magickal glossary.docx
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An Adept is one who is considered highly proficient
within a magickal system through serious study and
accomplishments.
Akasha comes from the sanskrit word meaning
"luminous" refering to essence/space. It is one of
the 5 hindu elements (the black egg of spirit). It has
been incorperated into western magick as the
energy a soul is made up of, so to speak, in the idea
that this akashic energies are all interconnected.
The Akashic Records is a theosophical concept for
astral memory of all events, thoughts, and emotions
that have arisen since the begining of the world. It is
believed that psychics are able to tune into this
dimension and revieve impressions of past ages.
The most common ideas of viewing the Akashic
records is that of entering a large library on the
astral plain, usually durring astral projection, where
one can choose among every moment in time to
view a specific event (past, present, or future).
Alchemy is a branch of High Magic developed in the
Middle Ages whit the intention of magically and/or
chemically turning base metals into gold.
A practice of combining elements of metallurgy, and
other sciences with mysticism and religion for many
purposes, including the creation of gold and the
finding of a panacea that could cure all disease.
The Alexandrian Tradition was founded by Alex and
Maxine Sanders in the UK during the 1960s. Like the
Gardnarian Tradition, the Alexandrian Tradition is
widely recognized tradition in the pagan and wiccan
community. It is said that the Alexandrian Traditions
is not as practiced as Gardnarian because of some
bad publicity in the past, supposedly stunting it's
growth.
The Almadel, in medieval magick was a wax
talisman inscribed with the names of spirits and/or
deities. Being made of wax, it could be thrown in
fire or a hot pot for melting, and to destroy it's
secret information. Almadels are still sometimes
used as in the attatched photo, propped with a
candle at each corner of the wax plate.
Amulets are small objects worn or carried for
protection, that has been naturally imbued with
magickal power.
Anima Mundi
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A cosmological concept of a world soul or governing
force in the universe that allows divine thought to
be manifested in laws affecting matter.
According to mystic Marsilio Ficino, the wotld soul is
omnipresent but cooperating star deamons assist in
uniting spirit and matter. Philosophically, the world
soul was midway between spirit and matter, a
dimension of energy and vitality for the world
below.
The Ankh is also known as Crux Ansata which is latin
meaning "cross with a handle". It has also been
called the key of life, and the key of the Nile. There
is much debate on the symbol's origin, though one
theory states that it was the Goddess Isis's belt
buckle. It is a hieroglyph that reads "life". Many
Egyptian Gods/desses are depicted holding the
ankh, perhaps in reference to their power over it....
to give life, or take it.
To many pagans today, it is seen as a symbol of
eternal life, much in the same way as a figure 8 of
infinity.
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Apo Leo, among the Kahunas of Hawaii, is a specific
form of sorcery in which a victim is suddenly unableto speak. The God Uli and Goddess Hiiaka believed
to be responsible for causing these types of
magickal conditions.
An Apparition is the appearance of someone living
or dead in conditions that cannot be accounted for
by a physical cause. Though apparitions are often
thought of as ghosts, the term is alao used in occult
literature to describe human forms tha appear to
another person as the result of astral projection or
clairvoyance.
The word Archetype refers to symbols or images
that represent the emotions or knowledge of the
subconscious mind. Images within a tarot card are
symbols or messages for a recipient, these images
are the archetypes or mirrors of subconscious
emotions. Archetypal visions have been regarded by
mystics as personal revelations from an external
divine source.
An Ashipu was a Babylonian priest/sorcerer who
performed magick ceremonies to counteract evil
spells and control nature. They also returned sick
people back to health by exorcising evil spirits.
Asperger is a bundle of rolled up Herbs used to
sprinkle water in a purification. Sometimes metal
rods are used, and some also use their athame or
wand.
Astral Projection is a practice in which a person
enters an altered state of conciousness. Durring this
altered state, the conciousnes or "spiritual body"
leaves the physical body.
Astrology is an organized doctrine used for
divination and understanding of oneself. Through
examining the placement of astrological objects,
one can discover underlying meanings of events, a
persons character traits or foretell future events.
Atavism is the concept that a primeval force related
to an earlier stage if one's evolution can reappear
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after many generations. Austin Osman Spare, an
english Occultist, practiced a techique called
atavism resurgence in order to manifest animal
aspects of his personality that he believed had
derived from his previous incarnations.
The word Atavism is used in the medical feild also
to describe birth mutations such as tails, webbed
toes, third nipples, and hooved feet on humans.
Athame (ath-uh-may). Usually a black handled, two
edged blade used to cut/cast the magick circle. It is
NEVER used to do any physical cutting. The blade is
said to be double edged in honor of balance
between forces, between worlds, and God &Goddess. The black handle is believed to obsorb
energy from the user making it easier to direct their
energy out of its tip. In wicca, the athame
represents the element of fire, and the phallic
symbol durring the Rite of Union.
Bane was a term often used to describe poisonous
plants in the Middle ages, and carries on through
current times as well. Alot of plants such as Dog's
Bane and Leapord's Bane got their names from thisconcept.
I have have also seen the word Bane/Baneful used
to describe thoughts and actions of others, in that
they are harmful. Bane=Bad. Lol
The Besom is a brush or broom, traditionaly made
from twigs, is used to sweep away negative energy
and prepare sacred space for ritual. Used widely in
Wicca and other traditions, one sweeps the cirle in
a clockwise (deosil) spiral from the outside inward
to the center, then disposes of dust along with all
negative energies with it before casting the circle.
To be bewitched is to be under someone's spell. To
bewitch is to cast a spell upon someone, in whichthey are under your control.
This is a work you encounter often in magick and
witchcraft. Though it is usually explained well, some
still confuse binding magick with other types.
Binding is used to restrain someone from a specific
thing or person. You can use binding magick to keep
someone from thinking something or doing
something. You can also bind someone to a specific
thing or person. Binding is used in Handfasting
rituals to bind partners together, and the parting
ritual is used to unbind the two people so that they
may go their seperate ways.
I hope this helps to clarify what Binding actually is.
The second dark moon (new moon) within a
calendar month is a black moon. In working magic,
a black moon is thought to be a time of enormous
magical power in the spiritual world. Spellwork at
this time is especially powerful.
I find that there is debate on the deffinition of a
black moon. It's not an idea I have seen in many of
the new books, but I tend to lean toward this
deffinition of a black moon. See the entry for black
moon on Wikipedia for more ideas on this.
"Blessed Be". I have had a request for this phrase
and am happy to post it. This is a phrase used by
many witches both as a greeting and a farewell, but
it is also used as an affirmation following certain
statements as one might say "Amen" or "Selah". It is
widely used during ritual, following incantations and
chant, and to let others know you wish blessings
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upon them. Blessed Be, or Blessed ye be, or Be
Blessed!
"Blood of the Moon" refers to a woman's menstrual
cycle that falls durring a full or new moon. She isbelieved to be much more powerful durring that
time.
"Book of Light" is another term for Book ofShadows, also known as Grimoire or Mirror Book. It
has only been recently that I've heard a BOS
referred to as a Mirror Book or Book of Light, and in
doing research can't really find anything about the
BOS being called a Book of Light. It seems to me
that it is used in place of 'BOS' because one dose
not like the "shadow" part of the title. If anyone has
any other information on this subject please feel
free to share it!
A Cairn is a stack of stones often used as a
landmarks. "Cairn" comes from a Scottish Gaelic
word, and they can be found all over the world in
small stacks as shown, and even in entire artificial
hills, and in complexity from loose, conical rock piles
to delicately balanced sculptures and elaborate
feats of megalithic engineering.
Today, some stack cairns in prayer and meditation,
and it is suggested that they are still used as
landmarks today.
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The word Celtic refers to a person or association of
Welsh, Irish and Scottish heritage and some parts of
northern Spain.
A censer is usually a brass burner for burning
incense and herbs used to 'cense' or cleanse sacred
space. It is widely used in Wicca and othe traditions
and witchcraft practices. Photo by me of my censer
siting on our air shelf.
The Chalice is one of the major tools in Wicca and
for some Witchcraft practitioners. It represents the
womb of the Goddess and the element Water on
the altar. It is used in the Rite of Union, and also for
holding liquid offerings in ritiual.
Channeling is a spiritual practice in which someone
opens their mind to communications from a dis-carnate being, spirit guide, or other entity. The
person becomes temporarily possessed by the
entity so that messages can be transmitted to
others present. The channeler is usually unaware of
any messages until afterward when others can
inform them of what was said. Channelers can also
be called mediums.
Chanting is the action of repeating a word, phrase,
or sound. Chanting is used as a form of prayer,
spiritual focus, and to raise magickal energy within a
circle or spell.
To "Charge" something it to embew it with magickal
energy/power. More often than realized, some are
unclear on what an author means by telling them to
charge a stone or candle, if they have not previously
explained the process. Charging can be done by
placing an object in direct sun or moonlight, holding
the object in both hands to 'push' your energy intoit, or placed on a pentacle patent for focus of
energy from.multiple sources.
Churingas were oval stones or pieces of wood
inscribed with sacred markings among the
Austrailian Aboriginies. They were linked to animal
totems, and were not to be seen by women or
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uninitiated men.
Clavicle, from the Latin 'clavis' meaning Key, the
mystical key to unlocking an occult secret. An
example of the clavicle from occult literature andgrimoires would include the medieval grimoire
known as "The Key of Solomon" (Clavicula
Solimonis).
The clavicle is also a bone in the human body, in no
way related to this post. Lol
A Compress is a cloth soaked in hot or cold liquid
that is applied to the body for healing purposes. It
may simply be used to apply pressure or to apply
heat or cold to an affected area or it may be used to
apply medication.
The Cone of Power is a raised energy within the
circle which is visualized as a cone of energy
reaching upward from the center of the circle. This
energy is then directed toward a goal
predetermined by the witches involved.
Covenstead is the place chosen by the coven to
meet regularly for Sabbats & Esbats. It is a
permanent location for celebrations and meetings.
It can be a room, a coven member's home, a rented
space, or a building. The covenstead can also serve
as storage for ritual items and materials so that
members do not have to carry things from home to
rituals. The covenstead is usually ritually dedicated
and consecrated as the coven's sacred meeting
place.
