Faerie Lore

Gargoyle (R: 2004)

Leaf McGowan — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:34:36 +0000

Gargoyle (Rated R: 2004. 84 minutes – Action / Fantasy / Horror. Russian produced.)

Director: Jim Wynorski. Starring: Michael Paré as Ty “Griff” Griffin; Sandra Hess as Jennifer Wells; Fintan McKeown as Father Nikolai Soren; Kate Orsini as Dr. Christina Durant; Tim Abell as Lex; William Langlois as Inspector Zev Aslan; Petri Roega as Father Adrian Bodesti; Rene Rivera as Gogol; and more.

Storyline tackles an age-old tale about a Christian priest killing off one of the world’s last gargoyles whose body falls down a hole into the earth that they seal with “the blood of Christ”. Jump to modern day where a CIA agent is sent to Bucharest with his partner to investigate numerous kidnappings and while trying to bust the thiefs, an earthquake releases a gargoyle from inner earth out to wreak havoc around the city. This gargoyle, ready to breed and multiply is also out for vengeance, and tracking down the only crossbow known to kill him. Effects are plain and definitely poorly done CGI. Plot has value, flow had errors, and after trying to watch this over 2 late nights, I fell asleep midway twice. Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5.

Thale (R: 2012)

Leaf McGowan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:01:28 +0000

Thale
Rated NR: Released: February 2012

http://www.thalemovie.com/

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112287/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thalemovie

Director: Aleksander Nordaas. Writer: Aleksander Nordaas. Starring: Silje Reinåmo as Thale; Erlend Nervold as Elvis; Jon Sigve Skard as Leo; Morten Andresen as Hvittkledd; Roland Astrand as the voice; and Sunniva Lien as
Thale.

A fabulous mythical tale meets modern day when Elvis and Leo, two crime scene cleaners discover a hidden stairwell leading to a concealed cellar where a beautiful naked woman has been kept captive. A mystery unwinds through tapes, research notes, and images of horrors unleashed. Secret labs, experiments on the fae-folk, and genetic altering to try to transform a fae to a human. More specifically focusing around the faerie folk named the Huldra, a mythical bipedal anthropomorphic tailed creature with magical powers … based on Norwegian folklore of the hidden folk in the woods. As a faerie lore enthusiast and researcher, I was extremely intrigued when discovering this subtitled gem on the Blockbuster shelf, and to my disappoint found out the store only had one copy, and it was checked out. Not available yet for streaming on Netflix, but did find immediately accessible on Amazon Prime for $3.99 (7 day rental) which you can watch directly through the link below. For any folklore enthusiast, fantasy film buff, or faerie fan … this is a must see. Made in Norway, language is Norwegian/Swedish and released on February 17, 2012. Filmed in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway. Rating 5 stars out of 5. [Rating:5] by Leaf McGowan, viewed 4/21/2013 on Amazon Prime
.

Dryad’s Saddle

Leaf McGowan — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:50:08 +0000

Bracket or Shelf Fungi, Congaree National Park, Columbia, SC

Bracket fungi, or shelf fungi
(science page: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=641)

Common Names:
Bracket fungi, shelf fungi, conks, oysters, wood rot fungi, sulphur shelf, birch bracket, dryad’s saddle, artist’s conk, turkey tail.

The Polyporus squamosus, or Dryad’s Saddle has the appearance of a “perfect seat or ride for a wood nymph” which is possible for its namesake. This next tidbit, whether fantasy, RPG, or actual folklore lends suggestion it is a popular mushroom to the Fae. That which is called the “Shelfung” mythologically is also referred to as the Squilla in mythical Sarvonia and considered an edible fungus popular among the orcs, elves, brownies, hobbits, and thergerim, and humans as a spice for various foods such as for leveret, force bread, and poultry. The Tharian call it “Shelfung”, the Orcs call it “Kroch’tlor”, and the Thergerimtaal call it “Urtumua”. Orcs believe this fungus will strengthen the blood for fighting and their name for it translates to “Good Blood”. The Blaa’kr tribe on the Isles of R’unor believe it enhances sexual potency. Hobbits (not a actual species of Fae, created by Tolkien) say it will increase one’s wisdom.
[Santharia.com: http://www.santharia.com/herbarium/squilla_fungus.htm ] Research still pending.

Bibliography/ Recommended Reading/ Resources:

Adams, Scott.
“What’s That On My Trees?”. Website http://danshamptons.com/article/lifestyle/ask-the-expert-house-and-home/ask-the-expert-what%E2%80%99s-that-on-my-trees/ referenced March 3, 2013.
Brough, Kim.
Fungi as Saprobes. Website http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/kimbrough/Textbook/MedicinalUsesOfMushrooms_blue.htm visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
Jazjaz.net: “30 Enchanting Pictures of Mushrooms, Toadstools, and Fungi”.
Ref: http://www.jazjaz.net/2009/07/30-enchanting-pictures-of-mushrooms-toadstools-and-fungi.html. Website referenced and views on March 3, 2013.
Mount Gravatt Environmental Group: Gilled Fungi.
Website: http://megoutlook.wordpress.com/category/forest-fungi/gilled-fungi/ referenced on March 3, 2013.
Rockland-Miller, Ari. The Mushroom Forager: The Oft Overlooked Dryad Saddle. Website http://themushroomforager.com/2011/05/12/the-oft-overlooked-dryads-saddle/ visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
Santharia.com: The Squilla Fungus (Shelfung).
Website http://www.santharia.com/herbarium/squilla_fungus.htm visited and referenced March 3, 2013. Fantasy/Mythology.
Stanley Rice Photography: Evolution Photos – Shelf Fungus and Symbiosis.
Website http://www.stanleyrice.com/evolution_photos/index.album/shelf-fungi-and-symbiosis?i=39 referenced March 3, 2013.
Wikipedia:
- Bracket Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket_fungus referenced March 3, 2013
- Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus referenced March 3, 2013.
- Oyster Mushroom. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_mushroom referenced March 3, 2013
- Wood Decay Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood-decay_fungus#White_rot referenced March 3, 2013
Wild Man Steve Brill.
“Dryad’s Saddle”. Website http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Mushrooms.Folder/Dryad’s%20Saddle.html visited and referenced March 3, 2013.

