Outcast Earth: Arcana

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A: ABRAXAS THRU ATLANTIS
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ABRAXAS:	The supreme god of the Gnostics, his very name is said to have magical power and may be related to the term "abracadabra" often used by modern conjurors. He is sometimes listed as a demon and is said to have had the head of a kind and serpents for limbs. Abraxas ruled over 365 lesser deities, one for each day of the year. His image was often inscribed on amulets and worn by the faithful for protection from evil.
ANTHROPOMANCY:	This brutal technique for divining future events required a living human, often a child, being to be torn open so priests could examine their entrails. Although ancient cultures frequently practiced augury, in which a bird or animal was similarly disemboweled, there are only a handful of individuals or cultures that employed anthropomancy. One of the best known practitioners was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, the philosophical Roman Emperor. Like many others of his ilk, however, anthropomancy was just one of many inhumane acts perpetrated by this ruler.
U.S.S. ARIZONA:	A large American battleship sunk on December 7, 1941, during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oah'u, Hawai'i. The destruction of the Arizona resulted in the loss of most of her crewmembers and is remembered as the greatest tragedy of that tragic day. [See Pearl Harbor Mysteries: Smoke Across the Water.]
ASIZA:	African forest spirits with the ability to grant magical powers to human beings.
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA :	Founded by the best known American psychic, Edgar Cayce, the ARE still promotes and preserves his teachings. The center has a comprehensive library and conference center, and promotes the study into spiritual healing, reincarnation and psychic phenomenon. It is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
ATHERTON MANSION, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:	Reportedly a haunted residence located at 1990 California Street in San Francisco. The sprawling house was built by Dominga Atherton, the widow of prominent businessman Faxon Atherton. (The Atherton name can be found throughout the area in honor of this pioneer family’s many contributions.) The Victorian manor is thought to be haunted by George Atherton, Faxon and Dominga’s son. George lived in the house for a short time with his mother and his wife, renowned author Gertrude Atherton. An individual of limited charm, George was frequently berated by his female relatives and in 1887 left on an extended trip to Chile. Unfortunately, he died during the journey and his body was preserved in a rum-filled cask and returned to the mansion months later. The arrival of the gruesome parcel appears to have started the haunting phenomenon and caused the Atherton family to eventually sell off the property. [See Nob Hill and Surrounding Areas, San Francisco, California]
ATLANTIS:	A legendary lost continent as first described by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias. Plato described the advanced island civilization as lying “beyond the pillars of Heracles,” or somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. The people of Atlantis were said to be highly advanced in science, technology and the arts. They also possessed a formidable navy and conquered many other nations located around the Mediterranean. At one point, the Atlanteans attempts to invade and conquer Plato’s homeland but were repulsed. Soon after, a great natural calamity caused the entire continent to sink into the sea, effectively destroying the culture and hiding its very existence from view. Most historians view Plato’s account as a parable for the political turmoil of his time; but archaeological discoveries over the last century may have provided a historical basis for the myth. Some archaeologists believe that the island of Thera (now known as Santorini) may have been the real Atlantis. Located in the Aegean Sea to the southeast of the Greek mainland, Thera was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in either the 16th or 17th Century BC. The eruption caused a massive tsunami and other natural calamities which were felt and recorded as far away as Egypt and the Middle East. The destruction ultimately doomed the Minoan society on Thera and nearby Crete. Minoan culture had many similarities to Plato’s Atlantis and although thought to be generally peaceful, their control of naval trade routes was seen as a direct threat to Greek power. Despite these similarities, there is still considerable debate over the location of the historical Atlantis... or if it existed at all. Proposed sites for the doomed continent include other areas around the Mediterranean, plus areas in the Black Sea, Caribbean, North Sea, Pacific Ocean and even off the coast of Antarctica. More modern proponents of the Atlantis myth, including New Age practitioners, credit the island inhabitants with possessing a wide variety of arcana knowledge and supernatural powers. The island’s high culture has also been ascribed to extraterrestrial influence, although none of these attributions were recorded (or probably even imagined) by Plato. [See Tlamco.]
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B: BERMUDA TRIANGLE THRU BUFORD HOUSE
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BERMUDA TRIANGLE:	A roughly triangular region between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico which is alleged to be an area where multiple boats, planes and people have vanished without a trace. The first popular mention of the area occured in the early 1950s in FATE magazine, but the Triangle's mystique became a sensation after Charles Berlitz published his book called "The Bermuda Triangle" in 1974. The strange disappearances, which are alleged to be outside the law of averages, have been blamed on everything from rogue waves, to extraterrestrials, to the lost continent of Atlantis.
BIRDCAGE THEATER, TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA:	This strange, somewhat dilapidated building is widely considered the most haunted place in Tombstone, Arizona. There have been numerous formal investigations of the site, many of which have resulted in unusual experiences, photographs and recordings. The proprietors also claim that an incredible number of murders took place on the site. The basement was a brothel and private gambling parlor where many other violent acts took place. It is undoubtedly the most authentic nineteenth century building in Tombstone, as it has many of the original furnishing including the tattered wallpaper. The theater is located at 517 East Allen Street, Tombstone, Arizona, 85638. [See The Town Too Tough To Die.]
BOOT HILL CEMETERY, TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA:	There are lots of graveyards called Boot Hill but the one in Tombstone, Arizona, is by farm the most famous. The graveyard is the finally resting place to many infamous characters from Arizona’s pioneer era, including some of the combatants from the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, such as Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton. The funeral for all three men was the largest in Tombstone's history with two thousand people attending. The cemetery is located on the outskirts of Tombstone at 513 East Allen Street. It is open to the public. [See The Town Too Tough To Die.]
THE BUFORD HOUSE, TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA:	The charming little home, now a bed and breakfast, was a site of a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque tragedy dating from the 1880s. George Buford was a young man who hoped to strike it rich as a gold prospector. Having grown up most of his life in Tombstone, he was well-known in town and had fallen in love with the girl next door. Her name was Cleopatra, better known as "Petra.” George hoped to acquire enough money to marry Petra and establish a home of their own. After a prospecting trip, however, George seemed to become convinced that Petra's eye had wandered and she was no longer interested in his advances. George slipped into a deep depression which culminated in him taking his pistol and shooting Petra before killing himself. The young woman recovered from her injuries, but George was gone forever. Or was he? Ever since his suicide, owners and guest to the adobe home have claimed to see the apparition of a young man wandering the hallways or the street in front of the residence. These sightings are often accompanied by strange knocks, footsteps and other poltergeist-like phenomenon. The Buford House still stands and is open to guests at 113 E. Stafford Street. Tombstone, Arizona. [See The Town Too Tough To Die.]
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C: "CALALUS" THRU S.S. CYNTHIA OLSEN
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CON-TICI VIRACOCHA ("KON TIKI"):	Described in Incan texts as a sun-god who led the exodus of a race of mysterious light-skinned people from South America to the South Pacific. [See Thor Heyerdahl and the Enews article: "The Puzzle of the Light-Skinned Polynesians."]
“CALALUS,” ALONG SILVERBELL ROAD, TUCSON, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	This alleged “Roman-Jewish kingdom” was discovered by two Tucson men in 1924. Many artifacts were discovered in the area, most of which were inscribed with crudely written Latin, Hebrew and childish pictograms. Others were purely utilitarian, including spear-points and swords. The hypothesis was that a boatload of Roman Jews (perhaps escaping persecution) somehow found themselves on the west side of the Atlantic Ocean, stranded on the shore of an unfamiliar continent. Unable to return home, the Jews set out on an arduous march across North America and ultimately decided that the sun-baked lands of the Sonoran Desert were the ideal area to build a new colony. Despite the fact that the "Roman Jews" would have encountered many Native Americans in much more hospitable environments along the way, living on the banks of the Santa Cruz River would not have been impossible had they actually made it that far. The kingdom was said to have lasted from 700 to 900 A.D and was ruled by four successive kings: Theodorus, Jacobus, Israel the First and Israel the Second. Somehow, the Jewish settlement ran afoul of the Toltec Indians, a Meso-American tribe that lived in central Mexico but is not known to have had any kind of presence in Arizona. A total of thirty-two crosses and miscellaneous other objects were found in the area between 1924 and 1930. Some of the stranger relics included a sword etched with a drawing of a dinosaur – a creature that would have been unknown to medieval peoples – and a fan-shaped baton that included a map of the settlement. By the end of it, Calalus was beginning to look like a melting-pot of races and religions. But strangely, other than the metal artifacts, there seemed to be no other trace of the settlement. No foundations, pottery or burial sites were ever found. It became clear that “Calalus” was a hoax and suspicion eventually landed on a boy named Timoteo Odohui, who forty years earlier had lived near the old lime kilns where the artifacts were discovered. The kilns themselves were not dissimilar to ancient Roman forges and witnesses who knew Odohui reported his fascination with ancient civilizations, his artistic talent and his metal-working skills. Additionally, Odohui read and spoke Latin. At the time the relics were discovered in 1924, however, Timoteo Odohui had long since vanished and no one knows what happened to him. Modern investigators speculate that the relics were created decades before they were actually discovered, perhaps as early at the 1850s, and may have been left behind in Odohui’s old house after the lime kiln was shut down. Placing the lead artifacts in a lime mixture and then implanting them horizontally into the desert hillsides would have left the clay layer intact and simulated natural mineral encrustations that one would expect to find on lead objects that had lain in the ground for centuries. If allowed to sit for several years before being “discovered,” the result would have been quite authentic. Some of the “Calalus” relics are currently in the possession of the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tucson and are on public display. This site was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature.
"THE CAMELS:"	The Outcast Earth team’s pet name for their twin all-terrain vehicles. The “camels” are heavily-modified Japanese military vehicles – basically the Asian version of the American Humvee. They were originally purchased in 2006 and underwent an extensive remodel to make them lighter, to add storage room and to generally make them more appropriate for use by civilian adventurers. The “camels” are, to date, the most expensive purchase made by the team... and probably one that Polaris regrets. “Looking back on what we actually needed compared to what we thought we would need, “ he said, “I would have chosen a much more economical vehicle.” Still, the “camels” are head-turners, especially due to their eye-catching paint jobs. The team has always been interested in symbolism and this certainly extends to the “camels.” The vehicle’s left half is painted yellow-gold and the right half is painted dark blue to symbolize day-night and life-death. Covering the entire surface of the vehicles is a constellation of ancient and arcane symbols. “We chose the symbols... very carefully,” recalled Rune. “Most of them have to do with travel, safe passage and discovery. We wanted good luck to travel with us.” Over the years, despite costly repair and maintenance bills, the vehicles have served the team well. The biggest challenge according to Polaris was adapting to the steering wheel being on the right side of the vehicle.
CHIROMANCY:	See Palmistry.
CHUUK LAGOON:	Chuuk Lagoon lies in a geographical area is known as Oceania, an island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawai'i to Indonesia. Chuuk has a tropical climate with heavy annual rainfall. The lagoon is today known as a diver's paradise because of the large number of shipwrecks hiding beneath the waves. Chuuk Lagoon was a vital operation center for the Japanese during World War II. It was known as both the "Gibraltar of the Pacific" and the "Japanese Pearl Harbor" because of its dual role as a supply depot and impregnable naval fortress. The Japanese created these fortifications in anticipation of an American invasion that never came. Instead, the superior naval forces of the United States, surrounded, isolated and then bombarded the lagoon into submission. "Operation Hailstone" was a massive effort by the U.S. to neutralize the Chuuk threat once and for all. The attack lasted February 17th and 18th, 1944, and was led by a taskforce which included the battleship USS New Jersey. The Japanese defenses were inconsequential against the air raids and they ended up losing 275 aircraft and 45 ships which included destroyers, cruisers, submarines and merchant vessels. [See Chuuk Lagoon: Fractured Paradise.]
COMPENDIUM MALEFICARUM:	Also known as the Witches Manual, this 17th Century book was written by Francesco Maria Guazzo. It is intended as a beginner’s manual for aspiring demonologists, and goes into very precise ritualistic details for conjuring demons, performing black magic, etc. At the time, it was considered the best reference on the subject.
CONSER LAKE, OREGON :	See the White Bigfoot of Conser Lake.
CONTINENTAL MINING CAMP, NEAR GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE) :	One of several lost copper mining camps dating from the nineteenth century and originally located to the south of Tucson. This camp was said to be located on the east side of Interstate19 along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. According to the team’s GPS system, the site of the old camp now lies underneath a modern housing development. Whatever Continental had been during the first half of the twentieth century, it seems to have been erased by current streets and track homes. What was interesting, however, is how many places in the surrounding area still bear the camp’s name. This camp was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature. See also: Twin Buttes Mining Camp \| Olive Mining Camp \| Mineral Hill Mining Camp.
COPPER CREEK, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	See Sibley Mansion.
CRATER LAKE, OREGON:	A caldera, or volcanic basin, located in southern Oregon. The caldera is all that remains of the volcanic eruption of Mount Mazama approximately 7,700 years ago. The lake has numerous strange stories and legends attached to it, including some that go back centuries to the local Native American tribes. The lake was the site of the mysterious disappearance of a U.S. Navy pilot in 1945; and Wizard Island, located off the lake’s east shore, is said to be a portal to the underworld and is heavily haunted. See Lupo, Frank \| Wizard Island, Oregon \| Spirits by the Sea I: Crater Lake.
CRYSTAL CREEK, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA:	A remote side canyon and tributary to the Colorado River as it runs through the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Crystal Creek is thought by some historical revisionists as being the site where an ancient Egyptian city was discovered in 1909. Related information: Newsletter: The Egyptian City at the Bottom of the Canyon \| Jeremy Riposte’s Bogus Journey.
S.S. CYNTHIA OLSEN:	The first American ship ambushed by the Japanese. The S.S. Cynthia Olsen, a merchant marine vessel, was apparently stalked by the Japanese submarine I-26 since the evening of December 6th. On the morning of the 7th, the American vessel radioed that she was being attacked by a submarine. [See Pearl Harbor Mysteries: What Happened to the S.S. Cynthia Olsen?]
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D: DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER
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DESERT VIEW
WATCHTOWER,
GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA:

