Long time no...write? Or read? Either way, good to spend time with you readers again!
So often my blog contains happy-diddies and observations on how to live a happy life, etc. In the end, this posting does offer insight on how to avoid darkness. But today I decided to use this space to write about a paranormal case that many people on Facebook asked me to write about. I could be a jerk and tell you all to wait for a sequel to my published book "Fighting Malevolent Spirits" but alas I will write about it here :) ...and include more in the book if I write the sequel...I've started it but haven't taken on many cases in the last year so I could keep my sanity. This line of work takes a toll on your mind, body, and soul to say the least.
As some of you know I work on severe hauntings and/or demonic hauntings...some coined the term "demonologist" for my line of work and it's a helpful term but doesn't include all of what I do. Essentially, I do spiritual counseling, healing, work as a minister to remove the haunting, and on two occasions have dealt with what some call an "exorcism". Many Westerners believe exorcism is only performed under the Catholic umbrella, but really demons and exorcisms are a global, multi-cultural phenomenon. And there are multiple methods. I share these experiences in my book, on Facebook, and with others not for some "publicity" stunt (I've turned down numerous TV show offers mind you), but to relay back to readers and friends that..."Hey, this stuff is real. I've been investigating it, witnessed things...and there is good and evil in the world." It reminds me of in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, where she states, "How can people deny God, when I show them the devil?" And that is my purpose. To help those in need and to educate others that there is something to this...
So! The Alpena, Michigan case...
If you've read my book you'll know that before a client contacts me about a demonic case, I always have some sort of premonition or psychic dream that confirms what I'm about to deal with. In the times I didn't have such dreams or warnings, the case turned out not to be demonic. I like to think this "radar" is pretty accurate now! :) Prior to "Marie" contacting me I had another nightmare, or premonition. I dreamt (I like to use the British word dreamt...sounds better than dreamed) that I was with some younger woman...in her early 20's, dark hair, dark eyes, and I had her in a headlock (which I would never do) with my arms as I commanded the entities inside her to name themselves. She was possessed. The dream further illustrated this by showing me her wandering into traffic, nearly being hit by cars. Other foul images were shared and I awoke from the dream. I figured I was just having another nightmare, but didn't realize it was connected to a future case. Most dreams I have are battling with the demon or entity directly...not a possession or exorcism.
Marie is 25 years old, is a brunette with brown eyes. Her friend Stacy reached out to me saying she was concerned there was a demonic haunting going on and a possible possession. I found out later Marie was also having a reoccurring nightmare that she walks out to the mailbox and then is hit by a car. There seemed to be some similarities to my dream. Could also be coincidence.
Five years ago to the day that Ron and I visited with Marie, her husband died in a car accident. He was killed by a drunk driver. After his death Marie struggled with severe depression and attempting to numb her pain. She would often spend time lying next to his grave in the cemetery and "bitter" feelings towards God began creeping in. I frequently see people lose faith in God when something horrible happens here on earth...but people should remember there is freedom of choice down here - meaning both good and evil are among us. And we have this dynamic so that we can learn and develop our souls while on earth. We are here to learn - even if it is painful.
While at the cemetery, Marie felt a presence by her. She thought perhaps it was her deceased husband, Jim. Then she began to feel the spirit tug on her pant legs as if it were a small child. Marie informed us that she also said "stupid things" to the presence like, "Oh you're going to follow me now? You're going to come home with me apparently?" which may have also opened an opportunity for the entity to attach itself. In Marie's attempt to ward off this presence, it may have grown closer to her.
Marie eventually had her son, Evan, who is now four years old. A few months ago Marie, Evan, and her current boyfriend Eric moved into their current home. Within that first week little "odd things" would happen and everyone brushed it off. Then things began to progress. Eric has his own history of traumas and pain. There were also difficulties in their relationship but they were strong and worked through these together. However, it was a perfect breeding ground for a demonic entity, and is a dynamic I see in almost every demonic haunting. There is always pain and trauma, or vulnerabilities.
Evan started having an "imaginary friend" he would play with. This friend would tell Evan that his mom was going to die and he had to push her so she would hit her head. Evan would play with his trucks and Marie witnessed the trucks moving on their own when Evan was playing with his "friend". This friend would also be "scared" and hide while Marie's friend Stacy tried to perform a house blessing.
