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Pagan 1.) A follower of paganism.
2.) Something related to paganism. (For example a pagan book, pagan artwork, etc.)
Pagandom A term referring to the part of the world inhabited primarily by pagans.

Paganism This term has many meanings and varies from culture as well as era it is used in. Simply, any religion other than Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. Generally categorized as an earth religion. Most are polytheistic (have more than one god or goddess). Literally means "country dweller".

Pagan Standard Time A slang term for when people cannot arrive or get an event started on time. Abbreviated as PST.

Pallomancy A form of divination employing the use of a pendulum.

Pantheon From pantheios (GRK), “of all gods.” The arrangement or hierarchy of deities and spirits within a particular system.

Paramita (SKT) “Perfection” or “transcendental activity.” Pha-rol-tu-phyin-pa (TIB). The activities or actions by which the Bodhisattva attains Buddhahood. Some sources give six paramitas, others ten. Each paramita is associated with a bhumi (stage) of enlightenment. The ten paramitas are:

Tibetan Pronunciation	Tibetan Spelling	Sanskrit	English	Associated Bhumi
jinpa	sbyin pa	dana	generosity	paramudita
tsultim	tshul khrims	sila	discipline	vimala
sopa	bzod pa	ksanti	patience	prabhakari
tsondru	brtson `grus	virya	exertion	arcismati
samten	bsam gtan	dhyana	meditation	sudurjaya
sherab	shes rag	prajna	knowledge	abhimukhi
thap	thabs	upaya	skillful means	durangama
monlam	smon lam	pranidhana	vision	acala
top	stobs	bala	power	sadhumati
yeshe	ye shes	jnana	wisdom	dharmamegha

See Bhumi

Parcae (LTN) The three Fates of Roman mythology. See Moerae; Norns.

Past Life Regression A technique used by hypnotists to lead a person in a trance, which allows them to recall events from previous lives (a time when their soul was in a different physical body at another time period and place). Assuming belief in the human soul, it is quite logical, and may be explained as simply a matter of helping the human mind connect to the soul mind and read the memories stored there.

Pater et Mater Regis (LTN) The Father and Mother of the King. An alchemical term for the fusion of opposites involved in the production of the Philosopher’s Stone.

Father	Mother
Sun	Moon
Sulfur	Mercury
Calcination	Solution

See Lapis Philosophorium; Philosopher’s Stone.

Pendulum A tool frequently used to communicate with spirits or the divine. See Divination

Pentacle Generally a five- or six-pointed star used as a magickal symbol, usually engraved on a disc or platter. Pentacles are frequently made of clay, glass, metal or wood. They are often used in the West as a talisman or symbol of elemental Earth (or the material world). In the Golden Dawn, the initiate was required to create a pentacle, which embodied the student’s conception of the structure of the universe. These pentacles were complex arrangements of stars and other geometric designs. Often each angle or point would be marked with a symbol or divine name encompassing one aspect of reality. In Tarot the suit of pentacles is also called discs or coins. See Mandala

Pentagram A five-pointed star drawn with a single line. Upright, it resembles a human figure, with spirit taking the highest importance. Inverted (upside-down) it is often considered a Satanic symbol. This is not always true, though. In Wicca an inverted pentagram is a sign used by a second-degree initiate to symbolize their progress and the facing of the "dark" side of life. When inverted, it represents the elements taking precedence over spirit.

Pecti-Wita A Scottish tradition of Witchcraft. See Wita

Phantasmata A thought-form capable of communication. See Simulacrum; Thought-form.

Philosopher’s Stone The Prima Materia. The Powder of Projection. The First Substance from which all other metals derived. Supposedly the Philosopher’s stone could be used to transmute base metals into gold or silver, cure disease, and prolong life. It is associated with the Elixir of Life. The Philosopher’s Stone is often used as a symbol of illumination. See Alchemical Marriage; Hyle; Lapis Philosophicus; Spagyric Art.

Philtre A potion, principally for love.

Phison An alchemical term for the Sulfur of the Philosophers. Also referred to as the Magisterium at the Red Stage. See Magisterium; Principia Chymia.

Phoenix A mythical bird of incredible beauty. The phoenix is the only one of its kind, living in the deepest desert, until at the end of its 500-year span it dies and is consumed in the funeral pyre of its own nest. Then it rises from the ashes in the freshness of youth. The Phoenix has been associated with the Bennu Bird of Egyptian mythology, the Feng Bird of Chinese mythology, the Quintessence of Fire, and the Philosopher’s Stone. It is generally considered to be a symbol of resurrection, immortality, and spiritual transformation. See Philosopher’s Stone

Phrenology A form of divination and character analysis by studying the shape and surface of the skull.

Pictograph A symbol conveying one or more concepts as a pictorial glyph. Many pictographic languages are nonlinear and tend to form into gestalt blocks of meaning. Both modern Chinese and ancient Egyptian are pictographic alphabets. See Glyph; Ideogram.

Pingala (SKT) The “Sun Channel.” A nadi (subtle channel) beginning at the muladhara chakra (base of the spine) and spiraling clockwise around the spinal channel (shushumna), passing through the ajna chakra (brow center), and ending at the right nostril. The pingala nadi is complemented by the ida nadi. The two nadis together are often represented by the caduceus of Mercury. See Chakra; Ida; Nadi; Vayu.

Plane A concept, quality, or force perceived as a place in which all manifestations (sky, ground, plants, animals, objects, everything) are harmonious with said concept, quality, or force. Thus, many occultists talk of the astral planes, the elemental planes, the material planes, and so forth. The concept of multiple planes is really a convenience, since in the magickal worldview you are always here and now. Travel through the planes could be compared with tuning a radio or changing channels on your television. You are changing your “rate of vibration” so that you perceive a different band in the spectrum. When you move from one plane to another, you also change what you resonate (are in harmony) with. You change your frequency. Diagrams such as the Sephiroth (the Tree of Life) can be thought of as “road maps” for shifting one’s consciousness (awareness) between planes. There are many different maps. See Astral Planes

Planetary Ages of Man Various traditions have attributed the different stages of life to the seven planets. These are sometimes called the Seven Ages of Man.

Planet	Phase	Age
Moon	personal growth	birth to 4 years
Mercury	education	5 to 14 years
Venus	emotional growth	15 to 22 years
Sun	virility or fertility	23 to 42 years
Mars	ambition	43 to 57 years
Jupiter	reflection	58 to 69 years
Saturn	resignation	70 years and older

Point or Puncture An alchemical term for the Magisterium at the White Stage. It is so called because the success of the entire work depends upon this point. See Laton; Leucosis; Magisterium.

Poltergeist (German) From polter, “a noise,” and geist, “a spirit.” An entity or force which causes inexplicable noises, raps, whispers, and signing; throws stones or small objects; breaks dishes; sets small fires; and so forth. Most poltergeists seem primarily mischievous, with few injuries of real harm reported. Many occultists and parapsychologists believe that poltergeist activity is connected to children who are undergoing or about to undergo puberty. There is considerable evidence that many outbreaks of poltergeist phenomena can be attributed to the release of emotional energies, resulting in unconscious paranormal abilities, rather then the intervention of a discarnate entity. Most instances cease after a few months. Some researchers have shown that flying objects in cases of poltergeist activity frequently follow odd trajectories, as if affected by a central vortex of energy. Often these objects are hot to the touch. See Ghost

Possession A psychological state in which an individual’s “normal” personality is replaced by another. In magickal terms, the body is dominated or inhabited by an external and alien entity or spirit. Speaking in tongues, automatic writing, or even the assumption of god-forms might be considered as controlled forms of possession. Voodoun, and most forms of shamanism, rely heavily upon possession by deities and spirits during ritual. Usually possession implies that the host is unwilling. See Exorcism; Invocation.

Powder of Projection An alchemical term. “The goal of the Hermetic Work, which being projected upon metals transforms them into Gold or Silver, depending on whether the work has been developed to the White or Red Stage.” See Lapis Philosophicus

Power Animal A creature that appears during the spirit journey of a shaman. The power animal may resemble a real creature or a mythical one. It is considered to be a personification of magickal or personal power. Usually the shaman will attempt to bring the power animal back from the spirit journey. Once this is done, the shaman can summon the power animal to assist in various rituals and workings. See Shamanism; Spirit Helper.

Prajna (SKT) Wisdom. Shes-rab (TIB), “knowledge.” Spiritual or transcendental understanding. Prajna is attained by mastery of the first six perfections or paramitas. Successful attainment of prajna leads to sunyata (awareness of the absolute void). Lower prajna is worldly understanding (such as how to repair a car) while higher prajna leads to sunyata (emptiness) and a direct knowledge of things as they are. See Neshamah; Paramita; Samadhi; Sunyata.

Prakriti (SKT) Nature or physical reality. Prakriti consists of the combination of the three gunas. It is considered to be the direct opposite of purusha (spirit). See Gunas; Mulaprakriti; Purusha.

Prana Primordial or undifferentiated energy. Rlung (TIB), literally “wind.” Respiration or breath. Prana is élan vital, the life force. Prana is also the name of the vital air or vayu associated with the anahata chakra. Prana is involved in health, strength, and the general well being of body and mind. See Bindu; Ch’i; Nadi; Vayu.

Prana Prastistha (SKT) The ritual consecration of an image or idol for worship. Prayers and mantras are used to summon the deity into the idol or image. Prana prastistha is similar in concept to yantra-puja. See Consecration; Idol.

Pranayama (SKT) The knowledge and discipline of prana, or breath control. Various yogic exercises have been developed to increase the student’s capacity to intake and process oxygen, thus changing the pH level of the blood. Steady practice of pranayama results in new health, vigor, and the settling of discordant emotions. In formal terms, pranayama involves meditating upon the subtle body of nadi, prana, and bindu in order to synchronize mind and body. Pranayama is one of the eight angas or limbs of yoga and is often considered a preliminary practice. See Angas; Nadi; Prana.

Prasad (SKT) The practice of offering, sweets, fruit, or other food to a saint or deity. After the ritual offering (which often involves the handling of the food by the saint or priest) the food is eaten by worshippers or followers as a religious blessing. It is thought by some that the handling of the food by a holy person changes its vibrational rate and charges it with prana. See Barakah; Mana.

Pratyahara (SKT) The withdrawal of the senses. Pratyahara is practiced unconsciously by nearly everyone when we block out some irritating background noise or ignore any outside distraction. Pratyahara may be practiced by listening to any given sound (such as the dripping of a faucet) and then deliberately turning one’s attention to some other object. Pratyahara is one of the eight angas or limbs of yoga and is often considered a preliminary practice for dharana and dhyana. See Angas

Pretas The “hungry ghosts” of Buddhist and Hindu mythology. They are the ghosts of those who died burdened with great desire and are generally considered to be malevolent. Supposedly they are continuously thirsty and hungry, but are unable to eat or drink. They are described as having huge distended bellies and pencil-thin necks. See Ghost; Kama-rupa.

Principia Chymia The Three Principles of the alchemists which generate all things:

	Sulfur	Mercury	Salt
	Soul	Spirit	Body
	Yang	Yin and Yang	Yin
	Fire	Air/Water	Earth
	Solar	Hermaphroditic	Lunar
	Energy	Organization (pattern)	Matter
(Gunas)	Rajas	Sattva	Tamas

See Guna; Mercury.

Projective Hand A term used in ritualism to describe your most powerful hand, traditionally the one you write with.

Prophecy From the Greek pro (before) and phanai (to speak). A prediction of the future uttered (often during trance) vis intuition or “divine inspiration.” In many systems, each person is considered to be or contain a perfect image of the cosmos, the body of God. This is the relation of the macrocosm and the microcosm. Supposedly, some people are able to somehow place themselves in harmony (resonance) with the macrocosm so as to catch a glimpse of its movements in relation to them or a subject they are focusing on. Both prophecy and divination may be applied so as to gain a “slice’ of the Absolute, revealing a possible future. The chief difference is that prophecy does not involve any intervening mantic systems (such as sortilege; i.e., dice, cards, yarrow stalks, etc.) in order to reflet the macrocosm. One point to remember is that the probability of an event changes as soon as a prophecy (or divination) exists. Many myths and folktales have instances of prophecies and curses reaching fulfillment due to efforts of those involved to avoid their predicted fate. The accuracy or outcome of any prophecy is altered by the desires and attachments of the seer and those who hear the prophecy. See Mantic Arts

Prophet An indivdual who receives inspiration, information, or insights into the future from a divine source.

Prychedelic From the Greek psyche, meaning “soul” or “mind,” and delos, meaning “evident.” The term was first used by Dr. Humphrey Osmond in a letter to Aldous Huxley to denote a substance or stimulus that causes the contents of the unconscious mind to become manifest. During their correspondence, Aldous Huxley made a case for his choice of word in the couplet below.

To make this trivial world sublime
Take half a gramme of phanerothyme.

Osmond felt that “phanerothyme” (derived from phanes, light) was to pretty, so he replied with his own selection.

To fathom hell or soar angelic
Take just a pinch of psychedelic.

The word “psychedelic” is usually used in reference to hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.

Psi (GRK) Anything pertaining to psychic, magick, or other supernatural abilities.

Psionics The use of psychic powers to affect and manipulate the physical world.

Psionicist One who practices psionics.

Psychic Abilities Perceiving, receiving, or transferring information without the use of the five common senses of sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

Psychic Awareness The term for the open state of awareness in which the conscious mind can tap into the psychic mind.

Psychic Mind The sub- or un- conscious mind, which is receptive to psychic messages. When we are psychically aware, the two minds are linked and the messages may be intercept and interpreted.

Purusha (SKT) Literally “person.” Purusha is used both to denote Spirit and the Archtypical or Heavenly Man (similar to the concept of Adam Kadmon in the qabalah). The soul of the universe. Purusha is also a name of Brahma. See Adam Kadmon; Prakriti. Pyromancy A form of divination by use of fire.

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