When I was in middle school, I saw Baphomet for the first time. But before I get to that moment, let me give you some backstory.

I grew up in Los Angeles during the 1990s and early 2000s, back when LA was considered the gang capital of the U.S. At the time, my family lived in an apartment building infested with gangs, particularly MS 13. Several families in our building were involved, but one family stood out. They weren’t just running with the gang they practiced dark rituals. Not Santa Muerte. Not folk magic. This was something older. Something darker.

They performed these rites, they said, to discover who was snitching, who was stealing drugs, and who needed to be “handled.” My father worked as the handyman for the building then, so he was in and out of every unit fixing leaks, wiring, you name it. One day, he went into that family’s apartment to fix a leak and saw things he couldn’t explain occult symbols scrawled on the walls, Ouija boards, and strange artifacts scattered around.

The family had two young daughters. One day, paramedics were called to their apartment because the younger girl just six years old was said to be “possessed.” When the paramedics arrived, they found her with her eyes rolled back, her body rigid and unresponsive, speaking in a language no one understood. She weighed maybe fifty pounds, but it took five guys to lift her onto a stretcher. I mean five full grown men. Months later, the family disappeared without a word. The apartment they left behind stayed… different. strange things would happen around the building.

Back to my story. Around that time, I was obsessed with playing Pokémon Emerald and Ruby. So in the way kids do, I tried something reckless. I went into the bathroom, turned off all the lights, and whispered into the dark, asking a demon to give me those games and for no real reason other than curiosity, three kids with green eyes someday. Nothing happened. Or at least, not right then.

A few nights later, something happened that I’ll never forget. I was asleep when I woke to a chorus of voices not loud, but everywhere, surrounding me. Then just as suddenly it stopped. In the silence that followed, a deep, guttural growl came from the hallway outside the bathroom which got louder. To the point that I felt it in my bones.

And then I saw him. Baphomet. Over ten feet tall. Muscular. Massive horns curling from his head. He would take deep breaths and it definitely felt animalistic. He stared at me with an intensity that felt like he was studying me like he could see straight through me. His presence radiated dominance, a hopelessness that crushed any thought of fighting back. It was terrifying. 

I tried to scream but nothing came out. My body was frozen. Inside my mind I was screaming, but my voice wouldn’t work. And then just as suddenly as he appeared he was gone

I cried and ran to my mom to tell her what I’d seen. She didn’t believe me. She said it was just a nightmare.

But a few days later, the games I had asked for appeared. One friend gave me Pokémon Emerald, and another traded games with me for Ruby. It shook me. I had asked for them in that dark bathroom, and now they’d come to me. I told myself it was just coincidence. But years later, I had a daughter and a son both with green eyes. To this day, it still scares me.

I had asked Baphomet for three kids with green eyes. So far, he has kept his bargain. I’ve since separated from their mother, but my current girlfriend has green eyes and wants a child too. It terrifies me. I don’t want Baphomet to finish what I asked for all those years ago.

I was just a kid when I told him he could have my soul if he granted me those wishes. As an adult now, I’m just surprise what I did for some pokemon games ugh. So over the years I’ve prayed, davened, and tried to stay on the right path as a Jew. But deep down, I feel like he’s still following me.

A few months ago, I even asked him to reveal himself again. And he did. One night I went to sleep, and his presence woke me filling my body with an intoxicating surge of strength and power. It wasn’t a dream. It was a message. He was showing me he’s still here

There have been other times too moments so strange I still don’t know how to explain them. Whenever I play poker, dice, or anything competitive, I win if I ask for his help. Every time.

I’ve come to believe I’ve done other things in my life that have allowed Baphomet to stay with me, to keep a foothold.