When Ghosts Speak - Mary Ann Winkowski [88]
When we’d finished talking, I asked her if she wanted to go into the Light. To be honest, I was feeling a bit protective toward her. She’d been eighty-three when she died, and though she was still lovely, with high cheekbones and regal posture, she was also a tiny, frail-looking elderly woman. I thought that after years of hanging around, she’d be ready to leave.
“I don’t think so,” she replied politely but firmly. “I think I need to keep an eye on things around here.”
From her answer, I knew that I absolutely couldn’t patronize her. I was going to have to come up with a pretty good argument.
“Miss Stanwyck,” I said respectfully, “don’t you miss having your fans recognize you?”
She made a dismissive gesture with her hand, but I could tell I was on the right track.
“I imagine that I’m the first person who’s seen you in a long time,” I continued. “Has anyone else been able to speak to you?”
She shook her head.
“In the Light, you’ll go back to your prime years,” I said. “And spirits from the other side can choose to cross back and forth. You don’t have that option right now.”
She eyed me skeptically, but I could tell I was gaining ground, so I kept going. “Since I can see you and talk to you, don’t you think I might know what I’m talking about?”
“I’ll still be able to visit?” she asked.
“I have friends who communicate with spirits from the other side all the time,” I reassured her. “I won’t be able to see you or talk to you once you’ve gone into the Light, but there are others who will.”
Her chin went up, and I could tell she’d made up her mind. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll go.”
I made the Light and watched her walk into it. I actually felt pretty good about it. I do believe that spirits who cross over are at greater peace than those who remain earthbound. I’m happy to be able to give them the opportunity to change their circumstances.
My most recent visits to the set of Ghost Whisperer have revealed to me something I never imagined might happen: Earthbound spirits from other sets on the studio lots are gravitating to our set because of the subject matter. These earthbound spirits are attaching themselves to crew and cast, and especially to the actors who play the lead characters. After talking to some of these ghosts, I’ve come to realize that they, just like some real-life fans, have a hard time understanding that Jennifer Love Hewitt is not able to communicate with ghosts the way her character, Melinda, can. They have heard that there is someone on the set who can see and talk to earthbound spirits, so they go home with her and with other cast and crew members, hoping to attract notice. When they realize that the people they’ve followed home can’t see them after all, the ghosts return to the set with them, only to cause more problems. Ultimately, these actors and crew members call me. I have to admit that this development, while disruptive to the show, has been effective—at least from the earthbound spirits’ points of view. Each time I go out to Los Angeles to visit the set, I am able to release several ghosts into the Light, including a few rather well-known personalities. What I’m currently trying to figure out is how to protect the set from the unwanted effects of earthbound spirits. If you’ve ever seen film lots, you know how wide open they are. It’s like trying to figure out how to protect a small city! If you are a visitor to theaters or TV or film sets, you may bring a spirit or two home with you when they decide they need a break from the performing arts.
As a person who works with the paranormal on a daily basis, I am always very aware of the energy around me. There are many other people who work in metaphysical fields—including card readers, astrologists, numerologists, spiritualists, healers, and more—and I urge them