Wiccan Terms 20:57 Jan 09 2012
Times Read: 587
Adept:
someone who is considered highly proficient in a particular magickal system or area after serious study and accomplishments
Altar:
a special surface or place set aside for magickal workings and/or religious acknowledgement
Amulet:
an object that is charged for protection or for charm-like use (i.e. love, money, etc)
Ankh:
the Egyptian symbol which represents life, love, and reincarnation
Arcane:
the two halves of the Tarot deck. The Major Arcane consists of 22 cards that depict dominant occurrences in our lives, while the Minor Arcane consists of 56 "suit" cards that depict smaller occurrences or factors in our lives
Astral Plane:
another plane or dimension of reality.
Astral Projection:
the process of separating your astral (psychic) body from your physical body in order to travel to the Astral Plane.
Athame:
a double-bladed knife used for ritual magick, it is never used to cut anything in the physical plane
Balefire:
a large bonfire celebration. Bane, evil, destructive.
Banish:
to magickally end something or to send away.
Bind:
to magickally restrain someone or something.
Blood of the Moon:
a woman's menstrual cycle. A woman's time of greatest energy or power is during the peak of her ovulations.
Book of Shadows:
a magickal journal that a witch keeps... they usually contain his/her notes of magickal workings, dreams, spells, rituals, etc.
Boline:
a curved, white-handled knife used for harvesting herbs, inscribing candles, etc.
Burning Times:
refers to a historical time roughly from 1000 to 1700. During this time it is said that over 9 million people we killed and tortured because they were accused of being "witches". Many of these people were not even pagan, and most were women and children.
Cakes and Ale:
the wiccan communion that consists of a natural beverage and cake offered to each participant on a ritual.
Charkas:
the seven major energy vortexes found in the human body.
Charm:
an object that is charged and instilled for a specific task
Cone of Power:
a mass of psychic energy that is raised and focused by a person or a group of people (coven) to achieve a purpose or goal.
Cleansing:
removing any negative energy, vibrations, or images from a person, object, or place.
Consecration:
blessing an object or place by instilling it with positive energy.
Coven:
a group of 4 to 13 witches that practice magick and perform rituals together.
Dedication:
a ritual in which the person accepts Wicca / paganism as their spiritual path and in which the person vows to study and learn as much as they possibly about their new path.
Deity:
a god or goddess (usually refers to the god and goddess pair in which a wiccan chooses to honor or call upon).
Desoil:
clockwise movement.
Divination:
the art of using tools and/or symbols to gather information about a person, place, the past, the present, the future, etc. (e.g. tarot cards, tea leaves, etc)
Dowsing:
the art of using a pendulum or stick to find the location of a person, place, or object. This technique can also be used to answer yes or no questions.
Drawing Down the Moon:
a ritual during a full moon in which energy and the essence of the Goddess are drawn into the witch's body.
Earth Magick:
a form of magick wherein the powers and energies of Mother Earth are used in magickal workings and rituals.
Elder:
a group of experienced individuals who oversee the operations of a church or coven.
Elements:
the four elements of nature; Earth, Air, Fire, Water; plus Spirit (or Akasha for elemental magick).
Equinox:
either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere of equal length.
Evocation:
to call something out from within.
Familiar:
an animal that has a spiritual bond with a witch... usually a family pet, it can also be a creature from the astral plane.
Full Moon:
a moon phase in which the moon full face of the moon is visible (when the moon is round).
Green Man:
another name for the God; referring to his aspect of Lord of the Woodlands.
Guardians:
the creatures or angels that protect the four corners (the elements).
Hand fasting:
a pagan marriage ceremony.
Herb:
a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities.
Initiation:
a system of degrees achieved through different levels of spiritual learning within a coven setting.
Invocation:
to bring something in from without.
Karma:
a belief system that is similar to the saying "what goes around, comes around". Karma can be either good or bad. What you do in this life will determine whether you are rewarded or punished in the next life.
Macrocosm:
the world around us.
Microcosm:
the world within us.
Magick:
the art of focusing your will and emotions to effect change in the world around you and the world within you. It is important to remember that magick is neutral, it is neither good or bad... only our intentions are good or bad. Magick will only take the path of least resistance.
Magickal Circle:
a circular boundary that is cast with a wand, athame, hand, or other method. The circle is cast for the purpose of protecting the witch from outside forces during a ritual or spell.
Magickal Correspondences:
items, objects, days, colors, moon phases, oils, angels, and herbs used in a ritual or magickal working that match the intent or purpose of the celebration or ceremony.
Meditation:
the act relaxing the body and focusing one's mind on a specific target or goal.
New Age:
refers to the mixing of metaphysical practices with a structured religion.
New Moon:
a phase of the moon in which none of the moons face is visible (when the moon is dark).
