Guest Witches & Wizards

C๏sʍ๏cast ★121 @najesh_and_artisoko 🇨🇭
Release date: September 22 | 2021
Label: @cosmovisionrecords
Artwork by : https://www.instagram.com/luna.lingua/
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About this mix:
Sometimes, and in current times even more, it is difficult to look ahead and pursue your visions. Najesh & Artišoko tell in this mix about the feeling of hope, not giving up, setting new visions and reconciling with the unachieved. The two Swiss girls say "It's very important for us to thank the producers for their magical tracks that made it possible for us that this mix sounds like it sounds and can tell exactly this mood, we thank you: Lange Brise, Kerala Dust, Daniel Imhof, Coss, Judith Ahrends, Umami & Headwaters, Katabtu, Apaj, Theo Gramal, Farry, Feinheitsbrei, Planet Caravan, Oceanvs Orientalis, El Mundo, Zazou, Beije, Solstice, Lea Luxanima, Juan, Zuma Dionys, Cahelo, Ouhana, Bisu, Deep Ändi, Vedanta, CharlieM, Jonas Saalbach, Enchanted Kids and Emily Zuzik. And a very special Thank to Henning Riez for the mastering, and Cosmovision records for the invitation.“
Abrazos Naja & Nadia aka @@najesh_and_artisoko
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Close friends for many years, sharing the same passion for music, one ear for bass and the other for highs, complement each other. We love harmonies and the fusion of tracks. Electronic music has been with us for a long time, but it wasn't until May 2019 that we sat down at the controllers and gave our passion a platform to be fully lived out. Our hearts beat faster with the sounds of downtempo, slowtech and ketapop. Our dedication to telling our stories is possible thanks to all the producers who create such wonderful tracks. 
@najesh_and_artisoko 
https://www.facebook.com/najeshandartisoko
https://www.instagram.com/najesh_and_artisoko/
⋘ ────── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ────── ⋙
➤ Connect with Us:
SC: @cosmovisionrecords
Youtube : bit.ly/36ZITqw
FB: www.facebook.com/cosmovisionrecords/
Insta: www.instagram.com/cosmovisionrecords/
BC: cosmovisionrecords.bandcamp.com/music
Spotify: spoti.fi/2OIxXpp

C๏sʍ๏cast ★ 121 | Najesh & Artišoko | Catching the forsight

Our next journey into the world of downtempo comes from the up-and-coming artists @ueberhaupt_ausserdem. They are known for many of their own productions, which have been released on relevant labels in recent months. 

Their sound is strongly reminiscent of classic deep house, although of course the whole thing takes place at a reduced speed. The tracks in the podcast tie in seamlessly with their previous output and it is a pleasure to listen to their flow over 90 minutes.

Come and dive into the deep sea where the whales usually hunt.

down.cast °54 mit Überhaupt & Außerdem

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚠
𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎
𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚎
𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚘
𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚕𝚘𝚠
𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠
𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚠
𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚠.
~𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠

A tale told for you by three slow seashells.

• https://soundcloud.com/dreiradfahrt •
       Rituals Tape •40

•dreiradfahrt•

Dreiradfahrt - Rituals Tape •40

Der Macher in uns

In jedem von uns steckt ein Macher. Mal wird dieser Charakteristik mehr Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt und entsprechende Entfaltungsmöglichkeit eingeräumt, dann mal wieder weniger. Doch was zeichnet diese Qualität nun konkret aus?
In erster Linie ist es der zielgerichtete Einsatz persönlicher Ressourcen. Mit einer Kraftanstrengung wird ein, wie auch immer geartetes Ziel angestrebt und bei vorhandener Durchführungskompetenz und dem nötigen Durchhaltevermögen, schlussendlich auch erreicht. Die größte Hürde in diesem Prozess ist erst einmal der Anfang. Alle Zweifel, Sorgen und destruktiven Gedanken müssen beiseite geschoben und der erste Schritt getan werden. Hat man diese Phase überwunden beginnt die eigentlich Arbeit. Nun werden nach und nach alle nötigen Schritte zur Zielerreichung bewerkstelligt und der gewünschte Output, aus den investieren Materialen herausgearbeitet. Normalerweise treten innerhalb dieser produktiven Schaffensphase Widerstände und unvorhergesehene Probleme auf. Kommt man einen dieser Punkte, muss neu evaluiert werden, wie dieses Problem sich lösen lässt. Anschließend kann es dann weiter gehen. 
Der Macher in uns hat Biss und lässt sich nicht entmutigen. Zeitweise ist er der Verzweiflung nahe, doch mit seinem Ziel vor Augen ist aufgeben keine realistische Option. Besonders in einem Team lassen sich die Macher-Qualitäten am besten entfalten. Also ran den Speck.