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The Craft Name is one a person chooses to use only
for ritual and magickal work. It is usually inscribed
onto the witch's tools, robe, and written spells. It
was origionally meant to remain secret between the
witch, the Gods, and/or coven.
The reason people choose a craft name is to
distinguish between the mundane self and the
magickal self. One would choose a name of a God or
Goddess with attributes they wish to possess, or a
word(s) that hold power for them. Some are given
names by the Gods, in certain cases which may
come to them in a vision or dream.
Creative visualization refers to the practice of
seeking to affect the outer world by changing one's
thoughts and expectations. In magick, we use
creative visualizations to see ourselves (in our
mind's eye) already possessing what it is we want,
in order to encourage its manifestation. There are
may uses for creative visualization, in which one
uses their mind to cause atmospheric and
emotional changes. It is also used in healing for
visualizing specifically colored energy to be used for
healing a person.Yet another use for creative visualization is Guided
Meditations. During a guided meditation, we
concentrate and visualize what the guide tells us to
see.
A Croning is a ceremony held to mark a woman's
transition from Mother to Crone, considered the
final stage of a woman's life. It isn't just about age
or how grown the kids are though. It's also about
spiritual progression and celebrating the wisdom
gained through time and experience.
Dakini:
In Tibet, a witch or terrifying female demon that
appears to q magician durring his ritual. The term
Dakini is sometimes used in India as a general term
for Earth Mother Deities as well.
Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling, of
dissolved chemicals, from herbal or plant material,
which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes.
Decoction involves first mashing, and then boiling in
water to extract oils, volatile organic compounds,
and other chemical substances. Decoction can be
used to make tisanes, teas, coffees, tinctures and
similar solutions. The process can also be applied to
meats and vegetables to prepare bouillon or stock.
(Wikipedia)
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The Dei Lucrii were local or personal gods of profit
worshipped and evoked by ancient Romans to
ensure lucrative business ventures. The god
Mercury eventually took over their function.
The Delphic Oracle was an influential ancient Greek
oracle who made pronouncements at the temple of
Apollo at Delphi, beneath Mount Parnassus.
Apollo's priestess was named the Pythia, a
reference to the Python or giant serpent that Apollo
had slain when he first came to Delphi. After
sacrificing a goat, the Pythia would mount a tripod
and squat there, breathing in intoxicating smoke
(possibly from henbane seeds), and awaiting divine
inspiration. As she entered a state of trance, priests
would interpret the oracles from the Pythia, and
relay her answers to the inquirers.
(watkins dictionary of magic)
Deosil is a term refering to the clockwise movement
inside a magick circle. It is mostly used in Wiccan
traditions to weave positive energy in the circle by
only moving deosil. Some move deosil exclusively
feeling that the opposite (widdershins which will beaddressed in a later post) weaves negative energy.
Still others move both ways not condidering such
concepts. It is a personal preference for
practitioners outside of Wiccan traditions who do
what theu feel is right at the moment.
Distillation is the process of purification of material
used in alchemy to extract the "volatile spirit" from"impure" substances through heat. Vaporization
(known as sublimation) is followed by cooling and
condensation believed to draw out the pure
essence of the material.
Divination is a "blanket" term refering to countless
types of scrying and auguries used to divine the
past, present, and future. This would include things
like scrying mirrors, pendulums, tarot cards,
pyromancy, geomancy, bibliomancy, and the list
goes on. There are ways to divine bird calls, water
ripples, and the rings of tree aging. I couldn't
possibly name them all!
Dolmen comes from a Breton expression which
means "table of stone". They are prehistoric
megaliths consisting of a large unhewn stone
reating ontop of two or more upright stones.
Dolmens among other megaliths were significant in
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Celtic religion, and later in Celtic folklore.
Dowsing is a form of divination used to locate
water, metals, and ot that are out of sight, usually
below the ground, by the use of a tree branch or
metal forked rod. Also known as "water witching",
dowsing has been around for about 7,000 years. A
person who uses this form of divination is called a
Dowser, and dowsing may also be done with a
pendulum.
"Drawing Down the Moon" or "Calling Down the
Moon" is a ceremonial invocation of the Great
Goddess into the High Priestess, performed by the
High Priest in Wicca. It has become common in
solitairy practice as well though.
"Drawing Down the Sun" or "Calling Down the Sun"
is a ceremonial invocation of the Sun God into the
High Priest, performed by the High Priestess inWicca. It has become common in solitairy practice
as well though.
"Dressing a Candle" a phrase used to describe the
process of annointing a candle with oil or special
liquid for use in spell work.
The word Druid can be defined in many ways
depending on the individuals perception of the
word, as it has been used for too many years to
count. Originally a Celtic order of astronomers and
healers. The association has migrated to people
who hold strong understanding of nature and hold
an attachment to divine energies and spiritual
purpose to preserve it.
An Effigy is an object used to represent a specific
person. You may also know them as poppets,
wangas, and voodoo dolls though each of these
terms may mean something different for the person
being represented. Effigies are used in magick and
spells with the intent that whatever is done with
the object will also be done to the person (good or
bad). A photo can also be used as an effigy.
