The Whispering Woods : Real Life Ghost & Paranormal Stories

Welcome to the second episode of Terror BitesEvery Tuesday, we share some bites of terror to keep us all going to the main episode on Sundays. We hope you enjoy our second episode and if you want to listen ad-free, you can join us on Patreon HERE.Thanks to everyone for letting us share yours stories. Links can be found below:STORY ONESTORY TWOSTORY THREEEMAIL us your storiesFollow us on YOUTUBEJoin us on INSTAGRAMJoin us on TWITTERJoin us on FACEBOOKVisit our WEBSITEThanks so much for listening and we'll catch-up with you again on Sunday!Sarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glitch in the Matrix - Part One of TwoIf you believe that our reality is merely a computer simulation then a glitch can be defined as an error in the code. Just as one can be playing a computer game, and an object disappears as you circle your controller or the whole gameplay can change at the flick of a button, a glitch is a malfunction of our reality. The term was originally coined in 1999 and was taken from the movie Matrix and now the term is all encompassing for those unusual events that occur where logic and reasoning doesn't apply, where a and b doesn't equal c. Some people experience visions of a future life, or two timelines can temporarily cross over. Glitches in the Matrix are often attributed to that sense of Deja vu where you've already played out this particular scene.Subscribe to our PATREONEMAIL us your storiesFollow us on YOUTUBEJoin us on INSTAGRAMJoin us on TWITTERJoin us on FACEBOOKVisit our WEBSITEYou can view the YouTube Video of the Alien message HERE and the article HEREThanks so much all for letting us share your stories!STORY ONESTORY TWOSTORY THREE - AnonymousSTORY FOURThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first episode of Terror BitesEvery Tuesday, we'll be sharing a bite of terror to keep us all going to the main episode on Sundays. We hope you enjoy this first episode and if you want to listen ad-free, you can join us on Patreon HERE.Thanks so much to u/raisedbyspirits for letting us tell your story!Here's the link if you'd like to read STORY EMAIL us your storiesFollow us on YOUTUBEJoin us on INSTAGRAMJoin us on TWITTERJoin us on FACEBOOKVisit our WEBSITEThanks so much for listening and we'll catch-up with you again on Sunday!Sarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wendigo Part Two of TwoAnother episode of wonderful, Wendigo stories! In the bleak, bitter winters of the East Coast of Canada and the Great Plains and Lakes of America, something waits in the forest. Is that a cry from a tortured animal you hear?  This is no animal you recognise, as you strain your ears against the unforgiving, ice cold wind that whips through the trees. The cry becomes a shriek and it's getting louder, a cacophony of noise as your blood begins to curdle in your veins. Your heart skips a beat and then doubles in pace as you realise you are not alone in the forest, something is watching, stalking. With an insatiable hunger for human flesh, the Wendigo, Windigo Windigo, Witigo, Witiko, and Wee-Tee-Go (roughly translating as evil spirt of mankind) has been spoken of by the indigenous people for centuries. Subscribe to our PATREONEMAIL us your storiesFollow us on YOUTUBEJoin us on INSTAGRAMJoin us on TWITTER Join us on FACEBOOK Visit our WEBSITE You can view the YouTube Video of the Wendigo Sounds HERE and the article HEREThanks so much all for letting us share your stories!STORY ONE STORY TWOSTORY THREE STORY FOURThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wendigo | Part One of TwoIn the bleak, bitter winters of the East Coast of Canada and the Great Plains and Lakes of America, something waits in the forest. Is that a cry from a tortured animal you hear?  This is no animal you recognise, as you strain your ears against the unforgiving, ice cold wind that whips through the trees. The cry becomes a shriek and it's getting louder, a cacophony of noise as your blood begins to curdle in your veins. Your heart skips a beat and then doubles in pace as you realise you are not alone in the forest, something is watching, stalking. With an insatiable hunger for human flesh, the Wendigo, Windigo Windigo, Witigo, Witiko, and Wee-Tee-Go (roughly translating as evil spirt of mankind) has been spoken of by the indigenous people for centuries. Introductionhttps://mysteriesofcanada.com/nwt/classic-canadian-wendigo-stories-episode-1/https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mn-wendigo/https://inquisitivewonder.com/the-case-of-the-wendigo-the-native-american-cannibal/Story One - Thanks to daadams2016 Story Two - Thanks to asubsetofapopheniaThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thewhisperingwoodsJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bell Witch - A True EncounterHave you heard about the greatest ghost story in American history? For 200 hundred years the Bell Family of Tennessee was tortured by an evil entity claiming to be the spirit of a dead woman, but also a witch, and the ghost of a native boy who's grave had been disturbed, but the terrifying visitors' most dire proclamation was that it planned to kill the family's husband and father, John Bell, which it eventually