Halloween Haunts: The House of Hallows Eve by Anthony Crowley

The month of October has always made me feel comforted, I recall during my childhood years the local residents of Warley County in the West Midlands would prepare and speak of exciting travelling funfairs as the Halloween season approached. Fond memories of freshly made cakes and toffee apples became a pastime which is still popular today. The change of season felt like a special homecoming.

The leaves would fall and mysterious looking trees would wither with the skyline turning grey, it was a Gothic inspiration to visualise. One of the earliest memories I have about Halloween was visiting my Grandfather’s house which was in walking distance so I didn’t have far to travel, but onwards into the journey I will never forget this large house on the street corner, reminded me of the “Bates Motel”. Many local children and some adults were very curious about the house and it’s resident. I remember during “Hallows Eve” I sneaked up to this haunting vision of a house and I was more curious and I jumped up to look into the window and I witnessed what looked like a laboratory, but which in fact was a preparation area for a local Witch. I could see many dust-filled bottles of mixtures and remedies and the strong scent of infused herbal concoctions drifting from the large wooden framed window. It was a very surreal moment of what I would’ve imagined it to be. I was more inspired and became even more inquisitive. Since that day it still inspired me initially to write about some forms of the reality within horror and literature and to learn more about various practices and scenarios which occurred over historical timelines. Below is an example of another initial inspiration which made Halloween for me “The Darkest Hour”.

England’s Darkest Hour

It wasn’t until the year 1563 that “Witchcraft or “Sorcery” became a punishment to the many of women, especially the elder generation or the poor. Pope Innocent VIII (circa 1484) condemned this speculative practice has an act of “heresy”.

During the years 1484- 1750 it is know that more than 200,000 lives were punished with the most brutal forms of execution, such as hanging, slowly tortured, and even burnt at the stake. Quite a saddened story it were for the poor women of these dark years, not having many resources and the everyday struggles made their appearances look somewhat unhealthy to their middle-class peers. During these tormented executions many of the convicted women were basically forced to confess they had involvement with “witchcraft” to ease their dire sufferings. “Thumb screws” and “leg irons” were just an example of these terrifying methods of torture. “Witchery” was another term for this practice that soon took over the British region of East Anglia between 1645-1646 and lasted for a duration of fourteen gruelling months under the control of an unsuccessful lawyer by the name of Matthew Hopkins (known widely as the ‘Witchfinder General’) During his infamous executing spree he ended the lives of 88 women and succeeded in one day alone of a monstrosity of 19 hangings. The speculation which gave Hopkins the power to end these poor lives was witnessing certain markings (which he called ‘devil markings’) which we know this present day as birthmarks and moles. The “Jabbing needle” was a much needed tool for his methods of madness, a three inch long spike inserted into the skin for a clear observation of insensitivity to the threshold of pain. Other methods of suspected witch-hunts included throwing a female into the nearby river and if she floated, she was found guilty of “Witchcraft.” Throughout the years ahead “witchcraft” has made its way into headlines on frequent occasions and will always have a powerful enduring effect on many of our lives, many of modern practices today have those elements which our ancestors of yesteryear feared and believed would cause strife and “black magic”. Lack of misunderstandings and knowledge could have possibly altered the path in how the world of “witchcraft” is today.  Finally I shall leave you with a dark poetic verse I wrote during late October 2013. This literary verse I wanted to play the role as the executed subject and feel the emotion and pain within as I always try to deliver whether in my poetry or fiction writings. This is ‘The Blackened Witch’ (featured in Sanitarium Magazine, issue 16-December 2013).

