Jock Brocas is a spiritual author and teacher with books published internationally. Jock is also the president of the charity organization assmpi and works tirelessly to he others develop spiritually and live a more rewarding life. Join Jock Brocas on a spiritual journey.
http://jockbrocas.us
The Smoky Mountains in North Carolina have many stories about the unknown, the supernatural, and paranormal events. These stories and events have become as part of the mountains' history. The mountain area is frequented by black bears and many different animal species that call the mountains home. Another creature is said to roam the area. Reports of paranormal sightings of Bigfoot are just part of the norm in these mountains.
Marion, North Carolina: The Bigfoot Festival is more than just a celebration of folklore. It is a place that attracts believers, researchers, and those who are curious about the mysterious legend of Bigfoot. Everywhere you go in Marion, Bigfoot is seen on signs, billboards and in stores. Marion is known for its frequent Bigfoot sightings, although it is uncertain whether these encounters involve the actual elusive creature. Nevertheless, this year was different. John Bruner from Bigfoot 911 was honored by the local mayor and Bigfoot was declared the official animal of the town.
Expectations And Bigfoot Festival Foundations
The festival this year featured an array of vibrant Bigfoot-themed clothing and merchandise, as well as unique foot-shaped ornaments. Additionally, there was a designated Bigfoot crossing area for memorable photo opportunities. The event was brimming with exciting activities, including informative talks, thrilling Bigfoot walks, and a multitude of street vendors. Everywhere you went, you could listen to conversations about Bigfoot sightings in the area. Whether you were an ardent believer or even a fervent skeptic. You could not help but be drawn in by the Bigfoot vibe.
Bigfoot Entertainment and Speakers
This year's festival did not disappoint in terms of entertainment and education. The lineup featured a distinguished panel of experts. These speakers unveiled groundbreaking findings and experiences in the realm of Bigfoot research and the supernatural. Their presentations covered a range of topics, from the latest evidence to personal encounters and theories.
Zach Bales, a current school teacher turned storyteller and Bigfoot researcher, was one of the speakers. He captivated the crowd by sharing his incredible personal experiences with the legendary Sasquatch. Zach shares entertaining stories in his paranormal museum in Kentucky and now researches sightings and strange phenomena in Kentucky and other parts of the USA.
The festival also featured live music, performances, and other engaging activities that kept the atmosphere lively and enjoyable.
But perhaps one of the most entertaining aspects of the festival was the Bigfoot call. A contest in which enthusiasts of Bigfoot would take turns using a microphone to showcase their best Bigfoot calls.
The Cryptid Guy, also known as Christian Macleod, hosted this part of the event and bore a striking resemblance to a captivating blend of Indiana Jones and Josh Gates.
Christian, with a rosary adorning his neck, was always equipped to banish any supernatural forces that might come his way. He not only had a deep knowledge of the paranormal, but also took it upon himself to educate others on how to stay secured while delving into otherworldly encounters. It was his job to be the master of ceremonies for the call competition.
Then the call came!
Each contestant would step up to the microphone and give their impression of a big foot call. That's when I discovered my inner Bigfoot, not due to any personal experience, but because of the excitement of all the Bigfoot enthusiasts who shared a common bond. Contestant after contestant would call to the crowd and after being greeted with cheers and shouts of support the next call would come and each very different in tone and vibration. One of the most shocking calls came from a young woman whose call clearly sounded otherworldly and could never have come from someone so small and delicate in stature. It even stirred my wife who now has a Jock call and expects me to come running whenever this call is given. She tested it and I felt it, so I quickly rushed over - it actually worked! Go figure!
Vendors and Offerings
The streets of Marion were lined with a diverse array of vendors, each offering unique products and services. From handcrafted goods and souvenirs to paranormal investigation equipment, there was something for everyone. One vendor was ready to welcome any ghosts who came his way.
Food vendors were particularly popular, with most providing reasonably priced options for festival-goers.
However, not all experiences were positive. One food vendor, in particular, stood out for their exorbitant prices, charging $10 for a lemonade drink, $15 for a small corn dog, and $15 for a turkey leg. The lack of clear pricing led to frustration among attendees, who felt caught off guard by the high costs. In contrast, a local food vendor offering quality American cuisine was much more reasonable, providing a better experience for those looking to enjoy a meal without breaking the bank.
A Bigfoot History and Now A Legacy
What started as a small gathering of friends and community has blossomed into a globally renowned event of epic proportions. Previous years attracted up to 40k people and, in the words of John Bruner ‘This year is much bigger than I thought it would be.’ Parking was mostly free apart from some areas where landowners jumped into the opportunity to make a quick buck. Supporting and uplifting the community and various non-profit organizations, rather than solely focusing on making money quickly, is a far better approach. The festival holds significant importance, and as a result, John and his sons are highly esteemed for their contribution to the community and support of non-profits. There is no doubt this festival fosters community with like-minded folks.
A Community United
Despite any minor setbacks, the overall atmosphere of the festival was one of unity and excitement. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share stories, and deepen their understanding of Bigfoot and other paranormal phenomena. The festival continues to be a testament to the enduring fascination with the unknown and the power of community in exploring these mysteries.
As the festival wrapped up, it was clear that Marion, North Carolina, had once again successfully hosted an event that not only entertained but also educated and inspired all who attended. The Bigfoot Festival remains a highlight for believers and researchers alike, promising even greater things in the years to come.
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More enlightening moments from a riveting Deadly Departed interview with host Jock Brocas and trailblazing psychologist Dr Lisa Miller. Bringing spirituality to the forefront of scientific inquiry with powerful evidence that validates how normal the paranormal really is and why humans are innately spiritual.
A bold new paradigm for health, healing and resilience
Dr Lisa Miller, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and the founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spiritual psychology. Her groundbreaking book The Awakened Brain gifts us with a comprehensive unveiling of spiritual neuroscience, the mysteries of consciousness and her illuminating personal story of awakening.
Aptly described as a bold new paradigm for health, healing and resilience, Dr Lisa Miller’s ‘hands-on’ book also shows us why the awakened decision is the better decision, the awakened brain is the healthier brain and the awakened life is the inspired life.
Spiritual Path Talking Points
How painful experiences serve as gateways to spiritual growth and awakening
Longing for a child and coming to terms with the haunting possibility of infertility
Deep despair leads to paying attention to the loving and guiding universe
Encountering an ultimate, sacred presence
Belief in the existence of spiritual beings called ‘trail angels’ sent by God
How significant challenges and moments of uncertainty shaped their understanding of parenthood and unconditional love
Recognition of synchronicities, guidance and love received from a divine force
How a Lakota healing ceremony marked a major turning point
An extraordinary blessing
Painful experiences are gateways to spiritual growth
Dr Lisa Miller: As a scientist… it was important to me that The Awakened Brain be about a personal journey, about the deep hard data of our lived inner experience, every bit as much as the outward science. And so, The Awakened Brain is really about my journey on a spiritual path, as we all have a spiritual path, and how some of the most painful times in our lives… are actually the gateway to a spiritual awakening.
Dr Lisa Miller: I, like many people in my thirties, wanted to start a family. And my husband and I, at that point, had done everything by the book that we had wanted, to set up our lives in a sort of outward way... He was working as a lawyer in New York. We had an apartment, and we had friends. And I had made my way through a PhD program and was now clinical psychologist…
I sort of pulled the cord…Now. Now is time. We will start our family. As if humans made life. Right? So, there we were, and we started to, so called try, as we understood it at that time. And after this went on for about 6, 8, 10 months, I started to get this haunting feeling, like, wait a minute, what if we can't conceive? You know? And it was so horrifying to me that I pushed it out of my mind…
I wondered in my heart if we were in the wrong place
Dr Lisa Miller: I went further down this path and further down this path, and we started to feel… not just disappointed, but after a while, a longing, depression…You just hit rock bottom. We said, okay, let's get help. So, we went to an excellent fertility doctor on the upper west side where we were living. No baby. We thought, let's search the northeast. I'm a clinical scientist. Let's find the highest rates of conception. We went to that office. No baby.
And as we went further down this path, IUI, IVF, second IVF, I started to get this haunting feeling that, you know, the message from doctors was, you're healthy you're healthy. We can get you pregnant. Again, the human control, implicit in all this. But I shared and wondered in my heart if we were in the wrong place. It just didn't feel that it was our path, if this is where we were being called.
But this hunger to have a child was so great that I kept going. And I said, let's go to the people who invented IVF... And there we were, pretty despairing, pretty depleted, but hopeful. My heart still knew it was inauthentic. Our path was inauthentic for us.
Recognizing spiritual interventions
So, sitting there post IVF…they put the fertilized eggs back in…My husband being very sweet, he sat beside me in solidarity on bed rest… We splurged for a very nice hotel in Rittenhouse Square. We click the remote…and on the TV there's only one channel…so we're clicking, clicking one channel… the only choice we might watch was an excruciating, 4 hour documentary on an orphan…
We're on our 7th in vitro, third team, trying to get pregnant. Human control. Pulling out the stops. And what comes back to us from the universe is the voice of a little orphan, through a translator, standing in a garbage dump. And he says, I don't care that I live in the trash. He's literally living in trash. I don't care that I can't go to school but it hurts so much to not be loved. I sniff glue to make the pain go away of not being loved. The orphan said all I want is love.
So, here we are on this really kind of, you know, solipsistic. Let's get that baby that has, you know, your looks and your humor and… my resilience and… let's get that baby that's us in a very material sense and a very human control sense, like air traffic control to control the variables.
And the universe says… This boy could have been your child. All he needed was love, and all you needed was a child. He could have not been living in a garbage jump in pain, and you could have not been on this, now, 3 and a half, 4 year journey. So, the message is pretty clear. And my husband, who is really the sort of gracious civilian in this journey, looks over at me and says, you know, there's a child out there for us. Wow... We knew. And once we got that picture, we started to see more and more helpers and healers showing up on our road of life.
Surrendering to the divine
Jock Brocas: More and more…. synchronicity started coming in tenfold from the other side.
Dr Lisa Miller: Absolutely. The most glorious, of course, is…my mother…she may not even know it. A plain clothes shaman… And she's the first to call. And she said… I just wanted you to know, our neighbor…has just adopted the most beautiful little boy. His name is Robert Paul, and he's so wonderful. And he's from Russia. And just so you know, here's the information. Wow. Love you. Bye.
Jock Brocas: You know what? It's crazy because…that in itself is a spiritual intervention…reading that in the book as well, I was like, you know what? They're meant to have it, but it's not meant to be in the material world. It's got to be surrendered to the divine.
Dr Lisa Miller: This gracious loving guidance, this sacred divine… held, guided, loved…at all times. And what were we doing? We were fighting. We were swimming upstream… One more in vitro. One more in vitro human control. Put the pieces together mechanistically. And who I call God…divine spirit or sacred force of life, was really ushering us down the road.
Listen carefully and pay deeper observance to synchronicities
Dr Lisa Miller: We were at a fork in the road. And I quiver to think if I hadn't listened, right? Although, we know if we don't, we do get another chance but the volume's turned up. We're in such a loving guiding universe. We do gather multiple chances. But that that was a major fork in the road, and we started listening more carefully and paying more deep observance to the synchronicities that really usher us along our path.
So, this continues. One night… I'm in bed, sleeping next to my husband, and I feel a presence coming. I can feel the presence coming closer and closer. And I sit up set up. And time and space opened up. This is at about… 3AM... time and space open up, and it's numinous... and a very sacred presence comes. And the message is, if you are pregnant, will you adopt?
It's …very sacred, very sacred. Very regal is not quite the word... It’s an ultimate presence… a profound presence... an ultimate sacred presence. And the message was clear, and the voice was deep and resonant…like an ohm…And I, in... the ultimate sacred presence, of course, was very honest. And I said, honestly, no, no… If we got pregnant at one of these IVFs, I'd go with that baby. And so, we continue further down the path…and I have more in vitro, more in vitro. And can you imagine what this does to the body? You know?
Jock Brocas: I know you mentioned that you were you were suffering physically from all of the injections and the holes in your system.