Pagan:
a follower of a nature-based religion. It is important to remember that all wiccans are pagan, but not all pagans are wiccan. There is a very wide variety of pagan religions, Wicca is just one of them.
Pentacle:
a five pointed, upright star with a circle around it. The pentacle has many meanings, however, the most common meaning is where each of the five points represents an element and the circle representing unity. The symbol is in no way evil or Satanic.
Planetary Hours:
a system of hourly division associated with planetary energies.
Priestess:
a female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity and humankind. All female wiccans are priestesses. In a coven setting, there may be a High Priestess who acts as a chair person for the coven and a leader in rituals.
Priest:
a male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity and humankind. All male wiccans are priests. In a coven setting, there may be a High Priest who acts as a chair person for the coven and a leader in rituals.
Reincarnation:
a belief system that one's soul lives many life times in order to grow and learn.
Ritual:
a ceremony in which the God and Goddess are honored, a Sabbat is celebrated, or energy is focused towards a specific goal.
Runes:
a set of symbols that are used for divination and magickal purposes. Runes from different origins have different symbols and meanings.
Sabbat:
a holiday-like celebration that marks a season, time of harvest, or time of planting. There are 8 Sabbats in a year; Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Litha, Beltane, Ostara, Lamas, and Mabon.
Scrying:
a divination method that uses tools such as a crystal ball, mirror, etc. While scrying, the individual is able to "see" images or gain information about a specific person, place, or object.
Shrine:
a sacred place that holds a collection of objects representing a deity.
Sigil:
a magicakally oriented seal, sign, or glyph that us used in magickal workings or rituals.
Sky clad:
the act of working magick or performing rituals in the nude.
Solitary:
a witch who works or practices alone.
Solstice:
the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 22d to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 22d to begin winter in the northern hemisphere.
Spell:
the extension of mental and emotional energy in order to accomplish a specific goal. A spell can be written, spoken, drawn, etc. The best spells are the ones you write yourself. Remember, a spell will not work unless true need of it is present... so don't be getting greedy. Also, magick always takes the path of least resistance... a spell can only open a "path" in which you will need to take in order to reach your goal.
Spiral:
a spiral like symbol that represents the "coming into being".
Spirit:
the overall energy that runs the universe in a harmonious way.
Summerland:
a wiccan version of Heaven, this is where the souls go after physical death to celebrate the after life and continue their spiritual education (also considered to be a resting place for souls before they are reincarnated into the next life)
Talisman:
an object that has been charged in order to bring something to the bearer.
Tarot Cards:
a set of 78 cards which have pictures and symbols on them. The cards are used to connect the user with the collective unconscious in order to get information about a person or situation.
Vision Questing:
the use of astral projection to accomplish a specific goal.
Waning Moon:
a phase of the moon in which the face of the moon is getting smaller (the time between a full moon and a new moon).
Waxing Moon:
a phase of the moon in which the face of the moon is getting larger (the time between a new moon and a full moon).
Web Weaving:
networking with other people through conversations to gather information in order to mutually assist each other in their studies.
Wheel of the Year:
the full cycle of the seasonal year beginning with the Samhain celebration (around October 31st).
Widdershins:
counter clockwise movement
Witch:
someone who practices witchcraft to help better the world and mankind. A witch is NOT someone who is ugly, worships the devil, or hurts people.
Witches' Pyramid:
a creed and a structure of learning that witches follow: "To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent".
Wiccaning:
A "baptism into Wicca for a baby who's parents plan to raise it as a Wiccan.
creatures I am fond of
06:27 Jan 08 2012
Times Read: 588
BANSHEE - a spirit, usually a woman, appears before and Irishman when a member of his family dies. Only the oldest Irish families who can trace their lineage to the legendary Irish heros of the Middle Ages have Banshees
BASILISK - This creature can be one of 4 things: a venom-spitting serpent, a ferocious lizard, a towering dragon, or a chimera. They have the power to kill its victim by its stare but has 2 Achilles heels : the scent of a weasel and the sound of a rooster crowing.
BOGGART - A shapeshifting spirit, while normally invisible, it can materialize as a human, an animal, a skeleton, or a demon. In America, its known as the boogie man.
CENTAUR - The most famous of these half man half horse is Chiron, who served as a teacher and mentor to many young men destined for greatness, including Hercules, Achilles, Jason, and Ascleplus. Known for his wisdom and sense of justice, Chiron was skilled in medicine, hunting, herbology and celestiial navigation.
DRAGONS - enormous serpents, armored with inpenetrable scales and equipped with one of two pairs o f l egs and a set of bbat-like wings, wedge-shaped heads and long, poisonous fangs. Some sported twin hornes, enormous claws and a forked or barbed tail. Welsh dragons were often red, German were white, others came in black, yellow, green, purple, or blue.
