Since they had severed much contact with the Tibetans since ancient times, along with some Buddhist influence, the Pumi had largely practiced Animism and ancestor worship, a religion locally known as Zanbala. However, through the efforts of Tibetan Buddhist missionaries from Tibet, a significant proportion have adopted the Gelugpa and Kagyu lineage of Lamaism, much of whom are those in Sichuan. The Zanbala religion, also locally known as Dingba, literally means white earth. It is noted that the Pumi around Ninglang still instal ...

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Pumi, Pumi - Script, Pumi - History, Pumi - Religion, Pumi - Culture, Pumi - Lifestyle

Read more here: » Pumi: Encyclopedia II - Pumi - Religion

Hindus believe in Ahimsa (non-violence). Even the oldest of their religious texts speak about earth, fire, water and air but not about animal sacrifices. Some very small sects residing in the Indian region practise animal killings. In India, some semi-tribal Hindus, as well as some worshipper-communities of Shaktism (the Mother Goddess) offer sacrifice of goats and buffaloes to the deity, but this practise is by and large quickly vanishing, being condemned by other Hindus as superstitious and as inconsistent with Hindu concepts of compassion ...

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Sacrifice, Sacrifice - Theologies of sacrifice, Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Judaism, Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Islam, Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Hinduism, Sacrifice - Animal sacrifice, Sacrifice - Human sacrifice, Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Christianity, Sacrifice - Sacrifice in games

Read more here: » Sacrifice: Encyclopedia II - Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Hinduism

AMORC is a world wide organization, established in the United States of America as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, with the specific and primary purpose of advancing the knowledge of its history, principles, and teachings for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. It is financed mainly through fees paid by its members. Income is used by the organization to pay expenses, develop new prog ...

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Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Organization and structure, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - AMORC Leadership, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Schism in AMORC and New Organizations, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - History, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Publications, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Rosicrucian Digest, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Rosicrucian Forum, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Rose+Croix Journal, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Mastery of Life, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - The Positio Fraternitatis Rosæ Crucis, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Conferences and Councils, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Headquarters, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Radio Programs, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Criticism, Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Related topics

Read more here: » Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis: Encyclopedia II - Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis - Organization and structure

Although many rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day. Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of Birth itself. In ancient times Iyers performed rituals when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. However, this practice is not followed in modern times. At the time of birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. Then Iyers undergo the naming ceremony. This affair is important as the name given during this cere ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals

Prayer - Hindu Prayer. Hinduism has incorporated many kinds of prayer, from fire-based rituals to philosophical musings. Prayer was part and parcel of the Vedic lifestyle, and as such permeated their books. Indeed, the highest sacred texts of the Hindus, the Vedas, are a large collection of mantras (sacred hymns of Hindus, later adopted by Buddhists) and prayer rituals extolling a single supreme force, Brahman, that is made manifest in several lower forms as the familiar gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus in Indi ...

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Prayer, Prayer - Approaches, Prayer - The act of prayer, Prayer - Prayer in the Abrahamic religions, Prayer - Prayer in the Bible, Prayer - Jewish prayer, Prayer - Christian prayer, Prayer - Islamic prayer, Prayer - Bahá'í prayer, Prayer - Prayer in other religions, Prayer - Hindu Prayer, Prayer - Buddhism, Prayer - Prayer in Jainism, Prayer - Neopagan Prayers, Prayer - Philosophical paradoxes of prayer, Prayer - The educational approach, Prayer - The Kabbalistic view of prayer, Prayer - The rationalist approach, Prayer - The experiential approach, Prayer - Experimental evaluation of prayer, Prayer - Historical polytheistic prayer, Prayer - Prevalence, Prayer - References and footnotes

Read more here: » Prayer: Encyclopedia II - Prayer - Prayer in other religions

Wicca - Origins. The history of Wicca is much debated. Gardner claimed that the religion was a survival of matriarchal Pagan religions of pre-historic Europe (see Völva), taught to him by a woman known as "Dafo" or "Old Dorothy" (identified by Doreen Valiente (1984) as Dorothy Clutterbuck, although modern researchers such as Philip Heselton have theorized that Dafo and Clutterbuck were two separate individuals). Others posit that he invented it himself, following the thesis of Dr. Margaret Murray and sources suc ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - History of Wicca

Wicca - Origins. The history of Wicca is much debated. Gardner claimed that the religion was a survival of matriarchal Pagan religions of pre-historic Europe (see Völva), taught to him by a woman known as "Dafo" or "Old Dorothy" (identified by Doreen Valiente (1984) as Dorothy Clutterbuck, although modern researchers such as Philip Heselton have theorized that Dafo and Clutterbuck were two separate individuals). Others posit that he invented it himself, following the thesis of Dr. Margaret Murray and sources suc ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - History of Wicca

There are many traditions, sub-traditions, and lineages of Wicca; among these is Solitary Wicca, which is Wicca practiced by oneself and often in secret. Other Wiccan traditions include: Alexandrian Wicca Blue Star Wicca Celtic Wicca Christian Wicca Correllian Nativist Church (Correllian Wicca) Dianic or Feminist Wicca Eclectic Wicca Faery Wicca Feri Tradition Gardnerian Wicca Kemetic Wicca Odyssean Wicca Pagans for Peace Tradition Seax-Wica Shakti Wicca Stregher ...

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Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Wiccan traditions

There are many traditions, sub-traditions, and lineages of Wicca; among these is Solitary Wicca, which is Wicca practiced by oneself and often in secret. Other Wiccan traditions include: Alexandrian Wicca Blue Star Wicca Celtic Wicca Christian Wicca Correllian Nativist Church (Correllian Wicca) Dianic or Feminist Wicca Eclectic Wicca Faery Wicca Feri Tradition Gardnerian Wicca Kemetic Wicca Odyssean Wicca Pagans for Peace Tradition Seax-Wica Shakti Wicca Stregher ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Wiccan traditions

Gerald Gardner is credited with re-introducing the word 'Wicca' into the English language, although he himself used the spelling 'Wica' in his published work of 1954. The spelling 'Wicca' is now used almost exclusively, (Seax-Wica being the only major use of the four-letter spelling). In Old English, wicca meant "A wizard, soothsayer, sorcerer, magician" (Bosworth, 1898 [1]). Its modern English descendant is the word witch, now used almost exclusively to describe women sorcerors, but formerly used for both sexes. Other ( ...

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Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Definition

Gerald Gardner is credited with re-introducing the word 'Wicca' into the English language, although he himself used the spelling 'Wica' in his published work of 1954. The spelling 'Wicca' is now used almost exclusively, (Seax-Wica being the only major use of the four-letter spelling). In Old English wicca meant "A wizard, soothsayer, sorcerer, magician" (Bosworth, 1898 [1]). The word has long been out of use. Its modern English descendant is the word witch. Other disputed derivations are from the Old English roots wic ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Definition

Bektashism is a Sufi order and shares much in common with other Islamic mystical movements, such as the need for an experienced spiritual guide (murshid) مرشد, the doctrine of the four gates (Shari'ah شريعة, Tariqah طريقة, Ma'rifah معرفة, Haqiqah حقيقة). Bektashism places much emphasis on the concept of Wahdat-ul-Wujood وحدة الوجود, the "Unity of Being" that was formulated by Ibn Arabi. This has often been erroneously labeled by Westerners as pantheism, although it is a concept closer to panent ...

See also:

Bektashi, Bektashi - Beliefs, Bektashi - History, Bektashi - Poetry and literature, Bektashi - Notes

Read more here: » Bektashi: Encyclopedia II - Bektashi - Beliefs

Nearly every card has a unique 8-digit code printed on it. When that code is entered into one of the myriad Yu-Gi-Oh! video games which accept said codes, a digital copy of that card will be added to the player's virtual cards. Thus, players can port their real-world decks into the games. Some cards do not have this code. For example, all but 2 copies of Japanese Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon cards say "Replica" where the code should be (They are considered replicas of the other two that were given as prizes in a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament in T ...

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Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Editions, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Game play, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Product information, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Common Terminology, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Starter Decks, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Character Structure Decks, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Evolution Starter Deck, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Type Structure Decks, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Booster Packs, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Tournament Boosters, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Collector Tins, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Promo Cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Rare Cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Using physical cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! video games, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Countries, Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Controversy

Read more here: » Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: Encyclopedia II - Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game - Using physical cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! video games

Human bodies are not always buried, and many cultures may not bury their dead in every case. Alternatives to burial include the following. In most cases these alternatives are still intended to maintain respect for the dead, but some are intended to prolong the display of remains. Butchering the corpse by hand to remove the flesh. Burial at sea is the practice of depositing the body in an ocean or other large body of water instead of soil. It may be disposed in a coffin, or without one. Funerary Cannibalism is ...

See also:

Burial, Burial - Reasons for human burial, Burial - Burial practices, Burial - Prevention of decay, Burial - Inclusion of clothing and personal effects, Burial - Body positioning, Burial - Marking the location of the burial, Burial - Unmarked grave, Burial - Multiple bodies per grave, Burial - Cremation, Burial - Live burial, Burial - Burial of animals, Burial - Exhumation, Burial - Alternatives to burial

Read more here: » Burial: Encyclopedia II - Burial - Alternatives to burial

1. ^  Old English wicce, feminine, corresponding to wicca, witch n.1, both of which are app. derivatives of wiccian, witch v.1. (definition) 1. a. A female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. (oldest attested use in Old English) c1000 ÆLFRIC Saints' Lives vii. 209: "Animað...þa reðan wiccan, Seo þe ðus awent þurh wiccecræft ...

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Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Notes

Though he was captured by Starfleet during the reconquest of Deep Space Nine, he later managed to escape after the starship he was being transported on was attacked and destroyed. While stranded near the crash site with his hated enemy Benjamin Sisko, Dukat, who had supposedly been cured of his madness by Federation doctors, began to suffer from severe delusions and hallucinations. Before making his getaway, he confessed to Sisko that he felt no remorse for the deaths of the 5 million Bajorans who perished during his reign as Prefect of Bajor ...

See also:

Dukat Star Trek, Dukat Star Trek - Prefect of Bajor, Dukat Star Trek - Fall from grace, Dukat Star Trek - Tora Ziyal, Dukat Star Trek - Return to power, Dukat Star Trek - Madness and the pah-wraiths, Dukat Star Trek - Appearances, Dukat Star Trek - External link

Read more here: » Dukat Star Trek: Encyclopedia II - Dukat Star Trek - Madness and the pah-wraiths

A spiritual dictionary of the 280 most common words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

For more dictionary entries, see » Ancient Fire Ritual Dictionary

edit Since Wicca was first publically revealed in 1954, it has not had a long history of persecution. However, some Wiccans claim a historical link between Wicca and earlier religious and/or spiritual traditions, and thus may claim that witch trials are persecutions against their faith.[citation needed] There is no independently verifiable evidence for any sort of actual traditional lineage for Wicca that is older than the early 20th century. In light of that, individual and group claims of persecution ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans

edit Since Wicca was first publically revealed in 1954, it has not had a long history of persecution. However, some Wiccans claim a historical link between Wicca and earlier religious and/or spiritual traditions, and thus may claim that the witch trials were persecutions against their faith.[citation needed] There is no independently verifiable evidence for any sort of actual traditional lineage for Wicca that is older than the early 20th century. In light of that, individual and group claims of persec ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans

Many Neopagans, especially Wiccans, use the pentagram as a symbol of faith similar to the Christian cross or the Jewish Star of David. (It is not, however, a universal symbol for Neopaganism, and is rarely used by Reconstructionists.) Its religious symbolism is commonly explained by reference to the neo-Pythagorean understanding that the five vertices of the pentagram represent the four elements with the addition of Spirit as the uppermost point. In its representation of the elements, the pentagram is tied to the widespread Wiccan practice o ...

See also:

Pentagram, Pentagram - Geometry, Pentagram - Some relevant trigonometric values, Pentagram - History, Pentagram - Pythagorean use, Pentagram - Christian use, Pentagram - Satanic use, Pentagram - Neopagan Use, Pentagram - Brigate Rosse, Pentagram - Flags, Pentagram - In literature, Pentagram - 3D

Read more here: » Pentagram: Encyclopedia II - Pentagram - Neopagan Use

According to the Book of Veles, Slavic religion recognizes three realms: Jav, Prav and Nav, Yav being the material world, Nav the immaterial, and Prav being the laws that govern them. The emphasis on the three realms is particularly characteristic for the Slavic neopaganists that draw on the Book of Veles. The main symbol of ancient Slavic cosmogonic ideas was the World Tree. Slavs imagined that all three realms are vertically situated on a gigantic oak tree, that holds the whole Universe. In its crown was Slavic Heaven/paradise, so c ...

See also:

Slavic mythology, Slavic mythology - Primary sources, Slavic mythology - Cosmology, Slavic mythology - Major feasts, Slavic mythology - Gods, Slavic mythology - Supreme god, Slavic mythology - Pantheon, Slavic mythology - Locations, Slavic mythology - Mythical creatures, Slavic mythology - Mythical persons, Slavic mythology - Spirits, Slavic mythology - Slavic folk medicine and magic, Slavic mythology - Circles

Read more here: » Slavic mythology: Encyclopedia II - Slavic mythology - Cosmology

The Vestal virgins were committed to the priesthood at a young age (before puberty) and were sworn to celibacy. The punishment for violating the oath of celibacy was to be buried alive in the Campus Sceleratus (an underground chamber near the Colline gate) with a few days of food and water to prolong the punishment. Records show that during the course of 11 centuries, at least 22 vestals were accused of breaking the chastity vow. Rhea Sylvia was thrown into the Tiber by orders from her uncle Amulius after she gave birth to Romulus and Remus, ...

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Vestal Virgin, Vestal Virgin - Selection, Vestal Virgin - Obligations and rewards, Vestal Virgin - History, Vestal Virgin - Vestal festivals, Vestal Virgin - House of the Vestals, Vestal Virgin - List of well-known Vestal Virgins

Read more here: » Vestal Virgin: Encyclopedia II - Vestal Virgin - Obligations and rewards