I’d heard there was a connection between children diagnosed with autism and access to the paranormal realm. It wasn’t until I started writing The Haunting of the Bloodroses that I needed to know if any scientific connections had been made between autism and the paranormal. After all, I didn’t want to create a false narrative. This quest led me down in the Google wormhole. 

The Research

Interestingly, I ran across an article called Are Autistic Kids Magnets for Ghost? by Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin and published in Psychology Today. Dr. Schurman-Kauflin is a former criminal profiler who claims to have psychic abilities. In her article, she explains how she believes spirits draw closer to autistic children (Schurman-Kauflin, 2013). Her reasoning is that autistic children have a keener ability to process information on different levels than those who are non-allistic (Schurman-Kauflin, 2013). While Dr. Schurman-Kauflin’s doctorate is in criminal justice, I found her long history as an FBI profiler and self-proclaimed psychic abilities intriguing.

The article wasn’t quick to attribute every experience an autistic child has as coming from the paranormal, and I liked that. She provided alternate theories to visions or hallucinations. These theories included medication imbalances or other underlying mental illnesses. In her article, Dr. Schurman-Kauflin provided two anecdotal examples of when an autistic child saw, drew an image, or communicated with an alleged otherworldly spirit. Dr. Schurman-Kauflin spoke about two sets of parents and the possibility that their autistic children were having interactions with otherworldly spirits. One set had been researching the possibility, while the other set claimed that their child had vivid dreams of an unknown Asian man. What was interesting was that a remote psychic confirmed what the child was seeing.

The Swedish Study

While intriguing, Dr. Schurman-Kauflin’s article failed to provide sources for further information. So, back down the Google wormhole I went. Here I found a three-year study conducted in Sweden by the Department for the Study of Religions at Gävle University. The study was titled Sensory Supernatural Experiences in Autism. While the study focused mainly on religious aspects and beliefs in different gods, I found parts of it to be more in line with my research. These parts included a detailed study of paranormal and parapsychological experiences on 17 young adults on the autistic spectrum. My interest was in children – considering the character creation – but I figured I could extrapolate some of the information to serve my needs.

In essence, this Swedish study concluded that the adults who were part of the study had more supernatural experiences than the allistic control group. Supernatural experiences in the study were defined as a sensed presence, being touched, visual stimulation, and sounds that occurred without the awareness of others. (Visuri, 2019). 

The below graphic depicts the number of varieties of supernatural experiences each participant expressed during the experiment.

The next image depicts which supernatural experience occurred during the experiment.

While the Swedish study focused on supernatural instances in relation to religions and religious beliefs, correlations to autism and the unexplained were present. For instance, telepathic contact, out-of-body experiences, contact with the dead, prediction of future and feeling a spirit are all things that teeter along the thin line between the unexplained/paranormal, parapsychology and anomalous phenomena – all of which challenge the current foundations of science. The study shows these experiences occurred more in the autistic group as opposed to the control group. You can read the entire 15 page journal here. 

The UK Study

The Sheffield Autism Research Lab conducted another study at the University of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The researchers looked for a correlation between 30 autistic adults with anomalous experiences and the associated distress. In this study, anomalous perceptions such as auditory and visual hallucinations and distortions along with perceptions of out-of-body experiences were analyzed. They were then compared with experiences reported by those who suffer from psychosis (Milne et al., 2017). The results indicated that those who have autism had higher rates of anomalous perceptual experiences in 28 out of the 30 participants. Hence, the conclusion seems to be that the majority of adults with autism experience an anomalous perception linked to the paranormal.

The Sheffield Autism Research Lab’s study indicated that 93% of the participants with Autism reported having experienced higher levels of anomalous perception related to paranormal activity than the overall mean average of the allistic control group. The below image shows the distress, intrusiveness, and frequency reported by the study and compares both groups. To read the entire study, click here.

The Conclusion

The Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena associates anomalous phenomena as psychic phenomena, including ghost, telepathy, mediumship, etc. (About Us n.d.) In summary, considering this and the correlations presented in the studies, there is substantial research to support a theory of paranormal, supernatural, or parapsychological experiences (anomalous phenomenon) being linked to those who are on the autistic spectrum. What are your thoughts on the subject? Are you autistic and have had an anomalous experience? Are you autistic and have experienced nothing? I would love to hear your thoughts and continue to learn more about this topic.

References

About Us. ASSAP about US – Anomaly Research. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2023, from http://www.assap.ac.uk/newsite/htmlfiles/About.html 

Milne, E., Dickinson, A., & Smith, R. (2017). Adults with autism spectrum conditions experience increased levels of anomalous perception. PLOS ONE, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177804 

Schurman-Kauflin, D. (2013, October 30). Are autistic kids magnets for ghosts? Psychology Today. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disturbed/201310/are-autistic-kids-magnets-ghosts 

Visuri, I. (2019). Sensory supernatural experiences in autism. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 10(2), 151–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599x.2018.1548374 

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The History

Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest places in Europe and one of the most besieged places in Britain. Today, it is known as a military fortress. But its roots go pretty deep.

Researchers found that ancient man from the Iron Age (2nd century) occupied the rock that the castle sits on. While the history of the castle’s earliest settlements is a bit muddy, historians agree that some sort of castle has occupied the site since the reign of David I in the 12th century. It seemed to decline as a residential place after David I’s reign and turned into something more of military barracks by the 17th century.

Edinburgh Castle became the sight of death, surprise attacks, and was briefly captured by the English. As a prison, it held enemies of the crown, criminals, and political rivals. Today, St. Margaret’s Chapel is the only remaining building from the original 12th-century construction.

The Stories

Visitors to Edinburgh Castle’s dungeons and underground tunnels have reported hearing pained moans, heavy breathing, and rapping on the walls.

One of the most interesting, and perhaps grossest, stories was that of a prisoner that tried to escape Edinburgh Castle in a wheelbarrow full of manure, thinking he was going to escape and get dumped in a nearby farm. Unfortunately for him, the cart was dumped off the ledge of the west port side, and the prisoner fell to his death. Today, tourists will often complain of the smell of manure along with feeling like they’re being pushed off the ledge.

