Abortion rights The right to access safe and legal termination of pregnancy.
Allyship Active support of marginalised communities.
Asexual A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction.
Agency The capacity to act independently and make one’s own choices.
Autonomy Rights to make decisions about one’s body, career, and life.
B
Butler, Judith (b. 1956) American feminist and queer theorist associated with the concept of gender performativity.
Black feminism Feminist thought centred on the experiences and analysis of Black women.
Bodily autonomy The right to make decisions about one’s own body without coercion or control.
C
Cis-gender Someone whose gender is the same as the sex assigned to them at birth.
Community & Collective Liberation: Individual empowerment is inseparable from community wellbeing.
Consent: Freely given, informed, and voluntary agreement to participate in an activity.
Critique of Mainstream Feminism: Highlights how early feminist movements centered white, middle-class women.
D
Date rape: Sexual assault committed by someone known to the victim.
Deconstruction of Gender Roles Challenging socially assigned roles and expectations.
Diversity: The presence and inclusion of varied gender, racial, and social identities.
Discourse: Systems of language and meaning that shape social reality.
E
Empowerment Expanding agency, voice, and influence for women and marginalized groups.
Emotional labour The management of emotions to meet social expectations, often gendered.
Endosex Someone whose body is consistent with the binary sex norms (chromosomes, gonads and genitals consistent of one sex)
Equality The principle that all genders should have the same rights, opportunities, and status.
Equity Fair treatment that accounts for structural disadvantage in order to achieve justice.
Exclusion The marginalisation or denial of access to rights, resources, or representation.
F
Feminism A movement and body of theory advocating gender equality and challenging systems that produce gender-based oppression; the belief that men and women have equal worth
G
Gender The sex with which one identifies
Gender Performativity (Butler) Gender is a set of repeated actions, not an innate identity.
H
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the replacement of one sex hormone (estrogen or testosterone) for another
I
Identity Affirmation Actions supporting and validating a person’s identity.
Interlocking Oppressions Racism, sexism, classism, and later other forms like ableism and heterosexism are intertwined.
Intersectionality (Crenshaw) How overlapping identities (race, class, sexuality) affect experience of oppression.
Intersex Someone whose body is not consistent with the binary sex norms (may have chromosomes, gonads and genitals of both sexes. As this can include chromosomes and internal organs it is not always obvious it is possible to be intersex without knowing)
J
Justice (gender justice): Fair treatment and structural equality across genders.
Juridical power: Power exercised through laws and formal institutions, often analysed in feminist theory.
K
Klein bottle (metaphor): Sometimes used in gender theory to symbolise fluidity and non-binary structure.
L
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others — inclusive of diverse identities.
M
Male gaze: The depiction of women from a heterosexual male perspective that presents them as objects of desire.
Misogyny: Hatred, contempt, or prejudice against women.
Masculinity: Socially constructed norms and expectations associated with being male.
Metoo movement: A global movement addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Microaggression: Subtle, often everyday expressions of prejudice or bias.
II. Mind & Body
A
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): A therapy approach focused on psychological flexibility and acting according to personal values.
B
Behavioural Activation: A therapy approach using purposeful action to improve mood and reduce avoidance.
Behaviourism: A school of psychology focused on observable behaviour and how it is shaped by learning and environment.
C
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): A therapy approach focusing on connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Cognitive Dissonance: Psychological discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviours.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — A therapeutic approach focused on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
Cognitive Bias: Systematic patterns of thinking that influence judgement and perception.
Complex Trauma: A term often used to describe effects of repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences (not a standalone DSM-5-TR diagnosis).
Conditioning, Classical: Learning through association between stimuli.
Conditioning, Operant: Learning through consequences, including reinforcement and punishment.
Conformity: Changing behaviour or beliefs due to social influence.
Co-regulation: The process of receiving support from another being or nature to help stabilize emotions and develop self-regulation.
D
DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy): A therapy approach combining emotional regulation skills, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.
Defence Mechanisms: Psychological strategies used to manage difficult emotions or internal conflicts.
Dissociation: A disruption in the normal integration of thoughts, memories, identity, emotions, or perception.
E
Emotional Regulation — The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a balanced and adaptive way.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) — The capacity to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and those of others.
Executive Functioning: Mental processes involved in planning, organisation, attention, impulse control, and flexibility.
F
Flow State: A state of deep absorption and engagement in an activity, associated with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
G
Gaslighting: A pattern of psychological manipulation where a person is made to doubt their own perceptions, memories, or judgement. (Commonly used in psychology and public discourse, though not a DSM-5-TR diagnosis.)
Generalisation: The process of applying a learned response or belief from one situation to similar situations. In behaviourism, it describes responding to stimuli that resemble the original learned stimulus.
Generativity: A developmental psychology concept describing the desire to contribute, create, nurture, or guide future generations. Associated with adult development.
Gestalt Theory: A psychological theory based on the idea that humans perceive and understand experiences as organised wholes rather than as separate individual parts. Originating in early 20th-century psychology, Gestalt theory suggests that the mind naturally seeks patterns, connections, and meaning. It is often summarised by the principle that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Growth Mindset: The belief that abilities and skills can develop through learning, effort, and experience.
Grief: A psychological response to loss, involving emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and sometimes physical processes.
Grounding Techniques: Psychological techniques used to reconnect with the present moment, often used for anxiety, overwhelm, or dissociation.
Guilt: A self-conscious emotion involving the perception that one has violated a value, rule, or expectation.
Group Dynamics: The study of how individuals behave, communicate, and influence one another within groups.
Groupthink: A social psychological phenomenon where the desire for agreement within a group reduces critical thinking and independent judgement.
H
Habit Formation: The process by which repeated behaviours become automatic.
Homeostasis: The body’s ability to maintain internal balance and stability.
Hypothesis: A testable explanation or prediction used in scientific research.
Hypnotherapy: A therapeutic technique using guided relaxation and focused attention to support changes in thoughts, feelings, or behaviours.
Hypervigilance: A state of increased alertness to possible threats, often associated with stress or trauma responses.
Holistic Approach: An approach that considers the whole person, including biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.
I
Identity: A person’s sense of self, including beliefs, values, roles, and personal continuity over time.
Identity Formation: The developmental process through which a stable sense of self develops, often shaped by social and psychological influences.
Intergenerational Trauma: Trauma passed down through generations, affecting family patterns and mental health.
Intrinsic Motivation: Engaging in an activity because it is inherently satisfying or meaningful, rather than for external rewards.
Internalisation: The process of absorbing external norms, values, or behaviours into one’s own belief system.
Interpersonal Dynamics: The patterns of interaction, communication, and emotional exchange between people.
Introspection: The process of examining one’s own thoughts, feelings, and mental states.
J
K
L
M
III. Metaphysics & Ritual
A
Altar: A sacred space used for magic, reflection, or honouring spirits.
B
Brigid Flame: A symbolic reference to enduring inner fire and creative renewal, often invoked during late winter observances as a metaphor for returning light.
C
Cleansing: A practice of symbolic purification, often using water, smoke, salt, or breath to signify renewal.
D
Discernment: The cultivated ability to distinguish intuition from impulse, symbolism from projection.
Divination: A symbolic method of reflection that uses structured tools or imagery to access insight and perspective.
E
Embodiment: The integration of thought, emotion, and physical presence within ritual practice.
Energetic Hygiene: Intentional habits that support emotional clarity and psychological boundaries.
Emotional Alchemy: The practice of transforming reactive feeling into insight and growth.
F
Fire Tending: The intentional act of sitting with flame, symbolising focus, transformation, and sustained devotion.
