A
Dictionary
Of
WitchCraft
A
Affirmation:
An affirmation
is a statement designed to have a positive effect on the conscious mind
when repeated at frequent intervals throughout meditationritual spells.
Alchemy:
Alchemy is the
medieval chemical science designed to purify and perfect the prformance
of chemical experiments and magic rituals.
Altar:
In witchcraft,
an alter is a flat surface designed to hold rituals tools and symbols throughout
the course of a spell being cast.
Amulets:
Amulets are objects
infused with magical properties and which offer the wearer a sense of protection.
They also help maintain health, produce virility and fertility, and create
luck. The style of object varies greatlyt in different cultures but the
purpose of amulets is generally the same.
Aspecting:
Any advance magic
activity where the practioner manifests a particular aspect of a goddess
or god (whether in speech, appearanve, behaviour or thought) is known as
aspecting.
B
Binding:
To bind a spell,
the spellcaster chants a verse upon completion, announcing the end of the
ritual and asking for the spell to begin its magic.
C
Cakes-and-wine:
Every meeting
of a witches' coven (known also as a "circle" or "esbat"), handfastings,
and rites of intiation traditionally end with cakes-and-wine, a sharing
of food and drink, and relaxed conversation. The food - often cakes, biscuits
or cookies - and the drink - usually wine buut occassionally mead, ale,
beer or fruit juice - will have been blessed by a high priest or prietess,
and is considered an offering to the deities as thanks for the necessities
of life.
Casting:
In various methods
of divination, stones, cards, sticks and other objects are cast onto the
ground or a special cloth so that an insight into the life patterns can
be revealed.
Casting
the circle: In
ritual, a psychic sphere of energy is cast to focus power and to ward off
unwanted influences and distractions. This is known as casting a circle.
Cauldron:
A cauldron is
a cooking pot used to heat herbal healing preparations for rituals.
Chanting:
Chanting is the
harmonious vocalization of key words, names and pharses that are used in
ritual to attune oneself, raise energy, celebrate success and to become
centred.
Charge:
In witchcraft,
to charge is to intentionally empower ritual tools with energy.
Consecration:
To consecrate
is to solemnly dedicate or devote something or someone to a sacred purpose,
to cleanse and protect.
Coven:
A coven is a congregation
of witches who gather regularly to celebrate their faith and to work together
to perform magic rituals. The size of each coven varies, and one must be
an initiate.
D
Divination:
Divination is
the practice of foreseeing future trends by the use of such tools as the
Tarot, runes and I Ching. Divination is extremely useful in witchcraft,
and can denote good and bad times for specific rituals.
Drumming:
Drumming is literally
pounding on a surface. This is used in witchcraft to raise power and to
change emotional states.
E
F
Familiar:
A familair is
the term used for animal companions, such as cats, that are either trained
to assist imn magic, or are used as a mascot.
Fire:
Fire is the element
that corresponds to the South, the colour red, energy, passion, ambition
and will power.
G
Grimoire:
This is a book
of magically spells and techniques designed to act as a guide for the spellcaster.
Grounding:
In witchcraft,
to ground yourself is to psychically reinforce your connection with the
Earth by reopening an energy channel between your aura and the ground.
H
Healing:
Healing is the
ultimate outcome of many magic rituals. This may be accomplished, with
the "patient's" permission, by the laying on of hands, visualisation, crystal
work, specific spells etc.
Hermetic:
This is a style
of magic that achieves results through mental concentration and inner awareness.
I
J
Jewellery:
Personalised pendants,
rings, braclets and other jewellery items are often worn in witchcraft
to symbolise power, devotion and specific goals.
K
Karama:
Karama is the
word used to describe one's fate or destiny, whether good or bad.
L
Lunar
cycle: The
lunar cycle is the 28-day cycle during which the visible phase of the moon
waxes from dark to full and wanes to dark again. This is a very powerful
time for ritual ceremonies to be preformed.
M
Meditation:
Meditation is
a focused and disiplined form of contemplation or reflecting, whereby one
is able to alter an emotional state and to receive self-insight.
N
Necromancy:
Necromancy is
the communication with the spirits of the dead via a ouija board, on which
messages are splet out and interpreted.
O
Occult:
To study the occult
sciences is to obstain "hidden" knowledge of magical principles and techniques
using various means of divination.
P
Pentagram:
A pentagram is
a star-like, five-pointed figure of ancient origin that is used ceremonially
to bless, protect and balance. The five points represent the four elemnts
and the spirit.
Planetary
days: Each
day of the year is related to one of the planets, the moon and the sun.
Energies differ in accordance with the position of the planets.
Q
Quarters:
The quarters is
an abbreviated term for the four elemental powers and the directions they
correspond to.
Querent:
In divination
and ritual, the querent is the asker of questions.
R
Ritual:
A ritual is a
co-ordinated series of events that ultimately leads to the accomplishment
of a goal through means of magic and witchcraft.
S
Sacred
space: Although
all space is considered sacred, in ceremony, Sacred Space refers to the
area enclosed when the circle is cast.
Scrying:
This is the area
of divining by gazing into a reflecting surface.
Sorcery:
Sorcery is the
use of witchcraft for negative and manipulative purposes, often with the
aid of "evil spirits". This is not recommended.
T
Talismans:
Talismans are
objects imbued with magical or supernatural powers and transmit them to
their owners.
Tasseomancy:
The art of reading
tea leaves and coffee grounds to divine the future. Tasseomancy evolved
from the Middle Ages practice of reading blobs of wax or molten lead. When
tea was introduced from the orient in the 17th century and gained popularity,
the shapes and symbols formed by leaves left in the bottom of a cup seemed
an obvious target for interpretation. The Italians claimed to have developed
the art of reading coffee grounds in the 18th century.
Temple:
The temple is
the sacred area reserved specially for religious and magical activites.
Thaumaturgy:
Thaumaturgy is
magic used to influence everyday events in life to protect the house, travel,
health etc.
Thirteen:
The number of
bad luck and associated with evil power. Witches'coven were thought to
always contain 13 members, but there is no firm evidence for this. Most
covens range in size from 4 to 20 members. Many neo-Pagan witches consider
13 to be a lucky number!
U
Uncasting:
Uncasting is opening
a circle at the end of a ritual.
V
Visualisation:
It is important
in ritual to be able to visualise or image a goal or outcome before working
magic. This gives the goal power in your mind and helps to charge the spell.
W
Ward:
To ward is to
spiritually protect someone or something with energy, usually performed
prior to a ritual.
Wicca:
Wicca is a magicall
Earth religion that focuses on healing and spiritual growth.
Widdershine:
The counterclockwise
circular movement used in casting and banishing spells and curses. The
opposite motion is called deosil. In noe-Pagan witchcraft, magic circles
are usually cast deosil, but in Australia they are normally cast widdershins
to match the southern hemisphere counterclockwise movement of the sun through
the sky.
X
Y
Yantra:
A yantra is a word, pharse
or verse used as a sacred formula in meditation and witchcraft.
Z
Zenith:
The zenith is the highest
point or state reached and is a term used in witchcraft to describe the
elation experienced after a successful ritual has been cast.
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