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JACK-O’-LANTERN: A phosphorescent light seen in marsh and swamp areas, which in folklore is either the manifestation of a malicious lost soul or a death omen. Also known as Will-O’-the-Wisp, Corpse Light, Fair Light, Fox Fire, Fire Demon, Witch Fire. Akin to Corpse Candles, Dead Man's Candles, Fetch-Lights.
JAINISM (Sanskrit, jainas: "saint"): A major religion originating in India that has some similarity to Buddhism. Jainism does not recognize the authority of the Veda and its philosophy includes belief in the eternity of matter, the periodicity of the universe, the immortality of human's and animal's minds. It stresses non-violence and Jains are particularly known for avoiding harming any living thing.
JAMAICAN VOODOO: The polytheistic religion and magickal system of West African origin found in the Caribbean, South America and North America today. It recognizes that there are a multitude of gods and ghosts who each have their own myths, rites, offerings, taboos, and magical forces. Obeah is a healer god, who can also be invoked to bring illness and other calamities to one's own enemy. Also known as Obea, Obeah, Obi, Oby, Jamaican Voodoo.
JINN (plural), JINNIY, JINNEE, JINNI (singular forms): 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, Genie, Genii.
JOL: The Lesser Sabbat celebrated on or about December 21st marking the rebirth of the Sun God from the Mother Goddess, it is a celebration of Renewal and Rebirth as the dark force gives way to the Sun. Also known as Alban Arthan, Alban Arthuan, Jul, Meán Geimhridh, MidWinter. Winter Solstice, Yule.
JUJUMAN: A Traditional healer or priest to African tribal members and believers in Vodoun, Santería, or Macumba, or those who seek the healing power of herbs from them. Also known as Conjure Man, Leaf Doctor, Root Doctor, Witch Doctor. See also: Traditional Healer.
JUL: The Lesser Sabbat celebrated on or about December 21st marking the rebirth of the Sun God from the Mother Goddess, it is a celebration of Renewal and Rebirth as the dark force gives way to the Sun. Also known as Alban Arthan, Alban Arthuan, Jol, Meán Geimhridh, MidWinter. Winter Solstice, Yule.
KA: The Egyptian concept of the soul had three parts ba (incarnation), akh (transitional) and ka (immortal). Upon death the soul would split into ba and akh. The akh would fly to the Afterworld and transform into the ka. The ba would remain with the mummy.
KABALA, KABBALA: A body of occult philosophy, doctrines, and magickal and mystical lore derived from certain Jewish rabbinical texts, probably originating in early Chaldean and other Mesopotamian cultures, possibly including ancient Egypt. Also known as Cabala, Cabbala, Qabala, Qabbalah.
KAHUNA: A practitioner of the ancient Polynesian philosophical, scientific and magickal system called Huna.
KAKODAEMON: A hostile spirit found in Egyptian, Persian, Chaldean and Greek traditions. Kakodaemons were attached to each mortal from birth as a constant companion and a messenger between the mortal and the gods. They were capable of giving mortals impulses. The Kakodaemons were believed to be the rebellious entities expelled from heaven for their crimes who settled between the earth and the stars. The mythology evolved into a Christianized form called Cacodemons. Also known as Cacodaemon.
KALA-GOAÑV: The November 1st Greater Sabbat celebrating the End and the Beginning of the Year with the final harvest. On this day the veil between the Otherworld and the World is thinnest and entities from either side may cross over or communicate with one another more easily. The laws of time and space are suspended. The sabbat marks the death of the Sun God and his passing into the Land of the Young, where He awaits rebirth through the Mother Goddess at Yule. The Dead travel to the Otherworld and it is the time to bring honor and hospitality to dead ancestors. Also known as Alhalwyn-tyd, Allantide, All Hallows Eve, All Hallows Tide, The Apple Time, Calan Gaeaf, Calan Gwaf, Feast of Apples, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Souls, Hallowmas, Hallows, Hallows Eve, Hallowe’en, Hollantide, November Eve, Samain, Samhain, Samhuinn, Sauin.
KALA-HAÑV, KALA-MAE: The May 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates the beginning of the Light Half of the Year. Also known as Bealtaine, BealeTeine, Bealltuinn, Belltaine, Beltain, Beltaine, Beltane, Beltine, Bel-tine, Boaldyn, Cala' Me, Calan Mai, Calan Me, Cétshamain, Cyntefin, Dydd Calan Mai, Feast of Bíle, Lady Day, May Day, May Eve, Walpurgisnacht.
KARMA ("a deed, an action, cause-and-effect, fate"): Term for the balance of all of one's actions throughout all of one's incarnations, which thus determines one's future experiences. It is not a doctrine of sin and punishment, but fate or destiny as a result of one's actions. This concept is most frequently associated with Hindu philosophy. Also known as Aisa, Karma, Law of Cause and Effect.
KATHARSIS (Greek, katharsis, "to purify"): Purging, or release, from the body. In magick, it is the release of energies gathered for Magickal Work and marks the climax of a ritual. Variant spelling is Catharsis.
KEPHALONOMANCY: Divination by interpreting the skull or head of a donkey or goat. Also known as Cephalomancy.
KERKES: A mythological bird that consumed itself by fire every 500 years and recreated itself from the ashes as a newborn. Also known as Bennu, Fung-hwang, Fum-hwang, Ho-Ho, Phoenix.
KETHER: In the supreme triangle of the Cabala the threes sides are reason, Kether, necessity, Chochmah, and liberty, Binah.
KHEM, The: The primordial or First Matter through which all creation manifests.
KISENGUE: A scepter given to a Mayombero during his/her initiation ceremony. A Mayombero is a Santeria practitioner (Santero) who follows a left-hand path.
KITCHEN WITCHCRAFT: A tradition of Witchcraft with an emphasis on the practical side of religion, magick, the Earth, and elements. Much of the tradition is very similar to Stregheria (Strega) and practitioners work out of hearth and home, using only what they would have on hand for daily routines to perform rituals and spells. The home is sacred to a Kitchen Witch and cooking and herb magick play a fundamental part in their practice. Kitchen Witchery is a way of including Witchcraft beliefs into everyday life.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR: Founded between 1119 and 1188 by Hugh de Payens of Champagne, France, and a small group of knights, the Knights Templar dedicated themselves to protecting pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land and in routing the Infidels from Jerusalem. The Order idealized ideals of chivalry, crusades and Christian faith as practiced by an exclusive club of monastic knights but was brought down two centuries later by accusations of heresy, devil worship, blasphemy and homosexuality.
KNOTS: The tying and untying of knots is used to bind and release energy for spellwork.
KOLBOLD:
A good-natured elf or goblin, known for doing housework at night. Also known as Brownie; - A gnome in mines and other underground places.
KUNG-LEI (Chinese, kung-lei: "dragon paths"): The magnetic paths that lay out the Earth's currents in Feng Shui. Akin to Ley Lines.
KUNG LUNG: The Chinese Rain Dragon. Ti Lung (Earth Dragon) and the Kung Lung together are known as Wang Lung. The other two types of Chinese Dragon are:
- T'ien Lung (Celestial Dragon);
- Fu Tsang Lung (Treasure Dragon);
- Also known as Shen Lung.
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This page last updated onApril 8, 2001
This page courtesy of Pagan Nomadic Ways
