ALEXANDRIAN WICCA
The Tradition founded by Alex Sanders. For many years Sanders insisted he was a Hereditary Witch, taught by his grandmother, but he eventually confessed to basing his Tradition upon Gardnerian teachings.
ALTAR
A special, flat surface designed to hold rituals tools and symbols throughout the course of a spell being cast. It is set aside exclusively for magickal workings or religious acknowledgment.
AMULET
Amulets are objects infused with magickal properties and which offer the wearer a sense of protection. They also help maintain health, produce virility and fertility, and create luck.
ASATRU
Also known as Odinism. A Pagan religion based around old Norse traditions. Not Wiccan.
ASTRAL TRAVEL/PROJECTION
The process of separating your astral body from your physical one to accomplish travel in the astral plane or dream time.
ATHAME
A cleansed and consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual work by Witches. The knife is never used for blood-letting, and rarely used to cut anything on the material plane.
~B~
BALEFIRE
A fire lit for a magickal purpose.
BANE
Another word for bad, evil, destructive.
BANISH
To magickally end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To rid the presence of.
BESOM
A straw broom used by Witches in certain Wiccan ceremonies such as Handfasting and the Sabbat of Candlemas. The majority of modern Witches who own besoms use them as altar decorations and as magickal tools to symbolize fertility and to sweep the magick circle clean of any traces of negative magickal, spiritual, or psychic energy. The besom is also used in various spells and weather workings.
BIND
To magickally restrain something or someone from doing harm to themselves or others.
BIND (a spell)
To bind a spell, the spellcaster chants a verse upon completion, announcing the end of the ritual and asking for the spell to begin its magick.
BOOK OF SHADOWS
A relatively new term for the collection of information in book for a Witch's reference. Another name for this text would be grimoire.
BOLINE
A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes such as cutting. For instance, the knife can be used to harvest herbs, cut a branch for a wand, inscribe candles, etc.
BRITISH TRADITIONAL WICCA
An umbrella term encompassing several lineaged and oathbound Traditions, of which the Gardnerians and Alexandrians are the most well known.
~C~
CAKES AND WINE
Every meeting of a witches' coven, handfastings, and rites of intiation traditionally end with cakes-and-wine, a sharing of food and drink, and relaxed conversation. The food - often cakes, biscuits or cookies - and the drink - usually wine buut occassionally mead, ale, beer or fruit juice - will have been blessed by a high priest or priestess, and is considered an offering to the deities as thanks for the necessities of life.
CARDINAL POINTS
North, South, East, and West, often marked by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue.
CAULDRON
A cauldron is a cooking pot often used to heat herbal healing preparations for rituals, to burn written spells when working magick, for scrying, and can be used as a censer. The cauldron is a female symbol representing the womb of the Mother Goddess.
CENSER
An incense burner.
CEREMONIAL MAGICIAN
Practitioner of High Magic. Well known groups include the Order of the Golden Dawn, Thelema, and the OTO.
CHALICE
A ceremonial goblet that represents the element of Water and may also be used to hold the juice or wine for an offering.
CHANTING
Chanting is the harmonious vocalization of key words, names and pharses that are used in ritual to attune oneself, raise energy, celebrate success and to become centred.
CHARGE
In witchcraft, to charge is to intentionally empower ritual tools with energy.
CHARGE, THE
Originally written in modern form by Doreen Valiente, it is a story of the message from the Goddess to Her children.
CHARMS
Can either be an amulet or talisman that has been charged by saying an incantation over it and instilling it with energy for a specific task.
CLEANSING
The act of removing any negative energy, vibrations or images from an object or place by utilizing positive, psychic energy.
CONE OF POWER
Psychic energy raised and focused by either an individual or group mind (coven) to achieve a definite purpose.
CONSECRATION
The act of blessing an object or place by instilling it with positive energy.
COVEN
A group of thirteen or fewer Witches that work together in an organized fashion for positive magickal endeavors or to perform religious ceremonies. The size of each coven varies, and one must be an initiate.