Yet, one of the most compelling stories is that of Lady Janet Douglas of Glamis, who was accused of witchcraft by James V of Scotland. She, her entire family, and their servants were arrested and held in the dungeon. Her family members and servants were tortured in order to get a confession against her. Lady Janet herself was kept in a dark room. Rumor has it that she was kept in there for so long that she went blind. All the while, she could hear the footsteps of workmen above her as they constructed the wooden platform where she would eventually be burned at the stake. (Historical records show she was indeed burned alive from that platform on July 17, 1537.)

It is believed that a lot of the paranormal activity taking place at Edinburgh Castle, especially the dungeon, is linked back to Lady Janet.

The Experiment

From April 6th-17th, 2001, a British psychologist by the name of Dr. Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire conducted one of the largest paranormal investigations in the world, with 9 team members and over 200 participants. This was all part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. He screened hundreds of applicants for this experiment to make sure they didn’t already know the ghost stories or have awareness of the castle’s haunted past. Dr. Wiseman wanted to know where these stories came from and how they happened.

Other locations were part of the experiment such as Mary Kings Close and the underground vaults of the South Bridge.

Dr. Wiseman and his team measured air temperature, air movement, light levels outside the vaults, and magnetic fields.

For ten days, Dr. Wiseman and his team took the participants on tours in small groups through the vaults and tunnels around the castle. However, some of the activities that took place might remind someone of reality show challenges. Some participants were locked in vaults in the dungeon by themselves so that they could be observed without being influenced by others in the group.

Participants that were locked in the vaults by themselves reported several phenomena:

• hearing heavy breathing that seemed to get closer to them
• lights flashing
• voices
• burning sensations
• clothes being tugged
• shadowy figures
• the sensation of their faces being touched.

One group of participants all reported seeing the apparition of a man in old-fashioned clothing gliding slowly down one of the tunnels. The man was wearing a carpenter’s apron, which makes me wonder if it were a ghost… Was it one of the men that built Lady Jane’s stake? Or could it be Lady Jane’s memory and energy being so strong that it manifested?

The Data

These participants were not told where the haunted hot spots were, nor were they told where Edinburgh Castle was NOT haunted.

51% of the participants reported having experiences in the haunted areas.
35% of the participants reported having experiences in the areas that were NOT reported to be haunted.

Dr. Wiseman said, “What was interesting for us was whether or not those experiences would stack up in the vaults with the reputation for being haunted and the answer is that that definitely does happen.”

Another thing that was interesting was that Dr. Wiseman and his team took into consideration the amount of space that the participants were in. The tunnels and corridors were smaller and darker in space, and the participants were anxious when they didn’t know what was outside. The vaults were much bigger and about a third higher than the corridors. Either ghosts like larger spaces, or the size of space can make an impact on the living and what they experience.

Dr. Wiseman didn’t come to any conclusions about the existence of ghosts, but he did find the data fascinating.

Have you ever been to Edinburgh Castle? Did you have a ghostly experience? What do you think of Dr. Wiseman’s experiment? Tell us in the comments!

References

wired.com/2001/04/who-haunts-these-castle-walls/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1282114.stm

https://www.liveabout.com/the-ghosts-of-edinburgh-castle-3572726

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/when-scientist-tried-prove-edinburgh-castle-was-haunted-595526

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Cats have played a major part in history for centuries, from being worshipped as idols in Ancient Egypt to being the faithful sidekick of witches, we have to wonder what is so special about them! What is really interesting is that there are countless legends and lore that connect cats with the supernatural, and we’re not just talking about witches and such.

Like the paranormal, cats are either loved or hated. Cats have popped up in religious texts both as angelic creatures as well as agents of the Devil. Either way, it hasn’t stopped the internet from being completely obsessed with cats.

Agents of the Devil

Kitty lore is fascinating. Sure, our present-day and age tends to put our feline friends in the spotlight with videos, memes, and countless cat-related social media accounts. But they weren’t always loved with the same intensity. In fact, cats were believed to be agents, or even literal incarnations, of the devil. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX  made this exact declaration about black cats. Sadly, this resulted in numerous kitties being exterminated as an effort to keep the devil at bay. We now know today that this was a grave mistake, as cats were major helpers in keeping the rats at bay. With less kitties to catch rodents, the Black Plague was able to grow and spread considerably fast, wiping out a major percentage of Europe. Thanks, Pope Gregory IX.

Take Our Breath Away

It was also believed that cats would “suck the breath” out of babies, likely as an explanation for SIDS back in those times. This belief remained for hundreds of years. Even in 1791, an Annual Register said, “A child of eighteen months old was found dead near Plymouth, and it appeared, on the coroner’s inquest, that the child died in consequence of a cat sucking its breath, thereby occasioning strangulation.”  While kitties have been known to sit on our faces and chest while we sleep, they are hardly stealing our breath. Well, at least we hope they aren’t.

Familiars to Witches

I know this is a HUGE shock for you, but cats are heavily linked to witches. Who are we kidding? They still are! Sadly, this has also created a certain stigma to kitties, especially black cats. We see black cats take over Halloween decorations, and they are one of the most recognizable symbols of scary stuff. While cats were worshipped as gods during the times of ancient Egypt, that soon ended during the Middle Ages. We now know what happened to the kitties that were thought to be agents of the Devil, and this included the furry companions of witches. Sadly, many of these kitties were tied up with their owners and suffered the same fate.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, witch trials were prevalent. They were literally in battle with the Christian Church. The church didn’t like that people were going to witches for their medicinal needs amongst other things.

They Have Superpowers

Did you know that the Celts believed that cats were once humans that roamed the Earth? It’s believed that people who committed bad acts in life had to return for another life as a cat. In Japan, it was traditional for a single woman to have a cat. It is believed that the cat will attract handsome suitors. In Scotland, a cat appearing on your doorstep is considered to be a good omen. In Buddhism, it was once believed that once you die, your soul is transferred to a cat for safe-keeping.

They’re Legendary

We know that cats are legendary, and it’s not just in their own minds. There are several legends about cats all over the world. Some of our favorites include Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat, who tormented the people of Íslendingar. The cat roamed the countryside looking for men, women, and children to eat…specifically if they weren’t dressed in their Christmas best.

