Glossary of terms

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See also: Wiccan/Pagan New Age Dictionary

A

ADEPT: An individual who through serious study and accomplishments is considered highly proficient in a particular magickal system. A person can be an adept at Egyptian magickal practices, but a total failure at practical kitchen magick.

AKASHA: The Fifth element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is related to outer space, inner space, the unmanifest, and the life force. 
See Also Elements

AKASHIC RECORDS: In the early part of this century the famed psychic Edgar Cayce brought to general society the thought form of Akashic records. Supposedly, there is a giant data base somewhere that can be accessed for information on subjects such as past lives, healing, and other magickal/spiritual practices. This record system cannot be accessed by material equipment, such as PC networking with a larger computer. In this case, the mind of the psychic or Witch accesses the data through Universal Connections. 

ALTAR: A special, flat surface set aside exclusively for magickal workings or religious acknowledgment.

AMULET: Usually considered an object of protection that has been charged to deflect specific negative energies or thought forms. Amulets can be made of feathers, plants, beads, etc. The horseshoe and the four-leaf-clover are two examples of amulets. 
See Also Talisman

ANKH: An Egyptian hieroglyphic that is widely used as a symbol for life, love and reincarnation. It is depicted as a cross with a looped top. 

ARADIA: A champion Italian Goddess sworn to protect her people against the aggression of masculine faith and its persecutors during the reign of medieval terror. The original Aradia was a female Christ figures in Italy who taught around 1353. She was imprisoned more than once, escaped several times and eventually disappeared. The second Aradia you will hear about is Leland's Aradia, a book detailing information from an Italian Gypsy Witch. The third Aradia is the daughter of Diana and Lucifer (God of the Sun). She is considered the Queen of the Witches. 

ARCANA: The two halves of a Tarot deck. The Major Arcana consists of 22 trumps depicting dominant occurrences in our lives. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 suit cards (sometimes called the lesser Arcana) that assist in fleshing out the trump situations, or indicate smaller occurrences in our lives. See also Tarot Cards. 

ARCHETYPES: (EF) Extremely basic forms within the human psyche; the archaic "racial memories." Refer to the works of Dr.Carl Jung. 

ASTRAL: (SR) This word conjures lots of definitions. To keep it simple, let's describe it as another dimension of reality. Referred to as "dreamtime". This reference is from the Australian Aboriginal people and their teachings, which are well worth further study. 

ASTRAL TRAVEL/PROJECTION: The process of separating your astral body from your physical one to accomplish travel in the astral plane or dreamtime.

ATHAME: A cleansed and consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual work by Witches. The knife is never used for blood-letting, and rarely used to cut anything on the material plane. 

BANE: Another word for bad, evil, destructive.

BANISH: To magically end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To rid the presence of.

BI-LOCATION: This is an interesting practice. You use a type of astral projection to travel in everyday reality by retaining the capability to be aware of your present surroundings.

BIND: To magically restrain something or someone.

BLOOD OF THE MOON: A woman's menstrual cycle. If this cycle occurs over a Full or New Moon (and you can arrange that) she is far more powerful than during any other time of the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength within herself. For too many years women have been told that they must regard their cycle with an unkind eye, calling it a curse when actually it is a boon. Society has so dictated this to them that many feel weak, tired and disoriented because they are supposed to. Wrong. If you can rearrange your thinking on this matter, the Blood of the Moon can pack a powerful wallop for you. if you feel spacy, try grounding.

BOOK OF SHADOWS: A relatively new term for the collection of information in book form for a Witch's reference. Much akin to a magickal cookbook. Another name for this text would be grimoire.

BOLLINE: A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes such as cutting. For instance, the knife can be used to harvest herbs, cut a branch for a wand, inscribe candles, etc.

BURNING TIMES: In reference to a historical time from around 1000 CE through the 17th century when it is said that over nine million people were tortured and burned by church and public officials on the assumption that they were the Christian version of Witches. This turned into an extremely profitable venture, as all land and property was seized from the accused individual and portions given to the accuser (in reward fashion) and the remainder seized by the church officials. Historians indicated that the majority of people tortured and murdered were women and children.

CALL: Invoking Divine Forces.

CHAKRAS: Seven major energy vortexes found in the human body. Each is usually associated with a color. These vortexes are: crown - white; forehead (third eye position) - purple; throat - blue; chest - pink or green; navel - yellow; abdomen - orange; groin - red. Smaller vortexes are located in the hands and feet, as well.

CHARGE, THE: Originally written in modern form by Doreen Valiente, it is a story of the message from the Goddess to Her children.

CHANNELING: New Age practice wherein you allow a disincarnate entity to "borrow" your body to speak to others either through automatic writing or verbally. Channeling does not have a very good track record simply because it is difficult to prove and the information imparted is usually not about things that can be "tested." Subjects normally involve distance prophecy, what the after-life is like, the structure of other dimensions, words of wisdom that everybody really needs to know before it is too late, etc. Channeling is the new buzz-word for mediumship. The best known and most accurate medium within our present century was the later Edgar Cayce. Most book stores will carry some of his material and it is well worth your time to read. Channeling is not the same as contacting the dead for information or help.

CHARMS: Can either be an amulet or talisman that has been charged by saying an incantation over it and instilling it with energy for a specific task.

CONE OF POWER: Psychic energy raised and focused by either an individual or group mind (coven) to achieve a definite purpose. The most interesting Cone of Power raised in recent history was that of the Witches of England who stood together, despite their differences, to turn Hitler back from the shores of their beloved country.

CLEANSING: The act of removing any negative energy, vibrations or images from an object or place by utilizing positive, psychic energy.

CONSECRATION: The act of blessing an object or place by instilling it with positive energy. 

COVEN: A group of thirteen or fewer Witches that work together in an organized fashion for positive magickal endeavors or to perform religious ceremonies. The covenstead is the meeting place of the Witches, and is often a fixed building or place where the Witch can feel safe and at home.

DAYS OF POWER: Although usually referred to as Sabbats, these are other days throughout the year that can be considered days of power. These days can be triggered by astrological occurrences, your birthday, a woman's menstrual cycle (also know as the Blood of the Moon), or your dedication/initiation anniversary.

DEDICATION: Unlike the initiation ceremony that brings one into an order, the dedication of a Witch is that process where the individual accepts the Craft as their path, and vows to study and learn all that is necessary to reach adeptship in a given tradition. In a dedication, you consciously prepare yourself to accept something new into your life and stick with it, regardless of the highs and lows this action may produce.

DEOSIL: Clockwise movement. Most rituals and ceremonies, even spells, call for deosil movement at some point in their construction. 

DIVINATION: The art of using magickal tools and symbols to gather information from the Collective unconscious on the nature of people. places, things, and events in the past, present and future.

DOWSING: The art/science of using a pendulum or stick to find the actual location of a person, place, thing or element. Dowsing can also be used to answer yes or not questions. and quite a science has developed by holding a pendulum over a specially designed chart to answer specific questions on life patterns.

DRAWING DOWN THE MOON: A ritual used during the Full Moon by Witches to empower themselves and unite their essence with a particular deity, usually the Goddess.