Magickal Dictionary
altar - literally, any object upon which a practitioner places their tools for rituals; altars can be tree stumps, tables, boxes, etc.
altar candle - candles using during ritual magick or worship; usually they are white
amulet - a magickal object that deflects negative energy
athame - black-handled, twin-bladed knife used in ritual, it represents Fire
banish - to drive away by using magick or by invoking the power of the God or Goddess
Book of Shadows - a text of magick and rituals; there is no one Book of Shadows, most practitioners make their own in a never-ending search for wisdom and truth
candle magick - using candles chosen and prepared in a special way for the purpose of spell work
censer - incense burner, it represents Air
chalice - goblet or cup used for ritual, it represents Water
charge - to infuse with power or a specific
purpose -- for example, a stone can be "charged" with the magickal power to protect the person who carries it from harm
circle - the magickal circle is a sphere within which magick and worship are performed; it's drawn with the power of the practitioner using visualization and magic; note that the circle is actually ball shaped and the "circle" which is drawn on the ground is the point where it touches the earth.. the actual circle penetrates into the earth and the sky to form a protective globe around the practitioner
clairvoyance - the ability to "see clearly" without using tools (see divination), but by employing psychic skills; also called psychic power or The Sight
clear - to drive out evil and negativity; Witches and/or magickal practitioners will clear places and things of all evil or negative influences before doing magick
consecrate - to confer sacredness; that is, to make something holy/clean by means of ritual
correspondences - traits or things which symbolically relate to specific objects or phenomena; for example, the day of the week, stone, color, season, plants, etc. that relate to a God, Goddess or desire such as love
coven - a group of Wiccans, usually has one or two leaders, but doesn't necessarily have thirteen members
deosil - clockwise
Disc - the pentacle is sometimes called a Disc
divination - the art of seeing or finding out things by using tools such as Tarot cards, scrying bowls or mirrors, crystal balls, I Ching, dowsing rods, pendulums, and the like
Elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water, which are the building blocks of the Universe
evocation - a plea to a higher power such as a God, Goddess or other Cosmic force causing that energy to manifest outside the magician
grimoire - a Book of Shadows, more specifically used as a workbook for magickal practitioners
handfasting - a wedding or betrothal ceremony
infusion - an herbal potion; an herbal tea
invocation - a plea to a higher power such as a God, Goddess or other Cosmic force causing that energy to manifest inside the magician
macerate - sounds scary, but it means nothing more frightening than to soak something in alcohol or oil
magician (magickal practitioner) - one who practices magick, either for religious or secular purposes
magick (magic) - using the forces of natural existence to cause desires to manifest
pentacle - a circle within which a five-pointed star has been drawn or etched; the pentacle used in ritual is usually a flat piece of wood, clay, metal, ceramic, etc. with a pentagram etched or painted on the surface; it represents the mundane forces of nature and is a protective device
pentagram - a five-pointed star (notice how it's different than a pentacle? the pentagram is the design itself, while the pentacle is an object upon which the design is etched and is used for ritual purposes or adornment)
poppet - a small image of a human being or animal that is magickally imbued with life, they are commonly made from wax, clay or cloth stuffed with cotton or
herbs -- generally, Witches use them for healing rituals; also can be called a fith-fath and, depending on the magickal practitioner, a voodoo doll
Quadrants - the north, south, east and west points on the Circle
ritual - a ceremony where the practitioner performs a certain set of actions to produce the desired effect, whether for magick or worship
Sabbat - a Wiccan festival
sachet - a cloth bag filled with herbs
secular - non-religious in nature
simple - a potion or infusion made from two or more herbs
spell - ritually performed magick
talisman - an magickal object made and designed to attract energy
tincture - an infusion made with alcohol, cider, vinegar or some such substance
wand - a "magic wand" used in ritual, it's usually wood, sometimes decorated with symbolic items such as crystals and runes, it represents Air
widdershins - Counterclockwise
wort - an herb (an old word still in use, not at all the same as "wart")
Elements & Elemental Spirits
The 5 elements (water, earth, fire, wind, spirit/akasha) are, in many ways, the core of ritualism.
