Glossary of Wiccan Term

A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z
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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.
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.
Astral Travel/Projection: The process of separating your astral body from your physical one to accomplish travel in the astral plane
Athame`: A ritual knife, usually double edged, used to cast the circle and for storing and directing energy (magick). It also represents the male phalis

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Bane: Another word for bad, evil, destructive.
Banish: To magically end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To rid the presence of.

Beltane: May Day. One of the two most significant Wiccan Sabbats. The traditional maypole braided with ribbons representes the creative union of the gods.
Besom: The brushy part of a broom, the bristles. Many times reference to the broom as a whole.
Bi-location: 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, she is far more powerful than during any other time of the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength within herself.
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.
Book Of Shadows: A term for the collection of spells, chants, and other information in book form for a Witch's reference. Another name for this text would be grimoire.
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 put to death by burning, hanging, and other gruesome means, This was done by the church and public officials on the assumption that they were 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.
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Call: Invoking Divine Forces.
Charge of the Goddess: Originally written in modern form by Doreen Valiente, it is a story of the message from the Goddess to Her children.
Charms:It 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.
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 Witches usally about 13, but can be more or less, that work together in an organized fashion for positive magickal endeavors or to perform religious ceremonies.
Covenstead: 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.
Cowan: Non-Wiccan, not a witch.
Crone: A menopausal or post-menopausal Wiccan woman.
Croning: A ritual to recognize, announce, and honor a Crone whithin a family or coven.
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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 used in building positive energy. 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.
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Elder: Many Wiccan organizations have a group or board of Elders who oversee the operations of the church and its variety of functions. These people have usually gained their positions through a combination of their abilities which may include education, experience, magickal adeptship and counseling.
Elements: Usually counted as four: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. However, many Witches add Spirit to this category, as well. Each element has a direction within a magick circle or working: East = Air; South = Fire; West = Water; North = Earth; Center = Spirit. (Note, some traditions may re-arrange positions depending on their geographical location) Each element, including spirit, can be linked to a specific point on the pentagram.
Esbats: Full or New Moon gatherings. Magick is generally at esbats. Esbats are in honor of the Goddess.
Evocation: To call something out from within.
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Familiar: An animal who has a spiritual bond with a Witch; often is the family pet. 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. It has been referred to as "mind-bending." Although the technique of fascination runs a borderline when considering humans, it should not be totally trashed. Using it for a love spell would be unethical, and much like committing psychic rape.
Five-Fold-Kiss: The source of our "Blessed Be", A trditional blessing bestowed with kisses and the following word:
Blessed Be thy feet, that walk in the way of the gods,
Blessed Be thy knees, that shale kneel at the sacred altar,
Blessed Be thy Womb/Phalis, without we would not be,
Blessed Be thy breast, formed in beauty/strenghth,
Blessed Be thy lips, that shall speak the sacred names.
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God: The personification of the masculin aspect of "Deity". He is seen as the Lord of animals, Lord of Death and beyond. He is the beginning life force, the essential creative energy in all men and women. The God is visualized as a horned being, or as the sun. He is the energy and wildness of all things. The god was seen as having horns or antlers, as so apparently did the christian devils, and so the church equated the two as being one in the same but of course they are not
Goddess: The personification of the femimine aspect of "Deity" Her symbols are the Moon and Earth. She is conceived as the triple Goddess in her aspects: Maiden, Mother, and Crone and we look for her attributes around us and within us. She is seen as Birth Mother, Nurturer, and Healer.
Great Rite: The sacred joining of the god and goddess. This is usually recreated ritually as the blessing of the ritual wine. This blessing is done by the High Priest placing his athame in to the cup of wine held by the High Priestess between her breasts. On special occasions the Great Rite may be performed physicly, and privately.
Guardians of the Watchtowers: Elemental energies whose images combine the corresponding characteristics of the direction the sybolize
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Handfasting: A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony.
High Priest: High Priest is the male leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of the God in certain ceremonies.
High Priestes: The feminine leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of Goddess in certain ceremonies.
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Imbolc: The feast of First Fires. The celebration of the Mother Goddess and the growng God at febuary first. The sun returns from the Yule darkness can be noticed.
Initiation: Ordination in to a coven, becoming a full member of that group.
Invocation: To bring something in from without
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Left-Hand Path: A term that points to those people who feel that they are justified in using magick for purposes that are not constructive to other human beings.
Litha: Midsummer. The summer salstice. a lessor sabbat
