Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

ABRA-MELIN

An ancient Hebrew system of magic incorporating parts of the Kabbalah but with allegedly Greek Iamblichan origins (Iamblichus was the celebrated neo-Platonist better known as Plotinus). This seems unlikely since the lamblichan philosophy is Pagan while Abra-Melin is essentially Judaeo-Christian.

Practised in Europe during the medieval period and later by some notable modern magicians, including Aleister Crowley and Alexander Sanders, it follows the Gnostic and Zoroastrian premises that the spiritual and physical balance in the world is established between forces of light and dark. The present-day discipline probably derives from material originating in France and dating to no earlier than 18th century.

Abra-Melin is akin to Wicca, incorporating many of the traditional accoutrements of the Craft but with distinct doctrinal differences. It is a very austere magic based on the assumption that everything depends on the spiritual condition of the Magus. It includes 360 magical symbols, each relating to an aspect of nature.

see also: GRIMOIRE

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one defintion may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differring practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc