WITCHES UNITY COUNCIL OF COVENTRY

glossery of pagan terms

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There are many terms we use on this site, and in Paganism and Witchcraft in general, that may be confusing to non-pagans or those who are just starting out on the path. This glossary is by no means all-inclusive, and the definitions here for many words are not the only interpretation out there, but where there could be multiple meanings for a word, we have tried to be as complete as possible where space permits.

The Terms and Definitions:

ANIMISM-Belief that a spirit or force residing in every animate and inanimate object, every dream and idea, gives individuality to each. The related Polynesian concept of man holds that the spirit in all things is responsible for the good and evil in the universe.

ANKH-Egyptian "Cross of Life" which represents the union of male and female and was regarded as a universal life charm. The symbol is a cross with a looped, oval top. Also called the Key of the Nile.

ARCHETYPES- Universal symbols that speak in the language of the subconscious. They are the ideal images of deities and other powers.

ASTRAL PLANE- The invisible "other" world that is unseen from our material/temporal world, another dimension of reality.

ASTRAL PROJECTION- The process of separating oneself from the physical body in trance states and meditation in order to visit other planes, times or locations.

ATHAME or RITUAL KNIFE - Usually a black handled knife, The Athame is charged with the energy of the owner and is used as a pointer to define space (such as casting a sacred circle) and as a conductor of the owner's will and energy. An Athame is usually never used to cut anything physically.

BANISH- To magically send away or repel negative energies or entities from the person, home, or ritual area.

BESOM- The witches' broomstick. Often used to sweep away negative energies from a space before casting a circle.

BELTANE- An ancient Celtic Fire Festival celebrated on May 1. The modern version still celebrates the marriage of the Goddess and the God, and the passage of the Goddess from Maiden to Mother. Also, the Maypole is danced as a symbol of the Fertility of the Earth(Goddess).

BIND- To magically restrain something or someone.

BOLINE- Also BOLEEN - A White handled ritual working knife. This is usually the knife used for cuting herbs, cords, or other utilitarian uses while in ritual.

BOOK OF SHADOWS- A book of spells, rituals, recipes, traditions, and other guides and materials written by a witch or coven. the Book of Shadows is usually a very personal book to the Witch or Coven which created it, and the in
CALL UP- To invoke divine forces, as when one calls the Guardians of the Quarters before casting a circle.

CARDINAL POINTS- North, South, East, and West, often marked by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue.

CAULDRON- A traditional tool of witches, this three-legged cooking pot has many uses. It may be used to cook potions, for SCRYING, and as a censer. On an altar, the cauldron symbolizes the Goddess.

CHARKAS - Seven major intersections of energy located on the vertical axis of the body. Each is associated with a color and an area of the body.

CHALICE- A witch's tool which can be used to represent the element of water and may also be used to hold the juice or wine for the offering.

CHANNELING- A New Age word for mediumship, channeling involves allowing a spirit entity to speak through the channeler. The process is virtually impossible to prove and therefore does not enjoy a particularly good reputation.

CHARGE OF THE GODDESS- Originally written by Doreen Valiente, the charge gives the story of the message from the Goddess to Her children. The High Priestess often recites the charge at the Full Moon Esbat.

CHARMS- May be a gemstone, amulet, talisman or other object that has been charged with power for a specific task.

CIRCLE- A sacred space and protective barrier for Magickal workings. Within this sacred circle, two main activities occur: celebration, and the practice of magic. Celebration is most important at the major seasonal holy days, the Sabbats. At these times, the myths of that particular holiday are enacted in ritual drama, and dancing, singing, feasting, and revelry are all part of the festivities

CONE OF POWER- Energy or power raised within a circle by either an individual or group for a specific purpose. After the power is raised and visualized it is released to work the magick.

CLEANSING- The process of purification, removing negative energy from an object or place.

CONSECRATION - The act of cleansing and blessing an object or place by charging it with positive energy.

COVEN- A group of Witches who work together under the same tradition, usually limited to 13 members or less, or in some traditions 13 couples.

COVENSTEAD- A place where a Coven traditionally meets - a Covenstead could be a home, a field, or anywhere a Coven meets to work Magick.

CRONE- The third aspect of the Triple Goddess which symbolizes wisdom.

DEDICATION- A ritual in which a Witch dedicates himself or herself to the Craft and vows to remain steadfast to the path he/she has chosen.

DEGREE- Levels of achievement in a particular tradition. Many traditions have three degrees.

DEOSIL- Clockwise or sunwise movement of actions in a ritual.

DIVINATION- The use of magical tools and means to seek information on events, people and situations in the past, present and future.

DRAWING DOWN THE MOON- A ritual used during the Full Moon in which Witches invoke the power of a Moon Goddess to increase their power.

EARTH RELIGION- A religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with the Earth and with all life. Such religions oppose the idea that the world is a resource to be subdued and exploited.

ELEMENTS- The Magickal elements that Witches' work with- Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit,

EQUINOX- One of the two times a year when the sun crosses the equator

FAMILIAR- An animal, either a pet or a spiritual entity, who serves the Witch as a magical helper.

ESBAT- Monthly meeting of a coven, usually held at full moon. There are about 13 full moons each year. Some groups also meet at the dark of the New Moon moon.

FETISH- Inanimate natural or cultural object believed to have magical power, either from a will of its own or from a God or Goddess that has inbued the object with their blessing.

GAIA- Also Gaea - The Earth Mother or Mother Earth. Recently the name has taken the meanign that the Earth .

