The occult, by definition, boils down to an involvement in the supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, phenomena. In the sixteenth century, the term occult sciences was used to refer to astrology, alchemy, and natural magic. In the nineteenth century, occultism emerged in France and began to be associated with various esoteric groups therein connected to Éliphas … [Read more...] about The Utterly Wicked Truths About “Dark” Magic
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Urban Legends: The Legendary Shanghai Tunnels of Portland, Oregon
The city of Portland, Oregon is known in modern times as America’s most “livable cities,” but it wasn’t all too long ago that the seedy underbelly cause it to be one of the most dangerous port cities on the west coast—possibly even the entire world. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the ports of Portland saw all of the criminal traffic that filtered through from … [Read more...] about Urban Legends: The Legendary Shanghai Tunnels of Portland, Oregon
Urban Legends: Dark Magic at Malheur Butte in Ontario, Oregon
A seemingly unassuming dead volcano in Eastern Oregon, the Malheur Butte has long boasted a secret history of witches practicing dark magic, as well as strange creatures who appear in the dead of the night to keep visitors away. It is said that the shadowy past of Malheur Butte entails one full of dark magic and that witches used to meet in secret on the rugged tip of this dead … [Read more...] about Urban Legends: Dark Magic at Malheur Butte in Ontario, Oregon
7 Terrors of the Far North
The frontier of the far north is typically regarded with mystery and a sense of trepidation. Even if you have lived through it all, there is always something about the place that can feel rather unsettling. The standardized phobia of the dark is exacerbated by the long, cold winters of Alaska—a place where nearly half the year is shrouded in the dark bitter cold. Those of us … [Read more...] about 7 Terrors of the Far North
La Noria (2018) and Our Fear of the Dark
Fear of the dark is often instigated during a person's childhood and often causes severe symptoms of anxiety and depression--in some cases, this fear becomes a phobia, then causes an excessive and irrational impact on daily life. Nyctophobia most often starts as a childhood fear that is considered a normal part of development, but studies have shown that this is often more of a … [Read more...] about La Noria (2018) and Our Fear of the Dark