magickal glossary.docx

8/14/2019 Magickal Glossary.docx

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An Adept is one who is considered highly proficient

within a magickal system through serious study and

accomplishments.

Akasha comes from the sanskrit word meaning

"luminous" refering to essence/space. It is one of

the 5 hindu elements (the black egg of spirit). It has

been incorperated into western magick as the

energy a soul is made up of, so to speak, in the idea

that this akashic energies are all interconnected.

The Akashic Records is a theosophical concept for

astral memory of all events, thoughts, and emotions

that have arisen since the begining of the world. It is

believed that psychics are able to tune into this

dimension and revieve impressions of past ages.

The most common ideas of viewing the Akashic

records is that of entering a large library on the

astral plain, usually durring astral projection, where

one can choose among every moment in time to

view a specific event (past, present, or future).

Alchemy is a branch of High Magic developed in the

Middle Ages whit the intention of magically and/or

chemically turning base metals into gold.

A practice of combining elements of metallurgy, and

other sciences with mysticism and religion for many

purposes, including the creation of gold and the

finding of a panacea that could cure all disease.

The Alexandrian Tradition was founded by Alex and

Maxine Sanders in the UK during the 1960s. Like the

Gardnarian Tradition, the Alexandrian Tradition is

widely recognized tradition in the pagan and wiccan

community. It is said that the Alexandrian Traditions

is not as practiced as Gardnarian because of some

bad publicity in the past, supposedly stunting it's

growth.

The Almadel, in medieval magick was a wax

talisman inscribed with the names of spirits and/or

deities. Being made of wax, it could be thrown in

fire or a hot pot for melting, and to destroy it's

secret information. Almadels are still sometimes

used as in the attatched photo, propped with a

candle at each corner of the wax plate.

Amulets are small objects worn or carried for

protection, that has been naturally imbued with

magickal power.

Anima Mundi


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A cosmological concept of a world soul or governing

force in the universe that allows divine thought to

be manifested in laws affecting matter.

According to mystic Marsilio Ficino, the wotld soul is

omnipresent but cooperating star deamons assist in

uniting spirit and matter. Philosophically, the world

soul was midway between spirit and matter, a

dimension of energy and vitality for the world

below.

The Ankh is also known as Crux Ansata which is latin

meaning "cross with a handle". It has also been

called the key of life, and the key of the Nile. There

is much debate on the symbol's origin, though one

theory states that it was the Goddess Isis's belt

buckle. It is a hieroglyph that reads "life". Many

Egyptian Gods/desses are depicted holding the

ankh, perhaps in reference to their power over it....

to give life, or take it.

To many pagans today, it is seen as a symbol of

eternal life, much in the same way as a figure 8 of

infinity.


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Apo Leo, among the Kahunas of Hawaii, is a specific

form of sorcery in which a victim is suddenly unableto speak. The God Uli and Goddess Hiiaka believed

to be responsible for causing these types of

magickal conditions.

An Apparition is the appearance of someone living

or dead in conditions that cannot be accounted for

by a physical cause. Though apparitions are often

thought of as ghosts, the term is alao used in occult

literature to describe human forms tha appear to

another person as the result of astral projection or

clairvoyance.

The word Archetype refers to symbols or images

that represent the emotions or knowledge of the

subconscious mind. Images within a tarot card are

symbols or messages for a recipient, these images

are the archetypes or mirrors of subconscious

emotions. Archetypal visions have been regarded by

mystics as personal revelations from an external

divine source.

An Ashipu was a Babylonian priest/sorcerer who

performed magick ceremonies to counteract evil

spells and control nature. They also returned sick

people back to health by exorcising evil spirits.

Asperger is a bundle of rolled up Herbs used to

sprinkle water in a purification. Sometimes metal

rods are used, and some also use their athame or

wand.

Astral Projection is a practice in which a person

enters an altered state of conciousness. Durring this

altered state, the conciousnes or "spiritual body"

leaves the physical body.

Astrology is an organized doctrine used for

divination and understanding of oneself. Through

examining the placement of astrological objects,

one can discover underlying meanings of events, a

persons character traits or foretell future events.

Atavism is the concept that a primeval force related

to an earlier stage if one's evolution can reappear


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after many generations. Austin Osman Spare, an

english Occultist, practiced a techique called

atavism resurgence in order to manifest animal

aspects of his personality that he believed had

derived from his previous incarnations.

The word Atavism is used in the medical feild also

to describe birth mutations such as tails, webbed

toes, third nipples, and hooved feet on humans.

Athame (ath-uh-may). Usually a black handled, two

edged blade used to cut/cast the magick circle. It is

NEVER used to do any physical cutting. The blade is

said to be double edged in honor of balance

between forces, between worlds, and God &Goddess. The black handle is believed to obsorb

energy from the user making it easier to direct their

energy out of its tip. In wicca, the athame

represents the element of fire, and the phallic

symbol durring the Rite of Union.

Bane was a term often used to describe poisonous

plants in the Middle ages, and carries on through

current times as well. Alot of plants such as Dog's

Bane and Leapord's Bane got their names from thisconcept.

