Amorphous: Literally, “without form”; applied to rocks and minerals that lack definite crystal structure.
Amulet: Magical item worn or carried for protection or to repel something (such as negativity). See talisman.
Archetype: As defined by Carl Jung, types of universal human instincts, impulses, characters, etc., which have become the common idea of myths.
Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils from plants to affect well-being. Scents are inhaled or used in bath or massage.
Aura: Subtle energy field that is said to surround a person or object (see also subtle bodies).
Chakra: From Sanskrit, means “wheel”—these are energy centers in the body that each pertain to a state of mind or physical area.
Charge: In magical terms, to mentally project a specific type of energy into an object.
Cleavage: The property of a mineral that allows it to break along a smooth plane surface.
Crystal: A solid material with an orderly atomic arrangement.
Crystal habit: The actual form of a crystal; determined by the shape and relative proportions of the crystal faces.
Crystal symmetry: The repeat pattern of crystal faces, caused by the ordered internal arrangement of a mineral’s atoms.
Crystal system: The structure or lattice arrangement of atoms in the internal structure of a crystal.
Dominant hand/projective: In magical practice, the hand you write with, or use most often. Used to project energy.
Element: In magic, refers to the four classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, without which life as we know it would not be possible—Spirit is sometimes considered to be a fifth element.
Esbat: A ritual, celebration, or meeting often associated with Wiccan practices; usually monthly at the time of a specific moon phase.
Fibonacci Sequence: Pattern discovered in the 12th century by Leonardo Fibonacci. Starting with 0 and 1, each new number in the series is the sum of the two before it. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 … This pattern occurs in nature in many places: the seed heads of flowers, the spiral of pine cones and pineapples, and the way stems and leaves are arranged on plants.
Fossil: The remains of a plant or animal buried in sediment. Fossils are the surviving hard parts of the organism or impression of the organism in the sediment.
Kundalini: From Sanskrit, means “serpent power.” Also described as a “fire snake,” this is the energy said to reside at the base of the spine that, when awakened, revives the chakras.
Mandala: In Buddhism and Hinduism, a diagram having spiritual and/or ritual significance. Mandala is the Sanskrit word for “circle.”
Mantra: a sound, syllable, or words that are repeated like a chant or affirmation—intended to be used to achieve transformation, from Eastern religious practices.
Metal: Solid elements (with the exception of mercury, the only liquid metal) with high melting points; good conductors of electricity; most are shiny in appearance.
Metaphysical: The philosophical study of the ultimate causes and underlying nature of things.
Mineral: Naturally forming, usually inorganic, crystalline substances with characteristic physical and chemical properties determined by their composition and internal structure.
Neo-Pagan: “New” Paganism, referring to modern polytheistic religious beliefs, including Wicca and modern Witchcraft.
New Age: A term often used to refer to eclectic beliefs and practices that rose to popularity in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s and have evolved into current use—a collection of esoteric and spiritual techniques that blend Eastern and Western philosophies, ancient and modern. Often including astrology, crystal healing, transcendental meditation, aromatherapy, etc.
Ore: A metal-bearing mineral or rock, or a native metal, often mined for profit; a mineral or natural product serving as a source of some nonmetallic substance, as sulfur.
Organic: Pertaining to or derived from life, usually in reference to organisms. Chemically, an organic compound has hydrogen or nitrogen directly linked with carbon.
Polymorph: The same chemical compound that crystallizes in different forms.
Receptive hand: In magical practice, the hand you don’t write with, or use less often. Used to receive energy.
Sabbat: Eight sacred times of the year that Wiccans celebrate, based on seasonal changes.
Sachet: A small bag often filled with perfumed powder or other scented material such as dried herbs and flowers.
Scrying: Process of divination that involves gazing into a crystal, water, or other medium to see images or symbols.
Shaman: Often a tribal medicine man; someone who practices spiritual and healing arts, divination, and communication with the spirit world.
Smudging: Ritual cleansing of an object or place using the smoke of burning herbs and/or resins.
Subtle bodies: Pertaining to crystal healing and magic, the energies surrounding the body: etheric, closest to physical; emotional, feelings; mental, thoughts and mental processes; astral, personality; causal, links personality to collective unconscious; soul or celestial is the higher self; and spiritual presents access to universal energy but is still individual.
Talisman: Magical item worn, carried, or created to attract something (i.e., good fortune).
Translucent: Pertaining to a solid or liquid medium through which light will travel but no clear image is formed. Frosted glass is translucent, not transparent.
Transparent: Pertaining to a sold or liquid medium through which light will travel and form a clear image. Window glass is transparent.
Yin and Yang: In Chinese philosophy, Yin is “darkness” and Yang is “light” as seen as cosmic powers that interact to create everything in the universe. Not literally dark and light, but a union of opposites that depend on each other—light and shadow, moist and dry, masculine and feminine. Yin is the feminine and Yang is the masculine.