The Gary Dakin Column

The Rock

It can be a dangerous thing for a man to ask his wife what she would like for her birthday, and for me it was no exception. My enquiry, when made to my wife Christine, was met with an unusual request. It wasn't to be a big party or an expensive piece of jewellery, instead her wish was to swim with dolphins! I wasn't totally taken by surprise as Christine is a big lover of animals but I was feeling quite daunted by the prospect of arranging such an activity. My first step was to look on the Internet for a venue where swimming with dolphins was a practical and affordable possibility. I eventually settled on Florida where two places were listed. The one I chose and booked in at was a place called, "The Theatre

the Sea," which is situated on Key Lago. This is indeed where Christine's dream did come true.

To prolong the trip to America we decided to visit San Francisco for a week before returning home. My agent had arranged some readings for me to do, so it  was intended to be a  half working, and  half holiday trip which would enable us to fit in some sightseeing at the same time. After swimming with the dolphins and having a fantastic time, we arrived in California. It was the end of January and much to our surprise it was actually colder than England, but not to be put off, we managed to warm ourselves up at The Fisherman's Wharf by eating delicious Clam Chowder soup out of hollowed out loaves of bread.

GARY AND CHRIS ON ALCATRZ
Perhaps one of the most popular tourist venues in the United States is Alcatraz prison. On my first visit to San Francisco last year I declined the opportunity to visit Alcatraz because I wanted to return at some point with my wife so we could visit the island together. We booked the trip across to Alcatraz Island and sat on the deck of the bay ferry  waiting for departure. We heard the engines start up and the ferry began to chug slowly across the San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz. The journey is only about fifteen minutes but as we gazed at  the island which became ever closer, we began to feel a strange, dark energy emanating from the grey concrete mass which was the cell blocks. There was a subdued atmosphere among the travellers as the "Bay Princess" docked at the quay side while the hundred or so people started to disembark and step foot on the Island. After having first listened to the introductory talk and then watching  a short film of the history of Alcatraz, we then made our way up to the actual cell blocks. We walked through into what had been used as the main hall where four blocks of iron cages filled the vast, dank area. It made me shudder to think of what it must have been like to walk through these doors for the first time, knowing that you would not be allowed back into society for years to come. What made it worse was the fact that, as you looked out across the bay, the skyline of  San Francisco seemed near enough to touch. In reality the prisoners of Alcatraz would have been locked into the iron fist of a harsh regime with little chance of an early release and absolutely no chance of escape. It was a sense of hopelessness and despair that I was picking up from the residue of the massed negativity of the inmate population. As we wandered up and down blocks A.B.C. and D, past the cells marked with the names of infamous gangsters and murderers like Al Capone and Richard Straud, otherwise known as "The Bird man of Alcatraz," the air almost seemed to be electric with tension and deeply chilling at the same time. The cells were little more than iron cages stacked in rows on top of each other. The prisoners  must have felt crammed together like battery hens. At no time did I feel drawn to discarnate spirit but the energy left by transmitted thought was unmistakable. Perhaps the place that I felt the most negativity was the dining hall. You could almost hear the mealtime activity with the looming presence of the shotgun carrying guards. I looked down from the window into a corner of the exercise yard where the prisoners were allowed to stroll freely only once a week. You can imagine them looking forward to this little piece of freedom with effervesence, being able to breath clean air for an hour or so before again being locked up.

I'm often questioned about hauntings and I have attended many houses where people have been living in fear because of what they have felt to be in their own homes. There is a common misconception that a "presence" is always down to paranormal ghostly activity. On the contrary, I have found through experience that in the main, a negative vibration alone, can bring this destructive influence into play. Thoughts and emotions linger for a long time so energy either positive or negative can inhabit a home or area indefinitely. I must say that in no other place have I  ever experienced this phenomenon more intensely than on the mysterious island of Alcatraz ( The Rock ).

Have you ever had a book in mind that you couldn't get hold of. We found a Psychic /Spiritual/New age, book shop in San Francisco that could furnish you with you heart's desire. They are called Fields Book Store and you can contact them on the Internet at www..fieldsbooks.com. They are also willing to mail books to you. We found a wonderful selection of Emmet Fox books that you are able to buy singularly or as a set. The address to write to is, 1419  Polk Street,San Francisco, CA94109-4615.