New subscriber here—I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Troy Tice, and I’m a French-to-English academic translator. I came across your writing through your brother and am really looking forward to browsing your Substack.
I’m especially interested in contemplative spirituality (across traditions), idealist theories of consciousness, and what historian of religion Jeffrey J. Kripal calls “impossible” phenomena: ghosts, near-death experiences, UFOs, fairy encounters, precognitive dreams, levitating saints and lamas, demonic possession, and other strange and so-called supernatural experiences. Much of my long-term intellectual focus is on encouraging historians to take such experiences seriously.
Anyway, I don’t want to take up too much space in the comments, but I’m excited to follow along and learn from your writing.
I see you’ve written several posts on ghosts and ghost stories and can’t wait to dive into them this evening. Incidentally, do you have a favorite M.R. James tale? I read his "Collected Ghost Stories" earlier this year. My favorites were "Casting the Runes," "Martin’s Close," and "The Residence at Whitminster." Given the time he was writing, I wonder if he ever had any involvement with the Society for Psychical Research.
To be honest, I think I’d choose a benevolent fairy encounter over almost any other type of supernatural experience. I can almost picture it: stumbling across an old dolmen in the woods (I live in Brittany), orbs of light dancing among the trees, accompanied by mysterious laughter and the faint sound of a pipe...
I don't believe that MRJ was ever directly involved in serious psychic research. He was fairly guarded about the one experience he had when young. I haven't written about nature spirits, although I mention in passing my own encounters with what I believe was an elemental in my forthcoming post. I did write a post on egregores ("watchers") back in February of 2024. I'm also a "fan" of Ronald Hutton. I do have a published collection of ghost stories, entitled "Patapsco Spirits," which you can find on Amazon or at any other book outlet (or get directly from the publisher, Angelico Press). It's certainly my favorite among the books I’ve written.
I’m familiar with Hutton through that interview and his books, but he also seems to have a real gift for repartee. Check out his exchange with comedian Philomena Cunk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bPKDZ4tGQ His dry recounting of the various terrible deaths of James I–V of Scotland had me in stitches. "The Stuarts are an astonishingly accident-prone family."
*Edited to add: It appears the comedian's real name is Diane Morgan; Philomena Cunk is just a persona.
In that case, I look forward to reading your forthcoming post!
Regarding "Patapsco Spirits," I asked my wife to get it for me for our wedding anniversary. I was already interested, but when one of the blurbers compared it favorably with MRJ I just had to get it.
Sorry I didn’t see this earlier!
Oh, please don’t worry. I thought you would like the work that Father Spitzer SJ is bringing to light.
Dear Addison (if I may),
New subscriber here—I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Troy Tice, and I’m a French-to-English academic translator. I came across your writing through your brother and am really looking forward to browsing your Substack.
I’m especially interested in contemplative spirituality (across traditions), idealist theories of consciousness, and what historian of religion Jeffrey J. Kripal calls “impossible” phenomena: ghosts, near-death experiences, UFOs, fairy encounters, precognitive dreams, levitating saints and lamas, demonic possession, and other strange and so-called supernatural experiences. Much of my long-term intellectual focus is on encouraging historians to take such experiences seriously.
Anyway, I don’t want to take up too much space in the comments, but I’m excited to follow along and learn from your writing.
All the best,
Troy
Thank you, Troy. I'm glad you're here.
Me too.
I see you’ve written several posts on ghosts and ghost stories and can’t wait to dive into them this evening. Incidentally, do you have a favorite M.R. James tale? I read his "Collected Ghost Stories" earlier this year. My favorites were "Casting the Runes," "Martin’s Close," and "The Residence at Whitminster." Given the time he was writing, I wonder if he ever had any involvement with the Society for Psychical Research.
Have you written anything on fairies or nature spirits? I’ve become increasingly interested in them over the past year, especially after stumbling across this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@themodernfairysightingspod8421. (I heartily recommend the interview with British historian Ronald Hutton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIiLMxvBZe4.)
To be honest, I think I’d choose a benevolent fairy encounter over almost any other type of supernatural experience. I can almost picture it: stumbling across an old dolmen in the woods (I live in Brittany), orbs of light dancing among the trees, accompanied by mysterious laughter and the faint sound of a pipe...
I don't believe that MRJ was ever directly involved in serious psychic research. He was fairly guarded about the one experience he had when young. I haven't written about nature spirits, although I mention in passing my own encounters with what I believe was an elemental in my forthcoming post. I did write a post on egregores ("watchers") back in February of 2024. I'm also a "fan" of Ronald Hutton. I do have a published collection of ghost stories, entitled "Patapsco Spirits," which you can find on Amazon or at any other book outlet (or get directly from the publisher, Angelico Press). It's certainly my favorite among the books I’ve written.
I’m familiar with Hutton through that interview and his books, but he also seems to have a real gift for repartee. Check out his exchange with comedian Philomena Cunk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bPKDZ4tGQ His dry recounting of the various terrible deaths of James I–V of Scotland had me in stitches. "The Stuarts are an astonishingly accident-prone family."
*Edited to add: It appears the comedian's real name is Diane Morgan; Philomena Cunk is just a persona.
I also enjoy her in her role as “Mandy,” which is at times hysterically funny.
I have never seen it. Will have to check it out.
In that case, I look forward to reading your forthcoming post!
Regarding "Patapsco Spirits," I asked my wife to get it for me for our wedding anniversary. I was already interested, but when one of the blurbers compared it favorably with MRJ I just had to get it.