The Hobie Magic 25 is a popular boat among sailing enthusiasts. It is a versatile and high-performance sailing vessel that is well-suited for both racing and cruising. The boat's design combines speed and reliability, making it a favorite choice for many sailors. The Magic 25 is a catamaran-style boat, which means it has two hulls connected by a trampoline-like platform. This design provides stability and allows the boat to sail smoothly even in rough waters. The boat also features a lightweight and durable construction, making it easy to handle and transport.
Paganism and the practice of witchcraft in the modern world is still a controversial topic, however it is no longer shrouded in secrecy. Modern-day witches are open and proud. Witchcraft has found its place in popular culture. It’s no longer a necessity to encode writing related to the craft, so many practitioners don’t really seem to focus on it anymore. Regardless, the script will forever be studied and serious historians will continue to look for additional clues in determining its true origin.
I m not suggesting for a moment that Bifidus Digestivum doesn t work but it is a totally made up name and does it matter that Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel is a more masculine sounding moisturiser if it does the job. The Christian Church worked tirelessly to eradicate all of the ancient religions and practices, so writing in code was necessary to avoid persecution and possibly torture and death.
The boat also features a lightweight and durable construction, making it easy to handle and transport. One of the key features of the Magic 25 is its sail plan. It has a large mainsail and a smaller jib, which can be adjusted to optimize performance in different wind conditions.
The language of witches
I love the origins of words and sayings and have many books on my shelves at home dedicated to this topic but I must admit the focus for this particular blog was an area I’d never really considered. I’ve lived my life in and around the Essex / Suffolk border and for many years I lived in the smallest town in England – Manningtree. For most it’s a place they’ve never heard of, for others it’s a stop on the train line from Norwich to London Liverpool Street, but for those in the know it is a beautiful place that was once the base for Matthew Hopkins. Still none the wiser? Matthew Hopkins was the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General back in first half of the 17th Century. I don’t wish to get into my views on what he did or indeed spark debate around the existence of “witches” but there’s no getting away from the fact he was personally responsible for the capture, torture and deaths of over 100 women in the space of just 3 years – and got paid to do it too.
The frontispiece shows Matthew Hopkins interrogating several witches, with their familiars. These were animal guides that were believed to be supernatural entities that would assist witches in their practice of magic. This pamphlet would have been printed and sold amongst people interested in such sensationalist literature about witches. Published for R. Royston: London, 1647
If you read my last blog on the arapuca trap you’ve probably gathered I like connections and links between things. So with that little bit of background about the area and history I’ve grown up with it’s no surprise Halloween, as we now call it, has always been an interesting time of year for me. The trigger this time was that I happened to see an extract of the classic witches spell from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Now I’ve never read or studied Shakespeare in my life but it’s the kind of thing that is just there in your head and everyone knows the first line, or a close likeness, but what interested me was the ingredients, here’s one of the verses.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
This is where my foraging hat came in and my love of all the regional common names that there are for plants. Things like ‘Lords and Ladies’, ‘Milk Maid’, ‘Ale Hoof’, ‘Colts Foot’, Wet-the-bed’ and so on. All these names tell a story from the past and researching them and finding out their roots (no pun intended, honest) is great fun. It does also highlight the importance of scientific Latin names which is something we stress on our foraging courses – 100% identification and clarity over the name is paramount. This then got me thinking… did ‘witches’ have their own language?
I stress again, I am not looking to cause any offence in the use of the word ‘witch’; it is merely a name we are familiar with and could just as easily be changed for ‘herbalist’, ‘wise woman’,’ village elder’ etc. So with this question in my head I went digging, and the answers were fascinating.
There was indeed a language for ingredients to concoctions. Now you could argue these are spells or you could just as easily call them herbal remedies, or dare I say it, medicine. The reasons around this will perhaps never be known for sure but theories sit around words simply being descriptive, for example the look or texture of a plant, to the thought they had to be secretive to be able to stay in business. Let’s face it we still do it today – the IT industry is full of acronyms and gobbledegook that the layperson hasn’t a clue about but those in the know can charge a fortune for their skills and knowledge. Just to be clear I’m not condoning the persecution of IT people. The food industry is just as cryptic, when was the last time you looked at the ingredient list on food and actually understood what it all was? But you’ll pay handsomely for the key component Bifidus Digestivum. And the beauty industry, does anyone know what Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel is? What’s the link? Skill, marketing and mystery – it drives prices up every time and keeps customers coming back for more. I’m not suggesting for a moment that Bifidus Digestivum doesn’t work but it is a totally made up name and does it matter that Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel is a more masculine sounding moisturiser if it does the job? But 400 years ago that was an issue and could literally get you into ‘hot water’.
Before I get into some ‘spell’ ingredients let’s just take an example that many of you will know – the Dandelion. Deriving from the French dent de lion which translates to lion tooth which in itself describes the shape of the leaves. You could just as easily know this plant as wet-the-bed (I went for the clean version to be family friendly) to describe its diuretic properties. Or you could call it by its scientific name Taraxacum officinale. Four different names for the same plant so it really isn’t that hard to believe ‘witches’ did the same – lion’s tooth tincture anyone? This is what I uncovered…
Body parts as they relate to plants
- Eye – Blossom or Seed
- Heart – Bud or Seed
- Beak, Bill or Nose – Seed, Bud or Bloom
- Tongue or Teeth – Petal or Leaf
- Head – Blossom
- Tail – Stem
- Hair – Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs
- Genitals Or Semen – Seeds Or Sap
- Blood – Sap
- Guts – Roots or Stalk
- Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe – Leaves
So that leads on us to the idea of what the different animals may have represented.
