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Glossary
adept
Adept properly means one who has attained (from the Latin, adeptus,
participle of adipiscor). The alchemists applied the term vere
adeptus, to those persons who professed to have "attained
to the knowledge of" the elixir of life or of the philosopher's
stone.
akasha
Akasha is an aspect of paganism and wicca. It is the unifying
energy that is inherent in every living creature on the planet,
and in all of the 4 elements (earth, air, water, and fire) that
make up the natural world as we know it. On the pentagram, akasha
is assigned to the fifth point, and the "other" element.
Essentially it is spirit: the human spirit and soul, and the all-encompassing
spirit and energy of the Goddess and God.
Also called the quintessence, aether, or sacred sound.
alchemist
WordNet
One who was versed in the practice of alchemy and who sought an
elixir of life and a panacea and an alkahest and the philosopher's
stone.
Date "alchemist" was first used in popular English
literature: sometime before 1120.
alchemy
(Al-ki-me) is the Arabic al kimia (the secret art); so called
not only because it was carried on in secret, but because its
main objects were the three great secrets of science - the transmutation
of baser metals into gold, the universal solvent, and the elixir
of life.
Legend has it that the founder of alchemy was Thoth or the Thrice-Great
Hermes (Hermes-Thoth, or Hermes Trismegistus). According to Egyptian
legend, Thoth wrote what were called the forty-two Books of Knowledge,
covering law, medicine, alchemy, and everything (all knowledge).
Legend suggests these books were lost in the flames of Alexandria
or some other disastrous fate. Hermes is associated with the Caduceus,
which became one of many of alchemy's principal symbols.
The "Emerald Table" (the Hermetica) of Thrice-Greatest
Hermes, which seems to have survived fires and other disasters
in its translated versions (thanks to vigilant Arabic scribes)
is generally understood to form the basis for alchemical philosophy
and practice, called the hermetic philosophy by the early alchemists.
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altar
wikipedia.com
An altar (Hebrew mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay")
is any structure on which sacrifices are offered for religious
purposes.
ozwicca.com
A special table or shelf where ritual objects are placed for the
purpose of work & worship. An altar table can be most anything
from a patch of ground to a marble pedestal (and anything in between).
Items that may be found on an altar include candles, an athame
and/or wand, a dish of salt and water (for purification and to
represent Earth and Water), stones, incense, small statues of
the God and Goddess, other objects symbolic to the ritual purpose.
It is generally considered preferable for an altar to be made
of wood or stone. Metal is usually not used because of the conductivity
of its nature, though altar pieces are often of metal, and it
is not unusual for an altar table to be decorated with metal ornaments
or inlay, or to have a metal frame.
amulet
A trinket or piece of jewelry thought to be a protection against
evil.
Amulet Something worn, generally round the neck, as a charm.
(Arabic, hamulet, that which is suspended.)
The early Christians used to wear amulets called Ichthus, fish;
the word is composed of the initial letters of Iesos CHristos
THeou Uios Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Saviour).
aradia
ozwicca.com
The Italian goddess Diana's daughter, said to be the origin of
all witches. The book "Aradia, Gospel of the Witches"
was written by Leland about Aradia and the practice of witchcraft.
wikipedia.com
In Wiccan tradition, Aradia was the daughter of Diana and Lucifer.
She was a goddess of witchcraft, and was said to have taught witches
their craft.
Etymology of the name: Aradia comes from the name Herodias, a
witch goddess that was worshipped since the Middle Age.
as above so below
The first point of the "Emerald Tablet" tells the purpose
of hermetical science: "in truth certainly and without doubt,
whatever is below is like that which is above, and whatever is
above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles
of one thing."
asatru
Ásatrú is an Icelandic term consisting of two parts:
Ása (Genitive of Æsir) referring to the gods and
goddesses, and trú meaning faith. Thus Ásatrú
literally means faith in the gods. It is commonly misunderstood
to mean 'true to the gods'. The faith is also referred to as Norse
or Germanic Heathenry. The Old Norse term for 'heathenry' is "heiðni".
Yet another Old Norse designation is "forn siðr";
the ancient custom.
After having few if any practitioners for many centuries, this
religion was revived as Ásatrú in the 19th century.
