A Scholar of Shadows: Dr. Beatrix Brighton and the Study of the Occult

  By Catherine Lambert, The New York Times June 15, 1991

  NEW YORK — In a dimly lit faculty office overlooking Columbia University's courtyard, Dr. Beatrix Brighton absentmindedly traces the spine of a leather-bound medieval text as she considers her words. This unassuming historian has become an unlikely celebrity on campus, packing lecture halls with her exploration of history's darker corners.

  "Most people think the supernatural is just superstition," she says, glancing at a wall covered in obscure artifacts. "But these beliefs shaped entire civilizations. We can't understand history without them."

  Brighton's path to academia wasn't conventional. Growing up in Beacon along the Hudson River, she spent weekends exploring abandoned buildings and collecting local ghost stories while other kids played softball. Her childhood home—a 19th-century farmhouse with creaking floors and unexplained cold spots—became her first classroom.

  She pauses when discussing the incident that cemented her unusual career path. "I was eleven," Brighton says, her voice dropping. "In our barn. Something happened that..." She stops, fidgets with her coffee cup. "Let's just say it made me question everything I thought I understood about reality."

  After blazing through Oxford's doctoral program with a dissertation on witch trials that her advisor Professor Martin Blackwood called "disturbing in its insights," Brighton returned stateside, bringing her distinctive approach to Columbia's history department.

  Her courses have developed a cult following. On registration day, "Demonic Influences in European Folklore" filled its 200 spots in under three minutes. Students from engineering and pre-med compete for seats alongside history majors.

  "You don't just learn dates with Dr. Brighton," says James Porter, a sophomore philosophy major. "Last week she brought in an artifact from Salem, and I swear the temperature dropped ten degrees when she unwrapped it."

  Despite her popularity, not everyone appreciates Brighton's methods. Several colleagues refused to comment for this article. Those who did stressed her academic credentials rather than her research focus.

  "Beatrix is brilliant, if somewhat... unconventional," offers Dr. Harold Townsend, department chair, choosing his words carefully. "Her work on power structures in medieval communities stands on its own merits."

  Brighton seems unfazed by academic politics. When not teaching, she can be found in remote villages from the Scottish Highlands to the Peruvian Andes, documenting phenomena mainstream historians ignore. Her field notebooks—which she reluctantly shares—contain meticulous recordings of local legends alongside scientific measurements of "energetic anomalies."

  "I've seen her work sixteen hours straight," says graduate assistant Eliza Cohen. "Once in Portugal, we stayed in a monastery where monks had reported seeing the dead for centuries. She set up equipment, interviewed locals, and searched archives without sleeping. When I asked why, she just said, 'Because no one else is listening to them.'"

  Even her father, historian Dr. Gregory Brighton, admits his daughter's approach initially worried him. "I wanted her to study something practical," he confesses by phone from LSU. "Now I recognize she's documenting important cultural narratives. Though I still wish she'd stop visiting those graveyards alone at midnight."

  As twilight falls across campus, Brighton wraps up our interview. She's teaching "Hidden Histories of Witchcraft" in thirty minutes, and students are already lining the hallway.

  "History isn't just about the past," she says, locking a cabinet filled with objects she won't discuss. "It's alive. Sometimes literally."

  A student waiting outside offers perhaps the most revealing assessment: "Dr. Brighton teaches us that the most important historical sources aren't in textbooks. They're in the stories people are afraid to tell."

  ~

  Chapter 6 ~ A Scholar's Hidden Knowledge

  That night Lucy spends it at the library trying to read everything she can find about demons and demonology. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot. What little Lucy does find she puts in one big pile on a table in the back of the library. There is Dante's Inferno – not too much help and very verbose. The Bible – definitely needs a refresher there… but not enough time to really dive in. As much as Lucy learns for knowledge, she notices that Dr. Brighton doesn't seem all that excited to teach her.

  While Lucy so desperately wants Dr. Brighton to be her mentor, she dodges every single one of Lucy's questions. Lucy thinks that maybe Dr. Brighton is trying to protect her, but Lucy doesn't need protection. She needs to know exactly what she is dealing with.

