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by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717
RikJohnson@juno.com

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RACK-- A method of extracting a confession by tieing the suspected Witchs' hands and feet to opposite ends of a table. The rope is then drawn taught by means of a winch, thus disolcating the joints and causing great pain. Many examples of the Rack still exist and the contemporary illustrations usually show a christian priest overseeing this aspect of god's love for all men.

RAISING ENERGY, RAISING POWER-- The internal process where the Witch will produce energy from within their own body for use in magick. In some cases, the Witch will use their own energy to tap into an external source which they will then use.

RECEPTIVE HAND-- The hand from which energy is normally received. In most people this is the left hand. See projective hand and circut,

RECORDER-- The scribe or secretary of the Coven.

RECULADE-- (Gardnerian) An archaic term that means 'Removed from the Coven'. It means that this person has performed some act that has forced his HP/S to remove them from membership of the Coven and to strike their name from the Coven records. Unlike Banishment, being Reculed allows that person to start over with a fresh slate and join another Coven with no record of them ever having been in a Coven before. The advantages are that if you are reculed from Coven "A" because you did something bad but not criminal, you can learn your lesson, have your records destroyed and join Coven "B" as a completely new person without prejudice. Although Coven "A" may and probably will refuse to Guest with Coven "B" while you are there. But Coven "A" will not tell Coven "B" anything about you or that you were ever Initiated or a member of their Coven. It is as if you had never existed in Wicca or as if you had vanished off the face of the earth for that period of time. Refer to Shunning for other referances.

RECULE-- (Gardnerian) To retire. See bacare.

REDE -- The rules or Laws of the Craft. They should not be considered to be absolutes, but rather guidelines to be read in tune with the times and conditions that are here and now.

REINCARNATION-- The belief that we will all be reborn upon the earth in another body and life after we die. It is the belief of Traditional Witches that if we are 'good' and hold the Sabbats and Esbats, we will be reborn among our loved ones and be Witches again. But if we are 'bad' we will be reborn among the Cowan or strangers and have to, once again, search for the Craft and the Goddess. Since most of us who found the Craft in the 60's and 70's remember the years of searching and lonleness we endured before finding a Coven, this is an important concept.
The proper name for reincarnation is metempsychosis.

RELIGION-- The system of beliefs, myths, morals and Gods that a person follows to make up their faith. Compare with Superstition.

RESPONSIBILITY, LAW OF-- A Wiccan rule that states that if you harm another person, you MUST make restitution. It doesn not mean, "I'm sorry I smashed your car, please forgive me." which is when you have harmed another and you want the victim to take away your pain because you are unwilling to repair the damage you have done. Rather it means, "I'm sorry I got angry and told a lie about you, I'll contact everyone and tell them I lied and tell them the truth in an effort to repair your reputation."
This applies for every act from replacing that ceramic dragon you accidently broke when your sleeve knocked it off the shelf to stopping that jerk you taught magick to from cursing his neighbor.

RETREAT-- A method of going off to a lonely place for solitude and meditation. It generally refers to a spiritual place and goal.

RETURN, LAW OF-- That rule of magick that states that any action will cause the actor to receive that or similar energy back three times as strong. This can be explaoned with the mathematical formula: E{s} => 3E{r}*. Magickally, this means that you should be careful of what spells you cast. See also Three-fold law.
*The energy of a spell will rebound to you with three-fold intensity causing you to receive thrise whatever action you performed.

RIGHT BRAIN-- That part of the brain that deals with patterns, poetry and spirituality.

RIGHT HAND PATH-- Concerned with good works.

RITE-- See ritual.

RITES OF PASSAGE-- Those Wiccan rituals that celebrate Birth, Puberty, Adulthood, Marriage, Divorce and death.

RITUAL-- The action of attracting the Gods or other similar forces of nature by means of chants, gestures and invocations to produce a spiritual or magickal goal.

ROADOMANCY-- Divination by stars.

ROBE-- A ritual garment that is often worn by Witches when Skyclad is undesirable. It is best if they are made of cotton or wool as silk and synthetic materials will hinder, change or stop the energy from being raised.

ROBIN HOOD-- See Hood, Robin.

ROODMAS, RUDEMAS-- See Beltane.

RUNES-- 1) The alphabets and signs that are used by Witches. Theban is the most common and popular among Traditional Witches though Futhark is popular among Eclectics.
2) A set of chanted words in rhyme to produce a goal. A spell or prayer spoken in rhyme.
3) A system of divination using Norse alphabet engraved or painted on small tiles randomly tossed and interpreted.

RUNIC-- The norse alphabet. See FUTHARK.
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To contact me or to request topics to be covered, send to RikJohnson@juno.com
by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717

Return to the Home Page.
Return to the Miscellenous Page.
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