Glossary of 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.

• 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. See Days of Importance for more information.


• 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
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• 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. See Days of Importance for more information.


• Litha: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated between June 20th and 23rd. Also known as Summer Solstice. See Days of Importance for more information.


• Lughnasadh: one of the eight Pagan holidays; celebrated on August 1st. See Days of Importance for more information.


• Mabon: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated September 20th and 23rd. Also known as Fall Equinox. See Days of Importance for more information.


• 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. See Days of Importance for more information.


• 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. See Days of Importance for more information.


• Samhain: one of the eight Pagan holidays, celebrated on October 31st. See Days of Importance for more information.


• 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. See Days of Importance for more information.

If you feel a term is missing from this list, please e-mail us.