Glossary of Terms

For those new to the Pagan path, the multitude of new words and phrases can seem somewhat daunting.  More disturbingly, these phrases are often left unexplained in an attempt to shroud even the most basic of practises in mystery.

More advanced practises are shrouded in mystery for a very good reason; that (theoretically, at least!) only those who are ready to have that responsibility learn.  However, there really is no earthly reason (other than trying to appear cleverer than you are!) to hide the meanings behind the basic terms and phrases, and so I have compiled this basic glossary of terms in the hope of helping you out.

If there is a word or phrase you have heard and don't know, but can't find here, please don't hesistate to contact me by clicking on the image below, and I shall respond to answer your question, together with including the word or phrase on this page if I feel it necessary.

Akasha
The fifth element, also known as Spirit or Ether/Aether, Akasha embraces the four elements of earth, air, fire and water, and is that from which they stem.  Sometimes referred to as the "other" world; the second of two realms between which the witch or magician may walk.

Adept
Someone is termed an Adept to indicate that they have reached a certain level of knowledge, understanding, and experience within the Craft which commands respect.

Asperge
To purify with sprinkled, blessed water.  Often done to cleanse the circle before working.

Athame
An athame is a metal knife, usually double bladed and dark handled, which is used within circle and rituals to direct energy, as well as being a symbolic piece, for example when the athame is placed into the cauldron or dish of salt.

Avatar
The term avatar is generally applied to a person who has the ability and authority to speak with the voice of their God/dess.  This is normally done by way of a drawing down, although for a rare few it can happen automatically.

Banishing
As the name implies, a banishing is worked when there is something which needs to be removed.  This can range from excess fat to a violent ex to a negative entity, and is achieved in numerous ways.

Besom
Besom is the name commonly given to the traditional witch's broom, and is usually made out of broom.  The besom's main use is as a space cleanser, and is most commonly employed both for symbolic clearing of a sacred space to work in, or symbolically cleansing a new house, etc.

Bolline
Similar to an athame, the bolline is generally white handled, and is used in a more practical manner.  Whereas the athame is rarely used to cut, and almost never to draw blood, the bolline is used for precisely these purposes, a simple example being the cutting of an apple in a love spell.

Binding
A binding is most commonly worked to prevent someone/thing from doing damage to another.  The degree of binding depends upon the situation, but the purpose is always to place spiritual level restraints upon them to prevent them from acting in a harmful manner.

Blocking
As the term implies, blocking is used to prevent something from getting to you, or to prevent another from getting to something.  Kind of the spiritual version of putting a glass wall up about yourself so that, even if you can be seen, it doesn't mean you can be reached.

Book of Shadows (BoS)
A BoS is basically the diary kept by any craftworker.  It's contents vary, but generally include any correspondence information, a record of spells and rituals together with their results, snippets of information and revalations along the way, and so on.

Burning Times
This term refers to a sad period in our history where approximately 200,000 men, women and children (mainly women) were brutally raped, tortured and slaughtered for refusing to denounce their Pagan faith in favour of Christianity.  It is from this time that the term "warlock" arose, with the word literally meaning "oath breaker" and applied to those of the Pagan faith who betrayed their peers to save their own lives.  The modern equivalent of a massacre of this size would involve 9 million people.  However, the term is somewhat misleading, as witches were only actually burned in Scotland and on the continent of Europe; in England and America they were hanged.
 
 

Cauldron
Cauldrons come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and forms, but are basically a large deep bowl shaped recepticle used in various ways for ritual work.  Generally they are made of metal and are often used to hold the coals for loose incense.

Censer
This is usually a flat heatproof dish, and is used to hold the burning coals upon which loose incense is burnt.  Again, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a simple dish, to some beautiful and ornate pieces of work.

Chalice
Resembling the Grail, and often used symbolically, the chalice most commonly comes in the form of an old fashioned goblet, although other cup or glass designs are also used.  Mostly you will see a chalice being used to hold the ritual wine, although this is not it's only use.

Circle
Sometimes used to refer to a group of witches, the main meaning of the term is that of the sacred space created by witches and druids alike in which to work.

Cleansing
Cleansing is performed for a variety of reasons, and using various techniques, although the common goal is always to be rid of any negative energy.  Generally a symbolic cleansing, the purpose can vary from a simple cleansing of your own aura before ritual work or after a stressful day, to clearing an entire house of negative energy.

Coven
The term given to an organized group of witches, usually led by a high priest and/or high priestess.  The minimum number in the Gregorian tradition is three, although traditionally they used to contain thirteen.  The name most likely derives from the Middle English word "covin", meaning a group of confederates, or the French word "covine", meaning a band or group with a single purpose.

Deosil
Pronounced "jessul", deosil simply refers to a clockwise direction.

Discordian
A magical system of thinking, which relies largely on the principles of chaos.  In my experience, people either love or hate discordian thinking, but either way it tends to promote a response!

Dragon Lines
Also known as ley lines, dragon lines refers to the natural paths of energy which criss cross the land.  Although many a dowser is capable of finding these paths, and many intuitives gain much benefit from them, it tends only to be those who have studied geomancy in depth who know the full implications on how to work with them.

Drawing Down
Also called invokation, a drawing down is a ritual used to invoke a deity or spirit into the body of a mortal so that they may speak or act through that person.  Often done by idiots who've read a how to book and think they're ready, those contemplating this technique should first ensure that they have done a huge amount of ego work, and are fully prepared for the potential consequences of working with such massive energies.

DoS
Partly a humourous term, a DoS (Disk of Shadows) is an indicator of the times we live in.  With so many craft workers keeping their Book of Shadows on their computer nowadays, this term sprung up accordingly.  Just remember to keep a hard copy somewhere!

Dowsing
A method of divination, most commonly using either a pendulum or dowsing rods, this technique can be used to find anything from a lost item of jewellery to an underground water source.

Elementals
The spirits or genus loci associated with each element.

Elements
Although Celtic tradition recognises five elements, most commonly only five are recognized in modern times, these being earth, air, fire, water, and spirit (which embodies the other four).  These are regarded as elemental realms or states of nature, and should not be confused with the table of elements used in physics.

Esbat
Most commonly an esbat refers to the night of the full moon, although it can also be used to refer to a dark moon.  These are the nights when the regular rituals are most often held.

Evoke
To call up, rather than in, a spirit or entity.  For example, calling upon the Elementals to be present at the correct quarter in circle to watch over the proceedings.

Familiar
A familiar is the name given to the particular animal identified with a craftworker.  The traditional witch's familiar is depicted as a cat, although in truth it could be any animal.  Be sure, however, to let the familiar choose you, and not try to impose your will by deciding which is your favourite animal, or which would hold the most prestige in your eyes.

Fey/Faery
Not to be confused with the twee images of the Victorian fairy, the fey are a race who reputedly once inhabited the earth, although now are only found by the lucky few and live across the veil, although in the same land.  Sometimes misreported as lacking morals, on the contrary their moral standards are strong; just different to our own.  Coming in all shapes, sizes and temperaments, anyone seeking to work with the fey should approach with care, and be respectful and alert at all times.

Fivefold Kiss
Actually comprising eight kisses, the name derives from the five points at which the kisses are placed.  This is a method used in circle as a salute and honouring of the priest/ess upon whom it is bestowed.  Also the origin of the (in my opinion, anyway!) nausiatingly affected modern practise of saying "Blessed be" instead of goodbye!

Flying Ointment
A hallucenogenic oil rubbed on to the skin to promote ease in astral projection and journeying.

Gardnerian
A relatively modern form of practise of witchcraft descended from the teachings of Gerald Gardner.

Geomancy
The art of putting humans, their habitats and their activities into harmony with the visible and invisible world around us.  Living remnants of this once universal artform can still be seen at sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, although the lack of geomantic understanding detracts from the full impact of their genius.

Great Rite
Sexual in nature, this rite is the main feature of the third degree initiation, and is also used for certain festivals.  Once "actual" in nature, it is often reduced to a symbolic act nowadays.  It is perfectly acceptable (and, in my opinion, preferable) to be performed in private, and any novice who encounters the all too common insistence in some "covens" that it must be performed physically as part of their initiation should run, not walk, from that particular group!

Handfasting
The pagan equivalent of a wedding. If the Priest/ess performing the ceremony are legally registered as clergy with the local authorities, it can be made legal.  Otherwise, a separate registrar is required, or alternatively it may only be considered binding within the coven or grove.

High Priest/ess
Technically speaking, this is a witch who has received third degree initiation.  However, in modern times it has become equally common as a reference to the male/female leaders of a coven or grove.

Hathor's Mirror
A style of scrying mirror, and the most commonly used.  Generally consists of a darkened glass mirror set in a frame, with both convex and concave sides visible.

