SRI HANUMAN is worshipped all over India - either alone or together with Sri Rama. Every temple of Sri Rama has the murti or idol of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar, Bajrangabali and Mahavira.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Hanuman Jayanti: Hindu Worship -Hanuman Jayanti

The pursuit of prosperity is a constant driving force and desire for most of us and most requests for spell-work that come my way involve love or prosperity.

To begin, let me state outright that you can not simply burn a candle and sit back like a couch potato and expect a windfall. You must be taking some action outside "the circle" to draw good fortune to you. While karma does play a role in this as in all matters, you can facilitate the attraction of abundance. Here are some of my favorite ways to draw prosperity into your life.

Read more here: » Prosperity: Spells, rituals and other techniques to attract prosperity

Karma Yoga Lesson VIII

The danger in Vedic ritual; Thought is beyond time; It is a sacrifice of the Mind of God; Thought the builder; The universe, of thought, of the dead that are living; Brief description of death and after; The need of interchange of intercourse with the plane of the dead.

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

The Prophet of Peace Revealed Islam

Mohammed, the prophet and messenger of God who revealed Islam to the world was a descendant of Prophet Ismail. In 610, Mohammed declared that he was Allah's apostle and said: "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet." The Prophet said that righteousness alone was the criterion to distinguish one person from another. The Prophet enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, zakat, and in other ways. He said, "He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go hungry." He asked, "Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first."

Read more here: » Prophet: The Prophet of Peace Revealed Islam

Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Includes:

October 31 - November Eve - Samhain

December 21 - Winter Solstice - Yule

January 31 - February Eve - Imbolc

March 21 - Vernal Equinox - Lady Day

April 30 - May Eve - Beltaine

June 21 - Summer Solstice - Litha

July 31 - August Eve - Lughnassad

September 21 - Autumnal Equinox - Harvest Home

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Before sitting for food, the place is purified, a seat is put and in a leaf the articles of food are served. Before taking the food, a little water is sprinkled making a line all round the leaf repeating some Vedic Mantras. This repetition purifies the food.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Offering of Food: Hindu Symbols - Hindu Offering of Food

A dictionary with common spiritual words from Hinduism and Sanskrit. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

Sound leads to understanding unity and divinity. Hence the importance given to the recitation of the sacred syllable - Om. Whatever the music, if it is spiritually moving, it elevates the spirit and affects positively both mind and body. While good music is highly beneficial, todays cacophony of loud noises in the environment aggravates stress and will eventually destroy us. Remember, sound is a powerful force Ñ it can heal; it can also destroy.

Read more here: » Healing Music: Music For The Soul

The Power of Gems

GemsÕ earliest use was for healing and spiritual ritual. Their value as concentrated wealth came into play at a much later time. Although gems were rare and exhibited great beauty, the reason they were so precious was the power they imparted to their wearers. They are storehouses of power that may be transmitted through contact with oneÕs body. Kings and queens would have gemstones set in their crowns to obtain their potencies. They connected the monarchs with forces enabling them to rule guided by cosmic energies. Priests of different religions used gems in rings for similar reasons. Gems exhibit their power in a beneficial or detrimental way depending on how they are used.

Read more here: » Gemstones Crystals: Gemstones Crystals - The Power of Gems

January every year, devotees throng the Sabarimala temple situated in the Sahayadri ranges in Kerala, to participate in the renowned Mandala Puja conducted during Makara Sankaranti.

The deity worshipped here, Lord Ayyappa, is believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu and is also known as Sastha and Harihara Sutha. The basic concept of incarnation is that God descends in order to let man ascend.

(See also: Makara Sankaranti , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Makara Sankaranti: A Different Kind of Pilgrimage - about Makara Sankaranti  

God as Mother: Celebration of the Mother Principle

Durga Puja is to Bengal what Ganesh Chaturthi is to Maharashtra - an occasion to celebrate, worship, bond together, to get festive, to exhibit one's artistic abilities, and all in the name of the Divine Mother.

