Glossary Magikal/Pagan/Witch
Glossary Magikal/Pagan/Witch
Acolyte: as used in many P* notes, means a 'novice'.
Affirmations: this is a belief often employed by Wiccans; that repetitive "Positive Assertive Thoughts" will influence people & reality. Use to be called "Positive Thinking."
Akasha: the 5th element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the energy out of which the Elements formed.
Alchemy: 1) pseudo chemistry of transmuting metals. 2)transmutation of Inner Self to a higher more Spiritual plane.
Allah: 'God' in Islamic theology; originally 'Al-Lat', the Moon.
Altar: a table of sorts, on which is done magick. Sometimes round to Symbolize the Goddess, or square and represents the Elements. Best made of wood, and facing East toward the rising of both Sun and Moon. The left 1/3 is for the Goddess, center for both Diety and right 1/3, for the God. Suggested layout (S. Cunningham / Solitary Practitioner): See my Altar notes...
flowers.......
Goddess Symbol...God Symbol..
or candle.censor or candle..
water bowl..red candle..salt bowl...
Pentacle chalice or cup.....offering plate......incense
wand...cauldron...athame
bell..spell material.bolline
Amulet: a magically empowered object that deflects (sends away) specific, usually negative, energies. Generally, a protective object. *Compare with Talisman.
Anaphrodisiac: a substance, such as camphor, that reduces sexual desires.
Anglo-Saxon: English of c.5th - 11th centuries.
Anima / Animus: Jungarian concept that ANIMA, is the buried feminine element in a man's psyche & that ANIMUS is the buried masculine element in the female. This then fits to the Pagan views that Self and/or Soul, is both male & female, and with the concepts of reincarnation.
Animistic: the belief that all forms of Nature has a Divine Spirit within.
Aphorism: a sparsely worded, and direct little saying. Ex.: 'As above, So below.'
Aphrodisiac: a substance that produces sexual excitement.
ARADIA: was the Goddess daughter of Diana, & the Goddess of choice of those of Italian (STREGA) traditions.
Aromatherapy: use of various flower, herb, oil and incense fragrances and smells. HOLISTIC AROMA: uses massage and smell. MAGICKAL AROMA: uses smell and visualization.
Aspects: qualities or characteristics of something or Diety, etc. Ex.: Luna is an aspect of the Moon Goddess. Orion is an aspect of the antlered or Horned God.
Aspecting: this is when a person in magickal exercise, manifests ASPECTS of a God/dess, with/in themselves.
Asperger: a bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object, used for purificatory purposes to sprinkle water during or proceeding ritual.
'As above, so below.': this saying means that universal & natural laws apply to inner & outer consciousness. That everything is connected and is part of one another.
Astral: other existing dimensions of reality.
Astral Projection or AP: the act of separating the consciousness from the physical body and moving it about at will.
Astrology: the belief that the relative positions of planets & other Space Bodies, influence events & behavior surrounding us; & is the exercise in calculating these related happenings. ASTRONOMY is the hard science.
Astrology, Natal: refers to calculating the planetary influences at the time of the subject's birth.
Atavism, Atavistic: these terms refer to characteristics of all living organisms, that has a hereditary characteristic trait or deformity, etc.; that shows up after having skipped a generation or more. It's the reversion to the original type, like if you plant a hybrid seed but it grows up like its wild ancestor.
Athame: a personal knife, usually made of steel and is double bladed or edged; with a black handle. Double edged to Symbolize that power works both ways: healing & harming, creation & destruction; light & dark. Both sides necessary & both sides needing controlled. The black because it absorbs power. The owner often engraves magick symbols into the metal. A magickal tool associated with change makes it the symbol of the Element - Fire, and its phallic nature links it to the God.
Aura: the colored, low level energy field that surrounds living tissue.
Avatar: an advanced soul, who chooses to return to a physical body, in order to teach less evolved souls. Ex.: Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, & Zoraster.
Balefire: a fire lit, usually outdoors, for magickal purposes and traditionally on Yule, Beltane & Midsummer.
Bane / Baneful: that which destroys life. Poisonous, dangerous, destructive.
Banish: the magickal act of driving away evil or negativity. A strong purification, sometimes associated with the removal of 'spirits'.
Beastie: 1) one's pets. 2) small house entities or spirits. SEE END OF GLOSSARY for more on 'Beasties.'.
BCE: BeforeCommonEra is the nonreligeous equivalent of BC.
Bell: an altar tool, symbol of the Goddess and rung during ritual to invoke Her. Also rung to ward off negative or evil and for the opposite, to evoke good energies. Or to signal the beginning and/or end of a spell. Can symbolize the motion of the Elements and its swinging to and fro, represent the extremes of good and evil; positive and negative.
Beltane: the festival celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. It celebrates the maturity of the God to manhood and the union of the God and Goddess, and her fertility. Also called May Day, the old English May Pole tradition was of a phallic symbol, marking the return of vitality, passion and consumated hopes. Pronounced b' YALt'n.
Besom: broom, usually the round type. Symbol of the Element Water.
Biddy: 1) a 'doll' made from the last sheaf from the last harvest....SEE CORN DOLLY. 2) the little c.4" doll was made from material scraps.
'Beyond the Veil.': is a term pertaining to those things beyond our 'normal' 5 senses, such as angels, fairies, ghosts, etc. & things like channeling.
Bigotry: willful ignorance.
Biorhythm / Circadian Rhythm: this is the study of 3 physical, intellectual, & emotional vibrations or components, that start when we are born or at conception; OPINIONS VARY. These then are tracked to predict high & low days in a person's life. More simply put - these are our INTERNAL CLOCKs, doing things like changing our temperature & blood pressure throughout the day... PHYSICAL: state of the body, trength, vigor, pain, etc. INTELLECTUAL: state of the mind, logical thinking, problem solving ability, etc. EMOTIONAL: state of personality, happy, irritated, angry, sad, elated, etc.
Birthstone or Sunstone: the crystal assigned to one's birthmonth, representing the Sun aspect. A natalstone.
Bolline: a white handled knife, single edged to reflect it's working nature, and used in ritual purposes of cutting herbs, or engraving candles, etc. It is a working tool as opposed the magickal Athame. The white is to tell it apart from the black handle. Sometimes pictured as a miniature scythe, a curved bladed tool.
Book of Shadows: a Wiccan book of rituals, spells and other magickal lore. Best when handwritten. This is another very personal item, some say it should be destroyed at the 'passing over' of its owner, preferably by their Coven or Circle members.
Book, Mirror: a diary record of personal magickal events.
Bouquet: in perfumery, a blend of natural or synthetic scents which produce a specific odor.
Breed: is a mis-spelling of the phonetic sounding 'Bride', another name for Brigid, etc. and refers to the Goddess as well as the holiday of Imbolc, Candlemas, etc...Feb. 1st.
Brew: see infusion.
Burin: an engraving tool, often made with wooden handle carved by user and a sharpened nail.
Burning Times, the: this refers to the period of history called the 'Middle Ages", when an arguable number of persons were put to death, suposedly for witchcraft. Burning was hardly the only manner of death, & witchcraft hardly the only reason. The Christian Church, during this time stamped out religious practices they didn't understand, & added a great deal of wealth to their coffers; as did landowners greedy of their neighbors.
Cabochon: a cut and polished stone, with one rough edge.
Cape: an outer garment, thrown back behind the shoulders to cover the back; like Superman's cape.
Cardinal Point: North, East, South, & West. These are often marked in the Circle, by candles or other items. I use candles, crystals, & herbs.
Cartomancy: the act of reading cards in divination work.
Catharsis: is from CATHARTIC, which is a purgative; sort of like intestinal flu! CATHARIZE: means to clean & purify, then CATHARSIS: also means to purify but usually thought of as emotional rather than physical, like calming music or a pretty picture; it clears the mind, soothing the emotions, etc.
Catholic: with a small 'c', means: open to all', a generic name borrowed by the first Christians to entice people into their churches.
Cauldron: an iron, fire proof pot or kettle. Usually having 3 claw feet and a handle, this is from the Celtic stories of Kerridwen, whose cauldron had three powers: inexhautibility, regeneration, and inspiration. It's use is for cooking or brewing and is the symbol of the Goddess, the Element Water, and reincarnation, immortality and inspiration.
CAW / Church of All Worlds: run by Morning Glory & Otter, who also run the Pagan adult magazine Green Egg & child magazine HAM (How About Magick).
CE: Common Era is the nonreligeous equivalent of AD.
Censer: 1) A heat-proof container in which incense is smoldered; an incense burner or any similar object. 2) Symbol of the element Air.
Centering: the act of feeling solid, balanced and focused emotionally.
Chakra: the term encompassing the Power Points of the body; these are spinning 'wheels' of energy:
..........about 2" above your head is a chakra that works with your Higher Consciousness.
The Seven Major Chakras:
..........Crown / pituitary
..........3rd Eye / pineal
..........throat / thyroid
..........heart / thymus
..........solar plexus / lyden
..........spine / adrenal
..........lumbar / gonads
Plus various Minor Chakras:
.....such the ones the center of your hand palms
.....soles of the feet
.....behind each eye
.....in front of ears, where the jaw bone hinge is
.....above each breast
.....behind the knees
However, the one behind the knees or a separate one (?) is about 2" above the knee, then about 1" toward the inside of the leg; if your press & release several times (don't rub!), you can neutralize leg pain sometimes.
Chalice: a Water Element symbol. A symbol of marriage, abundance, and inexhaustible sustenance; see Cauldron for same qualities. An altar tool.
Channeling, physical: is the action of psychic impulses on a physical level; such as using a tarot deck.
Channeling, mental: is the action of psychic impulses on a mental level; such as clairvoyance. A term often used by authors wishing to sell their books, as this was quite a 'fad' for several years... it's the exercise where a person 'channels' the thoughts of a person considered 'dead'. This includes spirit entities, 'angels', & deceased persons.
Charge of the Goddess: not an exercise but a well-known literary work. Doreen Valiente did it for Gardner but I don't know if she is the original writer of it or not. The High Priestess intones these words, as the Goddess to her 'hidden children' during ritual.
Charging / to charge: to infuse an object with your personal power.
Chatoyancy: the property of some stones such as Tiger's Eye or Moonstone; of showing apparent movement, illumination or opalescence, within it.
Cheiromancy: the act of reading palms, or PALMISTRY; in divination work. Pronounced, kie ro mancy.
Circadian Rhythms: is the same thing as biorhythms.
Circle: 1) sphere of magick, either personal or coven. 2) looser group of Wiccans, not part of a Coven.
Claimer: Granny term. Action of consciously/unconsciously of seeing an object you want VERY much, & placing a psychic 'mark' on it, that holds the item until you can get it... also called 'MARKING IT.'
Clairvoyance: the ability to see things not normally perceptible to sight; means clear seeing. CLAIRVOYANT: is the person with this ability. CLAIRAUDIENCE: means 'clear hearing'. CLAIRSENTIENCE: means 'clear sensing' or empathy.
Cleopatra's Needle: an obelisk shaped crystal, used as a collector of negative and pentup energy. Usually placed in a flower part or sea sand to ground.
Cloak: an outer garment that sits across the shoulders covering the back & coming across to cover the front, with a clasp at the neck.
Cloak, Witch or Traveler's: same as the Cloak above, but with a hood. When used as a Witch's garment, best make it of natural fibers; include secret pockets for tools such as herbs or crystals; and include protective herbs in the linings. This is a personal item, DON'T let others wear your cloak! A symbol of dignity and invisibility. OPINIONS VARY ON COLOR MEANING: dark for protection OR black for absolute evil. OPINIONS VARY on this latter definition, MANY feel black is a lack of color; drawing & absorbing & storing energy. NOTE: there is much disagreement on the proper definition of cloak, many will say the weight or material defines it. But the ones I've given here make the most sense to the most people. NOTE: Never approach unannounced, a person in a black; SOME wearers are not very nice & carry weapons!
Comehither: Granny term. The act of 'calling' something or someone to get in touch with you. Sometimes used in reference to an item that wants a person. Such as a crystal, that you feel compelled to buy; or a person you feel compelled to phone. Goes both ways...
Cone of Power: some raise power during ritual, then form it into CONE shape & send it out on the world in a magickal spell.
Consecration: 1) A ritual of sanctification or purification. 2) A ritual of dedication.
Cords of Life: is a Starhawk ritual. Using decorated & colored cords, the purpose is to get an idea of 'you reap what you sow.'
Corn dolly: a human shaped formed from braided grain (not corn husks) stocks, with grain heads where the head is located. Represents the Mother Earth's fertility. Often made from the last of the harvest...SEE BIDDY.
Coven: an organized group of Wiccans led by a Priestess, Priest or both, and joined through initiation. Covenstead: the home of the coven. Covendom: is a circle around the Covenstead, traditionally 3 miles across. Latin :VENIRE & COM = together & to come or move. Middle English: COVIN = a group of confederates. Old French : COVINE = group with a single purpose.
Cowan: a person, not of Wiccan beliefs. It use to refer, as a derogatory term for a 'fake' or 'gameplayer' Pagan; a FOOL who doesn't know what they are talking about.
Coyote: a tricky, prankster, perverse or clowning person named after the Nat.Am. 'Coyote', who tricks man into learning needed lessons.
Craft, the: another name for the Wicca Religeon.
Crone: 1) Third aspect of the Mother Goddess. 2) A Witch of 50 or 56 yrs, or post menopause. 3) A term of respect. CRONING, then is the ritual which celebrates a person reaching this status. The Crone Goddess rules from Lughnasadh to Samhain, when the God aspects take over. The male counterpart can be a Sage or Seer depending on tradition.
Cross-quarters: these are the 4 holidays that fall between the Quarter holidays, see next... they are the midpoints of the season or Quarters & relate to lambing, harvest, planting, & slaughter times. As opposed to Solar dates of QUARTERS, these being the 4 holidays that recognize Solstices & Equinoxes.
Crystal: any of the many types of crystals, gems, minerals and rocks, which are used according to their characteristic vibrations or qualities in Earth Magic.
Crystal Ball: though many types of crystal can be bought in sphere (round) form, this term is almost exclusively a reference to the clear quartz type, used for scrying and divination. Its round shape makes it a Goddess symbol, which is why periodic moonbaths will keep it clear of negative energies and enhance its psychic powers.
Cup: an altar tool that often looks like a cauldron on a stem. Symbol of the Goddess and fertility; and of the Element Water.
Curse: a conscious direction of negative energy toward a person, place, or thing.
Days of Power: see Sabbat.
Death...is reference to the physical body NOT the Soul or Spirit, which is usually believed to go on to another body in the exercise of REINCARNATION. DEATHING: is the exercise of sitting with a 'dying' person as comforter or can be the ritual exercised to ease the soul 'over' into its new existence. DEATH IN SERVICE: meaning service to life; is the natural death such as from illness, old age, child birth, rescue attempts or self sacrifice to help another. BUT does NOT include murder, execution, suicide, war, torture deaths, etc. TO ME...Death is that state of existence consisting of change, evaluation, planning, & forgetting...DenElder
Dedication: is like a solemn promise or vow, like dedicating yourself to Wicca before being actually initiated. Pledging yourself, would be a dedication.
Degrees: this varies between traditions but a DEGREE is a level of expertise recognized by a more adept person. Sometimes these are meaningless, self vanities but usually a 1st Degree person can work in rituals; 2nd Degree maybe could lead the ritual; and 3rd Degree can teach & do initiations. Some groups talk about dozens of Degrees, etc. & other people don't have any but are still just as qualified. It can get VERY confusing! As with most Wicca exercises, the person must ASK to be DEGREED, however I don't know what happens if there is nobody TO ask... Some High Priest/esses can recite their LINEAGES, that is: 'my degree from so & so, who got theirs from so & so', etc.
Deosil: a clockwise circle, following the Sun and Moon's motion in the sky. It represents positive energy & a building up of, or creation of energy & exercise. Opposite of Widdershins.
Divination: 1) the ritual process designed to contact the psychic mind. 2) the magickal act of dicovering the unknown. 3) the act (DIVINING) of contacting the psychic mind by tricking, or drowsing, the Conscious Mind through ritual & observation of, or manipulation of, tools. NOTE: this isn't necessary for those who can easily attain communication with the psychic mind, though they may practice it.
Divine Power: the Life Force or Energy, which exist in the God and Goddess and the ultimate source of all things.
Donutting Clouds: Granny term... this is a mental exercise which purpose is to lay outside on your back, get comfortable, & as a slow moving cloud passes over, 'drill' a hole through it to blue sky using mind power.
Dowser: a person who is adept at using pendulum type devices; often though, it's the Water Dowser that comes to mind, but this is only one aspect.
'Drawing Down the Moon: the bringing of Goddess Power into one's Self, especially during ritual. Physical changes such as voice pitch or aura brilliance can occur.
Earth Power: the manifested Divine Power found in natural things. Can be utilized by magick for needed change.
Eclectic: a mixture of beliefs borrowed from various Traditions and Theologies, as opposed to one Tradition or Theology and its set mode of ritual and belief.
Elements: Earth (North), Air (East), Fire (South), Water (West). These 4 essences are the building blocks of the Universe. Everything that exists, or has the potential to exist contains one or more of these energies. These 4 elements formed from Primal Essence or power, Akasha. AND for the Practitioner who wonders, "What the HECK are those people talking about?"...
Element......Fire..........Air........Water......Earth....
God name.....Elohim........Jehovah....Cheieh.....Agla.....
Archangel....Michael.......Raphael....Gabriel....Uriel....
king.........Djin..........Paralda....Nichsa.....Ghob.....
Elemental....Salamander....Sylphs.....Undines....Gnomes...
I'm informed that the above goes with Quabbalah, Necromancy, RPing, & several other things! I don't know!?!
Elf Lights: are made of little cairns of stone, with inside room for a small candle in its glass holder. The stones are staggered so that when lit, the light shines through. A loose stone covers the top a few inches above the flame. These are wonderful little garden lights!
Elixir: the liquid made by placing a gem or crystal, in a glass of water for a specified length of time, then drank. TAKE CRYSTAL OUT FIRST!
Elohim: in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated to 'God'. However this is incorrect, or maybe only partially true! ELO - is feminine; while HIM - is masculine. 'Elohim' then, is a divine being existing in 1 entity of both masculine & feminine OR can be a reference in the plural meaning. See: Genesis 2:26' Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness....' (Note: vs27, then 'So God created man in his OWN image...' Just another little Bible & scholarly reason to debate religions over! Elohim would apparently represent Nature in Balance, you can't separate the masculine & feminine. Like you have both positive & negative, etc. TWO SIDES to make ONE WHOLE.
Empath: a person who can feel the emotions of other animate (living) entities, such as human, plant or animal. Some include inanimate objects as well under this word. NOTE: see Psychometry: inanimate objects.
Empower / Empowering: the movement of personal energies into herbs, stones, and other objects. These tools, or objects, are then used for magick. In herbs, empowering aligns the energies within the herbs with magical goals.
Energy: this is the natural vibration or power that we tap into or raise, in our spells & rituals. 1) There are those who think of the Energy, as something they raise or generate. 2) Others think this Energy is there for the trained person to tap into & direct.
Enfleurage: a French perfumery term describing the process of extracting essential flower oils, with purified fat. Also known as POMMADE.
Ephemeris: an astrology term, it refers to a collection of precise dates & calculations, of when certain planets were where & when.
Equinox: twice a year, VERNAL (Spring) & AUTUMNAL; the Sun is exactly over the Earth's middle or EQUATOR. This produces for one day the equal number of light & dark hours all over the world. Esbat: A ritual occasion celebrating the Full Moon.
ESP / Extra Sensory Perception: 1) beyond the senses. 2) An awareness of events or emotions not present to the physical senses. Usually included is 4 types: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis.
Essential Oil: the fragrant 'blood' or liquid of a plant, usually flower.
Ethereals: see Essential oil.
Evil: is not a word or thought used much by Wiccans. And more associated with the Christian & Satan beliefs.
Evocation: calling up spirits or other nonphysical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance. Opposite of Invocation.
Exorcism:1) traditionally, the process of driving out negativities or spirits (demons). 2) in herb magick, a powerful purification.
Familiar: a magickal equal but animal partner, it shows unusual psychic & intelligent qualities with its human counterpart. Not merely a pet. And sometimes a created Being from the Will of the person.
Fetch: 1) The spiritual or ghostly double of an animal or person. 2) An apparition.
Fey: a Welsh term for fairy-like qualities, usually of clairvoyant nature.
Fivefold Kiss: this goes with the 'Blessed Be..' blessings & you kiss what you are blessing...(1) each foot (2) each knee (3) above 'private area' (4) each breast (5) lips... which really gets you 8 kisses but in 5 areas.
Flame Dancing: Granny term...an exercise in Mind Control attempting to control from a distance, a candle flame; to make it burn steady & still, or 'dance'. The ultimate goal being to snuff the candle.
Folk Magic: the practice of combining Personal Power with Natural Energies, to create a specific purpose.
FRITH: old Norse word meaning 'Peace'. (Wizard)
Fundamentalist or Fundy: a politically right-wing religious conservative. They are the 'know-it-alls' of the Christian belief structure & very aggressive. Disrespectful & ignoring of others rights to freedom of religion, they disapprove even of other Christians. The Bible is IT! Literally, & no discussion about it.
Gaian: a term which recognizes the Earth Goddess Gaia, as a living, breathing organism. Then everything else, is PART of it, rather than APART from it.
Gardnerians: are followers of the Tradition of Witchcraft created from the teachings of Gerald Gardner.
GEOMANCER is someone who practices the art of GEOMANCY, which is a system of divination that consists of making a random number of marks either on paper or a shallow box filled with earth, then constructing a pattern of dots from those marks, which are then interpreted for the answer. If you would like to know more about how this is done, The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie has a chapter about it. It's a rather complicated system, and it's used mostly in connection with ceremonial magic.
Gesture: the hand or arm movement, that is the silent counterpart to spoken words or music.
God: the divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess. Often depicted as the Green God of Summer and the Horned God of Winter. He is seen as the Sun, without which we couldn't survive. His life, then is honored through the passing seasons of the year. Wild animals are his special concern and His aspect of the Horned God, with antlered helmet was the Christian source of titling Pagans as Satan worshippers. The God's domains are the untouched natural lands whether mountain or desert or forest. The stars, too are his. And his symbols include: sword, horns, spears, wand, knife, arrow, and sickle.
Goddess: the divine Universal Mother, source of fertility, wisdom and love. Often depicted in 3 in 1 aspects of: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Her gift is Life and She is all Nature. The moon is her symbol, as are the cauldron, mirror and five-petaled flowers, to name but a few. Also called the Goddess Mother. The 4th Face of the Goddess: is that which is never seen, the dark side of the moon; the Face of Death. Some say the source of Her power.
Grave goods: is NOT stuff dug up from graves!!! or grave stones!!! This is a collection of memorabilia, collected for someone who has just passed over, often then contained in a bag, then buried or cremated when the person is done. It can be things like pictures or herbs to 'good wishes' & spells of an easy transformation.
Great Rite, the: is the main part of a 3rd Degree Initiation of some Traditions.
Grimoire: a magical workbook with information on rituals, magickal properties of natural objects, preparation of ritual equipment. Many include a, 'catalog of spirits'. One of the most famous is 'The Key of Solomon'.
Greenwich Time: a term used in Astrology, Greenwich is where the meridian passes over & when the British set up a standard to make time worldwide,uniform; they started here at the time the Sun passed over. From this start, Time Zones were set up to cover large areas & Daylight Savings used to utilize sunlit hours but these are artificial times of convience for human use.
Grounding: the act of dispelling negative emotions and energies from the physical body.
Hand, Projective: the right hand, which emits energies. NOTE: switch if lefthanded!
Hand, Receptive: the left hand, which receives energies. NOTE: switch if lefthanded!
Handfasting: 1) the Wiccan, Pagan, & Gypsy wedding. 2) can also refer to a solemn betrothal. There are 3 basic marriage handfasting: a year & a day; lifetime; and time & eternity. Unlike a marriage until 'death do you part', a handfasting will stop, if the love stops (usually).
Heathen: a person who dwells on the heath..
Henotheist: one who worships one 'God' but does not deny the existence or value of other 'Gods'. Some Dianics are Henotheists.
Herb: a plant used in cooking as seasoning, cosmetics, medically and/or in magick. HERBALISM: the practice growing, gathering & using herbs.
Hera: 1) a Greek Goddess. 2) a female her'o'.
Hex: see Curse.
High Priestess / HPS: a high statused, female practitioner. One who has passed several tests and initiations.
High Priest / HP: the counterpart of the High Priestess.
Horoscope: is the computation of ASTROLOGY, & presented in a CHART. It is erroneous to lump blanket predictions, such as found in the daily newspaper; under this term.
Horoscope, to Cast: is the exercise of computing the HOROSCOPE.
Iconoclasm: first, icon is like a statue of a Goddess; 'OCLASM' is the act of breaking icons, or religious images. It can also refer to the act of attacking the beliefs of another; such as those we call Thumpers.
Imbolc: the festival celebrated Feb. 2nd marking the first stirrings of Spring as the Goddess recovers from giving birth to the God. Also called: Candlemas, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Light, Oimelc, Brigit's Day, Snowdrop Festival, among others. Often a traditional time for self dedication or initiation. Pronounced: IM bulk.
Immanent: means something abiding in, inherit of, a natural & inborn quality.
Incense, combustible: selfburning incense containing potassium nitrate, usually in cone, block or stick form. NOTE: incense is an Air Element symbol.
Incense, noncombustible: incense without potassium nitrate, requiring heat to release the scent.
Incubus: an oversexed male demon or spirit.
Infusion: a liquid produced by soaking herbs in very hot water (not boiling!). A tea, brew, or potion.
Initiation: the introductory process, or admitting; of a new member into a group (coven).
Intuition: a term describing psychic information that unexpectedly reaches the Conscious Mind.
Invocation: 1) An appeal or petition to a higher power/s. 2) a prayer. 3) a request for a Diety's appearance or attendance during ritual. 4) the practice that produces an awareness of Deity within.
King... in Celtic/Druid magicking, there is the Holly King of the waning year & his twin, Oak King of the waxing year. They switch at Summer Solstice, Oak from Holly. I'm told the poem 'Who Killed Cock Robin?' has it's originals in this myth rather than English political history. (?) KINGING: some Wicca use this ritual for a man of middle age. SEE QUEENING...
Labrys: the doubleheaded axe, symbol of an ancient Creten Goddess. It's by or against the leftside of the altar.
Lady: a term of respect for a Priestess, usually one who leads a group of other Wicca practitioners. THE LADY: means the Goddess.
Latitude: used in Astrology; Latitude ON EARTH is distances North & South from the Equator. However CELESTIAL LATITUDE is the distances North & South of the ECLIPTIC.
Lemniscate: a mathematical symbol for 'infinity'; it is a horizontal figure 8, that is the #8 lying on its side... this term comes up in reference to Tarot, & traditionally found on the cards:
I.Magician, XI.Strength, & the 3rd time, on the II.Pentacles which formerly was the 'key' card bearing the deck maker's signature. This no longer holds true, on newer, revised decks.
Livewood: refers to a tree in which a DRYAD or Wood Sprite type Being, is believed to dwell.
Livestone: refers to stones, mountains, cliffs, etc. in which a nature Being is believed to dwell.
Lord: a sometimes used term for a Priest. THE LORD: is the God.
Luck, good: a person's ability to make timely, correct decisions or perform right actions; or place oneself in positive situations.
Luck, bad: 1) An unwillingness to accept self-responsibility. 2) opposite of good luck.
Lughnasadh: the festival celebrated Aug. 1, marking the first harvest of winter food and ebbing of the Sun's (God's) energies and days grow short. A time to remember the bounty of food we eat and each meal an attunement to Nature. Also called: Aug. Eve, Lammas, and Feast of Bread. Pronounced: LOO n'sar.
Mabon: the festival celebrated around Sept. 21, on the Autumnal Equinox, marking the second harvest and change of Autumn toward Winter, when Nature prepares for the time to come. A time of thanks and reflection by many old & new civilizations.
Mage: Old English for the singular, 'Magus' and plural, 'Magi'; meaning a wise person. Can be a term of respect for a personal with great talent in a specific branch of magick; Herb Mage, Tarot Mage, etc.
Magic: the sleight of hand tricks, having 'physical', as opposed to 'psychic' exercise. NOTE: the word 'magic' is English from the Greek 'magos', and the Persian 'magus'. The words mean a Seer or Wizard.
Magick: 1) the movement of natural energies to create needed change. 2) the process of building up the natural energies of certain objects for a purpose, then releasing it. 3) a natural practice of mind using matter.
Magick, candles: the practice of directing the energies emitted by burning candles to create needed change.
Magick, circle: see Circle.
Magick, crystal: the practice of using energy from crystals or minerals, to create needed change.
Magick, herbs: the practice of directing the energies found in herbs to create needed change.
Magic, knife: see Athame & Bolline.
Maiden: 1) the 1st aspect of the Threefold Goddess, symbolic for creation & beginnings. 2) a virgin. 3) in some traditions, she is the assistant HPs. Traditionally linked to the Waxing Moon phase, & from Imbolc to Beltane.
Matrix: a word in Crystal Magick that refers to the base of a crystal cluster, the main 'lump' part.
Mean Time: is the time our clocks show as compared to TRUE SOLAR TIME.
Meditation: 1) reflection, contemplation, the turning inward to Self or outward to Diety. 2) quiet time used to dwell on certain thoughts, symbols or to let thoughts come as they will.
Megalith: a huge, stone monument such as Stonehenge.
Menhir: a single standing stone, lifted into place in ancient times. Many can still be seen in England.
Metaphor: is a symbolic thought; a figure of speech which when said implies another, though not literally alike thing or thought. Ex.: "Sticks as close as a tick to a hound dog!" implies a very close attachment.
Metaphysical: a 'catch-all' term referring to subjects of transcendental, or supernatural (hate THAT word!) reality.
Midsummer: the festival celebrated about June 21, on the Summer Solstice. An excellent time for magick and is the height of the God's (Sun) strength and power, being the longest day of the year. Also called Litha, bonfire leaping encouraged fertilty, purity, health and love. Fire being the symbol of the God.
Mighty Ones: Beings, Deities, unseen Presences usually Invoked during rituals/ceremonies. Sometimes linked to the Elements.
Mind, conscious: the controlled, intellectual part of mind that does everyday work. The rational part that thinks.
Mind, psychic: the subconscious, or unconscious, mind in which we receive psychic impulses. The psychic mind is at work when we sleep, dream, and meditate.
Monotheistic: the belief of honoring Divine Unity.
Mother: one of the aspects of the Triple Goddess, in this aspect She rules from Beltane to Lughnasadh.
Motion, Direct & Retrograde: these Astrological terms refer to the apparent movement of planets through the Zodiac... Direct = FORWARD / Retrograde = BACKWARDS / at the time between Direct & Retrograde, the planet is said to be STATIONARY or IN ITS STATION.
Mundane: refers to the everyday, such as Mundane or 'civil' 'Name' would be your birthname of JOHN; nickname JOHNNY; Magick Name SEAHAWK. Goes for other items as well, a Priest's mundane 'job' would be a carpenter, for example. The UNmagickal things & side of one's existence.
Natural Fiber: in reference to clothes, bags, etc; these would be cotton, linen (from flax plant), silk & wool.
Necromonicon: was the literary invention of writer, H.P.Lovecraft. This author is reknown for his wonderful fiction HOWEVER, he lost the rights to this work and others turned this fictional work into a 'religion' for the gullible. PERHAPS after these many years of 'worship', it can now be entitled to the title of religion. But only by a VERY LONG STRETCH of that definition! As such, it deals with altering & predicting life by use of 'entities' from other planes. And deals with 'portals' in time & dimensions. All kinds of nifty role-playing, fantasy & sci-fi stuff! It's also deals with all kinds of gruesome things - which is so sickening & repulsive to this person, as to make me wonder what kind of people would involve themselves in this. Though so far my encounters with 'practitioners' of necromancy, have been young persons. And they seem oblivious to the fact they are making some money-mongers VERY HAPPY! I most wholeheartedly urge everybody to STAY AWAY from this subject. To those who think they know better, good luck. I found the arguments FOR this practice only made me more REPULSED by it, and the ignorant arrogance involved with it.
NeoPagan: or 'new' Pagan; a member of newly formed religions now forming worldwide. NOTE: all Wiccans are Pagan - but not all Pagans are Wiccan.
Neophyte: a term used for beginner participants of pagan activities, sometimes incorrectly used in a derogatory manner.
Nitwitchery: a showoff & braggart; one who is inconsiderate & insulting; one who is self-aggrandizing at the expense of other's feelings, even one who is exploitive of their knowledge & in their practices. (Ashleen O'Gaea)
Nodes: in Astrology, NODES are the places where a planet or the Moon crosses the ECLIPTIC. An ASCENDING NODE is a crossing from south to north; & DESCENDING NODE crosses north to south.
Numbering of hours: this is an Astrology term; the start of SIDEREAL TIME bigins the exact moment when the beginning of the ZODIAC is midway between rising & setting. This is called, "0h 0ms 0s" with the 'h', 'm', & 's' written little & up like a degree symbol is...and this means 'no hours, no minutes, no seconds of ST at the location concerned. The NUMBERING OF HOURS of MEAN TIME starts at MEAN Midnight which is 12 hours earlier than MEAN Noon; when the Sun would be halfway fron setting to rising IF it kept mean rather than solar time. This then is '0h 0m 0s of LOCAL MEAN time at the location involved. This all workouts to ST at MEAN NOON can be fron '0h' to '24h' according to what day of the year it is...
Nymph: is a nature spirit OR can be derogatory slang for a virgin. Hopefully not always derogatory!
Occult: to conceal and hide away knowledge from the uninitiated. Latin: occulere.
Old Ones: a term used to encompass all aspects of the God and Goddess. Alternative of Mighty Ones.
Old Religion: another 'Craft' term, which fits that song, "Give me that Old Time Religion' much better than the Christian use of it!
Ordains: the traditional Laws of the Craft, some for individuals & others for covens.
Ostara: the festival occuring at the Spring Equinox, about March 21, marking the start of Spring. This fire festival celebrates the Mother Earth's fertility and return of the God (Sun). A time of new beginnings and reproduction.
Pagan: 1) Latin: paganus / pagani = country dweller. 2) General term for magic embracing religions, such as Wicca, Druid, Shaman. Sometimes used interchangably with NeoPagan.
PAGANING: a term for the exercise of 'presenting' a newborn to one's Circle or Coven...see WICCANING.
Pallomancy: divining with a pendulum. SEE RADIESTHESIA.
Palmistry: is the 'reading' of palm features to explain personalities & divine futures of the person. This interesting subject involves much more than just reading 'The Lines', there is shapes of the hand & fingers to consider; how they are held; 7 mounts of Venus, Moon, Mars, Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, & Saturn; nail shapes; there are 'lines' for: affection, fate, head, heart, life, & sun; there are fans, islands, stars, triangles, grilles & branches & NOT ALL STARS ARE GOOD! Some hands carry the Cross of Intuition' or the rarer 'Ring of Solomon' or maybe just a pinker Moon Mount. Facinating subject! BUT make sure you CAN HOLD somebody elses hand, some empaths may have trouble with this...
Pantheistic: the belief, meaning to see the Divine as everywhere & in everything. Sometimes explained as PANTHEISM is believing that 'God' & Nature are the SAME thing.
Passages: an exercise of a significant transition...Ex.s: birthdays, getting over that lost love, initiations, moving to a new house, etc. A BEEG change!
Pendulum: a divinitory tool, consisting of a device hanging from a string; and the deciphering of its movement. This tool contacts the Psychic Mind.
Pentacle / pentagram: basic 5 point star, worn with one point up, and enclosed by a Circle; by Wiccans. Symbol representing the Wicca Religion; the 5 senses; the Elements; and the human body; and a protective symbol known from the times of Babylon. Symbol of power and/or protection when hung over doors and windows. Represents the Element - Earth. A tool for summoning the Goddess. PENTACLE: is the article of jewelry or altar piece, etc. PENTAGRAM: is the drawing. Also, penagram, pentangle. 'Pente' meaning 5, and gram/me meaning line; Greek. In Latin PENTACULUM. The points & center can stand for: Birth, initiation, love, repose, death & transformation. Sex, self, passion, pride, power & timelessness. Beginning, adolescence, adulthood, elderly, ending & power to move, change, and transform. And the common meaning, but arguable: Earth, Air, Fire, Water & Spirit. NOTE: the early Christians often wore pentacles, for to them it represented the 5 wounds of Christ on the cross AND the parts of the human body; that is: head, arms, & legs. Sir Gawain used it as an emblem on his shield!
Plane, mental: the thought process, conscious and unconscious.
Plane, physical: the physical body and its workings, through coordi- nation with mental plane.
Plane, spiritual: a person's perception of life's existence, consisting of belief or lack of belief in the Divine.
Pledge: the Pagan self-dedication to live by established Pagan morality.
Polarity: the concept of equal but opposite energies or powers.
Polytheistic: the belief of honoring the Divine through various God and Goddess forms or aspects.
Pommade: see Enfleurage.
Power, personal: the energies which sustain the body and are used in Magick.
Precognitive: is the act of knowing something before the event. Opposite of RETROCOGNITIVE: knowing something after the event or in the present. That 'knowing' that something has happened.
Proselytizing: the act of trying to convert another from their religion to your own. Vigorous, annoying, and attacking Christian proselytizers are called Thumpers (Bible thumping), and Fundies (Fundamentalists).
Psychism: describes the state in which information from the psychic mind is available to the conscious mind. Greek: 'psyche', the soul. NOTE: a 'Psychic Assault' or attack, is when a person tries to impose and intervene THEIR will, over another's.
Psychokinesis: the act of mind over matter, or mind controlling matter by mind alone.
Psychometry: the ability to receive & interpret vibrations from inanimate places & things. See: Empath.
Quarters: see CROSS-QUARTERs..these are dates not coinage.
Queening: goes with KINGING, & is a Z.Budapest practice for mature women.
Radiesthesia: the use of a pendulum for divination work... but SEE below & PALLOMANCY.
Radionics: is any of several divinatory methods, where a message is received as in RADIO, through the air; but here meaning of an intuitive exercise.
Re-attribution of arousal: this term has to do with what normally feels 'painful', is 'pleasant' during heightened sexual emotion. This can be carried too far, so complete candor between CONSENTING adults, is a MUST!
Rede, Wicca: this is a moral code: "And it harm none, do what you will." Meaning no harm to another person or thing, with an unwritten but understood meaning, no harm to Self, either. REDE: means advice or council, not law. Though Wiccans tend to take it as an absolute lifestyle. I think it should be taken even further: that one actively do good works, as well.
Reincarnation: 1) the doctrine of rebirth of the spirit. 2) the process of repeated incarnations (lives), in physical form to allow the evolution of the soul. And this gem of a description - 'the recycling for souls', Ashleen O'Gaea.
Right Ascension / RA : an astrology term referring to the distance in the sky measured along a parallel to the Earth's Equator, like longitude lines but starting at the Zodiac beginning. As the Earth rotates on its axis each day, this celestial 'equator' & ecliptic is carried along with the Earth's Equator from 0 degree geographical longitude to 180 degree west & then back around to 0 degree again.
Risting: the act of drawing a rune shape or letter, in the air.
Ritual: 1) A ceremony or festival. 2) A spell. 3) Specific movements and manipulations to produce desired effects. In religeon, its purpose is to unite Self with the Divine. But in magick, it's to allow the person to move energy in desired ways.
Ritual Consciousness: the alternate state of mind, needed to successfully practice magick. This is the attunment of both the Conscious Mind and the Psychic Mind. At this time the senses will be heightened and awareness expanded, beyond the physical world to the energies of Nature and forces of the Dieties.
RULE, as in 'THE rule -- a late 50's, early 60's faddish thing actually & not New Age or Wicca... 'obey authority, conceal your feelings, fit in, & don't even THINK about sex!'
Runes: divination tools, remnant of ancient Teutonic alphabets. Used to divine current status of person or question, placed before them. The adept user can do spells and other works with runes.
Rune, Witch's: this is a poem chanted to raise power. Author unknown by me.
Sabbat: 1) A Wiccan festival. A time of rejoicing and celebration, when no work is done, except in an emergency. 2) One of 8 holy celebrations of the Wiccan religeon. 3) Wiccan celebration of an aspect of the Sun (God) as opposed to Esbat, the celebrations of the Moon (Goddess). There are 4 Greater Sabbats: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These are associated with agriculture and animal husbandry (domestic like cow, sheep). The 4 Lesser Sabbats are: Mabon, Midsummer, Ostara and Yule. These are connected to astronomical occurences of Sun and related daylight hours.
Sachet: a cloth bag, usually of natural fibers; filled with herbs.
Sage: a sometimes used term for a male 'Crone'. SAGING: is the ritual for a man reaching this status.
Samhain: the festival celebrated on Oct. 31. The Wiccan New Year. It marks the 'death' of the Sun God into Summerland (Land of the Young), where He awaits His Rebirth. As Wiccans bid the God a temporary farewell, they reflect at this time, over the past year. Pronounced: SOW wen / SEW wen / SAHM hain / SAHM ain / SAV een. Also called: Nov. Eve, Hallowmas, Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Feast of Soul's, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples.
Satan: means an opponent or adversary in Hebrew. Ha-satan designates a supreme evil entity; Greek: diabolos.
SCA / Society for Creative Anachronism: this group historically recreates ancient battles and lifestyles; much like those that do the Civil War enactments. Using authentic dress & weapons.
Scry / scrying: the act of gazing into an object to still Conscious Mind, allowing contact with Psychic Mind. See Divination.
Sealing: this term is used when a spell is 'sealed' by gestures or chant, etc; this to contain the raised energy into the spell.
Secular: material & worldly as opposed to spiritual; thus ANYTHING not religious.
Self: with a capital 'S' is reference to one's entirety of person, the spirit & soul, if you will.
Septagram: a 7 point star symbol used in ceremonial magick, representing 7 tenets of: Balance, Harmony, Humility, Learning, Reincarnation, Tolerance, Trust. (Don't know the correct order.) Once it represented 7 angels who became 7 planets (the ones then known), called the Mystic Star. Other 7's include Days of the Week, Deadly Sins, Mounts of the Hand, Pillars of Wisdom, Sacraments, Virtues, & Wonders of the World.
SEVEN PLANES of EXISTENCE: some people follow this reincarnation belief: that you reincarnate at least 7 times within 7 Basic Soul Stages. The stages are: infant, baby, youth, mature, old, transcendental, & infinite. The 7 ROLES: sage, artisan, priest, slave, king, warrior, scholar. (This Role List seems like it would be backwards to me???)
Shaman: a practitioner of SHAMANISM. Person who has obtained knowledge of the subtler aspects of the World by periods of alternate states of consciousness. Native Americans are quite adamant that only an 'Indian' can truly practice such with any real knowledge & others are just fakes & game players, who 'practice' at the expense of respect & truth of what Shamanism is really about.
Sideral Time / ST : an astrology term, this is the apparent movement of the sky as a whole but which movement is caused by theEarth rotating. 360 degree of RA pass over a location in 24 SIDEREAL HOURS (which equals 1 SIDEREAL DAY);1 hour of sidereal time equals 15 degree of RA; 1 degree of RA equals 4 minutes of time.
