Dr. Gina Cerminara received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Though trained as a musician and linguist, her two major fields of specializations were parapsychology and General Semantics. She was perhaps best known for her enormously successful book, "Many Mansions", which discussed the metaphysical implications of the Edgar Cayce readings. She was also the author of four other books on reincarnation and parapsychology: "The World Within"," Many Lives, Many Loves" and "The Mark Twain Proposition". Her last book, "Insights For The Age Of Aquarius" was published in 1972. Miss Cerminara was a charming and gifted speaker who enlivened serious topics with enlightened humor, she had lectured in most American cities as well as Tokyo, Dublin and London. Her homes were both in Los Altos, California and Virginia Beach Virginia. In 1979 she moved to Ojai, California.

Dr. Cerminara first became aware of Walden Welch in 1974. Having heard excellent reports of his predictive abilities from several friends she booked an appointment with him for an astrological reading. Afraid that he may recognize her by her name she scheduled her appointment under the fictitious name of Jean Sherman. Needless to say Dr. Cerminara was more than impressed, when only three minutes into her reading, Walden stated; "You have a remarkable talent for writing. You're a philosopher, lecturer and internationally famous figure. Your Gina Cerminara, aren't you?" From that day forward, until Dr. Cerminara's death in 1983, Mr. Welch became not only Gina's personal astrologer of choice but also her most intimate personal friend.

In 1981, fellow parapsychologist Dr. Helen Waumbaugh of Stanford University was heading and conducting an important investigative research program. Her intentions were to investigate the lives, philosophies and backgrounds of internationally recognized living psychics, mediums and clairvoyants to see what influences might have developed their psychic sensitivities. Dr. Waumbaugh had contacted Mr. Welch and asked that he be interviewed for this program, to which he agreed. Coincidentally, at this same time, Dr. Cerminara had been asked by Psychic Magazine to write a featured interview about Mr. Welch. The magazine editor requested a background profile on his life and philosophy. When the two parapsychologists learned they were both researching the same man for the same information, they agreed to share conducting this interview. Although Dr. Cerminara questioned Mr. Welch for the Psychic Magazine story, the transcript of the following interview was actually a compilation of both doctors questions.

"In Touch With His Soul, An Interview with Walden Welch" by Gina Cerminara was released in two installments in Psychic Magazine, June and July 1981 editions. Dr. Cerminara was so pleased with the positive response to her profile that she asked to be Walden's biographer. The working title of Walden's biography was, "The Stargazer". Gina began work on this project in August of 1982.  In January of 1983, she was diagnosed with a critical health condition. In April of 1983, Dr. Cerminara died in her home in Ojai, California and thus the book was never completed.

The following interview was the basis for both the biography and Stanford University Parapsychology project. Due to its length, it will be released in monthly installments. Material cut from the magazine story has been restored. What we present is the original and complete interview. This is the only biography to date, which covers Mr. Welch's entire past history. He is currently working on his personal autobiography, "The Man With A Vision, Or Two".

"In Touch With His Soul"

An Interview With Walden Welch,

An Important American Psychic

By Gina Cerminara

Part One

"Shoestrings"

Dr:   "Hello, Walden Welch. May I say that it is more than a pleasure to interview you? Your reputation definitely precedes you. No matter where I go, whenever the subject of astrology or astrologers comes up, your name is the first mentioned. You seem to be #1 on everyone's list, including mine. As you know, I have the great honor of being one of your many clients. I have long been fascinated in the field of astrology and its significance and affect in both our spiritual and physical lives. I have consulted many noted astrologers throughout the years but I give you the sincere compliment of being the best I have ever experienced."

WW: "Well, thank you so much. I am more than happy to be interviewed by you, Gina. Your books are the most favored of all my collection. If there was one person in the world I had ever hoped to meet, it was you. Your book, "Many Mansions" was a primary stepping-stone to my search in seeking spiritual enlightenment. It is, I think, the finest metaphysical book thus far written. Naturally I include your books, "The World Within" and "Many Lives, Many Loves" in this statement. They are a trilogy and should be read as one."

Dr:    "I thank you, too. Being assigned to interview you for Psychic Magazine is a lovely pleasure for me.  As a parapsychologist, I have been more than curious as to your background, family history and such. As your client, I never felt comfortable in delving into your personal matters. This interview allows me to finally get insight into you and what influences are in the make-up of such an extraordinarily gifted young man. I am amazed you are so young. Your excellent reputation would be more expected were you an older man with more years of experience in your field."

WW: "Well, I have been a professional astrologer since I was eighteen. I have always done six readings a day, five days a week. You can imagine how many thousands of people that adds up to. Other than my work as an astrologer, I was once a mail delivery boy, a bus boy and a stock boy. Oh, yes·and a paper delivery boy." (Laugh)

Dr:  I hear that you were also a professional psychic before your career as an astrologer and that you started your career by giving psychic readings several years prior to having established yourself as an astrologer?" 

WW:   "Yes, that's true."

Dr:   "Why did you make the switch from the one field to the other?"

WW:   "For several reasons, actually. I found that Astrology is a wonderful tool for telling the exact timing of events, or predictions. For instance, when a person consults a psychic, that psychic may have a difficult time deciphering the timing of events they foresee. They might say, "I see a '3' in relationship to the projection. Yet the psychic may be confused as to whether the '3' he sees means three days, or three months or three years. Astrology, on the other hand, is mathematical in basis. With the use of an Ephemeris, which is a log of where the planets positions are, past, present and future, the astrologer can date the exact date a predictive event would most likely occur. This is very technical and hard to explain to anyone who hasn't studied this field, and certainly confusing. But this is one of the reasons I have chosen to go into astrology. It allows me more accuracy in the timing of my predictions."

Dr: "Then you are both a psychic and an astrologer?"

WW:   "Yes. Definitely. In many ways I use one's horoscope as a focal point for my clairvoyance much as a Gypsy uses a crystal ball. The horoscope chart seems to speak to me. I could interpret a Chart long before I learned to set one up. I have no question that I was also an astrologer in one of my past lives. Therefore, I have brought forth much of this acquired knowledge into my current life."

Dr: "Then you also believe in reincarnation?"

WW: "But of course!  Yes, most definitely. It is the only sensible explanation for life as well as a comprehensive understanding of God. It amazes me how a person can believe in a loving God and not embrace reincarnation as truth. Most religions present God as a figure of fear, retribution, hell, fire and damnation. What other doctrine of religion, except for the reincarnationists' viewpoint, can give such clarity, explanation, justification and reason for the atrocities we mortals must endure while visiting this planet, and at the same time present a loving and fair God.

Dr: I would like to question you further regarding this subject. But in order to keep this interview in sequence, I would like to first begin with your childhood. As you know, this interview is being conducted more as a research program than a celebrity profile. As two parapsychologists, both Dr. Waumbaugh and myself, are trying to compile biographic material on you, which may help psychic research to better understand what circumstances or conditions may have influenced your psychic development. You have already undergone laboratory testing in which the results, I might add, have been more than impressive.  The second stage of our investigation is to create a psychological profile to add to the research we have already obtained from your biofeedback and other laboratory reports. What we are seeking is any information that you feel may have contributed to your unique psychic abilities. We would also like to have you give us your personal biography; your family history, childhood memories, instances of trauma. The more information we can acquire from you will allow us to better ascertain, through our research and professional credentials, the possibilities as to how you developed your psychic abilities".

WW: " Yes, I understand".

Dr: "At no time would I hope for you to be uncomfortable. If at anytime you are, please say so. You need not answer any questions you care not to. If you become tired and want a break, say so. It is important that you be relaxed and candid".

WW: "Thank you. I understand. I am very relaxed with both of you. I have to admit, however, that this is my first experience undergoing psychoanalysis! (Laugh) It's a little intimidating being interviewed by two psychiatrists. I'm not used to this sort of thing."

Dr: "You have nothing to fear, I assure you. It's your talent we wish to investigate, not your nail biting problem." (Laugh) "Now if you are comfortable I would like to begin questioning you."

WW: "I'm comfortable".

 Dr:  "Let's begin with your childhood experiences and memories."  

WW: " Very well. I will do my best to try and present that period of my life. However, I don't think you will find my background very colorful. Worse yet, I fear you may find it a bit melodramatic."

Dr: "If your childhood had been melodramatic, how could I find that dull or non colorful? Whatever influences led you to become such a successful and respected astrologer I should think would be most interesting."

WW:  "Dull for the fact that I was born in Stockton, California, was raised on a chicken farm and then spent my high school years in Bakersfield, California. Not a very colorful environment for a writer to work with. Melodramatic in that I had a CinderFella beginning, which means that you and your readers will probably think I am making up pathetic stories in order to win their sympathies and thus their hearts. However, I promise to be entirely truthful with you and apologize for the soap opera experiences I am about to relate. I don't present this information for sympathy, just fact. I fully believe I chose my childhood environment and experiences before my birth and therefore what I experienced was necessary for me to work out my karma. I believe this now, but, of course, I did not realize this then. Naturally, these experiences were the foundation for my work and all that followed. That's true for any of us. It is, however, embarrassing for me to relate much of this for I have always been accused of being too sentimental or too emotional. I never understood people's objection to this side of my nature for sincerity is my best trait, I think. It always stuns me that so many people live their lives without speaking their hearts. I realize, of course, that this is caused by the hurts, disappointments and rejections they have been put through. They protect themselves by putting up a shield of armor. I was never able to do that, you see? I have always been vulnerable. I have never been able to create that shield, nor have I ever wanted to. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve and I find that this has caused many people to be suspicious of me, and my intentions. I have found that intimacy and sincerity frighten most people away, to retreat within themselves, to dress in the aura of this protective armor. If, say, their first love betrayed them, the majority of people never thrust the one that follows. I have also been crushed when betrayed or rejected. However, my attitude was always that perhaps the next person would love me, or the next, or the next. It's with this naiveté that I have lived my life. I haven't been able to harden. I am no longer ashamed of this aspect of myself. It is who I am and I don't know how, or want to be, otherwise. This childlike quality of my nature is what I think best qualifies me for my work."

Dr: "What circumstance, or circumstances, do you feel may have caused you to become so emotionally unguarded?"

WW: " The greatest factor was that my mother was a semi-invalid throughout her lifetime. She was totally bedridden from the time I was of ages six to twelve. She had suffered from Rheumatic Fever those years after having barely survived open-heart surgery. We were very poor due to extensive medical expenses and so I only went to school three hours a day for six years in order to care for her. It was my job to do the cooking, house cleaning, wash, empty the bedpans and give her shots. On top of this, I had to attend to feeding 5,000 chickens, cleaning and marketing eggs, etc. I told you this was a CinderFella childhood!"

Dr: "I dare say! Wasn't your father there to help you?"

WW:  "Yes and no. First of all, my mother had divorced my real father when I was one year old.  During these years of which I am sharing, she had married a man named Guy Foss who worked as an engineer for a railroad. He was rarely at home due to his work. Naturally, he shared the duties when he was home, but in truth we were only happy when he was away. He was a very difficult man."

Dr: "You say your mother was semi-invalid her entire life?"

WW:  "Yes. She had been born with a very bad heart condition and was not supposed to live beyond the age of eighteen. She did, however, live to be fifty-five, but this was due to the fact that heart surgery became available. She underwent three open-heart surgeries before her death in 1972. I was six years old when her first operation was performed. It was very experimental at that time; in its pioneer days. She actually died on the operating table and had an extraordinary near death experience that changed her life and spirituality thereafter. I will share this story with you later as I know it will be of great interest. I loved her more than I could ever have loved myself. She was the kindest and sweetest person one could ever imagine. I adored and pitied her. Even though she was the most loving of mothers, I naturally felt she was my ' little girl' in that she could not survive without my care. We bonded very closely as we were both trapped in the circumstances of more than hard times due to her serious health problems and the sad nature of her marriage. We could never have survived without each other. Naturally, I felt, and in many ways I was, 100 years old at this time for my responsibilities were tremendous. My greatest burden was the emotional one, however. I never knew from day to day whether she would be alive the next morning. My hands would actually shake so badly that I could barely carry her a cup of coffee without spilling it. I was in panic of losing her and, therefore, my unguarded emotions were always forefront. I couldn't go a day without saying, "I love you mama". Some days I might tell her this 10 times. She may not be there tomorrow. My honesty of emotion and sincerity of heart had to be immediate. There may not be another time to say what was important and true. This is how this element in my emotional nature was seeded. Do you understand?"

Dr: "I more than understand."

WW:  "And this is why my search for God began from the day of my first remembrances. I think my collective thoughts started coming together around the age of four. I knew from the very beginning of my consciousness that my mother was ill and not expected to live. Why was this happening to her? What did she ever do to deserve this? Why didn't God answer my prayers and heal her and make her well? I was more than desperate to find answers to these questions. One doesn't find God without searching, and the search for God begins through suffering."

Dr:  "I can assure you, Walden, that neither myself, nor any reader of this interview, would find you overly emotional, or melodramatic, considering your circumstances. It would be hard to hold back an honest maternal tear, however."

WW: " Well let's use up the Kleenex right away and put this behind us to get to the moments of beauty and enlightenment, which followed. Please understand that I considered taking care of my mother an honor. The physical task of this was never regretted. I felt her to be the victim, not I. I am more than glad I was there for her.

