Sabbat
One of the eight celebrations of
Paganism and Wicca. The
witches' Sabbat was supposed to be a weekly quarter moon) midnight
convention of witches. . The central feature of the Sabbat was
always the lighting of the fire and a feast. See wicca.
Sabbatarianism:
Generally the view that the Old
Testament Sabbath commandment is to be observed unchanged by the
church. Sabbatarianism refers to an extreme form of the belief in
which membership in the true church, or even salvation, is
conditional upon keeping the Sabbath law. In most cases, the Jewish
Sabbath (Saturday) must be observed by refraining from work, sports,
and travel from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening.
The belief is often accompanied by the observance of Jewish dietary
laws and/or other Old Testament feasts.
Sabbath::
The Jewish day of rest. Curently celebrated from sunset Friday to
sunset Saturday.
Sabellianism:
lternative name for Modalism.
Sacerdotalism:
The teaching
that ordination imparts special abilities/powers necessary for the
operation of the ministry. Also, the teaching that grace is
administered through the one so ordained. A doctrine of the Roman
Catholic and Mormon religions.
Sacrament:
A sacred
ritual, esp. Communion. Also the communion elements.
Sacred Name movement:
This is a modern movement that claims
that God must be addressed by a form of the Divine Name in the Old
Testament (Yahweh, Jehovah, Yah, Yahvah, or some other preferred
form). Whichever one true name
is chosen, all other terms or names for God are considered incorrect
or references to false deities. Salvation, it is believed, depends
on referring to God by his correct name. Most Sacred Name groups
also teach Sabbatarianism and
observe Old Testament dietary laws and feasts.
Sadducee:
A member of one of the Jewish sects that existed during the first
century AD. Named after Zadok, a disciple of Antigonus of Socho who
received the Law from Simon the Just. Their membership was primarily
among the aristocratic class. They believed in following the Law as
it was written in the Torah and gave no consideration to any of the
traditions that had arisen since. They did not believe in life
after death.
Sadesati:
Saturn's transit of the lunar 12th
,1st, and 2nd houses. It lasts about 7 1/2 years and is regarded as
problematic for the Native by some Jyotishi. If the
sarvaashhTakavarga of the signs in 12th, 1st and 2nd from the Moon
have more than 30 points this relieves a lot of the above malefic
side-effects. One should also judge the whole chart and see whether
there is real malevolence to this transit
Sadhu:
A fakir.
Sahansha:
In Vedic astrology, special positions
or points signifying important events in life. They are somewhat
similar to Arabic parts
Sahasrara: (Sanskrit)
The thousand-petalled lotus, the crown
chakra.
Sai Baba of Shirdi: (1895-1918)
Saint Germain:
See Ascended
Masters, Germain, St.,I AM Movement.
Saint Issa:
Saint Issa was popularized over a century ago by the
Russian traveler, Nicolas
Notovitch, who asserted that
in 1887 while at the secluded Himis
monastery in Ladakh/Tibet, he was shown a manuscript
which discussed the “unknown life” of Jesus, or “Issa,” as he was
supposedly called in the East.
This “Issa” text, translated for Notovitch from Tibetan
by a monk/lama, alleged that during his “lost years” Jesus was educated
by yogis in India, Nepal and “the Himalaya Mountains.” According to legend, Jesus, the great Jewish sage, spent his “lost
years,” from between the age of 12 to around 28 or 30 in India, where,
accprding to another tradition, he also escaped after surviving the
crucifixion.
Stating that he felt the manuscript to be
“true and genuine,” Notovich maintained its contents were written
“immediately after the Resurrection,” while the manuscript itself
purportedly dated from the third century AD. Notovitch related that
the “two manuscripts” he was shown at Himis were “compiled from
diverse copies written in the Thibetan tongue, translated from rolls
belonging to the Lassa library and brought to the
Himis
monastery. Other than the word of
Notovitch and a few legends, there is nothing to support the
existence of Saint Issa.
Salamander:
An elemental who dwells in fire.
Salvation:
The Christian
doctrine of deliverance from sin. The basic Christian doctrine is
that Jesus died on the cross and paid the price of our sins, so that
we are all saved from the spiritual consequences of our sins when we
accept Jesus as our personal savior. Some teach we need only accept
Jesus as our savior, others that we must keep his commandments..
Salvation by Grace:
The doctrine that eternal life is not
gained by or conditioned on works but is an undeserved and free gift
from God received through faith in Jesus as
the Lord and Savior who died for our sins and rose from the dead.
Contrasted with salvation
by works
Salvation by Works:
The doctrine that eternal life is
merited, earned, conditioned, or maintained through human effort,
religious ritual, financial donations, obedience to
laws/commandments, church membership, and/or moral behavior.
Samadhi:
The state
of mental dicipline in which the aspirant is one with the object of
his meditation
Samavriti: (Sanskrit)
Pranayama with
equally long inhalation, exhalation, and suspension
Samhain:
Sabbat held on the eve of November 1st,
also called Halloween and celebrated by most people (religiously or
not) on October 31. Pronounced Sow -wen
Samsara: (Buddhist)
The opposite of Nirvana. It is the world we live in now - the world
of illusion, .passion; attachment to people and things; multiplicity
and differentiation.
Samskars: (Sanskrit:
activator)
1) Habitual movement of the mind. Every action lays down a deposit
in the mind, which conditions the mind and leads on to a new
activity, thus keeping the doer enmeshed in the world of change.
2) The imprints left on the subconscious mind by experience (from
this or previous lives), which then color all of life, one's nature,
responses, states of mind, etc. 3) Mental programs 4) Ebbbngrams
Sankirtana:
Religious chant or mantra repeated
over and over to draw practitioners into an ever closer state of
God-consciousness.
Sankhya:
One of the schools (systems) of Indian
philosophy
Sannyasi: (Sanskrit)
A disciple, one
who has renounced the world
Santeria:
Literally “worship of the saints,” a syncretism of traditional
African religion with Roman
Catholicism created
when African slaves were introduced to the Caribbeanand forced to
accept Chrisitanity.. Elements include animal sacrifice. Akin to voodoo.
Sanctification:
To sanctify
means to be set apart for a holy use. According to Christian
doctrine, sanctification follows justification.
In justification our sins are completely forgiven in Jesus.
Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more
like Jesus in all that we do, think, and desire.
Sanyama:
In Hinduism, when dharana, dhyana and
samadhi are taken together
Sarasvati:
The Hindu goddess of speech and
learning
Sasquatch:
noun
from a native language of the Pacific Northwest, sæsq'ec
The term Sasquatch (bigfoot) refers to
a large (usually 8' to 10' tall), hairy homonid being sighted in
North America over the last 300 years. Several thousand have been
documented by researchers, including law enforcement and military
personnel. See Yeti.
Satan:
Originally any angel of God sent as an
adversary (Satan means adversary in Hebrew) On at least one
occasion in the Old Testament Satan is a specific angel acting as
God's agent to discover and punish sin. Modern Christian mythology
teaches that Satan was a high ranking angel named Lucifer who wanted
to be exalted to the position of God. Through this sin, Lucifer fell
and became Satan, the Devil, leading a large number of rebellious
angels with him who became the demons. The Jesus cult teaches that
Satan and his host now seek to destroy the plan of God.
Satanic Bible:
Scripture of the Church
of Satan written by
Anton LaVey.
Satanism:
Any of several perverse Christian
religions in which Satan is worshipped with occult rituals
sometimes including animal or human sacrifice. Some Satanists do not
actually believe in a literal Devil but unashamedly worship greed,
lust and self. The Church of Satan is probably the best-known
Satanic group
Sathya Sai Baba
Satori:
The direct experience of realizing the nature of Mind, the ego's
obliteration, the experience of our living, sacred Self. Satori
demonstrates beyond all doubt that we and God are one in the same.
Until we experience Satori we merely believe that there is the
divine within us
Satsang:
A meeting of devotees for the purpose of chanting, meditation and
the study of relevant scriptures. The fundamental Guru/Disciple
relationship.
Scapulomancy:
Also known as Spatulamancy, it is a form of augury or
divination by examining the patterns or cracks and fissures on the
burned (after being roasted over an open fire) shoulder-blade
(scapula) bones of an animal. It was widely practiced in ancient
Babylon.
Scatomancy:
A form
of divination by the examination of egested food (feces, excrement).
See Spatalamancy.
Schism:
Middle English
scism, sysm,
borrowed from Anglo-French and Late Latin; Anglo-French
scism
The Great East-West Schism of 1054 was when
Christianity split into two branches - Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Roman Catholic. The basic issue was whether the Bishop of
Rome or the Patriarch of Constantinople should be the head of the
Christian Church. The emperor was a member of the bishop's
congregation, so many accepted that he was the most important
bishop. So when the emperor moved to Constantinople and became a member of the Patriarch's congregation,
the Patriarch claimed his was the chief bishop. And the battle began. The conflict reached its head in the beginning of the 11th century.
The majority of Christians believed that Jesus would return in the
year 1000. And he would resolve any conflict. When he didn't return,
the Bishop and the Patriarch resolved the matter on their own. They
excommunicated each other and all the members of the opposing
church. The entire history of the world was changed at this point. This was one of the greatest schisms in history, but not the only
one. Religious schisms have continued ever since. Martin Luthor and the
Pope. The Puritans and the Church of England.
Scholasticism:
The method of
study in the Middle Ages which was used to support the doctrines of
the church through reason and logic.
Sciamancy or Sciomancy:
A form of divination by shadows or by communicating
with the ghosts of the dead.
Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures:
Principal scripture of Christian
Science.
Science of Man:
An esoteric and mystical order reviving
the doctrines of the now defunct Holy
Order
of MANS. Founded by Mother Ruth in Portland, OR:
Science of Enlightenment:
A
metaphysical study group in Phoenix AZ
directed by Rev. Dr. John Rodgers. It is the
outgrowth of the Omega Group
Science of Mind:
Textbook of Religious
Science, written by its founder, Ernest Holmes.
Scientology:
See Church
of Scientology.
Scribe:
In the New Testament, one who was
conversant with the Law of Moses, and its many interpretations and
rulings.. Usually a librarian or scholar
Scriptures:
The religious
writings of any people that they regard as sacred and
authoritative.
