A brief word about Witch Terms
As you start to explore the world of the witch you will begin to realise that sometimes special words or terms are used instead of the more normally recognised everyday speech of the 21st centuary. In fact, many witches themselves don't even realise that they are using words several hundred years old, or don't know where the words originated from, or why they are actually used... this section will clarify a few of these points.
The first example you will be aware of is "The CHARGE of the Goddess".In this particular case, "CHARGE" merely means "AGREEMENT" or "PROMISE". So substituting the word promise instead of charge in your mind, try reading "The Promise of The Goddess" again... does it now seem to make more sense to you??... Does it feel more comfortable??
Ok, here are some more words and terms in roughly alphabetical order. If you are puzzling over some word or phrase and it is not listed here, let me know and I will add it.....for what puzzles one person, puzzles many.
A
Airts... Old Gaelic term for the four points of the compass. As the compass points are important in circle work it is worth investing in either a small compass, or checking which of the walls in your "working room" is the North facing one... use sunrise/sunset to work this out... the sun sets in the west so one quater turn to your right and you are facing the north wall.
Aradia..one of the many names of The Goddess... usually linked to Gospel of the Witches by C.E.Leland, a collection of old witchlore published around 1900
Artemis... Greek Goddess name, the equivelent of Diana of the Romans
Akashic/Astral Plane... The world you will enter during meditation... where Spirits live, knowledge can be gained and lessons learned.
Athame (A-the-may)... One of the main tools of the craft, the athame is a black handled knife used for casting and banishing circles.
B
Baphomet.....Diety God of The Knights Templar. An almost identical image is often used to depict satan... it is important that you can recognise which is being shown... Baphomet has a pentacle on his forehead with the point upright, on satan it is inverted.
Black Mass... This is a Satanic Ritual and you will never meet this on the true witches path... it has no place in witchcraft.
Book of Shadows... This is probably your most important tool in the craft. It contains notes, hints, tips,i deas spells... everthing. It is your diary, teacher, scrapbook, companion and ally... and completely unique to you as an individual.
B.C.E... Before Common Era... Pagan equivalent of B.C.
Besom...Old name for broomstick
BuneScottish Term for anything a witch uses to fly on
Burning Times
The term given to 300 years of Witch persecution.This is SLIGHTLY inaccurate,as not ALL witches were burnt,in Scotland and parts of Europe yes,but in England they were hanged first,then burnt
C Cat
The Witches familiar,often a present alledged to have been presented to the new witch at her Initiation into Witchcraft by Satan.But as witches don't worship or believe in Satan, this would be rather unusual!!
