The spring equinox pagan custom refers to the ancient rituals and traditions practiced by pagans during the spring equinox. The spring equinox, also known as Ostara or Eostre, marks the beginning of spring and is a time when day and night are equal in length. Pagan customs during this time are rooted in the celebration of nature and the renewal of life. One of the main traditions associated with the spring equinox is the creation of an "Ostara egg," which symbolizes fertility and new beginnings. These eggs are often decorated with vibrant colors and patterns, and are sometimes used in games and egg hunts. Another common custom is the lighting of bonfires as a way to welcome the warmth and light of the sun.

Emily and the Magical Journey

Emily’s mother is sad. To maker her mom happy again, Emily is trying her hardest to be the perfect child. When Emily finds a mysterious chest, she’s transported to a magical world, where she meets the most fantastic creatures. But after scratching the surface, she finds out the horrible truth—the land is dying and the only one who can save it is Emily. But to do that she has to face her worst fear.

Dove Review

Ten-year-old Emily Adams (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) has tried everything she can imagine to bring her mother, Chelsea (Jenny Lampa), happiness, but the debilitating pain from the death of her husband has left her scarred and aloof. Emily walks home alone from her basketball games, eats dinners with her nanny, and talks to her father’s photo next to the bed, wishing her mom, a famous children’s books author, didn’t have to work so late. Then one night, guided by brilliant “Phelecan” butterflies, Emily is transported to the forests of a secret, magical place called Faunutland, where she is astonished to meet Nightinglar (Jenny Lampa), a perky, quirky, wingless fairy. Nightinglar spritely leads Emily to her cozy, root-ridden, underground home where she introduces her baffled new friend to Belorac (Robert Tygner, Niklas Hermannson), a wise and loving monster.

They are thrilled to have Emily as a new friend since she is a child, a small human, not yet corrupted by fears that plague grown humans. And since Emily still has the courage to dream, to overcome fear, she may even be able to save Faunutland from an ominous witch (Chelsea Edge) who thrives on fear, and who darkened the happy castle of Faunutland, turning children into humans. Interestingly, we meet these humans in their fearful form as oddly behaving gray-haired men who are unable to breach the walls of Faunutland because of their fear. Weirdly humorous, they seem to bumble in circles, seeking to fight the monster darkness by pollenating flowers of the field.

In a clever “paper doll” scene, Nightinglar sadly reveals Faunutland’s history, explaining that the cause of its darkening was the loss of a magical, governing crystal which emanated a guiding light onto the land that she called home. Emily realizes only she can restore Faunutland by retrieving the priceless crystal. However, she must courageously traverse a path through a dark field of monsters to get to it. With the help of Belorac, who reminds her the magic and power is inside her, she marches on.

In a parallel world, Chelsea reads an essay Emily wrote about her, saddened that she hasn’t shown Emily love. Simultaneously, Emily has made it to the dreaded Well of Echos, where the crystal lies, and suffers an experience that illuminates her understanding of her mother’s inability to scale the painful wall of grief.

Emily and the Magical Journey is filled with color and imagination- a Narnia meets The Hobbit meets Raggedy Ann – in a good way! The sets and locations serve to create two unique places, although there’s a bit of disconnect that the characters are American, living in a European town. (It’s actually filmed in Sweden with dialect-proficient Swedish actors, among others.) Cinematography and directing are wonderfully convincing, creating and using detail that brings life to the story’s milieus. Most impressive is the fantastic work of Jenny Lampa, portraying two diverse characters, mastering both comedy and serious drama. Her created character, Nightinglar, is delightfully unpredictable and fun. Tipper Seifert-Cleveland is a pleasure to watch, as she delivers a developed, thoughtful performance, ahead of her age.

From a Christian perspective, there are a couple of concerns that discerning Dove families should bear in mind. Christians hold to the message that God is our strength. This film, like many secular stories about inner fortitude, communicates the belief that the power is within self. The Christian belief is what God tells us in Isaiah: 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you.” The popular culture belief is “Do not fear, for you are with you.” (How’s that working?) And there is reliance on magic to accomplish goals, as well as pointing out the bad news that humans teach children to be like … humans. This could go either way, of course. However, one particular moral of the story encourages having love in one’s heart. All of these are potential teaching points and could lend themselves to helping kids of all ages learn to discern. With this in mind, Dove awards Emily and the Magical Journey the All-Ages Seal of Approval.

