Carol Stirling

Edinburgh Ghost Fest 2006. The Real Mary King’s Close

Vigils with Psychic Medium Carol Stirling

By Mark Turner – Paranormal Investigator

Laiche House

The investigation commenced in the Laiche House area at the top of Mary King’s Close.

We started with a vigil in order to pick up on any unexplainable activity. On entering the room, Carol immediately had the feeling of being very itchy. It was then picked up that a small boy had entered the room and again Carol felt very itchy, she attributed this to a condition that was put on her by the child spirit, sensing that the child possibly had some sort of skin condition or fleas. Carol then picked up a name for the child, Tom. Carol felt that Tom was very curious as to what we were doing in his bedroom and he appeared to want to go to bed, although his curiosity got the better of him and he started playing with her by touching her leg and then moving around the room. At this point there were cold swirling draughts felt by some of the people present at the vigil which appeared to be moving around the room. Carol also picked up on the presence of a second child who seemed to be with Tom but was reluctant to come too close to us.

Stewart’s Close

The second part of the investigation consisted of a Séance led by Carol, held in Stewart’s Close.

As the séance started Carol picked up on the fact that this was a passing place where many people would have passed through, she started to sway back and forward, this was caused by the energies that were passing through the room (for the record, it is not apparent that this area is part of a close as both ends have been bricked up and it now looks like an ordinary room). Other members of the Séance were also aware of a swaying motion that came over them.

Carol then picked up on the presence of a man in the room and was feeling the conditions of burning shoulders, and an acute tightness in the chest. The man appeared to moving around the outside of the séance circle but was reluctant to enter. Carol stated that the burning of the shoulders would have been caused by the man carrying a heavy bag and the chest tightness caused by heavy smoking. As the energies built up Carol sensed the name of ‘Frank or Frankie’ in relation to the presence of the man and picked up on a sweet tobacco smell that is akin to pipe smoke. Again, the condition of burning shoulders was sensed and she felt like someone had touched her on the head.

The séance came to an end when Carol sensed that the man was pushing her out from the circle and was not happy with what we were doing. It was recommended that we ended to avoid riling the man in any way.

Windows Room

The next part on the investigation consisted of a vigil in the Windows Room.

The vigil began with everyone taking a seat on the floor to see if we pick up on some paranormal activity. After a short time Carol picked up on the presence of a man who was standing at the door watching us but was reluctant to come any closer, it was also sensed that the man did not want to communicate with us blaming the fact that we were ‘in his space’. Carol then felt the physical sensation that her hands were very cold and decided to move to another part of the room, this condition followed her no matter where in the room she went. Nobody else in the room felt the sensation of cold hands, this added weight to our belief that the man had placed this condition on Carol.

With the man reluctant to come too close, the group decided to begin a séance circle in order to build the energies in the room. Carol picked up on the presence of a second man and was able to give us the name ‘David’, although this man, similar to the other presence was reluctant to come close to the group. The rest of the séance passed off rather quietly with no other presences picked up in this room.

On leaving the windows room I felt a sharp pain in my left eye, exactly in the spot where Carol had stated the man was standing observing us, I informed Carol of this as we made our way to the next area. We turned back to find out where the rest of the group were and found them talking about the fact that one of the other members of the group has experienced a sharp pain in the eye, exactly where my experience happened. We found this to be very interesting indeed.

Annie’s Room

The next part of the investigation was to be a séance in Annie’s Room.

The atmosphere in Annie’s Room seemed distinctively less vibrant than I had experienced on previous occasions.

The group gathered together to link hands and Carol commenced the séance by asking for any spirit energies that were present, to step forward and make themselves known.

No unusual activity was picked up by the group and Carol informed us that there were no new energies in the room that were willing to step forward and make themselves known to us. As the atmosphere in the room felt distinctively flat, Carol suggested that we sing a song to attempt to raise the energy levels, what better song than a nursery rhyme to appeal to the spirit child who has made herself known in this area on many occasions before. As the group burst into full song, Carol felt the energies rising and sensed that 2 or 3 child spirits had entered the area, although keeping their distance. It was sensed that children were laughing at our attempt to sing to them. The rest of the séance past off very quietly, with no other psychic or physical phenomena being picked up.

Cowshed

The last part of the investigation consisted of a short vigil in the Cowshed.

As time was getting the better of us, the group decided to hold a short vigil in the Cowshed area of the close. Carol began by asking for the energies to step forward and make themselves known to the group and immediately heard a voice saying ‘not again’. The name ‘Jim’ was also picked up in this area and Carol felt a distinct cold sensation around her legs. We ended this vigil with no other phenomena being picked up.

Summary

Our investigation into the spirits of Mary King’s Close proved to be very interesting indeed. Judging by the psychic phenomena that were sensed by Carol, it appeared that many of the entities were happy to sit back and observe us without coming too close.