Astara's healing science: Form of spiritual healing advanced by Astara, Inc., a neo-Christian, interfaith church founded in 1951 by Drs. Earlyne C. Chaney and Robert G. Chaney. Earlyne Chaney is the author of Initiation in the Great Pyramid, Lost Empire of the Gods, and at least six other books. Her academic titles include Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Humanities in Spiritual and Psychic Sciences. Robert Chaney is the author of The Power of Your Own Medicine (Astara, 1995) and at least ten other books. Astara's healing science encompasses absent healing, crystal healing, mental visualizations, and scientific prayer. Its theory posits etheric contacts and a White Light with magnetic energies.

(See also: Astara's healing science , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Psychic

A general term describing a person with one or more paranormal abilities such as extrasensory perception, clairvoyance or telepathy.

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

mudras:

mudras - muscular contractions that include the bandhas

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

Church of Scientology

Founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard after his organization, Dianetics, found itself faced tax problems. Through "auditing", a process whereby past programming, and other barriers to higher development are removed, abilities are regained, and greater awareness achieved. Auditing can last for years and may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The writings and recorded spoken words of L. Ron Hubbard (contained in over 500,000 pages of writings and over 2,000 tape-recorded public lectures) constitute the scripture of the religion, his book Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health being foundational.

(See also: Church of Scientology , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Healing Science (Barbara Brennan Healing Science): Spiritual system by Barbara Ann Brennan, author of the bestseller Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field and Light Emerging: The Journey of Personal Healing, both published by Bantam.

Brennan, who holds a master's degree in atmospheric physics, founded The Barbara Brennan School of Healing, in East Hampton, New York, in 1982. Her system is a form of energy field work that includes Core Star healing and Hara healing. Hara is a Japanese word that some alternativists use to denote the tanden, the seat of ki (supernatural energy) in humans, slightly below the navel. The name of Brennan's guide, whom she channels, is Heyoan.

(See also: Healing Science , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Transpersonal Psychology / Transpersonal Counseling

A school of psychology that aims at integrating Western science and Eastern thought by moving beyond Humanistic Psychology and its focus on the self or ego. Its orientation is a holistic one that focuses on the integration of mind, body and spirit and has ultimate psychological growth and well-being as its goals.

(See also: Transpersonal Psychology/Counseling , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Rudolf Steiner

(1861 - 1925 ) Austrian philosopher, scientist, artist and educator who was the originator of the social philosophy called Anthroposophy. Steiner founded the Anthroposophical Society in 1924, and it now has branches throughout the world, and is especially popular in Britain.

He traveled extensively in Europe lecturing on spiritual science, the arts, social sciences, religion, education, agriculture and health. His published works amount to over 350 titles, including collections of lectures, books, articles, reviews and dramas. His occult philosophy is outlined in key titles such as Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment (1904-05), and An Outline of Occult Science (1909).

His teachings inspired the development of the Waldorf School movement and of schools for handicapped or maladjusted children; his agricultural methods for preparing soil inspired chemical-free organic farming and gardening; he created eurythmy, a form of expressive movement to music and speech; and his guidelines on holistic medicine and pharmacology are still widely respected.

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

marma science (Dhanur Veda, Dhanur Veda's science of marmas): System of ostensible diagnosis and treatment promoted by Joseph Kurian. Its theory posits chakras and 107 marmas in the human body.

Marmas are channels that regulate the flow of information, nutrients, and toxins throughout the body. , damage to the marma system (e.g., from diet or stress) results in susceptibility to disease, and proper stimulation of marmas enables protection from any environmental threat. Marma science includes the use of special oils, to unblock marmas, and Nadi Sutra Kriya.

(See also: Marma science , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Ascetics, Asceticism

(Greek = exercise training) The science of self knowledge through discipline of mind and body

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

Mysticism

A word originally derived from the Greek and having a wide range of meaning in modern religion and philosophy. A mystic may be said to be someone who has intuitions or intimations of the existence of inner and superior worlds, and who attempts to achieve conscious communion with them and the beings inhabiting these inner and invisible worlds.

From the theosophical or occult point of view, a mystic is one who has inner convictions often based on inner vision and knowledge of the existence of spiritual and ethereal worlds of which our outer physical world is but a manifestation; and who has some inner knowledge that these worlds or planes or spheres, with their hosts of inhabitants, are intimately connected with the origin, destiny, and even present nature of the world which surrounds us.

