Diksha diksa (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root diksh to consecrate or dedicate oneself)

Preparation or consecration in exoteric matters for a religious ceremony; or the undertaking, equally in exoteric matters, of religious observances for a specific purpose, as well as the observances themselves; also initiation. As a proper noun, Diksha or initiation is personified as the wife of Soma (the Moon). Diksha again signifies preparatory training of the neophyte for initiation.

(See also: Diksha,  diksa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

White Stone. The sign of initiation mentioned in St. John’s Revelation. It had the word prize engraved on it, and was the symbol of that word given to the neophyte who, in his initiation, had successfully passed through all the trials in the MYSTERIES, it was the potent white cornelian of the medieval Rosicrucians, who took it from the Gnostics. ‘ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna (the occult knowledge which descends as divine wisdom from heaven), and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written (the ‘mystery name’ of the inner man or the EGO of the new Initiate), which no man knoweth saving him that receiveth it." (Revelation, ii. 17.)

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

Married since 1988, Wulff soon became the provincial party's choice for Premier in the 1994 assembly elections, in which the 33-year-old neophyte faced Gerhard Schröder, Premier since 1990. Schröder soundly defeated the Christian Democrats and secured an absolute majority in the Lower Saxony legislature[1], leading some observers to doubt the wisdom of the provincial party nominating a young candidate, with virtually no province-wide following, for Premier. Wulff used the ensuing years to gain experience in leading the provincial opposition, despite be ...

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Christian Wulff, Christian Wulff - Early Years, Christian Wulff - Provincial politics, Christian Wulff - The 2003 election, Christian Wulff - Premier, Christian Wulff - Wulff and the 2005 federal elections

Read more here: » Christian Wulff: Encyclopedia II - Christian Wulff - Provincial politics

This time the rabbis energetically repulsed their opponents. After the discussion the Frankists were requested to demonstrate in practise their adherence to Christianity (1759); Jacob Frank, who had then arrived in Lemberg, encouraged his followers to take the decisive step. The baptism of the Frankists was celebrated with great solemnity in the churches of Lwów, members of the Polish szlachta acting as god-parents. The neophytes adopted the names of their godfathers and godmothers, and ultimately joined the ranks of the Polish nobility. In ...

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Jacob Frank, Jacob Frank - Historical background, Jacob Frank - Social-economic conditions, Jacob Frank - Early life of Frank, Jacob Frank - The anti-Talmudists, Jacob Frank - Declaration of being a succesor to Shabbethai Zevi, Jacob Frank - Baptism of the Frankists, Jacob Frank - Frank in prison

Read more here: » Jacob Frank: Encyclopedia II - Jacob Frank - Baptism of the Frankists

Each frontier station was forced to be self-supporting, as existing means of supply were inadequate to maintain a colony of any size. California was literally months away from the nearest base in Mexico, and the cargo ships of the day were too small to carry more than a few months' rations in their holds. In order to sustain a mission, the padres required the help of colonists or converted Indians, called neophytes, to cultivate crops and tend livestock in the volume needed to support a fair-sized establishment. The scarcity of ...

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Architecture of the California missions, Architecture of the California missions - Site selection and layout, Architecture of the California missions - Building materials, Architecture of the California missions - Construction methods, Architecture of the California missions - Architectural elements, Architecture of the California missions - Infrastructure, Architecture of the California missions - Furniture

Read more here: » Architecture of the California missions: Encyclopedia II - Architecture of the California missions - Site selection and layout

Bread and Wine "The outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace," bread and wine stand at once for the actual elements used in initiation ceremonies and for the attainments of which they are symbolic.

Taking the Bacchic Mysteries as an example, wine was given as the blood of the grape and of Bacchus, blood signifying life, and Bacchus representing the mystic Logos which "was made flesh." So the whole rite means the imparting to the candidate of the divine life by conscious union of his lower self with the god within -- a union brought about by the self-devised efforts of the lower self. In the same way, bread or grain symbolized the intellectual aspect of the attainment, intellect being the "body" of the spiritual influx.