Sight: refers to SECOND SIGHT, or CLAIRVOYANCE.
Simple Feast: a ritual meal of sharing with the God and Goddess.
Sky Clad: a term meaning nude, usually referring to state of undress while doing rituals.
Solstice: occur twice a year, midway between the 2 EQUINOXES, producing a day with the shortest light & longest dark hours in Dec. & a day of longest light & shortest dark hours in June; both occur about the 21st in their months.
Sortilege: noun, having to do with 'sorcery', may be the easiest way to understand this word.
Sound Magick: has to do with energy raised by a single note, or pitch, etc. Like 'OMMMmmmmm'
Spell: a magical ritual or an act wherin a person actively bends & gives directive to natural energies for a needed purpose.
Spirits of the Stones: the naturally inherent elemental energies, of the four corners of a Circle, personified. They are linked to the Elements.
Spirit SUBJECTS: other words having to do with Spirit or Soul, are WRAITH (Raith) which is Spirit ECTOPLASM; ETHEREAL which is Spirit Matter or Ectoplasm. These words are the name of what a Spirit emits of itself. Terms are arguable!
Spiritualism: is the belief that the spirits (or 'dead' people) can talk to us in this dimension.
Staff: a magickal tool, traditionally made of well-seasoned hardwood, straight, and owners height in length. Sometimes, chakra crystals are inbedded at the appropriate heights. A phallic and Solar symbol. If entwined with a vine, such as ivy or ribbons, and surmounted by a pine cone; then this tool is a THYROS.
Stars, FIXED / WANDERING: in Astrology; a Fixed Star is a regular star like makes up the constellations but a Wandering Star was a term meant for planets & our moon. Some Astrologers & horoscopes still refer to these as 'The Stars', which is just a romanticism now.
Star of David: this well known Jewish symbol, represents the united male & female. Consisting of 2 triangles, the one pointing up is the 'male' & the downward pointing one, represents the 'female'; thus overlapping to form the 'Star', it represents ELOHIM (God), see that entry.
Star/ing Oneself: a Self Blessing exercise that one does by taking Projective Hand & making a Pentacle motion, touching yourself: forehead, left breast, right shoulder, left shoulder, right breast, forehead. Resembles the Blessing exercised by Catholics. You want to visualize yourself protected & 'Blessed' during this exercise.
Star, 7 Point...see SEPTAGRAM.
Strega: an Italian Witch...SEE ARADIA
Succubus: an oversexed female demon or spirit.
Summoner: in some Traditions, this is a male who is the counter- part of the MAIDEN, as is he is the assistant HP.
T'ai Chi: is an exercise to learn how to regulate one's breathing, relax, and meditate. It calms.
Taboo: forbidden object or exercise.
Talisman: an object empowered with magickal energy to attract a specific force or energy. Opposite of Amulet.
Tapes: a slang for the psychological conditioning received by children from adults. The "do's & don'ts"...
Tarot: is the name given to a special deck of cards used as a tool for divinatory purpose. These cards are the ancestors of modern playing cards. Traditionally numbering 78 cards, of which 21 make up the Major Arcana & the rest are divided into 4 suits (cups, wands, pentacles, & swords) of Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana or GREATER SECRETS were lost through the efforts of the Christian clergy. The 5th suit, which causes much argument MAY have represented Spirit or be a reference to the Major Arcana or may not have ever existed at all. I mention it, just to make you aware of the ongoing argument.
Tasseography: the act of 'reading' tea leaves in divination work.
Telepathy: the act of 'thought transference'.
Thaumaturgic: pray for divine intervention, like 'God give us world peace.'
TheOlogy: is Greek, meaning the 'Study of God. TheAlogy: new usage & spelling, the 'Study of GodDESS'.
Theurgic: pray for yourself, like 'God make me more understanding with other people.'
Third Eye: this is the sensitive area between the eyes & up about an inch. Site of a Major Chakra, the Pineal. It relates to intuitive input to the Conscious Mind & is often called The Mind's Eye.
Thurible: an incense burner that hangs from a chain, and swung by a carrior, to spread its smoke (Air Element symbol). Used during rituals to cleanse the space within the magic Circle. Fire Element symbol.
Tincture: a liquid produced by soaking plant parts (herbs), in ethyl alcohol or vinegar, to produce a scented liquid.
Tools: the instruments, empowered with magick; used by Pagans. These would include runes, tarot, candles, crystals, wand, censor, etc. Tools should be physically cleaned, consecrated and even engraved, prior to use for ceremonial purposes.
Tools, nonphysical:the three most generally used are: music, dance and gestures. These raise power, alter consciousness and serve to unite Self, with Diety.
Tradition, Wiccan: a specific branch or SECT of Wiccan religion, with its own structured practices.
Transcendent: means 'it'...surpasses all, is supreme in excellence, & is beyond all human knowledge.
Trilithon: a feature found in Stonehenge, composing of 2 upright slabs of stone, supporting 1 slab of stone crosswise to make an arch.
Triskelion: this is a triple, overlapping triangle symbol and represents Fate(s). One side of each triangle is missing, and this gives an overall impression of movement & activity, of energy in action.
True Solar Time: an Astrology term; the Sum moves around its ECLIPTIC of 360 degree in 1 year, advances in the ZODIAC by 1 degree each day. NOON is the Sun's point halfway between rising & setting. SO when the ecliptic point in which the Sun was at noon yesterday, is itself halfway between rising & setting today, it is NOT yet quite noon but will be when the NEXT DEGREE of the ecliptic gets there, which NOW CONTAINS the Sun. This equates to a TRUE SOLAR DAY being a little longer than a SIDEREAL DAY, a Solar hour being longer than a sidereal hour, etc. This puts the Sidereal NOON time about 4 minutes later each day & 2 hours later each month.
Visualization: the process of forming clear mental images. An important part of magical practices, and is a function of the Conscious Mind. Lady Jana explains, "Since sight is so important for most people, we talk about 'visualization,' but what we should call it is 'imagination.'
Wand: a magickal tool, traditionally made of wood, 21" in length or length from elbow to users fingertips; and tapered base to tip. Can be plain, painted, stained and/or engraved. It's an instrument for invocation and represents the Element - Air.
Warlock: Wiccan folk do NOT usually use this word for a 'male witch'! Rather its meaning is from the Old English (one source: Scottish) word: waerloga. A word for an untrustworthy man, an oathbreaker, sometimes an eunuch (castrated male). It's thought to have come into usage for a Witch by other Witches, who has betrayed them.
Watchtowers, Guardians of... this term is used for the Elementals, & They are Energy Forms, raiths or Spirits of the 4 Elements. Originally used in the Enochian Tradition of Ceremonial Magick but whose usage is now widespread. Those Entities connected to the Elements & Directions & certain attributes --
North...Earth...stable, solid, dependable....F...green...
East....Air.....thought & intellect..........M...yellow..
South...Fire....change, passion, willpower...M...red.....
West....Water...emotions & purification......F...blue....
Center..Spirit..intuitiveness.............unisexed soul
They are both visible & physical but invisible & spiritual. They are invoked during ritual as protectors of our Circle of Power & sometimes as advisors. Some 'set' these Guardians, during rituals; in a more complex exercise than simply invoking the Elements.
WICCA: 1) The contemporary pagan religeon predating Christianity. Expresses reverence for Nature, viewing Diety in all natural things; uses magick; worship is of God (Lord) and Goddess (Lady). A follower of Wicca, is a Wiccan. 2) Meaning: wise ones, and/or to turn, bend & shape. Wicca is often termed the 'new name' for Witches, and there seems to be some argument as to its proper use. 3) "A religion of experience rather than dogma." - unknown
NOTE: Anglo-Saxon, wicca is masculine & wicce, feminine; and means a person who Divines information. Old English, wicce & Saxon, wych; means 'to turn, bend, and shape'. Indo-European root word of 'wic' & 'weik'; also means 'to bend or shape'. Germanic 'wit', means knowledge, or to know. Including 'witch' as one of its derivatives.
Wiccaning: the act of parents, promising to rear their child in the Wiccan culture...SEE PAGANING.
Wicca Scripture: the lessons learned by observing Nature.
Widdershins: opposite of Deosil. It is the counterclockwise movement around a circle, to disperse or tear down negative energy. Used in binding spells.
Wise Ones: the personifications of traditional God/desses and Hero/as, and ancient teachers.
Witch: 1) Sometimes used name of a follower of Wicca. 2) Ancient, European practitioner of folk magick, especially that of herb and 'simple' magicks. NOTE: Saxon for 'wych'.
Witchcraft: the craft used by Witches, which is Magick. Especially, that utilizing personal power with the energies of natural objects.
Wizard: Old English meaning, 'one who is wise.'
Wraith: see SPIRIT subjects.
Worlds, Between the...: other aspects & dimensions of the physical, spiritual, & psychological, etc.
Wort: an ancient word meaning herb, as in mugwort.
Yeshua: is Hebrew, for - Jesus.
Yule: the festival celebrated about Dec. 21, on the Winter Solstice (shortest day of year). It marks the God's rebirth from Goddess, and reminds us that Death's product is Rebirth! The American Heritage Dictionary says modern 'yule' is from Middle English, 'yole' or 'yule'; which comes from Old English 'geol/geohhol'; from Common Germanic, 'jehwla/jegwla', meaning unattested. However, the Ency. of Traditional Symbols, pg 197: 'yule', is from the Gallic 'gule', meaning a wheel. Domi also said it was Germanic. Thanks to Thorelk, for helping track this all down!
Zenith: an astrology term...point when a celestial body is directly overhead. NADIR is the exact opposite.
Zodiac: a Greek name given to the 'belt' of stars through which the planets APPARENTLY pass centrally through. The ECLIPTIC is the circle line on the celestial sphere (like an Equator), which lies in the plane of the Sun's APPARENT orbit around the Earth. The Zodiac then is divided into 12 parts called SIGNS or HOUSES: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, & Pisces. The in between of a House, is a CUSP. And these Houses or Signs are then part of an ELEMENT (count 1, 2, 3, 4 to place every 4th matching) - Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. Then you have POLARITY: Fire & Air = positive / Water & Earth = NEGATIVE. Further, Fire is opposite Air & Water, opposite Earth.
Zodiac Quarters: the Zodiac begins at the Vernal Equinoctial point or Spring, where the ecliptic crosses the Equator south to north. The 4 quarters are divided then by solstices & equinoxes. Each quarter is further divided by 3 SIGNS: CARDINAL starts, FIXED persists the process, & MUTABLE completes.
ZYZYGY: an astrology term...event when 3 or more heavenly bodies (that is, planets, etc.), align up.
ODD notes:
g : small grin
G : big grin
BG : big grin
VBG : very big grin
AFEM : feminine 'amen'
AMLABB : All My Love And Bright Blessings
BEEG : very, very big & large of an often exagerated but with humerous intent, size.
BTW : By The Way
God/dess : short for God AND Goddess, saving writing space.
HP : High Priest
HPs : High Priestess
HPMS : a derogatory reference, which I think the meaning is QUITE clear!
IMOHP : In My Own Humble OPinion or IMOHO
KISS : Keep It Simple, Stupid
LOL : Laughing Out Loud
LYLAS : Love You Like A Sister!
NMPR : No More Public Replies
P* : Prodigy
PMS : NO not THAT! this one is... Patriarchal Monotheistic System
ROFL : Rolling On Floor Laughing
s/he : short for SHE and HE, saving writing space.
TTYL : Talk To You Later
TTYS : Talk To You Soon
BICKEN...Bitchen Wiccan
WICKEN...Wicked Wiccan
BEASTIE TYPES:
Beastie: DenElder's term for the little house spirits that beg for attention by stealing your keys and driving your cat crazy! Can be overly protective, and helpful though really mischievious if you don't acknowledge them from time to time. There is no way to command their loyality or bonding with you; however, earnest 'willing' and 'calling' for such will generally bring one to you. Negative magicking and exercises on YOUR part, will drive one away.
Hob: imp or minor Nature Spirit. Love water wells, keeping the water purified. Love cream (fat that came to the top of cow's milk). Hate cats because cats would steal their creamed milk.
Tomten: Scandinavian farm Elf. These tiny beings, with a long beard and colorful cap; sees to the well-being of the farm animals. His nightly rounds of the farm brings fertility, success, prosperity, and good luck.
AWD GOGGIE: A Nursery Bogie (one used to scare young children) A protector of fruit most often found in woods and orchards.
BAUCHAN: (Buckwan) A less friendly type of brownie. One of the few types who will not leave when seen by the human residents of his home. They mostly stay around just to play tricks, but can be very helpful when the proper mood strikes (i.e. - Callum mor Macintosh had a love/hate relationship with his Baucan companion. The love side must have been stronger because when Callum moved to the states his Bauchan came before him & cleared his plot of land for him.)
BOGGART: Another Brownie type quite akin to a poltergeist. A Yorshire family had a Boggart that lived in their cupboard & caused so much mischief that they felt they were forced to move to get away from it. That is until everything was packed up & ready to go & the boggart popped out of the butterchurn & revealed that he was coming with them.
BROWNIE: The most famous of the house sprites. A Brownie will stick around & finish extra cleaning as long as he gets food for his labor. The food must never be directly offered to the Brownie & one must never try to see him. The breaking of either of these taboos will cause the Brownie to become angry & leave. A well treated Brownie can be incredibly helpful, & faithful to no end. He will often punish the servants, call for a midwife or doctor when one is needed, & some have loved their human companion so much that they are said to have immigrated to America with them. The best place to leave food for a Brownie is on a warm hearth.
CLURICAUNE: Perhaps the most amusing of house spirits. A cousin to the Leprechaun the Cluricaune somehow ended up lacking any of his well-known relatives industriousness. His primary concern is wine, wine, & more wine. The only way the Cluricaune really will help you is by scaring greedy drinkers away from your wine stock. (Doesn't really help much anyway since he will end up drinking it all himself.) It is wise to watch your alcohol intake when you have a Cluricaune they don't like anyone else drinking too much of "their" wine: usually a good hearty pinch is the price for drunkeness.
FAERIES: A term that in reality is used to cover many things that are of absolutely no relation to the true faerie folk. True faeries are members of the Tylwyth Teg or the Daoine Sidhe. I'm sure it can be used a bit more broadly than that, but I'm biased.
GRUGACH: Can appear as a fair lady dressed in green, a slender male dressed in red or green, or a small, naked hairy imp-like creature. They will do Brownie type labor or guard cattle if you offer them milk.
Acolyte: as used in many P* notes, means a 'novice'.
Affirmations: this is a belief often employed by Wiccans; that repetitive "Positive Assertive Thoughts" will influence people & reality. Use to be called "Positive Thinking."
Akasha: the 5th element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the energy out of which the Elements formed.
Alchemy: 1) pseudo chemistry of transmuting metals. 2)transmutation of Inner Self to a higher more Spiritual plane.
Allah: 'God' in Islamic theology; originally 'Al-Lat', the Moon.
Altar: a table of sorts, on which is done magick. Sometimes round to Symbolize the Goddess, or square and represents the Elements. Best made of wood, and facing East toward the rising of both Sun and Moon. The left 1/3 is for the Goddess, center for both Diety and right 1/3, for the God. Suggested layout (S. Cunningham / Solitary Practitioner): See my Altar notes...
flowers.......
Goddess Symbol...God Symbol..
or candle.censor or candle..
water bowl..red candle..salt bowl...
Pentacle chalice or cup.....offering plate......incense
wand...cauldron...athame
bell..spell material.bolline
Amulet: a magically empowered object that deflects (sends away) specific, usually negative, energies. Generally, a protective object. *Compare with Talisman.
Anaphrodisiac: a substance, such as camphor, that reduces sexual desires.
Anglo-Saxon: English of c.5th - 11th centuries.
Anima / Animus: Jungarian concept that ANIMA, is the buried feminine element in a man's psyche & that ANIMUS is the buried masculine element in the female. This then fits to the Pagan views that Self and/or Soul, is both male & female, and with the concepts of reincarnation.
Animistic: the belief that all forms of Nature has a Divine Spirit within.
Aphorism: a sparsely worded, and direct little saying. Ex.: 'As above, So below.'
Aphrodisiac: a substance that produces sexual excitement.
ARADIA: was the Goddess daughter of Diana, & the Goddess of choice of those of Italian (STREGA) traditions.
Aromatherapy: use of various flower, herb, oil and incense fragrances and smells. HOLISTIC AROMA: uses massage and smell. MAGICKAL AROMA: uses smell and visualization.
Aspects: qualities or characteristics of something or Diety, etc. Ex.: Luna is an aspect of the Moon Goddess. Orion is an aspect of the antlered or Horned God.
Aspecting: this is when a person in magickal exercise, manifests ASPECTS of a God/dess, with/in themselves.
Asperger: a bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object, used for purificatory purposes to sprinkle water during or proceeding ritual.
'As above, so below.': this saying means that universal & natural laws apply to inner & outer consciousness. That everything is connected and is part of one another.
Astral: other existing dimensions of reality.
Astral Projection or AP: the act of separating the consciousness from the physical body and moving it about at will.
Astrology: the belief that the relative positions of planets & other Space Bodies, influence events & behavior surrounding us; & is the exercise in calculating these related happenings. ASTRONOMY is the hard science.
Astrology, Natal: refers to calculating the planetary influences at the time of the subject's birth.
Atavism, Atavistic: these terms refer to characteristics of all living organisms, that has a hereditary characteristic trait or deformity, etc.; that shows up after having skipped a generation or more. It's the reversion to the original type, like if you plant a hybrid seed but it grows up like its wild ancestor.
Athame: a personal knife, usually made of steel and is double bladed or edged; with a black handle. Double edged to Symbolize that power works both ways: healing & harming, creation & destruction; light & dark. Both sides necessary & both sides needing controlled. The black because it absorbs power. The owner often engraves magick symbols into the metal. A magickal tool associated with change makes it the symbol of the Element - Fire, and its phallic nature links it to the God.
Aura: the colored, low level energy field that surrounds living tissue.
Avatar: an advanced soul, who chooses to return to a physical body, in order to teach less evolved souls. Ex.: Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, & Zoraster.
Balefire: a fire lit, usually outdoors, for magickal purposes and traditionally on Yule, Beltane & Midsummer.
Bane / Baneful: that which destroys life. Poisonous, dangerous, destructive.
Banish: the magickal act of driving away evil or negativity. A strong purification, sometimes associated with the removal of 'spirits'.
Beastie: 1) one's pets. 2) small house entities or spirits. SEE END OF GLOSSARY for more on 'Beasties.'.
BCE: BeforeCommonEra is the nonreligeous equivalent of BC.
Bell: an altar tool, symbol of the Goddess and rung during ritual to invoke Her. Also rung to ward off negative or evil and for the opposite, to evoke good energies. Or to signal the beginning and/or end of a spell. Can symbolize the motion of the Elements and its swinging to and fro, represent the extremes of good and evil; positive and negative.
Beltane: the festival celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. It celebrates the maturity of the God to manhood and the union of the God and Goddess, and her fertility. Also called May Day, the old English May Pole tradition was of a phallic symbol, marking the return of vitality, passion and consumated hopes. Pronounced b' YALt'n.
Besom: broom, usually the round type. Symbol of the Element Water.
Biddy: 1) a 'doll' made from the last sheaf from the last harvest....SEE CORN DOLLY. 2) the little c.4" doll was made from material scraps.
'Beyond the Veil.': is a term pertaining to those things beyond our 'normal' 5 senses, such as angels, fairies, ghosts, etc. & things like channeling.
Bigotry: willful ignorance.
Biorhythm / Circadian Rhythm: this is the study of 3 physical, intellectual, & emotional vibrations or components, that start when we are born or at conception; OPINIONS VARY. These then are tracked to predict high & low days in a person's life. More simply put - these are our INTERNAL CLOCKs, doing things like changing our temperature & blood pressure throughout the day... PHYSICAL: state of the body, trength, vigor, pain, etc. INTELLECTUAL: state of the mind, logical thinking, problem solving ability, etc. EMOTIONAL: state of personality, happy, irritated, angry, sad, elated, etc.
Birthstone or Sunstone: the crystal assigned to one's birthmonth, representing the Sun aspect. A natalstone.
Bolline: a white handled knife, single edged to reflect it's working nature, and used in ritual purposes of cutting herbs, or engraving candles, etc. It is a working tool as opposed the magickal Athame. The white is to tell it apart from the black handle. Sometimes pictured as a miniature scythe, a curved bladed tool.
Book of Shadows: a Wiccan book of rituals, spells and other magickal lore. Best when handwritten. This is another very personal item, some say it should be destroyed at the 'passing over' of its owner, preferably by their Coven or Circle members.
Book, Mirror: a diary record of personal magickal events.
Bouquet: in perfumery, a blend of natural or synthetic scents which produce a specific odor.
Breed: is a mis-spelling of the phonetic sounding 'Bride', another name for Brigid, etc. and refers to the Goddess as well as the holiday of Imbolc, Candlemas, etc...Feb. 1st.
Brew: see infusion.
Burin: an engraving tool, often made with wooden handle carved by user and a sharpened nail.
Burning Times, the: this refers to the period of history called the 'Middle Ages", when an arguable number of persons were put to death, suposedly for witchcraft. Burning was hardly the only manner of death, & witchcraft hardly the only reason. The Christian Church, during this time stamped out religious practices they didn't understand, & added a great deal of wealth to their coffers; as did landowners greedy of their neighbors.
Cabochon: a cut and polished stone, with one rough edge.
Cape: an outer garment, thrown back behind the shoulders to cover the back; like Superman's cape.
Cardinal Point: North, East, South, & West. These are often marked in the Circle, by candles or other items. I use candles, crystals, & herbs.
Cartomancy: the act of reading cards in divination work.
Catharsis: is from CATHARTIC, which is a purgative; sort of like intestinal flu! CATHARIZE: means to clean & purify, then CATHARSIS: also means to purify but usually thought of as emotional rather than physical, like calming music or a pretty picture; it clears the mind, soothing the emotions, etc.
Catholic: with a small 'c', means: open to all', a generic name borrowed by the first Christians to entice people into their churches.
Cauldron: an iron, fire proof pot or kettle. Usually having 3 claw feet and a handle, this is from the Celtic stories of Kerridwen, whose cauldron had three powers: inexhautibility, regeneration, and inspiration. It's use is for cooking or brewing and is the symbol of the Goddess, the Element Water, and reincarnation, immortality and inspiration.
CAW / Church of All Worlds: run by Morning Glory & Otter, who also run the Pagan adult magazine Green Egg & child magazine HAM (How About Magick).
CE: Common Era is the nonreligeous equivalent of AD.
Censer: 1) A heat-proof container in which incense is smoldered; an incense burner or any similar object. 2) Symbol of the element Air.
Centering: the act of feeling solid, balanced and focused emotionally.
Chakra: the term encompassing the Power Points of the body; these are spinning 'wheels' of energy:
..........about 2" above your head is a chakra that works with your Higher Consciousness.
The Seven Major Chakras:
..........Crown / pituitary
..........3rd Eye / pineal
..........throat / thyroid
..........heart / thymus
..........solar plexus / lyden
..........spine / adrenal
..........lumbar / gonads
Plus various Minor Chakras:
.....such the ones the center of your hand palms
.....soles of the feet
.....behind each eye
.....in front of ears, where the jaw bone hinge is
.....above each breast
.....behind the knees
However, the one behind the knees or a separate one (?) is about 2" above the knee, then about 1" toward the inside of the leg; if your press & release several times (don't rub!), you can neutralize leg pain sometimes.
Chalice: a Water Element symbol. A symbol of marriage, abundance, and inexhaustible sustenance; see Cauldron for same qualities. An altar tool.
Channeling, physical: is the action of psychic impulses on a physical level; such as using a tarot deck.
Channeling, mental: is the action of psychic impulses on a mental level; such as clairvoyance. A term often used by authors wishing to sell their books, as this was quite a 'fad' for several years... it's the exercise where a person 'channels' the thoughts of a person considered 'dead'. This includes spirit entities, 'angels', & deceased persons.
Charge of the Goddess: not an exercise but a well-known literary work. Doreen Valiente did it for Gardner but I don't know if she is the original writer of it or not. The High Priestess intones these words, as the Goddess to her 'hidden children' during ritual.
Charging / to charge: to infuse an object with your personal power.
Chatoyancy: the property of some stones such as Tiger's Eye or Moonstone; of showing apparent movement, illumination or opalescence, within it.
Cheiromancy: the act of reading palms, or PALMISTRY; in divination work. Pronounced, kie ro mancy.
Circadian Rhythms: is the same thing as biorhythms.
Circle: 1) sphere of magick, either personal or coven. 2) looser group of Wiccans, not part of a Coven.
Claimer: Granny term. Action of consciously/unconsciously of seeing an object you want VERY much, & placing a psychic 'mark' on it, that holds the item until you can get it... also called 'MARKING IT.'
Clairvoyance: the ability to see things not normally perceptible to sight; means clear seeing. CLAIRVOYANT: is the person with this ability. CLAIRAUDIENCE: means 'clear hearing'. CLAIRSENTIENCE: means 'clear sensing' or empathy.
Cleopatra's Needle: an obelisk shaped crystal, used as a collector of negative and pentup energy. Usually placed in a flower part or sea sand to ground.
Cloak: an outer garment that sits across the shoulders covering the back & coming across to cover the front, with a clasp at the neck.
Cloak, Witch or Traveler's: same as the Cloak above, but with a hood. When used as a Witch's garment, best make it of natural fibers; include secret pockets for tools such as herbs or crystals; and include protective herbs in the linings. This is a personal item, DON'T let others wear your cloak! A symbol of dignity and invisibility. OPINIONS VARY ON COLOR MEANING: dark for protection OR black for absolute evil. OPINIONS VARY on this latter definition, MANY feel black is a lack of color; drawing & absorbing & storing energy. NOTE: there is much disagreement on the proper definition of cloak, many will say the weight or material defines it. But the ones I've given here make the most sense to the most people. NOTE: Never approach unannounced, a person in a black; SOME wearers are not very nice & carry weapons!
Comehither: Granny term. The act of 'calling' something or someone to get in touch with you. Sometimes used in reference to an item that wants a person. Such as a crystal, that you feel compelled to buy; or a person you feel compelled to phone. Goes both ways...
Cone of Power: some raise power during ritual, then form it into CONE shape & send it out on the world in a magickal spell.
Consecration: 1) A ritual of sanctification or purification. 2) A ritual of dedication.
Cords of Life: is a Starhawk ritual. Using decorated & colored cords, the purpose is to get an idea of 'you reap what you sow.'
Corn dolly: a human shaped formed from braided grain (not corn husks) stocks, with grain heads where the head is located. Represents the Mother Earth's fertility. Often made from the last of the harvest...SEE BIDDY.
Coven: an organized group of Wiccans led by a Priestess, Priest or both, and joined through initiation. Covenstead: the home of the coven. Covendom: is a circle around the Covenstead, traditionally 3 miles across. Latin :VENIRE & COM = together & to come or move. Middle English: COVIN = a group of confederates. Old French : COVINE = group with a single purpose.
Cowan: a person, not of Wiccan beliefs. It use to refer, as a derogatory term for a 'fake' or 'gameplayer' Pagan; a FOOL who doesn't know what they are talking about.
Coyote: a tricky, prankster, perverse or clowning person named after the Nat.Am. 'Coyote', who tricks man into learning needed lessons.
Craft, the: another name for the Wicca Religeon.
Crone: 1) Third aspect of the Mother Goddess. 2) A Witch of 50 or 56 yrs, or post menopause. 3) A term of respect. CRONING, then is the ritual which celebrates a person reaching this status. The Crone Goddess rules from Lughnasadh to Samhain, when the God aspects take over. The male counterpart can be a Sage or Seer depending on tradition.
Cross-quarters: these are the 4 holidays that fall between the Quarter holidays, see next... they are the midpoints of the season or Quarters & relate to lambing, harvest, planting, & slaughter times. As opposed to Solar dates of QUARTERS, these being the 4 holidays that recognize Solstices & Equinoxes.
Crystal: any of the many types of crystals, gems, minerals and rocks, which are used according to their characteristic vibrations or qualities in Earth Magic.
Crystal Ball: though many types of crystal can be bought in sphere (round) form, this term is almost exclusively a reference to the clear quartz type, used for scrying and divination. Its round shape makes it a Goddess symbol, which is why periodic moonbaths will keep it clear of negative energies and enhance its psychic powers.
Cup: an altar tool that often looks like a cauldron on a stem. Symbol of the Goddess and fertility; and of the Element Water.
Curse: a conscious direction of negative energy toward a person, place, or thing.
Days of Power: see Sabbat.
