Category Archives: Samhain

August 7, 2022 · 2:28 pm

Herbal Book )O(

Merry meet all,

I tried my hand at bookbinding. I want to tell you all about in this post. It turned out real well. My cat is seated on her favourite, well she loves all the rugs, and trying to keep cool in this infernal heat. I will tell you how to bind your own herbal book. As most of you know, I’m studying at the Herbal Academy. I don’t know how you all feel but I hate binders. They are so mundane. The bound book includes the lessons from the mini courses – Botanical Drawing and Flower Pressing –  I took at the Herbal Academy. 

Now I’ll tell you how I bound a book brimming with beautiful flower illustrations & photos, and of course, butterfly stickers. I borrowed that curved needle from my Mom. I don’t know what you call it but it is for book binding. I bought all the supplies I would need, such as a large bottle of glue, paint brushes, bookbinding cloth, endpapers covered in butterflies- it’s truly beautiful. I also obtained a meter of dark forest green broadcloth from the fabric store, a bone folder, and linen thread.

I laid down newspaper onto the table. Glue can soak through anything and make a real mess. Newspaper, paper towels are great for keeping things clean. The book covers are 9 x 12″. The pages are 8 1/2 by 11′. I like the way it turned out. I deliberately wanted the covers bigger just to be on the safe side. It is better than too small to fit anything. I also returned the small needle to my Mom and end up using ribbon to secure the pages. 

The pages for the book were already printed out. A few things went wrong as I began the project. I poked tiny holes into the pages on the wrong edge of the paper. The linen thread broke too easily. I felt down right intimidated by the project. I kept hearing that nagging inner voice to work on the book but I resisted. Finally I caved in and found an alternative to binding the pages together. Ribbon! That was much easier on me. I already had a beautiful purple ribbon. I dug it out and put three hole punches in the pages. By now, the pages have the tiny needle marks and the three hole punches in them but I didn’t care. This book is for me and that is that. 

I punched the three holes in careful to keep all the pages aligned. I had a total of 150 pages. Then I wound the ribbon in. I tied tight knots and dabbed a small drop of glue on the ribbon knots to ensure they never come undone. I lit the ends of the ribbon with a lighter so they never fray. Ok now that the pages were secured, I moved onto making the actual book covers. I had already glued book binding cloth onto the two book covers. I cut out the spine of the book which measured about 2 inches. I cut the green cloth to size. One thing here about book binding: leave nothing to chance. Measure EVERYTHING. You will thank yourself later. 

The spine wasn’t already covered in fabric. I found a white cloth which I ironed and laid it out on the spine. I glued the cloth to the spine piece. I have a cool little yellow tool for spreading glue. I have no idea how I lived without it. It sure comes in handy. I covered the spine of the book with the white cloth and glued it to the spine of the pages. I let it dry but I did use my yellow stick to smoothen out the glue. The book binding cloth was a lighter shade of green than the fabric for the outer covers. I didn’t mind because it will never show. I smoothed the edges of the dark green cloth over the book covers. I did opposite ends first and I used a lot of glue. Like I mean a lot of glue. The glue will soak through the fabric so it is good to have what is under the book to not be too absorbent. I smoothed out the glue to prevent bumps or puckers. I let it dry. 

Then I glued the spine of the pages to the spine of the book covers. I laid the book – insides facing up, and I kept the pages in place with two peanut butter jars. I did that so only the stuff I want glued together is glued. I left it all to dry for several hours. While I waited, I made a herbal bookmark. I had some endpapers left over from the book. You can see the print on the inside book covers in the picture. 

To make the bookmark, I glued the printed endpaper to a piece of cardboard with a glue stick. I gathered lavender and rosemary and glued it with Mod Podge to the cardboard.  I hole punched a hole in the top of the bookmark. I left it to dry. Leaving these types of projects to dry overnight is best. It takes patience to complete these projects. It is worth taking the time to do them carefully. They turn out much better than if you rushed it. 

Now the book is done! I suspect the pages are not in the correct orders & there are pages I didn’t expect that are glued in but it is all trial and error. It still looks beautiful. I love it. This book is a treasure to last for years to come. I am so grateful to study at the Herbal Academy. 

However, the glue stains show on the outer book covers. I will find something pretty to hide that. The book is bound and I love it. I hope this inspires you to create something too. 

I was busy with herbal recipes in my witch’s kitchen yesterday. I brewed a jar of rose elixir. It involves honey, rose petals, lemon petals and brandy. The potion will steep for a month. I am sure it is worth the wait. The potion in the labeled jar looks beautiful. The herbs are growing amazingly in my garden. The beans are growing well and my cucumbers. I wish the heat would go away because the pumpkins and tomatoes haven’t set fruit and I am getting worried. I deeply watered the garden this morning. The heat will be unreal today. 

As I type here, sipping mint tea, and forever grateful for the fan on, I want to express my gratitude for the bounty of nature around me. I cast a spell to have this apartment and nature was on the list of things I wanted. I love living here. I can’t wait for the insects to be gone though, mainly the mosquitoes. Yeah they can go – and the wasps. August is the spiders month. Once August rolls around, there are spiders EVERYWHERE. 

Merry Lammas !!!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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September 19, 2021 · 9:20 am

Dangerous Dames: Women who write Horror

Merry meet all,

I’m posting this article here for my dear readers. I was surprised to discover I was mentioned in the article. What an honour! Enjoy!!

Dangerous Dames: Women Who Write Horror

Amy Grech

Dangerous Dames: Women Who Write Horror

I started writing seriously in high school after reading several of Stephen King’s novels; I got hooked on horror at the tender age of twelve when an aunt gave me a copy of Cujo. I’ve been reading Stephen King’s books ever since. Growing up during the 1980s, I noticed there weren’t very may women writing scary stories. Inspired, I set out to change that. Why should men have all the fun, writing frightfully good fiction? After all, women are highly attuned to emotions — clearly capable of delivering subtle scares, as well as visceral visions that linger long after the reader turns the final page.

Horror is such a primal emotion. Humans have always endured dread — it’s enmeshed in our subconscious — the very essence of our being. Countless stories have been told about what scares us; an innumerable amount await.

When I first submitted my stories for publication, I encountered lots of rejection. Uncertain if this was because I was a woman, or due to the fact I was new to the genre, I eschewed self-doubt and quickly progressed from form rejection letters to the inclusion of personal comments, which proved quite useful. Fears unfounded. As the submission process evolved from via snail mail — don’t forget to include a SASE — to email, and ultimately Submittable, I grew bolder, grateful for Editors’ comments and fresh perspective, which enabled me to grow as a writer and submit my work to another market, where it was usually accepted.

After several stories found homes in various magazines, I challenged myself to send stories to anthologies and have been published in several. Such an honor when Editor Billie Sue Mosiman invited me to submit a story to Fright Mare, an all-female author anthology published in 2016, that featured stories by: Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Elizabeth Massie, Kathryn Ptacek, Loren Rhoads, Lucy Taylor, just to name a few. Twenty authors in all. It’s a fantastic compilation that demonstrates that women can write frightfully-good fiction!

As a female horror author, several male authors have asked how I manage to write men so well. They’re curious about my process for capturing different nuances and mannerisms. My answer is shockingly simple: I write from experience — the men in my life, past and present provide ample inspiration for my characters. Over the years, I’ve based male characters in my novellas and stories on co-workers, ex-boyfriends, or family. No man that crosses my path is safe from scrutiny.

Whether it’s his piercing blue eyes, the scuff of his beard when he kisses me, or the quiet desperation of a homeless man camped out on the sidewalk in front of his cardboard condo, rattling— clink, clink, clink — a dark, blue paper cup full of grimy change and crumpled dollar bills that says, IT’S OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU in wavy, white letters that rise like steam, I’m always focused on minute details. A casual passerby that interests me starts out as a character sketch in a little, red notebook I carry with me everywhere, and if he’s interesting enough, I’ll flesh him out and work him into my latest novella or story.

I’ve been a published horror author for over twenty-five years, and while I’ve had my fair share of successes, there have been a few daunting experiences, too. I despise the misconception that only men can write effective horror. During the mid-1990s, when I started to attend conventions, I was one of a handful female horror authors there, part of a vast minority. We women banded together, seeking camaraderie.

When I first started out, I felt a bit intimidated by all of the male horror authors gathered together. I had male horror authors come up to me and ask, “Who are you here with? Where’s your boyfriend?” I would muster up some courage and say, “I’m here promoting my work. Come check out my reading at 3:00 p.m.” And some of those guys would show up and admit afterward that I’d managed to scare them.

The horror genre is a bit of a boy’s club, no doubt about it. The odds are stacked against female authors, but creative, ambitious women will always find a way to run with the boys. Besides me, over five hundred successful horror authors come to mind: Megan Abbott, Maria Abrams, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Linda Addison, Erin Al-Mehairi, Ania Ahlborn, Christy Aldridge, Viotlet Allen, C.S. Alleyne, Scarlett R. Algee, Scarlett Amaris, Gemma Amor, Meghan Arcuri, Kristen Arnett Margaret Atwood, Carmen Baca, Eugen Bacon, Suzanne Baginskie, Patty Barrué, Meghan Ball, Zuzanne Belec, Nico Bell, Jennifer Bernardini, Carina Marie Bissett, T.L. Bodine, Ava Black, Joanna Ho Bradshaw, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Theresa Braun, Jennifer Brody, N.M. Brown, Tiffany Michelle Brown, Jennifer Brozek, Nadia Bulkin, Liz Butcher, Chesya Burke, R.A. Busby, P. D. Cacek, Shelly Campbell, Somer Canon, Tracy Carbone, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Christa Carmen, Elsa Carruthers, Clare Castleberry, V. Castro, Catherine Cavendish, Autumn Christian, Zen Cho, Jennifer Preston Chushcoff, Kristin Cleaveland, Donyae Coles, Jen Conley, S.H. Cooper, Tracy Cross, Jennifer Crow, Elizabeth Crowens, Nicole Cushing, Nina D’Arcangela, M. Lopes da Silva, Victoria Dalpe, Chelsea Davis, Randee Dawn, Sandy DeLuca, Kristi DeMeester, A.K. Dennis, Shawnna Deresch, Amanda Desiree, M.M. De Voe, Theresa Derwin, Ellie Douglas, Tananarive Due, H.B. Diaz, Denise Dumars, Sarah Duck-Mayr, Megan Jauregui Eccles, Inna Effress, Tori Eldridge, Meg Elison, Stephanie Ellis, Kelly Evans, Destiny Eve, Tracy Fahey, Gabrielle Faust, Alyson Faye, Epiphany Farrell, Kelly Florence, Geneve Flynn, Gillian Flynn, Dona Fox, Sara Gran, Graylin Fox, Lara Frater, Fran Friel, Laura Frost, Doungjai Gam, Holly Rae Garcia, Rhonda J. Garcia, Cate Gardner, Kristin Garth, Lisa Garvey, Fiona Maeve Geist, Christine M. Germain, Emma J. Gibbon, Megan Giddings, Jill Girardi, Sephera Giron, Larissa Glasser, Elana Gomel, Jewelle Gomez, Jennifer Anne Gordon, Courtney Gould, Misha Green, April Grey, K.C. Grifant, Taylor Grothe, D.M. Guay, Jessica Guess, Carol Gyzander, Meg Hafdahl, Polly Hall, Elizabeth Hand, Eve Harms, Rachel Harrison, Meghan Hart, Rachel Sadie Hartmann, Maria Haskins, Shannah Heath, Wendy Heard, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Nicole Henneman, Christina Henry, Karen Heuler, Laurel Hightower, Alicia Hilton, Rowan Hill, Jennifer Hillier, Nancy Holder, Kat Howard, Claire C. Holland, Emily Hughes, D.K. Hundt, June Hur, Tonya Hurley, Natalie Ironside, Vanessa Jae, Ruthann Jagge, Serena Jayne, Kenzie Jennings, Miranda Jewess, Heddy Johannesen, Carole Johnstone, B.F. Jones, Lisa Jones, Rhonda Jackson Joseph, Mona Kabbani, Magda Kaluzynska, Jo Kaplan, Alma Katsu, Laura Keating, Erinn Kemper, Caroline Kepnes, Cassandra Khaw, Nancy Kilpatrick, Gwendolyn Kiste, E.V. Knight, Gini Koch, K.H. Koehler, Kathe Koja, Samantha Kolesnik, Stevie Kopas, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Barbara Krasnoff, Naomi Kritzer, Monica Kuebler, Debbie Kuhn, K.P. Kulski, Laura Kurtz, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Carrie Laben, Red Lagoe, N.R. Lambert, Angela LaManna, Charie D. LaMarr, Jess Landry, Michelle Lane, Sarah Langan, Marie Lanza, Tara Laskowski, Estelle Laure, Shannon Lawrence, Deborah LeBlanc, Heather Levy, Beverley Lee, Ginger Lee, Lindsay Lerman, Susanne Leist, Tonya Liburd, Patricia Lillie, Livia Llewellyn, Lori Lopez, Erin Louis, Lynn Love, Leslie Lutz, Donna Lynch, Sian MacArthur, Carmen Maria Machado, L.L. Madrid, Katie Manning, Caitlin Marceau, Chris Marrs, Gretchen Felker-Martin, Rena Mason, Laura Mauro, Catherine McCarthy, J.A.W. McCarthy, Angel Leigh McCoy, Kathryn E. McGee, Seanan McGuire, Jessica McHugh, Mandy McHugh, Claire McKenna, Angel McCoy, Jennifer McMahon, Lauren McMenemy, Gale Meadows, Maryse Meijer, Claudette Melanson, Melissa Mendelson, Helen Merrick, Toni Miller, Renee Miller, S.P. Miskowski, Villimey Mist, Archita Mittra, Carole Ann Moleti, Hillary Monahan, J.H. Moncrieff, Sarah Moorhead, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Briana Morgan, Christine Morgan, Tiff Morris, Laura Morrison, Lisa Morton, J. Motoki, Cheryl Mullenax, Amy-Jean Muller, Allison Mulvihill, Iseult Murphy, Ksenia Murray, Lee Murray, Mae Murray, Ilana C. Myer, Natasha Nafrini, Fergal F. Nally, Victoria Nations, Annie Neugebauer, Mari Ness, T.J. Newman, Heidi Nickerson, Thana Niveau, Christi Nogle, Columbkill Noonan, Rachel Nussbaum, Joyce Carol Oates, Ihuoma Ofordire, Nnedi Okorafor, Nuzo Onoh, Mallory O’Meara, Cindy O’Quinn, Marie O’Regan, Kelli Owen, Kathy Palm, Adele Park, Ash Parsons, Joanna Parypinski, Alison Peirse, Cynthia (Cina) Pelayo, Mocha Pennington, Jessica Peter, Kate Reed Petty, Lydia Peever, Sarah Pinborough, Sarah Pinsker, Janine Pipe, Hailey Piper, Charlotte Platt, Molly Pohlig, Dea Poirier, Cherie Priest, Lydia Prime, Lisa Quigley, Monique Quintana, Stephanie Rabig, Mary Rajotte, Gina Ranalli, Tonia Ransom, Tina Rath, Sarah Read, Paula R. C. Readman, Dixon Reuel, Kelly Robinson, Zin E. Rocklyn, Marsheila Rockwell, Betty Rocksteady, Eva Roslin, Eden Royce, Sian Rosé, Diana Rowland, Karen Runge, Erica Ruppert, Lindy Ryan, Sumiko Saulson, Veronica Schanoes, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Cat Scully, Barrington Smith-Seetachitt, Ali Seay, Lora Senf, Priya Sharma, Deborah Sheldon, Natashia Sinclar, Jennifer Soucy, Yolanda Sfetsos, Katherine Silva, Hildy Silverman, Marge Simon, Natasha Sinclair, Angela Slatter, Zhanna Slor, Angela Yuriko Smith, Farah Rose Smith, Christina Sng, J. Snow, Lucy A. Snyder, Monique Snyman, Jennifer Soucy, Jessica L. Sparrow, Zoje Stage, Caitlin Starling, Jessica Stevens, Jan Stinchcomb, Roni Stinger, J.A. Sullivan, Madeleine Swann, Morgan Sylvia, Angela Sylvaine, Mitzi Szereto, Anna Taborska, Denise N. Tapscott, Sonora Taylor, Sara Tantlinger, Cassandra L. Thompson, Brenda S. Tolian, Gaby Triana, Dani Trussoni, Ash Tudor, Elle Turpitt, Mary Turzillo, Tlotlo Tsamaase, Lisa Tuttle, Cameron Ulam, Gina Urso, Genevieve Valentine, Emily Verona, L.C. von Hessen, Roxie Voorhees, Damien Angelica Walters, Wendy N. Wagner, Holly Walrarth, Colleen Wanglund, Holly Lyn Walrath, Antonia Rachel Ward, Catriona Ward, Kyla Lee Ward, Kaaron Warren, Erica Waters, Vera West, Kimberly White, Sheri White, Tara Stillions Whitehead, Marie Whittaker, Hannah Whitten, Leslie Wibberley, Monica Wilcox, Fran Wilde, Emma-Claire Wilson, Mehitobel Wilson, Nicole Willson, Cassondra Windwalker, A.C. Wise, Kimberly White, Christa Wojciechowski, Nicole Wolverton, L. Marie Wood, T.L. Wood, Alex Woodroe, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Lou Yardley, Mercedes M. Yardley, Pauline Yates, Joy Yehle, and Jessica Ann York.

I’ve gotten to know many of these lovely ladies at various conventions and also on Twitter. I’ve noticed that we have several personality traits in common: We’re all extremely ambitious and self-assured — we’re not afraid to speak our minds — we’re also very outgoing and savvy.

At StokerCon™, in historic Providence, Rhode Island, I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel comprised solely of female horror authors. In addition to myself, panelists included Meghan Arcuri, Mary Ann Back, April Grey, andElizabeth Massie. We packed the room and had a lively discussion about the trials and tribulations of not only how we survive in the male-dominated horror genre, but how we manage to thrive! Our legions are growing — we know no bounds…”

I am so proud to be a part of this!!

Come on girls, sharpen your pencils and voodoo quills. You’ve got work to do!

 

https://crimsonscreams.medium.com/dangerous-dames-women-who-write-horror-daf6dabbade8

 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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October 11, 2020 · 11:35 am

Snake + Spider Stew Wreath

Merry meet all,

Move over, Skellington. The Queen of Halloween is here! I will tell how I finished the wreath so you can have your own!! It’s easy and affordable to do!

I let the wreath dry overnight on a black plastic bag. I removed the wreath from the bag, it was sticky, and set it down on the countertop. I gathered a hot glue gun, a glue stick, and the large black widow spiders I bought at Spirit Halloween. I also had a jar of tiny black spiders- not real! 

I arranged the black widow spiders on the wreath in the best spots for them. I glued them on using the hot glue gun. Then I glued the skull on. But it didn’t stick so I will soon add a black widow spider there where the skull was. Then I glued the tiny black spiders to the wreath. 

I cleaned the wall and the candle holders where I wanted to hang the wreath. Then I hung the wreath above the stove. I wanted the wreath to be where I would always easily see it. It may hang there all year. I washed the candleholders with soap and hot water. I returned them to the tealight candle holders. I lit them and the effect was truly spooky!

Here is a photo of the snake and spider stew wreath!

 

Cool huh? You can do it yourself. It is so easy! I love my wreath. I hope you like it too. I hope this inspires you. Spiders are my totem and have always aided and protected me. 

You can add whatever you want to your wreath. The possibilities are endless. A wreath is a circle, a circle of continuity and symbolism. So since this is the Witches season, our time, pick what totem or symbol really stands out to you. 

It shows that if you use your imagination, you can create some beautiful – or spooky!

Blessings!

Stay spooky, Spiderwitch

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September 16, 2020 · 11:37 am

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Merry meet all,

The early frost hit Halifax. I laid a frost blanket over my beans last night. This morning, I saw my breath. I stored the summer dresses in the drawer and pulled out the winter woollies. It is that time. It is our time. The Witch season has arrived. Pumpkins fill the shelves at the supermarket to adorn front porches. The leaves turn and that magical feeling/ chill is in the air. Toss your Witch hats!!! Enjoy the link to an awesome witchy song!!

The image above is a photo of my scrying mirror. Cool isn’t it?

I harvested my tomatoes, forty one in total. The tomatoes are ripening near a windowsill. I harvested the catnip. I put the plant and roots in the soil. I don’t see why I should buy a new catnip every year. The cats can’t tear it up because I set a cloche around the plant. Now the plant is sheltered from the cold while it adjusts. Later, I will lift the cloche and mulch. The plant will grow again next year. I will put it up and hang it in the planter next summer for Penny.

I read Rosemary Ellen Guiley’s book about mirror scrying. I own a scrying mirror. I am eager to begin mirror scrying. Here is an article that tells you about an ancient method of divination that is changing the way people view the world and -the dead. 

The Psychomanteum: How an Ancient Tool for Contacting the Dead is Making Breakthroughs in Paranormal Investigation

PSYCHOMANTEUM-KINDRED-SPIRITS-TRAVEL-CHANNEL-GHOST-HUNTING-PARANORMAL

On the latest episode of Travel Channel’s Kindred Spirits, Amy Bruni & Adam Berry investigate a mysterious haunted mirror in Gettysburg’s famed Farnsworth House. With help from haunted object experts Greg & Dana Newkirk, the paranormal investigators use the object to construct an ancient device meant to contact the dead: the psychomanteum.

Whether using tarot during investigations, performing classic seances, or making use of the Estes Method, sometimes its the most unique tools which provide the most intriguing responses. On Thursday’s episode of Kindred Spirits, Greg & Dana Newkirk, curators of the Traveling Museum of of the Paranormal & Occult, are drawn to construct a psychomanteum, a method of summoning the dead which has been all-but-forgotten by today’s paranormal investigators. But what exactly is a psychomanteum, and how does it work?

nekromanteionThe Nekromenteion in Epiros, Greece | via Shutterstock

Stemming from the Greek “nekromanteion”, which translates to “oracle of the dead”, the psychomanteum was such a popular method of spirit contact that they’re made reference to in the epic Homer’s Odyssey, where Odysseus speaks with his dead mother by gazing into a pit of blood. It wasn’t until the 1950s that archaeologists actually excavated one of the devices in Epiros, officially pulling the psychomanteum out of legend and into reality.

While crystal balls, mirror scrying, and other forms of chiromancy remained popular throughout the years, it wasn’t until 1993 when Dr. Raymond Moody, a researcher of near death experiences, published the book Reunions: Visionary Encounters With Departed Loved Ones and brought the psychomanteum back to life. In his book, Moody recounts how he took inspiration from Greek nekromanteions and other shamanic mirror-gazing traditions from around the world, constructing his own psychomanteum, and documenting some three-hundred individuals’ experiences with the method.

In a room blocked of all sunlight, Moody placed a chair in front of a large mirror hung on a wall which was tilted forward at a 45 degree angle, so as to obscure the gazer’s own reflection. Behind the chair was placed a low wattage lamp, meant to replicate the soft glow of a single candle. Before seating themselves in the psychomanteum, subjects were asked to focus on a loved one who had since passed. Then, the gazing session would begin. The results were astounding.

 

 

Out of the subjects, a quarter of them stated that they had made contact with the dead, seeing and even speaking with their loved ones in the mirror’s reflection. About ten percent of these subjects even said the spirits actually came out of the mirrors and touched them. In nearly a quarter of the cases, the contact with the dead didn’t occur immediately, but within 24 hours of the psychomanteum session. Even more startling, nearly every single subject strongly stated that their reunions were not fantasies or dreams, but insisted they were real events with elements of physicality.

Dr. Raymond Moody wrote that the sessions with his modern day psychomanteum weren’t just an effective method of contact with the dead, they quite literally changed the lives of the users, healing wounded relationships with the deceased and reshaping the way they saw the world.

With such a powerful tool so easy to create, why aren’t more paranormal investigators using the psychomanteum? Mostly because they don’t know the method even exists. Like many traditional methods of spirit communication, they’ve been forgotten, replaced with fancy gadgets as seen on television, or branded as “dangerous occult practices”. For this reason, The Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult has spent the last several years roaming the country with a portable psychomanteum, swapping a quiet room for headphones and white noise, and educating the public on the history and practice of therapeutic mirror gazing. On the the third season three episode of Travel Channel’s Kindred Spirits, that lesson will be shared with an even wider audience.

Of course, things are bound to get even stranger when you build your psychomanteum out of a gigantic haunted mirror in one of the most paranormally-active locations in the world.

KINDRED-SPIRITS-PSYCHOMENTEUM-2The psychomanteum as seen in Travel Channel’s Kindred Spirits | via Greg Newkirk

“When Amy Bruni and Adam Berry phoned us a few months ago and asked us to get our butts to Pennsylvania, we were actually on the road to the Appalachian Mountains for Operation: Return the Crone,” Greg says. “Fortunately, a pit stop in Gettysburg was right along the way. When we arrived, they told us that they were dealing with a very old, and potentially very haunted mirror that the owners claimed could have been the source of the aggressive paranormal activity in their building. We already knew it was going to be a unique case, but we didn’t realize how strange it was about to get.”

With only a few days left to shoot the case, Amy & Adam were looking for a way to investigate the mirror that would yield the best results. The team immediately got to work building what might be the largest modern psychomanteum ever.

GREG NEWKIRK TRAVEL CHANNEL PSYCHOMANTERUM-KINDRED-SPIRITS-4Haunted object expert Greg Newkirk peers into the haunted mirror | via Greg Newkirk

In the episode, the group heads to the basement, which the owners had styled to represent a traditional Civil War era funeral, and gingerly began to tilt the massive mirror to a 45-degree angle. Once it was safe and secure, Greg placed a bowl of water beneath the mirror – a step that Dr. Raymond Moody had left out of his modern psychomanteum (the Greeks would often gaze into the water’s reflection in the place where the mirror made contact with the water). Once everything was secure, he lit a single candle behind the designated gazing seat, and hit the lights.

Adding one more twist to contraption, it was decided that both Dana and Amy would use the psychomanteum at the same time. Not only was it big enough, but having two gazers would help confirm or negate the visions presented in the mirror as merely hallucinations… or something more.

DANA NEWKIRK AMY BRUNI TRAVEL CHANNEL HAUNTED OBJECT KINDRED-SPIRITS-PSYCHOMANTEUMAmy Bruni & Dana Matthews gaze into the psychomanteum | via Greg Newkirk

We won’t spoil the episode for you, except to say you’ll be shocked at the outcome.

Tune in to Travel Channel tonight at 10PM EST to catch the whole investigation on Kindred Spirits. If you’re a member of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult (and you should be), you can join Greg & Dana Newkirk at 11:15PM EST for a live post-episode discussion in the Super Secret Museum Member Facebook group.

 

Credit to website read://http_weekinweird.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fweekinweird.com%2F2019%2F02%2F07%2Fpsychomanteum-haunted-mirror-contact-dead-kindred-spirits%2F

 

Stay spooky!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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September 9, 2020 · 12:00 pm

The Horrors of Beach Army Hospital

Merry meet all,

I gathered four ripening Chinese Lanterns and two purple beans from the garden this morning. I spied a bean growing on my leafy scarlet runner bean vines. My tomatoes are growing nicely. The garden is winding down for autumn and the frost. It makes me sad and happy at the same time. 

Here’s a good ghost story for the day. I wish I could investigate this spot. I am so jealous. Read on to find out why I am almost green with envy. 

 

The Dormant Horrors of Beach Army Hospital

The Dormant Horrors of Beach Army Hospital

Those in the paranormal community are a thorough bunch. They leave no stone unturned, no forest unsearched, and no dark corner of any state unexplored. They’ve outed every ghost, documented every haunt, explored every rumor and shrapnel of mythical lore, and yet, here I find myself, alone in the damp and crumbling halls of a building for which no record exists and no investigator has ever truly set foot in. Here, on the periphery of the Mineral Wells city limits, abandoned in the barren fields of this dreary town; I am alone in the Beach Army Hospital.

Beach Army Hospital Researched

I’ve done my research, and the only indisputable fact I can spew about this building is that in the eyes of the world, it might as well not even exist. There are no videos of overnight hunts, no independent publications or blogs that have been written, and no record of it’s past with the Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce. It once served as an installation of the Fort Wolters Military base. It was a hospital devoted to treating active-duty military personnel, but when Fort Wolters shuttered its doors at the end of the Vietnam War, so too did this facility. So here it has sat since the early 1970s, and here I stand in 2020. The first paranormal investigator ever granted access to the structure in nearly half a century.

I stumbled upon this enigmatic situation at the behest of Brett Hobson, the owner of Beach Army Hospital, LLC. In an effort to help fund the hospital’s renovations, Hobson wants to open the doors of Beach Army Hospital for the world to see and wants to do so by allowing private overnight ghost hunts of the facility to any team brave enough to venture to its location.

The dark Past

The site of countless deaths, due to the building’s operation as a hospital. There is also the looming threat of something sinister. Hobson and his family had the misfortune of discovering the building had been used as the destination for numerous satanic rituals. They discovered pentagrams and upside-down crosses painted on the walls of a former patient’s bedroom. According to Hobson, the energy inside the room was so strong “the family dog nearly jumped out of the second-story window when brought in there.”

While there is no doubt in my mind that Beach Army Hospital will quickly prove itself to be amongst the most haunted locations in Texas, if not the country, it’s the spotlight in the paranormal community that will be short-lived. With construction on the building set to begin later this fall, there will only be a few months open for investigators to explore the inside of the building. Then it will close and at that time it will become the Perfect Technician Academy – a local trades training school catering to the veteran community – has announced they will be leasing the building for their own use. What’s more, with the spirits inside having had no interaction with the living in decades, those few months of investigations are poised to yield some utterly groundbreaking evidence of spirits who are eager to make themselves known.

Voices Heard

The disembodied voices of men and women linger in the stairways and halls. The blackened apparitions of former patients can be seen lurking in shadowed corners. The shuffling of phantom footsteps can be heard all around you, and the resident poltergeists are quick to move objects before your very eyes. All of this evidence and more deserve to be captured, and it will be up to you and your team to do so. Visit The Haunted Historian (@haunted.historian) on Instagram for a link to the locations website for bookings, and prepare to conduct an investigation unlike any you’ve ever done before. Happy hunting!”

Indeed, I wish I could be there. 

Credit to: read://https_paranormaldailynews.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fparanormaldailynews.com%2Fthe-dormant-horrors-of-beach-army-hospital%2F2243%2F

Links to more spooky tales to tickle your eerie fancy!!

The most haunted mirrors in the world!

Stay spooky!!
Blessings, Spiderwitch

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July 29, 2020 · 4:13 pm

Lammas Feasts

Merry meet all,

Oh the heat. If  only it would rain. I know I would love it. I want to dance in the rain, my arms outstretched, dancing to a weather spell. The heat right now is inescapable, and so tiring. 

