Zohar

The Zohar, meaning splendor, was the first written work containing very much Kabbalistic information. Such information is esoteric doctrines contained in Hebrew Scriptures, but cannot be perceived by the uninitiated; they

Xenography

The phenomenon of writing in an unknown language which is more difficult to verify than xenoglossy. Many researchers believe many incidences to be a result of cryptomnesia. French physiologist Charles Richet reported

Xenoglossy

Xenoglossy, The ability to speak in an unknown and unlearned foreign language. The phenomenon is frequently present in incidents of past-life-recall, and states of altered consciousness such as trance, delirium,

Vision Quests

This is a ritual common among tribes throughout North America, except for those within the southwestern part of the United States, for acquiring a guardian spirit or seeking supernatural guidance.

Vernal Equinox

What іѕ аn еԛuіnоx? The еԛuіnоx is an еvеnt thаt hарреnѕ in Eаrth’ѕ orbit around thе ѕun. Sіmultаnеоuѕlу, it hарреnѕ оn thе іmаgіnаrу dоmе оf our ѕkу. Thе іmаgіnаrу сеlеѕtіаl

The Vatican and Exorcisms

Exorcism a T Stokes article The late pope is said by Vatican experts to have performed only 3 exorcisms in his 23 year reign as pontiff. The controversial African Archbishop Malingo, has

Spirit Possession

Unlike demonic possession where the person is thought to be taken over by the Devil or his demons for harm, spirit possession is a voluntary, culturally sanctioned displacement of the personality. The

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlett letter, this work was first begun by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a short story, but became too long so was temporarily put aside until it was later finished as a book.

Sati

Sati, the term, comes from the name of the Hindu goddess Sati, or the wife of Shiva who committed suicide after her father insulted Shiva. Sati, anglicized suttee, referred to the practice of self-immolation

The Rituale Romanum

This is a priest’s service manual containing the only formal exorcism rite sanctioned the Roman Catholic Church. It was first written in 1614 under Pope Paul V, and was left untouched until

Rite of Release

This is a Neo-pagan ritual which is originally from the «Pagan Way» and composed by Ed Fitch. It is a ritual to help the souls of animals pass over the

Radenyi

Radenyi or Arks of the People of God were worship services held by the practitioners of the Khlysty sect. Grigori Rasputin attended many such services during his journeys through rural Siberian Russia at

Mass Saint Secaire

by Micha F. Lindemans Until the beginning of the 20th century, farmers in Gascogne (France) believed that villains avenged themselves on their enemies by having a priest perform the Mass

Malleus Maleficarum

The Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches’ Hammer) was a thorough witch-hunter’s manual. It was written in the witch mania during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Contained in it were complete instructions on the

Maleficia

Maleficia, any malicious acts which were contributed to witches and sorcerers in past times that were believed to cause harm or death to humans, animals or crops. Since antiquity it

The lemegeton

The Lemegeton is one of the famous medieval grimoires, also known as The Lesser Key of Solomon. The work consists of five separate works or parts: the Goetia, the Theurgia Goetia, the Art Pauline,

Latihan

Latihan is the basic spiritual exercise of the Subud movement. The object of the latihan is the worship of God. It serves as an initiation for those entering the movement, and, also

The imitation of Christ

The imitation of Christ, the text is considered a classic in Christian devotional literature. It has been most widely read by both Protestants and Catholics. Many mystics have read it

House Seven Gables

This novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne was published in 1851. It succeeded The Scarlet Letter. As with Hawthorne’s own family, the Pyncheon family in the novel suffered from an inherited sin related to

Harivamsa

Harivamsa, (in Sanskrit «the dynastic history of Hari [= Vishnu]»), is a Hindu mythological text written in Sanskrit. It is a work of considerable text-historical complexities, with early layers reaching back

Haoma

Haoma, Sanskrit, soma; Avestan, haoma, a name meaning «that which is pressed,» was the juice obtained from pounding the stem of a plant with another which is combined with milk

Glossolalia – Definition

Glossolalia, the psychic phenomenon of speaking in foreign tongues. The phenomenon has been a part of ecstatic speech in religious practices for centuries, it presently designates the baptism of the

Freemasonry

by Troyce Wilson Freemasonry is an international fraternity for men (although there are also some lodges for women). Membership is open to any male at least 18 years old (21

Book of Enoch

This is an Apocryphal book of the Old Testament, written in Hebrew about a century before Christ. The original version was lost at the end of the fourth century, and

Enchiridion Pope Leo

Enchiridion Pope Leo is a collection of charms, cast in forms of prayers, which have nothing in common with those of the Church. The prayers are mainly concerned with worldly