The Pale Raven Official

  Throughout October I will be sharing a daily post that highlights the real history of Halloween/Samhain. These will correlate with my short videos I am posting across my social media accounts. You can follow me on  Youtube,   Instagram , and  Facebook  to view them!  Where Did Trick-or-Treating Actually Come From? The modern tradition of trick-or-treating has a history that goes back a long way, mixing together different old customs from Europe. It's not just a holiday invented for selling candy; it’s a direct result of several cultural practices coming together in America. One of the main starting points is the medieval European custom called "souling." This happened on All Hallows' Eve, and it involved poor people, and eventually children, going to different houses. They would offer to say a prayer for the family's dead in exchange for a small, sweet bread known as a "soul cake." Another similar tradition came from Scotland and Ireland, called ...

  Throughout October I will be sharing a daily post that highlights the real history of Halloween/Samhain. These will correlate with my short videos I am posting across my social media accounts. You can follow me on Youtube, Instagram , and Facebook to view them!  The Eerie Irish Origins of the Jack-O'-Lantern The tradition of the Jack-O'-Lantern is far older than the modern American pumpkin patch and is rooted deeply in Irish folklore. The grimacing glow of the carved squash actually stems from the legend of Stingy Jack , a notoriously deceitful and wicked man who successfully tricked the Devil on multiple occasions. According When Jack finally died, his sin-filled life barred him from Heaven, and a furious Devil, keeping his promise never to claim Jack's soul, refused him entry into Hell. Cast out to wander the dark Earth for eternity, the Devil gave Jack only a single glowing ember from the fires of Hell to light his way. The Turnip, Not the Pumpkin The original "...

  I am sure by now everyone has heard of the viral stuffed toys called Labubus. And if you have children, you may even own one. For a while now I have sat on the fence about whether to jump into the discussion. However, now that they are bringing Pazuzu into the mix, I feel it may actually be long overdue. Plus, I can't let them do my guy Paz like that. First, the Labubu is a little creature that to me actually more resembles the characters from the children's book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Due to their current TikTok status, these things sell for anywhere from $50 to close to $200 US dollars. It really seems like everyone is talking about these whimsical little beasts. However, as with anything else, they are now shrouded in conspiracy. Claims that these dolls are vessels for the demon Pazuzu are at the top of the list. There are videos circulating all over the internet of priests actually blessing these children's toys, as well as parents snatching th...

"Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses" by John William Waterhouse   Covens Aren't for Everyone: The Benefits of Being a Solo Witch You're probably not shocked to learn that I'm one of those witches who doesn't play well with others. Group settings have never worked for me, and they never will. And it's not based solely on my disdain for most people in general, nor is it some unhealed part of myself. I always find it interesting when others say, "Well, you need girlfriends. It's just a wall you've put up." No, it isn't. It's the "social norms" that you've been toting around with you since you could form any type of meaningful relationship. So, who has the baggage? Me, or you? It's perfectly acceptable to choose to keep your circle of fellow humans extremely small. Mine, for instance, consists of my partner and my children. I have one or two friends I'm willing to see face-to-face for any length of time. The rest ...