Conjunction A conjunction of two heavenly bodies occurs when, as seen from the earth, they are in the same ecliptic longitude, according to astrology; or in the same right ascension, according to astronomy. More than two bodies appearing in exact conjunction is an exceedingly rare occurrence. The planets and the sun and moon are usually considered, but the fixed stars may be included. Such conjunctions have always been held in astrology to indicate, prefigure, or cause important events and changes, and to mark the changes of cycles. The conjunctions of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars together are specially mentioned. The conjunctions of the sun and moon are related to human and animal physiological conception. Also, the fact that the planetary orbits have nodes and apsides with their own periods of revolution, affords us material for the calculation of many longer periods.

See also ANNUS MAGNUS.

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

conjunction

Coincidence of two planets in the same zodiacal degree by longitude, usually within 7 degrees; generally a favorable major aspect

(See also: Conjunction, Body Mind and Soul)

Conjunction

Two or more planets in close zodiacal degree by longitude, usually within seven degrees: generally or favorable major aspect.

(See also: Conjunction, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

CONJUNCTION - coincidence of two planets in the same zodiacal degree by longitude, usually within seven degrees: generally or favorable major aspect. (NAD)

(See also: CONJUNCTION, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Conjunction: (0 degrees)--Planets that are together in the zodiac. Indicates prominence of the two energies.

(See also: Conjunction, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

MOON

Arcanum number 18. Hebrew letter Qoph (meaning the "back of the head" or the seat of sexual energies). The reason Diana is the goddess of chastity is that the Moon's monthly visible link to ovulation serves as proof of virginity. But the Moon also symbolizes Occult Truth and witchcraft, the so-called "left-hand path." As one of the three manifestations of Divine Light, however, there can be no evil in it. It is the light of Khephra about to rise, that is, it is the lux tenebris, the light we call darkness. It is also the Subconscious Mind.

Astrophysically the moon is a "corpse". But then most of the planets are "dead" worlds. The greenhouse effect on Venus is horrific, the atmosphere of Jupiter is poisonous, the outer worlds are frozen solid and so on. We might say that the Sun is "alive", but if so, it is much too alive for us, certainly, with its nuclear explosions and temperatures upwards of millions of degrees Fahrenheit. No, we must, as Genesis instructs, think of the lights in the heavens as "illuminators" and "signs", rather than as possible human abodes. By that token, the Moon is not a "dead world" but Diana's silvern lamp!

Some astrologers say the Moon is the Personality, whose chief characteristics are "protection and envy. What they mean is that it is the archetypal Anima (as the Sun is the archetypal Animus) and the ruler of the emotions, moods, feelings, desires, etc. The actual "New" Moon is not the conjunction of the Sun and Moon in the same sign - that phase is known as the "Dark of the Moon". The fine crescent of the "New Moon" occurs in the sign just following the conjunction. It is the beginning of the lunar month and known as Sahar Dag. It occurs five twelve-hour periods after the listed new moon.

The Atu corresponds to Khephra about to rise, says Crowley, hence is one of the three sacred "lights" and cannot be evil. It is also the realm of Yesod on the Tree of Life.

(See also: MOON, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

AROMATHERAPY: uses essential oils from flowers, trees, roots, herbs, berries and fruits, to treat emotional disorders such as stress and anxiety as well as a wide range of other ailments and to promote physical, mental and emotional wellness. Oils are either massaged into the skin in diluted form, inhaled, placed in baths, or applied on and around the body.

Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, herbology, chiropractic and other wholistic healing.

What is aromatherapy?

It is the controlled use of natural essential oils in the process of physical and emotional healing. You may have discovered that in some ways, you've been experiencing aromatherapy most of your life without even knowing it.

We have all experienced memory recall triggered by a particular scent; perhaps the scent of a favorite flower, or the perfume your grandmother used to wear, or an aunt's linen closet. The event can produce positive or negative memories. Certain scents may trigger negative thoughts of a person or place in your past. Whatever the case, the importance of scent in our lives is quite profound and in some ways, unique to each of us. Aromatherapy is a way to enjoy a controlled use of natural oils to enrich and benefit your life.

What are essential oils?

Whole, pure essential oils come from nature; they are the "essence" of plants. They are droplets of water-like fluid contained in the leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and/or fruits of different plants, and give the plant its unique scent. Essential oils are volatile, whereas they easily transfer from a liquid to a gaseous state at room temperature or higher. The amount of essential oil found in most plants is 1 to 2%, but can contain amounts from 0.01 to 10%. They can change in composition and location with a particular plant. For example, orange trees produce neroli oil in their blossoms, orange oil in their citrus, and petitgrain oil in their leaves. Essential oils are also very concentrated and extremely potent, and sometimes 75 to 100 times more concentrated than say, the herb it is present in. This is all the more reason to use these oils with thorough knowledge of their potency.

How are essential oils extracted?

There are two common procedures for extracting true essential oils:

1. Steam distillation
2. Expression

 The process of steam distillation has 5 steps:

1. Steam plant material
2. Collect steam carrying aromatic molecules
3. Cool in cold-water bath
4. Produce floral water and essential oil
5. Separate essential oil, then bottle

This process is also the most popular for obtaining the essential oils from plants. The steam is forced into a vat containing the plant material, which ruptures the oil glands and releases the oil. The volatile oils are cooled, separated from the water content, and bottled. It may take hundreds or thousands of pounds of plant material to distill a single pound of the essential oil. Bulgarian Rose oil requires about 4,000 pounds of hand-picked flower petals to make 1 pound of oil, obviously making this one expensive oil!

The second method, extraction, has 4 major steps:

1. Have citrus peels
2. Machine press
3. Obtain essential oils and fruit waxes
4. Separate oils, then bottle

This method is primarily used in the perfume and food industries, and does not produce a 100% pure essential oil. Solvents are used in the process to pull out the soluable molecules; therefore making them incomplete oils. Resins, concretes, absolutes, and pomades result from this method.

How are essential oils taken in?

Essential oils are absorbed into the body two ways; through the skin and through nasal inhalation. Our sense of smell, controlled by the olfactory system, is some 10,000 times greater than any other sense. The olfactory system is directly linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional state, memory, and certain regulatory function.

Essential oils also penetrate the skin, or the integumentary system. Because essential oils have a low molecular weight and are organic in nature, they are absorbed through the pores and hair follicles of the skin, and unlike synthetic chemicals, they do not accumulate in the body. Absorption can take place anywhere from 15 minutes to 12 hours, and take from 3 to 6 hours to be metabolized in a healthy body. Excessive fat or toughened skin may slow down the rate of absorption; whereas heat, water, exercise, or broken skin may speed it up.

How are essential oils used?

Aromatherapy is used to self-heal and soothe common, everyday health challenges. It is by no means a replacement for the opinion of a licensed physician, and should always be used with respect.

As with all things derived from nature, some essential oils are considered hazardous, and under certain circumstances, should be avoided. Some are phototoxic, neurotoxic, or carcinogenic, and safety precautions should always be considered when working with and administering any essential oil.

Here are common-sense safety points to note:

1. Avoid essential oils deemed as hazardous
2. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children.
3. Remember essentail oils are very potent.
4. Do not take orally.
5. Follow dilution guidelines carefully. Never use an oil without first diluting.
6. Use 1% or less dilution during pregnancy.
7. Be aware of others with sensitivities or allergies.
8. Do not use on or near the eyes.
9. Do a skin patch test if prone to sensitivities.
10. Use extra care on broken or damaged skin.
11. Avoid phototoxic essential oils if history of skin cancer.
12. Keep them away from light and heat sources.
13. Use only therapeutic genuine and authentic essential oils.

(See also: Aromatherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

West The forces of the four cardinal points have each a distinct occult property, and are ruled over by the four regents.

Blavatsky states that there is occult philosophy in the early Christian doctrine, echoes of which still linger in both the Orthodox Greek and the Roman Catholic Churches, that public calamities are due to invisible messengers from the north and west, and particularly from the west, the conjunction of the two points being combined in the northwest (SD 1:123).

Most good, on the other hand, flows forth from the north and east. The Egyptian goddess Hathor is spoken of as the infernal Isis, the goddess preeminently of the west or nether world. East and west are not localities but directions, and when used in reference to localities the meaning is purely relative. Good and evil, too, are relative terms as experienced by human beings, for such messengers and influences are in all cases strictly karmic agents; and often what people in their blindness and weakness think a calamity or misfortune may indeed be a blessing in disguise.

See also CARDINAL POINTS

(See also: West, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Causal Body. This "body", which is no body either objective or subjective, but Buddhi, the Spiritual Soul, is so called because it is the direct cause of the Sushupti condition, leading to the Turya state, the highest state of Samadhi.

It is called Karanopadhi, "the basis of the Cause", by the Taraka Raja Yogis; and in the Vedanta system it corresponds to both the Vignanamaya and Anandamaya Kosha, the latter coming next to Atma, and therefore being the vehicle of the universal Spirit. Buddhi alone could not be called a "Causal Body ", but becomes so in conjunction with Manas, the incarnating Entity or EGO.