  Finally in the farthest corner of the library's section on religion, she finds exactly what she is looking for. The Complete Guide to Demons and Demonology. It is a thick brown book with a cover that looks next to new. Lucy wouldn't be surprised if she is the first reader since when she opens the book the pages crinkle and crack like a fresh dollar bill. It smells like mothballs with just a touch of mold. Then, Lucy notices the author. A familiar name, Dr. Beatrix Brighton. Lucy quickly scans the index to find what she is looking for and she opens the book to the page labeled Imps.

  Imps: The Devil's Assistants A dangerous infestation.

  If you've ever had a flea infestation in your home, you'll know just how hard it is to get those buggers out! They get stuck in your carpets, they breed in your bedding, and they become little gnatty pests that not only bite at your pets but they bite at you too! Imps and Dark Faeries are no different. Imps, agents of the Devil himself, are little demons that can spread quickly throughout a community if the problem is not swiftly addressed by a professional. Imps breed and grow in numbers when they cause chaos. While most Imps cannot enter your home without being invited, they can affect you through open windows and will likely linger outside of your home if you are perceived by an imp to be a good target.

  If you are reading this book I will assume that you either believe in demonology or you are open to the idea that there are dark things at play in our world. This means that you might be able to see an imp with your own eyes! They are about the size of a 12 year old boy, thin, lanky, black, red, or a combination of both colors. They have bright yellow eyes that shine in the dark. They have webbed wings that look like they could belong to a bat.

  Imps feed off sins like chaos, anger, and greed and tend to gravitate towards those who exhibit those traits. If your home or community is a victim of an imp infestation there are a few signs and symptoms.

  You or those around you are experiencing unlikely fits of rage that seem uncontrollable and out of character.

  You or those around you are more prone to fighting and arguments that seem small but are immediately blown out of proportion.

  Your community is experiencing an unusual amount of physical violence and crimes committed.

  If you've ever had a client burst into anger with seemingly no explanation, they may have been under the influence of an imp.

  It's scary to think about, but if your young child begins to have severe, unexplainable tantrums, they too may be under the influence of an imp.

  Imps don't see age. The only people they cannot influence are those who they have no power over. Those who see them for who and what they are.

  What is most concerning about an imp infestation is that the nightmares don't stop at a swarm of imps. In fact, in several instances in world history like World War II, the presence of so many imps in one specific geographic region was able to spur the arrival of a much bigger problem.

  According to demonologists present at the last three major imp infestations known to man, the presence of so many imps resulted in the presence of something much darker. Some claimed it was the devil, others claimed it was just a more powerful demon who sought to capitalize on the amount of strife and chaos in the area. The best way to stop a serious imp infestation is to—

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Lucy turns the page to find a jagged edge where the most critical piece of the book has been violently torn out. Her breath catches in her throat as she frantically flips through the remaining pages, fingers trembling. Gone. The one thing that might stop what is happening to her.

  "FUCK!" Lucy screams, her voice echoing in the empty stacks. "FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" She slams her fist down on the book, then shoves it off the table. It hits the floor with a sickening thud.

  Had it always been that heavy? The binding splits, revealing yellowed pages that seem to flutter on their own in the still library air. Her hands shake with rage. She wants to destroy something, to feel pages ripping between her fingers, to hear the crack of spines breaking.

  Lucy stands to grab a shelf of books when she feels it – a cold draft on the back of her neck, like someone exhaling directly on her skin. She freezes, the hairs on her arms rising before she slowly looks up. Between the shelves, not three feet away, two jaundiced eyes stare back at her.

  Not reflected light, but actual glow.

  The creature's skin isn't just red but raw and slick. Its lips peel back in what might be a grin, revealing not rows but concentric circles of pin needle teeth.

  "Get out of here," Lucy whispers as her voice shakes.

  The imp tilts its head, neck cracking as it moves, until its face is completely upside down. Its eyes never blink. Never move. Just fixed on hers as its jaw unhinges like a snake's letting out a loud hiss. It reaches into its throat with three-fingered hands, claws scraping against teeth as it extracts something from deep within its gullet. A crumpled, bile-soaked page emerges, the text barely visible through the yellowish fluid that drips onto the library carpet with an audible sizzle.

  The creature unfurls the page slowly as it jerks, like a film played at irregular speed. It is the missing page – she can make out fragments of the text she desperately needs.

  "GIVE ME THAT!" Lucy lunges across the table, arm outstretched. The imp's face contorts into something that isn't a smile anymore. In one fluid motion, it stuffs the soggy page back into its throat, swallowing with an guttural gulping sound.

  As Lucy's fingers graze its skin – hot and slick and pulsing with an unnatural rhythm – the creature dissolves into the shadows. She checks out Dr. Brighton's book and runs back to her dormitory as fast as her legs allow her. She doesn't want to be out in Robin in the darkness alone.

  ~

  With each step she looks over her shoulder, watching for any creatures peeking out from behind the trees or those two gold eyes that seem to sting her eyes with their brightness. When she gets back to her room, she sits down on her bed and begins to thumb through the other pages. She settles on another important chapter: Demons.

  Demons: The Devil's Warriors

  What happens when you're one step removed from the Devil himself? If you've ever had a termite infestation, you'll know how they work—quiet, steady, eating away at your walls until one day the whole structure is at risk of collapse.

  Once you realize your building has been infested, in many situations it's too late. Demons operate similarly. Where imps are the Devil's busy little agitators, demons are his foot soldiers, executing plans and targeting vulnerable souls with unnerving patience and precision.

  They don't just stir chaos; they orchestrate it. Demons are larger and far more dangerous than imps. They work silently at first, planting seeds of doubt, anger, jealousy, or despair, gradually working their way deeper into a person's psyche. While imps find chaos to be a fun little exercise to keep them fulfilled and entertained, demons seek to possess and overcome their victims.

  Often, you won't realize their effect on you until it's far too late. Unlike imps, who thrive on smaller sins and disruption, demons target your soul, wearing down your resistance until they can take full hold. And once a demon has set its sights on you, it's nearly impossible to shake it without expert help.

  To those sensitive to their presence, demons may appear as shadows or figures just beyond the edge of sight, lingering in places where negative energy has gathered. You may hear strange noises, voices even. You may have impulses to murder, kill and harm.

  You might have long periods of black outs where you don't remember inflicting harm on others. They are as likely to haunt your home as they are to haunt your mind, influencing your actions, fueling nightmares, and sometimes even speaking in voices only you can hear. If you or someone close to you is suffering from repeated disturbing visions, hearing whispers, or feeling sudden, intense emotions of hopelessness or anger, it may be a demon's doing.

  Don't hesitate. Seek expert help from a religious priest or demonologist now.

  Some signs of Demonic Possession include but are not limited to:

  You are experiencing unexplained fits of rage, feelings of isolation, or uncharacteristic behaviors.

  You feel an oppressive presence in rooms that feel unusually heavy, cold, or empty even when filled with people.

  You experience recurring nightmares especially those involving darkness, fear, or encounters with sinister beings.

  You experience intense and persistent temptations including urges that go against a person's core values or sense of self.

  In rare instances, when a demon has taken hold of an area, the effects can spread, much like a disease. Think of towns where violence erupts without cause, or times in history when entire societies turned on one another.

  Demonologists have documented that during some of the darkest times, demonic forces reached a peak, drawing out not only minor demons but more powerful entities. There are whispers that during World War II, areas with high conflict and suffering became breeding grounds for these entities.

  A demonic presence is a serious problem, and if left unchecked, it can escalate quickly. Some suggest that where imps sow chaos, demons prepare the ground for something far worse. If you find yourself facing such a force, it's essential to seek help immediately from someone experienced in the occult.

  But beware—the best weapon against a demon is awareness. Those who understand them for what they truly are, who recognize their tricks and manipulations, stand the best chance of survival. Demons despise those who see through their deceptions, and they'll do anything to shake your faith. Stay vigilant, and never underestimate the shadows.

