Glossary: 𝐀-𝐋

There is certain terminology used throughout this site (or in communications with) that may not be familiar to you. The world of magick and the occult has a unique language all to itself. Below is a compilation of various terms and definitions related to the occult, various arts of magick, witchcraft, demonology, and autonomous spirituality.

Some of these terms are broad and can have multiple meanings or interpretations. In either case, they have been defined according to their specific relevance to applications here, with as effective a description as possible.

*Please Note: This page is under construction and will be alphabetically complete very soon.

Click Here for Glossary Section 2: (M - Z)

“A”

Adept –

One who has studied and become highly proficient in a magickal system, or certain related art form.

Alchemy –

A power or process that transforms a common substance into a substance of great value, through a mysterious or highly-evolved way.

“As Above, So Below” –

A phrase that was first laid out in the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus. It embodies the concept that what happens on one level of reality also happens on every other level; the microcosm and the macrocosm behave alike. (Baphomet symbolizes an aspect of this concept with one hand pointing Above, and the other pointing Below)

Ascent / Ascension –

The progressive acceleration of one's vibrational energy, and expansion of their awareness that creates an evolved shift to escalating levels of consciousness and states of existence. *Graduating changes occur on all components of the Self (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, energetic, and environmental). *The very fabric and foundation of reality is altered for those on the path of Ascent.

Astral Plane –

A sub-graduate parallel-dimension closely enmeshed with the physical-plane. It is a subtle shadow-matrix of this dimension composed of various energies, forces, and intelligences that are the underlying schematics of their condensed counterparts in the physical-plane. There are also additional free-agents of these composites that are not materialized in the physical-plane, or bound to the governing laws of this physical-plane. *The Astral Plane can be interfaced with, similar to how mankind interacts with a parallel environment under water.

Athame –

A ritual dagger that is used in the operations of Magick. It is symbolic of the magician's WILL, and used to direct it appropriately.

Atheist –

A person who disbelieves, or lacks belief in the existence of God, gods, or spiritual entities/intelligences.

Aura –

A discernible essence that radiates from a person, place, thing, or entity, and is usually reflective to the nature of it's host. It can usually be perceived by those with highly attuned sensitivity to an undercurrent of subtle frequencies that course through everything, and everywhere.

“B”

Baneful Magick –

Any spell, ritual, or technique that is used in any way that is harmful, malign, or destructive to the subject of the magick.

Banish –

To drive something away, or send it away. *Banishing Rites are implemented to drive away certain energies, forces, people, or things. They can also be used to simply rid your awareness of these things.

Black Arts –

The sum of all the knowledge about spells, magick, and rituals that draw on powers that most consider to be malevolent, taboo or forbidden. This is also the umbrella definition for the practice, theory, and underlying rationale of magick and occultism in all its branches... including sorcery, black magick, witchcraft, spells, numerology, demonology, astrology, alchemy, kabbalah, tarot, charms, and the summoning and control of various spirits and forces.

Blow-back –

In this context is considered an unintended or adverse result from an application of magick. It is typically an unforeseen or unwanted repercussion of a magickal working that can range from the mildly irritable to the severely catastrophic.

Book of Shadows –

A Witch or Magician's personal journal. It contains important notes on magickal experiments, information obtained, spells, formulas, recipes, correspondences, incantations, traditions and more. A coven, or council of magicians may have a collective Book of Shadows outlining its basic beliefs, tenets, rules, and practices with information about how to perform its own traditional ceremonies.

“C”

Candle Magick –

There are many variations of candle magick, but is essentially magick where the WILL or desire of the operator is transmuted through the elemental gateway of fire. The essence of the candle's color or culmination of magickally infused ingredients, are drawn up through the wick and become the metaphysical catalyst that fuels the Flame of Transmutation in alliance with the objective of the working.

Cauldron –

The cauldron is a symbol of the female aspect of divinity, the womb of creation (or destruction). It is a metaphysical smelting pot for transmuting the attributes of various ingredients into a newly formed vehicle for manifesting Power (magick infused Potions, Broths, foods, etc.). Things may also be incinerated or destroyed within the cauldron (literally or symbolically).

Censer –

A censer is a fire-proof plate, pot, or vessel that is used to hold smoldering charcoal (from a fire or self-igniting disks) upon which one burns the herbs, resins, gums, etc. that make up their incense.

Ceremonial Magick –

Is typically a formal magickal-event. Usually ritualistic in nature, and involves specific ceremonial actions and magical tools to bring about a desired result. *Evocation is very often part of the ceremony.

