NEW AGE
New Age beliefs do not fall into any single category and cannot properly be
termed a "religion". Many people who follow more traditional spiritual paths
also embrace some New Age beliefs, just as some "New Agers" embrace westernized
versions of much older spiritual traditions. Most prominent of these would be the
eastern religions, or elements thereof. Some of the subjects covered here will,
of course, fall naturally within other belief systems, but it is important to recognize
them as a strong element for many New Agers. They will be presented from a New
Age perspective as much as I am able to do.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for manipulating
chi (ch'i or qi) in order to balance the opposing forces of yin and
yang. Chi, an alleged "energy" which permeates all things, is
believed to flow through the body along 14 main pathways called
meridians. When yin and yang are in harmony, chi flows freely
within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick,
diseased, or injured it is believed that there is an obstruction
of chi along one of the meridians. Acupuncture consists of inserting
needles through particular points on the body, removing unhealthy
obstructions of chi and thereby restoring the distribution of yin
and yang. Sometimes the needles are twirled, heated, or even stimulated
with weak electrical current,ultrasound or certain wavelengths
of light.
Angels
Angels, in the world of the New Age, function as guardians to humans.
There are an increasing number of stories, over the past two decades
which tell of miraculous rescues by guardian angels. Events where a
person was in danger, and some outside force intervened to rescue them.
Aromatherapy
This is the use of aromatic oils for holistic healing. The oils are
often used in massage but are sometimes used merely as scents
(via candles or incense). The use of aromatic oils has a lengthy
history and has been used by many traditions throughout time.
Astrology
This method of divination uses the positions of the sun, moon, and planets
at the time of a person's birth to predict the influences in that persons
life and to identify personality traits common to them. The most common
form is Sun Sign Astrology, which uses the zodiac and horoscopes
based on the position of stellar bodies.
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island in the Atlantic west of Gibraltar, said by
Plato to have been a utopia that sunk beneath the sea during an earthquake.
Some controversial theories have equated ancient Thera with Atlantis.
Thera is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea that was devastated by
a volcanic eruption in 1625 BCE. To many, however, Atlantis is not just
a lost continent. It is a lost world. The Atlanteans were extraterrestrials
who destroyed themselves with nuclear bombs or some other extraordinarily
powerful device. Atlantis was a place of advanced civilization and technology.
Auras
These are fields of energy which surround people (and, some claim, animals
and inanimate objects, as well) and can be seen by some people. Auras
are colored and the colors represent different things in regards to a persons
personality and/or health.
Ayurvedic Healing
Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India. Ayurveda is
based on two Sanskrit terms: ayu meaning life and veda meaning knowledge
or science. Since the practice is some 5,000 years old, what it considers
to be knowledge or science may not coincide with Western medicine. Ayurvedic
treatments are primarily dietary and herbal. Meditation is also a significant
therapy in ayurveda. It classifies patients by body types, or prakriti,
which are determined by proportions of the three doshas, which regulate
mind-body harmony. Illness and disease are considered to be a matter of
imbalance in the doshas. Treatment is aimed at restoring harmony or
balance to the mind-body system.
Biorhythms
The principle behind biorhythms is that our lives are affected by three primary
cycles: Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual. These cycles start at a middle point
when we are born and then go up and down at different rates over our lifetimes.
When any of the cycles are at a high point, things we do that require aspects
of that trait are more successful - the reverse is true during the low points
of a cycle. Many people report that they can improve the quality of their lives
by monitoring their biorhythms and acting accordingly.
Chakras
Chakra is a Hindu word for seven energy centers located within the
body. Each chakra has a physical location in the body and is associated
with different aspects and colors. The seven chakras are: the Base
(or root), the Sacral (or navel), Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye
(or Brow) and the Crown. The chakras must be balanced and clear in
order for the energies to flow freely. There are exercises/meditations
that can be performed to facilitate the unblocking of the chakras.
Channeling
Chaneling is a process in which a spiritual entity speaks through the
body of a living person. These entities may be angels, ascended masters,
alien lifeforms, deceased persons or other spirits. Chanelers are
sometimes called mediums and use different methods in order to
channel, although most seem to go into a sort of meditative state
or trance. The beings channeled usually share wisdom concerning spiritual matters.
Crystals
Crystals and gemstones have been associated with healing properties
by many cultures throughout time. These stones are considered to be
a focus for energy and, as well as being used for physical healings are
used for balancing chakras, meditations, enhancing personal energies and cleansing.
Ear Coning
Ear coning is a safe, simple home remedy for relieving pressure, fighting
infection, and gently removing toxins and excess wax from inside the ears.
Long, tapered cones are inserted into the ears and lit. Warm, dry,
powdery smoke from the cone draws out excess fluids, wax and toxic
debris by osmosis. At the same time, vaporized beeswax and herbal
essences in the smoke infuse their natural infection-fighting properties
into the inner ear, sinuses and lymph drainage system. The entire
process is relaxing and non-invasive.
Ear coning dates back to the ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Tibetan, Aztec,
Mayan and American Indian cultures. Today ear coning is done by
Cherokee, Mexican, European and Amish healers (German medical
students are taught coning as a part of their medical practice). Many
people consider ear coning as necessary a part of personal hygiene as is
tooth brushing.
Faith Healing
The belief that prayer, divine intervention or the ministrations
of an individual healer can cure illness has been popular throughout
history. Miraculous recoveries have been attributed to a myriad of techniques
commonly lumped together as "faith healing." Holistic healing now falls
under this heading as well, when the term "holistic" is used to describe
the power of one's own will, without medical intervention.
Feng Shui
What Feng Shui talks about is "Chi". Since mass and energy are interchangeable,
chi can be in the form of matter or energy or a combination of the two. Therefore,
chi can be visible, invisible, or partially visible and partially invisible.
Ancient Chinese classified all things in Nature into five types: metal, water,
wood, fire, and earth. In fact, all things are a combination of these
primary bases. Different combinations have different influences, some are
fortunate and some are evil. Feng Shui is in fact the study of the distribution of
"chi" in a location. Such a distribution also varies with time. It has, in fact,
a solid scientific foundation laid upon the concrete stone of Mathematics, Physics,
Astronomy and Geography.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a system of therapeutics founded by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843),
in which diseases are treated by drugs which are capable of producing, in healthy
persons, symptoms like those of the disease to be treated. The drug is administered
in minute doses. Studies suggested that this therapy could be used to treat patients with
colds, flu, migraine, allergies, arthritis, asthma and, according to some, virtually any illness.
I Ching
An ancient form of divination, the I Ching uses coins and structured meanings to
discern answers to given questions. In recent years the I Ching has been adapted
to the use of other tools, but continues to use the archetypes of the original
divination method.
Iridology
Iridology (sometimes referred to as iris diagnosis) is based on the belief that
each area of the body is represented by a corresponding area in the iris of the eye.
A person's state of health and disease can be diagnosed from the color, texture,
and location of various pigment flecks in the eye. Iridology practitioners claim
to diagnose "imbalances" that can be treated with vitamins, minerals, herbs, and similar
products. Some also claim that the eye markings can reveal a complete history of past
illnesses as well as previous treatment. Iridology charts vary somewhat in the location
and interpretation of their iris signs. Sclerology is similar to iridology but interprets
the shape and condition of blood vessels on the white portion (sclera) of the eyeball.
Karma
In Buddhist teachings the law of karma, says only this: `for every event that occurs, there
will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will
be pleasant or unpleasant according as its cause was skillful or unskillful.'
Karma, is an action which is seen as the result of previous action and the cause of future action.
The actions you take in this life are already predetermined by previous actions, but you can
still choose the manner in which you will perform those actions.The idea of karma was combined
with the idea of death after death, that is, reincarnation, to form the concept of samsara,
or the cycle of birth and rebirth. Your actions in this life predetermine the nature of your
rebirth; your current life (and this includes your moral disposition) has been predetermined
by the sum total of actions you have taken in previous lives. How does one get rid of karma?
Although one cannot avoid action, one can do action from kindness or duty or selflessness;
in that way, one can use up karma without producing any more karma . Once karma is used up,
there remains no cause for any further incarnation and one's atman , or undying soul,
is freed from the world of change.
Often, in westernized thinking, karma and the concept of samsara, have become synonymous.
Kundalini
Kundalini is a word that refers to the energy at the base of the spine in the first chakra.
Yoga philosophy considers kundalini to have a tremendous amount of energy and is metaphorically
compared to a sleeping coiled-up serpent. Many meditations and yogic exercises aim to directly
or indirectly wake up the kundalini energy. Spiritual seekers from all traditions/teachings
can have kundalini experiences even if their tradition doesn't talk about kundalini.
In his book, The Kundalini Experience, Lee Sannella, M.D. mentions several symptoms of kundalini
experiences including:
1. Peak experiences of ecstasy, bliss, devotion, or cosmic harmony.
2. Peak experiences of intuition, seeing auras, or formed spiritual visions.
3. Extreme negative emotions of anxiety, fear, confusion, or depression.
4. Physical tingles known as kriyas on the skin or in the body.
5. Inner lights that may be red, white, or blue.
6. Pain in the head, eyes, spine, or other parts of the body.
7. A feeling of detachment or feeling that one is watching one's thoughts and feelings.
8. The savior mentality or feeling that one is divinely chosen for a mission.
Kundalini, when experienced without "crisis", usually results in an enlightened state
and can have profound effects on the experiencer, forever altering their perceptions and
personalities, towards more compassion, love and tolerance.
Mediums/Spiritualists
A medium is a person who is sensitive to the vibrations of the Spirit world in some manner.
Mediums often communicate messages from people in the Spirit world to us here on the
Earth plane. Although there are many forms and expressions of mediumship, mental mediumship
is common. The medium is in tune with people in the Spirit world who want to communicate and
they speak through the medium to the person getting the message. The medium is the message bearer.
The medium's approach is passive. The medium gets information from the spirit people
and then gives it to you. The medium is not personally involved in the process.
Meditation
Reiki
Reincarnation
Palmistry
Power Points / Energy Vortex
Pyramids
Reflexology
Runes
Scrying
Sonic Healing
Soulmates
Spirit Guides
Star People
Tantra
Tarot
UFO's
Vibrations
Walk-Ins
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