Glossary of Magick Terms
The glossary includes basic terms you will come across while practicing. Many of the less used terms, usually reserved for major rituals, won't be included.
If you feel a term is missing from this list, please e-mail us.
- altar: a flat surface used for performing rituals or making magic
- amulet: an object charmed for the protection of the wearer
- astrology: a science that uses the position of the stars at the time of a person's birth to predict a possible future
- athame: traditional double-edged knife used during rituals and in magic.
- banish: to cast something out by magic, usually negative spirits or energies
- Beltane: one of the eight Pagan holidays; celebrated on May 1st.
- besom: broom; is used to symbolically sweep the circle clean before ritual
- bind: to restrict the power and movement of people, entities, and energies; primarily used as a defense against attack
- Book of Shadows: where a Witch keeps their rituals, spells, and other important information
- cauldron: kettle used to for burning paper, holding candles, and brewing potions
- cleansing: removing negative energies from an object, person, or place
- consecrating: purifying and blessing an object, person, or place
- coven: a group of Witches that work together
- deosil: to move in a clockwise direction
- divination: using tools to see the possible future; tarot, I Ching, and runes are examples of tools for divination
- equinox: the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth
- esbat: ritual observance of the new and full moons
- familiar: a physical or astral creature that has a bond with a Witch
- grimoire: sometimes considered the same as a Book of Shadows, it is a textbook on magic
- handfasting: a Pagan marriage ritual
- Imbolc: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated on February 2nd. Also known as Candlemas.
- Litha: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated between June 20th and 23rd. Also known as Summer Solstice.
- Lughnasadh: one of the eight Pagan holidays; celebrated on August 1st.
- Mabon: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated September 20th and 23rd. Also known as Fall Equinox.
- magic(k): drawing energy to create a desired result
- Ostara: one of the eight Pagan holidays; celebrated between March 19th and 23rd. Also known as the Spring Equinox.
- pantheon: a group of deities. See Goddesses and Gods for lists of deities from the different cultures.
- pentagram: a five-pointed star with one point upright; a symbol of the Goddess
- pentacle: a circled pentagram and talisman of protection
- Sabbat: the eight Pagan holidays that celebrate the seasons. They are also days of increased power when performing spells or rituals.
- Samhain: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated on October 31st.
- solstice: either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator
- solitary: a Witch who practices without a coven
- widdershins: counterclockwise
- Yule: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated between December 20 and 23rd.
If you feel a term is missing from this list, please e-mail us.
