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| Abracadabra |
The word 'abracadabra' is generally known as 'the magic word'
used by stage conjurers to ensure their 'magic trick' or illusion worked. However, it is a word of true ancient origin, used by real
magicians from around the 3rd century AD. It appears frequently in Kabbalistic and
Gnostic
texts, and derives from an Aramaic phrase
(Avarah K'Davarah), which means 'I will create as I speak'. Aramaic is a northwest Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew,
dating from the 9th century BC. Its 'square' script replaced the archaic Hebrew script, which by the time of Jesus had become the normal
script for writing in Hebrew. It was widely used in Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia, the Persians extending its use to India, central Asia,
and Asia Minor. |
| Abrahadabra |
 The occultist
Aleister Crowley
believed the word Abracadabra was associated with the Gnostic
God Abraxas (see below). He altered the spelling to 'Abrahadabra' to achieve a specific value
gematrically (418), when it first appeared in public in The Book of the Law, the central sacred text of
Thelema. The number 418
equates to the number of his Holy Guardian Angel, Aiwass, and his castle Bolsekine.
When the word is chanted, or when its letters are arranged in an inverted pyramid and worn around the neck as a
talisman
for nine days, it is reputed to possess a magical power which will ward off illness and cure fevers. |
| Abra Melin (Abramelin the Mage) |
Abra Melin was known as Abramelin the Mage, a
wandering Eastern sage whose magick is supposedly enshrined in the 14th century book,
The Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage. Probably the most practically used of old
grimoires, it contains a detailed and precise
system of Ritual Magick,
its authorship being attributed to Abraham the Jew. Oil of Abramelin (so named by
Aleister Crowley
who adapted his own recipe from that found in The Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage) is used in
Thelemic and other
rituals. |
| Abraxas |
Abraxas, also known as Abrasax, is a
Gnostic solar deity
associated with Yahweh, Mithras and the Celtic Belenus, as well as Yeshu (Jesus). Amulets (see below) and seals bearing the figure of Abraxas were
commonplace in the 2nd century, and were used as recently as the 13h century in the seals of the
Knights Templar. Gematrically,
the letters in Abraxas total 365 (the number of days in a solar
year, and the number of Aeons, or emanations, in Gnostic cosmology), while each of the seven letters represents one of the seven planetary
powers. |
| Abyss |
In
Ritual Magick and
Kabbalah, the Abyss is the divide
between individual ego-consciousness and Cosmic consciousness (enlightenment). In Kabbalah, it is the divide between the Supernal and the
lower Sephiroth,
i.e. the divide between the higher and lower states of existence. The serpent Choronzon is the 'dweller' in the abyss, the final
great obstacle between the magician and true enlightenment. See Oath of the Abyss for further details. |
| Acolyte |
An Acolyte assists the ordained and licensed ministers at
worship services, their responsibilities include lighting altar candles, carrying the candles in procession, preparing the wine and water for the Mass
and assisting the Sacred Ministers in Mass. Acolytes include the Banner Bearer, Flag Bearer, Clergy Crucifer, Torch Bearer, Thurifer, Servers,
Altar Boys and Altar Girls. |
| Adam Kadmon |
 Some Kabbalists are of the opinion that the first form
shaped, etched or produced by the ray of light which emanated from Ain-Soph (see below) was not the Sephiroth,
but the body of Adam Kadmon from which the Sephiroth
then flared out. It is in Lurianic Kabbalism where
we find this theory of the Ain-Soph’s original emanation resulting in the body of Adam Kadmon. According to some Kabbalists’ points of view
he is actually the first God capable of being comprehended by man because man is made in his image. |
| Adept |
Someone who is highly experienced and extremely
proficient in a particular magical art, having passed through various grades. See also
Magus. |
| Adytum |
The inner sanctum of a Temple. See also
Builders of the Adytum. |
| Aethyr / Aether |
An aethyr is one of a succession of worlds in the
Enochian Astral planes (see The Enochian Keys), as well as the fifth element, or spirit, in
Wicca and
Ceremonial Magick. Depending upon tradition, it is also a formless and
invisible substance that pervades the universe, generally known as ether. |
| Age of Aquarius |
A term popular during the 1960s and 1970s,
particularly amongst the hippie movement, when the cold war between the eastern communist bloc countries and the west was at its height.
