The Supernatural Encyclopedia: A to Z

NECRONOMICON

Said to have first been published around 730AD, in arabic, as 'Al Azif by Abdul Alhazred. It relates powerful formulas for calling up dangerous demigods and demons, who are dedicated to destroying mankind.

NESSIE (Loch Ness Monster)

It is said that about 565AD, the irish priest who became Saint Columba, went to Scotland to convert the Picts to Christianity. NESSIE has been reported regularly over the years. No remains or other traces exist.

NORNS

The Norns (Old Norse: norn, plural: nornir) are numerous female beings who rule the fates of the various races of Norse mythology. An English tradition talks of the Weird Sisters, (sometimes Wyrd Sisters or Three Weird Sisters), where Wyrd is the English form of Urðr, one of the named Norns, whose name means itself "fate". According to Snorri Sturluson's interpretation of the Völuspá, the three most important Norns, Urðr (Wyrd), Verðandi and Skuld come out from a hall standing at the Well of Urðr (well of fate) and they draw water from the well and take sand that lies around it, which they pour over the ash Yggdrasill so that its branches will not rot. These Norns are described as three powerful maiden giantesses (Jotuns) whose arrival from Jötunheimr ended the golden age of the gods. They may be the same as the maidens of Mögþrasir who are described in Vafþrúðnismál (see below). Beside these three Norns, there are many other Norns who arrive when a person is born in order to determine his or her future. There were both evil and good Norns, and the former caused all the evil and tragic events in the world while the latter were a kind of protective goddesses. The belief in the Norns as bringers of both good and evil would last beyond the christianization, as testifies the rune inscription N 351 M from the Borgund stave church: Þórir carved these runes on the eve of Olaus-mass, when he travelled past here. The norns did both good and evil, great toil ... they created for me. While the name Urðr (Wyrd, Wierd) means "fate", Verðandi is derived from the Old Norse verb verða which means "to become" and Skuld is related to the verb "shall". There is no foundation in Norse mythology for the notion that the three main Norns each represent the past, the present and the future. Moreoever, the idea that there are three main Norns may be due to a late influence from Greek and Roman mythology, where there are also spinning fate goddesses (Moirae and Parcae). The origin of the name Norn is not certain, but it may derive from a word meaning "to twine" and which would refer to their twining the thread of fate. There is no clear distinction between Norns, Fylgjas, Hamingjas and Valkyries, nor with the more over-arching term Dísir. Moreover, artistic licence permitted such terms to be used for mortal women in Old Norse poetry, or to quote Snorri Sturluson's Skáldskaparmál on the various names used for women: Woman is also metaphorically called by the names of the Asynjur or the Valkyrs or Norns or women of supernatural kind.

NYMPH

An elemental spirit of the water.

Supernatural O:

OBEAH

Obeah (sometimes spelled "Obi") is a term used in the West Indies to refer to folk magic, sorcery, and religious practices derived from Central African and West African origins. As such, Obeah is similar to Palo, Voodoo, Santeria, rootwork, and hoodoo. Obeah is practiced in Suriname, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, Belize, the Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and many other Caribbean countries. Obeah is associated with both black and white magic, charms, luck, and with mysticism in general. In some Caribbean nations Obeah refers to African diasporic folk religions with admixtures such as Hindu puja; in other areas, Christians may include elements of Obeah in their religion—Obeah is associated with the Spiritual Baptist church—and the word Obeah, although not the practice of Obeah, appears in a text associated with the religion of Thelema. In Jamaica, slaves from different areas of Africa were brought into contact, creating some conflicts between those who practiced varying African religions. Those of West African Ashanti descent, who called their priests "Myal men" (also spelled Mial men), used the Ashanti term "Obi" or "Obeah" -- meaning "sorcery" -- to describe the practices of slaves of Central African descent. Thus those who worked in a Congo form of folk religion were called "Obeah men" or "sorcerers." Obeah also came to mean any physical object, such as a talisman or charm, that was used for evil magical purposes. However, despite its fearsome reputation, Obeah, like any other form of folk religion and folk magic, contains many traditions for healing, helping, and bringing about luck in love and money. During the mid 19th century the appearance of a comet in the sky became the focal point of an outbreak of religious fanaticism and Christian millennarianism among the Myal men of Jamaica. Spiritualism was at that time sweeping the English-speaking nations as well, and it readily appealed to those in the Afro-Carbbean diaspora, as spirit contact, especially with the dead, is an essential part of many African religions. During the conflict between Myal and Obeah, the Myal men positioned themselves as the "good" opponents to "evil" Obeah. They claimed that Obeah men stole people's shadows, and they set themselves up as the helpers of those who wished to have their shadows restored. Myal men contacted spirits in order to expose the evil works they ascribed to the Obeah men, and led public parades which resulted in crowd-hystreria that engendered violent antagonism against Obeah men. The public "discovery" of buried Obeah charms, presumed to be of evil intent, led on more than one occasion to violence against the rival Obeah men. Laws were passed that limited both Obeah and Myal traditions, but due to the outrages perpetrated by the mobs of Myalists, the British government of Jamaica sent many Myal men to prison, and this, along with the failure of their millennialist Christian prophesies, resulted in a lessening influence for Myalism, while Obeah remained a vital form of folk magic in Jamaica. By the early 20th century, Myalism was considered a thing of the past, and Obeah dominated.

OBSESSION

This refers to the besiegement of a person by a devil, demon or spirit. It differs from possession in that the agent does not take up residence, inside but assails the body from outside.

OCCULT

Mysterious, not revealed; secret and obscure.

Supernatural P:

PARANORMAL

(From the Greek 'beside/beyond normal') An adjective referring to events, abilities and matters not yet defined by science.

PENTACLE/PENTAGRAM

A five-pointed figure used as a talisman, with magic symbols.

PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

The substance, spirit or symbol by which base metals (iron, lead, copper) can be changed into gold or silver. It also imparts immortality, cures disease and performs other miracles. It is said to be the material from which all metals derive.

POLTERGEIST

Derived from the German words, Polter for 'commotion' and Geist for 'spirit'. A POLTERGEIST is a ghost of mischievous character. Usually throwing objects and damaging surroundings, POLTERGEISTS show up in homes where a discontented adolescent lives. The phenomena seems to take place only when that individual is present. When the discontent is relieved, the mischief ceases.

POPPET

Another name for the wax doll used in voodoo.

POSSESSION

The literal occupation of a person's body by a devil, demon or spirit. It is said that the possessed person speaks in different voices, and often in unknown tongues.

POTION

A mixture or liquid, usually ingested, made to serve a magical function. Also known as a Philtre.

PYTHAGORAS

(circa 580-500BC) A prominent Greek philosopher/mathematician, who developed intricate theories on the basic qualities of numbers.

Supernatural Q:

QI

(chee) The substance, 'life force', believed by ancient Chinese to circulate in the body.