An exploration of the many forms of the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt and its influence in pagan and early Christian Europe
- Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons
- Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine
- Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions for soul travel and prophecies of impending death
Once upon a time a phenomenon existed in medieval Europe that continuously fueled local lore: during the long winter nights a strange and unknown troop could be heard passing outside over the land or through the air. Anyone caught by surprise in the open fields or depths of the woods would see a bizarre procession of demons, giants, hounds, ladies of the night, soldiers, and knights, some covered in blood and others carrying their heads beneath their arms. This was the Wild or Infernal Hunt, the host of the damned, the phantom army of the night--a theme that still inspires poets, writers, and painters to this day. Millennia older than Christianity, this pagan belief was employed by the church to spread their doctrine, with the shapeshifters' and giants of the pagan nightly processions becoming sinners led by demons seeking out unwary souls to add to their retinues. Myth or legend, it represents a belief that has deep roots in Europe, particularly Celtic and Scandinavian countries.
The first scholar to fully examine this myth in each of its myriad forms, Claude Lecouteux strips away the Christian gloss and shows how the Wild Hunt was an integral part of the pagan worldview and the structure of their societies. Additionally, he looks at how secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions through cult rituals culminating in masquerades and carnival-like cavalcades often associated with astral doubles, visions of the afterlife, belief in multiple souls, and prophecies of impending death. He reveals how the nearly infinite variations of this myth are a still living, evolving tradition that offers us a window into the world in which our ancestors lived.

Over 250 of the most bloodcurdling and bone-chillingly fascinating and true monster stories. Not recommended for reading just before bedtime! Monsters have been spotted everywhere, not just slithering under a child's bed or lurking in the closet. Paranormal researcher extraordinaire Brad Steiger, an author of thousands of books and articles on the mysterious and unknown, collects some of the scariest, most unbelievable but true monster stories in his latest collection, Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters and Beasts from the Darkside. From slightly demented humans to spine-tingling paranormal encounters, each outlandish occurrence is detailed with thorough research and recounted with a storyteller's crafted voice. This bold telling of verified monster sightings taken from historical records and first-person accounts features: The British scientists' discovery of a tuft of hair in the Himalayan mountains containing DNA that cannot be matched with any known animal-the most convincing proof yet that Yetis are real; The "Mothman" sighted in West Virginia that some believe to be a harbinger of death; The monstrous creature, complete with horns and tail, that still lurks in the shadows of the Big Easy; The expectant mother examined by the strange praying-mantis entities aboard a UFO; and The couple walking near a lake in British Columbia, Canada, astonished to see a reptilian humanoid emerging from the lake's depths; UFO abductors seeking to create human-alien hybrids; Lake monsters, lizardmen, and creepy mermaids troll the waters for prey; Dinosaurs terrorize the jungles; Yeti and Bigfoot leave clues that they live in the mountains; Big cats, black dogs, and giant snakes prowl neighborhoods; And many, many more hair-raising stories! Highlighting news articles, historical accounts, and first-person interviews, this chronicle of human interactions with monsters will convince even the most hardened skeptic of the existence of the bogeyman, Bigfoot, shadow people, devils, mutant animals, swamp creatures, and all kinds of heinous beasts. Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters and Beasts from the Darkside will leave you constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering about the things that go bump and howl and screech in the night.

The hills and hollows -- and cities -- of the Bluegrass State offer excellent opportunities for the ghost hunter. Guide Patti Starr leads readers on a tour of 30 legendary haunted spaces in Kentucky. She snoops around creepy farmhouses and grim garrets, eerie rooms and dark corners, exposing the ghosts and recording first-hand accounts of terrifying encounters. Clear maps and photographs help readers locate each dire destination, while more sensitive souls can enjoy experiencing these visits from the other side from the safety of their armchair.

Witnesses at these haunted sites swear that the spirits of those who lived in Arizona's wild past are still among us. From ruthless outlaws to prests and Victorian ladies, these stories will amaze you! By Ellen Robson, co-author of "Haunted Highway: The Spirits of Route 66.

