When Art Brings Out The Shadow Side Of Ourselves

When we hear about creations that are popular in our society such as Slenderman and the story on how a character went so far as to influence these 12 year old girls to stab their friend, we begin to wonder what type of creations is infilterating the minds of our youth these days where media and virtual reality is every where. Perhaps the artist who created him did not realize that what of creation he was tapping into and how far it would go. This is not the first time in history that art has influenced the times and made a strong impact. throughout history it was the artists who created a whole movement to speak out against society and injustice, from the Renaissance masters to the pre Rapaelites, Daidasm in the early 20th century and the Punk Rock movement of which I was a witness during the 70's and early 80's.

But what happens when a creation goes too far so as to de sensitize our youth and bring out the worse in them so as to commit acts of murder and destruction? We all look to art in the visual form and written word to uplift us and bring us to a centered place in our souls. But there are sides of our sub concious that we don't normally want to look at. Everyone has a dark side.We just tend to keep it in balance with the rest of our complex personalities. How over something is missing in the framework of our society when people turn to creations of characters that are nightmarish in nature and seem to be an archetype that keeps popping up in different cultures. I grew up with dark characters on TV like those on the Twilight zone and those created for the movies. Some of them originated from books, or historical myths. The only difference was that we knew it was not real and as soon as it was over we went on with our lives and we did not dwell on such things  However there are people with an extreme degree of sensitivity who cannot handle anything to do with the dark or horror side that brings out our worse fears. Those people tend to have nightmares for days when exposed to this type of art. But there is a difference between being extra sensitive and being excessively impressionable. When you are influenced so as to copy what you see without thinking about the consequences then the fabric of your being has torn a hole and needs to be repaired. I'm not saying that this is the fault of the artist who created this character. In fact I wish he could come on the show and tell his side of the story. But it's the side of our culture that has led to such extreme acts of the shadow side so as to de sensitize our youth with violence and characters whose whole makeup is of violence and dark paths that leave no room for light.

I appreciate it when art tells the truth, Even the truth that is not so  good in our lives. But how far do we go when we see creations giving our young minds ideas that are dark and destructive? That is why communication is so important and also keeping the arts alive so that they can also be exposed to the beauty of this world and of ourselves.  What does this have to do with the paranormal? Alot. It's the spirit in art and humanity that keeps creating it's self again and again.With art we look beyond the surface of our selves and into our dreams. Characters like Slenderman are the result of what is going on in our psyche and it will continue into the decades and next century. But we must keep looking and creating to keep our dreams alive.

Don't Follow Me

I love it when people first start investigating.They learn a lot about what lies beyond and their sensitivity heightens. I watch them grow and they suddenly become a student s learning about life, death, and histories. It makes our own more interesting, and it also helps us to learn about our family stories and try to find that spirit connection we have with both ancestors and recent descendants.

But in following the path of mediums, and seekers of the paranormal there are pitfalls along the way. They need not be pit falls if only we take precautions, but often times when a group I am working with starts to investigate the evidence after a visit somewhere with lots of spirit activity, similar voices or photos will show up and that person will recognize them. I often hear oh I know who that is, they are attached to me and they come up every where. Or I hear: Oh the same spirits surround me all the time and they live in my home with me.

Now lets get a few things straightened out here. We can't be totally free of spirit presences. They are all among us whether we like it or not.Old buildings, houses and places of concentrated activity where a lot of events happened guarantees this and it's natural that they walk among us. However there is a difference on who visits you and whether they are good for you or not. Your deceased parent who is watching over you and comes to look in on you every now and then are good to have around. That is what love is about. It follows us even unto death and it's a warm feeling. We are watched, protected and assured that someday we will be united. How ever lets say that you decided to visit an old hotel and you slept in the room of a former resident and that ghost is still hanging around and takes a fancy to you. He or she decides that your life is more varied and fun than their stale existance so they decide to go home with you and they stay there. Suddenly they are every where you go and pretty soon they start showing up on all the photos even the family ones and you start to know their voice and even recognize it at odd moments. That's when it gets sticky and you have what is known as an attachment. Don't be content with it, Get rid of who ever is there. They do not belong with you. It is like letting a stalker follow you or a stranger in your house. Would you allow that to happen? Of course not. So do the right thing and whenever you visit a place where you are observing spirit presences, be friendly and respectful but always say to them: DO NOT FOLLOW ME. And when you get home please smudge your self or take a bath with sea salt and if you are ever browsing a store that sells supplies for spiritual practices, buy a container of bath crystals that contain an oil with Dragon's Blood. It's an herb made from the resin of a plant found in Indonesia. It's powerful stuff and it will cleanse all that auric residue left over. The incense is good too but the bath really feels wonderful and it helps you feel so clear again.