It received a special impetus in the late 1960s and early 1970s
when Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson was instrumental in getting
Ásatrú recognized by the Icelandic government in
1973 and a Danish emigrant to Canada, Else Christiansen, began
publishing "The Odinist" newsletter. In America, Steve
McNallen, a former U.S. Army officer, began to publish in the
early 1970s a newsletter titled "The Runestone" and
hold annual "Althings." An offshoot of McNallen's Asatra
Free Assembly (later renamed Asatru Folk Assembly) was the Asatru
Alliance, headed by Valgard Murray, and publisher of "Vor
Tru", followed by the establishment of the Odinic Rite in
England and later founding of The Troth in America. Today, Ásatrúar
may be found today all over the world but principally in Scandinavia,
Western Europe, North America and Australia/New Zealand. In Iceland
many practitioners consider it a left-leaning phenomenon, whereas
in parts of America torn by racial strife it has been interpreted
by some groups with a rightward bias.
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asperger
ozwicca.com
A bundle of fresh herbs either carrying dew or dowsed with spring
water, used to sprinkle the water during ritual purification.
astral plane
bewitchingways.com
The nonphysical, spiritual plane
astral travel
ozwicca.com
The experience, whether spontaneous or induced, of travelling
through the astral realm in the form of the astral body.
astrology
wikipedia.com
Astrology refers to any of several systems of understanding, interpreting
and organizing knowledge about reality and human existence, based
on the relative positions and movement of various real and construed
celestial bodies, chiefly the Sun, Moon, planets, and lunar nodes
as seen at the time and place of a birth or other event being
studied.
athame
wikipedia.com
Athame or athamé is what some practitioners of ritual magick
call their ceremonial knives. In some traditions, the athame is
a knife with a double edged blade and short (often black) handle;
other traditions require that the blade be dull, curved, or a
variety of other specifications.
The athame is used for ritual and magical purposes only, to direct
energy; if something such as herbs or cord needs to be cut, another
knife called a boline or white-handled knife is used. An exception
being "kitchen witchcraft" which actively encourages
the use of magickal tools for mundane purposes, to increase the
witch's familiarity with it.
Many traditions associate the athame with the masculine principle
and with the element of air, though traditions associating it
with fire are not uncommon.
Other traditions forbid the use of blades, in general, or of
steel blades, in particular, in their rituals. This is most common
amongst traditions that have a particular fondness of the Sidhe,
to whom steel is harmful.
aura
wikipedia.com
Some people believe that there is a visible energy field, called
an aura, that can be seen or otherwise sensed around living beings--especially
around humans. These energy fields are sometimes claimed to be
documented by a rare form of photography called Kirlian photography.
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B.C.E.
ozwicca.com
"Before Common Era"Few non-Christians see any relevance
to idea of dating events from the supposed date of the birth of
Jesus. So instead of using B.C., we prefer B.C.E. In practice
it means the same thing.
balefire
ozwicca.com
A traditional fire lit outdoors during Yule, Beltane, and Litha.
WordNet
A large outdoor fire.
beltaine
wikipedia.com
Beltane or Beltaine (From either Irish Gaelic Béalteine
or Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn; both from Old Irish Beletene, "bright
fire") is a Gaelic holiday celebrated around May 1.
Early Gaelic sources from around the 10th century state that the
Druids would create a need-fire on top of a hill on this day and
rush the village's cattle through the fires to purify them and
bring luck ("Eadar dà theine Bhealltuinn" in
Scottish Gaelic, "Bettween two fires of Beltane"). People
would also go between the fires to purify themselves. This was
echoed throughout history after Christianisation (with regular
people instead of Druids creating the need fire) up until the
1950s, while in some places the celebration of Beltane persists,
people mainly go between the fires today.
Beltane is a specifically Gaelic holiday, not "Celtic,"
as other Celtic cultures, such as the Welsh, Bretons, and Gauls,
do not celebrate it.
In neopaganism, the name Beltane or Beltaine is used for a sabbat,
one of the eight solar holidays, which is celebrated on this day.
Although the holiday uses features of the Gaelic Beltane, such
as the bale fire, it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day
festival, both in its significance (focussing on fertility) and
its rituals (such as maypole dancing). Gerald Gardner, the principal
originator of the Wiccan religion, referred to the holiday as
May Eve.
Among the neopagan sabbats, Beltane is a cross-quarter day; it
is celebrated in the northern hemisphere on May 1 and in the southern
hemisphere on November 1. Beltane follows Ostara and precedes
Midsummer (see the Wheel of the Year).
