Ominous Origins

Swift Runner

For far too long I’ve been neglecting Canadian folklore, dark history, and stories. I’ve started to remedy that in the last few weeks, and I’m continuing on with it this week with the Wendigo story of Swift Runner. Back in the late 1800’s, an indigenous trapper called Swift Runner committed a horrible, terrible… vile act. He murdered, and presumably ate his entire family. It’s shocking, obviously, but why did he do such a terrible thing, and is there more to his tale than meets the eye? He believed himself to be, as well as believed by others, to have been taken over by a Wendigo. I’ve done a number of podcasts on that topic, but the long and short of it is that the Wendigo is a shapeshifting, evil spirit that takes over, or takes the form of a human and forced cannibalism. That’s the real Cole’s Notes version. It’s much more complicated and in depth than that. But, you’ll have to listen to the other episodes on it to find out more. Beyond being a potential victim of the Wendigo, Swift Runner may have been the victim of an ever changing society and culture. He was a staple of the community, he was trustworthy and quiet. But it wasn’t long after colonization that he found himself in an unfamiliar world. He was introduced to Whiskey which turned him into some kind of monster (pun intended). The drink turned who he was upside down. No longer was Swift Runner a pillar of his camp, but was soon forced into exile with his family.Was Swift Runner the victim of a Wendigo, a changing world, or a mental disorder? You be the judge, and listen to the episode for more information.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Close Encounters | Falcon Lake

My fascination with UFO’s continues today with a look at one of, if not the best documented case of UFO activity to have ever happened. No, I’m not talk about Roswell, or Area 51 for the cases surrounding those mysterious sites aren’t actually identified as UFO or alien activity by the US government, but the one I have for you today is. Falcon lake is a geographical area located near Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is in the mid-western part of Canada (best way to describe it). It’s a place that’s been known to have some extreme weather, but also beautiful scenery - and it also happens to be the place where one Stan Michalak encountered not one, but two unidentified flying objects. Stan was an amateur geologist, and he was out surveying the area around Falcon Lake one spring evening when he spotted two cigar shaped objects in the skies above, when suddenly one went down. Being a former military man, Stan felt it was his duty to investigate the object, and when he did, he was completely shocked. What laid before him seemed to be from out of this world. It was smooth and metallic, hot to the touch, and had a ventilation system, or perhaps a self defense system that caused Stan serious burns and illness - so serious in fact that his symptoms lasted months, if not more than a year. He reported the incident, and following an investigation by official channels, nobody had any clue what happened there.But, as always, if you want to know more, you’ll just have to listen to the full episode!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Close Encounters | Shag Harbour

So, I’m just going to get this out there: I’ve been on a bit of UFO kick as of late. I admit it, and I have no idea why. Maybe I was visited recently and my memory was wiped, but on a subconscious level something was imprinted. Who knows. Nevertheless, I have another UFO story for you, and although it’s not as big or well known as the Phoenix lights, or as insane as the Heaven’s Gate cult, it’s a very important one for a couple of reasons. What incident is this, you may be asking? Well, I’m talking about something that happened in 1967 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada - specifically a place called Shag Harbour. Now, before I go into the details, I just want to send my well wishes to the victims of the recent Nova Scotia mass shooting. It was a despicable act, and I recorded this episode prior to that heinous crime. But I don’t want to linger on that too long, you’re here for something dark, not something terrible.In October of 1967, a pilot and his co-pilot noticed something strange outside their Air Canada flight to Toronto. It was something they’d never seen before, and it was certainly something they didn’t expect to see. In the very definition of the phrase, UFO, they spotted something unknown; something that didn’t belong. And they weren’t the only ones. Several eye-witnesses spotted this flying craft off the coast of Shag Harbour, and even watched as it crashed into the waters not far from land.Was anything found through search parties and government involvement? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. I can tell you that it is officially documented as a UFO in the public and government records, and what was discovered is something truly remarkable. This is the Shag Harbour UFO incident.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Heaven's Gate Cult

Boy, were the 70’s a strange time. We had free love, hippies, drugs… none of which I was around for. But with that new mentality, the new views on freedom came some pretty unique, and even bizarre views on a variety of things. One person with extremely different views was a man called Marshall Applewhite, and his partner, Bonnie Nettles. The pair believed they were chosen prophets from an alien race who were destined to lead a select chosen few to ascend to evolve to the next rung of evolution. Pretty wacky stuff, right? Well, that was just the start.Nettles and Applewhite took their ideas to a panel, printed fliers and brochures, and eventually amassed a small following of 35 plus people in the end. Their preaching and ideals became known as Heaven’s Gate, and among their beliefs was that Mary (as in the virgin Mary) was impregnated by aliens, and that Applewhite himself was possessed by the very same spirit that inhabited Jesus. Oh, and he would save his followers from Lucifer. Like I said, wacky stuff.In the end, around 20 years after the formation of the cult, Nettles died of cancer. This even threw everything Applewhite had been preaching and teaching under the bus, and in a sort of panic believed a sign from the heavens was bestowed upon him. It was time for he and his followers to ascend, to finally leave their earthly vessels and join Nettles in the higher plane of evolution. It’s a tragic story, but also one filled with absurdities. To find out more, and what happened in the end, you’ll just have to listen to the episode.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dracula and Vlad III

