Child's Play

This is a short horror film that I made.  The art and photography was done by very talented members of HitRecord, a global production company.  Please check out HitRecord http://www.hitrecord.org/ if your talents lie in illustration, video editing, photography, acting, you name it, the pool of talent is endless and inspiring.
I'm officially naming my production company, 'UP All Night Productions' since that's when I seem to do my best work.

Ritual: The Dumb Supper

I’ve followed, studied, questioned, participated, observed, bled, sang, learned, changed, grown with Magick, spirituality, the occult for the majority of my life. I’ve looked at it from every angle I could wrap my head around, delved into different aspects of Shamanism and found those things that are personal and private to me. I practice in individual expression and belief as opposed to “organized religion” and am convinced that for everyone, there is a unique way of seeing the Universe that should be pursued and celebrated.
Samhainn, Samhuinn, Samhain is one of four mid season festivals on the witches wheel of holidays of which there are eight total. The Veil between the world of mortals and the after life, spirit realm, the dream road is at it’s thinnest at this time of the year. Ancestral worship is very strong for many different traditions. Worship meaning something more akin to respect. Many years ago I learned of a ritual called, “The Dumb Supper” and decided that I wanted to try it. You prepare the best food with great care, thinking on those in your life that you have loved and lost. I’ve incorporated things like listening to their favorite music, cooking their favorite foods, having pictures of them out. Sometimes I have it outside, weather permitting. 
I start my dumb suppers around nine on All Hallows. A decorative altar is made up, things that I have of those past sitting on it. One year my brother included the hat that he had inherited from my grandfather, I have jewelry my grandmother wore. The place setting for the meal can be anything from paper plates to the best china. Magick done with positive intent is largely intuitive and individual.
When dinner is served, you make a plate for your loved ones, as well as set a place for them, leaving them a seat too. When I sit for the meal, I do not speak, which is where the expression “dumb” comes from, meaning mute and not meant in a negative way. You stay silent during the remainder of the meal. I have done this with groups of people before and always it’s interesting to see how people react to the silence alone. The first group dumb supper I did erupted into a full blown food fight near the end of the meal, which than evolved into midnight margaritas. I stole that idea from the film, ‘Practical Magic.’ That’s become a yearly tradition for me: The contemplation and silence of those who have gone before me, ancestors, friends, even beloved animals, the preparation of food and place settings, building the altar, eating, followed by midnight celebration‘s that generally involve a fire pit, music and dance. 
I once had a dumb supper with just one friend of mine and I invited a cat that I had lost earlier in the year to come eat with us without telling her any specific’s about it. Once we sat down to eat and meditate in quite she began sneezing and her eyes swelled up. Afterward she told me that she was allergic to cats and that’s what it felt like, that there was a cat with us, but there were none. I believe it was the Universe’s way of letting me know that my cat friend was there. 
Magick is very particular. Be careful what you wish for is not just a saying, it’s words to live by. Things can manifest themselves in strange ways. So it’s best to be very specific about what you want.
While Harry Potter was a lovely fictional story and very respectful to the ideas of Magick, obviously we don’t live in a world where Magick is that flashy. I find it’s much more subtle. 
If I remember correctly my first dumb supper was in 1993. I say that realizing now that was 20 years ago and feeling a bit of nostalgia. It was just me in a small apartment in Burbank California, nothing close to nature anywhere near me. It’s grown into something intensely personal and very comforting. It’s a time when you can acknowledge those that have brought meaning to your life in the past. I find it very healing at times, occasionally hilarious and very moving. I always feel exhilarated afterward and sometimes I’ve felt the presence of those that have past so very strongly that it makes me sad all over again. For me it’s worth it. 
Many times we are unable to honor the passing of our loved ones directly after their passing for obvious reasons, the pain. When the grief is too near, you don’t really have time to remember them and the happiness they brought you or the wisdom they instilled in us. All that exists is about making arrangements, getting through the death ritual, whatever it may be. With a dumb supper you get to say things that need said, not out loud, at least not while eating. We exist because of our ancestors. We are who we are because of the people and creatures that we have known and loved, it’s a wonderful feeling to acknowledge that, even if there are a few tears.

The Red Drapes

Erotica.  Not quite finished, but still fun to read!

