Occultists recharge during celestial event

Composite image of Lunar eclipse over Tokyo—AFP

Occultists joined stargazers in witnessing the super blue blood moon in the Visayas on Wednesday night.

The occultists took the opportunity to “renew their powers” during the rare celestial event, though most of them performed rituals in private.

One occultist in Siquijor province, identified only as Luz, recited an “oracion” (prayer). She said this year’s celestial phenomenon would make her herbs and “gayuma” (love potion) potent.

In Diliman, Quezon City, more than a thousand stargazers trooped to the Pagasa Astronomical Observatory on the University of the Philippines campus where telescopes were made available for free.

Families, couples and groups of friends laid out mats on the grassy hill outside, with the observatory’s roof deck teeming with enthusiasts, photographers and amateurs alike.

Largest turnout

Mario Raymundo, chief of the Pagasa Astronomical Observation and Time Service Unit, said the crowd was the largest to turn out at the observatory in recent years.

In Albay province, people displaced by the erupting Mt. Mayon gasped in delight as an orange full-moon eclipse shone above the volcano’s smoldering crater in what was both a once-in-a-lifetime double spectacle and a rare moment of relief.

At schools in Ligao and Guinobatan towns where hundreds of refugees from the volcano were crammed, up to 80 in each classroom, children and adults alike squealed as the moon first took on a spectacular crimson hue.

“I feel happy seeing the moon but also nervous especially now that the volcano is erupting,” Richel Toledo, a 38-year-old pig raiser, told Agence France Presse (AFP).

“I don’t understand if this is some kind of mystery that is unfolding,” Toledo added.

Beautiful, scary

For superstitious farmers who fled Mayon’s wrath, some viewed the celestial spectacle as a bad omen as they fret about the crops and livestock they had to leave behind.

“It’s scary because this happened along with the volcano’s eruption,” Helen Ocbian, 38, told AFP inside one of the classrooms in Ligao.

Others simply reveled in the moon’s beauty. “It’s huge and bright. It’s exciting to see. God created this beautiful moon and the volcano,” said farmer Jose Almesolano, 75, who took shelter at a school in nearby Guinobatan town.

Rituals, crystals

In Bohol province, one of those who performed rituals to renew his powers was Edward Guyano, 47.

Guyano gathered his crystals and other gems for cleansing and blessing. “The super blue blood moon is both extremely rare and extremely potent,” he said.

At 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Guyano went outside his house at Barangay Poblacion in Lila town to thank and appreciate Mother Nature.

 ‘Master Owl’

While Guyano was performing a ritual in solitude, his friend who identified himself as Master Owl was also performing a ritual with other five believers  in Tagbilaran City.

Master Owl said his group had gathered for some serious introspection.

After offering a prayer, Guyano left his crystals and other gemstones outside to allow the moonlight to shine on the stones.

The light of the moon would cleanse the stones of the negative energy it absorbed from people and environment, he said.

Stones  ‘recharged’

“The stones were recharged,” Guyano said after he collected the stones past 10 p.m.

He said it was also an opportunity to pray for healing after he suffered a stroke last year.

“It has a special energy especially when it’s a rare blood moon eclipse. This rare event is used for honoring and celebrating life,” Master Owl explained. —WITH A REPORT FROM AFP