CROSS-QUARTER DAYS
The Sabbats falling between the solstices and equinoxes - Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, and Lughnassadh. They begin the seasons and are also called the major Sabbats.
~D~
DEDICATION
Unlike the initiation ceremony that brings one into an order, the dedication of a Witch is that process where the individual accepts the Craft as their path, and vows to study and learn all that is necessary to reach adept ship in a given tradition. In a dedication, you consciously prepare yourself to accept something new into your life and stick with it, regardless of the highs and lows this action may produce.
DEGREE
Levels of achievement in a particular tradition. Many traditions have three degrees.
DEOSIL
Clockwise movement. Most rituals and ceremonies, even spells, call for deosil movement at some point in their construction.
DIANIC WICCA
Tradition centered on women's mysteries. There are also non-Wiccan, Dianic traditions.
DIVINATION
The art of using magickal tools and symbols to gather information from the Collective unconscious on the nature of people, places, things, and events in the past, present and future.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON
A ritual used during the Full Moon by Witches to empower themselves and unite their essence with a particular deity, usually the Goddess.
DRUIDRY
A Pagan religion based on old Celtic traditions. Not Wiccan, although the two share some similarities .
DRUMMING
Drumming is literally pounding on a surface. This is used in witchcraft to raise power and to change emotional states.
~E~
ECLECTIC
A witch who works with deities from or worships within more than one culture or mythological system.
ECLECTIC WICCA
The tradition of "everyone else", seeking a path that does not fall into the realms of the more organized Traditions or who have never had the opportunity to explore another Tradition. They do not have to be solitaries - there are eclectic covens.
ELDER
Many Wiccan organizations have a group or board of Elders who oversee the operations of the church and its variety of functions. These people have usually gained their positions through a combination of their abilities which may include education, experience, magickal adeptship and counseling.
ELEMENTS
Usually counted as four: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. However, many Witches add Spirit or Akasha to this category, as well. Each element has a direction within a magick circle or working: East = Air; South = Fire; West = Water; North = Earth; Center = Spirit or Akasha
ENCHANTMENT
A magickal object that must be kept absolutely secret and hidden from all human eyes ands affects a hidden aura. Enchantments must be charmed first. Gems and magickal writing are good items for Enchantments
ESBAT
Meeting of Witches on the Full Moon or the New Moon usually to perform rituals. Esbat rituals may also be performed by solitary Witches.
EVOCATION
To call something out from within.
EQUINOX
Roughly March 22 and September 22, when day and night are equal in length. They are held (in the northern hemisphere) as the sabbats of Eostara and Mabon.
~F~
FAMILIAR
An animal who has a spiritual bond with a Witch; often is the family pet. Familiars can also be entities who are created to protect your home from the astral.
FERI TRADITION
The Tradition founded by Victor Anderson. Some previously referred to it as Feri Wicca, but it is solidly its own religion. Also spelled Faery or Faerie. Very shamanistic. Has nothing to do with the images of cute little winged people the name might invoke.
~G~
GAEA/GAIA
Greek Goddess, now meaning Earth Mother or Mother Earth. Environmental action groups use this term almost as much as we do, if not more these days.
GARDNER, GERALD
Founder of Wicca in the 1950s. Wrote several books on witchcraft after the anti-witchcraft laws of Britain were repealed.
GARDNARIAN WICCA
The Tradition founded by Gerald Gardner.
GREAT RITE
Part of the third degree initiation as well as some festivals, the Great Rite symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess, and thus all creation. It is usually performed by placing a knife into a chalice, though it may be performed by the physical union of a man and woman (privately, of course).
GREEN MAN
Another name for the God, as in his kingdom of the forest.
GROUNDING
In witchcraft, to ground yourself is to psychically reinforce your connection with the Earth by reopening an energy channel between your aura and the ground.
GODDESS WORSHIPPING / GODDESS SPIRITUALITY
Pagan religions in which the feminine aspect is dominant. Not Wiccan.
~H~
HANDFASTING
A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony.
HEREDITARY WITCH
Someone who has passed the skills of witchcraft down through his family. Goes back to the concept of the Old Religion.
