Valhalla (Scandinavian) Valholl (Icelandic) [from val choice, death + hall, holl hall]

In Norse mythology, the hall of the chosen or of the slain where Odin's heroes, the One-harriers, are brought by the Valkyries at the end of each day's battles to feast with Ropt, the maligned or misunderstood god (Odin). "The hall of the chosen glows golden in Gladhome," one of the superior "shelves" or ethereal planes which are closely related to our planet earth.

The walls of Valhalla are built of the spears of the warriors, it is roofed with their shields, while inside the hall "the benches are strewn with byrnies." Over the entrance door are transfixed the wolf (bestiality) and the eagle (pride). All of these are symbolic of the sacrifice of properties that have been relinquished by Odin's chosen warriors, for these represent, in the Norse tales, the initiated adepts who have elected to serve the cause of universality and aid the progress of human evolution. Abandoning progressively all weapons of offense, then of defense, and finally all personal protection, exemplifies the universal service of the chosen.

The One-harriers of Odin emerge daily to do battle on the plain of consecration (Vigridsslatten, life on earth) and by night return to feast with Allfather Ropt in the sacred hall on the mead brewed from their experience of life.

At the feast of the warriors in Valhalla they are served three boars, representing three elements as well as three principles of cosmic life: Andrimner (air, spirit), Sarimner (water, mind), and Eldrimner (fire, desire). A suggestive verse in Grimnismal may then be read as: "Spirit lets mind be steeped in desire. Few know what nourishes the One-harriers."

The tales concerning Valhalla have been sadly misunderstood in popular mythologies. Far from being an account of gross debauchery, there is mystical meaning hidden in every detail of the description of Odin's domain and of the feasting of his warriors. For example, Valhalla is said to have 540 doors, through each of which 800 warriors issue abreast. This makes the number of One-harriers total 432,000, an oft-recurring number in Hindu and Babylonian time tables dealing with mystic and mythic history. Their message is in fact one of the noblest and most inspiring of mythic tales, when read between the lines of allegory, for here the warriors of emerge willingly to be "slain" daily in the cause of humanity's evolutionary progress.

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

DEATH

We should not dwell on the psychic envelopes that remain behind for those wraiths, ghosts, apparitions and so on who must make their way the best they can from the clues of their predecessors. Nor should we dally with the shells of the qlipoth attending the sephiroth. The normal soul for whom, from below, the gates appear as the gates of extinction and from above the gates of birth (or vice-versa) has no time for leisurely observation. Nor does the yogin, for whom death is merely a higher state of medi tation, require distraction. But we magicians should stop for a moment at the pylons themselves, at the door of the Abyss, the pause before lingam joins yoni, we should linger and observe the transitional threshold.

Death and sex are not merely metaphorically identical, but physically so. Since death (the second, total death, after the yesodic stage) results in instant rebirth, it is obvious that birth and death are the entrance and withdrawal motions of cosmic coit us on a slow-action timescale over successive reincarnations.

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

brahmarandhra: (Sanskrit) "Door of Brahman." See: door of Brahman.

(See also: Brahmarandhra , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Halloween

(Samhain) The term ÒHalloweenÓ originally referred to All Hallows' Eve, a Catholic observance of the night before All Saints' Day. However, in modern American it has reverted back to its original Pagan roots.

A Wiccan religious high or holy day (see Wicca) . Celebrated on October 31st, children are encouraged to wear costumes and solicit candy door-to-door (Trick-or-Treat).

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

Astronomos (Ancient Greek). The title given to the Initiate in the Seventh Degree of the reception of the Mysteries. In days of old, Astronomy was synonymous with Astrology; and the great Astrological Initiation took place in Egypt at Thebes, where the priests perfected, if they did not wholly invent the science.

