Mabon: The autumn equinox. An ancient and neopagan sabbat representing the second harvest gathering; a mindful time when our predecessors would begin to receive the rewards they had worked so hard to deliver. Generally, this celebration was tied with expressing appreciation to the Welsh god Mabon, who was said to be the offspring of the Earth Mother and the god Modron. Today, as the year winds down, Wiccans will reflect and think back over the previous months. Mabon is the time of the autumn equinox, a time to celebrate the harvest festival.
Magi: (See also Magus.) Zoroastrian priests in ancient Media and Persia were renowned for their mystical powers and educated in alchemy and astrology, alongside other esoteric practices. The magi possess supernatural abilities, control nature, and heal the sick. In the Christian bible, the three wise men were said to be magi, and they visited the infant Jesus in the stable in Bethlehem in ancient Palestine.
Magic: A grouping of various traditions, beliefs, and customs. Those who practice magic typically use supernatural forces to influence events in daily life but can weave their religious beliefs into their practices, too. Throughout history, magic has been used for both good and bad. Black or dark magic, as it is sometimes called, is performed with evil intent, whereas white magic focuses more on positive practices designed to work for the greater good.
Magic Circle: A protective barrier. A circle drawn either with a pointed finger or with a substance, such as rock, crystals, salt, or chalk. Positive energy is believed to be encapsulated within the circle, bringing power and protection to anything inside it. Witches cast a circle by rotating a wand or athame over the altar in a clockwise direction before any spell casting takes place. This is thought to bring more power to the ritual and shield it from evil.
Magic Light: Mentally visualizing a white protective light surrounding oneself; this is done before any psychic work or divination can proceed. An individual will sit quietly, picturing an image of brilliant white light showering them from the top of their head to the base of their feet.
Magic Mirror: (See also Scrying and Obsidian.) A handheld mirror with a black back used by magical practitioners, mediums, and psychics for scrying. Witches also use mirrors as a powerful tool of protection. If they believe someone is sending negative energy or thoughts toward them, they will place one small mirror (the type one would purchase in a craft shop) facing outward in every window of their home. The idea is that any ill will that is sent their way will ricochet back to the sender thrice fold.
Magician: Wizard, sorcerer, witch, seer, and conjurer. A person who practices ritual, spell casting, and all forms of magical thinking. They hone their psychic skills in an attempt to reach a higher state of consciousness and conjure up beings such as angels, nature spirits, and any nonhuman entities. Another term for magician is magus. There is little written knowledge of the magus, who was reputedly a male member of an important priesthood or caste in ancient Persia. The magus or the magician is the first card in a deck of tarot, which houses seventy-eight cards. In modern tarot, he is an influential guru, sometimes used as a guide for the querent. One of his hands points to the sky, the other to the earth, connecting humankind to God; what is above is also shown below. Over his head, there is a nimbus, or lemniscate, which glows to show he has life everlasting, or life into infinity. On the altar in front of him is a sword, a pentagram, a wand, and a cup, representing the four elements of air, earth, fire, and water.
Magnets: Magnets are often used in ritual to attract wealth. Traditionally, a small magnet can be kept inside a cashbox, purse, or wallet belonging to an individual or business.
These objects are also used in magnetic therapy and are thought to help ailments such as arthritis and depression.
Magnetic Distant Healing: To transmit the magnetism from one body to another without being in the vicinity of the receiver. The left hand is placed over a photograph of a person. The magnetic energy flows from the palm and into the atmosphere. It then travels for as long as it takes for the other person to receive it.
Magnetic Magic: The use of magnets in ritual to draw in power and attract things to an individual or to counteract by banishing or pushing something negative away.
Magnet Practitioner: A person who uses magnets or lodestones as a healing tool. These items are placed on the affected parts of the body, transferring healing energy to the patient.