Heute ist der aufstrebende Musik Produzent und Live Act Cedric Scheibel auf KataHaifisch zu Gast. Dieses Mal beehrt uns der Frankfurter Musiker mit einem Podcast anstatt eines Tracks. Sein Set für KataHaifisch ist sowohl harmonisch, als auch mit Liebe zum Detail konzipiert. Der gekonnte Einsatz von Vocals an genau den richtigen Stellen, sowie die Lockerheit der Instrumente und Harmonien kreieren eine atmosphärische Einheit des Klangs. Man kann dieser Musik stundenlang andächtig lauschen und Raum und Zeit um sich herum vergessen. Dieser Podcast ist zeitlose Kunst, welche die Frequenzmagie durch das Ohr hinein in Herz & Seele zaubert. 


✨Cedric Scheibel
SC: https://soundcloud.com/cedricscheibel

✨KataHaifisch
SC: @katahaifisch

Artwork:
✨ finnish
SC: @finnishhh

✨Free Download

KataHaifisch Podcast 251 - Cedric Scheibel

On the eve of the Spring equinox, Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 9-year old witch apprentice) kissed good night to Lalita, the nymph who is the protectress of the little oak tree.  This young tree is only 3 feet high, but is destined to live for 1000 years and become the future mother tree of the witch’s forest.  Actually, the March equinox is a very special moment for the nymph, as she arrived exactly 2 years ago in the witch’s forest in Flanders, after an epic 2-year walk all the way from the far end of the Malayan peninsula in South-East Asia.  So, after her evening yoga session, the nymph didn’t go to sleep as she had other plans.  She gently woke up the family of badgers (who live in an elaborate network of tunnels around the little oak tree) and they got to work.  Lalita had collected immaculately white sand and pitch-black charcoal and asked the badgers to draw patterns around the little tree with these 2 materials.  The animals couldn’t see what they were drawing in the dark night, so they drew all kinds of mystic symbols by simply following their instinct.  They worked frenetically all night long and it was only in the first morning light that they finally could see what they had been drawing all the time.  Magically, the white sand and the charcoal had arranged itself in mesmerizing geometrical pattens, like circles, triangles and octagons.  Exactly at that moment Hekske and Falke arrived at the scene and they were awestruck by this beautiful and elaborate black & white figure.  Lalita explained that this is a yantra, a magical maze of geometrical patterns with many hidden layers, and with the little oak tree right in the middle… the holy ‘bindu’ point.  The girls held a morning yoga session around the yantra and after that, Hekske and Lalita walked barefoot over the yantra until they could touch each other, with the tiny oak in between them.  They looked each other in the eyes … the bright green eyes of the little European witch locking with the intense black eyes of the Asian nymph.  After a few minutes, they raised their right hands and laid it on the chest of the other woman… the milk white skin of the witch touching the golden brown skin of the nymph, feeling their mutual heartbeats.  All the animals and birds who came to watch this ceremony, held their breath.  Then the girls started to move around in circles around the little tree.  First it was just a slow shuffle, but gradually they reached a state of ecstasy and whirled like dervishes around the future mother tree in increasingly fast circles.  Finally, they spun out of control and fell down.  After the dust had settled, they saw that the black charcoal and white sand had arranged itself into a new circular pattern… yin yang …