Scrying:
A method
of divination using a crystal ball, shiny stone, dark mirror,, bowl
of water or other reflective object or surface until psychic visions
appear. The art dates back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and
practitioners aim to answer questions, solve problems, find lost
objects or people, and help solve crimes. The tool of scryers is
called a speculum, which can be any object, but is usually one with
reflective surface. The French physician and astrologer Nostrodamus
used a brass bowl of water on a tripod. Dr. John Dee, astrologer to
Queen Elizabeth I, used a crystal egg and black obsidian mirror. The
stereotypical speculum is the crystal ball as popularized by gypsy
fortune-tellers.
Seals:
Talismanic devices used in magick.
Seance:
A gathering of people seeking
communication with deceased loved ones or famous historical figures
through a medium. Also
gathering for the purpose of investigating or experiencing
supernormal phenomena. In the past they were sometimes called
"circles", because participants, called 'sitters', sat around a
table (or on chairs arranged in a circle) in order to link hands, in
the belief that this boosted the psychic forces which encourage
paranormal manifestations. Generally seances involve a medium who
enters a tance-like state and contacts a 'spirit friend' or 'spirit
helper'. The spirit then communicates with the gathering through the
medium or shannel, either mentally, or directly using the medium's
vocal chords. In the 19th century, seances were dominated by
physical manifestations, such as rappings, strange smells,
levitation, and materialization, many episodes of which were
eventually exposed as fraudulent. Because of these fraudulent
associations, the term 'seance' has fallen into disuse.
Second Coming:
Those who worship Jesus use this term
to describe the physical return of Jesus to the Earth in conjuction
with the destruction of the world of the wicked. New Agers use this
term to describe "parousia" - a New Testament word which describes
Christ Conscousness. Others associate it specifically with the
appearance of Maitreya as the avatar of the New Age.
The Secret Doctrine:
See Theosophy
Secularism:
1) worldly views esp., a system of belief and practices that
rejects any form of religious faith. 2) the belief that religion
should be strictly separated from the state or government esp., from
education."
Sedona Vortex:
Vortex refers to a place where the earth energy swirls and draws to
it’s center everything that surrounds it like a tornado. At certain
sites in Sedona AZ, people sense the energy swirling about them.
They are sometimes called " the Earth's Chakras." Some individuals
claim to have seen a swirling or twisting of their trunks due
the powerful vortex energy at the core of a vortex.
Self-Realization:
Total consciousness or realizaton of
the true self, or Higher Self, and that the body is only an
expression of that reality..
Self-Realization Fellowship:
A Hindu religion brought to the US by
Paramahansa Yogananda Headquartered in Los Angeles CA.
Sensitive:
A person who frequently demonstrates
extrasensory gifts such as clairvoyance, telepathy, or precognition.
Septuagint, The:
The Septuagint
is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Old Testament was
originally written in Hebrew. It was during the reign of Ptolemy
Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.) that the Pentateuch, the first five
books of the Bible, were translated into Greek. Shortly afterwards
the rest of the Old Testament was also translated. This translation
was done by approximately 70 translators- which is Greek is
Septuagent. This translation slanted Genesis from a scientific,
historical treatise to a mythological text. .
Serpent Seed:
Doctrine that alleges Eve’s sin in the
Garden of Eden was sexual. Eve had intercourse with the Serpent and
begot Cain, whose father is really Satan not Adam. Cain’s
descendants were supposedly somehow perpetuated after the flood
(usually through Noah’s son Ham). Diverse groups teach variations of
this doctrine. Cain’s descendants are: Jews according to the Christian
Identity Movement, Communists/Atheists according to the Unification
Church, Whites according to the Nation
of Yahweh, the lost according to William
Branham, etc.
Seth:
Spirit entity channeled by Jane
Roberts.
Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA):
The largest Adventist church.
Founded in 1845 by Ellen G. White, who claimed to have “the spirit
of prophecy,” was an important early leader of the movement and
taught a number of distinctive SDA doctrines, including the Investigative
Judgment and Sabbatarianism.
While the church’s official theology now appears to be generally in
the tradition of evangelical
Christianity, but they still cling to the belief that Sunday
worship will result in the “Mark of the Beast,”and the “Remnant
Church” doctrine that implies that the SDA is or will be God’s only
true church, and the doctrine of theInvestigative
Judgment..
Sex:
The biological differences between male and female. The social and
psychological systems related to or derived from this difference.
Shade:
The spirit of a deceased being.
Shakers:
The Shakers, a perfectionist utopian movement, originated in
Manchester, England, after Ann Lee, a member of the Shaking Quakers,
had a visionary experience. She claimed to have seen Adam and Eve in
sexual intercourse, after which Jesus enjoined her to teach others
that lust was the source of sin. Her ideas about lust and corruption
were intensified by the death of her four children. Thereafter, she
suffered a dread of sexual relations and formed a religious order
based on celibacy.
In 1774 Ms. Lee moved her group to America. They settled first near
Albany, New York, but after Lee's death in 1784, they moved to New
Lebanon, New York. By 1822 there were four thousand Shakers in more
than a dozen communities.
In the 1780s leaders initiated a cooperative economic system and
organized communes composed of extended "families." Shaker
communities abolished private property, regulated all behavior, and
imposed mandatory confessions. Organized around the concept of
celibacy, Shaker communities kept men and women carefully
segregated. Children were raised communally. Their religious
services provided emotional release through trembling, speaking in
tongues, and falling into trances-hence, the name Shakers.
