A topic within the paranormal that I have seen grow immensely over the past couple of years is the one involving creatures like the succubus and the incubus. Stories of these beings have been found in Germany, Turkey, Brazil, Assam, Chile, Ecuador, South Africa, and probably more. I've seen these creatures described a couple of different ways, from demons, to witches, to vampires. Where do these myths come from, and what is it about these beings that holds such fascination?
One of the first occurrences of an incubus and a succubus comes from Mesopotamia and the Sumerian King List (2400 BC). Here, the incubus, Lilu, is said to disturb and seduce women, while the succubus, Lilitu, appears in erotic dreams. An older mention of a succubus is with Jewish mysticism and the creature Lilith. According to this story, Lilith was the first woman and didn't want to be submissive to Adam. She left the Garden of Eden and had sex with the archangel Samael, resulting in her transformation into a succubus. Another mythological representation of an incubus comes from the stories of King Arthur. It has been said that Merlin was the son of an incubus, and that's where he received his powers and abilities. And, of course, Christianity is rife with tales of demons and how one can avoid them.
Some more recent mentions of succubus-like creatures have popped up recently. The SyFy show Lost Girl portrays a female protagonist, said to be Fae, that gains energy by taking the life force of the people around her. She can do this during her sexual encounters, or sometimes by mere touch. American Horror Story: Coven also explored a succubus character. In this show, the succubus was only beginning to understand her powers as a witch. As for the incubus, I haven't seen this type of character come up in movies or television as much. However, I have read a number of books that concern an incubus or two (yes, the same would go for the succubus).
In the days before science, people would often look to the unexplained for answers to their questions. For instance, if a woman's husband passed away and she became pregnant outside of another marriage, it would be acceptable for her to claim an incubus visited her a night. Also, when a man would need to explain why he had a wet dream, a succubus could be an acceptable scapegoat. Today, these explanations seem laughable. However, there are still people that claim to be visited by such demonic entities. Doctors have dismissed these reports as hallucinations, waking dreams, and paralysis.
As for the fascination of these beings, I think it's now becoming more acceptable for people to discuss sex in public. With social norms shifting, many people are now given the freedom of wondering what it might be like to be visited by, or even be, one of these creatures.
What are your thoughts on the incubus or the succubus? Do you know of any other places where these creatures take center stage?
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
The Church of Bones
Okay, guys. When I first came across this topic, admittedly not too long ago, a mixture of excitement and terror enveloped me. Let me tell you about it!
In the suburbs of Kutna Hora, in the Czech Republic, is the Sedlec Ossuary. The chapel is also known as the Church of Bones because it has been artistically decorated with over 40,000 human skeletons. One of the most unique pieces in the chapel is a big chandelier of bones. It's positioned in the center of the ossuary and contains at least one of every bone in the human body. But even though this may seem like a morbid, scary place to visit, it's actually said to be quite peaceful.
In the year 1278, a Cistercian abbot named Henry, went to the Holy Land. Like many tourists, Henry brought back a jar of earth from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. When he arrived back to Kutna Hora, Henry sprinkled the cemetery with the earth. When the word of his actions spread, Sedlec became the place to go for burial.
Eventually, there were so many human remains, something had to be done about it. So the ossuary was created, with a monk assigned the task of arranging the bones. More than 300 years later, a woodcarver, Frantisek Rindt, was asked to arrange the bones in a decorative way. You can read more about the Sedlec Ossuary at www.sedlecossuary.com. The pictures are extraordinary!
In the suburbs of Kutna Hora, in the Czech Republic, is the Sedlec Ossuary. The chapel is also known as the Church of Bones because it has been artistically decorated with over 40,000 human skeletons. One of the most unique pieces in the chapel is a big chandelier of bones. It's positioned in the center of the ossuary and contains at least one of every bone in the human body. But even though this may seem like a morbid, scary place to visit, it's actually said to be quite peaceful.
In the year 1278, a Cistercian abbot named Henry, went to the Holy Land. Like many tourists, Henry brought back a jar of earth from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. When he arrived back to Kutna Hora, Henry sprinkled the cemetery with the earth. When the word of his actions spread, Sedlec became the place to go for burial.
Eventually, there were so many human remains, something had to be done about it. So the ossuary was created, with a monk assigned the task of arranging the bones. More than 300 years later, a woodcarver, Frantisek Rindt, was asked to arrange the bones in a decorative way. You can read more about the Sedlec Ossuary at www.sedlecossuary.com. The pictures are extraordinary!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
My Own Nightmarish (Dreamy) Experience
First off, let me apologize for my extended absence. I became sick for a while, and it was quite miserable. Then I needed to get a few things together in order to attend my very first writer's conference, the topic of this blog post.
