Wiccan Glossary
by Rowan Moonstone and Durwydd MacTara
[Webmaster's Note: You will find that other Pagans and other Wiccans
define some of these terms somewhat differently. "Rede," for example,
is often defined as "advice."]
AKASHA: the spiritual ether (or Aether); the omnipresent fifth occult
element which embraces the other four-earth, air, fire, and water; and
from which they stem. This is the realm of "pattern" or causality, from
which the realm the normally thought of "five senses manifests. Some
define it is the "other" of the "two worlds" that the witch or magician
walks between.
ARADIA: Daughter of the Goddess Diana, and a name for the Goddess used
by Italian Witches or Strega, commonly used in many Wiccan traditions today.
ASPECTING: Any advanced magickal activity in which a practitioner
manifests a particular aspect of the Goddess or God, in thought,
feelings, behavior, appearance, etc.; Often as a direct result of a
"Drawing Down". Often a minor variation of this phenomena occurs with the
selection of a "Magical Name", of Craft Name.
ASPECTS: Forms, facets, or personas of Deity: for example, Brighid,
Iseult,Eos, and Kore are all aspects of the Maiden, and the Maiden is an aspect
of the Goddess.
ATHAME: black handled, double edged dagger. Principally used to cast
and dissolve the circle, for which purposes it is interchangeable with the
magic sword. A tool of the "Element" of Fire in the Georgian Tradition and some
others.
BELTANE: May Eve festival. One of the Ancient Celtic "Fire Festivals."
on this night, the cattle were driven between two bonfires to protect them
from disease. Couples wishing for fertility would " jump the fires" on
Beltane night. Also the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the "Wheel
of the Year" is returned to the Goddess. This Festival also marks the
transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Maiden
to Mother.
BOOK OF SHADOWS: Traditionally hand copied book of rituals, recipes,
training techniques, guidelines, and other materials deemed important to
a Witch or a coven. Each tradition has it's own standard version of the
Book and each Witch's book will be different as he or she adds to it with
time from many different sources. Only another Witch can see your book of
shadows. Also, traditionally, it may never leave your hands or possession
until death, when it should be destroyed, or (in some traditions) returned to
the coven to be disposed of.
BURNING TIMES: a term used by some Witches for the period of
persecution in the Middle Ages and later. It is in fact a misnomer in some
places, as Witches were only burned in Scotland, and on the continent of
Europe. In England and the U.S., they were hanged.
CANDLEMAS: Festival held on Feb. 1. One of the 4 Celtic "Fire
Festivals. Commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the
Maiden. Celebrates the first signs of Spring. Also called "Imbolc" (the old
Celtic name). This is the seasonal change where the first signs of
spring and the return of the sun are noted, i.e. the first sprouting of
leaves, the sprouting of the Crocus flowers etc. In other words, it is the
festival commemorating the successful passing of winter and the
beginning of the agricultural year.This Festival also marks the transition
point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Crone to Maiden.
CARDINAL POINTS: North, South, East, and West, marked in the Georgian
Tradition by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue, respectively. The
Circle is drawn to connect these four points.
CHALICE: one of the tools of the Witch. Placed on the altar to
represent the element of Water.
CHARGE OF THE GODDESS: The Traditional words of the Goddess to her
followers, or "hidden children". Normally declaimed by the HPS at every
coven Circle.
CIRCLE: the area in which the magickal worship and spells takes place.
Can also be used to designate a particular group of Witches or Pagans
such as "Silver Acorn Circle".
CONE OF POWER: power raised in the circle by the Witches assembled, and
sent out into the world to work magick, is usually visualized as being
retained and built in the form of a "cone" prior to release.
COVEN: an organized group of Witches, led by a High priestess and/or a
High Priest who meet regularly for worship and fellowship. The
traditional membership is 13, but in fact most covens number
considerably less. 3 is the minimum in the Georgian Tradition. In Middle
English, "Covin" a group of confederates; In Old French "Covine" a band or group
with a single purpose; Latin "Com"-together, "Venire"-to come or move.
COVENSTEAD: regular meeting place for a coven. Usually the home of the
High Priestess or High Priest.
COWAN: a non-Witch. Formerly used in a very derogatory manner. Still
used in Masonic Ritual to indicate the non initiate and/or pretender to
"real craft". Not often used today among most Witches.
COYOTE ENERGY: trickster energies. Named for the American Indian
Trickster, Coyote, who tricks man into learning what he needs to learn.
Applies to one who constantly jokes and clowns. Also applies to the
concept of "Holy Fool" in many traditions.
CROSS QUARTER DAYS: The modern name for the Celtic Fire Festivals of
Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas.
DEOSIL: clockwise, or sunwise. Traditional direction for working
"building" magick.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON: Ritual invocation of the spirit of the Goddess
into the body of the High Priestess by the High Priest.
DIVINATION: magical method of exploration or inquiry into a situation
via such methods as Tarot cards, runestones, I-Ching, etc.
ELEMENTS: Earth, air, fire, and water, plus spirit, which includes them
all. These are regarded as realms or categories of nature (both
material and non-material) and are not to be confused with the physicists table
of elements, which the modern witch, of course, accepts.
ESBAT: weekly or biweekly meeting of a coven. Traditionally held either
on the full moon or the new moon.
FAMILIARS: Either a Witch's pet animal which has been trained to be a
magickal helper, or an artificially created "elemental" which performs
the same functions as the animal friend.
FIVEFOLD KISS, FIVEFOLD SALUTE: The Witches' ritual salute, with
kisses; (1) on each foot, (2) on each knee, (3) above the pubic hair, (4) on
each breast, and (5) on the lips-really 8 kisses in all. It is only used
within the Circle, but the words that go with it are the origin of
"Blessed Be."
GARDNERIANS: Tradition of Witchcraft descended from the teachings of
Gerald Gardner.
GNOMES: an "entity" or "elemental" that dwells in the plane of Earth or
is associated with the EARTH Element.
GREAT RITE: The rite which is the main feature of the third degree
initiation, and which is also laid down for certain festivals. It is
sexual in nature, but may be `actual' (and private to the couples
concerned) or symbolic, as the participants wish.
HALLOWS: name used by some traditions for Samhain, or Halloween
HANDFASTING: Wiccan equivalent of a wedding. It can be made legal if
the Priestess and/or Priest are registered as clergy with the local
authorities, or it may only be considered binding within the coven.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: Technically speaking, a Witch who has received the
3rd. degree initiation. More usually, the male and female leaders of a
coven.
IMBOLC: Celtic name for Candlemas.
INVOCATION: The ritual "calling-in" of an entity (or energies) higher
than human, either for communication with the caller through a medium
or by visible manifestation or else to enter into a human body as in the
Drawing Down the Moon. In some traditions, a Prayer.
LAMMAS: August 1st. Witch Festival. The Old Celtic name for this
festival is Lughnassadh. It is the Festival of the First Fruits, and is the
first of the 3 harvests. This festival also marks the change of the Threefold
Goddess energies from that of Mother to Crone.
MAIDEN: An appointment held by one of the women of the coven. She is
virtually the assistant High Priestess. This term is also the
descriptive term used to describe the first of the aspects of the Threefold
Goddess Energies (Maiden, Mother, and Crone). It is traditionally associated
with the Waxing Moon, and the period from Imbolc (Candlemas) to Beltane (May
eve) where the energies are those of initiating, beginning, and creation.
OLD RELIGION: another name for the Craft.
PAGANING: Presentation of an infant to the Circle and to the Gods.
PENTACLE: a disc shaped talisman; in particular, the metal disc which
represents the earth element among the witch's working tools.
PENTAGRAM: The five-pointed star. With a single point uppermost, it
represents the human being. Inverted, with two points uppermost, it can
have Satanist associations; but not necessarily. Some traditions of
Wicca use the inverted pentagram to signify an initiate of the second degree.
QUARTERS: The North, East, South, and West parts of a magickal circle
or other ritual area. (See also "Watchtowers")
REDE: rule or law.
SABBAT: one of the Eight festivals or high holy days of Wicca.
SALAMANDER: an entity that dwells in the realm of Fire.
SAMHAIN: The festival of remembrance for the dead, held on the eve of
Nov. 1st. It is the last of the three harvests. This festival also
marks the transition of rulership of the "Wheel of the Year from that of the
Goddess to that of the God.
SCRYING: divination, usually using such methods as crystal gazing, or
divination via incense smoke, or water as opposed to tarot or other
manipulative means.
SPELL: a prayer, or verbal direction of magickal energies toward the
accomplishment of some goal.
SUMMONER: The male officer of the coven who corresponds to the Maiden.
He is the assistant High Priest.
SYLPH: an "entity" or "elemental" that dwells in the plane of Air or is
associated with the AIR Element.
TRADITIONS: any of the various "sects" of Wicca such as Gardnerian,
Alexandrian, Georgian, Seax, etc.
UNDINE: an "entity" or "elemental" that dwells in the plane of Water or
is associated with the WATER Element.
WAND: A rod or staff that is prepared so that it may be used for
magickal or psychic purposes, usually to project some form of power.
WARLOCK: a term coined in the Burning Times . It was used to denote a
traitor to the Craft, or one who had betrayed the followers of the Old
Religion. It's origin is Scottish. Because of the negative connotations,
it is not used by most Wiccans today.
WATCH TOWERS: Originally from the Enochian branch of Ceremonial Magick,
now incorporated into many "Traditions" of Wicca, these are the four
elemental "directions" or "quarters" (corresponding to the appropriate
points on the compass) called to protect the Circle during its
establishment. Each of them have a correspondence between the compass
point, an element, and (varying amongst different traditions) color
associated with them.
WICCA: the name most modern day Witches use for the Craft. It comes
from the Anglo-Saxon word Wicce, meaning to bend or to shape. This is the
root word from which we get wicker.
WIDDERSHINS: counter clock wise. Used for "tearing down" OR BANISHING
magick.
WHITE HANDLED KNIFE: the working knife of a Witch. It is used to carve
candles, and for fashioning the other tools. Traditionally, it can only
be used in a Circle.
Copyright (c) 1991 by Rowan Moonstone and Durwydd MacTara.
Permission to reprint for educational purposes at no cost is hereby
granted to all and sundry, provided the text is not altered in any way.
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