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besome
WordNet
A broom made of twigs tied together on a long handle.
bind
Using magic to: hinder as if with bonds.
blood of the moon
ozwicca.com
A woman's menstrual cycle, considered important and a crucial
time for magick to be performed, especially when it crosses the
new or full moon.
boline
wikipedia.com
Boline is the name given to a knife used by some practitioners
of ritual Magick. Unlike the athamé which in most traditions
is never used for cutting in the material plane, the boline is
used for cutting cords, herbs etc. and carving candles.
Traditions differ as to whether the boline can truly be considered
a magickal tool, or is meerly of utilitarian purpose.
In so-called "Kitchen Wicca" or "Kitchen Witchcraft"
use of magical tools for mundane purposes like cooking is actively
encouraged, and as such there is little or no need for a boline
as a separate tool to the athamé.
book of shadows
wikipedia.com
A book of shadows is what some practitioners of ritual magic call
the journal they use to record rituals and spells, and their results,
and other magical information. Both individuals and covens keep
such books. It used to be the tradition that the record be in
the handwriting of its owner, but these days the book is frequently
replaced by a "Disk of Shadows" or a web site.
broom closet
ozwicca.com
Not meant literally, this is a term used to describe someone who
is "in the broom closet", or in other words, who is
not public with their pagan practices.
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C.E.
Common Era. Denotes the same time period as that commonly used
beginning with the birth of Jesus (A.D.) Common Era means the
same thing without the religious connotations.
cauldron
ozwicca.com
A feminine symbol of the goddess, also of life, death, and rebirth.
This is associated with Cerridwen, a goddess who brewed a magickal
cauldron from which a single drop was yielded each year. The consumer
of her brew would be granted great wisdom. Today her cauldron
survives not only in pagan ritual but in the Christian concept
of the holy grail.
censer
WordNet
A container for burning incense (especially one that is swung
on a chain in a religious ritual).
chakra
wikipedia.com
A chakra is an energy centre in the human body as taught in Indian
yoga and some related cultures. Chakras are also believed in by
some New Age adherents. Chakra means 'wheel' in sanskrit.
A chakra is a locus of life energy. There are seven chakras
in the body - each is an interface for the flow of life energy.
A chakra vitalises a physical body and is associated with interactions
of a physical, mental nature. Current technology is not capable
of measuring life energy or chakras.
The seven main chakras are described as being present in an ascending
column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each
chakra is associated with a certain color, multiple specific functions,
an aspect of consciousness, a classical element and other correspondences.
chalice
ozwicca.com
The ritual cup used in Wiccan ritual, said to be cognate to the
Holy Grail and Magical cauldron of ancient mythology. The Chalice
represents the womb of the Goddess, from which all creation proceeds.
A feminine symbol of the element water. This is used during ritual
and once the waters of life which it contains is blessed, it is
passed around so that everyone in the coven may bring the Goddess
"into" themself.
chi
Chinese term to name the universal life force.
circle
sacred-pathways.com
Sacred space wherein all magic is to be worked and all ritual
contained. It both holds ritual energy until the witch is ready
to release it, and provides protection for the witch.
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cleansing
Ritual to remove negative energy from an object, space, or one's
self. Cleanse the body through ritual bathing. Cleanse the mind
through ritual meditation.
collective unconscious
wikipedia.com
Collective unconscious is a term that was originally coined by
Carl Jung. He distinguished the collective unconscious from the
personal unconscious, which is particular to each human being.
The collective unconscious refers to that part of a person's unconscious
which is common to all human beings. It is made up archetypes,
which are forms or symbols that are manifested by all people in
all cultures. Some say that this borders on metaphysics and thus
is a major difference between Jung and his mentor, Sigmund Freud.
cone of power
ozwicca.com
Psychic energy raised by either an individual or a coven and released
to perform a certain goal through magick.
consecration
witchway.net
Blessing an object (usually a ritual tool) to purify it and empowering
it with positive energy.
coven
ozwicca.com
A group of 2 or more Pagans who worship together on a regular
basis. The idea of covens having 13 members is a bit odd. Covens
can be of any practical size, but the ideal is to have an even
number (equal numbers of priests & priestesses).
bewitchingways.com
small group of people, usually no more than 13, of the same Tradition
who work together within the Craft.
covenstead
The regular meeting place of a coven.
craft
Term commonly used to refer to witchcraft and/or wicca.
crone
ozwicca.com
A term of respect used for a witch who has passed menopause or
who is over 50-56 years old. The Goddess in Her aged form. The
Crone is represented by the Waning Moon, and rules over wisdom,
understanding, magic, and learning, among other things. People
who do not possess wisdom often fear it, and thus the Crone Goddess
is often feared as well. She is the Goddess of death, Who consumes
all things -but only to give them transformation and rebirth.
The Crone is often equated with Primordial Deity, Who precedes
all creation, and waits to consume (i.e.; re-unite with) it at
the end of existence. In popular iconography the Crone is the
"Hallowe'en Witch" with Her pointed hat symbolising
the upward spiralling cone of power, Her broomstick for sweeping
away old forms of existence, and Her cauldron of transformation
for creating new ways of being.
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days of power
ozwicca.com
Significant magickal days around the year. See also Sabbats.
deosil
ozwicca.com
(pronounced: DAY-o-sil) Sunwise or Anti-Clockwise (Southern Hemisphere),
or clockwise movement (Northern Hemisphere) the direction of the
apparent movement of the sun across the sky, the direction of
creation. Used in magick to raise power.. It literally means "Southwards"
from the Gaelic Deas, or "South". Deosil movement represents
the movement of spiritual energy into physical manifestation.
When opening or casting Circle, the Priest or Priestess will commonly
walk anti-clockwise around the circle, symbolic of the cycle of
life. Every time you turn in circle you should always move deosil,
even if it means making an almost complete circle. The term Deosil
refers to motions that go in the same direction as the apparent
motion of the Sun. For this reason it is also sometimes called
Sunward motion. Used often to describe movement in rituals. This
is a pagan custom used to drawn down the power of the sun; most
often a person circles three times deosil. It is associated with
blessings, luck, and good health or fortune. In magic Deosil movement
is used for raising energy, while clockwise (Southern Hemisphere)
anti-clockwise (Northern Hemisphere) or Tuathail motion is used
to disperse energy. We raise energy to aid in the working of magic
and the manifestation of those things we wish to bring about.
For this reason most motion in the Magic Circle will be Deosil.
Deosil means "Southward" and takes its name from the
Scottish term for the Airt of the South: Deas. In correspondence
Deas is also identified with the Noonday and the Sun. Almost all
peoples have considered Sunward motion to be indicative of manifestation.
You will hear some people claim that such and such a people used
Tuathail motion to indicate manifestation and work magic, but
this is not so: the confusion arises from the use of the terms
"right" and "left" to describe movement in
the circle. Anti-clockwise movement always goes to the left -yet
if you stand in a circle with others holding hands and pass energy
around the circle anti-clockwise, you will notice you receive
it through your left hand, and pass it on to the right -it is
from this that the confusion arises.
divination
sacred-pathways.com
The magical art of using tools and symbols to gather information
from the Collective Unconsciousness. This can be on people, places,
things and events past, present, and future.
ozwicca.com
Fortune-telling or future-telling by various means. Method of
inquiring into a situation through tools. There are literally
hundreds of methods, some common, some less so, including: Tarot
cards, Rune Stones, Scrying, Psychometry, Oneiromancy, Pendulum,
Aleuromancy, and Bibliomancy. Divination should be regarded as
a very useful way to predict trends, dangers and opportunities.
But be aware that the future is not fixed. A reading can influence
ones actions and thus the outcome may change. If a reader tells
you an accident is on the cards it dose NOT mean you have to go
out and have that accident! It DOES mean you need to take extra
care NOT to have an accident.
dowsing
sacred-pathways.com
The divinatory art of using a pendulum or stick to find the actual
location of a person, place, thing, or element.
dracomancer
ozwicca.com
A practitioner of magick who uses dragons in their workings.
drawing down the moon
bewitchingways.com
A ritual done during the Full Moon to connect with the Goddess
by drawing her spirit into you.
sacred-pathways.com
A ritual performed during the Full Moon by witches to empower
themselves and unite their essence with a particular deity, usually
the Goddess.
branwenscauldron.com
A ritual used during the Full Moon in which Witches invoke the
power of a Moon Goddess to increase their power.
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dreamtime
ozwicca.com
The Shamanic concept of a world which parallels this one.
druidism
ozwicca.com
An ancient celtic order of priests which has undergone a modern
revival into neo-paganism.
Druids, Ancient:
From the root “dru-,” meaning “oak tree, firm,
strong;” the entire intelligentsia of the Celtic peoples,
including doctors, judges, historians, musicians, poets, priests
and magicians; 99.9% of what has been written about them is pure
hogwash.
--Isaac Bonewits
Druids, Masonic:
Members of several Masonic and Rosicrucian fraternal orders founded
in the 1700’s (and since) in England, France and elsewhere;
some claim to go back to the original Druids.