An amazing seventy-foot structure designed by famous architect Mary Colter. The structure resembles the ancient towers used by prehistoric Indians of the Four Corners area, but this modern creation which has no special meaning for Native Americans. Related information: Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

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E: EASTER ISLAND TO ENOCHIAN
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EASTER ISLAND:	See Rapa Nui, Chile.
EL CAMPO SANTO CEMETERY, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA	One of the oldest – and reputedly most haunted – graveyards in the San Diego area. The cemetery is in the Old Town area, just walking distance from the renowned Whaley House.
EL TOVAR HOTEL, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA	One of the famous Grand Canyon lodges, El Tovar first opened by the Fred Harvey Company on New Year’s Day, 1905. At the time it was considered a marvel, offering luxuries such as hot water, central heating and electricity in what was otherwise a very primitive locale. It is a rustic-looking structure, constructed of huge dark timbers and roughhewn stonework. Some sources claim that the hotel is a the site of numerous but somewhat random hauntings and other strange occurrences. Strange orbs are said to float through the hallways and there are reports of a vaporous man and a woman, both in period dress, appearing to visitors. The former is said by some to be Fred Harvey, the entrepreneur who did so much to develop tourist facilities at the Grand Canyon but who died four years before El Tovar was even constructed. Related information: Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
ELEMENTS:	The definition of an element depends on whether you are defining it from a scientific or alchemist perspective. Modern science now lists 107 elements, 90 of which occur on earth naturally with the remainder being created in laboratories. Elements are not combinations of other substances, but rather unique matter with a unique chemical and molecular structure. But during the Middle Ages, alchemists believed that every material was a combination of sulfur, mercury and salt. To the alchemist’s mind, the elements were what defined the larger world: fire, air, earth and water. Eastern mystics contributed additional elements: ether, metal and wood.
ELIXIR OF LIFE:	See Philosopher’s Stone.
ENOCHIAN:	Dr. John Dee, alchemist to Queen Elizabeth I, claimed that this was a language he learned from the angels who communicated with him during psychic encounters. Fairies: These tiny humanlike creatures are found in the mythology of dozens of cultures. They have as many origin stories as names, although generally they are thought to be spirits either manifested by the power of nature or lost souls of human beings. They can either be positive or negative forces, and under some conditions can be used by human beings for personal gain.
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F: FAIRY RINGS THRU FT. ELIZABETH
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FAIRY RINGS:

A naturally occurring phenomenon found in forests, a large circular area on the forest floor where no other plant life will grow characterizes these rings. This is usually caused by mushroom growths, which typically die off from a central point and leave a chemical residue in the soil that prohibits future growth. During the Middle Ages, these rings were thought to have been formed by covens of dancing witches or fairies.

FT. ELIZABETH,
KAUA'I,
HAWAI'I

Established in 1815 by the Russian American Company, this large stone fortress was intended to protect the burgeoning trade interests of the Russian government on the island of Kaua’i. It was one of three such forts. The association between the Russians and the Hawai’ians quickly soured, however, and the former were forced off the island two years later. The dismantled fort now sits as a heap of rubble on the island’s south shore. [See Kaua’i: Ft. Elizabeth.]

