The Wicca pentacle is a sacred symbol that holds deep meaning within the Wiccan religion. The pentacle is a five-pointed star enclosed within a circle, and it is often worn as jewelry or used in ritual ceremonies. Each point of the star represents one of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. These elements are believed to exist within all things and are essential components of the natural world. The pentacle also symbolizes the divine feminine and is associated with the goddess in Wiccan belief. The upright pentacle is seen as a symbol of protection, balance, and harmony.
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Then the ladies out Toby for outing Oscar, Angela shares a silly nickname from college, and Jenna discovers the amazing all female a capella group, Nothing But Treble. Throughout the nine seasons of the show, Michael Scott and other Dunder Mifflin employees voice a great deal of problematic opinions though insensitive comments.
The upright pentacle is seen as a symbol of protection, balance, and harmony. It is believed to ward off negative energy and promote spiritual growth. It is often worn as a talisman or amulet to provide the wearer with spiritual protection and guidance.
A Gay’s Gaze: The Normalization of Homophobia in The Office
Ahh, yes, The Office . Although it may be a favorite of mine and many other college students, this series is definitely not without its problems. For those who haven’t yet seen The Office , let me give a quick summary. This exceeding popular series, which aired in 2005, follows the everyday work lives of employees of a mid-range paper supply firm called Dunder Mifflin located in Scranton, Pennsylvania . The series is filmed using a single-camera setup, which gives the show a documentary feel. The regional manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, Michael Scott, is portrayed by Steve Carell. Although his optimism and dedication to his job is at times admirable,
his need to always be the center of attention is typically deeply irritating. Michael is an extremely immature, inappropriate, and ignorant character who has an idealized self-image, and, although it is very untrue, believes that his employees idolize him. Throughout the nine seasons of the show, Michael Scott and other Dunder Mifflin employees voice a great deal of problematic opinions though insensitive comments.
I’d like to take some time to focus on one episode of The Office in particular: Season 3 Episode 1, “The Gay Witch Hunt.” More specifically, how this episode harms the LGBTQ community by an inaccurate representation of queerness by using humor to normalize homophobia.
This episode begins with Toby Flenderson, the head of human resources, confronting Michael about an issue that was brought to his attention by an accountant in the office name Oscar. Apparently, Michael had been making homophobic comments in the office. Michael states, “I call everyone f*ggy. Why would anyone find that offensive?” Moments later, Toby informs Michael that Oscar “is an actual homosexual.” Michael immediately becomes defensive saying that he “would’ve never called him that if [he] knew.” During an attempted apology to Oscar, he says, “if I don’t know how to behave, it is because I am just so far the opposite way.” This comment is meant to be a reassurance of Michael’s straightness and demonstrates his awfully heteronormative viewpoint. But if a man in a position of power is so intensely straight, then obviously people all non-straight sexualities should be considered weaker, right?
This is unfortunately not the only incident of a homophobic or heteronormative comment being made in “Gay Witch Hunt.” Just to show the extent of these types of comments or actions that are present in this episode, here is a quick list. Let me also mention that an episode of The Office is only 20 minutes long, so something on this list is being said just about every sixty seconds.
- “I-I can’t even imagine, the… thing. Maybe we could go out for a beer sometime, and you could tell me… how you do that to another dude.” -Michael, to Oscar
- “Well, he’s not dressed in women’s clothes, so…” -Dwight
- “You could assume everyone is [gay] and not say anything offensive,” “Yeah, I’m sure everyone would appreciate me treating them like they were gay.” -Dwight and Michael
- “What about Angela? She’s hard and severe. She could be a gay woman…. I can imagine her with another woman. Can’t you?” -Michael
- “Jim told me you could buy a gaydar online.” -Dwight
- When Michael outed Oscar to the entire office
- “Sure, sometimes I watch Will and Grace. And I want to throw up.” -Angela, as she sanitizes her hands while staring at Oscar
- “I watch The L Word, okay?” -Michael, in response to being accused of being ‘obtuse about sexual orientation’
- “Nothing wrong with this stuff. At all. This is fine.” -Michael, while watching gay porn in front of the entire office to prove he isn’t homophobic
- “Gays aren’t necessarily who you think they are, people.” – Michael
- “That’s a good point, she has a good point. Because gay marriage, currently, is not legal under U.S. law.” – Michael, defending a homophobic comment made by another employee
- “Anyone can be gay. Businessmen. Like antique dealers, or hairdressers.” – Michael
- When Michael implied that gay men have “torrid, unabashed, monkey sex” as much as they can
- “I think all of the other office gays should identify themselves or I will do it for them.” – Dwight
- “What about Phyllis? She makes absolutely no attempt to be feminine.” -Dwight, trying to figure out who else in the office is gay
- “Look, if I were gay, I would be the most flamboyant gay you’ve ever seen.” – Michael
- “Michael appears to be gay, too.” –Dwight, after seeing Michael crying while hugging Oscar
And let’s not forget the famous kiss scene, where Michael engages in an incredibly awkward and non-consensual kiss with Oscar in front of the whole office the prove that he isn’t bothered by Oscar being gay, reinforcing the stereotype that gay people are attracted to all members of their sex.
There is certainly a lot that could (and should) be explored here, but for the sake of time, I’ll only discus . Let’s start here:
“What about Angela? She’s hard and severe. She could be a gay woman…. I can imagine her with another woman. Can’t you?” -Michael
Firstly, there is the stereotype of a lesbian being a stone cold butch woman. Secondly, the idea that women are women are meant to be viewed and looked at for male pleasure. As Laura Mulvey stated, “her eroticism is subjected to the male star” (Mulvey, 35). These two aspects depicted in Michael’s comment assist in maintaining negative perceptions of women and LGBTQ folk.
As a gay woman, it was impossible not to see the problematic elements of this episode. Obviously, it is important to remember that The Office is a comedy and heavily relies on satire, making it difficult to discern whether some of the comments made during this episode were meant simply as a satirical commentary on issues present in our society, or if there is a deeper relevance. Greg Smith, however, urges us to not recognize that movies are not telegrams, and there are many possible and equally correct interpretations of the content (Smith, 129). Nevertheless, the way in which gayness is portrayed and reacted to is incredibly harmful. Although this episode aired in 2006 when humor using homophobia was likely the only way to make having an LGBTQ character more socially acceptable in mainstream media, it is still necessary to recognize that we shouldn’t be content with mere representation. We want (and need) not just representation, but positive and accurate representation free of homophobic undertones. As stated by bell hooks, “there is power in looking” (hooks, 247). By watching this episode with a critical eye, we can be assured that The Office‘s depiction of the LGBTQ community is not who we are and does not accurately represent our place in society. In order to “know our present and invent our future” (hooks, 264), we must first recognize and understand our past.
Sources
hooks, bell. “The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators.” Movies and Mass Culture. Rutgers University Press. 1992. pp. 247-264.
Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Feminist Film Crisicism. Indiana University Press. 1990. pp 28-40.
Smith, Greg. “It’s Just a Movie: A Teaching Essay for Introductory Media Classes.” Cinema Journal 41. University of Texas Press. 2001. pp 127-134.
This episode begins with Toby Flenderson, the head of human resources, confronting Michael about an issue that was brought to his attention by an accountant in the office name Oscar. Apparently, Michael had been making homophobic comments in the office. Michael states, “I call everyone f*ggy. Why would anyone find that offensive?” Moments later, Toby informs Michael that Oscar “is an actual homosexual.” Michael immediately becomes defensive saying that he “would’ve never called him that if [he] knew.” During an attempted apology to Oscar, he says, “if I don’t know how to behave, it is because I am just so far the opposite way.” This comment is meant to be a reassurance of Michael’s straightness and demonstrates his awfully heteronormative viewpoint. But if a man in a position of power is so intensely straight, then obviously people all non-straight sexualities should be considered weaker, right?
Additionally, the pentacle is a symbol of the interconnectedness of all things. The points of the star and the circle that surrounds it represent the unity and cyclical nature of life. It reminds Wiccans of their connection to nature, the universe, and the cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth. In Wiccan rituals, the pentacle is often used as a tool for invoking and invoking elemental energies. It is placed on the altar as a focal point for energy and intention, helping to connect the practitioner with the spiritual forces at play. It can also be used to mark sacred space or to represent the five elements during rituals and spells. Overall, the Wicca pentacle holds deep meaning within the Wiccan religion. It symbolizes the elements, the divine feminine, protection, balance, and interconnectedness. Whether worn as jewelry or used in rituals, the pentacle serves as a reminder of the sacred and spiritual aspects of life..
Reviews for "The Wicca Pentacle as a Gateway to the Spirit Realm"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with this book. I was hoping to find a comprehensive and in-depth explanation of the meaning behind the Wicca pentacle. However, the information provided in this book was very basic and lacked any real substance. It felt like the author just scratched the surface and didn't delve into the deeper spiritual aspects of the pentacle. Overall, I would not recommend this book for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Wiccan symbolism.
2. Sarah - 3 stars
While the book does provide some basic information on the Wicca pentacle, I found it to be quite repetitive. The author seemed to restate the same points again and again, which became quite tedious. Additionally, I was hoping for more historical and cultural context in regards to the meaning of the pentacle, but this book failed to deliver on that front. It may be a decent starting point for someone completely new to Wicca, but for those already familiar with the subject, it is rather lacking.
3. Mark - 2 stars
I found the book "Wicca pentacle meaning" to be very vague and lacking in concrete information. The author relied heavily on personal anecdotes and subjective interpretations, without providing any substantial evidence or references. As someone who enjoys researching and studying the history and symbolism of various spiritual practices, I was disappointed with the lack of depth in this book. I would recommend looking for more scholarly sources if you're genuinely interested in learning about the Wicca pentacle and its significance.