"Now I am going to tell you a truth that I have never told anyone else before, anyone else but my mom that is. I am only sharing this with you because you are a more than highly qualified parapsychologist who happens to be interviewing me for a very reputable parapsychology magazine and would, therefore, have a better understanding of what I am about to share with you. I also think this experience may enlighten parapsychologists who's duty it is to have an open mind in searching for life's truths through investigating the paranormal happenings of those people, such as myself, whom they interview.

"I can remember being attracted to my mother before my birth. What I mean to convey by this statement is that I recall having been nothing but a spirit before being born. I was not in a place. I was in a vacuum of timelessness and darkness. I recall hovering around her physical body waiting for her child to be born. I knew I was to inhabit that body in order to become hers. It is as if I were a floating pale bluish light. I didn't have conscious thought, just purpose. It's almost impossible to put into words as my remembrance comes more from feelings. I know I was waiting to enter her but could not do so until the baby was alive and separated from her. I hovered around her in darkness for a long, long while. It is as if I were a magnet; no, more like a balloon, loosely attached to her by some unseen thread and that she pulled me behind her with everywhere she went. I knew I wanted to be a girl but that the child would be a boy. I would accept that to be with her. I read a Reading of Edgar Cayce's, which stated that a child chooses its parents before its birth and that the soul then enters the body of the child after its birth. I know this is true for I have this recall."

Dr: "You stated that you 'wanted to be a girl but that the child would be a boy'. Does this imply that you were aware of sexual differences?"

WW: " No. This recall was not about bodies male or female. It was about being either passive or aggressive, yin or yang. I wanted to be taken care of. I was reluctant to 'be responsible'. I knew that, by entering a male body, I would have to be responsible. I also knew that it was necessary for me to take this role and that I had agreed to it and that I needed it. I knew that once my soul inhabited my mother's child's body that there would be no turning back and that I would be committed to the responsibilities of a difficult life. I also knew that I loved her and wanted to be with her and that's why my soul followed her during her pregnancy. I knew that if I didn't accept the male body I could not be with her. So it was only because I loved her that I allowed myself to enter the male baby's body."

Dr: "You say, ' You knew that it was necessary for you to take this role' and that despite this you were reluctant?"

WW: "Yes. I was sure that I had agreed to it because it was something I needed to learn. Yet I knew that I did not want to learn the lessons I had agreed to learn. I remember being in great conflict as to whether or not to enter the child's body. I wasn't forced into it by outside forces. It was a conscious decision, which I alone had to make. I was sadly reluctant to have to enter that male body in order to be with my mother, but I did it. I suppose, perhaps, my love for her was greater than my fear of knowing I would have to play a lifetime role of great responsibility. I know I was kind of angry that I had to make this choice since it was not comfortable to me and I feared it. I think I felt I was being punished and felt very sorry for myself.

My natal horoscope has a Grand Square, which denotes 'a cross to bear'. If you understood the language of astrology, it would be easier for me to describe this to you. The planets, which depict this 'grand square', are in aspect to my 10^th House of Father and Career, 4^th House of Mother and Home, 12^th House of Karma, hospitals and prisons, and the 7^th House of Marriage and partnerships. In addition to this, I was born with my Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Pisces and Virgo Ascending. Not an easy Chart at all. We astrologers recognize that an entity chooses the astrological pattern of his Natal Chart before his birth. One's individual Chart encompasses all that the entity is to learn and practice during his life experience.

"Forgive me! I am getting into territory beyond what you are asking for and beyond your area of expertise."

Dr: "I'm afraid you are right. Astrology is definitely beyond my understanding and yet I am more than happy to have you include this astrological interpretation along with your other information. However, I want to go into this subject and your work in it at the later part of our interview. Please feel free to use this tool whenever you feel it is necessary for your better explaining an answer to a question. Should I be confused I will ask you for better clarity"

WW: "Fine.   

Dr: " Your soul remembrances prior to your birth are more than fascinating. Do you also remember being born? That is to say, do you remember your delivery at the time of your birth?"

WW: " No, not at all. I didn't have any further remembrance until I was, I think, four. I will share with you, however, the details my mother often times described to me regarding my birth. I knew, of course, that she told me the truth, but it was not until I was eighteen years old and consulted a Psychic Medium that repeated this story that I felt there was anything significant about it.

"I was born at 10:13 PM on December 30, 1943 at St. Joseph hospital in Stockton, California. My mother said," You were born on a Thursday night, and it rained and rained. It was a terrible storm. All the lights in various parts on town had gone out, including those in the hospital. For whatever reason, her doctor did not arrive to deliver me. Instead two nuns dressed in white removed me from her body. When they did so, my mother saw that I was chalk white and had no face. The two nuns blessed their selves and then me. My mother said she began crying because she thought I was born dead. They then consoled her that I was definitely alive and not disfigured. They said I had afterbirth on my face and began removing it to show her my features were normal. Mom then asked them why, then, had they blessed their selves if I was alive? They replied that I had been born with a 'Veil', which in the Catholic faith means I was born with second sight and the ability to foretell the future."