Having passed through the degrees of Pastophoros, Neocoros, Melanophoros, Kistophoros, and Balahala (the degree of Chemistry of the Stars), the neophyte was taught the mystic signs of the Zodiac, in a circle dance representing the course of the planets (the dance of Krishna and the Gopis, celebrated to this day in Rajputana); after which he received a cross, the Tau (or Tat), becoming an Astronomos and a Healer. (See Isis Unveiled. Vol. II. 365).

Astronomy and Chemistry were inseparable in these studies. "Hippocrates had so lively a faith in the influence of the stars on animated beings, and on their diseases, that he expressly recommends not to trust to physicians who are ignorant of astronomy.’ (Arago.) Unfortunately the key to the final door of Astrology or Astronomy is lost by the modern Astrologer; and without it, how can he ever be able to answer the pertinent remark made by the author of Mazzaroth, who writes: "people are said to be born under one sign, while in reality they are born under another, because the sun is now seen among different stars at the equinox "?

 Nevertheless, even the few truths he does know brought to his science such eminent and scientific believers as Sir Isaac Newton, Bishops Jeremy and Hall, Archbishop Usher, Dryden, Flamstead, Ashmole, John Milton, Steele, and a host of noted Rosicrucians.

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

MAGICK CIRCLE - a circular boundary drawn invisionary blue flame or white light that protects you from outside forces while conducting rituals. Never step outside the circle while performing the ritual unless precautions have been taken like a door being cut. Nobody should step in during a ritual, unless they are following a pathway made for them. Door is cut by athame or wand. Circle should never be left hanging after ritual. Must be closed as it was opened ceremoniously. It is considered the doorway between worlds and allows us to move between the two. Some circles can be permanently or physically or temporarily with herbs, sand, salt, chalk or nine foot cord. Circle is cat with blue or white light. Before area is used; clean the area, cleansing, consecrating and make sure necessary supplies are there. (TRASB)

(See also: MAGICK CIRCLE , Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Bahudaka - the second of four stages of sannyasa. When a sannyasi advances beyond the kuticaka stage, he no longer accepts anything from home; instead he collects his necessities from many places. This system is called madhukari, which literally means ‘the profession of bumblebees’.

As bumblebees collect honey from many flowers, so a sannyasi should beg from door to door but not accept very much from any particular house.

The bahudaka stage has been mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.12.43). In his commentary on this sloka, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura defines the ascetic in this stage as, one who has relegated the performance of karma to a secondary position and who gives prominence to transcendental knowledge.

(See also: Bahudaka , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Gangadvara (Sanskrit) (from ganga the Ganges river + dvara door)

The door or opening of the Ganges; a town, now called Hardwar, at the foot of the Himalayas where legend says the sage Kapila sat in meditation for a number of years.

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

tantrism: The enlightenment path outlined in the Tantra scriptures.

1)    Tantrism is sometimes considered a parallel stream of history and tradition in Hinduism, running alongside and gradually interweaving with the Vedic brahminical tradition.

2)    Tantrism refers to traditions, mainly within Saivism and Shaktism, that focus on the arousal of the kundalini force, and which view the human body as a vehicle of the Divine and an instrument for liberation. Tantrism's ultimate aim is a channeling of the kundalini life force through the sushumna, the gracious channel, upwards into the sahasrara chakra and beyond, through the door of brahman (brahmarandhra) into Parasiva, either before or at the time of death. The stress is on the transformation of all spheres of consciousness, spiritual, psychic, emotional and material. It is a path of sadhana.

Shakta Tantrism: Brings a strong emphasis on the worship of the feminine force. Depending on the school, this may be symbolic or literal in rites involving sexual intercourse, etc. Shakta Tantrism's main principle is the use of the material to gain the spiritual. In certain schools, historically, this implies embracing that which is normally forbidden and manipulating the forces to attain transcendent consciousness rather than lower consciousness. There are three main streams:

-       the righthand path (dakshina marga or dakshinachara) of conservative Hindu practice,

-       the left-hand path (vama marga or vamachara) involving the use of things normally forbidden such as taking intoxicants, meat, ritual sex, etc., and

-       the yogic path of the Kaula sect. Gorakshanatha followers are sometimes grouped with the latter.

