path

From Middle English path, peth, from Old English pæþ (“path, track”), from Proto-West Germanic *paþ, from Proto-Germanic *paþaz (“path”). The Proto-Germanic term is possibly borrowed from Iranian, from Proto-Iranian *pántaHh, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *pántaHs, from Proto-Indo-European *póntoh₁s, from the root *pent- (“to pass”), however this is disputed. Cognate with West Frisian paad, Dutch pad, German Pfad. Indo-Iranian cognates could be Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬧𐬙𐬃 (paṇtā̊, “way”), Old Persian 𐎱𐎰 (p-θ /paθi/)), Sanskrit पन्था (panthā). See also English find). Doublet of panth.

lead someone down the garden path, lead someone up the garden path

(paganism) A Pagan tradition, for example witchcraft, Wicca, druidism, Heathenry.


circle

en-verb

circle (third-person singular simple present circles, present participle circling, simple past and past participle circled)

circles (present singular third-person)
circling (participle present)
circled (participle past)
circled (past)

From Middle English circle, cercle, from Old French cercle and Latin circulus, diminutive of Latin circus (“circle, circus”), from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, “circle, ring”), related to Old English hring (“ring”). Compare also Old English ċircul (“circle, zodiac”), which came from the same Latin source.

der

I circled with that group for three years.

(intransitive, paganism) To take part in a magic circle.


way

ways (plural)
waye (alternative obsolete)
waie (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English way, wey, from Old English weġ, from Proto-West Germanic *weg, from Proto-Germanic *wegaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-. Doublet of voe and possibly via.

don't let the door hit you on the way out

have one's head screwed on the right way

his driveway doesn't go all the way to the road

one's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top

someone's driveway doesn't go all the way to the road

the real treasure is the friends we made along the way

there's more than one way to cook an egg

there's more than one way to crack an egg

there's more than one way to peel an orange

the way to a man's heart is through his stomach

you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

To walk the Way of the Runes, you must experience the runes as they manifest both in the part of Midgard that lies outside yourself and the worlds within. (Diana Paxson)

(Germanic paganism) A tradition within the modern pagan faith of Heathenry, dedication to a specific deity or craft, Way of wyrd, Way of runes, Way of Thor etc.

usko

paganism: dedication to a specific deity or craft


blessing

From Middle English blessinge, blessynge, from Old English blētsung, blēdsung (“a blessing”), equivalent to bless + -ing.


Thor

Representing Old Norse Þórr. Cognate with Old English Þunor, Swedish Tor.

So likewise a day comes when the Runic Thor, with his Eddas, must withdraw into dimness; and many an African Mumbo-Jumbo and Indian Pawpaw be utterly abolished.

1831, Thomas Carlyle, “Symbols”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 155:

There’s the Thor fly in tribute of the God of Thunder, played in Marvel by Chris Hemsworth. Its scientific name is “Daptolestes bronteflavus,” which is derived from Latin like most scientific names – and translates to “blond thunder.”

2020 July 29, Jessie Yeung, “Australia names new species after Deadpool, Thor, and other Marvel favorites”, in CNN:

(Norse mythology and paganism) A hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, and the protection of mankind.


moot

From Middle English mōt, ȝemōt, from Old English *mōt, ġemōt (“meeting”), from Proto-Germanic *mōtą, from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂d- (“to encounter, come”). Cognate with Scots mut, mote (“meeting, assembly”), Low German Mööt (“meeting”), Moot (“meeting”), archaic Dutch (ge)moet (“meeting”), Danish møde (“meeting”), Swedish möte (“meeting”), Norwegian møte (“meeting”), Icelandic mót (“meeting, tournament, meet”). Related to meet.

cog

(paganism) A social gathering of pagans, normally held in a public house.


brownie

en-noun

brownie (countable and uncountable, plural brownies)

→ Belarusian: бра́ўні (bráŭni)

→ Chinese: 布朗尼 (bùlǎngní)

→ Dutch: brownie

→ French: brownie

→ German: Brownie

→ Hungarian: brownie

→ Irish: donnóg (calque)

→ Italian: brownie

→ Japanese: ブラウニー (buraunī)

→ Lithuanian: braunis

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: brownie

→ Polish: brownie

→ Portuguese: brownie

→ Russian: бра́уни (bráuni)

→ Kazakh: брауни (brauni)

→ Spanish: brownie

→ Thai: บราวนี (bpraao-níi)

→ Turkish: brownie, browni, brovni

→ Welsh: browni

From brown + -ie (diminutive suffix). In folkloric sense, originally Scots.

(paganism) A household spirit or revered ancestor.


hearth

From Middle English herth, herthe, from Old English heorþ, from Proto-West Germanic *herþ, from Proto-Germanic *herþaz, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kerh₃- (“heat; fire”). Cognate with West Frisian hurd, Dutch haard, German Herd, Swedish härd.

der

Asatru is practised all over Northern Europe and also in North America. Like Druidry, it is organized into bodies with sub-groups, the hearths.

1996, Vivianne Crowley, Thorsons principles of paganism, page 50:

Smaller localized groups known as 'hearths' meet regularly, and are comparable, in size and function, with a Wiccan 'Coven' or Druidic 'Grove'.

2003 December 8, Robert J. Wallis, Shamans/neo-Shamans: Ecstasy, Alternative Archaeologies, and Contemporary Pagans, page 102:

Neopagan groups take many forms, from Wiccan covens to Druid groves, from Heathen hearths to magical lodges[…]

2004 March 1, Peter Clarke, editor, Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements, Routledge, page 768:

(Germanic paganism) A household or group in some forms of the modern pagan faith Heathenry.


fain

en-verb

fain (third-person singular simple present fains, present participle faining, simple past and past participle fained)

fains (present singular third-person)
faining (participle present)
fained (participle past)
fained (past)
fain (infinitive)
fain (first-person present singular)
fained (first-person past singular)
fain (present second-person singular)
fainest (archaic present second-person singular)
fained (past second-person singular)
fainedst (archaic past second-person singular)
fains (present singular third-person)
faineth (archaic present singular third-person)
fained (past singular third-person)
fain (plural present)
fained (past plural)
fain (present subjunctive)
fained (past subjunctive)
fain (imperative present)
faining (participle present)
fained (participle past)
faine (alternative)

From Middle English fainen (“to be glad or joyful, rejoice; to make happy, gladden; to welcome; of an animal: to show happiness, as by wagging the tail; to act fawningly or flatteringly”), from Old English fæġnian (“to be glad, rejoice; to celebrate; to be delighted with, applaud; to wish for”), from Proto-West Germanic *faginōn (“to be glad, rejoice; to make glad, gladden”), from Proto-Germanic *faginōną (“to be glad, rejoice”), from *faganaz (“glad”): see further at etymology 1. Doublet of fawn.

inh

(Germanic paganism) To celebrate or worship; specifically, to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót (“ceremonial offering”).

juhlia

(Germanic paganism) to celebrate or worship; to offer an oblation which is not a sacrificial blót — see also celebrate, worship


leech

From Middle English leche (“physician”), from Old English lǣċe (“doctor, physician”), from Proto-West Germanic *lākī, from Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz (“doctor”), of disputed origin, but usually thought to be connected with Proto-Celtic (compare Old Irish líaig (“charmer, exorcist, physician”)); perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to collect, gather”).
Cognate with Old Frisian lētza (“physician”), Old Saxon lāki (“physician”), Old High German lāhhi (“doctor, healer”), Danish læge (“doctor, surgeon”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍃 (lēkeis, “physician”). Slavic words such as Serbo-Croatian ljèkār, Polish lekarz (“physician, doctor”) are usually considered to be borrowings from Germanic.

cog

Their functions are threefold, those of the medicine-man (the leech, or healer by supernatural means); of the soothsayer (the prophet through communion with the invisible world); and of the priest, especially in his capacity as exorcist

1900, Augustus Henry Keane, Man, Past and Present, Cambridge: The University Press:

In ancient times runesters were a specialized class separate from that of the witch or ordinary spell caster (much as the other specialists such as the leech or healer and the seithkona were different from a witch), and even today many believe it takes years of training to become adept at using the runes in spell work.

