Glossary

Agalma, pl. agalmata: Statue, image, shrine. A composite thing made holy, such as a talisman or ensouled statue.

Baetylos: A sacred stone. These can sometimes be meteors, because they fell from the heavens. This can also refer to the Omphalós.

Celestial Demiurge: The Supreme Demiurge, the King of Gods who crafts the cosmos; Zeus-Helios. He has reign over the Intellectual and Phenomenal Realm.

Cherniptomi (χερνίπτομαι): “Be purified!”, an exclamation proclaimed in the east during rites of fumigation in Hellenism.

Demiurge: Artisan Gods responsible for the creation and maintenance of the universe. They are under the Celestial Demiurge.

Dianoia: Discursive reasoning– subjective comparison of things or objects in question and applying the intellect (nous) in order to obtain knowledge for why a thing is. Translated to Latin as ratio.

Do ut des: “I give, so that you may give.” A concept of establishing a fundamental cycle of gift exchanging in order to establish a personal relation with the Gods.

eidolon: A reflected image, ontologically inferior to an eikon.

eidolopoietike techne: Non-theurgic “image making.”

eikon: An image, ontologically superior to an eidolon.

Genoito: The Greek word Genoito is said silently at the end of every ritual by each participant, similar to the Christian word amen. The meaning of Genoito is “may this be done,” and the word derives from the Greek word gígnomai, meaning “come into being.”

Gnosis: The knowledge of spiritual mysteries. Gnosis is connected with theurgy as knowledge or realization of the divine realm and reality.

Hamartia: An action performed thinking the results will be for the better but turns out for the worst.

Henosis: Divine union, unity with the divine.

Hermeneutics: The branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially in holy material or literary texts.

Intelligible Realm: Where Plato’s Ideas derive from and where the Pre-Essential Demiurge, Aion, presides over. Also called the Noetic Realm.

Intellective Realm: Intermediate realm between the Intelligible Realm and our Realm of Generation. Where the Forms manifest as Logoi. Also called the Noeric Realm or Intellectual Realm, it is where the Celestial Demiurge rules.

Khaire (χαῖρε), pl. Khairete (χαίρετε): Traditional salutation meaning Hail!, Welcome!, or even Goodbye!

Khoe: A libation done for the deceased.

Monad: “One” in Greek, but in Pythagorean and Iamblichean Platonist theology means an ineffable number and source, beyond our typical mathematic “1.”

Miasma: Spiritual/Religious pollution.

Mythic time: The concept that some myths exist outside of any linear time; rather exististing in a special, generalized time. Mythic time always is, and does not exist in any sort of prior time. It is simultaneous and eternal.

Nous: Mind. Capitalized as the divine Mind and lowest part of the Noeric realm. Identified as the Celestial Demiurge. Translated to Latin as Mens.

Ousia: Substance or “essence,” which implies Being. Produced by Aion in the Intelligible Realm.

Paganism: An umbrella term for many different contemporary religions that are either inspired by (e.g., Wicca or Druidism) or revivalisms of (as in reconstructionist polytheism, e.g., Heathenry, Kemeticism, Hellenism, etc) the ancient cultures in the European-Mediterranean-Near East cultural basin that were displaced by Abrahamic religions.

Pharmaka: Medicines, poisons, amulets, talisman, anesthetic or stimulants, kinds of drug, used in both medicine and theurgic practices.

Phenomenal Realm: The physical cosmos, made up of the Hypercosmic, Hyper-encosmic (a mediate realm) and encosmic realms.

Realm of Generation: Resides in the Phenomenal Realm, specifically in the Encosmic Realm. It is where our material existence presides. Includes everything from Athene’s domain of the circle of aethyr above the Seven Planets to the Earth.

Symbolon, pl. symbola: Divine symbols made manifest in generation.

Synthemata: Theurgic tokens in the material world. These are items that bear some mark or characteristic of their divine nature. Synthemata are said to be sown throughout nature by the Celestial Demiurge and serve as reminders of the divine will and its connection to our lower level of reality.

The One/The Good: The supreme & ineffable principle and the ultimate Good; where all things derive from. The One is the very foundation of everything. The One exists beyond all things, but also exists in or to all things. Nothing can be added to it because if something can be added to the Good to improve it, then that thing is the Good that all things desire.

Telos: The purpose, end result, designed goal, the consummation.

Theourgia: “divine activity.” Ritual activity in imitation of the Gods.

Xenia: Hospitality; the Greek concept of the spirit of hospitality.