Boleen, Boline, Bolline

A small, curved, white handled knife used in rituals for cutting herbs, carving and cutting magickal symbols into ritual objects

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

A Welsh Myth Concordance

The following concordance is based on the four branches of the Welsh "Mabinogi", as retold in the four books by Evangeline Walton: "Prince of Annwn", "The Children of Llyr", "The Song of Rhiannon", and "The Island of the Mighty".

Chiliocosm (Greek) (from chilioi thousand + kosmos world)

In Northern Buddhism, a world made up of a thousand regions; spoken of as equivalent to Sahalo-Kadhatu (Saha-lokadhatu)

(ML 199), out of the many regions of which only three are named: kama-loka, rupa-loka, and arupa-loka. It is also stated that kama-loka has many subdivisions or subregions, so that the threefold enumeration is a rough summary of a manifold classification.

It might be said that the universe is infilled with chiliososms, each one corresponding more or less to a hierarchy with its own integral system of worlds, regions, or divisions, each division again being subdivided to form the vast complexity of universal nature we see around us. Further, each such hierarchy from another standpoint consists of divine, spiritual, intellectual, astral, or astral-physical divisions running from the higher downwards to the lowest; and the three lowest of each such chiliocosm bear the names kama-loka (or kama-dhatu), rupa-loka (or rupa-dhatu), and arupa-loka (or arupa-dhatu), these three commonly spoken of as the trailokya, the name applying to whatever universe, hierarchy, or chiliocosm they may be in or belong to.

With regard to the trailokya, the lowest or kama-dhatu is generally the various subordinate or lowest regions of desire; the second or rupa-dhatu, while worlds of form, are of such ethereal and subtle character that they may be defined as worlds or regions of a purely intellectual or mental character; whereas the highest or arupa-dhatu comprises regions of so purely spiritual -- not merely ethereal -- character that the words states or divisions can alone give some idea of their character.

(See also: Chiliocosm , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

RITUAL -

1. focused mental or physical ceremony to honor or thank one’s chosen pantheon or to perform magickal working or act. (TRASB)

2. Ceremony to restore balance with nature and the world and bring back lost harmony and sacredness. Periodic, repetitive behavior to create, recreate, enforce, reinforce certain tendencies and potentialities in the bio-psyche. (Gary Snyder) (NAD)

3. a systematic, formal or informal, prescribed set of rites whose purpose is to imprint a lasting change on the life and psyche of the participant. (CMM)

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

Remission of Sins Remission in the New Testament (Greek aphesis, Latin remissio) means sending away, discharge. The original meaning of remission of sins was the sending away of sinfulness from one's heart, the purification of one's nature, resulting from pledging oneself to a new way of life, undergoing initiation, passing through the second birth.

In Christianity remission of sins has come to imply the action of deity through a divine agent, as is supposed to have been the case in Jesus. Jesus' statement at the Last Supper: "This is my blood of the new testament (covenant, dispensation), which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt 26:28), echoes the initiatory rites of the ancient Mysteries, the remission of sins here meaning that when the vitality (blood) of the immanent Christ in the individual becomes the directing influence in his life, there is then no room for sins, which thereafter are discharged, sent away, refused. The karmic consequence, however, of previous sin must in all cases be worked out.

In Mark 1:4, John is said to preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; repentance being the Greek metanoia, a radical change of heart or mind, of feeling and understanding. The Christian teaching easily slips into the mistaken doctrine that the consequences of wrongdoing can be escaped by some especial intercession of a personal savior or by some ecclesiastical agent and/or ceremony, just as remission has come to mean a letting-off, excusing, or escaping.

Thus in the case of a debt, the debtor may remit (wrongly escape) the amount owed, but the creditor may truly remit or discharge the debt. Theosophy accepts the doctrine in the sense that sinfulness can be banished from the nature by self-purification; but not the notion that we can escape the results of our acts -- past, present, or future.

(See also: Remission of Sins , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

STANG: Ritual tool from Pagan Rome which resembles a two-pronged trident. Often used in place of the wand or circle.

(See also: STANG , Paganism, Pagan, Pagan Dictionary)

RITUAL:

1) (noun) a system of rites, the order prescribed for a ceremony. (adjective) relating to rites. General usage: refer to Sabbats such as "The Rites of Spring". Ritual is used more often when referring to Magickal practices.

2) A ceremony or festival.

3) A spell.

3) Specific movements and manipulations to produce desired effects. In religeon, its purpose is to unite Self with the Divine. But in magick, it's to allow the person to move energy in desired ways.

(See also: RITUAL , Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

FLOWER ESSENCES

are intended to alleviate negative emotional states that may contribute to illness or hinder personal growth. Drops of a solution infused with the captured essence of a flower are placed under the tongue or in a beverage. The appropriate essences are chosen, focusing on the clients emotional state rather than on a particular physical condition.

(See also: FLOWER ESSENCES , Alternative Health, Healing, Body Mind and Soul)

BOUGHT: Another term for compass or ritual circle.

(See also: BOUGHT , Witch, Witchcraft, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Tubal-Cain (Hebrew, Jewish). The Biblical Kabir, "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron", the son of Zillah and Lamech; one with the Greek Hephestos or Vulcan. His brother Jabal, the son of Adah and the co-uterine brother of Jabal, one the father of those "who handle the harp and organ ", and the other the father "of such as have cattle", are also Kabiri: for, as shown by Strabo, it is the Kabiri (or Cyclopes in one sense) who made the harp for Kronos and the trident for Poseidon, while some of their other brothers were instructors in agriculture. Tubal-Cain (or Thubal-Cain) is a word used in the Master-Mason’s degree in the ritual and ceremonies of the Freemasons.

(See also: Tubal-Cain , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Asathor (Scandianvian Norse). The same as Thor. The god of storms and thunder, a hero who receives Miolnir, the "storm-hammer", from its fabricators, the dwarfs. With it he conquer Alwin in a "battle of words" breaks the head of the giant Hrungir, chastises Loki for his magic; destroys the whole race of giants in Thrymheim; and, as a good and benevolent god, sets up therewith land-marks, sanctifies marriage bonds, blesses law and order, and produces every good and terrific feat with its help. A god in the Eddas, who is almost as great as Odin. (See "Miolnir" and "Thor’s Hammer".)

(See also: Asathor , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Sagittarius: The Adventurer

Key Phrase: I UNDERSTAND

Sagittarius is the optimistic quality which inspires us to have faith in ourselves and our futures. As the Mutable Fire sign of the zodiac, Sagittarius expresses the ability to maintain an open mind. Philosophical and tolerant of differences, Sagittarius can show great wisdom, and through the energy of Jupiter, its planetary ruler, is stimulated to reach toward broader horizons. Yet it can also be tactless, blunt, and even condescending. Sagittarius must have an opinion about everything - in a pinch, it will generate one on the spot. Sagittarius looks for adventurous and philanthropic opportunities; when carried to the extreme, it can become overly zealous and gluttonous. Symbolized by the Archer, Sagittarius is always looking upward and forward, and may sometimes gallivant into the sunset leaving others behind. Where you find Sagittarius in your chart, there is a need to expand and to develop tolerance.

(See also: Sagittarius , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Cry from the Cross The cry of the expiring Jesus -- given in the Gospels as "Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani" (Matt 27:46) (in Mark it is Eloi)

; translated in Greek "Theemou, Theemou, hinati me 'egkatelipes"; and then translated into English as "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" -- is a curious instance of mistranslation, for the Hebrew words as quoted mean, "My God, my God, how thou hast glorified me!" On the other hand, Psalms 22:1 has the words, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" but here the Hebrew for forsaken is `azabtani (forsaken me).

There seems to have been a desire to represent the cry from the cross as a fulfillment of these words of Psalms. What Jesus really uttered, according to the Hebrew, was a cry of ecstasy over the peace of attainment, clarification, and liberation. The cry in Psalms is that of the candidate for initiation left to his unaided resources, to achieve or fail by them and them alone -- which is the only fair and certain test of ability.

(See also: Cry from the Cross , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Egoity I-am-I-ness, ahamkara; human egoity is dual, but egoity really should mean individuality, not personality.

The characteristic or swabhava of individuality is egoity or the essential root of I-am-I-ness, while the characteristic or swabhava of the personality is egoism, the faint shadow of egoity drunken with the sense of its own exclusive importance in the world.

Further, both egoity and egoism are sharply distinguished from essential selfhood; paradoxically, the stronger the idea of essential selfhood in the human being, the less is there of egoity, and the least there is of egoism, for even egoity is a reflection, albeit high, of spiritual selfhood, which recognizes its oneness with the All.

Thus ego is defined as I-am-I, consciousness recognizing its own mayavi existence as a separate entity, hence often called reflected consciousness. Essential selfhood is the characteristic of atman in the human constitution; egoity arises in the conjunction of atma-buddhi with manas; whereas personality or egoism is the faint reflection of the latter working in and through the lower manas, kama, and prana.