1996, Swain Wodening, “Scandinavian Craft Lesson 6: Runic Divination”, Theod Magazine 3 (4)

"Leech?" "Not another doctor".

2003, Brian Froud, Ari Berk, The Runes of Elfland, Pavillion Books, →ISBN, page 22:

There are many kinds of "Leech" or "healer" as there are healing techniques, some are more powerful than others and some are very specific to certain illnesses and complaints; some use potions and unguents, others crystals and stones, others galdr and some work their healing from within the hidden realms themselves.

2004, Runic John, The Book of Seidr, Capall Bann Publishing, →ISBN, page 282:


stang

From Middle English stang, stong, from Old Norse stǫng, from Proto-Germanic *stangiz, *stangō (“bar, rod”), from Proto-Indo-European *stengʰ-, *stegʰ- (“to stick, sting, prick, be stiff”).

The stang represents the horned god and the masculine force of nature. Much like the wand or athame, the stang is used for raising or directing power[…]

2006 January 7, Lady Sabrina, Exploring Wicca, Updated Edition, →ISBN, page 87:

In more common (and private) Wiccan circles, the stang is replaced by the athame (black handled knife) and the cauldron replaced with the chalice but its^([sic]) pretty much /whatever works for you/.

2009 June 22, Yowie, “Sikh Quaker?”, in soc.religion.quaker:

These stangs can be used as natural altars in outdoor rituals or simply as walking staffs.

2014 January 8, Ann Moura, Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft, →ISBN, page 7:

(Wicca, paganism) A forked ritual staff.


Odin

→ Chinese: 奧丁 /奥丁 (Àodīng)

→ Japanese: オーディン

Learned borrowing from Old Norse Óðinn (whence Icelandic Óðinn, Norwegian Nynorsk Oden), akin to Old High German Wodan and Old English Wōden. From Proto-Germanic *Wōdanaz, derived from Proto-Germanic *wōdaz (“rage, manic inspiration, furor poeticus”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂t- (“to be excited”). Compare Old Norse óðr (“rage”) and Dutch woede (“rage”) and woeden (“to rage”), Irish fáidh, Latin vātēs. Doublet of Woden and Wotan. Related to English wode.

der

interpretatio germanica
interpretatio germanica

(Norse mythology and paganism) A major Germanic god, often described as chief of the pantheon, in his Norse form a member of the Æsir, married to Frigg and associated with knowledge, poetry and war. Wednesday refers to him by way of interpretatio germanica.


harvest

en-noun

harvest (countable and uncountable, plural harvests)

harvests (plural)
harvist (alternative)
hervest (alternative)
harst (alternative)
hairst (alternative)

From Middle English harvest, hervest, from Old English hærfest (“autumn, harvest-time; August”), from Proto-West Germanic *harbist, from Proto-Germanic *harbistaz (“harvest-time, autumn, fall”), from *harbaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kerp-.
Cognates
Cognate with Sylt North Frisian Hārefst, West Frisian hjerst, Dutch herfst, German Herbst, dated German Low German Harvst, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål høst, Norwegian Nynorsk haust; further with Latin carpere (“to seize”), Ancient Greek καρπός (karpós, “fruit”), κείρω (keírō, “to cut off”).

inh

(paganism) A modern pagan ceremony held on or around the autumn equinox, which is in the harvesting season.


kindred

en-noun

kindred (countable and uncountable, plural kindreds)

kindreds (plural)
kinred (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English kyndrede, from older kynrede (“kindred”), from Old English *cynrēd, *cynrǣden (“kindred, family, stock”), from cynn (“kind, kin, lineage”) + -rǣden (“condition, state”). Equivalent to kin + -red, see these. The -d- is epenthetic between a nasal and a liquid (as e.g. in spindle).

We talked with Jonina about our kindred, Heathenry in the United States, Asatru in Iceland, and the details of our religious practice.[…]

2009, Mark Ludwig Stinson, Heathen Gods: A Collection of Essays Concerning the Folkway of Our People, page 174:

Your chosen kindred or other group is a Venn circle that contains you, but it may not be the same circle as your family.

2013 November 8, Patricia M. Lafayllve, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN, page 117:

Not all, but many people believe that if you're not in a kindred, then you are not a real Norse Pagan or heathen.

2019 May 20, Theodoric Dukka, A Heathen's Guide: Experiences & Advice On Magic & Spiritworking, →ISBN, page 101:

(countable, Germanic paganism) A household or group following the modern pagan faith of Heathenry or Ásatrú.


dedicate

from Middle English dedicat(e) (“dedicated”, also used as the past participle of dedicaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. The nouns is derived through substantivization from Latin dēdicātus, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

inh

also used as the past participle of <i class="Latn mention" lang="enm">dedicaten</i>

Glancing at the crowd of onlookers, she said, “I know that service at the dining hall will be over soon”—instantly a few dedicates and all of the novices hurried away—“and some of us here would like to prepare our own meal.” […] Out of sight of the dedicates, she climbed over the short fence and escaped to Winding Circle's biggest library.

2011 September 1, Tamora Pierce, Circle of Magic #1: Sandry's Book, Scholastic Inc., →ISBN:

Initiation—When a dedicate is seen on all levels to be learning and doing more as they participate in the circle and aids with rituals and/or divination, an initiation is decided on with the priest or priestess and dedicate.

2015 April 8, Dracaena Paxx, The Sacred Spiral: Unlocking Ones Infinite Potential, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:

Through this rune of compassion, feelings of pain are transferred from the dedicates to Fallion. Lord Despair then proceeds to torture the dedicates so that Fallion would feel the pain of the tortures without being physically harmed[…]

2019 November 14, Charul Palmer-Patel, The Shape of Fantasy: Investigating the Structure of American Heroic Epic Fantasy, Routledge, →ISBN:

Rowan Cortak stood with the rest of the dedicates.

2022 September 27, Chad Corrie, The Wizard King Trilogy Boxed Set, Dark Horse Books, →ISBN, page 24:

(chiefly fantasy and paganism) One who dedicates themselves, or who is dedicated, to the service of some leader, religion, etc.


stall

From Middle English stall, stalle, from Old English steall (“standing place, position”), from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stel- (“to place, put, post, stand”). Cognate with French étal, Italian stallo, German Stall, Swedish stall.

der

In a private rite, a ring is drawn on the ground around a harrow or before an indoor stall.

1989, Edred Thorsson, A Book of Troth, Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 156:

Some Asatruar kindreds call their indoor altars stalls and their outdoor altars harrows.

2006, Selene Silverwind, “Asatruar Tools and Practices”, in Everything you need to know about Paganism, David & Charles, →ISBN, page 117:

Stalli (STAL-i) - Altar.

2006, Mark Puryear, The Nature of Asatru: An Overview of the Ideals and Philosophy of the Indigenous Religion of Northern Europe, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 237:

(Germanic paganism) An Heathen altar, typically an indoor one, as contrasted with a more substantial outdoor harrow.


garth

Inherited from Middle English garth, from Old Norse garðr, from Proto-Germanic *gardaz, thus cognate with Old English ġeard, whence the English doublet yard.

The Candidate for membership of Hof, Garth or Hearth shall hold an Armill, or he may touch an unsheathed Sword throughout the ceremony.

2014 November 18, Stubba, The Book of Blots, page 102:

(Germanic paganism) A group or a household dedicated to the pagan faith of Heathenry.

(Germanic paganism) A location or sacred space, in ritual and poetry in modern Heathenry.


wight

From Middle English wight, wiȝt, from Old English wiht (“thing, creature”), from Proto-West Germanic *wihti, from Proto-Germanic *wihtiz (“thing, creature”, literally “being”), from Proto-Indo-European *wekti- (“cause, sake, thing”), from *wekʷ- (“to say, tell”).
Cognate with Scots wicht (“creature, being, human”), Dutch wicht (“child, baby, girl”), German Low German Wicht (“girl; wight”), German Wicht (“wretch, wight, little creature, scoundrel”), Danish vætte (“underground creature, gnome”), Norwegian Bokmål vette (“underground creature, gnome”), Swedish vätte (“underground creature, gnome”), Icelandic vættur (“imp, elf”). Doublet of whit.

cog

(Old Norse, Germanic paganism) A supernatural being, often used in compounds such as the land-vættr which guard the land, especially the four guardians of Iceland.


smudge

en-noun

smudge (countable and uncountable, plural smudges)

Derived from the verb (see below). Doublet of smutch.

