"Mr. Arthur, I Presume?"

Part 18

In Touch With His Soul,

An Interview with Walden Welch

By Gina Cerminara

WW: "Yes, my fortune cookie was right. Love did indeed find me. That May 8^th party in 1963 never ended. What I mean to say is that once I arrived at Maurey and Stephen's party I never really returned to my apartment again except to pack my belongings and move in with the two of them on Noe St. Within two months Stephen and I decided to rent a place of our own and so we moved to 1838 Divisadero St. Stephen's dream was to open an antique shop and so we found both shop space and an apartment for us to start our lives together. I had recently left my mail boy job with Schwabacher and Company, exchanging it for the same position with The Union Ice and Storage Company on Pine Street."

Dr: "This must be what Reverend Becker was referring to when she said, "I feel something about ice? She may have been foreseeing that you would be working with an ice and storage company?"

WW: "Yes, I think it is what she was referring to. Stephen worked as a clothes salesman with Roos-Atkins Men's Clothiers on Sutter Street just three blocks away from where I was working. We would lunch together often. I cannot remember having ever been so happy. That is not to say that this period was the happiest of my life. What I meant to relay was that my relationship with Stephen has brought to me the greatest happiness in my life, but it all began back then, in 1963."

Dr:  (Laugh) "Yes, and through the prediction of a Chinese Fortune Cookie. I think this is wonderful!  I am so pleased that you have finally found personal happiness."

WW: "Thank you. I will not speak of my relationship with Stephen much during this interview. I believe this is a part of my life that belongs to myself and to him. True, this relationship is the most important part of my life but many people would regard our relationship with criticism and hostility and refuse to understand it. Prejudice and lack of tolerance is no longer a great concern of mine. I have been called 'different' and made ridicule of all my life for one reason or another. When you asked me to do this interview you asked me to be truthful. This I am being. To not disclose my sexuality would be dishonest. I can see no point in doing a biographical interview and not telling complete truth can you. Too many interesting and famous people have been forced to withhold many important and significant truths of their lives because they were afraid of the repercussions of social prejudices and intolerances. Times are changing. Society is becoming more tolerant of individual differences nowadays and, therefore, people can write their autobiographies with total honesty. I choose to tell my story without being guarded or dishonest. I have learned to accept my differences and respect who I am."

Dr: "And I am so pleased and happy that you have. I know how difficult this interview is for you at times. Please know that. Also know how appreciative I am that you have opened yourself to complete trust in me. I am very understanding of your differences and I think you will soon discover that the majority of other people are too. Yours is a remarkable story, Walden. People may not fully understand you but from all that you have shared I would find it impossible to believe that anyone could dislike you. You are a brave and enduringly inspiring young man."

