The wicked witch of the west is a character from the famous story "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. She is portrayed as a villainous and cunning witch who seeks to obtain the magical silver slippers worn by Dorothy. One of the striking characteristics of the wicked witch of the west is her shimmering appearance. When she first appears in the story, she is described as wearing a long, flowing black robe that seems to be made of some kind of shiny material, which gives her a shimmery and eerie presence. This shimmering effect adds to her mysterious and sinister demeanor.
Basil embodies the heat and energy-moving signature of the New Moon. Unlike other hot herbs, the heat of Basil is often more accessible and easily tolerated by a wide variety of folks. While it can be more drying, it's ability to move energy and accompanying fluid (for fluid is the primary mover of energy in our water-filled bodies) brings in the moist aspect of New Moon herbs. As a nervine and adaptogen, Basil adapts to the body’s needs, relaxing us when we need to rest and invigorating us when it is time to rise. The herb supports both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system helping guide us through the cycle of fight or flight back to rest and digest.
Continuing on the sacred structure metaphor started in the last post in our Moon healing and ritual series , the New Moon creates the heat and damp necessary to create the material needed to build the walls of the temple. While it can be more drying, it s ability to move energy and accompanying fluid for fluid is the primary mover of energy in our water-filled bodies brings in the moist aspect of New Moon herbs.
This shimmering effect adds to her mysterious and sinister demeanor. The author uses this visual description to enhance the notion that the witch is not to be trusted and is a formidable antagonist for the protagonist, Dorothy. Throughout the story, the wicked witch of the west uses her powers and dark magic to try to stop Dorothy from reaching her goal and returning home.
Budding: New Moon Ritual & Healing Practices
The heat has arrived and I am seeking shade and water like many of the creatures and plants I share this garden with. With the variation of sun and shade, different plants come to bloom in the yard throughout the spring and early summer. Right now I'm watching birds and squirrels nibble on the flowering fruits of the Pineapple Guava Tree (Acca sellowiana or Feijoa sellowiana) that sits outside my office window. This tree is an energetic spot throughout the year whether as a resting point for multiple varieties of birds as they fly past our house or host to the amusing antics of squirrels who mostly keep their balance while traversing the branches.
Since it sits outside the window where I often write, it's budding, flowering, fruiting, and the different animals that come to visit it have come to mark energetic starting points throughout the year for me. And so it feels appropriate to be writing about the New Moon during this time of heat and energy as it represents the point of new beginnings and often sharp and swift energetic shifts in the lunar calendar.
After a long period of waning and eventual darkness, the Moon reappears in the sky as a silver crescent, marking the beginning of the next lunar cycle. It is a time of newness and possibility, of budding hope, and the result of the hard work of setting boundaries and cutting away the unnecessary in our lives. Energy, possibility, hope, transformation, new beginnings, and swiftness are all key energies of the New Moon.
She creates various obstacles and sends her flying monkeys to chase after Dorothy and her companions. The shimmering wicked witch of the west is a memorable and iconic character who embodies evil and darkness in the story. Her shimmering appearance serves as a visual cue to the reader that she is a formidable force to be reckoned with and adds to her overall wickedness..
Reviews for "Beauty and Darkness: Examining the Shimmering Wicked Witch of the West"
- John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Shimmering wicked witch of the west". The storyline was confusing and the characters lacked depth. I had high expectations for this book, but it just fell flat for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I found myself feeling bored and uninterested throughout most of the book. Overall, it was a letdown.
- Sarah - 2 stars - "Shimmering wicked witch of the west" was an average read for me. I didn't find the plot very engaging and the pacing was slow. The characters were underdeveloped and their actions and motivations often felt inconsistent. There were moments where the writing showed potential, but they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster execution. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and well-crafted story.
- Mark - 1 star - I couldn't get through "Shimmering wicked witch of the west". The writing style was hard to follow, with excessive use of flowery language that distracted from the plot. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the dialogue felt forced. I was hoping for a captivating fantasy novel, but this book failed to deliver. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling read.