The pentacle is a symbol commonly associated with Wicca, a modern pagan religious movement. It is a five-pointed star enclosed within a circle. The pentacle has been used by various cultures and religions throughout history, but within Wicca, it holds significant meaning. In Wicca, the pentacle is seen as a representation of the elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Each of the five points corresponds to one of these elements. The point facing upward represents spirit or the divine, while the other four points represent the earthly elements.
The point facing upward represents spirit or the divine, while the other four points represent the earthly elements. The interpretation of the Wiccan pentacle is multifaceted. It can symbolize the balance and unity of the elements within nature and within oneself.
Reviews
Before making their way into the “Z”-portion of the series, FUNimation tried things out with the first Dragon Ball TV series back in 1995. As a part of this endeavor, the very first movie for the franchise was also dubbed and released as “Curse of the Blood Rubies“. Much like their dub of the first thirteen TV episodes, it featured moderate censoring and a complete musical score replacement. Similar to their later “Z” distribution agreement with Pioneer, the home release for these episodes and movie were handled by Kidmark, who eventually (through a series of endless mergers and acquisitions) became absorbed into Lionsgate Entertainment. The details of this sub-license were never publicly disclosed, even long after the Pioneer sub-license expired and reverted to FUNimation. At one point we attempted to check in with Lionsgate as to what any future plans may be for the early part of the series and its first movie, but were quickly shooed away with a note that the relevant information was not for public consumption.
For years upon years, fans resigned themselves to the “fact” that the first thirteen episodes and first movie would probably never be released uncut and bilingual in North America due to this licensing fiasco. In 2001, FUNimation revisited the first TV series and began dubbing it for home distribution and television airing on Cartoon Network. Despite the first thirteen episodes receiving a completely new dub (and presumably with an uncut master back in the studio) which indeed aired on television, the home release continued onward, first on VHS and later on DVD, starting only with episode 14, where it had “left off” so many years earlier.
Off in its own little silo, Australia also received this continued home release of the first TV series from FUNimation, though distributed locally by Madman Entertainment. With the Lionsgate sub-license seemingly only affecting North America, Australia actually received a volume that American fans would have to wait on: a re-done “Saga of Goku” that not only included uncut and bilingual versions of the first thirteen episodes, but also the first movie! Sadly, the movie was the same dub-only and edited version with the original voice cast from so many years prior, indicating that a new, uncut dub of the movie had not yet been produced by FUNimation.
Leading up to July 2009, news tidbits and art began to leak online suggesting that FUNimation would be revisiting the first TV series for another home release, this time in a “remastered” format. Shocking everyone was the reveal that, yes, FUNimation had regained the rights to the first thirteen episodes, and they would be included uncut and bilingual on the first of the “blue brick” sets later that year.
The TV series continued its release in five sets at a steady pace over the next year, but FUNimation had yet to confirm any details about the first movie, which would have been included in the license return. In April 2010, the magazine Otaku USA published a pre-release review of the movie, which would apparently be receiving a re-release that July according to new RightStuf catalog listings. At the time, all indications pointed to a disc with the original, edited dub as well as an uncut version in its original Japanese. The following month, a trailer for the movie appeared on a new Amazon listing page that promised a “Coming Soon” release date. Nowhere in the trailer were any words such as “uncut” or “unedited” or even “Japanese” used (the trailer even used scenes from the TV episodes, which is one way the prior edited version changed elements of the movie), so it continued to be confoundingly-vague. To make matters worse, online listings began changing the release date to December later that year, which FUNimation soon confirmed to us was the new and accurate date for the release.
It took until November to get solid information about the release: it would be uncut, remastered, bilingual, and would receive a new dub with recast roles. By that point, the movie was only about a month off from release!
We reviewed the movie based on its Japanese Dragon Box release back on Episode #0112 of our podcast, but a three-year gap since then gave us an excuse to revisit the movie based on its celebratory and proper North American release so many years after its original debut.
The circle that surrounds the star represents wholeness, eternity, and the cyclical nature of life. The pentacle can also be seen as a symbol of protection and warding off negative energies. One interpretation of the pentacle is that it represents the interconnectedness of all things. The elements are believed to be interconnected and reliant on each other for harmony. This interconnectedness extends to all aspects of life, including the spiritual, physical, and mental. Another interpretation is that the pentacle represents the divine feminine. The five points of the star can be aligned with the five phases of a woman's life: maiden, mother, matriarch, crone, and spirit. This interpretation highlights the importance of embracing and honoring the feminine aspects of the divine. Overall, the interpretation of the Wiccan pentacle is subjective and can vary among individuals. Some may see it as a symbol of balance and unity, while others may connect it to the divine feminine. However, at its core, the pentacle represents the interconnectedness of nature, the elements, and the spiritual aspects of life..
Reviews for "The Wiccan Pentacle: A Symbol of Feminine Spirituality"
1. Robert - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Interpretation of the Wiccan Pentacle". The author seemed to have a lack of understanding about Wicca and the pentacle itself. The interpretation provided was shallow and did not delve into the deeper meanings and symbolism behind the pentacle. I was hoping for a more insightful and thought-provoking analysis, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I couldn't connect with "Interpretation of the Wiccan Pentacle" at all. The book failed to capture my interest and didn't offer any new or unique insights about the Wiccan pentacle. The writing style was dry and lacked excitement, making it difficult for me to stay engaged in the content. Overall, I found it to be a lackluster and uninformative read.
3. Michael - 1/5 stars - I regret purchasing "Interpretation of the Wiccan Pentacle". The author's interpretation was riddled with inaccuracies and incorrect information about Wicca and its symbols. It was clear that the author did not do enough research on the subject, which made the book feel unreliable and untrustworthy. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about the Wiccan pentacle.
4. Samantha - 2/5 stars - "Interpretation of the Wiccan Pentacle" failed to meet my expectations. The book lacked depth and provided a very surface-level understanding of the pentacle. The author seemed to rely too heavily on stereotypes and generalizations rather than offering a nuanced interpretation. I was hoping for a more insightful and comprehensive analysis, but unfortunately, this book fell short.