Pagan Dictionary

G

GAEA, GAIA: 
Greek Mother Goddess;
Nonpagan term for Mother Earth used often by environmental action groups.
GANDHARVA: Celestial musicians in East Indian mythology. They are married to the apsaras, celestial water nymphs, and reside on the Astral Plane.

GARDEN OF EDEN, The:
The garden in which Adam and Eve first lived according to the Bible;
An idyllic or delightful place;
Also known as Eden, Paradise.

GARDNERIAN WICCA: Founded by Gerald Gardner, this was the first denomination of Wicca to make itself known publicly. Because of that, many people think that it is the only "true" Wicca. Gardner claimed to have been initiated into a surviving Coven of Traditional Witches in the New Forest by "Old Dorothy" Clutterbuck in 1939. Gardner was accused of inventing the whole concept of Wicca and of getting Aleister Crowley to write its rituals although the Gardnerian Book of Shadows is a compilation from various sources, much of it actually contributed by Doreen Valiente. The Gardnerian tradition places emphasis on the Goddess over the God, has a degree system of advancement and does not allow for self-initiation. Covens work skyclad and aim to equal numbers of male and female, paired. Covens are autonomous and are found in most countries around the world. Gardnerian Wiccans are considered to be Traditional Witches who trace their line of initiatory descent from Dorothy Clutterbuck through Gerald Gardner and through a line of Gardnerian High Priests and High Priestesses. The adhere to the rituals laid out in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows.

GARLAND SUNDAY: The August 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates the first harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are cut and stored for dark winter months. The sabbat also marks the weakening of the God as the days grow shorter. Also known as August Eve, Bilberry Sunday, Fraughan Sunday, Crom Dubh Sunday, Death of the God-King, Domhnach Chrom Dubh, Feast of Bread, Feast of Lug (Lugh), Festival of the First Fruits of Harvest, Festival of the Sacrifice and Death of the God-King, Laa Luanistyn, Laa Luanys, Lammas, Lammas Day, Lughnasa, Lughnasadh, Lugnasad, Lúnasa, Lúnasdain, Lúnasdal, Lúnasduinn, Martinmas, St. Martin's Eve.

GARTERS: Ornaments with magickal properties worn in various rituals and as badges of rank. The garter is considered the ancient emblem of the High Priestess in Witchcraft. In some traditions a High Priestess who becomes a Witch Queen over more than one coven adds a silver buckle to her garter for each coven underneath her.

GASTROMANCY: Divination by interpreting the sounds or signs on the belly. Gastromancy is most frequently reported as a voice emanating from the belly and it has been dismissed by most occult investigators as a form of ventriloquism and trickery. An ancient description of another gastromancy technique described placing a child in front of a glass filled with water and illuminating the glass. Divination was done by interpreting the images in the glass.

GELOSCOPY: Divination by interpreting laughter.

GEMATRIA: A system of discovering truths and hidden meanings behind words, using numerical values for letters of the alphabet. Each letter corresponds to a number. The numerical values of words are totaled and interpreted in terms of other words with the same numerical value. Gematria dates back to the 8th century B.C. Babylon, and has been used by most mystics since that time including the Magi, Gnostics, and Quabbalists. Notarikon is a form of gematria in which the first and last letters of a word or phrase are put together to create a new word, or to turn a word into a phrase. Temurah is a form of gematria that creates anagrams through systematic letter substitutions. See also: Numerology.

GENETHIALOGY: Divination by interpreting the influence of the stars at birth to predict the future. A form of astrology.

GENIE, GENII: A class of beings described in the Koran, both male and female, between angels and human kind and represented as being created from smokeless fire, abounding particularly in desert places. Popularly djinn are regarded as being able to appear to mankind in the form of domestic animals or of human beings of gigantic size, the benevolent ones appearing in beautiful shape, the malevolent in horrible guise. Also known as Djinn, Jinn (plural), Jinniy (singular) Jinni, Jinnee.

