In a recent NBA game, Aaron Gordon, the talented forward for the Orlando Magic, left fans in awe with an incredible dunk that resulted in an unexpected collision with the team's beloved mascot. The incident, which quickly went viral, showcases Gordon's amazing athleticism and showcases the potential dangers and risks involved in the high-flying sport of basketball. During the game, Gordon found himself with an open lane towards the basket, and without hesitation, he elevated towards the hoop, preparing himself for what would become a dunk of epic proportions. As he ascended towards the rim, his opponents looked on with astonishment and fans grew anxious with anticipation. Just as Gordon reached the peak of his flight, the team's mascot, a lighthearted and energetic character, emerged from behind the backboard, seemingly unaware of the intense play unfolding above him. With a thunderous force, Gordon executed a powerful slam dunk, gracefully maneuvering his body and directing the ball through the hoop.
Today I have another book review for you, dear readers; a popular one at that. Year of the Witch: Connecting Nature's Seasons through Intuitive Magick by Temperance Alden has been popping up everywhere in the witch community. It's probably one of the hottest books on the market at the moment, and I was thrilled when Weiser reached out and asked if I would like to review this book. I actually had it on my Amazon wishlist, especially because I follow Alden on Instagram and love her budget-friendly witch tips. This book didn't disappoint!
Furthermore, her recipes, spells, and rituals also support sustainable, local practices, encouraging the reader to use local, in-season produce, local ingredients, and she is mindful of how spell ingredients should be disposed of. Her method is very similar to my own, so I can vouch that it works, and I second her proposal that all witches be familiar with how to create their own correspondences.
With a thunderous force, Gordon executed a powerful slam dunk, gracefully maneuvering his body and directing the ball through the hoop. Unfortunately, in the process of completing the jaw-dropping dunk, Gordon also unintentionally collided with the mascot. The impact sent shock waves throughout the arena, and spectators gasped in disbelief.
Year of the Witch - by Temperance Alden (Paperback)
"When we think of the 'wheel of the year,' it is the Wiccan wheel-with its celebrations of the Yule, Beltane, Mabon, Samhain, etc.-that comes to mind. But what about a 'wheel of the year' for the rest of us pagans and witches? This book will help readers create their own intuitive practices, in harmony with the climate, culture, and local spirits where they live"
Book Synopsis
"In her much-needed and brilliant Year of the Witch, Temperance Alden guides readers to observe their own land, celestial cycles, seasonal cycles, and even their own biological cycles to inform their magickal year."-- Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick, and Manifestation
When we think of the wheel of the year, the Wiccan wheel with its celebrations of the Yule, Beltane, Mabon, and Samhain come to mind. But what about a wheel of the year for the rest of us pagans and witches? As a witch living in sunny South Florida, longtime hereditary witch Temperance Alden has often felt at odds gearing up to celebrate Yule, for example, when it is 76 degrees and sunny outside.
- The origins of the neo-pagan wheel of the year and why it is still so relevant today
- Culture, historical facts, and traditions associated with the major ceremonies
- Basic principles of land-based magick
- How to intuitively connect to the nature below your feet and the local gods
- Being a custodian to the land and its impact on our spiritual practice
Review Quotes
"Year of The Witch surpasses all other wheel-of-the-year books on my shelves as a perfect mix of traditional practices and modern application. . . . An absolute 'must-have' if you're looking to incorporate the wheel into your life without the pressure of ideas about what you 'should do' and only build instead upon what is authentic to you." --Olivia Graves, "The Witch of Wonderlust"
"Not only is Year of the Witch an engaging, thoughtful, and truly fun read, but it is also packed with wisdom and insight that comes only from the living the path. Temperance's words are so generous and supportive, and her perspective offers so much depth for new and practiced witches alike. Whether you're a city witch or swamp witch, whether you've been celebrating the wheel of the year for a decade or are new to it, this book has something to offer through the many practices, advice, prompts, and invitations that help readers reconnect with the cycles of the earth and those within themselves. This book is so encouraging of the fact that there's no one way to be a witch, without watering down the potency or power of the craft; a true act of magick." --Gabriela Herstik, author of Inner Witch
"Temperance Alden has written a book about the wheel of the year that can finally serve all witches and magickal practitioners living anywhere in the world in any climate. The authenticity in Alden's prose enables her to effectively teach how to develop intuition and work with elements leading to a more profound understanding of the power of life's cycles. Delightful recipes and engaging rituals and spells help readers to create a wheel of the year unique to their own experiences. Year of the Witch is a direct conduit to Mother Earth and all Her power, and Alden has unveiled secrets even experienced witches will want to know." --Lawren Leo, author of Horse Magick
"Temperance Alden is at the fore of a new generation of witches, and they are smart, fearless, and ready to overthrow paradigms that many of us have taken for granted. Year of the Witch invites readers to challenge the assumption that the wheel of the year needs to uphold Arcadian agricultural ideals that just don't apply to how we actually live and practice our Crafts. Temperance is here to remind us that we don't know as much as we think we do, and thank goodness for that." --Thorn Mooney, author of Traditional Wicca
"The key to the heart of witchery lies in authentic connection. But many witches feel disconnected from the traditional wheel of the year due to either its religious tones or because the seasonal celebrations are based upon the European climates of the wheel's origins. Temperance Alden remedies this in her much-needed and brilliant Year of the Witch, where she guides the readers to observe their own land, celestial cycles, seasonal cycles, and even their own biological cycles to inform their magickal year. Drawing on folklore, mythology, and religious customs surrounding the wheel of the year, Alden provides a well-researched overview of the themes of the Sabbats, while urging the reader to intuitively tap into themselves to learn how to authentically connect with the high holy holidays of the witch to extract power and wisdom from them, regardless of their path or religious leanings." --Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch
About the Author
Temperance Alden is a hereditary folk witch with over eighteen years of practice devoted to witchcraft and paganism. She is the founder of Wild Woman Witchcraft.
“The key to the heart of witchery lies in authentic connection. But many witches feel disconnected from the traditional wheel of the year due to either its religious tones or because the seasonal celebrations are based upon the European climates of the wheel’s origins. Temperance Alden remedies this in her much-needed and brilliant Year of the Witch , where she guides the readers to observe their own land, celestial cycles, seasonal cycles, and even their own biological cycles to inform their magickal year. Drawing on folklore, mythology, and religious customs surrounding the wheel of the year, Alden provides a well-researched overview of the themes of the Sabbats, while urging the reader to intuitively tap into themselves to learn how to authentically connect with the high holy holidays of the witch to extract power and wisdom from them, regardless of their path or religious leanings.” — Mat Auryn , author of Psychic Witch “Not only is Year of the Witch an engaging, thoughtful, and truly fun read , but it is also packed with wisdom and insight that comes only from the living the path . Temperance’s words are so generous and supportive, and her perspective offers so much depth for new and practiced witches alike. Whether you’re a city witch or swamp witch, whether you’ve been celebrating the wheel of the year for a decade or are new to it, this book has something to offer through the many practices, advice, prompts, and invitations that help readers reconnect with the cycles of the earth and those within themselves. This book is so encouraging of the fact that there’s no one way to be a witch, without watering down the potency or power of the craft; a true act of magick.” — Gabriela Herstik , author of Inner Witch “ Year of The Witch surpasses all other wheel-of-the-year books on my shelves as a perfect mix of traditional practices and modern application. . . . An absolute ‘must-have’ if you’re looking to incorporate the wheel into your life without the pressure of ideas about what you ‘should do’ and only build instead upon what is authentic to you.” — Olivia Graves , “The Witch of Wonderlust” “Temperance Alden is at the fore of a new generation of witches, and they are smart, fearless, and ready to overthrow paradigms that many of us have taken for granted. Year of the Witch invites readers to challenge the assumption that the wheel of the year needs to uphold Arcadian agricultural ideals that just don’t apply to how we actually live and practice our Crafts. Temperance is here to remind us that we don’t know as much as we think we do, and thank goodness for that.” — Thorn Mooney , author of Traditional Wicca “Temperance Alden has written a book about the wheel of the year that can finally serve all witches and magickal practitioners living anywhere in the world in any climate . The authenticity in Alden’s prose enables her to effectively teach how to develop intuition and work with elements leading to a more profound understanding of the power of life’s cycles. Delightful recipes and engaging rituals and spells help readers to create a wheel of the year unique to their own experiences. Year of the Witch is a direct conduit to Mother Earth and all Her power, and Alden has unveiled secrets even experienced witches will want to know .” — Lawren Leo , author of Horse Magick
The mascot, a symbol of joy and entertainment, {should be} found himself laid out on the hardwood, but fortunately, appeared to be uninjured. Instantly, the incident garnered widespread attention, with social media platforms buzzing about the unexpected encounter between the player and mascot. Videos of the dunk were shared by millions, instantly immortalizing the moment and solidifying Gordon's status as a powerful dunker. While the collision between Gordon and the mascot was undoubtedly accidental, it serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in the game of basketball. The sport demands physicality, precision, and agility, and moments like these highlight the dangers players face. Despite safety precautions and regulations, such incidents can occur. Ultimately, Aaron Gordon's crushing dunk on the mascot is a testament to his incredible skill and surprising circumstances that can arise in the fast-paced world of professional basketball. It is an unforgettable moment that will be remembered by fans for years to come, combining athleticism, spontaneity, and a touch of comedy. However, it also serves as a reminder of the risks players take on the court, both for themselves and those around them..
Reviews for "Aaron Gordon Leaves Fans Speechless with Mascot Crushing Dunk"
- John - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Aaron Gordon crushing a mascot with a dunk". I found it to be incredibly disrespectful and unnecessary. Mascots are there to entertain and add cheer to the game, and seeing one getting crushed by a player was just painful to watch. It made me question the sportsmanship of the players and left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope we can see more respect and collaboration between players and mascots in the future.
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - While I understand that "Aaron Gordon crushing a mascot with a dunk" was meant to be an attention-grabbing moment, I couldn't help but feel it was quite dangerous and reckless. Mascots are often volunteers or performers trying to create a fun environment for the audience, and subjecting them to such forceful contact is concerning. It would have been better to see a dunk that didn't put someone else at risk or make them the target of physical harm.
- Michael - 1/5 stars - I hated "Aaron Gordon crushing a mascot with a dunk". It completely undermines the purpose of having mascots at sporting events. Mascots are supposed to be a source of joy, not objects to be trampled upon. The whole act was distasteful and lacked the sportsmanship that should be expected in professional sports. I hope this kind of behavior is not encouraged or repeated in the future.