Elysium, in Greek Mythology, is a place where
deceased heroes and virtuous people lived in
eternal life. It was aslo called the Elysian Fields, was
a part of the Underworld, and all under the rule of
Hades.
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Esbat is another common word, but I was surprised
to find how many pagans and witches did not know
it's actual meaning. The Esbat, in Wiccan traditions,
is a meeting held each month at the Full Moon.
Some witches also include the New or Dark Moon
as Esbat meetings as well. The Esbat is usually held
for healings, initiations, and moon magick in various
forms.
Essence is an intrinsic, fundamental nature or
quality of something. The inward nature of anything
which represents the underlying characteristics and
relation to anything else.
The Evil eye was thought to be a look directed
toward someone that could cause sickness, bad
luck, or injury. It is a well known idea among many
cultures, and could likely be the origin of the
phrases "if looks could kill" and "the stink eye". The
term also refers to the power attributed to certain
persons of inflicting injury or bad luck by such an
envious or ill-wishing look. The evil eye is usually
given to others who remain unaware. The picture
shown in this post is an "charm" that can be bought
at many new age shops, and also arabic shops, that
is believed to protect the wearer against the evil
eye.
Evocation:
There may be some differences of opinion here, but
when I began my research 20 years ago there was a
difference between evocation and invocation. What
I post for thses two terms differs from the new
deffinitions I am finding now.
Evocation is described as the act of calling a spirit
into a magick circle, to be present durring a ritual.
When we call upon the elements, our ancestors,
and deities to witniss our rites, this is evocation.
The witch's Familiar is the centuries old concept of a
supernatural being/spirit which assists a witch or a
new witch in her/his magickal work. The familiar
would come to the witch in various forms including
animals and even human forms.
Farine Guinee is powdered ash, used in voodoo toproduce vevers on the ground which invoke the loa.
Fire Water is sometimes mentioned in discussions
on offerings to spirits commonly in voodoo,
hoodoo, and other witchcraft traditions. Fire water
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is usually an alchoholic beverage resembling water
(clear). Sometimes Rum or Vodka is offered along
with tobacco and foods to spirits who are being
petitioned for a specific reason.
The term "First Blood" is used to refer to the
coming of age rite of passage for young girls who
have come upon their first menstrual cycle. It is a
celebration of a girls journey from childhood into
womanhood.
In Voodoo, the Fort is one who is highly skilled in
ritual procedures and therefor has the strength to
command the Loa.
A Gad is protective tattoo in voodoo given during
magickal initiation, acting as a charm against evil
forces.
Within witchcraft, Gazing is the action of percieving
psychic visions or information relating to individuals
or masses by staring intently into or on the surface
of an object. This would include crystal ball gazing,
candle flame gazing, black mirror scrying, and water
scrying among others.
Djinn is the plural for Genii, also Genn, Jinni, Genie,
or Jinn. They are daemon or spirits of Arabian
tradition, thought of as a higher order of being than
humans and formed of "more subtle" matter.
According to Islamic belief, the genii ruled the earth
before the creation of Adam and were regarded as
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an intermediate race of spirit beings between
angels and humans. They were believed to have
special architectural skills, and according to the
Qur'an, were employed by Solomon to assist in
errecting his magnificant temple.
A Grimoire is a hand written book of spells,
commonly refered to today as a Book of Shadows. I
notice that some feel the two are different so I
decided to post this to clarify. The grimoire is a
book of charms, rituals, and spells written by the
practitioner.
A Guide is a spiritual being who assists an individual
through certain aspects of their life. There are many
types of guides, including Spirit Guides, Relative
Guides, Guardians, and Teachers. If not manifested
in this physical world as a living being, they areoften seen from head to torso, floating on air, and
rarely with legs and feet.
Hag Stones, also known as Witch Stones, Fairy
Stones, Holy Stones and Eye Stones, are stones with
naturally formed holes running clean through them.
These holes are usually formed by centuries of wave
action. It is this association with running water
(which itself is said to negate the effect of evil) that
is believed by many people to be the source of the
Hag Stones reputation for guarding their owner
against ill-fortune and the Evil Eye.
)0(*Carodwen*)0(
The Hand of Glory. Much to many folk's surprise,
this was once an actual practice. It was an amulet
used in black magick, made from the severed right
hand of an executed murderer, ideally cut from the
corpse while the body still hung on the gallows. The
hamd was squeezed of blood, pickled, and dried.
The hand was fitted with candles between (or
inside) the fingers. It was believed to "freeze people
in their track", and was therefor used as protection
against theives. I would imagine that one of these
(provided it was authentic) would be viewed as
extremely valuable today, since murderers are no
longer hanged like they once were.
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Hoodoo is a form of magick origionating from
Africa. It is often confused with Voodoo, which is
more of a religious practice where Hoodoo is not
connected to a specific religious belief. Hoodoo was
a popular form of magick among the African
Americans on plantations in the southern US. It
includes the making and wearing of "charms" for
luck and protection, and also to direct misfortune
against enemies. One of the main focuses of
Hoodoo is rootwork, the magickal properties of
herbs and roots.
Intutive Magick could be defined as the practice of
magick based on your intuition. I use this method
often, allowing my inner voice to dictate my actions
and what material to use. I think that a certain
amount of intuitive magick is used by most witches
who follow their instincts rather than doing what a
book directs them to do.
Invocation:
There may be some differences of opinion here, but
when I began my research 20 years ago there was a
difference between evocation and invocation. What
I post for thses two terms differs from the new
deffinitions I am finding now.
Invocation is the act of calling a spirit into yourself,
to work their power through your body in
assistance with spellwork.
The Journey of the Soul is a journey undertaken by
the shaman to retrieve the soul of a person who has
been bewitched or inflicted with disease. In other
circumstances it is on to communicate with the
gods. The journey occurs durring a trance state with
the aid of drumming and the ingestion of
psychedelic sacramental plants.
The Kachina are ancestral spirits and gods of the
clouds, among the Hopi Indians of the
Northwestern U.S. They are impersonated by
masked dancers durring ritual ceremonies that
relate to the fertility of crops in February. Kachina
ancestor spirits are also represented by ornately
carved and colored dolls.
A Kahuna is a Hawaiian Shaman. The term is also
used to describe a "master" or expert in a particular
feild. A Kahuna lapaau laau specializes in herbal
medicine, a kahuna hoonoho specializes in trance
mediumship, and kahuna hoonohonoho specializes
in sorcery.
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Kamigakari is a Shinto term for divine spirit
possession, the entry of a spiritual being into a
human body.
A Kobold is is a gnome or spirit that haunts houses
or underground mines, according to German
Folklore. They are generally invisible, causing
mischief without detection.
Kundalini is an energy described as a serpent coiled
up at the base of the spine. It is said to lay dormant,
and released by practices such as yoga or guided
meditations and that its awakening brings aboutspiritual bliss and enlightenment.
The Left Hand Path (LHP) is a path that is reflected
in the inverted pentagram: material over spiritual. It
is mostly focused on personal gain, and does not
adhear to any karmic repercusions, but rather
conciquences to your actions. Left-handers have no
problem with negative magicks or curses and usethem to gain what they want. (Defined with help
from a left hand practitioner).
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Offerings, often refered to as Libation, are common
among the wiccan/pagan community as well as other
cultures and religions. In pagan traditions, offerings
are given to spirits, Gods, and Goddesses who are
being petitioned or just as thanks. Their offerings
usually consist of bread, cake, fruits, nuts, honey,
milk, and/or wine. Some spirits enjoy specific
offerings as can be found with research.
An Omen is a phenomenon that is believed to fortell
the future. Sometimes called a portent or presage, it
signifies the advent of change. While the change can
be either good or bad, it is often expressed as
something "ominous" in a foreboding sense. Omens
are mostly seen within nature.
The Ouroboros , in Gnosticism and alchemy, is a
symbol depicting a snake swallowing its tail. It
symbolizes the cycle of life and nature, the fusion of
opoosites, and the transcendance of duality.
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The word "Pagan" was used in the past as a
derogatory term refering to the heathen or "non-believer: One who was not a Christian, Jew, or
Muslim. It has been embraced by practitioners of
neopaganism, witchcraft, and magick who were
didicated to reviving the old religion and
reestablishing the worship of the old Gods.
Today, a pagan can also be known as someone who
is centered around a Nature based spiritual system,
though not always a religous one. Just as "Not all
Pagans are Wiccan".
The Pendulum is a tool used in divination and
dowsing. It is essentially a weight suspended from a
pivot point so that it can swing freely. Pendulums
like the one pictured can be bought, but pendulums
are easy to make at home as well. I personally prefer
homemade tools. The swing of the pendulum is said
to represent an "answer" of sorts according to your
teachings.
Prana is sanskrit word meaning breath or lifeforce. It
is described as being specific vital fluid or energy inthe body. It is also used to denote the principle
underlying life itself.
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A Rite of Passage is usually a ceremony of sorts
celebrating a significant life change such as birth,
puberty, marriage, and death (but not limited to
these).
The Sacred Circle is the space in which magick is cast.
I get the question of why we need such a place often,
so I wanted to include this. When we cast a circle, we
seperate ourselves from this world. It is a space
between worlds that we have created, and also a
protection from energy influences other than our
own. Moreover, we build it to contain the enery we
raise until it is ready to be sent out into the universe.
Sahu, in ancient Egyptian magick, is the highest of
the 5 human bodies sometimes known as the
"spiritual body". It is through the sahu that the
magician perceives the transcebdental gods and
undergoes spiritual transformation.
Shadow People are dark/shadow-like, humanoidfigures seen from the viewer's peripheral vision. It is
said that they move as if jerking or vibrating, and
quickly desintigrate into nearby walls or mirrors.
There are tons of theories about this, as it is one of
the most commonly reported paranormal
phenomena in the US. Though the viewer may feel
that these entities are agressive in nature, it is often
said that they are a type of guardian spirit.
The Shaman is a sorcerer, magician, medicine man,
or healer who is able to enter a trance state under
will. He/she serves as an intermediary between
people and the spirit world and realm of the gods.
The shaman is destinguished from mediums who
become possessed in a trance. Where the medium
does not control the experience, the shaman does.
He/she is also distiguished from the priest who
performs rituals but does not enter a trance state
such as the shaman.
