Tag Archives: paranormal

July 15, 2024 · 11:57 am

Interview with horror author Jerry Blaze )O(

 

Merry meet all,

Welcome everyone to another awesome interview with a horror author! Today Jerry Blaze joins us to chat on horror fiction.

 

Why horror? Do you have a favorite subgenre in horror?

I write horror because life isn’t always sunshine and happiness, it’s full of chills, thrills and darkness. I think at our basic setup, humans need to be scared and disappearing into a story that scares them can provide that type of emotion rather than going out and doing something potentially dangerous.

My favorite sub genre is Splatterpunk. I love the extreme aspect, the focus on the nitty-gritty and the lack of creating psychological fears that can be mistaken or not have the same bite as having your insides ripped out through a knife wound (hahaha).

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

 

Richard Laymon is my ultimate influence; the way his stories are fast-paced and direct with action, graphic death and intense sexual imagery spoke to me as a reader and writer. After Laymon, I found myself pursuing the works of Matt Shaw, Judith Sonnet, DE McCluskey and Eric LaRocca; their works were intriguing and different and not like the more classy works of Stephen King or Edgar Allan Poe. I was never big into Lovecraft, but I can’t subtract him from the list because his works inspired a lot of the horror that we see today.

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

 

That might actually be the easiest question to answer. I set a timer for around thirty to forty minutes and I write a chapter until the timer hits zero, then I stop for a quick smoke and a sip of coffee, returning right away. I typically aim for ten chapters each time.

My editing process is barely existent. I go through with auto-correct on the document after I finish it, I then send it to my beta readers and they usually point out what I missed, then I slap a cover on it and put it out for the world. I never rewrite or do drafts, I used to write erotica and the need for consistent work was always hovering over me, so I got in the habit of writing like a pulp writer from back in the day. Write, do a once over, publish and repeat; its been my process for the last 16 years.

What inspires you to write horror?

Horror is a free field where anything can happen, you can throw in as much as you want and still find something new to put in. Readers love horror, especially splatterpunk, they are the kind of people I really identify with. Horror is fun, its the kind of genre where you never know what’s next and when it happens, it can either shock, upset, arouse or annoy you. Nowhere else have I found those emotions coming up in any other genre.

I write horror novelettes and novellas because I think too many authors out there don’t respect the short fiction market. Everyone wants to write long novels and break into the long-fiction market, but I personally cap at 15K (or on good days, 17K). When I started writing horror, I wanted to bring back the popularity of the novelette, especially in Splatterpunk, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it.

What do you love about indie publishing?

 

I love how far it has come in the last twenty years. I appreciate the fact that anyone can acknowledge their dream of being an author. I love that people flock to indie authors who are not being carried by traditional publishers and who push their works out via their own pocket, or by some chance, have a small press backing them up. I love that the books are allowed to be raw, real and not held back by standards enforced by high-rise office editors. Indie publishing is where I see all books coming from in the near future.

Which is your favorite horror movie or book? Which movie or book impressed and inspired you the most?

 

My favorite horror film will always be the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film from 1973. My favorite horror books are Beware! by Laymon, Night Shift by Stephen King, the Goosebumps books by RL Stine, and Sardines (in the Dark) by Judith Sonnet.

The films that inspire me would be the Friday the 13th Franchise. I grew up in the woods of the Midwest and always feared a killer stalking me when I was out and about around dusk or nighttime. The eerie feeling of being stalked or watched is something that really provokes me, I like to add the feeling to most of my work, along with the feeling of helplessness when the killing starts up.

Is there any music that helps you to write?

 

I generally don’t listen to music when I write because I’ll find myself unable to focus or I’ll accidentally write in a lyric from a song to the story and then have to delete the sentence. I don’t go back and delete a word, I delete the sentence and rewrite it with a better word. So music, videos, or audio is a no-no for me.

Do you have any special projects you want readers to know about?

 

I am always writing! I’m a well-spring of ideas turned into trash! I have books coming out every month until well into next year. I really want to release 2 books a month, but I’m settling on 1 for now (unless another is being published by a small press). I have a few collaborations I’m working on that will prove extremely fun for the communities. At the moment, I’m personally working on a novella about a woman named “Crystal-Meth” who is hunting pedos in the woods, so that’ll be fun to finish.

I am also doing a side-project of writing non-horror erotic guides for people who may be suffering from a miserable love life.

Where can readers find you on social media?

My website, jblazehorror.com, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X (Twitter), Gmail, just look for JBlazeHorror and you’ll usually find me.

Happy reading!

Indeed!!!! Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

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March 13, 2024 · 3:57 pm

Paranormal Convention in Thunder Bay

 

Merry meet all,

I obtained a white garment like a nightgown. I like it because I can alter it to match the chemises that I see on the Holy Clothing website. I am not done yet but it will look great. I love this photo! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight I am going to Trident Cafe to support a likeminded awesome horror author.  I’m celebrating women in horror month. Yay!

Today’s post covers a new exciting event in the world of the paranormal. Enjoy!!! 

Thunder Bay paranormal convention set to showcase the spooky side of life this fall

Workshops, guest speakers will cover all manner of paranormal topics

Kris Ketonen · CBC News ·
A group of people stand in a circle.
A group of paranormal investigators record a drop in temperature inside a site believed to be subject to paranormal activities. Paranormal investigators will gather in Thunder Bay, Ont., this fall. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters )

With a slate of guest speakers and workshops on the schedule, the first-ever Lake Superior Paranormal Convention will shine a spotlight on the strange and spooky this fall.

The convention – which is being organized by Thunder Bay paranormal investigation group Lucky Paranormal – will take place in October at the Prince Arthur hotel. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 2, and will be available online.

“At a paranormal convention, they have lots of speakers,” organizer and Lucky Paranormal member Gail Willis said. “All day long, you can listen to paranormal experts on paranormal activity, investigation, UFO’s, Sasquatch, Bigfoot, all of those types of things are spoken about openly at a convention.”

More than 15 guests have been booked so far. They include:

  • Beyond the Haunting Investigations of History’s Most Haunted;
  • Shane Pittman, from Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted and Discovery Channel’s The Holzer Files;
  • Author and researcher Jeff Belanger (Ghost Adventures and Paranormal Challenge);
  • Author and researcher Chris Rutkowski;
  • Thunder Bay writer Kim Casey;
  • Investigator and filmmaker Dee McCullay, and
  • The Winnipeg Paranormal Group.

The convention will also include vendors, as well as workshops on how to use some of the equipment paranormal investigators use, organizer and Lucky Paranormal member Mel Willis said.

A REM pod, used in paranormal investigations.
A REM Pod used by Lucky Paranormal during their investigations. The upcoming Lake Superior Paranormal Convention will feature workshops on how to use ghost-hunting equipment like this. (Kris Ketonen/CBC)

The idea for the local convention grew out of visits to other, similar events by Lucky Paranormal members.

“We’ve gone to a number of conventions in the U.S.,” Mel Willis said. “There’s one in Halifax and that’s the only one across Canada and we’re like, ‘well, we’re smack in the middle of Canada, why not here?'”

Gail Willis said the convention isn’t only geared at investigators, and hopes that everyone with an interest in the supernatural will take away something worthwhile.

“I hope that they leave with more information,” she said. “I hope that they leave with a passion for the paranormal, and also maybe new connections.”

A few other events are scheduled around the main convention, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5. Those include:

  • A VIP party with celebrity guest speakers on the evening of Oct. 4;
  • A celebrity-led paranormal investigation at the Thunder Bay museum, scheduled for the evening of Oct. 5, and
  • Sunday Spirits n’ Sweets at Cafe Ora, which will include afternoon tea and coffee with Canadian psychic medium Kerrilynn Shellhorn on the afternoon of Oct. 6.

The Lake Superior Paranormal Convention itself, meanwhile, is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2024, at the Prince Arthur Hotel. For ticket information, visit the event’s website.

Superior Morning8:22Mel and Gail Willis of Lucky Paranormal: Paranormal Convention

Thunder Bay ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts, mark your calendars, the first-ever Lake Superior Paranormal Convention is coming to the city this fall. Hear from the organizers.

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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February 19, 2024 · 2:05 pm

Paranormal Dining

Merry meet all,

I am sad to announce that my friend Scott Lee Bower has passed away. He died from a serious heart complication this week. His friends and I are saddened by his passing. I posted about him on this blog and I will repost it for everyone to see again. He was a genuine person and he loved the paranormal. Scott will be missed. 

Today’s post is about an investigation led at the most famous Five Fishermen restaurant. I have been there and I can attest that the restaurant is genuinely haunted. Read on if you dare!

Paranormal investigators reach out to spirits at haunted Halifax eatery

On a chilly Saturday night in October, a group of paranormal investigators gathered at a historic Halifax building long rumoured to be haunted.

What is now a popular restaurant in Halifax’s downtown core was once a mortuary, processing bodies from both the sinking of the Titanic and the Halifax Explosion.

The persistent stories of strange happenings at the Five Fishermen at 1740 Argyle Street have attracted the attention of Paranormal Investigations Nova Scotia (PINS.)

Desperate for answers, the group decided to gather their equipment and spend a long night at the restaurant in the hopes of solving the mystery behind the reports of flickering lights and unknown footsteps.

“Hoping to try and communicate with a spirit of some sort, somebody that has, you know, been trapped here, someone who has personal possessions here,” says Darcy O’Neil of PINS.

The group doesn’t have to wait long.

Cameras are quick to catch a motion sensor going off on its own. Suspecting a malfunction, the team discusses the problem while a white mist moves across their video screen.

No one on the team can explain it and the mist is only the beginning.

The team sets up a ghost box, a digital audio recorder with a built-in radio set on a reverse frequency.

Where a person’s ears would only pick up static, investigators say other voices sometimes emerge from the white noise.

The team also sets up a laser grid in an effort to spot any shadows passing by.

The investigators say the quickest way to determine whether a ghost is present is to simply ask.

“Is there a female here?” they ask.

The silence is deafening as they wait for an answer in a dining room where a mysterious man has been spotted several times in a mirror.

“If there’s a male here, what’s your name?”

Suddenly, through the static on the ghost box, the words “it’s Drake” seem to fill the air.

“That was a male voice that just came through,” says O’Neil.

