Theosophical Society,
H
P Blavatsky
New
Age Dictionary
A
Acupressure:
Oriental healing system using direct finger pressure to specific tension spots
to reduce stress and pain and affect healing. Also called Shiatsu
massage.
Acupuncture:
Ancient Oriental healing therapy which stimulates or disperses the flow of
subtle energy (ch’i) within the body by inserting
fine needles into specific points on the skin, by massage, by thermal therapy
(heat applications), or by a combination of all three. Angels: Messengers of God available to all
living beings to help in their everyday life.
Anthroposophy:
A dualistic spiritual science founded by Rudolf Steiner after he left the
Theosophical Society.
Aroma
Therapy: The use of essential oils from plants, flowers, trees and herbs to
achieve health, vitality and rejuvenation of the body, mind and spirit. Ashram: Hindu equivalent of a monastery; a
community where devotees live with or around a guru who is their spiritual
teacher. Astral Projection: An
out-of-body experience often occurring during sleep or a meditative state
during which the etheric body separates from the physical body and travels over
great distances to another location resulting in an altered state of
consciousness.
Astrology:
An ancient system of divination based on the belief that planetary cosmic
cycles influence human affairs.
Aura
Balancing: A healing technique that allows healing energy to normalize restricted
cells. The healer detects energy blocks in the luminous electromagnetic force
field called the aura that surrounds the human body and then balances or
normalizes it by passing his or her hands over the congested area a few inches
from the body.
Ayurveda:
Ancient Indian medical-metaphysical healing life science based on the harmony
of body, mind and universe. It emphasizes the capability of the individual for
self-healing using natural remedies to restore balance.
B
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.
Bioenergetics:
A body-mind therapy created by Dr. Alexander Lowen
which uses the body to heal the mind. The simultaneous duality and unity of the
human personality is its underlying principle. The technique includes direct
body work to release unresolved emotional blocks stored in muscle groups. Biofeedback: A scientific technique to tune
into and consciously control bodily functions by hooking up to a monitoring
device that reads certain physiological responses and feeds information back to
the user. Biorhythms: The cyclical
patterns of change in the body’s physical, emotional and intellectual energy
based on date of birth. Used to determine the immutable
patterns of a person’s critical days and periods of high and low energy.
Blue
Print: This is what we and everyone we are connected with in a particular lifetime
have chosen to accomplish during this lifetime. Body-Mind Rhythmic Movement TM: Created by
Susan Kramer. Elementary academic instruction using rhythmic
movement patterning as a way to develop and reinforce the body-mind connection.
C
Chakra:
Within the subtle anatomy of humans are the chakras
(a Sanskrit word), each a spinning vortex of energy. It is thought that the
physical body (gross anatomy) reflects the state of the spiritual/emotional
body (subtle anatomy). Chakra Balancing:
Healing techniques which are intended to clear the blockages restricting the
flow of energy in the chakras or psychic energy
centers in the etheric body located in various points that range from the base
of the spine to the crown of the head.
Channelers:
‘Sensitives’ who allow spiritual entities to use their bodies and minds as a
link between this plane and higher planes of consciousness for the purpose of
receiving psychic information or healing energy. Formerly
called mediums.
Chinese Tuina Therapy: A massage therapy using fingers and fists on
meridian lines, manipulating muscles to release tension and loosen congested
areas allowing natural healing to occur.
Chiropractor:
Healer using therapy that attributes disease to neural malfunction with
treatment primarily based on manipulation of the spinal column.
Clairvoyant:
One who receives extrasensory impressions in the form of “inner sight” or
mental images which are seen without the aid of the physical eyes and beyond
the limitations of ordinary time and space. Literally
means “clear seeing.”
Colonic
Irrigation Therapy: The introduction of a series of inflows and outflows of
purified water into the colon for cleansing and corrective purposes.
Color
Therapy: A natural healing technique using the scientific application of the
correct color vibrations to the body, often as white light projected through
films of various colors.
A Course In Miracles: Material channeled through Helen Schucman and transcribed by William Thetford
which aims at removing the blocks to the awareness of the presence of love.
Consists of the Text, the Workbook for Students and the Manual for Teachers.
Cranial-Sacral
Therapy: An offshoot of traditional osteopathic medicine. This work is a
diagnostic and healing tool which deals with a very subtle rhythm in the body.