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G: GEMATRIA THRU GRIMOIRE
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GEMATRIA:	A Hebrew form of numerology in which all the letters of the alphabet have numerical and spiritual significance.
GLASS BEACH, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I :	Located on the south shore of the island, this unusual landmark was a public landfill during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Over the decades, the ocean has began to cut away at the cliffs and caused the refuse to fall onto the beach below. The name – Glass Beach – refers to the tiny shards of multi-colored glass that have been polished smooth by the pounding surf and have now mixed with the black volcanic sand. There is also a turn-of-the-century graveyard in this area. [See Kaua’i: Glass Beach.]
GNOSTICS:	A religious movement that combined elements or Christianity with pagan belief and the teachings of Pythagoras. Their beliefs were generally rejected by mainstream Christians due to their allegiance to certain non-Christian activities, including sexual orgies. Gnostic sects included the Albigensis, Carbonari, and Lollards, to name a few. Many magicians, including Apollonius of Tyana and Simon Magus, were Gnostics.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:	A world famous suspension bridge that spans the opening to the Pacific Ocean from the San Francisco Bay. The bridge was originally completed in 1937 and is one of the most recognized and photographed landmarks in the world. It also holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s number one destination spot for suicides, averaging one death every fifteen days from people who jump over its railings and plummet over seven hundred feet to the water below. It is unknown why the bridge has this unique and tragic distinction. [See Of Mist and Myth: The Mysteries, Legends and Tall Tales of the San Francisco Area.]
GOLDEN GATE PARK, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:	A large urban park located in the heart of San Francisco, California, toward the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. New Agers claim that the park is also the site of an ancient lost city called Tlamco and is a hotspot for cosmic energy and healing powers. [See Of Mist and Myth: The Mysteries, Legends and Tall Tales of the San Francisco Area.]
*GOSEI MARU:*	Built in 1937 by the Tsuromi Iron Works Dockyard, the Gosei Maru was designed to be a coastal freighter. When the war in the Pacific began, the Japanese Navy took control of the vessel and utilized her as a supply ship for Sixth Fleet submarines. The Gosei Maru was sunk on February 17, 1944, during the second day of attacks by American warplanes during Operation Hailstone [See Chuuk Lagoon.] The OCE team dived the wreck in October 2005 and member Ash reported hearing ghostly voices echoing up from the wreck. [See Chuuk Lagoon: Fractured Paradise.]
GRAND CATHOLICON:	See Philosopher’s Stone.
GRAPHOLOGY:	The belief that the future and individual characteristics can be ascertained through the analysis of handwriting.
GRIMOIRE:	A general term used to describe any compendium of magic, basically a how-to handbook for the aspiring conjuror. Grimoires are plentiful throughout history, and including the Constitution of Honorius, Necronomicon, Red Dragon and the Key of Solomon the King (Clavicula Salomonis). Information contained in these handbooks can include instructions on conjuring demons, animal sacrifice, finding treasure, creating magic potions, etc.
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H: HACHIMAN-JINJA SHRINE THRU HYPNOTISM
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HACHIMAN-JINJA SHRINE, SAIPAN:	A Shinto shrine constructed in the 1930s by the Japanese after they occupied Saipan as part of their military expansion program. The shrine was built as part of a large cultural indoctrination effort undertaken by the Japanese occupying forces. The shrine is still open today and is administered in part by the U.S. National Park Service. For additional information, click here. [See Saipan Spirits.]
HALE O KEAWE HEIAU:	The principle sacred site of the northern part of the Big Island of Hawai'i. It was designed to preserve the mana (spiritual power) of the ancient chiefs and their descendants. Different areas of the refuge were dedicated to different gods over the years. Hale o Keawe Heiau was constructed in 1650 and has been restored by the National Park Service to its previous appearance. It is still used by Hawai’ians who practice the traditional island religion. See heiau.
HAND OF GLORY:	A gory practice in which the severed hand of a convicted murderer is smoked or pickled, and then used as a supernatural tool for finding buried treasure.
HAYATE:	Hayate was a Kamikaze-class destroyer, one of nine built between 1921 and 1925 for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Hayate had the misfortune of being the very first major Japanese warship sunk during the opening days of World War II in the Pacific Ocean. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Takatsuka Minoru, Hayate was one of six escorting destroyers of destroyer division 29 assigned to escort a small invasion force to land on Wake Island on December 11, 1941. Hayate was hit amidships by at least two 5 inch shells from US Marine coastal defense guns which pierced her internal magazines, causing her to blow up and sink in two minutes with all hands, totaling 168 men, in full view of the marines on shore. The Hayate was the source of a paranormal investigation by the Outcast Earth team while them visited Wake Island in September and October 2005. [See Wake Island: Lost But Not Forgotten.]
HEIAU:	Large, open-air temples scattered throughout the Hawai’ian islands. The base of the heiau was usually constructed of fitted stone and many survive in excellent condition to this day. On top of this base were built wood and thatch temples, often decorated with carved images of the gods and goddesses. Many heiaus are still in use today by Hawai’ians practicing the ancient religion and should be approached with great respect. Others are considered kapu (forbidden), and visitors walk there at their own risk. [See Hale O Keawe Heiau \| Holoholoku Heiau \| Malae Heiau \| Puukohola Heiau \| Video: The Wandering Ghosts of Wailua Kai]
HENDERSON ISLAND (ABANDONED SITE):	A small, uninhabited island not far from Pitcairn Island where members of the whaling ship Essex were stranded following the destruction of their vessel. While on the island, the sailors found a cave filled with the unusual remains of several human beings. [See Enewsletter article: "The Bones of Henderson Island."]
HOLLOW EARTH:	A theory first advanced in 1692 by Edmund Halley, discoverer of the famous comet with the same name, which supposed that the earth was a hollow vessel with another world, complete with a sun, existing at its center. There have been many devotees of the theory since it was first introduced, including Cotton Mather, John Cleves Symmes and Cyrus Reed Teed, that latter actually establishing a Florida-based cult around the idea in the 1870s.
HOLY GRAIL:	The drinking cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, just before his crucifixion. According to scripture, Christ entrusted the cup to his granduncle, Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph collected Christ’s blood and sweat in the cup while he hung on the cross, which imbued the vessel with divine powers. Later, the Grail sustained Joseph through years of imprisonment by providing him with fresh food and water every day. Years later, Joseph and his followers fled to Britain where they settled at Ynys Wirtin (Glastonbury). The Grail was taken to Castle Corbenic in North Wales, where it was entrusted to Joseph’s son-in-law and a succession of so-called Grail Kings, whose soul duty it was to keep the relic safe. Over the centuries, the Castle Corbenic was forgotten and the Grail was lost. But according to Arthurian legend, it was prophesied that the best knight in the land would rediscover the cup: Galahad, son of Lancelot. Thus began King Arthur [pictured] and the Knights of the Round Table’s many-year quest. The Grail was finally found by Galahad at Corbenic, and both were miraculously lifted up to Heaven.
HOPI HOUSE, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA:	Architect Mary Colter patterned this two-story building after the native dwellings in the Hopi village of Old Oraibi some eighty miles away. The building was a contemporary of the El Tovar hotel, opening its doors in the same year. It was originally designed to be a kind of living museum, with Hopi craftsmen residing on the upper floor and providing daily demonstrations. Today, it is one of the nicer gift shops on the South Rim. Local legend says that Hopi House is inhabited by two spirits known as the “Brown Boys” who are responsible for all kinds of poltergeist-type mayhem. Related information: Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
HOROSCOPE:	An astrological chart believed to impart information or prophesy through the study of planetary positions and relationships. Horoscopes are an ancient tool, dating as far back as the Mesopotamians. See also astrology.
"HOUDINI'S SURVIVAL CODE:"	A series of ten random words taken from a letter sent to magician Harry Houdini by his longtime friend, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The code was devised in secret by Houdini and his wife Bess to test the theory of life after death. The couple agreed that whoever died first would attempt to send the ten words through a medium to the other. When Harry died unexpectedly on Halloween 1926, Bess adhered to the agreement and held seances on the anniversary of his passing for the next ten years. In 1929, a professional medium named Arthur Ford claimed to have cracked the code during a seance with Bess, but the results were controversial to say the least. It is still unclear how Ford knew some of the code words, but it would appear that he used a variety of techniques to coax information out of the grieving widow whom he intentionally befriended following Harry’s death. Some sources even claim that Ford seduced Bess and she gave him the code willingly. Regardless, Bess eventually refuted Ford’s claim and publicly stated that no one had ever cracked the code and she was convinced that there was no life after death. [See Urban Nightmares: Murder, Mystery and Magic in the City of Angels \| Enewsletter "Sir Arthur's Great American Ghost Hunt."]
HYPNOTISM:	A tool used by psychologists, conjurors, magicians and Las Vegas performers alike, it is defined as being able to place a willing human being into a trancelike state, during which they are extremely open to suggestion. Needless to say, the effectiveness of hypnotism is widely debated, even among psychologists.
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I: HACHIMAN-JINJA SHRINE THRU HYPNOTISM
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IWO JIMA:

Iwo Jima (also known as "sulfur island") is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which makes up the southern end of the Ogasawara Islands. The island is located 1,200 kilometers (650 nm) south of mainland Tokyo. It is famous as the site of 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima between the United States Marines and the Japanese garrison that had dug in to the island. The U.S. occupied Iwo Jima until 1968, when it was returned to Japan. Today the island has no permanent civilian population and is jointly used by the Japanese and US military as a base of operations. The Outcast Earth team visited the island in October 2006 to conduct paranormal research on the island's "invasion beaches." [See The Black Sands of Iwo Jima.]