--Isaac Bonewits
Druids, Reformed:
Members of several branches of a movement founded in 1963 c.e.
at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota; most are now Neopagans,
though the original founders were not.
--Isaac Bonewits
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earth magic
branwenscauldron.com
A form of magick in which the powers of the Earth are sought and
used to conduct ritual and magickal workings.
ozwicca.com
A practical form of magick which involves drawing energy from
Mother Earth (or Gaia) and the element or elementals of earth
for rituals.
sacred-pathways.com
The energy that exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind, and
other natural objects.
eclectic
ozwicca.com
A person (or the practice of a person) who combines attributes
from various traditions to create a unique spiritual blend of
Wicca, paganism, or witchcraft that suits them best.
elemental
Personifications of the four or five “elements” of
Western or Eastern occultism; in the West these are “Gnomes”
for Earth, “Undines” for Water, “Sylphs”
for Air, “Salamanders” for Fire, and “Sprites”
for Spirit.
--Isaac Bonewits
sacred-pathways.com
Archetypical spirit beings associated with one of the four elements.
Elementals are sometimes called Faeries.
elements
ozwicca.com
Elements are thought of as the basic building blocks of creation.
Different cultures have used different substances to symbolise
the elements, and sometimes different numbers of them, and their
correspondences vary widely according to location. In the Wiccan
religion they are normally said to be: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
All things are said to be made up of these elements in differing
proportions. It must be understood that it is not the physical
substance that is meant here, but rather the spiritual qualities
that they represent. Air represents inspiration, Fire action,
Water reaction, and Earth integration. In addition Spirit is said
to be the fifth element, of which all the others are manifestations.
enchantment
sacred-pathways.com
A magical object that must be kept absolutely secret and hidden
from all human eyes and affects a hidden aura. They must be charmed
first. Gems and magical writing are good items to use.
ozwicca.com
A method of spellcasting which involves, generally, spoken words
of power. An enchantment can be put on something to gain control
or authority over it. Enchanted objects generally "carry"
the magick put upon them with them, so it does not cease to work
but is continually having its effect.
eostre's eggs
sacred-pathways.com
Colored, decorated eggs of Ostara; named for the Teutonic Goddess
Eostre.
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esbat
sacred-pathways.com
A ritual usually occurring on the Full Moon and dedicated to the
Goddess in her lunar aspect.
branwenscauldron.com
Meeting of Witches on the Full Moon or the New Moon usually to
perform rituals. Esbat rituals may also be performed by solitary
Witches.
bewitchingways.com
The celebration of the moon phases, mainly the Full or New Moon.
ozwicca.com
An Esbat is a monthly ceremony or ceremonies, usually tied to
the cycle of the Moon. Esbats are commonly held at the New or
Full Moon, but can also be held at the Dark Moon and are a time
of worship and spellcasting.
evocation
Evocation, Law of:
“It is possible to establish external communication with
entities from either inside or outside of oneself, said entities
seeming to be outside of oneself during the communication process.”
--Isaac Bonewits
sacred-pathways.com
To call something out from within.
ozwicca.com
Calling up spirits or elementals.
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familiar
Animals supposedly used by Gothic Witches and others to help
them with their magic; often believed to be incarnated spirits
or the messengers of noncarnate ones.
--Isaac Bonewits
branwenscauldron.com
An animal, either a pet or a spiritual entity, who serves the
Witch as a magickal helper.
ozwicca.com
A spirit or guardian who is close to a human being and considered
a companion in magick. The spirit often manifests itself in a
sacred object or a pet. This explains the misconception that all
witches have black cats, which is not necessarily true though
a cat is a magickal creature and often does become a familiar.
fascination
sacred-pathways.com
A mental effort to control another animal or person's mind. Also
known as "mind-bending". Often considered unethical.
ozwicca.com
The practice of controlling another's mind psychically. Can be
considered very manipulative and by some traditions a breaking
of the Rede, especially when used to frivolously control people.
feng shui
ozwicca.com
This is the ancient Chinese art of Geomancy based on the directions
and the Asian system of five Elements. Feng Shui is based on the
idea that by allowing a free flow of Chi (spiritual energy), you
can create a more harmonious living or working space, which will
attract love and success into the lives of the people who use
it. With this in mind Feng Shui is used to align the position
of buildings, to decorate rooms and in general to divine the most
auspicious place to put things.
futhark
ozwicca.com
Runic alphabet used often in divination, its origins are Norse
(Germanic). Divided into the elder Futhark and the younger Futhark
(which has fewer runes).
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