Animistic
The belief that all forms of nature have the Divine spirit within.
Ankh
Egyptian smybol. Much like the cross of Christianity with the addition
Avatar
1)All that is spirit
Aura
The colored low level energy field that surrounds living tissue.
Balefire
A sacred outdoor fire burned by Witches as part of a Sabbat celebration,
Banish
To release or drive away a conjured spirit from the power of the magick
Besom
A straw broom used by Witches to cleanse the area before a ritual
Biddy
A "doll" made fromt he last sheaf of the last harvest. Sometimes called
Binding
A magickal spell which usually involves the tying of knots on a cord, and
Bolline
A practical working knife used by Witches to harvest herbs, cut wooden
Book Of Shadows
A book in which spells, rituals, power thoughts or anything else of spiritual
Burning Times
Period of history known as the "Middle Ages", when a large number of
Candle Magick
A form of magick that uses colored candles to represent things and people
Cauldron
A black pot( usually cast iron) used by witches that symbolically represents
Censor
A metal container with a perforated lid, used as an incense burner for
Chalice
A sacred cup or goblet used to hold consecrated water or wine, normally
Charging
To infuse an object with your personal power.
Charm
A magickal object that works like an amulet or talisman to keep away
Cheiromancy
The act of reading palms (Palmistry).
Circle
A sphere of magick that encloses a Witch during her ritual or
Consecration
The act of making something sacred. The removal of negative influences
Coven
A group of witches who gather together to work magick and perform
Covenstead
Home of a coven.
Cowan
A person not of Wiccan beliefs, trying to fake the beliefs. A derogitory
Craft (The Craft)
Another name for the Wiccan Religion or Witchcraft.
Croning
Ritual celebrating those who have come into "full wisdom" (50 + years).
Cross Quarters
The midpoints of the seasons, they are four of the Sabbats, or holidays,
Deity
A supreme or diving being;a God or Goddess.
Deosil
A word used by witches to indicate a clockwise motion. In most spells
Devil
The Christian representation of pure evil; the ruler of the Christian
Divination
The practice of discovering the unknown and foretelling events of the
Divine Power
The life force of energy; ulitimate source of all things
Dragon's Blood
The Resin from the palm tree Daemonorps draco is used by witches as a
Drawing down the Moon
The ritual invocation ritual of the spirit of the Moon or Goddess spirit
Earth Power
Manifested Divine power found in natural things.
Eclectic
A mixture of beliefs borrowed from traditions and theologies.
Elements
Four essences that are the building blocks of the Universe. (Earth-North,
Elementals
Also known as "Guardians of the Watchtowers" or the four cardinal points
Energy
Natural vibration or power that we tap into or raise inour spells and
Equinox
Happens twice a year when the sun is exactly over the Earth's middle
Esbat
A regular meeting of a Witches coven or circle that is traditionally held
Fourth Face of the Goddess
That which is never seen, the unknown (the Myst). Some say this is the
God
The divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess. (often depicted as Green
Goddess
The female Diety of Wicca. The Goddess can take many forms (maiden,
Grimoire
A magickal workbook with information on rituals, magickal properties of
Handfasting
The Wiccan rite of marriage
Incantations
The ritual recitation of words of power or special phrases, usually rhymed,
Initiation
The passage of a person into the Wiccan faith. It can take place in
Jewelry
Many Wiccans use jewelry to signify the Craft. Often the jewelry is a
Karma
The law of cause and effect that applies to all of our actions and their
Lady (The Lady)
A term of respect for a Priestess (one who leads a group of wiccans).
Lord
A term of respect for a Priest (one who leads a group of wiccans).
Meditation
A technique of mind control that produces a feeling of tranquility and
Megalith
A huge, stone monument. (Example=Stonehedge)
Magick
Controlling Nature using the power of your own will. The "k" is used to
Mojo Bag
A small leather or flannel bag filled with a variety of magickal items such
Neo-Paganism
Modern-day Paganism (nature religion) (neo = new). All Witches and Wiccans
Pagan
General term for Magick embracing religions.
Pantheistic
The belief that the divine is everywhere in everything.
Oils
Scented oils are used to bless or as part of a spell. The different scents
Pentacle & Pentagram
Five-pointed star with one upward point. Each of the points represents
Polytheism
The belief in or worship of more than one God or Goddess.
Quarters
The four major Sabbats (holidays or seasonal marks) of the year.
Rites of Passage
An exercise of significant transition.
Quarters
The four major Sabbats (holidays or seasonal marks) of the year.
Reincarnation
The doctrine of rebirth of the spirit or the processof repeated lives
Sabbats
Wiccan festivals that are a time of rejoicing and celebration (no work
Simple Feast
A ritual meal of sharing with the Goddess and God.
Skyclad
A term meaning nude (for example, the state of undress while doing some
Solstice
Twice a year, midway between the equinoxes, there are two days, one of
Spells
A magickal ritual, prayer, or act wherein a person actively bends and gives
Threefold
This refers to something happening three times over its original intentions.
Warlock
Wiccan folk DO NOT use this word for "Male Witch". It is an old English
Wicca
A contemporary Pagan belief that predates Christianity. Expresses
Wiccaning
The act of parents, promising to rear their children in the Wiccan
Wiccan Scripture
Lessons learned by observing Nature.
Widdershins
Counter clockwise motion around a circle to desperse or tear down
Witch
Someone who practices magick/ a follower of Wicca or an Earth Religion
Witchcraft
The art, craft, and science used by witches, which is Magick. Especially,
of a loop at the top. Known for fertility and health.
2)an advanced soul, who chooses to return to a physical body, in
order to teach the less evolved.
particularly the festivals of Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, and
Autumn Equinox. Dancing deosil (clockwise) around a balefire often
takes place to invoke the deities, raise magickal energy, or celebrate
the turning of the Wheel of the Year.
circle.
CORN DOLLS or CORN DOLLY. It represents the Mother Earth's fertility
is performed to control the actions of another.There is much controversy
over the ethical and morality of binding spells.
wands, slice bread, and carve magickal symbols in candles and talismans.
and magickal meaning to you is written down. Also kept by some witches is
a mirror book. This is a diary of personal magickal events.
people were put to death supposedly because of witchcraft. Burning wasn't
the only method used, however, and witchcraft was not the only reason.
This was the Christian church's attempt to stop religions or beliefs
that they didn't understand or agree with.
at which the spells are directed. Each color symbolizes a different
attribute, influence and emotion.
the womb of the Goddess, and it is used for various purposes.. including
burning incense, and holding herbs.
rituals, Sabbats, and spell work. It is symbolic of the element of air.
kept to the west side of the altar.
misfortune.
a loose group of Wiccans that are not part of a coven.
from ritual tools, the magick circle, etc.
ceremonies at Sabbats and Esbats. They are led by a Priestess, Priest,
or both, and joined through initiation.
word for a "fake pagan"; a fool who doesn't know what they are talking
about.
Females are called Crones, males are called Sages.
which fall between the Sabbats at the Quarters.
and rituals deosil movement(or sunwise) symbolizes life and positive energy.
It is the way in which circles are cast. It is opposite of Widdershins.
Hell. Although many associate the Devil with the pentacle (a symbol
of the Craft) or with thw Witches themselves, in reality Witches
have no belief in the Devil as it is generally believed that no one
thing can be pure evil or pure good.
future by using such methods as Tarot, dice, runes, crystal balls...etc.
magickal incense for various spells. Is a highly valued herb for protection,
and dispelling of negativity.
into the body of the High Priestess of a coven or the solitary
practitioner
Air-East, Fire-South, and Water-West) Everything that exists, or has
the potential to exist, contain one or more of these energies. The
four form the Primal Essences, or true "Power". These elements are
considered the basis of life, since nothing can exist without
containing at least one.
of a magickal circle. The Elements are perceived by Witches as
magickal spirits of the four ancient elements... Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
rituals.
(Equator). It produces one day of equal light and dark hours all over
the world.
during the full moon approx. 13 times a year.
source of her power.
God of Summer and Horned God of Winter). Seen as the Sun, without which
we couldn't survive. His life is honored through the passing of the
seasons. The God's domains are untouched lands. The stars are his too.
His symbols are the sword, horn, spears, wands, knife, arrow, and sickle.
mother, crone) and have many names (ie. Diana, Gaia, Luna to name
a few). She it the polarity of the (Horned) God and is equal if
not slighty greater to Him. Some reiligions (especially those of
Pre-Christian times) believe(d) that "God" was a woman.
natural objects, and preparation of ritual tools.
in order to produce a magickal effect.
the form of a ceremony or it can be a spontaneous occurence. Generally
a student of Wicca is expected to complete a study period of a year and a
day before initiation.
necklace (as it is said that the Goddess wore one) but can be anything
the person feels is represenative of the Craft. Pentacles, ankhs,
birthstones, and runes are popular pieces.
consequences either in this life or in future incarnations. It is the law
that dictates the fact that whatever you do will "come around again".
This means that if you were to perform a destructive spell, the effects that
spell had would be returned to you (usually threefold).
The Lady = the Goddess.
The Lord = the God or Sun God.
peacefulness, and often leads to transcendental awareness. Meditation, is
an ideal tool for both self-improvement and spiritual growth.
differentiate between Wicca and stage/performance magic.
as herbs, stones, feathers, bones, etc. Carried and worn as a charm to
attract or dispel certain influences.
are classified as Pagans though not all Pagans fit into either of
these groups. Other examples of Paganism include the Druids and Voodoo.
of the oils help to attain the goal. Each scent used should be specific
to the task at hand.
the four elements (the 5th point represents spirit)A written or drawn
pentacle is called a pentagram. Both are considered religious symbols of the
Craft.
in the physical form, to allow the evolution of the soul. Pagans
believe in reincarnation.
should be done except in emergencies). There are 8 holy celebrations
of Wicca all called Sabbats. They celebrate the astronomical
occurences of the Sun(God) and related daylight hours. [opposite of
Esbat - Moon (Goddess) celebrations].
THE FOUR GREATER SABBATS
--Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain--
THE FOUR LESSER SABBATS
--Mabon, Litha (Midsummer), Ostara, and Yule--
rituals).
the longest light hours, the other of the longest dark hours. These
occur on the 21st of their months.
directive to natural energies for a needed purpose
In Wicca, we believe that if you do something with bad intentions, it
will come back at you three times worse than you had intended for the
original situation or person.
word meaning untrustworthy or oathbreaker. A male Witch is exactly
that....a Witch.
reverence for Nature, uses Magick, and worships dual dieties - both
the Goddess (Mother or Lady) and the God (Sun or Lord). A follower
of Wicca is a Wiccan. Wicca means "wise ones" and/or "to turn, bend
and shape". Wiccan is often termed the new name for Witches.
culture. (also known as Paganing).
negative energy. (opposite of Deosil).
utilizing personal power with the energy of natural objects.