Spirits
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Lokha
The Lokha is a creature from the myths of the Seminole and Oklahoma Native Americans. They are described as a form of spirit animal that lives inside of a human. It emerges from the human mouth during sleep in the form of a chicken. In this form they steal and eat human hearts. People with Lokha in their bodies can be identified as their breathing sounds like a chicken. Citations: Gill, Sam D., and Sullivan, Irene F.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Jarjacha
The Jarjacha is a monstrous creature from Peruvian myth. It’s believed that everyone has a Jarjacha within them, and it can emerge when one is overcome by anger, jealousy, or any other negative emotions. When this happens, the Jarjacha takes over the mind, body, and soul. If released from a soul, then it can take everything from a person in life and after death. Once they are satisfied with the fear and suffering they have caused, they may return to rest in the soul. Jarjachas can turn others into Jarjachas and some become Jarjachas after breaking taboos or because of incest. They take the form of llamas with human faces,…
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Ichiwanda/Ifiwanda/Ichisongola/Kanumba
The Ichiwanda comes from the Lamba people of Zambia, formerly Rhodesia. They are sometimes described as demons, but this is largely an inaccurate term because they can be benevolent under certain circumstances. They can cause madness to those they take possession of, may cause a lingering ulcer, and they are also commonly associated with leprosy. They can also be responsible for accidents of carelessness. There is a similar creature called a Umusako. It’s also believed everyone has an “Attendant Ichiwanda” functioning much like a guardian angel, protecting them from things like wild animals, but they may also punish a person for their misdeeds. Sometimes they reveal the breaking of taboos,…
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Hantu
Hantu is a term used when referring to creatures from Malaysian myths. Hantu is often translated as “ghost” “demon” or “spirit.” They live in a place called Pulau Hantu, roughly meaning “ghost island.” They can generally be split into three classifications these being minor, medium, and greater. They’re nocturnal spirits and typically represent smaller dangers, preying on mankind. It’s believed there is a Hantu for every evil. They can bring disease, and insanity, and may possess people or herald Iblis. They are often invisible and can only be heard rather than seen. Each Hantu has specific strengths and weaknesses, and what these are can vary from town to town or…
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Godzadowi
The Godzadowi is a mystical event from the Seneca and Iroquois people. It’s described as a form of possession hysteria that commonly occurs during the midwinter festival. It’s believed that certain spirits cause different reactions in those they possess. If one is possessed by a bear spirit, they may show great strength, grunt, clench their teeth, and be calmed with berries. Citations: Gill, Sam D., and Sullivan, Irene F.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Fetch
The Fetch is a supernatural creature from Scottish myth. They are thought to be made of all the negative qualities and traits of a person. Everyone is believed to have one, but it is suppressed by conscious and societal laws. If someone is disturbed or unbalanced enough, the Fetch can separate from the person and become a whole separate being. Sometimes they remain completely invisible and whisper temptations into the ear of their better half. This may cause one to believe they are insane, or cause them to become insane. They can move objects and harm people and can also manifest looking identical to their better half. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan.…
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Erestun/Xloptuny
The Erestun is a form of spirit from Russian myth. They possess someone who is on the brink of death, often causing accidents, illnesses, or violence. They are thought to be the spirits of evil sorcerers formed when the sorcerer splits its soul, or when they somehow lose their physical body. They enter the body in an invisible astral form and cause what appears to be a miraculous recovery. They need to feed on human blood to maintain control of the body they possess and prey on the friends and family of their host. Sometimes they take only a small amount of blood, but in desperate situations, they will drain…
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Rabisu/Rōbēs
The Rabisu are vampiric spirits from ancient Akkadian myth. Their name means “evil fiend” or “evil croucher.” They’re ambush predators that stalk from the shadows and lunge at unsuspecting humans to drain their life force. They are known to cooperate amongst each other and even with other creatures like Labartu. They often appear in nightmares and hide out in rarely visited places. Rabisu would often be a term placed before various forms of demons, and at one time a Rabisu was a high official just under a judge much like a magistrate, with the name changing context due to the fear of the power these people held. People who can…
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Tiamat
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Ka Dinga Pepo/Ka Denga Pepo/Ka-Dinga Pepo/Kadinga Pepo
Ka Dinga Pepo is a phenomenon from Zanzibar. The term is Swahili with “ka” meaning ‘a form of,’ “Dinga” meaning a cramp-like seizure, and “Pepo” referring to an evil spirit or plague. The term refers to a spiritual attack causing sickness. The term was also for the origin of the name for ‘dengue fever’ in 1800. Citations: Africanderisms: A Glossary of South African Colloquial Words and Phrases and of Place and Other Names. United Kingdom, Longmans, Green and Company, 1913. Dobson, Mary. Murderous Contagion: A Human History of Disease. United Kingdom, Hachette Book Group, 2015. Fabes, Stephen. Signs of Life: A Doctor’s Journey to the Ends Of The Earth. United…
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Doppelgänger
The Doppelgänger is an entity from German myth. The name translates to “double walker” or “double goer.” They appear as a shadowy double of the person who sees them, and it’s often believed everybody has one, most often invisible and without power or will. When they are seen, it is almost solely by their real counterpart and in a shadow or reflection moving in a weird way. They are sometimes evil, but more often are benign. In some rare cases they may be helpful. They sometimes manipulate the real person into doing evil and may separate from the body as the real one sleeps to go commit misdeeds. They may…
