The US Coup in Peru : What’s actually happening there, and why the people are angry

I’ve heard so much disinformation about what is actually going on in Peru. It’s disgusting. Right Wing Cuban Exiles spreading the belief that this is a “socialist dictator” who was taken out of power. Or CNN and other centrist sites with their “two sides” take. Where they continue to peddle the storyline that President Pedro Castillo was some kind of tyrant.

And all while parroting the coup plotters claims (and not giving evidence for them). This country really fucks with my head. Seriously, they condemn the violence and extremism of January 6th here. But then they applaud it everywhere else. The United States of America continues to be one of the most two faced countries on Earth.

Suffering from extreme narcissistic personality disorder and total disconnect from reality. High on their own American exceptionalism. Let me tell you what is actually going on in the country. President Pedro Castillo is a former Teacher, Union Worker, and he’s Indigenous. Far from being a career politician, he campaigned for the presidency of the country on the platform of real change.

He’s been fighting to bring it to Peru. Instead of Peru being sacked by politicians stealing money from the people. Something so common that we even have a term for it in the US : Banana Republic. Unfortunately for him, that ran contrary to the interests of the ruling Oligarchy in his country. As well as foreign interests.

They also didn’t like that he was giving people of color a real voice in Peru. You see there’s an unspoken evil in Latin America : White Supremacy. Most Latin Americans will tell you racism “doesn’t exist”. And by most I mean people who have a colonial mentality. The white Spanish Criollos (Creoles) dominate our societies.

Most Latin Americans view themselves as some off shoot of the Spaniards. Which is wrong on every level. We are Indigenous, Black, Asian, and even Middle Eastern. The Spaniards were our conquerors and invaders, not our source culture. We have cultures of our own.

But just as most people think of Caucasians when they think of Americans, most people think of Criollos when they think of Latin Americans. So white Spanish culture dominates us. And if you have any doubts about that, look at our beauty pageants. Almost all of the contestants tend to be white women. Very few times are there indigenous or black women.

Asians and other groups are even more rare. But Pedro Castillo was changing that in his country. Which made him powerful enemies, who accused him of trying to “divide” Peruvians. But that was just the start of his problems. The US also didn’t like his reforms.

So the business leaders of Peru, multinational corporations, Western Powers, all led by the US, decided to take him out. Three times the Congress tried Parliamentary Coups to drive him from power saying he was “corrupt”. They made false investigations and smear campaigns to try and claim that he stole money. All with the intentions of throwing him out of office. The same accusations were done against President Lula DaSilva of Brazil.

And all three times he defeated their coups. Because he made sure the investigations were transparent. He also worked with the legal process. He brought in independent investigators. And they proved that the “investigations” done by congress were nothing but farcical political theatre.

The third time they tried he decided to try something different. He brought in lawyers. Their own investigations proved they didn’t even have the authority to have initiated the impeachment proceedings against him in the first place. In order to do that, you need hard evidence of wrong doing. Also, the polls showed strong support from the people.

Despite how much they have poured money into their own propaganda machines to make him look bad. But despite all of that, their smear campaign failed. They acted as if just by making up this nonsense, it made it true. Instead his lawyers told him there were clauses within Peru’s constitution that supported him. And that if a government body was co-opted by foreign or seditious powers, the acting President could temporarily dissolve the congress.

The infiltrator and the Traitor

Until a new congress could be elected. So on December 6th, 2022 Lisa Kenna, a former CIA agent who is now the US Ambassador of Peru, had a secret meeting with Gustavo Bobbio the Defense Minister. And the next day the President was arrested by the Police, and the Army shut the country down. Suspending all civil rights and civil liberties. Even banning free speech and freedom of movement.

The real coup plotters

And Dina Boluarte became the Dictator of Peru ever since. They’ve been trying to white wash the dictatorship since then. Again repeating the unfounded claims of corruption. And instead of calling what they did a Coup, they claimed it was normal legal action (because the army shutting down a country is totally normal). And then trying to act woke,

“Look! It’s the first female President of Peru!”

You mean Dictator. You actually have to be elected to be President. And the whole nation hates her and her regime. They tried this in Bolivia with Evo Morales as well. They thought if they replaced him with a female indigenous dictator that people would applaud it and say “Progress!”.