  Preventing demonic possession is nearly impossible but it can be achieved through the following:

  Ensuring you and those you love have a strong sense of self and security. Demons pick easy targets who are susceptible to darkness.

  Ensure you have a strong belief system and are confident in yourself, your values, and your future.

  Surround your home with a salt barrier. This alone cannot stop demonic possession but it can repel dark forces that could allow you to be more susceptible to demons such as ghosts, evil spirits, vampires, imps –

  Lucy quickly puts down the book, not finishing the chapter. She knows exactly what she needs to do and she needs to do it quickly. She looks down at her watch. It is just after nine o'clock and at ten o'clock almost everything in the little town of Robin will be closing for the night.

  Gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and even a few bars are always closed by ten o'clock on weekdays. She puts on her New Balance running shoes and takes the book with her. Lucy bursts out of her dorm room, quickly running down the stairs, weaving out of the few girls who are lingering out in the stairwell or walking to their own rooms.

  Lucy bursts out of the dorm and into the college's quad which is dimly lit by a few streetlamps on the cool fall night. Otto's dormitory is just across the quad. All she has to do is make it across to find Otto and she will be alright. The passage about demons plays through her mind as she begins to jog across the green grass.

  Is she experiencing demonic possession? Or is it just the imps affecting her when she least expects it. Lucy believes in demons and she believes in imps – so why are they able to influence her? As she runs across the quad with the dewy wet grass brushing up against her ankles she decides one thing for certain: she will never let her guard down again.

  She will be vigilant and look over her shoulder at every opportunity. Lucy Lemon vows quietly to herself that she will never let anything evil control her ever again.

  ~

  Lucy knocks ferociously on Otto's dormitory door. Otto, like her, doesn't have a roommate even though they are freshmen. They consider themselves to be quite lucky.

  "Otto! It's an emergency. Open up!" "Lucy," Otto says as his voice cracks.

  "I'm busy!" Lucy frowns. She has only known Otto for a few months now and she considers him to be one of her best friends.

  Her only friend at Robin, really. But she has never heard her friend cry – ever.

  Otto is confident. In the way he walks, the way he talks he oozes intellect in every nerdy way possible.

  "Otto, please open the door! It's really an emergency, please! We are running out of time." Lucy listens as she hears footsteps shuffle up towards the doorway.

  When Otto opens the door, she can see he has been crying. His cheeks are bright red and his eyes are bloodshot. He isn't wearing his glasses, likely because he doesn't want to hold back his tears.

  "Otto, what happened, are you okay? What's going on?"

  Lucy says as she steps towards her friend. She puts her hand on his shoulder.

  "I went out with Jack and it went horrible."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It was awful. We went out to Margaritas and I ordered the tacos. And he got mad at me. Like really mad. He said the tacos here suck and that I should have ordered the enchiladas. And then he started screaming at me."

  "Screaming at you? Over tacos?"

  "And calling me names. He called me a faggot. And then he threw the bowl of chips and salsa at me. My white shirt was covered in bright red salsa and I had to go home like that." Lucy takes a deep breath.

  "Otto. I have been trying to tell you that something really bad is going on here. That is not normal. He was influenced by one of the imps."

  "Oh come on Lucy."

  "Haven't you been talking to him for weeks? You know he's not really like that! You know he's not a monster!" Lucy takes the demonology book from out under her shoulder and displays it so Otto can read the cover.

  "It's all real. Dr. Brighton wrote this book. She believes in this stuff too, Otto because it's real. Trust me please. Please, Otto. You know Jack wouldn't treat you like that. You know it deep down. You just have to believe."

  Otto rolls his eyes and folds his arms across his chest. "Well. Why are you here Lucy? I don't really want to talk about this anymore if I could be honest. But you say you have an emergency too? Like what is it?"

  "I need you to drive me to the grocery store ASAP. It's really important."

  "Why?"

  "I need salt. A lot of it."