Wiccan lunar progression is a concept that is deeply rooted in Wiccan traditions and beliefs. In Wicca, the moon holds significant importance and is considered a symbol of feminine energy and power. The lunar cycles play a vital role in Wiccan rituals, magic spells, and the overall spiritual practices of Wiccans. The lunar progression consists of eight distinct phases, each representing a different aspect of the moon's journey. These phases are widely recognized and observed by Wiccans to mark the passage of time and to align their energy and intentions with the natural rhythms of the Earth and the cosmos. The first phase of the lunar progression is the New Moon.
If you've played or at least seen any Street Fighter game, you have a general idea of how to play: the characters face each other in 1-on-1, two rounds out of three, martial arts matches. The objective is to employ all of your fighting skills and special moves to completely drain the opponent's life bar before they do the same to you. Do this twice and you'll be declared the match's winner. Special moves are activated with combinations of direction keys and attack buttons in specific sequences. Each pony (out of the show's six main characters) has her own fighting style and special moves. Twilight Sparkle the unicorn, for example, whacks her foes with a book she's magically levitating, Fluttershy the pegasus is able to summon various woodland animals to her aid, and Applejack the earth pony has a lasso.
The one player mode is called Story , but there is no actual story; you just pick a pony and beat the living snot out of the rest including a clone of yourself, the first opponent with no explanation. A, B and C are weak, medium and strong attacks respectively, and D is magic , a special attack that, depending on the pony, requires to be combined with directional inputs or not.
The first phase of the lunar progression is the New Moon. This is the time when the moon is not visible in the sky, representing the beginning of a new cycle. It is a time for setting intentions, starting anew, and planting seeds for new projects or goals.
MLP: Fighting is Magic: Tribute Edition review by Ognimod
This game is nothing new by now -it's a little bit over a year old- but since a new version of it is being worked on as I speak (unless it was an April Fools' joke that they'll be showing it at some con), and I have taken to playing it again, and I'd really like for Keira-Jo (and, hopefully, some of my other followers who like My Little Pony) to see it, well, I see nothing wrong with a belated English review.
Let me be brief about the pony issue: I love "Friendship is Magic", but I hate the bronies. With a few exceptions I'm proud to call my friends, I believe the majority (and screw it, I said "majority") of them are arrogant, self-righteous jerks who think their very presence is doing the world a favor. I will never understand why a group of people united around a television series about being friendly has its collective head shoved so far up its own ass, unless I believe (and it seems likely, frankly) that they were unlikable jackasses already, before the show came along.
If you're not familiar with the original "Fighting is Magic" game, it was a fan-made video game project by a development team called Mane6. It was going to be a 1-on-1 fighting game starring characters from the series. Two things brought its development to a halt: one, a pre-release build was leaked into the Internet; and two, Hasbro (owners of My Little Pony) threatened to sue Mane6 if the project wasn't stopped at once. I think the latter happened in March or April of 2013. With the project completely dead, Mane6 started work on a different fighting game starring fighting animals (no anthro), with character designs by Lauren Faust herself.
But, as it turns out, Fighting is Magic wasn't completely dead at all; a third party group of developers called SquirrelNET modified the leaked pre-release build into the more or less complete Tribute Edition, which adds a 1-player mode and two extra characters. Tribute Edition was officially acknowledged by Equestria Daily on February 28, 2014.
So, after such a troubled development, is the game any good? Let me put it this way: it was recommended to me by someone who hates bronies even more than I do. If someone like that can enjoy it, then yes, it's good. But what about my opinion, as opposed to his? In short, it's the best fan game I've ever played.
The one player mode is called "Story", but there is no actual story; you just pick a pony and beat the living snot out of the rest (including a clone of yourself, the first opponent) with no explanation. Not that there would be one; even Lauren Faust noted the "irony" of good friends fighting each other. There is also a "Versus" mode for two players to fight locally, and with a special program (separate download) you may play online.
If you've played or at least seen any Street Fighter game, you have a general idea of how to play: the characters face each other in 1-on-1, two rounds out of three, martial arts matches. The objective is to employ all of your fighting skills and special moves to completely drain the opponent's life bar before they do the same to you. Do this twice and you'll be declared the match's winner. Special moves are activated with combinations of direction keys and attack buttons in specific sequences. Each pony (out of the show's six main characters) has her own fighting style and special moves. Twilight Sparkle the unicorn, for example, whacks her foes with a book she's magically levitating, Fluttershy the pegasus is able to summon various woodland animals to her aid, and Applejack the earth pony has a lasso.
The controls are a directional input and four buttons marked A, B, C and D. A, B and C are weak, medium and strong attacks respectively, and D is "magic", a special attack that, depending on the pony, requires to be combined with directional inputs or not. It spends shards from a hexagon-shaped "magic meter" located on the bottom of the screen next to the Super Gauge. Each pony usually has a way of refilling her magic meter; Rarity the unicorn and Rainbow Dash the pegasus do it by standing still, but Pinkie Pie the earth pony must wait until the round is over.
The ponies also possess "super moves" which drain the Super Gauge on the bottom. There are three levels to this gauge, and the stronger a Super Move is the more of the gauge it will drain. The gauge is refilled as you take or give damage. Super Moves are devastatingly powerful, but they can be blocked.
