DEFINITIONS



	Amulet A talisman with a mystical or Magickal property.

	Asperger A rarely used tool, a bundle of herbs to sprinkle water with.

	Astral 1. Of the stars. 2.Of the heavens. 3. The Plane of existence
	closest to

	Astrology The Art of divining using the location of celestial bodies.

	Banish To make something go away and keep it from coming back.

	Bell A ritual instrument. Often used to invoke the Goddess in a
	ritual, or rung to ward off evil spells and spirits, halt storms, or to evoke
	good energies. Placed in a cupboard or hung on the door, it guards the
	home. Any type of bell can be used, although some Wiccans choose not to ring
	a bell as they believe it scares the fairies away.

	Besom/Broom The broom often is used to purify space before a circle is
	cast. It is related to the element of Water and is used in many water spells
	involving cleansing. It also historically has been used to protect the home
	by laying it across the door. To make a magick broom, it is suggested that
	you use an ash staff, birch twigs and a willow binding.(ash is protective,
	birch cleansing and willow sacred to the Goddess.)

	Bind Restrain.

	Burning Times, The The Burning Times were a period from about 1000ce until
	1951 in which millions of Witches and people accused of being Witches were
	killed. Although by 1951 Witches were no longer being executed, we choose to
	believe that the Burning Times ended with the repeal of the last law against
	Witchcraft in England, in 1951.The Ending of the Burning Times began the Age
	of Modern Wicca, and the publication of Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft Today
	(1954) we became a voice that has grown steadily louder. 1951 is also Year 0
	of WE, Wiccan Era, a date used to replace CE (Common Era) in some traditions.
	CE and BCE are the scholarly replacements for "AD" and "BC" (which can't be
	proven).
	Cauldron The cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess and corresponds to
	the element of Water. It is used in ritual as a container in which magickal
	transformations can occur and is often a focal point of a ritual. During
	spring rites, it can be filled with water and fresh flower petals and in
	winter, fires can be lighted within the cauldron to symbolize the rebirth of
	the Sun. It can also be filled with water and used for scrying into the
	future.

	Censer is an incense burner. The censer represents the element "Air".
	Many types of incense smells and blends can be used, each having a different
	meaning or purpose.

	Cauldron A large iron or brass pot used in rituals.

	Celt An indigenous people of Europe, especially Ireland, Northern
	and southern Great Britain, France and Spain.

	Celtic Of The Celts.

	Chalice or Goblet The chalice or cup is used on the altar to represent the
	Female principle of Water. Another chalice or cauldron is sometimes placed in
	the West as well.

	Charge of The Goddess Written in its modern form by Doreen Valiente.

	Cone of Power The manifestation of raised energy within a Circle.

Contrary Some Wiccans use this incorrectly to describe people who work
power "backwards." Also used to describe Left-handed folk, again, an
incorrect usage.
Cord is a piece of cord used as a belt on a robe (also be called a
'girdle'). Can be used in binding and releasing magick.

Cowen One who is not Wiccan, but pretends to be... a wannabe.

Croning A ceremony held to mark a woman's transition from Mother to
Crone, the final phase of a woman's life.

Dedication 1. The "stuff" by which one sticks to something until they're
done. 2. A ceremony acknowledging something or someone, most often a purpose,
change in purpose of alteration of one's life's path.

Discordian A person, if they exist, who follows Eris, if she exists, but
disguises her in a male facade to further confuse the public, a patriarchal
plot, no doubt.

Elder 1.One older than (s)he coining the term. 2. A Wiccan Priest(ess) of
ten or more years. 3. A Semi-poisonous plant.

Ethics 1. Rules. 2.Morally/Spiritually sound rules.

Familiar An animal, usually a cat, with whom a witch establishes a
special psychic/magical relationship. Familiars offer help, companionship,
protection, and usually unconditional love as well.

Geomancy Earth Magick.

Great Rite, The The ritual in which procreation is celebrated by the
ritual sex of the Priest and Priestess, also called the sacred marriage. Best
done in private.

Green Man The Wiccan God, or Green Man, a figure often incorporated
into the design of churches as a male face made of foliage.

Grimoire The Book which includes all non-ritual information,
particularly metaphysical information.

Grove A sacred place, often a group or circle of trees. a group of Druids

Guardian One Who watches over something.

Guardians of The Quarters A group of Spirits invoked in some Wiccan
ceremonies to protect the circle. What possible ritual would call for such
protection is beyond me.

Guardians of The Watchtowers A strange occurrence in Wicca, I've yet to
figure out what the Watchtowers and spirits of Dr. John Dee and Edward
Kelley's works have to do with Casting a Wiccan Circle...Sure enough, this
appears to be an aspect of Enochian Wicca. "Don't ask me, I just work here."

Handparting The end to a handfasting.

Herbalist One who studies Herbs and their uses.

Horned God Another name for the Wiccan hunter God.

Hydromancy Water Magick

Karma Either the force which tallies your debts or the debts and payments
of Karma, see The Five Points of Wiccan Belief, Chapter One, Book One.

Kitchen Witch One who practices basic charms but not much else Magickal,
often a Fam-Trad practitioner.

Magus One who practices Magick without the benefit of a Moral Code, also
"Mage."

Maypole An ancient Pagan phallic symbol danced around to this day to
raise power and celebrate the earth..

Mediation Stepping in-between the parties of an argument.

Mundane, The The secular and ordinary world.

Neo-Pagan Literally a "new pagan." Considered a bit of a slur in the
Wiccan set, a Neo-Pagan is a "New Age" term meaning "any one practicing a
non-Christian religion I haven't heard of."

Numerology Divining by breaking everything down into numbers.

Occult That which cannot be seen or must be hidden, in modern usage, "New
Age. " or "Satanic." I actually have seen occult used as a descriptive term
as in something "is an occult," that is hideous grammar. Properly, if
something is hidden its nature is occult, but it is a secret.

Pantheon A group or family of Gods of a specific culture, as in "Greek
pantheon" or "Nordic Patheon"

Sacrifice To give something up. In Wicca, we sacrifice Wine, food,
money, trinkets, stones and time, but never, ever anything living.

Sickle The sickle is used to cut sacred herbs at certain moonphases. It
represents "Cronehood" and is often given to a menopausal covener as a
recognition of a new life phase. I think the modern usage of the sickle as
the "Grim Reaper's" tool makes this a bit too morbid, but many feminist
Wiccans disagree. Used instead of: Bolline, Athamé.

Sigil A personal seal or emblem with a punch of power, Seals of Gods and
dead Mages are also in common usage.

Skyclad Clad naked.

Smudge In European practices, herbs were thrown on the fire to produce
clouds of scented smoke. Smudge, which is either a bundle of herbs for
burning or the ash of sacred herbs used for anointing, is borrowed from
Native American Practices and can usually be held in the hand instead of
thrown on a fire. For a nice change, burn rosemary instead of the traditional
sage or sweetgrass. Stick incense can be used as burning smudge, it'll do in
a pinch, but the ash is fairly worthless. Used instead of :Censer, oil.

Spiral The motion in and out of life, The double spiral, the double helix,
DNA.

Staff The staff is a very important tool in some traditions. It is used to
mark quarter points or as a "stang" to hold banners representing elements or
other unique symbolic flags. The staff may be used in much the same manner
as the wand. It is usually matched "to your measure"- which means it reaches
to your shoulder- making it easy and comfortable for you to handle without
either knocking yourself upside the head or having it trip you up from
behind. Any such incident will amuse your friends, but do little to enhance
your image in the magickal community!

Summerland The place where we rest after death, between incarnations.

Sword With the coming of the modern "Celtic Revival", the sword has become
a very popular-and quite showy- magickal tool. It can used in place of, or in
addition to, the athame. Most groups who hold rituals indoors usually limit
the use of the sword to just one for the Priest/Priestess. Ten five- foot
swords in a small room could get a bit messy! However at festivals and
outdoor rituals, Wiccans often bring their own swords to mark the boundaries
or quarter points of the circle.

Talisman Charm: Something worn with a Magickal property. Religious: A
Symbol or item sacred for religious reasons. Totemic: A relic of your
family/clan's animal protector or your animal guide.

Thurible or incense burner A container used to contain a hot coal for
burning incense. This is best made from a fire resistant or fire proof
material. The most common are the "mini-cauldrons' of iron and the various
brass types which come in wonderful shapes and sizes. Some even hang on a
chain. The incense itself represents the element of Air while the fire
(charcoal) represents Fire. The combination of these two elements are used to
purify ritual areas, other tools or the circle itself.

Tradition A sect or division within Paganism/Wicca/Magick. The use of
tradition as "sect" is not a new use, nor is "new tradition" an oxymoron.

Underworld Hel, Hades, the "waiting room" of the after life.

Vibes Feelings off of someone/something..."good vibes" "bad vibes."

Warlock What you never call a male Wiccan. It means "Oath-breaker."

Webweaving "Witchy" and Feminist term for Networking

Witch War A dispute between coven leaders, very often silly things with
episodes of "I'm gonna ward you right off this plane." No real,
self-respecting Wiccan over the age of four participates in one.