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Sabbats: The wheel of the year. Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain. Eight seasonal festivals celebrated by neopagans.

Sacred Pipe: Not to be mistaken for the “peace pipe.” The Native Americans first used this. The bowl of the sacred pipe is often created from stone and is unadorned. It has a wooden stem, which is usually crafted from a sacred tree. The Mi’kmaw tribe uses fragrant herbs in the pipe to connect with their spiritual elders. Unlike the peace pipe, which held recreational drugs in the bowl, the sacred pipe only housed herbal mixtures.

Sage: (See also Smudging.) Salvia officinalis. As well as enhancing food and other ingredients, the herb sage has been used throughout the centuries for magical practices, such as healing and cleansing.

Samhain: Pronounced sow-wen. October 31. This ancient Gaelic celebration is one of the most noticeable occasions in the neopagan calendar. Samhain, also referred to as All Hallows’ Eve, The Feast of the Dead, All Souls’ Night, or Halloween, represents the last part of birth and harvesting. The seeds from yields and plants fall into the ground and will lay dormant in the earth until the cycle begins again. Spiritual people believe that the veil that separates the earth plane from the spirit world is lifted at this time, so the dead can mix and communicate with the living.

Sandman: The sandman has been known in folklore for hundreds of years as a mythical personality and is linked to Northern and Western Europe. His gift was to sprinkle a few grains of sand onto the sleeping eyes of adults and children to bring them beautiful dreams and sound sleep. Today, the sandman is seen more as a protective guide who watches over humans during the night. For those people who suffer recurring nightmares, one would summon this being to guard them. (Bruno Blog, 2016.)

Scrying: (See also Crystal Ball.) The term scrying is also referred to as “seeing” or “peeping.” Scrying allows a person to gaze into an object, such as a crystal ball, a scrying mirror, or a polished black surface, to view psychic visions of the past, present, and future.

Séance: A group of people led by a professional medium who conducts the ceremony. The room is usually blacked out with perhaps only a small candle to enhance the mood. The medium then conducts the séance by going into a trance and relaying messages from the spirit world to the people present.

Secular Witch: One who chooses not to connect witchcraft with any form of religion or even the supernatural. However, they do accept universal energy. (Syrdal, 2019.)

Seer: Someone with clairvoyant insight who is said to be able to discover hidden truths. A seer is also a male Egyptian or Indian psychic or priest. “Seeress” is the female equivalent.

Selenite: One of the most superior crystals that can cleanse and recharge any other crystal in its vicinity. Its color can vary between green, brown, blue, orange, and pure white. Selenite’s origins can be found across the world in places such as the United States, Mexico, and Europe. (Hall, 2009.)

Self-Healing: A meditative technique performed by sitting comfortably in a quiet room before rubbing the hands together rapidly for around sixty seconds. The person holds both hands out, palms facing each other, and feels the emanating energy. The hands are then run up and down the body while the individual concentrates on what ailment they would like to heal.

Seven Heavens: Ever since Mesopotamian times, nearly all the major religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and some Indian religions, such as Hinduism, have talked about the seven levels of heaven. The seventh level is believed to be the highest and most sacred, hence the modern saying of being “in seventh heaven.” All religions have the core belief that a spirit can ascend until they reach the highest level, where they can then commune with a divine being. The Hindus also believe in seven lower worlds, or hells, mirroring those above. In Islam, there are physical properties and beings associated with each level. In the Jewish Talmud, the seven levels are named. In the Christian bible, St. Paul, in a letter to the Corinthians, talks about visiting the third heaven.

Shadow People Stalkers: Mischievous alien beings who induce fear, nightmares, and paralysis to sleeping humans. They are challenging to see or describe, as they appear in a person’s peripheral vision.

Shamanism: The word Shamanism is thought to have originated from the Manchu Tungus word saman, meaning “one who knows.” Shamanism is primarily a nature-based way of life, where people use self-hypnotism to attain a trancelike state of being, connecting to the life force and spirits. Although its history is not clear, some documentation dates Shamanism back to around thirty thousand years. Shamanism has been embraced all over the world and focuses on healing and divining. Shamans dance to the sound of drums to reach a certain level of consciousness. Shamans have extensive knowledge of plants. (School of Shamanism, 2020.)

