The Dictionary of Wiccan Terms

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Radionics: A method of diagnosis and treatment at a distance, using specially designed instruments, based on the premise that all dis-ease is a distortion of the electromagnetic field surrounding the body. The method originated in the research of the nineteenth century U.S. physician Dr. Albert Abrams.

Raising Energy: The act of building mental focus and emotion toward the directing of an intent.

Rebound: The natural return of a psychic force to its origin, if repelled at its destination; this return can be quite violent.

Receptive Energy: The opposite of projective energy; magnetic, soothing, attracting energy often used for meditation, promoting love, calm, and quiet.

Receptive Hand: The left hand in right-handed people; the right reverse for left-handed people. This is the hand through with energy is absorbed into the body. See also projective hand.

Red Priest:A Wiccan priest who is designated to serve as a special assistant to the High Priest. Also referred to in some Wiccan Traditions as the Squire.

Rede: Creed "The" Wiccan Rede is a statement of basic principles.

Reframing: Returning to see a past event in a different light so that the situation it is creating in the present life can be healed.

Reiki: A natural, hands-on healing technique that feels like a flow of a high frequency of energy transmitted to the patient through the hands of the practitioner. The word Reiki comes from Rei, meaning "a supernatural force or spiritual intelligence," and ki (qi), meaning "life energy". The technique was first used in Japan in 1922 by Mikao Usui.

Reincarnation: The doctrine of rebirth. The phenomenon of repeated incarnations in human form to allow evolution of the sexless, ageless soul. One of the Tenets of Wicca ²The belief that the soul or spirit of a person is immortal, and returns to physical existence after death. This cycle of life, death and rebirth is repeated until the spirit has purified itself to the point of universal knowledge and understanding, thus returning to God/dess. ³The process, generally believed by witches and many others, whereby each immortal human Individuality (q.v) is reborn to life after life on Earth, until all its Karma (q.v) is worked out and balanced, and it is sufficiently highly developed to progress to a higher stage. (See also Incarnation, Bodhisattva.) (4) The belief that and individual soul or spirit is born more than once, each time into a new body. Most Witches believe in reincarnation, and many practice past life recall or regression.

Resinoid:A fragrant liquid created by solvent extraction of resinous material such as balsam or oleo-gum-resin. Benzoin is one example.

Right-Brain Function: See Left-Brain Function.

Right-Hand Path: Generally used to mean white-magick working, as opposed to the Left-Hand Path of black magick working; but these are really corruptions of the original Tantric meanings.

Rite: See Ritual.

Ritual: Ceremony. A specific form of movement, manipulation of objects or inner processes designed to produce the desired effects. In religion, ritual is geared toward union with the divine. In magick, ritual produces a specific state of consciousness which allows the practitioner to move energy toward needed goals. In Magickal aromatherapy, the simplest ritual involves, visualization and inhalation of a specific natural aroma. Life itself is ritualistic in nature. A spell is a magickal ritual. ²The order in which religious services are performed is a ritual. In magic, basic elements of the ritual include, preparing a sacred space, performing the purpose of the gathering, sharing of wine and cakes, then dismissing the circle. ³A planned series of activities leading to the accomplishment of a goal through magickal means.(4) One means of building and directing power. A ritual is comprised of a series of sacred words and actions with a specific goal, usually in the construct of a magick circle. Seasonal rituals and those for specific deities are often "traditional", that is, performed in much the same manner as they have been for decades or centuries. Other personal rituals can, and do, change to suit the prevalent circumstances of the individual(s).

Ritual Consciousness: The specific, alternate state of awareness necessary for the successful practice of magick. The practitioner achieves this through the use of visualization and ritual. It denotes a state in which the conscious mind and the psychic mind, are attuned, in which the practitioner senses energies, gives them purpose and releases them toward the magickal goal. It is a heightening of the senses, an awareness-expansion of the seemingly non-physical world, a linking with Nature and the forces behind all conceptions of Deity.

Ritual Cup: A cup, bowl, horn or other drinking vessel which holds a liquid for use during the ritual. The liquid presented in the ritual cup is also symbolic in nature, having be prepared for the purpose of the gathering.

Ritual Tools: Implements used in ritual magick. The basic tools for most Witches are the athame, wand chalice, and pentacle, although there are many others which can be made or purchased.

Robe: Loose fitting garment, especially made for ritual, and only worn for that purpose. ²Some covens wear robes to ritual, others go skyclad. Robes are usually floor length, long sleeved, hooded, and held at the waist with a cord. The color may symbolize the season, the Witch's degree, or membership in a particular coven.

Rosicrucian: A society of philosphers claiming to have mystic powers or knowledge.

Runes: Stick like letters, remnants of ancient alphabets. These symbols are carved or painted on to stones that are then used to determine possible future trends. They are also used in image magick and have long been thought to possess powers. ²An early form of writing from Germany, runes were chiefly used for communication and magickal markings. They were carved in places where the user thought they would be most effective. Today runes are cast as a means of divination, carved into objects for protection, and sometimes used in visualizations to bring their believed attributes into our lives. ³ Stick like figures, some of which are remnants of old Teutonic alphabets. Others are pictographs. These symbols are once again being widely used in magick and divination. (4) (1) A letter or character of the earliest Teutonic alphabet traditionally regarded as being magickal. (2) A magickal song or chant, as the Witches' Rune (q.v). The word rún in Old Norse and Old English meant 'whisper, secret counsel, mystery', in Irish and Scottish Gaelic it still means 'secret' mystery'. (5)Letters used in the old Norse and Teutonic cultures, both for normal inscriptions and magick. Each letter is believed to have a special symbolic meaning and power. Casting the runes (carved or painted on wood, stone or ceramic markers) is one form of divination popular among Witches.