GLOSSARY OF TERMS COMMONLY USED IN WICCA                 Copyright 1992 by Rowan Moonstone and Durwydd MacTara        AKASHA- the spiritual ether (or Aether); the omnipresent      fifth occult element which embraces the other four- earth,      air, fire, and water; and from which they stem. This is the      realm of "pattern" or causality, from which the realm the      normally thought of "five senses manifests.  Some define it      is the "other" of the "two worlds" that the witch or      magician walks between.        ARADIA- Daughter of the Goddess Diana, and a name for the      Goddess used by Italian Witches or Strega, commonly used in      many Wiccan traditions today.        ASPECTING- Any advanced magickal activity in which a practitioner      manifests a particular aspect of the Goddess or God, in thought,      feelings, behavior, appearance, etc.;  Often as a direct result of a      "Drawing Down".  Often a minor variation of this phenomena occurs with      the selection of a "Magical Name", of Craft Name.        ASPECTS- Forms, facets, or personas of Deity:  for example, Brighid,      Iseult,Eos, and Kore are all aspects of the Maiden, and the Maiden      is an aspect of the Goddess.        ATHAME- black handled, double edged dagger. Principally used      to cast and dissolve the circle, for which purposes it is      interchangeable with the magic sword. A tool of the      "Element" of Fire in the Georgian Tradition and some others.        BELTANE- May Eve festival. One of the Ancient Celtic "Fire      Festivals." on this night, the cattle were driven between      two bonfires to protect them from disease. Couples wishing      for fertility would " jump the fires" on Beltane night. Also      the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the "Wheel of the      Year" is returned to the Goddess.  This Festival also marks      the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from      those of Maiden to Mother.        BOOK OF SHADOWS- Traditionally hand copied book of rituals,      recipes, training techniques, guidelines, and other      materials deemed important to a Witch or a coven. Each      tradition has it's own standard version of the Book and each      Witch's book will be different as he or she adds to it with      time from many different sources. Only another Witch can see      your book of shadows. Also, traditionally, it may never      leave your hands or possession until death, when it should      be destroyed, or (in some traditions) returned to the coven      to be disposed of.        BURNING TIMES- a term used by some Witches for the period of      persecution in the Middle Ages and later. It is in fact a      misnomer in some places, as Witches were only burned in      Scotland, and on the continent of Europe. In England and the      U.S., they were hanged.  CANDLEMAS- Festival held on Feb. 1. One of the 4 Celtic      "Fire Festivals. Commemorates the changing of the Goddess      from the Crone to the Maiden. Celebrates the first signs of      Spring. Also called "Imbolc" (the old Celtic name).  This is      the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the      return of the sun are noted, i.e. the first sprouting of      leaves, the sprouting of the Crocus flowers etc.  In other      words, it is the festival commemorating the successful      passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural      year.This Festival also marks the transition point of the      threefold Goddess energies from those of Crone to Maiden.      CARDINAL POINTS- North, South, East, and West, marked in the      Georgian Tradition by candles of green, red, yellow, and      blue, respectively. The Circle is drawn to connect these      four points.            CHALICE- one of the tools of the Witch. Placed on the altar      to represent the element of Water.            CHARGE OF THE GODDESS- The Traditional words of the Goddess      to her followers, or "hidden children". Normally declaimed      by the HPS at every coven Circle.            CIRCLE- the area in which the magickal worship and spells      takes place. Can also be used to designate a particular      group of Witches or Pagans such as "Silver Acorn Circle".            CONE OF POWER- power raised in the circle by the Witches      assembled, and sent out into the world to work magick, is      usually visualized as being retained and built in the form      of a "cone" prior to release.            COVEN- an organized group of Witches, led by a High      priestess and/or a High Priest who meet regularly for      worship and fellowship. The traditional membership is 13,      but in fact most covens number considerably less. 3 is the      minimum in the Georgian Tradition. In Middle English,      "Covin" a group of confederates;  In Old French "Covine" a      band or group with a single purpose; Latin "Com"-together,      "Venire"-to come or move.            COVENSTEAD- regular meeting place for a coven. Usually the      home of the High Priestess or High Priest.            COWAN- a non-Witch. Formerly used in a very derogatory      manner.  Still used in Masonic Ritual to indicate the non      initiate and/or pretender to "real craft".  Not often used      today among most Witches. COYOTE ENERGY- trickster energies. Named for the American      Indian Trickster, Coyote, who tricks man into learning what      he needs to learn. Applies to one who constantly jokes and      clowns.  Also applies to the concept of "Holy Fool" in many      traditions.            CROSS QUARTER DAYS- The modern name for the Celtic Fire      Festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas.            DEOSIL- clockwise, or sunwise. Traditional direction for      working "building" magick.            DRAWING  DOWN THE MOON- Ritual invocation of the spirit of      the Goddess into the body of the High Priestess by the High      Priest.            DIVINATION- magical method of exploration or inquiry into a      situation via such methods as Tarot cards, runestones, I-      Ching, etc.      ELEMENTS- Earth, air, fire, and water, plus spirit, which      includes them all. These are regarded as realms or      categories of nature (both material and non-material) and      are not to be confused with the physicists table of      elements, which the modern witch, of course, accepts.            ESBAT- weekly or biweekly meeting of a coven. Traditionally      held either on the full moon or the new moon.            FAMILIARS- Either a Witch's pet animal which has been      trained  to be a magickal helper, or an artificially      created "elemental"  which performs the same functions as      the animal friend.            FIVEFOLD KISS, FIVEFOLD SALUTE- The Witches' ritual salute,      with kisses; (1) on each foot, (2) on each knee, (3) above      the pubic hair, (4) on each breast, and (5) on the lips-      really 8 kisses in all. It is only used within the Circle,      but the words that go with it are the origin of "Blessed      Be."            GARDNERIANS- Tradition of Witchcraft descended from the      teachings of Gerald Gardner.            GNOMES- an "entity" or "elemental" that dwells in the plane      of Earth or is associated with the EARTH Element.            GREAT RITE- The rite which is the main feature of the third      degree initiation, and which is also laid down for certain      festivals.  It is sexual in nature, but may be `actual'      (and private to the couples concerned) or symbolic, as the      participants wish.            HALLOWS- name used by some traditions for Samhain, or      Halloween       Artwork & Border Tile ©Nene Thomas ~ www.nenethomas.com Design & HTML Linda♥M @ Beautiful Backgrounds