did. The record of the killing can still be found in the courthouse records in the town of Adams, Tennessee to this very day. Today's story was written by Craig E. Sawyer - thanks so much Craig! Follow him on Twitter & Insta: @csawyerwriter Amazon Author link https://www.amazon.com/stores/By%20Craig%20Sawyer/author/B01H9NJ9O8 Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thewhisperingwoodsJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jersey Devil - American FolkloreDeep in a remote area of Southern New Jersey, that extends for 1700 square miles, an area known as the Pine Barrens, is said to be home to a flying, bipedal creature known as The Jersey Devil. Originally known as the Leeds' Devil or The Devil of Leeds, sightings of this entity have been whispered of since the 18th Century. The Pine Barrens is a heavily, wooded area that sits atop a coastal plain and it's one of the only places you can see pygmy pines, whose growth are stunted by the frequent fires and sandy terrain of the region. The Pine Barrens are generally cool and quiet, but the shadows cast are foreboding, alluding to a terrifying creature that stalks within. The area is a giant aquifer and tannin produced from the enormous cedar trees, stain the rivers red.  Introduction & IntroductionStory 1 Thank you Bags-the-bullStory 2 Thank you grittyfanclubThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thewhisperingwoodsJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Night Marchers - Hawaiian FolkloreSome Hawaiian's believe that when you die, your spirit remains and watches from another realm and according to Hawaiian legend, the Night Marchers, Huakai Po in native tongue, are said to be the ghosts of long dead warriors who were tasked with protecting a sacred King, Chief or Chiefest.  In life, they would proceed the Chief in the procession, and those lower in status, would have to remove their clothes, lie face down on the earth and place their hands behind their heads as they were deemed unworthy to look upon the sacred cavalcade as it passed. Ancient Hawaiian law, also forbade any commoner to look upon the body parts of certain Kings or Chiefs, if caught doing so, they would ultimately lose their life, being destroyed instantly by one of the deadly warriors.Introduction & Episode 1 of Uncharted MysteriesStory 1Story 2 Thank you hakunomiyaThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hat ManIntruder of dreams, stalker of night.  He will present himself in shadow form, and though some descriptions of this entity do vary, he is always seen wearing a hat. More often than not, he wears a fedora but others report him fashioning a top hat. He's sometimes seen dressed in a trench coat, other times a cloak, and with a masculine outline and generally no distinguishable features, bar some reports of red or yellow, piercing eyes, The Hat Man is said to be after your soul.  Opinions do vary however, with some experiencing nothing more than his inquisitive nature. Others are left in a state of terror, fearing for their own lives or those closest to them. Could he be a harbinger of death or the personification of the nothingness that awaits? There are numerous reports of such shadow figures, appearing at the point of passing, to transfer the soul, to where, nobody truly knows.IntroductionWes CravenStory 1 Thank you No-Coach-795Story 2 Thank you New_Pension5411Story 3Story 4 Thank you elysixnThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DUPPIESDuppies, in Caribbean lore, are spirits who are said to rise and roam the earth alongside the living, most often they are malevolent and will bring back luck and misfortune to their victims.  Originating from South Africa, as part of Bantu folklore, a duppy is either a manifestation of a deceased human or an evil, supernatural being. These entities can appear in either human, animal or shadow form and will hunt for their victims at night. In Caribbean Lore it is believed that humans have two souls, the spiritual soul, which is given by God and the earthly, secular soul. Upon death, the spiritual soul will separate from the body and proceed to the otherworld to await judgement, whilst the earthly soul will remain entombed in the body for 3 days. During this time, it is wise to take certain precautions and 'plant down' the spirit, lest the soul rise in a plume of smoke after the 3rd day, and become a duppy.IntroductionStory 1Story 2The Spanish Town DuppyThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TERROR IN THE WOODS - SCARY DEEP WOODS HORROR STORIESOn this weeks episode, we share 5 true, scary stories involving creepy encounters in the forest.Story 1Story 2Story 3Story 4Story 5Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GOAT MANThe legend of the Goatman dates back at least to the 1950's and became popularized further in the 1970s when it was blamed for the decapitation of a dog in 1971. This creature is believed to reside in the woods of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Reported to resemble a human but with goat like features, he has been likened to the mythical faun. With a body covered in hair and hooves instead of feet, the goatman has the legs and lower body of a goat, but with the upper body of a man with horns that protrude form his head.IntroductionIntroductionStorySarah’s Iron Bridge will be on social media. Buzzfeed Unsolved Supernatural -The Demonic Goatman’s Bridge Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HAUNTED DOLLSThe next night, everything was calm until around 2am when one of the other residents, Connor, got up and said that someone was tapping on his window. I guessed that he must have just been dreaming as his window was on the third floor of the house and was at least 25 feet from the ground. I went back up to his room with him to reassure him and checked his window. Sure enough, it was shut and the security lock that prevents it from opening wide enough for someone to fit through it was still sealed. As he got back in bed I heard footsteps on the stairs outside of his room. He froze for a second and looked at me with an expression of pure panic on his face. I opened the door to see who it was but no one was there. He was clearly scared by this and said "Is he back?". My blood ran cold and I asked "is who back? What do you mean?". Connor looked over my shoulder and then sank down into his bed, pulling the duvet up to his mouth. I turned around to see what he was looking at but there was still no one there. "Tell him to go away" Connor said in a hushed, scared voice. I tried to reassure him that there was no one there and left his bedside lamp on before leaving the room.Story 1Story 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, Yemen, Wild Man & WoodwoseBigfoot also known as Sasquatch, has a long history of sightings in North America and is deeply embedded in the stories of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tales of wild, bipedal creatures also exist throughout the world with similar, simian entities being reported in many regions; such as the Yeti in Asia who is said to roam the Himalayan Mountain Region (sometimes known as the Abominable Snowman), the Yeren of the mountainess regions of China, the Yowie from Aboriginal folklore that haunts the Australian outback, the Hibagon who stalks Mount Hiba in the Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan, the Almas of the mountain regions of central Asia and the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia and the Skunk Ape that inhabits the forests and swamps of the Southeastern United States, most notably Florida. Research Links:Introduction -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoothttps://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/features/lookingback/15598443.the-woodwose-or-wild-man-is-believed-to-live-in-yellowham-woods-in-dorchester/Yellowham Hill Investigation by BBRhttps://youtu.be/zqvdsyqj1ZIStory 1https://yowiesightings.com/yowie-stories/11-ape-canyon-bigfoot-attack.htmlStory 2https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/historical-strangeness/jim-carter-in-ape-canyonStory 3https://www.reddit.com/r/freehorrorstories/comments/6de7lh/true_i_think_i_have_a_bigfoot_problem/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmfStory 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxEmail us your stories - [email protected] us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haunted Houses - Part 2When I was eight years old, my family moved into the house I grew up in. It wasn't an old house, and no one had died in it, and it didn't even feel creepy. Just an average suburban house in your average southern suburbs.The way the house was set up, when you came in the front door, there was a hallway with two bedrooms and a bathroom to the right, the large living room in front of you with a half wall separating it from the dining room to the left, and the kitchen on the other side of the dining room. Where the kitchen and the living room met, there was another small hallway, and the master bedroom, a bedroom that was used as an office, and a bathroom, and then breakfast nook leading to a laundry and utility area at the end of the kitchen. My room was to the right of the front door and down the hallway past the bathroom with the other bedroom on this hallway used for storage mostly as I was my mother's only child, and my half brother and sister didn't live with us and rarely came to visit.Story 1Story 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haunted Houses - Part 1A description of the house for a bit of content, its a 2 story, brick/stone house in city limits but still surrounded by nothing but woods. You have to go through a garage that leads into the kitchen with the first bedroom to your left. Past the kitchen is the main living room and to the right is the hall that is very open. In this area you will find the main dining room and 2nd living area but if you continue straight you will see the staircase to your left and even further straight is my parents bedroom and bathroom. Going up the stairs you will come to the 3rd living area (yes this is a huge house) with 2 sets of french doors side by side that lead to the outside balcony. Going straight, the a sharp left leads you to the other 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. This is where the story takes place.The first time I stepped foot into this house, I immediately felt "off". Like something just wasn't right. I felt a presence but I didn't know what or who it was. I brushed it off thinking I was just reading too much into it. I continued to feel this for the next couple of years and because of this I didn't much enjoy visiting them. My parents like to gamble a lot back then so they would ask me to babysit my baby brother and sister one day on the weekend. My boyfriend (now husband) loved them so he would always babysit with me. The first few times I really didn't pay attention to the feeling I would get because we would be busy playing or eating with the kids. After that, things kinda chilled out and we would end up watching movies until it was time for the us to go to bed.Story 1Story 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SPRING-HEELED JACKIt was London in October of 1837 when a young lady by the name of Mary Stevens was walking back to work in Lavender Hill where she was employed as a servant. After a visit to her parents in Battersea, she was making her way through Clapham Common, when a figure suddenly leapt out at her from a dark alley. He quickly immobilised the poor girl with a bear like hold and than began to kiss her upon her face, ripping at her clothes and touching her flesh with his sharp animal like clawed hands. Letting out a horrified scream, Mary's attacker quickly ran from the scene as several residents rushed to her aid. Mary would later described her aggressor's grip as 'cold and clammy as those of a corpse'The following day there was another sighting near Mary's home. A coachman severely injured himself as the entity that would later become known as Spring Heeled Jack, jumped out in front of him, causing him to loose control of his carriage and crash. There were several witnesses who testified to seeing the figure escape by jumping over a 9ft high wall, letting out a high-pitched, ringing cackle as he went.Resources - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring-heeled_Jackhttps://non-aliencreatures.fandom.com/wiki/Spring-Heeled_JackThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Promo - Spooky Island Radiohttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/spooky-island-radio/id1618679119https://open.spotify.com/show/6GeEyA2zafWp2KzoAyFzT4Mimics - ShapeshiftersThis happened around 8 years ago but it's something I'll never forget. My grandpa told me never to speak of it but if I don't get it off my chest, I don't think I'll ever be able to move on and live a normal life. My grandpa and I were travelling up to our holiday home in Shizouka, Japan. As my parents were on a business trip, we were carrying on ahead of them and they would join us once they had returned. Our holiday home was in a very remote area, we didn't have any close neighbours and it was situated in a wood. I always enjoyed the vacation as it was close to a river with a waterfall which looks straight up to the Garden of Eve.My grandpa collected me at about 2pm and we began our approximate 3 hour journey which was heavily delayed due to a traffic incident on the road. Evening soon drew in but we were only about half way there. Eventually it began to grow dark as we travelled along the windy roads, but we could now see the mountains so knew we were close to home. The roads were surrounded by trees that met in the middle so it felt like driving through an endless tunnel, it was unimaginably dark. A loud thud broke the silence as my grandpa had hit a rock in the middle of the road. It was like someone had put it there on purpose, in order to anyone travelling any further. The car began to smoke and we later found out that it was because the clutch had become too hot.  But it quickly became apparent that we were stuck, there was no hope of anyone passing us in this really remote area. We decided to stay the night in the car as my grandpa admitted he was tired and wasn't great at driving at night.Story 1Story 2Story 3TV show we were talking about is called From https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9813792/Scary 'Help Me' YouTube video https://youtu.be/h-4u52wLC8YThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcast/Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thewhispwoodsJoin us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thewhisperingwoodspodcastVisit our Website - https://www.thewhisperingwoodspodcast.com/SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OUIJA THE TALKING BOARDIt was February of 1891 when first advertisements for 'Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board' first began to appear in printed publications. The board was promoted as a magical device that would answer questions about the 'past, present and future.' and would provide “never-failing amusement and recreation for all the classes,” it also purported to offer a link “between the known and unknown, the material and immaterial.” In 1848, Spirtualism (the ability to communicate with the dead) hit America, largely due to the Fox Sisters who claimed to receive messages from spirits in the form of knocking on walls in answer to questions. And with these stories, and that of other spiritualist mediums, hitting the national press in the late 19th Century, the US became firmly clasped in the grips of a spiritualist movement that would sweep the nation. With average life expectancy of 50 years, and women frequently