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Features Archive:

2008 Archive:
Spirits of Christmas and Holidays Past By Edward Shanahan
December 19, 2008


Don't Bark At Me, I'm Not The Dog In The Mirror - by Lee Prosser
December 14, 2008

Column - regular feature

Welcome to Your Psychic Life By Tiffany Johnson
December 1, 2008


Fresh Paths to the Paranormal By Beth Brown
November 26, 2008


The Journals of Willard David Firestone: American Indians - by Lee Prosser
November 21, 2008

Column - regular feature

The Haunted Cemetery - Ghost Chronicles
November 12, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Jeff Belanger and Who's Haunting the White House? - Ghost Chronicles
October 24, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Ectoplasm - by Lee Prosser
October 20, 2008

Column - regular feature

Salem Witch Shawn Poirier - Ghost Chronicles
October 15, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Most Famous Phenomenon by Jeff Belanger
October 8, 2008


Haunted House Diary - Ghost Chronicles
October 1, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Paranormal Journaling: A First Step by Jeff Belanger
September 30, 2008


More Horrific Predictions - by Lee Prosser
September 26, 2008

Column - regular feature

Francis Thompson (1859 - 1907) - by Lee Prosser
September 18, 2008

Column - regular feature

Evolution of an Entity by Danielle Lee
September 12, 2008


Into the Abyss: Ancient Rites of Exorcism by Bishop Daniel Garguillio
September 2, 2008


Lee Prosser and Jill Peacha - by Lee Prosser
September 1, 2008

Column - regular feature

An Open Letter to the Paranormal Community by Peter James Haviland
August 28, 2008


Return to Mystery Hill - Ghost Chronicles
August 20, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

The Ghost of Cameron Mitchell at Branson, Missouri - by Lee Prosser
August 8, 2008

Column - regular feature

Confessions of a Grief Councilor - Ghost Chronicles
August 6, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

The Residual "Jiggle" by Jack Roth
July 31, 2008


Farwell to Chris Balzano - Ghost Chronicles
July 23, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

A Matter of Respect by Patrick Burke
July 21, 2008


Economic Collapse and Depression in the United States - by Lee Prosser
July 14, 2008

Column - regular feature

The Portsmouth Lighthouse - Ghost Chronicles
July 9, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Legends Set in Stone by Beth Brown
July 3, 2008


Investigating the Pukwudgies - Ghost Chronicles
June 25, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Sensitive - by Lee Prosser
June 20, 2008

Column - regular feature

Ghost Hunting Etiquette 102 by Danielle Quinlan Lee
June 13, 2008


Allup, Leiru, Ligil, Uriel, Pulla - by Lee Prosser
May 23, 2008

Column - regular feature

Ohio's Haunted History by Sherri Brake-Recco
May 19, 2008


Weird Massachusetts - Paranormal Journeys
May 9, 2008

Paranormal Journeys - webcast

Water Ghosts: Theory of the Bobbing Heads and Floating Bodies - by Lee Prosser
May 9, 2008

Column - regular feature

The Shadows Know by Edward Shanahan
May 2, 2008


Weird Massachusetts with Jeff Belanger - Ghost Chronicles
April 23, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

American Negro Civil War Ghosts - by Lee Prosser
April 14, 2008

Column - regular feature

Landmark Ghosts By Beth Brown
April 3, 2008


The Lizzy Borden House - Ghost Chronicles
April 2, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Ghosts of Hollywood - Ghost Chronicles
March 19, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

On the Nature of Group Dynamics By Rick Moran
March 19, 2008


Billy The Kid - by Lee Prosser
March 12, 2008

Column - regular feature

Women in the Paranormal: Donna LaCroix
March 5, 2008


Women in the Paranormal: Amy Bruni
March 2, 2008


Women in the Paranormal: Ursula Bielski
February 28, 2008


Women in the Paranormal: L'Aura Hladik
February 25, 2008


Women in the Paranormal: Allison Andrews
February 22, 2008


Haunted Cape Cod and the Islands - Ghost Chronicles
February 20, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Women in the Paranormal: Rosemary Ellen Guiley
February 19, 2008


Women in the Paranormal: Lorraine Warren
February 16, 2008


The Ghosts of Tombstone - Paranormal Journeys
February 14, 2008

Paranormal Journeys - webcast

Valentine's Day Special - Ghost Chronicles
February 13, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Magick and Magic, What is the Difference? - by Lee Prosser
February 13, 2008

Column - regular feature

My Theory on Spirits of the Paranormal by Edward Shanahan
February 1, 2008


Investigating the Sance with U.K. psychic Gavin Cromwell - Ghost Chronicles
January 30, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Electronic Voice Phenomena is affected by Solar Weather by Tom Ginther
January 21, 2008


The Concord Colonial Inn - Ghost Chronicles
January 16, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Ghost Cat - by Lee Prosser
January 15, 2008

Column - regular feature

The Lizzie Borden House - Paranormal Journeys
January 11, 2008

Paranormal Journeys - webcast

Russian Ghosts - Ghost Chronicles
January 9, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Shadows Of Evil by Rick Hayes
January 4, 2008


Haunted Devon, UK - Ghost Chronicles
January 2, 2008

Ghostvillage Radio - podcast

Magickal Rings - by Lee Prosser
January 2, 2008

Column - regular feature



September 2, 2008

Into the Abyss: Ancient Rites of Exorcism

By Bishop Daniel Garguillio

"Go to hell." - John Constantine

The Rites of Exorcism have a longstanding tradition within the Christian Church, and may indeed be more common than most would think. One of the most dramatic and eerie accounts of exorcism is found in the Gospel of Saint Mark, chapter 5, verses 1-20:

"And they came over the strait of the sea into the country of the Gerasens. And as he went out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him, not even with chains. For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him. And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones.