WW: "Thank you, Gina. I will now go on with my story. It was shortly after our move to Divisadero Street that Astrology entered my life. One morning during breakfast I was reading Herb Caen's column in The San Francisco Chronicle. He made mention of an astrologer by the name of Gavin Arthur, one of San Francisco's most colorful characters. I looked up Mr. Arthur's phone number and then called and scheduled an appointment to have my chart read. I had to wait two weeks for my appointment date and I scheduled it on a Saturday morning. I had never had my astrology chart read before so was quite excited about doing so. When the day of my appointment with Gavin Arthur finally arrived, I was quite nervous for I had no idea of what to expect. Mr. Arthur lived in a gray Victorian house on Buchanan Street. I climbed the front stairway and rang his doorbell. An elderly gray haired woman answered. She failed to introduce herself and hurriedly escorted into Mr. Arthur's office. 'Mr. Welch is here for his Reading, Mr. Arthur,' she said. Mr. Arthur was wearing a dark brown silk bathrobe and lying on a worn red velvet divan. He appeared to be in his 60's and was worn and pale in appearance. He was very skeletal and gaunt. 'He looks like a vampire might look,' I thought to myself as we were introduced. He motioned me with a flamboyant gesture of his hand, to sit before him on a worn out old maroon chesterfield directly across from his lounge. I sat myself where he had directed me. He studied me from head to foot with his large vampirish eyes. I sat before him nervously staring down at my feet waiting cautiously for him to say something. I was too nervous to speak and just kept gulping and clearing my throat for it had become harsh and dry from sheer nervousness. Finally he spoke. 'Your chart fascinates me,' he stated abruptly. 'You are the one I have waited for. It is you who is to be my protégé.' I had no idea as to what in the world he was talking about and so I spoke no reply. I just listened to him in silence still too nervous to look him in the eye. 'You are a Capricorn with Virgo Rising and your Moon falls in the psychic constellation of Pisces. You have the perfect chart for an astrologer and I see that you will follow in my footsteps. You too will become a famous astrologer.' His statement so surprised me that I finally looked up into his eyes. My mouth gapped open due to my total disbelief in his statement. I was afraid he could read the disappointment in my facial expression. I certainly was not expecting to be told I would become an astrologer. Nothing could ever seem more unlikely. This reading would cost me the great sum of $25 and I could not help but feel that I had wasted my hard earned money. 'You have a communication chart. I see you doing radio, television and publishing in the years to come. Yes, you will become a famous world-recognized astrologer like myself. Your career will begin before your twentieth year.' I was so disappointed in what I was hearing that I finally found the courage to speak out 'But Mr. Arthur, I want to become an actor,' I interrupted. Maybe that's the communication's you see in my chart.' 'No, not at all!. You will become an astrologer and I am to teach you the things you must know.' He started talking about something called Sabian Symbols and mumbled on and on about how my Venus was afflicted by Jupiter and how my Moon fell in my Seventh House of Relationships and The Public. I was totally confused by all of his astrological mumbo jumble. I hadn't the slightest idea as to what this fool was talking about. And then, suddenly he surprised me by making a statement that drew my utmost attention. 'Quit worrying about your mother! She will not die this year!' I sucked in my breath, shocked by what he had just said. 'She will live several years more·nine perhaps, for it is not until 1982 that Saturn will Square your Natal Moon. It is then that she is likely to leave the earth plane.' 'What do you mean, Mr. Arthur?' I asked breathlessly, for he had so surprised me with this information regarding my mother that I felt myself gasping for air. 'You have Jupiter in Leo in the Twelfth House of your horoscope. That is the House of Hospitals, Institutions, Karma and Debts of Destiny. Jupiter Rules your Fourth House, which amongst other things, represents your mother. Jupiter's placement in your Twelfth House suggests that she, your mother, was born with a bad or sickly heart and that she has been hospitalized because of this condition on several occasions. Is this not true?' he asked, his forefinger thumping the paper upon which my horoscope had been drawn. 'Yes, that is true, Mr. Arthur,' I stated in amazement. 'My mom was born with a sick heart. But how did you know that?"'I asked. He did not answer me directly but continued on with my Reading, 'Mars, the planet of sharp instruments and surgeries, has upon several occasions afflicted your Jupiter. This activity indicates that your mother has undergone open heart surgery·perhaps twice, maybe three times?' 'Twice,' I whispered hoarsely. 'My mom has had open heart surgery twice.' I was dumbstruck by his remarkable to see that which was true. 'Well, she will not die soon so put this fear our of your mind. I can see that you adore this woman for Jupiter denotes adoration. She is very fortunate to have had you for her son. You are most devoted to her. However, I see that your father is a hellishly difficult man to reckon with!' he continued, a serious scowl upon his face. 'The affliction of Neptune to your Sun suggests that your father suffers from alcoholism. He is an oppressive, deeply depressed man who has created great sorrow and problems in you life. You two have recently had a separation which was caused by Mars Squaring your Sun, Quincunx Neptune. Has he cast you out of his life?' 'Yes, you are correct, Sir,' I answered in amazement. This man greatly loves and admires you. Boy, but his jealousy towards you stands in his way of being able to express his love.' 'I don't understand, Mr. Arthur. What is my father jealous of? Why would he be jealous of me?' I asked with earnest hope of understanding. 'He is jealous of your mother's love towards you and he is jealous of your sweetness and innocence. He wants her love all to himself and he resents your sharing in her affections. He also envies you for your sweetness and innocence. You are a reminder of the innocents and idealism he has lost as he has traveled down the road of his difficult life.' I tried comprehending what Mr. Arthur was saying about my father's feeling towards me when suddenly he changed subjects by saying, 'Ahhhhh·.! I see love has found you, but just very recently! You are under favorable aspects to Venus and Mars. The planetary transits of May of 1963 are most favorable for you for love relationships. A great and important love has entered your life. Your Uranus and Mars conjunction indicates this to be an unconventional love relationship and yet it is to influence your life in the most positive of ways. I see, too, that you have recently changed residences and that you are now living with this person with whom you share love,' he stated with absolute certainty. 'Yes, yes you are correct. I am truly overwhelmed at how accurate you have been Mr. Arthur. You are amazingly gifted and I am glad that I came to have this Reading with you, Sir,' I said with the sincere respect. 'Then let me teach you my work, Boy. You can do exactly what I do, for you are destined by your stars to do it. I have waited for many years for a protégé to pass on my talents to, and you are he. Let me teach you all that I know. You are the one whom I have long waited for. If I have been correct in the things I have told you, then trust that I am also correct in knowing you are the one to carry on my work.'"

Dr: "'And a man by the name of Arthur shall teach you.'" I quote the prediction of Florence Becker and, I believe, psychic George Dareos, as well."

WW: "Yes, both psychics predicted a man named Arthur would be very influential in my life. That day, after my reading, I agreed to take private classes from Gavin Arthur. It was agreed that I would spend weekend mornings studying with him as well as from 6:00 to 8:00 PM every Monday."

Dr: "Were your lessons expensive?"

WW: "No, Gavin knew I had little money and so he offered to teach me without charging. However, I insisted on making small but regular monthly payments to him. He gifted me the books that I would need for my studies. What he did not have in his vast library I would purchase for myself."

Dr: "And, were you eager to learn, to become an astrologer?"

WW: "After my reading with him, yes I was."

Dr: "What was it about his reading that motivated you?"