Death...is reference to the physical body NOT the Soul or Spirit, which is usually believed to go on to another body in the exercise of REINCARNATION. DEATHING: is the exercise of sitting with a 'dying' person as comforter or can be the ritual exercised to ease the soul 'over' into its new existence. DEATH IN SERVICE: meaning service to life; is the natural death such as from illness, old age, child birth, rescue attempts or self sacrifice to help another. BUT does NOT include murder, execution, suicide, war, torture deaths, etc. TO ME...Death is that state of existence consisting of change, evaluation, planning, & forgetting...DenElder
Dedication: is like a solemn promise or vow, like dedicating yourself to Wicca before being actually initiated. Pledging yourself, would be a dedication.
Degrees: this varies between traditions but a DEGREE is a level of expertise recognized by a more adept person. Sometimes these are meaningless, self vanities but usually a 1st Degree person can work in rituals; 2nd Degree maybe could lead the ritual; and 3rd Degree can teach & do initiations. Some groups talk about dozens of Degrees, etc. & other people don't have any but are still just as qualified. It can get VERY confusing! As with most Wicca exercises, the person must ASK to be DEGREED, however I don't know what happens if there is nobody TO ask... Some High Priest/esses can recite their LINEAGES, that is: 'my degree from so & so, who got theirs from so & so', etc.
Deosil: a clockwise circle, following the Sun and Moon's motion in the sky. It represents positive energy & a building up of, or creation of energy & exercise. Opposite of Widdershins.
Divination: 1) the ritual process designed to contact the psychic mind. 2) the magickal act of dicovering the unknown. 3) the act (DIVINING) of contacting the psychic mind by tricking, or drowsing, the Conscious Mind through ritual & observation of, or manipulation of, tools. NOTE: this isn't necessary for those who can easily attain communication with the psychic mind, though they may practice it.
Divine Power: the Life Force or Energy, which exist in the God and Goddess and the ultimate source of all things.
Donutting Clouds: Granny term... this is a mental exercise which purpose is to lay outside on your back, get comfortable, & as a slow moving cloud passes over, 'drill' a hole through it to blue sky using mind power.
Dowser: a person who is adept at using pendulum type devices; often though, it's the Water Dowser that comes to mind, but this is only one aspect.
'Drawing Down the Moon: the bringing of Goddess Power into one's Self, especially during ritual. Physical changes such as voice pitch or aura brilliance can occur.
Earth Power: the manifested Divine Power found in natural things. Can be utilized by magick for needed change.
Eclectic: a mixture of beliefs borrowed from various Traditions and Theologies, as opposed to one Tradition or Theology and its set mode of ritual and belief.
Elements: Earth (North), Air (East), Fire (South), Water (West). These 4 essences are the building blocks of the Universe. Everything that exists, or has the potential to exist contains one or more of these energies. These 4 elements formed from Primal Essence or power, Akasha. AND for the Practitioner who wonders, "What the HECK are those people talking about?"...
Element......Fire..........Air........Water......Earth....
God name.....Elohim........Jehovah....Cheieh.....Agla.....
Archangel....Michael.......Raphael....Gabriel....Uriel....
king.........Djin..........Paralda....Nichsa.....Ghob.....
Elemental....Salamander....Sylphs.....Undines....Gnomes...
I'm informed that the above goes with Quabbalah, Necromancy, RPing, & several other things! I don't know!?!
Elf Lights: are made of little cairns of stone, with inside room for a small candle in its glass holder. The stones are staggered so that when lit, the light shines through. A loose stone covers the top a few inches above the flame. These are wonderful little garden lights!
Elixir: the liquid made by placing a gem or crystal, in a glass of water for a specified length of time, then drank. TAKE CRYSTAL OUT FIRST!
Elohim: in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated to 'God'. However this is incorrect, or maybe only partially true! ELO - is feminine; while HIM - is masculine. 'Elohim' then, is a divine being existing in 1 entity of both masculine & feminine OR can be a reference in the plural meaning. See: Genesis 2:26' Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness....' (Note: vs27, then 'So God created man in his OWN image...' Just another little Bible & scholarly reason to debate religions over! Elohim would apparently represent Nature in Balance, you can't separate the masculine & feminine. Like you have both positive & negative, etc. TWO SIDES to make ONE WHOLE.
Empath: a person who can feel the emotions of other animate (living) entities, such as human, plant or animal. Some include inanimate objects as well under this word. NOTE: see Psychometry: inanimate objects.
Empower / Empowering: the movement of personal energies into herbs, stones, and other objects. These tools, or objects, are then used for magick. In herbs, empowering aligns the energies within the herbs with magical goals.
Energy: this is the natural vibration or power that we tap into or raise, in our spells & rituals. 1) There are those who think of the Energy, as something they raise or generate. 2) Others think this Energy is there for the trained person to tap into & direct.
Enfleurage: a French perfumery term describing the process of extracting essential flower oils, with purified fat. Also known as POMMADE.
Ephemeris: an astrology term, it refers to a collection of precise dates & calculations, of when certain planets were where & when.
Equinox: twice a year, VERNAL (Spring) & AUTUMNAL; the Sun is exactly over the Earth's middle or EQUATOR. This produces for one day the equal number of light & dark hours all over the world. Esbat: A ritual occasion celebrating the Full Moon.
ESP / Extra Sensory Perception: 1) beyond the senses. 2) An awareness of events or emotions not present to the physical senses. Usually included is 4 types: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis.
Essential Oil: the fragrant 'blood' or liquid of a plant, usually flower.
Ethereals: see Essential oil.
Evil: is not a word or thought used much by Wiccans. And more associated with the Christian & Satan beliefs.
Evocation: calling up spirits or other nonphysical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance. Opposite of Invocation.
Exorcism:1) traditionally, the process of driving out negativities or spirits (demons). 2) in herb magick, a powerful purification.
Familiar: a magickal equal but animal partner, it shows unusual psychic & intelligent qualities with its human counterpart. Not merely a pet. And sometimes a created Being from the Will of the person.
Fetch: 1) The spiritual or ghostly double of an animal or person. 2) An apparition.
Fey: a Welsh term for fairy-like qualities, usually of clairvoyant nature.
Fivefold Kiss: this goes with the 'Blessed Be..' blessings & you kiss what you are blessing...(1) each foot (2) each knee (3) above 'private area' (4) each breast (5) lips... which really gets you 8 kisses but in 5 areas.
Flame Dancing: Granny term...an exercise in Mind Control attempting to control from a distance, a candle flame; to make it burn steady & still, or 'dance'. The ultimate goal being to snuff the candle.
Folk Magic: the practice of combining Personal Power with Natural Energies, to create a specific purpose.
FRITH: old Norse word meaning 'Peace'. (Wizard)
Fundamentalist or Fundy: a politically right-wing religious conservative. They are the 'know-it-alls' of the Christian belief structure & very aggressive. Disrespectful & ignoring of others rights to freedom of religion, they disapprove even of other Christians. The Bible is IT! Literally, & no discussion about it.
Gaian: a term which recognizes the Earth Goddess Gaia, as a living, breathing organism. Then everything else, is PART of it, rather than APART from it.
Gardnerians: are followers of the Tradition of Witchcraft created from the teachings of Gerald Gardner.
GEOMANCER is someone who practices the art of GEOMANCY, which is a system of divination that consists of making a random number of marks either on paper or a shallow box filled with earth, then constructing a pattern of dots from those marks, which are then interpreted for the answer. If you would like to know more about how this is done, The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie has a chapter about it. It's a rather complicated system, and it's used mostly in connection with ceremonial magic.
Gesture: the hand or arm movement, that is the silent counterpart to spoken words or music.
God: the divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess. Often depicted as the Green God of Summer and the Horned God of Winter. He is seen as the Sun, without which we couldn't survive. His life, then is honored through the passing seasons of the year. Wild animals are his special concern and His aspect of the Horned God, with antlered helmet was the Christian source of titling Pagans as Satan worshippers. The God's domains are the untouched natural lands whether mountain or desert or forest. The stars, too are his. And his symbols include: sword, horns, spears, wand, knife, arrow, and sickle.
Goddess: the divine Universal Mother, source of fertility, wisdom and love. Often depicted in 3 in 1 aspects of: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Her gift is Life and She is all Nature. The moon is her symbol, as are the cauldron, mirror and five-petaled flowers, to name but a few. Also called the Goddess Mother. The 4th Face of the Goddess: is that which is never seen, the dark side of the moon; the Face of Death. Some say the source of Her power.
Grave goods: is NOT stuff dug up from graves!!! or grave stones!!! This is a collection of memorabilia, collected for someone who has just passed over, often then contained in a bag, then buried or cremated when the person is done. It can be things like pictures or herbs to 'good wishes' & spells of an easy transformation.
Great Rite, the: is the main part of a 3rd Degree Initiation of some Traditions.
Grimoire: a magical workbook with information on rituals, magickal properties of natural objects, preparation of ritual equipment. Many include a, 'catalog of spirits'. One of the most famous is 'The Key of Solomon'.
Greenwich Time: a term used in Astrology, Greenwich is where the meridian passes over & when the British set up a standard to make time worldwide,uniform; they started here at the time the Sun passed over. From this start, Time Zones were set up to cover large areas & Daylight Savings used to utilize sunlit hours but these are artificial times of convience for human use.
Grounding: the act of dispelling negative emotions and energies from the physical body.
Hand, Projective: the right hand, which emits energies. NOTE: switch if lefthanded!
Hand, Receptive: the left hand, which receives energies. NOTE: switch if lefthanded!
Handfasting: 1) the Wiccan, Pagan, & Gypsy wedding. 2) can also refer to a solemn betrothal. There are 3 basic marriage handfasting: a year & a day; lifetime; and time & eternity. Unlike a marriage until 'death do you part', a handfasting will stop, if the love stops (usually).
Heathen: a person who dwells on the heath..
Henotheist: one who worships one 'God' but does not deny the existence or value of other 'Gods'. Some Dianics are Henotheists.
Herb: a plant used in cooking as seasoning, cosmetics, medically and/or in magick. HERBALISM: the practice growing, gathering & using herbs.
Hera: 1) a Greek Goddess. 2) a female her'o'.
Hex: see Curse.
High Priestess / HPS: a high statused, female practitioner. One who has passed several tests and initiations.
High Priest / HP: the counterpart of the High Priestess.
Horoscope: is the computation of ASTROLOGY, & presented in a CHART. It is erroneous to lump blanket predictions, such as found in the daily newspaper; under this term.
Horoscope, to Cast: is the exercise of computing the HOROSCOPE.
Iconoclasm: first, icon is like a statue of a Goddess; 'OCLASM' is the act of breaking icons, or religious images. It can also refer to the act of attacking the beliefs of another; such as those we call Thumpers.
Imbolc: the festival celebrated Feb. 2nd marking the first stirrings of Spring as the Goddess recovers from giving birth to the God. Also called: Candlemas, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Light, Oimelc, Brigit's Day, Snowdrop Festival, among others. Often a traditional time for self dedication or initiation. Pronounced: IM bulk.
Immanent: means something abiding in, inherit of, a natural & inborn quality.
Incense, combustible: selfburning incense containing potassium nitrate, usually in cone, block or stick form. NOTE: incense is an Air Element symbol.
Incense, noncombustible: incense without potassium nitrate, requiring heat to release the scent.
Incubus: an oversexed male demon or spirit.
Infusion: a liquid produced by soaking herbs in very hot water (not boiling!). A tea, brew, or potion.
Initiation: the introductory process, or admitting; of a new member into a group (coven).
Intuition: a term describing psychic information that unexpectedly reaches the Conscious Mind.
Invocation: 1) An appeal or petition to a higher power/s. 2) a prayer. 3) a request for a Diety's appearance or attendance during ritual. 4) the practice that produces an awareness of Deity within.
King... in Celtic/Druid magicking, there is the Holly King of the waning year & his twin, Oak King of the waxing year. They switch at Summer Solstice, Oak from Holly. I'm told the poem 'Who Killed Cock Robin?' has it's originals in this myth rather than English political history. (?) KINGING: some Wicca use this ritual for a man of middle age. SEE QUEENING...
Labrys: the doubleheaded axe, symbol of an ancient Creten Goddess. It's by or against the leftside of the altar.
Lady: a term of respect for a Priestess, usually one who leads a group of other Wicca practitioners. THE LADY: means the Goddess.
Latitude: used in Astrology; Latitude ON EARTH is distances North & South from the Equator. However CELESTIAL LATITUDE is the distances North & South of the ECLIPTIC.
Lemniscate: a mathematical symbol for 'infinity'; it is a horizontal figure 8, that is the #8 lying on its side... this term comes up in reference to Tarot, & traditionally found on the cards:
I.Magician, XI.Strength, & the 3rd time, on the II.Pentacles which formerly was the 'key' card bearing the deck maker's signature. This no longer holds true, on newer, revised decks.
Livewood: refers to a tree in which a DRYAD or Wood Sprite type Being, is believed to dwell.
Livestone: refers to stones, mountains, cliffs, etc. in which a nature Being is believed to dwell.
Lord: a sometimes used term for a Priest. THE LORD: is the God.
Luck, good: a person's ability to make timely, correct decisions or perform right actions; or place oneself in positive situations.
Luck, bad: 1) An unwillingness to accept self-responsibility. 2) opposite of good luck.
Lughnasadh: the festival celebrated Aug. 1, marking the first harvest of winter food and ebbing of the Sun's (God's) energies and days grow short. A time to remember the bounty of food we eat and each meal an attunement to Nature. Also called: Aug. Eve, Lammas, and Feast of Bread. Pronounced: LOO n'sar.
Mabon: the festival celebrated around Sept. 21, on the Autumnal Equinox, marking the second harvest and change of Autumn toward Winter, when Nature prepares for the time to come. A time of thanks and reflection by many old & new civilizations.
Mage: Old English for the singular, 'Magus' and plural, 'Magi'; meaning a wise person. Can be a term of respect for a personal with great talent in a specific branch of magick; Herb Mage, Tarot Mage, etc.
Magic: the sleight of hand tricks, having 'physical', as opposed to 'psychic' exercise. NOTE: the word 'magic' is English from the Greek 'magos', and the Persian 'magus'. The words mean a Seer or Wizard.
Magick: 1) the movement of natural energies to create needed change. 2) the process of building up the natural energies of certain objects for a purpose, then releasing it. 3) a natural practice of mind using matter.
Magick, candles: the practice of directing the energies emitted by burning candles to create needed change.
Magick, circle: see Circle.
Magick, crystal: the practice of using energy from crystals or minerals, to create needed change.
Magick, herbs: the practice of directing the energies found in herbs to create needed change.
