Called the Number of the Beast of in the Book of Revelations, modern Christians use it as the number of Satan. Using the Greek numerology of the time, it probably referred to Nero who was opressing the early Christians. Others have pointed to other potential numerological associations ranging from the nation of Babylon to President Ronald Reagan (his first, middle, and last name each have six letters).

The name, meaning "River of Woe," of one of the five rivers in Greek mythology that surround Hades. The other four rivers are the Cocytus ("River of Wailing"), the Lethe ("River of Forgetfulness"), the Pyriphlegethon ("The Fiery River"), and the Styx ("The Hateful River").

Name used by the Cyrenean Greeks for Beelzebub.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Dogstooth Violet or Plantain.


A Greek word meaning avenger, it was used as a title of Zeus in His role as the avenger of evil deeds, especially killings within a family. Later, the name was given to any spiritual entity that would punish wrongful human behavior. Still later, it became an insult similar to the concept of a scoundrel. In Christian terms, Alastor was a generic name for certain evil spirits, and specifically for a possessing spirit. Some have referred to it as the “evil genius of a house.”

A dwarf, sometimes called the King of the Dwarves, found in Old High German myths. In French he is called Oberon.

One of the three Greek Erinyes or Furies along with Megaera and Tisiphone. She is the Greek goddess of war and death. She was the daughter of Gaea impregnated by the blood (?) of Uranus resulting from Cronus’ castration of Uranus.

An early Greek goddess, daughter of Helios the sun, and Rhode. She was worshipped as a heroine on the island of Rhodes.

A description of Odin, who is considered the father of all, both gods and men.

The food (or some say drink or a special substance) on which the Greek gods lived.

Greek sea goddess. Originally the wife of Poseidon, she was later downplayed to merely being his consort and later to being merely symbolic of the sea. Her son was Triton and her daughter Rhode. 

One of the Danaids, she was an early earth goddess after whom a fountain was named. She is represented by a water pitcher.

Also known as Venus Anadyomene, her name means ”she who rises from the sea." She is a famous representation of Aphrodite, the sea-born Greek goddess of sexuality.

Jungian Psychology.

A Greek personification of the abstractions “destiny,” “necessity,” and “fate.” She is often shown holding a spindle and is seen as the dictator of fate and circumstance. As the Orphic mystery religion grew, Ananke fell in importance, eventually replaced by Eros as a force opposing both fate and death.

Although technically meaning a hermaphrodite, in occultism it refers to concepts and things that blend opposing aspects into one homogenous entity.

She was a princess in ancient Greece. In punishment for her mother’s bragging, she was chained to a rock to be a sacrifice to a sea monster. Her future husband, Perseus, saved her. She may have been a pre-Hellenic moon goddess seen as being under attack by the demon of darkness. The myth was so popular it was converted into the legend of St. George and the Dragon.

Another name used for the Greek Pandora. This name means “She who sends up gifts” implying food plants.

A title for the Greek Hera meaning “flowering one.”

Egyptian guardian of Isis. Anubis is the son of the goddess of the dead, Nephthys, by Osiris. Depicted as jackal-headed, or simply as the jackal god. God of protection. Judge and protector (and comforter) of the dead and therefore, god of the dead and of embalming. Protector of tombs.

Egyptian Bull deity whose line continued even when that of the Pharoahs failed. Apis was the most important sacred animal in ancient Egypt and was the only such animal never shown as a human with an animal’s head. Probably originally a fertility god.

Anything, especially a spiritual concept, that is hidden. Singular of the better-known term, arcana. 

An area on the coast of Dahomey (currently known as the Republic of Benin). It is from this area where the people often called aradas. This is also the source of the term Rada, a name for some of the oldest rites of Voodoo or Voudoun. The rites and rituals of this form of Voodoo are traditionally considered positive and beneficial.

The Greek notion of excellence associated with the fulfillment of a purpose or function. It meant courage and strength in the face of adversity and was considered an aspiration for all people.

Daughter of King Minos of Crete, she aided Thesus in overcoming her half brother, the Minotaur. Bride of Dionysus. She may have been a Great Goddess of Crete and “Mistress of the Labrynth” or even a Snake Goddess. 

A Hebrew word that means “fierce lion.” In the Jewish Bible, it is associated with a king of Eliasar. Much later, it was the name given to a fallen angel controlled by Satan in Milton’s famous poem Paradise Lost, first published in 1667.

As described in the Christian Bible, the final battle between good and evil marking the end of the world. It is a "mythical reality," an image that challenges us to resolve.

This term for highly spiritual beings who are non-physical yet interact with humans originated with Blavatsky and the Theosophists. Other terms include "Elder Brothers" and "Mahatmas." Some believe they were once humans who, through spiritual development, no longer need to incarnate. This makes them similar to the Buddhist concept of the Bodhisattva.

Ancient Greek God of health and healing.

A demon, some say a king of demons, most famous for his appearance as the evil character in the apocryphal book of Tobit. Asmodeus also appears in Talmudic legends and has been known as the "King of Nine Hells," one of the "Seven Princes of Hell," and as a lust demon who perverts sexual desires.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Coltsfoot.



In the ancient Greek myth, Atalanta was abandoned by her father who wanted a son, nursed by a bear and raised by hunters who tought her to fight and hunt. She took an oath of virginity to Artemis, and later was famed for being in foot races in which no man could outrun her to earn her as a bride.

A Greek word meaning “ruin, folly, delusion.” It referred to the actions of a hero who actions lead to death or downfall, usually because of hubris. A goddess of this name personifies this concept.

Greek goddess of warfare, civilization, wisom, crafts, justice, strength. Patron goddess of Athens. 

Commonly called a "lost continent" in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantis is veiled in myth and speculation with little in the way of supporting fact. Occultists have speculated about a superior civilization in Atlantis escaping before it sank into oblivion to establish the Egyptian and other advanced civilizations, giving their peoples a head start in magical wisdom.

Pronounced "Ohr-Ree-Ehl" in Hebrew, Auriel is the Archangel of the North and of elemental earth. Some traditions use other spellings and pronunciations.

The primal or archetypal Mambo (Voudoun high priestess). She is sometimes called Grande Ai-Zan or Ayizan Velekete. Ayizan, with her husband Loco, guards religious traditions, initiation, and healing powers. She is also the priestess for the revering of parents and ancestor worship. Ayizan is the Loa of commerce and trade. Her colors are yellow, gold, and white.

A Greek name for the god Dionysus which was adopted by the Romans. He was the deity of wine and winemaking, as well as of the grape harvest. Drinking the wine could result in drunkenness, however this could also be seen as a form of ritual madness, frenzy, or trance. Festivals dedicated to him were predecessors to the development and understanding of Greek theater. His wild female followers were known as maenads and his male followers were ithyphallic satyrs.

The reciting of The Lord’s Prayer backwards. It is considered part of a “Black Mass,” an anti-Christian practice.

Meaning “little king,” this mythical reptile has been described in a variety of ways. It’s called a “king” because on its head it has a feature that looks like a crown or mitre. It’s been said to have intensely-poisonous venom or poisonous breath or could kill by just looking at you.

See Bastet.

Ancient Egyptian goddess also known as Bast. Originally a fierce lioness (or woman with a lion’s head) and a protectoress, over time she evolved into a goddess with the appearance of a domesticated cat. The goddess of intuition, magick, animalistic mind. Because cats have eyes that allow them to see in very low light, Bastet is said to see the future and the past. Naturally, the cat is Her sacred animal.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Holly Leaf, which is probably due to the similarity in appearance between an actual bat's wing and the leaf of the plant.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Moss.


A Greek goddess of pictured as an old woman (symbolic of the Crone aspect of the goddess), often shown in statues in postures similar in nature to the Sheila-Na-Gig. She attempted to cheer up Demeter who was mourning the loss of Persephone, her daughter. She told funny but lewd jokes, making her a goddess of laughter, and also indicates why her statues are so similar to the Sheila-Na-Gig. However, she also produced Demeter’s son, Iacchus, from under her skirts to comfort his mother.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Lady's Mantle.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Germander or Speedwell. 

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Lupine. 

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Bear's Breeches, a type of Acanthus.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri.It means Mulberry tree's sap.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means blood of a spotted gecko.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Hematite.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means a Tamarisk Gall.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Purslane. 

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Wormwood. 

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Chamomile. 


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Foxglove.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Bay Laurel.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Buckthorn. 

More accurately the “Book of Coming Forth by Day,” this is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts including magical spells that help guide the deceased through the Duat (underworld) during their afterlife.

1.  A name given to many books supposedly written by the ancient Egyptian deity of writing, Thoth.

3.  A book on the theory, design, and use of the Tarot (that supposedly came from Thoth) written by Aleister Crowley. It explained a deck of cards, known as the Thoth Tarot, designed by Crowley and co-designed and painted by Frieda Harris. The deck was not published until after Crowley's death.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. Although it often means gum from a cherry tree, it can be used to indicate the gum of any fruit tree.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Horehound. 


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Coltsfoot.


Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Eggs of the Blister Beetle.



Mythical Aboriginal Australian creature also known as a klanpraty. The bunyip is a large water creature, inhabiting swamps, waterholes, creeks, etc. Many different descriptions exist. One, for example, says that it has long claws but hugs victims to death.

See Kakia.

See Cacodemon.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Snapdragon.

