February 15, 2005
Shop at Ghostvillage.com | Support Ghostvillage.com | The World's Most Haunted Places
Be sure to forward this on to your friends who are interested in the supernatural!
You are receiving this email because you or a friend signed you up at http://www.ghostvillage.com. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please see the instructions at the bottom.
View this newsletter online at: http://www.ghostvillage.com/newsletters/Feb15_05.htm
Dear Ghostvillagers,
I just finished reading a translation of a classic -- Dante's Inferno (also a good name for a band). This was one of those tomes I blew off in college and finally got back around to reading. The epic poem was penned around 1306 by Dante Alighieri and details the author's perception of the many layers of Hell, what punishments await specific sins, and who the author believes we'll find in some of these layers. Dante tells of corrupt politicians from his hometown, popes who abused their power, and other local businessmen and gangsters of the day who all get their comeuppance in some horrible way.
I got this book from my local library. The elderly woman working behind the counter gave me a cock-eyed look when she saw what I was checking out. "I just want to figure out which layer I'll be spending eternity in," I said. She didn't laugh. Maybe she didn't think the afterlife was something to joke about.
Dante's Inferno is a great work, full of vivid descriptions of torture, humility, and deep sadness. Many modern-day religious perceptions of Hell can trace their roots to this work. "All hope abandon, ye who enter in!" Dante writes of the sign hanging over Hell's entrance. The poem is a work of fiction -- purely the author's creation based on a few scant Bible passages and some mythology -- yet religious leaders have embraced Dante's macabre and awful vision of fire and brimstone, demons poking the damned with tridents, and the fallen angel Lucifer in a lake of cold, dark ice presiding over the underworld. Ask a preacher what Hell looks like and he'll likely paraphrase from Dante.
Great stories are powerful. They can be retold so many times that they go from fiction to folklore and even to fact for some people. Time travel is critical to researching the supernatural. We need to go through history and find the earliest instances of every quirky legend we hear. The truth is back there somewhere. And speaking of great stories, this past month I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Hans Holzer. In regards to the supernatural, the man has practically seen and done it all. Be sure to curl up with this one when you have a few minutes.
Enjoy the rest of the newsletter below.
Supernaturally yours,
Jeff Belanger
info@ghostvillage.com
Mayor of Ghostvillage.com
click here to read Dante's Inferno online
| Monthly Contest |
This month we're trying something new. In previous newsletters, we hid a winner icon on one of our pages and the first to find it won the prize. Considering we now have hundreds of pages, this contest seems less fair. So we're going to make it easier. Here's a question that can be answered by reading a page on Ghostvillage.com. The first person to reply to this email with the correct answer will win this month's prize.
What was Hans Holzer's uncle's dog's name?
Once we have a winner, we will announce it on our home page as soon as possible. Good luck! (Only Ghostvillagers who have not won a prize from us in the last year are eligible.)
This month's prize:
we're giving away an autographed copy The World's Most Haunted Places: From the Secret Files of Ghostvillage.com!
Didn't win? Want to buy a copy? Click on the graphic.
| ATTENTION Paranormal Investigators |
I'd like to involve as many investigators as possible. This is your opportunity to have your work, your name, and your organization's name published in a book that will be on the shelves in 2005. Please email me for more information at: info@ghostvillage.com.
-Jeff Belanger
| Supernatural Calendar |
February 15: "Cape Encounters" author to be on WSMU
February 19: Annual Dead of Winter Event/Dinner
February 25: Ghost hunters investigations weekends
February 26: Ghost hunters investigations weekends
March 12: Haunted Overnights for Spring/Summer
April 2: History & Hauntings Tours Spring/Summer
April 8: Ghost hunters investigations weekends
April 8: Ghost Hunting Seminar @ Jim Thorpe Inn
April 9: Ghost hunters investigations weekends
April 9: History & Hauntings Tours Spring/Summer
| Who's Who in the Town Square? |
>>lulaboo<< - member since September 28, 2004What is your name?
