Glossary

AEROMANCY: the practice of divination through the examination of the air and sky.

AFFIRMATION: the power of positive thinking.

AIR: one of the 5 elements.

AKASHA: the fifth and most important element. aka. spirit, ether.

ALCHEMY: the science of transformation.

ALEXANDERIAN TRADITION: a Wiccan tradition which came from the teachings of Alex Sanders.

ALMANAC: a calendar of months and days relating to the stars and planets.

ALTARS: aka. shrines, is your main working area during a ritual.

ALTAR CLOTH: is a special piece of material which is used to cover/decorate

your altar, at all times, or just during a ritual.

AMULET: an item, usually a necklace or pendant, whcih has been m,agickally charged to ward off negative energies.

ANKH: egyptian symbol of eternal life, rebirth and fertility. Associated with Isis.

APPARITION: a vision of a ghost/spirit.

ARCANA: secret or mysterious knowledge.

ASPECTING: any advanced magickal activity in which a practitioner manifests a particular aspect of the Goddess or God, in thought, feelings, behavior, appearance

ASTRAL PROJECTION: out of body travel.

ATHAME: is a black handled knife, used solely for ritual work.

AUGUR: a sign of future events.

AUGURY: divination based on signs and omens.

AURA: the energy field of the human body, visible to the third eye and those with psychic vision.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX: a time when night and day are equal length.

AVALON: the mystical Isle of the Dead.

AVATAR: the appearance of a deity in animal form.

BALEFIRE: a fire usually lit outdoors, which is used for magickal purposes - traditionally at Yule and Beltaine.

BANISH: to forcefully drive away negative or evil energies.

BARROW: an ancient Celtic burial place.

BELLS: used to magickally cleanse and purify an area which is going to be used for ritual purposes.

BELTAINE: aka. May Day, is a time to rejoice in the sun. Is a fertility festival.

1st May.

BIND: to restrict someones powers.

BOLINE: aka. Burin, a white handled used for cutting herbs, cords and inscribing

candles.

BOOK OF SHADOWS: is a journal of your magickal journey. Is a sacred book, which every Wiccan should have.

BOWL: used primarily for scrying.

BLESSED BE: this is a traditional Witches Greeting.

BROOM: aka. Besom, used for magickally cleaning the working area of a ritual. Usually made from wood. Often used in handfasting rituals.

CAKES AND WINE/ALE: a ritual meal shared between the Goddess and the God, near the end of a ritual.

CALLING THE QUARTERS: invitation for the 4 elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water - to join a ritual.

CANDLEMAS: imbolc.

CARDINAL POINTS: North, East, South and West. Can be marked by coloured candles of green, red, yellow, blue.

CARTOMANCY: a form of divination using cards.

CATHARSIS: the release of magickal energies at the height/climax of a ritual.

CAULDRON: is used during many magickal rituals. Can be used for scrying, and is a feminine tool.

CELTIC KNOT: a piece of celtic artwork created from a single unbroken line. They represent nature of eternity and the Universe.

CENSER: is an incense burner, used to burn the incense offered to deities during a ritual.

CENTERING: balancing your energies through meditation and breathing excercises.

CHAKRAS: are areas of energy in the body. There are seven main chakra points on the body. Can be opened through meditation.

CHALICE: is used in ritual to hold the wine. Is symbolic of the womb. Represents the Goddess.

CHANNELING: guiding, transmitting or directing energy or power.

CHARGING: filling an object of your choice with power. Items that can be charged include athames, gem stones, herbs, jewellry etc.

CHARM: something which protects the bearer from evil.

CIRCLE: most ritual work in Wicca is done within a magickal circle. Used to form a ring of protection around the practitioner.

CONE OF POWER: energy raised during a ritual.

CONSECRATION: the act of creating sanctity/purity. Most Wiccan items, especially the Book of Shadows should all be consecrated.

CORDS: type of special ropes used during specific rituals.

COVEN: the name given to a group of Wiccans. Usually lead my a High Priestess and Priest. Traditionally a coven would have 13 or more members.