Membership turnover was always high, but before 1830 many members
stayed for decades. Often whole families joined. Shaker population
reached its peak of about five to six thousand during the 1830s but
then dropped dramatically. Shakers were renowned for their original
styles of vocal music, crafts, and architecture. Adhering to the
idea that form follows function, they created furniture designs that
are highly prized for their simple lines and functionality. Shakers
invented an impressive array of devices from the common clothespin
and the flat broom to a revolving oven and a folding stereoscope.
They pioneered the industry of herbal medicines and the selling of
garden seeds in packets.
Shakti:
The consort of Shiva
Shaktichalani:
One of the mudras, involves contracting
the rectum
Shakti-chalini: (Sanskrit)
The nerve-power posture of yoga
Shaktitrayah: (Sanskrit)
The three powers of ichch, kriya and
gyana
Shaman: (Siberian
Tungus language)
A medicine man/woman or witch doctor. While
a medicine man will tend to the sick, working with herbs, barks and
the like, the shaman works more on the psychological level. He will
go down on "a journey" for the benefit of the one who is ill; he
will direct sacrifices, he will seek out new knowledge, and he will
accompany the spirits of the dead on their journey to the afterlife.
The Eskimos, Maoris, Polynesians, Mongolians and the American
Indians are some of the peoples that believe in the abilities of
shamans.
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.
Shamanism:
The religion of many of the ancient
less-developed civilizations of the world. Some societies today are
shamanistic. Shamanism is characterised by the ability of the
Shaman to communicate with the spirit world to provide healing,
guidance or wisdom.. The shaman’s soul is sometimes believed to
leave the body during a trance at which time the shaman will speak
with beings from the other worlds or assume animal forms.
Shambhala:
1)According to Theosophy, the physical
headquarters of the planetary government, situated in the Gobi
Desert, Mongolia.2) An utopia located in the Himalayas 3) the
Spiritual birthplace of civilization. See Shambhala, Shangri-la,
Agartha
Shambhu:
A name
of Shiva
Shangri-La:
A mythical country allegedly located in the mountains
of Tibet, created by James Hilton in his novel 'Lost Horizon', in
which he describes the perpetual youth and vigor of its residents.
Some say his novel was based on ancient tales of Shambhala.
(see Shambhala)
Shankara:(788-820AD)
Founder of the best-known and most
influential school of Vedanta, known as the non-dualist or advaita
Vedanta. He taught that the teachings of theUpanishads was
a self-consistent whole, that the ultimate reality id Brahma or the
Self, which is pure reality, pure consciousness, and pure bliss, and
that the world has come into being from Brahman and is wholy
dependent on it. The criteria of reality is immutibility and
permanence. The world is called illusion, or maya.
Shanti: (Sanskrit)
Calmness, serenity. peace
Shapeshifting:
A very esoteric practice involving
changing the human form. This can be practiced while on the astral
plane. It is said that one can also shapeshift on the physical
plane, though documented proof of this is nonexistent. Few books are
published on the subject Often such metamorphoses are associated
with fear and terror. In central and eastern Europe, for example, a
belief in the bloodsucking vampire that condemns its victims to a
living death has persisted into the 20th century. And in West Africa
until recently, members of a secret society called the Leopard Men
believed that simply wearing the leopard's distinctive spotted skin
would magically imbue them with that animal's fearsome strength. A
werewolf is another shapeshifter.
Shiatsu Therapy:
An Oriental therapy consisting of
finger pressure to the acupuncture points on the body. Helps relieve
pain and tension and restore balance.
Shintoism:
(Shen-Tao “the way of the gods.”)
Ancient polytheistic religion
of Japan that focuses more on Japanese Culture, traditions,
attitudes and ideology rather than a system of doctrines or code of
ethics. The roots of the movement are obscure, but it eventually
developed into the idea that Japan, unlike other countries, was
uniquely fathered by the god Izanami, whose
consort, the goddess Izanagi, gave
birth to the Japanese islands. Consequently the concept evolved that
Japanese people are divine and superior to other humans. In one form
of the religion, State Shintoism, the Japanese emperors were seen as
infallible descendants of the gods. Today devotion centers around
public shrines and home altars dedicated to ancestors and gods. The
sun goddessAmaterasu is
the chief deity worshipped, and a belief in kami, a form of spiritism,
is also maintained.
Shiva:
The “destroyer,” third member of the
primary triad of gods in Hinduism,
the others being Brahma and Vishnu.
Shree, Shrii or Sri: (Sanskrit)
Added before a name to show respect,
like Mr. or sir.
Shriners:
See Freemasonry.
Shroud of Turin:
An ancient strip of linen bearing bloodstains and the
brownish image of a bearded man, which was believed by many people
to be the actual burial cloth of the mythical Jesus..The shroud, 14
feet 3 inches long and 3 feet 7 inches wide, can be traced through
documentation back to 1354, but its history before that date is
obscure. Since 1578 it has been preserved and venerated in St.
John's Cathedral in Turin. Photographed for the first time in 1898,
the image on the shroud (of the front and back of a crucified man
about 2 meters (6 feet) tall) was revealed to be negative rather
than positive. Details of the biblical account of Christ's burial —
specifically the anointing of the body — conflict with the natural
possibility of an imprint such as that on the Shroud of Turin, and
Vatican-sponsored carbon-dating tests conducted in 1988 indicated
that the shroud itself dates no earlier than 1260.
