Pagan Glossary

This is my own personal glossary that I have compiled from my own research. I will continue to add new words and expand upon definitions as I find necessary. Hope this is helpful. If you find a word that is not on my list or not in any of the references listed, please let me know. I'll see what I can do to help find out the meaning.

Aeromancy: Air magic.

Airts: Simply put, this is a Gaelic term for the four compass points, north, south, east and west.

Amulet: A magical object created with the intent of protection.

Anhk: An Egyptian symbol meaning eternal life.

Astral Plane: This is a part of the world where energy vibrates at a higher rate.

Astrology: Not to be confused with Astronomy. Astrology is the study of the influence of the stars and planets on people's lives.

Athame: A sacred tool, not to be used as a weapon, only a tool for directing energy. In some cases it is used to be a representation of the God.

Besom: A broom.

Book of Shadows: A sacred book where a Pagan, Witch, Wiccan, etc. records magical or spiritual workings.

Cauldron: Typically used on an altar to hold water or burn paper or incense.

Circle: Basically a round shape :) Magically speaking, a circle is a boundary marking off sacred space for Pagans to perform their spiritual workings. There is a lot of history and background to this word that I will go into in another post.

Coven: Traditionally, a group of 13 men or women who work together as witches.

Deosil: To move clockwise.

Divination: The art of discovering hidden things by use of magic means.

Esbat: Typically a full moon ritual, however this can also be used to describe any holiday celebrated in a pagan faith outside of the regular 8 sabbats.

Evoke: To call upon a power within you, such as an ancestral quality.

Geomancy: Earth magic.

Handfasting: Pagan marriage.

Handparting: The end to a handfasting, from what I understand this is not necessarily a divorce. Some handfastings are done for only a limited amount of time, maybe a year, the handparting would be done at the end of that year.

Hydromancy: Water magic.

Incense: Burned to promote the proper atmosphere for rituals, both physical and mental, by helping to make those associations that say it is time to focus on the spiritual.

Initiation: When one person admits another person by means of a special ritual, to be known as a member of their group.

Invoke: To call upon the Divine spirits to join you in your working.

Magic: The best definition is that from Aleister Crowley, so I will just borrow his for this: "The Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with the Will."

Meditation: Focused relaxation and/or thought.

Palmistry: Divination by looking at a persons hand.

Pentacle: A 3 dimensional disc with a five pointed star.

Pentagram: A five pointed figure, in magical workings, typically a star.

Pyromancy: Fire magic.

Quintessence: The "fifth" element, in addition to earth, air, fire and water. Typically referred to as spirit, akasha or aether.

Reincarnation: Typically means your spirit will be reborn after you die. This is a pretty general definition, I recommend doing a little more research to fully appreciate the true meaning of this belief.

Sabbat: One of the 8 main seasonal holidays, I typically go by the names that were presented in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, however many people use the Celtic names for them (although Wicca and many pagan religions that use those names are not actually Celtic.)

Scrying: Divination by gazing into something such as a crystal ball, a mirror, or a bowl of water.

Skyclad: Being clad (dressed) in the sky, or more simply, nude.

Spell: A short ritual working, often added within a bigger ritual.

Talisman: A magical object created with the intent of bringing something.

Wiccaning: To dedicate a newborn/baby to the religion of Wicca. (I prefer to do blessings, asking the divine to protect the baby, but not dedicating the child to a specific religion. That is their choice when they get older.)

Widdershins: To move counterclockwise.

Witch Balls: Typically shiny globes, similar to Christmas tree bulbs, that are/were hung in windows to reflect back negative looks or the evil eye.



For more a more in depth look at definitions and for more words please check the following resources:

All One Wicca: A Study in the Universal Eclectic Tradition of Wicca by Kaatryn MacMorgan

An ABC of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente