Witchcraft Definitions A-N

 

Akasha: The fifth element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the energy out of which the Elements formed.

Amulet: A magically charged object that deflects specific, usually negative energies. Generally, a protective object.

Ankh: An Egyptian hieroglyphic that is widely used as a symbol for life, love, and reincarnation. It is depicted as a cross with a looped top. When worn or carried, the ankh brings good health, promotes fertility, and strengthens the psychic powers.

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

Athame: (ah-THAW-may) A Witches ritual knife. It usually has a double-edged blade and a dark handle. The athame is used to direct personal power during ritual workings.

Balefire: A fire lit for magickal purposes, usually outdoors. Balefires are traditional on Yule, Beltane and Midsummer.

Bane: That which destroys life, which is poisonous, destructive, evil, dangerous.

Beltane: A Witches' festival celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. Beltane is also known as May Eve. Beltane celebrates the symbolic union, mating or marriage of the Goddess and God, and links in with the approaching summer months.

Besom: Broom

Boline: (Bow-len)The white-handled knife, used in magick and Wiccan ritual for practical purposes such as cutting herbs.

Book of Shadows: A Witch's book of rituals, spells and magickal lore.

Censer: A heatproof container in which incense is smoldered. An incense burner. It symbolized the Element of Air.

Charge: To infuse an object with personal power. "Charging" is an act of Magick.

Conscious Mind: The analytical, materially based, rational half or our consciousness. The mind at work when we compute our taxes, theorize or struggle with ideas.

Coven: A group of Witches, usually led by one or two leaders.

Craft, The: Wicca. Witchcraft. Folk magick.

Deosil: Clockwise, the direction of the Sun's apparent motion in the sky.

Divination: The magickal art of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols through the use of tools such as clouds, tarot cards, flames, and smoke. Divination contacts the psychic mind by tricking or drowsing the conscious mind through ritual and observation or of manipulation of tools. Divination isn't necessary for those who can easily attain communication with the psychic mind, though they may practice it.

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

Earth Power: That energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind and other natural objects. It is manifested divine power and can be utilized during magick to create needed change.

Elements: The: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These four essences are the building blocks of the universe. Everything that exists (or that has potential to exist) contains one or more of these energies. The elements hum within us and are also "at large" in the world. They can be utilized to cause change through magick. The four elements formed from the primal essence of power- Akasha.

Esbat: A Witches or Wiccan ritual, usually occurring on the Full Moon.

Evocation: Calling up spirits or other non-physical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance.

Grimoire: A magickal workbook containing ritual information, formulae, magickal properties of natural objects and preparation of ritual equipment.

Handfasting: A Witches, Wiccan, Pagan or Gypsy wedding.

Imbolc: A Wiccan festival celebrated on February 2nd, also known as Candlemas, Feast of Pan and many other names. Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of spring and recovery of the Goddess from giving birth to the Sun (the God) at Yule.

Initiation: A process whereby an individual is introduced or admitted into a group, interest, skill or religion. Initiations may be ritual occasions but can also occur spontaneously.

Invocation: An appeal or petition to a higher power (or powers), such as the Goddess and God. A prayer. Invocation is actually a method of establishing conscious ties with those aspects of the Goddess and God that dwell within us. In essence, then, we seemingly cause them to appear or make themselves known by becoming aware of them.

Kahuna: A practitioner of the old Hawaiian philosophical, scientific and magickal system.

Labrys: A double-headed axe that symbolized the Goddess in ancient Crete, still used by some Wiccans for this same purpose. The labrys may be placed on or leaned against the left side of the altar.

Lughnasadh: A festival celebrated on August 1st, also known as August Eve, Lammas. Lughnasadh marks the first harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are cut and stored for the dark winter months, when the God also mysteriously weakens as the days grow shorter.

Mabon: On or around September 21st, the autumn equinox, Witches celebrate the second harvest. Nature is preparing for winter. Mabon is a vestige of ancient harvest festivals which, in some form or another, were once nearly universal among peoples of the Earth.

Magick: The movement of natural energies to create needed change. Energy exists within all things- ourselves, plants, stones, colors, sounds, movements. Magick is the process of rousing or building up this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magick is a natural, not supernatural, practice, though it is little understood.

Magick Circle, The: A sphere constructed of personal power in which Witches rituals are usually enacted. The term refers to the circle that marks the sphere's penetration of the ground, for it extends both above and below it. It is created through visualization and magick.

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

Megalith: A huge stone monument or structure. Stonehedge is perhaps the best-known example of megalithic construction.

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

Midsummer: The summer solstice, usually on or near June 21st, one of the Witches festivals and an excellent night for magick. Midsummer marks the point of the year when the Sun is symbolically at the height of its powers, and so too the God. The longest day of the year.

Mighty Ones, The: Beings, deities or presence's often invoked during Witches ceremony to witness or guard the rituals. The Mighty Ones are thought to be either spiritually evolved beings, once human, or spiritual entities created by or charged by the Goddess and God to protect the Earth and to watch over the four directions. They are sometimes linked with the Elements.

Neo-Pagan: Literally, new Pagan. A member, follower or sympathizer of one of the newly formed Pagan religions now spreads throughout the world. Most Witches and/or Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan.

By Lady Abigail