Uri Geller would love to write a book revealing himself as a trickster. It would be an instant bestseller: people around the world would be thrilled to know that he really did fool the CIA and Mossad, and scientists at the Stanford Research Institute and the University of London. But he can't do it, because he knows that his psychic powers are real - just as yours are, too! This is a guide to releasing your PSI-FORCE and using it for whatever purpose you want. Your psi-force will help you excel at sport, outsmart your boss, win at games, make friends, attract a lover, overcome illness and depression, come to terms with disaster, be a financial success, and, above all, be happy and content. But you must learn to channel your psychic powers your way. Uri will teach you how to get the best out of your particular talent using the dynamic force that is in you already, just waiting to be awakened. The book is packed full of tests to assess your own psychic potential and progress, as well as step-by-step guidance to connecting with and using psi-force, from reading the intentions and thoughts of others to out-psyching your boss and bank manager to drawing on psi-force to manifest your desired outcomes.

Strange things happen in the woods-vanishing figures along backcountry paths, eerie noises half-heard near urban pathways, pungent and undefined smells blanketing forest trails. Science falls short of explaining these phenomena... Haunted Hikes tells the stories behind 100 spooky and sinister areas across the country-from the Ghost House Trail in Big Ridge State Park, Tennessee, where photographs of the cemetery yield silhouettes of families laid to rest there, to the Transept Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, where a wailing woman in a white dress with blue flowers is often seen pacing the rim. This book pinpoints the trails and reveals their unnerving histories. Within these pages are also basic hike specifications like distance and difficulty, as well as the trailhead GPS where applicable. The book won't take you on a mile-by-mile journey-you're on your own for that one, if you dare...

Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the heart of America Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author James A. Willis shines a light in the dark corners of Ohio and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From ghostly soldiers that still haunt Fort Meigs to the eerie Franklin Castle, there's no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. There's even a carved tombstone of an infant at Cedar Hill cemetery, whose ghostly eyes keep watch over those wander too close. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.

* Shares Tom's profound teachings on life, death, and unconditional love gained through his near-death experiences and direct encounter with the Light * Includes more than 160 true and remarkable stories about Tom completing his mission to spread God's Unconditional Love * Details Tom's death experiences and how in 2007, when he felt he had fulfilled his mission from God, he consciously left life on Earth In the early evening of May 23, 1978, while making repairs under his pick-up truck full of firewood, the heavy truck crashed down on Tom Sawyer, crushing his chest flat. A 33-year-old Olympic-trained bike racer and mechanic, Tom was clinically dead. Fifteen minutes later, he came back to life, recounting his strange experience of going through a tunnel, having his life review, and meeting the Light. Spiritually energized by this experience and endowed with supernatural abilities, Tom demonstrated repeatedly that the reality we believe in is an illusion, that walls are not necessarily barriers, severe health challenges can be healed in a moment, and it is possible to walk on water. During his death experience, Tom was charged by God with a three-part mission: teach that death does not exist, prevent nuclear war, and promote the Order of Melchizedek, in which he became a highly respected teacher. Through more than 160 remarkable stories, Rev. Daniel Chesbro and Rev. James B. Erickson share Tom's profound and enlightening insights on life, death, and Unconditional Love. The most complete and in-depth account of the life and teachings of Tom Sawyer, this book reveals Tom as a modern-day messenger of God who returned to life a powerful conduit of Unconditional Love, compelled to create positive change for humanity.

This out-of-this-world kit for sci-fi lovers is loaded with special effects! It includes: -3-inch diameter spaceship, equipped with a hinged cockpit dome from which a curious alien peers, and featuring multiple light and sound effects: - By opening the cockpit dome and pressing the alien's head, sound of spaceship engine plays, followed by eerie pre-abduction music. Six blue lights around the spaceship flash in rotation. Additionally, two bright LED lights beneath the ship glow, casting a beam of light in search of a specimen to abduct. - When the spaceship is hovered in close proximity to the cow, a magnetically powered "abduction" occurs which simultaneously prompts new light and sound effects. Lights beneath the ship flash and music changes to a pulsating sound with intermittent cow mooing. - When cow is abducted and alien head is pressed again, sound of the spaceship flying away plays, concluding your invasion and shutting off the spaceship. - Miniature cow and faux grass mound - Transparent display stand to hover spaceship over cow when not invading the countryside - 32-page book, The Cow Abduction Chronicles, featuring full-color illustrations

Harrogate's reputation as a quaint English spa town has been established since the early 1800s. However, one might be surprised to discover that the town and villages around it hide many terrifying tales. It took paranormalist Paul Forster over a year to collate this collection of real-life encounters with spirits, poltergeists and ghosts. Nothing could prepare him for what he uncovered as he explored the darker, mysterious side of this beautiful tourist destination. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, Haunted Harrogate's chilling compendium of ghost stories includes accounts never before seen in print. From poltergeists in Harrogate's oldest drinking establishment to apparitions of monks in Knaresborough, this assortment of terrifying tales is bound to show this picturesque part of North Yorkshire in a new light. "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". Sir Arthur Conan Doyle "Now it is the time of night, That the graves, all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way paths to glide." William Shakespeare, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' "The city man is not in sympathy with ghosts. Not so the mountaineer, peasant and sailor. Strange shapes which give signs are seen in clouds. Dim forms move over forest floors. They tread lightly along the brink of precipice and marsh, beckon the traveller into perils or give him warning. Dark and airy figures walk moors and plains or lonely shores. They go again through some happening on land; they re-enact a fateful drama of the seas. The man of the city unaccustomed to such ghost tales, laughs at them; he knows they cannot be true. Yet disbelief and ridicule by many such, have given place to firm conviction and awe, after visiting haunts where environment favours the appearance of ghosts." H. W. PERCIVAL

Myths and Mysteries of Ohio reveals the dark and ominous cloud of mysteries and myths that hovers over the Buckeye State. This book offers residents, travelers, history buffs, and ghost hunters a refreshingingly lively collection of stories about Ohio's unsolved murders, legendary villains, lingering ghosts, terrifying myths, and haunted places.

Among this country's many treasures is the city of Chicago, an area filled with creativity and culture. Haunted Chicago, a collection of stories of ghosts, mysteries, and paranormal happenings in Chi-Town, will leave readers delightfully frightened.

Vigilante victims, murdered miners, and gunfight ghosts figure prominently in this collection of eerie tales from the Treasure State. From the windswept prairies in the east to the towering mountains of Glacier National Park come a variety of stories and legends, including a phantom cowboy who continues to ride his ghost horse up the staircase of a Fort Benton hotel, figures from a hundred years ago and more who roam the streets of ghost towns Virginia City and Bannack all hours of the night, and long-gone regulars who continue to visit their favorite bars.

Ghostwriters Nancy Roberts and Taryn Plumb spin fascinating tales about 26 haunted houses all over America. Based on stories told by first-hand witnesses, these stories of ghostly goings-on will keep you on the edge of your seat-and possibly up all night! Read about San Diego's Whaley House, whose former residents maintain an active presence, as does Yankee Jim, a hanging victim over whose gallows the house was built. Learn about the house in Massachusetts that once belonged to eccentric millionaire and brilliant inventor John Hammond, Jr.-whose practice in spiritualism, say some, continues long after his death. And relive the terrifying battle that claimed the lives of 1,700 Confederate soldiers whose battlefield became their final resting place on Tennessee's Carnton Plantation.

The mysterious and often violent history of Illinois has made the state a haven for restless spirits. This volume explores the supernatural side of the Prairie State, with stories on the horrors of an old slave house, the numerous spirits of Alton's McPike Mansion, the cemetery where the dead walk, the Spring Valley Vampire, the ghosts of the Bartonville Asylum, Chicago's famous Resurrection Mary, and the spirit world of Abraham Lincoln.

Fear Dat New Orleans explores the eccentric and often macabre dark corners of America's most unique city. In addition to detailed histories of bizarre burials, ghastly murders, and the greatest concentration of haunted places in America, Fear Dat features a "bone watcher's guide" with useful directions of who's buried where, from Marie Laveau to Ruthie the Duck Girl. You'll also find where to buy the most authentic gris-gris or to get the best psychic reading. The Huffington Post tagged Michael Murphy's first book Eat Dat, about the city's food culture, the #1 "essential" book to read before coming to New Orleans. New Orleans Living called it "both reverent and irreverent, he manages to bring a sense of humor to serious eating-and that's what New Orleans is all about." In Fear Dat, Murphy brings similar insights and irreverence to New Orleans voodoo, vampires, graveyards, and ghosts.

