New Here

[danorviel]

Hi, y'all. I'm new here and have been reading some of the posts. Many of y'all seem to lead much more exciting lives than I am used to seeing. I've had little experience with the kind of violence that seems to be part and parcel of what many of y'all deal in on a daily basis.

I've seen spirits all my life (as far as I can remember). My gran was a herb woman, and I know a little bit about such things.

I'm a musician and a writer, and I found this board by accident actually. I was doing some research for a work of fiction about haunts and other strange happenings. I came across the name of Victor Lazlo and that led me to this board.

I've not yet encountered any of the very dangerous creatures y'all seem to have run across, but I am open minded about such things.

I hope to make some good connections here and maybe be able to help out some folks, even if my combat capabilities are no where near as good as most of y'all.

[Rowan]

It doesn’t matter what experience you have. However, it’s nice to know we’re not alone.


Someone was kind enough to welcome me here, another also made me feel welcome by taking an interest in my activities. It’s only fair that should be reciprocated. So, welcome.

[danorviel]

Thank you so much, Rowan. I have also been reading your post about your experience, Amazing, actually. Thanks again for the welcome.

[Rowan]

Thank you—you’re welcome, too.

Is your gran still alive? I have a studied interest in all things—most things—herbal and of herbology.

[danorviel]

Unfortunately my gran passed over last year. She left me all her notes and herbal collections though. She's the one who raised me, my father's mother. I don't know much about my mother's side of the family, but they never really approved of my gran, my dad, or me. Too weird for them, I suppose. Oh well. I'd be more than happy to discuss herb lore, or anything else with you. Take care.

[Rowan]

I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you—you too.

[danorviel]

Thank you for your condolences, Rowan. While my gran may have passed over, I still hear from her from time to time. I know that she's still watching over me.

[Rowan]

How do you accomplish that, danorviel? Do you have to meditate first or anything?

[danorviel]

If I'm trying to contact a spirit that I have no real connection with, I have to sort of *detach* myself from my surroundings. I close my eyes, regulate my breathing, that sort of thing. My gran is easier for me to contact, probably because we were always so close. With her, I simply call her and she will often come to me. I think it helps that I still live in the house we shared all of my life. It's comfortable here for her, and for me also. I've also seen other spirits here, mostly family that has passed on. I suppose it's pretty natural for me, since I've been seeing these spirits all of my life. Of course, that makes explaining all of this harder.

[Gotham Witch]

Charmed to make your acquaintance, danorviel. I dabble a bit in herbs myself, though I'm certainly no expert.

What ends up on the boards (at least, from me) is often the more notable events that occur. Not much reason to write about an average trip to the bodega. I think my wife would be plenty exciting without so much creepy-crawly in the night, but cest-la-vie.

If I might ask, what's it like living in a house with so much family history? I was quick to move out of my mother's house when I was of age, so I can claim no such connection.

[danorviel]

Gotham Witch, pleased to meet you also. I don't know how to explain my life. I've never known any other. I've lived in this house since I was about 3 weeks old, when my mother left my dad to return to her family. Living here is perfectly normal to me. Our family has been here since the late 1700s, and this land has been ours all that time. Most of my family have had some sort of abilities beyond the "norm". One great uncle was a practitioner of magic, an aunt was a psychic healer. My gran had those abilities also, along with a strong affinity for plants of all sorts. My granddad was good with machines of all types.

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the living room floor and chatting away with people that others could not see. I've since learned that one was my great grandfather, who was one with abilities similar to mine. Another was the youngest brother of my great grandmother, who died on this farm in a farming accident.

There's about 300 acres of land here, left from a much larger family farm of 1200 acres. I have a housekeeper, several farm hands, a small stable of horses, cats, dogs, chickens and a couple of milk cows. We cultivate about 100 acres every year, various crops mostly to sell at a local farmer's market. I spend a lot of my time writing, both fiction and music. There's about 75 acres of woods on the property, the rest is either pasture for the livestock or my yard. Oh, and a small herb garden just outside the kitchen door.

It's very restful here, and a great place to recharge after any experiences off of the land. I only deal with hauntings, and most of them have been fairly mild. After reading some of the exploits of others here, I consider myself very fortunate indeed.

I have to say I think living someplace where I have such strong ties to family and family history has helped keep me very grounded and sane.