Yona Circle
Tuesday Techniques
Advanced Craft
Magickal Vocabulary
A strong vocabulary improves all areas of communication — listening, speaking, reading and writing. Whether you are utilizing an Invocation and calling upon on Deity or talking to a fellow Practitioner, vocabulary is critical to your success for these reasons: Vocabulary growth is directly related to Craft achievement. Knowing the “whys” and the words for “whys” is Knowledge, and Knowledge is power.
Here are a few words to encourage that Knowledge expansion!
Alchemy: noun - the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the transformation of Matter via other Matter, or energy from that Matter. A famous story is related to attempts in transmuting base metals into gold. There are also stories of famed Elixirs of Life.
Associated with mostly occult sciences at this time, such as astrology.
Etymology: late Middle English: via Old French and medieval Latin from Arabic al-kīmiyā', from al ‘the’ + kīmiyā' (from Greek khēmia, khēmeia ‘art of transmuting metals’) Alchemy derives from the Arabic word kimiya (كيمياء) or al-kīmiyāʾ (الكيمياء). The Arabic term is derived from the Ancient Greek χημία, khēmia, or χημεία, khēmeia, 'alloying metals', from χύμα (khúma, “fluid”), from χέω (khéō, “I pour”). However, the ultimate origin of the word is uncertain.
Clerical Confidentiality: When acting in the role of a Clergy Practitioner or Leader, it is understood that as there is ‘doctor patient’ or ‘attorney client’ confidentiality or privilege, there is Clerical confidentiality amongst ALL Paths. Anything, any Practitioner, comes to Clergy Leadership with is in the strictest of confidence, with exception. When it comes to violation of Community Laws of the society in which we choose to live – it is of the utmost discretion Practitioners are advised to seek legal counsel or speak with law enforcement. If Clergy can guide that Practitioner to a solution without involving the Society or Clergy Leadership, it is ideal. Anything spoken of ‘between friends’ is not held to the same standard.
Epicureanism: “…an ancient school of philosophy founded in Athens by Epicurus. The school rejected determinism and advocated hedonism (pleasure as the highest good), but of a restrained kind: mental pleasure was regarded more highly than physical, and the ultimate pleasure was held to be freedom from anxiety and mental pain, especially that arising from needless fear of death and of the gods.”
Fae or Fay: No matter how you use this term, in Magick it means - “a fairy or sprite” in English from both sides of the Pond. There are various other meanings of this word from ship-building and tightly fitting wood, to derogatory things as the slang term for a “contemptuous Caucasian”. TCMed leans towards the “faith”, “Fate” as well as “fairy” origin stories. “Fay” appears to be the older word when traced as it comes into English from the French “fée,” which comes from the Latin “fata,” meaning “fate.”
Gadfly: One who provokes others into action by criticism, manipulation or gossip. This Practitioner has less and less positive to speak on and does not usually have constructive comments. Shadow and Ego Work should be questioned.
Intonation: A way of energetically speaking words to increase their magick. This is most effect in Spellcasting and Ritual Work.
Psychopomp: From the Greek word ψυχοπομπός, psychopompós, literally meaning the 'guide of souls'. These are usually creatures, spirits, angels, or deities from various Paths whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife. Their role is not to judge the deceased, but simply to guide them. There are rumblings of the word being used to represent Clergy members who help guide the ‘living’ through existance to their crossing.
Reverence: noun - deep respect for someone or something. Example: "rituals showed honor and reverence for the dead"
Verb - regard or treat with deep respect. Example: "the many divine beings reverenced by Hindu tradition"
Etymology - from Middle English reverence (noun) and reverencen (verb), from Old French reverence and Latin reverentia, from Latin revereor (“I stand in awe, respect, revere”), from re- + vereor, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to cover, heed, notice”).
Stoicism: “…an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno of Citium. The school taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge; the wise live in harmony with the divine Reason (also identified with Fate and Providence) that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of fortune and to pleasure and pain.”
Theosophy: “…any of a number of philosophies maintaining that a knowledge of the Divine may be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations, through Ascended Masters, and especially in the movement founded in 1875 as the Theosophical Society by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907).” There is heavily used principles from Buddhism and Hinduism modified in various ways. The key is promotion of Universal peace.
Uktena: (ook-tay-nah): Among Cherokee people, a Horned Serpent is called an uktena. Anthropologist James Mooney, describes the creature: “Those who know say the Uktena is a great snake, as large around as a tree trunk, with horns on its head, and a bright blazing crest like a diamond on its forehead, and scales glowing like sparks of fire.” An uktena can also be a clear crystal with the streak of red, an inclusion, as these crystals are said to be the ‘eye of the dragon’ and are held in high regard for use with psychic abilities.
Warlock: A sworn cleric who has broken or disgraced their vows to their faith. The word began frequently appearing in Old English as wǣrloga ‘traitor, scoundrel, monster’, also ‘of the Devil’ – a Xtian twist, from wǣr ‘covenant’ + an element related to lēogan ‘belie, deny’. As persecution of pagans continued, Xtianity morphed the word from its original applications to “the Oath of the Devil”. The word was transferred in Middle English to a person in league with the Devil as persecution continued and hence it was understood to be a sorcerer. It was chiefly Scots until given wider currency by Sir Walter Scott. Most Practitioners understand this and no longer use the word.
Witch Queen: A term that hearkens back to times of heavy monarchy in society. It is likened a Vodou Queen or Gypsy King. “Witch Queen” is almost exclusively found in Wicca. Most Practitioners prefer different titles related to Clergy, such as First Practitioner when speaking to a group in that capacity.
