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Jackson's Daily Bestiary #8: Kappa

Image credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/yokai/comments/kldsye/hi_i_am_an_artist_specialised_in_japanese_fantasy/

Region of Origin: Japan

Kappa are mythical creatures from Japanese folklore. They are what is known as a Yokai, a classification for japanese monsters, spirits, etc. The word Kappa means "River child". They have appeared in many japanese folktales and legends, with many regional variants for its name, such as Kawataro, Gataro, etc, and they feature prominently in pop culture to this day.

They are short, reptilian-like yokai with webbed hands, a duck-like bill, a turtle-like shell on their back and a round dish formation on their heads known as a "Sara". This Sara is the source of the Kappa's power and must constantly be filled with water, otherwise the Kappa will be weakened, potentially even dying.

Kappa are mischievous yet dangerous creatures. Despite their small size, they have impressive strength, which they often use to drag people and animals into the water in order to extract a special organ through the anus. This organ is known as "Shirikodama" and is said to contain the human soul. They also often causes diseases and rape women.

They can, however, be defeated. For instance, one can save themselves from a Kappa by throwing a cucumber, which the Kappa are fond of and will chase, thus giving people the chance to escape. One can also defeat a Kappa by making it spill the water on its Sara. This can be done by bowing to a Kappa, who will be forced to bow back, thus spilling the water. They also love sumo wrestling against humans, which they always win at unless they are outsmarted.

Sources:

-https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/b02505/

-https://www.tofugu.com/japan/kappa/

-https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_(folklore)

-https://skdesu.com/en/kappa-youkai-juice-and-cucumbers/?_gl=1*14qzouu*_ga*UU9VZUo4NU42YWYwSzZEeW9hT2FxOW9vMExydkVycXIzd0lKX1I3Nkd4Um5BMEhCSE9oOEE5eGRXVUJJcjcySQ..

-https://yokai.com/kappa/

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https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/unexplained/watch-peculiar-pillar-ufo-filmed-in-colorado

Watch: Peculiar 'pillar' UFO filmed in Colorado

A Colorado motorist captured footage of a peculiar pillar-like UFO that zipped across the horizon. The odd sighting reportedly occurred on June 4th as the unnamed witness was driving home from his mother's house in Colorado Springs. According to the mystified motorist, they were stopped at a traffic light when the "incredibly shocking" aerial anomaly caught their eye and they quickly began filming the puzzling object as it cruised across the sky.

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The Zwischbergen UFO picture. Taken July 26, 1975, Switzerland by Dutch hikers.

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МЕH-THE

A name for a type of Yeti mentioned in the beliefs of the Nepalese people from the Himalayas. There were three different kinds of Yeti, categorized according to height. The Yeh-The is the smallest, the Meh-The is the medium-sized one, and the Dzu-The is the largest.

Text from The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews (HarperElement, 2005)

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There was a headless ghost sighting in my childhood neighbourhood a couple of years back.

Are Headless Ghosts Common? - Inside the Supernatural

Are Headless Ghosts Common? In this intriguing video, we will take a closer look at the fascinating world of headless ghosts. These supernatural entities have intrigued many with their chilling presence and unique characteristics. We will explore the origins of headless ghosts, discussing the folklore and ghost stories that have contributed to their notoriety. You will learn how headless spirits are often linked to violent or traumatic deaths, which shapes their haunting nature.

We will also examine the broader context of supernatural phenomena, comparing headless ghosts to more commonly reported spirit forms. Understanding the emotional energy and circumstances surrounding these apparitions can provide a deeper appreciation for their significance in the realm of the paranormal.

For those interested in ghost hunting or paranormal investigations, this video will highlight the unique challenges and approaches needed to interact with these haunting figures. Join us as we uncover the mysteries of headless ghosts and what their presence might signify. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more captivating discussions about supernatural phenomena and the stories that surround them

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The world is so strange.

On this day:

LIGHTNING SHADOWGRAPHS

On July 18, 1689, lightning struck the high altar in the church of Saint-Sauveur, in Ligny, France. Fifty witnesses watched a statue of Christ levitate into the air while its stand was shattered. Altar cloths were scorched; one had an X-shaped gash ripped across it. Curtains around the altar were blown off their rings, but the rings stayed on the curtain rods. The rod, rings, and cloth were undamaged. Words appeared on the altar cloth from a book that had been lying face down on it. The words were reversed and magnified; all the holy words and phrases had been left out. Father Lamy, who documented the incident, realized that the missing words were those that had been printed in red ink. Only those words printed in black ink were transmitted. A shadowgraph had been created.

In 1812, in Combe Hay, Somerset, U.K., six sheep were struck dead by lightning, and the lightning had tattooed pictures of the landscape onto their skin. In another case, a triple lightning fork hit a tree, killing a bird sitting in it and a lamb standing under it. The bird fell onto the lamb, leaving behind a detailed silhouette on the sheep's body. Another incident involved a boy who was struck by lightning while stealing a bird's nest from a tree. He was knocked to the ground, and "the image of the tree, with the bird and nest on one branch, appearing very plainly" on his chest.

Two incidents involving sailors hit by lightning have been recorded in Greece. One sailor had a shadowgraph of the number forty-four, which was attached to nearby rigging, appear on his body. Another sailor in the Adriatic was sitting below the mast when he was hit. Imprinted by his groin was the image of the horseshoe that had been nailed to the foremast for luck.

