Bizarre Mythical Beings

When we think of mythical beings the usual suspects come to mind: unicorns, dragons, pixies and elves! But what about those creatures that come from other myths and legends? The creepy and down-right bizarre beasts that come from all corners of the earth and dwell in the deep.

Let's delve in and take a look...

Harmless Hybrids 

The Wolpertinger: a hybrid creature from Bavarian folklore, suggested to be originally created as a story to freak out tourists in the 1800s,  it is a hare and deer amalgamation but has also been known to be formed from many other parts of different animals.. a bit like a Frankenstein's monster creation!

This being is often shown on display in places like pubs and tourist attractions as a taxidermy mishmash. A seemingly harmless creature of legend, it is said to be formed from a cross-breeding and that you should be on the look out for it's mischievous behaviour. The Wolpertinger also has a patent for female beauty and is said to be drawn to young attractive women! 

The Hippocampus: From Greek legends, this creature is depicted as a horse with the tail of a fish and is said to be one of the creatures that pulled the God of the Sea Poseidon's chariot. Although it's name loosely translates as 'Sea Monster' the legend claims that this creature is benevolent and is a symbol of hope and strength. These kind-hearted beasts are respected by all other sea beings and they are known for saving sailors from drowning and helping underwater creatures. 
The Hippocampus was said to have been formed within the waves of the ocean and relate two both Greek and Roman mythology with their appearance reflecting the God Neptune as well as the aforementioned Poseidon. Despite resembling a horse, they are often portrayed as having scaly green or blue skin and looking very much like a gigantic seahorse! So even though they travel in groups and are large in size, these seem to be the creatures you would want on your side when you set sail.

Monsters of the Deep

The Bakekujira: From a Japanese folk tale, this terrifying looking creature is also known as the 'Ghost Whale' and takes the form of a whale skeleton. It is suggested that the legend was created when fisherman on the Shimane peninsula tried to harpoon what appeared to be an enormous white whale but every attempt went straight through the creature as if it were only bone - they soon realised that they were attacking a skeletal monster!

In the olden days, when whales were plentiful, the sight of one would be considered a blessing but this creature brings a deadly curse. According to the legend, the Bakekujira are the spirits of whales who were killed for their meat and oil, and that they will seek vengeance on those who had killed them and curse them with great misfortune, bringing disease and disaster to their community. 

The Basilisk: Now some of you Potter-fans may have heard of this one, the snake creature depicted in JK Rowling's bestselling books. However, the European legend itself is a lot more varied. The being comes from Hellenistic and Roman times and is known to have a lizard form and even referred to as the Serpent King. The beast is truly dangerous and has the most poisonous venom coursing through it's body that it's very breath causes plants to wither!
It also possesses a deadly stare that will kill anyone that looks directly at it. But differing from what we may know about the myth, it isn't actually that big in size and was supposedly formed from a egg laid by a cockerel and then hatched by a snake giving it's other name 'Cockatrice.' It is also thought that the sound of a cockerel crowing would kill the Basilisk. At least that's some defense from it's destructive powers! 

Doom Mongers

The Mare: From Norse legend, this creature is literally the personification of a nightmare! The name refers to the 'Mara demon' and the Slavic and Greek roots of the name relate to "death" and "nightmare."  This sinister sounding being comes in the form of different creatures, sometimes a horse, cat, frog and even human form, and were said to enter the rooms of victims and sit upon their chest giving them terrible nightmares.

Some victims reported that they felt as if they were being crushed or suffocated in their sleep and even that they had dreamt they had been riding a demonic horse and aptly visions from these creatures have been known to be called 'mare rides.' The legend stems from the concept of old witches or hags with malicious intent to inflict torture and anguish on their sleeping victims. Creepy to say the least. 

The Banshee: This creature comes from Irish Folklore and is portrayed as an Omen of Death. The being shows itself in the form of a female spectre, either a young woman or very old and haggard, often shrouded and with red eyes from endless sobbing. The legend says that the Banshee knows when death is coming for you or a family member and warns people by shrieking.
Their screams are said to shatter glass! The origins go as far back as the 8th Century and seem to refer to women known as 'keeners' who would sing lamentations for the dead or dying. This seems to have evolved into a terrifying notion that these women somehow know when death is coming and thus created the frightening creatures of legend that will send fear into the hearts of many who are unfortunate enough to hear their wailing cries!