Witchtape #119 | Guest Witches : Yin Yang (Musiphile & Iris Anahata)

https://soundcloud.com/yinyangberlin
https://soundcloud.com/musiphile
https://soundcloud.com/iris_anahata
https://soundcloud.com/yantraflow

Witchtape #119 | Yin Yang (Iris Anahata & Musiphile)

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https://soundcloud.com/fuzeman
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https://soundcloud.com/ener-music
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artwork @sarabubamara THANK YOU <3
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mastering @emmrichmusic THANK YOU <3
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thanks 2 all listeners 🙏❤️🙏
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cedd fuze & éner - deep & smooth #123

firgun | Something Slow 0131
https://soundcloud.com/firgun_berlin

Track List:

Pillars - Bernstein
Diametral - Hülshoff, Herrhausen, Treindl
Haul - Christian Löffler feat. Mohna
Magistratusverordnung - Ryan haeng
Égalité - GYRL (sample)
Nock - Wilde See, (Noema Edit)
Herr Lüdecke - mytripismytrip, Nixe
Túnel - Nada
Reflection - katabtu
Luv Machine - Zoe Reijue
Tender Touch - Bliz Nochi
Homo homini lupus - ele
Blutmond - Landhouse, (Deep Ändi Remix)
Rising Tides - Ouhana, Urem, (Nathan Hall Remix)
Brume - Lange Briese
Vanishing Point - Closer Apart
Sable Noir - AVEM
Bautizo Gitano - andshe, Monoabe
Toic - Matildoutz
Verlorenes Signal - NULL
Katharsis - Alex Kaminski
Departure - Lee Jones, Judith Ahrends, (kaempe Remix)
Tapete voador - Xique-Xique
Dulcis - apaj
closer - gázel

firgun | Something Slow 0131

Youtube Video : 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsi6v_5B7Ks&t=2s

I have been invited to Diwan Fm Radio to Talk about out Label @nahawind and Electronic Music..

So what's Downtempo ?
nowadays, this musical style has evolved so much that it can no longer be defined according to a rhythm or a special scale. It now contains Jazz, Oriental or Indie influences, and more..

I concocted this mix with tracks from the best downtempo artists I know to whom I pay tribute. This is a Tour into the différents Styles of downtempo.

Enjoy

@dandaramusic @antaares @arkaykoo @batu-ozer @sydneyseymour @ditolove @niju-1 @benoir @apaj_duc @pshiuu @airka-paris @@konchord @munomusic @paaxtulum
Thanks for the music <3

Vodoomix #11 - A Slow Tour [19.11]

We proudly present our next guest in the chameleoncast series Otto Schillerd.

Deep, deep down the rabbit hole. Groove after groove Otto invites us further into hypnotic states. Slow and well designed progressions make the tracks blend into each other. Layers unfold and suck you in bit by bit.

⎯⎯⎯⎯ say moini to our friends ⎯⎯⎯⎯

@ottoschillerd
www.instagram.com/ottoschillerd/

Artwork @o-ta-ra
Mastering @bisu-andyou

Otto Schillerd

chameleon #53 - Otto Schillerd

dearest friends,

Our #107 episode of our Kollektiv.Liebe Podcasts is waiting for you. 💖🤩
We got our last episode of the your from the Bern based music lover @jola-luz who has created this very soulful and dreamy mix for us.

Enjoy this journey 🔊🎶💓

Artwork: Hermann Wirt - hwirt.de
---------------------------------------------------------------
Jola Luz
https://soundcloud.com/jola-luz

Kollektiv.Liebe Podcast:
soundcloud.com/kollektiv-liebe/sets/kollektiv-liebe-podcast
www.facebook.com/kollektivliebe/

Afterglow

Jola Luz - Afterglow | Kollektiv.Liebe Podcast#107

narfux [at] Beate Uwe [ LIVE-SPECIAL ]

Recording date: 6.11.22
Venue: Beate Uwe

https://soundcloud.com/narfux is joining our LIVE-SPECIAL series (https://soundcloud.com/afterhour-sounds/sets/live-special) straight from the fabolous berlin based club https://soundcloud.com/beateuwe. Enjoy the recording.

• What are your musical influences? What is your musical background?

I dont "come" from a musical background, in my child hood music wasn't a very present aspect in my life and now it is what I dedicate my moments to. Sound is what interests me, the daily life sound, the sounds that hold invitations to deepen your moments, the sounds that make my inner and outer world move with curiosity, sounds for the deep listener. 

Opening Traktor for the first time in 2019 when in hospital with help from a dear beloved, I was made aware on such a deep level the ability of healing which comes from outworldy expresion through sound. From that point on the rabbit hole of wonder continues.

 

• What makes good "afterhour"?

A good afterhour for me are the moments of deep surrender, filled with Gratitude for the present. Being surrounded by and experiencing it with loving beings in softness, cheekiness and love. Lets pour some tea and listen to some melting ambient together, or lay in the sun listening to the wind in the trees, lets laugh and celebrate eachother. 

 • Do you have any thoughts you would like to share about your set?

I had the impulse to play the same track at the start and at the end, to hold the journey with the message of Love. This for me, is what I wish to convey in all my musical journeys. 

 
• What was your experience of the set you recorded?

Beate Uwe is one of my beloved home bases, so playing here is always a heart expansion. Watching the bodies flowing and moving on all different levels was and is such a joy, I was in awe at the beauty of it all. It is such an honour to play for you and to share this experience together. The last track moment has imprinted on me, an invitation into stillness it was beautiful to witness the embraces of self and others.

______________________________

© artwork by Jim aka Bock&Fuchs ➲ contact ✉info@bockundfuchs.com

Text by arkadiusz. 

______________________________

✘ Artist: narfux (Berlin // Germany)
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/narfux
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/narfux_/

Download & Support

narfux [ at ] Beate Uwe [ Live-Special ]

On a sunny day in February, Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 10-year old witch apprentice) were flying over the green mountains of Sri Lanka. The witches had been sent by Lalita, the tree nymph and It was the first time the girls saw this stunning island. And the rolling hills were as beautiful as Lalita had described them. As the girls climbed higher and higher through the valley, the landscape gradually changed as the hills were now covered by bright green bushes. When they saw a girl in a long white dress waving at them, the witches decided to go and greet her. They gently touched down in the middle of the greenery, where they received a warm welcome hug by a teenage girl with a golden skin and sparkling black eyes. She introduced herself as Yohani, and showed the way to her little cottage in the middle of the tea plantation, where she prepared some delicious tea with fresh leaves from the estate. It was the first time Hekske and Falke drank tea, and it was the most exquisite beverage they had ever tasted. 
This place was a true garden of Eden, full with colorful flowers like hibiscus and bougainvillea, while the air was filled with the strong scent of spices like cinnamon and cardamom. And there were bird sounds everywhere, with babblers, bulbuls and drongos singing their most beautiful songs on this beautiful day.
In the late afternoon, Hekske and Falke noticed a flutter of crimson rose butterflies which were all flying in one particular direction. Yohani explained that these butterflies were doing their annual migration to Sri Pada, the sacred mountain. The girls decided to follow the butterflies and hours later they arrived at the foot of the towering mountain, which is also named ‘Samanala Kanda’ (or ‘mountain of the butterflies’). Yohani showed them the way to a pristine waterfall. According to the tradition, a ritual bath must be taken before ascending the mountain. This was easily the purest water they had ever felt on their skin and they took a long time before completing their natural bath. Then they were ready for the climb. In the moon-lit night sky they could see the towering silhouette 1800 meters above them. The path was very narrow, with steps being carved out in the rock. Yohani explained that there are 5500 steps to climb. Luckily there were many fire flies illuminating the steep path. The girls climbed for hours and hours, until they had reached the clouds where the air became very cold and damp. Meanwhile, the path had become narrower and steeper, while they climbed above the clouds. It was almost dawn, and the girls reached the summit when the very first ray of sunlight kissed the top of the mountain. There was a small temple with a mysterious footprint on the ground. It was clear that this was no ordinary footprint. It felt as if a man had come from the heavens and this was the place where he had set foot on planet earth for the first time. Yohani explained that this mountain is also named Adam’s Peak, as some people believe that Adam touched down from heaven on this mountain top. But other people think the footprint is from the Buddha or from Shiva.
Just at that moment Falke looked towards the west where a magical spectacle unfolded… the pyramid-shaped shadow of the mountain became visible on the clouds. It was a moment of pure awe, which was only interrupted when Yohani rang the big ceremonial bell. She explained that this bell needs to be rung by everybody who completes the pilgrimage to this sacred mountain, but there’s a catch : the pilgrimage can only be considered complete after returning home safely, so one is only allowed to ring this bell from the second ascent onwards. At that moment, Hekske and Falke promised to Yohani that they would come back for a new pilgrimage next year … and ring the bell of Sri Pada …

