The Year of the Witch Calendar is a unique and fascinating concept that celebrates the art and mysticism associated with witchcraft. It offers a fresh perspective on timekeeping, taking inspiration from the lunar calendar and the various phases of the moon. This calendar not only serves as a practical tool for tracking dates and events but also as a powerful symbol of spirituality and connection with nature. The Year of the Witch Calendar consists of thirteen months, each representing a different aspect of witchcraft and its association with the moon. Each month is named after a specific phase of the moon, such as New Moon, Full Moon, or Waxing Crescent. This lunar cycle is believed to have significant influence on magical practices and is hence given utmost importance in the calendar.
This lunar cycle is believed to have significant influence on magical practices and is hence given utmost importance in the calendar. With this calendar, individuals can keep track of important witchcraft events, such as Sabbats, Esbats, and other celestial phenomena. The Sabbats are traditional pagan festivals that mark the changing seasons and provide an opportunity for witches to gather and celebrate nature's cycles.
Magic carpet ski lifts a boon to novice skiers, snowboarders
When my kids were little, they learned to ski at the Blackhawk ski hill on the west side of Madison, with its whopping 100-plus feet of vertical descent and several rope tows — which shredded numerous pairs of gloves and mittens.
They enjoyed the experience on the slopes and making s'mores in front of the ski club cabin fireplace immensely, but over time they begged me to take them to resorts that had chairlifts.
Eventually, we bought a family season pass at Tyrol Basin, which has three chairlifts.
The resort near Mount Horeb also had a rope tow and a cable tow with a handle serving its beginner areas.
Both of those lifts are gone now, replaced by a 500-foot magic carpet lift that serves the Trollway and Gentle Ben beginner slopes.
The new surface lift greatly improved the learning experience for novice skiers and snowboarders.
Tyrol still has one rope tow, however, which serves the terrain park on the Barnyard run.
Josh Faber, the new general manager at Tyrol, said his resort purchased the surface lift — which is much like the conveyor belts travelers find in airports — for this winter because he wanted to make the learning experience "as easy and positive as possible for our new skiers and snowboarders."
"To be honest, it's hard to learn this sport at first and rope tows are hard to manage if you are trying to negotiate one to get up the beginner hill the first few times. But a magic carpet is about as easy as it gets because you just stand on it and it takes you up the slope. That really helps with the experience. No one falls and nobody's gloves or mittens get mangled because you're not holding onto anything."
It's been more than 15 years, but this writer remembers all-too-well a painful snowboard lesson at White Pass resort in Washington.
I tried as hard as I could to get to the top of a bunny run via a rope tow on my rental snowboard, but I kept catching the front edge of my board and getting knocked down.
I got in the way of 5- and 6-year-olds behind me and ended up finishing the lesson early — bruised and humiliated.
On my skis, I would have been able to easily find my balance. But on the snowboard, because I was a newbie and both feet were strapped to one plank, I was clueless. I haven't snowboarded since.
Faber said he's convinced that Tyrol's magic carpet surface lift entices novice skiers and snowboarders to come back. It also gets them to try his resort in the first place, he said.
"Ever since our carpet opened, we've had great reviews, hands down, of how much more pleasant it is for beginners and instructors alike," he said, noting that it goes another hundred feet higher than the old handle tow and gives access to more novice terrain.
"It cost several hundred thousand dollars, which wasn't cheap for an area our size, but we think it's a good investment and will pay off by getting school and other beginner groups to come back out here again. People will go where it's easier to learn and the resort is more accommodating. They've been going elsewhere in recent years and we want them back.
"I myself have little kids, and my little girl is 21/2 years old. She can now ride the magic carpet all by herself and that says something."
Joe Vittengl, who runs Devil's Head near Baraboo, said his resort has had two conveyor-type surface lifts for about a decade and installed them to improve the beginning skier and boarder learning experience.
One is 400 feet long and the other is 300 feet.
