Garlic: A species of onion to which is attributed certain occult properties. At one time it was believed by the Greeks and the Turks that the use of this vegetable, or even the mention of its name, was a sure charm against the "evil eye," and against vampires. New-built houses and the sterns of boats belonging to Greece and Turkey, had long bunches of garlic hanging from them as a preventive against the fatal envy of any ill-disposed person.

In modern times garlic is prized not only for the flavor it adds to food, but for its remarkable health benefits.

[See Herbs]

Garnier, Gilles: Accused of being a werewolf, condemned at Dole, under Louis XIII., for having devoured a number of children. He was burned alive, and his body, after being reduced to ashes, was scattered to the winds.

Garrett, (Eileen):

Gerald Gardner: was the British civil servant, folklorist, and protege of Aleister Crowley who founded the Wiccan religion in 1954. Gardner blended elements of Ritual magick, traditional European Paganism, and his own personal philosophy into a new religion he called "Wicca," or "wise."

Gastromancy: or divination from the belly, is now generally explained by ventriloquism, the voice in both cases sounding low and hollow, as if issuing from the ground. Another method of practicing ancient gastromancy connects it with crystal seeing, as vessels of glass, round, and full of clear water, were used, which were placed before several lighted candles. In this case, a young boy or girl was generally the seer, and the demon was summoned in a low voice by the magician. Replies were then obtained from the magical appearances seen in the illuminated glass vessels.

Geller, Uri: 

Gematria: along with temurah, was the science of the dual interpretation of the Kabbalistic alphabet, which composed the notary art, which is fundamentally the complete science of the tarot signs and their complex and varied application to the definition of all secrets.

Gemini: The Third Sign of the Zodiac. v. Signs.

Germany: (For early German magic, see Teutons)
Magic as formulated and believed in by the Germans in the Middle Ages, bears, along with traces of its unmistakable derivation from the ancient Teutonic religion, the impress of the influence wrought by the natural characteristics of the country upon the mind of its inhabitants Deep forests, gloomy mountains, limitless morasses, caverned rocks, mysterious springs, all these helped to shape the weird and terrible imagination which may be traced in Teutonic mythology, and later in the darker and more repulsive aspects of magic and witchcraft -- which first arose in Germany, and there obtained ready credence.

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Ghost: a deceased person or its image appearing to the living. It is a popular term which does not include apparitions of the living.

Ghoul:

Glamourie: The state of mind in which witches beheld apparitions and visions of many kinds. Of the same nature as phantasy.

Glastonbury:

Global Warming: The unnatural elevation of the Earth's global temperatures due to an increase in greenhouse gases.

Gnomes: In Alchemical tradition, are the elemental creatures of Fire. The name was created by the Alchemist Paracelsus, who described gnomes as beings who could travel freely through the element of earth. These small, dark man-like creatures were the guardians of mines, caves, and other domains of the interior of earth. The gnomes are related to the dwarves of Greek mythology, and the alchemical characters in the fairy tale Snow White.

Gnosticism: Under the designation "Gnostics," several widely-differing sects were included, the term, derived from the Greek, meaning, " to know" in opposition to mere theory. Simultaneously with Christianity, these sects assumed a definite form, the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire being their sphere of operations at first. Their doctrines were an admixture of Indian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Christian creeds, astrology and magic, with much of the Jewish Kabbala also. From Alexandria, that centre of mystic learning, much of their distinctive beliefs and ritual were derived, while it seems certain that to a certain extent they became affiliated with Mithraism (q.v.), to whose sheltering kindness Occidental Christianity also owed much. Most of the sects had a priesthood of the mysteries, and these initiated priests practiced magic arts-astrology, incantations, exorcisms, the fashioning of charms talismans and amulets, of which many are extant at the present day. It is said that the Grecian mysteries, the Eleusinian and Cabiric, for instance, were celebrated by the Gnostic sects down to a late date. They were looked upon as heretics and sorcerers by the Church, and were the victims of relentless persecution.

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Gnosis: (Gr.) Lit. "knowledge." The technical term used by the schools of religious philosophy, both before and during the first centuries of so-called Christianity, to denote the object of their enquiry. This spiritual and sacred knowledge, the Gupta-Vidya of the Hindus, could only be obtained by Initiation into Spiritual Mysteries of which the ceremonial "Mysteries" were a type.

