-C-
Cabala:The ancient Hebrew magickal system. (see also Qaballa, Qaballah)
Caduceus: The representation of the wand of the god Mercury, the messenger. It is used in the medical profession to detonate health.
Call: Invoking divine forces.
Candlemas:Pagan sabbat held on Feb. 1.
Cantrip:A spell cast by a witch. It is small, quick, and has minimal effects.
Caput Mortuum: A Latin term meaning “death’s head,” refers to the residue after an alchemical operation such as distillation or sublimation.
Cardinal Points:North, East, South, and West. Symbolized by the circle in magic (which connects the points), the four elements, and the watchtowers.
Catharsis:The release of magickal energies at the height or climax of a ritual. Essentially the use of energy at the catharsis is the crux of the rite, determining whether its outcome will be successful or not.
Cauldron:A feminine symbol of the goddess, also of life, death, and rebirth. This is associated with Cerridwen, a goddess who brewed a magickal cauldron from which a single drop was yielded each year. The consumer of her brew would be granted great wisdom. Today her cauldron survives not only in pagan ritual but in the Christian concept of the holy grail.
The cauldron is also a symbol of transmutation, germination, and transformation. But above all is symbolizes the womb, and therefore, is a Goddesssymbol as well. In Celtic lore the cauldron is the symbol of the Underworld. In Greek and Roman mythology the cauldron was hidden in a cave. From this, the cauldron is a mystery symbol of Wicca/Witchcraft. The Cauldron Mysteries are an integral part of the Wiccan Mythos. Some of the most famous cauldrons are found in Celtic lore. For example, the Daghda cauldron that provided sufficient food for everyone, and the cauldron of Bran the Blessed that conferred rebirth. There also is the Gundestrup cauldron.
The belief that the cauldron symbolizes the womb of the Great Goddess arises from the concept that everything is born out of it and returns to it. The original cauldron symbols were gourds, wooden vessels, or large shells. Eventually the symbolism of metal cauldrons became linked to the hearth and home because they were used to cook meals. This latter aspect merged the Great Goddess with the Great Mother, as the cauldron combined them into a single deity.
Cauldrons have held a magical significance in many cultures throughout the centuries. In ancient Ireland, it was believed, cauldrons were never been depleted of food during feasts. In ancient times they were use for human sacrifice, which was related to death and rebirth. In Greek mythology the Witch goddess Medea restored people to youth in a magic cauldron. Some relate the cauldron to the Holy Grail (since the Grail is supposedly the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper), and speculate this was why some Christians were not too eager to seek the Grail because of its association with the cauldron and the Goddess.
Also the caldron has alchemic associations to some of the vessels used by alchemists in their experiments.
Cauldron Mysteries: These mysteries, within the legends of Wicca/Witchcraft, represent the inner and sacred teachings of creation, transformation, and regeneration. In both myth and legend the cauldron brews potions, aids in casting of spells, produces abundance or decline, and is a holy vessel for offerings to the powers of the Night, and to the Great Goddess. Its chief attribute is that of transformation, whether of a spiritual or physical nature. When symbolizing the Goddess it can bestow wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration.
It is within the tale of the cauldron of Gerridwen that many associated aspects of the Mystery Teachings are found. Gerridwen is preparing in her cauldron a brew designed to give enlightenment to her son. The potion is required to brew for and year and a day. Such a time period is symbolic of Wiccan initiation and reflects the teaching in many traditions that each degree requires a year and a day of training. In this tale of Gerridwen, Gwion, for whom it was not intended, tastes the potion. This makes Gerridwen angry, and she pursues the offender. Both of them transform into various cult animals during the chase (see Metamorphosis).
Included in the potion of Gerridwen were yellow flower known as Pipes of Lleu (cowslip), Gwion's silver (fluxwort), the borues of Gwion (hedge-berry), Taliesin's cresses (vervain), and mistletoe berries mixed with sea foam. The dredge of the brew was poisonous and had to be handled properly. In early Greek tradition, this potion was prepared in the cauldron of Ceres whose residue was likewise poisonous in substance and whose herbal ingredients were also mixed with seawater.
This potentially fatal potion was prepared for willing initiates whereby by their consciousness would retrieve the genetic memories of their ancestors. Such is related to the teaching that trauma or extreme introversion can bring about a dramatic increase in psychic abilities. In incidents of near death, the survival mechanisms engage to tap into the cumulative knowledge of the person's genetic material, search for a way to escape from the impending death. Surviving such an experience can result in a conscious merging with the atavistic collective consciousness of ancestors as retained in DNA (the cauldron of the hidden Underworld).