You block by holding the directional input away from the enemy, and may also "tech" your way out of a combo. Now, I'm not an avid fighting game player, so it's grateful for me to know that this game considers a combo to be just "hitting the opponent several times in a row", which is usually sufficient (but not optimal). A "tech" is done by holding the directional input up as you're knocked into the air, or down as you hit the ground (you may also hold D as you ground-tech, to safely roll away). But this can only be done when your pony is flashing blue; if she's flashing red, you can't tech.
The game's only notable flaws are its difficulty and brevity. The AI is insanely hard, and the fights will get pretty tight from the beginning. You will be forced to practice hard just to beat the first match, and when you're good enough, you'll beat the whole thing in less than a day. But it's not unreasonably hard once you get the hang of it, and then it becomes fun and exciting. Be careful of online play, though. You know how competitive gamers are to people who don't play as good as them (and if you don't, here's a hint; not nice).
How about the audiovisual department? I can't speak for the sound, as I'm told it has brony remixes and English voices for the ponies (played by impersonators), two things I cannot stand in the least. But the graphics and animations, of both the characters and backgrounds, are so true to the show's look it almost seems like you're watching an episode of it. The characters are large, full of facial expressions, and can be played in a variety of color schemes based on other characters from the show, and even from past incarnations of the My Little Pony universe. It does lack some flashy effects usually found in other fighting games such as brightly colored, anime-style, exploding cinetic lines when you finish a round with a Super Move, for example.
For a 1.0 version, MLP: Fighting is Magic: Tribute Edition is impressively solid. Perhaps it could use more content such as unlockable bonuses, secret characters, a better options menu (the one that's there is pretty bare bones) and, if the developers are feeling generous -and I hope they are-, a difficulty setting option for less experienced players.
As it is, it's a must-play for any fan of ponies, fighting games, fan games, or all three. Highly recommended!
As the moon starts to wax and becomes visible in the sky, it enters the Waxing Crescent phase. This is a time of growth and manifestation, where Wiccans focus on nurturing their intentions and allowing them to prosper. The next phase is the First Quarter, also known as the Waxing Half Moon. This phase is associated with action and taking steps towards achieving one's goals. It is a time for making adjustments and overcoming challenges that may arise. The Waxing Gibbous phase follows, representing a time of refinement and fine-tuning. Wiccans use this phase to evaluate their progress, reassess their intentions, and make any necessary changes to ensure continued growth and success. The Full Moon, perhaps the most well-known phase, symbolizes the peak of energy and power. It is a time for celebration and gratitude, as well as for performing rituals and spells that harness the heightened energy of the moon. After the Full Moon, the moon begins to wane, entering the phase known as Waning Gibbous. This phase is associated with reflection and release. Wiccans use this time to let go of anything that no longer serves them and to release any negative energies or emotions. The Last Quarter, or Waning Half Moon, follows as the moon continues to decrease in size. Wiccans use this phase to evaluate their progress, learn from their experiences, and prepare for the next cycle. Finally, the moon enters the Waning Crescent phase, also known as the Balsamic Moon. This is a time of rest, reflection, and introspection. It is a period for self-care and taking a break before the start of a new cycle. Wiccans believe that by aligning their practices with the lunar progression, they can tap into the natural energies of the moon and the universe. This allows them to enhance their spiritual connection, manifest their intentions, and live in harmony with the cycles of nature. The Wiccan lunar progression serves as a guide for Wiccans to live intentional and balanced lives, both spiritually and magically..
Reviews for "The Healing Power of the Wiccan Lunar Progression"
1. Emma - 1 star There was absolutely nothing scientific or logical about the "Wiccan lunar progression" book. It was full of mystical mumbo jumbo and pseudoscience that I simply couldn't buy into. It seemed like a mishmash of random ideas thrown together with no basis in reality. I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for actual factual information about lunar cycles.
2. Ryan - 2 stars I found "Wiccan lunar progression" to be vague and unhelpful. It lacked any sort of practical guidance or detailed explanations, leaving me confused and unsatisfied. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without proper coherence, and the supposed lunar progression information they presented had no clear foundation or evidence. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and felt it was a waste of my time.
3. Sarah - 1 star I tried giving "Wiccan lunar progression" a chance, but I was sorely disappointed. The book was filled with New Age beliefs and magical thinking that had no basis in reality. It seemed like a complete work of fiction rather than something that could provide genuine knowledge or guidance. The lack of scientific evidence or logical reasoning made it difficult for me to take anything in the book seriously. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking genuine information about lunar cycles or Wiccan practices.
4. Michael - 2 stars I had high hopes for "Wiccan lunar progression," but it failed to deliver. The content was disorganized and lacked a clear structure, resulting in a confusing read. The author made bold claims without providing any substantial evidence or support. Additionally, the book didn't provide practical applications or suggestions for incorporating lunar cycles into everyday life, which was disappointing. Overall, I found it to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it to others seeking well-researched and practical information on Wiccan lunar practices.
5. Emily - 1 star "Wiccan lunar progression" was a complete waste of my time and money. The author's writing style was convoluted and difficult to follow, making it a chore to read. The book offered no real substance or depth, only superficial explanations that left me wanting more. The lack of scientific evidence and reliance on mystical beliefs also left me skeptical of the information presented. I would caution others to steer clear of this book if they are seeking meaningful and well-researched information.