Ankh: Egyptian symbol of life, resembling a cross with a loop on top. Also known as the crux ansata Artifact: Item of ritual Athame: Ritual black handled knife or dagger, often decorated to personalize to the user’s taste with runes and/or symbols. Used in magickal ceremonies to draw and direct energy. NOT used for physical cutting. Baphomet: Upside down Pentagram. Beltane: Spring festival, celebrated on May Day. Major sabbath. Blood: Synonymous with life-force. Sometimes a small drop is used to seal a spell or inscribe a name of power. Boline: The second ritual knife. White handled, used for ritual cutting and preparation of herbs. Cauldron: Ancient cooking utensil, dispensed over the fire; Usually has three small feet to rest on. Can be used to prepare recipes, but nowadays most often used as a vessel to hold fire or incense. Used to burn the paper a spell is written on to free the energy and set it in motion, for example. Circle: see Magick Circle Curse: Invocation made with negative intent. Most commonly associated with black magick, to harm or destroy an opponent. Sometimes include the invocation of evil spirits. Devil: Personification of an evil entity in Christian believe structure. Not believed in or used in Paganism. Directions: 4: west, east, north, south, acknowledged during ritual, representing the four elements. Druid: Natured based Pagan Religion of Celtic origin. Believes in……, uh... TOOOOOADIIIIIIIIIIIIIE, help :=) Elements: 4: Fire, Air, Earth, Water A fifth element, spirit, is recognized by most Pagans. Equinox: 21 March (Spring Equinox) and 22 September (Fall Equinox), the sun crosses the equator and night and day are of equal length. FamTrad: Witch born and raised by parents (usually the mother) equally born and raised into a (or Family Tradition) family of witches God: Often called Lord. Most commonly represented by the sun. See horned God Goddess: Often called Lady. Most commonly represented by the Moon. Great Rite: Sexual intercourse in reverence to the God and Goddess uniting on Beltane. Sometimes performed by High Priest and Priestress of a coven then representing the divine couple to raise energy, but most often, if at all, honored in the privacy of one’s –monogamous- bedroom (which, truth be told, just as well ‘could’ be a deserted place in Mother Nature). Hexagram: 6 pointed star, symbol of protection, often referred to as ‘Seal of Solomon’ Horned God: God of the forest and the hunt, represented by a stag. Consort of the Goddess. Often mistaken for a devil symbol due to the stag’s horns. Magick: Spelled with a ‘k’ to differentiate from stage magic. Magick itself is earth energy and neutral in color. However, depending on the intended use commonly called white or black magick. Technique of harnessing energy (powers of nature) to bring about change. Magick Circle: Consecrated circle either inscribed on the floor, or visualized (often with use of the Athame) as a circle of energy/light, creating sacred space for use in ritual. Believed to hold magickal powers within and keep evil spirits out. Necromancy: Ceremony which summons the spirit of the dead to provide omens for future events or discover past events. Pagan: Literally translated: Country dweller. Follower of an earth based religion. Pentacle: A pentagram enclosed by a circle (symbol of neverending life) Pentagram: Five pointed star representing the four elements and the fifth, spirit. Always worn with the point up, symbolizing the spirit above the elements. Ancient symbol for protection, health, and long life. Often used by pagans. Pentagram, inverted: Perversion of sacred symbol by devil worshippers. Worn with the point down, it represents the goats head, symbol of the devil, indicating spirit at the lowest point. It is often called ‘Baphomet’. Used the same way as the upside down Christian cross. Rede: Part of the Wiccan law: Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil: If ye harm none, do as ye will Spell: Can be verbal, written, or mental. The process of gathering energy and focus and releasing it to bring about the desired change. A prayer is the most commonly used spell. Skyclad: Nude. Some (but not the majority) pagans prefer to perform their rituals free of worldly possessions and restrictions. Spirit: Entity of Energy. Often believed to be a departed ancestor, but nature spirits are also recognized. Believed to be able to render assistance in the world of the living and treated with respect. Threefold law: Generally accepted believe that the given balance in nature causes ripples when magick is performed,which brings the sent intend back to the practitioner three fold (some believe 7, or 10fold, some say it manifests in karma. In any event, it’s coming BAAAHAACK). Results can either come back in numbers, or 3 (7/10) times as strong as the send out message. Only one minor reason pagans do not consider practicing black magick :=) Warlock: Literally translates into ‘oath breaker’. Often mistakenly used to describe a male witch. Wicca: Mainstream earth based, Pagan religion, believing in God and Goddess, but also incorporating pantheons depending on the tradition. Most widely acknowledged traditions (depending on who founded them or what the main believe structure is based on) are: Dianic, Alexandrian, Gardnerian. Wiccan: Practitioner of Wicca Witch: Practitioner of the Old Ways of practicing Magick. Often, but not exclusively and/or necessarily a wiccan Can embrace witchcraft as a way of life, in harmony with nature, without following the religion of Wicca. Most commonly recognized paths: KitchenWitch, HerbWitch, GreenWitch, Nature (or natural)Witch, Strega (of Italian decent), Hedgewitch, HereditaryWitch. Witchcraft: The practice of Magick. Today more correctly described as a form of Nature worship. Witches Sabbath: Meeting of Witches to perform magickal rites and ceremonies. Held at specific times of the year that mark the transitions of the seasons. (Spring Equinox, Beltane, Fall Equinox, Samhain) |