Dr Lisa Miller: They take out maybe 20 eggs at a time. I seem to respond quite prolifically to this medication. I thought, well, you know, for me and our path, this didn't seem fluid…after about our 9th in vitro, I just have this sinking feeling in my heart that we're still in the wrong place and that we've sort of strayed now. We're not sticking to our path.
And as I step up to our front door of our home in the country, a peaceful, quiet place that used to be a fishing cabin, a tiny…lovely place, on the front door there's something moist and wet, and I can't tell what it is. I haven't seen this before. I lean forward and it's a dead embryo. I'm walking back from an invitro, and there's a dead embryo on my doorstep. It’s irrefutable what this means, right? … It's clearly far too un-probabilistic to have happened by chance. In the years before and in the 20 years since, there's never been the dead embryo on my front step.
Jock Brocas: That's a sign. That's a sign and a half.
Dr Lisa Miller: And it's of guidance, right? And as excruciating as it is…completely depressing…I look closely, and it's a dead duck. A beautiful dead duck embryo. And I just, you know, it's too depressing. It’s the middle of the day, I go in... I lie down on the couch in my study and I go to sleep.
And then I hear… I'm woken by this tapping on… my sliding glass door looking out to the river. And I get up, and I'm like, who could that be. And it's a mama duck. And she's brought me something of great comfort, of great value to her. She's brought me a plump juicy worm... Never has a duck before, never has a duck since, come right out of the river up the stairs to the porch to my study to bring me a plump juicy worm. She lost her baby. Yeah. And she was comforting me for losing mine.
We are loved and held and guided by spirit who I call God, the great force of life, and we show up for one another. Whether it is my mother, the shaman…or a fellow living being – mother duck… And as painful as that was, I felt such love and I felt that… this is a buoyant path. We are not alone here. We are never alone.
Trail angels help us meet synchronicities
Jock Brocas: I know that you had a spiritual outlook before, but this seemed to be the moment.
Dr Lisa Miller: You know, Jock, in my path, it's almost like there's rounds, like there’s an upward helix... more and more, coming ever closer. And, so the presence came back. Again, in the night, I sat up. It was about 3 AM. Just woke up suddenly. There's almost a rhythm as the presence comes and asks, if you were pregnant, would you adopt? And I said, I am so much closer... But truthfully, if this instant I got pregnant, no.
But I could feel I was... getting what parenthood was. It's like not my schnoz and my husband's sense of humor… So this goes further and I get a call from another trail angel, as I call them, those who help as we meet synchronicities... emanations of of spirit. And this is my older cousin. My name is Lisa Jane. My big cousin is Jane. I'm little Jane. She's big Jane. It's always been that way, and she's sort of a guide who's extremely frank with me. You know? Told me unwanted things.
And she calls, and she says, hey, little cuz. I know you're having a struggle and you're having a hard time. And I'm wondering if you might come out here to a healing ceremony of the Lakota. And I said, well, I'd love to come, but I, you know, I have this appointment in Pittsburgh. She's like, well, the healing ceremony is in 3 days. And it worked out, Jock, that I went first to our appointment in Pittsburgh... and then to big Jane’s.
Jock Brocas: You were at the wrong place at one point, weren’t you. You had to actually redirect.
Dr Lisa Miller: Oh, oh, yes. You're good. So we're in Pittsburgh, and we're with a clergyman's daughter... who was recommended by my mother... And this beautiful woman has helped bring together... probably... 800 families. And her walls are lined with photos of beautiful radiant families, you know, a little baby and parents or children who are adopted.
I was feeling like I was starting to be in the right place. There was so much unconditional love. I was feeling like this feels right. She leans forward and she says, you've gotta be very honest with me. I've made hundreds of families, brought them together. You've gotta be honest. What do you want in a child?
And the nuance of what do you want can play either way... It can sound a little bit like trying to get pregnant... And I said, you know, I don't care if this child is a boy or a girl. I don't care what race this child is, but please, a child who can love. And my husband leans forward and kind of puts his shoulder in my space and says, yes, all that, but kind of a girl. And I say, but foremost, a child who can love.
And with that, I went from there to South Dakota to the call answer the call of Big Jane. And she said, I want you to know that I've gotten permission from the head of the Lakota community here in South Dakota that you might join us in a healing ceremony. I've done a lot of work with this tribe, and they have as a favor to me, have welcomed you. Wow. So I go to the healing ceremony...Each person in the Lakota community stood up in front of the entire community and spoke of why he or she had come.
We go around the circle, and it comes to big Jane... It felt so good to have Big Jane speak for me in this moment. She's come looking for her child... And they all look, and they get it... And big Jane says, I wonder if we can help her find her child sitting here in the sweat lodge. And and we go around, complete the circle...and we pray. And at the end, the fire’s put out and we send up the prayers... And in my mind, I could see the same numinousness.
An extraordinary blessing
So that night, that very night, a call came into my machine in New York. I picked it up early the next morning. But to this day, I feel so grateful to God, so grateful for the loving infinite guidance of God. The call comes in from Russia. We have found the Miller's child. We have wonderful girls. Mr Miller had asked for a girl, and we can give you a girl. But this is the Miller's child, and this is a son.
Wow. We had been praying for sons. And my son now, of course, is called Isaiah for one world... Lakota for the people who helped us find our child. It was an extraordinary blessing... And soon the video comes, and he's radiant. It's an angel come to earth.
And that night, after I've seen Isaiah, I've seen our boy, I feel the presence coming the third time. And I know now, of course, and it's coming closer, in the sacred rhythm of approach and the numinous opening in the night. And the presence says, and I feel I may know what they're going to ask, if you were pregnant now, would you adopt? Absolutely. This is my spiritual son.
And that night, we conceived naturally his sister, kind of a girl, his spiritual twin. That night, after 5 years of all the best infertility doctors, this was not a mechanistic control problem. This did not live in the province of human control. This was about a sacred path. This was a divine intervention.
Jock Brocas: Yes. And it exemplifies not a human condition, a spiritual condition. It exemplifies who we are as spirits having a human experience and not the other way around.
