Museum of the Paranormal: Here you can get a broomstick license

Isidora Stefanović: The line between the normal and the paranormal is thin. We experience the paranormal every day - in traffic, in stores, at the post office, everywhere...

Isidora Stefanović: Each new day brings an unexpected, new story. PHOTO: S. Jovović

Two young Belgraders, Isidora Stefanović and Branko Miladinović - she a lawyer, he an architect - after visiting numerous places and museums, returned to Belgrade and decided to leave their previous jobs and establish a museum of the paranormal.

-The idea was inspired by our encounters with various museums around the world dedicated to quirky themes, nothing like the ones we’re used to - national museums, natural history museums, war museums, and so on. We found it fascinating how people would take a topic and shape it in their own way. I really liked that, and I suggested that we create something similar in Belgrade, because the city is growing and becoming a tourist metropolis, increasingly attractive to visitors. I felt it lacked some kind of entertaining content suited both to foreigners and to our own people. When we analyzed what topic could be ultimately interesting to us, to our friends, to the wider community, and to tourists, the theme of the paranormal imposed itself naturally - it’s so broad and can be explored from so many different sides and angles.

People in their closest circle - family and friends - had never been involved in entrepreneurship, so there wasn’t that initial, instinctive understanding. It wasn’t easy for them to grasp what it means to build something from scratch and everything one has to go through. Still, they liked the theme, and some even contributed to creating certain stories about paranormal experiences.

On the process of establishing the museum

-The path from idea to realization was a steep one. After we decided to found the museum, we spent the first year writing in a single Word document what the paranormal meant to us and what the museum should contain. At the same time, we were collecting people’s stories about their paranormal experiences. These stories were gathered through various social activities, most often at family Saints days. When you mention to people what you’re working on, everyone has a story of their own.

At that time, we were both still working our regular jobs - I was a lawyer working in HR for years, and Branko was an architect. Over time, our Word document kept growing, page after page, and then we found out that this space was available for rent. It used to be a plastic goods store. We often passed by this street because we both worked nearby, and we had to decide: should we do it or not?

Lomina Street, just below the Zeleni Venac market, has a bit of a creepy vibe, so we decided to open the museum, rent the space, and we spent three months setting it up. That was a short period, but we had to open as soon as possible because everything costs money.

In the Museum of the Paranormal - everything is possible

On creating the exhibits

-We engaged a large number of artists - sculptors, painters, people who craft various objects and work with wood - and that’s how our exhibits were created. Some items we bought when we saw they fit the theme, but most were physically made by the artists.

On events in the museum

-About three months after we opened the museum, we came up with the idea that the museum itself could host various events. Our first event happened after just two months of operation. We met Dušan Mažibrada, a man involved in all branches of esotericism -astrology, numerology, runes, tarot... He has great breadth, and it’s his lifelong passion. He noticed that some things in the museum weren’t done according to esoteric principles, and he gave us a lot of advice, which is how our collaboration began. Some people know him by his artistic name, Omni Guruu.

Our first event was an evening of esotericism, where he talked about all these techniques - how they originated, how they developed, how they’re applied, and in which parts of the world certain practices are more popular. A few months later, we came up with the idea of coffee-cup reading. Reading coffee grounds is very popular, especially in Turkey, from where it spread to our region. It has symbolism tied to socializing, neighborly conversations, and was traditionally performed by women as a ritual.

In our case, the event looks like this: we transform the museum to resemble a small café. People sit at several tables, each receives a cup of traditional black coffee, and Dušan first talks about the entire history of this practice - where and how it originated, how the reading is done, when it’s used, what different symbols mean, how the coffee is consumed, what the left and right sides of the cup represent, which symbols are interpreted, and how interpretations differ between north and south. For example, symbols like tears or hearts can have completely different meanings depending on the region. He also shares interesting examples from his practice.

People connect with each other there, because they usually don’t know each other, and it’s incredibly nice - we create a warm atmosphere of socializing and exchanging energy. Then Dušan sits with each person and interprets their cup. It’s one of our most popular events. Some people come back repeatedly, it’s a lot of fun, and we try to create a cozy, homelike energy, as if they were visiting an aunt or a friend.

