M.J. Rose

Have you heard of Lily Dale, New York? The spiritualist community of the Modern Spiritualist movement? If séances, crystal balls, mediumship demonstrations, lectures, and private appointments with mediums sounds like a dream come true to you, search no more – you have found your ideal vacation spot…

Here’s a HuffPost piece about Lily Dale…

Lily Dale: Where Mediums, Healers And Spiritualists Summer

By Kathleen Poliquin

“The lobby and the wide front porch of the Lily Dale’s Maplewood Hotel are typical of a place built in 1888, except for the sign that reads “No readings, healing circles or seances in this area please.”

The sign’s not out of place here. It’s posted among the hotel’s vintage furnishings as well as its paintings and tapestries, said to have been created with help from the spirit world. The Maplewood, with about 40 guest rooms but no air conditioning, televisions, telephones or elevators, is the social hub of Lily Dale, a gated community of about 500 Spiritualists in southwest New York, on the east shore of Upper Cassadaga Lake.

For 133 years, Lily Dale has been home to the Lily Dale Assembly, a religious organization of mediums and healers who claim to communicate messages from those who have passed on to those still living on the Earthly plane…

For the rest, click here.

More about Lily Dale here and here.

The glorious Atlas Obscura offers this interesting piece about a group of monks from Japan who died in the ultimate act of self-denial…and ultimately became relics –

Sokushinbutsu of Dainichi temple

The self-mummified monks of Japan

(Atlas Obscura)

“Scattered throughout northern Japan are over two dozen mummified Japanese monks known as sokushinbutsu. Followers of shugend?, an ancient form of Buddhism, the monks died in the ultimate act of self-denial.

For three years, the priests would eat a special diet consisting only of nuts and seeds, while taking part in a regimen of rigorous physical activity that stripped them of their body fat. They then ate only bark and roots for another three years and began drinking a poisonous tea made from the sap of the urushi tree, normally used to lacquer bowls. This caused vomiting and a rapid loss of bodily fluids, and—most importantly—it killed off any maggots that might cause the body to decay after death. Finally, a self-mummifying monk would lock himself in a stone tomb barely larger than his body, wherein he would not move from the lotus position. His only connection to the outside world was an air tube and a bell. Each day, he rang a bell to let those outside know that he was still alive. When the bell stopped ringing, the tube was removed and the tomb sealed.

Not all monks who attempted self-mummification were successful. When the tombs were finally opened, some bodies were found to have rotted…”

For the rest, and many photos, click here to visit to Atlas Obscura.

Folklore or morbid tribute?

Her hands, just look at her hands…

A Mexican Bridal Shop Mannequin Looks Just Like A Preserved Human Corpse. (Viral Nova)

“In the middle of Chihuahua, Mexico, there is a bridal shop that is quite famous. However, it’s not famous because of the dresses. It’s the store mannequins that keep them on the map.

That’s because, for the past 75 years, a startlingly lifelike mannequin stood in the window. That Mexican bridal shop mannequin puzzled locals. According to local legends, the mannequin is actually the preserved daughter of the shop’s former owner.

Disturbing, but is it true? No one knows for sure. Take a look at these pictures and decide for yourself. The detail you’ll be able to see on this corpse bride is incredible…”

For the rest, and close up picture of her HANDS (wow, creepy), here.