In the famous painting "Witch in the Mercury Picture," created by J.W. Waterhouse in 1896, a haunting and mysterious scene is depicted. The main focus of the painting is a young woman, seemingly entranced or possessed, who is gazing into a mirror. Around her, there are various symbols and objects associated with witchcraft, such as a black cat, a book, and herbs. The woman's expression is one of intensity and fascination, as if she is exploring a hidden world beyond the physical realm.

MAGIC CAMPS
WAHIBA SANDS
OMAN

The woman's expression is one of intensity and fascination, as if she is exploring a hidden world beyond the physical realm. Her connection to the mirror suggests a gateway into another dimension or a means to communicate with unseen forces. The use of mercury in the mirror adds an element of alchemical symbolism, hinting at transformation, knowledge, and potential danger.

Eco-friendly fixed camp in the Sharqiya Sands, Oman

Is permanently set up during a large part of the year, between October and April. The Wahiba Sands desert is located in the north of Oman, and it is the most famous desert of the sultanate. Our camp is more precisely located in the Sharqiya Sands.

With only 10 eco-chic tents, our desert camp in Oman brings a feeling of prestige. From thetraditional warm Omani welcome to the luxury tents with elegant Arabian interiors, the camp offersa unique desert experience enhanced by the highest levels of comfort.

Under the starry skies of the Wahiba Sands, the scene is set for a modern Arabian Nights experience. This oasis of luxury amongst the golden dunes will leave everlasting memories for allour guest !

accommodation

If you want to experience desert glamping in Oman, you can choose between a private camp set up just for you and your party or staying in our shared camp with other guests. Our shared Magic Camp can accommodate up to 10 tents offering double, twin or triple beds, as well as private bathrooms and toilets.

Our luxury, spacious bedroom tents are decorated in local style and using eco-friendly materials. Each tent has their own private shower-room and toilets. You will be able to meet other guests in the Majlis - a tented lounge - and share convivial meals and activities with them.

Warm electric lighting and electric sockets with USB charging are available at our Wahiba Sands desert camp. Comfortable beds with real mattresses, cotton cosy duvets and pillows will be your bedding, and you will enjoy private seating area outside your tent with chairs and table.

You will have the choice between a King Size Double bed, Twin beds, or Triple.

Just next to the bedroom is a private bathroom tent, respectful of the scarcity ofwater in the desert.

At the heart of the desert camp, theMajlis will allow you to share stories with fellow travelers for a relaxingevening.

With our Private Setup, a whole Magic Camp is created just for you! It is a totally private experience, where you and your party can experience the silence of the desert whilst our team is on hand, entirely dedicated to your service.

Enjoy the opportunity to spend unforgettable moments with your family and friends!

You will have the choice between a King Size Double bed, Twin beds, or Triple.

Just next to the bedroom is a private bathroom tent, respectful of the scarcity ofwater in the desert.

At the heart of the desert camp, you willenjoy your private Majlis to rest in privacy with your friends, lover or theentire family

Magic Camps Oman

Experience a modern 1001 Nights where the beautiful scene is set under the starry skies of the legendary Wahiba Sands, also known as Sharqiya Sands, a desert region in Oman with sand dunes stretching up to 100 meters high and 170 km long. Extraordinary, eco-conscious, and luxury glamping experience in the heart of the Arabian desert where guests can choose between a private camp set up just for them and their party or staying in a shared camp with other guests.

Enjoy a combination of the Bedouin traditional way of life in the comfort and luxury of the desert tent with an exquisite interior including a private bathroom. Arrival at the camp is its own experience either sliding down the dunes in a 4x4 or traveling the last leg on a camel catching sight of the deluxe tents against a backdrop of golden dunes, surrounded by flickering torch light. At the heart of the camp, you will be welcomed by Arabian hospitality in the majlis, the cozy seating area adorned with Berber rugs where you can share stories with fellow travelers in a friendly space and romantic atmosphere of hanging lanterns. Dinner at the camp is another experience not to be missed - traditional authentic and refined dishes of local and Lebanese cuisine prepared under the leadership of an experienced chef, enhanced by the decorative romantic surroundings and atmospheric entertainment while Bedouin musicians play the ancient melodies of their ancestors. From the sunset lounge situated above the camp, you can watch the sun sliding behind the dunes, transforming the sands and sky into beautiful pink and orange colors. You can also choose from a range of desert activities such as camel trekking, riding the dunes on a sandboard or in a 4x4, hiking with a Bedouin guide, visiting traditional villages, discovering wadis and green oases and in the evening admiring the sky through a telescope and relaxing and sharing stories gathered round the fire. There is no internet connection and no signal - as they say in Magic Camp: 'Leave the real world far behind and enjoy the tranquility of the desert.'

Magic Camp Oman can accommodate up to 10 tents and is operating from October to April. For those looking for a truly special experience, the Magic Camp - Wahiba Sands also offers exclusive use of the entire camp to host your special event.

