Welcome to the Witchipedia's glossary of occult terms. Here you will find terms often used in the Pagan, Heathen, magical and occult communities that may confuse a newcomer. This encyclopedia of magical terminology is a wonderful place to get started if you don't know where to start in the Witchipedia. If you don't see the term you are looking for here, feel free to bring your question to the community in our forums or Ask A Witch!
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We have 343 terms listed in our glossary with more being added each day.
What you see on this page is the name and first paragraph of the articles in our occult glossary. To view the full article, please click on the title. You will also be able to comment, ask questions and add more information to the article once you've navigated to its page.
Yule Log - The Yule Log is a tradition possibly of Germanic or Nordic origin. The log itself is traditionally the largest, hardest log that can be gotten from the nearby forest with the intention that it will burn hotly and brightly through the longest night of the year. The log would be heavy and several people and perhaps horses would be necessary to haul it home, which they would do while singing festive songs, possibly ringing bells. The log might be decorated with greenery and sprinkled with wine, mead, cider, oil, salt or some combination before it was lit with prayers of thanksgiving and hope.
Zodiac - The zodiac refers to the constellations that ring the apparent path the sun takes throughout the year. As the sun passes through the location of each constellation we say that the sun is in the house their associated signs of the zodiac.
Zoroastrianism - Zoroastrianism is a dualistic religion that was the official religion of Persia for 1000 years, from 600s BCE to 600s CE. It was founded about 3500 years ago in what is now Iran by a prophet named Zarathustra. According to Zrathustra (or Zoroaster), the creator God Ahura Mazda revealed the truth to him that forms the foundation of the religion:
If you wish to discuss a specific article in this glossary, please click on the article's title and submit your comments in the article's comment section.
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Thanks for this glossary. It's great, helpful and beautiful. :)
Thank you and Blessed Be.
Just what I'm looking for.
Love and Light.
Love the site and the glossary. Just stumbled upon it today. Thank you so much, the glossary will help much as I'm new to Wiccan ways.
One suggestion would be to allow the reader/viewer to view it 'all', rather than hit button after button to see more glossary terms.
Thank you again.
The website is great! An app would be really helpful/convenient! :)
What exactly would you like such an app to do?
I ask, because it lies within the realm of possibility. I've thought about it- but what would it look like?
Perhaps like a quick users guide? Something like a mobile search engine, type in a rite you are doing and it brings up a list of suggested items to go along with it, type in a stone to be reminded of its properties, personalized book of shadows (you can save certain things you like and edit parts). I think that type of thing would be helpful in app form :)
I really like the idea of saving sections and the ability to edit and add notes. I'm a recent widow with 2 very young children and 2 jobs, so that would help greatly since I'm always on the go without much free time.
With regard to an app, I want you to know that I have been doing research and talking to people who know more about this sort of thing than I do. (I don't even own a mobile device.) The app still lies within the realm of possibility (though it will probably be multiple apps, not just one) but it's not likely to happen very soon. Do keep posting your thoughts and ideas, I am taking note of them all.
I am still thinking about the app. It is on my list of things to do this winter once the harvest is in. I have to get a new computer, as I will need to download software and the Chromebook I normally use is strictly for web based applications, but I'm confident that once I have the right equipment I will be cranking out apps like nobody's business. I just got my first Smartphone this spring and have been playing with apps so I finally know what you're asking for and how I'm going to go about doing it.
Thank you for this wonderful website!
Your translation of "atheist" is incorrect although completely acceptable in common use. Roughly: A = Not, no, is not, against and Theist = one who is with gods. In this sense "with" is in the possessive form. So it is actually possible, by this definition, for an atheist to believe that there are gods but none that they will worship or pursue. I admit that this is both an archaic and hair-splitting definition, but I just thought I would point it out. The common definition seems to have drifted from the "not" form of the prefix "A" into the "against" form for some reason or another. All things evolve and have new fruit for new seasons I suppose.
Comments should really go on the article itself. (this is mentioned twice on this page) Only the first paragraph of each article is listed here- the summary paragraph(this is also mentioned twice). You will find that the definition is quite thorough should you choose to read the entire thing.
Doing an app is very possible. I've found a wiccan app before that had several sections to it using links and ran off of wifi. I'm not sure how they did it. I quit using it because they wanted to start charging fir it and I can't afford that. Also a chat room on the site would be awesome. A safe place for Wiccan chats. With moderators to keep peace and kick trouble makers.
Only you can change you.
Emerald Wolfpaw
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A way to improve the Glossary page would be to have a "clickable alphabet" at the top and bottom of the glossary terms, that jumped to the letter you were looking for. Instead of the "page 1,2,3 next" and have all terms with that letter displayed in full, ie all the A's on a page etc.
Okay, my darlings. We have alphabet links as requested.It took me a whole day and long into the night and I absolutely deserve a cookie. I may have been sleeping near the end so if something looks weird, please do let me know. You will still have to scroll through to the next page on some of the alphabet links if there are a lot of entries with that letter.