GLOSSARY
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Adept
In Paganism, one who shows, by virtue of study and experience, expert knowledge, skill and aptitude.
Aether
In Paganism, Aether represents 'the Spirit'; the fifth and unifying element that combines and animates Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
Agnosticism
An Agnostic is one who believes nothing which cannot be demonstrated by the senses. Agnosticism holds that the existence of the Divine can not be proven.
Altar
A raised surface consecrated for the use of magical and religious ritual.
Amulet
A natural object used to protect its wearer by deflecting or absorbing negative energies.
Ancestor
An ancestor is a deceased parent or the parent of a deceased ancestor. The ancestors are believed to exist within the Spirit-World and exert both negative and positive influence on the living.
Animism
A term derived from the Latin word 'anima' and meaning 'breath' or 'soul'. Animism is the belief that all objects, including inanimate and non-living phenomena are inhabited by individual and autonomous souls.
Apprentice
An apprentice is a novice or beginner who willingly contracts to a journeyman (a craftsman or skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft) or an adept in order to learn a specific trade or skill. An apprentice is someone who seeks initiation into the mysteries of Paganism, or who seeks entry into an existing religio-magical tradition through undertaking a defined period of study prior to receiving initiation.
Astral
'Of the Stars'. The Astral realm or plane is a concurrent dimension of existence that interpenetrates the physical world. Pagans believe that the Astral realm is the first plane to which the soul ascends after physical death. Astral projection is the movement of consciousness and energy from the physical to a higher plane of existence. The Astral realm is characterised by the presence of emanating Light. Thought-forms are created on the Astral plane and manifest in the physical.
Astrology
The belief and study of the effects of the movements and placements of planets and other heavenly bodies in relation to the lives and behaviour of human beings and historical events.
Athame
A ritual knife often associated, depending on tradition, with a) the element of Air or b) the element of Fire. The Athame represents 'the Will' of a magical practitioner. The handle is traditionally black or of natural wood. The athame is never used to draw blood. In the Saxon Tradition this ritual knife is called a Seax.
Atheism
A philosophy characterised by a lack of belief in the existence of God(s).
Aura
An energy field perceived to radiate from the physical body that is generated through the agency of an etheric or energy body.
Balefire
Synonymous with 'Bonfire'. A balefire is a communal bonfire lit with religious or spiritual intent. Balefires are often lit to banish evil, illness and misfortune. The wood from nine sacred trees are traditionally used in a balefire: Rowan, Dogwood, Elder, Poplar, Oak, Juniper, Holly, Cedar and Apple.
Bane
A negative force or energy that destroys health, life and good fortune.
Banish
The deliberate removal of a negative energy, force or unwanted entity.
Beltain (November 1)
A 'Greater Sabbat' celebrating the symbolic union of the Goddess (as the feminine birthing principle of Nature) and the God (as the masculine fertilising principle of Nature). Beltain is also called the 'Festival of Love' and is a fertility festival.
Beltain is a 'Cross-Quarter Sabbat' that marks the mid-point between the Spring Equinox (called Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (called Litha).
In the
Southern Hemisphere Beltain is celebrated on the eve of November 1.
Note: November 1 is not the exact mid-point between Ostara and Litha. The actual mid-point date occurs 5 to 7 days later. November 1 is however used by convention by most Pagans.
Besom
A Witches’ broom used to sweep a sacred area to purify the space. Early fertility rites entailed riding besoms over crops to enhance fertility. The besom represents the union of God and Goddess and is therefore sometimes used at Handfastings (Pagan marriage ceremonies) to bless the newly handfasted couple with protection and fertility. The besom is also used by Witches as a tool to facilitate 'spirit travel'.
Bind
To magically restrain a person, entity, force or energy from doing harm.
Blessing
The transmission of energy through prayer, incantation and gesture for the purpose of invoking divine protection and benediction upon a person, place, object or event.
Boline
A curved knife used for the gathering of herbs intended for use as medicine or in magic.
Book of Shadows
A reference or workbook containing, but not restricted to rituals, spells, incantations and magic recipes. It is a tool to aid the recording of important information of all types. Each version of a 'Book of Shadows' is specific to the author and intended users only. The Book of Shadows is also known as a Grimoire (magic grammar), and is used by Witches, Wiccans and Magicians.
Burning Times, The
The Burning Times refers to the European inquisition of individuals charged with practicing Witchcraft and other 'heresy' (schools of thought) by the Roman Catholic Church and later Protestant movements between the 14th and 17th century. Suspected and accused Witches were tortured to produce a confession and tried by an Inquisitional court before being executed either through hanging, burning or drowning.
In contemporary South Africa suspected Witches were and still often are banished from their homes and villages. In the 1980's Witch-killings started to increase in South Africa, notably in Venda, Lebowa and Gazankulu in the Northern Province. From January 1990 until April 1995, 455 cases related to Witchcraft were reported to the SAPS in the Northern Province. Witch-hunts tend to increase during times of violent turmoil.
The Witchcraft Suppression Act 3 of 1957 as amended by the Witchcraft Suppression Amendment Act 50 of 1970 makes it illegal to "accuse a person of witchcraft or sorcery, or to name a person as a witch or wizard or to injure or damage any person or thing on the advice of any witchdoctor, witch finder or similar person.
Cauldron
A cooking and brewing pot used for making brews or magic potions. The cauldron symbolises the womb of the Earth Goddess.
Cause and Effect, Law of
For every magic action there is consequence; an equal reaction.
Celtic
A branch of the Indo-European languages and peoples that (judging from inscriptions and place names) was spread widely over Europe, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. [ref: wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn]
Censer
A ritual tool used for burning incense during spellwork or ritual.
Ceremonial Magic
Ceremonial Magic is often based on Hermetic Traditions, incorporating Graeco-Egyptian and Judeo-Christian symbolism, astrology and the Qabbalah.
Chalice
A ritual tool used in libation or ritual offering of wine, meade, milk or water. The Chalice symbolises the 'feminine principle' and the Goddess. It is also used to represent the element of water.
Circle, The
The magic circle represents 'sacred space' within which magical ritual is performed. The magic circle protects and conceals the magic worker/s and contains within it the energy raised for the purpose of the ritual until it is released.
Consecration
Blessing or infusing a ritual tool, talisman, person or place with power as part of a magical and religious process.
Coven
A group of Witches who work and conduct rites together. A Coven may contain both male and female members.
Craft, The
A term used to refer to the techniques of Witchcraft.
Cross-Quarters
A term refering to the four directional quarters within a magic circle that fall between the cardinal quarters of east, north, west and south, i.e. north-east, north-west, south-west and south-east.
Cross-Quarter Sabbats
Also known as Greater Sabbats, the four Cross-Quarter Sabbats are celebrated at four mid-points between the Cardinal points on the Wheel of the Year.
These are:
1) Lughnasadh (or Lammas) -
between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumn Equinox (Mabon);
2) Samhain -
between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice (Yule);
3) Imbolc -
between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox (Ostara); and
4)
Beltain -
between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.
Note: The names of the Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year differ between Pagan traditions.
Curse
A 'spell' specifically intending harm to the recipient.
Dedication
An inner commitment to a specific spiritual or religious path. Within Paganism dedication is often followed by a period of study in preparation of becoming an initiate of a chosen tradition.
Deity
A Deity is a God or Goddess.
Deosil
The act of moving or dancing in a ‘Sun-wise’ direction or in the same direction as the apparent motion of the Sun through the sky. In the Southern Hemisphere the Sun appears to move in an anticlockwise direction (from east to north to west).
The opposite of widdershins.