The average mystic, however, is one who lacks the direct guidance derived from personal teaching received from a master or spiritual superior.

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

Anthroposophy

An esoteric spiritual science founded by German mystic Rudolf Steiner. The term literally means "wisdom of man. " It teaches that we possess the truth within ourselves.

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

Neo-Paganism

The modern revival of paganism, emphasizing witchcraft (see Wicca), goddess worship, and nature worship.

(See also: Neo-Paganism , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Inspiration

The belief that human actions of extraordinary insight, worth or power are due to inspiration - an inflow of psychic force, life-giving breath. The idea of inspiration in Christian theology may be traced to Hebrew prophecy and to Greek philosophy.

The most important theological problems of inspiration concern the subjects, the sources, the means and the criteria of true inspiration as distinguished from false, rather than the reality if inspiration itself.

The question of the proper subject of inspiration - whether a person, a community or a book may properly be said to be inspired - has been greatly confused in history by getting involved in the problem of church authority,. thus the doctrine of the inspiration of scriptures was largely developed to secure the Roman church against Protestantism when the Protestants made claims the inspiration for their special leaders.

The doctrine that ecumenical councils or popes are inspired when speaking on matters of faith and morals was developed partly to deal with the Protestants' rigid scriptural Òconst itutionalismÓ. The problem of the source of inspiration was raised in Hebrew thought by the appearance of false prophecy, and by the consequent question for monotheism in what sense such inspiration came from God. In Christian theology the questions were to what extent the inspiring principle in the Godhead was distinct from the creating and redeeming principle, in what sense it proceeded from one or both of these. The question about the means of inspiration has been dealt with indirectly and in confusion with the question of subject and criteria.

The orthodox Protestant and Catholic churches have emphasized the importance of Scriptures, of church discipline and instruction as the ordinary means through which inspiration comes.

Mystic and sectarian groups have shown a larger interest in other means - asceticism, the practice of silence, etc. In the Protestant doctrine of the Òtestimony ~ the Holy SpiritÓÓ which must accompany the reading of the word if there is to be true inspiration and in Roman as well as Eastern Catholic acceptance of monasticism the great churches have made some approach to the interests of the sects and mysticism.

Among the criteria employed by religious thought to distinguish true from false inspiration the most important are:

1)    the consistency of the product of inspiration not only in itself but also and primarily with accepted norms, i. e. , with the moral laws, the Òspirit of Jesus Christ,Ó the Scriptures, the common understanding of the community.

2)    the test of true inspiration is the truth of prediction. This test, which the basis of modern science, has been used apologetically rather than critically, to validate the inspiration of scriptures, as in the argument from prophecyÓ;

3)    disinterestedness, that is the extent to which personal interests and opinions are absent or negated in the ÒinspiredÓ utterance; in the extreme form,

4)    Intelligibility might be added as a fourth criterion of the validity of inspiration though not a test of its truth, since the unintelligible cannot be said to be true or false. Also, the Protestant doctrine that the Bible was written by the influence of God. It is, therefore, without error. It is accurate and authoritatively represents God's teachings. It is an illumination in that it shows us what we could not know apart from it. Believers know that the Bible is inspired, because it says so.

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

See also these related archives:

Anthroposophic Medicine, Anthroposophical medicine, Anthroposophy, Antioxidant, Apana, Apitherapy, Apple diet, Applied Kinesiology, Applied kinesiology, Applied Physiology, Aqua acupuncture, Aqua Aerobics, Aqua Touch, Archetypal psychology, Arhatic Yoga, Arica, Arising, Aroma Behavior Conditioning, Aroma Therapy, Aroma-spa therapy, Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy/, Aroma-tology, Aromics, Art Therapy, Artainment, ASAT C O R E Counseling, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Asian medicine, Astara's healing science, Aston Movement, Aston-patterning, Aston-Patterning, Astringent, Astrologic medicine, Astrological counseling, Astrological diagnosis, Astrology, Astrology And Ayurveda, Asymmetric Body Balancing, Atlantean Healing Ray Training, Attitudinal healing, Attunement, Audio Neurotechnology, Auditing, Aura analysis, Aura and vibrational diagnosis, Aura balancing, Aura Color Healing, Aura Imaging Photography, Aura Therapy, Aurasomatherapy, Auric massage technique, Auricular Acupuncture, Auricular acupuncture, Auricular analgesia, Auricular diagnosis, Auricular magnetic therapy, Auricular massage, Auricular moxibustion, Auricular point injection, Auricular point laser-stimulating method, Auricular reflexology, Auriculotherapy, Autoregulation, Auto-suggestion, Autumn, Awareness Release Technique, Awareness Through Movement, Ay methods of healing, Ayurvedic Acupuncture, Ayurvedic Massage, Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurvedic nutrition, Ayurvedic Reflexology-Acupressure, Ayurvedic Treatment