The idea is that we want to be clean vessels with a clear space where only our energy and thoughts are our own and not influenced by energies around us. When a spirit presence clings in an unhealthy manner, you feel drained, your thoughts are often muddled or unclear. You can't sleep well. (Likewise with people who are alive and are too clingy and needy. They make you feel the same way.)

So what it means to be a clean vessel is that your energy is lighter,cleaner,clearer. Your creativity and sensitive side is heightened. You attract spiritual experiences of a higher nature and this in turn makes you even better when it comes to discerning paranormal experiences. You are able to make sense of what is going around you without a lot of interference. Staying clear and meditation,grounding and prayer work are good for keeping this type of balance.

Remember there are lots of lost souls out there. Of course we feel for them and we do care, but your life is meant to be your own destiny. Just wish them well and go live your life. On your terms only.

I look forward to expanding this subject with everyone on the air.

THE LEGEND OF AMITYVILLE HORROR

I recall when the original novel came out, my first exposure to "The Amityville Horror" story, was borrowing a hardcover book from a good friend in Junior High School in early 1980.  I realize now in hindsight, that the book had actually been published back in September, 1977, but in those days word of mouth traveled slower. The film came out in July of 1979 and this of course fueled further sales of the book.   I recall the cover, black with a flies on the cover and the title in white and red lettering. "Have you read this yet?  This is a true story and very scary." This was the same comment I had heard from a number of other kids my age. I had the chance and I began to read the novel, believing everything, even before I began reading.  On the cover alone it told me in red letters "A True Story," so it must be.

I have a strong memory when I was reading this novel, not until May 1980, of sitting on a large rock after school, located in a playing field behind the school itself.  It was May 19, 1980.  A few people here and there, not sure why I was there reading and not at home, maybe waiting for someone or something around school.  I was well into the novel, and could not put it down, I had to know what was terrifying this family in Long Island, New York, a place that seemed a world away to me.

Off in the distance I could see a large black cloud of ash and smoke that was growing closer and larger, from Mt. St Helens, that had erupted earlier that day in Washington State.  I had no idea it would travel this far, but it was and it was engulfing the skies above me.  Not affected from my standpoint, I continued reading the novel.

     I had so many questions after reading the book, what could make walls bleed?  How does a marching band vanish in the house in the middle of the night, much less appear out of nowhere.  The psychology of George Lutz and his mood swings that shifted the longer they lived in the house were very well documented and fascinating.  Jodi, the playmate of Missy the little girl, this was a terrifying image, surely induced nightmares.  I was done reading it quickly and wondered how a family could flee from their house, leaving all their possessions behind in the night.  What about all those flies in the sewing room?

 I wanted to know more, and then discovered another book on the subject by Hans Holzer, called "Murder In Amityville," which covered the story before the Lutz's moved in, with Ronald DeFeo, who shot and killed his entire family one night and claimed the voices told him to do it.

The film followed and made the rounds soon after, which I found disappointing in comparison to the book.  Maybe all of the claims the Lutz's made seemed more plausible and believable in the novel and just didn't translate to the screen.  The one thing that does stand out is Jodi the pig and those glowing red eyes through the upstairs window.

George and Kathy Lutz also had issues with the film and the changes that were made for the film version (1979) and was based on a script from a television writer, since the studio rejected the one written by the book's author, Jay Anson.  You sign on the dotted line to adapt your "True Story" into a film, you must have some idea that if might not come out as you would expect.

 The film did very well (the critics hated it but it was the most successful independent film at the time) and of course a sequel was made, "Amityville Horror II: The Possession" (1982), which was a prequel of sorts as it covered the DeFeo murders in the house.  The film was not all that good and again, didn't seem to resemble the true crime that did occur with that family.

