DICTIONARY - P - P "For the Cabalists the letter P symbolized the Messiah ... whose name was Podeh." 80 p. 214 Paigoels "In India and Hindustan, these are devils." 80 p. 214 Pairikas "(Zoroastrianism) Evil female beings whose entrancing beauty seduces men and drives them to commit degrading deeds." 80 p. 214 [Palm Sunday The Sunday before Easter; often celebrated in Waldorf schools as a festival having both pagan and Christian elements.] palmistry "Divination by means of the lines and configurations of the hands." 73 p. 152 panetheism "Awareness of the nature of God that sees all things within God, but understands God as much more than the total of actual things." 80 p. 214 [panorama According to Waldorf belief, a detailed review of one's life occurring immediately after death.] pantheism "The feeling that God is all and all is God, that God is immanent in all things...." 73 p. 153 ParaBrahm "(Hinduism) The source of all creation, being God without form...." 80 p. 215 Paraclete "[T]he Holy Ghost...." 80 p. 216 paraesthesia "Abnormal prickling or tingling sensations. Mediums are often able to identify a particular control by such physical sensations...." 73 p. 154 parakinesis "The movement of objects with contact insufficient by itself to explain the motion observed." 73 p. 154 Paramesthin "(Hinduism) One who stands at the highest place ... gods and great men." 80 p. 216 paranormal "Supernormal. Not within generally accepted experience of cause and effect." [That is, paranormal phenomena — if they exist — cannot be explained by ordinary science.] 73 p. 154 parapsychology "[T]he science [sic] for the study of [psychic] processes in the human or animal mind." 73 p. 154 parinirvana "(Buddhism) The bodily death which culminates in complete Nirvana." 80 p. 217 paroptic sense "A faculty of seeing with the etheric body, without use of the [physical] eyes." 73 p. 154 [Parzival Hero of medieval grail epics; considered an initiate.] passing "Synonymous with 'dying' in Spiritualist terminology." 73 p. 154 path, the "Theosophical teaching which refers both to the probationary learning and the learning which lifts one onto the Path." 80 p. 218 [Disregarding the foregoing tautology, we should note that in Anthroposophy there is the white/good path and the black/evil path.] [peach blossom The color of human health.] pearls "The occult, medicinal qualities of pearls have been heralded since ancient times." 80 p. 218 [pedagogical law Formulated by Steiner: use of a teacher's etheric, astral, or ego body to work upon a student.] pentacle "A magic symbol used in the occult and Black Magic ... a five-pointed figure." 80 p. 218 [Actually, a pentacle is a circular or disc-shaped talisman that sometimes is inscribed with a pentagram.] pentagram "The five-pointed star ... [that] represents the highest power of spirituality on earth." 80 p. 218-219 [In Anthroposophy, the pentagram is the symbol of man or, when inverted, black magic. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] percipient "The receiver in telepathic communications." 73 p. 155 percussion "A common feature of the physical seance, usually known as raps...." 80 p. 219 periapt "A charm worn as protection against evil." 80 p. 219 phallic food "Food has always been associated with the potency of the sexual organs [sic] ... [Also] food eaten for religious, ritual, and ceremonial purposes." 80 p. 220 phallism "Religious, magical, and occult veneration if the male sex organs [sic]...." 80 p. 220 phantasm "A fanciful image possessing no reality." 73 p. 156 phantasmata "Occult term for 'thought forms' capable of communication." 73 p. 157 phantom "An apparition or ghostly figure; the evidence for this is overwhelming." 73 p. 157 [Steiner said that phantoms are a species of nature spirit created by lying and slander.] [phlegmatic Of of the four temperaments: unemotional, stolid, self-contained but mentally diffuse.] phone-voyance "Clairvoyant faculty akin to 'psychic television' over the public telephone system." 73 p. 158 [Sadly, "psychic television" is not defined in THE STEINERBOOKS DICTIONARY OF THE PSYCHIC, MYSTIC, OCCULT.] phrenology "[S]tudy of the shape and contours of the human head ... [revealing] mental faculties and potentialities." 80 p. 222 [Steiner employed phrenology on some occasions.] physical medium "One whose ability to produce ectoplasm ... is able to specialize in the production of physical phenomena." 73 p. 159 [physical nature The lowest division of body nature. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [physical plane The plane below the spiritual.] pink "As an auric colour, is associated with affection." 