There was a certain freedom in courting danger and giving into it.  Fiona had tired of the same old Joe Shmoe dinner and a movie song and dance.  It was over rated and she was over of it.  She’d been reaching out to other scenes, even tried being with a woman once, it wasn’t for her.  This new man in her life always left her guessing, kept her at arms length with promise of so much more.  There was something about Seth that made her blood boil in his custom fitted suits and neatly kept a appearance.  He’d only once kissed her hand and still, she could not wait to see him again.   He was so proper, yet at times he would get this far away look in his eye and she knew, there was something dark there.She was out here for him, in the harbor district, made up of mostly wear houses. ‘Meet me at this address, come alone, where only a trench coat and stiletto‘s.’  She blushed to herself, cliché right, wearing only a trench coat?  She felt like a steaker, gallivanting about at night in search of her handsome dark prince and his delicious British accent.  The thought made her tremble in anticipation.  He wanted her naked, certainly he would touch her tonight.  The thought made a tremor spill up her spine as she gazed down a long dead end cooridor, a swirl of mist accenting the awaiting blue lantern.There it was.  ‘Look for the blue lantern’ he had said, but he hadn’t said it would be so… creepy.  She squared her shoulders as the anticipation swelled within her and she moved up the alley to the only door.   A lonely steel door awaited, the ‘lantern’ being only a caged light bulb with a small awning to save it from weather.  She shivered and knocked upon the door, the sound was very small.  Turning her fist on the side she pounded on the door still managing only to pull a small amount of noise out of the heavy door.    The door creaked open and she pushed it, poking her head inside.  Lush red drapes that hung all the way from the ceiling hung just in front of the doorway where a small table, lamp and note stood.  The note made her move inside quickly and snatch it up.  ‘Take off your coat.”  “Seth!?”  She called, though she heard nothing.   Her instinct was to pull the coat tighter around her, which she did.  Letting out a long sigh, she turned to see if there were a rack somewhere for it as she untied the coat.  Indeed there was a hook on the back of the door and she shrugged the coat off, not realizing the door had closed and locked behind her until she slipped the coat on the hook and grabbed the door nob to test it.  She was suddenly thrust into darkness and two large, very muscular people, very male, man handled her naked flesh.  She squealed and started to try and demand they let her go as they lifted her as if she weighed nothing.  She felt the velvet of the drapes brush over her form as a terrible fear came over her.  No one knew she was here.As the drapes seemed to part into an open area she still yelled profanity at them to put her down, but this time there seemed to be a small crowd of both men and women in the room, they were laughing at her.  The murmur of several others making her heart speed up.  They did put her down and she tried to take her hands back but each man held onto one and than she heard the rattle of chains.  “what are you doing?”  she whispered, not really being heard very well.  Each man started to bind her wrist to some sort of bar that was now at her back, unmoving. “SETH!!  SETH ARE YOU HERE!!?”  She screamed as she tried to pull away from the restraints.“Quiet woman!”  She heard a mans voice call and she did as she was told, she wasn’t sure why she quieted, except that she was full of fear.  As they finished with her wrists they moved to her ankles.  They were fastening her to something metal and extremely solid and she tried to pull her legs away with no luck.  The hood was snatched off her head suddenly and she was blinking against the light.  She was in a room crowded with people that were all watching her, the two men that had grabbed her were almost completely naked, save for loin clothes, and stood off of either side of her.  Before her was the man in question.  “Seth?!” She whispered and the anger rose in her.  He stood very calmly in a cobalt blue, double breasted custom made suit in front of her.  “Yes my sweet Fiona.”  He said calmly, offering her a brilliant smile that usually made her melt.  He held a white long-stem rose in one of his hands as he stepped forward.  Her gaze glanced around the room hastily noticing there was a girl kneeling on the floor by a large gentleman seated in what looked like a throne and she was naked too, but not tied.  “What.. What’s happening, why am I tied up?”  Her voice raised as she spoke.   Seth smacked her hard enough to send her head back a little, but she was more shocked into silence than from pain.  “Quiet slut.  From now on you will refer to me as Sir, not Seth, it is too informal.”  His beautiful voice spoke harshly, but he tipped the white rose to her nose and began to trail it down between Fiona’s breasts.She felt her face hot from where he’s smacked her, her eyes showing defiance.  