Kmart Magic Era: During the late 20th century, Kmart was a household name in the retail industry. It experienced a golden period known as the Kmart Magic Era. This era was characterized by a combination of factors that made Kmart a dominant force in the market. One of the key factors contributing to the Kmart Magic Era was its wide range of products. Kmart offered a vast selection of goods, ranging from clothing and home appliances to toys and electronics. This variety appealed to a wide customer base, attracting shoppers of all ages and backgrounds.
1. “The Wheel of the Year is not an authentic ancient Pagan practice.”
When I stand in circle to mark the Winter Solstice I know that this is a moment that connects me not only with the turning of the planet, and its relationship with the Sun, but it also connects me with my ancestors who also marked this time at passage grave and stone circle. So whether you re just starting out in Wicca or you re a seasoned practitioner looking for new perspectives, this guide can support and inspire your journey.
This variety appealed to a wide customer base, attracting shoppers of all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, Kmart had a reputation for offering affordable prices. It positioned itself as a discount retailer, providing customers with competitive prices that were hard to resist.
The Wheel of the Year – Valid or Not?
I sometimes watch with confusion the conversations that develop on social sites like Facebook and Twitter over some of the things we do as modern Pagans. One of the topics that seems to get regularly dissected is the Wheel of the Year and the way it is celebrated. There are those who love it, there are those who say that it is a modern invention so therefore we shouldn’t be following its pattern, there are those who see its value in the regular connection with the natural world, there are also those who express a form of superiority by turning their back on it in order to practice something more ‘authentic’.
I must be a little weird because in these situations I just think if you don’t like it, don’t work with it, simples.
Why is there the need to place one practice in a better light by denigrating the practice you don’t do? Why not live and let live and just do what is right for you? These are the things that occur to me when I see people laying into the Wheel of the Year.
But I also don’t mind being challenged to take a fresh look at why I do what I do. Sometimes this is a very valuable exercise, to challenge something I hold as sacred every now and then – to make sure that I’m not just blindly following something, but that it is still a practice that I find valuable and of importance. So I took the time to take another look at the Wheel of the Year, to see where I stood in relation to it as a practice.
I took three of the most common accusations I’ve read over the years against the practice of the Wheel, and then wrote my thoughts on each one in turn.
1. “The Wheel of the Year is not an authentic ancient Pagan practice.”
No, that’s right it isn’t. Although we know that Pagans have been marking each of the 8 festivals individually, the placing of them into the 8-fold Wheel of the Year was probably created by two men, Gerald Gardner (the father of modern Wicca) and Ross Nichols (the founder of the OBOD), sometime back in the 50s/60s. So as the pattern of a cycle of festivals this practice probably goes back 60 or so years. Does that matter? Not to me. I’m not seeking complete ‘authenticity’ of practice, I’m seeking meaningful ‘validity’ and connection.
See I think those two men tuned into something very powerful. We know that the ancients marked the Solstices and Equinoxes, and we know that our farming ancestors marked the agricultural festivals. When I stand in circle to mark the Winter Solstice I know that this is a moment that connects me not only with the turning of the planet, and its relationship with the Sun, but it also connects me with my ancestors who also marked this time at passage grave and stone circle. The same is true for each of the festivals. The pattern is the glue that brings each festival in relationship to the other, and it does it beautifully. If we were living during the time of Taliesin, and he had seen the connection between these festivals, I think we would have honoured that insight of Awen with respect. I honour the inspiration that has given us this mandala. I have no need for that aspect to be ancient. It works.
2. “People who practice the Wheel of the Year are not farmers anymore so it is no longer relevant.”
No, that’s right, many of us are not farmers. And that is an even more important reason for us in this modern time to make that regular connection with the turning seasons and with nature. Many of us are so busy, running from job to home, to kids, to work, to home, that we can be swept along by the demands of modern life. But every 6 weeks or so we consciously make the time to turn away from that and go outside so a place that has some kind of significance for us. To look around, to see the changes that have taken place in the landscape, to smell the difference in the air, to notice the touch of the air upon the nerve endings of our skin. To mark our place in time.
At the Anderida Gorsedd we have just entered our 14th year of continuous open ritual celebrations at the Long Man of Wilmington. 13 times through the Wheel of the Year with 104 rituals, rain, shine, or snow. The regular marking of the Wheel gives a connection to the seasons that is tangible, with memories of 13 Imbolc rituals going back to 2001 you get to know and understand where the cycle is and what to expect of each time of year. The wheel goes way beyond farming practice, and for us with our disconnected lives, where we sometimes get to spend little time with our eyes well and truly open to see the changes of the seasons, the festivals that make up the Wheel are probably more important now than they ever have been in the past.
3. “Celebrating Spring when there is still snow on the ground is stupid. Winter is still here.”
This is one for 2013’s Spring Equinox. We had our Spring Equinox ceremony at the Long Man and it was ice cold. It didn’t feel like Spring at all, that’s true. But I have two reasons to still mark that time. The first is that the Equinox is a celestial event – it’s happening regardless of the weather. It is the time of equal day and night and is the relationship between the sun and the earth’s axis, and regardless of the weather it is the bringer of Spring. It’s here and ready to burst. It just needs the wind direction to change and those leaves will explode. The other reason is hope, particularly this year. We know it’s cold. But we also know that the Green is ready, and some plants and trees are already opening their leaves.
So for me the Wheel is still very much a part of my regular Pagan practice, and I can’t see that changing. It might not be for everyone, and that’s ok. But for those of us who do mark the turning seasons in this way, if you don’t, try not to make the judgement that it is meaningless. There is deep meaning here, laid out in the movements of the sun, the moon and stars, the changes of the landscape, and the honouring of the ancestors.
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This affordability factor played a crucial role in attracting customers and building customer loyalty. Furthermore, Kmart's marketing strategies during the Magic Era were highly effective. The company invested in advertising campaigns that resonated with consumers. Their catchy jingles and memorable slogans became synonymous with the brand and helped Kmart stay at the forefront of customers' minds. Kmart also capitalized on the concept of the one-stop-shop. By offering a diverse range of products under one roof, Kmart made shopping convenient and efficient for consumers. Customers could easily find everything they needed in one place, saving time and effort. This era also saw Kmart expanding its presence across the country. The company opened numerous stores in various locations, making it easily accessible to customers in different regions. The widespread availability of Kmart stores further contributed to its success during this era. Despite its success, the Kmart Magic Era eventually came to an end. Various factors, such as increased competition, changing consumer preferences, and internal issues, led to a decline in Kmart's dominance. However, the memories of this era remain, highlighting a time when Kmart was the go-to retailer for many. In conclusion, the Kmart Magic Era was a period marked by Kmart's dominance in the retail industry. The company's wide range of products, affordable prices, effective marketing strategies, convenience, and national presence played significant roles in its success during this time. Though the era eventually came to an end, its legacy still lingers, reminding us of the magic that Kmart once possessed..
Reviews for "Kmart's magic era: How it shaped the retail landscape of the 20th century"
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