Blackbeard's Ghost

A North Carolina Ghost Story 

retold by

S. E. Schlosser

The nefarious pirate Blackbeard (who's real name was Edward Teach) was a tall man with a very long black beard that covered most of his face and extended down to his waist. He tied his beard up in pigtails adorned with black ribbons. He wore a bandolier over his shoulders with three braces of pistols and sometimes he would hang two slo...

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What is Superstition?

According to Webster's dictionary, superstition is 

n. any belief that is inconsistent with the known laws of science or with what is considered true and rational; esp., such a belief in omens, the supernatural, etc. 

Halloween is traditionally the time when common superstitions, folklore, myths and omens carry more weight to those who believe. Superstition origins go back thousands of years ago. Beliefs include good luck charms, amulets, bad luck, fortunes, cures, portents...
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"Ghosts and Fairies in the Middle Ages," ghosts were often thought to be the damned souls of, women who died in childbirth, children who were never baptized, blasphemers, people who were not Christians and those who committed suicide. While their ghosts roamed the Earth, the people themselves were destined for an eternity in Purgatory. In contrast, if someone wanted to bring forth a spirit, they would need to wash a slab of steel in mugwort juice.

  Other religions also had superstitions surro...
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An alp is a nightmare creature originating in German folklore.

Not to be mistaken with the similarly named Alp-luachra, the alp is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its behavior is more like that of the incubus. It is unique from both of these creatures in that it wears a magic hat called a Tarnkappe, from which it draws its powers. The word "alp" is a variation on the word "elf". It is also known by the following names: trud, mar, mart, mahr, schrat, and walrider. Many variations of the cre...

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• Karel ende Elegast (Dutch for Charlemagne and Elegast, or more simply Charles and Elegast) is an original Dutch poem that some scholars think was written end of the 12th century, otherwise in the 13th century. It is a Frankish romance of Charlemagne ("Karel") as an exemplary Christian king and his friend Elegast, whose name means "elf spirit" or "elf guest." Elegast has supernatural powers such as ability to talk to animals and may be an Elf. He lives in the forest as a thief. The two go out ...

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Garlic: Superstitions, Folklore and Fact

 

GARLIC SUPERSTITIONS & FOLKLORE

• According to Pliny, garlic and onions were invoked as deities by the Egyptians at the taking of oaths. The inhabitants of Pelusium in lower Egypt, who worshipped the onion, are said to have held both it and garlic in aversion as food.
  
• Egyptian slaves were given a daily ration of garlic, as it was believed to ward off illness and to i...

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Screaming Jenny

A West Virginia Ghost Story

retold by

S.E. Schlosser

The old storage sheds along the tracks were abandoned shortly after the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built, and it wasn't long before the poor folk of the area moved in. The sheds provided shelter - of a sort - although the winter wind still pierced through every crevice, and the small fireplaces that the poor constructed did little to keep...

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John Henry: The Steel Driving Man

A West Virginia Legend

retold by

S.E. Schlosser 

Now John Henry was a mighty man, yes sir. He was born a slave in the 1840's but was freed after the war. He went to work as a steel-driver for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, don't ya know. And John Henry was the strongest, the most powerful man working the rails.

John Henry, he would spend his day's drilling holes by hittin...

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Is investigating the paranormal potentially dangerous? Until recently, I would have said "No," particularly if you are not a sensitive. Since I fall somewhere in between true sensitives and those who are psychic as a brick, I routinely use psychic shielding methods before I begin any investigation or similar type work. I know others on the R.I.P. team also employ their own rituals. However, I've now witnessed something that has me convinced that everyone - sensitive or not - needs to be...
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