Some terms may seem like common-sense, every-day words. Here, they are defined as they are most often used within the Pagan community. Remember, for every common-sense word there is to you, to someone else it's something new (and vice versa).
Aisling: a dream vision.
Akasha: spirit; the fifth element; omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe; the energy out of which the elements are formed.
Altar: a surface, usually flat, that is set aside for magickal workings and is sometimes used as a focus for power.
Amulet: an object which has been known to give protection to its carrier. Amulets are objects which are found in nature such as stones.
Animism: the belief that all objects have a spirit.
Ankh: an ancient Egyptian symbol resembling a cross with a loop at the top. It symbolizes life and cosmic knowledge. Most Egyptian Gods and Goddess are shown carrying one. Also known as the crux ansata, the Ankh is used in modern craft for fertility and health.
Anointing Oil: a skin-safe, scented oil, that is dabbed on the body(at chosen pulse points or the forehead) in order to purify and individual mentally and physically.
Asperger: a bundle of fresh herbs used to sprinkle purifying water around the circle; also, the person using the herb bundle.
Astral Projection: the art of "leaving one's body" whereby someone in a trance state visits other locations or realms. This is thought of as traveling into the astral plane which is generally conceived as a parallel world unseen in our world of form.
Athame(a-tha-may): a double-edged knife(usually dull) used for directing energy. A tool representing the God.
Aura: a single or multi-colored light produced by heat energy and electromagnetic energy that emanates from all objects.
Balefire: an outdoor ritual fire(or a sacred bonfire).
Bane: bad; deadly; sometimes used to describe a bad omen.
Besom: a magickally charged broom generally used to sweep away negative energies. also used for home protection.
Blessing: act of conferring positive energy upon a person/place/animal/thing; a religious or spiritual practice.
Blue Moon: the second full moon occurring in one month.
Bodhran: a specific type of Celtic drum.
Bolline: a white-handled knife(sometimes curved) used for inscribing, cutting herbs, etc.
Book Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Satanism (the latter is also considered Pagan as well). Called 'book' religions because they follow a holy book.
Book of Shadows(BoS): the spellbook, journal/diary, and/or ritual guide used by an individual witch or coven.
Burin: a specific engraving tool used to mark names and symbols.
Burning Times, The: a period of turmoil in which there was Catholic and Protestant conflict. Millions were accused of being witches and were hung (most common) or burned. Few actually worshiped Pagan deities.
Calling the Quarters: verbal or symbolic acknowledgment of the Elements in a ritual environment.
Casting a Circle: the creating of a magickal circle.
Cauldron: an iron pot, of any size, used to prepare ritual magicks, herbals, infusions, etc. (the opening is usually smaller than the largest part of it)
Censer: an incense burner.
Centering: process of balancing energy in one's body in order to better focus one's attention.
Chalice: ritual drinking cup.
Charge: to infuse an object with personal power.
Circle: the sacred space wherein all ritual and most magick(depending on tradition) is performed. It contains raised energy and provides protection for the witch. It is created by his/her own energy and is released by drawing back his/her energy.
Clan: any number of covens who have agreed to follow the same kinds of rules, which spring from one central governing source.
Coelbrini: divination sticks.
Cone of Power: energy or power that is raised and directed by more than one person(such as a coven) for specific goals.
Conscious Mind: the analytical, materially-based, rational part of consciousness; part of the mind at work when we are awake and focusing on everyday activities.
Correspondences: materials used in magick to heighten energy which refer to a specific goal.
Coven: a group of witches; can be all male, all female, or a mix of both(usually a mix); the traditional number of coven members is 13, however there can be more or less.
Covenstead: an area of power/energy where a coven meets.
Crone: one of the three aspects of Wiccan Trinity; the Goddess in her wise aspect.
Crystallomancy: form of divination using crystals.
Daily Devotions: the practice of acknowledging the deity in one's life at least once or twice a day.
Dedicant: an apprentice witch.
Deity (or Divinity): one's understanding of a divine spiritual form; a Goddess or God; "deities" is often used as a generic term to encompass all gods and goddesses, wherever they have come from.
Deosil (jezz-il): sunwise movement (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere). [Note: A misspelling of the word "deasil".]
Divination: the art of the seeing the unknown through the use of various instruments and methods.
Divine Power: unmanifested, pure energy that exists within deity; life force, ultimate source of all things.
Drawing Down the Moon: invoking and directing the spirit of the Goddess into the High Priestess.
Earth Magick: a practical form of magick which involves drawing energy from Mother Earth.
Earth Power: energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind, and other natural objects; the manifested divine power.
Eclipse: when one heavenly body obscures another for a short period of time, creating a temporary veil or shadow. (i.e.: Solar Eclipse- the moon blocks light from the sun by moving in front of the earth's view of the sun)
Elder: a degreed and respected witch in the coven; teacher.
