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Ka:
In ancient Egyptian religion, one of the three aspects of the
soul, a spiritual duplicate of the living person and recipient of
postmortem food offerings. The etheric body.
Kaaba:
The most sacred place on
earth in Islam, founded, according to Islamic tradition, by Abraham
and Ishmael. Muslims everywhere face toward this black-draped cubic
building--located within the grand mosque in Mecca--during ritual
prayers and walk around it during the Mecca pilgrimage. Its eastern
corner contains a holy black stone- a meteorite that tradition says
fell from the sky as a sign to Abraham..
Kabbalah: (Also
spelled Kabbala, Kabalah, Kabala, Cabala, Cabbala, Cabalah,
Cabbalah, Qabala, Qabbala, Qabalah and Qabbalah - there are
potentially 36 ways of spelling it.)
Generically, Jewish mysticism in
all its forms. The
Kabbalah is an ancient esoteric Jewish mystic system as it appeared
in the 12th and following centuries. Kabbalah has always been
essentially an oral tradition in that initiation into its doctrines
and practices is conducted by a personal guide to avoid the dangers
inherent in mystical experiences. Esoteric Kabbala is also
"tradition" inasmuch as it lays claim to secret knowledge of the
unwritten Torah (divine revelation) that was communicated by God to
Moses and Adam. Though observance of the Law of Moses remained the
basic tenet of Judaism, Kabbalah provided a means of approaching God
directly. The word Kabbalah is
derived from the root 'to receive, to accept', and in many cases is
used synonymously with 'tradition'.or 'secret
oral tradition' The principle at the root of the Kabbalahis
the teaching that the Torah was written in code whcih deciphered
will reveal great spiritual teachings. The word was coined by an
eleventh century Spanish philosopher, Ibn Gabirol.
Kabbalistic interest, at first confined to a select few, became the
preoccupation of large numbers of Jews following their expulsion
from Spain (1492) and Portugal (1495). The
philosophy was developed in Babylon during the middle ages from
earlier Hebrew speculation and numerology. The
classic document of the Kabbalistic tradition, The
Zohar, was compiled by Moses de Leon about 1290. The doctrine of
creation was built on a theory of emanations and asserted that the
world derived from the transcendent and unknowable God through a
series of increasingly material manifestations (sephirot).
The ten Sepheroth: (emanations)
Kether....Crown - Top of Head
Hochma.....wisdom -Right Brain
Binah.....Understanding - Left of Brain
Hesed.....March - Right Arm
Pechad.....Strength- Left Arm
Tefereth.....Beauty-Heart
Nezah.....Victory-Right of Pelvis
Hod.....Glory-Left of Pelvis
Yesod.....Foundation-Genitals
The sephiroth form the central image of
Kabbalistic meditation, the Sephirothic Tree of Life, which
describes the path of descent from the divine to the material realm,
and the path of ascent to the highest level of spirituality. Each
sephirath is a level of attainment in knowledge, corresponding to
energy centers in the body, and is also divided into four
interlocking sections or 'Worlds', which constitute the cosmos:
emanation (Atziluth), creation (Briah), formation (Yetzirah), and
action or making (Assiyah). Through contemplation and meditation,
similar to Eastern yogic disciplines, the Kabbalist ascends the tree
of life. The sephirot also comprise the sacred, unknowable, and
unspeakable personal name of God: YHVH (Yahweh), the Tetragrammaton.
So sacred is the Tetragrammaton that other names, such as Elohim and
Jehovah, are substituted in its place in scripture. A more
systematic presentation of the basic doctrine is contained in Moses
Cordovero's Pardes rimmonim (Garden of Pomegranates, 1548). Kabbalah
was a major influence in the development of Hasidism and still has
adherents among Hasidic Jews. The Kabbalah, with its amulets,
incantations, demonology,
seals, and letter and number mysticism, had a profound influence on
Western magical tradition. The Tetragrammaton especially was held in
great awe for its power over all things in the universe, including
demons.
Kachina: (Hopi,
katsina)
1) A masked being
understood in ethnographic studies of Pueblo Indian religions as an
intermediary between communities and their superhuman creators.