Islamic Fundamentalism

In Islam, Fundamentalism is a contemporary category of scholarly comparative analysis referring to those ideologues who advocate a mythic view of Islamic values and seek to restore the timeless fabric of holistic law. They oppose the secular ethos that, in their view, characterizes not only the non-Muslim West but also putatively Muslim nation-states.

Islamic fundamentalists are largely drawn from male groups who have experienced colonial rule as disruption and alienation and postcolonial independence as acculturation and hypocrisy. They resent the economic forces that produced urbanization. They protest the absence of divine mandates in the public sphere of sprawling cities. They reject the modernist hegemony, equating pluralism with relativism and atheism. Instead, they uphold radical patriarchy, for which they find sanction in both scripture and history.

Islamic fundamentalists, like other fundamentalists, are modern without being modernist. Whether accepting oil export revenues or using clandestine bank accounts, they benefit from the capitalist-driven world system, despite their official opposition to both capitalism and communism as Western ideologies. They also understand the power of modern technology. They resort to modern media (newspapers, radio, television, cassettes) and, when necessary, they use state-of-the-art weapons (car bombs, Sten guns, plastic explosives) to achieve short-term objectives. Masters of the communications revolution, they often project their message better than do their adversaries.

Yet only a few Islamic fundamentalists are terrorists, and not all Arab terrorists are fundamentalists. It is important to distinguish fundamentalists from other political or social reformers.

The late-nineteenth-century activists Jamal ad-din al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh used Islamic symbols to mobilize powerful anticolonial movements, yet they did not perceive less fervent fellow Muslims as their enemies.

Sunni and Shiite fundamentalists differ from one another, especially in their attitude toward the state. Neither Sayyid Qutb (1906-66), founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, nor Abul-Ala Mawdudi (1903-79), founder of the Muslim League, believed that the nation-state, itself a truncated residue of colonial rule, could become the vehicle for inscribing Islamic values or pursing Islamic ideals.

By contrast, their Shiite counterparts had faith in the state, provided it had adopted an Islamic constitution. Shiite fundamentalists have openly employed the range of Western worldviews, from Marxism to just-war theory to creation science. Ideology itself has been embraced as voluntary religion. Unlike customary religion, ideology requires collective ideals to be translated into reality through concerted action. Islamic fundamentalists have captured a major state (Iran in 1979), they have assassinated a bold Muslim statesman (Anwar Sadat in 1981), and they have marshalled sporadic public support in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and, most recently, Jordan. However, they remain a minority viewpoint among all Muslims.

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

ASTROLOGY:

1) the belief that the relative positions of planets, planetoids and stars, can influence events & behavior surrounding us. 

2) the method used in calculating these related happenings.  ASTRONOMY is the hard science.

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

Age

Astrology divides time into units called ages which correspond to the signs of the zodiac, each age lasting from 2000 to 2400 years. This progression outlines the evolution of the universe and mankind. We are now moving from the age of Pisces into the one associated with Aquarius.

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

At-One-ment

Term used by several New Thought religions (such as Christian Science) referring to the supposed metaphysical unity or ÒonenessÓ of human beings and God as demonstrated by Christ. Contrast the Christian term Òatonement,Ó which refers to ChristÕs death on the cross as the means by which he reconciled sinful human beings to God.

(See also: At-One-ment , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Baubiologie

The study of the impact of building environment upon health and the application of this knowledge to the construction of healthy homes and workplaces; the science of holistic interactions between life and living environment.

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

Psychic:

As used in this text, a word referring to rare or seldom-used powers of the (usually) human mind, which are capable of causing effects that appear to contradict the mainstream worldview of western science and philosophy.

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

What is the brain’s unique role in connecting a human being to what many call God? New scientific information about the human heart identifies it as the very first connection point between the physical body and its Creator source. Amazing recent evidence indicates that the heart begins to beat in the unborn fetus even before the brain is formed so it appears that the heart truly holds primary status as the initiator of human life.

Read more here: » Science and Spirituality: How are your Heart and Brain connected to God?