Orphic Mysteries or Orphica (Ancient Greek). These followed, but differed greatly from, the mysteries of Bacchus.

The system of Orpheus is one of the purest morality and of severe asceticism. The theology taught by him is again purely Indian. With him the divine Essence is inseparable from whatever is in the infinite universe, all forms being concealed from all eternity in It. At determined periods these forms are manifested from the divine Essence or manifest themselves.

Thus through this law of emanation (or evolution) all things participate in this Essence, and are parts and members instinct with divine nature, which is omnipresent. All things having proceeded from, must necessarily return into it; and therefore, innumerable transmigrations or reincarnations and purifications are needed before this final consummation can take place. This is pure Vedanta philosophy. Again, the Orphic Brotherhood ate no animal food and wore white linen garments, and had many ceremonies like those of the Brahmans.

(See also: Orphic Mysteries, Orphica, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Eidolon (Ancient Greek). The same as that which we term the human phantom, the astral form.

(See also: Eidolon, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Dardanus (Ancient Greek) The Son of Jupiter and Electra, who received the Kabeiri gods as a dowry, and took them to Samothrace, where they were worshipped long before the hero laid the foundations of Troy, and before Tyre and Sidon were ever heard of, though Tyre was built 2,760 years B.C.

(See for fuller details "Kabiri".)

(See also: Dardanus, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Fetahil (Ancient Greek). The lower creator, in the same Codex.

(See also: Fetahil, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Phren (Ancient Greek). A Pythagorean term denoting what we call the Kama-Manas still overshadowed by the Buddhi-Manas.

(See also: Phren, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

To On (Ancient Greek). The "Being", the "Ineffable All" of Plato. He" whom no person has seen except the Son".

(See also: To On, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Sophia Achamoth (Ancient Greek). The daughter of Sophia. The personified Astral Light, or the lower plane of Ether.

(See also: Sophia Achamoth, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Dianoia (Ancient Greek). The same as the Logos. The eternal source of thought, "divine ideation", which is the root of all thought. (See "Ennoia.")

(See also: Dianoia, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Megacosm (Ancient Greek). The world of the Astral light, or as explained by a puzzled Mason "a great world, not identical with Macrocosm, the Universe, but something between it and Microcosm, the little world" or man.

(See also: Megacosm, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Mandragora (Ancient Greek). A plant whose root has the human form. In Occultism it is used by black magicians for various illicit objects, and some of the "left-hand" Occultists make homunculi with it. It is commonly called mandrake, and is supposed to cry out when pulled out of the ground.

(See also: Mandragora, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Archontes (Ancient Greek). The archangels after becoming Ferouers (q.v.) or their own shadows, having mission on earth; a mystic ubiquity; implying a double life; a kind of hypostatic action, one of purity in a higher region, the other of terrestrial activity exercised on our plane.

(See Iamblichus, De Mysterüs II., Chap. 3.)

(See also: Archontes, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Thales (Ancient Greek). The Greek philosopher of Miletus (circa 600 years B.c.) who taught that the whole universe was produced from water, while Heraclitus of Ephesus maintained that it was produced by fire, and Anaximenes by air. Thales, whose real name is unknown, took his name from Thallath, in accordance with the philosophy he taught.

(See also: Thales, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Arithmomancy (Ancient Greek). The science of correspondences between gods, men, and numbers, as taught by Pythagoras.

(See also: Arithmomancy, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Ossa. (Ancient Greek) A mount, the tomb of the giants (allegorical).

(See also: Ossa, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Pantacle (Ancient Greek). The same as Pentalpha; the triple triangle of Pythagoras or the five-pointed star.

It was given the name because it reproduces the letter A (alpha) on the five sides of it or in five different positions - its number, moreover, being composed of the first odd ( and the first even (2) numbers. It is very occult. In Occultism and the Kabala it stands for man or the Microcosm, the "Heavenly Man", and as such it was a powerful talisman for keeping at bay evil spirits or the Elementals.

In Christian theology it refers to the five wounds of Christ; its interpreters failing, however, to add that these "five wounds" were themselves symbolical of the Microcosm, or the "Little Universe", or again, Humanity, this symbol pointing out the fall of pure Spirit (Christos) into matter (Iassous, "life", or man).

In esoteric philosophy the Pentalpha, or five-pointed star, is the symbol of the EGO or the Higher Manas. Masons use it, referring to it as the five-pointed star, and connecting it with their own fanciful interpretation.

(See the word "Pentacle" for its difference in meaning from "Pantacle".)

(See also: Pantacle, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Iao (Ancient Greek). See Iaho. The highest god of the Phœnicians the light conceivable only by intellect", the physical and spiritual Principle of all things, "the male Essence of Wisdom ". It is the ideal Sun light.

(See also: Iao, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Cosmocratores (Ancient Greek). "Builders of the Universe", the "world architects", or the Creative Forces personified.

(See also: Cosmocratores, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Crypt (Ancient Greek) A secret subterranean vault, some for the purpose of initiation, others for burial purposes. There were crypts under every temple in antiquity. There was one on the Mount of Olives, lined with red stucco, and built before the advent of the Jews.

(See also: Crypt, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Ophis-Christos (Ancient Greek). The serpent Christ of the Gnostics.

(See also: Ophis-Christos, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Bythos (Ancient Greek). A Gnostic term meaning "Depth" or the "great Deep", Chaos. It is equivalent to space, before anything had formed itself in it from the primordial atoms that exist eternally in its spatial depths, according to the teachings of Occultism.

(See also: Bythos, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Thalassa (Ancient Greek). The sea. (See "Thallath".)

(See also: Thalassa, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Cadmus (Ancient Greek). The supposed inventor of the letters of the alphabet. He may have been their originator and teacher in Europe and Asia Minor; but in India the letters were known and used by the Initiates ages before him.

(See also: Cadmus, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )