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Some Traditional Pagan/wiccan Terms
- Altar - a surface that has been
prepared for the work of doing rituals and magick.
- Amulet - an object that
deflects negative energy. It is usually worn on the person.
- Astral projection - the
practice of separating the spirit from the body and having that
spirit move around the world.
- Astrology - the study of the
stars and how their position affects personality and future
events.
- Athame - (pronounced: ath-a-may)
a short ceremonial knife, sometimes with a double edged blade.
It is used to direct energy during the Wiccan rituals.
- Autumnal equinox - a day of the
year in autumn when the night and day are of equal length.
- Balefire - a fire used for
magical purposes, often used in the ceremonies during Yule,
Beltane, and Midsummer.
- Beltane - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on April 30 or May 1.
- Between the worlds - the
concept that a Wiccan Circle, when properly performed, exists
between the physical and spiritual dimensions where people may
contact other spirits
- Blessed be - a phrase used by Wiccans in both reading and
parking.
- Blood of the moon - the time
of a woman's greatest energy, usually during her menstrual
cycle.
- Book of Shadows - a book of
rituals and spells. There is no single official Book of
Shadows. Each Book of shadows is relevant to the person who
uses it and develops a set of spells and rituals used for
gaining influence and power.
- Burning Time, the - a term
referring to the witch persecutions in Europe during the late
medieval and renaissance periods.
- Candle magick - the use of
candles in spells and rituals.
- Centering - to focus your
thoughts and energies.
- Chakra - a location of energy
focus and human body. Typically, there are said to be seven.
- Chalice - a cup used in rituals
that can contain wind, water, or other liquids.
- Channeling - the practice of
allowing another spirit to speak through you.
- Chanting - the use of
repetitious words and or rhymes designed to induce an altered
state of consciousness.
- Charge - to infuse energy into
an object.
- Charm - an object that has been
charged with energy.
- Circle - a group of people,
usually Wiccans, who have been gathered to perform a ritual.
- Cleansing - removing negative
energy.
- Coven - a group of Wiccans. A
group of witches, usually numbering 13.
- Cowen - someone who is not a
witch.
- Craft - another term for Wicca
- Crone - one of the three
aspects of the goddess. Also, someone who has passed the stage
of menopause.
- Deity - a god or goddess, a
particular view about a God or Goddess held by a Wiccan.
- Deosil - Clockwise motion
- Divination - discovering the
unknown by observing and interpreting random patterns are
symbols through such tools as clouds, tarot cards, flames,
smoke, etc.
- Dowsing - the use of an object,
such as a stick, to find something or someone, and sometimes to
find an answer to a question.
- Drawing down the Moon - a
ritual for the invocation of the goddess done at the full moon
where energy is drawn into a female witch.
- Drawing down the Sun - a ritual
for the invitation of God where energy is drawn into a male
witch.
- Earth Magick - magic that is
centered around the energies of Mother Earth.
- Earth Power - the natural
energy that exists within the earth. Therefore, there is energy
within plants, rocks, water, the wind, etc. Wiccans often try
and tap into the earth power in their rituals and spells.
- Elementals - creatures
associated with the elements. Gnomes with the earth, Sylphs
with the air, Salamanders with Fire, and Undines with Water.
- Elements, The - the building
blocks of the universe are the four elements: Earth, fire, air,
and water.
- Equinox - occurs two times a
year on March 21 or Sept. 23 where the day and night are of
equal length.
- Esbat - a Wiccan ritual
performed in a coven.
- Evocation - calling up spirits
and/or other non-physical entities.
- Familiar - an animal that has a
bond with a witch.
- God - The male divine
principle: horned God, God of the hunt.
- Goddess - the female divine
principle: Moon Goddess, maiden.
- Handfasting - a wedding.
- High Priest/Priestess - a witch
who is the leader of a coven, sometimes a person who has
received the third degree initiation.
- Imbolc - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on February 2 also known as Candlemas, Feast of the
Waxing Light. it celebrates the arrival of spring.
- Invocation - a request to a
higher power, god or goddess.
- Lughnasadh - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on August 1 which signifies the harvest.
- Mabon - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on September 21st, a celebration of the second
harvest and preparation for winter.
- Magick - A term first used by
Aleister Crowley (a Satanist). It refers to any ritual or spell
that is designed to bring about a change in a person or the
environment. Magick allegedly works within natural laws and
cannot violate them. The alternate spelling is used to
distinguish it from show magic.
- Merry Meet - a phrase used as a
greeting.
- Midsummer - the summer
solstice that occurs around June 21. It marks the time when the
sun is at the height of its power.
- Neo Paganism - It is a bit
broad in its meaning, but generally it is a group of religions
based out of old European and pre-Christian belief systems.
- New Moon - the phase of the
moon when it is entirely dark.
- Old Religion - another term for
Wicca.
- Ostara - a Wiccan festival of
March 21 that celebrates the beginning of spring.
- Pagan - Generally it refers to
those who hold to religious beliefs but are not Jews,
Christians, or Muslims. Pagans are often polytheistic and/or
pantheistic.
- Paganing - a ceremony where on
infant is presented to the circle and to the God and Goddess.
- Pentacle - an object used in
rituals upon which a pentagram (five pointed star in a circle)
is engraved or inscribed.
- Pentagram - a five pointed
star.
- Path - the particular religious
journey that a person is on.
- Quarters - north, south, east,
and West. The four corners of ritual circle.
- Reincarnation - in Wicca, the
teaching that people souls continue on after death, go to a
holding place (Summerland) where there lives are contemplated,
and the decision in two which location and time to be born into
occurs.
- Ritual - a Wiccan ceremony
where objects and movements are designed to bring about desired
effects.
- Runes - sticklike figures such
as symbols that were once carved in rocks, play, candles, which
are supposed to have energies that can be used during magick.
- Sabbat - a Wiccan festival.
- Samhain - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on October 31, Halloween.
- Scry - to look upon object
intensely as in a meditative state and opening oneself up to
visions.
- Skyclad - Wiccan terminology
for nudity.
- Solitary - a Wiccan who
practices the craft by him or herself.
- Spell - a ritual designed to
bring about a certain effect.
- Summerland - A place of peace
and paradise that all spirits go after death where they are
rejuvenated and reflect upon their previous life before
proceeding on to another incarnation.
- Talisman - A ritually charged object designed to attract a
specific energy.
- Threefold Law - All the good
you do will return to threefold in this life. Likewise, all the
harm you do will return to threefold also.
- Tradition - a particular type
of Wicca that a person practices.
- Underworld - the spirit realm
of the dead.
- Widdershins - movement that is
counterclockwise.
- Witch - someone who
participates in magick, male or female.
- Witchcraft - the practice of
the earth based and pagan religion focusing on nature and its
manipulation through rituals.
- Wicca - A religion do ride from
ancient Celtic belief systems that focuses on the goddess and
nature. It is sometimes referred to as witchcraft.
- Wiccan Law - Wiccan Rede - "An
Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will" This means that as long as you
don't harm anyone, you are free to do what you want in Wicca
including casting spells.
- Yule - a Wiccan festival
celebrated on December 21 marking the rebirth of the sun god.
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References:
1. Cantrell, Gary., Wiccan Beliefs and Practices. St. Paul,
Minn: Llewellyn Publications, 2004.
2. Drew, A. J., A Wiccan Bible: Exploring the mysteries of the
craft from birth to summerland.,
Franklin Lakes, NJ; New Page Books, 2003.
3. Grimassi, Raven., Encyclopedia of Wiccan Witchcraft., St.
Paul, Minn: Llewellyn
Publications, 2003.
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