Emily speaks from the beyond?

By Bob Dunn
Staff Writer

Published on October 27, 2006

Emily Dickinson's grave isn't the largest or most austere in Amherst's West Cemetery. In fact, it's only the iron fence around the four white headstones in her family plot that sets it apart from the rest of the graves.

Emily and Bucky Sparkle, proprietors of Inspirt Common in Hadley, and Cheri Evans, a spiritualist and clairaudient, visited Dickinson's resting place Monday to attempt to tap into whatever energies or spirits may be around.

A clairaudient is one who can hear spirits, whereas a clairvoyant would be one who sees visions of spirit.

Evans said that cemeteries, especially old ones, aren't always hotbeds of psychic activity.

'These people have been dead a long time,' Evans said. 'They've moved on.'

Evans said that a spirit will move on to another plane after three days and those that do stay, do so for emotional reasons.

Before she started listening for the dead on Monday, Evans relinquished some mahogany obsidian stones she'd been carrying in her hand to Emily.

The stones, she said, are for grounding and protection.

The three joined hands and took deep breaths. Evans closed her eyes and attempted to connect with Dickinson's spirit.

Evans said that the group was welcomed by Dickinson and that she received impressions of blue and white light from her.

Dickinson is a light bringer, Evans said, and is here to provide love and support for this community.

'Her mission is to speak truth,' Evans said, just before a church bell tolled in the background.

During the experience, Evans said she saw an image of Dickinson with an image of the 'Divine Mother' behind her.

She also said she saw impressions of Dickinson wearing a wedding dress, and that Dickinson was unappreciated in her time. She said she came back with impressions of Dickinson spending a great deal of time in her room and making bread.

When the group stepped back from the graves, Evans appeared a bit winded and shaken from the experience and quickly reclaimed the obsidian stones from Emily Sparkle.

Mayfield said that a change in physical stature is not uncommon after a reading or with spiritual contact.

'Sometimes it's draining; sometimes it's incredibly uplifting,' Mayfield said.

Evans, who's been a practicing spiritualist for 25 years, said that this is a time in humanity's spiritual evolution where people are awakening to the notion of possibilities of things beyond the realm of the five senses.

Evans said that from the 13th through the 15th centuries - a period known as the 'burning times' - those who were put to death by the church were mostly herbalists, teachers and free thinkers.

'They won't destroy us again,' Evans said.

In addition to her belief in the pagan religion of Wicca, and earth worship, Evans maintains a belief in Christ, the deities, God and angels.

Evans said that those she consults with and counsels are usually very satisfied with the information the receive.

'Not too many are displeased,' she said. 'They just know I know.'