Witchy Wisdom: The Symbolism of the Broom in Wiccan Tradition

A witch's broom is often referred to as a "broomstick" or simply a "broom." This common household item takes on a magical role in folktales and mythology, particularly in witchcraft lore. Legend has it that witches use these broomsticks to fly through the night sky and carry out their magical activities. However, it is important to note that this concept is purely fictional and rooted in mythology and popular culture. In reality, brooms are ordinary cleaning tools used for sweeping floors and maintaining cleanliness. Nevertheless, the notion of a witch's broom has captured the imagination of many, and it continues to be a popular trope in literature, movies, and Halloween decorations.

The next day, the boys again discuss the previous night's events. Stan decides to help the girls' volleyball team and the episode ends with the South Park team playing against McNuggets in a hybrid of volleyball and Magic: The Gathering.

5 rating saying Sometimes you can sort of tell when Matt and Trey are struggling to come up with an idea for a new South Park episode, and this week s Cock Magic definitely felt like an eleventh-hour mashup. But she, along with the rest of the team, mostly just stays sad about it, even if she does get Stan to come to the game granted, he s on the phone the whole time with his friends, who are all at the cockfight.

Nevertheless, the notion of a witch's broom has captured the imagination of many, and it continues to be a popular trope in literature, movies, and Halloween decorations..

South Park: “Cock Magic”

Since the final cut of a South Park episode often gets submitted mere hours before it airs, the show can be topical in a way others can’t. Even the most casual fan knows this. Sometimes the quick turnaround yields brilliant results (like the Emmy-winning “Best Friends Forever,” which skewered the Terri Schiavo case only half a day before her death), and at other times, it causes the plot to wander (see: the weaker points of the current season). The success rate usually depends on how passionate Trey Parker and Matt Stone are about what they’re lampooning, and if they actually have anything to say about it.

Then there are those times where the duo throws commentary out the window in favor of going completely batshit with their story threads. These are often the best episodes, since the lack of pressure to say something makes way for unbridled—usually filthy—fun. Sometimes you have to take a stance on stem cell research. But sometimes you get to have Randy Marsh’s magically severed penis fly around the room.

To be fair, two of “Cock Magic”’s three storytelling pillars—cockfighting, Magic: The Gathering, and, um, penis magic shows—actually do pop up quite a bit in the news. But the stories have been the same for years. Most people agree that forcing roosters to fight each other to the death is wrong, and folks have been arrested for it as recently as last week . Players of Magic tend to get obsessive about the game, resulting in a strict limit on the number of tournament contestants as recently as yesterday .

Thanks to the somewhat stagnant, if frequent, headlines surrounding each topic, we don’t need South Park to comment on either one. That’s not to say Parker and Stone don’t drop a couple of red herrings early on. When we first see Kenny playing Magic, it’s against a stereotypical nerd who screams an elongated, multisyllabic “No-o-o!” to the heavens when he loses. However, just when you think we’re going to get a whole episode of geek satire a la “Make Love, Not Warcraft,” the story switches gears after a creepy school janitor suggests the boys get into some more “hardcore shit.”

Suddenly, we’re in the basement of City Wok (looks like owner Tuong Lu Kim/Dr. William Janus is back in business!) watching bleachers of seedy dudes cheer on two gamecocks playing Magic. The joke, of course, is that the spectators are invested in the non-violent game with the same passion, bloodthirstiness, and illegal betting that would take place in a normal cockfight. Despite the competition not involving any physical harm to the roosters, the issue of animal rights comes up for a hot second in the front half of the episode when the boys pick out a bird of their own to throw in the ring. But when no one takes a firm stance on the issue, it’s quickly tossed aside, just like the nerdy guy we met earlier.

You also can’t help but wonder if Parker and Stone rushed past their usual targets just to see how much mileage they could get out of Randy Marsh performing magic tricks with his penis. It starts when he confuses the name of the boys’ new sport with his old college talent, thus renewing his interest in penile illusion. The gag never gets old, mostly due to its versatility. His first showcase is in the style of old stripteases, complete with a live jazz drummer who scores him peeking his dick out from behind a miniature sheet. Next, he books a children’s birthday party, where he seemingly saws his member in half, then pulls it out from behind the ear of a horror-stricken preschooler.

This naturally piques the interest of South Park’s worst police officer, Sergeant Harrison Yates, who, unlike Randy, thinks cock magic only refers to the illegal sporting event. The two very different skills converge unexpectedly in the end of the episode, but in a way that, once again, eschews any kind of blunt message in favor of an unhinged climax that involves Kenny competing against a rooster, Randy putting on an epic cock-magic show that David Copperfield would envy, and eventually pulling his free-floating penis from Sergeant Yates’ mouth.

And, in one final false lead, the show throws in a C storyline of Wendy and the other girls getting pissed that none of the boys are attending their volleyball championship because, hey, they’re too busy playing Cock Magic. There’s a brief moment where we expect her to go off on a rant about the why Cock Magic is wrong or the unfair lack of interest in female athletics. But she, along with the rest of the team, mostly just stays sad about it, even if she does get Stan to come to the game—granted, he’s on the phone the whole time with his friends, who are all at the cockfight. It’s further proof that “Cock Magic” doesn’t have much interest in commenting on women’s sports, Magic: The Gathering, or even the ethical dilemma of cockfighting. Rather, it’s interested in the ripe comic potential of combining all three.

Stray Observations

• “Guys, I think Kenny’s maybe a little hurt because he was the big Magic champion, and now chickens are stealing his thunder.”
• “Cock magic isn’t an Asian thing or a Mexican thing. White people do it, too, if they’re poor enough.”
• “You think they mind being forced to play Magic: The Gathering?” “They’re fucking chickens.”
• “You boys have a nice cock.”
• Did anyone else think Randy’s drummer looked like Mick Fleetwood? Maybe it’s just the bald head and the white beard.
• “I’m not talking about the basement of some seedy Chinese restaurant, I’m talking about the basement of a well-established Chinese franchise.”
• Speaking of which, South Park has really given a lot of attention to Chinese restaurants, both fictional and non-fictional, over the years. City Wok, P.F. Chang’s, and now, Panda Express.
• I have to admit, I thought Gadnuk the rooster was going to tear Kenny to bits after losing against him, which would have made it the first time he’s died since Season 16’s “I Should Have Never Gone Ziplining.” Oh well.
• I also thought Randy’s detached cock was going to start singing like Fievel, just as Mr. Garrison’s did in “Eek, A Penis!”
• Did someone call Harrison Yates Detective Harris at the end of the show? Was that a mistake?

At the Marsh Residence, the boys are lectured by Randy Marsh, who believes Cock Magic is when you perform tricks with your penis.

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Reviews for "The Mystique of the Witches' Broom: A Journey through History and Folklore"

1. Emma - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "What is a witches broomy called". The book lacked depth and didn't provide any new or interesting information about witches or their broomsticks. The writing style also felt quite dull and uninspiring. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and informative read about witchcraft.

2. James - 3/5 stars - While "What is a witches broomy called" had a few interesting tidbits about broomsticks in witchcraft, I was overall underwhelmed by the content. The book felt disjointed and didn't flow smoothly from one topic to another. Additionally, I found the lack of sources or references to be problematic, as it made it difficult to verify the accuracy of the information presented. Overall, this book had potential but fell short in execution.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I expected "What is a witches broomy called" to be a fascinating exploration of the rich folklore and history behind witches' brooms, but unfortunately, it missed the mark. The book was repetitive and lacked depth in its research. It felt more like a high-level overview rather than an in-depth analysis. I was hoping for more detailed explanations and stories, but this book failed to deliver. Disappointing at best.

4. Robert - 1/5 stars - I found "What is a witches broomy called" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The author's writing style was dry and lacked any excitement or intrigue. The book failed to engage me and left me feeling bored and uninspired. There are certainly better resources out there for those interested in learning about witches' brooms. Save your time and skip this one.

5. Emily - 2/5 stars - "What is a witches broomy called" promised an exploration of the cultural significance and history of witches' brooms, but it fell flat. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any compelling insights or stories. It felt more like a surface-level introduction rather than a comprehensive study. Overall, I was left wanting more substance and detail, making this book a disappointing read.

Magical Transportation: How Witches Navigate with Brooms