Pagan Dictionary

Pagan Dictionary

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Abracadabra =
A word from the Jewish mystical tradition of
Qabala. Its root is the name of the Gnostic
deity Abraxas, meaning "hurt me not". It is
said to possess magickal powers,
especially of protection from illness.

Adept =
Word for an individual highly experienced and
proficient in a particular magickal craft.

Aeromancy =
Divination by the stars.

Aisling =
A Celtic-Irish word meaning "dream" or "vision",
pronounced "ash-leen".

Aka =
The cord between the astral body and the physical
body, most likely this concept is derived from the
biblical reference to a "silver cord" connected the
body and the soul.

Akasha =
The fifth element of magick and the occult, this
is the spiritual ether, often called the
"Otherworld".

Akashic Records =
Edward Cayce's concept which states that somewhere
there is a universal hall of data about past lives,
magic, healing, and spirituality. It does not exist
on the physical plane but rather on a more psychic
level. Some believe it can be accessed on the astral
plane, others feel it can only be accessed through
a visualization journey in the mind.

Alchemist =
One who practices alchemy.

Alchemy =
A form of high magick which stems from the middle
ages noted by the attempts of alchemists to make
lead turn into gold.

Alexandrian Tradition =
Based on the teachings of Alex Sanders.

Alignment =
Synchronization of mental and spiritual vibrations
with a god, goddess, or astronomical body. Often the
complete balance and centering of the chakras is
called an alignment.

Altar =
A small working area and shrine many pagans maintain,
where they perform most of their ritual and spell work.

Amulet =
An object charged with personal energies through
ritual or meditation often used to ward off a certain
force or person.

Aradia =
The Italian goddess Diana's daughter, said to be
the origin of all witches. The book "Aradia, Gospel
of the Witches" was written by Leland about Aradia
and the practice of witchcraft.

Archetype =
Symbolic imagery seen in visions, dreams, meditation,
and mind quests. Used to interpret the meaning of the
vision thereby betting understanding and communicating
with the subconscious.

Arthurian Tradition =
A Welsh tradition of paganism based on the lore of King
Arthur (the "Once and Future King"), Merlin the Magician,
and Guinevere.

Asatru =
Modern worship of the old Norse gods.

Aspecting -
An advanced magical practice which is seen most
commonly in a coven as opposed to solitary. The
practitioner attempts to manifest an aspect of the
Goddess or the God. This is seen in the pagan ritual
of Drawing Down the Moon as well as in other pagan
religions such as Vodou, where the priest often allows
the deity to speak through his or her body.

Asperger =
A bundle of fresh herbs either carrying dew or dowsed
with spring water, used to sprinkle the water during
ritual purification.

Astral Plane =
A plane parallel to the physical world, traveled
through by the astral body during projection.

Astral Travel =
The experience, whether spontaneous or induced,
of traveling through the astral realm in the form
of the astral body.

Astrology =
The practice of revealing the future by interpreting
the arrangement of stars and planets in relation to
astrological theory and the zodiac.

Athame =
The athame is usually a black handled, double edged
knife used in rituals. It is symbolic of the element
of fire and it can be used while laying down circle
boundaries and for inscribing candles. Also a phallic
symbol.

Attune =
To bring different psyches into harmony.

Augury =
Divination based on "signs" or omens.

Aura =
An energy field which surrounds living beings. An
aura is most often visible only to those born with
the skill to see it, or those who developed this
ability. A visible aura contains various colors and
tells about the spiritual and emotional persona of
the plant, human, or creature surrounded by it.
However, an aura can also be felt, heard, or sensed
through other means.

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Balefire =
A traditional fire lit outdoors during Yule,
Beltane, and Litha.

Beltane =
A Wiccan sabbat held between spring and the
onset of summer, between April 30th and May 1st
if in the Northern hemisphere or on 31st October
if in the Southern hemisphere.

Besom =
A bundle of twigs attached to a handle used to
cleanse and purify sacred space. Essentially a
witch's broomstick.

Binding =
Using magick to restrain someone or something,
or to 'bind' them to you.

Blessed Be =
A term derived from the ritual of the Five-fold
Kiss, it is simple a blessing commonly used by
wiccans and pagans as a greeting or a goodbye.
Abbreviated as BB or B*B.

