Author: L. A. Maciel

L. A. Maciel doesn't do “normal” very well. After dropping out of college twice, she has decided to do the things that make her happy, which isn’t exactly financially sound. Growing up the youngest of four to poor immigrant parents, Maciel noticed she had a different way of doing things when kids started treating her like a rotting tomato (she firmly believes tomatoes are poisonous, keep those red fruits away, please…). Since she only had a few friends, she turned to books and comic books for companionship. Falling in love with fictional characters and worlds she wished were real. Now, she is working on actually writing down her stories and living her weird truth. Her personal tagline explains her life to the T: “Writer and trier of weird things.”
Skull - Occult
Demonology, Experts, Gothic History, L.A. Maciel, Pagan, Stereotypes & Misconceptions, The Bible, The Monsters, Witch

Witch’s Corner: A Brief History of the Devil, Demons, and Witchcraft

Devil, demons, and witchcraft are three things that we absolutely enjoy over at Gothic Bite, and our amazing witch, L.A. Maciel, is tackling the overall subject!

Ah…The Good Ole Burning Times!

The silvery light of the full moon shines down on a circle of nude people, dancing hand-in-hand around a bonfire. From the flames comes a being with the head of a horned goat on a man’s body, where its feet should be are hooves… 

This is a typical scene when you look into the history of the Witch Hunts of Europe or if you’re part of the Neopagan movement, The Burning Times. 

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Crystal
Experts, L.A. Maciel, Pagan

What Is The Broom Closet? And Why Is It A Thing?

Broom Closet: a term used by the Pagan community for those who haven’t yet revealed their religion to others.

 Fear Of The Unknown

Quite a few years ago, I got an Awen tattoo on my index finger. When I returned to work a week later, a fellow employee—who was a Christian and was kind to me (before this incident)—asked what it stood for. 

When I told them it was a symbol for inspiration and divine illumination for poets, writers, artists, and creatives, they asked about God [Christian God] and what I believed. She interrogated me, and I felt I couldn’t be honest, so I said whatever she wanted me to say, and I’ve been trying to hide my tattoos ever since.

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Pagan - Altar - Witchcraft
Experts, Folklore, Gothic History, L.A. Maciel, Magic, Occult, Pagan, The Bible

The Witch’s Corner with L.A. Maciel

Welcome to our new weekly segment with L.A. Maciel and The Witch’s Corner! Here, you’ll find answer to questions about witchcraft you never thought about before!

A Witch’s Introduction

There’s a common phrase amongst writers that are writing about ourselves is difficult. I would have to agree. And it’s not just the concept of feeling narcissistic in this case.

It’s about self-preservation. You see, I am a witch. Well, I’m a pantheist pagan with animistic leanings, but I still practice witchcraft in one of its many forms. And this reality can cause problems.

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L. A. Maciel2 Comments
Cemetery
Death, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, L.A. Maciel, Pagan, Phobias

Why Death Positivity is Important

 “The movement seeks to eliminate the silence around death-related topics, decrease anxiety surrounding death, and encourages more diversity in end of life care options available to the public.” — Wikipedia

Life Is Impermanent

I was initially going to write an article on “green funerals,” but I thought I’d do something different. You see, I can rant for hours about all the different ways you can handle your body after you die.

How to plan your funeral before you die, and so on. However, I think it would be beneficial to talk about why I find the Death Positivity Movement so important.

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L. A. Maciel5 Comments
Watch The Dead Files on Travel Channel
Experts, Ghost, Haunting, L.A. Maciel, Movies - TV, Reviews, The Monsters

Dead Files

An investigative series that pairs Steve DiSchiavi, a retired Homicide Detective with the New York City Police Department with more than twenty-one years of active service with psychic communicator Amy Allan who has an established sixth sense and an affinity for channeling the dead. The partners explore each case on their own and then link up at the end to compare notes. — IMDB Continue reading Dead Files

L. A. Maciel1 Comment