Spiritual Glossary
Spiritual Terms, Explained Simply
Plain-language meanings for the words you meet on the spiritual path, with guidance on where to go deeper.
A
Masters and Traditions
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara was the 8th-century Indian master who unified the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and taught that the self and the Absolute are one.
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Masters and Traditions
Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is the Indian school of non-duality that teaches the individual self and the Absolute are one and the same.
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Manifestation and Divination
Affirmations
Affirmations are short, present-tense statements repeated with focus and feeling to reshape your inner beliefs and your daily state.
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Afterlife and Death
After-Death Communication
After-death communication is any contact from a deceased loved one, through dreams, signs, scents, sounds or a medium.
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Afterlife and Death
Afterlife
The afterlife is the existence that continues after physical death, where consciousness lives on in the spirit world.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius is the astrological era many metaphysical teachers say we are entering, a roughly 2,000-year cycle of awakening, community, and spiritual growth.
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Consciousness and Science
Akashic Records
In theosophy and later New Age teaching, the Akashic Records are the nonphysical archive holding every thought, word, and action of every soul.
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Masters and Traditions
Alchemy
Alchemy is the ancient art of transformation, which seeks to turn lead into gold in matter and base consciousness into spirit in the soul.
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Practices and Tools
Angel Numbers
Angel numbers are repeating number sequences, such as 111, 444, or 1212, that appear again and again and are read as messages from a higher source.
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Beings and Creatures
Angels
Angels are luminous messengers of the divine, spiritual beings who serve, guide and protect humanity.
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Gods and Goddesses
Anubis
Anubis is the jackal-headed Egyptian god of embalming, who guides souls through the afterlife and weighs the heart.
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Gods and Goddesses
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty and desire, whose Roman name is Venus.
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Gods and Goddesses
Apollo
Apollo is the Greek god of the sun, light, music, healing and prophecy, twin brother of Artemis.
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Astrology
Aquarius Zodiac Sign
Aquarius (January 20 to February 18) is a fixed air sign ruled by Uranus, known for vision, originality and care for humanity.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangel Gabriel
Archangel Gabriel is the messenger of God, the angel who appeared to Mary, Muhammad and Daniel, and the guide of communication, purity and new beginnings.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangel Michael
Archangel Michael is the great protector among the angels, the one called on for courage, safety and cutting through fear.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangel Raphael
Archangel Raphael is the angel of healing, whose name means God heals, known across Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangel Uriel
Archangel Uriel is the angel of wisdom and light, whose name means "God is my light," honored for illumination, insight and the transformation of hard times.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangel Zadkiel
Archangel Zadkiel is the angel of the violet flame, known for mercy, forgiveness and the transformation of heavy energy into light.
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Beings and Creatures
Archangels
Archangels are the highest ranks of angels, great beings of light who oversee humanity and carry the divine will.
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Consciousness and Science
Archetypes
Archetypes are universal patterns of character and symbol, such as the hero, the mother, the sage, and the shadow.
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Astrology
Aries Zodiac Sign
Aries (March 21 to April 19) is a cardinal fire sign ruled by Mars, the first sign of the zodiac, known for courage, initiative and a pioneering spirit.
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Gods and Goddesses
Artemis
Artemis is the Greek goddess of the moon, the hunt and wild nature, protector of young women and twin sister of Apollo.
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Masters and Traditions
Ascended Masters
Ascended Masters are described in theosophy and related teachings as spiritual teachers who have completed their earthly lessons and now guide humanity from a higher level of consciousness.
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Awakening and Ascension
Ascension
Ascension is the rising of consciousness into higher states of awareness, love and unity, for a person and, in many teachings, for the whole planet.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Astral Projection
Astral projection is the experience of consciousness slipping out of the physical body and traveling through the astral plane, a subtle realm that metaphysical teachers describe as just beyond ordinary perception.
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Astrology
Astrological Aspects
Aspects are the angles between planets in a chart, such as conjunction, trine, square and opposition, that show how their energies blend, flow or challenge each other.
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Astrology
Astrological Elements
The four elements, fire, earth, air and water, group the twelve signs into sets of three and describe temperament: spirit, practicality, thought and feeling.
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Astrology
Astrological Houses
The twelve houses divide the birth chart into areas of life, such as home, love, work and spirit.
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Astrology
Astrology
Astrology is the ancient study of how the positions of the sun, moon and planets reflect the patterns of a life and the timing of its seasons.
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Gods and Goddesses
Athena
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy and craft, born fully grown from the head of Zeus.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island civilization first described by the Greek philosopher Plato, who said it sank beneath the sea.
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Soul and Self
Atman
Atman is a Sanskrit word for the true self or soul, the inner essence beyond the body, mind, and personality.
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Energy and Body
Aura
An aura is the subtle field of energy that surrounds the body, described in many spiritual traditions as a living map of your emotional and spiritual state.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Automatic Writing
Automatic writing is a form of channeling in which the hand writes messages without conscious thought, guided by spirit or the deeper mind.
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B
Afterlife and Death
Bardo
The bardo is the Tibetan Buddhist term for the in-between state after death and before the next birth, when the soul meets its own mind.
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Masters and Traditions
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is the sacred Hindu scripture in which Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna about duty, devotion and the eternal nature of the soul.
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Beings and Creatures
Bigfoot
Bigfoot is the popular name for Sasquatch, the giant, ape-like being reported across the forests of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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Astrology
Birth Chart
A birth chart, or natal chart, is a map of the sky at the exact time and place you were born, showing the sign and house of every planet.
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Gods and Goddesses
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation, the first of the trimurti alongside Vishnu and Shiva.
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C
Astrology
Cancer Zodiac Sign
Cancer (June 21 to July 22) is a cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon, known for deep feeling, intuition and a nurturing heart.
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Astrology
Capricorn Zodiac Sign
Capricorn (December 22 to January 19) is a cardinal earth sign ruled by Saturn, known for discipline, ambition and mastery over time.
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Energy and Body
Chakras
In yogic and tantric traditions, chakras are described as energy centers along the spine and body.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Channeling
Channeling is the practice of receiving information or messages from a source believed to be beyond the individual, such as a spirit guide, an ascended master, or a higher consciousness.
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Astrology
Chinese Astrology
Chinese astrology maps life through a twelve-year cycle of animals, five elements, and a birth chart called the Four Pillars of Destiny.
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Astrology
Chiron
Chiron is a small body between Saturn and Uranus that astrologers call the wounded healer, pointing to the deep hurt that becomes your gift to others.
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Consciousness and Science
Christ Consciousness
Christ consciousness is the awakened state of unconditional love, unity and compassion that Jesus embodied and that every soul can grow into.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Clairalience
Clairalience, meaning clear smelling, is the psychic ability to perceive spirit and energy through scents with no physical source.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Clairaudience
Clairaudience, meaning clear hearing, is the psychic ability to receive spirit messages, words and sounds through the inner ear.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Claircognizance
Claircognizance, meaning clear knowing, is the psychic ability to know something instantly, with no explanation or evidence for how you know.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Clairgustance
Clairgustance, meaning clear tasting, is the psychic ability to taste a flavor with no physical cause, often linked to spirit or a past memory.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Clairsentience
Clairsentience, meaning clear feeling, is the psychic ability to sense the energy, emotions and presence of people, places and spirits through the body.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Clairvoyance
Clairvoyance, meaning clear seeing, is the psychic ability to receive images, symbols and scenes through the inner eye rather than the physical eyes.
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Masters and Traditions
Confucius
Confucius was the Chinese sage whose teachings on virtue, family and right action shaped Asian civilization for more than two thousand years.
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Consciousness and Science
Consciousness
In spiritual teaching, consciousness is the awareness in which all experience appears.
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Energy and Body
Crown Chakra
The crown chakra, called Sahasrara in Sanskrit, is the seventh and highest of the main chakras.
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Practices and Tools
Crystal Healing
Crystal healing is the practice of working with stones, such as quartz or amethyst, for focus, comfort, and energy work.
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D
Awakening and Ascension
Dark Night of the Soul
The dark night of the soul is a phrase from the 16th century Spanish mystic John of the Cross.
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Afterlife and Death
Death Doula
A death doula is a trained companion who supports the dying and their families emotionally, practically and spiritually through the end of life.
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Afterlife and Death
Deathbed Visions
Deathbed visions are experiences of the dying, who see deceased loved ones, guides or light in the days and hours before passing.
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Masters and Traditions
Devi
Devi is the Divine Mother of the Hindu tradition, the supreme feminine power behind creation, appearing as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
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Soul and Self
Dharma
Dharma is the path of right living that fits your nature and purpose, the way you serve life by being fully who you are.
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Soul and Self
Divine Feminine
The divine feminine is the sacred, receptive, nurturing side of spirit, expressed through intuition, creativity, compassion, and the Earth itself.
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Masters and Traditions
Djwal Khul
Djwal Khul, known as the Tibetan, is the ascended master said to have dictated the many books of Alice Bailey on the soul, the rays and the path of initiation.
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Consciousness and Science
Dream Interpretation
Dream interpretation is the practice of reading the symbols and messages in your dreams to understand your subconscious, your guidance and your waking life.
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E
Afterlife and Death
Earthbound Spirits
Earthbound spirits are souls that have not crossed into the light after death and remain near the places or people they knew.
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Awakening and Ascension
Ego Death
Ego death is the dissolving of your sense of being a separate, defended self, so that what you are is felt directly, without the story of who you thought you were.
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Masters and Traditions
El Morya
El Morya is the ascended master of the First Ray of will and power, a teacher of divine purpose, courage and the right use of will.
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Beings and Creatures
Elementals
Elementals are the nature spirits of the four elements, the unseen beings said to tend earth, water, air and fire.
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Masters and Traditions
Elijah
Elijah is the prophet who, in the Bible, was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire without passing through death.
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Masters and Traditions
Emerald Tablets
The Emerald Tablets are ancient texts of hidden wisdom, tied to Hermes Trismegistus and Thoth, whose maxim "as above, so below" anchors Western esotericism.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Empath
An empath is a person who feels the emotions, moods and energy of others as if they were their own.
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Energy and Body
Energy Healing
Energy healing is a group of practices, including Reiki, based on the teaching that a subtle life energy flows through the body and can be cleared and balanced.
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Awakening and Ascension
Enlightenment
Enlightenment is a term for a deep, lasting realization of one's true nature.
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Masters and Traditions
Enoch
Enoch is the ancient patriarch who, in scripture and mystical tradition, walked with God and was taken up without dying.
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Masters and Traditions
Esotericism
Esotericism is the study of inner, hidden spiritual knowledge, taught to initiates and passed through traditions beyond mainstream religion.
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Masters and Traditions
Essenes
The Essenes were an ancient Jewish spiritual community, known for communal living, healing and mystical study, and linked by many seekers to Jesus.
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Astrology
Evolutionary Astrology
Evolutionary astrology reads the birth chart as the story of the soul across lifetimes, with Pluto and the lunar nodes showing where it has been and where it is growing.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Extrasensory Perception
Extrasensory perception, or ESP, is the ability to gain information through the mind alone, without the five physical senses.
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F
Beings and Creatures
Fairies
Fairies are the luminous nature beings of folklore and spiritual teaching, said to live in a realm that overlaps with our own.
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Practices and Tools
Feng Shui
Feng shui is a Chinese practice of arranging spaces so energy, called qi, can flow smoothly.
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G
Gods and Goddesses
Ganesha
Ganesha is the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, wisdom and the removal of obstacles, son of Shiva and Parvati.
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Masters and Traditions
Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha is the awakened teacher who found enlightenment under the bodhi tree in the 5th century BCE and founded the path of Buddhism.
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Astrology
Gemini Zodiac Sign
Gemini (May 21 to June 20) is a mutable air sign ruled by Mercury, known for curiosity, wit and the gift of connection.
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Afterlife and Death
Ghosts
Ghosts are souls that remain attached to the physical world after death, often through unfinished business, confusion or strong emotion.
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Beings and Creatures
Gnomes
Gnomes are the earth elementals of the Western esoteric tradition, small beings said to move through soil, stone and metal.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Gnosis
Gnosis is direct, inner knowing of the divine, learned through experience instead of belief.
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Masters and Traditions
Gnostic Gospels
The Gnostic Gospels are early Christian writings found in Egypt in 1945, near Nag Hammadi.
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Masters and Traditions
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is the early spiritual movement that taught salvation comes through direct inner knowledge of the divine, called gnosis.
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Gods and Goddesses
Gods and Goddesses
Gods and goddesses are the divine beings of the world's mythologies, seen by mystics as archetypal forces of nature, mind and spirit.
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Manifestation and Divination
Gratitude Practice
A gratitude practice is the habit of noticing and giving thanks for the good in your life, through journaling, reflection, or quiet moments.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids, built about 4,500 years ago and long seen as a monument of sacred geometry and hidden knowledge.