"They were a tremendous addition to our area," he said. "Rope tows destroy gloves and mittens and they can be hard to use for beginning skiers. For new snowboarders, they can be almost impossible.
"I learned how to ski using a rope tow in upstate New York and have been skiing most of my 54 years," he said. "I have fond memories of that time because it was fun. But most rope tows are gone now because they aren't easy to use."
He said resorts may have lost some potential recruits to the sport because they had a lousy first experience using a rope tow.
"They may have fallen a few times using the tow and said, 'I don't want to do this.' Frankly, it's a lot harder going up a hill on a rope tow than it is coming down. There's been a movement in our industry for some time to get people to try skiing and snowboarding and making sure they have a good experience so they'll come back. The magic carpet is part of that trend."
Vicki Baumann, operations manager at Granite Peak outside Wausau, said her resort has two conveyor lifts.
One is 200 feet long, while the other, called Blizzard, is 600 feet. She called them "awesome, compared to the old rope tows."
"They couldn't be more simple," said Baumann, who grew up in Minnesota and learned using a rope tow. "You just step on, stand and the belt slowly takes you to the top of the slope where you slide off. It makes that first-time learning experience so much more pleasurable for the novice skier and snowboarder. We've had the smaller one for about a decade and the longer one maybe five years. Everyone loves them and they help keep folks coming back to learn more."
Mike Taft, operations manager at Cascade Mountain, said conveyor lifts can also be a boon for tubing areas. His resort has a 60-footer for "never-ever" skiers and snowboarders and a 550-footer for tubing. It also has a rope tow, installed just last year, for the terrain park area.
"The ski school takes the novices to the short one to get them the feel of sliding on the snow for the first time," he said.
"It starts them out right before they move on to chairlifts. And our long one for tubing replaced two handle tows. The single magic carpet we put in here doubled the capacity of the two handle tows, so it was a great addition."
Brian E. Clark is a Madison writer and photographer.
This is the layer that will help keep you dry and protect against wind. You will want a waterproof jacket and insulated snow pants
Esbats, on the other hand, are rituals held during the different phases of the moon, where witches can harness the moon's energy for their magical workings. In addition to the practical aspect, the Year of the Witch Calendar also serves as a visual representation of the mystical and spiritual aspects of witchcraft. Each month is accompanied by stunning artwork depicting various magical symbols, celestial bodies, and elements associated with witchcraft. This artwork not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the calendar but also serves as a source of inspiration for those on a spiritual path. The Year of the Witch Calendar can be a valuable tool for witches, practitioners of magic, or anyone interested in exploring the mystical side of life. It provides a unique way of organizing time while honoring the ancient traditions and beliefs associated with witchcraft. By following this calendar, individuals can align themselves with the natural rhythms of the universe and tap into the powerful energy that lies within..
Reviews for "The Witch's Year Planner: Maximizing Your Magic in Every Season"
1. Jake - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Year of the Witch Calendar". The artwork seemed rushed and sloppy, and the calendar was full of typos and errors. It felt like the creators didn't put much effort or attention to detail into it. Additionally, the themes for each month were very repetitive and lacked variety. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this calendar to anyone looking for a visually appealing and well-crafted product.
2. Emily - 1 star - "Year of the Witch Calendar" was a complete letdown for me. The artwork, which initially caught my attention, turned out to be subpar, with amateurish illustrations and a lack of creativity. The calendar's layout was also confusing, making it difficult to read and plan ahead. Furthermore, the quotes and descriptions for each month felt cliché and uninspiring. I was genuinely excited about this calendar, but it fell short of my expectations. Save your money and look for a better alternative.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I regret purchasing "Year of the Witch Calendar". The calendar's size was much smaller than I anticipated, making it hard to read the dates and events. The design choices were also questionable, with an overuse of dark colors that made it visually unappealing. Moreover, the thickness of the paper used was disappointing, as it quickly tore and showed signs of wear. I was hoping this calendar would add a touch of magic to my year, but it ended up feeling cheap and lacking in quality.