dying during childbirth, children through disease and men in war (particularly the American Civil War) people wished to communicate with their lost loved ones. Resources:IntroductionIntroductionStory 1 Story 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KRAMPUS & YULEIn central European folklore, Krampus is a Christmas devil who visits on the eve of St Nicholas Day, to punish naughty children. He's also known to drag an unfortunate few back to hell with him in a basket carried upon his back. Some children are merely whipped with birch tree branches known as switches whilst others serve as supper to St Nicholas' rather unconventional companion. The name Krampus may have evolved from the German word Krampen which means claw and this half goat, half human, demon monster is thought to have been part of the Pagan rituals performed around the Winter Solstice, with legend saying that Krampus is the son of Hel, the Norse god of the underworld. Yule is one of the oldest winter celebrations and with Norseman being hunters, who spent much of their time outdoors, they worshipped the Sun and saw it as a wheel that changed the seasons. The word for this wheel was Houl and it is from this word that Yule is thought to have derived from. At midwinter, the Norsemen would sacrifice cattle, gather around bonfires, drink sweet ale and tell stories as the long nights would again, begin to shorten.Resources:IntroductionYuleStory 1 Story 2Minehead HobbyhorseThe Devil's FootprintsThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KNOCKERS, GOBLINS, GNOMES AND ALIENSImagine you rarely saw the sun, and most of your short existence was spent deep underground, 10 hours a day, 6 days of the week. That was the life of a tin miner in 18th and 19th century England with many not living past the age of 30. The mines could reach out for some 2.5km under the sea, 640m deep, and miners would hear the thundering roar of boulders tumbling across the seabed above their heads. Devon and Cornwall's landscape is shaped deeply by its mining heritage and the fortitude of its mining communities.  The work was hazardous and arduous with arsenic being a biproduct of the mining practice and children as young as 9 would haul out the barrows full of tin ore. Given scant respite and seeing very little of the sun, is it any wonder that reports of paranormal creatures, who lived deep in the twisted tunnels, have been spoken of by miners not only in the west of England but across the world.In Devon & Cornwall, these subterranean spirits are known as the knockers, and no doubt when mining communities traversed the Atlantic Ocean to America, they took their tales with them and the Tommyknockers were spawned. In Wales they are known as the Coblynau, in Germany Kobold, in the Ukraine they are known as Shubin and there are variations of these small, goblin like beasts in many of the mining countries.In the UK miners would take precautionary measures and leave offerings for the knockers to keep in their good favour, often a portion of their Cornish pasty, as if they became irritated, they would steal and hide your tools or lead you deep into the cave system, never to be seen or heard of again. The knockers could be heard prior to a disaster, banging on cavernous walls inside the mining shafts, perhaps in warning that a mine was about to cave in but according to some legends however, the knockers are malevolent spirits and if their banging is heard, it is not to warn the miners, but the sound of them sabotaging the mine supports to bring the ceiling down.Resources:IntroductionCornish MinesStory 1 Story 2Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHADOW PEOPLEHave you ever caught a glimpse of a dark figure out of the corner of your eye, only to turn around and it has disappeared? Well, this could be a shadow person. In 2001, Art Bell from the Coast to Coast AM radio show, interviewed native elder Thunder Strikes, who purported that the beings had been recorded by indigenous Americans way back in 1153bc. He stated that they were interdimensional beings that fed from the emotional discharge of human energy and would attach themselves to those feeling anxious, worried or in chaotic situations to feed from them much like vampires.Shadow people, at first, will appear fairly allusive quickly darting out of view when they sense they've been spotted, but once they have established a foothold into this plane, it has been reported they become bolder in their advances, and some will even attack those who are asleep; much like a sleep paralysis episode. Some report them to be benevolent watchers who assist us when needing guidance, others believe them to be malicious entities who will sometimes get physical by pulling hair. Some say they are tall and some small, some have claws or vicious, sharp teeth whilst others have seen them with glowing, red eyes. These darker than dark silhouettes will quickly dash behind doors, into closets and behind bushes to avoid being seen, leaving observers questioning themselves and their own eyes.Whether evil or good, if you sense something watching from the corner of the room, don't just dismiss it as you may have a visitor from another realm.Whitehouse Investigations YouTube Talking Paranormal interviewBrocken