The Origins of Traditional Witchcraft and Folklore

Traditional witchcraft and folklore are fascinating subjects that have captivated the minds of people for centuries. In his book, "Traditional Witchcraft and Folklore," Roger J Horne delves into the depths of these mysterious practices and beliefs, shedding light on the rich history and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Horne begins by exploring the origins of traditional witchcraft, tracing its roots back to ancient pagan practices. He highlights the importance of understanding folklore as a means of understanding traditional witchcraft, as the two are intrinsically linked. Folklore, he argues, is a repository of knowledge and wisdom that has been passed down through oral tradition and serves as a guide for practitioners of witchcraft. Throughout the book, Horne explores various aspects of traditional witchcraft and its connection to folklore.

A while back I looked at the nauseatingly adorable The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, a little film that played out like three episodes of a kids’ show. There was a talking cat, a kindly old woman and a benevolent and sentient wind. And then everything got super dark. And then it got super adorable again! Unico was a wild ride – insofar as such a product can be – and one I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to experience again. And then Unico and the Island of Magic appeared in my life, so here we are.

It s something that I should commend the films for; they have a pretty decent imagination and if they didn t insist on being so cute all the time, there s definitely potential for some really riveting stuff. If you ve ever experienced a fever dream where you wake up from a nightmare covered in sweat feeling like someone has hollowed out your insides with an ice cream scoop, that s what it feels like whenever Lord Kuruku is on screen.

Throughout the book, Horne explores various aspects of traditional witchcraft and its connection to folklore. He discusses the significance of nature and the natural world, emphasizing the importance of the elements, plants, and animals in traditional witchcraft practices. He also delves into the role of folk magic, charms, and spells in traditional witchcraft, emphasizing their use as tools for healing, protection, and divination.

No Question: Unico Is The Most Horrifying Children's Movie Ever Made

We are well aware that plenty of so-called "children's movies" are actually nightmares wrapped in candy. But no movie can compete on a sheer terror scale with the animated movies of Unico — specifically Unico In the Island of Magic, which is the most horrifying film ever created for children.

Earlier this week, the AV Club zoomed in on The Last Unicorn, calling the cartoon "nightmare fuel to a generation of kids." And while I will concur that The Last Unicorn is indeed very troubling, it doesn't even come close to the fucked-up horror that is Unico in the Island of Magic. A movie so deeply disturbing that the first time I saw it, I threw up on my babysitter's comforter. Let me show you why.

Unico the actual character was created by legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka. The being itself is basically what a unicorn would look like if it was also a kitten. Instead of trotting, Unico leaps and bounds across the screen like he's chasing an imaginary ball of string. It's important to know this, because a lot of really terrible shit is about to happen to a baby animal with pink hair. Clearly the creators intentionally crafted the cutest animal imaginable so that every time someone kicks, hits, or tries to kill Unico kids learn the valuable lesson that the world is garbage.

And this movie comes out swinging. In the opening scene, Unico is abandoned by her caretaker, the West Wind. But before evaporating into nothingness the Wind twists the knife for our tiny hero explaining:

"Poor, innocent creature. As the West Wind, the Gods have ordered me to abandon you on the hill of oblivion. But I cannot do it. Instead I will leave you here, Unico, and pray that the Gods don't find you. Once again, you are all alone. You will remember nothing of what has happened. Goodbye, Unico."

Holy shit. Not only does the West Wind just throw Unico into a random forest, but she makes sure to tell the baby unicorn that she is both alone and basically being hunted by "the gods." Everyone wants you dead Unico, but don't worry you're not going to remember any of this anyway, the West Wind was just telling you this so she could marvel at her own gesture of kindness before abandoning you in this nightmare forest. And that's just the start of this movie!

The Wind disappears, presumably mind-wiping our hero. And Unico just starts screaming. Understandable. This is five minutes into the movie.

But don't worry soon enough, Unico meets Melvin the Magnificat, who immediately starts punching the unicorn in the face.

The cat creature Melvin threatens to kill Unico (fun!), so Unico bolts. Cut to the unicorn walking up to random woodland creatures and stating, "Hi. I'm Unico, who are you?" No one engages. Out of nowhere, it starts raining in the forest and Unico begins to cry, again. He wails, "Nobody seems to like me in this forest!" The animators then decide to zoom in on a crying, soaked Unico not once, but three times. This is anguish porn at the highest level.

And here's when things start to get dark.

After crying for three zoom-ins, Unico hears a flute. The flute, it turns out, is coming from a sorcerer's apprentice who has a fantastic cape and even better bangs. His name is Toby and his job is to lure all the animals of the forest close to his person, so he can zap them into some sort of lifeless cutout thing. WHAT? Yes, Toby is murdering all the forest creatures with magic!

