Dictionary of Magic & Occultism I - J

Ice Age Any of the periods of extreme cold or
glacial epochs in the history of Earth when
temperatures fell, resulting in large areas of
Earth’s surface covered with glaciers; the
most recent one occurring during the
Pleistocene epoch.
incantation From fourteenth-century French,
cantare, meaning “to sing” via Latin—
incantare—“to chant.” The chanting,
recitation or uttering of words supposed to
produce a magical effect or power.
incarnation A period of time in which a spirit
or soul dwells in a bodily form or condition.
One of a series of lives spent in a
physical form.
indigenous From a mid-seventeenth century
word indigena, literally meaning “born-in,”
and from gignere, meaning “to beget.”
Inborn, intrinsic, or belonging to a place,
such as originating, growing, or living in
an area, environment, region, or country.
Inquisition Fourteenth century, from Latin
inquirere via Old French inquisicion, meaning
“to inquire.” In the thirteenth century,
Roman Catholicism appointed a special
tribunal or committee whose chief function
was to combat, suppress and punish
heresy against the church. Remaining
active until the modern era, the official
investigations were often harsh and unfair.
insurrectionist Someone who is in rebellion
or revolt against an established authority,
ruler, or government.
intergalactic Something that is located, or is
moving, between two or more galaxies.
Invocation The act of calling upon or appealing
to a higher power such as a deity, spirit,
or God for assistance. A form of prayer,
that invites God’s presence, at the beginning
of a ceremony or meeting. In black
magick, can be the casting of a spell or formula
to invite an evil spirit to appear.
ions An atom or group of atoms that are electrically
charged through the process of
gaining or losing one or more electrons.
From the Greek ion meaning moving
thing; and from the present participle of
ienai meaning to go —from the movement
of any ion toward the electrode of the
opposite charge.
jinni In Islamic or Muslim legend, a spirit that
is capable of taking on the shape of
humans or animals in order to perform
mischievous acts or to exercise supernatural
power and influence over humans. From
the Arabic jinn, which is the plural of jinni.