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Practices and Tools
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation is a session in which a teacher's voice or a recording leads you through breathing, imagery, or relaxation.
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H
Gods and Goddesses
Hades
Hades is the Greek god of the underworld and the unseen riches of the earth, ruler of the realm of the dead.
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Gods and Goddesses
Hathor
Hathor is the Egyptian goddess of love, joy, music and motherhood, often shown with cow horns holding the sun disk.
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Energy and Body
Heart Chakra
The heart chakra, called Anahata in Sanskrit, is the fourth of the seven main chakras.
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Afterlife and Death
Heaven
Heaven is the higher realm of light, love and peace described by near-death experiencers and by spiritual traditions as the home of the soul.
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Astrology
Hellenistic Astrology
Hellenistic astrology is the Greek and Egyptian system from about two thousand years ago, the root of Western astrology, focused on houses, planetary condition and timing.
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Gods and Goddesses
Hermes
Hermes is the Greek messenger of the gods, guide of souls and patron of travelers and communication, whose Roman name is Mercury.
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Masters and Traditions
Hermes Trismegistus
Hermes Trismegistus, "thrice-greatest Hermes," is the legendary sage behind Hermetic teaching, blending the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian god Thoth.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Hermetic Principles
The Hermetic principles are seven ancient laws of reality, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, that describe mind, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, cause and effect, and gender.
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Soul and Self
Higher Self
The higher self is described as the wisest, most loving part of you, a view of your life from beyond everyday worry.
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Practices and Tools
Ho’oponopono
Ho'oponopono is a Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness, often spoken as four phrases: I'm sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you.
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Gods and Goddesses
Horus
Horus is the Egyptian falcon-headed sky god, son of Isis and Osiris, and a symbol of divine kingship and protection.
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I
J
Masters and Traditions
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth is the teacher of love, forgiveness and the kingdom within, honored by many traditions as an ascended master and a great light of humanity.
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K
Masters and Traditions
Kabbalah
Kabbalah is the mystical tradition of Judaism, mapping how the Infinite becomes the world through the Tree of Life and its ten spheres.
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Gods and Goddesses
Kali
Kali is the fierce Hindu goddess of time, change and liberation, who destroys ego and illusion.
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Soul and Self
Karma
Karma comes from Sanskrit and means action.
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Masters and Traditions
Krishna
Krishna is the beloved Hindu avatar of Vishnu and the divine teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, who guides Arjuna on duty, devotion and the eternal soul.
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Masters and Traditions
Kriya Yoga
Kriya yoga is a yogic technique of breath and energy control, taught as a path to spiritual growth.
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Masters and Traditions
Kuan Yin
Kuan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, the one who hears the cries of the world, honored across Asia as a loving mother and divine feminine presence.
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Energy and Body
Kundalini
In yoga and tantra, kundalini is described as a dormant energy coiled at the base of the spine.
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Masters and Traditions
Kuthumi
Kuthumi, also called Koot Hoomi, is the ascended master of the Second Ray of wisdom and illumination, a gentle teacher of love and understanding.
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Masters and Traditions
Kybalion
The Kybalion is the 1908 book of Hermetic philosophy, said to be by Three Initiates, that sets out seven universal principles of mind and nature.
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L
Masters and Traditions
Lady Nada
Lady Nada is the ascended lady master of the Sixth Ray of devotion and service, a teacher of peace, love and compassion.
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Masters and Traditions
Lady Portia
Lady Portia is the lady master of justice and the twin flame of Saint Germain in the Summit Lighthouse teaching, the guardian of divine justice and opportunity.
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Masters and Traditions
Lahiri Mahasaya
Lahiri Mahasaya was the 19th-century householder yogi who received Kriya Yoga from Mahavatar Babaji and shared it with seekers of all walks of life.
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Gods and Goddesses
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty and good fortune, consort of Vishnu.
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Manifestation and Divination
Law of Attraction
The law of attraction is the principle that like attracts like, so focused thoughts and feelings draw matching experiences into your life.
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Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Lemuria
Lemuria is the legendary lost motherland civilization, said in spiritual teaching to have flourished in the Pacific long before Atlantis.
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Astrology
Leo Zodiac Sign
Leo (July 23 to August 22) is a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun, known for warmth, creativity and a radiant presence.
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Beings and Creatures
Leprechauns
Leprechauns are the small, clever shoemaker spirits of Irish folklore, said to guard a hidden pot of gold.
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Astrology
Libra Zodiac Sign
Libra (September 23 to October 22) is a cardinal air sign ruled by Venus, known for harmony, fairness and the art of relationship.
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Afterlife and Death
Life Between Lives
Life between lives is the period between one incarnation and the next, when the soul reviews its journey, reunites with its guides and plans what comes next.
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Afterlife and Death
Life Review
The life review is the experience, reported at death and in near-death experiences, of seeing your whole life replayed and feeling its effect on everyone you touched.
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Masters and Traditions
Lord Lanto
Lord Lanto is the ascended master of the second ray of illumination in the Summit Lighthouse teaching, a former Chinese sage known for wisdom and gentle leadership.
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Masters and Traditions
Lord Ling
Lord Ling is a Chinese ascended master named in the Summit Lighthouse teaching, said to work with the rays of love and wisdom in service to the East.
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M
Gods and Goddesses
Ma’at
Ma'at is the Egyptian goddess of truth, justice and cosmic balance, whose feather weighs the heart of the dead.
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Masters and Traditions
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the Indian teacher who brought Transcendental Meditation to the West and taught the Beatles at his ashram in Rishikesh.
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Masters and Traditions
Mahavatar Babaji
Mahavatar Babaji is the deathless master of Kriya Yoga, described by Paramahansa Yogananda as an immortal yogi who guides seekers from the Himalayas.
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Masters and Traditions
Maitreya
Maitreya is the World Teacher of the ascended master traditions, the great being said to guide humanity into a new age of awakening and, in Buddhism, the future Buddha.
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Timelines and Reality
Mandela Effect
The Mandela effect is the experience of many people sharing the same clear memory of something that did not happen that way, or that did not exist in the record.
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Manifestation and Divination
Manifestation
Manifestation is the practice of using focused intention, belief, and aligned action to bring something into your life.
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Practices and Tools
Mantra
A mantra is a word, sound, or phrase repeated to focus the mind and support meditation.
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Masters and Traditions
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was a close disciple of Jesus and, in Gnostic and mystical teaching, a keeper of his deepest wisdom.
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Masters and Traditions
Master Hilarion
Master Hilarion is the ascended master of the Fifth Ray, the green ray of healing, truth and science, and keeper of the Temple of Truth.
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Practices and Tools
Meditation
Meditation is a family of practices that train attention and awareness, often through breath, sound, movement, or silent focus.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Mediumship
Mediumship is the practice of communicating with people who have died, or with spirit, and passing along what is received.
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Masters and Traditions
Melchizedek
Melchizedek is the mysterious priest-king of Salem in the Bible, honored in esoteric teaching as a master of a timeless priesthood of light.
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Astrology
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury retrograde is the period, a few times a year, when Mercury appears to move backward in the sky, and astrologers read it as a time to slow down, review and repair.
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Masters and Traditions
Merlin
Merlin is the legendary wizard and seer of Arthurian lore, honored in esoteric teaching as a master of magic, prophecy and nature wisdom.
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Beings and Creatures
Mermaids
Mermaids are the half-human, half-fish beings of sea myth, found in the lore of cultures from Syria and Greece to West Africa.
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Beings and Creatures
Metatron
Metatron is the great archangel of Jewish mysticism, often called the scribe of heaven and the one who stands closest to the Divine.
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Practices and Tools
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment on purpose, without judgment.
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Astrology
Moon Sign
Your moon sign is the zodiac sign the moon was in when you were born, and it speaks to your emotions, instincts and what makes you feel safe.
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Masters and Traditions
Moses
Moses is the prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments, honored as a spiritual guide across several faiths.
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Masters and Traditions
Mother Mary
Mother Mary is the mother of Jesus, revered across the world as a figure of compassion, devotion and divine motherhood.
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Practices and Tools
Mudra
A mudra is a symbolic hand gesture or body position used in yoga, meditation, and Hindu and Buddhist practice.
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Timelines and Reality
Multiverse
The multiverse is the idea that our universe is one of countless universes, each with its own laws, histories or dimensions.
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Masters and Traditions
Mystery Schools
Mystery schools were secret spiritual academies of the ancient world that taught initiates the hidden knowledge of the soul, nature and the cosmos.
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N
Beings and Creatures
Nature Spirits
Nature spirits are the subtle beings of forests, rivers, mountains and gardens, known across cultures as fairies, devas and elementals.
