Mary Bateman nee Harker was many things: a servant girl, a dress maker, a fortune teller… She was also a compulsive thief, a religious charlatan, and an… Read more “Chickens for Christ, Books Bound In Blood: The Magical, Murderous Mayhem of Mary Bateman, the Yorkshire Witch”
MythBlogs
The Fool: Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
If the Major Arcana of the Tarot is mysterious, then the Fool is the Mystery of All Mysteries. For one thing, there’s the assigned number. Remember that… Read more “The Fool: Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost”
It’s a Sin! As Painted by Hieronymus Bosch…
Hieronymus Bosch is probably best known for his triptych painting (triptych=three parts), The Garden of Heavenly Delights. Painted when the artist was between 40 and 60 years… Read more “It’s a Sin! As Painted by Hieronymus Bosch…”
It’s Not Easy Being Green: Rene Joly, the First Martian in Court
As we prepare for the latest Martian explorer to land, it begs a question: If we do find life *out there*, what would it mean for our… Read more “It’s Not Easy Being Green: Rene Joly, the First Martian in Court”
How (not) to Convert the Pope: the Curious Cause of Abraham Abulafia
Imagine this: the year is 1280 C.E. You are forty years old, and you’ve spent the last twenty of those years traveling and studying. And now, through… Read more “How (not) to Convert the Pope: the Curious Cause of Abraham Abulafia”
The Emperor’s Enablers
The Emperor’s New Clothes is one of the more popular Hans Christian Andersen tales, a narcissistic leader who is too self-involved in his quest for impressive attire… Read more “The Emperor’s Enablers”
Bountiful Breadfruit
Known as the Ulu, the breadfruit tree is an important species found throughout the Hawaiian island chains. While non-native to the islands, it has become an important… Read more “Bountiful Breadfruit”
Charon: Old Man and the River
Charon, the ferryman of the Greco-Roman underworld, was born from a union of the primordial embodiments of night (Nyx) and darkness (Erebus). Charon’s many siblings included Aether… Read more “Charon: Old Man and the River”
The Ages of Man – Hesiod
The Ages of Man were theoretical ages of humanity that existed before current day human being was created and formed a part of the greater cosmological understanding… Read more “The Ages of Man – Hesiod”
Magical Amulets in Ancient Egypt
Amulets are personal charms that are worn in many different cultures as a type of folk magic. Many scholars believe that the English word amulet comes from… Read more “Magical Amulets in Ancient Egypt”