Peru’s current Dictator

They really thought Bolivians were that stupid then. And they think of Peruvians now. Protesters have demanded that if the former President is removed, they should have new elections. Not a Dictator. But the current regime refuses.

Talking points used by the far right also include rumors of “Marxist infiltrators from Bolivia”. Or “paid protesters” that allegedly were sent by the President. Fucking seriously, as if no one would notice a massive force of people from the Bolivian Border coming into the country. Now they’re pointing fingers at the people calling them “coup plotters” and “domestic terrorists”. Even if this man were a Dictator, it still doesn’t explain why they felt the need to shut the entire country down and suspend human rights.

So this is what a terrorist looks like? Hmmm

I guess nothing says “democracy” like firing on unarmed protesters and killing students. So please people, don’t come at me with this bullshit about President Castillo being corrupt or a tyrant. Or that he deserved to be the victim of a coup. You can’t ask for “civility” while engaging in Terrorism. And you can’t tell us to “believe in the system”.

You’re too busy working to undermine it every time someone you don’t like is bringing real change. That’s rigging the system in your own favor. That’s not democracy. That’s hypocrisy. Here’s some reading materials for you anyone interested in looking past the media block.

Peru protesters, fired up by deaths, march on Lima demanding change

On Lisa Kenna and her meeting with the Defense Minister

How the US Pressured Peru’s government into the Coup

More on the pressure campaign from the US

– M

It Came With The Storm : Ancient Native American Remains Unearthed by Hurricane Nichole

Authorities believe these skeletal remains are that of an Ancient Native American group buried on a Beach

The beach is already legendary among us Floridians. The official name is Chastain Beach. It’s on Hutchinson Island. But most people call it Seven Skulls because once seven human skulls were found there. Every time a Hurricane hits that area in just the right direction, skeletal remains are always discovered.

It’s led to many believing this is an indigenous burial ground. As you can read from the article on it, it’s also believed to be a mystical place. People who live in the town of Stuart say that the bones should be buried again. That interfering with the bodies is bad. Unfortunately the authorities don’t listen.

They were removed from the beach already. Probably on their way to a Museum.

Recently I had talked about a strange Supernatural occurrence during Hurricane Ian. In which I believe a Wild Hunt was unleashed. Some people in Central Florida heard the hooves of Horses on their roofs during the Hurricane. Something none of us have ever reported hearing before. I tried debunking it.

And couldn’t. So I turned to magic. And I saw a horrifying visions. They looked like legions of angry souls. All of them seeking revenge in one form of another.

Go to 1:18 on the video to skip to the part about the unearthed bodies

This video show it from the beginning. The Seminole Nation has claimed the bodies and the beach as belonging to their ancestors. I just thought this was something odd and interesting to put here. Be blessed my friends,

– M

Random Links of the Day : Science, History, and Nature Edition

Archaeological site from England

So I started binging on different articles today and figured we need our first Random Links of the Day for the year 2021. So with that said, here we go

The Dead Speak! Scientists Make 3000-Year-Old #Egyptian Mummy Talk, After Recreating Its Vocals

https://t.co/MJSrJh7m1C #Kemet #AncientEgypt #Nesyamun #Priest #Pagan #Paganism #Polytheism #Polytheist

Five Ancient Wonders of the UK

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/travel/2019/dec/14/ancient-wonders-five-little-known-archaeological-sites-uk?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftravel%2F2019%2Fdec%2F14%2Fancient-wonders-five-little-known-archaeological-sites-uk

A New Yorker finds old photos including a Portrait of Susan B. Anthony

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-finds-century-old-photos-attic-including-portrait-susan-b-anthony-180976922/

Virtual Black History Celebration on Saturday

https://www-ajc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/stockbridge-holding-virtual-african-american-history-celebration-on-saturday/MFAT4WIN5FEVNFSDSCA6AANGXE/?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&outputType=amp&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126544837123&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajc.com%2Fnews%2Fatlanta-news%2Fstockbridge-holding-virtual-african-american-history-celebration-on-saturday%2FMFAT4WIN5FEVNFSDSCA6AANGXE%2F

