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mandrake a highly poisonous plant used in medi­eval witchcraft and, according to folklore, the most powerful of all magical ingredients. Spirits were thought to inhabit the roots, which look like little men, and it was believed that these roots could be asked questions, to which they would shake or nod their heads.

manifesting the taking on of magical powers by ordinary humans, brought about by simply using cre­ative visualization and by willing one's wishes onto the universe.

medicine dance among Native Americans of the Plains in North America, a dance employed to sum­mon helpful spirits.

medicine lodge among various tribes of North American Native Americans, a structure where rituals were held.

medicine man in primitive cultures, one who is thought to possess mystical powers and has the abil­ity to summon supernatural help. Also known as a shaman or a witch doctor.

medium one who acts as a receptor or channel to receive spirits or spiritual messages.

mesmerism hypnotism or the practice of spellbind­ing. Also, animal magnetism.

meteoromancy divination through the observation of meteors.

metoposcopy the reading of someone's forehead to determine their character or future.

mistletoe plant widely believed by the druids to hold magical, healing properties.

mojo bag in modern witchcraft, a red flannel bag filled with herbs to ward off disease and negative energy.

mugwort in witchcraft, a healing herb also known as Saint John's plant (not to be confused with St.- John's-wort). It was believed that sleeping on a pillow full of it would enhance dreams and strengthen psy­chic abilities. Sachets of it were also thought to aid in astral projection and to ward off evil spirits.

mumbo jumbo in the western Sudan, a shaman who protects against evil spirits. Also, a fetish. More widespread, a magical-sounding incantation that may or may not be meaningless.

myomancy divination through analysis of the squeaks and squeals of mice and rats, practiced in ancient Egypt and Rome.

mysticism belief in the spiritual world or other dimension that cannot be perceived by the human eye.

nagalism the worshipping of serpents.

Nazca lines geometric lines and shapes created by the clearing of stones and topsoil from the Peruvian desert by the Nazca people, from 200 b.c. to a.d. 600. Because of the massive scale of the lines, they are often speculated to be the work of aliens.

necromancy divining the future by communication with the dead.

nephelomancy divining the future by studying the speed and characteristics of clouds.

nimbus the glowing aura around a deity.

numerology the study of numbers as an influence in one's life.

obeah a belief system originating among African and Caribbean blacks, characterized by the use of magic ritual.

obeah-man one who practices obeah.

occulta cult activity of medieval times, often featur­ing black magic and witchcraft.

occultist one who studies mysticism and the occult.

oculomancy divination through interpreting the characteristics of the eyes.

Odic force named after the god Odin, a mystical force thought to emanate from magnets and crys­tals.

offering in Wicca, a gift presented to the goddess or horned god.

oinomancy divination through the reading of pat­terns in spilled wine.

old religion, the witchcraft.

omen a sign of things to come; a portent.

oneiromancy divination of the future through the interpretation of dreams.

onomatomancy divination through the interpreta­tion of the letters in one's name.

ooscopy divining the sex of a fetus by storing and hatching a chicken egg between a pregnant woman's breasts; the sex of the chick would determine the sex of the child. Also known as ovamancy.

ophiomancy divination through the use of serpents.

oracle a prophet or spiritual medium. Also a shrine of such a personage.

ornithomancy divining the future by reading the flight patterns of birds.

out-of-body experience the release of one's soul or spirit—said to sometimes occur during close brushes with death—when one may actually view one's aban­doned physical body from a remote location. See astral projection.

palmistry the pseudoscientific art of reading palms to divine one's fate.

papyromancy a divination technique in which a piece of paper is folded or crumpled and the resulting lines and creases are read.

paranormal that which cannot be explained or is beyond human perception.

parapsychology the study of psychic or mental powers beyond scientific comprehension.