Wiccan Word Definitons
The following is taken from " Living Wicca, A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham
Even though there are a lot of good books and authors on Wicca, Scott continues to be one of my favorites..
Athame: A Wiccan Ritual knife. It may possess a double-edged blade and a black handle. The athame is used to direct Personal Power during ritual workings. It is seldom used for actual, physical cutting. The term is of obscure origin: has many variant spellings among Wiccans, and an even greater variety of pronunciations.
Balefire: A fire laid and lit for magical or religious purposes, usually outdoors.
Bane: That which destroys life, is not useful, is poisonous, destructive or evil.
Beltane: A Wiccan religious festival, observed on April 30th, that celebrates the burgeoning fertility of the Earth ( and , for some Wiccans, the wedding of the Goddess and the God ). Synonyms include May Eve, Roodmas, Walpurgis Night and Cethsamhain.
Boline: The white-handled knife, used in Wiccan and magic Ritual, for practical purposes such as cutting herbs or piercing pomegranates Compare with Athame.
Blessing: The act of conferring positive Energy upon a person, place or thing. Its a spiritual or religious practice.
Book of Shadows: A collection of Wiccan Ritual information that usually includes religious rituals, magic and advice. There are many Books of Shadows: there is no one correct Book of Shadows.
Circle, Magic: A sphere constructed to Personal Power in which Wiccan rituals are usually enacted. The area inside the circle is seen as being common ground on which Wiccans and their Deities can meet. The term refers to the circle that marks the spheres penetration of the ground, for its extends both above and below it. The magic circle is created through magic.
Consecration: The act of conferring sanctity. In Wicca, tools used in religious and magical rites are consecrated with Energy during specific rituals.
Divine Power: The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life force; the ultimate source of all things. It is this energy that Wiccans contact during Ritual.
Divination: The magical are of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols.
Earth Power: That energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind, water and other natural objects. It is manifested Divine Power and can be utilized during magic to create needed change.
Empowering: The act of moving Energy into an object.
Esbat A Wiccan ritual occurring on any day other than the eight Sabbats, Esbats are often held on full moons, which are dedicated to the Goddess.
God, The: Generally, in Wicca, the God is the male principle; the perfect complement to the Goddess.
Hes often identified with the sun; with deserts and forests, and with wild animals. Some see Him as the Lord of Death and Resurrection.
Goddess, The: There are as many definitions of the Goddess as there are Wiccans. Generally, Shes seen as the creatress of the universe, the unfaltering, ultimate source of fertility, wisdom, love, compassion, healing and power. Often associated with the Moon, the seas and the Earth.
Handfasting: Within Wicca, a ritual joining of two human beings in a bond of love, and before the Goddess and God.
Imbolc: A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on February 1st or 2nd that marks the first stirring of Spring.
Intent: In magic, the goal of the working.
Invocation: An appeal or petition to a higher ( or powers ). Invocation is a method of establishing conscious ties with those aspects of the Goddess and God that dwell within us. Invocation seemingly invites Them to appear.
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