I have have also seen the word Bane/Baneful used

to describe thoughts and actions of others, in that

they are harmful. Bane=Bad. Lol

The Besom is a brush or broom, traditionaly made

from twigs, is used to sweep away negative energy

and prepare sacred space for ritual. Used widely in

Wicca and other traditions, one sweeps the cirle in

a clockwise (deosil) spiral from the outside inward

to the center, then disposes of dust along with all

negative energies with it before casting the circle.

To be bewitched is to be under someone's spell. To

bewitch is to cast a spell upon someone, in whichthey are under your control.

This is a work you encounter often in magick and

witchcraft. Though it is usually explained well, some

still confuse binding magick with other types.

Binding is used to restrain someone from a specific

thing or person. You can use binding magick to keep

someone from thinking something or doing

something. You can also bind someone to a specific

thing or person. Binding is used in Handfasting

rituals to bind partners together, and the parting

ritual is used to unbind the two people so that they

may go their seperate ways.

I hope this helps to clarify what Binding actually is.

The second dark moon (new moon) within a

calendar month is a black moon. In working magic,

a black moon is thought to be a time of enormous

magical power in the spiritual world. Spellwork at

this time is especially powerful.

I find that there is debate on the deffinition of a

black moon. It's not an idea I have seen in many of

the new books, but I tend to lean toward this

deffinition of a black moon. See the entry for black

moon on Wikipedia for more ideas on this.

"Blessed Be". I have had a request for this phrase

and am happy to post it. This is a phrase used by

many witches both as a greeting and a farewell, but

it is also used as an affirmation following certain

statements as one might say "Amen" or "Selah". It is

widely used during ritual, following incantations and

chant, and to let others know you wish blessings


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upon them. Blessed Be, or Blessed ye be, or Be

Blessed!

"Blood of the Moon" refers to a woman's menstrual

cycle that falls durring a full or new moon. She isbelieved to be much more powerful durring that

time.

"Book of Light" is another term for Book ofShadows, also known as Grimoire or Mirror Book. It

has only been recently that I've heard a BOS

referred to as a Mirror Book or Book of Light, and in

doing research can't really find anything about the

BOS being called a Book of Light. It seems to me

that it is used in place of 'BOS' because one dose

not like the "shadow" part of the title. If anyone has

any other information on this subject please feel

free to share it!

A Cairn is a stack of stones often used as a

landmarks. "Cairn" comes from a Scottish Gaelic

word, and they can be found all over the world in

small stacks as shown, and even in entire artificial

hills, and in complexity from loose, conical rock piles

to delicately balanced sculptures and elaborate

feats of megalithic engineering.

Today, some stack cairns in prayer and meditation,

and it is suggested that they are still used as

landmarks today.


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The word Celtic refers to a person or association of

Welsh, Irish and Scottish heritage and some parts of

northern Spain.

A censer is usually a brass burner for burning

incense and herbs used to 'cense' or cleanse sacred

space. It is widely used in Wicca and othe traditions

and witchcraft practices. Photo by me of my censer

siting on our air shelf.

The Chalice is one of the major tools in Wicca and

for some Witchcraft practitioners. It represents the

womb of the Goddess and the element Water on

the altar. It is used in the Rite of Union, and also for

holding liquid offerings in ritiual.

Channeling is a spiritual practice in which someone

opens their mind to communications from a dis-carnate being, spirit guide, or other entity. The

person becomes temporarily possessed by the

entity so that messages can be transmitted to

others present. The channeler is usually unaware of

any messages until afterward when others can

inform them of what was said. Channelers can also

be called mediums.

Chanting is the action of repeating a word, phrase,

or sound. Chanting is used as a form of prayer,

spiritual focus, and to raise magickal energy within a

circle or spell.

To "Charge" something it to embew it with magickal

energy/power. More often than realized, some are

unclear on what an author means by telling them to

charge a stone or candle, if they have not previously

explained the process. Charging can be done by

placing an object in direct sun or moonlight, holding

the object in both hands to 'push' your energy intoit, or placed on a pentacle patent for focus of

energy from.multiple sources.

Churingas were oval stones or pieces of wood

inscribed with sacred markings among the

Austrailian Aboriginies. They were linked to animal

totems, and were not to be seen by women or


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uninitiated men.

Clavicle, from the Latin 'clavis' meaning Key, the

mystical key to unlocking an occult secret. An

example of the clavicle from occult literature andgrimoires would include the medieval grimoire

known as "The Key of Solomon" (Clavicula

Solimonis).

The clavicle is also a bone in the human body, in no

way related to this post. Lol

A Compress is a cloth soaked in hot or cold liquid

that is applied to the body for healing purposes. It

may simply be used to apply pressure or to apply

heat or cold to an affected area or it may be used to

apply medication.

The Cone of Power is a raised energy within the

circle which is visualized as a cone of energy

reaching upward from the center of the circle. This

energy is then directed toward a goal

predetermined by the witches involved.

Covenstead is the place chosen by the coven to

meet regularly for Sabbats & Esbats. It is a

permanent location for celebrations and meetings.

It can be a room, a coven member's home, a rented

space, or a building. The covenstead can also serve

as storage for ritual items and materials so that

members do not have to carry things from home to

rituals. The covenstead is usually ritually dedicated

and consecrated as the coven's sacred meeting

place.


