Samothrace (Ancient Greek). An island famous for its Mysteries, perhaps the oldest ever established in our present race. The Samothracian Mysteries were renowned all over the world.

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

Mystagogy (Ancient Greek). The doctrines or interpretations of the sacred mysteries.

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

A Theosophical definition of Mysteries :

Mysteries

The Mysteries were divided into two general parts, the Less Mysteries and the Greater.

The Less Mysteries were very largely composed of dramatic rites or ceremonies, with some teaching; the Greater Mysteries were composed of, or conducted almost entirely on the ground of, study; and the doctrines taught in them later were proved by personal experience in initiation. In the Greater Mysteries was explained, among other things, the secret meaning of the mythologies of the old religions, as, for instance, the Greek.

The active and nimble mind of the Greeks produced a mythology which for grace and beauty is perhaps without equal, but it nevertheless is very difficult to explain; the Mysteries of Samothrace and of Eleusis  - the greater ones  - explained among other things what these myths meant. These myths formed the basis of the exoteric religions; but note well that exotericism does not mean that the thing which is taught exoterically is in itself false, but merely that it is a teaching given without the key to it. Such teaching is symbolic, illusory, touching on the truth  - the truth is there, but without the key to it, which is the esoteric meaning, it yields no proper sense.

We have the testimony of the Greek and Roman initiates and thinkers that the ancient Mysteries of Greece taught men, above everything else, to live rightly and to have a noble hope for the life after death. The Romans derived their Mysteries from those of Greece.

The mythological aspect comprises only a portion  - and a relatively small portion  - of what was taught in the Mystery schools in Greece, principally at Samothrace and at Eleusis. At Samothrace was taught the same mystery-teaching that was current elsewhere in Greece, but here it was more developed and recondite, and the foundation of these mystery-teachings was morals. The noblest and greatest men of ancient times in Greece were initiates in the Mysteries of these two seats of esoteric knowledge.

In other countries farther to the east, there were other Mystery schools or "colleges," and this word college by no means necessarily meant a mere temple or building; it meant association, as in our modern word colleague, "associate." The Teutonic tribes of northern Europe, the Germanic tribes, which included Scandinavia, had their Mystery colleges also; and teacher and neophytes stood on the bosom of Mother Earth, under Father Ether, the boundless sky, or in subterranean receptacles, and taught and learned. The core, the heart, the center, of the teaching of the ancient Mysteries was the abstruse problems dealing with death. (See also Guru-parampara)

See also: Mysteries , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

Sodalian Oath An irrevocable pledge, implying that the final mysteries had been communicated to one so bound by oath (sod signifying secret, mystery). "The penalty of death followed the breaking of the Sodalian oath or pledge.

The oath and the Sod (the secret learning) are earlier than the Kabbalah or Tradition, and the ancient Midrashim treated fully of the Mysteries or Sod before they passed into the Zohar. Now they are referred to as the Secret Mysteries of the Thorah, or Law, to break which is fatal" (TG 303).

(See also: Sodalian Oath, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Basileus (Ancient Greek). The Archon or Chief who had the outer super-vision during the Eleusinian Mysteries. While the latter was an initiated layman, and magistrate at Athens, the Basileus of the inner Temple was of the staff of the great Hierophant, and as such was one of the chief Myste and belonged to the inner mysteries.

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

Azazel (Hebrew, Jewish) "God of Victory"; the scape-goat for the sins of Israel. He who comprehends the mystery of Azazel, says Aben-Ezra, "will learn the mystery of God’s name", and truly. See "Typhon" and the scape-goat made sacred to him in ancient Egypt.

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Agrae A small town on the banks of the Ilissus near Athens, where in ancient Greece in the spring were celebrated the Minor Mysteries, preliminary to the Greater Mysteries held in the autumn at Eleusis. Those at Agrae were associated with Kore-Persephone and were held about the middle of the month Anthesterion, when the grain crop was young.

(See also: Agrae, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Eleusis (Greek) (from eleusis a coming, advent from eleusomai will come)

Seat near Athens of one of the most renown Mystery centers in ancient Greece. In the New Testament, it is translated as "the advent."

See also ELEUSINIA; MYSTERIES

(See also: Eleusis, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Siphra' Di-tseni`utha' (Chaldean) "Their counting or telling of the concealed mysteries," the Book of Secrets or Mysteries; one of the principal books of the Zohar (Light); the secrets or mysteries dealt with are those relating to cosmogony and to the inhabitants of those worlds, thus forming the basis of the Hebrew Qabbalah. The work opens with the statement: "The book of the concealed mystery is the book of the equilibrium of balance," and proceeds to expound this thesis in Qabbalistic terminology.

Blavatsky calls it "the most ancient Hebrew document on occult learning" (SD 1:xlii), although the language used is largely Chaldean, and states that it was compiled from the very ancient Book of Dzyan through the archaic Chaldean Qabbalah.

(See also: Siphra' Di-tseni`utha', Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Eleusinia or Eleusinian Mysteries (Greek) (from eleusinia things that are to come)

The most famous Mysteries in ancient Greece and, next to those of Samothrace, the most ancient. Even the Christian writer Epiphanius traces them to the days of Inachos (which some writers place so close to our time as 1800 BC, which is far too near), while others make the founder Eumolpos. Both these founders are described as at once kings and of divine parentage.

The Greater Eleusinian Mysteries were celebrated at the time of the autumnal equinox, the time of grape gathering, and the Mysteries were in honor of Demeter -- in Latin Ceres and in one range of mythologic thought also the Egyptian Isis -- the Earth-Mother, presiding over fertility.

The celebration of the complete Eleusinia consisted of Less and Greater Mysteries. In the former the produce of the earth was given a part, while in the latter emphasis was laid on its higher correspondences in connection with Mystery-teaching. As its name implies, at Eleusis were taught the doctrines concerning what will happen to man after death.

Iacchos, the god of wine in more senses than one, plays an important part in these Mysteries. Demeter's daughter Persephone, goddess of the underworld, was also honored. The usual accounts, vague and fragmentary only, describe the dramatic representations of the adventures of these deities, the esoteric meaning of which was given in the Greater Mysteries.

(See also: Eleusinia, Eleusinian Mysteries, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Aporrheta (Ancient Greek). Secret instructions upon esoteric subjects given during the Egyptian and Grecian Mysteries.

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

Phoreg (Ancient Greek). The name of the seventh Titan not mentioned in the cosmogony of Hesiod.

The "mystery" Titan.

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

CHURCH OF THE ETERNAL SOURCE: A Neo-Pagan religion founded by Don Harrison in 1970 and based on a reconstruction of the Mysteries of ancient Egypt and the worship of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses.

(See also: CHURCH OF THE ETERNAL SOURCE, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Shustah Card Reading

Reading using a deck of cards with five suits of fourteen pages. Based on ancient mystery teachings, they are used for guidance and to predict the future.

(See also: Shustah Card Reading, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Gabhastiman (Sanskrit) Repossessed of his rays; term used of the successful initiate in the ancient Hindu Mysteries (BCW 14:260).

(See also: Gabhastiman, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)