Name(s): Alp, mara, mahr, mahrt Origin: Germany Appearance: It is a shapeshifter and often is invisible Lore: The alp, or mara is the origin of the “mare” in nightmare. The alp is the male, and the mara is female. The creature will sit on it’s victims while they sleep, crushing…
Name(s): Matagot, mandagot, chat d’argent, money cat Origin: Southern France Appearance: A black cat. Lore: The matagot or money cat is a creature said to be in service of a sorcerer or witch, like a familiar. It brings health and wealth to the master so long as it is cared…
Name(s): White Worm, lindworm, lindwyrm Origin: County Durham in North East England Appearance: An eel like humongous worm with the head of a salamander and nine holes along the sides of its head. Lore: The Lambton worm was made famous (or infamous) by Bram Stokers’ Story “Lair of the White…
Name(s): Bennu, Benu Origin: Egypt Appearance: A large grey Heron with two crest feathers, or classically, the Benu bird is described as being as large as an eagle, with red and gold (solar or flame-colored) plumage. Lore: According to some stories, the Bennu is a self-created creature that existed before…
Name(s): Rainbow Serpent, Rainbow Snake, and many others by various Aboriginal cultures. Origin: Australia Appearance: A rainbow hued snake, large enough to span the sky. Lore: Most lore about this creature seems to primarily point to it being a guardian of water (the essence of life). Sometimes harmful to humans,…
Name(s): Bixie, Pixiu, Tiān lù, Mengshou Origin: China Appearance: It has the body of a lion, the head of a dragon, and feathered wings. The female has two antlers, and the male has only one. Lore: The Tiān lù is the male and brings wealth, whereas the Bixie is the…
Name(s): Dragon, Wyvern, Hydra, many more Origin: Everywhere Appearance: Most often reptilian or serpentine, but feathered variations also exist in some cultures. Lore: Dragons of one type or another have existed in virtually every culture. There are stories and legends about them from North America to the Far East and…
So first you have to understand what makes a hero. A hero gives of themselves for others. You know all those firefighters from 9/11 that everyone calls heroes? They gave their very lives for others. I’m not saying that you should die to be considered a hero, far from it.…
Alex punched the keypad outside his door, entering his bunker after a very productive salvage run. He pushed open the door, thinking back to the day he moved into this place. It was so long ago it seemed like a dream. He was only a young teen back then, wandering…
I stand before the door a light seeps through illuminating is it the light I have looked upon from afar or another foxfire illusion to tempt me to open the door I reach it flings open at my touch bathing me in a torrent I hardly recognize what I…
These muffins are low calorie (126 each), oil free, wheat free (no kidding), dairy free, vitamin packed, loaded with metabolism boosting stuff … AND they actually taste good. Here’s the story. Briana has a habit of making requests for me to cook things that I’ve never done before. Usually it’s…
When you go trick or treating, you knock on neighborhood doors and hope for a good piece of tasty candy. Well, not many do it anymore, but that’s a different topic for another time, and I’m getting away from the point. Finding friends works the same way. You start talking…
You learned (I hope) most of this stuff when you were a child, so why did you abandon the knowledge? Share with people, whenever you can. You have more of something than you actually need, so why not share it? You have something in copious supply, so why keep it…
They say that if you want to change the world, you should look in the mirror. I cannot emphasize how true that is, but what does it actually mean? For many years I have been trying to have a better life and be a better person. Eventually I wondered what…