WW: "When he made the discovery that my mother had been born ill with heart trouble. That he was able to see this amazed me so greatly that this became the deciding factor that I would study with him. I felt compelled to find out how he knew my mother had been born ill, as well as to have known the very physical condition that she suffered from. I was flabbergasted when he pulled these facts out of my chart. All of my life I had wondered how such a wonderful lady could have been born so terribly ill, and why, if there was a God, would He allow this to happen. When Gavin discovered through my chart that my mother's destiny was to be born ill, the surprise of his discovery changed my life. It was as if he was telling me that this was meant to be. How could he read such facts from the symbols written on my natal chart? Did this mean that God had planned for these things to be? Was there reason and purpose for the undesirable conditions inflicted upon us in life? How did he know that my mother was not destined to die 'for several years more·nine perhaps'?  Was our day of death also predestined? Were all things predestined? Perhaps life was not just a series of happen chances. Gavin had come up with absolute facts and truths. He had proven that he knew matters in my life of which there was no way for him to have otherwise known and I was desperate to learn how he could do this."

Dr: "You were determined to find out if all things were predestined?"

WW: "Yes! Now remember, too, that both Jack Dareos and Florence Becker had accurately predicted my move, my falling in love, my job in the mail department·"

Dr: Even your getting a job at an ice company."

WW: "Yes! All of these remarkable people were predicting events that accurately came to pass. I was beginning to believe that there must indeed be a Higher Power that was orchestrating all of this. I was coming to understand that those with psychic abilities were simply endowed with the ability of reading the patterns that had already been pre-ordained by this Higher Power. I was now on the road to discovering the so-called secrets of life and I was thirsty to learn all that I could.  I had thus far been fortunate enough to have several gifted clairvoyants guide me down my road to discovery. They had wetted my appetite by showing me that there were those who knew things others were not capable of knowing. In the short months ahead two more extremely gifted persons would enter my life. The first was a lovely and very gifted astrologer by the name of Eleanor Melin. She, along with Gavin Arthur, would teach me the things I felt compelled to learn regarding the influences of both planets and stars and how they effected all persons lives. The second person was a wondrous woman by the name of Pearl Shannon. She, along with Edgar Cayce, would become my great spiritual teachers.  Of course I was never fortunate enough to have known Edgar Cayce, for he died when I was only two years old. However, I am a devoted student of his teachings and I consider myself to be one of his greatest followers. I was, however, fortunate enough to have known the great Reverend Pearl Shannon. She has been one of the most influential and significant persons in my life and, like Edgar Cayce, Pearl was one of the most gifted psychics the world would ever know."

Gavin Arthur

Dr: "Is this 'the pearl' Reverend Becker made mention of when she read for you?"

WW: "You don't miss a thing do you, Gina? Boy, you are quick and sharp minded! Yes, this would be 'the pearl' Florence spoke of in one of the psychic readings she gave to me, but I must save my stories regarding The Reverend Pearl Shannon until later for she did not enter my life until after I had met Gavin Arthur. Also, before I was to meet Pearl, one of the most influential of all persons entered my life. Her name was Elinor Melin .She was to also become my most influential astrology teacher. With all due respect and gratitude to Gavin Arthur, I'm sorry to say that I had a difficult time studying with the man. He was an Aries and constantly lost track of this or that and everything else under the sun! His mind flew off in all directions. I, on the other hand, tried too hard to please him. I was very insecure and overly conscientious of making mistakes. Gavin marveled at my instinctual abilities of reading charts. They just 'spoke' to me and I had no problem interpreting them at all. As I told you before, this ability came to me when I had drowned in Santa Cruz and had been taken on an astral journey with that angel. What I did have problems with was in erecting a chart. I was never fond of mathematics and constructing a chart was purely mathematical in basis. One had to take the exact date, time and place of a person's birth and then calculate the position of the planets with that information. I have always thought that I am a bit dyslexic. I was never tested for this malady but I get numbers twisted in my mind. One thousand might as well be one hundred or one trillion to me. I loose context of numbers. Gavin grew impatient with my slow mathematical abilities and the more impatient he became with me the more anxiety prone and insecure I felt with him. Well, one afternoon I was shopping in another metaphysical bookstore. This one was called the Metaphysical Townhouse, owned and operated by an astrologer by the name of Fritzi Armstrong. Fritzi was a very colorful and eccentric woman. Like Gavin she was also born under the Sign of Aries. She was both Astrologer and teacher of astrology. I thought of joining her classes, but Fritzi was Gavin's rival and he discouraged me from doing so. 'That woman cannot possibly teach you what I can!' he exclaimed. 'Don't waste your time or money!' Knowing how upset he was by my idea of taking additional classes, I never suggested studying with Fritzi or any other astrologer for that matter. I was deeply distraught with my ignorance in chart calculation and I simply could not comprehend the information Gavin was trying to teach me. I prayed  for help and studied extra hours as best I could, but still had problems with chart erection and the process known as logarithms needed to calculate the position of the Planets."