Chalice –

It is a magical tool used in many magickal rituals in a variety of traditions. It is a vessel for the transference of Power in various forms (fresh blood, consecrated wine or water, etc.).

Channeling –

A person or thing that is a conduit through which energy, information, or an intelligent force flows.

Charge –

To apply energy toward empowering something for a specific purpose. *For example, you could charge a talisman for a certain protection.

Clairaudience –

It is the ability to hear sounds said to exist beyond the reach of ordinary experience or capacity, such as the voices of disembodied spirits.

Claircognizance –

This is the metaphysical / psychic sense that allows you to know something is real or will be, though you have no way to back up this knowledge. You may be unable to figure out why or how you came into that information. The user can gain information about a person, object, place, or event through intrinsic knowledge, as in it just "comes to" the user's mind.

Clairvoyance –

Means clear vision. The ability to externally view, or internally perceive impressions of objects or actions removed in space or time from natural viewing.

Consecrate –

To dedicate or imbue with a sacred purpose. To intone with Power.

Coven –

Is a group or gathering of witches who meet regularly. Or, a secret or close-knit group of associates in the magickal arts.

“D”

Demon –

"Demon" is actually a negative perversion of the Latin term; Daemon (which comes from the ancient Greek term; Daimon - which means benevolent spirit). Demon is typically used in reference to a powerful Infernal spirit of a forceful, fierce, skillful, or destructive nature.

Demonic Pact –

An intricate, binding alliance with a demonic spirit towards a common objective (Usually an objective of a high stature that would be difficult, or nearly impossible to obtain without the dedicated efforts of both human and spiritual entity combined.)

Dharma –

An individual's higher duty or destiny.

Divination –

The art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events. Or to discover hidden knowledge through the interpretation of omens, the aid of intelligent forces, or mediums of metaphysical Power.

Duality –

In religion, the doctrine that the world (or reality) consists of two basic, opposed, and irreducible principles that account for all that exists. (Example; Good/Evil, Light/Dark.)

“E”

Egregore –

Is an autonomous psychic entity composed of and influencing the thoughts of a group of people

Elemental Spirit –

A spiritual embodiment of an element (such as Earth, Air, Water, Fire) that can wield the energetic characteristics and influential properties of its associated element.

Elixir –

An elixir is a magical potion designed to bring about transformation or a medical potion designed to bring about healthy change over a long period of time. Elixirs may produce drawing magic, the ingredients designed to attract certain energies to the person who ingests them though most elixirs are designed to bring about change in the person's own body, mind or spirit.

Energy Work –

Energy work is typically any work that involves changes to the human energy field or subtle body.

Esoteric –

Designed for, or understood by the specially initiated alone.

Requiring or exhibiting knowledge restricted to a small group that is of special, rare, or an unusual interest.

Evil Eye –

Negatively charged intentions, or hateful energy that is transmitted from the gateway of the eyes towards a target. The toxicity of the negative transfer can spill forth into the sphere of the recipient's cosmic reality in the form of "bad luck", illness, and manifold decomposition or destruction.

Evocation / Evoke –

To create substantial contact with a spiritual force, and summon it forth to interface with. *The force that is called forth (the evoked) can manifest in various degrees of intensity (From an undetectable astral-presence, to an undeniable physical-materialization).

Exorcism –

An exorcism is the forcible expulsion of a negative energy, force, or intelligent entity from a person or place. (In cases regarding exorcisms of intelligent forces from human hosts, a wedge is driven through omnipotent-authority between the integration of the two, ¦divorcing the core awareness of the host from the hosted force and dissolving the enmeshment of the subtle bodies.)

“F”

Familiar –

A spirit or demon that serves, or prompts an individual.

Feminine Energy –

When one refers to "feminine energy" in a magical or spiritual context, one is referring to energy that is passive and yielding versus masculine energy which is said to be active and penetrating. This is similar to the Eastern concept of yin and yang.

Fetish –

A fetish is an object designed to actively house a spiritual entity. Traditionally, a fetish is the physical representation of an honored spirit, for example an ancestor, deity or spirit guide, thus creating a physical and often (but not always) portable object for the bearer to interact with as they would the spirit-being they wish to honor, presenting it offerings, praying to it, with the understanding that the interaction is not with an inanimate object, but with the entity that resides inside. In turn, the possessor of the fetish often receives the results of being within the associated entity's sphere of influence, either positive or negative.

“G”

Gnosis (Gnostic) –

Gnosis means "knowledge" in Greek. It is often used for personal knowledge, compared with intellectual knowledge. It is best known from Gnosticism, where it signifies a knowledge or insight into man's real nature as Divine, leading to the deliverance of the Divine spark within man from the constraints of earthly existence.

