ALTAR - Special flat surface set aside for religious acknowledgement and/or
magickal workings. Generally of an all natural material, ie. stone or a wooden table built with out metal fasteners.
ARADIA - Daughter of the Sun, Lucifer, and the Moon, Diana, and a name
for the Goddess used by Italian Witches or Strega, commonly used in many Wiccan traditions today.
ALEXANDERIAN - That tradition of Witchcrafte descended from the teachings
of Alex Sanders.
ATHAME - black handled, double edged knife. Principally used to cast and
dissolve the circle, for which purposes it is interchangeable with the sword, the wand or besom. Considered to be a tool of
the Element Fire in many traditions.
AVONIAN WICA - Tradition initiated by Avon Maser. Primary dieties are Mother
Earth, Father Sun and Daughter Moon. Based in belief in an ecological pattern of technology to achieve advancement of Human
race.
BANISH - To exorcise unwanted energies and/or entities. To rid the presence
of same.
BESOM - Some traditions see the besom/broom as others use the athame or
wand. It is often used to sweep physical debris and meta-physical negativity from a place to serve as sacred space, ie. casted
circle.
BELTANE - May Eve festival. One of the Ancient Celtic Fire Festivals. Bel,
meaning the god Baal, and tane meaning fire, literally translates to Baal's Fire. On this night, the cattle were driven between
two bonfires to protect them from disease. Couples wishing for fertility would jump the fires on Beltane night. This Festival
also marks the transition point of the triple Goddess energies from those of Maiden to Mother.
BLACK HANDLE KNIFE - See ATHAME.
BOLINE- See WHITE HANDLED KNIFE
BOOK OF SHADOWS - Traditionally hand copied book of rituals, recipes, guidelines,
and other materials deemed important to a Witch or a coven. Each tradition has it's own standard version of the Book and each
Witch's book will be different as he or she adds to it with time from many different sources. Only another Witch should be
allow to see your book of shadows. Also, traditionally, it may never leave your hands or possession until death, when it should
be destroyed, or (in some traditions) returned to the coven to be disposed of.
BURNING TIMES - a term used by some Witches for the period of persecution
in the Middle Ages and later. It is in fact a misnomer in some places, as Witches were only burned in Scotland, and on the
continent of Europe. In England and the U.S., they were hanged.
CANDLEMAS - Festival held on Feb. 1. One of the four Celtic Fire Festivals.
Commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden. Celebrates the first signs of Spring. Also called Imbolg
or Imbloc (the old Celtic name). This is the seasonal change where the first signs of sring and the return of the sun are
noted, i.e. the first sprouting of leaves, the sprouting of the Crocus flowers etc. In other words, it is the festival commemorating
the successful passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year.This Festival also marks the transition point
of the triple Goddess energies from those of Crone to Maiden.
CARDINAL POINTS - North, South, East, and West.
CAULDRON - Three legged cooking vessel, considered by some traditions to
be a one of the tools of the Witch. May be used as a vessel to prepare brews and potions, as well as a censer. Placed in circle
or on an altar to represent the womb of the goddess.
CHALICE - one of the tools of the Witch. Placed on the altar to represent
the element of Water.
CHARGE OF THE GODDESS - The Traditional words of the Goddess to her followers.
Originally written by Doreen Valiente, it is a story of the message from the Goddess to her children. Normally declared by
the HPS at every coven Circle.
CIRCLE - the area in which the magickal worship and spells takes place.
Can also be used to designate a particular group of Witches or Pagans such as Dark Moon Circle.
CONE OF POWER - power raised in the circle by the Witches assembled, and
sent out into the world to work magick, is usually visualized as being retained and built in the form of a cone prior to release.
COVEN - an organized group of Witches, led by a High priestess and/or a
High Priest who meet regularly for worship and fellowship. The traditional membership is considered to be 13, but many covens
number considerably less. In Middle English, the word Covin means a group of confederates; In Old French Covine is defined
as a band or group with a single purpose; Latin Com - together, Venire-to come or move.
COVENSTEAD - regular meeting place for a coven. Usually the home of the
High Priestess or High Priest.