Gnostics: (Gr.) The philosophers who formulated and taught the "Gnosis" or knowledge. They flourished in the first three centuries of the Christian Era. The following were eminent: Valentinus, Basilides, Marcion, Simon Magus, etc.

Goat: The devil is frequently represented under the shape of a goat, and as such presided over the witches' Sabbath. The goat is also the " emblem of sinful men at the day of judgment." (See Baphomet; Witchcraft.)

Goblin: A spirit formerly supposed to lurk in houses. They were generally of a mischievous and grotesque type. Hobgoblins, according to Junius, were so called because they were not wont to hop on one leg. 

God: According to the ancient magical conception of God in the scheme of the universe; evil is the inevitable contrast and complement of good. God permits the existence of the shadow in order that it may intensify the purity of the light. Indeed he has created both and they are inseparable the one being necessary to. and incomprehensible without the other.

The very idea of goodness loses its meaning if considered apart from that of evil—Gabriei is a foil to Satan and Satan to Gabriel. The dual nature of the spiritual world penetrates into every department of life material and spiritual. It is typified in light and darkness, cold and heat, truth and error, in brief, the names of any two opposing forces will serve to illustrate the great primary law of nature— viz. the continual conflict between the positive or good and the negative or evil. source of all numerical combinations. According to theology there are three persons in God, and these three form one Deity. Three and one make four because unity is-required to explain the Three. Hence, in almost all languages, the name of God consists of four letters. Again, two affirmations make two negations either possible or necessary. According to the Kabalists the name of the Evil one consisted of the same four letters spelled backward, signifying that evil is merely the reflection or shadow of good—" The last reflection or imperfect mirage of light in shadow."

All which exists in light or darkness, good or evil, exists through the tetrad. The triad or trinity, then, is explained by the duad and resolved by the tetrad.

Golden Dawn:

Graal, The Lost Book of the: The origin of the Graal legend, which is, of course, speculative. Seven ancient books are cited as being the possible cradle of the story, but none of them quite meet the case. In the Huth Merlin, a " Book of the Sanctuary " is referred to, but this is a book of records, not containing any special spiritual allusion.

If, and it is very doubtful if, such a book ever existed, it was most probably a Mass book, extant about noo. Its contents would relate to a Mass following the Last Supper, in which Christ gave Himself, the Priest serving. The mystery is threefold, (i) of Origin, which is part of the mystery of the Incarnation. (2) of Manifestation, which would have taken place had the world been worthy. (3) of Removal: this world being unworthy, the Graal was said to be removed, yet not hidden, for it is always discernible by anyone worthy, or qualified to see it. As has been said, it is not probable that such a Mass-book ever existed.

Grail, (Holy): A portion of the Arthurian cycle of romance, of late origin embodying a number of tales dealing with the search for a certain vessel of great sanctity, called the "grail" or "graal." Versions of the story are numerous— the most celebrated of them being the Conte del Graal, the Grand St. Graal, Sir Percyvalle, Quete del St. Graal, and Guyot; but there are many others. These overlap in many respects, but the standard form of the story may perhaps be found in the Grand St. Graal—one of the latest versions, which dates from the thirteenth century. It tells how Joseph of Arimathea employed a dish used at the last supper to catch the blood of the Redeemer which flowed from his body before his burial. The wanderings of Joseph are then described. He leads a band to Britain, where he is cast into prison, but is delivered by Evelach or: Mordrains, who is instructed by Christ to assist him. This Mordrains builds a monastery where the Grail is housed. Brons, Joseph's brother-in-law, has a son Alain, who is appointed guardian of the Grail; and this Alain having caught a great fish, with which he feeds the entire household, is called the Rich Fisher, which title becomes that of the Grail keepers in perpetuity. Alain placed the Grail in the castle of Corbenic, and thence in due time come various knights of King Arthur's court in quest of the holy vessel, but only the purest of the pure can approach its vicinity; and in due time Percival attains to sight of the marvel.

It is probable that the Grail idea was originated by early mediaeval legends of the quest for talismans which conferred great boons upon the finder: as for example, the Shoes of Swiftness, the Cloak of Invisibility, the Ring of Gyges, and so forth; and that these stories were interpreted in the light and spirit of mediaeval Christianity and mysticism. They may be divided into two classes: those which are connected with the quest for certain talismans, of which the Grail is only one, and which deal with the personality of the hero who achieved the quest; and secondly those which deal with the nature and history of the talismans.

A great deal of controversy has raged around the probable Eastern origin of the Grail Legend, and much erudition has been employed to show that Guyot, a Provencal poet who flourished in the middle of the twelfth century, found at Toledo in Spain an Arabian book by an astrologer, Flegitanis, which contained the Grail story. But the name "Flegitanis" can by no means be an Arabian proper name; and it might perhaps be the Persian feleke-ddneh, a Persian combined word which signifies " astrology," and in this case it would be the title of an astrological work. Professor Bergmann and others believed that the Holy Legend originated in the mind of Guyot himself; but this conclusion was strongly combated by the late Alfred Nutt. There is, however, good reason to believe that the story may have been brought from the East by the Knights Templar. The Grail Legend has often been held by certain writers to buttress the theory that the Church of England or the Catholic Church has existed since the foundation of the world. From early Christian times the genealogy of these churches is traced back through the patriarchs to numerous apocryphal persons ; but we are not informed as to whether it possessed hierophants in Neolithic and Paleolithic times, or how it originated. This mischievous and absurd theory, which in reality would identify Christianity with the grossest forms of paganism, is luckily confined to a small band of pseudo-mystics, comprising for the most part persons of small erudition and less liberality of outlook. The Grail Legend was readily embraced by those persons, who saw in it a link between Palestine and England and a plea for the special and separate foundation of the Anglican Church by direct emissaries from the Holy Land. Glastonbury was fixed as the headquarters of the Grail immigrants, and the finding of a glass dish in the vicinity of the cathedral there not many years ago was held to be confirmation of the story by many of the faithful. The exact date of this vessel cannot successfully be gauged, but there is not the least reason to suppose that it is more than a few hundred years old.

(See Tradition.)

Grail Sword: Associated with the Holy Grail in Arthurian Legend. Its history begins with King David who bequeathed it to Solomon who was bidden to re-cast the pommel. In Solomon's time it was placed in a ship built and luxuriously furnished by Solomon's wife. Subsequently discovered by the Knights of the Quest, it was assumed and worn by Galahad.

Grand cycle: From the Michael teachings, a cycle of experience that begins when we are cast from the Tao. It includes our physical-plane incarnations and our subsequent progression through the higher planes. It is complete when we are fully reabsorbed back into the Tao.

Grand Grimoire: A work pretended to be edited by a suppositious person, Antonia del Rabina, who, it is alleged, prepared his edition from a copy transcribed from the genuine writings of King Soloman. This work is divided into two parts: the first contains the evocation of Lucifage Rocofale (see Ceremonial Magic in article "magic,"); the second being concerned with the rite of making pacts with demons. The work is regarded as one of the most atrocious of its type; but there is little reason for such heavy condemnation, as its childish and absurd character must be patent to everyone. Eliphas Levi says it pretends to confer the Powder of Protection, that great mystery of the sages, but that in reality ot confers the Power of Consecution -- whatever that may imply. The first portion of the Grand Grimoire is a process for the evocation of evil spirits to assist the operator to discover hidden treasure. The second part, that which deals with facts, suggests the surender of the magician body and soul to the demon, and it is in this that the diabolical excellences of the work consist. But the pact, as it stands, is grossly unfair to the devil, for the worshipping of it is such that the magician can readly slip through his fingers.

Grays:

Greece: That magic in its widest sense was native to the imagination and genius of the Greeks is apparent in their theology and mythology, essentially magical in conception and meaning, in their literature, sculpture and history. The natural features of the country appealed powerfully to the quality of their imagination. Mountains and valleys, mysterious caves and fissures, vapors and springs of volcanic origin; groves,—these according to their character, were dedicated to the gods. Parnassus was the abode of the sun-god, Apollo ; the lovely vale of Aphaca that of Adonis; the oak-groves of Dodona favored of Zeus, the gloomy caves with their roar of subterranean waters the Oracle of Trophonius. Innumerable instances of magical wonder-working are found in the stories of their deities and heroes.

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Greenhouse Effect: kkkkk

Gregg, (David): is the creator and webmaster of New Age Village. He is a long-time enthusiast of new age philosophy and also runs the Michael Teachings website, where he's an active student. Dave is a professional musician in the Los Angeles area, performing on both saxophone and clarinet. He enjoys reading fine literature, writes short stories and poetry, and channels part-time. 

[Read some of Dave's channeling online.]

Grimoire: A Grimoire is a book containing spells or incantations, or a system of magick. Many such books were produced during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A text-book of Black Magic.