A Virtual Reality Zoo of Extinct Animals

https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/sebastian-koseda-the-zoo-of-extinct-animals-digital-050221

Birds can’t think straight with traffic noises

https://www-ecowatch-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.ecowatch.com/amp/traffic-sounds-birds-thinking-2650331494?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126544837123&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecowatch.com%2Ftraffic-sounds-birds-thinking-2650331494.html

Genetic Analysis Reveals Evolution of the Enigmatic Y Chromosome in Great Apes

Are Wolves Endangered?

https://www.treehugger.com/are-wolves-endangered-5101178

A Breakthrough in Quantum Photonics will create new optics

https://phys-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/phys.org/news/2021-02-breakthrough-quantum-photonics-era-optical.amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126544049099&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2Fnews%2F2021-02-breakthrough-quantum-photonics-era-optical.html

Intricate Steampunk Spider Sculptures Crafted From Antique Watches

The Juno Spacecraft will explore Jupiter for Four more years

https://www.kqed.org/science/1972554/after-breathtaking-images-and-stupendous-discoveries-spacecraft-juno-gets-4-more-years-to-explore-jupiter

Amateur Treasure Hunter finds missing piece of Henry VII’s Crown

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amateur-treasure-hunter-unearths-missing-centerpiece-henry-viiis-crown-180976902/

Global Warming will bring an epidemic of caterpillars to destroy agriculture in California

https://insideclimatenews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/insideclimatenews.org/news/05022021/in-california-a-warming-climate-will-help-a-voracious-pest-and-hurt-the-states-almonds-walnuts-and-pistachios/?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126544049099&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Finsideclimatenews.org%2Fnews%2F05022021%2Fin-california-a-warming-climate-will-help-a-voracious-pest-and-hurt-the-states-almonds-walnuts-and-pistachios%2F

The Billion year journey of Earth’s tectonic plates

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/02/06/science/tectonic-plates-continental-drift.amp.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126542301000&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2021%2F02%2F06%2Fscience%2Ftectonic-plates-continental-drift.html

The Dagda (The Good God)

https://www.ancient.eu/The_Dagda/

The Ancient History Encyclopedia (A Great Resource!)

https://www.ancient.eu/

Deep Ocean plastic is a Haven for Life

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/02/06/deep-ocean-plastic-is-a-haven-for-life

The Turtle Baby Boom in Kenya (Yay!!!!)

https://www-euronews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.euronews.com/living/amp/2021/02/06/this-baby-boom-in-kenya-is-helping-to-save-an-endangered-species?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126542301000&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fliving%2F2021%2F02%2F06%2Fthis-baby-boom-in-kenya-is-helping-to-save-an-endangered-species

Paying Mother Nature Back For her Hard Work

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/climate/dasgupta-report-biodiversity-climate.amp.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126542301000&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2021%2F02%2F02%2Fclimate%2Fdasgupta-report-biodiversity-climate.html

The Blakiston Fish Owl, World’s Biggest Owl is in decline. But it’s not too late to save them

https://api-nationalgeographic-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/animals/2021/02/worlds-biggest-owl-is-endangered-but-its-not-too-late?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126542301000&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s

Fossils reveal Homo Sapien-Neanderthal Breeding

http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/anthropology/jersey-neanderthal-homo-sapiens-hybrids-09308.html

Darwin’s sexist views against women

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/books/review/charles-darwin-harriet-martineau-women.amp.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126540548574&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2021%2F02%2F05%2Fbooks%2Freview%2Fcharles-darwin-harriet-martineau-women.html

Horse Remains show how Native People’s raised their horses

https://www-heritagedaily-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.heritagedaily.com/2021/02/horse-remains-reveal-new-insights-into-how-native-peoples-raised-horses/137049?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&fbclid=IwAR1suVKCnjHx0S63SL3VXBZFcYOu3YrXD5bZ6z8eJyIlRJDuV5PZiWUPUxc&amp&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126440526269&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heritagedaily.com%2F2021%2F02%2Fhorse-remains-reveal-new-insights-into-how-native-peoples-raised-horses%2F137049

