Dictionary of Magic & Occultism M - N

magus A priest, wizard, or someone who is
skilled or learned, especially in astrology,
magic, sorcery, or the like.
manitou A supernatural force, or spirit that
suffuses various living things, as well as
inanimate objects, according to the Algonquian
peoples. In the mythology of the
Ojibwa of the eastern United States, Manitou
is the name of the supreme deity, or
God, and means “Great Spirit.”
manna The food miraculously supplied to the
Israelites by God, according to the Old Testament,
as they wandered in the wilderness
during their flight from Egypt. Spiritual
nourishment or something of value
received of divine origin or unexpectedly.
materialization Something that appears suddenly,
as if out of nowhere. In the paranormal
it might be a ghost or spirit that suddenly
appears to take on a physical form.
medium In the paranormal, someone who is
able to convey messages between the spirits
of the deceased and the spirits of the living.
megalith A very large stone that is usually a
part of a monument or prehistoric architecture.
Mesopotamia Greek word, meaning “between
two rivers.” An ancient region that was
located between the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers in what is today, modern Iraq and
Syria. Some of the world’s earliest and
greatest ancient civilizations such as Ur,
Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia were developed
in that region.
messiah A leader who is regarded as a liberator
or savior. In Christianity, the Messiah
is Jesus Christ (c. 6 B.C.E.–c. 30 C.E.), in
Judaism, it is the king who will lead the
Jews back to the Holy Land of Israel and
establish world peace.
metaphysical Relating to abstract thought or
the philosophical study of the nature of
existence and truth.
metrology The scientific system or study of
measurements. From the Greek metrologie,
meaning theory of ratios and metron, or
measure.
mortician An undertaker or one who prepares
dead bodies for burial and funerals.
narcolepsy A condition where a person
uncontrollably falls asleep at odd times
during daily activities and/or for long
extended periods of time. Hallucinations
and even paralysis might also accompany
this condition.
near-death experience A mystical-like occurrence
or sensation that individuals on the
brink of death or who were dead, but
brought back to life, have described which
includes leaving their physical body and
hovering over it as though they were a
bystander.
neo-paganism Someone who believes in a
contemporary or modernized version of
the religions which existed before Chris-
tianity, especially those with a reverence
for nature over the worship of a divine or
supreme being.
neophyte From the Latin neophytus and Greek
neophutos or phuein, “to plant” or “cause to
grow”—literally meaning “newly planted.”
A beginner or novice at a particular task or
endeavor. Somebody who is a recent convert
to a belief. A newly ordained priest, or
someone who is new to a religious order,
but who has not yet taken their vows, so is
not yet a part of the order.
neuron The basic functional unit of the nervous
system a cell body that consists of an
axon and dendrites and transmit nerve
impulses. A neuron is also called a nerve
cell. Via German from Greek neuron,
meaning sinew, cord, or nerve.
Novena of Masses In the Roman Catholic
Church, the recitation of prayers or devotions
for a particular purpose, for nine consecutive
days. From the Latin nus, meaning
nine each and from novern, meaning nine.