Tachyon

A theoretical particle, or wave which travels faster than the speed of light. Tachyons exist in a theoretical world where objects have negative mass and time goes backwards.

Tachyon energy is used to scan "subspace", among other things, on the sci-fi fantasy program, Star Trek Voyager. So far, there is no empirical evidence for the existence of tachyons. "If they do exist, tachyons would be extremely difficult to utilize under our current understanding of physics," says NASA scientist Tom Bridgman.

Despite being theoretical and, if real, difficult to utilize, and if utilized, of unknown value, tachyons are the main ingredient in a feature line of New Age products that range from beads, belts and shoe inserts, to sweatbands, power pillows, massage oils and vials of tachyon water. A few enterprising New Agers claim that they know tachyons exist and they have harnessed its power.

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

Zion

1)    a hill in Jerusalem (variously identified, but probably the Temple Mount). In the Bible, it is the place from which God rules the earth.

2)    the Jewish people as a group, or the Jewish homeland as a symbol of Judaism.

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

Zygomancy

Divination by using weights.

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

Unicorn

A mythical horse-like creature with a twisted horn coming from his forehead. A mythical animal generally depicted as having the head and body of a horse, the hind legs of a stag, the tail of a lion, and having a long tapering horn growing from the middle of its forehead.

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

Unitarianism

1)    The doctrine that God is exclusively one person. Unlike monarchianism or modalism, which view Jesus as a manifestation of the unipersonal God, or subordinationism, which views Jesus as a secondary divine being , Unitarianism views Jesus as a mere human being.

2)    The Unitarian movement that originated in late 18th-century New England and to the denominational body that merged with the Universalists in the 20th century to form the Unitarian-Universalist Association.

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

Udana

In Hindu philosophy, the vital air controlling the intake of food and air

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

UFO

Acronym for Unidentified Flying Object.

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

Ugrasana

(Sanskrit) The posterior stretch posture in yoga

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

Ululation

A loud, protracted and rhythmic sound. Ool - ool - ool, used by belly dancers and Arabian prostitutes.

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

Uncasting

Opening the circle at the end of a ritual.

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

Unction

The act of annointing.

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

Underworld.

(See: Afterworld; Hades; Hell; Hel; Nether regions; Tartarus.

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

Undine

The elemental spirit who dwells in water.

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

Universalism

1)    The doctrine that all people will eventually receive salvation and eternal life. Many different groups hold to universalism from various perspectives and for diverse (and sometimes opposing) reasons. This doctrine is prevalent in liberal Christianity (among both Protestants and Roman Catholics), as well as in the New Age movement and in most non-Jude0-Christian religions.

2)    A movement dating from the late 18th century that originally affirmed universalism on the basis that Jesus' redemptive death paid for the sins of all people. As universalism developed it came to affirm that people are acceptable as they are and that no atonement or redemption from sin is needed or provided.

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

Universe: from the Greek meaning "the whole thing"

The entire physical reality. This includes the physical, the astral and the spiritual There is a diversity of opinion as to whether the universe is external to God or is contained within God. Most modern New Agers believe that the universe and all reality is contained WITHIN God.

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

Upanishads

One of the scriptures of Hinduism. The inspired teachings, visions, and mystical experiences of the ancient sages of India (exceeding one hundred texts); the concluding portion of the Vedas and the basis for Vedantic philosophy.

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

Ur

(originally Urim, language uncertain) Sumerian city-state in present-day Iraq, center of the moon god's (Nanna) cult and, in biblical tradition, the first home of Abraham It achieved political eminence ca. 2100 to 2000 BC under the third dynasty of Ur, and became the capital of an empire administered by a vast bureaucracy and reaching into the mountain country to the east and up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into Syria. From earlier archaeological levels come the famous royal tombs and inscriptions in a very archaic script.

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

Urimancy

Divination by the observation of urine, either by its color, by its taste, by its flow patterns, or by the patterns formed when it hits the ground or in a swirling bowl.

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

Ushtrasana

(Sanskrit) The camel posture in yoga

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

Utkatasana

(Sanskrit) The hunkering posture in yoga

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

Vairagya

(Sanskrit) Dispassion; the power of renunciation by which a yogi is able to pursue the true rather than the false, the eternal rather than the ephemeral.

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

Vaisheshika

One of the schools (systems) of Indian philosophy

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