Magickal Correspondence

So you’ve been reading up on Paganism, witchcraft, Wicca, and all kinds of other things, and it seems pretty straightforward… but you’re probably wondering How does magic work, anywa...

At some point, you may have decided that you’re comfortable enough in your spiritual path that you’re ready to “come out of the broom closet.” Chances are it’s not a deci...

The phrase “blessed be” is found in many modern magical traditions. Although it appears in some Pagan paths, it’s typically more likely to be used in a NeoWiccan context. It’s often used as a greeting...

Like the rest of society, however, magick also suffers from a bit of socioeconomic elitism. The magick familiar to many of us today developed centuries ago, as educated people sought an ultimate truth...

Essentially, magick is magick. It isn’t black or white. It is not wholly good and it is certainly not intrinsically evil. If a color could convey magick’s true character, it would most ass...

The forest is a theater of strange beings, friendly and unfriendly. What are those creatures crawling around underneath the elder tree? It is the old one and her troop of mandrakes, woodruffs, goblins...

This extremely potent oil makes other people do your bidding. Use it to break any hexes and to order evil spirits to return to their sender. This oil is suitable for anointing candles and Voodoo dolls...

A hoodoo Attraction oil for drawing love. Blend equal parts of the following: • Rose scent, which can be one or more of these: • Essential Oil of Roses (Rose Otto) • Essential Oil of Rose Geranium • R...

Foot track magic is one of the hallmarks of hoodoo. It involves throwing powders and such in the path of a target, who will suffer from abnormal maladies and a run of bad luck once they have walked on...

Simply put, crossing refers to spiritual works that cause harm or bad luck, while uncrossing refers to works that reverse it. There are a number of products sold that are used to aid in putting an end...

Voodoo is a religion, while hoodoo is a magickal system. The word voodoo means the “spirit of God.” Voodoo believers accept the existence of one god, below which are the powerful spirits often referre...

New Orleans Voodoo is known for several unique characteristics, such as Voodoo dolls, gris gris, and zombies. The use of Voodoo dolls in New Orleans reportedly peaked during the reign of the infamous ...

also known as Creole Voodoo, originated from the ancestral religions of the African Diaspora, and is one of many incarnations of African-based religions rooted in the West African Dahomean Vodou tradi...

I left this one for last, as it is a word very rarely used in the Magickal community. This old term of insult comes from Old English waer-loga: “traitor” or “liar.” It once described a Witch who betra...

A man or woman dedicated to the service of the Gods—often concentrating on a single manifestation or aspect (such as a Priest of Apollo, or a Priestess of Aphrodite). They may also serve a community o...

Paganism (meaning “of the country”) is a collection of diverse spiritual paths which are rooted in or inspired by indigenous (native) and Classical (ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.) traditions wo...

In Medieval Europe and Britain,“Cunning Women” were often called Wicce—an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “shaper”—from which we get our term “Witch.” This word, in turn, comes from Middle High German wicken...

“Cunning” comes from the Old Norse cunna (“to know”) and the Old English kenning (“wise”). This term was applied to the resident magicians and healers of small English towns and villages ever since th...

The spiritual leaders in traditional tribal cultures are the Shamans, or medicine men and women, who are both gifted and learned in talents and skills of divination, herbalism, hypnosis, psychic work,...

From the earliest beginnings in ancientGreece, Philosophers have sought to understand theunderlying principles and nature of “life, the universe, and everything.” They seek to apply wisdom,knowledge, ...

Prophets are usually divinely inspired preachers, who often speak on behalf of the Gods and Goddesses themselves. They are great teachers, known for compelling religious visions and revelations—often ...

Someone who conjures up the spirits of the dead to speak with them and learn hidden knowledge and secret information, and to foretell the future. Today people who do this are usually called Mediums or...

This term dates from the 14th century and means “one who sees.” A Seer is a person credited with extraordinary moral and spiritual insight, who predicts events or developments. The term may be used fo...

Literally, “truth sayer.” An old word for prophets, visionaries, seers, and fortunetellers. The word could be used for anyone who predicts the future. Another word meaning the same thing is Mantis (“D...

Unlike sorcery, enchantment has very positive connotations. Enchantresses are “bewitching,” fascinating, charming, sexy women whose magick brings delight and pleasure to others. The word is often used...

Sorcery implies some sort of supernatural power over people and their affairs. People who wield such magickal charm or influence are called Sorcerers (or Sorceresses in the case of women). This term h...

Alchemy was the forerunner of modern chemistry, blending Egyptian metallurgy with Greek philosophy and Middle Eastern mysticism. The goals of Alchemists were the discovery of the “Philosopher’s Stone”...

Simply, any practitioner of the magickal arts. There are performance Magicians who create seemingly “impossible” illusions and feats with sleight-of-hand (“prestidigitation”) and special effects. And ...

In ancient Celtic tradition, Bards were part of the Orders that were headed by the Druids. Bards were the poets, musicians, and singers of the epic songs and tales that conveyed the history and lore o...

A Mystic (from Greek mystai, meaning someone who has been initiated into secret Mysteries) is a person whose profound spiritual or “otherworldly” experiences have given them a deep intuitive comprehen...

A Sage is an elderly person of sound judgment, who has achieved wisdom through reflection and experience. The term is used for a savant, an expert, a scholar, and a learned philosopher or teacher, suc...

This term is often used as a synonym for “Wizard,” especially in a complimentary sense. A Mage may also be called a Magus, which means a master of the magickal arts. The ancient Magi (like the “Three ...

: This title comes from Arabic, meaning, “bearer of burdens,” and was given to the chief minister and adviser under the King. The most famous Vizier of ancient Egypt was Imhotep (yes, the “Mummy”), wh...

This is from the Anglo-Saxon wysard: “wise one.” A Wizard is a lore-master, especially of arcane (that is, lost or secret) knowledge (hence popular usage such as “computer wizard”). A Wizard is also a...

Now would probably be a good time to explain some of the different kinds of magickal folks. These terms can be confusing to the unfamiliar, so here is a brief little Glossary. (Also, one essential com...

The terms “helpful” or “baneful” are simply perceptions of magick’s dual nature. Witches work to be neutral—to walk in balance and to work impartially somewhere in the center between the two extremes....

The principle of correspondence also directs us to the most harmonious tools and spell accoutrements for our magick, as in a table of correspondences. Specific crystals and herbs can activate certain ...