Frontiers of Zoology: Chupacabras SOLVED

In-depth, insightful, and very interesting, and goes way beyond the pop culture, pedestrian, and  non-esoteric attempts by skeptic Benjamin Radford:Frontiers of Zoology: Chupacabras SOLVED, by Dale Drinnon.

There's much there, and this is just a little bit from Drinnon's post:

For the most part, the traditional creatures later being CALLED chupacabras in Mexico are referred to under the blanket terms of 'Nahual' or 'Nagual.' This was originally the name of an Aztec magical practitioner and healer but more usually means the same thing as witch or demon any more. The term 'Brujo' is also used. The idea behind Naguals originally was that they had certain animal totems, which granted them powers and allowed the practitioners to assume animal form - any of a number of different forms. I suppose even hairless coyote would count. So more recently the term includes shapeshifters in general AND the totem power animals as well. The name also has a more positive meaning of protective spirits in animal form. In the case of the reptilian chupacabras, I am not certain as to what the native name of the totem power animal supernatural lizard originally was, but different recent references call it the King Lizard or King Iguana, Dragon or Dragon Lizard, Cipactli and possibly Chan. 

I chose the above because it resonated with me: totem animals, Naguals, shape-shifters. Note Dale's remark about shape-shifters: "...allowed the practitioners to assume animal form ... I suppose even hairless coyote would count." Interesting take, given the number of hairless canine creatures seen, and all too often killed, that fit this description. I've always looked at the two types of chupacabra from a more social-folkloric perspective concerning the way language (names and labels) change. But Drinnon's theories go further, and deeper, presenting us with a parallel esoteric, or living myth via symbolism in the shape of a chupacabra.

Here Be Dragons! Itty Baby Ones, on Game of Thrones

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

If you haven't seen the season finale of Game of Thrones and don't want to know the end, don't read on.

But for those of you who did watch last night's episode, or don't mind knowing the end, we found ourselves rewarded with three baby dragons. The eggs hatched, put on the funeral pyre by Khaleesi/Daenerys Targaryen. And that was a scene; her mercy killing of her "stars and her moon."

I love Game of Thrones, and am not complaining, but last night while watching last night's episode I wondered, "Well, that's all good but where are the female rulers and leaders?" True, the women have power, but the King trumps the Queen. Ah, but not so fast, for Khaleesi/Daenerys Targaryen has come into her own. Surrounded by her dragons, she will indeed rule, I suspect. And I bet the red winged dragon will be her special one; the leader of the pack (all three of them), the one who leads the way. Speaking of dragons, I wondered how they breed -- are any of the dragons female? How many eggs do they lay? No doubt there are other dragon eggs dormant throughout the realm.

You can view the last scene here, of Khaleesi/Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons. 

It'll be a long wait for season two, but now I have True Blood to look forward to! Even though I think the show's become a little bit too camp, I still enjoy it. I mean, True Blood has not only vampires but werewolves! among other creatures, which makes for a lot of fun.

Dragons and Dire Wolves: Will the Beasts Rescue The Good in Game of Thrones?

I'm hooked on the HBO series Game of Thrones. Funnily enough, I didn't want to get into watching the series when it was being advertised for two reasons: one, I feel I watch too much television as it is (though probably don't) and didn't want to get into another series, and two, the genre didn't really grab me. My husband really wanted to see it though so I gave it a try. I was hooked from the first few moments.

For those watching the TV series, you know that last Sunday's episode was one hell of a shocker! I don't think there have been more than half a dozen television series with such outright, in your face shockers. And for those who've read the book series by George R. R. Martin, you'll know what follows, but for myself, I haven't read the books (not yet, now I plan to) so I can only speculate on future episodes.

Things look bad for just about everyone; war has already started in battles here and there and it looks like one end all war is coming. Not to mention the low humming sub-theme of "Winter is Coming..." which can only be bad. Evil spirits, assumed to be long extinct if not outright non-existent to begin with, have been waking up. Yes, things are grim indeed. Very grim.

Within the mix of imps (who is one of the sexist characters on television, okay, that might be weird, but  many women agree with me), kings, queens, heroes, villains, intrigue, betrayal, sex (good old fashioned lust filled something for everyone sex), there are the creatures. The beasts. The animals.

There are the Dire Wolves, beautiful and magical animals, one in particular. The Dire Wolves are fiercely loyal, warrior-like in the protection of their "masters," bound in an almost spiritual manner to their owners, and possess preternatural abilities, including a psychic connection.Then there are the Dragon eggs; like the Dire Wolves, no longer extant. Thought to be outright fantasy, or at least, no longer existing, three eggs lay in a chest as a novelty. They are beautiful and a curiosity, and yet... there is the hint that they may awaken.

Will it be the beasts in this story that help rescue humans in Game of Thrones? Dragons and Dire Wolves; will we see more of them in future episodes? I hope so, and I think we will.

Related posts:
Game of Thrones Second Episode: Dire Wolves
Game of Thrones: Dragon Eggs

Game of Thrones: Dragon Eggs

Besides the cool and no doubt preternatural Dire Wolves in HBO's Game of Thrones, we also get dragon eggs. Given as a wedding gift to Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke), recently married to the Dothraki King, the petrified dragon eggs sit interestingly in an opened chest in Daenerys' room. Considered valuable because they're so unusual, the eggs are just that: a curiosity, since dragons have been extinct for centuries.  Ah, but we know better... the eggs come in threes, a magickal number always, in tales like these, and just because it's said that the "...dragons no longer ride..." doesn't mean it's so. As I've commented on this blog in here, and here, I haven't read any of the books in the Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin, so I don't know what's coming, or how closely the TV series follows the books. But following the classic trail of lore, as well as the hints in the show (such as traveling the seas, which the Dothraki have avoided) I think it's a good guess to say those dragon eggs are going to hatch, and the dragons shall be ridden. No doubt with Daenerys Targaryen in the lead. The eggs have already been curiously warm to the touch, a sign of things to come.