In the Celtic myth the cauldron of Gerridwen was warmed by the breath of nine maidens and produced an elixir that that conferred inspiration. Here, in comparison, are striking similarities to an earlier Greek tale in which the nine Muses gave inspiration to humans. In the Celtic legends that most probably evolved from the Mediterranean Mystery Traditions Gerridwen's cauldron was said to have a ring of pearls around its rim. It was located in the realm of Annwn (the Underworld) and, according to the Taliesin's poem "The Spoils of Annwn" the breath of nine maidens kindled the fire beneath it. Oracle speech reportedly came forth from the cauldron. This, of course, is another connection to the nine Muses that were associated with the Oracle Delphi. The vapors emanating from the volcanic pit below the oracle were said to bestow the gift of prophecy.
Causal Body:For a proper explanation of the doctrine connected with this term the student is referred to karana-sarira and karanopadhi as defined in this volume. Technically speaking, causal body is a misnomer, for, in fact, the element of man's constitution here referred to and, mutatis mutandis, when reference is made to beings above and below man, is no body at all, properly speaking, but rather what one might call a soul, although strenuous objection could very logically be taken to the use of this word soul because of the many and often contradictory meanings that common usage has given to it.
Furthermore, the expression "causal body" refers to two different things. The meaning, therefore, is dual -- a statement which will be explained under karanopadhi. It may be stated here, however, that the two meanings have reference, the first to a lower part of man's septenary constitution, and the second to a higher part, both parts acting as causes, or instrumental causes, in producing reappearances, or new manifestations, of a reimbodying monad or entity.
Censer:A container in which incense is smoldered or burned. It symbolises the element of air. Often a censer is used during ritual to "cense" an area, generally by moving the censer around the area and especially around the circle as a means of purification.
Centering:Grounding your energy through meditation, often before rituals to help harness and direct the balanced energy.
Cernunnos: (also spelled Cernunnos) Cernunnous was the Horned God of the Celts. He was associated with the hunt and fertility. Occasionally he was portrayed with serpent legs, torso of a man, a head of a bull or ram, or shown with stags wearing antlers. The name Cernunnous means horned.
He is the lord of life, death and the underworld. Being the Sun to the Goddess of the Moon as he alternates with her in ruling over life and death. With her he cooperates in continuing the cycle of life, death and rebirth, or reincarnation.
His own life is said to be circular. The Horned God is born at the winter solstice, marries with the Goddess at Beltane (May 1), and dies at the summer solstice. His death represents a sacrifice to life.
The Horned God's origin possibly dates back to Paleolithic times, as evidenced by a ritualistic cave drawing found in the Caverne des Trois Freres at Ariege, France. The picture is with one of a stag standing upright on its hind legs, or a man dressed in a stag costume performing a dance. The wearing animal clothes in rituals to secure game was practiced in Europe for thousands of years.
He was worshipped by the Romans and Gauls who portrayed him with a triple head. Sometimes the Romans depicted him with three cranes flying above his head.
Other deities associated with, or others have claimed them to be representative of, Cernunnous, the Horned God, are Herne the Hunter, a ghost of Britian; Pan, the Greek god of the woodlands; Janus, the Roman god of good beginnings with his two faces looking in opposite directions representing youth and age, and life and death; Tammuz and Damuzi, the son- lover-consorts of Ishtar and Inanna; Osiris, the Egyptian lord of the underworld; and Dionysus, the Greek god of vegetation and the vine, whose cult observed rites of dismemberment and resurrection."
The Celtic god Esus was analogous to Cernunnous. Similarly the animal of Esus was the bull. Esus was sometimes identified with Cernunnous who appears on the Gundestrup Cauldron. Supposedly Esus was also ruler of the underworld, but this did not keep his worshippers from considering him to be a god of plenty and portraying him holding a sack of coins.
Most frequently whenever Cernunnous was depicted or portrayed, he was shown as an animal, usually a stag, or surrounded by animals as he is depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldronseated in a lotus position. This was seen as appropriate as he was the god of the hunt and fertility. He was also the ruler and protector of the animal kingdom. He is often seen holding a ram-headed serpent.
In the Welsh tale "Owain" his role as a herdsman-god and a benign keeper of the forest is told. Here he summons all the animals to him through the belling of a stag. All the animals even serpents obediently came to him "as humble subjects would do to their lord."
Some feel that the honoring of Cernunnous even continued in the early Christian era. Many of the early ascetics still had pre-Christian longings for nature. To substantiate this there is the account of Saint Ciaran of Saighir. This humble man went into the wilderness to establish a cell that would eventually become a monastery. A boar came, seeing the man he was terrified, but later returned and was submissive to the man of God. Saint Ciaran considered the boar his first monk. The boar was later joined by a fox, a badger, a wolf and a stag. These animals left their liars to join the community.
There are other tales such as this one that give rise to suspicions they caused early Christian writers and artists to associate Cernunnous with Satan. Although some Christians never lost their love of nature. Saint Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of animals and birds.
Cernunnous is still honored in some modern Druid organizations, in Neo-pagan witchcraft and by the Church of All Worlds.
Chakra:(Cakra, Sanskrit) A word signifying in general a "wheel," and from this simple original meaning there were often taken for occult and esoteric purposes a great many subordinate, very interesting, and in some cases highly mystical and profound derivatives.
Chakra also means a cycle, a period of duration, in which the wheel of time turns once. It also means the horizon, as being circular or of a wheel-form. It likewise means certain centers or pranic spherical loci of the body in which are supposed to collect streams of pranic energy of differing qualities, or pranic energies of different kinds.
These physiological chakras, which are actually connected with the pranic circulations and ganglia of the auric egg, and therefore function in the physical body through the intermediary of the linga-sarira or astral model-body, are located in different parts of the physical frame, reaching from the parts about the top of the skull to the parts about the pubis.
It would be highly improper, having at heart the best interests of humanity, to give the occult or esoteric teaching concerning the exact location, functions, and means of controlling the physiological chakras of the human body; for it is a foregone conclusion that were this mystical knowledge broadcast, it would be sadly misused, leading not only in many cases to death or insanity, but to the violation of every moral instinct. Alone the high initiates, who as a matter of fact have risen above the need of employing the physiological chakras, can use them at will, and for holy purposes -- which in fact is something that they rarely, if indeed they ever do. (see also Chakras)
Chakras: Seven major energy vortexes in the human body.Each is usually associated with a color. These vortexes are: crown-violet, forehead-indigo, throat-blue, chest-green, naval-yellow, abdomen-orange, groin- red.
Chaos:(Greek) A word usually thought to mean a sort of helter-skelter treasury of original principles and seeds of beings. Well, so it verily is, in one profound sense; but it is most decidedly and emphatically not helter-skelter. It is properly the kosmic storehouse of all the latent or resting seeds of beings and things from former manvantaras. Of course it is this, simply because it contains everything. It means space, not the highest mystical or actual space, not the parabrahma-mulaprakriti, the Boundless -- not that. But the space of any particular hierarchy descending into manifestation, what space for it is at that particular period of its beginning of development. The directive principles in chaos are the gods when they awaken from their pralayic sleep. Chaos in one sense may very truly be called the condition of the space of a solar system or even of a planetary chain during its pralaya. When awakening to planetary action begins, chaos pari passu ceases.
Charms: An amulet or talisman that has been chamged by saying an incantation oover it and instilling it with energy for a specific purpose.
Chalice:A feminine symbol of the element water. This is used during ritual and once the waters of life which it contains is blessed, it is passed around so that everyone in the coven may bring the Goddess "into" themself.
Channeling:Mediumship; a word for an entity talking through a human to convey a message to the physical plane.
Chant:Repetition of magickal phrases, syllables, or words to produce a desired effect as well as bring the chanter to a deeper meditative state.
Chanting: Chanting is the continuous recitation of mantras (which are used in meditation and religious or ritual ceremonies). Some call chanting a primitive way of altering the consciousness and raising psychic power or energy. Others claim it connects them with the Divine. The derived psychical powers may be used for purposes of magick, exorcism and healing. (see also Chant)
Chanting, which is an ancient and universal practice, is usually done in accompaniment of drumming, hand-clapping, rattles and sometimes the use of other musical instruments. Such activity provide the emotional excitation to increase psychic power to a very intense level. This is especially true when chanting is done within a group. Sometimes the excitement builds so high that frenzied states of consciousness occur.
The practice is recorded to have occurred in Greece. Female sorcerers are said to have howled their chants. Like others they believed strong vibrations enhanced the power of their chants. This beliefs was continued by early and medieval sorcerers and magicians who sang their chants in very forceful voices. The belief was continued into the 20th century by men like Aleister Crowley who believed the chanting sound can profoundly affect both man and the universe.
When chanting is used in meditation is frequently accompanied by the use of rosary beads which are employed in Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.
Chants are composed of names, words and syllables, including nonsensical ones. The name of God, and the gods, are almost universally considered to make the strongest chants. This was true among the Hebrew mystics and magicians who used the secret names of God such as Yahweh, Adonai and Elohim. (see alsoLaw of Names)
According to the Vedic scriptures the chanting of the name of the Lord is the one way to increase spiritual progress in the Kali Yuga age of quarrel and hypocrisy that begun five thousand years ago and is suppose to continue for 432,000 years.