Dr:  "I once tried to study astrology but soon gave up the notion for I too found the process of chart and planet construction to be difficult and baffling. Therefore, I realize the frustration you were going through. How did you finally master this situation?" 

WW: As good fortune would have it, one afternoon in Fritzi's bookshop I ran into another noted astrologer. Her name was Eleanor Melin. I was glancing through an astrology book I was about to buy when I felt a gentle finger tap me on the shoulder. 'Hello, Dear,' she said in the daintiest and softest of voices. 'I would very much like to meet you. I hear that you are Gavin Arthur's protégé. You are quite the talk about town. My name is Eleanor Melin and I too am an astrologer.' I turned around to say hello and discovered a very tiny and very pretty woman in her forties looking up into my eyes. I was short myself but Miss Melin made me feel tall by comparison. 'I've heard a great deal about you, boy. I have been told that you are very gifted. Is this true?' The directness of her question embarrassed me. My face reddened and I stammered as I answered her. 'Well, I'm not sure. I don't know exactly what you have heard about me.' 'I have heard that you are most gifted in interpreting charts. Is this true?' 'I'm told that I am,' I answered as humbly as possible. 'However, I have a terrible time trying to learn to set charts up so I'm not sure that I am as gifted as you may have heard.' She studied my face slowly with her dark brown eyes. 'Hmmm. I see. Might you have time to join me for coffee? I would like time to speak with you privately, and in depth. There may be a possibility I might be able to help you. I taught astrology at The First Temple of Astrology in Los Angeles for several years. I have just recently relocated from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Would you like to join me in coffee?'"

"I quickly paid for my book and Miss Melin and I walked together down Geary Street to The City Of Paris Department Store. Once there we entered the coffee shop and took a table. 'Now tell me. WHY do you wish to learn astrology?' she asked bluntly. 'Because I want to learn and know the why's and the how's of things,' I answered simply. Once I had spoken those words I felt foolish and I looked into her eyes with embarrassment. My reply had seemed so immature and Pollyannaish. 'Continue please. The whys and the how's of what things? Explain,' she asked. I hesitated for a moment and then replied, 'I want to know how, when Gavin Arthur did my horoscope, he knew my mom was born ill. How did he know that she was born with a bad heart? How did he know she has spent a great deal of her life in hospitals? I want to know how he knew these things and I want to know why they had to be. I want to know why people must die. I want to know why some of us are rich and some of us are poor. Why are we different colors and nationalities? I want to know why some of us are famous and some of us always fail at our goals. I want to know why we are here. What is the purpose of life? I want to know why I have to accept things about myself I do not want to accept and did not ask for· or to be. I want to know why I cannot change these things or if I can, how? Why am I the me that I am if I don't want to be it?' 'My, you are asking for the answers to so many questions! This is a tall order, my dear. And should you find the answers to these queries what would you do with them may I ask?' 'Why I would share them with others,' I replied quickly. 'I would let people know the reasons why they were going through whatever circumstances and turmoil life had handed them and then I would share with them how to deal with or overcome these problems.' 'Your questions are not unusual ones, my dear. These are the questions all people ask but few find answers to. You perhaps will. You may be privileged enough to find the answers to the questions you ask. Yes, I think that I can be your guide and take you on a tour seeking understanding to the questions you ask. I will be your navigator and I shall pilot your exploration. I will teach you about karma and the answers to your queries will soon fall in order.' Eleanor spoke delicately and crisply. She rolled her words around in her mouth as if she were savoring a fine mellowed wine. 'Astrology is a fantastic tool in which to gather knowledge and reason. I can teach you all that I know.' 'But, Miss Melin, I am having the hardest time trying to mathematically construct the position of The Houses and Planets. I am not very bright, I'm ashamed to say. I am not good at mathematics,' I stated in truth. 'Nonsense!' she rebutted. 'Surely you can add and subtract a simple grocery bill, can't you?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'Then I can teach you in two days how to construct a birth chart. It is simply adding and subtracting small numbers. Gavin has been making it appear to be too difficult for he is giving you too much theory as to what the configurations mean, I think. I will teach you first to construct the chart. After that I will teach you what it all means. From all that I have heard you already have the gift of interpretation and that is the most significant of all astrological tools.' As she opened her purse and unfolded a worn piece of paper, she said. Here. This is my chart. Study it and tell me what you see.' I did as she said. I smoothed the paper out upon the table and looked down into the document. I was of course nervous and felt terribly under pressure for I deeply wanted to impress her. 'I see that you have suffered greatly in your relationships with men,' I began. 'This is, of course, because your father was a violent and abusive man .Is this true?' 'Indeed!' she answered. 'He was a sexually perverse man, was he not?' 'Unbelievably!' she replied sharply. 'Yes, he violated me - if that is what you are seeing.' Miss Melin appeared to be very agitated by our subject and, in embarrassment, I switched to other matters. 'So you work around the law?' I questioned. 'Yes, I am currently employed as a legal secretary at a firm here in San Francisco,' she answered. 'I think that you have lost a child but that he did not die,' I continued. 'I don't quite understand it. I think he was born but he does not live with you.' Suddenly I realized I was referring to the fact that Miss Melin had given a child up for adoption. My face reddened in embarrassment. 'That is enough!' she snapped as she removed the chart from the table. 'Yes, it is true. Indeed you have the gift of interpretation. This knowledge comes from deep within you. You are obviously psychic and I feel that you have been a practicing astrologer in several lifetimes. You are just remembering what you have already learned. True, a horoscope must be constructed soundly. Think of the Wheel of the Chart as the foundation of a house. The frame must be sturdy and strong to support the weight of the roof and walls, but it is the interior decorator that creates what is called the home. You, as the astrologer, are that decorator and you must design your client's home with the objects and things of which they are familiar. It is their home and you must design it so that they are comfortable with it. See it through their eyes, not your own. Never judge them by your own standards. Do you understand? 'Yes, I do,' I answered honestly. 'I know that you do, my dear.' She smiled and patted me on the cheek. 'Yes, I had to give my only child up for adoption when he was only ten month old,' she said sadly. 'I have regretted my decision all of my life.'"