Magnet Therapy: Alternative therapists use weak magnetic fields from permanent magnets, usually as bracelets or pendants, to give alleged health benefits. Scientifically, no positive healing effects have been proven. While therapists claim that blood hemoglobin has a metallic basis and that is how the therapy works, it is generally thought that the level of iron in the blood and the low level of magnetic current passed through it is unlikely to have any discernible effect. Similarly, some practitioners use electromagnetic therapy where a machine is used to create a magnetic field, but even these fields are said to be too weak to have any effect on blood flow. However, many users voice that they do receive positive results from this therapy, although scientists will argue that this is a placebo effect. (Philpott and Kalita, 2012.)
Magnificent Deva: An elevated being who has earned a high rank in the angel kingdom. This soul is said to have reincarnated thousands of times to reach the state of near perfection.
Magus: (See Magician and Magi.)
Major Arcana: (See also Tarot.) The first twenty-two cards in a deck of traditional tarot cards. When tarot was first invented, these twenty-two cards were all that existed and used as a game. Over centuries, the deck grew to seventy-eight cards, fifty-six of which became the minor arcana.
Mana: A Polynesian concept understood by Hawaiians, Tahitians, and Maoris. A spiritual, yet invisible, healing energy found in the air and thought to be necessary for all living beings and objects. This powerful force can be tapped into and controlled by humans and can be present in people as well as places. Mana gives one a supernatural strength, influence, and authority—plus fertility, imbuing a wealth of resources to countries and areas. Hawaiians and Tahitians also believed that mana, whether from a person or place, could have healing properties.
Mandrake: Mandrake is the root of a plant called “mandragora.” Since biblical times, it has been used for its healing properties. Its hallucinogenic effects were used externally for pain relief, but when taken internally, it caused vomiting and diarrhea, so it was given more as a purgative. Because of its mind-altering properties, it has been widely used in magical rituals and practices. The shape of the root often resembles a human form, which adds to its mystique. There is an old superstition that as a mandrake is pulled from the ground, it screams, and anyone hearing this would die immediately and be consigned to hell. Consequently, in days of old, animals would be used to drag mandrake roots out of the ground as a precautionary measure. Mandrake amulets resemble a poppet made from the roots of the mandrake plant, and are thought to bring wealth, fertility, and good fortune. This charm was often given to newlyweds as a keepsake to bring them luck. (Grieve, 2020.)
Manifestation: When something spiritual becomes real or visible. For example, a ghost might manifest itself during a séance.
Manticore: Also known as “mantichora,” “manticora,” or “mantiger.” A legendary Persian creature not unlike the Egyptian sphinx. It has the head of a human being, the body of a lion, and a tail of venomous spines. (Different portrayals have it with the tail of a scorpion.) In past times, medieval writers portrayed the manticore as the devil.
Mantis Beings: Also referred to as “mantids” and “insectoids.” Alien beings that resemble the praying mantis. These arthropods are said to strike inherent fear in many humans, which can’t be explained. Some believe that they are from the Draco system and are in regular contact with the reptilian aliens. Their color is black or green, and they have oily, pungent bodies. Their height is said to be between six and seven feet tall. The higher in rank they are, the more colorful their apparel is, and they are usually seen with the grey aliens in attendance. They use clicking noises to speak to their own kind but communicate telepathically with humans. Upon entering an earthling’s bedroom at night, the mantis is alleged to use their powers of paralysis to abduct a victim for medical experiments, breeding programs, and interrogations. It seems they can mentally communicate with the abductees and can appear to be kind and soothing to achieve their goals. Other abductees remark that they seem to be concerned about the state of our planet and that they have sinister plans set in place for humanity. (Gaia, 2016.)
Mantra: Mantra is a Sanskrit word meaning “sacred message.” The sound of a mantra acts as a point of focus, which is repeated to alter one’s consciousness and aid meditation.
