The fall equinox is a significant time in many pagan traditions and is often celebrated with ceremonies and rituals. These ceremonies vary depending on the specific tradition but often involve honoring the changing seasons and expressing gratitude for the harvest. One common element of fall equinox ceremonies is the recognition of balance. The equinox is a time when day and night are of equal length, symbolizing the balance between light and dark. Pagans often use this time to reflect on their own lives and strive for balance in their actions and intentions. Another important aspect of fall equinox ceremonies is the celebration of the harvest.
After the ground collapses under his feet, Ash and Pikachu rush out of the Cerise Laboratory to clear their heads. Gengar, who has attached itself to Ash’s shadow, is inadvertently dragged along and begins to panic from leaving the Laboratory. After a while, both Ash and Pikachu are feeling better from the run. They continue through the streets of Vermilion City, even passing Team Rocket who are sitting down at a local café. As Ash rounds another corner, he bumps into a guy, knocking them both over. Gengar sneers for a moment until he recognizes the other person. Ash apologizes, while the guy suggests he watch where he is going next time. The man’s girlfriend suggests he must still be cursed, but the guy admits that was three years ago. Goh catches up just as the man says that he is glad “it” is now gone as he was never able to win any battles or catch any Pokémon. Gengar is angry to hear this, and recalls that it was abandoned by the man three years ago. Its Trainer promised to return, though Gengar was left at the abandoned site that later became the Cerise Laboratory. Gengar became angry as time passed and it was still waiting for its Trainer to return. It deliberately scared off potential buyers of the building with its antics.
Gengar is furious because its Trainer abandoned it long ago, but after helping Ash and Pikachu battle Team Rocket, it makes it clear that it now wants to join Ash steam. Gengar is furious because its Trainer abandoned it long ago, but after helping Ash and Pikachu battle Team Rocket, it makes it clear that it now wants to join Ash steam.
Another important aspect of fall equinox ceremonies is the celebration of the harvest. Pagans give thanks for the abundance of the earth and the sustenance it provides. This can be done through offerings of food and drinks, as well as rituals that involve giving thanks to the deities or spirits associated with the harvest.
Recap / Pok�mon S23E16 "A Chilling Curse!"
Gengar is causing trouble for the Cerise Laboratory once again. This time around, it seems to have inflicted a curse on Ash.
- Bait-and-Switch: We're lead to believe Gengar cursed Ash. actually, it turns out Ash has just been ill the entire time.
- Big Damn Heroes: Ash saves Gengar from Team Rocket by ordering Pikachu to use Iron Tail on the machine it was trapped in.
- Bookends: The end of "Best Friend. Worst Nightmare!" has Gengar on top of the Cerise Lab with a sinister grin. The ending of this episode has Gengar there again, but this time it eats an apple with a happy smile.
- Call-Back: When Ash catches Gengar, he�s wearing a Charmander shirt, the first of his Pokemon that were originally abandoned.
- Contrived Coincidence: How convenient that Ash bumps into a random guy who happened to be Gengar's former trainer!
- For Want Of A Nail: If Ash didn't go barreling out of the lab after one too many 'curses' on him — with Gengar still in his shadow — he wouldn't have bumped into Gengar's former trainer, learned Gengar's backstory, and then subsequently befriend and capture the Ghost Pokémon.
- From Bad to Worse: Not only does Gengar find out about why it�s trainer never returned to it, but it gets captured by Team Rocket (while having trust issues with humans).
- Funny Background Event: Ren's terrified reaction as Goh tells Ash about the Gengar curse.
- Ghosts Abhor a Vacuum: Team Rocket captures Gengar using a vacuum-like contraption.
- Humiliation Conga: After Ash gets cursed by Gengar. A leg of his chair breaks, he accidentally ends up drinking the flower water, he almost falls down the stairs, causing him to grab Goh's butt to not fall, the entire content of parmesan cheese falls on the pasta that Mimey made for him because the cap fell off, he gets accidentally tramped by the Pokémon in the lab, including his own Dragonite, and finally, he gets his foot stuck in a hole made by a Diglett.
- It Amused Me: Professor Cerise knew that the laboratory was haunted but bought it anyway because he thought it was fun.