The Blackened Witch

I came upon this spiritual land for a chance to awaken new beginnings

My face and eyes are frosted pale ,since my innocent heart stopped forever beating

I am a shadow of my former self, enriched with words of divination and folklore

I believe in a higher destiny

A clearer path of thoughts and traditions of sorcery

The ‘Book of Shadows’ lay upon my illuminated and mystified altar

I draw down the wicked moon with wand in my hand

I am the forbidden priestess

Shall make my apocalyptic approach and I initiate thee I stand…

 

‘Pentacle of Love, Shine so bright’

Pentacle of fire, give me eternal light’

I invoke the damned, and I will evoke with no curse on me or shame

 

Magus of fire, reaches out to me within

Phallus of evil and desire, shields around like a serpents blessed penetrated skin

I open up like a crimson flower from another Wiccan world

My tempting chalice fills with goodness that I demand

 

The ritual has made me feel spiritually protected and attained

The general enters my circle and takes me in chrome weighted chains

I feel strong, yet weak, like a ghost in my veins

As I’m taken to my sentenced holy abode

A chilling chamber I leave ashamed

 

The fire rises higher, but a brightened doorway I can now clearly see

I sense strong burnt smoke and flaking sparkling ash

I have deep thoughts in myself, I am feared, but know my name

I am punished with the leathered whip of a lash

The general fears in denial to blame

 

I slowly drift now from this forsaken soil of Salem

I will live forever as one, my witchery of darkness shall appear again and again…

©ANTHONY CROWLEY copyrighted,2013

ANTHONY CROWLEY (born 1979, Birmingham in U.K). From a young age of 6, Anthony began to take an interest in English literature and Poetry from an early childhood. Then throughout his teenage years he studied music and achieving song-writing skills, whilst still creating his visions. He also achieved a diploma in creative writing with a college located in Oxford, England. Anthony has also written short stories for student newsletters, horror monthly’s and he is also a proud member of (HWA) Horror Writers Association and appears on the ‘A LIST’ of the IDPA (International Directory of Published Authors), NFAA (Non Fiction Authors Association). The present day Anthony Crowley is also a featured contributor to ‘Haunted after Dark’ with his very own dark haven of ‘Crowley’s Crypt’ and has written many works of literature & poetry for publications, such as Massacre Magazine, The Horror Zine, Sanitarium magazine, HelloHorror, Sub-Verse and Fiction Terrifica. Anthony Crowley has also appeared as an official Judge for the ‘British Horror Film Festival 2014’ and recently his forthcoming anthology of Horror tales ‘Doomsday after Midnight’ is nominated at the ‘AuthorsdB’ BOOK AWARDS 2014.

The dark verse of ‘The Fallen Angel’ featured in Sanitarium Magazine issue 14. The work itself was mentioned via a live radio podcast on the evening of Halloween 2013. The Devils Foot Soldier’ was another dark verse which was inspired by the ‘Slasher Icon’ movie of 2011 ‘The Orphan Killer’ which was positively recognised by the movies creators and the written piece is now featured at American based Blood Born Magazine several more features and frequent media interviews and being ranked as “one of the best Modern Authors in recent years” Horror-Web described him by the following statement ‘Anthony Crowley is one of the most prolific and talented authors of dark prose and poetry During a recent interview on the ‘Sinister Scribblings’ Mr Crowley has been placed amongst the likes of Poe, Lovecraft and Clarke Ashton Smith. Forthcoming Novella ‘The Mirrored Room’ was ranked in the ‘Semi-Finals’ at ‘AuthorsdB’ Book Awards of 2013,and ranked four times in the ‘Top 100’ list of popular Authors and not forgetting being a trending Author for many consecutive months and a featured Author on numerous literature and Horror themed websites and more.

Presently, Anthony Crowley has published best-selling Horror anthology ‘Tombstones’ which was described by US Horror podcast show ‘The Mouths of Madness’ as “Beautiful Dark Prose” and the introduction to a new dark series ‘The Black Diaries’ which is currently being introduced as a new edition paperback edited by Simon Marshall-Jones (Spectral Press) the old format had a few technical issues which were out of Mr Crowley’s hands, but the new edition shall be including a few additional extras. Anthony Crowley dubbed ‘the Master of Realities’ is always creating new and exciting projects within the subjects of speculative literature and Horror, Occult and Historic references. Anthony is currently residing in England.

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