Skinwalkers: Friends by Day, Enemies by Night

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Skinwalker, Mateus Roberts

There are very few creatures in fantasy that are genuinely petrifying. Sure, seeing a troll or an elf when you’re out and about might be shocking, but most of these critters look more goofy than scary. The skinwalker, however, has got to be one of the scariest mythical beings.

They’re so terrifying, in fact, that many people refuse to even say the word in fear of drawing attention to themselves. Even publishing information about skinwalkers is said to be enough to attract one (I’m praying to God that one’s just a rumor).

What is a Skinwalker?

Originating from the Navajo tribe, skinwalkers are believed to be dangerous and horrifying witches. During the day, they disguise themselves as members of the tribe, but at night, will turn on their people. When nightfall hits, these witches will dress in animal skin to disguise themselves, actually transform into the animal or use dark magic to occupy the body. Then, they search for their next victim.

The scariest part about skinwalkers, however, is not their disfigured, emaciated animal-like bodies or their burning and lifeless eyes. The scariest part about skinwalkers is how human they can be.

Not only do they have the ability to look human, but skinwalkers can also sound human. In fact, this is how they get their victims into a vulnerable enough position to attack. 

Much like vampires, skinwalkers can’t enter a house without being invited by the resident. Because of this, they will mimic the sounds of people or animals in distress in order to entice their victims into the open, giving them the perfect opportunity to attack.

A Skinwalker, Vollelune

That being said, I think the most impressive thing about skinwalkers is that they can actually imitate the voices of people you know. So, if you’re far from home and hear your dad call out to you in the middle of the night, it might be best to ignore it and head back inside. Besides, if the next words out of his mouth aren’t demanding that the oil in your car needs changing, it’s probably not him anyway.

How to Kill a Skinwalker

Unfortunately, there are very few ways to kill a skinwalker. The first is magic, though this is incredibly difficult to execute. Shooting a skinwalker in their animal form with a bullet dipped in white ash can also kill them. Some even claim that a silver knife or bullet to the heart can be fatal, much like werewolves. The most consistent way to kill a skinwalker is by saying their full human name, though it can take days for this to take effect.

Of course, if you’re having a face-off with a skinwalker, you’re not likely to win. That’s why I’m here! To improve your chances of survival, I’ve listed a few ways to prevent having a 1v1 with one of these beasts.

How to Survive a Skinwalker

  1. If your area has had sightings in the past, don’t leave your house after sundown.

  2. If you hear your name being called at night, don’t respond, and don’t follow the sound.

  3. If you spot an animal acting strangely (walking stiffly, looking emaciated, staring, not being startled by loud noises), don’t engage. Head back inside immediately.

  4. If you hear something moving in the trees at night, don’t look. If they notice you staring, they will mark you.

  5. If you hear someone calling out in distress, don’t look for them. Call the authorities and head back inside.

  6. Keep your windows and curtains shut at night.

  7. If you see a pair of glowing eyes looking at you, don’t look back.

  8. Don’t whistle at night. This will only attract them.

Skinwalker, David Ferreira

While I hope that these tips won’t be necessary, it’s always better to be prepared. The world can be a scary place, and the nighttime is a free-for-all for creatures like these.

It should also be noted that while some people still deny their existence, the skinwalker is a part of Navajo culture and their beliefs should still be respected, regardless of whether or not you believe them. After all, the Navajo people have been here around 500 years longer than us, so if anyone knows the horrors that lurk at night, it’s them.

Madison Costeira

Maddy is a professional writing student at Algonquin College and an aspiring writer. She’s a certified procrastinator, overthinker, and owner of a depressing amount of cats (remember: two’s a party, three’s a crowd).

Fairies and Faeries: What's the Difference?

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enchanted wonderland, emma louise

You’re lost in a forest. It’s dark, and the path you’ve been following has narrowed into nothing. With the eerie creaks and chatters of the forest nightlife surrounding you, you find yourself terrified and in need of help. When you’ve nearly lost all hope of returning home, a pair of tiny wings flutter past you. But these wings don’t belong to a bug. No, these wings are attached to a tiny person, and they’re here to help! Or are they?

You see, finding a winged critter in the forest can go one of two ways. On one hand, you may have just discovered that fairies are real and arguably the sweetest, most caring fantasy creatures out there. On the other hand, that creature could also be a faerie, and these nasty, mischievous little things will not make your journey easy. Then again, it could always be some weird type of dragonfly, right? You never know in fantasy.