73 p. 159 Pisces "Astrological sign (February 20-March 21) ... Qualities — ... lofty ideals, an attractive personality, psychic and occult gifts ... But they ... can be drifters, completely impractical, and famous worriers...." 80 p. 223 [Pitris Forerunners of humanity, human before us; they have subsequently evolved higher. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] planchette "A small handrest [sic] of [sic] castors, in which a pencil is set ... If a suitable medium places his hand on the apparatus, it may write or draw." 80 p. 223 [Of course, if anyone places her/his hand on it, it may write or draw.] planes - "See spheres." 73 p. 160 [It is only approximately correct to equate planes with spheres.] [planets Members of the solar system, sometimes including the Sun and Moon; once united as a single body; planets today often preserve influences from ancient planetary/evolutionary conditions.] planetary ages of man "In ancient astrology, the planets determined the powers influencing each age of man." 80 p. 224 [planetary conditions The major stages of our evolution, occurring on or during various planets. Also called conditions of consciousness: Saturn, Sun, Moon, Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Vulcan.] planetary information "There have been several alleged communications regarding life on other planets ... all of which must remain speculative." 73 p. 160 [planetary gods Presiding spirits of the planets.] [planetary migrations Humans have left the Earth for other planets and returned. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [planetary seals Occult representations of the planets designed by Rudolf Steiner.] [planetary spheres Concentric regions of spiritual existence defined by the orbits of planets; cf. orbits.] [planetary stages - See planetary conditions.] [planetary types Soul types; the imprint on the soul of passage through planetary spheres after death.] [plant man Man as he was on the Sun.] pleroma "A name formerly used for the totality of the heavenly gods." 80 p. 224 Pluto "In astrology, this last planet to be discovered represents man's urge to develop and make flourish his culture and institutions." 80 p. 225 [Pluto was discovered five years after Steiner's death. Steiner taught that Saturn is the outermost planet in the solar system; he denied that Uranus and Neptune really belong to the solar system. In recent years, astronomers have demoted Pluto to the category of minor planets.] pneumatographers "Mediums for the production of direct writing [i.e., writing directed from beyond]." 73 p. 161 Podeh - See P point of love "In astrology, Venus' position in a solar chart...." 80 p. 225 [Polarian Epoch The first great epoch. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] poltergeist "A mischievous agency or entity who makes noises, throws objects about, causes fires and breaks domestic crockery." 73 p. 161 polyglot invocation "In demonology, a potent spell that calls upon Hebrew, Greek, and Syrian gods...." 80 p. 225 polytheism "The worship of many gods." [Anthroposophy is polytheistic, at least in that recognizes many gods.] pontica "A stone with lurid blood markings which the possessor uses to force demons to reply to his questions." 80 p. 225 possession "Temporary surrender of a subject's organism to the control of another spirit, usually discarnate...." 73 p. 162 [Post-Atlantean Epoch The period of Earth evolution following the destruction of Atlantis; in general, the present.] postmortem messages "Instances where a deceased person communicates the contents of a sealed letter written prior to death for the express purpose of proving survival." 80 p. 226 prajna "(Buddhism) Transcendental wisdom, the divine intuition...." 80 p. 227 [pralaya An intermission between evolutionary stages. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] prãna "A subtle form of energy permeating the universe, but manifesting in a special form in the human organism." 73 p. 163 pranayama "The fourth stage of Yoga. The science of breathing." 73 p. 163 Pranasophie "A recreation of the old German adherence to Teutonic superiority ... infused with occult theosophy and the esoteric mystical theosophy of Odinism [i.e., worship of Odin]." 80 p. 227 pratya hara "The fifth stage of Yoga. Withdrawal of attention from objects." 73 p. 163 prayer "A mental attitude of reaching our to absorb greater awareness of spirituality." 73 p. 163 [This is, of course, rather different from the common understanding of prayer.] preanimism "The first feeling of fear, of awe, of wonder instigated by supernatural events." 