COVENSTEAD: the meeting place of a coven.

COWAN: a once derogotary term for a non witch.

COYOTE ENERGY: trickster energy.

CRAFT, THE: another name which Wicca is known by.

CRONE, THE: the last stage of the Goddess, in her triple aspect.

CURSE: negative energy brought or directed towards a certain person. Usually used to create bad luck or pain to said person.

DARK MOON: when the Moon is totally elipsed by the Earths shadow.

DEDICATION: same as initiation.

DEITIES: are the Gods and Goddesses worshipped in WIcca and other religions.

DEOSIL: clockwise - sunwise.

DIVINATION: name given to all forms of predicting the future.

DRAWING DOWN THE MOON: taking in the moons energies.

DRUID: a group of Celtic people who saw nature as the divine. Followed a religion similar to that of Paganism.

EARTH: one of the 5 elements.

ECLECTIC: a Wiccan tradition which is based on the various belief systems of Wicca.

ELEMENTS: Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Are the things that make up nature.

ELF: a mischevious fairy.

ELIXIR: water charged by a crystal. Elixirs can be made more powerful if made during full moons or sabbats.

EMPOWERING: moving energy into a specific object, usually done during a ritual.

EOSTRE: Is the Spring Equinox. 21st March.

EQUINOX: the two times in any one year where day and night are equal.

ESBAT: this is the word given to the celebration of the full moons.

EVOCATION: the calling up of spirits and other non - physical deities.

EXORCISM: expelling a demon or negative energy from a person, animal or property.

EYE OF HORUS: a symbol of protection against evil spirits and of seeing spirits.

FAMILIAR: an animal, either a pet or spiritual entity, which will help and guide you through your magickal journey.

FAST: to purify body and mind.

FIRE: one of the 5 elements.

FUTHARK: runic alphabet.

GAIA: mother Earth.

GARDNERIAN WICCA: a tradition of Wicca desnceded from the teachings of Gerald Gardner.

GLYPH: a talisman, which bears the name and date of birth of the wearer, which will protect the wearer from ill luck.

GNOMES: an "entity" or "elemental" that is closely associated with the Earth element.

GNOSTICISM: a religious movement which believes in the intuitive spiritual knowledge.

GOD: is the name given to the male deity in Wicca.

GODDESS: is the name given to the female deity of Wicca.

GREEN MAN: another name for the God - particularly while he is in his fertility aspect. Is seen as a champion and environmentalist.

GRIMOIRE: is a magickal workbook/diary similar to the Book of Shadows.

HADES: is the Greek God of the Underworld.

HAG: the crone aspect of the Goddess.

HANDFASTING: a Wiccan Rite of Passage - is the name given to a Wiccan Wedding, and the eternal joining of two people.

HANDPARTING: similar to a divorce, where the ties created in a Handfasting are symbolically cut.

HEDGEWITCH: a witch who practices alone, according to their own beliefs. A hedgewitch will be very involved with nature.

HERB: any plant used in magic.

HERBALISM: the art of using and working with herbs to achieve a desired result.

HEREDITARY WITCH: a person who has inherited their craft from a closely linked family member.

HIGH PRIEST: the male leader of a coven.

HIGH PRIESTESS: the female leader of a coven.

IMBOLC: represents the quickening of Light and Life. 1st February.

INITIATION: a process where a person is initiated into a coven. Self initiation is when you personally initiate yourself into the Wiccan religion.

INVOCATION: an appeal or petiton to a higher power - such as deities. Is like a form of prayer.

JUJU: an African magickal charm.

KUNDALINI: is a type of meditative concentration. aka, chakra meditation.

LABRYS: a symbol of the Goddess. Is a double headed axe, commonly found in ancient Crete.

LAW OF THREE: a Wiccan belief that all our deeds, whether good or bad, will come back to us three fold.

LITHA: Is the Summer Solstice. 21st June.

LUGHNASADH: Is the first festival of the harvests. 1st August.

