After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, get up!”)
- Mark 5:41
Home of award-winning Chicago author, speaker and media host Ursula Bielski
For more than three decades, cultural historian and folklorist Ursula Bielski was one of the most accomplished and recognized paranormal researchers in America. An astute investigator, she learned the science of paranormal investigation in the 1980s as a student at Benedictine University in Illinois, trained by a colleague in the scientific method of investigating reports of ghosts, hauntings and poltergeists. Authoring a dozen books on Chicago’s haunted history and related subjects, Ursula was awarded a Chicago Public Library Foundation award for outstanding contributions to Chicago’s literary culture. She appeared on scores of television and radio programs and documentaries, hosted The Hauntings of Chicago for PBS, and was an in-demand speaker at paranormal conferences across the nations.
Then, soon after the turn of the millennium, she opened a door.
Following the trends set by a new wave of celebrity ghost hunters and the methods of the explosive culture of hobby paranormal investigation, she began experimenting with spirit communication, abandoning her training and spiritual values and proclaiming her work to be in the interest of science. The years ahead would be filled with darkness, as the stages of demonic influence began to unfold in her life. Then, through a serious of unforeseen events, Ursula was led out of the world of the occult and into a new understanding of good and evil, of the word of God . . . and of her beloved faith. Today Ursula shares her experiences, failings and revelations from her paranormal past, evangelizing those held hostage by the occult and re-interpreting her lifetime of experience and knowledge through a Catholic lens.
BOOKS FROM GADARENE PRESS
Praise for The Devil in Dreamland
"In this deeply insightful and urgently needed work, Ursula Bielski has rigorously exposed the thoroughly occult and entirely anti-Christian origin, nature, and aim of the whole gamut of contemporary ET-related phenomena. Unlike some Catholic authors today who casually tolerate, or even—disturbingly—openly promote ufology and other esoteric fields of study, Ursula has decades of professional experience working with the occult. By combining that experience with her understanding of Catholic spiritual principles, she is uniquely capable of accurately diagnosing what others tragically regard as benign. In reading this book, you will be shocked to learn of just how loudly the diabolical resounds in the teachings and practices of those who promote belief in aliens. Filled with important research, remarkable connections, and even many engaging accounts from her own deeply relevant personal experiences in paranormal investigations, The Devil in Dreamland is a must-read for safely navigating through the present and coming Great Deception.”
-DANIEL O’CONNOR, Author of Only Man Bears His Image
"There is more than meets the eye with both the UFO and ET phenomena. This book opens the reader's eye to something more than aliens that is, actually, occultic and even demonic lying behind the endless search for aliens and the paranormal."
- FATHER ANTHONY GRAMLICH, Assistant Rector, National Shrine of the Divine Mercy
Shadows of My Former Self:
A memoir of darkness, redemption and Divine Mercy
From celebrated historian to a woman lost in the darkness of the occult, Shadows of My Former Self is a harrowing yet hope-filled memoir of descent, devastation, and redemption.
Renowned for her work on supernatural history and folklore, the author captivated audiences through ghost hunting shows and her PBS Chicago series The Hauntings of Chicago. But behind the public acclaim lay a personal life fractured by family secrets, addiction, and spiritual turmoil.
With unflinching honesty, she recounts growing up in an alcoholic home, navigating a tumultuous marriage to a firefighter-turned-author haunted by his own demons, and her immersion in the alluring but destructive world of spirit communication. Their lives unraveled after the tragedy of 9/11, a devastating church arson, and a series of personal tragedies.
As the shadows deepened, grace broke through. In an extraordinary journey marked by the loss of loved ones, the pandemic, and an encounter with Divine Mercy, she found healing in the Catholic Church and restoration for her family.
This raw, compelling memoir delves into themes of abuse, addiction, mental illness, and spiritual warfare while offering a powerful testament to God’s infinite mercy. Shadows of My Former Self is a story of transformation and hope for anyone seeking light in the darkness.
Coming in March 2025. Subscribe to the mailing list to get notified!
A Year with the Holy Souls Prayer Journal
For centuries, Catholics the world over have held the strong belief in a place of purification and suffering called Purgatory, where most faithful souls are expected to go after death to await their Heavenly reward. When a soul reaches Purgatory, he or she can no longer do anything to help speed the soul to Heaven. Rather, these souls are completely reliant on the prayers of the living to attain their final freedom.
Though Purgatory remains a strong belief among Catholics, few are aware of the intense need of these "Holy Souls" or "Poor Souls" for our prayers. Indeed, many have no one at all to pray for them. Catholic mystics have told us that some of these souls have been in Purgatory for a century or more, and that some will remain their until the Judgment Day . . . some because of the gravity of their sins, but many because of the lack of prayers for them.