That afternoon Miss Melin made arrangements for me to take private classes from her. We agreed that we would keep this a secret so as not to upset Gavin Arthur.

Eleanor Melin

Dr: "And was she able to teach you the construction of the zodiac wheel in two days as she stated she could?"

WW: (laugh) "Actually I learned it in one day. It was very simple once Eleanor gave me the mathematical formula. It was not nearly as difficult as I had thought it to be."

Dr: "And you continued to study with her without Gavin Arthur having become aware?"

WW: "Yes. Eleanor was invaluable to me. I found it very easy to learn from her. She was a fellow Capricorn like myself, and far, far more patient than Gavin Arthur. Gavin had both Sun and Moon in Aries. Anyone who understands astrology knows that this position creates great energy and great impatience. Both Gavin and Eleanor had extreme egos. Gavin loved publicity and would do almost anything to get his name in the papers. Columnist Herb Caen would often times mention him in his column. 'Gavin Arthur predicts Martians will make contact with earthlings this year!' had been reported in several of Caen's New Years Predictions columns. Naturally that prediction never came to pass, but Gavin continued to make the same prediction every year nonetheless. Gavin was also one of the first gay activists. I did not know this at the time I studied with him, but he was. He was tremendously outspoken, colorful and at times outrageous but people loved him. He bragged that he was the grandson of Chester A. Arthur the 21^st President of The United States, and also that he was the Father-in-law to Allan Watts. Gavin was born Chester Alan Arthur The Third on March 21, 1901 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Gavin was one of San Francisco's most colorful and recognized characters. People adored him and he them. He loved an audience and performed to the hilt whenever given the opportunity.

"Eleanor Melin was born in Alden, Illinois on January 3, 1916 at 9:50 AM. Everything about Eleanor was dainty and utterly ladylike. She spoke in near whispers and was at times near impossible to hear. In her own way she was as flamboyant as Gavin Arthur, but she attracted her attention in quieter and subtler ways. Eleanor was as tiny and as dainty as a sparrow and she picked at her food with the fastidiousness of one. Being a vegetarian, she rarely ate anything other than raisins nuts and berries and loved creating havoc in restaurants if the waiters could not supply her with the menu she desired. She adored attending churches other than those of her original German Lutheran faith. She would demand that they give her Holy Communion complete with wine and The Holy Sacraments even if their services didn't offer it. Anybody Eleanor had to deal with on a financial basis was, in her words, 'A money grabber!' She claimed everybody was out to cheat her and 'drive her to the poor house'. She was one of the tightest and most frugal people I have ever known. Eleanor delighted in tormenting Jehovah Witnesses. When they would appear at her door with a free copy of The Watchtower, she would invite them inside and proceed to do their horoscopes whether they liked it or not. 'But this is work of the Devil!' they would bellow. 'Oh, don't be so damn stupid!' she would bellow back. 'You people are so damn ignorant you wouldn't know your asses from holes in the ground!' Eleanor was a spiritual snob. She considered others to be spiritually inferior to herself. Her natal Moon fell in the zodiac sign of Sagittarius, a position which can be noted for intellectual and spiritual snobbery as well as being sharp tongued and tactlessly honest. It was because of her tactlessness that one day we parted company, but during my years studying with her I loved her very much. I had great respect for Gavin, too, and regretted that these two important teachers in my life could not find it within their natures to get along with each other. They were always in competition for the limelight and, even though Eleanor was never praised as highly for her astrological work as Gavin was, she was in truth the better of the two astrologers. As much as I admired and respected my two great teachers and as grateful as I am for all that I learned from them, I am also grateful for the parts of their natures I never allowed myself to adapt. The metaphysicians of their period took it upon their selves to draw attention to their unusual professions. They considered it their right to behave differently from others. They paraded their eccentricities as flamboyantly as a child would parade about in a Halloween costume. Eleanor would often times wear capes and cocktail gloves and dress in various shades of purples, roses and maroons. Gavin delighted in making his entrances in silk robes with monogrammed lapels complete with Japanese slippers. His opening statement when beginning the reading of a clients chart was, 'Of all the 5000 horoscopes I have ever read·yours is the blackest!' Needless to say, Gavin grabbed his clients attention!"