Frequently explained as ancestor spirits, kachinas may be
representations of natural forces, birds and animals, aspects of
other tribal groups, and figures in intertribal history, among
others. Kachinas have power to bring rainfall, among other forms of
weather, and to protect the health and well-being of community
residents, crops, and livestock. Their annual visits to Pueblo
communities are dramatized by members of religious fraternities in
the form of masked kachina performances, which conclude with prayers
to the kachina and assurances by the community of its continued
regard for its capabilities. Like Santa Claus, the human identity
of kachina impersonators is kept secret from children before their
initiation into religious life. Beginning with the children's
witnessing of the unmasking of the kachinas, the long initiation
process includes, for Pueblo men, their first participation in a
kachina performance.
2) Kachinas appear also in
the form of dolls, constructed of cottonwood and dressed or painted
and given to children to acquaint them with various kachina figures.
The dolls evidently are used as fertility figures and in Pueblo
healing practices.
Kali: (Sanskrit,
"the black one")
Hindu goddess. Fierce and
bloodthirsty, she haunts battlefields and cremation grounds, wears a
garland of severed heads and a girdle of severed arms, and holds a
severed head and bloodied sword. Despite her fierce appearance she
is regarded by her devotees as a beneficent mother figure, perhaps
Mother Nature.
Kaliyuga:(Sanskrit)
In Hindu cosmology, the
current, pleasure-loving age - the last of four repeating ages (yugas):
that of iron in which the law (dharma) is like an animal on
one leg. In bhakti (devotional)
texts salvation is only possible in the Kali Yuga.
Kama:(Sanskrit
, "desire")
1) One of Hinduism's four
goals of life (purusharthas), together with dharma (religion), artha (profit),
and moksha (liberation).
2) Kama incarnate
is the god of erotic love, who incites lust by means of arrows made
of flowers shot from a bowstring made of .
Kama Sutra:(Sanskrit: कामसूत्र
"Essay on Sexual Desire")
It
is an ancient Indian Hindu text
considered to be the standard work on human
sexual behavior in Sanskrit
literature written
by Vātsyāyana.
A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sexual
intercourse.
Contrary to popular perception, especially in the western world,
Kama sutra is not exclusively a sex
manual;
it presents itself as a guide to a virtuous and gracious living that
discusses the nature of love, family life and other aspects
pertaining to pleasure oriented faculties of human life.
Kapalabhati:(Sanskrit)
A process to clear the
sinuses
Karaka:(Sanskrit)
In Vedic astrology, the
planetary Significator which remains the same for all houses
Karma: (Sanskrit "deed,"
"action," "ritual," "result")
A central Indian term with various meanings. 1) Any mental,
verbal, or physical action or intention, especially a morally
correct or textually prescribed activity. 2) The results or
consequences of actions or intentions. 3) The Hindu principle of
cause and effect, originally
developed in South Asian religions, that determines one's past,
current, and future existences. Everything
we do produces some effect, now or later, on the physical or astral
planes. Representing neither good nor evil, all actions and
events cause corresponding actions and events in the past or future
(including past and future lives throughreincarnation).
4) Ritual activity, particularly the ancient Indian rites
propitiating a pantheon of gods as prescribed in the Vedic texts.
Ritual performance might be done to meet religious obligations, such
as initiation into the community, to honor one's ancestors, or to
fulfill individual desires such as wealth, progeny, or immortality.
The results of ritual, which are also called karma, were
sometimes interpreted as "unseen" (apurva), that is,
postponed or not yet noticeable in order to explain apparently
delayed consequences. While all could admit that actions would
eventually bear consequences, the doctrine of unseen results
provoked lively debate and reconsideration of the importance of
ritual. 5) The erroneous western interpretation: That the good and
bad deeds that we do adds and subtracts from our accumulated record,
our karma. At the end of our life, we are rewarded or punished
according to our karma by being reincarnated into either a painful
or good new life. (see Karma)
Karma Yoga:
The art of unselfish
actions...
Kartikeya:
The Hindu god of war,
raised by the Pliaedes
Kemadruma:
In Vedic astrology, when
no planet is flanking the Moon sign. Traditionally a sign of great
misery and mental instability
Kenosis:
A teaching
concerning Jesus' incarnation. The Kenosis attempts to solve some
paradoxes between the nature of God and of man as united in Jesus.
For example, how could an all knowing God become a baby, or how
could God be tempted? The Kenosis maintains that God, when becoming
a man, divested himself of some qualities of being a man. In a
sense, the Kenosis is God minus something; God subtracting some
qualities of deity to become a man. The opposing doctrine is The
Hypostatic Union
Key of Solomon the
King:
A magical treatise of medieval origin, of which a number of
manuscripts exist. It is claimed to be the work of King Solomon, but
is clearly of a more modern origin, and was probably written in the
fourteenth or fifteenth century. It is permeated with late Jewish
ideas, and its chief intention appears to be the finding of
treasure, and the creating of spells to interfere with the free will
of others. The power of the Divine Name iis found throughout the
work
The Lemegeton, or
Lesser Key of Solomon, is much more noteworthy. Its earliest
examples date from the seventeenth century, and it invokes the
hierarchies of the abyss~ by legions and millions. It is divided
into four parts which bind the actions of all spirits to the will of
the operator. The first part,Goetia, contains forms of
conjuration for seventy-two demons with an account of their powers
and offices. The second part, Theurgia
Goetia4 deals
with the spirits of the cardinal points, who are of: mixed nature.
The third book is called the Pauline
Art -- the
significance of which name is unaccountable. It deals. with the
angels of the hours of the day and night, and of the, signs of the
Zodiac. The fourth part is entitled Almadel, which
enumerates four other choirs of spirits. The usual. homilies
regarding purity of life are insisted upon, as is the circumstance
that none of the conjurations shall be applied to the injury of
another
Khala Yoga:
The yoga of swindling or
the trickster
Ki:
Japanese word for the
universal life force, synonymous with the Chinese term, Chi
Kiddush:
(Hebrew., "sanctification [prayer]")
In
Jewish ritual, a blessing properly known as "sanctification of the
day," inaugurating holy time, and recited at the onset of Sabbaths
and most holidays.
King James Version:
An English
translation of the Bible commissioned by King James I of England,
edited by poet laureate Francis Bacon in1610 and published in 1611.
Also called the Authorized Version, it was for more than 250 years
the unrivaled translation used by English-speaking Protestants.
Though later English translations, using better manuscripts and
increased knowledge of the cultural world of the biblical periods,
are more accurate, the impact of this version on English literature
remains undiminished. Many conservative Protestant groups still
consider it to be the only inspired text.
Kingdom of
God:
1) Originally, the Hebrew
kingdom as established by God. 2) A future divine kingdom to be
ruled over by Christ. 3) The heavenly kingdom of God.
King Solomon: (Hebrew- peaceable)
Third king of Israel (965-925 BC), son of David by Bathsheba,
built the famous first temple of Israel and established the great
empire of the Jews, (the kingdom of God). the legend is told in I
Kings 3 that God offered the young Solomon, either wisdom or wealth,
he chose wisdom. God was so pleased that he gave him both wisdom
and wealth. The wisdom of Solomon has become proverbial.
Kinesiology:
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 volts 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 (Aura) that surrounds the human
body.
Kitchen Magick,
Kitchen Witchcraft:
A practical tradition of
witchcraft mainly for suburban or lower budget witches that allows
one to utilize household items instead of the often difficult to
obtain ritual items.
Kiva: (Hopi)
Semisubterranean, round or rectangular structure, entered by a
roof opening and/or a side door, used by Pueblo Indians (American
Southwest) for ceremonial purposes, including initiation into
religious societies. The kiva serves
also as a gathering place for discussions of religious matters and
other community concerns.
Knight, J.Z.:
20th century channeler of
spirit entity called Ramtha.
Knox, John: (ca.
1514-72)
Scottish Christian reformer, an ordained Catholic priest who
became a Protestant and was an influential and founding figure in
the Church (Kirk) of Scotland. Knox wrote or participated in the
writing of the Scottish
Confession (1560),
the First Book of
Discipline (1560),
and The Book of Common
Order(1556-64). He also wrote the History
of the Reformation of Religion within the Realm of Scotland (first
complete edition, 1644).