Grimoire –

A grimoire is a textbook or personal journal of magick, typically including instructions on how to create magickal objects like talismans, charms, and amulets. They can also provide instructions and formulae for how to perform certain magickal rituals, spells, charms and divination, as well as rites for how to summon forth, invoke, or work with supernatural entities such as angels, demons, and various spirits. The actual books that are intimately used by a competent practitioner (typically a sorcerer or witch) are talismanic objects in themselves, and open gateways of the related powers and forces.

Grounding –

Grounding is a basic technique that is often taught early on in a magician's training. It creates an energetic foundation that allows the magician to use omnipotent energy to perform ritual work without depleting themselves. *Often, a very involved ceremony or spell can leave the operator exhausted, (physically and mentally) and feeling disconnected, energetically impotent, and spacey.

Grounding can serve as both a preventative and a remedy for this situation. Grounding before a magickal working helps the operator focus and improves the chance of success by reducing the likelihood of internal distractions or exhaustion, and potentially losing the "thread" of the rite before it is complete.

*Grounding after the completion of the working helps return the operator to a "mundane" state. It brings their minds and awareness back into the physical world, allowing them to function and perform the mundane activities required in day-to-day living.

“H”

Hex –

In many traditions, a "hex" is a malevolent spell, curse, or magical working aimed at causing harm or misfortune to a targeted person or place. The term comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, drawing from the German word "hexen", meaning "to practice witchcraft". However, it's worth noting that interpretations of what constitutes a hex can vary greatly between different cultures, magical traditions, and personal perspectives.

Also means to place under the influence of witchcraft - to bewitch.

High Magick –

Is typically Magick intended to bring about a progressive spiritual transformation. Magickal workings for something of a much Greater Purpose / Higher Significance, macrocosmic in nature.

“I”

Incantation –

Typically used in evocational ritual-magick, it is a formula of words used in a sentence, phrase, or short monologue that is used to call Reality into cooperation with one's WILL. Incantations usually possess a certain rhythm and cantor, that produces a singsong effect when it is spoken aloud.

Intent –

Magickal intent is the purpose of magickal work - the true purpose, with all of the unnecessary frills stripped away. Your intent is the foundation of magical work, it is your goal, what you truly wish to accomplish. *Successful magick begins with a singular-pointed intention and surrounds it with catalytical actions (ritual magick and mundane efforts) to achieve the ultimate goal.

Invocation –

To invoke a spirit is to summon or draw a spirit being into your own body. This is usually done to encourage communication between the spirit world and the material world and is part of many magickal practices.

The words invoke and evoke are often used synonymously, but Aleister Crowley notes the distinction: To "invoke" is to "call in", just as to "evoke" is to "call forth". This is the essential difference between the two branches of Magick. In invocation, the macrocosm floods the consciousness. In evocation, the magician, having become the macrocosm, creates a microcosm.

“L”

Left-Hand Path (LHP) –

The left-hand path is considered to be about the elevation and centrality of the self as well as the rejection of religious authority and societal taboos. The left-hand path focuses on the strength and will of the practitioner. It downplays the need for intercession by any high power, although some may believe that a higher power exists. Satanism (both LaVeyan and Theistic) and Luciferianism are considered left-hand paths. 'Left-Hand Path', is a rather broad term. *For a more in-depth analysis of this subject, click on: The LHP Spectrum Relatively Defined

Lithomancy –

Derived from the Greek words "lithos" and "manteia," meaning "stone" and "divination" respectively, Lithomancy is a unique fortune-telling method that utilizes specific crystals or mineral/gemstones.

During a Lithomancy reading, the querent – the person asking the question – observes as the diviner or lithomancer casts stones onto a pre-determined surface or within a circle. The reader then interprets the stones' positions, patterns, and relative proximities to provide an answer or valuable insights. The chosen stones are not random; each type of crystal or mineral/gemstone possesses a distinct symbolic meaning and particular energetic properties that are deemed appropriate for the specific reading. For instance, the amethyst might embody spirituality or healing, while the clear quartz could signify clarity or truth.

𝐍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝐁𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘 • 𝐁𝖑𝖆𝖈𝐤 𝐌𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖓 & 𝐒𝖕𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖚𝖆𝖑 𝐂𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖚𝖑𝖙𝖆𝖓𝖙

𝐍𝖆𝖙𝖊𝐁𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘.𝖈𝖔𝖒 (𝐎𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝐖𝖊𝖇𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖊)

⥋ 𝐒𝖚𝖈𝖈𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝐓𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝐒𝖔𝖗𝖈𝖊𝖗𝖞 ⥊

Glossary of Related Terms “A” - “L”

“A”