Elementals: spirit-creatures of the elements (Undines=Water, Salamanders=Fire, Gnomes=Earth, Sylphs=Air).
Elements, The: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit; the essential energies of the universe.
Empower: to infuse an object with energy.
Energy: general term for currently unmeasurable power that exists within all natural objects and beings.
Esbat: a full moon(and in some traditions, a new moon) celebration honoring the Goddess.
Evocation: act of calling upon spirits.
Faeries: some refer to them as The Wee Folk; the word "fairy" is a synonym for "brownie." A deeper study is required for a better definition.
Familiar: a witch's pet that has the ability to communicate(usually telepathically) with its owner.
Fey: spiritual beings(faeries, divas, etc.).
Folk Magick: practice of magick utilizing personal power in conjunction with natural tools and objects, most often in a non-religious framework.
Gardnerian: the style(or tradition) of witchcraft started by Gerald Gardner.
Geomancy: Earth divination.
God/Goddess: titles for the male and female divinities celebrated by witches.
Great Rite, the: ritual union of Goddess and God invoked into a priestess and priest; more commonly performed symbolically using the chalice and athame; used during first initiations.
Grounding: sending excessive energy generated during ritual into the earth.
Gnomes: Earth spirits.
Grimoire: a book of magickal information and observations.
Handfasting: a pagan wedding(many follow the year-and-a-day tradition and renew it every year and a day if so desired).
Handparting: the breaking up or divorce of a handfasted couple.
Hedgewitch: a witch who follows a shamanistic path.
Herb: virtually any plant used in ritual.
Herbalism: the art of using herbs both magickally and medically.
High Priest: the male leader of a coven.
High Priestess: the female leader of a coven.
Holy Water: blessed, purified water use in ritual.
I Ching: a Chinese form of divination through the use of hexagrams.
Incarnate: spirit with a physical body.
Incense: herbs, oils, or other aromatic items which are burned(usually in the censer) to scent the air during ritual and magick.
Initiation: process whereby an individual is introduced/admitted into a group, interest, skill, or religion; literally "to begin."
Intent: goal or purpose of a magickal working.
Invocation: an appeal to the deities to connect with us in our rites.
Karma: law of cause and effect that applies to all of our actions in life; the belief that what we do in this life will determine how our next life will start out. Though not a Wiccan concept, it is possible to find Wiccans who agree with this idea.
Labrys: a double-headed axe(sometimes used to symbolize the Goddess).
Lady: title of honor given to the Goddess.
Law of Return: Wiccan concept that what we send out comes back to us; related to the Three-Fold Law with the exception that the consequences of our actions are not magnified.
Law of Three: also called the "Three-fold Law"; Wiccan concept that our actions are built up so that energies returned are three-fold what they were sent out.
Libation: an offering for spirits; symbolic sacrifice to the deities.
Lord: title of honor given to the God.
Lore: knowledge handed down from generation to generation.
Maiden: one aspect of Wiccan Trinity; the Goddess in her youthful aspect.
Magick: the movement of natural energies(such as Personal Power) to create needed change(some prefer to spell it without the 'k').
Magick Circle, The: see circle
Meditation: entering of one's inner self.
Megalith: a large stone monument(such as Stonehenge).
Menhir: a standing stone engraved with symbols, often used to mark the covenstead.
Mentor: an elder or magickal peer that offers advice or guidance.
Mother: one of three aspects of the Wiccan Trinity; the Goddess in her "motherly" aspect.
Neo-Pagan: "new Pagan"; Pagan religions or practices which are obviously modern but modeled from ancient Pagan systems; some Pagans today dislike the term.
Occult: "hidden" or "hidden from public knowledge"; used today for anything which isn't widely understood and therefore feared or that which was once truly occult, but is more widely known by the public.
Old Ones, The: all of the Gods of the many pantheons.
Omen: a sign, most often of the future; sometimes referred to a sign taken as advice to a current situation.
Orthodox: used to identify beliefs which people tend to think of as older than supposedly "New Age" beliefs.
Pagan: literally means country dweller; an umbrella term encompassing various religions and practices and often defined differently amongst them; followers of polytheistic religions.
Pathworking: form of guided meditation that involves a journey to discover knowledge.
Pentacle: a five-pointed star within a circle; worn for protection; widely used by, but not limited to, Wiccans as a sign of faith.
Pentagram: a five-pointed star; long used for protection.
Pendulum: a crystal or other object attached to a chain or string for divination purposes.
Polarity: concept of equal, opposite energies.
Prana: life energy.
Prayer: act of focusing one's attention on deity and engaging in communication; most often used in times of need and/or gratitude.
Priest/Priestess: each Wicca is his/her own priest/priestess, needing no "middle-man" and interpreting deity and life on their own; usually seek guidance from a High Priest/Priestess or elder.