Blood of the Moon =
A woman's mentrual cycle, considered important
and a crucial time for magick to be performed,
especially when it crosses the new or full moon.

Bolline; Boleen =
A white handled knife used in rituals for carving
and cutting magickal symbols into ritual objects.

Book of Shadows (BoS) =
A term coined by Aleister Crowley for a book
of rituals, recipes, journal entries, laws/rules,
and other documents important to a witch or coven.
Each Book of Shadows is different as the individual
decides what is necessary for their book.

Broom Closet =
Not meant literally, this is a term used to
describe someone who is "in the broom closet",
or in other words, who is not public with their
pagan practices.

Burning Times =
This is a word used to describe the execution of
the witches during their persecution from the
Middle Ages onwards. Most executions were in
fact by hanging, not burning. While it is
claimed that thousands and even millions were
killed, a small fraction were actually witches.
Many were herectics or Christians accused of
witchcraft by those who disliked them.

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Candlemas =
Pagan sabbat held on Feb. 1.

Cantrip =
A spell cast by a witch. It is small, quick,
and has minimal effects.

Cardinal Points =
North, East, South, and West. Symbolized by
the circle in magic (which connects the points),
the four elements, and the watchtowers.

Catharsis =
The release of magickal energies at the height
or climax of a ritual. Essentially the use of
energy at the catharsis is the crux of the rite,
determining whether its outcome will be successful
or not.

Cauldron =
A feminine symbol of the goddess, also of life,
death, and rebirth. This is associated with Cerridwen,
a goddess who brewed a magickal cauldron from
which a single drop was yielded each year. The
consumer of her brew would be granted great
wisdom. Today her cauldron survives not only
in pagan ritual but in the Christian concept
of the holy grail.

Censer =
A container in which incense is smoldered or
burned. It symbolises the element of air. Often
a censer is used during ritual to "cense" an
area, generally by moving the censer around the
area and especially around the circle as a
means of purification.

Centering =
Grounding your energy through meditation, often
before rituals to help harness and direct the
balanced energy.

Chakras =
Energy centers in the body which are best
cleansed, opened, and balanced. Too much or
too little energy in one chakra can be the
cause for disruption in magick or frustrations
in everyday life.

Chalice =
A feminine symbol of the element water. This
is used during ritual and once the waters of
life which it contains is blessed, it is passed
around so that everyone in the coven
may bring the Goddess "into" themself.

Channeling =
Mediumship; a word for an entity talking through
a human to convey a message to the physical plane.

Chant =
Repetition of magickal phrases, syllables, or
words to produce a desired effect as well as
bring the chanter to a deeper meditative state.

Chaote =
A Chaos magician not actively in practice.

Chi =
A Chinese term for the all-encompassing
universal life force.

Cheiromancy =
Divination based on the examination of the hand,
related to palmistry.

Circle =
A protected area where ritual work takes place.

Cleansing =
Purification through a ritual bath (often with
a handful of sea salt thrown in) and through
meditation to cleanse the psyche. Traditionally
performed before every ritual.

Cone of Power =
Psychic energy raised by either an individual
or a coven and released to perform a certain
goal through magick.

Conjure =
To summon entities from the spirit realm into
the physical plane.

Consecration =
The blessing, cleansing, or positively charging
of an object which is meant to be used in magick
or dedicated to a deity.

Corn Dolly =
A figure made by plaiting wheat, similar to a
poppet. It is symbolic of the fertility, grain,
and harvest aspects of the Goddess.

Correspondences =
Materials used in magick which relate to their
specific goal. These can be herbs, stones, moon
phases, colors, numbers, etc. An example would
be mugwort used in a dream spell, as mugwort
is a popular herb corresponding to dreams.

Coven =
A group of witches led by a High Priest and/or
a High Priestess who meet to worship and practice
magic. Traditionally limited to 13, though most
are significantly smaller.

Covenstead =
Meeting place established by a coven.

Cowan =
A slang term for a non-witch or non-pagan,
generally used as a derogatory word for a
pagan who is considered a fake or a poser.

Craft, the =
The Craft is a term used to refer to witchcraft
and wicca.

Crone =
A term of respect used for a witch who has passed
menopause or who is over 50-56 years old.

Croning =
A rite of passage into being a crone.

Cross of Confusion =
An ancient Roman symbol which questioned the
validity of Christianity.

Cross Quarter Days =
A term used for the fire sabbats (Samhain,
Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas). The most important
festivals of the years which form the "cross"
in the wheel of the year.

Cunning Man =
A practitioner of magick; this term dates back
to long before Christianity. He was relied on
by villagers to bring a good harvest, protect
them from evil, and provide charms and medicines.
The Cunning Man survived the coming of Christianity,
but not for very long.

Curse =
Conscious direction of negative energy towards
a person, place, or object.

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Daemon =
A Greek word for spirit.

Days of Power =
Significant magickal days around the year.
See also Sabbats.

Degree =
The level or status of a practitioner of magick.
You must face various tests of knowledge and
practical experience in order to progress to
another degree within your tradition.

Deosil =
Clockwise. Used often to describe movement in
rituals. The opposite is Widdershins.

Divination =
Method of inquiring into a situation through
tools, some examples of divination are scrying,
tarot, runes, and oneiromancy.

Dracomancer =
A practitioner of magick who uses dragons in
their workings.

Drake =
A dragon, generally refers to a young one.

Drawing Down the Moon =
A ritual which invokes the Goddess into the
High Priestess by the High Priest.

Dreamtime =
The Shamanic concept of a world which parallels
this one.

Druidism =
An ancient celtic order of priests which has
undergone a modern revival into neo-paganism.

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Earth Magick =
A practical form of magick which involves drawing
energy from Mother Earth (or Gaia) and the element
or elementals of earth for rituals.

Earth Power =
Defines the force or vibration that exists in
many inanimate objects like stones, water, fire,
and plants. Can be controlled and used in magick.

Eclectic =
A person (or the practice of a person) who
combines attributes from various traditions
to create a unique spiritual blend of Wicca,
paganism, or witchcraft that suits them best.

Elemental =
A spirit formed of one of the elements. The 5
elementals are salamanders (fire), sylphs (air),
undines (water), gnomes (earth), and spirit
(akasha).

Elements =
The 5 major elements in nature and magick.
Earth, water, fire, air, and akasha (or spirit)
which encompasses all of the other elements and
is not visible. Though the Chinese use metal
in their elements as well.

Elixir =
A magically charged liquid which has to have
a crystal or gem sitting in it for a specific
amount of time before it is ready to drink.

Empowerment =
An individual's assertion of personal power,
energy, force, and strength in all fields...
spiritual, physical, mental, magickal.

Enchantment =
A method of spellcasting which involves,
generally, spoken words of power. An
enchantment can be put on something to
gain control or authority over it.
Enchanted objects generally "carry" the
magick put upon them with them, so it does
not cease to work but is continually having
its effect.

Esbat =
A gathering for ritual work, generally
during the full or new moon.

Essential Oil =
A plant oil which is extracted through a
very complex process that generally yields
very little product, making it costly to
buy true essential oils. It's a
misconception to think of them as actually
being oily because they rarely are. These
are called for often in rituals.

Evocation =
Calling up spirits or elementals.

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Familiar =
A spirit or guardian who is close to a human
being and considered a companion in magick.
The spirit often manifests itself in a sacred
object or a pet. This explains the misconception
that all witches have black cats, which is not
necessarily true though a cat is a magickal
creature and often does become a familiar.

Fascination =
The practice of controlling another's mind
psychically. Can be considered very manipulative
and by some traditions a breaking of the Rede,
especially when used to frivolously control
people.

Fate =
The destined result of life after a sequence
of fated events.

Five-fold Kiss =
A traditional salute generally performed
between the High Priest and the High Priestess.
This involves kissing 5 areas on the body of
the Priestess with the accompanying magickal
words:
"Blessed be thy feet,
that have brought thee in these ways."
"Blessed be thy knees,
that shall kneel at the sacred altar."
"Blessed be thy womb,
without which we would not be."
"Blessed be thy breasts,
formed in beauty."
"Blessed be thy lips,
that shall utter the sacred names."

Full Moon =
Phase of the moon when it has waxed fully.
Best time for spells involving psychic powers,
and for magick in general.

Futhark =
Runic alphabet used often in divination, its
origins are Norse (Germanic). Divided into the
elder Futhark and the younger Futhark (which
has fewer runes).

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Gardnerian Tradition =
Tradition of witchcraft based on the teachings
of Gerald Gardner, who was essentially the
founder of modern Wicca.

Geomancy =
Divination by the earth.

Glamour =
A form of magick which involves changing people's
immediate perception of you. It generally is simply
altering your physical appearance (eye color, hair
length, height, etc.) temporarily. However, it can
also include changing people's emotional reaction
to you. Glamours last only as long as the
magician feeds energy into it.

Glyph =
A sigil imbued with magick.

Gnome =
An elemental that dwells in the earth plane.
See also Elementals.

Gods =
Immortal beings, also called deities, worshipped
by their followers and invoked for magick. A "god"
is generally male, whereas the female version is
"goddess".

Grammary =
Written magick, including symbols, signs, Ogham,
and sigils.

Great Rite =
This rite see most commonly in witchcraft marks
the initation into the third degree. Sexual in
nature, but can be performed symbolically
instead.

Grimoire =
A magickal workbook which contains various
information on rituals, formulae, correspondences,
and preparation of ritual tools and space.
Similar to a Book of Shadows.

Gris-Gris =
In African religious systems, a charm, fetish,
or amulet.

Grounding =
Sending excess energy generated during a ritual
into the earth, symbolically, back to the God
or the Goddess from which it came.

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Handfasting =
The Wiccan equivalent of a wedding ceremony.
It is only legal if performed by a registered
clergyman. Handfasting vows are meant to be
renewed annually, and thus are a "safer"
commitment than marriage unless made legal.

Handparting =
Similar to a seperation or divorce, symbolically
the cutting of the binds created by a handfasting.

Haruspicy =
Divination by animal entrails.

Heathen =
1. One who does not recognize the God of the
Bible.
2. A pagan.
3. An irreligious, uncivilized person. Can be
used in this context as a derogatory term for
a pagan, despite the fact that it's an inaccurate
generalization.

Hedge Wizard =
A rural practitioner who has little formal
training, or none at all.

Heptagram =
A seven-pointed star drawn with one unbroken
line. Symbolic of the number seven, which is
important not only to the seven traditional
astrological planets but also to the seven
planes and subplanes and the seven chakras.

Hereditary Witch =
A person who descends from a line of witches
and has learned the Craft from a member of
this descent.

Hex =
Alternative word for Curse.

Hex Mark =
Used by Dutch settlers to ward of evil and
often painted on the outside of buildings.

Hexagram =
A geometric figure formed by two overlapping
triangles, also called the Star of David. While
it is used in modern magick to invoke or banish
spirits, it is traditionally Jewish.

Hierophant =
A priest of the mysteries who reveals his
secrets only to this initiates.

High Magick =
Ceremonial magick involving the actions of
deities or spirits.

High Priest =
A male witch within a coven who has been
initiated into the 3rd degree. Abbreviated
in written rituals as HP.

High Priestess =
A female witch within a coven who has been
initiated into the 3rd degree. Abbreviated
as HPS in written rituals.

Higher Self =
Non-physical, true self. The enlightened,
"actual" persona of the individual as opposed
to what the person seems to be or thinks they
are.

Horned God =
Pagan father God often mistaken for, or
associated with, Satan. This is an incorrect
assumption.

Hydromancy =
Divination by liquid, especially water.

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Imbolc =
Pagan sabbat celebrated on Feb. 2 if in the
Northern hemisphere or on 1st August if in the
southern hemisphere.

Incantation; Incant =
The spoken part of a spell.

Initiate =
A person who has undergone the rite of entry
into a coven, circle, or other organization.

Initiation =
Admission ceremony for an intiate to gain entry
into a coven or circle. Generally in the form
of a ritual with an oath of secrecy.

Invocation =
The bringing of a divine power from the exterior
into a ritual or magickal working through chant
or prayer. An invocation is generally an
acknowledgement of the deity and a request that
they be present for the working.

Inward Silence =
The silencing of the emotions and thoughts that
disturb the effectiveness of a ritual.

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Jinx, Jinks =
Bad luck or to be cursed, hexed.

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Karma =
A concept which originated in Hindu philosophy
that is used to explain injustice and retribution.
By karma, a trespass in this life will be punished
in the next. Essentially, "what goes around comes
around". Actions bad or good will eventually be
returned to you.

Ki =
Japanese word for the universal life force,
synonymous with the Chinese term, Chi.

Kitchen Magick; Kitchen Witchcraft =
A practical tradition of witchcraft mainly
for suburban or lower budget witches that
allows one to utilize household items
instead of the often difficult to obtain
ritual items.

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Lamen =
A disc of metal with magickal symbols inscribed
on it, worn around the neck during rituals.

Lammas =
A pagan sabbat which takes place on August 1st
if in the Northern hemisphere or on 2nd February
if in the Southern hemisphere.

Left-hand Path =
A path for people who believe in Satanism, amongst
other paths.

Levitation =
The supernatural phenomenon involving suspending
a body in midair without physical bolster.

Litha =
The pagan summer sabbat. Also called Summer
Solstice. Celebrated on 21st June or thereabouts
if in the Northern hemisphere or on 21st December
if in the Southern hemisphere.

Lithomancy =
Divination by stones.

Loa =
An ancestral deity in the Vodou religion.

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Mabon =
Pagan sabbat celebrated in early autumn.
Celebrated on 21st September or thereabouts
on the Autumn Equinox if in the Northern
hemisphere or on 21st March if in the Southern
hemisphere.

Macrocosm =
The greater world or universe.

Mage =
A master magician; often a mage is a scholarly
and skilled practitioner who prefers that the
only tools of their magick be their mind,
ability, and spirit.

Magick; Magic =
The art and occult science of changing events
around you by manipulating energy in nature,
the self, and the spirit world.

Magickal Name =
A name chosen by the dedicant or initiate to
symbolise rebirth into their new path.

Magickal Voice, the =
The commanding, assertive voice used to read
power words during rituals which allows no doubt
or insecurity in. This applies whether the voice
is speaking tone, a loud whisper, or in song.

Maiden =
1. The name of one of the members of a coven,
generally the assistant to the High Priestess.
2. One of the aspects of the triple goddess
(maiden, mother, crone) symbolised by the
waxing moon, creation, and the time between
Beltane and Imbolc.

Meditation =
The practice of inverting the mind to pay
attention to the inner silence instead of
the outer chaos. Other forms of meditation
focus on the outer chaos instead. This
practice is accepted in almost all religions,
but is encouraged most in Buddhism.

Merry Meet =
A greeting commonly used by Wiccans and pagans.
It basically means "Greetings". Abbreviated
as MM.

Merry Part =
A friendly phrase that basically means "Goodbye",
used by Wiccans and pagans. Abbreviated as MP.

Metaphysical =
Having the nature of metaphysics.

Metaphysics =
A field of abstract thought and philosophy about
topics not on the concrete or physical level of
understanding. This includes subjects like
existence, the soul, being, the supernatural,
astral travel, psychicism, and so on.

Microcosm =
The lesser world, the physical. Said to parallel
the macrocosm, or greater world.

Midsummer =
Sabbat celebrated in June.

Mojo =
Magick.

Mojo Bag =
A small bag generally worn around the neck which
is charged with energies towards a certain goal
and filled with charms, herbs, and/or stones.

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Necromancy =
1. The art of revealing the future through
magick and especially through communication
with the deceased.
2. The practice of summoning the souls of the
dead.

Necronomicon =
A pseudo-grimoire. The notion of such a book
was made by H.P. Lovecraft in fictional
writing, but an unknown author wrote it
and some people today still believe it
is a valid source of occult information.

Neo-Pagan =
Literally, new pagan. Modern earth religion
which branches from paganism and is based on
ancient pre-Christian religious practices.
Wicca, for example, is a neo-pagan religion,
derived from ancient witchcraft and paganism.

New Age =
The modern movement which involves combining
metaphysical concepts with the practice of
an organized religion.

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OBE, OOBE =
Out-of-body experience.

Occult =
Study and science of things esoteric, secret,
paranormal, and supernatural.

Ogham =
The magickal Celtic alphabet made up of 20
letters called fews, each representing a
different kind of tree.

Old Religion =
This is a term often used for Wicca and
witchcraft. It was used because witchcraft
is believed to descend from ancient paganism.
However, it is misleading when used in
relation to Wicca, which is a fairly young
and modern religion based on witchcraft.

Omen =
An sudden occurence which is interpreted as
being a sign of good or evil. Often it will
be small yet significant; a vase falling over
or a cup of water spilling, for example.

Oneiromancy =
Divination through dreams.

Oracle =
A person through which otherworldly entities
can be communicated with, similar to channeling.
People often see oracles to ask questions or to
be given insights to their future.

Ostara =
Sabbat which occurs to celebrate the onset of
spring. The Christian holiday of Easter
originated from Ostara, a celebration named
after the goddess of Spring and rebirth,
hence the egg and the rabbit as the primary
symbols. Celebrated on 21st March or thereabouts
on the Spring Equinox if in the Northern hemisphere
or on 21st September if in the Southern hemisphere.

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Pagan =

1. A follower of paganism.
2. Something related to paganism.
(For example a pagan book, pagan artwork, etc.)

Pagandom =
Part of the world inhabited primarily by pagans.

Paganism =
Any religion other than Christianity, Islam,
or Judaism. Generally categorized as an earth
religion. Most are polytheistic (have more than
one god or goddess). Literally means "country
dweller".

Pagan Standard Time =
A slang term for when people cannot arrive or
get to an event on time. Almost extinct because
it was a poor excuse to begin with. Abbreviated
as PST.

Pallomancy =
Divination with a pendulum.

Pantheon =
A hierarchy of gods and goddesses in a particular
religious structure, such as the Greek pantheon,
the Roman pantheon, etc.

Past Life Regression =
A technique used by hypnotists to lead a person
in a trance which allows them to supposedly
recall events from previous lives, when their
soul was in a different physical body at
another time period and place. Assuming belief
in the human soul, this is actually very logical,
and can be explained as simply a matter of helping
the human mind connect to the soul mind and
read the memories stored there.

Pendulum =
A tool often used to communicate with spirits
or divine.
See also divination.

Pentacle =
A disc (generally circular) which is inscribed
with a pentagram on its surface.

Pentagram =
A five-pointed star drawn with a single line.
Upright, it resembles a human figure, with spirit
taking the highest importance.
Inverted (upside-down) it is often considered
a Satanic symbol. This is not always true,
though. In Wicca an inverted pentagram is a
sign used by a second degree initiate to
symbolise their progress and the facing
of the "dark" side of life. When inverted,
it represents the elements taking precedence
over spirit.

Pecti-Wita =
A Scottish tradition of Wicca, see also
Witta.

Philtre =
A potion, especially for love.

Phrenology =
Character analysis by studying the shape and
surface of the skull.

Projective Hand =
A term often used in ritualism to describe
your most powerful hand, generally the one
you write with.

Prophet =
One who receives inspiration, information,
or insights into the future from a divine
source.

Psychic Awareness =
The open state of awareness in which the
conscious mind can tap into the psychic
mind.

Psychic Mind =
The sub- or un-conscious mind which is
receptive of psychic messages. When we
are psychically aware, the two minds
link and we can intercept these messages.

Pyromancy =
Divination by fire.

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Qaballa =
Jewish mysticism; metaphysical practices
based on the Judaic Qabalistic texts.

Quarter Days =
The solstices and equinoxes.

Quarters =
The north, east, south, and west parts of
the circle, often representative of the
four watchtowers

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Receptive Hand =
The hand which has less power, generally
whichever hand you do not write with.
This hand is used less in holding and
charging ritual items, however, it
receives outside energy which is used
to feed the magick.

Rede =
A tenet, rule, doctrine, or law.

Reincarnation =
The rebirth of the soul into other physical
forms from one life (reincarnation) to the
next. The new physical form can be animal
or human.

Right-hand Path =
A term used for a person who does not
believe in Satanism. Opposite of left-hand
path.

Rite =
A ritual.

