How to Become a Witch (38 page)

Lammas: See
Lughnassad
.

Lamps of Art: These are the two candles on the altar that provide illumination and may represent Goddess and God (Spirit). Choose white, or gold and silver for God and Goddess, or use colors based on the season or on the nature of the magick being done.

Law of Return: Whatever energy is sent out is returned to the sender multiplied (some traditions say it is multiplied by three and therefore call this principle the Threefold Law).

Litha or Midsummer: One of the eight sabbats; celebrates the Summer Solstice and the power of the sun. Usually celebrated on the solstice, June 21–23.

Lord: A title of respect for the Great God, the overarching divine male power; sometimes used for male leaders or elders in the Craft.

Low Magick: See
Thaumaturgy.

Lughnassad or Lammas: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates the first (grain) harvest and is held on or around August 1.

Lunar Cycle: The roughly twenty-nine-day cycle during which the moon waxes from dark to full and wanes to dark again; much magickal work is geared to the energies of the different phases of the moon.

Mabon: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates the second (fruit) harvest and the Wild Hunt, as well as the autumnal equinox. It is usually celebrated near the equinox, September 21–23.

Magick: The use of focused will and energy to accomplish a goal; also the art of changing consciousness at will.

Magickal Name: A new name chosen by an individual or conferred by a teacher, either when someone becomes Pagan or is initiated. Such names are often drawn from nature or mythology.

Maiden: (1) Part of the tripartite Goddess with Mother and Crone, that aspect of deity representing youth, vigor, and potential; (2) An office in a coven; assistant (sometimes apprentice) to the high priestess, often in charge of preparing the ritual space.

Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again: The traditional closing blessing of a Wiccan circle, a reminder that we have all met before, will part, and will meet again in this or another life.

Moon: Symbol of the triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone) in the Wiccan faith, and of feminine powers of intuition and magick, and of female physiological cycles which are attuned to her. However, in some religions, the moon is personified as a god (Sin for the Babylonians, Khonsu for the Egyptians).

Moon Rituals: Rituals timed to coincide with a particular phase of the moon, to use that particular lunar energy in magickal work. See also
Esbat
.

Mother: Part of the tripartite Goddess with Maiden and Crone; the part representing maturity, fertility, and nurturing.

Muggle: A term adopted from the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling meaning a non-magickal person. See also
Cowan
.

Neopagans:
Modern Pagans; those who have revived or reconstructed the ancient pre-Christian religions of Europe.

New Moon: The moment when moon and sun are in conjunction. Magickally, a time to initiate new projects. Originally, however, the time when the new crescent first became visible.

North: One of the directions corresponding to the elements, usually earth.

Offering: A gift to Deity or a particular divine aspect given in gratitude for blessings received or expected. In Neopagan religions today, this might include the burning of incense, a libation of wine, work toward a worthy cause, or food for wildlife—but never blood sacrifices.

Opening the Circle: Sometimes called banishing the circle; gathering in the sphere of energy that was cast at the beginning of the ritual; returning the space to its mundane state.

Ordains: A set of traditional laws from an unknown source that guide the conduct of many Witches and covens. Modernized versions have been published, such as
A New Wiccan Book of the Law
by the late Lady Galadriel.

Ostara: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates spring, fertility (rabbits and eggs), and the vernal equinox; usually celebrated around March 21.

Outer Court: A group of Pagans affiliated with a coven, who gather regularly to celebrate the sabbats and hold educational and social events. Members of the outer court are not initiates (priestesses or priests) but are more similar to a congregation.

Pentacle: This is a disc of metal, ceramic, or wood with a pentagram and/or other symbols inscribed on it. It is a symbol of the earth element; sometimes salt or cakes are placed upon it, though it can also be used in rituals of protection as a magickal shield.

Pentagram: A starlike five-pointed figure of very ancient origin, used magickally for blessing, protection, and balance. The five points stand for the four elements plus spirit. Witches often wear a silver pentagram encircled, with one point up to symbolize spirit guiding and balancing the elements.

Priest: An initiated male Wiccan spiritual leader.

Priestess: An initiated female Wiccan spiritual leader.

Purification: An action that cleanses a person, space, or thing of negative energy, thoughts, or emotions.

Quarter Calls: The portion of a ritual when the elemental powers are invited to be present and lend their energies to the magickal working.

Quarters: A shorthand term for the four elemental powers and the directions they correspond to; the portions of the magickal circle influenced by the elements—each quarter is centered on its direction (e.g., the north quarter of the circle is actually from northwest to northeast, centered on north). Sometimes erroneously called the “corners”—but circles don’t have corners!

Raising Power: Drawing ambient energy (or specific energies such as solar or lunar) into the circle and the aura, using techniques such as drumming or chanting, preparatory to sending the energy to a specific goal.

Rite of Passage: A ritual that marks the transition of an individual from one stage of life into the next, usually witnessed by their community. Birthing ceremonies, coming-of-age rites, handfastings, and memorial services are examples.

Ritual: A planned series of events leading to the accomplishment of a goal through magickal means; also a rite of passage or a celebration of the seasons.

Ritual Tools: Any tools, such as an altar, an athame, a chalice, salt and water bowls, lamps of art, or a pentacle, used in ritual to aid younger self in becoming engaged.

Sabbat: One of the eight great holy days of Wicca and many other Neopagan religions, celebrating themes (such as birth, fertility, or death) related to the turning of the seasons of the year. They have more than one name each, but one set of names is Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnassad, Mabon, and Samhain. Not all traditions celebrate all eight.

