Post by Alraun on Dec 31, 2012 18:32:02 GMT
Some frequently used witchcraft terms and words.
1734
A witch current founded by Joseph Wilson largely based on the teachings of Robert Cochrane.
Athame
A steel-bladed ritual knife used for energy raising and direction. The athame usually has a black handle to absorb energy, this is sometimes carved with symbols.
Aura
A body of light that surrounds each and every living thing. Auras can be seen by sensitive people or one can be trained to see auras.
Belfire/Balefire
A ritual fire made of various woods, usually from Ogham trees, and lit at Beltane. Celebrants at Beltane rituals are encouraged to jump the Belfire to purify themselves and cattle used to be driven through Belfires to purify them after being cooped up all winter. Different from the Bonfire, which used to be made from the bones of animals slaughtered during Hallowmas.
Book of Shadows
A modern form of grimoire, filled with personal spells and rituals and usually of Wiccan origin though other groups have adopted the term Book of Shadows. The first modern BoS is Gerald Gardner’s ‘Ye Bok of Ye Art Magical’ written sometime around 1949. Doreen Valiente suggests that Gardner later adopted the term ‘Book of Shadows’ from an advert he had seen in an esoteric magazine.
Censer
A non-flammable container used to burn incense in. Many censers are made of brass though others are ceramic and filled with sand to absorb the heat and prevent them from cracking.
Circle
An area that has been astrally cleansed and established for the purpose of magical working. It actually takes the form of a sphere of energy around the magician/witch and is created by cunning fire. Physical circles of salt or chalk may also be used.
Clan of Tubal Cain
The working group and witch current formed by Robert Cochrane. Highly influential on Modern Traditional Witchcraft.
Coven
A group of witches. Traditionally numbering thirteen a coven may have any number of members and will be dedicated to particular gods depending on their current. See also Cuveen.
Cunning Fire
See also Witch Fire
Current
Akin to a denomination which is derived from the folklore of a certain location or the witch deities worshipped. Various witches and/or cuveens work various currents.
Cuveen
Another term for a coven which was used by Robert Cochrane and has been generally adopted by modern Traditional Witchcraft. Not all tradcrafters use the term however.
Degrees
Levels of experience and competence within various magical and mystery traditions. Wicca and Freemasonry traditionally have three degrees while other groups have many more degrees. Many Traditional Witches don’t use a degree system but there may be modern cuveens who have adopted them.
Drawing Down the Moon
A Wiccan ritual during which the High Priest calling down the Goddess to inhabit the body of the High Priestess so she can speak through her. This is also sometimes employed by solitary eclectic Wiccans.
Elements
The classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, once thought to be the essential components of all things in the universe. A fifth element ‘spirit’ or ‘akasha’ is sometimes also included.
Esbat
Originally a Wiccan coven meeting that takes place on the new and/or full moons, it is now celebrated by solitaries as well. Esbats are generally concerned with magical workings, healings and psychic activity.
Evocation
The act of summoning a spirit, daimon or deity to appear before the summoner. See also Invocation.
Granny Story
A fictional account of hereditary witchcraft, usually taking form as a claim that one received magical secrets from a granny figure. ‘Granny’ doesn’t always appear as the claimant’s actual grandmother, this can be any elderly relative or local person who passes on their witch lore before conveniently dying and thus unable to disprove the claimant’s words. 99.9% of all granny stories are entirely fictional and should be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
Grimoire
Pronounced grim-wah, a grimoire is a book of spells, incantations, evocations and other esoteric and magickal material. It is usually in the format of a text book, informing the reader how to make various amulets, charms and how to envoke spiritual beings. Famous grimoires include the Grimorium Verum the ‘True Grimoire’ and La Poule Noire, ‘The Black Book’.
Handfasting
A neopagan wedding ceremony which borrows from the earlier Middle to Early Modern English practice of tying the hands of the bride and groom together to indicate they were married. Many handfastings are non-legal ceremonies though can be made legally binding by the presence of a registrar.
Initiation Rite
A process and/or ceremony designed to admit an individual into a certain group or tradition. Many groups have initiation rites and will not consider non-initiates to be one of them. See also Spiritual Initiation.
Invocation
The act of calling a spirit, daimon or deity into oneself and acting as a medium. The ritual of Drawing Down the Moon is an act of invocation. See also Evocation.
Meditation
The practice of deep relaxation and calming the mind in order to turn inwards or make oneself more aware and receptive to spiritual forces and energies.
Neopagan
‘New Pagan’ meaning anyone who follows a reconstructed pagan religion or path. Many prefer just to be called ‘pagan’ however.
Otherworld
Another realm of existence where the gods and spirits dwell. It can be found in various cultures such as the Celtic Mag Mell, the Greek Asphodel Meadows and the Germanic Asgard, though these are not the entireties of the Otherworld but parts of them. For example the Germanic Otherworld consists of nine worlds hanging on a tree which, among our own world, Asgard is but one.
Pagan
From the Latin meaning ‘country-dweller’ or bumpkin and used to refer to anyone living outside of a city. It is now used to refer to a practitioner of any number of reconstructed pre-monotheistic religions or paths. See also Polytheism.
Pentacle
A disc of usually wood, clay, metal or resin upon which a five-pointed star (pentagram) has been inscribed. It is used as a ritual tool in several magical and spiritual traditions and usually represent the element of earth.
Pentagram
A five-pointed star originally used in Sumerian writing and later becoming an esoteric symbol with various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It is most commonly used in European occultistism, and in neopaganism where it represents the four classical elements crowned with the fifth element of spirit.
Polytheism
The belief in many deities who are usually sorted into pantheons by virtue of culture or locale. Believers in a polytheistic world view are called polytheists.
Sabbats
The name for the festivals making up the seasonal calendar of which marks the life cycle of the Witch God from his emergence at Candlemas to his death and descent at Hallowmas. Connected to the agricultural and astrological seasons.
Spiritual Initiation
An initiation conferred by the Gods or Otherworld rather than by a human Priest or Priestess. Spirit initiations are tough processes where the initiate is ‘called’ to the Otherworld and put through a number of tests. The classic hero or heroine journeys that make up fairytale lore are examples of spirit initiations.
Watchtower
The abodes of the spirit guardians of the four cardinal points on a compass. The guardians are often evoked at the beginning of various rituals to help ‘build’ the sacred space and guard against unwanted entities.
Wheel of the Year
See Sabbats.
Wicca
A modern day mystery tradition founded by Gerald Gardner. Traditional Wicca is a closed, oathbound and initiatory tradition.
Witch Fire
A more traditional term for magical energy. Also called ‘Cunning Fire’.
1734
A witch current founded by Joseph Wilson largely based on the teachings of Robert Cochrane.
Athame
A steel-bladed ritual knife used for energy raising and direction. The athame usually has a black handle to absorb energy, this is sometimes carved with symbols.
Aura
A body of light that surrounds each and every living thing. Auras can be seen by sensitive people or one can be trained to see auras.
Belfire/Balefire
A ritual fire made of various woods, usually from Ogham trees, and lit at Beltane. Celebrants at Beltane rituals are encouraged to jump the Belfire to purify themselves and cattle used to be driven through Belfires to purify them after being cooped up all winter. Different from the Bonfire, which used to be made from the bones of animals slaughtered during Hallowmas.
Book of Shadows
A modern form of grimoire, filled with personal spells and rituals and usually of Wiccan origin though other groups have adopted the term Book of Shadows. The first modern BoS is Gerald Gardner’s ‘Ye Bok of Ye Art Magical’ written sometime around 1949. Doreen Valiente suggests that Gardner later adopted the term ‘Book of Shadows’ from an advert he had seen in an esoteric magazine.
Censer
A non-flammable container used to burn incense in. Many censers are made of brass though others are ceramic and filled with sand to absorb the heat and prevent them from cracking.
Circle
An area that has been astrally cleansed and established for the purpose of magical working. It actually takes the form of a sphere of energy around the magician/witch and is created by cunning fire. Physical circles of salt or chalk may also be used.
Clan of Tubal Cain
The working group and witch current formed by Robert Cochrane. Highly influential on Modern Traditional Witchcraft.
Coven
A group of witches. Traditionally numbering thirteen a coven may have any number of members and will be dedicated to particular gods depending on their current. See also Cuveen.
Cunning Fire
See also Witch Fire
Current
Akin to a denomination which is derived from the folklore of a certain location or the witch deities worshipped. Various witches and/or cuveens work various currents.
Cuveen
Another term for a coven which was used by Robert Cochrane and has been generally adopted by modern Traditional Witchcraft. Not all tradcrafters use the term however.
Degrees
Levels of experience and competence within various magical and mystery traditions. Wicca and Freemasonry traditionally have three degrees while other groups have many more degrees. Many Traditional Witches don’t use a degree system but there may be modern cuveens who have adopted them.
Drawing Down the Moon
A Wiccan ritual during which the High Priest calling down the Goddess to inhabit the body of the High Priestess so she can speak through her. This is also sometimes employed by solitary eclectic Wiccans.
Elements
The classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, once thought to be the essential components of all things in the universe. A fifth element ‘spirit’ or ‘akasha’ is sometimes also included.
Esbat
Originally a Wiccan coven meeting that takes place on the new and/or full moons, it is now celebrated by solitaries as well. Esbats are generally concerned with magical workings, healings and psychic activity.
Evocation
The act of summoning a spirit, daimon or deity to appear before the summoner. See also Invocation.
Granny Story
A fictional account of hereditary witchcraft, usually taking form as a claim that one received magical secrets from a granny figure. ‘Granny’ doesn’t always appear as the claimant’s actual grandmother, this can be any elderly relative or local person who passes on their witch lore before conveniently dying and thus unable to disprove the claimant’s words. 99.9% of all granny stories are entirely fictional and should be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
Grimoire
Pronounced grim-wah, a grimoire is a book of spells, incantations, evocations and other esoteric and magickal material. It is usually in the format of a text book, informing the reader how to make various amulets, charms and how to envoke spiritual beings. Famous grimoires include the Grimorium Verum the ‘True Grimoire’ and La Poule Noire, ‘The Black Book’.
Handfasting
A neopagan wedding ceremony which borrows from the earlier Middle to Early Modern English practice of tying the hands of the bride and groom together to indicate they were married. Many handfastings are non-legal ceremonies though can be made legally binding by the presence of a registrar.
Initiation Rite
A process and/or ceremony designed to admit an individual into a certain group or tradition. Many groups have initiation rites and will not consider non-initiates to be one of them. See also Spiritual Initiation.
Invocation
The act of calling a spirit, daimon or deity into oneself and acting as a medium. The ritual of Drawing Down the Moon is an act of invocation. See also Evocation.
Meditation
The practice of deep relaxation and calming the mind in order to turn inwards or make oneself more aware and receptive to spiritual forces and energies.
Neopagan
‘New Pagan’ meaning anyone who follows a reconstructed pagan religion or path. Many prefer just to be called ‘pagan’ however.
Otherworld
Another realm of existence where the gods and spirits dwell. It can be found in various cultures such as the Celtic Mag Mell, the Greek Asphodel Meadows and the Germanic Asgard, though these are not the entireties of the Otherworld but parts of them. For example the Germanic Otherworld consists of nine worlds hanging on a tree which, among our own world, Asgard is but one.
Pagan
From the Latin meaning ‘country-dweller’ or bumpkin and used to refer to anyone living outside of a city. It is now used to refer to a practitioner of any number of reconstructed pre-monotheistic religions or paths. See also Polytheism.
Pentacle
A disc of usually wood, clay, metal or resin upon which a five-pointed star (pentagram) has been inscribed. It is used as a ritual tool in several magical and spiritual traditions and usually represent the element of earth.
Pentagram
A five-pointed star originally used in Sumerian writing and later becoming an esoteric symbol with various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It is most commonly used in European occultistism, and in neopaganism where it represents the four classical elements crowned with the fifth element of spirit.
Polytheism
The belief in many deities who are usually sorted into pantheons by virtue of culture or locale. Believers in a polytheistic world view are called polytheists.
Sabbats
The name for the festivals making up the seasonal calendar of which marks the life cycle of the Witch God from his emergence at Candlemas to his death and descent at Hallowmas. Connected to the agricultural and astrological seasons.
Spiritual Initiation
An initiation conferred by the Gods or Otherworld rather than by a human Priest or Priestess. Spirit initiations are tough processes where the initiate is ‘called’ to the Otherworld and put through a number of tests. The classic hero or heroine journeys that make up fairytale lore are examples of spirit initiations.
Watchtower
The abodes of the spirit guardians of the four cardinal points on a compass. The guardians are often evoked at the beginning of various rituals to help ‘build’ the sacred space and guard against unwanted entities.
Wheel of the Year
See Sabbats.
Wicca
A modern day mystery tradition founded by Gerald Gardner. Traditional Wicca is a closed, oathbound and initiatory tradition.
Witch Fire
A more traditional term for magical energy. Also called ‘Cunning Fire’.