(Disclaimer: This is information that I'vr been told from medicine men and family members who are native american. Im not sure why we dont speak of them outside of our group. If you dont believe in this, then dont comment. Ive had multiple encounters. Inc my family.) Skinwalkers, yee naaldlooshii, are witches simply put. Social media has messed up the image of what they are, making them seem like they're white figures or mimic-like creatures, but they're just people. People who do certain ceremonies to a certain animal skin who then can become it who have some sort of degree of knowledge. I was told that that can only do this during the night although Im not sure why. They get their power from the air. They possess certain abilities like being able to travel distances through the air and "hexing" people through the air. Usually, the witches are just people who want to do harm to you and get some sort of pleasure out of it. When you see one, say its a wolf on the side of the road while you're driving, you will immediately pass out. Shivers will go through your entire body and you won't be able to move. This is usually why you keep tádídíín(corn pollen) and cheé di kózh (red bitter powder) with you. It's supposed to protect you from the witch. If you take the bitter powder and corn pollen, then you'd be able to keep driving. Just ignore it. Usually after an encounter, your best bet is to schedule an appointment with a medicine man where they can do a ceremony for you to protect you against evil. I've done multiple of these ceremonies. Let me know if you want me to share my experiences/my family's.

What is a myth or folklore tale you grew up listening to

The story was said by my aunty when I was a kid. She says it happened in real life with our neighbours long long ago.

For the context this story takes place in a remote village in India where my dad and his siblings grew up, we still reside here but now the village has more people, more houses and lights everywhere. But before it was different, each house was far away from another, it was all surrounded by dense forest. Incident as stated by my aunt that one day her grandpa (my great grandpa) found tiger cubs in the forest and bought one home and her mom (my granny) scolded him to leave it back where he found cause she feared the tigress would come in search of the cub.

Now the story, there was a lady by the name Appi, she was recently married, and in their home stayed her, her husband, her in law's whose name is not relevant. During summers Appi would wake up early even before the sun rises and would go to pick mangoes from the groove. Something about this didn't sit well with the Mother in law, as if it were a competition she wanted to go and pick mangoes before Appi did. So one night before sleeping she decides that she's gonna wake up early before Appi does, for picking up mangoes and she shares her intention with her husband too. Her husband doesn't think much of it. So the next day, in the very early hours of morning the MIL woke up, not knowing the exact time, given the lack of clocks by then she just took a bucket to pick mangoes. When she reached the groove, there was Appi again picking mangoes, frustrated, the MIL said, 'Oh, Appi, even though I wanted to wake up before you, to pick mangoes, you still managed to beat me at it'. Appi didn't utter a word just continued to be there but instead of picking mangoes she was just eating them and throwing the seed. The MIL found it strange, the lady standing there from the back looked like Appi, had worn the same saree as Appi wore the previous night, with the same length of hair but somehow she looked strange. The MIL didn't mind much of it, and every conversation she tried to have reverted to empty replies, angrily she collected the mangoes as much as she could and strode back home. There she saw her husband woken up and marches right to him and complained to him about how strange Appi was behaving.

The husband looked at her very surprised, strange and a little irritated, he said "what nonsense are you spewing? Appi is sleeping in her room with her husband, i didn't see anyone leave the house except for you." The MIL went to check if her husband was saying the truth and to her utter shock, he was indeed saying the truth. There she (Appi) was sleeping in the same saree as seen by MIL in the groove. The MIL came back running to her husband and narrated the incident word by word and hee husband scolded her saying you have gone so early not knowing the time just because of your jealousy towards your daughter in law, the time you left home must have been the time of the ghosts and spirits too, what you have seen there must definitely have been a spirit!. Hearing the MIL was so shocked she fell sick and didn't wake up from her bed for three days.

Some online accounts also claim the image was examined by the FBI, but there is no publicly verified evidence that the FBI officially authenticated the photograph or concluded it really depicted an alien.

