A Word From Beyond

News From David Raby and The Shadows WIthin

December 2021 - Vol. 1 Issue 9

 

We're dreaming of a better 2022 for everyone!  In this issue, we'll look back at an eventful year and look forward to exciting paranormal investigations in 2022. 

2022 EVENTS!

 

We are working hard to finalize our schedule of group paranormal events for 2022. We already finalized three dates for Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. We are in talks to return to Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island and we may have a few surprises up our sleeves for you. So stay tuned for the latest news!  

 

As for now, here are events that we can announce:  

 

"A Spirited Evening at Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum" - Lenox, Mass

Group Paranormal Investigations (7:00 pm - midnight) 

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Saturday, October 29, 2022  

 

We hope to see you in 2022!  

2021 IN REVIEW

 

For many of us, 2021 is a year we would like to forget. We spent much of the year still in the throes of a global pandemic. Every time it seemed like we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, another surge appeared. Even at this writing, we are seeing the beginning of what could be yet another. This year people rolled up their sleeves to be vaccinated and to receive boosters, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy. Through it all, we were thrilled to have four group paranormal investigations in 2021 to provide a much-needed distraction to all of the chaos of this year. 

 

For me personally, 2021 was a very challenging year - and one I'd like to forget. On May 18, I was in such excruciating pain that I thought I was dying. I went to the emergency room and faced what I thought was routine surgery. Unfortunately, there were major complications, and the grim reaper tried his best to get me. I was in the hospital for several weeks - including a two-week stay in the ICU. I had no choice but to pause all of our events to concentrate on my health. Believe it or not, I had to rely on a walker when I first left the hospital. I had many messages of hope, love and well-wishes from so many people, and I appreciated them all more than I can adequately say in words. All those messages helped my resolve to get back on my feet again. The great news is that episode is in the rear-view mirror and I'm not planning to go anywhere for a long time. The Grim Reaper, however, is still licking his wounds after tangling with me. 

 

Our investigation season began with a bang in April with the Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, New York. I'm so thrilled (saying that sarcastically) that the spirits there are still using their nickname for me. We tried out the Estes Method with much success. However, the investigation became very serious as we were communicating with a spirit of a woman who lost her child. When we asked her what happened, a very angry male responded very harshly, "What do you think?". The spirits in the basement continue to drop a lot of "f-bombs" at the owner, especially when mentioning finding out what is buried in the basement. I still have so many hours of video and audio to pour through, but we know it was another active evening. 

 

On May 1, we held our first public group investigation of 2021 at Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum. We were surprised in the former billiards room when three of us were overcome by an energy that made us ill. Our first time using the Estes Method at Ventfort brought a familiar refrain of "he is coming". We get that many times on Phasmabox and heard it many times through the spirit box. Usually "he is coming" or "he is here" is followed by a strong energy in the space. I had felt someone on my back and a guest confirmed they saw something touching my back. The energy in the room was very powerful and I tried to put positive energy in the air by lightening up the mood of the room. I was joking around and through the headphones, a guest heard, "I am leaving, I am gone" and the room became much lighter. But, something peculiar started to happen on May 1 that would impact me throughout the year - the spirits learned how to interfere with more of our equipment.  At one point, we all heard laughter from the Phasmabox when I was trying to get our equipment to work - not once, but two bouts of antagonistic laughter. Most of the audio has been analyzed, and we will release that in the coming months. 

 

As mentioned earlier, our events were shut down from mid-May through September while I needed time to heal. My first event back was on September 24, again at Ventfort Hall. This event was memorable in that the spirits interfered with abut 80% of our equipment. Brand new batteries are always inserted in equipment, but yet, most did not work there that night. The next morning, at home, everything worked perfectly. But, the Phasmabox worked and gave us the biggest surprise of the year. When we were in the dining room, I asked the spirits to turn off the lights. It's a trick they've done a number of times.  But yet, not on this night. When I asked again to turn off the lights an exasperated voice said in response, "I'm sick of this shit." Well, I was silent for a good minute or two trying to think if I had heard that right. The room was painfully quiet, you could feel the tension in the air. After a while I asked if I heard that correctly, and the guests all had a great laugh. Sadly, for the last two events, the lights have not turned off. But, we're trying to get them to try new things, so don't fear. Another surprise is that we heard from Annie Haggerty calling out for her husband Robert several times that night. I had not heard her for a while, so it was nice to hear her voice again. There was a strange energy in one of the corners of Mr. Morgan's room that many guests felt. It was a heavy energy, wasn't cooperative, but was just there. Again, we will release all data from this investigation in the coming months. 

 

Our third event at Ventfort Hall was on October 30. The mansion was decorated for Halloween and it was an exciting evening. My portal, however, was being manipulated when we arrived. As soon as I turned it on, it would power off violently as if there were a short. The battery pack was fully charged and all of the wires were correctly positioned, so there was no reason for it to malfunction. The next morning, it worked perfectly, as is. I didn't even do anything different that morning. The mansion was a bit quieter on this night, but there was still activity. The Phasmabox was active, but the Estes Method was not successful that evening. As with the other investigations, we don't know just truly how active a location is until we go through all of the data. I'm sure there are a few gems in the recordings and I will share those in the coming months. 