We also host Marko Braković, a psychotherapist, who talks about various phenomena from a psychological perspective. Next month we’ll focus on bizarre criminal minds - how such acts happened and what warped their thinking; we have examples from both the USA and Russia.

We also organize team-building programs. Teams that contact us can choose between two options: the first includes a guided tour through the museum led by our curators, followed by an evening of coffee-cup reading with interpretation. The second includes a guided museum tour and an astrological analysis of the entire team. Based on the information they provide, our astrologer analyzes how the team functions in a business sense - who gets along with whom, who clashes… It turns out to be very fun, with a lot of laughter.

We also organize children's birthday parties, which are extremely popular. Kids get a new level of experience and entertainment, with different games themed around young wizards from Harry Potter, and we have fantastic animators.

Subversive elements in the socialist paradise

-We wanted, in addition to the regular exhibition, to have events that draw on culture, ethnology, and esotericism, so one of our regular guests is historian Miloš Dekić. He gives various lectures in the museum. We’ve covered topics such as the Inquisition and witchcraft, where we explained the role of the Catholic Church - specifically its Inquisition court - in the persecution and targeting of witches.

We also have a topic dealing with subversive elements during the socialist period. In his lecture, Dekić explained how, through art -through films, even paintings and advertisements - a completely different image of society was created compared to reality. He pointed out that all authors who tried, through films or other works, to portray an authentic picture of reality, to highlight the existence of crime, drug addiction, and similar issues, saw their works banned or pushed aside. This way, visitors learned about many films, artworks, and various speakers who were suppressed or hidden. Anyone who wants to hear and gain a broader perspective on the topic can do so at our lectures.

Historians talk to visitors about the fate of witches during the time of the Inquisition

Paranormal trips

-Since we’ve done a lot in the field of events, we realized that all the topics we explore inside the museum can also be explored directly on the sites. We have a wall dedicated to bizarre places in our country and to figures associated with the paranormal. I believe most people know that the word ‘vampire’ comes from Serbian and is used worldwide. We have the famous vampires Sava Savanović and Petar Blagojević, the latter of whom popularized the word internationally.

We decided to organize trips focused on these themes. One of the first trips followed the trail of Sava Savanović, visiting his village Zalužje, his watermill, and spending time with local residents who shared stories about the fears and events surrounding that mill, and why Sava was believed to be a vampire.

We’ve also gone to Rtanj, considered the energy chakra of the Balkans, which is associated with numerous beliefs. Another interesting trip was to the haunted manors of Vojvodina - three castles with very bizarre stories, including how they were built, inherited, lost, fallen into ruin, and revived, as well as the lives and fates of the people who lived there. We also visit Maglič, Đavolja Varoš, Mokra Gora, and the Tarabić family, who are among the most famous prophets in our region. Our next stop will be Kisiljevo, the village of Petar Blagojević.

Who visits the museum

-Since our museum covers culture, mythology, and literature, we get visits from schools, because we offer a broad scope that connects with topics they are studying. Many parents also come to explain to their children who the drekavac was, or werewolves, or vampires. We have plenty of content to make it interesting for the kids, but also for the adults as well.

We get many foreign visitors as well, who often recognize that they can have fun here, learn something, and enjoy a meaningful experience. As for our trips, most participants are people who travel frequently and are interested in experiencing something additional. During these trips, we introduce an oracle or intuitive card reading -cards that are meant to deliver a very positive, affirming message - or a fun tarot reading. This adds a slight esoteric flavor to the entire trip.

How this connects to our current reality

-I think the line between the normal and the paranormal is thin in everyday life, much thinner than we realize. Occasionally, we meet people who perceive the paranormal as something opposed to the Church. I have to say, that has absolutely nothing to do with it. ‘Paranormal’ simply refers to phenomena that cannot be proven by science or natural laws.

We’ve presented most of these phenomena - though there are far more than what can fit in our museum - from a phenomenological perspective, and yet we encounter them every day: in traffic, in stores, at the post office, everywhere. Even the disappearance of basic kindness in our country feels ‘paranormal’, and that pains me. It has become surprising when someone addresses you kindly or offers a pleasant word. Such things are becoming rarer.

I would also say that this year has been exceptionally difficult, both for the country and for small business owners. There were very tough months, and due to the situation in the country, public attention and intellectual focus were directed elsewhere, which affected us too-so people weren’t coming to the museum. Our target audience was occupied with other concerns.