Magic, knife: see Athame & Bolline.
Maiden: 1) the 1st aspect of the Threefold Goddess, symbolic for creation & beginnings. 2) a virgin. 3) in some traditions, she is the assistant HPs. Traditionally linked to the Waxing Moon phase, & from Imbolc to Beltane.
Matrix: a word in Crystal Magick that refers to the base of a crystal cluster, the main 'lump' part.
Mean Time: is the time our clocks show as compared to TRUE SOLAR TIME.
Meditation: 1) reflection, contemplation, the turning inward to Self or outward to Diety. 2) quiet time used to dwell on certain thoughts, symbols or to let thoughts come as they will.
Megalith: a huge, stone monument such as Stonehenge.
Menhir: a single standing stone, lifted into place in ancient times. Many can still be seen in England.
Metaphor: is a symbolic thought; a figure of speech which when said implies another, though not literally alike thing or thought. Ex.: "Sticks as close as a tick to a hound dog!" implies a very close attachment.
Metaphysical: a 'catch-all' term referring to subjects of transcendental, or supernatural (hate THAT word!) reality.
Midsummer: the festival celebrated about June 21, on the Summer Solstice. An excellent time for magick and is the height of the God's (Sun) strength and power, being the longest day of the year. Also called Litha, bonfire leaping encouraged fertilty, purity, health and love. Fire being the symbol of the God.
Mighty Ones: Beings, Deities, unseen Presences usually Invoked during rituals/ceremonies. Sometimes linked to the Elements.
Mind, conscious: the controlled, intellectual part of mind that does everyday work. The rational part that thinks.
Mind, psychic: the subconscious, or unconscious, mind in which we receive psychic impulses. The psychic mind is at work when we sleep, dream, and meditate.
Monotheistic: the belief of honoring Divine Unity.
Mother: one of the aspects of the Triple Goddess, in this aspect She rules from Beltane to Lughnasadh.
Motion, Direct & Retrograde: these Astrological terms refer to the apparent movement of planets through the Zodiac... Direct = FORWARD / Retrograde = BACKWARDS / at the time between Direct & Retrograde, the planet is said to be STATIONARY or IN ITS STATION.
Mundane: refers to the everyday, such as Mundane or 'civil' 'Name' would be your birthname of JOHN; nickname JOHNNY; Magick Name SEAHAWK. Goes for other items as well, a Priest's mundane 'job' would be a carpenter, for example. The UNmagickal things & side of one's existence.
Natural Fiber: in reference to clothes, bags, etc; these would be cotton, linen (from flax plant), silk & wool.
Necromonicon: was the literary invention of writer, H.P.Lovecraft. This author is reknown for his wonderful fiction HOWEVER, he lost the rights to this work and others turned this fictional work into a 'religion' for the gullible. PERHAPS after these many years of 'worship', it can now be entitled to the title of religion. But only by a VERY LONG STRETCH of that definition! As such, it deals with altering & predicting life by use of 'entities' from other planes. And deals with 'portals' in time & dimensions. All kinds of nifty role-playing, fantasy & sci-fi stuff! It's also deals with all kinds of gruesome things - which is so sickening & repulsive to this person, as to make me wonder what kind of people would involve themselves in this. Though so far my encounters with 'practitioners' of necromancy, have been young persons. And they seem oblivious to the fact they are making some money-mongers VERY HAPPY! I most wholeheartedly urge everybody to STAY AWAY from this subject. To those who think they know better, good luck. I found the arguments FOR this practice only made me more REPULSED by it, and the ignorant arrogance involved with it.
NeoPagan: or 'new' Pagan; a member of newly formed religions now forming worldwide. NOTE: all Wiccans are Pagan - but not all Pagans are Wiccan.
Neophyte: a term used for beginner participants of pagan activities, sometimes incorrectly used in a derogatory manner.
Nitwitchery: a showoff & braggart; one who is inconsiderate & insulting; one who is self-aggrandizing at the expense of other's feelings, even one who is exploitive of their knowledge & in their practices. (Ashleen O'Gaea)
Nodes: in Astrology, NODES are the places where a planet or the Moon crosses the ECLIPTIC. An ASCENDING NODE is a crossing from south to north; & DESCENDING NODE crosses north to south.
Numbering of hours: this is an Astrology term; the start of SIDEREAL TIME bigins the exact moment when the beginning of the ZODIAC is midway between rising & setting. This is called, "0h 0ms 0s" with the 'h', 'm', & 's' written little & up like a degree symbol is...and this means 'no hours, no minutes, no seconds of ST at the location concerned. The NUMBERING OF HOURS of MEAN TIME starts at MEAN Midnight which is 12 hours earlier than MEAN Noon; when the Sun would be halfway fron setting to rising IF it kept mean rather than solar time. This then is '0h 0m 0s of LOCAL MEAN time at the location involved. This all workouts to ST at MEAN NOON can be fron '0h' to '24h' according to what day of the year it is...
Nymph: is a nature spirit OR can be derogatory slang for a virgin. Hopefully not always derogatory!
Occult: to conceal and hide away knowledge from the uninitiated. Latin: occulere.
Old Ones: a term used to encompass all aspects of the God and Goddess. Alternative of Mighty Ones.
Old Religion: another 'Craft' term, which fits that song, "Give me that Old Time Religion' much better than the Christian use of it!
Ordains: the traditional Laws of the Craft, some for individuals & others for covens.
Ostara: the festival occuring at the Spring Equinox, about March 21, marking the start of Spring. This fire festival celebrates the Mother Earth's fertility and return of the God (Sun). A time of new beginnings and reproduction.
Pagan: 1) Latin: paganus / pagani = country dweller. 2) General term for magic embracing religions, such as Wicca, Druid, Shaman. Sometimes used interchangably with NeoPagan.
PAGANING: a term for the exercise of 'presenting' a newborn to one's Circle or Coven...see WICCANING.
Pallomancy: divining with a pendulum. SEE RADIESTHESIA.
Palmistry: is the 'reading' of palm features to explain personalities & divine futures of the person. This interesting subject involves much more than just reading 'The Lines', there is shapes of the hand & fingers to consider; how they are held; 7 mounts of Venus, Moon, Mars, Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, & Saturn; nail shapes; there are 'lines' for: affection, fate, head, heart, life, & sun; there are fans, islands, stars, triangles, grilles & branches & NOT ALL STARS ARE GOOD! Some hands carry the Cross of Intuition' or the rarer 'Ring of Solomon' or maybe just a pinker Moon Mount. Facinating subject! BUT make sure you CAN HOLD somebody elses hand, some empaths may have trouble with this...
Pantheistic: the belief, meaning to see the Divine as everywhere & in everything. Sometimes explained as PANTHEISM is believing that 'God' & Nature are the SAME thing.
Passages: an exercise of a significant transition...Ex.s: birthdays, getting over that lost love, initiations, moving to a new house, etc. A BEEG change!
Pendulum: a divinitory tool, consisting of a device hanging from a string; and the deciphering of its movement. This tool contacts the Psychic Mind.
Pentacle / pentagram: basic 5 point star, worn with one point up, and enclosed by a Circle; by Wiccans. Symbol representing the Wicca Religion; the 5 senses; the Elements; and the human body; and a protective symbol known from the times of Babylon. Symbol of power and/or protection when hung over doors and windows. Represents the Element - Earth. A tool for summoning the Goddess. PENTACLE: is the article of jewelry or altar piece, etc. PENTAGRAM: is the drawing. Also, penagram, pentangle. 'Pente' meaning 5, and gram/me meaning line; Greek. In Latin PENTACULUM. The points & center can stand for: Birth, initiation, love, repose, death & transformation. Sex, self, passion, pride, power & timelessness. Beginning, adolescence, adulthood, elderly, ending & power to move, change, and transform. And the common meaning, but arguable: Earth, Air, Fire, Water & Spirit. NOTE: the early Christians often wore pentacles, for to them it represented the 5 wounds of Christ on the cross AND the parts of the human body; that is: head, arms, & legs. Sir Gawain used it as an emblem on his shield!
Plane, mental: the thought process, conscious and unconscious.
Plane, physical: the physical body and its workings, through coordi- nation with mental plane.
Plane, spiritual: a person's perception of life's existence, consisting of belief or lack of belief in the Divine.
Pledge: the Pagan self-dedication to live by established Pagan morality.
Polarity: the concept of equal but opposite energies or powers.
Polytheistic: the belief of honoring the Divine through various God and Goddess forms or aspects.
Pommade: see Enfleurage.
Power, personal: the energies which sustain the body and are used in Magick.
Precognitive: is the act of knowing something before the event. Opposite of RETROCOGNITIVE: knowing something after the event or in the present. That 'knowing' that something has happened.
Proselytizing: the act of trying to convert another from their religion to your own. Vigorous, annoying, and attacking Christian proselytizers are called Thumpers (Bible thumping), and Fundies (Fundamentalists).
Psychism: describes the state in which information from the psychic mind is available to the conscious mind. Greek: 'psyche', the soul. NOTE: a 'Psychic Assault' or attack, is when a person tries to impose and intervene THEIR will, over another's.
Psychokinesis: the act of mind over matter, or mind controlling matter by mind alone.
Psychometry: the ability to receive & interpret vibrations from inanimate places & things. See: Empath.
Quarters: see CROSS-QUARTERs..these are dates not coinage.
Queening: goes with KINGING, & is a Z.Budapest practice for mature women.
Radiesthesia: the use of a pendulum for divination work... but SEE below & PALLOMANCY.
Radionics: is any of several divinatory methods, where a message is received as in RADIO, through the air; but here meaning of an intuitive exercise.
Re-attribution of arousal: this term has to do with what normally feels 'painful', is 'pleasant' during heightened sexual emotion. This can be carried too far, so complete candor between CONSENTING adults, is a MUST!
Rede, Wicca: this is a moral code: "And it harm none, do what you will." Meaning no harm to another person or thing, with an unwritten but understood meaning, no harm to Self, either. REDE: means advice or council, not law. Though Wiccans tend to take it as an absolute lifestyle. I think it should be taken even further: that one actively do good works, as well.
Reincarnation: 1) the doctrine of rebirth of the spirit. 2) the process of repeated incarnations (lives), in physical form to allow the evolution of the soul. And this gem of a description - 'the recycling for souls', Ashleen O'Gaea.
Right Ascension / RA : an astrology term referring to the distance in the sky measured along a parallel to the Earth's Equator, like longitude lines but starting at the Zodiac beginning. As the Earth rotates on its axis each day, this celestial 'equator' & ecliptic is carried along with the Earth's Equator from 0 degree geographical longitude to 180 degree west & then back around to 0 degree again.
Risting: the act of drawing a rune shape or letter, in the air.
Ritual: 1) A ceremony or festival. 2) A spell. 3) Specific movements and manipulations to produce desired effects. In religeon, its purpose is to unite Self with the Divine. But in magick, it's to allow the person to move energy in desired ways.
Ritual Consciousness: the alternate state of mind, needed to successfully practice magick. This is the attunment of both the Conscious Mind and the Psychic Mind. At this time the senses will be heightened and awareness expanded, beyond the physical world to the energies of Nature and forces of the Dieties.
RULE, as in 'THE rule -- a late 50's, early 60's faddish thing actually & not New Age or Wicca... 'obey authority, conceal your feelings, fit in, & don't even THINK about sex!'
Runes: divination tools, remnant of ancient Teutonic alphabets. Used to divine current status of person or question, placed before them. The adept user can do spells and other works with runes.
Rune, Witch's: this is a poem chanted to raise power. Author unknown by me.
Sabbat: 1) A Wiccan festival. A time of rejoicing and celebration, when no work is done, except in an emergency. 2) One of 8 holy celebrations of the Wiccan religeon. 3) Wiccan celebration of an aspect of the Sun (God) as opposed to Esbat, the celebrations of the Moon (Goddess). There are 4 Greater Sabbats: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These are associated with agriculture and animal husbandry (domestic like cow, sheep). The 4 Lesser Sabbats are: Mabon, Midsummer, Ostara and Yule. These are connected to astronomical occurences of Sun and related daylight hours.
Sachet: a cloth bag, usually of natural fibers; filled with herbs.
Sage: a sometimes used term for a male 'Crone'. SAGING: is the ritual for a man reaching this status.
Samhain: the festival celebrated on Oct. 31. The Wiccan New Year. It marks the 'death' of the Sun God into Summerland (Land of the Young), where He awaits His Rebirth. As Wiccans bid the God a temporary farewell, they reflect at this time, over the past year. Pronounced: SOW wen / SEW wen / SAHM hain / SAHM ain / SAV een. Also called: Nov. Eve, Hallowmas, Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Feast of Soul's, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples.
Satan: means an opponent or adversary in Hebrew. Ha-satan designates a supreme evil entity; Greek: diabolos.
SCA / Society for Creative Anachronism: this group historically recreates ancient battles and lifestyles; much like those that do the Civil War enactments. Using authentic dress & weapons.
Scry / scrying: the act of gazing into an object to still Conscious Mind, allowing contact with Psychic Mind. See Divination.
Sealing: this term is used when a spell is 'sealed' by gestures or chant, etc; this to contain the raised energy into the spell.
Secular: material & worldly as opposed to spiritual; thus ANYTHING not religious.
Self: with a capital 'S' is reference to one's entirety of person, the spirit & soul, if you will.
Septagram: a 7 point star symbol used in ceremonial magick, representing 7 tenets of: Balance, Harmony, Humility, Learning, Reincarnation, Tolerance, Trust. (Don't know the correct order.) Once it represented 7 angels who became 7 planets (the ones then known), called the Mystic Star. Other 7's include Days of the Week, Deadly Sins, Mounts of the Hand, Pillars of Wisdom, Sacraments, Virtues, & Wonders of the World.
SEVEN PLANES of EXISTENCE: some people follow this reincarnation belief: that you reincarnate at least 7 times within 7 Basic Soul Stages. The stages are: infant, baby, youth, mature, old, transcendental, & infinite. The 7 ROLES: sage, artisan, priest, slave, king, warrior, scholar. (This Role List seems like it would be backwards to me???)
Shaman: a practitioner of SHAMANISM. Person who has obtained knowledge of the subtler aspects of the World by periods of alternate states of consciousness. Native Americans are quite adamant that only an 'Indian' can truly practice such with any real knowledge & others are just fakes & game players, who 'practice' at the expense of respect & truth of what Shamanism is really about.
Sideral Time / ST : an astrology term, this is the apparent movement of the sky as a whole but which movement is caused by theEarth rotating. 360 degree of RA pass over a location in 24 SIDEREAL HOURS (which equals 1 SIDEREAL DAY);1 hour of sidereal time equals 15 degree of RA; 1 degree of RA equals 4 minutes of time.
Sight: refers to SECOND SIGHT, or CLAIRVOYANCE.
Simple Feast: a ritual meal of sharing with the God and Goddess.
Sky Clad: a term meaning nude, usually referring to state of undress while doing rituals.
Solstice: occur twice a year, midway between the 2 EQUINOXES, producing a day with the shortest light & longest dark hours in Dec. & a day of longest light & shortest dark hours in June; both occur about the 21st in their months.
Sortilege: noun, having to do with 'sorcery', may be the easiest way to understand this word.
Sound Magick: has to do with energy raised by a single note, or pitch, etc. Like 'OMMMmmmmm'
Spell: a magical ritual or an act wherin a person actively bends & gives directive to natural energies for a needed purpose.
Spirits of the Stones: the naturally inherent elemental energies, of the four corners of a Circle, personified. They are linked to the Elements.
Spirit SUBJECTS: other words having to do with Spirit or Soul, are WRAITH (Raith) which is Spirit ECTOPLASM; ETHEREAL which is Spirit Matter or Ectoplasm. These words are the name of what a Spirit emits of itself. Terms are arguable!
Spiritualism: is the belief that the spirits (or 'dead' people) can talk to us in this dimension.
Staff: a magickal tool, traditionally made of well-seasoned hardwood, straight, and owners height in length. Sometimes, chakra crystals are inbedded at the appropriate heights. A phallic and Solar symbol. If entwined with a vine, such as ivy or ribbons, and surmounted by a pine cone; then this tool is a THYROS.
Stars, FIXED / WANDERING: in Astrology; a Fixed Star is a regular star like makes up the constellations but a Wandering Star was a term meant for planets & our moon. Some Astrologers & horoscopes still refer to these as 'The Stars', which is just a romanticism now.
Star of David: this well known Jewish symbol, represents the united male & female. Consisting of 2 triangles, the one pointing up is the 'male' & the downward pointing one, represents the 'female'; thus overlapping to form the 'Star', it represents ELOHIM (God), see that entry.
Star/ing Oneself: a Self Blessing exercise that one does by taking Projective Hand & making a Pentacle motion, touching yourself: forehead, left breast, right shoulder, left shoulder, right breast, forehead. Resembles the Blessing exercised by Catholics. You want to visualize yourself protected & 'Blessed' during this exercise.
Star, 7 Point...see SEPTAGRAM.
Strega: an Italian Witch...SEE ARADIA
Succubus: an oversexed female demon or spirit.
Summoner: in some Traditions, this is a male who is the counter- part of the MAIDEN, as is he is the assistant HP.
T'ai Chi: is an exercise to learn how to regulate one's breathing, relax, and meditate. It calms.
Taboo: forbidden object or exercise.
Talisman: an object empowered with magickal energy to attract a specific force or energy. Opposite of Amulet.
Tapes: a slang for the psychological conditioning received by children from adults. The "do's & don'ts"...
Tarot: is the name given to a special deck of cards used as a tool for divinatory purpose. These cards are the ancestors of modern playing cards. Traditionally numbering 78 cards, of which 21 make up the Major Arcana & the rest are divided into 4 suits (cups, wands, pentacles, & swords) of Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana or GREATER SECRETS were lost through the efforts of the Christian clergy. The 5th suit, which causes much argument MAY have represented Spirit or be a reference to the Major Arcana or may not have ever existed at all. I mention it, just to make you aware of the ongoing argument.
Tasseography: the act of 'reading' tea leaves in divination work.
Telepathy: the act of 'thought transference'.
Thaumaturgic: pray for divine intervention, like 'God give us world peace.'
TheOlogy: is Greek, meaning the 'Study of God. TheAlogy: new usage & spelling, the 'Study of GodDESS'.
Theurgic: pray for yourself, like 'God make me more understanding with other people.'
Third Eye: this is the sensitive area between the eyes & up about an inch. Site of a Major Chakra, the Pineal. It relates to intuitive input to the Conscious Mind & is often called The Mind's Eye.
Thurible: an incense burner that hangs from a chain, and swung by a carrior, to spread its smoke (Air Element symbol). Used during rituals to cleanse the space within the magic Circle. Fire Element symbol.
Tincture: a liquid produced by soaking plant parts (herbs), in ethyl alcohol or vinegar, to produce a scented liquid.
Tools: the instruments, empowered with magick; used by Pagans. These would include runes, tarot, candles, crystals, wand, censor, etc. Tools should be physically cleaned, consecrated and even engraved, prior to use for ceremonial purposes.
Tools, nonphysical:the three most generally used are: music, dance and gestures. These raise power, alter consciousness and serve to unite Self, with Diety.
Tradition, Wiccan: a specific branch or SECT of Wiccan religion, with its own structured practices.
Transcendent: means 'it'...surpasses all, is supreme in excellence, & is beyond all human knowledge.
Trilithon: a feature found in Stonehenge, composing of 2 upright slabs of stone, supporting 1 slab of stone crosswise to make an arch.
Triskelion: this is a triple, overlapping triangle symbol and represents Fate(s). One side of each triangle is missing, and this gives an overall impression of movement & activity, of energy in action.
True Solar Time: an Astrology term; the Sum moves around its ECLIPTIC of 360 degree in 1 year, advances in the ZODIAC by 1 degree each day. NOON is the Sun's point halfway between rising & setting. SO when the ecliptic point in which the Sun was at noon yesterday, is itself halfway between rising & setting today, it is NOT yet quite noon but will be when the NEXT DEGREE of the ecliptic gets there, which NOW CONTAINS the Sun. This equates to a TRUE SOLAR DAY being a little longer than a SIDEREAL DAY, a Solar hour being longer than a sidereal hour, etc. This puts the Sidereal NOON time about 4 minutes later each day & 2 hours later each month.
Visualization: the process of forming clear mental images. An important part of magical practices, and is a function of the Conscious Mind. Lady Jana explains, "Since sight is so important for most people, we talk about 'visualization,' but what we should call it is 'imagination.'
Wand: a magickal tool, traditionally made of wood, 21" in length or length from elbow to users fingertips; and tapered base to tip. Can be plain, painted, stained and/or engraved. It's an instrument for invocation and represents the Element - Air.
Warlock: Wiccan folk do NOT usually use this word for a 'male witch'! Rather its meaning is from the Old English (one source: Scottish) word: waerloga. A word for an untrustworthy man, an oathbreaker, sometimes an eunuch (castrated male). It's thought to have come into usage for a Witch by other Witches, who has betrayed them.
Watchtowers, Guardians of... this term is used for the Elementals, & They are Energy Forms, raiths or Spirits of the 4 Elements. Originally used in the Enochian Tradition of Ceremonial Magick but whose usage is now widespread. Those Entities connected to the Elements & Directions & certain attributes --
North...Earth...stable, solid, dependable....F...green...
East....Air.....thought & intellect..........M...yellow..
South...Fire....change, passion, willpower...M...red.....
West....Water...emotions & purification......F...blue....
Center..Spirit..intuitiveness.............unisexed soul
They are both visible & physical but invisible & spiritual. They are invoked during ritual as protectors of our Circle of Power & sometimes as advisors. Some 'set' these Guardians, during rituals; in a more complex exercise than simply invoking the Elements.
WICCA: 1) The contemporary pagan religeon predating Christianity. Expresses reverence for Nature, viewing Diety in all natural things; uses magick; worship is of God (Lord) and Goddess (Lady). A follower of Wicca, is a Wiccan. 2) Meaning: wise ones, and/or to turn, bend & shape. Wicca is often termed the 'new name' for Witches, and there seems to be some argument as to its proper use. 3) "A religion of experience rather than dogma." - unknown
NOTE: Anglo-Saxon, wicca is masculine & wicce, feminine; and means a person who Divines information. Old English, wicce & Saxon, wych; means 'to turn, bend, and shape'. Indo-European root word of 'wic' & 'weik'; also means 'to bend or shape'. Germanic 'wit', means knowledge, or to know. Including 'witch' as one of its derivatives.
Wiccaning: the act of parents, promising to rear their child in the Wiccan culture...SEE PAGANING.
Wicca Scripture: the lessons learned by observing Nature.
Widdershins: opposite of Deosil. It is the counterclockwise movement around a circle, to disperse or tear down negative energy. Used in binding spells.
Wise Ones: the personifications of traditional God/desses and Hero/as, and ancient teachers.
Witch: 1) Sometimes used name of a follower of Wicca. 2) Ancient, European practitioner of folk magick, especially that of herb and 'simple' magicks. NOTE: Saxon for 'wych'.
Witchcraft: the craft used by Witches, which is Magick. Especially, that utilizing personal power with the energies of natural objects.
Wizard: Old English meaning, 'one who is wise.'
Wraith: see SPIRIT subjects.
Worlds, Between the...: other aspects & dimensions of the physical, spiritual, & psychological, etc.
Wort: an ancient word meaning herb, as in mugwort.
Yeshua: is Hebrew, for - Jesus.
Yule: the festival celebrated about Dec. 21, on the Winter Solstice (shortest day of year). It marks the God's rebirth from Goddess, and reminds us that Death's product is Rebirth! The American Heritage Dictionary says modern 'yule' is from Middle English, 'yole' or 'yule'; which comes from Old English 'geol/geohhol'; from Common Germanic, 'jehwla/jegwla', meaning unattested. However, the Ency. of Traditional Symbols, pg 197: 'yule', is from the Gallic 'gule', meaning a wheel. Domi also said it was Germanic. Thanks to Thorelk, for helping track this all down!
Zenith: an astrology term...point when a celestial body is directly overhead. NADIR is the exact opposite.
Zodiac: a Greek name given to the 'belt' of stars through which the planets APPARENTLY pass centrally through. The ECLIPTIC is the circle line on the celestial sphere (like an Equator), which lies in the plane of the Sun's APPARENT orbit around the Earth. The Zodiac then is divided into 12 parts called SIGNS or HOUSES: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, & Pisces. The in between of a House, is a CUSP. And these Houses or Signs are then part of an ELEMENT (count 1, 2, 3, 4 to place every 4th matching) - Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. Then you have POLARITY: Fire & Air = positive / Water & Earth = NEGATIVE. Further, Fire is opposite Air & Water, opposite Earth.
Zodiac Quarters: the Zodiac begins at the Vernal Equinoctial point or Spring, where the ecliptic crosses the Equator south to north. The 4 quarters are divided then by solstices & equinoxes. Each quarter is further divided by 3 SIGNS: CARDINAL starts, FIXED persists the process, & MUTABLE completes.
ZYZYGY: an astrology term...event when 3 or more heavenly bodies (that is, planets, etc.), align up.
ODD notes:
g : small grin
G : big grin
BG : big grin
VBG : very big grin
AFEM : feminine 'amen'
AMLABB : All My Love And Bright Blessings
BEEG : very, very big & large of an often exagerated but with humerous intent, size.
BTW : By The Way
God/dess : short for God AND Goddess, saving writing space.
HP : High Priest
HPs : High Priestess
HPMS : a derogatory reference, which I think the meaning is QUITE clear!
IMOHP : In My Own Humble OPinion or IMOHO
KISS : Keep It Simple, Stupid
LOL : Laughing Out Loud
LYLAS : Love You Like A Sister!
NMPR : No More Public Replies
P* : Prodigy
PMS : NO not THAT! this one is... Patriarchal Monotheistic System
ROFL : Rolling On Floor Laughing
s/he : short for SHE and HE, saving writing space.
TTYL : Talk To You Later
TTYS : Talk To You Soon
BICKEN...Bitchen Wiccan
WICKEN...Wicked Wiccan
BEASTIE TYPES:
Beastie: DenElder's term for the little house spirits that beg for attention by stealing your keys and driving your cat crazy! Can be overly protective, and helpful though really mischievious if you don't acknowledge them from time to time. There is no way to command their loyality or bonding with you; however, earnest 'willing' and 'calling' for such will generally bring one to you. Negative magicking and exercises on YOUR part, will drive one away.
Hob: imp or minor Nature Spirit. Love water wells, keeping the water purified. Love cream (fat that came to the top of cow's milk). Hate cats because cats would steal their creamed milk.
Tomten: Scandinavian farm Elf. These tiny beings, with a long beard and colorful cap; sees to the well-being of the farm animals. His nightly rounds of the farm brings fertility, success, prosperity, and good luck.
AWD GOGGIE: A Nursery Bogie (one used to scare young children) A protector of fruit most often found in woods and orchards.
BAUCHAN: (Buckwan) A less friendly type of brownie. One of the few types who will not leave when seen by the human residents of his home. They mostly stay around just to play tricks, but can be very helpful when the proper mood strikes (i.e. - Callum mor Macintosh had a love/hate relationship with his Baucan companion. The love side must have been stronger because when Callum moved to the states his Bauchan came before him & cleared his plot of land for him.)
BOGGART: Another Brownie type quite akin to a poltergeist. A Yorshire family had a Boggart that lived in their cupboard & caused so much mischief that they felt they were forced to move to get away from it. That is until everything was packed up & ready to go & the boggart popped out of the butterchurn & revealed that he was coming with them.
BROWNIE: The most famous of the house sprites. A Brownie will stick around & finish extra cleaning as long as he gets food for his labor. The food must never be directly offered to the Brownie & one must never try to see him. The breaking of either of these taboos will cause the Brownie to become angry & leave. A well treated Brownie can be incredibly helpful, & faithful to no end. He will often punish the servants, call for a midwife or doctor when one is needed, & some have loved their human companion so much that they are said to have immigrated to America with them. The best place to leave food for a Brownie is on a warm hearth.
CLURICAUNE: Perhaps the most amusing of house spirits. A cousin to the Leprechaun the Cluricaune somehow ended up lacking any of his well-known relatives industriousness. His primary concern is wine, wine, & more wine. The only way the Cluricaune really will help you is by scaring greedy drinkers away from your wine stock. (Doesn't really help much anyway since he will end up drinking it all himself.) It is wise to watch your alcohol intake when you have a Cluricaune they don't like anyone else drinking too much of "their" wine: usually a good hearty pinch is the price for drunkeness.
FAERIES: A term that in reality is used to cover many things that are of absolutely no relation to the true faerie folk. True faeries are members of the Tylwyth Teg or the Daoine Sidhe. I'm sure it can be used a bit more broadly than that, but I'm biased.
GRUGACH: Can appear as a fair lady dressed in green, a slender male dressed in red or green, or a small, naked hairy imp-like creature. They will do Brownie type labor or guard cattle if you offer them milk.
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