The Apollo 15 Landing Site

https://www-space-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.space.com/amp/apollo-15-landing-radar-image?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126540548574&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s

Meet the Man who invented Black History Month

https://amp-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/02/01/us/history-of-black-history-month-trnd/index.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126540548574&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2021%2F02%2F01%2Fus%2Fhistory-of-black-history-month-trnd%2Findex.html

Ancient Cities Provide A New Perspective On Urban Life

Mummy with a Gold Tongue found in Egypt

https://www-livescience-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.livescience.com/amp/mummy-with-gold-tongue-discovered.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126540548574&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livescience.com%2Fmummy-with-gold-tongue-discovered.html

Tricky Skywatching & Combustible Planets

https://www-space-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.space.com/amp/february-combustible-planets-outshined-by-sun?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16126440526269&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Ffebruary-combustible-planets-outshined-by-sun

Enjoy everyone,

– M

Tales from the Continent : It came with the Storm (An Account of Hurricane Eta)

Storms can bring with them, more than just rain

So I came across this by accident. And I thought it would make an interesting edition to my Tales From the Continent Series. This actually is not any case I worked on. This is a paranormal encounter that a group of people from Honduras suffered. It happened while on their roof tops when they were surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Eta.

It’s a strange tale of an entity they claim appeared with the storm. And it tried to hunt them while they were stranded on their rooftops. Not only does it pertain to current events, but it’s also an extreme encounter with the supernatural. Which has me stumped. And it’s related to the continent.

Which makes it perfect for this series. The account was submitted to one of my favorite paranormal channels from Latin America called “Relatos de la Noche” (Tales of the Night). They don’t accept creepypastas or any other form of fiction. Their channel is well researched because they are amateur paranormal researchers. And they strive for real accounts in their channel.

No matter how unbelievable these stories may seem. This was just one of many stories under the heading of “The Being Who Came with the Storm”. It was story one. And happened not too long ago. The video itself was uploaded on November 12th.

You can find the original here :

The following account I translate comes from Daniel Cano of the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Some of the wording I changed in the translation because it wouldn’t make sense in English.

“I don’t know if anyone will believe this account. But either way I wish to share it with you. I am from Honduras. I live in the city of San Pedro Sula. I imagine all of you know by now what’s been happening in my country, and in Nicaragua and Guatemala.

With the arrival of the storm Eta, we were hit hard. Particularly our colony because we live in low areas. And the waters rose all the way to our roofs. And we were forced to spend nights a top the ones that were not underwater. The plans of the government against the storm were inefficient.

I had the fortune of getting my family out in time. But when I returned to the house to try and get a few things, the waters surrounded us in a manner of moments. It was already terrifying being in this situation. A situation that was so dangerous, where our lives were in danger. But when we were there on the roof, my neighbors and I had a terrifying encounter.

One that is hard to explain. The second night we were there we were very tired. And we had no drinkable water and very little food. We preferred to give what little we had to the children and the elderly. That night in particular it was very dark.

There was no electricity in the area. It had stopped raining, but the clouds above us seemed to be hunting us. I think it was close to 2am when from afar, we suddenly heard a strange agonizing scream. Many people screamed on the first day, but at night it was always quiet. We would only hear the sound of the waters moving.

Hitting the roofs. Then suddenly from the left side of us, we had seen a figure. A tall figure standing on the highest point of an electrical pole. At first we thought this was a case of someone so afraid that he must have gotten to the top out of fear to escape the storm. But we soon came to the realization that we had never seen him during the day.

This thing had just appeared. It was very tall. It was probably more than two meters (bigger than 5’11 in height). We just stood there watching him carefully when this being leaped on top of one of the abandoned roofs. But to our surprise it made no sound. It landed in an abnormal way.

In slow motion, like those videos of astronauts walking on the Moon. We were all shocked. The women began to cry and shout that it was death. That Death itself was coming for us. This thing was only five houses away from where we were.

Later it started to run across the roof tops only to stop at two houses from where we were from the other side of the street. And it just stood there watching us. It truly was tall and skinny. And it’s clothing was as dark as it’s skin. And there was this weird noise (that emitted from it).

An incessant vibration like a cellphone vibrating on a wooden table. None of us could believe what we were seeing. And by that time, our phones had already lost their charge. So we could not photograph or video tape it. The women began to cry and hug their children.

And all we could do was to threaten and shout at it to stay away. And then suddenly it leaped down to the waters and began walking toward us. Slowly but without delay. Suddenly, one of the  men from the roofs recited the “Our Father” and cast something shiny into the water. It was a cross he always wore around his neck.

And the entity suddenly sunk beneath the water and did not resurface. Later we learned from him that it was a cross his mother had once given him. And that it was a blessed cross. The next day, we were finally rescued by the Firemen. But this was the most terrifying experience we had ever had,”

And given the fact that they had just survived a hurricane and a flood, that’s saying a lot. So, what was this mysterious creature? Honestly I don’t have a clue. I haven’t had occasion to check the folklore of Honduras to see if there’s a corresponding creature somewhere. What I do believe is that it may have been an entity from another realm. A malevolent transdimensional.

Here’s what most people don’t know. What I had to learn the hard way : Storms naturally bring in spirits with them. Some good and some bad. Most of the time they just bring nature spirits to refresh the land. It’s a natural (spiritual) part of the eco system.

But Hurricanes and Tornados and really destructive natural phenomenon unleash equally destructive beings. Angry and lost souls of the dead. Entities from other dimensions, sometimes even demonic spirits. Here in Florida when Hurricane season comes, we tend to see strange activity in certain places. I remember when Hurricane Maria hit, I felt like the storm left a wave of negativity everywhere.

Almost like a disease. Even the animals acted strangely. And these are animals that are used to these kinds of storms. But they acted as if they were hiding from another creature. From a far worse predator than normally known.

And they were frightened. Some actually hid inside bags of things I was sealing up. Frogs and even doves hid in people’s houses. The Santeros in the community were doing magic to protect ourselves as an added measure. And we all had feelings as if the spirits around us were screaming at once with one voice.

After Maria, I have always prepared spiritually as well as physically. It’s not enough to simply board up your house. Or to have a large food supply. Or even arms in case a wild animal or crazed person comes in. It’s also necessary to protect yourself spiritually.

With blessed charms and other holy things. What this man in the story did was smart. Tossing that blessed cross into the water was probably what saved those people from certain death. There’s a lot of strange cases of people who vanish and no trace is ever found of them. Such things have become known as the Missing 411 phenomenon.

And because this was a hurricane, no one would ever have assumed anything other than a storm took them. My theory is this is a creature from the forests or even the water ways in Honduras. The storm allowed it to enter the cities and towns. It gave it permission to be able to explore areas it normally wouldn’t enter.

It also provided a cover for it. With all the destruction around, it probably didn’t need much to hide it anyway. But what was it? Did it even come from our world? Or even our spirit world? Or did it come from another spirit world? One parallel to the realm of spirits known to us. That may sound crazy, but the realm of spirit is a vast Multiverse bigger than our own. Or this creature may even have been a Revenant.

But what type of Revenant or deceased entity was it? Was it even physical? How else did it make no noise and was able to seemingly defy the laws of physics? Or was it a Revenant capable of being able to manipulate reality itself. Or simply make itself float? Who knows. I tried doing a little research into it. But the only water entity that stalks people in Honduras is La Sucia. which is similar the Honduran version of La Llorona.

This seems to be a completely warped entity. There are some who claim that some storms are cosmic and can bend reality. That sometimes, the veil becomes so thin that things can slip out of their reality and into ours. And vice versa. So in the end, who knows really, what this creature was.

What is a Witch? And how does one define it?

Christianity can be just as much a part of a magical tradition as any other faith. From https://www.santeriaoraciones.com

I sat up for about a half an hour to an hour looking for an image of a witch to put up on this damn post. And that was almost as daunting as the subject matter I am going to write about. When I typed in “witch”, there were pages upon pages of women dressed in ugly, long nosed, masks or with green paint on their skins. It seems that in the 21st century we still have an image to shake. And it sucks because I like the Wizard of Oz books.