Soon we will install the Astro Wall, which will allow visitors to receive their astrological forecast

What we’ve learned in this work

-I’ve learned that everything is possible. From the first idea of creating a museum to the moment we secured a tangible rented space, I realized that the museum needs to be an expression of what we envisioned. It taught me that absolutely everything is possible. I’ve also learned that even when something seems impossible, gets damaged, or the path is difficult, persistence and effort can get you where you want to be.

We’ve learned that when our energy isn’t positive, fewer visitors come, or if we argue, sometimes no one enters the museum that day. That is the kind of ‘paranormal’ experience we live here. It also taught us that there are no fixed rules. There are no set rules in business. Nothing is predictable, and each new day brings a completely new and unexpected story.

Next plans

-We will soon install the Astro Wall project in the museum. It will be a large wooden arch featuring astrological signs, ascendants, and planets, and it will be rotatable. There will be a diode at the bottom, and when you input your sign, ascendant, and planet in your field, a detailed astrological analysis will appear on a screen in the middle. This is a major project we’ve been working on for almost a year, and it should be ready soon.

I would love for culture, art, and tourist attractions to be more significant and visible from institutions that could help, promote, or guide us… We are still not sufficiently visible, and many people don’t know about us. Until that happens, and until we achieve greater recognition, some of our next developmental steps will have to wait.

Souvenirs

Souvenirs and literature on horror and the paranormal

Visitors can purchase figurines of little witches, pumpkins, bats, and similar items. There are also artistically crafted broomsticks, made specifically for the museum by the brand La Metla, which come with a broomstick driver’s license. Other items include books by Dejan Ognjanović, one of our most famous horror writers, a vampire protection kit, naturally based fairy perfumes, Bach flower drops, esoteric elixirs, tarot cards, and books on parapsychology.

TOUR:

The Museum of the Paranormal is divided into several thematic sections. We have a room dedicated to mythical creatures and the stories associated with them. There are also objects for defending ourselves if they were to attack us. If a vampire attacks, we can use a hawthorn stake, hawthorn, garlic, or silver. If it’s a werewolf, there’s a blunderbuss, silver bullets, and holy water. And if a drekavac appears, we have a crossbow.

There is a room devoted to horror culture, presenting folk beliefs and what they entail. Here you can find exhibits - figurines of famous horror characters such as Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Samara from The Ring (one of the most famous Japanese horror films). We also present well-known prophets from both our region and abroad, as well as interesting locations associated with paranormal beliefs.

A special room is equipped with divination tools - coffee cups, tarot cards, a crystal ball, and beans. We also have a witch sitting at a table for summoning spirits, and next to her is a dreamcatcher, to prevent bad dreams. There is a pyre as a tribute to all the victims in the Middle Ages accused of witchcraft. In the magical corner, we showcase different types of magic - Wicca, Vlach magic, white magic, and voodoo. Our museum focuses on positive practises, so we do not include black magic or similar practices.

Among the exhibits is a Moscow-5 camera, which was believed to capture not only the people in the photograph but also others who were not present. We also have the Necronomicon, one of the earliest works of horror by H. P. Lovecraft, featuring his short stories.

We also have a stone from Sava Savanović’s watermill, said to carry his energy. Particularly intriguing is the electronic Astro Prophet, which provides predictions on three topics - love, health, and work.

Some visitors enjoy taking photos with masks, while others prefer reading their coffee cups

Paranormal Experiences

On a special wall, we display stories from people who have experienced paranormal events, which we have collected. One story tells of two brothers and a sister who are in the family home after their father’s death, discussing how to divide the inheritance. The conversation escalates into a serious argument, and at that moment, their father’s portrait - which had been securely mounted on the wall in a large frame - falls to the floor in front of them, shattering into pieces. It was, in fact, a message from their father.

Another intriguing story involves a married couple returning from Greece to Serbia. They wanted to stop at a spa on the way back, taking a detour recommended by friends. At one point, the wife said, “Stop, you have to stop, something tells me you should stop…” And he, who normally never listens to driving advice, stopped. When they got out of the car, they saw a huge ravine just ten meters ahead.

For younger visitors, we have a gaming room, with some games created specifically for this occasion.