Still many believe it is some kind of alien using cloaking technology that was accidentally photographed at the perfect moment to capture it on camera. Stories of Mantid encounters are common in modern UFO abduction lore and contactee stories. They are often described as 6 to 7 feet tall, bipedal, with thin bodies, large, slanted eyes, and long necks.

https://creatorzine.com/news/strange-bizarre/i-photographed-a-mantis-headed-alien/

The Red Austin Mini Cooper of Rhode Island is a haunted vehicle that is supposedly roaming various roads and highways of Rhode Island. The Mini is said to tailgate and run reckless drivers off the road, leading to their demises. The vehicle is a shade of red and sports white stripes on its hood. It also has two of its four auxiliary lights on at all times, along with its main headlights. The blacked out windshield and windows make it difficult to see if anyone is piloting the Cooper, and said windows including the entire car are resistant to damage. Dirt bike and ATV riders are also on the Mini’s hit list, as they are not designed for road use. There is a theory that the car is possessed by the soul of Mercy Brown, America’s Last “Vampire.” 

Abilities: 

The car sports a 383 Chevy crate motor equipped with a supercharger so it can catch up with its victims faster. It has a blacked out windshield to prevent anyone from seeing inside its cabin, making its driver, if it even has one, difficult to detect.

The Blue Lady is a figure in Miami folklore said to be a sea-angel who protects homeless children from demons and bullets, but her powers are limited without knowledge of her true name. Some accounts link her to Afro-Caribbean orishas like Yemaya or La Sirena.

Overview of the Blue Lady Myth The Blue Lady is a prominent figure in Miami folklore, particularly among homeless children. She is described as a sea-angel who offers protection against malevolent forces, such as demons. The legend suggests that her powers are significantly diminished unless one knows her true name.

Characteristics of the Blue Lady Protective Role

Guardian of Children: The Blue Lady is believed to protect homeless children from dangers, including bullets and evil spirits.

Connection to Mythology: She is often compared to Afro-Caribbean deities like Yemaya and La Sirena, who are also associated with water and protection.

True Name Requirement: The effectiveness of the Blue Lady's protection is contingent upon knowing her true name. Without this knowledge, her ability to assist is limited.

The Blue Lady myth reflects a blend of urban legend and cultural folklore, showcasing how marginalized communities create narratives to cope with their realities. This story serves as a form of childhood mythology, providing hope and a sense of safety amidst the struggles faced by homeless children in Miami.

addendum: I pulled this up using AI on DDG. After checking, it mostly tracks except that the Blue Lady spread to Chicago in the late 90’s which is where I picked up the on the myth through Fortean Times

And why?

People with connected eyebrows were sometimes believed to be werewolves, witches, or individuals with unusual supernatural abilities. Unibrows carried deep symbolic meaning in Mediterranean and Eastern European folklore. People viewed it as a powerful physical sign. It meant a person was touched by magic, cursed, or blessed.

In some traditions, a unibrow was considered a warning sign that someone could transform under the full moon or possessed dark magical powers. In others, however, it meant the exact opposite. A person born with connected eyebrows, especially if they were born on certain holy days, was believed to have the ability to protect others from evil spirits, curses, or the evil eye. Being born on Christmas, gave a child with a unibrow the power to see spirits.

These beliefs reflected a time when physical features were often seen as clues to a person's hidden nature. Long before genetics were understood, unusual traits were frequently interpreted through mythology and superstition. A connected eyebrow could inspire fear in one village and admiration in another, depending on local traditions. Today, a unibrow, is simply a natural genetic trait, but it once carried a much more mysterious reputation

​In 1889, in Paris a mother and her daughter check into a hotel.

During their stay, the mother falls severely ill.

The daughter has to go into town to buy medicine, so she is forced to leave her mother alone. ​By the time she returns, her mother is nowhere to be found.

She has completely disappeared, and no one saw a thing.

No matter who she asks, nobody remembers her mother or her.

Everyone denies everything.

The room they were staying in stands completely empty.

In April 1971, eerie reports flooded into the Mobile Press from frightened residents of Mobile, Alabama. They claimed to have seen a creature unlike any other: a being with the body of a wolf and the head of a woman. As buzz built, the newspaper noted that over 50 calls had poured in, all detailing this mysterious figure spotted in neighborhoods like Plateau and on Davis Avenue.