Shukra: (Sanskrit)
The planet Venus. The word means semen
or sexual secretions
Shunning:
A form of disfellowshippingused by Jehovah's
Witnesses and other
groups to punish members who do not maintain the group's behavioral
expectations or who disagree on dogma. They are isolated from the
current, faithful members. This includes, in most cases, even family
members or friends, who are not allowed to talk or share a meal with
the shunned. The faithful, who violate the rule and communicate with
the dissident, can themselves be shunned.
Shustah: (Pages of
Shustah (c))
A divination and meditation deck created around 1974 by Ann Manser,
mostly in pen & ink. The deck consists of 70 cards grouped into 5
different colors - red, green, yellow, blue and black. Each suits
contains 14 cards. The accompanying book was written by and Cecil
North.
Siddha:
In Hinduism, a prophet or adept,
ever-ready, having psychic power
Sideromancy:
A form of pyromancy which consists of dropping an
odd number of dry straws onto a hot iron skillet, and then reading
the patterns formed by the straws and their movements and
undulations as they burn on the sizzling surface, or the shape of
the flame and the smoke resulting from it
Sigil:
A magickal seal or gylph.
Sikhism:
A religion, based mostly in the Punjab
province of India, that attempts to blend Hinduism and Islam.
The movement is based on a vision and subsequent teachings of
founder Guru Nanak in the 15th century AD. Disciples, called Sikhs,
follow the one true God named Sat
Nam (“True Name”).
Their main scriptures are contained in the Granth
Sahib (“The Lord’s
Book”), compiled by the guru Arjan,
and salvation is viewed as a merging with the universal force
Silva Mind Control:
A personal development system developed
by Jose Silva.
Simurgh:
A noble and beneficent mythical bird (Persian
Mythology). Initially a griffin-like
(lion-bodied) bird, with a formidable beak containing sharp teeth,
the Simurgh later assumed the shape of a true bird, one with
glorious plumage and immense wings. Its touch was believed, in
Persian folklore, to heal instantly even the most terrible of
wounds. This giant birdlike monster was supposed to be so old that
it had seen the world destroyed three times over, and thus possesses
the knowledge of all the ages. The original home of the Simurgh was
supposedly the fabled Tree of Knowledge, whose branches were
festooned with the seeds of every plant that has ever existed. When
the Simurgh took flight, it was said, its powerful ascent shook the
tree's branches so violently that the seeds were scattered
throughout the world, bringing a wealth of valuable plants to
mankind. Later, according to myth, the Simurgh nested in seclusion
on the sacred Persian mountain of Alburz, far beyond the climbing
abilities of any man.
Siren:
In Greek myth, a creature half bird and half woman who lures sailors
to their destruction by the sweetness of her song. Sirens
are mentioned by Homer in the 'Odyssey' and in the legend of Jason
and the Argonauts.
Sirens are also associated with mermaids.
Today, the term is used to describe a seductive or alluring woman.
Situation Ethics:
A sysrtem that holds that moral judgments must be made within the
context of a situation and that a situation must be
viewed as a whole.
Since 'circumstances alter cases', this system holds that in
practice what in some times and places we call right is in other
times and places wrong...
666:
The number and name of the Beast referred to in the Biblical Book
of Revelation.
Skyclad:
A pagan term for nudity during rituals.
Smith, Joseph:
Founder of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Society of Friends:
A religious body having no definite creed and no
regular ministry, founded by George Fox (1624-91), who began his
preaching in 1647. His followers created an organized society during
the 1650s and 1660s. It appears from the founders Journal that they
first obtained the appellation (1650) from the following
circumstances: 'Justice Bennet, of Derby,' says Fox, 'was the first
to call us Quakers, because I bid them Tremble at the Word of the
Lord'. Familiarly known as Quakers.
Soka Gakkai Buddhism:
A mystical form of Buddhism based
on the teachings of 13th century Japanese fisherman Nichiren
Daishonin, who taught that the true interpretations ofBuddha’s
teachings were recorded in the Lotus
Sutra
Soka Gakkai International (SGI):
A sect of Soka Gakkai Buddhism,
formerly named Nichiren Shoshu of America. The sect promotes
enlightenment though gongyo.
This involves kneeling before a gohonzon (black
wooden box containing passages from the Lotus
Sutra), quoting this scripture, and chanting the daimoku (“nam-myoho-renge-kyo”).
Also known as chanting buddhists.
Sola Fide:
The Christian
teaching that faith alone saves a person when he places his faith
and trust in the sacrificial work of Jesus.
Sola Gratia:
The Christian
teaching that God pardons believers without any merit of their own
based solely on the sacrificial work of Jesus.
Sola Scriptura:
The Christian
teaching that the Bible contains all that is necessary for salvation
and proper living before God.
Solar Angel
The Higher Self, sometimes, the guardian angel, not to be confused
with Solar Logoa
Solar Logos:
That mighty spiritual being who is the
ensouling life of the solar system. The material solar system is
simply a physical manifestation (or body) of this living
intelligence.
Solitary:
A witch who practices alone instead of
within a group or coven.
