#sihuanaba

[aubrietarose]

La Cegua was a very cool suggestion by one of my Patrons for Weretober! While not quite a werecreature, she is a sort of cursed shapeshifting ghost, so I'd say she counts.

[allmythologies]

30 days of horror myths: sihuanaba

a sihuanaba is a shapeshifting spirit that typically takes the form of an attractive, long-haired woman seen from behind. she lures men away into danger before revealing her face to be that of a horse or, alternatively, a skull.

[legend-collection]

Sihuanaba

When encountered, she is a beautiful woman who is either naked or dressed in flimsy white clothing; she usually appears bathing in a public water tank, river, or other water source, although she may also be found washing clothing. She likes to lure lone men out late on dark, moonless nights, without letting them see her face at first. She tempts such men away from their planned routes to lose them in deep canyons and dark forests.

In Guatemala, the Siguanaba appears as a beautiful, seductive woman with very long hair. She will not reveal her face until the last moment, when it is revealed as either the face of a horse or, alternatively, a human skull. If her victim (usually an unfaithful man) does not die of fear, then he is driven mad by the sight. From afar, the Siguanaba can imitate the appearance of a man's girlfriend in order to lead him astray.

When appearing to children, the Siguanaba will take on the appearance of the child's mother in order to lure her victim into her grasp; once touched by the Siguanaba the child is driven mad and she will lead her victim into the wilderness to leave the child lost and insane.

Traditional methods are said to ward off the Siguanaba. In the border regions between Guatemala and El Salvador, those who see the Siguanaba make the sign of the cross upon her or bite their machete, while simultaneously banishing both the evil spirit and the fear that grips the victim.

Pic by Javilaparra on DeviantArt

[catbatart]

Participating in the CryptidInJuly challenge (started by MarisasHorror on twitter!) Just doing some simple little watercolor and ink doodles so it doesn’t interfere with commission work!

Day 22 is La Siguanaba!

[lpbestiary]

The Cegua, also known as the Siguanaba, is a shape-changing spirit from Central American folklore. It most often appears as a beautiful, long-haired woman, seen from behind. She will lure men away from civilisation, before revealing that she has the face of a horse or a skull.

Sometimes, the Cegua is said to merely lead men astray, leaving them lost in deep canyons, but some say that her mere touch is enough to drive men. A particularly sinister legend states that the Cegua will imitate a child's mother in order to capture them.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.

[jaspers47]

Elle Hallows Eve #30 - Sihuanaba

The Sihuanaba is a supernatural, shape-shifting creature from Central America. From behind, she appears to be an ordinary, long-haired women. When viewed from the front, she has the face of a horse. Sihuanaba goes to great lengths to hide her face until deliberately ready; doing so either causes men to die of shock or go mad.

The Sihuanaba is believed to be derived from the Nahuatl word “Ciuanauac” meaning “concubine.” Other etymologists believe it comes from the phrase “Cihuat Nawal” meaning “Woman who can transform herself.” The Sihuanaba also goes by several regional names, including La Siguanaba, Cigua, Cegua, Ciguapa and Ciguanaba.

Variations of the Sihuanaba myth vary from nation to nation. In Guatemala, she punishes men who are unfaithful to their spouses. She lies in waiting, bathing and combing her hair by a river, lake, or in dry areas, by the side of a road. To fidelitous and innocent men, she appears as an attractive woman of no regard. To the unfaithful, she takes the form of a man’s ultimate desires. This variant of  Sihuanaba also possesses long claws, but seldom uses them before her victim dies of fright.

In El Salvador, the Sihuanaba wanders the countryside at night, looking for men travelling alone. When she locates a target, she waits with her back turned until the man approaches. When the man is close enough to see through the shadow of night, and foolish enough to make physical contact, the Sihuanaba reveals her true form.

In Costa Rica, the Sihuanaba not only has the face of a horse, but the face of a dead, decomposing horse. Aside from the standard haunting and torment of corrupt men, the Costa Rican Sihuanaba has a unique peculiarity. She often infiltrates herds of horses, inciting panic and stampedes.

Reputedly, the Sihuanaba dresses in a loose-fitting white gown. An innocuous garment under normal circumstances, but which turns transparent under certain circumstance (such as in moonlight, or when wet). For simplicity’s sake, the Sihuanaba targets drunken men, as they are the most vulnerable: most likely to commit adultery, most likely to be startled, and least likely to be believed should they survive.

Should victims of the Sihuanaba survive, there is a two-pronged approach to ensure survival. The first, as is common with all things supernatural, is to make the sign of the cross. The second is a bit more obscure, but just as necessary: bite a machete, medal, or metallic cross. Doing so will prevent creeping madness from overtaking the mind, securing one’s self through reminders of strength and sanity. That said, the memories of a victim’s encounter will never truly disappear. Instead of chronic hysteria, they will instead experience recurring nightmares.

It’s one thing for a man to approach a strange woman in the attempts of making small-talk and flirting. It’s another thing for that man to approach a strange woman standing alone in the middle of a night. It’s another thing still to attempt to bed that strange woman within the hour of introduction. But if you go through all that and don’t even have the courtesy to look her in the face? Well, frankly these men deserve what’s coming to them.

[alexkujawa]

2017 Inktober, Day 14 SIHUANABA is a Central American spirit that lures men, and takes form in variations on a theme, depending on who glimpses it. To unfaithful men it will appear as a beautiful young woman. To faithful men it will appear as the man's spouse or lover. To young boys it will appear as their mother. It typically appears seen only from behind, naked or clad in sheer and flimsy clothing, washing or combing its hair. When its target gets close it will reveal its face to be either that of a horse, or a skull, which either kills the man of fright or drives him insane. The man may simply wander to his doom in search of the Sihuanaba, a sort of Siren of the desert. . My Inktober continues! This year I am drawing female ghosts, monsters, and demons from around the world. . #inktober #Sihuanaba #sketchbook #inktober2017 #blackandwhiteartwork #siren #drawing #illustration #traditionalart #art #artwork #folklorecreature #folklore #monsterwoman #drawingmonsters #artistoninstagram #inkdrawing #instart #ghost #ghoststory #apparition #lure

[candacemckay]

Happy to share with you all my finished piece , "La Cegua" For @cactusgallery 's "BAD GIRLS and OUTCASTS" show opening April 22nd ! - The show is online and available to purchase as well at > https://cactusgalleryla.com/collections/bad-girls-and-outcasts < - Thank you loves , hope you like it :) and OH, Happy Easter !!! 🐥💗 - #lacegua #siguanaba #sihuanaba #candacemckay