Connect with the artist :
https://soundcloud.com/madeesha-pathirage

Photo credits : Dmytro Buianskyi

Witchtape #164 | Guest Wizz : Madeesha Pathirage

It was February and nature was slowly awakening for the spring. Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 10-year old witch apprentice) were making their daily inspection round of the forest, when a beech tree drew their attention. It was one of these trees which was being embraced by an ivy creeper. Hekske and Falke tuned in to the trees, which – as always - was a long process and it took over 2,5 hours. Then they got the message. So far, both the beech tree and the ivy enjoyed their close cohabitation, but now the tree was complaining that he was getting kinda suffocated by the creeper. After taking the request, Hekske asked permission from the ivy tree to do some emergency pruning. The creeper was very sorry for the discomfort and agreed to get pruned in order to help her friend. Falke ran to the central clearing and returned with a cheeky grin and with the pruning shears which a ranger had left behind a couple of years ago (actually, the very last ranger who had tried to enter the witch’s forest). The girls chuckled when they remembered how much fun it had been to chase the hapless ranger out of their forest. 
Hekske took the pruning scissors and cautiously started to cut into the beautiful ivy tree. She smiled when she found an empty nest with a perfect shape. This was clearly the nest of the dunnocks who managed to raise 3 chicks last summer. Then the little witch pruned the creeper close to the ground … where she saw something unusual, which she had never noticed before. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was a stone statue. At first it wasn’t clear how this statue looked like, but gradually – after chipping away some more leaves - it became clear that it was a statue of an angel … and strangely it appeared to be glowing softly. The witches had never seen such a thing and got very curious. Falke lovingly caressed the stone statue, and to her surprise it didn’t feel cold at all. On the contrary, it was very pleasant to touch. It felt like a living thing and after a few more caresses the statue started to emit a pulsating light, just like a heartbeat. Hekske and Falke watched this bewildering spectacle with great eyes, and were curious to find out what would happen next …


Connect with the artist : 
https://soundcloud.com/h_eder_a
https://www.instagram.com/h_eder_a/

Photo credits : Mojahata

Witchtape #165 | Guest Witch : Hedera

Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 10-year old witch apprentice) finally arrived in Iceland, after a long, windy and icy flight over the North Atlantic Ocean. After touching down near the coast, the witches got a warm welcome by 3 Eldnorns (Icelandic fire witches) who had been waiting for them in the desolate landscape of solidified lava. Hekske and Falke were soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold, so they were absolutely overjoyed when the Eldnorns showed them the way to a hot spring. They all slipped out of their frozen dresses and waded into the hot water. Hekske immediately felt her frozen feet warm up, followed by her undercooled lower legs, then her thighs before dipping her whole body into the hot water. The heat came from all directions and gradually penetrated into the deepest parts of her body and soul. She opened her eyes, and saw that Falke had closed her eyes and had a blissful smile on her face. They stayed in the water for a really long time, until the eldest Eldnorn called them out of the water.
After drying their bodies and long hair, the Icelandic witch gave Hekske & Falke two Eldnorn dresses, which were white and long and with the typically fiery orange patterns at the bottom. Putting on an Eldnorn dress is always a very special ritual and the Flemish witches suddenly felt an unknown yet very pleasant force penetrate her body after donning this dress. 
After this ceremony, the girls took off and followed the Eldnorns in Northeastern direction, where they saw a column of thick black smoke in the distance. After coming closer, they realized there was a large fissure in the earth and lava was spewing out of the deepest depths over the full length of the crack. The girls looked in awe at this fiery spectacle, before the Icelandic witches flew away towards a little lake, where they gently touched down.
In a matter of seconds, the witches were surrounded by a thunder of dragons. Hekske and Falke looked in awe at these beautiful yet fearsome creatures. The Eldnorn witches explained that this used to be the group of Sigríður, the dragon tamer who sadly passed away a couple of years ago, after being a dragon master since the days of Snorri Sturluson, some 800 years ago. Since that day, the dragons had become a bit listless as they missed their mistress. But today, the dragons were in an ebullient mood, especially when Falke started to talk to them in a language which was completely unknown. The dragons looked at the little witch with sparkling eyes, and soon they sat in a circle around Falke, who calmly patted and caressed each and every dragon while whispering sweet words into their ears.
The Eldnorns were dumbfounded when looking at this spectacle. Since the passing of Sigríður, the dragons had never been in such a frisky mood. Apparently, they had found a new mistress. One of the Eldnorns flew away and came back a few minutes later with a black leather dress. She handed it over to Falke while explaining that this was Sigríður’s attire. Falke put on the dress, and to everybody’s amazement, it was a perfect fit (which is quite amazing giving the fact that Sigríður was really tall, while Falke is still pretty tiny). After she put on this dress, the dragons became even more lively and they all hugged and kissed Falke, trying their best not to scorch her by accident. The dragons were so enthusiastic that one of them took Falke on her back before taking off for a fun flight over the nearby volcanoes and glaciers. 
Finally the new dragon tamer had come …

Connect with the artist : 
https://soundcloud.com/weareeternalmusic

Photo credits : Ironika (Irina Alexandrovna)

Witchtape #166 | Guest Wizz : We Are Eternal

After staying for over a week in the ancestral village of Ishola (Hekske’s lover) on the misty slopes of the Ruwenzori Mountains, the witches kissed goodbye to their friendly hosts and continued their flight southwards, following their inner compass. Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 10-year old witch apprentice) flew over a wide variety of breathtaking landscapes, like the Okavango delta and the thundering Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya). 
While following the Limpopo River, they saw a breathtaking sunset unfold in the west… it was high time to land and find a safe place to spend the night. The witches saw no humans which meant the place was safe. They landed at the foot of a majestic tree, but didn’t have much time to savor the glorious sunset, as a few hungry lions were stealthily approaching them, observing the witches in their long white dresses from close quarter, preparing for a decisive lethal strike. But while looking at the witches, a feeling of tenderness took hold of the lionesses. Instead of attacking, they walked slowly into the direction of the girls, who started to talk with a soft voice to the queens of the jungle. This drew the attention of even more lions and soon they were all lying at the feet of the witches, and Falke played and frolicked with a bunch of lion cubs - who especially loved to play with the girl’s long blond hair (the hair of a young witch is of an indescribable softness). The leader of the pride welcomed the young witches and ordered the other animals to prepare a soft bed of grass for the exhausted girls. And soon the Flemish witches drifted into a blissful sleep in the middle of a circle of lions, whom had never ever experienced a similarly peaceful presence in the plains. 
After a deep, blissful sleep, the witches woke up just before sunrise. Falke quickly realized that the little fluffy thing she was holding tenderly in her arms, was actually a lion cub and when looking around, she saw a lioness watching the two of them with endearment … clearly the cub’s mom. Slowly it dawned to the girl that she had been sleeping in the middle of a circle of lions … easily the best possible protection in the African plains. Despite being far away from her home forest in North-Western Europe, the little witches felt absolutely at ease. They looked around and saw all these wonderful animals roaming on the plains : zebras, antelopes, giraffes and even a herd of elephants in the distance.
A bateleur eagle had spotted the witches and touched down in front of their feet. The girls understood that the bird wanted to take them somewhere and they kissed goodbye to their friends of the lion pride. The eagle flew straight to a nearby forest, and touched down in a clearing where a group of women were waiting for them. These were local witches, but they looked very different from European witches. They were all wearing colorful long clothes. The witches themselves had all kinds of skin colors, ranging from black, brown to white. When Falke said something in Flemish to Hekske, the local witches smiled and started to talk to them in the local Afrikaans language. Hekske and Falke couldn’t believe their ears … this language sounded just like Flemish, but with a more expressive intonation and some funny expressions. They never expected that witches from this part of the world would speak the same language as them. After the welcome hug, the African witches gave an energetic welcome dance, which they would soon teach to their European guests. This place had such a beautiful energy …