Mary Celeste: An American merchant ship that was found drifting without a crew on December 5, 1872. A Canadian brigantine discovered the vacant vessel in a reasonable condition in the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores. There were ample provisions of food, water, and alcohol, and all the captain’s and crew’s personal effects, such as clothing, were undisturbed; only the lifeboat was missing. No one ever saw or heard from the crew again. Different theories were put in place to unravel the mystery, such as a giant squid attacking them or an earthquake. Conspiracy theorists took it one step further and remarked that aliens could have abducted the whole crew. Mary Celeste continued to sail with new owners, but in 1885, the captain of the ship deliberately scuppered her off the coast of Haiti to claim fake insurance fees. To this day, the mystery still carries on. (Let’s Read, 2019.)
Medicine Bag: Native American. Small animal skin, wool, or material bags containing sacred seeds, plants, and objects to encourage psychic visions and to promote healing. In many Native American and Shamanic cultures, these objects are usually handed down from one generation to the next, each having supernatural symbolism. The contents of the bag are secret to each keeper and must not touch the ground, which is why they are wrapped securely. Over the years, items can be added to the bag, such as bones, animal teeth, pines, cones, and crystals. Medicine bags are often present in vision quests and are thought to possess high power. Messages can be received from the spirits, giving guidance and knowledge to the owner.
Meditation: Done to accomplish a calm and tranquil state. Those who meditate utilize breathing and relaxation to achieve a higher condition of cognizance. One technique is for a person to lie on their back and inhale on the count of five, then exhale on the count of five. This exercise is repeated for up to an hour at a time, all the while making sure that the body is in a relaxed state. Lots of people report falling asleep when meditating. Drifting off is not a bad thing, as some believe that ten minutes of undisturbed meditation is the equivalent to four hours of sleep. (Yates and Immerqut, 2017.)
Mediumship: The ability to see and speak to ghosts or spirits, translating messages from the afterlife for those living on the earth. People with these skills are known as “mediums” and can use mindful meditation to converse with the dead. Mediumship became fashionable throughout the nineteenth century and was extremely popular with the upper classes as a form of entertainment. However, many mediums were revealed as fraudsters, and so the practice lost its believability. Today, there are not as many mediums in the world as there are psychics. People with true gifts tend to be few and far between.
Painting Medium: A person who paints or composes works of art, while being influenced by a spirit or muse, in a trancelike state. The artist works at a fast pace and, in some cases, doesn’t even have any artistic training or creative history. In some cases, the artist can tune in to their sitter’s guide and paint the exact image of them.
Medusa: (See also Gorgon.) Born from Greek folklore, Medusa was believed to be a monster or a gorgon who was the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. She was portrayed as a winged human female with a head covered with lethal snakes. Those who looked directly into her eyes were promptly turned to stone. She lived on an island named Sarpedon and met her untimely end when Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, beheaded her. Perseus later used Medusa’s head as a weapon before giving it to the goddess Athena to place over her shield.
Medusa Incident: Recently, declassified CIA documents included a KGB file detailing an incident in Siberia during 1993. A training unit of the Russian Armed Forces shot down a UFO using a ground-to-air missile. Five humanoid creatures emerged from the wreckage, and when confronted by the soldiers, they joined together and formed a ball of light, which then exploded and caused twenty-three soldiers to turn to stone. Only two soldiers survived. The KGB report continued to say that the remains of the soldiers were taken to Moscow for analysis, and it was found that their chemical composition was changed to be the same as limestone. (CIA, 2020.)
Men in Black: Tall men with ashen faces and piercing eyes who wear black or dark-colored suits. It is alleged that they work as government specialists or agents and hassle or undermine UFO observers to keep them quiet about what they have seen. Because the men in black have been reported to look humanoid in their appearance, some alien theorists think that they are outsiders and not of this world. (Redfern, 2011.)
Mermaid: In folklore and fables, a mermaid is a sea creature with the head and chest of a human female and the tail of a fish. Mermaids show up in the legends of numerous societies around the world, including the Near East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The first stories appeared in old Assyria, in which the goddess Atargatis changed herself into a mermaid out of disgrace for unintentionally murdering her human lover. Mermaids are sometimes connected with dangerous occasions—for example, floods, tempests, shipwrecks, and drownings. Sailors have been hypnotized by their singing voice, which lured them into the depths of the water and to their deaths. “Merman” is the male equivalent of the mermaid, and in stories and heraldry, mermen are less common than their female counterparts. It is also thought that in ancient folklore, sailors who saw a mermaid were, in fact, seeing a manatee.
Midsummer: Midsummer, known as the “summer solstice,” happens between June 20 and June 22. This celebration, set up in old midsummer traditions, honors the longest day of summer and is embedded with unbelievable accounts of imps, fairies, and pixies. In a period before the Protestant and Lutheran reformations in England, individuals would eat and light open-air fires for the duration of the night to safeguard from evil spirits. Different people partook in the ceremonies by hopping over the flames. The highest jump of the night anticipated the tallness of yields for the coming season. For present-day Druids and Wiccans, midsummer speaks of a time to return to nature. Everything on the planet is blooming with fertility, the goddess is pregnant, and the sun god is at peak masculinity. Many people will congregate at dawn and watch the sunrise in the sky. Midsummer is an opportunity to celebrate the abundance of life, being aware that colder days are ahead.
Midwinter: In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice falls between December 20 and December 22. It is the shortest day of the year (the day with the least light and the longest night). In ancient times, the winter solstice was celebrated in many cultures, marking the death and rebirth of the sun.
Mindfulness: To be aware of the movement of one’s body, thoughts, or emotions while in the waking state.
Mind Manifestation: A thought is a living thing. To make something happen using the power of the mind. Certain people can summon precisely what they want by focusing their mind and concentrating on a desire. They can attain positive realities, such as riches, health, or a prosperous life. On the downside, the power of the mind can also create negative occurrences. For example, if a person is fearful of being burglarized and stays awake half the night listening to noises, they can manifest that energy and go on to experience a break-in. The same can be said if one is continually focusing on their health and frets over getting diseases such as dementia or cancer. Being preoccupied with a particular worry can, in turn, manifest it. (Church and Dispenza, 2018.)
Mind Reading: (See also Telepathy.) To finely tune in to someone else’s psyche and comprehend what they are thinking or feeling. Often, a mind reader will be able to know what someone is going to say ahead of time. This is a unique gift from birth.
Mirror Scrying: (See also Scrying.) To stare into a mirror to see visions or future events. Psychics and seers will gaze into mirrors for long periods to see the faces of their guides, family in spirit, or predictions for the future. In ancient folklore, young maidens would stare into the mirror to see a vision of the person they would eventually marry.
Mistletoe: A parasitic plant that attaches itself to trees, having the ability to kill them by extracting their sap. People all over the world consider mistletoe to be lucky and will hang it in their homes during Christmas to exchange kisses. It has been used in ancient rituals to elevate the psychic vibration for those who wish to expand their knowledge in all things holistic and esoteric. Druids were said to use this plant as a tool for healing once it had been charged with moon magic and magnetism. (Briggs, 2019.)
Moleosophy: Also “moleomancy.” A body reading method of divination based solely upon the interpretation of moles and birthmarks.
Moldavite: Extraterrestrial. A scarce, vitreous, silica, green rock that originated from a meteor impact in Germany. It exploded into the old country of Moldavia (now part of Germany and the Czech Republic). This dark olive-green glass tektite is often found in clusters and was formed in the Nordlinger Ries crater about fifteen million years ago. The stone is said to be rarer than diamonds, which would account for why it is so expensive to purchase. When first holding moldavite, one is reported to feel certain sensations, which are usually vibrational and can spread throughout the body. The hand that is holding moldavite can suddenly go numb or heavy, and because of the intense sensation, a feeling of light-
headedness, heat, and sickness may occur. Many crystal therapists will have a grounding crystal at hand, such as black tourmaline, jade, or bloodstone, to balance moldavite’s effects. It is said that if Moldavite is worn when sleeping, vivid psychic dreams are given for future predictions. (Allan, 2014.)
