Anointing Oil - A skin-safe, scented oil that is dabbed on the body (at chosen pulse points or on the forehead) in order to purify and individual mentally and spiritually.
Blue Moon - When there are two Full Moons in one calendar month, the second is called a Blue Moon.
Calling the Quarters - Verbal or symbolic acknowledgement of the Four Elements (Earth, Air, Fire Water) in a ritual environment.
Casting a Circle - Creating a mental magickal bubble that encloses the ritual area or an individual (as in protective magick). The circle enhances one's ability to focus, raise power, and contain that power until the person directing the ritual is ready to release the energy.
Cauldron - An iron pot, of any size, used to prepare ritual magicks, herbals, infusions, and so on. The cauldron is a symbol of the womb and the birth process, the ability to transform oneself into a more spiritual individual.
Centering - A meditation exercise designed to produce feelings of total calm and one-ness with the universe. it should be preceded by grounding.
Chalice - A cup, made from a variety of materials, that represents the Goddess. It is a symbol of potential.
Clan - Any number of covens who have agreed to follow the same kinds of rules, which spring from one central governing source. A clan has a single leader, and within the democratic clan governing system he or she had the power to veto proposals or actions of the group.
Correspondence - An item that has a magickal association. Correspondences include: days, planets, stars, monthly Moons, angels, herbs, deities, oils, colors, Zodiac signs, hours, magickal alphabets, divinatory tools such as the Tarot, I-Ching, runes, etc., and many more. If you stick with your magickal training you will eventually learn all, or most, of these correspondences by heart.
Coven - A small group of people who work together in magick, ritual, and religious activities within the Craft. The traditional number for a coven was thirteen, but covens can be as large as twenty or as few as three individuals.
Crescent Moon - Sacred symbol of the Goddess. Used for Sabbats, women's healings and invocations.
Daily Devotions - The practice of acknowledging Deity in your life once or twice a day.
Deity (or Divinity) -Your understanding of a divine spiritual form: Spirit, God/dess or similar.
Deosil (pronounced Jess-el) - Moving in a clockwise direction.
Divination - To foretell the future or check on past or current circumstances by using one's connection to Spirit, one's mind, and a chosen tool (Tarot cards, scrying, I-Ching, runes, astrology, cowry shells, and so on.)
Drawing Down the Moon - To connect with Spirit by drawing the power of the Moon into the body, mind, and spirit, usually during a ritual or rite. A way of honoring the Goddess.
Eclipse - When one heavenly body obscures another for a short period of time, creating a temporary veil or shadow. For example, a Solar (Sun) eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blotting out some or all of the Sun's light.
Elements - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Witches believe also in a fifth element - Spirit.
Empowering - Also called "loading". This means to fill an object with divine energy for a specific magickal purpose or manifestation.
Equal-armed Cross - A cross symbol with equally sized arms, used to seal a magickal working.
Esbat - The monthly meeting of Witches to celebrate the Full or New Moon. Most Witches use the term "Circle," rather than Esbat, and many groups meet more than once a month. The meeting is much like the weekly celebrations you might have at a church. A Witch who works alone can hold an Esbat whenever, and as often as he or she would like. A solitary Esbat can last from fifteen minutes to over an hour. How you plan your ritual is up to you.
God/Goddess - Blanket titles for the universal male and female energy celebrated by the Witches. Together, their combined power equals Spirit.
Grounding - A meditation exercise that allows the mind to focus in a positive way on a specific visualization. To sink excel energy into the Earth or to calm rampant energy in the body. Grounding should be followed by centering.
Holy Water - Blessed, purified water for use in ritual. Salt or an herb may be added to the water as part of its ritual purification process. Water taken from a thunderstorm will react differently than water taken from the tap. Witches learn what various types of water can be used for.
Invocation - To call Spirit into a circle, ritual, rite or magickal working.
Lady - Title of honor for the Goddess.
Lord - Title of honor for the God.