Heather Conner
How old are you?
31
Where do you live?
Muncie, Indiana
What do you do for a living?
Housewife and mother of four spoiled kitties.
Have you ever seen a ghost?
Yes. My husband and I had an urge to do some sky watching earlier this year and we ended up going to my favorite cemetery to do so. About half an hour or so after we arrived and settled ourselves to watch the stars, my husband cursed for some reason and I suggested he apologize to the residents for his rudeness. He apologized, resumed his stargazing, and I decided to have a quick once-over at the cemetery to make sure all was well. It was then that I witnessed a vague grayish human torso-shaped figure moving toward the direction of some nearby trees. The sighting lasted for a few seconds until the ghost hid behind the trees. (And for once -- me without my camera!) But it was a neat experience -- I wasn't scared at all. The ghost was probably wondering why I wasn't running around trying to take pictures as usual.
What's your favorite TV show?
Honestly... I forgot what TV is since I've become a villager! But otherwise Mythbusters.
Finish this sentence: In all my life I've never seen a poem as lovely as a...
sunrise over the Smokey Mountains in Autumn.
| Supernatural Library |
This past month's Library additions:
Gothic Ghost Stories by A. S. Mott; Ghost Stories of London by Edrick Thay; Victorian Ghost Stories by Jo-Anne Christensen
Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Muller-Ebeling, Christian Ratsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl
Ritual Magic of the Golden Dawn edited by Francis King
The Magick Toolbox by Carl Neal
The Solitary Wiccan's Bible by Gavin and Yvonne Frost
Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch by Lora O'Brien
Magical Uses For Magnets by Draja Mickaharic
[DVD] San Diego Paranormal: The City's Most Haunted [INTERVIEW]
Alchemy of the Soul by Martin Lowenthal
Candle Magic for Beginners by Richard Webster
Kabbalistic Healing by Jason Shulman
| Recent Encounters |
The Ghost of Opus - Nashua, New Hampshire
Dad's Last Visit - Cliffside Park, New Jersey
The Glowing Window - Glendale, California
Grandmere's Gift - Louisiana
Blizzard's Ghost - Lynn, Massachusetts[PIC]
Contacting Sam - Stinson Lake, New Hampshire
Grandma's Dusty Sign - Scituate, Massachusetts
The Face on the Floor - Southampton, England[PIC]
The Ghostly Roommate - Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK
Captain Tony's Saloon's Haunted Bathroom - Key West, Florida
Grandma's Last Call? - Grapevine, Texas
| Resources |
New articles/news since our last newsletter:
New Jersey Ghost Conference 2005 - February 11, 2005[CONFERENCE WATCH]
Haunted Virginia Paranormal Conference - February 9, 2005[CONFERENCE WATCH]
The Legend of Lucy Keyes by John Stimpson - February 4, 2005
Raymond Buckland by Lee Prosser - January 28, 2005
The Mysterious Haunting of Stone's Public House by David Retalic - January 23, 2005
| Jeff Belanger's Upcoming Events |
Events Scheduled in 2005 so far:
2005 California Ghost Hunters Conference in San Diego, California - April 22-24
SGRA Summer Paranormal Conference in Stratford, Connecticut - June 17-18
