Doug Dillon's Blog, page 172

“Middle School & Up: Young Adult, Paranormal Book.”

Sliding Beneath the Surface

The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I

A review placed on Goodreads and Amazon by

Christina from Australia

So this book has it all, out of body experiences, ghosts from the past, a past that could kill those involved in the present, and all done under a dense fog of mystery which will keep you turning the pages to discover what will happen to these children.

The story begins with young Jeff who is having nightmares and horrible headaches. His best friend Carla takes him next door to meet Lobo, a Native American Shaman with a strange and unique ability and mystical powers. Between the three of them they struggle to discover what is causing these strange things to happen to Jeff and to help him solve the problem.

The amount of detail this author put into his writings is intense. The research he did on the St. Augustine Florida area is amazing. It is the perfect setting to a ghost mystery such as this one. I couldn’t classify this as strictly a young adult book so I’m making my own category, Historical Young Adult.

I can say I did enjoy the book without a doubt and I personally would recommend this book to anyone from the Middle-school years on up not strictly just Young Adult. I can say that this is an enlightening book about being able to change our path by changing ourselves.

To see Christina’s full review on Amazon, click here.

 

The Bathroom Ghost??

Check out this paranormal possibility. Supernatural or not? You tell me.

This picture should have been a simple, unremarkable photo but somehow it turned into something else. The thing is though, the context within which I took it.

You see, a friend called and asked me to join him at his home last Sunday when visitors were to arrive. Turns out, those visitors where ghost hunters. My friend had invited them in to investigate some paranormal activity and he wanted me to participate.

I agreed and had a great time watching Greg Bush and his wife, Mary Jo Fister do an initial analysis of the situation. While they worked, sometimes in the dark, I took my own photos. That story is for another posting.

Unfortunately, all my pictures showed nothing unusual. What did show up in the batch of photos that I found of interest though, was the one you see above. This was part of a preliminary series of pictures I took in my bathroom just before going over to my friend’s house. Why the bathroom, you say?  Well, I’m very much an amateur photographer. Knowing I might have to try taking pictures that night in near darkness, I wanted to try doing so ahead of time.

When I took this photo, it was almost dark outside. Just a little light was coming through the window at the top of the picture. None of the other shots I took in the bathroom showed anything like the cloudy swath you see above. Thinking I might have gotten some reflection from the window or continuation of the light from outisde, I later took additional pictures  in that same spot but couldn’t reproduce the results you see here.

My son, Greg, a professional photographer, analyzed the photo from a lot of aspects and can’t figure it out. As in anything that “seems” paranormal, I definitely want to find any natural, physical causes but so far I’m stumped. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

The ghost hunt team I mentioned earlier is called, Offthetrails Paranormal Investigations. They have done some great work in many places, including my favorotite city of all time, St. Augustine, FL. Visit their website here.

Click An Explosion of Being For a previous blog post on the paranormal nonfiction my wife and I wrote.

Click The St. Augustine Trilogy for another previous blog post on my paranormal/historical young adult series.

 

Paranormal Communications: On Poverty

 The following channeled information came to me through my wife Barbara as recorded in our book we wrote a number of years ago titled, An Explosion of Being.

Q: Why is poverty seemingly a standard condition of much of mankind?

A: “Your adjustments to these facts are not always useful, nor easily imposed on your mind, but I will try to impress your pictorial section (of your mind) and completely surround your emotions with factual knowledge to comprehend this area of reluctance.

“Your poverty means nothing, as it reflects failure, which does not exist as an act of truth here. It only surfaces to compel those who flourish within their nature to fall before they climb. They are beyond a point of recognition with themselves, as their failures are enhanced through their repeated efforts to fail again.

“Their opposition to this problem existence will not suffice to enhance their position ultimately. However, their opposing position will be recognized as an act congruent with their reality.

“Beings who entertain this position of poverty are made aware that life’s only goal should not be wealth or materialism. Therefore, they maintain a certain level of understanding and peace. As they share hardships with one another, they advance through karmic outlets to be installed as a permanent endeavor through that time.

“To behold a poverty-stricken group is to know of wealth in a way unseen by others. Its aptitudes are not failing, but its self-afflicting opinions are temporarily destroying their purpose of objective fulfillment.

“As your souls (Doug and Barb) turned to this lifetime to choose a better financial position, so will those in poverty at a time convenient for enhancement of their own development I actually demanded of myself a place in a poverty-stricken circumstance on my own path. Many times was I stricken with grief as I sat before others whose nourishment was less than mine. I too, however, was placed as a servant to those who enjoyed watching poverty eat through the masses.

“Your conception (Doug and Barb) of being must be altered to a higher state of realization. This will become a critical find for your work and appeasement of others. Should your relationships grow with those who may not fear their financial loss, you will begin to thoroughly comprehend my meaning.

“Poverty is merely a state which is acquired through a multidimensional process of learning. Through this agonizing reality (physical), apart from others, people will cope throughout actual hardships and remain anonymous to souls of a higher mortality.