Koan (Chinese kung-an, "public
case")
Anecdotes or stories of question-and-answer sessions between
Chinese Ch'an Buddhist masters and their disciples. Devised as
pedagogical tools, kung-anspose
paradoxical questions or problems, the nonintellectual,
nonconceptual resolution of which represents a spiritual
breakthrough. Kung-ans were collected and published during the Sung
dynasty (960-1279).
Kolob:
According to Mormon teaching, a great governing
planet (or fixed star) near the residence of God; It was the
farthest heavenly body ever discovered by the ancients. It was
known by Methusela and also by Abraham "the first creation which is
nearest to the celestial, or theresidence of God", - Book
of Abraham
Koran: (See
Qur'an)
Koresh, David:
Founder of Branch
Davidians.
Kosmon:
See Universal
Faithists of Kosmon.
Kosher: (Hebrew kashrut, "fit,"
"fitness")
The Jewish dietary laws. Jewish religious practice includes a
complex set of rules about permissible and forbidden foods. Their
origin is biblical, and they are elaborated in postbiblical Jewish
law.
Krieger, Dolores:
See Therapeutic
Touch.
Krishna:
One of the primary Hindu gods, who, according to some Hindu sects,
is the eighth or ninth incarnation of Vishnu and possibly the
manifestation of the supreme demigod/God incarnating as Vishnu. The
name Krishna means black or darkness in Sanskrit, probably referring
to Krishna's dark skin..Devotion to Krishna has been introduced in
the West especially through the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Krishnamurti, Jiddu:(1895-1986)
A Hindu who was proclaimed as the world�s messiah by Theosophy leader
Annie Besant in 1906.and sought to unify Eastern religion with
Western philosophy and science. He later renounced that role aand
spent the rest of his life teaching personal philosophy and clear
thinking.
Kriya Yoga:
The yoga of cleansing or purification.
Kronos: (Cronus)
Kronos was the leader and the youngest of
the first generation of Titans, the divine children of Gaia, the
earth, and Ouranos, the sky. He overthrew his father and ruled
during the mythological Golden Age, until he was overthrown by his
own sons, Zeus, Hades, Poseidon and imprisoned in Tartarus or sent
to rule the the Elysian Fields (Paradise). Kronos
was worshipped as a harvest god, overseeing crops such as grains,
nature and agriculture. He was usually depicted with a sickle, which
he used to harvest crops and which was also the weapon he used to
castrate and depose Ouranos. Kronos was also identified with the
Roman god, Saturn. The etymology of the name is obscure. It may be
related to the word χρόνος, Chronos, meaning time.
Kryon:
Kryon is a spiritual entity channeled through Lee Carroll.
Kryon's message is about a New Age that gives us new gifts of human
enablement. According to Carroll, Kryon is of the family of Lord
Michael - .they have the same inter-dimensional spiritual overlay.
In 1989 Carroll reluctantly went to see a psychicwho told him that
a "magnetic master" by the name of Kryon was trying to get in touch
with him. Three years passed, and he went to see another well-known
psychic who also told Lee that an entity was trying to contact him,
and actually spelled out the name K-R-Y-O-N. This time, Carroll did
not ignore the message and has been channeling Kryon eversince 1992
Kujadosha:
In Vedic astrology, an
affliction caused by Mars occupying the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th
houses. There are some more details and it is best to learn more
about this before delineating marital relationships
Kumbhaka: (Sanskrit)
Holding the breath in yoga
Kunda:(Sanskrit)
Serpent, The starting
place of the kundalini
Kundalini:
A coiled female serpent. The
elemental, creative force of the astral body which, like a serpent,
rests coiled at the base of the spine. The male and female forces
are exactly balanced in the Ida and Pingala subtle channels.
Everyone uses Kundalini power to think with and to maintain
consciousness, but it very seldom rises up the central spinal
channel of Sushumna beyond the first center. Various disciplines
areused to arouse the "sleeping serpent" to ascend tothe higher
centers.
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