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| W |
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| Wand |
 A magical weapon is any instrument used to bring about
intentional change. In practice, magical weapons are usually specific, consecrated items used within ceremonial ritual. There is no
hard and fast rule for what constitutes or does not constitute a magical weapon. If a magician considers it to be a weapon, then a weapon
it is. However, there does exist a set of magical weapons with particular uses and symbolic meanings. Some such common
weapons/tools include the dagger/sword, wand/baton, cup/chalice, pentacle/disk, holy oil, lamp and bell. See
magical Weapons. Symbolically, the Wand represents the element of fire, and
sometimes, air (the suit of wands in a Tarot deck reflects this meaning, as wands (clubs) symbolise spiritual force). |
| Watchtowers |
This term came from the
Enochian branch of
Ceremonial Magick, but has now been incorporated into many Traditions of
Wicca. The watchtowers are the four elemental directions of north, south, east
and west or the quarters (corresponding with the appropriate points on the compass) called to protect the
Circle
during its establishment. Each has a correspondence with the compass point, an
element, and (varying between different traditions) a colour associated with it.
| Water |
Water is one of the four classical elements in
Alchemy. It is considered to be both cold and wet, and according to Plato is
associated with the icosahedron, a twenty-sided polyhedron where all sides are equidimensional. |
| Wheel of the Year |
 A complete cycle of the
seasonal year. The eight
Wiccan/Pagan traditional
festivals of Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane/Beltaine, Litha/Midsummer, Luhgnasad/Lammas, Mabon, Samhain and Yule
(known as sabbats) are arranged around the Wheel of the Year. |
| Wicca |
A modern witchcraft religion founded in 1954 by
Gerald Gardner, who called his new religion Wicca. He likened it to a resurgence
of European witchcraft, which he believed was a collection of ancient Pagan religions. Gerald Gardner claimed to have been initiated into
a secret witch cult which had been in existence for over 300 years, which is why Wicca is often referred to as The Old Religion.
Many believe the development of Wicca was
influenced by Gardner's association with Aleister Crowley as many of his original 'Wiccan' rituals were copied
from Crowley's Thelemic rituals. See also Alexandrian Wicca. |
| Wiccan/Neopagan Symbols |
See
Other Symbols. |
| Widdershins |
An anticlockwise motion used in magical workings or
banishing routines. |
| Wishing Rods |
A name commonly used to describe modern
dowsing rods. |
| Witch |
A practitioner of witchcraft. There are
many types and traditions of witches, for example, a witch is not necessarily a Wiccan, although if a
Wiccan practices witchcraft he/she can be considered a witch. |
| Witch Sign |
See Symbols used in Occultism. |
| Witchcraft |
Often referred to as
sorcery, it is the craft or workings of a witch, i.e. magick or healing through the use
of personal power and the latent energies found in candles, stones, herbs, and other natural items, combined with
spells. |
| Witches Hammer |
See
Malleus Maleficarum. |
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