This beautiful, year-long journal has one purpose for the faithful Catholic: to remind us to pray every day for these Poor Souls who need us so much.
Each monthly section has a header page where the user may write the month, so the journal can be started at any time of year. Each section has thirty-one pages. Each daily page offers a suggestion for prayer, penance or other work of charity or mercy to benefit the Holy Souls, along with a morning prayer (the "De Profundis" prayer for souls) and an evening prayer with room to write the names of those souls especially prayed for that day.
The journal also contains the famous St. Gertrude prayer for the souls in Purgatory, which is said to have the power to release a thousand souls from suffering.
This book makes a wonderful gift for anyone entering the Catholic Church, for anyone faithful to the Church, or anyone who wants to enrich his or her prayer life. It also makes a wonderful token of love for anyone grieving. Click here to order.
Summer 2025 The Devil’s Playground
The Devil's Playground: Grief, Ghosts, and the Opportunism of the Devil delves into the dark intersection of human vulnerability, supernatural phenomena, and the cunning opportunism of evil. In this haunting and thought-provoking exploration, forty year paranormal investigator and Catholic historian Urusla Bielski examines how the devil exploits the pain of grief and loss to infiltrate lives, sow discord, and wreak havoc on souls. Drawing from chilling Biblical and theological references, historical accounts and modern-day encounters, it unpacks the spiritual dangers lurking in the shadows of grief.
The book begins by exploring the universal human experience of loss and the spiritual void it can create. In these vulnerable moments, the devil often appears, cloaking himself in forms that seem comforting or alluring—offering gifts of false hope, communication with the dead, or promises of power and control. But as the book reveals, these "gifts" come with a high price, drawing individuals into a web of despair, obsession, and even possession.
Through detailed case studies, the book exposes how paranormal activity can often mask darker forces at work. Whether through séances, spirit boards and radios, messages from mediums or ghostly manifestations, the devil manipulates the grieving into believing they are reconnecting with loved ones when, in reality, they are being drawn further from the truth of faith and into spiritual bondage. Historical and contemporary examples are interwoven to show how these dynamics play out in both personal and cultural contexts, from grieving families to societies in spiritual upheaval.
The Devil's Playground also highlights how people exploit the devil's tricks for personal gain. From fraudulent mediums to cult leaders, the book examines the ways in which charlatans capitalize on the pain of others, using the devil's allure to build their own power, wealth, and influence. This exploration of exploitation underscores the deeper spiritual battle at play, where human free will is twisted to serve darkness rather than light.
The narrative is rooted in Catholic theology, offering readers a guide to recognizing and resisting these diabolical traps. It explores the tools of spiritual warfare—prayer, the sacraments, and trust in God’s mercy—and provides hope that even in the darkest of circumstances, the light of Christ can dispel the shadows. The book is as much a warning as it is a call to reclaim faith in the face of grief and loss, pointing readers to the ultimate healing found in God’s love.
Blending supernatural history, theology, and deeply personal reflections, The Devil’s Playground is a powerful and sobering examination of the battle between light and darkness. It serves as both a cautionary tale and a guide, urging readers to be vigilant against the devil’s schemes while finding strength and solace in the unyielding grace of God.
Coming Summer 2025. Sign up for the newsletter to get notified when it’s released.
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"Ursula has an encyclopedic knowledge of history and folkore -- and the ability to connect the dots to make it all deeply valuable. "
Jon Marlton
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"Ursula has an amazing ability to find the meanings in the history we all know. I love her books and have seen her speak many times. She's a captivating storyteller with a genuine love for the stories she tells and the people she tells them to."
Jenny McMartin
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"Ursula is an exceptional speaker."
Rick McCallum
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A blog exploring the paranormal and supernatural through a Catholic lens
The Uncanny Catholic Podcast
Join us as we investigate ghosts, hauntings, demonic activity, miracles and other supernatural subjects from a Catholic perspective.
Join Ursula for a chilling online event chronicling winter’s most haunting true ghost stories. From the ghosts of the bizarre and tragic Dyatlov Pass incident and spirits of Mount Everest to to the Christmas appearance of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall and icy road encounters with Resurrection Mary, we’ll revisit some of history’s most supernatural and snowy mysteries in this livestream lecture. Purchase your household pass at Eventbrite today. Limited spots available.
He’s one of the most enduringly popular saints in Catholicism, despite questions that he even existed. But was the patron saint of travelers a Dogman?