Author Archives: Doctor Fox Sister

The Hoot Owl of Death

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Birds of omen dark and foul,
Night-crow, raven, bat, and owl,
Leave the sick man to his dream—
All night long he heard your scream.
— Sir Walter Scott

Throughout many cultural traditions, Owls have been considered harbingers of bad luck, ill health, or death.

In most Native American tribes, Owls signify death. The call of the Owl is considered an unlucky omen. Some tribes believe the hoot of an Owl indicates that someone is going to die. Owls are known as messengers and companions for the gods of death. As a messenger of death, the Owl is not evil, but it can be foreboding. They carry messages from beyond the grave and when tribal taboos are broken, Owls deliver a supernatural warning. Owls are associated with ghosts among some Native American tribes because it is understood that the bony circles around an Owl’s eyes are made from the fingernails of ghosts.

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Doctor Who S08E11 Recap: Dark Water

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Clara in front of stickies

Clara has something to tell Danny

“Dark Water” is the first part of the Season Eight finale of Doctor Who. The twelfth Doctor has had some great performances this season and has brought interesting complexity to the relationship with companion Clara Oswald. When Peter Capaldi was announced as the new Doctor, we were pretty excited because it seemed like an older actor was about due for the role. He has surpassed our expectations so far, and a big two-part finale, written by Steven Moffat, creates a lot of anticipation.

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Monster of the Week: Kasha

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kaibutsu_ehon_4

Kaibutsu Ehon (Illustrated Book of Monsters), illustrated by Nabeta Gyokuei, 1881.

Kasha (火車) are a Japanese yōkai that bring the bodies of miscreants to hell as punishment for a life of evil deeds. Kasha are feline demons who are human-sized or larger and walk upright. When Kasha seek to make themselves known, they may be surrounded by flames and their arrival may be signified by the presence of thunder and strong winds. Thus, a Kasha’s appearance will often coincide with stormy weather. When Kasha wish to remain hidden, they can disguise themselves as ordinary cats and live among humans. Kasha prefer the night, just as their mortal feline cousins do.

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Doctor Who S08E10 Photo Recap: In the Forest of the Night

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A little girl in a school uniform and red coat is running through the forest. She runs and runs, waving her arms around her head sometimes. She comes upon the TARDIS and knocks on the door. It appears that the chameleon circuit of the TARDIS does not work on this little girl.

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Doctor Who S08E09 Recap: Flatline

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clara holding tradis“Flatline” continues the shift toward the horror genre in Doctor Who this season. The humor lightens the mood a bit so if feels more like a horror tribute. The relationship between Clara and the Doctor continues to evolve in an interesting way, with Clara transcending her companion role. We open with a mysterious bearded man (aren’t all bearded men mysterious?) who seems slightly terrified. He is on the phone to the police, whispering. Continue reading →

Ghosts

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Greencrest Ghost

Many societies have a traditional belief in ghosts or spirits of the dead. The existence of ghosts have been reported worldwide and throughout history. The manner in which these apparitions take form varies in different cultures, but they generally appear as translucent or semi-transparent figures. Ghosts are sometimes known to move objects or take possession of others. Efforts to bring forth or communicate with specters of the dead have taken place through various rituals including the seances that typified the spiritualist movement that developed in 19th century Europe and America. Ghosts will inhabit particular locations, objects, or even people. Ghosts are often characterized as either lost souls, harbingers, or malicious spirits.

ghost

Bessie, monster of Lake Erie

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Bessie

Bessie

Have you seen Bessie? She is the monster who lives in Lake Erie. Bessie has been sighted over the years at various location in and around the lake. The first recorded sighting was in 1793 and Bessie has been spotted with increasing frequency over the last thirty years.

Many ship crews have reported Bessie sightings, describing her as a grayish, snake-like creature 30-40 feet in length and 1 to 4 feet in diameter. In 1892 an entire ship and her captain reporting seeing a huge sea serpent 50 feet in length with a head raised four feet above the water.

Bessie, or her ancestors, may have been swimming in Lake Erie prior to European settlement.  The Seneca Indians tell the story of the Good Spirit and the Evil Spirit, in which the Evil Spirit commands a huge serpent who swam the waters of the Niagara River and Lake Erie.

Other Iroquois legends describe the creature Oniare as a dragon-like horned water serpent that lurks in the Great Lakes. The Oniare was said to have a poisonous breath, and would capsize canoes and eat travelers. People would try to protect themselves from the Oniare through offerings and by invoking it’s mortal enemy–the thunder god Hinon.

As well of the native legends and historical accounts by sailors, a series of sightings in the 1990s indicate that this sea monster continues to inhabit the shallow waters of Lake Erie. When swimming or boating in Lake Erie, watch out for Bessie.