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

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

Ayurvedic (pronounced eye yur VEH dik) medicine stresses a holistic approach to health. It means “science of life.” It places equal emphasis on body, mind and spirit and its main goal is to restore the innate harmony of the individual.

Ayurvedic medicine defines disease as the result of climatic extremes, bacterial attack, nutritional deviance, and stress, as well as other forms of emotional imbalance. Optimal health is achieved by cultivating mental and physical habits that are conducive to physical and spiritual well-being. Treatment often includes yoga, diet, and the development of positive attitude

Ayurvedic medicine evolved among the Brahmin sages of ancient India some 3000-5000 years ago. There are specific aspects of this system of medicine that distinguish it from other approaches to health care. It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.

"Constitution” is the keystone of Auruvedic medicine. Constitution refers to the overall health profile of the individual, including strength and susceptibilities. Ayurvedic doctors determine each metabolic body type and then specify a treatment plan to guide one back into harmony with the environment. 

Underlying Ayurveda is the view that everything is composed of five basic elements: ether/space, air, fire, water and earth. These are similar to the elements in traditional Chinese medicine. These elements combine to form the metabolic body types, or doshas (pronounced DOE shas). Ayurveda describes three body types. Even though each person’s metabolic type is determined by a predominant dosha, all three doshas are present in varying degrees in every cell, tissue and organ of the body.

The three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. Vata is motion that activates the physical system, physical activity, and nerve force. It allows the body to breathe and circulate blood. The seats of the vata are the large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones , skin, ears and thighs. Pitta processes food, air and water and is responsible for charging the endocrine and enzymatic activities throughout the body. The seats of the pitta are the small intestines, stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin and eyes. Kapha involves the structure of bones, tendons, muscles and the fat that holds the body together. It offers nourishment and protection. The chest, lungs, and fluid surrounding the spinal cord are the seats of kapha.

When the doshas are balanced in accordance with the individual’s constitution, the result is vibrant heath and energy. When the balance is disturbed the body becomes susceptible to disease. Imbalance in the doshas is the first sign that the mind and body are not perfectly coordinated.

Ayurvedic medicine believes that once people understand the characteristics and qualities of their body type they can make changes in their lifestyle and environment to restore dosha balance. Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people of all ages, from young children to the elderly.

(See also: AYURVEDIC MEDICINE, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Egoity I-am-I-ness, ahamkara; human egoity is dual, but egoity really should mean individuality, not personality.

The characteristic or swabhava of individuality is egoity or the essential root of I-am-I-ness, while the characteristic or swabhava of the personality is egoism, the faint shadow of egoity drunken with the sense of its own exclusive importance in the world.

Further, both egoity and egoism are sharply distinguished from essential selfhood; paradoxically, the stronger the idea of essential selfhood in the human being, the less is there of egoity, and the least there is of egoism, for even egoity is a reflection, albeit high, of spiritual selfhood, which recognizes its oneness with the All.

Thus ego is defined as I-am-I, consciousness recognizing its own mayavi existence as a separate entity, hence often called reflected consciousness. Essential selfhood is the characteristic of atman in the human constitution; egoity arises in the conjunction of atma-buddhi with manas; whereas personality or egoism is the faint reflection of the latter working in and through the lower manas, kama, and prana.

Egregores Coined by Eliphas Levi, who explains it as "the chiefs of the souls who are the spirits of energy and action" (SD 1:259). They are beings "whose bodies and essence is a tissue of the so-called astral light. They are the shadows of the higher Planetary Spirits whose bodies are of the essence of the higher divine light" (TG 111). Blavatsky comments that they are "the 'giants' of Genesis who loved the daughters of men: an allusion to the first prehuman (so to say) races of men evoluted, not born -- Alpha and the Omega of Humanity in this our 'Round' " (BCW 6:176). (BCW refers to eggregores; does it = egregores?)

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

Face Used in the Qabbalah especially for the first emanations of the Sephirothal or Cosmic Tree, the cosmic structure. Two Faces are mentioned: 'Arik 'Anpin (Macroprosopus, Great or Long Face), applied to the first Sephirah; and Ze`eir 'Anpin (Microprosopus, Small or Short Face), applied to the lower nine Sephiroth.

A third Face or Head, corresponding to 'Arik 'Anpin or Kether, is also enumerated: Resha' Hiwwara' or Re'sh Hiwwar (generally rendered White Head), signifying the white or colorless spirituality of the cosmic originating source. From the moment of their emanation, says the Qabbalah, all the material for future forms was contained in the three Faces, Heads, or Beginnings.

