Descriptionary

hypersensory perception above-normal powers of observation, a natural trait in some, and in others cultivated by learning to read body language, tones of voice, and other subtle social cues, sometimes mis­taken for psychic abilities.

I Ching Chinese text comprised of 64 hexagrams, that can be interpreted to divine one's future. The hexagrams are chosen randomly by flipping num­bered coins and adding the final total.

ichthyomancy a divination technique in which fish are observed for signs or omens.

ideomotor effect psychological term referring to body movements influenced by suggestion or by the unconscious mind, such as when a dowser's rod suddenly points downward or when a Ouija board pointer turns on its own.

imprecation a curse.

incantation the utterance of a magical spell or charm.

inedia the ability to live without food, as some who profess to be nourished by holy spirits or the uni­versal life force. Those who claim to survive off the holy breath alone are known as breatharians and are followers of Therese Neumann of Bavaria, who lived from 1898 to 1962.

initiation in Wicca, a ceremony that formally brings another person into a coven.

intuitive one who has a powerful sense of intuition, to the point of having psychic abilities, sometimes known as a sensitive.

intuitive healer one with the ability to locate, diag­nose, and cure disease with ESP and healing touch alone.

invocation an appeal to or conjuring up of a god, goddess, or spirit.

jinx that which brings bad luck.

joss stick in Chinese religious tradition, a fragrant incense burned to ward off evil.

juju the black magic used by West African witch doctors to cast out demons. Also, an amulet, charm, or fetish.

Key of Solomon any one of various versions of a famed medieval grimoire, allegedly originating with King Solomon and giving information on conjura­tions, invocations, and curses. It is famous for pro­viding details on invisibility, animal sacrifices, and the summoning of demons or spirits, and even gives advice on what clothing to wear when practicing sorcery.

lampadomancy divining the future by reading fire, especially a flame in a lamp.

left-hand path the practice of sorcery or black magic.

lepanthropy the ability to change into a rabbit or hare.

levitation the act of floating in midair, by an object or a person, through supernatural means.

libanomancy divination technique in which the smoke rising from incense is read for signs or omens.

libation in witchcraft and Wicca, any water or wine used in rituals and usually poured on an altar or in a fire.

Litha in Wicca, the celebration of the summer sol­stice, from June 20 to 23. Originally, celebrants leapt over fires to promote fertility.

lithobolia evil spirits who rain down rocks at peo­ple or their houses.

loa in voodoo, a spirit who takes control of some­one during a trance.

loco in voodoo, a spirit of healing.

lots, casting of divination technique employing thrown dice or marked bones.

magic AND the occult 319

Lourdes in 1858 in France, the town near a grotto by the River Gave de Pau, at which 14-year-old Ber- nadette Soubirous claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary some 18 times, which has since been validated by the Catholic Church as the site of no less than 67miracles, especially healings, and is now visited by 5 million people a year, who take a drink of the water there to bring about their own healings.

love potion concocted by a witch, an aphrodisiac, sometimes intensified by the use of incantations and spells.

luck ball in hoodoo, a charm wound inside a ball of yarn and worn.

lycanthropy the ability or power to transform one­self into a werewolf.

macumba a form of voodoo of Brazilian origin.

mage an accomplished magician.

magic modern illusions created by stage performers through explainable and nonmystical techniques.

magical thinking psychological term referring to the belief that everything in the universe is intercon­nected and full of mysterious powers that can be tapped.

magick original spelling for the art of supernatu­ral witchcraft, as distinguished from the magic of modern-day entertainers and sleight-of-hand artists.

magick candle in medieval witchcraft, a candle made of human fat, which glowed brighter when brought near the location of buried treasure.

maledict to curse or hex.

malediction a curse or a hex.

maleficia the misfortunes that befall those who cross a sorcerer.

malkin a cat who serves as a witch's familiar.

mambo a Haitian voodoo priestess.