The Good Witch of the South, often referred to as Glinda or the Good Witch of Oz, is a central character in L. Frank Baum's iconic children's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As the protector of the southern region of Oz, Glinda possesses magical powers and serves as a guide and mentor to Dorothy, the protagonist of the story. Glinda's main role in the narrative is to aid Dorothy on her quest to return home to Kansas. She provides Dorothy with the iconic silver slippers, which enable her to travel back to her beloved aunt and uncle. Throughout the story, Glinda uses her magical abilities to protect Dorothy from harm, such as when she places a protective barrier around the girl and her companions during their journey to the Emerald City.
2) Practicality — I can’t tell you the number of rune sets I’ve had where one rune has gone missing. Fortunately, having a “blank” allows me to recreate the one rune I am missing.
1 The runes were introduced to Scandinavia during the same period that the well known spiral-ornaments were introduced from Crete - about 1800-400 BC. Some people recommend the caster sitting facing North if possible, the direction of the Gods in Norse mythology, however I ve never found it critical.
Throughout the story, Glinda uses her magical abilities to protect Dorothy from harm, such as when she places a protective barrier around the girl and her companions during their journey to the Emerald City. In addition to her supportive role, Glinda is portrayed as a wise and benevolent ruler. She is well-respected by the inhabitants of Oz and is known for her ability to solve conflicts and maintain harmony.
Introduction
Runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet. They were used throughout northern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Iceland from about 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E.
Since ancient times, runes have been used for divination and magic, in addition to writing. Tacitus, in Chapter X of his Germania, describes a form of divination used by Germanic tribes:
“To divination and casting of lots, they pay attention beyond any other people.
Their method of casting lots is a simple one:
they cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree and divide it into small pieces which they mark with certain distinctive signs and scatter at random onto a white cloth. Then, the priest of the community if the lots are consulted publicly, or the father of the family if it is done privately, after invoking the gods and with eyes raised to heaven, picks up three pieces, one at a time, and interprets them according to the signs previously marked upon them.”
Runes can be an oracle for one seeking advice. They hint toward answers, but you have to figure out the details. This is when the rune casters intuition becomes paramount.
Runic divination (“casting”) is not “fortunetelling.” Runes give one a means of analyzing the path that one is on and the likely outcome. Those who use the runes tend not to believe in pre-destination. The future changes as we act in the present. By changing ones actions one can change the path one is upon.
Odin, the Norse High God of the Aesir, hung from the world tree, Yggdrasil, impaled on his own spear, for nine days and nights in order to gain the knowledge of runes. When the runes appeared below him, he reached down and took them up, and the runic knowledge gave him power . He later passed on this knowledge to the Vanir goddess Freya. She, in turn, taught him the magic of seidr. Heimdall, the god who guarded the Rainbow Bridge, taught the runes to mankind.
The Old Germanic Runic alphabet or “Elder Futhark” contains 24 runes. The first six runes of the alphabet spell out the word “FUTHARK”. As the runes spread northwards into Scandinavia, some rune symbols were dropped and the alphabet was reduced to only 16 runes.
The Runes are divided into three groups (called Aettir’s). Each group contains eight symbols.
One who aspires to become adept with runes must have some knowledge of the mythology, history, and culture of ancient Europe and Scandinavia.
Glinda also proves to be instrumental in overthrowing the wicked Witch of the West, as she reveals to Dorothy that her silver slippers have the power to defeat the witch. The character of Glinda represents goodness and virtue, contrasting with the wicked witches of Oz. She embodies qualities such as kindness, compassion, and fairness, aligning her with the themes of morality and the triumph of good over evil in the story. Glinda's presence in the narrative allows Baum to explore notions of morality and righteousness, ultimately emphasizing the importance of kindness and empathy. Overall, the Good Witch of Oz plays a significant role in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, serving as a guiding presence and mentor for Dorothy. With her magical powers and wise counsel, Glinda aids in Dorothy's journey back home while also embodying the theme of goodness in the face of wickedness..
Reviews for "Good Witches and Bad Witches: Unraveling the Morality in the Land of Oz"
1. Lisa - 2 stars
I was really excited to watch "Good Witch Oz" as a fan of the original "Good Witch" series. However, I found myself incredibly disappointed with this adaptation. The storyline was lackluster and predictable, with none of the charm and magic of the original. The characters seemed flat and one-dimensional, and it felt like the actors were just going through the motions. Overall, "Good Witch Oz" felt like a poor attempt to cash in on the success of the original series, and I would not recommend it to any fans of the original show.
2. John - 1 star
"Good Witch Oz" was a complete letdown. The plot was all over the place and poorly developed, making it hard to follow or even care about what was happening. The acting was subpar, and it felt like the cast was just going through the motions without any passion or conviction in their roles. The special effects were also underwhelming, with cheap and cheesy CGI that took away from the overall viewing experience. I was expecting much more from this show, especially considering the success of the original "Good Witch" series, but I was thoroughly disappointed.
3. Emily - 2 stars
As a fan of the original "Good Witch" series, I had high hopes for "Good Witch Oz," but unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, with little character development and no emotional depth. The new characters introduced in this adaptation were forgettable and added nothing to the overall plot. The dialogue was predictable and at times cringeworthy, with cheesy one-liners that did not fit with the tone of the show. In comparison to the original series, "Good Witch Oz" was a major letdown, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a quality fantasy series.