Projective Hand: dominant hand (the hand you write with).
Psychic Mind: unconscious mind; part of the mind that receives psychic impulses; at work when asleep, dreaming, and meditating.
Quarters: another name for the four cardinal directions.
Quarters of the Moon: astronomical measurements of the moon's cycle as it journeys around the Earth
Receptive Hand: opposite of the projective hand.
Reincarnation: the belief that souls of living things return to the earth plane in another body after death (rebirth); a common belief in Paganism (most believe that there is a break between incarnations).
Ritual: a religious ceremony.
Ritual Consciousness: specific, alternate state of awareness that aids in the successful practice of magick.
Runes: Nordic or Germanic pictographs often used for divination; stick-like figures used in magick and divination (usually on stones or flat sticks).
Sabbat: a Wiccan holiday; solar festivals; there are eight sabbats a year.
Sacred Spiral: a Wiccan symbol that represents "coming into being"-death and rebirth and the cycle of life.
Sands of Time: the sand taken from the paws of the Great Sphinx in Egypt.
Scry, To: to gaze at an object for the purpose of divination.
Scrying Mirror: a mirror painted black on one side(usually with paint or soot) used for divination purposes.
Shaman: a spiritual healer; a walker between the worlds.
Shamanism: the practice of shamans; usually ritualistic or magickal, sometimes religious.
Shields: spiritual barriers erected around one's self or one's space.
Sigil: a type of symbol; a magickally oriented seal, sign, glyph(sculptured symbol or character) or other device used in magickal workings. the most powerful ones are those that the individual makes themselves; can be used on letters, packages, clothing, paper, or tucked in one's pocket.
Simple Feast, The: meal shared in honor of the Goddess and God.
Skyclad: performing ritual in the nude (clad only by the sky); it is not a necessary practice to perform magick, though it is considered a sign of being truly free in Wicca.
Solitaire: a witch who practices alone.
So Mote It Be: a closing phrase meaning "so shall it be."
Spell: casting (changing/working with) of energy to obtain a specific purpose; can be non-religious and often accompanied by spoken words.
Spellcraft: art of crafting/creating (and performing) magickal spells.
Summerland: the place where the soul goes between incarnations.
Talisman: an object infused, or charged, with energy in order to attract a specific energy(love, money, etc.). a talisman can be discharged by putting it under running water.
Third-Eye: the psychic eye located in the middle of the forehead.
Three-Fold Law: whatever one sends out, they will get back times three(send out good, get good in return; send out bad, get bad in return).
Thurible: shallow, three-legged dish used as a censer.
Tools: includes physical objects (athame, wand, etc.) and internal processes (visualization, meditation, etc.); also, natural objects.
Tradition: organized, specific sub-groups/denominations; also used to describe practices that have been passed down.
Triple Goddess, The: the three main aspects of the Goddess; maiden, mother, crone.
Visualization: the forming of mental images.
Wand: tool used for invocations; used in place of the athame by some traditions.
Waning Moon: the phase of the moon after the Full Moon and before the New Moon.(when it appears to be shrinking)
Warlock: from Anglo-Saxon "waer-loga" a person who has broken their oath; oathbreaker. from Old Norse "vardlokkur" a spirit singer (shaman). synonymous in some traditions with "warrick."
Watchtowers, The: another name for the four elements in some traditions; earth, air, fire, water.
Waxing Moon: the phase of the moon after the New Moon and before the Full Moon.(when it appears to be growing)
Wheel of the Year, The: the Wiccan calendar made up of the sabbats and esbats; ends and begins with Samhain(sow-en).
Wicca: a Pagan religion with spiritual roots in Shamanism and the earliest expressions of reverence of nature.
Wiccaning: the blessing of a child; same concept of a baptism.
Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do as ye will!" sometimes may be found with additions.
Wiccan Triad: see Triple Goddess, The
Wiccan Trinity: see Triple Goddess, The
Widdershins: counter-sunwise movement (counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere).
Witch: a practitioner of witchcraft.
Witchcraft: craft of the witch; craft of magick; witchcraft is not a religion (though some practitioners say otherwise), however, many Wiccans use this term to describe their religion.
Yin= female, night, dark, cold, spirals inward, Goddess, winter; equal and opposite of Yang.
Yin-Yang= a symbol often used to express polarity and equality; reinforces the idea that one cannot exist without the other (Yin contains Yang; Yang contains Yin).
Yang: male, day, light, hot, spirals outward, God, summer; equal and opposite of Yin.
If you are unsure of any term as defined here or cannot find the word you are looking for, try searching through the WitchSchool.com Dictionary, Glossaries, Biographies, Gods, Goddesses, Spells, Rituals, and Historical Events.
