ALFREKA:
A term that describes land that has been physically and
spiritually desecrated and been ridden of the Anima Loci whether from maleficent
acts of a mundane, human nature or from deliberate magical on-lays. (back
to top)
ANIMA LOCI:
The soul of a place, specifically in Nature. Several cultures
believe that natural forms such as wells and lakes as well as mountains,
stone menhirs, and monoliths are sacred and venerable spots where the Numinous
Divine resides and that it is possible for humans to make contact with this
Anima Loci.
(back
to top)
ATHWART:
Also overwart, the act of ploughing east-west and then tilling
the ringes or rows (usually barley, corn or wheat) north-south to assure the
rows would be warmed on both sides by the Sun.
(back
to top)
ARTHAME: A ritual knife usually used
symbolically - also known as athame. (back
to top)
AUGOEIDES:
While this
term isn't truly considered Old Craft I add it here on the off chance
that related studies by the student of the Old Craft mayhap run across
it and be in need of this definition. The holy guardian angel (HGA) or higher genius. Also the mediator between one's self and the Gods. Derived from the Greek word for *morning light*
augos. (back
to top)
ALRAUN: Talismanic image made from the root of the
Mandrake, also has several other more esoteric meanings. (back to top)
AVERSE: Harmful or baneful. (back
to top)
BAN: Another word for a curse.
(back
to top)
BALEFIRE: The fire usually lit at the center of a compass for hallowing
and saining purposes, providing illumination as well as heat and
overlapping both mundane and magical functions.
(back
to top)
BAWMING THE THORN: The
act of dressing or adorning a living tree with flowers and ribbons and making
merry with great celebration afterwards including public games and various
amusements. This event usually took place on or near Old Midsummer but
the term bawming may include Yule trees as well as the traditional May Pole.
(back
to top)
BEATING THE
BOUNDS: This act is performed by a group of local folk perambulating
their farms, manors, kirkyards or specific geographical boundaries
stopping at particular markers such as trees, walls, hedges, wells and
standing stones that mark the extent of the boundary in order to
ritually *beat'* specific landmarks with sticks (of Ash and Birch) to
chase off such things as the spirit of the old year and negative
energies for protective measures.
(back
to top)
BELWEATHERS: Beneficent and helpful spirits. (back
to top)
BENIZONS: Also benizon,
alternate term for blessings. (back
to top)
BESOM: A handcrafted broom usually made of Ash, Willow and Birch
concealing a phallic shape betwixt the brushes and used in ritual
purposes for mundane sweeping of the bought or compass as well as being anointed with
traditional *flying ointments* created using dark herbs and *ridden* to achieve
transvective states of lifting or being *oot and aboot*.
(back
to top)
BIDDING: A specific prayer or an incantation. (back
to top)
BINDING: A specific working intended to encourage the ceasing or stopping
of yourself or another's actions. (back
to top)
BLOUT: A ceremony or a ritual. (back
to top)
BOUGHT: Another term for compass or ritual circle. (back
to top)
BUD-WILL: A
*magical child* or spirit created by a Witch and her covenmates (can be made on
a solo basis as well), long term bud-wills are usually created from a
concentrated group effort and charged with love and devotion from all the
members of a group or coven. The bud-will is sometimes used for the purpose of
sacrifice in a ritual or rite, the bud-will may take the form of a cake, a doll
or poppet, a witch bottle or even a written glyph and feeds off the life-force
of the Witch . (back
to top)
BULL�S NOON: An alternate term for Midnight. (back
to top)
CASSAP: Someone who is considered very wise and knowledgeable. (back
to top)
CAUDLE: A cauldron or a cast-iron kettle -- also the name of
a particular brew or concoction made within. (back
to top)
CHARIVARI: A mocking serenade of dissonant noise created with kettles, pots and tin horns and done in an attempt to annoy. These events usually took place when an older person married a very young person. Such boisterous festivities are also related to Rough Musicking in nature. (back
to top)
CHIMERI: The realm above us known alternately as Heaven or Elphame in
another aspect. (back
to top)
COMPASS: The magical working area known also as a bought, circlestead,
mill -- traditionally nine foot in diameter and created and made by using the red or
white cord and a dod at the nowl. (back
to top)
COVENSTEAD: A specific location where a group of witches meets regularly
- normally thought to be at least three miles apart and away from
another's covenstead.. (back
to top)
CROOKS AND STRAITS: Also
Crooked Path. In any direction but a straight line, a path fraught with
difficulties and beset with both joys and sorrows - synonymous with the life of
a Witch, known as walking or trodding the crooked path. This term often used in
initiations into the Toadsmen and Horsemen societies with regard to the path to
the altar, absolute trust of the initiators being ideally anticipated and all
instructions from the initiators being followed to the letter by the initiate in
order to avoid pitfalls and errors that may cause one to become hurt physically
or in the least made quite uncomfortable. (back
to top)
CROOMSTICK:
Magical stave with a hooked end -- similar to a shepherd's crook. (back
to top)
CUNNING FIRE: Known also as the serpent fire, fire of Cain (or Qayin) and
cognate to the numinous *light* that the Cunning Father gave to us
humans; that light representing a total awareness and awakened
illumination of an interior nature. Also known as the *Fire in the Head*
referred to by W. B. Yeats in his poetry. Those who bear the
*Mark of Cain* are said to have access to this daimonic essence. (back
to top)
DAPTER: A person (nominally a Witch) skilled in many areas and avenues of
experience: probably a corruption of *adapter*. (back
to top)
DAGYDE:
Traditional Witches' dollie image or figure that is used with needles or pins. (back
to top)
DAIMON: Greek word for spirit. All types of nature spirits and divine entities are included in this definition. The word demon was created from the original word and indicated specifically evil spirits.
(back
to top)
DISTAFF LINE: The bloodline of a person as followed only in
the matriarchal sense. The *Mother's Line* whereas Mother refers
to Dame Fate and her distaff by which she spins the *threads of Fate*, the alternate Male line is known as the Spear. (back
to top)
DOD: A stake or peg of wood, generally used for ritual purposes (used in
the formal creation of the bought or compass when attached to the cord
and used as a measuring device across the ground's surface). (back
to top)
DOSSEL: Known also as the *morcan* it is an image of a person or of
something used in a ceremonial fashion .
(back
to top)
DREWARY: A sexual technique and praxis conducted between consenting
magical partners that is a ways and mean to a sacred and venerable spiritual
expression of the Nameless Arte, as well as an emulation of the Dame herself in
the ecstatic and erotic act of sensual enjoyment using prolonged intercourse
near the edge of orgasm. (back
to top)
EGREGOR: Primal, titanic, celestial
and natural forces that have sometimes taken a shape and have appeared as group
thought forms (a specific racial and archetypal form) in the guise of giants
through intense will and visualization. Also refers to *watchers*
(back
to top)
ELDRITCH: Strange or
unearthly; eerie.
(back
to top)
ELPHAME: Also known as Elphin, Elphen, Elfhome,
Elphome, Elfame, Elphane, Elfane being the Underworld. The
Realm below the Earth in which all things return and commence
from . (back
to top)
ENHAZELLED:
A plot of earth sained by Hazel staves and red strings.(back
to top)
EYEBITING: Known also as *overlooking* and is a form of cursing using the
ocular orbs of vision . (back
to top)
FAMILIAR: A more readily known and recognized term for
the *Fetch*. (back
to top)
FEEORIN: Another term for the Fae folk or Faery folk. (back
to top)
FETCH: The spiritual entity that usually takes on some sort of
animalistic element and role and that is recognized in the Three Fold
Alliance (human, faery and animal). A specific ally and helper that is
born from a place outside our own consciousness and awareness but still
comes from within our own mind though it appears to take on physical
attributes. (back
to top)
FITH FATH:
(Pronounced Fee Faw) A Scots
Gaelic term meaning *deer aspect* or one who takes on the appearance of a deer
and the term relates to a corpus of initiatory shape shifting lore. The term
fath is connected to specific poems and incantations that enable these
transitions via the magical words spoken or sung.
*I sall goe until a
Hare
Wi sorrow and sick mickle care
I sall goe in the Devil's name
An while I come home again*
(back
to top)
FOUR WENTZ WAYS: A crossroads. (back
to top)
GAST: A physical place that is considered
infertile and desolate. A place in which benevolent spirits have been
driven away. Such places are recognized immediately by the feeling of
wanting to flee or being driven away. Continued exposure to such
locations when it has been made apparent that such contact is unwelcome
can be dangerous. (back
to top)
GENIUS LOCI: The
distinctive atmosphere or pervading spirit of a place. The guardian
deity of a place.
(back
to top)
GHOST ROADS: Known also as the Dragon Paths, Serpent Tracks, Coffin Paths etc. these roads overlap with the idea of Ley Lines first promulgated by
Alfred Watkins. These roads are used by the newly deceased as they
travel and make their way to the Underworld. On more ancient of the
these lines can be found markers such as tumuli, barrows, churches
and cemeteries. (back
to top)
GODSTONE: Refers to the phallic standing stones (found at Crossroads and along
certain Ghost Roads - also known as God Stanes) and representative of the World Tree, the
Irminsul,
as well as the Human Spine. The Stone encompasses the Heavens or Chimeri,
the UnderWorld or Elphame as well as the mundane earthly realms we
currently inhabit. (back
to top)
GO UPON THE LAND:
A method used by those who worked the land to determine whether or not the
ground was fertile and ready for planting by removing the trousers and sitting
upon the land to directly gauge the temperature of the earth. (back
to top)
GRAMARYE: A book containing magical information or lore (from the
scholastic term grammar) -- The Secret Granary or the Red Book of Appin
are two historical references for Gramaryes. (back
to top)
GREAT NOWL: The Pole Star, or the Northern Star. (back
to top)
GREEN GOWN: A
tongue in cheek way to refer to a tousle in the new-mown hay. To *give one a
green gown* or a *green coat* (for men) usually occurred when one went a' Maying
down in the Greenwood during Roodmas Tide. Green Gown figures are synonymous with
female tutelary
spirits whose origins are ever present in the land - a representative of Dame Nature
herself. Additionally green coats were often noted to be the apparel of the
Devil in traditional lore and phaery tales. (back
to top)
GREY MAGIC: The
noble art of obfuscation -- not revealing certain things about one's self or
one's magical praxis in order to always keep those who may have thought they had
a good indication who you were and what you were about unsteady and uncertain.
Robert Cochrane claimed this gave him an advantage over those folks who assumed
they had a definite bead on his character. (back
to top)
GRIMALKIN:
Also Graymalkin (a Witch familiar). An old female cat or a bad-tempered old
Witch woman which sometimes can be both at once. (back
to top)
GUDEMAN'S FAULD: Also called
Jack's Land or No-Man's Land. A fold or enclosure of land that is left wild and
never tilled in homage to the Gudeman or Devil. This plot is left as a dead
ground and considered a permanent habitation for the spirits of the dead. Variants include the
Dame's Acre in homage to the Dame or Queen of Elphame.
(back
to top)
GUISING:
Dressing in masqued/masked costumes for ritual use
(traditionally incorporating sacred animals and other historical figures such as
the Fool and Mari Lwyd) -- a derivative of *disguising* - normally seen at
Misrule and Roodmas tides, those who dress in such a manner are known as Guisers or Guizards. (back
to top)
GYRE-CARLING: Alternate title for the Queen of Elphame. (back
to top)
HAGSTONE: A holed stone that symbolizes the Goddess and her Divine Femininity.
Often used by prudent Farriers after having a piece of string run through the
holed stone and being attached to the door of the stable with the express
purpose being to keep the horses within from being hag-ridden. Can also have
additional oneiric uses.
*Hang up hooks and shears to scare
Hence the hag that rides the mare,
Till they be all over wet
With the mire and the sweat.
This observed the manes shall be
Of your horses all knot free.* Robert
Herrick (back
to top)
HALLOWED: To make holy or sained - additionally something
that has been empowered with Spirament. (back
to top)
HAEGTESSA: A
*Hedge Rider*. A Saxon term for a Witch. (back
to top)
HIDDEN COMPANY:
Discarnate Witches who act as Spirit Guides. (back
to top)
HORSEMAN'S WORD: A
secret word taught at initiation into the Horsemen's Society that was usually
whispered to the horse by said *Horse Whisperers*. This word enabled that person
to *jade* (stop) or *draw** (cause to go) the beast. This feat was actually
accomplished by the use of oils and mixtures (sometimes added to a horse's
favorite food or snack) that were created by the Horseman that were either
repellent or aromatic in nature and that caused the specific horse behaviour noted above.
An example of a Horseman's Word from the early 20th Century Gypsy folk is Deagblasda
(sweet-tasting).
*Hele, Conceal, Never Reveal,
Neither Write, Nor Dite, Or Recite,
Nor Cut, Nor Carve, Nor Write in Sand*. (back
to top)
HOUNCES:
Colorful worsted braids usually worn by farm-horses to keep them from being
fascinated by the evil eye or pixie-led. (back
to top)
HOUSLE: Variant also Houzle, Housel. A specific instance of sharing sained food and drink (usually
wine and bread) between Witch folk and their brethren both seen and
unseen. (back
to top)
HULDU:
Norse/Icelandic term for Elves and Faerie Folk. Also Hulda-Folk,
Alfa-Folk - the Hidden or Vanishing People. (back
to top)
HYTERSPRITE: Benevolent earth spirit. (back
to top)
IYNX: Plural Iyinges.
Also associated with the Latin verb Iungere: to join. In it's most cosmic aspect
as a numinous magical vortex it is said to have the root meaning *primal
transmission*. The term is derived from the name of the Wryneck bird (Iynx from
Iugmos - a shrieking sound) which was spread eagled across a wheel, itself known
as the Iynx or Rhombus which was then spun on two strings to attract the
beloved. (back
to top)
KA!: This term is similar in scope and use to the phrase *So Mote it Be*
and follows at the end of most workings and is also of East Anglian
descent. (back
to top)
KUTHUN: An object
that a dying witch gives to another witch in order to pass the power. (back
to top)
KARINDER!: An East Anglian term with deliberate incantory uses that
draws attention and is used at the beginnings of most workings. (back
to top)
KEPPEN ROD:
A stick or pole of sorts used for measuring.
(back
to top)
LILITH�S LANTERN: The Moon. (back
to top)
LIFTING: Additionally known as Faring Forth the Fetch, Traveling and
being Oot and Aboot (transvection) and refers to the spiritual soul travel when the
practitioner leaves their body and travels into other relative dimensions and
worlds -- this form of reality is most often experienced by the Fetch. (back
to top)
MAN IN BLACK: Archaic
term for Magister or Devil of the Coven. (back
to top)
MARK OF CAIN: The
invisible, numinous mark usually bestowed upon initiation that marks and denotes
that one is of the Old Craft Persuasion. (back to top)
MASTER: Ambiguous title given to the Lord that bears the
Light between his Horns recognized often in his primal forms of a Blacksmith as
well as an Archer. (back
to top)
MAGISTELLUS: A Familiar or a Lesser God or Little Master that helps and
aids the Witch in her endeavors -- examples would be Robin Artisson who
came to Dame Alice Kyteler in the form of a Black Dog. (back
to top)
MOLE COUNTRY: The Underworld, or the Land of the Dead. (back
to top)
MOLLHERN LAND: The Underworld, or the Land of the Dead. (back
to top)
MYRKRIDER: Alternate term for Hedge Wytches, Hedge Riders. (back
to top)
NAMELESS ARTE:
Or the Magical Arte, Arte Magical (also Art) - a euphemism for the praxis of the
Old Craft, Elder Craft or Witchcraft. (back
to top)
NAYWORD: A secret password or watchword, or a specific
term or phrase that allowed one to gain access to a Ritual or celebratory Sabbat
with others and must be
given correctly in order to advance into the working group. (back
to top)
NICNEVIN:
Also Gyre-Carling, Scottish Lowlands term for the Queen of Elphame or Daughter
of the Bones, this term has certain diabolic associations. (back
to top)
NICNEVIN�S CHARNAL HOUSE: The Underworld, or Land of the Dead. (back
to top)
NOUS: Also noetic. The principle of the cosmic or divine mind or soul responsible for the rational order of the cosmos. In Neo-Platonism, the image of the absolute good, containing the cosmos of intelligible beings.
(back
to top)
NOWL: The center, navel or omphalos as in the Pole star or the center of a compass or some other
area used for magical workings. (back
to top)
NUMEN:
A presiding divinity or spirit of a place. A spirit believed by Witches
to inhabit certain natural phenomena or objects. Creative energy;
genius.
(back
to top)
ODLING: Something without equal. (back
to top)
OLD FATE: Known also as Dame Fate. The Spinner of the
Threads of Fate. Seen sometimes as a Loathsome Lady and sometimes Lethal
Goddess, She, whose secret and unknown name is said with fear and dread
sometimes appeared as Three Separate Women in different cultural
contexts as the Morai, the Parcae, the Norns. (back
to top)
ONEIRIC: Of or
relating to or suggestive of dreams and the dream state, also the twilight stage
between sleep and wakefulness.
(back
to top)
ON-LAY: The
act of *laying on* or creating new magical virtues by the use of operative
magical acts at a specific geographical space, be it indoors or out, though
those out of doors are preferred -- the art of placing an *overlay* of relevant
energies and mythical and magical patterns on a particular object for specific
intentions and purposes. Under
an on-lay, the attributes brought on from the Anima Loci are minimally
kept and can even be overridden. (back
to top)
OOT AND ABOOT:
The art and act of transvection, also called lifting,
faring forth the fetch. Synonymous with Astral or Soul travel. (back
to top)
OWD HINERY:
Also Auld Chiel. Alternate title or name for the Devil. (back
to top)
OWL BLINK: A Curse. (back
to top)
OWL LIGHT: The Twilight. (back
to top)
PERRY DANCERS:
The Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. (back
to top)
POPPET: Also called a Mommet -- a small figure
made from wax and cloth and created to mirror/image a person or thing in order
to work a form of sympathetic magic - they were stuffed with herbs,
hair, fingernails and sometimes bodily fluids. (back
to top)
POUK'S PINFOLD:
An alternate term for the Underworld or Hell with Pouk being the Devil and a
Pinfold being a type of enclosure or pen for stray animals. (back
to top)
PRAXIS:
Practical application or exercise of a branch of learning as related to
Witchcraft. (back
to top)
PUCKEREL: Another term for the Fetch, also known as the Puckril, or
Bid. . (back
to top)
RED THREAD: A subtle reference relating to the idea and concept of the
Witch Blood that is passed from generation to generation in a physical sense or
in reference to those who have had it awakened spiritually through some form of initiation. (back
to top)
RIG: A cord or line that runs across a compass or bought
that was created while attached to two dods -- it usually runs
from the center to the very northernmost edge. (back
to top)
ROUGH MUSICKING: Also Riding the Stang, Skimmington, Skimmity.
This custom apparently began as a New Year's tradition unique to the
regions of Cumberland, Westmorland and the Yorkshire areas. The act of
Riding the Stang belongs to a range of customs that were particular to
the working classes in which they claim the right to manhandle their
superiors. Can be compared to similar traditions enacted at the Corby
Pole Fair as well.
This
custom involved a gathering of folks going about the village to a
particular place or home with metal plates, tins, poles and such being
struck loudly so as to make obnoxious noises (usually done at night).
Also used as a way to *drum a man (or woman) out of the village* for such offenses
as adultery, incest, spousal abuse. Another symbol of social disproval
is the leaving of or scattering of chaff at the threshold of
the home of the offender. (back
to top)
SABBATSELE: A specific Hallows experience or celebration. (back
to top)
SAIN: To make a particular place, person, or thing holy or hallowed or
consecrated by the use of magical chants and songs --
the act of saining in order to sanctify. (back
to top)
SCORE ABOVE THE
BREATH: The belief carried over from medieval times that causing a Wytch to bleed above the mouth and nose
(by intentionally scratching, slashing or poking) would cause any workings that had been done or magical acts performed to become null and void. (back
to top)
SECRET GRANARY:
The legendary and elusive *Gramarye* or grammar book containing the
Craft Secrets of East Anglia. (back
to top)
SHOTSELE: Evening time. (back
to top)
SIT YE MERRY: East Anglian phrase meaning *Behold, the End* and used at the
end of an invocation or working. (back
to top)
SKRY: Derived from Old English word *descry* meaning to see or observe
utilizing a form of clairvoyance that incorporated the use of bowls of
water, mirrors, crystals. (back
to top)
SOUTHWAYS: Moving in a clockwise fashion or deosil, with the Sun's
movement. (back
to top)
SMOOR: To
smother the flames of a balefire or bonfire. (back
to top)
SPIRAMENT: Subtle energy or cosmic breath
also known as Ond, Vril or Odyle. (back
to top)
SPRITE
TRAPS: A form of a protective device whose name is a
corruption of Spirit Trap. Sprite Traps were made by several means
from a small magically charged stone nestled between the forks of a
smallish stang to more elaborate creations involving weaving a
particular pattern with red thread atop a forked ash or rowan wand --
such woven traps incorporated design elements as runes of protection and were planted firmly at the front and back doors of homes
and businesses. (back
to top)
STALE: The besom or ritual broom's handle. (back
to top)
STANG: A forked ritual
staff usually of Ash wood that serves as an altar -- additionally it is a
physical representation of the World Tree or Irminsul showing the illusion of
duality, as well as being a staff of office for the coven Magister or Magistra.
