Animal medicine Native belief system that involves animism and divination in the interpretation of messages animals and animal spirits bring.
Animism System of belief that hold all things, animals and nonanimals, have souls.Atheist One who does not believe God exists.
Aromatherapy- Use of the healing powers of different floral, woodsy and other earth scents in soaps, candles and incense to produce effects of tranquility and enhanced sense of well being within the mood and spirit.
Bath (spiritual) A combination of herbs, flowers and plants prepared in a water -based solution to cleanse a person of negative forces and to promote mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
Bordo Place between this life and the next in which deities of deception taunt and test a transitioning spirit in order to determine that person’s existence in the next life.
Boriqua Taino Tribal name for the original island now called Puerto Rico.
Buddhism A belief system founded on the principle of its founder, Buddha who had abandoned his princehood and all of his princely possessions to seek truth.
CastingProducing a work based on mystical premises toward a desired effect.Charging- Pouring focused energy into herbs, talismans and other tools as part of a work or spell in casting.
Chi’ The natural healing and balanced energy of the body that maintains health according to Asian tradition.
Christian tradition- Belief system that accepts Jesus Christ as the Messiah (as prophesized in the Old Testament) and that entrance into Heaven can only be attained by accepting Him as Messiah and Son of God as well as his teachings.
Creator Great Spirit, God.Directions North, South, East and West.
Dharma- the result of making a positive outcome result from a negative or upsetting circumstance(Karma).
Earth based religion Any belief system that not based on JudeoChristian teaching and involves observance of the earth’s cycles and/ or animals.
Elf- A forest spirit that lives in woods and caves.ESP Extra Sensory Perception, “Sixth” Sense, precognition. Eightfold Path In Buddhism it is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths. The path is comprised of Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Contemplation.
Faery (Fairy, Faerie) Small forest spirit in miniature human form.Feng Shui- Asian practice utilizing colors, furniture arrangement and directions to health, relationships and money situations.
Four Noble Truths (of Buddhism) are Suffering exists, suffering is the result of our attachment to desires, suffering stops when our attachment to desires cease and freedom from suffering is found within the Eightfold path.
Gatekeeper – spirit guardians or ‘keys’ of the directions of North, South, East and West (Native Tradition)Gnome Misshapen earth spirit said to guard hidden treasures.
Hell- That place of eternal suffering as punishment for sins and nonacceptance of Jesus’ teachings according to the Christian system of belief.
Hinduism Middle Eastern religion most commonly known for reincarnation and caste system based on social status which, it is believed, is a result of past lives (reward or punishment).
Judaism Adheres to the Old Testament and the belief that the Messiah has yet to come.Kabbalah Jewish mysticism that works with colors, astronomy, angels and ritual.
Kahuna Hawaiian shaman or medicine person.
Karma- Predestined event based on past actions and actions in past lives.
Limbo In Catholic teaching, Limbo is a pleasant place where unbaptized babies go to live eternally without the presence of God.
Majick – Mystical belief system of living in balance with the earth, observing its cycles, and casting spells to better conditions as opposed to the theatrical connotation of “magic.”
MetamorphosisTransformation, transition, change.MetaphysicsStudy of unusual, non-scientific and difficult to explain events that are often mystical in nature.
NativePertaining to indigenous people of the Americans. Can also be used to refer other original cultures i.e. “Celts”, Africans etc.
Negative arrows (in Feng Shui) Deteriorating energies that are counter productive to health, wealth and well being that are created by certain plysical interferences in the natural flow of energy in an environment.
Ouija board A flat board of letters and “Yes” and “No” words in which answers to questions can be divined by a disk that moves to or spells out the answer.
Prophet Mohammed –Author of Qu’ran (Koran)Qu’ran Muslim holy text
Reincarnation- System of thought that ascribes to the belief that souls live many lifetimes in order to pay karmic debt and to obtain the opportunity to elevate in spirit power and level of the spiritual hierarchy.
Satanism- The worship of Satan. There are often sacrifices.Shaman A person who uses herbs, directions and items provided by the earth to promote healing of the subject in mind, body and spirit.
Smoking burning of dried plants and/or incense in order to cleanse an environment with the smoke created by fanning it in every room, closet and corner.
Smudging As in smoking, items are burned but instead of the environment, a person is fanned with the smoke to remove any negativity that may be hovering around the person.
Specism Philosophy in which animals and certain categories of animals are deemed substandard to humans.Spell A majickal work toward a goal or desired outcome.
Spirit power- The power of the soul to know the wisdom of ages that is present as a result of previous lives or contained within the memory banks of our own DNA.
Spiritualism- Practice in which any mystical discipline may be included in addition to channeling/hearing and working with spirits.Talisman An item prepared for the purpose of protection, health or luck.
Taino Tribe- Original people of Boriken (Puerto Rico).
Tirrukkal One of numerous Hindu inspirational texts. Wicca witchcraft, an earth religion with a female Creator as its primary deity.
Yoga Discipline of meditative exercise emphasizing focus on the moment to alleviate external stresses and challenges, including health, often based on the movements of animals.
Voodoo/Santeria Practice based on African belief system. Deities are often blended with Catholic saints; Focus is on seven major deities and their different aspects and offspring.