The Curse of Cassandra refers to the phenomenon where a person predicts an event or foresees a future outcome, but their warnings or predictions are ignored or dismissed. It is named after the character Cassandra from Greek mythology, who was cursed by Apollo to have the power of prophecy but is never believed. In Greek mythology, Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo. However, when she rejected his advances, he cursed her so that no one would believe her prophecies. This meant that despite her accurate predictions, she was unable to prevent the Trojan War or warning others about the dangers and destruction that would follow. The curse of Cassandra is often used as a metaphor for situations in which someone has knowledge or insight that could prevent a disaster or negative outcome, but their warnings are disregarded.
Apples, plums and pears beg to be baked into crumbles with a healthy smothering of custard, while light summery greens and ripe tomatoes are swapped for pumpkin, squash, kale and celeriac.
Non-ritual ways to celebrate plant flowers or garden; take a walk in the Sun and talk to the trees; spring clean your home and donate old clothing to charity. While there are many, many ways to lean into the autumn mindset with cozy sweaters, snuggly slippers, warm beverages, great books, and moments in nature some autumn activities date back hundreds of years.
The curse of Cassandra is often used as a metaphor for situations in which someone has knowledge or insight that could prevent a disaster or negative outcome, but their warnings are disregarded. It represents the frustration of knowing what is to come but being unable to change the course of events. In real life, the curse of Cassandra can be seen in various contexts.
Autumnal Equinox: Witches Share How They Celebrate
September 23 marks the 2019 Autumnal Equinox — a day when the sky is equal parts dark and light. It’s also the date that witches celebrate Mabon, one of the pagan festivals in the Wheel of the Year. The Wheel of the Year is the cyclical calendar of festivals that modern pagans celebrate. The Wheel symbolizes the continuous turning of time and mirrors nature’s cycles of death and rebirth. Named for the God of Welsh mythology, the festival celebrates the harvest and the life and that summer created as we prepare for the long, cold nights of winter.
Most modern witches likely don’t have a literal harvest to feast on and honor like the original celebrants of Mabon did, so the day instead marks a time to reflect on and honor the things we’ve been working on this year and the work that we’ve brought to fruition. “Mabon is the day that corresponds to the last harvest: It is a day to call in, a day to appreciate our many, many blessings and spread those around. It is a day to give thanks and let whatever bad habits or troubles that have been accumulating in our psyche in an unhelpful way go,” Sarah Faith Gottesdiener told Teen Vogue.
Gottesdiener is an artist, designer, tarot reader and witch — you may know her from her popular and often sold-out Many Moons workbooks or from her shop, Modern Women. For Gottesdiener, the season’s magic is especially potent because it combines with her celebration of the Jewish High Holy Days. While she says that the Celtic mythology attached to the Wheel of the year doesn’t resonate with her, its connection to nature and the season’s effects on us personally and collectively makes following it important to her. This includes embracing the return of the darkness that accompanies the Equinox. “The darkness is a beautiful thing, because it is where seeds germinate. The darkness is deeply potent: it is our subconscious and a source of our own power,” Gottesdiener said.
For writer and intuitive tarot reader Swati Khurana, the Autumnal Equinox is a profoundly personal holiday. After Khurana began shifting away from the label of “Hindu” 20 years ago to separate herself from what she called a "tradition that was connected to caste violence," she said she started questioning and opting out of holidays and traditions that felt like they no longer fit into her “post-colonial intersectional feminist perspective.”
“I loved the rituals of being among women in temple, applying mendhi on my hands, creating trays of offerings, and walking into the moonlight,” Khurana told Teen Vogue about her appreciation of certain aspects of some Hindu holidays. “As I started observing the Equinox, I used elements that I still find so beautiful, but recast them in a ritual that centered self-actualization and personal freedom. Observing the Equinox became a way for me to reclaim the season [that] includes my birthday and my two favorite holidays — Diwali and Halloween — from a feminist perspective.”
If it’s your first time celebrating Mabon, Gottesdiener recommends choosing rituals that feel sacred to you and that have intuitive resonance. “Like celebrating the phases of the moon, or the different seasons, make it personal, and make it about celebrating and honoring life in the present moment— that is ultimately, what all great magick does,” she said.
