Monday, April 02, 2007 Confessions of a former witch By Vincent Alocada
He lived a life characterized by comfort and affluence. Curiosity drove him to learn black magic and witchcraft. He felt the power. He used it---and abused it.
When the life he got used to took a 360-degree turn, he used it even more aggressively to protect himself and his loved ones and to vent out his anger to the world.
But everything is just a thing of the past for Michael "Mike" Vinco. The former witch who took pride in his dark power is now a humble servant of God. Instead of carrying the book of shadows (which I thought was only found in the TV series Charmed but turned out to be really existing, according to Mike), he now carries the Bible to share to the people the good news. Instead of casting spells, he now whispers a prayer.
Was he really a witch, I'm sure many people will ask. We hear stories of dramatic transformation from the bad side to the good side, but for someone to claim he was into witchcraft and had supernatural powers then becomes a preacher----well, it's really one for the books.
In the course of our interview at Langford Place one Saturday afternoon, Mike seemed uncomfortable and kept on glancing at someone at the back of where we were sitting.
Finally, he asked me if I knew the person sitting at the back of our table considering that I'm a habitué of the place. I turned back, turned to him again and said no.
"He's getting inside me. He's confused. He has a problem and if he doesn't follow the advice of his aunt who I think is a pastor, he will have a crucial life," he explained.
With the help of Al, the owner of Langford who has this habit of befriending his customers, we got to know the guy and guess what?
Mike was right. A sheer coincidence? Maybe yes, maybe not.
But read the entirety of this interview first before passing judgment or jumping into conclusion.
After reading, decide whether you think this confession is really made by an ex-witch or simply a hoax.
But whether you believe what Mike claims about his past or not, may you not doubt how the power of God has worked wonders in his present life.
VA: How would you describe your life before your parents died?
MV: I would say I had a life of "I get what I want". I can still recall I would wake up in the morning and my breakfast was already ready and my school uniform had already been ironed. I had a lot of leisure time for myself. Money was easy. I would sell my high grades to my dad.
VA: What caused their death?
MV: My dad was murdered by a drug pusher in December of 1998. My mom died of complications due to her various ailments in November 2000.
VA: What pushed you to practice witchcraft?
MV: Actually, it was during my fourth year in high school that I got interested in witchcraft. I thought it was just one of those kids' stuff. So, during my first year college in UP-Visayas, I had this research subject where I was free to choose any subject for my research. So, I took witchcraft as a subject to be researched about. I told myself I wouldn't be a good researcher if couldn't prove anything about my subject so I came to the point of really working on some spells I came across with. At first, I just had fun with it. But when the worst tragedy of my life came, I began to use it to take revenge, to protect me, my younger brother and younger sister----because I'm the eldest, to make money through palm reading and giving some spells to restrain unfaithful husbands from cheating against their wives, to gain fame by using love spells and to control or attack people.
VA: How did you learn it?
MV: I learned those things by just following the protocols of each spell written in the books I had before.
VA: What was the first thing you did when you already knew how to use your powers?
MV: The first thing I tried was using a love spell.
VA: Can you be more specific?
MV: Like by using the pictures of two parties, some red ribbons and red thread.
VA: What kind of powers did you have?
MV: They were destructive.
VA: I mean, could you fly, throw fireballs, levitate....
MV: In my witchcraft days, I had, as far as I can remember, only two frustrations. The first was, I couldn't let a broomstick fly so that I could ride it. The second was, I couldn't transform myself into a cat or any form of animal. I used my powers to make myself more attractive in a form of illusion especially when I wanted people to take notice of me. And if I wasn't in the mood, I would cast a spell that would make people ignore my presence. I used to be effective in what is called "sympathetic magic". It's a typical practice and a good example is where one would strike a doll with a needle and a person would feel like stricken by a pin if he's the target.
VA: Describe how you used your powers.
MV:I just used them whenever I felt like using them.
VA: In what instances for example?
MV: When I got pissed off because of what someone did, I would usually get back at him or her because I used to believe that life is fair, that it's just the people around you that can make life unfair. My motto was "Don't get mad, get even."
VA: What were the things you had to do before using your powers?
MV: First, I had to make sure I knew what I really wanted and that there shouldn't be turning back. Like in making decisions, power, once released, you can't take it back or cancel it. Second, I had to be willing to take consequences of the things I'd be doing.
VA: Did you also use candles or herbs like in the series "Charmed"?
MV: Yeah.
VA: How did you benefit from your powers?
MV: I took control of the events in my life and the people around me during those times.
VA: What was the worst thing you did to someone by using your powers?
MV: Killed someone? I wish that was just a coincidence."
VA: Why did you do it?
MV: He was simply irritating to my senses.
VA: Can you elaborate?
MV: Before, I easily got annoyed with people who were stubborn. And then, when I wanted them stop and then they still continued, then, that would be the time for me to take actions.
VA: How did you know he died?
MV: A common acquaintance of ours told me.
VA: Why did you decide to stop practicing witchcraft?
MV: When I realized that I was playing God when I'm not and never will be.
VA: How did the realization happen?
MV: I just got tired one day. I thought, at the beginning, that by using witchcraft, I'd be happier. But I was wrong.
VA: Was it easy to let go?
MV: Yes, but keeping it out my senses is not easy.
VA: How would you describe your life now?
MV: Peaceful and fulfilled.
VA: What gives you peace and fulfillment?
MV: I have peace since I got to realize that there are things that are beyond my control and that all I need to do is to trust God. I used to be a control freak. I wanted to be in control of everything, especially those things involving me.
VA: What happened to your powers?
MV: I have given them up for a greater one."
VA: What do you mean?
MV: I have given it up to my God. Since I found out that the world and my powers couldn't give me the peace I wanted, I became willing to give up those powers.
VA: What made you decide to share your story to the public after I asked you to? Aren't you afraid that those who read this will laugh at you, call you a liar or disillusioned?
MV: I decided to share my story because I know there are a lot of people who are fascinated with supernatural powers. Little knowledge of power with the want to use it is dangerous. What you don't know will hurt you. It's ignorance. Just like what happened to my aunt. She was a faith healer but she died of breast cancer. I believe that anything that is not sanctioned by God will never be God's responsibility. But if He sanctioned it, then He's responsible for it. Afraid that people will laugh at me? No. As what Jesus said in John 15:20-21 'Remember the word I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will yours too. But these things they will do to you for my name's sake because they do not know Him who sent me.'
In the first place, those who would laugh don't even care and don't even REALLY know me. I would go all the way to that someone WHO took my place TO DIE FOR ME and be a laughing stock than turn my back on that PERSON and walk away and not to be laughed at."
VA: What would you like to tell those people saying that you are not a credible preacher because you still have the traces of your past, especially with how you talk and dress?
MV: You can't judge a book by its cover. It's just like a scar. There's a trace but it doesn't have wounds. Change is a process. And God is able to complete it as Philippians 1: 6 says. These traces can testify where I was before.
VA: Final question: Why should we believe everything you say?
MV: It's an opportunity to tell the truth. The truth sets us free.
NOTE: Mike is currently a preacher, not a pastor, of God is Good Church in La Paz.
