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Aboriginal: Pagan tradition of the native Australian people.

Adept: An individual who through serious study and accomplishments is considered highly proficient in a particular magickal system. A person who is very skilled in some form of Magick.

Age Of Pisces: Pisces is just one of many Ages in the Correlian calendar of Zodiacal Ages. All the characteristics that we know of as most prominent in the astrological sign of Pisces are also prominently represented in the events taking place during the Piscean Age. The Age of Pisces has just ended as its span went from 400 to 1999 AD. The Age we are just beginning is the Age of Aquarius.

The Airts - The Scottish Gaelic term meaning, "wind". Identified with the four winds (North, South, West and East Winds).

Air: First element of alchemical tradition; essence of intuition and learning; element of the East and the nature of the mind.

Akasha: Known as the fifth element, it is the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. Akasha is the energy out of which the Elements formed (the primal universe power).

Akashic Records: These accounts record the chronicles of all the incarnations an individual has lived. Every lifetime is filled with experiences and lessons we gain through the process of living. It is through these records that we review the progress of our spiritual evolution after death. The Akashic records allow us to organize and plan our future life maps before we return to life through reincarnation.

Alignment: The practice of synching mental and spiritual energies with a deity or an astronomical body.

Alchemy: A branch of High Magick developed in the Middle Ages which sought to magickally and/or chemically turn base metals into gold.

Allegory: An allegory is a fictional work or artistic expression that has an important symbolic meaning that parallels the literal interpretation.

Altar: An area, usually a small table or other flat surface, that Witches and magicians use for worship & magickal workings. Many witches use wood that appropriately corresponds to strong energy conduction or protection, such as Oak, Birch or Ash. Stone is also often used though metal is usually avoided.

Altar Cloth: A cloth that is placed over an altar or behind it to add to the energy conducted during a magickal working. Witches use many different methods to create and decorate altar cloths. The fabric type (natural is usually best) and color chosen as well as the symbols embroidered into the weave all increase the effectiveness of magickal workings.

Altered State of Consciousness: When a person slips from every day conscious state of awareness into slower cycles of brain wave activity.

Alexandrian: A Wiccan tradition started by Alex Sanders in the 1960s. It is considered an off-shoot from the Gardnerian tradition in which Alex was himself trained. There is very specific training and ritual involved for those in an Alexandrian coven, including the Kabbalah and ceremonial Magick. Alexandrians are not as secretive about their traditions as the Gardnerians are, even though they are so similar. As with any Wiccan tradition, the defining qualities of an Alexandrian coven are not always clear-cut, and further research will help you understand the details of this tradition.

Amulet: A magically charged object that is worn or carried on a person, believed to act in a protective manner for its carrier. Used for both Negative and Positive energies.

Angel: A spiritual, celestial being, superior to man in power and intelligence; acts as a messenger between the Divine realm and physical plane; has no physical state.

Ancestors: Deceased family members, friends and inspirational people from history or the media can be ancestors. Ancestors represent our genetic, social, and/or generational roots. Blood or familial relationships are not necessary for an ancestral relationship to form. Any one who guides us or acts as a mentor can be an ancestor. Some traditions of witchcraft employ ancestors in magickal workings as others employ the gods.

Animistic: The belief inanimate and non-living forms of nature have the same consciousness and spirit within them that living beings have.

Ankh: The crux ansata or looped cross, Egyptian hieroglyph for 'life'; widely used as an occult symbol for the Life Principle. In ancient times it also represented life and reincarnation.

Anoint: Putting oil on a person during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration; to bless or pass on the responsibility of spiritual purpose to a person, animal, place or thing.

Apprentice: A beginner Witch.

Aradia: According to Charles Godfrey Leland, this was an Italian woman who taught Witchcraft around 1353. She is traditionally recognized as the daughter of the Goddess Diana and called Queen of the Witches.

Aradian: An Italian Witchcraft tradition created by the Vangelo Delle Streghe.

Arcana: The two halves of a tarot deck. The Major Arcana consists of 22 trumps, the Minor Arcana consists of 56 suit cards (sometimes called the lesser or lower Arcana).

Archetype: According to Jung "archetypes", or primordial images, make up the collective unconscious. They correspond to experiences such as confronting death or choosing a life partner and manifest symbolically in religions, myths, fairy tales, and fantasies. A goddess or a god can be considered as a kind of archetype, as can many images within the Tarot.

As Above So Below: This phrase represents the idea that all things we think and feel as well as all minor objects and occurrences in the universe are mirrored in the larger universe as a whole. The idea is also illustrated by the phrase of "the macrosm (the entire universe or big picture) is equal to the microsm (each of the host of tiny universes in existence)". Each and every being is like a tiny universe, and that tiny universe reflects the entire universe as a whole. As each cell in a person's body contains all the genetic code necessary to make an entire person, so does a person contain all the information within herself that is present in the deepest and most secret corners of the universe. The two halves of the above/below (microsm/macrosm) complex, though seemingly different, are really just twins in disguise. This axiom is especially useful to individuals who perform any type of divination as well as Natural Magick. By using certain herbs, oils, gems or other correspondences, he is able to manipulate a small universe (his desires) and force the whole universe (physical reality) to reflect it. For example, a witch might use Mandrake root as an amulet to draw love to himself. By using a correspondence with the natural energy attuned to drawing love, he has set up his small universe in accordance with his desires. With the proper knowledge and preparations, he will soon see the whole universe of his outer physical reality coming to reflect his inner reality, his desires. This axiom was first taught by Hermes Trismagistus in ancient Egypt. His teachings led to the renowned magickal traditions we know today as Hermetic Theosophy, or Hermetics.

Ascendant: The degree of zodiac nearest the eastern horizon at time of birth. 

Aspect: The particular principle or part of the Creative Life Force being worked with or acknowledged at any one time.

Asperger: A bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object used to sprinkle water during or preceding ritual, for purification purposes.

Astral Body: The form physical beings wear when traveling on the astral plane.

Astral Entities: Living and non-living entities that interact on the astral plane. Humans and other living beings are considered astral entities when they are traveling through the astral plane. However, astral entities do not necessarily need to be alive or to have ever been alive. Entities from other dimensions as well as thought-forms also occupy the astral plane. Some are benign and helpful while others are opportunistic and harmful. Precautions should always be taken when dealing with unknown astral entities.

Astral Magick: Magick that a witch performs on the astral plane using the vast stores of etheric energy available in that dimension as well as the assistance of astral entities.

Astral Planes: Other planes of reality that interpenetrate and co-exist with the physical plane on which humans live. These can be reached through directed astral travel or meditation. There are several levels or areas on the astral planes, all different and all containing different types of beings.

Astral Travel/Projection: The separation of the astral body from the physical body. The person retains consciousness and can use this astral form to explore the astral plane or journey across time and space.

Astrology: Astrology is the study of the planets and stars and how they affect life on the Earth.

Athame: A cleansed and consecrated ritual blade. It is double edged, and black handled. A knife used by Witches during rituals do direct energy in Magick and is never used to cut or kill anything on the physical plane.

Auger: Soothsayer or diviner.

Aura: The life-energy field which surrounds all living things.

Autumn Equinox: One of the Wiccan eight holy days, also known as Mabon; celebrated on September 21^st of every year.

Automatic Writing: Form of divination where the channeler uses a pen, paper and an altered state of consciousness to receive messages.

Autonomous: Autonomous means "self-governing". A big attraction of witchcraft is that witches can be their own rulers and there is little hierarchy in most traditions outside of a High Priestess and Priest.

Avatar: A discorporate soul who has the choice to advance to a higher level of consciousness or remain behind on the physical plane to help other less evolved souls grow spiritually. These souls return to inhabit physical bodies voluntarily.

Balefire: An old word for bonfire. The original word was Bel’s fire, referring to the sun god Bel. This fire is lit for magickal purposes, usually outdoors. They are traditional on Yule, Beltane, and Midsummer.

Bane: A sources of harm, poison, dangerous or destruction; a curse. Anything which causes harm, pain, illness, or destruction. Banes can be caused by hexes or curses. They can also be caused by hauntings and possessions through angry or evil spirits. That which destroys life.

Banish/Banishing: To drive someone or something away with Magick. To magickally end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To rid the presence of. 1) Repelling an unwelcome psychic entity or negative spirits; 2) Short for 'banishing the Circle', dispelling as Magick Circle after it has served its purpose; 3) Expelling a witch from a coven for an offence.

B.C.E.: Before Common Era. Synonymous with B.C. without religious bias.

Bell: Often used as ritual tools. They can be used to invoke directional energies, to ring in the sunrise on a Sabbat, or to frighten away faeries and baneful spirits.

Beltane: One of the Wiccan eight holy days; celebrated on May 1^st of each year.

Belomancy: Divination by use of feathers.

Besom: An old word for broom. This special broom is used to symbolically sweep the circle and altar clean before ritual. It sweeps away negative energies.  

Bi-Location: A phrase used to describe seeing a physical person in one place, while others see the astral body (which appears physical) of that person in another place. The act of being in two places at once.

Bind: To restrain someone or something with Magick. The use of Magick to restrict the power and movement of people, entities, and energies. This primarily used Witches when they are attacked.

Black Witch: One who practices negative Magick. A "Black Witch" does not live by the Wiccan Rede and laws, and may be found "harming" another. These are people you should stay away from.

Blasting: Placing a curse on someone.

Blessed Be: Blessed Be is the best known Pagan expression. Witches use it as both a greeting and a farewell and as a general expression of blessed during ritual. It means, roughly, "Be Blessed and Whole" or "The Blessings of the Gods be upon you."     

