I didn’t plan to attend a festival that day. I was simply visiting a senior friend at their residence when I stumbled into a swirl of color, music, and mysticism. The event was called The Annual Made Evil Festival—a name that immediately stirred my spirit. Was this satire? A play on words? Or a spiritual declaration cloaked in entertainment?

As I stood at the edge of the gathering, I watched belly dancers in elaborate costumes—flowing robes, jingling anklets, and movements that felt more ritualistic than recreational. Their style echoed the mystics of the 16th century: palm readers, fortune tellers, and spiritual intermediaries. The dancers weren’t just performers—they were embodying something ancient, something spiritual. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just a show.

🎭 Entertainment or Enchantment?

The organizers had invited these performers to entertain the senior community. Many attendees—some of whom I’d worshipped with in chapel—were enjoying the food, music, and spectacle. But I sat in what I call an “unsolicited vantage point,” watching with a different lens. My spirit was stirred. Was this a harmless cultural celebration, or a subtle spiritual infiltration?

I asked one of the dancers, “Is this connected to Halloween?”
She smiled and said, “No.”
Yet their costumes—witch-like robes, sweeping brooms, mystical accessories—told another story. They were beautiful, vibrant, and captivating. But beauty doesn’t always mean innocence.

One man, dressed in what I can only describe as mystical garb, refused to engage with me. He whispered to a nearby priestess, who glanced my way and later avoided me. Their behavior wasn’t hostile, but it was spiritually telling. I felt marked—noticed, but not welcomed.

🧭 Discernment in the Desert

I spoke with several participants. Some seemed aware of the spiritual undertones; others were simply enjoying the festivities. I even interviewed the event organizer, hoping for clarity. But nothing shifted my initial discernment. This wasn’t just a cultural reenactment—it was a spiritual reenactment. A revival of ancient practices that, in my view, conflict with the Christian call to holiness and truth.

I concluded that the “16th-century desert wanderers” represented more than history—they symbolized warlords, wizards, and spiritual forces that still seek influence today. And while this festival may be annual, its spiritual impact is anything but routine.

📸 What I Saw, What I Felt

I took photos and videos (with permission), but I won’t share them here. This post isn’t about exposing individuals—it’s about awakening discernment. I’m not here to condemn, but to question. To invite conversation. To ask:

What happens when we participate in cultural traditions without spiritual clarity?
Can entertainment become enchantment?
How do we honor other cultures while guarding our spirits?

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I welcome your thoughts, especially if you come from an Asian background or have insight into these traditions. I stand to be corrected, challenged, and sharpened. But I also stand firm in my discernment.

Let’s talk. Let’s learn. Let’s guard the gates.

🕊️ —ChinyereMea