Spiritual Development Dictionary

extrasensory perception

Apart from or in addition to normal sense perception. Awareness and ability to perceive, to acquire and to experience response to event or other external knowledge that is of supernormal or unknown extraordinary initiation

(See also: Extrasensory perception , Body Mind and Soul)

essential oils

Fluid extracted from botanical sources and preserved in pure form. Some are poisonous when taken internally, and many report irritations when applied directly to the skin. Used in Aromatherapy, usually in blends diluted with basic carrier oils.

(See also: Essential oils , Body Mind and Soul)

conjunction

Coincidence of two planets in the same zodiacal degree by longitude, usually within 7 degrees; generally a favorable major aspect

(See also: Conjunction , Body Mind and Soul)

current

Psychic energy. Also, sometimes used to suggest movement of any vaporous, smoke-like etheral substance, such as the extruding of the Beta or astral body from the physical

(See also: Current , Body Mind and Soul)

Brotherhood, The

The Hierarchy of Elder Brothers before the Throne, as called in Christian tradition; saints and holy ones who have emerged from the human condition into greater oneness with the Christ. Having passed certain tests at first initiation, the aspirant is deemed worthy of the attention of the Brotherhood (or Hierarchy). Also known as the White Brotherhood or the Great White Brotherhood. White in this case having nothing to do with color; meaning purity

(See also: Brotherhood , Body Mind and Soul)

emanation

The perceptible, smoke-like extruding of the spirit body (Beta) from the physical

(See also: Emanation , Body Mind and Soul)

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)

The unexplained embedding of discarnate voices on magnetic tape. Discovered by the Swedish artist Friedrich JŸrgenson in 1959

(See also: Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) , Body Mind and Soul)

circle

1. (Plato) Symbol of the cosmos and heaven. 2. Witches coven. 3. Mediumistic or healing group

(See also: Circle , Body Mind and Soul)

Creator

The Source, God, the supreme intelligence that created Totality, is the essence of Totality, and is the law sustaining it (Universal Law); one main principal behind all there is and everything being a part of that one main principle

(See also: Creator , Body Mind and Soul)

cognition

The process of knowing; perceiving, assimilation of knowledge gained through sensory perception, ESP, intuition or psychic perception

(See also: Cognition , Body Mind and Soul)

evil

The opponent of morality. Attachment of ego and loss of remembrance of own divinity. A way to experience duality

(See also: Evil , Body Mind and Soul)

Anugraha, Anugrahana (Sanskrit) (from anu-grah to support, uphold, foster, treat kindly)

Favor, kindness, promoting or favoring a good object. In the Vishnu-Purana (1:5) applied to the eighth creation (in the Matsya and other Puranas to the fifth creation), the period of formative development "which possesses both the qualities of goodness and darkness." In Sankhya philosophy anugraha-sarga is the creation or formation of "the feelings or mental conditions."

Blavatsky calls the anugraha creation a blind, "for it refers to a purely mental process: the cognition of the 'ninth' creation, which, in its turn, is an effect, manifesting in the secondary of that which was a 'Creation' in the Primary (Prakrita) Creation. The Eighth, then, called Anugraha (the Pratyayasarga or the intellectual creation of the Sankhyas . . .), is 'that creation of which we have a perception' -- in its esoteric aspect -- and 'to which we give intellectual assent (Anugraha) in contradistinction to organic creation.' It is the correct perception of our relations to the whole range of 'gods' and especially of those we bear to the Kumaras -- the so-called 'Ninth Creation' -- which is in reality an aspect of or reflection of the sixth in our manvantara (the Vaivasvata)" (SD 1:456).

All theses various "creations" mentioned in the Puranas represent stages of evolutionary production, following each other in regular serial order, and thus unfolding into manifestation what lay originally latent in the seed out of which these various stages arise. Thus the reference in the Vishnu-Purana, for example, by analogical reasoning can apply either to a universe, solar system, planetary chain, or to the developmental history of earth and its inhabitants.

(See also: Anugraha, Anugrahana , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

energy

1.    Life force, cosmic ether, healing medium, vitalizing force, primal juice, cosmic electricity.

2.    mc2: mass times the square of the speed of light.

3.    Electromagnetic fields consisting of positive, negative, and neutral charges which build and sustain the human body and all other matter.

4.    Forces of nature harnessed for human use including: coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, hydroelectric, geothermal, organic waste and refuse, wind, tides, ocean waves, ocean currents, temperature differential, solar terrestrial and extraterrestrial, gravity, electrostatic, hydrogen

(See also: Energy , Body Mind and Soul)

Truth

Only that which you know and experience consciously within yourself

(See also: Truth , Body Mind and Soul)

A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From Lac to Omkarasana.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

Alexander Technique

A dynamic posture development technique created by Frederick Alexander in the beginning of the 20th century.