Its use stems from the longer traditional ritual called the Five Fold Kiss that goes like this:

Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways
Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would be
Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names

Blood of the Moon: A phrase used by some female Witches to describe the menstrual cycle. Should this cycle occur over a Full Moon or New Moon, she is far more powerful than during any other time of the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength within herself.

Bolline/Boline/ Boleen: A white-handled knife, used in Magick and ritual for purposes such as cutting herbs or piercing a pomegranate.

Book of Shadows: Also known as a BOS (for short). The name is used to refer to the Witch hunt days and the need for secrecy of the religion, and thus made to practicing within the “shadows”. A witch's book of spells, rituals, magickal lore, and any other information she has learned. Although some Witches believe this can only be a black, bound book, others choose notebooks or 3 ring binders in colorful designs. Some Witches also believe that this book can only be handwritten, and some say this is the “Millennium” use your computer printer, especially if you have bad handwriting.

Brightest Blessings: A term of parting or farewell meaning "a wish of blessing from the Goddess".

Buddhism: Buddhism is a major world religion, it was founded in north-eastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, or the Enlightened One.

Burning Times: The period during the Middle Ages when the Christian Church hunted down, tortured, and murdered anyone they suspected of being a Pagan or a Witch. An estimate of nine million people were tortured and burned.

Cakes and Ale/Cakes and Wine: A phrase used by Gerald Gardner to describe the wine/ale/juice and cakes/cookies/bread used by Witches during ritual.

Call: A series of words or sounds that are used to invoke, or call deities.

Cauldron: The cast iron kettle used by Witches for burning request papers or written spells, holding lighted candles, brewing up herbal potions or teas for healing or Magick, or as a symbol of the womb of the Great Goddess.

Candle Magick: The process of using candles to create change in one’s environment. The scent, shape, color and size of the candle can all affect the outcome of a candle spell. Many methods of candle Magick have been developed. Meditation and intensive focus on the result both help to bring a witch’s desires into being. Candles can also be lit and left to drip wax on a sigil or drawing of the desired effect or they can simply be burned a short time each day over a specified period of days. Some witches even light their candle and just allow it to burn down entirely. When the candlewick is no more, their desire passes from the microsm to the macrosm where it manifests in physical reality.

Candles: Candles have been used by Witches for Magick for centuries. You can have a candle on your altar to represent the god, and one for the goddess if you wish. You should light these candles as you invite the deities to your circle. Witches also have candles at the four corners of the appropriate colors of the circle to represent the elements. You should always have a white pillar altar candle. This is lit first, and all other candles should be lit from it. There can also be a couple candles on your altar for lighting purposes, these two candles are called “Illumination Candles” and are usually white tapers.

Cardinal Directions: The four familiar directions of the compass and their relative Elements. Many Crafters utilize the Cardinal directions to attune with the elements of the universe. The directions and their reference Elements are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Casting a Circle:  Event designed to set divine energy in a certain circular area for protection while doing rituals and spells. Creating a circle (though more commonly visualized as a sphere) around a specific area that one intends to use for ritual or spell work and/or devotions. Creating the circle, cleansing the confined space within, and creating specific barriers to prevent energy flows are all steps in creating a strong circle. The circle can be created visually or physically with an athame, wand, finger, hand or any other instrument the caster wishes.

C.E.: Common Era. Synonymous with A..D. but without religious bias.

Ceremonial Magic: Ceremonial magic is often referred to as High Magic. This is a magical system different from Wicca, in which no Goddess is mentioned. Begun in the Middle Ages, it was a magickal system practiced by learned men and priests with ties to Christianity and Judaism. It uses a mixture of Hebrew and Greek words and calls upon the names of Gods, Angels, and Demons.

Censer: Also called an incense burner. An altar tool that is a heat-proof container in which incense is burned. It is associated with the element air.

Censing: The process of burning incense to spiritually cleanse an object (usually an altar tool), yourself, or the circle.

Centering: A means of bringing yourself back into emotional, physical, or spiritual focus through meditation and visualization, often by drawing energy into your center gravity. Also called “Grounding”.

Chakras: Seven major energy vortexes/astral light centers found in the human body. Each is usually associated with a color. Smaller vortexes are located in the hands and feet as well. The seven energy centers of the body Chakras are the energy centers of the body, where body and Spirit most strongly connect. There are thousands of Chakras in every part of the body, which are connected to each other by meridians, or energy pathways. This is the basis of such systems of medicine as acupuncture, shiatsu, and moxidermy, which treat physical illness by applying stimulation to the Chakra points. In general practice however, most people work only with the seven major Chakras which correspond to the seven spheres of existence and the Seven Heavenly Bodies: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun and the Moon. These are the Root Chakra, at the prostate in males and the paraurethral gland in females, corresponding to the physical plane. The 2nd Chakra, at the testicles in males and the ovaries in females, corresponding to the emotional plane. The Solar Chakra, roughly at the navel, corresponding to the mental plane. The Heart Chakra, at the heart, corresponding to the astral plane. The Throat Chakra, at the throat, corresponding to the soular or egoic plane. The Third Eye, at level of the pineal gland, corresponding to the monadic plane. And the Crown Chakra, at or above the top of the head, corresponding to the Divine Chakras - from the Sanskrit term to mean, "wheel of light". The Chakras refer to the seven energy centers in the body.

Chalice: A ritual tool. It represents the female principals of creation. This is the cup you drink your wine or juice from in your rituals or spells. Also used for “Cakes and Ale” Generally, witches drink a ritual beverage after completing a spell. This helps to replenish your body with energy after you send all your energy out from you into the world. You can be very exhausted after a spell, and eating a cookie, piece of cake, and drinking your ritual beverage after the spell helps revive you a bit.

Channeling: Contacting and communicating with disembodied entities while in a trance state, or altered state of consciousness and allowing such entities to use the physical body and voice to communicate with other humans. It is also known as meduimship. 

Chant/Chanting: Verbally repeating words or verses to build up power within the Magick circle. This accumulated power is released as part of spellworking.

Chaplet: A crown for the head usually made of flowers and worn at Beltane.

Charge Of The Goddess: A message from the Goddess to Her followers, this appears in Aradia: Gospel Of Witches. Gerald Gardner wrote a version, including much material by Aleister Crowley. Doreen Valiente wrote a later version, deleting the Crowley material. The Valiente version has since been adopted by most Wiccan’s and is frequently rewritten. It is also simply known as The Charge.

Charge/Charging: To infuse an object with personal power. Using your mind to place energy into an object for use at a later time. It is not unlike plugging in a battery, except this is accomplished through psychic force.

Charms: Chanted or sung magickal spells. Also, An item worn for its magickal benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet or talisman that has been charged with an incantation, instilling it with energy for a specific task.

Cheiromancy: The act of reading palms (Palmistry).

Chi: The Asian theory of universal energy force that flows through all matter.

Circle: Sacred space wherein all Magick is to be worked and all ritual contained. It both holds ritual energy until the Witch is ready to release it, and provides protection for the Witch.

Circle of Protection: Sacred space in which all magic is worked and all rituals are held; holds both ritual energy and protection for the Witch/Pagan/Wiccan. Keeps out unfriendly influences.

Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Clairsentience:  These terms refer to various ways of being aware of psychic happenings. Clairaudience means to hear music or voices. Clairsentience means to feel something, such as touch. The word clairvoyance, although it means “clear-seeing,” is frequently used to mean all three words.

Cleansing: Removing all negative energies or entities from an object, person or place.

Coming of Age Ritual: At age 13 for boys, and at the time of a girl's first menses, Pagan children are seen as spiritual adults. The ritual celebrates their new maturity. Generally this is the age when they are permitted membership in covens.

Color Therapy: Healing by the use of certain colors to treat certain illnesses & diseases.

Collective Unconscious: Jung believed that on a deep level all humans are connected. The collective unconscious contains elements of our race’s experiences throughout history, it is the place where inhabit the "archetypes". It is thought by some scientists that a collective unconscious may exist in some other mammals.

Cone of Power: The magickal, psychic energy that is raised by chanting/singing/drumming/walking etc. and contained within a consecrated circle. Psychically seen, the power emanates from the edge of the circle and rises to a peak high above. At its height, this power is released to manifest a desired result.

Conscious Mind: The analytical, materially-based, rational half of our consciousness. The part of our mind that is at work while we balance our checkbooks, theorize, communicate, and perform other acts related to the physical world.

Cord: A ritual tool that is basically used to measure the radius of circles. It is also used for binding things and even on occasion, for binding one's self!

Correllian Calendar:  The twelve Ages of the Correllian Calendar derive their names from the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Instead of running from Aries (the first sign of the Zodiac) to Pisces (the last sign), the signs run backwards. Pisces just ended in 1999 and Aquarius has just begun. Each Age lasts 1600 years and represents a cyclical depiction of time rather than the linear model used by the Christian Calendar. When the last Age in the zodiacal group (Aries) ends, Pisces will begin again.

Correspondences: Correspondences are items and ideas which Witches and magicians use to create change through a form of Magick called Natural Magick. Correspondences can be anything from herbs, oils, and incense to moon phases and astrological signs. Much of this magickal system utilizes the ideas of Sympathy first described in P. E. I. Bonewits’ book, Real Magic. By manipulating certain correspondences, a witch can set up a mini universe (the microsm) which represents his specific desires. The natural energies that certain correspondences bear are either in harmony with or in opposition to a witch’s desires. Through the ever-present relationship between the microsm and the macrosm (As Above, So Below), a Witch can arrange certain correspondences from nature so that his desires manifest into reality. The true strength of Natural Magick is in creating the proper atmosphere for further magickal actions to take place through Spiritual Magick or Mental Magick. However, the Correspondences of Natural Magick can also be used entirely on their own to create change.

