Eucharist - The Agape feast. The Agape feast was the Eucharistic celebration of the early Christians. While centered on the ritual of the bread and wine, it also included various other ritual elements, including elements of the Passover seder and of Mediterranean funerary banquets, also termed Agape Feasts. Agape is one of the Greek words for love, particularly applied to selfless love. Such meals were widespread, tho ...

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Eucharist, Eucharist - Names for the Eucharist, Eucharist - Eucharist in the Bible, Eucharist - Christian Theology, Eucharist - Roman Catholic: Sacrifice; Transubstantiation, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity: Sacrifice and Objective Reality but Pious Silence on the Particulars, Eucharist - Anglicans/Episcopalians: Real Presence with Opinion, Eucharist - Lutherans - the Sacramental Union: in with and under the forms, Eucharist - Methodism: presence as mystery, Eucharist - Calvinist Reformed: spiritual feeding pneumatic presence, Eucharist - Zwinglian Reformed: no Real Presence, Eucharist - Summary of views, Eucharist - Ritual and liturgy, Eucharist - The Agape feast, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity, Eucharist - Roman Catholicism, Eucharist - Protestantism, Eucharist - Jehovah's Witnesses, Eucharist - Open and closed communion, Eucharist - Alleged pre-Christian origins, Eucharist - Footnotes, Eucharist - Resources

Read more here: » Eucharist: Encyclopedia II - Eucharist - Ritual and liturgy

RITUAL CEREMONY: A specific form of movement, a manipulation of objects or inner processes designed to produce desired effects. In religion ritual is geared toward union with the Divine. In magickal works it produces a specific state of consciousness that allows the magician to move energy toward needed goals.

(See also: RITUAL CEREMONY, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

RITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS: A specific, alternate state of awareness necessary to the successful practice of magick. This state is achieved through the use of visualization and ritual. The conscious mind becomes attuned with the psychic mind, a state in which the magician senses energies, gives them purpose, and releases them toward a specific goal. It is a heightening of senses, an expanded awareness of the nonphysical world, a linking with nature and with Deity.

(See also: RITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

RITUAL TOOLS: General name for magickal tools used by a witch or magician. They vary by tradition and usually represent one of the elements.

(See also: RITUAL TOOLS, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

Ah-ni-ga-to-ge-wi or Wild Potato Clan represented the material plane of earth or physical matter (earth). Ah-ni-gi-lo(la)-hi or Long Hair Clan represented the human people (breath). Ah-ni-(k)a-wi or Deer Clan represented the spirit of life, and procreation (life). Ah-ni-tsi-sk-wa or Red Tailed Hawk Clan represented the development of the human intellect (air). Ah-ni-sa-ho-ni or Blue Holly ...

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Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Background on Cherokee Clans in Ancient History, Cherokee Clans - The Seven Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Spiritual Significance of the Clans in Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Rituals, Cherokee Clans - Ancient Spiritual Symbolism of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Customs of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Cherokee Marriage Customs Between the Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Marriage Ceremonies of the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, Cherokee Clans - Clan Married Life, Cherokee Clans - Clan Voting and Banishment in Ancient Times

Read more here: » Cherokee Clans: Encyclopedia II - Cherokee Clans - Ancient Spiritual Symbolism of the Cherokee Clans

Ritual - A focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank ones choosen pantheon,or to perform a specific magickal working or act.

(See also: Ritual, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

Although many rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day. Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of Birth itself. In ancient times Iyers performed rituals when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. However, this practice is not followed in modern times. At the time of birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. Then Iyers undergo the naming ceremony. This affair is important as the name given during this cere ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals

Purity impurity: Shaucha-ashaucha.

Purity and its opposite, pollution, are a fundamental part of Hindu culture. While they imply a strong sense of physical cleanliness, their more important meanings extend to social, ceremonial, mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual contamination. Freedom from all forms of contamination is a key to Hindu spirituality, and is one of the yamas.

