Nighttide

The devil is a creature, which throughout most of history, has been deeply rooted in the folklore and belief systems of much of the Western world.  It is commonly seen as the adversarial type, one which is the antithesis of morality.  It often represents the desire for power, wealth, and the pleasures of the material world, which many spiritual leaders hypocritically say is a horrid sin.  But, what is the history behind the devil we know today?  Where did this imagery come from, and has it always been around?

Electronic Voice Phenomena, known more commonly by the acronym – EVP, is a sound found on an electronic recording, that is believed to be the voice of a spirit.  These voices can be intentionally captured - but most often are captured by complete accident.   If you like watching ghost hunting shows, you're probably more than familiar with the phenomenon - but have you ever wondered about the first EVP?  Who recorded it and how it happened?  Today we delve into the history behind the humble EVP.

For centuries the area of Loch Ness has been home to a wide array of supernatural phenomena.  Throughout its deep history, the land itself has been home to ancient sacrificial rituals, necromancy, occult summoning rituals, UFO sightings,  and most notably home to a strange creature.  Loch Ness is most well known for its famous monster, the alleged long-necked water serpent-like creature, the Loch Ness Monster, or as it’s affectionately known, Nessie.  The story of the Loch Ness Monster is one that has resided within Scottish folklore for centuries. Just how far back these sightings go may surprise you.

.Throughout most of ancient history, magic was seen as an important part of daily life.  For the Egyptians, was not only an integral part of their religious practices but also an important part of daily life.  For the Greeks and Romans, magic was used for every purpose under the sun – from ensuring a good harvest to making sure one looked their best.  In fact, every single ancient society out there employed some sort of magical belief system – magic is just something that goes hand-in-hand with animism and connection to the natural world. So how did magic take the turn in history from being a benign part of daily life to something to be feared and combated?  In this episode, we dive into a brief history of witchcraft.

Many castles of old still have a strong presence about them. When looked upon they seem to resonate with an energy all of their own, and stir within us a mixture of wonder, reverence, and melancholy.  Though many like to romanticize what life was like behind those seemingly impenetrable stone walls, castle life was often a lonely and dangerous affair.  It was a place where ambition prevailed over loyalty, where jealousy triggered rage, and where power (and the unquenchable thirst for more it created) led to bloodshed.

Many of our attitudes, superstitions, and uneasiness concerning mirrors date back to ancient times.  The first mirrors were made of polished stone, copper, and silver.  Because these materials were often difficult to smooth and polish, the reflections in these mirrors were often dark and distorted, giving an almost unsettling appearance.  It probably would have been a little eerie to gaze into, and no doubt had another worldly and spooky feel to it.

There are some places that seem to have a mystery about them.  The air feels heavier, the energy more electric, and the mindset it creates within us allows us to be more open and accepting of the stranger things in life.  These places are where ghosts come out to play, mysterious creatures lurk about, and strange objects dart through the skies.  One of these such places is a rather unassuming ranchland that resides in Utah.  It’s known by many as the Skin Walker Ranch.

We're all familiar in some shape or form with tales of the blood-sucking undead stalking about during the night, but what do you know about the history behind these tales?  In this episode, we'll explore the history of vampires and some of the stories from history that inspired them.

The finality of death is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the act. The idea that once it’s over – it’s indeed truly over. Nothingness is a frightening thought, a thought which can be so daunting and truly terrifying that we will look for any glimmer of hope that it’s something we don’t need to even consider.  False hope can come in many forms – a faulty religion, being deluded by a personality’s false claims of power or allowing one to push aside disbelief, toss aside gut instincts, and allow oneself to be soothed by trickery.  From the late 1800's to the early 1900's many found their way to fortune by preying on such fears and claiming to prove the existence of the afterlife.  They were known as mediums, and one of the most renowned (and dubious) of his time was a man named Daniel Dunglas Hume.

How can a simple deck of cards supposedly give someone insight into a person’s life?  How do these cards have such a reputation for accuracy, and where exactly did these cards and their strange pictures come from?  How did Tarot cards become such a staple for psychics and followers of the occult?  In this episode, we explore the history of the Tarot.