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Afterlife and Death
Near-Death Experience (NDE)
A near-death experience, or NDE, is a profound journey reported by people who came close to death or were clinically dead for a time.
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Awakening and Ascension
Nirvana
Nirvana is a Sanskrit word meaning to blow out or extinguish.
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Awakening and Ascension
Non-Duality
Non-duality is the teaching that the separation between self and world, or between you and the divine, is an appearance.
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Astrology
North Node and South Node
The lunar nodes are two points in your chart: the south node shows gifts and habits carried from the past, and the north node shows the direction your soul is growing toward.
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Manifestation and Divination
Numerology
Numerology is the study of the symbolic meaning of numbers, used to read the patterns in a name, a birth date and the cycles of a life.
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O
Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Occult
Occult comes from a Latin word meaning hidden.
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Consciousness and Science
Oneness
Oneness is the understanding that all life is a single field of consciousness, and that separation is only the surface of something that is never divided.
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Manifestation and Divination
Oracle Cards
Oracle cards are illustrated decks drawn for guidance, reflection and intuitive messages, with no fixed system of meanings.
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Gods and Goddesses
Osiris
Osiris is the Egyptian god of the afterlife, death and rebirth, who rules the dead and rises again.
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P
Masters and Traditions
Pallas Athena
Pallas Athena is the goddess of wisdom in Greek myth and, in the Summit Lighthouse teaching, a lady master who guards truth, healing and the green ray.
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Timelines and Reality
Parallel Realities
Parallel realities are the many versions of reality said to exist side by side, each with its own version of you and of events.
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Masters and Traditions
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda was the Indian yogi who brought Kriya Yoga to the West and wrote Autobiography of a Yogi, one of the most loved spiritual books of the century.
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Afterlife and Death
Past Life Regression
Past life regression is a guided technique in which a person is led into a deep, relaxed state to revisit what may be memories of earlier lifetimes.
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Masters and Traditions
Paul the Venetian
Paul the Venetian is the ascended master of the third ray of love in the Summit Lighthouse teaching, said to have been the Renaissance painter Paolo Veronese.
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Masters and Traditions
Perennial Philosophy
The perennial philosophy is the view that all great spiritual traditions share one core truth about the divine and the nature of the self.
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Energy and Body
Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is a small, pea-sized gland deep in the brain, and in metaphysical teaching it is the physical doorway to the third eye.
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Astrology
Pisces Zodiac Sign
Pisces (February 19 to March 20) is a mutable water sign ruled by Neptune, known for compassion, imagination and spiritual sensitivity.
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Gods and Goddesses
Poseidon
Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea, earthquakes and horses, brother of Zeus and lord of the depths.
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Energy and Body
Prana
Prana is the vital life force in yoga and Indian philosophy that moves through the breath and the body's energy channels.
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Afterlife and Death
Pre-Birth Memory
Pre-birth memories are recollections some children and adults describe of the time before they were born, such as choosing a family or knowing the life ahead.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Precognition
Precognition is the psychic ability to know or sense a future event before it happens, through dreams, visions or inner knowing.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Psychic Protection
Psychic protection is the set of practices used to shield your energy field from unwanted influences, and to keep your own space clear and sovereign.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Psychic Reading
A psychic reading is a session in which a gifted intuitive uses clair senses and spirit guidance to give insight into your path, relationships and choices.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Psychometry
Psychometry is the psychic ability to read the history, energy and story of a person or event by touching an object connected to them.
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Masters and Traditions
Pythagoras
Pythagoras was the ancient Greek philosopher and mystic who founded a mystery school and taught that numbers, harmony and the soul's rebirth shape the cosmos.
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Q
Consciousness and Science
Quantum Consciousness
Quantum consciousness refers to ideas linking consciousness with quantum physics, such as the suggestion that observation shapes reality or that the mind works through quantum processes.
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Timelines and Reality
Quantum Jumping
Quantum jumping is the practice of using focus and imagination to shift into a parallel reality or version of yourself with the results you want.
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Gods and Goddesses
Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent god of the Aztec and Toltec peoples, a figure of wisdom, the wind and the life-giving union of earth and sky.
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R
Gods and Goddesses
Ra
Ra is the Egyptian sun god and creator, who sails the sky by day and travels the underworld by night.
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Masters and Traditions
Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi was the 20th-century Indian sage of Arunachala who taught self-inquiry, asking "Who am I?", as the direct path to liberation.