Over the past weekend, I was lucky enough to have attended the 22nd annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference: Write Here, Write Now, Make It Happen. I signed up for the event months ago, and that's when the giddiness began in my tummy. I was so excited about the idea of hanging out with a bunch of other writers, people just like me. As the date approached, the giddiness mixed with nervousness.
When I registered for the conference, I marked the little box that would allow me to submit the first page of my Work In Progress (WIP). The option I chose would permit me to remain anonymous, while another person read my submission to a panel, which consisted of an agent, an author, and an editor. So, at least I wouldn't need to read my WIP out loud while industry professionals tore it apart, and the audience laughed in my face, right? But the thought of this critique still had me nervous. What if they didn't like it? What if I was told that I was the worst writer ever, and I should just go back to being a regular stay-at-home mom? Gasp!
Another option I chose at registration was a pitch appointment. A pitch is when a writer speaks with an agent or editor about their book. If the industry professional likes what they hear, they can ask to see the writer's work. Simple, right? I could talk about my writing. Trouble is, I'm terribly shy. Again, what if the agent/editor I talked with laughed at me? What if I forgot what my book is about? Hey, it could happen!
Like I said above, I'm a shy person. I liked the idea of talking with other writers, it always makes for a great time. But what if I didn't run into anyone I knew and had to sit alone in a corner? Or what if I was talking with someone and I said something wrong? I didn't want to offend anyone.
But here's what really happened:
I did have my first page read to a panel for critique. I received some great advice for strengthening my writing, but the ridicule and laughter I feared definitely did not occur. I was nervous when the time for my pitch appointment neared. But a wonderful friend sat down with me and helped me practice what I would say. She really calmed my nerves, so when I walked into the pitch room, I remembered what I needed to. As for being alone and without friends, I couldn't have been more wrong. I've been a member of an online writing community for about a year now, and where not many of us knew each other in person, we knew every one's names. I was able to meet at least half of my online friends face-to-face at the conference, and each of them was as excited to meet me, as I was excited to meet them. I'm sure I put my foot in my mouth while talking with someone over the weekend. But no one called me out on it, so I'll let it go. Finally, not a single person at the conference would have told me to stop writing. The amount of support and encouragement present was empowering!
My experience has reminded me that, we humans, fear the unknown. I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone, always a scary thing. But whether we are writers, doctors, soldiers, students, or what-not, if we don't step out of our own little boxes every now and again, we will never grow as people, never reach our dreams.
Over the past weekend, I was lucky enough to have attended the 22nd annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference: Write Here, Write Now, Make It Happen. I signed up for the event months ago, and that's when the giddiness began in my tummy. I was so excited about the idea of hanging out with a bunch of other writers, people just like me. As the date approached, the giddiness mixed with nervousness.
When I registered for the conference, I marked the little box that would allow me to submit the first page of my Work In Progress (WIP). The option I chose would permit me to remain anonymous, while another person read my submission to a panel, which consisted of an agent, an author, and an editor. So, at least I wouldn't need to read my WIP out loud while industry professionals tore it apart, and the audience laughed in my face, right? But the thought of this critique still had me nervous. What if they didn't like it? What if I was told that I was the worst writer ever, and I should just go back to being a regular stay-at-home mom? Gasp!
Another option I chose at registration was a pitch appointment. A pitch is when a writer speaks with an agent or editor about their book. If the industry professional likes what they hear, they can ask to see the writer's work. Simple, right? I could talk about my writing. Trouble is, I'm terribly shy. Again, what if the agent/editor I talked with laughed at me? What if I forgot what my book is about? Hey, it could happen!
Like I said above, I'm a shy person. I liked the idea of talking with other writers, it always makes for a great time. But what if I didn't run into anyone I knew and had to sit alone in a corner? Or what if I was talking with someone and I said something wrong? I didn't want to offend anyone.
But here's what really happened:
I did have my first page read to a panel for critique. I received some great advice for strengthening my writing, but the ridicule and laughter I feared definitely did not occur. I was nervous when the time for my pitch appointment neared. But a wonderful friend sat down with me and helped me practice what I would say. She really calmed my nerves, so when I walked into the pitch room, I remembered what I needed to. As for being alone and without friends, I couldn't have been more wrong. I've been a member of an online writing community for about a year now, and where not many of us knew each other in person, we knew every one's names. I was able to meet at least half of my online friends face-to-face at the conference, and each of them was as excited to meet me, as I was excited to meet them. I'm sure I put my foot in my mouth while talking with someone over the weekend. But no one called me out on it, so I'll let it go. Finally, not a single person at the conference would have told me to stop writing. The amount of support and encouragement present was empowering!
My experience has reminded me that, we humans, fear the unknown. I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone, always a scary thing. But whether we are writers, doctors, soldiers, students, or what-not, if we don't step out of our own little boxes every now and again, we will never grow as people, never reach our dreams.
Friday, April 11, 2014
A Bit of a Break
For the past week or so, I have been battling some sort of illness. It comes and goes, and it seems to be a nasty little virus. I am also gearing up to attend a writers conference at the end of the month. For these two reasons, I plan to take the next few weeks away from this blog. I plan on returning once I am healthy and the conference is over.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Medusa
Medusa is the creature from Greek Mythology who had snakes for hair and could turn people to stone if they looked directly into her eyes. Most people think of evil when they hear her name. But I've always felt drawn to her story, and hold a sort of pity for her.
Medusa wasn't always hideous. In fact, she was a beautiful maiden with fabulous golden hair. She was a priestess of Goddess Athena, and so she, like all of her fellow priestesses, took a vow of chastity. However, Medusa fell in love with Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the two were wed.
For Medusa's breach of vows, Goddess Athena transformed her into a monster. Medusa's beautiful golden locks were morphed into snakes, her eyes became red, and her milky white skin was changed to a greenish hue.
With her new serpent-like form, Medusa fled her home and became a recluse. Stories and rumors were spread about her, thus causing her to be very angry. Medusa finally met her match, when Perseus delivered her to the hands of death.
I was in the eighth grade when I began to study Greek Mythology and heard the story of Medusa for the first time. Her tale was then, and still is one of my favorites. What do you make of her story?
Medusa wasn't always hideous. In fact, she was a beautiful maiden with fabulous golden hair. She was a priestess of Goddess Athena, and so she, like all of her fellow priestesses, took a vow of chastity. However, Medusa fell in love with Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the two were wed.
For Medusa's breach of vows, Goddess Athena transformed her into a monster. Medusa's beautiful golden locks were morphed into snakes, her eyes became red, and her milky white skin was changed to a greenish hue.
With her new serpent-like form, Medusa fled her home and became a recluse. Stories and rumors were spread about her, thus causing her to be very angry. Medusa finally met her match, when Perseus delivered her to the hands of death.
I was in the eighth grade when I began to study Greek Mythology and heard the story of Medusa for the first time. Her tale was then, and still is one of my favorites. What do you make of her story?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
The Rack
*WARNING: THIS POST IS VERY DESCRIPTIVE IN REGARDS TO A CERTAIN TYPE OF TORTURE DEVICE. SOME READERS MAY BE TOO SENSITIVE FOR THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE.*
Two simple words - the rack. For some, these words may bring about happy thoughts of shopping in a very popular department store chain. Other people may snicker while thoughts of female anatomy run through their heads. But for me, these two words instill sadness and fear. Want to know why?
"The rack" conjures mental images of a medieval torture device that was commonly used to force people to confess to wrong-doing, or to give up information. It was a form of torture that was meant to be a last-ditch type of option. In other words, "milder" methods of torture were supposed to be used before the rack would be considered. Personally, I would really hope to not have an over-zealous torturer!
The rack was a piece of equipment, generally made of wood, where its victim would be bound by the wrists at one end and by the ankles at the other end. A crank or wheel would then be maneuvered, resulting in the tightening of the ropes. There was a possibility of loud popping noises because ligaments and other internal things could be snapped. Sometimes the device would be cranked too much (whether intentionally or not), and the victim would be rendered paralyzed as a result of dislocation, or possible separation of a limb.
Needless to say, this form of torture was excruciatingly painful on its own. However, often times other methods of torture were applied while the rack's victim was stretched. People would often be burnt, pinched, or have their finger and toe nails ripped off as well.
Though I haven't come across it in my research, it is to my understanding that the rack is no longer used - anywhere. However, in the height of its time, variations of this device were used throughout Europe.
Two simple words - the rack. For some, these words may bring about happy thoughts of shopping in a very popular department store chain. Other people may snicker while thoughts of female anatomy run through their heads. But for me, these two words instill sadness and fear. Want to know why?
