A Chat With the Real "Ghost Whisperer"
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When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits
Price: $4.13
List Price: $7.99 |
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak personally with Mary Ann Winkowski, the real woman behind the hit TV series The Ghost Whisperer.
Winkowski's book When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits is coming out in paperback September 29th, 2009.
A local paranormal group is bringing Mary Ann to Michigan on September 18th to speak and sign copies of her book, so I thought it would be cool to interview her, and (once I can get my hands on the book) do a book review to promote her visit.
I asked Mary Ann how she first realized that she could see and talk to ghosts.
"You asked that backwards!" She laughed. Mary Ann Winkowski is a very earthy woman with a ready laugh and a sense of humor about herself and her topic; not at all what you'd expect.
She went on to explain, "What happened I was, I realized one day in grade school that other people couldn't see ghosts. Before that, I though everybody talked to ghosts."
"I was seven years old attending an Ohio Catholic school when I saw the spirit of a yucky looking elderly man standing behind my friend Susie."
"I asked the nun who that man was, that man standing behind Susie--and the nun looked confused replied that it was probably just Susie's guardian angel. I knew from the way the man looked that he couldn't possibly be a guardian angel." (Mary Ann went on to explain that guardian angels were always portrayed at school as beautiful winged beings holding perfect little blonde children, not as scary-looking, raggedy old men.)
Winkowski asked the nun again about the man later that day when, once again, she saw the him standing behind her friend on the school playground. This time, Winkowski stomped her foot and insisted that the nun give her the straight scoop:
"And don't tell me it's her guardian angel, either!"
The nun reacted by telling Mary Ann in no uncertain terms that she was to stop that kind of nonsense immediately or else. Later, while recounting the incident to her Italian grandmother, Winkowski realized that not everyone could see spirits.
Her grandmother, who knew of Winkowski's gift, warned her that she had to be careful, because most people didn't see ghosts or believe in them either, and wouldn't understand if she went on about it. Winkowski quickly learned to be more careful about sharing her perceptions.
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When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits
Price: $4.13
List Price: $7.99 |
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The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files
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Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side
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Ghost Whisperer: The Spirit Guide
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All Kids See Spirits At First
Winkowski still believes that all children can see spirits, but as they
get older they 'unlearn' this ability as they come to understand that
the adults in their lives do not believe them, and that they may even
be punished for insisting that what they see is real.
Winkowski
has been able to see and converse with spirits for as long as she can
remember. At 27 months of age she was already holding conversations
with recently deceased people who had appeared in her grandmother's
dreams. (Winkowski's Italian grandmother often knew of deaths back in
the old country weeks in advance of the actual news reaching the U.S.)
These
spirits were people Mary Ann herself didn't even know. Often her
conversations with those first spirits were in Italian. (They had to
be, as that was the only language the spirits could speak). Mary Ann's
grandmother would give her questions to ask them, and even though she
was only two years old, she would ask and get the right answer. Soon
her grandmother was taking her around to funerals as a go-between.
Winkowski
says that she is not a medium (like Jon Edwards or James Van Praagh),
and that she cannot see people who have already passed into the light,
nor does she see any other paranormal entities.
"I can't talk to your Uncle Bob or call up your ancestors."
Winkowski's unique gift is confined to seeing and conversing with
earthbound spirits only; people who have died but who, for whatever
reason, have lost their way or are reluctant to move on. Winkowski's
gift is to be able to see and speak with these spirits, recreate the
light they lost at death, and help them move into it, thus releasing
them from the earthbound plane.
Winkowski insists that ghosts
are nothing like like they are portrayed in movies and TV shows, and
that there is absolutely nothing to be fear from them. They're just ordinary people who
have not moved on and are clinging to a place or a person on earth.
"When I was younger, they [the ghosts] wouldn't always listen to me. I'd try to help them move into the light, and they'd flip me off because I was just a kid. Why should they listen to a 15-year-old? But now [Winkowski has grown daughters of her own] they usually take it pretty well and just move on."
