Glossary of Esoteric Terminology
The following is a frequently updated glossary of esoteric terms.
Alchemy: An early pseudoscientific form of chemistry dedicated to the transmutation of base metals into silver or gold (often seen as symbolic for personal transformation), the discovery of the philosophers stone, and the acheivement of immortality.
Angel: An ethereal order of beings, often considered to be higher than humanity or benevolent and helpful to humanity in some way. In many traditions angels are servants or messengers of God. In modern consciousness angels are frequently portrayed as winged humanoids - even babyish - though in biblical times they were often seen as monstrous or alien in appearance.
Cartomancy: The use of tarot cards or playing cards for the purpose of divination.
Divination: the occult art of discovering hidden knowledge or future trends. Among the most common forms of divination are astrology, tarot, rune-casting, and scrying (or crystal-gazing).
Elementals: Nature spirits or entities associated with the four elements. Undines for water, Salamaders for fire, Sylphs for air, and Gnomes for earth.
Magick: According to Aleister Crowley, magick is “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity to will”. Magick is the use of means both natural and supernatural to effect change in one’s situation or environment.
Necromancy: the magick of communicating with the dead, or using the spirits of the dead to effect change or for divination.
Tarot: A set of 78 cards designed with symbolic illustration used in cartomancy, a popular form of divination.
Wicca: From the Anglo-Saxon Wicce meaning to bend. A term associated with the modern practice of witchcraft and considered a religion by many of its practitioners.
Witchcraft: The practice of spellcasting and magick, sometimes associated with European pagan traditions or religion, though concepts of witchcraft vary from culture to culture.