Dracula: A name that has struck fear into the hearts of the populous ever since the publication of the novel in 1897. But what was the basis for the character? Many cite the formidable Vlad Tepes, or Vlad III, or Vlad the Impaler… Essentially a guy called Vlad who was the prince of Wallachia in the 1400’s. However, the truth might not be that black and white, and maybe many of us have been wrong in the assumption that Vlad was the inspiration.As it turns out, Bram Stoker never set foot in Romania, where Wallachia happened to lie, and never saw the infamous castle in person - rather it was a drawing that sparked the imagination of Stoker. Granted, it was a drawing of a Romanian castle. Nevertheless, Vlad the Impaler himself didn’t directly inspire Dracula, and the name, Vlad Dracul was actually Vlad II, The Impaler’s father.I’m giving away far too much here. The relationship between the real life Vlad, who had a very interesting life, and Dracula is quite thin, but that doesn’t mean the creation of the character, and his impact on pop-culture can be overlooked. Same with the influence that Vlad III had on history is unquestionable. Together, these two make for two incredible stories, one in fiction, the other in reality. From the tales of Vlad and his impaling preference, to the traits of Dracula living on in generations of vampire stories and fears for decades - both have their place in history and both have a place in our dark, horror loving hearts. Listen to the cast to get the full story.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: ominousoriginspodTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Close Encounters | The Phoenix Lights

In March of 1997, the residents of Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding areas were treated to a sight never really before seen by human eyes. In an unprecedented episode, I look at maybe the most marvelous and spectacular UFO sighting in the history of the world. This is, of course, the Phoenix Lights. Sure, there might be more famous or popular incidents featuring UFO’s, such as Roswell, but not many can boast the same degree of evidence and eyewitnesses.It was getting into the evening of March 13th when not one, but two incidents occurred, with multiple people witnessing at least one encounter. These encounters? Well, they’re described as a massive V shaped formation of lights just hovering over the skies of the Phoenix, Arizona area. It’s a phenomenon that wasn’t just witnessed by countless people, but was also captured on video and film by multiple sources as well, and these witnesses weren’t drugged up alley-rats - they were respected members of society, such as police and the State Governor at the time - though his story flip-flopped a few times.Nevertheless, the Phoenix lights is one of the most intense and fascinating stories I’ve ever read. From cover-ups and conspiracies to some less than reasonable explanations from the US air force, it makes for something… out of the world. Also, I can’t thank the MUFON enough for the research they put into this, and many other cases, as it was a one stop shop for everything I wanted when looking into this case. In the end, I even share an encounter of sorts I had with a UFO in my younger days. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long to cover an alien or UFO style case; maybe it hits a bit of a subconscious level of fear that they’ll come for me. Maybe. Anyway, be sure to listen to the cast for the whole story!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsCredit: Music: https://www.purple-planet.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

History of Demons | Belial

First off, I have to apologize for missing last week. Sadly, I just couldn’t find the time, despite being stuck at home - like many of you are. Some things came up, and I just didn’t have the privacy I would have liked. Nevertheless, I’m back this week with a brand new History of Demons episode - something I might just be expanding in the coming weeks. And this week I thought I would dedicate to the granddaddy of them all (almost literally), Belial.Belial is such an interesting character to look at. Described as the King of Evil, and one who panders to the wicked, including perverts, atheists, and more or less anybody with a disturbed soul, Belial might just be older than the Devil himself. He’s one of the first, and one of the few that God himself has disavowed. He might also be responsible for the term later describing Satan, the Prince of Darkness. He’s a real nasty and evil demon, who was featured throughout history in a number of texts, notably the Dead Seas Scrolls. His presence isn’t just isolated to ancient history, and has been featured in more recent works, such as Milton’s Paradise Lost, and a number of Occult works. He also makes several appearances in popular culture, from books to video games. All in all, Belial is a very intriguing demon in the realm of demonology, and if you want to know more, I do encourage you to listen to the episode in full!Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Lead Masks Case

This week’s episode toes the line between true crime and the supernatural. It’s a weird one, and it comes to us as a request from Talia on Facebook, and I’m so glad she brought it to my attention. All throughout the world there have been some pretty weird and unsolved crimes, but what happened in 1966 Brazil has to be near the top. Two men, Miguel and Manoel claimed to have business outside of their town in Rio de Janeiro, made one quick stop for some water, then were found dead three days later. Not too odd is it? Well, what if I told you they were found wearing suits, raincoats, towels, a note with instructions… and wearing masks? Oh, and they were lying supine, as if they were sleeping. Double oh, they were told to take two capsules containing unknown substances. Yeah, flashes of Jonestown, right?Is that strange enough yet? I hope so, because this episode is all about what happened to them as we follow their last known hours, and what the theories are surrounding their death. Of course, the investigator in me looks at the practical, but with a case like this, it seems as though there’s so much more than what meets the eye. From UFO’s, to cults, and demonic activity, it feels as though this mystery has everything.If it seems like it’s up your alley, then give it a listen. If it doesn’t seem like it’s up your alley… well, still listen! I’ve been told my voice has such qualities as putting people to sleep. Still not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Regardless, here it is, The Lead Masks Case.Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.comMerch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShotsYouTube: Horror ShotsTwitch: www.twitch.tv/horrorshotsplaysWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotsprodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.