“These periods of seeming unfairness will be lessened throughout lifetimes of riches, thus bringing the circle to a close once again.

“Your masses will be met from all angles of poverty and wealth, thus adjusting to a finer definition of creativity and life. Your mortal sense will not be decreased throughout these changes. They (your senses) will help to eliminate fear and doubt while showing a constant growth pattern. I have allowed your knowledge of wealth to become apparent for you, as your own choices will be lingering in the depths of your minds.

“While retaining the compassion for those who want and want not because of a physical outcome from poverty, these people will change. As they challenge a newer, higher existence, their willingness to increase their bodies’ pleasures will also change. The likeliness of privacy for these individuals is shallow. Their existence is known and used seemingly against them. On the surface, this partition between rich and poor will display a negative reality.

“But, do not overlook the fact that this course has been proposed by a majority who see the challenge as a beautiful growth, thus ending all agony from its physical turmoil.”

 

“I Await Impatiently for the Next Book.”

YA, Paranormal and Historical

Sliding Beneath the Surface

The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I

A review on Amazon.com

by Bargain Shopper

“I rarely pick up the first book in what are advertised as trilogies because I am not a patient person. When they are good, I want them all NOW. I guess I’m just greedy that way. However, I was offered an opportunity to read this … and I jumped on it. I’m so glad I did (well, except for my lack of patience). I really enjoyed this book. I have always liked historical fiction that doesn’t play fast and loose with history (Spats between Napoleon and Josephine? No thank you, you weren’t there.), and this book doesn’t do that. It adheres closely to what really happened, albeit with the necessary introduction of fictional characters able to tell the story from outside history itself. It also explores an area of American History that is not very well known, and does it in a way that will hold the interest of even those who aren’t attracted for the history side. It has a paranormal/urban fantasy-ish side as well, which I also enjoy. How ever else would a modern character tell a historical story with accuracy? lol.

“So now I wait impatiently for the next book, which I am sure will be worth the wait. Read this one. If you’re a ‘grown up’, don’t let the YA designation put you off. It is well worth a read.”

To see Bargain Shopper’s full review on Amazon, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Self Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World

A Book Review

Author – Ami Goswami, Ph.D. with Richard E. Reed and Maggie Goswami

Ami Goswani

Professor of physics at the Institute of Theoretical Sciences at the University of Oregon

Richard Reed

Author and literary agent

Maggie Goswani

Author of The Cosmic Dancers

Penguin Putnam, 319 p.

In this instance, the book cover really does tell the story–All of Existence looking back at itself. Goswani and his co-authors put forth the concept that consciousness is indeed the basis for All That Is. Building on the extensive work already done in Quantum Physics, the authors help give readers meaning and purpose to their existences. This book effectively links mind and body in such a way as to establish a joyful connectivity between all things.

Clearly written, the authors entice readers with good chapter titles like, “The Nine Lives of Schrödinger’s Cat”, “In Search of Quantum Mind”,  and “Spiritual Joy”. Carefully constructed illustrations and a useful glossary help readers make their own connections with the concepts being addressed. Great end notes and the bibliography add scholarly depth and an excellent index makes for easy reference while reading and after.

Click here to find this book online.

“Amazing Job.” YA Paranormal and Historical.

Sliding Beneath the Surface

The St. Augustine Trilogy, Book I

A review placed on Goodreads

by Cassie Cleek

“I have never heard of the legend on St. Augustine. I loved the plot of this book and how it has a combination of so many genres. Doug did an amazing job on Sliding Beneath the Surface, and I look forward to reading more of his books.”

To see this review on Goodreads, click here.

Paranormal Communcations: About Pain and Sickness

The following channeled information came to me through my wife Barbara as recorded in our book we wrote a number of years ago titled, An Explosion of Being.

Q: Why is there so much pain, sickness and disease in the world?

A: “When you enter a place of desirability, you maintain a circumference of vulnerability. This vulnerability permits various physical organisms to penetrate your wall, because, through this penetration, will lessons stem. As a painful experience will psychically enhance your depth of perception, so will the challenge of physical displeasure.

“Your beings are never totally adaptable to environmental situations, you see. Therefore the changes that alter your personal preservation are usually seeded to purposely interrupt the flow of life. While your changes are being transmitted through these periods (of pain and illness), you will seemingly reflect upon yourselves. Actually, this is only a crevice of time from which you will seek other guidance.

“Pain has a will that is stronger than ours to release its facets through a channel of pulsations that will themselves to become noticed and observed by all who experience their vibrations. You are surely adept to pain as a stimuli but prefer to remain on a consciously aware level of pleasure.

“This proposes an inadequate way of formulating your psychic vibratory state, thus allowing a false moment of truthful existence to fade throughout unpleasant reasoning.

“Neither those that shall release their earthly tensions through the bowels of time, nor those who pleasure themselves in returning to this stance shall awaken to find a painful existence beyond their present one.”

 

 

“Very intriguing….you want to find out what happens.”

Young adult, paranormal and historical.

