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WELCOME TO MY DEFINITIONS PAGE! |
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I have provided this page to contain what I may feel are either highly obscure terms, highly misinterpreted (or completely misdefined) terms, and any other word I feel the need to clarify in greater length. Most of these will be my personal definitions and therefore will naturally be biased, but whenever and wherever possible I will provide definitions given by others (usually highly respected members of their respective fields of study). Wherever this is done I will provide the author of the definition and where the definition was found. |
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Book of Shadows - usually found abbreviated as BOS or BoS.
- A relatively new term for the collection of information in book form for a Witch's reference. Much akin to a magickal cookbook. Another name for this text would be grimoire. (Silver Ravenwolf; To Ride A Silver Broomstick)
Most BOS's will not only include spells and rituals for an individual witch or coven but also that witch's personal beliefs, thoughts, reflections and insights. It's often considered to be a magickal diary or journal. Traditionally (especially inside covens) when a new initiate is brought in, they are given the BOS to read and to copy into their own personal BOS. BOS's are traditionally handwritten and added to over the course of years and generations (a new generation adding to the old information), though nowadays most witches have converted their BOS to computer files in an attempt to save space, save time, and save trees. I currently have my own hardcopy BOS. I have often thought of putting up an online BOS for this website, for one reason because most websites have one...but have decided against this as I do not believe in posting spells and rituals in a public manner. It's not an attempt to keep such things secret, but rather it's because I don't believe in giving out spells to those who may not have studied enough to use them wisely or who may not know the consequences, which I find irresponsible. In my mind it would be like giving a weapon to a child who is not ready to use it safely. Spells, I believe, should either be created by the practitioner or learned along with other studies. I have no problem with people publishing books with spells in them because they usually also contain information and knowledge about their proper use. |
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Burning Times, The - You will hear this often. It is usually referenced in any book dealing with witchcraft.
- A reference to a historical time from around 1000 CE (Common Era) through the 17th century when it is said that over nine million people were tortured and burned by church and public officials on the assumption that they were the Christian version of Witches. This turned into an extremely profitable venture, as all land and property was seized from the accused individual and portions given to the accuser (in reward fashion) and the remainder seized by the church officials. Historians indicated that the majority of people tortured and murdered were women and children. (Silver Ravenwolf; To Ride a Silver Broomstick) |
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Craft, The - Wicca, Witchcraft. Folk Magic (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*) |
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Eclectic Witch - Indicates that the individual does not follow any particular Tradition, denomination, sect, or magickal practice. They learn and study from many magical systems and apply to themselves what appears to work best.
I included this definitions provided by Silver Ravenwolf in To Ride a Silver Broomstick because this is what I feel I most relate to. The official term I use for myself is Solitary Eclectic Neo-Pagan. In other words I claim no one trad or even one Pagan belief system as my own but rather take from many and do "whatever works" for me. I used to call myself Wiccan, but realized that this term limited me more then I wanted to be. Currently though I do study mostly within the Wiccan belief systems and hold the Wiccan Rede as my basic moral code though I study many different Wiccan traditions and even incorporate Shamanistic beliefs into my practice. I plan to study even more different systems before I'm done and have even considered looking into such things as Jewish mysticism. I tend to define my beliefs in the terms "I don't know what I AM but I know what I am NOT". For more information on Eclectic Wicca visit The Church of the Universal Eclectic Wiccan. |
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Magick - There are almost as many definitions for Magick as there are practitioners of it. For this term I've provided some of the many I've come across and have left my personal definition out to leave you, the reader, the chance to pick for yourself. To clarify why I spell it Magick (as a lot of witches do nowadays) rather then Magic, I explain it the way author Kerr Cuhulain explains it. I do this to distinguish between actual Magick (what witches do) and slight-of-hand, stage magician Magic which David Copperfield does. Though to keep true to the author's definitions I have retain the spelling of Magick used as is in each.