Divination
Any method used to foretell the future. Popular forms of divination include but are not restricted to Astrology, the use of the Futhark (Runes), Cartomancy (including the use of the Tarot ), Palmistry (the reading of palms), Crystallomancy (scrying by means of a crystal ball), Augury (interpretations of signs and omens), Geomancy (the study of figures on the ground produced through the influence of the Earth's magnetic currents) and Tasseography (the reading of tea leaves). Divination is a common practice amongst Pagans irrespective of path or tradition.
Dowsing
A divination method using a pendulum or stick. A common use for dowsing is the finding of hidden underground water-sources.
Drawing down the Moon
Used primarily during a Full Moon ceremony to draw down the divine presence of the Full Moon into a female Witch or High Priestess of a Coven.
Druid and Druidry
Druidry is the native spiritual tradition of the Celtic peoples. Druids were the priestly class of the Celtic peoples and included doctors, judges, historians, musicians, poets, priests, diviners and magic workers. Modern Druidry is a Pagan religious path.
Eclectic
A modern approach to spirituality in which common elements from different cultural religious traditions and practices are blended together to form a new practice or tradition.
Element/s, The
The primary elements are Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Each of these 5 (five) represent a point on the pentagram.
Each of the four primary elements are linked to a cardinal direction (North, East, South and West).
The elements and their directions are significant in Pagan ritual and Magic, but differ according to tradition or path.
Esbat
From the French ’esbattre’ meaning 'to frolic'. The Esbat is often held at the Full Moon, but may be held as often as a Coven or Witch deems it necessary. The Esbat is primarily a time for the study and performance of magic.
Evocation
The act of inviting the presence of Nature Spirits or Deities to be present in consecrated space.
Familiar
Most commonly an animal, a familiar is a Witch's working helper or 'totem animal'.
Futhark
Both an alphabet and a divination tool, the Futhark are a set of symbols used in divination and magic.
Gnosticism
Of or relating to spiritual knowledge.
Greater Sabbat
One of the 4 (four) mid-points between the Cardinal points on the Wheel of the Year, also known as Cross-Quarter Days.
These are:
Lughnasadh – between Mid-Summer and Autumn equinox,
Samhain – between Autumn equinox and Mid-Winter,
Imbolc – between Mid-Winter and Spring equinox
Beltaine – between Spring and Mid-Summer.
Note: The names of the specific points on the Wheel of the Year differ between Pagan traditions.
Grimoire
A book of reference or workbook. It contains all magical dates, times, aspects, formulas and spells. It is a tool to aid the recording of important information of all types. Each version of a Grimoire is specific to the author and intended users only. see Book of Shadows
Handfasting
A Pagan marriage ceremony. Handfasting is an ancient Celtic wedding ritual in which the bride's and groom's hands are bound together, hence the phrase "tying the knot". It was a part of the normal marriage ceremony in the time of the Roman Empire.
Herbalism
The magical and medicinal art of growing, harvesting and using herbs.
Herblore
The body of information relating to Herbalism.
Imbolc
Imbolc is the early spring Sabbat which honours the virgin Goddess as the young bride of the returning Sun God.
Imbolc is a Greater, or Cross-Quarter Sabbat occurring at the mid-point between Mid-winter and the Spring equinox.
Northern Hemisphere: about 2nd February
Southern Hemisphere: about 1st August
Note: These are not the exact mid-points – actual dates are 5–7 days later – but are rather those dates used by convention in much of the Pagan community.
Initiation
The transformation of ones ideals and values into the ideals and values of a particular path, and the moment of inner realisation of greater spiritual awareness and growth within. The introduction or admittance of an individual into a group, interest, skill, religion, or spiritual consciousness.
Invocation
The drawing of an aspect of a deity into one's self.
Lughnasadh
A Greater, or Cross-Quarter Sabbat, forming the cusp between Mid-summer and the Autumn Equinox.
The First Harvest festival also known as Lammas.
It is the point when the Sun God weakens as the days grow shorter.
Northern Hemisphere: about 1st August
Southern Hemisphere: about 2nd February
Note: These are not the exact mid-points – actual dates are 5–7 days later – but are rather those dates used by convention in much of the Pagan community.
