Werewolves » curse

St. Patrick’s Werewolves

moonlight — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00:42 +0000

Before I tell you the tale of St. Patrick and the werewolves of Ireland I need you to clear your mind of St. Patrick’s Day parties, clovers, green glitter and beer. Good, now we can begin.

According to legend, St. Patrick once punished the Welsh king, Vereticus by transforming him into a wolf. While St. Patrick was in Ireland he became so disgusted with certain tribes that continued to resist his efforts to convert them to Christianity that he cursed them and condemned them to become werewolves.

The spell fell on the poor tribesmen and caused them to turn into werewolves a certain time every seven years. They would stay in wolf form for another seven years; once the years passed they would turn back into humans, but only for seven years. It was a horrible vicious cycle.

But during their seven years as a werewolf they weren’t denied the sacraments of the church. In 1191 a man named Giraldus Cambrensis recorded the testimony of a priest that swore that he once gave a sacrament to a werewolf.

Throughout the years, travelers to Ireland insisted that they had met entire families of werewolves and that they have even seen some people transform into wolves. Up until the end of the eighteenth century, Ireland was known as Wolfland.

This legend of St. Patrick turning unbelievers into werewolves could very well be a fabricated story used to scare people into turning to Christianity. This kind of thing was done quite often throughout the old world. They would tell the people that if they led sinful lives they would be turned into a vampire or werewolf or some other monster – that’s actually how we have many of the stories we have. Think of it as telling a child if he doesn’t behave the boogeyman will get him, same deal.

But who knows, maybe St. Patrick did turn the pagans into werewolves for not bringing Christ into their hearts.

- Moonlight

Holy Werewolf!

moonlight — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:34 +0000

There’s an old folktale about a priest and his encounter with a werewolf. In Ragusa, Italy there was once a church called Santa Maria della Scala (St. Mary of the Stars) and it was supposedly at this church were the battle of the wolf and priest took place.

The holy man was crossing the piazza late one night when from the shadows and beast jumped out at him. The creature bared its fangs and growled ferociously. In the moonlight the priest could see that it was shaped somewhat like a man, but that it had all the attributes of a wolf, including a long muzzle.

The frightened man offered up a prayer, but it didn’t work, instead it made the werewolf even angrier. With the wolf ready to attack the priest ran to the church for safety but the werewolf came after him, obviously not affected at all by the holy place.

At the altar, the priest held up a large cross towards the werewolf, but the holy relic did absolutely nothing to the beast. The wolf, not fazed by the holy items surrounding him continued to walk menacingly towards the priest. This time the priest acted and used the cross as a weapon, attacking the oncoming werewolf. He brutally hit the creature on the forearm, and from the wound oozed black sticky blood.

The injured werewolf yelped like a dog and ran for the door, but I’m afraid he didn’t make it. Before he even reached the doors he began to transform back into human form and eventually collapsed on the church steps. This is when the priest ran after him to offer help. At this point the werewolf had completely reverted back to human form and when the priest laid eyes of the face of his would-be attacker he saw that the werewolf was in fact a fellow cleric.

The wolf man quickly revealed that he had suffered the curse since childhood, that it was the rays of the moon turned him into a beast. He admitted that while in his savage form he often attacked and even killed those unlucky enough to cross his path. It wasn’t until the loss of blood was he able to break the curse.

I find it interesting that this is an old folktale and the holy relics and prayer didn’t work, when usually in these old tales they do. Instead it’s violence that cures the werewolf. The loss of blood is a common cure for werewolves in folklore; it was even the cure in this story.

- Moonlight

Career Advice for the Ambitious Werewolf

annimi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:31:51 +0000

Being a werewolf can seem like a major lifestyle disruption; suddenly, your senses have changed, you’re sensitive to sounds and smell like never before, you’re eating differently, and you might even have killed a few innocent people. But in no way does this mean that you should have to suffer a major upheaval in your career. In these economically uncertain times, why aim for minimum wage and treat your unique ability like a curse? Use your senses, and newfound enhancements to your advantage!

