The Wiccan spring axis is a concept rooted in Wiccan beliefs and practices. Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that was developed in the early 20th century. The term "Wiccan spring axis" refers to the alignment of spiritual energies and forces during the spring season, which is considered an important time for Wiccans. In Wicca, the changing of seasons holds great significance, as it symbolizes the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Spring, in particular, is viewed as a time of new beginnings and fresh energy. It is often associated with fertility, growth, and the awakening of nature.
Not to be outdone, the parade’s soundtrack feels modern and fresh. I’ll be honest, I’m fairly picky when it comes to music and many parade soundtracks border on annoying in my eyes (ears?). Magic Happens manages to toe the line just right, balancing modern Disney songs with a bouncy beat. The parade’s original songs, composed by Todrick Hall (Editor’s Note: We saw him. ), are catchy and fun while fitting in with that runway theme.
The line, which is also the title of the song originally composed for the controversial Disney film, Song of the South , was perhaps most widely recognized as part of the Splash Mountain attraction based on the film. The parade has also suffered a series of small mishaps, from the audio system crashing, Merlin from The Sword in the Stone losing his shoe, and the finale float getting stuck in the middle of Main Street, U.
It is often associated with fertility, growth, and the awakening of nature. Wiccans believe that during this time, the spiritual energy is at its peak, and therefore, they make use of rituals and ceremonies to tap into this energy. The Wiccan spring axis is seen as a time when the divine and earthly realms align, creating a powerful flow of energy.
Come for the princesses and stay for the . interpretive dance? Disneyland’s new parade ups the art ante
The draw of a Disney parade in the modern era has long been the floats. That’s true again for Magic Happens, Disneyland’s first new daytime cavalcade in almost a decade. Marvel at the mini forest that conceals Anna and Elsa of “Frozen” fame, and stand transfixed at the curved LED screen that represents a wave towering over Moana.
Yes, the floats of Magic Happens provide the requisite eye candy needed for a theme park parade. There are details large — a blinking, bronzed sorcerer’s hat with a slight Steampunk bent — and small, such as little robotic owl, his name is Archimedes, perched near Arthur and Merlin on an installation celebrating the under-represented classic “The Sword in the Stone.”
But for those who take in Magic Happens, here’s a tip: Divert your eyes from the recognizable characters and brand icons. The stars of Magic Happens are the dancers, significantly elevated from their traditional role revving up the crowd with upbeat moves between set pieces. The 90-or-so performers are graced with heavily theatrical choreography, which at times borders on interpretive dance. In turn, Magic Happens possesses a keen awareness of dance as a language.
Advertisement Dancers in front of a “Frozen 2” float bring a bit of ballet to Disneyland. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)Think, for instance, of the dancers as extensions of the floats. Things start modestly, with those preceding a “Moana” float representing ocean waves with aqua-heavy outfits that are wrapped to represent circular motion. From a distance they look like spinning tops. The naturalistic and conceptual themes increase as the parade continues.
“Each of the elements, each of the dancers, are representing an idea,” said Magic Happens director Jordan Peterson. “The opening dancers in front of the ‘Coco’ unit are marigold petals that have actually fallen from the bridge as they’re gliding down and catching the air. OK, so how do we represent that through storytelling, through interpretation? So we created these beautiful skirts that flow really well in the wind and then they come off and they become their own elements of dance [as capes].”
For “Frozen 2,” Magic Happens nods to ballet, with exquisite outfits designed to imagine a snowy forest and its canopy. We hear strands of the film’s “Into the Unknown” intermixing with a new theme song from Todrick Hall, but Magic Happens doesn’t handle “Frozen 2” in the expected ways: a glowing elemental horse (the film’s Nokk creature) and hearty trees make the audience wait for glimpses of Anna and Elsa; dancers then capture the film’s exquisite environmental animation rather than mirroring the brash personality of Elsa or endless optimism of Anna.
“How do you create this tableau of this mysterious forest, and then bring it to life on the streets?” said Peterson. “It really starts with going back and doing your research into what story you want to tell. Just because it’s physical movement, and you’re not using your voice, doesn’t mean that you can’t take someone on a journey.”
“Coco” dancers represent flowers, sporting skirts that double as capes. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)While Magic Happens won’t be mistaken for a Beyoncé concert — there is still the need to balance advanced choreography with constant forward movement and visibly apparent crowd interactions — Disney collaborated with Tessandra Chavez of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame, and the result is a parade that enjoys plenty of pop fierceness. Even the parade’s closing duo of female dancers, who end the procession with a baton of flags affixed to their waists, put a saucy exclamation point on the end of the show with finger-wags, struts and exaggeratedly jutting hips.
For a parade down Main Street, USA, it’s borderline provocative. Yet Disney’s live entertainment team has shown over the past year or two a willingness to usher both the park’s day and nighttime offerings into the modern era. Evening show Mickey’s Mix Magic, for instance, pulled from EDM culture, bringing an ever-so-slight rave-like feel to the park.
Magic Happens explodes with loudly colorful looks. Men sport giant blue pompadours, and women don purple-wigs where it’s difficult to recognize where hair ends and tassels begin, which says nothing of the metallic jackets and saucer-like hats worn by the parade’s opening dancers. It’s contemporary camp, where objects aren’t worn so much as embodied. With help from makeup artist David Petruschin, best known as Raven from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” performers look forever in a state of transformation.
Advertisement“We love the traditional part of Disney,” said Vin Reilly, a producer on the show. “But we always want to bring something new. We had the opportunity with Mix Magic and this parade to just kick it over a notch. It’s like sorbet. You want a different breath of fresh air.”
The dancers that launch Magic Happens do so as if they’re pouncing on a fashion runway. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)Magic Happens is essentially split in two, with the front half representing recent properties with multi-part floats and extensive dance, and the latter half intermixing older properties such as “Cinderella,” “The Princess and the Frog” and “Sleeping Beauty” in relatively quick succession. Designs still have modern flourishes — Taiana and Naveen stand amid rotating golden flowers and the turrets on the Sleeping Beauty float seem to grow before our eyes — but Magic Happens does present a clear distinction between Disney’s present and future and where it’s been.
Much of it is so vibrant that it could double as a night parade (another tip: catch the later of the parade’s two shows). Dante, the canine star of “Coco,” transforms from earthly pup to a kaleidoscope of Mexican folk art as it traverses the bridge at the center of the float. One of the brightest moments occurs after the “Coco” float passes, and the Disneyland streets are graced with dancers representing the film’s spirit guides, all donning animalistic masks and horns before giving way to the film’s big cat-like Pepita, a puppet that roars with every step and gives the show a brief nod to a Mexican alebrije parade.
A Polynesian influence, of course, permeates the “Moana” float, where dancers in full native Pacific Islander regalia may appear to some as a particularly bold choice. Yet the underlying tone feels celebratory, as the music adopts a traditional percussive feel as the rooster Heihei, here a remote controlled robot, tries not to get lost amid the commotion. Guests will no doubt have their eyes fixed to the assorted LED screens that appear on the “Moana” float, all of them matching the curvatures of the float.
And yet characters and technological advancements are expected at a Disney theme park. With Magic Happens, however, the biggest surprise may come right at the beginning, and it’s entirely human driven. The opening group of dancers step onto the street as if pounding a fashion runaway, doing so with a brashness that’s assertive, flirtatious and immediately attention grabbing.
“We wanted to make sure that the flow of the parade was unique enough to make you stop and realize something’s different,” said Peterson, “and we do it right out of the gate by going so bold with our opening dancers.”
More Disneyland coverage
Additional stories about Disneyland from the Los Angeles Times
- Rise of the Resistance and the immersive revolution happening in our theme parks
- Commentary: Bob Chapek as CEO is a vote of confidence in Disney’s parks. What does that mean for Disneyland?
- Disney reveals details of Marvel’s Avengers Campus coming to Anaheim and Paris
- A brighter Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is just one way Kim Irvine keeps the magic in Disneyland
- Must Reads: An early Disneyland designer won over Walt Disney. Now he laments: ‘The park is gone’
This alignment is believed to open up opportunities for spiritual growth, healing, and manifestation of desires. Wiccans may engage in various practices and rituals to connect with this energy, such as spellcasting, meditation, and communing with nature. During the spring season, Wiccans may also celebrate festivals and holidays that are significant to their faith, such as Ostara and Beltane. Ostara, which usually falls around the spring equinox, is a celebration of balance, fertility, and the return of light. Beltane, on the other hand, is celebrated at the beginning of May and is associated with fertility, abundance, and the union of the masculine and feminine energies. Overall, the Wiccan spring axis represents a time of renewal and spiritual connection for Wiccans. It is a time when they harness the energies of nature and align themselves with the cycles of the earth. Through rituals and practices, Wiccans seek to tap into this energy and bring about positive change and growth in their lives..
Reviews for "The Role of Springs in Folklore and Witchcraft: A Wiccan Perspective"
1. Emma - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Wiccan Spring Axis" as I am fascinated by Wiccan practices, but I was disappointed with this book. The plot was confusing and lacked coherence, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped and their actions didn't always make sense. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the story and didn't feel satisfied with the ending.
2. Alex - 1/5 stars - "Wiccan Spring Axis" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was cumbersome and lacked fluidity, making it a chore to read. The world-building was weak, as it failed to provide sufficient background information about the Wiccan practices and beliefs, leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to empathize with their struggles. Overall, this book was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - As someone who has a genuine interest in Wiccan practices, I was excited to dive into "Wiccan Spring Axis." However, I was left disappointed. The plot was slow-paced and lacked any significant twists or turns to keep me engaged. Moreover, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard for me to connect with the characters. The author seemed to rely heavily on clichés and stereotypes, which undermined the originality of the story. Overall, the book failed to captivate me and I was left wanting more substance.
4. Mark - 2/5 stars - "Wiccan Spring Axis" fell short of my expectations. The characters were incredibly predictable and lacked depth, making it hard for me to invest in their journey. The pacing of the story was also off, as it dragged in some parts and rushed through others. Additionally, I found the world-building to be inconsistent, with elements of Wiccan practices feeling forced or inaccurately portrayed. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to fellow readers interested in Wicca.