The Witch of the Waste is a character in the fantasy novel and film adaptation Howl's Moving Castle by acclaimed Japanese author Diana Wynne Jones. In the story, the Witch of the Waste is portrayed as a powerful and malevolent sorceress who casts a curse on the protagonist, Sophie Hatter. The Witch of the Waste is initially introduced as an older woman who is adorned with extravagant clothing and jewelry. Despite her advanced age, she possesses a youthful appearance that she maintains through her use of dark magic. Her true name is unknown, and she is simply referred to as the Witch of the Waste due to her association with a barren and desolate region known as "The Waste." Throughout the narrative, it becomes apparent that the Witch of the Waste is consumed by her desire for power and control.
One of the attractive Norse symbol tattoo options worth avoiding today, the Sonnenrad is an icon of Scandinavian and Nordic heritage. It was once one of the most prominent symbols in the Nordic region, connected with a host of positive ideas like life, unity, and triumph.
If you re going to choose a Thor s hammer tattoo, it might be a good idea to include a depiction of the God alongside the image, to help highlight the right message. Unfortunately, while this image might be a symbol of strength for you, it has also been adopted by various white supremacist groups, and outlaw biker groups around the world.
" Throughout the narrative, it becomes apparent that the Witch of the Waste is consumed by her desire for power and control. She often uses her magical abilities to manipulate others for her personal gain. However, her actions are driven by deep-seated insecurities and feelings of inferiority.
Can you identify this symbol in a tattoo?
March 5, 2021 1:21 PM Subscribe
I'm working on an ad campaign, and there's a picture of someone with this tattoo. I don't know the symbol, but it appears similar to the Odal rune that the nazis coopted (which was also possibly the influence for the stage at the CPAC convention). It maybe be this symbol with another symbol laid on top. I don't want to include this picture if the symbol if it represents something awful.
posted by jonathanhughes to Society & Culture (11 answers total)
Best answer: Looks like it's another rune laid on top of odal, and while I'm only a layperson web searching these things, and not all of the sites were horrible, enough were that I now want to scrub my search history with bleach. It's clearly runes, and specifically the odal rune, too.
Put me on the side of "possibly (probably?) evil, maybe not, but don't take the chance". At this point, why give the benefit of the doubt to anything that is clearly a hate symbol? Take it out.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 1:31 PM on March 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Looks like a combo of Wealth and heritage/homeland. othala & fehu
posted by beccaj at 1:36 PM on March 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'd remove it, could be innocent, but why invite problems. I'm sure someone will be along to tell me I'm wrong, but putting together the meanings it could be interpreted as "homeland success", or "heritage wealth" and it's easy to see how that could be interpreted as a white supremacy symbol even if it's not.
Skip it.
posted by mikesch at 1:36 PM on March 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Bindrunes (multiple runes laid on top of each other) are definitely a fairly common Norse thing and may or may not be anything nasty (I have runic tattoos myself and they are definitely not anything unpleasant) but in the current climate I would lean heavily towards just not using that image.
posted by restless_nomad at 1:40 PM on March 5, 2021 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! It does appear to a combination fo the runes that beccaj posted. I was able to do a little googling, and this person just appears to be into vikings. But although it probably wasn't intended as anything more than that, I'll definitely be skipping it.
posted by jonathanhughes at 1:55 PM on March 5, 2021
A quick Google for the two superimposed letters came up with 'runic formula for attracting money' stuff. Somebody's idea of a good luck charm?
But who's to say 'family + money' isn't somebody's weird idea of 'Blood! + Treasure!' or other self made cultyness?
posted by bartleby at 1:56 PM on March 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
Just to add, it looks so similar to the NXIVM cult branding (here's an article, but it's easily googleable). Even if it weren't directly related to anything questionable, I'd avoid it just because of that association.
posted by thebots at 3:36 PM on March 5, 2021
just appears to be into vikings
It's three different runes, inheritance (odal), wealth (feoh) and protection (elk) which is upside down giving that rune a cautionary meaning. I know this because using runes for new agey fortune telling has been a thing for at least 30 years if not longer; Ralph Blum's rather Jungian Book of Runes was first published in 1985. My gran used to read tea leaves, my mother used to read runes, I've read the runes myself.
Imo a person doing a reading of the symbols as tattooed would interpret them as a warning against expecting inherited wealth to be that much of a good thing. Which is kind of wide open to being a message from any sort of context really. But you shouldn't necessarily think a person with old runes tattooed on them must be a fascist as the neo Nazi co-opting of these symbols is fairly recent.
Having said that though and even though these symbols came into my life as a bit of benign superstition, they have been irretrievably tainted, I think, by the past 8 or so years of neo-fascist resurgence. They can't be used now.
posted by glasseyes at 9:14 AM on March 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
I now want to scrub my search history with bleach
Yeah, this is also a recent thing. When I tried researching Chimurenga songs again last year, that is, songs of the Zimbabweian freedom struggle, youtube gave me all sorts of rhodesian white nationalist nonsense. Something that has never happened before in my search results. I guess those nazis have finally discovered the internet, or the algorithms, or something.
posted by glasseyes at 9:20 AM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Sorry for spamming - it probably is two runes and the third is an accident of juxtaposition - but interpreting that sort of unintended meaning is always part of a reading.
posted by glasseyes at 9:31 AM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
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Behind her intimidating facade, she longs for youth, beauty, and acceptance. Despite her antagonistic nature and the suffering she inflicts upon Sophie and other characters, the Witch of the Waste is not without her own vulnerabilities. As the story progresses, it is revealed that she was once a well-respected and talented sorceress who had a romantic relationship with Howl, the story's central character. However, the romantic liaison ended abruptly, leading to the Witch of the Waste's descent into darkness and bitterness. Throughout the narrative, the Witch of the Waste serves as a cautionary figure, highlighting the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. She represents the capacity for both good and evil that resides within each individual. Her character arc mirrors her gradual transformation from an enchantress of immense potential into a solitary figure consumed by her own desires. In conclusion, the Witch of the Waste is a complex and multi-dimensional character in Howl's Moving Castle. She embodies the themes of power, insecurity, and redemption. Her presence in the story serves as a reminder of the choices individuals make and the impact their actions can have on those around them..
Reviews for "The Witch of the Waste: A Dark Force in Fairy Tales"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch of the Waste". The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot seemed to drag on and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, I felt like it was a wasted opportunity for a captivating and engaging fantasy story.
2. Mike - 1 star - "Witch of the Waste" was a complete letdown. The writing style was choppy and disjointed, making it hard to follow the narrative. The protagonist was extremely unlikable and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The world-building was flat and lacked creativity. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted fantasy novel.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch of the Waste" but it fell short. The pacing was incredibly slow and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in the story. The ending was predictable and underwhelming. Overall, it was a lackluster read that failed to capture my attention.
4. Mark - 3 stars - While "Witch of the Waste" had some interesting ideas, the execution fell flat for me. The character development was lacking, making it difficult to care about their fates. The plot was riddled with clichés and lacked originality. Additionally, the writing felt amateurish and could have used some more polished editing. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and was ultimately disappointed.
5. Emily - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Witch of the Waste". The story lacked a clear direction and the author seemed to jump from one subplot to another without fully exploring any of them. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The romance felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, it was a frustrating read that I would not recommend.