Common elements include a sense of time. Often, it has to be a particular time like midnight or a certain phase of the moon. There's also the presence of symbols. These can be strange markings on the ground or on objects. For instance, in some horror rituals stories, there are pentagrams drawn. The idea of a curse or a malevolent spirit is also prevalent. The characters usually face some sort of consequence if they disrupt the ritual or if they accidentally trigger it.
The supernatural aspect is really frightening. When it comes to rituals like the Ouija board, the idea that you might be interacting with actual spirits is terrifying. Spirits are not something we can see or touch in our normal lives, and the thought of opening a portal to them through a ritual is very spooky. Also, the fact that these spirits might be malevolent and could cause harm adds to the scariness.
One horror rituals story is about a cursed mirror. In an old, abandoned mansion, there was a large, ornate mirror. Legend had it that if you stared into it at midnight on a full moon and recited a certain incantation, a dark figure would start to form within the mirror. A group of curious teenagers once decided to try it. As they chanted the words, the room grew cold and a sinister shadow began to emerge. They ran in terror, but some say they were haunted by nightmares of that figure for the rest of their lives.
One common ritual in family traditions could be the annual holiday dinner. Families often gather, cook special meals, and share stories. Another is the bedtime ritual for children, like reading a story or saying a prayer. And a family reunion ritual might involve playing games that have been passed down through generations.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.
Food quality issues are common. For example, finding bugs or foreign objects in the food.
Common elements in diet horror stories include unrealistic goals. Many people aim to lose a huge amount of weight in a very short time. This leads them to choose very harsh diets. Also, ignoring the body's signals is a big part. They keep on with the diet even when they feel really unwell, like being constantly tired or having headaches, thinking it's just a phase.
One common element is financial exploitation. The findom often takes advantage of the submissive's willingness to give money, asking for more and more until it becomes unmanageable. Another is emotional abuse. They may use shame or guilt to make the person give more money. For example, making the payer feel like they are not good enough if they don't send a certain amount.