MABINOGI: traditionally a set of 4 welsh folk tales.

MEGALITH: a huge stone momument or structure which can be used for religious purposes e.g. Stonehenge.

MENHIR: an ancient single standing stone.

MODRON: is the Autumanal Equinox. 21st September.

NECKLACE: represents the power of the Goddess, and the circle of rebirth. Most commonly tend to be made from Amber.

NEW MOON: when the Moon is completely covered by the earth's shadow.

OGHAM ALPHABET: is the sacred driud alphabet. Based on certain trees.

OIL BURNER: used to burn oils offered to deities during a ritual.

OLD ONES, THE: Wiccan name given to the Goddess and God.

OLD RELIGION: another name given to the Craft.

PENDULUM: a divinatory device usually made out of a quartz crystal, and a thick piece of string or a chain.

PENTACLE: is another of the most recognised symbols of Wicca. It has the form of a 5 pointed star, but is not surrounded by a circle.

PENTAGRAM: is one of the most universally recognised symbols of Wicca. Has the shape of a 5 pointed star inside a circle.

POLARITY: concept of equals/opposites e.g. Yin Yang.

POLYTHEISTIC: a religion - like Wicca - that does not adhere to any one deity.

PRAYER: when you focus all our energy and wishes onto one single deity.

QABALA: a body of occult knowledge which is said to contain all of the secrets of the universe.

REINCARNATION: the name given to the rebirth of a person into a different form, after they have died.

RITE: another name given to a ritual.

RITUAL: a time when we offer gifts, prayers, and worship deities or nature. Is a special/sacred ceremony.

ROBES: a special garment which is saved specifically for spell working. Can be made from any colour or material.

RUNES: an ancient form of Scandinavian divination. Consists of 25 letters.

SABBATS: make up the wheel of the year. Are the eight special festivals celebrated in Wicca.

SALAMANDER: an entity that is closely associated with the Fire element.

SAMHAIN: aka. Hallowe'en, is the Death Festival, and marks the descent of Winter. 31st October.

SCOURGE: is a tool of discipline, and can be used to generate energy.

SCRYING: the technique of focusing thought onto a magickal tool such os a mirror or bowl of water, in order to recieve an image or message.

SEPHIROTH: spheres on the Tree of Life. Each sphere represents an aspect of life and spiritual enlightenment.

SOLITARY WICCA: when Wicca is practiced by a single practitioner, alone, without the aid/help of a group/coven.

SOLSTICE: the winter and summer solstices are the shortest and longest days of the year.

SPELL: a form of magickal ritual.

SPIRAL: a symbol of the element spirit.

SPIRIT: one of the 5 elements. aka. akasha.

SUMMERLANDS: the land of the ever young in celtic mythology. It is also said to be the place were Witches go once they have died.

SWORD: is a tool which is interchangeable with the Athame. Is a masculine symbol. A sword is only ever used for cutting the hand fasting cake.

SYLPH: an entity that is closely associated with the element of Air.

TALISMAN: a ritually charged object, usually a cyrstal or other precious gem stone, used to attract a certain force or energy to its bearer, and the ritual work being performed.

TAROT: a set of 72 cards, which are used as a form of predicting the future or learning of our past. Symbolise different aspects of events, character and influences in our lives.

TREE OF LIFE: is based on the ancient symbols of the Qabbalah.

UNDINE: an entity closely associated with the Water element.

WAND: is a tool traditionally made of wood. Used for opening/closing circles, to draw symbols on the ground, direct energy, and invoke deities.

WANING MOON: the shrinking cycle of the moon.

WATER: one of the 5 elements.

WAXING MOON: the growing cycle of the moon.

WICCA: is a nature based, neo - pagan religion based on the pre Christian traditions of Britain.

WIDDERSHINS: anti - clockwise.

WITCH: is the name given to a person who practices Wicca, or Witchcraft.

YING YANG: the idea of opposites, found mainly in Chinese Philosophy.

YULE: Is the Winter Solstice. 21st December.