New England Ghost Project's Berkshire Paranormal Conference in North Adams, Massachusetts - July 15-17
| Welcome New Members |
shomeekatz, koll, aussieghost, sunsetbutterfly, agschiele, bonnie rose, debracurran13, donna, Pisces53, fate2, computergeek, alice, angel6573020, jkachuba, wag952, warren, Texas Ghost Huntress, greenapple, ironman8855, cynthiasnow0, pdgn68048, wood@wooddickinson.com, Golosolo, s74rofthevoid, tn_angel_37, doodlebug, dewy, jhaggard, sweetfairyeidolon, Lev Dalek, hockeyzgal, trigg30, rogue599, amanda_ice, noellelizbeth, Lil' Audrey, mysticfire, Lara67, cierha, stefanos, Rose, KRISSYTEENY04, littlegym, jonpaul31, paranormal_one, tpitman, phildoe9, getlow, hogwits, windgate32, meggie, RAVI, ROAD_TO_ZEN, dannyboy, vhon_10, Texaspsi, frostie, dmyers, Dante5204, getona, KariJeannine, markkk, crypt_85, arrunprasath, azaromin, RobbiesNana, princesslisa, spiritfinders, TramPopper, rockinwitch420, pgdoan, jekjek, lisaruelas, shannon, Lindah101, edenandreaj, uk_liam, spud, Grapeglowstixx, reddishfire, gifted4life, ICThings13, whomenever, U-235, MissaAnne1979, kay, WalnutSquare, lea hagoriles, mykellee, saggi13, Superbitch, CloneOne, PanAmerica, nerdcore, timothysfiregirl, LouieO, spunky, tol, creep, Lady Thorn, car613, ajoauk, kissmenow, Cassandra, Beyonder, ctgsjc, eric08, tomhhc, akimbyman, slkillin, Grampa Squirrel, Nukeguy, axia, sham_27, hawthorne, bellashira, bosemt2, seanpingli, xxrixiexx, shazam, Ladydi1085, blueraz25, donnaste, emtnoel, PL BONDI, gwizz_2004, PreTeenGhostHunter, birdgirl128, sully7, ghizzy72, DramaQueen48, ozzimoto, imaupsgirl, caseyleft, Alicia9645, smith, DrowningFate767, ornurse, pamstewart, xgmbx62, mike68, audio blood xx, pug01930, klmwhite, lindalatores, xoxo_shmily, sroger, flyfishingfoote, viking, ucgenie, tinap, Santacruz Sean, cindy121, ysaemom, schmoo, AmyWow, kad, paxtan, Dakota, lissasoldhouse, DAWNC, ghostbaby, Stephen, jenvecchi, Bebo, lakota1175, rizman81, KCOOKSEY, natmillie, matt, wfodab163, y2k, rbmarsh, cygnus1953, maggotface, vetterubyred, rgannon5, twirlyfry, nhrsa6231@cs.com, illuminatist258, GhostInTime, deedee, LilDevil0419, Jspock, laceykk, keyw52, SweetWhisper, patsbradygirl12, teddybear8228, jackie.tivnan, jbyrnes722, licklyloo, mymalachi, MonCherixo, Mr.Colt, tavalomp, gthorndike, catmolly, rockin571, cloe, ELLIE, elantraracer95, schatzel, cheshiremoon, luvy, willied49, rome_wred23, garyhowell57, Nancy Kippen, merlot, girraffelover2193, truckdave37, pearl, jomoq, catron1, hnickole, shedevil, bettyboop1123, LAW, TobyRyan, michmarra, gryffon2, B-UNIT, sandraspector, Lorie72, alec, LauBabe86, KellyM, maddirox14, g0odiesz x0x, djc, GhoulDude, Britney, that was not nice, dam u guys, ghostly_visitor, ghstman1, KateB5684, maddy21, CAPEOWL, GhoStgRl21112, pol, tammywithawhy, chevelle, Sharon, Jim S, suzy, CharmedQueen2000, alfer604, mrhogwash, Sal the