In a land of deep forests and misty valleys, there lived a wanderer. He was a man of few possessions, carrying only a small knapsack that held his meager belongings. He roamed from village to village, never staying in one place for too long. He was a solitary figure, content with his own company. One day, as he walked through a dense thicket, he came across an old hut. It stood in stark contrast to the natural beauty that surrounded it, with faded paint and a roof that sagged under the weight of time.
"Yes, that has very deep roots in modern occult culture," Horowitz says. "The full expression is 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.' That was one of the key maxims of the British occultist Aleister Crowley. So when Jay-Z appears in a hoodie with that phrase on it in public, that's exactly what he's referencing."
However, when people wonder about actual generational curses , often they re thinking of something more than bad habits caught along the way which everybody has experienced. One of the most interesting curses in the Old Testament is a generational curse that never actually happened Balaam was hired to curse Israel, but when God intervened, he ended up blessing them instead.
It stood in stark contrast to the natural beauty that surrounded it, with faded paint and a roof that sagged under the weight of time. Curiosity getting the better of him, the wanderer cautiously approached the hut. As he reached the doorstep, a mysterious voice called out from within, beckoning him to enter.
Jay-Z: A Master Of Occult Wisdom?
Fresh off the release of his new album The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z performed in London.
Samir Hussein/Getty Images
At this point, the only pop-cultural event that could possibly upstage Jay-Z's new album, The Blueprint III, is Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol.
But if Brown thinks he has the market cornered on Freemasonry and the occult, he had better watch his back. Mitch Horowitz, author of Occult America, says that Jay-Z has a keen grasp of certain esoterica, especially in the music video for his new single, "Run This Town."
In an interview with Guy Raz, Horowitz pointed to Jay-Z's use of the phrase "Peace God" as an allusion to the Five Percenters. Also known as the Nation of Gods and Earths, they teach that the original black man is God — and that all men are potentially God. "Peace God" is a typical Five Percenter greeting.
"A phrase like 'Peace God' does not find its way into someone's vernacular by accident," Horowitz says. "He's making a very definite statement."
Of course, Five Percent Nation teachings have had a deep impact on hip-hop for many years. Though not a Five Percenter himself, Jay-Z was born and bred in New York, the birthplace of the movement. So it's common to find such references in rap.
But Jay-Z's connection to the occult may extend a bit further. In the making-of video for "Run This Town," he's pictured wearing a sweatshirt with the phrase "do what thou wilt" printed across the chest.
"Yes, that has very deep roots in modern occult culture," Horowitz says. "The full expression is 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.' That was one of the key maxims of the British occultist Aleister Crowley. So when Jay-Z appears in a hoodie with that phrase on it in public, that's exactly what he's referencing."
Jay-Z's Rocawear clothing line also often draws upon Masonic symbols: pentagrams, obelisks, pyramids, the all-seeing eye. Of course, that pales in comparison with the near-obsession with the occult of someone like, say, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page.
"I would say that a figure like Jay-Z is probably borrowing some of this material," Horowitz says. "But Jimmy Page was imbibing it even more deeply."
Horowitz says he takes a positive view of Freemasonry and occultists — many of the country's Founding Fathers were masons, he says. He does stop short of calling Jay-Z an actual member of a secret society.
"I think he's a very shrewd man," Horowitz says. "I think he's a keen observer of everything going on around him. He's a master at using subversive imagery. You don't find your way to Five Percenter material unless you are very aware of what's going on around you."
In church, it’s a lot more common for us to talk about blessings, not curses. And, to be fair, so does the Bible. If you do a word search in the Bible, you’ll find there are well over twice the references to “bless” and “blessing” to “curse” and “cursing.” Still, there are some significant curses that take place in the Old Testament, starting with humans’ first sin (Gen. 3). God pronounced a curse on the serpent that tempted them, that he would someday be defeated. God also pronounced a curse on the physical world to make life more difficult for Adam (e.g., field work would be toilsome) and Eve (e.g., childbirth would be painful). Since these curses have affected all humans from then on, there is a sense in which they are generational curses.
Intrigued, he pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit and filled with the scent of herbs and potions. In the center of the room, a wizened old woman sat hunched over a cauldron, stirring its bubbling contents. The woman introduced herself as the witch of the woods. She was known far and wide for her wisdom and formidable powers. The wanderer listened intently as she spoke of the secrets of the forest and the creatures that dwelled within. Her words were filled with ancient knowledge and a deep understanding of the natural world. Over the following days, the wanderer became a frequent visitor to the witch's hut. He would sit by her side, absorbing her stories and learning from her vast experience. She taught him how to decipher the messages of the wind, the language of the trees, and the healing properties of the plants that grew in the forest. As the days turned into weeks, a bond formed between the wanderer and the witch. They became allies in their quest to understand the mysteries of the world. The wanderer shared tales of his travels and the people he had met, while the witch imparted her wisdom and guidance. One day, news reached the wanderer of a village plagued by a terrible curse. The villagers were desperate for help, as their crops withered and their livestock fell ill. Without hesitation, the wanderer turned to the witch for advice. She nodded knowingly and handed him a small vial of golden liquid. With the witch's potion in hand, the wanderer set off towards the troubled village. Word had spread of his encounter with the witch, and the villagers were hopeful that he could bring an end to their suffering. With his newfound knowledge and the witch's guidance, he cured the village of its curse, restoring prosperity and joy. The tale of the wanderer and the witch spread far and wide, becoming a legend that was told and retold by generations to come. Their unique bond and quest for knowledge reminded people of the power of friendship and the importance of embracing the unknown. And so, the wanderer continued his journey, forever grateful for the chance encounter that had changed his life. He carried the lessons of the witch with him, sharing her wisdom wherever he went. And the witch remained in her humble hut, a guardian of the forest and a teacher to all who sought her guidance..
Reviews for "The Witch's Road Trip: Exploring the Mysteries of the Wanderer"
1. John - 2/5 stars - "The wanderer and the witch was not my cup of tea. I found the plot to be confusing and hard to follow. The characters were also poorly developed and lacked depth. Additionally, the writing style was monotonous and did not keep me engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others."
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - "I had high hopes for The wanderer and the witch, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story had potential, but it fell flat in its execution. The pacing was off, with parts of the book dragging on while others felt rushed. The dialogue was also cliché and lacked authenticity. Although the description of the settings was vivid, the lack of character development made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with the story. It was an okay read, but it didn't leave a lasting impression."
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "I struggled to finish The wanderer and the witch. The writing felt amateurish and the dialogue was stilted. The plot lacked originality and was predictable. The main characters were unlikable and their actions often made no sense. I was hoping for a captivating fantasy read, but this book fell short. I would not recommend it to fans of the genre."
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was excited to dive into The wanderer and the witch, but I was left disappointed. The story was confusing and the world-building felt incomplete. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and chaotic action sequences. The characterization was weak, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. Although the idea behind the book had potential, the execution fell short. It was a lackluster read overall."