- Toad – Sage or maybe Toadflax
- Cat – Catmint
- Dog – Grasses, specifically Couchgrass
- Frog – Cinquefoil
- Hawk – Hawkweed
- Lamb – Wild Lettuce
- Nightingale – Hops
- Rat – Valerian
- Weasel – Rue
- Woodpecker – Peony
The list goes on and on but I have to admit my favourite has to be ‘Wool of Bat’ which sounds far more mysterious and witchy than moss or the leaf from holly for the wing. But again we also know that species of moss have been used for water treatment and wound dressings and, I’m guessing, work a lot better than bat. However, and this is where the marketing angle comes in, if I want my customers to buy from me rather than just go and collect moss I’m going with bat every time.
So there you have it a link between Shakespeare, Macbeth, Witches, modern marketing/skills and foraging and just another little insight into the connections we all make but sometimes don’t take the time to stop and think about. Should you wish to read further I recommend visiting Hektoen International – A journal of medical humanities – for a well-researched and referenced article that breaks down the famous spell from Macbeth in detail https://hekint.org/2019/05/30/more-than-toil-and-trouble-macbeth-and-medicine/ . For a more in depth read about plants in general, including common names from various regions, I’d also recommend the book Flora Brittanica by Richard Mabey.
I’m signing off now for a nice cup of “Devil’s play thing” with some “Dog’s bum” on toast (again the family friendly version) otherwise known as Stinging Nettle tea and Medlar jelly.
There was indeed a language for ingredients to concoctions. Now you could argue these are spells or you could just as easily call them herbal remedies, or dare I say it, medicine. The reasons around this will perhaps never be known for sure but theories sit around words simply being descriptive, for example the look or texture of a plant, to the thought they had to be secretive to be able to stay in business. Let’s face it we still do it today – the IT industry is full of acronyms and gobbledegook that the layperson hasn’t a clue about but those in the know can charge a fortune for their skills and knowledge. Just to be clear I’m not condoning the persecution of IT people. The food industry is just as cryptic, when was the last time you looked at the ingredient list on food and actually understood what it all was? But you’ll pay handsomely for the key component Bifidus Digestivum. And the beauty industry, does anyone know what Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel is? What’s the link? Skill, marketing and mystery – it drives prices up every time and keeps customers coming back for more. I’m not suggesting for a moment that Bifidus Digestivum doesn’t work but it is a totally made up name and does it matter that Hydra Energetic Quenching Gel is a more masculine sounding moisturiser if it does the job? But 400 years ago that was an issue and could literally get you into ‘hot water’.
This flexible sail plan allows sailors to easily adapt to changing weather conditions and maximize their speed and efficiency on the water. In terms of performance, the Magic 25 is known for its speed and agility. It is a highly maneuverable boat that can quickly change direction and tack with ease. Its lightweight construction and efficient sail plan contribute to its impressive speed, making it a top choice for competitive sailors. The Magic 25 is also known for its comfortable and functional cockpit. It has ergonomically designed seating and plenty of room for the crew to move around. The boat's trampoline platform provides additional seating and allows passengers to enjoy the thrill of sailing close to the water. Overall, the Hobie Magic 25 is a versatile and high-performance boat that is suitable for both racing and cruising. Its catamaran-style design, flexible sail plan, and impressive speed make it a popular choice among sailors. Whether you're an experienced sailor or a novice, the Magic 25 offers a thrilling and enjoyable sailing experience..
Reviews for "Extreme Sailing: Pushing the Limits with the Hobie Magic 25"
- John - 1 out of 5 stars - The Hobie Magic 25 was a complete disappointment. The build quality was subpar, with several parts falling apart after just a few uses. The boat itself was also poorly designed, with a very uncomfortable seating arrangement and lack of storage space. On top of that, the boat was difficult to maneuver and didn't handle well in rough waters. Overall, I would not recommend the Hobie Magic 25 to anyone looking for a reliable and enjoyable boating experience.
- Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for the Hobie Magic 25, but it fell short in many aspects. Firstly, the boat was not as fast as I expected, making it less thrilling to sail. Secondly, the steering system was faulty, leading to frequent misdirections and frustration. Lastly, the boat's seating was uncomfortable, causing discomfort during longer trips. While the Hobie Magic 25 may have its merits, it did not live up to my expectations, and I would advise potential buyers to evaluate their options thoroughly before committing to this model.
- James - 1 out of 5 stars - The Hobie Magic 25 was a regrettable purchase for me. The boat was plagued with various mechanical issues, from a faulty engine to leaky pontoons. This led to multiple breakdowns and costly repairs. Additionally, the boat's limited storage space made it impractical for longer trips. The lack of durability and poor performance overall make the Hobie Magic 25 a poor choice for anyone seeking a reliable and enjoyable boating experience. Save yourself the trouble and invest in a better quality boat instead.