In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Evolving Towards Enlightenment - III

In this articles, famous Astrologer Dr Turi expose his beliefs and vision from an astrological point of view regarding the release of Mel Gibson's new movie, "The Passion." As expected when religions are involved, controversial news will be hitting fast and furious causing emotional turmoil. Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is unleashing this conflict according to Dr Turi.

Read more here: » Astrology: Astrological perspective on Mel Gibson's movie Passion

The Native American Sweat Lodge, Temazcal, is an ancient practice from the native indians of America; a sacred ritual for Healing and Purification. Participants at the Oneness Festival will be able to experience this very powerful ritual both at day time, and, when it is as most powerful, at night time.

Read more here: » Sweat Lodge: Temazcal I/III - The Traditional Mexican Sweat Bath

Venus (Aphrodite)

Venus, the planet may be seen rising in the east along with the sun and is known as the Morning Star. It also sets in the west and is the Evening Star. Due to the way this plant travels across the sky, it is often a symbol of death and rebirth. It is associated with the sun and considered to be the sun's messenger and an intermediary between the sun and mankind (between mortal and the impartial). In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love. The love that she represents is not of the emotional and fruitful kind, but rather lust, sensual pleasure and raw animal attraction. Aphrodite was able to stir sexual feelings in both animals and mankind and often represents the perverse side of human sexuality. She is the goddess of the house of prostitution. Aphrodite may represent our basic sexual nature before it is tamed and humanized by emotions and spirit. In order to understand the symbolism of Venus in a dream, some reflection is required. Are you full of lust and/or has your sexuality been ignored? Aphrodite may be stirring your basic sexual nature. If you are feeling drained by life, the planet Venus may be a representation of the ability to regenerate and begin anew. Seeing Venus in a dream may be a reminder that there is an abundance of internal energy and resources accessible to all that tap into it.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Venus (Aphrodite) , Meaning of Dreams about Venus (Aphrodite) , Dream Interpretation Venus (Aphrodite) )

Hatha Yoga Positions: Tadasana - The Mountain

Tadasana is one of the most basic of all yoga postures. It is a grounding posture to bring the body and mind in balance and alignment.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Positions: Tadasana - The Mountain Position

Site Testing

In order to identity an ideal building site, a square pit of one square built (1 cubit x 1 cubit) should be dug out at the centre of the building site, meditating mentally upon the Goddess Earth and praying for plenty of wealth and grains at this site. This is to be performed at an auspicious hour, when the lunar day (thithi) lunar asterism (Natchatram), the astrological dicisious of tone and the rising of the zodiac sign (lagnam) above the horizon are favourably placed.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Site Testing in Vastu

Buddhism: Funeral Rites as practiced in Thailand and other South East Asian Countries.

Funeral rites are the most elaborate of all the life-cycle ceremonies and the ones entered into most fully by the monks. It is a basic teaching of Buddhism that existence is suffering, whether birth, daily living, old age or dying. This teaching is never in a stronger position than when death enters a home. Indeed Buddhism may have won its way the more easily in Thailand because it had more to say about death and the hereafter than had animism.

Read more here: » Buddhist Rites: Buddhist Funeral Rites

On September 22, 1931, two icons of the West and the East met in a humble tenement in London. Mahatma Gandhi impressed Charlie Chaplin with his view that supreme independence meant shedding oneself of unnecessary things.

Chaplin believed this principle was the basis of Gandhi's political-economic-spiritual argument against machinery.

However, what Gandhi told Chaplin that day echoes the Jaina principle of aparigraha.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Renunciation Keeps Man, Nature Happy - Aparigraha

What is karma in Hinduism?

Karma is one of the natural laws of the universe. It simply means "cause and effect." Our religion is made up of many natural laws of the universe. Karma is just one of them. (This is a simple answer for a casual seeker. After you have said this, smile and ask if they want to know anything more.)

Read more here: » Hinduism: What is karma in Hinduism?

Kalki Bhagavan the founder of Golden Age Foundation, is considered to be the Avatar capable of giving enlightenment to mankind. This is an extract from a Darshan with Kalki Bhagavan and Amma held at Nemam (outside Chennai in South East India) 2nd of January 2004. According to Kalki, the Golden Age will start in June 2004 and will be initated by the occuring Venus Transit.

Read more here: » Kalki about the Venus Transit

Airts

(Gaelic = four) The four points of the compass; north, south, east and west. The traditional colors Gaelics attributed to them are: the east-the crimson of dawn; the south- the white light of high noon; the west- the brownish gray of twilight, and the north- the black of midnight.

