Celtic Marriage

This article is not just for those interested in the traditions of Celtic Marriage, it is also a look into the complex body of law that governed the ancient Celts.

For the ancient Celts, marriage was a very different thing than what we conceive of as "marriage" today. For them, marriage or handfasting as some know it was a form of contract that had several purposes. These included the protection of property rights, the care of progeny (children), and the rights of the individuals involved in the relationships themselves.

Read more here: » Ancient Celts: Celtic Marriage

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

Time Cycles and cosmic calendars from different cultures lika the maya, aztek, hopis and veda, predicting a planetary ascension, are brought together and analyzed by Kiara Windrider.

Read more here: » Spiritual Awakening: Spirals of Time

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part II

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation Experiences: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra - Part II

Chinese astrologers refer to the Moon's Nodes as the Dragon's Head and Tail and give it tremendous attention as to the placement in the natal chart. Sadly, practical modern astrologers tend to ignore its very existence and in the process, lose a wealth of valuable information. To my knowledge, the Dragon, in itself, holds as much, if not more, facts and power than the entire complexity of a whole astrological chart! This article give you the knowledge to understand the Dragon in your personal horoscope.

Read more here: » Astrology: Dragons throughout the ages - Dragons importance in Astrology.

Malvin Artley gives an exciting mythological background to Venus in connection to the forthcoming Venus Transits of 2004 and 2012. A must read if you are interested in the significance of the Venus Transit.

Read more here: » Venus Transit: The Venus Conjunction June 8 2004

Dr Turi, famous astrologer known for his many accurate predictions give his perspective on the Venus Transit of 2004. What will be the influences on politics, business, economy and other world events?

Read more here: » Venus Transit: Astrological significance of Venus Transit 2004

Meaning of Dreams in Islam

Few Western dream researchers have any familiarity with the rich dream traditions of Islam. The Muslim faith first emerged in seventh century B.C.E. Arabia as a profound revisioning of early Jewish and Christian beliefs and practices. One theme the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) drew from the scriptures of those two religions was a reverence for dreaming. In the Quran, as in the Jewish Torah and the Christian New Testament, dreams serve as a vital medium by which God communicates with humans. Dreams offer divine guidance and comfort, warn people of impending danger, and offer prophetic glimpses of the future. Although the three religions drastically differ on many other topics, they find substantial agreement on this particular point: dreaming is a valuable source of wisdom, understanding, and inspiration. Indeed, as I will propose in this brief essay, Islam has historically shown greater interest in dreams than either of the other two traditions, and has done more to weave dreaming into the daily lives of its members. From the first revelatory visions of Muhammed to the myriad dream practices of present-day Muslims, Islam has developed and sustained a complex, multifaceted tradition of active engagement with the dreaming imagination.

Read more here: » Meaning of Dreams in Islam: Reflections on the Dream Traditions of Islam

People wish to know the exact period that elapses from the time of leaving the body and being born again. Does the soul take a new body in one year? Does it take ten years? How long does one live upon the subtler planes before reappearing on the earth-plane? These are some of the questions. Now, there is no definite period of time in this matter. In main two factors decide this issue viz., the nature of the individual Karma and the last impression before death.

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Lokas Or Planes: The Stay In Supra-Physical Planes Between death and rebirth

There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has a garb of mythology. Do not argue. Shut up your mouth. Keep your intellect at a respectable distance when you study mythology. Intellect is a hindrance. It will delude you. Give up arrogance and vanity. Cultivate love for imagery. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote the mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now..

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols

Feng Shui: Violating Natural Laws

In the philosophy of feng shui, everyone has a unique energy that radiates from their body. If the house's energy is not harmonized with a person's energy, it causes the body's internal energy to be scattered. Lacking focused energy, it is easy to be anxious and nervous, to say things one does not mean, to sleep with out getting rest. Unable to think and act at one's full potential makes people get into conflicts, eat the wrong things, do the wrong things and be involved in many mishaps.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Violating Natural Laws - About Feng Shui

Karma Yoga Lesson III

What is Karma; Self querying necessary; Analysis of Karma; Its five factors in the utmost analysis, c. f. Gita; Modern Relativity says, Everyone is a lord of himself; The five factors all in oneself; The teaching as confounded by medieval Hindus; Difficulties of language; Behaviorism; Destiny; Karmic ledger has no proportion; The Ego is not the "I" nor an unity but a multiplicity James' definition; Just what we say that man is a diversity; How to cure vain regrets; Mantra for the Act in this praxis.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson III (of XI )

 In essence, fear is caused by a sense of separation from the universal life and loving spirit in which all of physical and nonphysical manifestation is One. There are no exceptions to this. Learn to take note when you are feeling separate, whether from other people, nature, God or spirit. To be free of fear, you will need to be willing to allow different beliefs and concepts into your mind.

Read more here: » Fear: About fear and its consequences

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the World. The mundane understanding of sound and language is that it is only used for communication between two or more people. But at another level, the science of sound and language is a huge field of wisdom that affect many aspects of life, not the least our spiritual wellbeing. This article explain in detail the science of sound and language and how this wisdom has been an imbedded key component of the ancient sciences of India for thousands of years. Yoga, chanting and the use of mantras are all closely connected to the conscious use of sound and language for healing and spiritual awakening.

Read more here: » Spirituality & Science: Sanskrit - a divine Language?

About the mind and how the mind can be controlled.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Mind Control: Mind, Its Mysteries and Control

Durga Puja or Navaratri:

This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Durga Puja or Navaratri: Hindu Festivals - Durga Puja or Navaratri

Oneness: Rise Above Dogma, Realise The Truth

When I pass by the neighbourhood mosque, I bow my head in respect just as I do when I pass by the temple. The mullah's call to the faithful turns me towards prayer and God. I go through the same upsurge of emotions when I visit a church or gurdwara. When I bow my head in humility to Christ and the Guru Granth Sahib, I see in them my beloved Lord Krishna. Similarly, when I hear the Buddhist chant: ''Buddham Sharanam Gachchhami'', it continues to reverberate within me for long after, giving me the same sense of peace I experience when I say my usual prayers.

Read more here: » Oneness: Rise Above Dogma, Realise The Truth

Red Coral

To strengthen Mars, wearing a red coral stone (best), or strand of beads is recommended. The deeper red it is in color the more potency it will have. The wearing of red coral will increase vitality, courage and ability to work on endeavors through to their fruition. Physically it is said to strengthen the immune system, the muscles of the body and the male reproductive system.

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gemstones Crystals - Red Coral

As souls we have agendas related to our growth and learning. We have access to many dimensions, realms and planes as well as many different environments within these places for our souls to learn, grow and play. Earth is just one of these many places. This environment has particular rules such as Karma and duality, which our souls have deemed as appropriate for our education at this time. We can have many lifetimes focusing on one particular aspect of earthly existence. Knowing what our overall agenda is for this lifetime can help us align more appropriately with our true paths.

Read more here: » Soul Placements: Knowing our overall agenda

The doctrine of reincarnation is accepted by the majority of mankind at the present day. It has been held as true by the mightiest Eastern nations. The ancient civilisation of Egypt was built upon this doctrine and it was handed over to Pythagoras, Plato, Virgil and Ovid, who scattered it through Greece and Italy. It was the keynote of Plato�s philosophy �

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Karma And Reincarnation - II

Desire determines which sort of objects you will have in your next life. If you desire wealth very much you will get it in your next life. If you desire power very much you will get it in your next life. But money and power cannot give you eternal bliss and immortality. You must be very careful in your choice. Entertain one strong desire, the desire for Moksha or the final emancipation. Shun worldly desires ruthlessly. You will soon be freed from the round of births and deaths.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Conquest Of Death: Seek The Immortal

A Theosophical definition of Monad :

Monad

A spiritual entity which to us humans is indivisible; it is a divine-spiritual life-atom, but indivisible because its essential characteristic, as we humans conceive it, is homogeneity; while that of the physical atom, above which our consciousness soars, is divisible, is a composite heterogeneous particle.

Monads are eternal, unitary, individual life-centers, conscious-ness-centers, deathless during any solar manvantara, therefore ageless, unborn, undying. Consequently, each one such  - and their number is infinite  - is the center of the All, for the divine or the All is THAT which has its center everywhere, and its circumference or limiting boundary nowhere.

Monads are spiritual-substantial entities, self-motivated, self-impelled, self-conscious, in infinitely varying degrees, the ultimate elements of the universe. These monads engender other monads as one seed will produce multitudes of other seeds; so up from each such monad springs a host of living entities in the course of illimitable time, each such monad being the fountainhead or parent, in which all others are involved, and from which they spring.

Every monad is a seed, wherein the sum total of powers appertaining to its divine origin are latent, that is to say unmanifested; and evolution consists in the growth and development of all these seeds or children monads, whereby the universal life expresses itself in innumerable beings.

As the monad descends into matter, or rather as its ray  - one of other innumerable rays proceeding from it  - is propelled into matter, it secretes from itself and then excretes on each one of the seven planes through which it passes, its various vehicles, all overshadowed by the self, the same self in you and in me, in plants and in animals, in fact in all that is and belongs to that hierarchy. This is the one self, the supreme self or paramatman of the hierarchy. It illumines and follows each individual monad and all the latter's hosts of rays  - or children monads. Each such monad is a spiritual seed from the previous manvantara, which manifests as a monad in this manvantara; and this monad through its rays throws out from itself by secretion and then excretion all its vehicles. These vehicles are, first, the spiritual ego, the reflection or copy in miniature of the monad itself, but individualized through the manvantaric evolution, "bearing" or "carrying" as a vehicle the monadic ray. The latter cannot directly contact the lower planes, because it is of the monadic essence itself, the latter a still higher ray of the infinite Boundless composed of infinite multiplicity in unity. (See also Individuality)

See also: Monad , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

For more dictionary entries, see » Previous Lives Dictionary