H is for Hellhound.....

Hellhounds are supernatural dogs found in the folklore and mythologies of many cultures. The names might change, but the ominous and deathly aura that surrounds them, does not. They are often times seen as guards to the underworld, though they've been known to guard cemeteries and have even been enlisted to hunt down lost souls. Hearing the howl of a Hellhound means certain death in some European countries.

The name for Hellhounds vary from country to country--- Barghest, Black Shuck, Dip, Cwn Annwn, Moddy Dhoo, Yeth Hound, Grim.....

Probably one of the most well-known of Hellhounds is the three-headed Cerberus from Greek mythology, who guards the gates of the underworld, preventing those who have crossed the river Styx from escaping. Though, when I took Mythology in High School, we never classified Cerberus as a "Hellhound"--- just a 3-headed dog that guarded the gates of Hades.

Three heads aside (as this isn't the most common description of Hellhounds), these creatures are often described as having black fur and glowing red or yellow eyes. Some were even said to bear the stench of burning brimstone and sulfur. Supposedly, Underworld/ancient demons created the Hellhounds as heralds of death. They were known for their great speed and strength--making them effective guards and efficient soul-gatherers. There was no out-running the Hellhounds.....

The myth is put quite eloquently by great blues-master, Robert Johnson in his 1937 recording of "Hellhound On My Trail."

Ironically, Johnson's recording of "Hellhound" was part of the last recording he would ever make, released just 11 months before his passing. The rumor of Johnson's devil's-deal at the crossroads notwithstanding, Johnson's premature death at the tender age of 27 (making him one of the first members of the infamous 27-club) is still shrouded in mystery and remains unsolved, but, one can't help but marvel at his song's prophetic and ominous lyrics....

"I gotta keep movin', blues failin' down like hail....
And the days keep on worrin' me, there's a Hellhound on my trail."

Beware the Howls that Run at Midnight

Beware the howls that run at midnight,

the devil's close at hand,

stand not in the road's divide,

you know not who's beast or man.

Hold your tongue and guard your soul,

the spell takes but a word, no more,

mind the hoodoo curse's toll,

there's more than hot-foot powder at your door.

There'll be no peace once the howls have sounded,

their breath like scorching brimstone, hot,

their quarry sighted, the earth's soil pounded,

your flesh falls cold, your soul-less frame to rot.

Beware the howls and burning eyes,

your contract made, unspoken,

nowhere to hide,'cept the dark graveside,

your spirit's life now broken.

---e.a.s. demers

L is for Loch Ness Monster....

With Kelpie, for my 'K' entry, still fresh, I thought it'd be fun to stick to the water for a bit. So, while we're in the realm of Celtic water creatures, why not visit with the most famous and widely known of aquatic beasties---- the Loch Ness Monster. Though, Nessie, sort of skirts the line of supernatural creature as it is purported by many to be a cryptid, a creature whose existence has yet to be identified by the scientific community. Those who believe Nessie an unidentified animal, have speculated that it is from the line of Plesiosaurs, while the scientific community claims it's just a modern-day myth, or at the very worst--- a hoax. I've included the Loch Ness Monster as part of my Supernatural theme because, like Bigfoot, there's an, albeit EXTREMELY, remote chance that it's real, but, like ghosts, I won't believe it until I see it myself----- I'm a card-carrying skeptic, but, I can enjoy a smidgen of the illogical now-and-again-...

K is for Kelpie.....

Today's entry is dedicated to my wonderful social club pledge sister, who sent me off from our college sanctuary with a copy of "Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales", containing an inscription that the "magic and mischief of the Kelpie follow me".... She knew I had an affinity for water and for mischief...and for all-things Celtic--so the Kelpie seemed to suit---- though, I'm not quite as savage as many folktales paint Kelpies. Kelpies are Celtic water horses, believed to haunt the lochs and rivers of Scotland and Ireland. The Kelpie was known to appear as a "lost pony", though, its identity is given away by its constantly dripping mane. Most stories give the color of the Kelpie's coat as black, though there are a few that mention the color white. The texture of the Kelpie's skin is likened to the smoothness of a seal, but its temperature is "cold as death to the touch." Like many other tales of supernatural creatures, the Kelpie...

A to Z reflections....

Another A to Z challenge comes to an end--- another collection of posts and poetry have been written, another deep breath of relief is released. For my fellow bloggers that survived as well, it's another 'challenge-completed' notch carved into the writing desk. I've come to enjoy my yearly foray into the world of all things alphabetical. This was my third year, though it was only the second year I had a workable theme (which made the challenge substantially easier than the first year I attempted this challenge.) And, though my first year was difficult because my focus was so scattered, I found this year was more difficult because I lost the enthusiasm that came with the first year excitement----excitement which helped me plug along until the end of the challenge. Year 3 was a success in the sense that I completed the challenge, though, this was the year that almost wasn't---- Somewhere about a third of the way through the challenge, I seriously considered...

From the Inkwell, From the Vein.....

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