compiled by Joanne Le Pennec
Some of the definitions here are borrowed from Emma Restall Orr’s book, "Spirits of the Sacred Grove," (Thorsons, HarperCollins, 2000). Most of the other definitions were inspired by Kate West’s "The Real Witches’ Kitchen," (Thorsons, HarperCollins, 2002 ).
awen pron.’ah’wen’ (Welsh). Flowing spirit, inspiration. In Druidry it is used as a chant that opens us to the flow of inspiration and the energy of spirit.
circle Sacred space (qv) to work in – casting the circle is one step to creating sacred
space. It can be cast anywhere.
Craft (the) The native spirituality of the Pretannic isles of Britain and Ireland, and of their people, some now spread across the globe. Its focus, its altar, is the natural
world. Also known as Druidry, as a philosophy, or Druidcraft, as a practice,
the old religion, or the old ways.
Deity A Goddess or God.
Divination Ways of discovering what may otherwise stay hidden from us. There are
different techniques such as tarot, crystal balls, tea leaves…
Divine This word has a broader meaning than deity (qv) as it refers to all that is of
God or Goddess. It encompasses both Gods and Godesses and includes
those aspects which have neither gender nor name.
Eistedfodd pron. ‘ice’teth’fod’ (Welsh). A session or sitting, and the time during a gorsedd (qv) for storytelling, poetry and music.
Elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water – each associated to one of the four directions, starting with Earth in the North.
Esbat Full moon meeting or working.
Gorsedd pron.’gor’seth’ (Welsh). High seat, originally referring to the sacred mounds where tribes gathered for special occasions, but now meaning a gathering of Bards.
Grove A group of people come together for a ritual or to celebrate in the Druid tradition, as opposed to a
grove A circle of trees or woodland clearing used as a temple site in the Druid tradition.
Handfasting A pagan wedding, a rite of passage (qv).
Little people A term used to denote the original or first people of the Pretannic Isles who are said to have partly disappeared into the mists at the first invasions, to dwell between the human world and that of the faerie.
Pagan A generic term for a number of pre-Christian faiths – druids, witches. Pagan faith is linked to locality and to the Earth.
Pentacle A five-pointed star with its points touching a circle surrounding it.
Pentagram A five-pointed star not enclosed in a circle.
Priest Or priestess. This can be a person who leads a rite for a group. It is also someone who is dedicated to one particular God or Goddess and is a priest of that deity. However, as we all intercede directly with our gods we are all, therefore, priest or priestess in this way.
Quarters The four cardinal points/directions (North….West).
Reincarnation The belief that we return to this earth many times for different lives and in many different forms.
Rite/Ritual Work done in sacred space with a specific intention ex : to celebrate Beltane.
Rite of Passage Working that celebrates and marks a transition from one stage of life to another, for example : birth, marriage, death.
Sabbat One of the 8 seasonal festivals which form the wheel of the year.
Sacred space Place of worship defined by the circle (qv). Wherever and whenever you may need it.
Sain pron. ‘sa’hn’ (Scots Gaelic). Similar to the Native American word translated as ‘smudge’. Saining is a process of burning incense, particularly herbs, to cleanse, lift or alter the atmosphere or energy of a place or person.
Shamanic Shaman is a Siberian word for the priests and healers of the indigenous people. It is now used somewhat loosely to describe any Pagan practice which involves walking in the spirit worlds.
Skyclad Naked ; first used to describe the naked fakirs of India and imported into British Paganism by Gerald Gardner.
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