Dr: "Yes, that is also one of the "Old Wives Tales" of lore. It is also a common metaphysical belief that one born with this 'veil' is born psychic."

WW:  "Yes, I know. But I didn't believe it then. However, I had a psychic reading given to me by Rev. Pearl Shannon when I was eighteen years old. Pearl was a phenomenally talented Medium in San Francisco. When I walked into her office she was sitting at a desk. I hadn't even sat yet or said "Hello", when out of nowhere she said: 'I see stars and planets over your head. My Spirit Guide Dr. Stafford tells me that you were born on a Thursday night and it rained and rained. All the lights went out. Your mother's doctor did not arrive to deliver you. You were delivered by two nuns who were dressed in white. When they removed you from your mother's body you had no face. You were shrouded in a 'Veil'. They blessed you, and themselves, in recognition that you were born psychic and could foretell the future.' She then went on to say, 'It is your destiny to psychically consult people all your life as I do. This is your destined profession. You will read through a circle which has symbols of Zodiac Signs and Planet's within.'

"Needless to say, that Reading more than stunned me, and how reference to my birth event came up in it. Equally remarkable was the fact Pearl more than accurately predicted my profession. She was the most gifted Psychic I have ever known."

Dr:  "At what age did you first realize you had this gift?"

WW: "I would prefer not calling it 'a gift', yet I suppose that is the proper description. But I find that phrase to be embarrassing as it implies something 'special' and truthfully I don't think it is anymore special than any other talent one may have. Artists, carpenters, mothers, teachers, all are as equally gifted and valuable. 'Psychic' is just what I am and how I contribute to the service of others. I'm not saying this to be humble. It is truly how I feel about it.

"I really don't remember a time that I didn't have what would be termed 'psychic abilities or experiences.' You must realize I did not know anyone else didn't share these same realities. I realized I was 'different' when I was thirteen, but not before."

Dr: "Can you recall your very first conscious memory?"

WW: "Yes, and with great pleasure. I'm not certain as to whether I was three years old or four. It's a wonderful memory to have as a first one. It more than establishes what was to lie ahead for me in my journey through life.

"My very first worldly recollection was of sitting on my grandmother's lap. It was a very windy and cold day. My grandparents had a farm in Tracy, California. I don't know why I was staying with them, but I assume my mother was ill and in the hospital and they were caring for me. There was a big old brown metal heater in the corner of the room. Grandma and I were sitting on a green chair next to it and looking out a four-paned window. Dust was flying about everywhere for the wind was howling and wild. I recall that the branch of a Chinaberry tree was tapping against the pane. Grandma was teaching me to tie my shoes. I recall that I finally got it right and I was in a state of exhilaration over my accomplishment. I had finally done it all by myself after so many wasted attempts. I was so proud!

The memory of next thing, which happened, has stayed with me forever. The moment was so truly beautiful. I put my finger into the space between my nose and lip. You know, that diagonal indention there? Then I looked up into my grandmothers' face and asked her, 'Grandma, why do I have this here?' I will never forget the answer she gave. 'Well, you see', she said, 'The day before you were born you were sitting on God's lap just like your now sitting here on mine. He whispered into your ear everything that was going to happen to you after you were born and came into this world. He told you what you would be when you grew up. He told you who you would love and every single little and big thing that would ever, ever happen to you. Then, after He told you of all these many wonders, He pressed his finger tip between your nose and your upper lip to seal the truth from you so that you would forget.'

I asked, 'But why did God do that if he already told me? Why did God want me to forget?' My grandmother replied, 'Because He gave you free will. He gave you the choice to do with your 'free will' what so ever you wished. You could travel down the right road. You could travel down the left road. Or, you could travel down the middle road. God had given you the greatest of all His gifts, the 'freedom of choice' to use howsoever you chose.  He could only hope that you would do only good things and not bad ones. Yet, because He gave you this freedom of choice as a gift, He could not ever take it away from you. It was all up to you to decide whether you wanted to use this special present to do good things or bad things. God would just have to sit back and watch what pathway you chose to take. But he also knew that after you died and came back to him, you would see how simple it all was, and how silly it was that your had taken your life experience so seriously. What you thought was hard and difficult had already been planned and destined before you were born. We are all just little marionettes being pulled by a string held in God's hand.  We just forgot because he sealed our lips with his finger.'

