Q & A - If you have questions, we may have the answers- browse below and learn something new perhaps?
What is an Athame?
A cleansed and consecrated ritual blade. Usually double edged, and black handled. It is never used to cut anything on the physical plane therefore the blade is usually dull. Pronounced several ways - Ah-THAM-ee ATH-ah-may ah-THAW-may.
What is an Amulet?
A magically charged object which deflects specific, usually negative energies. A protective object.
What is an Aunkh?
An Egyptian hieroglyphic widely used as a symbol of life, love, and reincarnation. It is a cross with a looped top.
What are Cardinal Points?
North, East, South, and West. Symbolized by the circle in magic (which connects the points), the four elements, and the watchtower
What is a Cauldren?
Linked to witchcraft in the popular mind, it is feminine symbol of the goddess, as well as life, death, and rebirth.
What is a Boline?
A white-handled knife, used in magick and ritual for purposes such as cutting herbs or piercing a pomegranate.
What is The Book Of Shadows?
A term coined by Aleister Crowley for a book of rituals, recipes, journal entries, laws/rules, and other documents important to a witch or coven. Each Book of Shadows is different as the individual decides what is necessary for their book.. Also known as a BoS.
What is a Besom?
A bundle of twigs attached to a handle used to cleanse and purify sacred space.
What is Deosil?
Clockwise, the direction in which the shadow on a sundial moves as the Sun moves across the sky. Deosil is symbolic of life, positive magick, positive energies
What are Elements?
Usually - Earth, air, fire, water. The building blocks of the universe. Everything that exists contains one or more of these energies. Some include a fifth element - spirit or Akasha.
What is Futhark?
Runic alphabet used often in divination, its origins are Norse (Germanic). Divided into the elder Futhark and the younger Futhark (which has fewer runes). The name is derived from the first seven runes.
What is Grimorie?
A magickal workbook containing ritual information, formulas, magickal properties of natural objects and preparation of ritual equipment. Often used interchangeably with Book of Shadows.
Who is the Horned God?
One of the most prevalent God-images in Paganism, often mistaken for, or associated with, Satan. This is an incorrect assumption.
What is a Mojo Bag?
A small bag generally worn around the neck which is charged with energies towards a certain goal and filled with charms, herbs, and/or stones.
What is the Necronomicon?
A pseudo-grimoire. The book was invented by H.P. Lovecraft in fictional writing, but an unknown author wrote it and some people today still believe it is a valid source of occult information. There are true versions, tho, called "Book of the Dead", explorations of the spiritual side of life, that brought on by death.
What does Neo-Pagan mean?
Literally, new pagan. General term for modern followers of magickal, shamanistic, and polytheistic Earth-based religions.
What does the term New Religion mean?
Pagan term used in reference to Christianity.
What are Oghams ?
The magickal Celtic alphabet made up of 20 letters called fews, each representing a different kind of tree. Named after it's creator, the god of wisdom and learning, Ogham.
What does the term Paganism mean?
Any religion other than Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. Generally categorized as an earth religion. Most are polytheistic (have more than one god or goddess
What is Pallomancy?
Divination with a pendulum.
How do you use a Pendulum?
A divinatory device consisting of a string attached to a heavy object, such as a quartz crystal, root, or ring. The free end of the string is held in the hand, the elbows steadied against a flat surface, and a question is asked. The movement of the heavy object's swings determines the answer. It is a tool which contacts the psychic mind.
What does a Pentacle really represent?
It represents the five elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. It is a symbol of power and protection. The point of spirit is placed above others to symbolize that the spirit resides above the body. Many traditions hold that the second degree of learning is symbolized by the inverted pentagram, the physical above the spiritual. Unfortunately it is misunderstood due to the media and misinformation from Christian Churches, depicted as Satanic or Satan worship, when in actuality, most Pagan religions do not have the Devil in their beliefs.
What is a Pentagram?
The basic interlaces five-pointed star, often with one point up.
What are Runes?
A set of symbols used both in divination and magickal work. There are several types with different origins- Scandinavian, Norse, Germanic, Wiccan. All are a form of alphabet.
What is Scrying?
A method of divination. To gaze at or into an object (a quartz crystal sphere, a pool of water, reflections, a candle flame) to still the conscious mind in order to contact the psychic mind. Scrying allows the scryer to become aware of events prior to their actual occurrence, as well as to perceive past or present events through other than the five senses.
What is Thelema ?
Religious beliefs that are founded on magick within the Christian pantheon
What is the Three Fold Law?
Karmic-like principle that states that energies, events, ideas, or actions that are released are returned three times over.
What does Triple Goddess refer to?
One Goddess in all of her three aspects - Maiden, Mother, Crone.
Why do Pagans find the term Warlock offensive?
It is an antiquated term misused in reference to a male Witch. It means oath-breaker or Liar.
What is Wicca?
A modern Pagan religion with spiritual roots in the earliest expressions of reverence for nature. Some major identifying motifs are - reverence for both the Goddess and God; acceptance of reincarnation and magick; ritual observance of astronomical and agricultural phenomena; and the use of magickal circles for ritual purposes.
What is a Witch ?
A practitioner of magick, particularly that kind relating to herbs, stones, colors, wells, rivers, etc. It is used by most Wiccans to describe themselves, but not all witches are Wiccan
What were the "Burning Times" ?
Reference to a historical time from around 1000 C.E. through the 17th century when it is said that up to nine million people were tortured and burned by church and public officials on the assumption that they were the Christian version of Witches. This turned into an extremely profitable venture, as all land and property was seized from the accused individual and portions given to the accuser (in reward fashion) and the remainder seized by the church officials. Historians indicate that the majority of people tortured and murdered were woman and children.
What is a Censer?
A heat-proof container in which incense is burned. It is associated with the element air. Often a censer is used during ritual to "cense" an area, generally by moving the censer around the area and especially around the circle as a means of purification
What is a Chalice?
A ritual tool. A feminine symbol of the element water. This is used during ritual to be passed around, so that everyone in the coven may bring the Goddess "into" themselves.
What does Right Hand Path mean?
A term used for a person who practices magick that is selfless. White magick.
What is a Ritual, in Pagan terms?
A specific form of movement of generally predetermined actions
(both mental or physical), a manipulation of objects or inner processes
designed to produce desired effects. In religion ritual is geared
toward union with the Divine, similar to prayer. In magickal works it
produces a specific state of consciousness that allows the practitioner
to move energy toward needed goals.
What is Ritual Consciousness ?
A specific, alternate state of awareness necessary to the successful practice of magick. This state is achieved through the use of visualization and ritual. The conscious mind becomes attuned with the psychic mind, a state in which the practitioner senses energies, gives them purpose, and releases them toward a specific goal. It is a heightening of senses, an expanded awareness of the nonphysical world, a linking with nature and with Deity.
What are Ritual Tools?
General name for magickal tools used by a witch or magician. They vary by tradition and usually represent one of the elements.
What does the term Shade mean?
The spirit of a being which remains behind after death. Often a sort of 'residue', and sometimes a refusal of the soul to move on.
What is Shape Shifting?
A very esoteric practice involving changing the human form. This
can be practiced while on the astral plane, this alone is a great
accomplishment. It is said that one can also shapeshift on the physical
plane, though documented proof of this is reletively nonexistent. Few
books are published on the subject as it is an art mainly for certain
people, and teachers prefer to find these people and teach them their
art secretively rather than let the public know their ways.