Ritual =
A formal series of generally predetermined
actions (both mental or physical) performed
to harness and then direct magickal powers
toward the accomplishment of the goal at
hand.

Runes =
A tool of magick and divination. There are
many types of runes, all of them alphabets
of some sort. Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and modern
Wiccan runes are just a few. They are
usually tossed randomly after deciding
a subject, and then decifered based on
their positioning.

S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sabbat =
One of the eight celebrations of
paganism.

Salamander =
The elemental who dwells in the fire
plane.

Samhain =
Sabbat held on the eve of Nov. 1st, also
called Halloween and celebrated by most
people (religiously or not) on
October 31 if in the Northern hemisphere
or on 1st May if in the Southern hemisphere.

Scrying =
A form of divination by gazing into
something, usually a reflective surface.

Shade =
The spirit of a being which refuses to
leave the physical plane.

Shamanism =
The religion of the ancient peoples of
northern Europe and Asia, generally
characterised by the ability of the
Shaman to communicate with the spirit
world. Major facets of Shamanism are
animism, possession, prophecy/revelations,
shapeshifting, and soul travel.

Shapeshifting =
A very esoteric practice involving
changing the human form. This can be
practiced while on the astral plane,
this alone is a great accomplishment.
It is said that one can also shapeshift
on the physical plane, though documented
proof of this is nonexistent. Few books
are published on the subject as it is
an art mainly for certain people, and
teachers prefer to find these people
and teach them their art secretively
rather than let the public know their
ways.

Showstone =
A crystal sphere used for divination,
especially scrying. Also called a crystal
ball.

Sigil =
A magickal seal or glyph.

Skyclad =
A pagan term for nudity during rituals.

Solitary =
A witch who practices alone instead of
within a coven.

So Mote it Be =
A phrase used often in rituals to close a
chant or incantation. It literally means,
"It must be so" or "So it shall be".

Sorcery =
Magickal practice which involves summoning,
binding, or banishing deities. Often a
sorcerer (practitioner of sorcery) uses no
tools.

Soul =
The true identity of a human being, the
immortal self which surpasses death and
lives on into the otherworld, perchance
to be reincarnated.

Spell =
The direction of energies towards some
certain goal, generally with the use of
spoken words.

Spellcrafting =
The practice of creating spells by writing
outlines, arranging correspondences, and
authoring incantations.

Spirits =
Entities which are free of a physical body.

Summoner =
Like a male version of the maiden, a member
of the coven who is an assistant to the
High Priest.

Sylph =
The elemental of air.

Symbol =
A sign which represents something else.
Symbols are used commonly in rituals to
represent gods, elements, goals, and
more. Many tools are symbols, for example,
the chalice is a symbol of the
goddess and the giving of life.

Synchronicity =
A Jungian term describing a coincidence
which seems to have meaning yet no connection
is clear.

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Talisman =
A magickally charged object used to attract
a certain type of energy or a particular type
of person.

Tarot =
A form of divination using a set of cards
(usually 76).

Tasseography =
Divination by reading tea leaves.

Telekinesis =
A form of psychokinesis which involves moving
objects with the mind without ever physically
coming in contact with them.

Telepathy =
Unspoken (psychic) communication between two
minds.

Thelema =
Religious beliefs that are founded on magic
within the Christian pantheon.

Theurgy =
Magick involving the use of divine spirits
and oneness or closeness with one's
God/Deitie(s).

Third Eye =
The psychic eye, not physically visible, but
mental. Located in the middle of the forehead.

Three-fold Law =
A Wiccan principle which originated from the
teachings of Gerald Gardner. It states that
any action made by a person will be returned
them three times as powerfully, whether the
action was good or bad. By this law, you are
encouraged to do good things so that you will
be rewarded later on with three times the
benevolence, as opposed to bad things which
result in thrice the consequence.

Totem Animal =
A spirit guide in the form of an animal who
chooses to accompany you. This tradition is
derived from Native American spirituality.

Traditions =
Sects or groups which practice Wicca. Each
tradition has a different set of rules and
guidelines by which it follows, so when one
chooses a tradition, one much be aware of
the facets of the tradition and believe that
the rules suit them best. Some examples of
traditions are Gardnerian, Alexandrian,
Celtic, Faery, and Strega.