Dr: (laugh) I dare say! How funny. In what way do you differ in your presentation?"

WW: "I considered astrology to be 'spiritual psychology'. I refuse to present it darkly or mysteriously, or to behave as if it is a secret science available only to the privileged few.  I present my readings with humor and naturalness and any client that has ever come to me can testify I have never used any hocus-pocus, Madame Foo Foo pretenses in my presentations. For me the world of metaphysics is a natural world. There is nothing strange about it. It is constructed from the natural laws of God and His order.

Dr: "I applaud you and could not agree with you more. You were indeed fortunate during your student years to have had the privilege to study with two of the best know astrologers of that period. When did you first begin to practice professionally?"

WW: "Please understand that I never intended to practice astrology professionally. I simply wanted to learn the why's and the how's of things. I wanted to know how Gavin could tell my mother was born with a bad heart. I wanted to find reason and order in what I found to be an unreasonable world. I never assumed I would have a career in astrology.

"During this period, I was going through several upsetting situations. Whereas I had always dreamed of becoming a professional actor, I now knew, because Stephen had entered my life, that I was not willing to sacrifice my relationship with him to acquire that dream. I dropped all my theatrical endeavors entirely. I had no idea what I was to become. At that time in my life I was simply a mail delivery boy with no ambition to become anything else. My relationship with Stephen was all that mattered to me."

Dr: "But you were doing charts for clients were you not?"

WW: "Yes, but for practice and not for pay. Eleanor and Gavin would have me do dozens upon dozens of charts for clients of theirs, as well as insist I do charts for my own personal friends. 'Do all the charts you can do!'  they demanded. They wanted me to have all the practice I could get. I never charged anyone for my readings. I was a novice and never considered myself professional enough to charge a fee. 'Just tell your clients that you are a student learning astrology,' Eleanor would say to me. 'Tell them you need practice and that they should not take everything you say seriously because you are just learning. Use the Planet Saturn in their charts to see what aspects are happening now and were happening in the past and will be happening in the future. Check out the times it squared the Ruler of their Fourth House of Home. Ask if they changed residences then. If they did then tell your client the next time Saturn will set off that aspect, and that when it does, it will also likely indicate a change of residence. Then use the same Planet to aspects of the Rulers of The Tenth House of Career and the Seventh House of Relationships. When Saturn, or perhaps Uranus Squared The Rulers of those two Houses did your clients have career and relationship changes? Learn! Learn!' she would say.

"In time I did learn and I discovered that accurate prediction was possible. Astrology proved that there was a predictability and order to our universe. It could help us make wiser decisions. I came to understand that the world had order and reason and that there was indeed a higher force that created that order, that reason and that predictability. We humans were not just stumbling in the dark as so many of us believed."

Dr: "You were becoming spiritually aware and you feel that astrology led you to this awareness?"

WW: "In part, yes. There was also my relationship with The Reverend Pearl Shannon and my studies of the works of Edgar Cayce that helped complete my awareness of the spiritual truths I hold valuable today."

Dr: " And what was it that so impressed you about these two individuals that you state have so greatly influenced your life?"

WW: "They led me to the awareness that reincarnation is a fact and that karma is the law under which we all live."

Dr; "I see."

WW: "Until the time I became involved with Pearl and the teachings of Cayce I was not certain that I truly believed in reincarnation. I had had several dreams of some of my past lives but there was no proof that my dreams may not have been the results of my own over active imagination. When I met Pearl Shannon she proved to me beyond a reasonable doubt that I had indeed lived before. She also led me to come to know that the strange psychic happenings I had experienced throughout my lifetime were natural happenings despite the fact that these happenings were what other people called super-natural occurrences.

"It had been several years since I had experienced unusual psychic happenings. Suddenly, out of nowhere I began to experience them again. I was doing a great deal of reading on intense subjects matters at that time. My interests were not only about astrology. I read books on almost every subject relating to the psychic world. It seemed that every time I would read a book about some aspect of metaphysics I would immediately experience the phenomena about which I had just read. For instance, I had been reading a book called, 'The Projection Of The Astral Body' when all of a sudden I began to astral project."

Dr: "You mean your soul body would detach from your physical body at random?"

WW: "Yes, this happened to me on several occasions. It would happen while I was asleep. I would suddenly wake up outside my physical body, that is to say my soul had detached itself from my physical body, and I would awaken or become totally aware I was no longer in my physical body. You may remember that this phenomenon happened to me several times when I was a young boy. However, it had been several years since my last experience with an out-of-body experience."

Dr: "As I recall this last occurred in Santa Cruz when you had the drowning experience?"

