Weekly News Round-up 8/31/11

MonsterTracker.com posted an article about a photo of a Bigfoot-like creature taken in Quebec. You can read the article and see the photo here.

Huffington Post posted an article about the increase in UFO sightings.

Examiner.com posted a description of a UFO sighting. You can read it here.

Crystal Skulls

            There’s a legend that the Mayans created 13 crystal skulls possessing special powers that were scattered with the intention of being reunited one day in the future. The story varies quite a bit, depending on telling it. Some say the skulls will bring peace and healing to the world while others see them as a warning to the end of times. The legends origins are uncertain. People have started finding skulls made from quartz crystal and trying to understand why they were created. While most people believe the Mayans were the original source for the skull story, some people also attribute the creation of the crystal skulls to the Aztecs.

            In the last hundred years, several crystal skulls have been discovered. Unfortunately, all of the large skulls show evidence that they were created after 1800. The tools used to create the skulls most likely didn’t exist in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. A small group of people claim that the skulls could have been created by extra-terrestrial beings, but it’s widely believed in scientific groups that the skulls were actually fake artifacts created by early treasure dealers. None of the known crystal skulls have come from archaeological sites.

            Despite the lack of evidence for early origins, some people still believe the skulls posses mystical qualities. The owner of one of the skulls, Anna Mitchell-Hedges, claims to see visions in the skull and that it has demonstrated the ability to heal disease.

            We will probably never fully understand the origin or meaning behind the existence of crystal skulls but people will most likely be fascinated with them for years to come.

Sources:

http://www.archaeology.org/0805/etc/indy.html

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_6_1.htm

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/crystal-skulls/

Creature Feature: Goblins

Goblins are mythical creatures thought to live in tree roots or under ground. Early goblin legends portrayed them as brownish in color but modern stories often give them a green coloring. Goblins are 2-3 feet tall, usually depicted as ugly, and share several physical characteristics with humans. They may be able to speak many human languages.

Goblins are thought to be mischievous, intelligent and sometimes evil in nature and enjoy playing tricks on people. They are also known for stealing horses and moving objects. It’s believed they live in a separate spirit world, and occasionally visit the world of humans.

The earliest origin of goblins is a little uncertain. The legend was popular throughout several parts of Europe including the British Isles, France, and Scandinavia. Many of the early stories claim that goblins are a type of fairy.

There have been numerous variations of goblins in stories in the last few decades. Many modern books, movies, and games have attempted to bring their legend to life. Goblins continue to fascinate and inspire and probably will for many years to come.

Weekly News Round-up 8/24/11

The well-known physicist and parapsychologist Helmut Schmidt passed away last week. You can read a little more about him here.

The Huffington Post put up an article about a foundation offering a million dollar prize to anyone who can prove their psychic abilities under a controlled scientific environment. No one's been able to claim the prize so far.

Mail Online posted an article about workers claiming The National Archaeological Museum in Naples is haunted. Ghost hunters have been called in to investigate the claim. You can read about it here.

The Crystal Ball

Since I’ve been doing a series about psychic stuff, today I thought I’d talk a little about the crystal ball. It’s definitely one of the most recognizable psychic symbols around. Just the mere picture of one can conjure up images of gypsies, fortune tellers and mystic old women. But where exactly did they come from?

It turns out crystal balls have been around for a really, really long time. Ancient druids once used them. It’s believed that Merlin (a druid himself) used one in predicting King Arthur’s future. Some Greek oracles also used clear pools of water for the same purpose. Eventually the practice was refined by using clearer stones and adapted by many groups across the world including gypsies and even modern magicians. Unfortunately, Its earliest origins will probably always be a mystery to us because our written records just don’t go back far enough.

The use of the crystal ball is almost an art form in itself. The idea is to use it as an object of focus in order to clear the mind. It’s thought that with a clear mind, a person with psychic abilities should be able to see future events. The person doesn’t necessarily see the future in the ball itself, but in their own mind.

If you’re really curious about trying it, you could probably achieve a similar affect by gazing into a bowl of clear water.

Have you ever used a crystal ball? Have you had a psychic reading? I’d like to hear about it!

Creature Feature: The Arabhar

The Arabhar is a type of snake thought to live near the Arabia Sea. The thing that makes this creature special is its ability to fly.

There’s a lot of debate about how the Arabhar actually takes flight. Some reports say it flies by using bat-like, leathery wings. Others think it may use some sort of flap or specialized spine that allow it to glide through there air. There are also real known snakes that ‘fly’ through the air by jumping from branch to branch, so it’s possible this snake has adapted that ability as well.

Right now most of the information about this creature is still a mystery but I think it’s very possible a creature like this might exist.

Weekly News Round-up 8/17/11

Wales Online posted an article about a hoax photo of a girl that has been appearing all over the internet.

Hufffington Post posted an article about a former UFO project chief apologizing for intentionally discrediting reports of UFO activity. You can read it here. They also posted an article about a man who broke into a woman's house, claiming to be a 500 year old vampire who needed to feed. I'm guessing someone who had actually been around that long would know better.

NPR posted put up an article about a group hiring a psychic to help locate an escaped cow. You can read it here.