Wiccan Terminology (C)

CAKES AND ALES
This is the ritual meal shared with the Goddess and God near the end of a religious ritual.

CALL
It is the act of invoking divine forces.

CANCER
The 4th sign in the zodiac. It is symbolized by the Crab, is a Water sign, and is ruled by the Moon.

CANDLE MAGIC
A form of sympathetic magic that uses different colored candles to represent the people and things at which its spells are directed.

CANDLEMAS
See Imbolc

CAPRICORN
The 10th sign of the zodiac. Symbolized by the Goat, is an Earth sign, and is ruled by the Saturn.

CARDINAL POINTS
North, South, East, and West, marked in the Georgian Tradition by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue, respectively. The Circle is drawn to connect these four points.

CASTING CLOTH
Layout cloth with appropriate markings, used for tossing the ogham fews (or for runes).

CAULDRON
A small or large black cast-iron pot used by Witches that symbolically combines the influences of the four elements. Represents the womb of the Goddess.

CENSER
A heat-proof container with a perforated lid in which incense is smoldered. One of the elemental tools, representing the Air element.

CENTERING
It is the process of moving one’s consciousness to one’s spiritual center.

CEREMONIAL MAGIC
Involves the use of elaborate rituals, dramatic invocations of the spirit, and mystic sacraments.

CERNUNNOS (Cerunnos)
The only known name of the Celtic Horned God; it is much used by witches, in the Cernunnos form.

CERRIDWEN
A Welsh Goddess-name, much used to represent the Mother or Crone aspects.

CHAKRA
The Power Points of the body; the wheels of energy. Just above your head is a chakra that works with your Higher Consciousness. The Seven Major Chakras – Crown / pituitary, 3rd Eye / pineal, throat / thyroid, heart / thymus, solar plexus / lyden, spine / adrenal, lumbar / gonads. Plus various Minor Chakras – the ones the center of your hand palms, soles of the feet, behind each eye… etc.

CHALICE
A sacred cup or goblet used to hold consecrated water or wine and normally kept on the West side of the altar. It represents the element of Water. It is also used to represent the Goddess during the symbolic great rite.

CHANNELING
The spontaneous or induced act of communicating with or serving as a channel for spirits while in a trancelike state of consciousness.

CHARGE OF THE GODDESS, THE
The Traditional words of the Goddess to her followers, or “hidden children”. Normally delivered by the High Priestess at every coven Circle. Also known as “The Charge of the Goddess”.

CHARGE, TO
It is the act of magickally infusing and object (usually crystal) with your personal energy.

CHARM(S)
Objects made and infused with magical energy, and carried or placed to achieve a goal. These objects are usually infused with specific energy for specific purposes, for example, protection.

CHARM, TO
The act of infusing energy into objects for specific purposes.

CIRCLE
A sphere created through Visualization and Magick by Personal Power, penetrating the ground both above and below it. It is in this area where the magickal worship and spells takes place. It can also be used to designate a particular group of Witches or Pagans.

CLAIRVOYANCE
The ability to be aware of events, facts or phenomena. A person with this ability will perceive future events in varying detail. This ability is not exclusively an ability to tell the future but also an ability to see what happened in the past without having been there. The insight may be experienced in form which vary from voices to visions and dreams and even music. Also known as Clairsentience, Clairaudience.

CLEANSING
Understood as a ritual act to purify and object or area of negative energies whether natural or unnatural.

CONE OF POWER
Power or energy raised in the circle by the Witches assembled, and sent out into the world to work magick. It is usually visualized as being retained and built in the form of a “cone” prior to release. The cone would have its base at the circle of Witches and its apex above the center of the circle.

CONJURATION
The act of evoking spirits by means of formulas or words of power. (see also Evocation)

CONSCIOUS MIND
The analytical, materially-based, rational half of our consciousness. The mind at work when we compute our taxes, theorize or struggle with ideas. See Psychic Mind.

CONSECRATION
The act of making something sacred, the ritual use of water and salt to exorcise negative energies or evil influences from tools, circle, etc.

CORN DOLLY
A figure, often human-shaped, created by plaiting. Represented the fertility of the Earth and the Goddess in early European agricultural rituals and is still used in Wicca. These aren’t made from cobs or husks; corn originally referred to any grain other than maize and still does in most English speaking countries except the United States.

COVEN
An organized group of Witches, led by a High priestess and/or a High Priest who meet regularly for magickal workings, ceremonies, worship and fellowship. The traditional membership is 13, but in fact most covens number considerably less. 3 is the minimum in the Georgian Tradition. In Middle English, “Covin” a group of confederates; In Old French “Covine” a band or group with a single purpose; Latin “Com”-together, “Venire”-to come or move.

COVENSTEAD
The place where a particular coven habitually meets or sometimes the area from which its membership is drawn.

COWAN
A non-Witch. Formerly used in a very derogatory manner. Still used in Masonic Ritual to indicate the non initiate and/or pretender to “real craft”. Not often used today among most Witches.

COYOTE ENERGY
Trickster energies. Named for the American Indian Trickster, Coyote, who tricks man into learning what he needs to learn. Applies to one who constantly jokes and clowns. Also applies to the concept of “Holy Fool” in many traditions.

CRAFT, THE
The witches’ name for the religion and practice of witchcraft. Inherited from Freemasonry.

CRONE
The 3rd aspect of the Triple Goddess. Corresponds to the waning and dark phases of the moon. Represents maturity, wisdom and spiritual peace.

CROSS QUARTER DAYS
The modern name for the Celtic Fire Festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas.

CRYSTAL BALL
A sphere of crystal or glass used for scrying. They come in all sizes and colors.

CUP
see Chalice

CURSES
Contain malevolence to the sphere of the generator of the negative energy.