| DARK MOON
| Representative of the Goddess as the One Who Transforms in her aspect of Tomb and
Womb.
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| DARK POWER
| Generally negative energies drawn from the Dark Aspects of the Goddess and the
God.
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| DAYS OF POWER
| It refers to Sabbats, days triggered by astrological occurrences, your birthday,
Blood of the Moon, and your dedication/initiation anniversary.
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| DEDICATION
| The process in which the Witch accepts the Craft as their path and vows to study
and learn all the necessary to reach adeptship in a given tradition. This usually precedes initiation and the learning process before initiation will usually last for a year and a day.
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| DEFLECTION
| Defuse general malevolence and ill will of others. A mirror is most commonly used
in a deflection ritual to either return or deflect evil intent.
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| DEITY
| A supreme or divine being; god or goddess.
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| DEOSIL
| In a clockwise or sunwise direction. It is much-used in spells and rituals; i.e.
"walk deosil around the Circle of Stones." Some Wiccan groups below the equator have switched from deosil to Widdershins (anti-clockwise) movements. In northern hemisphere magic and
religion, deosil movement is symbolic of life, positive energies, good.
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| DIVINATION
| It is the term used for searching the unknown, future or past, by studying
seemingly random patterns in nature. Natures tools used in divination include tealeaves, clouds, leaves, flames, etc. There are also tools used in divination which obey a law that nothing is truly
random, but rather guided by the divine. These tools include the tarot, rune, ogham, numerology, palmistry and pendulum.
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| DIVINE POWER
| The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life
force, the ultimate source of all things. Compare with Earth Power and Personal Power.
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| DOWSING
| The use of a pendulum or forked stick to find the actual location of a person,
place, thing, or element. This method has been known to become individualistic with people. Objects such as stones on the back of the hand, a tall glass of water (water dowsing), parallel steel wires
and dried leaves or petals. The last is not found often, but is a method working with the wind where the leaves or petal would blow off in a direction. Doing this a number of time would cause a
triangulation and show "the center spot".
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| DRAGON'S BLOOD
| The resin from the palm tree 'Daemonorops draco', used by Witches as a magical
incense for various enchantments.
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| DRAWING DOWN THE MOON
| In Wicca and Witchcraft, the ritual invocation of the Goddess spirit into the
High Priestess of a coven by the High Priest.
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| DRAWING DOWN THE SUN
| In Wicca and Witchcraft, the ritual invocation of the Horned God spirit into the
High Priest of a coven by the High Priestess.
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| DRESSING
| Putting an oil on spell items such as candles as part of a ritual consecration to
prepare the object to attract and direct the energy of a spell to accomplish a goal.
|
| EARTH
| One of the four elements which corresponds to the North Watchtower or the magical
circle. It has become apparent that some groups associate earth with east rather than north. This is a personal choice. If it feels natural or right, you are welcome to swap the association. Also see:
Air
|
| EARTH POWER
| That energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind and other natural
objects. Can be utilized during Magic to create needed change.
|
| EARTH SIGNS
| In astrology, the three signs of the zodiac attributed to the element of Earth -
Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo.
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| EARTHING
| To send excess energy into the Earth.
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| ECLECTIC
| Mixture of beliefs borrowed from various Traditions and Theologies.
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| EGO, THE
| conscious part of the human psyche.
|
| ELDERS,THE
| Older and wiser persons wishing a religion. Amongst Witches and Wiccans these
would be third-degree and second-degree members of a coven.
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| ELEMENTAL
| The personification of the nature elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. The
fifth element is Spirit which brings the other elements together. These Elementals are traditionally also the "Guardians of the Watchtowers" to the North, East, South and West. These
elements are regarded as the construction fiber of all that is real in the physical universe.
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| ELEMENTS
| These are the natural elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. Spirit is regarded
a fifth element which is used to bring the other four together. At least one part of each of these elements are contained in everything that exists.
|
| ELIXIR
| Elixirs are made by placing charged crystals in liquids and allowing the energy
to flow to that liquid for a time. The crystal is the removed and the liquid taken orally.
|
| EMPOWERING
| See: Charge, to
|
| ENERGY
| Energy is that source of power which resides within everything which makes it
what it is. It can be described as a vibration, sensation and in many cases a feeling of static in the air to those sensitive to it. It is like electricity, you cannot see it, but it does exist.
No-one has yet found a reliable way of measuring the energy in all objects.
|
| EQUINOXES
| See: Sabbat
|
| ESBAT
| The term of the traditional meeting of a coven on a new or full moon. For
solitary witches these are celebrations of the new and full moon and a time to work magick. In some traditions or covens, any meeting of the coven which does not coincide with a Sabbat is considered
an Esbat.
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| ETHERIC BODY
| That part of the body which exists in the Etheric plane between Astral and
Physical.
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| ETHERIC PLANE
| The level of energy existence between the physical and astral planes.
|
| EVOCATION
| The summoning of spiritual entities or elementals to local attendance in visible
or invisible states.
|
| EXORCISM
| The removal of bad or uninvited entities or energies from a place or person which
they may have taken over or inhabit by use of psychic concentration or magick. Compare with: Cleansing
|
| EYE OF HORUS
| An ancient Egyptian symbol which depicts the divine eye of the God Horus,
representing both the solar and lunar energies.
|
| FAMILIAR
| Usually a pet animal which accompanies a Witch or Coven. These pets are kept for
the psychic support and early warning of negative energies. Though cats are favorites, dogs, owls or any other animal you can "connect" with may become a familiar. Elementals can even become
familiars. Not every witch or coven has a familiar, and this does not lessen them to any degree. The decision to take on a familiar is a serious one and to be carefully considered. You may live with a
cat or dog for years before taking them as a familiar.
|
| FESTIVAL
| One of the eight seasonal Sabbats.
|
| FETCH
| See: Summoner
|
| FETISH
| A symbolic material object believed to possess the power to protect or ward off
evil.
|
| FIRE
| One of the four elements. Corresponds to the South Watchtower.
|
| FIRE SIGNS
| In astrology, the three signs of the zodiac attributed to Fire - Aries, Leo and
Sagittarius.
|
| FITH-FATH
| See: Poppet
|
| FIVEFOLD KISS
| Also known as the five fold salute or Witches salute. It comprises of kisses on
various parts of the body in the following order: A kiss on each foot, a kiss on each knee, a kiss on the lower belly, a kiss on each breast and a kiss on the lips. These five positions make up the
five fold kiss even though there are actually eight kisses in total. The five fold kiss is only used within the circle.
|
| GARDNERIAN
| A modern tradition of Witchcraft based on the guidelines developed by Gerald
Gardner in the 1950's. Gardnerians are exclusively coven based and tend to be a little secretive.
|
| GEMINI
| The third sign of the zodiac. Symbolized by the Twins, is an Air sign, and is
ruled by Mercury.
|
| GLYPH
| A powerful magical symbol representing the name and date of birth of a person.
|
| GNOMES
| One of the earth associated entities or elementals.
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| GODDESS, THE
| The supreme female aspect of the Divine and consort of the Horned God.
|
| GOLDEN DAWN
| An occult Order founded in London in 1887 by three Rosicrucian's, which became a
major influence in Western ritual magic.
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| GREAT RITE
| It is a ritual which symbolizes the union of the Goddess and the God. The ritual
involves a symbolic sexual act between the High Priest and High Priestess which may be physical if both so choose. If the act is actual, it is always performed in private with both participants fully
consenting. It is never a requirement that this ritual be an actual sexual one and is in most cases only performed in the symbolic sense.
|
| GREEN MAN
| Another name for a God, as in his kingdom of the forest.
|
| GREEN WITCH
| A nickname for a Witch who is skilled in the art of herbs. Also called the Green
Arts or Green Magic.
|
| GRIMOIRE
| Considered by some to be the same book as the Witches Book of Shadows, but by
others as a separate book. The Grimoire to some is that book containing only the practicalities of magick and ritual. If this argument is accepted, then it would only contain spells, formulas, rituals
and correspondences. It would not contain poems or personal laments and inspirations.
|
| GUARDIANS
| Each direction (North, East, South and West) has a symbolic Watchtower which is
guarded by an elemental, spirit or archangel. These Guardians are usually called upon when casting the circle.
|
| HALLOWEEN
| See: Samhain
|
| HANDFASTING
| This is the Pagan or Wiccan equivalent of a marriage ceremony with one major
difference. Instead of being "as long as you both shall live", it is "as long as you both have love for one another". Once a couple falls out of love a Handparting ritual breaks
that bond in the same manner as does a divorce. To make the Handfasting legal, the High Priest or High Priestess needs to be registered as a member of clergy. In case of a Handparting, a lawyer needs
to be consulted (in some cases) to make the parting a legal divorce.
|
| HANDPARTING
| The Pagan or Wiccan ritual which dissolves a Handfasting.
|
| HELL
| The goddess of the underworld (old Norse
Mythology), and the daughter of Loki and Angerboda, sister to Fenris and
Jormungand. She dwelt beneath one of the three roots of the sacred ash tree Yggdrasil. Odin, the All-Father, hurled Hel into
Niflheim, the realm of cold and darkness, itself also known as Hel, over which
he gave her sovereign authority. [more information]
|
| HEREDITARY
| Witches who can trace their tradition through a line of relative who have handed
the craft down to a sibling are called hereditary witches.
|
| HEXAGRAM
| Also known as the Star of David, this is a six pointed star formed from two
equilateral triangles of same size.
|
| HIGH PRIEST
| The term given to the male leader and counterpart of the High Priestess in a
coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priest is often abbreviated as HP.
|
| HIGH PRIESTESS
| The term given to the female leader and counterpart of the High Priest in a
coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priestess is often abbreviated as HPS.
|
| HIVING OFF
| This is the term used when two or more members leave a coven to shape another
coven known as a sister coven.
|
| HOLLY KING
| In the folklore of many parts of Europe, including the British Isles, the God of
the Waning Year. At the Summer Solstice he "slays" his twin, the Oak King.
|
| HORNED GOD
| The supreme male aspect of the Divine and consort of the Goddess.
|
| HOROSCOPE
| In astrology, a chart of the heavenly bodies that shows the relative positions of
the planets at a certain moment in time. With the exact time and place of a birth, an astrologer can cast a horoscope from which to define the subject's character and advise them on future courses of
action.
|
| I CHING
| A Chinese system of divination involving sixty-four `hexagrams' or six line
combinations of unbroken (yang) and broken (yin) lines.
|
| IMAGE MAGIC
| A primitive but potent form of magic which works on the basic principle that like
produces like.
|
| IMBOLC
| A Gaelic word, pronounced "immOL'g" which, when literally translated,
means in the belly [of the mother]. This is one of the eight Sabbats which celebrates the transition of the Goddess from Crone to Maiden. It also signifies the recovery of the Goddess after giving
birth to the God at Yule. Usually celebrated on or around 2nd February with the first signs of Spring. Also known as Oimelc (milk of the ewe), Candlemas (Christian equivalent), Lupercus and Disting.
|
| IMMANENCE
| It is the belief that Deity exists within all things, including people, and
cannot be separated from them.
|
| INCANTATION
| The ritual recitation of words of power or special phrases in order to produce a
magical effect.
|
| INCARNATION
| The manifestations of a living entity into physical form; any one of the earthly
lives of an immortal human. Individuality The immortal, reincarnating part of a human being, consisting of the Upper Spiritual, Lower Spiritual and Upper Mental levels
|
| INITIATION
| The term used for that ritual which is performed to add or acknowledge a person
as part of a coven or tradition.
|
| INNER PLANES
| Other levels of being and consciousness than the physical or the
"normal" Ego-consciousness.
|
| INTENT
| It is the goal of the magickal work.
|
| INVOCATION
| It is the act of calling to visible or invisible presence and entity of spiritual
nature. The ritual ceremony of Drawing Down the Moon is and invocation of the Goddess into the physical body of the High Priestess.
|
| JUJU
| A West African object used as an amulet, charm or fetish. Also a word for karma,
i.e. 'bad juju'.
|
| KABALA(H)
| See: Cabala
|
| KAHUNA
| A practitioner of Huna, an old esoteric tradition native to the Hawaiian Islands.
|
| KARMA
| Literally meaning "Cause and Effect". It is a law that whatever actions
you perform, good or bad, have and effect which will return to you in this life or in a future one.
|
| KARNAYNA
| Alexandrian form of the God-name Cernunnos.
|
| KEN(KENNING)
| All-encompassing sensation of "knowing" something with a certitude and
acceptance that what is kenned, is; keen, instinctive insight.
|
| KERIDWEN
| See: Cerridwen
|
| KERNUNNOS
| See: Cernunnos.
|
| KHUNA
| See: Kahuna
|
