A Wiccan is a practitioner of Wicca, which is a contemporary pagan religious movement. Wicca was developed in the mid-20th century and is influenced by various ancient pagan beliefs and practices. Wiccans worship nature and believe in the presence of a divine energy that permeates the universe. Wiccans follow a nature-centered spirituality and emphasize the importance of living in harmony with the earth. They celebrate the cycles of the seasons and the phases of the moon, often through rituals and ceremonies. Wiccans believe in the interconnectedness of all things and strive to live in balance with the natural world.
For this was the first recorded specimen of a coelacanth (pronounced see-la-canth) - a fish thought to have been extinct for more than 65 million years, which was believed to be 'the missing link' that marked the moment when animal life first left the ocean for the land.
For this was the first recorded specimen of a coelacanth pronounced see-la-canth - a fish thought to have been extinct for more than 65 million years, which was believed to be the missing link that marked the moment when animal life first left the ocean for the land. Previously, the coelacanth s existence had only ever been known from fossil records that showed the species had lived as long as 400million years ago - 200 million years before dinosaurs had first walked the Earth.
Wiccans believe in the interconnectedness of all things and strive to live in balance with the natural world. In Wicca, there is a strong emphasis on personal experience and individual spiritual development. Wiccans believe in personal responsibility and the importance of free will.
The Fish Curse.
I was just a kid when my uncle Gary first told me about the curse. Of course, at the time, he was standing in an icy river wearing shoes with carpet glued to the soles, so I didn’t put a lot of stock in what he was saying. But the longer I’m alive, the more it makes sense. The men in our family are fish cursed. This is a real thing.
Fish mock us and intentionally make us look bad.
Our father has the mildest case…or it’s a numbers game and he simply outfishes the curse. He was even elected to be president of a fly-fishing club. Uncle Gary and I, however, have a full-blown “Hope-Diamond” grade case, as if some distant relative had stolen the idol that Greg Brady found in a cave in Hawaii … except with fish.
While my uncle is mostly cursed with not catching any fish at all, despite an arsenal of the latest fish catching equipment and gadgets (like carpet shoes), I suffer a more creative strain; Fish go out of their way to make me look bad. I’ll get back from a day of fly fishing or a salt water trip, and I’ll have photos that immediately increase my wife’s sense of humor. She is always quick to make me aware of how much funnier she got while I was off fishing. I have to stop taking these sort of photos.
These tiny fish that somehow accidentally get hooked stealing my bait or mooning my fly have plagued me for years. But the ultimate insult required me to fly a couple thousand miles and get into a boat headed toward rough seas in the gulf of Mexico.
The family and I were vacationing in Akumal when I offered to take my brother-in-law on a quick fishing trip for dorado. All week long we watched boats come back with smiling anglers and a few big dorado to show off before taking them to the resort’s kitchen. We couldn’t lose! The waters were lousy with giant fish and these boat guys were professionals.
Meanwhile, in dark waters, the fish were hatching their greatest plot ever.
I found a boat and made a deal with the skipper, he was hesitant to go out due to the rough seas, but in Mexico cash has a way of getting things done. We sailed out on a medium-sized fishing skiff into heavy swells. As the deck hands were just putting the lures into the water one of the rods bent hard and the reel began singing. They quickly grabbed me and poorly fitted this cod piece thing to me, sat me down on a cooler and shoved a rod into my hands that apparently had a compact car on the line. The fish pulled harder than anything I’ve ever held onto, short of a loose piano on wheels.
“Dorado?” I asked the guide. He shook his head, “big shark, maybe marlin.” The reel screamed and they poured water on it as the line ran out, in the distance a big blue marlin jumped out of the water trying to throw the hook. Marlin, that word echoed in my brain, I was going to be Hemmingway! Ever since I was a little kid I used to read books about fishing and fish field guides. Blue Marlin is the fish every angler dreams of. It’s the fish you get stuffed and hung over your fireplace so you can stand around drinking scotch and recounting the tale of catching the taxidermic eyesore for the rest of your godforsaken life. I had broken the curse, I had a marlin on the line…and not a little tiny one.