It seems for any positive thing to appear on a practitioner of magic, I had to use other words. At first I was going to go with an image of a Medicine Man or Woman. But many fellow natives will be offended by the term witch as much as white people are. Yay! Colonialism! Yay Christian Brainwashing! I’m sorry. I guess the pisces moon started out with nice emotions last night.

And today I went back to being a Cuban asshole. I typed in the word Osainista instead. It basically means Osainist or follower of Osain, the Orisha of herbs and nature. He teaches his followers how to do magic with plants. Which includes healing medicines.

That’s where I found this image. I try not to be overbearing. This is a character flaw that I struggle with. I can come off as extremely egotistical. Maybe I am.

I try not to get into long winded debates any more because in the end people will believe what they want to believe. And I’ll be the annoying prick in the corner no one wants to drink with (okay, I don’t drink, but still). Every once in a while I come across something. Something that demands a moral position. Something that would make me feel like a coward if I don’t voice the issue.

So at the risk of alienating other people, I try to say what’s on my mind. As politely as possible. It doesn’t always work though. Such a thing happened earlier this morning. It was on Good Reads.

For those who don’t know, this is like a facebook for book readers, writers, and authors. You get to follow your favorite authors (sometimes even if they’re 100’s of years old). People also buy and sell books on there. This includes everything from text books to novels. A friend in New York introduced me to the site.

I was looking up a book I have wanted to read for two years now : Bless Me Ultima. It’s an amazing book about an elderly Mexican shaman woman named Ultima. She teaches a young boy as her apprentice and shows him some of her magic. I saw the movie, but I still want to read the book. As I have heard the book is even better.

Now the main conflict in the book, is that the Curandera (Spanish : Curer or Healer) is battling three evil sisters who are “witches”. In many cultures, the word witch is used for a satanist or at least a practitioner of black magic. That’s why English wizards and witches began calling themselves “Cunning Folk”. Instead of witch or wizard. It’s why Native Americans often view that word in a negative light. Associated instead with evil spirits and black magic.

And a person in a book review sort of echoed those same negative sentiments toward the term witch. So I went into a long winded post that I swore I would never make again. Explaining that No, we’re not all evil assholes that lure children into gingerbread houses.

I’m going to say something that will probably piss off a lot of people anyway. Curanderismo is in fact Witchcraft. Any magical practice is witchcraft. I wasn’t going to say anything, but too many people accept the Christian dogma that witchcraft is “evil”.

The fact is, many witches stopped calling themselves witches, because Christians label everything under the sun as “satanism”. Witchcraft is the science, philosophy, and art of working with energy. And most energy has positive and negative components. This doesn’t make one type of witchery good or the other evil. Witch translates as “wise” a person wise to the spiritual world.

Can you imagine someone stealing the word “curandero” and using it to define something that is evil or selfish? That would be crazy right? And yet witch, which is a term for a wise man or wise woman is used as a label for anyone that practices black magic. And this kind of demonization of our practices comes from the Burning Times. Who many witches believe never really went away.

Moreover, Curanderos can and do use negative magic if they believe it will benefit the people they are trying to protect. Because it depends on the context. To the other person being hexed for whatever evil thing they did, there is very little difference between a Curandero and any other type of enemy witch.

In Puerto Rico, a lot of Sanse Brujos won’t do return to sender rituals (like what Ultima is doing in the book) because they believe it will propagate an endless cycle of violence between witches. That’s why they have the saying

“Un brujo no puede comer otro brujo”.

(A witch can’t eat another witch).

Regardless of whether a return to sender is justified or not. I keep seeing people put down the old ways unintentionally or define things through a Christianized, European lens. I have seen some Curanderos speak of the term witch with such disgust as if that’s a Satanist or some other black magician. But it’s a dogma forced on our people’s across Latin America by Christian conquerors. By people who thought they were doing Indigenous and African peoples a “favor” by conquering them.

Remember that is where the root of this anti witch sentiment comes from : Colonialism. If someone speaks like that about witchcraft in my presence, I would definitely be offended. And no matter the context they were using. That’s why I use terms like “black witch” “enemy witch” or things in other cultures. To the English and Wiccans, a warlock is a black magic user.

