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November 20 through November 26, 2023

The highlight of this week will be the Sun's entry into Sagittarius on Wednesday, shifting us out of the watery vibes of Scorpio and into more light-hearted and fun activities for the next four weeks. Sagittarius is also the sign of justice, fairness, and the law of the land, so moving with honor and intent will be highlighted as well. We'll all lean to a more spiritual stance on Monday and Tuesday as the Moon travels through Pisces, making for an ethereal few days. Go with the flow and trust your intuition if you're faced with any important decisions during these days. We'll pick up the pace again on Wednesday and fly through our obligations with ease through Friday under an assertive Aries Moon. For those of us in the US celebrating Thanksgiving this week, watch out for debates and arguments that could arise at the dinner table. Keeping the theme of this holiday in mind, bite your tongue and count your blessings! This weekend's Taurus Moon tends to reflect the many activities common as November nears its end; shopping, organizing, pulling out holiday decorations, and making a plan for how we want to spend the remaining weeks of 2023.

Can Witches Really Fly?, by James Endredy

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Can witches really fly? Well yes, but rarely on broomsticks. The broomstick is often associated with witches for many reasons (including the simple fact that historical witches didn't have vacuums, but brooms were always at hand). The modern portrayals of witches flying, such as in The Wizard of Oz or the Harry Potter movies, has proven to be entertaining to millions of people; that said, brooms are not very effective flying machines. They lack any kind of propulsion system or comfortable seating.

In my experience there are two ways that witches actually do fly: by way of ointments and ingestion of plant entheogens, and a technique that I call dream trance or dreaming awake. My book, The Flying Witches of Veracruz: A Shaman's True Story of Indigenous Witchcraft, Devil's Weed, and Trance Healing in Aztec Brujeria, recounts my experiences learning both of these techniques of flying on the wings of perception from present day witches in rural areas of Mexico (mostly in the Tuxtlas mountain region of Veracruz state that is historically famous for its witches).

That mysticism, magic, and witchcraft pervades the area of the Tuxtlas is hardly surprising given its past history. The prehistoric and mysterious Olmec civilization, famous for their colossal stone heads, inhabited the region from approximately 1500 BCE to CE 300, after which the Teotihuacan people thrived in the area of Matacapan and later built the massive pyramids and magical city of Teotihuacan to the northwest of the Tuxtlas. The Pyramid of the Sun, built by the Teotihuacans, is one of the largest in the world. The Aztecs conquered the area next and reigned until the time of the Spaniards.

All of the pre-Columbian civilizations had at their core what modern people would refer to as magical or supernatural practices and beliefs. Even after Cortez and the Spanish missionaries decimated the native population, the magical systems continued, albeit covertly, and were gradually mixed with the magic-religious practices of the African slaves introduced to the area in the early 1500s. Today, the rural spiritualism of the area is a combination of Aztec brujeria, African-Haitian Voudon, Cuban Santería, and Christianity. Complementing and enhancing the mystical spiritualism of the area is the natural ambiance: Mist-shrouded extinct and dormant volcanoes, waterfalls, lagoons, and coastal sand dunes make the rain forest of the Tuxtlas region the perfect natural backdrop for witchcraft and magic.

My first encounter with the flying witches occurred when I was drawn to the annual Congreso Internacional de Brujeria (the International Conference of Witchcraft) in the "witch capital of Mexico," the city of Catemaco. On this first occasion I was poisoned by a malicious and jealous local male witch who spiked my margarita with the seeds of the datura plant. This caused me to "fly" to the cave of the dead, where I was found by a well-known curandero/brujo, who subsequently healed me and became my teacher of witchcraft and healing.

This amazing man also introduced me to the women witches, one of whom was my teacher in flying (through the use of various species of datura plants through ingestion and applying a specially-brewed ointment to mucous membranes). For humor and the sheer fun of poking at ancient stereotypes, my teacher once brought forth a miniature broomstick that she stirred the bubbling cauldron of datura with and that we then used to apply the ointment. From these "flights" I learned to fly to alternate states of reality, where my spirit allies taught me how to facilitate healing and diffuse evil spells cast by witches of mal intent. The spirits of helping animals acquired during these flights in the dream trance (mine include condor, a female and male wolf, cougar, snake, and even the ancient dwarf king from the pyramids of Uxmal) are an integral part of working with both good and evil witchcraft, hexing and curing.

The concept and reality of a person being both a curandero and a brujo comes from both a practical and cultural perspective of the people of the Tuxtlas; there are good witches and evil witches, and even witches that are both. I am simply using the terms witch and witchcraft to describe the people and events in The Flying Witches of Veracruz because they are the best English words I have to use. Brujeria is the Spanish word that most closely translates to witchcraft in English. However, like the English term witchcraft, the Spanish word brujeria is most commonly used to describe the evil or negative aspects and functions of the craft (even though most people with interest in this topic would agree that there are both good witches and bad witches, ergo good brujos and bad brujos).

In Spanish the word curandera or curandero (female and male, respectively) refers to a folk healer that "cures." In this context there is no negative connotation associated with these practitioners. But in my experiences with the healers (good witches) it became apparent that in order to be proficient at their work the healers needed to be versed in the art of evil hexing caused by bad witches. So, quite naturally their knowledge and experience necessarily included both spectrums of the craft. The Nahuatl word that most accurately describes the practitioners that became my teachers is tetlachihuic. However, it must be noted that the Aztec language of Nahuatl contains some forty different words that translate into various specialties of witches, sorcerers, and spiritual healers, such is the range and depth of their knowledge of the supernatural. The tetlachihuics can be described as women or men with supernatural abilities to either induce or cure illness; manipulate people's consciousness for either good or bad; alter or influence events and circumstances through incantations, prayers, rites, ceremonies, and the use of amulets, talismans, and effigies; and are skilled in the use of plants and animals.

The "master" witches I encountered in the Tuxtlas, and that ended up being my teachers, had all of the abilities of the tetlachihuic, plus many more. Specifically, they are also specialists in what I call conscious dreaming or dream trance. This is a state of consciousness that allows the witch to consciously "fly" into the realm of the spirit underworld and "bring back" into everyday life information on illness and curing (especially having to do with soul loss or spirit possession). My teachers of witchcraft are so highly skilled at manipulating consciousness via the dream trance that they can even manipulate the dream trance of others. Throughout my latest book you will have the opportunity to see exactly what I experienced and how I learned through their teachings.

In the beginning of my instruction, I was given various species of the datura plant (devil's weed) to facilitate the dream trance state. Once I had experienced the dream trance state via the datura sufficiently to alter my "everyday" or "normal" consciousness, the datura was no longer necessary, although it was still employed on some occasions during extreme circumstances.

The usage of datura leads to a deviation in practicality with this latest book. I do not advise anyone to ingest datura. I was thrown into the world of datura without my consent, and I am lucky to be alive and relatively sane. Datura usage is included in this book simply because it was a major factor and central part of my lessons with this specific class of witches. However, the main crux of the knowledge shared with me by my teachers and what I want to share with you, is the dream trance and positive applications of working with the spirits of the underworld. Witchcraft in the Tuxtlas is fundamentally about spirit possession and/or soul loss. It is not necessary to experience or work in the realms of spirits and souls with datura. That's just what happened to me when I went to Veracruz.

Practically speaking, I would make at least three separate contexts for spirit possession as I was introduced to it in the Tuxtlas. First, and most rarely, are people afflicted involuntarily by a spirit. Second are those that voluntarily are possessed, such as witches, shamans, sorcerers, etc. Third are those possessed involuntarily by a spirit not acting entirely of its own volition but rather at the bidding of someone controlling it (such as a witch or shaman).

With soul loss there are two main categories: the first is involuntary soul loss through extreme personal events, or the soul being taken by a witch or shaman. The second is voluntary soul loss by witches and shamans that send their souls flying into other worlds.

The concepts and experiences of working with spirits and souls during the flight of the dream trance is the central form of witchcraft that I experienced with the witches of Catemaco and the Tuxtlas mountain region. The flying witches also taught me that there are four main types of witches: the "little witches" that dabble in love potions and giving people bad luck, the "black witches" whose main intent is to harm and are effective from any distance, the "witches of death" who kill and suck the juices of their victims, and the many levels of curanderos involved in healing in the community.

My teachers put me through arduous trials and tests in order to experience all four types of witchcraft. In The Flying Witches of Veracruz I write about passing through these rights of initiation and with the help of my spirit allies become an experienced curandero/brujo, a tetlachihuic, in the ancient traditions of the indigenous people of the amazing Tuxtlas. From love potions to stealing souls through murderous acts, beautiful and amazing trips flying on the wings of perception to soul possession by malevolent spirits, the tetlachihuic works with many different circumstances and levels of awareness, perception, time, and reality.

Although, many of the experiences I share may be disturbing to some people, as they were to me, ultimately the healing knowledge acquired from these experiences I feel was worth the price and merits sharing. And boy was it a wild ride. The witches of Veracruz most certainly can fly...

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2011. All rights reserved.

I have a friend who has absolutely the worst luck of anyone I know. While she was in Hawaii in the 70's, she picked up a lava rock from the area of a volcano. Is there any truth to the belief that this causes bad luck? If so, what can be done about it? Thank you.

Jimmie Anne

Dreamchaser:

Your question made me laugh, because I remembered watching that "Brady Bunch" episode where they went to Hawaii and came back with bad luck. However, in all reality, your friend's bad luck started WAY before she went to Hawaii and picked up that lava rock - but more on that later.

As a matter of fact, after much research, I am finding that most likely, the "lava rocks bring bad luck" myth was started by Hawaii's park rangers. They wanted to prevent people from doing to the lava rock what people did to Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock is all but gone now because people kept taking pieces. The rangers didn't want all the lava rock picked off of certain sites.

Of course, we humans always try to find SOMETHING to blame our "bad luck" on. This habit is how various bad luck superstitions were born, such as those about black cats, broken mirrors, walking under ladders, etc.,

I have a black cat. She crosses my path at least 20 times a day. I do not have bad luck as a result. I also have a loft in my house with a ladder going to it. We walk under the ladder about 20 times a day too. Again, no bad luck. If I DID have bad luck, I suppose I COULD blame my little black cat.

Also, some places have their own bad luck traditions. For example, in Japan, if a funeral car passes, you should hide your thumb, or you will have bad luck. Since most foreigners do not know that, do they "catch" bad luck when visiting Japan because they fail to hide their thumbs?

In places of the world where the "evil eye" is not only believed in but practiced, people believe that they can be given bad luck with just a look. There are usually lots of shops in these areas that sell amulets for good luck, money, love, etc.

Since I love New Orleans so much, I will use that city as an example. I know there are many superstitious beliefs there. One can "catch" bad luck quite easily. As I wandered the streets, I often wondered if some of these "beliefs" were made up long ago by people wanting to sell their amulets and good luck spells. I am SURE it would have greatly boosted their business!

Your friend should probably stop believing that she has bad luck and using that as an excuse. She CAN manifest good luck. She just has to stop thinking that she has none. She is so used to accommodating "bad" in her life that she has accepted it as her fate. If she spent as much time on self-discovery as she does on trying to find the source of her ill fortune, she would be happier and better off already.

I wish you and your friend great good fortune!

*****

Astrea:

In the Disney movie Dumbo, Timothy the Mouse gives Dumbo a "magic feather" so that he is able to fly. Of course to the audience, Dumbo looks really gullible because he believes it's the feather that gives him that ability, when actually, it's his great big EARS!

Dumbo doesn't believe in himself enough to fly on his own, but when he has that fake magic feather, he's the CONCORD! Eventually he discovers the truth, and for just a moment, he is undone. As is Disney tradition, however, he conquers his fear, summons all his self-esteem, and learns to fly without the feather.

Your friend's lava rock is that feather in REVERSE. Bad luck isn't real. We CREATE our OWN luck by the way that we live our lives. If you believe that you're always going to have bad luck, then you're always going to have bad luck. No matter what a person chooses to blame for bad luck, it all boils down to choices and consequences.

Picking up a rock - ANY ROCK - is not enough to cause a person misery for the rest of her life. Because your friend BELIEVES that picking up the lava rock set her up for failure, time after time in her life, it has. People are VERY suggestible, and we're always looking for something OUTSIDE of ourselves to blame for the consequences of our decisions, whether we have a rock or a feather or a special necklace or a cursed car!

Accepting that we are responsible for our own lives isn't as easy as it sounds. We're pulled in a hundred different directions at once by our jobs, family and friends. Often, we don't take any time for ourselves at all, and wind up at the very place we try to avoid.

Your friend needs to "de-clutter" her life, starting with that stupid rock, and ending with people who are a drain on her day after day. She might need some kind of ritual cleansing to make that happen. It's always easier to believe that we've CHANGED something if there is some kind of outward manifestation of that change.

There are hundreds of cleansing rituals designed to change someone's luck. Chakra balancing is one of the better ways. Take your friend to a Buddhist Temple and have that done for her. It will cost between fifty and a hundred dollars, and the money is usually taken in the form of a love offering to the temple.

Most people feel renewed and reborn after that process, and she might be able to toss the idea that she is just plain unlucky after that. It may take more than once to get her on the right footing. If that doesn't work, try giving her a "magic feather" to replace that silly rock!

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.