Hallucination:
(1) Perception of objects or beings with no reality or not present within normal sensory range
(2) Experience of sensations with no exterior cause, usually as a result of nervous dysfunction.
(3) Perceptions not in accord with consensus reality.
Hallucination, Veridical:
One in which the content is essentially factual.
Hallucinogen:
A chemical or biochemical substance capable of inducing hallucinations when introduced into the human metabolism.
Handfasting:
A Pagan/Wiccan wedding. The "Five-Fold Kiss" is usually incorporated into the ritual. See also "Five-Fold Kiss", "Handparting".
Handparting:
A Pagan/Wiccan "divorce". Unfortunately, all religions have these, but this one is more of a good-hearted "farewell, I enjoyed the time we shared, but our paths part and I must move on." sort of thing. See also "Handfasting”.
Hare Moon:
The fifth Full Moon of the year.
Harp:
A sacred stringed musical instrument and magickal tool of Bards. See also "Bard".
Haruspicy
Divination by animal entrails.
Harvest Moon - See "Barley Moon".
Hauntings:
Recurrent plug-ins to the Switchboard and/or perceptions of ghostly entities associated with a particular location or being.
Healing:
In regards to Paganism, this is both physical and spiritual. Healing is not only accomplished through medicinal substances, as offered by Herbalism, but through our own energies and minds as well
Heat Control:
The use of temperature control to start or stop fires and other heating phenomena, also called
“psychopyresis.”
Heathen:
In Christianity it is a derogatory word used to describe anyone not of his or her faith, originating during the times of the spread of Christianity. The actual translation of the word, as appropriate at the time of its inception, is simply, "one who dwells on the heath/hearth".
Hecate:
The Greek Goddess of ghosts and the Earth; the Dark Mother. Associated with magick and Witchcraft for centuries.
Hedonism:
A method for altering the state of one’s consciousness through the experience of intense pleasures;
when extreme, may become tiring.
Hedge Witch
A rural practitioner who has little formal training, or none at all.
Hierophant Druid:
A Druid that has been a Grand Druid or at least a member of the High Council of Nine but is no longer. These Druids, traditionally, usually became hermetic and would roam the wilds for the rest of their years, never to be seen alive, if at all, ever again. See also "Druidism".
Hellith:
A God of the setting sun (Fire of Air), and of the dying. If invoked, He brings peace to those near death. After death, souls are in his protection until they reach their destination. His magickal symbols are the setting sun disc and a flute that brings peace and tranquility to those that hear it.
Helmet, Horned:
A helmet with horns used by some traditions of Witchcraft worn by the High Priest during times of ritual. During these times, the High Priest is the embodiment of the Horned God.
Hematite:
A magickal stone whose qualities are that of grounding, protection, strength, density, and the otherworldly self.
Henotheism:
A polytheistic religion where one deity is the official Ruler and is supposed to be the prime focus of attention.
Hepatoscopy:
Divination through the use of animal innards (see Anthropomancy), especially livers.
Heptagram:
A star of seven points drawn with a single, unbroken, reflecting line. Its points are related to the seven traditional planets of astrology.
Herbalism:
The science in which the magickal and other properties of herbs and other plants are utilized for certain purposes, most commonly concocting natural medicines for bettering one's health and/or healing various ailments.
Heretic:
One who holds a different religious view than those of the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish churches, schools and professions. Is this actually an insulting title? Hardly punishable by death, I would have to say.
Herkimer:
A magickal stone whose qualities are that of dreams and dreaming, psychic stimulation, power, and higher love.
Hertha:
Also "Herdda". A Goddess of rebirth and healing. She is an earth Goddess representing the greening of spring time. Her magickal symbols are the cow, calf, and milk pail.
Hexagram:
A figure formed by two overlapping equilateral triangles. Also called the Shield of David, it is the Jewish symbol. In modern magic, it is used to invoke and banish the spirits and powers of the seven ancient planets.
Hierophant:
Originally the high priest of the Greek Mysteries at Eleusis. More generally, any priest of the Mysteries who reveals sacred secrets to initiates.
"High" Magick:
High Magick is simply ceremonial or ritual magick. It is more directly related to the Divine Power of the Gods. High Magick is not necessarily more powerful than "Low" Magick. The Greeks called it theurgy, which literally means "god work”. See Also " "Low" Magick".
Higher Self:
What you really are, as opposed to what you think you are. The purest identity of the individual unwrapped of all transitory veils
Hinayana:
(aka “Lesser Vehicle”) Buddhism The oldest or most “orthodox” form of Buddhism,
with deities demoted to very minor roles or completely absent.
Hixson’s Law:
“All possible universes that can be constructed out of all possible interactions of all existing subatomic particles through all points in space-time, must exist.”
Hoodoo:
A 200-year-old religio-magickal practice started when the African slaves were brought to the Americas. It is the result of the combining of both African Voodoo and English/European Tradition(s).
Horoscope:
A two-dimensional chart of the way “important” parts of the sky look at a particular time and
location, especially at birth, used in astrology.
Humours:
The four elemental qualities that make up the human body, historically comprising blood, phlegm, choler, and melancholy. When they are in balance, health results; imbalance creates sickness.
Hydromancy
Divination by liquid, especially water.
Hyper apotheosis:
The promotion of one’s tribal deity to the rank of Supreme Being, as in Judaism, Christianity or Islam.
Hypercognition:
A categorical term for those psi talents consisting of super fast thinking, usually at a subconscious level, often using data received via ESP, which then reveals all or part of the “gestalt” (whole pattern) of a situation; this is then presented to the conscious mind as a sudden awareness of knowledge (or “a hunch”), without a pseudo-sensory experience. See Retro cognition and Precognition.
Hyperesthesia:
Excessive or pathological sensitivity of the skin or other senses; heightened perception or responsiveness to the environment; often mistaken for real ESP.
Hypnosis:
(1) As used in this book, an altered state of consciousness within which the following can occur at
will: increase in bodily and sensory control, in suggestibility, in ability to concentrate and eliminate distractions, and probably in psychic abilities as well.
(2) A useful word and tool for those who cannot conceive of nor practice real mesmerism.
Hypothesis:
Scientific term for wild guess, hunch, tentative explanation or possibility to be tested.