Believers, Skeptics, Inquisitive Fans, and Researchers descend upon the small town of Marion, North Carolina every year to celebrate Bigfoot. A small idea to bring Bigfoot enthusiasts together in Western North Carolina became the largest Bigfoot/Cryptid festival in North Carolina and one of the biggest Paranormal-themed festivals on the East Coast in 2018.
WNC Bigfoot Festival hits the streets of Marion on May 18th, 2024.
Bigfoot 911, a research group, has been searching for Bigfoot in the Mountains of Western North Carolina and beyond for many years. After several close encounters with Sasquatch, the non-profit team was inspired to host the first WNC Bigfoot Festival for believers, non-believers, skeptics, and everyone in-between. Taking place in the group’s hometown of Marion, North Carolina, the festival continues to draw an increasing number of attendees lured by all things squatchy and unusual in this Blue Ridge Mountain community.
With a growing resurgence of individuals celebrating Appalachian culture and folklore, it’s no wonder this festival exploded onto the scene with unprecedented response. Rural, mountainous regions like McDowell County, NC are steeped in a rich history of strange folklore and stories. Many of those stories speak of Bigfoot-like creatures interacting with indigenous tribes and early settlers. Stories and experiences that draw the listener in and spark the imagination of what lurks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These traditional storytelling accounts, combined with new and recent experiences, created an intriguing environment for a Bigfoot Festival to take place.
2024’s WNC Bigfoot Festival will kick off in Downtown Marion, along the Main street thoroughfare. From 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitors can hear from a variety of Bigfoot researchers, take part in a Bigfoot-themed contest and enjoy live music from the event’s Main Stage, located in front of the McDowell County Courthouse.
Bigfoot - A Local Hero
The response to the Bigfoot Festival throughout the community has been overwhelming, with the Mayor of Marion, NC declaring Bigfoot the official City Mascot. Countless businesses and organizations decorate their street-facing windows and doors with depictions of Sasquatch, and the local educators created a fun-run focused on the furry, bipedal mystery.
New to the WNC Bigfoot Festival is the 1st Annual Bigfoot Jam at The Box Factory, NC (29 Logan Street), featuring live, local music kicking off the weekend celebration of all things Bigfoot. The 1st Annual Bigfoot Jam takes place the night before, on May 17th, with doors open at 4:30pm.
On the day of the WNC Bigfoot Festival, opening ceremonies will start at 10:15 a.m. on May 18th, 2024. During this portion of the event, Marion Mayor Steve Little will present event organizers, Bigfoot 911, with a proclamation naming Bigfoot the official animal of Marion, N.C.
Photographer John Sacco
Along with notable Bigfoot and Cryptid Researchers speaking throughout the day, new additions to the WNC Bigfoot Speaker roster include paranormal researchers and personalities, including Author
Margaret Langley (Haunted Broughton), and Paranormal Roadtripper Zach Bales. Regional Bigfoot and Sasquatch Researchers (NC Squatch Watchers) and B.F.R.O. (Bigfoot Field Research Organization) will also present at the festival.
The infamous Flavors on Main Bigfoot Calling Contest starts around 12 p.m., with randomly selected individuals competing for a chance to win. Names will be drawn prior to the calling contest to determine the competitors. Those wanting to be in the calling contest can enter the drawing at the Bigfoot 911 booth across from the stage on the courthouse lawn. You must get a ticket to be drawn up to call.
Marion’s nonprofit organizations, restaurants and businesses have created a variety of Sasquatch-themed activities, dishes, drinks and memorabilia that visitors can indulge in before, during and after the festival. McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA) will be hosting a local artist “Bigfoot Pop-Up” Market, along with limited edition WNC Bigfoot Festival glasses and swag available for purchase from select establishments (Refinery13, Flavors on Main).
Attendees can also explore more than 165 vendor booths featuring a variety of Bigfoot-themed products. To ensure a more comfortable festival experience, the city of Marion will now have two food vendor courts for festival goers to explore when appetites hit “squatchy” levels.
Visitors at Saturday’s portion of the event are encouraged to take advantage of satellite parking areas located at McDowell Technical Community College, Corpening Memorial YMCA, and McDowell High School. Parking shuttles will operate from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. or a map of satellite parking areas and up-to-date information about the WNC Bigfoot Festival, visit MarionBigfootFestival.com.
Friday, May 17 - The Box Factory, NC Municipal Event Center (29 Logan Street)
6:00pm (doors open at 4:30pm) -1st Annual Bigfoot Jam
Saturday, May 18 – Downtown Marion
10:00am Festival Begins
10:15am Opening Ceremony – Mayor Steve Little
10:30am Blue Shades Band
11:00am Christian Macloud American Cryptid & Paranormal
11:30am Zach Bales Paranormal Roadtripper
12:00pm BIGFOOT CALLING CONTEST
12:30pm Blue Shades Band
1:00pm Margaret Langley - Haunted Broughton
1:30pm Terry Wendill Rock Hill Bigfoot
2:00pm Blue Shades Band
2:30pm Rick Reles & Lori Wade of BFRO
3:00pm NC Squatch Watchers
3:30pm Blue Shades Band
4:00pm Tim Dills
4:30pm Blue Shades Band
5:00 p.m. - Closing ceremony
Special Notes: Plan ahead for parking
These are the sites where satellite parking and shuttle services to and from the event will be offered on Saturday, May 18. Shuttle services run 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Nothing quite gets our attention like our pets. From happy dogs to purring cats, they aren’t thought of as property, they’re members of the family. How many times have we deliberately quieted our minds and distracted our thoughts before scooping up the kitty for a trip to the vet? Maybe we have psychic animals because sometimes even that doesn’t work. The little furballs just seem to know . . .
The author’s two cats, Bowie and Meph
I have argued that we live in an idealist universe. (The universe is made out of ideas, not material.) This means that our connectedness should extend to animals as well as other people. Psychic ability must be universal for idealism to be true. This would mean that pets should be psychic, just like humans. So what does science have to say about this?
There is actually good reason to think that animals are psychic in much the same manner people are. In the abstract world of academia, this isn’t so obvious, but it is to farmers, zoo staff, people who do animal rescue and many pet owners.
Animals generally can’t communicate with speech except through some limited vocalizations, or parrots with their limited vocabulary. They generally make their needs and desires known through body language, but this doesn’t always work. There are times when the animal and the human need to be in each other’s minds.
Can We communicate with our deceased pets?
We form strong emotional connections with the animals that we care for, sometimes even when the animal does not show any reciprocity. People have formed connections with many different types of mammals and birds and sometimes other species. Obviously they cannot talk to us, but we still need to know sometimes what’s going on with them, (or they with us.) This is the sort of situation where psychic ability comes in handy. They can’t tell us that something is wrong, so we have to use our intuition.
This was addressed in a 2024 paper in the Journal of Scientific Exploration. Accounts of end of life experiences with pets, including afterlife communications were compared to experiences among humans and were found to be very similar.
Can a dog psychically know when its owner is returning?
In scientific experiments, the bond between a human and its animal friend is used for testing. In ’98 Rupert Sheldrake conducted a series of experiments with dog owner Pamela Smart to where he used a straightforward test as to whether the dog, Jaytee, knew when Pam was coming home even when that was random and by different means. Jaytee would reliably go to a window to wait for Pam when he anticipated her return.
Was it the sound of the car? No. Pam would sometimes return on a bicycle. Was it smell? No. Smell is not reliable at longer distances. Notably, Jaytee would start waiting by the window soon after Pam began her return, regardless of how far away she was at the time. (I’ve noticed that when armchair skeptics “examine” studies like these, they typically assume that the researcher hasn’t accounted for all the possibilities of ordinary causes and then don’t bother to fact check their assumptions.)
This particular study had a very tiny skeptical replication that achieved the same results, (3 attempts by the skeptic, vs. 12 by the researcher, 10 controls and 95 documented behaviors in three different environments to assure that the dog was indeed, performing a unique task.)
PSI Trailing
There is another thing called psi trailing. This is when a pet that has been lost finds its way home over territory it is unfamiliar with. The most famous and well investigated case took place in 1923 and involved a dog named Bobbie that had traveled with his family from Oregon to Indiana. While the family was stopped for gas, Bobbie, who was allowed to roam, got jumped by three other dogs and ran. The family stayed in town searching in vain, even checking in on the way back, finally giving up after about a week, eventually returning home.
Bobbi, who traveled 3,ooo miles. Is this psi trailing? The Sunday Oregonian, p.12, Feb. 24, 1924
After a six month journey of around 3,000 miles, Bobbie found his way home. Because it was such a remarkable feat, the Oregon Humane Society documented the effort and was able to find and interview people who had helped Bobbie along the way and confirm the journey. He checked in at stopping points along the way, sort of retracing his path, but this doesn’t fully account for the journey he took, some of which was along unfamiliar territory.
Using a couple of standard statistical models, it was determined that the parrot would score 12 hits totally at random in the 71 trials, meaning that this experiment was an unqualified success. The parrot was demonstrated to have a telepathic connection to its owner.
Consider the following experiment. Animals of an inbred strain are placed under conditions in which they learn to respond to a given stimulus in a characteristic way. They are then made to repeat this pattern of behavior many times. Ex hypothesi, the new behavioural field will be reinforced by morphic resonance, which will not only cause the behavior of the trained animals to become increasingly habitual, but will also affect, although less specifically, any similar animal exposed to a similar stimulus: the larger the number of animals in the past that have learned the task, the easier it should be for subsequent similar animals to learn it. Therefore, in an experiment of this type it should be possible to observe a progressive increase in the rate of learning not only in animals descended from trained ancestors, but also in genetically similar animals descended from untrained ancestors.
There were several experiments carried out, with as many as 50 generations of rats to test the possibility of learned behavior being passed along through subsequent generations so that learning became faster. This turned out to be successful not only with the generations of experimental rats, but also with the controls. Why did the controls also learn? It can only be because the learning is being stored in what can be explained as a consciousness field specific to these rats. It is an experimental result that falls in line with Rupert Sheldrake’s morphic resonance theory, but no other.
There is, of course, skepticism; the results of successful parapsychology experiments are always disputed. They inevitably arise though, from intense disbelief and an unrealistic standard of evidence that is applied to parapsychology in a way unseen elsewhere.
The conclusion that can be drawn here is that animal ESP experiments have many of the same outcomes as human experiments. That is to say, ESP just exists in general as part of the fabric of reality and it’s not specific to human beings. The existence of psychic animals should be of no surprise to anyone.
Scientific evidence validates how normal the paranormal really is
In a riveting Deadly Departed interview with host Jock Brocas, trailblazing psychologist Dr Lisa Miller brings spirituality to the forefront of scientific inquiry with powerful evidence that validates how normal the paranormal really is and why humans are innately spiritual.
Dr Lisa Miller, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology.
Her groundbreaking book The Awakened Brain gifts us with a comprehensive unveiling of ‘spiritual neuroscience’, the mysteries of sacred consciousness and her powerful personal story of awakening. Aptly described as a bold new paradigm for health, healing and resilience, Dr Lisa Miller’s ‘hands-on’ book also shows us why the awakened decision is the better decision, the awakened brain is the healthier brain and the awakened life is the inspired life.
We are starting to understand consciousness as existing independent of matter, which means that the brain can be a reification of coming into form, an antenna of sacred consciousness. And what we have in our MRI machines is the capacity to show which part of the brains go hand in hand with receiving consciousness. Which parts of the brain are engaged during moments of deep spiritual awareness. And to a mental health field, that's very powerful evidence that we are built for spiritual awareness. And we take that and we say, listen, every human being on earth is built as an innately spiritual being. Dr Lisa Miller, Ph.D.
Spiritual Path Talking Points
How science and spirituality merge in the Awakened Brain
Intertwining grief, spirituality, and healing
Sacred consciousness - love, guidance, intention coming from Source/God
Synchronicities and moments of guidance from a higher power
Neuroscience shows that consciousness exists independent of matter
Choice is a sacred gift, a dialogue with the sacred universe
Why our thoughts and actions have power
Connection between the paranormal and normal
Divine appointments and life-altering choices
Cultivating an awakened brain in your own life
Understanding Sacred Consciousness - Source - God
Dr Lisa Miller: My mission is to walk the spiritual path... to help through the lens of science, bear witness to this awesome truth that I know through my deep intuitive knowing, through my mystical perception, through what we now know is our birthright - spiritual awareness.
I set out to show that to the medical community, the mental health community because the language at the moment of the mental health community is one of clinical science and if we could show the centrality and transformative power of spiritual awareness, what I call awakened awareness… if we could reveal the awakened brain, then perhaps mental health could embrace this deep foundational truth of who we are as humans.
Jock Brocas: I love the aspect that you dive into the neuroscience as well. I'm forever arguing with scientists on the brain and the mind. So, what gave you this inkling that, wait a minute, there’s gotta be a concept in our biological makeup in the brain that is set for spiritual awakening and spiritual realization.
Dr Lisa Miller: … It's a very beautiful point, and it's a subtle point, Jock…I'm not saying the brain makes spirituality. But I am saying that the brain is perhaps a docking station or an antenna or an expression of spirituality.
Jock Brocas: That’s what I think. The brain is an expression of divine mind or mind; the mind being the psychological building blocks of a reality.
Dr Lisa Miller: Beautiful.And that is for neuroscience, hopefully, where we are in our growth. In the 20th century, the metaphor of the brain was like a factory making packages of something, that the brain packages up thoughts. But increasingly, in the 21st century, we're starting to understand consciousness. And here we're talking about sacred consciousness. Not just information, but love, guidance, intention. Sacred. Coming from Source, the same as what I call God.
So here, we are starting to understand consciousness as existing independent of matter, which means that the brain can be a reification of coming into form, an antenna of sacred consciousness. And what we have in our MRI machines is the capacity to show which part of the brains go hand in hand with receiving consciousness. Which parts of the brain are engaged during moments of deep spiritual awareness. And to a mental health field, that's very powerful evidence that we are built for spiritual awareness. And we take that and we say, listen, every human being on earth is built as an innately spiritual being. An innately spiritual being.
We Have the Power Within Us to Bring Imbalance Into Balance
Jock Brocas: I think it's amazing… because it also brings to the forefront of our minds, or the forefront of reality... that we have the power to be able to reverse what maybe has come in unbalanced. Maybe that's somewhere that we need to go even deeper, especially in mental health, because I see it as an imbalance of something that we need to bring into balance. We have that power within us. But most people don't realize that.
Dr Lisa Miller: Science has always had a perfectly good lens for looking at innate spirituality, but we didn't use it...And that was not a limitation of our lens. We can point our lens at a broad host of questions. Whether it's an MRI study or an epidemiological study or a telescope, we can point it anywhere. But the limitation in the 20th century was in us, the scientists, we, the scientists.
Now that we have started asking questions about spirituality in the human journey and the road of life, I take the findings to be a form of sacred witness. It is jaw dropping Jock. It's like when we split the atom and infinite energy came out. A sacred moment like that.
Strengthening Our Spiritual Birthright
Dr Lisa Miller: Our awakened brain is one third innate. It is a human, inborn capacity. But it is two thirds environmentally formed which means our opportunity to engage, to practice, to learn. I liken it in some respects to musical ability. We all can feel the deep rhythm. We all have an innate musical ability. We all are innately rhythmic, if you will.
And then there's natural human variability and honoring your audience here. There's probably a great number of people who are exquisitely attuned, who are the Maestro's and the composers and the professional musicians, if you will. And those folks are representative of human variability.
We have one spiritual brain all around the world, but there's natural variability, same as there is with music or math or anything else. And, of course, two thirds environmentally formed means that our use of this gift of our awakened brain to practice, whether it's through prayer and meditation, whether it's through service, in a way that's guided by spirit, the more we use our awakened brain, the stronger it becomes. And that includes sacred work.
So, I honor every human being as a spiritual being, and to the extent that we choose to engage the spiritual path, we strengthen evermore, this birthright.
Choice is a sacred gift, a dialogue with the sacred universe
Jock Brocas: You mentioned choice a number of times, which is probably one of the greatest divine gifts that we've ever been given.
Dr Lisa Miller: Beautiful. Oh, Jock, what a way to think of it. Yes. Absolutely.
Jock Brocas: The power of choice that we are given by the divine is up to us. I have this concept where I say we have restricted free will because we don't have total free will. Because if we had total free will, then destiny wouldn't play a part in it, and we wouldn't have spiritual growth. We wouldn't learn anything.
But I feel that the power of choice that we have... it's a dialogue, and it probably becomes stronger with struggle and trauma, which leads us to becoming more aware of the power of choice, that we have to take a spiritual path, where we may then fall away from a religious dogmatic belief system and then start to, you know, investigate. Wait a minute, we are greater than the sum total of anything that we are, and we are greater than the perceptions and the expectations of religion. Where is the seat of awareness in us that has taken us to a new level? Where we're maybe jumping between knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom being the hidden bridge and knowledge being the intellect.
Dr Lisa Miller: I soagree with you that choice is a sacred gift. And I sometimes think of choice in these moments, where we know it is a profound moment of choice. I mean, sometimes it can be clear and outward, but sometimes it's something more nuanced that we know through our knowing heart, our intuition, our mystical awareness.
I think of those moments of choice as something of a wormhole between universes that everything unfolds differently from that point. That's not to say we can't be redeemed. We can always be redeemed and forgiven, have another wormhole perhaps, if it's given. But choice is a sacred moment, and I think of it indeed as a dialogue with the sacred universe. What are you showing me now? What are you asking me now?
Divine Appointment
Dr Lisa Miller: Interestingly, Jock, the Pentagon and I have worked together for...close to four years. And the Chief of Chaplains in the Pentagon, 2 star general, Chaplain Tom Solhjem, speaks of divine appointment. He talks about moments where there's 2 helicopters taking off, and there's just been combat, and where does he go? And he feels in his spiritual heart, go left. Even though the plan was to go right.
The plan until that moment had been to board the helicopter on the right. The heart says go left. So he goes left. And he gets in the helicopter and it takes off, and there's three wounded soldiers. Chaplain Soldier tells the story of being able to pray and being in deep spiritual community with these three soldiers, a deep spiritual bond. And Jock ,all three of them survived.