"Isn't that a beautiful memory to have as a first one? As sentimental as it sounds I swear to you this is my very first conscious memory. What a way to start life!"

Dr: "Extraordinary! What a beautiful story. I'm so glad you shared it. Do you recall having any psychic or extraordinary happenings during this period of your first consciousnesses?"

WW:  "Yes, my earliest recollection of extraordinary phenomena was during this same time period. It was here on my grandparents' farm. I would see two Angels who would come into my room to visit me. It wasn't a everyday thing, but it happened often. They were beautiful; no, I think the proper description would be that they were lovely. They didn't have wings, but I knew they were angels. I don't know how, I just knew. There was such tranquility and peace and softness within their aura. More than anything their was a this enormous feeling of love and happiness and well being. I could never describe what I felt it proper human words. Rapture, maybe?"

Dr "Did they speak to you?"

WW: "Yes and no. They did not speak with their mouths, if that's what you mean. Their mouths and lips never moved. They always had sweet smiles on their faces. They spoke inside me. They had very soft individual voices just like we do, but their sounds were more melodic. Kind of like a musical breeze or a kitten purring. I'm sorry it's impossible to describe this properly with words. It was musical sound I felt inside."

Dr:  "What things did they say to you?"

WW:  "They didn't 'say' it in words as we would. They kind of hummed feelings inside me. You see, they usually came if I was crying. My mother was away in hospitals a lot when I was young, so I was often kept in the care of my maternal grandparents or aunts during these times. The angels would come wherever I happened to be, and if I was crying from worry that my mother might die or not come back or whatever. They would make me know that she was going to be o.k. When they came I knew that she wasn't going to die. Their visits were to assure me of that. I know that is why they came. They made me peaceful and assured. It was a comforting and definite feeling that I need not worry."

Dr: "Can you describe their appearances?"

WW:  "I'll try. I can still see them in my minds eye. They were human size, but they slowly floated. They did not walk as we do. They had soft whitish blue gowns, which I suppose would be described best as the types of gown Roman women wear in Biblical movies. They both had blond hair but one was slightly darker than the others.  Their faces were entirely different, yet similar. They were beautifully lovely looking. If they were human I would guess their ages to be eighteen to twenty maybe. I'm sorry, that's the best I can do to describe them. I can still see their faces clearly, but I'm at a loss of words for better description. I wish I had the talent to paint them. I'm afraid I'm not gifted that way. That would be the way to show them best."

Dr: "You have painted a beautiful portrait in words. Thank you. When is the last time you saw these angels?"

WW: "They stopped coming to visit me when mom and I moved to San Francisco when I was four and one half years old. Well, actually the two of them appeared just once after we moved there. They never appeared nightly as they often times did when I was living with my grandparents. I think it was because I did not want them to come anymore. I'm not sure."

Dr: "Why wouldn't you want them to come anymore? Were you afraid of them in anyway?"

WW: "Oh, no. I was never afraid of them. I loved them. It was because of the things that happened to me after our move to San Francisco. I was very ashamed and didn't want them to see or know. I think I may have willed them not to come to see me anymore. I'm not sure, but this is what I believe."

Dr: "May I ask as to what made you ashamed? What circumstances happened to you that made you not want to see them anymore?"

WW:  "Oh, this is very hard for me to talk about. It shouldn't be because it happened so long ago. I still find it embarrassing to talk about openly. Perhaps I'm still ashamed, although I know I have long ago worked through it.

"My mother married a man named Les when I was four and one half years old. We moved from Tracy to San Francisco for that is where he lived. This stepfather happened to be a pedophile. He sexually molested me throughout the course of their one-year marriage. I was very frightened and ashamed and I know I did not want the angels to know about this and that is why I think I willed them away."

Dr: "Needless to say I am more than terribly unhappy to hear you were subjected to such pathetically sad abuse. Naturally I will delete this from my interview if it upsets or embarrasses you."

WW: "No. I trust you. I have nothing to be ashamed about regarding this situation. It is simply the circumstances which befell me then. I was not responsible for it. The sickness was his, not mine. I was his victim. However, because I respect your magazine publication so much I am not offended if you print this. I know your interview is intended to create a sincere profile into my paranormal abilities and how my childhood and life's circumstances may have influenced these abilities. In truth, I believe that this nightmarish period, along my life's events between the years of 1955 to 1961, influenced my abilities more significantly than any other periods of my life."

Dr: "And why was that?"

