ELDER: has various meanings in different branches of the Craft, but usually refers to one of advanced degree. In some traditions, it means one who has been a third degree for more than a year. 1.) In some three degree traditions, a Witch of Third degree, who has spent 3 years and 3 days in formal training. 2.) A Coven Leader. 3.) a Witch who has enough knowledge to preserve and teach their tradition to neophytes from scratch, without benefit of books. 4.) In Y Tylwyth Teg it means one who has obtained a fourth level initiation.

ELDER ONES: in Pagan mythology worldwide, it is noted that there were advanced races who either died or migrated into other lands (planes) either before the coming of mankind or very early in the history of the Earth. They were considered to have great magickal powers and high spirituality. See also Loa.

ELEMENTALS: naturally created beings which have sentience and usually intelligence. These include gnomes (Earth), sylphs (air), undines (water) and salamanders (fire), plus a great number of nature elementals such as fairies, leprechauns, tree maidens, dragons, peris, djins, sylvans, satyrs, fauns, elves, dwarfs, trolls, kobolds, brownies, nixies, pixies, goblins, manikins, moss people, etc.

ELEMENTS: the four basic manifestations of matter; earth, fire, water and air; also spirit or ether. These 4 essences are the building blocks of the Universe. Everything that exists, or has the potential to exist, contains one or more of these energies. These 4 elements formed from Primal Essence or power, Akasha. AND for the Practitioner who wonders, "What the HECK are those people talking about?" Element God name Archangel King Elemental Fire Elohim Michael. Djin Salamander Air. Jehovah Raphael Paralda Sylphs Water Cheieh Gabriel Nichsa Undines Earth Agla Uriel Ghob Gnomes

ELF FIRE: fire used to light the balefire; produced without the use of metals; also called need fire; It also describes the fire which is kept all year long by the Elders and is used to light the balefire at the end of the year which is used to light the new elf fire.

ELF LIGHTS: are made of little cairns of stone, with inside room for a small candle in its glass holder. The stones are staggered so that when lit, the light shines through. A loose stone covers the top a few inches above the flame. These are wonderful little garden lights!

ELIXIR: the liquid made by placing a gem or crystal, in a glass of water for a specified length of time, then drank. TAKE CRYSTAL OUT FIRST!

ELOHIM: in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated to `God'. However this is incorrect, or maybe only partially true! ELO - is feminine; while HIM - is masculine. `Elohim' then, is a divine being existing in 1 entity of both masculine & feminine OR can be a reference in the plural meaning. See: Genesis 2:26' Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness....' (Note: vs27, then `So God created man in his OWN image...' Just another little Bible & scholarly reason to debate religions over! Elohim would apparently represent Nature in Balance, you can't separate the masculine & feminine. Like you have both positive & negative, etc. TWO SIDES to make ONE WHOLE.

ELVENFOLK: these are descendants of the Witch gods, or Mighty Ones; the Prytani or Faeryfolk. EMPATH: a person who can feel the emotions of other animate (living) entities, such as human, plant or animal. Some include inanimate objects as well under this word. NOTE: see Psychometry: inanimate objects.

EMPOWER / EMPOWERING: the movement of personal energies into herbs, stones, and other objects. These tools, or objects, are then used for magick. In herbs, empowering aligns the energies within the herbs with magical goals. ENERGY: this is the natural vibration or power that we tap into or raise, in our spells & rituals. 1) There are those who think of the Energy, as something they raise or generate. 2) Others think this Energy is there for the trained person to tap into & direct.

ENFLEURAGE: a French perfumery term describing the process of extracting essential flower oils, with purified fat. Also known as POMMADE.

ENGLISH TRADITIONAL: See British Traditional

EPHEMERIS: an astrology term, it refers to a collection of precise dates & calculations, of when certain planets were where & when.

EQUINOX: Equinox: twice a year, VERNAL (Spring) & AUTUMNAL; the Sun is exactly over the Earth's middle or EQUATOR. This produces for one day the equal number of light & dark hours all over the world. These are two Pagan high holidays.

ESBAT: Pagan or Wiccan ceremonial time held between the high holidays and cross-quarter days; usually a full moon rite.

ESP / EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION: 1) beyond the senses. 2) An awareness of events or emotions not present to the physical senses. Usually included is 4 types: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis. 3) acronym for extra sensory perception.

ESSENTIAL OIL: the fragrant `blood' or liquid of a plant, usually flower.

ETHEREALS: see Essential oil.

EVIL: is not a word or thought used much by Wiccans. And more associated with the Christian & Satan beliefs.

EVIL EYE: laying a curse upon a person by looking at them.

EVOCATION: calling up elemental forces; call up spirits or other nonphysical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance. Opposite of Invocation.

EXORCISM: 1) traditionally, the process of driving out negativities or spirits (demons). 2) in herb magick, a powerful purification.

FAERIES: A term that in reality is used to cover many things that are of absolutely no relation to the true faerie folk. True faeries are members of the Tylwyth Teg or the Daoine Sidhe. I'm sure it can be used a bit more broadly than that, but I'm biased.

FAIRY TRADITION: 1.) Wiccan tradition practiced by Victor Anderson and the late Gwydion Pendderwen, and their students. Sometimes called Old Fairy. See also Welsh Tradition. 2.) Wiccan practice derived from the teachings of Starhawk sometimes called New Fairy.

FAMILIAR: a magickal equal but animal partner, it shows unusual psychic & intelligent qualities with its human counterpart. Not merely a pet. And sometimes a created Being from the Will of the person.

FASCINATION: casting a spell on someone when in close contact by using power only.

FEALTY: dedication of service and friendship to another.

FESTIVALS: times for Pagan and Witch celebrations; high holidays and cross-quarter days. FETCH: 1) The spiritual or ghostly double of an animal or person. 2) An apparition. 3) semi-tangible human or animal shape formulated by the Witch's power sent to do the bidding of the Witch. FEY: a Welsh term for fairy-like qualities, usually of clairvoyant nature.

FITH FATH: Gaelic for a small image of clay or wax formed in the image of a specific human being for the purpose of Magick.

FIVEFOLD KISS: this goes with the `Blessed Be..' blessings & you kiss what you are blessing...(1) each foot (2) each knee (3) at `private area' (4) each breast (5) lips... which really gets you 8 kisses but in 5 areas.

FLAME DANCING: An exercise in Mind Control attempting to control from a distance, a candle flame; to make it burn steady & still, or `dance'. The ultimate goal being to snuff the candle.

FOLK MAGIC: the practice of combining Personal Power with Natural Energies, to create a specific purpose.

FRITH: old Norse word meaning `Peace'. (Wizard)

FUNDAMENTALIST OR FUNDY: a politically right-wing religious conservative. They are the `know-it-alls' of the Christian belief structure & very aggressive. Disrespectful & ignoring of others rights to freedom of religion, they disapprove even of other Christians. The Bible is IT! Literally, & no discussion about it.

GAIAN: a term which recognizes the Earth Goddess Gaia, as a living, breathing organism. Then everything else, is PART of it, rather than APART from it.

GARDNERIAN TRADITION: a Wiccan tradition originated in the 40's and 50's by Gerald Gardner with the help of Doreen Valiente and others; This tradition is Celtic in origin, encompassing rituals as practiced in the south of England. It incorporates within its rituals and philosophy, certain ideas first published by Charles Leland (Aradia - Gospel of the Witches). It also refers to one who traces linage directly back to Gerald Gardner and one of his High Priestesses in an unbroken line. There are three known fully recognized Gardnerian lineages in the United States. In the U.S., The Long Island Line, The Kentucky Line and the Donna Cole Line are most prominent. A fourth line, the emerging California Line, is an offshoot of the Long Island Line. Gardnerians in the United States tend to be highly attentive to lineage and its traceability. Some Gardnerian Witches will not recognize the initiation of another if the initiation was through a male. GEAS: a Magickal Obligation that a Welsh Witch places him or herself under in order to prove his or her honor for the Gods. This is a very misunderstood term. The Witch may voluntarily accept a Geas, but a Geas can also be placed upon someone whom you wish to obligate. Also, a Sacred Trust. GEOMANCER is someone who practices the art of GEOMANCY, which is a system of divination that consists of making a random number of marks either on paper or a shallow box filled with earth, then constructing a pattern of dots from those marks, which are then interpreted for the answer. If you would like to know more about how this is done, The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie has a chapter about it. It's a rather complicated system, and it's used mostly in connection with ceremonial magic.

GESTURE: the hand or arm movement, that is the silent counterpart to spoken words or music.

GOBLET: cup or chalice.

GOD: male aspect which pervades all of the universe in vast interrelationships of every possible sort, providing impetus, creative spark and more. It is capable of being perceived in many ways depending on the perceiver and transcends time as well as space. Most perceptions of the great gods are valid in their own aspects and are or can be of considerable value. Pagans often choose the archetypal god of the waxing year as patron of all which is new and growing, and the god of the waning year as patron of all which ripens and declines, before the inevitable rebirth. Such perceptions enable us to form close emotional and magickal links with godhood. He is the divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess. Often depicted as the Green God of Summer and the Horned God of Winter. He is seen as the Sun, without which we couldn't survive. His life, then is honored through the passing seasons of the year. Wild animals are his special concern and His aspect of the Horned God, with antlered helmet was the Christian source of titling Pagans as Satan worshippers. The God's domains are the untouched natural lands whether mountain or desert or forest. The stars, too are his. And his symbols include: sword, horns, spears, wand, knife, arrow, and sickle.

GODDESS: the divine Universal Mother, source of fertility, wisdom and love. Often depicted in 3 in 1 aspects of: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Her gift is Life and She is all Nature. The moon is her symbol, as are the cauldron, mirror and five-petaled flowers, to name but a few. Also called the Goddess Mother. The 4th Face of the Goddess: is that which is never seen, the dark side of the moon; the Face of Death. Some say the source of Her power. She is the female aspect which pervades all of the universe in vast interrelationships of every possible sort, providing impetus, creative spark and more. It is capable of being perceived in many ways depending on the perceiver and transcends time as well as space. Most perceptions of the great goddesses are valid in their own aspects and are or can be of considerable value. Pagans often choose the archetypal maiden goddess as patroness of things fresh and new, the mother or lady as patroness of challenge, passion, creation and nurturing and the crone goddess for patroness of wisdom and judgment. Such perceptions enable us to form close emotional and magickal links with goddesshood. (Y)