Dictionary of Magic & Occultism V - Z

Valhalla In Norse mythology, when the souls
of heroes are killed in battle, they spend
eternity in a great hall, which is called
Valhalla. From the Old Norse valhall, literally
meaning hall of the slain.
Valkyrie One of the 12 handmaids of Odin in
Norse mythology who ride their horses
over the battlefield as they escort the souls
of slain heroes to Valhalla. From the Old
Norse Valkyrja, meaning literally chooser
of the slain.
vision From the Latin vis, to see. Faculty of
sight or a mental image produced by imagination.
Can refer to a mystical experience
of seeing as if with the eyes, only through a
supernatural means such as in a dream,
trance, or through a supernatural being,
and one which often has religious, revelatory,
or prophetic significance.
voodoo From Louisiana French, voudou or
vodu, meaning “fetish.” A religion mainly
practiced in the Caribbean countries,
especially Haiti, that is comprised of a
combination of Roman Catholic rituals
and animistic beliefs involving fetishes,
magic, charms, spells, curses, and communication
with ancestral spirits.
white magick The use of magic for supposed
good purposes such as to counteract evil.
Wiccan Someone who is a witch, a believer or
follower of the religion of Wicca.
wizard A variant of the fifteenth century word
wisard, meaning “wise.” Someone professing
to have magical powers as a magician, sorcerer,
or a male witch. In general, someone
who is extremely knowledgeable and clever.
zoology The scientific branch of biology that
studies animals in all their characteristics
and aspects. From the Greek zoologia, literally
the study of life and from zolion, or life
form.
Zoroaster A Persian prophet (c. 628 B.C.E.–
c. 551 B.C.E.) and the founder of an ancient
religion called Zoroastrianism whose principal
belief is in a supreme deity and of the
existence of a dualism between good and
evil. Derived from the Greek word Zarat or
Zarathustra, meaning camel handler.