Relating to God as Mother forges a personalised relationship, strengthening the bond between bhakta and bhagvan, as between a child and mother. Celebrated as Navratri in other parts of India, these nine nights are devoted to the worship of the Divine Mother - some do it through dancing the Garba or Dandiya Raas as in Gujarat, and some do it through austerities and fasting.

Read more here: » God as Mother: Celebration of the Mother Principle

One of the participants at the Oneness Festival share his personal experiences of the Oneness Festival that took place February 16-22 2004 in India. This article give you an idea of what happens at the Oneness Festivals that take place twice annualy outside the village of Varadepalyam 90 km North of Madras/Chennai in India.

Read more here: » What happened at the Oneness Festival Feb 16-22 2004?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is among those realised souls whose wisdom cuts across all barriers of race and religion, aimed only at restoring dharma and establishing the unity of faiths and peoples under the common banner of universal love and brotherhood.

However, to widen spirituality's reach beyond retreats and rosaries, it has to be made to touch all of life and divinise every activity. For this, the quest for atma vidya or self-knowledge is essential in a human being, for it awakens him to his inherent divinity and also promotes reverence and respect for all creation.

(See also: Atma Vidya , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Atma Vidya: Touch Base with God Through Atma Vidya  

The Thai Buddhist Calendar

With important days for ceremonies and rituals, including: Visakha Puja, Magha Puja, Asalha Puja, Khao Phansa, Ok Phansa, Tod Kratin

Read more here: » Buddhism: Thai Buddhist Calendar

Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith

Fire has been revered and worshipped in ancient cultures worldwide. In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus, out of his great love for mankind, disobeys Zeus and steals fire from heaven and brings it down to earth for human use. As punishment, Zeus chains Prometheus to the Caucasus mountain since mankind was not yet considered to be ready for this great gift of the gods.

Read more here: » Zoroastrian Religion: Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith

There is an interesting legend connected with Mahashivratri, the day Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort.

Once Shiva and Sati or Shakti were returning from the ashram of sage Agastya, after listening to Ram Katha or the story of Ram.

On the way when Shiva saw Rama roaming the forest - in search of Sita who was kidnapped by Ravana - he bowed his head in reverence. A surprised Sati inquired of Shiva why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal.

(See also: Mahashivratri , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Mahashivratri: Celestial Marriage of Shiva and Shakti  

PASSING OVER RITUAL - a ritual observed when a love one dies. Depending on one’s tradition this ceremony includes keening and candle lighting, feasting and revelry, sitting up with the body, ritualized fare will speeches, drinking and storytelling. (CMM)

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

RITUAL MAGICK:  Magick that calls upon the aid of beneficent spirits and is akin to religion. Ritual Magick is based upon a blend of doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers, Oriental mysticism, Judaism and Christianity and currently is divided into three forms: Enochian, Thelemic and Eclectic.

Enochian Magick originated with John Dee and Edward Kelly in the 16th century and communication with spirits involved the Nineteen Calls (or Keys): incantations in the Enchonian language, a complex language of unknown origin. This system of Magick was revived by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and studied at length by Aleister Crowley. In turn, Crowley developed the Thelemic Magick system from his studies and Ritual Magickians have since expanded to develop Eclectic Magick systems based on a variety of different systems, inclusive of Alchemy, Egyptology, Kabbalistic doctrines, Chaos Magick etc..

Ritual Magick requires a rigorous discipline and has an intellectual appeal, the mage derives power from God (the Judeo-Christian God) through the successful control of spirits, usually demons, which are believed easier to control than angels. Demons may be good, evil, or neutral. In its highest sense, Ritual Magick is a transcendental experience that takes the mage into mystical realms and into communication with the Higher Self.  Also known as Ceremonial Magick, High Magick, Theurgic Magick, Theurgy.

(See also: RITUAL MAGICK , Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca,)

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)

RITUAL TOOLS - a general name for magickal or ritual tools used by a witch or magician, also called by their Kabbalistic name, Elemental Weapons. (CMM)

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

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram: Abbreviated LBRP. A basic Golden Dawn ritual that uses the figure of the pentagram to cleanse the temple or ritual space of unwanted energies.

Also See: LBRP

(See also: Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)