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J:
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K: KA THRU "KOLB STUDIO SKELETON"
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KA:	The ancient Egyptian word for soul. The Egyptians envisioned the soul in a more tangible sense than most modern religions, describing it as another "self" that could leave the body and travel about. See also astral projection.
KABBALAH:	From the Hebrew word meaning "collection," in this case a collection of magical spells and methods for conjuring and controlling demons, treatises on the nature of divinity and the role and fate of human beings. This mystical offshoot of Judaism encompasses a huge body of work that has been studied and practiced by Jews and non-Jews for centuries. The oldest kabbalah dates from the first century B.C.E., although devotees suspect that this knowledge is much older and probably predates a written record. The basis of the kabbalah is mathematical, centering on the study of numbers, magical words, anagrams, angels, and the permutations of the various letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This latter process is known as gematria. Many prominent philosophers and intellectuals studied the Kabbalah, including Aristotle, Abraham, Moses, King David, Shakespeare, Issac Newton and Carl Jung. Today, Kabballahistic mysticism has seen resurgence in popularity as a way of bringing about inner peace and order to one’s life.
KATAGATEMAN:	An invisible spirit island that lies in the South Pacific. [See Cochran, Jackie].
KE-AHU-A-LAKA HALAU HULA:	This complex and the broken stone terraces of the nearby Ka-ulu-Paoa Heiau were both dedicated to the art of the hula dance, a unique form of visual, auditory and symbolic communication which was once described as “the heartbeat of the Hawai'ian people.” It was at places like Ke-ahu-a-laka Halau Hula that this training was provided. The entire area was thought to be scared to Laka, the goddess of hula, nature and fertility. Initiates had to abide by a variety of kapu, and if they violated these laws they could be banished or even killed by their instructors. [See Kaua'i, Hawai'i]
KE'E BEACH, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I :	Located on the northwest shore of the island of Kaua’i, this beach is thought to be the first place visited by the goddess Pele when she came to the Hawai’ian islands. [See Kaua’i: Ke’e Beach.]
KITAB AL-AZIF:	See Necronomicon.
KOLB PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA:	Built in 1904, the Kolb Studio was both the home and workplace for brothers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb. The building seems to hang precariously above the gorge and offers some amazing views of the length of the canyon. Based from here, the Kolb brothers produced thousands of images, many depicting themselves in perilous situations as they dangled off rock walls or balanced themselves over deep chasms. In mid-November 1928, the Kolb Studio was visited by young newlyweds named Glen and Bessie Hyde. The Hydes would later become one of the Grand Canyon’s most enduring mysteries when they vanished without a trace a few weeks later. The Kolb Studio is still open to the public today. Related information: Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
"KOLB STUDIO SKELETON:"	See Kolb, Emery \| Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
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L: LA GITANA CANTINA THRU LYCANTHROPY
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LA GITANA CANTINA , ARIVACA, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	These lonely adobe remains are all that left of the original La Gitana (a more modern business with the same name sits nearby) and was originally built by Dona Teresa Celaya, was a well-known business woman in Arivaca who ran several establishments of questionable repute. According to local legend, Celaya’s brothers absconded with several bars of high grade gold from the Vulture Mine and fled on horseback across the open desert. They headed south passed Tucson until they eventually ended up in Arivaca. Celaya had her brothers bury the gold in the yard behind the sprawling adobe building that functioned as both her tavern and her home. The brothers then vanished, supposedly going into hiding until the heat was off. What happened to the brothers and their stolen treasure is unknown, but many claim that those gold bars are still hidden in the ground behind that adobe house. Unfortunately, the Outcast Earth team could not find any information supporting this legend. This site was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature.
LAPIS PHILOSOPHICUS:	See Philosopher's Stone.
LAPITA PEOPLE:	Just when and how humanity came to the islands of the South Pacific remains a bone of contention among many archeologists. But it is clear that there appears to have been one progenitor race that is known as the Lapita. It is believed that the first signs of the Lapita were accidentally unearthed in 1909 by a missionary working on Watom Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG). As you would expect, the Lapita were a culture of skilled mariners who probably first originated in the northern part of PNG around 1500 B.C.E. For the next millennium, the Lapita spread their influence throughout the South Pacific, being able to navigate between islands without the benefit of modern technology. Their cultural path can be traced by the shards of their unique, complex and highly decorated pottery. The curvilinear patterns stamped into the clay became such a common motif among Polynesian tribes that many of them imitated them in both textiles and bodily tattoos. The Lapita were also credited with introducing animal husbandry and agriculture to the islands.
LEY LINES:	Animistic features common to a variety of ancient cultures, ley lines are generally described as paths that connect various geographical features of mystical importance. These magical intersections can include churches, ancient monuments, sacred mountains, megaliths and other archeological sites. The belief in ley lines was particularly common in ancient China and England.
LLAO:	The god of the underworld worshipped by the Klamath Native Americans of Oregon and the Pacific northwest. See Spirits by the Sea I: The Mystic Island.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA:	Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second-largest in the United States of America. The city was founded in 1781 by the Spanish and became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its independence from Spain. At the end of the Mexican-American War, Los Angeles and California became part of the United States. The Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana metropolitan area is home to nearly 13 million people who hail from all over the globe and speak more than a hundred different languages. The Outcast Earth team was in the Los Angeles area conducting various investigations in early 2007. [See Urban Nightmares: Murder, Mystery and Magic in the City of Angels.]
LYCANTHROPY:	See werewolf.
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M: MAGIC CARPET GOLF THRU MYSTERY TRADITIONS
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MAGIC CARPET GOLF COURSE, TUCSON, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	This miniature golf course is located in central Tucson near the intersection of Speedway Boulevard and Wilmot Road and was abandoned in 2007 following the death of the owner. Magic Carpet was one of those 1950s-60s era amusement parks, complete with strange little buildings, oversized cement animals and the general atmosphere to it that was both fantastic and a little creepy. Locals might alternately describe Magic Carpet as both a favorite place and a roadside eyesore. And probably both opinions are correct. As of early 2010, about fifty percent of the structures on the property have been removed and a high fence blocks any access to what remains. Demolition is still ongoing on the property and though it appears to have been much delayed by local conservation efforts, it’s safe to say that Magic Carpet’s final days are truly numbered. This site was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature.
MAGIC CIRCLE:	The attempt to supersede natural processes and events through the use of spells, incantations, charms, prayers and conjuration. Magic is probably one of the oldest elements of human spiritual life, and may stem from the very human need to feel in control of an uncontrollable universe. In a modern sense, magic can also be defined as the art of illusion, or making someone believe that extraordinary powers exist for the sake of entertainment. Las Vegas, Nevada, relies heavily on this latter tradition.
MAGUS:	(plural, magi) Although this term is now outdated, it was originally used to describe a Zoroastrian priest or magician.
MANDALA:	Often used as a charm or ritualistic device, a mandala is a circular symbol representing the cosmos with a divine symbol or name at its center. These are common in the Hindu religious tradition.
MANDRAKE:	A plant long claimed by magicians to have magical properties. The mandrake is a tuber, closely related to a potato, which sometimes grows in a vaguely humanlike shape. It has been consumed in a variety ways all over the world as a folk medicine and aphrodisiac. According to legend, the most difficult part of using the mandrake is in the harvesting. When pulled from the ground, the root is said to emit a horrible, piercing scream that will drive any person insane.
MANTRA:	A sacred word or phrase constantly repeated as a tool to in meditation. Mantras are regularly used in eastern religions, particularly Buddhism. The best-known mantras are "Om mani padme hum" or the simpler "Om."
MARAE RENGA:	The mythical homeland of the people of Rapa Nui. Legend states that Marae Renga was a paradise that had to be abandoned due to a natural disaster which forced the inhabitants to resettle on Rapa Nui. [See Rapa Nui: Journey to the Naval of the World.]
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO, HAWAI'I :	Hawai’i’s active and most famous volcano is said to be home of the ancient diety Pele. According to native legend, this fiery goddess has jumped from island home to island home, following the active volcanoes from Kaua’i to the Big Island. Interestingly, this is in keeping with geologic fact as the northern islands in the Hawai’ian chain were also the first to spring from the ocean in volcanic eruptions. Today, Pele is said to make her lodgings in the 280-foot-deep pit called Halemáumáu in the center of the Kilauea Crater. The pit last belched up lava in an impressive display in 1982. Visitors to Mauna Loa frequently report seeing Pele’s form, whether it is an ethereal womanlike image caught on film in the smoke rising from the crater (several such photographs are on display at Volcano House Lodge in the Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park); or strange encounters with her on the roadside or on the numerous hiking trails around the park. Many have described her as an old woman, dressed in a red voluminous dress known as a muumuu and accompanied by a small white dog. Her roadside visitations sound similar to a common urban legend known as the "vanishing hitchhiker" in which the old woman is picked up by good-hearted passersby who are later astonished to find that she has vanished from their back seat.
MILI ATOLL:	A small islet in the Marshall Islands chain, South Pacific. [See Enewsletter article: "The Bloody King of Mili Atoll."]
MINERAL HILL [AZURITE] MINING CAMP, NEAR GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE) :	One of several lost copper mining camps dating from the nineteenth century and originally located to the south of Tucson. Mineral Hill, which was more properly known as Azurite, was a small community. At its height in 1899, it is said to have been home for about one-hundred and twenty-five miners. There were a number of wood-frame buildings, a company store and a smelter for the nearby copper mine. But by the following year the mine had closed and Azurite was abandoned. The settlement was resurrected briefly in the 1920s when copper mining resumed following the First World War. During this interval, another store and a post office were built on the site. The mine is located on private property and the Outcast Earth team was unable to access it to determine the state of the camp’s ruins. This camp was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature. See also: Twin Buttes Mining Camp \| Olive Mining Camp \| Continental Mining Camp
MOTU NUI:	A small islet off the coast of Rapa Nui, Chile. Motu Nui played an important role in an annual celebration of the bird-headed god, Makemake. In an unusual competition, young tribesmen would scramble down a one-thousand-foot precipice from the ceremonial village of Orongo to the beach below. There they would board pora (a raft made of bundled reeds) and paddle over a mile through shark-infested waters to Motu Nui. If the warrior arrived in one piece, he would wait for days in a cave for the annual migration of the speckled sooty tern, a seabird sacred to Makemake. The first warrior to steal a freshly laid tern egg and return to Rapa Nui alive was declared the victor. For the next year, the winner would be treated as a god himself… an honor that included not having to bathe, shave or trim his fingernails.
MOUNT MAZAMA, OREGON :	See Crater Lake, Oregon.
MYSTERY TRADITIONS:	Common during the Greco-Roman era, mystery religions were characterized by secret rituals and the search for ecstatic enlightenment. Most of these cults were based on the myth of Persephone, a mortal woman who was abducted by the god of the underworld and forced to live half of her life in the spirit realm, and half among the living. The Persephone myth became metaphorical for many other paranormal phenomenon, such as out of body experiences.
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N: NECKER ISLAND THRU NUMEROLOGY
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NECKER ISLAND, HAWAI'IAN ISLAND CHAIN, (ABANDONED SITE):	One is the mythical landing grounds of the menehune after they abandoned the island of Kaua’i, Hawai'i. It is a fish hook-shaped piece of land populated almost exclusively by tens of thousands of seabirds. The island was first plotted by French explorer Jean-Francois de la Perouse in 1786 who noted that its treacherous cliffs were stained white with bird droppings, the island was barren of trees or other large plantlife and the violent currents made dropping anchor there impossible. Curiously, the Hawai’ians living to the south did not seem to know about the existence of the island. Later expeditions found signs of ancient habitation on the island, but it is unknown who the people were, where they came from or why they left. [For more information see The Menehune of Kaua'i.]
NECRONOMICON:	Perhaps the most famous of the grimoires, the legitimacy of the Necronomicon is hotly debated. It received popular attention when science fiction author H.P. Lovecraft referenced it in many of his works. Lovecraft later wrote a history of the grimoire that he said was meant as a joke. Still, there seems to be a history to the Necronomicon itself, with some distinguished universities and institutions (including the British Museum and Bilbiotheque Nationale in Paris) claiming that they own copies in the original Arabic. The history, whether real or not, states that the book was compiled by a mad magician named Abdul Alhazred in A.D. 730. It contained a plethora of magical spells, incantations and other materials related to demons and devils, most of who wished to destroy humanity. In 950, the work was translated into Greek and more widely distributed. It was in this form that it received the title Necronomicon. It went through a variety of other translations, was banned by Pope Gregory IX in 1232, and eventually fell into the hands of Dr. John Dee. Dee translated it into English, although only a few fragments of his translation are known to exist. Today, information on the book is easily found in libraries, bookstores and on the Internet.
NELLIE CASHMAN’S RESTAURANT, TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA:	In a town famous for its reprobates and criminals, there were a few good people as well. Ellen “Nellie” Cashman, a devoutly religious woman and prospector, was chief among them. This Irish immigrant set up a cottage industry to feed, clothe and entertain the miners and prospectors of the area without the benefit of liquor, gambling and prostitution. She worked throughout the western United States and Canada, but is probably best know for her time in Tombstone. Despite her more wholesome approach, her restaurant and hotel (called the Russ House at the time she owned it), which still operates to this day, was not excused from hunting phenomenon. According to witnesses, there are a variety of apparitions and poltergeist phenomenon that regularly manifest themselves in the establishment. The restaurant is located at 131 South 5th Street, Tombstone, Arizona. ‎[See The Town Too Tough To Die.]
NICKERSON FARMS RESTAURANT, PICHACO PEAK, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	This abandoned but still largely intact restaurant is located at Picacho Peak, about forty miles north of Tucson. It opened on December 22, 1969, and was first store of the franchise in Arizona. It was famous for its fried chicken and fresh honey. There were reportedly bee hives on the hillside behind the restaurant – a common feature for this restaurant chain. The abandoned building, one of only a handful of its kind left in the U.S., was investigated by the team in December 2009 as part of its “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature.
NIKUMARORO, PHOENIX ISLAND CHAIN, (ABANDONED SITE):	A small, now uninhabited island in the Phoenix Island Chain in the South Pacific. Although the tiny parcel of land had sporadic human settlements throughout the twentieth century, its lack of water and remote location may long-term settlement impractical. The island gained some renown during the 1990s, when the International Group for Historical Aircraft Recovery [See TIGHAR] advanced a theory that famous aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan crash-landed on it during their ill-fated round-the-world flight in 1937. TIGHAR has been doing archaeological research on the island for over a decade in the hopes of proving that Earhart lived and eventually died there. Although they have found numerous intriguing artifacts, definitive proof remains elusive and Earhart's disappearance continues to puzzle historians. The OCE team visited the island briefly during September and October 2005 [See Amelia's Shadow: The Search for Earhart and Noonan on Nikumaroro Island].
NUMEROLOGY:	The belief that numbers contain various mystical attractions and properties that can be used to forecast the future, ascertain personal characteristics and assist in astrological predictions. See also gematria.
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O: OLIVE MINING CAMP THRU "OUTCAST EARTH CURSE"
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OLIVE MINING CAMP, NEAR GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	One of several lost copper mining camps dating from the nineteenth century and originally located to the south of Tucson. The camp was located along Mission Road, west of Interstate 19. The camp was named after Olive Stephenson Brown, the wife of the mine’s owner. Mrs. Brown appointed herself the patron of the camp. A kind-hearted and generous woman, she organized free chicken dinners every Sunday for the miners. After the mine sold in the late 1880s, Olive Stephenson Brown and her husband moved to Tucson where they continued to play an important role in the city’s early development. A collection of her reminiscences about this pioneer age is available through the Arizona State library. The remains of the camp (if any) are nestled between the tailings mounds created by the mining companies and across the street from a rural fire department. The site is behind a locked gate on private property and is not accessible. This camp was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature. See also: Twin Buttes Mining Camp \| Continental Mining Camp \| Mineral Hill Mining Camp.
OPERATION CROSSROADS:	Operation Crossroads was the continuation of the American nuclear program begun with the Manhattan Project. The remote Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific was chosen as the site for a series of atmospheric detonations. In order to assess the impact of the explosions on naval vessels, a special "fleet" of archaic and captured war ships was assembled in the Bikini lagoon. The first test, called ABLE, was detonated 520 above lagoon. The second, called BAKER, was detonated ninety feet underwater. The testing left the entire area uninhabitable to this day. [See Atomic Atolls.]
OREGON CAVES CHALET, OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT:	Built in the 1930s to encourage tourist travel to Oregon’s natural wonders, the chalet is a beautiful multi-story structure which spans an entire ravine with a natural stream running through the dining room. An urban legend claims that Suite 309-310 is occupied by a ghost named “Elizabeth” who is responsible for a variety of poltergeist-type activity. The legend states that Elizabeth committed suicide after discovering her new husband in flagante delicto with a chamber maid. The Outcast Earth team could find no documentable evidence of Elizabeth or her alleged death. The National Park Service claims that the story is a simple urban legend. See Spirits by the Sea I: The Haunted Chalet.
ORONGO (ABANDONED SITE):	The ancient ceremonial village located on the edge of the Rano Kau volcano on the island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile. Meridian, Trespass and Rune visited the village in February 2005.
OUIJI BOARD:	A flat board imprinted with numbers, letters and words that are used by some mediums to deliver messages from the spirit world. It was first patented in 1892 and marketed as a novelty game. The name is derived from the French word for "yes" ("oui"), which is one of the words also found on the board. The operator(s) uses the board by placing their fingertips on a triangular-shaped instrument called a planchette and then asking questions of the spirits. The planchette will then slide across the board, apparently with no assistance from the operators, spelling out or otherwise answering the queries. This movement is actually the result of the ideomotor effect that is produced by small, unnoticeable muscle tremors in the hands and arms. The Ouiji board gained a more sinister reputation after the release of the movie, The Exorcist, in which the game acted as a vehicle for demonic possession.
'OUTCAST EARTH CURSE:"	The "curse theory" was originally postulated by Cipher in late 2006. It was Cipher's belief that the curse existed prior to the formation of the Outcast Earth team, but was unknowingly brought into the team's midst by Meridian. Cipher based this belief on an omijuki fortune given to Meridian on the island of Saipan which stated that the curse (which was described in the fortune as a “typhoon”) had battered Meridian once before and the storm clouds were gathering again. After the delivery of this fortune, a series of unfortunate incidents seemed to support its legitimacy: The explosion of World War II-era munitions in a Saipan cave almost killed Cipher and Trespass in November 2006. The unexplained disappearance of Anvil from a Los Angeles-area hotel in February 2007; and the subsequent discovery of his skeletal remains in rural Colorado almost two years later. In October 2007, a freak traffic accident kills Rune's girlfriend Tate on a lonely highway in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The same accident lands Ash in the hospital for several days. In March 2008, original Outcast Earth member Trespass leaves the team when it was discovered that his long-missing mother had been murdered by his stepfather. Trespass moved to New Orleans and has since fallen out of touch with the team.
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P: PALMISTRY THRU PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU
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PALMISTRY:	An ancient practice in which a person’s future, character health and destiny can all be foretold by examining the lines in their hands. A similar practice relating to the human foot can be found in China and is called podoscopy.
PHILOSOPHER'S STONE:	A mythical substance which, according to alchemical thought, has the ability to change base metals into gold, extend life, cure disease and perform other miracles. Although the substance has never been found – and most likely does not exist – the search for it has culminated in the discovery of several valuable materials, including gunpowder. See also Alchemist.
PHRENOLOGY:	An excellent example of pseudo science, phrenology is the study of bumps on the human head, from which a person’s personality, character traits and other personal information can be derived. It was developed by a German physician named Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828) and gained tremendous support and popularity during the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. Gall eventually mapped twenty-six areas of the skull that he claimed were connected to human personality traits. Devotees in the 20th century took the "science" a step further by creating a machine called a "psycograph" that could analyze these features quickly and accurately. Phrenology lost virtually all of its supporters when a variant of it was used by the Nazis in Germany to determine "inferior races" based purely on physical features.
PHYSIOGNOMY:	The art of reading a person’s character and destiny based on their facial features. This is a very old notion, probably dating back to the ancient Greeks, who proposed that physical beauty had a direct correlation to spiritual excellence. Criminologists of the 19th century used this unfortunate technique to ascertain the guilt or innocence of an individual, and funded studies into the shape of the criminal ear. See also Phrenology
PIONEER INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, TUCSON, ARIZONA:	Constructed in 1929, this eleven-story historical landmark is also the site of Tucson, Arizona's worst tragedy. On December 21, 1970, an arsonist set fire to the building, which damaged or destroyed the upper seven floors. Twenty-eight people were either overcome by smoke and flame, or leapt to their deaths from the various windows and balconies. Although an office building today, the old Pioneer is widely considered to be one of Tucson's most haunted locations. See also Tucson's Feiry Ghost Hotel.
PODOSCOPY:	See Palmistry.
POWDER OF PROJECTION:	See Philosopher's Stone.
PRIMA MATERIA:	See Philosopher's Stone.
PUNCHBOWL CEMETERY, HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAI'I:	Located in the center of Honolulu, this is the final resting place for over 40,000 servicemen including some of the first war dead from Pearl Harbor. The cemetery lies in the middle of a long-extinct volcanic crater, which makes the entire area look vaguely like a punchbowl. But long before American war causalities were buried here, the area was also used by the native Hawai’ians as a sacred site. According to legend, a race of diminutive but industrious people called the Menehunes lived within the crater. Menehunes occupied the Hawai’ian islands prior to the arrival of the Polynesians, but we easily conquered and enslaved by the larger and more numerous invaders. The Hawai’ians credit the Menehunes with the creation of many of the ancient stonework structures around the islands, and it is said that they can still be spotted lurking around the cemetery.
PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU, OAHU, HAWAI'I:	Located on the northwestern coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i, this sacred compound overlooks the Pelekane Bay. Its name translates to "whale hill." The ruins here span centuries of Hawai’ian culture with the largest and most impressive having been built by King Kamehameha I in 1790-91. The all-stone structure has walls measuring as high as 20 feet. Kamehameha I created the altar in response to a local "seer" who prophesied that the great king would conquer and unify all the Hawai’ian islands if he completed the heiau. (The prophesy was eventually realized and marked the height of Kamehameha’s 77-year dynasty.) A human line thirty miles long was utilized to transport the stones, none of which were cut to fit into the foundation. See heiau.
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Q: RMS QUEEN MARY
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RMS QUEEN MARY:

A world famous ocean liner built and operated from 1936 to 1967 by the Cunard White Star Line. The Queen Mary was one of the most luxurious passenger liners of her day, although she was commandeered for service in the war effort between the dates of 1939 and 1945. Today she is permanently anchored in Long Beach Harbor as a hotel and tourist attraction. Her mystique is furthered by claims of frequent and multiple haunting phenomenon in her hallways and below her decks. [See Urban Nightmares: Murder, Mystery and Magic in the City of Angels.]

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R: RAPANUI TO ROSICRUCIANS
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RAPA NUI, CHILE:	(Commonly known as Easter Island.) The discovery of Rapa Nui was in itself a quest to solve a 35-year old mystery. In the 1680s, an English mercenary named Edward Davis, while roaming the ocean in search of treasure-laden Spanish galleons, spotted a low, sandy island on the horizon, about 1,500 miles off the coast of Chile. Davis did not venture any closer to the unknown land, but speculation about the sighting persisted for the next three decades. Many contemporary explorers theorized that Davis’s discovery was actually a long-sought South Pacific continent, one possibly laden with gold and other valuable resources. No one followed through on the discovery until the Dutch West India Trading Company, which was willing to gamble on the validity of the South Pacific continent, dispatched an expedition in 1721. Captain Jacob Roggeveen commanded the fleet of three ships and over two hundred men. Roggeveen and his men actually reached Rapa Nui on Easter Day, and thus gave the island the name by which most of us know it today. As the ships drew closer to the beach, Roggeveen was startled to see huge stone idols rising out of the grassy hills and staring out into the sea. Hundreds of years later, we don’t know much more about how and why the people of Rapa Nui constructed thousands of these statues, seemingly at the expense of every other aspect of their culture. Today, Rapa Nui is a popular destination site for adventure vacationers. Rune, Meridian and Trespass visited the island in February 2005 in Outcast Earth's first official expedition. [See Journey to the Navel of the World.]
REFLEXOLOGY:	The art of diagnosing illnesses through the examination of the foot, regions of which are said to correspond to specific parts of the human body.
RIORDAN MANSION STATE HISTORIC PARK, FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA:	Built by early Arizona pioneers Timothy and Michael Riordan, this historic home was designed in what is known as the Arts and Crafts style of architecture, a short-lived trend which reached its height during the tail end of the 19th century. Most Arts and Crafts homes were romanticized idealizations of handmade art and personal craftsmanship. The frame-built structure is covered in locally grown, roughhewn pine planks and accented with volcanic rock, giving it a very rustic feel despite such modern amenities as sub-zero ice boxes, electric power, central heating and even a rudimentary intercom system. The park also boasts one of the largest collections of Arts and Crafts furniture in the state. The house is said to be haunted by two individuals: Anna Riordan and her mother Caroline Riordan. Anna and her cousin Arthur died within hours of each other in 1927, both victims of polio. Caroline tended to her daughter throughout her illness. After Caroline’s death in 1943, rumors began of visitors seeing the phantom mother and daughter appearing in the rooms where Anna lived and eventually died. The mansion is located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Related informaton: Ghostly Tales from the Riordan Mansion.
RONGELAP ATOLL, MICRONESIA:	An island-atoll that is part of the Marshall Islands chain, Micronesia. The atoll consists of about sixty tiny islets which have a total area of only three square miles. Rongelap was irradiated accidentally during the post-World War II atomic bomb tests in the nearby Bikini Atoll. In 1954, radioactive dust fell on the atoll rendering unsuitable for human habitation. Its residents were evacuated to Kwajalein Island where most of them still live today. The OCE team visited Rongelap in July 2005. [See Atomic Atolls.]
RONGORONGO:	The alleged written language of the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui. It was first discovered in 1864 when some Rapanuian islanders showed a Catholic missionary named Eugene Eyraud a variety of strange wooden tablets. Inscribed on the tablets was a variety of hieroglyphics unlike anything Brother Eugene had ever seen. The writing consisted of over one hundred basic designs that could be combined into 2,000 different symbols. The natives told him that the writing was called rongorongo, and it was the script used by the original inhabitants of Rapa Nui. Intrigued, Brother Eugene began to search for someone who could translate the text for him. Unfortunately, he concluded that all the Rapanuian elders who had knowledge of the texts had perished in the South American slave trade during the previous decades. No one has ever been able to find the Easter Island version of the Rosetta Stone that will crack the mystery. There is very little of the rongorongo language for scholars to study. Only thirty tablets have beenidentified worldwide which virtually ensures that the language will never been successfully translated. [See Journey to the Naval of the World.]
ROSICRUCIANS:	A secret order of Christian mystics with theological ties to the Kabbalah and various occult beliefs. The name translates to "Rosy Cross," and first came to the world’s attention when fliers announcing the order were anonymously distributed through Paris, France, in 1623. It is believed that Christian Rosenkreutz, a German nobleman and monk who traveled extensively through the Near East and eventually embracing magic, alchemy and other nontraditional beliefs, originally founded the Rosicrucians. Rosenkreutz was also passionately anti-Catholic, and his founding of the secret order may have been a direct protest against papal beliefs. Although not well known due to their covert nature, it is believed that most Rosicrucian practices mimic those of the alchemist and the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, including the quest for eternal life and transformation of base metals into gold. A California advertising executive named H. Spencer Lewis revived the order in 1909. Like many other secret societies, the Rosicrucians identify each other through secret handshakes, code words, rituals and rites.
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S: SACKETT HALL TO SUNSET CRATER
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SACKETT HALL, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, CORVALLIS, OREGON:	A rambling dormitory on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis. The dorm was said to be the murder site of two young women, both of whom subsequently haunt its halls. See Parks, Roberta Kathleen (Kathy) \| Bundy, Theodore (Ted) Robert \| Wyckoff, Nancy \| Buchanan, Marlowe James.
"SACRAMENTO UNDERGROUND," SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA:	During the 1860’s, a large area of downtown Sacramento was raised twelve feet in order to prevent flooding from the nearby American River. The original streets, storefronts and other miscellaneous buildings became the basements of modern downtown Sacramento. Over the years, this “underground,” now a network of interconnecting tunnels and chambers, was used by criminals and the homeless until access was greatly restricted in the 1960s. Many of these areas are still accessible, however. Due to the “underground’s” unsavory history, it is considered to be a hotbed for paranormal phenomenon. [See Dark & Dangerous Places.]
SAIPAN:	The largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. Total human population is estimated to be around 62,000. Saipan was also the scene of some of the most vicious battles during the last months of World War II. In late 2006, the Outcast Earth team visited the island to explore some of these battle sites and the reported paranormal phenomenon that surrounds them. [See Saipan Spirits.]
SATHER TOWER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA:	A famous landmark in the San Francisco area, this 800-foot campanile (bell tower) is the tallest building on the University of California campus. It is also the sight of two suicides – in 1959 and 1961 – the latter of which was said to result in a haunting of the tower and the promenade below. [See Patterson, John \| Saphir, Richard \| Berkeley, California]
SIBLEY MANSION, COPPER CREEK, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	The Sibley Mansion is an impressive stone ruin located near the abandoned mining town of Copper Creek, Arizona. At its height, Copper Creek was a town of fifty-some buildings including the post office built on tiers across a hillside in rural Pinal County. The Sibley Mansion was completed in 1908, the brainchild of Roy Sibley, one of two brothers who owned the Copper Creek mining conglomerate. The mansion was intended to show wealthy investors that Sibley had brought civilization to the Arizona wilderness. Right across the road from the mansion are the ruins of the old company office and mercantile. A large metal cistern and what remained of a horse corral are situated nearby. Today, the mansion and town of Copper Creek are being reclaimed by the wilderness and are difficult to access due to their remote location and poor roads.
SILVER LAKE, OREGON:	Located approximately 80 miles due south of Bend, Silver Lake was the site of a terrible Christmas Eve fire in 1894 which killed dozens of persons. The fire made national news, due partly to the lack of medical services at the time which undoubtedly raised the death toll. The fire broke out in the Chrisman Hall during a Nativity play when one of the spectators bumped his head on an oil-burning lamp. The Outcast Earth team visited Silver Lake in the Summer of 2009 to investigate any possible haunting phenomenon, but the team members were not able to locate the original site of Chrisman Hall. See The Inferno in Chrisman Hall.
SKELL:	The sky god worshipped by the Klamath Native Americans of Oregon and the Pacific northwest. See Spirits by the Sea I: The Mystic Island.
"SOSSAMAN ACRES," CALIFORNIA:	Located in eastern California in the middle of the Mojave Desert, this private property was the location for an extensive Outcast Earth investigation surrounding a phantom horse. [See Mojave Mysteries.]
SOUTH EUGENE HIGH SCHOOL, EUGENE, OREGON:	An Oregon public school allegedly haunted by a student who died there in 1958. See Grankey, Robert Turnbull \| The Thespian Ghost of South Eugene High School.
SPORTSPARK WATER PARK (ABANDONED), TUCSON, ARIZONA:	This small abandoned waterpark is located on the Interstate 10 frontage road near the Ina Road exit in Tucson. The park can be easily seen from the highway as you're entering the city from the north. Before being abandoned, the park offered a combination of water slides, a mini go-kart course and a small miniature golf area. Little information could be found on the water park but it is believed that it was shut down in the early 1990s. The tower for the water slides still stands as a strange and lonely sentinel next to the interstate. The fiberglass slides were removed years ago, probably because they were collapsing from lack of maintenance. The rest of the area, which includes a clubhouse on the top of a short hill and several outlying buildings, are now inaccessible to the public. The nearby baseball diamonds and soccer fields are still very active and a popular attraction with locals. The abandoned structures are located at 6901 North Casa Grande Highway, Tucson, Arizona. ‎ This site was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature. [See Å Duo of Abandoned Amusement Parks.]