HIGH MAGICK
Historically, the "educated" forms of magick - alchemy, astrology, numerology, Qaballah, etc.
~I~
INITIATION
An experience that so transforms the individual that their concept of personal and worldly reality has been altered. A dedication ceremony should not be confused with an initiation.
INVOCATION
To bring something in from without.
~J~
~K~
KARMA
The belief that one's thoughts and deeds can be either counted against them or added to their spiritual path during several life times. In Sanskirt it means "action." Follow the law of cause and effect.
~L~
LEFT-HAND PATH
A term that points to those people who feel that they are justified in using magick for purposes that are not constructive to other human beings. It is a reference that they are possibly a self-serving individual. Conversely, the right-hand path is considered positive in nature.
LIBATION
A liquid offering to a god or goddess, such as wine or milk. Libations are usually poured out upon the earth, but may be poured into a fire or offered in another way.
LOW MAGICK
Folk magick. Historically, the largely sympathetic magick practiced by the peasant class. In modern times it is used to describe the practice of witchcraft, although the devision of "high" and "low" does in no way imply that one is superior to the other. Both can be as equally effective.
LUNAR CYCLE
The lunar cycle is the 28-day cycle during which the visible phase of the moon waxes from dark to full and wanes to dark again. This is a very powerful time for ritual ceremonies to be preformed.
~M~
MACROCOSM
The world around us.
MICROCOSM
The world within us.
MAGIC(K)
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 nor negative. It is the use of the power that determines the path it will take.
MAGICK CIRCLE
A circular boundary drawn in visionary blue flames or white light that protects the Witch from outside forces while conducting ritual magick. One must never step outside the circle while performing a ritual unless the appropriate precautions have been take to cut a door. Nor should anyone step in during a ritual, unless they are following a pathway made for them. The door is usually cut with the athame or wand. The circle should never be left hanging after your ritual is over. This means that it must be closed just as ceremoniously as it was opened. The magick circle is considered the doorway between the worlds and allow us to move between the two.
MEDITATION
Meditation is a focused and disiplined form of contemplation or reflecting, whereby one is able to alter an emotional state and to receive self-insight.
~N~
NECROMANCY
Necromancy is the communication with the spirits of the dead via a ouija board, on which messages are splet out and interpreted
NEO-PAGAN
Another name for modern Pagan. The term Neo-pagan means "new Pagan" and is not a popular term. It seems to be a direct result of the New Age lingo. The current most popular Neo-pagan religion is Wicca.
NEW AGE
Usually refers to mixing metaphysical practices with a structured religion.
~O~
OCCULT
To study the occult sciences is to obstain "hidden" knowledge of magickal principles and techniques using various means of divination.
OLD RELIGION
Another name for Wicca. Also, Old Path or Old Ways. Technically Wicca, although known as an "old religion", is in fact one of the youngest at it was formed in the 1950s.
~P~
PAGAN
Follower of an Earth/ nature-based religion.
PANTHEON
A Collection or group of Gods and Goddesses in a particular religious or mythical structure. Examples are: Greek pantheon, Roman pantheon, Egyptian pantheon, Teutonic pantheon, etc.
PENTACLE
A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (also known as a pentagram). Worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief and used in magickal workings and ceremonies. Each point on the star has a specific meaning: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Pentacles are never worn inverted in the Craft. Witches consider this blasphemy of their faith. However, an inverted pentagram is used in some second degree initiations, not to indicate evil, but to fulfill a function of growth.
PENTAGRAM
The five-pointed star often representing the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit (the upper point). It may also represent a person with arms and legs spread.
PLANETARY DAYS
Each day of the year is related to one of the planets, the moon and the sun. Energies differ in accordance with the position of the planets.
PRIESTESS
A female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity(ies) and humankind. A High Priestess is the feminine leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of Goddess in certain ceremonies. A solitary Witch can be a Priestess by dedicating herself to a particular God or Goddess.
PRIEST
A male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity(ies) and humankind. a High Priest is the male leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of the God in certain ceremonies.
