Swedish Island of Witchcraft

Blå Jungfrun is an island in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Sweden near the small town of Oskarshamn. Made naturally from granite hundreds of millions of years ago, that’s long been considered highly dangerous to go to and is actively avoided by sailors in the region. Its name translates to “Blue Maiden”, with its true dark reputation stemming from the Middle Ages as a legendary hotspot for witches to hover and practice Satanic worship every Maudy Thursday, just prior to Easter. However, historical records note such evidence actually occurring for thousands of years earlier. With sailors in total fear of speaking its true name, Blåkulla, the island got a new moniker so as to not conjure up malevolent spirits or massive storms. Most famous there is an enormous stone labyrinth said to be where demonic entities reside and will appear to those who walk all the way through. This maze also carries a strong superstition that vows a lifetime of curses or bad luck to anyone who confiscates any of the stones that line the area. In fact, it’s technically a National Park, making such theft outright illegal. The place has long been seen as being dark and ominous, where unsavory characters perform various rituals in the dark of night. Every year, authorities receive mail and packages of stones that visitors took with them, along with letters of deep sincere regret of what they may have invoked. Throughout history, sailors flat out refuse to say the name of the location and/or leave various offerings to the spirits along the shoreline to protected themselves from harm. The only way to get to the island is via ferry in the summer, but remember souvenirs are not there for the taking, and you could pay a much steeper price than you realize as a result.