Welcome Everyone to a "NEW" addition to the "Soft in the Head" family “Soft in the Head Hauntings”! This blog will be devoted entirely to my love of Halloween and everything Halloween and the inner “trickster” that exists in all of us! I will debut new Halloween characters and their stories here, quirky stories from my childhood and funny and often “bloopers” of my everyday life road. I hope you will find some time to follow the "Haunting Happenings" here at "Soft in the Head Hauntings".....

~~~I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. ~~~

The Countdown Begins....

"From ghosties and ghoulies and long-leggedy beasties, and things that go bump in the night...good Lord deliver us!" - Old Scottish Prayer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The "Ghoultide Gathering" October 2, 2010

Jul 27, 2009

And Where's Your Broom??????


Halloween Is Fast Approaching......

Soon, our streets will be crawling with terrors. Shadows will stretch across the landscape, masking the approach of ghouls and vampires. Clouds will part to reveal the moon, and under its pale blue glow innocents will transform into werewolves. Science experiments gone awry will give birth to Frankenstein-like monstrosities.


Suddenly, the crisp autumn air will be split by a hideous cackle. Shivers of fear run down your spine. Dogs bare their teeth, their fur rising on its hackles. The queen of Halloween, the scheming witch, has arrived to ensnare you in her web of magic.
But listen well, for it might save your life: the witch derives much of her power from the broom she carries; deprive her of it and you deprive her of her ability to terrorize.

In popular imagery, witches are often depicted silhouetted against the glow of a full moon, riding a broom across the sky with a black cat perched effortlessly on the end.
This representation, or variations of it, has been a part of our culture since the 1440s. But why? How does the broom tie in with the myth of potion-brewing hags?The origins of the association go back much further than the 15th century, into the dark recesses of history, when pagans worshipped openly across Europe. In this early religion, brooms were powerful symbols of fertility. In addition, before important ceremonies brooms would have been used to sweep out an area of worship, both physically and mystically.

By the Middle Ages, the pagan belief system had been all-but eliminated in most of Europe and the last remnants, persecuted by the church and branded as devil-worshippers, were the witches of popular mythology.
Folklore also held that witches avoided persecution by disguising wands, the focus of their infernal powers, as common and inconspicuous brooms. Brooms might also be used as a receptacle to harbor spirits. Obviously, brooms held no real power, but witches in fact used them as a symbol of their faith.

One pagan ceremony that remained in use through the Middle Ages, for example, saw individuals jumping up and down while straddling a broom in the belief that doing so would encourage crop growth. As well, since Halloween festivities were held during rainy seasons, brooms might be used to assist in vaulting over puddles and swollen streams.Of course, it has also become a symbol of Halloween. No doubt, many young hags will be armed with them come Halloween Eve, prepared to hex your home should you refuse them candy.

Beware.

Jul 24, 2009

Give Away on Soft in the Head....

Meet "Celebrate" the Mouse.....
Pop over to my "Soft in the Head" blog and leave a comment to be entered for my little mouse "Celebrate". It is my "Customer Appreciation" month so I am giving two mice away! Without my friends, customers and followers "Soft in the Head" would still be an idea floating around in this eclectic brain of mine....

Jul 11, 2009

Do you Ouiji????

Known To Some As The Witch Board....
I honestly believe that anyone who has a thing for spooky and the spirit world has had to have used an "OUIjI" board at one time or another....While I was growing up they were a MAJOR taboooo and forbidden to ever cross the doorway into our home. My mother swore they were a direct link to Satan (who?)....now how would she know that unless....yea! My mom must have been caught using one by her mother and believe me when I tell you that my grandmother had a more powerful link to Satan than any Ouigi board ever could!!!! She was not a nice person! Any who, so have any of you ever used one. I have and they are a blast until you get some numb-skull that likes to push the little gizmo around instead of letting the"unknown" powers do it. My first experience with an Ouigi board was when I was at the ripe old age of 10 and I was at my friend Marsha's sleep over. Of course the board was actually her older sister Julie's but we borrowed it anyway. Now how many ten year old's do you know that really understand the happenings of such a device....not to darn many. All we manage to to do that night was scare each other into not sleeping and jumping at every little sound...Good Times!

I tried the Ouigi board a few more times during my uninformed youth with little or no result. It wasn't until I was 22 years old and at an honest to heaven seance that I was able to grasp the full impact of that silly little board. I left that seance with a new found respect for the Ouiji board and the "hereafter" from then on....I wonder if I should put an "Ouiji" board on my Christmas list and have a sleep over. After all my house is thoroughly and completely haunted! At least with their"invited" presence I wouldn't have to make extra snacks!