Ghost, Ghouls, and Demons: Acheri

Acheri
Ghosts, Ghouls and Demons

Origin: Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Description: Demonic spirit that takes on the guise of a sickly, frail little girl.

In Native American folklore, the Acheri is the ghost of a girl who died a horrible, untimely death due to disease. It is thought she returns from the spirit world to live in the hills and mountain tops. At night it is said that she flies through the valleys spreading a shadow of illness over sleeping children.

During the day, Acheri takes on physical form allowing her to be accepted by children. She differs in appearance to what people think a demon should look like - she appears as a frail child with grey coloured skin. Anyone who viewed her would have sympathy, thinking she is merely a sick child and she uses this sympathy to create a friendship with those who feel sorry for her. Folklore also states that she takes on a second form, but this is kept well hidden whilst she makes her acquaintance. The second form is a hideous monster with a skeletal frame, demon red eyes, long clawing fingers, out to make other children suffer as she did.

She is said to sing and drum through villages which is a forewarning of impending illness or worse, death. The Acheri is known to spread untreatable illness, specifically to children. Her shadow is similar to inhaling disease from a highly infected person. The disease is one that takes a child’s life in a long drawn out, often painful process. The Acheri wants her victims to suffer as she is said to have suffered and with each life she takes she becomes stronger. The Acheri thrives on human misery, so the more sadness around the child’s illness, the more powerful this demon becomes.

It is thought that items of red protect against the Acheri - amulets, clothing and ribbons of red are thought to ward against a visit from this evil demon. Parents would thread charms of red with red ribbon for their children to wear for protection from the illness the Acheri spreads.

Salt was another method of protection. Salt was lined around property boundaries or kept in leather pouches carried by children.

Other facts: Japan has a similar folklore – ‘Ju-on’. The Jo-on was the basis behind the well-known movie, The Grudge. The Acheri featured in the series Supernatural (2.21 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part one).


Written by Nic Hume of APPI - Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators
Put together by Ashley Hall

Photos: Acheri
Inset Upper: Acheri by Maldoror2112
Inset Lower: Acheri as portrayed on the show 'Supernatural'

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