The Wiccan calendar wheel, also known as the Wheel of the Year, is a key component of Wiccan belief and practice. This calendar is based on the changing seasons and the natural cycles of the Earth. It is divided into eight festivals, or sabbats, which mark significant points in the solar year. These festivals are celebrated with rituals and ceremonies that honor nature and the divine. The Wiccan calendar is closely tied to the cycles of nature and reflects the changing seasons. It begins with the festival of Samhain, which falls on October 31st and marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
It begins with the festival of Samhain, which falls on October 31st and marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This is a time to honor the dead and embrace the darkness of the approaching winter months. Following Samhain, the next festival is Yule, which takes place around December 21st and celebrates the winter solstice.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Unrated Cut)
Going into Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, I expected the worst. With the trend of updating fairy tale stories and classic children’s books in a dark and moody style, I expected another meaningless movie with little to no story and/or characters worth anyone’s time.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie, while not perfect, was some of the most fun I’ve had watching a movie of its ilk in a long time. It is what it is, of course, which is a straight up B movie, but it knows exactly what it is and makes no apologies for it. If you want to shut your brain off and watch a fun and exciting action movie, then you’ll get a lot out of it too. The action itself is well-filmed and cut together very well. You’ll also find that this isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill, PG-13, “wider audience appeal” movie with clichés as clichéd as a white picket fence. It’s not that at all. There’s lots of cursing, blood & gore and a slight bit of nudity (at least in the unrated version). Most of the effects are practical as well, including Edward the Troll himself. Obvious things like witches flying and other things are enhanced with the CGI, which makes it feel more like a mid-90’s special effects movie. It came off like The Frighteners to me, especially considering the mix of tones that it has.
It also didn’t have any love interests, giant epic battles at the end, kid-friendly side characters or any of that other generic crap that gets stuck in movies like this nowadays. The acting is subpar, but I think the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously enough for it to matter. You’re supposed to be laughing along with it and enjoying it, which is what I did. I kept expecting it to take that turn into meaningless plot devices or situations, but it never did. So kudos to the director for not succumbing to Hollywood standards. Good on him, and good on this movie.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters comes to Blu-ray with a digital-to-digital transfer, so you’ll find a very healthy picture on display here. I really can’t find anything negative to say about it. Detail is strong without everything appearing too smooth, flesh tones are very natural, colors are very strong, blacks are deep and the contrast is perfect. Some may find it a bit too dark, but I never lost track of anything due to some of the darker shots. It’s perfect picture quality to me. The audio portion comes with four main options: English 5.1 TrueHD and French, Spanish and Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital. The English track really rocks. It has a bite to it without being overbearing. It’s certainly not underused when it comes to rear speaker activity. When the action kicks in, it really goes to work, with sounds frenetically moving from speaker to speaker. LFE moments pack a real punch and ambience is certainly high. Dialogue is also perfectly balanced and the music in the film really cranks out the decibels too. Again, I can’t find anything to complain about with the A/V quality. It’s a great set-up, and one that anyone should be pleased with. In addition, there’s also an English Audio Description track, as well as subtitles in English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese for those who might need them.
The extras are short and sweet, but there’s some good stuff here. First of all, the Blu-ray sports the unrated version of the movie, which I found to be superior. It’s about ten minutes longer and much bloodier than its R-rated counterpart. There are also three featurettes to check out: Reinventing Hansel & Gretel , The Witching Hours and Meet Edward the Troll . This set also sports Ultraviolet and Digital Copy options with an insert included. On the DVD, you’ll find no extra material, other than eight previews. The audio options include English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and the aforementioned English Audio Description track. The subtitle options are the same, minus the English SDH track. So there isn’t an enormous amount of material to cull through, but it’s enough if you got some enjoyment out of the film like I did. It won’t win any awards, but this film definitely gets the stamp of approval from me for being so ridiculously entertaining. Do check it out.
This is the shortest day of the year and marks the rebirth of the sun. It is a time of reflection, renewal, and celebration. Imbolc is the festival that heralds the beginning of spring and occurs around February 2nd. It is a time to honor the goddess Brigid and celebrate the emerging light and the return of life to the Earth. This festival is often associated with purification and new beginnings. Ostara, which takes place around March 21st, is the spring equinox and marks the midpoint of the year. It is a time of balance between light and dark and celebrates fertility, growth, and new beginnings. Many Wiccans associate this festival with the goddess Eostre and symbols such as eggs and rabbits. Beltane, which falls on May 1st, is a celebration of the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. It is a time of joy, abundance, and fertility. This festival is often marked by dancing around the maypole and lighting bonfires. Litha, also known as Midsummer, occurs around June 21st and celebrates the summer solstice. This is the longest day of the year and represents the power of the sun. It is a time of abundance, strength, and growth. Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, takes place around August 1st and marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to celebrate the first fruits of the Earth and to give thanks for the abundance of the harvest. This festival is often associated with the god Lugh and is a time of communal celebration. Finally, Mabon, also known as the autumn equinox, occurs around September 21st and marks the second harvest of the year. It is a time of balance and reflection as day and night are once again equal. This festival celebrates the abundance of the Earth and the importance of gratitude. The Wiccan calendar wheel provides a framework for Wiccans to connect with the cycles of nature and the divine throughout the year. By honoring the changing seasons and celebrating the festivals, Wiccans are reminded of their connection to the Earth and the natural world. It is a way to align oneself with the rhythms of the universe and to cultivate a deeper spiritual connection..
Reviews for "How to Deepen Your Connection to Nature through the Wiccan Calendar Wheel"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Wicca Calendar Wheel. I found it to be poorly organized and lacking in useful information. The layout was confusing, and I had trouble finding the information I was looking for. Additionally, I felt that the content was vague and didn't provide enough depth or detail on the various Wiccan holidays and rituals. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this calendar to anyone looking for a comprehensive guide to Wiccan practices.
2. Mike - 2/5 stars - As a beginner in Wicca, I was hoping that the Wicca Calendar Wheel would provide me with a clear and concise overview of the Wheel of the Year. Unfortunately, this calendar fell short of my expectations. The information provided was limited and lacked any real substance. I also found that the descriptions of the festivals and Sabbats were too brief, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I would suggest looking for a more comprehensive resource if you're truly interested in learning about Wiccan traditions and rituals.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found the Wicca Calendar Wheel to be completely useless. The information provided was repetitive and didn't offer any additional insights or explanations. The artwork included in the calendar was also underwhelming and didn't add any value to the overall experience. It felt like a poorly put together product that was rushed to market. I would strongly advise against purchasing this calendar if you're looking for a meaningful and informative resource on Wiccan practices.