The therapist seeks out, by palpation, the normal, physiological way the rhythm
moves manifested through the bones in the head and the rest of the body.
Traditionally used for head and tailbone dysfunction, it works well for chronic
headaches, whiplash injury, facial or cranial trauma and other sensory, motor
and/or intellectual dysfunction. Creative
Visualization/Guided Imagery: The use of mental energy to create positive
thoughts to manifest life changes; a process by which a facilitator suggests
the types of pictures to imagine in the mind as a technique to create thought
forms for a desired end result which will later manifest in the physical world.
Crystal
Healing: The therapeutic application of crystals and gemstones for healing the
mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies.
D
Divination:
The act of foretelling the future or gaining unknown information by using
psychic skills or other methods outside of the ordinary senses. Dowsing: The skill of divining for underground
sources of water or other practical and spiritual matters by means of a
divining rod or variety of other means, such as the pendulum, or even by deviceless techniques.
E
Eckankar:
Ancient science of soul travel or ability to raise one’s consciousness to
higher planes of awareness to realize the divine consciousness of one’s soul.
Egyptology:
The study of all aspects of ancient
Empath: A
person who can psychically tune in to the emotional experience of a person,
place or animal.
Energy
Healing/Balancing: Healing technique which involves working in the body’s
energy field to promote mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual healing.
Espavo - “Thank
you for taking your power.” ESPAVO was used in the ancient days of Lemuria.
F
Feng Shui: Geomancy, called feng-shui
(wind and water) in
Firewalking:
Ancient ritual of spiritual empowerment. The practice of
walking over hot coals without the feet getting burned. Practitioners
are often in a trance state.
Floatation
Tank: A sensory deprivation tank containing skin-temperature water (93.5
degrees) and Epsom salts, in which a person is immersed for relaxation and
rehabilitation, often in conjunction with neuromuscular therapy. Flower Essences: A modality that uses extracts
from flowering plants in homeopathic proportions as catalysts for healing. Each
liquid potentized preparation carries the imprint of
a specific plant which speaks a subtle language that works on the root causes
of disease. Originated by Dr. Edward Bach.
Fortean:
Strange phenomena. Derived from Charles Fort, “philosopher of
strangeness.”
G
Geomancy: See feng-shui.
Gestalt
Therapy: Humanistic therapy originated by Fritz Perls
that centers on the reality of what is and each individual being responsible
for his/her own actions; includes the interrelatedness of the object and the
perceiver. Guides: Spiritual beings that
have lived on earth that are assigned to each of us at birth. They are
available to help us on our individual path while on Earth as well as in other
dimensions.
H
Hand
Analyst/Counselor: One who uses a person’s hands, fingers and nails to attune
to the person’s life, character and emotions. Handwriting Analysis: The study of a person’s
handwriting to discover personal information such as health, character,
personality and life circumstances. Herbologist/Herbalist: A healer who understands the
medicinal value of plants and prepares herbal formulas to strengthen the
natural functions of the body so that it may heal itself.
Holistic
Healing: A type of healing that treats the whole person and acknowledges the
interrelatedness of the body, mind and spirit in the total health of a person.
Holotropic Breathwork ™: A non-drug technique of self-exploration and
healing using controlled breathing, evocative music, focused body work and Mandela
drawing to access all levels of human experience. Created by Stanislov and Christina Grof.
Homeopathy:
A school of medicine based on the theory of “like cures like.” Minute
quantities of natural substance stimulate the body’s own self-healing ability.
If taken in larger doses, they would produce side effects similar to those of
the disease being treated.
Hoshino
Therapy: A unique system of acupressure therapy for early detection and
treatment of biomechanical pain and dysfunction. Humanistic Psychology: The school of
psychology originated by Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers
and others, that emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual self and the
integration of the whole person: feelings, intellect, physical and spiritual.
Huna:
Ancient Hawaiian religious system of goal attainment and spiritual growth based
on a knowledge of three levels of consciousness and the use of “mana,” the vital force that heals and energizes. Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy: A state of mind in
which one’s focus of attention is narrow and a higher level of awareness of the
focal point is attained than is normal when one is awake. The power of
conscious criticism is suppressed and suggestions move directly into the
unconscious mind. Suggestions are acted upon more powerfully than is possible
in the normal waking state.
