~Encyclopedia Wicca~

~W~

 
   
Wand The Elemental Tool of Fire, or in some Traditions, of Air
Waning Moon The period during which the visible part of the Moon shrinks from Full to Dark; an appropriate time for spells of banishing, release or cleansing.
Ward To ward is to spiritually protect someone or something with energy, usually performed prior to a ritual
Water The Element corresponding to the West, light green and silver, emotions and intuition.
Water Bowl Water mixed with salt may be used to purify; the bowl (or large shell) containing it is kept on the altar.
Water Witch One who dowses. (See "dowsing")
Waxing Moon The period during which the visible part of the Moon grows from Dark to Full; an appropriate time for spells of growth and increase.
Webweaving Networking with other magickal people through  conversation, in writing, or by computer to gather information to mutually assist each party in their studies and life goals.
Wheel of the Year One full cycle of the seasonal year, beginning with the Samhain celebration.
White-Handled Knife See "Bolline".
Wicca, the Wicca, Wiccan

(from the Old English "wicca" a male witch, and "wicce" a female witch, and "wiccan" witchcraft)

·         an Initiatory, Oathbound, Pagan Mystery religion celebrating the Mysteries contained in the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess and in the Charge of the Goddess, in which every Initiate is consecrated as a Priest or Priestess as well as a Witch

·         the Wicca are those thus Initiated and consecrated, the Priests and Priestesses of a specific Mystery religion within the larger body of Pagan religions

·         a Wiccan is an Initiate of Wicca, a consecrated Priest or Priestess and Witch

·         there is also a different, although related, religious movement calling itself "Wicca" - one that sprang from, and is loosely based upon the Mystery Religion, but that is more exoteric and oriented toward worship and devotion and public celebration, rather than toward a specific initiatory path, magickal practice, and spiritual discipline; this religious movement has been aptly described as "Wicca-based Paganism"

Wiccan Rede The ethics of the Craft are summed up in eight words, "An ye harm none, do as ye will"; meaning "As long as you do not harm anyone, follow your Inner Guidance, your True Will."
Widdershin The counter-clockwise circular movement used in casting and banishing spells and curses. The opposite motion is called deosil. In neo-Pagan witchcraft, magic circles are usually cast deosil, but in Australia they are normally cast widdershins to match the southern hemisphere counter-clockwise movement of the sun through the sky
Will o' the Wisp Faerie lights or energy beings that can and will lead humans astray in swamps, marshes, moors and the forest.
Winter Solstice See Solstice
witch, Witch A practitioner of witchcraft; the lower-case "witch" indicates a practitioner who does not regard witchcraft as part of their particular religious belief or practice, for example, Christians or atheists who practice witch's magicks and are thus "witches", while the upper-case "Witch" indicates a practitioner of witchcraft as an intrinsic part of their specific religious beliefs and practices, although not necessarily those of the Wicca
witchcraft, Witchcraft The craft, or magickal arts and practices, of witches; as with witch, and Witch, the lower-case or upper-case letter indicates witchcraft as a practice outside of (lower-case), or as an intrinsic part of (upper-case), a religious belief or practice
Witness See "Object Link".
Wizard A male magickian.
Words of Power Names of Deity, or other invocations or incantations which have a powerful effect if properly intoned.
Working As in magickal working.  The process of using magick to reach a desired positive goal.