Often
times ghosts simply need help finding the light again so they can continue on
to whatever comes next. (For example, to Heaven, or to God, or however they think of it. Winkowski sees
the doorway to the other side as a bright white light; something that has
been confirmed by thousands of people who have had near death
experiences.)
Mary Ann Winkowski helps spirits to move on, but she also
helps the living to let go as well. She gets between 20 and 40 phone
calls per day from people who are convinced they have a haunting.
Winkowski can tell instantly whether they really do or not, which helps
her to schedule her activities a bit more manageably.
A certain number of calls are always false alarms; people who are worried that they might have a ghost but don't have one, or people who have recently lost a loved one and just want to make sure that person has passed over successfully into the afterlife.
If you think you might have a ghost, or if you just want to hear more about Winkowski's work, you can visit her website www.maryannwinkowski.com and contact her by phone or mail. It can take up to two months to get a reply, but then, what's two months next to eternity?
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Ghost Whisperer - The Complete First Season
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Ghost Whisperer - The Second Season
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Ghost Whisperer - The Third Season
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Comments
Thanks Organic Thoughts! :)
Very interesting that you got to talk to her. She sounds fascinating. Excellent hub.
Thanks Uninvited Writer! I'm going to go see her speak too, so I'll do a hub on that afterward. She was a really nice lady. Not at all 'otherworldly' or anything like that! lol!
wow, I can't believe to got to talk with her. Great hub.
Hi Rebecca--I write paranormal articles for Examiner.com for West Michigan and I've been just asking people locally what's up and can I talk with them about what's up. It's amazing what you can do if you ask! :)
Great article. Oh yes, anyone who perceives anything unusual especially in childhood is at risk of being locked up for it. Heck, just belonging to the wrong religion can make that happen if it's not the one your parents belong to.
Ghost Whisperer is one of my favorite shows, and how cool you got to meet Mary Ann! I will definitely buy her book when it comes out, she is worthy to read. I am realizing by reading this hub, that what I generally see are earthbound spirits, (one or two told me how they died), as I don't see as a medium would, now that I come to think of it. I didn't know the difference between the two, wow. I can't wait to read her book, I bet its going to be very helpful!
Very interesting! I always watch the tv show "Ghosts Whisperer". As a child I saw ghosts. My grandma and mother believed me but my aunt was very scared of them and soon I learned to fear what I was seeing. Ever since I have not seen them again. I however can sense their presence.
I'll certainly check out the book.
Hi Robert--It's true. Adults are not usually the most understanding creatures on earth. It sounded to me like Mary Ann's grandmother really helped her by not questioning her gift. Thanks for coming by. :)
Violet Sun--I'm looking forward to her book. Some of this kind of thing runs in my family as well. It's so helpful when anyone is willing to share their experiences on it. I was surprised at the difference between what she does and what a medium does too--I didn't know there was a difference either!
DynamicS--My kids saw things too when they were little. I really do think she's right about kids. They just learn to stop seeing. :)
How wonderful to interview this woman and get the inside scoop! Would be interesting to hear her speak.
This lady sounds fascinating. I woder who that scruffy old man was who was hanging round her friend at school. Did she ever find out?
Cool hub! Loved reading this!
Fascinating Hub.
I have heard about children and ghosts before, especially poltergeists, which are a little different I think. Interesting stuff.
Hi hubsters,
I agree, she sounds really fascinating. I'm looking forward to hearing her speak and reading her book. I'll post a hub on both of those too. I'm have a lot of fun with my paranormal articles over at Examiner. Not getting rich but I'm sure having a good time! :)
Excellent hub as always! Ghost Whisperer, is one of my favorites shows along with Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International...I have always believe there is more that awaits us on the other side...
PAM, good for you! I loved the part when she said that you had asked the question backwards ... also the stomping of her little foot in front of the nun ... Very entertaining. My Teacher once told me, "rosario, there's no way to be alone", meaning that we are constantly surrounded by all kinds of beings from different realms.
Thank you for letting people know about at least a fraction of the variegated reality in which we live.