A man named William Leonard Drake died in the Halifax Explosion. The body of the 24-year-old was prepared for burial in the building.

“I thoroughly believe that we are haunted,” says the restaurant’s general manager, Heather Brown. “I don’t believe that any of the spirits here are here to hurt us. I think they’re more or less just here to say this is our space.”

The embalming process in the old funeral home took place in what is now a private dining room.

A basic security system catches some action in the room as balls of light, or orbs, dance around the space. The orbs are invisible to the naked eye but can be seen plain as day on the infrared video.

Upstairs in the woman’s washroom, where a little girl has been spotted and a woman heard weeping, the team brings so-called trigger objects – items chosen to elicit a response.

There is no obvious response, but some women in the group report feeling numb.

The investigators try the same method in the wine cage.

“Is there anyone here who wants to communicate with me?” asks one investigator.

The light of the flashlight comes on, seemingly on its own.

“Are you a female? Turn it on for yes.”

Again, the flashlight lights up on its own.

“Are you a young child?”

The light turns on once more.

The team begins to pick up more activity. Radios and motion sensors continue to go off for no apparent reason.

And so it goes, until well after midnight.

As the investigators pack up and leave, they conclude the evening has generated more questions than answers. They vow to return.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/paranormal-investigators-reach-out-to-spirits-at-haunted-halifax-eatery-1.2081831

In other news:

There are 29 days till Spring Equinox! I can’t wait. I mean I have a few herb seedlings growing under my grow light. I am literally counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds till I can be in my garden again. I am just chomping at the bit for spring. 

I put some seeds on damp paper towel and put the paper towels in ziplock baggies. I used mountain arnica seeds, mint, elecampane, purple basil and marshmallow root. I can’t wait to grow those herbs! Starting seeds that way is a great way to see which seeds will grow the strongest and what the germination rate is. I love starting seeds that way. 

The next turn in the Wheel of the Year is Ostara. Ostara is the second Spring sabbat. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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February 16, 2024 · 10:21 pm

The Outer Realm of the Paranormal

Merry meet all,

I have really enjoyed listening to the podcast The Outer Realm hosted by Michelle DesRochers and Amelia Pisano. I can’t get enough of their podcast. I am even a convert to Folgers Coffee. I have subscribed to their podcast and I am quickly becoming a loyal listener. The podcast is so amazing that I can’t imagine missing a single podcast. 

I love podcasts, more than movies. They provide entertainment in a way that movies don’t and the podcasts are in line with my passions and interests. I have learned a lot since listening to her podcast. Yes I do love podcasts and I love her podcast – it is all about the paranormal: ETs, alien encounters and some other topics. The other topics have ranged from ghosts, animal empaths and historical horror novels like Dracula.

Michele and Amelia are intelligent, down to earth and compassionate. They are super nice and they are great listeners. Maybe I can be on their podcast some day. I would love that. 

I just bought a fascinating magazine titled Ghosts and Hauntings: Spectres, Spooks & Restless Spirits. The magazine was produced by Fortean Times: The World of Strange phenomena. I have to finish reading the book The Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal. I started reading it and I haven’t finished it but I will soon. I want to actually write the book on ghosts and other things that go bump in the night. I will likely do a lot of research for my book. I have started writing it and I am really excited. I have been blogging on the paranormal for years. I have completed under a thousand posts. It is my passion and life. I am quite excited and it feels good to be writing something new. I also want to read a book I bought titled Deathbed Visions. I bet that will be a good book! The book was written by Sir William Barrett. 

I doubt I will self-publish the book. I can get the book traditionally published, I am sure and I can’t afford to cover the costs involved with self-publishing. Maybe this is the right time for to write this book on ghosts and clairvoyance. I had to have a bit of life experience before I could write it. I mean, the paranormal is my life and I hope that readers can feel my passion as they read. 

I bought a small bird house and a bottle of brown acrylic paint from Dollarama today. I plan to paint the birdhouse brown and make it a bat house. The green and white bookcase that I assembled where I store most of my paranormal books is for horror titles. A bat house will be a welcome spooky addition to the bookcase. It will hang from a hook and the bats are welcome to inhabit the little house and hang out there. 

Tonight I listened to Lights out Podcast. I am now listening to The Paranormal 60 hosted by Dave Schrader. His guest is discussing the phenomena about black eyed kids. I have never seen a black eyed kid myself but many people have claimed to have seen them. They sound eerie and unsettling. I am not exactly holding my breath waiting for an encounter with them. 

There is so much to learn about the paranormal and all the strange beings that come with it. Aliens, angels, demons, skin walkers, black eyed kids, grey aliens, wendigos, Bigfoot, etc. I think it is important to maintain a balanced, open mind about it. There is way more talk about the paranormal than ever before. I know we have the benefit of unprecedented ease of global communication. I think that is part of it but I also think that something like a portal opened. Now, this portal is open and it was done in such a way that some beings crossed over. Whatever has opened the portal or inter dimensional portal doesn’t want to seal it and doesn’t care about the human race. It could have been aliens, a person or something. Now that something has opened like a portal, a portly? lol, I don’t think there is any closing it. It’s like a Pandora’s box. 

We may see weirder things in the future, which scares me. The earth is suffering from the fact that her resources are being so wantonly wasted, climate change, war, crime and poverty. These are just a handful of the issues we are facing today. On a paranormal level, it may become common to see black eyed kids, aliens and other cryptid creatures. The future is so uncertain and fascinating at the same time. We can at least have an open mind and still protect ourselves- or you just may have an experience yourself!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

Links: 

https://www.youtube.com/@TheParanormal60

https://www.youtube.com/@Michelle-TheOuterRealmRadio

 

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November 11, 2023 · 4:14 pm

Witches in the Lime light )O(

Merry meet all,

I love the dark half of the year. Technically, here the weather constantly switches between overcast and rainy to sunny then overcast. I was busy today straining herbs and oils. I conjured a bottle of calendula oil and I combined lavender with mugwort into an amber coloured glass jar. I plan to use the oils for beauty recipes and witchy things. 

Speaking of witches… I want to post about a topic that deals with witches. I am familiar with the history of the Burning times, a dark stain on the history of Witches. We survived. We survived the searing burning pain of the flames and we are here now. We will never go away. We never left…We are essential. We are the bringers of light, healing, magic and the impetus for change. Witches are the movers and the shakers. Our cauldrons glow and pulse with magic and our brooms cause rains or cleanse a home of negative energy. 

I really want to post about something related to witches and witchcraft. But for the sake of all involved, I am not naming names here in this post. I just can’t resist the itch to post this but I do want to protect the privacy of those included here. It is professional that way. Ok so now that that is out of the way, here we go. I participated in an online course recently about parapsychology and demonology. I am so sad that I am not included any longer. I hope to continue the studies elsewhere. 

The director whose name I will not mention here has crossed a fine line. I mean he was able to obtain medical records from a person who I will not name. But then after obtaining the records, he violates the privacy of the person involved to discuss the person on his podcasts and workshops. I think that is a violation of privacy but that is only my opinion. It is certainly not carved in stone. I am sure the person involved never gave the director permission to discuss her predicament and mental health publicly and online. That is such a violation. Is she aware of that violation? I sure hope so. 

Just because one person doesn’t agree with a person’s religious or spiritual path doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with that person. I am relieved to have removed myself from the courses. I am sad that I can’t attend the Symposium next year. When I reflect on it, I have to ask myself why would I ever be interested in attending? If you are Catholic or Christian or a total bible thumper, then you would have the best time ever. I saw a person in the audience wave a cross in the air. I wanted to just whip out my pentacle and swing it at him rather briskly. Or sit next to him and get all witchy in his face. But I didn’t. I am glad I didn’t because then I was just giving them what they wanted and I am better than that. I would be no better than them and that is not the point here. 

The persecution will never end. It has left a dark mark in history and the recent events prove it will never go away. Now I know what parapsychology means. Now that I am aware of the meaning, I will be even more of a Witch. I mean we don’t belong in the ghetto. We are out of the ghetto now and we are never going back there. Those so called pompous self-righteous bigots who want to damn every single life form on earth that isn’t exactly like them and should then be damned for that. That is why I keep this blog. I believe that religion has its place and science does too. I like science not as much as I like art but I am sure science has its place. I don’t want to be that mean to a person and treat them like paranormal phenomena is all in their head. 

We witches have our place. We are out of the ghetto and in the lime light, the spotlight where we belong. We are not going away. We will stand strong against those who oppose us. The world is changing and the really religious people like Christians, Catholics and fundamentalists don’t have much choice in it. We all have to keep pace with the change. The world religions have their place and if it makes people happy, then power to you. Satanism and witchcraft – now don’t get me wrong or get bent out of shape by my words here – I am not lumping the two together at all in any shape and form – I am just saying it’s our turn. The other world religions while perhaps valid- had their turn. Now it’s ours. Let’s make it good and memorable and magical! 

The director blocked me from the courses and the paranormal page on his Facebook group. Fine. Let him. I have other roads to stroll down and other fields to frolic in. And every single road has lots of cauldrons, cats and broomsticks for me. I am free to be me there. I skip and cuddle my cat and ride to the moon. But following my own path means more room for me to be me, instead of being judged and persecuted. I just wish I could talk to that woman whose privacy was violated but if she handed her own medical records over, then maybe she was aware of what would transpire. One can only hope. 

I had hoped the world had become more accepting of those who are different, on the fringe. Well change is never easy. Yet change is the only constant. I hope the change is the one most desired and results in the most positive, most accepting change. Where people of all faiths and paths embrace each other and there is no wars over it. But that is a pipe dream and a naive way to view it, I know. 

I can still hope and dream. Be strong, dream. Be aware, be magical. Shine bright starlight

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

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October 4, 2023 · 12:00 am

Preparations

Merry meet all,

Pumpkin season is here. The Paranormal Symposium is a few days away. I have been busy preparing for it. I can’t wait to attend. 

The beautiful black plush blanket that I ordered from Killstar arrives tomorrow! I can’t wait for that either. The blanket has a spiderweb print and will keep me warm. I want to download lots of photos of my ancestors for Samhain. I also want to make them a beautiful offering of golden flowers this year. I decided on goldenrod and marigolds, and maybe asters. I am sure they will appreciate the offering. 