Jock: Wow. That's powerful intuition right there.
Dr Lisa Miller: And I love his term divine appointment. The way you listen to the pull of god, of spirit. Saying, go left this time. That's a divine appointment.
The Awakened Brain - Lisa Miller Ph.D.
The Awakened Brain combines cutting-edge science with on-the-ground application for people of all ages and from all walks of life, illuminating the surprising science of spirituality and how to engage it in our lives. A groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience—from a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning researcher.
Everybody loves castles, especially haunted castles. Whether you’re an avid fan of medieval culture, war history, fantasy novels or movies, ancient buildings, or romance. Castles are always at the heart of the action. We can find these wonderful structures worldwide standing boldly, emitting their architectural beauty and centuries of accomplishment and despair. These remarkable and historical buildings are often filled with stories of gore, violence, love, death, destruction, power, greed, and wealth.. However, there is one castle that dwarfs all others. Not in size, but in all things grizzly, gruesome, horrifying, and destructive. Prepare for a shocking and hair-raising read as we travel to the United Kindom to unravel the dark past and bone-chilling history of Chillingham Castle.
A stone monster is born - Chillingham Castle
During the 12th century, horrific conflict ensued between England and Scotland in rural Northumberland. Frustrated and tired of England’s power and suppression, Scotland relentlessly fought for their freedom and sought complete independence from their neighboring enemies. Led by the Scottish rebel William Wallace, the English soon realized that they had a big problem on their hands. William Wallace was an inspirational leader of the Scots, who wished to disable the English, like many nations of that time. He was a fierce warrior who possessed great military strategic knowledge, a violent disposition, a hunger for freedom, and the guts and determination needed to inspire his people to victory. Scottish morale soon began to soar and worry of an invasion became the primary concern of the British army. They knew they had to act swiftly.
Chillingham is a small village in the county of Northumberland, Northeast of England. It sits almost directly on the border between England and Scotland. Surrounded by the Cheviot hills, Chillingam provided the perfect strategic location for the British army to protect England’s border. Any invaders could be seen coming from miles around. As a result of the advantageous views and protective cover from the hills, the British had plenty of time to watch and assess any potential threats and could prepare for their onslaught. In contrast, any opposing onslaught was easily countered, leaving the Scottish in great peril. As a result, a stronghold was built. The British Army was there to stay. Any Scottish rebel who dared cross over into British territory would suffer catastrophic consequences.
Originally, the stronghold possessed no name. It was simply four large stone towers that had been constructed in a square shape, with wooden walkways fitted so that soldiers could cross from one tower to the other. As the years passed, further walls were built to join the towers together, making it a stronger fortress. As the building continued, dungeons and torture chambers were fitted, ready for any Scottish rebel who was unlucky enough to be caught. It became colloquially known as the ‘Chillingham fortress’. Now we know it as Chillingham Castle.
John Sage- King of the torturers
As the battles continued, more Scottish rebels found themselves imprisoned in the Chillingam fortress. Soon, cells became overcrowded and fear of an attack from inside became a concern. To eliminate the problem, a horrifying man was brought in. His name was John Sage, and he had been a general in the British army for many years. John Sage was no stranger to violence. He had seen it all. He was ordered by the king to use his trade of pain and suffering to ‘dispose’ of the overwhelming number of Scottish ‘guests’ within the fortress.
Almost daily, John Sage would take rebels out into the pastures one by one and with a swing of his axe, decapitated their heads swiftly and boldly. The lifeless bodies were dumped in the nearby lake where they were left to rot. However, a swift and clean death was not Sage’s preferred method of execution. That was a quick and easy fix to the fortress’s overcrowding problem. Once rebel numbers had reached a manageable level, Sage planned a much more ‘bespoke’ and ‘intricate’ form execution for the remaining and future prisoners.
The chamber of misery and pain
Deep below the fortress floors, a small chamber was built. Equipped with an iron maiden, rack, chains, shackles, boiling pots, and other unimaginable horrors, Sage quickly got to work. From dawn until dusk, horrifying screams could be heard emitting from the chamber. The floors were chiseled with ‘gutters’ to guide the river of continuous flowing blood into a drain at the end of the room. Once death’s clutches had mercilessly taken the condemned prisoner, his or her body was disposed of by being fed to the fortress pigs or simply burnt on the bonfire outside which never seemed to extinguish. The smell of burning flesh, pain, mutilation, and anguish was always the tall order of the day. This continued for many years until Sage met an unexpected and untimely end.
The hanging tree
Eventually, the fortress was made more habitual due to royal and aristocratic visits. Bedrooms were furnished, and banquet halls were added. One famous guest was Edward 1st, also known as Edward Longshanks or ‘The Hammer of the Scots’. Longshanks would stay at the castle regularly to keep a watchful eye over the daily management and control of the Scottish armies. The room in which Longshanks stayed is now called ‘The King James 1st room’, which King James stayed in after he became king himself and is still laid out in the same way as it was during his reign. As a result of these changes, the fortress became known as a ‘Chillingham Castle’, which was certainly a more fitting name for the important visitors.
One aristocratic lord’s visit would mark the end of John Sage and all his cruelty. After striking up a love affair with the lord’s daughter, Sage accidentally strangled her during an unsavory act of sexual violence. Consequently, Sage was hanged from the old oak tree in the garden that still stands there to this day. He wasn’t hanged cleanly thought... he was ‘hoisted up’ by his throat and left to throttle to death. As Sage died, members of the public dissected parts of his body and took ‘souvenirs’ from this infamous violent man. He died slowly and painfully, a small consolation for his long-suffering victims.
The family Of Chillingham Castle
The Earl Greys have occupied Chillingham Castle since the border wars ended between England and Scotland. The current owner, Sir Humphry Wakefield, is the wife of the Hon. Lady Wakefield, who is from the historic Chillingham family line. Sir Humphrey worked at Christie’s auction house in London for many years and served as a captain in the now disbanded Royal Hussars regiment in the Britsh Army. His daughter, Mary, is Chief editor for the Times and married to the politician, Dominic Cummings. His son, Maximillian is a racing driver and also served in his father’s regiment as a captain for many years. Sir Humphrey, who is also a fearless adventurer and has climbed Mount Everest, has a great passion for restoration. He has spent many years restoring Chillingham to convey its original medieval glory, which radiates clearly to this very day.