I like the TV series and watch it whenever I can. Although I myself don't want to see or talk to ghosts, I admire those who do have this "talent". Thanks for writing this hub. Looking forward to reading your review about her book.
Very interesting...we used to watch the show..thanks for the intersting hub review
Again, another brilliant read. Fantastic that you got to interview the author. I cannot wait for the follow up to this one.
Pam, I wasn’t going to read this hub. Growing up in a house where conversations with spirits were everyday events and since I personally don’t even believe in ghosts, the whole subject is very touchy for me. In the end, however, I gave into my morbid curiosity and read it. I was not disappointed; once again you did an excellent job.
It seems now that my youngest daughter is following in her grandmother’s footsteps and every day brings more new and interesting revelations. Some of her teachers, the school counselor, and her pediatrician think she should be put on anti-psychotic medications sooner rather than later.
It’s a hard choice. I don’t agree with the medication, but I can’t sit by and watch my daughter go down the same road my mother went. Risperdal may just be the proof in the pudding and show the difference between what may be lost souls or just very vivid hallucinations.
Hi Disturbia--You are in a tough spot alright. I don't know what the right answer is, but I know when my son and my daughter started to have strange experiences I was much more inclined to pathologize it than I was when I had strange experiences. It's a matter of degree I guess, really, and then I feel like you have to look at the results too--where does it all end, what does it lead to?
The thing is, whether or not ghosts are real is really kind of a side issue. The real issue, as I see it, is how are the people seeing the ghosts (or talking to them) dealing with that? Are they using that as a way to avoid their real life issues? Are they morbidly or narcissistically pumping themselves up with these communications in a way that is distracting or even detrimental to their own development? The woman I interviewed seemed clear on what she was up to and really had no time for nonsense--she seemed to truly be about helping people move on and that was that. But so many kids and grownups get almost addicted to this material to avoid life. That's where it gets into mental illness.
When spirit communication or occult activity gets into the realm of avoidance behavior or addiction, it needs to stop, but then you are looking at, drugs or therapy or both? I know you will make the best decisions for your family, but wow, it's hard, it really is.
My own feeling about it all is that ghosts are often real, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to spend lots of time (or any time) chatting them up. They had their chance and now they're dead. Most people are nowhere near grounded enough to muck around with this stuff, and most of their motives for doing it are unclear or bad. That's where trouble starts--bad intent or no intent. You wouldn't talk to every living person who tried to chat you up, so why give undivided attention to someone who's dead just because they're dead?
I always ask myself, what's the purpose of this contact? What's the living person's intent in having these conversations? That usually helps me see more clearly whether to react, respond, or let it go.
She likes her interests and her career. She has them both mixed. Good for her. Catholics are either very religious to the extreme or the worst out. What a load of bullshit. And once again that generation was spoilt by their elders, while the nun tried to do some-thing with her, and my generation supports childs rights, from spoilt parents, a generation who behaves like this
I've just ordered two of her books for myself and my daughter. Coming from a long ancestry of Italians but raised in another state from my grandmother and aunts, I had my own first experience at age 19, one month prior to my marriage in 1965. I've always wondered what exactly I "have" with regard to a gift, as I am not quite like Mrs. Winkowski and it has only been members of my own family or very close friends that I experience. At age 19, I woke from a very vivid dream of a procession of Italian women all dressed in black wearing black veils and carrying what I perceived to be ashes in an urn (even though cremation was not done at that time). They entered the front door of my childhood home.....walking room to room until they exited the back porch door...........it was very real. Later when I awoke, the phone rang and my dad answered it. His 95 year old Italian mother had died in her sleep overnight. I was named after her. To later see my name on her coffin one month before my wedding has always stuck with me. I've also been visited by a dear friend who died way too young, who had always wanted to visit us in our new home but was suffering for twenty years with an auto immune disease.....she always wrote or called and said she'd love to visit. One New Year's Eve when my children were small, I saw at the foot of my bed a whisty vaporous like thing pass from left to right, only briefly stopping at the foot of the bed before exiting the room........had not been drinking;-) The next day, New Year's Day, my friend's husband called to tell me the bad news, his wife had passed away in the emergency room on New Years Eve and he told me she always wanted to come up to visit us out of state. I had the same experience when my step dad died.
When my mom passed 6 years ago after a very long dragged out illness I had something quite different. Being that she lived with us......and then went into a nursing home, I wondered which husband she would "go with", my dad or my stepdad. I had no idea when she would die. The nurses kept telling me that it wasn't the end stage just yet....but months before I dreamt that my stepdad (deceased) arrived to visit on a bus with his suitcase. That's how he traveled when young. I forgot about it until right before my mom died, my own dad came to visit, arriving on a train, with his suitcase.......she died on his birthday, exactly. I've also had premonitions of when various neighbors and friends are going to die. It just pops into my head and I ask my husband if he's seen or heard about so and so and a day or so later, they are in the obit. Again, nothing like the ghost whisperier, but what is this? This is way too long or I could tell others ; by the way, my mom passed at 91 (my grandmother at 95)...........my mom appeared regularly after her death in dreams YOUNG.....and very happy.......I had sat with her at her deathbed all day.....it was very peaceful. She appeared young for a year or so and now appears her rightful age..........the only DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE I have had was with a close friend who died while in a hospital following waiting for a heart lung transplant......we had all gathered around her while she was in a coma........the next morning I felt an ANGRY ENERGY TO THE RIGHT OF ME. It was very sudden........not an apparition but an energy; it left as quickly as it arrived. The phone rang and my friend's daughter told me they had pulled the plug. Again, she wasn't ready to go at age 50. Never dreamed of her either. Thanks for letting me vent.
Carmel--Thank you for sharing your experiences. Very powerful. I think more people probably have these kinds of experiences that we realize, but not everyone talks about them. I appreciate you taking the time to tell your story.
No problem. I've told very few other than my husband, my daughter and very close friends. I don't believe precognition or psychic ability is something one can turn "on" at a moment's notice. It just comes to me at unusual times. I'm certain there are a lot of families in which this may run through the female line; my 41 year old daughter always tells me that I finish her sentences or actually come up with whatever she was just about to say; lately she's been having similar experiences which I had beginning at age 19.........last week she was thinking of a dear neighbor friend in her former town and couldn't get this gentleman out of her mind day nor night. Finally she called his wife only to learn he had just passed away suddenly. A retired professor. These are pretty common I would think. With me, if it's a neighbor or friend, they just pop into my mind , not particularly thinking of them for any reason.......and next thing I know they are in the obit. Many of my friends tell me not to dream of them. I assume this is just precognition. Again, it isn't anything I can turn on instantly if someone asked me to predict an event. It doesn't happen that way. Nice website; glad I found it.
P.S. I was just closing down the computer when some other experiences came to mind. This first one may have nothing at all to do with seeing ghosts , nor helping those who have not yet crossed over into the light.....or visitations, however, for what it's worth, a few days prior to 911, I had a VIVID DREAM which was a bit frightening, brief but frightening......of a bearded man in a black turban. It was quite ominous actually. He just appeared in my dream. I did tell my husband about it at breakfast; I do relay all these dreams to him "just in case". Within a day or so, the terrorists struck the World Trade Center, etc., etc., etc.....and I knew what that man in the turban meant. I had not been following Mideast politics nor anything to do with Arabs or Muslims in the news, etc. Ten days later we had no choice but to fly on American Airlines and believe me the airports were EMPTY and the crew was jittery........not to mention the passengers.
Hi Carmel--It sounds like you do have a bit of ESP or something! I think probably a lot of us have some, we just don't trust our own instincts!
Very interesting article! I'm sure it would be difficult growing up seeing/interacting with things no one else could see or hear!
Organic Thoughts says:
3 months ago
Great article... wonderfully written.
Its wonderful to know someone who has super natural powers and has personally experienced spirits.
This also poses a big question to the science community which is famous for not believing in life as form of energy and after life.