The love witch is a 2016 American horror comedy film written, directed, and produced by Anna Biller. The film follows Elaine, a modern-day witch who uses love spells and potions to find true love. However, her spells have unintended consequences, leading to a series of tragic events. The film is notable for its highly-stylized visuals, reminiscent of 1960s technicolor films. Every frame is carefully crafted, with vibrant colors and carefully coordinated costumes and set designs. This attention to detail creates a visually stunning and immersive experience for the viewer.
It is not possible to know for certain that we are dealing with the ‘original’ colour scales of the HOGD because part of the training in the Order was to create one’s own deck, based on a template but using colours individually intuited. The creators of the Magical Tarot of the Golden Dawn had to choose the scales they believe to be the most authentic, but you will find considerable variation in other Golden Dawn (and Golden Dawn-based) decks. For example, the Tabula Mundi Tarot uses a very different set of colour scales.
The colours are there to help your intuition access the higher meaning of the card, through meditation and contemplation, and to help with your magickal practice. One difference I notice from another Golden Dawn deck that I have, and also from the Thoth Tarot, is that The Fool, The Hanged Man, and Judgement are assigned planets instead of elements.
This attention to detail creates a visually stunning and immersive experience for the viewer. In addition to its visual appeal, The Love Witch also delves into themes of love, gender roles, and feminism. Elaine, the protagonist, challenges traditional gender norms by embracing her sexuality and using it as a source of power.
Book review: The Magical Tarot of the Golden Dawn – Divination, Meditation, High Magical Teachings
Aeon books revised edition 2019, original edition published 2008.
ISBN 13 – 1911597292
ISBN 10 – 1911597299
This book is probably the most impressive Golden Dawn based Tarot book I’ve read for content and readability—495 pages of a discussion of Book T, and I was in my element! Almost A4 in size means that the text is not overly heavy or unwieldy to read and I poured myself into each word written. The book is methodically laid out starting with the introduction to the reasoning for creating the text and accompanying Tarot deck. (I do have to purchase the deck!) It is evident a great deal of well thought out research has gone into creating the comprehensive content. The style of writing may be too congested or dense for some tastes; however, I did find it a straightforward and easily digestible read. I would recommend this text for starting out on a Golden Dawn Tarot journey; it would give a good solid grounding. The sections regarding Kabbalah and the colour scales were useful. The comprehensive section on colour scales included a brief comparison between Crowley’s and Regardie’s systems, more modern colour names, and the bold claim that the Zalewski deck colouring is the most accurate yet.
The card descriptions are detailed and comprehensive and the descriptions contained some welcome additions that aren’t readily available in other texts that I’ve read previously. For the Major Arcana the card detail is around five pages long and contains numerology relating to the card number including Golden Dawn references, gematria, the Hebrew letter, Kabbalistic association, psychological expression, a card description, divinatory meaning paragraph and a mantra for each card.
The Court descriptions are about three pages long and include I Ching as well as tattvas, decante influences and elemental influences, geomancy, and a divinatory paragraph. The Minor Arcana follows a similar format in length and include angel association, alchemy and Kabbalistic influence as well as the divinatory paragraph. The angel association is a welcomed addition and is not something I’ve studied previously so is now on my ever-growing list!
The book contains various methods of working with the cards including spreads, scrying, dreamwork, and meditation. The dreamwork section will be a challenge for me as I never seem to remember my dreams, but I shall rise to that challenge! The book provides about 12 spreads including the Opening of The Key and a couple of other large spreads which I will work through. It also includes a useful commentary on some of the spreads, which helps to see them working in practice. It did take me a while to follow the Horoscope spread as the two images show different card placements, so I followed the card placement as described in the commentary. This provided some insightful results. Some of the spreads are large, yet it was interesting to find them, such as the seven-card spread in the accompanying photograph, described as a ‘little spread for quick and concise answers.’ The ‘personal tree of power’ spread looks an interesting meditation to work through; I think I have also found another spread to use during my New Year Tarot workings.
The final section of the book , titled celestial Tarot, was interesting and warrants further study as I’m not very knowledgeable on astrology. This leads me to my final comment that a bibliography and index would have been a welcome addition to the text. Sadly, both were omitted and there appear to be no footnotes in the text either, which makes cross referencing difficult as well as searching for particular keywords within the book.
All in all, if you have an interest in the Golden Dawn teachings regarding Tarot, this book is a must for your bookshelf.
All in all, if you have an interest in the Golden Dawn teachings regarding Tarot, this book is a must for your bookshelf.
However, her actions also raise questions about the ethics of love spells and the consequences they can have on others. The performances in the film are also noteworthy, with Samantha Robinson delivering a mesmerizing performance as Elaine. She perfectly embodies the character's seductive charm and mystique, making her both captivating and unnerving. The supporting cast also shines, with standout performances from Laura Waddell and Jeffrey Vincent Parise. Despite its critical acclaim, The Love Witch received mixed reviews from audiences. Some praised its unique visual style and feminist themes, while others criticized it for being slow-paced and overly stylized. However, it remains a cult favorite among fans of independent cinema and has gained a dedicated following since its release. In conclusion, The Love Witch is a visually stunning and thematically rich film that explores love, witchcraft, and gender roles. Its highly-stylized visuals and captivating performances make it a must-watch for fans of unconventional and thought-provoking cinema..
Reviews for "The influence of Rotten Tomatoes on the popularity of love-themed films on streaming platforms"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars - I found "The Love Witch" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and seemed to lack coherence. The acting was pretentious and over-the-top, making it impossible for me to connect with any of the characters. Furthermore, the film's attempt at capturing a retro aesthetic felt forced and artificial. Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars - While "The Love Witch" has an interesting premise, I found it to be executed poorly. The pacing was extremely slow, making it difficult to stay engaged throughout. The performances were forgettable, with the characters lacking depth and development. Additionally, the cinematography and overall visual style felt contrived, rather than authentic. Overall, I was hoping for more from this film and ended up feeling underwhelmed.
3. Mark Johnson - 2/5 stars - As a fan of psychological thrillers, I was excited to watch "The Love Witch." However, I found the film to be a disappointment. The storyline was predictable, lacking any real suspense or surprises. The performances were mediocre at best, with the actors failing to bring any nuance to their characters. The film's attempt at blending horror and comedy just didn't work for me, resulting in an overall lackluster experience. I wouldn't recommend it to fans of the genre.
4. Sarah Davis - 1/5 stars - I had high expectations for "The Love Witch" based on the positive reviews I had read, but it fell flat for me. The dialogue was extremely stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to take the film seriously. Additionally, the overuse of stylized visuals became exhausting and detracted from any substance the film may have had. Overall, I found it to be an amateurish attempt at creating a unique cinematic experience. I would advise others to steer clear of this one.