I just watered my parched garden. I am sure my garden appreciates the water quenching the roots and leaves. If I were a plant, I would. If gardens aren’t watered each day, then the roots are forced to reach down deeper for water. As a result, they suffer. It is better to water a garden regularly. That way, the roots are moist, and the plants like those conditions. Then plants are less stressed. 

Speaking of plants, Lughnasadh is almost here! This is my favorite time of year. It reminds me that time changes. I mean it is cruelly baking hot right now here but eventually autumn will arrive. (It could hurry up and bring the cooler temperatures with it, I would not object.)

CELEBRATING LAMMAS

A few ways to celebrate Lammas/ Lughnasadh are:

bake bread, enjoy wine, harvest from your garden or indoor garden or container garden, enjoy a special dinner or do a ritual at your altar. The ritual can be either solitary or with a coven. 

Now’s the time to gather berries, an extra bag of flour, fresh herbs and cheese. They add flavor and spice to any meal. Focus on abundance and what you reaped during this time. 

Enjoy Lughnusadh

Spiderwitch

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June 6, 2020 · 1:50 pm

Spooky Inspirations

 

Spooky Inspirations
May 31, 2020 / ladyspiderwitch

Here are ideas on how to create a spooky novel!
I recommend the following books such as On Writing by Stephen King, On Writing Horror- the collection of essays by the Horror Writers Association, and Writing the Paranormal Novel- Techniques and Exercises by Steven Harper. These books go into real detail about the paranormal. Within this genre, there is more freedom to create what you want whether that be a sparkly vampire, toothy werewolf, or chain rattling ghost.

After you read these books, highlight the advice, and incorporate the advice into your writing. For a good story about a ghoul of choice to be believed, it must be believable and written well. All stories benefit from good writing. Be consistent about the traits, superpowers, or awesome abilities your monster has. We all know vampires hate garlic and sleep in coffins, but maybe a coffin-shaped bookcase could be their nesting habit during the daytime.

Read widely in your chosen genre. That will let you know what has already been written by other authors.

Buy a new set of highlighters, pens, white out, a binder, paper, and a fresh bag of coffee. Do what it takes to make you commit to the writing for the long haul.
Clean your writing/ office space. Light some sage and clean the energy to allow for the creative energies to flow unimpeded. Light a candle or incense. Play music that inspires you as you create your ghoul or axe-wielding maniac. Create a special playlist and soundtrack. Know your monster! Make it consistent and believable.
Keep a routine when you sit down to work on your story.

Reach into the deepest darkest part of your imagination. Free write a scene of confrontation between your protagonist and your monster. Or the monster is the protagonist? These days your demon or ghoul needs to be ORIGINAL. Everything in the paranormal novel has been done … or has it? That part is up to you. It must be original. If you are seeking more inspiration, read the paper. Clip and keep newspaper articles. For example, I published a short story about pumpkins that can eat people. The vines can extend themselves and the pumpkins were toothy and bloodthirsty. Talk about a real twist on our favorite squashes!

But by allowing yourself to imagine, you may invent something that no one has done before. That is a huge advantage in the field of writing and publishing. Being original and true to your monster is extremely important. The world wants to read a story that has never been written before. They do not want thirty knockoffs of It or The Babaduk.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this. It might spark an idea or two and you would then be on your way to writing a gothic novel like Northanger Abbey or something like the Pit and the Pendulum by Poe.
Good Luck!

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October 24, 2019 · 2:24 pm

Handbook for the Dead

 

 

 

 

 

Merry meet all,

I am proud to announce that my chilling account of an encounter I had with a spooky entity is published in Handbook for the Dead. The Frightening Floyds produced the book. It was recently released on Amazon! 

This is a description of the book: “DON’T FORGET YOUR HANDBOOK…Welcome all spirits! The Frightening Floyds present to you, Handbook for the Dead – a guide to help all new manifestations realize their functional perimeters. Within this anthology, you’ll read paranormal accounts from individuals who have experienced phantoms and disturbances that have not only chilled them, but also left them with some new insight into the supernatural. Now, they want to share their stories and wisdom with you. That way, if you’re feeling a little flat, or even if you’re a lost soul, you won’t have to draw a door and knock. Handbook from the Dead is sure to please the strange and unusual in everyone, and we promise it doesn’t read like stereo instructions.”

I hope this entices you to buy a copy for yourself. I can’t wait to receive my own contributor copy by owl mail and read the other authors’ experiences with the paranormal!

I am so happy to be involved in this project. Here is the link to the Amazon page so you can get yourself or a friend a copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733548262?fbclid=IwAR3J164Ky0nmiK4HazQPEQeupXia0kbOysJhR67Zl8gFt0Xc3Wwzq6JlWz4

This reminds me of the movie Beetlejuice! I look forward to reading it and adding it to my collection of true spooky accounts! After all, truth is stranger than fiction. And nowhere is that more true than in the pages of the Handbook for the Dead! So grab a copy today! The image above is the cover image of the Handbook for the Dead. 

I have another announcement to make! My short fiction story, The Grimm Pumpkin, is published by Irish Horse Anthologies in the book Samhain Secrets! It is not released yet on Amazon. I am eager to read that too. So far it is only released on Kindle. I found out I was in the book accidentally. But no harm done, I am thrilled to be included. That means it is my story’s 4th reprint. I am very excited and pleased about that. I will post more about that later. 