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The Craft Name is one a person chooses to use only

for ritual and magickal work. It is usually inscribed

onto the witch's tools, robe, and written spells. It

was origionally meant to remain secret between the

witch, the Gods, and/or coven.

The reason people choose a craft name is to

distinguish between the mundane self and the

magickal self. One would choose a name of a God or

Goddess with attributes they wish to possess, or a

word(s) that hold power for them. Some are given

names by the Gods, in certain cases which may

come to them in a vision or dream.

Creative visualization refers to the practice of

seeking to affect the outer world by changing one's

thoughts and expectations. In magick, we use

creative visualizations to see ourselves (in our

mind's eye) already possessing what it is we want,

in order to encourage its manifestation. There are

may uses for creative visualization, in which one

uses their mind to cause atmospheric and

emotional changes. It is also used in healing for

visualizing specifically colored energy to be used for

healing a person.Yet another use for creative visualization is Guided

Meditations. During a guided meditation, we

concentrate and visualize what the guide tells us to

see.

A Croning is a ceremony held to mark a woman's

transition from Mother to Crone, considered the

final stage of a woman's life. It isn't just about age

or how grown the kids are though. It's also about

spiritual progression and celebrating the wisdom

gained through time and experience.

Dakini:

In Tibet, a witch or terrifying female demon that

appears to q magician durring his ritual. The term

Dakini is sometimes used in India as a general term

for Earth Mother Deities as well.

Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling, of

dissolved chemicals, from herbal or plant material,

which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes.

Decoction involves first mashing, and then boiling in

water to extract oils, volatile organic compounds,

and other chemical substances. Decoction can be

used to make tisanes, teas, coffees, tinctures and

similar solutions. The process can also be applied to

meats and vegetables to prepare bouillon or stock.

(Wikipedia)


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The Dei Lucrii were local or personal gods of profit

worshipped and evoked by ancient Romans to

ensure lucrative business ventures. The god

Mercury eventually took over their function.

The Delphic Oracle was an influential ancient Greek

oracle who made pronouncements at the temple of

Apollo at Delphi, beneath Mount Parnassus.

Apollo's priestess was named the Pythia, a

reference to the Python or giant serpent that Apollo

had slain when he first came to Delphi. After

sacrificing a goat, the Pythia would mount a tripod

and squat there, breathing in intoxicating smoke

(possibly from henbane seeds), and awaiting divine

inspiration. As she entered a state of trance, priests

would interpret the oracles from the Pythia, and

relay her answers to the inquirers.

(watkins dictionary of magic)

Deosil is a term refering to the clockwise movement

inside a magick circle. It is mostly used in Wiccan

traditions to weave positive energy in the circle by

only moving deosil. Some move deosil exclusively

feeling that the opposite (widdershins which will beaddressed in a later post) weaves negative energy.

Still others move both ways not condidering such

concepts. It is a personal preference for

practitioners outside of Wiccan traditions who do

what theu feel is right at the moment.

Distillation is the process of purification of material

used in alchemy to extract the "volatile spirit" from"impure" substances through heat. Vaporization

(known as sublimation) is followed by cooling and

condensation believed to draw out the pure

essence of the material.

Divination is a "blanket" term refering to countless

types of scrying and auguries used to divine the

past, present, and future. This would include things

like scrying mirrors, pendulums, tarot cards,

pyromancy, geomancy, bibliomancy, and the list

goes on. There are ways to divine bird calls, water

ripples, and the rings of tree aging. I couldn't

possibly name them all!

Dolmen comes from a Breton expression which

means "table of stone". They are prehistoric

megaliths consisting of a large unhewn stone

reating ontop of two or more upright stones.

Dolmens among other megaliths were significant in


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Celtic religion, and later in Celtic folklore.

Dowsing is a form of divination used to locate

water, metals, and ot that are out of sight, usually

below the ground, by the use of a tree branch or

metal forked rod. Also known as "water witching",

dowsing has been around for about 7,000 years. A

person who uses this form of divination is called a

Dowser, and dowsing may also be done with a

pendulum.

"Drawing Down the Moon" or "Calling Down the

Moon" is a ceremonial invocation of the Great

Goddess into the High Priestess, performed by the

High Priest in Wicca. It has become common in

solitairy practice as well though.

"Drawing Down the Sun" or "Calling Down the Sun"

is a ceremonial invocation of the Sun God into the

High Priest, performed by the High Priestess inWicca. It has become common in solitairy practice

as well though.

"Dressing a Candle" a phrase used to describe the

process of annointing a candle with oil or special

liquid for use in spell work.

The word Druid can be defined in many ways

depending on the individuals perception of the

word, as it has been used for too many years to

count. Originally a Celtic order of astronomers and

healers. The association has migrated to people

who hold strong understanding of nature and hold

an attachment to divine energies and spiritual

purpose to preserve it.

An Effigy is an object used to represent a specific

person. You may also know them as poppets,

wangas, and voodoo dolls though each of these

terms may mean something different for the person

being represented. Effigies are used in magick and

spells with the intent that whatever is done with

the object will also be done to the person (good or

bad). A photo can also be used as an effigy.

Elysium, in Greek Mythology, is a place where

deceased heroes and virtuous people lived in

eternal life. It was aslo called the Elysian Fields, was

a part of the Underworld, and all under the rule of

Hades.


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Esbat is another common word, but I was surprised

to find how many pagans and witches did not know

it's actual meaning. The Esbat, in Wiccan traditions,

is a meeting held each month at the Full Moon.

Some witches also include the New or Dark Moon

as Esbat meetings as well. The Esbat is usually held

for healings, initiations, and moon magick in various

forms.

Essence is an intrinsic, fundamental nature or

quality of something. The inward nature of anything

which represents the underlying characteristics and

relation to anything else.

The Evil eye was thought to be a look directed

toward someone that could cause sickness, bad

luck, or injury. It is a well known idea among many

cultures, and could likely be the origin of the

phrases "if looks could kill" and "the stink eye". The

term also refers to the power attributed to certain

persons of inflicting injury or bad luck by such an

envious or ill-wishing look. The evil eye is usually

given to others who remain unaware. The picture

shown in this post is an "charm" that can be bought

at many new age shops, and also arabic shops, that

is believed to protect the wearer against the evil

eye.

Evocation:

There may be some differences of opinion here, but

when I began my research 20 years ago there was a

difference between evocation and invocation. What

I post for thses two terms differs from the new

deffinitions I am finding now.

Evocation is described as the act of calling a spirit

into a magick circle, to be present durring a ritual.

When we call upon the elements, our ancestors,

and deities to witniss our rites, this is evocation.

The witch's Familiar is the centuries old concept of a

supernatural being/spirit which assists a witch or a

new witch in her/his magickal work. The familiar

would come to the witch in various forms including

animals and even human forms.

Farine Guinee is powdered ash, used in voodoo toproduce vevers on the ground which invoke the loa.

Fire Water is sometimes mentioned in discussions

on offerings to spirits commonly in voodoo,

hoodoo, and other witchcraft traditions. Fire water


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is usually an alchoholic beverage resembling water

(clear). Sometimes Rum or Vodka is offered along

with tobacco and foods to spirits who are being

petitioned for a specific reason.

The term "First Blood" is used to refer to the

coming of age rite of passage for young girls who

have come upon their first menstrual cycle. It is a

celebration of a girls journey from childhood into

womanhood.

In Voodoo, the Fort is one who is highly skilled in

ritual procedures and therefor has the strength to

command the Loa.

A Gad is protective tattoo in voodoo given during

magickal initiation, acting as a charm against evil

forces.

Within witchcraft, Gazing is the action of percieving

psychic visions or information relating to individuals

or masses by staring intently into or on the surface

of an object. This would include crystal ball gazing,

candle flame gazing, black mirror scrying, and water

scrying among others.

Djinn is the plural for Genii, also Genn, Jinni, Genie,

or Jinn. They are daemon or spirits of Arabian

tradition, thought of as a higher order of being than

humans and formed of "more subtle" matter.

According to Islamic belief, the genii ruled the earth

before the creation of Adam and were regarded as


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an intermediate race of spirit beings between

angels and humans. They were believed to have

special architectural skills, and according to the

Qur'an, were employed by Solomon to assist in

errecting his magnificant temple.

A Grimoire is a hand written book of spells,

commonly refered to today as a Book of Shadows. I

notice that some feel the two are different so I

decided to post this to clarify. The grimoire is a

book of charms, rituals, and spells written by the

practitioner.

A Guide is a spiritual being who assists an individual

through certain aspects of their life. There are many

types of guides, including Spirit Guides, Relative

Guides, Guardians, and Teachers. If not manifested

in this physical world as a living being, they areoften seen from head to torso, floating on air, and

rarely with legs and feet.

Hag Stones, also known as Witch Stones, Fairy

Stones, Holy Stones and Eye Stones, are stones with

naturally formed holes running clean through them.

These holes are usually formed by centuries of wave

action. It is this association with running water

(which itself is said to negate the effect of evil) that

is believed by many people to be the source of the

Hag Stones reputation for guarding their owner

against ill-fortune and the Evil Eye.

)0(*Carodwen*)0(

The Hand of Glory. Much to many folk's surprise,

this was once an actual practice. It was an amulet

used in black magick, made from the severed right

hand of an executed murderer, ideally cut from the

corpse while the body still hung on the gallows. The

hamd was squeezed of blood, pickled, and dried.

The hand was fitted with candles between (or

inside) the fingers. It was believed to "freeze people

in their track", and was therefor used as protection

against theives. I would imagine that one of these

(provided it was authentic) would be viewed as

extremely valuable today, since murderers are no

longer hanged like they once were.


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Hoodoo is a form of magick origionating from

Africa. It is often confused with Voodoo, which is

more of a religious practice where Hoodoo is not

connected to a specific religious belief. Hoodoo was

a popular form of magick among the African

Americans on plantations in the southern US. It

includes the making and wearing of "charms" for

luck and protection, and also to direct misfortune

against enemies. One of the main focuses of

Hoodoo is rootwork, the magickal properties of

herbs and roots.

Intutive Magick could be defined as the practice of

magick based on your intuition. I use this method

often, allowing my inner voice to dictate my actions

and what material to use. I think that a certain

amount of intuitive magick is used by most witches

who follow their instincts rather than doing what a

book directs them to do.

Invocation:

There may be some differences of opinion here, but

when I began my research 20 years ago there was a

difference between evocation and invocation. What

I post for thses two terms differs from the new

deffinitions I am finding now.

Invocation is the act of calling a spirit into yourself,

to work their power through your body in

assistance with spellwork.

The Journey of the Soul is a journey undertaken by

the shaman to retrieve the soul of a person who has

been bewitched or inflicted with disease. In other

circumstances it is on to communicate with the

gods. The journey occurs durring a trance state with

the aid of drumming and the ingestion of

psychedelic sacramental plants.

The Kachina are ancestral spirits and gods of the

clouds, among the Hopi Indians of the

Northwestern U.S. They are impersonated by

masked dancers durring ritual ceremonies that

relate to the fertility of crops in February. Kachina

ancestor spirits are also represented by ornately

carved and colored dolls.

A Kahuna is a Hawaiian Shaman. The term is also

used to describe a "master" or expert in a particular

feild. A Kahuna lapaau laau specializes in herbal

medicine, a kahuna hoonoho specializes in trance

mediumship, and kahuna hoonohonoho specializes

in sorcery.


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Kamigakari is a Shinto term for divine spirit

possession, the entry of a spiritual being into a

human body.

A Kobold is is a gnome or spirit that haunts houses

or underground mines, according to German

Folklore. They are generally invisible, causing

mischief without detection.

Kundalini is an energy described as a serpent coiled

up at the base of the spine. It is said to lay dormant,

and released by practices such as yoga or guided

meditations and that its awakening brings aboutspiritual bliss and enlightenment.

The Left Hand Path (LHP) is a path that is reflected

in the inverted pentagram: material over spiritual. It

is mostly focused on personal gain, and does not

adhear to any karmic repercusions, but rather

conciquences to your actions. Left-handers have no

problem with negative magicks or curses and usethem to gain what they want. (Defined with help

from a left hand practitioner).


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Offerings, often refered to as Libation, are common

among the wiccan/pagan community as well as other

cultures and religions. In pagan traditions, offerings

are given to spirits, Gods, and Goddesses who are

being petitioned or just as thanks. Their offerings

usually consist of bread, cake, fruits, nuts, honey,

milk, and/or wine. Some spirits enjoy specific

offerings as can be found with research.

An Omen is a phenomenon that is believed to fortell

the future. Sometimes called a portent or presage, it

signifies the advent of change. While the change can

be either good or bad, it is often expressed as

something "ominous" in a foreboding sense. Omens

are mostly seen within nature.

The Ouroboros , in Gnosticism and alchemy, is a

symbol depicting a snake swallowing its tail. It

symbolizes the cycle of life and nature, the fusion of

opoosites, and the transcendance of duality.


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The word "Pagan" was used in the past as a

derogatory term refering to the heathen or "non-believer: One who was not a Christian, Jew, or

Muslim. It has been embraced by practitioners of

neopaganism, witchcraft, and magick who were

didicated to reviving the old religion and

reestablishing the worship of the old Gods.

Today, a pagan can also be known as someone who

is centered around a Nature based spiritual system,

though not always a religous one. Just as "Not all

Pagans are Wiccan".

The Pendulum is a tool used in divination and

dowsing. It is essentially a weight suspended from a

pivot point so that it can swing freely. Pendulums

like the one pictured can be bought, but pendulums

are easy to make at home as well. I personally prefer

homemade tools. The swing of the pendulum is said

to represent an "answer" of sorts according to your

teachings.

Prana is sanskrit word meaning breath or lifeforce. It

is described as being specific vital fluid or energy inthe body. It is also used to denote the principle

underlying life itself.


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A Rite of Passage is usually a ceremony of sorts

celebrating a significant life change such as birth,

puberty, marriage, and death (but not limited to

these).

The Sacred Circle is the space in which magick is cast.

I get the question of why we need such a place often,

so I wanted to include this. When we cast a circle, we

seperate ourselves from this world. It is a space

between worlds that we have created, and also a

protection from energy influences other than our

own. Moreover, we build it to contain the enery we

raise until it is ready to be sent out into the universe.

Sahu, in ancient Egyptian magick, is the highest of

the 5 human bodies sometimes known as the

"spiritual body". It is through the sahu that the

magician perceives the transcebdental gods and

undergoes spiritual transformation.

Shadow People are dark/shadow-like, humanoidfigures seen from the viewer's peripheral vision. It is

said that they move as if jerking or vibrating, and

quickly desintigrate into nearby walls or mirrors.

There are tons of theories about this, as it is one of

the most commonly reported paranormal

phenomena in the US. Though the viewer may feel

that these entities are agressive in nature, it is often

said that they are a type of guardian spirit.

The Shaman is a sorcerer, magician, medicine man,

or healer who is able to enter a trance state under

will. He/she serves as an intermediary between

people and the spirit world and realm of the gods.

The shaman is destinguished from mediums who

become possessed in a trance. Where the medium

does not control the experience, the shaman does.

He/she is also distiguished from the priest who

performs rituals but does not enter a trance state

such as the shaman.

Sortilege is a form of divination by casting lots. It is

used in various forms such as drawing straws from a

cluster, picking a card from the pack, throwing

dice/bones, or opening a book and taking the first

passage one notices as an oracle (bibliomancy).

The Stang is a tool sometimes used in traditional

witchcraft in place pf the staff, wand, or athame. It is

a wooden 2 or 3 pronged stick resembling a trident

and dates back to the early Roman Empire.


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Among the Gitksan Indians of Canadian northwest,

the Swanassu is a shaman or medicine man. Another

term, Halaait, is used to describe a shaman whoperforms healing ceremonies in which patients are

treated in a group.

Syzygy in astrology is the "yoking together" of 2

celestial bodies, wether in opposition or conjunction.

The term is often used to describe a relationship

between a planet and the sun.

The Taurobolium was a ritual associated with Cybele

and Mithra in the Roman Empire. It was a rebirth

ceremony where neophytes were 'baptized' in the

blood of the sacred bull. The blood was regarded as

a symbol of life force which bestowed special powers

of of mystical renewal.

A Tincture can be made by soaking dried herbs in

ethyl alcohol at least 140 proof (70%) to capture its

odor. (Note: rubbing alcohol CANNOT be used for

this. Fresh herbs won't work. Never drink tinctures!)

Tinctures are most commonly used for annointing

tools, the self, and paper to be burned.


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Transmogrification is the act of changing the physical

properties and appearance of an object or being

through magickal means. This can mean through a

spell, or through a kinetic power.

In alchemy, Virgin's Milk is the pure whit tincture

created by the albedo and which could transform

base metals into silver. It is also a term used to refer

to the mercurial watee or "water of life": the white

philosophical mercury known as Mercurius.

A Psychopomp is from the Greek meaning "Guide of

Soul". It was used for the god Hermes in his role as a

guide for the dead in the Underworld. It is generally

used to describe spirits and Gods/desses who guide

the spirit to the underworld, but has also been used

to describe the shaman in his role durring the

"Journey of the Soul" ceremony.

A Gaian is someone who believes in focusing their

spirituality only on the Earth (Gaia.) May include

some Pagans, Wiccans, Creation-Centered Christians,

Scientific Pantheists and others.

The Higher Self is the part of each individuals soul

which contains the root memories and wisdom of

Divine knowledge. The part of the soul that connects

all spiritual beings to the collective Divine

conscience.

The Medicine Bag is a ceremonial bag which holds a

variety of objects which hold special or spiritual

meaning to the owner. It can contain, stones,

feathers, amulets or charms. For healers it is often

filled with useful herbs which are utilized in healing

ceremonies and practices. I believe the medicine bag

derived from Native American practices, but have

seen it used within other traditions as well.

A taglock is a magical link to an individual. For

example, in poppet magic, you would use a taglock

inside the doll to identify the person to be targetedby the spell such as a photo, personal object, or part

of them like hair, etc. Witches also use taglocks in

protection magick for themselves by including a part

of themself like hair, nail clippings, blood, or urine.

In Voodoo, the Battrie Maconnique is a rhythmic

beat produced by clapping or drumming. In magickal

ceremonies the Battrie Maconnique is said to

represent a rapping on the door which leads to the

loa realm.

A Moon Candle is a white, unscented pillar uses in

some pagan and wiccan traditions specifically for

moon rituals and esbats. Most who use a moon

candle use the same one all year, wrapping it up

before the new moon rite, and then leaving it

unwrapped until the night of the full moon.

Hermetic means obscure, secret, or unrevealed. It is

also of or pertaining to alchemy or occult practices

dirived from the Greek god and mythological

alchemist Hermes Trismegistus, who was said to

possess a magic ability to seal (with spells) treasure

chests so that nothing could access their contents.

Hermeticism is a magical and religious movement

stemming from the teachings of Hermes

Trismegistus.


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The word Namast is an ancient gesture that

origionates from the Indian subcontinent. It is a

customary greeting when individuals meet, and a

valediction upon their parting. It is alao regarded as a

salute as if saying "I recognize the divine within you".

When spoken to another person, it is commonly

accompanied by a slight bow made with hands

pressed together, palms touching and fingers

pointed upwards, in front of the chest. This gesture,called Ajali Mudr or Pranamasana, can also be

performed wordlessly and carries the same meaning.

The Labyrinth is an intricate set of paths used as a

means of spiritual searching. In earlier times, one

would enter a labyrinth garden, evaluating their own

success and failures along the way in order to learn

more about their own personality and nature.

OM (aum) is a sacred Sanskrit sound origionating

from India. The syllable is also referred to as omkara

( okra) or aumkara ( aukra), literally "om syllable",

and in Sanskrit it is sometimes referred to as praava,

literally "that which is sounded out loudly".

It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a

sacred incantation to be intoned at the beginning

and end of a reading of the Vedas or prior to any

prayer or mantra. The name omkara is taken as a

name of God in the Hindu revivalist Arya Samaj and

can be translated as "I Am Existence".

This deffinition from Wikipedia

The word stave can refer to many things. A stave isthe set of 5 lines and 4 spaces used for notations in

sheet music. A stave is also simply a long stick.

