Glossary Pages A-E - G-N - O-Z
Glossary of
Terms
Here are the specific terms used in Age of Aquarius in alphabetical order with
a short explanation of what they mean
Alchemy
A relatively recent development in the occult arts devised by a member of the
Egyptian Jewish community in the first century A.D. Involves the use of an Athanor
(magical oven) to produce magic powders, which are then cast in Alchemy spells.
See also Cabbala.
Arcan(a/um)
The 22 tribes of the Nephilim, remembered through the Major Arcana of the Tarot.
These are relatively small groups of loosely allied Nephilim of like mind, with
common aims, allies or methods. They assist the newly incarnate, can offer refuge
and assistance to established Nephilim, and may ask for tasks to be performed
in turn. Most have signs they can be recognised by. While membership is not
formal (and can remain philosophical), members may choose to be initiated into
an Arcanum. An Initiate gains access to the Arcanum's inner path and the methods
and proprietary spells that many Arcana teach.
Athanor
An alchemical oven. Usually a small, brick-domed or square tower, about man-height
or smaller. Within it, an alchemist creates the powders that are later cast
to affect Alchemical magic. Note that an Athanor has its own ratings for the
five natural types of Ka, and these scores - not the alchemist's - determine
the success of any casting using powders created in it.
Black Elements
For each Ka-Element there exists a shadow-aspect, opposed to its energies not
in effect (like Fire and Water Ka) but in its very essence. Having a relationship
with natural Ka like antimatter and matter, or light and darkness, these are
the Black Elemental forces. Orichalka (or Black Sun - Ka) is one of these. It
brings the influence of Saturn - which is in opposition to Solar-Ka - to the
inner Solar System. Black elemental energy has been observed for other elements
as well - most important is Black Moon Ka, which the Selenim have adopted as
their only source of power (having voluntarily stripped themselves of all their
other Ka-elements).
Cabbala
(Also Kabbalah). The many-layered heart of Hebraic occultism, providing at once
a knowledge of the cabbalistic tree of life, a philosophical system, an approach
to the study of Ka, a method of spiritual attainment, and an appreciation for
the relationship between the material and spiritual (and the many planes, spheres,
and areas thereof). In Nephilim, Cabbala is expressly related to the magical
technique of Summoning.
Circle
The Level of a magical spell, ritual or procedure. A Nephilim must master a
given Circle of a Technique before it can attempt to learn at the next Circle.
For example, Casual Magic [first Circle Sorcery] must be mastered before a practitioner
can begin learning the ways of Ritual Magic [second Circle Sorcery].
Element
One of the basic aspects or fields of the universe, each element is a different
type, flavour or facet of the universal energy, or Ka, that sustains reality
(physical and immaterial). Each is typified by certain effects or qualities
associated with its influence, the assignment of which is subject to perceptions,
and thus can vary across disparate cultural areas. This is why Western Nephilim
(whose intellectual references stem from ancient Mediterranean cultures) characterise
Ka as being either of the nature of Earth, Fire,
Air, Water or
Moon, while Nephilim from the Far East use Earth,
Metal, Air, Water and Wood.
Note that these are just handy catch-all metaphors for the nature of the various
types of Ka found naturally on Earth, and how they interact (e.g. some types
oppose the influence of certain others, while being neutral towards or enhancing
the influence of still others). Note also that all five natural Ka-elements
are distillations of certain aspects of the original Solar-Ka, refracted onto
the Earth by the five classical heavenly bodies of Mercury, Venus, Luna, Mars
and Jove (Jupiter). Elemental influences also exist which directly oppose each
of these - see Black Elements.
Note too that modern physics - which has modernised the terms Earth, Water,
Air, Fire and Moon as Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma and Quantum Vacuum - still
recognises five basic forces in nature: the strong nuclear force, gravity, the
weak nuclear force, electricity and magnetism.
Enthronement
A day - or month - in which the planetary influence of a given heavenly body
is at its peak. Since the planets refract Solar-Ka, changing its nature and
reflecting it at the Earth, their positions need to be predicted to find when
these Enthronements occur. This is the original aim of Astrology.
Any day in which a given heavenly body is enthroned, which occurs in a month
when it is also enthroned, is known as a Grand Enthronement. Enthronements -
and the effects they have on magic-working - last from sunrise to sunrise.
Glossary Pages A-E - G-N - O-Z