Cryptid (n): an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.
Urs Truly is a big fan of ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night. Monsters and mythical beings are aspects of our personal and collective psyches. They carry our fears but they are also jolly good fun.* Terry Prachett (no stranger to these sorts) wrote:
“Humans need fantasy to be human, to be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.”
The Cryptid currently bouncing about my psyche is a fellow well over feet named Spring-heeled Jack. His story makes for a TGR (thumping good read). As a cross between Jack the Ripper and a demon. He literally sprang about in England in the early 19th century, frightening the citizens and making a splash into our psyches as another example of the archetype The Boogey Man. I haven’t thought of him since childhood until last week when I phoned Brother #2 and family. They were watching a TV show about “Moth man” a West Virginia cryptid now being exploited like the aliens at Roswell. I educated Nephew #2 about Mr. S.H. Jack and now he’s hooked on the tale as was his father and I.
Afterwards I went on line to find a photo of Mr. S.H. Jack to send to the nephew. The saying ‘there is everything on the internet” is true. I stumbled across The Spring-heeled jack coffee company which looks a splendid place chock-full of coffee beans with demonic names. It is a bit of a disappointment to learn Mr. Jack demonic-like wasn’t from the devil but merely being over-caffeinated. More important than the coffee is the site sells a Spring-heeled Jack T-shirt. Hot puppies! I plan on getting one and jumping about the place frightening the citizens and making no splash into our psyches but being told to pipe down.
*La Casa de Spo is full up with these sorts of which I have written many times. They jump about the house and the inner compartments of my pumpkin making Life fun-filled and interesting. Someone the rationalist never experiences these things
20 comments
August 26, 2020 at 4:21 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I have never, ever heard of SHJ! But, get the shirt in time for the Halloween season.
August 26, 2020 at 4:35 PM
Urspo
History and cultures are full up with sorts like Mr. Jack. I bet Alabama has some version of him viz. some sort of half man/animal out there in the dark.
August 26, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Jennifer
I just realized your header photo is now Where the Wild Things Are!! Love it!
August 26, 2020 at 7:08 PM
Urspo
I try to have the header somehow relevant to the entry. Max is a fine example of going to Where the Wild Things are and romping with the cryptids
August 26, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Old Lurker
Are you saying Someone’s life is not fun-filled and interesting? He has you around, doesn’t he?
August 26, 2020 at 7:09 PM
Urspo
His fun and interest lay in pop culture and movies/theatre not with Dungeons and Dragons types.
August 26, 2020 at 7:03 PM
Debra She Who Seeks
Spring-Heeled Jack sounds like a hoot!
August 26, 2020 at 7:09 PM
Urspo
He was a nawful man – or demon.
August 26, 2020 at 9:06 PM
Todd Gunther
In our neck of the woods we have the Jersey Devil, which sounds no less devilish than Jack.
August 26, 2020 at 9:10 PM
Urspo
I have heard of the jersey devil yes he sounds cut front the same cloth. Every place seems to have their version of the boogeyman
August 27, 2020 at 2:52 AM
Moving with Mitchell
Has never heard of that Jack. Will now read about him. Love that at T-shirt.
August 27, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Urspo
It will help me get in touch with my inner-Jack. I can’t wait to put it on and transform into a Boogey man.
August 27, 2020 at 3:30 AM
Parnassus
As time goes on, real monsters make the more traditional cryptids seem tame by comparison.
–Jim
August 27, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Urspo
Alas yes there are a lot of folks quite in touch with their Shadow elements/Monsters etc. but not in a good way.
August 27, 2020 at 4:36 AM
Lori
I was born and raised in Decatur Illinois. The city was supposedly built on an Indian grave site and extremely haunted. There is a book Haunted Decatur by Troy Taylor that is very interesting.
August 27, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
Every place has a dark/haunted taboo place to keep our collective dark sides.
August 27, 2020 at 4:42 AM
David Godfrey
Well DC has He Who Must Not Be Named living over off Pennsylvania Avenue – with help we are hoping to get rid of him soon.
August 27, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
Let us hope so
August 27, 2020 at 6:34 AM
Bob Slatten
Now I’m off to search SHJ!
August 27, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
It’s quite a tale; jolly good fun !