Ref, john611867, Halloween, sarah4787, GingerS224, Dreamweaver, PyI20m4n14c, offman246, Darkmjh1, trysh, thatflounderguy, Ms. Fitzy, tony, alghosts, KY_GHOST_HUNTIN_2006, infection665, scerdy_cat, sovchuk, gaylea, five5pc, walrus88, chrisl, samwheeler85, spiral316, papaou, dark_raven621, SirMith, HelenE., tjeggah, enip, TDTOSH1, elkurr, intruders_angel, Greeri, JimCrotty, ashley_felstow, mmrapp72, Birkwolf, Paula33, AnGelOfDeAtH, skaterboi, jeremy, Moe, Angie015, tjfoltz, universe, katie, angelie, rachael, cheyenne_playa07, d_cowboys_2003, eclipsegirlie31, tomskelton, princetonguy, eardrum321, Guttercat, psycicenergy12345, ghostlovers345, MysticMoonGirl, leglessgirl, mkspkr2443, simplegreencharlottepark, Bl4ckh4wk4lif3, llamasrock, southerncomfort, numberonestunna, Nace_18, Nacht_Wolf, amber baby, atlghostguy, Marie-Pier, mylaine, Marie_Pier, samich, ghost_whatcher, judys, Dee7, pborsari, moog, mariaangel33, CursedGift, MISSHUFFNPUFF, ghostbeliever01, tnpeaches68, michico_grasya, qtkitty, Kaichi, sp00kette, SiLLyGooSe121104, khayes, jonelleorozco, j****, robertjulius, supernaut, CKLottinville, Bluemonkey89, JJthe3rd, bonnie-marie, Ghost 6, blackpool, RobeyM, cant i live!, Scargoyle, lisapi, ngclark0323, residentashley, Pascal_1, melsugar, billyc, SilentDeath, bld562, bhenry, Rastin, Boo1031, Stitched Cadaver, Pauline O'Leary, terrif, IceGoddess, sandra2006, MsJacqui, amaia, janina karolina, melinheadbsb, akasha2003, MajorFaversham, shiela, grendel, vampgirl1718, lizaanddel, ghost_lover_11, Sinnful, cryptkeeperva, intothisstuff, barb chase, nameez, GlamTrashKitten, Fletch, Bruxa, cjchoo, ladylinda223, Egore, DarkAlleys, addicted_17, jane_khulet06, emjhay, joey13, bluecatmia89, Psycho, Tonella82, JMM331, ghosteggmcmuffin123, espmind101, Haris, navi, i_luv_masay_pangit, panther1, treobk214, kathyk, Revezyosoy, Betty Hill, neptunectygrl79, zombie_breeder, hmcs4156, monicalara06, sskhan, DrEaMlOvEr, melina, ziggleart, hotsue, Stacey_Pooh, WildFlwr7, oklahomajoe, little supernatural girl, jkeegan, maggie77, starstuff45, srumrill, zakk09, x3babygirl69x3, grim2020, Rennoli, Astra, doublebubble, aleistercrow66, blackonix2005, thorgw, WinterBorn, haydondir2001, ghostchick, kedaver, cronuss, kleblanc, lilonco2000, kim, steveree, Hilts, supernova1969, coleen, waynenaval09, Vickie Rossi, augustgal40c, Garybon, long, JENIFERKIZIOR, Joycee, RJ637, Audra, PlanetSpooky, GlowingFire, aizel_rose21@yahoo.com, purple_lily, Spirtlover, boris, caroline keene, Sugar, jagannatha724, spookmasterj, novemberbug, RONALD, kayla_grl, single_grl_27, AuntNub, Excentrik, EvilSockPuppet, Rose2bee, JohnnyDam, bradford63, Muffin1959, ghostboy, walkingsphere, guilford62, allyndshelly2005, mjmr1989, voidzero, Kikyo, and cnay42.
| Ghostvillage.com Quick Stats: |
7,406 Members in the Town Square
319 "Personal Encounters" published on Ghostvillage.com
231 Paranormal Web sites in the Ghost Search directory
13,321 Subscribers to this newsletter
5,922,698 total Web site "hits" for Ghostvillage.com in January
| Support Ghostvillage.com |
Please email us anytime at info@ghostvillage.com. Your comments, questions, and feedback are always welcomed.
All material is © 2005 Ghostvillage.com
REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS: To be removed from the mailing list, please go to www.ghostvillage.com/subscribe.shtml.
SUPERNATURAL WEB HOSTING! Check out Emerging Market Web Design and tell them Ghostvillage.com sent you! http://www.emwd.com