Glossary of Pagan Terms
A-B
Alter:
A table or raised surface used to place things during rituals.
Aromatherapy:
The use of scents to heal.
Astrology:
The study of planetary movement and how it effects people emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
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 {i.e. ghosts, objects, 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-command".
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 personify 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 dissolving of the union created during a handfasting.
Herbalism:
Using herbs (i.e. herbal baths, herbal vinegars, etc).
I-J-K-L
Initiate:
Someone who has finished their year and 1 day of learning the path; is now considered a witch.
Karma:
The belief that everything you do in this life will positively or negatively influence this life or the next.
M-N-O
Magick:
The art, science, and practice of using natural energies to produce "supernatural" effects, causing changes to occur, and controlling events in nature {the k has been added as not to confuse it with stage performers}.
Meditation:
A relaxed state brought about by rhythmic, controlled breathing.
Neo-Paganism:
Modern-day paganism; revival of pre-Christian nature religions, Goddess worship, etc. and incorporating them with modern concepts.
P-Q-R
Pagan:
Defined by Webster’s 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.
Pentacle:
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.
Pentagram:
A pentacle 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 interpret data bout other people and/or events that are physically transmitted by inanimate objects in contact with those things, people, or events.
Reincarnation:
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 beginnings of May, August, November, February.
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 acquiring things for self.
Shielding:
The act of creating a barrier between you and the energies around you.
Sky clad:
Naked; without clothing
Solitary:
One who works magick alone.
Spell:
A release of energy for a specific purpose or goal; may or may not involve other tools.
Telekinesis:
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 {i.e. Celtic, Witta, Greek, etc.}.
V-W-X-Y-Z
Visualization:
The forces of forming mental images of needed goals during ritual/spell casting.
Waning 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"; traditionally 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 calendar consisting 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}
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