94 terms for the curious

Pagan & Witchcraft Glossary

Common words in Paganism, Wicca, Heathenry, magic and the occult, explained for newcomers, families, friends and neighbors.

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Akashic Recordsconcept: A metaphysical idea of a universal record of every soul's thoughts, words and deeds, said to be accessible through meditation.
Altartool: A dedicated surface holding sacred objects, offerings, candles and images of deities or ancestors; the focal point of personal practice.
Amulettool: An object worn or carried for protection, such as a stone, charm or symbol, meant to ward off harm.
Ancestor Venerationpractice: Honoring one's beloved dead, family or spiritual, with offerings, altars, remembrance and conversation.
Animismbelief: The view that spirits or souls dwell in natural things: trees, rivers, stones, animals and places.
Ásatrúpath: A modern Heathen religion honoring the Norse gods (Æsir and Vanir), ancestors and land spirits.
Athametool: A ritual knife, usually double-edged and black-handled, used to direct energy and cast circles. It is not used for cutting.
Auraconcept: The subtle energy field believed to surround living beings, sometimes perceived as color.
Banishingpractice: A ritual act that removes unwanted energies, influences or spirits from a person or place.
Beltanesabbat: May 1st fire festival of fertility, union and blooming life, often celebrated with a Maypole and bonfires.
Besomtool: A ritual broom, used to sweep sacred space clean of stagnant energy (not for flying).
Blessed Bephrase: A common Pagan greeting, farewell and blessing.
Book of Shadowstool: A Witch's or coven's personal book of rituals, spells, recipes and notes. Also called a BoS.
Cakes and Alepractice: A ritual sharing of food and drink near the end of a ceremony to give thanks and help participants ground.
Casting a Circlepractice: Creating a consecrated boundary of sacred space before ritual or magic, usually by walking it clockwise.
Cauldrontool: A three-legged pot symbolizing the womb of the Goddess, transformation and rebirth; used for fire, brews or scrying.
Censertool: A heat-safe vessel for burning incense or resin during ritual; also called a thurible.
Chakraconcept: From Hindu and yogic tradition: energy centers along the body, commonly counted as seven, used in energy work.
Chalicetool: A ritual cup representing the element of Water and the divine feminine.
Chargingpractice: Infusing an object, such as a crystal, candle or charm, with intention or energy.
Cleansingpractice: Clearing unwanted energy from a person, space or tool using smoke, salt, water, sound or visualization.
Closed Practiceconcept: A tradition reserved for members of a specific culture or initiatory lineage, such as Hoodoo or Vodou, that outsiders should not adopt without invitation.
Cone of Powerpractice: Energy raised by a group through chant, dance or drumming and released toward a shared goal.
Correspondencesconcept: Symbolic associations between colors, herbs, stones, days, planets and intentions used to design spells and rituals.
Covengroup: A small group of Witches, traditionally thirteen or fewer, who practice and often train together.
Cowanphrase: An older term for a non-initiate or outsider to a Witchcraft tradition.
Craft, Thephrase: A common name for Witchcraft.
Cronedeity: The elder aspect of the Triple Goddess, associated with wisdom, death, the waning moon and Samhain.
Deitybelief: A god or goddess. Pagans may work with one, several or many.
Deosilpractice: Moving clockwise, sun-wise; used for building, blessing and casting.
Divinationpractice: Seeking insight or guidance through tools such as tarot, runes, pendulums, scrying or astrology.
Druidrypath: A modern spiritual path inspired by the ancient Celtic priestly class, emphasizing nature, the arts and wisdom.
Eclecticpath: A practice that draws from multiple traditions according to personal experience rather than following one lineage.
Elementsconcept: Earth, Air, Fire and Water, plus Spirit (Aether), the building blocks honored in much Pagan ritual.
Esbatpractice: A ritual gathering held on the full (or new) moon, distinct from the seasonal sabbats.
Evocationpractice: Calling a spirit or entity to appear outside oneself, typically within a ritual boundary.
Familiarconcept: A spirit or animal companion believed to aid a Witch in magical work.
Gardnerian Wiccapath: The initiatory Wiccan tradition founded by Gerald Gardner in England in the 1950s; a British Traditional Witchcraft lineage.
Grimoiretool: A book of magical instructions, spells and lore; historically, the old manuals of ceremonial magic.
Grounding & Centeringpractice: Techniques to balance personal energy and connect to the Earth before and after ritual.
Handfastingpractice: A Pagan wedding or commitment ceremony, named for binding the couple's hands with cord.
Heathenrypath: The umbrella for modern Germanic and Norse polytheist religions, including Ásatrú and related traditions.
Hedge Witchpath: A solitary Witch focused on herbalism, folk magic and spirit travel across the “hedge” between worlds.
High Priestess / High Priestgroup: Leaders of a coven, responsible for teaching, leading ritual and guiding members.