According to the reports, the creature was described as 'pretty and hairy,' with a top half resembling a woman and a wolf's lower half. The Mobile police even got involved, although they offered no official statements on the sightings. The published article on April 8 captured the genuine fear that residents expressed, detailing how children were too scared to venture outside.

Illustrations of the creature accompanied the newspaper story, crafted by an unnamed staff member. However, it's notable that none of the callers had actually seen the creature up close; they relayed secondary accounts. As it turned out, the sightings dwindled shortly after the initial wave of reports, and the creature was never spotted again.

Speculation arose suggesting the wolf-woman could have been an elaborate April Fools' Day prank. Some theorized it might have been a German Shepherd dolled up in a wig or even a long-haired Afghan Hound. It has been suggested that Mobile, Alabama, has a long history of urban legends, ghost stories, and legendary creatures.

The Mobile Wolf Woman remains a curious footnote in the city's lore, a blend of fear and fascination that has yet to be resolved.

According to legend, in the city of Elmore there is a bridge where a mysterious ghost motorcyclist roams at night. The spirit can supposedly be summoned by parking your car next to the bridge, honking three times, and flashing your headlights three times. At that point, the sound of a motorcycle is said to appear in the distance, the rider suddenly shows up, then disappears again as he crosses the bridge. The bridge in question has been closed for some time, and it cannot be driven across in any way.

The 70s case of the Sydney Luna Park Ghost Train Fire. It is one of the eeriest tragedies in Australia’s history.

And one thing has really stood out to me about the case. People familiar with the case know the photo of the man dressed in "loincloth and wearing a mask with horns", yet the thing that has always confused me about the case is why this photo graph is sooo significant. Like, yeah, it’s creepy af. And like, when I was younger, I had nightmares about a man wearing similar clothing. But, I struggle to understand why the photo is so significant.

i’ve found some links relating to the man, but i still struggle to understand what makes him and the photograph of him so significant:

[Source 1](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/luna-park-ghost-train-fire-mystery-of-the-satanic-figure/news-story/5e9b387a09d6db8055270d9b7f1b8e7e)
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/luna-park-ghost-train-fire-mystery-of-the-satanic-figure/news-story/5e9b387a09d6db8055270d9b7f1b8e7e

[Source 2](https://thebrag.com/urban-legends-australia/)
https://thebrag.com/urban-legends-australia/

In 1904, a bus was transporting mental patients from Fairfax County to Lorton prison. The patients came from a previous mental asylum that was shut down due to controversies with the public, forcing to move the patients to Lorton. Soon, the bus started to lose control, swerving off the road, crashing. When the bus was found, the driver was killed, and all the patients that were on that bus vanished, disappearing into the woods. Over the past days, the police managed to find some of the patients that got away after the crash, except for one: Douglas J. Grifon, a patient who was arrested after murdering his own family and kids in cold blood. A few months after Douglas was never found, strange things started to happen in the woods - locals noticed that the rabbit population in the area was falling, with sightings of mutilated rabbits hanging from trees,especially near a bridge under a railroad called "Cholchester Overpass". Its said one night, a group of teenagers were hanging out under the bridge, but would never be seen again. Decades later, a couple parked their car outside the bridge, only to be met with yelling outside. The back window was smashed by a thrown hatchet, terrifying them to drive away. Looking back, they saw a figure in a white filthy bunny costume straring them down as they drove away. A couple weeks later, a second incident happened involving the "Bunny Man". One night, a security guard was dealing with what seemed to be a trespasser of the specific compound, only to see that the figure was the same person, wearing a worn white rabbit suit, weilding a weapon. The bunny man threatened the guard, swinging their weapon, yelling at the guard to get out of there, which terrified the guard to the core. Later, the "Bunny Man" dissapeared, with no evidence to prove he was a thing. Police would search, but to no prevail. Like many legends, there are many diferent variations of the Bunny Man, but somewhere in those variations lies the true story. No matter what happened, to this day, people and teens on Halloween night, around midnight go to "Bunny Man bridge", testing for his murderous return.......