Hello Haunted America Tours Readers,
The answer to the question I ask, is yes! At least for me.
As many who follow my articles here over the years or have read my new eBook 'Taking The Paranormal and Spiritual World Seriously. Theories - Thoughts - Experiences' or have come across the web pages that I am on. Being a Chicago Spirit Feeler, Medium and Paranormal Host, my goal is to have individuals experience the Spirit World with what I do, be it my paranormal nights at haunted historic locations or through my readings of the items of loved ones who have passed away.
For nine years I have been providing those experiences for the public, even during my Circle of Energy Séances, I do not sit at the end of the table saying this or that Spirit is here. What I attempt to do is raise the spirits so that they interact with those present, this is for the individual's experience and I can honestly say it is usually a success, be there skeptics present to paranormal investigators. Actually I enjoy the skeptics, as after a paranormal night, they are confused over their personal set beliefs / feelings toward the paranormal or spirit world with comparing it to what they have just experienced.
The thing is, right from the time I started performing the Circle of Energy Séances, I knew there was something that one day when I was ready, I would experience it. What it was? I did not really know at the time what it could be, but I knew it was something I was to experience for my own Spiritual internal knowledge. That is how it works and I believe the way others should allow it to work, one step at a time. It may take years, but those years build the knowledge to take the next step and those steps will come naturally compared to being forced, and all I can say about forcing, is usually the one who does so, will be short lived in their venture. Let the Spiritual World guide you and allow you the knowledge at their pace.
On September 10th, 2011, I held a public paranormal night at location that dates back to the early 1900's. I had twelve individuals, plus Prairie State Paranormal, the paranormal team I always use and Toni and Stacie, the mother and daughter Spirit Feelers that also assist me and the individuals who participate in my paranormal nights.
I have been using a Hack Shack 'Ghost Box' for nearly a year now at the locations. It has provided pretty good results, but I use it to also provide those individuals present an experience for their own experiences with the Spirit World. They are the ones who listen for the possible results to the questions I would ask. Usually I invite the younger individuals to listen, for the fact in most cases their ears are well tuned to catch the words, thanks to today's music they listen to. Plus the credibility of it not being me who is blurting out the answers to my own questions that I throw out to the Spirit World. But and it is a big one, I direct my questions not by just random thoughts, but by what I am feeling (being told?) to ask, for their usually is an answer waiting for ALL present to hear.
On September 10th, the use and results of the Ghost Box went a different direction. Sure, we tapped in to family member of Spirits in the huge home that has remained in the family since the 1920's and their names came across the Ghost Box, but there was something different that came across also.
It was meant to be and it was directed only toward me, but yet to provide those present the experience and KNOWLEDGE to know what also is out there by it being directed toward me and it being heard by them. As I believe the time has come for me to experience it in the Spirit World, as I knew by experience, that it exists in the living world.
It is not something I am afraid of, as I have been told and I firmly believe that I am protected by my Higher Power. I am ready for the challenge if it is meant to be, and I believe the time has come that it is. There is no doubt to what the individuals heard during the three long Ghost Box sessions I held throughout the large house, nor any doubt to what was seen during my Circle of Energy Séance.
I welcomed it, so I can confront it and if I am supposed to be the sacrificed lamb, so others can know the reality of it, so be it. As I firmly believe I will be protected by my Higher Power and even told the Dark Spirit I was ready and not afraid. This may go on, one step at a time, until the time comes when it will be the right time, but I believe it is coming.
Below you will find Toni's (a Spirit Feeler), experience of the night as it happened. I figure that another individual's account of the happenings would be a better read for you then me telling you what went down. It was an experience for all and all left safe.
Blessings,
Edward Shanahan
Toni's Account of the Chicago Paranormal Night experience:
On Saturday night, 9-10-11 I went with Ed Shanahan, Prairie State Paranormal and my daughter Stacie Haas on an investigation of a private residence in Joliet. There were at least 10 other people in the group, 4 of them young people in their twenties. This location was very active. The energies I felt were even felt outside near the house. There are 4 levels to the house. We walked in and started walking around to get a feel for the place. There was one section on the 1st floor that had allot energy. Trouble breathing and a heaviness on the chest.
We started the night by doing Ghost Box sessions. The first one was in the basement. We had a good session down there with relatives of the owner communicating. The names that were said were confirmed by the owner as his aunt and the first owner of the house. During the first session something came thru as not so nice. It seemed to want to talk but just enticed us. We had the young people close to the box listening because their hearing is more acute and they can hear thru all the noise.
The second session was also in the basement but in another room. The relatives came thru including the aunt and a small child that had died in the house. During that session something started to call Ed by name. It was provoking him by calling names that were not so nice. Words that you would not normally hear on a radio. Ed continued to talk to this spirit to see if he could get it to reveal itself. It wouldn't give it's name but still taunted Ed.
We did a third session on the 1st floor near the area that had the most energy. We had the young one's next to the box. In that session it called Ed again and started to provoke him. When Ed continued to ask what it's name was we heard the word Satan and a little while later the word Demon. Ed called upon the relatives that are there and they didn't seem to want to talk but we kept getting alot of name calling towards Ed. These were words and phrase's that I don't even feel comfortable writing. I had never heard swear words over the Ghost Box before so I was a little taken by surprise.
We ended that session and went outside. Ed was totally drained. I told Ed that I was getting the feeling that this was an entity he had encountered before. In one of the sessions we heard I'm back. I felt that this spirit knows Ed and was back to taunt him and makes it's presence known to him. I felt that it was not going to stop. Almost like it was waiting for the right opportunity to show up. I had a bad feeling about it and told Ed that he should be careful with this one.
We started the Circle of Energy and things started to happen right away. I became sick, my daughter was feeling the energy surrounding her and the people at the table were getting alot of different reactions. Ed started by calling the relatives and the original owner to the table. The table started to make cracking noises, we were smelling flowers, and cold spots under the table.
Then Ed started to call the spirit that wanted to play with him. The owner and the other people at the table started to see shadows of maybe a child's height lingering behind Ed. When he continued to call this spirit there was a shadow that started to form in the corner to the right of Ed that was getting blacker and denser as Ed continued. It didn't really move. It just hovered there.
I felt Ed was going to get closer to finding out what this spirit wanted when something happened at the circle the ended the link. The shadow started to get lighter and we finished up with letting the spirits go and ending the session. Ed was definitely looking a little peaked.
Whatever this spirit is I feel that it is not done with Ed. This is something that he has encountered before and it's not going to be the last time he comes up against it.
Edward Shanahan - Web Site