Dictionary of Terms
amulet - Something that is worn for protection, usually jewelry.
ankh - Egyptian symbol of life. It looks like a cross with a loop at the
top.
athame - Ceremonial knife, used in magic and rituals.
Book of Shadows - A witch's handwritten book of spells and magical
information.
bruja / brujo - Spanish for witch. (j is pronounced like h)
charm - A magical object, action, or incantation that effects magic
(charms for) or averts evil or danger (charms against )
coming out of the broom closet - Living openly as a witch.
correspondences - Everything is connected and correspondences are the
links. Knowledge of these associations is used to effect magic.
coven - A group of witches who practice and worship together. They are
lead by a High Priest/ess, and traditionally convene at full moon.
the Craft - Witchcraft; the practice of Magick.
Croning - A ceremony held to mark a woman's transition from Mother to
Crone, the final phase of a woman's life.
crystallomancy- Divination by crystals, usually a crystal ball.
deosil - clockwise
divination- Any practice that reveals the future or unknown things. Tarot
cards, runes and crystal balls are all used in divination.
eclectic - A witch who worships in more than one mythological tradition.
Esbat - time of the full moon
faery - Alternative spelling for fairy
familiar - An animal, usually a cat, with whom a witch establishes a
special psychic/magical relationship. Familiars offer help, companionship, protection, and
usually unconditional love as well.
flying ointment - A paste, usually containing herbs, that is applied to
the skin to aid in astral projection.
Gardnerian - Of or relating to Gerald Gardner, who is credited with
reviving Wicca in modern times
grimoire - Book of Shadows
Hidden Children - Witches, who must often keep their religion secret, are
the hidden children of the Goddess.
High Priest/ess - A witch who leads a coven.
Ju-ju - African word for magick, there is good ju-ju and bad ju-ju
karma - That which is carried over from previous lives. Karma can be good
or bad, according to what sort of lives you have lead.
mage - Someone who is adept at magick, but not a witch.
magick - We spell magic this way to distinguish it from prestidigitation.
mojo - Magick
mojo bag - A small bag that is worn around th neck. A mojo bag usually
contains charms or talismans.
necromancy - a practice of magick, completely different from Witchcraft,
main belief is in using stolen energy from other beings instead of given energy from
yourself or the earth.
pentacle - A 5-pointed star inside a circle.
pentagram - A pentacle that is drawn, painted or printed.
reincarnation
- Transmigration of the Soul; rebirth in another body after death.
Sabbat - Wiccan
Holiday, there are 8 of them throughput the year
scrying - Divination by means of gazing into water, a bowl of black ink a
black mirror or a crystal ball
shaman - A priest and medicine man, usually of Native American or
Siberian peoples. Shamanic practice includes magic, healing and divination.
shapeshifting - The shamanic practice, often aided by drugs, of mentally
assuming animal form.
sigil - A paper talisman.
skyclad - Nude. Some traditions insist on skyclad worship.
solitary - A witch who practices alone, without a coven.
Summerlands - The place where we rest after death, between incarnations.
talisman - A magical object. A talisman is usually made or carved at an
astrological moment suitable to its purpose.
white witch - A witch who only practices white magic. I believe there is
no such thing as a "white witch" Magick is not white or black, good or evil, it
just is. There may be such a thing as a "gray witch" but not a black or white
witch. (unless you are referring to their nationality, in which case there are also red,
brown, and yellow witches)
widdershins - Counter-clockwise
witch doctor- African shaman
wizard - Someone who practices magic but is not a witch.