Ghost Hunt Recovery Ritual: How I Recharge After a Night in a Haunted Prison

Posted on March 25, 2026 by SpookyMrsGreen

There is something exhilarating about walking through the cold, echoing corridors of a prison long after dark… but let me tell you, the aftermath is another story entirely.

After my recent return to Shrewsbury Prison with fellow investigators, I came home buzzing with energy, a head full of stories… and a body that felt like it had been dragged through another realm.

That’s the reality of ghost hunting.

It isn’t just about what happens during the investigation. It’s about how you ground yourself afterwards. And lately, I’ve realised that my recovery routine deserves just as much attention as my ghost hunting kit.

Image of Shrewsbury Prison main entrance old building heritage building. Image of heat lamp and blood pressure monitor from Currys affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com.
Ghost Hunt Recovery Ritual: How I Recharge After a Night in a Haunted Prison

My Ghost Hunt Recovery Ritual

After a long, cold night in a haunted location, I focus on three things:

  • Rebalancing my body
  • Soothing physical tension
  • Warming up (because those buildings are freezing!)

Here’s what’s currently helping me do exactly that…

1. Checking In With My Body

After hours of adrenaline, cold air, and very little sleep, I like to check that everything is functioning as it should.

A simple wellness device like a blood pressure monitor gives me peace of mind. It’s quick, easy, and helps me stay aware of how my body is coping with these intense experiences.

Because let’s be honest… ghost hunting might be thrilling, but we still need to look after the human body we bring along for the ride.

2. Relief for Tired, Dry Eyes

If you’ve followed my journey for a while, you’ll know I live with chronic dry eye syndrome.

Long nights, low lighting, and constant focus during investigations can really aggravate it.

That’s why I’ve been looking at eye massagers designed to:

  • Relieve tension
  • Improve circulation
  • Give my eyes a proper break

And honestly? After staring into dark corners of a prison for hours… it feels like a necessity, not a luxury.

3. Warming Up After the Cold

There is a particular kind of cold that seeps into your bones during a ghost hunt.

It lingers.

Even after you’re home.

A heat lamp or warming device is something I’ve been craving after my latest investigation. That gentle warmth to bring your body back to life… it’s the kind of comfort that turns a long night into a complete ritual.

Image of Wild roll on deodorant, a red torch, a flashing cat ball, a digital voice recorder, Wild refillable lip balm and an EMF meter ghost hunt essentials at SpookyMrsGreen.com.
Ghost Hunt Essentials at SpookyMrsGreen.com

A Little Self-Care Goes a Long Way

We often talk about protection and preparation before a paranormal investigation.

But what about aftercare?

This is your reminder (and mine) that:
– Your energy matters
– Your body matters
– Your recovery matters

# Current Offer (Limited Time)

Right now, you can get 10% off wellness products at Currys using code: Wellness10. Click my link here.

(Offer ends 1st April, so it’s a good time to explore what might support your own routine.)

 Final Thoughts

Ghost hunting might feed the soul…but recovery? That’s how we keep going.

And if I’m going to wander through haunted prisons and historic buildings, you can be sure I’m coming home to warmth, comfort, and a little bit of modern magic.

Witchy Wednesday: Ghosts, Chaos and Cold Cells at Shrewsbury Prison

Did you enjoy this article? Support your favourite paranormal author by shopping through my affiliate link. Click here. 

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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Preparing for a Night Behind Bars: Ghost Hunt Essentials (and a Fresh Secret in My Kit Bag)

Posted on March 12, 2026 by SpookyMrsGreen

After a little time away from the keyboard, it feels right to return to my SpookyMrsGreen blog with something close to my heart: preparing for another ghost hunting adventure.

In a few days I will be heading back to one of the UK’s most atmospheric investigation locations, Shrewsbury Prison, for a paranormal investigation in collaboration with Cheshire Paranormal Society alongside other investigation groups and solo researchers.

Image of Wild roll on deodorant, a red torch, a flashing cat ball, a digital voice recorder, Wild refillable lip balm and an EMF meter ghost hunt essentials at SpookyMrsGreen.com.
Ghost Hunt Essentials at SpookyMrsGreen.com

This will be a return visit for me, but some of the investigators joining us have never stepped inside the prison before. That means they are about to experience its echoing corridors, dark cells, and those heavy iron doors that seem to hold onto centuries of stories. The energy in that building can feel incredibly intense once the lights go out and the investigation begins.

Naturally, preparing for a ghost hunt requires a little planning.

Packing My Ghost Hunting Kit

Before every investigation, I lay out my equipment and double-check that everything is ready for the night ahead. My paranormal kit usually includes:

  • EMF meter
  • Torch
  • Dowsing rods
  • Flashing cat balls for spirit interaction
  • Audio recorder for EVP sessions
  • Notebook and pen for documenting activity
  • Fully charged phone and spare batteries

When we enter a location like Shrewsbury Prison, the aim is always the same: observe, communicate if possible, and document any unexplained activity.

Sometimes the most interesting moments happen when you least expect them. A sudden spike on an EMF meter. A cat ball lighting up on its own in the darkness. A strange whisper captured during an EVP recording that nobody heard at the time.

Every investigation is different, and that unpredictability is part of what makes ghost hunting so exciting.

A Fresh Addition to My Investigation Bag

Alongside my paranormal equipment, there are always a few practical essentials that come with me to every investigation. Long nights exploring old buildings can get surprisingly warm and active, especially when climbing stairs, walking corridors, and moving between locations.

That is why I recently added a new item to my kit bag: Wild’s new roll-on deodorant.

I have been trying the latest product from Wild, and it feels like a perfect fit for my busy, on-the-go lifestyle. Their roll-on deodorant keeps me feeling fresh during long evenings out investigating haunted locations, and I love that Wild products focus on refillable packaging and more sustainable choices.

Whether I’m setting up equipment in a dark cell or exploring an abandoned corridor, it’s reassuring to know that I can focus on the investigation rather than worrying about feeling uncomfortable during a long night.

If you would like to try it for yourself, I have an exclusive reader offer to share:

Exclusive 20% off everything this Spring!
Use code: MRSGREEN – Shop here.

Image of reusable roll on deodorant from Wild cosmetics
Wild affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen

Countdown to Shrewsbury Prison

As the investigation night approaches, my excitement is building. Locations like Shrewsbury Prison carry layers of history, emotion, and human experience, which is exactly what makes them so fascinating to explore from a paranormal perspective.

For those investigators visiting for the first time, I can’t wait to see their reactions when they step inside those silent wings and dimly lit cells.

Will we capture evidence?
Will the spirits communicate?
Or will the prison keep its secrets for another night?

Either way, I’ll be sharing photos from my investigation preparation, including my paranormal equipment and a few practical items in my kit bag.

After all, when you’re heading into one of Britain’s most haunted prisons, it pays to be prepared… both for the spirits and for the long night ahead. 👻🔦

Image of Shrewsbury Prison Victorian prison building haunted prison. Witchy Wednesday at SpookyMrsGreen spooky family lifestyle blog.
Ghost Hunter Diaries: Junior Ghost Hunt at Shrewsbury Prison

Did you enjoy this article? Support your favourite paranormal author by shopping through my affiliate link. Click here. 

Note: I received a free sample of this product in return for an honest review. This article contains affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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A Pause at the Crossroads

Posted on January 23, 2026 by SpookyMrsGreen

After fifteen years of writing at SpookyMrsGreen, I am pressing pause.

Not dramatically. Not forever. Not with a door slam.

Just… gently.

Image of a haunted house, lanterns, a cemetery and a full moon with clouds in the night sky.
SpookyMrsGreen on pause

A Pause at the Crossroads

When I began this blog, it had a clear purpose. I wanted to promote my self-published novels. I was building a platform as a paranormal author and needed a place to gather readers. Over time, that purpose expanded. The blog became a home for my chronic pain journey, my experiences as a mother, my spiritual exploration, my ghost hunting adventures, and the complicated reality of being a woman navigating marriage, motherhood and ambition.

It grew because I grew.

And now, I have grown again.

My children are older. I am wiser. I understand myself differently. The version of me who began this blog fifteen years ago was chasing a dream with relentless energy. I admire her. She was brave and determined.

But I am tired of chasing.

What started as creative expansion has, at times, become pressure. Pressure to post consistently. Pressure to monetise. Pressure to maintain visibility. Pressure to keep all the plates spinning across blogs and social media.

I no longer want to create from pressure.

I want to create from purpose.

SpookyMrsGreen has held many identities:

  • Paranormal author
  • Chronic illness advocate
  • Spiritual explorer
  • Ghost hunter with my daughters
  • Wife trying to understand her own marriage
  • Mother growing alongside her children

None of those were false. All of them were true at the time.

But now I need space to ask: what is my purpose going forward?

Image of a Goddess statue lying on a pentagram with flower petals scattered around her. Goddess must Rest image credit NEJ Photography based in Hereford and the local area featured at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Goddess must Rest image credit NEJ Photography

I am still a writer. I will always be a writer. That is not in question.

What I am questioning is where my time and energy are best placed. How I want to use my voice. Whether I want to build something new, refine something old, or step back entirely from the constant online noise.

So I am taking a break.

SpookyMrsGreen will remain here. The archive of fifteen years is not disappearing. I will return occasionally when I feel called to write. There will be no schedule. No promises. No pressure.

Just words when they want to come.

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, shared, supported, or simply lurked quietly in the background. This blog has connected me with extraordinary people, opened unexpected doors, and helped me process some of the most difficult seasons of my life.

Now I am entering a quieter season.

Not an ending. A research phase. A reflective chapter. A recalibration.

Sometimes the bravest thing a woman can do is stop running.

And listen.

I’ll see you when I see you.

Catherine 💚

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Book Review: Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) by H.D. Carlton

Posted on December 19, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

Some books entertain.
Some books unsettle.

And then there are books that crawl under your skin, rearrange your insides, and leave you sitting in silence long after the final page.

Book cover for Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) by H.D. Carlton reviewed by paranormal author Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen spooky family lifestyle blog.
Book Review: Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) by H.D. Carlton

Hunting Adeline did not just unsettle me. It broke me.

I thought Haunting Adeline destroyed me. I was wrong. This sequel goes further, darker, and far closer to the bone. Where the first book constantly reminded the reader that this was a fictional dark romance, Hunting Adeline strips that safety net away entirely.

This is not a romance.
This is a horror story.

My Review of Hunting Adeline

While Haunting Adeline plays with obsession, danger, and taboo through a fictional lens, Hunting Adeline drags the reader into something horrifyingly real. This book confronts sex trafficking, sexual slavery, and the criminal underworld that enables it. It is brutal, graphic, and deeply disturbing.

What makes it so difficult to read is the knowledge that this is not confined to fiction or geography. This is a global crime. There are no comforting monsters here, no supernatural distance. Just people, power, cruelty, and survival.

The story is gruesome and terrifying, and while it technically has a “happy ending,” that depends entirely on how you define happiness after trauma of this scale. Survival is not the same as restoration, and the book does not pretend otherwise.

I’ll be honest. I had to force myself to persevere. There were moments where putting the book down felt like self-preservation. But despite that, I am glad I read it. Not because I enjoyed it, but because it refuses to let the reader look away.

One unexpected thread of relief comes through the character of Sibby, whose dark, unhinged black comedy cuts through the bleakness like a cracked mirror reflecting something feral and chaotic. She reminded me strongly of Harley Quinn. Uncomfortable, dangerous, but oddly human. That sliver of warped humour was necessary breathing space in an otherwise suffocating narrative.

This is not a book I would recommend lightly. It demands emotional stamina, and readers should take the content warnings seriously. But it is a book that stays with you, long after you wish it wouldn’t.

About the Book

The conclusion to the Cat and Mouse Duet is here…

“If she were to die… the world would die with her.”

The worst Adeline Reilly expected for her life were a few unholy ghosts haunting the hallways of Parsons Manor, not falling in love with her stalker and ending up in the clutches of a trafficking ring.

Trapped in a house used to groom women for the elite, she faces the biggest fight of her life. Survive the Culling and escape. But that’s not so easy when watchful eyes are determined to see her fail.

However, Adeline may have an unlikely ally, who just might be the key to her getting out alive. But trusting them is a risk that could cost her everything.

Meanwhile, Zade will stop at nothing until Adeline is safe in his arms again, even if he must burn the world to find her. Hunting his little mouse is what he’s best at. But who she’ll be when he finds her is a battle he doesn’t know he can win.

It won’t be the test of time they must survive, but the memories of who they once were.

📚Buy the Book: Waterstones; TGJones; Bookshop; Amazon.

Final Thoughts

Hunting Adeline is not a comfort read.
It is not escapism.
It is not romantic in any traditional sense.

It is confronting, relentless, and deeply unsettling. If you choose to read it, do so with care, awareness, and kindness towards yourself. Some stories leave scars, even when they end.

🖤📖

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE short story from the Redcliffe Novels series by Catherine Green. Click here. 

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❄️ Witchy Wednesday: Welcoming the Winter Solstice

Posted on December 17, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

As the wheel of the year turns toward Yule, the nights stretch their long, velvet shadows across our days, and I find myself drawn inward like a bear seeking its den. The shorter the daylight, the deeper my sigh becomes — not from sorrow, but from that ancient call to rest, reflect, and hibernate a little in spirit.

Work still buzzes. Family laughter still fills the rooms. There’s no actual hibernation happening under these cosy blankets, and yet… I slow down where I can.

I light a candle earlier than I once would have. I savor moments of warmth before a glowing hearth. My favourite cup of tea feels richer by lamplight. These small acts honour the return of the sun — even as it briefly bows out of sight.

Spooky occult dark magic image pagan Yule folklore legends dark tales ghost stories winter tales The Darkness of Love book by Catherine Green Witchy Wednesday pagan family pagan mom at SpookyMrsGreen.com spooky family lifestyle blog.
Witchy Wednesday: Welcoming the Winter Solstice

Welcoming the Winter Solstice

🕯️ For many of us modern witches, slowing down isn’t about stopping entirely. It is about intentional rest, embracing darkness without fear, and inviting light back into our lives with reverence and joy.

🔹A Simple Winter Solstice Ritual

Here’s a gentle ritual you can share with your coven, your kitchen table familiars, or even your own reflection:

Yule Hearth Blessing

You will need:
• A candle (white, red, or gold)
• A warm drink or favourite winter tea
• A piece of paper and a pen
• Optional: incense, crystals, pine sprigs, or cinnamon sticks

Steps:

  1. Set your space before sunset. Arrange your candle in the centre and gather items that feel grounding.
  2. Light your candle in quiet gratitude. Feel its warmth spread through the room like a promise of returning light.
  3. On your piece of paper, write down what you wish to release from this dark season (tiredness, worries, endless to-do lists).
  4. Fold the paper and place it near the candle’s glow. As the flame dances, whisper a blessing for peace, rest, and ease.
  5. Sip your warm drink slowly. Let each sip carry the intention of comfort and revival into your bones.

This ritual doesn’t demand perfection. It asks only that you slow your breath, soften your mind, and welcome the shifting season.

🖤A Story for the Longer Nights

As the fire crackles and dusk settles early, there’s no better companion than a tale that mirrors the rich shadows and hidden passions of winter.

I invite you to curl up with my Victorian vampire romance, The Darkness of Love. Let London fog, secret longings, and gothic intrigue keep you company while the world sleeps a little longer:

👉 Read The Darkness of Love here.

Between the lines of longing and moonlit rendezvous, you might just find your own winter magic waiting.

✨ Blessed Solstice, dear witches.
May your candle burn brightly, may your hearth be warm, and may your heart rest a little deeper in these darkened days.

With hearth-light and blessings,
SpookyMrsGreen 🔮🔥📚

"The Darkness of Love" Victorian Vampire Novel by LGBT vampire writer Catherine Green of SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
“The Darkness of Love” Victorian Vampire Novel by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Support your favourite paranormal author by shopping through my affiliate link. Click here. 

Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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Mummy Monday: Retail at Christmas, TikTok Lollipops & Surviving the Final Countdown

Posted on December 15, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

If you’ve ever wondered what the festive season looks like from the other side of the till, allow me to pull back the sparkly curtain.

December in retail isn’t just “busy”. It’s a full sensory experience. The beeping scanners, the rustle of carrier bags, the hum of Christmas music looping for the hundredth time, and the steady stream of customers all hunting for that thing. The bargain. The last-minute miracle. The TikTok trend their child suddenly needs right now.

Image of Mummy Monday: Retail at Christmas, TikTok Lollipops & Surviving the Final Countdown at SpookyMrsGreen spooky family lifestyle blog.
Mummy Monday: Retail at Christmas, TikTok Lollipops & Surviving the Final Countdown 🎄💚

Retail at Christmas, TikTok Lollipops & Surviving the Final Countdown

Working as a store assistant for a popular discount brand at this time of year is not for the faint-hearted. It’s physical, fast-paced, and relentless. We’ve sold out of Christmas trees. The decorations flew off the shelves weeks ago. And yes… we even sold out of the infamous TikTok K-pop musical lollipops. Blink and they’re gone.

Now, as we head into the last full week before Christmas, our store is being hit with extra-large deliveries daily. Cages stacked high. Pallets wheeled out at speed. Shelves replenished as quickly as they’re emptied again. It’s organised chaos, and every member of staff is running on festive adrenaline and caffeine.

Juggling Work, Motherhood & December Expectations

When I clock off, I don’t clock out of responsibility. I head home to mum mode. School runs, Christmas lists, wrapping piles, meals, and the quiet mental load that comes with making Christmas feel magical while holding everything together.

This is the reality for so many of us. Working mums keeping shops running, smiling through sore feet, helping others tick off their festive to-do lists while ours sit half-finished at home.

And yet, there’s something oddly heartwarming about it too. The excitement on children’s faces. The relief of someone finding what they need. The small moments of kindness exchanged between strangers during a stressful season.

Still Need Last-Minute Bits? I’ve Got You

If you’re still searching for bargains, last-minute gifts, party supplies, or everyday essentials, I completely get it. Life doesn’t slow down just because it’s Christmas week.

That’s why I’m genuinely pleased to share my new affiliate partner FabFinds. It’s the kind of online store that understands real households and real budgets.

Whether you’re looking for:

  • Cleaning products
  • Beauty essentials
  • Home and garden items
  • Pet care solutions
  • Food cupboard fillers

You can find it all with just a click of a finger, without battling the crowds or squeezing down packed aisles.

✨ Exclusive FabFinds Offers:

  • Get 10% off your first order with code: WELCOME10
  • Enjoy free shipping on orders over £25 with code: FREESHIP25

👉 Shop here

A Gentle Reminder for Fellow Mums

If this week feels overwhelming, you’re not failing. You’re doing your best in a season that asks a lot of us. Whether you’re working in retail, healthcare, schools, offices, or holding the fort at home, your effort matters.

Be kind to yourself. Cut corners where you need to. Order online if it helps. And remember that Christmas doesn’t need perfection to be meaningful.

From one tired-but-trying mum to another, you’ve got this 💚

Happy Mummy Monday,
Catherine ✨

FabFinds affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen
FabFinds affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE short story from the Redcliffe Novels series by Catherine Green. Click here. 

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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Free for all Friday: My Book Review of Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Posted on December 12, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

Some books don’t simply sit on your bookshelf. They crawl into your bloodstream, settle behind your ribs, and whisper to you in the quiet hours. Haunting Adeline did exactly that, and I’ve needed a couple of months to recover enough to string coherent sentences together. This story rattled me in the best possible way.

Let me offer you the truth, served in gothic candlelight: this book destroyed me. Utterly. Gleefully. Dramatically. I haven’t felt this stunned by a story since Grapes of Wrath – yes, wildly different genres, but both left me emotionally rearranged.

Book cover for Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) by H.D. Carlton reviewed by paranormal author Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen spooky family lifestyle blog.
Book Review of Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

My Book Review of Haunting Adeline

This novel is unapologetically crafted for a 21st-century Gen Z audience, and as a Millennial creeping ever deeper into the land of spooky mums and paranormal fiction, even I found myself clutching metaphorical pearls… while also devouring every page.

We all know the BookTok hype, so I won’t retell the plot. Instead, let me tell you what I loved.

The dark romance trope spiralling through the narrative feels like watching history loop and tangle around itself. The gothic mansion is a character in its own right, breathing fog and foreboding over every chapter, reminding us that while the story is fiction, the themes it plays with lurk far too close to reality.

Yes, the sexual content is wild. Ferocious, even. But I won’t pretend I didn’t absolutely relish it. And Zade Meadows? Well. Let’s just say he joins the ranks of my fictional obsessions right alongside certain werewolves and vampires who already haunt my shelves.

And then… that cliffhanger. A wicked little trapdoor that I fell straight through, Kindle in hand, immediately downloading book two because I had to know what happened next. That review will be coming soon, once I recover.

About the Book

“I’ve chased you across time and space, and you’ve never been able to get away.”

Adeline Reilly returns to Seattle ready for a fresh chapter: a flourishing writing career, the inheritance of her grandmother’s gothic mansion, and a peaceful new beginning. Except Parson’s Manor is riddled with shadows that refuse to stay still.

Someone is breaking into her home.
Someone is leaving roses.
Someone is sending messages that read less like threats and more like promises.

Adeline has a stalker.

But this isn’t the first time a woman in her family has been pursued by a phantom presence. Her great-grandmother’s journals reveal a chilling pattern… and a murder that still stains the foundations of the estate.

If Adeline isn’t careful, history may repeat itself.
If she isn’t careful, she might fall in love with the monster hunting her.

📚Buy the Book: Waterstones; TGJones; Bookshop; Amazon.

Dark Romance Wrapped in Barbed Wire

If you enjoy dark romance wrapped in barbed wire, gothic imagery, feral devotion, and a heroine on the edge of destiny, then Haunting Adeline is worth your time and your emotional stability. Just prepare to have your boundaries stretched and your breath stolen.

Happy Friday, my lovelies. May your books be wild, your tea be strong, and your fictional men be unhinged. 📖🕯️💀

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)”
by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE short story from the Redcliffe Novels series by Catherine Green. Click here. 

Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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Witchy Wednesday: Embracing the Dark Side of the Holidays 🖤

Posted on December 10, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

As the winter nights draw in, the glittering lights and tinsel of Christmas mask a far older, darker tradition — one of frost, spirits, and shadows creeping just beyond the hearth.

For centuries, the festive season wasn’t just about carols and presents: it was a time for ghostly stories, ancient Yule rites, and uncanny folklore waiting to be whispered in candlelit corners.

Spooky occult dark magic image pagan Yule folklore legends dark tales ghost stories winter tales Witchy Wednesday pagan family pagan mom at SpookyMrsGreen.com spooky family lifestyle blog.
Witchy Wednesday: Embracing the Dark Side of the Holidays 🕯️🖤

🕯️Why Ghost Stories at Christmas?

Long before Christmas became the cosy, commercial festivity we know today, the darkest nights of winter were a time for stories that chilled the bone. The long, cold hours made the midwinter hearth the perfect place for tales of the supernatural.

The reason? Winter solstice celebrations and pagan Yule traditions — when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest.

By the 19th century, telling ghost stories at Christmas had become a beloved tradition, particularly in Victorian England. Families and friends would gather around the fire on long, dark evenings and share chilling tales — a ritual rooted in fear, fascination, and the spirit of storytelling.

👻Classic Ghost-Tale Traditions

  • The most enduring example remains A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843 as A Ghost Story of Christmas. Ebenezer Scrooge’s nightly visits from spectral figures are perhaps the most iconic fusion of Yuletide cheer and supernatural dread.
  • But Dickens was not alone. Victorian magazines and newspapers regularly published ghost stories around Christmas — short tales designed to inspire shivers beside the hearth.
  • Even beyond England, similar traditions thrived — people across Europe told stories of restless spirits, wild midwinter processions, and other uncanny phenomena, turning the season into a tapestry of folklore and fear.

🌙Yule Folklore and Midnight Terrors

Christmas ghost stories didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Their roots reach back into ancient midwinter rites, pagan superstitions, and legends that pre-date Christianity.

  • In some northern traditions, the midwinter solstice was thought to weaken the boundary between the living and the dead — making it possible for ancestors, spirits, or darker beings to wander near.
  • From remote villages to snowy farmsteads, communities would pass winter nights with storytelling, sharing fables of monsters, omens, or spectral visits — tales meant to warn, haunt, or simply enthrall.
  • One particularly sinister example: in Nordic folklore, there is the fearsome Yule Cat — a monstrous beast who, legend says, might prey on those who fail to receive new clothes before Christmas Eve. A grim reminder that in some versions of Yule, punishment and fear walked hand in hand with festivity.

🔥Why the Dark Traditions Fell — and Why They’re Coming Back

With the rise of the Victorian Christmas — first shaped by Dickens and his contemporaries — the wild, frightening side of the season began to fade. The swirling tales of spirits, the drunken wassails, the midnight poltergeists were replaced by cosy family dinners, decorated trees, and comforting carols. Christmas became tame.

But in recent years, there’s been a quiet revival of interest: people again crave the old magic — the uncanny, the unsettling, the unknown. Christmas ghost stories, Yule folklore, and chilling winter tales are creeping back into our fireside traditions.

A Christmas Story with Fang — Introducing Christmas with the Vampires 🦇

If you, like me, find your festive soul drawn to shadows and gothic tales — if you imagine Christmas not as tinsel and jingles, but as snow, silence, and the soft drip… drip… drip of candle wax in a grand, haunted manor — then you might enjoy my Kindle short story, “Christmas with the Vampires.”

It weaves together yuletide atmosphere and gothic horror: a winter night, a flickering fireplace, and immortal guests whose shadows linger long after midnight. It’s my own small tribute to the ancient, uncanny spirit of midwinter — a Christmas tale for those who prefer their holly dark, their mistletoe mournful, and their carols whispered by candlelight.

If you’re looking for something to curl up with after the dinner plates are cleared — something spooky, something festive, something a little… otherworldly — you can find it here: Christmas with the Vampires.

✨Embrace the Dark Season

This Christmas — or Christmas Eve, or any long winter night — I invite you to light a candle, draw the curtains, and read aloud a ghost story. Invite the shadows in. Let ancient folklore whisper at the edges of your fire-lit room. Pour a cup of mulled wine or hot cider. Maybe you’ll hear the wind howl outside, maybe you’ll sense — just for a moment — that the veil between worlds has thinned.

Because the real magic of the season isn’t always in the glitter. Sometimes it’s in the gloom.

Gothic image of a vampire drinking blood from a wine glass while a woman lies unconscious on the bed behind him. 3D eBook cover image for “Christmas with the Vampires” by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
“Christmas with the Vampires” by Catherine Green. An Edwardian vampire short story.

Did you enjoy this article? Support your favourite paranormal author by shopping through my affiliate link. Click here. 

Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

Sources:

Oxford Castle & Prison+2carterhaughschool.com+2

fass.open.ac.uk+2 medievalwanderings.com+2

A Biblioteca Noturna+2Big Think+2

Wikipedia+1

Valancourt Books+2Oxford Castle & Prison+2

drwedge.uk+1

medievalwanderings.com+2fass.open.ac.uk+2

Smithsonian Magazine+2Sky HISTORY TV channel+2

Wikipedia

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Merry Bookmas: My December Reading Stack 🎄📖

Posted on December 8, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

There is something deeply comforting about December. The darker evenings invite us to slow down, light a candle, wrap ourselves in blankets, and finally give in to the ever-growing pile of books that have been patiently waiting for their moment. And yes… my favourite subject has returned to the blog today: books.

It’s been a little while since I last shared a bookish post here on SpookyMrsGreen, but as the year winds down, it felt like the perfect time to revisit my reading life and share what’s currently filling my shelves, bedside table, and Kindle. Consider this my festive confession: I have a lot to read… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Festive image of a Christmas tree and Merry Bookmas book themed caption for Mummy Monday at SpookyMrsGreen spooky family lifestyle blog.
Merry Bookmas: My December Reading Stack 🎄📖

What I’m Reading Right Now

At the moment, I’m immersed in Paper Trail by Lyndon Haynes, a gripping read that has quickly become my companion during stolen moments of quiet. It’s one of those books that lingers in the back of your mind when you’re away from it, which is always a good sign.

Meanwhile, my Kindle is quietly judging me from the side-lines, already queued with some powerful non-fiction. Next up are:

  • After the Injection: A Memoir of Survival and Resistance by Angeline Moyo
  • He Said He’s Sorry: Carving Through Insanity by Wayne Warrender

Both are intense, reflective reads that I know will require emotional space and time – the kind of books that make you pause, breathe, and process. December feels like the right moment for that kind of reading too.

Charity Shop Temptations (Because I Have No Self-Control)

Of course, no reading list would be complete without a few impulse buys… especially when charity shops are involved. I mean, I needed them, right?

One book I absolutely could not leave behind was Death Trap by Alexandra St Pierre. This dark bully paranormal romance comes with trigger warnings and a bold aesthetic that BookTok readers will instantly recognise and adore. The design alone is stunning – the kind of book that begs to be photographed, styled, and featured in reels and videos. I already know this one will be making an appearance on my social feeds, and I cannot wait to dive in.

I also added a couple of intriguing true crime titles to my collection:

  • Blood on the Tracks: A History of Railway Crime in Britain by David Brandon and Alan Brooke – a fascinatingly niche subject that immediately caught my attention.
  • The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold – a truly beautiful hardback edition that now sits proudly on my Gothic bookshelf. It feels like a book to be read slowly and respectfully, and it looks utterly perfect alongside my darker titles.
Colourful festive image of bestselling books 2025 Christmas book deals at Waterstones affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com.
Waterstones Christmas Gifts affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen

Where I Find (and Recommend) My Books

If you love the books I review here on the blog, you’ll be pleased to know that most of them can be found at Waterstones. Their Christmas shop is a dream for book lovers, packed with bestsellers, popular titles, and beautiful editions that make perfect festive gifts.

🎁 This Christmas, you can get up to 25% off selected paperbacks
📦 Free delivery on orders over £25

You can browse and shop through my affiliate link here:
👉 Christmas at Waterstones

Whether you’re gifting a loved one, topping up your own reading pile, or simply enjoying the ritual of browsing books online with a cup of tea, it’s well worth a look.

Final Thoughts

December reading doesn’t need to be productive or goal-driven. Sometimes it’s about mood, curiosity, and indulgence – following your instincts down dark Gothic paths, into unsettling truths, or towards beautifully designed covers you just had to bring home.

My shelves may already be overflowing, but my heart is full.
Here’s to Merry Bookmas, cosy reading days, and stories waiting to be discovered. 🎄📚

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE short story from the Redcliffe Novels series by Catherine Green. Click here. 

Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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Free for all Friday: Winter Wellness & Spooky Season Survival

Posted on December 5, 2025 by SpookyMrsGreen

The festive season has officially arrived, and wow—has it landed with a thud! The past couple of weeks in my retail job have been full-on, with our store transforming into a winter wonderland almost overnight. Christmas stock is flying out, the decorations are up, and the energy is wonderfully frantic… but my body is starting to tell me I’ve been pushing a little too hard.

To top it off, my daughter was off school poorly earlier this week, and I’ve been serving customers non-stop on the shop floor, handling cash, stock, baskets, trolleys… all of which I now realise could be carrying every winter germ known to mankind. Classic spooky mum life: monsters? No problem. Viruses? Terrifying!

So here I am, warming my hands around a mug of something herbal, acknowledging that yes—it’s time to prepare for winter viruses before they prepare themselves for me.

A cosy winter scene of Catherine “SpookyMrsGreen” relaxing by the fire with a mug of tea. She is wearing a festive Christmas jumper and there are Christmas decorations and a pentagram decoration behind her. Winter Wellness & Spooky Season Survival Free for all Friday pagan family pagan mom at SpookyMrsGreen.com spooky family lifestyle blog.
Free for all Friday: Winter Wellness & Spooky Season Survival 💚✨

❄Winter Wellness Starts Here ❄

(Affiliate promotion with Click Pharmacy)

As the colder months settle in across the UK, you’ll be looking for ways to stay healthy and boost your immunity. I know I certainly am!

Click Pharmacy has everything you need for winter wellness this season, and honestly, it couldn’t be more convenient for busy parents, overwhelmed retail workers, or anyone trying to juggle life as we enter the darkest days of the year.

Here’s what you can stock up on right now:

✨ Immune support supplements to stay strong through winter
✨ Cold and flu remedies to keep you feeling your best, even when everyone else is coughing
✨ Skincare essentials to soothe dry, winter-affected skin
✨ Everyday health products to keep your home feeling fresh, safe, and healthy

Click Pharmacy makes it easy to order trusted health essentials quickly and discreetly—perfect for when you’d rather curl up under a blanket than trek to the shops in the rain.

🛒 Explore their winter wellness range here:
👉 https://tidd.ly/48zgNCp

Taking Care of Ourselves This Season

As parents, as carers, as workers—and for many of us, as witches and magical beings navigating these darker months—we tend to put ourselves last. But winter asks something different from us. It invites us to slow down, to nourish, to protect our energy, to stay warm and well.

My plan for this weekend?
Rest. Hot tea. Gentle stretches. A cosy blanket. Maybe a touch of spell work for wellness and protection. And definitely a look at what I can stock in my winter wellness kit before the next wave of sniffles tries to take me down.

If you’re feeling the same, know you’re not alone. Let’s enter December as strong, healthy, magical beings—ready to embrace every twinkle of festive light and every shadowy winter night.

Stay well, stay spooky, and happy Free for all Friday! 💚✨

Did you enjoy this article? Support your favourite paranormal author by shopping through my affiliate link. Click here. 

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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