This is a six part story about a paranormal event that occurred in January 1980. As usual, it’s told without any embellishments and according to a document that I had written after the event.
The camp ended shortly afterwards, and I went home with a sense of wonder that such a thing could happen. I told several of my friends about it, but few were really interested in my story, apart from that fact it made a good ‘ghost’ story. I told my mother who had no answers, and my father just dismissed it as a group hallucination.
Shawn, however, was never the same after that camp. He became my bane of three future camps. He riled me up so much at the time that I was even contemplating giving him a pounding, but I’m happy to say that never happened. I have to say that he was the only person I ever felt that way about.
When I’d see him at solo competitions, he would just stand there with his friend Terry staring at me and laughing, like Beavis and Butthead.
It was as though he had made it his mission to make sure that my time around him as unpleasant as possible and he did a good job of it, but fortunately, I finally started to come into my own and had much better protection.
I also heard that he was messing around with the occult when he was at home. I never found out what became of him, or if he’s even still alive.
The incident itself was isolated. Nothing similar occurred on future camps. For that I was grateful, though at the time, somewhat disappointed, too.
There is an allure you have when you’re young to the supernatural, especially the dark side of it. Part of you doesn’t really believe it’s true, and the other part wants to believe and while that was the only camp where such things happened, it was by no means the only event of that nature that happened in my life.
Sadly, my ignorance and lack of knowledge might have contributed to the situation there. If I knew then what I know now, that stairway would have been cleared before anything even had a chance to start.
Before I left that 1980 camp, I made an agreement with Shane that we would write down our own experiences of those two weeks and send them to each other.
I started the moment I got home. I took out my father’s old post war typewriter and wrote a 7 page document on the events. (And also interestingly enough, the light bulb in my room blew out three times during the actual writing, but never before, or after I was done.)
Then I rushed to get it photocopied and mailed it out to Shawn. I waiting for days and weeks for his response, rushing to the letter box each day, but the waiting was in vain.
He never did send anything back. The only feedback I got on it was at the end of that year, where he confirmed he had received it and deemed it ‘too dangerous’.
Also, an odd thing happened with the document. It suddenly vanished, and in spite of turning everything inside out a dozen times, I could not find it anywhere. It only reappeared nine months later, in a bookcase I never used. I still have that original document today.
This was an isolated incident as far as things went with me.
I retell it as a cautionary tale on how easy it can be to attract such things to you.
As intense as this was at the time, it pales in comparison with some of the other things that happened in my life and I really have to admit that it’s made for a very interesting one.
I hope you found my experience of interest.
Next: Who is really responsible for readings?
You could always facebook stalk Shawn to see if he is still alive…. also, how bizarre that the document dissapeared, only to reappear on a disused bookshelf. I do think some people are more receptive to the supernatural than others, however. When I was a kid I grew up in a 100 year old farmhouse in theTallebudgera Valley on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It had a ghost – an old farmer. I never saw him but my mum and sister did. He was friendly old chap and little things would happen like my dad alwyas having just the right amout of nails to finish a job, or just the right size plank of wood etc. When we moved to another house after 20 years, things were the opposite. Just not quite enough nails to do the job, and the plank of would was just the wrong length, etc. I loved that old farmhouse and was very sad when my parents sold it.
I do check from time to time to see if people I knew are on FB. A surprising amount of them arent, though.
Sounds like a wonderful home to be in. Rare is the home that has its own guardian J
We were very lucky. 🙂
“…it pales in comparison with some of the other things that happened in my life…”
we want to know more…:-)
Well, like the time they made my coffee too strong and… oh, you mean paranormal.
I will be adding more over time for sure, but it will be supplementary material to the book which has been written about those events in my life.
Hopefully coming sooner than later. (Final edits still happening there.)
It is an interesting story. You told it well. I was amazed to learn that the dark side existed. In fact, I was surprised to learn that there is a spirit world. Awakenings . . . its like the Matrix. One would think that an awakening would reveal all of the answers. Breaking through the “illusion of reality” (its not quite an illusion) only raises more difficult questions. These are the mysteries that we mystics (you can substitute with your own word) are trying to get to the bottom of. Just as you are doing here. I commend you! 🙂
Thank you, and the seems the deeper you go, the more there is to uncover, and the more unbelievable it becomes.
So much so that it increasingly becomes harder and harder to relay my experiences because I wonder who will believe me.
And yet, I persist…
I feel the same way. And yet no one has ever expressed doubt in what I say . . . at least not verbally. Of course, I know who to discuss these things with and when I should keep my mouth shut. I thought of something simple and yet so profound: A person does not need to verbalize every thought or express every emotion that enters his or her mind. It’s called restraint. So few of us use it. Not everyone has an interest in what you and I have to say. Sorry Gary it’s true 🙂 Thanks again!
I should have said that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for the supernatural and metaphysical pursuit. 🙂
No, indeed.
Yet, there comes a point where you need to put yourself out there in order to reach those who need the information.
I’ve already did this years ago, and found that there were good reasons behind it.
I look at some of the people who had the courage to relay their personal experiences and open themselves to the world and the scrutiny, and as a result changed lives. .
In the end, I can do no less. Fear is not a good enough reason to not do something. 🙂
No. No. I understand what you are saying. You know how hard it is to convey one’s thoughts in writing over the Internet. I haven’t been shy in putting my views about mysticism on the Internet. People definitely need to know the Truth. I do believe that. What I said before doesn’t apply to open invitations to share with others on the Internet. I meant that I don’t push my views on people in my personal life. When I wrote that I was actually thinking of my passionate religious friends. They feel the need to persuade the rest of their family and friends to adopt their beliefs. They have the need to be right. I realize that most awakened people are appropriate in how express themselves. The majority of us do not go around demanding that others agree our beliefs. It’s a tough subject. I am in total agreement with what you just said though. 🙂 I also share your opinion on fear. I am almost done writing an article about fear (You must have read my mind!). I intend to put it on my blog – If I ever finish it (the blog). 🙂 Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Yes, agree with you there.
Interestingly enough, the kind of belief we embrace does not need others to follow or be converted. It is self nourishing and endlessly fascinating.
I look forward to that blog when you’re done!
Very True. So we agree to agree 🙂 I be in touch with you soon. It’s very late here. Someone might start harassing me about blogging so late. I’ll just blame you for it. 🙂 That’s my sense of humor. It’s not so good funny without emoticons. Enjoy the rest of your day!
No problems. Sounds similar to mine. 🙂
🙂