The third film came out "Amityville 3-D" (1983) and was absolutely terrible, and involved Tony Roberts moving into the house and horror hilarity ensues (flies attacking, whatnot, hole in the basement to God knows where).  The story was weak and the 3-D was possibly the worst that had ever been made for any film in history.

Since the third film was such a letdown, the possibilities continued instead on the small screen, in the form of a TV Movie called "Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes." Items are sold from the famous house in a yard sale, and Patty Duke buys a strange tree-shaped lamp and takes it home, horror hilarity ensues.  What can one expect from a haunted lamp and Patty Duke on television?

The films based on this original story are still coming out to this day with the latest being "Amityville: The Awakening."  Family moves into the house and are haunted in dreams and discover they are in the infamous "Amityville Horror" house, and like with all these sequels, haunted hilarity ensues.

One thing I did find interesting, for those that question if the original Lutz story had any reference of truth, might think about this one sentence: Due to a lawsuit between the Lutz family and Dino De Laurentiis over the story line which did not involve the Lutz family, Amityville 3-D was not called a sequel.  It seems, even though Part 3 was not based on their story in any way, they were still negotiating for money and rights well beyond their own adapted saga.

 Even in 2005 with the remake of "The Amityville Horror" starring Ryan Reynolds, it seems George was still involved in some capacity: George Lutz described the 2005 remake as "drivel" and sued the makers for defamation, libel, and breach of contract. He objected particularly to the scene in the film where the male lead – named as George Lutz and played by Ryan Reynolds – is shown killing the family dog with an axe. The film also shows the George Lutz character building coffins for members of his own family. The defamation claim was dismissed by a Los Angeles court in November 2005, while other issues related to the lawsuit remained unresolved at the time of George Lutz's death.

Other interesting facts about the rights of the story found on Wikipedia:

George Lutz registered the phrase The Amityville Horror as a trademark in 2002, and it is referred to as The Amityville Horror™ on his official website. Lutz claimed that the film producers embellished or fabricated events portrayed in the 1979 version and the 2005 remake. He also claimed that the producers of the 2005 film did not involve his family, and that they used his name without permission.

Who is to say how long the world will endure endless films and television series and specials, based on this house in the future.  One has to ask when does fact end and fiction pick up, or is the line blurred when people recounted their stories, one man's small experience could become another's terrifying ordeal when retold to another.


What do I believe on the Amityville Horror case? Tune in tonight to Ecto Portal to find out!

Anthony Anderson

A Tale Of A Wedding Dress

When I was in my early 20's I was in a band where we liked to dress and used imagery to express our selves. We were considered goth but at the time goth was not a term used to describe a music genre. I was influenced by the silent films I saw and I decided that for our first show at the On Broadway where we played with groups with names like "Beast" "Black Dolls" and "Fade To Black" I was not going to wear your typical black clothing but appear in a long white dress and look like the gothic images of ghosts and female vampires I saw in those old horror movies. So being new to San Francisco I decided to shop for an old dress in the Haight area. At that time thrift and vintage stores had more affordable items. You could find something unique on a budget and it would last you for years if you did not end up selling it or giving it away. I came across a store called Ardvarks. While going through racks of long dresses, I pulled out a faded white crepe dress that looked like it was from the Victorian period. It looked barely worn and in good shape except one flaw. It had dried blood stains on it. I wondered why such a garment that looked like it was out of a gothic novel was doing hanging among old prom dresses and colorful bridesmaids outfits so I decided to ask a store employee. The guy who worked there merely shrugged at my question and told me that it was found in an attic of a Victorian house and that was all he knew. I decided it would look striking on stage so I paid 12 dollars for it and took it home.