Devil's dirt or asafetida ground together with fenugreek and black cumin seed is used as a smudge against witches and […]

2006, Christian Rätsch, Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals, →ISBN:

(paganism, especially in the phrase "smudge stick" = "stick of incense") A quantity of herbs used in suffumigation.


smudge

en-verb

smudge (third-person singular simple present smudges, present participle smudging, simple past and past participle smudged)

smudges (present singular third-person)
smudging (participle present)
smudged (participle past)
smudged (past)

From Middle English *smogen (attested in the gerund smogynge (“soiling, smudging”)), of obscure origin. Compare Middle English besmudded, bismuddet (“filthy”), Middle English smod (“filth, obscene behaviour”), Middle Dutch smoddich (“filthy, dirty”), German schmutzig (“dirty, filthy”).

unc

obscure

cog

(paganism, intransitive) To burn herbs as a cleansing ritual (suffumigation).

This is easily done using incense to smudge yourself or taking a cleansing bath. To smudge your body use an incense mixture such as sandalwood, lavender, frankincense or myrrh.

2013, Rachel Patterson, Pagan Portals - Hoodoo: Folk Magic, →ISBN:

(paganism, transitive) To subject to ritual burning of herbs (suffumigation, smudging).


elder

From Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra, yldra, ieldra, from Proto-Germanic *alþizô. The vowel change from a to e triggered by the following i is called umlaut or I-mutation.

長老 /长老

Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority

(Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.


Easter

en-noun

Easter (countable and uncountable, plural Easters)

→ Chickasaw: Iista'

The noun is derived from Middle English Ester, from Old English ēastre, seemingly from Ēastre, a proposed Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn whose festival is thought to have been celebrated around the vernal equinox. Further from Proto-West Germanic *Austrā, from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ, derived from either Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- (“dawn; east”) or, more semantically plausible, from *austrą, *auzrą, a metathesized form of *wazrą (“spring (season)”), *-ǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ (“spring”).
The English word is cognate with German Low German Oostern (“Easter”), Old High German ōstarūn (modern German Ostern) and is possibly a doublet of east. Despite a modern folk etymology, not related to Ishtar.
The verb is derived from the noun.

der

(paganism) A festival held in honour of the goddess Eostre or Ostara, celebrated at the vernal equinox or within the month of April; Eostre, Ostara.


tutelary

tutelaries (plural)
tutelarie (alternative obsolete)

From Latin tūtēlārius (“guardian”), from tūtēla (“tutelage, guardianship; dependent, client”) + -ārius (suffix denoting an agent of use); analysable as tutelar + -ary.

University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
William of Nottingham II

The qualifications demanded in a tutelary are activity combined with power over the minor malignant devils. Thus most of the superior celestial Buddhas and Bodhisats may be, and are, tutelaries. But the favourite ones are the great demon-kings, […]

1895, L[aurence] Austine Waddell, “Pantheon and Images”, in The Buddhism of Tibet: or Lamaism, with its Mystic Cults, Symbolism and Mythology, and in its Relation to Indian Buddhism, London: W. H. Allen & Co., →OCLC, page 361:

Thus, various Amerind tribes are devoted to foot-racing; yet the races are not tests of swiftness so much as divinatory or invocatory acts designed to appeal to tutelaries, and are usually set by seasons for planting or harvesting or hunting.

1906, Daniel Coit Gilman, Harry Thurston Peck, Frank Moore Colby, editors, The New International Encyclopedia, volume XII, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, →OCLC, page 766:

A tutelary is not a special sort of spirit or shrine; the word refers either to a clan shrine, which is theoretically the same for all members, or to the specific shrine or ancestor indicated by a diviner as being a man's own guardian spirit. Each individual has such a tutelary, but will not be aware of its name unless a diviner has been consulted.

1962, Jack Goody, Death, Property and the Ancestors: A Study of the Mortuary Customs of the LoDagaa of West Africa, London: Tavistock Publications, OCLC 8211112; republished as Death, Property and the Ancestors: A Study of the Mortuary Customs of the Lodagaa of West Africa, London: Routledge, 2004, ISBN 978-0-415-32984-2, page 210

To abate cold weather, the aid of tutelaries such as West Wind, Rain, and Thunder was invoked. Appropriate tutelaries might, upon appeal, bring snow upon enemies. During the Modoc War, a shaman acted to bring down the shielding fog against the army's advance.

1998, David H[eath] French, Kathrine S[tory] French, “Wasco, Wishram, and Cascades”, in Deward E. Walker, Jr., editor, Plateau (Handbook of North American Indians; 12), Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, →ISBN, page 460:

(religion, chiefly paganism) A deity or spirit serving as a guardian or protector of a place, person, culture, etc.; a tutelar, a tutelary deity.


pent

[> What symbols mean the most to you? For instance, what do you wear around your neck and why?]
Usually, a triquetra, although I have ankhs, pents and a spell-bottle on amber beads which I wear if I find it necessary to be *really* annoying :)

2002 August 27, Jani, “Re: Pagan Symbols.....and any others that spring to mind”, in uk.religion.pagan (Usenet):

(informal, paganism) A pentacle or pentagram.


Lammas

From Old English hlafmæsse (“loaf mass, harvest festival”).

inh

(paganism) A modern pagan festival celebrated in early August celebrating the start of the grain harvest.


Moon

Moon (canonical)
the Moon (canonical)
moon (alternative)
moone (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English Mone, mone, from Old English mōna, from Proto-West Germanic *mānō, from Proto-Germanic *mēnô, from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s (“moon, month”), from *meh₁- (“to measure”).

Women's rhythm of life, her monthly renewal with her patroness the Moon, is the most important thing in her existence.

1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 145:

Moon, the companion of Night, waxes and wanes, and we call this time a month.

1994, Tony Linsell, Anglo-Saxon Mythology, Migration & Magic, Anglo-Saxon Books, →ISBN, page 15:

Moon's Day.

2005, Falcon Stow, An Anglo-Saxon Almanac, privately published, page 13:

Sun come, Moon come, Seed time, dry time, fog and rain, Sowing, growing, reaping, resting, Sun come, Moon come, etc.

2005, Diana Paxson, Taking up the Runes, Weiser Books, →ISBN, page 328:

(paganism, mythology) A personification of the moon.


hof

Borrowed from Old Norse hof or Old English hof, reinforced in modern (post-1990, chiefly neopagan) use by Icelandic hof (“shrine, temple”).

For each ten churches burned to ashes, one heathen hof is avenged.

1996, Varg Vikernes, cited after Gardell, Gods of the Blood, published 2003, page 307:

Asatruarfelagid lacks a central religious temple, or hof in Icelandic. Constructing a hof has been high on the members' wish list for many years.

2005, Michael Strmiska, Modern Paganism In World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, page 170:

(Germanic paganism) temple, sanctuary, hall.


skyclad

From sky + clad, indicating that the person in question is clad only in the sky. Attested from early 20th century England, it is partially a calque of Sanskrit दिगम्बर (digambara, “having all (=ten) quarters of the globe as one's only clothing, i.e., naked”).

calque

There he stood, sky-clad, smearing witch's ointment all over.

(poetic or paganism) Nude, naked, especially when outdoors.


godi

(Germanic paganism) A priest of the modern Norse religion.


völva

From Old Norse vǫlva (völva in modern Icelandic).

In the Eddas, Odin conjures up a dead volva and questions her about Baldur's fate.

1988, Freya Aswinn, Runes & Feminine Powers: Northern Mysteries & Magick, page 30:

In another account a volva was paid by a king to find his nephews who had been hidden by a man skilled in magick.

1994, Michael Howard, The Mysteries of the Runes, page 157:

There is another story in Landnamabok telling of a volva who actively brought prosperity to the fishing activity of the people through her use of seidr.

1995, D. J. Conway, Moon Magick: Myth & Magick, Crafts & Recipes, Rituals & Spells, page 26:

(Germanic paganism, historical) In Old Norse society, a female practitioner of magic divination and prophecy.

völva

in Old Norse society, a female practitioner of magic divination and prophecy


jumbo

Returning to the villa, we were greeted by a party which frightened the boys. It was the Moco Jumbo and his suite. The Jumbo was on stilts, with a head, mounted on the actor's head, which was concealed: the music was from two baskets, like strawberry baskets, with little bells within, shook in time. The swordsman danced with an air of menace, the musician was comical, and Jumbo assumed the "antic terrible," and was very active on his stilts.

1806, William Young, “A Tour through the Several Islands of Barbadoes, St. Vincent, Antigua, Tobago, and Grenada, in the Years 1791 & 1792”, in Bryan Edwards, The History, Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies. […] In Four Volumes, volume IV, Philadelphia, Pa.: Printed and sold by James Humphreys, […], →OCLC, page 257:

[A]nother Krooman came hurrying up, holding out a wooden image with a few bits of grass round its neck, and exclaiming, "Wurra! Wurra! Jumbo hang in fetische-house, sure he make much finish die." […] Jumbo was an uncouthly-carved figure of a man, about a foot in height, sitting cross-legged like a tailor, with ears preposterously large, the Kroo mark down the forehead and nose, and a piece of looking-glass fixed in the thorax and abdomen.

1845 April, “Delta” [pseudonym], “Krooman versus Boobie. A Scene at Fernando Po.”, in P. L. Simmonds, editor, Simmond’s Colonial Magazine and Foreign Miscellany, volume IV, number 16, London: Simmonds & Ward, […], →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 487–488:

(paganism, historical) Ellipsis of mumbo jumbo (“a [deity]] or other supernatural being worshipped by certain West African peoples; an idol representing such a being”).


heathendom

en-noun

heathendom (usually uncountable, plural heathendoms)

From Middle English hæthendom, from Old English hǣþendōm; equivalent to heathen + -dom. OED records a single attestation in the period between 1230 and 1840, a (nonce?) occurrence in J. Law, Proposals and reasons for constituting a council of trade in Scotland (1701, p. 233). Otherwise replaced by Middle English hethenesse in the later Middle English period and heathenism in the 17th and 18th centuries. Cognate with Dutch heidendom, Old High German heidentuom (German Heidentum), Old Norse heiðindómr (Swedish hedendom).

Ziegenbalg mentioned some major forms of heathendom (African, American, old European)[…]

2011, Urs App, The Birth of Orientalism, page 102:

(Germanic paganism, sometimes capitalized) The collection of people who follow Heathenry, a modern pagan faith inspired by the pre-Abrahamic religions of Germanic tribes, Anglo-Saxons and Norse peoples.

heidendom

worldwide community that follows Heathenry


smudging

One of the most common forms of purification is done with smoke, using some kind of smoking or smudging.

2002, Raven Kaldera, Tannin Schwartzstein, The Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle, page 36:


Eostre

A learned borrowing from Old English Ēostre, the Northumbrian variant of West Saxon Ēastre (“a word referring to "the rising dawn" to indicate the season of Spring”) and ēastre (“Easter”), from Proto-West Germanic *austrā, from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ (“Easter, springtime”). Doublet of Easter.

der

(paganism) A neopagan festival celebrated either in March or April to welcome the Spring, also called Ostara or Easter.


Ancestor Night

This is Ancestor Night, the Feast of the Dead, the night strongest for communication with those gone into the shadow lands, those who now dwell over Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge to Asgard.

1991, D J Conway, Norse Magic, Llewellyn Publications, page 51:

Other names are the Festival of Remembrance, the Feast of Apples, Ancestor Night or the Feast of the Dead.

1999, Gail Duff, The Wheel of the Wiccan Year, page 23:

(Germanic paganism) A festival celebrated by followers of Heathenry in late October or early November and based on the Germanic tradition of ancestor worship.


Lokean

Lokeans will often cite this myth as the Aesir and Vanir going too far; naturally Loki wants vengeance after these events.

2013, Patricia M. Lafayllve, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru, page 221:

Strictly speaking, the only thing required to be a Lokean is to worship Loki as either your fulltrúi or as a deity that holds a significant place in your life.

2020, Dagulf Loptson, Pagan Portals - Loki: Trickster and Transformer, unnumbered page:

Even in my own region, there's been a shift in the attitude toward the Mischief Maker, and I've used the reputation I and other Lokeans have built in the community to start getting vocal about why he's worth having around.

2022, Lea Svendsen, Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods, page 5:

For quotations using this term, see Citations:Lokean.

(Germanic paganism) One who honours Loki as their primary god.


byname

From by- + name. Cognate with Dutch bijnaam (“nickname”), German Beiname (“nickname, epithet”), Swedish binamn, Danish binavn and Norwegian Bokmål binavn.

(Germanic paganism) A ritual title for a god or goddess used in Heathenry.


Yule tree

Yule trees (plural)
Yuletree (alternative)
Yule-tree (alternative)
yuletree (alternative)

1993 The Rites of Odin, Ed Fitch, Llewellyn, →ISBN, page 135.
Modern Yule Tree decorations are acceptable for this season, of course, though parents may wish to decorate the Yule tree so that it reflects Yggdrasill, the mythic World-Tree.

1997 Thunder issue 2 (Heathen Journal), The Folk's Noisy Friend, Garman Lord.
Then again; what about those Indian shamans whose idea of a quick sure fire way to do a vision quest is to go stand on a mountain outcrop where lightning is about to strike, until they light up like Yule trees with static electricity, jumping off the rock to safety (hopefully) at the last possible moment?

2000 Ratatosk Volume 4 issue 4 (Heathen Journal) Yule not Xmas, Red Raven.
Those without an outdoor tree can hang gifts indoors on the Yule tree, or go for a walk to the local woods.

(chiefly paganism) A yuletide decoration comprising a potted tree decorated with ribbons and religious symbols.


Night

"In this prayer, Sigdrifa calls upon powers of Nature - Day, Night, Earth - and the gods and goddesses as a group.

1993, Our Troth, Ring of Troth and other True Folk, Ring of Troth, page 383

Hail to Night and her daughters.

1993, Teutonic Religion, Kveldulf Gundarsson, Llewellyn Publications, page 316

In another story, the Allfather, the original sky god from early Wyrd culture, took Night and her son Day, and gave to each of them a horse and chariot and put them in the sky, so that they should ride around the world every twenty-four hours.

1996, The Wisdom of the Wyrd, Brian Bates, Rider, page 48

(Germanic paganism) The goddess of the night in Heathenry.


Yule wreath

1989 A Book of Troth, Eldred Thorsson, Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 175.
The harrow, which must be made of stone and set up outside or in an outdoor room with a chimney or smoke hole, is fitted out with a horn, a vessel of beer or ale, a single (red) candle and the Yule-wreath in its center.

1993 Our Troth, the Ring of Troth and other true folk, →ISBN, page 554.
In Scandinavia, the centre of he Yule festivities (especially before the German tree was adopted) was the Yule wreath; many families have wrought-iron candleholder wreaths as family heirlooms, and these are also woven with evergreen branches.

2000 Ratatosk Volume 4 issue 4 (Heathen Journal) Yule not Xmas, Red Raven.
Over the Yule period write wishes on strips of paper and thread them onto the Yule wreath.

(chiefly paganism) A yuletide decoration comprising a ring of greenery decorated with ribbons.


Thor's hammer

Thor's hammers (plural)
Thor's Hammer (alternative)

(Norse mythology, Germanic paganism) Mjöllnir (Mjollnir), the distinctively T-shaped war-hammer of the Norse thunder god Thor, or a representation thereof, now used as a symbol by various pagan religious groups.


Thor's beard

Sempervivum tectorum
Sempervivum tectorum#Translingual

(Germanic paganism) The plant houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), as used in Heathenry.


Sky Father

(Germanic paganism) Title for any of the highest gods of Heathenry, but especially Tiw/Tyr.


world-ash

Ash is a strongly runic tree by implication, the world-ash Yggdrasil being the tree from which Odin hung in order to obatin the runes.

1993, Bernard King, The elements of the Runes, Thorsons Element, →ISBN, page 95:

This eventuality would not be surprising if the world ash was, at the time, a small young tree.

1988, David A. White, The turning wheel: a study of contracts and oaths in Wagner's ring, page 108:

(Norse mythology and Germanic paganism) Yggdrasil.


spae-craft

Twelfth Night is particularly a time fo fore-tellings; if there is a skilled rune-reader or someone with spae-craft in the group, this is when they should cast or speak for the year ahead.

1993, Our Troth: History and Lore, →ISBN, page 570:

The greatest tools of spae-craft seem to have been the staff and the hooded cloak.

1994, Kveldúlf Hagan Gundarsson, Teutonic Magic: The Magical & Spiritual Practices of the Germanic Peoples, Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 216:

I have the privilege of having a very wise and kind idis, Ealgitha, who teaches me spaecraft and other things.

1997, Elmindreda Pukwdugie, Winifred Hodge, Lina (Heathen Journal), volume 3, number 1:

(Germanic paganism) The magical art of foretelling the future, used especially in Heathenry.


oath-ring

(Germanic paganism) A ring (particularly an arm ring) on which oaths are sworn.


Otherworld

(paganism) The other realms of existence beyond the world of mankind, especially the realms of the dead or the fairy folk.


rainbow bridge

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-rainbow bridge.wav

1993 The Rites of Odin, Ed Fitch, Llewellyn, →ISBN, page 273.
O High Ones of the Rainbow Bridge, Thou hast heard that which is my need And my desire.

1998 Heartland, Volume 1, Issue 3 (Heathen Journal), I Believe, Joanne Fletcher - Holloway.
With nature I give and feel her pain, In Freyja's arms I'm at peace again, And in all I've heard, And in all I've read, My life is anew, like the eagle that flew, Across the Rainbow Bridge, Myself to myself, I give to you.

2004 The Book of Seithr, Runic John, Capall Bann Publishing, →ISBN, page 82.
Asgard stands perched on the highest branches of the tree, where it is reached by crossing Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.

(Germanic paganism) The road between the realm of the gods and the realm of men in Heathenry which appears in the form of a rainbow; Bifrost.


aett

aettir (plural)
aetts (plural)
ætt (alternative)

1984 Fortune -Telling By Runes, David & Julia Line, The Aquarian Press, →ISBN page 15.
Known as aettir, these basic divisions were sometimes named after Norse deities: Freya's eight, Hagal's eight and Tiu's eight.

1993 The Elements of The Runes, Bernard King, Element, →ISBN, page 110.
When we examined runic divination, we related, in passing, the phases of the moon to the three ættir of the Common Germanic Futhark.

The runic futhark is usually divided into three aetts.

1998, The Norse Tradition a beginners guide, Pete Jennings, Headway, →ISBN, page 36:

Each aett is named after the rune that begins it, which may be regarded as the patriarch of the family it heads. This trine of families was so important that it survived the increase of the runes in England and the decrease in their number […]

2009, Donald Tyson, Runic Astrology: Chart Interpretation Through the Runes, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN:

Each Aett contains certain runes that cover similar concepts. For example each has a rune for light, as in Kanauz the torch, Sowelo the sun, and Dagaz the day. The light becomes greater in power as we progress through the Aettir.

2016, Kim Farnell, Runes, Plain & Simple: The Only Book You'll Ever Need, Hampton Roads Publishing, →ISBN, page 38:

(sometimes paganism) A division of the runic alphabet containing eight runes.


need-fire

need-fires (plural)
needfire (alternative)

In Silesia, also, need-fires were often employed for the purpose of curing a murrain or preventing its spread.

1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 278:

Fire - divided into need-fire (kindled by friction - discussed under 'Waluburg's Night') and 'struck fire' (sparked by flint and steel - discussion under Thonar).

I built up the kindling in various stages in the base of the stove as I prepared to make my need-fire.

1998, Darien Hamilton, “Kindling in the Yuletide”, in Heathen Journal, volume 2, number 3:

When great pestilence is upon the land, old folklore tells of using a bow drill to make the need-fire, which is then used to cure cattle of their illness.

2003, Brian Froud, Ari Berk, The Runes of Elfland, page 51:

(paganism) A ritual fire created by friction.


Norse Tradition

1997 Pagan Dawn issue 125 (Pagan magazine), Call us Heathens, Arlea Anschutz and Steven Hunt.
Norse Tradition is another similar term, but instead of being too broad, it[']s too narrow.

1998 The Norse Tradition a beginners guide, Pete Jennings, Headway, →ISBN, page 1.
The Norse Tradition, sometimes known as Odinism (after its chief god Odin), sometimes called Northern Tradition (as in Northern Europe) or Asatru (from the words meaning 'a faith in the Gods') is attractive today for many of the reasons for which it was followed long ago.

2001 Goddess of the North, Lynda C. Welch, Weisser Books, →ISBN, page 226.
While an entire book could be written about the spiritual symbols of the Norse Tradition, the purpose here is to give a brief description, without compromising the reader's own intuition concerning the symbols.

(Germanic paganism) The religion of Heathenry, a modern faith inspired by the ancient pagan beliefs of the Germanic tribes, Anglo-Saxons and Norse peoples.


Winter Finding

1985 The Wisdom of the Runes, Michael Howard, Rider & Company, →ISBN, page 133.
Winter Finding.

1998 The Norse Tradition a beginners guide, Pete Jennings, Headway, →ISBN, page 70.
Asatru: Sheddingmoon Bede: Halegmonath Roman Date: Sept 23 Festival: Winter-Finding Theme: Harvest end.

2006 Everything you need to know about Paganism, Selene Silverwind, David & Charles, →ISBN, page 106.
Winter Finding; is also referred to as Harvest.

(Germanic paganism) A festival celebrated in Heathenry which marks the beginning of fall, held on the autumn equinox.


Summer Finding

1985 The Wisdom of the Runes, Michael Howard, Rider & Company, →ISBN, page 133.
Summer Finding.

1989 A Book of Troth, Eldred Thorsson, Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 54.
The tide of the spring fetival, Easter, is rekoned as mentioned above - the first full Moon after the spring equinox, or Summer Finding.

2006 Everything you need to know about Paganism, Selene Silverwind, David & Charles, →ISBN, page 104.
Other names for Summer Finding are Ostara and Easter.

(Germanic paganism) A festival celebrated in Heathenry which marks the beginning of spring, held on the spring equinox.


hex sign

Compound of hex + sign, coined in English.

(Germanic paganism) A protective symbol used in Heathenry comprising a six-petaled flower or star set within a circle, as a New Age adaptation of the above.


trefot

1984 Futharc A Handbook of Runic Magic, Eldred Thorson, Weser, →ISBN, page 108.
Trefot - dynamic power from the three realms of being and the threefold evolutionary force.

1993 Our Troth, by the Ring of Troth and other true folk, The Ring of Troth, →ISBN, page 668.
Trefot - also called triskelion (swirling form).

1997 Theod Volume IV Number 1 (Heathen Journal), Two Charms Against Dwarves, Eric Lord Wodening.
If so we can be assured that the crosses were substituted for some heathen symbol, valkntR, trefot or fylfot.

(Germanic paganism) A three-armed spiral symbol used in Heathenry to represent the god Woden or the Norns.


Asafolk

The first element is cognate to the first element of Ásatrú, and derives from Old Norse or Icelandic áss (“god”). The second element is folk.

All Asatru organizations, publications, independent kindreds, and just plain Asafolk are asked to take part.

1996, Lina, Ostara, volume 1, issue 4 (Heathen Journal), An Open Message to All Asafolk

Gamlinginn claims pines have spiritual significance for Asafolk.

1997, Lina, volume 2, issue 4 (Heathen Journal), Second Annual Yggdrasil Day (Charles Spratling)

Most Asafolk seem to have the attitude 'I found the gods, and I'm better off for it.'

1998, Lina, volume 4, issue 2 (Heathen Journal), News and Announcements (Dave Haxton)

(uncommon, modern Germanic paganism) Followers of Heathenry.


Ases' Garth

1993 Our Troth, the Ring of Troth and other true folk, →ISBN, page 262.
There are nine worlds: the Ases' Garth (or God Home), Light Alf-Home, the Middle-Garth (Middenerd, Middle-Earth, or Man Home), Nibel-Home, Etin Home, Muspell-Home, Wan-Home, Swart Alf-Home, and Hel-Home (which also includes Niflhel), Misty-Dark Hel, a lower realm into which, according to Vafthrudnismal, men die out of Hel.

1997 Teutonic Religion, Kveldulf Gundarsson, Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 10.
Ases' Garth

1997 Lina Volume 3, Issue 2 (Heathen Journal), Love Songs for Sif and Thor, Winifred Hodge.
My Sif, Even the wide plains, Even Middle Garth's broad reaches, Even Ase's Garth itself Cannot hold our love enclosed.


Earth Mother

Earth Mothers (plural)
earth mother (alternative)

In the ancient myth of Demeter and Persephone - which has been adopted by so many peoples under so many forms - Demeter the Earth-mother loses her daughter Persephone (who represents of course the Vegetation), carried down into the underworld by the evil powers of Darkness and Winter.

1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 73:

Taking this somewhat tenuous line of reasoning one step further, it might be suggested that witches sought enlightenment and contact with the Earth Mother and Sky Father through group activities, while wizards tended towards shamanistic methods and techniques.

1994, Tony Linsell, Anglo-Saxon Mythology, Migration & Magic, Anglo-Saxon,, →ISBN, page 165:

His mother is Jord (the Earth Mother), his foster mother is Hlora, his step mother is Frigg, his wife is Sif, his mistress is the giantess Jarnsaxa and his daughter is Thrud (one of the valkyries).

1997, Thorskegga Thorn, "Thor and the Goddesses", Thunder, issue 2 (Heathen Journal)

The following scheme further interprest the 'Skyfather(s)' - Earthmother(s) cosmology, drawing on our previous discussion of cosmogony and cosmology.

2000, Nathan J. Johnson, Robert J. Wallis, Galdrbok, The Wykeham Press,, →ISBN, page 193:

(paganism, archaeology) The Great Goddess of the Earth and fertility.


Muspell

Borrowed from Old Norse Muspell. The ultimate origin is disputed, but one suggestion includes Latin mundus (“world”) + Proto-Germanic *spilþijaną (“to kill, ruin, murder”), thus meaning "destruction of the world." More at Muspilli.
Cognates include Old Saxon mūdspelli, Old High German muspilli. More at spill.

At the beginning of time there was Muspell, which was the realm of Fire.

2003, Kim Farnell, Reading the Runes, A Beginner's Guide, Zambezi Publishing, →ISBN, page 21:

Certainly the encounter between the cold of Niflheim and the fires of Muspel suggests the chemical reactions that led to the evolution of the planetary surface and its atmosphere.

2005, Diana Paxson, Taking Up the Runes, Weiser Books, →ISBN, page 323:

(Norse mythology and Germanic paganism) The primordial realm of fire which existed to the south of Ginnungagap.


folkish

en-adj

folkish (comparative more folkish, superlative most folkish)

more folkish (comparative)
most folkish (superlative)

universalist

chiefly US; related to their opponents, neopagan groups that support marginalized people

From folk + -ish. (Compare Old English folcisc, and German völkisch.)

neo-völkisch

related to far-right or racist neopagan groups

(religion, Germanic paganism) Practicing a form of Heathenry that is traditional.

(religion, Germanic paganism, especially in white supremacy and Nazism) Practicing far-right and racist forms of Heathenry that are hostile towards minorities, Christians, and Jewish people; and also supporting Nazi influences.


universalist

universalist (comparative more universalist, superlative most universalist)

more universalist (comparative)
most universalist (superlative)

(religion, US, paganism, Germanic paganism) Following a form of neopaganism, especially Germanic neopaganism, that is supportive of minorities and marginalized groups.


vitki

(Germanic paganism) A sorcerer in Norse Heathen societies.


orlay

Learned borrowing from Old English orlæġ (“fate”), from Proto-West Germanic *oʀlag, *uʀlag, from Proto-Germanic *uzlagą (“destiny; fate”, literally “that which is laid out; out-lay; plan; design”). Equivalent to or- + lay.

der

There laws they laid, there life chose, To men's sons, and spoke orlay […]

2004, Nathaniel Harris, Witcha: A Book of Cunning:

I am fully aware of how Oaths affect my Orlay and my Wyrd. I am Oathed to no one, save the Holy Ones and my Wife.

2006, An Heathen Reader: Some Thoughts on the State of Things I Think, anheathenreader.blogspot.com/.../some-thoughts-on-state-of-things-i.html

You could think of your own orlay as the source or seed of your “personal wyrd.” A newborn infant initially inherits its orlay from its parents and ancestors. This initial orlay is its heritage, compiled from the words and deeds of those ancestors.

2009, Alaric Albertsson, Travels Through Middle Earth:

These deeds done within the innangard of the tribe by its tribesmen are its law, its orlay.

2011, Swain Wodening, The Sacred and the Holy:

Remember how I wrote at the beginning of this chapter that the Norns 'shape' orlay. Orlay itself gives a person 'shape' within the dimensions of Time and Wyrd.

2021, Winifred Rose, Heathen Soul Lore Foundations:


drighten

drightens (plural)
dright (alternative)
drightin (alternative Scotland)
Drighten (alternative)

From Middle English drihten, from Old English dryhten (“a ruler, king, lord, prince, the supreme ruler, the Lord, God, Christ”), from Proto-West Germanic *druhtin, from Proto-Germanic *druhtinaz (“leader, chief, lord”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (“to hold, hold fast, support”), equivalent to dright (“army, host”) + -en. Cognate with Scots drichtin, drichtine (“lord, the Lord”), and with Old Frisian drochten (“lord”), Old Saxon drohtin (“lord”), Old High German truhtin, Middle High German truhten, trohten (“ruler, lord”) (dialectal German Trechtin, Trechtein (“lord, God”)), Danish drot (“king”), Swedish drott (“king, ruler, sovereign”), Icelandic dróttinn (“hero, ruler, lord”), Finnish ruhtinas (“sovereign prince”). Related also to Old English dryht (“a multitude, an army, company, body of retainers, nation, a people, men”), Old English ġedryht (“fortune, fate”), Old English drēogan (“to serve in the military, endure”). More at dree.

cog

Believe me, my drighten, there is not one of us that has ever slacked on watch before!

(historical, Anglo-Saxon, Norse mythology, fantasy, paganism) A lord; ruler; sovereign; chief; leader; prince.


kolovrat

Ultimately from Proto-Slavic *kolovortъ. In historical records, similar symbols were recorded as ладинец (ladinec) in Russian or słoneczko in Polish.
This spelling was influenced by Russian коловра́т (kolovrát), the more well-known form of the symbol invented by the neo-pagan leader Alexey Dobrovolsky in the 1990s.

In contrast, Krasnodar respondents were keen to differentiate between the kolovrat and the swastika, while recognizing the symbolic connections between them: […]

2009, George McKay, Michael Goddard, Christopher Williams, Neil Foxlee, editors, Subcultures and New Religious Movements in Russia and East-Central Europe, Peter Lang, →ISBN, page 284:

(paganism, politics, fascism, nationalism) An eight-spoked swastika used by Slavic neopagan, fascist, and nationalist groups.


seiðr

One of the special methods of seiðr was to cover oneself with a cloak or similar garment like a blanket, or an animal skin, or even just a hood.

2004, Leo Ruickbie, Witchcraft Out of the Shadows: A Complete History, page 48:

To find the magic of seiðr we must give up our belief in the value of physical strength and power and our need to control others.

2016, Nicholas E. Brink, Beowulf's Ecstatic Trance Magic: Accessing the Archaic Powers of the Universal Mind, page 212:

It has also sometimes been said that seiðr is closer to what is commonly thought of as “shamanic” practice.

2016, Stephen E. Flowers, Witchcraft Out of the Shadows: A Complete History, page 13:

(Germanic paganism) A form of magic originating in Viking society and revived by modern pagans, incorporating ritualistic, shamanistic, and divinatory elements.


goddessdammit

(rare, chiefly paganism or humorous) Synonym of goddammit.


veche

From Old East Slavic вѣче (věče, “council”)
or modern Russian ве́че (véče)

(paganism) a modern assembly of Rodnovers, atavistically based off the medieval veche.


Goddess knows

(uncommon, chiefly paganism) Synonym of God knows.


seiðkona

en-noun

seiðkona (plural seiðkonas or seiðkonur)

seiðkonas (plural)
seiðkonur (plural)
seidkona (alternative)

Coordinate term: seiðmann

People ask me, as a seidkona, how they can hear the gods, and I say: start with silence.

2009, Galina Krasskova, Raven Kaldera, quoting Gudrun of Mimirsbrunnr, Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner: A Book of Prayer, Devotional Practice, and the Nine Worlds of the Spirit, page 90:

The other reading shows the whale as a part of the hugr of the women, with the whale shape (and possibly the storm) created by the seidkonas.

2011, Katie Gerrard, Seidr - The Gate Is Open: Working with Trance Prophecy, the High Seat, and Norse Witchcraft, page 71:

Frithiof's Saga tells of two seiðkonur (women who know seiðr) hired to drown some enemies of their paymaster at sea.

2017, Ronald Hutton, The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present, page 91:

(Germanic paganism) A female practitioner of seiðr; a seeress; a witch.


evennight

evennights (plural)
even-night (alternative)
even night (alternative)

From Middle English *even-night, from Old English efnniht, from Proto-West Germanic *ebnanaht (“equinox”), equivalent to even- + night. Cognate with Old Frisian evennacht, ivinnacht, Old Norse jafnnætti. Compare also Dutch nachtevening (“equinox”).

inh

Ostara's Day is the first Sunday following the Spring Evennight, which means it can never be later than March 31, even when March 24 is the previous Sunday, and the old date is used, March 25, for the beginning of spring.

1992, Stephen A. McNallen, Maddy Hutter, The Runestone - Volumes 1-12:

"I have told the leaders of Kaar that wolves will only come back to the village if a krianan brings them. They are choosing a new krianan at their Spring Festival on Even Night."

2015, Dorothy Hearst, Spirit of the Wolves:

"I'll be there. At the even-night." Five months away.

2016, Victoria Whitworth, Daughter of the Wolf:

Belly round now with the child. Please bring Grandmother to me. The harvest had been gathered less than a month ago and in three days folk would be celebrating the 'even night', the feast of Mabon, when day and night were equal in length, and beer and wine would be drunk in huge amounts in thanksgiving of the safe bringing in of the earth's bounties.

2016, Joanna Courtney, Helen Hollick, Annie Whitehead, 1066 Turned Upside Down:

(rare, historical, Germanic paganism) Equinox.


earth mother

(paganism) Alternative letter-case form of Earth Mother.


runelore

In fact so serious a discrepancy could only arise in the infancy of this little-studied Old-Northern Rune-lore, when the material was so comparatively slender and the few monuments gave scarcely any acknowledged formulas.

1884, George Stephens, The Old-Northern Runic Monuments of Scandinavia and England, London: Williams and Norgate, page 213:

Runelore is dominated by the figure of Ódhinn. It is the path exemplified by him that the runester seeks to travel.

1989, Edred Thorsson, Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology, York Beach, Me.: S. Weiser, page 175:

(fantasy, paganism) The study of runes, typically for magical or religious purposes.


All-Father

the All-Father (canonical)
Allfather (alternative)

(Germanic paganism, Norse mythology) Odin.


orbuculum

Modern coinage from Latin orbis; not attested in classical Latin.


Great Earth Mother

en-noun

Great Earth Mother (plural Great Earth Mothers)

In the East women want to identify themselves with their biological function. And that makes them all woman. Compartmentalisation is our big crime in the West. Normah should have been the Great Earth Mother.

1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 397:

(paganism, archaeology) Alternative form of Earth Mother.


seidr

In the later sagas, the kind of seidr practiced has more in common with spiritualistic trance mediumship.

1988, Freya Aswinn, Runes & Feminine Powers: Northern Mysteries & Magick, page 207:

Women were not the exclusive workers of Freyja’s seidr.

1995, D. J. Conway, Moon Magick: Myth & Magick, Crafts & Recipes, Rituals & Spells, page 26:

Descriptions of seidr within modern paganism are unsurprisingly equally as difficult to pin down and define.

2008, Katie Gerrard, “The Seer: A Journey Through the High Seat”, in Sorita D'Este, editors, Priestesses Pythonesses Sibyls: The Sacred Voices of Women Who Speak with and for the Gods, page 91:

(Germanic paganism) Alternative form of seiðr.


gythja

(Germanic paganism) A priestess of the modern Norse religion.


fluffy bunny

fluffy bunny (countable and uncountable, plural fluffy bunnies)

fluffy bunnies (plural)
fluff bunny (alternative)
fluffbunny (alternative)

(Wicca, paganism, informal, derogatory, countable) A casual, naive practitioner of Wicca or another neo-pagan religion, especially one deemed to have a superficial understanding.


godspouse

This could be just an important conversation or something as formal and intense as a marriage to a mortal godspouse. Occasionally it will involve an […]

2009, Kenaz Filan, Raven Kaldera, Drawing Down the Spirits: The Traditions and Techniques of Spirit Possession, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

Anya Kless is a dual-tradition, polytheistic pagan priestess, godspouse, and spirit worker. She is the primary author and editor of Lilith: Queen of the Desert and is at work on an upcoming book on the godspouse path.

2012, Gina Pond, Sarah Thompson, Calyxa Omphalos, Philip Tanner, Jacobo Polanshek, Gender and Transgender in Modern Paganism, Circle of Cerridwen, →ISBN, page 122:

(paganism, especially Germanic paganism) A mortal person who marries a deity.


volkhv

From Russian волхв (volxv), and from Old East Slavic вълхвъ (vŭlxvŭ).

вълхвъ m (vŭlxvŭ, literally “wizard, magus”)

(historical, paganism) A pre-Christian priest from Slavic cultures.

(religion, paganism) A priest from Slavic neopaganism.


Great Mother

In the mystery of the writing of language, the two had become the one; the stylus of the scribe was like the older Neolithic statues of the Great Mother carved on the phallus.

1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 22:


Great Goddess

Gone is the obese Great Goddess; come is the sleek young maid, the Queen of Heaven.

1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 165:


Great Father

Great Fathers (plural)
great father (alternative)

In this ode to the Great Father, the land of the Sumerians is literally awash with semen.

1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 162:

(paganism, religion) The preeminent male deity of various religions.


UPG

UPG (countable and uncountable, plural UPGs)

Coordinate term: PCPG

There are times when a given UPG is so commonly found across all segments of the community that it becomes accepted as modern lore.

2005, Galina Krasskova, Exploring the Northern Tradition: A Guide to the Gods, Lore, Rites, and Celebrations from the Norse, German, and Anglo-Saxon Traditions, page 13:

Many polytheist reconstructionists will point out that “lore” (whether Eddas, folktales, Greek myth, etc.) was “originally” UPG that, by making sense to other people where it chimed with their own UPG or knowledge, became accepted

2006, Jenny Blain, “Constructing Identity and Divinity: Creating Community in an Elder Religion within a Postmodern World”, in Siân Reid, editor, Between the Worlds: Readings in Contemporary Neopaganism, page 248:

UPGs are judged by extant lore when available and relevant, by its fitting in to Heathen practice in some coherent way.

2013, Kenaz Filan, Raven Kaldera, quoting Jordsvin, Talking to the Spirits: Personal Gnosis in Pagan Religion, page 177:

(paganism) Initialism of unverified or unsubstantiated personal gnosis; in neopagan communities, beliefs and knowledge derived from the subjective experiences, revelation, or intuition of an individual rather than established tradition or lore.


fluffbunny

[…] and I am an Elder of one of the initiatory Trads which does not necessarily subscribe to either the fluffbunny versions of Wicca nor any of the rosier New Age views.

1997 September 7, RMcGuire, “Re: soc.religion.asatru”, in alt.religion.asatru (Usenet):

It is a source of acute embarrassment to me that airheaded fluffbunnies like those who began this thread believe they have *anything* in common with Asatruar.

1999 April 30, Rorik, “Re: They WHAT?”, in alt.religion.asatru (Usenet):

My wording in the old description may have been too "fluffy", but that does not make me a stereotypical fluffbunny.

2000 November 15, Ingeborg S. Nordén, “Re: New e-list: Huggy Heathens”, in alt.religion.asatru (Usenet):

(Wicca, paganism, slang, derogatory) Synonym of fluffy bunny.


Ynglism

Borrowed from Russian инглиизм (ingliizm). May be reanalyzed as Yngling (“a Scandinavian royal dynasty”) + -ism, in analogy with the Russian word.
In Ynglist belief, the name refers to a fiery primordial radiance known as the "Ynglia" emanated by the supreme god Ramkha.

af

(religion, paganism) An esoteric Rodnover (Slavic Neopagan) sect from Russia.


Gungnir

Learned borrowing from Old Norse Gungnir (“the swaying one”).

lbor

(Norse mythology and paganism) The spear of the Norse god Odin, which is believed to never miss its target.


hedge witch

hedge witches (plural)
hedgewitch (alternative)

* (type of witch): Circa 1990s. From hedge (“boundary”) + witch, where the boundary is that separating this world from the spirit world, which is traversed during hedge riding. Possibly coined or popularised by Rae Beth (1990) Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft, London: Robert Hale, →ISBN.
* (fantasy): Circa 1980s. From hedge (“third-rate”) + witch. Compare hedge priest, hedge wizard.

One hedge witch who is also a practising iridologist and herbalist in a large country town, feels that we should regard all of nature as having a purpose, and continually strive to understand that purpose.

1997, Lynne Hume, Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia, Melbourne University Press, page 45:

While Hedge Witches may work with other Witches in a coven, their work as a Hedge Witch is performed typically on their own or with one other person.

2005, Douglas Ezzy, Practising the Witch's Craft, page 14:

The path of the hearth-based hedge witch is rooted in the parallel paths of nurturing and nourishing.

2009, Arin Murphy-Hiscock, The Way of the Hedge Witch, Simon & Schuster, page 16:

Hedge riding is shamanic in nature and is usually solitary as the hedge witch is solitary, but there is no reason why you cannot practice with others.

2012, Harmonia Saille, Pagan Portals - Hedge Witchcraft, John Hunt Publishing, page 10:

(paganism) A modern, solitary witch who focuses on herbalism and shamanic experience (hedge riding).


Thorsman

An Icelandic priest and famous Thorsman, Thorolfr Mostur-Beard, established a holy place on the headland which he named Thorsnes ("Thorr's Headland"), […]

1993, Kveldulf Gundarsson, Teutonic Religion, page 56:

Also because Odinists are more prone to using underhanded tricks like this than, say, Thorsmen.

2013, Wayland Skallagrimsson, Heathenry: A Study of Asatru in the Modern World, page 98:

We [Lokeans] are as much a part of the community as the Thorsmen, Tyrswomen, and everyone else.

2022, Lea Svendsen, Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods, page 66:

(Germanic paganism) One who honours Thor as their primary god.


Freysman

Many of the Freysmen and hofs to Frey already mentioned were Icelandic, and early Iceland was a republic, not a kingdom.

2001 May 2, Ann Gróa Sheffield, “Frey, God of the World”, in The Pomegranate: A New Journal of Neopagan Thought, number 16, page 34:

The other path of Frey is that of the (slightly to very) effeminate shaman/priest with his skirt hemmed with tinkling bells, and this the Freysman who is most likely to go down this road.

2006, Raven Kaldera, Wyrdwalkers: Techniques of Northern-Tradition Shamanism, page 13:

It has been an honor and privilege to assemble this anthology, and the experience has brought me from quietly thinking Frey is really great to confidently identifying as a Freysman.

2010, Joshua Tenpenny, “Forward”, in Honey, Grain, and Gold, page i:

(Germanic paganism) One who honours Frey as their primary god.


Odinsman

This is creating a rather fractured view of Odin in modern times. When many modern Odinsmen talk about him, they talk about him in terms of the ancient views of him, fearing to say anything too radically different from what the ancient lore says of him.

2013, Wayland Skallagrimsson, Heathenry: A Study of Asatru in the Modern World, page 50:

I felt the strain of my personal warder behind me—my lover, an Odinsman—trying to hold the chair.

2015, Diana L. Paxson, The Essential Guide to Possession, Depossession, and Divine Relationships, page 242:

(Germanic paganism) One who honours Odin as their primary god.


Odinswoman

Rev. Galina Krasskova is currently gythia of Urdabrunnr Kindred in New York and has been a dedicated Odinswoman, practicing seidhrkona and would be ju-ju woman for close to a decade.

2003 June 2, Peter Carlson, “Hex Advice, Coven To Coven”, in The Washington Post:

I had established that I am not an Odinswoman.

(Germanic paganism) A woman who honours Odin as her primary god.


fulltrui

fulltruis (plural)
fulltrúi (alternative)

Borrowed from Icelandic fulltrúi (“one who is fully trusted”).

bor+

Perhaps my fulltrui and god-husband [Loki] isn’t always the most truthful, but one of the things he has taught me to value is following through once you've said you'll do something.

2009, Galina Krasskova, Raven Kaldera, quoting Elizabeth Vongvisith, Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner: A Book of Prayer, Devotional Practice, and the Nine Worlds of the Spirit, page 175:

Let’s say a person vows to become fulltrui to Frey.

2013, Patricia M. Lafayllve, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru, page 156:

He [Odin] does not object to my contacts with other gods; indeed, through me, he seems eager to meet them, but he is my fulltrui, the fully trusted one, with whom (or perhaps I should say for whom) I have now worked for thirty years.

2017, Diana L. Paxson, Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic, unnumbered page:

(Germanic paganism) A deity to whom one is wholeheartedly and/or exclusively devoted.


PCPG

Coordinate term: UPG

PCPG is a process that requires great patience, communication, and open-mindedness, and an ethic of courtesy while going about the process.

2009, Galina Krasskova, Raven Kaldera, Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner: A Book of Prayer, Devotional Practice, and the Nine Worlds of the Spirit, page 32:

So although it may start out as a piece of information you have no way to prove, the more others agree with it and experience it for themselves, the more it moves from being UPG to PCPG.

2013, Kenaz Filan, Raven Kaldera, quoting Del, Talking to the Spirits: Personal Gnosis in Pagan Religion, page 26:

PCPG might entail an acquaintance who shares your suspicion that there is something otherworldly about you.

2012, Joseph P. Laycock, “'We are Spirits of Another Sort': Ontological Rebellion and Religious Dimensions of the Otherkin Community”, in New Religion: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, volume 15, number 3, page 82:

(paganism) Initialism of peer-corroborated personal gnosis; in neopagan communities, beliefs and knowledge derived from the subjective experiences, revelation, or intuition of multiple individuals rather than established tradition or lore.


kapishche

From Russian ка́пище (kápišče), and from Old East Slavic капище (kapišče).

(historical, paganism) A pre-Christian shrine from Slavic cultures, usually in the form of a field, a sacred fire, and an idol of a god.

(religion, paganism) A shrine or small temple used in Slavic neopaganism.


seidkona

en-noun

seidkona (plural seidkonas or seidkonur)

(Germanic paganism) Alternative form of seiðkona.


seiðworker

seiðworkers (plural)
seidworker (alternative)

Seiðworkers engage in faring-forth, trance-journeying, for a variety of ends, including healing and divination.

2003, Jenny Blain, Nine Worlds of Seid-Magic: Ecstasy and Neo-Shamanism in North European Paganism, page 31:

Today, as in the Nordic saga traditions of more than one thousand years ago, most seidworkers are female.

2005, Barbara Tedlock, The Woman in the Shaman's Body, page 280:

There are even acounts of seiðworkers conjuring storms, healing the sick, shapeshifting, and performing other acts best described as magical.

2019, Ryan Smith, Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism, unnumbered page:

(Germanic paganism) One who practices seiðr.


moonclad

en-adj

moonclad (comparative more moonclad, superlative most moonclad)

more moonclad (comparative)
most moonclad (superlative)

From moon + clad, the "nude" sense by analogy with skyclad.

moonclad in her thin blue underthing

1997, Ivan Argüelles, Jake Berry, Purisima Sex Addict II:

(chiefly paganism) Nude, particularly outdoors at night.