Consecration: The purification and blessing of an object, person, or place and instilling it with positive energy.

Countess: A woman holding the title of count or earl. The wife or widow of a count in various European countries. The wife or widow of an earl in Great Britain. Used as a title for such a noblewoman. Many of these women in the early ages where Witches.

Coven: A group of thirteen or fewer witches, but never less than 3 that work together regularly in for magickal and ritualistic purposes. The word coven was first use in the sixteenth-century Scotland.

Covenstead: The place where Witches and or covens regularly meet.

Cowan: One who is not of the pagan paths; one who does not practice Magick.

Craft: Another name for the practice of Magick, especially Witchcraft.

Craft Name: The new, magickal name taken by a Witch at initiation.

Crone: Aspect of the Goddess represented by the old woman. The Hag, the old Goddess. Frequently a death Goddess, usually wise and powerful. Also a woman who has passed menopause. Sometimes the Dark Moon Goddess.  Symbolized by the waning moon, the carrion crow, the cauldron, the color black. Her Sabbats are Mabon and Samhain.

Croning: Ritual performed to celebrate the transition a woman makes when she achieves an age of full wisdom. The age of Croning begins at 50.

Cross-Quarter Days: Refers to Sabbats not falling on the solstices or equinoxes.

Crossroads: The meeting places for those who followed the Goddess Hecate and Diana of the Three Ways.

Crystal: Usually a semi-precious gemstone thought to have specific qualities. For example, clear quartz can be used to focus energy; Black Onyx can be used for grounding, etc...

Crystal healing: It is a common belief in Wicca that crystals have subtle electro-magnetic properties that help cure illness and disease. Others would also state that the colors of the crystals have a beneficial effect.

Cult: A cult, by "Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary" is defined as 1) A system of religious worship. 2) Obsessive and faddish devotion to a principle or person. Cults seek converts, exercise control over their followers etc. 

Cunning : Cunning-folk were known for a range of practices that included lifting curses and bewitchments, love magic, herbalism and curing diseases in animals as well as humans. A few also practiced astrology. Some modern day Wiccan's claim such people were witches and that they are their direct descendants. Others see this as quite an odd claim to make as there is actually evidence that Cunning-folk aided the persecution of witches during the craze in the seventeenth century.

Curse: Deliberate ill-wishing or blasting of a person.

Dancing: A practice of some Wiccan’s to raise power and create a state of semihypnosis. Spiral dances symbolize entering the Inner Mysteries, while the circle or round dance represents the circling stars in the heavens. 

Days of Power: Generally speaking, these can be the holy days or New or Full Moons. Other days can be powerful for Witches because of eclipses, astrological alignments, or personal days of significance.

Dedication: The process where an individual accepts the Craft as their path and vows to study and learn all that is necessary to reach adept ship. This lasts about a year and a day. At that point the individual makes a choice to either stay on the Wiccan Path and be initiated, continue learning till they are ready to be initiated or follow another path. It is a conscious preparation to accept something new into your life and stick with it, regardless of the highs and lows that may follow.

Degrees: In Traditional Wicca, there are three degrees of initiation, earned by study and practice.

Deity: A God or a Goddess, though also used to encompass ALL Gods & Goddesses in one concept.

Deja Vu - Feeling of having previously experienced something actually being experienced for the first time. Almost always occurs without warning or explanation. It comes from a French word meaning "already seen" and is regarded by many as evidence of reincarnation.

Demi-God: A being that is half divine.

Deosil: This word of Gaelic provenance means in the direction of the Sun or clockwise. Deosil is symbolic of life, positive magick and energies. Old spellings are deiseal and deasail.

Destiny: Destiny is unlike fate, where fate you can control and make on your own. Destiny takes the form of things that are “meant” to happen, “meant to be”, either from the Devine or your karma, whether good or bad.

Devotee: Individual who has devoted him or herself to a particular deity who acts as their spiritual advisor and patron. Most devotees choose their patron based on their tradition as well as a similarity of morals and other defining characteristics between themselves and the deity.

Dianic: A segment of Wicca that has all female groups and Witches who worship only the Goddess.

Discarnate: Any spiritual entity without a physical body.

Dirk: Ritual knife of the Scottish tradition.

Divination: To uncover the future or information from the Collective Unconsciousness by the use of certain tools, such as Tarot Cards, I Ching, Astrology, or Rune Stones. This can be on people, places, things and events past, present, and future. Divination is also used to find hidden things.

Divining - The use of Divination (ie. "He was divining using his Tarot cards).

Divine Power: The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life force, the ultimate source of all things.

Doppelganger: A term used in pagan circles for an individual’s astral body in the Astral Plane.

Dowsing: To use a pendulum, forked stick, or L-rods to locate underground water, oil, or minerals. The pendulum is also used as a divination tool for yes or no answers and often to find the location of lost or hidden things.

Drawing Down the Moon: A ritual performed during the Full Moon usually by a female Witch to bring the essence of the Goddess within the woman.

Drawing Down the Sun: A ritual performed during the Full Moon and usually after the performance of Drawing Down the Moon, where the male Witch brings the essence of the God within the him.

Dressing a Candle: Anointing a candle, with oil or herbs in a certain direction.

Druid or Druidess: A member of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers; now a person who holds a strong understanding of nature and holds an attachment to divine energies and spiritual purpose to preserve it.

Dogma: Dogma is an authoritative and precise statement of religious doctrine that is given as an unquestionable fact. Witches generally have a strong aversion to dogma.

Duality: The opposite of polarity. When used as a religious term, it separates two opposites such as good and evil and places those characteristics into two completely separate God-forms.

Earth: The 4th element of alchemical tradition; the essence of grounding and stability; element of the North and the nature of balance.

Earth Magick: Magick performed with natural objects found in or on the Earth. Also Magick that uses power drawn from the Earth.

Earth Plane: Metaphor for your normal waking consciousness, or for the everyday, solid world we live in.

Earth Power: The energy that exists within stones, herbs, flames and other natural objects. It is manifested Divine Power and can be used during magic to bring about needed change.

Earth Religion: A religion wherein the worshipper strives to be in harmony with the Earth and with all life-forms.

Eclectic: A segment of Wicca that does not adhere to a particular magickal system or tradition, but includes a variety of teachings in the Magick and ritual. A lot of these Witches also go with what feels right to them personally instead of a traditional act or rule. Most of these Witches are solitary. Eclectic Wiccan’s sometimes mix pantheons as well.

Elder: The title bestowed upon an older, knowledgeable member of Wicca. An Elder is what goes beyond third degree. Many Wiccan and Pagan organizations have a group or board of Elders who oversee the operations of the church and its variety of functions. These people have usually gained their positions through a combination of their abilities, which may include education, experience, magickal adeptship and counseling.

Elements: Five psychic energies connected with Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.

Elementals: Mythical beings and creatures who inhabit the astral plane and are connected with the Elements. The most commonly known traditional Elementals are gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders. 

Enchantment: To use Magick to influence the actions of a person or the outcome of an event. Also, a magickal object that is charmed that is kept hidden from everyone but the person it's for; gems and magical writings are good objects for this.

Enochian Magic: Enochian magic is a magical system that derives from the Elizabethan mage John Dee (1527-1608) and his accomplice Edward Kelley. It was developed by the Golden Dawn and some Witches choose to specialize in it. It is generally considered an advanced subject and is not recommended for beginners.

Energy: A force or inherent power which is part of all living things, seen and unseen, usually raised by a Witch.

Eostre's Eggs: Colored, decorated eggs of Ostara; named for the Teutonic Goddess Eostre.

Equilibrium: Another word for balance. In Magick and in philosophy extremes tend to yield unwanted results where balance yields enlightenment, growth and peace.

Equinox: Event which occurs twice a year when the sun is exactly over the Earth’s center, the Equator. On this day the hours of light and darkness are equal in length.

Esbat: The Full and New Moon rituals of Witches.

Essence: The intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something.

Etheric Energy: The vast store of astral energy located on the astral plane. This energy is boundless and useful for nearly all magickal operations.

Evil Eye: A malevolent power transmitted by a mere glance by certain persons.

Evoke/Evocation: To call a Deity or Element(al)  to be present whether in or out of the circle. Also to project energy from within you out into the universe.

Faeries: A race of the Otherworld beings who have long been connected with Witches.

Faerie Burgh: Mound of earth which covers a faerie colony's underground home.

Familiar: A physical or astral creature or animal that has a psychic bond with a Witch.

Fascination: A form of Mental Magick in which a Caster controls another person, animal or spiritual entity’s will. Also known as "mind-bending".

Fate: You make and control your own fate, unlike destiny. (See Destiny)

Fetch: An old word used to denote the projected astral body of a person; a form that is deliberately sent on a mission, usually to collect information.

Feng Shui - Ancient Chinese art of arranging objects in harmony with the earth’s environment & energy lines. The term literally translates to "Wind and Water" but it refers to all the five Asian elements. Arranging objects and structures in the appropriate positions according to the system of Feng Shui allows for a healthy flow of spiritual energy or Chi.

Fire: Second element in the alchemical tradition; the essence of purification and change; the element of the South and the nature of the will.

Five-fold Kiss: *See Blessed Be* A ritual practice used by Gardnerian and Alexandrian Witches, and practiced between a man and a woman.

Flagellation: Art or practice of ritual scourging (often used by some Wiccan Traditions). It is a method of raising magical energy. The technique is normally applied in a gentle, but steady, manner for the purpose of altering consciousness by drawing blood away from the brain. Since the 1960s, the use in Witchcraft rituals has greatly declined.

Folklore: Traditional sayings, cures, faerie tales, and folk wisdom of a particular locale which is separate from their mythology.

Folk Magick: The Practice of projecting personal power, as well as the energies within natural objects such as herbs, and crystals, to bring about needed changes.

Four Quarters: (Watch-towers or Guardians.): Astral entities associated with the Elements of the four Cardinal Directions. The Guardians are used by Ceremonial Magicians and many Wiccan's to watch over a ritual and provide protection at the Four Quarters of the Magick Circle.

Full Moon: The phase of the Moon in which all of its light is revealed. The period leading up to it is called the Waxing Moon. Witches frequently  meet on a Full Moon for rituals and to use this power for Magick.

Gaea/Gaia: The Earth Mother; an aspect of the Goddess and representative of the planet Earth.

Gardnerian: A Wiccan tradition started by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. Many people consider Gardnerian Wicca to be the most 'authentic', but many of the details of this tradition are only available to those who have been initiated into a Gardnerian coven. Belonging to this tradition requires a great deal of commitment and learning. There is a specific hierarchy within any coven (initiate, 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree).

As with any Wiccan tradition, the defining qualities of an Gardnerian coven are not always clear-cut, and further research will help you understand the details of this tradition.

Garter: A piece of fabric or leather that is laced, tied, or buckled around the thigh of a High Priestess of a coven.

Genetic Mind: The theory of Carl Jung that describes the superconscious mind, a mind that connects all cultures and people. It is also called the Collective Unconscious and the superconscious.

Geomancy: The practice of observing the Earth’s energy lines (called ley lines) and vortices and aligning ritual workings to them in order to affect greater change in one’s environment. Certain areas such as Stone Hedge have become infamous for their locations over powerful energy centers.

Glyph: A design depicting a principle or concept. In astrology, a particular graphical representation allocated to each sign of the zodiac and the planets, which relates to an animal, planet or something similar.

God: The consort of and co-creator with the Goddess; the masculine aspect of the Divine Power.

Goddess: The creatrix of the universe and everything in it; female aspect of the Divine Power.

Golden Dawn: Also known as The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a famous and very influential Victorian magickal society, albeit one that was short-lived in its original form.

Grain Dolly: Figure usually woven at Imbolc from dried sheaves of grain collected at the previous harvest. The dolly is traditionally burned at Yule and a new one made the following Imbolc.

Gray Witch: Along with White and Black Witches and Magick, there is Gray Magick. A Witch that practices Gray Magick is called a Gray Witch as well as Wiccan. A Gray Witch is the most powerful of all Witches. Gary Witches do not cast curses on people for infractions of courtesy. However, they are not doormats and will protect themselves and their families from danger, persecution, and evil in whatever manner necessary. Most adept Wiccan's are Gray Witches. Apprentices need more time to study ethics in order to understand Gray Magick.

Great Sabbats: Ritual and devotional celebrations or festivals that are usually celebrated on the following dates:
Imbolc - February 2
Beltane - May 1
Lughnasadh - August 2
Samhain - October 31 or November 1

As with all areas in witchcraft, the exact details (in this case exact dates) are dependent on tradition. Some traditions vary in their celebration of the Sabbats in part because of the geographic differences of the suns movement. For example, the winter solstice (Yule, a Lesser Sabbat and one of the Quarters) is known as the longest night of the year. However there are some areas of the world above and below our latitude where the longest night of the year is not on the 21st, but either a few days before or a few days after. This is why Christmas (the Christian name for the pagan holiday of Yule) is celebrated on the 25 day of December (which no longer varies with the solar calendar due to convention) rather than the 21st. The Christian calendar is aligned with the Teutonic calendar rather than the typical pagan calendar. This accounts for many discrepancies between the Christian and pagan holidays. The Great Sabbats, are also known as the Cross Quarters. They can be easily remembered as the four Sabbats that are celebrated at the beginnings of the month as opposed to the Quarters which are celebrated towards the latter part (usually on the 21 or 22 day) of the month.

Great Rite: Symbolic sexual union (also sacred marriage) of the Goddess and God that is enacted at Beltane in many traditions, and other Sabbats in other traditions. It symbolizes the primal act of creation from which all life comes.

Great Year: The passage of an entire series of twelve Zodiacal Ages, from one sign all the way back to itself, is said to be a Great Year. According to Correllian reckoning this is a period of 19,200 years.

Green Man: An aspect of the God, this deity represented the Lord of the Forests. He is portrayed peering out from a mass of foliage.

Green Witch: Usually a solitary. A Green Witch is one who bases her Magick on the uses of herbs and plants. These witches focus heavily on this area and often there is little or no religion involved.

Grimorie: Although some Wiccan's use this term to refer to the Book Of Shadows, it is more correctly a name linked with ceremonial Magick. This name is also used more in a coven than in solitary work. 

Grounding: To disperse excess energy generated during magickal work by sending it into the earth. It also means the process of centering one's self in the physical world both before and after any ritual or astral experience. Also called “centering”.

Grove: A small wood or stand of trees that lacks dense undergrowth; used for meetings of covens; most commonly used with druids. 

Guardians: Also called the Watchtowers. The psychic and astral entities who are called to guard the four quarters of a consecrated circle. It may also be used when referring to the spiritual guardian of a person.

Guardian Angel: An angelic being who watches over a person and keeps them from harm; a force that can be called upon for protection, assistance in rituals, or help in gaining clarity on issues.

Guardian Spirits: Spirits that are present in our lives, and serve as protectors of our person and spirit. It is believed that everyone has Guardian Spirits, though very few are aware of the role they play.

Guide: One who shows the way by leading, directing, or advising; a spiritual being who assists individuals through certain aspects of their life; Also known as spirit guides or guardian angels. There are four types - Spirit Guide, Relative Guide, Guardian Angel, Master Teacher and Animal Guides (Familiars).

Harm None: "Harm none" is one of the central tenets of Wicca. The wording comes from the longer poetic version of the Wiccan Rede and it just means to live one's life bringing no harm to others.

Handfasting: A Wiccan, Pagan, or Gypsy Wedding. Unlike a marriage "until death do you part", a handfasting will stop if the mutual affection, respect or commitment stops.
Three most common handfastings:

        1) Year and a Day

        2) Lifetime

        3) Eternity

Handparting: A Wiccan/Pagan ritual form of divorce. 

Heathen: A member of a people or nation that does not recognize the god of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. An uncivilized, unenlightened, or irreligious person.

Herbalism: Art of using herbs to facilitate human needs both magickally and medicinally.

Hermetic: Ancient teachings based on the concepts & principles taught by Pythagoras, Plato, & Hermes Trismegistus. Text originating from the Mystery cults of the Aegean/Mediterranean as well as from Persia & Chaldea.

Heretic: A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.

Hexagram: This six-pointed star has origins far older than Judaism. It is sometimes used to represent the Hermetic teaching “as above, so below.” It is a symbol of the blending of female and male energies, a necessary ingredient of successful Magick. The word is also used to denote the lined glyphs used in I Ching.

Higher Self: That part of us that connects our corporeal minds to the Collective Unconscious and with the divine knowledge of the universe.

High Priest: The principal male leader of a coven. Solitary Second and Third Degree male Witches are also High Priests, they just don’t lead a coven.

High Priestess: The principal female leader of a coven. Solitary Second and Third Degree male Witches are also High Priestesses, they just don’t lead a coven.

Hocus Pocus: A magickal phrase found in ancient grimoires.

Holey Stones: Stones that have a natural hole through them.

Holy Days: Wiccan/Pagan Holidays. These eight days are Imbolc (February), Ostara (March), Beltane (May), Litha (June), Lughnasadh (August), Mabon (September), Samhain (October), and Yule (December).

Holy Water or Oil: A liquid that has been blessed by divine spirit and consecrated for a specific use in a spiritual ceremony, ritual or event.

Horned God: An aspect of the God. Also another name for Cernnunos and the supreme Forest God.

I Ching: A Chinese divination system that uses randomly chosen glyphs of broken and unbroken lines.

Illuminati: Direct spiritual and esoteric enlightenment by means of revelation from a higher source or the inspiration of human reason.

Imbolc: One of the eight Wiccan holy days celebrated on February 1^st of each year. Also Spelled Imbolg and Oimelc.

Immanent: In Wicca immanent is a term applied to deity, which is believed to exist in all things throughout the whole of creation.

Incantation: Ritual recitation of words of power or special phrases (usually rhymed) in order to produce a magical effect. Incantations are also known as chants, spoken charms, and runes. In order to be effective, it must be done during the correct lunar phase and accompanied by a visualization of the intent and the raising-directing-releasing of magical energy.

Incantatrix: Name for a female Witch or Sorceress who was skilled in the magical art of incantation.

Incarnation: The present physical life.

Incense: Fragrant resins, gums, herbs, flowers, and woods burned during rituals and spellworking. Used for cleansing and to better help the witch attune to the goal of the working.

Incubus: Male astral entities that try to engage in sexual activities with humans. Plural: Incubi.

Initiation: The formal ceremony performed when someone joins a Wiccan Coven or is initiated throughout the Three Degrees. Self-initiations are performed by solitary Witches, as inner sign of total dedication of the Wiccan Religion throughout the Three Degree system.

Initiatory system of three degrees: Many traditions of Wicca have three levels of attainment that can be progressed through, typically a year and a day at a time. This is achieved by a mixture of study, practice and examination. How the degree is conferred varies; some traditions allow self-initiation whilst others will only let it be given by senior Witches. Each level confers certain rights and responsibilities, although quite how these are defined varies from one tradition to another.

Inner Planes: Other levels of consciousness and existence.

Inscribe: To carve or mark something. For example, carving a rune into a candle is to inscribe that candle.

Intent: The core desire behind spell and ritual workings. The true intent may or may not be what results when an individual performs a spell or ritual. Thoughts and emotions need to both be utilized in order to reveal the true intent. Careful meditation and reflection can aid in revealing the true desire behind one’s need. The true goal or purpose is not always immediately or consciously clear to us and it is important to determine this because not knowing can cause a working to have unexpected or unwanted effects. When the true intent of one’s Magick is clear, Magick is that much easier and likely to be successful.

Intuition / Intuitive: The act or faculty of knowing, perceiving, or sensing without the use of rational processes or reasoning; immediate cognition.

Invoke: Invocation can be described as “Calling-in”. It is used only for entities that are equal to, or greater than, the person doing the invoking. Invocation is only done within a properly constructed circle. Invoking works two ways, one way is to invoke a deity into you, to where for as for a time you become that deity. The other way is to invite them into your circle. Invocation differs from evocation, in that evocation is for lesser entities that are conjured outside of the circle, usually in a triangle.

Jinx: To place a negative purpose on an individual, situation or spiritual tool; a person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck; a condition or period of bad luck that appears to have been caused by a specific person or thing. 

Karma: The law of cause and effect. The belief that one's thoughts and deeds can either be counted against them or added to their spiritual path across several life times. The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny;  the positive and negative debts gained by actions in a physical body and carried from one life time to another.

Karmic Soulmate: We have hundreds of Karmic Soulmates. These people are people that we knew in a past life that are here in this life to teach us lessons. These people are usually ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, one night stands, etc. Basically these people are the people that its doesn’t work out with in the “Love” aspect” of life and/or the people that come and go for short or long periods of time in our lives. They were just there to teach us a lesson, whether good or bad.

Kitchen Witch: A Witch who practices practical Magick using Earth power, Earth Objects, herbs, and the Elements. These Witches do most of their work in the kitchen at the hearth or stove. There may or may not be religious ideas incorporated.

Knots: Part of binding and releasing in spells.

Law Of Three: A law that states "whatever you do returns threefold". i.e.. Harming someone returns harm on you three times, helping someone returns good things three times.

Labyrinth: A construction consisting of a path that spirals inward to a center; there is only one path that reaches the center, as opposed to a maze that may have many paths to the center. Walking the Labyrinth is a term used to describe the inner path each person must travel to reach the Divine center within.

Lady: Term of respect for a pagan high priestess of the third degree or higher. The "Lady" can also refer to the Goddess, the female side of nature.

Lammas: Pagan Sabbat celebrated on or around August 1st. Also known as Lughnasadh, August Eve, Feast of Bread. Lammas marks the first harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are harvested and the God weakens as the days begin to grow shorter with winter’s approach. One of the four Grand Sabbats.

Land Of Faery: An old term used to denote the section of the Otherworld where the spirits of deceased people go.

Left-Hand Path: The path by those who use negative Magick or Black Magick. Sometimes this term is applied to Satanists.

Libation: Ritually given portion of food and drink to a deity, nature spirit, ghost, or all.

Litha: One of the Wiccan eight holy days also known as Summer Solstice; celebrated on June 21^st of each year.

Lord: Term of respect for a pagan High Priest of the third degree or higher. The "Lord" can also refer to the God, the male side of nature.

Low Magic: Practical magic. The arts of Witchcraft, spellcraft, hexcraft, and hoodoo which utilize herbs, amulets, wax images, and other simple material objects in conjunction with incantations and visualization to bring about a desired result. It is also known as "Natural Magic".

Lower Self: That part of ourselves of which distinct from the universe as a whole. This is also the part that we are easily aware of: the physical, the emotional, and the mental aspects of being. Compare to Higher Self which refers to the Astral, creative or unified level of our consciousness that binds the individual with universal Deity.

Lughnasadh: Another name for the Sabbat, Lammas. See Lammas.

Mabon: One of the Wiccan eight holy days, also known as Autumn Equinox; celebrated on September 21^st of every year.

Macrosm: Conceptual view of the outer, larger world beyond us. Compare with Microsm, the inner, or immediate world we live in everyday.

Magic: Illusionist entertainment such as sawing ladies in half, pulling rabbits out of hats and other slight-of-hand tricks. Must be distinguished from "Magick" which involves the manipulation of natural energies rather than physical movements.

Magician: Term which can refer to (a) an illusionist or (b) a practitioner of esoteric knowledge. With respect to pagan traditions and other esoterica, the "Magician" is any person (male or female) who manipulates natural energies rather than using physical movements to create change in his or her environment.

Magick: The drawing down of energy from another realm and using that energy to create and shape a desired result. The Witch must create the result on the Inner Planes in order for it to follow the universal laws and manifest on the physical plane. The results are rarely instantaneous. Energy exists in all things: us, plants, stones, colors, sounds, movements, words. Magick is the process of raising this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magick is natural, not supernatural. There are three general types of Magick. White, Gray and Black. Wiccan's spell the word “Magick” with the “K” at the end to differentiate the difference between stage “Magic” used by magicians who pull rabbits out of hats and pull tricks for show and from Witches who use Magick to pray, get in touch with the Devine, and do spells.

Magickal: Adjective which describes the manipulation of natural energies rather than physical movements to create change in one’s environment.

Magick Circle: A circular space consecrated by a Witch or Coven, in which rituals and Magick are performed. Within it the Witches are protected from outside or unwanted forces, entities, and spirits. The circle extends both above and below the surface of the ground.

Magickal Systems: A variety of cultural traditions that call upon specific deities and powers when performing Magick.

Magus: A title sometimes applied to Witches of the Second or Third Degree. It is more frequently used to denote an adept of ceremonial Magick.

Maiden: The spirit of the wild, untamed feminine; the young Goddess. The strong, free Goddess. The Waxing Crescent Moon Goddess

Malkin: Word, once popular in the Middle Ages, for a Witch's familiar that manifests itself in the form of a cat.

Malleus Maleficarum: Also called the Witch Hammer or Hammer for Witches. A book written in the Middle Ages as a guideline for persecuting, torturing, and murdering people who did not agree with the Christian Church.

Manifestation: The product on one level of being or a phenomenon or entity already existing on a higher level; thus physical Nature is a manifestation of creative Divinity - the Earth itself may be regarded as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess principle - and on a much lower level, a seen ghost, or a poltergeist phenomenon, is a visual or physical manifestation of an entity or activity on the astral plane.

Matrifocal: Term used to denote pre-patriarchal life when family clans centered around and lived near or on clan matriarch.

May Pole: Sexual symbol of Beltane representing the phallus.

Meditation: Reflection, contemplation- turning inward toward the self, or outward toward Deity or nature. A quiet time in which the practitioner may either dwell upon particular thoughts or symbols, or allow them to come unbidden.

Megalith: A huge stone monument or structure. Stonehenge is the best-known example of a megalith.

Menhir: A huge stone probably erected by early peoples for religious, spiritual, or magickal reasons.

Merry Meet & Merry Part: Merry Meet is a Wiccan expression used as a greeting. Merry Part is a Wiccan expression used as a farewell and sometimes it is extended to "Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again". These are greetings and salutations which are often used in ritual. Wicca is a religion of joy and celebration and we are reminded to come together in and part in "perfect love and perfect trust."

Microcosm: The little inner world within us or our immediate personal surroundings.

Mirrors: A common household item that be used in Magick. Mirrors are useful in reflecting back negative energies and spells and can also be used in scrying.

Mojo Bag: A small velvet bag containing charms, herbs, stones and other items to draw energy, luck, love or prosperity etc. to the wearer.

Monotheism: Belief in one supreme deity who has no other forms and/of displays no other aspects.

Moon Magick: A ritual, ceremony or practice conducted in association with a particular phase of the moon; most often aligns ones energies and purpose to the feminine aspect of the divine.

Mother: The aspect of the Goddess representing motherhood, mid-life, and fertility. She is represented by the full moon, the egg, the colors red and green. Her Sabbats are Midsummer and Lughnasadh. The Full Moon Goddess.

Myth: Cycles Body of lore about any land or people that makes up their mythology.

Nature Spirits: Various types of beings attached to a specific tree, river, plant or mountain. 

Neolithic Period: The Neolithic is a period of time that saw the origins of farming and a more sedentary way of life than hunter-gatherers had. It is typified by the use of pottery and of polished or ground stone tools.

Neopagan: See Pagan.

New Age: A term used to describe people who are not Wiccan/Pagan and frequently still adhere to orthodox religions, but use psychic practices.

New Moon: The phase of the Moon when all of its light is obscured. The period leading up to it is called Waning Moon. Witches hold rituals during this time and do Magick to eliminate illnesses or life problems.

New Religion: Pagan term used in reference to Christianity.

Night Witch: A Witch who works their Magick only at night for the purposed of creating negative energies, spells or prayers.

Numen: Energy forms with awareness. Consciousness of energy within an object or a place is measured by parapsychologists in units called Numens.

Nursery Rhyme: Cute doggerel or poems supposedly written for the amusement of children. Much Pagan lore was hidden in these riddles and poems during the years of witch persecutions.

Occult: Of or pertaining to supernatural phenomena or influences. This word is also used to denote the study of secret practices. Literal meaning is "hidden" and is broadly applied to a wide range of metaphysical topics which lie outside the accepted realm of mainstream theologies. The uses of the Occult consist of Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, Witchcraft, for an example.

Occultist: One who practices and or studies a variety of occult subjects. Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, Witchcraft, etc.

Offering: The presentation of gifts to the God or Goddess in thankfulness, often first fruits of the garden, grains, etc...