The host of the Paranormal Symposium, Elliott Van Dusen, wants to interview me about my blog, The Paranormal Quill after the Symposium. I am happy about that. It is nice to get some recognition after all my hard work. I have had a long go of it. I will have to prepare for that too. It should be interesting. 

I bought a cool black glossy nail polish the other day. The brand is Opi and the color is black onyx. I love the color and the quality of the nail polish. I am almost all set for the Paranormal Symposium. I just have to decide what to wear. I washed two gothy witchy dresses and they will be clean in time for the big day. I bought a beautiful black handbag today on Spring Garden near the Public Gardens. It is so lovely. I hand washed that too, as it had a strong scent. I want to use that bag the day of the event. Yes this has taken a lot of thought. I need spending money for lunch and maybe cabfare. It is a day long event so that is why I have been thinking everything through. The black boots I wanted to wear aren’t ready. I have an alternate pair. The clothes are clean. Yup I do believe I just have to enjoy myself and relax. I even asked my Mom to give me a wake up call early in the morning. I take the bus so I have to get up early early in the morning. I have to be ready by 8 am to leave or be there at the time. I know where the event is to be held and I know which bus to take. Now the old me would have scrambled at the last minute. This time I have prepared well in advance. Yeah being this organized sure feels better. 

I even checked out hairstyle options. Maybe not that necessary but you never know. I mean we would seriously prepare for a job interview right? Right. I really want to make an impact with my appearance.

Penny will be groomed later in the month. I needed the money today to buy groceries and to pay for duties and taxes for the quilt to be shipped to me. I hate that but I had to do it. The blanket was 60% off. I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise, considering it is mailed from the States. 

I harvested roses, yarrow, black horehound, asters, lavender, apples and red clover. I dried them save for the apples in my dehydrator. Now they are stored in jars. The herbs look beautiful even when dried. I ground up a large quantity of black pepper and I ground up a loaf of white bread. I stored the black pepper in the same jar and stored the bread crumbs in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I want to use up the food that I have because it is so expensive these days. Yup times are tough right now. I am not buying a new outfit for the big day. I intend to use what I already have. That is what the happiest people do. They make the most and best of what they have. I have nice things and I try to make them last me as long as I can. 

I will have to get to know black horehound. I am not too acquainted with that herb but it is not that accepted amongst herbalists. One more herb to learn! 

I am a student of life! 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch )O(

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September 21, 2023 · 7:19 pm

Mabon Fashion Magick )O(

Merry meet all,

Mabon is almost here. The leaves are turning. Last night I roasted pumpkin seeds and spotted more pumpkins at the grocery store. A chill hovers in the air, and those are the sure signs of fall. My favourite time of year is here and I am under its spell. I froze the rest of the pumpkin and gave half of it to my Mom who stored some in her freezer. I can’t possibly use it all and sharing is good. 

That is the gift of the fall season. The abundance that we receive in the fall.  The month of October is already scheduled for me. The much anticipated Paranormal Symposium occurs on October 7th and my demonology course begins on October 16th. Also October means Samhain. I have my herbal courses and preparing for Samhain. I will be busy! I just successfully completed Unit 4 of the Advanced Herbalism course. I am so relieved to have gotten this far. Unit 4 was very difficult. Now on to other news…

I am obsessing right now on what I want to wear at the Paranormal Symposium. The hotel where the Symposium is taking place is very prestigious. My witch boots are at the repair shop waiting for when I am finally rich enough to pay for them. I mended the maxi black lace skirt. I want to look amazing. I mean the hotel was swanky and classy. I felt like a hoodlum when I came in asking if that was the correct location for the hotel. It was. OK I need to get dressed!

I spent hours studying witchy outfits on Google and Pinterest. I can waste hours doing that. I have no desire to buy something new to wear. Instead I took my inspiration from Mori Goth and such. The outfits look so complicated, inspired from nature and so effortless. Right. I have cool black clothes from Killstar. I am sure I can put an outfit together for the big day! I shall dive deep into my closet! 

I want to wear an outfit inspired by what I saw on Pinterest. I love Pinterest, it’s one of my guilty pleasures. I have a few options: I mean, black goes with everything. 

#1 My black blouse with drapes sleeves paired with the black lace maxi skirt, a black corset I wore with a black cardigan and wear the blouse and black cardigan under the bodice. I want to show the long lovely drapes sleeves but have the cardigan sleeves pushed up to help with the reveal of the sleeves. I sewed the bodice myself so I will feel comfortable in it. I have a short sleeve black tie front top I can wear with the dress. I think I am liking option #2 more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 I wear the black lace dress over the black lace maxi skirt and a cardigan. I want to look alluring, haunting, bewitching. I would still wear the bodice and belt with it. I want to look like I can handle prestigious while being true to myself. I have chosen a few accessories for these outfit options: a witch hat (of course), the black lace up boots, my spider choker, pentacle belt, a shawl, the skull ring and spider tattoo. Oh yeah I can’t wait. I want to paint my nails both silver and black. I have waited months for this so I want to make it all worth the wait. I can get some perfume from the drugstore and I want makeup that doesn’t wear off fast. The black lace dress has pentagrams on it. I love it, so meant for me. I may even add the black lace gloves. Or it may be too much, I will know soon. Or I could wear the gloves there then remove them when I arrive. I have a lovely silver crescent moon necklace to wear too.

#3 I wear the black lace maxi skirt and the black blouse with the lovely drapey sleeves and the short sleeve tie front top. I think I like this option too. I can bring in all the above elements. I think that lace is so bewitching, and best in black. I would still include all the accessories. 

Then I will put my intention into the outfit and empower it with my energy. I have to feel comfortable but alluring at the same time. I have never attended a symposium before but I am sure I will have fun. The photo above depicts my backyard. It conveys the image, like the mood I am in. I have seen videos of women who traded in their signature goth dreads, tattoos and goth clothing look and sacrificed their individuality to look all princess. I know in my heart that is a decision I could never make. I can’t even feel comfortable in a business suit. I need my bohemian witchy look or nothing. It is how I feel my best. October is not a warm month but I will be indoors most of the day. I have to consider that factor too.

I have no issue with telling someone flat out what I think of them. I am sure it won’t come to that. But I have fought long and hard for Witches to be accepted. We are not the monsters depicted in Hollywood movies or deserving to be burned at the stake. We are the healers, the midwives, the lovers, the tarot readers, the herbalists, and the moon worshipping badasses. 

I’ll polish my boots, mend the fishnet tights, and I sprayed a preserving oil on the black purse I am bringing.  It only costs cents to repair something yet it can take you so far. Clear nail polish repairs tights and it is good to have a sewing needle and thread at hand. I may even make a new black slip to accompany the shirts and dresses. Yes I plan to forgo the backpack for a purse. This hotel is ritzy so I want to look as pulled together as I possibly can. This is going to be amazing! I can’t wait. 

Here is a blog link with more helpful tips for you and your costume! https://livinglesh.com/stylish-witch-halloween-costume/

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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September 13, 2023 · 4:21 pm

Demons and Parapsychology

Merry meet all,

I’m so excited, because I am enrolled in the Demonology course at the CAPRI’s Parapsychological Education Center. “This course delves into the intriguing field of Demonology and Religious Parapsychology, offering a comprehensive understanding of demonic entities, exorcism practices and the relationship between religion and the paranormal.” Wow. Plenty to love about this course. I received a 10% discount because I bought a ticket to attend the Paranormal Symposium. With a course syllabus like that, it is easy to see why I would be interested … and a little scared. 

Demons? The fact that this course is being offered implies a little that they exist. I don’t want to think that they exist because demons are naturally evil. And I don’t believe that they exist. No one can say for sure. What I do know is that I will know more once I complete this course than I do now. I can’t wait but I have to wait till mid-October. I want to take the Parapsychology course as well. The Parapsychology course costs a little more but it is still affordable. I want to do both, hm, on top of my herbal studies and my writing, at least I won’t be suffering from boredom, far from it. 

I have to write a case study about one of the following paranormal cases: The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel, The Smurl haunting, the Enfield Poltergeist, or the Ammons Haunting. I would love to say these are all true cases but I can’t. I would love to say they may all have truth to them. It is hard for me to say. They all sound intriguing so I think I will have a hard time picking one out of those choices. I believe in the case of Anneliese Michel though. I read about that. That poor girl, she suffered from something. I am on the fence about the Ammons Haunting. I don’t believe the kid walked up the hospital wall because in the video, his mother or a relative is helping him up the wall. Now if he did it on his own and he looked way more creepy while he did it. I know there was lead and asbestos in the house which can lead to health complications and cause hallucinations. I am on the fence about the Enfield haunting and the Smurl haunting. It is so hard for me to say which is true and which is not. I have never been to those locations. 

On the other hand, I have had more than my own share of legitimate paranormal encounters/ experiences. I try not to judge too harshly. I keep an open mind. So I really do look forward to taking these courses. It helps a lot that my herb course is for 2 years. I can achieve a lot of other stuff in the interim. 

I am so happy that I found the Paranormal Phenomena Research & Investigation group. I feel better since I have been alone so long being a medium. It has come with challenges. I am up for meeting those challenges. I just don’t feel so alone now. It is a huge relief and they share my passions. It is a win-win! 

October is shaping up already to be a lot of fun! And right now, it is only mid-September. I would love to hear about your own paranormal or Samhain plans! Let me know in the comments below!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

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September 2, 2023 · 7:24 pm

Hotel Paranormal

Merry meet all,

September is the precursor to October  31st. The ‘ber’ months have arrived. I’m excited, are you? I bet you are. I have a new scary story book for September to read. It’s titled Communion by Whitley Strieber. It’s nonfiction but the most famous phrase is, truth is stranger than fiction. I look forward to reading it. I just know it will be one strange read. I mean, not many people believe that aliens exist. There is a lot of debate currently that they are not from outer space but are actually inter-dimensional. That makes sense too. 

I bought a new magazine about Witches, the latest issue of Writers Digest and two cool items from Winners: a large white pumpkin candy bowl dish and a  black plate. There is an image of a skeleton hand holding a rose near a scarab beetle. I may buy the rest of the black plates. They are perfect for an ancestral supper for Samhain. It would be nice to have a set. 

The Paranormal Symposium is next month! I can’t believe how fast time flies. I can’t wait for this big event. The paranormal is defined as ‘impossible to explain by known natural forces or by science.  

Yes, I believe that is the perfect definition. The paranormal goes way out of ‘the box’ of known forces or science. The paranormal jeers and mocks science. Well I am happy to share the latest news in the paranormal world!

Dan Aykroyd is back for Season 2 of ‘Hotel Paranormal’ — and things are just as creepy

Chris Jancelewicz

 

Ghost-story show Hotel Paranormal, which tells the tales of supposedly haunted buildings and the unfortunate souls who experienced the paranormal events, is back for Season 2 with Canadian host Dan Aykroyd.

Aykroyd, a firm believer in the supernatural, serves as host and narrator of the show’s episodes. Season 2 ramps up the scares with more bone-chilling real-life stories of otherworldly run-ins told from stays at grand hotels, highway motels and short-term rentals around the world.

In a survey commissioned by specialty channel T+E, results showed, on average, that roughly half of Canadians believe in ghosts: across the country, Albertans are the most likely to believe in the supernatural. Nearly six in 10 (57 per cent) said they believe in ghosts, placing them well ahead of BC (39 per cent) and Ontario (42 per cent).

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The Prairies, Quebec and Atlantic Canada toe the line at 49 per cent, 48 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively. Overall, just one in three Canadians are firm ghost skeptics, while 20 per cent of Canucks are unsure what to believe.

“What makes Hotel Paranormal so unnerving and entertaining is that these are all documented real-life encounters — and the new season has even more scary stories to share than the first,” said Aykroyd.

“These eyewitnesses are very believable; you can tell they really went through something that still haunts them to this day.”

Global News sat down with Aykroyd for a brief chat, and the Ghostbusters star (and now producer) told us his one of his favourite chilling tales.

'Hotel Paranormal'
A “faceless woman” appears in an episode of ‘Paranormal Hotel.’. Blue Ant Media/T+E none

Global News: Are you excited to be back for a second season of ‘Hotel Paranormal’?
Dan Aykroyd: I love doing this stuff. I love narrating these stories.

I haven’t had too many experiences with the supernatural. I’ve had a few choice things happen that have confirmed to me that there’s a little more than our four dimensions and this spark of life. The spark of life can continue, I’m convinced. For myself, I’m a believer.

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First of all, I like doing voice work, but especially this show. I get to push it a little and express fearful emotion that a lot of these victims or subjects have gone through.

Also, my family has an interest in spiritualism going back to my great-grandfather; he was a member in the Lily Dale, New York community of mediums, down there near Chautauqua. That was passed by him to his son, and then to my father, who was a Bell telephone road engineer. I was reading up about this stuff as a kid, and really wrote [the original] Ghostbusters from that. I’ve always [been] interested in the supernatural, the paranormal — things beyond our four dimensions, our planes of existence. Mainly due to the fact that it’s very entertaining stuff.

Humans love thrills. Humans love things of power that are beyond their understanding, that they can’t control. Certainly ghostly apparitions and encounters, of which there are thousands happening every day, fall into that category.

Are there any standout stories from this season?
The couple in Texas that deliberately bought a hotel with a history of paranormal activity… they bought it specifically for its history and hoped to make it a tourist attraction. That’s an interesting one, and you know what? A lot of these hotels do that, marketing them based on the history. There are a couple of stories about people who willingly bought places and then had experiences themselves, which both confirmed the stories and frightened them… but in the end most of them stuck with it.

Then there’s the Lemp mansion, a family of brewers, a dark history. Suicide, homicides… people from all over the country and ghost hunting groups go to the Lemp mansion and have consistent experiences. We have a great episode involving the Lemp mansion where a woman voluntarily goes there to stay and ends up getting more than she bargained for.

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Chris Jancelewicz in 'Hotel Paranormal'
This article’s author, Global News’ Chris Jancelewicz, appears in a ‘Hotel Paranormal’ episode as the ghost of William Lemp, Sr. Blue Ant Media/T+E none

And then there are the stories of spirits that follow people home. That leads me to one of the best scary stories I’ve ever heard in my life, and I’ve heard a fair share:

There was a guy out west, a member of a motorcycle club who told me this story. He said he was riding his bike in the desert and his bike ran out of gas. He pulled over at this old abandoned gas station, the pumps were rusty, no one was there. Out of desperation, he picked up the hose and looked at it, then opened his gas tank and pressed the lever. There was enough gas to partially fill the tank, and got on the bike and it started to move. On each shoulder he felt a pressure, as if a hand was pressing down. Then he felt the weight of the bike depress, as if a passenger was mounting the bike.

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Click to play video: 'New online series explores Toronto’s Royal Alex Theatre ghost stories'

New online series explores Toronto’s Royal Alex Theatre ghost stories

He screams out of there, hoping to throw the thing off. It stayed with him for the entire trip home. He pulls in, he drops the bike on his front yard, runs inside, then locks the door. This was a real tough guy, too. He’s up to his eyeballs in blankets on his bed, shaking uncontrollably. About two hours later, a highway patrolman knocks on his door, says “Sir, you were involved in a traffic accident, you’re under arrest. You hit a bicyclist and ran.”