WW: "Because in both time periods the situations which befell me created 'low self-esteem.' Any psychiatrist can tell you how child molestation creates 'low self-esteem.' Although it has been my greatest personal battle to conquer and cure my tremendous lack of self-esteem, I none-the-less believe that, because of this lack of self- esteem, I have become far better qualified in my sensitivities to read for others. In that I have personally suffered from a lack of ego and self worth, I am, therefore, more easily capable of putting myself fully into the mind or emotions of others. Do you understand?"

Dr: "I more than understand. I am also more than amazed at how you can rise above such a negative in your life and still come out with a positive. You truly amaze and inspire me."

WW: "Please understand that I have certainly gained self- respect, self-esteem, and even pride throughout the many years since my childhood days. I am happy to say I have not developed ego for that is one trait I have never admired in people. 'Ego' suggests a self-proclaimed superiority to others. I have strived for the equality of simply being as good as anyone, and better than none. I have truthfully achieved that now and feel I have finally overcome my low self-esteem. That has been my great victory for myself.

"What I was trying to present to you by my statement was the fact that I feel that, because of my childhood sense of self worthlessness, I was perhaps more sensitively attuned to putting my own self aside in order to focus on the lives of my clients when I read for them. My passive side takes over.

"Like most people of faith I do believe that from 'bad' will also come 'good'.  I have also learned that free will is more than likely how we use our minds. I learned early, through the abusive acts of that stepfather, that he could abuse my body, but only I could allow him to abuse my mind. I learned I had control over that of part of myself, and that he could not, no matter what he did, control that part of me, as my mind was the part of me that belonged only to me myself. I did not, of course, reason this then. This logic freed me during my teenage years when I feel I mentally worked through the scars this man inflicted on me. During the period of these molestations, I knew that there was no possibility to ward off his advances due to his size versus mine and due to my fear of his authoritative position in my life. Naturally, in that these incidents took place when I was between the ages of four and five, I did not know them to be unnatural. No child of that age group understands or desires sexuality.  I only realized something was wrong when he would make me promise not to tell my mother about what he was doing to me. To keep a secret from her would naturally be the most 'wrong thing' I could be asked to do. It was then that I knew."

Dr: "Did you threaten him that you would tell your mother?"

WW: "Yes, of course I did. He controlled me, however, with the threat of sending me to an orphanage if I did. He had a book of 'Oliver Twist' which had black and white etchings of children locked in stone cells. The orphans looked starved. I remember some of the pictures had rats eating out of bowls. Naturally, these pictures horrified me. He would leave the book on a desk in the living room.  It was always opened allowing on of the etchings to be seen. If he got nervous thinking I might say something, he would point to the book behind my mothers back.

Another tactic Les would use was to shock me with the tracts of my electric train."

Dr: "Electric train? I don't understand."

WW: "I think it was the winter of 1947 when my mother and I moved to San Francisco. I remember we took a Greyhound bus to get there. I had fallen asleep, my head against her chest and she had her arms around me. I remember she woke me as she wanted me to see the lights of the skyline of San Francisco. It was nighttime and we were on the Bay Bridge. I had never ever seen anything so beautiful and I never have forgotten that sight. It reminded me of the land of Oz. My next memory was of being in our new apartment and being fascinated by the bubble lights on a Christmas tree. I'm sure this was the first Christmas tree I ever recall seeing. There were candies and oranges and apples spread beneath it and also an electric train. I guess that Les had bought it for me for Christmas; or maybe my mom did. I'm not sure. Well anyway, after the sexual abuse began, Les would force me to sit on the electrical tracts, or force my hands down on them in order to give me an electrical shock if I would threaten to tell my mother the bad things he was doing to me. I became terrified of that train, needless to say. To this day I hate the feeling of electrical shock more than anything I know."

Dr: "I can certainly see why."     

WW: "Now please realize that I was so young at this time that many incidents and the sequences of them are blotchy at best. What I relate to you I have no question is reality. Yet some memories are out of sequence. For instance, I recall that I ran away. I do not know why I did this. I can only surmise that it must have been to get away from him. I know something horrible had to cause me to do this because I would have never left my mother. The most horrible incident I remember regarding Les' abuses was the time he pushed me off a fire escape. It may have been over that incident. I'm not really sure."

Dr: "Would you mind trying to recall what this incident was about?"

