| Book of Shadows |
| AURA The ki or spirit energy surrounding a person. Auras often indicate mood and a person's true self. Auras are often perceives an emenating colored cloudlike outline around a person or animals' body. |
| ASTRAL TRAVEL Refers to traveling on the astral plane, this usually defines any long journey or one in which you must cross many dimensional barreirs. |
| ASTRAL PROJECTION The ability to leave one's body and to travel upon the astral realms or to another physical location. Often times a silver or gold cord ties the astral body to the corpeal body. In most instances the projector is unaware of happenings to their physical body. |
| ASTRAL PLANE A reference to the other dimensions not of the physical world. Also known as the spirit world, the Umbra, ghostlands, the dreamworld, and the FlipSide. Accessign the astral plane can be done through force of will or the ability to astral project. The thoery of the astral plane was introduced into the public consciousness by Helena Blavatsky in the nineteenth century. |
| ATHAME The double edged dagger or sword used in many Pagan rituals, most predominatly in casting the circle and consecration. The handle is commonly black, while a white handle athame or boline is used for carving runes, talismans, cutting wands, and the Samhain jack-o-lantern. Often viewed as a primarily Wiccan tool, the athame is found in many various Pagan cultures and traditions and is associated with the elemental direction of Air. It represents the phallus of the divine. It if often regarded as the most important tool of a witch. |
| ASPERGE To consecrate or santify using blessed water, usually salt water or blessed water. |
| ASTRAL FORM The "body" that an astralling person inhabits while on the astral plane. Often times it is a translucent figure of themselves or another body entirely. Some people even prefer bodies not human, or of their totem animals/beings, so that they gain new abilities. |
| ASTRUM ARGENTINUM (AA) (SILVER STAR) Founded by Aleister Crowley in 1907 by the urgings of a being named Aiwass. The being was derived from Crowley's readings of the Liber Al vel Legis, a Rosicrucian Book of Law that he claimed showed the emergence of a religion that would replace Christianity. This magickal lodge was based on the rituals and structures of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and possessed both Inner and Outer Temples. This organization was disbanded in 1914. It is rumored that the organization still survives today. |
| ASWYNN, FREYA A famous author of Asatru religion and magickal workings who was born in 1951. Studying both under AMORC and Alex Sanders, she found herself drawn to the northern cult of Odin and runes. Keep watch for her lectures around the country. |
| ATHELSTAN, LAWS OF Laws of the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan between 924 and 940 AD that noted that a person accused of witchcraft that resulted in the death of another person was to be executed. |
| AVALON The refuge of ancient women that is classically set in either Glastonbury or Somerset. It was the place where women of Brittain became priestesses. Historically it is regarded as the resting place of King Arthur. |
| BAMBERG, THE HOUSE OF A torture house constructed in Germany under the leadership of Bishop Johann Georg II during the Inquisition. Many people were tortured and forced to give false confessions in this house of horrors. |
| BANSHEE (also known as BEAN SIDHE) A faerie woman stalks a family and warns of looming death by emitting a high piercing wail or screech. The banshee was laso seen before the blood spilled during great battles. She could take on any form that she desires be it a young voluptuous woman or an old rotting hag. Few stories are heard in present times about this fae woman. |
| BANYAK An oak branch that is a key tool of the Balkan Pagan tradition. Being cut from a tree on December 24 and burned in the house before midnight, it is used to protect the family and their dwelling for the next year. When the branch is carried into the home by the man of the house, his wife begins to emulate a chicken and her children begin to chirp like chicks. Straw is spread on the ground which is not swept for three days and three nights. |
| BARRETT, FRANCIS An English alchemist and teacher who founded a school of ritual magick in London in 1801 and published his teachings in The Magus. He would greatly influence the occultists who came after him. |
| BELLARMINE WARE Also called witch's bottles, these vessels from Rhineland which often featured Celtic style faces, were mainly manufactured during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. |
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