But why? Why is Toby mindlessly turning all the forest animals into horrible looking paper dolls? Because that's what THE MOST TERRIFYING THING EVER CREATED wants him to do. Enter Lord Kuruku.

This terrifying floating thing Lord Kuruku, who isn't a person (more on that later) but an omnipotent floating orb that is constantly shrieking. If you've ever experienced a fever dream where you wake up from a nightmare covered in sweat feeling like someone has hollowed out your insides with an ice cream scoop, that's what it feels like whenever Lord Kuruku is on screen.

Things You Should Know About Lord Kuruku:

• He can fly.
• He has arms? I think? But mostly he exists in a red ball shape, and I'm not sure if he has legs.
• He has seemingly unlimited power.
• Kuruku has eyeballs that can move from on top of his head to the bottom of his head depending on his mood swings.
• He can turn into a rainbow, or really any shape at all.
• He can move through walls. You're never safe.
• His voice sounds like a screaming grandmother fighting for her life against Jim Henson's deathMuppet.
• He wants to kill all life on the planet.
• It physically hurts to listen to his voice with earbuds.

Lord Kuruku is, without a doubt, the most horrifying animated creation to ever exist. The most bewildering part to this character? Adult humans came up with this idea. A real live adult thought, "Kids are going to love this." And then a bunch of their colleagues agreed this thought. "What if we made his voice sounds like two cats fighting in a bag!" "Let's give his face no discernible shape" "I showed this sketch to my nephew last night and he threw up in his hand, I think we've got a winner people!"

Kids aren't going to love hating Lord Kuruku. Kids are going to see Lord Kuruku, piss on the carpet, and cover it up with an oddly placed playhouse.

Moving on. Within moments, you realize that Kuruku is the one pulling all the strings in this villain outfit. And what does he want? PEOPLE. He wants all the people and every living creature to be turned into a living puppet. That's right, you read that correctly, a living puppet. Those weird figures that Toby was zapping the animals into are actually living dolls. He doesn't want them to die, not Kuruku. He wants all humans and creatures and things to be imprisoned forever as puppets, unable to speak, unable to talk, but able to feel because this movie goes to A LOT of trouble to remind the audience that these creations are "living."

Flash forward to the aforementioned town, where Unico is taken in by a kindly girl named Cheri. No surprise here, Cheri is actually Toby's little sister. All this plotting just leads up to putting Toby and Cheri in the same building just so they can all helplessly watch as Kuruku turns their parents into puppets. BEHOLD, the most fucked up scene in a kids movie, ever.

But why? Why is Toby mindlessly turning all the forest animals into horrible looking paper dolls? Because that's what THE MOST TERRIFYING THING EVER CREATED wants him to do. Enter Lord Kuruku.

One of the main highlights of Horne's book is his exploration of the witch's familiar. He delves into the history and mythology surrounding familiars, discussing their role as spirit guides and companions for witches. He also touches upon the controversial topic of animal sacrifice, explaining its historical context and the various beliefs surrounding it within traditional witchcraft. What sets "Traditional Witchcraft and Folklore" apart is Horne's emphasis on the practical aspects of traditional witchcraft. He provides detailed rituals and spells that practitioners can incorporate into their own practice, offering guidance and advice for those interested in exploring this ancient tradition. Overall, "Traditional Witchcraft and Folklore" by Roger J Horne is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of traditional witchcraft and its intimate connection to folklore. Horne's in-depth research and practical approach make this book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving into the mysterious world of traditional witchcraft..

Reviews for "The Significance of Symbols in Traditional Witchcraft"

- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Traditional witchcraft and folklore by Roger J Horne." The book promised to delve into the rich history and traditions of witchcraft, but I found it to be a shallow and superficial overview. The author failed to provide any meaningful insights or depth. It felt like a rushed and poorly researched book that relied heavily on generic information that can be found easily online. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive understanding of traditional witchcraft and folklore.

- John - 1 star - "Traditional witchcraft and folklore by Roger J Horne" was a complete waste of my time. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their personal beliefs and practices rather than offering any meaningful insights into traditional witchcraft. The book lacked any historical context or real research, and instead was filled with personal anecdotes and opinionated statements. I was expecting a scholarly exploration of the subject, but was sorely disappointed. Save your money and look for a better book on traditional witchcraft.

- Emily - 2 stars - I was excited to dive into "Traditional witchcraft and folklore by Roger J Horne," but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The book lacked structure and organization, making it difficult to follow along and understand the concepts presented. It felt disjointed and scattered, jumping from topic to topic without offering a clear framework. Additionally, I found the writing style to be overly verbose and pretentious. While the book did touch upon some interesting folklore, it failed to provide any real depth or analysis. Overall, it fell short of being a comprehensive guide on traditional witchcraft.

The Role of Nature in Traditional Witchcraft and Folklore