Egregores Coined by Eliphas Levi, who explains it as "the chiefs of the souls who are the spirits of energy and action" (SD 1:259). They are beings "whose bodies and essence is a tissue of the so-called astral light. They are the shadows of the higher Planetary Spirits whose bodies are of the essence of the higher divine light" (TG 111). Blavatsky comments that they are "the 'giants' of Genesis who loved the daughters of men: an allusion to the first prehuman (so to say) races of men evoluted, not born -- Alpha and the Omega of Humanity in this our 'Round' " (BCW 6:176). (BCW refers to eggregores; does it = egregores?)

(See also: Egoity , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Tubal-Cain Tubal Qayin (Hebrew) According to the Biblical account, the son of Lamech and Zillah, "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron" (Genesis 4:22). Blavatsky calls him a kabir, the equivalent of Hephaestos or Vulcan, and also says that it "is a word used in the Master-Mason's degree in the ritual and ceremonies of the Freemasons" (TG 345).

(See also: Tubal-Cain, Tubal Qayin , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Visvamitra (Sanskrit) Friend of all; a celebrated rishi (sage), famed for his contests with the sage Vasishtha. By birth a Kshattriya of the lineage of Pururavas of the lunar dynasty, he was employed at the court of Raja Sudas of the Tritsus, as was Vasishtha. Visvamitra was constantly worsted in his struggles for supremacy over the great Brahmin Vasishtha, and determined to elevate himself to the rank of a Brahmin, which he succeeded in doing after many strenuous austerities. Many verses of the Rig-Veda are said to have been written by him, and he is also credited with authorship of a law book.

In the Ramayana, Visvamitra is stated to be a counselor of Ramachandra.

(See also: Visvamitra , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Aristophanes (448?-380 BC) Athenian comedic playwright, of whose 44 plays 11 survive -- the only complete Greek comedies to reach modern times. Well-thought of as a person, he is mentioned in Plato's Symposium as among the noblest of men. His penetration, patriotism, sarcasm and satire, scorn of what is evil and base, imagination, command of language, and technical skill make him one of the great writers of comedies of all time. (SD)

(See also: Aristophanes , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Anthropomorphism The ascription of human qualities, attributes, and possibly human form to divine beings; also, more generally, the degradation of symbolism by giving it a humanized, materialistic, or animalistic interpretation.

This error has a more or less mystical origin: because human beings are children of the universe, imbodying in themselves all qualities, attributes, powers, and functions that the universe has on the macrocosmic scale, it is easy through careless thinking to slip into the idea that therefore the divinities must be copies of humans.

As form in religious and philosophic conception took precedence over the spirit, the original religious, philosophic, and mystical ideas became clothed or imbodied, and the spirit then was more or less lost sight of.

(See also: Anthropomorphism , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Sagittarius: The best quality of Sagittarius is loyalty. This is true for Sun sign Sagittarians, and also for people with other planets in this sign, although with other planets, the loyalty may extend only to matters concerning that planet. The worst quality is indiscriminate game-playing. A key phrase is “I aspire.” The Sagittarius personality is generous, ambitious and loyal. Self-reliant, Sagittarians can go off on world travels alone without a qualm, and tend to throw youselves into life with the same energy you would pack for such a trip. You can make effective decisions, and therefore are often found in executive positions. You reveal your enthusiasm and positive attitude toward life.

You like to travel mentally as well. You can study subjects deeply, and enjoy philosophical conversations. You tend to be somewhat conservative, as you would expect for your time of year – it is the conservative harvesting of summer’s bounty that feeds us in December, after all. Once you understand the theory of a subject, you are able to take effective action in the practical realm.

The Sagittarius temperament is outspoken and frank. In fact, sometimes you may wish you could restrain your speech. Still, you are usually open-minded, able to listen to what others have to say. You tend to hold to your own opinions tenaciously, yet you are able to change your minds when a suitable argument is presented. Generally able to make quick decisions, you can be too hasty at times.

Sagittarius is usually proper in demeanor. You can give or take orders, and thus are solid companions, able to share leadership cheerfully. When you engage in sports, you learnt he rules and abide by you, just as you respect the rules in all areas of life. Your understanding can come across as magnanimous at times, and at other times you seem self-righteous. You aspire to lofty heights and may be disappointed if others do not attain the same level. You seek to comprehend, both on an interior basis and on a practical level, and once you understand the dynamics of a situation, you cheerfully accept your proper role.

(See also: Sagittarius , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

lekhaprartha havana: (Sanskrit) "Written-prayer-burning rite."

A coined term for the ancient practice of sending written prayers to the Gods by burning them in a sanctified fire in a temple or shrine. Alternately this rite can be performed at other appropriate sites, with four persons sitting around a fire and chanting to create a temporary temple. Prayers can be written in any language, but should be clearly legible, in black ink on white paper. The devas have provided a special script, called Tyaf, especially for this purpose.

(See also: Lekhaprartha havana , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)