Solomon the King:
(see King Solomon or Goetia)
Solmancy:
Divination by
interpreting the patterns formed by the rays of the sun.
So Mote it Be:
A phrase used often in rituals to close
an incantation. It literally means, "So may it be." . Amen
Son of God:
This is a
title of Christ. It is also, in A
Course in Miracles, used to refer to all of creation.
Soothsayer:
A prophet, someone able to see the future.
Sophia:
Greek goddess of
wisdom also personified in gnosticism, and neo-platanism worship.
Sorcery:
Magickal practice.
Sortilege:
Divination by the casting or drawing of lots. Sometimes also called Cleromancy
Soteriology:
The study of
the Christian doctrine of salvation. It is derived from the Greek
word soterious which
means salvation. Some of the subjects of soteriology are the
atonement, imputation, and regeneration.
Soul:
(noun) of Germanic origin; related to Dutch
ziel and German Seele
Soul
should not be confused with spirit. Our
soul is our conscious mind, feelings and emotions. The soul feels
pleasure or perceives pain.
The Mormon prophet Joseph
Smith said (seemingly treating soul and spirit as synonyms), "There
is no such thing as
immaterial matter. All spirit (i.e. soul) is matter, but it is more
fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes."The
soul survives death and its memories, feelings, and emotional
associations continue on in the astral world.
Soul Sleeping:
(Psychopannychia) The doctrine that
human souls sleep or cease conscious existence between death and
resurrection. Usually (but not always) a doctrine associated with Adventism.
Soulmates:
Marriage partners from previous lives.
See Reincarnation.
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.
Spangler, David:
rominent New
Age writer and
philosopher.
Spell:
A magickal action. The ritual
direction of energies towards some certain goal, generally with the
use of spoken words.
Spellcrafting
The practice of creating spells by
creating outlines, arranging correspondences, and writing
incantations.
Sphinx: (Egyptian -
arranged after the order of Enoch)
The mythical sphinx has a human head and a lion's
body. In ancient Egypt, it originally was represented an ancient
lion goddess. Later the lion's head was replaced with the head of
the reigning pharaoh. It also represented the sky-god Horus. From
Egypt the idea of the sphinx spread to the Syrians and Phoenicians
and finally to the Greeks.
These peoples gave the creature the head and bust of a woman. They
added an eagle's wings to represent majesty and a long serpent's
tail to indicate wiliness. In later Greek literature the sphinx was
no monster, but a beautiful, wise, and mysterious woman. According
to a legend this monster put a riddle to all those who passed by and
devoured those who failed to guess it. After many had died in this
way, the Theban hero Oedipus answered the riddle correctly and so
caused the monster's death. The great Egyptian sphinx at Giza gazes
across the Nile, to the east. It was carved from a solid block of
stone about 3000 BC, and it is 187 ft long. The head and bust were
carved from a solid block of rock left in a quarry from which stone
was taken for the Great Pyramid.
The paws were built up with stone. It is thought that a temple stood
between the legs and that Egyptians came here to worship the rising
sun. The sacrificial altar that is now located between the paws was
built by the Romans.
Spirit:
The ultimate non physical part of an
individual.
Spirit Control:
A disembodied spirit who relays
messages from dead people to the living through a trance medium.
Spirit Guide
Spirit Guide:
A spiritual entity who teaches a medium
or channel and who guides them in their spiritual work.
Spiritism:
A particular form of spiritualism
developed in the nineteenth century in France by Alan Kardec. Very
popular in South America.
Spiritual Abuse:
The damage or mistreatment of someone
seeking spiritual or religious help or guidance. This injury can
occur when someone uses a spiritual position or office to exercise
an improper and unhealthy domination or control over followers. Legalism can
be a form of spiritual abuse.
Spiritual Amnesia:
A simple definition of “amnesia” is “the partial or total loss of
memory.
Spiritual amnesia is when we have forgotten that we are an eternal
spirit. When we have forotten that there is more to existence than
working, eating and sleeping. It is very unhealthy and will stop all
growth and joy .It depresses, discourages and makes us miserable.
Spiritual Counselor/Consultant:
A practitioner who uses one or more
spiritual and/or psychological techniques in rder to achieve
holistic healing.
Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship
International:
An organization formed by famed psychic
Arthur Ford.Joseph Fitch and Martin Ebon, and Elizabeth Fenske are
popular leaders in the movement. Affiliated with the Academy
of Religion and Psychical Research.
Spiritual
Gifts:
The Christian
doctrine that certain gifts are given by Jesus to his church. There
are some that are obviously supernatural in the usage: speaking in
tongues, discerning of spirits, healing, etc. There are others that
are not so supernatural: administrations, help, admonition,
etc. There is debate over the continuance of the gifts. Some say
that the gifts have ceased because we now have the Bible. They argue
that the gifts were used for the building up the church during its
beginning when the Bible was not complete. Since the Bible is
complete there is no further need for the revelatory gifts like
speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues. Others
maintain that the gifts are all for today though to a lesser
degree.
Spiritual Health:
Spiritual
health describes the relationshio between the individual and his
Higher Consciousness. Emotional, mental and physical health, are all
manifestations of one’s spiritual health. The mind/body connection
is closely associated with spiritual health. For
example, a person who is physically ill may not feel optimistic
about their health improving.thay If they become unable to work,
enjoy hobbies, or take care of daily activities on their own, they
may struggle to find meaning in life. These feelings could
contribute to depression or anxiety.