In a magickal context, we refer to runes made from

long pieces of wood as rune staves, or stave runes. A

staff is sometimes refered to as a stave as well. And

last but not least, Icelandic staves are a system of

symbols used in magick.


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Namapathy is the practice of healing through sounds

and music such as healing mantras, singing bowls,

drumming, chanting, etc. It is believed that certain

tones can have an effect on the physical body.

Theurgy describes the practice of rituals, sometimes

seen as magical in nature, performed with the

intention of invoking the action or evoking the

presence of one or more gods, especially with the

goal of uniting with the divine, achieving henosis,

and perfecting oneself.

A Trilithon is a stone arch with 2 upright slabs of rock

and one sitting on top. The word trilithon is derived

from the Greek "having three stones" and was first

used by William Stukeley.

It is commonly used in the context of megalithic

monuments. The most famous trilithons are those of

Stonehenge in England and those found in the

Megalithic temples of Malta, both of which are

UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Wikipedia)

A Yoni is a stylized representation of the female

genitalia symbolizing the feminine principle. It's

counterpart is the Lingham which represents the

phallus.

"Between the Worlds" is a common phrase within

the witches' community. It is the idea that when you

cast your circle, that space becomes one that is

between this world and the "other" world. That

other world is open to debate as we all see things a

different way. Some say the astral planes, and others

say the spirit world. Still others may have a different

view, with those 2 being the more popular theories.

Our circle becomes a place seperate from mundane

life, and therefore we are between that mundane

world and the "magickal/spiritual" world.

Animism is the belief that all things, animate and

inanimate, have a soul.


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Aspecting is a magickal activity when a practioner

takes on an aspect of the Goddess or God for

different purposes. Aspecting includes feelings,

behavior, appearance, mannerisms, etc. related to a

specific deity. It often seems like possession, and

happens more often than some realize in ceremonies

such as Drawing Down the Moon or Sun, and when

Gods are invoked to carry out ritual actions.

The word Occult was originally used to suggest asecret or hidden tradition of esoteric knowledge. It is

now associated with secret mystical studies and also

mystery practices held within secret societies such as

the Rosicrutions and Freemasonry.

An Occultist is one who practices any of secret

mystic arts within the traditions of magick,

theosophy, mysticism, and spirituality.

Gemantria is a Hebrew numerical science which

consists of adding up the numerical value of a word

and comparing it to other words with the same value

A Blessing is done by requesting Divine energy be

wrapped (inside and out) around an object, person

or event in love, honor and kindness. To wish good

thoughts and peace upon an object, person or event.

Metaphysics:Meta "higher and beyond", physics "study of

science". A philosophical doctrine that all things are

a part of one main source (intelligence and energy),

and that each thing animated or inanimate should be

respected for its particular form of this one main

source. From Latin, the study of science beyond the

physical realm, studying the first principals or

underlying creations and causes of things.


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The Essene were an ancient Jewish sect of asceticsand mystics who existed in the 2nd century.

To Commune is the act of communicating or sharing

experiences with spiritual entities. We Commune

with our Gods durring rituals, prayer, and offerings.

Precognition is to percieve metally or through

intuition regarding the future of one's self or other

people. Most often this occurs durring a precognitive

dream or vision in a meditative state.

The term Hellenic: of or pertaining to or

characteristic of the ancient Greek and Roman

cultures; "classical mythology".

Also the branch of the Indo-European language

family that consists only of Greek.

I post this term because I've heard it used in

concerns with certain religious or spiritual practices

and I wanted to make sure that others are clear on

what the word actually means.

Labrys is the term for a symmetrical doubleheaded

axe originally from Crete in Greece, one of the oldest

symbols of Greek civilization; to the Romans, it was

known as a bipennis.

The double-bitted axe remains a forestry tool to this

day, and the labrys certainly functioned as a tool and

hewing axe before it was invested with symbolic

function. Labrys symbolism is found in Minoan,

Thracian, and Greek religion, mythology, and art,

dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, and

surviving in the Byzantine Empire.


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Macumba is a form of magickal religion and spirit

worship practiced in Brazil. Related to Haitian

Voodoo, Macumba is an umbrella term for a variety

of practices which are by no means identical. It

encompasses African animism and the worship of

Yoruba deities; blends spiritism with folk belief; and

also takes in elements of christianity correlationg

christian saints with a African deities. A believer or

devotee of Macumba is called a Macumbeiro.

I have included the word mundane because it is

often used in the world of magick to destinguish our

magickal selves from our everyday life. I have seen it

used countless times in books and articles pertaining

to our everyday life and tasks such as washing

dishes, going to work, or even tieing shoes. Mundane

means acking interest or excitement; dull. It is also a

reference to this earthly world rather than a

heavenly or spiritual one.

A poultice, also called cataplasm, is a soft moist

mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on

cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or

painful part of the body. It can be used on woundssuch as cuts. It can also be a porous solid filled with

solvent used to remove stains from porous stone

such as marble or granite.

The word "poultice" comes from the Latin puls,

pultes, meaning "porridge."

(wikipedia)

Quarrent (Querent) is a term often used in tarotreading to refer to the person who is recieving the

reading. The word Significator is also used in this

respect. A person who provides psychical

information to the Quarrent is called the Quesited.