Pre-Hellenic goddess who was the personification of the force of instinct. In Greece, she became associated with being an eternally virginal nymph of Artemis. When Artemis discovers that she was seduced and impregnated by Zeus, she turns Callisto into a bear and puts her in the stars as the constellation, Ursa Major.

Traditionally, the offspring of a human and a demon, including an incubus or a succubus. More recently, the term has also been used to describe the offspring of an incubus and a succubus, without the need of a human.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Valerian. 

Also known as Caryatis. In ancient Greece, a walnut tree goddess.

See Carya.

According to ancient Greek mythology, Castalia was a nymph whom Apollo turned into a fountain at Delphi, home of the famous Oracle. Those who drank her waters would receive artistic (especially poetic) inspiration.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Catnip.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Canada Snake Root and/or Ground Ivy.

1.  In Greek mythology, this daughter of Nyx (the night) and sister to the fates was the goddess of violent death.

2.  Name for a malevolent ghost.

A monstrous three-headed dog who, in Greek and Roman mythology, guarded the entry to the underworld and prevented those who had died and gone to the underworld from escaping. The heads represent past, present, and future, although some authority say they represent birth and youth, maturity, and old age. He was Hades’ watchdog.

In ancient Greek mythology, Charybdis was a beautiful naiad, the daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. She sided with her father against Zeus who turned her into a horrible sea monster. Later she was seen not as a monster per se, but as the goddess of terrifying oceanic whirlpools.

The Greek Hera was sometimes seen as a triple goddess. Chera is her third aspect, the old wise
woman, the name meaning “widowed” or “divorced.” [As a young woman she is Pais and as an adult she is Teleia.]

Female version of the bicorn, this mythic monster is believed to have survived by eating obedient wives and thus, was very hungry and skinny.

Ancient Greek mythological fire-breathing monster. It is most often described as a lion with a goat coming out of its back and a tail that ended in a snake’s head, other descriptions have different versions. Today, the term is used to mean any fictional animal with parts taken from multiple animals or something that is highly imaginative yet implausible. Usually considered a female, seeing the chimera was an omen of storms and natural disasters.

Literally a “young green shoot,” it is a title or name of the goddess Demeter.

A beautiful Greecian water goddess who was the daughter of the river god, Asopos, and the river goddess Melope.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Great Mullein.

(Also spelled Cluricaune) A variation on the Irish leprechaun. Some say they went out drinking each night after finishing daily chores while others say they were always drunk. Treat them well and they’ll guard your wine cellar. Treat them poorly and they’ll give you bad luck and cause misfortune. They supposedly love to ride on dogs or sheep at night.

A type of dragon with only two legs and a rooster’s head. It is said to be able to turn a person to stone or kill with a glance.

The name, meaning "River of Wailing," of one of the five rivers in Greek mythology that surround Hades. The other four rivers are the Acheron ("River of Woe"), the Lethe ("River of Forgetfulness"), the Pyriphlegethon ("The Fiery River"), and the Styx ("The Hateful River").

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Mullein.

Thracian goddess also known as Kotys, she was a goddess of sexuality similar to Dionysus. A riotous festival in her honor was called the Cotyttia, and her followers where known as the baptai, implying a part of what was required to follow her, a baptism. Her worship extended from Thrace to Italy and Sicily.

A mythic story used to explain the formation and existence of the phenomenal world.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Ethiopian Earth.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Cranesbill, wild geranium, or buttercup.

Generic term used to define any species of animal whose existence has not been proven and that has not be categorized or accepted by scientific consensus. Examples include Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the chupacabra, etc.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Great Mullein.

2.  Also spelled Daath, the "invisible" sephirah on the Tree of Life, Knowledge. A passageway across the Abyss.

• Astrological Correspondence: Sirius
• Body: the Neck
• Colors: in Atziluth: lavender; in Briah: pale silver gray; in Yetzirah: pure violet; in Assiah: gray flecked with gold
• Consciousness: Ruach, the conscious self with Neshamah, the higher spiritual self
• Element: Air
• Symbols: the Empty Room, the Pyramid
• Tarot: the Major Arcana

An important Voudoun Loa. Damballah is seen as a sky serpent who is both wise and loving, but withdrawn. He likes food (and drink) that is colorless or white and does not have the power of human speech.

Greek goddess of agriculture, she is also considered a goddess of health and birth. She also oversaw marriage. May be a form of Demeter.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Asafoetida.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Couch grass.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Snapdragon.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means the herb Hounds Tongue.

The beliefs and practices that form the basis of a religion. Often, dogmas are not supposed to be questioned by followers of the religion. 

A Greek sea nymph, the aunt of Atlas and grandmother of Achilles and Triton.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Wild Geranium.

Code used in spells and recipes by Pagans, ancient doctors, alchemists, etc. going back to the Greek Magical Papyri. It means Bistort leaves.