WW: "Yes, that is correct. One morning I awakened; that is to say I consciously awakened, to find myself floating in the sky above Mt. Zion Hospital on the corners of Sutter and Divisadero Streets. I watched traffic and pedestrians from a bird's eye view. I was fascinated by what I was seeing. As I watched the traffic below me I was, at the same time, consciously aware that my physical body was asleep in my bed two blocks away. I looked around me and noted how gloriously blue the sky was and how intensely vibrant were the colors of the buses, automobiles and clothing of the people below. Down the street beneath me I saw the apartment house in which Stephen and I lived. ,I'm out of my body!, I screamed to my self loudly and in panic. 'God help me! How do I get back to my body?' I experienced the emotion of terror and then suddenly found my soul body standing in the kitchen of my upstairs neighbors, Dick and Margaret Foote. Dick was sitting alone at the breakfast table having coffee before leaving for work. Margaret was still in bed asleep in the other room. I watched as Dick dabbed his chin with a white Kleenex tissue. He had cut himself while shaving and I stared in amazement at how vibrantly red the blood on the tissue was. 'Help me, Dick! I'm scared! How do I find my body?' I asked, but he was not aware I was in the room with him. Suddenly I found myself in my bedroom standing beside my bed. I stood there looking down at my physical body lying on the bed. I could see every pore on my skin, every hair upon my head, and every flaw of my body. My vision was acutely intensified. It was as if a huge magnifying glass was placed in front of astral body eyes and I was observing all that I saw with microscopic precision. 'God please help me! I'm so scared! How do I get back in me?' I pleaded. I was so afraid I began reciting the Lords Prayer. I tried moving my physical body with all my might but it was as heavy as stone and would not obey my mental commands. It remained dead and lifeless. 'Have I died? Have I died?' I screamed into nowhere. Suddenly my astral body was floating face up towards the bedroom ceiling. As if coming from the energy of a great magnet I felt a strong pull from my physical body below. I watched the ceiling and the walls to the left and right of me as my astral body plunged below and made contact with my physical self. With a startling slap I sucked oxygen into my lungs as the two bodies emerged. I jumped out of bed as quickly as possible, aware that I was finally one. I went into the kitchen to gather my wits and try to evaluate what I had experienced. In a moment there was a knock at the back door. Our neighbor Dick Foote was standing there. 'Hi, sorry to bother you,' he said. 'I'm just getting ready to leave for work and I cut myself shaving. Do you happen to have a septic stick I can borrow? I can't seem to stop the bleeding.'"

Dr: "Absolutely amazing! What great confirmation that you were out of your body and had witness to the fact. Dick's cut chin that is. Truly a wonderful confirmation."

WW: "Yes, it was but none-the-less it un-nerved me. At another time during that period I was sound asleep but woke with a great craving for a glass of water. It was around 3:00 AM and I left my bed to go into the kitchen for a glass of water. On my way through the dining room I noticed that either Stephen or I had left the Tiffany Lamp on. I reached to pull the chain off and watched as my phantom hand went through the glass shade making no contact with anything. I immediately was aware that I was out of my body and the process of reentering it was much the same as already described.

"Another particularly upsetting event that occurred was regarding one of our neighbors who lived upstairs. Her name was Alice Myers. She was a widow in her fifties who would often times bake cakes and pastries for Stephen and I. She was a warm and friendly, impossible not to love, type of lady. Alice's husband Johnny had died leaving her a window at forty. She would love to share tales of him with us, for in her heart Johnny was forever alive and adored. She wasn't left much money upon Johnny's death and supported herself taking various baby-sitting jobs throughout the city. She had a heart condition and little medical insurance coverage so she worked as often as possible to keep up with her cost of living. 'I work so hard I'm afraid I'm going to drop dead of a heart attack in my apartment and no one will know that I've died for weeks,' she often times said to us. One Saturday morning Stephen was at work at Roos-Atkins. It was about 10:00 AM and I was in our antique shop staining a Queen Anne dining table a customer had paid me to do. The front door of the shop was wide open and through the corner of my eye I caught of glimpse of Alice Myers through the front shop window. She was wearing her everyday baby blue wool coat with matching hat. Often times when the shop door was open Alice would walk in with her enormously beautiful smile and greet me. Today, however, I hoped she would not. If the stain of my table stood one moment too long the entire effect of the finish would be ruined. I darted quickly out of her sight so she would not see me and come in to visit. A little while later I felt guilty that I had hidden from her and regretted my action. I hadn't noticed at first but there was something very different about Alice that morning. She was dressed as always, however, she was looking downward towards the sidewalk in a rather sad manner. Alice always looked directly ahead of herself. Most noticeable of all, she had no smile on her face. I had never seen Alice without a smile upon her face. I felt guilty that I had not noticed this difference in her nature and invited her in to visit. Obviously something sad had happened to her.

"Later that afternoon my landlord Kenneth Larson came into the shop. 'Have you seen Alice Myers lately?'  he asked. 'Yes, I saw her this morning around 10:00 AM. She walked past the shop on her way to the bus stop. She was probably on her way to baby sit somewhere,' I replied. 'When did you see her before today?' he questioned. 'Gosh, I don't remember. I guess it has been a couple of weeks, come to think of it,' I answered. 'Well she isn't home. I have ringed her doorbell several times and there is no answer. I am going to have to let myself into her apartment with my passkey. The tenants upstairs are complaining about a horrible odor coming from her apartment. She must have left something cooking in the oven.' Mr. Larson left to go upstairs. He found Alice Myers dead body lying on the kitchen floor. The coroners report stated that she had been dead for two weeks."

