Candle Magic: Throughout the centuries, candles have been used as a means of purification, especially within religious organizations and neopagan faiths, like witchcraft. The flame of a candle is said to eliminate any unhealthy energies and replace them with optimism; it can be a vessel to carry prayers up to the heavens. In magical traditions, a specific colored candle will be used for certain rituals. For example, red might be burned to attract love and passion, lilac for peace and harmony, green for wealth and business, and blue for homes and families. Inscribe a candle with a small, sharp knife and scratch your wish onto the vessel. It is believed that when the wax burns, the wish is sent to the universe and might be granted. Candles adorn birthday cakes and are still viewed as a form of wish-making, and religious people will enter a church or place of worship and light a candle to honor and bless someone in their circle.
Casting a Spell: Witchcraft. Performing a ritual or some other magical ceremony to bring about a desire, enchantment, or wish. There are millions of spells devised in many genres of magic across the globe. Traditionally, witches would cast spells to intervene in life’s situations, to bring about a desire, or to stop something from taking place. Some people deem casting a spell to be a form of cosmic ordering or summoning wishes from a higher spiritual source.
Cat or Dog Recognition: Numerous religions say that an animal does not have a soul, so an animal’s worth is only as a food source. However, those people who follow a more spiritual path consider that, like humans, animals can reincarnate. A puppy or kitten might recognize their new owner from a previous life, and the animal will act in a very loving and familiar way, as if to say, “There you are again!” (Brooks, 2016.)
Caul: Also called “helmeted head.” A rare occurrence when a thin transparent membrane covers the head of a newly born baby. The midwife or doctor would remove it carefully so as not to scar the infant’s face. In ancient folklore, sailors would be keen to own a caul, as it was said to protect against drowning and bring good luck to the owner. When this phenomenon occurs, it is assumed that the child will be unique and have psychic or clairvoyant powers. (Ronka, 2019.)
Cauldron: A black, three-legged, cast-iron pot with a curved handle. Cauldrons symbolize the goddess and the womb. Most neopagan practitioners use this type of vessel to blend magical ingredients, such as herbs and potions, before performing rituals. The cauldron can also be present on the altar as a receptacle to burn incense cones. (Gallagher, 2005.)
Celestial Choruses: Also known as “the music of spheres.” A vast number of angels singing in vibrational harmony without using words. Celestial choruses are purported to be mind-blowing. This angelic song is orchestrated to heal humanity, to honor the creator, and to protect earth from evil. (Bletzer, 1986.)
Celtic Witchcraft: A modern development of Wicca where a person practices the old ways, utilizing Celtic traditions, that date back to ancient folklore. The faith employs the basic beliefs of other forms of Wicca, but instead, a Celtic witch will call upon Celtic deities and mythological figures.
Cerberus: Greek or Parthian religion. A mythical doglike creature with three heads. His function is to defend the underworld and to prevent the dead from leaving. Hercules captured Cerberus as part of his twelve labors. (Britannica, 2019.)
Charm: A lucky token such as a four-leaf clover, white heather, or an object of amuletic significance. Charms can be worn around the neck or carried on the person. Some people have used a rabbit’s foot to bring good luck, or a St. Christopher medal to keep safe while traveling. A little silver horseshoe brings the blessing of abundance, as it resembles the outflow of the cornucopia. Charms are usually empowered and charged by a person’s deep-seated faith in their magical ability. Often, just having the belief that the charm is magical will make the trinket powerful. (Fairchilde, 2019.)
Chakra: Originates from Hinduism and Buddhism. A wheel of spinning energy or a whirling vortex. There are seven chakra energy points in the body that can be used for greater harmony, health, and peace of mind.
Base or root: Located at the bottom of the spine. Represents the lower limbs, adrenal glands, and large intestine. Red.
Sacral: Located at the base of the spine and navel. This chakra signifies pleasure, sex, and creativity. Health: kidneys, bladder, and circulation. Orange.
Solar plexus: All things pertaining to digestion, muscles, and adrenals. This is purported to be the powerhouse for ambition, creativity, and all matters affecting sensitivity. Yellow.
Heart: The home of the soul, love, emotion, compassion, sexual love, and tenderness. Health: thymus gland, lungs, and upper limbs. Green.