Sortilege is a form of divination by casting lots. It is
used in various forms such as drawing straws from a
cluster, picking a card from the pack, throwing
dice/bones, or opening a book and taking the first
passage one notices as an oracle (bibliomancy).
The Stang is a tool sometimes used in traditional
witchcraft in place pf the staff, wand, or athame. It is
a wooden 2 or 3 pronged stick resembling a trident
and dates back to the early Roman Empire.
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Among the Gitksan Indians of Canadian northwest,
the Swanassu is a shaman or medicine man. Another
term, Halaait, is used to describe a shaman whoperforms healing ceremonies in which patients are
treated in a group.
Syzygy in astrology is the "yoking together" of 2
celestial bodies, wether in opposition or conjunction.
The term is often used to describe a relationship
between a planet and the sun.
The Taurobolium was a ritual associated with Cybele
and Mithra in the Roman Empire. It was a rebirth
ceremony where neophytes were 'baptized' in the
blood of the sacred bull. The blood was regarded as
a symbol of life force which bestowed special powers
of of mystical renewal.
A Tincture can be made by soaking dried herbs in
ethyl alcohol at least 140 proof (70%) to capture its
odor. (Note: rubbing alcohol CANNOT be used for
this. Fresh herbs won't work. Never drink tinctures!)
Tinctures are most commonly used for annointing
tools, the self, and paper to be burned.
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Transmogrification is the act of changing the physical
properties and appearance of an object or being
through magickal means. This can mean through a
spell, or through a kinetic power.
In alchemy, Virgin's Milk is the pure whit tincture
created by the albedo and which could transform
base metals into silver. It is also a term used to refer
to the mercurial watee or "water of life": the white
philosophical mercury known as Mercurius.
A Psychopomp is from the Greek meaning "Guide of
Soul". It was used for the god Hermes in his role as a
guide for the dead in the Underworld. It is generally
used to describe spirits and Gods/desses who guide
the spirit to the underworld, but has also been used
to describe the shaman in his role durring the
"Journey of the Soul" ceremony.
A Gaian is someone who believes in focusing their
spirituality only on the Earth (Gaia.) May include
some Pagans, Wiccans, Creation-Centered Christians,
Scientific Pantheists and others.
The Higher Self is the part of each individuals soul
which contains the root memories and wisdom of
Divine knowledge. The part of the soul that connects
all spiritual beings to the collective Divine
conscience.
The Medicine Bag is a ceremonial bag which holds a
variety of objects which hold special or spiritual
meaning to the owner. It can contain, stones,
feathers, amulets or charms. For healers it is often
filled with useful herbs which are utilized in healing
ceremonies and practices. I believe the medicine bag
derived from Native American practices, but have
seen it used within other traditions as well.
A taglock is a magical link to an individual. For
example, in poppet magic, you would use a taglock
inside the doll to identify the person to be targetedby the spell such as a photo, personal object, or part
of them like hair, etc. Witches also use taglocks in
protection magick for themselves by including a part
of themself like hair, nail clippings, blood, or urine.
In Voodoo, the Battrie Maconnique is a rhythmic
beat produced by clapping or drumming. In magickal
ceremonies the Battrie Maconnique is said to
represent a rapping on the door which leads to the
loa realm.
A Moon Candle is a white, unscented pillar uses in
some pagan and wiccan traditions specifically for
moon rituals and esbats. Most who use a moon
candle use the same one all year, wrapping it up
before the new moon rite, and then leaving it
unwrapped until the night of the full moon.
Hermetic means obscure, secret, or unrevealed. It is
also of or pertaining to alchemy or occult practices
dirived from the Greek god and mythological
alchemist Hermes Trismegistus, who was said to
possess a magic ability to seal (with spells) treasure
chests so that nothing could access their contents.
Hermeticism is a magical and religious movement
stemming from the teachings of Hermes
Trismegistus.
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The word Namast is an ancient gesture that
origionates from the Indian subcontinent. It is a
customary greeting when individuals meet, and a
valediction upon their parting. It is alao regarded as a
salute as if saying "I recognize the divine within you".
When spoken to another person, it is commonly
accompanied by a slight bow made with hands
pressed together, palms touching and fingers
pointed upwards, in front of the chest. This gesture,called Ajali Mudr or Pranamasana, can also be
performed wordlessly and carries the same meaning.
The Labyrinth is an intricate set of paths used as a
means of spiritual searching. In earlier times, one
would enter a labyrinth garden, evaluating their own
success and failures along the way in order to learn
more about their own personality and nature.
OM (aum) is a sacred Sanskrit sound origionating
from India. The syllable is also referred to as omkara
( okra) or aumkara ( aukra), literally "om syllable",
and in Sanskrit it is sometimes referred to as praava,
literally "that which is sounded out loudly".
It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a
sacred incantation to be intoned at the beginning
and end of a reading of the Vedas or prior to any
prayer or mantra. The name omkara is taken as a
name of God in the Hindu revivalist Arya Samaj and
can be translated as "I Am Existence".
This deffinition from Wikipedia
The word stave can refer to many things. A stave isthe set of 5 lines and 4 spaces used for notations in
sheet music. A stave is also simply a long stick.
In a magickal context, we refer to runes made from
long pieces of wood as rune staves, or stave runes. A
staff is sometimes refered to as a stave as well. And
last but not least, Icelandic staves are a system of
symbols used in magick.
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Namapathy is the practice of healing through sounds
and music such as healing mantras, singing bowls,
drumming, chanting, etc. It is believed that certain
tones can have an effect on the physical body.
Theurgy describes the practice of rituals, sometimes
seen as magical in nature, performed with the
intention of invoking the action or evoking the
presence of one or more gods, especially with the
goal of uniting with the divine, achieving henosis,
and perfecting oneself.
A Trilithon is a stone arch with 2 upright slabs of rock
and one sitting on top. The word trilithon is derived
from the Greek "having three stones" and was first
used by William Stukeley.
It is commonly used in the context of megalithic
monuments. The most famous trilithons are those of
Stonehenge in England and those found in the
Megalithic temples of Malta, both of which are
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Wikipedia)
A Yoni is a stylized representation of the female
genitalia symbolizing the feminine principle. It's
counterpart is the Lingham which represents the
phallus.
"Between the Worlds" is a common phrase within
the witches' community. It is the idea that when you
cast your circle, that space becomes one that is
between this world and the "other" world. That
other world is open to debate as we all see things a
different way. Some say the astral planes, and others
say the spirit world. Still others may have a different
view, with those 2 being the more popular theories.
Our circle becomes a place seperate from mundane
life, and therefore we are between that mundane
world and the "magickal/spiritual" world.
Animism is the belief that all things, animate and
inanimate, have a soul.
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Aspecting is a magickal activity when a practioner
takes on an aspect of the Goddess or God for
different purposes. Aspecting includes feelings,
behavior, appearance, mannerisms, etc. related to a
specific deity. It often seems like possession, and
happens more often than some realize in ceremonies
such as Drawing Down the Moon or Sun, and when
Gods are invoked to carry out ritual actions.
The word Occult was originally used to suggest asecret or hidden tradition of esoteric knowledge. It is
now associated with secret mystical studies and also
mystery practices held within secret societies such as
the Rosicrutions and Freemasonry.
An Occultist is one who practices any of secret
mystic arts within the traditions of magick,
theosophy, mysticism, and spirituality.
Gemantria is a Hebrew numerical science which
consists of adding up the numerical value of a word
and comparing it to other words with the same value
A Blessing is done by requesting Divine energy be
wrapped (inside and out) around an object, person
or event in love, honor and kindness. To wish good
thoughts and peace upon an object, person or event.
Metaphysics:Meta "higher and beyond", physics "study of
science". A philosophical doctrine that all things are
a part of one main source (intelligence and energy),
and that each thing animated or inanimate should be
respected for its particular form of this one main
source. From Latin, the study of science beyond the
physical realm, studying the first principals or
underlying creations and causes of things.
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The Essene were an ancient Jewish sect of asceticsand mystics who existed in the 2nd century.
To Commune is the act of communicating or sharing
experiences with spiritual entities. We Commune
with our Gods durring rituals, prayer, and offerings.
Precognition is to percieve metally or through
intuition regarding the future of one's self or other
people. Most often this occurs durring a precognitive
dream or vision in a meditative state.
The term Hellenic: of or pertaining to or
characteristic of the ancient Greek and Roman
cultures; "classical mythology".
Also the branch of the Indo-European language
family that consists only of Greek.
I post this term because I've heard it used in
concerns with certain religious or spiritual practices
and I wanted to make sure that others are clear on
what the word actually means.
Labrys is the term for a symmetrical doubleheaded
axe originally from Crete in Greece, one of the oldest
symbols of Greek civilization; to the Romans, it was
known as a bipennis.
The double-bitted axe remains a forestry tool to this
day, and the labrys certainly functioned as a tool and
hewing axe before it was invested with symbolic
function. Labrys symbolism is found in Minoan,
Thracian, and Greek religion, mythology, and art,
dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, and
surviving in the Byzantine Empire.
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Macumba is a form of magickal religion and spirit
worship practiced in Brazil. Related to Haitian
Voodoo, Macumba is an umbrella term for a variety
of practices which are by no means identical. It
encompasses African animism and the worship of
Yoruba deities; blends spiritism with folk belief; and
also takes in elements of christianity correlationg
christian saints with a African deities. A believer or
devotee of Macumba is called a Macumbeiro.
I have included the word mundane because it is
often used in the world of magick to destinguish our
magickal selves from our everyday life. I have seen it
used countless times in books and articles pertaining
to our everyday life and tasks such as washing
dishes, going to work, or even tieing shoes. Mundane
means acking interest or excitement; dull. It is also a
reference to this earthly world rather than a
heavenly or spiritual one.
A poultice, also called cataplasm, is a soft moist
mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on
cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or
painful part of the body. It can be used on woundssuch as cuts. It can also be a porous solid filled with
solvent used to remove stains from porous stone
such as marble or granite.
The word "poultice" comes from the Latin puls,
pultes, meaning "porridge."
(wikipedia)
Quarrent (Querent) is a term often used in tarotreading to refer to the person who is recieving the
reading. The word Significator is also used in this
respect. A person who provides psychical
information to the Quarrent is called the Quesited.