Lughnasadh: Festival of First Fruits. The first of the thee harvest festivals.
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Mabon: The Autumn Equinox, second of the three harvest festivals
Magick: The art 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. It is the use of the power that determines the path it will take. (Note, Most witch's spell magic with a (K) at the end to discern true magick from that of the stage magician.)
Magick circle: A circular boundary drawn in visionary blue flames or white light that protects the Witch from outside forces while conducting ritual magick. One must never step outside the circle while performing a ritual unless the appropriate precautions have been take to cut a door. Nor should anyone step in during a ritual, unless they are following a pathway made for them. The door is usually cut with the athame or wand. The circle should never be left hanging after your ritual is over. This means that it must be closed just as ceremoniously as it was opened. The magick circle is considered the doorway between the worlds and allow us to move between the two. Some Witches draw the circle in the physical, either permanently on the floor or for temporary use with herbs, sand, salt, chalk or a nine-foot cord. The circle us still cast with blue or white light by the High Priestess/Priest or individual designated to do so. In some covens, the person in charge if a particular quarter is responsible for preparing the area before the coven members arrive. This includes cleaning the area, cleansing, consecrating, and making sure all the necessary supplies have been transported to the location.
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Occult: It means "Hidden"
Ostara: The Spring Equinox. Ostara honors the balance of light and dark as the year continues to wax. Rabbits, early flowers and colored eggs are ancient symbols of fertility and rebirth.
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Pagan: Follower of a nature-based religion. The term Neopagan means "new Pagan". The word PAGAN, comes fome the Latin "Paganus" which means country dweller
Pantheon: A Collection or group of Gods and Goddesses in a particular religious or mythical structure. Example are: Greek pantheon, Roman pantheon, Egyptian pantheon, Teutonic pantheon, etc.
Pentacle/Pentagram: A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star . 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. Pentacles are usually not worn inverted in the Craft. Witches consider this blasphemy of their faith. However, an inverted pentagram is used in some second degree initiations, and does not indicate evil, but to fulfill a function of growth.
Priest: A male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity(ies) and humankind. A solitary Witch can be a Priest by dedicating himself to a particular God or Goddess. Also see High Priest
Priestess: A female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity(ies) and humankind. A solitary Witch can be a Priestess by dedicating herself to a particular God or Goddess. also see High Priestess.
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Rede: This is the main rule of behavior" An' it harm none, do what thou wilt" This means that a person should feel free to do what ever they want to, as long as it does not harm themselves or anyone else. This and the three-fold law obviously prevent a Witch/Wiccan from doing harm to themselves or to others, or attempting to manipulate others.
Reincarnation: The belife that one is reborn into a new life after death.
Ritual: A focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank one's chosen pantheon, or to perform a specific magickal working or act
Runes: A set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal workings. There are several types of runes with different origins. A few are the Norse, Scandinavian and Germanic runes
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Sabbats: Solar holidays marking the sun's course/ the gods life through the year.
Samhain: Wiccan New year, Halloween. The time of the year when the vail between the physical and the spirit worlds is at it's thinest, allowing communication with our departed ancestors. Also it is the last of the three harvest festivals.
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.
Sigil: A magickally oriented seal, sign, glyph, or other device used in a magickal working. The most powerful sigils are those that you create yourself. Sigils can be used on letters, packages, clothing, on paper tucked in your pocket, etc.
Skyclad: Naked, covered only by the sky. In some traditions, it is the act of celebrating or doing a magickal working in the nude. This should not be misconstrued with sexual contact.
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 a successful culmination.
Summerland: It is the place our souls goto rest between incarnations, The spirit world.
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Talisman: A man made object that has been magickally charged in order it bring something to the bearer. Such an item could be a gemstone to win a court case, or a drawing to put in your pocket that will bring good luck.
Three Fold Law: All good that a person does returns three fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold.
Traditions: Different sects of Wicca: Seax-wicca, Gardnerian, Dianic, eclectic, etc.
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Vision Quest: Using astral projection, bi-location, or dreamtime to accomplish a specific goal. Also called pathworking.
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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.
Wicca: An ancient European religion, also known as witchcraft, Wicca Creaft,The Craft of the Wise or simply the Old Religion. Wicca is a religion, perhaps the oldest religion in the Western world and predates Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. The word Wicca, comes from the Old English "Wita" which means "Wise One or Witch". In fact English kings would consult the Witan" or Counsel of the Wise before acting on matters of great importance.
Wiccaning: A ritual invoking the Gaurdians and the Gods to meet and bless babies born into the wiccan community
Widdershins: Counterclockwise motion used in some magickal workings or ceremonies.
Working: As in MAGICKAL WORKING. The process of using magick to reach a desired positive goal.
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Yule: Winter Solstice., when the sun is reborn into the northen sky
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copyright Mystic Haven 1998