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Mirrors in Folklore and Superstition: Portals, Reflections, and Bad Luck – Explore the Diverse and Often Contradictory Beliefs About Mirrors, From Their Use in Scrying and Fortune-Telling (Seeing the Future or Other Realms) to Superstitions About Breaking Them (Bringing Seven Years of Bad Luck) and Their Connection to the Soul and the Spirit World.

Mirrors in Folklore and Superstition: Portals, Reflections, and Bad Luck - A Lecture (Image: A cracked antique mirror reflecting a distorted face. Use a slightly spooky, but also humorous, artistic…
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The Folklore of Crossroads: Meeting Places of Power and the Supernatural – Explore the Profound Beliefs and Rituals Associated with Crossroads in Various Cultures, Seen as Liminal Spaces Where Different Worlds (Human, Spiritual, Supernatural) Meet, Often Connected to Magic, Dealings with Spirits, Important Decisions, and Rites of Passage.

The Folklore of Crossroads: Meeting Places of Power and the Supernatural (Professor Armitage leans forward, adjusting his spectacles precariously on his nose. A mischievous glint sparks in his eye.) Alright,…
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The Fountain of Youth: Searching for Eternal Life Through Legend – Explore the Ancient Legends and Historical Quests for a Mystical Spring or River Said to Restore Youth and Immortality to Anyone Who Drinks or Bathes in Its Waters, Reflecting the Enduring Human Desire to Defy Aging, Escape Mortality, and Find Eternal Life.

The Fountain of Youth: Searching for Eternal Life Through Legend (Lecture Begins) Alright everyone, settle down, settle down! Welcome, welcome! Grab your metaphorical cups, because today we're diving deep into…
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El Dorado: The Myth of the Golden King and His City – Trace the History and Legends of El Dorado, Originally a Ritual Where an Indigenous Chief Covered Himself in Gold Dust, Which Evolved Into the Fabled Myth of a Lost City of Gold Said to Exist in South America, Driving European Exploration, Conquest, and Exploitation of Indigenous Peoples Fueled by Greed.

El Dorado: The Myth of the Golden King and His City – A Lecture on Greed, Gold, and Gilded Misunderstandings (Image: A comical drawing of a conquistador tripping over a…
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Sunken Cities: Legends of Lost Worlds Beneath the Waves – Explore the Enduring Myths and Legends of Cities Lost to the Sea, Like Atlantis, Ys, and Cantre’r Gwaelod, and Uncover What These Stories Reveal About Catastrophe, Memory, and Our Deep Fascination with Lost Civilizations, Hidden Realms, and the Power of the Ocean to Conceal and Destroy.

Sunken Cities: Legends of Lost Worlds Beneath the Waves 🌊 (A Lecture on Catastrophe, Memory, and Our Obsession with Underwater Real Estate) (Introduction - The Allure of the Abyss 🪸)…
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The Golem: Creating Life From Clay in Jewish Folklore – Explore the Ancient Legend of the Golem, an Animated Anthropomorphic Being Created From Mud or Clay Through Magical Rituals, Often Used to Protect Communities From Persecution, Raising Profound Questions About Creation, Control, and the Limits of Human Power and Responsibility.

The Golem: Creating Life From Clay in Jewish Folklore - A Lecture (Slide 1: Title Slide - Image of a rough-hewn clay figure slowly coming to life, sparks flickering around…
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The Wendigo: A Terrifying Creature Born of Greed and Cannibalism in Native American Lore – Explore the Horrifying Legends of the Wendigo, a Mythical Creature or Spirit Associated with Cannibalism, Insatiable Greed, and the Depths of Winter, Found in the Folklore of the Algonquin Peoples, Representing the Dangers of Taboo and the Destructive Nature of Human Excess.

The Wendigo: A Terrifying Creature Born of Greed and Cannibalism in Native American Lore (Lecture Hall doors creak open. Professor Eldridge, a slightly disheveled but enthusiastic figure with a perpetually…
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The Kitsune: Mysterious and Powerful Fox Spirits in Japanese Folklore – Explore the Legends of the Kitsune, Supernatural Fox Beings in Japanese Folklore Known for Their Intelligence, Magical Abilities (Especially Shapeshifting into Human Form), and Their Role as Messengers of the Deity Inari, Tricking Humans or Acting as Loyal Companions, Reflecting Japanese Beliefs About Animals and the Spirit World.

The Kitsune: Mysterious and Powerful Fox Spirits in Japanese Folklore (Lecture Begins - Grab your notebooks and settle in, folks! We're diving deep into the fascinating world of the Kitsune!)…
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Anansi the Spider: The Ultimate Trickster of West Africa and the Caribbean – Explore the Entertaining Tales of Anansi, a Clever and Mischievous Spider Figure in West African and Caribbean Folklore, Whose Stories Explain the Origins of Aspects of the World and Who Outwits More Powerful Beings Through Cunning, Deception, and Wit, Making Him a Beloved Figure of Resilience and Resourcefulness.

Anansi the Spider: The Ultimate Trickster of West Africa and the Caribbean (A Lecture on Webs, Wits, and Wonderful Stories) Welcome, everyone! Settle in, grab your metaphorical (or literal, I…
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Baba Yaga: The Complex Witch of Slavic Folklore – Explore the Multi-Faceted and Often Ambiguous Character of Baba Yaga, a Supernatural Being Who Lives in a Hut on Chicken Legs and Rides a Mortar, Who Can Be Both a Fearsome Antagonist, a Cannibalistic Figure, and a Source of Help or Wisdom in Russian and Slavic Folktales, Representing Both Danger and a Rite of Passage.

Baba Yaga: The Complex Witch of Slavic Folklore – A Lecture on the Chicken-Legged Enigma 🐔 (Image: A whimsical illustration of Baba Yaga's hut standing on giant chicken legs, smoke…