Wiccans, as believers of the Wiccan religion, acknowledge the existence of higher powers that they refer to as deities. These deities are seen as divine beings that have power and influence over different aspects of life and the natural world. Wiccans believe in a duotheistic system, meaning that they recognize both a god and a goddess as the main divine forces in their religion. **The god is often associated with the sun, masculinity, and the wild, while the goddess is associated with the moon, femininity, and nature**. Additionally, Wiccans also acknowledge and work with various other deities from different cultural pantheons, such as Celtic, Norse, Greek, or Egyptian gods and goddesses, depending on personal preference or spiritual connection. **These deities are seen as benevolent beings who can be called upon for guidance, protection, and assistance**.
**These deities are seen as benevolent beings who can be called upon for guidance, protection, and assistance**. Wiccans believe in the concept of polytheism, which allows for the acknowledgment and reverence of multiple deities simultaneously. **It is important to note that Wiccans view their relationship with these deities as mutually beneficial, with respect and reverence being key components**.
Review: Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
Iona Sheehan travels to Ireland searching for her roots. From her maternal grandmother she learned about her ancestor, the Dark Witch Sorcha and decides to explore Count Mayo where her ancestor’s blood and magick grows stronger every generation. Iona finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer who are more than happy to invite her to their home and teach her magick. Her lessons are necessary, as all three of their strength is needed to defeat the dark demon, Cabhan who has been plotting to destroy them for centuries.
This is my first Nora Roberts book . The news may shock you, as she is one of America’s bestselling authors who wrote over 200 books, and is called “America’s favorite writer” by The New Yorker. I’ve never picked up one of her books as I don’t often read true romance/erotica. But last year I heard that she was writing a new fantasy trilogy about witchcraft, demons, and blood magick, and I thought that this was a great excuse to read her new book, Dark Witch.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the book as I was bored with it after reading 10 chapters. I was expecting the fight between witches and demons to develop, instead I ended up reading a story that focused more on the romance and relationships with family and friends than on the fated battle of good vs. evil between the O’Conners and Cabhan. I had to wait until the last two chapters for the real fight to begin. For a powerful sorcerer who’s curse but still strong enough to shape shift into a large wolf spends a lot of time lurking in the shadows, even though he had several chances to attack the O’Conners.
Iona Sheehan is the strongest of the female cast, as she is brave, bold, and yearns for acceptance from her family and the only man she admires. She struggles to strengthen her powers but eventually learns to reach her full potential until her cousins decide that it’s time to include her into their circle. And as Iona’s magick evolves so does her character from the timid, fragile girl to the daring, stubborn witch willing to put herself first before her family and friends, and proves that she’s much stronger than they took her for. She finds a stable job with Boyle, her new boss and admirer.
Boyle is a stubborn, pig-headed, and difficult man to come to terms with. But he can also be the white knight when he wants, as he’s protective of Iona and her feelings. But I found their relationship wishy-washy at first after their string of love affairs and the couple not deciding which direction their romance was turning to.
Overall, this wasn’t the greatest fantasy novel I’ve read but I’m sure Nora Roberts fans will beg to differ. As a first time reader of the author’s books, I’ll give her credit for writing a gripping romance story between a mortal and a witch (some erotic sex scenes are included). I just wished that she gave Cabhan a much larger appearance in the present time or else I’ll be persuaded to read the next book. I also felt the dialogue of the characters was awful.
My verdict: 2 hoots out of 5.
With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.
Wiccans often establish personal relationships with their chosen deities through prayer, meditation, rituals, and offerings. **The acknowledgment and interaction with higher powers in the Wiccan faith is seen as an integral part of spiritual practice and growth**..
Reviews for "Divine Masculinity: Exploring the God Archetypes in Wicca"
1. John - 2 stars: I found "What higher powers do wiccans acknowledge" to be quite disappointing. The author barely scratched the surface of the topic and failed to provide any in-depth explanation or analysis. The information given was very basic and didn't really delve into the complexities of Wiccan beliefs. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time reading this.
2. Sarah - 1 star: This article on "What higher powers do wiccans acknowledge" was incredibly superficial and lacked substance. It only provided a brief overview of the topic without going into any detail. I was hoping for a more in-depth analysis of the different deities and supernatural forces Wiccans believe in, but unfortunately, this article fell short. It failed to address any of the important aspects of Wiccan theology and left me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Mark - 2 stars: I was disappointed with the article "What higher powers do wiccans acknowledge" as it failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Wiccan beliefs. The author only briefly mentioned some of the common deities and didn't address the role of higher powers in rituals and spellwork. I was expecting a more detailed exploration of the spiritual practices and beliefs within Wicca, but this article barely scratched the surface.
4. Emily - 1 star: "What higher powers do wiccans acknowledge" was a poorly written article that left me with more questions than answers. The information provided was vague and shallow, offering no real insight into the topic. It failed to explore the intricacies of Wiccan beliefs and the different deities they acknowledge. Overall, I found this article to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Wicca.