Dictionary of Magic & Occultism G-H

Geiger counter An instrument named after its
inventor, German physicist Hans Geiger
(1882–1945), that is used to measure and
detect such things as particles from
radioactive materials.
geoglyphics Lines, designs, or symbols left in
the earth, such as those in Egypt, Malta,
Chile, Bolivia, and Peru with a mysterious,
ancient, and puzzling origin.
Gestalt therapy A type of psychotherapy that
puts a emphasis on a person’s feelings as
revealing desired or undesired personality
traits and how they came to be, by examining
unresolved issues from the past.
Gnostic From the Greek, gnostikos, meaning
“concerning knowledge.” A believer in
Gnosticism, or relating to or possessing spiritual
or intellectual knowledge or wisdom.
guardian angel A holy, divine being that
watches over, guides, and protects humans.
hallucinations A false or distorted perception
of events during which one vividly imagines
seeing, hearing or sensing objects or
other people to be present, when in fact
they are not witnessed by others.
haruspicy A method of divining or telling the
future by examining the entrails of animals.
heresy The willful, persistent act of adhering
to an opinion or belief that rejects or contradicts
established teachings or theories
that are traditional in philosophy, religion,
science, or politics.
heretic From the Greek hairetikos, meaning
“able to choose.” Someone who does not
conform or whose opinions, theories, or
beliefs contradict the conventional established
teaching, doctrines, or principles,
especially that of religion.
hieroglyphics A writing system of ancient Egypt
that uses symbols or pictures to signify
sounds, objects, or concepts. Can also refer
to any writing or symbols that are difficult to
decipher. The word comes from an ancient
Greek term meaning “sacred carving.”
hierophant From the Latin hierophanta and
Greek hierophantes, meaning literally a
“sacred person who reveals something.”
An ancient Greek priest who revealed or
interpreted the sacred mysteries, or holy
doctrines, at the annual festival of Eleusis.
hoax An act of deception that is intended to
make people think or believe something is
real when it is not.
Homo sapiens Mankind or humankind, the
species of modern human beings.

horoscope From Greek horoskopos, literally
meaning “time observer” and from hora
meaning “time, or hour,” referring to the
time of birth. A diagram or astrological
forecast based on the relative position in
the heavens of the stars and planets in the
signs of the zodiac, at any given moment,
but especially at the moment of one’s
birth.
hypnagogic Relating to or being in the state
between wakefulness and sleep where one
is drowsy. From the French hypnagogique
meaning literally leading to sleep.
hypnopompic Typical of or involving the state
between sleeping and waking. Coined
from hypno and Greek pompe, meaning a
sending away.
hypnosis The process of putting or being in a
sleeplike state, although the person is not
sleeping. It can be induced by suggestions
or methods of a hypnotist.
hypothesis A theory or assumption that needs
further exploration, but which is used as a
tentative explanation until further data
confirms or denies it. From the Greek
hupothesis meaning foundation or base.