There you have it! A collection of some weird and deadly creatures of past legends to feast your eyes on. And if you have a particular fondness for creatures big, small and bizarre then check out these Alchemy pieces below:

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- Rose Jekylle 🌹

Deadly Dolls in horror

Dolls. Cute, cuddly, childhood companions...but deadly? Horror films have used the anthropomorphic toys in many different ways from chilling china dolls to demonic marionettes! But what makes these supposedly adorable playthings so sinister? What is it about them that makes them so unnerving?

The Innocent ones

The first dolls to look at are the ones with innocent child-like faces that many of us and our parents had as infants. Whether china dolls or baby Tiny Tears, these look disturbing enough with their frozen expressions and empty watching eyes but also their faces attempt to mimic human features with blinking eyelids and dimpled cheeks. In the film 'Killer Dolls - Barbarella,' in 60s b-movie fashion, the scantily-clad heroine is attacked by a hoard of tiny dolls with dead holes for eyes and sets of razor sharp teeth - complete with a snapping jaw with each bite! 

Unsurprisingly this scene distressed the audience of the time but what made it worse is that the ringleader controllers are weird frenzied children who embody the murderous behaviour of the dolls - the little girls being the real life version of the toys! This in turn explains why this scene is found so freaky...children being murderous and violent is a terrifying and unexplainable notion. 'Pet Sematary' definitely shows how much it horrifies us and these type of dolls literally have the faces of babies. Creepy.

                                                 Film (1989): 'Pet Sematary'

                                                            

This leads us nicely into dolls that go that step further into mimicking human anatomy. In the film 'The Boy' a couple hire a nanny to take care of their son...who turns out to be a life-sized porcelain doll. The plot reveals that the parents lost their real son years ago and this doll is supposed to be a "therapeutic" type of replacement. Not only is the concept unsettling, but a series of peculiar incidents lead the nanny to believe the doll is in fact alive!

The more recent film 'M3GAN' also looks at the theme of real-life companions where a young girl is given an AI friend in an attempt to help her psychologically cope with the loss of her parents. Of course, the loving life-sized doll doesn't stay that way and becomes overly protective and possessive of her human leading to violence and murder. This utilises two doubly fearful concepts: the unhealthy and downright freaky attachment to a toy but also how something that is supposed to safeguard you becomes out of control and dangerous.

Safe to say that imitations of human life just really give us the heebie-jeebies.

The Abnormal ones

But what about dolls that don't look all that real? Ones that are just plain bizarre looking. Why is it that those make the hairs on the back of our necks stand up? Puppets and ventriloquist dolls immediately come to mind. Painted faces and often jerky-moving limbs are nothing like humans...or are they?

A theory by the psychologist Sigmund Freud is that of the Uncanny - how certain experiences we have as adults remind us of earlier stages in our psychological development, an example would be how things we believe in our childhood are still in the backs of our minds and uncertainty can shift what we perceive to be real.
The combination of things that are both uncanny (unfamiliar/uncertain) and canny (familiar/safe) creates a really odd and often frightening experience for us. Is it real? Is it make-believe? Did it move or did it not? Did the doll smash the glass itself or did it fall over?

In the 'Saw' franchise, we see the use of a puppet called Billy or sometimes referred to as Jigsaw (the man behind the homicidal torture in the film). Billy is distinctive due to his red eyes, spiral cheek design and his movements around on a red trike! He appears either in person or on a television screen, drilling fear into the trapped victims with his humanistic yet utterly devilish appearance. He literally is the face of the violence and creates a more frightening performance than the real human killer. A human profile is understood by us and no matter how horrible humans can be we can find understanding in the sight of something manlike, but this is wholly unfamiliar and yet it has aspects of something unconsciously familiar - anatomically it resembles a person!

In the series 'Annabelle' the doll itself is purely a conduit for evil spirits...bad enough already right? Although, strictly not a puppet, her ventriloquism style countenance and spine-chilling moving eyes rank her a truly harrowing doll that haunts your every step, tapping into that confusion of what is real and what is a childish fantasy. This doll would give any child, and adult for that matter, nightmares for years. It is strange but in other genres such as family films, the idea of toys coming to life is a lovely thought e.g. Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, but in an adult setting it is just bloody terrifying!

Of course you have a lot of other iconic dolls in horror such as 'Chucky,' posing as a child's doll it is actually the soul of a dead serial killer who transferred himself into a toy who commits brutal murders, yet looks like some knock-off Cabbage Patch Kid mixed with a Babyborn. Surely the unsuspecting victims are given some kind of clue of what's to come as most of these dolls already look horrible to begin with!

So if you fancy your style being a bit tongue in cheek as well as actually being generally spooky then check out this month's suggestions I have for you below:

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- Rose Jekylle 🌹

Wassailing - the Winter Blessing

What is Wassailing?

Wassailing is a fun folk tradition that has been practiced for centuries - it involves raucous merry-making and uplifting singing to awaken the spirits of fruit-bearing trees to encourage a bountiful harvest!

Traditionally practiced on the Twelfth night, the ceremony is to drink to the health of the trees and originally performed on cider apple trees to encourage the apples to grow and also to ward off evil spirits. 

A Pre-Christian practice, this event is celebrated by those of pagan beliefs and folklore communities but is open to anyone who wants to give blessings for a good harvest and to the land itself. 

The phrase "wassail" is a Middle English toast, meaning "be in good health," and the appropriate response is of course a similar merry retort "drinc hael." So during a ceremony if wassail is called then everyone must shout drinc hael back!

Music is a key part of the tradition as it is used not only to inspire cheer but to literally wake up the trees to invigorate the start of their growth. Instruments, bells, drums and even pots and pans are used to bang out a beat! It makes a wonderfully enjoyable event to take part in for all ages and the more energy and dancing the better. 

The blessing itself involves hanging toast on tree boughs and sprinkling cider or apple juice on the tree roots, often accompanied by the rhyme: "apple tree, apple tree bear good fruit, or off with your head and up with your root!" 

Community involvement 

The Wassailing heritage is believed to be a very important custom on a community level, particularly in counties where cider apples are grown, such as Herefordshire and Somerset. This tradition may even be going on today in farming communities.  

Feast and revelry were common place during these events and often a bowl of punch was served that was a mixture of cider, ale and mead which would be infused with spices and crab apples. Perfect compliment to your merry-making!

I even had the privilege of being part of a Wassailing ceremony myself, on Sunday 8th January, a local nature reserve opened the event to the public and this was officiated by a local Druid grove. This occasion included such entertainments as Morris dancing, story-telling and then a procession to the orchard where the main ceremony took place. 

Everyone (even little children) took part in the blessing by tying toast to the trees and by creating a cacophony of sound using handheld instruments. And amongst the jubilation a very special guest was joining in...

The Mari Lwyd

The Mari Lwyd was the very exceptional, if slightly sinister looking presence, that graced our Wassailing event. A Welsh character, originated in Celtic Folklore, the name translates as the 'Grey Mare' or 'Grey Mary' and it is constructed from a horse skull which is draped in a white robe and is thought to be able to pass to the Under World. The head is adorned with ribbons, bells and symbols while the body and mouth is controlled by an actor hidden under the robe who creates the playful and blessed role. If the Mari Lwyd is present at ceremonies it is seen as a sign of optimism and good fortune.

She is thought to have taken part in such customs as singing outside of people's homes in order to gain entry and have food and drink - similar to a type of caroling tradition! In Welsh lore, the sight of the Mari Lwyd is a symbol of hope through the dark and cold season, especially her colouring (white coat) which creates an ethereal bearing.

During our ritual, she joined the circle as an honoured member of the ceremony and afterwards wandered between the trees as an animated being, delighting and spooking adults and children!

Druid blessings

One main part of the event was the blessings which were conducted by some friends of mine from the Druid grove. Firstly, the lead Druid acknowledged the spirit of place - this is to ground oneself and to encourage those involved to close their eyes and appreciate the environment around them. Next was calling the Quarters which is where we welcome the spirits of North, East, South and West and again connect oneself with the elements of the place (Earth, Air, Fire and Water). The Druid prayer was also spoken and the lead Druid helped everyone with the reciting of the following words: "I swear by peace and love to stand, heart to heart and hand in hand. Mark of spirit and hear us now, confirming this our sacred vow."

Finally the Awen incantation was spoken to encourage and celebrate divine creativity. This was performed by breaking the word into two syllables and stretching the note like a song prayer - when everyone got involved it created a wonderful melodious harmony.  Then the circle was closed and we bid hail and farewell to the elemental spirits in turn, and this was when the offerings of the toast and cider began.  

It was both a sacred and lively occasion where the energy of the event was enjoyed by all and we were all tuckered out afterwards - even the Mari Lywd needed to take the weight of her feet and have a coffee break! 

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- Rose Jekylle 🌹

The Curse of the Wolf

Now the spooky season is in full swing, it definitely wouldn't be complete without the horror stories of creepy mythology. One of the most infamous myths is of the ferocious Werewolf. Half man, half wolf - an amalgamation? An entity? Something entirely different? You've seen them in the movies and read a few books, but where did these beasts really come from? 

So grab yourself a pumpkin-spiced latte and have a read!

What is a werewolf?

Most of us have some idea but to summarise these wolf-like beings are characterised by their violence and berserker nature. Legend suggests that they are human by day and beast by night (transformation sometimes triggered by the full moon) and can even live a relatively normal existence - providing they hide their bloodthirsty impulses!

The theory of a werewolf curse is reflected in ancient stories such as the Greek legend in which Lycaon and his sons attempted to trick the god Zeus, this resulted in Zeus cursing them by turning them into wolves.  Also the oldest known Western prose 'The Epic of Gilgamesh,' tells the tale of Gilgamesh rejecting the goddess Ishtar as a lover because she turned a previous spouse into a wolf! 

Clearly being a werewolf is not a favourable lifestyle in many cultures, however, some Pagans have been known to respect and even revere the were-animals due to their beliefs that the gods are abstract parts of the world around us - the elemental forces - and view them as any other part of creation and even a way to adapt more to nature. 

Skin-changers

Some myths are centred around the concept that the human becomes a werewolf by wearing a wolf's pelt. They literally become the beast by adopting the animal's traits through the flesh! The metamorphosis seems to have origins in early religious contexts where animal skins were used in rituals and imitations of the creatures to supposedly gain their characteristics.

A Nordic folklore tale called 'Saga of the Volsungs' showed this with the story of a father and son who discovered that wearing wolf skins would transform a man into a wolf for ten days. The tale becomes tragic as they both transform and go on a murderous rampage with the father lethally injuring the son who nearly dies. Thus demonstrating the deadly and untameable nature of the werewolf.  

Body and spirit of the wolf

What truly changes when the werewolf comes to life? Allegedly the form becomes a beast and the human consciousness becomes animalistic and eager for savagery. And yet perhaps some element of humanity is preserved. 

Religious theories from Gothic Christianity imply that the man who became the werewolf could not be blamed for the crimes committed when the wolf as it was the Devil orchestrating the atrocities, not the innocent human. Yet Father Jacques d'Autun surmised the werewolf curse came to be because of a pact made with Hell, making the person responsible for their actions. 

However, some Buddhist beliefs suggest that the human form is secondary and we are all werebeings, our true forms are not shown until enlightenment is attained. Perhaps they do not see the werewolf as being the unrelenting violent creature but as man combining with nature in a higher form.  

And is the sight of the wolf in fact just an illusion? The notion of "demonic glamour" is that the body stays the same, but the illusion of something deceptive and evil causes onlookers to believe the person has indeed become a wolf. 

Real wolves 

Lycanthropy is a real clinical illness that causes the delusion that one can change into an animal, notably a wolf! This disorder could be harmless if not for the belief that they adapt to the animal's traits which can involve unpredictable and aggressive behaviour. 

There have even been accounts of serial homicide by individuals who believed or convinced themselves that they were werewolves. One case comes from folklore: Peter Stubbe was thought to have transformed into a wolf and mutilated and devoured livestock and even people! Giles Garnier (1600s) proclaimed to have an ointment that turned him into a wolf - his crimes were brutal murder of children and then eating them. 

In the Middle Ages, there were even werewolf trials! Typically, men were accused of being werewolves, and they were persecuted in a way similar to how women were accused of witchcraft. Werewolves were supposedly associated with Satan and the crimes ranged from the abduction of children to cannibalism - crimes of wolves in fairytales? 

Perhaps the sight of this chimaera is the way humans rationalise the heinous acts of wicked individuals - it purely becomes a way of understanding and coping with the barbarity witnessed. Or even a way to explain the bizarre behaviours that we reveal that truly connect us to the real animal within...

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For The Love Of Cats

 Cats, either love or hate them, have undeniably been icons of worship throughout the ages. From revered Cat-gods to our furry companions, these feisty felines are a massive part of many cultures. So let's take a look:

Ancient Egypt

When thinking of cat worship, the Ancient Egyptians definitely come to mind. Cats were a key component of their society - renowned through the countless artwork depictions, hieroglyphics and shrines. The citizens of Ancient Egypt respected all creatures (many of their gods were amalgamations of human and animal), but the cat became paramount to their beliefs. But did you know that wild cats originally inspired this? The jungle cat (Felis chaus) and African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) are native to Egypt and it was these species that bred together to be the more domesticated feline.  There is even evidence to suggest that all cats can originally trace their ancestry to the Egyptian cat!

In the beginning, cats were seen as useful predators due to the excessive level of vermin at the time, thus the citizens would leave out food to tempt the cats to hang around. Similar to leaving out treats for our kitty-cats now.  This led to further domestication as cats and humans began to co-exist and become mutually beneficial to each other - even hunting together! The people also seemed to appreciate the cat's characteristics, the duality of their precise skills and their playful nature.

So not only being useful for hunting and pest control, as time went on our little friends became companions to both the rich and poor and were seen as good omens - bringing prosperity, protection and even fertility. They were even adorned with jewellery...perhaps the first of the cat collars? 

Cat Gods

Again, it was the Ancient Egyptians that had some of the most well-known cat-gods. However, they did not simply believe that cats were gods or goddesses themselves, they saw the cats as being a vessel for divine possession.

The most iconic cat goddess was of course Bastet. Originally a lioness, she was later adapted to a more domesticated cat and is shown as a cat-headed being. She represented a protecting mother (often portrayed with kittens) and was often called upon by worshippers for wishes of fertility and health.
There was also a more disturbing cat deity Sekhmet; the goddess of War. As well as being an aid to Pharaohs in battle, her cat-like traits were portrayed through her ferocious nature! 

In Ancient Babylonian mythology, you can find the cat god of the underworld Nergal.  This god was depicted as a lion and was considered one of the most savage cats known to humanity due to his appetite for destruction. He was even known as 'the furious king.'

There was also the Japanese supernatural creature Kasha, a cat-like demonic being who could also mimic a house cat form to live amongst humans. But the creepy part was that this creature actually transported the dead to the underworld for judgement or sometimes they would just eat them! These two definitely seemed like really mean kitties, but their qualities were also typical of a cat's nature -  they can be cruel to their prey simply for the fun of it!  

Familiars 

Familiars are creatures associated with the supernatural, and one of their most common forms is a cat. Myths suggest that familiars are demons in animal form but according to Pagans (and most modern beliefs) they are companions used by those who practise witchcraft to assist in their magical activities. Cats have been associated with witches for centuries, and what is more iconic than a witch with her black cat? 

During the Witch trials, cats were commonly used as tools against the accused, and have been used as evidence against innocent women thereafter. If an old woman had a cat then she was often accused of having a familiar who harboured the spirit of a demon put there by the Devil himself. Famously during the Salem Witch trials, an enslaved woman, Tituba was accused of such a thing due to her testimony of witnessing two cats who she had been instructed to serve. 

Nowadays people are not so judgemental and the understanding of cats as cherished companions has grown.  You can even find our beloved cat familiars in modern TV shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch; the gutsy adolescent has Salem, a comedic representation of a cat familiar in popular culture. Familiars are now globally viewed as treasured assets to those who require their abilities in magic weaving as well as creating a profound connection between human and beast. 

Maybe you already have a familiar in your life...a random visitation of a stray cat that turns into regular meet-ups or an adored pet that follows your every step could be a familiar trying to connect with you! 

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