In Haiti bokor is the term for an evil practitioner and so fourth. I write this with the hope that other people will read this and understand the history, and the context. Too many times, we see in movies, books, and shows these old tropes being used. About the good witch and the bad witch. And granted yes there are witches who only practice positive magic and others who specialize in negative magic.

But good and evil are points of view. For instance, I’m sure many of you reading this, associate using magic dolls and putting needles through them with evil right? What if I told you about Witch Doctors or Witch Masters. These are Christian Magicians from the Appalachian Mountains. They are basically magical witch hunters. They battle evil witches.

In Appalachian culture, witches and pagans are all “satanists”. So magic users in that culture who practice positive magic are called doctors. Christian witch doctors will make wooden dolls that they stab with needles to curse a witch. They do this to hurt them in order to prevent them from casting their evil spells on their victims. And how about all those white witches who are trendy and have lots of wealthy clients? Their clients ask for good luck and good energy.

Here’s the problem though, their clients are scum. Their clients are wealthy Jeff Bezos who use magic to get wealthier while their workers starve. Or worse, they could even be rapists and they need the extra mojo to stay out of jail. You see what I’m getting at here? The magic itself is not good or evil. How it’s used determines that.

A fellow blogger on here (Neptune’s Dolphin) once said we needed to break free from the Christian paradigm. That bad habit of defining everything in black and white. Just good or just evil. Now I do believe there is real good and real evil. I do believe in malevolent Gods and spirits.

I do believe in black witches. And yes, I do believe in certain magical practices that are entirely or mostly malevolent. But even these things can be salvaged. For instance, in Ancient Sumer, some demons were beneficial and useful. Like Pazuzu, who frightens away other demons.

He protected the ancient Sumerians from every type of evil spirit there was. The Obeah practice of stealing someone’s Sasa or shadow (for death magic), was used by one Obeah man in his book, to actually heal a person. The magic us used to suspend a person, for the practitioner to heal them and remove damage. Even things as view as negative, can have beneficial uses for people. And similarly, positive energies could be used in a negative way.

Such things have to be carefully defined. Using proper context and with the awareness that we need to be careful of the colonial mindset that these biases came from. Unfortunately, many witches like Curanderos, have fallen into that trap. They view witchcraft as evil and what they practice as “different”. As other.

To me this is being a self hating witch. This is trying to get acceptance from people who hate us. So what’s the point of being open about your magic or your mysticism then? You might as well just stay in the Broom Closet. It would be less hypocritical, and it wouldn’t turn our image back by a thousand years in the public eye. Who knows? Maybe some day, we can type in witch on a search engine and find a less ridiculous depiction than a green skinned lady.

Full Snow Moon & Eclipse Sunday February 9th until Monday February 10th

The Full Snow Moon Feb 7 2020
The Full Moon rising in these days before it officially becomes full on Moon Day (Monday) the 10th.

Lots to talk about. So much so that I scarcely even know how to write it all down. For one thing, the alignment of things. It’s happening in the middle of the Fornacalia. Dedicated to the Roman Goddess Fornax, the Goddess of Ovens. Queen of the hearth and home.

Well in reality Vesta is the queen of hearth and home. But I added Fornax as one of my kitchen Gods. So I view her as a member of my household Gods. So this festival emphasizes not just the feeding of family and the making of bread but bringing prosperity into the home by means of food. Then Uranus in a few days will be going direct.

Which means the long period of darkness associated with the Heavenly King will end. Uranus retrogrades are about challenges to authority and rebellion. They typically happen when you have power figures who need to be challenged. Either in political offices or in your personal life. This can be a parent, a mate, a friend who is always center spotlight etc…now King Uranus is returning to his light or Heavenly aspect.

In which case authority structures go back to normal somewhat. But a Mercury Retrograde is coming right afterwards Monday Feb 17th until March 10th when it goes direct again. Which means everything will go haywire for most people. But I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s the week after of this coming week.

The Full Snow Moon or Hunger Moon is a time when the most snow falls in parts of the US. It’s called the Hunger Moon because Native Americans had trouble hunting for their food during the cold weather. Contrary to popular belief, this Moon is not a Supermoon. The real Supermoon will be in April of this year. You can read a really good article on this in the Old Farmer’s Almanac here :

https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-february

I even found new names for this Moon including the Bone Moon. I’m only putting together these two links because I think they give the most efficient information on this Moon. One spiritual and the other secular. I apologize for not having written anything down. I have been busy with work and with my new home.

