Definitions N-Y

Necromancy - 1. The art of revealing the future through magick and especially through communication with the deceased. 2. The practice of summoning the souls of the dead.

Necronomicon - A pseudo-grimoire. The notion of such a book was made by H.P. Lovecraft in fictional writing, but an unknown author wrote it and some people today still believe it is a valid source of occult information.

Neo-Pagan - Literally, new pagan. Modern earth religion which branches from paganism and is based on ancient pre-Christian religious practices. Wicca, for example, is a neo-pagan religion, derived from ancient witchcraft and paganism.

New Age - The modern movement which involves combining metaphysical concepts with the practice of an organized religion.

OBE - Out-of-body experience.

Occult - Study and science of things esoteric, secret, paranormal, and supernatural.

Ogham - The magickal Celtic alphabet made up of 20 letters called fews, each representing a different kind of tree.

Old Religion - This is a term often used for Wicca and witchcraft. It was used because witchcraft is believed to descend from ancient paganism. However, it is misleading when used in relation to Wicca, which is a fairly young and modern religion based on witchcraft.

Omen - A sudden occurrence which is interpreted as being a sign of good or evil. Often it will be small yet significant; a vase falling over or a cup of water spilling, for example.

Oneiromancy - Divination through dreams.

Oracle - A person through which otherworldly entities can be communicated with, similar to channeling. People often see oracles to ask questions or to be given insights to their future.

Ostara - Sabbat which occurs to celebrate the onset of spring. The Christian holiday of Easter originated from Ostara, a celebration named after the goddess of Spring and rebirth, hence the egg and the rabbit as the primary symbols.

Pagan - 1. A follower of paganism. 2. Something related to paganism. (For example a pagan book, pagan artwork, etc.)

Pagandom - Part of the world inhabited primarily by pagans.

Paganism - 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 going on time. Almost extinct because it was a poor excuse to begin with. Abbreviated as PST.

Pallomancy - Divination with a pendulum.

Pantheon - A hierarchy of gods and goddesses in a particular religious structure, such as the Greek pantheon, the Roman pantheon, etc.

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

Pendulum - A tool often used to communicate with spirits or divine. See also divination. Pentacle A disc (generally circular) which is inscribed with a pentagram on its surface.

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 Wicca, see also Wita.

Philtre - A potion, especially for love.

Phrenology - Character analysis by studying the shape and surface of the skull.

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

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

Psychic Awareness - 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 of psychic messages. When we are psychically aware, the two minds link and we can intercept these messages.

Pyromancy - Divination by fire.

Qaballa - Jewish mysticism; metaphysical practices based on the Judaic Qabalistic texts.

Quarter Days - The solstices and equinoxes.

Quarters - The north, east, south, and west parts of the circle, often representative of the four watchtowers

Receptive Hand - The hand which has less power, generally whichever hand you do not write with. This hand is used less in holding and charging ritual items, however, it receives outside energy which is used to feed the magick.

Rede - A tenet, rule, doctrine, or law.

Reincarnation - The rebirth of the soul into other physical forms from one life (reincarnation) to the next. The new physical form can be animal or human.

Right-hand Path - A term used for a person who practices magick that is beneficial to others. Opposite of left-hand path.

Rite - A ritual.

Ritual - A formal series of generally predetermined actions (both mental or physical) performed to harness and then direct magickal powers toward the accomplishment of the goal at hand.

Runes - A tool of magick and divination. There are many types of runes, all of them alphabets of some sort. Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and modern Wiccan runes are just a few. They are usually tossed randomly after deciding a subject, and then deciphered based on their positioning.

Sabbat - One of the eight celebrations of paganism.

Salamander - The elemental who dwells in the fire plane.

Samhain - Sabbat held on the eve of Nov. 1st, also called Halloween and celebrated by most people (religiously or not) on October 31.

Scrying - A form of divination by gazing into something, usually a reflective surface.

Shade - The spirit of a being which refuses to leave the physical plane.

Shamanism - The religion of the ancient peoples of northern Europe and Asia, generally characterized by the ability of the Shaman to communicate with the spirit world. Major facets of Shamanism are animism, possession, prophecy/revelations, shapeshifting, and soul travel.

Shapeshifting - A very esoteric practice involving changing the human form. This can be practiced while on the astral plane, this alone is a great accomplishment. It is said that one can also shapeshift on the physical plane, though documented proof of this is nonexistent. Few books are published on the subject as it is an art mainly for certain people, and teachers prefer to find these people and teach them their art secretively rather than let the public know their ways.

Showstone - A crystal sphere used for divination, especially scrying. Also called a crystal ball.

Sigil - A magickal seal or glyph.

Skyclad - A pagan term for nudity during rituals.

Solitary - A witch who practices alone instead of within a coven.

So Mote it Be - A phrase used often in rituals to close a chant or incantation. It literally means, "It must be so" or "So it shall be".

Sorcery - Magickal practice which involves summoning, binding, or banishing deities. Often a sorcerer (practitioner of sorcery) uses no tools.

Soul - The true identity of a human being, the immortal self which surpasses death and lives on into the otherworld, perchance to be reincarnated.

Spell - The direction of energies towards some certain goal, generally with the use of spoken words.

Spellcrafting - The practice of creating spells by writing outlines, arranging correspondences, and authoring incantations.

Spirits - Entities which are free of a physical body.

Summoner - Like a male version of the maiden, a member of the coven who is an assistant to the High Priest.

Sylph - The elemental of air.

Symbol - A sign which represents something else. Symbols are used commonly in rituals to represent gods, elements, goals, and more. Many tools are symbols, for example, the chalice is a symbol of the goddess and the giving of life.

Synchronicity - A Jungian term describing a coincidence which seems to have meaning yet no connection is clear.

Talisman - A magickally charged object used to attract a certain type of energy or a particular type of person.

Tarot - A form of divination using a set of cards (usually 76).

Tasseography - Divination by reading tea leaves.

Telekinesis - A form of psychokinesis which involves moving objects with the mind without ever physically coming in contact with them.

Telepathy Unspoken - (psychic) communication between two minds.

Thelema - Religious beliefs that are founded on magic within the Christian pantheon.

Theurgy - Magick involving the use of divine spirits and oneness or closeness with one's God/Deity(-y/ies).

Third Eye - The psychic eye, not physically visible, but mental. Located in the middle of the forehead.

Three-fold Law - A Wiccan principle which originated from the teachings of Gerald Gardner. It states that any action made by a person will be returned them three times as powerfully, whether the action was good or bad. By this law, you are encouraged to do good things so that you will be rewarded later on with three times the benevolence, as opposed to bad things which result in thrice the consequence.

Totem Animal - A spirit guide in the form of an animal who chooses to accompany you. This tradition is derived from Native American spirituality.

Traditions - Sects or groups which practice Wicca. Each tradition has a different set of rules and guidelines by which it follows, so when one chooses a tradition, one much be aware of the facets of the tradition and believe that the rules suit them best. Some examples of traditions are Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Celtic, Faerie, and Strega.

Transmutation - The work of alchemy, changing base metals and elements into precious things.

Tree Calendar - Celtic system which recognizes 13 lunar months, each represented by a sacred tree.

Ululation - The part of an incantation or chant which demands full vocal force and volume.

Uncasting - Opening the circle at the end of a ritual.

Undine - The elemental spirit who dwells on the water plane.

Unmanifest - The unknown source of existence, it is said that magicians take their power from the unmanifest to use it within the manifest.

Vampirism - The practice of subsisting on the vitality of another. Commonly this is blood, other times it is life force (sapped psychically).

Veil of Unknowing - The boundary between the manifest and the unmanifest.

Virtues - Magickal properties of objects like herbs, stones, and creatures as was assigned to them during their divine creation.

Visualization - 1. Forming clear mental images often used in magick to focus and direct energy to a visualized goal. 2. Imagining a scene, a person, or an object with intense clarity. This is often done through a meditation with a written "visualization journey" which allows the practitioner to enter an imagined place to make personal discoveries.

Vodou - Polytheistic religion derived from worship of gods in African and the beliefs of Catholicism. Practiced mainly by the West Indians.

Voodoo - Alternate spelling of Vodou.

Wand - A tool in magick which resembles a rod and is used to direct energy towards a goal.

Waning - The lunar phase when the moon is getting "smaller" (more crescent-like). This is the time when magick that involves banishing things, breaking habits, and getting rid of things is to be performed. Opposite of waxing.

Ward - A protection spell.

Warlock - A derogatory term which literally means "oathbreaker". It is a common misconception that male witches are called warlocks. However, male witches are no different than females in this respect and so they are simply called witches.

Watchtowers - A concept derived from ceremonial magick; the four watchtowers each represent a cardinal direction, element, elemental, and a color. They are commonly used in modern Wicca.

Waxing - The lunar phase when the moon is getting "larger" (nearing the full moon). This is the time when magick that involves growth and bringing things to you is best performed. Opposite of waning.

Wheel of the Year - One full cycle of the seasons, in pagan beliefs in begins on Samhain as opposed to in January.

Wicca - A neo-pagan reconstruction of witchcraft. Most Wiccans call themselves witches, but not all witches are necessarily Wiccan.

Wiccan - 1. A person who follows or practices Wicca. 2. Something related to Wicca. (For example a wiccan book, wiccan artwork, etc.)

Widdershins - Counter clockwise. The opposite of deosil.

Wise Woman - A solitary female practitioner of witchcraft who gave charms and healing salves to villagers in Europe.

Wita - Scottish Wicca. See also Pecti-Wita.

Witch - A practitioner of witchcraft. There are many types and traditions of witches. A witch is not necessarily a Wiccan, though if a Wiccan practices witchcraft they can be called a witch.

Witch Ball - An 18th century tradition; a glass sphere hung in windows to ward off evil spirits. This is where the Christian concept of the Christmas tree ornament came from.

Witchcraft - The practice of spells and magick, often involving the worship of many deities or a supreme God and/or Goddess.

Witta - Irish Wicca.

Wizard - A name for male ceremonial magicians, rarely used for Wiccans unless they are eclectic and use ceremonial magick as well.

Word of Power - A word or name which is supposed to have great power when spoken, most are almost impossible to pronounce and have no meaning in any language.

Working; - Magickal Working Any act involving magick or ritualism.

Wort - An archaic word for herb.

Yggdrasil - The Norse tree which held up the world and the heavens; its roots led to the underworld. It provided the complex network of the universe.

Yule - The pagan winter sabbat. Also called Winter Solstice.

Yule Log - The traditional log burned at Christmas ceremonies which most likely came from a pagan tradition for Yule celebration.