Then we have Irish and Scottish folklore, which has a legend of the Cat Sìth, who sulks around the countryside looking for souls to steal. In fact, at wakes and funerals, a lot of effort was made to make sure the Cat Sìth didn’t steal the soul of the dearly departed. This include having catnip and loud music to distract the oversized Cat Sìth.

Sources:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/83422/14-legends-about-cats-around-world

http://messybeast.com/urbancat.htm

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Her passing was sudden and unexpected, and it came as a shock to the paranormal community.

Rosemary was truly prolific in all the work she did in the field. She was noted for her writing on the paranormal, spirituality, and the occult. In addition to the amazing work she did, she was also a certified hypnotist. She was also a radio show host. Plus, she was the board director for the “National Museum of Mysteries and Research.” She was also the board director for the “Foundation for Research into Extraterrestrial Encounters.” 

Anyone who has dug deep into the paranormal has run into Rosemary’s work at least once. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she authored and co-authored more books than anyone I knew. She wrote over 65 books, which included ten encyclopedias.

Rosemary was also one of the kindest people I ever met. While I only met her a few times, she always made me feel like I was seeing family again. She recorded a message for APS during the Ghost Excavation Conference in Bedford, Pennsylvania in 2017.

While she will be truly missed, her legacy will live on in her amazing contributions to the paranormal field.

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I assure you this article contains no spoilers for season three. I do, however, talk about the connections of the series to the Paranormal, so if you’ve never seen any episodes, you will get a glimpse of what it’s about. However, I don’t think I’m ruining any of the plot elements with the information shared here.

“We can meet at the Motel 6 on Cornwallis.” This was one of many references to my home town that the show Stranger Things has thrown at us. This particular phrase makes its appearance in the first episode of the latest season, and for this happy Durhamite, set the stage for my renewed love of the genius work that is this paranormal series.

The Discovery

I remember a few years ago, as I was perusing a social media feed, people were talking about the show I’d seen advertised on Netflix. The praise for it was coming from like-minded people on my friends list, and I didn’t need much convincing to check out the hot new series.

I watched the first episode one easy Sunday morning and then did something totally out of character for me. Well, I didn’t move for nearly eight hours. I was glued to Netflix. Netflix had not yet introduced its “skip intro” feature, and I posted a lament that I had to listen to the haunting music over and over again while I binged. I also watched “The Duffer Brothers” pass my screen about a million times that day. In my post I included the hashtag “who are the Duffer Brothers?” and I’m so glad I did! Turns out they’re from here, and I am one and two degrees of separation from them.

Close to Home 

But it was the second season that really thrilled this Durham native and many others. The show was imbued with references to Jordan Lake, the Eno, Cornwallis Road, and — oh my gawd! — Euclid, which is ONE STREET OVER from my house. What fun romp!

It’s also amazing that we also have the Rhine Research Center in our hometown! They research all things related to parapsychology. Thankfully, they are much nicer and not as shady as the laboratory that was in Hawkins, Indiana.

But the location references, fun though they are, are not why people are so fascinated by Stranger Things. We are, of course, drawn to the paranormal elements that are woven so skillfully into the very human story of relationships and attachments. I promised no spoilers, so we will chat only about the paranormal elements: remote viewing, telekinesis, alternate dimensions, and government conspiracies.

Remote Viewing

Remote viewing — the ability to see objects that are hidden from view — makes a strong impact on the series. In Stranger Things, water provides the medium for the exercise and acts as a conduit for the information. I’ve heard practitioners of this skill describe their own visualization rituals, and they often describe diving into a body of water in order to access their sight. 

If you’re interested in flexing your remote viewing skills, be sure to follow the Facebook site for the Association of Paranormal Study. We post remote viewing exercises in real time, and followers can test their own skills.

Telekinesis

As for the telekinesis (also known as psychokinesis), who wouldn’t want the ability to kick ass without even touching your opponent? Shutting doors as you walk through? Moving an object out of your way as you need room for what-have-you? Grabbing the remote or — 1000 times a day — your phone without getting up? Seriously, if I had that power, I would totally abuse it and for mostly simple things. I wouldn’t even need to be particularly powerful at it. Let me just move that pen a centimeter out of my annoying coworker’s reach… Or let me just slide my drink a little closer…

Oh yeah, telekinesis is the power I have coveted since I was a kid. 

Alternate Dimensions

The other big issue of Stranger Things is the existence of another dimension and the creatures that live there. This topic is, of course, explored by many science fiction and fantasy authors. What is lurking in other dimensions? What would it take for them to survive in ours? Exactly what does a portal from one to the other look like? Can we imagine any positive reason to exploit its existence for our own good? 

Even scientists not writing for fiction make a case for alternate dimensions and parallel universes. A simple internet search yields plenty of articles in even the most respected publications. But the stuff of nightmares comes from imagining what the creatures living there look like, how they interact with our space, time, and atmosphere, and what they want from us. 

We never open a portal into someone’s kitchen, say, and spy a lovely couple eating dinner… no, we are forever opening portals to creatures, unlike anything we can simply imagine and who are (seemingly) insatiably hungry for us. Let’s just say, you probably shouldn’t watch a dimensional science fiction show late at night…

As a paranormal investigator, I assume the entities we encounter are existing in some version of another dimension. I guess some people call them planes of existence. We too are searching for portals to their world and ways to communicate across the dimensions. These experiences may seem like fantasy fiction to people who overhear us, but like the scientists in paranormal fiction, we are simply trying to understand the things that happen around us.

Government Conspiracies

And that brings us, finally, to the paranormal staple, the government conspiracy. Ideas of black ops funding streams, mad scientists in Federal employ, and secret, underground compounds the size of cities all make for fascinating fiction. Personally, as someone who has worked for government agencies most of my life, we can’t even order paper efficiently, so I’m disinclined to believe we can keep some sort of massive secret. But it sure does make for good fiction!

I hope you’ve all had a chance to enjoy Stranger Things as much as I did. And if you haven’t started it, I hope you give it a try.

Meanwhile, I’m going to be working on those telekinesis skills.

If this intrigued you, and you’re in the Raleigh-Durham area, come to our July 20th meetup at the Richard B. Harrison Library at 1pm! We will be exploring the true story of Stranger Things right in the Triangle!

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What is even more disturbing is when there are multiple murders that happen in a similar fashion. What is even more interesting is when these murders took place decades apart.

The Villisca axe murders and the Amityville murders are prominent murders that happened in the 20th century. But people die every day, so what is the big deal? The matter of how these people lose their lives is not only gruesome, but the facts are truly extraordinary. I’m going to break down some of the most disturbing similarities between Villisca and Amityville that will make you wonder.

Both Families Had Six Members Murdered

Between midnight and 5 am around June 10th-11th, 1912, six members of the Moore family were found bludgeoned to death. In addition to the family members, there were two friends sleeping over at the time who were also murdered.

On the evening of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. murdered the six members of his own family.

Both Houses Have Quarter Moon Windows

This one is a bit creepy. We are all familiar with the creepy “eye like” windows of the Amityville house. Some people think that the windows look downright evil.

What many don’t know is that the Villisca house also has quarter moon windows. They don’t look quite as evil as Amityville, but the common aesthetic between two drastically different time periods is striking. It seems these windows were quite popular for over half a century.

Both Families Were (Likely) Murdered in Their Sleep

When the Moore family’s remains were discovered, investigators concluded that all the members of the family were asleep. One of the guests, Lena Stillinger, seemed to have woken up because she had defensive wounds. Given it was 1912 and the murder weapon was an axe, it must have been a really quiet method. However, I have also heard axes chopping wood and it’s fairly noisy. I’m puzzled as to why and how these people were asleep. Especially with the ones who were in the same room when the murder was happening. You would think the other person in the room would have woken up.

One of the most terrifying myths about Amityville was that the DeFeo family seemed to have slept through it all. Ronald “Butch” DeFeo. The parents were likely awake at the time of their death. The children slept through their parents’ (and their own) murder. They were all shot with .35 caliber lever action Marlin 336C. All of the family members were also found face down in their beds.

No One Heard Both Murders

Okay, this one might be a stretch for the Villisca murders. But even so, none of the neighbors heard the family screaming when the murders took place. It should be noted though, that the neighbors noticed when the Moores didn’t do their morning chores. They felt comfortable enough to knock on the door and check on the family. So, this was a community that was personal and had deep connections…or in each other’s business.

The neighbors around the Amityville house reported that they didn’t hear any gunshots. Also, there weren’t any signs that Butch used a silencer. He could have used pillows to dampen the gunshot noise. But again, no one heard screaming or any ruckus around the house. The only thing the neighbors heard was the family’s dog barking.

Both Have Connections to Native Americans

To be fair, almost anywhere you go in the United States will have strong Native American roots. In the case of these two houses and murders, their respective towns were the location of strife and warfare between European settlers and local tribes.

According to a rumor, Villisca was named after the Native American word, “Wallisca.” When the town was founded in the early 1900s, it was thought that this word meant, “Pleasant View” or “Pretty Place.” Instead, the word actually means, “evil spirit.” I haven’t found much to support this theory, but it’s interesting.

Despite rumors of an ancient burial ground on the Amityville house property, it isn’t true. The tribe that most likely visited the area was the Massapequans.

Could an unrestful spirit have possessed Butch DeFeo and the Moore’s unknown assailant? The Villisca murders were never solved, despite a few arrests. All of the accused were acquitted. Perhaps it was merely a drifter who wanted to spill blood, and the Moores were the unfortunate chosen victims.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, these similarities between these two murders continue to intrigue me. I feel as though there is so much more to both stories that can build these connections. However, thanks to time and simply not connecting the dots, there are some elements of the story that has been lost forever. Perhaps this is a tragic event that is doomed to repeat itself every several decades. How long will it be before the next one occurs? Either way, two families were destroyed.

And that is the most tragic connection of all.

What do you think? Do you see a connection between Amityville and Villisca? Tell us in the comments!

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A Widespread Belief

However, we’re talking about something different…and taller. Stemming from Icelandic and Faroese folklore, the huldufólk are mythical beings that are sometimes synonymous with elves. They live outdoors, and they make their home in the rocks and cliffs of Iceland. They also dress in 19th-century clothing. This is an invisible society of human-like creatures. In 2006, a study on the belief of the huldufólk revealed that 32% of Icelanders believe in the possibility that these human-like creatures exist while 24% believe that their existence is likely or a certainty. Before going further, note that Iceland consists of large volcanic rock formations. Springs and geysers are often boiling, and there is sparse greenery in the area. So, rocks aren’t an uncommon thing for the region.

Construction & Protests

In the 1930s, road construction commenced in Kópavogur, Iceland. But they had to cut through a hill in order to continue. The hill is Alfholl or Elf Hill Road. But there was a problem; machinery kept breaking down as it tried to cut through the rock. The construction company ran out of funding. Plans to revisit construction started not only in the 1940s but also in the 1980s. Construction crews ran into the same problem. Eventually, the plans to cut through the hill were abandoned. The new plan was to build the road AROUND Alfholl instead of through it. Many believe that elven magic was afoot.

In 1982, over one hundred Icelanders protested a NATO base while demanding an inspection of the area for any elf dwellings. Construction of roads and neighborhoods revolve around rock formations that may be inhabited by elves or the huldufólk. In 2004, an aluminum company had to halt construction of a smelter due to having to hire a government official to inspect the area for elven dwellings and ruins.

In 2013, a large road was under construction on the Alftanes Penninsula to connect the island to a small town near Reykjavik. However, there was a 12-foot high rock, weighing 70 tons, that was blocking the progress of the construction project. However, the construction crew couldn’t just destroy the rock and move the pieces to the side. It turned into quite a dispute that took two years to resolve.

The government actually had a crane move the massive rock in two pieces to a safe location. According to campaigners and Iceland’s Supreme Court, the rock is an “elf church”, or a structure that is a place of worship by the huldufólk. A seer by the name of Ragnhildur Jonsdottir spoke for a pact between elves and men.

In short, Icelanders take this belief very seriously. You can see more examples here on how Icelanders have constructed homes, apartments, and even entire towns around these rocks.

The Legend

All good myths, legends, and folklore have an origin story. They are the very fabric of what our modern society believes in today. Writings about these hidden people go back to the 18th and 19th centuries. When it comes to elves, we typically think that elf folklore came from the Vikings. When they were pillaging, invading, taking over, etc. there was also a community to invade. But there are theories that suggest that when the Vikings arrived in Iceland, there wasn’t much of a population. So, the elves had to fill in that gap.

But what about the huldufólk? There’s a legend that has their origins going back to the times of Adam and Eve. Apparently, Eve had several children. One day, God came to visit and had asked to see all of the children. Eve wasn’t finished bathing the children, so she only showed God the clean ones and hid the dirty ones. When God asked if there were any more children, Eve said no. But, since we know that the Biblical God is all-knowing and all-seeing, He found out about the children and made them invisible. This was all done under the guise, “What man hides from God, thus God hides from man.” The invisible children went off to live in the great outdoors in the hills and moors.

You could say that we came from the children that Eve showed God and the huldufólk descended from the children that were hidden.

There are dates associated with the huldufólk activity as well. On New Year’s Eve, it is believed that the huldufólk move to new locations. There is also Midsummer’s Night when the huldufólk will give you gifts and money if you stand at a crossroads late at night. But, you don’t want to accept these gifts because it means certain misfortune will come your way.

A Spirit Without a Body

This is where my paranormal researcher-self gets excited. I had already begun making connections between ghosts and the huldufólk when I ran into this other origin story:

A man had been traveling and found a farm that he had never seen before. He knocked on the door and an old woman answers the door. The man asks to stay the night and the woman obliges and introduces him to her two beautiful daughters. The man (boldly) asks the woman if one of the daughters could keep him company for the night, and again, the woman says yes. Don’t worry, the woman wasn’t willingly letting her daughter sleep with a stranger.

Anyway, the man goes to bed and one of the daughters lays beside him. He tries to embrace her, but his hand passes through her body. She has no physical form.

When the man asks the daughter why this happened, she said that the Devil and his army revolted against heaven a long time ago. Those who supported the devil were driven into darkness. The ones who neither opposed or supported the devil were sent to earth to live. She explains that she is a spirit without a body and can be seen in her human form when she chooses to.

So, what if ghosts are living people without a physical body to touch? Or, what if the huldufólk are people who are in an alternate dimension and our interactions with them are purely random and by chance? I sometimes wonder if instead of reverting to the belief in ghosts and the afterlife, the Icelandic folks instead believed in having encounters with the huldufólk.

Apparently, the huldufólk live life just like humans. They have societies, politics, communities, relationships…basically living life exactly the same as we do. Larissa Kyzer has a wonderful list of stories of the huldufólk as well as legends associated with them.

Sources

BBC: Iceland’s ‘elf church’ rock moved to end road row

Hidden People: They’re Just Like Us…Kind Of

The Truth Behind Iceland’s Obsession with Elves

Why So Many Icelanders Still Believe in Invisible Elves

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For Raleigh natives, this might be a local urban legend that is common knowledge. While I’ve been in Raleigh for about six years now, I’m still learning about new things about this city. I’m always up to hearing interesting ghost stories, especially local stories. Majority of cities around the world has some sort of local myth or legend. Some of the most popular ones include the ghostly hitchhiker, a woman in white, and a crybaby bridge. Have you noticed that almost every town has a crybaby bridge legend? Well, in Raleigh’s case, it’s Crybaby Lane. I first read about it on Candid Slice, and thankfully the author, Heather Leah, had done a LOT of research and gave me a lot of resources to use when researching this legend.

The Legend

I’ve heard numerous opinions on Crybaby Lane. I’ve even had a local told me that the story was completely made up in order to create some sort of local ghost story. For those of you who are unfamiliar, here is the premise of the legend. A Catholic orphanage burned down in 1958 because some escapees from Dorthea Dix started lighting things on fire. According to legend, several children lost their lives either from the flames or the escaped mental patients. It’s a rather gory legend that puts mental health patients in a bad light. Today, if you visit the site, you’ll hear ghostly cries of the children as they scream to be saved. People who live near the orphanage claim to smell sulfur even though nothing is on fire. There is also a legend of a gatekeeper who protects the entrance to Crybaby Lane.

The first odd thing I noticed with Crybaby Lane is that no one could agree on the location. Besides Pattison’s information, the most common thing I hear is that it is near Dorthea Dix, it’s by Dix, it’s near Dix, it’s AT Dix…the list goes on. I’ve read countless stories of people who wandered around the area and couldn’t find the site. This was worrisome for the orphanage’s existence because usually there is some local who will know where the orphanage was. From my understanding, the buildings were torn down in the 1970s, which isn’t that long ago. Given that modern day record-keeping has improved tremendously for data from the past century, why was finding Crybaby Lane so confusing? Thankfully, I ran into Heather Leah’s article about Crybaby Lane, and all of her work gave me the shortcut I needed to really dive deep into this legend.

The History

The Catholic orphanage was founded by Father Thomas Price. He bought the land off of Western Boulevard in the 1890s and built a chapel there. After seeing children suffering because of their families’ poverty, he opened an orphanage in 1898/1899 with his sister, Sister Mary Agnes Price, called the Catholic Orphanage of Nazareth. As many as 250 children lived there during the Great Depression. Not all of the children there had deceased parents, most were there because their parents could no longer afford to take care of them. The orphanage closed in the 1970s. There are some discrepancies when it comes to the year. One website says that the orphanage was founded in 1898, and then the seminary followed in 1902. Apparently, there was a reunion in 1982 where 200 people gathered, and many were old enough to talk about the babies that were left at the orphanage during the Great Depression. I was really excited to find a blog where former residents of the orphanage shared their old photos and stories from living there. Sadly, it hasn’t been updated since 2014. But, I found a wealth of info, photos, and a glimpse of what life must have been like at the orphanage.

The Facts

I am currently still in the process of trying to find proof of the 1958 fire. I haven’t found it yet, and will update when I do. The location did have several fires that happened over the span of its existence. There was an article in the News & Observer that talked about a fire that broke out on October 29, 1905 at the orphanage. This is supported with newspaper clippings you’ll see here. The fire was so bad that a priest jumped out of windows to get to safety, and he ended up permanently crippled. There were three students who were sleeping on the fourth floor when the fire broke out, and they had no choice but to jump out the window as well. It was a 45 foot drop, enough to cause serious injuries and even death. The priests were spreading mattresses to cushion their fall. Timothy Wallace, who was 21 years old, and another student, jumped with injuries, but they survived. However, 16-year old John Gladish ended up missing the mattresses and died from his injuries the following Sunday. Gladish was the only casualty of the 1905 fire.

There was another fire in 1912 in the stables, but no one was injured or killed. There was a fire noted in 1961 after a priest was attempting to burn a wasps’ nest and burned the rectory to the ground. Unfortunately, some records of the graves at the orphanage graveyard burned with it. Father Price left Nazareth in 1911, and then died in 1919 China on an international mission trip after his appendix burst. There is a movement at the moment to get Father Price canonized and beatified, and he was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame in 2018.

The Graveyard

John Gladish and others were buried at the cemetery at the orphanage. But, what is really disturbing, is that these graves are now unmarked and seemed to have totally disappeared. In the early eighties, an NCSU student by the name of Dean Ruedrich took walks through the graveyard. He found around 20 or 30 stones, with three people dying on Christmas Day. 30 years later, while Ruedrich was working on restoring and repairing Mount Hope after a tornado, visitors asked him about the Catholic orphanage graves.

Ruedrich had to compare aerial maps of Raleigh and traced the graveyard. According to him, he thinks the graveyard was at the corner of Main Campus Drive and Partners Way. Supposedly, the graves have been moved to St. Joseph’s Cemetery in New Bern, where there are 14 unmarked graves with crosses on them. For more information on these forgotten graves, check out the News & Observer article. It is a bit unsettling considered that these remains were entrusted to the Catholic Church and then forgotten.

The Land Today

The Catholic Diocese donated a portion of the land to Cardinal Gibbons High School in 1962. Then, a substantial portion of land near Dorthea Dix was bought by North Carolina State University in 1988. Today, the buildings are gone and replaced by modern buildings and the new cathedral. According to Kate Pattison of the Raleigh Public Record, the original orphanage building became the home for the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh and still stands to this day. Granted, her write up was dated back to 2009…but that is recent enough where a building could be remembered. From my understanding, the Catholic Diocese is now located in North Raleigh, about 10 minutes from where I live.

According to WRAL.com, the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral apparently sits on the former site. Again, first it was the office for the Catholic Diocese, now the new cathedral sits on the same site. From what I can see on Google Maps, it appears Crybaby Lane has been paved over in efforts to provide another entrance to the massive cathedral. This was later confirmed by Heather. According to Heather, there is a stone left of the orphanage, but that’s about it. Considering how much of an impact Father Price made on the area and how massive of a presence that the orphanage had, it would be ludicrous to allow this part of history to be paved over and forgotten. If you look at the satellite version of Google Maps, it hasn’t been updated yet and you can still see the old site. You can tell it’s outdated because the new cathedral isn’t on the satellite image.

Anyway, despite the confusing history about the Catholic Orphanage of Nazareth, Crybaby Lane, the haunted orphanage, whatever you want to call it, there is truly a diamond in the rough tucked away in South Raleigh that is worth researching.

Sources

Nazareth Stories: A blog run by former inhabitants of the orphanage where they shared personal stories and photos.

Candid Slice – Ghost Hunt! Crybaby Lane Sliced Open

Father Thomas Price Inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame

WRAL – Cathedral sits on the former site of the Catholic orphanage

News & Observer – Cemetery for Catholic orphanage, but no one knows where they are now

Legeros – Fire at the Catholic Orphanage – October 29, 1905

Raleigh Public Record – Nazareth: Orphans, Ghosts, and a Saint

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Previously, we have written about the legend of the leprechaun as well as the banshee and we have even written about selkies. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2019, we’re going to talk about some of the other famous Irish myths and legends that tend to get upstaged by the leprechaun and shamrock. Please tell us about the Irish myths and legends you know about in the comments!

Cú Chulainn

Sometimes known as Cuhullin, Cú Chulainn is one of the most famous Irish legends known today. He is a mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, plus the Scottish and Manx folklore. His birth name was Sentant, but e gain the name after slaying a dangerous guard dog that belonged to Culann. Before you deiced that you don’t like him, apparently the dog was slain in self-defense. His name literally translates to ‘Culann’s Hound’. His father was the god Lugh and his mother was a mortal by the name of Deichtine. You could almost say he’s the Irish version of the Greek mythological figure, Hercules. To give you an idea of how to find his stories, look in the Ulster Cycle, which is formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle. There are four cycles of Irish mythology that comprise of sagas and heroic legends. What is interesting about Cú Chulainn is that he possessed something called a “ríastrad”, meaning whenever he fights, he turned into this battle-thirsty monster that knows neither friend or foe. He possessed superhuman strength and agility, making him useful in war. He joined his uncle’s army, the Red Branch Knights, his uncle being King Conchobar Mac Nessa.

Dagda’s Harp

The Dagda was a god who was part of the Tuatha de Dannan who had a cauldron of plenty, meaning that regardless of how many men sat with him, there would always be plenty of food. He also possessed a magic club where one end would end a man’s life, and the other end could restore life. The most famous item the Dagda possessed was a harp known as the Uaithne, called the Four-Angled Music. The Dagda could make the seasons come in the correct order as well as make people laugh or cry. Before battle, the Dagda would play the harp for his men to make their fears go away. After a day of fighting, he would play the harp to help his men forget their sorrow of losing their fellow fighters and feel the joy of victory. The Fomorians heard of this harp. And when they were preparing to fight the Tuatha de Dannan in the second Battle of Moytura, they decided to steal the harp in hopes it would help them win the battle. A few of the warriors stole the harp and hid in the cave until the battle was over. Unfortunately for the Fomorians, they lost the battle. When the Tuatha de Dannan returned from the fight, they begged Dagda to play his harp. When it couldn’t be found, Dagda, Ogman, and Lugh went to find the harp. When the three gods arrived at the cave, Dagda stretched out his arm and the harp was returned to him. When the Fomorians picked up their weapons, Lugh told Dagda to play a song. So he played a song to make them laugh. When he was done, the Fomorians picked their weapons back up. Then Dagda played a song to make them cry; same result. Finally, Dagda played a song to make the Fomorians fall asleep, and it worked. You can bet that no one stole Dagda’s harp ever again!

Changelings

In case you didn’t know, changelings are a European myth, and Ireland was no exception! Changelings are rather disturbing. They usually came from fairies, and they were the deformed children of these creatures. Since fairies prefer a more aesthetically pleasing baby, they would steal human babies and swap them out with their changelings. These changelings look like human babies, but they get pleasure out of other people’s miseries and they are emotionally void of feeling happiness for others unless they are suffering. In Irish folklore, looking at a baby with admiration, jealously, or anything that elevated the baby’s status would be dangerous. Basically putting your baby on some sort of pedestal in admiration made it more vulnerable to be kidnapped. Changelings were also believed to be old fairies who were brought into the human world to die. A way to combat changelings would be to throw it in the fire and it would jump up the chimney and the fairies would return the baby. If you shouted “God bless you” while a fairy was trying to kidnap your baby, it would abandon its plans and leave. There are even stories of fairies returning human babies and asking for their changelings back.

Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is very much a real place and you can visit it! It is located on the Northern coast of Ireland and it is just a few miles northeast of the town of Bushmills. The causeway has about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, and they look like they were made by a giant. Hence the legend we’re about to talk about. The columns have a hexagonal shape, and they are the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption that occurred about 50 million years ago. Isn’t Mother Nature amazing? But people back in ancient times didn’t have the knowledge of geology as we do today. As said a few times in our blogs, humans created myths and legends to explain the things that we didn’t understand. UNESCO declared the area as a World Heritage Site and the 4th greatest natural wonder in the world in the United Kingdom. Legend has it (in the Fenian Cycle) that Finn Mac Cool built the causeway as a bridge to Scotland after the giant, Benandonner, challenged him to a fight. There are a few variations of the legend, like Finn defeating Benandonner. However, my favorite is the one where Finn’s wife, Oonagh, helps him hide by disguising him as a baby. Basically, Finn realized that Benandonner was a lot bigger than expected and didn’t want to fight. When Benandonner arrives, Oonagh invites him inside while he waits for Finn. When he sees the “baby”, Benandonner freaks out because the baby is huge, which means his father must be much bigger. Then, Benandonner runs back to Scotland, destroying the bridge behind him and cutting off Ireland from Scotland.

The Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is considered a “must do” activity when visiting Ireland. For over 200 years, millions of people have climbed the steps of the Blarney Castle and kissed the famous stone known for giving the gift of eloquence. The stone was set in a tower in 1446. Some of the legends behind the Blarney Stone include it being Jacob’s Pillow, otherwise known as the Stone of Jacob. It was brought to Ireland by Jeremiah (the Prophet). It was renamed as the Fatal Stone and used as an oracular throne of Irish kings. It is also believed to be the deathbed pillow of St. Columba of Iona. Then the stone was taken to Ireland and its prophetic power was used for royal succession, known as the Stone of Destiny. When the Irish went to aid Robert the Bruce in 1314, part of the Blarney Stone was returned to Ireland and set in the castle where it sits today. Other legends state the Blarney Stone was stone that Moses struck and gushed water. Others believe that it was called the “Stone of Ezel” at first and brought back to Ireland from the Crusades. Finally, one last legend, is about the Lord of Blarney, Cormac Teige McCarthy, who was going to have his land taken away from Elizabeth I. He needed to travel to England to persuade her to allow him to keep his land, but he wasn’t gifted in speech. On his way, an old woman told him to kiss the famous stone, which he did. Spoiler: He did not lose his land.

Oisín and Tír na nÓg

This story is beautiful, and yet, sad. Oisín was the son of Fionn mac Cumhaill (aka Finn Mac Cool, who was portrayed as a giant in folklore). While Fionn and the Fianna were hunting over in county Kerry, a beautiful woman on a white horse approached the group. When asked for her name, she said she was Niamh, and her father was the king of Tír na nÓg. She was looking for Oisín and wanted him to return to Tír na nÓg (the land of the young) with her. While Fionn was hesitant to let his son go, in fear he would never see him again, Oisín got on the horse with Niamh and left. He ended up marring Niamh and living in Tír na nÓg for three hundred years. But he was so happy that the time felt much shorter. He eventually wanted to go back to Ireland. Niamh warned him that if he left, he shouldn’t set foot on the soil of Ireland because he would never be able to return to Tír na nÓg ever again. When Oisín returned, he was shocked over how much had changed. He then saw some men trying to move a stone, and Oisín offered to assist. But as soon as he stepped off the horse, it galloped away and Oisín turned into a frail old man. He was taken to St. Patrick, who offered him comfort and care in his final days. Oisín was saddened to hear that 300 years had passed and everyone he knew was dead. He talked about Tír na nÓg and how beautiful it was. The legend still remains relevant to this day.

Pookas

Pookas are one of the most feared creatures in Ireland. They are a type of fairy that thrive on mischief and creating havoc for humans. The word, “pooka”, comes from the Irish root word, “puca”, which means “goblin.” It is a shapeshifter that often takes the form of a dark horse. Apparently, if someone is drunk, the horse will offer them a ride home. The drunkard is essentially given the ride of its life as the Pooka gets enjoyment out of terrifying the inebriated rider. It has also been seen as a rabbit, a dog, or even an old man. They only appear at night, and they possess the gift of speech. What is interesting to note is that almost every county in Ireland has some variation of the Pooka legend. They are normally seen tearing down fences and bothering the animals. However, if they are in a bad mood, they could cause fires and call people out by name at night. If the person came out, then the Pooka carried them away. Pookas were also blamed for the numerous shipwrecks on the Irish coast under the belief that they were also messing with ships.