SpectreResources:IntroductionStory 1 Story 2Story 3Story 4Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GHOST LIGHTSA variation of ghost lights exists in many cultures, in parts of the UK and America they are known as Will o' the Wisps and these spectral lights are said to be ghosts that haunt the moors and boglands, captivating, lonely travellers and leading them to their doom. The classic tale of Will o' the Wisp (meaning Will of the torch, as a wisp is a small bunch of twigs or paper used to light the way) tells the story of a blacksmith Will who was so evil, that at the time of his death; Saint Peter sent him back to earth and gave him a second chance at life to right his previous wrongs. Unfortunately, Will was even more vicious the second time round and Saint Peter banished him to earth where his ghostly form will remain for all eternity. The devil, liking Will's wicked ways, fashioned him with a single piece of coal to keep himself warm but he used it to frighten people and lure them to their deaths.The name Jack o' lantern originally referred to Will o' the Wisps and in Irish folklore Jack (or Stingy Jack/Drunk Jack) was an incorrigible alcoholic who upon the time of his death, tricked the devil into turning himself into a coin so that Jack could buy one last drink. Instead, Jack popped the devil in his pocket next to a crucifix which prevented him returning to his natural form. Jack bargained for another 10 years and after the 10 years had lapsed, he again tricked the devil by making him climb a tree. He then carved a crucifix into the wood and the devil was stuck. In exchange for Jack removing the cross, the devil forgave his debt but when it was time for him to leave this life, no one as bad as Jack was allowed entry to heaven and, out of revenge, the devil wouldn't allow him into hell, so his fate was to roam the realm between life and death with other lost souls. The devil, however, did gave him an ember from the fires of hell to light his way and Jack put into a carved turnip to use as a lantern.Resources:Introduction - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wispStory 1 - https://www.reddit.com/r/freehorrorstories/comments/5cob9z/the_laughing_choldren/Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Smiling ManAs a night person, Riley would often take walks to pass the time and in the early hours of this particular morning, he was taking one of his usual jaunts around the city. Being a weeknight, the streets were quiet with very little traffic and turning down a side street, something caught his eye down the far end of the street on the same side as the paceman. it was a man, well more of a silhouette, and the silhouette was dancing. A waltz like dance, but with an additional forward stride, a kind of dance and walk at the same time and he was heading in Riley’s direction.Thinking the dancer was drunk, he attempted to give him plenty of space to pass by, but the closer he got, the more he realised this person was not in fact drunk, his dancing was extremely fluid and purposeful. He was dressed in an old suit and was tall and thin and continuing to pace towards Blue, his face slowly came into focus. His eyes were wild and wide open, and his was head tilted back as if looking up at the sky. But it was his mouth that really gave pause for concern, it was 'painfully, cartoon wide' a real grin from ear to ear. Taking his eyes off the spectacle before him, Riley quickly crossed the street and glancing behind him he saw the man had stopped dancing and was standing as if to cross the road, one leg poised outstretched, standing directly opposite. He was positioned facing Riley but wasn't looking directly at him, his face was still tilted towards the sky and his wide smile was still present.Resources:Introduction - https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/sp9vo/the_smiling_man/Story 1 - https://www.reddit.com/r/freehorrorstories/comments/74rl16/true_the_grinning_man/Story 2 - https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSmilingMan/comments/vdkhx9/i_think_saying_hello_was_a_mistakeThe Grinn - http://www.thegrinn.com/The Somerset Gimp! - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-63393521Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories.Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black Eyed KidsBlack eyed kids, or BEK, sightings have been littering forums and websites since the late 1990’s. Manifesting as children, these beings are anything but. As the name suggests, BEK's have completely black eyes with no distinguishable sclera or iris and much the same as vampires, they will ask for permission to enter your home or vehicle, usually requesting a lift or the use of a phone. Although the purpose of gaining entry is somewhat unclear, what is clear is they appear in child form to take advantage of our basic human instincts, to help and protect the vulnerable. Using manipulation and a form of hypnosis, if you do allow them in, illness and death reportedly follow shortly after. The earliest documented sighting was by journalist Brian Bethel from Texas, in the United States. His original post was dated 6th January 1998 and it detailed a disturbing encounter that took place late at night in the spring of 1996. He was parked in