It is when the Faces look toward each other that the Holy Ancients in three Heads are called 'Arikh 'Appayim (Long Faces) (Zohar iii, 292a): the union or conjunction thus signified by "looking towards each other" meaning the combined unity in a triad of an individual, whether the monad be human, cosmic, or intermediate.

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

CROSS

Ancient symbol, far predating Xtianity, and taking many forms, such as the swastika and the Egyptian Ankh. It symbolizes, amongst many other things, centrality and the union of male and female in divine conjunction. When circled it symbolizes the earth and serves as an apotropaic. Most of the associations attributed by the Galileans to the cross of their crucified god have been lifted over the centuries from concurrent pagan sources.

(See also: CROSS, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Daath: The Qabalistic Sephirah of Daath is the conjunction of Chokmah and Binah on the Tree of Life, the Child of Wisdom and Understanding--knowledge. It refers to the symbolic sphere formed within or above the Ruach by means of experience obtained, and this assimilated becomes transmuted into intuition and faculty of mind. But fundamentally it is the ascent of the Dragon or, if you wish, an upwelling of the Unconscius archetypes--a highly dangerous and unbalancing ascent, until they are assimilated to consciousness--which first renders Daath a possibility.

(See also: Daath, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Haunted Houses Physicho-astral remains of the deceased tend to haunt the places where they dwelt in life; and in cases which are relatively rare, though numerous absolutely, conditions may bring about a connection between the lower astral plane and the physical so that visible images are seen, voices or footsteps heard, and objects may be moved.

In some cases the astral image or reliquiae may persist for centuries, making what is called a ghost; it is an astral corpse or relic, automatically repeating acts or words. Often bones have been found under a house, and popular belief has it that the haunting has ceased after they were ceremonially interred. Sometimes there is an evident desire on the part of the kama-rupa to communicate information of some sort, as of a hidden document or buried treasure, and this is not because the kama-rupa is the spirit desiring to communicate its information, but because the kama-rupa has stamped upon it photographically, as it were, the intense desire of the person during life to guard the treasure and conceal it, and even to reveal it to some individual.

Under this heading must be included the mischievous pranks of the poltergeist, due to the action of a persistent relic of the psycho-astral nature of a deceased person, in combination with elementals, often again working in conjunction with a mediumistic living individual.

(See also: Haunted Houses, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Imagination Usually the making of mental pictures; but this is actually merely fancy; imagination is "one of the plastic powers of the higher Soul, the memory of preceding incarnations, which, however, disfigured by the lower Manas, yet rests always on a ground of truth" (TG 153).

Imagination is therefore a creative power which, used in conjunction with will, calls forth not only creative forces, but likewise their productions. Thus it can be used for spiritualization and also for the materialization of images conceived in the mind; to bring about the results we desire, whether good or evil. It may become our master, chaining us to the illusions we have created; when, however, we can direct this power and resist its suggestions of fancy, it becomes a powerful instrument in shaping our lives and destiny.

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

syzygy

1. Connection, combination, or partnership of two factors. 2. Astronomical conjunction or opposition.

(See also: Syzygy, Body Mind and Soul)

Mater (Latin) Mother; used in the categories of alchemy as one of the triad flamma, natura, mater; corresponding to sulphur, mercury, salt; or to spirit, water, and blood. Also used in conjunction with other names, meaning mother.

(See also: Mater, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Aish 'ish (Hebrew) Man; the name Jesus was said by Blavatsky to have been derived aish (BCW 9:228n). Regarding the symbology of the crucifixion, Blavatsky remarks that "the early compilers of the Christian Mysteries were well versed in Esoteric philosophy and the Hebrew occult metrology, and used it dexterously. Thus they took the word aish . . . and used it in conjunction with that of Shanah 'lunar year,' so mystically connected with the name of Jehovah, the supposed 'father' of Jesus, and embosomed the mystic idea in an astronomical value and formula" (SD 2:561).

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

Annus Magnus (Latin) Great year; the precessional cycle of 25,920 years. Also, the interval between two successive ecliptic conjunctions of all the planets, including sun and moon. The Hindus date the beginning of the kali yuga from such a conjunction said to have taken place in 3102 BC. It was a general belief in antiquity that cycles of varying lengths marked the terminal or initial points of eras, the occurrence or recurrence of cataclysms, and the consequent recurrence of similar events.

(See also: Annus Magnus, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)