Wicca is a modern pagan religion that involves the practice of witchcraft. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and has since spread worldwide. One of the key aspects of Wiccan practice is the performance of rites, which are ceremonial rituals that are carried out to honor the gods and goddesses of the Wiccan pantheon. Rites in the Wiccan religion often revolve around the celebration of the changing seasons. Wiccans follow a calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun, and as such, they observe eight major holidays throughout the year, known as sabbats. These sabbats mark important milestones in the changing seasons, such as the solstices and equinoxes, as well as other significant points in the agricultural year.
Today was a much needed day off from work. I love the new job, but we're pushing out about 650# of dough per day with an average of 3.4 bakers, and as our production is increasing we're going from comfortably busy to close to overwhelmed.
Hamelman comments on the fact that the 98 hydration of the dough is not a misprint, but testament to the capacity of the grains and seeds to absorb moisture. As long as your dough is the same consistency as what you see in the video and you let it rise to double the volume, this bread recipe will work as long as the yeast is not past its expiry date.
These sabbats mark important milestones in the changing seasons, such as the solstices and equinoxes, as well as other significant points in the agricultural year. The performance of these rites typically involves gathering in a sacred space, which can be indoors or outdoors, and creating a sacred circle. This circle is considered to be a barrier between the everyday world and the spiritual realm, and it is within this circle that the rituals are performed.
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It has been a long time since I have posted anything on The Fresh Loaf. Having become more deeply entrenched as a professional baker has left me less time to bake at leisure. And having helped to launch a new restaurant in Washington, DC has entailed too many days of continuous work to allow the time to bake for myself and share the joys and tribulations on this forum.
But after a couple months since our opening I found myself one early morning placing wheat-rye sourdough boules onto the loader and shaking my head at how pathetic they looked after nearly a day in refrigeration, yet confident that they would not disappoint.
So as I journeyman baker I share these thoughts:
Bread is magical, but also a form of magic. Like Penn & Teller, but instead of applauding you get to eat the magic.
The photo above is a good demonstration of the magic of bread. While I'm a professional baker and help perform the magic each day - Teller to the dough's Penn - I never cease to be amazed at the magic which bakers call "oven spring." It is a phenomenon which occurs within the first 15 minutes of a loaf's bake, and when successful, it beats sawing a pretty lady in a box in half hands down.
If you look at the piece of dough on the right, you cannot help but be struck at how much it resembles nothing so much as a frisbee. And yet, if the baker and the dough have worked their magic well, in 45 minutes the flatish frisbee has sprung up to become the beautiful round loaf (called a boule) you see on the left.
Not only is this magic, it is a performance conducted daily without a net: By which I mean, if for some reason the baker and the dough have not worked together well, the result is not a beautiful tall boule but a barely risen loaf. And because of that, every day when I load dough into our oven, I tremble looking at how flat and deflated my boules look, and hope that the result will be magical and not a disappointment.
Ok, the hope is actually an expectation. But I am working with a living organism. This is a relationship. Miscommunication can occur. You and the dough may not be on the same page for any number of reasons. And so, you never have certainty that the resulting bake will meet or exceed your expectations. "Hope" is a good way of putting the feeling I experience when I load these loaves each day.
There are, of course, technical, scientific explanations for oven spring and how it is that a seemingly defeated, deflated round of dough can and will rise into a mountain of a loaf. But they are not nearly as wonderous as witnessing the event first hand. And in the end, they take none of the wonder away from this truly magical event.
Some other pictures of this and other loaves as they transformed themselves into beautiful wheat-rye sourdough boules over a long bake in a deck oven.
For starters, freshly formed boules placed on a floured board before being retarded:
Loaves being baked and cooling on racks after baking:
We call this a "bold" bake, and the sweetness of the bread's crumb contrasts nicely with the slight char on the surface of the boule's crust.
And finally, the interior crumb that magic and a successful bake produced:
This is what gets me out of bed in the wee hours of the morning.
And protects me against the cynicism which can easily come with age.
Because as long as I can bake bread, I'll believe in magic.
Best regards to all,
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The circle is often marked out on the ground, either physically or symbolically, and it is purified and consecrated before the rite begins. Once the circle is prepared, the participants in the rite invoke the presence of the gods and goddesses that they wish to honor. This is typically done through the recitation of invocations or prayers, as well as through the use of ceremonial objects such as candles, incense, and ritual tools. The gods and goddesses are seen as divine beings who are immanent in the natural world, and by invoking their presence, Wiccans seek to establish a connection with the divine. Once the gods and goddesses have been invoked, various actions, such as chanting, dancing, or drumming, may be performed to raise energy and create a heightened spiritual atmosphere. This energy is believed to be harnessed and directed towards a specific purpose, such as healing, divination, or spellcasting. The rites often also include the sharing of food and drink, as a way of symbolically communing with the deities and strengthening the bonds of community among the participants. At the end of the rite, the sacred circle is typically closed, and any residual energy is released and grounded back into the earth. This is done through a series of gestures and invocations, which serve to separate the spiritual realm from the everyday world and reinforce the sense of closure and completion. In summary, rites play a central role in the Wiccan religion, serving as ceremonial rituals that honor the gods and goddesses of the Wiccan pantheon. These rituals are often performed in sacred circles, involve the invocation of the deities, and aim to raise energy for a specific purpose. Through the performance of these rites, Wiccans seek to establish a connection with the divine and celebrate the changing seasons of the natural world..
Reviews for "The Power of Spells: Unveiling the Secrets of Wiccan Ritual Magic"
1. John - 2 stars
I recently attended a Wiccan religion rite out of curiosity, but I was left disappointed. The whole ceremony felt like a mix of random words and actions that lacked any meaningful structure or purpose. It was hard to take it seriously when chants were repeated without any clear intention or significance. Additionally, the members seemed more interested in the theatrics and role-playing rather than a genuine connection with spirituality. Overall, I found the Wiccan religion rites to be confusing and lacking substance.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I personally found the Wiccan religion rites to be nothing more than a pretentious display of theatricality. The participants dressed up in extravagant costumes and performed rituals that seemed more like a performance art piece rather than a religious practice. There was no depth or authenticity to the ceremonies, and everything felt forced and contrived. It was hard to find any genuine spirituality or connection with nature in the midst of all the superficiality. I left feeling disillusioned and unfulfilled.
3. Michael - 3 stars
As someone who is more inclined towards structured religious practices, I found the Wiccan religion rites to be a bit chaotic and disorganized. There was no clear structure or guidance, and it felt like everyone was doing their own thing without any cohesion. I appreciate the spiritual aspect of the Wiccan religion, but I believe there needs to be a more structured approach to truly connect with the divine. While some may find the lack of structure liberating, I personally struggled to find meaning in the rituals.
4. Emily - 2 stars
Attending a Wiccan religion rite was a disappointing experience for me. The rituals seemed more focused on trying to evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue rather than fostering a genuine connection with spirituality. The symbolism and chanting felt nonsensical and lacked any meaning that I could resonate with. I left feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, as if I had just witnessed an elaborate show with no real substance. The Wiccan religion rites may work for some, but they definitely did not resonate with me.