Haunted Ochate

As many people this time jet off to sunny palm tree beaches, tropical paradise and faraway beautiful locations, others like to go sightseeing and exploring. Some remain within Europe to go on tours of ancient ruins, as they do in Spain. One of them is at Ochate, a lovely moss covered ruined ghost town but it's extremely haunted with a dark history. 

This ancient town of rocky dwellings was first recorded in the Dark Ages, during the 9th Century. The earliest mention was the Basque name Gogate (mystical meaning "the Cold Door," "Wolf's Door" or "The Secret Door"). This implies that there's a portal to another dimension. 

It also went by the name Ochaite.

Even though it's an abandoned ghost town today, it was uncannily abandoned many times before! It was first abandoned in the 13th Century for unknown reason. However some people like Antonio Arroyo and Julio Corral believe it's to do with bad harvests, trading route and violence. They don't mention anything paranormal to blame as reasonable people dispute this subject anyway.

 It was then repopulated 200 years later and abandoned again in the 19th Century as everyone in Ochate was struck down by a horrible illness, while others living in neighbouring villages were spared. This made people think Ochate was cursed, due to belief it was the Biblical plague and so the remaining survivors left. 

In 1981 a UFO was photographed above the ruins of Ochate. Many people have seen strange unusual lights in the ruins, and hovering above the place. These lights are seen flashing, hovering around the ruins always at night. Some believe these lights come from the ancient stone sarcophagi. 

EVP's have captured voices from unknown origin that tell visitors to "LEAVE!" and asking "Why is the door closed?" This may be entities talking about the portal? Ancient battle sounds including men shouting and clashing swords can be heard and picked up in the area. 

A landmark of Ochate is an eerie San Miguel Tower, which was part of a church, the site of a Lady in White ghost who appears there. She's either seen at the top of the tower or walking through the fields nearby. Meanwhile tourists have said they feel suffocated when approaching this tower. Besides her, there's another ghost called the Lady in Black, seen close to the tower or along a path leading to the ruins, often she takes an interest in tourists. 

She Wolf Night 

        

Spooky quicks June 2026

This time around we'll expect the Summer Solstice on the 21st June, and for this there are many interesting times. It's believed this is when things are mystical, magical and enchanting. It's also when the veil is lowest and people see ghosts, strange creatures, fairies, goblins and many other spirits. In ancient times it was considered very dangerous for paranormal forces to try and harm by causing havoc. Our ancestors warded them off by making big bonfires, wearing talismans, herbs, carrying protective stones and metals, chanting and drums. 

Its believed that ferns bloom with a special magic flower only on the eve of Midsummer. It's blue in colour and can be sown by gathering of fern seeds. If sown at midnight, the blue flowers will grow from them during Midsummer Eve and help with magic powers, including treasure seeking and invisibility. This is part of old English folklore.

Romantic spookiness? The solstice in Summer could help young women foresee their future husbands. This folklore involved many similar tales. Find some herbs including St John's Wort, roses and yarrow, make sure these are placed under the pillow. Get some good sleep and the dreams will be about their future husbands. Another one is to silently cook a meal, sat nothing at all, and put an empty plate and chair at the table. The astral form of the future husband should arrive! 

To have a detailed look at all of the amazing paranormal events in June, visit this link at The Paranormal Database. 

These are Ranker Graveyard Shift personal stories about friendly encounters with nice ghosts, visit this link to have a read. It will keep you cool in the heatwave.

Enjoy a magical June! 

Violet Dark 

Blue moon folklore

A blue moon is rising on 31st May 2026. what does this mean and how will it affect us? Does it cause harm? Why is it blue? 

While not actually blue in colour, it was interpreted as this when the eruption of volcano Krakatoa erupted in 1883. Another volcano, Mount St Helens erupted in 1980 that made the moon look blue. While the moon turned blue, the sun turned green and this phenomena lasted for months. 

Across the world, people referred to the days of the green sun and blue skies were turned red, while the nights had a sapphire moon (not to be mistaken with the Bath and Bodyworks perfumes). These strange celestial colours of moon, sky and sun lasted for up to two years.

This eruption in 1883 happened in Indonesia. It was so loud that it burst eardrums of sailors 40 miles away from the volcano. But this event has nothing to do with the rare "once in a blue moon" occurrence.

Folklore of a blue coloured moon ranges from omens of plague, stories of grief, loss and broken hearts. This applies to the colour blue, and also a second full moon within the same month. Modern witches, Wiccans, pagans and other spiritual beliefs have different ideas of a blue moon and what it means. They see it as a positive time for growth, inspiration, divine feminine, fertility, spell working and esoteric inner wisdom. 

Werewolves, in folklore, are believed to be more stronger and powerful during a blue moon! They can be faster and much more dangerous. It's believed they can even be cured during a blue moon. 

More on Krakatoa eruption of 1883 at IFL Science.  

She Wolf Night