Glossary of Wiccan Terms         Athame -  A ritual knife.  It may possess a double-edged blade and a black handle.  The athame is used to direct Personal Power during ritual workings. Balefire -  A fire laid and lit for magickal or religious purposes, usually outdoors. Beltane -  A Wiccan religious festival, observed on April 30th. Beltane celebrates the burgeoning fertility of the earth. Besom -  Broom Boline -  The white-handled knife used in Wiccan and magick ritual for practical purposes such as cutting herbs. Blessing -  The act of conferring positive energy upon a person, place or thing.  A spiritual or religious practice. Books of Shadows -  A collection of Wiccan ritual information that usually includes religious rituals, magic and advice. Censer -  A heat-proof container in which incense is smoldered during rituals.  An incense burner. Circle Casting -  The process of moving positive energy from the body and forming it into a large, non-physical sphere of power in which Wiccan rituals usually occur.  Also known as 'laying the circle'. Divination -  The magickal art of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols. Elements -  Earth, Air, Fire and Water.  These four essences are the building blocks of the universe, and the ancient magickal sources of energy. Empowering -  The act of moving energy into an object. Energy A general term for the currently immeasurable power that exists within all natural objects and beings. Esbat -  A Wiccan ritual occurring on any day other than the eight Sabbats.  Esbats are often held on full moons, which are dedicated to the Goddess. Handfasting -  A ritual joining of two human beings in a bond of love before the Goddess. Herb Any plant used in magick. Imbolc -  A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on February 1st or 2nd that marks the first stirring of Spring. Initiation - A process whereby an individual is introduced or admitted into a group, interest, skill or religion. Invocation -  An appeal to a higher power.  Invocation is a method of establishing conscious ties with those aspects of the Goddess that dwell within us. Law of Three -  A Wiccan belief that our actions, both positive and negative, will be returned to us three-fold. Litha -  The Summer Solstice, a Wiccan religious festival and a traditional time for magick.  Also known as Midsummer. Lughnasadh -  A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on August 1st that marks the first harvest. Magick -  The movement of natural energies to manifest positive, needed change.  Magick is the process of rousing energy, giving it purpose and releasing it to create a change. Mabon -  A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on the Autumn Equinox that marks the second harvest. Ostara -  A Wiccan festival celebrated on the Spring Solstice that marks the beginning of the return of evident fertility to the Earth. Pentacle -  A ritual object upon with a five-pointed star (Pentagram) is inscribed, painted or engraved.  It represents the element of Earth. Pentagram -  An interlaced five-pointed star that is used as a protective device.  The pentagram is also associated with the element of Earth and with Wicca.  It has NO evil associations. Personal Power -  That energy which sustains our bodies. Prayer -  The act of focusing one's attention on the Goddess and engaging in communication.  Ritual -  Ceremony. Runes -  Stick-like figures, some of which are remnants of old Teutonic alphabets; others are pictographs. Sabbat -  A Wiccan religious festival. Samhain -  A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on October 31st which marks the last harvest and the preparations for Winter. Spell -  Spells are magickal rites.  They are usually non-religious and often include spoken words. Tools -  The term includes both physical objects used to facilitate ritual, as well as internal process. Wand -  One of the ritual tools used in Wicca.  The wand is an instrument of invocation, usually used to call upon the Goddess. Widdershins -  Counter-clockwise ritual motion. Yule -  A Wiccan religious festival celebrated on the Winter Solstice that marks the rebirth of the Sun.