See: Shaktism, kundalini, kundalini yoga, raja yoga, tantra.

(See also: Tantrism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Theosebeia (Greek) Reverence for divinity; used by Plato and others as the adjective theosebes (plural theosebeis), "those who know." It imbodies the principle of occult training that reverence for spiritual things is based on intuition, and hence those who are intuitive or reverent in their attitude towards truth are those who know. Skepticism itself closes the door to the gaining of larger increments of knowledge: there are none so blind as those who refuse to know.

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

invoke

To open the door to awareness with the mind

(See also: Invoke , Body Mind and Soul)

Square In theosophical literature, occasionally used to represent the quaternary, the four lower principles of nature or of man, the triangle standing for the upper triad, the three higher principles in the sevenfold classification. the Logos "is the apex of the Pythagorean triangle. When the triangle is complete it becomes the Tetraktis, or the Triangle in the Square, and is the dual symbol of the four-lettered Tetragrammaton in the manifested Kosmos, and of its radical triple RAY in the unmanifested, or its noumenon" (SD 2:24).

As to the cross inside of the square, "The philosophical cross, the two lines running in opposite directions, the horizontal and the perpendicular, the height and breadth, which the geometrizing Deity divides at the intersecting joint, and which forms the magical as well as the scientific quaternary, when it is inscribed within the perfect square, is the basis of the occultists. Within its mystical precinct lies the master-key which opens the door of every science, physical as well as spiritual. It symbolizes our human existence, for the circle of life circumscribes the four points of the cross, which represent in succession birth, life, death, and immortality. Everything in this world is a trinity completed by the quaternary." (IU 1:508). The squaring of the circle is a cosmogonic and mystical mystery indeed.

See also QUATERNARY

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

During dream, the mind creates various kinds of objects out of the impressions produced by the experiences of the waking state. The mind reproduces the whole of its waking life in dream through the force of Avidya (ignorance), Kama (desire or imagination) and Karma (action). The mind is the perceiver and the mind itself is the perceived in the dream. The mind creates the objects without the help of any external means

A spiritual view on dreams and the meaning of dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda, an authority in the vedic sciences and traditions.

Read more here: » Philosophy of Dreams IXX: The Mind and Dreaming

Fourth Root-race Often spoken of as the Atlantean, the name given in theosophic writings to the land-system which it occupied; it followed the third or so-called Lemurian race, not suddenly but with overlapping. During the fourth root-race humanity reached its greatest phases of materiality, especially since it occurred during the fourth round. The fourth root-race was roughly contemporaneous with what towards the end of the last century was called Tertiary times and came to an end in what was then known as the middle Miocene. Its total duration was millions of years.

The stature of the generality of the fourth root-race peoples was what would be gigantic to us today, which is one source of the universal tradition as to giants on the earth in far antiquity. Its earlier language was the monosyllabic type of the latter half of the third root-race, yet the characteristic speech during a large portion of its span was of the agglutinative type, inflected speech coming with the fifth root-race. The mode of reproduction was sexual, as it was in the latter half of the third root-race. After the fourth root-race had reached its zenith, certain unevolved tribes committed miscegenation with the most evolved of the then-existing simians, which were the descendants of a previous miscegenation of representatives of the third root-race with true monkey stocks. This second miscegenation produced a hybrid stock from which the anthropoid apes are descended.

There was an enmity lasting for ages between the benevolent and the selfish portions of the fourth root-race, which continued with the Aryan adepts of the nascent fifth root-race and finally ended in the triumph of the positive; but nevertheless the karma of Atlantean black magic even yet blights our own fifth root-race, for the people of today were imbodied as the humans of Atlantean times. Descendants of fourth root-race humanity even now are among the inhabitants of the earth, together with rapidly dying out remnants of the third root-race, and also various mixtures of all these.

During the fourth root-race on this globe D of the fourth round, evolution reached the middle of its course for this planetary manvantara, and the door to entry into the state of spiritual and intellectual evolution called the human kingdom was closed. All entities beneath the humans (and probably higher anthropoids who were in existence before that epoch) must await until the next succeeding round before even the highest representatives of the beast kingdom can pass on to the human stage. All subhuman kingdoms will show a tendency as time goes on to die out, because the monads of these kingdoms will go into latency for the remainder of the planetary manvantara; their chance for evolution into the human state will come again during the succeeding planetary manvantara.

See also ATLANTEANS

(See also: Fourth Root-race , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Inclusion of Buddhahood in the nine worlds

(Jpn.: kukai-soku-bukkai or kukai-shogu-no-bukkai)

The principle that the world of Buddhahood is inherent in the nine worlds. That is, all beings of the nine worlds possess the potential for Buddhahood (i.e., the Buddha nature). The nine worlds refer to the realms of hell, hungry spirits, animals, asuras, human beings, heavenly beings, voice-hearers, cause-awakened ones, and bodhisattvas. These realms also signify inherent conditions or states of life that beings manifest at any given moment. The nine worlds are contrasted with the world of Buddhahood in that they are realms or states of illusion and suffering, while Buddha-hood is a state of enlightenment free from illusion and suffering.

The principle of Buddhahood as a potential within the nine worlds means that the beings of the nine worlds, i.e., those who are deluded, inherently possess the state of Buddhahood and can manifest Buddhahood from within their lives. This concept is derived from the Lotus Sutra, particularly the "Expedient Means" (second) chapter. Together with the inclusion of the nine worlds within Buddhahood, it explains T'ien-t'ai's concept of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds. The chapter reads, "The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, wish to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings." Nichiren says, "This refers to the world of Buddhahood inherent in the nine worlds". That is, Buddhahood is inherent in all living beings.

(See also: Inclusion of Buddhahood in the nine worlds , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Spiritualism Properly, the philosophy, religion, or pneumatological science held by those who believe in the universal spirit as the cosmic originant of all the hierarchies of evolving monads; its opposite is materialism. Spiritualism is "in philosophy, the state or condition of mind opposed to materialism or a material conception of things.

Theosophy, a doctrine which teaches that all which exists is animated or informed by the Universal Soul or Spirit, and that not an atom in our universe can be outside of this omnipresent principle -- is pure Spiritualism. As to the belief that goes under that name, namely, belief in the constant communication of the living with the dead, whether through the mediumistic powers of oneself or a so-called medium -- it is no better than the materialisation of spirit, and the degradation of the human and the divine souls. Believers in such communications are simply dishonouring the dead and performing constant sacrilege. It was well called 'Necromancy' in days of old" (TG 307).

The modern movement which began about the middle of the 19th century, mainly with the Fox sisters, embraces a large range of differing beliefs, so that any strictures directed against certain phases of it may justly be resented by those to whom such strictures do not apply. But the characteristic doctrine which identifies Spiritualism or astralism as such, is the belief that it is possible for the living to communicate with the departed spirits of the deceased. Theosophy, however, holds that at death the personality disintegrates, the individuality of the person passing into the devachanic state, while its lower components gradually fade out in the kama-loka. It is impossible to obtain communications with the ego in devachan, except when a purely impersonal love of one human being for another reaches into the devachanic condition and comes into spiritual rapport with the devachani. A far lower rapport may be established with the astral or kama-lokic remains which have been left behind to disintegrate in the lower regions of the astral light.

All the apparent proofs of identity of "spirit" can be accounted for otherwise than by supposing the actual presence of the departed individual in the seance room. Such communications as are received evince no knowledge beyond that which we already have, and show no signs of emanating from a high source -- and almost invariably such communications are trifling and paltry. Mediumship and seances are most harmful practice, as they open the door to the entry of pernicious obsessing influences from the lower astral realms. Moreover such practice may obstruct and retard the natural decomposition of the discarded lower elements of the deceased, and thus keep alive his kama-rupa beyond the term of its natural astral death. The appeal of astralism is very powerful to those who feel convinced that they have thereby obtained assurance of immortality and of the continued existence of their lost loved ones.