Lesser Sabbats
One of the 4 (four) Cardinal points on the Wheel of the Year, also known as Quarter Sabbats.
Solstice: Points at which, for the specific hemisphere of the Earth, the sun is highest (mid-summer) or lowest (mid-winter) in the sky. These are commonly referred to as Litha (summer solstice) and Yule (winter solstice).
Equinox: The mid-points between the Solstices when day and night are equal in length.
The Autumn equinox is called Mabon and the Spring equinox is called Ostara.
Note: The names of the specific points on the Wheel of the Year differ between Pagan traditions.
Libation
The ritual offering of wine, beer, cider or ale to a Deity or Nature spirit.
Litha
Litha is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the solar year, which honours the Sun God at highest ascent and power.
Litha is a Cardinal Point on the Wheel of the Year, and a Lesser or Quarter Sabbat.
Northern Hemisphere: about 21st June
Southern Hemisphere: about 21st December
Mabon
Mabon is the Autumn Equinox, marking a period when the length of the day equals that of the night. Mabon is also known as the
'Witches Thanksgiving' and 'Second Harvest'.
Mabon is the point in the year when darkness begins to dominate over light.
This is a Lesser, or Quarter Sabbat.
Northern Hemisphere: about 21st September
Southern Hemisphere: about 20th March
Mage / Magician
A male practitioner of ceremonial magick.
Magic / Magick
"Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity to will.” – Aleister Crowley
“Magic: the movement of natural energies to create needed change. Energy exists within all things – ourselves, stones, colours, sounds, movements. Magic is the process of rousing or building up this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magic is a natural, not supernatural, practice, through it is little understood.” – Scott Cunningham
Meditation
A quiet time spent in reflection or contemplation – either inwards towards self, or outwards towards the Deity / Deities or Nature. It is a tool towards the attainment of greater self-knowledge.
Monotheism
Belief in only one deity – usually a God.
Ostara
Observed at the Vernal or Spring Equinox, Ostara represents life and balance. Ostara is a Lesser, or Quarter Sabbat. The length of day and night are equal with light beginning to take dominance.
Northern Hemisphere: about 20th March
Southern Hemisphere: about 21st September
Pagan
One who follows or practices an earth-based or Nature religion.
Pendulum
A divination device consisting of a cord attached to a heavy object, such as a crystal. The cord is held in the hand, with the elbow supported and the weight allowed to move freely. Answers to questions posed are indicated by the motion of the pendulum during divination.
Pentacle
A pentagram surrounded by a circle. Commonly fashioned into a pendant. The pentacle is used in some covens to represent the element of earth.
Pentagram
The pentagram is the five pointed star symbolising western Paganism. It most commonly represents the elements of earth, air, fire, water and spirit / creative principle over all creation. This fifth element is sometimes referred to as ‘akasha’. The pentagram is presented with the apex (point) upwards in most Pagan paths.
Polarity
The concept of equal but opposite (i.e. male - female) energies.
Polytheism
The belief in the existence of many Deities, both Gods and Goddesses.
Psychic
Sensitive to a range of stimuli outside of the normal range experienced by the 5 (five) mundane senses. A function of the sub-conscious or unconscious mind.
Reincarnation
The belief that we all return, after death, to the earth in another human or animal body.
Ritual
A ceremony using a set of movements, manipulation of objects / tools or inner processes (rites) to produce desired effects. The effects may be (a) spiritual – towards union with the divine, or (b) magical – towards a pre-determined magical goal.
Sabbat
One of the days of Power. These are comprised of the 8 (eight) solar festivals that celebrate the Wheel of the Year.
See Beltaine, Imbolc, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Litha, Ostara, Samhain, and Yule.
Samhain
Commonly known as Halloween. Samhain marks the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year. It is a time where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest.
