Terms - G To H
GARDNERIAN
A modern tradition of Witchcraft based on the guidelines developed by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. Gardnerians are exclusively coven based and tend to be a little secretive.
GEMINI
The third sign of the zodiac. Symbolized by the Twins, is an Air sign, and is ruled by Mercury.
GLYPH
A powerful magical symbol representing the name and date of birth of a person.
GNOMES
One of the earth associated entities or elementals.
GODDESS, THE
The supreme female aspect of the Divine and consort of the Horned God.
GOLDEN DAWN
An occult Order founded in London in 1887 by three Rosicrucian's, which became a major influence in Western ritual magic.
GREAT RITE
It is a ritual which symbolizes the union of the Goddess and the God. The ritual involves a symbolic sexual act between the High Priest and High Priestess which may be physical if both so choose. If the act is actual, it is always performed in private with both participants fully consenting. It is never a requirement that this ritual be an actual sexual one and is in most cases only performed in the symbolic sense.
GREEN MAN
Another name for a God, as in his kingdom of the forest.
GREEN WITCH
A nickname for a Witch who is skilled in the art of herbs. Also called the Green Arts or Green Magic.
GRIMOIRE
Considered by some to be the same book as the Witches Book of Shadows, but by others as a separate book. The Grimoire to some is that book containing only the practicalities of magick and ritual. If this argument is accepted, then it would only contain spells, formulas, rituals and correspondences. It would not contain poems or personal laments and inspirations.
GUARDIANS
Each direction (North, East, South and West) has a symbolic Watchtower which is guarded by an elemental, spirit or archangel. These Guardians are usually called upon when casting the circle.
HALLOWEEN
See: Samhain
HANDFASTING
This is the Pagan or Wiccan equivalent of a marriage ceremony with one major difference. Instead of being "as long as you both shall live", it is "as long as you both have love for one another". Once a couple falls out of love a Handparting ritual breaks that bond in the same manner as does a divorce. To make the Handfasting legal, the High Priest or High Priestess needs to be registered as a member of clergy. In case of a Handparting, a lawyer needs to be consulted (in some cases) to make the parting a legal divorce.
HANDPARTING
The Pagan or Wiccan ritual which dissolves a Handfasting.
HEREDITARY
Witches who can trace their tradition through a line of relative who have handed the craft down to a sibling are called hereditary witches.
HEXAGRAM
Also known as the Star of David, this is a six pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles of same size.
HIGH PRIEST
The term given to the male leader and counterpart of the High Priestess in a coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priest is often abbreviated as HP.
HIGH PRIESTESS
The term given to the female leader and counterpart of the High Priest in a coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priestess is often abbreviated as HPS.
HIVING OFF
This is the term used when two or more members leave a coven to shape another coven known as a sister coven.
HOLLY KING
In the folklore of many parts of Europe, including the British Isles, the God of the Waning Year. At the Summer Solstice he "slays" his twin, the Oak King.
HORNED GOD
The supreme male aspect of the Divine and consort of the Goddess.
HOROSCOPE
In astrology, a chart of the heavenly bodies that shows the relative positions of the planets at a certain moment in time. With the exact time and place of a birth, an astrologer can cast a horoscope from which to define the subject's character and advise them on future courses of action.
A modern tradition of Witchcraft based on the guidelines developed by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. Gardnerians are exclusively coven based and tend to be a little secretive.
GEMINI
The third sign of the zodiac. Symbolized by the Twins, is an Air sign, and is ruled by Mercury.
GLYPH
A powerful magical symbol representing the name and date of birth of a person.
GNOMES
One of the earth associated entities or elementals.
GODDESS, THE
The supreme female aspect of the Divine and consort of the Horned God.
GOLDEN DAWN
An occult Order founded in London in 1887 by three Rosicrucian's, which became a major influence in Western ritual magic.
GREAT RITE
It is a ritual which symbolizes the union of the Goddess and the God. The ritual involves a symbolic sexual act between the High Priest and High Priestess which may be physical if both so choose. If the act is actual, it is always performed in private with both participants fully consenting. It is never a requirement that this ritual be an actual sexual one and is in most cases only performed in the symbolic sense.
GREEN MAN
Another name for a God, as in his kingdom of the forest.
GREEN WITCH
A nickname for a Witch who is skilled in the art of herbs. Also called the Green Arts or Green Magic.
GRIMOIRE
Considered by some to be the same book as the Witches Book of Shadows, but by others as a separate book. The Grimoire to some is that book containing only the practicalities of magick and ritual. If this argument is accepted, then it would only contain spells, formulas, rituals and correspondences. It would not contain poems or personal laments and inspirations.
GUARDIANS
Each direction (North, East, South and West) has a symbolic Watchtower which is guarded by an elemental, spirit or archangel. These Guardians are usually called upon when casting the circle.
HALLOWEEN
See: Samhain
HANDFASTING
This is the Pagan or Wiccan equivalent of a marriage ceremony with one major difference. Instead of being "as long as you both shall live", it is "as long as you both have love for one another". Once a couple falls out of love a Handparting ritual breaks that bond in the same manner as does a divorce. To make the Handfasting legal, the High Priest or High Priestess needs to be registered as a member of clergy. In case of a Handparting, a lawyer needs to be consulted (in some cases) to make the parting a legal divorce.
HANDPARTING
The Pagan or Wiccan ritual which dissolves a Handfasting.
HEREDITARY
Witches who can trace their tradition through a line of relative who have handed the craft down to a sibling are called hereditary witches.
HEXAGRAM
Also known as the Star of David, this is a six pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles of same size.
HIGH PRIEST
The term given to the male leader and counterpart of the High Priestess in a coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priest is often abbreviated as HP.
HIGH PRIESTESS
The term given to the female leader and counterpart of the High Priest in a coven. It is usually accepted that the High Priestess is the overall leader of the coven. High Priestess is often abbreviated as HPS.
HIVING OFF
This is the term used when two or more members leave a coven to shape another coven known as a sister coven.
HOLLY KING
In the folklore of many parts of Europe, including the British Isles, the God of the Waning Year. At the Summer Solstice he "slays" his twin, the Oak King.
HORNED GOD
The supreme male aspect of the Divine and consort of the Goddess.
HOROSCOPE
In astrology, a chart of the heavenly bodies that shows the relative positions of the planets at a certain moment in time. With the exact time and place of a birth, an astrologer can cast a horoscope from which to define the subject's character and advise them on future courses of action.