Shroud of Turin: Christian. An ancient shroud that has an imprint of a man who looks very similar to Jesus Christ, even down to the crown of thorns on his head and a spear mark in his side. It is kept in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud within Turin Cathedral in Italy. This length of cloth was believed to be wrapped around the body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. A local bishop in 1390 claimed it was a forgery when an unnamed artist confessed that he had created it. In 1998, three scientific radiocarbon tests were performed on the material, and it was found that the garment dated from the time of the Middle Ages, around 1260 to 1390. Despite this, there is much controversy and mystery about how the shroud was so cleverly created. (Planet Kaos Documentaries, 2015.)

Silver Cord: In metaphysical studies and in the Old Testament, it is said that each person has a silver cord that connects their physical body with their astral self. Some see this as a lifeline; others see it more as a quick return mechanism when the person’s spirit has left their body and wants to come back. Those who practice astral projection by having out-of-body experiences sometimes claim to have seen this cord. There have been comparisons made between the umbilical cord in the physical body and the silver cord in the spiritual body. Probably for this reason, when shown in artworks, the silver cord is often attached to the solar plexus of the individual; however, others see the cord being connected to the head in the area of the third eye. It is considered that when a person dies, the silver cord breaks, allowing the soul or higher self to travel spiritually upward and leave the redundant corpse behind.

Siren: In Greek mythology, a female creature—part human, part bird—capable of shape-shifting. Sirens originate from the etheric world and gathered in groups to lure sailors to dangerous rocks with their hypnotic singing. Their intention was to kill the men by drowning them.

Sixth Sense: The sixth sense is an intuition that every person and animal have. These are profound sentiments of mindfulness that can be portrayed by some as psychic abilities.

Smudging: Smudging originated from certain Native American tribes centuries ago. Today, it has been adopted by Shamanic healers, witches, feng shui specialists, and others who do not follow Native American traditions. Smudging sticks consist of a dried bundle of sage or other preferred herbs tied together with string. When negativity builds up in the home from illness, arguments, or discord, setting light to the tip of the bundle and then blowing it out until the embers glow creates a steady smoke. A smudger will hold the smoking bundle in one hand while fanning the smoke into the air with a feather. This is said to clear all negative energies and restore peace and harmony to the abode. Once the cloud of smoke has settled, words are spoken to assist in the cleansing. When someone is negative, rundown, or sick, the smudging process can be used over and around them. When moving to a new home, it is advised to cleanse and smudge the space, sanitizing it from the other occupants’ energies. (Tchi, 2018.)

Snowdrop: Galanthus nivalis. On Candlemas (February 2 in the Christian belief), the snowdrop is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This plant is described as herbaceous, with black roots and delicate white flowers, and has a high frequency vibration to ward off harmful spells and the evil eye.

Solitary Witch: A person who practices witchcraft on their own, not involving others or speaking about their faith with other people. (Syrdal, 2019.)

Soul Groups: Also referred to as a “soul family.” A selection of souls that reside in the etheric realms. Every living person comes from a group of souls, and there can be as many as fifty souls in one soul family. All the souls will be on the same vibration and be at a similar level of spiritual evolvement. Most people reincarnate with a selection of individuals belonging to their group, which is why a person can meet someone for the first time and feel that they have known them for years. Many are motivated to reincarnate because, as a soul progresses through each incarnation, they can ascend to higher planes. If a member of the group decided not to reincarnate, they could be left behind. (Newton, 1994.)

Soul mate: (See also Twin Soul.) A soul that has been created explicitly for another by the divine source to be a companion for eternity. A particular affinity is formed with a soul mate, a feeling of being completely at one with the other, knowing instinctively their likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. It is believed that a soul mate is not always allowed to reincarnate with their twin flame, as they can often shut out friends and family and even their children as they indulge in their passion for their mate. From a spiritual point of view, by having to live with different partners or spouses, a person will gain more wisdom, speeding up the reincarnation experience and raising the soul’s vibration much quicker. One is expected to become tolerant, stronger, and independent with relationships that can be taxing. If a soul mate resides in the same lifetime as their beloved and for whatever reason they must be apart, this is a heartbreaking experience. People have been known to commit suicide if they cannot be with their beloved.

The spiritual hierarchy can sometimes put in place a lesson for an individual to give up wealth and status with the ultimate prize being time spent with their soul mate, who could be poor. If one of the pair dies, then the other will be desolate and hide from life or die soon after. In England, this is called the Darby and Joan syndrome.

