P0w3r Up: The Normalization of Witchcraft?
I think it's safe to assume that the sashes RV wear signify their ranks in witchcraft. I'm not referring to actual witchcraft, it could be just the image given to them by their company, but I'm positive that it's related to witchcraft. Besides, we never know what's going on behind the closed doors, so all we can do is assume. Keep in mind that their album is titled
"Summ3r Magic", that's one of the hints.
This will make more sense when I finish the analysis of the MV, which might take a while since I'm still gathering information. I'll just put up some of the scenes related to this post to explain it.
'I' is the only one with a blue sash, while 'J' with a black one. The rest of them wear white, W in all-white, including her skirt.
'I' is the handler. The scene itself kinda gives it away.
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You can find something similar in Ro0ki3.
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Or P33k a B00
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'J' also plays a significant role in the MV, although not really.
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I'm well-aware that 'I' is the leader of the group, that explains the whole "controlling" thing and the nickname the members gave her after their trip to NK, 'Captain I'. I wish it was that simple though, because it isn't. You just can't ignore the other stuffs that are there. I've tried looking into different "regular" theories of the MV and they just couldn't explain it.
The others? They're pretty much just 'puppets' or amateurs to say the least.
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So here's an article I found on the ranks in a coven or witchcraft:
The following suggestions a modified form of the traditional 4-rank system that is frequently used today in covens throughout the world. It includes Dedicants, Initiates, Elders, and High Priestess/High Priest.
Dedicant Requirements
A Dedicant is one who has begun his/her journey into the Craft and has decided that s/he wishes to explore further through the Coven. This is the starting place for new Coveners and, because this is a beginning stage, a Dedicant is not considered an Initiate of the coven.
First Degree Requirements
A First Degree Initiate is defined as a Witch who has been initiated into the Craft. To receive First degree initiation is to have committed one's life to the Craft in general and to apprenticeship with a coven practicing Wicca.
Second Degree Requirements
A Second degree Initiate is a Witch Priest/ess and Elder of our coven. The Second degree Priest/ess is fully committed to the Craft, has integrated Craft ways into his/her life, and has reached a level where s/he is ready to take on the responsibility of a leader.
Third Degree Requirements
A Third Degree Initiate is a Witch and a High Priest/ess of Wicca. The "journeyman" stage is complete, and this Elder is now a master of his/her Craft. Like the Second Degree Priest/ess, s/he is fully committed to the Craft and has integrated Craft ways into his/her life, giving service to the Coven and to the community, sharing him/herself in a healthy manner, acting as a mentor and example of Pagan clergy, and leading and guiding others to the best of their and his/her abilities. The major difference of the third degree initiate is that s/he has completed leadership training and is deemed fully able to begin his/her own coven. S/he may hive off and form his/her own coven at any time, and when s/he does so, s/he is considered completely independent of the home Coven.
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The first article didn't explain if there were any significant colors for every rank, so I searched elsewhere, and I found this explanation
(Source):
To sum up, there really is no exact color for every rank because it all depends on the coven itself. However, I found that there are general colors that might signify every rank in a coven. I might be mistaken though, so I'm open for ideas and corrections:
1. Dedicant -> White
White: Becoming conscious of the energy that you take in and give into us through Meditation and Focus. In white, you begin learning to be thoughtful of what you as an individual means to a whole picture.
(Source)
2. First Degree -> White/red
To the Inverted Triangle of the First Degree, the
red color is ascribed: the red of blood, menstrual blood, virgins blood, the blood of childbirth, of manifestation, of the cosmic desire of “That,” which being ever Naught, still desires to be Many, while remaining unconditionally Itself.
(Source)
3. Second Degree -> Black
To the Inverted Pentagram of the Second Degree, symbol of the Great Horned One, is attributed the color
black. (In some modern covens the color black has become blue or sometimes green.) This is the Black of Sleep, of Death, of Winter, of Cosmic Space, the Blackness of the Unconscious, and of the Underworld of the depths of our minds, to which we must descend just as Our Lady Herself has done.
(Source)
4. Third Degree/High Priestess -> Blue
A white and blue gown adorns the High Priestess (
white=purity,
blue=knowledge). She sits between two pillars, the darker indicating completion and the lighter indicating new beginnings. The pillars represent the transition from endings to new beginnings and indicate the hall of truth and the law of the Torah. She holds a scroll containing the Torah, the Hebrew Scripture of religious law whose mysteries she so profoundly understands.
(Source)
And yeah, they're not wearing cords but sashes, it's really a clever way to hide the actual message. This might explain it
(Source).
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Another thing that I'd like to add is about their colors in 'R3d Flav0r' which they also bring up in 'Pow3r Up'. Each member is given a fruit as their color identity accordingly. These are taken from R3d Flav0r, but it's in Pow3r Up as well. The explanation comes from this page ->
Color Representation in Satanic Witchcraft. I didn't add nor remove any color, the article only mentioned these particular 5 colors, for the exception of white and black, which are primary colors to signify the influences of Moon and Saturn, but these 5 colors are there to give each of the member a character.
PS. I only add pictures to add an emphasis, the comment in italic is mine but the rest of the text are from the article, I didn't write any of it.
Color representation uses the symbolism of color to create a magical effect. Color is used during ritual and spell work to direct a spell in the proper way. Color is used in magic to symbolize the effects that want to be created. It causes a sympathetic effect and represents aspects of the spell.
Color representation is also used in the non-magical system of Satanic Ritual created by Anton LaVey. He recommended the use of color representation during ritual – Red candles were symbolized by lust and desire, white candles to represent curses, and the black candles were used for spells of compassion.
Of course, in the realm of Satanic Witchcraft, there are more than three types of spell casting that Satanists can use. The color representation of black, white and red may be primary color associations for some Satanists, but there are more options than these. Why limit yourself to only three? There are a variety of things that you could accomplish with the use of color in magic.
There are seven basic colors, each of which correspond to elementary, and planetary associations. One of the earliest recorded system of color association is found in the Philosophy of Natural Magic written by Agrippa. Many magic traditions have molded their associations in magic from the writings in this book, and the symbolism I have created below is primarily inspired by these associations. Below, is my description of each that I use in my own Satanic Witchcraft.
RED – symbolized by the energy of Mars, [also, Aries]. It represents the element of Fire. The color red can represent anger, rage, blood, desire, lust, passion, and the energy of action. It can also represent leadership or influence. For Satanists, a spell performed with the color red, can represent sexual desire, revenge, and aggressive magic. It is also useful as a focus of the will and to remove obstacles.
GREEN – symbolized by the energies and influence of Venus [also, Taurus and Libra]. It represents the element of Earth. The color green used in spell work can represent gains in wealth, increase, accumulation, security and new beginnings. For Satanists, using green in spell work can bring you a monetary or situational benefit. You can also use this color for spells of beauty and renewal.
YELLOW – symbolized by the energies and influence of Mercury [and Gemini]. It represents the element of Air. In magic, yellow is a focus for communication, transportation, transmutation, adjustment, and the mercurial nature of magic, lending its energy in a spell as transforming energy. For Satanists, yellow can add to the energy of spell work and it can also influence the mind, and intelligence.
BLUE – symbolized by the energies and influence of Uranus [also, Aquarius]. It is represented by the element of Water. In magic it can relate to learning, spirituality, idealism, achieving goals, and bringing justice to a situation. For Satanists the color blue can represent the focus on a spiritual goal or endeavor, or to bring luck to a situation.
(Note: I've mentioned in my previous post that this is the only fruit in the MV with an unnatural color, blue. Why would they use blue while they could just use the real color of orange? Now I think it's been answered. They need this color to complete the symbolism in satanic witchcraft.)
VIOLET – symbolized by the energies and influence of Neptune [also, Pisces]. It is represented by the element of Water. This color is often associated with dreams and visions, visionary work or path working, dream work, the unconscious, sacrifices, and reflection. It is also associated with the powers of the mind, such as psychic abilities. For Satanists who use violet it can represent spells of psychic origin or influence, and spells that affect dreams.
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You know, with all the massive witchcraft imagery in the Kpop scene lately, I've been wondering if they're really trying to normalize witchcraft, just like they try to normalize LGBTQ+, or even p***philia. It makes sense, right? If the show Pr0duc3 1o1 tried to normalize the ranks in Freemasons and they succeeded, what are the odds of them trying to normalize something similar like witchcraft? After all, we've lost count already of how many girl groups pose as witches since P33k a Bo0, or even before that.
I wouldn't lie, if I was blind to the truth, I'd find the concept of P33k a B00 very attractive and interesting. It's so different than other MVs, right? Then came along other girl groups with similar themes bombarding our minds with black magic and such... I used to be a victim of this kind of imagery when I was still into dark shitty shows like Am3rican H0rror St0ry. I'm sorry if I wander too far from the topic, I'm just adding explanation as to why I think it might be true that they try to normalize witchcraft and black magic.
This is just an example. This was one of the most praised seasons of AHS.
So much darkness, right? Yet I used to find that interesting and then I slowly became attracted to the whole theme as well. I would replay the second video (opening scene) several times just for the sake of the "aesthetics". I can list more similar stuffs, but that thing is the closest I can get to the Kpop phenomenon. They use beautiful and attractive young actresses to pose as witches, that way they can bewitch us into accepting witchcraft and black magic, because "Why not? I know magic is evil but the girls really play it well". The girls on AHS Coven also torture men with their powers, very similar to Kpop MVs. I'm a male myself, but the whole "men being ruthlessly tortured and killed by witches" didn't bother me at all because I was so into the story; and yeah no matter how much I liked the theme I couldn't be a witch, but it doesn't really matter what gender you are, because the goal is not to turn us into some witches or sorcerers, but for us to accept, normalize, and expect even more evilness on earth, which is still on its way.