I will try to write more often. But in the meantime this is a good time to do self reflection. I would advise meditation and lots of it. Have a great Saturday,

Cheers,

– M

Palo Santo & Sage : Exploiting Native American Spirituality for Money

White Sage
Sacred White Sage, picture from http://www.fourdir.com/p_white_sage.htm

For years I have been telling people not to just use Sage or Palo Santo unless you ethically source it. It’s a bad habit lots of spiritual people have. Even I used to fall pray to that. That was before I knew what was going on and why it was important I not do it. Now that I have a blog, I have a wider audience of people to share this knowledge with.

First the Palo Santo. It’s bad enough you can buy it online now like it was clothing. But now people are burning them. I do not recommend burning Palo Santo (Holy Wood) or buying it. Palo Santo is given to a person by a Shaman in South America to be used for protection or as a talisman.

Cutting the sacred tree is considered blasphemy. Unless it’s just a small piece of the wood and it’s done in a ritual by a Shaman to be for you specifically. It was never meant to be used for burning. Or to simply be bought, which by the way, those companies are cutting living trees. Instead of waiting for branches from a dead Palo Santo tree to fall to the ground.

Which is how the Shamans harvest them. And it contributes to economic exploitation of Native Americans across the continent as well as deforestation. Here’s an article I recommend.

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Why Burning Palo Santo Is A BAD Idea

Same with Sage. Sage is harvested by Native Americans who grow the plant themselves and take care of it. Forming a special relationship with it. Magic shops that sell it are devaluing it and again, exploiting natives. If you must buy Sage, buy it directly from a native who harvests the sage (not all natives use sage so look up the ones that do).

And ask them the proper way to use it. This link is on all 4 Sacred Herbs and what they’re used for.

https://www.oocities.org/redroadcollective/SacredTobacco.html

And there’s things you can use as an alternative to both that are cheap and just as powerful. But without screwing over someone else and nature. For instance you can get a censor like what the Catholic church uses (you can buy regular non blessed censors online. It’s not blasphemy).  And you can place a carbon there and burn plant resins that are ethnically sourced.

Or even things like onion and garlic skins, which can exorcise negative energies and spirits. All you need is a trip to the Supermarket.  Also, while I am addressing this, people are confused by why some uses feathers to fan sage. The Spirit Fan which is a Feather that is wrapped in raw hide and decorated with beads and special symbols drawn into it by a Shaman. It is integral to the process.

The Spirit Fan is sort of like a co-messenger of sorts along with the sage which sends our Prayers to the Great Spirit. Never ever blow Sage smoke. Sage attracts negativity to the smoke and binds it there. So by blowing the smoke you’re sending it to someone else. Fanning it, especially with a Spirit Fan, is the only safe way to use it.

Think of it as a mix of a magnet with tar. Like a magnet it calls forth all the negativity (and bad spirits) hiding in every nook and cranny of your home. So you start from the very end of your home all the way to your front door. To pull everything out. And like tar, the negativity is stuck to the smoke.

It is compelled to leave. Then you walk out the front door and go to a spot you feel comfortable. Always having the sage in a wooden bowl or a metal bowl. Or an abalone shell. Then you pray to the Great Spirit.

Ask him to take away all the evil from your home and life. You ask the smoke to take your prayers up. So you begin praying and continue praying until the smoke stops. When it stops, you have to burn Sweet Grass from the outside into your home. Ask Mother Earth for blessings.

The Sweet Grass is her hair. Go through the front door and stop at the end of the home. The Sweet Grass is used to bless a home with good energy. With holy light from the Mother. Creating a barrier of positive energy that bad spirits hate and can not abide.

Keep asking for blessings until it stops. Warning, if you got a really bad spirit, that Sage or whatever else you use will explode. Dark spirits will resist any attempt to remove them. And that’s one of the ways it happens. But I hope you understand why this is dangerous to the Earth and to other people.

– M