The first time I heard of the skunk ape, I laughed. I had the image of a large ape with the black and white coloring of a skunk running through my head. But as I lived longer in the state of Florida, I realized this regional cryptid is more than just a figment of people’s imaginations. ...
In the late nineties, stories were raging in the American South about a creature that attacked livestock and drank blood. At the time, living in the North, I didn’t worry about it too much. Even though we indeed lived on a livestock farm. Sure the stories were creepy, but I didn’t ...
You climb to the top of the hill and notice there are other witches there waiting. The moon is high in the sky and a wolf howls somewhere in the forest. Down below, the town is asleep, unaware of the powerful magic that’s about to be conjured. A woman in flowing black robes stokes a ...
As a child, I was obsessed with fairy tales and nursery rhymes. They took me out of this world and into a realm of magic and fantasy. Into a world where witches existed…both good and bad. As I grew older, I realized there are witches in fairy tales for a few reasons. One, because they ...
Since ancient times, cats have been regarded as sacred creatures. Those of us who have the privilege of caring for a cat understand just how spiritual and mysterious they are. It’s said cats see the spiritual realm easier than any other animal…so it’s no wonder witches and ...
As a little girl, nothing fascinated more than the faery realm. I watched any and every movie that featured fairies, devoured fairy tale books, and had figurines all over my bedroom. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I learned there were more than a few types of fairies. And that the ...
What exactly is a mystic? We often hear all about the men who became saints, warriors and gods. But when will we remember the female mystics who lived, loved, taught and fought alongside them? In this article, our favorite spiritual women from the annals of time come to remind us of their ...
She stands just outside the window with a mourning wail so shrill, the life drains from your face. But you aren’t the one dying. She’s here to mourn another. The beating of wings, a gasp of wind, and she’s gone. And so is your family member. Is she a guide to the afterlife? Or ...
Not far south of Washington D.C., there’s a quaint town in Southern Maryland called Leonardtown. Leonardtown is located in the county seat of St. Mary’s County and was first colonized in the late seventeenth century. Before the settlers came, Leonardtown was a wooded area sparsely ...
One day it hit me. I’d read books on Southern Conjure, New Orleans Voodoo, and Appalachian folk magic, but I’d never read anything on Florida folk magic. In my naivete, I thought it would be a quick internet search. But when Google gave me no results, I realized I had to dig deeper. This ...