his car outside his local cable company and was using the light of a nearby movie theatre to write a cheque. The car park was seemingly deserted and being distracted with his paperwork, he hadn't noticed two children approach his car, until the elder of the two tapped on the driver's side window.Resources:Introduction - https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16581073/man-spots-ghostly-black-eyed-child/https://www.pararational.com/brian-bethel-the-black-eyed-kids/?msclkid=59d8d3fca88211ecaa3c9f59f90f2159Story 1 - https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/t86ze/my_strange_encounter_with_an_old_woman_with_pitch/ Thanks so much DjMonkeydo!Story 2 - https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/1pyokn/another_bek_story_this_halloween/Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories. Have a wonderful Halloween/Samhain!Sarah and Tobie xxJoin us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CrawlersCrawlers are said to be extremely thin, unearthly, humanoid creatures. With very pale, almost translucent skin, they stand at least 8 feet tall and lurk in the shadows of the night. Sometimes travelling on 2 legs, sometimes 4 they have shiny, reflective eyes and will often feast on the animals of the forest. Appearing as if out of nowhere, they are known to intimidate and in still a sense of dread in those who are unfortunate enough to see them. In 1994 a victim of such a sighting in Willow Creek, California was spending the evening in his sleeping bag, in the sunroom, under the stars at his grandparent's home. The house was a two bedroomed property situated out in the wilderness and the Trinity River almost ran through the back yard. He was awoken suddenly and for no discernible reason. Shaking off the last remnants of sleep, he was overcome by a sense of pure terror. At first, he could see no reason for this reaction but slowly lifting himself to get a better look outside, he saw a lone figure, staring at him. The creature was tall and gaunt, with human like features that looked as if they had been squashed flat. It had shining white eyes and stood around 7-8 feet tall, which the witness deduced as the chain link fence had come up to his armpits.  Resources:Introduction - https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/10/more-bizarre-encounters-with-creepy-pale-crawler-humanoids/Story 1 - Old Encounter w/ Crawler type creature : CrawlerSightings (reddit.com) Thanks so much kairiarisu!Story 2 - (3) (True) Chickasaw National Park encounter : freehorrorstories (reddit.com)Thanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week for some more true, scary stories!Join us on InstagramJoin us on TwitterJoin us on FacebookVisit our WebsiteSarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MirrorsThere are many myths and superstitions surrounding mirrors and some of these dates back to the Roman times. It was believed that mirrors had the ability to trap souls and If you didn’t look after them, they would make bad things happen to you.The covering of mirrors is a well-known superstition and if someone dies in their home it should be done post haste to avoid their spirit becoming trapped. Mirrors can also attract demons to a place that has seen a recent tragedy. In Judaism mirrors are covered throughout the morning period so that spirits are able to reach the afterlife.The Roman’s believed that smashing a mirror would bring 7 years of bad luck. This superstition stems from another believe they held, that the soul is reborn every 7 years and that a mirror not only reflects back your earthly body, but your soul too. During this rebirth any broken parts of you would be renewed but if you smashed a mirror whilst it carried your own reflection, any illnesses or diseases would stay with you until the curse was lifted and good luck returned.Join us on Instagram Join us on Twitter Join us on FacebookResources:Introduction -https://www.illuminated-mirrors.uk.com/blog/7-years-bad-luck-the-truth-behind-the-superstition/https://www.twowaymirrors.com/haunted-mirror-myths/Story 1 -Girl in the Mirror Story 2 -Haunted GymThanks so much for listening and we'll catch up with you again next week!Sarah and Tobie xxSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La LechuzaSightings of a giant bird in Northern Mexico and parts of Texas have been reported since the mid 1700's and continue unabated to this day.  Dubbed La Lechuza, this creature of legend is only seen at night and resembles an enormous owl with a face of an old woman. La Lechuza, which means the owl in Spanish, is said to be a shapeshifting, old woman, who after being wronged by her community, seeks her revenge by attacking those out after nightfall.There are many different versions of the legend, in one she was a healer but the villagers were frightened by her magic and she was brutally murdered. In another variation, her child was killed by a drunk and this is why she will exact her revenge upon those who are intoxicated. La Lechuza will swoop and attack her prey, gorging herself upon either their misery or intestines or lure them to her lair by impersonating a crying baby. Visit our website:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.comEmail us your true, paranormal stories