(See also: Airts , New Age Spirituality, 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)

Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Theravadins Buddhist follow the Indian custom of burning the body at death. The BuddhaÕs body was cremated and this set the example for many Buddhists, even in the West. When someone is dying in a Burmese home, monks come to comfort them. They chant verses to them, such as:

Read more here: » Rituals in Buddhism: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Vedic Astrology and Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health

In order to maintain a healthy mind we must realize the true realities of life. Therefore we must consider our spiritual nature to understand the subtleties of mind, intelligence and ego. Accordingly mental, emotional and spiritual health go together and, unless you have some knowledge in this regard, you cannot stop the onslaught of negative emotions brought on by ignorance and fear. We not only need to engage ourselves in some sort of fulfilling work to occupy our minds but need to understand why we fall victim to feelings of hate, envy, greed and avarice. These emotions only serve to destroy us intellectually, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. Why is there so much hate in the world, anyway?

Excerpt from "An Introduction to Vedic Astrology" by Howard Beckman

Read more here: » Vedic Astrology: Vedic Astrology and Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health

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

The Staircase

·  Should be in the western or northern side of the building.

·  Turnings should be in the clockwise direction.

On reaching the upper floor, the facing should be towards south or east.

See also: Vastu Shastra

(See also: Vastu Shastra , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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

Western writers tend to describe silence in negative terms. We grow up with images of "the eerie silence of the night", "the disturbing silence of the graveyard", "the hollow sounds of loneliness".

In the East, silence is synonymous with bliss. Whether one is visiting an isolated temple on a hilltop, or at the samadhi of a saint, one gets a feeling of peace and harmony. Silence is of two types. The external silence that can be easily created in a sound-proof room. It is the other, the internal silence, which is difficult to achieve.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: The Circle of Positive Energy - Silence

Cardinal Directions, Cardinal Points

North, East, South, and West. Symbolized by the circle in magic (which connects the points), the four elements, and the watchtowers.

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

Meditation

According to Swami Vishnu Devananda, meditation is "….a continuous flow of perception or thought, just like the flow of water in a river." A practice wherein there is constant observation of the mind, meditation brings awareness, harmony and natural order into life. It helps you dig deep into your inner self to discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within.

Principles of Meditation

The basic points to be kept in mind in practicing meditation are:

·      Have a special place and specific time for meditation. Try doing it daily.

·      Choose a time when your mind is not clouded with worries.

·      Sit up straight with your back, neck and head in one line. Facing north or east.

·      Condition your mind such so as to remain quiet for the duration of your meditation session.

·      Regulate your breathing. Start with 5 minutes of deep breathing. Then gradually slow it down.

·      Follow a rhythmic breathing pattern - inhale and exhale.

·      Initially let your mind wander. It grows more restless if you force to concentrate.

·      Then slowly bring it to rest on the focal point of your choice.

·      Hold your object of concentration at this focal point throughout your session.

·      Meditation happens when you reach a state of pure thought. Even while retaining an awareness of duel self.

Followed diligently you will soon be able to attain a super-conscious state.

Tips on Concentration

·      At the outset, it is hard to keep your attention to keep focussed on one object.

·      So it is better to start off by limiting your field of concentration to a category of objects.

·      Choose your objects with care e.g. any four flowers, fruits, trees...etc. You must feel at ease with what you choose.

·      After concentrating on one, you can move on to the next, if & when your mind starts wandering.

This style of meditative exercise will help you control your mind down to a finer focus, teaching you the principle of single point concentration.

Meditative Postures

Yoni Mudra

·  Close your ears with thumbs.

·  Cover your eyes with your index finger.

·  Close your nostrils with your middle fingers.

·  Press your lips together with your remaining fingers.

·  Release the middle fingers gently to inhale and exhale while you meditate.

Frontal & Nasal Gazing

·  Gaze at a point between your eyebrows, seat of the 'Third Eye' or at the tip or your nose.

·  This would improve your level of concentration. At the same time, strengthening your eye muscles. Nasal gazing has a positive effect on the central nervous system.

·  Remember not to strain your eyes. Start with one minute of gazing and then slowly build it up to ten minutes.

Candle Gazing

• Place a candle at eye-level in a darkened, draught-free room.
• Close your eyes and hold an after-image of the bright flame.
• The practice steadies the wandering mind, leading you to focus with pin-point accuracy.

(See also: Meditation , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

EAST POINT - nodal axis of the Earth; point where the Earth’s equator conjourns the ecliptic, symbolizing self expression in social terms in Uranian astrology. (NAD)

(See also: EAST POINT , Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

To find out more about www.experiencefestival.com, see the archives below. Each of them contains links to hundreds or thousands of different archives with material related to the topic (the figure is the number of related archives).

Spiritual Archives (4921), Buddhism Archives (1320), Hinduism Archives (2021), Ayurveda Archives (522), Theology Archives (819), Theosophy Archives, Parapsychology Archives (628), Paganism Archives, Wiccan Archives. Eastern Philosophy Archives, Yoga Archives, Bhakti Archives

Read more here: » Old 6: Quick links to popular archives - Old 6