I was deep in the cruelest phase of the curse… hope and fantasy. I could already see myself in a grainy black and white photo standing on a dock with the huge fish, giant cigar in my teeth, wife finally not making fun of my fishing, my children and in-laws beaming with respect. The photo would forever grace some dockside bar where only the most grizzled men drank. They would silently toast the noble fish and the man who’d bested it.
One thing no writer can really convey is how much work it is fighting a really big fish. Especially if you are not on a boat that is set up for it. Remember in Jaws when Quint had the fancy chair that he sat strapped into for fighting the shark? I had a cooler. I fought the beast for a couple of hours, at times on my knees on top of a life vest in the bow, or sitting on the cooler. It managed to wrap the line around the prop a couple of times and in general put up one hell of a fight. My arms burned and my brother-in-law was getting bored because he couldn’t fish while I had the marlin on. He also couldn’t take a picture of it as proof. The fish jumped into the air several times for a photo-op, but after a bunch of shots of splashes etc, the camera battery died. No one would believe me unless I brought the thing to the beach. For another hour, I fought the fish and the skipper’s incompetence at keeping the props away from my line.
I brought the fish alongside the boat twice, but there would be no picture to prove this. Then, when he was trying to boat it, the deckhand muttered “pinche” which I believe means “whoops” in Spanish. He held up a bare hook. I briefly considered shoving him in.
We returned with no fish. My brother in law never touched a rod, and apparently can’t take a picture of a fish to save his life. It also varies by mood if he will confirm the existence of the marlin. Only uncle Gary believes me. Or says he does.
The curse is real. I apologize to my sons for passing it on. Perhaps if I sacrifice the youngest to the sea? Just kidding.
You should listen to people with carpet glued to their shoes, they are wise.
These tiny fish that somehow accidentally get hooked stealing my bait or mooning my fly have plagued me for years. But the ultimate insult required me to fly a couple thousand miles and get into a boat headed toward rough seas in the gulf of Mexico.
They do not have a central authority or hierarchy, and each individual is encouraged to develop their own relationship with the divine. Wiccans believe in the existence of a goddess and a god, who are seen as complementary and equal forces. They often worship these deities through rituals and ceremonies, which may involve casting spells, creating sacred circles, and working with various tools and symbols. Contrary to common misconceptions, Wicca is not associated with Satanism or black magic. Wiccans do not believe in a devil or engage in harmful or manipulative practices. They adhere to a moral code that promotes harm to none and respect for all living beings. Overall, Wiccans are individuals who seek to connect with the divine through nature and live in harmony with the earth. They embrace their personal power and strive to live their lives in alignment with their spiritual beliefs..
Reviews for "The Goddess and the God: Exploring the Wiccan Deities."
1. Jenna - ★★☆☆☆
I didn't like "What's a Wiccan" because I didn't feel like the author provided enough depth or exploration into the religion. The book felt more like a surface-level introduction rather than a comprehensive guide. I was left wanting more information on the different traditions and practices within Wicca, but the book only skimmed over these topics. Additionally, I found the writing style to be a bit dull and lacking in excitement. Overall, I think there are better resources out there for those interested in learning about Wicca.
2. Ryan - ★☆☆☆☆
As someone who was curious about Wicca, I was really disappointed with "What's a Wiccan." The book did little to clarify my understanding of Wicca and left me more confused than before. The explanations were vague and lacked concrete examples, making it difficult for me to grasp the concepts being discussed. Furthermore, I found the author's writing style to be monotonous and uninspiring, which made it even harder for me to stay engaged with the content. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive and informative introduction to Wicca.
3. Melissa - ★★☆☆☆
"What's a Wiccan" didn't meet my expectations. While it did provide a general overview of Wicca, I felt like the author glossed over important aspects and failed to delve deeper into the philosophy and belief system of the religion. The book lacked the depth I was looking for and felt more like a brief introduction rather than a comprehensive guide. I also found the writing style to be a bit dry and lacking in enthusiasm, which made it hard for me to stay engaged. Overall, I believe there are better resources available for those seeking a more comprehensive understanding of Wicca.
4. Jacob - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "What's a Wiccan" to be highly disappointing. The author's explanations were confusing and lacked clarity, making it difficult for me to grasp the concepts being discussed. The writing style was also quite dull, which made it hard for me to stay engaged and interested in the subject matter. I believe there are far better resources available for those looking to learn about Wicca, and I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a detailed and informative introduction to the religion.