I
I Ching: Traditional Chinese divination method that involves
tossing three identical coins or objects six times and using the patterns they
form to receive answers to personal questions from the I Ching
or Book of Changes. Incense: Aromatic
herb or wood made into a fine powder to be burned for enjoyment of its pleasant
fragrance; used as an offering at rituals or during religious ceremonies.
Iridology:
A science involving the study of the iris of the eye as a diagnostic tool to
reveal health or disorders in the human body. It is based on the premise that
the nerves, muscle fibers and blood vessels in the iris are connected to
corresponding locations in the body.
K
Kabbala (Qabala): Ancient Hebrew esoteric philosophy based on a
mystical interpretation of the Bible. It presents a symbolic explanation of the
origin of the universe and relates all things to their supreme archetypes. Kinesiology: Knowledge of techniques for
obtaining and using information from the position, movement, and tension of
parts of the body, especially from the nerves, muscles, tendons, and joints.
For example, diagnosis of physical ailments may be obtained from the
subconscious level by naming the ailment, asking the subject to tense an arm
and noting whether the tension is maintained or released when the arm is
depressed. Kirlian
Photography: A photographic process using a high
voltage, low amperage field of 50,000 bolts or more. Invented
by Semyon and Valentina Kirlian. It picks up radiation around objects and
humans which is not visible to the eye. Often used to photograph the energy field that surrounds the human
body.
L
Luscher
Color Test: A test developed by Dr. Max Luscher that
indicates personality type on the basis of the subject’s preference for eight
color choices.
Lightworker -
M
Macrobiotics:
Literally, the Great Life. A healthful way to live according
to the natural order of the universe. The application of this order to
daily life is through a diet which affects the whole person and which is based
primarily on whole grains, vegetables, beans and sea vegetables, with moderate
amounts of fish, seeds and nuts.
Magick:
Willful use of psychic skills to activate subtle forces to obey; use of
ceremony, ritual, incantations, natural and human-made objects of correct vibrational frequency for desired outcome.
Mandala: A
design of lines, forms and colors, usually circular, used in meditation to
focus attention to a single point. Medicine
Wheel: Native American sacred circle representing the Universe and the balance
of all creation. It is cast to contain, project and raise energy to transform,
balance and heal.
Meditation:
A technique of mind control that leads to inner feelings of calm and peacefulness
and may result in experiences of transcendental awareness and self-realization.
The two main types of meditation are: (1) the focusing type, similar to
self-hypnosis, in which the mediator focuses on a repetitive sound or chant, an
image, or pattern of breathing; (2) the “opening-up” type which emphasizes the
detached observation of mental events as they occur. Mediums: Sensitive people through whom
communications are sent to the living from the spirit world. Also
called channelers. Mentastics Movement
Re-Education: A system of dancelike, mentally
directed movements to free the body from tensions, resulting in an ageless
body. Basic to the Trager Approach.
Myofascial
Release: A gentle hands-on physical therapy in which the therapist applies a
small amount of pressure and an extremely mild form of stretching to the client’s
body. This releases the restrictive grip of the tight fascia, or connective
tissue, thereby relieving the body’s soft tissue of pain. Mythology: Age old stories of humanity’s
concepts about the universe, including their relationships to their deities.
N
Natural
Hygiene: A way of life that maintains that perfect health is an optimum state
of body function, not the absence of disease. It maintains that healing is a
biological process of the body, not something done to individuals and that by
eating only raw, unprocessed foods as found in nature will they achieve the
highest state of well-being.
Naturopathy:
A healing system acknowledging the body’s natural healing power. Fosters health through
education and the use of natural substances such as herbs, foods, air and
sunshine.
Neuro-Linguistic
Programming (NLP): A system of analyzing and describing both verbal and
nonverbal human behaviors in order to produce changes in behavior such as
curing phobias, helping children with learning disabilities, and eliminating
unwanted habits such as smoking, drinking and overeating. Neuromuscular Therapy: A form of deep massage
using pressure to certain trigger points on the body to release emotions and
relieve pain by breaking the stress-tension-pain cycle.