Imbolcsabbat: February 1st–2nd festival of returning light and early spring, sacred to the goddess Brigid.
Initiationpractice: A formal ritual of entry into a tradition, coven or degree of training.
Invocationpractice: Calling a deity or spirit into ritual space or into oneself.
Kemeticismpath: Modern religion honoring the gods of ancient Egypt, such as Isis, Ra and Anubis.
Kindredgroup: A Heathen group or community, similar to a coven or grove.
Lithasabbat: The Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, celebrating the sun at its height.
Lughnasadh / Lammassabbat: August 1st first-harvest festival of grain and bread, honoring the god Lugh.
Mabonsabbat: The Autumn Equinox, a second harvest and Pagan thanksgiving of balance and gratitude.
Magickpractice: Spelling used by many practitioners for ritual magic, to distinguish it from stage illusion: the art of creating change through will and intention.
Maiden, Mother, Cronedeity: The three faces of the Triple Goddess, linked to the waxing, full and waning moon.
Meditationpractice: Quieting and focusing the mind; a foundation for trance, energy work and magic.
Mundanephrase: Ordinary, everyday life or a non-magical person or object.
Neopaganpath: Another term for modern Pagan religions revived or created from the 19th century onward.
Offeringpractice: A gift to deities, spirits or ancestors, such as food, drink, flowers, incense, song or service.
Oracletool: A person or tool that delivers divine messages; also a type of illustrated divination deck.
Ostarasabbat: The Spring Equinox, celebrating balance, fertility and new growth; eggs and hares are classic symbols.
Paganpath: A follower of a polytheistic, nature-based or earth-centered religion; an umbrella for many paths.
Pantheonbelief: The family of gods belonging to a culture, such as the Greek, Norse or Celtic pantheons.
Pendulumtool: A weight on a chain or string used for yes/no divination and dowsing.
Pentacletool: A pentagram enclosed in a circle; a protective symbol and an altar tool representing Earth.
Pentagramconcept: A five-pointed star representing the elements and Spirit; point-up is the common Pagan form.
Polytheismbelief: Belief in, and worship of, many gods.
Quarterspractice: The four directions (East, South, West, North) called in ritual, often linked to the elements; also called Watchtowers.
Reconstructionismpath: An approach to Paganism that rebuilds ancient religions as faithfully as possible from historical sources.
Ritualpractice: A structured ceremony to honor the sacred, mark a season or work magic.
Runestool: Ancient Germanic alphabets, such as the Elder Futhark, used for writing, divination and magic.
Sabbatpractice: One of the eight seasonal festivals of the Wheel of the Year.
Samhainsabbat: Oct 31st–Nov 1st, the Witches' New Year, when the veil between worlds is thin; a time to honor the dead.
Scryingpractice: Divination by gazing into a reflective surface such as a mirror, water, crystal ball or fire.
Seidrpractice: Norse trance and seership practice, historically associated with the goddess Freya.
Shadow Workpractice: Exploring and integrating the hidden or rejected parts of oneself for healing and growth.
Sigiltool: A symbol created to represent a specific intention, then charged and released.
Skycladphrase: Practicing ritual nude, “clad by the sky”; a custom in some traditions, never expected at public events.
Smoke Cleansingpractice: Purifying a space or person with the smoke of herbs, resins or incense. (“Smudging” refers to specific Indigenous ceremonies.)
Solitarypath: A Pagan or Witch who practices alone rather than within a group.
Spellpractice: A focused magical working combining intention, words, action and materials to bring about a desired change.
Spirit Guidebelief: A helpful spirit, ancestor or being believed to offer guidance and protection.
Talismantool: An object charged to attract a specific energy or outcome, such as luck, love or prosperity.
Tarottool: A 78-card deck of Major and Minor Arcana used for divination, reflection and meditation.
Threefold Lawbelief: A Wiccan teaching that the energy one sends into the world returns three times over.
Traditionpath: A specific lineage or school of practice with its own teachings and customs.
Wandtool: A ritual tool, often of wood, used to direct energy; associated with Fire or Air depending on tradition.
Wardingpractice: Placing protective magical boundaries around a home, person or space.
Wheel of the Yearconcept: The annual cycle of eight sabbats marking the solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days.
Wiccapath: A modern Pagan Witchcraft religion, publicized by Gerald Gardner, that typically honors a Goddess and God.
Wiccan Redebelief: The central Wiccan ethic: “An it harm none, do what ye will.”
Widdershinspractice: Moving counterclockwise; used for banishing, releasing and closing circles in some traditions.
Witchpath: A practitioner of Witchcraft. Witches may or may not be Wiccan, and may be of any gender.
Year and a Dayphrase: The traditional period of study before initiation into many traditions.
Yulesabbat: The Winter Solstice, the longest night, celebrating the rebirth of the sun; source of many holiday customs.