Paranormal Encounter

From: Michael Mahaffey (wedo@3-cities.com (Michael Mahaffey))
Story type: Ghost
Location: Naneum river where Swift creek runs into it
Source: Form Submission

On Wings of the Wind
Preface:
We have been camping basically in the same area for approximately sixteen years. It is an area of the Clockum game control unit. Specifically, on the Naneum river where Swift creek runs into it. We have named our camp "CAMP MENUDO".

We have camped in five different locations, but they are all within a one mile radius. At times there has been as many as fifteen or sixteen people in camp. At other times, ( as in 1995), there has been as few as four), mostly family members, with the exception being, a few very close family friends. In 1994, no one, from our group, went to camp.

Of the people that have camped with us during elk camp, there has been five members that have passed on. They are, my son Marc David Mahaffey, who passed on in 1993, (suicide). My uncle, (by marriage), Joe N Valdez, who passed on in 1985, (cancer). My uncle, (by marriage), Richard Gomez, who passed on in 1994, (cancer). Don Pingree, who passed on in 1992, (cancer). Don was my good friend, and father to my camp mate, (Mike Pingree). Cayo Benavidez, who passed on in 1995, ( cancer), a friend of thirty plus years. I played pool in his pool hall when I was just a teenager.

Of these people, Tio Joe Valdez, Tio Richard Gomez, and Cayo Benavidez, were in our camp only once, my son Marc, and good friend Don, have been there many times.

Don Pingree's ashes were scattered in an area less than 200 yards from our current camp site in an area we call "The Horseshoe" which has been a particularly favorite spot for all of us to congregate while we are out tramping the woods, as well as a very productive spot to see game animals. When we scattered Don's ashes, we had a "Ceremonial Smudging" of his ashes and the immediate area around us. We also prayed to the seven directions and played some Native American flute music. I read a poem which I had written that was inspired by this beautiful area. I call it "Ashes to Ashes", it speaks of scattering ashes in this area in order to be bonded with it for eternity. We then all shared in scattering his ashes in a circle around a small meadow in the center of the opening in the middle of the horseshoe.

I have also buried some very personal things in this "horseshoe" area that are connected to my son. I buried these things under a log that Marco and I used, to lean on, to talk,and to watch for game. We spent many hours there.

This year we all went back to the horseshoe to toast Marc and Don in particular, but we remembered Tio Joe, Tio Richard and Cayo. We acknowledged their presence in our camp and in our hearts.

I believe these are important components of what happened in camp this year as this ground, having had ceremonies conducted upon it, having Don's ashes scattered on it and Marco's connections buried here, is now very much, consecrated, ground.

INTRODUCTION:
This year at camp the only overtly noticeable differences from any other year would be the number of people that were in camp, four (4), the smallest number of people ever to maintain a camp here, (of our group). The exception to this would be, 1994, when no one from our group went to camp. ( I am still attempting to understand reasons for this). The other difference would be that I did not take a gun with me this year, or even buy a hunting license. I had vowed not to "take" anything from this area, only enjoy, and "be," in it. Instead of guns, I took my camera equipment, some reading material and some of my crafts to work on.

Present this year was Martin Lopez, a very close and dear friend who has camped with us many years. Don Pingree was Martin's father in law for about seventeen years. They were very close, and Martin loved him a great deal. Martin knew my son, Marco, very well and also knew my uncles Richard and Joe, they were good friends. Also present this year was Mike Pingree, Don Pingree's son. It was obvious to all of us that Mike loved his dad allot. Mike also knew Marco, Tio Richard, and Tio Joe well, and was a good friend to them all. My father Ed Mahaffey was with us this year also. Of course my dad is Marco's grandfather. Marc and my dad were extremely close, often taking long trips fishing and hunting. There was a very strong bond between my father and my son. My dad has also known Richard and Joe for more than thirty years. He was a good friend to Don Pingree as well.

Also there this year was me, (Mike Mahaffey), and as stated earlier I am Marco's father, Ed's son, very close friend to Mike Pingree, and a good friend of his father, Don Pingree, and a very good friend to Martin Lopez.

Joe Valdez, as I have stated was my uncle by marriage, but, he was also my "Compadre" and "Padrino", Godfather, ("Nino Joe"), to my son Marco. I hold his memory very special. Tio Richard and I had a very special relationship also. He knew me when I was just a young boy, before I met my wife and became part of the "family". I know that Tio Richard loved me. This man was also very instrumental in assisting me in getting through that most difficult first year after my son's death. I miss his council greatly.

I think that should be sufficient information so that you can see the connections here.

WHAT HAPPENED
We arrived at our camping spot this year on Saturday October 21, 1995 at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon. We had a new tent this year so camp went up very quickly. As soon as we got our main tent up we proceeded to put up our cook-shack. We got everything accomplished in good time and I warmed up some food for us all to eat. We built a warm fire, chatted for awhile and then turned in.

On Sunday we finished our camp the way we like it. Mike and Martin put up our potty and I organized our cook-shack and food. We also used this day to organize our personal stuff and to reflect on the fact that "it doesn't get any better than this !". (an expression that I have heard from my camp mates many times up here).

On Monday we all went for a hike. I took my camera stuff and Mike P. and Martin took their deer rifles, (just in case). We had a very nice hike, good conversation, and took some pictures. We hiked all the way into an area we call, "The Ponds". Upon deciding to return to camp, we agreed to separate and work our way back to the 'Horseshoe", there, we would meet and have a toast to our people who were not physically with us.

I got there first. I spent some time crying and thinking about Marco and how terribly much I miss him. I could almost see him there, together with me, as we had been so many times before. Marco started coming here with me when he was nine years old, he passed away six days from his twenty third birthday. That's quite a few trips, volumes of memories. I dug to see if some of the things I had put here in 1993 were still here, they were, I put them back.

Mike and Martin showed up soon after and we took some beverages to the center of the horseshoe and had a good toast and remembrance of all our camp mates who have passed on. They still maintain a very strong presence here I know this, and I accept this.

On Tuesday, after another very lazy, laid back day, at just about dusk, two (2) owls visited our camp. First came one, very close, and landed in a tree just outside our immediate camp area, I would say thirty yards or so from where we were standing. Then, came the other one, it landed in a tree just a short distance farther from camp than the first. The picture I need to paint here is that they were both very close to our camp and very close to each other. All the time that these owls were in our area they kept up a constant dialogue. Whether or not this dialogue was meant for us or for them will probably always be a point of discussion..

I have been fortunate enough to have spent a considerable amount of time in the woods in my forty six years of life, beginning from the time I was about five years old. The point is that I consider myself a very experienced hunter and outdoorsman, and I have never seen two owls this close together and heard this much dialogue coming from even a single owl over a very long period of observation. This was highly unusual and had a definite feel of something "purposeful" and very connecting happening.

Perhaps this feeling was being accentuated by the "Earth Spirit" tape we had played or the Native American drum I had made and presented to Mike as a gift. Regardless, these owls allowed us to study them for quite some time, even through the scopes on my friends rifles, until there was not enough light to see them. We could still hear them, dialogue never stopping. They left sometime after dark, I believe they were at our camp for a bout a half an hour or more before leaving, first one, dialoguing all the time, then the other. They were huge, and magnificent, and graceful, and beautiful.

On Wednesday it rained off and on all day. We made the best of it however, we read, slept, ate, talked, and generally had a very laid back day. I cooked dinner a little earlier than usual, mostly out of wanting to do something other than sleep, and also to get it "out of the way," so I could join the chatter, or play cards, or just "be."

We had spent a considerable amount of time in the main tent, we were playing cards (Mike Martin and myself), and my dad was reading. I don't remember exactly if someone went "broke," or if we just decided to quit playing, but anyway, we stopped playing cards. I took advantage of the break in the "action" to step outside to take a pee.

I stepped out and went to my right, I did not go to the "potty" we had set up because, 1.-it was a little far away for the hurry I was in, and, 2.- I am afraid of the dark. My dad, however, decided he needed to go also, and he came out of the tent and went to his left, towards the potty. For whatever reason, he chose to take a detour through the cook-shack, (probably to snag a biscuit with peanut butter and jelly). Regardless, the next thing I remember is first, hearing my dad running, then, I turned to see him running full tilt to the main tent. I remember distinctly the look on his face. It was a look that I have only seen a few times. It was a look of extreme excitement and urgency mixed with more than just a little fear.

He ran inside the tent repeating several times, "get a light, get a light, get a light, I need a light, hurry," well, needless to say, this got everyone's attention and immediately had our adrenaline pumping like crazy. My dad got the flashlight and we all followed him out to the edge of the cook-shack, still not knowing what was there or what was going on.My dad was so excited and worked up that he had not been able to tell us what was happening or what he had seen up to this point. When we got to the edge of the cook-shack my father stopped and illuminated the immediate area with his flashlight, it was at this point he was finally able to say "I saw a wolf!, right here!, not ten feet away from me!, a wolf!"

