such treks and retrieval-work. Most of the occult operations are conducted in power-spots/haunted areas referred to as “tempat-angker.” These are cross-roads of magnetic forces that are conducive to psychic and magickal work, especially those rituals related to the contact with Nature’s hidden forces. The tempat-angker are regarded as portals between the third and fourth dimensions and facilitates the passage of beings/entities travelling from one realm to the other. It is for this reason that the tempat-angker are regarded as haunted and avoided by natives familiar with the locale–there are many stories of the unwary person being lost there only to emerge years later but without any awareness of the passage of time. Magickal work done in power-spots require a knowledge of occult principles and rules that govern such occult interfaces to avoid or prevent mishaps from occurring. Two of the famous forests/jungles in Java where magickal operations are often conducted are Alas Purwo and Alas Ketonggo. Many sacred mountains are also chosen for magickal work such as Mt. Lawu, Mt. Sumeru, Mt. Muria, etc. Basically, however, the pawang-shaman would pick an area according to inner guidance or a spot already known to yield the type of pearls that he may be seeking.
During magickal-retrieval operations shamans are given guidance by spirit intelligence as to where mustika-pearls may be discovered and retrieved. Normally it is the regional guardian-spirit of a given area that comes forth to attend to the shaman. The pearls are often revealed to be located in caves, dens, nests, and lairs; other possible spots are in the vicinity of some unusual rock formation, old trees, pools, waterfalls, burial ground, etc. The pearls indicated by psychic