- Jerkass: Not only was Gengar�s former trainer a jerk for bragging about abandoning Gengar, but he was rude to Ash when Ash tried to apologize for bumping into him.
- Karma Houdini: Unlike Damien and Seamus, Gengar's trainer doesn't get comeuppance from Gengar. Ash doesn't chew him out but rather tells Gengar to calm down.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: While it's implied that all the effects of Gengar's "curse" have been simply due to Ash being ill all along, this doesn't explain the ridiculous bad luck that haunted him throughout the entire day and which supposedly also touched Gengar's previous trainer.
- Now You Tell Me: Apparently, Professor Cerise knew that the building he bought for his laboratory was a Haunted Houseall along.
- Rage Breaking Point: After a string of bad luck, Ash ends up stepping on a Diglett hole. This causes him to scream in anger and run out of the lab, which spills into the above-mentioned For Want Of A Nail incident.
- Recycled Plot: Onceagain, Ash ends up befriending and catching a Pokémon left behind by a Jerkass trainer who promised to come back for it with no intention of actually doing that. The fact that Ash wears a t-shirt with Charmander on it during the final scene may be a subtle Lampshade Hanging.
- Shout-Out: Team Rocket trapping Gengar in a vacuum device, as mentioned above, is likely a reference to Luigi's Mansion.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Gengar's former trainer is last seen fleeing for his life and never gets any comeuppance for abandoning his partner.
Gengar has resumed its pranks on the Cerise Laboratory…giving our heroes another opportunity to catch it! But when Ash suddenly comes down with a case of bad luck, Goh says it could be Gengar's curse. Ash goes for a jog to try to snap out of it, and he runs into Gengar's former Trainer—prompting Gengar itself to emerge from Ash's shadow! Gengar is furious because its Trainer abandoned it long ago, but after helping Ash and Pikachu battle Team Rocket, it makes it clear that it now wants to join Ash'steam. Ash is happy to oblige—and Gengar's anger finally subsides!
Bonfires are a common feature of pagan fall equinox ceremonies. These fires represent the transformative power of the season and are used to purify and release negative energy. Participants may jump over the fires as a way to let go of past grievances and embrace the new season with a fresh start. In addition to these elements, fall equinox ceremonies often include music, dancing, and rituals that involve connecting with nature. Pagans value their connection to the natural world and use these ceremonies as a way to deepen that relationship. Overall, fall equinox ceremonies in pagan traditions are a time to honor the changing seasons, express gratitude for the harvest, seek balance, and connect with the natural world. These ceremonies vary in their specific practices but all share a common goal of celebrating the cycles of nature and finding harmony within ourselves and our surroundings..
Reviews for "Embracing Gratitude: Pagan Rituals for the Fall Harvest Season"
1. Jane Doe - 2/5 - As someone who isn't a believer in any kind of pagan rituals or ceremonies, I found attending a fall equinox ceremony to be quite uncomfortable. The entire event seemed bizarre and out of touch with reality. The participants were dressed in strange costumes, chanting and dancing around a bonfire. It all felt like a strange ritual from a fantasy novel rather than anything based in reality. I couldn't get past the feeling of being an outsider in a place that I couldn't understand or relate to. Needless to say, I won't be attending another pagan fall equinox ceremony in the future.
2. John Smith - 1/5 - I had the displeasure of attending a pagan fall equinox ceremony and to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. The whole event felt like a parody of something serious. The participants were chanting and making strange gestures, all while surrounded by strange symbols and artifacts. It felt like a group of individuals trying desperately to grasp onto some sense of spirituality but failing miserably. The lack of coherence and meaning in the entire event left me feeling like I had wasted my time. I highly discourage anyone who is looking for a meaningful and authentic spiritual experience from attending a pagan fall equinox ceremony.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 - While I respect people's right to practice their own beliefs and traditions, attending a pagan fall equinox ceremony was not for me. The entire event felt disorganized and lacked any sense of structure or meaning. Participants seemed more concerned with their own personal experiences than creating a collective and meaningful ceremony. The rituals and chants felt empty and didn't resonate with me at all. I left feeling like I had witnessed a group of individuals going through the motions without truly understanding the significance of what they were doing. Ultimately, I cannot recommend attending a pagan fall equinox ceremony if you're seeking a spiritual experience that is rooted in authenticity and meaning.