Numerology:
The science of numbers based upon qualitative values given to letters of the
alphabet which are interpreted in shaping one’s destiny as well as offering
guidance in daily living.
P
Palmistry:
The practice of psychically reading an individual’s past, present and future,
as well as health and character, by studying the lines, shape and texture of
the individual’s hands, fingers and wrists. Parapsychology: The scientific investigation
and, in some cases, treatment of supernormal phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance
and extrasensory perception.
Past-Life
Regression/Future Progression: The recall of past-life, including reincarnational, information through the subconscious mind
by the use of techniques such as hypnosis. Also obtaining
information regarding simultaneously existing future lives through the same
methods. Physics, New: Current
form of physics which emphasizes the interconnectedness and inseparability of
everything in the universe on a progressive scale from microcosm to macrocosm.
A fundamental tenet is that the action of the observer affects that which is
observed. At the quantum level, the new physics contends that objective reality
may not exist and that it is meaningless to view things or objects as having
any reality above and beyond the mind of the observer. Polarity Therapy: A holistic health care
program designed by Dr. Randolph Stone which aims to remove energy blockages in
the body and restore balance and harmony. Practitioners move their fingers
above the meridian lines of the body to create an energy circuit between the
client and the therapist, thus creating a polarity of electromagnetic charge.
It also stresses exercise, diet and positive thinking.
Psychic: A
general term describing a person with one or more paranormal abilities such as
extrasensory perception, clairvoyance or telepathy. Psychic Counselor/Consultant: A psychic
practitioner who uses his or her psychic abilities during private or group sessions
to psychically tune into a client’s life in order to help the client deal with
problems. Common psychic tools for tuning in include Tarot cards, pendulums,
clairvoyance and channeling.
Psychic
Healing: Using the physical body as a vehicle for cosmic energy to heal body,
mind and spirit.
Psychodrama:
A role-playing group therapy founded by J. L. Moreno. Psychometry: The
process of holding an object and reading from it psychic impressions concerning
the article or its owner. Psychosynthesis: A developmental psychological and
educational process formulated by Roberto Assagioli.
Its goals are the integration of personality and awareness of the Self.
R
Rapid Eye
Technology: A wholistic eclectic healing process
based on the blinking, moving, and perception of the eyes to facilitate mental,
emotional, and physical change. RET is based on the inspiration and work of author and healer,
Ranae Johnson.
Rebirthing/Integrative
Breathing: Precisely defined breathing technique to cleanse, clear and heal the
body, mind and spirit; its purpose is to relive the moment of your first breath
and release the trauma associated with it. Reflexology: A therapy including deep massage
of the soles of the feet or the hands. Pressure applied to specific nerve endings
stimulates glands and organs which helps to release toxins, improve circulation
and relieve tension. Reiki Natural
Healing: A scientific healing technique to tap the Universal Life Energy and
use it to heal and balance living beings; a tool for personal transformation,
growth and change.
Ro-Hun
Therapy: An energy-based, spiritually-oriented psychotherapy which aims to
relieve negative thinking patterns and traumas stored in one’s energy field and
replace them with more effective means of living. Rune Casting: An ancient Nordic and Germanic
oracle dating to around 800 A.D., involving the use of twenty-five ceramic
tiles, each inscribed with a letter from the Viking alphabet; divination
technique allowing one to tap into answers in the subconscious or higher self
for insight and advice.
S
Shamanism/Shamanic
Therapy: Belief in psychic healing techniques and mediumship
skills as practiced by tribal “medicine men” such as those among the Native
Americans and in various parts of the Orient; the practices of mediumship and healing techniques of a Shamanic priest. Shiatsu Therapy: An Oriental therapy
consisting of finger pressure to the acupuncture points on the body. Helps relieve
pain and tension and restore balance.
Sound
Therapy/Toning: The use of a combination of tones and rhythmic sounds to alter
a person’s vibrations to bring harmony, accelerate healing and increase psychic
skills.
Spiritual
Counselor/Consultant: A practitioner who uses one or more spiritual and/or
psychological techniques in order to achieve holistic healing. Spiritual Healing: Healing by the power of a
spiritual energy, operating through the body of the medium or practitioner. Spiritualist: One who believes that the
continuity of life can be demonstrated and proven by the ability to communicate
with departed souls through a psychic medium.
