| adept |
an individual who trough serious study and accomplishments is
considered highly proficient in a particular magical system |
| Akashic Records |
astral record of everything that has ever happened |
| alpha state |
A state of consciousness characterized by longer, slower brain waves, called alpha waves. Associated with a state of relaxation |
| alpha waves |
Longer, slower brain waves that are associated with an alpha state of consciousness |
| altar |
A special, flat surface set aside exclusively for magickal workings
or religious acknowledgement. Usually set in the center of the
circle |
| altered state of consciousness |
A nonordinary state of consciousness that can range from states of light meditation and hypnosis to states of trance. |
| alternative healing |
The use of nonbiomedical healing practices, such as using herbs, touch, and spiritual methods to heal. |
| animal helper |
The animals that shamans call on for assistance when they are seeking knowledge or attempting to do a healing. Also known as "power animals" |
| animism |
The notion that all things in the world have a spiritual essence or spirit, including all animals, plants, landforms, bodies of water, and elements. |
| archetypes |
Deeply held symbolic images that are common in all cultures, such as the image of the "hero" or "mother." They are part of the collective unconscious, which is why they are common to all cultures and are such powerful, deeply held images. |
| amulet |
Usually considered an object of protection that has been
charged to deflect specific negative energies or thought forms |
| ankh |
An Egyptian hieroglyphic that is widely used as a symbol for
life, love, and reincarnation |
| 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 suite cards that assist in fleshing
out the trump situations, or indicate smaller occurrences in our
lives. |
| ASC |
Abbreviation for Altered State of Consciousness. |
| astral |
Another dimension of reality. Pertaining to the etheric world,
the invisible world of spirit. |
| astraltravel/ projection |
The process of separating your astral body from your physical
one to accomplish travel in the astral plan 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 for cutting anything on the material plane. Used to
direct personal power. |
| aura |
bio-energy field of living creature |
| ayahuasca |
A brew which is made from the vine Banisteriopsis Caapi. Sections of this vine are boiled with the leaves of a number of other plants, and drinking the brew produces a hallucinogenic effort. |
| bane |
Bad, evil, destructive |
| banish |
To magickally end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To
rid the presence of. |
| behaviorism |
A psychological approach founded by John B. Watson in the early 1920's that is based on measuring, predicting, and controlling behavior. Behaviorists have been particualarly interested in examining the relationship between how a stimulus produces a particular repsonse. |
| behaviorists or behavioral psychologists |
Psychologists who study behaviorism, whereby the seek to measure, predict, and control behavior. |
| besome |
A decorative broom used for sweeping away negative influences or bad vibes. |
| bind |
To magickally restrain something or someone. |
| blessing |
Benediction. The laying on of hands to confer personal power,
energy, or good will to a person or material object. |
| Blood of the Moon |
A woman's menstrual cycle |
| bolline |
A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes. This knife is used for cutting things on the material plane. |
| Book of Shadows |
The collection of information in book form for a Witch's
reference |
| BOS |
Abbreviation for Book of Shadow |
| botanica |
a Saterian shop that sells herbs, charms, candles, religious
statues, etc. |
| bruja/brujo |
Spanish word for witch |
| Burning Times |
A historical time from around 1000CE 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. |
| |
| Cabala |
The ancient Hebrew magickal system (Kabbala[h] or Qabala) |
| Call |
Invoking Divine forces |
| censer |
An incense burner or heatproof container for burning incese
and magickal offerings. |
| chakras |
Seven major energy vortexes found in the human body. Each is
usually associated with a color. Smaller vortexes are located in
the hands and feet.
Crown - white
Forehead (third eye position) - purple
Throat - blue
Heart - pink or green
Navel - yellow
Abdomen - orange
Groin - red
|
| chalice |
A Witch's magickal cup. Represents the element of water during
magickal rites. Considered a sacred symbol of the Goddess. |
| channeling |
Wherein you allow a disincarnate entity to "borrow" your body
to speak to others either through automatic writing or verbally. |
| Charge, The |
Originally written in modern form by Doreen Valiente, it is a
story of the message from the Goddess to Her children |
| charms |
An amulet or talisman that has been charmed by saying an
incantation over it and instilling it with energy for a specific task |
| circle |
a group, less formal than a coven, of witches who practice,
worship, celebrate, or study together |
| clairvoyance |
psychic ability to know things beyond your immediate
knowledge (ESP or second sight) |
| cleansing |
The act of removing any negative energy, vibrations or mages
from an object or place by utilizing positive, psychic energy. |
| Cone of Power |
Psychic energy raised and focused by either an individual or
group mind (coven) to achieve a definite purpose. |
| consecration |
The act of blessing an object or place by instilling it with
positive energy |
| corn spirit |
spirit of a grain crop, embodied in an entity, person, or animal |
| coven |
A group of thirteen or fewer Witches that work together in an
organized fashion for positive magickal endeavors or to perform
religions ceremonies. |
| covenstead |
The meeting place for a coven of Witches, and is often a fixed
building or place where the Witch can feel safe and at home. |
| Craft |
witchcraft |
| croning |
ceremony held to mark a woman's transition from mother to crone, the final phase of a woman's life |
| crystallomancy |
divination by crystals, usually a crystal ball |
|
|
| Days of Power |
Although usually referred to as Sabbats, there 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, or your dedication/ initiation anniversary. |
| dedication |
the 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 |
| deosil |
Clockwise movement |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Earth Magick |
A practical form of magick wherein the powers and forces of
Earth Mother are used to conduct magickal workings or
celebrations. |
| eclectic |
a witch who works with deities from or worships within more
than one culture or mythological system |
| Elder |
These people have usually gained their positions a combination
of their abilities which may include education, experience,
magickal adeptship and counseling |
| elements |
Earth - North
Air - East
Fire - South
Water - West
Spirit (Akasha) - Center |
| Enchantment |
A magickal object that must be kept absolutely secret and
hidden from all human eyes and affects a hidden aura.
Enchantments must be charmed first. Gems and magickal
writing are good items to use for Enchantments. |
| Esbat |
coven meetings held at the Full Moon |
| evocation |
To call something out from within. |
|
|
| familiar |
An animal who has a spiritual bond with a Witch. Familiars
can also be entities who are created to protect your home from
the astral. |
| fascination |
a mental effort to control another animal or person's mind. |
| Fivefold Bond |
ritual tie that links wrists, neck and ankles |
| Fivefold Kiss |
ritual greeting of eight kisses between witches of opposite
genders in classical Wicca, on the feet, knees, pelvis, breast, and
lips |
| flying ointment |
paste, usually containing herbs, that is applied to the skin to aid
in astral projection |
| folk magic |
a culture's traditional magical practices |
| granny |
woman a female shaman |
| grimoire |
Book of Shadows, a handwritten book of spells and magical
information |
| gris gris |
French patois word for a charm |
| handfasting |
A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony |
| hedgewitch |
a non-Wiccan witch with a shamanistic path |
| hex |
usually a negative spell or to cast a negative spell |
| hidden |
children witches who must keep their religion secret, the hidden
children of the Goddess |
| High Priest |
The male leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays
the role of the God in certain ceremonies. |
| High Priestess |
The feminine leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and
plays the role of Goddess in certain ceremonies. |
| I Ching, The Book of Chinese |
system of divination that uses yarrow stalks or coins Changes inscribed with hexagrams |
| incubus |
malevolent male entity that takes sexual possession of sleeping
women |
| initiation |
An experience that so transforms the individual that their
concept of personal and worldly reality has been altered. |
| invocation |
To bring something in from without. |
| juju |
West African word for magic |
|
|
| Karma |
The belief that one's thoughts and deeds can be either counted
against them or added to their spiritual path during several life
times. Follows the laws of cause and effect |
| kitchen witch |
witch who uses mainly practical magic centering on the home,
hearth, and family |
| kundalini |
dormant bio-energy resident in the base of the human spine, in
the root chakra, released through yoga and other practices for
enlightenment, intelligence, and spiritual insights |
| left-hand path |
Those people that feel they are justified in using magick for
purposes that are not constructive to other human begins |
| libation |
liquid offering to a God/dess |
| macrocosm |
The world around us |
| mage, magus |
someone who is adept at magic but not a witch |
| magic(k) |
the are and science of focusing your will and emotions to effect
change both in the world around you and the world within you.
Magick is neither good nor evil, positive nor negative. T is the
use of the power that determines the path it will take |
| magick circle |
A circular boundary drawn in visionary blue flames or white
light that protects the Witch from outside forces while
conducting ritual magick. |
| magickal systems |
Traditions, denominations, sects, or pantheons. It is a basic set
of guidelines relating to specific Gods and Goddesses or
cultural traditions. |
| magickal working |
The process of using magick to reach a desired positive goal. |
| maiden |
stage of a woman's life between menarche and motherhood or
mentoring |
| Matrix |
word used to describe the universe as the Goddess-web-of-life |
| medicine bag |
a pouch, usually containing herbs, stones, feathers, etc. |
| medium |
person who is able to channel spirits or other enities |
| microcosm |
The world within us |
| mojo |
Afro-American word for magic |
| mojo bag |
small bag, containing charms or talismans, worn around the
neck for power, protection and so on |
| necromancy |
divination via spirits of the dead |
| New Age |
Mixing metaphysical practices with a structured religion. |
| novice |
someone who has just begun studying the craft |
|
|
| OBE |
out-of-body experience, astral projection, lucid dreaming |
| Ogham |
any ancient Celtic magical alphabet |
| Old Soul |
person who has been reincarnated several times |
| Omen |
anything that may be interpreted as a sign, positive or negative,
from the universe |
| oracle |
place or method for divination by means of deities, as
interpreted by a priest/ess |
| Ouija Board |
board printed with letters and simple words that is used for
communicating with spirits and operated by two or more
people touching a paten that moves around the board pointing
to letters or words |
| Pagan/Neopagan |
Follower of a nature-based religion. The term Neopagan means
"new Pagan" and is not a popular term. |
| pantheon |
A collection or group of Gods and Goddesses in a particular
religious or mythical structure. |
| pathworking |
Using astral projection, bi-location, or dreamtime to
accomplish a specific goal. |
| pentacle |
A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (pentagram).
Worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief and used in magickal
workings and ceremonies. Each point on the star has a specific
meaning: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. |
| pentagram |
pentacle that is written, printed, or drawn; five-pointed star
inside a circle |
| poppet |
humanoid figure that is used to represent someone for a spell or
other magical working |
| postulnt, neophyte |
new member of a coven, someone who has not yet been
initiated |
| prana |
Hindu word for bio-energy, the vital force shared by every
living creature |
| Priest |
A male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity(ies) and
humankind |
| Priestess |
A female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity(ies)
and humankind |
| psychometery |
drawing psychic impressions from objects while handling them |
| psychopomp |
God/dess who guides souls to the underworld or afterlife |
|
|
| quarters |
The four major divisions of the year - the winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox. Also term for calling North (Earth), East (Air), South (Fire) & West (Water). |
| reincarnation |
The belief that one has lived before in another lifetime. |
| REMs |
The rapid eye movements that occur when an individual is dreaming. Also found in sleeping animals. |
| right-hand path |
Considered positive in nature |
| ritual |
A focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank
one's chosen pantheon, or to perform a specific magickal
working or act. |
| Rorschach test |
A psychological test for interpreting the meaning of images seen in an inkblot. |
| runes |
A set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal
workings. |
| Sabbats |
eight annual Wiccan festivals |
| sacred object |
An object considered to have a spiritual force or energy that shamans can use in a ritual. Also called a power object. |
| sacred place |
A place that is considered especially powerful; often it is a place where very powerful orsacred spirites reside. Also called power place. |
| Samhain |
The halfway point between the fall equinox and winter solstice, which occurs on October 31. |
| San Pedro |
A type of cactus that is the source of the power hallucinogen used by many shamans in South America, including Peru. |
| Sands of Time |
sand taken from between the paws of the Great Sphinx in Egypt,
used to make spells and charms permanent |
| scrying |
A divination method using specific tools such as a bowl of
inked water, a mirror, crystal ball, etc., where the diviner "sees"
either normal visual pictures, mental visual pictures, or
information without any pictures at all. |
| séance |
gathering of people, usually seated around a table, to
communication with ancestral spirits and divination |
| seeing |
The process of deep looking that the shaman or practitioner of shamanism engages in, so that he or she can look into a nonordinary reality and truly see and understand what is there in this other world. |
| seguro |
A glass jar which the shamans use for collecting the magickal herbs used in their rituals. |
| shaman |
A religious or healing practitioner who practices shamanism. |
| shamanic |
The characteristics of somone who is using the techniques of shamanism or the qualities of beliefs or techniques that make them part of shamanism. This term is also used to refer to techniques and practices that are "shamanistic," meaning that they are like shamanism or adapted from it, but the person using them isn't actually a shaman. |
| shamanic journey |
The trip a shaman takes when he or she goes into an altered state of consciousness or trance in order to communicate with or contact the spirits in the spirit world. |
| shamanism |
A deeply rooted traditional system for healing and solving personal and community problems, in which a religious or healing practitioner contacts the spirits for wisdom and advice, usually through going into a trance or other altered state consciousness. |
| shamanistic |
A term that refers to techniques or practices that are like shamanism or adapted from it, but that aren't actually shamanism; however this term is often used as an alternate term for shamanic. |
| Shamanic Practices |
include magi, healing, shapeshifting, communication with
ancestral spirits, and divination |
| shamanizing |
Refers to the activities of the shaman when he or she is engagin in the religious or healing practices of shamanism. |
| shapeshifting/skinwal |
shamanic practice, often aided by drugs, drumming and dance,
king of mentally assuming animal form |
| sheikh/sheikha |
modern Egyptian Arabic words for magical adepts |
| sigil |
A magically oriented seal, sign, glyph, or other device used in a
maickal working. |
| skyclad |
Celebrating or doing a magickal working in the nude |
| solitary/solitaire |
witch who practices alone, without a coven |
| somatization |
A term used by medical practitioners to refer to the process of expressing a mental or emotional condition as a distrubed bodily function. It is especially common in nonindustrialized societies where people don't recognize mental illnesses or deal with psychological problems as medical conditions. |
| sorcerer/sorceress |
traditionally a person who practices black magic, usually by aid
of malevolent spirits; modern term used by some magic-users to
differentiate themselves from witches |
| sorcery |
The use of negative and destructive forces to harm others, such as by causing them to fall ill, experience bad fortune, or die. |
| soul travel |
A term that is sometimes used to refer to going on a shamanic journey or journeying, though is is most commonly used by groups with a particular religious or spiritual orientation; it is no a s common as the other terms: shamanic journey or journeying. |
| Soyal ceremony |
A ceremony among the Ojibwa Indians which begins the ceremonial year, when the seed corn is blessed during the winter solstice in the hopes it will bring a good harvest in the coming year. It is led by the Sloyal chief and priests. |
| spell |
Extended mental and emotional energy spoken aloud, written,
spoken to oneself, drawn or even danced. To work, it should
be clear, concise, focused and emotional. The need must be
present to bring any spell to successful culmination. |
| spiral |
The sacred spiral plays an important part in magickal workings.
It is the symbol of "coming into being." |
| spirit |
A being or entity who has no physical or bodily form and is believed to exist in the spirit world. An essential element of shamanism is being able to contact and communicate with these spirit beings. |
| spirit world |
The world of spirit beings, who exist in a nonordinary reality. |
| spiritual guide(s) |
Beings who assist shamans and which may take many forms. They are also called guides and teachers. |
| spiritual healing |
A type of healing in which the healer draws on the help of the spirits, deities, or God to heal a patient. |
| Spring Equinox |
The time when the sun and earth are perfectly aligned, so that the days and nights are the same length. The occurs around March 21 or 22. |
| succubus |
(succubi) malevolent female entity that takes sexual possession
of sleeping men |
| Summer Solstice |
The height of summer, when the days are the longest and the nights are shortest - generally around June 21 or 22. |
| Summerlands |
place where we rest after death and in between reincarnations
synchronicity meaningful coincidence |
| syncretism |
The combining and merging of different elements or factors together; a combination of one from the many. |
|
|
| talisman |
An object that has been magickally charged in order to bring
something to the bearer. |
| Tantra |
hindu path based in kundalini yoga and sex magic as a way to
enlightenment |
| Tarologist |
One who is adept at the art and science of handling the Tarot. |
| Tarot cards |
A set of 78 cards which carry pictures and symbols used to
connect the diviner with the collective unconscious. |
| teacher(s) |
Beings who assist shamans and who may take many forms. They are also called guides or spiritual guides. |
| telekinesis |
ability to move objects with your mind |
| theta state |
A state of consciousness characterized by even longer, slower waves called theta waves. It is associated with a very deep state of relaxation or trance or with sleeping. |
| theta waves |
The long, slow waves that are associated with the theta state of consciousness. |
| third eye |
chakra in the middle of the forehead |
| totem animal |
animal that represents a person, tribe, or other group |
| traditional |
The practices and beliefs that are rooted in the past. |
| trance |
An altered state of consciousness in which an individual loses touch with everyday reality and enters another world of seeing. Often individuals in this state may feel they can see and communicate with spirits, and they may or may not remember what they have experienced in this alternate state of consciousness. |
| transpersonal psychologist |
A movement in the field of psychology that is based on bringing in a spiritual or religious dimension to personal development and growth. besides focusing on the whole person, it uses techniques to spiritual healing and explores alternate states of consciousness as a source of promoting wellness and resolving psychological problems. |
| trigger or triggering device |
An indicator, such as a sound or motion, you can use to cause you to do something. You might use it in shamanism to stop a difficult experience or redirect your thinking from negative to positive thoughts. |
| Tunkashila |
The Lakota name for the Creator. |
| underworld |
The spiritual realm that is located underground or below the earth. It is also referred to as the lower world. It is often the area where power animals are found in addition to being on earth. |
| upper world |
The spiritual realm that is located in the air or above the earth. It is also referred to as the higher world. It is often the area where teachers, spiritual guides, and spiritual helpers are found in addition to being on earth. |
| Urban Revolution |
The third majar change in the history of humanity. It began in about 3,000 B.C.E., initially in the river valleys where the agricultural revolution first began, and then idependently developed or spread to other areas around the world. It marks the beginning of civilization as we know it today. |
| vision questing |
Using astral projection, bi-location, or dreamtime to
accomplish a specific goal. |
| visionary plants |
Plants that have hallucinogenic properties, such as ayahuasca, peyote, datura, and psychedelic mushrooms. |
| waking dream |
Another term for lucid dreaming, in which you are both awake and dreaming. |
| webweaving |
Networking with other magickal people through conversation,
in writing, or by computer to gather information to mutually
assist each party in their studies and life goals. |
| Wheel of the Year |
One full cycle of the seasonal year, beginning with the Samhain
celebration. |
| white witch |
witch on the right-hand path |
| widdershins |
counterclockwise motion used in some magickal workings or
ceremonies. |
| wiiwuchuim ceremony |
The annual ceremony of the Hopi in which the young men who have reached the age of puberty are initiated into manhood. |
| Winter Solstice |
The height of winter, when the days are shortest and the nights are logest - generally falls on December 21 or 22. |
| witch doctor |
African shaman |
| Witch Queen |
high priestess whose coven has hived off two or more new
covens |
| witch's ball/witch ball |
mass of dried entwined herbs blown about by the wind |
| witch's bottle |
sealed bottle placed in the house or buried on the property for
protection. |
| witch's ladder |
type of knot magic in which charms are knotted or braided,
with specific magical intention, into cords, to make a powerful
talisman |
| wizzard |
someone who practices magic but is not Wiccan
wort/wortcraft herb, herbalism |
| world tree |
A tree that Mayans and other groups believe stands at the center of the cosmos and connects the lower, middle, and upper worlds. |
| yin/yang |
opposite but balancing male and female principles - yin is female
(Moon) energy, negative and passive; yang is male (Sun) energy,
positive and active |
| Yoni |
female genitalia as a sacred symbol of life; creation, fertility,
sexuality, the Goddess, etc |
|
|