Chemist/Microbiologist – Still all choked up about being a werewolf? Well, then pursue a career in scientist; you could find a cure for the werewolf disease, or curse, and study your own chemical makeup compared to that of humans. Just be sure to keep your studies a secret; who knows, along the way you might discover the cure for cancer!
Barber/Hairdresser/Aesthetician – Few others aside from werewolves understand the struggle with unwanted hair, and the perfect shave. If you understand this plight, go into hairdressing, spa, or barber school, and get certified. There’s good money in straight razor shaving, waxing women (or men), or cutting hair; plus, it’s a great way to de-stress your subconscious or conscious issues with hair.
Wolf Preservationist – If you love wolves, and want to preserve your full-blooded brethren, you are no doubt one of the most passionate people to pursue a career in preserving wildlife, such as wolves. After all, you know what it’s like to be one! You’ll also have plenty of ideal wilderness close at hand should you want to travel deep into the woods to transform.
Zookeeper – If you love animals, and animals seem to respond well to your new biological makeup, then working in a zoo would be an excellent career! Perhaps working with predatory carnivores will be the best fit for you, since as a werewolf, you’ll be on the same wavelength.
Private Investigator/Police – As a private investigator, you’ll pursue criminals, or find people; with your new hyper-senses, this will be a piece of cake! The differences between working privately and working with other police though, is the privacy to go about your investigation your own way. There’s also no chance of being scheduled to work on the night of a full moon. Keep these things in mind, and an almanac close at hand.
Criminal Defense Lawyer – If you have issues with our current criminal justice system, you can finally do something about it; new senses will easily aid you in determining whether or not your client is innocent. If your client is guilty, who says you can’t botch the job somehow? It’s not like you have to worry too much about his buddies coming to pay you a visit. Unless they have silver bullets, they’ll be in for a hell of a surprise.

Weird Werewolf Wonders: Nine Things You Have to Buy!

annimi — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:38:45 +0000

1. Silver Bullets – Too bad you have to request them custom made, or make them yourself, –yes, sad but true. Silver bullets are not commercially manufactured, but you can order them from most major ammo companies.

2. Werewolf Hunting & Specimen Kit – The kit includes handwritten notes on anatomy, weaknesses, sightings, experiences, and instructions, among other nifty things, such as silver bullets and protective herbs!

3. Grandma Werewolf Tee – What wardrobe is complete without a t-shirt showing a charming grandma werewolf shopping at the grocery store.

4. Wolf’s Bane & Monk’s Hood – You never know when you’ll need a full supply of all-natural werewolf repellent!

5. Save A Broom, Ride a Werewold Tee – Surely you’re missing out on this wonderfully insinuative t-shirt that declares your desire to “ride a werewolf.”

6. Werewolf Fetus – No collection of werewolf memorabilia is complete without your very own werewolf fetus. Perfect conversation starter; pop it in a specimen jar for the coffee table, or put it on a buffet at your evil aunt’s house… and when the time is right, take the cover off the dish. No better way to deliver heart trauma to your least favorite geriatric relatives.

7. Werewolf Barbie – For the little girl who has a very specific Christmas list.

8. ..and her favorite movie poster! – And if your favorite little monster has a Barbie Dreamhouse, then her brand new Werewolf Barbie is surely going to need a framed miniature Wolf-Man movie poster!

9. The Anatomy of a Werewolf – The next time you dissect or game dress a werewolf in a field, you’re going to need to know which parts are keepers, and which parts go to the dogs. So after you saw off your freshly killed werewolf’s head, now you’ll know exactly where the best werewolf steaks can be found!

Mount Lykaion’s Curse

moonlight — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:13 +0000

Hey guys, it’s time again for another ancient werewolf tale. This time we are going way back to ancient Greece. The time of vengeful and fearful gods and goddesses, a time of ghastly curses and harsh revenge.

Our tale today takes us to the mysterious top of Mount Lykaion, a remote spot in Arcadia in the Peloponnesus peninsula. This place is home to many a rumor and story; the lower slopes of the mountain were covered in thick forests which were home to deadly wolves, the upper slopes were bare and rocky and were believed to be a place where dark rituals took place. But I digress, our story is from the Roman poet Ovid (43 BCE – c. 18 AD). It is the tale of King Lycaon.

King Lycaon ruled this mountain top and is one night visited by the feared god Zeus. Zeus convinces the people of Arcadia that he is in fact a divine being, the true god himself, but Lycaon doesn’t believe it is Zeus and he decides to kill this stranger. Lycaon isn’t able to kill the god so instead he murders a prisoner and cooks his flesh, serving it as a meal to his unwelcome guest. When Zeus finds out he has been eating human flesh he is filled with uncontrollable rage and burns the palace to the ground, and then turns Lycaon into a wolf. This transformation would last 9 years, after which Lycaon would turn back into a man, unless he ate human flesh while in wolf form. If he had eaten human meat then he was stuck in wolf form forever.

Now this is just one version of the story, a Greek traveler named Pausanias records a different version of the tale. He said that Lycaon goes to Mount Lykaion, where Zeus was born. There at the temple of the gods, King Lycaon offers a human baby as a sacrifice.

Zeus does not accept this sacrifice and as a punishment he turns Lycaon into a wolf. Ever since, anyone who leaves a sacrifice at temple Zeus Lycaeus also turns into a werewolf. But if the person stays away from human flesh for 9 years they will turn back into a man. King Lycaon never becomes a man again.

There are many arguments between scholars over these stories. Many have different views on it and believe different versions of it. Either way, it’s a damn good ancient story. How many of you werewolf fans are planning a trip to Arcadia now? Haha.

Side note: There are many different spellings/versions for these names – King Lycaon, King Lykaon. Mount Lykaion, Mount Lycaeus, Mount Lykaon…etc.

