DeepSummary
This episode of the Lore podcast explores various cultural beliefs and legends about omens that are believed to foretell one's impending death. It tells stories like the Welsh tale of the 'taile' or 'goblin funeral' where a farmer sees a vision of his own funeral procession, the Scottish 'Bodach Glass' spirit who appears in grey clothes to warn of death, and the 'belled buzzard' in America whose ringing bell was thought to signal death or disaster.
The episode delves into the origins and variations of these death omens across different folklore traditions. It discusses how humans have always sought to find meaning and divine intervention in the mystery surrounding death, giving rise to such supernatural portents. Real-life accounts are shared, like that of the 13th Earl of Eglinton who claimed to have seen the Bodach Glass three times before his death.
The final story is about 7-year-old Nanny Ruth Lowe from 1920s Virginia, who announced her life's 'mission was finished' shortly before passing away. After her death, her mother found a cross and crown made of feathers in Nanny's pillow that miraculously grew in size, believed to be a sign that the young girl had ascended to heaven.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Cultures around the world have folklore and legends about supernatural omens that were believed to foretell a person's impending death.
- These omens take various forms like phantom funerals, spirits like the 'Bodach Glass', and animals like the 'belled buzzard'.
- The human tendency to seek patterns and meaning, especially around the great mystery of death, gave rise to such beliefs in these death portents.
- While meant to provide foreknowledge, such omens were often seen as burdensome curses rather than empowering revelations.
- Real-life accounts like those of the Earl of Eglinton bolstered the folklore around these death omens in many cultures.
- The legend of Nanny Ruth Lowe's feather crown reflects how such omens provided hope about an afterlife for the grieving.
- These folktales reveal the complex attitudes cultures have had towards death - fascination, dread, acceptance and spiritual belief.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “History tells us that weve always been looking towards the end, religions have risen, civilizations have fallen, and grifters have made a lot of money claiming that they can see something the rest of us cant.“ by Aaron Manke (Narrator)
- “Knowledge isnt always empowering. In fact, sometimes it can actually be a curse.“ by Aaron Manke (Narrator)
- “The children raced home to tell their mother what they had seen, but she forbade them from saying a word about it to anyone else. Silence, though, was not going to stop death from claiming another soul.“ by Aaron Manke (Narrator)
- “Nanny Ruth Lowe may not have been on earth for a very long time, but she left behind a bit of hope, a clue that she had gone to heaven and that she and her loved ones would be reunited again someday.“ by Aaron Manke (Narrator)
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Episode Information
Lore
Aaron Mahnke
6/24/24
Few things are as terrifying as the mystery of our own deaths. Thankfully, folklore has stepped in with legends that hint at early answers, giving hope and chills in equal measure.
Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Harry Marks and research by Cassandra de Alba.
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