to share on the podcast:[email protected]:Introduction - https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/cryptid-types-history/lechuza-history-storieshttps://mexicounexplained.com/the-lechuza/Story 1 -La Lechuza (The Owl Witch) - True story : scarystories (reddit.com)Story 2 -La Lechuza : scarystories (reddit.com)SURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scary ClownsFive year old Dan Mitchell would be settled in bed, with his parents down the hall, when the visitor would arrive. Gracefully prancing through the young boy's bedroom, it would communicate through, telepathy, theatrics and movement. The tall, thin androgynous figure would appear to be in a permanent state of shock with eyes wide and mouth formed into a large O. It's face had an almost ancient look to it but its hands were its most notable feature to the young boy as he felt he recognised them somehow, they were the hands of his ancestors . A damp, fresh, aroma like that of the summer rain, would accompany the visitor and Dan would attempt to tell his mum about the entity but she would put it down to his imagination, however, this creature was very real. The caller wore an outfit fashioned from scraps of fabric, hence Dan referring to it as the Harlequin in later years, though it referred to itself as the Tooth Fairy when he was a small child. He was never afraid of these visitations, instead there was a feeling of familiarity.   Dan cannot remember the specifics of what the harlequin would say to him but he does recall that it would tell him about things he'd have to do when he was older. Thanks for listening to the third episode of The Whispering Woods.Visit our website:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.comEmail us your true, paranormal stories to share on the podcast:[email protected]:Story - https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2011/11/the-mysterious-harlequin-part-one/https://www.stephyoungauthor.com/single-post/2018/01/13/Excerpt-from-The-HarlequinMemories of Fear - Science Is Proving Some Memories Are Passed Down From Our Ancestors - Reset.meSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Exorcist Tells His StoryIn his book of 1990, 'An Exorcist Tells His Story,' Father Gabriele Amorth, who was the chief exorcist of Rome, identified four, uniquely defined stages of demonic possession - infestation, oppression, obsession and lastly, possession. First comes infestation, where a demonic entity will introduce itself to its intended victim, often under the guise of a deceased loved one, to offer comfort during a time of mourning, or as a friend to a lonely child experiencing a tumultuous time. The infestation stage can continue for several years until any such activity has become normalised, allowing the evil presence to fully infiltrate the life of their proposed prey and begin the manipulation of mind, body and soul.Thanks for listening to the second episode of The Whispering Woods.Visit our website:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.comEmail us your true, paranormal stories to share on the podcast:[email protected] sources and research for this episode are available at:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.co.ukSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Legend of the Navajo SkinwalkerThe legend of the Navajo Skinwalker is deeply rooted in native American folklore. In a juxtaposition to medicine men and women who use their powers for good, Skinwalkers are witches who have mastered the art of black magic. This practice initially begun during the colonization of the Americas. Becoming evident the intruders were attempting to conquer the lands, some medicine men and women turned to the dark arts in an effort to thwart their advances. Knowing there would be no turning back once the path of a Skinwalker had been chosen, they gave tribal members detailed instructions on how to kill them, once their mission had been completed. These extreme measures were taken to protect their way of life but the practice has continued into modern times as minds were corrupted by darkness, killing out of envy, anger or revenge. To be initiated into this dark practice, a witch must first sacrifice a member of their close family, ridding themselves of the last vestiges of humanity. They will then grind the bones of their prey to form corpse powder, used to poison their victims. Merging themselves with animal pelts they would eventually become one and the same.Thanks for listening to the first episode of The Whispering Woods.Visit our website:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.comEmail us your true, paranormal stories to share on the podcast:[email protected] sources and research for this episode are available at:https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast.co.ukSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Whispering Woods podcast is launching on 2nd October 2022, just in time for the spooky season!If you're into all things paranormal, come and join us as we explore everything supernatural. We'll share stories and discuss topics such as skinwalkers, Black Eyed Kids, hauntings, folklore and much more https://thewhisperingwoodspodcast .comSURVEY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.