Witchcraft Flashcards
May include Wicca specific terms
Animism
The belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence or soul.
Asperge
To cleanse and purify a space. This is usually done by spraying water around a room or using an herbal bundle to cleanse the space.
Athame
[Typically] A blunt, double-edged knife with a black handle, usually used in ceremonial magick and traditional Wiccan practices. It is associated with masculine energy as well as the elements of fire and air.
The athame is a powerful tool for defining limits and boundaries.
The athame cuts on a spiritual level and is not for cutting materials.
Do:
* Consecrate your athame.
* Keep your athame in a safe place.
* Cast circles with your athame.
* Draw pentagrams with your athame.
* Direct energies and cast spells with your athame.
Don’t:
* Cut or carve materials with your athame.
* Use your athame as a weapon.
* Abuse your athame; Consider a wand for gentler applications.
Pentagram
Star
The five-pointed star is a symbol of power and protection in Wicca and other Neopagan traditions.
An invoking pentagram is used when we wish to draw something to us. Meanwhile, a banishing pentagram is used to repel or send something away.
Boline
A [typically] smaller, white-handled knife, called a boline, is the tool of choice when cutting ingredients or carving surfaces.
It is used for practical purposes such as harvesting herbs, inscribing candles with symbols or sigils, or cutting physical cords
Balefire
An open fire, usually used in a ritual or spell. Balefires are lit during pagan festivals such as the sabbats (witch’s holidays).
Besom
A broom made of twigs tied around a stick. Used in cleansing rituals and to invite beneficial energies to a space.
The most common use of brooms is to sweep away negative energies, thereby cleansing and purifying the space. Typically, the negative energy gets swept out of the front door, while practitioners practice rhythmic sweeping and chant a spell.
Brooms over the door are known to ward off harmful gossip, unwanted guests, and even curses.
Blot
A communal event where animal sacrifice is used as an offering to a deity or god. Members of the ritual feast on the sacrifice in celebration. In today’s age, sacrificing a live animal is less common, there will be lots of good food and wine in its place.
Burning Times
A name given to the days of the Reformation, Inquisition, etc., when Witches were tried and executed by inquisitors, sometimes burned at the stake.
Casting a Circle
To project a circle or cone of energy where the practitioner will contain the energy generated by their ritual or magick.
Cense
To perfume something ritually with the odor of burning incense, such as a room, person, or object.
Charge
Intentionally passing a specific energy or intention to an object, person, or space. Items that have been charged are sacred or consecrated for a specific purpose.
Charm
From the Latin carmen meaning “song, incantation,” but came to be a generic term referring to any type of magick.
As a noun, it commonly refers to a small object that protects its wearer from evil.
As a verb, it commonly refers to refers to the act of using magick to exert control over a person.
Conjure
Originally had to do with the taking of oaths. Its magickal associations came when it was used to refer to binding demons to one’s will. In time, “conjurer” became a generic term for a magick-user.
Covenstead
A meeting space for witches to gather as a Coven.
Craft Name
A name chosen by the practitioner for themselves within the magickal and spiritual community. This name can be a representation of their craft, abilities, interests or can sometimes be given to them by other members of their coven or elders.
Deosil
The clockwise motion of directing energy during a spell or ritual. This can be done with your hand, a wand, a knife, etc.
Elementals
Personified spirits of each Element.
Elementals are considered interdimensional beings, which means that they can move through different planes. Likewise, they maintain a strong bond with Nature, which is why many cultures consider them protectors or guardians of the earth.
- The entities that live among the rocks of the Earth are Gnomes.
- The beings of the Water are called Undines.
- The creatures of the Fire are known as Salamanders.
- The elementals of the Air are designated by the name of Sylphs.*
Esbat
Meeting of a coven, outside of the Sabbats, where healing, feasts, psychic work, and rituals take place, sometimes in the Full Moon but not necessarily.
Each of the 13 Full Moons is a celebration called an “Esbat”, an excellent opportunity to perform rituals, connect with Nature, and with other Witches.
Define
Esoteric
From Ancient Greek esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle.” It often refers to occult orders and belief systems like Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and Rosicrucianism, whose teachings are not shared outside of a group of initiates.
Equinox
Happens twice a year, when the duration of the day is equal to the duration of the night (12 hours each). The equinoxes occur around March 21st and September 21st and correspond to spring and autumn.
Evil Eye
Curse
A particular look or stare that is believed to bring bad luck for the person at whom it is directed, for reasons of envy or dislike. It is a curse or legend believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, and usually given to a person when they are unaware.
Evil Eye; Nazar
Evil eye talismans, or nazar in Arabic, mean “attention” or “vision.” They’re in the shape of an eye and are typically the color blue, though you may also find them in colors, including red, pink, green, white and black. People who believe in the evil eye often wear an amulet to protect themselves from any negative energy or intent.
Evil eye colors
* Green: represents balance, health, joy and prosperity
* Pink: represents happiness and friendship
* Blue: represents good luck and warding off negative energy
* White: represents clarity and focus
* Black: represents protection
* Red: represnts protection against envy and malevolent intentions
Familiar
An entity that has a spiritual bond with a Witch on a higher plane; Commonly found in animal form, a Familiar is a spiritual entity that aids a witch in their practice. These Familiar spirits could take on nearly any form, sometimes human likeness. Sometimes the Familiar was described as a grotesque creature of fantasy, a mixture or blend of several creatures all rolled into one thing.
For a modern witch to lay claim to a Familiar spirit, the animal must have made a pact with the witch.
- Used as magickal shields
- A tool to assist in magickal workings
- Spirit taking on a physical form - usually animal
- Gifted or there was a deal made with the witch
- Comes and goes as they please
- Are magickally inclined