Sacred Space:
Of course all space is sacred, but the term usually refers to the area enclosed when the circle is cast. See also
Casting the Circle.

Samhain: (
sow’-wen
or
so-veen’
) A sabbat usually celebrated October 31; traditionally the night the veils between this world and the next are thinnest. Witches often contact the spirits of the ancestors and/or their beloved dead at Samhain.

Scrying: The art of divination by gazing into a reflective surface such as a showstone; the images seen with the third eye, or psychic vision, can illuminate events or trends in your life.

Shadow Work: The emotional journey a Witch undertakes in order to confront and come to terms with “dark” issues such as pain, fear, illness, death, and grief. Such work is an ongoing part of a Witch’s spiritual growth.

Skyclad: Naked; clad only by the sky. Some Witches go skyclad at their rituals.

Smudging: Using incense, traditionally sage, to cleanse an area and people before a ritual.

So Mote It Be: Traditional words used at the end of a spell in order to seal and finalize it, to make it happen.

South: One of the directions corresponding to the elements, usually corresponding to fire.

Spell: A pattern or series of words and/or actions performed with magickal intent, or sometimes simply a spoken incantation or chant.

Spirit: The nonphysical, immortal component of an entity; the soul. With earth, air, fire, and water, one of the five basic components of All That Is; represented by the top point of the pentagram.

Summerland: The traditional destination for a Witch after death. It is said to be a state of being where one can rest and absorb the lessons of one’s most recent life before moving on to another incarnation.

Sun: Not simply the star that warms and lights our world, but also a symbol of success, expansiveness, spiritual illumination, and healing, as well as a powerful energy source for magick. In some religions, the sun is personified as a goddess (Amaterasu Omikami, Arinna, Bast, etc.) and in some as a god (Apollo, Ra, Helios, etc.).

Talisman: A drawn symbol or constructed item that is charged with a very specific energy and carried, worn as jewelry, or put in a special place. If carried on one’s person, its energy exerts a continual subtle influence on one; if placed somewhere, the emanation of its energy influences the immediate environment.

Tarot: A divination tool consisting of a deck of cards (in classic decks, seventy-eight) with powerful scenes or images representing various energies, processes, or spiritual conditions. They are divided into four suits (wands or rods, pentacles or disks, cups, and swords, usually) that make up the Minor Arcana, and twenty-two other cards that make up the Major Arcana.

Temple: An area reserved and sometimes decorated and equipped specifically for religious or magickal activities; also any area consecrated as sacred space, whether or not it is normally considered so.

Thaumaturgy: “Low magick” used to influence things and events in everyday life: to protect your house, get a job, heal your cold, travel safely, etc.

Theurgy: “High magick” employed to connect with Deity and foster spiritual growth.

Threefold Law: The idea that whatever you send out (energy, words, ideas, actions, either good or bad) will come back to you threefold. Also called the Law of Return.

Tradition: A branch or denomination of Wicca. There are dozens of traditions; most share common values but vary in their ritual practices and program emphases.

Wand: A stick traditionally about eighteen inches long, or “from elbow to fingertips,” often carved from one of the traditional sacred woods and used to channel power (attract or repel) and represent air or fire, according to various traditions.

Waning Moon:
The period during which the visible part of the moon shrinks from full to dark; an appropriate time for spells of banishing, release, or cleansing.

Warlock: An oath-breaker or traitor. Mistakenly used by some cowans to mean a male Witch.

Water: Mixed with salt, may be used to purify; the bowl (or large shell) containing it is kept on the altar. Also the element that corresponds to the west, emotions, love, and intuition, and the colors light green, blue, and silver.

Waxing Moon: The period during which the visible part of the moon grows from dark to full; an appropriate time for spells for growth or increase.

West: One of the directions corresponding to the elements, usually water.

Wheel of the Year: The solar year and the sabbats that mark the turning of the seasons.

Wicca: A beneficent and magickal earth religion that celebrates immanent Deity, often in the forms of the Triple Goddess of the Moon and the Hornéd God of Nature; also called the Old Religion, the Craft, or Witchcraft.

Wiccan: A practitioner of Wicca, and the adjective form of Wicca, e.g., the Wiccan Rede.

Wiccan Rede: The ethics of the Craft are summed up in the Rede’s eight words: “An ye harm none, do as ye will,” meaning “As long as you do not harm anyone (including yourself), follow your inner guidance, your true will.”

Widdershins: Counterclockwise, the direction a magician moves around the circle when wishing to banish, remove, or release energy; the opposite of deosil.

Wise Woman: The female equivalent of cunning man, also often a midwife and healer; one who uses nature magick. Frequently an expert in the use of spells, herbs, and charms. A Witch.

Witch: A priestess or priest of the Old Religion, Wicca. Some Witches distinguish between themselves and Wiccans, but it is mostly semantics as long as the Witch adheres to a code of ethics along the lines of the Wiccan Rede or similar.

Witchcraft: The skills and arts of the Witch; also Wicca. Sometimes distinguished from Wicca as not necessarily including the religious foundation.

Witch Jewels: Special headgear, necklaces, rings, or bracelets worn by Craft priests and priestesses. A high priestess may wear a crescent-moon tiara, a necklace of amber and jet, and a silver cord; a high priest may wear an antler crown, a torc, and a gold cord.

Witches’ Pyramid: A model of magick made up of four sides aligned with the elements, with a base of knowledge, filled with love, and crowned by spirit.

Witchy-in-the-Night: Slang term for Witches who are especially in love with all things dark, mysterious, and eerie. Some dress the part.

Wizard: A male magician.