"Chicken Skin!"

When my son and his family moved to St. Augustine, I was thrilled for him to have the opportunity to return to his roots.  His family on his father’s side is traced back to Ponce De Leon, the seeker of the Fountain of Youth and the city of St. Augustine.  I never thought about how it would affect me or what influence it may have on my life.  I do understand that all things have a reason and there are no coincidences. I just never thought about what may be in store for me because of his move.

I now live in St. Augustine part time.  I continue to serve as a medium and have added northeast Florida to the mix. The military wife in me loves exploring and this change has provided me with ample opportunities to do that.

While getting familiar with the area, my husband and I decided to drive south to a community called Cassadaga.  Years ago I heard of this place but had forgotten it.  During a conversation with a woman from Jacksonville who came to see me for a reading Cassadaga came up.  She was telling me it was a part of the Spiritualist Church basically being a community of psychic mediums. 

It’s true that if you hang out with a psychic the more psychic you become.  I’m not sure if this is simply “Birds of a feather flock together” mentality or if there is more to it than that, but I do know when I am reading for someone who is very intuitive. Intuitive people are typically less closed off and freely welcome what comes their way. They also tend to have better readings. I knew I wanted to visit Cassadaga the first chance I had.

It wasn’t long before I had a day off and Charlie and I set off to go exploring.  This time, I knew exactly where we were heading - South on I-95 to Cassadaga.  We arrived in an area of central Florida that was sort of a broken down looking community.  I had no real expectations so I didn’t lead with any ideas of how it would be. There was an old hotel where we parked and we decided to walk in and check it out.  The hotel dated back to the 1800’s with the original building and older furniture that would take you back in time.  It was very antiquated but elegant.  Charlie and I always seem to go separate ways, each of us being pulled towards our magnetic interests. This is my son’s way of saying we put our brains in our pockets and wandered around.

Almost at once I noticed a chair in the corner of the lobby.  It seemed like a lonely corner where there didn’t seem to be much foot traffic.  I hesitated before approaching the chair because I could feel the presence of a female sitting there.  I wanted to sit there, but I knew someone in the non-physical occupied the chair.  I stood in front of the chair hesitantly, trying to get a feel for whether I was going to interrupt the current sitter.  I leaned over and straightened the small pillow placed in the chair.  I stood straight and heard “Thank you.”  The voice seemed friendly so I felt I was allowed to sit with her.  I sat there with my sunglasses on, closing my eyes with my head tilted back for at least 15 minutes. If I was in her energy she was peaceful because I was very comfortable.  I began to feel eyes on me, as if people working there may be wondering  “What is that woman doing in the corner?”  The lobby was empty except for me, yet I was beginning to feel I was overstaying my welcome.  I stood up and my knees wobbled. I felt like an older persons knees were beneath me and that I may walk with a cane to steady myself.  I wondered if I was having a low blood sugar moment or what was happening to me.  I realized that possibly the older woman sitting there in spirit when I sat down on top of her may have been standing with me.  I steadied myself and walked away.

Our day at the camp included a stroll through the gift shop and the hotel restaurant where we skimmed over the Italian menu.  We spent time in the Visitors Center. There were brochures available on all the classes and readings by different mediums.  It was most interesting  when listening to other visitors  speaking with tour guides and volunteers.  People drove for many miles to hear tales of spirit activity and the history of the area.  It seemed people wanted to be spooked.  I was entertained with all the questions.

Charlie being a NASCAR lover made certain we drove to Daytona Beach and did some sight seeing and shopping.  While Charlie was in the pipe tobacco store I went to a shopping center.  I made a purchase of some bed linens and a quilt.  We drove back home to St. Augustine. I was opening my purchases when my seven -year- old grand daughter said “Nana why did you buy this Granny blanket?”  “You aren’t a Granny!”  I said “Do you think it looks like a Granny would own this?”  She laughed and said “Yes!”  That never once occurred to me.  I just put on the bed as a topper  to replace a comforter.  Charlie came in the room, then went and said to the rest of the family “Did you see the old lady blanket Allyson bought?”  Everyone came into my room one by one to comment on the fact that this quilt was totally out of character for me and asking what I was thinking.  It was true I didn’t own anything like this and this certainly wasn’t something I would normally be attracted to and I even thought about returning it, but firmly decided “No, I like it.”

The following day I was in my bedroom getting my morning meds when I heard with my inner ear “Chicken skin!”  I repeated it out loud as I normally do when I hear something through clairaudience.  I realized I was covered in goose bumps, which happens a lot when spirit is present.  This can be scientifically measured with an EMF detector.  This measures the electro magnetic field in the room when there is a spike of electricity or energy.  I normally refer to them as “goose bumps or truth bumps or God bumps”.  Only in Hawaii is the term “chicken skin” that I am familiar with used and it usually is meant to scare somebody.  I got the feeling it was an old expression someone was using to speak to me, referencing the goose bumps I had from my head to my toes.  I wasn’t really even aware of the present moment of what I was feeling until I looked up at the ceiling and realized I was standing right underneath an air vent blowing cold air.  I moved to the next room and told Nat about what I had just heard.  Then I told her about the quilt and how I sat in that chair at Cassadaga and wondered if I had the spirit of an older woman with me.  Nat is an encourager and is always entertained with what I share with her.  I recently told her she should author a book “My Mother in Law The Medium”. 

That night while sleeping I was on my side of the bed leaving the floor space to my immediate left open with Charlie laying to my right side.  Charlie sleeps with a sleep mask for health reasons.  He can’t talk through that.  I awoke to a scream that sounded very much like the sound my mother would make when she was a passenger in the car while I was learning to drive.  She would grab the dashboard and scream, sort of.  It is between a scream and a very high soprano trying to make  musical sounds without words.  Immediately I knew what just happened.  I was not scared one bit.  My granny visitor went all ghostly on me!  Very frustrated I said “That is so not necessary!’’ I then followed up with “That was just rude!”  Very close directly into my left ear she belted out that noise.  I chastised her and was not entertained. 

I have been studying ectoplasm and the energy spirit pulls from the medium to form a voice box.  I was down right not happy that if my visitor was going to make audible sounds she’d better speak words to me, and not some silly noises.  I want direct voice communication.

I got to thinking about this and in Granny’s defense if she has been hanging out in the lobby of the Cassadaga Hotel lobby, with visitors who want to be spooked looking for ghosts, then maybe she thought this was appropriate behavior.  I don’t know, but Nat and I are planning a quick run up to Cassadaga soon to see if they have a drive-thru when we can drop her off in a return slot.

Much love my kind and loving Granny visitor who helped me pick out a beautiful quilt.  I love and appreciate you but I think you may be happier at the hotel where you have possibly spent all of your afterlife.