Retrograde, in astrology, is a term applied the the
apparent backward motion of a planet in relation to
the zodiac. This motion occurs when a planet's
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longitude is decreased, as viewed from the earth.
A Sigil is a magickal sign. They are occult symbols
representing specific supernatural energy or entities,
usually drawn on paper using a numeric table or
magick square corresponding to the energy/entity.
Sihir is a Turkish word which translates to magick,
sorcery, witchcraft, charm, incantation, conjuration,
or spell. Sihir is also an Arabic that translates to black
magick or sorcery, and is used in the Quran refering
to the "pact" between magician and Satan. The best
known reference to magic in Islam is the Sura Al-
Falaq (meaning dawn or daybreak), which is a prayer
to ward off black magic.
In Wicca, the Scourge is a symbolic ritual implement
used in ceremonial initiation. It typically has 8 tails
with 5 knots in each tail, and is applied gently by the
initiator with light strokes (not to harm the
candidate) to provide a sense of symbolic
reinforcement.
(watkins dictionary of magic)
Syncretism is the merging of religious ideas and
traditions. Examples include the Greco-Egyptian
deity Serapis who is a Hellenistic form of Osiris, and
the Roman and Gnostic deities Mithra and Abraxas,
both of whom have Persian antecedents.
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Thaumaturgy is a Greek word that translates to
"wonderworker" (a Thaumaturgist). It is the
capability of a magician to work miracles. It is also
viewd as magick done for practical reasons such as to
obtain things like healing or money, and what some
would consider "personal gain".
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Among the Mazatec Indians of Mexico, the Velada isa healing ceremony involving the use of psilocybe
mushrooms. Both the patient and female shaman
take the psychadelic mushroom so that both may
hear the healing words which are revealed from the
spirit world. The shaman, meanwhile, goes on a spirit
journey to learn the cause of the sickness, and to
seek healing power from the gods.
Verser is the act of pouring drops of water, coffee, or
liquor on the ground as an offering to the loa in
voodoo.
A Vision Quest is a ritual quest for a guardian spirit
undertaken by a young male or female in the Native
American religion. A vision quest may take several
days and nights, when the young person goes to an
isolated area where the spirit guide is more likely to
appear.
The Wand is one of the major tools in Wicca and is
widely used among witches and practitioners. The
wand is a tool used to direct personal energy toward
or into a specific object or place. A wand can be
made of various material, as show in the photo taken
by me of a stellagtite, a flat rock, a s phantom
selenite wand, a clear quartz wand with sphere, and
a sycamore stick.
The Wheel of the Year depicts the 8 Sacred Sabbats
celebrated by many witches and pagans. (I'm sure
we all know this, but I had to include it.)
It shows the cycles of the seasons and the fertility of
nature. These are the solstices and equinoxes, and
the four points between.
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The Wiccan Rede, pronounce 'reed', is a principal
statement of ethical/moral code of conduct that all
Wiccans are asked and expected to follow.
A Wiccaning is a ceremony in which an infant is
introduced to each element/direction and to the God
& Goddess. The child is introduced into the craft, so
to speak, and often given a craft name until they
choose their own. The parents sometimes state vows
to their child and ask the God & Goddess for
blessings upon their child. After the child has beenblessed, he/she is passed around the circle and
introduced to each circle member as a new member
of their community. (This may vary from one
tradition to another but the idea remains the same).
The ceremony is also called a Paganing to those who
aren't necissarily wiccan.
Widdershins is the counterclockwise movement
within the magick circle. It is said that walking
widdershins is a 'negative' action. I have used the
action in reversal spells, but some move deosil
(clockwise) exclusively. Do you? How do you feel
about moving widdershins?
A Wireenum, among the Aborigines of western New
South Wales, is a medicine man or shaman who
derives his powers from his contact with the great
god Baiame.
The Witch's Bottle, or Witch Bottle is one of the
oldest practices in witchcraft. Unlike "just any ol'
spell bottle", the witch bottle is an object used for
protection against harm, other's magick, and ill
wishers. The photo shown are of CT scans of a 400
year old witch bottle, and it was concluded that the
contents were nails and urine. It is made durring
ritual with the idea of 'expelling' negativity, trapping
it, and keeping it from harming you. Those who
would wish to harm you would feel the pangs of
those nails. Other ingredients are acceptable in this
practice such as broken glass, needles, dead bugs,
and excrament.
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The Witching Hour is a phrase that carries a modern
meaning of "midnight". It was coined in Washington
Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow",
and from my research does not seem to have any
previous use. It was thought to be a time when
supernatural powers were hightened, and later on
was thought to be the time of day when witches
worked their magicks. To modern witches, midnight
is a time "between time", and choose midnight to
create a space "between worlds".
I chose the image for this post because I personally
believe that every hour is the witching hour, and that
the phrase has fictional roots not really related to
real witchcraft.
Zoanthropy is the belief that a person can or has
shifted into an animal form. It is like Lycanthropy,
but in Lycanthropy the animal is a wolf where as in
Zoanthropy it can be any animal.
This term is also used to describe a mental illness,
whre the patient believes they have turned into an
animal.
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