https://soundcloud.com/leepdias

Photo credits : Theodore Mattas

Witchtape #167 | Guest Wizz : LEEP

For the fourth time in two years time, Hekske (the little witch) and Falke (the 10-year old witch apprentice) flew eastwards, all the way to the mighty Dnipro river. It was early April and the temperatures were very mild and pleasant. Then they saw their friend Mriya (Мрія) waving at them in the middle of a flowery meadow. Mriya was 14 years old now, and she had grown a lot since their last visit. To Hekske and Falke’s surprise, Mriya greeted them with 3 kisses on the cheek, and wished them a happy Easter. She proudly showed them her easter basket, which was made from willow branches and covered with a white towel, which was beautifully embroidered in yellow and blue patterns. Mriya explained that this towel was made by her great-grandmother over 100 years ago. She explained that she was expecting visitors from all over Ukraine. Soon afterwards, another witch arrived and they all welcomed her with 3 kisses on her cheek. Her name was Vesna and she came from the woods around Mount Hoverla in the west. She had brought some small bottles with colorful dyes : violet from the bark of an elderberry bush, yellow from the flowers of the woadwaxen, gold from onion skins, etc..
Soon afterwards, another witch arrived from the east. She had flown all the way from the scenic valley of the Oskil river.  A little later, another witch flew in from the north but after that it was a long wait for the witch of the South. Finally, a young witch flew by and gently landed on the fairy meadow. She had come all the way from the Valley of Ghosts. And she was not alone as she was accompanied by a sweet-looking animal. The witches were elated when they realized this was the raccoon which was stolen from this area some 1,5 years ago. The lively animal was very happy to be back home again, and soon the raccoon was frolicking with all the witches, and rolling over from joy.
Now that all witches had arrived, Mriya put some eggs on the table while Vesna opened the bottles with the colorful dyes. The local witches knew exactly what to do, applying hot wax on the eggs before scrathing and dying them in elaborate colorful patterns. Many of these patterns had been passed on from witch to witch for centuries. These decorated eggs were called ‘pysanky’.
Vidma, the witch from the northern plains had another method to decorate the eggs, which she did by coating eggs with bee wax and covering them with beads in vivid colorful patterns. This kind of easter eggs were called ‘biserky’.
Hekske and Falke truly enjoyed the typically Slavic cosy atmosphere of the Easter celebrations. And after nightfall, they lit a bonfire, sang spellbinding age-old witch’s songs and they performed folk dances around the fire until well past midnight. 
This was easily the cosiest Easter Hekske and Falke had ever experienced…

Connect with the artist : 
https://soundcloud.com/enmaniguada

Photo credits : Dobra Kobra

Witchtape #168 | Guest Witch : Enmaniguada

Witches are the guardians of the forests.  We're not evil or dark, just a bit shy.  And even surprisingly sweet and kind... as long as you respect the forest.

Art project of Hekske ('Little Witch' in my native Flemish language).
Founded on the 22nd of January 2017

Avatar and wallpaper by Ironika (Irina Alexandrovna)

Witchtape #119 | Yin Yang (Iris Anahata & Musiphile)

Hekske ❋ The Magic Witchtapes

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