UPDATE: The winner is…Amy Fendley!
*~*~*
Do you believe the spirit continues after death
and can communicate with the living?
This is a different question than asking if you believe in ghosts. Ghosts are often considered lingering echoes of a personality or energy tied to a place. Spiritualists, on the other hand, believe that when we die, our personalities transition to another plane of existence and can sometimes communicate with the living. Mediums claim they can contact these spirits and pass on messages to loved ones.
One town in central Florida that has become a hub for such beliefs is Cassadaga. Known by some as the “Psychic Capital of the World,” it’s a fascinating place for those curious about the paranormal. In Cassadaga, you can book a session with a psychic or medium, get your tarot cards read, have your astrological chart cast, or even try palm or tea leaf readings. The town also offers healing services and spiritual messages. Cassadaga was founded in 1894 by George Colby, a spiritualist from Lily Dale, New York, who said he was led to the spot by his spirit guide, Seneca.
My fascination with the occult drew me to Cassadaga years ago. During my college years, a friend and I spontaneously decided to visit and get a reading. However, with limited walk-in options for mediums, we took what we could get. I don’t remember much about the reading—it was pretty generic, and I felt a bit let down. Despite that, my interest in the town never faded.
Years later, after retiring from my career as a VA social worker and working on my fifth book, Witch Trial Legacy, which is set in the town, I decided it was time to revisit Cassadaga for research. I shared my plans with fellow writers from my local Romance Writers of America chapter, and two friends asked to join me. We set up a date and planned our trip.
The day of our visit finally came. My husband drove, while Adele, her husband, and Donna (names changed for privacy) rode along with us. We took the scenic route, adding an extra hour to our drive, and stopped for lunch around noon, thinking we’d reach Cassadaga shortly after.
But, as life would have it, Donna received an urgent call about her cat, which was seriously ill. Distraught, she asked to go home, and of course, we did. After eight hours on the road, we returned home without ever reaching our destination. Ironically, Donna’s cat ended up being fine.
A few months later, my husband and I made another attempt—just the two of us this time. The weather was perfect: sunny, with a light breeze, and not too humid for Florida. As soon as we arrived in Cassadaga, I felt a peaceful atmosphere wash over me. The pace of life there seemed slower, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. We explored the town, taking photos of the signs advertising readings and spiritual services. We had a lovely lunch at the Cassadaga Hotel, browsed the gift shop, and checked out the camp bookstore. Though I didn’t get a reading, the day left a lasting impression on me.
Since then, I’ve felt a deep connection to Cassadaga—it’s a place unlike any other. If you’ve been there and read Witch Trial Legacy, I hope the setting feels familiar to you. If you haven’t visited yet, I highly recommend you do!
Witch Trial Legacy
(The Cassadaga Collection Book 1)
Sybilla Sanborn must break a centuries old curse before everything she cares about goes up in smoke.
Sybilla is a nurse gifted with the ability to heal with her touch but cursed with visions of future tragedies she cannot prevent because no one heeds her warnings. With help from the mediums of the spiritualist town of Cassadaga, Florida, she learns she is descended from both the first person executed for witchcraft in this country and the man who accused her.
Conn Ahern is an Iraq war vet dealing with pain and PTSD while working as a paramedic and struggling to save the ranch his grandmother founded. He’s an atheist who wants nothing to do with the people of the town.
When Conn and Sybilla meet, sparks fly, but not always in a good way, and their relationship fans the flames of jealousy and revenge in someone who doesn’t want them to work things out.
During a séance, her ancestor’s spirit reveals how Sybilla can rid herself of the curse and save Conn, but the price may be too high.
Contest
To win a $5.00 Amazon gift card, please reply to this post with your answer to the question I asked at the beginning: Do you believe the spirit continues after death and can communicate with the living?
About Katherine Eddinger Smits
From an early age, Katherine was captivated by fairy tales. After devouring the Brothers Grimm and similar collections, she eagerly explored mythology, legends, gothic romance, fantasy, and science fiction.
Growing up near Florida’s Weeki Wachee mermaid attraction, Katherine spent countless hours swimming in the springs, pretending to be a mermaid. Although she once considered auditioning as a Weeki Wachee mermaid, her true wish was to be a real one—a dream that, unsurprisingly, didn’t come true.