Like many dresses from that period it was a very small size but as I have always been on the thin side, I had no problem fitting into it. I felt so feminine and regal when I put it on while I was getting ready to go on stage except for one problem. I was freezing in it and I felt an icy cold presence around me that I couldn't shake off. Being a thin crepe dress and my tendency to get cold, I should have expected it. Except this was no ordinary type of cold. It felt like a cold presence walking around me. Several friends and my band mates noticed this and remarked on it. They were not the type of individuals who sensed these things right away (with the exception of my sister and my friend Sara.) but they felt this one keenly and it gave them the creeps. It ended up that I only wore the dress twice. Once for a photo session and once for the show I bought it for. But that is not where the story ends. Like many items I rarely wear, it ended up in my closet in a box. But the ice cold presence did not go away. It would walk by me when I least expected it and at night my room mate and I heard soft knocks and what sounded like a slight tapping. At times it went on for a while and finally my room mate requested I give the dress away. How she connected the noise with the dress, I don't know but she was very adamant that it was the cause of the disturbance and the interesting part was that she was right. I knew I was never going to wear it again so I was not bothered much about giving it up. I sold it to a vintage store who was thrilled to have such a beautiful time piece in their collection. After this the cold presence was no longer felt and the knocks stopped too. I often thought about who wore this dress and what really happened. Did she die before she became a bride? Was there a terrible accident? I will never know the answer to those questions. But it does make me wonder how many other mysteries in Old San Francisco remain unsolved. Their stories are important and if I was investigating them more closely as I am doing now, I would go back and try to find out more.

May their souls be at peace during the season of light. We will tell more stories tonight on the air.

Photo of me when I was with a group called Children Of Night in 1982 wearing the famous wedding dress by Bob Shattuck.

TAROT IS AN INTUITIVE PRACTICE

The best Tarot readers that I have seen and have had a personal reading from, have all been what I consider "people" persons.  They are able to perceive and pick up intuitively on other people's unrest, patience, frustrations, etc.  This does not mean they are friendly wonderful, people persons, but they have the ability to "pick up on" the perceptions of others intuitively.

These type of people make for effective Tarot card readers, as they can perhaps see the bigger picture that is presented by the cards, before them.  Tarot reading requires an astute listener, and someone with a certain degree of empathy.  Having empathy helps when presenting both good and bad in a reading forecast.

I have been fascinated by Tarot for years, and have had readings done a number of times.  I have even begun painting my own Tarot deck, but have yet to complete it. I believe Tarot is what you put into it, like most things in life.

If you are skeptical and do not believe any of the prophetic nature of the readings, then you will of course not listen and close yourself off to what is really, more often than not, common sense and forces the person who is being read to take a closer look at their current, past and maybe future activities.

Tarot doesn't tell you the name of the person coming into your life, it doesn't tell you where you may have gone wrong, only you know these things, and it is the job of the Tarot reader to help review your past and current choices and maybe try to find who the person of interest may be, or what mistake in your past your may have made.

Is Tarot magic? The answer to that question is no, not really.  It is merely a tool used by someone effectively who speaks with people frequently and has a genuine nature to want to listen and help out where and when they can.

I think the most effective thing about Tarot, isn't the mystic cards or the "what do they cards say about me" aspect, but that they help induce conversation with the person being read.  Anything that can get people talking to one another about themselves, their actions, behaviors with others can only be a positive and if it takes a deck of cards to make this happen, then so be it.

Anthony Anderson

Tarot As A Guide To Your Inner Self

Tarot was originally created as images that speak to the subconcious and reveal what your inner psyche is trying to tell you, Much like dreams and the images that arise during deep meditation. Yet most of the time when certain cards come up such as the tower or the death card they can be scary and intimidating if one is not prepared to understand the deeper meaning behind a situation. That is why it the responsibility of a reader to  counsel the client fully and have them walk away with better knowledge on how to approach their issue than when they came. One way to do this is to look at the surrounding cards and see where and why the situation is occuring.Timing is also a factor. I have done readings where I saw what was going to happen the very next day to readings that came true a year later. The cards traditionally can predict a time frame but mixed together in a pattern it's a combination of intuition and remaining open to letting events unfold. There is also the practice of asking further questions and seeing what solutions the cards reveal. A journal or a notebook is always best to keep a record of the readings. Then you can go back and see what the pattern was trying to tell you. Keep in mind that the pattern comes from your inner self. The cards work as a tool to help you because the mind responds to imagery and symbols as a way to help us understand ourselves.