Magic Private Camps, Oman

Magic Private Camps combine the experience of a traditional caravan campsite, a tradition of the Bedouins dating back to prehistoric times, with the comfort of high luxury accommodation.

The mobile tents are set up exclusively for you, equipped with exquisite and inviting Arabian interiors, each tent including a private bathroom with dry toilets, sink and shower. The camps can be set up in both Oman and the UAE in various locations. The minimum number of tents is 1 and the maximum is 12. Each tent can also accommodate an extra bed.

Choose the perfect location for your camp and completely immerse yourself in nature, whether it be an untouched piece of desert, a beautiful white sand beach or a quiet mountain clearing.

Enjoy a delicious dinner under an infinite starry sky, prepared just for you with fresh local

ingredients. This is usually a BBQ meal with fish or meat and served with salad and rice or bread.

Lavender scented candles and oil lamps create a soothing atmosphere for a good night’s sleep in your freshly made and plush bed, equipped with a duvet and pillows. Breakfast is continental style with eggs also.

On a sustainability level, solar energy, limited water wastage and dry toilets all contribute to making all “Magic Private Camps” eco-friendly.

The best season to stay in a private camp in the desert is October through to April, sometimes this can also be in September and May. This is so that the temperatures are not too high during the day. Should the temperature be a little chilly at night each tent enjoys a camp fire at night, more likely from December through to February.

At A Glance

• Luxury mobile camp set-up privately for your exclusive use
• From 1 to 12 tents, sleeping a maximum of 36 people
• Private bathroom for each tent
• Dinners served under open starry skies
• Breathtaking exclusive locations in Oman, Dubai or Abu Dhabi
• Eco-friendly camp using solar energy, dry toilets and local produce
• Best time to go October through to April

Features:

• ✓ BBQ
• ✓ Family Friendly
• ✓ Housekeeper / Cook

Region

The Sharqiya Sands, known locally as Wahiba sands, is a vast region of spectacular desert in Oman, originally named for the Bani Wahiba tribe. The diversity of terrain and wide array of different species means that it is a compelling place to explore. Vast dunes up to 100 metres high and 170km long dominate the landscape and present a perfect image of what one imagines the desert to be.

The area is home to a population of nomadic Bedouin people, who usually settle in temporary encampments. Aside from this and the tourist camps, there are no permanent structures in the region.

A three hour drive from Muscat makes it possible to visit Wahiba Sands for a day from Muscat, however the best way to experience the area is to spend a night in a private camp. During the day enjoy adventures such as dune surfing or dune bashing in a 4x4 or cool off in a nearby Wadi. As the day closes enjoy a camel ride to view spectacular sunsets and at night gaze in awe at the magnitude of the star-filled sky.

Spending time in such an isolated environment is a blissful experience and is guaranteed to inspire peace.

Such as is typical of a sand desert, evaporation here is higher than rainfall and therefore the environment here is extremely arid. Read More

Such as is typical of a sand desert, evaporation here is higher than rainfall and therefore the environment here is extremely arid. Temperatures can reach 37 degrees during the day (at night the gauge doesn't really drop below 20) in the spring and autumn and even higher in the summer months.
Camps close for a period of time due to the heat. During the winter months the daytime temperatures will be mid to late twenties and down to around 15 degrees Celsius at night. Early morning ground fog can appear especially in the winter months but soon disappears any glimpse of rainfall will be very short lived.

The painting plays with the viewer's perception and invites interpretation. Is the woman a witch, using her powers for good or ill? Or is she merely a vessel for supernatural forces, caught in a moment of revelation or possession? The inclusion of the black cat, a common symbol of witchcraft, further adds to the ambiguity and mystique surrounding the woman's identity and intentions. Waterhouse's "Witch in the Mercury Picture" resonates with themes of power, spirituality, and the blurred boundaries between the natural and supernatural worlds. It captures a moment of profound significance, where the veil between reality and the unseen is lifted, leaving the viewer captivated and intrigued..

Reviews for "The Witch in the Mercury Picture: A Fascinating Piece of Occult Art"

1. John - 2 stars - I just couldn't get into "Witch in the mercury picture". The story felt disjointed and confusing, with too many plotlines that never really came together. The characters also lacked depth, making it difficult to relate or care about their journey. Overall, I found the book to be a forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "Witch in the mercury picture" was a complete disappointment for me. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being excessive, bogging down the pace of the story. It felt like the author was trying too hard to impress with their vocabulary instead of focusing on creating a compelling narrative. I found myself skimming through paragraphs just to get to the end. Not my cup of tea at all.

3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch in the mercury picture" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot had potential, but it lacked direction and clarity. The numerous subplots didn't add much to the overall story and only served to confuse me further. The writing style was also underwhelming, lacking the depth and nuance needed to truly engage the reader. I was left feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the characters.

4. Emily - 1 star - I struggled to finish "Witch in the mercury picture" due to the poor pacing and uninteresting storyline. The narrative meandered without purpose, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real growth or development. The whole reading experience felt like a waste of time, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.

Unraveling the Secrets of the Witch in the Mercury Picture