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

POWER HAND (aka Projective Hand)

In most Western Magickal Paths and Traditions, the hand that projects energy from the body. Two theories have formed around this concept. One is that the power hand is the hand that is dominant with the individual (i.e. the hand one writes with). However, some studies have allegedly uncovered that regardless of whether the individual is right or left handed, more energy flows from the right hand and therefore this hand is designated the power hand. This is still a matter of debate and could remain so for quite some time. One's power hand is also refered to as his projective hand. Compare with the "Receptive Hand".

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 definition 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 differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc