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Cabala (HEB) See Qabalah
Candlemas A pagan sabbat traditionally held on February 1st. See Wheel of the Year page.
Candali (SKT) Gtum-mo (TIB). Literally, “fierce” or “wrathful”. A Vajrayana word for a kind of heat generated and experienced during certain types of meditation practices. This heat burns through impurities and confusion. See Kundalini.
Cantrip A small, quick, and minimal effect spell.
Cardinal Points North, East, South, and West. Symbolized by the circle in magick (by connecting the four points), the four elements, and the watchtowers.
Catharsis The release of magickal energies at the height or climax of ritual. In essence, the use of energy at the catharsis is the core of the rite. This determines whether the outcome will be successful.
Cauldron A feminine symbol of the goddess, of life, death, and rebirth. Associated with Cerridwen, a Celtic Moon, Grain and Nature Goddess. Cerridwen's symbol is a white sow. Patroness of the poets, greatest of all the bards. She prepared in a cauldron a magical brew, which stewed for a year, would yield three precious drops. These would bestow on the receiver the wisdom of the past, the knowledge of the present, and the secrets of the future. Today her cauldron survives not only in pagan ritual but also in the Christian concept of the Holy Grail.
Centering A meditation technique involving focus upon one’s center of gravity and realization of Self as microcosm, the center of all space and time (the Here and Now).
The concept of centering appears in the practices of many different cultures. In Zen Buddhism, students meditate on the hara point in order to gain access t the “Ocean of Ch’i” surrounding and flowing through all of us. See Circle; Kikai.
Censer A container in which herbal incense is smoldered or burned. It symbolizes the element of air. Used during ritual to "cense" an area as a form of purification.
Chakra (SKT) ’khor-lo (TIB). Literally, “wheel”. Also called Padmas (lotuses). The chakras are centers or nodes of energy said to exist along the spine. Each center relates to a particular state of mind, nerve plexus, glandular system, etc. Many attributions have been worked out. Some systems use five chakras, others as many as nine. Plus, there are a wide variety of subchakras or lesser centers, depending on whom you believe.
The general concept pervades the Tibetan, Hindu, Taoist, and Hopi systems. See Kundalini; Laya Yoga; Nadi; Pingala; Shushumna.
Chalice The cup used in ritual magick. Usually associated in the Western tradition with elemental Water. Frequently the chalice is also associated with cleansing, skrying, healing, the womb, the cauldron, and the Holy Grail. See Libation; Lustration.
Ch’an (CHI) The Chinese form of Zen Buddhism. The term also refers to the trance state of thought-free consciousness, Dhyana, See Dhyana; Zen.
Channeling Mediumship. A term signifying an entity communicating through a human to transmit a message or information to the physical plane. See New Age page.
Chant Repetition of harmonic resonance or magickal phrases, syllables, or words to produce a desired effect usually to bring the chanter to a deeper meditative state. See Om
Chaote A term referring to a Chaos magician who is not actively practicing.
Cheiromancy Related to palmistry. A form of divination based on the examination of the hand.
Chayot (HEB) The “lightning flash” described by Ezekiel. It is sometimes used to describe states of spiritual ecstasy. See Hayyoth; Merkabah.
Cherubim (HEB) The four angels of light who sing “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” eternally around the heavenly throne. One resembles a man, one a lion, one an eagle, and one an ox. See Hayyoth.
Ch’i (CHI) Literally “breath” or “wind”. The Chinese name for the vital force in all things. This doctrine is central to acupuncture and to many styles of martial arts, most notably Tai-Ch’i and Aikido. See Ki; Odic Force; Orgone; Prana.
Chiah (HEB) The part of the soul corresponding to the will or creative impulse. The direct spiritual vehicle of the yechidah. The Casual Body.
Ch’i-kung (CHI) The skillful manipulation of ch’i. Usually used to refer to internal operations of Taoist alchemy, or wai tai. See Ch’i; Wai Tai.
Chit (SKT) Consciousness or Knowing, with respect to the noumenal or one reality. See Sat-chit-ananda.
Chitta or Citta (SKT) The Lower Mind. One of the four parts making up the antahkarana, the Whole Mind. It is the part, which collects and stores mental images and is immersed in the world. See Antahkarana.
Circle A circle divides the inside from the outside. Circles are traditionally used in most rituals to form a boundary, or to create a void (or clean-slate) free of outside influences. Each circle can be said to represent the intersection of all planes and modes of existence. The circle symbolizes what Mircea Eliade called sacred space and sacred time, the here and now. See Centering; Circling; Mandala.
Circling In most Western systems, circles are drawn facing east, rotating deosil (clockwise, towards the Sun). A circle is erased by rotating widdershins (counterclockwise). Circles are usually drawn using the more active ritual tools, the rod, the staff, the sword, or the athame. Many ritualists place some type of symbol at each quarter and invoke the archangels or some other direction guardian spirit when casting a circle. See Circle; Mandala.
Cleansing Purification by use of the ritual bath and through meditation to cleanse the mind. Traditionally a preparation for ritual.
Cone of Power A “cone of energy” visualized during a ritual and directed towards a given act or purpose. It is generally used in the group workings of modern Witchcraft.
Conjure To summon. A way to call entities from the spirit realm to manifest in the physical plane.
Consecration To make sacred. Essentially, the ritual dedication of some person or thing to a specific office or purpose. A good example of a consecrated item would be the host (wafer) used in the Christian Eucharist.
Corn Dolly Similar to a poppet. A figure made from plaited wheat. It symbolizes fertility, grain, and harvest aspects of the Goddess-head.
Correspondences Herbs, stones, moon phases, colors, numbers, etc., which relate to a specific goal. Mugwort would be an example of a corresponding herb which might be used in a dream spell.
Cosmic Epochs Periods of approximately 2,000 years which relate to different signs of the Zodiac. The Age of Pisces is considered to be linked to Christ and the Christian era. The Aquarian Age follows it, but opinions differ as to when the new age began or will begin. See Aeon.
Coven An organized group of witches led by a High Priest and/or a High Priestess who meet for worship and to practice magick. Customarily limited to thirteen, most are smaller.
Covenstead The established home or meeting place of a coven.
Cowan “Newbie. A slang term for a non-witch or non-pagan. Unlike Newbie though, Cowan generally is used as a derogatory word for a pagan who is considered to be a fake or a poser.
Craft, the A modern term used to refer to witchcraft and wicca. Many accredit its popular use to the contemporary movie “The Craft.”
Cromlech A circle made of vertical stones, associated with Celtic worship of the Sun. Usually, such a circle will surround one or more dolmens. See Dolmen.
Crone A term of respect. Reserved for use a witch who has passed menopause or has achieved the age of 50-56 years old or older.
Croning The rite of passage into attaining the wisdom of age.
Cross of Confusion An ancient Roman symbol. In Roman times, it questioned the validity of Christianity.
Cross Quarter Days A term signifying the fire sabbats Samhain, Imbolb, Beltane, Lammas. These are the important festivals of the year, forming the "cross" in the Wheel of the Year.
Crossroads A traditional meeting place in Witchcraft. Supposedly, many old roads are built alone ley lines (channels of earth energy), so that some crossroads act as a focus of these forces. Some people believe that the odds of encountering UFOs or various supernatural beings (particularly fairies and trickster spirits) are increased at old crossroads. See Ley Lines.
Cthonian (GRK) Something associated with the earth and the underworld.
Cthulhu Mythos This phrase originally referred to a cycle of stories by the writer H. P. Lovecraft concerning a pantheon of pre-human elder gods who once ruled the world and will again after the stars are once again in correct alignment. Writing in a style much like that of Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft produced dozens of gloomy tales of inbred backwoods New England villages, hideous cults, and the awful things that happen to those who read the dread book of the mythos, the Necronomicon, or Book of Dead Names.
These stories were so successful that many of Lovecraft’s fellow pulp writers began to add to the original works, producing hundreds of related stories and novels. So many “practical jokes” have been played by various fans, booksellers, and occultists that it is becoming difficult to determine whether the Necronomicon and other books mentioned in these stories truly are fictional. Indeed, at present there are at least three published books claiming to be translations or reconstructions of the original Necronomicom.
There are five principle deities of the mythos:
Cthulhu-- The negative aspect of the primeval waters (the Chaos Ocean), somewhat equivalent to Tiamat, or the Midgard Serpent. He awaits, dreaming in the depths of the ocean, influencing the world via dreams. Cthulhu is sometimes called the “Sleeping Serpent who cannot be summoned.”
Azathoth-- The “blind nuclear chaos at the center of the universe.” Unseeing, unknowing, and without purpose, Azathoth was the personification of Lovecraft’s horror at the breakdown of the Newtonian universe and seeming indeterminacy of relativity and quantum physics.
Nylarlathotep-- The Crawling Chaos, the messenger of the elder gods. Somewhat akin to a malevolent Thoth or Mercury, Nylarlathotep is the sardonic servant of the idiot god, Azathoth. He is the god of destructive knowledge. Some people consider nuclear weapons as an incarnation of Nylarlathotep.
Hastur-- (the Unspeakable) Connected with air, wind, and the sky.
Shub-Niggurath-- (the Black Goat with a Thousand Young) Sort of an inhuman Pan, representing the natural mutation/evolution process of nature gone berserk.
Though originally confined to fiction, the Cthulhu mythos seems to be a rapidly evolving coherent and powerful magickal system. This should give practitioners pause for thought when working with serendipitous symbol systems. It does not matter where a magickal system came from if it is believable and elegant in form. See Abyss.
Cult A system of religious or magickal beliefs and practices. Frequently used by adherents of one religion to describe another religion of which they do not approve. Often associated with fanaticism or false religion. Sometimes used to describe an obscure or small religion with few followers. Christianity was a cult 1,900 years ago.
Cunning Man An ancient term for a practitioner of magick. This term predates Christianity. This was one that was relied on by villagers to ensure a good harvest, protect them from evil, and provide charms and medicines. The Cunning Man has survived the advent of Christianity in certain societies.
Current 93 A term coined by Aleister Crowley to denote the magickal energies at work in the Aeon of Horus. These magickal energies supposedly manifested as the doctrine of Thelema or “Love under Will.” The Greek words thelema (will) and agape (love), and Aiwaz (the messenger from the Secret Chiefs who dictated Crowley’s Book of the Law), all have a numerical value of 93. See Secret Chiefs.
Curse The conscious direction of negative energy towards a person, place, or object for a specific goal.
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