Sliding Beneath the Surface

The St. Augustine Trilogy, Book I

A review placed on Goodreads and Amazon by Elizabeth from Kansas

This is classified as a YA paranormal book. It is told from the viewpoint of Jeff Golden a 15yo who recently moved to St. Augustine. Jeff is telling the story of what happened a few weeks early to him and his neighbor, Carla, who he has a bit of a crush on.

I had just started to read this story when my 11yo saw it and wanted to know if she could read it with me. As we started a new chapter we would wonder what the name of that chapter would reveal to us. She also thought that seeing the Chinese puzzle ball on the cover and finding out later in the book how it relates was ‘cool’. In the beginning she knew that I was further ahead of her in the story and she wanted me to tell her what happens but, I was not about to spoil it for her. I did not read any further so we could read it together but, I was too impatient and I ended up sneaking ahead in the story…I told myself just a few chapters…I have actually ended up finishing the book but, I will not spoil it for her.

Jeff has been plagued for the past couple of nights by some extreme nightmares that just seemed to real for him. He was determined not to sleep as he did not want to have another one. Jeff confided to Carla what was happening and as soon as she heard what was going on, she knew exactly what to do—-turn to her neighbor, Lobo, who happens to be a direct, blunt shaman who does not waste words. Soon it comes to light that these nightmare or paranormal experiences are related to the Seminole war. The whole book covers a brief time span of about 2 days and is centered around Jeff, a typical stubborn teenager, Carla, who is the level headed one, and Lobo who is just Lobo.

Even though this is classified as a book for young adults, I found it intriguing and enjoyable to read as an adult. The author has done a great job with the teens—their mannerism, and things they said reminds me of how my teens act. I could actually imagine pine trees/needles and I could picture in my head as to what everything looked liked, how things were done.

I am not going to spoil it by telling you what happens but, I am very surprised with myself. I enjoy reading paranormal books but I do not read a lot of history books. When I finished this book, I realized that I really enjoyed reading the history in this—kudos to Doug Dillon as he has taken something that I normally do not do (reading history) and kept me wanting to know more as to what happens. There are even some notes from the author at the end of the book that relate to the history in the book….very interesting.

The only downside is that book two, Stepping Off A Cliff, is not available until the springtime and I am wanting to read it now to find out what other experiences they have. I am sure that once it is out, that will be just as exciting as this one is and. I can not wait to read it.

To see Elizabeth’s review on Amazon, click here.

 

 

Paranormal Communications: On Ghosts

The following channeled information came to me through my wife Barbara as recorded in our book we wrote a number of years ago titled, An Explosion of Being.

Q: What are ghosts?

A: “Ghosts are actually visions created by a mutual agreement between parts of your souls, or parts of other souls and yours. In order for your physical adaptability to enlarge itself, your visions of these beings are accurate, as their presence is always present. Belief in these ‘ghosts,’ is actually a higher concept that provides a necessary step for a spiritual/physical overflow between realities.

“These visual concepts are important not only to the physical person who sees this image, but also to the image itself, as again, it is part of another being who is exercising the choice of materialization only to a minute degree. Here we have an image that is self-created, by the fact that each image is in control of itself from within another form of its being.

“The inner workings of a vision, divisions of the soul, and your physical entities, are unified at certain points in order to relieve the fearfulness of many who need this removal. As images appear to people after deaths, they bring with them certain reminders of faith that usually will promote calmness instead of fear. They are prepared for this lesson ahead of time. Both sides again grow from these experiences.

“Your concept of the soul’s growth must include these visual concepts of reality, as with blinders on, you will net see them and your particular area of growth will not occur. If you shall release your own earthly image to a point of a possible merger within the spiritual realm, you will begin having visions of spiritual entities behaving in a pleasurable way toward you. Their power is not within you, but yours is within them.

“Therefore, your control is satisfactory in disarranging their presence, if necessary, to a later time. As you regard their presences as ultimate particles of life, be aware that their particles are only adjacent to yours. They have mighty divisions within themselves also, for each is able to create according to the need of a physical body to see a familiar shape, person, or surrounding.”

Carl Jung and the Paranormal, Part 8: The Suicide

This post is one of a 12-part series on the paranormal experiences of Carl Jung, founder of Analytic Psychology.

After giving a lecture, Jung went back to his room at the hotel where was staying. Exhausted, he fell asleep until 2 AM when he suddenly awoke. In that rapid awakening, he felt a distinct wariness. In fact, he was sure someone had entered the room. Obviously still alone, but not fully believing it, he even opened his door to look out in the hall. No one there either.

Still the sensation of someone being close by persisted until Jung felt a dull pain in his head. To him, it seemed as if something had hit his forehead and went all the way to the back of his skull.

Eventually, he got back to sleep but only to have his experience relived in a different way the next morning. That’s when he received a telegram that one of his patients had committed suicide. Jung eventually found out that the man had shot himself in the head, the bullet entering the forehead and stopping at the back of the skull.

For the initial posting that began this series, click here.

For other postings about Carl Jung’s supernatural journeys, go to the blog category titled, “Paranormal and Carl Jung.”