Myths & mysteries
Discover facts about myths & mysteries. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Myths & mysteries
Ancient Greeks paid a fortune to sit in pitch-black tunnels to hallucinate dead relatives
The ancient Greek equivalent of a haunted house was surprisingly lucrative. At the Oracle of the Dead (the Necromanteion) in Ephyra, wealthy citizens would…
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Russian philosopher Pyotr Ouspensky tried to mathematically prove the existence of ghosts
Trying to combine high-level geometry with spiritualism is how you end up completely uninvited to dinner parties. In 1911, Pyotr Ouspensky wrote 'Tertium…
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Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg claimed the Last Judgment already occurred in the year 1757
Nothing relieves the anxiety of an impending apocalypse quite like a guy insisting we already missed it. Swedenborg was a brilliant scientist who suffered an…
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Infamous occultist Aleister Crowley meticulously rated his magical rituals on a numbered scale
Imagine performing a demonic invocation and then giving it a 3.5 out of 5 stars because the vibes were off. The self-proclaimed 'Greatest Mage of the 20th…
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Three churches display John the Baptist severed head
Unless this particular desert wanderer was secretly a hydra, the math here does not check out. At least three separate major tourist destinations display a…
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Suit of pentacles focuses entirely on your bank account
Even mystical pursuits have to pay the rent. This earthy suit abandons all the lofty spiritual fluff to strictly address your material reality, your career…
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Discordianism worships a goddess using hotdogs on Fridays
Mocking rigid religious rules requires getting highly specific about processed meat. Discordians celebrate their chaotic goddess Eris by deliberately eating a…
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Babalon Working was a desert ritual to manifest a goddess
When regular weekend plans fail, you can always try ripping open a hole in reality. Two infamous esoteric practitioners went out to the barren desert,…
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Suit of swords in tarot implies incoming terrible news
When pointy weapons start showing up on the table, it is time to brace yourself. In esoteric cardboard readings, this particular suit is almost entirely…
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Incorruptible saints are often just coated in thick wax
Never rotting after death is a prime requirement for extreme holiness, but a little cosmetic help is usually required. Many so-called incorruptible bodies…
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Padre Pio wore fingerless gloves to hide his holy wounds
Spontaneous bleeding is incredibly tough on a wardrobe. To keep his permanently bleeding palms from staining absolutely everything he touched, this famous…
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Church of the SubGenius promises followers eternal slack
While other sects promise grand enlightenment or eternal paradise, this parody religion aims much lower. The ultimate goal is achieving 'Slack', a state of…
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Minor Arcana contains fifty six cards of everyday chores
While the big cards handle total life destruction, the rest of the deck is just petty gossip. These fifty-six cards deal with minor arguments, fleeting…
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Suit of wands represents your exhausting daily labor
Sticks are surprisingly motivational in esoteric contexts. Pulling these cards means you are about to be flooded with passion, creative burdens, and an…
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Stigmata wounds conveniently match famous paintings
Divine intervention seems to heavily rely on local art galleries for its anatomical accuracy. Individuals claiming to spontaneously develop holy wounds almost…
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Tarot decks always contain exactly seventy eight cards
Despite the infinite variety of themes—ranging from gummy bears to gothic vampires—the core structure of a standard esoteric deck never changes. You will…
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Denis of Paris supposedly walked miles holding his own head
Execution is usually the end of a career, but this guy decided to make a dramatic exit. After being completely decapitated, he allegedly picked up his severed…
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Satanic Temple primarily campaigns for basic human rights
Despite the aggressively terrifying name and heavily spiked aesthetic, this modern group spends almost all their time doing extremely boring paperwork. They…
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Jediism became an official religion on national censuses
Internet pranks can sometimes legally alter government data. During various global censuses, hundreds of thousands of people wrote in 'Jedi Knight' as their…
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Hanged Man card depicts a guy totally fine with hanging
Most people dangling by one ankle from a tree branch would be actively screaming, but this guy is absolutely vibing. In esoteric readings, this alarming image…
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Sephirot represent divine emanations rather than places
It is easy to look at esoteric maps and assume they outline a physical road trip. Instead, these ten distinct spheres outline entirely conceptual traits like…
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Secret societies require memorizing awkward handshakes
Gaining access to the deepest truths of the universe heavily relies on complicated finger placement. To prove you belong in the inner circle, members must…
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Tarot court cards inexplicably include a random page boy
Most standard playing cards settle for a King, Queen, and Jack, but the esoteric version demands an extra layer of feudal hierarchy. The inclusion of a 'Page'…
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Pastafarians wear colanders to secure religious freedom
Fighting for the separation of church and state occasionally requires looking completely ridiculous at the DMV. Members of this satirical group insist that…
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