Glossary S

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Glossary S

Sabbats - The eight festivals which mark the seasonal transitions of the year within Wiccan tradition.

Samhain - Oct 31st. The Celtic New Year. At this time of "death" of the old year and "birth" of the new, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thought to be at its thinnest.

Scourge - In Alexandrian, and presumably Gardnerian witchcraft, the scourge consists of a wooden handle to which eight tails (the Farrars describe theirs as having tails of embroidery silk) are attached, with each tail having five knots. The scourge has some symbolic uses in ritual, but is frequently used in ritual to gently strike the skin rhythmically to help induce trance, and to invigorate circulation.

Scrying - Any form of divination which involves gazing into or at an object, such as a crystal ball, pool, flame, black mirror, etc.

Secret Chiefs - The "council" of Ascended Masters.

Sephira - Number, sphere, or emanation. An irreducible aspect of the divine represented as a sphere on the Sephiroth (Qabalistic Tree of Life).

Sephiroth - The plural of Sephira. The word sephiroth is frequently used to refer to the Tree of Life, a symbolic a rrangement of ten (sometimes eleven) spheres, which represent emanations from YHVH, and the twenty-two paths between them, which represent their interaction. The Tree of the Sephiroth is the primary glyph of the Qabalah.

Sex Magick - A form of Magick which uses the experience of sex and orgasm to raise energy.

Shaman - (from Tunguso-Manchurian saman, "he who knows") In the religious systems of Siberian and Ural-Altaic peoples and in certain analogous systems of other peoples worldwide, a person believed to have the power to heal the sick and to communicate with the world beyond. The shaman is medicine man, priest, and psychopomp; that is to say, he cures sicknesses, directs communal sacrifices, and escorts the souls of the dead to the other world. He is able to do all this by virtue of his techniques of ecstasy; i.e., by his power to leave his body at will during a trancelike state.

Shell - Sometimes used to refer to the lower parts of the soul which contains the memories, verbal patterns, and habits which may remain in the world after the death of the physical body.

Sigil - A seal or sign. An analogous representation of a word or name, formed into a single glyph.

Sign - May refer to either a visual pattern or movement meant to convey information, or an omen or portent.

Simple - A medicinal plant, or the medicine obtained from it.

Simulacrum - May refer to either an image used in Sympathetic Magick, such as a poppet, or to refer to the visualized Astral Body used in Astral Projection.

Skyclad - Ritual nudity.

Smudging - The use of burning incense or herbs to cleanse an area of unwanted influences.

Solitary - A lone practitioner.

Sorcery - See Left-hand Path.

Spell - A series of actions, whether simple or complex, coupled with the raising and release of power designed to bring about a specific Change in accordance with Will.

Speculum - Any reflective or shiny surface which can provide a focus for the attention.

Spirit - There are two common usages of this term within Magick; 1) May refer to the Element Akasha. 2) May refer to a discarnate entity.

Spirit Helper - A spirit which has become, or was created to be, the servant or ally of a shaman.

Spiritualism - Also known as Spiritism. This is the belief that the spirits of the dead can and will communicate with the living through a medium.

Spiritualist - A medium who channels spirits of the dead.

Spring Equinox - March 21st. The day of the year on which the hours of light and dark are equal. Sometimes referred to as Ostara.

Summer Solstice - June 21st or 22nd. The longest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Sometimes referred to as Midsummer.

Supernal Triad - The upper three Sephira on the Tree of Life.

Sword - One of the Elemental tools. In some traditions, associated with Elemental Air, in others Elemental Fire. Sometimes used interchangeably with the Athame or ritual dagger.

Sympathetic Magick - Magick which works on the premise that like produces like. It is the type of Magick employed when working with poppets, effigies, etc.

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All contents of this site are © 2000-2005 except where otherwise noted, such as in the case of graphics or other content not created by Smiling Panther. Original author/creator retains all rights in those instances. All rights reserved.


	Smiling Panther's Den \| home Glossary A-C \| Glossary D - F \| Glossary G - I \| Glossary J - M \| Glossary N - R \| Glossary S \| Glossary T - W \| Glossary X - Z Glossary S Sabbats - The eight festivals which mark the seasonal transitions of the year within Wiccan tradition. Samhain - Oct 31st. The Celtic New Year. At this time of "death" of the old year and "birth" of the new, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thought to be at its thinnest. Scourge - In Alexandrian, and presumably Gardnerian witchcraft, the scourge consists of a wooden handle to which eight tails (the Farrars describe theirs as having tails of embroidery silk) are attached, with each tail having five knots. The scourge has some symbolic uses in ritual, but is frequently used in ritual to gently strike the skin rhythmically to help induce trance, and to invigorate circulation. Scrying - Any form of divination which involves gazing into or at an object, such as a crystal ball, pool, flame, black mirror, etc. Secret Chiefs - The "council" of Ascended Masters. Sephira - Number, sphere, or emanation. An irreducible aspect of the divine represented as a sphere on the Sephiroth (Qabalistic Tree of Life). Sephiroth - The plural of Sephira. The word sephiroth is frequently used to refer to the Tree of Life, a symbolic a rrangement of ten (sometimes eleven) spheres, which represent emanations from YHVH, and the twenty-two paths between them, which represent their interaction. The Tree of the Sephiroth is the primary glyph of the Qabalah. Sex Magick - A form of Magick which uses the experience of sex and orgasm to raise energy. Shaman - (from Tunguso-Manchurian saman, "he who knows") In the religious systems of Siberian and Ural-Altaic peoples and in certain analogous systems of other peoples worldwide, a person believed to have the power to heal the sick and to communicate with the world beyond. The shaman is medicine man, priest, and psychopomp; that is to say, he cures sicknesses, directs communal sacrifices, and escorts the souls of the dead to the other world. He is able to do all this by virtue of his techniques of ecstasy; i.e., by his power to leave his body at will during a trancelike state. Shell - Sometimes used to refer to the lower parts of the soul which contains the memories, verbal patterns, and habits which may remain in the world after the death of the physical body. Sigil - A seal or sign. An analogous representation of a word or name, formed into a single glyph. Sign - May refer to either a visual pattern or movement meant to convey information, or an omen or portent. Simple - A medicinal plant, or the medicine obtained from it. Simulacrum - May refer to either an image used in Sympathetic Magick, such as a poppet, or to refer to the visualized Astral Body used in Astral Projection. Skyclad - Ritual nudity. Smudging - The use of burning incense or herbs to cleanse an area of unwanted influences. Solitary - A lone practitioner. Sorcery - See Left-hand Path. Spell - A series of actions, whether simple or complex, coupled with the raising and release of power designed to bring about a specific Change in accordance with Will. Speculum - Any reflective or shiny surface which can provide a focus for the attention. Spirit - There are two common usages of this term within Magick; 1) May refer to the Element Akasha. 2) May refer to a discarnate entity. Spirit Helper - A spirit which has become, or was created to be, the servant or ally of a shaman. Spiritualism - Also known as Spiritism. This is the belief that the spirits of the dead can and will communicate with the living through a medium. Spiritualist - A medium who channels spirits of the dead. Spring Equinox - March 21st. The day of the year on which the hours of light and dark are equal. Sometimes referred to as Ostara. Summer Solstice - June 21st or 22nd. The longest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere). Sometimes referred to as Midsummer. Supernal Triad - The upper three Sephira on the Tree of Life. Sword - One of the Elemental tools. In some traditions, associated with Elemental Air, in others Elemental Fire. Sometimes used interchangeably with the Athame or ritual dagger. Sympathetic Magick - Magick which works on the premise that like produces like. It is the type of Magick employed when working with poppets, effigies, etc. Background for this page provided by: All contents of this site are © 2000-2005 except where otherwise noted, such as in the case of graphics or other content not created by Smiling Panther. Original author/creator retains all rights in those instances. All rights reserved.