A glossary of spiritual words and terms that has been developed to help with your spiritual growth and development.

A

Astral body:  The astral body takes the same image as the physical body but is formed of finer matter. This is the link between cosmic energy and the nervous system. A subtle counterpart of the physical human body accompanying but not usually separated from it in life and surviving its death

Aura: The aura is the energy field that resides in all living beings. Some are born with the ability to perceive auras. When seen, auras sometimes appear as colours that reveal an individual’s spiritual and emotional personality. It can also appear as a bright light around living being.

Avatar: An avatar is a person who had been born as a god and therefore is not in need of spiritual training from Spirituality Expert.

Astral realm or plane: The place where a persons spirit goes after dying. It is a place of existence inhabited by astral bodies. It is located directly above the earth.

Astral projection: Astral projection, is a term used to describe an out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of a subtle body called an “astral body” through which consciousness can function separately from the physical body and travel throughout the astral plane.

B

Body-Mind centering: A movement-reeducation approach that explores how the body’s systems contribute to movement and self-awareness. The approach also emphasizes movement patterns that develop during infancy and childhood. Incorporates guided movement, exercise, imagery, and hands-on work.

Buddhi: Inner wisdom or intellect.

C

Chakra: There are seven main chakras in the body and they are energy centers.  They are located in the crown of the forehead, between eyebrows, in the neck, heart, navel, genitals, and rectum. They are linked to different mental states and colors. The word derives from “Chakra” which, translated from Sanskrit, means “Wheel.”

Chi: The universal lifeforce that forms the basis of traditional Eastern medicine and Taoist principles.

Here’s a list of the different psychic abilities that have been grouped as Clair’s.

1. Clairvoyance

Clairvoyance is the ability to gain information about an object, person, location, or physical event through extrasensory perception. Clairvoyance or clear seeing is the most visual of all the Clairs. You receive pictures in the form of images in your mind’s eye. They may be vivid dreams, visions, mental images, or mini-movies. You may be able to see colours of aura etc.

Images may be literal or metaphorical.

You may be inclined towards this Clair if you’re a visual person and often visualize solutions to problems. You may be good at directions or visualizing spatial problems.

2. Claircognizance

The ability for a person to acquire psychic knowledge without knowing how or why he or she knew it. You know it to be true in your mind’s eye, even though you did not hear or see it.

It may be a stroke of instant information or a download.

This Clair can also manifest as instincts.

3. Clairaudience

Clairaudience or clear hearing means that you are able to hear voices or messages from the spiritual realms. You may hear them in your ears.

An example is, that you may be driving and suddenly hear ‘left turn’ even though you are the only one in the car.

You might be inclined towards Clairaudience if you are naturally attuned to sounds, music or toning.

4. Clairsalience

The ability for a person to acquire psychic knowledge by means of a smell. Insights come through the perception of a smell. Such as smelling your deceased grandmother’s perfume when there is nobody else around.

These odours can also be perceived and not actually carry the physical sensation of smell.

5. Clairgustance

The paranormal ability to taste a substance without putting anything in one’s mouth. Those who possess this ability are able to perceive the essence of a substance from the spiritual or ethereal realms through taste.

You may, for example, taste the favourite food of a deceased loved one.

6. Clairtangency

The ability to perceive information by physical touch. Any psychic information is triggered when you physically touch or handle a person or thing. You are able to perceive facts about things or people by touching them.

You may gain insights into people by touching their watch or their hand.

7. Clairsentience

Clairsentience is a clear physical feeling. You actually feel the physical feeling in your body that others are experiencing.

An example is if someone is having a stomach ache, you feel either pain or a sensation in your stomach too. You may also be able to feel emotional injuries where they manifest in the body.

8. Clairintellect

Clairintellect is clear thinking. This happens when your thoughts can manifest as your intuition. You may also notice that in conversation your words come through and seem like they are words from a higher source of consciousness.

This can manifest as having ‘epiphanies’.

You may be inclined towards clear thinking if you are very left-brained and are a linear thinker.

9. Clairempathy

Clairempathy or clear emotion is sensing other people’s emotions, thoughts, or symptoms. It is an awareness of emotional energy. For example, someone crying might make you cry.

It’s important, as a Clairempath to understand how to balance your empathy, how to not take on the ‘stuff’ of other people, or walk into energy fields.

The difference between Clair’s ‘empath’ and ‘sentience’ is empaths sense the emotion and sentiences physically feel it.

D

Determinism: The philosophical assumption is that all behavior and observable events have been caused.

Dualism: In philosophy and theology, a system that explains all phenomena in terms of two distinct and irreducible principles, e.g., ideas and matter (as in Plato, Aristotle, and modern metaphysics) or mind and matter (as in psychology). In theology, the term refers to a concept of opposing principles, e.g., good and evil.

E

Ego: A person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance.

Enlightenment: Awakening /becoming enlightened to ultimate truth (in Buddhism). Or, in Hinduism, the state of divine experience is represented by the god Vishnu. This is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. Perhaps the most famous example is the Buddha, who achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Extraterrestrial: In or coming from a place outside the planet Earth.

Ethereal body: The etheric body, ether-body, æther body, a name given by neo-Theosophy to a vital body or subtle body propounded in esoteric philosophies as the first or lowest layer in the “human energy field” or aura. It is said to be in immediate contact with the physical body, to sustain it and connect it with “higher” bodies.

 

F

Feng Shui: Ancient Chinese spiritual art form which integrates spirituality into decoration and environment.

G

Guru: A spiritual master.

H

Holistic/Wholistic: An adjective that means targeted to the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Wholistic medicine considers not only physical health but also the emotional, spiritual, social, and mental well-being of the person..

K

Karma: In Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, Karma is the idea that this life is the result of mental and physical actions in previous lives. In the modern-day, it is often used to mean that good or bad actions in the past have led to certain consequences.

Kundalini: Derived from Sanskrit to mean “Coiled.” Refers to the psychic energy in our being that is dormant at the base of the spine and which may be activated through specific practices.

L

Lucid dream: A lucid dream is a type of dream in which the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming. During a lucid dream, the dreamer may gain some amount of control over the dream characters, narrative, or environment; however, this is not actually necessary for a dream to be described as lucid.

M

MANTRA: In Hinduism and Buddhism, the mystic words are used in rituals and meditation. It is believed to have the power to bring into being the reality it represents. The use of such mantras usually requires initiation by a guru or spiritual teacher.

Meditation: The action or practice of meditating. A core technique in Buddhism and Hindusm, and general health practice. Discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. Employed since ancient times in various forms by all religions, the practice gained greater notice in the postwar U.S. as interest in Zen Buddhism rose. Meditation is now used by many nonreligious adherents as a method of stress reduction; known to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Enhances recuperation and improves the body’s resistance to disease.

Medium: The practice of being the communication point between a deceased person (or animal) and a living being.

Mindfulness: A type of meditation originating in Buddhism. The practice of being consciously aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental fashion. Rapidly growing as a general health practice.

N

Namaste: A spiritual word derived from Hinduism. Used to greet someone. Translated, meaning “I see the sacred in you.”

Non-physical: Having no body, form or substance.

O

Om: The primordial sound and the root of sounds and letters.

Oneness: The realization and condition of being in a state of oneness with all reality. Cessation of self.

P

Prana: The breath that sustains life. Prana is the essential energy that sustains life. In Yoga, the cosmic life force. Often called ‘Chi.’ Prana enters through the mouth and nose and fills the body, sustaining life.

S

Shaman: Among tribal peoples, a magician, medium, or healer the Sharman owes his powers to mystical communion with the spirit world. Characteristically, a shaman goes into auto-hypnotic trances, during which he contacts spirits. Shamans are found among the Siberians, Eskimos, and Native American tribes, in S.E. Asia, and in Oceania.

Sleep Paralysis:A globally reported phenomenon that takes place during the sleep state.  It is sometimes referred to as the ‘waking consciousness’, a sleep state whereby the individual perceives that they are awake.  It is during this state that sleep paralysis takes place with some or all the following features: sensing, feeling and seeing an evil entity, breathing difficulties, bodily pressure on the chest sometimes from an evil entity, suffocation, out-of-body experiences including floating and seeing one’s body from above and intense fear.  The individual feels that death is imminent.  In contrast, extreme bliss is sometimes cited during the experience.  There are no treatments to permanently stop or remove sleep paralysis and no conclusive reasons for the occurrences. 

Spirit: The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.

Spiritism or Spiritualism: The belief is that the human soul survives death and can communicate with the living through a medium sensitive to its’ vibrations. The communication may be psychic, as in clairvoyance or trance speaking, or physical, as in automatic writing or ectoplasmic materializations.

Spiritual/Shamanic Healing: Practitioners regard themselves as conductors of healing energy or sources from the spiritual realm. Both may call upon spiritual helpers such as power animals, angels, inner teachers, the client’s Higher Self, or other spiritual forces. Both forms of healing can be used for a range of emotional and physical illnesses.

 

T

Third Eye: One of the chakras activated by meditation. Activation of the third eye chakra leads to improved clairvoyance.

If you would like to add a spiritual word or phrase to this list, please put it in the comments below.

This list will be continually updated.

As we journey together.