DWARF - These little men have the power to become invisible and to assume any shape. They live for several hundred years and can see the future. They usually look like men with large heads, wizened faces, long grey beards and misshapen legs and feet.
ELF - They come in all shapes and sizes but all work very powerful magic. Most resemble slender humans in their natural shape, but they can change or vanish in the blink of an eye. Dark elves of Germany are said to be hideous while Danish elves are renowned for their beauty. In English folklore, male elves are described as wizened old men while the females are lovely, golden haired madens. An elf may be small enough to sleep under a toadstool or largge enough to pas as human. Some elves steal babies, rustle cattle, pilfer food, and cause disease. They sit on people as they sleep, causing bad dreams.
FAIRY - Usually take the shape of the fairest humans. The realm of the fairy are only discovered by chancece. Always keep your hearth clean and try to pay your fairies for their services with bowls of milk.
GIANT - One of the most famous one is Goliath. They are ranked with dragons. In Celtic legend, the Fomorians (a clan of Giants) were the first inhabitants of Ireland. Famous poem - "Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he live or be he dead, I'll crush his bones to make my bread"
GNOME - Good natured, old, and hunchbacked, their skin is always earth toned (grey or brown usually) so they can blend in with their surroundings. They can move through the earth in any direction without tunels, like a fish in water.
GOBLINS - Helpful yet tempramental imps. They attatch themselves to onoe persono or family, moving into their home. They vary in size but most are about half an adult human. Grey hair and beards, bodies and facial features are distorted. It is said that their smile can curdle milk. Also known as hobgoblins although all hobgoblins are good.
GRIM - Spirit in the form of a menacing dog. They never leave church yards or burial grounds. They are usually invisible except in storms, midnight before a death and they can be seen standing guard on a belltower during a burial.
GRINDYLOW - Has the face of a hag, long green hair, green skin, green fangs, and a pointy mouth. To get rid of one, give them one swift kick to the head - NOT two though!!
HINKYPUNK - a wispy, one-legged spirit who lurks in remote areas at night waiting for an approaching traveler before he lights a lantern and then steps into view.
HIPPOGRIFF - the offspring of a male griffin and a female horse. In medieval times, they wre charged with crimes. (animals that were large enough to be imprisioned were placed in jail with people and put under the same treatment - they were even tortured for confessions)
KAPPA - Amphibious water spirit of Japanese folk lore that drags its victims into the water and drowns and mutilates them. They dwell in rivers, lakes, and ponds. They are the size of a ten year old boy with scaly yellow-green skin, the face of a monkey and the back of a tortoise. The best method of subduing them is to bow to it repeatedly or to give it a cucumber with your name carved in it.
LEPRECHAUN - Shoemakers of Irish folklore. Humans may share in their wealth but only if they are clever enough to capture him.
MANTICORE - Its reddish, hairy body resembles a lions, it has a human face, melodious voice, and a scorpion like tail spiked with poison darkts which he could shoot like arrows.
MERMAIDS/MERMEN - Also known as Merrymaid
(Cornish), Merrow (Irish), Blue Men (Scotland),meerfrau, nix, nixe, lorele (Germany) and the Rusalka (Russia). Half woman/man and half fish.
PHOENIX - Bird that periodically ((every 500 yrs))it bursts into flames and is reduced to ashes and from those ashes rises a newborn. Has the ability to heal with its tears and empower wands with its tail feathers.
PIXIE - red-headed fairies who pick on those they consider lazy. They often help people in need, but those who fail to do their share or forget to reward them with a bowl of cream to drink and a swept hearth on which to dance, are advised not to leave possessions within reach.
RED CAP - Evil goblin that haunts the ruins of castles where bloody battles have occurred. They have long grey hair, fiery red eyes, protruding teeth and a red cap ( red because it is soaked in blood). For protection read the Bible out loud.
SPHINX - Has the body of a lion, head and bust of a human. It is the symbol of royalty, fertility, and life after death. They are associated with the annual flooding of the Nile which brought life to the parched desert.
TROLL - Ugly, dumb, fierce, evil beings with a taste for human flesh and an eye for treasure, they reside in the cold northern European country of Scandinavia. Exposure to daylight turns them to stone.
UNICORN - According to Ctesias, it is native to India, is the size of a donkey, a dark red head, white body, blue eyes, and a single horn which was 18 inches long, white at the base, black in the middle, flaming red at the top. The horn had the special quality that when separated from its owner and made into a drinking cup,it protected whoever drank from it from poisons, convulsions, and epilepsy.
VAMPIRE - These blood-sucking creatures are actually vunerable to iron. These man-like demons were made popullar by Bram Stroker's Dracula.
VEELA - They are shape-shifters who dance under the midsummer moon. Men fall under their spell and loose all reason.