Herblore
The knowledge and craft of working with herbs.  Also known as Wortcunning.

Invoke
To ritually "call in" a spirit, entity or energy higher than that of the human form.  This is most commonly recognised through the ritual of Drawing Down the Moon.  The purpose can vary from wishing to contact a loved one who has passed over to drawing upon the wisdom and knowledge of the chosen Deity.  However, I would strongly advise against using this practise until you are entirely confident of being stable enough to handle such strong energies within your own body.

Ley Lines
See Dragon Lines.

Magic
The art of manipulating the universal energy within the laws of nature to influence the outcome.  Or, as a friend once said to me "All things are due to the dice playing God with the universe.  Magic; the art of loading the dice."   Spot the discordian!

Moon Blood
A term popularised by Mists of Avalon to refer to a woman's menstrual cycle.  Most women who don't take the contraceptive pill will find that their cycles fall in step either with the full or the dark moon, hence the term.

Neophyte
The initiate grade in Golden Dawn, also used as a term to refer to a new intitate in any of the craft paths.

Pagan
An umbrella term to describe most earth based religions, with worship of God and Goddess as equals an intrinsic part.

Paganing
The Pagan version of a christening although, unlike the Christian tradition, the child is normally only dedicated to the path until such time as they are old enough to make their own decisions about whether they continue to follow this faith.

Pantheon
In terms of Paganism, this refers to the set of deities of a particular race, such as Greek, Roman, Celtic, etc.

Pathwork
A subtle technique which can be used either for divination or for influence over a situation.  Essentially it entails a self guided meditation through a particular scenario, either to programme how that scenario should go, or to see what may possibly arise from it.

Pentacle
The pentacle is the five pointed star set within a circle.  People are forever confusing the two, but the easiest way I know to remember which is which is to remember that pentacle and circle have the same ending.

Pentagram
A five pointed star.  Most often used in Paganism to represent the five elements.

Power Cone
The cone of energy created while working, which may either be focused and directed outwards, or inwards to the cauldron for a more specific purpose.

Qabballah
Hebrew based high magic system.  Also spelt Qaballah, Kaballah, and so on.

Quarters
Within circle, these are the north, east, south and west points upon the circle which correspond to the individual Elements, together with various energies, colours, spirits, animals, etc.  Also referred to as watchtowers.

Rede
Rule or law, as in the Wiccan Rede.

Runes
Divination tool using the runic alphabet to predict most likely future events.  Generally made from wood or stone, each rune has an individual runic letter carved upon it, and the reading taken depending on which way up the rune stands, and which rune is drawn.

Sabbat
This term refers to the eight major festivals of the year.  With the new year falling at Samhaine, the other seven are (in order) Yule/Alban Arthuan, Imbolc, Ostara/Alban Eiler, Beltane, Litha/Alban Heruin, Lughnassadh and Mabon/Alban Elved.

Scrying
Divinations techniques using more loosely defined forms such as crystal gazing, smoke, burning coals, water and stone, as opposed to more clearly defined forms such as tarot or runes.

Sunwise
Clockwise.  See also deosil.

Tarot
A divination method using a deck of cards with images upon them.  The tarot deck consists of 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana, with the minor arcana linking closely to the modern playing card deck we use today.

Virgin
A woman who is not controlled by a man, remaining unshackled.  The term often given to the sacred priestesses of old who would never marry.

Wand
Rarely the thin pointy thing popularised by Disney, a wand will vary in it's substance depending on the person in question.  The length of the wand should match the distance between your elbow and wrist, and is usually made of either wood or copper (although the copper ones are often leather bound for obvious reasons!).  Some tip their wands with crystals, others with acorns, others leave them plain.  The wand is used most commonly as a tool for directing energy.

Waning
Decreasing.  Most commonly used in reference to the lunar cycle.

Warlock
Scottish in origin, the word literally means "oath breaker" and dates back to the burning times.  It was used in reference to those who betrayed other witches and, as such, still holds very negative connotations today; despite it's popularisation in Victorian fairy stories.

Watchtowers
Originating from the Enochian techniques of working, but now integrated into many popular techniques of working, the watchtowers relate to the four main compass points within the circle of north, east, south and west.  Each watchtower relates to an individual element of air, fire, water or earth and, depending upon the traditions, will also have colour, Elemental, animal and spirit associations with each.

Waxing
Increasing.  Also most commonly used in reference to the lunar cycle.

Widdershins
Anti-clockwise.  Pronounced "withershins".