The Wiccan ritual calendar for 2023 is a guide for Wiccans to follow the cycle of the seasons and mark important dates for spiritual observances. Wicca is an earth-based religion that celebrates the cycles of nature and honors the divine in all living beings. The ritual calendar serves as a roadmap for Wiccans to connect with nature, perform rituals, and celebrate significant moments throughout the year. One of the key principles in Wicca is the recognition of the Wheel of the Year, which represents the cycle of seasons. The calendar is divided into eight main Sabbats, which are the major festivals that Wiccans celebrate throughout the year. These Sabbats include Imbolc (February 2nd), Ostara (March 21st), Beltane (May 1st), Litha (June 21st), Lammas or Lughnasadh (August 1st), Mabon (September 21st), Samhain (October 31st), and Yule (December 21st).
These Sabbats include Imbolc (February 2nd), Ostara (March 21st), Beltane (May 1st), Litha (June 21st), Lammas or Lughnasadh (August 1st), Mabon (September 21st), Samhain (October 31st), and Yule (December 21st). Each Sabbat represents a different phase of the seasonal cycle and has its own unique rituals, symbols, and customs associated with it. In addition to the Sabbats, the Wiccan ritual calendar also includes esbats or Lunar rituals, which are performed during the different phases of the moon.
Century Film Project
Once upon a time, an enterprising Chinese-American businesswoman named Marion E. Wong set out to make a feature film, using friends and family members for her cast. After two advance screenings, the movie languished in her basement for fifty years before she gave it to a relative, and then it was another 39 years before it was restored and digitized in 2007. Now it is available, and serves as a document of a culture that was rarely captured on film at the time and even more rarely in charge of its own narrative when it was.
I cannot give a detailed summary of the movie, because some of it is lost, importantly including the Intertitles that would explain much of the relationships and action on the screen. The basic story is timeless enough, however, that we can follow it in broad outline: a young Chinese American girl (Violet Wong, real-life sister-in-law of the director) with Western ideas marries into a very traditional family and is driven out by her scornful in-laws. The movie opens as the groom gives a statue of a household god to his mother, who seems to lecture him about the old ways. We see a good deal of the build-up to the marriage, in which the girl and her betrothed have tea together in what will be her bedroom, and she pokes good-natured fun at some of the traditional accoutrements of the ceremony, including a pair of oddly-balanced slippers for the bride, and a dangly headpiece for the groom. We also see her efforts to get along with her future mother-in-law, who seems quite formal, but not unfriendly at this stage. There is a scene I couldn’t follow in which she speaks to her husband in an outdoor setting, and suddenly breaks down crying (I’m guessing that he’s telling her he must go away for a while, based on what happens next). Then we see what seems to be the tail end of the wedding ceremony, demonstrating that she has learned to walk in the awkward slippers.
In the next sequence, the husband is missing, but there is a new element: Now Marion Wong appears as the “villain,” evidently a sister-in-law or other relative living in the same house. She takes Violet’s baby away and the mother-in-;aw gestures for her to leave after a confrontation, offering her a knife to commit suicide. I think Violet is being accused of neglecting her baby, since what seems to be a doctor comes to look at the child in a later scene. Violet goes out into the rain and seems to be ready to slash her wrists, but suddenly throws down the knife and wanders out into the wilderness. There is an odd scene in which she cuddles a lamb, appearing no worse for the wear after sleeping outside in the rain. Then we return to the house, where the husband returns and learns what has happened. He cries for his loss and confronts Marion with her cruelty. Then Violet turns up at the door again, and her takes her in and comforts her. Marion, realizing that her plot has failed, plunges the dagger into her own heart. At the end, Violet produces the household god and pays homage to it, suggesting that all the turmoil was due to her disrespect at the beginning, and that the tragic events since then have helped her to accept traditional ways.