When one mate is in the spirit world and the other is living on earth, they can communicate through dream sleep. There is a place on the astral plane that is used purely for this, and once asleep, the soul can travel there. It is a form of “phoning home” or visiting the “information room.” If someone dreams of being kissed or cuddled, it could be that they have connected with their other half on the astral plane. Passionate soul mates can also enact sex in dreams if the other is willing to participate. The absent soul mate can continuously keep in touch if the spirit world allows it, but if it interferes with the soul’s karma, then access will be denied. It is rare for an absent soul mate to reveal their face as this can cause a yearning for the other party.

Soul Whirling: Soul whirling is a Sama dance similar to that of a whirling dervish. The dancer twirls with their arms straight out in circles to reach a hypnotic trance for mind enhancement.

Sound Healing: A vibrational sound that is at a particular frequency over an extended time. The sound is said to bathe and cleanse a person’s spirit. It has long been believed that vibration can affect the human body in many ways. In Far Eastern cultures, religions, and age-old traditions, the sound of gongs is thought to aid meditation. In more recent times, the continuing resonance of gongs, in all different sizes and tones, is said to engender feelings of relaxation. The waves of vibrational sound also bring about physical healing and well-being. (Cooper, 2016.)

Specter: (See Ghost.)

Spell casting: Using ritual to invoke desires or needs. Magic verses are often used when casting spells. These are poetic or rhyming words and incantations used in enchantment, ritual, or spell craft. Some verses can be portrayed as chants or mantras and are repetitive.

Spheres: (See Orbs.)

Sphinx: Ancient Greek mythology. This beast was described as having a human head and the body of a lion. In some representations, there are also wings. The Greek tradition is that the sphinx is female, but when the Egyptians included the sphinx in their mythology, it became male. One ancient tradition is that when an unsuspecting person came across the sphinx, it would ask them to answer a riddle. If they were unable to do so, it would eat them.

Sphinx statues were usually used to decorate tombs or temples. The most famous version is the Great Sphinx of Giza in front of the pyramids of Egypt. Modern archaeologists believe the sphinx predates the pyramids by many centuries.

The sphinx is also found in Southeast Asian cultures, from India and Sri Lanka across to Burma. Unlike the Greek tradition, in these areas, the sphinx was very much seen as a protective force, often located at the entrances to temples. In Burmese traditions, it is thought that the sphinx was created to protect the royal babies from an ogress.

Spirit Board: A board with letters and numbers around the edge and with “yes, no” located somewhere at the top. A planchette is included and used as a pointer to direct the users to letters of the alphabet. These boards are used in séances to contact spirits and souls. All individuals partaking in the séance place their forefinger on the planchette before a question is asked out loud. If a spiritual being is present, the pointer will spontaneously move to letters that spell out words and names. One must have respect and protection when using the spirit board as a mediumistic tool, as there is no control regarding the amiability of the conjured spirits.

Spirit Guide: Also called “inner advisor.” The consciousness of a higher entity or angel that resides within the soul of an individual who is undertaking a life on earth. These otherworldly beings are said to connect to a human when something needs to be addressed. A person might feel it is their own thoughts when, in fact, it is a much higher intelligence. Gut feelings can be the result of spirit help.

Spiritual Intervention: Spiritual intervention occurs when someone undertakes the wrong path in life. Everything that happens to a person is believed to be preordained and part of their karmic life plan. If someone strays away from their itinerary, spirit helpers may intervene so that the subject goes on the correct route. One example of this would be if a person gets offered a job and decides not to take it, and then they get made redundant soon after. The job they were meant to take will still be available, and the individual has no choice but to accept the position. Another instance could be if a person is destined to live part of their life with a particular partner but rejects them early on. The same person will reappear later in their life, and so the learning process is set in place.

Sprite: Common in Western European folklore and fairy tales. The word sprite comes from the Old French spirit or esprit. The Latin word is spiritus. The most well-known sprite is from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and was called Ariel. Sprites are small fairylike creatures that are said to be lively and mischievous. Their habitat is near rivers, ponds, and waterfalls. The sprite has ­rainbow-­colored wings similar to that of a dragonfly.

Standing Stones: Also called “menhirs” or “monoliths.” Large groupings of stones seen across the world but that are mainly predominant in the Celtic parts of the UK, Scotland, Ireland, and France. These large, upright stones are believed to have been erected by the Neolithic people around four thousand to six thousand years ago. Probably the most famous is Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England; the site contains two concentric stone circles with outlying stones. Some of the stones were quarried in the Preseli Hills in Wales, some one hundred sixty miles away. These stones weighed up to ­twenty-­five tons each, so the transport and construction would seem a significant feat for people of this time, particularly the lintel stones, which were placed on top of the standing stones. How these stones ever arrived at Stonehenge is still a mystery to this day, as the Neolithic people left no written history. They were assumed to be temples or meeting places, but the arrangement of the rocks has direct alignments with the sun and stars. It is also a possibility that they were used as astronomic observatories. (Maybelle, 2019.)

Other famous arrangements of standing stones are situated at Avebury, Wiltshire, UK, and at Carnac in Northern France, where there are three major groups of stone lines up to nearly a mile long and almost a quarter of a mile wide in places. (Modern Explorers, 2017.)

There are also the monoliths that are portrayed as the heads of Easter Island in the South Pacific. These stone statues, known as Moai, were built between five hundred and seven hundred years ago by the Rapa Nui people. The figures have overly large heads on small bodies and can reach ten meters in height and weigh around eighty tons. Again, the transport and construction for an ancient race of people is impressive. Most of the stones are arranged on the coastline looking inland; it is believed they are the representation of deceased elders, who were looking after the islanders. (National Geographic, 2012.)

Starseed People: Also known as “indigo children.” People who are said to have an earthly father and mother, but in previous incarnations have resided on spiritually superior planets, such as the Pleiades, where the elders or higher beings would have requested for them to come to earth as a planetary helper. Their blood group is supposedly different and of a rare variety, and they will feel cold even when the weather is clement. There is a theory that these individuals were not planned for by the parents, and so the pregnancies were unexpected. An alien theorist would suggest they were genetically engineered by a superior alien race. Most star people are said to be lonely, feel out of place on the planet, and yearn to go back to where they came from. They will have a strong need to help others in achieving their goals. Most have rare psychic abilities and vivid dreams about other planets; they are said to be artistic and have incredible musical skills. (Starseed Films, 2012.)

Step Vibration: Occurs when a medium or psychic tunes in to the electromagnetic field of the querent. In doing so, they can see in to the future and predict events for the searcher.

Stigmata: A person who becomes fixed with a religious idol or deity. It usually starts with the individual having a high fever, or they go into a hysterical trance where their blood becomes overheated. Certain parts of their body can begin to ooze blood. Within the Christian faith, people have been known to bleed from their palms, and this is said to represent Jesus Christ’s crucifixion when his hands were nailed to the cross. Sometimes, there can be blood seeping from the side of the person’s torso to show where the spear was pushed into Christ’s side. There have been reports of others having blood on their foreheads where the crown of thorns was placed on Christ’s head.

Still Small Voice: To listen to one’s truth and trusting one’s gut instincts. Taking notice of how one may feel and then acting upon those feelings, even if others disagree. If a person feels a strong aversion toward doing something or going to a particular place, it is best to listen to the inner voice, as it can have some significance.

Succubus: (See also Incubus.) A female version of an incubus that dates back to medieval folklore. She is a demonic creature who enters the rooms of men at night and invades their dreams, using them sexually for her own pleasure. Her appearance is described as being grotesque and frightening.

Summoning: To make a connection with an otherworldly spirit who has died, either through a séance, ritual, or ouija board. This practice can be dangerous and could lead to something called “a walk-in,” where a lower being enters the body of the summoner. Caution is advised even when summoning angels or beings from higher realms, as negative entities can be attracted to psychic pursuits and show up uninvited. If a person wishes to pursue a summoning method, seeking the help of a professional medium is always advised.

Sylph: Usually female. A slender, graceful, fairy-type spirit who is invisible to the human eye. They are thought to have the ability to shape-shift and are kind to human beings, wishing them enlightenment. These creatures live in the air but can be destroyed through fire or can drown in water.

Synchronicity of Three: An occurrence that happens three times within a short amount of time. It is often said that things happen in threes. If a person has two accidents, usually a third one will occur a short time later. If a small sum of money is won twice, another windfall will follow. This superstition often applies when there are plane crashes, fires, or world disasters. If a famous person dies, then usually two more celebrity deaths will happen. The synchronicity laws are bizarre and, if noticed, can prepare a person for what is to come.

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