Many rituals require that you call the quarters for power and protection. Each tower (East, South,
West, and North) is ruled by the lords and ladies, different spirits, different seasons, and
different elements. The pentagram itself is representative of not only the human body but the 5
elements. Most rituals require some physical use of an element. Because of the importance of these
5 forces, it's valuable to know their properties.
When you call to the watchtowers, this is how they correspond:
The East is air.
The South is fire.
The West is water.
The North is earth.
The Center is akasha.
These elements are used as symbols to represent things in spells, thereby causing different
effects to be produced. Below is a basic guide to the element's meanings.
EARTH: Love, healing, money, acquisition, employment, health, dieting, organization,
goals, ambition, career, politics, persuasion, bones, teeth, skin.
AIR: Communication, writing, travel, justice, unions, balance, artistry, science,
freedom, understanding, clarity, friendship, breaking bad habits or addictions, blood.
FIRE: Authority, rebirth, leadership, authority, courage, fertility, spine, heart, travel,
sports, truth, horses.
WATER: The home and honoring lunar god/desses, power, psychic growth, sex, music,
art, telepathy, dreams, prophecy.
AKASHA: Akasha is the central element. It is spirit, and it is said to combine all the
others into one final divine element. Since you cannot physically obtain a 'bottle of
akasha', it's simply the power within you to strengthen and seal your magick.
Elemental spirits are the embodiments of each individual element. Generally they are summoned
during renaming rituals and initiations. I have read many rituals involving meeting an elemental
spirit through meditation, although I have never been sure enough or daring enough to actually try.
The main spirits are as follows:
Gnomes - Spirits of the earth.
Sylphs - Spirits of air.
Salamanders- The spirits of fire.
Undines - Spirits of water.
Akasha is the element of spirit itself.
Phases of the Moon
The following information provides a brief introduction to working with the magickal phases of the moon. Moving in harmony with these energies will greatly increase the success of your spellwork.
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Waxing Moon means the moon is getting larger in the sky, moving from the New Moon towards the Full Moon. This is a time for spells that attract, that bring positive change, spells for love, good luck, growth. This is a time for new beginnings, to conceptualize ideas, to invoke. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Maiden aspect, give praise to Epona, Artemis or one of the other Maiden Goddesses. The period of the waxing moon lasts about 14 days.
WAXING MOON
Time: from new moon to full (approx. 14 days)
Goddess Aspect: Maiden
Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona
Magickal Attributes: INVOKING Beginnings, new projects, ideas, inspiration, energy, vitality, freedom.
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Full Moon is when the moon has reached its zenith; it forms a perfect silvery sphere in the sky. This is a time for spells that transform, increase psychic ability, for fertility spells and invocation to lunar goddesses. This is a time of strength, love and power. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Mother aspect, give praise to Cerridwen, Isis or one of the other Mother Goddesses. The period of the Full Moon lasts from about 3 days before to 3 days after the actual full moon.
FULL MOON
Time: Approx. 14 days after new moon (energy lasts from three days before to three days after actual full moon)
Goddess Aspect: Mother
Associated Goddesses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis
Magickal Attributes: FRUITION Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power.
)
Waning Moon means the moon is decreasing in size, moving from the Full Moon towards the New Moon. This is a time for spells that banish, release, reverse. This is a time to break bad habits or bad addictions, to end bad relationships. This is a time of deep intuition and a time for divination. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Crone Aspect, give praise to Hecate, Morrigan or one of the other Crone Goddesses. The period of the waning moon lasts about 14 days.
WANING MOON
Time: From full moon to dark moon (approx.14 days)
Goddess Aspect: Crone
Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan
Magickal Attributes: BANISHING Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances
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