Ominous Origins

Dragons | 2 | St George's battle, and the Chinese Dragons

Last week we took a gander at the mythical and legendary beast known as the dragon. We touched upon many aspects in that first part, but much of it was an introduction into the vast pool of lore available. Today I want to delve deeper into some of the specifics, like st. George and his slaying to a dragon in exotic lands and what it meant for his own mythos.Secondly, I will be looking deeper into one of the most well known dragon cultures in the world – the far East. They’re rich in dragon culture, and the most fascinating bit is the contrast between the eastern and western ideas of what a dragon is and represents. One side looks at them as monsters and devils that breath fire and terrorize. The other cherishes them for the good fortune they bring.Even further into the juxtaposition is the appearance of the dragon in the two cultures vary as well. From dinosaurs to serpents, from scaly to colourful. It’s a really fun and interesting look into what makes these creatures so important, not just in the past, but also what they mean today. Not only have dragons had cultural significance, they’ve also played an enormous role in popular culture and a whole genre of entertainment, gaming, and performances. Entire communities are built off the premise of the dragon and their lore. Of course I’m talking about Dungeons and Dragons, the classic table top RPG that has both inspired and been inspired by the collect lore of the almighty dragon.This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on iTunes or Apple PodcastsYouTube: Horror ShotsWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dragons - Part 1

Here’s a biggen. I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a cast on dragons, but it seemed like such a large daunting, fire-breathing task, but alas, I’ve decided to cover it no matter how large the job. I think we’re all pretty familiar with the dragon itself. It’s generally a large, sometimes winged lizard like creature that, in fantasy, breaths fire. Of course, dragons have been major players in all sorts of fantasy since the beginning of fiction, but do they have a role in actual history? Yes, we know that there’s the komodo dragon, but what about the flying and the fire breathing?Well, it comes as no surprise that almost every culture around the world has made reference to the mighty beast at some point in time, but it seems to start where most myths, legends, and spirituality started – ancient Mesopotamia. They had their own version of the dragon which appeared in various writings, such as poems, and other forms of art (sculptures, murals, etc…)Carrying on through time we have Egypt, which had a giant serpent, which appeared to be dragon like in appearance and traits. There are other areas in the Middle East as well that have had their own dragons in their cultures as well. However, it wasn’t just that continent that provided us with great lore on the subject. The far east is well known for their dragons, and parts or Europe also embraced their dragon culture as well.It’s no surprise that these enormous lizards have such a prominent role in so many cultures. They’re fierce and fiery, strong and powerful, everything every nation wants to have represent them. So be sure to listen, review, and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, or YouTube so you never miss an episode!This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.YouTube: Horror ShotsWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: 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 History of Demons: Paimon

In honour of the movie, Midsommar by director Ari Aster, I bring you the demon Paimon. What connection does that have to Midsommar? Well, if you saw Hereditary, then you would know that Paimon features quite prominently within that film. If you need more links, Hereditary was directed by Ari Aster. Boom, connections. Anyway, Paimon is a real demon, and not just a prop name used for plot devices, and if I remember correctly, the movie wasn’t too far off from the nature of the demon himself – of course with some artistic liberty taken.Paimon is a rather high ranking demon within Hell, and owns the domain to the West – one of only four demons to preside over the cardinal directions. When summoned, Paimon likes to have a rather grand entrance, with a chorus of men playing various instruments to announce him. If that doesn’t happen, or isn’t grand enough for him, he literally screams as loud as he can. That may not sound too special, but his roar is said to be the loudest, or one of the loudest, of any demon. Ear shatteringly loud. Maybe even head popping loud – though, I couldn’t find documentation of that (yet, there’s still hope).He’s said to be very loyal to Lucifer, and is often depicted as having a very feminine face, or even having the face of a woman on the body of a male. I also mentioned that he’s a pretty high ranking demon, well, he’s in charge of several hundred legions of demons as well. Lastly, he’s a smarty pants. It’s believed that he possesses knowledge that no living mortal should have, and he’ll share it as well. I’m talking secrets to the universe type stuff.To learn more, you’ll just have to listen to the cast! Don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes! And Check out my YouTube channel, featuring some new Let's Plays very soon!This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.YouTube: Horror ShotsWebsite: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: 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 Nephilim

This week’s episode is all about the giants that once walked the Earth – the Nephilim, and boy did I open up a massive can of worms with this one. It seems that nobody can 100% agree on just what they were, or where they came from. Theories range from fallen angels, to angel offspring – to bloody aliens that created the human race. It’s been a pretty crazy trip, however the only aspect that is agreed upon is that these creatures were literal giants, massive beings that towered over man in early biblical times. Goliath, from David and Goliath was believed to be a descendant of one as well, giving credence to the angel involvement theory.One article I came across made it seem like the author was dead certain that not only did they exist as a sort of supernatural being, and that they weren’t borne of angels, but that they were in fact of the Earth and preceded man only to create them as we know it. That’s maybe my favourite theory for the boldness of claim if nothing else. It was also believed, though not by the same person, that these giant beings were the cause of the great flood mentioned in the bible as well.As I mentioned, while looking into these creatures, I came across a number of theories ranging from a little zany, to pretty well thought out. However, if there’s one thing I learned from doing this podcast over the years is that you can’t rule anything out when exploring the supernatural. Every theory always has a degree of merit to it, as it’s almost impossible to prove anything one way or another. What seems like it’s guaranteed to be a supernatural sighting or phenomenon often has a very valid scientific reasoning behind it – but it’s not always able to explain every last detail. That seems to be the case with the Nephilim. It seems to be agreed, even in science to a degree, that giants did walk the Earth at some point, but to what degree? And what are their true origins?Listen on, and maybe I’ll uncover some truth behind the goliaths!This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.Website: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshots Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Succubus and Incubus

The lusty, alluring, sexy succubus is a legend as old as demonology itself, with some records even accounting that Lilith, the mother of demons was, in turn, a succubus herself. The story goes, or at least part of the story, is that the succubus is a demon that take the guise of a sensual female in order to seduce men and steal their essence, or soul, or ultimately to just cause disease of the mind, body, or just death.The legend, as I said, dates back to the earliest days of demonology, however various religions and cultures around the world have their own take on the concept as well, from Egypt to Rome, this lust demon makes her rounds. Of course, with any ancient entity, it has been reproduced in various forms of popular culture from Supernatural, to Lost Girl, each with their own unique take on the demon. Which brings up an interesting point; with not a lot of information available on the topic, a lot is left up for interpretation.This cast may be a little bit different in terms of tone – there will still be the facts, of course, but I’ll also be throwing in some personal thoughts (more than usual anyway) about why the myth or legend has been around so long, and why the devices used implemented the way they are in stories about said succubus.But what about the male counterpart? Yes, that’s right, the incubus is the male version of the succubus, yet not quite as prominent in folklore, or popular culture. However, it is believed that both the succubus and incubus are one in the same, and just take the form of whomever their victim desires. It’s a tricky little beast, and one that I can’t wait to explore with you further.This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.Website: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fresh Kills Con - With Jesse Markowski

For every fan of any genre, there’s something special that happens during the year, often several times. It’s a time where fans can go out and meet their favourite stars and characters; it’s a time where communities come together; it’s a time where everybody can geek out and not be afraid to be themselves. That special thing is the convention, and horror is known for its convention power, and no more so than Fresh Kills Con.Earlier this year I was lucky enough to interview Jesse from Fresh Kills Con, which is in its very first year of conning. While many horror conventions are massive multi-day affairs that can get a little claustrophobic and impersonal, Fresh Kills Con strives to do the opposite. Located in a very intimate venue, Fresh Kills aims to provide you with a very personal environment where the celebrity guests and vendors will be able to interact with fans on a level other than a simple handshake after standing in line. More than anything, Fresh Kills wants to give you an experience you’ll remember.Although it’s more intimate than some other cons out there, it’s not lacking in star power, with such names as Clu and John Gulager, as well as sit down dinner with Tommy Jarvis himself – Thom Mathews. The event itself will be held in Niagara Falls, on the famous Lundy’s Lane and will even have an after party with live music and other entertainment. If you’re a fan of horror, this is most definitely worth checking out.It’s taking place soon, July 13th/14th, and you’ll even save on the price if you buy online in advance. Of course, there will be tickets at the door as well.Find them online at www.freshkillscon.com or on Facebook where you can search for Fresh Kills Con.This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.Website: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Devil Pacts