It is the theoretical 2000 year period of peace, love and enlightenment, heralded by the sun's entry into the zodiacal sign of Aquarius. An
astrological age is a period of time in astrology which is believed to parallel major changes in the development of the inhabitants of earth. It
roughly corresponds with the time taken for the vernal equinox to move through one of the twelve constellations of the
zodiac. However, according to
Hipparchus, a Greek mathematician who compiled an early example of trigonometric tables, each sign of the zodiac subtends (on average) 30 degrees, so each
astrological age might be thought to last about 72 × 30 = about 2150, 2156 or 2160 years, so the actual start of the 'Age of Aquarius' is uncertain. |
| Ain Soph |
Ain-Soph translates into
'without end' (Ain = without, Sof = End). It is a name for the God of
Kabbalism,
symbolising total unity beyond comprehension. It is within Ain-Soph
that all opposites exist in complete ignorance of their differences. The Ain-Soph is
NO THING, does not exist, is unable to be described or fathomed, and cannot possibly be discussed in terms of Being or Non-Being. Many
people have tried to describe the Ain-Soph by what he is not, without success. See also
The Sephiroth. |
| Air |
One of the four alchemical elements. In
Ritual Magick and
Kabbalah,
it is the element overseen by the Archangel known as Raphael. Air has the qualities of coolness and dryness,
and is associated with breath, life, communication, and the holy spirit. |
| Alchemical Symbols |
See
Other Symbols. |
| Alchemist |
A person who practices alchemy. |
| Alchemy |
The science, both physical and spiritual, of
transforming base materials into superior forms, i.e. gold. Transmutation of base metals into gold was based on the belief that naturally
occurring gold, silver and other precious substances were originally formed within the earth from lesser substances, and could be reconstituted
through alchemical operations. The operations of alchemy were based on the Hermetic principle that everything on earth had a heavenly
counterpart, and that through the 'principle of vibration', heavenly things could affect their earthly counterparts, and vice-versa.
Consequently, each mineral, plant, and metal corresponded with a heavenly body, and thus contained the properties of its associated heavenly
body. As a result, alchemical formulae for medicines were created, and the concept of spiritual development through alchemical work was
developed. The Great Work became not simply transmuting base metals into precious ones, but the
perfection of the divine in man himself. |
| Alexandrian Wicca |
A tradition of the Neopagan religion
Wicca, named after
Alex Sanders who, along with his wife Maxine, established the tradition in the 1960s, having previously been an initiate of a
Gardnerian coven. Generally,
Alexandrian Wicca focuses strongly upon training
which includes areas more generally associated with
Ceremonial Magick, such as
Kabbalah and
Enochian Magick. |
| All-seeing Eye |
See Symbols Used in Occultism. |
| Altar |
Common to most religions, an altar is a table or other
raised surface on which offerings are made to deities. Quarters, or Watchtowers are sometimes called Altars, e.g. the Earth Altar is
the Altar in the 'Earth Quarter of a Circle'. See
A Typical magical Rite. |
| Amulet |
From the Latin 'amuletum', meaning an object
that protects a person from trouble, an amulet is generally an object worn around the neck, which has been charged with the magician's
personal energies through ritual or meditation, often used to ward off a particular evil force. See also
Talisman. |
| Angel |
In many human beliefs and mythologies, an angel
(from the Greek angelos meaning messenger) is believed to be an ethereal creature or spirit whose duties are to assist and serve God or gods. |
| Angelic Script |
Another name for Enochian Script used in
Enochian Magick. |
| Ankh |
 An ancient Egyptian symbol of fertility, life and
immortality, the Ankh is a visual representation of a sandal strap. The lower cross represents the masculine aspect of divinity, while the top
loop represents the feminine. The Ankh is considered to have significance in
Ritual Magick and
Wiccan/Neopagan traditions. |
| Apparition |
The
paranormal
appearance of someone who is distant or has passed away. This is a visual phenomenon that normally happens spontaneously. The appearance of an apparition seems to be motivated by particular anxiety on the part of the entity. |
| Apport |
The name given to any object such as a coin, a piece of
jewellery, etc., which materialises
from out of nowhere (normally in a darkened room) to land on a table or a sitter's lap, in the presence of a
medium. The practice was commonplace during the late 19th century when
Spiritualism was at its height, although the
vast majority of mediums producing these phenomena were exposed as fraudulent. |
| Aquarius |
 Aquarius, the Water Carrier, is an air sign and the eleventh
sign of the Zodiac. Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus. |
| Archangel |
The highest supreme angel.