GEOMANCY: Divination by interpreting the Element of Earth. Forms include scattering and throwing dirt, gravel or sand, interpreting lines or figures traced in earth, and observation of earth formations. Ley line interpretation and Feng Shui are forms of Geomancy.

GEORGIAN WICCA: A Wiccan tradition founded by George E. Patterson in 1970, and chartered by the Universal Life Church in 1972, as The Church of Wicca of Bakersfield. In 1980 they were chartered as The Georgian Church. The Georgians are eclectic, based on Gardnerian-Alexander plus some British Traditional Witchcraft. They are God-Goddess oriented but lean more towards the Goddess. They generally work skyclad but individual groups or individuals may do as they wish. They are both religious and magickal and celebrate the eight Sabbats. Members are encouraged to learn from all available sources.

GESTURE: A hand or arm movement used to convey something.

GIBBOUS MOON: The three quarter phase of the moon, between half and full. Also known as Humped Moon.

GLADSHEIM (Icelandic, gladsheim: "gladhome"): The Norse plane of existence that houses Asgard and Valholl.

GLAMOUR, GLAMOURY: A mental effort to control another animal or person's mind, usually by changing their perception. It generally is simply altering the perception of the practitioners' physical appearance temporarily but it can also include changing emotional reactions. Glamours are temporary and must be actively supported by the practitioner throughout the time they are in place. Also known as Fascination, Mind-bending.

GLYPH (Greek, glyph, a carving):

An incised (carved in) or relief (raised) carving of a figure, letter, pictograph or hieroglyph;
In architecture, a vertical channel or groove.
GNOMES: The Elemental Order of Earth, the elemental spirits of the Earth Element.

GOBLET, The: A vessel used to hold consecrated liquid in religious ritual. It is the Elemental Tool of Water in many pagan traditions and is considered to be a feminine symbol. Also known as Chalice, the Cup.

GOBLIN (Greek, kabalos: "sprite"): A misshapen faerie most commonly believed to be mischievous or malicious, but sometimes described as benevolent.

GOETIA: Non-religious magickal methods or systems.

GOING OF THE WAYS: A divorce rite, symbolically the cutting of the binds created by a handfasting. Also known as Hand-Parting.

GOLD: The metal of the sun, solar magick, the Horned God, the male principle, light, power, divine intelligence and spiritual insight. Wearing gold enhances power. For the alchemist, it represented the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul. In Alchemy it is associated with the operation of Coagulation.

GOUEL VARIA AR GOULOÙ: The February 1st Greater Sabbat marking the midpoint of the Dark Half of the year and a time of purification and sharing. This sabbat celebrates the Return of the Goddess from the Underworld, bearing in Her arms the Infant Sun, and the beginning of Spring as the slumbering seeds begin to stir within the womb of the Earth. Also known as Brigidmas, Brigit's Day, Candlemas, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Waxing Light, Festival of the Lactating Ewes, Gwyl Ffraed, Gwyl Mair Dechrau'r Fwanwyn, Imbolc, Imbolg, Laa'l Breeshey, Lá Fheile Bride, Lupercalia, Oimealg, Oímealg, Oimelc, Óimelc, Oímelg.

GRAMMARY: In archaic usage, grammary meant the study of Latin and the occult sciences. In pagan usage, it has come to mean any writing associated with magick, including symbols, signs, Ogham, Runes, glyphs and sigils.

GRAPHOLOGY: Divination and character analysis by interpreting handwriting.

GREAT ARCANUM, The: The fundamental secret behind all alchemical and magickal endeavor.

GREATER SABBATS: The festivals of Imbolc, Beltain, Lammas and Samhain, whose observance in ancient cultures generally predated that of the Quarter Days of the Solstices and Equinoxes These are considered the most important festivals of the years which form the "cross" in the wheel of the year and are the only Sabbats celebrated in some traditions. Also known as the Cross Quarters Days, Fire Festivals.

GREAT RITE, The: The Wiccan ritual enacting the union of the Goddess and the God that can be symbolic (in the presence of others) or actual (in private and only between established lovers and working-partners); it is an essential part of the Traditional Wiccan rite of Third Degree Initiation. Also known as Hieros Gamos, Sacred Marriage of the Goddess and the God, the Marriage of the Divine Polarities.

GREAT YEAR, The: A cycle of 26,000 years that has been divided into twelve Ages based on the Zodiac. Each Age is approximately 2000 years in duration and the 21st century marks the transition in the Great Year from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. Also known as the Platonic Year.

GRIFFIN, GRIFFON, GRIFON: A mythological creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Also known as Gryphon.

GRIMOIRE ("grammar, learning, writings"):

A personal book of rituals, recipes, journal entries, laws/rules, and other documents important to a witch or pagan. Also known as a Personal Book of Shadows, that is different from the Traditional Book of Shadows which outlines the liturgical and canonical material of a pagan tradition. Also called Book of Shadows.
The medieval books of magickal procedures written by, or ascribed to, famous magicians.
GRIS-GRIS: Vodoun charms or talismans kept for good luck or to ward of evil. They are small cloth bags filled with herbs, oils, stones, small bones, hair and nail clippings, pieces of cloth soiled with perspiration and/or other personal items gathered under the direction of a particular god and designed to protect the owner. Akin to the Santeria Resguardo and the Native American Medicine Bag. Also known as Resquardos.

GROTTO: A Satanic congregation.

GROUNDING: Sending energy through a conductor into the earth. In magickal traditions the conductor is usually human and the energy sent is excess energy unused during a ritual. It may also be incompatible or excessive energy gathered by a person throughout the course of daily life. This is a recommended practice for people as a restorative and balancing act and allows the practitioner to reconnect fully with the physical world. Also known as Earthing.

GROVE:

The meeting place, usually outdoors, of Pagans and Druids. The grove is the equivalent of a church, temple, or covenstead;
A group of Druids.
GRYPHON: A mythological creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Also known as Griffin, Griffon, Grifon.

GUARDIANS: The entities who guard dimensional or astral portals such as the Watchtowers, the Four Quarters, the Astral Gates, the Cardinal Points, etc. The Guardians are represented differently in each tradition and have been described as in an infinite number of ways including as Dragons, Demi-gods, Angels or Demons.

GUARDIAN SPIRIT: A spirit or guardian who is bonded to a human being and is a magickal partner and protector. Also known as Familiar, Power Animal, Tutelary Spirit, Totem, Totemic Animal.

GUECUBU: Malicious spirits in Chile that ride horses into exhaustion. Also known as Chagrin, Cagrino (Europe), Harginn (India).

GUEDES: A separate classification of Vodoun loas (Gods and ancestral spirits) that are the various spirits of death and dying, debauchery and lewdness, graveyards and gravediggers. As sexual spirits, the Guedes also govern the preservation and renewal of life and protect children.

GWYL FFRAED, GWYL MAIR DECHRAU'R FWANWYN: The February 1st Greater Sabbat marking the midpoint of the Dark Half of the year and a time of purification and sharing. This sabbat celebrates the Return of the Goddess from the Underworld, bearing in Her arms the Infant Sun, and the beginning of Spring as the slumbering seeds begin to stir within the womb of the Earth. Also known as Brigidmas, Brigit's Day, Candlemas, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Waxing Light, Festival of the Lactating Ewes, Gouel Varia ar Gouloù, Imbolc, Imbolg, Laa'l Breeshey, Lá Fheile Bride, Lupercalia, Oimealg, Oímealg, Oimelc, Óimelc, Oímelg.  

GYROMANCY: Divination by walking or whirling in a circle until dizzy and interpreting the point of the person's fall. The circle used is often laid out with letters. Some sources include Dervishing (whirling into an ecstasy) as a form of gyromancy.