The three best known grimoires are the Grimorium Verum, the Grand Grimoire, and the Grimoires of Pope Honorius. Black magic (q.v.) is of course an ignorant and superstitions perversion of the true science, and the grimoires well illustrate this—their most noticeable feature being their utter futility. The grimoires, in fact, cannot be taken seriously, and the diabolic practices contained in their pages are more absurd than fearsome. Before entering upon them, the rites of the church are practiced as a pre­liminary and fasting is observed. The great object of the grimoires is to invoke the infernal powers, and at the same time to trick them. The fiends are treated as imbeciles. In the grinwire, the magician is instructed how, when selling them his soul, he may deceive them by a play upon words. One of the chief desires of the sorcerer of the middle ages was to discover hidden treasure by means of Satanic agency, and having found it to devote himself to good deeds and the distribution of his wealth among the poor.

Abstinence from every species of impurity is strongly insisted upon for the space of an entire quarter of the moon, and the sorcerer most solemnly promises the grand Adonai (q.v.), the Master of all Spirits, that he shall not eat more than two meals per diem, and that these shall be' prefaced by prayer. The operator must change his apparel as seldom as possible, and sleep only on occasion, meditating continually on his undertaking, and centering all his hopes in the infinite goodness of Adonai, who is undoubtedly the supreme deity, and not as might be thought a master-fiend. But the grimoires teem with mystifications, and it is frequently difficult to discern their real meaning. In the three grimoires alluded to, the infernal hierarchy is described at length— (See Demonology); but the principal contents of these works are evocations and spells for the gaining over of the diabolical powers to the purposes of the sorcerer. That they were employed by veritable professors of the art of black magic is rather unlikely, as the real black magician had very much higher aims than the mere unearthing of buried treasure, and it is most probable that they were for the most part in use among amateurs of the art, who dabbled in it merely in the hope of enriching themselves.

Grimoire of Honorius, The: A magical work published at Rome in 1629, and not, as is generally thought, connected in any way with Kabbalistic magic. The work is indeed permeated with Christian ideas. It is extremely unlikely that it is the work of the Roman Bishop known as Honorius. The work has been called "a malicious and somewhat clever imposture," since it pretends to convey the sanction of the Papal Chair to the operators of necromancy. It deals with' the evocation of the rebellious angels.

Grimorium Verum, The: This magical text-book was first published in 1517, and purported to be translated from the Hebrew. It is based to some extent upon the Key of Solomon (q.v.), and is quite honest in its statement that it proposes to invoke devils," which it refers to the four elements, so that these would appear to be of the type of elementary spirits (q.v.). A part of the account it gives regarding the hierarchy of spirits is taken from the Lemegeton (q.v.). The work is divided into three portions: the first describing the characters and seals of the demons, xvith the forms of their evocation and dismissal; the second gives a description of the supernatural secrets which can be learned by the power of the demons; and the third is the key of the work and its proper application. But these divisions only outline what it purports to place before the reader, as the whole work is a mass of confusion. The plates which supply the characters do not apply to the text. The book really consists of two parts—the Grimorium Verum itself, and a second portion, which consists of magical secrets. The first supplies directions for the preparation of the magician based on those of the Clavicle of Solomon. Instructions for the manufacture of magical instruments, and the composition of a parchment on which the characters and seals arc to be inscribed, as well as the processes of evocation and dismissal. The second part contains the '' admirable secrets" of the pretended Albertus Magnus, the " Petit Albert" and so forth. The work is only partially diabolical in character, and some of its processes might claim to be classed as White Magic.

Groom Lake: According to some accounts, Groom Lake is the location of secret underground bases and Area 51. The base is said to be 7 levels deep and some believe the US government conducts testing of UFOs they have built with alien technology.

Gyromancy: Was performed by going round continually in a circle, the circumference of which was marked by letters. The presage was drawn from the words formed by the letters on which the inquirers stumbled when they became too giddy to stand. The object of this curcumcursation was simply to exclude the interference of the will, and reduce the selection of letters to mere chance. In some species of enchantment, however, the act of turning round was to produce a prophetic delirium. The religious dances, and the rotation of certain fanatics on one foot, with their arms stretched out, are of this nature. These cases really indicate a magical secret, of which, however, the deluded victims rarely possessed any knowledge. In the phenomenon of St. Vitus's Dance, and the movements of the convulsionares, manifestations of spiritual intelligence were quite common.