People in good spiritual health have
defined values and live according to them, are hopeful and
optimistic, even in difficult situations, are able to forgive
others easily
and feel peaceful and in harmony with nature. Healing spiritual
energy can be given to a person through a healing medium or
practitioiner.
Spiritual Hierarchy:
A bureaucracy of spiritual "masters",
or highly evolved men who, having already perfected themselves, are
now guiding the rest of humanity to this same end.
Spiritualism:
A movement that began in 1848 with the “raps” of the Fox Sisters
(Kate and Margaret) in Hydesville, NY. Normally associated with mediums orchannelers,
who contact the spirits of the deceased .
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.
Star of David:
(Mogen David) A hectacle formed two
interlocking triangles, now accepted as a symbol of Judaism. It was
not used as a symbol for Judaism until the late Middle Ages and was
not officially accepted as such by the Jews until the 17th century.
Steiner, Rudolf (1861 - 1925 )
Austrian philosopher, scientist,
artist and educator who was the originator of the social philosophy
called Anthroposophy. Steiner founded
theAnthroposophical
Society in 1924, and
it now has branches throughout the world, and is especially popular
in Britain. He traveled extensively in Europe lecturing on spiritual
science, the arts, social sciences, religion, education, agriculture
and health. His published works amount to over 350 titles, including
collections of lectures, books, articles, reviews and dramas. His
occult philosophy is outlined in key titles such as Knowledge
of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment (1904-05),
and An
Outline of Occult Science (1909).
His teachings inspired the development of the Waldorf School
movement and of schools for handicapped or maladjusted children; his
agricultural methods for preparing soil inspired chemical-free
organic farming and gardening; he created eurythmy, a form of
expressive movement to music and speech; and his guidelines on
holistic medicine and pharmacology are still widely respected.
Stelle Group:
An communal organization formed in Stelle,
IL, by Richard Kieninger.
Stigmata:
The manifestation
on a living person's body of bleeding marks resembling the wounds
suffered by the mythical Jesus when
he was crucified. They are manifested on the hands, on the feet,
near the heart, and on the head and shoulders. The attribution of
religious significance to wounds and scars predatesChristianity.
In many primitive rites, wounds and scars were deliberately
inflicted as part of the religious ritual. The stigmata of Christ,
however, allegedly appear spontaneously on the bodies of extremely
devout people. The stigmata are not usual bodily lacerations (the
blood appears to discharge through the unbroken skin), do not
deteriorate in the usual fashion of wounds, and are not susceptible
to medical treatment. Francis of Assisi (later Saint Francis) was
the first and best-known stigmatic, in September 1224 he reportedly
began to bleed from his palms and feet after meditating on the
crucifixion of Christ. More than 330 cases are known of Christians who
have been stigmatized. Stigmatics are deeply pious, and the stigmata
often appear after lengthy meditations on the crucifixion or
contemplation of a sacred image or object. Bleeding is also likely
to occur during the traditional times of commemoration of Christ's
passion — Fridays, Lent, and especially Good Friday. In many cases
stigmatization can be explained by natural causes such as the
physical and psychic conditions of the person, along with a strong
interest in and devotion to the sufferings of Christ. In a number of
cases, however, stigmatization has been accepted by the Roman
Catholic church as attributable only to supernatural causes; 60
stigmatics whose lives have been marked by great holiness and
mystical experiences have been either canonized or beatified.
Stonehenge:
The most
famous prehistoric megalith (standing-stone
monument) in Europe, located 8 miles north of Salisbury in
Wiltshire, England. Excavations and radiocarbon dating have revealed
that Stonehenge had an exceptionally long history of use as a
ceremonial or religious center or both. Stonehenge was constructed
in three major phases over the period from around 3500 BC to 1100
BC. It originally began as a circular ditch including a bank with a
ring of 56 burial pits — named 'Aubrey holes' for their
seventeenth-century discoverer, John Aubrey. Around 2100 BC a double
circle of bluestone menhirs (large, rough-hewn standing stones),
thought to have come from the
Preseli Mountains of southwestern Wales was erected within the
earlier ring. In the final stage of construction, from around 2000
BC, a circle of about 30 upright stones (made from local sandstone
called 'sarsen') were set up, their tops linked by lintelstones to
form a continuous circle about 30 meters (100 feet across). At a
later date, around 1550 BC, the bluestones were finally rearranged
in the circle and horseshoe whose remains survive today. Stonehenge
is unique because of its long period of use and the precision of its
plan and its architectural details. The traditional thesis that
Stonehenge was a Druid temple
is untenable, because the Druids did not appear in Britain until a
few hundred years before the Christian era.
In recent years many attempts have been made to interpret Stonehenge
as a prehistoric astronomical observatory, or some form of solar
temple, but the site is now so ruined, and so much restored, that
any attempt to ascertain its original alignments must rely
principally on guesswork. All that can be said with confidence is
that from around 2000 BC onward the structure's axis of symmetry
pointed roughly in the direction of the sunrise at the summer
solstice. Some New
Agers believe that the site has mystical powers or energy.
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.
Subjectivism:
The teaching
that the individual is the source and judge of all religious
knowledge based upon his own knowledge and experience.