Since life as a mermaid wasn’t an option, Katherine earned a master’s degree in social work and dedicated her career to helping veterans and their families—a role she cherished.
Now in retirement, she has the time to immerse herself in reading and bring her imagined worlds to life. Spiced with mystery and suspense, her stories of fantasy and romance feature gifted humans overcoming real-life challenges in a contemporary world full of mages, mermaids, and fantastic creatures.
For a free short story, monthly contests, freebies, and fun, join Katherine’s newsletter community. Get Your Free Short Story!
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Thank you so much for hosting me here today, Delilah! I truly appreciate the opportunity, and I can’t wait to hear what your readers have to say!
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I believe the spirit continues on after death. I think when the energy leaves the body it releases that which makes you who you are. The soul then returns to God. I think the soul can watch over the people left behind. My grandmother swore that she could feel my grandfather after he died.
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Beautiful reply, Jennifer! Thank you so much!
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Interesting post, Kathy. I’ve had a kinda sorta desire to visit Cassadaga. Perhaps one day. Having experienced strange and unexplainable encounters, I believe that spiritual beings such as angels and shades do exist.
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Thanks so much for your reply, Loretta! I too have had strange and unexplainable things happen. I don’t know if I will ever write a blog about those experiences, but they do make their way into my fiction!
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I do believe that it is possible… I have experienced some things… especially around my sister… she has a man that has followed her everywhere she has moved… He lets us know when he is around. Turns things on and off such as the lights, the sink… Sadly none of us know who he is. I saw him once, he was wearing an older style suit and a top hat.
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Wow! That would be a great reason to talk to a medium–find out who he is and what he is trying to communicate! Thanks for the fascinating comment!
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Cassadaga sounds like an interesting place to visit. I do believe that spirits can communicate with the living.
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Yes. Our spirits are love and love never dies.
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I don’t disbelieve. My mother saw a ghost once. A child. Not a fanciful woman.
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I do believe our spirit continues and can communicate.
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yes
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Beautifully said, and something I too believe is true. Thank you, Anna!
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Cassadaga is fascinating! If you ever have a chance to visit, you should. I believe spirits can and do communicate with the living, but it must be hard or there must be special circumstances for it to work. Many people believe the “Ley Lines” in Cassadaga facilitate commumication between the living and spirits, and that is why it is easier there.
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Hi Mary, it sounds like you’re open to the possibility although you may not have experienced it yourself. I’m curious. Was your mother a child when she saw the ghost child, or was she an adult?
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Hi Debra, thanks for sharing your belief that the spirit continues to exist and can communicate. Have you ever had any experiences with this? If so, I’d love to hear about them, either here or you can email me directly at katherinesmits@gmail.com
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Hi BN, thanks for your reply!
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Hi Antoinette, the comment I made above about Cassadaga being fascinating to visit and the ley lines helping with communication was intended for you. I neglected to put your name in the reply and it didn’t show up under yours, so it’s hard to tell who it was meant for. I tried to edit the comment but couldn’t after it posted. So Sorry!
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I would love to visit Cassadaga and get a reading, maybe my sister would take me sometime? My husband always says I am a witch, so who knows?
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Thank you for your comment, Sis! Yes, I will take you. And yes, your husband and other men we know consider us witches. I can’t imagine why. LOL!
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I just saw this on Sunday. Yes, I believe in spirits. I have one in my house. He likes to turn on the lamp beside my bed. My husband didn’t believe me until he was in there nowhere near the lamp when it turned on. I have named him Henry. He moves around the house but the lamp is the only thing he turns on. There is also Rush, he used to play with my daughter in her room. Funny thing though, Rush is her great grandfather. Neither her nor I had ever heard of him before. I told my husband that she was talking to Rush and he told me who he was.
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Thanks so much for commenting, Amy! Henry and Rush sound very nice to have around.
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Thanks to Katherine for a fun post and to everyone who commented!
The winner is…Amy Fendley!
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My mom just passed at 94 and my siblings swear she is moving items she left behind to send them messages.