20 Terms That Every Witch Should Know

1. Witchcraft: The practice of magic, spell work, and ritualistic activities for various purposes, such as personal growth, healing, divination, and manifestation.
2. Wicca: A modern pagan, witchcraft religion that focuses on nature worship, honouring deities, and following ethical principles.
3. Paganism: An umbrella term for various earth-centred spiritual paths that worship and honour nature and its cycles.
4. Spell: A ritualistic act or procedure performed to bring about a desired change or outcome, often utilizing symbolic objects, incantations, and energy manipulation.
5. Ritual: A ceremonial act or series of actions performed to connect with spiritual forces, deities, or energies, often involving specific tools, gestures, and invocations.
6. Book of Shadows: A personal journal or grimoire where witches record their rituals, spells, correspondences, herbal recipes, and other magical information.
7. Altar: A sacred space or designated area used for rituals, spellcasting, and honouring deities or energies, often adorned with symbolic objects and tools.
8. Sabbat: A seasonal celebration or festival in pagan and witchcraft traditions, marking important points in the Wheel of the Year, such as Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
9. Esbat: A ritual gathering, or solitary practice held during the phases of the moon, typically focusing on lunar energies and intentions.
10. Deity: A divine being or God/goddess that is worshiped, honoured, or called upon for assistance and guidance.
11. Elements: Earth, air, fire, water, and sometimes spirit; fundamental energies or forces that are believed to make up the universe and play a significant role in magical workings.
12. Sabbatical Year: A period of rest or reflection often observed by witches or practitioners to recharge and deepen their spiritual connection.
13. Divination: The practice of seeking knowledge or insights about the future or hidden aspects of the present through various methods such as tarot cards, runes, scrying, or pendulum dowsing.
14. Familiar: An animal companion, often believed to have a spiritual or magical connection with a witch and assist in spell work or spiritual journeys.
15. Cleansing: The act of purifying and clearing a person, object, or space of negative energy or influences, often done through various methods such as smudging, salt baths, or energetic visualization.
16. Invocation: A ritualistic prayer or spoken words calling upon a deity, spirit, or energy to be present, offer guidance, or lend assistance.
17. Correspondences: Associations or connections between different elements, colours, herbs, symbols, or planetary influences with specific intentions or magical purposes.
18. Energy Work: The manipulation and directing of metaphysical energy for various purposes, including healing, spellcasting, and manifestation.
19. Shadow Work: The process of exploring and integrating one's hidden or repressed aspects, emotions, and traumas for personal growth and self-understanding.
20. Circle Casting: The act of creating a sacred, energetic boundary or circle around oneself or a designated space for magical purposes, protection, and focusing energy.

By no means is this an exhaustive list, and it is not specific to every practice, however if you are interested in learning more, it is a good starting point for terminology.

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