He went on to explain that at first, in the mist, he thought it was someone's German Shepherd dog, but then realized that it was a wolf that he was looking at, not a coyote, not a dog, but a wolf. My dad described how this animal showed absolutely no fear and no urgency in retreating, nor did it bolt in panic at the sight of my dad, (I would have, --just kidding---), but instead, the animal turned slowly, glanced back at my dad, and kept a steady stride as it emitted what my dad described as a very guttural type noise, not a growl of attack, nor a bark of surprise, but just a very low, throaty, almost annoyed sound.

It took quite a little time for my dad to get back to his normal self. He described what he saw and how it made him feel several times, I could tell he was sure of what he had seen and that it had a strong impact on him.

This was one of the happenings of Wednesday, now I need to describe another.

As I have mentioned earlier, it had rained off and on all day. We were getting ready to turn in and I remember thinking that the last time I had seen rain like this up here it made for a very difficult situation when we tried to leave. The roads were absolutely terrible. Some of the vehicles had to be towed through some of the worst areas. I very much wanted it to stop raining and I was getting a little concerned about having to possibly drive out under these conditions. All in all, with this, and the earlier excitement, we all were just a little less than completely relaxed when we finally did turn in.

At about eleven thirty it quit raining, finally. I was awake. I did not know if anyone else was awake or not. It became silent. That beautiful silent calm after a rain. Then, the wind started. Not any harder than usual for up here, but blowing pretty good. Then it started.

I could hear it starting quite a distance away, like it started at the top of the ridge, or at the head of the canyon, or "up the road a piece," somehow it was obvious that it was originating in the distance and was distinct from the noises and occurrences in or immediate area. It had a different velocity to it than the wind that was around us at the time. It also had a different sound, a different pitch, than what was surrounding us You could here it coming towards us, a wind within a wind, an entity within an entity, getting louder, and seemingly faster as it got nearer to our camp. You could almost visualize its location by the sound. Then it was on us! It was here! A loud Wwhhhooooossshhh!... and at the instant that the flap of our tent was blown open, there was an accompanying, very bright, very distinct, flash of extremely white, intense light.

It was not lightening,.... no clouds,.... no thunder. It was not a vehicle,.... no traffic,.... no other sounds. It was not someone flashing a spotlight on us,.... nearest "neighbor," a quarter mile away. It was not one of our lanterns,.... they had been turned off for hours. It was not Saint Elmo's Fire,.... no mast, nor metal for the glow to attach to. It was not our kerosene heaters,.... they were both inside the tent with us. the source of this light was outside.

I sat up. It was now that I could tell I was not the only one awake. Everyone was awake, all of us in different stages of sitting or leaning up and looking towards the opening of our tent as if to expect someone or something to enter. I do not recall anyone saying too much at all, we just kind of settled back in contemplation and wonderment of what had just taken place. Absolutely incredible, awesome, intriguing!

I can almost here your questions now, and let me assure you, we were all sober, well rested, full bellied and conscious. No one there was under the influence of a controlled substance,...... Thank you very much!

About five to ten minutes had passed. Then it started again. The same scenario, the same build up in velocity and sound level as it got closer and closer to our tent. It appeared to have its origin exactly the same as the first, the same wind within a wind. We were all looking towards the flap of our tent when it arrived. I remember expecting, like knowing, what was going to happen. I was not afraid at all, only expectant, anticipative, almost eager for it. Then it came. WWWHHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!! It blew the flap of the tent back, and at the same time, there was the same, bright, intense, white light.

This time it got the best of Martin and Mike Pingree, they jumped out of their racks and bolted outside to see what they could see....

A starlit sky.
No lightening.
No vehicles.
No people.
No Saint Elmo's Fire.
No lanterns going.
No fire in the fire pit.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.

There was not a lot of discussion that night before we all fell asleep. It seemed as if we were not going to be able to explain it and we somehow knew that it was over and was not coming again,...at least not tonight, and that we were safe, and warm, and had nothing to worry about. There was also the sense that we all really knew what had happened, but were hesitant to verbalize it. So,....we drifted off, perhaps for each of us to have our own private dream as to what had just visited our camp.

What do YOU think it could have been?

OWL ENERGIES AND ATTRIBUTES GIVEN TO OWL *
The night eagle is a messenger from the darkness and a guide through all mysteries that it contains, including death. Some Native peoples do not like to see Owl and will not work with it, felling that Owl is a bad omen. The Zuni associated Owl with witch craft and the holding of unnatural powers over others.

