Day: October 30, 2017

by Diana Ruiz

The Skinwalker originated from Native American myths, legends, and folklore. Skinwalkers are witches who have the ability to transform, possess, or disguise themselves as animals in order to harm people.

They are Native American witches who use Taboo arts to transform themselves into any animal. They are primarily Native-American males but there are also females. Legend says they can shapeshift by draping the hide of a certain animal (mostly coyote/dog/bear/owl) over him/herself, and thus takes form and traits of that animal. In addition, the witch gains that animal’s strength, speed, and endurance. They are indistinguishable from normal humans or animals in either of these forms, though they sometimes appear as a half-human or mutant forms of their chosen animal.

By Brianny Martinez

The legend of the Jersey Devil dates back to the colonial period of the 1700s. One version of the legend begins in the newly established colony of New Jersey in 1735 with a woman named Deborah Leeds. She was married to a drunk, and struggling to raise 12 children on her own, the last thing she needed in her life was another child. Unfortunately, she discovered she was pregnant with a 13th child. As the legend goes, she placed a curse upon her child by asserting that her child would be the devil. Surprisingly, she gave birth to a monster that is described as a hideous creature with hooved feet, red eyes, clawed hands, and a tail. As soon as the monster was birthed, it killed everyone present, even its mother. The monster eventually escaped and fled to a place called Pine Barrens.

Since the mass hysteria surrounding the alleged incident in the 1700s, there have been thousands of reports claiming to have spotted the Jersey Devil in Pine Barrens. Evidence of the Jersey Devil’s existence ranges from strange footprints, to slaughtered livestock, to demonic presences, and even inhuman screams.

by Sofia Martinez

The Mothman is a white-winged, human sized creature, with red eyes, two inches in diameter and six inches apart. Associated with disaster, the Mothman was first reported on November 12, 1966 by five gravediggers. The creature was then seen by a couple in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and has continually been spotted in this area over the years. On December 17, 1967 the Mothman was accused of causing the Silver Bridge collapse, which killed 46 people. The Mothman has also been sighted in other places around the world such as: Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Some hypothesize that the Mothman comes from a portal, located in Point Pleasant, that leads to an alternate reality. Whether the Mothman is here to cause harm or warn us of it, is something that remains a mystery.

by Samantha Perez

Maybe you’ve heard this term before, may not, but what is a Cryptid? These are poorly documented creatures and monsters originating from “sightings, myths, legends, and extinct animals”. Although many believe Cryptids must be supernatural or unearthly beings, the term “Cryptid” is a general term that covers 10 specified groups: “story” folklore, the paranormal, undiscovered species, extinct animals, weirdly-sized animals, hoaxes, odd pictures, personal accounts, taxidermy, and textual evidence. People who research and study this field are called “cryptozoologists”. Their job is to push evidence from photos and personal accounts into the scientific world, in order to prove their existence. George M. Eberhart, a certified cryptozoologist, popular in the Cryptid community, believes that “the world is full of wonder and surprises, no one knows what this earth can truly do.” He encourages people to believe in Cryptids whether the belief ranges from aliens, to angels, to demons, or shapeshifters. They’re all around us, you just need to keep an open eye.