Want to connect with an animal spirit? This Salem workshop says it’ll teach you how.
“It’s not just about the spirits of the dead, but the spirits of the living."
Halloween lends itself to thoughts of the spirit world, and for those interested in animal spirits, an event in Salem says it’ll teach attendees how to contact them and connect with them.The Witch’s Familiar with Witchdoctor Utu, slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Omen in Salem, is part of the annual Festival of the Dead. General admission to the animal-spirit event is $75, according to its website.The workshop-style event will discuss witches’ familiars throughout history. It will also teach attendees how to connect with animals, including pets, spiritually, and how to call on their spirits for protection, according to the event’s website. Witchdoctor Utu will also help with contacting beloved pets who have passed on, it says.“The witch’s familiar is a very ancient concept, and while many people today associate it with actual animals, like your favorite pet, it’s really always been about spirits,” Christian Day, the founder of the festival and owner of Omen, said. “Sometimes the animal familiar is actually a spirit that takes the form of an animal.”Witchdoctor Utu uses animal parts and artifacts to help with the process, including bones and rabbits’ feet, according to Day. They have all been obtained humanely.It’s the third year of the event in Salem, Witchdoctor Utu said. Some people return each year, so the event is a little different each time.“There’s absolutely a lot of people that are longing after an animal that passed away,” he said, adding that part of the workshop is also focused on living animals and better connecting with them.Attendees can also learn how to pick up on the energy from animals around them, and perhaps learn to overcome animal fears, like snakes, Day said.“It’s not just about the spirits of the dead, but the spirits of the living,” he said.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com