WW: "I remember it very clearly, but have to admit I am embarrassed to tell it. You see, I wasn't the only person this man sexually abused. I know he did this to two girl cousins of mine who were visiting. I also know he picked up grown men and brought them to our apartment for sexual encounters. My mother worked as a saleslady for Weinstein's Department Store on Market Street. She was gone during the daytime. I believe that Les was a radio disk jockey and broadcast from our apartment. Therefore, he cared for me during the day until I started kindergarten. Anyway, the fire escape incident happened because he brought some man home one day and wanted me to sit out side our living room window on the fire escape to give him and this man privacy. He gave me a plate of cookies, then locked me outside the window. I don't really remember if we lived on the second or third floor of the apartment house. It began to rain and I recall that my cookies got soggy and that there was no way to shelter myself from the rain because the fire escape was constructed from metal bars. I started banging on the window and yelling for him to open it and let me in to get out of the rain. I recall that he was very angry with me for disturbing him and this man. He told me to, "Shut up" and stay where I was. I continued to bang on the window and began crying because I was so wet from the rain. All of a sudden, Les opened the window. I was terrified at the look on his face. He was so angry that his face was red and I had never ever seen that kind of anger before. He said, 'Shut up God damn it, or I'll kill you!' The next thing I knew he slapped me across the face so hard that I fell off the balcony. I think to this day I am confused as to whether it was that slap that caused me to fall or whether he pushed me. Anyway, what followed is an almost unbelievable story' but to my most sincere recollection it is true. I'm relating all this to you because it is the one incident since my move to San Francisco that I again saw my two angels. I clearly recall the emotions I felt during my fall. In truth' I'm sure I must have been in shock. It seemed as if all time stopped and that the completion of the fall took an hour. Everything seemed as if it happened in slow motion. I don't remember at all being afraid. I was more in a state of amazement. All of a sudden, I was lying on the ground. I was totally conscious and unaware of feeling any pain whatsoever. Kneeling at both sides of me were my two angels. They seemed very concerned and they kept stroking me softly with their hands. I could actually feel the softness of their hands. They weren't like the touch a human hand gives. Their touch was more like waves of warmth. It's hard to describe. It was so soothing. I just felt very warm and comfortable. My only concern was that they looked so worried and concerned. I had never seen them without smiles before. I was fascinated watching them. I loved the attention they were giving me as well for I know they cared very much about me."

Dr: "What happened next? Were you taken to the hospital? Who came to find you?"

WW: "I'm sorry, but I don't recall who found me. I am certain I never went to the hospital. I know that I didn't have any broken bones or anything because I'm certain that my mother would have told me. I never once even heard her speak about this incident. I really don't think she ever knew about it. What I find the most incredible to understand is why I wasn't injured let alone killed? I'm certain this fall happened from either two stories or three. Is it possible that the angels intervened? I mean, could they have healed me? Could they have slowed down my fall so that I wasn't killed? I guess I will never know. I truly wish I could recall what happened after my fall, but I can't. However, this incident may be the reason I ran away. I'm not sure. I think perhaps it was because it had been raining pretty heavily when the accident occurred and it was also raining with my next remembrance following this happening.    

"I recollect that I was on the Golden Gate Bridge. I was soaking wet and didn't have on a coat. It was dark and two police officers pulled up in a police car and questioned me and took me home. I remember them laughing because they said I spoke so well they thought I must be a midget. They couldn't believe that at my age I could give them my home address and telephone number. I know that I was trying to run away to Tracy to be with my Grandparents, but I walked to the wrong bridge. Of course, I should have taken the Bay Bridge, but I was too young to know one from the other."

Dr: "Do you recall what you told the officers?"

WW: "No, not at all. I just remember being with them at the door of our apartment. My mother opened it and she had been crying. She picked me up in her arms and kept kissing me and crying. That's all I recall.

"I was so young during this time of my life that so many of my memories of that period of my life are distorted regarding time sequences. I know I started kindergarten a year earlier than most kids. I remember that I went to Marshall School and had a teacher named Miss Bacon. She was very tall and gray haired, and I recall thinking she was the smartest person in the whole world. I recall going to Playland at the Beach. Les took me there many times. There was an animated mannequin of a fat lady. I think her name was Laughing Alice or something. She sat atop a building at the entrance of Play Land. She had a horrible recorded laugh that terrified me. I hated going there because she scared me so much.

"My final memory of this time of my life was of being in the basement of our apartment building. I was with my mother. She was going through a big storage closet, collecting things that belonged to us. I knew she and I were moving away and that we were going to Stockton to live with my Aunt Marion and her family. She was crying and very upset because she had found out that Les was already married and had a wife and daughter she never knew about. I recall that she was looking for my electric train and that I kept telling her I didn't want it. That's the last thing I ever remembered about our year in San Francisco."

Walden at 5 1/2 Months

End of Part One

Part Two will be released Oct. 1^st

©2001 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.