Ogham: Celtic equivalent of the Teutonic runes. The ancient alphabet of the Celtic people.

Old Ones: The A term which refers to all aspects of the Goddess and God.

Old Religion: A name for Paganism as it pre-dates Christianity by at least 20,000 years.

Old Ways: A reference to the practices of Witchcraft and Paganism.

Omen: A sign or event signifying a future event.

Oracle: A person, such as a priestess, through whom a deity is held to respond when consulted; a shrine consecrated to the worship and consultation of a prophetic deity; a person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions.

Ostara: One of the Wiccan eight holy days also known as Spring Equinox; celebrated on March 21^st of each year.

Otherworld: A term used to describe the astral planes. The Otherworld has many levels or areas. Lower levels house negative entities ands souls, while higher levels house deities and progressed souls.

Ouija Board: A board with the alphabet on it; used with a planchet to spell out supernatural messages. These boards bring the negative rested souls out of their slumber. These spirits are harmful and can cause danger. Wiccan’s do not use these boards, and it is extremely wise to stay away from these boards. This board is similar to the Witches Spirit board, but different in the sense that the “Ouija Board” is more likely to pull on negative spirits and entity’s do to the fact of its misuse around the globe.

Outer Body Experience: When the soul of the body moves out of the physical body and into the etheric realm; occurs randomly during sleep hours to replenish vitality of the physical body and/or to work through spiritual lessons at a higher level of awareness.

Outer Court: Members of a pagan group that are not expected to undergo deep training in the groups religious practices though they are still permitted to attend most gatherings. Outer Court members enjoy less responsibility than the clergy members, but may not be permitted to attend certain rituals nor are they necessarily trusted with all the details of the group’s activities. Compare to Inner Court which is the clergy of a pagan religious group.

Pagan/Neo-Pagan: The name used to describe various non-Christian people who base their religion on ancient traditions and pantheons of deities. A Witch is a Pagan (non-Christian believer), but a Pagan is not necessarily a Witch. Modern Pagan beliefs are sometimes called 'neo-pagan' because they are actually new versions of older beliefs. Not everyone bothers to make the distinction between Pagan and Neo-Pagan.

Pagan Standard time or PST: A silly 'inside' joke amongst Pagans, in reference to how Pagans often have difficulty being on time. Though meant with humor, some people see it as just one more negative stereotype.

Palmistry: Divination and character interpretation by studying the lines and bumps on the palms and fingers.

Pantheists: Pantheists believe in and worship many Goddesses and Gods. Although Wiccan's call themselves pantheists they generally see that many Goddesses and Gods are but expressions of the one Goddess and God. Many Wiccan's believe that the Goddess and God are but two sides of a single all powerful deity.

Pantheon: Traditional groups of deities. Each pantheon is connected with an ancient culture and tradition.

Pantheism: Belief in many deities who are really one because they are all merely aspects of the single creative life source.

Passion Over Ritual: A ritual that is observed when a loved one passes on.

Past-life Regression: Act of using meditation or guided meditation to pass through the veil of linear time and perceive experiences encountered in a previous existence.

Path Working: Using astral projection, bi-location, or dream time to accomplish a specific goal. Also called vision questing.

Patriarch: A patriarch is a respected male figure, be he a god or a human.

Patriarchal: Term used to apply to the world since the Matrifocal clans that worshipped Goddesses were supplanted by codified religions that honor all-male deity(s).

Patron Deity: A particular Goddess or God you feel most comfortable working with. A deity that an individual feels most comfortable with or sees reflected in his or her own personality. The number of patrons one chooses to have is a matter of choice though most people choose one as their dominant spirit. Patrons hear prayers, provide guidance, aid with divination, offer blessings and other bounties on those who devote their lives to them.

Pendulum: A divinatory device consisting of a string attached to a heavy object, such as a quartz crystal, root, or ring. The free end of the string is held in the hand, the elbows steadied against a flat surface, and a question is asked. The movement of the heavy object's swings determines the answer. It is a tool which contacts the psychic mind.

Pentacle: A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (pentagram). Worn as a symbol of Wiccan beliefs. It represents the five elements…Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and at the top, Spirit. It is engraved or painted on a disk, plate of metal, ceramic, or wood and is placed on the Witch’s altar, representative of the Earth Element.

Pentagram: A five pointed star (without the circle around it) with one point up. A symbol long used in connection with the Goddess. It is rarely used inverted by Pagan and Witches, do to that fact that Satanists adopted it and ruined its value in that fashion and then if worn by a Witch it is only as a sign of Second Degree Initiation.

Personal Power: The energy which sustains our bodies. It originates within the Goddess and God. We first absorb it from our biological mother within the womb, and later from food, water, the Moon and Sun, and other natural objects.

Phantoms: Physical sensations that are perceived without any physical cause. Phantoms are psychic impressions that can manifest as any of the following: sights, sounds, smells, sensations, and tastes. They are thought to be psychic perceptions of the unconscious mind that are revealed only through subtle awareness on one’s own body.

Pituitary Gland: A small, oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the vertebrate brain and consisting of an anterior and a posterior lobe, the secretions of which control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism, and maturation; considered the location of the 3rd eye, called the psychic eye

Polarity: The concept of equal, opposite energies. The Eastern Yin Yang is a perfect example. Yin is cold; yang is hot. Other examples: Goddess/God, night/day, Moon/Sun, birth/death, dark/light, psychic mind/unconscious mind. Universal balance.

Polytheism: Polytheism means belief in many deities.

Power Hand: The hand that projects energy from the body. Two theories have formed around this concept. One is that the power hand is the hand that is dominant with the individual (i.e. the hand one writes with). However, some studies have recently uncovered that regardless of whether the individual is right or left handed, more energy flows from the right hand and therefore this hand is designated the power hand. This is still a matter of debate and could remain so for quite some time. One’s power hand is also referred to as his projective hand.

Poppets: A cloth doll made to resemble a person. An old name for poppet was “mommet”. This can be used in healing or to bind another person’s actions.

Precognition/Premonition: To be aware of events before they happen. Also to be aware of past events that the person is not aware of. 

Priest: A male Witch who is initiated in the First Degree.

Priestess: A female Witch who is initiated in the First Degree.

Priesthood: In Wicca every Witch is a priest and has responsibility for developing their own learning and practice.

Projection: The psychological mechanism of subconsciously crediting (or discrediting) another person with qualities or shortcomings which are in fact elements of one's own psyche, so that one can confront them while avoiding the truth that one is really confronting oneself.

Projective Energy: Forward-moving, active energy that adds rather than draining away. Projects outward or into an object or individual that contains a lesser concentration of energy than its original source. The opposite of "Receptive Energy".

Projective Hand: The hand thought to be the point through which personal power is sent from the body. Normally the hand used for manual activities such as writing, dialing the phone, etc. It is also the hand in which tools such as the athame and wand are held.

Prophecy: An inspired utterance of a prophet, viewed as a revelation of divine will; a prediction of the future, made under divine inspiration; such an inspired message or prediction transmitted orally or in writing

Psyche: The psyche can be considered to be the whole of the human mind on all levels, conscious and unconscious.

Psychic Attack: An attack made by astral entities, by another human who is astral traveling, or by another human using negative thoughts/magic against a person.

Psychic Centers: Term that refers to the seven energy locations on the human body. Also known as Chakras.

Psychic Mind: The subconscious or unconscious mind, in which we receive psychic impressions. It is at work when we sleep, dream, and meditate. It is our direct link with the Divine, and with the larger, nonphysical world around us.

Psychic Protection: The mind exists on many different levels and during magical practice it can sometimes be vulnerable. For this reason those that practice magic do so in such a way that protection is assured. This should not be unduly stressed about, for example, crossing a road can be far more dangerous, but precautions are necessary and no witch will work magic without having first cast a circle.

Psychic Shielding: The strengthening one’s aura to keep out extraneous or unwanted energies.

Psychic Tide: Term that refers to the eternal currents of energy that move through our universe. These currents can affect and be affected by individuals no matter how great or small they may be.

Psychism: The act of being consciously psychic, in which the psychic mind and conscious mind are linked and working in harmony. Also known as psychic awareness.

Psychometry: The reading of vibrations from an object or individual to determine information about the object/individual’s past/future.

Qabala: The Jewish magickal system. It can be spelled a number of ways, such as Cabala, Kabala, Kabbalah, Qabalah.

Quarters: Term that refers to either the four directions of the earth (North, South, East or West) or the four Grand Sabbats (Lughnasadh, Samhain, Beltane and Imbolc).

Querent: An inquirer; an individual or client who wants to receive information from a psychic nature.

Quesited: A person who answers or provides psychic information to a querent.

Rappings: The knocking sounds produced by spiritual entities in response to questions asked during a séance.

Receptive Energy: Magnetic, attracting force that draws energy away rather than adding energy to an object or individual. Draws energy of greater concentration towards itself where it resides in an area of lesser concentration. The opposite of "Projective Energy".

Receptive Hand: The hand from which draws energy inward from outside the body. Two theories have formed around this concept. One is that the receptive hand is the hand that is submissive with the individual (i.e. the hand one does NOT write with). However, some studies have recently uncovered that regardless of whether the individual is right or left handed, more energy flows into the left hand and therefore this hand is designated the receptive hand. This is still a matter of debate and could remain so for quite some time. Compare with the "Projective Hand".

Rede: A Wiccan "moral guideline" that states "An' it harm none, do as ye will". 

Reincarnation: The belief that everyone has lived many lives in the past and will live many more in the future.

Reiki: A practitioner of Reiki places their hands on a patient with the aim of inducing natural healing. Practitioners will the Reiki energy, which they believe underlies everything in the universe, to effect a cure.