A lot of people mistake the fae with fairies, but they’re actually quite the opposite of each other, and if you really had encountered a faerie in the forest, the last thing you’d want is their help. In fact, you’d probably need help after your encounter. That’s why today we’ll be talking about what these creatures are, and how you can tell them apart. That way, if you ever do find yourself lost in a forest, you can keep yourself safe.

credit to buzzfeed

Fairies

Starting with fairies, these are the tender-hearted little mythical beings we’ve grown to know and love. By now, you’ve probably seen a great deal of them in movies, shows, or books. Sometimes they’re human-sized like the fairy godmother in Cinderella, or small enough to fit in your palm like in Tinkerbell.

Regardless, they’re always charming and ready to drop everything to help out. Fairies are the last thing you should be afraid of when it comes to fantasy creatures. They’re the purest and most hardworking little souls.

Faeries

The fae, however, are quite different from these sweet little winged critters. Most people consider fairies and faeries to be one and the same, but that’s just not true. In fact, not knowing the difference could cost you your life.

scary fairy, artur mósca

Faeries are the vermin of the fantasy world. They’re annoying, troublesome, and always show up just to bother you. They’re known for being cruel and taking solace in others’ misfortunes.

Most people know that they can get quite rowdy by playing tricks and degrading humans, but don’t know how dangerous they can be. In folklore, they’ve known to kidnap children, steal souls, and kill in the name of revenge. They may look innocent, but they are not to be messed with. 

Unlike fairies, when encountering a faerie, there are some important rules to remember when you interact with them to keep out of harm’s way. While it’s ideal to avoid interacting with a faerie at all, if you end up in their way, be sure to refer back to these simple rules:

  • Never eat any food that they give you.

  • Never tell them your name (you can give them a fake one, instead).

  • Never stand in a fairy ring.

  • Never say anything that they might take offense to.

  • Never accept a gift from them (if you do, don’t thank them for it and be sure to destroy it later).

Ideally, you wouldn’t be encountering any fantasy creatures on your stroll through the creepy forest at night, but if you do, I’m confident that you’ll be alright now that you can identify the differences between fairies and the fae.

Just remember that a faeries’ intentions are never good, and always keep the rules of interacting with one in the back of your mind. And with that, your fairy blog mother wishes you good luck (or farewell).

Madison Costeira

Maddy is a professional writing student at Algonquin College and an aspiring writer. She’s a certified procrastinator, overthinker, and owner of a depressing amount of cats (remember: two’s a party, three’s a crowd).

The Bloody Truth About Vampires

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Nosferatu (1922)

Everybody knows about vampires. Whether you’ve read Dracula, shamefully indulged in the Twilight series, or even enjoyed a bowl of Count Chocula, you’ve seen these creatures at some point in your life. They’re one of the more well-known fantasy beings. I mean, I probably couldn’t tell you what a siren is or the difference between trolls and ogres, but cute ominous guys with sharp teeth? Girl...i’ve got you covered. 

It’s safe to say that vampires are easily the most romanticized fantasy creatures. I’m not too sure anyone is daydreaming about flirting it up with a troll or a cyclops. 

Over the years our perception of what a vampire looks like has become distorted, which is why we’ll be taking the time to compare old and new vampires. We’re also going to be briefly checking out their origin as well as going over some of the ways that we can protect ourselves. You know, just in case.

Aside from being notoriously bad at driving (because they never check their mirrors. Get it?), modern vampires really aren’t that bad. Sure, they might be a pain in the neck sometimes, but really these vampires are nothing more than six-foot mosquitoes with nice hair and six-packs. That being said, I think we can all agree that vampires weren’t always this undaunting. 

Once upon a time vampires were these menacing creatures that tore apart their victims. But pop culture changed the game. Vampires quickly went from these bald pointy-eared creatures with terrifying fangs, long cloaks, and sickly grey skin to hot flirty guys that sometimes sparkle. Not that I’m one to complain, though. I didn’t exactly binge-watch Vampire Diaries for the plot. There are so many theories as to why they became so soft as time went on. Some say it’s because romance sells and this was a ploy for authors to stay relevant. Granted, there are still outliers. Movies like I am Legend stray from the norm, depicting vampires in the same horrifying light they used to. Admittedly, there’s something refreshing about that.

