A CONNECTION TO PAST SPIRITS
On a recent antiquing excursion, we got to wondering about the many hands these treasures must have passed through over the years…throughout generations even. Is it possible for an item to retain the energy and intentions of its original owner? In the spirit of spooky season, we wondered, can an item indeed be…haunted? If you acquire the item, will its energy permeate your surroundings?
We decided to seek out an expert in psychometry: the science of “reading” objects in a manner that reveals the stories of their past owners. We met with Dr. Suzanna Joy, PhD, an expert in all things mystical, to see what she could uncover about the past owners of a few choice antiques we selected at High Street Antiques in Plano.
Every Object Has a Story
ITEM 1:
As our psychometry session begins, Suzanna, with her crystal clear blue eyes closed, turns the item over in her hands. She instructs us not to tell her what the item is, as it is obscured from view, still wrapped in tissue from the store. She immediately tells us the item “has a soft, feminine energy…like a woman’s handkerchief.” Across the table, we glanced at one another in disbelief, knowing full well that the item Suzanna was holding was indeed a woman’s handkerchief.
“It belonged to an affluent young woman in her late teens, during the late 1800s, who received it as a gift from her father or a father figure who was a very kind man. She married later in life, as she was a very independent woman with a mind of her own, which was unusual for the time. She can be likened to a Jane Austen type, a woman defined by her strength and purpose.”
She continues, “The item was very cherished and once went missing. She was devastated and tore apart her room looking for it. She lived in a household with staff, and it was a staff member who took it because they admired it. But they felt great guilt and a coldness when they looked at it, knowing it didn’t belong to them, so they put it back where it belonged and it was never discussed again.”
Suzanna delicately opened the tissue, revealing the handkerchief. She runs her fingers over the embroidery. “This item contains a lot of love and life. It likes its freedom, so don’t keep it in a drawer. It longs to be seen, held, loved and noticed.”
Item 2:
There was less mystery about our second antique find as it wasn’t wrapped. Suzanna took the tattered glasses case in her hands, held it up to her face, and inhaled deeply. She put on her own glasses to examine the label. She laughs.
“This is from the late 1800s/early 1900s, right at the turn of the century. The man who owned these was very full of himself, but he wasn’t well off. He loved to gamble…in card games and on horses. He had a great sense of humor, and as you can see from the condition of the case, he wasn’t very careful with his glasses. They have been everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. I laughed because I could see him dropping his glasses on the floor while using the washroom.”
“I see him very clearly dressed in the fashions of the time. He wanted to be as stylish as possible within his means. He was a man’s man, and there were times when he wasn’t always honest or trustworthy.” Maybe that had something to do with his gambling? “He desperately craved status and respect. He was a flirt, and his eyes would follow women. He wanted to marry up, and he did eventually marry, but the relationship didn’t elevate his status. He strived to be well-informed, so he was a devoted reader of the newspaper.”
“The man’s name was Clyde. He had a son whose name started with an R…maybe Ralph or Rolph. I asked him what he did for a living and he responded ‘I gambled.’ He apprenticed to learn a trade, but ultimately felt he did well enough by gambling. He says it gave him a sense of freedom.”
“I see him so clearly. If he were to walk into a room, I would recognize him. The people I see often visit me in my dreams after my sessions.”
Item 3:
Our final antique item was a cigar box, of which Suzanna said, “There is mystery in this box. It has had a great journey, handled by many hands, which will make it more difficult to nail down a specific story, but I will try.”
“The cigars in this box weren’t premium, but they were very appreciated. The man who owned the box was very proud to offer cigars to his guests. He smoked often, maybe up to three cigars a day.”
“The box was always out in the open…it felt welcome in its space. The box was a comfort to the man and he took care of it. It’s from the late 1930s into the 1940s, which was a difficult time. It was a simple item, but it became viewed as a luxury given the tone of the times with WWII.”
“The man was soft-spoken, kind-hearted and even-tempered with a hearty laugh. He was an easy person to know and spend time with.”
As our psychometry session concluded, Suzanna thanked the spirits of the departed for allowing her to visit them and disturb their peace. She shared with us that the only mystical discipline she doesn’t practice is palmistry, as she feels there is a darkness about it. As she uttered the words, we knew she must have countless stories to tell, her crystal clear blue eyes looking back at us, portals into another world.