beautiful haunted spaces. I then attempted to confirm as many of these details as possible by court records, museums and other legal documents and books available regarding these stories.  Finally, I visited each location independently to see as a psychic and a medium what I could discern and experience in each location and when possible, to speak with the spirits directly.

The result of this investigation is presented here in the Spirits of New Orleans. May the tales of these spirits delight, entertain and enchant you along the journey.

In love, joy and a sprinkle of magic,

~Kala~

Are you ready to explore the history and mystery of this city?
Join me and together we will explore the:
SPIRITS OF NEW ORLEANS

About Kala Ambrose:

Noted author, columnist, inspirational speaker, and host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Radio and TV Show (www.ExploreYourSpirit.com), Kala Ambrose’s teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Whether she’s speaking with world-renowned experts on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, writing about empowering lifestyle choices, reporting on new discoveries in the scientific and spiritual arenas or teaching to groups around the country, fans around the world tune in daily for her inspirational musings and lively thought-provoking conversations.

A highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire, Kala teaches and writes about ancient wisdom teachings and how their techniques can be used in modern day living. Her books, The Awakened Aura: Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body and 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled cover these topics.

In addition, Kala shares her love of history, travel and the spirit world in her books Spirits of New Orleans and Ghosthunting North Carolina. Her books are designed to explore the history of cities in an entertaining manner while sharing haunted stories and offering travel tips on how to best see the cities to shop, dine, stay, and visit the haunted sites.

An award winner author and columnist, Kala writes for the Huffington Post, the Examiner, AOL, Yahoo and Fate Magazine and presents workshops nationally on the Mind/Body/Spirit connection including Auras and Energy Fields, Developing Business Intuition, Haunted History and Wisdom Teachings at the Omega Institute, John Edward Presents Infinite Quest, the Learning Annex, LilyDale Assembly, and Daily Om. More about Kala at www.ExploreYourSpirit.com 

On this episode of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, Kala speaks with Normandi Ellis about her new book, Imagining the World into Existence: An Ancient Egyptian Manual of Consciousness.

Drawing from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Pyramid texts, the Book of Thoth, and other sacred hieroglyphic writings spanning the three millennia of the Egyptian Mystery Traditions, Normandi Ellis reveals the magical language of creation and words of power that enabled the ancient Egyptians to act as co-creators with the gods. Examining the power of hieroglyphic thinking–how thoughts create reality–and the multiple meanings behind every word of power, Ellis shows how, with the Neteru, we imagine the world into existence, casting a spell of consciousness over the material world. Uncovering the deep layers of meaning and symbol within the myths of the Egyptian gods and goddesses, Ellis investigates the shamanic journeys that ancient Egyptian priests used to view the unconscious and the afterlife and shares their initiations for immaculate conception, transubstantiation, resurrection, and eternal life—initiations that later became part of the Christian mystery school.

Revealing the words of power used by these ancient priests/sorcerers, she explains how to search for the deeper, hidden truths beneath their spells and shows how ancient Egyptian consciousness holds the secret of life itself.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE ON
EXPLORE YOUR SPIRIT WITH KALA RADIO

About Normandi Ellis:
Normandi Ellis, author of four books on ancient Egyptian wisdom traditions–Dreams of Isis (Quest Books, 1995), Feasts of Light (Quest Books, 1999), and Awakening Osiris (Phanes Press, 1988). Her most recent Inner Traditions book, which was coauthored with Gloria Taylor Brown, is Invoking the Scribes of Ancient Egypt: The Initiatory Path of Spiritual Journaling, which is the topic of this interview. A priestess in the Fellowship of Isis, ordained by Lady Olivia Robertson of Clonegal Castle, Ireland, Normandi leads trips through the temples of Egypt in conjunction with Shamanic Journeys and Nicki Scully. Normandi is also the author of four works of fiction, most recently Going West. She facilitates writing workshops and spiritual retreats at PenHouse Retreat Center, which is located on her Kentucky farm and continues to lead national and international tours about Egypt. More info at www.NormandiEllis.com

Fodor's Travel App to NYC

Life is full of wonderful surprises and gifts at every turn. Each day I take the time to honor the gifts in which I have received from the mind, body and spirit level. Some of them are natural, such as the beautiful raindrops falling around my home today, which I adore. At other times, they are gifts that I find out of the blue, which are the most fun to discover!

Today’s Sweet Surprise, the Thing I Love and am grateful for is…  Fodor’s New Travel App to NYC

I just discovered that Fodor’s has created a series of travel apps that are free to download.  For a girl on the go like me, I often turn to Fodor’s as my go to guide of what to do when I’m in a new city and as a trusted friend to recommend new interesting places to me in cities where I’ve been many times.  I love visiting NYC and having this app on my phone will allow me to jump in a cab and try something new every time I’m there.

Here’s the description from the Fodor’s NYC App of what it offers: