Jessica Penot's Blog, page 2

Visiting Pazuzu: A look a the demon from the Exorcist

One of the most impressive attractions at The University of Chicago is the Oriental Institute.  This museum features a sizeable exhibition on Assyrian and Babylonian art and history.  As I walked through this lovely museum, I was surprised to see the small statue seen in the photo above.  As a fan of the movie The Exorcist, I recognized this figure immediately.   It was Pazuzu and the plaque beneath read "Pazuzu; 1st Century BC Protective Deity".   This seemed very contrary to what I had seen of Pazuzu in the Exorcist so I decided to spend some time exploring who Pazuzu was in mythology and history.
In the movie, The Exorcist, based on the book of same name by William Blatty, Pazuzu is the primary antagonist.  At the beginning of the movie, the primary priest and exorcist is seen standing face to face with a giant statue of Pazuzu. This foreshadows the battle that is to come.  Pazuzu is the demon that the two exorcists fight.  He is the demon that possesses a little girl and the final battle is a show down for the girl's soul.
Of course, the use of Pazuzu specifically is a bit anachronistic.  The English word demon is a translation from the Greek daemon and in Greek this meant spirit.  It didn't have the negative or Satanic connotation most modern Western, Christian based cultures give the word.  Pazuzu was a demon in the ancient sense of the word rather than the modern sense.  He was a spirit and a god from the 1st century BC and was popular in Assyrian and Babylonian culture.  He appeared in The Epic of Gilgamesh.  He is the god of the underworld and brother to Humbaba.  He controlled the west wind, storms, and locusts.  He was a destructive force but ancient Assyrians would often offer prayers to him as he could also offer protection.  He was terrifying but most gods were in this time.  He was often a protector as well and he was commonly invoked to protect against Lamashtu, a goddess who stole children.  Although he could be helpful, Pazuzu was feared so the statue I saw at the museum was more typical of how he would be represented.  He was so feared that a statue the size of the one seen The Exorcist would have been improbably as the people believed that a statue that large might invoke him and bring his wrath as well.
Although, Pazuzu is terrifying and his image is disturbing.  His use in the exorcist was not true to his mythological representation in Assyrian culture.   Perhaps they should have used a Christian demon instead.  They are more true to the Catholic based spirit of the movie.  After all, the imaged in the movie were more based on our Western fears.

The Unlucky History of Friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th.  I am reposting my origins of Friday the 13th post to help celebrate this wonderful day.  I hope your 13th is as luck as mine has been!  Friday the 13th is considered the most unlucky day of the year. Most people aren't entirely sure where this bad luck comes from, but fear of Friday the 13th can affect as many as 1 in 4 people. The fear of Friday the 13th is known as triskaidekaphobia.


"It's been estimated that [U.S] $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day because people will not fly or do business they would normally do," said Donald Dossey, founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina.

So where does this fear that can cripple a nation come from? There really seems to be no consensus on the origin of Friday the 13th. Everyone has a story, but most of them are different. The fear comes from an unknown source. Here's a look at a few of the Friday the 13th origin stories I've found.

One folklorist traces the origins back to Norse mythology. There were 12 gods who had a dinner party in Valhalla. A 13th guest, Loki, was uninvited. Always the trickster, Loki tricked the god of darkness, Hoder, into shooting Balder, the god of joy. Balder died and darkness descended on the earth. Joy was lost to man and from then on 13 was considered unlucky.

In 1307, on October 13, 1307, King Phillip IV of France ordered every member of the order of the Knights Templar executed on charges of high treason and heresy. King Phillip owed the Templar's a good deal of money and they had amassed an enormous amount of wealth on their crusades. It is thought that the order was actually to strip the Templar's of their wealth. The Templar's were tortured horribly and forced to confess to crimes they didn't commit. They all died, but as the grandmaster died he cursed King Phillip and the day making Friday the 13th unlucky for future generations to come.

Many believe the fear comes from the number 13 itself. According to numerologist, the number 12 is associated with completeness. There are 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, 12 Olympian gods, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 hours in the clock, 12 labors of Hercules. The list goes on and on. The addition of the 13 ruins perfection is utterly bad and unlucky. In many stories, the 13th guest is always a bad sign. Think Judas at the last supper and Loki in the above story. It is the number 13 that lends the curse to Friday the 13th. Combine that with the unlucky Friday, when Jesus was crucifies and Adam tempted Eve and you have a recipe for an unlucky day.

It is clear there are many reasons to fear the dreaded Friday the 13th, but for me Friday the 13ths have always been lucky. So have a happy Friday the 13th, watch one of the 12 million Friday the 13th movies (I like the one in space), and wish me luck on my lucky day.

A Photographic Journey Through Chicago's Graceland Cemetery

Chicago's history is littered with ghosts and haunted places. It is home to the nation's first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, and to some of the nation's most famous gangsters (Al Capone).  Every street offers a new view of some fascinating and dark piece of old and forgotten history.  Ghost tours abound and some are much better than others.  However, my favorite place in Chicago is Graceland Cemetery.  It is the home of several famous ghost stories and it is also the resting place of many of Chicago's most prominent figures.  What I love most about this necropolis is the beauty of the tombstones.  They are some of the most striking in the world.   The most famous is that of hotelier Dexter Graves. Beside his grave is a  statue called 'Eternal Silence.' It was created by Taft in 1909 and is stunningly beautiful. This sculpture was at one point entirely black but time has faded its edges and that has only made it more lovely and more haunting.  Legend has it that if you look into the statues face, you'll see your own death. I stared for a very long time yesterday, but didn't see my death.  Maybe I will have to try again tomorrow.

The Children of Walker Street

The Spanish Flu killed between 50 million and 100 million people between 1917 and 1920.   It swept the globe, killing people in every corner of the world.  It was a particularly cruel plague.  Most illnesses prey on the weak.  They take the elderly and children, but the Spanish flu was indiscriminate. It killed many healthy young adults as well as the weak. It is considered to be the second largest disaster in human history and it infected 28% of the human population and killed 3% of the global population.  It killed more people than the black plague.  Enormous Flu wards were created to care for the amazing number of sick that over ran hospitals and health facilities where the sick were lined up like cattle to wait for death.

It is no surprise that the Spanish Flu left many ghosts.   I've found many ghost stories related to this terrifying epidemic.  The story of Walker Street in Historic Huntsville, Alabama is one of the sadder of these tales.  According to local legend, the Spanish Flu hit Walker street with a particular cruelty.  It took mostly children, leaving entire homes empty.  So many people died that the bodies of the dead would be left on the front porch  because there weren't enough healthy people left to bury the dead.  

The ghosts of the many children that died on Walker Street during the Spanish Flu are still said to wander the streets at night.  They've been seen singing and playing in the shadowy dark.  They sing nursery rhymes as they play and haunt the living that have been left behind.  There is a  rhyme that the children are said to have made up.  "I had a bird whose name was Enza, I opened the window and in flew Enza."  The children are said to still sing this little rhyme as they wander Walker Street.

Book Review: The Boogeyman's Intern by

MY REVEIWRating:  4.5 our of 5 Skulls

I didn't expect to like The Boogeyman's Intern.  The subject matter and plot seemed engaging but the first few pages failed to draw me in.  After I finished the first chapter, I was fairly convinced I would be struggling to finish this book.  However,  as I continued to read Matt Betts paranormal comedy, I found that I couldn't put it down.  The main character grew on me and the world building was flawless.  I am a huge fan of A. Lee Martinez and the book had qualities that reminded me of his work.  I am not a detail oriented reader, so I don't notice grammar or minor flaws, but I judge a book on the author's voice and writing style and the author's ability to engage me on an emotional level.  Betts has a unique and quirky voice that is ever present throughout the novel and he pulled me into a world I didn't think I would like. This is a wonderful novel for any fans of Christopher Moore or A.Lee Martinez's dark, paranormal comedies.  It is fun, quirky and different. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Boogeyman’s Intern Novel by Matt BettsKindle ebook, $4.99
The Boogeyman’s Interntakes a lighthearted look at things that go bump in the night. These days it’s a mashup world and Betts is spot on as a culture DJ of sorts. He’s quite at home mixing old legends and new for the delight of modern readers. Add in a mystery and lots of quirky characters and you have a tasty recipe for offbeat fun.
Betts envisions a place for all our mythological characters to return to once they’ve fulfilled their part in the human realm. The Hill is home to all sorts of Imaginaries and usually they get along quite well. In fact Imaginaries don’t die and they’ve never even needed police, until now. The discovery of a murder has turned The Hill on its head. 
From the Back of the BookNot everyone lands their dream job.
Take Abe: He’s bottomed out as an Imaginary Friend and has to find a new job before his bosses assign him a truly crappy one. Just as he’s about to resign himself to a life of making toys in a workshop, he’s given a reprieve—of sorts.
Now he has the opportunity to be the first policeman on the Hill and solve an impossible murder. For assistance he ropes in his career counselor, a Bigfoot, and his best friend, a Boogeyman. The job requires him to talk to Tooth Fairies, Leprechauns, Yetis and everything else humanity has dreamt up over the years. None of them offer any clues, but since Abe’s supervisors are Mother Nature, Father Time and Death, he can’t just give up and walk away.
Dream job? Dream on.Praise for The Boogeyman’s Intern“What starts out as a quirky tale about a burnt-out Imaginary Friend turns into a locked room murder mystery for a creature that cannot die. An entertaining mash-up of Monsters Inc. and Chinatown in a world populated by Bigfoot, Tooth Fairies, and Boogeymen. Perhaps, the start of its own genre: Imagin-noire.” —Josef Matulich, author of Camp Arcanum“Betts injects equal shots of wit and humor into a genre that often takes itself too seriously, all while never jeopardizing what makes it unique. With deft prose and sharp dialogue, this book is a refreshing take on the fantastical.” —Tim McWhorter, author of Bone White and Blackened“Written with his characteristic humor and heart, Matt Betts illuminates the characters who appear in both our dreams and our darkest nightmares. Quite simply, he’s done it again.” —Mercedes M. Yardley, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Nameless: The Darkness Comes   This is not a typical romance. It’s a good thing Victory is not a typical vampire.About the AuthorEach night Matt Betts fills a bathtub full of pop culture and then soaks in it, absorbing it through every pore. It’s not pretty. The Ohio native is the author of the speculative poetry collections Underwater Fistfight and See No Evil, Say No Evil, as well as the novels Odd Men Out and Indelible Ink. He lives in Columbus with his wife and their two boys.

Horror Art Made Flesh

A passion for the paranormal and for all things that go bump in the night can be expressed in many venues.  I love to write, some love to paint, others engrave their passion on their flesh.  One of my favorite horror novels was Kathe Koja's Skin.  Written in the 1990s and set in Detroit, this novel pulled the reader into the obsessive world of tattoos and piercing.  Similarly, tattoo artists can pull us into our own obsessions with all things haunting and dark by imbedding images in our flesh.
Featured Artist:Matt LooneyBlack Pearl Studios in Florence AlabameMatt Looney is the owner of Black Pearl Studios in Florence Alabama and specializes in horror themed tattoos.  Follow him on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/BlackPearlSt...

A Phantom in the Woods

The woods near Oscoda, Michigan are filled with legends.   Oscoda is a small town near Saginaw bay by Lake Huron.   Many of these stories surround Lake Solitude.  Lake Solitude used to to be attached to Lake Huron, but the years have cut it off, isolating it and now only a trickle of water connect the lake to the larger body of water.  Near the lake are the ruins of  Au Sable, the region's oldest settlement.   Over the years this area has become associated with witchcraft and ghosts and there are tales of many local ghosts.  

The story of one of these resident ghosts was told best by a group of hunters that once got lost wandering the shores of this lake.  The hunters had gotten seperated from their group and lost their bearings.  They spent hours wandering through the woods in a desperate attempt to find anything that looked familiar.  But all their attempts were in vain and they were unable to find any help.  When they had finally given up and sat down,  a young woman seemed to appear out of nowhere.  She was lovely and amiable and the group immediated trusted her.  She explained to them that she was a local farmer's daughter and that she knew the woods very well.   She guided them back to the safety of town.  The hunters were so greatful that they turned to thank her and then they watched her vanish into thin air.

When they got back to town,  they went to the local bar to have a beer and relax.  As they drank, they told their story to the bartender.   He knew the story well.   The ghost was well known in those parts.  The young woman's name had been Leona and her family had once had a farm in those woods. Back in 1929, Leona had been shot and killed by a hunter who mistook her for a deer. Since then, her spirit had been seen many times, usually leading lost people out of the forest.

The Real Story behind The Exorcist

As a young girl,  I found a copy of William Blatty's The Exorcist and read it in less than two days.  It was the most engrossing and horrific book I had ever read.  I still have never found its equal.   The book itself was beautifuly written and terrifying, but what made it even more scary was what was written on the inside flap of the book.   There it said that the book was based on a true story.  

Of course, "based on a true story" is never the same thing as a true story.  The true story behind The Exorcist is also terrifying, but very different from the book and the movie. The Exorcist was based on the story of a 13 year-old boy named Robbie.   In January of 1949, Robbie lived in Maryland with his family and was very fond of his aunt.  His aunt and he began to play the ouija board together.   They enjoyed the game and were able to contact a friendly spirit.   Robbie's aunt wasn't always available to play with him,  so he began playing by himself when she wasn't available.  Suddenly, the family began to notice various odd noises around the house.  They heard dripping and scratching and things that sounded like mice in the attic.  These noises began to escalate with time and ended when Robbie's aunt died.

After Robbie's aunt died,  things got worse.  Robbie's bed began to shake violently at night while he was on it.   Objects flew around his room for no reason.  Things broke.   A vase was hurled at Robbie's mother.   Robbie began ot use the ouija board more regularly in a desperated attempt to contact his aunt for help.

Robbie's parents took him to see doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychics, and ministers.   The first three were unable to help. In 1949, anti psychotics and regular medical treatments for severe mental illness had not yet been discovered. So it would have been fairly normal for mental illness to be untreatable during this time period so this in and of itself isn't evidence of a possession.  However,  the  minister and the psychic both recommended an exorcism by a catholic priest.   Robbie got worse and entered a trance state.  Scratches appeared all over his body.    Finally, after months of coping with the ordeal,  Father Hugh's was contacted and the exorcism began.   Of course,  it wasn't as easy as it was in the movies.   The boy was at a hospital, tied to the bed.   The process took weeks.   At some point, Robbie got a spring loose from the bed and cut the priest.  The process was a nightmare that offered no help to young Robbie.     The boy spoke Latin and told the priest he was the devil, but for some reason the mother thought that he was possessed by his aunt.

Robbie was released from the hospital and the entire incident was covered up, but Robbie was no better.  The scratches appearing on Robbie's chest said Louis and Robbie's mother thought they were a message from her sister.  The family moved to St. Louis.    The family began experimenting with the Ouija board again to contact the aunt and get spiritual advice from beyond.  Robbie deteriorated.  Finally, Father Bowdern was called and after another ordeal, the boy was healed on Easter Day by taking communion

You can learn more about Robbie's long and horrible ordeal in the book "Possessed, The True Story Of An Exorcism." It was written by Thomas B. Allen.   The story is obviously more complex than this little synopsis and the book is worth reading to get the entire story.

Fiction Corner: The Banshee of Killarney House by Wayne Miller

It had become a game to the local teens. “Let’s go annoy the crazy lady!” Everyone said Killarney House was haunted. Since their coming to America, since they’d constructed the house, every member of the O’Hurlahee family had died there, their deaths foretold by the wailing Banshee that had followed them from their native Ireland. The all heard the Banshee before they died, so the story went. In the ten years since she’d bought the house, Frances hadn’t seen—or heard—any ghost. She had seen plenty of annoying teenagers, though. She’d chase them away; they’d come back. She’d turn the garden hose on them; they filmed her with their cellphones. “You’re making it worse,” friends told her. “Putting on a show for them.” “Horseshit!” Frances always replied. Tonight a carload of the brats sat parked across the street, honking their horn to torment her, calling her name. Frances tried to ignore it but at last her nerves gave out. She seized a frying pan from its peg on the wall and charged out the front door. She’d show them. “Here she comes!” “Get out of here!” Frances charged into the street. Then she heard it. Her bone marrow turned to ice. The screech of the Banshee. It sounded just like the squealing of tires. “Look out!” the brats shouted, too late. Frances didn’t feel the impact. The Banshee had announced another death at Killarney House.

The Kildare Mansion

I did this post on The Kildare Mansion a couple of years ago. I have updated to include some of the more recent controversies surrounding this magnificent, haunted mansion. The Kildare Mansion was first famous for it's ghosts.  It was built in 1886 by a wealthy Irishman named O'Shaughnessy.   He built the castle as a reminder of his homeland, Ireland.   He put a fortune into making it the most extravagant house in the area and he did a good job of it.  This giant of a house overshadows everything around it. It has over 40 rooms and is over 17,000 square feet including the massive basement.   In 1900, MR. O'Shaughnessy went blind and his wife Anna sold Kildare to the trust fund established for Mary McCormick who inherited a multi million dollar fortune from her father

Unfortunately, Mary McCormick was mentally ill and suffered greatly during certain periods.  At the time,  treatment options were limited so they kept her locked in the house and had several nurses and staff to take care of her.  During her lucid periods,  Mary a wonderful woman who was known for her kindness and generosity.   For her entire life, she needed nurses to help her care for her mental illness.  Finally she had to retire to a sanitarium,  leaving her beautiful house behind.

From 1932- 1975, the Kildare Mansion fell into disrepair.   It decayed slowly as slums and lesser buildings slowly surrounded it hiding it's beauty in their sullen shadows.  In 1975, the house was purchased by the Reeves, who lovingly restored the house to its original splendor  It was during this time that the house was shown in the tour of historic homes and became a popular visit for haunt jaunters.   The house's basement was notoriously haunted by the ghost of  Mary McCormick.   Still tormented by her madness, she apparently made quite a ruckus at night.

In 2005 the house was bought by a family whose name I won't mention.  Since that time, the ghosts have become the least interesting part of this house.   The house has always been a favorite site for anyone visiting Huntsville because of its historic significance, its beauty, and its haunted history.  Many people drive by the house and photograph it.   Since 2005, however, the new owners have spent a considerable amount of time watching out for anyone lingering near the house.  If you drive by slowly or stop in front of the house,  a woman will emerge screaming at you.  Sometimes she'll curse and sometimes she'll use the garden hose to spray your car.  Other times she would shine a spotlight on you and others she'll take pictures of you with her cell phone.  No matter what the new owner does, it was always hostile and she seems to always be watching.  She sat day and night waiting for those that linger too long, which might make one wonder if  Mary McCormick's mental illness might not be spreading?   Perhaps the house and its dark secrets have driven the new owner mad?  Perhaps madness is part of the curse of the house?  I drove by the house several times during this owner's occupancy.  I brought my children and parked across the street and would never think of harrassing anyone.  The woman came screaming from her home all three times.  One time she threw rocks at my car.  One time she just cursed at my children and I and called the police.  Another time she threw grass and called the police.  We were not on her property, we just wanted to see the legendary house that I had read so much about.  I visit all the local historic houses and have always been able to sit quietly in my car and take photos.  Some owners even offer tours and are on local tours.  Kildare Castle is different.  It sits in a shadow that spreads out beyond its ghosts.  It almost feels cursed.

Sadly,  the reason most drive by these days is to see the owner run out and start screaming.  Her wild antics have become a fun attraction for locals who stop by just to see her jump around and scream  Few remember the ghost stories or the house's beautiful history.

The house has become even more infamous in recent years as the owner has tried to put up a massive fence (13 feet tall) and the city stopped construction.  The owner then decided to demolish the house.  The city and local history buffs are fighting this action but the outcome is as of yet, unpredictable.  Since the owners behavior remains outlandish, the behavior of locals has gotten even worse.  Kids love to see the owner flip out and will sit in front of the house and honk their horn for hours to get a response.  It is a tragedy.  Please read the comments below this post as they tell so many stories from people who have actually lived in this home and in the neighborhood.

Some of the footage and information on the ongoing struggles and controversies surrounding this historic beauty can be seen at:  http://www.kildaremansion.com/