Subliminal Messages
Words or messages communicated at a
level below the conscious mind’s ability to perceive. Allegedly,
messages can enter directly into the subconscious mind, thus
by-passing the rational/logical center of the individual’s brain.
Subud: (an
acronym derived from Sanskrit susila, budhi and dharma)
a worldwide association whose basis is a
spiritual exercise, the latihan, through which a person may
receive guidance in every aspect of life. The aim of Subud is
that, through the latihan, each man and woman may attain the
qualities of susila, budhi and dharma - the character of a true
human being, able to receive the guidance and the gifts of God both
for the needs of this life and for the life after death. Subud has
Centers in more than 80 countries worldwide but makes no efforts to
proselytize. Membership in Subud is free. Subud supports itself
through voluntary contributions.
Succubus
A female spirit or being who takes the form of a
female to have sex with a man during his sleep. The purpose
being to drain him of his "vital energy". The idea arouse to
explain "wet dreams".
Sufism
Ancient Persian mystical religious system which has
been absorbed by Islam. . Rather than focusing on the Five
Pillars of Islam, Sufis seek ultimate religious experience through
mystic trances or altered
states of consciousness, often induced through twirling dances
(the “whirling dervish”). Although the Qur’an is considered
scripture, many practitioners have more in common with the New
Age movement than
with classic forms of Islam.
Summit Lighthouse/Summit University:
See Church
Universal and Triumphant.
Summon
To order someone, especially a spirit
or element, to appear before you.
Supralapsarianism:
An issue
within Reformed theology dealing with what may have happened in
God's mind regarding the logical order of his considering whom to
elect into salvation before the foundation of the world. The word
means "before the fall." This position holds that God first decided
that he would save some people and then second that he would allow
sin into the world. By contrast, the infralapsarian ("after the
fall") position is the reverse in that it holds that God first
decided he would allow sin into the world and second that he would
then save people from it.
.
Sushumna: (Sanskrit)
The astral equivalent of the spinal
column. circling which are the two energy paths which connect the
Kunda with the brain and the Higher Self.
Sutphen, Dick:
See Master
of Life.
Sweat Lodge:
Native American spiritual ritual
associated with spiritual purification ceremonies and rites.
Swedenborg, Emmanuel ( 1688-1772):
A Swedish scientist,
theosophist, and mystic, a pioneer in both scientific, religious and
spiritual thought. For most of his life Swedenborg pursued a
conventional, albeit brilliant, career. Educated at Uppsala
University he first became a natural scientist and official with the
Swedish Royal College of mines (1710-45), concentrating on research
and theory. His foremost scientific writing is 'Opera
Philosophica et Mineralia' (Philosophical and Mineralogical
Works, three volumes, 1734), a unique combination of metaphysics,
cosmology, and science. A first-rate scientific theorist and
inventor, Swedenborg, in some of his insights, anticipated
scientific progress by more than a century. Visited by a mystic
illumination in 1745, Swedenborg claimed a direct vision of a
spiritual world underlying the natural sphere. He began having dreams,
ecstatic visions, trances and mystical illusions in which he
communicated with Jesus
Christ and God and
was granted a view of the order of the universe that was radically
different from the teachings of theChristian church.
He resigned his job to concentrate full-time on his ecstatic visions
and transcribing the knowledge imparted to him from the spiritual
world. His voluminous works from this period are presented as
divinely revealed biblical interpretations. In his system, best
reflected in 'Divine
Love and Wisdom' (1763), Swedenborg conceived
of three spheres: divine mind, spiritual world, and natural world.
Each corresponds to a degree of being in God and in humankind: love,
wisdom, and use (end, cause, and effect). Through devotion to each
degree, unification with it takes place and a person obtains his or
her destiny, which is union with creator and creation. Unlike
many mystics, Swedenborg proposed an approach to spiritual reality
and God through, rather than in rejection of, material nature. His
12-volume compendium 'The
Heavenly Arcana' (1747-56) represents a unique synthesis
between modern science and religion. In response to a vision of the
'last judgment' and the 'return of Christ', Swedenborg proclaimed
the advent of the New Church, an idea that found social expression
in the Swedenborgian societies and in the foundation of the Church
Of The New Jerusalem in England in 1778, and in the United States in
1792. Many of his views were adopted by 19th century spiritualism and
many of his ideas were also disseminated in the works of writers and
poets such as William
Blake , Samuel
Taylor Coleridge and Henry
James .
SYDA:
See Siddha
Yoga Dham of America.
Sylph
The elemental of air.
Synagogue:
A Jewish house
of worship. Traditionally the first synagogues were established
during the Babylonian exile. The early synagogues had a place in the
center of the room where the sacred scrolls were kept and from where
they were read. The president of the synagogue in Greek times was
known as the messenger, or angel. It is from the worship order
established in synagogues that the modern Christian church patterns
of reading and expounding upon scripture from the pulpit are
derived.
Synchronicity
A Jungian term describing a two events
which happen concurently, but their is no causal relationship.
Synergism:
The Christian
teaching that we cooperate with God in our efforts of salvation.
This is opposed to monergism which is the teaching that God is the
sole agent involved in salvation. .
Synergy
A principle which states that the outer
and inner(unseen) work together to create.
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