Transmutation =
The work of alchemy, changing base metals
and elements into precious things.

Tree Calendar =
Celtic system which recognizes 13 lunar
months, each represented by a sacred tree.

U - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ululation =
The part of an incantation or chant which
demands full vocal force and volume.

Uncasting =
Opening the circle at the end of a
ritual.

Undine =
The elemental spirit who dwells on the
water plane.

Unmanifest =
The unknown source of existence, it is
said that magicians take their power
from the unmanifest to use it within
the manifest.

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Vampirism =
The practice of subsisting on the vitality
of another. Commonly this is blood, other
times it is life force (sapped psychically).

Veil of Unknowing =
The boundary between the manifest and the
unmanifest.

Virtues =
Magickal properties of objects like herbs,
stones, and creatures as was assigned to
them during their divine creation.

Visualization =
1. Forming clear mental images often used
in magick to focus and direct energy to a
visualized goal.
2. Imagining a scene, a person, or an object
with intense clarity. This is often done
through a meditation with a written
"visualization journey" which allows the
practitioner to enter an imagined place
to make personal discoveries.

Voodoo =
See Vodou

Vodou =
Polytheistic religion derived from worship
of gods in African and the beliefs of
Catholicism. Practiced mainly by the West
Indians. Voodoo alternate spelling of
Vodou.

W - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wand =
A tool in magick which resembles a rod and
is used to direct energy towards a goal.

Waning =
The lunar phase when the moon is getting
"smaller" (more crescent-like). This is
the time when magick that involves
banishing things, breaking habits, and
getting rid of things is to be performed.
Opposite of waxing.

Ward =
A protection spell.

Warlock =
A derogatory term which literally means
"oathbreaker". It is a common misconception
that male witches are called warlocks.
However, male witches are no different
than females in this respect and so they
are simply called witches.

Watchtowers =
A concept derived from ceremonial magick;
the four watchtowers each represent a
cardinal direction, element, elemental,
and a color. They are commonly used in
modern Wicca.

Waxing =
The lunar phase when the moon is getting
"larger" (nearing the full moon). This is
the time when magick that involves growth
and bringing things to you is best performed.
Opposite of waning.

Wheel of the Year =
One full cycle of the seasons, in pagan
beliefs in begins on Samhain as opposed
to in January.

Wicca =
A neo-pagan reconstruction of witchcraft.
Most Wiccans call themselves witches, but
not all witches are necessarily Wiccan.

Wiccan =
1. A person who follows or practices Wicca.
2. Something related to Wicca.
(For example a wiccan book, wiccan artwork,
etc.)

Widdershins =
Counter clockwise. The opposite of deosil.

Wise Woman =
A solitary female practitioner of witchcraft
who gave charms and healing salves to villagers
in Europe.

Wita =
Scottish Wicca. See also Pecti-Wita.

Witch =
A practitioner of witchcraft. There are many
types and traditions of witches. A witch is
not necessarily a Wiccan, though if a Wiccan
practices witchcraft they can be called
a witch.

Witch Ball =
An 18th century tradition; a glass sphere hung
in windows to ward off evil spirits. This is
where the Christian concept of the Christmas
tree ornament came from.

Witchcraft =
The practice of spells and magick, often
involving the worship of many deities or a
supreme God and/or Goddess.

Witta =
Irish Wicca.

Wizard =
A name for male ceremonial magicians, rarely
used for Wiccans unless they are eclectic and
use ceremonial magick as well.

Word of Power =
A word or name which is supposed to have great
power when spoken, most are almost impossible
to pronounce and have no meaning in any language.

Working; Magickal Working =
Any act involving magick or ritualism.

Wort =
An archaic word for herb.

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Y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Yggdrasil =
The Norse tree which held up the world and the
heavens; its roots led to the underworld. It
provided the complex network of the universe.

Yule =
The pagan winter sabbat. Also called Winter
Solstice. Celebrated on 21st December or
thereabouts if in the Northern hemisphere or
on 21st June if in the Southern
hemisphere.

Yule Log =
The traditional log burned at Christmas
ceremonies which most likely came from a
pagan tradition for Yule celebration.

Z - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Zenith =
The upper most top, highest point.

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