Tuesday, March 19, 2024

It's More Fun To Believe

I'm a bit late in posting this so I apologize. Let's get right to it! 

As a child, I simply could not grasp the vastness of the earth and the billions of living organisms dwelling on it. This inability to wrap my mind around these simple facts planted a seed in the deep recesses of my thinking. How many things are still out there that we have not yet found and is it possible that some of the tales regarding cryptids and mythological creatures are true? And even if  they are difficult to believe in, isn't it fun to allow the mind to escape and imagine the possibilities?

Vampires have long been my favorite mythological creature. I have watched movies, read books and even watched anime with vampiric story lines but along the way, I have found other cryptids to be enjoyable to learn of as well. Everybody has heard the tale of Nessie, a dinosaur sized lake monster of Scottish folk lore roaming "mostly" undetected in Loch Ness. Or, maybe you fancy a "goat sucker", also known as a Chupacabra. Whatever your flavor is, there are enough to go around but let's dive in to one that I have recently found interesting!


Mothman

My interest in Mothman began not long ago, after watching the movie, The Mothman Prophecies, starring Richard Gere. Before the viewing, I had heard bits and pieces of the legend but had never taken the time to research it's origin.

Estimated to stand in excess of seven feet tall and display a wingspan of approximately ten feet wide, Mothman is said to be covered by dark gray or white fur covering a muscular build, an oddly shaped head, hypnotic red eyes and bird like in appearance. Some sightings suggest that while in flight, Mothman is able to maneuver through wooded areas at high speed.

The first known sighting of Mothman in the United States is said to have been reported in Point Pleasant, WV in the mid 1960's. It's origin and existence has been debated heavily since with possible sightings ranging from Chicago, IL to Argentina.

The Shawnee Tribe, who once inhabited the region now known as West Virginia, spoke of stories referring to the "Winged Man". It's presence brought impending despair and doom. It is said that when Mothman is near, the feeling of unease and fear overwhelms those in it's presence.

In December, 1967, The Silver Bridge, connecting Point Pleasant to the Ohio boarder, collapsed, killing forty-six people. It is believed that Mothman was responsible for the tragedy but there are some that  believe the creature was present to warn of the upcoming disaster.

Several sightings in Point Pleasant have been recorded but there is also no hard evidence of it's existence. 

Besides the movie mentioned above, there are several articles and books written on the Mothman phenomena. I recommend starting with the entry on Wikipedia.

While we are on the subject of cryptids and mythical creatures, have you heard of  the Wendigo?

If not, please allow me to share the name of one who can touch on the subject, Author Shannon Lawrence. I have been given an opportunity to spread the word regarding her upcoming release, Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights



A late night call from her mentor sends Selina Moonstone on a mission to Canada, determined 
to track down a Wendigo and exterminate it.

Accustomed to facing off with the all too real creatures of Native American lore, Selina
discovers the Wendigo is someone close to her, forcing her to change gears from destruction to
frantic search for a cure. There's no known way to rid a person of the Wendigo spirit once it has
begun the consumption of the victim's soul, a lesson she learned the hard way in her youth.
With her loved one's transition to Wendigo imminent, Selina must fight her own lifelong
training as a Myth Stalker and find another way. She gathers a mismatched group of allies,
including a charming Sin Eater and a conceited mercenary Cryptid hunter from her past, and
embarks on a mission to find a solution before it's too late.

Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights will be released on March 26, 2024 in paperback and e-book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more at https://books2read.com/u/4AaOJd

  To find out more about Shannon's release and other interests, visit The Warrior Muse.

Thanks for stopping by the Hobbit. Please join me in supporting Shannon in the hard earned release.



3 comments:

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thank you so much, Nate! The Mothman is a really good one and an old favorite of mine, too. It would be great if he'd spread out his omens to warn us of coming tragedies, wouldn't it? Like the Superman of warnings.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations to Shannon!
I've seen that movie. I think the X-Files covered the Mothman as well.

ib said...

Shannon, you are most welcome and I agree. I did not mention it but it is said that just before 9-11, a dark winged figure was seen flying along side of one of the aircraft before it struck the tower. Bringer of despair or sending a warning? Hmmm....

Alex, thanks for stopping in. I watched X-Files a bit but was not attached and did not know that Mothman was covered. Guess I'll need to dedicate more time to the series. A friend of mine probably has the series on DVD. I will need to see!