The Ghosts Lady Mary Berkley
As a result of all the excitement, there has undoubtedly been an array of emotions spilled out and absorbed by the walls of Chillingam Castle over the years. One sad tale that has contributed to this sad residue is that of Lady Mary Berkeley. Lady Berkley’s husband left her for her younger sister, Lady Henrietta. Mary, depressed and saddened by this affair, spent the rest of her days wandering the castle alone with only her daughter as an occasional companion.
Lady Mary, unable to combat the trauma of her husband’s infidelity, eventually died of a broken heart. To this very day, guests have reported hearing the swish of Mary’s dress and the pitter-patter of dainty feet as she paces the hallways of the castle, weeping and wailing. Unnervingly, a portrait exists of Lady Mary, which was painted during her younger years. The portrait used to hang in what was the castle’s nurseries. After regular reports from the children and nannies about ‘the lady stepping out of the painting and walking around the room’, the portrait was swiftly moved to a quieter Gray apartment, where it sits to this very day.
The Radiant Blue Boy
High up in the North West tower of Chillingham Castle, lies the pink room. The horrors associated with this room are unimaginable. The tale begins with a countess called Leonora Tankerville, who occupied Chillingham Castle during the 1920s. She was said to possess mediumship and psychic abilities and would regularly record her experiences and sightings at the castle in her diary. She occupied the Pink bedroom for many years and every night, a strange phenomenon would occur. At the stroke of midnight, the room temperature would dramatically drop. Soon after, the cries of a child could be heard emanating from a wall near the fireplace at the far side of the room. The cries would reach an agonizing level, often leaving the countess gripping her ears for relief.
After a while, the cries would die away, and in the corner of the room from which the cries could be heard, a bright halo of blue light would start to form. Within the light, the figure of a boy would appear, and he would slowly walk toward the countess stretching out his arm as if asking for assistance. His face looked drawn and pale, his eyes heavy and sad. Almost as quickly as he had appeared, the boy and the light that surrounded him would dissolve, leaving the countess alone once more. Unable to tolerate this childish wrath any longer, the countess had the room closed, and it remained shut for many years until her death.
Many years later during a restoration period, workmen were asked to knock down the wall in the Pink room next to the fireplace. A passageway was needed between the two towers, and it was here that a gruesome discovery was made. Within the rubble, lay the remains of a child of tender years amongst fragments of blue cloth. The remains were interred in the local churchyard and the haunting appeared to cease. However, anybody who gets access to the room still complains of an unsettling atmosphere, dropping temperatures, and an eerie silence. The room remains closed to the public and is rarely used.
The White Pantry Ghost
The old pantry, which used to be the castle’s treasure room, possesses an equally terrifying specter. Many years ago, a footman was employed to guard the castle’s silver. He had locked himself in the room for the night and pulled back the covers of his bed, ready to sleep. Suddenly, he heard a shuffling sound behind him and, thinking it was rats, unconcernedly turned to investigate. To his horror, standing in front of him, was the pale and drawn figure of a young woman, dressed in white. She asked him for a glass of water.
Thinking she was a castle guest, he turned to fetch a cup and obey her request. Upon filling the glass and turning around, he was startled to see the figure had vanished. The footman became even more concerned when he realized that he had locked the door to the room from the inside and there was no way anybody could have entered. The footman resigned his post the very next day, never to return.
Voices in the Library
Late at night, anybody walking past the library can often hear the muffled voices of two men talking. It is never possible to grasp the content of their discussion. Whenever anybody tries to listen or investigate further, the voices halt immediately. The room is always cold and even in the height of summer, icy condensed breath can be seen coming from the living.
The witch portrait
In the still room, an eerie oil-painted portrait rests upon a piano. It depicts the head and shoulders of a middle-aged woman, glaring accusingly. Surrounding the painting, are scores of letters from people who have stolen from the castle over the years. The content of the letters is always the same. The frantic writers beg for forgiveness, excuse their actions, and convey the disastrous predicaments they now find themselves in. In most cases, the returned items are door knobs, cutlery, and candles. Despite the items being small, it was enough to deter me from ever taking home a simple complimentary shower gel. I suggest you do the same!
Personal Experience
Chillingam Castle is a wonderful place to visit, and I have had the extraordinary privilege of being a regular visitor for the past 24 years. I have had so many paranormal experiences at Chillingham castle that it wouldn’t be possible to record them all here. I had to write a small book to catalog them, which has been selling successfully at the castle and online for the past 11 years. If you want to know more, feel free to google ‘Chillingham Castle-The Diary of an Amateur Ghost Hunter-by Mark Fisher’. However, one experience has come to mind as I write this article. It is currently April, and the weather is very Spring-like outside. When I smell the air, it takes me back to April 2013, the time in which I had the following terrifying experience.
My friend and I had booked the ‘Look-out’ apartment which is situated right at the very top of the northwest tower. It was early afternoon, and we were sitting chatting in the living room. The atmosphere was strangely still in the apartment. Even though it was the height of spring, the sun was beaming down, and the air was fresh, no birds were singing outside. They appeared to suddenly stop singing, leaving us feeling rather confused. About a minute later, we heard what sounded like large boots thumping around in the hallway outside the living room. We looked at each other confusingly. Suddenly, the boots sounded like they were quickening up their pace as if somebody was frantically charging around looking for something. The hairs rose on the back of my neck and I froze to my chair. Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.
Then, the living room door slowly opened by about six inches and slowly closed again. As soon as the door closed, the footsteps began thudding and charging around again. Desperate to solve the mystery and with our hearts pounding, we headed towards the living room door. We hoped it was the caretaker and nothing more. Nervously, we opened the door. Instantly, the footsteps stopped, and we were left alone, surrounded by a deafening silence. We checked every room in the apartment. Nobody and nothing was found. My friend checked his pocket and noticed that the apartment key had been there the whole time and that the door to the apartment was locked tightly. Nobody could have entered or left without our knowing.
