Ancestors: spirits of deceased relatives or guardians who guide, advise and watch over us.
Archetypes/Aspects: different traits or personalities of Deity/ies. Aspects of Deity include Crone, Warrior, Sage, Hunter, Mother, Lover, Trickster, etc.
Banishing: dismissing or driving out negative or unwanted energy.
Blessing: ritually cleansing or calling in positive energy.
Book of Shadows (BOS): A Witch's book of rituals, spells, recipes, invocations, etc. In old times, this was dangerous to keep (evidence for witch-hunters), thus many traditions were kept oral.
Cauldron: a Witch's iron or copper pot, used for brewing, cooking, etc., symbolic of feminine energy.
Censer: a heat-proof container used to hold charcoal for smouldering incense.
Chalice: a goblet or other drinking vessel for use in sacred space or in ritual
Circle: a ritually cleansed, blessed, and protected area used for ritual or magick.
Consecration: to drive out any negativity and charge with positive energy, to make pure.
Cords: used for certain types of spell-casting, or to show progress in magickal study (some covens award different colored cords at levels of study, which are then woven into a belt or other item, e.g. dedicant = white, first degree = red, second degree = black, etc.).
Crone: the third aspect of the Triple Goddess - see Deity Concepts.
Deity: God/Goddess/Supreme Being, a general term for the ultimate Holy Being/Energy.
Drawing Down: inviting Deity's energy or presence into the body of the High Priest/ess.
Druidism: a branch of Paganism originating with the ancient Celts.
Elementals: Spirits of Air, Fire, Water, Earth, etc. They exist within and embody the essence of each element.
Elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, aligning with the 4 winds and 4 directions (E, S, W, N).
Familiar: a favorite pet or companion of a Witch; usually a cat, but can be any animal.
Grimoire: a book of ritual magick, more likely to be kept by a Ceremonial Magician.
Handfasting: a Pagan wedding ceremony; may or may not be legally binding, depending upon the wishes of the couple and the legal status of the facilitator.
High Priest/ess: the man (Priest) or woman (Priestess) or couple who lead a coven or facilitate a particular ritual.
Invocation: a verse, poem, or monologue inviting specific Deities or energies into the area or person
Maiden: an aspect of the Triple Goddess, or the second female in charge of a coven, under a High Priestess' guidance.
Mother: the second aspect of the Triple Goddess - see Deity Concepts.
Pagan: originally, a person who dwelt outside the walls of the medieval city, or a country dweller. The term has evolved to now mean a person who is non-Christian (not anti-Christian).
Pentacle: a five-pointed star within a circle, used to symbolize many things to a Witch. Point up, it's feminine; point down, it's masculine. Frequently and mistakenly thought to represent only Satanism, the pentacle is an ancient symbol, loaded with meaning in many cultures.
Reincarnation: the belief that the soul never dies, but goes from body to body seeking enlightenment throughout many lifetimes.
Sacred Space: are where natural energies or ritually consecrated circles have accumulated.
Summoner: the second male (can be female) in charge of a coven, has specific responsibilities.
Theology/Thealogy: (masculine/femenine) study of Deity, God/dess, religion.
Thurible: a fire-proof vessel for burning spell ingredients or flammable liquids.
Underworld: thought to be the place where spirits of the deceased dwell.
Waning/Waxing: the cycling phases of the Moon - New Moon to Full Moon being the waxing Moon, and Full Moon to New Moon being the waning phase.
Warlock: commonly and mistakenly thought to refer to a male Witch, it in fact means "oath-breaker," or a person who has disgraced his/her coven or community and fallen from favor.