Samhain is the mid-point between the Autumn Equinox and Mid-winter and thus is a Greater, or Cross-Quarter Sabbat.
Northern Hemisphere: about 1st November
Southern Hemisphere: about 1st May
Note: These are not the exact mid-points – actual dates are 5–7 days later – but are rather those dates used by convention in much of the Pagan community.
Satan or The Devil
A Christian concept relating to an evil being placed in opposition to the Christian God. ‘Devil’ is derived from the term meaning ‘little god’. A Judaeo-Christian and Islamic construct. Satan is said by Christians to be the chief spirit of evil and adversary of the Judaeo-Christian and Islamic God.
Scrying
A form of divination - gazing at or into a mirror, pool of water, crystal, candle or reflection. The scryer ‘sees’ images of future, previous, distant or simultaneous events.
Shaman and Shamanism
One acting as a medium between the visible and spirit worlds.
Skyclad
Literally meaning clad only by the sky. Skyclad refers to a practitioner conducting a ritual naked.
Solitary
A lone Witch who is not a member of a coven.
Spell
A specific magical ritual designed to change a condition or thing. Also known as spinning, weaving, casting and spellcraft.
Spirits
Elemental or Nature entities and the ancestors (i.e. those who have passed over into t he other-world of the Spirit).
Supernatural
Greater than that experienced through the mundane senses.
Sympathetic magic
Magic based on the belief that all objects are connected, enabling the movement of one to affect the other through the agency of magic.
Talisman
An object empowered to protect its wearer. Note this differs from the amulet as a talisman is ritually empowered, not naturally protective as is the amulet.
Tarot
Divination using a set of 78 (seventy-eight) tarot cards which are laid out in such a fashion that the diviner interprets them to answer the question at hand.
A tarot card deck is divided into two Arcanas: (a) major Arcana consisting of 22 (twenty-two) trumps of importance, and, (b) lesser Arcana of 56 (fifty-six) suit cards that help to divine the trump cards to a finer degree.
Totemism
A spiritual connection and relationship between a social group (e.g., a lineage or clan) and an animal, plant or natural object.
Tradition
A system of knowledge and practices passed from one person to another and from one generation to another.
Triple Goddess
The 3 (three) aspects of the Mother Goddess; Maiden, Mother and Crone. The representation of the Triple Goddess as the waxing, full and waning moon, and as the three Goddesses of Fate.
Visualisation
The process of forming mental images. Magical visualisation refers to the formation of images of the desired goal during a ritual.
Warlock
A term that has over time come to mean “oath breaker” or “traitor” to Coven and Craft.
Wheel of the Year
The never ending seasonal cycle of the 8 (eight) Sabbats. In Pagan myth, the Goddess turns the Wheel of the Year bringing everything to season.
Wicca
Wicca is an initiatory, polytheistic (with exceptions), Pagan mystery religion inspired by various pre-Christian western European beliefs and spiritual practices, whose central deity is either a Mother Goddess or a God and Goddess. Wicca was popularised in England in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner. An initiate of the Wicca is one who traces his or her initiatory lineage back to Gerald Gardner or his initiates.
Wiccan Rede
A guiding ethical and moral code: ‘And you harm none, do what you will.’
Widdershins
The working act usually in ritual or song of moving or dancing in the opposite direction to the apparent motion of the sun. This is the opposite of deosil.
In the Northern Hemisphere a widdershins motion is an anti-clockwise one.
In the Southern Hemisphere this motion is clockwise.
Witch
A Witch is a practitioner of sympathetic magic who employs the use of divination, magic herbalism and ritual.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a religio-magical technique that employs the use of divination, herbalism, sympathetic magic and ritual.
Yule
Yule or Mid-winter is a Lesser, or Quarter Sabbat. It is the winter Solstice of the solar year and is the shortest day / longest night of the year.
At Yule the Goddess gives birth to the God. This is also the Norse New Year.
Northern Hemisphere: about 21st December
Southern Hemisphere: about 21st June
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