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Timelines and Reality
Reality Shifting
Reality shifting is the practice of moving your awareness into another reality or timeline through intention, visualization and a deep relaxed state.
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Energy and Body
Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1900s.
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Afterlife and Death
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the belief that a soul returns to live again in a new body after death.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Remote Viewing
Remote viewing is the practice of perceiving distant or hidden people, places and events using intuition alone, without the physical senses.
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Astrology
Rising Sign
Your rising sign, or ascendant, is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth, and it shapes how you meet the world and how others first see you.
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Energy and Body
Root Chakra
The root chakra, called Muladhara in Sanskrit, is the first of the seven main chakras.
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Masters and Traditions
Rosicrucianism
Rosicrucianism is the esoteric tradition of the Rosy Cross, which blends alchemy, mysticism and sacred science in a fellowship of seekers.
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S
Cosmic and Ancient Mysteries
Sacred Geometry
Sacred geometry is the teaching that the circle, the spiral, the flower of life, and the golden ratio form the hidden blueprint of creation.
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Astrology
Sagittarius Zodiac Sign
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21) is a mutable fire sign ruled by Jupiter, known for optimism, freedom and the search for meaning.
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Masters and Traditions
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was the 13th-century Italian mystic who gave up wealth to live in poverty, joy and kinship with all creation.
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Masters and Traditions
Saint Germain
Saint Germain is the ascended master of the Seventh Ray, known as the keeper of the violet flame of transmutation, freedom and spiritual alchemy.
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Beings and Creatures
Salamanders
Salamanders are the fire elementals of the Western esoteric tradition, spirits of flame, heat and transformation.
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Awakening and Ascension
Samadhi
Samadhi is a Sanskrit word for a state of deep meditative absorption in which the sense of a separate self fades.
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Masters and Traditions
Sanat Kumara
Sanat Kumara is the Lord of the World in Theosophy, the ancient being said to hold the spiritual light of Earth and to have come from Venus to help humanity awaken.
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Beings and Creatures
Sasquatch
Sasquatch is the large, hairy, humanlike being of the North American wilderness, reported for centuries by Indigenous peoples and by modern witnesses.
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Astrology
Saturn Return
Saturn return happens around ages 27 to 30, and again near 58 to 60, when Saturn comes back to the place it held at your birth, marking a rite of passage into a life that is more your own.
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Astrology
Scorpio Zodiac Sign
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21) is a fixed water sign ruled by Pluto, known for intensity, depth and the power to transform.
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Gods and Goddesses
Sekhmet
Sekhmet is the Egyptian lioness goddess of war, fire and healing, a fierce protector and a healer of plagues.
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Masters and Traditions
Serapis Bey
Serapis Bey is the ascended master of the White Ray and the keeper of the Ascension Temple, said to guide souls preparing for ascension.
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Practices and Tools
Shadow Work
Shadow work is the practice of meeting the parts of yourself you have hidden, denied or judged, so their energy returns to you as wholeness.
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Masters and Traditions
Shamanism
Shamanism is among the oldest spiritual practices on Earth, in which a healer travels between worlds to work with spirits, nature and the soul.
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Afterlife and Death
Shared Death Experience
A shared death experience happens when a loved one, caregiver or bystander senses, sees or feels part of another person's passing into the afterlife.
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Gods and Goddesses
Shiva
Shiva is the Hindu god of transformation, the destroyer who clears the way for new creation, and the lord of yoga and meditation.
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Timelines and Reality
Simulation Theory
Simulation theory is the idea that reality is a constructed, information-based experience, like a game or a program, and that consciousness is the player.
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Masters and Traditions
Sophia
Sophia is the divine feminine wisdom of Gnostic teaching, the being whose fall and return mirror the soul's journey home.
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Soul and Self
Soul Contract
A soul contract is the set of lessons, relationships and experiences your soul agreed to before birth in order to grow.
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Soul and Self
Soul Group
A soul group is described as a circle of souls who travel together across lifetimes, taking turns as family, friends, partners, and teachers.
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Soul and Self
Soul Purpose
Soul purpose is the idea that each person came into this life with a deeper reason, such as lessons to learn or gifts to share.
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Soul and Self
Soulmate
A soulmate is understood in spiritual teaching as a person with whom you share a deep, often unexplainable bond.
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Practices and Tools
Spirit Guides
Spirit guides are non-physical beings who offer guidance, protection, and insight along your path.
