Author: A Solitary Pagan

From the earliest beginnings in ancientGreece, Philosophers have sought to understand theunderlying principles and nature of “life, the universe, and everything.” They seek to apply wisdom,knowledge, and reason to every aspect of life andsociety, and they are particularly known for beinggreat teachers. Since philosophy includes metaphysics (the nature of reality and the origins of everything), Wiz...

Prophets are usually divinely inspired preachers, who often speak on behalf of the Gods and Goddesses themselves. They are great teachers, known for compelling religious visions and revelations—often completely transforming their societies. Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed are considered the great Prophets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Someone who conjures up the spirits of the dead to speak with them and learn hidden knowledge and secret information, and to foretell the future. Today people who do this are usually called Mediums or Channels. Necromancy is a form of divination

This term dates from the 14th century and means “one who sees.” A Seer is a person credited with extraordinary moral and spiritual insight, who predicts events or developments. The term may be used for anyone who practices divination (magickal techniques for finding lost information or predicting the future) especially by concentrating on a glass or crystal globe (scrying). Other words for Seer ar...

Literally, “truth sayer.” An old word for prophets, visionaries, seers, and fortunetellers. The word could be used for anyone who predicts the future. Another word meaning the same thing is Mantis (“Diviner”), as in the insect known as the Praying Mantis. The many techniques of divination are called “The Mantic Arts,” and practitioners are called “-mancers.”

Unlike sorcery, enchantment has very positive connotations. Enchantresses are “bewitching,” fascinating, charming, sexy women whose magick brings delight and pleasure to others. The word is often used as a compliment for particularly attractive and charismatic Witches and Gypsies. A man who embodies those characteristics may be known as an Enchanter, though this term is rarely used for men.

Sorcery implies some sort of supernatural power over people and their affairs. People who wield such magickal charm or influence are called Sorcerers (or Sorceresses in the case of women). This term has a generally negative connotation, implying evil or “black” magick. The most famous Sorceress of legend was Circe (SUR-see). In Homer’s Odyssey, she turned Odysseus’s men into pigs.

Alchemy was the forerunner of modern chemistry, blending Egyptian metallurgy with Greek philosophy and Middle Eastern mysticism. The goals of Alchemists were the discovery of the “Philosopher’s Stone” that would transform “base metals” into gold and the “Elixir of Life” that would heal all ills and allow one to live forever

Simply, any practitioner of the magickal arts. There are performance Magicians who create seemingly “impossible” illusions and feats with sleight-of-hand (“prestidigitation”) and special effects. And there are Ceremonial Magicians who create elaborate rituals designed to alter and transform the consciousness of themselves and others.

In ancient Celtic tradition, Bards were part of the Orders that were headed by the Druids. Bards were the poets, musicians, and singers of the epic songs and tales that conveyed the history and lore of the people. At a time when very little was written down, a Bard was expected to memorize enormous amounts of poetry, songs, and stories.

A Mystic (from Greek mystai, meaning someone who has been initiated into secret Mysteries) is a person whose profound spiritual or “otherworldly” experiences have given them a deep intuitive comprehension or vision of hidden truths and awareness. Such experiences are usually indescribable and therefore beyond rational human understanding and explanation.

A Sage is an elderly person of sound judgment, who has achieved wisdom through reflection and experience. The term is used for a savant, an expert, a scholar, and a learned philosopher or teacher, such as Lao-Tzu or Socrates. Sagacity means wisdom, and wise counsel is called “sage advice.” Although Sages are usually considered to be men, Saga was a common Latin term for a Sorceress in the Middle A...