Here’s a list of terminology that has really helped me in my practice.
Altar – sacred space dedicated for a specific purpose such as spell-working or worshiping deities
Amulet – a charm usually worn for protection, to repel evil, and to absorb/banish negative energy
Astral Projection – the act of separating your astral body or your consciousness from your physical self; a voluntary out of body experience
Astrology – the art and science of predicting certain events and patterns based on the observation of planetary movements and relationships and the study of how these movements and relationships affect terrestrial world events and the health, moods, relationships and personalities of individuals
Aura – a subtle luminescence that surrounds all objects hinting at the energy contained within
Banish – to forcefully remove something; to put an end to something
Bibliomancy/Stichomancy – divination using random pages and passages from books
Bind – to restrict the actions/behavior of someone or to tie them to another object, place, or situation
Book of Shadows – a book used to document spells, rituals, other magickal workings, and personal experiences
Cartomancy – divination using a deck of cards, i.e. tarot cards
Centering – to calm your emotions and focus on the task ahead; usually done after grounding
Ceromancy – divination using a candle/the flame of a candle
Channeling – also called “drawing;” to gather energy from an external source i.e. the sun or moon
Charged Water – non-consumable water that has been infused with oils, herbs, or energy from another source; used for cleansing, anointing, ritual work, etc.
Charging – to infuse an item with energy from either yourself or another source
Charm – an item that has been enchanted with a spell
Cleanse – to rid an object or space of negative energy
Consecrate – to “bless” an object, usually for a specific magickal purpose
Curse – the act of causing misfortune to a victim; directing negative energy towards the target
Deosil/Deocil – clockwise; generally used to invoke/evoke something, bring about positive energies, or to cast a circle
Divination – the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
Dowsing – a type of divination employed in attempts to locate hidden items by using a dowsing rod or pendulum
Dream Work – any magickal or mystical work done in dream space, or while sleeping
Elixir – a potion made for medicinal purposes
Enchanting – to infuse an object with magickal intent
Energy Work – any work that involves changes to the human energy field or subtle body
Evoke – to call a spirit or entity, to summon it forth, and to bring it into the place where you are, particularly in hopes of gaining its favor
Gem Elixir – an elixir infused with the energy of a crystal or mineral
Grimoire – a kind of textbook used by magickal practitioners for reference; sometimes used interchangeably with “book of shadows”
Grounding – to release negative and excess energy
Hex – commonly used synonymously with “curse” to describe baneful spell work, but can also be used in reference to general spell work and those who practice it
Incantation – the words used when casting a spell
Intent – your goal or purpose for spell work
Invoke – to draw a spirit being or entity into your own body
Meditation - a method of calming the mind, either by emptying it of thought or by focusing on one thing in order to reach a state of relaxation or an altered state of consciousness
Numerology – divination using the interpretation of numbers, dates, and the number value of letters
Palmistry – a form of divination that relies on the interpretation of the lines and structure of the hand
Pantheon – historically, a temple in Rome dedicated to all the Gods of the Roman people; in modern usage the word Pantheon has come to describe the family of Gods itself
Philter – a potion used specifically in love spells; love potion
Poppet – a doll used to represent a target in spell work
Potion – a consumable liquid that has been enchanted to produce magickal effects
Psychometry – divination by touching an object and gaining impressions from it
Ritual – a series of actions performed in a pre-defined order
Runes – written symbols which represent sounds or ideas; can be used for divination
Sachet – a small bag of herbs, crystals, or other objects that is meant to bring about a desired effect; essentially acts as a charm
Sacred Space – any space that has been designated for a specific sacred purpose
Scrying – a method of divination that involves gazing into a reflective surface such as water, mirrors, or a crystal ball
Shield – a personal protective barrier, similar to a ward
Sorcerer/Sorceress – used to describe someone who practices magick
Sorcery – the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures and language that are believed to exploit supernatural forces
Spell – a combination of words, actions and/or objects used in a symbolic way to bring about a magickal result
Talisman – an object used to attract or gain power or energy; can be worn
Tasseography – divination using tea leaves
Uncrossing – the removal of a type of curse or “cross” that has been laid upon an individual that makes a certain area of their lives difficult because of negative energy that is attached to them causing them to see and experience only difficulties in that area
Ward – a protective barrier; may be maintained by a spell, a talisman, a symbol or some other physical or energy object
Widdershins – counter-clockwise; used to banish negative energy or take down a circle
Witch/Wizard – used to describe someone who practices magick
Witchcraft – the use of sorcery or magick to alter the physical world around you; used interchangeably with sorcery
Zodiac – refers to the constellations that ring the apparent path the sun takes throughout the year
(Last edited on: 9-10-2016)
