Security symbols are an important aspect of Wicca, a modern pagan witchcraft religion. These symbols are used to enhance protection and ward off negative energy or entities. Wiccans believe in the power of symbols to connect with spiritual forces and bring about desired outcomes. One such symbol commonly used in Wiccan practices is the pentacle. The pentacle is a five-pointed star within a circle and represents the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. It is seen as a powerful protective symbol and is often worn as jewelry or hung in sacred spaces.
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Perhaps part of the problem is that the category rewards numerous women who are older than 40, who are black or ethnic, or who are character actresses, rather than traditional beauties. The Ambies, hosted in its inaugural run by comedian and podcaster Cameron Esposito, aspires to be for podcasts what the Emmys and the Oscars are for TV and movies a recognition of the industry s best by the industry s best and a guide for would-be fans who just want a recommendation for something good.
It is seen as a powerful protective symbol and is often worn as jewelry or hung in sacred spaces. The pentacle is believed to protect the wearer or space from harm and negative energies. Another important symbol in Wicca is the triquetra, also known as the triple goddess symbol.
What's Behind The Best Supporting Actress Curse? Plain, Old, Unmagical Sexism
As legend has it, women's film careers are "cursed" by winning the best supporting actress Academy Award. (From left) winners Marisa Tomei in 1993, Jennifer Hudson in 2007 and Mira Sorvino in 1996. Barry King/Liaison/Getty Images; Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images; Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption Barry King/Liaison/Getty Images; Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images; Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty ImagesAs legend has it, women's film careers are "cursed" by winning the best supporting actress Academy Award. (From left) winners Marisa Tomei in 1993, Jennifer Hudson in 2007 and Mira Sorvino in 1996.
Barry King/Liaison/Getty Images; Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images; Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images
As if there's not enough controversy over the Oscars, there's also the matter of a curse.
This Hollywood rumor is often said to have started back in 1993, when Marisa Tomei won best supporting actress for My Cousin Vinny. Rather than going on to star in huge movies, as one might expect of a comely and talented Oscar winner, Tomei's film career fizzled. She appeared in small roles, or small films. Even the legitimacy of her win became an urban legend. Thus the curse: Winning best supporting actress is a career killer.
The A-list, movie-star promise that an Academy Award might suggest never materialized with Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite) or Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King), either — even though both are extremely accomplished thespians with impressive resumes. And Jennifer Hudson virtually disappeared from the big screen after Dreamgirls. Amy Nicholson, chief film critic for MTV News, points to Kim Basinger as yet another classic example.
"She won for L.A. Confidential and then she just immediately had no work for three years," she says. "You look at a winner like Brenda Fricker, who won for My Left Foot — the same film that Daniel Day-Lewis won for, which turned him into a huge star. And three years later, you have [Fricker] playing roles like 'Pigeon Lady' in Home Alone 2. And you see that happen to a talented actress and you can't help but wonder — yeah, is there a curse?"
It's a symptom of the fact that there aren't a lot of roles. It's really just a symptom of the movies.
Amy Nicholson, chief film critic for MTV News
To be clear, Nicholson does not believe in this curse. Not at all. Not even remotely. This, she says, is plain, old, unmagical sexism. Basinger was 44 when she won best supporting actress. Perhaps part of the problem is that the category rewards numerous women who are older than 40, who are black or "ethnic," or who are character actresses, rather than traditional beauties.
"It's a symptom of the fact that there aren't a lot of roles," Nicholson says. "It's really just a symptom of the movies, you know?"
Then there's the expectation for Oscar winners to follow up with meaty, meaningful roles. If you're a best supporting actress who doesn't want to play a background wife or mom, that often means having to appear in smaller movies. Show up in a big blockbuster for exposure and to capitalize on your win, and you risk being mocked.
Nicholson says that happened to Angelina Jolie, when she starred in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider after winning best supporting actress for Girl, Interrupted. But Jolie helped prove that the best supporting actress curse is utterly bogus. "Now she's the most reliable female box office draw that we have," Nicholson says.