- Moonlight

Bleeding Medicine

moonlight — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:00:36 +0000

Come closer, gather round and have a seat, I’ve got a story you boys and gals. Once upon a time… haha kidding. Ok ok, serious now. This story comes straight from Sicilian folklore and is about a wealthy nobleman who was cursed by the full moon. Ba ba buuuum! Cue the thunderclaps and heavy wind.

When the full moon rose, this nobleman supernaturally transformed into an uncontrollable feral wolf, with a hunger for flesh. He trusted only one with this secret and that was one of his servants. When the nobleman transformed, this servant would take him to the piazza and let him loose. There he would stalk the streets, killing those that were roaming about that late. One night while he was on the prowl he came across a soldier who wasn’t afraid like the others were. This brave soldier boldly faced the wolf, and, drawing his sword, slashed it across its face, cutting its forehead. Sticky, black blood oozed out … curing the man of his werewolf curse. The wolf fell, whining and crying at the soldier’s feet, slowly changing back into human form. The nobleman was incredibly happy and even rewarded the soldier for releasing him from the werewolf curse that he suffered from for so long.

Right about now you are probably scratching your head wondering how the hell that makes sense, well, let me explain. Back in the day a common form of “curing” someone that was sick was to bleed them. On you have the sniffles? Let’s just drain a pint of blood from you. You have a bad cough? Another couple pints. See, they thought all diseases and sicknesses were carried in the blood, so taking the blood out also took out whatever was ailing you. So this was the idea behind curing a werewolf, bleeding it. In this tradition they thought that werewolf blood was black and has the consistency of tar and even taking a little bit from a werewolf’s veins would be enough to cleanse the victim of the curse.

There are a handful of stories similar to the one above. They all have the same general idea of curing a werewolf by bleeding him. Amazing what was once believed before “science” caught on, eh? But then, some still believe it and who are we to say what’s what?

- Moonlight

The Wolfman

moonlight — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:46:10 +0000

The Wolfman is a remake of a movie of the same title from 1941. The film is set in the 1880s and follows Lawrence Talbot (played by Benicio del Toro) who returns home and to this estranged father (Anthony Hopkins) when he learns of his brother’s disappearance. During the course of the investigation Lawrence discovers that the culprit behind his brother’s disappearance is a werewolf. He is then attacked and bitten by the beast, he himself inheriting the curse. In spite of his full-moon habits his brother’s fiancee, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt) falls for him anyway and fights for him even though the entire town has turned on him.

When interviewed actress Emily Blunt said, “It’s a taboo relationship between Benicio and I, because my character was engaged to his brother,” she explained. “Her dead fiancee is found with his guts ripped out by some strange beast. Benicio, the long lost brother, comes back into town to find out what’s gone on.” She then adds, “When I read the script, I thought it had this Greek mythology, this sweeping, gothic, eerie, suspenseful feel to it,” she explained. “And then there’s a love story. Even though it is terrifying, it’s not just about how much blood we can show splashing across the camera.” But if you are worried about this film being nothing more than a sappy love story don’t worry, as the trailer shows it’s a fast paced thriller full of action and excitement.

The original Wolfman is a classic that’s up there with Count Dracula, Frankenstein and Creature of the Black Lagoon. Benicio del Tora was an excellent choice for the Wolfman, being a huge fan of the original, even owning a collection of Wolfman memorabilia. Here’s hoping this remakes doesn’t disappoint but from the looks of the trailer I doubt it will.

Watch the trailer here…

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Wolfman will hit theaters February 12, 2010

- Moonlight

How To Become A Werewolf

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:25:17 +0000

A werewolf is a human who has the ability to turn into a wolf-like beast. Though it is once though you must either be bitten by a werewolf or have a placed with said curse placed on your in order to become a werewolf many other ways are also effective. As a man, after stripping of your human attire, you place either a wolfskin belt or the entire animals hide. Another method is to apply a cursed ointment to the skin. It is said too that a man who drinks from a specific magical river or even out of a single footprint of a werewolf may himself become this beast.

Other avenues include guzzling a specially made beer followed by imitating a set formula, being born of a specific date of the year and the simple fact of being born of both a werewolf mother and father. It is well known that the transformation from human to beast happens only under appearance of the full moon and is most often following a period of anxiety and discomfort or restlessness. After this initial phase, you begin to jerk violently and your muscles contract erratically during the actual transformation process. You will then be drawn to the nearest darkly forested area.

If you succeed in this transformation you will be granted superior senses and strength to both human and wolf. You must be leery of humans who know your true self, since there are ways a human can tell if you are indeed a lycanthrope, or werewolf. If a human comes at you with a knife, flee, for if you are cut with said weapon, your thick coat of hair will be exposed, therefore, shedding light on your true image. It is also known that you have bristles under your tongue, so it is imperative that you keep this sight from all humans. Though you appear invincible, this is not so. Your one weakness is to be shot with a pure silver bullet. This action would surely end your life.