A witches ball is an ancient protective charm that is often associated with witches and witchcraft. It is a clear glass ball, typically filled with intricate patterns of colored strands of glass or cords. These balls were traditionally hung in windows or doorways as a form of magical protection, warding off evil spirits and negative energy. The significance of a witches ball lies in its ability to provide spiritual and energetic protection. According to folklore, witches balls were believed to trap negative energy and spirits within their intricate web-like designs, preventing them from entering a home or causing harm to its inhabitants. This belief is rooted in the idea that negative energy and spirits are attracted to the beautiful colors and patterns of the ball and become entrapped within its confines.
It's been a year since Eragon departed Alagaësia in search of the perfect home to train a new generation of Dragon Riders. Now he is struggling with an endless sea of tasks: constructing a vast dragonhold, wrangling with suppliers, guarding dragon eggs, and dealing with belligerent Urgals and haughty elves. Then a vision from the Eldunarí, unexpected visitors, and an exciting Urgal legend offer a much-needed distraction and a new perspective.
They reach out to Eragon to whom Angela gives her memoirs with the clause that they may or may not be true which we, the reader, then get to read to learn Angela s backstory. She almost dies but then she uses the magic that a shaman taught her to make the dragon join their side to protect the urgals against attacks from other animals and enemies.
This belief is rooted in the idea that negative energy and spirits are attracted to the beautiful colors and patterns of the ball and become entrapped within its confines. As a result, witches balls are often seen as a form of talisman or amulet, offering protection and promoting positive energy in the space where they are hung. They are also believed to enhance the surrounding environment, bringing harmony and balance to the home or area in which they are placed.
Book Review: The Fork, the Witch & the Worm
The Fork, the Witch & the Worm by Christopher Paolini is a collection of three short stories in the world of Alagaesia, the world of his famous Eragon series.
The Eragon series are some of my favourite childhood books, and the nostalgia of getting to experience the wonderful adventures in that world again was a pleasure.
However, each of the three stories is rather disconnected from the others – one tells of the lonely life of Murtagh, another of Angela and the cursed child Eva, and the third of the dragon of Kulkaras.
Murtagh is Eragon’s half-brother. He was an antagonist throughout the series, originally a friend to Eragon, but this friendship was later ruined because he was discovered to be the son of a dragon slayer and that wasn’t allowed. Murtagh was later captured against his will to become the righthand of the bad King Galbatrix. He ends up having to fight against Eragon a few times; the final time he wins which wins Murtagh his freedom and eventually he joins forces with Eragon to take down the king. By the end of the series, he is still viewed as the enemy though based on his bloodline. This is where the short story picks up – Murtagh living out his life as a lone wolf of sorts. I enjoyed this short story and getting to learn more about what happens to Murtagh after the series ended.
I didn’t like the story of Angela and Eva – I felt there was no purpose to the story and it was only written as filler content. In the original series, Eva was cursed by Eragon after he accidentally said a protection spell incorrectly. Her curse is to be a shield against evil, so she constantly has to endure pain from the enemy. Her curse is used by the queen as protection. Angela, a witch, takes Eva from the palace and out into the wilderness for her protection to give her a chance to live normally. Then, in the short story, Angela teaches Eva the art of being a witch. They reach out to Eragon to whom Angela gives her memoirs (with the clause that they may or may not be true) which we, the reader, then get to read to learn Angela’s backstory. I felt that this was a pointless story, only written to fill pages.
I liked the story of the dragon of Kulkaras – it was the only one of the three that introduced new characters who weren’t in the original series, both the dragon and a young urgal called Ilgra. The clan of urgals live happily in the mountains until the dragon comes and destroys their village and kills Ilgra’s father, among many others. After the dragon destroys everything in sight, he retreats to the mountains of Kulkaras. The remaining urgals then try to chase him away, however, after more bloodshed, they give up. Ilgra doesn’t want to give up, so she goes on a mission by herself to attempt to get rid of the dragon. She almost dies – but then she uses the magic that a shaman taught her to make the dragon join their side to protect the urgals against attacks from other animals and enemies. It symbolizes the unreachable thing that all of us have, and that instead of chasing it away or killing it, we must learn to live with it and accept it.
Unfortunately, overall it felt as though the book was only written to ride on the success of the Eragon series, relying on nostalgia as a selling point. The book was quite empty in terms of content, each page had huge margins and the chapters were all disoriented. It felt like Paolini had some good ideas for storylines, but needed to build it out to make it the length of a proper book and that he ended up writing just to fill the pages.
Book bought in Paihia, New Zealand // 281 pages // finished April 4, 2021
Three short stories are included in the book, each following a different character:
In addition to their protective qualities, witches balls are also considered to be a form of divination tool. Some individuals believe that by gazing into the ball and allowing the mind to relax, one can receive insights and clarity on various aspects of life. This practice, known as scrying, has been used for centuries as a way to access subconscious knowledge and receive guidance. Today, witches balls are often used as decorative items, both by practicing witches and individuals who are drawn to their mystical aesthetic. They can be found in various sizes and designs, ranging from traditional round shapes to more elaborate and artistic creations. Regardless of how they are used, the significance of a witches ball remains as a powerful symbol of protection, divination, and spiritual energy..
Reviews for "How Witches Balls Harness Energy and Protect Against Evil"
1. Molly - 2 stars - I found "What is the significance of a witches ball" to be incredibly confusing and convoluted. The storyline jumped around so much that I couldn't keep up with what was happening. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them on any level. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and I was left feeling unsatisfied.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I really struggled to get through "What is the significance of a witches ball". The writing style was overly verbose and pretentious, making it a chore to read. The plot was also incredibly slow-paced and lacked any real excitement. I found myself constantly checking how many pages were left, hoping it would be over soon. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "What is the significance of a witches ball" had so much potential, but it failed to deliver. The concept of witches and their magical balls sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The writing was disjointed and the characters felt like caricatures rather than real people. Additionally, the ending was anticlimactic and left many loose ends unresolved. I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't suggest it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While "What is the significance of a witches ball" had its moments, overall I found it to be lackluster. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The story itself had potential, but it was overshadowed by the underdeveloped characters and their predictable interactions. I can see why some readers may enjoy this book, but it just didn't resonate with me.