Yearly Archives: 2016

64 posts

A cat watches a full moon--very noir.

Sorchia’s A-Z Blog Reflections—2017 A-Z Challenge: Bigger, Better, Bloggier

I know better! I had completed only 6 or 7 posts by the first of April 2016. As a result, I didn’t really achieve my goals for this challenge which were to: Finish it. I missed a couple of letters and the shame weighs heavy, but like most of you, I have a job and a family who selfishly expect me to be available. Gain followers. Well, if you don’t get out there and interact, you get what you deserve—nada. […]

Things That Go Bump in the Night–Zombies

I grow weary of TV and movie zombies. Bloody, yes; scary, not so much. The truth is far more terrifying. A zombie is a supposedly dead person who has been reanimated. In Haitian voodoo, which may have its roots in Western or Central Africa, a zombie is an undead slave created by a witch or priest or priestess. The creature was once alive but, by the application of magic and a few household ingredients in the right proportions, got zombified. […]

Things That Go Bump in the Night–Yawkwawiak, the Giant Bear

Y is another tricky letter but the Yawkwawiak makes a fine addition to the bestiary we are developing at Sorchia’s Universe He’s also called Katshituashku by the Penobscot Nation and is an elephant-sized bear who enjoys munching on unwary nature-lovers—or anyone else who wanders into the forest. The stiff-legged bear makes an appearance in the lore of several Native American tribes. The Penobscot Nation reports that the big, shaggy mammal can’t bend its legs and leans on trees to rest. […]

Things That Go Bump in the Night–Xing Tian, the Headless Giant

X is notoriously a difficult letter to make work during an A-Z Blog. Fortunately, there are freaky critters all over the world! Xíng Tiān  is a creature in Chinese mythology. The giant Xíng Tiān followed his master into exile after a bitter defeat at the hands of The Yellow Emperor. After this Yellow Emperor caught up and executed Xing Tian’s master, Xing Tian issued a challenge for a duel. Xíng Tiān and The Yellow Emperor fought a ferocious battle with […]

Things That Go Bump in the Night–Witches

The short definition of witch is someone who practices magic—but the story is much more complex than that. First, witches can be male or female. Many male witches particularly hate the term warlock because it creates a division where there is none. Witches are old souls who have been through many lifetimes and in many forms. Male and Female just don’t apply. The tradition is matriarchal, but the form is variable. Second, magic is one dish with many flavors. You […]

Things That Go Bump in the Night–Voodoo Dolls

A busy time here at Sorchia’s Universe. I’ve missed a couple of letters but plan to finish strong–with a BIG announcement coming soon. Here’s the thing about Voodoo dolls–they are not really Voodoo after all. Many religions use dolls or human figures in rituals–including Voodoo. The association, however, is mostly pure Hollywood. Ancient Greeks called them Kolossoi, and used them to protect a village by binding the deity and preventing harm from that source. Native Americans and other agricultural cultures […]