Queen Maedh

You could say this is where fact and fiction combine. She’s known by a few different names; Maedh, Medb, the list goes on. She was the queen of Connacht and found in the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology. If you look at pictures of her, she looks cunning, sassy, and ready to take over the world. Her father was believed to be the King of Ireland, and then became the King of Connacht, and then she took over the role from him. Her father married her off to Conchobar mac Nessa. She bore several children and had a few more husbands and bed partners after him. What is interesting about Maedh is that she was perceived to be some sort of goddess, and marriage to her meant that her husband would become the King of Ireland. She is truly one of the most famous figures in Ireland and her legacy lives on.

Children of Lir

We can’t talk about Irish myths and legends without mentioning the Children of Lir, who can be found in the Mythogical Cycle. Their legend is supposedly the inspiration for the ballet, “Swan Lake.” The children’s father was King Lir (hence the name), and their mother, Aobh, died. The children were Aodh, Fionnghuala, Fiachra and Conn. To get over his wife’s death, Lir married his wife’s sister, Aoife. At first, she loved the children. But she eventually became jealous of how much her husband loved his children. What a concept, right? In a classic move of stepmother cruelty, she took the children to Lake Derravarragh in County Westmeath and put a spell on them while they were swimming. Aoife turned the children into swans and cursed them in this form for 900 years. The children kept their ability to speak during their curse and they would often sing on the lake. They remained at Lake Derravarragh for 400 years. Then, they went to the Sea of Moyle between Ireland and Scotland for 300 more years. Then, they went to Erris in County Mayo. They then returned to their home castle. Their father was long dead and the place was in ruins. The children were heartbroken. They returned to Erris, where they met St. Mochaomhóg, who eventually broke the curse. Some credit St. Patrick as well for breaking the curse. The cursed could have been broken earlier, but they never hear the sound of a Christian bell. When the curse broke, the children became an old woman and three old men. St. Mochaomhóg baptized the group, and they passed away in peace.

The Legend of Diarmuid & Grainne

Here’s another Irish legend centering around Fin Mac Cool. The aging figure was seeking a second wife, and he fell for Grainne, who was the daughter of the King of Ireland, Cormac MacAirt. She initially agreed to the engagement, and then she met Diarmuid. They instantly fell in love. Grainne drugged the entire group during a celebration feast and told Diarmuid how she felt. However, the noble warrior didn’t want to betray his best friend, so he declined. But Grainne didn’t want to take no for an answer. So, she placed a spell on him and made him fall in love with her. The couple ended up running away together, with Finn and his men in pursuit. They would sleep in caves and basically live in hiding. Grainne eventually became pregnant with Diarmuid’s child. Eventually, a boar confront Diarmuid. A boar was the only thing that could kill the man. Protecting Grainne, who was heavily pregnant, Diarmuid was gored by the beast as he killed it with his sword. As he was dying, Finn and his men approached the couple. Grainne begged Finn to save Diarmuid by letting him drink the water from Fionn’s magical hands. Fionn refused, but eventually gave in after Oisin threatened to kill his father. But before Fionn could get the water, Diarmuid died.

What are your favorite Irish myths and legends? Share them in the comments!

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An example of a message from Momo

At first glance, the main image used for the new viral Momo Challenge is nothing short of unsettling. What is even more disturbing is that it is a suicide challenge. Basically, users on WhatsApp and Facebook are challenged to do these small acts that quickly escalate to becoming more deadly and violent. Failure to complete these task promises death to the victims by the creepy looking character. This is mainly targeting kids, and some children as young as six years old have been looped into this. The character also requires photographs as proof of the completion of said tasks. It seems to be the Blue Whale challenge repackaged as something else.

So far, two preteens/teenagers have died from this challenge, citing the cause of death as suicide. A 16-year old boy and a 12-year old girl took their own lives as part of the Momo Challenge. Basically, the person is challenged to message the character on WhatsApp, and the process follows from there. If the person refuses to follow the challenges, they are sent violent and gory images and threatened. There have been reports of children facing harassment and bullying if they didn’t adhere to the directions. Or, even daring one of their peers to participate. Schools in the United States have taken a special interest in the Momo Challenge and have issued warning letters to parents at brick and mortar schools.

So, what have I taken a special interest in the Momo Challenge? Well, it’s starting to garner the reputation of an urban legend. This reminds me a lot of Slenderman, and we know how there have been a string of attempted murders and crimes done in the honor of this fictional character. Momo also seems to have been birthed from creepypasta, so that adds another feather to the hoax cap.

I’m truly fascinated by things like this, because this is how urban legends and ghost stories are born. Right now, we have a lot of information to prove that Momo is nothing but a sick user online that is doing some terrible things.

via www.news.com.au

But how much time will pass before society looks at the creepy doll and associates it with the Legend of Momo? It’s actually a sculpture that was created by a Japanese special effects company called, Link Factory. The sculpture was displayed at Tokyo’s art Vanilla Gallery under the title, “Mother Bird.” See the full sculpture on display on the right.

It’s more than obvious this is a sculpture. I do feel for Link Factory because the piece was never meant to be used for anything evil and sinister. Instead, it has been distorted to be associated with Momo from now on, and it will likely never shake that reputation. It does make me wonder about the future of Mother Bird.

So, if you, or your youth, have messaged Momo and are now trying to find a way out of the challenge without losing your life, turn off WhatsApp, uninstall it, do what you need to do to separate yourself. It’s not some evil entity that is hell-bent on taking down children one by one. Also, if you’re a parent with a child that uses social media, please talk to your child.

I have to wonder, in the next 10, 20, or even 30 years from now, how many times will Momo appear again? Will Momo become an entity all of its own thanks to our collective thoughts creating this sinister creature?

When it comes to Momo’s YouTube presence, I’m conflicted. Many of you know that I work for a large YouTube channel, and we took a special interest in the Momo challenge last year. When we were researching it, there were Momo videos on YouTube. I saw them with my own eyes. There was nothing “hacked” though. That’s a misconception. These were videos that were already uploaded to YouTube and targeted to children. This was before the hype so they weren’t caught by the video streaming site at the time. But since YouTube released their statement saying that they found no Momo video, and the fact checkers are supporting it, they wiped their site clean of anything Momo related. Even our own videos reporting Momo were removed. This makes me want to get out the tin foil hat and join the conspiracy theorists. But for real, question everything you read.

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