Into The Light:  
Ghost Stories From Willow Grove
By Rev. Sandy Caswell, Lady of Willow Grove

In the autumn of 1997, I gave up my cottage in the suburbs of Rochester and bought a bigger building in the city to be used as a gathering place for my spiritual community, Willow Grove.  It was an American Four-Square house built in the early part of the 1900’s.  My husband Stosh and I lived on the second floor and used the first floor to hold meetings, rituals and celebrations. 

Almost immediately, we began to notice something unusual about the energy at The Grove House.  Frequently we’d hear footsteps on the front porch followed by a knocking on the door, but no one was ever there.  We’d often find ourselves doing a double take because it seemed, from the corner of our eye, we’d see someone.  Upon second glance however, there was no one.  One of the most common occurrences seemed to be that of a large, white cat scooting into the kitchen or up the stairs.  Several visitors commented on that.

The Grove House was beginning to feel like Grand Central Station for journeying Spirits.  We had to determine if we were going to allow ourselves to get creeped out every time something happened.  Ultimately, we decided to treat each incident as if we lived in a hotel with a variety of guests checking in and checking out.

I even called the previous owner, a lovely Catholic woman who raised her family there.  Didn’t I feel awkward, asking if she had experienced frequent visits from deceased people.  Honestly, there is just no way to broach that topic without feeling foolish.  But no, she had never seen a ghost in the house.   Well, I thought, there’s a fine line between PSYCHIC and PSYCHO.  And I must be coming close to that line.

One night Stosh woke me and whispered, “Look over there.”  At the foot of the bed stood a shadowy figure of a man.  From his outline, we could see he wore a long sleeved button-down shirt, tucked into jeans or slacks.  Almost as soon as we made eye contact, he seemed to float backwards, diminishing in size until he was gone.  Stosh said he believed it was his friend Bob who had died suddenly of a heart attack a few months earlier.

One sunny day, I was sitting in a chair in the gathering room just reveling in how much I loved this new space  - from the floor plan, to the price, to the color of the walls, stained glass and natural wood – I loved it.  As I looked at the open staircase that wound from the gathering room to the second floor, I clearly saw a woman descending.  Every detail of her visage was clear and distinct.  Her dress was floor length with wide purple and white vertical stripes.  She had a tightly cinched waist.  Her hair was in a Gibson girl style and she wore a wide brimmed white straw hat with ribbons hanging down the back.  In her left hand she held a white parasol and her right hand was holding the stair rail.  She was lovely and she looked so gay – very much like the people in the Disney film Pollyanna.

I knew immediately that she was not of this world so I sat very still, trying hard not to blink, lest she disappear.  Interestingly, with each step, she seemed to pause, look straight at me and strike a pose as if to say, “Do you see me?  Aren’t I a pretty thing today?”  After she made it down the stairs, she seemed to glide across the gathering room floor, to the ritual room and right through the east wall.

Oh, my, wasn’t THAT a treat!

At the Willow Grove Yule Celebration, we were seated at the dinner table and I overheard the women sitting across from me say, “Did you see that?”  and another replied “Yes I did.  What do you think?”  So I, of course asked what they had seen.

They told me that about a woman in the kitchen who appeared to be working at the table.    I knew the woman they referred to, because I too had seen her there.  Sometimes she appeared to be making lunch and other times she had her head in her hands and seemed to be crying.

Later that night, after everyone had left, one of the women, a gifted psychic, offered to stay and talk about the spirit activity that centered around The Grove House. 

We decided to enter into a light trance state where we would be open to any spirit communication/visitation yet still conscious enough to speak to them.

As soon as we began to go under, movement from outside caught my eye.  “Look,” I said.  And she did.  The street was filled with people.  Oh, my gosh…it was a scene from Night of the Living Dead !! (without the blood and gore) Dozens, if not hundreds of people – male and female, of all ages dressed in clothes from many time periods – were walking down the street, heading straight for, AND THROUGH, my house.  In through the north wall of the gathering room and, most of them, out through the south east corner of the ritual room.  It seemed as if this procession took hours when in reality it was only moments.

When the parade was over, three remained.  They stood and mutely stared at us.   We spoke with them, sometimes with words and other times silently.  Either way, both sides were understood. 

Evidentially, these people had all, at one time or another in the last 100 years or so, died in some manner, somewhere in this area.  They were not actually connected to The Grove House; in fact it hadn’t even been built when some of them had passed.  For whatever reason, the spirits of these folks remained earth bound and wandered.  Once the building became a center of spiritual work, it was like a lighthouse beacon calling to the wandering deceased.  The majority of them simply passed through the walls from their earth bound existence to the Other Side.  The few remaining had stories to tell.

The shadowy figure had, indeed, been Bob.  He simply came to be supportive when Stosh was going through a bad time.

The Gibson girl in purple stripes had lived around the turn of the century.  She was excited that there was fair in the area and dressed very carefully to meet her beau there.  Unfortunately, as she was crossing what we now know as Culver Road, the horses pulling a beer wagon spooked and she was trampled.  She died before anyone could appreciate how lovely she looked.  We made enthusiastic sartorial comments and she left.

The biggest challenge was the woman in the kitchen who identified herself as Mrs. Mueller.  She and her husband and son were taking her sister’s daughter with them on a picnic to the Erie Canal.  (Later research showed that Rt. 490 near Culver was indeed once part of the Erie Canal).  Unfortunately the children fell into the water and the Muellers were only able to save the boy.  Mrs. Mueller not only grieved the death of her niece but she and her sister were never close again.  Laden with guilt, she hadn’t crossed over because she was ashamed to face her sister.  We convinced her that the entire family was eager to be reunited with her and after some coaxing, she too crossed. 

At the end of the night, we were exhausted, but felt that we had served a great many spirits, helping them to pass to the Other Side. 

Over time, fewer and fewer surprise guests checked in at The Grove House but it continued to be a place open to spirit.  Each Full Moon ritual included a time for channeling the Goddess and receiving messages from our spirit guides.  It was very had to let go when we sold that building and in truth, I don’t feel as connected to the Other World as I did there.

Traditionally, our ancestors would call upon deceased family members at the end of the (harvest) year and report to them.  “Look, Father, see what I have done with the land you left me.  Next year I plan to plant 5 more acres.”  Or “Thank you so much for being a great example of Mothering.  I am trying to pattern myself after you.  I am having a challenge with some things in my life...  What should I do?”

At this time of year, when the veil is thin, it is easier for spirits to cross from one side to the other.  We can avail ourselves of this energy by assisting the deceased to cross to the Light and by calling them from the Other Side to ask for their blessings and help with our upcoming activities. 

For some of us, these things just happen, for others, while spirit visitation and communication may be welcome, it does not seem to come easily so tools like Ouija Boards and Séances are helpful.  Whichever the case, always C.Y.A. by establishing strong and clear guidelines first. 

First, never undertake spiritual work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  If you cannot control your own energies, you will certainly not be able to direct others.

Second, state aloud, in a clear voice, “I am open to receive spirit communication that comes from the Light and comes for my highest good.”

Third, when you believe there is a Spirit/Ghost with you, ask, “Are you from the Light?”  If not, tell them they are not welcome in your presence and must go.  They will.  Honest.

Remember, you are just as sacred, strong and powerful as they are.  The only difference is you have a body.  Remember this and never be intimidated or afraid.  If their energy is uncomfortable to you this is because they have issues to work out.  Ask questions, determine what the problem is and work toward healing it.  No matter what you say in addition, the ultimate answer is ALWAYS “You are loved and forgiven and your presence in the Light is eagerly awaited.  Go now in Peace.”
       
Be the Light.