Halloween - Jack-O-Lantern

Another Kind of Halloween: When Folklore Meets the Paranormal

Explore the darker origins of Halloween through true tales of the paranormal. From Peter Stumpp, the real “werewolf” of Bedburg, to misunderstood witches, zombie science, and a chilling vampire story from Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, this article dives into the eerie truths behind folklore, myth, and the mysteries that still haunt us today.

The paranormal has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, the idea that death might not be the end, that life could twist into another form on a spectral plane, kept me wide-eyed under the covers. 

The thought that the full moon could awaken something wild inside us, that creatures of the night might truly walk among us, always gave me that familiar chill I never wanted to end.

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Gothic Book - Witchcraft - Earth

The Art Of Emily Doyle

I am Emily Doyle, a Canadian photographer who uses film photography as my preferred medium. I have recently given up digital and colour film to maintain a strict creative vision and demand more from myself as a photographer.

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Horror - Antique - Typewriter

The Return of Gothic Bite Magazine: Rising from Depression and Digital Decay

It’s been far too long since I’ve written for my own creation, Gothic Bite Magazine. Once alive with daily articles, passionate writers, and a thriving gothic community, GBM was my dream made real.

But like many creators, I fell victim to burnout, depression, and the changing tides of social media. What was once a beacon for gothic souls became silent. This is the story of how I lost my way—and how I’m reclaiming the shadows to bring Gothic Bite Magazine back to life.

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Ælfweard, the Forgotten King: England’s Monarch for Sixteen Days (Or Was He?)

History remembers the mighty, the long-reigning, and the victorious, but what about the nearly forgotten? This article explores the short, shadowy life of Ælfweard, the little-known son of Edward the Elder, who may have briefly ruled England for just sixteen days.

Between the political turmoil of Anglo-Saxon succession, rival claims to the throne, and the uncertain legacy of his education and legitimacy, Ælfweard’s story is one of potential, tragedy, and mystery. Was he truly king? Was he meant to rule at all? Dive into the lost life of a prince who stood on the edge of power—and vanished almost as quickly as he appeared.

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Paraphilia - Sexuality

Merinthophilia: Exploring the Paraphilia of Restraint, Desire, and Power Dynamics

“Bound by fate, entangled in flesh; there is no freedom in the chains, yet the chains are the escape.”

In the hidden recesses of human desire, certain fantasies involve the eroticization of restraint, a fascination with the physical act of being tied or restrained. This complex sexual attraction is known as merinthophilia, a paraphilia that focuses on sexual arousal derived from being physically bound. 

For some individuals, merinthophilia taps into a deep psychological need for control, submission, intimacy, and emotional release, exploring themes of power dynamics and vulnerability.

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Cinderella - Fairy Tale

The Cinderella Complex: Ascension and Transformation Fantasy as a Psychological Phenomenon

Fairy tales have long been a source of psychological exploration, offering complex narratives that connect deeply with human desires, fears, and fantasies. One of the most iconic stories in this regard is Cinderella, a tale that explores themes of transformation, rescue, and ultimate ascension from a life of hardship to one of royalty. 

For many, the story is simply one of hope that one day they might experience their own “magical” transformation. However, for others, Cinderella represents a deeper psychological phenomenon, one that can be linked to the “Cinderella Complex” and even to ascension or transformation fantasies that have connections to paraphilic behaviour.

In this article, we will explore the psychological dynamics of ascension and transformation fantasies in relation to Cinderella. Specifically, we will delve into how these fantasies might function within the context of a complex such as the Cinderella Complex, the potential paraphilic aspects tied to personal growth through external forces, and the psychological implications of believing in the possibility of sudden, magical changes in life.

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Tarot Card

The OCD Vampire Tarot Reader: A Dark Journey into the Unknown

In a world teeming with the mundane and the ordinary, there exists a realm for those who dare to embrace the darkness. A world where the mysteries of the unknown can be unlocked through the art of tarot reading.

But not just any tarot reading, this is a journey led by the OCD Vampire, a reader who doesn’t merely pull cards, but channels the essence of the vampire itself.

For those who believe in the power of the night, the pull of the moon, and the call of the paranormal, my tarot readings offer more than just insight, they are a portal to a world of hidden truths, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.

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Schizophrenia - Mental Disorder

The Psychology of Dangerous Incels: Unmasking the Toxic Mindset Behind Their Rage

In recent years, the term “incel” (involuntary celibate) has entered mainstream discussions, often associated with extreme frustration, entitlement, and, in some cases, violent behaviour.

The term refers to individuals, usually men, who are unable to form sexual or romantic relationships and blame society, women, or other men for their perceived failures.

But what happens when this frustration evolves into something more dangerous? How can we understand the mindset of incels who resort to violence, misogyny, narcissism, and manipulation?

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Mirror

Exploring Spectrophobia: The Paraphilia of Mirrors and the Fear of Reflection

Spectrophobia, a psychological condition often linked with paraphilic tendencies, is the intense fear or obsession with mirrors and one’s reflection. But, is it truly about the fear? Or is it the unseen desires and psychological distortions that linger in the glass?

“Do not look,” they warned. But what if the desire lies not in the act of avoidance…but in the reflection itself?

In the gothic silence of night, when shadows stretch and the world is caught between the breaths of light, some hearts pulse with an unspoken terror. Spectrophobia is one of the most misunderstood phobias, where fear and obsession blend, creating a sense of strange, captivating allure. Some may view it as a purely irrational fear; others, as a deeper psychological condition, lurking beneath the surface, seeking control.

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Vampire

How I Became a Vampire and a Vampirologist: A Gothic Journey from Porphyria to Romania

There are two things I have always been certain of: I was never meant for the daylight, and I was born to know the vampire.

While vampires in the True Blood sense don’t necessarily exist, vampirologists do, and I am proud to be both: a vampire in spirit and a vampirologist in title.

One is about who I am, and the other is about why I am. But how, you might ask, can someone be both the monster and the scholar? Let me take you to the shadows where this all began.

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Ireland

The Rise of Brian Boru: Cennétig mac Lorcáin and Medieval Ireland’s Royal Bloodline

When we think of the medieval period, our minds often go to Camelot: knights in shining armour, long gowns, grand feasts, and stories immortalized by movies and TV shows. But what about Ireland?

The Meaning of “Medieval”

“Medieval” is synonymous with the Middle Ages: a long and complex period in European history that stretches from the 5th century AD (around 476) to the 16th century AD (approximately 1500s). It’s a millennium that continues to inspire artists, writers, and dreamers of all kinds.

The Middle Ages are commonly bracketed between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the dawn of the Renaissance, or more globally, the rise of the Ottoman Empire. It’s a time defined by transformation, fragmentation, and relentless ambition.

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Sleeping Beauty

The Dark Origins of Sleeping Beauty: Cannibalism, Curses, and Gothic Horror in Fairy Tales

Fairy tales, as we know them today, are often softened, sanitized versions of their grim past. Before Disney transformed them into magical adventures for children, these stories were cautionary tales—dark warnings about the dangers of vanity, betrayal, and death.

Fairy tales often arrive in our lives as bedtime stories, wrapped in glittering enchantments and happy endings. But the origins of these tales are far from innocent. Before Disney gave us a spellbound princess awakened by true love’s kiss, Sleeping Beauty was a harrowing parable. One that was drenched in themes of sexual violence, cannibalism, and the grotesque misuse of power.

Just as Snow White‘s tale hides murder and necrophilia under a frosted sugar coating, Sleeping Beauty’s story is another gothic lesson in vulnerability, control, and the fine line between magic and malevolence.

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🌒 Rapunzel Is Escaping the Asylum: A Gothic Diary of Madness, Myth, and My Journey To Romania

When my mind shattered, it didn’t sound like breaking glass. It was quieter, more intimate—like a page ripping in half beneath my rib cage. And from that rip, something inside me shifted. A truth. 

I wasn’t The Little Mermaid anymore, longing for rescue and fading into foam. I was Merida with a bloodstained bow, carving a path of fate through a forest of thorns. My fate…is a gothic one. A blood-red fairytale, written in ink, shadow, and bone.

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Somnophilia: The Sleep Fetish Psychology Behind “Sleeping Beauty Syndrome”

A gothic exploration of paraphilia, trauma, and unconscious desire.

What Is Somnophilia?

What is the somnophilia paraphilia? Explore the psychology of the sleep fetish known as “Sleeping Beauty Syndrome” in this gothic, trauma-informed deep dive.

“Do not awaken her,” they whispered. But what if the allure lies not in the waking…but in the waiting?

In the velvet hush of night, when the world exhales and stillness reigns, some hearts stir with forbidden fire. Somnophilia, also called “Sleeping Beauty Syndrome,”is one of psychology’s darkest, least-discussed paraphilias. To some, it’s a dangerous deviation. To others, a misunderstood obsession.

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Vampire

🦇Vampirology: The Gothic Science of the Night

From Rapunzel’s Tower to Romania: My Life as a Certified Vampirologist

So, What Is Vampirology?

What is vampirology? Explore the science, folklore, psychology, and history of vampires with a certified vampirologist who lives like a modern-day child of the night.

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Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania

Into the Heart of Darkness: The Haunting Mystery of Romania’s Hoia-Baciu Forest

Subtitle: Where Time Stands Still, and Shadows Whisper the Truth

The Forest That Shouldn’t Be: A Paranormal Beacon in Transylvania

Deep in the heart of Romania, on the outskirts of Cluj-Napoca, lies a forest so enigmatic, so unnerving, that it has been dubbed “The Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania.” The Hoia-Baciu Forest is not just Romania’s most haunted forest—it is a global landmark in paranormal history, occult phenomena, and gothic folklore. With roots reaching as far back as 6500 BC, this eerily beautiful woodland predates recorded Romanian civilization and remains shrouded in mystery.

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The Brothers Grimm - Rapunzel

Rapunzel Is Letting Down Her Hair: A Gothic Fairy Tale Diary About Love, Mental Health, and Moving to Romania Entry One

A broken-hearted artist with OCD, anxiety, and a Rapunzel complex is moving to Romania to follow a dream rooted in Vlad the Impaler, Gothic history, and a man named Samuel. This is her diary.

When a Thirteen-Year-Old Fell in Love with Vlad the Impaler

When I was thirteen years old, my history teacher handed us five countries to explore. The class chose Romania — mostly out of fascination with Dracula.

But not me.

My teacher, an unsung hero in my story, taught us the truth. Vlad Țepeș. Vlad the Impaler. Vlad Drăculea — the real-life ruler of Wallachia. The terrifying protector of his land and people. A man written in blood and immortalized by fear.

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Castle

Buried Alive: The Gothic Horror of Immurement in Medieval Times

In the shadowed corridors of medieval castles and the crumbling walls of forgotten abbeys, the silent screams of the forsaken linger. Immurement—the act of sealing a person within a wall, crypt, or underground chamber—was one of the most horrifying fates to befall the condemned. 

A living tomb, a slow descent into madness, and a fate worse than death itself. It was not simply an execution; it was the ultimate abandonment, a punishment that blurred the line between justice and sheer cruelty.

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Gothic Fairy Tale

The True Horror of Snow White: A Gothic Tale of Betrayal and Bloodshed

Fairy tales, as we know them today, are often softened, sanitized versions of their grim past. Before Disney transformed them into magical adventures for children, these stories were cautionary tales—dark warnings about the dangers of vanity, betrayal, and death.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is no exception. The version we recognize today, filled with dwarfs, a poisoned apple, and a prince’s kiss, is a far cry from its gruesome origins, where murder, necrophilia, cannibalism, and violent revenge played central roles.

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NHL - Montréal Canadiens - Bell Centre

Haunted Hockey Arenas: The Ghosts of the Bell Centre and Beyond

​The Montréal Canadiens, established in 1909, boast a storied history spanning over a century. Throughout this time, countless players, coaches, and fans have passed through their arenas, leaving behind a rich tapestry of memories and legends. Some believe that the sheer volume of emotions and experiences has imprinted spiritual echoes within these hallowed halls, giving rise to tales of hauntings and paranormal activity.​

While specific accounts from players regarding paranormal experiences at the Bell Centre are scarce, the lore of the team’s former home, the Montréal Forum, is rich with such stories. The Forum, which witnessed 24 Stanley Cup championships, was believed by many to be haunted by the spirits of past hockey legends.

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