Dr: "Dear Lord! That story gives me the shivers!"

WW: (Laugh) "Think of what it did to me! I believe that the spirit of Alice Myers appeared to me with hopes that someone would discover she had died. It was her greatest fear to be found dead alone in her apartment and unfortunately her fear came to pass. Stephen and I attended her small funeral. I felt very haunted during the service.

"I was rather frightened and upset about all the psychic experiences being thrust at me in so short a period of time. I knew they were happening to me but I was not sure as to why. I knew I wasn't imagining these happenings, but I could not control them and did not know how to make them stop. Finally one last occurrence happened that led me to seek outside help. Stephen was away at work one Friday evening. He had to work two night shifts per week. I was alone in our apartment lying in bed watching 'The King and I' on TV. Suddenly I became aware that someone was in the room with me. I turned my head to the left and there standing beside my bed was the life size figured of a man. He appeared to be in his 20's. He had a handsomely beautiful face and his eyes were an intensely bright shade of blue. He was wearing a dark blue suit with matching vest. Upon his head set a round boulder hat. The man's appearance was very Victorian in dress, as if he was suited for a costume party. He smiled at me very kindly and gave me a wink with his left eye. He then nodded as if to say, hi. Thinking I knew him I smiled back and said, 'Hi.' I then turned my attention back to the television screen and continued watching the movie. In a moment or two it dawned on me that I was alone in the apartment. I got a tremendous chill when suddenly I realized the fact that I was alone and that I did not know the person who was standing at the side of my bed. I cautiously turned my head to the left again to see who was standing beside me. Once again the man smiled down upon me, winked and nodded as it to say, hi. I studied him cautiously and noted that the apparition was floating in mid air. He appeared only from head to waist. He had no legs, just upper torso. My heart began to race as I lay there in silent panic. Once again, the Victorian gentleman smiled at me and, for the third time, winked at me with his left eye. After that he smiled once again and then he instantly disappeared. I sat up in my bed and stared into the space he had occupied. I sat there for a long time just staring, waiting to see if he would appear again. I knew I had seen him. I had no doubt whatsoever that I had seen him·but why had he appeared to me, and for what reason?

"I shared my experiences with Gavin and Eleanor. Although Gavin found them fascinating, he was unable to help me except to say, 'It's that Moon in Pisces of yours. You're obviously psychic my boy, so make the best of it. Pray for clarity and it will come.' 'It's simple mundane phenomena of no consequence,' Eleanor stated. 'Get beyond the lower astral plane and into the light of higher consciousness.' Unable to acquire insight from either of my two teachers I telephoned The Reverend Florence Becker with hopes that she could help me. 'Oh Dear, Mother is not here,' her daughter Lollie said on the other end of the line. 'Mother has gone away for several weeks vacation. However, I do have the telephone number of another Medium here in town who might be of help to you. Her name is Pearl Shannon. She too is a Spiritualist Reverend, but please, you must not tell Mother that I recommended her. Competition you know. But it sounds like you are in urgent need of help and its all I know to do.' I thanked Lollie for her consideration, hung up, and then dialed the number she had given me. 'Hello,' said a melodic voice on the other end of the line. 'Hello,' I replied. 'I am calling with hopes of acquiring a Reading with Reverend Pearl Shannon.' ' Yes, I am The Reverend Pearl Shannon. Is this Arthur?' she asked. 'No, Madam,' I answered. 'My name is Wally·Wally Welch.' 'Well, your first name is Arthur is in not?' She blurted her question in a voice of authorative certainty. 'Yes, I guess it is. My first name is Arthur but I never use that name. I go by my middle name Walden·but people call me Wally,' I stammered. 'How did you know my real first name was Arthur? I asked in disbelief.' 'Because I have been expecting you to call, dear. A spirit friend of yours has informed me that you would be in need of my services. I have just received a cancellation for tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM. Obviously this appointment is meant for you. You will be here?' she asked. 'Yes, of course I will,' I replied hanging up the telephone totally confused. How in the world did that woman know my first name was Arthur? What spirit friend had told her that I would be in need of her help? I stared at the telephone feeling bewildered and foolish. Why had I not asked her more? Why had I not asked her who this spirit friend was? She had so stunned me with her knowledge that my first name was Arthur that I was totally caught off guard. I picked up the telephone receiver and began dialing her number again. After the first ring I put the receiver back into the cradle. I would just wait until tomorrow morning to see what would happen. She could explain it to me then. Little did I know at that moment at 11:00 AM the following morning, my visit with The Reverend Pearl Shannon would prove to be the most spiritually informative and insightful experience of my life.

Next

"The Late Dr. Stafford and His Dear Friend Reverend Pearl"

Part 19

of

"In Touch With His Soul"

©2003 Walden Welch. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form
or medium without the express written permission of Walden Welch is prohibited.