Descriptionary

coco macaque in voodoo, a magical walking stick with the ability to kill enemies.

cold reading a psychic's reading of a subject's mind and background or that of his loved ones, liv­ing or dead, with no information to go by except positive responses to queries and statements made by the subject.

collective hallucination a false perception experi­enced by several people simultaneously through the power of suggestion.

communal reinforcement the process by which outlandish pseudosciences and faiths are promul­gated by authority figures, reinforced without criti­cal investigation by the media, and then believed by the masses, often simply because so many others believe.

confabulation sometimes mixed with facts, a fan­tasy or false memory that unconsciously becomes an actual account of an event or happening and which may be sincerely believed by the holder.

conjure to summon a spirit with black magic.

consecrate to purify or make sacred, often with holy water or salt.

countercharm a charm used by witches to neutral­ize or reverse a charm or spell employed by another.

counterspell a spell used by witches to neutralize or reverse the spell cast by another.

coven traditionally, a group of 13 witches. In Wicca, any group of witches.

covener any member of a coven.

covenstead any meeting place used by a coven.

cowen in witchcraft, one who is not a witch.

Craft, the a common term for Wicca.

crone any practicing witch who has passed meno­pause or the age of 50.

crop circle any of various geometric patterns cre­ated in open fields by the crushing of tall grasses or other plants, believed by some to be messages from aliens.

cryptozoology the study of hidden animals such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster.

crystal any transparent mineral, such as quartz, believed to have magical powers and used in healing and other New Age practices.

crystal ball

a glass ball into which fortunetellers gaze to "see" the future.

crystalomancy divining by gazing into a crystal ball or pool of water.

crystal power healing powers thought to exist in the vibrations and frequencies given off by various crystals and gems.

curse an invocation of bad luck or misfortune to befall someone.

cynanthropy the ability to turn oneself into a dog.

dactylomancy divination technique in which a dan­gling ring on a cord is swung like a pendulum over numbers, letters, or words.

deja vu the haunting feeling that one has visited a place before or has experienced something at an ear­lier time or in a past life.

dematerialize to vanish.

demoniac one possessed by a demon.

demonic possession the invading of one's body and mind by a demon, resulting in bizarre, out-of-control behavior.

demonology the study of demons.

demonomancy divination through the calling forth of demons.

deosil in Wicca, clockwise motion, or the direction of the Sun's apparent path over Earth, symbolizing positive energy.

diabolism worship of Satan; sorcery.

Dianic in Wicca, referring to a coven who places the goddess above the horned god in importance.

direct writing any writing that appears magically, without the aid of a medium's hand.

divination foretelling the future by supernatural means.

divine fallacy skeptic's term for the belief that if something is amazing or miraculous or cannot be explained, God must have done it.

divining rod

a forked stick used in dowsing to locate water.

doppelganger a spirit or ghost who haunts its living double or twin.

dowser one who searches for underground water with the use of a divining rod or other "magical" tool.

dowsing the pseudoscientific art of locating under­ground water by the use of a divining rod or other "magical" tool.

drawing down the Moon in Wicca tradition, a ritual held to pull down energy into a witch from the full Moon.

drawing down the Sun in Wicca tradition, a ritual held to pull down energy into a male witch from the Sun.

druid predating Christianity, a Celtic priest or religious teacher who prayed to various deities, per­formed human and animal sacrifices, and practiced astrology and wizardry.

ear candling an ancient practice of inserting a hol­low candle into the ear to draw out not only ear wax but negative energy.

ectoplasm a white, ethereal matter that may issue from mediums during a seance or trance.

eke-name in Wicca, a witch's secret alternative name, given to herself to represent her new life in a coven and used only among other witches.

elixir any magical potion, especially one charged by a crystal.

enchantment the state of being under a spell; bewitchment.