Wiccans channel Michael Jackson at Sullivan seance

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By Stephen Sacco
Times Herald-Record
Posted: October 31, 2009 - 2:00 AM
CALLICOON CENTER — On Thursday night, as the mist was beginning to fill the air, five Wiccan witches gathered to hold a seance on top of a mountain in an old, remote farmhouse in Sullivan County. They were there to channel the spirit of pop star Michael Jackson, who died in June.

Incense filled the air inside the house, and some of Jackson's favorite things — a plate of vegetarian Mexican food, a bowl of peanut M&M's and a glass of Perrier — had been carefully placed next to a picture of Jackson draped with a purple cloth.

In answer to the "Wizard of Oz" question, the witches present said they were good witches; none of them, they joked, had warts. They explained that Wicca was a federally recognized religion that worships Earth Mother and Sky Father, acknowledges the truths in other religions and is about love of nature.

Wiccans believe during Halloween the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. They also believe Halloween is the one time of year the dead can taste food.

Carol Bulzone, co-owner of the Broomstick, a magic supply store in Liberty, and owner of the magic store Enchantment in New York City, began by channeling energy through a sword — metal conducts energy, she explained later — in order to form a circle to ward off bad spirits. The witches then joined hands sitting at a table. Paula Forester, the other co- owner of the Broomstick, began to speak for Jackson. She said she was channelling him.

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