Mora

The Mora is a spectral cryptid from Slavic folklore, depicted as a shadowy being that sits on the chest of sleeping people, causing terrifying dreams and a suffocating pressure—a concept tied to the origins of the word “nightmare.” Unlike purely ghostly entities, the Mora is sometimes described with a faintly physical form, like a small dark creature or even a weasel that can slip through cracks and keyholes. Villagers would use charms or place sharp objects under pillows to ward it off. Today, many see the Mora as folklore’s explanation for sleep paralysis, yet it remains a haunting figure that perfectly captures the eerie twilight space between bodily vulnerability and supernatural dread.