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

PARABLES OF THE AYATOLLAH HAKIMA

The following are presented without comment:

A certain Bedouin went into the desert without water. When thirst overcame him he prayed for the miracle of rain and it did not come. Finally, remembering that water always moves downward, he fell to digging feverishly until at last he reached a well. As he bent over gratefully to drink, a few drops of rain began to fall upon his head.

The angel Gabriel, hearing the prayers of a mortal, sought to manifest and award his supplicant the joy of beholding seraphic splendor in the flesh. But no matter what he did, the mortal still saw the angel only in his mind's eye. Finally, Gabriel puckered up his lips and, in imitation of the evening breeze, riffled the pages of a bible that lay on the mortal's table and the holy book fell open at a lovely picture of the angel. This proves that everything in the universe is material.

Once there were two philosophers. The pessimist preached that all human life is miserable and on his door hung the word, "Repent!" The optimist taught that human life should be devoted to pleasure. On his wall he hung the word "Rejoice!" The pessimist inherited a good deal of money and lived to a ripe old age. The optimist died at an early age from a painful disease.

Two souls appeared at St. Peter's Gate. One was the innocent soul of a 3 year old child who had died in an accident. The other was the soul of a 99 year old man who died of tertiary syphilis. Why did St. Peter let in the old man first?

An old native came to the missionary doctor with a baffling fever. The doctor was unable to diagnose the case and none of his medicines worked. Finally, the old man went to the tribal witch doctor for advice. The witch doctor looked at him for a long time and asked, "Is there anything that you can eat?" And the old man shook his head and said, "I can keep nothing down."

"Can you keep pawa berries down?" the witch doctor asked. "Perhaps I could keep pawa berries down," the old man admitted.

"Then eat nothing but pawa berries for the next two weeks," suggested the witch doctor.

At the end of two weeks, the old man was still sick. So he got up, turned around thirteen times, made the sign of the cross at the sun, spat on the ground and then sat back down again. In that instant, the fever broke and the old man was well.

(See also: PARABLES OF THE AYATOLLAH HAKIMA , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

GANESHA

Hindu elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Literature, who is invoked at the beginnings of all undertakings. He is also the God of those who have been disfigured or maimed through heroism, in the line of duty or through no fault of their own. His original head was severed because he once barred the door of his mother's (Parvati's) bath from his father (Siva). His mother replaced it with the elephant's head, as the first thing she could find. He then lost a tusk trying to prevent Rama from disturbing Shiva's sleep. The elephant's head enables him to overcome every obstacle in his path. He also rides on the back of a mouse attribute (or familiar), which grants him access to small places.

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

Feng Shui and the flow of Qi: This article by the experienced Feng Shui teacher & practioner Siou Foon Lee explain how we may enhance our lives by understanding the flow of Qi, that, according to the ancient masters, is the force that enlivens the universe.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Opening the Door to Qi

Feng Shui is the chinese Art of creating harmonious environments that support our wellbeing on all levels. Sleeping is something we all do approximately 1/3 of our lives and it is therefore a very important factor for our overall health. This article gives you hands-on Feng Shui ideas on how to improve your bedroom.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Feng Shui in the bedroom

Sick House Sick People

The other day a very distressed Mrs. Taylor calls me on the phone. She tells me that she has many problems in her home. She is most concerned about her son who is either having mental problems or being very rebellious and driving her crazy.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Sick House Sick People

The purpose of Feng Shui is to restore balance and create harmony. There are times we cannot bring in a Feng Shui practitioner to assist us in this right away. Here are some fundamental principles to guide you and support your balance and harmony until the practitioner arrives.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Emergency Feng Shui Treatment