While vampires might be a fun idea to entertain, for some this was once a harsh reality. Hundreds of years ago people genuinely believed that vampires lived among them. For a long time, there was so little known about the dead and the process of decomposition that what was really the natural breakdown of the body was misconstrued to be evidence that the undead had been feasting on the living. The shrinking of the skin as the body aged made the teeth seem so much larger and fang-like, and fluid from the breaking down of organs caused a blood-like substance to leak from the mouth of the corpse. Because of this, for a long time, people had convinced themselves that what was really the spread of deadly disease was actually vampires wreaking havoc in their villages. Since then so much has changed. We have a better understanding of the human body and have thankfully come to the conclusion that vampires just aren’t real.

That being said, we’re better off safe than sorry. If you ever find yourself face to face with a vampire, refer to these weaknesses for help. Firstly, vampires have an incredibly strong sense of smell. Anything smelly like garlic, onions, or your ex’s cologne are all great deterrents. Depending on what kind of vampire you encounter, sunlight, silver, holy water, or fire usually work too. If all else fails, a stake to the heart or decapitation are definitely things to consider. 

Now, with your newfound knowledge of old and new vampires, their origins, and how you can ward them off, remember to stay safe out there and to never trust a bloodsucker, no matter how pretty they might be.

Also, don’t forget to check out more fang-tastic vampire jokes here!

Madison Costeira

Maddy is a professional writing student at Algonquin College and an aspiring writer. She’s a certified procrastinator, overthinker, and owner of a depressing amount of cats (remember: two’s a party, three’s a crowd).

Managing Mandrakes

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Picture this: You’re walking one evening and spot a thick tuft of green leaves. With its purple and green stems, you might even consider it beautiful. But before you even think of touching it, remember that deep in the soil, a grimy, wrinkly newborn mandrake is stretching its vocal cords, ready to go in for the kill.

Now, obviously, we’re not talking about the real plants, we’ll get to that later. These plants make many appearances throughout the fantasy genre, and although their appearances stay somewhat similar, their purpose usually differs. In this venture into the mystical mandrakes, however, we’ll be focusing on the creatures that can be found throughout the Harry Potter series, as these are what I know best. We’ll walk through the purposes of farming mandrakes, give a brief account of the real-life plant, and even learn how to grow and harvest our very own.

They may not seem like much, but these plants can do some serious damage. If not harvested properly, the mandrakes in their infancy can knock a person out for several hours with just their scream. Mandrakes at age of maturity, however, can actually scream loud enough to kill you. This is why it’s so important to understand these plants before considering growing your own.

Now, you may be wondering, with the amount of trouble it can be to farm these plants, why do it? The answer is simple. The mandrake has the ability to revert the effects of curses or transfiguration and is therefore a vital ingredient in many restorative potions.

Much like the mandrakes featured in the Harry Potter series, real mandrakes have also been used for healing purposes. They act as pain relievers, as well as treatment for abscesses, ulcers, skin conditions, or inflammation. That being said, mandrakes are poisonous, and if not used properly, can cause hallucinations, vomiting, diarrhea and even death. So... Probably best not to eat them. While they don’t scream, the mandrake was once believed to have a siren-like scream that could drive someone mad, but for obvious reasons, that’s a myth.

Even though I don’t recommend growing real mandrakes, the screaming one's sound fun, right? For those of you who might need some help breaking a curse, or who just want the adrenaline of fighting off a screaming plant baby, here are some instructions to growing your own mandrake:

 Directions:

1. Acquire mandrake seeds from your local shop and follow potting directions from seed packets.

2. Once potted, water regularly.

3. When the leaves begin to reach 12 inches high, it’s time for them to be repotted. Prepare a large pot. This will be where the mandrake will grow to full size, so make sure to choose accordingly.

4. Dress in protective gear.

            -Soundproof earmuffs are MANDATORY. Failure to follow this step WILL result in injury or death.

            -Gloves are recommended, as the mandrakes may bite.

5. Firmly grasp the stem of the plant, just underneath the leaves. In a swift but firm motion, pull the plant from the pot.

6. Place the mandrake in the larger pot and cover it in fresh soil.

7. Water regularly and observe for any behavior changes. As the mandrake matures, they become moody and secretive. They may develop acne and throw parties.

8. The mandrakes have reached adulthood and are ready to be harvested when they begin moving into each other’s pots. Adorn yourself in protective gear and remove the mandrakes from their pots.

9. Using a knife, separate the stems from the roots.

10. Chop and use as your recipe requires.

Madison Costeira

Maddy is a professional writing student at Algonquin College and an aspiring writer. She’s a certified procrastinator, overthinker, and owner of a depressing amount of cats (remember: two’s a party, three’s a crowd).