How to Become a Witch by Amber K. (large ebook reader txt) 📗

which such an experience is celebrated, and/or one is welcomed as a full member of a particular religious tradition or magickal group.

Invocation: Calling on a “higher spirit,” Deity, or divine aspect to manifest; also an invocatory prayer or incantation.

Lady: A title of respect for the Great Goddess, the overarching divine female power; sometimes used for female leaders or elders in the Craft.

Lammas: See Lughnassad.

Lamps of Art: These are the two candles on the altar that provide illumination and may represent Goddess and God (Spirit). Choose white, or gold and silver for God and Goddess, or use colors based on the season or on the nature of the magick being done.

Law of Return: Whatever energy is sent out is returned to the sender multiplied (some traditions say it is multiplied by three and therefore call this principle the Threefold Law).

Litha or Midsummer: One of the eight sabbats; celebrates the Summer Solstice and the power of the sun. Usually celebrated on the solstice, June 21–23.

Lord: A title of respect for the Great God, the overarching divine male power; sometimes used for male leaders or elders in the Craft.

Low Magick: See Thaumaturgy.

Lughnassad or Lammas: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates the first (grain) harvest and is held on or around August 1.

Lunar Cycle: The roughly twenty-nine-day cycle during which the moon waxes from dark to full and wanes to dark again; much magickal work is geared to the energies of the different phases of the moon.

Mabon: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates the second (fruit) harvest and the Wild Hunt, as well as the autumnal equinox. It is usually celebrated near the equinox, September 21–23.

Magick: The use of focused will and energy to accomplish a goal; also the art of changing consciousness at will.

Magickal Name: A new name chosen by an individual or conferred by a teacher, either when someone becomes Pagan or is initiated. Such names are often drawn from nature or mythology.

Maiden: (1) Part of the tripartite Goddess with Mother and Crone, that aspect of deity representing youth, vigor, and potential; (2) An office in a coven; assistant (sometimes apprentice) to the high priestess, often in charge of preparing the ritual space.

Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again: The traditional closing blessing of a Wiccan circle, a reminder that we have all met before, will part, and will meet again in this or another life.

Moon: Symbol of the triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone) in the Wiccan faith, and of feminine powers of intuition and magick, and of female physiological cycles which are attuned to her. However, in some religions, the moon is personified as a god (Sin for the Babylonians, Khonsu for the Egyptians).

Moon Rituals: Rituals timed to coincide with a particular phase of the moon, to use that particular lunar energy in magickal work. See also Esbat.

Mother: Part of the tripartite Goddess with Maiden and Crone; the part representing maturity, fertility, and nurturing.

Muggle: A term adopted from the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling meaning a non-magickal person. See also Cowan.

Neopagans: Modern Pagans; those who have revived or reconstructed the ancient pre-Christian religions of Europe.

New Moon: The moment when moon and sun are in conjunction. Magickally, a time to initiate new projects. Originally, however, the time when the new crescent first became visible.

North: One of the directions corresponding to the elements, usually earth.

Offering: A gift to Deity or a particular divine aspect given in gratitude for blessings received or expected. In Neopagan religions today, this might include the burning of incense, a libation of wine, work toward a worthy cause, or food for wildlife—but never blood sacrifices.

Opening the Circle: Sometimes called banishing the circle; gathering in the sphere of energy that was cast at the beginning of the ritual; returning the space to its mundane state.

Ordains: A set of traditional laws from an unknown source that guide the conduct of many Witches and covens. Modernized versions have been published, such as A New Wiccan Book of the Law by the late Lady Galadriel.

Ostara: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates spring, fertility (rabbits and eggs), and the vernal equinox; usually celebrated around March 21.

Outer Court: A group of Pagans affiliated with a coven, who gather regularly to celebrate the sabbats and hold educational and social events. Members of the outer court are not initiates (priestesses or priests) but are more similar to a congregation.

Pentacle: This is a disc of metal, ceramic, or wood with a pentagram and/or other symbols inscribed on it. It is a symbol of the earth element; sometimes salt or cakes are placed upon it, though it can also be used in rituals of protection as a magickal shield.

Pentagram: A starlike five-pointed figure of very ancient origin, used magickally for blessing, protection, and balance. The five points stand for the four elements plus spirit. Witches often wear a silver pentagram encircled, with one point up to symbolize spirit guiding and balancing the elements.

Priest: An initiated male Wiccan spiritual leader.

Priestess: An initiated female Wiccan spiritual leader.

Purification: An action that cleanses a person, space, or thing of negative energy, thoughts, or emotions.

Quarter Calls: The portion of a ritual when the elemental powers are invited to be present and lend their energies to the magickal working.

Quarters: A shorthand term for the four elemental powers and the directions they correspond to; the portions of the magickal circle influenced by the elements—each quarter is centered on its direction (e.g., the north quarter of the circle is actually from northwest to northeast, centered on north). Sometimes erroneously called the “corners”—but circles don’t have corners!

Raising Power: Drawing ambient energy (or specific energies such as solar or lunar) into the circle and the aura, using techniques such as drumming or chanting, preparatory to sending the energy to a specific goal.

Rite of Passage: A ritual that marks the transition of an individual from one stage of life into the next, usually witnessed by their community. Birthing ceremonies, coming-of-age rites, handfastings, and memorial services are examples.

Ritual: A planned series of events leading to the accomplishment