apparition
The Haunted History Of Music City
Many cities around the world are home to their fair share of ghosts and haunted places. Nashville, Tennessee, also known as Music City, is no exception. With the city’s rich and diverse cultural history, from early Native American times to the Civil War to today’s country music industry, it’s no wonder Nashville is haunted.
The unique histories of cities like Nashville, New Orleans, and Savannah, which have experienced war, disease, natural disasters, and slavery, contribute to their reputations as some of the most haunted places. In these cities, many people died under unpleasant circumstances, and much of the modern urban landscape is built on old graveyards and cemeteries, adding to the lore and mystery of these places.
One of the most famous ghosts in Nashville is that of Adelicia Hayes, a 19th century woman whose second husband built the city’s famous Belmont Mansion. Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham (1817–1887) is an influential and controversial figure in Nashville’s history and was one of the wealthiest women of the antebellum South. Her first husband died in 1846, leaving her an inheritance valued at approximately $1 million, which included seven Louisiana cotton plantations, a two-thousand-acre farm in Gallatin, Tennessee and hundreds of slaves.
The Angels, Spirits And Mystical Beings That Walk Among Us
When I was very young, I had a strange dream. I was in the living room of our house, and it was very late at night. I dreamed that I went to the window. The curtains were closed, but I pushed them aside to look out. There I saw a vision that I will never forget.
In our front yard stood an old woman with white hair. She was holding what looked like a glowing rock or quartz crystal.
I remember thinking to myself that this was all very strange, that it might not be good for her to be standing there in the cold so late at night. But I also remember not feeling surprised or scared. Instead, I felt comforted and curious at the same time.
Then the old lady turned around, as if she had noticed me. But instead of looking at me, she bent down, gently dropped the glowing crystal on the grass, and walked away.
Twenty years later, I was at the checkout counter in a supermarket and noticed an unusual old lady nearby. Something about her told me she was a very special soul. We are all unique, of course, but this lady was definitely not from around here! She was wearing vintage fashion that was clearly from the 1920s. Before I could figure out why she drew my attention, she started walking toward me.
The Difference Between Ghosts And Spirits
The terms “ghost” and “spirit” are often used interchangeably, but there are significant differences in how they’re traditionally understood.
Over the years, I have found that it is quite common for people to sometimes confuse ghosts with the spirits of their deceased loved ones, primarily because both concepts involve entities that are no longer living in the physical world.
However, understanding the distinction between these two types of entities is important for those seeking comfort, closure, or communication with the afterlife, especially in the context of mediumship readings and spiritualism.
Our emotional connection to the deceased often influences how we interpret paranormal experiences. Grief, longing, and love can make us more receptive to signs and spiritual energies that we believe are from our deceased loved ones.
Without a clear understanding of the differences between ghosts and spirits, any unusual paranormal activity may be misinterpreted as evidence of a loved one’s presence.
While both ghosts and spirits are spiritual phenomena related to the survival of human consciousness beyond the death of the physical body, there are distinct differences in these two types of entities’ connection to the physical world and their level of progression or transition into the afterlife.
The Magical Ways Spirits Contact Us
I was recently heartened to learn that a good friend of mine has embarked on an exploratory journey to better understand his psychic abilities and the direction of his spiritual path.
He shared with me his amazement that since he began his developmental journey, more and more spirits have been reaching out to him and asking, “Why me? To which I replied, “Why not you?”
It’s common for spirits to try to communicate with those of us who are more sensitive and receptive. People who are more open to spirit contact tend to experience more paranormal activity and visitations from the deceased.
It is important to note that once you open this particular door to the other side, you may experience an onslaught of souls trying to get your attention.
You have the right to let spirit know that you are willing to listen and communicate only when they present themselves one at a time, and only when you are available and it is convenient for you to do so. It is important to set firm boundaries to ensure that your personal time and energy is respected and protected.
My Healing Journey From Trauma To Spiritual Calling
Many years ago, a seemingly random accident changed the course of my life forever. As I traveled the country speaking to various corporate audiences in different cities, one fateful event brought about a profound change.
On that pivotal night, a woman arrived late for my presentation. While everyone was watching an introductory video, I asked her if she had filled out a raffle ballot. When I learned that she hadn’t, I offered to get it for her from the entrance to the hall.
Reaching the hallway doors meant walking between an audio speaker and the first table of guests. As I walked toward the exit doors, signaling to some in the audience that I would return shortly, I had no idea of the terrible events that were about to unfold.
Commercial audio speakers usually have a three-legged base, similar to a camera tripod, to keep the legs out of sight. But at this venue, the speakers had a different, wider type of base, with chrome spokes extending horizontally just above the floor, which the well-meaning organizers had hidden under black fabric. On my way to the doors, I tripped over one of those hidden metal bars!
The impact was severe – I dislocated my shoulder, breaking the bone into four pieces, shattered my knee, and my foot, caught in the fabric, twisted upside down over the bar. The resulting whiplash jammed my head to the left and slightly upward, immobilizing my entire left side.
Coping With The Loss Of A Loved One
Many people I know, including myself and several of my clients, have experienced the loss of a child or grandchild.
Losing a grandparent or parent is heartbreaking, but losing a child is absolutely devastating! It is difficult to understand why someone so young is taken before they had a chance to live a full life.
A few years ago, I found some solace for my continuing grief from a very unexpected source.
I am an avid Nascar fan. If you don’t know what Nascar is, it is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Stock car racing is one of the largest spectator sports in America.
A few years ago I watched an interview with one of the masters of this sport, Richard Petty, also known as “The King.” His words struck a deep chord with me.
Richard Petty’s grandson, Adam Petty, was also a racer like his grandfather. He was only 19 when he died in an accident on May 12, 2000 while practicing the sport he loved so much. His car hit the outside wall of the track, killing him instantly.
In the interview I watched, his grandfather spoke of his depression, guilt, grief, and not wanting to get out of bed because he felt he was somehow to blame for encouraging his grandson to pursue this sport that cost him his young life.
Together Again In The Afterlife
There are many different beliefs and opinions about what happens to us after we die. For centuries, philosophers, theologians, and even scientists have pondered whether or not we are reunited with our loved ones in the spirit world when we leave this life.
There are also many people who believe that there is no life after death. They believe that when we die, our consciousness simply ceases to exist. This idea is often based on the idea that our consciousness is a product of our brains, and when our brains die, our consciousness dies with them.
It is often claimed that there is no definitive answer to any of these questions, and that it is purely a matter of “faith.” Well, faith is believing in something without concrete evidence. It is trusting that something is true without any proof.
I have to disagree. For me, the afterlife is not just a matter of mere faith, nor is it a complex question with no real answers. For me, it is a matter of knowing it as truth from personal, first-hand experiences.
Not only have I seen ample evidence in both my professional and personal life that the afterlife does exist, but I also know that when death separates us from our loved ones, it is only temporary, for we are ultimately reunited with them in the spirit realm.