WEREWOLF - Another term used for them is Lycanthrope. Under a full moon, they were men who turned into wolf-like creatures. Werewolf trials occurred in places were real wolves were serious problems. There is a rare genetic disease called hypertrichosis that develops dense facial hair, every part of the body is covered except for the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet.
AINE - Fairy queen of Knockaine. Moon goddess and patroness of crops and cattle.
AOIFE - A fairy queen and the mother of Cu Chulainn's son.
BEAN SÍDHE/BANSHEE - "Woman Fairy"; a spirit attached to certain families. When a member's death approaches, the family will hear the banshee crying. Not always terrifying.
BROWNIES - Wales, the Scottish Highlands and the West Country of England. They are about three feet high and dress in brown clothes. They have brown faces and shaggy hair. Brownies make themselves responsible for the house where they live by coming out at night to complete unfinished work. Any offer of reward will drive them away, but they expect a bowl of milk or cream and cake to be left out. Tradition says that brownies do not like teetotallers and ministers. If offended, brownies will create maliscious mischief.
CAOINEAG/KONYACK - "Weeper"; A type of banshee.
COBLYNAU/KOBLERNIGH - Mine spirits, similar to Knockers. About 18 inches high, dress like miners. Although they are ugly, they are good humored and will knock where rich ores are to be found.
CYHYRAETH/KERHERRIGHTH - A form of banshee. It usually cries or groans before multiple deaths by epidemic or accident.
DAOINE SIDHE (theena shee) - A name for the fairies in Ireland.
DRYADS - All Celtic countries. They ae spirits that dwell in the trees, preferably Oaks.The Druids turned to them for inspiration. Oak galls were known as Serpent Eggs by the Druids and used in many of their charms.
ELLYLLON (ethlerthlon) - Wales. Mab is the queen of those faeries. Toadstools are their food and the fairy butter which is a fungus found on the roots of old trees.
ELVES - Another name by which the Trooping Fairies in Britain are known. In Scotland they are divided into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
FERRISHYN (ferrishin) - Manx. Name for the fairy tribe.
FIN BHEARA (fin-vara) - Ireland. The Fairy King of Ulster, sometimes called king of the dead. Although he was married to a fairy lady, he still courted beautiful mortal women.
THE GENTRY - Another Irish name for the fairies.
GNOMES - Earth Elementals. They lived underground and guard the treasures of the Earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, especially of swords and breastplates.
GOBLINS/HOBGOBLINS - Originally a general name for small, grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures.
GWRAGEDD ANNWN(gwrageth anoon) - Wales. Lake fairies.
KNOCKERS/BUCCAS - Mine spirits who are friendly to miners. They knock where rich ore can be found.
LEPRECHAUN (lep-re-chawn) - A solitary fairy who makes shoes and generally guards a pot of gold.
MAB/MABH/MEDBH - Celtic fairy queen.
MER-PEOPLE - Mermaids; they dwell in the water, but they are human from the waist up and have a tail of a fish. They are irresistible singers who sometimes lure fishermen to their deaths. The Irish equivalent of the mermaid is the Murdhuacha (muroo-cha) or Merrows.
OONAGH (oona) - Ireland. Wife of Fin Bheara
PEOPLE OF PEACE - Another name for the Daoine Sidhe.
PEOPLE OF THE HILLS - Fairies who live under green mounds; subterranean fairies.
PHOUKA - It can appear in various animals forms and is considered to be dangerous.
PIXIES - The name for fairies in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
PWCA (pooka) - Wales. A version of Puck, but not like the Irish Phouka. They are helpful if milk is left out, but can also be mischievous.
SEELIE (BLESSED) COURT - These trooping fairies are benevolent towards humans, but will readily avenge any injury or insult.
SHEFRO - Male fairies who wear green coats and red caps.
SÍDHE (shee) - Ireland, Scottish Highlands. Name for fairies and their subterranean dwellings. A barrow or hillock which has a door to a beautiful underground realm of the Tuatha or fairies. Most wellknown are the Tuatha de Dannan.
SLUAGH/SLOOA/THE HOST - The Host of the Unforgiven Dead, or pagan ancestors. The most formidable of the Highland fairies.
SUBTERRANEAN FAERIES - Fairies who live in brochs or hills. They travel from place to place at Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhain in order to change their residences.
TYLWYTH TEG (terlooeth teig) -
wants to court their friendship, they are called Bendith Y Mamau (the Mother's
Blessing).
UNSEELIE COURT - Fairies who are never favorable to humans. They are either
solitary evil fairies or bands of fairies called the Sluagh who use elf-shot against human
and cattle.
WEE FOLK - A name for fairies in Scotland and Ireland.
WILD HUNT - The night hunt by the Sluagh with their terrible hounds. They are said to
kidnap humans they encounter during their rides.
COMMENTS
-