Also functions as a simple walking stick and early versions were used to mark
ley lines and used as tools to survey the surrounding countryside. (back
to top)
TANGING THE BEES: Also tinging the bees. An act performed to cause bees
that were swarming to settle. Examples from East Anglia include beating on a
metal dustpan with the house key while in the immediate presence of swarming
bees. (back
to top)
TOAD�S BOON: Distinctive powers of Witchcraft given to the Toad Men through a complicated ritual using the specific crotch shaped bones of a certain type of toad (the natterjack or bufo calamita)
and known in a
similar vein to the Horsemen and the Horseman's Word in their abilities and
praxis. (back
to top)
TROSHEL: A threshold in a home or boundary. (back
to top)
TWILIGHT SLEEP: Also Twylyt Sleep. A trance state. (back
to top)
TO LIE BY THE WALL: To be dead. (back
to top)
UNDER THE ROSE:
Or Sub Rosa, referring to the specific symbol of the rose representing confidentiality
and secrecy in matters shared. (back
to top)
UNGUENTI SABBATI: Flying ointment usually prepared with the darker
herbs/worts
of a specific narcotic nature (Hellebore, Hemp, Henbane) -- can be
dangerous and deadly if used unsupervised. (back
to top)
VERDELET: Also the Man in
Green, Robinet, Robin Hood. French term for the aspects of the dual natured Horn
God who represents both the primal nature of fertility that is seen as green and
growing bright half of the year as well as the the obverse nature of the Man in
Black or Harlequin who is a harbinger of the shadowy nature of decrease and
death during the icy and freezing dark half of the year. (back
to top)
THE WAIN: The constellation of Ursa Major - The Great Bear, also known as
Arthur's Wain. (back
to top)
WARD: The spiritual guardian of an area or a place or the
act of using magic via the form of workings etc. to protect a place - to
ward and wane. (back
to top)
WASSAIL: Anglo Saxon term word that refers to *being whole* often used a
a greeting and is known in the yearly blessing of the Apple trees
after Winter's frost and freeze. (back
to top)
WHINNEY MOOR: From
the Old Norse *hvin* and the Old English *mor* which refers to a moorland where
gorse grows. A wasteland covered in thorns that the souls of the dead
had to fly over or cross on their journey to the Othereworld. Of a more mundane
explanation, it is a geographical area on the outskirts of Leeds (called
Whinmoor) where many folktales abound about the ghostly battles that take place
there. (back
to top)
WHIST: Uncanny,
silent, quiet, still, hushed, making no sound, or free from noise or disturbance.
Also melancholy, sorrowful, cognate with wist as in wistful. Filled with a
particular yearning or eldritch desire.
(back
to top)
WIGHT: Germanic
term meaning *being* or *creature* applied to both spirits of an anabolic and
catablic nature being able to influence both the increase and decrease of a specific
place. (back
to top)
WITCH BOTTLES:
Also known as Bellarmines or Greybeards. Squat, narrow necked stoneware bottles depicting
a Green-Man type figure ( in
parody after Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino) placed as a subtle decorative motif and
designed to act as a repellent against Witches. They are usually filled with
such things as bent nails, urine, broken glass and needles and set in a pot of
boiling water till they burst with the idea being that a form of linkage would
occur that would cause great suffering to the bewitcher. They can additionally
be buried to work over a longer period of time.
*To house the Hag you must do this;
Commix with meal a little Pisse
Of him bewitcht: then forthwith make
A little Wafer or a Cake.
And this raw'ly bak't will bring
The old Hag in. No surer thing.* Robert
Herrick
(back
to top)
