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Glossary of Wiccan and Pagan Terms

These terms have been attempted to be put in alphabetical order, sorry if they are not.

If you are unclear about a definition or think we should add one, please let us know.

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A-B

Alter:

A table or raised surface used to place things during rituals.

Aromatherapy:

The use of sents to heal.

Astrology:

The study of planetary movement and how it effects people emotionally, physically, and spiritualy.

Atheme:

A witch's knife; represents the element of fire; used only to cut energy.


Besom:

A witch's broom; used for cleansing.

Book of Shadows:

A witch's journal or diary; contains spells, rituals, personal information, etc.


C-D

Cauldron:

A large, fire proof container used in ritual to burn herbs, incense, or paper; usually a cast iron pot.

Censer:

A fire proof incense burner.

Centering:

The act of pulling the energies within and/or around your body to one place within it to store it for later use.

Chalice:

A cup or goblet used during a ritual to hold a liquid; may represent the element water.

Clairaudient:

The ability to hear noises that no one else can {see clairvoyant}

Clairvoyant:

The ability to see things that no one else can {ie. ghosts, ojects, creatures}

Clan:

A group of solitary Wiccans who gather to work magick on special occasions such as Sabbats; gather infrequently with little to no "chain-of-comand".

Cone of Power:

Visualizing energy in the form of spiraling light and directing it to a goal.

Coven:

A group of Wiccans that gather to work magick on Sabbats and Esbats.

Crystals:

Any mineral which energy can be drawn from or stored in; each mineral has it's own properties such as healing or protection.


Dedicant:

Someone new to the path of Wicca, has studied less than the usually year and one day.

Desoil:

Moving clockwise.

Devotionals:

Rites normally practiced daily.

Divination:

Discovering the unknown/foretelling the future with the use of tools such as Tarot cards, runes, astrology, etc.


E-F

Eke-name:

A magickal name chosen at initiation.

Elements:

The parts of matter that make up everything found on Earth: fire, water, earth, air (spirit).

Elementals:

Spirit-creatures that personafy the qualities of the elements: Salamanders=fire, Undines=water, Slyphs=air, Gnomes=earth.

Empathy:

The ability to feel others emotions.

Esbat:

1}The 13 moon phases of the year. 2} The regular meeting of a coven.


Familiar:

A witch's pet; may also work with witch during rituals.


G-H

Grimoire:

{See Book of Shadows}

Grounding:

The act of balancing the energies within your body and returning any extra to the earth.


Handfasting:

The Wiccan marriage celebration done every year and 1 day; may or may not be legally binding.

Handparthing:

The disolving of the union created during a handfasting.

Herbalism:

Using herbs (ie. herbal baths, herbal vinigars, etc).


I-J-K-L

Initiate:

Someone who has finished their year and 1 day of learning the path; is now concidered a witch.


Karma:

The belief that everything you do in this life will positivly or negitivly influence this life or the next.


M-N-O

Magick:

The art, science, and practice of using natural energies to produce "supernatural" effets, causing changes to occur, and controling events in nature {the k has been added as not to confuse it with stage performers}.

Meditiation:

A relaxed state brought about by rythmic, controled breathing.


Neo-Paganism:

Modern-day paganism; revival of pre-Christian nature religions, Goddess worship, etc. and incorperating them with modern concepts.


P-Q-R

Pagan:

Defined by Websters Dictionary as: n. 1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew: Heathen. 2. One who has no religion. 3. A non-Christian. 4. A hedonist.

Pentical:

A five pointed star encased in a circle. The points represent earth, air, fire, water, and spirit, the circle symbolizes the never ending cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.

Pentigram:

A pentical that is warn as a symbol of religion such as a cross or Star of David.

Psychometry:

The ability to "see through touch"; of being able to gather and interperate data bout other people and/or evernts that are physically transmitted by inanamate objects in contact with those things, people, or events.


Riencarnation:

A belief that the spirit is "reborn" again and again in a different body, never going to a Heaven or Hell, just a resting place between lives.

Ritual/Rite:

A formal ceremony usually involving the calling of corners, drawing a circle, raising and releasing energy, thanking and undrawing.


S-T-U

Sabbat:

One of the 8 holidays, 4 on equinoxes & solstices, 4 on the beginings of May, August, November, Feburary.

Sacred Space:

Any area which has been cleansed and blessed.

Satan:

The Christian God of ultimate evil. Not found in most Pagan beliefs.

Satanism:

A belief in self and aquiring things for self.

Sheilding:

The act of creating a barrier between you and the energies around you.

Skyclad:

Naked; without clothing

Solitary:

One who works magick alone.

Spell:

A release of energy for a specific pupose or goal; may or may not involve other tools.


Telekanesis:

The ability to move objects with mental projection.

Telepathy:

The ability to communicate mentally with others.

Tradition:

The specific Wiccan path a witch chooses to follow {ie Celtic, Witta, Greek, etc.}.


V-W-X-Y-Z

Visualization:

The froccess of forming mental images of needed goals during ritual/spellcasting.


Wanning Moon:

The time during which the moon is between the full and new phases {3rd and 4th quarters}.

Warlock:

From an Old English word meaning "oath-breaker"; traditionaly used by church to mean male witch {both males & females are called witch}.

Watchtowers:

Another way to call upon the 4 corners in circle.

Waxing Moon:

The time during which the moon is between the new and full phases {1st and 2nd quarters}.

Wheel of the Year:

The pagan calander consiting of 8 Sabbats usually starting with Yule, December 21.

Wicca:

A nature based religion that follows and celebrates the Wheel of the Year usually of a polytheistic matriarchal nature.

Wiccan:

One who practices Wicca. May also be known as a Witch.

Widdershins:

Moving counter-clockwise.

Witchcraft:

{See Wicca}