Stacy's husband came over to mow the lawn for Marie one day. While getting the lawn mower ready in the garage, Mike heard what sounded like a sledge hammer demolishing the house inside. No one was home. As he mowed by the front window he had an uncontrollable urge to keep looking in the window. He saw three, "reptilian-looking" fingers pull the curtains aside. Mike tried to remain calm but as soon as Marie and Stacy returned, he held back tears and left the house. "I didn't feel right, something was weird when I was there alone and then I saw it." He had also seen a hunched over figure through the curtains while mowing behind the house.
Marie witnessed Evan being scratched by the entity, which left an iconic mark of three scratches, as if the entity had claws. Marie had an experience while laying down in the living room where she felt a heavy weight on her chest and saw two red dots above her face. Marie believed these may have been eyes but could barely focus while struggling to breathe. Fights were increasing in the household and on one occasion Eric went into an angry tirade. The entity was influencing everyone and feeding off of their negative energy. Stacy convinced Marie to perform a house blessing with her after contacting me.
Stacy led the blessing and while they were in the midst of the blessing, Marie began throwing up and "blacked out". She also listed three demonic names as Stacy commanded the entities to name themselves. Marie had no recollection of this and it became evident that Marie may be struggling with possession. Marie's phone screensaver then changed to an image of a demon...one of which she listed during the blessing. No one had touched her phone and was seemingly impossible. While they were in the house they heard growling and laughter in the garage. Then there was the sound of a baby crying coming from a room in which they kept a baby changing station. Evan also heard this and made remarks. At around 3:00 a.m. Marie believes she had a possible miscarriage. Demonic entities are terrible, have no remorse and often prey on animals and things that bring us joy...such as a child.
Prior to our visit I instructed Marie to say prayers and ignore the entity until we could come perform the blessing and deliverance. One evening Marie put Evan to bed and was unsure of what prayers to say so she recited the "As I lay me down to sleep..." prayer for Evan. Later that evening while people were over the TV surround sound system turned on. It somehow connected to Youtube and began blasting "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Which some of you may know has parts of that prayer in it. They turned it off but it kept coming back on and playing.
Finally Sunday arrived and we pulled into the driveway. I purchased a toy truck for Evan because he didn't want to lose his "friend", and I felt this would be a good bribing tool to get him to say goodbye to the demon. I felt an oppressive feeling in the house but nothing strong...often entities will hide while I am at the home. We sat and talked for awhile and then began the blessing. A nervous and angry energy began building up in the home as I prepared the items for the blessing. Eric agreed he was "on board" with the blessing but I was unsure of his commitment. When I walked into the house to first meet him, he laid on the couch and didn't seemed enthralled by our visit, refusing to get up. I shook his hand and eventually made him feel comfortable, however I suspected his faith wasn't entirely there, but I understood why. His entire family was devoutly religious which turned him off - I understood his feelings towards organized religion but it also left him with a negative bias towards the blessing we were going to perform. I only asked that he believe in a higher power and to call upon that divine being while we did the blessing...I hoped he was true to his word. If a client isn't 150% on board with the blessing or their faith in God, I cannot guarantee the blessing will work. Out of the two cases I had fail, it was due to all the family members not being present for a blessing and the other was due to a son's unwillingness to call upon the divine as he dabbled with darker things.
The blessing flowed smoothly but I did not feel the entity leave. I asked Evan where his friend was. He was reluctant to tell me. "Where is your friend, Evan?" Evan looked away and said, "In the stones..." I thought to myself, what stones? Under the house? In the yard? "Where are the stones, Evan?" "In mommy..." I got up and went into the kitchen and asked if Marie was wearing any jewelry, seeing as the "stones" could have been gem stones, kidney stones, etc. At that moment, Stacy informed me that she had just placed crystals and healing stones in Marie's hand. There is no way Evan could have known that. The entity seemed to be showing off its telepathic abilities, which many demons have. I don't think there was anything wrong with the stones...in fact the demon may have disliked these crystals and stones due to the fact they absorb negative energy.
I knew coming to the case that we might have to resort to an exorcism, it was something that I held in the back of my mind. During our counseling Ron and I saw Marie's eyes change. They darkened and she glared in anger. Marie felt nauseous and had a variety of emotions during the house blessing; anger, sadness, hopelessness, and so on. It was now time for us to focus on her. I had a much easier time jumping out of a helicopter this summer than I did with beginning an exorcism. I had been involved in a case before that included an unexpected pseudo-exorcism but never have I engaged in a full on exorcism. People are taught that only Catholic priests and exorcisms ordained by the Bishop are successful and allowed - it is a belief based on fear. However, I act based on the principles that Jesus taught..."Go and cast out demons." is what he instructed to his followers. He didn't send them to a ministry, he didn't give them specific prayers, and he certainly didn't make his followers have their exorcisms approved by someone first. The issues I see in this are that many people do not receive the bishop's permission and they are refused help. I have a problem with this.
Acting on my faith, and with over 15 years of research and nine years of working on demonic cases, I began the exorcism. I have fought with these entities since I was 17, I knew how they worked but this time it was inside of someone and not inside the house. I knew the steps and had the rites of exorcism before me. What I found interesting is that when I recited the rites, Marie had no reactions...but when I put the book down and preached what I know to be truths about God, Jesus, and the angels she would vomit and contort. I was distracted by reciting, but when I set the book down and spoke from my heart with conviction it seemed to upset the entity. I reached out my hand over Marie and a bolt of energy shot through me, which I can only describe as the Divine. I was trembling with adrenaline but then a calm but powerful presence over took me and I began praying over her in such a rapid succession I had no idea what I was going to say next but it just kept coming out. It was like "word vomit" but of the divine. I anointed her with holy water that my sister had given me. She brought back holy water from the House of the Virgin Mary in Turkey. We joked that it would be for "a Megatron Demon" and for worst case scenarios...I felt I needed it for this occasion and blessed Marie with it. Ron and Stacy pointed out that Marie had formed a rash on her forehead. It was a red rash on her skin in the sign of the cross where I had been placing the holy water. I anointed her forehead, mouth, and chest repeatedly during the deliverance. Guttural groans came from Marie and at one point she began choking, saying it felt like something was in her chest/throat.
I saw Marie's body contort; her toes curled in a way that I thought she was missing half of her big toe but realized she was writhing from the entity. Her fingers curled and her leg kept coming up under the table. She was sweating, vomiting, drooling, groaning, but nothing like you see in the movies. I continued with the exorcism and asked that everyone place their hands over her in love and pray. More vomiting happened. When we invoked Gabriel the Archangel she would vomit a lot. An hour and a half of this passed and I kept checking in with Marie when she would "come to" from her blackouts. Finally there was a release. I felt a change in the house. Right before this same moment, Evan had told Eric where his "friend" was. Eric and Mike went to that room and commanded the entity to leave. They came back to the kitchen where we were performing the exorcism and I felt the release. Marie had a lightness about her and everyone's mood changed. Eric and Marie cuddled and were affectionate with each other, no longer fighting and angry like during the counseling. Marie explained that she felt something in her chest/throat leave, like a huge blockage and weight was removed. Evan said, "Mommy okay now, good job." He stated that his friend was gone. I was relieved but still held my breath as there was a long road ahead for Eric and Marie...they desperately needed counseling otherwise the entity could come back.
As we packed up our belongings I kept informing them on how to keep the entity away. Two days went by and everything was wonderful according to Marie. I later received an email from Marie that Eric came back home one night in an angry tirade. Eric had possibly opened a door again and the entity was now attaching itself to him. I remember seeing him trail off during our warfare prayer and didn't seem to be committed to removing the entity...He laughed and joked during most of our time at the home which is often a reaction from being nervous and something I understand. Marie's possession had been removed, and the house was cleared of the entity's presence but it seemed it was now bothering Eric. Evan cried and said, "He's back, mommy. And he's scaring me." The "friend" was now showing it's true colors to Evan through Eric. Eric started counseling that Friday and we hope to perform an exorcism on Eric once he is stable and willing...without his permission and willingness to remove the attachment I can't do anything. It likely would be in vain and unsuccessful. It is also possible that Eric will be able to remove the entity himself through a change in lifestyle, spirituality, and mindset. Marie and Evan left to stay safe at her mother's, free from oppression and possession and eventually returned home. I pray that Eric will be successful with counseling and we can proceed with liberating everyone for good.
Update (10/21/15): Things have calmed down in the house and it appears the entity is gone but Marie is still on guard (which is good). She is using a Himalayan salt rock lamp to keep the home inhospitable for the entity. Eric is doing online counseling and Evan is doing well. Evan has mentioned playing with a friend but his behavior is now benevolent and happy, and the "friend" is not sinister in nature...likely a normal imaginary friend. We're are extremely happy to hear that!