GREEN MAN- Another name for the God, particularly in His aspect of God of fertility. Often pictured as a face made of leaves and vegitation.

HAND FASTING- A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony.

IMBOLC- Sabbat Festival held February 1.

KARMA- In Hindu belief where the term originated, it is the idea that the good and evil a person does will return either in this life or in a later one. Among Pagans, the theory is that whatever negative or positive energies one sends out will come back to the sender in like kind. The "Three Fold Law" is a version of this belief.

MAIDEN- The first aspect of the Triple Goddess which symbolizes new beginnings and creation.

METAPHYSICAL- Pertaining to realities which are outside those of science, such as cosmology and divination.

MOTHER- The second aspect of the Triple Goddess which symbolizes fertility and caregiving.

OLD RELIGION- Another name for Wicca. Also, Old Path or Old Ways.

OSTARA- The Sabbat celebrated at the Vernal Equinox, the second festival of spring. Symbolized by the egg, it is a time to celebrate new life and fertility.

PENTACLE- A five-pointed star surrounded by a circle. It is often used to symbolize the magickal elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit

PAGAN- A practitioner of an Earth Religion; from the Latin mneaning a country dweller.

PROJECTIVE ENERGY - The energy that one sends out either intentionally or unintentionally. In magick, it is the energy that is put into an object or thought-form to achieve one's goals. It is also the energy of power objects that repel negative forces by sending out positive energy.

RECEPTIVE ENERGY- The energy that attracts or is magnetic. Gemstones carried to draw in love or wealth have receptive energy.

REINCARNATION- The belief that one has lived before in another lifetime, and that one will live again after physical death.

RUNES - A set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal workings. These symbols may be engraved in small pieces of wood for divination purposes. Runes that fit one's magickal goals are often carved into candles for candle magick.

MAGIC- Also MAGICK. A conscious direction of will to accomplish a goal. some Witches add the 'K' on the end to differentiate it from stage magic and illusion.

NEO-PAGANISM- A modern Earth Religion which borrows and adapts from the best of pre-Christian Pagan religions, sometimes with additions from contemporary religious thinkers.

SABBATOne of the eight seasonal festivals equally spaced during the year, celebrated by individuals and covens of Witches.


SAMHAIN - The Sabbat now celebrated on Halloween (October 31). This celebration marks the New Year and is a time for remembering the dead and honoring the Crone Goddess. It is also the final festival of the harvest season.

SCRYING - A method of divination in which one gazes at an object (crystal ball, water, candle, mirror) until prophetic visions appear.

SHAMAN - A word derived from the Tungas language of Siberia, it is a generic term for healers and spiritual leaders in tribal societies. Traditional Shamans induced trance states through drums, dancing, ingesting hallucinogens, self mutilation and deprivation and virtually any means by which one might achieve an altered state of consciousness. While in such a trance, the shaman crosses over into another world to get information for his people such as the cause of illnesses and other misfortunes. The Shaman is the peoples' link to the spirit world.

SIGIL - A symbol with some occult meaning that may be used in magickal workings. Often a seal, sign or other drawing, it may be carried or otherwise used to represent and manifest the power or idea symbolized.

SKY CLAD - The act of doing magickal workings or rituals in the nude. It is common in some traditions such as the Alexandrian, as well as among some solitary practitioners, but is much less common than some would believe. Working sky clad does not imply anything sexual, but rather is an attempt to remove all barriers to the energies with which one is working.

SPELL- A magical working directed toward the achievement of some goal such as healing, banishing, changing a condition, etc. Sometimes refers to the verbal part of the ritual.

TALISMAN- An object carried for protection or other goals that has been charged for that purpose. Examples are gemstones, shells, drawings and virtually any small object that one may carry.

TAROT- A set of 78 cards with pictures and symbols that are used for divination by connecting the reader to the subconscious mind. The origin of the cards is not clearly known.

TRADITION- A set of specific rules, guidelines, ideals, and other Magickal information that is common to a path of Witchcraft. Various Traditions include Gardenarian, Alexandrian, Dianic, and Celtic.

TRIPLE GODDESS - The one Goddess that encompasses three aspects, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

TOTEM- An object, usually an animal or plant, revered by an individual or a particular social group. A group totem represents the bond of unity and is often considered the ancestor or brother of the group's members; marriage between those of one totem is often prohibited as incest. The group's symbol and protector, the totem may be pictured on the body or masks, or carved on totem poles.

WARLOCK- NOT a male Witch- It's original meaning, derived from the Old English "waer logga," is "oath breaker" and it was used in reference to a traitor to the Craft during the Burning Times.

WHEEL OF THE YEAR - The Pagan calendar of seasonal holidays (Sabbats) which symbolizes the eternal cycle of time. It usually begins with Samhain.

WICCA - A modern tradition of witchcraft based on the old earth religions of Europe. The term comes from an Old English word meaning "to bend or shape" or "to have wisdom."

WIDDERSHINS - Counterclockwise motion used in magical workings or ceremonies. It means to go backward and is sometimes used in banishing magick.

WITCHCRAFT- A magical religion and spirituality with many diverse traditions derived from various cultural sources around which covens and individual practitioners base their practices.

THE CRAFT- A slang term for Witchcraft.

WITCH- One who worships the Goddess, and sometimes also Her Consort, the God; practices magic; and follows the spiritual path of Witchcraft. Witch is a non gender-specific term and refers to both male and female practitioners.

YULE- The Sabbat celebrated on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In some traditions it celebrates the birth of the God and in others the coming birth.

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