Seth moved closer, bending his mouth toward her nipple and suckling it before she realized what he would do.  She let out a long sigh as his hot mouth and tongue lapped at her, her head tipping back.Than her other nipple was suddenly pained as he pinched it with his fingers tips and she opened her eyes to see him eye to eye, his hot breath so close to her own mouth.  “Do you understand?”  Seth whispered to her, the rose was just against her pelvis, below her belly button, but above her moistening pussy lips.More than anything she wanted him to continue touching her, that desire overpowered all her questions or rebellions.  “Yes. Sir.”  She whispered, her heart thudding as his lips hovered so close to hers.  He released her nipple and than pinched the other one, the pain from the released one was searing and she let out a little whimper.A crooked smile twisted over his face and he released her other nipple, causing immediate pain.  She felt the rose in between her legs, tapped twice against her slit as he said.  “Good girl.”  Than he turned his back and moved away from her.Her saphire colored eyes gazed over the others in the room, most were standing, she felt her eyes pulled to the other naked woman in the room.  This time she was no longer kneeling at the large mans feet, her head was buried in his lap, she was obviously sucking his cock.  She felt a lump in her throat.  She knew what this was.  She’d read about it, it hadn’t frightened her to learn about it.  Though now that she was bound in front of an audience and naked to them all, she wasn’t sure how she felt.  Anxious, for certain, angry, a little, but more than anything, and the revelation surprised her, more than anything, she was excited.  She felt the first drip of cum fall from between her clean waxed pussy and knew that everyone else had seen it.Seth turned back to face her, a look of pure and dark desire on his face.  “Gentlemen.”  He used the rose to gesture to the men at her side.One man was black skinned, bald with brilliant green eyes and a face that was more anglo saxon than African american, milado most likely.  He towered over her tiny 5‘5, easily 6 feet, if not more.  He trailed his hand from the wrist he had bound, moving in front of her, to her neck and clamped his giant hand around it.  The other man was just as physically imposing, though very different, long black hair, but olive skinned and pale.  He too touched the wrist that had been bound by him, but he walked around behind her.  She was trembling, looking from one to the other.  They both had taken off the very small bit of clothing that had covered them at first.  The dark man in front of her was already half at attention, his size frightening her.  She looked at Seth, “What are you doing?”   She whispered.He held up his finger and said, “Excuse me?” He motioned the men away and they stepped away from her body without question.  She barely saw the blur of speed from Seth as the leather whip hit her nipple and than the other.  She arched her back and yelped.  He hadn’t hit her that hard, but god her nipples were so sensitive.  “What did you say?”  He bent his ear toward her as the he played with the soft leather straps of the whip.“Sir?”He smiled immediately… “Better, yes better..”She nodded and than looked at the two men again, they were stroking themselves and many other people in the room had either started touching each other or themselves as well.  She blushed heavily, her skin reddening.  Her red hair spilled around her and the harsh light on her body left nothing to the imagination.“Sir, what’s happening?”  She asked more demure.“Why you’re getting fucked my darling, is it not obvious?”  He moved up to her, his free hand shoving a finger inside her tight pussy before she realized what he was doing.  She cried out, a wash of cum dripping over his finger and fingers.  “My you are a little whore aren’t you?”  She trembled against his finger and than suddenly there were two shoving her tight little cunt open and she arched her back her breasts pressing into him.“I asked you a question whore.”  He whispered into her ear and than pulled back to meet her eyes again.  She breathed it, barley audible, “Yes Sir.”He pulled his fingers out and slipped them into his mouth, tasting her.  Smiling again, “Good girl.”  Once more she felt the tap of the rose on her dripping slit as he spoke each word and than he turned from her again and gave the other men the signal to move back to her.The dark one in front of her, dropped to one knee, looking up to her, meeting her eyes with that handsome face and pale green eyes.  He leaned forward, his mouth almost in between her legs and she trembled, looking to Seth and than back down.From behind she felt the other man grip her hair around his wrist and than move it to the side.  She felt, rather than saw, the pale one lick the side of her neck, kissing his way from her collar bone to ear.  At that moment she felt the man in front her bury his tongue inside her pussy and she cried out, her head falling to the side, her body surrendering, but fighting at the same time as complete strangers made their way around her in the most intimate way imagined.  