SQUANDO:	Allegedly this cursed Norwegian sailing vessel was the site of a grisly murder and subsequent haunting sometime during the 1880s or 90s. According to some published accounts, several men were killed during the construction of the vessel which prompted one of their widows to curse it and all who sailed on it. During its first year in service, the first mate was decapitated by the captain after falling in love with his wife. The sailor’s headless trunk was thrown into the San Francisco bay but the captain kept the severed head in a bucket underneath his bed. Three subsequent captains died aboard ship and many crewmen were scared off by the vision of a headless ghost seen wandering the ship’s deck. The ship was eventually scrapped – or lost at sea – depending on which version of the story you read. The OCE team doubts the authenticity of the haunting and even of the ship itself. [See San Francisco Embarcadero and Waterfront Area.]
SUICIDE CLIFFS, SAIPAN:	Known locally as Laderan Banadero and Puntan Sabaneta respectively, the Suicide and Banzai Cliffs are the sites of some of the greatest tragedies from World War II. As the American forces tightened their stranglehold on the last outposts of the Japanese Empire, rumors began to spread about the brutality of the G.I.s. Most of these rumors were intentionally circulated by the Japanese military in order to help assure a fierce resistance from the civilian populations. The militarist mentality of the Japanese also mandated unflinching loyalty to the Emperor, which included resisting enemy attack to the death. Many Japanese soldiers believed that equal fanaticism should be demonstrated by civilians, so during the U.S. invasion of Saipan many were “forced” to leap from these two cliffs. If they refused to do so, they were often gunned down by Japanese snipers. The Americans made valant attempts to reassure the local men, women and children that they would be treated humanely, but still many fled at the sight of the Allied approach and threw themselves to their deaths. The bones of many of these unfortunate souls lay at the bottom of the cliffs until they were collected by Japanese volunteers in the 1980s and were given proper funeral ceremonies and burials. Today, these sites are open to tourists. [See Saipan Spirits.]
SUNSET CRATER NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA:	A volcanic cone that was created by a large eruption approximately eight hundred years ago. The eruption caused the local people, the Sinagua, to flee the area. Later, indigenous tribes returned to take advantage of the rich volcanic ash that made agriculture more successful. This also contributed to the construction of local villages such as those seen at Wupatki. The Hopis call the volcanic eruption u'wing pangk yama, which means "when fire came forth.” There is a Hopi legend that the eruption was created by the gods to punish wicked human beings. Related information: Wupatki and Sunset Crater.
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T: TAHITI TO TWIN BUTTES MINING CAMP
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TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA:	Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, an area that includes one hundred and eighteen islands spread over 1,545,000 square miles. Included in French Polynesia are five archipelagos: Society Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands and Marquesas. The island itself is approximately 402-square miles. It was formed by the eruption of two volcanoes in close proximity to each other. As a result, it is known as a volcanic "high" island. The island is divided into two geographic areas called Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti). The Isthmus of Taravao connects these two volcanic formations. Tahiti is ringed by a coral reef that has created a beautiful lagoon that varies in depth from 25 to 100 feet (7.6 to 30.5 meters). Most of the island is uninhabited. Towns, villages and agricultural centers are located almost exclusively in the narrow coastal plain. The Outcast Earth team visited the island in May 2005. [See Tahiti: Isle of Volcanoes and Lagoons.]
TAROT CARDS:	Although they may have originated as an astrological tool, today Tarot Cards are best known as a device for divining the future. The oldest deck known dates to 1432, although there is evidence that its ancestors may go back to the ancient Romans. A deck typically contains twenty-two trump cards and fifty-six suit cards; each illustrated with various images and symbols. When shuffled and dealt, Tarot Cards will supposedly answer very personal and important questions for an individual. Deciphering the combinations of cards is very complex and is referred to as "ars notoria."
TAIYO MARU:	In October 1941, the ship sailed the precise course to be followed by the Japanese attack fleet from Japan to Oah'u, Hawai’i. During its journey, the crew of the Taiyo Maru charted weather, distances visibility, wind direction and other important factors. [See Pearl Harbor Mysteries: The Spy Ship.]
TERRA AUSTRALIS:	Many of the 17th century European explorers who sailed through this region were on a quest for something as legendary and elusive as the Holy Grail. It was the undiscovered or "lost" continent of the South Pacific, a body of land that had many names and just as many promises of riches and arcane knowledge. But did the "Atlantis of the Pacific" actually ever exist? It seems that part of the reason the Europeans spent generations looking for the lost continent – which was commonly known as Terra Australis – is because so many of the indigenous people told stories about it. Although recent archaeological studies seem to indicate that humankind inhabited the South Pacific much earlier than originally thought, there almost certainly was not a sunken or "lost" continent that served as the homeland for all the Polynesians. As with the European myths on lost worlds, many of these storiesmay be simple ways for the Polynesians to explain their origins when fact had been lost to the ages.
"THE THING," DRAGOON, ARIZONA:	This tourist attraction and rest stop sits on Interstate 10 at the crest of a hill near Dragoon, Arizona. This is about half way between Benson and Willcox. “The Thing” a throw-back to the era of roadside oddities, which includes historic vehicle, curious objects and strange artwork. “The Thing” itself is said to be the mummified remains of a Native American princess. An investigation by the Outcast Earth team revealed a more mundane history for the object, however. This site was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature.
TIGHAR:	The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery. TIGHAR's website describes the non-profit organization as “the world's leading aviation archaeological foundation. A full-time professional staff guides an international membership of researchers and supporters in the non-profit organization's efforts to find, save, and preserve rare and historic aircraft.” The group's greatest renown is over its long-term excavation program on Nikumaroro Island, located in the South Pacific. The island is believed to be (at least by the TIGHAR staff and supporters) the crash-landing site of Amelia Earhart.
TLAMCO:	According to some New Age practitioners, Tlamco is an “lost city” located in what is now the Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Tlamco was originally built by survivors from the lost civilization of Atlantis and contained a series of temples that were arranged to represent the orbits of six planets in our solar system and the sun. This esoteric belief appears to have originated from a nineteenth century novel entitled Yermah The Dorado by Fiona Eunice Wait. Originally published in 1897, the novel tells the story of how survivors of the doomed island culture of Atlantis resettled in the New World and built a utopian society on this peninsula which is today in the heart of San Francisco. [See Of Mist and Myth: The Mysteries, Legends and Tall Tales of the San Francisco Area.]
TOMBSTONE COURTHOUSE STATE PARK, TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA:	This impressive wooden structure is the headquarters for the state park in Tombstone and offers an extensive museum to the town’s colorful – and bloody – history. The park is located at 223 East Toughnut Street, Tombstone, Arizona, 85638. [See The Town Too Tough To Die.]
TOYS ‘R’ US, SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA:	A reportedly haunted toy store located in Sunnyvale, a suburb of San Jose, California. The store is located at 130 E. El Camino Real. The business became renowned in ghost hunter circles when it was featured in the 1980s on a variety show called That’s Incredible. The show reported that store visitors and staff members were having strange experiences inside, including toys being moved from shelves and piled on the floor, the sensation of being watched, and the water taps in the women’s bathroom being turned on spontaneously. The Toys ‘R’ Us was also visited by professional psychic Sylvia Brown who conducted a seance on the property and claimed to make contacted with a nineteenth-century ghost named “Johnny Johnson.” Brown also produced a now very famous photo of the seance in which there’s the figure of a tall thin man leaning against a wall behind Brown’s guests. According to all the online and published accounts, the photo was taken by an infrared camera and the male figure showed up only when the film was developed. The Outcast Earth team ultimately had serious doubts about Brown’s claim and the “ghost photo.” For more information, see Spirits of Silicon Value.
TRENT FARM, McMINNVILLE, OREGON:	On May 11, 1950, Oregon farmer Paul Trent took two photos which are, even today, considered some of the best UFO photographs ever taken. The disk-like object that appeared over Trent’s farm that evening has never been identified, nor have Trent’s photos ever been exposed as frauds despite years of scientific analysis. The two photographs started a UFO sensation in Oregon and across the United States. Today, the little town of McMinnville still holds an annual UFO festival in commemoration of the 1950 event. See Spirits by the Sea II: The Trent Farm Disk.
TRUK LAGOON:	See Chuuk Lagoon.
TUSAYAN RUINS, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	One of the last of the permanent structures built on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim by a rather shadowy group of Native Americans known as the Ancestral Puebloan people, probably the forbears of the modern Hopi. The site is relatively unremarkable and must be enjoyed more in the mind’s eye. The ruins here are only partially reconstructed but originally accommodated about thirty people some 800 years ago. The site still contains a kiva, a plaza, various homes, storage rooms and extensive crops including beans, corn and squash. Archaeologists believe it was inhabited for up to thirty years, despite a lack of reliable water sources. Related information: Tales on the Edge of Nothingness – The Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
TWA FLIGHT 2:	One of two aircraft that collided over the Grand Canyon on June 30, 1956. The aircraft wreckage could be easily seen for years on the slopes around Temple Butte until most of it was cleared away by the National Park Service in the 1970s. According to some published accounts, this area is considered haunted and is commonly known today as “Crash Canyon.” Related information: Newsletter: The Crash at the Bottom of the Grand Canyon.
TWIN BUTTES MINING CAMP, NEAR GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	One of several lost copper mining camps dating from the nineteenth century and originally located to the south of Tucson. Twin Buttes maintained a post office up until 1930 and the nearby mine was still in operation in the early 1940s. Some online resources indicated that you can still find concrete foundations and other Twin Buttes artifacts hidden on the desert floor, but the Outcast Earth team was not successful in finding any of this. This camp was investigated as part of the team’s “Arizona’s Roadside Weird” feature. See also: Mineral Hill (Azurite) Mining Camp \| Olive Mining Camp \| Continental Mining Camp
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U: UNITED AIR FLIGHT 718 TO UNIVERSAL ALKAHEST
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UNITED AIR FLIGHT 718:

One of two aircraft that collided over the Grand Canyon on June 30, 1956. the aircraft wreckage was scattered in a largely inaccessible area near the top of Chuar Butte. Most of it is still in place to this day and apparently can be seen by rafters on the Colorado River. Related information: Newsletter: The Crash at the Bottom of the Grand Canyon.

UNIVERSAL ALKAHEST:

See Philosopher’s Stone.

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V: VIMANA AIRCRAFT TO VULTURE MINE
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VIMANA AIRCRAFT:	A term that originally appears in ancient Sanskrit epics from India and describes a variety of magical or supernatural flying machines. Some modern UFO investigators have speculated that such stories are actually historical accounts of visitations by extraterrestrials, or proof of ancient human technology that has since been lost to the ages.
VOODOO (VODUN):	This religion is unique to the Caribbean and West Indies, and was probably created as a result of the slave trade during the 1700 and 1800s. African slaves and freedmen seemed to combine the mystical traditions of their homeland with Christian religious influences. Africans were prohibited upon pain of death from practicing their native religions and were usually forcibly baptized. In response to this prohibition, many slaves took their tribal deities, known as loa, and gave them the characteristics of Catholic saints. The result was a religion that had a strong tradition of secrecy, magic and is highly malleable from region to region. Although the birthplace of vodun is Haiti, many similar religions can be found throughout the Caribbean, most notably Santeria in Cuba. Vodun relies heavily on sympathetic magic, often employing animal sacrifice, symbols, ritual and wax dolls to bring about a change in the subject. Zombies, or reanimated dead bodies, are also closely associated with vodun, as priests of the religion are said to have the power to raise the deceased.
VULTURE MINE, WICKENBURG, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	The Vulture Mine is probably one of the best preserved ghost towns in Arizona. According to myth, in 1862 the mine’s founder – prospector Henry Wickenburg – was out hunting when he shot a vulture. Where the bird dropped to the ground, Henry discovered some spectacular quartz formations infused with gold and established his claim. Wickenburg ultimately decided that he was not interested in the mining business and sold a controlling share of the operation to Benjamin Phelps in 1866. During the first few years of Phelp’s supervision, it is estimated that the Vulture officially produced $2.5 million in gold, with almost as much being snuck out by the miners and their corrupt foremen. The mine changed hands again in 1878, being sold to a man named James Seymour who quickly identified another gold-rich vein and further increased the operation’s profits. Aside from the mining operation, Vulture became an important rest-stop in an otherwise unbroken stretch of desert. By the 1890s, the site featured houses, dormitories, an assayer’s office, a general store, a post office and a school. The mine continued to produce gold, albeit it at a diminished level, well into the twentieth century. At its height, the town was home to 5,000 people. The mine has a variety of ghost legends attached to it, the most spectacular of which involved a cave-in that killed seven men. The Outcast Earth investigation at the site revealed no historical basis for this legend. The team also produced a short video of the images of Vulture Mine which is available on our YouTube page.
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W: WAILUA KAI TO WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT
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WAILUA KAI, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I:	An ancient ceremonial and residential area located on the east shore of the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. Wailua Kai consisted of an elaborate series of temples (called heiaus), shrines and religious refuges; as well as the official lands of the island’s high king. It is widely believed that both animal and human sacrifice took place at many of these heiaus and resulted in haunting phenomenon which is still active to this day. Many native Hawai’ians will avoid the ruins of Wailua Kai, considering them “kapu” or “forbidden.” [See also Kaua’i: Hikina A Ka La \| Hauola \| Paemahu O Wailua \| Malae Heiau \| Old Coco Palms Hotel and Resort \| Video: The Wandering Ghosts of Wailua Kai]
WAKE ISLAND:	A small coral atoll that is an unincoporated territory of the United States. Wake is best known as being the first American territory attacked by the Japanese after the suprise attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time, Wake was maintained only by a small garrison of Marines, but the defenders held out against overwhelming enemy forces for days. When the island finally fell, many of the surviving Americans were forced into slave labor and then murdered by the Japanese garrison commander at the end of the war. The Outcast Earth team visited the island in October and September, 2005. [See Wake Island: Lost But Not Forgotten.]
WICCA:	A pagan religion that embraces witchcraft, generally used by modern witches. The term comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "wicce," which means to bend or shape.
WHALEY HOUSE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA:	Built in the mid-1800s, this two-story brick structure is reputed to be the “most haunted” house in the United States. The house is a well-known destination point for ghost-hunters, professional physics and curiosity seekers. Strange phenomenon continues to be reported there, including sightings of specters thought to the house’s original owner, Thomas Whaley; his wife Anna; a local criminal named “Yankee” Jim Robinson; two of the Whaley children and the family dog. The house is located in Old Town, San Diego.
THE WHITE BIGFOOT OF CONSER LAKE:	The White Bigfoot legend stems from the area in and around the small town of Millersberg, Oregon. According to legend, the creature appeared shortly after a UFO sighting in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The description of the Bigfoot changes according to whose account you read, but the consistent features include softly-glowing white fur, cat-like ears, unusual height, webbed fingers and feet that made a “squishing noise” as the creature walked. He was allegedly spotted within a thirty-mile radius around Millersburg – particularly around a place called “Conser Lake” – and so frightened the locals that they barricaded themselves in their homes and plead with the sheriff to take action. The Outcast Earth team could find no verifiable evidence that these events took place, and even the locale of “Conser Lake” was elusive. In the end, the team concluded that the story was an urban legend. See Spirits by the Sea II: Tracking the White Bigfoot of Conser Lake.
WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA:	A reportedly haunted mansion located in San Jose, California, built by heiress Sarah Winchester. Construction on the house began in 1884 – and due to Mrs. Winchester’s unique spiritual beliefs – work on the structure continued night and day without pause for the next thirty-eight years. Today, the 160-room mansion is a popular destination sight for tourists and ghost-hunters alike. For more information, see Spirits of Silicon Value.
WIZARD ISLAND, CRATER LAKE, OREGON:	Wizard Island is the cinder cone located at the west end of Crater Lake. The crater is all that is left of a volcanic peak called Mt. Mazama which erupted around 4,600 BC. The Native Americans in the area said that the mountain was the portal into the underworld and the volcanic eruption was a huge battle between two rival gods. These gods were Llao, the god of the underworld, and Skell, the god of the sky. Llao ripped out Skell’s heart, and Skell avenged himself by chopping up Llao’s body and throwing all the pieces in the lake. A lake monster ate all of Llao except his head, which is where all his power was stored. If angered, Llao can transform himself into a giant crayfish which will attack people on the shore of the lake and eat them. The Native Americans avoided Wizard Island because of the rumors that it is haunted. Rangers and guests sometimes still report seeing campfires on the island when no one is there or see phantoms among the trees. See Spirits by the Sea I: Crater Lake.
WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA, (ABANDONED SITE):	Located about forty miles outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, Wupatki is a series of Native American ruins dating from the 11th Century. It is thought that most of the structures in this area were built by the Sinagua, Cohonina, and Kayenta Anasazi. The site is considered an ancestral site to the modern Hopi and its relics are protected by law. Many of the ruins are thought to be haunted by the spirits of the former residents. Related information: Wupatki and Sunset Crater.
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X:
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There are currently no entries in this area.

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Y: YAQUINA BAY LIGHTHOUSE TO YAQUINA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
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YAQUINA BAY LIGHTHOUSE,
NEWPORT,
OREGON:

Located in Newport, Oregon, this nineteenth century lighthouse was only in use between the years of 1871 and 1874 before it was abandoned. It was restored as a national landmark in the mid-twentieth century, during which time the building was rumored to be haunted by both a despotic sea captain and a missing woman. The Outcast Earth team investigated the lighthouse during the Summer of 2009 and found both legends were untrue. For more information, see Spirits by the Sea II: The Bogus Ghosts of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

YAQUINA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE,
NEWPORT,
OREGON:

Completed in 1873, this is the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast and is currently a national park. The lighthouse is said to be haunted by an assistant lightkeeper named Herbert Higgins. Higgins died on the light platform in the early 1920s after he left his sickbed to restart the light while the head keeper was off the property and the other assistant keeper was drunk. His body was found by the head lightkeeper that same night. The man who neglected his duties due to his fondness for drink later insisted that Higgins ghost inhabited the structure. The guilt-ridden man never entered the lighthouse after that unless he had the protection of his pet bulldog. For more information, see Spirits by the Sea II: My Keeper's Ghost – Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

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Z: ZENER CARDS TO ZODIAC
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ZENER CARDS:	Cards designed with five symbols – circle, cross, wavy lines, square and star – which are used to test the psychic prowess of an individual. The cards are named after their designer, parapsychologist Dr. Karl Zener.
"ZERO ATOLL:"	The name given by the OCE team members to an unnamed islet in the southern area of Chuuk Lagoon. The atoll was the site of a crashed Japanese Zero that was reportedly haunted by its pilot. The team spent almost two months on the atoll while investigating the haunting during the end of 2005. [See Chuuk Lagoon: Fractured Paradise.]
ZODIAC:	1. The area of the heavens through which the sun, moon and other planets move. Astrologers believe that these movements can indicate a variety of things, from foretelling future events to predicting success in business. The zodiac best known in the Western society consist of twelve astrological signs – Ares, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. (There are eastern zodiacs as well, which have different symbols and attributes.) The origins of these signs are traceable back to Greek mythology and correspond to heavenly constellations. Astrologers believe that people born under certain signs are naturally imbued with specific character traits, skills and foibles. 2. A still-unidentified serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco area during the late 1960s and early 1970s. See Biographies: Zodiac.
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