The word derives from two Greek words arch (meaning first) and angelos (meaning messenger). |
| Archetype |
The original pattern or model
of which all things of the 'same type' are representations or copies. Universal symbols, which are defined as standard prototypes, are used
more often in pathworking. Archetypal symbols are subconscious images that form our dreams,
the power of our deities, and which enable all forms of divination to be possible. |
| Archon |
Literally 'Ruler'. Refers to the creators and governing forces in the
material world, e.g. the Demiurge (a craftsman - the grand original intelligence who acted to produce the real world) and his angels. |
| Ardains |
The
Ardains of Wicca are the 161 laws of
witchcraft revealed by
Gerald Gardner in the early days of
Wicca. They have largely fallen out of use
except in traditional Gardnerian circles. |
| Aries |
 Aries, the Ram, is a fire sign and the first sign of
the Zodiac.
Aries is ruled by the planet Mars. |
| Assiah |
Kabbalists believe the
manifestation of our material world was caused by the immanent activity of God on four different planes, or in
four worlds, simultaneously.
The 4th World is known as Assiah, the World of Action or Making. The quality of each of the preceding worlds diminishes as the original
emanation which began their formation becomes grosser, until eventually the resulting impurities gather to form Assiah. It is here where
mankind and the animal kingdom reside with the evil Klippoth, alongside the exiled
Shekhinah waiting to be reunited with her Creator.
|
| Astral Plane |
An invisible place, also known as the astral world,
which appears to parallel the physical world, within which one can travel in astral form. See also Astral Travel (below) and
Out of Body Experience (OBE). |
| Astral Projection |
See
Out of Body Experience (OBE). |
| Astral Travel |
Astral travel, whether induced or not, is the ability
to move about outside one's physical body on the Astral Plane (see above). This form of travel is also known as astral projection or an
Out of Body Experience (OBE). |
| Astral World |
See Astral Plane above. |
| Astrological Symbols |
See
Other Symbols. |
| Astrology |
A form of
divination,
astrology is the practice of revealing the
future by interpreting the arrangement or alignment of stars and planets in relation to astrological theory and the
Zodiac. Also used for
determining human characteristics at birth by the position of the stars and planets at the time of birth. |
| Athame |
In Ritual Magick and
Wiccan traditions, a consecrated
ceremonial knife symbolising the element of air or fire, depending upon the symbolism of the tradition. |
| Atziluth |
Kabbalists believe the manifestation of our material world was caused by the
immanent activity of God on four different planes, or in
four worlds, simultaneously. The 1st World, Atziluth, is the World of Emanation in
which God manifests himself in the form of the archetypes Kether,
Chokmah and
Binah. The union of God with his
Shekhinah (his feminine counterpart) also takes place in this world,
and the fruits of this union are the three worlds which follow. |
| Aura |
 An invisible energy field surrounding the human body,
animals and plants. That part of the aura which surrounds the head is often depicted by artists as a halo to denote saints and enlightened
beings. Everyone has an aura filled with many colours of different intensity which reflect the thoughts and emotions active in the nervous
system, and which change according to a person's state of mind. The colours and intensity of a person's aura are said to show that person's
true nature and intentions, as we cannot 'fake' the colour or characteristics of our auras.
|
| Aura-Soma |
Aura-Soma is a method of divination using colour. It was devised in 1983
by Vicky Wall (1918-1991), a blind British chiropodist, pharmacist and herbalist who claimed she could see auras around people, animals and
plants. |
| Automatic Writing |
 Writing performed by someone (often a
medium) while in a trance or altered state of consciousness. It is claimed to be
the product of communication with a spiritual being, although psychical researchers
believe it comes from the writer's own subconscious. The writing process is much faster than ordinary handwriting, with the
script being larger and usually more expansive. Automatic writing can be produced as 'mirror script' and 'backwards' or 'reverse' writing (where the
writer starts at the bottom right hand side of a page and finishes at the top left). The writer is normally totally unaware of what he or she has
written. |
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