... Death Is Only The Beginning ... Welcome To My Black Past ...

New to this blog?

2009-03-31T01:41:00.000-07:00

If you're new to this blog, you might want to check out this post, Death Is Only The Beginning first before you start reading anything to get a clear picture of what this blog is mainly about. Do note that this site is just a blog maintained based on satirical humor, and that all posts here does not represent the actual entities that have survived through time. If you read everything here and think that this is for real, I implore you to get the HELL out as I believed you do not know what is real occultism. Thank you.

P/S: To the commentor who thinks he or she knows everything about occultism enough to post stupid comments here, you're not welcome. Everyone knows that the Necronomicon does not exist in the first place and that it was conjured up by H. P. Lovecraft. In case you do not know where to look for the proof and evidence about Necronomicon and H. P. Lovecraft, here's two links for you to find out. Or maybe, you just found out that the Necronomicon was a part of H. P. Lovecraft's works and hence, decided to come over and showed off that you know something. Anyway, nice try!!

» Necronomicon: Fictional book appearing in the stories by horror novelist H. P. Lovecraft

» H. P. Lovecraft: An American author of horror, fantasy, and science fiction, known then simply as weird fiction

» Ankh: Egyptian hieroglyphic character that read "eternal life"

» Pentagram: Shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes

» Hexagram: A six-pointed geometric star figure

» Jewish Star of David: A generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism

» Scarab: Beetles that feed partly or exclusively on feces

» Eye of Horus: An ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities

A little more simple theory would be:

Price of leaving comments anonmously: Like a genius.

Price of thinking you're a smart-ass genius: Maybe like a million bucks

Price of thinking only you know what exactly is occultism: Like a brainless piece of crap.

For everything else: There's always Google and Wikipedia

The Horrors Of Hell

2009-01-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

Hell is a subject that holds a special fascination for me for it is the ultimate, unspeakable horror story. The untold agony and torment is never-ending, if you believe the popular versions of what Hell is like. Is Hell real in the first place? Would God be so cruel as to send anyone to a place like Hell? Is there any escape? Does anybody have a second chance? I'll address these questions in this post. I would recommend that you skip this post if you are faint-hearted. But if you are hell-bent on reading it, then you might want to go through it during the day. Why suffer sleepless nights unnecessarily?

Does Hell really exist?

My research suggests that Hell is a very real place. Almost every culture and religion tells its special, unique story about a place of unimaginable suffering where a bad person goes to after death. How is it that distinctly separate religions and peoples can have have almost similar ideas of Hell? It is because this is a truth that is conveyed to the innermost conscience of all. You might refuse to admit it but there is always a nagging fear in each of us of an existence after death. Sometimes we deal with this fear by giving away lots of money to charity, as though money is a kind of insurance against Hell. There are others who resort to good deeds, a life of deprivation, religion and so on. All of us, in one way or another, try to escape from this real place. Also, if you believe that there is a supreme being, it is not too difficult to come to terms with the existence of Hell. Free thinkers and sceptics will find the idea of a lake of eternal fire repulsive because it would appear that they themselves are heading for it.

You better believe it - Hell does exist.

What Hell is like

When a body is torched in Hell, it'll be able to feel the flames cut through every sensitive muscle and nerve. And yet the body won't be burnt. It's like being burnt at the stake for ever and ever. The pain comes not merely from the flames but from every possible torture you can think of. And it will reach every point in the body. Your eyes will melt and ooze out from your sockets. Sharp instruments will pierce through various points in your body, sending it into convulsions. The blood in your veins will be literally boiling. Your brain will be fried. And you thought your toothache was bad? Wait till you see what those in Hell have to go through. Despite these extreme tortures, there will be no death, in the annihilation sense. How is this possible? As we all know, a normal body can only take so much abuse before it disintegrates. So in Hell, you will be given a new body that's designed to absorb eternal punishment.

Cruel? That's not all. It's not just physical torture. Mentally and emotionally, a person in Hell is in the pit of utter despair and loneliness. There will be a sense of being separated from everything that is good. This mental misery will be even worse than the physical torture and will in fact aggravate the pain a person feels. Just think of it - punishment with no end to it. Forever. You can be sure that Hell will be quite a crowded place and everybody will be wailing and complaining of the unbearable anguish. There will be pleas for relief from the torture. But there will be no let-up and the smoke of the flames and the cries will go up uninterrupted and continuously.

How long is "forever"?

Recalling one striking imagery of "forever" which is quite apt: imagine that one day all the mountains and land and seabed on earth were reduced to grains of sand. Line up the grains in a straight line, one grain against another, to the heavens and back. Then let a little bird come just once in one thousand years and take away one grain. Let the bird take away every last grain. That would be a very long time, wouldn't it? Well, "forever" or "eternity" is longer than that. I suppose you have to see good, evil, justice and punishment in infinite terms before you can accept that it is possible for a person to be in Hell for such a long time. Although I'm pretty certain of my research, not all the views on Hell are similar. To be fair, I've included some of the more popular views below. I'd be very keen to know about your ideas on the subject.

What Dante and Milton thought

"Hell" is derived from an ancient word "hel", which means "to conceal" or "to cover". It is used in the King James version of the Bible to represent both Hebrew and Greek afterlife. During the Middle Ages, people thought of Hell as a place filled with brimstone and fire, burning the souls of those who sinned. This was because the church organizations then aimed to terrorize the people into being good, so their version of Hell was the most sadistic and grotesque place that they could think of. Satan and his devils tormented the souls of the damned in ways beyond imagination. If you look at paintings of that period, you'll find naked men and women being stabbed, raped, torn apart - not at all a pretty sight. John Milton's Paradise Lost and Dante's Divine Comedy also describe such painful, fiery hells. A German divine claimed that in Hell, some hundred billion souls would pack tightly "like anchovies" into a space about the size of a cubic mile. The Jesuit priest, Cornelius a Lapide, used the same reasoning, calculating the size of Hell to be a little bigger than the size of Singapore! Just try to think of one hundred billion souls (that's about 100 times the population of China) cramming into Singapore! I don't think there are any freehold apartments in Hell either.

The Greek version of Hell

The Greeks, who were one of the first to articulate the idea of Hell, believed that its location was in the far West, in the shape of an unknown ground world with several entrances. One of the most famous is a cave by the lake of Avernus, near Naples. The classical Greek poet, Vigil, describes this place in his work. The dead go to this sad, dark underworld which is ruled by the god of death, Hades (the Romans called him Pluto). That's why the Greeks called their Hell "Hades" too. He has a beautiful young wife by the name of Persephone. You'll find that Hades, like any other country, has many must-see tourist sights. First is the dark and treacherous River Styx, which encircles the region. This river has to be crossed by every dead person, and the only way to do so is to be ferried across by Charon the boatman. It is believed that it would be fatal for a mortal to break an oath, sworn by the river.

Another famous river is the Acheron. Those who haven't been buried with a coin to pay for the ferry trip across the Styx must wander by the banks of Acheron forever. Other landmarks in Hades include the River Phlegethon which runs not with water but with flames, and Tartarus, an underground crypt that lies below Hades where monsters like the hundred-handed Hecatoncheires and the one-eyed Cyclops are imprisoned. If you lived a good and heroic life, however, instead of going to Hades, you end up in the Elysian Fields as a reward. In this heaven, the inhabitants feast, drink and make merry forever.

The Taoist view

The Underground Mansion, Di Fu [地府], is the Taoist version of Hell.. All 18 levels of it. Because of its complexity, every tour guide has a different itinerary to offer. There's a medium who reportedly conducts a 49-day group tour. This is what the journey looks like. Seven passports per person, one for each week, have to be prepared. The passport is a record of the client's deeds in his life. As for food, there's no need to worry for you can only smell food in Hell. That's why the living burn joss sticks to the dead. Once prepared, the medium, as tour guide, takes you through a trance into the astro-plane of the dead. You travel on foot in a straight line. The first landmark you encounter is the tall, dark Mountain of the Yellow Spring [黄泉]. If you cross this point, you'll never be able to return to the land of the living again. So it's vital that you follow your tour guide. Souls get hopelessly lost around here because they can't see in the dark.

Next comes the biggest attraction of all: the River of Three Ways. There are three places at which you can cross. Namely, the shallow banks, the river rush and the bridge. Only those who have done good deeds get to use the bridge. It is also possible to hire the boat id you have hell money. The fee is six copper coins. On the banks you can see lots of children stacking stones. They're not playing; they're building shrines. This is because they didn't perform any good deeds before going to Hell. Now and then, however, a demon comes with a huge iron stick and smashes the shrines, shouting: "You little rascals, how can anyone pray at these sloppy shrines?" The children will then cry. The demon tortures them because the children died before their parents passed away and caused them much grief. The more tears the parents shed, the greater their sin. Hence they cannot cross the river until their parents stop crying and start to pray for their children's souls.

Next on the other side of the river is a tree where an old couple sits. The old lady will strip you naked while the old man will hang your clothes on the branch of the tree. At this point you get interrogated by a judge. If your clothes are too heavy for the tree, you have obviously committed sins which are too "heavy" in your lifetime. There will be a total of seven judges interrogating anyone who goes through the tour. One of them examines souls for sexual misconduct. He is assisted by a cat and snake who are able to smell whether the person is guilty. The cat will bite the male's head if he has been adulterous while the snake will slither up the woman's lower body. The final judge carries a weighing balance. With all the passports and records, he weighs the good and bad deeds of a soul and decides where it will go, whether it's the level for hungry ghosts, the level for animals and so on. It is at this level that souls can often be seen begging for mercy.

There is still one more round of interrogation by the merciful King of Hell, Yanlo [阎罗王]. He will look into his magic mirror and re-examine the deeds of souls. He tries not to punish anyone and where possible, sends them into Heaven. Finally, you reach the Six Gates of Hell. From here the soul chooses a gate and is reincarnated. The guide takes you through it and back to your present existence. For those of you tempted to try such a tour, be warned that there's no guarantee your soul will return safely. Cases of deaths and permanent comas have happened, because some souls get lost along the way. Or worse, get trapped in Hell and never return.

The Buddhist view

Very much like the Taoists, they see existence as a never-ending cycle of rebirths. Punishment after death is to be reborn in a lower life, say a dog, pig or even a microscopic bacteria. There is a story that Buddha, in his human existence, had a jealous cousin, Dibartha. He tried to kill Buddha three times. First he threw a boulder on Buddha from the top of a hill but missed. Then he fed an elephant with lots of wine and made it rush at Buddha. The ground shook with its stomps, loud as thunder from the sky. However, the drunk elephant became meek as a mouse when it reached Buddha. The third time, Dibartha put some poison on his finger and kneeling before Buddha, tried to murder him. But as he moved close, the ground suddenly opened and Dibartha fell into the enormous hole. It is said that the hole opened into Hell, where Dibartha was punished.

The Christian view

Hell, among mainstream Christians, is everlasting spiritual and physical agony, while true heaven is the bliss of being with God. Our world is a battlefield in which the forces of Heaven and Hell strive to "occupy" the souls of men. God is described among the Christians as "a consuming fire". I imagine this to mean that the fire in Hell will be none other than God himself. A most terrifying prospect.

The Jewish view

The Jews called Hell "Sheol", a sad, dull shadowy place where souls wandered aimlessly and endlessly. Later, the idea evolved. They introduced Gehenna as Hell, a site of "gloomy fire, always burning". It was named after a location where Jerusalem's rubbish was burnt. The flames in this place would almost never go out. The Jews also compared Hell to a place they called Tophet where idolatrous Jews threw their very own children into fire as a sacrifice to the god Molech. The cries of the children were heard in that place day and night. That pitiful crying, wailing and piercing shrieks has been likened to Hell.

The Muslim view

In Islam, sinners are tormented in Hell. But there is an escape clause. Allah the All-Merciful pardons those who are sincerely repentant, and allows them to go to Heaven where there is unlimited food, wine and sensual delight.

Purgatory

The Roman Catholics provide for an escape from Hell that is very attractive. If you are in Purgatory, a place not as bad as Hell, the living can make intercession for you and atone for your wrong deeds. So in this way, your soul will be released from Hell to Heaven.

I am still compiling more hellish tales. What you've just read is but the tip of the iceberg. Do you have any new hells and heavens to share? Write in!

Don't Fear The Reaper

2008-12-19T00:21:00.000-08:00

Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on then
The door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew and then disappeared

The curtains flew and he appeared
Saying don't be afraid, and she had no fear
And she ran to him, she had to go right then
They looked backward and said goodbye

She had taken his hand
Then they started to fly
She had become like they are
Come on baby, don't fear the reaper

Blue Oyster Cult

Occult Symbols

2008-11-11T23:16:00.000-08:00

Occult symbols are powerful tools that are used to invoke demonic powers in witchcraft and Satanic worship. The symbols, however, work only if they are three-dimensional. So you needn't worry about the pictures you will see in this post. It's the ability of these symbols to summon dark forces that holds our fascination for them. Most of us are not even aware of this mysterious power that the symbols have on us. You wear it around your neck, your hand and you keep it on your bedside table but be warned: it's not an entirely lifeless object. There is real power behind it. Occult worshippers know this and therefore use these objects while performing ancient magic rituals to acquire the supernatural powers they crave for.

These devilish worship rituals involve drugs, free sex and animal sacrifices. Often, the blood of the sacrifices is offered to the gods to appease them. The remaining blood is drunk by the worshippers. The ultimate perversion is committed when human sacrifices are made. Young virgins and children are considered best, unblemished offerings! Did you know that even until very recent times, human sacrifices have occurred in extreme forms of Kali worship in India, among some cult groups and even in Singapore, in the Adrian Lim case? Beware. Wherever you find the influence of the occult, it is inevitable that these symbols are also found for they are the channels of evil magic. The powers of the dark will recognize these symbols easily and gravitate to them. So, if you have these objects or wear them, as many do, you might be opening yourself to attacks from the devil!

The Ankh

Isn't this symbol very familiar? It's often confused with the Christian symbol of the cross. The truth is that it has nothing to do with the cross and is in fact one of the most powerful symbols of the occult world. It's known as the Ankh and its roots can be traced to ancient Egypt. The Ankh was used in the worship of Ra, the sun god of Egypt whom Satanists consider to be Satan's other form. Ra was considered to be a universal creator and was worshipped throughout ancient Egypt. The disc on his head represents the sun.

The Ankh is a symbol of reincarnation. The idea here is not the same as the Buddhist and Hindu understanding but means enduring life. To qualify to use these symbols in ancient Egypt, you had to give up your virginity and take part in orgies. The sexual aspect was an important part of these rituals for it demonstrated the perversion of all that was good and the willingness of worshippers to abandon themselves to evil. They eventually sold their souls to the devil.

The Ankh came into popular use when Constantine, the first Roman Emperor, said he drew inspiration from the sign as he fought successfully to the throne in Rome in 312 A.D. In order to secure the support of both the Christians and pagans, Constantine claimed that he saw the sign of the Holy Cross in the sky. This vision was a messenger from the heavens, which supposedly destined him to conquer his enemies! But when the symbol was placed on the shields of his soldiers, it looked like the Ankh. That's why the arch commissioned by the Senate in Rome to mark Constantine's victory bears an inscription saying he owed his success to the "prompting of a deity". There are serious doubts as to whether this meant the Christian God. This is what my findings tell me but I would absolutely love to hear from my readers who think otherwise.

The Pentagram

This is the symbol that witches use and denotes the practice of witchcraft. The symbol is thought to point to Lucifer and witches believe his name means "son of the morning". There is some truth in the description as Satan is described as "an Angel of Light" and was one of the most beautiful of the created beings. However, pride got the better of him and this resulted in his downfall. Lucifer conned one-third of the angels in Heaven to support him in his rebellion. When he made his move, it failed miserably. Together with his supporters, he was cast out of paradise.

If you turned the Pentagram upside-down, it becomes a "horned" star, or the Horned Hunter of the Night. If you look carefully, you'll be able to see that the star in this orientation is the shape of Satan's face. And this is the symbol that is used in Satanist churches around the world.

The Hexagram

This is a six-sided star and hence the term hexagram. It is, without any doubt, the most evil symbol in the occult sphere. This is the mark that must be present when calling forth a demon during a ritual. The word "hex" (that is, to place a curse on someone) comes from this emblem. There is a well-documented case of a hexagram being used by the famous magician, Cellini. Together with his 12-year-old apprentice, Cenci, they conjured up demons from within a circle they had drawn from the ground at the Coliseum in Rome. More fiends than expected turned up and the ritual went almost out of control.

But the point was that as long as the two stayed within the circle they were safe from the devils although Cenci said he was able to see five monstrous devils trying their very best to force their way into the hexagram. Eventually, Cellini was able to politely invite the demons to leave. He burned a substance that omitted a bad odor and this helped to break the spell. Cenci, who had till then been cowering in terror, complained that he could still see two demons following them on the rooftops and streets. This case is well-documented although psychologists say that the men must have been hallucinating. I don't think so.

Although the hexagram looks similar to the Jewish Star of David, it is definitely not the same. The Star of David does not have a circle around it. The two triangles meshing into one another in the Jewish symbol tells of the Creator reaching out to man. The I Ching also uses the hexagram symbol with combinations of broken and unbroken lines corresponding to the yin and yang forces. In this case, the hexagram doesn't hold any sinister implications.

If money is a problem, this is the symbol that could offer you some help. It was first used by the Druid priests in Scotland and Ireland, in witchcraft rituals to ask the devil for financial help. Other names for this occult item include the Italian horn, the fairy wand or leprechaun staff. The horn symbol is also common in Indian mythology, where it appears as a phallic symbol. If you observe carefully, you'll notice that many wear this horn-like symbol around their necks. The sexual connection is also made in European literature where the unicorn is considered to be a powerful sexual symbol. In mythology, the unicorn horn is usually found on a white horse. The white horse unicorn is linked with virginity. The unicorn is common in Western paintings where it is usually found in the company of young women. The unicorn is also found in Christian, Islamic, Chinese and Indian art and literature.

The Scarab

The word "scarab" comes from the Latin name Scarabaeus sacer, which is a member of the beetle family. Ancient Egyptians considered this type of beetle as sacred and was used as a symbol, seal or amulet. Scarabs were used in rituals to invoke the hideous and impure, which are exactly the kind of feelings the beetle will make you feel when you look at it. Most appropriately, the other name of this beetle is the dung beetle because they dig holes and tunnels near piles of shit! They do this to lay eggs - and store their food. In the tropics, it is not unusual to find dung beetles propelling balls of dung as large as an apple and several times their body weight. Sounds disgusting, but that's probably why witches like to use them in black magic!

The Eye Of Horus

Horus is a deity that is associated with the sun, and is the son of Isis and Osiris. The Eye Of Horus is the occult symbol for the powers of darkness which are all-seeing and all-knowing. It is commonly painted in the hieroglyphs which decorate the mystical pyramids. Osiris is the king and judge of the dead. He is both the husband and brother of Isis. By all accounts, Osiris was a very senior god in ancient Egypt. Osiris is usually depicted as a man with a beard and wrapped as a mummy. He wears what is known as an atef-crown. Although he was killed in battle, he was rescued by his son, Horus, and was subsequently resurrected. Isis is the goddess of fertility and mother of Horus. She was an accepted deity in the later Greek and Roman empires.

The Crescent

Complementing the Eye Of Horus, the crescent is used to symbolize Isis. Her other identity is Diana, queen of heaven. The Bible records her origin, going right back to the time of Noah's grandson, Cush. He married an evil woman named Semiramis, who subsequently became the queen of Babylon. She led the most evil existence imaginable. Together with her son Nimrod - whom she later married - she started the occult religion called Baal (Satan) worship. After he was killed, she continued to spread the religion. Statues of her appeared all over the world in many forms - Venus, Ashtoreth, Diana, Isis - hence her multiple identities!

A Warning

Symbols of the occult are often associated with sexual excess. Under the canopy of the stars and the moon, these evil rituals involve worshippers having sex with each other and the devil. Therefore, gentle readers, beware when you come across these symbols for they are signs of Satanic worshippers operating in the vicinity. DO NOT join in their activities. It's not a matter of being cool or fun; it's playing with fire - or in this case, demons - who love to torment whoever is foolish enough to call upon them!

Decatur House

2008-10-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

The haunted house of one of America's most celebrated naval captains in the war of 1812, Stephen Decatur. Located in Lafayette Square, Washington, DC, Decatur House is said to be haunted by the ghosts of both Stephen and his wife, Susan. Stephen Decatur moved to Washington with his wife in 1818 after the war ended. He was admired and even considered a presidential hopeful, but unfortunately for him, in 1807 he had served on the court-martial board of his friend, Commodore James Barron. Decatur had agreed with the rest of the board that Barron should be court-martialled, starting a feud that ended in Decatur's death at Barron's hands during a duel 13 years later in Bladensburg, Maryland (dueling being illegal in Washington). On 14 March 1820, the morning of the duel, Decatur was mortally wounded and taken home to die. His wife was so broken-hearted she could not bring herself to look at him or to live in the house after he had died.

A year after his death, his apparition was allegedly seen looking sadly from the window where he had stood on the eve of his death. The window was walled up but this did not stop the ghost returning. Later sounds of a woman weeping - said to be Susan Decatur - were also heard. Residents of Washington still report seeing Decatur's spirit peering out of the second-storey window or slipping out the back door of his house with a black box under his arm, just as he had done on that fateful day of the duel.

Chase Vault

2008-10-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

On the island of Barbados there is a burial vault in Christ Church cemetery known simply as the Chase Vault. In 1807 a Mrs. Goddard was buried there, followed in 1812 by Dorcas Chase, a possible suicide. When the vault was opened a month or so later to bury Dorcas's father, Thomas Chase, all the coffins have been moved from their original places. At first it was thought that the only explanation was grave robbers, but curiously, the seal of the tomb had not been tampered with.

In 1816 there were two more burials, and in both cases, when the vault was opened, the coffins already there had been moved into different places. Most peculiar of all was the fact that the casket of Thomas Chase, made of lead, weighing 240 pounds, and virtually impossible to move by a single individual, had also been relocated. Each time the coffins were put back in their proper places and the vault sealed with cement, but again in 1819 the vault was opened and the coffins had been rearranged.

This time the governor sprinkled sand on the floor to see if any footprints would be left and pressed his personal seal into the fresh cement. In 1820 when the vault was opened again, the coffins had been rearranged; some were even flipped upside down, even though the concrete seal was undisturbed and no footprints showed. The governor eventually ordered the coffins to be removed and buried elsewhere and for the vault to be left open. On investigation no water was discovered in the vault that could have shifted the coffins, and the possibility of an earthquake movement was also ruled out. The mystery of the Chase Vault has never been solved.

Bakechochin

2008-10-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

Translated as 'haunted lantern', in Japanese folklore a bakechochin is a lantern inhabited by ghosts. According to lore the lantern has a long tongue and wild eyes and is home for the ghosts of people who died with hate in their hearts; for this reason, they are doomed to haunt the earth for all time. If someone should light one of these haunted lanterns, it is thought that a hateful ghost may leap out of it and attack.

Arundel Castle

2008-10-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

This magnificent castle in the heart of West Sussex has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk since 1580. It was severely damaged y fire in the seventeenth century but has now been restored to its former glory. Not only is Arundel Castle the home of countless priceless works of art, but it also is thought to house several ghosts. The ghost of a young woman dressed in white has been seen wandering around Hiorne's Tower, particularly on moonlit nights. According to legend, she threw herself off the tower because of a tragic love affair. A ghost has also been encountered in the library and has become known as the 'Blue Man'. He has been seen on several occasions searching through books and is thought to date back to the time of King Charles II (1660 - 1685).

A kitchen boy of 200 years ago or so is said to have been so badly treated that he died young. His ghost has been seen furiously polishing pots and pans. Another ghost is that of a small white bird, which reputedly flutters around the windows of the castle. It is said to signify the imminent death of someone connected to the castle and was reported to have appeared just before the death of the Duke of Norfolk in 1917.

Spitting

2008-10-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

According to American and British folklore, spitting is believed to protect a person or object against ghosts and evil spirits. It is said that if a ghost is encountered one must spit on the ground in front of it and say, 'In the name of the Lord, what do you want?' The spittle supposedly protects the individual from harm. The protective power of saliva dates back to ancient times. Spitting on one's breast was supposed to avert the jealousy of the gods. The Bible records innumerable instances of its superstitious use and its symbolic personification, for example, Jesus healing the blind man by spitting on his eyes. Until quite recently in parts of rural Ireland, a newborn child was spat on by its father; neighbors spat on the child for luck the first day it was brought out, and older women spat on the ground all around it to ward off evil. The origins of the superstition are uncertain but it is likely to have originated as a way of instilling humility in those blessed with good fortune, wealth or beauty in case that good fortune invoked the jealousy of the gods.

Sawston Hall

2008-10-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

A sixteenth-century house in Cambridgeshire, England, that is believed to be haunted by the ghosts of Mary Tudor and a grey lady. On the night of 7 July 1553, Mary Tudor; the daughter of Henry VIII of England, was taken in and hidden at Sawston Hall by the occupants, the Huddleston family, when Lady Jane Grey, Henry's grandniece, was declared Queen in Mary's place. On the morning of 8 July, fearing for her life, Mary escaped disguised as a milkmaid. In revenge supporters of Lady Jane burned the house down.

Lady Jane Grey's reign lasted only nine days before Mary Tudor was declared Queen and Lady Jane imprisoned as an imposter and executed. In gratitude for helping her in her hour of need Mary - who later became known as Bloody Mary for her persecution of Protestants - rebuilt Sawston Hall. A portrait of her still hangs in the Great Hall and her ghost is said to have been seen gliding serenely and at great speed through the house. The other ghost associated with Sawston Hall, the lady in grey, is of unknown origin. She is said to knock three times at the door and then float across the room.

Sawston Hall

2008-10-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Preta

2008-10-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

A type of ghost in Buddhist and Hindu lore. In Hindu belief the preta is a tiny ghost of the dead, no bigger than a thumbnail, that resides in the corpse or lingers near the home of the dead person for one year after the funeral. When the year is ended rituals are performed to send the soul to heaven, where it will be rewarded for good deeds performed while on earth. In Buddhist belief the preta or hungry ghost is the lowest segment of the wheel of life. Their task is to work off, in a state of constant hunger, the bad karma accumulated by anger, greed, envy, etc. Their hunger is only relieved when their karma has been balanced. Pretas are said to have tiny throats and huge bellies. They are thought to live at crossroads, which are well-known hiding places for witches, spirits and ghosts of the underworld.

Orbs

2008-10-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Form of energy unknown origin that can't be seen by the naked eye but which can be seen through infrared monitors and recorded on photographic film. They aren't the same as ghost lights, which are visible. Orbs are not dust particles, static discharge, moisture or stray lights, and they are not strong enough to set off motion detectors. They seem to float and change direction at lightning speed. They react to people around them and appear both indoors and outdoors, and are particularly strong at haunted sites. According to modern ghost investigators orbs offer the strongest evidence for spirit activity. The Ghost Research Society has pioneered the investigation of orbs with high-tech night vision equipment and has recorded numerous cases.

Orbs are not to be confused with arcs of light on the camera lens that often appear in photographs, especially those from a digital camera. These are caused by light bouncing back from reflective surfaces and light sources not visible to the eye. False orbs are typically pale blue or white whereas genuine orbs appear dense and bright on film. For those who believe that at least some orbs are paranormal, there are many beliefs regarding their purpose and how they came to be.

» Orbs are a method for spirits to show people that they are there.

» They are energy emitted by people and objects, which the spirit uses for its own energy.

» They are viewing instruments for spirits and in the atmosphere.

» Orbs are the souls of spirits manifesting on earth as a ball of energy.

» Orbs are energy from past events that has been held within the atmosphere of a place. The idea here is that the atmosphere records events and the more energy dispersed in a place - such as a violent murder - the more energy is absorbed and held in the form of an orb.

An alternative explanation for the existence of orbs, apart from the supernatural, has also been put forward and can be examined in more detail at www.orbstudy.com. The theory goes along the lines of orbs being natural energy structures that are a normal part of the physical world but have gone undetected until recently. The orb is an electrical object - a plasma - which for some reason holds together in a spherical shape, so is considered a stable plasma; something which physics cannot reproduce or explain.

How can you tell if an orb is paranormal?

The word orb has been assigned by popular usage to the circular anomalies that are present on some photographs or videos. Orbs are typically spherical and of varying intensity and color, although they are often white. Some orbs give the appearance of having been in rapid motion when caught by the camera, illustrated by a blurry effect traveling away from the orb. If you think you may have photographed or videoed an orb the first thing to do is to eliminate all natural possibilities.

The appearance of orbs can be caused by dust, moisture and light reflection and refraction. If your photographs were taken in a clean, dust-free, moisture-free clean room, which also has all known causes of light reflection removed, it is impossible to eliminate completely the possibility of an orb having a supernatural explanation. If this is the case analyze the time before and after the orb was taken - were there any unusual circumstances? Did you or anyone else sense anything in the atmosphere?

Marilyn Monroe [1926 - 1962]

2008-10-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard is said to be the current residence of several ghosts of popular film stars, including Marilyn Monroe, the glamorous and funny star of such pictures as Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, who was a frequent guest of the Roosevelt at the height of her popularity. Although she died in her Brentwood home, her image has allegedly been seen on several occasions in a full-length mirror that once hung in her poolside suite.

Marilyn Monroe lived a dramatic, sensational but tragic life and died of a drug overdose on 8 August 1962. There has been much speculation about her death and the events surrounding it. Most believe that suicide was likely, although it has been suggested that her drug overdose was administered by someone other than Marilyn herself. There are some who believe that this uncertainty explains why her ghost lingers behind and why her sad image has impressed itself on the mirror.

Lizzie Borden's House

2008-10-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Now a bed and breakfast hotel located at No. 92 Second Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, the former home of suspected murderer Lizzie Borden is said to be haunted. Although Lizzie was never convicted of murder it is very likely that on the morning of 4 August 1892 she killed her stepmother, Abby Durfee Gray, with an axe, in the Borden's family house and an hour or so later she killed her father, Andrew Borden, in the same way. Abby's body was found between the bed and bureau, in the guest room, Mr. Borden's body was found lying with his head on the sofa arm, next to the door, in the downstairs sitting room.

The Borden household was not a happy one and there is little doubt Lizzie was guilty, but due to lack of evidence she was acquitted at her trial. Despite being ostracized by the community she continued to live in the house until her death on 1 June 1927. After her death, the house remained a private residence for several decades before being converted into a bed and breakfast. Guests that stay there can, if they so wish, view the murder scene and sleep in Lizzie's bedroom, Abby and Andrew's bedrooms or the guest room where Abby was killed.

With such violence taking place in the house it is hardly surprising that the house is reportedly haunted by the spirits of the Bordens. Guests report feeling cold spots in certain rooms and people who work in the house report hearing voices, unexplained footsteps and doors opening and closing. Abby has been seen pulling the covers of the bed from guests and dusting and making beds in the guest room. Some have seen what looks like a body lying down appear and disappear on the beds.

Hotel Del Coronado

2008-10-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Resort hotel off the coast of San Diego, California that is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who died there in November 1893. There are many versions of the story but the ghost is thought to be that of Kate Morgan, who checked into the hotel on 24 November under the name of Lottie A Bernard. She was given room 3312. Her husband, Tom, a card shark, did not arrive as expected. Apparently, the couple had quarreled on the way to the hotel, when Tom was surprised by news of Kate's pregnancy, and he had got off the train agreeing to meet her there.

Kate waited for two days. She then took a ferry to San Diego where she bought a .44 calibre gun. The next day she was found dead on the steps of the hotel's north entrance. In her hand was the gun with one bullet missing and suicide was assumed even though the bullet that killed her was from a .40 calibre gun. The mystery of her death remained unsolved, and a maid in room 3502 who had taken care of Kate disappeared the day after the funeral. Even though Tom was never seen at the hotel, the most likely explanation is that Tom killed his wife and perhaps the maid too as she may have been a witness.

Another version of the story has Kate married to a different man - a womanizing gambler called Lou. The couple checked into room 3502 and when Kate went to the gaming room to surprise her husband with news of her pregnancy she found him with another woman. In shock she killed herself. Whether Kate was murdered or committed suicide, the apparition of Kate has been reported on numerous times moving through corridors or standing by windows waiting for someone. Guests that stay overnight in rooms 3312 and 3502 (especially 3502) report voices whispering and feel cold chills and a presence in their room. Other guests in the hotel report problems with their telephones and strange images on their television screens.

Borley Rectory

2008-10-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Image © True Ghost Tales

Borley Rectory has been called 'the most haunted house in England'. It was investigated between 1929 and 1938 by Harry Price, founder of the National Laboratory of Psychical Research in London, Price, a celebrated ghost hunter, claimed the house to be 'the best authenticated case in the annals of psychical research'. The rectory, a gloomy and unattractive red building located in the county of Essex, was built in 1863 by the Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull. He later expanded the original building to accommodate his large family of 14 children. The first reported ghostly incident occurred in the afternoon of 28 July 1900, when one of the Reverend's daughters, Ethel, thought she saw a ghost that looked like a nun dressed in dark clothes. Local legend had it that the rectory was built on the site of a thirteenth-century monastery, where a monk and a nun had fallen in love but had been killed before eloping. Sightings of the nun's ghost, and the ghost of a dark man wearing a tall hat, were reported frequently by Ethel Bull and her sisters. Ethel lived a long life, dying at the age of 93 in 1963. She maintained her story until the end, saying, 'What would be the use of an old lady like me waiting to meet her Maker, telling a lot of fairy stories?'.

In 1929 Harry Price invited himself to the rectory to investigate. According to his book, The Most Haunted House In England, published in 1940, the occupants at the time, the Reverend G E Smith and his wife, both professed skeptics of the paranormal, told him that strange occurrences began almost immediately after they moved in. They heard strange whispers, saw odd black shapes and magic lights, heard phantom footsteps, smelled strange odors and, in general, witnessed odd occurrences such as objects smashed, doors banged, spontaneous combustions of portions of the house, wall writings, paranormal bell ringing, the sounds of galloping horses, mysterious smoke in the garden, rapping in response to questions and appearances by the phantom nun. Price said he investigated the matter thoroughly and actually witnessed the phenomena for himself while he was there. He held a séance, and he and others present heard a faint tapping in response to questions. The spirit claimed to be the Reverend Bull.

In 1929 the Smiths moved out and the Reverend Lionel Algeron Foyster and his wife, Marianne, moved in. The poltergeist activity increased, and Price returned to continue his investigations. He found the phenomena to be much more violent than before, terrifying Marianne and their three-year-old daughter in particular. In 1935 the Foysters moved out, and in 1937 Price leased the property himself for a year. During his stay he witnessed many paranormal incidents and compiled a book of procedures using camera equipment and other methods of documenting spirit activity. He enrolled 40 assistants to help him. Many of his assistants were mediums, and they produced some fabulous theories, suggesting that the monk and nun were strangled and buried in the garden and that they longed for mass and a proper burial. Other assistants began the project with great enthusiasm but dropped out after getting no results.

Price left the rectory in 1938, convinced that paranormal activity was taking place and that there was a medieval monastery on the site, even though it had already been proved that the only building ever to have existed on the site was a twelfth-century church, not a monastery. His book publishing his findings was well received for its meticulous psychical research but also criticized for being sensational. After Price's death in 1948 his allegations were re-examined by psychical researchers Trevor Hall, Kathleen Goldney and Eric Dingwell. Charles Sutton, a Daily Mail reporter, suspected Price of faking phenomena. During a visit to the rectory with Price he had been hit on the head by a pebble - and subsequently found Price's pockets full of pebbles. Perhaps the most damning condemnation, however, came from a previous inhabitant of the rectory, Mrs. Smith, who in 1949 signed a statement saying that nothing unusual had happened in the house until Price arrived. The Smiths suspected him of being the perpetrator.

Hall, Dingwell and Goldney, in their book The Haunting Of Borley Rectory, concluded that nothing out of the ordinary had happened there during Price's stay and that everything could be explained rationally. They accused Price of concocting hocus-pocus to serve his own need for publicity. They suggested that Borley Rectory lent itself well to the influence of suggestion, since 'In every ordinary house sounds are heard and trivial incidents occur which are unexplained or treated as of no importance. But once the suggestion of the abnormal is put forward - and tentatively accepted - then these incidents became imbued with sinister significance: in fact they become part of the haunt. Borley Rectory is an old, gloomy-looking building, and a psychological explanation is plausible. However, it may not explain everything, and the possibility that something paranormal did occur or that certain individuals who lived there, including Price himself, were sympathetic and sensitive enough to become a focus of psychic attack cannot be dismissed totally.

Ghost Seers

2008-10-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

The universal belief that certain people born on certain days or certain times of the day have the clairvoyant ability to see ghosts and things other people cannot see. A person born on a Sunday is thought to have clairvoyant power in some parts of Europe, and in some parts of England children born during twilight are thought to be able to tell which relative will die next. In Scotland, people born on Christmas Day or Good Friday are said to be able to see spirits. In other parts of the world it is believed that only shamans and seers can see ghosts and others can see them only in dreams.

Halloween

2008-10-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Observed annually on the night of 31 October and originally a pagan festival of the dead, Halloween (also known as Allhallows Eve) is celebrated today as a night of fancy dress, trick or treating and superstitious fun and games. The festival traces its origins back to the ancient Celts who celebrated the start of the New Year and the end of the summer around 1 November. The Celts believed that on this night the veil between the dead and the living was at its thinnest and the dead could rise out of their graves to wander freely on earth. The living dressed themselves in disguise so spirits would not recognize them, and huge bonfires would be lit in an attempt to rekindle the diminishing energy of the sun god in the winter.

The ancient Romans also celebrated festivals that influenced the development of the Halloween tradition. The festival of Pomona, the goddess of orchards and the harvest, was celebrated around the same time. Apples and nuts still have their place in Halloween traditions observed today. As time went on fairies, witches, goblins and spirits, as well as the dead, were said to come out in force on Halloween night. In England Guy Fawkes Night, celebrated on 5 November absorbed many of the traditions of Allhallows Eve but currently the tradition of Halloween is enjoying new-found popularity. This isn't just in America - where Halloween has been an established part of American folklore since the 1840s, when poverty stricken Irish fled to the United States - but in Europe and England too.

Wiccans and Pagans observed Allhallows Eve (also known as Samhain) as one of their most important sacred days. For them it is a time for fun but also a time to honor the dead, communicate with spirits and observe rituals. It is also thought to be a particularly good time to make a fresh start and commenced new projects.

Halloween Is Coming...

2008-09-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Since Halloween is coming pretty soon, what better time to start reminiscing about the undead and spirits of yore throughout the entire month of October? So therefore, do check back to this blog, ...Death Is Only The Beginning... at http://deathbegin.blogspot.com and my main blog, -Chopsticks-, at http://sexybluemame.blogspot.com for a month long of interesting posts about ghosts, ghoulies, witches and more. And for the best part, there will absolutely be different posts throughout these 2 blogs so that what you read at both my blogs would always be something interesting, not rehashed back and forth. So, brace yourselves and let the supernaturals of the old bring you on a journey of Halloween past.

The Magic Of The Bomohs

2008-09-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

The evil deeds of Mona Fandey shocked all of Southeast Asia in the 1990s. Together with her husband, she chopped up a politician into 18 pieces and buried the body parts beneath a storeroom. The people cast doubts on whether bomohs can really help people. So, are bomohs for real or are they merely charlatans?

Bomohs are a controversial lot. They wield a considerable influence even in present-day Southeast Asia. It doesn't matter what race, language or religion you belong to for everybody uses or knows about the bomoh and his art. Even soccer games don't escape their attention. You cannot blame anybody these days for wondering if magic - or kelong - had been used to influence the outcome of a game.

The Origins

Contrary to what most people think, the spells and potions of the bomohs have very little, if anything at all, to do with Islam. The magic of the bomoh originated in animism centuries ago. Back then, most people who were living in the Peninsula and Singapura invoked the spirits that they believed lurked in rocks, trees, rivers and animals. These spirits were supposed to inhabit every nook and corner. With the arrival of Hinduism, the art of the bomoh took on a Hindu face. Instead of resorting to the spirits, the names of gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion were used. But this changed when Islam eventually exerted its influence over most of Southeast Asia. The Muslim view on genies, jinn and devils, iblis, helped the bomoh to explain away his practice in the new religious framework but it is wrong to say that the bomoh's art has its origins in Islam. In fact, Islamic experts will dismiss the bomoh's image as pagan. The ex-Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya, Professor Taib Osman, was quoted as saying that the belief system of the bomohs was "irrational". Others say that the bomoh's mystic ways have no place in modern Southeast Asia.

However, try telling that to the average man on the street. They will tell you how a bomoh helped to keep boyfriend and girlfriend together, ward off evil charms, pacify the spirits, concoct love potions, make a person rich, young, famous or beautiful. The factual evidence suggests that there are powers at work here which do help the bomoh and there are actual cases where people can be controlled by a bomoh. The question is: where does the power come from? Research tells me that most of the time, the powers and spirits that the bomoh uses are not good but evil. That's why even though the magic works there is always a price attached to his favors for the devil doesn't give away anything for free. Finally, he will want your soul, to destroy it forever. The lure of short-term gains might be too seductive for some. No price is too high to obtain power, beauty or money in this world. The other world is a pie in the sky, an illusion. We all have to decide one way or another what the nature of reality is.

The Bomoh Healer

The bomoh's practice can be divided into two broad categories. One is healing and the other is magical. As a healer, he will often resort to herbs, roots and other natural medicines, including "jampi-jampi" or holy water. A good bomoh can also fix tired muscles and bones that have been injured or dislocated, much like a Chinese sinseh. I know of many sport-loving friends who swear by their services. This good bomoh will also be a keen observer of animals and how they sometimes self-medicate. For example, the experienced bomoh knows that after a monkey gives birth, it will eat a certain kind of herb and will thus prescribe the same to mothers.

It's the sinister shaman who turns to magic and invokes the spirits through trances, potions and other kinds of spells that you have to worry about. Generally, their effectiveness will depend on the spirits they control - the more powerful, the better. But the more help the receive from these ghosts, the more they are beholden to the spirits they call on. Some bomohs are tormented frequently for indulging in the dark arts. Which brings me to the next topic of discussion: the sex-crazy, dirty, old bomoh who abuse their positions of trust and and prey on innocent victims.

Mona Fandey and the fake shamans

The trial of Mona Fandey, 38, revealed the diabolical forces that the bomohs summon to help them. It showed that you cannot trust all of them. What Mona did was to first offer a politician, Mazlan Idris, help to accomplish his ambitions of power. She sold him a talisman, a songkok and a cane that allegedly belonged to the late President Sukarno of Indonesia for a whopping RM$2.6 million! Since it made Sukarno so powerful, it was believed that the same power was given to those who owned these charms. In court, Mona's partner-in-crime and husband, Nor Affandi Abdul Rahman, 37, told the court that the objects protected the owner from harm - even from bullets and acid - as well as gave a person the ability to eat glass. In the end, things went very wrong and it ended in the gruesome killing. I believe that Mona and company were instigated by dark forces. Mona's behavior throughout the trial was unusual, appearing in flashy clothes and heavily made up. The trial took on an almost carnival atmosphere for her, and the cameramen were there to capture her each time she appeared.

So you see, anybody can fall prey to the bomoh. Even and intelligent and educated politician. And right after the Mona Fandey case, newspapers reported of teenage girls being sexually assaulted by a 50-year-old bomoh. Another report told of a shaman, 70, who insisted on sleeping with a woman in her 20's so that he could determine the kind of help she needed. No wonder then that ex-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has warned against indulging in black magic. He said Islam taught that humans could not have supernatural powers. In spite of all the dangers, the bomoh continues to thrive in these parts for most of us (from soccer teams to official trade delegations) want that extra help which will turn things in our favor. Whatever the price.

Musing

2008-08-17T01:56:00.000-07:00

Who is the third who walks always beside you?

When I count there are only you and I together

But when I look ahead up the white road

There is always another one walking beside you

Gliding wrapt in a brown mantle, hooded

I do not know whether a man or a woman

But who is that on the other side of you?

-T. S. Eliot,

The Waste Land

Exorcism And Possession

2008-08-08T04:04:00.000-07:00

Exorcism
Exorcism is the act of casting out evil spirits that have taken over a person's body. Demonic possession is a phenomenon that occurs in all races and cultures. The rites of exorcism have been recorded in many books. It is also an everyday occurrence in Southeast Asia. I have seen several such ceremonies. The first time I was an exorcism was at the Lorong Her San Kong temple around the Mandai area. It's a place that's not very accessible and is known only to the faithful and true believers of the deity Tai Seng Yah. The temple is situated deep in the words. You can access it by a turning near the Seletar Reservoir, down a dusty dirt road. It is a humble place, just a small little temple and a zinc shack with an altar and a place for the medium to sit. But every Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, the temple grounds are filled with several hundred worshippers. Tai Seng Yah is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and he speaks through his medium here on earth - Tua Kor Yah. Tua Kor Yah is a nice ordinary young Chinese man. However, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night, when the sacred ceremonial rituals of Tai Seng Yah take place, Tua Kor Yah is possessed by the evil of the Monkey God. He is then infused with all the great powers and wisdom of a god. While the medium is in his trance, he can predict the future, talk to the dead, change a person's bad luck to good fortune and - perform exorcism.

Possession

Exorcism and spirit possession is not unique to Chinese culture in the East - it is also prevalent in Hindu ceremonies. During Thaipusam, you can see an aspect of this in the annual celebrations. The more faithful of the followers will carry the kavadi during the Thaipusam procession. The Kavadi is a heavy ornamental stainless steel structure, decorated with peacock feathers, lights, and intricate carvings. However, under all that pretty furnishing, there is something sinister and sharp - razor-sharp spikes, hooks and chains. All these are meant for the flesh of the Kavadi carrier. The structure itself is quite heavy - it often takes two or more of the faithful to place it upon the carrier, who will bear its weight and its sharp steel teeth for the duration of the event. Before the procession, the kavadi carrier will go to the temple and obtain blessings from the priests and the gods. He will be infused with a spiritual strength that will give him strength to go through the long procession. Not only that, he will be able to endure the pain of the spikes and hooks of the kavadi burrowing deeply into his tender flesh. The kavadi carriers go through this ritual for several reasons. Some do it as a penance for sins committed.. Some do it as a vow to show their faithfulness. And some do it in exchange for blessings. The more senior kavadi carriers not only endure the spikes and hooks of the kavadi, but they also spear their cheeks and tongues with sabres. One sabre will spear the cheeks horizontally, going in on one side and out the other. Another sabre will pierce the extended tongue vertically. Thus, their mouths will be held open with the tongue extended all through the possession. All this in addition to the weight and spikes and hooks of the kavadi! I have seen the Thaipusam festival many times. It's an intriguing spectacle. I marvel that the carriers don't pass out from the sheer torture of it. Instead, I have noticed a strange exhilaration and joy among the kavadi carriers.

Sometimes, in the midst of the low grueling walk, they start dancing! It's quite a sight, to see a man with his cheeks, tongue and body pierced with sharp spikes, hooks and sabres, suddenly start dancing with joy, shaking the lavishly decorated kavadi he is carrying, with its peacock feathers and its colored lights. Mere mortals wouldn't be able to do such things. The only explanation is that they are helped by the spirits inside them - a kind of possession. These people have had their bodies taken over by the powerful spirits of the Hindu deities that enable them to perform superhuman feats. One thing the Hindus and Taoists have in common is the act of fire-walking where the faithful believers walk on hot burning coals in their bare feet. This show of spiritual strength and the power of faith is baffling to all skeptics. There is no scientific explanation to this phenomenon. The coals are glowing red hot. Smoke and sparks rise from where the bare feet touch the smoldering coal. Sometimes, I've detected the smell of burning flesh. And yet, the firewalkers feel no pain and emerge unscathed. Once again, the only explanation for this is possession. A strong powerful spirit has entered them while they walk across the coals, so that they are protected from pain and harm.

Demonic Possession
There are two kinds of possession, the first is when the person is possessed by benign spirits. Then his actions will not be destructive. In fact, in this case, he is more likely to do good than evil. However, the other kind of possession is very destructive - it is demonic possession. This is where the person's body is taken over by evil spirits or demons. Then, not only will his actions be destructive and harmful to everyone around him, but the evil spirits or demons in him will also lead him to destroy himself ultimately. In the Bible, it's recorded that a man can be possessed by a multitude of demons. That is, a man may be possessed by many spirits at the same time. In the book of Matthew, we read, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places seeking rest and findeth none. Then he saith; I will return into my house from whence I came out, and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there." Take note that they key word in this text is "seeking rest and findeth none". For in truth, that is what demons do when the possess a human being. They are looking for a home. And man, with his immortal soul, is the perfect vessel for containing spirits - holy or otherwise. A demon has no soul nor flesh nor form. Except in the lightless domain of hell. To walk the earth, he needs to enter into a creation of God from which he has been banished. One way he can appear in the material plane is in human form. That is why he takes possession of humans. The spirits can also take possession of the bodies of animals. These animals are likely to fall ill and die very quickly. The ultimate aim of a demon is to destroy its living host. It is also possible foe evil spirits to dwell in images and inanimate objects. It might then appear that these objects have powers. In fact, the spirits empower the objects. This is one reason I never was comfortable with children playing with images. These could have spirits in them.

