By Marjorie Young

I recently returned from Switzerland to visit my ‘second family.’ It was a memorable trip many reasons…including an unforgettable sojourn to a reputedly ‘haunted’ manor. My friend’s friend, ‘Alain’ and his relatives have resided on the postcard-perfect property for several generations, but its history goes back well over two centuries. Alain knew of unsettling disturbances dating from his great-grandmother’s time, and had personally undergone a distressing encounter some years before. Hearing of my psychic abilities, Alain requested I visit his home.

Though I’ve done numerous psychic readings and healings, I’ve only attempted one previous ‘ghost investigation’ in my own neighborhood. Therefore, I was more than eager to explore a far older site with an intriguing past. My friends and I gathered at Alain’s residence; a sprawling domicile in a pastoral setting. As always with any consultation, I had received no information whatever concerning the house or its history.

As Alain led us on a tour, I sensed nothing other than admiration for the charming old structure. But upon entering a simply furnished bedroom on an upper floor, things shifted dramatically. An ominous energy began to surround me…clearly masculine and decidedly negative. I knew an ‘unpleasant’ incident had occurred in this very spot. In fact, I said aloud, “This room! This room!” while pointing to the floor. I glanced at Alain, whose startled expression confirmed my words.

Matters quickly escalated…the wayward ‘spirit’ began forcefully pushing against my chest, then attempted to throttle me! Somehow, I felt neither threatened nor alarmed. This entity was trying to cause harm, but I knew he could not succeed. Perhaps that confidence stemmed from the ‘protective’ meditation I had done earlier that morning, or was a result of long experience in the spiritual arena. In any event, this ‘energy’ escalated the ‘assault’…seeking to ‘invade’ me. Again, I fended him off; reporting what was occurring, while assuring there was no cause for concern. But at the same time, I intuited that Alain had undergone a similar confrontation, one for which he had been entirely unprepared. I immediately asked Alain about it.

My host readily confessed my observation was true; some time ago, while lying in that bed, he’d been ‘attacked’…that something had ‘forced his way inside him’. He described a horrifying struggle to evict the ‘entity’…at last succeeding. Of course, he’d been terrified, refusing to sleep there ever again. I could sense the agitation of the malign spirit even now, furious that he could not intimidate me…and moreover, that he really ‘despised’ Alain!

At length, we continued the tour. One room belonged to Alain’s young daughter. I received information she’d been ‘disturbed’ by this same negative spirit, causing her nightmares. This was confirmed, but I was able to advise the concerned father on how to remedy the situation, much to his relief.

The most intense episode began as we entered an alcove, empty but for a few cans of paint. This seemingly unimpressive spot brought about a very startling reaction. Out of nowhere, a jolting ‘electrical’ current charged through me, head to toe…which proved enthralling yet unnerving! This was followed by a heady euphoria…and then, an oppressive melancholy. Amazed, I ‘knew’ this was the result of a ‘drug-related’ incident. Turning to Alain, I advised that the ‘negative spirit’ had certainly taken drugs in this room. Furthermore, the ‘entity’ at last revealed his identity; he had been an aviator in the very early days of flight.

Alain readily confirmed both observations. The family owning the property before his had included a pilot…who had been known to smoke opium in this very room. I understood the cause of his drug taking…for he’d lost his right hand in an accident. Yet it was clear to me he had hardly been a ‘nice guy’ even before that; indeed he’d been a flagrant womanizer. This was also validated when Alain showed me a wall where the playboy pilot listed the names and dates his ‘conquests’…going back over a century!

One other ‘haunting’ episode was in store. Reaching the top floor, in the process of being converted into a loft-style apartment, I looked out one window, enjoying a vista of lush farmland. But when I gazed out a second window in another direction, an unexpected and eerie sight greeted me. Some distance from the house stood the desolate spirit of a young woman. I instantly ‘knew’ she had not been related to Alain’s family or the pilot’s. The unfortunate girl had been ‘seduced and abandoned’ about one hundred and fifty years earlier…and had taken her own life as a result. She conveyed that she was buried on the very spot where I saw her; her suicide preventing being laid to rest on ‘sacred ground.’ The young woman presented such a bereft, forlorn figure; I was truly touched by her plight. When conveying this to Alain, he admitted there were indeed legends that a girl had committed suicide on the property long ago.

Inevitably, multiple mysteries remain. Why had the spirit of the arrogant pilot refused to move on…maintaining his ‘lord of the manner’ attitude? Why did he so dislike Alain? Was it mere jealousy that Alain was alive and he was dead? Before leaving, I attempted to communicate with the wayward aviator, urging that he either depart or cease his malicious mischief. I believe his energy diminished as a result. Perhaps he has gone, or at least chosen to coexist with the current residents in a more courteous fashion.

One fascinating sidelight – after completing the ghost hunt, my host displayed a poster discovered on a trip to Argentina, commemorating the victory of this very pilot in a 1911 flying competition. His image was as dashingly good-looking as a silent film star. His name was Rene. It felt curiously ironic to now ‘meet’ the man, after first becoming entangled with his spirit!

As for me, the entire happening was awe-inspiring, eye-opening, and inspirational; it will undoubtedly ‘haunt’ me for years to come. And it only leaves me eager for future opportunities to explore far-flung locales where otherworldly occupants may continue to reside.

I look forward to your comments and questions. Please email me at: ballardpsychic@gmail.com

Marjorie is available for readings at the Ballard Sunday Market, her Ballard home, or by phone. Please visit her award-winning fantasy/adventure series website: http://www.theboywithgoldeneyes.com/

Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib

And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib