Magickal Jargon

Here are some common terms that I've come across in my journeys.

 

Adept:
Person who through serious study and accomplishments is considered highlyproficient in a particular tradition/magickal system. However, if a personis good at Egyptian magick, they can be a absolute flop at Kitchen magick.

Altar:
Special, flat surface set aside for magickal workings
and/or religious acknowledgement.

Amulet:
An object of protection that has been charged to protect the wearer; can be made of anything.

Astral:
Anouther dimension of reality.
"Dreamtime"

Astral Travel/Projection:
Process of seperating astral and physical bodies to travel in the
astral plane or dreamtime.

Athame:
Cleansed and consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual work.
Never used for blood letting and rarely used to cut things on the
material plane.

Bane:
Bad, evil, destructive.

Banish:
To magickally end something, to rid the presence of.

Bind:
Magickally restrain something or someone.

Blood of the Moon:
Woman's menstrual cycle.  If it falls over a Full or New Moon,
she is more powerful then anytime during the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength. It isn't a CURSE, it's a BOON.

Book of Shadows:
New term for the collection of information in book form for a Witch's reference, like a magickal cookbook (also called a Grimoire).

Bolline:
White-handled knife used in practical magickal purposes, like cutting (herbs) and inscribing (candles).

Call:
Invoking Divine forces.

Chakras:
Seven major energy vortexes found in the human body. Each has a color associated with it.

Consecration:
Act of blessing an object or place by instilling it with postive energy.

Coven:
Group of 13 or fewer Witches that work together for postive
magickal endeavors or to preform religious ceremonies.

Desoil:
Clockwise movement.

Divination:
Art of using magickal tools and symbols to gather information from the Collective Unconscious on the nature of people, places, things or events.

Drawing Down the Moon:
Ritual used in Full Moon rites bu Witches who wish to empower themselves and unite their essence with that of the goddess.

Elder:
A group or board that oversees the operation of a coven or orginazation. They have acheived this postion through study and hands on work.

Elements:

For more info on the Elements, go HERE.

Evocation:
To call something out from within.

Familiar:
An animal who has a spiritual bond with a Witch; often is the family pet. Can also be entities who are created to protect your home from the astral.

Handfasting:
Pagan marriage ceremony.

Invocation:
To bring something in from without.

Karma:
Belief that one's thoughts and deeds can be either counted against
them or added to their spiritual path during several lifetimes.

Magic(k):
Art and science of focusing your will and emotions to effect change in both the macrocosm and microcosm.  It isn't good or bad in itself, it's the way the power is used.

Magickal Circle:
Circular boundry drawn in white light which protects the Witch from outside forces while conducting ritual magick. The circle is the doorway between the worlds and certian precautions must be taken. Never step outside the circle unless a doorway has been cut and always remember to close the doorway after it's been used.

Magickal Systems:
Traditions, denominations, sects or pantheons. Basic set of
guidelines relating to specific Gods and Goddesses or cultural traditions.

Pagan:
Follower of a nature based reigion.

Pantheon:
Collection or group of Gods and Goddesses in a particular
religious or mythical structure.
In my workings, I use the Greek Pantheon.

Pentacle:
Circle surrounding a 5-pointed upright star (pentagram).
Each point has a different meaning, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief.

Priestess/Priest:
Female/Male dedicated to both the service of their chosen diety and humanity.High Priestess/Priest: Female/Male leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of the respective Deities in certian ceremonies.

Reincarnation:
Belief that one has lived before in other lifetimes.

Ritual:
Focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank one's chosen pantheon or to preform a specific magickal working or act.

Skyclad:
Nude.

Spell:
Extended mental and emotional energy spoken aloud, written, spoken to oneself, drawn or danced. To work, it should be clear, concise, focused and emotional. The need must be present to bring any spell to a successful end.

Wheel of the Year:
One full cycle of the seasonal year. Starts on Samhain.

Widdershins:
Counterclockwise movement.

Working:
Also known as "Magickal Working." Process of using magick to
reach a desired positive goal.