THE HEX SHOPPE’S GLOSSARY OF THE OCCULT & WITCHCRAFT
A
ABRAMELIN, THE BOOK OF -
A grimoire from the 15th century. It gained a great deal of importance within the Golden Dawn, and later Thelema. It includes instructions for the Abramelin Operation (the purpose of which is to call your “guardian angel” to obtain knowledge, conversation, and potentially more), as well as instructions to prepare Abramelin oil, Magic Squares, Tools, and more.
ABRAMELIN OIL -
An anointing oil, made famous by Aleister Crowley & Samuel Mathers in the early 20th century, that was mentioned in the Book of Abramelin - a famous 15th century grimoire.
AKASHIC RECORDS -
Thought to be the universal record of all thoughts, events, words, and emotions of all entities and lifeforms of the universe - past, present, and future.
ALCHEMY -
A process of transmutation, generally transmutation of a common substance to one of great value. Can be used metaphorically or literally.
ALEXANDRIAN WICCA -
Founded by Alex and Maxine Sanders in the early 1960’s, Alexandrian Wicca is an offshoot of Gardnerian Wicca. They are similar in many ways, however most notably the Alexandrian tradition adds additional aspects to the God (such as the Oak King & Holly King). Where Gardnerian Wicca traditionally practices skyclad (or nude) Alexandrian Wiccca allows for the choice to don ritual clothing. It is generally more flexible than Gardnerian Wicca and has a greater emphasis on ceremonial magic as well.
ALTAR -
A dedicated space, surface, or structure for a practitioner/witch to work, make offerings, conduct spellcrafting, etc. Altar adornments vary from person to person, and also from tradition to lack of tradition.
AMULET -
An item, often jewelry, thought to confer a specific condition unto the possessor - such as luck or protection.
ASATRU -
Asatru means “religion of the Æsir” - referring to the Nordic Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses such as Odin, Frigga, Freya, Thor, and others.
ASTRAL PROJECTION -
Generally a term used to describe an out-of-body experience (OBE) where the spirit of the projector is able to travel
ASTROLOGY -
The study of the movements and positions of celestial bodies (namely within our own solar system against named constellations), interpreted as having an effect on human life, world affairs, and the natural world.
ATHAME -
Usually, but certainly not always, a double edged knife. Adornments, colors, size and materials vary from practitioner to practitioner/coven to coven. Not used outside of ritual work and generally never used for cutting. Represents the element of fire.
AURA -
A distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround a person, thing, or place. Often seen as a color.
AUGURY -
The interpretation of omens.
AUTOMATIC WRITING -
Writing said to be produced by spiritual, subconscious, or occult influences rather than the conscious intention of the writer.
B
BANISHING -
To be rid of something. The occult meaning generally refers to a ritual intended to remove non-physical influences (ranging from spirits to negative influences). Often the “lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram” (LBRP) is used for this purpose.
BESOM -
In the most literal sense, a besom is a broom made of twigs or straw tied around a stick. It is the witches’ broom that is purposed for ritual use.
BELTANE -
May 1st
Beltane is a Celtic word that means “fires of Bel” (Bel being a Celtic deity, meaning “the bright one”). It is a fire festival that celebrates the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year. Beltane is the midpoint between the Spring and Summer solstice.
BIBLIOMANCY -
Interpretation of future events by randomly chosen pages/passages from a book, often the Bible.
BLACK MIRROR -
Made from a variety of materials - sometimes obsidian, sometimes a black backing on glass, etc. - black mirrors are used for the purposes of scrying or “mirror gazing” - the art of making contact with spirits, the dead, opening the gates to other realms, seeing the past, future, distant locations, and more.
BOLINE -
Generally white handled - but not always, the boline is a dedicated working knife. It is used to harvest herbs, inscribe candles, etc. Occasionally the blades are in a crescent shape, resembling a small handheld scythe.
BOOK OF SHADOWS -
This has been open to quite a bit of interpretation according to the individual witch and tradition it is involved with. Generally speaking, it is the Witches’ book that contains rituals, spells, diagrams, incantations, etc. Some witches will also include spell results, feelings, and more. This book can grow in size quite rapidly so many witches often separate research material, correspondences, meanings, etc. into a separate book or “Grimoire.” Additionally, separate books such as dream journals and the like are also maintained.
C
CARTOMANCY -
Fortune telling by the interpretation of the random selection of traditional playing cards or cards other than Tarot cards.
CAULDRON -
By definition, a cauldron is a large metal pot used for cooking over an open fire. They often come with a lid and handle, or bail, and legs to keep it raised slightly over the fire. More often than not they are made from cast iron. The cauldron represents feminine aspects as well as the element of water.
CENSER -
A fireproof vessel in which incense is burned.
CEREMONIAL MAGIC -
Also known as High Magic, ceremonial magic is based on a blend of occult teachings that includes Enochian Magic, Kabbalah, Thelema, and Judeo-Christian Mysticism. Groups such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), and the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.) are examples of groups that practice ceremonial magic. Ceremonial Magic
CHALICE -
A chalice, or simply “the cup” - is a single-purposed item for ritual, magical, and ceremonial use. It represents the feminine and the element of water.
CLAIRAUDIENCE -
“Clear Hearing,” the power to hear sounds/words from the spirit world.
CLAIRSENTIENCE -
“Clear Feeling,” empathic ability to sense emotions.
CLAIRVOYANCE -
“Intuitive Vision,” is the ability to see telepathic information that others cannot.
CLAIRCOGNIZANT -
“Clear Knowing,” is intuitively “just knowing” something.
CLAIRALIENCE -
“Clear Smelling,” is when you suddenly smell something that has meaning to you.
CLAIRTANGENCY -
“Clear Touch,” - also known as Psychometry. The ability to receive information by touching a person or an object.cl
CLEROMANCY -
A form of divination that involves the casting of lots, sortition. An outcome is determined by the manner in which the lots (dice, bones, etc) fall.
CONJURATION -
To bring about something by an incantation or spell.
COVEN -
A group or gathering of witches who meet regularly.
CUP -
See “Chalice.”
CURSE -
A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflect harm or punishment upon someone or something.
D
DEOSIL -
Clockwise.
DEVIL -
The Witches’ Devil (or Devyl) has many names - Pan, Old Janicot, The Man in Black, The Dark Lord, The Dark Man, The Green Man, Cernunnos, Woden, Herne. He is the initiator of witches’ into the Traditional Craft. This remains a controversial term, but I would recommend this article by Kelden for a more complete explanation: Click here. Not to be confused with Satan or Lucifer.
DIANIC WICCA -
A feminist tradition that focuses on the supremacy of the Goddess rather than the balance between the God & Goddess as in other traditions, such as Gardnerian Wicca.
DIVINATION -
The practice of seeking knowledge of the unknown or the future by a particular divinatory means (ie. Tarot, Cartomancy, Geomancy, Rune Casting, Scrying, Dowsing, etc.)
DOWSING -
A technique in which either a forked stick or two bent or handled wires are employed to search for something invisible by observing the motion of the point of the stick. Using pendulums are also a form of dowsing.
E
ECLECTIC WITCH / WITCHCRAFT -
A witch that borrows practices and beliefs from multiple traditions and incorporates them into their own path.
EQUINOX -
The beginning of Spring and the beginning of Fall are the equinoxes, mid-points between Summer and Winter; Winter and Summer.
ESBAT -
A rite that regularly takes place on the full moon.
EVOCATION -
To “evoke” something / a spirit, you call it to come before you to do your bidding. Not to be confused with an “Invocation” which brings a power or spirit into you.
EXORCISM -
The expulsion, or attempted expulsion of a spirit from a person or place.
F
FAMILIAR -
The Witches’ familiar traditionally is a small animal or imp kept as the witches’ attendant, given to her after initiation. Traditional witches believe that this is a gift from the Witches’ Devil or it is inherited from another witch. Other traditions often select their familiars.
FAMILIAR SPIRIT -
A spirit that attends or obeys a witch. There are a variety of ways that a witch might “house” their familiar spirit, including a small animal, a skull, a doll, or a box just to name a few.
FOLK MAGIC -
Magic that is often localized to a specific area and heavily based on tradition and local lore. The practitioners make use of what comes from their local area and what is handed down through the generations.
FORTUNE TELLING -
The practice of predicting outcomes or information regarding a client’s life by some form of divination.
G
GARDENER, GERALD -
B. 6/13/1884 D. 2/12/1964, United Kingdom
The founder of Gardnerian Wicca.
GARDNERIAN WICCA -
Founded by Gerald Gardner in Bricket Wood, United Kingdom in 1954. A form of religious witchcraft that follows the teachings of Gerald Gardner which were published in the 1950’s. It is an initiatory tradition, where the practitioners generally work in covens of 13 members and that contains three separate degrees of initiation. Gardnerian Wicca has sprung several offshoot traditions, such as Alexandrian Wicca.
GEOMANCY -
A divination method that interprets markings on the ground, or patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks or sand. Also - the casting of lots upon a map.
H
HECATE -
(Hekate) was the Greek Goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and ASteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.
HERMETICISM -
A label that is used to designate a philosophical system that is primarily based on the purported teachings of Hermes Trismegistus (the legendary Hellenstic combination of the Greek God Hermes and the Egyptian God Thoth).
HEXENNACHT -
April 31. Also known as “May’s Eve” or “Walpurgis Night” - Hexennacht directly translates to “Witches’ Night.” It is directly opposite to Halloween/Samhain, and historically it was the night when witches would travel to the Brocken (a mountain in Germany), to revel all night and await the arrival of Spring. It is a very liminal night that is celebrated primarily by Traditional Witches.
HOODOO -
American folk magic that is predominantly practiced in the southeastern United States based on African American magical traditions. Including rituals of protection, conjuration, herbal medicine, charming, etc.
I
INVOCATION -
To “invoke” something / a spirit, you call it to come into you for the purposes of absorbing its power or attributes. Not to be confused with an “Evocation” which brings a power or spirit before you.
J
K
KABBALAH -
Kabbalah is an esoteric method, discipline, and school of thought in Jewish mysticism.
KUNDALINI ENERGY -
The ultimate life-force energy. It is the source of creative power, spiritual gifts, and divine feminine energy.
L
LESSER KEY OF SOLOMAN -
Also known as Clavicula Salomonis Regis or Lemegeton, is an anonymous grimoire on demonology. It was compiled in the mid-17th century, mostly from materials a couple of centuries older. It is divided into five books—the Ars Goetia, Ars Theurgia-Goetia, Ars Paulina, Ars Almadel, and Ars Notoria.
LIMINAL -
Relating to a transitional stage or process, or the point of a boundary or threshold. A liminal time would be considered sunrise or sunset, liminal places may be considered certain places of power. May also refer to a person’s trance state. “In between.”
LITEROMANCY -
A form of divination based on written words / handwriting.
LITHOMANCY -
Divination by the use of precious or semi-precious stones, gemstones, or normal stones by either interpreting the light they reflect or how they fall.
M
MALEFICIUM -
An act of witchcraft performed with the intention of causing damage, harm or injury to the target.
MATHERS TABLE -
The table of Hebrew and Chaldee letters is a tabular display of the pronunciation, appearance, numerical values, transliteration, names, and symbolism of the twenty two letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. Used as a primary reference for basic understanding of the Hebrew alphabet as it applies to the Kabbalah.
MEDIUMSHIP -
The practice of mediating communication between spirits of the dead and living human beings.
MESMERISM -
Named after Franz A. Mesmer, it uses mainly non-verbal actions like gaze, fascination, passes (strokes), and other methods to instate trance and affect the body’s energy field.
MYSTICISM -
The practice of religious ecstasies (religious experiences during alternate states of consciousness), together with whatever ideologies, ethics, rites, myths, legends, and magic may be related to them.
N
NECROMANCY -
The practice of communicating with the dead, especially for purposes of divination.
NEW AGE -
A broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture, with an interest in spirituality, mysticism, holism, and environmentalism.
O
OCCULTISM -
Belief in or study of the action or influence of supernatural or paranormal powers or beings.
ONEIROMANCY -
The interpretation of dreams in order to divine the future.
OUIJA -
A device consisting of a small board or planchette, on legs that rests on a larger board marked with words, letters, and numbers. The fingers of spiritualists, mediums, or others rest lightly upon it as it moves over the board to answer questions, give messages, etc.
P
PAGANISM -
Polytheistic, nature worshipping religions of the pre-Christian/Judeo era. A pagan can follow any particular pantheon (or “set” of gods and goddesses - ie. Greek, Roman, Norse, etc.) that they choose. A pagan can be a witch, but not all witches are pagans.
PALMISTRY -
The art or practice of interpreting a person’s character or predicting their future by examining the lines and other features of the hand, especially the palms and fingers.
PENDULUM -
A pendulum is a weighted object suspended from a chain/string. It is used by observing the movements in relation to the methods that are applied (pendulum mat, yes or no questions, etc.)
PENTACLE -
A five pointed star within a circle, the points represent the four elements (earth, air, fire & water) and ether (spirit) and the circle represents eternity.
PLANETARY HOURS -
Based on an ancient astrological system, the Chaldean order of the planets. This is the sequence: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon - in that order, repeating endlessly. See the planetary hours article in our blog to learn more.
To be continued...