The Christian sacrament was adopted from the pagan rite. The Protestant Churches administer the sacrament in both bread and wine as the symbol of a divine grace received by the devout participant.

The Catholic Church teaches that the sacred elements are actually transubstantiated by miraculous means into the blood and body of Christ, denying the cup or the wine to the laity, and regarding the rite as propitiatory for the sins of the participants and of mankind in general.

The old pagan rite contained the idea that partaking of the wine meant allying oneself with the vital energy of the spiritual divinity within the neophyte, and the partaking of the bread was symbolic of a similar union of the neophyte's mentality with the cosmic mind for which the bread stood.

See also SOMA; WINE

(See also: Bread and Wine, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

It can be both a disparaging and friendly term, referring to a neophyte, someone who behaves as such, or someone who is seen as such. A newb is generally a positive term, while n00b usually has a negative connotation. The word itself is probably a corruption of new boy; a new arrival in a school and who is, therefore, vulnerable to bullying of various kinds, such as hazing or fagging. It could also derive from "new beginner". "Newbie" was used prior to this as slang in the U.S. Military to denote men who had finished technical school (so no longer a recruit and rookie) and were just arriving ...

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Newbie, Newbie - Semantics, Newbie - Social rejection, Newbie - Social acceptance, Newbie - Internet Relay Chat, Newbie - Newb vs. noob, Newbie - U.S. Navy usage, Newbie - Rough etymology, Newbie - Newbies in Internet culture, Newbie - Noobs in Internet gaming, Newbie - Noob talk, Newbie - Froobie

Read more here: » Newbie: Encyclopedia II - Newbie - Semantics

Vikartana (Sanskrit) [from vi asunder + the verbal root krit to cut, divide]

The one cutting asunder or dividing; a title of the sun as the divider or distributor of solar life, and in a more restricted sense the sun as conqueror of Rahu, the Dragon's head (an eclipse). When taken in a passive sense, it signifies the sun when "shorn of his rays," and hence a name given to an initiated neophyte in a certain stage of his spiritual training, when he is laid on the cross and must make the supreme conquest of the dragon or the influence of the moon.

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

ELDER: has various meanings in different branches of the Craft, but usually refers to one of advanced degree. In some traditions, it means one who has been a third degree for more than a year.

1) In some three degree traditions, a Witch of Third degree, who has spent 3 years and 3 days in formal training.

2) A Coven Leader.

3) a Witch who has enough knowledge to preserve and teach their tradition to neophytes from scratch, without benefit of books.

4) In Y Dynion Mwyn it means one who has obtained a fourth level initiation.

(See also: ELDER, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

GREAT RITE, THE

1) The symbolic sexual union of the Goddess and the God which is enacted at Bealtaine in most traditions, and at other Sabbats in many others. It symbolizes the primal act of creation from which all life comes. The sexual union is symbolized by ritually placing the athame, inside the chalice of cauldron, a womb symbol.

2) Also known as "Sacred Marriage." An actual sexual union between high priest and high priestess, or a sexual union between a initiator and a neophyte (seeker) during initiation which passes the dormant power of the initiator into the seeker.

3) Sexual Ritual is the main part of a 3rd Degree Initiation of some Traditions.

(See also: GREAT RITE, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Promised Land Exoterically, the so-called Holy Land of Palestine, which was promised to the Hebrews as the goal of their wanderings. All peoples of the earth cherish the hope of reaching a Promised Land where peace, happiness, and prosperity will once again be the endowment of the human race.

Esoterically it is nirvana or the pristine spiritual laya-state from which issued the eternal monad and to which it shall ultimately return. It also refers to the sublime consummation of human evolutionary destiny which will take place at the end of the seventh round on the last globe of our planetary chain; and to the reaching by the neophyte through self-devised efforts and initiation of the full status of mahatmaship or minor dhyan-chohanship even on this earth.

(See also: Promised Land, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Alesia Ancient Gaulish city (now called St. Reine) known for its Celtic Mysteries; the revolt of the central Gauls against the Romans under Caesar resulted in "the slaughter of the garrison at Alesia (or Alisa), and of all its inhabitants, including the Druids, the college-priests and the neophytes; after this the whole city was plundered and razed to the ground" (BCW 14:294-5), with the loss of the Druidic libraries. With the destruction soon after of nearby Bibractis (present-day Autun), Druidism was destroyed in Gaul. (also BCW 14:311)

(See also: Alesia, Ancient Gaulish city, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Chemnu (Greek) Khaemnu (Egyptian) Egyptian mystery-goddess, female counterpart of Khem, who was identified by the Greeks with Pan.

"The deity that was created by the ardent fancy of the neophyte, who was thus tantalized during his 'twelve labours' of probation before his final initiation" (BCW 13:239-40n). "The Egyptian Hierophant evoked and guided Chemnu, the 'lovely spectre,' the female Frankenstein-creation of old, raised for the torture and test of the soul-power of the candidate for initiation, simultaneously with the last agonizing cry of his terrestrial human nature" (BCW 14:32).

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

Dragon of Wisdom Commonly an adept, one of the wise; also popularly a skilled magician -- whether of the right or left path. Referring to the earliest stages of cosmogony, dragon is a term often used for the sun in its various cosmologic functions, also for the One or Logos. An important significance of the phrase is that the real initiator of humanity, or of the individual neophyte, is the person's own higher ego.

In Chinese Buddhism the term is used for the genii of the four quarters, called in China the Black Warrior, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Azure Dragon -- the Four Hidden Dragons of Wisdom. In her rendering of the Stanzas of Dzyan, Blavatsky uses Dragon of Wisdom as an equivalent of Oeaohoo the Younger -- the germ and overseer of all things to the end of the life cycle.

(See also: Dragon of Wisdom, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Neros (Hebrew, Jewish). As shown by the late E. V. Kenealy this "Naronic Cycle" was a mystery, a true "secret of god", to disclose which during the prevalence of the religious mysteries and the authority of the priests, meant death. The learned author seemed to take it for granted that the Neros was of 600 years duration, but he was mistaken. (See "Natos".) Nor were the establishment of the Mysteries and the rites of Initiation due merely the necessity of perpetuating the knowledge of the true meaning of the Naros and keeping this cycle secret from the profane; for the Mysteries are as old as the present human race, and there were far more important secrets to veil than the figures of any cycle. (See "Neophyte" and "I. H. S.", also "Naros".) The mystery of 666, "the number of the great heart" so called, is far better represented by the Tau and the Resh than 600.

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

I.H.S. This triad of initials stands for the in hoc signo of the alleged vision of Constantine, of which, save Eusebius, its author, no one ever knew. I.H.S. is interpreted Jesus Hominum Salvator, and In hoc signo. It is, however, well known that the Greek IHS was one of the most ancient names of Bacchus. As Jesus was never identical with Jehovah, but with his own "Father" (as all of us are), and had come rather to destroy the worship of Jehovah than to enforce it, as the Rosicrucians well maintained, the scheme of Eusebius is very transparent. In hoc signo Victor ens, or the Labarum T (the tau and the resh) is a very old signum, placed on the foreheads of those who were just initiated. Kenealy translates it as meaning "he who is initiated into the Naronic Secret, or the 600, shall be Victor" but it is simply "through this sign hast thou conquered"; i.e., through the light of Initiation - Lux. (See "Neophyte and "Naros".)

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

Wordpassing, Passwords Communication or passing of the word or words in two contexts: 1) in the sacred Mysteries, by one hierophant just before his death to his successor; and 2) as the culminating act of initiation, from the initiate to the candidate or neophyte, as in Freemasonry by the Master of the Lodge, representing King Solomon, to the candidate after his raising.