Swati Khurana by Abeer HoqueGottesdiener will be celebrating by hosting a customary potluck feast for loved ones where they’ll eat, read poems, pull tarot cards, reflect, and burn that which they wish to release. She also plans to do some solo celebrating. “For the most part, I am a solitary practitioner, so I'll also be reflecting and working with the energies for myself personally as well. Because of the placement of the [waxing] moon, this year, I'll be focused on what I wish to harvest more of in my life,” told Teen Vogue.
Social justice educator Steph Guthrie offered a ritual facilitated for her birthday by friend Kritty Uranowski that felt particularly meaningful during a difficult year of her life. “We each wrote down on small pieces of paper one thing we were grateful for from the summer that we’d carry with us into the winter, one thing we were ready to leave behind, and one thing we hoped to manifest in the months ahead,” she told Teen Vogue. After a consensual and optional sharing of their reflections, participants burned the things they wanted to leave behind, planted in the ground the things they hoped to manifest, and held onto the things we were grateful for.
Even if you don’t identify as a witch or aren’t up for a planning big ritual, pausing to acknowledge the season’s changing is a valuable practice for reflection and gaining perspective.“Dedication to observing and respecting the natural world is something that anyone can do, whether they are witches or not,” said scientist and college instructor T. Kempton. “Seasonal holidays like Mabon encourage us to be active participants in the turning wheel of time, living intentionally and intensely, instead of just coasting through life. Mabon is a beautiful time, and we are beautiful within it.”
6. Next, take a seat and place your plant in front of you. Imagine the energy of this plant sitting at your heart, her roots extending down through your legs into the Earth. Her vines and leaves are growing out through your arms and through the top of your head, connecting back to the Earth.
It can apply to scientists or researchers who warn about the negative consequences of certain actions, such as climate change or the dangers of smoking, but their warnings are ignored or disputed. It can also occur in personal relationships or workplaces, where individuals may have insights or concerns about future outcomes, but their concerns are dismissed or overlooked. The curse of Cassandra can lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, and helplessness. It can be incredibly challenging to watch events unfold knowing that they could have been prevented. The phenomenon serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to people who may have insights or knowledge that can benefit society or individuals. Overcoming the curse of Cassandra requires a shift in attitude and a willingness to listen to alternative perspectives. It is essential to recognize that the people who have knowledge or foresight may have valuable insights that can help us navigate the future more effectively. In conclusion, the curse of Cassandra is a metaphor for situations where predictions or warnings are ignored or dismissed. It represents the frustration of knowing what is to come but being unable to prevent it. It serves as a reminder to listen to those with insights or knowledge and to consider their viewpoints seriously..
Reviews for "The Curse of Cassandra: Are We Doomed to Repeat Our Mistakes?"
1. Mia Johnson - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Curse of Cassandra". The plot felt confusing and disjointed, making it hard for me to follow the story. The characters were also underdeveloped, and I didn't feel any connection to them. The dialogue was also weak, with unnatural and stilted conversations that took away from the overall experience. Overall, I found "Curse of Cassandra" to be a lackluster and unsatisfying read.
2. Patrick Simmons - 1/5 - "Curse of Cassandra" was a complete waste of time for me. The writing was sloppy and filled with grammatical errors that were distracting from the story. The pacing was off, with unnecessary and lengthy descriptions that didn't contribute to the plot. The constant shift in perspectives also added to the confusion and made it difficult to engage with the characters. I had high hopes for this book, but it failed to deliver a cohesive and enjoyable reading experience.
3. Emily Thompson - 2/5 - I found "Curse of Cassandra" to be a tedious read. The story lacked originality and felt like a cliché mix of other supernatural novels. The protagonist was unlikeable and had no growth throughout the book, making it hard to root for them. The pacing was slow, and the action scenes were underwhelming. I was hoping for a gripping and thrilling adventure, but this book fell short of my expectations.
4. Michael Anderson - 3/5 - While "Curse of Cassandra" had an intriguing premise, I felt that the execution was lacking. The writing style was mediocre, with repetitive phrases and excessive use of adjectives that became tiresome. The story had potential, but the plot twists were predictable, and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I appreciated the effort put into the world-building, but it wasn't enough to redeem the overall disappointing reading experience.
5. Sarah Hernandez - 2/5 - I struggled to get through "Curse of Cassandra". The pacing was slow, and the story lacked a clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The dialogue was forced and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. I was hoping for a gripping and immersive read, but this book fell flat for me.