Awesome Goth Clothing

http://www.mysticcrypt.com/

Field Guide to Ghost Hunting

My first advice is don’t be a cocky mother fucker.  If it’s a ghost that other people have vanished trying to interact with, just don’t freakin go.  Especially haunted asylums, haunted asylums are the worst.  But if you are the brave, if not a little stupid, ghost hunter of malevolent ghosts, be smart about it.


Regular Camping Supplies.


Tent - Stakes - Hammer

Compass

Sewing Needle & Thread (Needle can be made into a make shift compass)

Physical Map (not on electrical device)

Twine

Rope

Red Fabric for marking

Rain Tarp - Wrap Around Tent

Sleeping Mat

Sleeping Bag Zero Degree

MRE’s - more than you need

WaterPills to purify water

Cell phone

Solar cell phone charger

Satellite Phone, preferable, yet also fucking expensive

Canteen

Handy Wipes

Waterless Hand Sanitizer

Hair Brush (If in large predator areas don’t bring your makeup, cosmetics

smell pretty enough to eat)

Knife

1 or 2 towelsWaterproof Matches in zip lock bag

LighterFirst Aid Kit (made for the region:  poisonous snakes, spiders, etc)

12 Gauge Shot Gun IF you know how to use it.

Biggest Mag Light you can find, new batteries and change

Candles

Cardboard egg cartons, filled with lint and covered in a little wax, stored in a

zip lock bag for dry kindling.

Biodegradable TP, platic bags for disposal, cause yes, it’s leaving with you.

Small camping pans and utensils.


Regular Camping Rules:


Tell people that are staying behind where you are going and when you will be

back, DO NOT JUST LEAVE A NOTE.

Be Prepared

Be as non-invasive as possible to the environment

If using an existing fire pit, gather enough wood to leave for the next person, especially if it was left that way for you

Human Urine will repel most of nature, pee around the perimeter of your camp if  you’re in the middle of nowhere

If you build a fire pit, leave enough wood for the next person or unassemble it in the morning and fill it in.

Take your fucking trash with you

Bring your dog in the tent when it’s sleepy time

Make sure all your food, including dog food, is in sealed containers along with any toiletries that smell.

Zip Locks are a campers friend, just make sure they leave with you too.

Tie food & toiletries into a tree, out on a branch if there are a lot of critters

around.  Plastic shopping bags work well enough, just don’t forget to take it with you.

If you still have a vehicle, leave food and toiletries inside this

Get your dog on a leash before you open the tent flap

Beware of Raccoons, they like Little Debbie StarCrunch and will destroy tents for it.

If you hear something large outside your tent, shut up and don’t move, keep your dog quite.  Low growling is alright though, it lets them know they should stay away. Not being able to see what's in the tent will keep most creatures out.  Even if it’s just a large animal, they can hurt you.  I’ve been
charged by a moose before, it’s a frightening thing.

Mace can deter large animals as a last resort.  I’d still move as fast as you could away from them as soon as you do it.

Seconds could be the difference between moose steak and your hospital bill or funeral.

Bears do not run downhill well.  If you see one, best not to move until you know what kind it is and attempt to move away slowly.  Polar bears and Grizzlies will kill you, mother bears will kill you, climb a tree they can't easily know over or run downhill like a mother fucker.   Some people may tell you to
roll into a ball and play dead.  With grizzlies and polars,
you’re fucked, personally I’d rather go down fighting.  If you act like a big predator there’s a small chance they will leave you alone.  It Doesn’t matter where you all, most
creatures will act cautiously if you show them your crazy.

On a slightly side note.  If you’re combating humans, a human or trying to run and hide in the woods, do not use a light source.   Let your eyes get used to the darkness and than move slowly if at all.  Bury yourself in leaves in a random spot.  Do unexpected things.

One Big Ass Dog.  If you don’t have a dog, bring someone that does.

Dog Back Pack

Food

Bowl

Treats

Leash

Dog Brush

Hunters Orange Bandana around their neck

______________________________


When you know or suspect you’re going to find a malevolent ghost.

Digital Camera, Video and Still.

Digital Voice Recorder for EVP.

Salt.

Sage.

Faith.

Depending on beliefs, religious/ spiritual jewelry

Atheists Not Recommended

Critters usually leave a place that’s haunted

So don’t plan on getting food from hunting.


_______________________________

Ghost Hunting Rules

Rule Number 1:  Do not let a dumb bitch that has no idea how to navigate lead you anywhere, let alone into a dangerous situation in the woods.


Rule Number 2:  Do not use electronic devices as your only source of navigation or light


Rule Number 3:  Always carry a sharp knife when you go into the woods


Rule Number 4:  Take someone with you that has been or is in the military.


Rule Number 5:  Your ever faithful canine companion can sense, hear and see things you cannot.  Trust them and protect them.  Get them on a leash when shit starts getting weird or it starts getting dark.


Rule Number 6:  Make a perimeter protective circle around your tent, well before sun down.  Include a large area, so that when you go to tinkle it’s included in the area.    Do this and make sure no one steps outside of it, no one should go missing.


Rule Number 7:  Have someone with a strong faith or spirituality bless the perimeter.  Use the sage.  Use the salt.  (Be careful with the sage if it’s extremely dry, I would recommend an incense holder on chains and a cone incense, so the sparks cannot catch the loose leaf on fire.  In the wrong climate, one burning ember can be devastating.  So be aware of the level of fire danger.