In Christianity, exorcism is associated with demonic possession. The victims of demonic possession are known to levitate, show superhuman strength and commit blasphemy. In such cases of demonic possession, an exorcism can be performed. Priests and ministers perform exorcism, assisted by a physician and a junior cleric. There can be great violence during the exorcism. The victims suffer pain, vomit, have diarrhoea, severe spasms and also contort physically. In some cases, waves of cold air filled the room during exorcism. In other cases, the victim will emit great waves of heat. What actually happens depends on the type of demonic possession and the demon in question. Exorcisms can range from friendly persuasive conversations to elaborate rituals, depending on the severity of the possession.

Conclusion
Thus, we see that despite the disparity of beliefs over exorcism and possession, almost every system recognizes that sometimes evil spirits need to be forced out of a person. These kinds of spirits do exist and are just waiting to take control of your body - for better or worse. Join me in my next post as I delve deeper into how these spirits work through magical occult symbols.

How To Tell If Your House Is Haunted

2008-07-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

Are you worried that hour house is haunted? Here's a guide on how to tell if there are ghosts, poltergeists or demons lurking around.

You might have a problem if you can detect these signs:

» You feel uneasy - as though someone is watching you - but when you look around, there's nobody there.

» You hear sounds such as knocking on the walls or the doors, the shuffling of footsteps, doors opening and closing, furniture being moved, or the lights being switched on and off.

» Does your pet dog howl or your cat miaow for no reason? Do you sometimes see them staring at something which you don't see? Animals can have an uncanny sense of ghosts.

» You get a strong smell of flowers or you may get the smell of something nasty. These could signal that evil spirits are around. If you are alone at home when such things happen, leave your house quickly and return when others are at home. Most evil spirits harm people when they are alone.

» If objects start flying about, you know there are ghosts or spirits around. Watch out! You may get hurt. Move out of the house and don't try to investigate by yourself. There's nothing you can do. Stay out of trouble. Superstitious people believe that every house has a "house spirit". Some spirits are good and some are bad as is the case with living people. After all, ghosts were once alive!

» If a house has been unoccupied for a long time and the rent or sale price is very low, there could be something wrong with it. Find out more details of the house before you start congratulating yourself that you've found a great bargain. Check especially if there have been any suicides in the house. If so, be wary.

» Consult a genuine spiritualist for help. There are a lot of ghost-busters and con-men around who are only too eager to relieve you of your money. Don't be taken in by their sweet talk. Remember, charlatans will only worsen the situation.

The Hungry Ghost Festival

2008-07-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

The Hungry Ghost Festival [盂兰节] shows just how much spirits interact with our world. This section explains the beliefs about this festival.

What It Is
Every year, during the Seventh Lunar Month [农历七月], Chinese in every corner of the globe celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival [盂兰节]. The story goes that the dead souls in hell return to be among the living to be with their loved ones once again. The living, knowing this, make their short stay on earth as comfortable as possible. That's why food offerings are a common sight during this time. Sometimes, restless and malevolent spirits return to seek for vengeance. Souls also return with a desire to be reunited with their loved ones. It's believed that children, being innocent, can actually see their dead grandparents at the ancestral altar as they have the gift of "sight".

Taoist view
The Taoists believe that the gates of hell are opened for one month, the period called the Hungry Ghost Festival , so that the spirits of the dead are free to roam the earth once again. This is why people burn joss-sticks and joss-paper, symbolizing silver and gold, or paper money. These are hell bank notes [冥纸] for the visiting dead. They also leave offerings of food for the dead souls to feed on. And so, the next time you walk through the smoke and ashes of the burning debris, remember, ghosts are floating all around you, partaking of these goodies on their holiday from hell!

Buddhist view
The Buddhist celebrate this festival for another reason. They use this period to commemorate Mu Lian [目莲] for his filial piety. According to legend, Mu Lian was a young man in ancient China who was so devoted to his mother that when she had died and gone to hell, he tried to comfort her. After much trouble, Mu Lian broke into hell in order to be with his dear departed mother. Buddha was so moved by this that he allowed the good son to give her food and other offerings to ease the pain she was suffering. All this makes perfect sense to the Buddhists who continue to mark this filial act to this day.

Entertainment for the dead
In Singapore however, there is a subtle twist to the celebrations marking the Hungry Ghost Festival. An effort is made to make people more conscious of the living - especially the poor and the old - who are in need of help. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a time of celebration for the living and the dead. Many informal organizations from various areas in Singapore put up elaborate stage shows in the streets to entertain the dead. Although the living watch these shows, they are actually meant for the spirits. These shows are performed right in the open, on erected stages right in between HDB blocks where people live. This is why the shows will go on even though nobody is watching them - they were never meant for the living in the first place. In the past, there would be dramatic operas staged, often called wayangs [唱大戏]. These would be performed in various dialects. The Teochew operas, in particular, were well attended. Now, the entertainment for the hungry ghosts (and party people) has been switched to ge tai [歌台]. This is a road show of sorts featuring popular hits of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop stars and sung by glamorous singers in sexy attire. The celebrations climax with a dinner. There will be an auction during this dinner and a wide range of items are sold off at exorbitant prices. People don't mind paying SGD500.00 for an electric toaster as they believe it will bring them good luck. The proceeds from the auction will go towards organizing the next Hungry Ghost Festival. There is, however, a downside to all this. Superstitious people avoid doing business around this time of the year. A lot of people also tend to stay indoors after dark due to a real fear of hungry ghosts [饿鬼], the ones not satisfied with burnt offerings. These ghosts look for human souls to take their place in hell so that they can once again be reincarnated amongst the living.

Maids and massage parlors
The Hungry Ghost Festival idea of the dead needing things from the living can be carried to extremes. These days, after a person dies, the living try to give the departed handphones, cars, houses and money. Some even burn models of maids and massage parlors so that these can get to their loved ones. These paper models that go up in smoke can cost tens of thousands of dollars to build. Even credit cards are burned. Apparently, even hell is becoming a cashless society. And all of this is done so that life on the other side is a little more bearable.

Other cultures
The concept of souls needing help on their ultimate journey can be found in other cultures and religions. Most believe that only when the spirits have reached their final destination or the Land Of the Dead [阴曹地府] will they stop being restless. In many religions, a grand feast is usually held to mark the arrival of the dead into their final rest. The Japanese mark Obon [お盆] or Feast of Lantern to receive and entertain the spirits. During this time, between July 13 and 16, homes are lighted up to guide the spirits into the homes. Among the Hindus, there is a practice to give sustenance to the departed spirits so that they can survive the 10 different hells they have to traverse. In the West, All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day are rooted in the same kind of beliefs. A final point. I don't have anything against showing filial piety but it's more important to show this virtue to people who are live. If you only show appreciation to the dead, it's a bit too late. There's little point in feeling guilty then over our lack of concern.