NAVIGATION:
ORMON LORE
(ABOVE) Woodcut Illustration of Ormon depicted in a text from 1878 - Artist unknown - note the black robe, antler like horns and single large bell pendant. Ormon, also known as ‘The Low God’ is a deity of nature, dwelling beneath the earth. Often depicted in dark flowing robes, with their true face obscured, a pair of antler-like horns adorn the top of it’s head. Sometimes shown carrying a staff or a single bell, the bell it carries is said to sound before disaster or to signify their arrival on this plane of reality. A harbinger of doom, Ormon has been linked to several worldwide natural disasters in the last few centuries - with some witnesses even saying they saw a robed figure during times of crisis.
Particularly in the 1970’s, discussions of Ormon and their appearance in occult practices were seen to be on the rise. This has often been linked to the hippie movement, a counter-cultural movement that led to many taking ecological and environmental issues a lot more seriously than they had in previous decades. This movement of rebellion welcomed and pioneered new ideas and is often regarded as being partly responsible for the rise in Occult Activity in the following decades.
In scripture, Ormon sits as one of several kings of hell - a demon of the earth. Commanding in particular the forces of earth and nature. As an archetype, an earth demon is a demon who represents or is associated with the forces of the earth, plant life, dirt, mud, stones, the sands, and can even cause natural disasters like earthquakes. It is unclear if there is some connection to the disaster of the 1920’s in Woodland Heights with the worship of this entity. These type of demons are usually negative entities with darkly demonic powers, demanding blood sacrifice to appease them. Being the complete opposite of their angelic counterparts, earth demons will often act in a way that is the polar opposite to their original charge - to protect and guide humans. These entities are apathetic and cold toward living beings (both human and animal), looking only to lure them and trick them away from the power of good, leading them onto a path of evil.
(ABOVE) Various depitctions of Ormon in mixed media from around the world. (Left to right) (1) Still from video of a cave painting found in France first found in the early 17th Century (2) Scan of a woodcut illustration from a text on European Folklore from 1922 (3) Photo of a painted illustration in the medieval grimoire ‘The Sworn Book of Honorius' (4) A depiction of Ormon in a more human looking form, taken from a book published in the 1970’s entitled ‘The Visual Culture of Pagan Myths and Legends - Ormon is briefly mentioned as a dark earth deity.
* Notice the distinct similarity in all depictions - antler like horns, black robes, bells as a talisman/necklace, usually depicted in front of the sun (worship was often linked to the longest day of the year - Summer Solstice).
(ABOVE) News Article from 22/07/1979 on the appearance of strange symbols being carved and painted on dozens of trees around the Blackwoods National Forest - this article also mentions Ranger John Craven who placed the call to police in 1978. OCCULT SYMBOLS:
(BELOW) Various images of Occult Symbols painted on trees around Blackwoods Forest taken on a digital camera in 2009 - Photographer unknown.
Symbols have been found painted onto the trees around Blackwoods Forest going back to 1975 when initial reports were printed - their purpose still remains unclear - perhaps blessing the area in some way for the cult members to practice/worship upon? The fact that some of the symbols still exist today, and as the evidence above suggests (with photos taken in 2009), this confirms that this is an intergenerational issue as it is hard to believe the same people creating the glyphs in the 70’s would still be carving/painting them into the trees today. Although destroyed and washed off by Rangers they would just continue to be replaced and reappear days later. This suggests that some version of the ‘Cult of Ormon’ still exists today, which is of course extremely worrying. Similar to attitudes back in the 1970’s authorities do not seem at all concerned by this. NOTE - the symbols themselves look to contain elements of a sigil we have consistently seen in evidence uncovered from the murder investigation and disappearance of Eleanor Dunn in 1979.
ORMON SIGIL:
(RIGHT) (1) An artists rendering of the sigil in its entirity - documented to have been found at at least 15 different areas within the Blackwoods Forest . (2) A photograph of the Ormon Sigil taken in 1984 by a backpacker in the Appalachian Blue-Ridge Forest (USA).A sigil (/ˈsɪdʒɪl/) is a kind of symbol often used in magic(k). The term usually refers to a pictorial signature of a spirit (such as an angel, demon, or deity). In modern usage, especially in the context of occult/chaos magic, a sigil refers to a symbolic representation of the practitioner's desired outcome or their chosen deity of worship (that they are possibly looking to summon or commune with).
The word ‘sigil’ has a lengthy history in Western magick and occultism. The members of the Secret Society - Golden Dawn were incredibly familiar with the idea often "combining the letters, the colours, the attributions and their Synthesis, thou mayest build up a telesmatic Image of a Force. The Sigil shall then serve thee for the tracing of a Current which shall call into action a certain Elemental Force" meaing it was often used in the creation of talismans. A sigil is now commonly recognised as a signature or sign of an occult entity.
One common symbol was found dozens of times around the Blackwoods Forest amongst the glyphs that were painted on the trees there. If not found in complete form, some element of the sigil would often be present, linking the symbols and strings together. Characteristics wise the symbol does bear a resemblance to that of some sort of stick figure (with a head, arms, legs, etc) the symbology has been analysed by experts and seemingly blends elements of glyphs/characters often found in Druid, Pagan and Celtic Cultures. This suggests the origins of this figure of folklore reside in Ancient Europe but traces of this symbol have been found as far as the Amazon Rainforest (South America) and the Appalachian Blue Ridge Forests of the Eastern United States.
STRINGS & BELLS:
(ABOVE) Ink illustration from a 1922 demonology guide featuring practices on how to worship & summon ‘Ormon.’ The use of bells, and other similar instruments, in occult practices and magick has been common-practice for centuries. Most commonly they are used to help determine a change in energy or the presence of something new to the area of a ritual or ceremony. We can see from many illustrations that the figure of Ormon wears a single bell, almost like a talisman, so it is fitting that bells would feature heavily in the worship of this deity. From historic texts the deep ringing of a single bell is supposed to signify the presence of Ormon as they rise from the earth once more. If applying the presence of strings and bells in the Blackwoods Forest to the Ormon case/murders - we have to perhaps look at a more sinister angle too for their presence. It was widely theorised that the network of strings and bells was used as a form of navigation by the members of the cult as the expanse of the national park is quite large and all lines seemed to converge on one central site. The murder site - regarded as their sacred ground. Plucking a single line would send out a ripple to the the network around the forest, meaning someone miles away would know exactly where the line had been plucked.
The strings were all seen to be red in colour. Cotton string or wool, seemingly died with animal blood. The bright hue made them easy to see amongst the greenery and foliage around them - which is why they were first noticed by Park Rangers on patrol. Often these lines were put up high in the trees but some were found to be placed lower to the ground - almost like trip wires. This is where we have to ask the question, were these lines perhaps used as a method of hunting new victims? It is not that wild of an idea to think that the cult preyed upon new and inexperienced travellers to the area - familiar with the forest they would easily be able to know if someone had entered their territory and where exactly they were - making them easy prey for the horrors they looked to unleash.
Discovered alongside the strange symbols that looked to appear around the forest from 1975 (onwards) they were often taken down but replaced just as quickly by an unknown culprit(s). Some of the strings and symbols can still be seen around the national park today if you know where to look.
RITUAL PRACTICES & ELEMENTS:
(ABOVE) Antique illustrations referencing the steps believed to be involved with the ‘Ormon’ Ritual (string up bells - read from the book - choose a weapon - spill the blood - 3 must die - Ormon will rise) - taken from various occult texts. The true secrets behind the ritual needing to be performed to summon ‘Ormon’ is not completely known. That is of course taking the existence of this entity to be fact. From what our research tells us a sacred ground must be chosen. This will usually be a place untouched by modern civilisation - which makes sense when we consider the cult were perhaps operating out of a national park, on protected land. Once a space is picked bells must be hung in the space - the bells (as discussed above) function to alert of a new spiritual arrival and perhaps aid in hunting. Secondly a sacred passage must be recited from ‘the book’ - we assume that this is referencing scripture in the ‘Noctorum Dementi’ (explained below). From there a weapon is taken to commit a blood sacrifice. The blood of the chosen sacrifice - which we believe must be human - needs to be ‘spilled’ in usual Nature Magick this would entail letting the blood ‘spill upon the earth and soak into the ground.’ We are of the understanding that 3 sacrifices are required. Alan Spencer, Melanie Curtis and Christine Langley were likely to be the 3 souls required for this summoning ritual back in 1978 by the group. Once the 3 sacrifices are taken and the blood is spilled, the bells will ring and it is said that Ormon will rise to walk the earth.
THE CHOSEN THREE:
(LEFT & ABOVE) (1) An illustration of 'The Chosen Three' often associated with occult rituals - notice the sacks covering their face for anonymity, similar to descriptions of the attackers seen in 1978. (2&3) Stills taken from The Crime-Scene Walkthrough & B-Roll from a News report potentially showing the assailant(s) responsible for the murders of Alan Spencer and Melanie Curtis.Like many religous and occult practices, the number 3 holds key significance. On the darker side of things, the use of 3 is used as an inversion of the ‘holy trinity.’ Making a mockery of the rules of a Christian God. In many groups similar to how we theorise the ‘Cult of Ormon’ operated, there would always be a trio named ‘The Chosen Three.’ This group would be responsible for essentially leading the cult, recruiting members, carrying out sacrifical rites and using ancient texts and rituals to achieve the goal of the cult. Sherrif Strode stated he witnessed at least one masked individual fleeing the scene in 1978 but we believe there were perhaps at least another 2 cult members on the scene. This would even out the odds and explain the issue of 3 young and strong hikers being then found in the position they were. If there were multiple attackers in the Blackwoods Forest that day, it would have been easier to ambush them. Their identities still remain a mystery and we do not know if they were perhaps involved with the disappearance of Eleanor Dunn a year later…
NOCTORUM DEMENTI:
Not a whole lot is known about the existence and power bestowed into the ancient occult text(s) known as ‘Noctorum Dementi.’ It is believed that 3 copies or volumes of this text exist in the world, each slightly different, but all containing the sacred rites and practices associated with summoning demonic entities. Similar to the ‘The Lesser Key of Solomon’ - an anonymously authored grimoire, detailing the hierarchy of the princes of hell, the ‘Noctorum Dementi’ provides an ancient insight into the rules and practices associated with demonic worship and dark magick.
As mentioned it is believed that three copies of this text exist in the world today. One can be seen in the photograph (right) used in a 1993 documentary on demonic worship (exact location unknown). It looks to show one of these books displayed in a museum-like environment (perhaps a private collection of an unknown owner) - in the documentary it was referred to as the ‘Noctorum Dementi - Vol.I’ (one of the only known mentions of the books existing in modern media. The location of the other 2 texts is unconfirmed but it is widely believed that this book was linked to the tragedy that struck Woodland Heights back in the 1920’s and still remains in the area to this day. A sigil for a demon of wealth ‘Mammon’ was found in a Woodland Heights motel room crime-scene of an unsolved murder in 2019. A few years prior, in 2013, a young group of teenage girls were found brutally killed in the Blackwoods Forest enacting a ritual to apparently summon the Queen of Demons ‘Lamashtu’ - again the book was nowhere to be found aside from a single page found stuffed into the dislocated jaw of one of the victims. It is widely believed that the ‘Cult of Ormon’ were using this ancient text to aid their own rituals and perhaps possessed it in the late seventies. This leaves only one more book unaccounted for, although authorities have not confirmed its discovery or involvement in any of the cases mentioned.
(ABOVE-RIGHT) (1) Screengrab of photograph used in the 1993 documentary ‘DEMONS:Do they exist?’ aired in America. (2) Crime scene photo of Andi Chandler discovered in a WH Motel Room in 2019 - Notice on the zoomed in botom image the partial sigil of 'Mammon'.
SANGUIS FLOS EUROPA:
(ABOVE) (LEFT) An extract taken from a textbook detailing ‘The Blood Flower’ and it’s key characteristics, reproduction and native place of bloom. (RIGHT) A photograph taken in the Blackwoods Forest of a bunch of Sanquis Flos Europa in full bloom. It seems fitting that a hallucinogenic flower would find itself amongst the ritualistic practices thought to be upheld by the ‘Cult of Ormon’ - Sanguis Flos Europa - more commonly labelled ‘The Blood Flower’ is a rare flower found to bloom predominantly in Europe.
Bright red in colour with thin green stems, it gets its name from the way in which it flowers. The flower will only bloom when its seeds are sown in fertile soil, filled with the minerals it needs often found in oxidised human or animal blood. The Blackwood’s Forest boasts one of the largest bodies of this plant in the wild. This alone indicates that either a large number of animals have died in the area or perhaps something far more sinister could be responsible.
The flower was first discovered in the 2nd century following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Often regarded as one of the most violent battles in recorded history in the years that followed local villagers noted the sudden blooming of red flowers all over the battlefield.
The flower is often used in occult and progressive medicinal practices due to its hallucinogenic properties. Once flowered the petals and seeds are taken and ground into a fine dust/paste. Once ingested they are said to grant the taker the ability to see beyond this spiritual plane. It was noted in the autopsy report of Alan Spencer and Christine Langley that their were high levels of the ‘Blood Flower’ in their blood when they died. They were most likely given this drug as a means to incapicitate them.