What’s that on your shoulder, son?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from an non-studio film from this period but I was pretty impressed, especially by the filming and editing techniques. Most beginning filmmakers, especially at this early time, don’t give themselves enough “coverage” to show a scene from multiple angles, get close-ups and establishing shots, etc., but Marion and her crew did quite well. It was, in fact, less “stagey” and static than a lot of professionally-made films at the time, and demonstrates a good grasp of so-called “film grammar” with a liberal amount of different angles and shots. Scenes sometimes end with an iris-in, especially for strong emotional moments. One particularly good shot shows Violet at her mirror, with her face perfectly framed by the mirror as she works on her complicated braids. That’s not to say there are no mistakes – one scene had a distracting reflection that kept hitting the leading man’s shoulder, and a couple of edits have a sort of “hiccup” effect where we see the last few frames before the cut were repeated. And, of course, some of the footage is less than perfectly intact, so it’s hard to know how good it was meant to be.
It’s a pity that audiences of 1916 missed out on this movie. I suspect that Ms. Wong discovered that distribution was more difficult and expensive an investment than she’d anticipated, and gave up when she realized she probably wouldn’t make her money back trying to do it independently. It remains however as a document of a truly under-represented segment of American culture from a time period that tends to look disturbingly white when only the most popular images are seen.
Alternate Title: The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
Director: Marion E. Wong
Camera: Unknown
Starring: Marion E. Wong, Violet Wong, Harvey Soohoo.
Run Time: 35 Min (surviving print)
You can watch it for free: here (no music).
Alternate Title: The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
These rituals can include casting spells, performing divination, or simply connecting with the lunar energy. The phases of the moon hold significant spiritual and magical significance in Wicca, and Wiccans often use these lunar cycles to enhance their spiritual practices. The Wiccan ritual calendar for 2023 provides Wiccans with the dates and times for these Sabbats and esbats, allowing them to plan and prepare their rituals in advance. It serves as a tool for Wiccans to stay connected with nature, honor the divine, and deepen their spiritual practices. By following the ritual calendar, Wiccans can align themselves with the natural rhythms of the earth and invite harmony, balance, and spiritual growth into their lives..
Reviews for "Harnessing Lunar Energy: The Wiccan Ritual Calendar 2023"
1. Jennifer - 2/5 - I was excited to get the "Wiccan ritual calendar 2023" as I am a practicing Wiccan. However, I was quite disappointed with this calendar. The information and content provided were very basic and lacked depth. It felt like a mere compilation of random facts without any real insight into the rituals and practices. Additionally, the design and layout of the calendar were not visually appealing. The colors were dull, and the font used was hard to read. Overall, I found this calendar to be lackluster and not worth the money.
2. David - 1/5 - I purchased the "Wiccan ritual calendar 2023" expecting a comprehensive guide to Wiccan rituals and celebrations. Unfortunately, this calendar fell far short of my expectations. The information provided was not thorough or detailed enough for someone who wants to learn and deepen their understanding of Wicca. It lacked important dates and explanations of the rituals, leaving me feeling lost and confused. Moreover, the calendar itself was of poor quality. The paper was flimsy, and the binding started coming undone after just a few weeks. I would not recommend this calendar for serious practitioners or those seeking in-depth knowledge about Wiccan rituals.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As a beginner in Wicca, I thought the "Wiccan ritual calendar 2023" would be a useful tool to guide me in my practice. However, I was disappointed by the lack of organization and clarity in this calendar. The rituals were not explained thoroughly, making it difficult for me to understand and follow along. Additionally, the layout of the calendar was confusing, with the dates and the corresponding rituals not clearly marked or labeled. I ended up having to rely on other sources to understand the rituals and plan accordingly. Overall, I found this calendar to be more confusing than helpful for a beginner like myself.
4. Michael - 3/5 - While the "Wiccan ritual calendar 2023" had some useful information and dates, I was disappointed by the lack of diversity in the rituals included. It seemed to focus on just a few traditions within Wicca and left out many others. As someone who embraces a more eclectic approach to Wicca, I found this calendar to be limited in its representation and scope. Additionally, the design and aesthetics of the calendar were uninspiring. The artwork and imagery used were generic and lacking in creativity. Overall, it was an average calendar that did not meet my expectations in terms of content and diversity.