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Definitions

Akasha: The fifth element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the energy out of which the Elements formed.

Altar:A small working area and shrine many pagans maintain,where they perform most of their ritual and spell work.


Amulet: A magically Charged object which deflects specific, usually negative energies. Generally, a protective object. (Compare with Talisman).

Asperger: A bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object used to sprinkle water during or preceding Ritual, for purificatory purposes.

Athame: A Wiccan ritual knife. It usually has a double-edged blade and a black handle. The athame is used to direct Personal Power during Ritual workings.



Balefire: A fire lit for magical purposes, usually outdoors. Balefires are traditional on Yule, Beltane and Midsummer

Bane: That which destroys life, which is poisonous, destructive, evil, dangerous.

Beltane: A Wiccan festival celebrated on April 30th or May 1st (traditions vary). Beltane is also know as May Eve, Roodmas, Walpurgis Night, Cethsamhain. Beltane celebrates the symbolic union, mating or marriage of the Goddess and God, and links in with the approaching summer months.
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Besom: Broom .

Binding:Using magick to restrain someone or something, or to 'bind' them to you.

Bolline: The white-handled knife, used in magic and Wiccan ritual for practical purposes such as cutting herbs or piercing a pomegranate. Compare with Athame.

Book of Shadows: A Wiccan book of rituals, spells and magical lore. Once hand copied upon Initiation, the B.O.S. is now photocopied or typed in some Covens. No one “true” Book of Shadows exists:.


Burning Times: period of history known as the "Middle Ages", when a large number of people were put to death supposedly because of witchcraft. Burning wasn't the only method used, however, and witchcraft was not the only reason.


Cauldron: iron, fire proof pot or kettle

Censer: A heat-proof container in which incense is smouldered. An incense burner. It symbolizes the Element of Air.

Chalice: a cup or goblet for use in Rituals

Cheiromancy: the art of reading palms

Charge, To: To infuse an object with Personal Power. “Charging” is an act of Magic.

Circle, Magic: See Magic Circle.

Circle of Stones: See Magic Circle.

Conscious Mind: The analytical, materially-based, rational half of our consciousness. The mind at work when we compute our taxes, theorize or struggle with ideas. Compare with Psychic Mind.

Corn Dolly: A figure, often human-shaped, created by plaiting dried wheat or other grains. It represented the fertility of the Earth and the Goddess in early European agricultural rituals and is still used in Wicca. Corn dollies are not made from cobs or husks; corn originally referred to any grain other than maize and still does in most English-speaking countries except the United States.

Coven: A group of Wiccans, usually initiatory and lead by one or two leaders.

Covenstead: home of a coven

Cowan: a person not of Wiccan beliefs, trying to fake the beliefs.

Craft, The: Wicca. Witchcraft. Folk magic.

Cross Quarters: the midpoints of the seasons, they are four of the Sabbats, or holidays, which fall between the Sabbats at the Quarters.

Cult: A particular system of worship. (Webster’s Dictionary)

Curse:Conscious direction of negative energy towards a person, place, or object.


Days of Power, The: See Sabbat.

Deosil: Clockwise, the direction of the Sun’s apparent motion in the sky.

Divination: The magical art of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols through the use of tools such as clouds, tarot cards, flames, smoke.

Divine Power: The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life force, the ultimate source of all things.


Earth Power: That energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind and other natural objects. It is manifested Divine Power and can be utilized during Magic to create needed change.

Elements, The: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. These four essences are the building blocks of the universe. Everything that exists (or that has potential to exist) contains one or more of these energies.

Equinox: happens twice a year when the sun is exactly over the Earth's middle (Equator). It produces one day of equal light and dark.

Esbat: A Wiccan ritual, usually occurring on the Full Moon.

Essential Oil:A plant oil which is extracted through a very complex process that generally yields very little product, making it costly to buy true essential oils. It's a misconception to think of them as actually being oily because they rarely are. These are called for often in rituals.

Evocation: Calling up spirits or other non-physical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance.


Familiar:A spirit or guardian who is close to a human being and considered a companion in magick. The spirit often manifests itself in a sacred object or a pet. This explains the misconception that all witches have black cats, which is not necessarily true though a cat is a magickal creature and often does become a familiar..


Five-fold Kiss:A traditional salute generally performed between the High Priest and the High Priestess. This involves kissing 5 areas on the body of the Priestess "Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways." "Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar." "Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be." "Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty." "Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the sacred names."


God: the divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess.

Goddess: The divine equal and counterpart to the God. The source of fertility, wisdom, and love. She is all nature.

Grimoire: A magical workbook containing ritual information, formulae, magical properties of natural objects and preparation of ritual equipment..



Handfasting: A Wiccan, Pagan or Gypsy wedding.

HANDFASTINGS

1) a year and a day

2) a lifetime