A Bunch of Hocus Pocus...

After yet another drunken tirade from the annoying woman downstairs stressing me out to no end, I was tempted to plot something sinister tonight. I know... I'm a terrible person for disliking someone and not finding any admirable qualities. But instead of doing something and tempting the Fates, I decided on reciting a little banishing chant I know from my college years delving into Wicca.

And the entire time, I actually seemed cheerful about the politeness in my voice.

I also did a little digging and found a few little spells (and wow, banishing oil is very easy to make!) which I probably won't even touch. I realized it's simply not worth the energy.

My sidekick friend Evie mentioned weeks ago doing a little prosperity magick to attempt to bring money her way. I've never really been the sort to take classes for things of that nature, so I once again did a little digging.

Lo and behold! I found some very insightful tidbits of information. And once again, I felt even better. The basic principles of bringing wealth and money to yourself spiritually aren't very difficult. They simply require most of us to throw out our notions of money and it's importance.

For one, if you desire money, don't react with disdain for those who have it. Admire them. Admit you wish to be like them. Then, realize that the more you concentrate on the lack of money in your own pocket, the more you push it away. Negativity does not attract! And finally, understand that everything in the world recycles. What you give you will receive... just try to have a little patience with it.

I know. All this mentioning of spells may sound a bit nutty to some of you. If you wish to believe that such notions simply involve the subconscious mind and that we all bring about our own changes without realizing it, do so. Yet I have had a few odd "accidents" involving spells which proved them to possibly work.

Then again, isn't anything that doesn't cause any damage worth a try?

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You...

Well, it has been quite a few weeks since Buck and I discussed the idea of a networking site for GLBT paranormal investigators. I was feeling a little restless and inspired last night, so I started doing a little tinkering...

It's in the works, but it will take me a little while to get it all set up. I decided I might as well start the ball rolling, since it's the best way to see if there really is any widespread interest. For now, it's a rudimentary, incomplete social networking free site that I will keep private until it looks presentable. I have to start working on images and layout. I was too tired and it was getting too late to do much.

Hopefully within a few weeks, I'll be mentioning it on here more in-depth. Who knows where it could all lead...

Beware of the Gnomes Near Nome...

Ah, Alaska. The land of caribou, soon-to-be-extinct glaciers, the Aurora Borealis, Eskimos, and perhaps something a little more sinister.

And I do mean 'little'...

At least that's what an email, which has been circulating as a warning, seems to be telling the locals. The Alaskan Bush isn't so safe. In the tundra lurks the ircenrraq, lying in wait to disorient, discomfort, and trap unsuspecting humans.

Ircenrraat, from Central Alaskan Yup'ik tradition, are little, mischievous creatures who live in the tundra. While their meddlesome ways often are notorious among the native peoples, every so often the myth attracts a little outside attention.

On May 7th, a man from Marshall stumbled across a young boy at Pilcher Mountain, all alone, in an area inhabited by large tundra brown bears. He was confused and has been crying. He had no recollection of where he was or how he had gotten there. He did, however, recall being lead away by "little beings" to the site where he encountered a young girl who had been kidnapped in a similar manner some 40 years prior. The ircenrraat decided to release him... at which point he was discovered by the man.

Similar stories have been heard over the years, and Pilcher Mountain itself is alleged to be a hotbed of ircenrraat activity. Thanks to the worldwide web, the man's warning email was forwarded on and his tale reached an Anchorage reporter.

Was the youth telling the truth? Do small creatures resembling elves or gnomes conceal themselves in the frozen Arctic?

Or has the permafrost and lack of daylight warped people's imaginations?

Supernatural Spotlight: Daniel Hecht

Every so often, it's nice to escape reality and lose yourself in a good book. And if you're looking for something interesting to read with a paranormal slant, you might want to look for Daniel Hecht in your local bookstore.

It has been several years since I received that unexpected email from the author, notifying me about a new series he was writing. Although he is a fiction writer, he carefully researched paranormal investigation techniques and practices and had assistance from several experts to be as realistic as possible. I was asked for an opinion on his work, and was quite impressed.

Hecht wasn't always a writer. The New York native actually began as a musician. It wasn't until 1988 that the writers bug caught him and changed his paths. Though he now writes full-time, his interests are varied. He is also the executive director of the Vermont Environmental Consortium, working to preserve the natural landscape of the state he currently calls home.

His paranormal book series centers around Cree Black, a female 'ghost hunter', empath, shaman, and healer. She is both ordinary and extraordinary. As she and her associates travel around the country, they find themselves dealing with paranormal events and trying to solve the mysteries surrounding them.

The series will eventually expand to fifty novels, but there are only three published at this point: City of Masks, Land of Echoes, and Bones of the Barbary Coast. From New Orleans to San Francisco, Hecht brings the past to life... and tantalizes us all with the world of the dead.

If you love a good thriller, I highly recommend them all.

Somewhere, Beneath the Sea...

Among the many mythical creatures keeping cryptozoologists busy unraveling mysteries are mermaids. Museums sometimes show antique, mummified remains (like the Feejee Mermaid) which have been known to be hoaxes. Most scientists and historians agree that sightings from the past have been nothing more than manatees mistaken for humanoids.

But that doesn't mean we can't dream...

And yes, there are even believed to be mermen. They may not be as common or as popular in legend, but half-man, half-fish creatures have been occasionally reported.

But just in case you aren't curious to track down legendary creatures on your own, you can always get your own, more compact, version.

The delightful people at December Diamonds have an entire line of mermen ornaments, perfect for making any Christmas a little gayer. Most of the collection is available at Diamonds of the Sea, Q Gifts Online, and many other retailers.

But I'm sure they would make for interesting conversation pieces at any other time of the year...