The Grand Majestic Lodge markets itself as “the most haunted hotel in the Cragstone Mountains,” which is impressive, considering the competition consists mostly of abandoned ski chalets and outhouses with broken locks. Perched on a cliff like a rotting wedding cake, the Majestic lures in ghost hunters, paranormal thrill-seekers, and the occasional unfortunate skeptic (guess … Read more
Few cryptids have captured the popular imagination — or lowered the bar for eyewitness credibility — quite like the Chupacabra, the legendary “goat sucker” of Latin American folklore. Decades after is should have slunk off into obscurity, the Chupacabra somehow manages to keep sucking in the gullible. For those of you who have mercifully escaped … Read more
There’s a special kind of magic in humanity’s ability to find patterns where none exist. Some people look at a cloud and see a dog. Others look at a map and see divine pathways of mystical energy controlling the fate of mankind. The difference is that one of those people grows out of it by … Read more
There’s something uniquely depressing about a forest that’s been weaponized for spiritual tourism. At The Wailing Woods Retreat Center, nestled in the least scenic corner of the state park system, you’re invited to “reconnect with the wisdom of nature” and “attune to the whispering spirits of the ancient woods.” What you’re actually reconnecting with is … Read more
Somewhere along the line, fermented tea stopped being an accident best left in the back of your fridge and became a $2 billion industry fueled by Instagram wellness influencers, dubious health claims, and the willingness of otherwise sensible adults to drink liquids that smell like a locker room. Kombucha, for the blissfully uninitiated, is sweetened … Read more
If you’ve ever sat across from a psychic, a palm reader, a tarot card enthusiast, or anyone calling themselves a “spiritual intuitive” and thought, “Wow, they really understand me!” — congratulations. You’ve fallen for one of the oldest psychological parlor tricks in the book: the Barnum Effect. Named after the great showman and legendary huckster … Read more