Momentary Ability: The gift of doing or saying something on the spur of the moment, especially when one’s back is against the wall. Often, professional mediums and psychics, when performing readings, have their minds go completely blank. In a panic, they will say the first thing that comes into their head. In many cases, this information turns out to be extremely important, and even though the psychic will not realize its significance at that time, the querent will be able to relate to it. Some believe that these occurrences happen when a higher being wishes to communicate a message to the inquirer.
Montauk Monster: On July 12, 2008, on Montauk beach near the town of East Hampton, NY, a young woman from Montauk and her two companions found the dead carcass of a creature washed up on the beach. The strange monster had purple skin, a beak, long front claws, and a shackle on one of the front legs that was similar to a leather thong or piece of cloth and had been broken. The authorities dismissed it as a racoon or a decaying dog. The body was mysteriously taken away, never to be seen again; however, its picture went viral on the internet. A television program called Ancient Aliens was later produced, which aired on August 4, 2011. Cryptozoologist and lecturer Lauren Coleman, an expert in his field having written over twenty-five books and over four hundred articles, gave the creature its name: the Montauk Monster. (National Geographic, 2011.)
Moon: Some people believe that just as the moon affects the tides here on earth, it also influences our internal chemistry, which in turn can affect our emotions. From time immemorial, the human race has worshiped the moon, believing that it was a form of deity. Even today, Wiccans, pagans, and Druids believe that it is magical. They charge precious stones by the light of the moon, utilize the lunar cycles to perform ceremonies, and draw down the ability to control their lives.
Moon Gazing: An ancient yogic technique practiced for thousands of years, known as “Trataka” (steady gazing). Those who exercise this report that it brings astonishing benefits, such as clearing the mind, healing the eyes, and boosting psychic abilities. Ornamental images and art depicting moon-gazing hares are popular within pagan and Wiccan beliefs and are said to bring good luck and abundance.
Moonstone: A crystal stone linked to the moon, femininity, and pregnancy. Those people who have a comprehensive knowledge of crystals also meditate on the moonstone to connect with the spirit world.
Mountain Ash: Rowan tree. A tree held in high esteem by the Druids for its protection against negativity and wrongdoers. Today, people who believe in the supernatural will often have a mountain ash tree growing in their garden to ward off the evil eye and psychic attack.
Mugwort: Artemisia vulgaris. A popular herb used in potions, spells, and rituals for divination, banishment, prevention of psychic attack, and restful sleep. Its significance is connected to the earth element, and when ingested as a brewed tea or smoked it has mild hallucinogenic properties. Users report vivid or prophetic dreams, but overuse can leave a person dehydrated.
In ancient folklore medicine, mugwort was consumed to calm down nervous dispositions and used as a disinfectant to make soothing balms and poultices. It was also a poor person’s substitute for tobacco, named “sailors’ tobacco.”
Muse: In Greek mythology, there were nine daughters of Zeus who presided over humankind to help as a source of creativity. Other religions see them as higher-ranking angels or guides who assist the living by giving inspiration. Beautiful creative works by painters, musicians, composers, and artisans were all thought to be inspired by the muses.
Mystic: (See Psychic.)
Mystic Cross: Palmistry. A small cross situated on the palm that is a rare thing to see. There is a space between the head line and the heart line on the palm called “the quadrangle.” When a small cross is located inside this area and in direct line with the Saturn finger (middle finger), the owner is thought to have a heightened intuition or a psychic gift. If the four feet of the cross do not touch either the head or heart line, the owner’s abilities could be escalated to that of a medium.