Curse? What curse? Above, best supporting actress winners Cate Blanchett in 2005, Penélope Cruz in 2009 and Anne Hathaway in 2013. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption Frank Micelotta/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesCurse? What curse? Above, best supporting actress winners Cate Blanchett in 2005, Penélope Cruz in 2009 and Anne Hathaway in 2013.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Curse-truthers, look at the spectacular careers of Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Penélope Cruz and Tilda Swinton. Before Swinton's best supporting actress win for Michael Clayton, she flew under the pop culture radar for years. Now Nicholson says, it feels like she's in everything.
There's no talk of a best supporting actor curse, partly because the awards tend to be bestowed on established older stars of the Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin generation, or to sexy foreigners such as Javier Bardem or Christoph Waltz. Meanwhile, Nicholson says, female Oscar winners have to deal not just with one alleged curse, but two.
"Sure, you might win an Oscar for best supporting actress or best actress — but then you're probably going to get divorced," she says, sounding irritated.
This curse was taken seriously enough that researchers at the University of Toronto did the math. They found best actress winners have a 63 percent higher chance of divorce.
Yet another story Hollywood tells us about the perils of women having it all.
One of those nominees, for podcast of the year, is “Say Their Name” from DCP Entertainment, a Black-owned independent production company, which tells the stories of Black people killed by police and fundraising for their families.
It consists of three interlocking vesica piscis shapes, forming a three-pointed figure. The triquetra represents the three aspects of the goddess - maiden, mother, and crone. This symbol is often associated with feminine energy and is believed to offer protection and guidance to those who invoke its power. The spiral is another symbol commonly used in Wicca for security purposes. Spirals are believed to represent the continuous cycle of life and the ever-changing nature of the universe. Wiccans believe that the spiral can ward off negative energies and create a protective barrier around the individual or space. Additionally, the moon is a significant symbol in Wicca. The phases of the moon are seen as representations of different aspects of the goddess. The full moon is associated with protection and enhancing psychic abilities, making it a powerful symbol for security. Wiccans often perform rituals or spells during specific moon phases to harness the energy of the moon and enhance their security practices. In conclusion, security symbols play a vital role in Wiccan practices. The pentacle, triquetra, spiral, and moon are just a few examples of symbols used to enhance protection and ward off negative energies. These symbols are believed to connect with spiritual forces and offer guidance and security to those who invoke their power..
Reviews for "How Wiccan Security Symbols Can Empower and Protect You"
1. Mike - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Security symbols wicca". The book claims to provide a comprehensive guide to security symbols in Wicca, but it was filled with inaccuracies and misinformation. The author seemed to have a limited understanding of Wicca and its symbols, making it difficult to trust the information provided. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about security symbols in Wicca.
2. Amanda - 1 star - "Security symbols wicca" was a complete waste of time. The content was poorly organized and poorly written. It felt like the author just threw together random information without any clear purpose or structure. Additionally, the book lacked any depth or analysis, leaving the reader with a shallow understanding of the topic. Save your money and look for a more reputable source for information on security symbols in Wicca.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I was hoping "Security symbols wicca" would shed light on the significance and meaning of security symbols in Wiccan practices, but unfortunately, it fell short. The information provided was very basic and lacked any real depth or insight. The book also lacked any practical application, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and like I wasted my money. I would not recommend this book to anyone serious about learning about security symbols in Wicca.
4. Sarah - 1 star - "Security symbols wicca" was not what I expected at all. The book was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, making it difficult to follow. Additionally, the content was repetitive and lacked any real substance. It felt like the author was just trying to fill pages without providing any valuable information. I would strongly advise against wasting your time and money on this book.
5. Chris - 2 stars - I found "Security symbols wicca" to be extremely confusing and poorly explained. The author assumed too much prior knowledge, leaving me feeling lost and frustrated. The book also lacked any clear structure or organization, making it hard to follow along. Overall, I found it to be a frustrating and ineffective resource for learning about security symbols in Wicca.