The Sacred Horse That Guides the Dead: Chinese Burial Traditions

The Sacred Horse That Guides the Dead: Chinese Burial Traditions

Six hundred horses, buried in perfect rows. A 3,000-year-old ritual still practiced today. And a paper horse burning in a modern funeral.   In this episode, we look at the forgotten Chinese tradition of giving the dead a horse. Not as a symbol of wealth, but as a guide and protector for the soul's perilous journey to the afterlife. From the horse worship rituals of the Zhou dynasty to the 600-horse burial of a Qi state king, we trace how ancient Chinese believed that the dead needed transportation. But burying real horses was only for the elite. Then, a revolutionary invention changed everything: paper.   We follow the evolution of Zhi Zha, the art of burning paper effigies. From imperial luxury to a folk tradition that crossed class boundaries. Today, families still burn paper horses, alongside iPhones and designer handbags, as offerings of love and farewell.   But do the dead really receive them? And why do we keep burning, even when we're not sure? This is a story about fear, hope, and the longest bridge between the living and the dead. Watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/qI1qnesbtRc

When Cats Were Burned, Hanged, and Blamed for Treason

A man walks into a palace, claims the English throne, and blames a talking cat. That bizarre story opens a darker door: Europe's centuries-long war on cats.  From there, we travel across medieval and early modern Europe. From French bonfires where cats were burned as witches, Belgian towers where they were thrown for sport, to Danish barrels where children now hunt for candy. Along the way, we meet witch familiars named Sathan and Rutterkin,  accused cats in Shakespeare's Macbeth, and a political protest that got a dead cat dressed like a priest. This is not a story about one man's delusion. It's about why, for centuries, fear wore a cat's face, and what that says about us. Press play. You'll never look at your cat the same way again. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jMuHysA_Sjw

The Gods who killed summer

We all know the story of Persephone and Hades, but what about the other gods and monsters who bring the end of summer?  This is the story of two forgotten cycles: one born from the fury of the sea, the other from a betrayal on the land that explain why the golden days of summer must always come to an end. In this episode, we cover: The Orcadian myth of Sea Mither and Teran The skinless horror of the Nuckelavee How Slavic Jarilo's betrayal brings winter...

The Sorcerer Who Vanished from the Tower of London

Is magic real?  The Elizabethans certainly thought so. In a world lit by candlelight and shadowed by mystery, belief in witches, spells, and omens was as real as the rising sun. From the royal court to the village square, magic and superstition shaped everyday life—guiding decisions, inspiring fear, and influencing even the greatest minds of the age. In 1561, a man named Hew Draper vanished from the Tower of London, leaving behind only a strange astrological carving on his cell wall. Was it magic? An escape? Or something darker? This is the mysterious story of Elizabethan England's lost sorcerer.  Dive into the facinating past of the Tower of London's Salt Tower and its most puzzling inmate. This video looks at the story of Hew Draper, the Bristol innkeeper who was accused of witchcraft and sorcery during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. We take a closer look at the detailed astrological sphere and planetary grid he etched into the wall of his prison cell—a silent message that still hasn't been solved. The video covers the history of Elizabethan occult practices, John Dee, astrological magic, the Witchcraft Act of 1563, and the influential figures Draper encountered, including Bess of Hardwick. Could this carving have served as a magical tool? A celestial chart? Or was it just a way for a condemned man to pass the time? did he become a victim of the Tudor justice system, or did he manage to escape his destiny through means we can't comprehend?

Sacred MAGIC or Saintly MADNESS? The Dark Truth of Scotland's Holy Isle

Deep in Loch Maree, a tiny island hides a tree studded with coins, a well that forgot how to heal, and graves of lovers who trusted fate too far. Isle Maree is where Scottish legends whisper of magic, saintly miracles, and a queen’s secret wish. But whose power still lingers? In this episode, we cover: Queen Victoria's visit to Isle Meree The healing well The sacred Oak tree The forgotten rituals The old gods/ spirits of the Island