- Magic is a joyous exceptional experience which leads to a sense of well-being (Sybil Leek)
- Magic is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will (Aleister Crowley)
- Magic is the science of the control of the secret forces of nature (S.L. Macgregor Mathers, Order of the Golden Dawn)
- Magic is a comprehensive knowledge of all nature (Francis Barret)
- Magic is the art of affecting changes in consciousness at will (William Butler)
- The work of magic involves transformation, and the first transformation is the shift of perception (Marion Weinstein)
- Effective magick works like this: The Middle Self chooses a purpose in harmony with its True Will; it communicates this purpose to the Younger Self in a special way, at the same time raising power; the Younger Self 'boosts' the power and channels it to the Higher Self, along with a clear image of the goal; and the Higher Self uses the power to manifest the desired result. Middle Self experiences the result, and the circle is complete. (Amber K)
- Magic: (1) A general term for arts, sciences, philosophies and technologies concerned with (a) understanding and using various altered states of consciousness within which it is possible to have access to and control over one's psychic talents, and (b) the uses and abuses of those psychic talents to change interior and/or exterior realities. (2) A science and an art comprising a system of concepts and methods for the build-up of human emotions, altering the electrochemical balance of the mteabolism, using associational techniques and devices to concentrate and focus this emotional energy, thus modulating the energies broadcast by the human body, usually to affect other energy patterns whether animate or inanimate, but occasionally to affect the personal energy pattern. (3) A collection of rule-of-thumb techniques designed to get one's psychic talents to do more or less what one wants, more often then not, one hopes. It should be obvious that these are thaumaturgical definitions. (Isaac Bonewits)
- The movement of natural energies to create needed change. Energy exists within all things, Magic is the process of rousing or building up this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magic is a natural, not supernatural, practice, though it is little understood. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*)
- The art and science of focusing your will and emotions to effect change both in the world around you and the world within you. Magick is neither good nor evil, positive or negative. It is the use of the power that determines the path it will take. (Silver Ravenwolf; To Ride A Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft)
My favorite quote involving a definition of magick is: "Magick is the science that science has yet to discover." Unfortunately I don't remember the source of this quote. All of the above definitions I obtained from Kerr Cuhulain's book "Wiccan Warrior" unless otherwise stated. |
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Neo-Pagan - Literally "new Pagan". A member, follower or sympathizer or one of the newly formed Pagan relgions now spreading throughout the world. All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*)
- Follower of a nature-based religion. The term Neopagan means "new Pagan" and is not a popular term. It seems to be a direct result of the New Age lingo. (Silver Ravenwolf; To Ride a Silver Broomstick)
I personally tend to call myself a Neo-Pagan rather then Pagan as my beliefs tend to be in the newer style of Paganism. |
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Pagan - Once again I've come across a couple different defintions for this word but they tend to have a general theme. I've heard it defined as any follower of a faith not incompased by the Judeo-Christian belief system (which would included Muslims, Buddists, and the Hindi which some would argue is inaccurate). Scott Cunningham provides a definition I feel is much more accurate:
- From the latin paganus, country-dweller. Today used as a general term for followers of Wicca and other magical, shamanistic and polytheistic religions. (Wicca*)
Of course there are some issues with this definition as well as not all newer Pagan faiths rely on all three points. According to both definitions however the term Pagan would not include Satanism, even though there are in fact Satanic Witches (which would cover the magical aspect), as Satanists (in popular terms) are not polytheistic and fall under the realm of the Judeo-Christian belief systems as Satan is a Judeo-Christian construct, not a Pagan one. |
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Pentacle - A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (known as a pentagram). Worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief and used in magickal workings and cermonies. Each point on the star has a specific meaning: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit (Akasha). Pentacles are never worn inverted in the Craft. Many Witches consider this blasphemy of their faith. However, an inverted pentagram is used in some second degree initionas, not to indicate evil, but to fulfill a function of growth. (Silver Ravenwolf; To Ride a Silver Broomstick)
For the general public the pentagram brings to mind thoughts of Satanism and evil. This misconception is mostly fostered by the media as well as the Christian church. Satanists do however bastardize the holiness of the pentagram by inverting it point-down. This signifies body over spirit (the top point is often associated with the spirit or Akasha). It is also an attempt to make opposite all the good of the pentagram and unfortunately, it has only worked to hurt those of us who use the upright pentagram as a power symbol for good. It should be noted by those Christians who believe that the pentagram is evil no matter what direction it's in that Satanists also use an inverted cross in their workings. But the cross right-side-up is no more evil then the right-side-up pentagram. The pentagram is also often used to denote the body (four limbs and a head) surrounded by the continious spirit (unbroken circle). It is a very common symbol for Witches and you can even see it in a couple places on this site. |
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Shaman - A man or woman who has obtained knowledge of the subtler dimensions of the Earth; usually through periods of alternate states of consciousness. Various types of ritual allow the Shaman to pierce the veil of the physical world and to experience the realm of energies. This knowledge lends the Shaman the power to change her or his world through magic. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*)
- A Shaman is there to protect his or her tribe but is forever forced to exist outside that tribe. (X-Man; Marvel Comics) |
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Solitary Practitioner - Commonly refered to as a Solitary or Solitaire it refers to any Pagan, Neo-Pagan, or Witch that practices magick alone rather then in a coven or group. Solitaries can be of any Pagan path or, in the case of Wiccan Solitaries, any Wiccan tradition. Some Wiccans (usually coveners) believe that one cannot truly experience the full power of Wicca unless you are in a coven, but this has not detered most Solitaries who feel one doesn't need to practice as part of a group to be a true Wiccan or Witch. Some even believe that it hampers their power. Solitaries come about for a couple different reasons. Either they wish to be Solitaries, either because they don't wish to work in a group or there are no groups they feel connected to; or they live too far from a group/coven or have yet to find a coven that suits their needs or their tradition. Most books cater to coven workers with very little information for Solitary Practitioners. I am a Solitary Practitioner by choice as my beliefs don't seem to completely fit in with those of most covens and as I feel my spiritual path is one of individuality. I also have elements of a loner. This is not to say that I'll never work with a group, just that in general I choose to work magick on my own. I have considered doing magick with other individuals before and should the need arise in the future would do so as long as I trusted the individuals I worked with. |
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Spirituality - I feel the need to define this word (as I view it) because I think modern society has had a tendency to forget exactly what this word means. I'm doing this mostly to seperate the word Spirituality from the word Religion. You will notice for the most part I have left the word Religion out of these pages. This is basically because I'm not here to talk about religions but spirituality and spiritual paths. Now they can be and are sometimes the same thing, but in most cases I find them to be completely seperate. You can be a highly religious person, but that doesn't necessarily make you a spiritual person. I quite readily say that I'm not a religious person. But I am a spiritual person and there is a great difference. Religions are man made constructs that attempt to either understand or merely to give worship up unto a deity (or other higher power) of some sort. In modern times they are highly organized and severly legislative. In a religion you find dogma, doctrines, and covenants, rules and laws by which you are expected to abide in order to consider yourself a part of that religion. This in no way entails that you will be a spiritual person. You can adhere to all the dogma and commandments you want to. You can be what most consider the perfect Christian, Jew, Hindi, Muslim, ect ect ect and still fail to be a spiritual person. Spirituality isn't reliant on these things but rather it is an attempt to know or find deeper meaning from within and without. From within your soul as well as in the vastness of the universe. Spirituality is an attempt not to follow the rules and laws of a god but to feel the presense of that god/dess inside of you. It is following what you believe to be true not what someone tells you to be true. To be a spiritual person you need not go to a church or temple every Sunday. You don't have to memorize laws from a book. You don't have to be fed some line from clergy which tells you what you need to think and how you need to live. That is why spirituality is often times in conflict with organized religion...because spirituality is an individual thing...religion merely tries to make it into a standard end all group. Religions can be found everywhere. Your religion could be Catholacism or it could be Physics (a organized and structured group which attempts to explain and understand the universe and in which belief is determined by following a set of laid out rules which are handed down by the clergy [professors]. Sounds like a religion to me). But your spirituality is something which you must find on your own because it's something inside of you, not something that can be told to you by someone else. Of course if you think about it, even I have my own religion. I may be the only one who adheres to it but I too have set up my own set of beliefs, rules to which I'm bound (but only by me, not by anyone else), and ways of celebrating and worshipping the deities I believe in. None the less I still call what I do a spiritual path and not a religion, if nothing else then because I feel the word religion holds too many bad connotations for me. And that's the way it should be. If you feel the need to be a part of an organized group, that's good for you, but I do not believe one should neglect those inner beliefs that might be personal and that may apply only to you. |
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Three Folds (Karmic) Law, The - Usually found in association with and as an addendum to the Wiccan Rede, the Three Folds or Karmic Law states that whatever a person sends out (energy, emotions, actions) will come back to them three fold. In other words if you send forth negative energy, harmful intent or action, it will come back to you increased by three times. Some believe this is in fact a higher number, usually five or ten fold, though three fold seems to be a general rule. It is believed by some that this not only applies to negative energy and actions but also positives energy and actions. So as negative acts will return three fold, so will positive acts. |
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Tradition, Wiccan - Popularly refered to as a Trad. Various trads in modern Wicca include Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, and Georgian as well as many others. Some trads believe theres is the only true form of Wicca, which I feel is inherantly contrary to the basic beliefs of Wicca.
- An organized, structured, specific Wiccan subgroup, usually initiatory, with often unique ritual practices. Most traditions are composed of a number or covens as well as solitary practitioners. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*) |
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Wicca - It is popularly believed that Wicca was created (or revamped) by Gerald Gardner. Dates range from the 1930's to the 1950's. I will not attempt to prove or refute this claim as it is a popular belief and really irrelivent nowadays. For more information on this dispute check out "Wiccan Warrior" by Kerr Cuhulain.
- A contemporary Pagan religion with spiritual roots in Shamanism and the earliest expressions of reverence of nature. Among its major motifs are: reverence for the Goddess and teh God, reincarnation, magic, ritual observances of the Full Moon, astronomical, and agricultural phenomena. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*) |
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Wiccan Rede, The - An often quoted moral code to which most followers of Modern Wicca adhere. A rule of non-violence that essentially states that as long as you 'Harm None' intentionally or without due cause there is no other sin and you are free to do as you will. Found in many forms and incarnations the main common element to all forms of the Rede is the eight word crede 'And ye Harm none, do what ye wilt (will)' Often associated with the Three Folds (Karmic) Law. It is believed by some traditions of Wicca that if one causes harm, that person must then make an attempt to rectify the action and make amends to the person harmed. Some believe that this applies not only to other people, but to yourself, the Earth, Nature, and all other living creatures. Most do not apply this to harm caused during self-defense or that caused in the defense of others. |
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Witch - Another term with many various definitions. I personally define a Witch as anyone who practices magick, though others would say that's overly simplistic. I consider myself a witch as I do practice the art of magick (though in very small doses so far).
- Anciently, a European practitioner of the remnants of pre-Christian folk magic, particularly that relating to herbs, healing, wells, rivers, and stones. One who practiced witchcraft. (Scott Cunningham; Wicca*)
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Witchcraft - The craft of the Witch. Magic, especially magic utilizing Personal Power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colors, and other natural objects. (Scott Cunningham, Wicca*) |
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*denotes the book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham |
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More definitions to come soon so stay tuned |
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If you would like anything defined or if you have a definition you would like to contribute, please fill free to e-mail me and I will provide a definition the best I can. |
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Last Updated: 3/13/01 |
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