As if I wasn't already interested in all things weird like mythology... I'm also interested in witchcraft! So of course I find myself drawn to the the Daligmata in Filipino folklore. Standing at the crossroads of myth, witchcraft, and my Filipino heritage, the Daligmata is both mysterious and supernatural. Is it a cryptid, is it folklore?
Picture a being adorned with countless eyes shimmering in the dark. Although rarely seen by us ordinary mortals, the Daligmata is said to manifest primarily during the nocturnal hours, when the boundary between the spirit and human realms is blurred. Its presence is believed to be a boon to spirit mediums who seek its assistance in locating and rescuing lost souls.
At the core, Daligmata is known to traverse realms. It can navigate the ethereal plane, aiding spirit mediums in their sacred duty to reunite wandering souls with their mortal bodies. During the gudguden ritual, a spirit medium will call upon the Daligmata to help locate lost souls to guide them back to their bodies. These wayward spirits may have become trapped or lost in the spiritual realms (whether it is in dreams or otherwise), unable to find their way home.
Additionally, it is also believed that there existed an herb called the daligmata that aids the user to be able to see invisible beings. I have asked a Visayan friend of mine if she knew what herb this could be, but her mother told her that it was "deep Visayan [language]." Maybe someday we'll be able to figure out which plant this daligmata may be. My money's on something with a ton of berries or flower buds that look like little eyes.