~Q~
QUARTERS
The quarters is an abbreviated term for the four elemental powers and the directions they correspond to.
QUERENT
In divination and ritual, the querent is the asker of questions.
~R~
REINCARNATION
The belief that one has lived before in another lifetime.
RITUAL
A focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank one's chosen pantheon, or to perform a specific magickal working or act.
RUNES
A set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal workings. There are several types of runes with different origins. A few are the Norse, Scandinavian and Germanic runes. Unlike the Tarot, they are an integral part of the magickal system with its own pantheon, should you care to use it. They can function as an alphabet and are useful in vision questing, dream recall and controlling your environment.
~S~
SABBATS
The eight annual Wiccan festivals. The solstices and equinoxes comprise the minor Sabbats. The cross-quarter days make up the major Sabbats.
SACRED SPACE
Although all space is considered sacred, in ceremony, Sacred Space refers to the area enclosed when the circle is cast.
SCRYING
A divination method using specific tools such as a bowl of inked water, a mirror, crystal ball, etc., where the diviner "sees" either normal visual pictures, mental visual pictures, or information without any pictures at all!
SIGIL
A magickally oriented seal, sign, glyph, or other device used in a magickal working. The most powerful sigils are those that you create yourself. Sigils can be used on letters, packages, clothing, on paper tucked in your pocket, etc.
SKYCLAD
In some traditions, for example the Alexandrian, it is the act of celebrating or doing a magickal working in the nude. This should not be misconstrued with sexual contact. There are many solitaries that prefer to work skyclad, feeling that he absence of clothing leaves their energy unhindered during the ceremony.
SPELL
Extended mental and emotional energy spoken aloud, written, spoken to oneself, drawn or even danced. To work, it should be clear, concise, focused and emotional. The need must be present to bring any spell to a successful culmination.
SPIRAL
The sacred spiral plays an important part in magickal workings. It is the symbol of "coming into being." A spiral dance celebrates the spiral symbolism.
SOLITARY PRACTITIONERS
Those Wiccans or witches which generally practice alone, either by choice or because of a lack of access to appropriate covens.
SOLSTICE
Roughly December 22 and June 22, when day and night are at their most extreme lengths. They are held (in the northern hemisphere) as the sabbats of Yule and Litha.
STREGA
Italian witch, generally not considered Wiccan.
~T~
TALISMAN
An object that has been magickally charged in order it bring something to the bearer. Such an item could be a gemstone to win a court case, or a drawing to put in your pocket that will bring good luck.
TASSEOMANCY
The art of reading tea leaves and coffee grounds to divine the future.
TEMPLE
The temple is the sacred area reserved specially for religious and magickal activites.
TRADITION
The particular branch of Paganism that an individual follows, such as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, etc.
TRIPLE GODDESS
The one Goddess that encompasses three aspects, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone.
~U~
UNCASTING
Uncasting is opening a circle at the end of a ritual.
~V~
VISUALISATION
It is important in ritual to be able to visualise or image a goal or outcome before working magick. This gives the goal power in your mind and helps to charge the spell.
~W~
WARLOCK
Literally "oath-breaker". Male Wiccans and witches do not use this term. They are Wiccans and witches, just like everyone else.
WHEEL OF THE YEAR
One full cycle of the seasonal year, beginning with the Samhain celebration (October 31).
WIDDERSHINS
Counterclockwise motion used in some magickal workings or ceremonies.
WITCHCRAFT
The practice of magick, whether it has religious overtones or not.
~X~
~Y~
YIN/YANG
The twin poles of energy. The yin/yang concept is one system of viewing the universal energies. Yin corresponds to Receptive Energy and yang to Projective Energy.
~Z~
ZENITH
The zenith is the highest point or state reached and is a term used in witchcraft to describe the elation experienced after a successful ritual has been cast.
Bibliography: www.witchs-brew.org
roswell.fortunecity.com/necronomicon/310/WitchCraft/witch1.html
zer0dmx.tripod.com/info/dictionary.html
www.branwenscauldron.com/witchcraft_glossary.html
wicca.timerift.net/glossary.html