Rites of Passage: Rituals and celebrations done for birth, death, marriage, love dedication, divorce, puberty, and entering elder hood.

Rites/Rituals: Although the terms "rites" and "rituals" often seem to be used interchangeably they have specific meanings.

Rituals are a type of formal performance where participants carry out a series of established actions and make a series of standardized statements based on custom and precedent. The casting of a circle is thus a ritual, as are the Wiccan seasonal celebrations.

Rites are rituals that mark a person's progress from one role, phase of life, or social status to another. For example, an initiation ceremony is a rite.

Ritual Tools: General name for magickal tools used by a witch or magician. They vary by tradition and usually represent one of the elements.

Runes: A set of sacred symbols carved or painted on small stones by the Vikings and used for Magick and divination. 

Sabbat: A Witch’s festival/holiday. The eight holy days sacred to Wiccan's. Witches call Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain the Greater Sabbats, and the Solstices and Equinoxes the Lesser Sabbats.

Sacred Imperatives: Used by some traditions, these are directions which all participants must follow in order to enter or leave a ritual circle. Examples of some imperatives may include: Entering the ritual circle with "perfect love and perfect trust" as well as waiting for the ritual’s High Priest or High Priestess to give the appropriate sign for participants to exit the circle.

Sadhus: Hindu or Jain holy person who wears little of no clothing as a symbol of his or her inner focus and spirituality. The well known pagan term "Skyclad" was coined by a Sadhus named, Mahavira who also founded the Jain religion. A more recognizable example of a Sadhus is Mahatma Gandhi who wore only a loin cloth to as a symbol of his inner spiritual focus.

Sanctuary: A sacred place, such as a church, temple, or mosque; an area designated to be used for spiritual events and practices only

Samhain: One of the Wiccan eight holy days; celebrated on October 31^st of each year. We now know also as Halloween.

Scourging: Ritualized whipping, to purify the soul. This was an invention of Gerald Gardner, who seemed to enjoy this. This ritual action is more common among groups following the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions.

Scrying: An old word that means to look into a mirror, crystal ball, a quartz crystal sphere, a pool of water, reflections, a candle flame or shiny piece of stone for visions of the future or hidden things. A method of divination. Scrying allows the scryer to become aware of events prior to their actual occurrence, as well as to perceive past or present events through other than the five senses.

Second Sight:  The power of seeing things into the future or distant.

Seer: An individual gifted in the art of divination.

Sephira (Sephiroth): The name for the ten spheres on the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

Seven Great Powers: The Seven Great Powers are the seven basic archetypes to which Personal Deities tend to correspond. They are also likened to the seven planets of Ptolemaic astrology. The archetypes most commonly used in ceremonial magick are the seven planets which correspond to the seven days of the week and the hours of the days: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Some pagans also liken the seven powers to the various aspects of the God (Child, Hero, King and Aged Wise Man) and Goddess (Maid, Mother and Crone).

Seven Planes: The Seven Planes, or spheres of existence are used to describe the different levels of being. These different planes overlap so that we can simultaneously exist in all plane in a single point in time. Most scholars agree that the Seven Planes refer to the areas of different densities of matter. The physical world is the densest plane with the lowest frequency and therefore is believed to be the lowest plane of existence. Subsequent planes in order of ascent are: the Emotional Plane, the Mental Plane, the Astral Plane (where our physical realities are first formed--by us), the Solar Plane (where we experience spiritual evolution toward becoming ourselves deities), the Monadic Plane, (where we access that part of ourselves which is already godlike though still unique and separate from the universe as a whole) and finally the Divine Plane (where we are unified with all godhead and the universe).

Shaman: An old word for a Wiccan. A person who uses certain techniques to communicate with and travel to the otherworld.

Shifting Consciousness: The process through which individuals alter their awareness usually willful through meditation though sometimes also by accident. Changes in consciousness are the result of changes in brain wave activity. The faster or more frequent a person’s brain wave activity is, the more aware they become of the physical plane and the less aware they become of higher planes of existence. This is called a Beta State. This is Nature’s way of protecting the organism from physical attack or other calamity; however, this also takes us away from the state most conducive to successful magickal workings. Other levels of brain wave activity are Alpha, Delta and Theta States. The state most conducive to magickal workings, learning and creativity is the Theta State which is achieved through deep meditation, though not deep enough to induce sleep (the Delta State).

Shillelagh: Magickal tool corresponding to the staff in other traditions. Usually made from blackthorn wood.

Sickle: The sickle is the symbol of the Crone–of harvesting and death. Its crescent shape further identifies it with the Moon and so with the Goddess.

Sigil: A magickal glyph or drawing used in Magick. Ones you create yourself are the most effective. Sigils can be used on letters, packages, clothing, etc.

Silver: The metal favored by Witches; symbolically connected with the Moon.

Simple Feast: A ritual meal shared with the Goddess and God.

Smudge Stick: A bundle of herbs, most often including white sage (my favorite), cedar and lavender.  They are then lit (by a candle) and the smoke of these herbs is believed to alleviate negative influences and may be used to prepare a ritual space or to aid in meditation or visualization.  *When moving into a new home or staying at a hotel, purify the room with one* 

Skyfather: Shamanistic in origin. It assigns deification to the sky as a male entity.

Skyclad: In Wicca there is a strong tradition of working naked, or Skyclad, meaning only clothed by the sky. This derives from Gerald Gardner who was a naturist. Most Wiccan's believe that the human body is nothing to be ashamed of and many see that clothes can impinge magickal energies. However, as Wicca becomes more and more in the public domain there is a growing number of Witches who now work clothed for most, if not all the time

Solar Circuit: Principle of the connection between the human body and the unlimited source of energy in the universe. This particular connection is meant to feed the physical body and maintain physical life. The blocking of this Chakra and its energy source results in illness and eventual premature death.

Solitary: Pagan who works and worships alone. One with no coven.

Solstice: Astrological dates occurring twice a year on the pagan Sabbats, Litha (on or around June 21st) and Yule (on or around December 21st). Litha represents the longest day of the years (the most daylight) where Yule represents the longest night of the year (the least daylight). Compare with Equinox.

So Mote It Be: It translates to "Let it be so" or "So shall it be", and is often used as part of the dialog during rituals, typically in closing of a paragraph or sentence. It is used by many Wiccan's in the way that other faiths use "Amen."

Sorcery: Usually associated with ceremonial Magick. Several learned scholars and popes were connected with sorcery, black Magick, necromancy, and pacts with the devil. These popes were: Leo I, Leo III, Sylvester II, Gregory VII, Honorius III, Boniface VIII, Benedict XIII, John XXIII, and Sixtus V.

Soul: The animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity; the spiritual nature of human beings, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state; the disembodied spirit of a dead human being; a shade.

Soul Mate: The person you spend you life with and marry. Soul mates have shared many incarnations together. This term is also known as “Twin Flame” or “Twin Soul”.

Spell: A method of bending reality to will. Extended mental and emotional energy spoken aloud, written, spoken to oneself, drawn or even danced. To work, it should be clear, concise, focused and emotional. The need must be present to bring any spell to a successful culmination.

Spiral: An inward-turning path and symbol that leads to a center and out again. A spiral dance is sometimes used as part of ritual, to symbolize death and rebirth through the Goddess.

Spirit: The vital principle or animating force within living beings; incorporeal consciousness; the culmination of all past life experiences, knowledge and energies. Also the 5^th element.

Spring Equinox: One of the Wiccan eight holy days also known as Ostara; celebrated on March 21^st of each year.

Staff: Ritual tool which corresponds to the wand or athame. This Staff is just a long extension of the Wand. It has all the powers of the Wand, and can be energized in the same manner. By adding gem stones, a quartz crystal, or maybe feathers which birds have left on the ground.

Stang: Ritual tool from Pagan Rome which resembles a two-pronged trident. Often used in place of the wand or circle.

Strega (Streghe): An Italian Witchcraft Tradition.

Subconscious Mind: Part of the mind which functions below the levers we are able to access in the course of a normal working day. This area stores symbolic knowledge, dreams, the most minute details of every experience ever had by a person.

Succubus: Female Astral entities that try to engage in sexual activities or simple energy theft from with humans.

Summerland: The Pagan/Wiccan Land of the Dead. The Summerland’s is the place where your spirit goes after you die and before your next reincarnation. Here your spirit (or soul) rests between lifetimes and reflects on the things learned. You may be reunited with friends and loved ones here before your next life begins. Not all Pagans believe in this version of the afterlife, and there are many variations. This term arose during the Victorian times.

Summer Solstice: One of the Wiccan eight holy days also known as Litha; celebrated on June 21^st of each year.

Sword: One of the four elemental tools, representing the fire element - or in some traditions the air element. Usually used by Covens, not Solitary witches.

Sympathetic Magick: Based on the principle that "Like cures like". Most spells are done this way. Items that have similar qualities can be used to affect each other.  eg.  plants are green, - growing plants are green, green candles therefore symbolize growth.  You use a symbolic representation of the intent, and whatever you do to it, will be reflected on the actual goal.  Poppets are sympathetic Magick.

Talismanic Magick: A talisman is an object that has been created for a specific magickal purpose. Often it has complex symbols inscribed upon it, which constitute magickal formula.

Tarot Cards: A special deck of 78 cards used for divination. They feature pictures and symbols used to connect with the collective unconscious in the conscious state. They also help to connect with spirit guides.

Tarologist: One adept at the art and science of handling the Tarot.

Telepathy: The transfer of thoughts, images and sensations between minds without verbal conversation, written or physical means. Soulmates usually have this connection and is also known as “Lovers Telepathy”.

Telekinesis: The ability to physically move objects by the power of the mind whether concentrated on or not.

Temple: A specific building or room used for religious or magickal working.

Third Eye:  The astral "eye"; connected with the brow center in the middle of the forehead.

Threefold Law: Karmic principle that energy that is released is returned three times over. Also known as “Three times three”.

Three Times Three: Request during an invocation that the energy being sent out will return three times to each aspect of the human whole; request for karmic energy to return to each mind, body and spirit.

The Craft: Another name for Wicca or Witchcraft.

The Four Powers: Also called the Four Powers of the Magus. These are “To Know” (Air), “To Dare” (Water), “To Will” (Fire), and “To Be Silent” (Earth).

The Wiccan Rede: The phrase “Do what you will if it harm none.” Which is the basic meaning of the Wiccan Rede. It is a Rede that Wiccan's adhere to.

Threefold Law: An ethic more than a law, this is connected with Karma. This law means that whatever you send out by deed or directed thought, action, or energy will return to you in triple strength.

Thurible: A fire-proof container suspended from a chain and used to burn incense. Purifies the ritual area and attunes the energy current in the environment to the proper frequency for a specific working. Symbolizes the element of fire.

To Hive Off: When two or more members leave a coven to start their own.

Tools: Athame, Besom, Altar, Chalice, etc; an object for magickal use that helps achieve a purpose.

Torc: Circular metal necklace, common in many Celtic traditions as well as many different traditions from Northern England and Ireland. Used as a symbol of initiation and respect following death ceremonies. The shape of the necklace is thought by some scholars to be a reference to the snake, Ourobouros swallowing it’s own tail and thus a return to one’s source, a concept analogous the "Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust" of Christian religions. Also used as a symbol of protection and good fortune that was hung over doorways in much the same way horseshoes are used today.

Totem: An animal, a plant, or a natural object serving among certain tribal or traditional peoples as the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian.

Transcendent: In Wicca deity is referred to as transcendent as it is generally considered to be unknowable completely. It may be as well that deity exists outside our Universe as well as within it.

Tree Of Life: The central Qabalistic diagram on which are placed the ten Sephiroth. When it is called the “World Tree”, it represents the psychic axis between this world and the Otherworld, the bridge used by shamans and astral travelers to enter the Otherworld.

Tradition: Branch of paganism followed by any individual Pagan or coven. A specific way of practicing the Craft.

Trilithon: A stone arch made from two upright slabs with one lying atop these. They are featured in Stonehenge.

Triple Goddess: One Goddess in all of her three aspects: Maiden, Mother, Crone.

Triquetra: The triple goddess symbol representing Maiden, Mother, Crone.

Tuathail: Counter-clockwise movement or movement opposite to the movement of the sun. Literally translates to "Northward" in Gaelic tongues from the term Tuath or "North". Used by in some pagan rituals to banish energy rather than invoking it. Analogous to the term "Widdershins".

Universal Deity: The concept that all gods and goddesses (and thus their two polarities) are united as one. Further this term asserts that all beings living and non-living are united with this single sentient energy form. Belief embraced by many--though not all--Neopagans though many old pagan traditions do not hold to this as a truth.

Vampire/Vampyre: A physical person who psychically draws life energy from other people. People who drink blood are not vampire’s they are just sick.

Vampirism: The draining of psychic energy from one individual by another.

Veil: Symbolic and literal barrier(s) that separate the various planes of existence from one another. This barrier often seems an inconvenience to students of the occult who wish they could more easily bypass it, but in truth most scholars agree that veils do, in fact, protect individuals from becoming lost in the planes they are not rooted in to the exclusion of their own. At times the plane we are most strongly rooted in requires our full attention to maintain life and promote spiritual growth. However, there are also times when it is most appropriate (and thus safe) to know how to bypass this barrier. Learning the appropriate methods (as well as times) for bypassing the veil is a major goal of most occultists due to its natural inhibition of divination and magickal empowerment.

Veil Of Forgetfulness: A thin invisible field that shields the conscious mind and physical sense from the etheric world; for protection of the physical mind.

Vibration: A specific pattern within energy; a person who's sensitive to energy can distinguish the pattern behind an energy form by sensing it's vibrational frequency, color, sound and/or order.

Virgin: Youngest aspect of the Triple Goddess. Also know as the Maiden. Represented by the waxing moon, colors white and blue. Her Sabbats are Imbolc and Ostara.

Vision Quest: Using astral projection, bi-location, or dream time to accomplish a specific goal. Also called path working. It is a Native American Shamanic practice.

Visualization: The process of forming mental images. Magickal visualization consists of forming images of needed goals during ritual. It is also used to direct personal power and natural energies for various purposes during Magick, including charging and forming of the Magick circle.

Vortices: Energy centers or Chakras of the Earth connected by meridians or "Ley Lines" which transmit energy between them.

Wand: Ritual tool brought to the craft from ritual Magick. This tool would be used in place of the athame, for the same purpose. A wand directs energy and is normally made of wood. Many witches make their own wands using a stick from a tree. It can be decorated, you can make inscriptions in it, place a crystal or other gem on the tip, whatever you prefer.

Warlock: The Scottish medieval term for a male sorcerer or Witch. The word originally came from the Anglo-Saxon Waerloga, which means “oath breaker, a traitor, deceiver, or liar”. The word belongs more to ceremonial Magick than Wicca, as it refers to a person who gains power through a pact with demons. This word is not commonly used today to describe Wicca or Wiccans. Most Wiccans and Witch's find the term offensive.

Water: Third element of the alchemical tradition; the essence of love and fertility; the element of the West and the nature of emotions.

Watchtowers: The Watchtowers refer to the four directions/Elements in a magickal circle. They are called upon for protection when casting a circle. They are also referred to as Guardians, quarters/cross quarters, or the corners of the circle.

Web Weaving: Networking with other magickal people via conversation, writing, e-mail, to gather information which will mutually assist each party.

Wheel of the Year: A Celtic phrase to denote the Eight-Spoke Wheel of holy days and seasons that make up a year.
 

White Handled Knife: Also called the Bolline. Sometimes used to harvest herbs, sometimes for all the menial cutting chores (plants, paper, cloth, etc.).

White Witch: One who will practice ONLY positive Magick.  A "White Witch" will typically live by a code "..an it harm none, do what thou will". 

Wicca: A Pagan religion with spiritual roots in the earliest expressions of reverence for nature. Some major identifying motifs are: reverence for both the Goddess and God; acceptance of reincarnation and Magick; ritual observance of astronomical and agricultural phenomena; and the use of magickal circles for ritual purposes.

Wiccaning: Similar to a Christening. Unlike a Christening though, the child is placed in the care of the Goddess and God, not declared to be a Pagan or Wiccan. The child is free to choose whichever religion they like, but a Wiccaning is done to protect them until they are old enough to make such a decision.

Wicce: Synonymous with Wicca. In some groups, Wicce is used for women and Wicca is used for men.

Witch: One who practices a tradition of Witchcraft or Wicca, the wise Craft. Witches do not consider themselves Satanists, as this entity has no place in the Divine order of Witch / Wiccan theology. However, there are “Black Witches” and these Witches are NOT Wiccan. They are simply a Black Witch, they do their own thing.

Witchcraft: The craft of the witch- Magick, especially Magick utilizing personal power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colors, and other natural objects. This belief system also has nothing to do with Satanism.

Witch Balls: The name applied to reflecting glass balls that are hung in windows to send back negative vibrations. The Victorians used such reflecting spheres in gardens.

Witch Queen: This describes a High Priestess who has had at least two new covens hive off of hers.

Witch’s Hat: The traditional black hat has a tall, cone-shaped crown with a wide brim. This image of a Witch arose during the Burning Times, along with the black dress and cape, warts, and ugly features.

Witch’s Ladder: A string of forty beads or cord with forty knots. This is used by a Witch to keep tack of repetitive chants.

Witching Hour: Traditionally, this is midnight.

White Witch: One who will practice ONLY positive Magick.  These Witches are Wiccan. A "White Witch" lives by a code "An it harm none, do what thou will". 

Widdershins: Counterclockwise or against the sun. Usually used for negative magickal purposes, or for dispersing negative energies or conditions such as disease.

Winter Solstice: One of the Wiccan eight holy days, also called Yule; celebrated on December 21^st of each year.

Wizard: One who practices Magick; a sorcerer or magician; usually acts alone and is sometimes considered to be a semi-divine authority. This word is can be used to describe a male Witch.

Working: The process of using Magick through a spell or ritual to achieve some desired outcome.

Wyrd:  Destiny. A force beyond human control, manipulated by divine spirits

Yang: Yang is the light, active, positive and masculine principle in Chinese philosophy

Yggdrasil: One of the best known Tree of Life symbols. It unites all existence from the Underworld, to the Physical world.

Yin: Yin is the dark, passive, negative, feminine principle in Chinese philosophy.

Yule: One of the Wiccan eight holy days, also called Winter Solstice; celebrated on December 21^st of each year.

Zodiac: The arc of the sky from the horizon, along which the Sun travels, making 360 degrees, is divided into twelve sectors of thirty degrees each, each sector corresponding to an astrological sign and with a specific character and significance of its own.   

Zodiacal Age: Period of time that is ruled (and thus characterized) by one of the signs of the Zodiac. The most common theory of the Zodiacal Ages is the Correllian theory. According to the Correllian calendar, a Zodiacal Age lasts for 1600 years, (four sets of four hundred years) and the present age is the Age of Aquarius begun as of the year 2001 AD. The Piscean Age (completed as of the end of 1999) will not come again until all the other eleven Zodiacal Ages have been completed (about 17,600 years).