I hope you are all having a magical wonderful October. I know I am. I wish you all the best merry Samhain!

I myself am strange and unusual!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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October 13, 2019 · 3:40 pm

Sequel to How to Decorate for Samhain

Merry meet all,

I am really in the mood for Samhain. Yesterday afternoon, I was busy crafting up a storm! I thought I would share my own crafts with you to get you in the mood for our fave spooky Sabbat. I painted gourds, created a cool garland and conjured a candle. I will share here in this post how it was all done. So grab your craft supplies and a coffee!

The pumpkins were the easiest craft to do. Gather newspaper for the paint so it doesn’t stain everything else, flat paintbrushes, black acrylic paint, a palette or dish to hold the paint, and a pumpkin. The picture above shows the gourds when the paint dried. Brush a coat on being sure to cover over all the green or original orange coloring. Get the paint into every spot. Let the paint dry between coats. Leave the gourds on the newspaper in an area where they won’t be disturbed  to dry. Then store them with your other Halloween decorations. Black, orange, gold and white colors are good choices. 

Yes that is an Ouija board mousepad peeking out the photo there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garland The garland was a bit harder to do. I had a thick stack of brown paper lunch bags just sitting there in a linens basket. I really wanted to do something special in terms of decorations this year. I cut out a 7-inch square of the lunch bags and thought about how I would decorate them. Paint each square orange. I decided that the papers would spell out ‘Trick or Treat’. Each bag or paper would be one letter except for “OR’.  Hole punch the top right and left corner of the bag to work the string through later. Measure the bags. Each one should be seven inches long roughly. Measure with a pencil or other marker 5 inches vertically. Then mark that on the bag. Don’t make the markings too obvious. Cut the bottom of the lunch bags to form a point. See the photo to see what I mean. The edges of the paper curled. So I cut out typing paper using one of the painted lunch bags as a template, and painted them black. When the paint dries, I will glue the black papers to the orange papers, remembering to hole punch the black pieces. When you string them up, be sure to have all the letter papers in the right order before you begin. Leave plenty of string. Don’t cut the string till you are sure you like how it is all arranged and you have hung the garland up on a mantle or window. One more tip: Have the black painted papers facing out not in. 

Here are a few more suggestions on how to decorate your home for Samhain. If you don’t have any cobwebs, cheesecloth is a good second choice. Save and paint fake (unless you are me and I save, clean and bleach chicken bones). Paint them gray, white or black. Arrange them for a Halloween/ Samhain centerpiece on your table or mantle. Let the guests wonder if they are real. Use fake vampire teeth to act as a napkin ring.

Lay a white tablecloth down on your table. Layer a black spiderweb lace tablecloth over the white cloth. Set down a black tray or a gold tray, depending on your preference. Then arrange all your beautifully bewitching painted gourds around a (fake-up to you-) human skull or animal skull. Tuck in the bones, maple leaves, gemstones, and maybe some sphagnum moss if you have it. Arrange tall black taper candles in used wine bottles behind the skull. Now you have a charming and magickal centerpiece on your table sure to spark conversation!

Have a merry Thanksgiving!!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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October 6, 2019 · 3:02 pm

My Favorite Color is October

Merry meet all,

I went shopping this weekend. I conjured cool Halloween items. The first on the list of cool Halloween items is a very large black (of course) rubber spider web doormat. I love the huge rubber rug. My cat likes it too. The next on the list is a set of 4 skull black and white dinner plates. The plates have a trim and a large skull in the center. I bought a cool black thing you rest your cooking utensil on. I bought some black and orange candles, an orange pillar candle that smells of lovely pumpkin spice, a black wand that makes mystical sounds, a beautiful black wire elven crown, fairy wings that I shall cover with black fabric later and lastly, a black spiderweb placemat and black spider web doilies. 

Yes I am ready for Samhain. I am planning and preparing for a Samhain Séance party. I bought a large jug of cider for my legendary cider mix. I am offering pomegranate seeds, barmbrack bread and pumpkin bread, and of course roasted seeds. Carved pumpkins will glow eerily among the candles and incense shall fragrance the room. I hope it all bewitches my guests. 

One note about the barmbrack bread: I may not leave the traditional items in the bread, to avoid anyone choking. I am trained in CPR but it would be nice to avoid disasters. I haven’t begun decorating yet. I will do that later. 

I bought a cool Halloween magazine, which is packed with a million suggestions. I am inspired by the issue. Are you all excited about Samhain? I am. Well that’s obvious. The movie It is in theaters if you can’t get enough of the October spirit and horror movies. I may catch Maleficent next week. I enjoy watching Ghost Adventures too. I wonder if they have a special Halloween show. 

My story is published in Paranormal Chronicles about how the Five Fishermen Restaurant came to be haunted! Be sure to read the issue! My other story is published in The Handbook for the Dead and released on Amazon! Add these to your reading list! I am excited about it and I hope you are too. 

I can’t wait to sit and read the October newsletter from the Horror Writers Association! The issue is huge. It is not October without the Horror Writers Association. 

I implore you to enjoy the month of October as much as you can. It’s only once a year but I live like it’s every day of my life. If you all saw the inside of my home, you’d agree. Watch horror movies, make your pet wear a crown, pile leaves and collapse on them, roast seeds, and hang ghosts from the ceiling. Let me know in the comments what you did to celebrate the most magical of months. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

 

 

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