'Ruin Of Souls': Stories From Beyond The Grave

'Ruin Of Souls': Stories From Beyond The Grave Downtown Healing Center to host paranormal writer

+ click to enlarge Courtesy photo Joni Mayhan Andrew Mansfield Reporter Ghosts may seem like an idea of supernatural fantasy to some, but their presence is a very real experience for others. “You have to experience haunting to appreciate how terrifying it is,” said author Joni Mayhan. Ms. Mayhan will be hosting a book release party for her nonfiction work “Ruin of Souls” at the Elise Lindsay Healing Center at 8 Parker St. on Saturday. The day will also be a holiday bazaar for the healing center, including food and community vendors. The event runs from 1 to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Ms. Mayhan will be giving a presentation at 6 p.m. The center focuses on improving mental health through various activities such as tai chi and art classes. It is run by Marian Hagopian and Marina Berman, who are both licensed therapists. Ms. Hagopian has taught at Mount Wachusett Community College in the past and currently runs a satellite office in Gardner for the Lipton Center, a Leominster-based mental health services provider. Ms. Mayhan is a South Hadley-based writer and paranormal investigator who started her interest in the field as a child when she could sense the presence of spirits, although it took her time to process the experiences initially and years to understand what they were. Her book, “Ruin of Souls,” is “a collection of extreme paranormal hauntings” that covers several cases throughout the country. For those who may question the validity of such stories, Ms. Mayhan said the victims only sought the help of paranormal investigators after years of being tortured by an unknown source; they’re simply sharing their stories in the book because they finally received relief from their circumstance. “Every one of them started off thinking they were going crazy,” she said. What ties the stories together is the work of Virginia-based shaman healer Michael Rob­ishaw. He was able to help the victims by confronting the ghosts and forcing their spirits to leave earth in a way that surprised Ms. Mayhan. “He separates his consciousness from his body and is able to help without being there. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced. I’m typically a skeptic; I have to see it to believe it,” she said. “Ruin of Souls,” along with her other works, will be sold at the holiday bazaar for $15. She is best known in the Gardner area for writing her book “Bones in the Basement,” which covers her findings while investigating the S.K. Pierce Victorian mansion on the corner of Union Street and West Broadway, which is famously said to be haunted. Other attractions at the event will include free food, local vendors selling items such as jewelry, photos of the S.K. Pierce mansion, and the chance to consult with Ms. Hagopian on therapeutic practices. “It is a good time for Christmas gift buying,” she said. Ms. Hagopian founded the healing center out of her home in 1998. Over the summer, she expanded the center by relocating it to Parker Street The center has been renamed after Elise Lindsay, who worked for many years with Ms. Hagopian at the center and had a Ph.D. in psychology. She died two years ago. Ms. Hagopian defines the term “healing” broadly, saying it just means a way “to help provide direction, a deeper understanding of one’s self and a proposed path to take.” The term is not meant in any way to denote a specific religious belief. “We’re very much eclectic and open to all types of people,” she said. Ms. Hagopian and Ms. Mayhan have known each other for many years through their work, as they both deal with trying to help people who are dealing with problems affecting their mental health. Ms. Mayhan has lived in Barre in the past and teaches a class on the paranormal at Terrapin Traders, located on Central Street. “I’m excited to get to see some of the people who have supported me over the years,” she said. The Elise Lindsay Healing Center can be reached at 978-577-9035. The website for Ms. Mayhan is www.jonimayhan.com.