In this cast I'll be going over some deals with the Devil, as well as what's involved! As early as the 1400’s, it’s believed that people have been making deals with the Devil. Yes, as farfetched as it may sound, people have been known to sign away their immortal soul to the first of the fallen – or one of his cohorts. Of course, in this instance I’m talking about Faust, maybe the most famous individual to sell his soul. But how many others has there been, and did it all start with Faust, or where there others before him?If we’re going to start with Faust, there needs to be a little bit of back-story. While the figure has been featured in numerous fictional tales (including a comic-book villain), he was in fact based on a real person with the name Johann Faust who was a chemist and bit of a swindler in the fifteenth century. Peers and scholars around the time of Johann’s existence claim he dabbled in magick, science, and social engineering, but it wasn’t until after his death that an unknown biographer claimed he had made a deal with the devil to achieve all his uncanny abilities. After that, the rest is history.If we travel on through time to a slightly later point in history, we have Urbain Grandier, the Catholic priest who allegedly made a pact with the hierarchy of Hell. His case might just be the most high profile case of diabolical contracts within the church – well, that’s ever been found anyway. Urbain was accused of many things throughout his time with the clergy, such as sending demons after people, lies, and deceit.In more modern times we have events known as crossroads deals, where somebody, usually down on their luck, conjures up a demon at a crossroads to strike a deal. Usually it involves some kind of success, wealth, or happiness in return for their soul. Sometimes it was after death by natural causes, and sometimes it was after a specific time has passed, such as ten years. Many famous blues musicians of the early to mid 1900’s have thought to have done this.Deals with the devil are incredibly captivating, and that’s exactly why I’ve decided to look into them, their origins, and those who practice it.This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.Website: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Exorcisms

Ever since 1973 North America, and most of the western world became a little obsessed with The Exorcist, a film depicting a young girl who’s body and mind are taken over by a demon. It’s a simple, yet terrifying premise, and the film left people reeling in fear and disgust – Hell, even today with all the horror options we have, still holds up and is recognized as not only one of the best horror films of all time, but one of the best movies ever made. A true masterclass in film making.Nevertheless, I’m not here to talk about the movie itself (that’s why we have the rest of the lovely Morbidly Beautiful website), but rather the real life events that inspire such films. Of course the film was based off a novel released in 1971, and that story was based off a 1949 event in which a young man was believed to have been possessed, and ultimately exorcised with success.The of course we have one of the more famous rites in recent history in that of Anneliese Michell, who again, had a movie made about her. Things didn’t quite go as well as they did in the 1949 case, however multiple exorcisms did occur, and there is even recorded audio available for your listening… uh, pleasure?Of course those are just two of the potential thousands of possessions that occur yearly, in fact some reports have it as a near epidemic, with the archdiocese of Indianapolis receiving 1700 requests for an exorcist by October 2018. Other reports have the Catholic church recruiting and training new exorcists as well, with between 70-100 active – up from just 15 in 2011. Now, these numbers are unverified, even by the research I’ve found. Most seem to just be word-of-mouth from people within certain churches. Nevertheless, if those numbers are correct, that is just plain staggering.Furthermore, it’s not just Catholicism that believes in possession, or exorcism as well. Many religions around the world have a similar belief system in place, dating back hundreds and thousands of years – some of which I’ve covered in the past. It wasn’t uncommon for people to believe illness, bad luck, and any number of ailments were caused by a demon or an evil entity either possessing an individual, or cursing the land and peoples.This podcast is brought to you by Morbidly Beautiful, so make sure you check them out at www.morbidlybeautiful.comAs always, I'd love to hear from you, and you can contact me at any of the places below. Also, don't forget to leave a review. They will be read out on the cast, so feel free to drop one on your favorite podcast listening site.Website: www.horrorshots.comInstagram: horrorshotsphotographyTwitter: @horrorshotspodFacebook: HorrorshotsPatreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshotsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/Ominous-Origins-1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.