Leyak

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In the folklore of Bali, the Leyak (in Indonesian, people called it 'Leak' (le-ak)—the K is not written or spoken) is a Balinese supernatural being in the form of a flying head with entrails (heart, lung, liver, etc) still attached. Leyaks are said to fly about trying to find a pregnant woman in order to suck her baby's blood (some versions state that they eat the newborn child). There are three legendary Leyak, two females and one male.

It is believed that the Leyak is an ordinary human who practices black magic and who needs human embryo blood in order to sustain themselves. It is said that a Leyak practitioner can transform into a pig or a ball of fire, amongst other forms. In normal Leyak form, they are said to have an unusally long tongue and large fangs. In daylight they appear as an ordinary human, but at night their head and entrails break loose from their body and fly. Some people have said that Leyak black magic only works on the island of Bali, thus preventing this magic from spreading to Java or the surrounding islands.

In Thailand there is another from of Leyak, which, while also taking the form of a flying head, has the additional ability of killing people.

On film, those who wish to learn black magic will offer the Leyak diamonds in exchange for knowledge. The Leyak then tattoos its student using a type of Pali or Sanskrit language (this could be due to the Indian origins of Balinese religious practices).

If people stab the neck of the Leyak's headless body during the night with a sharp object that points upward (towards the head), the Leyak cannot return to its body unless it can remove that object with its teeth. If the Leyak is separated from its body for an extended period of time, it may die.

For all their abilities, there is no practical use for the Leyak's magic, which calls into question why anyone would choose to learn this form of magic.

Leyak statues (a head with a very long tongue and sharp fangs) are sometimes hung on a wall for house decoration.