Many other tribes and bands have taken a more positive attitude towards Owl, seeing them as teachers in the medicine of night. If Owl has oriented to you, you can be certain that an aspect of your life is going to change, in a big way. Some people believe that Owl only comes to those things that are about to die. Do not fear, though for this does not mean physical death as much as it means the letting go of some part of you that is not serving you. Owls, with their spectral senses, are guides through the dark tunnel of fear and change to the certain light shinning at the other end. Thank Owl for its willingness to guide you through its shadowy realm.

The Owl is a symbol of the feminine, the moon, and the night. It has been called a cat with wings. Owl has been believed to have great healing powers, both in North America and on other continents. Because of its association with the moon, it has ties to fertility and seduction, for the moon is the arouser of men and Owls. The Owl is the bird of magic and darkness, of prophecy and wisdom.

To ancient Greeks, Owl was associated with the goddess of Athena, and it was a symbol of higher wisdom. To the Pawnee, it is a symbol of protection. To the Pueblo, it is the spirit of fertility.

Owl medicine is symbolically associated with clairvoyance, astral projection and magic, both black and white. Many superstitions and beliefs have come to be associated with it. Owls have long been thought to be the reincarnation of the dead.

One of the most predominant energies associated with Owl is that of the Owl being able to extract secrets. It was believed, in ancient Tome, that to place a feather or part of an Owl on a sleeping person would enable you to discover his/her secrets.

The Owl is a bird of the night, and the night has long been a symbol of the darkness within-the place in which humans hide their secrets.

The yellow coloring of the eyes is very symbolic. It makes the eyes much more expressive, but it hints of the light of the sun, alive in the dark of the night. The sun lives through the Owl at night. MEDITATION ON THIS ALONE WILL REVEAL MUCH ABOUT THE MAGIC OF THE OWL WITHIN YOUR LIFE.

One who works with Owl will see and hear what others try to hide. You will hear what is not being said, and you will see what is hidden or in the shadows. You can detect and pinpoint the subtleties. Owl people have the unique ability to see into others' soul and life.

The Owl, as a bird of the night, can teach all of the secrets of the night. These secrets involve everything that transpires when the Sun is gone. Owls are the eyes of the night, and they see what is not in the open. They have secret knOwledge that they can share. Their medicine can extract secrets.

The symbolism of the neck and its flexibility should be meditated upon for those with Owl medicine. If your neck is stiff and inflexible, you are hindering your perceptions to a great degree.

The Owl, like other birds of prey, has a third eyelid. This nictating eyelid moves from side to side. It cleanses the eye, clearing its vision. Again this symbolizes so much about new vision opening to you. It often reflects perception with a vision of others you may or may not have recognized or acknOwledged. Often those with Owl as a power totem have the ability to see into the eyes and souls of others. Often these perceptions are discard as wild imaginings or with such phrases as "Why in the world would I think that about this person?" These kind of imaginings, positive and negative should be trusted.

Much study has been done on Owls in regards to their prey. This is possible predominantly do to "Owl pellets." An Owl will usually swallow its prey whole and head first. The parts of the prey that are indigestible (bones, fur, teeth, claws, and such) are then regurgitated in the form of pellets. This is a very symbolic act in which much significance can be found. In the swallowing of its prey head first, the Owl takes into itself the wisdom and energy of the prey. The regurgitation reflects its ability to eliminate those aspects that are unbeneficial and unhealthy for it.

Owl is representative of the second spirit path position, East, wisdom is the Owl. The Owl symbolizes many things to different peoples. To some Owl represents all that is wise and good: to others, all that is dark and bad. Owls have been thought to be wise messengers, sometimes the bringer of news of death, Frequently the transmitter of old wisdom and knOwledge. Owl medicine is thought to be so strong that it should not be mixed with other energies, or worked with lightly or irresponsibly. Some people of Native paths wrap any form of Owl medicine in red. It is said that red cloth will contain the power and keep it separate from other energies. Others will not touch an Owl feather.

If your are looking for answers, ask Owl who is all wise. But don't ask unless you are willing to get an answer that may lead you on journeys to unknown territories whether on the spiritual, mental emotional, or physical plane.

Working with Owl teaches about mystery, paradox, life, death, wisdom, the shadow, listening, the feminine, the unknown.

