Definitions G-M

Gardnerian Tradition - Tradition of witchcraft based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner, who was essentially the founder of modern Wicca.

Geomancy - Divination by the earth.

Glamour - A form of magick which involves changing people's immediate perception of you. It generally is simply altering your physical appearance (eye color, hair length, height, etc.) temporarily. However, it can also include changing people's emotional reaction to you. Glamours last only as long as the magician feeds energy into it.

Glyph - A sigil imbued with magick.

Gnome - An elemental that dwells in the earth plane. See also Elementals.

Gods - Immortal beings, also called deities, worshipped by their followers and invoked for magick. A "god" is generally male, whereas the female version is "goddess".

Grammary - Written magick, including symbols, signs, Ogham, and sigils.

Great Rite - This rite see most commonly in witchcraft marks the initiation into the third degree. Sexual in nature, but can be performed symbolically instead.

Grimoire - A magickal workbook which contains various information on rituals, formulae, correspondences, and preparation of ritual tools and space. Similar to a Book of Shadows.

Gris-Gris - In African religious systems, a charm, fetish, or amulet.

Grounding - Sending excess energy generated during a ritual into the earth, symbolically, back to the God or the Goddess from which it came.

Hallows, Halloween - Another name for Samhain.

Handfasting - The Wiccan equivalent of a wedding ceremony. It is only legal if performed by a registered clergyman. Handfasting vows are meant to be renewed annually, and thus are a "safer" commitment than marriage unless made legal.

Handparting - Similar to a separation or divorce, symbolically the cutting of the binds created by a handfasting.

Haruspicy - Divination by animal entrails.

Heathen - 1. One who does not recognize the God of the Bible. 2. A pagan. 3. An irreligious, uncivilized person. Can be used in this context as a derogatory term for a pagan, despite the fact that it's an inaccurate generalization.

Hedge Wizard - A rural practitioner who has little formal training, or none at all.

Heptagram - A seven-pointed star drawn with one unbroken line. Symbolic of the number seven, which is important not only to the seven traditional astrological planets but also to the seven planes and subplanes and the seven chakras.

Hereditary Witch - A person who descends from a line of witches and has learned the Craft from a member of this descent.

Hexagram - A geometric figure formed by two overlapping triangles, also called the Star of David. While it is used in modern magick to invoke or banish spirits, it is traditionally Jewish.

Hierophant - A priest of the mysteries who reveals his secrets only to this initiates.

High Magick - Ceremonial magick involving the actions of deities or spirits.

High Priest - A male witch within a coven who has been initiated into the 3rd degree. Abbreviated in written rituals as HP.

High Priestess - A female witch within a coven who has been initiated into the 3rd degree. Abbreviated as HPS in written rituals.

Higher Self - Non-physical, true self. The enlightened, "actual" persona of the individual as opposed to what the person seems to be or thinks they are.

Horned God - Pagan father God often mistaken for, or associated with, Satan. This is an incorrect assumption.

Hydromancy - Divination by liquid, especially water.

Imbolc - Pagan sabbat celebrated on Feb. 2.

Incantation; Incant - The spoken part of a spell.

Initiate A person who has undergone the rite of entry into a coven, circle, or other organization.

Initiation Admission ceremony for an intiate to gain entry into a coven or circle. Generally in the form of a ritual with an oath of secrecy.

Invocation The bringing of a divine power from the exterior into a ritual or magickal working through chant or prayer. An invocation is generally an acknowledgement of the deity and a request that they be present for the working.

Inward Silence The silencing of the emotions and thoughts that disturb the effectiveness of a ritual.

Karma - A concept which originated in Hindu philosophy that is used to explain injustice and retribution. By karma, a trespass in this life will be punished in the next. Essentially, "what goes around comes around". Actions bad or good will eventually be returned to you.

Ki - Japanese word for the universal life force, synonymous with the Chinese term, Chi.

Kitchen Magick; Kitchen Witchcraft - A practical tradition of witchcraft mainly for suburban or lower budget witches that allows one to utilize household items instead of the often difficult to obtain ritual items.

Lamen - A disc of metal with magickal symbols inscribed on it, worn around the neck during rituals.

Lammas - A pagan sabbat which takes place on August 1st.

Left-hand Path - A word for people who use frivolous magick that only serves themselves.

Levitation - The supernatural phenomenon involving suspending a body in midair without physical bolster.

Lithomancy - Divination by stones.

Loa - An ancestral deity in the Vodou religion.

Mabon - Pagan sabbat celebrated in early autumn.

Macrocosm - The greater world or universe.

Mage - A master magician; often a mage is a scholarly and skilled practitioner who prefers that the only tools of their magick be their mind, ability, and spirit.

Magick; Magic - The art and occult science of changing events around you by manipulating energy in nature, the self, and the spirit world.

Magickal Name - A name chosen by the dedicant or initiate to symbolize rebirth into their new path.

Magickal Voice, the - The commanding, assertive voice used to read power words during rituals which allows no doubt or insecurity in. This applies whether the voice is speaking tone, a loud whisper, or in song.

Maiden - 1. The name of one of the members of a coven, generally the assistant to the High Priestess. 2. One of the aspects of the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone) symbolized by the waxing moon, creation, and the time between Beltane and Imbolc.

Meditation - The practice of inverting the mind to pay attention to the inner silence instead of the outer chaos. Other forms of meditation focus on the outer chaos instead. This practice is accepted in almost all religions, but is encouraged most in Buddhism.

Merry Meet - A greeting commonly used by Wiccans and pagans. It basically means "Greetings". Abbreviated as MM.

Merry Part - A friendly phrase that basically means "Goodbye", used by Wiccans and pagans. Abbreviated as MP.

Metaphysical - Having the nature of metaphysics.

Metaphysics - A field of abstract thought and philosophy about topics not on the concrete or physical level of understanding. This includes subjects like existence, the soul, being, the supernatural, astral travel, psychicism, and so on.

Microcosm - The lesser world, the physical. Said to parallel the macrocosm, or greater world.

Midsummer - Sabbat celebrated in June.

Mojo - Magick.

Mojo Bag - A small bag generally worn around the neck which is charged with energies towards a certain goal and filled with charms, herbs, and/or stones.