COWAN - a non-Witch. Formerly used in a very derogatory manner. Still used
in Masonic Ritual to indicate the non initiate and/or pretender. Not often used today among most Witches.
CROSS QUARTERS - The modern name for the Celtic Fire Festivals of Samhain,
Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas.
DARK PATH See LEFT HAND PATH
DAYS OF POWER - See SABBATS
DEGREE - Levels of attainment, many traditions have three degrees or levels
of adeptness.
DEOSIL - clockwise (or anti-clockwise in the sothern hemisphere). Traditional
direction for working building magick.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON - Ritual invocation of the spirit of the Goddess
into the body of the High Priestess by the High Priest.
DIANIC - Tradition initiated by An Forfreedom. Members are both male and
female, but focuses on Feminine leadership.
DIVINATION - magical method of exploration or inquiry into a situation
via such methods as Tarot cards, runestones, I-Ching, etc.
EARTH MAGICK - Practical form of magick whereas the powers and forces of
Mother Earth are used to conduct magickal workings or celebrations.
ELDER - Individuals who through their wisdom, age, experience, education,
counseling, as well as other areas have overseen the teachings of the Crafte, and protected them with their all. Seldom one
under the age of thirty-five.
ELEMENTS - Earth, air, fire, and water, plus spirit, which includes them
all. These are regarded as realms or categories of nature (both material and non-material) and are not to be confused with
the physicists table of elements, which the modern witch, of course, accepts.
EQUINOX - Either of the two times a year when the sun crosses the equator
and the length of day and night are approximately the same. Spring Equinox approximately March 21st-22nd, Fall Equinox September
21st-22nd.
ESBAT - meeting of a witches, Traditionally held either on the full moon
or the new moon.
FAM-TRAD - Family Tradition, see TRADITION.
FAMILIARS - Either a Witch's pet animal which has been trained to be a
magickal helper, or an artificially created elemental which performs the same functions as the animal friend.
FIVEFOLD KISS - The Witches' ritual salute, with kisses; (1) on each foot,
(2) on each knee, (3) above the pubic hair, (4) on each breast, and (5) on the lips, really eight kisses in all. It is only
used within the Circle, but the words that go with it are the origin of Blessed Be.
GARDNERIAN - A tradition of Witchcraft descended from the teachings of
Gerald Gardner.
GNOMES - an entity or elemental that dwells in the plane of Earth or is
associated with the EARTH Element.
GREAT RITE - The rite which is the main feature of the third degree initiation,
and which is also laid down for certain festivals. It is sexual in nature, but may be actual (and private to the couples concerned)
or symbolic, as the participants wish.
GREEN MAN - One of the many faces/aspects of the God.
HALLOWS - name used by some traditions for Samhain, or Halloween
HANDFASTING - Wiccan equivalent of a wedding. It can be made legal if the
Priestess and/or Priest are registered as clergy with the local authorities, or it may only be considered binding within the
coven.
HEATHEN - One who dances on the Heath. Another word for Pagan.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS - Technically speaking, a Witch who has received the third
degree initiation. More usually, the male and female leaders of a coven.
IMBOLG - Celtic name for Candlemas.
INVOCATION - The ritual calling-in of an entity or energies higher than
human, either for communication with the caller through a medium or by visible manifestation or else to enter into a human
body as in the Drawing Down the Moon. In some traditions, a Prayer.
JACK IN THE GREEN - One of the many faces/aspects of the God.
JOHN BARLEYCORN - One of the many faces/aspects of the God.
LAMMAS - August 1st. Witch Festival. The Old Celtic name for this festival
is Lughnassadh. It is the Festival of the First Fruits, and is the first of the three harvests. This festival also marks the
change of the Triple Goddess energies from that of Mother to Crone.
LEFT HAND PATH - Path less traveled, denotes that which is against Nature
and Human Kind. Also known as the DARK PATH.
MAIDEN - An appointment held by one of the women of the coven. She acts
as the assistant High Priestess. This term is also the descriptive term used to describe the first of the aspects of the Triple
Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Traditionally associated with the Waxing Moon, and the period from Imbolc - Candlemas
till Beltane - May Eve, where the energies are those of initiating, beginning, and creation.
MOON TIME - Also known as that time of the month, a woman's menstrual cycle.
MOTHER, MAIDEN, CRONE - The three aspects of the Triple Goddess.
NEO-PAGAN - Meaning New Pagan, New Age jargen.
OLD RELIGION - One of many names for the religion of Wica.
OLD PATH - One of many names for the religion of Wica.
OLD WAYS - One of many names for the religion of Wica.
PAGAN - One who is not Christian, Islamic or Jewish. From the latin, PAGANI
or PAGANUS meaning country dweller or bumpkin.
PAGANING - Presentation of an infant to the Circle and to the Gods. Similar
in aspect to the Christian Christening.
PATH - see TRADITION
PENTACLE - An altar upon an altar, usually a disc shaped talisman; which
can be fashioned from wood, Beeswax, stone or, more commonly in today's world, metal, which may or may not have inscribed
upon it the five pointed star of the Pentagram, as well as other mystical symbols. Among the witch's working tools, it is
this disc which represents the earth element.
PENTAGRAM - The five-pointed star, often said to represent the five elements
of life, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. With a single point uppermost, it represents the human being. Inverted, with
two points uppermost, it is said to have Satanist associations; but not necessarily. Some traditions of Wicca use the inverted
pentagram to signify an initiate of the second degree, and take offense at such usage.
QUARTERS - The North, East, South, and West parts of a magickal circle
or other ritual area. Refer also to Watchtowers
REDE - rule or law.
SABBAT - one of the Eight festivals or high holidays of Wica.
SAMHAIN - The festival of remembrance for the dead, held on October 31st.
It is the last of the three harvests.This festival also marks the transition of rulership of the Wheel of the Year from that
of the Goddess to that of the God.
SCRYING - A form of divination intelling self hypnosis to achieve a trance
state, in which joins the concious with the sub-concious to discern useful information. Usually done by using such methods
as gazing into crystal balls, black glass or polished bronze mirrors, hearth fires, candle flames, smoke or a bowl filled
water as opposed to tarot or other means that may be manipulated.
SEAX-WICA - Tradition founded by Raymond Buckland, promotes Saxon traditions.
SOLSTICE - Either of the two times a year when the sun reaches an extreme
northward or southward motion. Summer Solstice approximately June 21st-22nd, approximately December 21st-22nd.
SPELL - the structured and focused direction of psychic energies toward
the accomplishment of a goal. Sometimes uttered in rhyme or the form of a prayer to a specific diety.
SUMMONER - The male officer of the coven who corresponds to the Maiden.
This person acts as the assistant High Priest.
TRADITIONS - any of the various sects of Wicca such as Gardnerian, Alexandrian,
Georgian, Seax, etc.
TRIPLE GODDESS - Refer to MOTHER, MAIDEN, CRONE
WAND - A rod or staff that is prepared so that it may be used for magickal
or psychic purposes, usually to project some form of power. One of the Witches tools, representing Air. Though elemental affiliation
may vary from one tradition to the next.
WARLOCK - Seventeenth century Scotland. Bad Scottish pronounciation of
the Old English words waer logga, denoting a traitor to the Craft, meaning oath breaker, or betrayer of the faith. Because
of these negative connotations, it is not used by Wiccans today.
WATCH TOWERS - Originally from Ceremonial Magick, has now incorporated
into many Traditions of Wicca, these are the four elemental directions or quarters (orresponding to the appropriate points
on the compass)called to protect the Circle during its establishment. Each of them have a correspondence between the compass
point, an element, and color associated with them, varying amongst different traditions
WICA - Old English name for the form of worship practiced by heathens.
WICCA - the name most modern day Witches use for the Craft. It is, in actuality,
the Old English word for male witch, the femminine being wicce. The Old English word, Wiccain meant to bend or to shape. This
is the root word from which we get wicker.
WICCE - Old English, Female Witch.
WIDDERSHINS - counter clock wise (or clockwise in the southern hemisphere).
Used for tearing down OR BANISHING magick.
WHITE HANDLED KNIFE - the working knife of a Witch. It is used to carve
candles, and for fashioning the other tools. In many traditions, it can only be used in Circle.
Wiccan Glossary