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

amplication

(Jung) Clarification of a dream-image by direct association and parallels from myth and legend

(See also: Amplication , Body Mind and Soul)

Adept

An esoteric master. An individual highly experienced and skilled in occult wisdom or magickal craft, as a result of the study of various mystical techniques and philosophies. An initiate that has willfully achieved the highest attainment in the mastery of the occult sciences and powers. Adepts often take on students or chelas, in which case, the adept is known as a masters.

The chela must first accomplish self-denial and self-development in order to become worthy to become a chela. . The activities of adepts are diverse, being concern with the direction and guidance of the activities of the rest of mankind.

According to Theosophy, their knowledge, like their powers, far surpasses that of man, and they can control forces both in the spiritual and physical dominion, and are said to be able to prolong their lives for centuries. In alchemical lore there are always eleven adepts. The term adept was also employed by medieval magicians and alchemists to denote a master of their sciences. See Mahatma.

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

north

Place where one reports to the master on accomplishments in the I Ching

(See also: North , Body Mind and Soul)

Relatives

Relatives are powerful features of both the waking and dreaming worlds. As a consequence, interpreting dreams of relatives is a complex task. There are hundreds of different possible interpretations that originate within the world of the dreamer as well as from classical psychology.

The reason dreams of family are so prevalent is that everyone has a desire to know what "normal" is, and then act that way in the world. Countless times, clients will come to therapy complaining, "I just want a normal family," or "I just want a normal marriage." The definition of this idea comes from our relatives and how well they fit into or detract from our idea of normalcy.

Dreams of family may affirm or undermine "normal" feelings about ourselves. Extended family relations are very significant in developing the family lore and ritual. As you mature and reflect critically on normalcy in your understanding of it, these rituals either affirm or work against the norms of your perspective. Who does what, why and when is often determined by influences in the extended family. The result is that we construct a family story that defines who we are in our family and what our family means in the world around us.

Relative dreams of this type lend themselves to archetypal interpretations that offer insight into how the dreamer sees him or herself in relation to the larger human community represented by the relatives. To interpret dreams of this kind, discern which relatives were in the dream and whether they are still living or dead in waking life. Often, relatives who have passed away are alive in our dreams. Usually, one of two circumstances exist. Either the activity in the dream reminds you of a ritual aspect of the relationship with this relative, or your relationship with the relative is incomplete.

Dreams about relatives are often recurring. These can have both prophetic or historic meaning. This is especially true in cases where the central characters are relatives with whom there is either emotional tension or uncertainty concerning their health. If there is emotional tension, the dream may be identifying the source of the tension to create an opportunity to resolve it. If there are particular relatives with precarious health, the dreams may resolve, or warn of, impending deaths in the family.

The place and occasion for the relatives' appearance in the dream are important to the interpretation of it. For example, if only the women in your family appear with you in a dream of an activity that they have historically participated in together, you may see yourself as joining with the family in new ways. There are numerous variations on this dream:

1. Not wanting to join the activity (ambivalence about traditional expectations).

2. Joining a group of exclusively opposite-gendered family members (confusion about fitting into the family on your terms).

3. Joining a group of family members with something unique in common; i.e., all bald, all with cancer, all widowed, all single, etc. (identifying with or having concern over ending up like others whom you pity).

While family members are powerful dream icons, their meaning can be quite diverse. Often, free association is the key to discerning their impact on your dreams and the meaning of that influence.

Individual family members, especially fathers and mothers (or representations of them) are often prominent in dreams. For better or for worse, they are primary influences in the shaping of our personalities. This includes how we respond to our environmental stimuli, as well as how we value ourselves and our inner nature. Consequently, another significant aspect of relative dreams is what these dreams show about how our individual ego development and personality strength have been influenced by individual relatives, for good or ill.

Personality strengths and weaknesses often express themselves in alternating generations. For example, in one generation, the father is relentless in expressing anger. In the next generation, anger becomes taboo and inexpressible. In this way, dreams of the individual parent often have a compensatory effect.

Often you will have a dream that includes a particular family member in a very unusual situation for that person (for example: scuba diving with Grandma). Often in this type of dream there will be plenty of other symbols and images that point to the true meaning of the dream.

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

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

antipathy

The disharmony between two planets that rule or are exalted in opposite signs in astrology

(See also: Antipathy , Body Mind and Soul)

Anti-Christ

Opposing Christ's teachings, ie., materialism

(See also: Anti-Christ , Body Mind and Soul)