I recently came across a group of Celts who still follow pagan practices. What intrigued me was how close they were to my own culture and beliefs. The Celts have a rich history and their pagan practices are deeply rooted in their traditions and spirituality. One of the main facets of Celtic paganism is the worship of nature and the elements. They believe that the natural world is filled with spirits and deities, and they strive to connect with these divine forces through rituals and ceremonies. This resonates with me as I also believe in the power and beauty of nature.
This resonates with me as I also believe in the power and beauty of nature. Celts who follow pagan practices closely often celebrate the cycle of the seasons, particularly the solstices and equinoxes. These are important dates in their calendar and they pay homage to the changing of the seasons through ceremonies and festivities.
Review: ‘The Amityville Horror’ Formula is Jump Scare + Loud Noise = All We Have
The first jump scare in “The Amityville Horror” made me leap from my skin. It was unexpected and done in such a way it can be a lesson in the cinematic art of saying boo! To clarify, this is not a review of the 1979 cult classic, but rather the 2005 remake.
The movie, which stars Ryan Reynolds in a fairly early role for him, follows the plot of the original story, true events that have been rehashed and relived many times. It opens with the 1974 massacre of the DeFeo family at their creepy estate in Amityville, New York, a genocide in which the assailant claimed evil voices from within the house were the reason behind his actions.
Ryan and Reynolds and Melissa George
George and Kathy Lutz move into the home a year later, bringing with them three small children and the promise of a new start. Immediately after their arrival, the ghosts of Amityville torment them in classic haunted house style. It’s a similar formula to a host of 2000s era horror movies, with this one being particularly bad. Clocking in at a robust 89 minutes, “The Amityville Horror” starts out with the aforementioned scene that nearly made me wet myself, and followed up nicely with some more chilling parts. Unfortunately, it goes back to the Jump Scare + Loud Noise = All We Have well on a seemingly continuous loop, abandoning all signs of subtlety in its wake and leaving us with a terrible movie.
Ryan Reynolds is a decent actor, but here he’s simply a caricature of a typical horror movie maniac. Midway through, I actually asked myself out loud if George Lutz had somehow transitioned into Jack Torrance, as the house tries to get him to kill his family and he lumbers around in a constant sweat and bugging eyes, dragging an axe behind him. The contentious relationship between George and his three stepchildren is barely present, as George seemingly goes from loving man to a berserk freak in a matter of minutes.
The Amityville Horror
Opposite Ryan Reynolds is Melissa George in the role of Kathy. Like Reynolds, George does fine with her performance in an otherwise awful movie. She has the ability to portray the loving mother with the typical horror movie stupidity. In one scene, she notices the magnetic letters on the refrigerator have changed on their own to spell out something horrific. When George questions her shock, she sees that the words have gone back to normal and responds that she is “Just seeing things I guess” as if a grown woman would think the wind reorganized the letters or something.
Rachel Nichols as Lisa – a babysitter like no other
The children complete the Lutz clan, with a young Chloë Grace Moretz (“Carrie”) as youngest daughter Chelsea. ‘Seinfeld’ fans will recognize Philip Baker Hall as Father Callaway, the obligatory priest who knows everything about the DeFeo family and the house itself, and the beautiful Rachel Nichols rounds out the cast as a sultry babysitter that no loving parents would leave in charge of their children.
I haven’t watched the original and probably should as it is often heralded as a horror classic. This version of “The Amityville Horror” has a couple of decent scenes but is an otherwise complete disaster.
This reminds me of my own culture's celebration of events like the winter solstice and harvest festivals. Another aspect of Celtic pagan practices that struck a chord with me is their belief in the interconnectedness of all things. They see the world as a web of relationships and understand the importance of maintaining balance and harmony. This philosophy aligns with my own beliefs of the interconnectedness of humans and nature. It is interesting to see how the Celts have managed to preserve their pagan practices despite the influence of Christianity and modernization. Although the contemporary interpretation of Celtic paganism might not be exactly the same as it was in ancient times, the core beliefs and traditions remain intact. This shows the resilience and strength of their culture. In conclusion, encountering Celts who follow pagan practices closely has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have been able to see the similarities between their beliefs and my own, and appreciate the depth and richness of their culture. It is a reminder that ancient traditions and spiritual practices can still hold relevance in our modern world..
Reviews for "Wandering the Path of the Celts: Exploring Their Pagan Beliefs"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆ - I was extremely disappointed with "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me". As someone who is interested in Celtic culture and spirituality, I was hoping to gain some valuable knowledge or insights from this book. However, what I found instead was a poorly researched and shallow exploration of the subject. The author seemed more interested in promoting their own biased opinions rather than providing accurate information or understanding. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine and comprehensive exploration of Celtic paganism.
2. Mark - ★★☆☆☆ - "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me" fell short of my expectations. While the topic is intriguing, the execution was lacking. The book seemed more like a personal journal or diary rather than a well-researched and informative piece of non-fiction. The author's writing style was disjointed and difficult to follow, leaving me feeling more confused than enlightened. Additionally, the author's portrayal of Celtic paganism was narrow and one-dimensional, failing to explore the diversity and complexity of this ancient spiritual practice. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those seeking a well-rounded and insightful look into Celtic paganism.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆ - I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of Celtic paganism by reading "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me", but unfortunately, it fell short. The book lacked depth and detailed explanations, leaving me feeling like I only scratched the surface of the subject. The author seemed to rely heavily on personal anecdotes rather than providing thorough research or historical context. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more comprehensive and informative book on this topic.