The Dictionary of Wiccan Terms

D

Daoine Sidhe: The faerie folk, or "little people" of Ireland, descended from the Tuatha Dé Danaan.

Dark Moon: Another name for the New Moon, usually a time of rest before new labors.

Days of Power, The: See Sabbat.

Dedicate, Dedication: A Dedicate is one who makes a formal commitment to the path of the Goddess and the Horned God. The act of making that commitment is called Dedication. Dedication also refers to the opening statement at the beginning of a ritual that states the intent and purpose for the ritual. For children, this is likened to the baptism. It is a time of thankfulness when a child is brought before friends and the God/dess to bless and name.

Dedicant: A non-initiated student of Wicca; sometimes called a neophyte, seeker, student, or candidate.

Deep Consciousness: The Psychic Mind

Degree: A rank denoting a level of training in a Wiccan tradition.² Levels of initiation representing spiritual development and Craft skill, knowledge, and experience. Most Wiccan traditions have three degrees: first, second, and third, with third being the highest.

Deocil /Deosil: (JESS - ill) Clockwise motion, or "forward" motion, used to build energy. It is also described as sun-wise, in that it mirrors the daily apparent motion of the Sun. 2Clockwise, the direction of the Sun's apparent motion in the sky. In northern hemisphere Magick and religion, Deosil movement is symbolic of life, positive energies, good. It is much-used in spells and rituals; i.e., "Walk Deosil around the Circle of Stones." Some Wiccan groups below the Equator, notably in Australia, have switched from Deosil to Widdershins movements in their rituals, for the Sun "moves" in an apparent counterclockwise motion from this vantage point. See also Widdershins and clockwise. 3Clockwise or "Sunwise." This is the direction the priestess or priest moves when casting the circle, calling Quarters and raising power; it is the movement of attraction, creation and growth. See Widdershins for the opposite. 4Following the direction of the sun; clockwise.

Devic Kingdom:The home of the devas, or nature spirits, believed in esoteric thinking to inhabit or rule over natural objects such as trees, rivers, or mountains. Though devas are generally invisible, people with clairvoyance can sometimes see or communicate with them or gain intuitive access to the Devic kingdom, the energetic level at which these spirits exist.

Directions: Refers to the four Watchtowers, or compass points.

Divination: The Magickal art of discovering the unknown by interpreting the random patterns or symbols through the use of tools such as clouds, crystal spheres, reflective stones, tarot cards, flames, a pendulum and smoke. Divination contacts the psychic mind by tricking or drowsing the conscious mind through ritual and observation or manipulation of tools. Those who can easily attain communication with the psychic mind do not need to perform divination, although they may do so. ² The art of foretelling by many different, and sometimes unusual, means. The interpretation of signs and omens. Included in this are divining rods, runes, Tarot cards, clouds, dust, dice, and hundreds of other means throughout history and various cultures. ³Obtaining knowledge, especially of the future, by occult means.(4) The Magickal art of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as 'fortune-telling'. (5) The art of obtaining psychic information with the help of physical accessories such as Tarot cards, a crystal ball, or a pendulum. It might be called 'clairvoyance using tools'. (6)The art and practice fo foreseeing trends and discovering hidden knowledge, using such tools as the Tarot, I Ching, runes, casting stones, or a show stone. Divination is highly useful prior to working with ritual Magick.(7) The art of gaining information and insights through mystical means. Although this can mean looking into the future, as we expect from a fortune-teller, it also means looking at the here and now to better understand what's happening in both the seen and unseen realms. Most diviners use a specific tool, such as a tarot deck or a crystal ball, to gather information, but some people can do this without the aid of any outside implements.

Divine Power: The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life force, the ultimate source of all things. It is this energy that Wiccans contact during ritual. Compare with Earth Power and Personal Power.

Drawing Down the Moon: Not unlike the Christian tradition, which believes that the sacrament figuratively becomes the body and blood of Christ, this is the Magickal tradition of drawing the Divine presence into the priest or priestess so that they become the personified figure of the God/dess for a particular ritual. ²Invocation of the Goddess aspect into the High Priestess by the High Priest.

Drawing Down the Sun: Invocation of the God aspect into the High Priest by the High priestess.

Dream Diary: Record of dreams, usually for analysis or to examine the responses of the psyche to a given program. In connection with psychic self-defense, the purpose is to detect symptoms of a psychic attack and its nature.

Dressing a Candle: Anointing a candle, from the center outward, with scented oil for ritual use.

Druid: A natural wizard who works with and venerates the earth and all its living inhabitants.

Druidical: The druids were originally a Celtic order of astronomers and healers. In recent days, people who have Druidical callings are thought of as people with a strong understanding of and attachment to nature. They often have a strong desire to preserve it.

Drum: Drums are used by many covens as a means of raising power during ritual, as well as for trance work and entertainment. Many different sizes and kinds of drums are used, from the bodhran to the tambour; it is a matter of individual preference.

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