Retrograde, in astrology, is a term applied the the

apparent backward motion of a planet in relation to

the zodiac. This motion occurs when a planet's


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longitude is decreased, as viewed from the earth.

A Sigil is a magickal sign. They are occult symbols

representing specific supernatural energy or entities,

usually drawn on paper using a numeric table or

magick square corresponding to the energy/entity.

Sihir is a Turkish word which translates to magick,

sorcery, witchcraft, charm, incantation, conjuration,

or spell. Sihir is also an Arabic that translates to black

magick or sorcery, and is used in the Quran refering

to the "pact" between magician and Satan. The best

known reference to magic in Islam is the Sura Al-

Falaq (meaning dawn or daybreak), which is a prayer

to ward off black magic.

In Wicca, the Scourge is a symbolic ritual implement

used in ceremonial initiation. It typically has 8 tails

with 5 knots in each tail, and is applied gently by the

initiator with light strokes (not to harm the

candidate) to provide a sense of symbolic

reinforcement.

(watkins dictionary of magic)

Syncretism is the merging of religious ideas and

traditions. Examples include the Greco-Egyptian

deity Serapis who is a Hellenistic form of Osiris, and

the Roman and Gnostic deities Mithra and Abraxas,

both of whom have Persian antecedents.


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Thaumaturgy is a Greek word that translates to

"wonderworker" (a Thaumaturgist). It is the

capability of a magician to work miracles. It is also

viewd as magick done for practical reasons such as to

obtain things like healing or money, and what some

would consider "personal gain".


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Among the Mazatec Indians of Mexico, the Velada isa healing ceremony involving the use of psilocybe

mushrooms. Both the patient and female shaman

take the psychadelic mushroom so that both may

hear the healing words which are revealed from the

spirit world. The shaman, meanwhile, goes on a spirit

journey to learn the cause of the sickness, and to

seek healing power from the gods.

Verser is the act of pouring drops of water, coffee, or

liquor on the ground as an offering to the loa in

voodoo.

A Vision Quest is a ritual quest for a guardian spirit

undertaken by a young male or female in the Native

American religion. A vision quest may take several

days and nights, when the young person goes to an

isolated area where the spirit guide is more likely to

appear.

The Wand is one of the major tools in Wicca and is

widely used among witches and practitioners. The

wand is a tool used to direct personal energy toward

or into a specific object or place. A wand can be

made of various material, as show in the photo taken

by me of a stellagtite, a flat rock, a s phantom

selenite wand, a clear quartz wand with sphere, and

a sycamore stick.

The Wheel of the Year depicts the 8 Sacred Sabbats

celebrated by many witches and pagans. (I'm sure

we all know this, but I had to include it.)

It shows the cycles of the seasons and the fertility of

nature. These are the solstices and equinoxes, and

the four points between.


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The Wiccan Rede, pronounce 'reed', is a principal

statement of ethical/moral code of conduct that all

Wiccans are asked and expected to follow.

A Wiccaning is a ceremony in which an infant is

introduced to each element/direction and to the God

& Goddess. The child is introduced into the craft, so

to speak, and often given a craft name until they

choose their own. The parents sometimes state vows

to their child and ask the God & Goddess for

blessings upon their child. After the child has beenblessed, he/she is passed around the circle and

introduced to each circle member as a new member

of their community. (This may vary from one

tradition to another but the idea remains the same).

The ceremony is also called a Paganing to those who

aren't necissarily wiccan.

Widdershins is the counterclockwise movement

within the magick circle. It is said that walking

widdershins is a 'negative' action. I have used the

action in reversal spells, but some move deosil

(clockwise) exclusively. Do you? How do you feel

about moving widdershins?

A Wireenum, among the Aborigines of western New

South Wales, is a medicine man or shaman who

derives his powers from his contact with the great

god Baiame.

The Witch's Bottle, or Witch Bottle is one of the

oldest practices in witchcraft. Unlike "just any ol'

spell bottle", the witch bottle is an object used for

protection against harm, other's magick, and ill

wishers. The photo shown are of CT scans of a 400

year old witch bottle, and it was concluded that the

contents were nails and urine. It is made durring

ritual with the idea of 'expelling' negativity, trapping

it, and keeping it from harming you. Those who

would wish to harm you would feel the pangs of

those nails. Other ingredients are acceptable in this

practice such as broken glass, needles, dead bugs,

and excrament.


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The Witching Hour is a phrase that carries a modern

meaning of "midnight". It was coined in Washington

Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow",

and from my research does not seem to have any

previous use. It was thought to be a time when

supernatural powers were hightened, and later on

was thought to be the time of day when witches

worked their magicks. To modern witches, midnight

is a time "between time", and choose midnight to

create a space "between worlds".

I chose the image for this post because I personally

believe that every hour is the witching hour, and that

the phrase has fictional roots not really related to

real witchcraft.

Zoanthropy is the belief that a person can or has

shifted into an animal form. It is like Lycanthropy,

but in Lycanthropy the animal is a wolf where as in

Zoanthropy it can be any animal.

This term is also used to describe a mental illness,

whre the patient believes they have turned into an

animal.


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