Category:
Superstition

Sathya Sai Baba




"Sai Baba's materialisations of vibhuti (holy ash) and other small objects such as rings, necklaces, and watches, along with reports of miraculous healings, resurrections, clairvoyance, bilocation, and alleged omnipotence and omniscience, were a source of both fame and controversy."

Wikipedia page.


Posted By: Paul - Thu May 25, 2017 - Comments (11)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Religion, Superstition, India

Chinese Fingernail Reading



I had been unaware until now that Chinese Palmistry interpreted one's fingernails as well.

A modern guide is here.


But I rather like these interpretations from 1905.


Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 09, 2016 - Comments (2)
Category: Body, Superstition, 1900s, Asia

Bullet-proof Bible

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Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 08, 2016 - Comments (11)
Category: Death, Religion, Superstition, 1950s, Weapons

The Billiken

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Woman imagines a deity, it become part of the native cultures of Alaska and Japan. That's pretty weird.

Wikipedia entry here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon May 23, 2016 - Comments (3)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Religion, Superstition, Foreign Customs, 1900s

Cold Medicine of the Beast

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Still being made and sold today.



Home page here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 17, 2016 - Comments (9)
Category: Health, Religion, Superstition, Nineteenth Century

The Dripping Bloody Hawk-Mummy of War

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Original article here.

In 1930 we learn, from no less an authority than the founder of the Boy Scouts, about this macabre prescient bird corpse.

A followup article the same year explains more, and gives the owner's name.

Then after four years, the hawk crops up again.

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Original article here.

Since then, nothing. I wonder what ever became of this talisman?

Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 09, 2015 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Superstition, War, 1930s

The Martian Writing of Hélène Smith

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A self-styled medium, Ms Smith was not content to talk to distant or dead Earth people only, but also had a hotline to Mars. Here is her portrait of a typical Martian, and their language.

Wikipedia entry here.

Long article here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 18, 2014 - Comments (9)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Delusions, Fantasies and Other Tricks of the Imagination, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Superstition, Nineteenth Century

Happy Nutcrack Night!

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Original article here.

Who knew that Halloween used to be a time of divination for romance?

LOVE TESTS OF HALLOWEEN tells of other forgotten customs.

Whether you are roasting your lover's nuts, or going door-to-door for candy, have a swell night!

Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 31, 2014 - Comments (5)
Category: Holidays, Superstition, Nineteenth Century

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Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

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