Throat: Self-expression, creativity, health, arms, thyroid, and neck. Blue.
Third Eye: Located on the forehead between the eyebrows. Makes one question why we are here and the purpose of life. This can be used to look into past lives and to grow spiritually. Indigo.
Crown: Gives the person an understanding of the creator and our place within their plan to reach nirvana. Health: the nervous system and the pituitary gland. Violet. (Alcantara, 2017.)
Chalice: Usually, a beautifully made goblet that has a stem and a flat, round base. This cup is often present in various ceremonies, especially in pagan rites, representing the water element. It is commonly used in handfasting ceremonies, where both the bride and the groom drink from the cup to symbolize their union. The vessel will be engraved with trailing leaves or a message that would be appropriate to the tradition that is being conducted. (Wisewitch, 2019.)
Changeling: A fairy child. In folklore, fairies are said to steal beautiful human babies from their cradles, replacing them with a fairy infant. (Rushton, 2016.)
Channeling: When a psychic or medium allows their body and mind to be used by a higher spirit or intelligence to gain and receive information. Usually, the mystic will go into a deep trance and be completely taken over. It is widely known within the esoteric field that these practices of channeling can entice lower-plane spirits, who might go on to possess the individual. The medium would need to be skillful in their abilities, as channeling is a dangerous practice and should not be taken lightly. Another form of channeling, known as “trance voice,” permits a powerful being or spirit to enter a medium’s physical body and utilize their vocal cords to address the living. Frequently, the spiritualist’s voice will change significantly and assume the accent or tone of the deceased. (Roman, 1987.)
Chanting: A repetitive song or mantra with little variation to the melody, usually described as monotone. Chanting can be done alone or in a group. This song is often performed with monks or ministers of a church and is said to lighten the vibration of those individuals involved.
Chupacabra: (See also Gremlin.) A beast that is reported as being quite large and stocky, perhaps the size of a small bear, and can stand upright. It has a row of black prickly spines that commences at the back of the neck and leads down to the base of the tail. Observers have said it snarls and has large, round, red eyes. There have been reports about the animal since the 1970s, but the chupacabra hit the headlines in March 1995 in Puerto Rico, where it allegedly attacked eight sheep, wounding the chest areas and sucking them of their blood. Each animal had three small circular puncture wounds. Later that year, Madelyne Tolentino, an eyewitness, claimed to have seen the creature in the town of Canovanas, where over one hundred fifty pets and farm animals were allegedly slaughtered by the beast. In October 2018 in Manipur, India, many poultry and domestic animals met the same fate. Forensic scientists have tried to pass off this mystery by claiming that street dogs or coyotes are more likely to be responsible for these attacks. Others have opined that it could be a satanic cult that drinks blood for ceremonial purposes, or even that an escaped alien from a UFO crash was the cause. (El Paso Times, 2016.)
Clairaudient: (See also Mediumship.) A person who can tune in to the etheric vibration of sound and will hear messages from souls who have passed over. Often the psychic is still able to physically see ghosts and spirits and verbally or telepathically communicate with them. Another name for this individual would be a “medium.”
Clairvoyant: (See also Psychic.) A clairvoyant is not to be mistaken with a medium, as clairvoyant is used as a general term. There are several different branches of perception. A clairvoyant is a psychic person who works primarily in the esoteric field and is capable of seeing into the future. Some will do this while dreaming; others will put themselves into a trance. Many do not favor the trancelike state and instead work with items such as tarot and oracle cards or a crystal ball. These tools will be used to determine what is ahead. Each clairvoyant’s abilities will differ from one to the next. Some might favor the use of tools, while others might rely on sudden insights and a deep sense of knowing. Exceptionally gifted psychics have been known to work with the police at crime scenes, solving murder cases or locating missing people. Clairvoyants are sensitive to the energies around them and can get unexpected, profound feelings of realization.
Other Clairs: Clairvoyant: perceive by sight. Clairaudient: perceive by hearing. Clarcognizant: perceive by knowing.Clairsentient: perceive by sensing. Clairalient: perceive by smell. Clairgustant: perceive by taste. Clairtangent: perceive by feeling or touch.
Cleansing: (See also Smudging and Bell.) The clearing away of unwanted residual energy that lingers after an unhappy episode. Used to cast out ghostly spirits in haunted locations. Methods of cleansing include a white sage bundle, which is often lit as incense with the smoke filtering around the room. A large feather is waved quickly in front of the smoke to get it to circulate quicker. This is called “smudging.” Some individuals prefer to smudge with shavings or small twigs of dried cedar for positive energy, sweetgrass for cleansing, or palo santo “wood stick” for clarity and grounding. A small pinch of salt can be thrown into the four corners of a room for extra impact. Often a ritual or prayer will be chanted while the cleansing process is taking place. Some people prefer a warm salt bath for body cleansing, especially if they are exhausted or not well; others might desire to swim in the sea. If a person needs to be cleansed, a bell or rattle is rung over them to disperse bad vibrations. Those practicing meditation or yoga perform a spiritual cleansing ritual through their practice. These methods may differ, but typically the person will enter a higher state of mind and make themselves aware of any negative thoughts or energies. By meditating on these influences, they will disperse the negativity from within or around themselves and replenish themselves with positive energy.
Close Encounters: Dr J. Allen Hynek, a renowned astronomer, was a scientific advisor to three US government projects studying UFOs: Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book. To produce some sort of scientific measure, he created a scale for indicating the level of contact in any reports of UFOs.
Close Encounter of the First Kind: A visual sighting of a UFO from a distance fewer than five hundred feet, where considerable detail could be recognized.
Close Encounter of the Second Kind: A visual sighting of a UFO where there is some physical evidence left behind, such as interference with a person’s vehicle or electrical device or physiological effects to witnesses. There might also be scorch marks and indentations on the ground where the craft has been.
Close Encounter of the Third Kind: A visual sighting of a UFO where the occupants of the craft are seen outside of the vehicle.
Later, Ted Bloecher, a leading member of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) broke down six subsections of the close encounter of the third kind to describe various activities the occupants may perform.
Others extended Hynek’s scale as follows:
Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: A human is abducted by aliens and experimented on.
Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind: Voluntary human communication with extraterrestrials.
Close Encounters of the Sixth Kind: Death or injury occurs due to an extraterrestrial cause.
Close Encounters of the Seventh Kind: A human receives direct help or assistance from an alien. (McCammon, 2018.)
Coincidence: A coincidence is an event or circumstances that seem to tie up for no apparent reason. Some people believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence and that every little thing that occurs in a person’s life is orchestrated or preordained for some purpose. For example, you may think about someone whom you have not seen for years, and then they suddenly get in touch, or you just bump into them. Another example could be going to a party and seeing that your friend is wearing the same outfit as you.
Cold Spots: Areas of ice-cold air found in places and buildings. Cold spots are usually caused by the energy emitted from spirits and ghosts. (Neal, 2018.)
Collective Consciousness: A pool of knowledge existing in the universe that certain people who can reach a higher awareness can tap into. This information is said to explain why many significant inventions or discoveries are made by various people in different parts of the world at the same time. The collective consciousness can be implemented for both good and bad. If someone or a situation is unpopular and a large group of people are unhappy about it, negative energy can collect and multiply. This influx of power, in turn, can cause mayhem for the situation and is even said to bring bad luck for the victims. A thought is a living thing, and so when a large number of people are all thinking in a particular way, it can bear great consequence. On a different note, if someone is valued and loved by many, the energy that surrounds them is positive, leaving them to be showered with many blessings in life. (Bache, 2008.)
Colorology or Color Therapy: A means to heal the body and connect with the individual’s aura through different types of colored healing lamps. The selected color is shone onto the different parts of the body that need healing. The eyes are usually covered so as not to cause damage.
Color significance:
Red: Used to give energy, revitalize, and inspire new ideas.
Orange: Restores the energy and circulation and animates the personality.
Yellow: The color for healing. Is useful for bringing wisdom to situations. Yellow also fortifies and brightens individuals who are depressed.
Green: Soothes and balances body rhythms. Green is often used at the beginning and end of each therapy session.
Blue: A calming color that can clear the head if there is any confusion when making decisions. Brings peace and tranquility.
Indigo: Purification and cleansing. Helps the individual refocus. This color is rated as the highest vibrational energy for healing the sick.
Violet: An inspirational color and one that can connect a person to a higher consciousness. Violet also benefits the artistic traits of the individual, enhancing any creative streak. (Psychologia, 2019.)
Confused Soul: The spirit of a deceased person who wanders around the earth plane. In some cases, the entity is not aware that they have died and might still occupy their home or place of work. Mediums have been known to physically see these apparitions and work to help them cross over to the other side.
Deceased individuals who are frightened and lost are also known as “earthbound spirits.” Their fear of letting go is so great that, upon death, they will cling to the earth because they dread their judgment. Earthbound spirits hang around for many different reasons; they may have shown unkindness to others in life or even committed crimes such as rape or murder. The thought of having to face the consequences might keep them grounded. There are also other reasons for them not wanting to cross over. If someone is killed suddenly due to an accident, the soul can suffer a great deal of confusion and might not even realize that they are dead. Sometimes, they can maintain attachments to their loved ones and witness the grief at their passing, which makes them reluctant to go toward the light. (Askyewolfe, 2019.)
Conjure: Also referred to as “evocation.” A spell or ritual to summon a ghost or etheric intelligence to assist the living in a task. These rituals can be widespread but are more commonly achieved by burning candles, chanting, and sticking pins in effigies to summon one’s deity, otherworldly beings, or desire. (Konstantinos, 1996.)
Contactee: A person who has regular contact with aliens from another world. It has been reported that contactees are taken aboard spacecrafts and given future knowledge of events. The aliens highly regard these individuals, giving them privileges, such as taking them to different planets and galaxies. George Adamski was a Polish/American citizen and bestselling author, selling over two hundred thousand copies of his books Flying Saucers Have Landed (1953), Inside the Spaceships (1955), and Flying Saucers Farewell (1961). George wrote about his experiences as a contactee and produced many photographs of the alien crafts he claimed to have traveled in. (Adamski, 2014.)
Contact Healer: A person who possesses a healing ability and who physically places their hands upon the patient to alleviate pain, suffering, or illness. Magnetic energy is passed to the patient through the healer’s hands, balancing the body’s internal chemistry and eliminating sickness. (Brennan, 1990.)
Corn Dolly: Also known as “corn mothers.” Small, dollish figures made from corn. In pre-Christian times, people believed that the spirit of the corn lived among the crops, and once the grain had been harvested, the spirit was then homeless, so they temporarily housed the spirit in a doll. In different parts of Europe, the customs varied, but many believed that the corn dolly had magical properties and could shield the crop from pests and disease. Even today, if you are given one of these dolls as a gift, it is considered to be very lucky. It brings peace, prosperity, and abundance. (Sabbat Box, 2019.)
Counselee: (See Querent.)
Counter Spell: A way of reversing magic through spell craft and ritual. To remove a hex or curse by interceding and binding negative energy. (Wigington, 2019.)
Coven: A group of witches who all practice the same neopagan tradition. There can be any number of people in the assembly, although thirteen is usually considered ideal. They often congregate once a month and cast spells for the greater good. Each coven is different, but all tend to work together, blending and creating their collective magic. When the moon is full, they form a circle to chant or sing for blessings and psychic powers.
Crone: A mythological archetype. Usually depicted as a hag or older woman who can be disruptive and unkind. In modern neopagan traditions, she is part of a trio of women that represents the triple moon cycle: the maid, the mother, and the crone (who is said to be wise with the ancestral knowledge). (Edwards, 2014.)
Crop Circles: Cereal crops that are flattened into intricate patterns in large fields. Crop circles have been known to appear since the 1600s and became more popular in the seventies. Some of them are so complex, it is believed that extraterrestrial beings have constructed them. The circles usually materialize overnight, although some have appeared in broad daylight. They can be more common in mystical places throughout England; the county of Wiltshire seems to be a hot spot location. Up until now, there has been little scientific interest in solving the mystery of crop circles. Many people think that aliens launch laser beams from their crafts to create the patterns, which have hidden messages embedded in them for humans to interpret. In the nineties, two hoaxers named Dave Chorley and Doug Bower from Southampton, England, admitted to creating many crop circles in southern England over a thirteen-year period by rolling an iron bar over the harvest. They went on to build a device known as “the stomper,” which is a wooden plinth joined to a rope rein. Today, it is still undecided as to whether other crop circles throughout the world are human-made patterns or otherworldly arrangements. (Radford, 2017.)
Crystal Ball: (See also Scrying.) Also referred to as “crystallomancy,” “orbuculum,” and “crystal sphere.” The crystal ball is a round, circular glass ball used for scrying and divination. If scrying is done correctly, the ball is said to become misty or cloudy, and once this has cleared, the vision should be revealed in the form of images. Magic passes are a procedure performed in crystal ball scrying by moving the hands forward and backward around the ball. The palms face the glass but do not touch it, allowing powerful energy from the hands to stir up a more precise vision in the globe.
Crystal Bed: (See also Chakra.) A standard treatment bed where seven quartz crystals are suspended overhead and a laser beam is shone through each crystal to create healing energy for the individual’s chakras. Some crystal beds are designed with a unique frame, and the stones can be set out in containers and embedded into the mattress. (Gienger, 2006.)
Crystal Child: A New Age concept that certain children have come from another dimension. Many are thought to have been born in the eighties and nineties, and it seems more are reincarnating now. Their role is to question established rules and to change ideas on materialism and the safety of the natural world, especially regarding the oceans and animals. The children generally have beautiful and unusual eyes; all of them are thought to be tenderhearted and gentle, with a sensitive nature, worrying incessantly about the planet. They are pathfinders—not particularly academic, but trusting in the wisdom of their souls. Some are also said to be telepathic; others will not speak until they are three or four, and many are often uninterested in food. Crystal children will be observant and sometimes suffer from allergies. They also dislike loud noises. (Virtue, 2009.)
Crystal Lake: A shallow pool or lake in the ethereal plane, formed from crystals and displaying stunning colors that have not been seen on earth. Psychic people who have channeled this information say that when an individual dies and ascends to the spirit plane, before they are ready to pass into their realm, a kind of spiritual ceremony is conducted to cleanse the aura and etheric body. Once a soul moves to the spirit world, the energy that surrounds it can be negative, dense, and heavy. The person’s guide, angel, and other higher beings lead them into the shallow lake so that they can bathe in the essence and remove any residual fog. They are then submerged into the pool, which is apparently not wet. During this process, the soul and aura are cleansed, eradicating all the illness and sadness that have been attached to them in life. After this procedure, the person’s spirit is ready for a new journey, revived and refreshed. (Newton, 1994.)
Crystals: Minerals that are mined in countries all over the world and are purported to possess magical energy to heal and balance the rhythms of the body. Each crystal is said to have its own personal vibration.
Cult: A congregation of people who have likeminded religious or philosophical principles. There will be a leader or guru-type present whom others will look to for leadership. Cults are usually formed for religious purposes. (Bletzer, 1986.)
Cupid: Classical mythology. Latin: Cupido. Born to the goddess Venus and the god Mars, Cupid is the god of love, desire, and attraction. Other accounts perceive Cupid as being a small nature spirit or winged angel with a bow and arrow. If Cupid’s dart pierces the heart of a human, love will follow soon. (Greek Gods & Goddesses, 2017.)
Curse: (See also Hex.) A negative energetic impact sent from a supernatural source to a living person. Cursing someone can affect their life by sending them a harmful proclamation or a form of ill-wishing. Transferring destructive psychic energy can curse a person, giving them a lifetime of bad luck, illness, or unhappiness. Cursing is a form of dark magic that has been practiced in religions such as witchcraft and Voodoo. Wax, material effigies, and poppets are often created with a likeness to the victim. Pins are stuck into certain parts of the body during an affirmation or mantra to cause pain or injury to the intended individual. If the pins are impaled into the head of the puppet, it can cause madness. Mind control is believed to be all-powerful, so anything wrong that is mentally projected to another can and often does cause harm. According to some cultures, curses can only be effective if the receiver believes in the power of them. Others trust in the “bounce back effect,” meaning that the curser will encounter negative karma as a result of their actions. (Wigington, 2019.)