I debated for a while on which blog to post on this and I've decided that this is the blog for it, for the following reasons:
1. It happened at night, while I was asleep (obviously!)
2. It's really queer with a scary twist as well which just fits the notion of this blog perfectly!
I was not feeling very well yesterday and decided to tuck in early.
I hit the sack at about 9.30-10pm and knocked off immediately.
I awoke somewhere in the middle of the wee hours of the morning to hear the sounds of rumbling thunder and then the heavy downpour of the rain almost after and sleepily went back to sleep.
I think it was somewhere near the morning (about 4am) when I had this long and queer dream which never seem to end.
In it was a dream where I saw a few of my friends and people around me, who were 'possessed'!
They seemed to be at it; one after another immediately after each one recovered!
Oh my, I could barely remember but I remembered feeling so freaked when I was confronted by my own friends who seemed demonic when they stared at me!
I was praying so hard; Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Be's when I saw their eyes which were just so freaky.
Some just went berserk and tried to lung at me, and some were just so hard to hold back
(I had friends around me who tried holding them back as well)
The dream went on, with me praying and feeling anxious
Then I awoke suddenly at 5.30am, my usual time but as I was a little groggy, I sank my head back into the pillow and dozed off again
Guess what, the dream continued and it took on new people
I was still the one running one after another
Those freaky people who tried to chase after me
And I remembered trying to shut them out by running into those rooms
But they were telling me that as long as there's holes or space underneath the doors which they can creep in (spiritually), I can't get away
I kept praying and praying
Then I managed to wig my eyes open and I awoke to 7am, birds chirping outside
I realized with horror that it was a nightmare
I woke up, said a quick prayer and made my way to the washroom (that's what grandma and mum used to say, if you've had a really bad dream/nightmare, go to the washroom to spit or get it out)
It was really terrifying and I still felt tremors
I prayed to God and calmed myself down
I will share the interpretation of the dream later on
In the meantime, I pray to God for strength and his guidance
to deliver me from all evil
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Knock! Knock!
You were sleeping (or maybe not) in your room at night, or in the middle of the night and suddenly, you hear
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
maybe a third KNOCK!
(Number doesn't matter now, as long as you hear a knock)
What do you do?
Will you open the door?
To open the door or not to Open, that is the QUESTION!
This was inspired by a friend (a blog follower) who recently shared a story with me.
It got me doing a quick check and research on this topic; which was not too easy as there were not too many sources sharing on these superstitions.
The following are the theories:
1. According to the friend's elders, when someone knocks on the door, we should ask
"Who is it? Who are you looking for?"
If there is no answer, do not answer/open the door.
If you have to open the door, do not stand directly at the door, stand sideways
2. My own elders told me, if someone knocks on your door in the middle of the night, it is usually not advisable to open the door (of course, unless it's your own family but they wouldn't knock at that time anyway, right?)
Just stay put and pray, and it will go away
These are the two main and common theories from my interviews with various people.
However, my research soon brought me to more interesting theories on door knocks, or knocks in general and superstitions around the world:
1. When you hear knocks (3 times) on the door and no one is there, it usually means that someone in the house is about to meet their death soon.
This superstition is known as The Three Knocks of Death
Source: Victorian Funeral Customs
2. A Filipino shared his tale on how he heard a knock at night (late at night) and his own father's voice calling him 3 times, each time with a higher sense of urgency and the 3rd time, with anger.
Trusting his instinct, he proved to be right when he ignored the knocks that night
He related his tale to his grandfather, who told him the following words:
"grandchild, do not answer, do not look. That's the way it is, child.":)
Source: Your Ghost Stories
3. Knocking three times on a wood can ward off evil spirits
This practice sort of originated from Romans, there are sources which say it is Celtic too.
In Celtic belief, the tree is always a sacred symbol. Therefore, knocking on wood/tree itself is a form of seeking the Gods for guidance or assistance.
That's why, we always yell "Touch Wood!" when we say/hear something inauspicious!
In general, I would also advise to just ignore
As most would say, spirits will not come unless invited
When there is a knock, and you are in doubt
Pray to God (whichever religion you belong to)
Usually doubts are inner voices which tells you something is wrong
Of course, don't be overly superstitious that you start to ignore knocks from your parents and siblings even in broad daylight!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
maybe a third KNOCK!
(Number doesn't matter now, as long as you hear a knock)
What do you do?
Will you open the door?
To open the door or not to Open, that is the QUESTION!
This was inspired by a friend (a blog follower) who recently shared a story with me.
It got me doing a quick check and research on this topic; which was not too easy as there were not too many sources sharing on these superstitions.
The following are the theories:
1. According to the friend's elders, when someone knocks on the door, we should ask
"Who is it? Who are you looking for?"
If there is no answer, do not answer/open the door.
If you have to open the door, do not stand directly at the door, stand sideways
2. My own elders told me, if someone knocks on your door in the middle of the night, it is usually not advisable to open the door (of course, unless it's your own family but they wouldn't knock at that time anyway, right?)
Just stay put and pray, and it will go away
These are the two main and common theories from my interviews with various people.
However, my research soon brought me to more interesting theories on door knocks, or knocks in general and superstitions around the world:
1. When you hear knocks (3 times) on the door and no one is there, it usually means that someone in the house is about to meet their death soon.
This superstition is known as The Three Knocks of Death
Source: Victorian Funeral Customs
2. A Filipino shared his tale on how he heard a knock at night (late at night) and his own father's voice calling him 3 times, each time with a higher sense of urgency and the 3rd time, with anger.
Trusting his instinct, he proved to be right when he ignored the knocks that night
He related his tale to his grandfather, who told him the following words:
"grandchild, do not answer, do not look. That's the way it is, child.":)
Source: Your Ghost Stories
3. Knocking three times on a wood can ward off evil spirits
This practice sort of originated from Romans, there are sources which say it is Celtic too.
In Celtic belief, the tree is always a sacred symbol. Therefore, knocking on wood/tree itself is a form of seeking the Gods for guidance or assistance.
That's why, we always yell "Touch Wood!" when we say/hear something inauspicious!
In general, I would also advise to just ignore
As most would say, spirits will not come unless invited
When there is a knock, and you are in doubt
Pray to God (whichever religion you belong to)
Usually doubts are inner voices which tells you something is wrong
Of course, don't be overly superstitious that you start to ignore knocks from your parents and siblings even in broad daylight!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Types of Malay Ghosts
I have recently came across an interesting story of a pregnant Malay woman who had to ward off a fiery and fearsome Hantu Penanggalan in her sister's house.
It got me wondering, and I have stumbled across a list of Malay ghosts which I found it worth to be sharing on my blog.
Penanggal (pronounced as Pe-Nun-Gal) is a female ghost; with a very beautiful appearance which is obtained through the means of black magic or supernatural ways.
They are also in a way, associated with the term of Devil's Disciple/Apprentice and at the same time, they are the living dead who lived among the living.
There are different versions of the origins of this Penanggal; and the following are the other versions:
1. A midwife who made a pact with the devil to gain supernatural powers and in return, she is not to eat meat for 40 days. She broke the pact and she is cursed to live forever on sucking blood.
2. A beautiful woman/high priestess who was bathing in vinegar and a man startled her, whereby she turned in such haste that she detached her head from her body; and the internals trailing from the opening at the neck and she flies after the man for revenge.
The Penanggal is typically illustrated as a flying creature with the internals trailing after her head and there is also reportedly a strong scent of vinegar with her.
The Penanggal preys on pregnant women and newborn babies; on whom she sucks the blood. She is like a banshee who appears at childbirth and she perches on the rooftop of a house in which a pregnant or expecting mother resides and screeches when the woman is in labor. She will insert a long tongue into the house to lap the blood of the new mother; and this could cause the mother to sink into weakness and inrecoverable fatigue.
Also, the entrails of her internals could cause deep wounds on whoever she brushes past and will not heal unless with the help of a bomoh.
The Penanggal is said to fear sharp objects; and to fend her off, the traditional way is to scatter the Mengkuang thorny leaves to trap her internals and at the same time, pregnant women/expectant mothers should keep scissors or betels at bay and under her pillow as the Penanggal is afraid of this.
It is somehow more commonly found in the old Malay kampung where the houses are built of wood and stands on stilts; where the Penanggal would most probably try to enter from. As such, some of the methods used were also to plant pineapples or sharp plants underneath the house to prevent the Penanggal from entering the house.
Pontianak (Porn-Tia-Nuck) is also a female ghost who died at labour and is out for revenge.
They are also considered as one of the undead beings in the supernatural world
Pontianaks often prey on men; and they disguised themselves through the soft and gentle cries. Sometimes they do appear as very beautiful ladies to seduce their male victims as well.
According to folklore, if the cries of the Pontianak are soft, it means they are very near and if it is loud, they are far away.
A pontianak will attack their victims by ripping out the male reproductive organs.
To ward them off, the Pontianaks are also reported to be afraid of sharp objects; particularly long nails.
Langsuir; is another version of Pontianak and they are desribed as the scariest and deadliest of all. They are those who have suffered the death of their children at labor and then died themselves after, and they will possess the victim and suck their blood.
They are often described with red fiery eyes, long hair, sharp claws and long hair (similar as Pontianak).
The Langsuir was also described as one with a hole in the neck.
Hantu Pocong
Ghosts which are wrapped in white cloth (commonly used at a traditional Malay burial/funeral). They appear to be ghosts who are trapped, and they hop around to warn people to release their bonds.
Due to the ties on their feet, they are often seen hopping around.
Kuntilanak, same as Pontianak
Toyol
Typically an aborted or stillborn child or a foetus, and this ghost child appears as different versions in most of the culture.
The baby child or the foetus are often used by the bomoh through black magic to perform tasks for them; and is usually associated with stealing money/valuables from others.
The toyol is just like a child and is often depicted as one with a big head and small limbs. They are mischievous and must be fed with blood every day. The amount of blood is incremental with time; and if the owner forgets to feed it for a day, it will cause havoc or steal the owner's stuffs.
Typically, the toyol could eat of its owner eventually when its appetite grows and there is no way to satisfy it.
Hantu Galah
These are very beings which appear at a normal height in front of you, but as you approach them, they grow to be taller and taller; and they can even be as tall as a coconut tree.
Orang Minyak
Known as the oily man and his body is covered in oil while he runs around raping virgin women. There were speculations that this was actually a man in human form.
It got me wondering, and I have stumbled across a list of Malay ghosts which I found it worth to be sharing on my blog.
Penanggal (pronounced as Pe-Nun-Gal) is a female ghost; with a very beautiful appearance which is obtained through the means of black magic or supernatural ways.
They are also in a way, associated with the term of Devil's Disciple/Apprentice and at the same time, they are the living dead who lived among the living.
There are different versions of the origins of this Penanggal; and the following are the other versions:
1. A midwife who made a pact with the devil to gain supernatural powers and in return, she is not to eat meat for 40 days. She broke the pact and she is cursed to live forever on sucking blood.
2. A beautiful woman/high priestess who was bathing in vinegar and a man startled her, whereby she turned in such haste that she detached her head from her body; and the internals trailing from the opening at the neck and she flies after the man for revenge.
The Penanggal is typically illustrated as a flying creature with the internals trailing after her head and there is also reportedly a strong scent of vinegar with her.
The Penanggal preys on pregnant women and newborn babies; on whom she sucks the blood. She is like a banshee who appears at childbirth and she perches on the rooftop of a house in which a pregnant or expecting mother resides and screeches when the woman is in labor. She will insert a long tongue into the house to lap the blood of the new mother; and this could cause the mother to sink into weakness and inrecoverable fatigue.
Also, the entrails of her internals could cause deep wounds on whoever she brushes past and will not heal unless with the help of a bomoh.
The Penanggal is said to fear sharp objects; and to fend her off, the traditional way is to scatter the Mengkuang thorny leaves to trap her internals and at the same time, pregnant women/expectant mothers should keep scissors or betels at bay and under her pillow as the Penanggal is afraid of this.
It is somehow more commonly found in the old Malay kampung where the houses are built of wood and stands on stilts; where the Penanggal would most probably try to enter from. As such, some of the methods used were also to plant pineapples or sharp plants underneath the house to prevent the Penanggal from entering the house.
Pontianak (Porn-Tia-Nuck) is also a female ghost who died at labour and is out for revenge.
They are also considered as one of the undead beings in the supernatural world
Pontianaks often prey on men; and they disguised themselves through the soft and gentle cries. Sometimes they do appear as very beautiful ladies to seduce their male victims as well.
According to folklore, if the cries of the Pontianak are soft, it means they are very near and if it is loud, they are far away.
A pontianak will attack their victims by ripping out the male reproductive organs.
To ward them off, the Pontianaks are also reported to be afraid of sharp objects; particularly long nails.
Langsuir; is another version of Pontianak and they are desribed as the scariest and deadliest of all. They are those who have suffered the death of their children at labor and then died themselves after, and they will possess the victim and suck their blood.
They are often described with red fiery eyes, long hair, sharp claws and long hair (similar as Pontianak).
The Langsuir was also described as one with a hole in the neck.
Hantu Pocong
Ghosts which are wrapped in white cloth (commonly used at a traditional Malay burial/funeral). They appear to be ghosts who are trapped, and they hop around to warn people to release their bonds.
Due to the ties on their feet, they are often seen hopping around.
Kuntilanak, same as Pontianak
Toyol
Typically an aborted or stillborn child or a foetus, and this ghost child appears as different versions in most of the culture.
The baby child or the foetus are often used by the bomoh through black magic to perform tasks for them; and is usually associated with stealing money/valuables from others.
The toyol is just like a child and is often depicted as one with a big head and small limbs. They are mischievous and must be fed with blood every day. The amount of blood is incremental with time; and if the owner forgets to feed it for a day, it will cause havoc or steal the owner's stuffs.
Typically, the toyol could eat of its owner eventually when its appetite grows and there is no way to satisfy it.
Hantu Galah
These are very beings which appear at a normal height in front of you, but as you approach them, they grow to be taller and taller; and they can even be as tall as a coconut tree.
Orang Minyak
Known as the oily man and his body is covered in oil while he runs around raping virgin women. There were speculations that this was actually a man in human form.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)