One exercise I recommend for those who would like to start reading for them selves is to pick a deck where the images are most the pleasing or you feel the most connection with. I always recommend the Rider Waite Smith deck to start with. But if you have an affinity for another deck you run across then by all means buy that one. When I started reading for others I was working a lot with herbs and making herbal remedies. I came across the herbal tarot and the deck not only helped with personal situations but the herbs in the deck were great reminders of what that person needed for their well being at the time. Take for example one person was having nightmares and feeling vulnerable. The card with St. Johns Wort keep coming up. As a flower remedy it is used for protection. As an herbal remedy it is used for mild depression. The latin name for it called Hypericum means over a spirit. It was exactly the sort of help this person needed to get started on her healing process and the cards were a great tool to help her see this. (They did not replace a more serious visit to a doctor or therapist.Always be mindful of that.) After a while you will start to form a connection with your deck where you feel more familiar and it becomes easier and more like working with a long time friend.

One way of learning to read for yourself is to take the cards, and throw out all the traditional and astrological meanings for the time being, and think of a question. Put your hands over the deck and hold it while concentrating on your question. Shuffle and when you feel an intuitive shift inside to stop then placethe cards in one large spread and pick the card that stands out for you. Look at the image and see what  is the first thing that comes to your mind. Go with it.Even if it doesn't appear to make sense. Write it down and come back to it later. You will be surprised at what comes through. For example when my cat Phoebe died I was grieving and not ready for another cat. Candlemas a pagan holiday celebrated in February was coming and I asked Brigit the Goddess who traditionally is associated with this day if she had a message for me. The Sun card came up which sometimes announces a young male child. (among other meanings.) I was confused but went with it and before long I was given a golden tabby kitten where the stripe on his side was shaped round like a sun. I named him Apollo. I had dreamed of him the year before when my cats were still alive. Now he had finally entered my life when I least expected it and right on February 1st. (I swear it's true.I have a couple of people who can attest to this.) This experience was talked about in Pamela Eakins book on tarot. I also recommend her deck Tarot Of The Spirit. The images are beautiful and very powerful.

I look forward to discussing this very special oracle with our guest Tommy Netzband who is a professional reader and hearing what our listeners have to say.

Photo above is of Pamela Coleman Smith who helped create the Rider Waite Smith deck in 1910.

The Moth As A Symbol Of Death

There is a lot of folklore on both sides of my family.  Since my mother lived longer and was an immigrant when she married my father,  she brought with her the tales and superstitions of her childhood in Mexico. One of them was that every time she saw a moth within the vicinity,  she would be say: Oh no a moth. I hope no one is going to die. She was a religious woman though more so later in life and she disliked anything to do with superstition or the occult. Yet she never questioned the folklore she grew up with. As young girls growing up in suburban America the stories always seemed out of place in our culture and surroundings,  yet the funny part was that right after our mother would announce her suspicions after seeing the dreaded omen, we would hear of bad news that a relative was sick or worse.  Perhaps it was all coincidence or one could say that she brought it on by focusing on the subject.  But the truth was that she hated anything to with death and she did her best to shrug it off.  But nevertheless it was spooky to witness bad news shortly later.

So what does this have to with people witnessing sightings such as mothman and other unexplainable entitities?  Because the moth has been seen as a symbol of death in other cultures. Black witch moths are native to certain regions of Mexico and they are known to fly at night and are known to be seen in sick rooms.  This sighting of mothman took place when it was dark and the entity reminded the viewers of a large black moth.  No one knows why or where this entity came from.  In studying the spirit world many shaman traditions speak of entities known as elemental spirits.  These spirits are known to take place in the natural world and known as non human but with distinctive qualities that are related to the animal plant or insect species. As my host Anthony said in his blog, they may exist in alternate realities or other dimensions and that could be the reason why we can't find them after a rare sighting.  This may also count for other symbols of death such Angels, and grim reaper type spirits.  They are seen rarely and at certain times in life but their origins are a mystery.  Yet those who have claimed to have seen these visitors never wavered in their accounts. This also goes for the timely sightings of different animals and insects who are known to be messengers of sad news. They are just innocent beings living their daily lives. Yet the connection they have with humans brings them into our lives during times of stress or deep sadness.  (Happy times too but that is a subject for another blog.  ).

By studying these symbols and why they affect us so much is to study our own inner nature and times of transition and transformation. Change can be scary but often it can freeing and for the better. Myths and stories of other beings stay with us for centuries and the more we preserve them,  the more we understand the cycles of life.

I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts on the air or by commenting below.

Black Witch Moth illustratration by sister Jude for Deviant Art.