The Wicked Witch of the West is a prominent character in L. Frank Baum's famous children's novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." This tale, published in 1900, follows the journey of a young girl named Dorothy Gale, who is transported from her dull, gray Kansas home to the colorful and magical land of Oz. Throughout her adventure, Dorothy encounters various obstacles, including the formidable Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West, often simply referred to as the Wicked Witch, is one of the primary antagonists in the story. She rules over the western region of Oz, which is known for its desolate and barren landscapes.
Many civilizations have celebrated a harvest festival around the equinox. In the 1700s, the Bavarians (part of present day Germany) began a festival that starts in the last week of September. They called this festival Oktoberfest. The festival had lots of feasting and celebrating. Oktoberfest is still celebrated in Bavaria today.
They re used to amplify and release energy, and they can either be left unlit around your pad to promote positive vibes or used lit in rituals and spells. The act of burning is believed to connect the physical world to the spiritual realm, but the other key element here is about using different candle colors.
She rules over the western region of Oz, which is known for its desolate and barren landscapes. Unlike her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who is killed when Dorothy's house crash-lands in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch of the West survives and seeks revenge on Dorothy for her sister's demise. Dorothy's unintentional act of squashing the Wicked Witch of the East with her house sparks a deep-rooted hatred within the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Origins and Practices of Mabon
Mabon is a pagan holiday, and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year. Mabon celebrates the autumnal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, this September 23 rd will be the autumnal equinox. However, the southern hemisphere already celebrated Mabon on March 20, when the Northern hemisphere celebrated Ostara. It also celebrates the mid-harvest festival (also known as the second harvest).
Many civilizations have celebrated a harvest festival around the equinox. In the 1700s, the Bavarians (part of present day Germany) began a festival that starts in the last week of September. They called this festival Oktoberfest. The festival had lots of feasting and celebrating. Oktoberfest is still celebrated in Bavaria today.
Photo of a Mabon altar. courtesy of Flickr user Colleen. Available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlshelf/8726509704
Many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest Lammas) and equinox as a time for giving thanks. This time of year is when farmers know how well their summer crops did, and how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you and your family would have enough food for the winter. That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, and animals, and food. The original American Thanksgiving was celebrated on October 3, which makes more sense with harvest times. By the end of November, there’s not that much left to harvest.
The name Mabon comes from the Welsh God, who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess. However, there is evidence that the name was adopted in the 1970s, and the holiday was not originally a Celtic celebration.
To celebrate this holiday, pagans might pick apples. Apples are a common symbol of the second harvest. They may use the apples in an apple harvest ritual that thanks the gods for the bountiful harvest. Others might perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to their lives, as this holiday celebrates a day with equal light and day. Another common ritual is to set up an altar with symbols of the season, such as apples, grapes, and other seasonal harvests. Any sabbat would not be complete without a feast for family and friends.
You can learn more about Mabon with these items:
If you’re just starting to explore magick, you’ve gotta ~let it burn~. Candles are a staple item in any magickal tool kit. They’re used to amplify and release energy, and they can either be left (unlit) around your pad to promote positive vibes or used (lit) in rituals and spells. (Don’t burn down your apartment, kthx.)
When the Witch discovers that Dorothy possesses the deceased witch's enchanted silver shoes, she becomes determined to acquire them and use their power to reinforce her own dominance over Oz. Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West sends her minions, such as the Winged Monkeys and her own personal Winkie Guards, to capture Dorothy and her companions, hoping to obtain the silver shoes. The Witch's actions are marked by cruelty and a desire for power, as she demonstrates through her use of dark magic and her manipulation of the other inhabitants of Oz. However, despite her wicked nature, the Wicked Witch of the West is not invincible. Her vulnerability lies in the fact that she can be harmed by water, causing her to melt away completely. This weakness plays a significant role in the story's climax when Dorothy inadvertently throws water onto the Witch during a confrontation, ultimately leading to her downfall. Overall, the character of the Wicked Witch of the West serves as a symbol of evil, darkness, and power in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Through her actions and interactions with Dorothy and her companions, she teaches important lessons about courage, friendship, and the importance of overcoming obstacles..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch's Weakness: Analyzing the Achilles' Heel of Oz's Villain"
1. John Smith - 2 stars
I found "The Wicked Witch of the West" to be a disappointing read. The characters lacked depth and the plot was predictable. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, without adding any originality to the world of Oz. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing with the series.
2. Sarah Johnson - 3 stars
While "The Wicked Witch of the West" had some promising elements, such as the magical setting of Oz, I ultimately felt let down by the execution of the story. The pacing was slow, making it hard to stay engaged in the plot. Additionally, I found the writing style to be unremarkable and lacked the necessary descriptive details that could have brought the story to life. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are a die-hard fan of the Wizard of Oz franchise.
3. Emily Thompson - 2 stars
"The Wicked Witch of the West" failed to capture my interest from the start. The characters felt flat and the dialogue was uninspiring. It was difficult to care about what happened to them throughout the story. The plot lacked originality and relied too heavily on established tropes. I had high hopes for this book but sadly, it fell short of my expectations.
4. Mark Davis - 1 star
I couldn't make it past the first few chapters of "The Wicked Witch of the West". The writing was dull and lacked any sort of excitement. The characters were forgettable and I couldn't bring myself to care about their journey. The book had potential but failed to deliver a captivating story. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging fantasy read.
5. Laura Adams - 2 stars
"The Wicked Witch of the West" was a disappointing read for me. The world-building felt shallow and underdeveloped, lacking the necessary detail to fully immerse the reader in the story. The pacing was slow and the plot lacked originality, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, it was a forgettable read that left me wanting more from the author.