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The word "mysticism" comes from the Greek word "to conceal." In ancient Greece, mysticism referred to secret rites of esoteric religions. Mysticism now has a broader definition, and it has become associated with any occult, religious, metaphysical or spiritual activity and experience, from angels to Zen Buddhism. By its current... more »
New Orleans is a mystical city known for its strong jazz roots, Mardi Gras celebration, French culture, vampires and, of course, voodoo. Often confused with Haitian and Dominican voodoo, New Orleans voodoo is actually not the same. In Haitian and Dominican voodoo, there is more emphasis on African religious traditions, whereas New... more »
Kabbalah (Hebrew for "received tradition") is a school of Jewish mysticism dedicated to exploring the nature and relationships of God, man and the universe. It is also known as Kabala, Cabala or Qabalah. more »
Astrology is an immensely helpful tool for understanding your personality, purpose and potential in this lifetime. The most important component of astrological study is the natal chart, which is both a map of the heavens at the time you were born and also a snapshot of your inner nature. Astrology is an incredibly complicated... more »
Spain is a country with a religious history that dates back to the 15th century and beyond. Through a series of tactical moves by the royal families Argon and Castile, the royal crown of Spain became united under a Catholic Monarchy that would rule the ages. However, the transition wasn't easy. The people of the republic rebelled... more »
Numerology is a metaphysical science practicing the study of numbers and how they relate to your...
Ireland and poetry are almost redundant terms. Irish poetry is an unbelievably rich and complex field that stretches from the early monk... more »
Africa is widely considered the "cradle of civilization", with the earliest known humans originating from the continent about 7 million years ago.... more »
The language of witches is a collection of special terms involving the beliefs and techniques of paganism and magick. Like any specialized jargon,... more »
A bris, or the Jewish ritual circumcision of a baby, is a joyous occasion for the parents of the child and the entire family. Since gift... more »
Kabbalah, which is also spelled Qabalah. Cabala, Qaballah, Qabala and Kaballah, is derived from the roots "to receive, to accept" and is... more »
Mysticism (from the Greek , mystikos, an initiate of a mystery religion)The Eleusinian Mysteries, Greek: Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια) were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were as held to be the ones of greatest importance. These myths and mysteries, begun in the Mycenean period (c. 1600 BC) and lasting two thousand years, were a major festival during the Hellenic era, later spreading to Rome. The name of the town, Eleusís, is a variant of the noun έλευσις, éleusis, arrival. The present meaning of the term mysticism arose, rather, via Platonism and Neoplatonism, which made reference to the Eleusinian initiation as a metaphor for the "initiation" to spiritual truths). is the pursuit of communion with, identity with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, instinct or insight. Mysticism usually centers on a practice or practices intended to nurture those experiences or awareness. Mysticism may be dualistic, maintaining a distinction between the self and the divine, or may be nondualistic. Differing religious traditions have described this fundamental mystical experience in different ways:
* Nullification and absorption within Gods Infinite Light (Hassidic schools of Judaism)
* Complete non-identification with the world (Kaivalya in some schools of Hinduism, including Sankhya and Yoga; Jhana in Buddhism)
* Liberation from the cycles of Karma (Moksha in Jainism and Hinduism, Nirvana in Buddhism)
* Deep intrinsic connection to the world (Satori in Mahayana Buddhism, Te in Taoism)
* Union with God (Henosis in Neoplatonism and Theosis in Eastern and Catholic Christianity, Brahma-Prapti or Brahma-Nirvana in Hinduism)
* Innate Knowledge (Irfan and Sufism in Islam)
* Experience of ones true blissful nature (Samadhi Svarupa-Avirbhava in Hinduism a read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism
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