Every town has a history – the story of its evolution. Some even have their own legends, mysteries and oddities. My old hometown sure does! I grew up in and around Bucksport, Maine, and among its mysteries is a supposed witch’s curse placed on town founder Jonathan Buck. His memorial stone (pictured on left), erected close to his grave site (where you see the two gravestone tablets behind and to the left of the monument) even bears the markings of this curse!  Adorning that monument is the unmistakable outline of a leg (right under the Buck name) and a heart (near the top, laying on its side). Now, it could certainly be coincidental that they look like a leg and heart but here’s the thing…I don’t believe in coincidence. Yes, I know, just because I don’t believe in it doesn’t mean it is so but here’s another thing…life is to us whatever it is we believe. My belief on anything that falls in the “coincidence” category is that something very remarkable pertains to it! The universe works in perfect synchronization with everything that happens within it, and a coincidence is actually a sign that something very special has occurred or is occurring! Coincidences are occasions that are often considered amazing, odd, strange, unusual and bizarre. When you recognize a coincidental moment, it’s your soul giving you a sign and that sign is saying…”PAY ATTENTION, this is important!!”

Our beliefs determine everything about our lives. It’s true. If you BELIEVE a symbol is evil…guess what? It’s evil! If you believe a symbol is of a divine nature (attached to God) then it is! If you believe something is lucky or unlucky…then it is those things! Now, there are some beliefs that are shared by many, some by a few and some might not even be shared at all, so who is right? Does the majority rule when it comes to beliefs? I don’t see any logic in that. Point in case: SOME believed the world was round. MANY believed it was flat. Who turned out to be right? SOME believed we’d land on the moon some day, MANY believed it impossible. Who was right? You know, until something is invented, not many believed it could ever exist. And many others didn’t give it any thought at all! Creation begins in the mind and THEN it becomes a reality … but only when the people thinking it, BELIEVE it! Honestly, if you are thinking of something you wish would happen or come into being but also BELIEVE that it’s NOT possible, well then it’s not possible. How can it be otherwise? It’s only in WORKING TOWARD bringing your wish or desire into being (which means you do believe it’s possible) that it can, in fact, come into being!

Now, there’s a difference between believing and knowing. KNOWING something means that it has factual proof, that it is an accepted norm, and more than likely not in dispute. Whenever something is in dispute, then it’s not accepted as fact, is not considered an accepted norm and belief comes into play. It seems to me that the most important things in life all fall into the realm of beliefs. God, religion, the afterlife, reincarnation, abortion, gay rights, occult practices, political thought and so on and so forth … they ALL pertain to BELIEF! Every one of those things are constantly in dispute!

Now, everyone agrees that a penny is a penny. No one disputes that fact. But some people believe that if they find a penny on the ground, it then has some luck attached to it. Since it isn’t an accepted norm that lost-pennies-found are lucky, it is nothing more than a belief. Who is right? BOTH! What you BELIEVE becomes your reality.

So, going on this “belief” of mine that things mean whatever we believe them to mean…I can’t help but wonder what sort of meaning we can attach to the undisputed images on a stone monument? The thing about the Buck memorial stone is that no one knows for sure WHY the stains are there and why they look like they do. Sure, sure, it can be a coincidence that they look like a heart and the bottom part of a leg but we just talked about coincidences and what that means! Seriously, belief comes into play here and now we have something that can be whatever we choose to believe!

So, we have this stone with a couple images on it  and rumor says those images are there because the person to whom the monument is dedicated was cursed by a witch. Notice I said RUMOR. That’s because the story is not supported by any factual (undisputed) data. For those who haven’t made up their minds whether to be believe the story or not, it is nothing more than a rumor. So let’s define that. A rumor is something people don’t KNOW to be true or not. Until you decide to BELIEVE it or not, it remains a rumor (because the rumor can’t be substantiated, it can only remain a rumor or become a belief). Once you make a decision … to accept the rumor as true or not … then it is no longer a rumor to you. It now becomes a part of your belief system!

Although the RUMOR concerning these images is that Buck had a woman put to death for practicing witchcraft, there is nothing on record to support the claim. Also, the rumors say that the stone was replaced three times and the image reappeared every time. The rumors further claim that many other steps were taken to remove the images but again, they kept reappearing. These claims (stories) are not supported by any factual data. Thus, these are unsubstantiated rumors and you are left to decide what to believe or not believe. Whichever way you decide, does that make it the actual truth? No. And yes. It’s true to the person accepting the rumor and it isn’t true to anyone who rejects it. So, it’s both.

Now, in my story Hidden Voices (the sequel to Be Still, My Love), my character Tess Schafer (a medium) decides to investigate this supernatural mystery. I thought it would be cool to make up a story involving an unsubstantiated rumor with supernatural overtones. Tess understands that all things exist for a reason…a purpose. The purpose and reason depend on the persons affected by the existence in question. Still with me here? Tess decides that the foot image is symbolic of taking a step (making a decision) to move in a specific direction. She has now attached a BELIEF to the image. Her belief charges it to be just that to her. Anyone else accepting that belief will now be affected by the image in that way.

Tess also decides that the heart is there as a symbol for giving hope to those looking for true love and happiness (even if their hearts have been broken as hers and Kade’s…another character in the story…have been). The heart image is laying on its side and is somewhat stretched out. Tess decides this is to show that even broken hearts can be healed. All it takes is a step in the right direction (believing it possible!) for love and happiness to come!

I rather like this new belief!! The rumor concerning those images cannot be substantiated and they are not sprung from anything factual. So, that means the images are up for grabs in the belief department. Fact is, they exist and now we have a purpose for their existence!

The man for whom the monument was erected, Jonathan Buck, was a good man, a respected historical figure. He fought for his country, his people and his family. Dedication like that takes HEART! Though he’s been knocked around a bit by that silly witch rumor, his heart is solid. And so it will be for anyone else who gazes upon it and wishes for love and happiness! The foot image is there as a symbolic reminder that if you are looking for love, happiness or even hope, then all you have to do is take positive step forward (believe!!) and those things will come to you!

So there…I’ve just redefined a supernatural legend. What you believe concerning it is up to you. The thing is, now the suggestion has been made to the universe, well…the universe will go along with it…for all those who believe! That’s how it works. Belief drives our entire existence. So, if you are ever in Bucksport and you decide to visit that stone, stand before it and wish for whatever it is you are hoping for. If you believe and go forward with that belief in your heart, then by gosh by golly, I BELIEVE it will happen!

Pretty cool to write a fictional story and come up with a whole new belief isn’t it? That’s the Creative Force at work…and what drives creation? God! Yeah, I thought I’d bring out the heavy hitter on that one.

So what do you think? Do you believe it’s possible to assign a reason (belief) to things? What exactly do you think a belief is? I’d love to hear your views on it.

Does your hometown have any mysteries or legends attached to it? Want to share them with us? Please?

So, that’s it! And since this is my blog and I have a book coming out this Friday (August 24, 2012)…Hidden Voices!…then I thought I’d throw a plug in for good measure. If you are intrigued by spirit contact, the afterlife, ghosts, hauntings, the paranormal, the supernatural and anything else of that nature…then you might find this story rather interesting. At least…I hope so! I did make a wish on that monument while I was there recently so we’ll see how well it works. I’ll keep you posted.

Until next time, blessings to you and peace out.

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