Rule Number 8:  If you’re at a camp ground where there are facilities, go when there are other people there or make a group trip before sleep.  Ghosts, poltergeist, etc don’t tend to care for being around the living and rarely haunt outhouses.


Rule Number 9:  Get the fire going before night fall.  Burn it hot and bright at first so that there are always hot coals in the fire pit.  If it’s raining, use the tarp to hold over yourself and the kindling/wood while you make it.  There is always dry kindling to be found if you're around trees, you may have to dig
for it, but it's there.  Pine cones make great kindling.

Rule Number 10:  If you hear your friend screaming for help… It’s almost inhuman to say do not run toward the screaming  If you can keep yourself from blindly running into the woods It’s a really good idea. Arm yourself first and stay together, than go after it.

Rule Number 11:  Unbelievers.  If there are no such thing as ghosts, be quiet, pay attention and be respectful.  Do your job and go home.  Be prepared to be wrong and if you are, don’t freak the fuck out.  You can rationalize it later.


Rule Number 12:  Keep your wits about you no matter what happens.  This is true in any situation.  Panic will only make a situation worse.


Rule Number 13:  Bring prerecorded exorcism, spirit cleansing, whatever works for you.  Though don’t let anything electronic be your beat all, end all plan.  They often go on the fritz around spirits.


Rule Number 14:  If malevolent ghosts DO exist, combat them with the opposite emotions:  Laughter, happiness.


Rule Number 15:  Never go anywhere alone.  (Outside of protective perimeter)

Don’t forget to be smart, don’t go into ruined buildings with ruined floors, you’re more likely going to end up with a broken leg or neck.  If you are so determined to find something that you disregard your safety and those around you, whatever could go wrong, already has.

The truth is that no one understand exactly what might cause the phenomenon of ghosts.  Sure it could be the spirits of the dead.  Maybe they’re just stories.  Many think that the ones that are filled with rage and hate are the pieces or echo’s of events
that stay behind when someone is murdered.   Perhaps it is even explainable within a science that we haven’t yet discovered.  Many times it has been reported to have been the puberty stricken teen that is causing telekinetic occurrences in the home, subconsciously hurting the ones they blame for issues or horrific abuse.

I’m a believer.  I don’t need specific answers myself, I just leave myself open to the Universe to teach me what it likes or to show me what it sees.  I like the fact that we don’t know everything, it keeps life interesting.

In Shamanism there is a term they use, called ‘Soul Loss.’  It happens during traumatic events:  car accidents, the death of a loved one, even relocating to a new home or job, it could even be a particularly exuberant sneeze.  We loose pieces of ourselves as we go along.  Those pieces can manifest in many ways, but often there is a feeling of emptiness like there is something missing
there.  It’s advised that you try to retrieve them.  I believe that’s behind the angrier ghosts out there.  Perhaps it is the piece of themselves they could not survive so they separate it and leave it behind.  We have been known to completely block out the memories that are too painful to remember, perhaps it is the lost parts of our soul that are too horrific bear.  Have you
ever looked into the eyes of someone who seemed to have no soul?  I think soul loss plays it’s part there too.

In the end whatever the cause of the manifestation, in general, they are consumed by anger, fear, fury, that is all they know and all they will ever be. You can combat them with strong happy memories of those you love, laughing at them.  Do the opposite of what the thing might expect and cover your ass with jewelry, symbols, even pictures of loved ones.  If you appear strong in the face of horror, it may show them a horror of their own.  
It’s possible that if you laugh at them, that they could just become more angry and kill everyone, but as far as I know there is no evidence that anyone has ever been murdered by a ghost, unless it was freight and a heart attack.   I’m only speaking of the malevolent spirits here.  I know of many people that have been ‘visited’ by loved ones when they die, before they know they’re dead.  There can be protective spirits as well, the types of ghosts are many.

Let me be the first to admit that I can easily start drowning in fear once it rears it’s head, it’s not easy to combat.  Especially if it’s dark, you don’t know where you are or where anyone else is and creepy ass shit is going down.  So
you can say things like, oh yeah, I got this, noooooo problem.  But when shit gets real and it looks like Casper is opening his mouth of razor sharp teeth right on your ass, well, even the GhostBusters had their rough days.  The fact is when you are in a dangerous situation, if you don’t keep your wits about
you, no matter what is happening, you’re more likely to make a mistake that could cost you and others their lives.  So keep it together and be the hero, have your creepy experience and get the fuck out!

GothWitch News Episode 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPhtv8uu9bw&feature=youtu.be