Icy Sedgwick's Blog, page 43
July 27, 2017
Exploring the myths of the Charterhouse Plague Pit
Watching the progress of the Crossrail construction project has been fascinating in terms of what has been unearthed. The Charterhouse Plague Pit was one such buried secret, first uncovered in March 2013. Charterhouse lies between Clerkenwell and Smithfield, just north of the City of London. The area is allegedly rife with plague pits. Research revealed […]
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July 23, 2017
The Eyes That See (Free Creepy Short Story)
The swing band in the corner fought for attention over the din of chatter in the hall. Women in furs quaffed champagne as their menfolk told dreary jokes and ignored the exhibits. Gabriel scowled at them – no appreciation for history at all. He’d assembled the finest pieces ancient Egypt could offer, and they were […]
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July 20, 2017
Explore the legend of the Laidly Worm of Spindlestone Heugh
Tales of dragons, known as worms, abound in English folklore. Last week, we looked at the Lambton Worm in County Durham. This week, we’ll head north up the coast to Northumberland to meet the Laidly Worm. The story concerns Spindlestone Heugh, near the mighty fortress of Bamburgh Castle. The tale concerns the beautiful Princess Margaret, […]
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July 13, 2017
The Lambton Worm and Penshaw Monument
Many parts of the UK have tales related to dragons or giant worms. Northumberland has the Laidley Worm, while County Durham boasts the tale of the Lambton Worm. There are varying versions of the story, but I’m discussing the first version I heard. It links the Worm with Penshaw Hill, near Houghton-le-Spring. Other versions associate […]
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July 6, 2017
Who are the Knockers of Cornish folklore?
Many cultures have some form of ‘little people’, be they leprechauns, brownies, pixies, or other folk. The knockers are a specific form of ‘little people’, believed to derive from earth Welsh folklore. Considered the earliest inhabitants of Wales, the knockers taught the art of mining to the Britons. If you think that sounds familiar, then […]
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June 29, 2017
The Beginner’s Guide to Papa Legba, Keeper of the Crossroads
Papa Legba is perhaps the best-known Voodoo spirit outside of the religion. If you’ve watched American Horror Story, banish all thoughts of their representation from your mind! Suffice it to say, it was wrong. I’ve talked about Papa Legba before in relation to the crossroads. But it seemed apt to close my Voodoo month with this […]
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June 22, 2017
Where is the entrance to the Voodoo underworld?
Many religions and faiths concern themselves with a form of afterlife or gathering place for spirits. The entrance is usually difficult to find, only appearing once the individual has passed on. Not so for the Voodoo underworld. According to legend, it lies in New Orleans behind a set of physical gates. Where else would you […]
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June 15, 2017
What is a gris gris bag and is it evil?
Voodoo continues to hold a fascination for tourists and filmmakers alike. Even Disney got on board with The Princess and the Frog. Voodoo dolls are an obvious choice, but the gris gris bag is sometimes forgotten. These amulets can heal, help, or harm, and their sale boosted the business of voodoo queens in Louisiana. You’re most likely […]
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June 12, 2017
3 tips to create an anti-hero with Sacha Black
Unless you’re me and firmly Team Bad Guy, most writers want to create awesome heroes. Anti-heroes are even cooler – think Snake Plisskin, John Constantine, or Jack Sparrow. All brilliant, and all hard to replicate. So how do you create an anti-hero? To celebrate the release of her new guide, 13 Steps To Evil, I’ve […]
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June 8, 2017
What kind of magic can you do with Voodoo dolls?
Last week we looked at an introduction to Hoodoo. One of the forms of magic in the practice involves using dolls. Popular misconception instead calls these figures ‘Voodoo dolls’, which is why I’m calling them that in this post. But Voodoo dolls aren’t the only type of doll magic. Throughout history in Europe, practitioners have favoured the […]
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