Elemental beings such as gnomes and fairies exist in many folk and spiritual traditions, and Rudolf Steiner also discussed their significance to our world. Some people are able to engage and even communicate with elementals. Ursula Burkhard was one such person. Blind from birth, she experienced gnomes and other elementals from early childhood. When, as she grew older, her parents tried to dissuade her, she was puzzled: why should she believe in the 'real' things she was unable to see, and ignore what she knew to be true? In this readable little book, she describes her remarkable experiences and in particular her relationship with a special gnome, Karlik. The book was a bestseller in Germany in the 1980s, bringing the world of the elementals into the mainstream.

Este libro no llego a ti por casualidad. Lo has pedido, tu alma lo ha pedido y es por esa razon que ahora lo sostienes entre tus manos. Sea cual sea tu postura espiritual, sean cuales sean tus creencias religiosas, espirituales o cientificas, lo unico necesario para comprender este libro es tener una mente abierta a la informacion que aqui se incluye, ya que este mensaje va dirigido a tu espiritu, a tu alma, mas que a tu entendimiento mental Este libro cruza la linea intangible de lo que la ciencia no puede explicar. Es un libro canalizado y en sus paginas encontraras un compendio de preguntas y respuestas dirigidas a Esencia, al Universo, a la Sabiduria, la Consciencia Total, la Esencia de todo. La informacion ha sido ofrecida por estos sabios Maestros canalizados por medio de Graciela, quien ha permitido que esta voz se comunique por medio de ella.

This classic book on the theory of a lost continent in the Pacific. First published in 1931, and imparts the fascinating travel stories and theories of James Churchward. Chapters include: * AlphaThe Beginning; The Lost Continent * The Land of Mans Advent on Earth * Records of this Lost Continent * Mu, the Empire of the Sun * Age of Mus Civilization * North Americas Place Among the Ancient Civilizations * Nivens Mexican Buried Cities * The Geological History of Mu * large firmat edition * all-new introduction by David Hatcher Childress and much more.

A look at life and the afterlife, after most of my immediate family died, including two kids to Cystic Fibrosis. I also lost parents, two siblings, a husband, and many others in a very short time. They have come to me and others after their deaths. I saw signs from the day they passed. Coping with Multiple Sclerosis while caring for so many others, you get through it by faith and believing life really is just a test run for what's in store for us all. I think after reading this book, you will see that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to your goals. Even through so much tragedy, you can still go on by helping others throughout what you have learned.

The inspiration for the film The Dark Divide starring David Cross and Debra Messing, one of America's most esteemed natural history writers takes to the hills in search of Bigfoot-and finds the wildness within ourselves. Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to investigate the legends of Sasquatch, Yale-trained ecologist Dr. Robert Pyle treks into the unprotected wilderness of the Dark Divide near Mount St. Helens, where he discovers both a giant fossil footprint and recent tracks. On the trail of what he thought was legend, he searches out Indians who tell him of an outcast tribe, the Seeahtiks, who had not fully evolved into humans. A handful of open-minded biologists and anthropologists counter the tabloids Pyle studies, while rogue Forest Service employees and loggers swear of a vast conspiracy to deep-six true stories of unknown, upright hominoid apes among us. He attends Sasquatch Daze, where he meets scientists, hunters, and others who have devoted their lives to the search, only to realize that "these guys don't want to find Bigfoot they want to be Bigfoot!" Since its original publication, the author's fresh experiences and finds have been added to his original work through an updated chapter. With an evaluation of recent DNA evidence from Bigfoot hair and scat, the study of speech phonemes in the "Sierra Sounds" purported Bigfoot recordings, an examination of the impact of the wildly popular Animal Planet series Bigfoot Hunters, the reemergence of the famous Bob Gimlin into the Bigfoot community, and more, Walking With Bigfoot keeps every Bigfoot enthusiast's mind wide open to one of the biggest questions in the land and brings Pyle's work on the "legend" of Bigfoot into the new century.