In the first case, the hierophant could either offer his pure life "as a sacrifice for his race to the gods whom he hoped to rejoin," or an animal victim. This last is a blind, for no initiate of the right-hand path ever sacrificed the life of an animal or any life. The sacrifice performed is the complete conquest of the lower, animal nature, either in this or a lower degree; hence the alternative. The sacrifice of their lives "depended entirely on their own will. At the last moment of the solemn 'new birth,' the initiator passed 'the word' to the initiated, and immediately after that the latter had a weapon placed in his right hand, and was ordered to strike. This is the true origin of the Christian dogma of atonement" (IU 2:42). Blavatsky mentions a widespread superstition among the Slavs and Russians that a magician or wizard cannot die before he has passed the word to a successor, which she traces to the ancient Mysteries.

In the Egyptian initiatory rites taking place in the Great Pyramid, the neophyte, "upon returning -- received the Word, with or without the 'heart's blood' of the Hierophant.

"Only in truth the Hierophant was never killed -- neither in India or elsewhere, the murder being simply feigned -- unless the Initiator had chosen the Initiate for his successor and had decided to pass to him the last and supreme Word, after which he had to die -- only one man in a nation had the right to know that word . . .

"But he died, he was not killed. For killing, if really done, would belong to black, not to divine Magic. It is the transmission of light, rather than a transfer of life, of life spiritual and divine, and it is the shedding of Wisdom, not of blood" (BCW 14:262-4).

That the initiate was compelled to kill the initiator was allegorical and exoteric.

Turning to the second meaning, in Freemasonry every degree has its password or words, which are given to the neophyte during initiation into that degree, the possession of which is a requisite for admission into the working of that degree, and to the conferring of it upon others. By means of it, initiates, as of Freemasonry, may become known to one another. In the ancient Mysteries such words were key words, words of power -- not mere words or phrases which could be communicated to anyone merely after taking part in a ceremony however symbolic, but only to those who were inwardly qualified and worthy of receiving them; who, in fact, had achieved the right of demanding them. Thus in a sense such words were ineffable, not only not to be uttered but unutterable to anyone not entitled to receive them, anyone who had not attained through aspiration, self-conquest, and inner development of mind and heart that stage wherein an understanding of them would be possible. Such inner development must in fact have been begun before one could be truly initiated even into the lowest degree, and must be attained progressively in greater and greater measure as an indispensable qualification for advancement into a higher degree. This use of passwords is also seen in the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

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

Triyana (Sanskrit) [from tri three + yana vehicle, way]

The three vehicles, ways, conditions, or degrees by which the neophyte, and later adept, crosses the ocean of births, deaths, and rebirths or samsara. The three vehicles are likewise three degrees of yoga known as sravaka, pratyeka-buddha, and bodhisattva.

"The term Triyana is also used to denote the three schools of mysticism [in India] -- the Mahayana, the Madhyimayana and Hinayana schools; of which the first is the 'Greater,' and the second the 'Middle,' and the last the 'Lesser' Vehicle. All and every system between the Greater and the Lesser Vehicles are considered 'useless.'

Therefore the Pratyeka Buddha is made to correspond with the Madhyimayana. For, as explained, 'this (the Pratyeka Buddha state) refers to him who lives all for himself and very little for others, occupying the middle of the vehicle, filling it all and leaving no room for others.' Such is the selfish candidate for Nirvana" (TG 344-5).

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

Dweller on the Threshold (Dweller of the Threshold) Coined by Bulwer-Lytton in his romance Zanoni, where it represents a malevolent entity of awful and terrifying aspect awaiting to menace and tempt the aspirant to occultism. The author, by means of this vivid portrayal, has expressed the mystical fact that when one has taken a stand to overcome a certain weakness in one's nature, or even a habit, such resolution seems to array all the opposing forces against the aspirant.

Thus it may readily be understood that when one seeks to enter the domain of the occult, a similar experience awaits the candidate; but the forces or energies thus aroused are of one's own making, and they must be met and conquered by their originator before progress may be successfully made.

"The real Dweller on the Threshold is formed of the despair and despondency of the neophyte, who is called upon to give up all his old affections for kindred, parents and children, as well as his aspirations for objects of worldly ambition, which have perhaps been his associates for many incarnations. When called upon to give up these things, the neophyte feels a kind of blank, before he realizes his higher possibilities." (Subba Row, Theos 7:284).

Generally speaking, because of their menacing aspects, the term Dweller on the Threshold might be applied to the denizens of kama-loka, specifically to the past kama-lokic or astral remnants of a former incarnation which haunt the new imbodiment of that reincarnating ego.

A person who gives way to strongly material impulse and desires forms for himself a kama-rupa which, when the person dies, can persist without undergoing complete dissolution until the quick return of such materially-minded human soul to reincarnation, when the kama-rupa is then strongly attracted to the person thus reimbodied and haunts him as an evil genius, continually instilling by automatic psychomagnetic action thoughts and impulses of evil, temptations, and suggestions of fear and terror -- all of which the person himself was responsible for in his last life.

There is even such a dweller for globes of a planetary chain of strongly material characteristic. Our moon is such a dweller to the earth. All planetary chains in the solar system probably have or have had their moons, but not in all have such moon-dwellers lasted long after the planetary chain undergoes imbodiment anew.

(See also: Dweller on the Threshold, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

The Sleep of Siloam [from Hebrew the verbal root shalam wholeness, completion, perfectness, peace, health]

Used by one of the highest schools of initiates in Asia Minor, Syria, and upper Egypt for one of the processes of initiation. While the candidate was plunged in deep sleep, his spiritual ego was enabled to confabulate with the gods, descend into Hades, or perform works of divinely spiritual character.

When the neophyte begins the holy sleep of Siloam, he leaves the body, and his consciousness enters into the river of Lethe, the pools of quiet, where the complete work or great work of inner understanding takes place. After this he is rendered whole or perfect, is completed and is safe, and is the master of the peace and quiet of inner unity -- masterhood. The same holy event has been known in all times and among all peoples under various names.

(See also: Sleep of Siloam, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Sacred Sleep The sleep of the neophyte when he is thrown into oblivion by magical processes and draughts of soma remaining entranced as through dead for several days while he becomes the receptacle for divine communications from his Augoeides (IU 1:357).

What he reveals while in this state is not known to him, nor to anyone but the few adepts privileged to be present. The same thing is referred to by Isaiah, in describing the purification necessary for a prophet: "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me having a live coal in his hand . . . and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" (6:6, 7). The state is in some respects different from the trance of the priestesses of Delphi, exhibited before the multitude.

(See also: Sacred Sleep, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Good Friday Anniversary celebration of the alleged physical crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which has a shifting date, varying between the 20th of March and the 23rd of April, the epoch of the Jewish Passover and the spring equinox.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are a borrowing from the ancient Mysteries -- the mystic death and resurrection of the unconquered sun, exemplified by the mystic death and resurrection of the successful neophyte. This celebration is likewise connected with the winter solstice; the wish of the church authorities to accommodate themselves both to Roman and Jewish customs has caused the festival to be split, so that the birth now is celebrated in winter and the death and the resurrection in spring, whereas birth and resurrection are two words for the same mystic truth.

Even in the dogmatic and somewhat mechanical Christian celebration of these originally pagan mysteries, Friday is the day of Venus, a prototype of the organ of the gnostic individuality; Saturday is the day of Saturn, a prototype of the guardian in ancient mystical occultism of the initiatory Ring-pass-not; and Sunday, the day of the rising or resurrection, is the day of the sun, giver of life and light.

(See also: Good Friday, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)