-       Physical purity requires a clean and wellordered environment, yogic purging of the internal organs and frequent cleansing with water.

-       Mental purity derives from meditation, right living and right thinking.

-       Emotional purity depends on control of the mind, clearing the subconscious and keeping good company.

-       Spiritual purity is achieved through following the yamas and niyamas, study of the Vedas and other scriptures, pilgrimage, meditation, japa, tapas and ahimsa.

-       Ritual purity requires the observance of certain prayashchittas, or penances, for defilement derived from foreign travel, contact with base people or places, conversion to other faiths, contact with bodily wastes, attending a funeral, etc.

Purity is of three forms - purity in mind, speech and body, or thought, word and deed. Purity is the pristine and natural state of the soul. Impurity, or pollution, is the obscuring of this state by adulterating experience and beclouding conceptions. In daily life, the Hindu strives to protect this innate purity by wise living, following the codes of dharma. This includes harnessing the sexual energies, associating with other virtuous Hindu devotees, never using harsh, angered or indecent language, and keeping a clean and healthy physical body.

See: dharma, papa, penance, punya, yamaniyama.

(See also: Purity impurity, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

PASSING OVER RITUAL: Ritual observed when a loved one has dies.

(See also: PASSING OVER RITUAL, Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

Christian denominations differ in their understanding of whether they may receive the Eucharist together with those not in full communion with them. Closed communion was the universal practice of the early Church. The famed apologist St. Justin Martyr, ca. A.D. 150, wrote: "No one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true...." For the first several hundred years of Church history, non-members were forbidden even to be present at the sacramental ritual; visitors and catechumens (those still undergoing ...

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Eucharist, Eucharist - Names for the Eucharist, Eucharist - Eucharist in the Bible, Eucharist - Christian Theology, Eucharist - Roman Catholic: Sacrifice; Transubstantiation, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity: Sacrifice and Objective Reality but Pious Silence on the Particulars, Eucharist - Anglicans/Episcopalians: Real Presence with Opinion, Eucharist - Lutherans - the Sacramental Union: in with and under, Eucharist - Methodism: presence as mystery, Eucharist - Calvinist Reformed: spiritual feeding pneumatic presence, Eucharist - Reformed/Congregational: no Real Presence, Eucharist - Summary of views, Eucharist - Ritual and liturgy, Eucharist - The Agape feast, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity, Eucharist - Roman Catholicism, Eucharist - Protestantism, Eucharist - Jehovah's Witnesses, Eucharist - Open and closed communion, Eucharist - Footnotes, Eucharist - Resources

Read more here: » Eucharist: Encyclopedia II - Eucharist - Open and closed communion

Sweat Lodge

Native American spiritual ritual associated with spiritual purification ceremonies and rites.

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

Some scholars note the connection of the idea of feeding on the life-force of a mystical entity being characteristic of the central rites of Greco-Roman and Near-Eastern mystery religions, the context in which the acts and ordinances of Jesus and his apostles came to be memorialized. In a spiritual sense, Christianity promoted the idea that their "unbloody mysteries" [cf. Basil the Great (c. 329-379), John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Council of Trent (1546-1563), Theses of Bonn(date?)] conveyed in actuality the purported mystical benefits of fl ...

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Eucharist, Eucharist - Names for the Eucharist, Eucharist - Eucharist in the Bible, Eucharist - Christian Theology, Eucharist - Roman Catholic: Sacrifice; Transubstantiation, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity: Sacrifice and Objective Reality but Pious Silence on the Particulars, Eucharist - Anglicans/Episcopalians: Real Presence with Opinion, Eucharist - Lutherans - the Sacramental Union: in with and under the forms, Eucharist - Methodism: presence as mystery, Eucharist - Calvinist Reformed: spiritual feeding pneumatic presence, Eucharist - Zwinglian Reformed: no Real Presence, Eucharist - Summary of views, Eucharist - Ritual and liturgy, Eucharist - The Agape feast, Eucharist - Eastern Christianity, Eucharist - Roman Catholicism, Eucharist - Protestantism, Eucharist - Jehovah's Witnesses, Eucharist - Open and closed communion, Eucharist - Alleged pre-Christian origins, Eucharist - Footnotes, Eucharist - Resources

Read more here: » Eucharist: Encyclopedia II - Eucharist - Alleged pre-Christian origins

Strictly speaking, all Iyers define themselves as "Srauta-Smarta", ie. followers of the Sruti text (mostly Yajur Veda and Sama Veda), and Smriti texts like Aapasthamba Dharma Sutra. For at least a millennium, a vast majority of Iyers have followed Sri Adi Sankara's advaita philosophy, a branch of Hinduism that believes that the human soul is liberated from the cycle of rebirths through the acquisition of knowledge of its true nature (See external links). Important in the advaitic philosophy is the tenet that Brahman, the Supreme Reality is < ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs

The Iyers claim a top position in the caste hierarchy of the Tamil-speaking region in India. They are Smartha brahmins, and are distinct from other Smartha brahmin communities mainly in having Tamil for their mother-tongue. In other words: Iyers are Smartha Brahmins whose mother tongue is Tamil. Iyers in the very remote past migrated to Tamil region from the north and differentiated themselves from other Brahmin communities, including the closest smartha Bra ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Origins

Iyer women are noted for their culture and tradition. Proud of their culture, they are uncompromising in their stand. If the Iyers have been able to retain many aspects of their culture, and if they are indeed among the most disciplined yet progressive brahmins, the credit must indeed go to Iyer women. Iyer women have played a major role in propagating Carnatic music and the classical dance form called Bharatanatyam. The Iyer woman is often portrayed as fair skinned woman draped in a nine yard saree, also known as madisaror[Kosha] in ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Iyer Women

Iyers were extremely orthodox a century ago. They followed Dharma shastra texts of Manusmriti Apastamba and Baudhayana. 1.A traditional Iyer is not expected to eat rajasic and tamasic food such as that was derived from meat, or from unclean plants such as onion, garlic and mushroom and it is avoided by the orthodox people even to this day. It must however be added that for the young generation, only "non-vegetarian" foods are taboo. Milk or milk products are considered acceptable. Onions and Garlic are sometimes acceptable to many Iye ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics

In addition to their earlier occupations, Iyers today have diversified into a variety of fields—their strengths particularly evident in the fields of mass media, science, mathematics and computer science. It is a minuscule percentage of Iyers who choose, in this era, to pursue the traditional vocation of priesthood, though nearly all Hindu Temple priests are Brahmins. Iyers have been active in the cultural field also. Music has always been integral to the Iyer community; Carnatic music forms an ancient classical tradition, and includes, ap ...

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Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Iyers today

sadhana:

"Direct way". a ritual. a spiritual discipline.

(See also: sadhana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Native American Spirituality

The religious beliefs, practices, and rituals associated with Native Americans.

Early Native American beliefs, though diverse, often shared common religious ideas. Many believed in a ÒGreat Spirit,Ó that nature in all of its forms possesses spirits, and that all life is interconnected.

Seasons and moons often were viewed as marking times of evocation for spirits and prosperity.

Some New Age believers promote revival of Native American spirituality, seeing obvious parallels with their own views.

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

Native American Spirituality

The religious beliefs, practices, and rituals associated with Native Americans.

Early Native American beliefs, though diverse, often shared common religious ideas. Many believed in a ÒGreat Spirit,Ó that nature in all of its forms possesses spirits, and that all life is interconnected.

Seasons and moons often were viewed as marking times of evocation for spirits and prosperity.

Some New Age believers promote revival of Native American spirituality, seeing obvious parallels with their own views.

(See also: Native American Spirituality, 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)

Yarmulke

The ritual skullcap worn by Jewish men.

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