"The rack" conjures mental images of a medieval torture device that was commonly used to force people to confess to wrong-doing, or to give up information. It was a form of torture that was meant to be a last-ditch type of option. In other words, "milder" methods of torture were supposed to be used before the rack would be considered. Personally, I would really hope to not have an over-zealous torturer!
The rack was a piece of equipment, generally made of wood, where its victim would be bound by the wrists at one end and by the ankles at the other end. A crank or wheel would then be maneuvered, resulting in the tightening of the ropes. There was a possibility of loud popping noises because ligaments and other internal things could be snapped. Sometimes the device would be cranked too much (whether intentionally or not), and the victim would be rendered paralyzed as a result of dislocation, or possible separation of a limb.
Needless to say, this form of torture was excruciatingly painful on its own. However, often times other methods of torture were applied while the rack's victim was stretched. People would often be burnt, pinched, or have their finger and toe nails ripped off as well.
Though I haven't come across it in my research, it is to my understanding that the rack is no longer used - anywhere. However, in the height of its time, variations of this device were used throughout Europe.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Robert the Doll
Do you remember the 1988 movie Child's Play, which spawned many sequels? Well, believe it or not, there's some truth to that story.
In Key West, in the year 1906, a man said to have been trained in black magic and voodoo gave a doll to a little boy. The magical man was angry with the boy's family, but he gave the boy a "gift" anyway. The doll he gave to the boy resembles a 20th century Naval officer. At first, the boy's parents thought it was cute that their son would talk to his little companion and then speak in a different voice for the answer. It soon became evident that the boy was not throwing his voice, but the toy was actually talking back! Some other things Robert the Doll has been said to do are facial movements and knocking furniture over. The little boy eventually grew up and when he passed away in 1974, Robert the Doll was shoved to the attic. When a new family moved in, a ten-year-old little girl became the proud new owner of the forgotten toy. Strange occurrences began to happen again. It's been over thirty years, and she still holds to the story she told in childhood - the doll wanted to kill her.
As I've never had the chance to visit Key West, I've not had the opportunity to see Robert the Doll for myself. However, I do remember watching the movie that his story inspired. I was a little girl then, but it still became one of my favorites. I liked the second movie too, possibly more than the first. Even as I sit here and type this, I have a smile on my face just thinking how that second movie was set at a military school, and I am now a military wife. Just a little strange coincidence, but I digress. Anyway, by the third movie, I thought the plot had become a little tired. Would Chucky and his murderous ways ever be stopped? I watched others after that, I think just because I loved those first two movies so much. What drew my macabre little mind to enjoy them so much, I do not know. Maybe I'll have to re-watch them to figure it out. It's been years!
If you'd like to learn more about Robert the Doll, you can check out the museum's website at www.robertthedoll.org. There, you will find tales of how Robert's story was taught in a classroom, how he possesses an aura, and other blogs about him.
In Key West, in the year 1906, a man said to have been trained in black magic and voodoo gave a doll to a little boy. The magical man was angry with the boy's family, but he gave the boy a "gift" anyway. The doll he gave to the boy resembles a 20th century Naval officer. At first, the boy's parents thought it was cute that their son would talk to his little companion and then speak in a different voice for the answer. It soon became evident that the boy was not throwing his voice, but the toy was actually talking back! Some other things Robert the Doll has been said to do are facial movements and knocking furniture over. The little boy eventually grew up and when he passed away in 1974, Robert the Doll was shoved to the attic. When a new family moved in, a ten-year-old little girl became the proud new owner of the forgotten toy. Strange occurrences began to happen again. It's been over thirty years, and she still holds to the story she told in childhood - the doll wanted to kill her.
As I've never had the chance to visit Key West, I've not had the opportunity to see Robert the Doll for myself. However, I do remember watching the movie that his story inspired. I was a little girl then, but it still became one of my favorites. I liked the second movie too, possibly more than the first. Even as I sit here and type this, I have a smile on my face just thinking how that second movie was set at a military school, and I am now a military wife. Just a little strange coincidence, but I digress. Anyway, by the third movie, I thought the plot had become a little tired. Would Chucky and his murderous ways ever be stopped? I watched others after that, I think just because I loved those first two movies so much. What drew my macabre little mind to enjoy them so much, I do not know. Maybe I'll have to re-watch them to figure it out. It's been years!
If you'd like to learn more about Robert the Doll, you can check out the museum's website at www.robertthedoll.org. There, you will find tales of how Robert's story was taught in a classroom, how he possesses an aura, and other blogs about him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)