"And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored him. And crying with a loud voice, he said, 'What have I to do with you, Jesus the Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God that you torment me not.' For he said unto him, 'Go out of the man, you unclean spirit.' And he asked him, 'What is your name?' And he said to him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' And he besought him much, that he would not drive him away out of the country.

"And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine, feeding. And the spirits besought him, saying, 'Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.' And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine; and the herd with great violence was carried headlong into the sea, being about two thousand, and were stifled in the sea. And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the fields. And they went out to see what was done: And they came to Jesus, and they see him that was troubled with the devil, sitting, clothed, and well in his wits, and they were afraid.

"And they that had seen it, told them, in what manner he had been dealt with who had the devil; and concerning the swine. And they began to pray him that he would depart from their coasts. And when he went up into the ship, he that had been troubled with the devil, began to beseech him that he might be with him. And he admitted him not, but said to him, 'Go into your house to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had mercy on you.' And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men wondered."

In addition to the Roman Catholic Rite of Exorcism (fairly well known from its appearance in the popular Hollywood films The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose), there are the Exorcism Prayers of Saint Basil the Great (Fourth Century AD), the introductory text of which is follows here:

"O God of gods and Lord of lords, Creator of the fiery spirits and Artificer of the invisible powers, of all things heavenly and earthly: Thou Whom no man hast seen -- nor is able to see; Thou Whom all creation fears and before Whom it trembles; Thou Who didst cast into the darkness of the abyss of Tartarus the angels who didst fall away with him who once was commander of the angelic host, who disobeyed Thee and haughtily refused to serve Thee, do Thou expel by the terror of Thy name the evil one and his legions loose upon the earth, Lucifer and those with him who fell from above. Set him to flight and command him and his demons to depart completely. Let no harm come to them who are sealed in Thine image and let those who are sealed receive dominion, 'to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.' (Saint Luke 10:19) For Thee do we hymn and magnify and with every breath do we glorify Thine all-holy name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."

"Exorcist" is also one of the minor orders conferred upon all entering the Priesthood of the Orthodox and Old Catholic Churches, and what is often not realized are the simpler forms of exorcism commonly used in Baptismal rites, at the reception of a catechumen, the blessing of holy water, and even in the most commonly-heard Christian prayer, the "Our Father" or "Lord's Prayer," with its concluding "deliver us from evil," or literally translated from the New Testament Greek, "deliver us from the evil one."

Exorcism is of course, by no means confined to the Judeo-Christian tradition. It has been found in all ancient cultures, including the Sumerian/Babylonian (the spells against the seven demonic spirits who bring plague and desolation), Egyptian (the symbol of the ankh-cross having been used as a charm against evil for millennia before Christianity began), and Native American (the use of the sweat-lodge to remove "spirits of poison"), among many others.

An interesting example of folk exorcism are the various remedies found in Greece and Sicily against the Vaskania or "Evil Eye." In one exceedingly arcane magical rite, the exorcist (usually an elderly woman) begins by anointing the forehead of the suffering person with olive oil, then adding some of the oil to a glass of water. If a demonic influence is present, it is believed that the oil within the water will form into the shape of an eye. If so, the exorcist then recites the appropriate prayers for the individual's deliverance.

In any event, exorcism and dealing with the forces of the demonic realm is not something to be trifled with, especially by the inexperienced. Indeed, even experienced, pious, and educated Priests are warned against the many dangers of exorcism, not the least of which is the distinct possibility of actually falling into adoration of the powers of darkness. It is an odd thing, but in its own way quite fitting, that the words of Friedrich Nietzsche seem so appropriate here:

"He who would fight monsters must take care lest he become a monster. When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back into you."

May the Holy Trinity and our most pure and blessed Lady Theotokos protect all of you!


Books for further study:

The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle (Backinprint.com)
Hostage To The Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans by Father Malachi Martin (HarperOne)
An Exorcist Tells His Story by Father Gabriele Amorth (Ignatius Press)
An Exorcist: More Stories by Father Gabriele Amorth (Ignatius Press)
Interview With an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance by Father Jose Antonio Fortea (Ascension Press)
Begone Satan! by Father Carl Vogl (TAN Books)
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (Pocket Star)
The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology by Rossell Hope Robbins (Crown Publishers)
The Book of Enoch the Prophet by R.H. Charles (Weiser Books)


Bishop Daniel Garguillio may be reached via his website: www.garguillio.com, by email: revdaniel@garguillio.com, or by telephone: 443-388-1359.


2014 Haunted New England Wall Calendar by Jeff Belanger photography by Frank Grace
Check out the 2014 Haunted New England wall calendar by Jeff Belanger and photography by Frank Grace!


Paranormal Conferences and Lectures
Don't miss the following events and lectures:

Jeff Belanger and “The Bridgewater Triangle” at Dedham Community Theatre - April 6, 2014 9:00PM

The Spirits of the Mark Twain House - Hartford, Connecticut - April 12, 2014

Paracon Australia - East Maitland, New South Wales, Australia - May 10-12, 2014