He says that he’s been in bed for the last two hours, that what he’s being accused of is not possible. He looks out and sees that his bike is gone from his front yard, it’s a mile down the road in the ditch. Somehow, during the night, that motorcycle got from his house, hit a bicyclist and was left in that ditch. My friend swears he was in bed the entire time. The cops didn’t believe him and he was charged.

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Fun fact, I actually played the ghost of William Lemp, Sr. in the Lemp episode!
Oh neat! That’s fun. T+E is quite open about the fact that we do reenactments and re-documentation, but the stories are based on real places and real subjects’ experiences. They do suffer from PTSD in many cases, but we try to deal with it compassionately.

 

In the Lemp episode, there are actually clips of real footage and actual photos taken by the woman who went to the mansion.
T+E has a lot of footage in its episodes on Hotel Paranormal. It’s very effective, it adds another layer to the story.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you about this upcoming film, no one’s really heard of it … I think it’s about ghosts? I think it’s called ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’
[Laughs] We have Jason [Reitman]’s seamless iteration that’ll link back to the first movie, plot-wise, structure-wise, and it really works. We have a young cast and they’re outstanding players and comedians. It passes it off to a new generation of cadets, which I’m excited to see. Excellent, scary, funny, brilliant vision.

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I pray, along with Sony and everyone else involved, that we’ll all be watching it side by side, munching popcorn, having drinks and enjoying it in congregate society. Being scared together, being awed by the visuals together.

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This interview was edited and condensed.

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Season 2 of ‘Hotel Paranormal’ premieres July 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on T+E, and was produced by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company.

Credit goes to: https://globalnews.ca/news/7981489/dan-aykroyd-hotel-paranormal-season-2-interview/

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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August 18, 2023 · 12:20 pm

August’s prequel to October

Merry meet all,

The rain’s pouring hard here. Last night, a few raccoons were cacophonously serenading the backyard. I have no idea what was going on but they caused a real ruckus. Nothing happened to my garden. I guess it is all good. The summer season has flown by. October is around the corner. I want my garden to grow faster and better. I know Mother Nature takes her time. 

Yesterday A.F Stewart interviewed me for her show The Book Chat. I was thrilled to be interviewed. I shall post the link when it becomes available. I spoke about writing short fiction and poetry, and my horror novella. It felt good to be interviewed. A.F Stewart was so sweet. 

The first Paranormal Symposium occurs in October, 2023. I bought my ticket months ago. I just can’t wait. I have posted the latest trailer for the symposium on my timeline. I just can’t wait and I am so excited. Here is the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halifax-paranormal-symposium-2023-tickets-541022772677.  I may need to try on 60 different outfits for this and I have to figure out where the event is located before the event. I love the paranormal and well, I mean, look at this blog. Of course I love the paranormal. I will dive deeper into the paranormal since the dark half of the year is not that far away. Nothing is keeping me from attending the Paranormal Symposium.

I guess I love the paranormal so much. I feel a strong connection to it. I have a connection to the dead. I know I tackle some strong topics on this blog, but isn’t that what a blog is for? I have always had the ability to see the dead. Well I shouldn’t say always, I had to move to Nova Scotia to realize I had this ability but once I did, it just went from there. I was fortunate enough to find a supportive community of like minded individuals. I was trained in mediumship and I have certificates. I don’t always see or sense something but when I do, I am usually right. I have no idea why  I had to move to another province to find out I am mediumistic. It could be the energies of the city here, the fact that it is uber haunted, full of ghosts, history, tragedy, blood. That woke up a latent talent, I guess. Maybe the spirits chose me. Who knows? I will never have the reason and I have decided to accept it. Or, as Harry Potter says, just go with it. You don’t always get the answers you were after. 

I believe it is vital to be a part of a community of like minded individuals when you delve into occultism, mediumship, etc. They can protect you, support you and teach you. I probably sound like Gandalf right now but he had a good point. Skeptics can be cruel or nice. But it is good to have a group of people to reach out to if you get a hard time. One hard lesson I have learned is to offer aid only to those who ask for it. Also, it is important to have an open mind. Not everyone who doesn’t believe in ghosts or aliens is trying to be mean. They could just be sharing their perspective. They are entitled to their opinions, no matter what it may be. I know, I go home and grumble about the skeptics too. They can’t help themselves. If you need to, stand up for yourself. 

Training in mediumship allows you to have more control over your talents. That is a good thing. I would never turn down the opportunity for training. Your talents grow better with practice. It is like exercising a muscle. To keep it strong, you have to try. So. you can imagine my enthusiasm when I first learned about the Paranormal Symposium. That never happens here. Of course I bought my ticket early. I bet they will be sold out for tickets and that the room where it takes place will barely have standing room. I plan to arrive early to get my spot- front row!

August is almost over. August is the prequel to October and the dark half of the year. I love summer. I love being in my garden. My garden takes away my stress. Fall though is when I feel I can be myself more. The leaves trickle to the cold earth and the days grow darker. I look forward to the cold season and all the dark gifts it brings: the harvest, the colourful leaves, ghosts, the scent of autumn in the air. Pumpkins, Samhain, cider and apples!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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