Sylvia Shults's Blog, page 66

Today I Learned …

The lamp posts on London Bridge are cast from Napoleon’s cannons, which the British captured at the Battle of Waterloo. (1:18)

Today I Learned …

The first toy commercial on television was aired in April 1952, for Mr. Potato Head. It advertised a set of 28 facial features that were meant to be stuck into an actual potato.

Today I Learned …

In 1899, an ostrich escaped from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and jumped off the high bridge in Lincoln Park, which at that time was known as “Suicide Bridge”. The ostrich was okay.

Today I Learned … Valentine’s Day Edition

Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, kept her dead husband’s heart for thirty years. A year after her death in 1851, the heart was found in her desk drawer, wrapped in a copy of one of the last poems Percy Shelley ever wrote.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!

Thoughts on Life

About thirteen years ago, I was struggling with a severe bout of depression and anxiety. I took some time for myself, and it actually did me a lot of good. I had always heard of the benefits of meditation, so I decided to give it a try. It brought me a lot a peace.

So I’ve been meditating for thirteen years or so, and last night, I had … well, I had a pretty profound revelation as I sat in meditation. I thought I’d share it with you all. (I think it was worth waiting thirteen years for.)

I had gotten into a really deep relaxed state. I was aware of everything around me — the hum of the fan, the feel of the blankets at my feet, my hands resting on my knees — but at the same time, I knew that I was deep into my own consciousness. I had found a center of peace and stillness, and I relaxed into that feeling, knowing I had succeeded in finding it. (I don’t always get there every time I meditate.)

That’s when it struck me: a gentle voice deep in my soul said, “You know, this feeling of peace and tranquility is always here inside you. Just like your heart is always in your chest, your bones are always there to hold you up, your brain is always cradled in the protective bony case of your skull — this feeling of stillness is also always here, just waiting for you to be aware of it. So be aware, even when you’re not this deep in an alpha state.”

I basked in that realization, letting it settle deeply into my mind, so I could call on it whenever I need it in the future (as I’m sure I will). Today, I feel calm and at peace, knowing that that feeling is always inside, as sure as my heart beats.

(tl;dr) Stillness and peacefulness are always inside us. No matter what’s roiling around on the surface, it’s always there, just like our bones are inside our flesh. We’re not always conscious of our bones, but there they are, holding everything together. And so is tranquility.

Thanks so much for reading this. You guys rock.

Mystic Paranormal Interview

I’ve been keeping up with the radio appearances, and last night’s show was a blast and a half as always. I chatted with Shawn Lonkert of Mystic Paranormal. We talked about childhood fears, the difference between ghosts and demons, and of course, the Peoria State Hospital. I always enjoy talking about the theories behind our fascination with the supernatural, and the hour just flew by. If you’d like to listen in on our conversation, you can find the link here: https://play.radiopublic.com/mystic-paranormal-691q51/ep/s1!92e746ffbab401cea17f1d83557d0331ba559e11  I’m told that the producers of the show have just gotten a deal to actually make some moolah off of the podcast, which is cool. You can listen on the Radio Public app for Mystic Paranormal, which ensures that the show collects a bit of cold hard cash.

Today I Learned …

In 2011, 22,022 Nova Scotia residents in 130 separate locations all plopped down in the snow to make snow angels. This set a world record for the most snow angels made at the same time. In 2007, 8962 people in North Dakota set a record for most snow angels made simultaneously in one place.

Happy Groundhog Day!

I love reading collections of true ghost stories. I mean, I really, REALLY love it. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been drawn to books with the words “true ghost stories”, “mysterious”, “weird”, “unexplained” — you get my drift.

I recently finished a book by paranormal author Mary Beth Crain. I’ve read her stuff before, and I’ve enjoyed it. This book was Haunted Pet Stories (Morris Book Publishing, 2011). There was a story in there that kind of freaked me out, and that is NOT an easy thing to do. It was in the chapter about pets and other animals that have been demonically possessed. (My husband used to have a cat that was possessed, but that’s a different story.)

Here is the tale, as retold by Mary Beth Crain: “One woman reported that she and her brother encountered a possessed groundhog ‘screaming like a child in excruciating pain’. An uncle who was also there ran into the house and returned with his high power rifle. He shot the animal three times in the head, and as it was dying, it was heard to cry out, ‘Mommy!’ ”

So yeah, Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! Yeesh!

Today I Learned …

Today I learned:

Great white sharks rarely survive in captivity. Shark experts have theorized that the electricity in buildings interferes with the animals’ electrosensory systems.

Today I Learned:

Today I learned:

Elvis Presley’s manager sold “I hate Elvis” buttons as a way to make money off of people who weren’t buying Elvis records.