Cottage Witchery (25 page)

Glossary

annual:
A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.

artemis:
The Greek goddess of the moon and of the hunt; twin sister to Apollo. A maiden goddess who protected women in childbirth and who was associated with wild animals and the domestic dog.

astral being:
A spirit or elemental energy conjured for a specific magickal purpose, such as protection.

astral plane:
The plane of existence where magick lives. This plane is just beyond our physical one—it cannot usually be seen, but it can be felt and accessed through magick.

banishing:
Repelling an unwanted person, situation, or psychic entity.

bast:
The Egyptian cat-headed goddess of love, magick, and fertility.

brigid:
The Celtic goddess of the hearth flame. A well-loved triple goddess of healing, smithcraft, and poetry. Her festival is a major Sabbat in the Wiccan calendar, February 1, which is known as Brigid's day, Candlemas, or Imbolc.

brownies:
A benevolent house faery and an earth elemental. They have many different names from many cultures, such as Bwca and Hobs. (See
Chapter Four
.)

cauldron:
A large kettle, typically iron, with three legs. A Witch's tool representing the element of water and a goddess symbol of regeneration and rebirth.

charging:
To load an object full of your magickal intention. Typically this is done by holding the object and then visualizing your magickal will and energy flowing into it.

charm:
A rhyming series of words (a spell) used for a specific magickal purpose.

cottage witchery:
A style of natural magick that revolves around the hearth and magickal home.

coven/circle:
A group of Wiccans that worship and study together.

the craft:
The Witch's name for the Old Religion and practice of Witchcraft.

cunning men:
Cunning men were the healers and keepers of the ancient magickal knowledge—the male version of a wise woman. They were the original wise men.

deosil:
Moving in a clockwise direction for casting circles, stirring up potions, and bringing forth positive influences.

diana:
The Roman goddess of the hunt. Diana is a maiden moon goddess and is also associated with dogs. Diana became associated with the Craft in the Middle Ages when she gained the title of “Queen of the Witches.” A popular goddess in the Craft today, she represents freedom, women's mysteries, and being daring enough to stand on your own.

divination:
The art and practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or hidden knowledge. Divination may be accomplished by means of tarot cards, scrying, tea-leaf reading, or runes.

elementals:
Spirits or energies that coordinate with each element. Earth elementals are brownies and gnomes; air elementals are faeries and sylphs; water elementals are undines; and fire elementals are salamanders and dragons. (See chapters 4 and 8 for more magickal information on the fire
elementals.)

elements:
Earth, air, fire, and water.

faery:
A nature spirit. Usually an earth or air elemental.

feng shui:
Means literally “wind and water.” The 5,000-year-old practice
of arranging and decorating your home to promote prosperity and contentment by manipulating chi, or positive energy. (See
Chapter Two
.)

flower fascinations:
The use of flowers in spellwork. A fascination is the art of directing another's consciousness or will toward you to command or to bewitch.

garden witch:
A practical, down-to-earth type of practitioner. A Witch who is well versed in herbal knowledge and its uses, and who is a magickal gardener.

green magick:
The magick of the natural world. Working with the
elements, plants, and trees.

grounding and centering:
A visualization technique. A way to focus and relax before and after performing magick. You push away negativity and stress from your own body, then pull back into your body healthy, calm, and strong energy from the earth.

hestia:
The Greek goddess of the hearth flame. Hestia was an important
goddess of her time. Homemaking and family life were especially revered by Hestia. (See
Chapter Four
.)

hex signs:
A wooden disc painted in bright colors that features geometric designs. A type of American folk art, the hex sign brings good luck, prosperity, and protection to the home that it is displayed in or on. (See chapter 1 for more information.)

house faeries:
Benevolent faeries and elementals of the hearth and home. (See
Chapter Four
.)

kitchen witch:
A hearth and home practitioner. One who celebrates and practices their Craft in a quiet way using household tools, herbs, and spices.

magick:
The combination of your personal power used in harmony with the powers of natural objects such as crystals, herbs, and the elements.

midsummer:
The summer solstice, this typically falls on or around June 21, the longest day of the year and the shortest night. An opportune time to work with the faeries.

natural magician:
A magician who works their magick mainly with the elements, in harmony with herbs and nature.

pyromancy:
Divination by gazing into a fire or candleflames. (See
Chapter Four
.)

rule of three:
The Rule of Three states that whatever magick you send out will be returned to you in kind. For the record, the rule of three goes like this: “Ever mind the rule of three, three times what you send out returns to thee.”

salamanders:
A fire elemental. (See
Chapter Four
.)

samhain:
Also known as Halloween, this holiday is also a major Sabbat. Samhain begins at sunset on October 31 and is celebrated as the Witches' New Year and the beginning of the Celtic year. This harvest festival is a time to remember your loved ones who have passed on and to be thankful for your blessings.

scrying:
To scry is to divine the future by gazing into a reflective surface such as water, a dark convex mirror, or a living flame. (See
Chapter Four
.)

talisman:
An object similar to an amulet, designed for a specific magickal purpose.

tasseography:
Tea-leaf reading. (See
Chapter Three
.)

triple moon goddess:
Refers to the three faces of the Goddess: the Maiden, who is symbolized by the new crescent moon; the Mother, who is represented by the full moon; and the Crone, who is associated with the waning and dark moon. One example of such a trinity would be Artemis, Selene, and Hecate.

warding:
Protection magick. A sort of psychic alarm system used to guard your home. (See
Chapter One
.)

wicca:
The contemporary name for the religion of the Witch. Wicca takes its roots from the Anglo-Saxon word
wicce
, which may mean “wise.” Another definition is “to shape or to bend.” A Pagan religion based on the cycles of nature and a belief in harming none, karma, reincarnation, and the worship of both a god and a goddess.

widdershins:
Working in a counterclockwise (banishing) direction.

wise women:
The first Witches and the custodians of the herbal knowledge of benevolent spells and charms. They were the healers and wise folk of their communities.

witchcraft:
The Craft of the Witch.

witches' rede:
The absolute rule that Witches and magick users live by. The Rede states simply, “An' it harm none, do what ye will.”

vesta:
The Roman goddess of the hearth. She was held in a place of honor in the ancient home. The tasks of housekeeping and fire making were sacred to Vesta. Vesta's temple was guarded by her priestesses, the vestal virgins. (See
Chapter Four
.)

yule:
The winter solstice; the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Typically Yule falls on or around December 21. A Wiccan Sabbat that celebrates the return of the newly born Sun god and the Mother Goddess. Gift giving and the familiar symbols of decorated pine trees, wreaths, suns, and lights all have Pagan roots, and are part of our celebration.

yule log:
A candle-studded log decorated with holly, ivy, and evergreen. Used in winter solstice celebrations. (See
Chapter Five
.)

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To feel most beautifully alive means to be
reading something beautiful, ready always
to apprehend in the flow of language
the sudden flash of poetry.

Gaston Bachelard

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———.
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———.
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