80 p. 227 precious stones "The occult qualities of precious stones ... stress their direct power on the owner and wearer." 80 p. 228 pre-existence "The belief that we have had a previous life before our earthly birth...." 80 p. 228 premonition "Prediction where details are nor precisely outlines." 80 p. 228 [preparations Organic field preparations for biodynamic agriculture, prescribed by Steiner.] presentiment "The prediction of vague future events of a personal nature only." 80 p. 229 prevision "Presentiment in visual form." 80 p. 229 [Primal Wisdom The Godhead; also innate human spiritual wisdom. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Primeval Beginnings Gods three levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Primeval Teachers Superhuman guides for humanity while we were on the Moon; they are on the Moon now. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] primum mobile "[T]he outermost sphere — the tenth, which carried all the fixed stars in its daily motion." 80 p. 229 principles of man "According to long occult tradition, the seven principles of man constitute the seven principles of the cosmos ... [They are the] divine, spiritual, psychic, egoic, astral, etheric, physical." 80 pp. 229-230 [Steiner largely accepted these principles, although adding his own twists. He variously said that we have nine, seven, or four essential constituents.] [Principalities Gods three levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] prize "In dream interpretation ... to dream of winning a lottery was a certain sign of poverty and misery." 80 p. 230 [probation Testing period for a candidate for initiation. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] prodigies "Infants who exhibit mature powers of technical or artistic perfection." 80 p. 230 progression "The pathway of each spirit through the many phases or spheres of experience...." 73 p. 166 Prolologoi "[T]he seven primal forces that developed into archangels." 80 p. 231 promittor "In astrology, that which 'promises'...." 80 p. 231 prophecy "In the occult the power of true prophecy belongs only to those psychically attuned to the Akashic or Astral records." 80 p. 231 prostitution, sacred "Prostitutes in the role of beneficent agents are and have been since ancient times a part of many religions." 80 p. 231 [Prototype for humanity Christ. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] Psalmomancy "Divination by the use of the Psalms...." 80 p. 232 psychagogue "[A] necromancer who raises the spirits of the dead." 80 p. 232 psi "Processes and factors in human personality or in nature, which appear to transcend or deny the accepted limiting principles of science...." 73 p. 168 psychic "Non-physical ... Descriptive of supernormal phenomena." 73 p. 168 psychic photography "Although highly publicized in the early years of this century, psychic photography has suffered a huge decline...." 80 p. 233 psychic power "A general term descriptive of the various forces employed in the exercise of psychic or mediumistic faculties." 80 p. 226 psychic rods "Rod and levers built from ectoplasm ... for the purpose of moving or holding objects...." 73 p. 169 psychic science "A system of knowledge which states: 1. That at death man continues to function as a conscious being. 2. That he functions after death in a refined spirit-body .... 3. That this soul ... is organic, having brain, nerves, [etc.] ... 4. That the soul can communicate ... with persons on earth ... [etc.] 73 p. 169 psycho-energetics "[T]he discipline that studies the reaction of material objects to psychic energy." 80 p. 235 psychokinesis "[A]lleged direct influence exerted on a physical system by a person without the use of any known physical instruments ... [or] physical energy." 73 p. 171 psychometry "A faculty ... whereby an object when held by a sensitive person, produces a community of sensation conveying the nature and history of the object." 73 p. 171 psychophobia "A dread of destiny and ... what is not seen." 80 p. 235 psychoplasm "[E]ctoplasm." 73 p. 172 psyclode "[E]ctoplasm...." 73 p. 171 psylli "[P]ersons who were believed able to charm snakes." 80 p. 236 [pure thinking Active thought, directed by the will and/or "I"; as opposed to passive reception.] purification "[I]ndividuals or groups cleanse themselves of sin, or make an effort to propitiate the spirits or the gods...." 80 p. 236 Purusha "(Hinduism) The original eternal man...." 80 p. 237 pyramid "In occultism, it represents Cosmic Man descending from heaven...." 80 p. 237 pyramidology "An occult system of prophecy based on various proportions and measurements of the Great Pyramid." 73 p. 173 pyromancy "Divination by the observation of fire." 80 p. 237  - Q - Quabala "See Cabala." 73 p. 173 quadrants "In astrology, one quarter of the twelve houses of the Zodiac's circle." 80 p. 238 quaternity "Those concepts in the theories of Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and Eastern doctrine which perceive man as a union of four basic components ... physical body, etheric or life body, astral or soul body, and "I" the egoic." 80 p. 238 Quetzalcoatl "[The Mexican/Aztec] god of good, of light, of peace, of the arts and crafts...." 80 p. 239 quevent "In horary astrology the person who asks questions of the astrologer." 80 p. 239 quinary "The mystical arrangements of five elements, which could be five colors, five planets, or five occult innovations." 80 p. 239 quintessecne "[T]he fifth element ... the celestial ether or astral light that fills the universal space ... [I]t is believed to contain the total secrets of ESP and the complete domain of the occult." 80 p. 240 Qu'ran "The sacred writing of Islam." 73 p. 174 - R - Ra "In ancient Egyptian mythology, the creator of the world and of men; the world's soul, the god of the sun." 80 p. 240 [In Anthroposophy, Ra is the Sun God, Christ, as perceived by ancient Egyptian initiates.] Rabdos "The demon who symbolizes the most potent object of magical power, the wand." 80 p. 240 [race Levels of human development; we evolve upward through the racial forms.] [race soul The group soul of a race. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [races Levels of human development; we evolve upward through the racial forms. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] radical "In astrology, the horoscope at the moment of birth, called the radix or radical map." 80 p. 240 Ragnarök "In the ancient mythology of Scandinavia this is the world's ultimate destiny, being the event which is the twilight of the world." 80 p. 241 [Ragnarök is the ultimate battle between the gods and giants in which all are destroyed and the world ends. However, a new world is later born.] Rahab "(Judaism) The Archangel who is the Prince of the Sea...." 80 p. 241 Rahamin "(Cabalism) Represents the sixth of the ten sepiroth, meaning 'the compassion of God.'" 80 p. 241 Rahu "(Hinduism) The greatly feared demon snake who is believed to have almost swallowed the sun...." 80 p. 241 rainbow "[D]eemed a bridge between heaven and earth, particularly in Norse mythology...." 80 p. 241 raja-yoga "The Yoga pathway of philosophy". 73 p. 174 Rama "[T]he seventh incarnation of Vishnu." 80 p. 241 ramganny "A dancing girl who exercises her talents in some Hindu temples to excite desire...." 80 p. 241 rap "Sound produced during physical mediumship." 80 p. 241 Raphael "One of the ten Archangels ... the Prince of Healing...." 80 p. 242 rapport "An intimate community of sensation, such as exists between ... control and medium...." 80 p. 242 Rashnu "(Zoroastrianism) One of the three judges who weigh the souls of the dead...." 80 p. 242 Rati "The Venus of the Hindus...." 80 p. 242 [realms of spirit Seven periods during the seventh great epoch. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [recapitulation As we evolve, we frequently recapitulate pervious stages. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] receptivity "A mental condition necessary for mediumship. Only by quietude and the stilling of one's thoughts can the first faint beginnings of spirit communication be recognized." 73 p. 175 rectification "In astrology that special skill which is used to correct the time of birth...." 80 p. 243 red "As an auric color, red symbolizes passion and anger." red pigs "[W]itches were believed to turn straw or hay into red pigs which they then sold ... [But when the] pigs crossed running water they became transformed into the original straw and hay." 80 p. 243 refranation "In astrology ... the situation of two planets which are applying an aspect to each other." 80 p. 243 [regions of soul Seven periods during the sixth great epoch. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] reincarnation "The theory that the soul can return to earth many times. A fundamental doctrine widely accepted...." 73 p. 176 [Representative of Humanity, The Monumental sculpture of Christ in the Goetheanum; Christ is depicted as humanity's prototype; Ahriman and Lucifer are also represented, and for this reason the sculpture is sometimes call The Group. The statute is usually described as Steiner's work, but most of the actual sculpting was done by sculptress Edith Maryon.] repulsion "An inexplicable aversion to a person could be explained by the incompatibility of the respective auras." 80 p. 244 retrocognition "Knowledge of the past, supernormally acquired." 73 p. 178 [Steiner gave detailed descriptions of the distant past as well as the distant future.] retrograde "In astrology, the apparent backward motion of a planet." 80 p. 244 [The term actually comes from astronomy. The apparent backward motion of an outer planet is caused when an inner planet overtakes it.] retroversion "The procedure during satanic rites of reciting backward prayers." 80 p. 244 [Steiner was no Satanist, but one version of the Lord's Prayer he used begins with "Amen" and works backward through the prayer.] revelation "A sudden withdrawing of the veil between the physical and spiritual spheres." 73 p. 178 [Revelations Gods four levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] reverence "Fear, mingled with respect." 73 p. 178 [Needed for spiritual development, Steiner said.] [review Anthroposophical spiritual exercise in which the events of the day are recollected in reverse order The effort involved is supposed to loosen the "I" from the physical body.] rhabdomancy "Water-divining, dowsing." 73 p. 179 [rhythm In Anthroposophical belief, the universe, the planets, evolution, and human life are controlled by rhythms, outward and inward pulsings. Waldorf teachers try to incorporate rhythm in each class, day, and set of classes. The musical and harmonic effects of rhythm are supposed to benefit the astral body.] Ridiah "The Archangel who is the Prince of Rain...." 80 p. 246 right-hand path "'The Path of Light,' which throughout esoteric writings opposes the 'Path of Darkness," the 'Left-Hand Path.'" 80 p. 247 [Steiner taught that indeed there are really just two spiritual paths, the white path and the black path.] rishi "Hindu for inspired person or seer." 73 p. 180 [rites Spiritual rituals meant to bring the spirt realm into Earthly life. Festivals and other activities at Waldorf schools are meant to serve as such rites.] Ronach "(Cabalism) The middle level of life which confronts the astral world." 80 p. 247 rooster "Since ancient times a bird used ... in augury and occult manifestations. Its crowing before midnight ... was considered a certain omen of death...." 80 p. 247 root races "An esoteric supposition of successive ages of mankind's earthly progression, by the establishment of continental masses, of 'root races'. There are said to be seven: Polarian (Adamic), Hyperborean, Lemurian, Atlantean, Aryan [the present], and two yet to come." 73 p. 180 [This sequence corresponds to the seven ages described by Steiner. "Root races" are great, overarching races, one per age, from which specific races (e.g., white, black, red...) develop.] rose "[T]he rose has generated many occult, religious, mythological, and mystical beliefs ... The Rosicrucians view the 'rosy cross' as a transcendent mystic symbol. In occultism there is a prevailing view that demons, witches, vampires, and werewolves cannot touch or smell a rose." 80 p. 248 Rosenkreutz, Christian "Some believe he was the founder of the ... Rosicrucian order ... Other authorities believe he was initiated into the doctrine and became its most important proponent." 80 p. 248 [Rosenkreutz is almost certainly a mythic figure who never lived. But Steiner taught that Rosenkreutz is an important member of the Great White Brotherhood. Anthroposophists believe Rosenkreutz may be "M", the second of the two spiritual beings who initiated Steiner. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Rosicrucian stream One of four spiritual streams supposedly summarized in Anthroposophy. Christian Rosenkreutz supposedly brought this stream from Egypt to Northern Europe.] Rosicrucianism "A secret society which flourished in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries ... They practised healing occultism and alchemy ... Their symbol is a rose in the center of a cross." 73 p. 181 [Steiner taught that Rosicrucianism, as revised by himself, is the proper spiritual path for modern humanity.] [rosy cross The symbol of Rosicrucianism. It is used as a meditative focal point in Anthroposophical practice.] Ruach "(Judaism) The breath of God's ineffable soul which at the creation ... God breathed into man's body." 80 p. 249 Rudra "Buddhism, Hinduism" God of storms...." 80 p. 249 ruler "In astrology ... the planet which is associated with a sign." 80 p. 249 rune "Used by the Germanic peoples ... the word means a secret, a mystery ... held to possess the power to resurrect the dead...." 80 p. 249 [Runes are letters in the ancient Germanic alphabet.] Ruta "[A]n island that belonged to the Kingdom of Atlantis." 80 p. 249 |