Glossary
It is assumed that the reader will already be familiar
with most of the terms customarily found in Occult and Magical
literature. However, some terms that the Fellowship has used are
somewhat more specialised, or they are relatively common terms
but used in a specific way by the Fellowship that may deviate
from conventional usage.
This Glossary explains such of those terms as have been used on
this website, and throughout the Fellowship's publications.
Pantacle or Pentacle
Attributed to Earth. It may be represented as a shield, platter,
dish, or bowl, and it corresponds to the Coins of the Tarot. Graphically,
it can be a pentagram (five-pointed star) drawn within a circle
and, in Fellowship usage, this is then circumscribed by a square.
It generally refers to all things material, and is the principal
tool for invocations, representative of the process whereby that
invoked attains actual physical manifestation. It is a symbol
of the Goddess; specifically the Earth Mother, Gaia. One of its
functions is protective in the sense of a barrier, wall, or shield.
Priesthood, The
The concept of the Priesthood was much more prevalent in the early
days of the Fellowship before the recognition of the group's Druidic
alignment. Although still used occasionally, the term has
now tended to become reserved for predominantly ritual usage.
Howevere, at no time has the Fellowship accepted the more widespread
Wiccan usages of the term that either employ it in an all-embracing
fashion such that anyone claiming even a superficial interest
in Wicca/Witchcraft represents themself as a Priest(ess), or in
an ego-inspired fashion that seeks to establish "degrees" of Priesthood.
We believe the Priesthood to be vocational and aspirants thereto
are confirmed or rejected by the Goddess; this is revealed to
the aspirant in unmistakeable form, yet requires a substantial
self-honesty in recognition for the ego will attempt to intervene.
Humility toward the Goddess and service to Her devotees are characteristics
of the Priesthood, it being self-evident that the Priesthood will
possess a consciousness of the Divine. Aside from the sense of
vocation, certain qualifications for the Priesthood have been
identified as follows:
generally, the aspirant will be motivated by a religious impulse,
and will be experienced in both the dark and light sides of life.
A substantial degree of self-knowledge will have been achieved
and an understanding of the workings of the Universe in a Magical
context will be possessed.
Whilst acceptance into the Priesthood can be a matter solely between
the aspirant and the Goddess, it is more usual for the aspirant,
at least symbolically, to be inducted by an existing member of
the Priesthood. In either event, at the time of induction the
aspirant will experience an influx of the "Goddess-force"
that will be the basis of their Priestly "powers".
The Priesthood are servants of the Goddess, and may be called
upon to put aside their own wishes, needs and ambitions in preference
to the Will of the Goddess, which can sometimes entail personal
hardship and distress.
Members of the Priesthood are neither omnipotent nor omniscient,
but it is believed they will be able to demonstrate an ability
to effectively apply Magical principles, and an ability to exercise
wisdom in their priestly activities.
It is expected that the Priesthood will observe a far more rigorous
moral imperative than that demonstated by the laity.
The Priesthood also refers to a specific state of consciousness
that may not be predominant at all times, but which is an essential
requirement in all priestly activities or pronouncements.
(See also Priest(ess))
Realisation
The word "realisation" may be used in two seemingly different
ways although, on reflection, it becomes clear they are intimately
connected. Its first and more obvious usage is in the sense of
"bringing into manifestation" or "making real", which is to say,
for example, the realisation of an idea being the bringing into
being of a concrete expression of that idea in the physical world.
However in the Fellowship the second usage is the far more common,
and refers to the comprehension of an idea or concept in a manner
that transcends the merely intellectual such that the idea or
concept becomes assimilated into one's mindset or mental paradigm.
Customarily this occurs spontaneously and "in a flash" as it were,
its effect being such as to prove temporarily overwhelming of
one's mental equilibrium.
This usage connects with the first in the sense that an idea or
concept hitherto apprehended in a predominantly intellectual sense
is suddenly "made real" in one's perception.
The experience was captured by a past Participant with the phrase
"I've just had a sudden realisation", which has since (not without
some humour!) been wholly embraced as a convenient catchphrase.
Rod of Iron
This was literally a rod made of iron, measuring some 33" long
x 7/16" square. It was in fact one of a half-dozen or so stair
rods that the Fellowship had acquired, the others being adapted
for various uses.
All but two of the rods (one-and-a-half, actually!) have since
"gone astray", but the rod used as the original "Rod of Iron"
in the Temple is still in the Fellowship's possession, and the
half-rod remains one of the working tools in the form of a Wand.
Source of Light and Fire
Customarily this refers to the very first candle (or night/tea
light) that is lit at the commencement of a working. Its flame
is then used (via a wax taper) to light whatever other
candles, lamps etc may be required during the course of the working.
Moreover, it is used also to ignite the charcoal (again via
a wax taper) in the thurible for the incense. Thus it becomes
the one source for all forms of fire that may be employed in a
given working.
Traditionally, should this fire source become extinguished during
the course of a working the event was regarded with extreme disquiet,
and the working would immediately be closed (in the correct manner
of course!). Generally therefore the Source of Light and Fire
was the very last flame to be extinguished at the close of a working.
In the first Fellowship Temple this Source was always a red candle
that was retained in a wrought-iron holder and protected by a
smoked glass "sleeve" or "chimney". When the Temple was re-opened
following a months-long quiescent period, it was found that this
glass sleeve had cracked, rendering it unsafe to use. Thereafter
the Source was placed in a plain candle-holder.
After 1998, when a number of the Fellowship's practises underwent
a significant change, the usage of the Source of Light and Fire
became redundant, its function having become incorporated into
the Beacon, which remains current usage.
Staff
Attributed to Fire. It corresponds to the Wands of the Tarot.
It generally refers to the driving force, motivation, and the
energetic content of an enterprise, although it can also
be construed as representative of intuition; the sudden flash
of insight that prompts enthusiasm for an endeavour. Thus it could
be regarded as one of the principal tools in the process of Initiation,
an experience that should stir to creativity and action (for those
so inclined, there is a clear suggestion here of phallic symbolism).
It can also be interpreted as Spirit and, by extension, the Life
Force; that which imbues Matter with Life. It is the support upon
which all of Manifest Creation relies, and without which everything
crumbles to less than dust.
Telepathy
It seems to be a characteristic of participation in the Fellowship
that, with increasing involvement, "telepathic communication"
with other Fellowship participants becomes more commonplace.
Customarily this has been experienced as a mental image that occurs
spontaneously and unbidden, or as an involuntary compulsion to
communicate with a particular person, and occasionally even as
the unreasoned performance of a particular act. There have also
been occasions when the experience is one of an emotional "blip".
So seamlessly do such impressions, urges or impulses integrate
with "normal" mental/emotional activity that the real trick seems
to be in learning to recognise them for what they actually are.
Nor does such a phenomenon seem particularly reliable. When it
occurs (and it is recognised for what it is!) then it is customarily
borne out by subsequent confirmation between the "communicating
parties". But it seems to be an almost involuntary interaction,
in the sense that the "sender" may well be unaware of the "communication",
which seem to be triggered predominantly by emotional/mental states
rather than volition. This is not to preclude the possibility
of volitional "communication", but all our experiences to date
suggest that the effectiveness of such attempts are, at best,
unpredictable, and therefore unreliable.
Transplutonic
Literally "beyond Pluto". A term used in the literature of the
"93 Current" to indicate that which exists beyond the boundaries
of the known Universe.
