~Encyclopedia Wicca~

~T~

 

   
Talismans Talismans are objects imbued with magical or supernatural powers and transmit them to their owners.
Tarologist One who is adept at the art and science of handling the Tarot.
Tarot A divination tool consisting of a deck of cards (in classic decks, 78) with powerful scenes or images representing various energies, processes or spiritual condidtions.  They are divided into four suits (wands or rods, discs or coins, cups and swords) which comprise the Minor Arcana, and 22 other cards which comprise the Major Arcana.  Today there are many different deck designs available, some of which are very far from the original designs of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Tasseomancy The art of reading tea leaves and coffee grounds to divine the future. Tasseomancy evolved from the Middle Ages practice of reading blobs of wax or molten lead. When tea was introduced from the orient in the 17th century and gained popularity, the shapes and symbols formed by leaves left in the bottom of a cup seemed an obvious target for interpretation. The Italians claimed to have developed the art of reading coffee grounds in the 18th century.
Temple The temple is the sacred area reserved especially for religious and magical activities.
Tephromancy Divination by looking at ashes from sacrifices.
Tetragrammaton Another word for the sacred four-letter name of the Judeo-Christian Deity YHVH, later anglicized to "Jehovah".  Sometimes used in Jewish- or Christian-oriented magickal traditions.
Thaumaturgy Thaumaturgy is magic used to influence everyday events in life to protect the house, travel, health etc.
Theomancy Divination by oracles.
Theurgy "High magick" employed to connect with Deity and foster spiritual growth.
Thirteen The number of bad luck and associated with evil power. Witches' coven were thought to always contain 13 members, but there is no firm evidence for this. Most covens range in size from 4 to 20 members. Many neo-Pagan witches consider 13 to be a lucky number!
Threefold Return, the Law of Although related to the concept of Karma, the Law of Threefold Return says that whatever one does by Magick, whether of good or of ill, returns to one threefold
Thurible A metal censer, dish or burner to hold charcoal and incense.  It can either stand on the altar or swing from a chain, and is often considered to be an Air symbol.
Tradition A specific subgroup of Pagans, Witches, Wiccans or magick-workers.
Traditional Witches

Witches who claim their initiatory descent from surviving hereditary or traditional Witchcraft, which includes the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions and their branches and offshoots via Gerald Gardner and/or Alex Sanders

·       the term "Traditionals" is sometimes used to distinguish Witches or Traditions that claim initiatory descent from hereditary or traditional Witchcraft via persons other than Gerald Gardner or Alex Sanders

·       the term "Traditional" is also sometimes used to refer to any Tradition that follows a specific body of rites and practices - including admittedly modern revived or reconstructed Traditions, especially ones that focus on a particular ethnic or cultural background - in order to distinguish between "Traditional" and "Eclectic" Witchcraft

 

Trilithon A stone arch made from two upright slabs with one lying atop these.  Trilithons are featured in Stonehenge.