Occult Terms

→ the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.

→ power or influence exerted through this art: a wizard of great magic.

→ any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm, power, etc.

→ enchantment. Magic, necromancy, sorcery, witchcraft imply producing results through mysterious influences or unexplained powers. Magic may have glamorous and attractive connotations; the other terms suggest the harmful and sinister. Magic is an art employing some occult force of nature: A hundred years ago television would have seemed to be magic. Necromancy is an art of prediction based on alleged communication with the dead (it is called "the black art," because Greek nekrós, dead, was confused with Latin niger, black): Necromancy led to violating graves. Sorcery, originally divination by casting lots, came to mean supernatural knowledge gained through the aid of evil spirits, and often used for evil ends: spells and charms used in sorcery. Witchcraft esp. suggests a malign kind of magic, often used against innocent victims: Those accused of witchcraft were executed. [Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 09 May. 2009.]

→ The art that purports to control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural.

→ The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature.

→ The charms, spells, and rituals so used.

→ A mysterious quality of enchantment: "For me the names of those men breathed the magic of the past" (Max Beerbohm).

→ Of, relating to, or invoking the supernatural: "stubborn unlaid ghost/That breaks his magic chains at curfew time" (John Milton).

→ Possessing distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects. [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 09 May. 2009.]

→ A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc.

→ An appearance made by some magic. --Chaucer.

→ Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural power which gave to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the planets an influence over men.

→ Natural magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural.

→ Superstitious, or Geotic, magic, the invocation of devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings.

→ Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration; enchantment.

→ Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency.

→ Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power; imposing or startling in performance; producing effects which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having extraordinary properties; as, a magic lantern; a magic square or circle. [Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 09 May. 2009.]

→ art of influencing events and producing marvels. [Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 09 May. 2009.]

→ An action or effort undertaken because of a personal need to effect change, especially as associated with Wicca or Wiccan beliefs. [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 09 May. 2009.]

→ Do not confuse magick with magic, which is simply the art of conjuring and legerdemain. The 'k', in the spelling of 'magick' was originally used many centuries ago, but went out of existence. Its usage was revived by Aleister Crowley who defined magick as 'the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will.' By this, Aleister Crowley, occultist, included mundane acts of will as well as Ritual Magick. [www.links2theoccult.co.uk/magic.htm]

→ exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage. [WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 09 May. 2009.]