ANIMAL- SPEAK, TED ANDREWS * ANIMAL ENERGIES, GARY BUFFALO HORN MAN, SHERRY FIREDANCER * DANCING WITH THE WHEEL, SUN BEAR, WABUN WIND, CRYSALIS MULLIGAN

WOLF ENERGIES AND ATTRIBUTES GIVEN TO WOLF *
Wolf medicine can teach you to have balance between your family's needs for you and your needs for you. Wolves are totally loyal to the pack, but do not give up their identity to the pack. If Wolf has come into your life in some fashion, you are being asked to look at where you are being to dependent and where you may be to independent. In both family and community, there needs to be a balance there needs to be a balance between me and us. Wolf can help you learn this.

In Wolf terms, you can't be too loyal to the pack. In human terms, you can become too devoted to an idea, a group or family unit, particularly if the family is dysfunctional and robbing your power. If Wolf makes itself known to you, it may hold the message that it is time to break away from the pack you are in and start your own.

Wolves are probably the most misunderstood of the wild animals. In spite of the negative press, wolves are almost the exact opposite of how they are portrayed. They are friendly, social, and highly intelligent. Their sense of family is strong and loyal, and they live by carefully defined rules and rituals.

Wolves are the epitome of the wild spirit. Many believe that the true test of America's sincerity about protecting the environment will revolve around whether or not the Wolf remains protected and is allowed to be reintroduced into areas of the country where it has heretofore been eliminated. The Wolf is the true spirit of the free and unspoiled wilderness.

Wolves are very ritualistic--in as many ways as humans. They live by carefully defined rules. There are specific territories that are sacred. Their social behavior is based upon a hierarchical structure. each has its place and function within the hierarchy.

Though they are extremely strong and powerful, disagreements rarely end in serious fights. Often a glance, a posture, a growl, is all that is necessary to determine dominance and communicate that which is necessary This is part of what Wolf medicine teaches. The Wolf teaches you to know who you are and to develop strength, confidence and surety in that, so that you do not have to demonstrate and prove yourself to all.

Every member of the pack knows its position in relationship to everyone else within that pack. The ritualistic behaviors that establish the Wolf ranks are part of its magic. Wolf can teach you how to use ritual to establish order and harmony within your own life. Wolf helps us to understand that true freedom requires discipline.

Adult wolves are friendly and amiable toward pups, and Wolf medicine teaches respect and honor for family and for children.

Wolves become sexually mature at about 22-24 months. For those who have Wolf come to them, look for its energies and influence in your life to take the same possible time pattern.

Wolves usuallywith Wolf totems, this can indicate a need to make use of all that is available to you. Sometimes wolves show up as a totem to remind us not to waste, as much as to remind us to keep our spirit alive.

Wolves have extremely keen senses, particularly that of smell. It is said to be one hundred times greater than that of humans. The sense of smell endows it with great discrimination, and the sense of smell has often been associated with spiritual idealism in metaphysical circles.

The Wolf also has an excellent hearing sensitivity. Its hunting depends strongly upon its sense of smell and hearing. This would be a reminder to those with this totem to listen to their own inner thoughts and words. The intuition will be strong. This idea is further emphasized by the thick coat of fur the Wolf has. Fur and hair have long been symbols of psychic abilities. The Wolf has both an inner coat and outer, giving it the ability to reflect the archetypal forces associated with psychic insight.

The Wolf has the capacity for making quick and firm emotional attachments. Learning to trust your own insights and to secure your attachments accordingly is part of what Wolf medicine teaches. The Wolf can help you to hear the inner and guard you from inappropriate actions. It will guard you as it teaches you-- sometimes strongly, sometimes gently--but always with love. When Wolf shows up, it is time to breathe new life into your rituals. Find a new path, take a new journey, take control of your life. You are the governor of your life. You create it and direct it. Do so with harmony and discipline, and then you will know the true spirit of freedom.

The animal that represents love, the third spirit path position South, is the Wolf.

Native people have great respect for the Wolf because of his care for his people, because of his love for family, because of his protective instincts, and because of his discrimination in hunting the weak or sick animals in a herd. The Wolf, in some tribes, is considered a guardian totem and a symbol of perseverance.

Wolf can teach you about compassion and loyalty to family, friends and children. She is a particularly good animal to work with if you have not been taught trust, kinship, and love in your family of origin. If you come from an abusive or dysfunctional background the Wolf can teach you to replace your painful, negative patterns with qualities that can help you become a loving adult.

Work with Wolf to learn about healthy love, forgiveness, intimacy, trust, functional relationships, community, selflessness, and generosity.

ANIMAL- SPEAK, TED ANDREWS * ANIMAL ENERGIES, GARY BUFFALO HORN MAN, SHERRY FIREDANCER * DANCING WITH THE WHEEL, SUN BEAR, WABUN WIND, CRYSALIS MULLIGAN
YA TA HEY!

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