| Wand - Ritual tool brought to the craft from ritual Magick. This tool would be used in place of the athame, for the same purpose. A wand directs energy and is normally made of wood. Many witches make their own wands using a stick from a tree. It can be decorated, you can make inscriptions in it, place a crystal or other gem on the tip, whatever you prefer.
Waning - The lunar phase when the moon is getting "smaller" (more crescent-like). This is the time when magick that involves banishing things, breaking habits, and getting rid of things is to be performed. Opposite of waxing. Ward - A protection spell. Warlock - The Scottish medieval term for a male sorcerer or Witch. The word originally came from the Anglo-Saxon Waerloga, which means oath breaker, a traitor, deceiver, or liar. The word belongs more to ceremonial Magick than Wicca, as it refers to a person who gains power through a pact with demons. This word is not commonly used today to describe Wicca or Wiccans. Most Wiccans and Witch's find the term offensive. Water - Third element of the alchemical tradition; the essence of love and fertility; the element of the West and the nature of emotions. Watchtowers - The Watchtowers refer to the four directions/Elements in a magickal circle. They are called upon for protection when casting a circle. They are also referred to as Guardians, quarters/cross quarters, or the corners of the circle. Waxing - The lunar phase when the moon is getting "larger" (nearing the full moon). This is the time when magick that involves growth and bringing things to you is best performed. Opposite of waning. Web Weaving - Networking with other magickal people via conversation, writing, e-mail, to gather information which will mutually assist each party. Wheel of the Year - A Celtic phrase to denote the Eight-Spoke Wheel of holy days and seasons that make up a year. White Buffalo Calf Woman - Lakota Goddess White-Handled Knife - A normal cutting knife, with a sharp blade and white hanle. It is used within Wicca to cut herbs and fruits, to slice bread during the Simple Feast and for other functions--but never for sacrifice. Sometimes called the bolline. White Witch - One who will practice ONLY positive Magick. A "White Witch" will typically live by a code "..an it harm none, do what thou will". Wicca - A contemporary Pagan religion with spiritual roots in Shamanism and the earliest expressions of reverence of nature. Among its major motifs are: reverence for the Goddess and God; reincarnation; magic; ritual obervances of the Full Moon, astronomical and agricultural phenomena; spheroid temples, created with personal power, in which rituals occur. Wiccaning - Similar to a Christening. Unlike a Christening though, the child is placed in the care of the Goddess and God, not declared to be a Pagan or Wiccan. The child is free to choose whichever religion they like, but a Wiccaning is done to protect them until they are old enough to make such a decision. Wicce - Synonymous with Wicca. In some groups, Wicce is used for women and Wicca is used for men. Widdershins - Anti-clockwise motion, usually used in the Northern Hemisphere for negative magical purposes or for ispersing negative energies or conditions such as disease. Widdershins and deosil motions are symbolic; only strict, close-minded traditionalists believe that accidentally walking around the altar backwards, for instance, will raise negativity. Their use in Wicca stems from ancient European rituals practiced by peoples who watched and reverenced the Sun and Moon in their daily revolutions. Widdershins motion within the ritual context, is still shunned by the vast majority of Wiccans, though others use it once in a while, for instance, to disperse the Magic Circle at the end of a rite. Winter Solstice - One of the Wiccan eight holy days, also called Yule; celebrated on December 21st of each year. Wise Woman - A solitary female practitioner of witchcraft who gave charms and healing salves to villagers in Europe. Wita - Scottish Wicca. See also Pecti-Wita. Witta - Irish Wicca. Witch - Anciently, a European practitioner of the remnants of pre-Christian folk magic, particularly that relating to herbs, healing, wells, rivers, and stones. One who practiced witchcraft. Later, this term's meaning was deliberately altered to denote demented, dangerous, supernatural beings who practiced destructive magic and who threatened Chrisianity. This change was a political, monetary, and sexist move on the part of organized religion, not a change in the practices of Witches. this later, erroneous meaning is still accepted by many non-Witches. It is also, somewhat surprisingly, used by some members of Wicca to descibe themselves. Witch Balls - An 18th century tradition; the name applied to reflecting glass balls that are hung in windows to send back negative vibrations. The Victorians used such reflecting spheres in gardens. This is where the Christian concept of the Christmas tree ornament came from. Witchcraft - The craft of the witch--magic, especially magic personal power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colors, and other natural objects. While this may have spiritual overtones, Witchcraft, using this definition, isn't a religion. However, some followers of Wicca use this word to denote their religion. Witch Queen - This describes a High Priestess who has had at least two new covens hive off of hers. Witchs Hat - The traditional black hat has a tall, cone-shaped crown with a wide brim. This image of a Witch arose during the Burning Times, along with the black dress and cape, warts, and ugly features. Witchs Ladder - A string of forty beads or cord with forty knots. This is used by a Witch to keep tack of repetitive chants. Witching Hour - Traditionally, this is midnight. Wizard - One who practices Magick; a sorcerer or magician; usually acts alone and is sometimes considered to be a semi-divine authority. This word is can be used to describe a male Witch. Word of Power - A word or name which is supposed to have great power when spoken, most are almost impossible to pronounce and have no meaning in any language. Working/Magickal Working - Any act involving magick or ritualism. The process of using Magick through a spell or ritual to achieve some desired outcome. Wort - An archaic word for herb. Wyrd - Destiny. A force beyond human control, manipulated by divine spirits |
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