The Dove Take:

Although Emily and the Magical Journey professes secular philosophy, this clever family fantasy film travels between two worlds, ultimately offering hope for restoring relationships.

Emily and the Magical Journey

Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development.

Fantasy-adventure has scary moments, little magic.

Another common custom is the lighting of bonfires as a way to welcome the warmth and light of the sun. These bonfires are believed to have cleansing and purifying properties, and are often accompanied by singing, dancing, and feasting. The spring equinox is a time when pagans honor the balance between light and dark, and celebrate the arrival of spring and the return of life to the earth.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Encourages curiosity, compassion, and perseverance

Imagination has the power to overcome fear. With i

Emily is brave and courageous and conquers a serie

No fighting, no blood. The witch causes some trees

Parents need to know that Emily and the Magical Journey is a fantasy adventure for family and kids. Through the magic of imagination, Emily (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) enters Faunutland, a fantasy world of her father's creation. The movie begins seriously as it notes that Emily recently lost her father. Some…

Educational Value

Positive Messages

Imagination has the power to overcome fear. With imagination, anything is possible. Emphasizes love in your heart and love of family.

Positive Role Models

Emily is brave and courageous and conquers a series of intimidating and scary situations. She shows kindness to unknown creatures and unconditional love for her mother. The mother, though, is neglectful, cold, and distant until the last scene.

Violence & Scariness

No fighting, no blood. The witch causes some trees to burst aflame. A few of the monster companions fall over as if dead, but revive later. Some scary scenes and moments of peril could be too much for sensitive young viewers. Terrifying music and score greatly contribute to the scariness. A few monsters could scare a younger child, namely the large Belorac and hooded witch. Creepy, disturbing whispers in a cave: "You'll never make it," "It's all your fault," "Your mother doesn't love you," "She will never love you as much as she loved your father," "It's your fault your father is dead," and even, "Your mother wishes you were dead instead of your father."

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Emily and the Magical Journey is a fantasy adventure for family and kids. Through the magic of imagination, Emily (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) enters Faunutland, a fantasy world of her father's creation. The movie begins seriously as it notes that Emily recently lost her father. Some scary scenes and moments of peril could be too much for sensitive young viewers. Surprisingly terrifying music and score greatly contribute to the scariness. A few monsters could scare a younger child, namely the large Belorac and hooded witch. There are scenes of intimidating gestures from little monsters, haunting whispers in a scary cave ("You'll never make it," "It's all your fault," "Your mother doesn't love you," "She will never love you as much as she loved your father," "It's your fault your father is dead," "Your mother wishes you were dead instead of your father."), the frightening powers of the witch of fear, and a cold, chilly mother. Still, kids can find a brave role model in Emily, who perseveres in the face of more than a few harrowing situations. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

It is a time of joy, hope, and new beginnings..

Reviews for "The Spring Equinox and Pagan Shamanic Practices"

1. Jane - 1/5 stars - I attended a spring equinox pagan custom event out of curiosity, but it was nothing like I expected. The whole experience felt bizarre and disconnected from reality. I couldn't understand the purpose or meaning behind the rituals and chants. It seemed like people were just going through the motions without any genuine belief or connection. Overall, it was a confusing and underwhelming experience for me.

2. John - 2/5 stars - I recently attended a spring equinox pagan custom gathering, and I must say, it left me feeling quite skeptical. The whole event was filled with mystical claims and rituals that lacked any scientific basis. While I respect people's right to practice their beliefs, I couldn't help but feel like this was just a bunch of hocus pocus. I found it difficult to engage with the rituals and understand the supposed significance behind them. It's just not for me.

3. Emma - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the spring equinox pagan custom celebration, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The event lacked organization, and it seemed like nobody really knew what was happening or what they were supposed to do. Additionally, the rituals felt forced and meaningless. I couldn't connect with the spiritual aspect of the custom and left feeling disappointed. Perhaps with better planning and guidance, this event could have been a more fulfilling experience.

4. Andrew - 1/5 stars - Attending the spring equinox pagan custom was an absolute waste of time for me. The atmosphere was strange and filled with people who seemed to be trying too hard to appear spiritual. The rituals felt empty and lacked any real substance. It was difficult to take the event seriously, and I found myself questioning the authenticity of the entire custom. Overall, it was a letdown and not an experience I will be repeating in the future.

The Role of Paganism in the Transition from Winter to Spring Equinox