I’ve been playing around with Bing’s AI art generator because I cannot even draw stick people. I was listening to the Meddling Kids Podcast episode “The Old Hag” & “The Newfoundland Fairies” and got to thinking. What would this old hag look like? I certainly had an idea in my mind after listening to this and it was terrifying.

So here we are, what do you think? These are certainly something I wouldn’t want to meet during sleep paralysis. I’m sure a lot of you have conjured up an image of your own when you first heard stories about the old hag who came to those during sleep paralysis. This for me is a DEEP fear to this day and I’ve been afraid of it since a child.

Here’s to making that fear worse!

The Old Hag, also known as “The Hag” or “The Night Hag,” is a terrifying figure deeply entrenched in the folklore of Newfoundland, particularly within the context of sleep paralysis experiences. This phenomenon is characterized by a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations and a sense of impending doom.

In Newfoundland, the Old Hag is described as a malevolent entity that visits people during their episodes of sleep paralysis. She is said to take on the form of an old woman, with wrinkled skin, wild hair, and a twisted grin that reveals sharp, yellowed teeth. Her eyes are said to gleam with an otherworldly malevolence.

According to the legends, the Old Hag is not content with simply observing her victims. Instead, she is known to sit on the chest of the afflicted person, exerting an oppressive weight that makes breathing difficult. Some accounts even suggest that she whispers sinister threats or curses into the ears of her victims, heightening their sense of terror.

The legend of the Old Hag is deeply ingrained in Newfoundland culture, and it has been passed down through generations. Many who experience sleep paralysis in the region attribute their episodes to this malevolent spirit. Folk remedies and protective measures have developed over time in an attempt to ward off the Old Hag, ranging from hanging a red ribbon above the bed to placing a pair of scissors beneath the pillow.

It’s important to note that the Old Hag phenomenon is not unique to Newfoundland; similar stories and experiences have been reported in various cultures around the world. Psychologists and neuroscientists now understand sleep paralysis as a natural occurrence, likely caused by disruptions in the transition between wakefulness and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

While the Old Hag is a prominent figure in Newfoundland folklore, it’s essential to remember that she exists in the realm of legend and superstition, and modern science offers rational explanations for sleep paralysis experiences.