Starseeds:
Evolved beings from another planet, star system or galaxy, whose specific
missions are to assist Planet Earth and her peoples to bring in the Golden Age
at the turn of the millennium. Starseeds incarnate
into the same conditions of helplessness and total amnesia concerning their
identity, origins and purpose as do Earth humans. However, the genes of starseeds are encoded with a “wake-up call” designed to “activate”
them at a pre-determined moment in life. Awakening can be gentle and gradual,
or quite dramatic and abrupt. In either event, memory is restored to varying
degrees, allowing starseeds to consciously take up
their missions. Their connections to the Higher Self are also strengthened,
permitting them to be largely guided by their inner knowing.
Structural
Integration: The physical aspects of this therapy consist of manipulating the
soft tissues of the body (fascia, muscles, and proprioceptors)
to produce more appropriate links, elasticity and balance, resulting in
increased vitality, improved posture, improved metabolic function and freer
movement.
T
Tai Chi
Chuan: Traditional Chinese nonaggressive martial art
based on awareness and yielding which is practiced in slow motion; a meditation
technique for grounding and centering, that is based on Taoist philosophy. Tarot Cards: Deck of seventy-eight cards used
in divination. Divided into the Major Arcana
(twenty-two cards with archetypal significance) and the Minor Arcana (fifty-six cards of four suits: wands, swords, cups,
and pentacles). Theosophy: A
philosophical system that promotes the ideas of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and
Annie Besant. Objectives are to form a universal brotherhood, investigate man’s
latent psychic and spiritual powers, and study philosophy, comparative religion
and science.
TMJ
Therapy: Correction of malfunction of the temporomandibular
joint (TMJ) located in front of the ears at the jaw joint which is sometimes
aggravated by dental work. May involve ligaments, muscles or
the bone itself. Trager Psychophysical Integration: A physical therapy using
a gentle rhythmical type of bodywork that coaxes the subconscious mind to
release its old programming. Deals with stress, limited
movement, muscle spasm, pain and emotional holding patterns.
Transactional
Analysis: Process to diagnose the ego states where verbal exchanges originate,
as well as techniques to use this information to improve communication. Usually
involves helping the client get in touch with internal parent/adult/child
transactions that affect human behavior. Transformational Counseling/Therapy:
Counseling techniques associated with transpersonal psychology
that are aimed at promoting self-realization at the personal level and
planetary brotherhood and consciousness at the global level.
Transpersonal
Psychology/Counseling: That 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.
U
UFOs and
Extraterrestrials: Unidentified flying objects or spacecraft with no known
human-made origin; thought to be piloted by intelligent beings from outer space
or another dimension.
Vegan: A
diet without animal products of any kind. Followers believe in the rights of animals
and avoid all products with animal source ingredients including cleaning
products, cosmetics, personal care products, shoes and other items of clothing.
V
Vision
Questing: Native American spiritual practice for opening up to the universe and
perceiving a clairvoyant vision of your personal guide for the purpose of prophesy, protection and discovering your life’s purpose. Traditionally a time of
fasting and praying.
W
Walk-In: A
term used by Ruth Montgomery’s Guides for a highly aware entity from the
spiritual dimension who, with permission, enters an unwanted adult human body
in order to begin its humanitarian work at once by avoiding living the
childhood years.
Wet Rebirthing:
Guided by a rebirthing therapist, participants relive their birth trauma in a
water environment in order to work out negativity concerning the birth process.
Wicca:
From the Anglo-Saxon word for “wise one.” An earth or pagan religion and
magical system dedicated to the Goddess and God which uses simple ceremonies or
rituals to achieve communion with the natural forces; often referred to as a
form of Witchcraft.
Y
Yoga:
Sanskrit for yoke or union. An Eastern philosophy involving
spiritual discipline using various techniques to experience union with a
Supreme Being. Many yogic paths
exist and include work on the physical body as in Hatha
yoga, which uses breathing exercises and sustained physical postures to gain physical
and mental control over the body; Bhakti, the yoga of
devotion and love using the heart as a vehicle for transcendence; and other
types of yoga specific to a path or teacher including Iyengar,
Jnana, Karma, Kripalu, Kriya, Kundalini, Raja and Siddha
yoga.
Theosophical Society,