The concept of a "wholly occult oracle" refers to a form of divination that is completely hidden or concealed from ordinary perception. It suggests a medium or source of divine guidance that is beyond the realm of human understanding and can only be accessed through supernatural means. In many cultures and belief systems, oracles have been revered as conduits of divine wisdom and predictors of the future. They are often sought after for answers, guidance, and insights into important decisions and events. A "wholly occult oracle" takes this idea to a deeper level, suggesting a source of knowledge that is not just mysterious or enigmatic, but entirely hidden from human knowledge and perception. It implies that the workings and revelations of such an oracle are beyond the grasp of ordinary senses and understanding.
Therefore, putting together everything we've learned here, we know to call this woman, The One Leg, who will devour your flesh and drink your blood: La Patasola.
Sarah and Naomi So James wants to propose Naomi wants to finish the relationship Sarah is dissatisfied with both the home situation and Daniel s attitude Daniel is a dick Everything falls apart and there are sparks between Daniel and Naomi that leads to an illicit kiss though the idea that Naomi would go for Daniel stretches credulity. Naomi tells a story her Colombian grandmother used to tell about La Patasola Luciana Faulhaber one-legged who was a beautiful woman who cheated on her husband, for which he killed her and chopped a leg off in the process.
It implies that the workings and revelations of such an oracle are beyond the grasp of ordinary senses and understanding. This notion of a wholly occult oracle can be found in various mystical and esoteric traditions, where practitioners seek to tap into the hidden realms of consciousness and beyond. It is believed that through spiritual practices, rituals, and altered states of consciousness, one can access hidden knowledge and insights that are not available through rational thinking or ordinary perception.
La patasola curse lore
So, when a film has in its blurb “…haunted by La Patasola, a famed vampiric monster from Amazonian folklore…” I honestly didn’t think I’d be writing a Use of Tropes article rather than a review. However, there is blessed little vampiric in AJ Jones’ 2022 movie. Normally I turn to Bane for comparative vampire legends but La Patasola does not appear in her book – however she is listed in Jane Alexander’s The Mind Body Spirit Miscellany, which says: “‘One Foot.’ Beautiful, often familiar-looking woman who reveals her true monstrous one-legged form after a time, sucking her victims’ blood or devouring their flesh.”
| Colombian tryst |
The film starts with a scene in 19th Century Colombia, where a man (Jack Young) and a woman (Daniela Gonzalez) run to have a tryst. She has second thoughts for a moment – she is married – but he kisses her and then they hear something in the forest. He goes to investigate and we hear him scream and yell for her to run…
| Sarah, James and Daniel |
In the modern day USA we see a pickup truck. The driver Daniel (AJ Jones, Lovecraft Country) is arguing with Naomi (Najah Bradley), the new girlfriend of his friend James (Patrick R. Walker). The issue between the two is that she is a feminist and he is an embodiment of fragile male privilege. Honestly, there is nothing likable about the character and, as the film goes on, he doesn’t improve. His wife, Sarah (Gillie Jones), seems long suffering and we get a sense of his fragility when he talks about the role of man being the provider and Naomi asks what he does for work – as the film develops we discover Sarah supports him (unable to follow her dream of going to nursing school as she has to work) whilst he tries to get his business off the ground – he’s been doing that for five years.
| Naomi and James |
They are flagged down by a park ranger (Mark Pettit) and this is the stereotypical warning for the kids going into the woods but as we’ll see the warning is superfluous. Rather it is for Naomi to complain about the way Daniel interacted with authority, whilst he had black people in the car. Anyhoo, they get to Bear Lake, set up camp and tell ghost stories. Even in this, Naomi and Daniel antagonise each other. Naomi tells a story her Colombian grandmother used to tell about La Patasola (Luciana Faulhaber) – one-legged – who was a beautiful woman who cheated on her husband, for which he killed her and chopped a leg off in the process.
| La Patasola appears |
She won’t say the creature’s name as it summons her – which causes Daniel to call her bravery into doubt – so she speaks the name… and this makes the ranger, in the normal use of the trope, superfluous as he is meant to foreshadow the trouble by referencing the dangers and they were not there until Naomi named them… the creature being summoned after meeting him (though in the exchange with the ranger, Daniel mentioned having a flare gun, which lets us know he has one and fire kills the creature). La Patasola punishes the unfaithful (and it is suggested that the pure cannot see her, though this does not seem to be the case).
| Sarah and Naomi |
So… James wants to propose… Naomi wants to finish the relationship… Sarah is dissatisfied with both the home situation and Daniel’s attitude… Daniel is a dick… Everything falls apart and there are sparks between Daniel and Naomi that leads to an illicit kiss (though the idea that Naomi would go for Daniel stretches credulity). La Patasola is haunting the woods and… well for ages not much happens and when it does there is little in the way of atmosphere and nothing that resembles vampirism. Worse, when we see her in her full monster form it is a blooming awful construct that is pure creature feature – so why the Use of Tropes?
| monstrous form |
It centres on her backstory – the fact is that several cultures have a version of myth that Others women and makes them monstrous, and whilst often this is the hag (ie. The woman who is of no more use to the patriarchy due to their lack of fertility), it is also often the beautiful young woman who perhaps loses their child (fails in their imposed role of incubator), attacks other children (anti-maternal) or, in this case, enforces her body autonomy against the wishes of her husband. (Note, whilst the myth talks about unfaithfulness it is the unfaithful woman who is punished by being transformed into the monstrous and not the man). Much like the penangglan or the legend of Lilith this is the Othering of the female, and that is the trope – it would have been nice if the film had actually had more (or anything) vampiric but the connection to the vampire myth is mentioned during Naomi’s story.
The imdb page is here.
Posted by Taliesin_ttlg at 11:00 AM
"I'm more than the siren
I live alone in the world:
and no one can resist me
because I am the Patasola.
On the road, at home,
on the mountain and the river,
in the air and in the clouds
all that exists is mine."
The idea of a wholly occult oracle challenges the limitations of human understanding and invites individuals to transcend the boundaries of the known world. It suggests that there are depths of wisdom and truths that can only be accessed through a deep, intuitive connection with the divine or supernatural forces. Ultimately, the concept of a wholly occult oracle highlights the mystical and spiritual dimensions of human existence. It reminds us of the vastness of the universe and the possibilities that lie beyond our ordinary senses and rational thinking. In seeking the guidance of a wholly occult oracle, individuals embark on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, hoping to unlock hidden truths and tap into the boundless wisdom of the divine..
Reviews for "Embracing the Unseen: Strengthening Your Connection to the Wholly Occult Oracle"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed by "Wholly occult oracle". The book promised to be a thrilling and suspenseful occult mystery, but it fell flat for me. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. The plot was also confusing and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be mysterious, but ended up losing me along the way. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and would not recommend it.
2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't finish reading "Wholly occult oracle" because it was just too slow and boring for my taste. The story dragged on and the pacing seemed off. The writing style did not captivate me and I found it hard to stay interested. I was hoping for a gripping occult thriller, but instead found myself struggling to get through each chapter. It's rare for me to not finish a book, but unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Wholly occult oracle" to be too predictable and lacking originality. The twist and turns were not surprising and the ending was unsatisfying. The writing style was average, and I didn't feel compelled to keep reading. The author relied too much on clichés within the occult genre and failed to bring anything new to the table. Overall, I was left wanting more and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Michael - 2 stars - "Wholly occult oracle" failed to live up to the hype for me. The plot was promising, but it lacked depth and complexity. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions often felt forced. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. I also found the writing style to be unengaging and had trouble connecting with the story. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow readers.