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Afterlife and Death
Spirit World
The spirit world is the non-physical realm where souls live between lives and where guides, loved ones and higher beings reside.
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Awakening and Ascension
Spiritual Awakening
A spiritual awakening is a shift in awareness in which a person begins to question their old beliefs, identity, and sense of purpose.
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Awakening and Ascension
Spiritual Awakening Symptoms
Spiritual awakening symptoms are the physical, emotional and perceptual shifts that arrive as your awareness expands, such as sleep changes, heightened sensitivity, vivid dreams, waves of emotion and a growing pull toward meaning.
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Masters and Traditions
Sri Yukteswar
Sri Yukteswar Giri was the 20th-century Indian master of Kriya Yoga, author of The Holy Science and the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda.
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Soul and Self
Starseed
A starseed is a soul that remembers beginning on another star, planet, or dimension and incarnating on Earth to help humanity awaken.
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Masters and Traditions
Sufism
Sufism is the mystical path of Islam, centered on love, remembrance of the Divine and the dissolving of the ego into the Beloved.
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Astrology
Sun Sign
Your sun sign is the zodiac sign the sun was in when you were born, and it describes your core identity and the way you shine.
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Beings and Creatures
Sylphs
Sylphs are the air elementals of the Western esoteric tradition, delicate spirits tied to wind, breath and the mind.
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Consciousness and Science
Synchronicity
Synchronicity is a term coined by psychologist Carl Jung for meaningful coincidences that have no clear causal link.
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T
Masters and Traditions
Tantra
Tantra is the Indian spiritual path that uses ritual, breath, energy and awareness to awaken the divine within and bring the sacred into everyday life.
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Masters and Traditions
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching is the classic Taoist text attributed to Lao Tzu, which teaches living in harmony with the Tao through simplicity and flow.
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Masters and Traditions
Taoism
Taoism is the Chinese spiritual tradition of living in harmony with the Tao, the natural flow of the universe, through simplicity and effortless action.
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Practices and Tools
Tarot
Tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards used for reflection and divination.
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Astrology
Taurus Zodiac Sign
Taurus (April 20 to May 20) is a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus, known for steadiness, sensuality and devotion to what is real.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Telepathy
Telepathy is the direct transfer of thoughts, feelings or images from one mind to another without speech or the physical senses.
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Masters and Traditions
Theosophy
Theosophy is the spiritual movement founded in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky, blending Eastern and Western wisdom into one teaching of hidden masters and evolution of the soul.
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Energy and Body
Third Eye
The third eye is described as a center of inner perception located between the eyebrows.
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Gods and Goddesses
Thoth
Thoth is the Egyptian god of wisdom, writing and magic, the scribe of the gods whom the Greeks identified with Hermes.
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Timelines and Reality
Timelines
Timelines are the branching paths of possible reality, each a version of events your consciousness can move toward through choice and frequency.
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Channeling and Psychic Abilities
Trance Channeling
Trance channeling is a form of channeling in which the medium enters a deep altered state and a spirit entity speaks through their voice.
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U
Beings and Creatures
Undines
Undines are the water elementals of the Western esoteric tradition, spirits of rivers, seas, springs and the emotions.
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Masters and Traditions
Upanishads
The Upanishads are the ancient Sanskrit texts of India that reveal the nature of the self, Brahman and the path to liberation.
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V
Astrology
Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is India's sidereal system that reads the sky against the fixed stars, using the moon sign, lunar mansions and planetary periods called dashas.
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Astrology
Virgo Zodiac Sign
Virgo (August 23 to September 22) is a mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury, known for discernment, devotion and care for detail.
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Gods and Goddesses
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Hindu god of preservation, who protects the world and descends as avatars such as Krishna and Rama.
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Manifestation and Divination
Vision Board
A vision board is a collage of images and words that shows the life you are creating, used as a daily focus for manifestation.
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Y
Beings and Creatures
Yeti
The yeti, or abominable snowman, is the large, apelike being of the Himalayas, long reported by Sherpas and mountain travelers.
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Z
Masters and Traditions
Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism is the school that points directly to awakening through seated meditation, presence and the experience of this very moment.
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Gods and Goddesses
Zeus
Zeus is the king of the Greek gods, ruler of the sky and thunder, whose Roman name is Jupiter.
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Astrology
Zodiac
The zodiac is the belt of twelve signs, each spanning thirty degrees, that the sun, moon and planets travel through as seen from Earth.
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