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October 30 through November 5, 2023

Things hum along pretty smoothly this week but don’t expect to get much done. The Moon cruises through Gemini the first three days of the week, inspiring social interactions and brain-storming sessions. We could be all talk and no action, but the ideas we share have seeds of truth in them that are sure to grow into real-world manifestations! We may feel like staying in bed Thursday and Friday, as the Cancer Moon combines with the Scorpio Sun to call us inward. Whether we’re in deep thought or a spiritual process, or maybe just turning into couch potatoes, this cycle is necessary to integrate all that’s happened in the last few weeks. Things liven up again on the weekend as the Moon dances into Leo and Saturn turns direct after 4 months of backward motion. Restrictions and confusion lift, making this a great day to set our goals and intentions for the remainder 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.

My name is Sally. I was in my bed sleeping when I was awakened by the sound of a door opening and closing. It wasn't my bedroom door; it sounded different. I felt a gust of air breeze pass me, then a man whisper the name "Claire." I didn't reply, because I wasn't sure what I had heard. Then the voice again whispered "Claire." I replied in a strange voice that didn't sound like mine that I was not Claire. The voice then immediately whispered, "What is your name?" I forced myself to wake up. I thought if he was a guide or an angel, he should know my name. I didn't know who or what I was talking to, so I ended the conversation and stayed up until dawn. I said lots of positive affirmations for protection. Do you think this was sinister? It didn't feel bad or good either way. I say a selection of protective affirmations at my bedroom door each time I go to bed, and it hasn't come back. What should I do if it does? I would love to hear your opinion and get some input. Many Thanks! Peace and Light!

- Sally

Dreamchaser:

Good luck with those affirmations. As far as I know, affirmations have never stopped ghosts from doing their thing. Yes, I said ghosts. I LOVE this story because it is such a good ghost story, and you gave us so many great details.

I have said many times in this column that there are different kinds of hauntings. Sometimes the person is haunted by a particular spirit, sometimes the house itself is haunted by something that happened there or someone who lived there, or sometimes the land is haunted. Remember, land has been here forever. Even if you built the home you're living in now, that doesn't mean nothing was there before your house.

The first clue to what is happening here is your revelation that the door closing did not sound like your bedroom door. The reason it didn't sound like your door is because it wasn't. The land your house is built on is haunted - not your house. The sounds you heard were from another time and another house that was built on your land back then. The man was the owner of the house, and Claire was his woman. He was looking for her, and found you. That's why he didn't know your name.

Very often, ghosts do not understand what is going on any more than we do. I am sure he was as surprised to find you in bed as you were to hear him. He was simply looking for Claire, but he found himself in a strange place, with a strange woman. When you told him that you were not Claire, he naturally asked who you were then.

He is not a negative being - he is not evil or bad. He is just stuck. If you want to try to clear your house out, I suggest you start with sage. Grab a sage bundle from a local New Age shop or order some off the Internet. Burn the sage and walk through every room of your house, making sure smoke goes along every wall and into every corner. Don't forget closets, but be careful that you don't set your clothes on fire!

Once your house has been saged, you'll know that no more negative energy is there at all. Then you can get down to helping this spirit get to the Otherside. Simply say out loud, "I know you are here. We met one night while I was sleeping. You are not alive on Earth anymore. You died some time ago. Claire is on the Otherside already. If you go to the Light, you can find her. I am sure she is waiting for you, so go to the Light."

Please remember that it is his choice to go to the Light or not. Usually, however, telling a ghost that they are dead will help them make sense of the weird loop they find themselves in, and once they do that, they'll want to head on to the Light.

You have nothing to fear from this spirit. I wish you uninterrupted sleep.

*****

Astrea:

I see how it would be possible for you to think this visit was something sinister. In the first place, it can be very unsettling to have an unknown entity show up uninvited. This one even brought his own creepy sound effects with him: the door opening! It gives me chills when I think about it!

He was looking for "Claire" though - not for you. The voice you answered him in was your FEARFUL voice, so I'm sure you didn't sound like yourself. He moved on once he realized that you weren't the person he was seeking.

Perhaps your aura or vibration "called" him to you, or something he felt about you reminded him of Claire, so he thought he would give you a shot, just in case. He seems to have been VERY TIRED when he spoke to you, so he must have been looking for her for a long time. I feel such sadness around him.

I'm sorry he frightened you. That was absolutely the LAST thing he wanted to do! If he returns, be sure to try to send him on into the Light, because I feel he is still wandering, searching for Claire. She was either someone to whom he owes a great Karmic Debt, or someone he loved very dearly - or both. Your essence reminded him of Claire in some way, and that's why he was drawn to make the great effort to speak to you.

While it's possible that this could have been someone from a past incarnation who was traveling around the Universe looking for you, it's more likely that he was someone who got lost on his way from one spot to another. Your visitor was one of those spirits who was passing through this dimension to Beyond the Veil.

Since this was somewhat of an isolated incident, I feel that it was just something that happened once and probably won't happen again. Your affirmations should protect you if it does, so you needn't worry when you're in that house or anywhere else you go.

Many times, spirits who are in the process of "crossing over" get distracted before they get to Heaven, either because they are pulled back to the Earth Plane by a loved one, or because they want to stay here so much it causes them to sort of "miss the boat." Then they get trapped here for a while.

Sensitive people often have these visitors, and you might want to explore what you could do as a medium to connect the people who are gone with their loved ones who are still here. I feel that you probably have a natural talent for spirit communication. Often it's not the most pleasant thing to do, because the people who are left here are usually VERY sad. Still, it's a great service that you could do for others if you feel drawn to it. Explore it and see what you can do, then let your heart and spirit guide you.

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.