 

Our final event for the year was our first group paranormal investigation at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. That location is impressive and three-and-a half hours goes by quick in a location of that size. The most surprising thing occurred in the tunnels. As I reached a fork in the tunnel system, I was about to head right, but from the left I heard a low grunting sound from the tunnel. Most guests did not hear it because I was leading the group and there was little room for me to step out of the way. Another guest described the same thing I heard. As I got closer to the source of the sound, it stopped, but then I heard the scurry of something escaping quickly. I had my flashlight on and did not see anything where I heard the scurrying sound. The spirits at Fort Adams, thankfully, did not manipulate equipment and that was an awesome change of pace. I was shocked to get the first and last name of someone who was murdered at the fort. It is very unusual to get both a first and last name from a spirit. But I was excited, because it was a name we had been trying to communicate with for hours. We also happened to get his name where it is believed he received his injuries which would prove fatal. We had amazing responses on the Phasmabox, the spirits boxes and some of the other equipment we had on hand. We cannot wait to share all the recordings from this event!

 

While 2021 was a challenging year, we still had several memorable events to recall fondly. As always, we will spend our "offseason" preparing for the next year - researching new methods and other ways to improve communications with the spirits. We will spend the next few months releasing clips from this year's events, scheduling for 2022, and I will hope to continue writing several of the books I have in various stages.  

 

Whew, what a year!  

WALKING AMONGST THE SHADOWS

 

Usually in this space I tell a story of one of our many paranormal experiences. I will stray a little bit this month because I always think about one spirit at this time of year. It's a spirit of a young woman who I never met while she was alive; but was vital in how I set up our original paranormal investigation team, MPI, and how we still investigate in our new capacity. 

 

Back when I first became involved in paranormal investigating, I practiced by visiting cemeteries. If I went after dark, I did make sure to have written approval to be there. I don't condone trespassing, and inevitably you will need to show proof if police happen to spot you. It was a night in early December, it was about twenty degrees with a fresh snowpack on the ground. It wasn't ideal for investigating, but I made the best of it. I did not have a group at the time, so I was investigating by myself. What better way to learn not to be afraid of spirits than to go alone? 

 

It was an active night, but what interested me was when I arrived at a certain location, I started to hear a tapping sound. To me it sounded like someone was tapping a rock on a gravestone. I was able to come upon the gravestone from where the sound was coming from. The noise stopped as I was there. I took my flashlight and was able to see that the gravestone had stones on top of it. 

 

I studied her gravestone and was stunned to see that she was only twenty years old. There was a photo of her that was encased by a metal attachment to the stone. I began an EVP session and sure enough, when I asked her if she was there with me that night, I did capture a woman's voice saying "Yes." I asked her a few more questions but could not get any additional responses that night. 

 

After the investigation, and after I heard the EVP, I did a little research on the young woman and discovered her obituary. I could not find any record of an accident, and there were subtle clues in her obituary that she either died from suicide or accidental overdose. Inevitably I saw messages from others to her family grieving over her loss. 

 

When another investigator joined my newly formed group, I took her to the same cemetery as it had been very active. This time we investigated during the day, again in December. As we investigated in the day, I had to be careful. I did not want to seem disrespectful and only carried a digital recorder and an electromagnetic field detector that could be easily placed in my pockets in case anyone was there to visit a loved one. 

 

As I came upon the young woman's grave, I saw something that I could never forget. It wasn't paranormal at all, but something that deeply impacted me. I saw what must have been the young woman's mother decorating a small Christmas tree at her daughter's grave. She lovingly placed so many fragile ornaments on a little artificial tree. I kept my respectful distance, but noticed she was crying and talking to her daughter telling her how much she was missed. I had always been respectful of the dead but seeing this young woman's mother cemented my approach to investigating. These spirits we seek to communicate with are like us - only without their physical vessels. They have loved ones who think of them daily. When we investigate, I quite often think of the spirit we are trying to communicate with. I put myself in their shoes, thinking about how I would want someone to talk to my spirit. 

 

Over the years, we did record some more evidence from the site of this young woman's grave. I happened to visit last year during the height of the pandemic because all of our events were postponed and like anything, I needed the practice. I stopped at the gravesite and noticed that the young woman's photo was now faded from years of exposure to the sun and rain. However, when I called her name our K2 meter just started to go haywire and began to light up when we were asking her direct questions. It was obvious that her spirit goes to the cemetery to be with people who think of her.  

 

I do think about her and her mother this time of year. Quite often when my family decorates our tree, I recall that sight. With my own experience this year, it has been hammered home to me that we quite often don't know when our own time is up - or our loved ones. So this holiday season, please give your family a longer hug than usual. You never know how long they will be with us. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

As we approach this holiday season, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you. Thank you for allowing our team to do what we love to do. Thank you for coming to our events and helping historic locations. We know that we cannot do this without you, so we can't say 'thank you' enough! 

 

And so, I wish you and your loved ones the happiest and healthiest of all the holidays. I also wish you and your family a very happy, healthy and blessed 2022!  

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