The Lizard Man of South Carolina

Leaf McGowan — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:53:42 +0000

This brings me back to a crazed David Icke conspiracy theorist named Purple Crow in Vancouver BC when I think of lizard men, or the famous telvision show “V”. The Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp or the Sumter Lizard Man, the Lizard Man of Lee County, or the South Carolina Lizard Man are all titles of a mythological modern-day creature haunting the backwoods and swamps of South Carolina. Native American legend with oral lore from 1972 in the area is claimed that the Inzignanin near Chicora by the South/North Carolina border told of fishy humanoids covered in scales, 5 feet tall, with fairly inflexible tales 18 inches long, and webbed hands. He was first reported being seen on June 29, 1988 and ever since has been popping up in urban folklore. He has been described as a reptilian humanoid cryptid living either in the South Carolina swamps or within abandoned subways or sewers in towns near the swamps. He is described as standing over 7 feet tall, bipedal, muscular, covered in scaly lizard-like skin with dark hair (similar to big foot). He has been said to have only three toes on each foot and three fingers on each hand and maybe flaunting a tail. In June of 1988, a 17 year old boy named Christopher Davis claimed to have been attacked by the creature on his way home from work when he was changing a flat. He claimed the creature tried to grab at his car and climbed onto his roof as he sped off to escape the attack. He claimed the creature damaged his side mirror and scratched his roof. He claimed it was lizard like with red glowing eyes, three big fingers, long black nails, and green rough skin – all green and angry, grunting, and chasing him. That month there were several more reports by others of being attacked, with unusual scratches and bite marks found on cars parked close to the swamp, all within three mile radius of the swamps of Bishopville, South Carolina. Police at the time were perplexed, trying to balance between disbelief and humor to concern and intrigue, thinking it was actually a bear not a lizard man. Two weeks later, the sheriff’s department made several plaster casts of what appeared to be three-toed footprints, measuring 14 inches in length, that were later labelled unclassifiable. They were cited as not belonging or matching any other footprints of any other recorded animal on record. Tourists and cryptid hunters began plaguing South Carolina in search of the beast, with even radio stations such as WCOS offering a million dollar reward to anyone who could capture it alive. On August 5th, an airman from Shaw Air Force base named Kenneth Orr, filed a report with the police claiming to have encountered the creature on Highway 15 and having shot/wounded it. He gave to evidence several scales and some blood. He later confessed to inventing the sighting after being cited for unlawfully carrying a gun and a misdemeanor offense for filing a false police report. 2004 reports of a creature trying to snatch and drag a young girl into the river was blamed on the Lizard Man, but later theorized to have been an alligator. In 2005, the South Carolina Lottery used the creature in their television advertisements, and later that year a woman from Newberry claimed to have seen two Lizard man creatures outside her home. In 2008, Bob and Dixie Rawson, a couple in Bishopville South Carolina reported being attacked and damage to their car with traces of blood and claims that these creatures killed their cats. Police claim it was a wolf or coyote. After investigating the claim, E.J. Melvin, the Lee County Sheriff discovered a dead cow and coyote in a field next to the Rawson homestead. History Channel’s “MonsterQuest” investigated the legend, showing that it was not possible for a canine to have caused such damage on the Rawson’s car, it would have taken over 300 lbs of torgue to cause that kind of damage. By 2010, the show “Destination Truth” investigated the legend claiming the footprints were a hoax and the creature fabricated as a means of tourism, extensive local merchandising, and fandom. Lee County Chamber of Commerce hosts a 5 km Lizard Man run, sells Lizard Man shirts, and a Lizard patrol shirt. Another report in 2011 by a couple claiming to have had their car mauled by something tall with similar damage as the others. Reptilian humanoid creatures have been reported through history – the Greek God of the cold north wind, Boreas was described as a winged man with serpents instead of legs; Crecrops I was a half-man, half-snake mythical king of Athens; Chinese Mythology has reptilian humaoid dragon kings as well as a serpentine figure named Fu Xi; There is the snake God named Glycon who has a human head; The Lord of the Tree of Life from the Epic of Gilgamesh links Ningizzida with the water serpent constellation Hydra; the Chinese Dragon thunder God Shenlong is depicted with a human head and dragon’s body; the Ancient Egyptian God Sobek has a crocodile head; the Aztec God Tlaloc has snake fangs; the Greek “Father of all monsters” Typhon was a man from the waist up with a mass of seething vipers from the waist down; the Zoroastrian God Zahhak grows a serpent on either of his shoulders; The wife of Typhon is a half-woman half-snake Goddess named Echidna; in Portugese and galician folklore there is a snake goddess named Moura with long blond hair and a snake body; and of course MEdusa and the Gorgons in Greek mythology; the Lamia – a Greek female demon as half-woman, half snake; Islamic mythology depicts some djinn as half human and half-serpentine; Indian Naga were reptilian beings living underground and interacting with humans atop; the Genesis creation of the Serpent identified with Satan was known to be either male/female in mythology.

More info:

Legend of the Third Eye Man (Columbia, SC)

Leaf McGowan — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:49:41 +0000

Now that we’re residents of Columbia, South Carolina … its time to look into the legends and lore of these intriguing lands. The Legend of the Third Eye Man was the first to find, whether it be an urban legend or a true creature or spirit, time will tell. Apparently there is a massive network of catacombs and steam tunnels underneath the University of South Carolina. Haunting these halls is supposedly a phantom cyclops. He was first spotted on November 12th, 1949 on the campus of USC. Records state he is a strange looking man dressed in bright silver who was spotted opening a man-hole cover on the corner of Green street and Sumter street, opposite the haunted historic Long street Theater. He became known as “the sewer man” at that point. Six months later on April 7th, 1950 he re-surfaced and was sighted again by a university police office on patrol who discovered two mutilated chickens behind the theater. He reported chicken parts to be strewn all over the loading dock. When he returned to his car to report the scene, thinking it was a fraternity prank, he returned to the scene to find a silver man huddled over the chicken parts. He shined his flashlight on him to find a very disturbing face, grotesque in color and shape, and a third eye in the middle of his forehead like that of a cyclops, staring back at him. He retreated from the scene, called backup, and was laughed at when nothing was found on the docks but a few feathers and chicken bones. By the 1960′s students started hunting down and invading the tunnels. When a fraternity had three pledges down in the tunnels for a challenge, from the basement of Gambrell, they ran into a crippled looking man dressed in all silver and reported the sighting to the police. He charged at the students with a lead pipe, knocking student Matthew Tabor to the ground, suffering minor cuts and shock. The first official man-hunt for this attacker took place coming up with nothing, but that started the tedious task of sealing off many of the entrances to the catacombs and making them off limits. The catacombs do exist, as photos of them are rampant online. Whether or not this mysterious hominid exists is a whole different story. Legend tells that these tunnels link various venues of the government to the USC campus allowing undetected and protected transportation between them, some say even to Fort Jackson. Some say they go back to the days of the confederate war. Many say the Three Eyed Man is also the ghoul that haunts the Longstreet Theatre, and instead of living in the tunnels, he lives in the theater late at night. He has played the terror and villian in many a fraternity initiation through the years.

More info:

http://www.mostlyghosts.com/index.php/the-third-eye-man-of-usc/
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6JAB_The_Legend_of_the_Third_Eye_Man_Columbia_South_Carolina

The Brennivin Ghost

Leaf McGowan — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:10:14 +0000

Icelandic Wonders Museum, Iceland

The Brennivin Ghost of Iceland

While visiting the Icelandic wonders museum, we learned about the infamous Brennivín Ghost, haunting the region where the original Icelandic Schnapps is named. Haunting the halls at Kolviðarhóll, who is the apparition of the Danish “Assistant” who worked in the Sunchenberg Store in Reykjavik. His job was to keep count of liquor in the store, and as a avid lover of the spirits, would travel by horse back to Kolvidarhóll and Marardalur to drink. He passed away in his bed while in Reykjavik. He apparently haunts the stores, halls, and the meadows on Kolviðarhóll.
The first recording of his apparition was two men the following winter from Suarnes travelling over the heath and stopping to sleep at the refuge hut in Kolviaarholl. As they entered the hut, heard chanting in the loft, and were greeted with a vision of a man sitting alone, striking, and elegant with a large top hat and wig, drinking a big container of brennivin. Other reports were as similar. The Icelandic Wonders Museum claims the ghost watches over them.

“The Brennivin Ghost: One of many acquaintances Kolviaarholl was the Brennivin Ghost. He was believed to be the ghost of the Danish ‘Assistant’ Sunchenberg store in Reykjavik. He had the responsibility of counting the beverages in the store, but he was very keen on the beverages. It was his custom, summer after summer on holy days, to ride his horse up to Kolviaarholl and into Marardalur to consume a substantial amount of the libation. He thought that those trips were his greatest pleasure in life … Now, this man passed away in his sickbed in Reykjavik, but the following winter two men from Suaurnes went over the heath and were planning to sleep at the refuge hut at Kolviaarholl. When they opened the hut, they were shocked when they heard a chant up in the loft. The two men weren’t expecting anyone to be there, because they didn’t see anything outside that indicated that someone was there. When the two men went inside the house and up to the loft, the most surreal vision awaited them when they opened the hatch. On the floor, just by the window, there was a man sitting alone who seemed to be very mellow. He was striking to see and very elegant, with a large top hat and a wig, and was wearing clothes with silver buttons on both lapels. Between his feet on the floor, he had a biggish container full of brennivin, from which a sweet smell emanated. In one hand the man had a tin mug that he used to take brennivin from the container, and then he drank from the mug and tipped the rest of the brennivin back into the container. He looked roguishly at what he was doing. The two men greeted the strange man and made his see how surprised they were about his behavior and how well stocked he seemed to be with beverages. He didn’t respond to their greetings, but instead he extended one of his feet, on which there was a Danish shoe, and said a little verse with his dark voice. Then he stood up and swung out his hand with the bennivin mug. With that he disappeared in an instant with a bright glow, and the loft became dark. The two men felt uncomfortable and a little shaken, and ran down the stairs and out into the bright spring night, after whch they started to feel better. Needless to say, the two men continued over the heath until they reached Reykir in Olfus early next morning.” ~ museum sign in Icelandic Wonders Museum.

Icelandic Wonders Museum, Iceland

Staurolite: Fairy crosses/stones

Leaf McGowan — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:09:55 +0000

Purchase one here

Fairy Stone / Fairy Cross / Staurolite

Localities: Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia, USA; North Georgia, USA; Little Falls, Minnesota, USA; Taos, New Mexico, USA; Switzerland; Russia; Australia; Brazil; France; Italy; Scotland.

Description: Popular to its folklore and legends, this stone has a State Park in Virginia named after it as it is home to its namesake “fairy stones”. It is also the official stone of the state of Georgia in the USA. Most commonly shaped like Celtic crosses or the St. Andrew’s cross, as an “X” or as a “T” shaped Roman cross, and square Maltese crosses. Color of the Staurolite varies to the region it comes from but can be dark brow, brownish black, grey, or reddish brown.

Geology:Staurolite are a combination of silica, iron, and aluminum. A silicate mineral, with the Chemical formula of Fe2+2Al9O6(SiO4)4(O,OH)2, and a Strunz classification of 9.AF.30, possessing a monclinic prismatic crystal symmetry. It’s H-M symbol is (2/m), with a Space group of C 2/m, and a unit cell a = 7.86 Å, b = 16.6 Å, c = 5.65 Å; β = 90.45°; Z=2. Coloring ranges from yellowish brown, rarely blue, dark reddish brown to blackish brown, pale golden yellow in thin sections with a subvitreous to resinous luster, white to gray streaks, transparent to opague diaphaneity. Specific gravity is 3.74 – 3.83 meas. 3.686 calc. Twinning is commonly as 60° twins, less common as 90° cruciform twins. Subconchoidal fracture, brittle tenacity, mosh scale hardness of 7-7.5. Common to have penetration twinning, or a characteristic cross-shape. It occurs with almandine garnet, micas, kyanite; as well as albite, biotite, and sillimanite in gneiss and schist of regional metamorphic rocks. It is only found in rocks once subjected to great heat and pressure. A rare mineral occurence in nature, it is only found in certain areas of the world in the fairy cross or celtic cross shapes. Each are unique and never are identical. True Staurolite crosses are hard enough to scratch glass.

Folklore: Named after the Greek word “Stauros” for “cross”, they are commonly known as “fairy stones” or “fairy crosses”. According to European and Christianity influenced Native American legend on the state park website, “hundreds of years before Chief Powhatan’s reign, the fairies were dancing around a magical spring of water, playing with naiads and wood nymphs, when a elfin messenger arrived from a city far away bringing the news of the death of Christ. When these creatures of the forest heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept, as their tears fell upon the earth they crystallized into beautiful crosses”. During the first meeting of John Smith and Pocahontas, it is said the Indian princess gave John Smith a good luck charm made out of a “fairy cross”. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart used them during the crusades to heal the wounded. Some say these are the tears of the Cherokee who wept over the loss of their homeland during the exodus on the “Trail of Tears”. Others talk of an ancient race of mountain faeries who were dancing at their favorite meeting places, and upon finding out that the “Great Creator” had died, shed tears, so moved, were crushed in heart and cried, as they wept their tears crystallized into the “fairy crosses”. Others say that during the defeat of the Tuatha de Danann and other faerie races when they were forced under-ground to live in the hills, the faeries around the world shed tears, made of Iron to represent the Iron Age destroying their race, in the shapes of crosses as an omen of the peopling that would destroy the planet next.

Ay the charms of the fairy stone make you blessed
through the days of labor and nights of rest
Where ever you stay, where ever you go,
May the beautiful flowers of the good Fairies Grow.

Well known that Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson, Thomas A. Edison, Colonel Charles Lindbergh, and other prominent people carried one of these on their person(s).

Magical uses: For centuries these were believed to protect the wearer from sickness, accidents, disaster, and witchcraft. Used to find lost objects. Placed under the pillow to help induce lucid dreaming and astral travel. Used as amulets for good luck. Used to aid stress, anxiety, fear, considered soothing energy, and helpful with grounding. Many believe they embody an energy that will help you make contact with faeries or nature spirits. Some believe wearing the stones will help one stop smoking. Astrologically associated with Pisces. Associated with the base chakra. Healing qualities, good luck, rituals, protection, fever, defeat of malaria, stress, depression, addictive personality traits, time management, smoking cessation.

By Thomas Baurley, Technogypsie Productions and Research Facility.

Bibliography/References/Recommended Reading:

Crystal Healer: Staurolite Fairy Cross Crystal. Website referenced August 2012. http://www.thecrystalhealer.co.uk/Staurolite-fairy-cross-crystal
Environmental Graffitti: Staurolite Truth or Legend. Website referenced August 2012. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/nature/news-fairy-cross-truth-or-legend
Fairy Stone State Park Website. Website referenced August 2012. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fai.shtml.
Healing Crystals for You: Staurolite. Website referenced August 2012. http://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/staurolite.html
Little Falls Minnesota: Cross Rocks. Website reference August 2012. http://www.littlefallsmn.com/CrossRocks.php
Shaman’s Crystal: Staurolite Fairy Cross. Website reference August 2012. http://www.shamanscrystal.co.uk/crystal/495/staurolite-fairy-cross/
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia Staurolite. Website referenced August 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staurolite

Medium sized Fairy Crosses
Large sized Fairy Stones/Crosses

Pendulums

Leaf McGowan — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:26:42 +0000

Pendulums

One of the most common forms of divination, pendulums are used to tell the sex of unborn children, detect pregnancy, tell the future, answer life’s questions, prophecy, divining, and a common place magic trick. No one really fully understands the process of how the pendulum works. Pendulums are easy to make as it simply involves attaching a small weight to a length of chain, thread, or cord. The process of using it is even easier, as all one has to do is place their elbow on a table, face the pendulum which is looped over the index finger, and asked questions – to which the weight will move and provide answers. People often ask the pendulum if they should take trips, make life choices, if someone likes/loves them, relationship issues, if they should make purchases, if they are sick, allergic, and/or pregnant. Some use the pendulum to determine allergies. Others use pendulums to locate lost items, find places on a map, hidden treasure, water, caves, graves, or secrets of the unknown. Albeit easy to use, the pendulum does take a bit of rhythmn, practice, and tuning for precision results. Pendulums can be constructed of simply a lead fishing weight, a coin (such as a Norwegian kronos), a ring, a crystal, stone, or needle attached to a length of string or chain. Some choose to purchase simple to elaborate ones from Metaphysical, Pagan, New Age, Witch, or Occult shops. Some “experts” claim a true pendulum needs to be made using certain guidelines, including requirements of something that weighs at least three ounces and attached to 4-6 inches of cord. In my experience, the cord should be roughly the length of your hand from your wrist to the tip of your middle finger. As far as weight, that varies, as I’ve had much success if a pin definitely weighing under 3 ounces.

The best success with pendulums use I’ve found is to hold the cord between the thumb and first finger of your right or left hand (depending on what handedness you are – though some claim it must be the right hand. I am however left-handed and find it works perfectly with my usual orientation) or drooped over your index finger pinned by your thumb. Then resting your elbow on a table allow the pendulum to swing freely an inch or so above the surface of a table. You can also purchase a pendulum board for clearer and a more “fancy” presentation. Stop the movement of the weight with your free hand and then ask the pendulum your question. Ask it to answer “yes” and make note of the movement of the swing. Ask it to answer “no” and make note of the movement of the swing. Generally though, if it swings the direction of your head when nodding “yes” (to and from your face), then that is a “yes”. If it moves side to side, like the movement of the head in western culture for “no” it is a no. There is some dispute that the movements vary based on cultural views of body language for yes/no answers. The pendulum can also move diagonal meaning “maybe”, “don’t want to answer”, “right question”, or “don’t know”. It can also move in circles (clock-wise or counter-clockwise). Once the pendulum indicates an answer, which can be answered with mini swings to full swinging motions your answer should be revealed. There is also some debate that you should be asking Deity, spirits, ancestors, faeries, angels, and/or the undead directly your question while others believe you can just do it directing the question to the pendulum itself. (A debate similar to the usage of a ouija board) Your questions don’t need to be limited, just make sure you really want to know the real answer to your question. It is also very possible to mentally influence and override the movements of a pendulum if you think to hard on a particular response or too personally engaged with the result. In this case, its best to have someone not attached to the matter to do the pendulum reading for you. It is advised not to use the pendulum flippantly nor to let it rule your life. Place intuition, instinct, and common sense into action for your commitment with results from the pendulum. Pendulums are used also for dowsing. The intent behind the dowsing or divination sometimes dictates whether the pendulum is made of crystal, metal, or other materials. Stage magicians have audience members seal items in envelopes and presented to him/her to which a pendulum is used to “dowse” whether the item belongs to a male or a female. They can be held over a pad or cloth with yes/no written on it as well for audience demonstration. In Radiesthesia, pendulums are used for medical diagnosis.

Scientifically we know the pendulum swings by the influence of gravity, making it swing back and forth along a circular arc. The time it takes for a pendulum to oscillate from the peak of the swing on one side to the other and back is called the period of vibration, which depends on the length of the pendulum, the magnitude of gravitational acceleration where the pendulum is located, and the amplitude of the swing. A small amplitude has no effect on the period and the period is given by the equation T=2p l/g where T is the period of vibration, l is the length of the pendulum, and g is the local gravitational acceleration. The Greek letter ∏ (pi) is a constant with an approximate value of 3.1416. Pendulums are used in science for the uniformity of its period especially for keeping time, demonstrating the earth’s rotation, and determining gravitational acceleration at a particular location. The first recorded use of a pendulum, according to Science, was in 1620 when the British scientist Francis Bacon proposed using a pendulum to measure gravity, suggesting taking one up a mountain to see if gravity varies with altitude. According to “science” its use for pseudo-science broke out from the knowledge of the foucault pendulum. In 1851, Jean Bernard Léon Foucault showed that the plane of oscillation of a pendulum, like a gyroscope, tends to stay constant regardless of the motion of the pivot, and that this could be used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. He did this by suspending a pendulum free to swing in 2 dimensions from the dome of the Panthéon in Paris. The length of the cord was 67 m and once in motion, the plane of swing was observed to precess or rotate 360° clockwise in about 32 hours thus becoming the first demonstration of the Earth’s rotation that didn’t depend on celestial observations. After this, it was believed that “pendulum mania” broke out and utilized in various sub-cultures, groups, demonstrations, and New age spirituality.

~ By Leaf McGowan

Bibliography, References, Recommended Reading:

About.com: How to use a Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://healing.about.com/cs/tools/ht/How_pendulums.htm

Calacademy: The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/page1.htm

How Stuff Works: Science – The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://science.howstuffworks.com/pendulum-info.htm

Llewellyn Publications: The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/471.

Pendulums.com. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.pendulums.com/

Gogmagog or Gog and Magog

Leaf McGowan — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 23:40:29 +0000

Gogmagog: Gog and Magog
Goemagot, Goemagog or Gogmagoc; He of the Two Horns, He of the Two Ages, Gogmagog and Corineus

These ancient Giants (i.e. Titans, titans, fomorians, ancient ones) known as “Gog” and “Magog” in Paganism are descendants of early pre-Christian Giants of early English pageantry who were very tied to early Britain. The myth states that the Roman Emperor Diocletian had 33 wicked daughters whom he married off to 33 husbands who curbed their unsettling ways. However the daughters were so wicked, led by the eldest sister Alba, they plotted to cut the throats of their husbands as they slept. As punishment for this crime, they were set adrift in a boat with a half year’s rations of food, shunned forever. They drifted ashore the isles of what later became “Albion” (named after the eldest). Fornicating and coupling with demons, they populated the wild windswept island with a race of giants. Some say this was the Islands of what is known as modern day “Ireland” and became to be the legendary giant race of Fomorians while others claim it was the island of “Britain” and were the Giants who lived in these lands. When Brutus, great-grandson of Æneas, in company of his most able-bodied warrior Corineus, fled the fall of Troy, they by fate found themselves on these islands of Giants. Brutus was impressed with these isles so much that he named the Islands after himself, which later became called “Britain”. The leader of the Giants was a detestable monster named Goëmagot (Gogmagog), who stood in stature twelve cubits, and of such prodigious strength that at one shake he pulled up an oak as if it had been a hazel wand. Brutus and Corineus faced “Gogmagog“, had combat, and hurled him from a high rock to his death. (This place, called “The Giant’s Leap”, “Langnagog”, are disputed being in Ireland as well as Cornwall) As a reward for this defeat, Corineus was given the western part of the island, which many say is how Cornwall was called after him. After this defeat, Brutus travelled to the East and founded the city of New Troy, which eventually became known as “London”. [Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century Historia Regum Brittaniae] Some correspond these myths to the biblical tale of Samson and Greek mythology of Hercules. Others argue that Gogmagog was a corruption of Gawr Madoc (Madoc the Great).

Another mythos to their origins tell that the 33 infamous daughters of Diocletian who were captured and chained at the gates of Guildhall as guardians had given birth to numerous sons who were deemed to be “Giants”. The last two survivors of these offspring, were “Gog” and “Magog”. This comes from the lore around the carved giants guarding the gates of Guildhall during the reign of Henry V. They were added to the Lord Mayor’s Show in 1554 which were labelled in 1605 as Corineus and Gogmagog. After much destruction of London by the great fires in 1666, they were resurrected in the Guildhall with the intent that they were to be seen daily all year and never to be demolished again such as the dismal violence as happened to their predecessors during the fires. Since these were made of wicker and pasteboard, they didn’t last very long, as they were eaten by rats. In 1708 they were replaced by a pair of wooden statues carved by Captain Richard Saunders which lasted for 200 years until destruction in the blitz. In 1953 they were replaced by the current carvings in the Guildhall created by David Evans as a gift to the City by Alderman Sir George Wilkinson who had been the Lord Mayor in 1940. Gog and Magog came to symbolize the links between the modern business institutions of the City to its ancient history. They have been coronated by Thomas Boreman in his “Gigantick History” of 1741 as:

“Corineus and Gogmagog were two brave giants who richly valued their honour and exerted their whole strength and force in the defence of their liberty and country; so the City of London, by placing these, their representatives in their Guildhall, emblematically declare, that they will, like mighty giants defend the honour of their country and liberties of this their City; which excels all others, as much as those huge giants exceed in stature the common bulk of mankind.”

Another mythos could be relating them to Gyges or Gugu, the king who made Lydia a significant power. Some say the prophet Ezekiel utilized his history symbolically to tell this tale and referring to Asia Minor origins for convenience. Alexander the Great was also associated with Gog and Magog, identified as such in works glorifying the life and deeds of Alexander as someone who personally strove to keep Gog and Magog out of the civilized lands. This is related to the impenetrable wall he built to block off a pass in the Caucasus. The Quran also makes reference to a wall built to keep out Gog and Magog, which will be destroyed in the last days. Some equate this wall with Alexander’s, others with the Great Wall of China, and others as the Iron Curtain.

Gog and Magog don’t only have a place within Paganism, more so found Within much of J-C-I mythology (Judaism, Islam, Christianity), is an abundance of their existence in the lore, history, and beliefs of these peoples and/or faiths, especially as they pertain to future prophecies and catastrophism. Found in the Qur’an, Book of Ezekiel, Book of Genesis, and the Book of Revelation. These “supernatural beings” are also referred to as “demons” and “races” that once predated upon the Earth. According to Islam and Christianity of this being(s) were “war” incarnate, and was a great and righteous ruler (He of the Two Horns) or one that impacts two ages (He of Two Ages), would travel the world in three directions, until he found a tribe threatened by himself, or who were of an evil and destructive nature and caused great corruption upon the Earth. Often humans would offer tribute to Gog and Magog for his protection with the hope that he’d agree to help them. However, Gog and Magog notoriously declined the tribute. Because of this, according to legend, humanity constructed a great wall that all the hostile nations could not penetrate, trapping them there until doomsday, that their escape will be a sign of the end … “The War of Gog and Magog” would precede the return of Jesus.

According to Christianity and Judaism, Magog was the grandson of Noah. His descendants settled to the far north of Israel, likely in Europe and Northern Asia and his people are often referred to as the “Northern Barbarians”, clans of very skilled warriors. Gog and Magog are referred heavily to in the Christian theology, especially the writings of Ezekiel in 38-39 and in Revelations 20: 7-8. According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, Gog will be the leader of a great army that attacks the land of Israel, while Gog is described as “of the land of Magog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal”. Most of the mythology state that God himself (or his son) will defeat Magog on the mountains of Israel. This will be a tremendous slaughter, that often is equated to Armaggeddon. The slaughter will be so grand, it will take 7 months to bury all of the dead. As Satan will also be defeated in this battle, “Evil” in a sense will find its final resting place in the lake of Fire. The current or present heaven and earth will be destroyed, and replaced by a new heaven and earth. Some of this is comparative to other mythologies, like the Norse “Ragnarok” and the Christian “Apocalypse”.

According to Christianity’s Old Testament, the reference to a “prince” was once a reference to a demonic or angelic being, who in the spirit realm, is under full control of a particular nation, such as Persia, Greece, or a people such as in the case of the archangel “Michael” who controls “Daniel’s people (Israel). [Daniel 10:13, 20, 21] “Gog” is often described as being the “Chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”. [Ezekiel 38:2,3] Some Christians have equated “Meshech” and “Tubal” to be the two Russian cities of Muscova/Moscow and Tobol’sk/Tubalsk or as Mushki and Tabal (Anatolia/Asia Minor or present day Turkey). As Persia has become the modern day nation of “Iran” and part of Iraq, “Cush” is probably the Sudan south of Egypt (Ethiopia) and Put as Libya (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania), Gomer as the Gimarrai of North Central Asia Minor (Cappadocia/Turkey), which are all areas run by Islamic religion. Magog, Meshech, Tubal, and Gomer were sons of Japheth, a son of Noah. [Genesis 10:2] Togarmah as a son of Gomer, while Cush and Put were sons of Ham, another son of Noah. All of these offspring were believed to have settled in central Asia, in the land today that are defined as the Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as northern Afghanistan. To many, these are the extent of the land of Magog, with Gog as the chief “rosh” prince of the land of Magog. [Ezekiel 38:2] Christian and Judaism Fundamentalists tend to thereby associate that the inhabitants of these areas, which are primarily Islamic, to be the people of Magog, with Gog’s origins being from Turkey. Some fundamentalists liken the battles between Islamic nations and Judaism with Israel as the battleground, to be the battles between Jesus and Gog/Magog. Other faiths, see the Armies of Gog/Magog as being the Russians invading Israel. Others have depicted Gog and Magog as Europe as well as America.

According to N. Wahid Azal, the Grand Shaykh of the Fatimiya Sufi Order, the City of London Corporation, is operated by the demons of Gog and Magog, as can be so clearly illustrated by its symbology. According to his belief, the City of London Corporation use Gog and Magog in their seals, emblems, and within their governmental ceremonies. The two “giants” named “Gog” and “Magog” are considered the patron saints or protectors of the City of London. TO celebrate them, the City of London, every second saturday in November, parade images of them through the streets of the city. They have been carried in the Lord Mayor’s Show since the reign of Henry V. By Wahid Azal’s belief, Gog and Magog are the embodiment of “corporations globally around the world, London Corporation only being one extreme example. The “corporations” act as the spiritual embodiment of these demons feeding off of human greed. He bases this off of Walter Wink’s theory that spirituality and evil are embedded in the structure of contemporary institutions, they are possessed by demonic spirits. He sees the mythical creature or spirit of the “Griffin” as found in London’s city ceremonies to be a “very intelligent demon that is a dangerous thing” making the “Corporation of London” to be a very dangerous place. He quotes in his article “The word of the Lord came to me ‘ Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with your whole army … your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. [Ezekiel 38:1-4]

Mythology dictates, that after the great flood, Noah and his three sons: Ham, Shem, and Japheth repopulated the entire Earth. This “repopulation” creates the 70 original tribal groups (The Table of Nations), of which Gog and Magog, as well as all people on Earth today, are descended. Magog was one of the sons of Japheth, along with his brothers of Gomer, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. [Genesis 10:2] This leads some to believe that Magog was associated with the ancient Scythians. “Magog founded the Magogians, thus named after him, but who were by the Greeks called Scythians” (according to Joseph Flavius). Herodotus (Father of History) writes of the bizarre and savage practices of the descendants of Magog, who often drank the blood of the first enemy they killed; carried the heads of the victims to their chiefs; scalped their enemies and used the scalps as napkins; skins of the victims to cover their quivers, and drank from the skulls of their victims; practicing blood brotherhood by drinking each other’s blood mixed with wine. The Scythians were believed to have bathed in the vapor from heated hemp seeds, and when their king died, they sacrificed one of his concubines and several servants. A year later, they would commemorate the death of their king by sacrificing 50 servants and 50 horses.

However, according to Greek Mythology, the Scythians were believed to be descended from Scythes, the youngest of the three sons of Hercules, from sleeping with a half-viper and half-woman. They were a number of nomadic tribes from the Russian steppes, a fertile area of the Ukraine north of the Black Sea as well as some from east of the Caspian sea who colonized Media, Parthia, Persia, Central Asia, and close to the border of China. The Great Wall of China, according to some Arab writers in Arabic is translated as “The Wall of Al Magog” because the Great wall was built to keep out the invading armies from Magog. This stretched over a area of 2,000 square miles, which is interpreted by many as the former Soviet Union or modern day Russia. Gog as the leader of Magog, is the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, which some say is the leader of the Russian led military horde. Magog was depicted as the locusts, who were said “and out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold and their faces resembled that of humans, their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lion’s teeth, they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. [Revelations 9:3-11] (seen also as Asmodeus the demon of impurity) Some catastrophists and fantasy enthusiasts foretell that this is that of a zombie apocalypse.

According to Doomsday prophecies, at the end of the 70th week (final seven years of this age), Jesus will return to Earth to rule and reign the planet, he will attack and destroy the armed forces of the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon to eliminate the armies of Gog/Magog. [Ezekiel 39:22: "From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. ] (Many believe that Jesus will return riding in on a white horse brandishing a sharp sword (somewhere near Bozrah/Jordan) and destroy those who are attacking Israel, because it is only at that time that Israel will see, recognize, and acknowledge Jesus as their Lord) It is believed that the armies of Jesus will destroy the forces of Gog and Magog as well as all nations who have joined them, all of whom will be attacking Jerusalem at that time, and Isreael. There is believed to be a second rapture to collect the saved believers just before Jesus returns to the Earth, at the end of the 70th week [Revelation 1:14-16] and Immediately after, those who are left will be gathered and thrown into the great winepress of God’s wrath, trampled by Jesus treading upon these “ripe grapes” of armies of the nations. 30 Days after this carnage, the Antichrist and his armies will gather to attack Jesus again in Jerusalem, and he will overcome them at the famed Battle of Armageddon. [Revelation 17:12-14] Great Old Testament by Prophet Isaiah tells the same story, including the crimson red garments, treading of the winepress, Lord’s sword. [Isaiah 63:1-6; 34:5] Along the Valley of jehoshaphat, according to the Old Testament prophet Joel, is where the Lord would swing his sickle to harvest these “wicked grapes” to be trampled in the winepress, next to the Mount of Olives, along the eastern edge of Jerusalem. This is the primary location whre Jesus will destroy the armies of the Gog/MaGog nations attacking Jerusalem. It is then according to Ezekiel, that the son of man and prophesy is to say to Gog “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? you will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes … I will execute judgement upon him … and on his troops and on the many with him”.[Ezekiel 38:14-16, 22] Thereby, by this Christian and Judaism belief, God will be against the nations who will be attacking Israel. “But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly in an instant, the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire. Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel, that attacke her and her fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the night” <[Isaiah 29:5-7] “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an Iron sceptor.” [Revelation 19:15]

“All the birds flying in midair [and all the wild animals, some myths include invitation to the human (or human-like armies)] will be told ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” [Revelations 19:17,18] “Come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth … at my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind” declares the sovereign Lord. [Ezekiel 39:17, 18a, 20] “From that day and forevermore thereafter, ‘the Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name’”. [Zechariah 14:9] It is believed by many of these faiths, that God will bring a year of punishment upon Moab so that “whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring upon Moab the year of her punishment’ declared the Lord.” [Jeremiah 48:44] This lasting a year and will be the 7th year of the 70th week. “Gog” is then labelled by many of these believers, to be the King” of a “swarm of locusts” who would manifest himself as one of the locusts within the swarm. [Amos 7:1] (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Old Testament) Many believe these are not literally “locusts” but rather a swarm of demonic beings or fallen angels leading the armies in Ezekiel’s prophecy. [also in John's vision with Gog returning 1,000 years later. Revelations 20:7,8] Some fundamentalists think that the demon “Gog” will possess two different men, 1000 years apart to lead armies against Jerusalem as the first human leader would die and be buried. [Ezekiel 39:11] Revelations also tell of a swarm of demonic locusts coming out of the Abyss during the Fifth Trumpet Judgement. [Revelations 9:1-3] Based on this mythology, the Destroyer, the Angel Abaddon, is described as a king over them, who could very well be Gog, or the fallen angel in command of Gog. By end of the 70th week, the future leader could be possessed by the demonic spirit of Gog, and head a conglomerate of demonic and Islamic armies. Many other nations will join these armies of Gog and Magog, to invade israel. Some say that this Gog/Magog bloodbath is the same as the winepress of God’s wrath.

Some also believe that the Battle of Armageddon, will occur immediately after the termination of the final seven years on the day that Jesus returns to Earth, and some of those then equate that Gog and the Antichrist will be one and the same person, while others disagree seeing them as completely separate battles between Good and Evil. Many of these believe that the Antichrist is residing in the modern mystery new location of Babylon, wherever that may be, and Gog will engage him in battle there, as a result, the Antichrist may run to escape, and by so doing, he will and some of his armies will invade Israel to occupy it before Gog does it first. Once the Antichrist occupies Jerusalem, the reports from the east and from the north will include a report that Gog is about to attack Jerusalem/Israel, causing the Antichrist to set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. [Daniel 11:40, 41, 44] “If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” says Jesus. [Matthew 12:25, 26] The Antichrist Beast along with the false prophet will be “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur” [Revelation 19:20a].

Bibliography/References:

Got Questions? “Gog and Magog”. Website referenced July 2012. www.gotquestions.org/Gog-Magog.html

Lord Mayor Show: Gog and Magog. Website referenced July 2012. http://lordmayorshow.org/history/gogmagog/LI> Prophecy Update: Gog and Magog Identified. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.prophecyupdate.com/gog_and_magog_identified.htm

Smashing Lists: “Famous Mythical Humanoid Creatures”. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.smashinglists.com/30-famous-mythical-humanoid-creatures/.

Ted Montgomery: “Gog the Antichrist”, “End Times”. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/GogAntichrist/index.html.

Wahidazal Blogspot: “Demons behind Global institutions of Finance” and “N. Wahid Azal – Grand Shaykh of the Fatimiya Sufi Order”. Website referenced July 2012. wahidazal.blogspot.com/2012/01/demons-behind-global-institutions-of.html.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. “Gog and Magog”, “Walter Wink”. Website referenced July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_and_Magog.

Ossian’s Grave (Cloghbrack/Cushendall, Northern Ireland)

Leaf McGowan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:34:34 +0000

Ossian’s Grave
* Cloghbrack * Cushendall * Northern Ireland *

The fabled site of where the wandering poet, bard, and seer “Oisin” is believed to be buried. Atop a hill overlooking the valley and down into the Glen as well as over the Channel to be able to see Scotland on a clear day, the location for this small megalithic tomb is spectacular. The Tomb faces East, South-east next to an oval cairn dedicated to poet John Hewitt. Oisin’s Grave / Ossian’s tomb is a small megalithic semi-circular court opening into a two-chambered burial gallery. The back chamber is composed of two sidestones at the southwest, a back or sidestone at the northeast, with a pair of transverse jambs higher than the other stones as if they may have been originally designed as portals. The Forechamber is in very poor shape with only 2 sidestones intact with a pair of portal stones. Within the chamber lies a fallen stone that may have been the displaced roof-stone. The large court dominates the tomb, but additional stones suggest that the court may have belonged to two periods, relating to a back chamber and subsequent fore-portals.

A great irish poet, John Hewitt was very impressed with Ossian’s grave and the megalithic tomb that exists on this hill. So much that he wrote a poem about the site called “Oisin’s Grave: the horned cairn at Lubitavish, Co. Antrim”. Because of this, a stone cairn in Hewitt’s memory was constructed here in 1989 commemorating him as the “Poet of the Glens”.

Official information: http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/nismrview.htm?monid=1476

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