Text from: Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible, and the Ignored by Juanita Rose Violins, published by Weiser Books, 2009

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Adlet, Erqigdlit

Origin: Inuit people (Alaska United States, Canada and Greenland) The Adlet are bloodthirsty, flesh-eating, werewolf-like creatures that attack anyone they encounter and are the result of a union between an Inuit woman and a giant dog. The Adlet wander the tundra in packs, seeking out Inuit villages to feed on.

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I agree, and it's why - as someone who does believe there is an unidentified great ape in the forests of North America - the minute bigfoot nutjobs start talking about government conspiracies and shit, I immediately tune out.

At worst, it would cause ire amongst religious communities if it is indeed a modern living relative of homo sapiens, but, like, what doesn't cause ire amongst religious communities? Dolphins and octopi are sapient, their existence hasn't shifted the world paradigm, people still fucking eat them. Fuck it, eat a bigfoot. Nothing would change.

I don’t think finding Bigfoot would really change anything.

Like, it’d be cool to find a species of ape that’s native to North America, but it wouldn’t like, change the way we think about the world.

It would probably look a lot like every other great ape, it would probably act like every other great ape… Once it stops being a cryptid, it would just be normal. You could probably go see one at a zoo.

I mean, gorillas were only fully described by western science circa 1840. The novelty was probably there for a couple years, but wore off pretty fast.

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Dreamworld Ghosts

Dreamworld, one of Australia's best theme parks, is situated on the Gold Coast. It has always been a relaxing and exciting site for visitors. But underneath the roller coasters and family-friendly rides, there are still stories of ghostly encounters that have fascinated both workers and customers. Some people think that the park's long history and broad, open grounds make it a wonderful place for paranormal activity. Some of these stories describe shadows appearing and disappearing, or unexplainable sounds, prompting many people to wonder if Dreamworld holds secrets beyond its surface.

The park's vintage-themed rides are one of the most talked-about places for supernatural events. People who work at night and maintenance personnel have said that unusual things have happened, like tools going missing, doors opening on their own, and the sound of laughter in spaces. People have also talked of ghosts at the Tower of Terror, one of the park's most famous thrill attractions. Some people say they saw a figure standing near the track, but it disappeared a few seconds later. Many people have started to wonder if there are still spirits connected to the land or the rides after these sightings.

Some guests have also reported strange things happening while they were there, like feeling unexpected chilly spots or that they were being watched in certain places in the park. People have said strange things have happened on the Dreamworld Express, a charming train ride that goes around the park. For example, people have heard footsteps in empty cars and unexplained tapping on windows. Dreamworld is still a lively and exciting place, but these ghost stories lend an aura of mystery and intrigue that draws in both believers and skeptics. These stories have established a permanent part of the park's folklore, whether they are the result of overactive imaginations or real paranormal events.

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On this day:

ROSWELL INCIDENT

On July 2, 1947, the most debated UFO fell from the skies over Roswell, New Mexico. Late at night, Dan Wilmot and his wife watched "two inverted saucers faced mouth to mouth" flying above their house for almost a minute. The luminous craft, tracked by military radar, "flashed through the atmosphere as a thunderstorm ripped through the night. The next morning, Mac Brazel, a ranch foreman, rode out on horseback to inspect his fences for damage. He found a half-mile-wide path of unidentifiable debris. The material was a dark, pliable, metal foil unlike anything he had ever seen. Scrunching it up made no impact. It would spring back to shape. Lightweight and durable, the scraps, some with mysterious markings, could not be burned or further broken.

Brazel showed samples of the wreckage to several neighbors and eventually called County Sheriff George Wilcox, who in turn notified the Roswell Army airfield. Within the week, radio stations were carrying the story of a crashed flying saucer, and newspaper headlines carried photos of army personnel posing with the silvery debris. The story was soon "corrected" by the military, which said that the UFO was a crashed weather balloon. Following the switch came civilian reports of more substantial fragments and four small, gray-skinned alien corpses. A local mortician received a request for child-size coffins.

Over the decades prominent UFO investigators have collected testimonials from local civilians and been stonewalled by others who were sworn to secrecy. Claims of heavy-handed threats and military involvement added fuel to the controversial topic. Brazel changed his story to the official version and left town. Sheriff Wilcox clammed up. Frustrated by lack of information, researchers continued to hunt for records for the next half century, only to be foiled by having the documents they were seeking unexplainably destroyed.

Text from: Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible, and the Ignored by Juanita Rose Violins, published by Weiser Books, 2009

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‘My heart was pounding’: Mass. woman captures video of mysterious object falling from sky

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GYTRASH

A kind of sinister fairy from the folklore of northern Britain. At night, it can take the form of a large horse, donkey or sometimes a shaggy black dog with webbed feet. It has huge saucer-shaped eyes and walks with a splashing sound. It is generally described as lurking silently by the side of the road waiting for unwary travellers; however, some stories speak of it in a more positive light as helping to lead lost travellers to safety. There is a memorable description of the Gytrash in Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre.

Text from The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews (HarperElement, 2005)

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Metro Monster

Making its home in the tunnels of the Red Line, the Metro Monster makes its way between the Dupont Circle Metro Station and the Friendship Heights Metro Station. The Metro Monster is described as being over 10 feet tall, thin and stooped over with pale humanlike skin...

Beat it, Bigfoot: DC has the Metro Monster