DICTIONARY - S - [St. John's, Festival of June 24, honoring John the Baptist. Often celebrated at Waldorf schools with a large bonfire. Older students, preparing the leave the school, are sometimes allowed to jump over the dying fire. Sometimes younger students are helped to leap the embers.] [St. Martin's, Festival of November 11, honoring the saint who gave half his cloak to a beggar. At Waldorf schools, Christian and pagan elements are combined in this festival. Often lanterns are made by the students and used in processions.] Sabbathi "The angel of the celestial hierarchies who is assigned to the sphere of Saturn." 80 p. 251 sacerdotalism "Any religious system based on priestly order, rather than human and spiritual values." 73 p. 181 Sadhu "(Hinduism) A holy person or religious teacher, who carries a bowl for begging." 80 p. 251 Saggitarius [sic: Sagittarius] "Astrological sign (November 23-December 22) ... Qualities — highly endowed with mental gifts, discriminatory abilities; unusually honest, fearless, and bluntly outspoken ... [C]an be too cautious, too timid ... hasty temper...." 80 p. 251 sakti "That supernatural power which Hindus believe is able to protect one against the evil eye." 80 p. 252 [salamanders Nature spirits that live in fire.] samãdhi "The eighth stage of Yoga; said to be the highest attainable earthly state. A deep trance of higher contemplation, and a complete temporary renunciation of earthly life and the body's needs." 73 p. 182 [Samael Archangel of Mars.] samanera "(Buddhism) An initiate, considered a novice; a beginner on the path of spiritual development" 80 p. 254 samsãra "Hindu term for the karmic chain of birth, death and rebirth...." 73 p. 182 sand reading "A personal psychic assessment of the imprint of the client's hand in a tray of sand." 80 p. 254 sanga "(Hinduism) The attachment to material and worldly things and cares which thwarts the achievement of moksa." 80 p. 254 [sanguine One of the four temperaments. Associated with blood. Sanguine individuals are carefree, happy, and rather thoughtless.] sankhya "One of the oldest systems of Hindu philosophy ... It was dualistic, postulating a positive equilibrium of spirit and substance, eternal without prime cause." 73 p. 182 sapphire "This gem is ... considered to possess powers which bring the owner good luck, health. and cures for a number of ailments." 80 p. 255 Satan "The principle of evil in a number of major religions ... Satan has been an enormously pregnant [sic] figure in much of the Western Occult, particularly in Necromancy, Sorcery, Witchcraft, Black Magic...." 80 p. 255 [In Anthroposophy, Satan is Ahriman.] Satellitium, Stellium "In astrology this signifies a cluster of sometimes as many as five planets in one sign or house." 80 p. 256 satori "Zen Buddhist term for enlightenment produced by meditation." 80 p. 257 Saturn "One of the most important planets in the history of mysticism and the occult ... Violet is its color; it is the choleric temperament — fire ... In Earth-evolution, the first stage os the Saturn epoch...." 80 p. 257 [Steiner taught that Saturn is the outermost member of the solar system. He called the first stage of our evolution "Old Saturn."] Saturnalia "A festival or period during which people engage in unrestrained freedom of behavior...." 80 p. 257 Saturnine "[I]n astrology, one with a strong Saturn accent." 80 p. 258 [satyrs Creatures half-human, half-animal. According to Steiner, beings who use Luciferic and Ahrimanic powers for evil.] [savages Members of low races, according to Steiner.] savant "A learned person, a scientist." 73 p. 183 savin "The Devils herb ... used by European witches for the purposes of abortion and sterility." 80 p. 258 scapulomancy "Divination through the study of animal bones." 80 p. 258 Scientology "'The science of knowing how to know' ... [Scientologists] employ a technique of 'Dianetics' to uncover memories of previous incarnations." 80 p. 260 [Dianetics is a system of relieving psychosomatic disorders by cleansing the mind. Scientology may be seen as a rival of Anthroposophy, in that both are "scientific" spiritual systems. Their doctrines are, however, largely incompatible.] scopelism "A magical practice in which charmed bones are thrown into a neighbor's field ... warning not to cultivate the field if they do not wish to die...." 80 p. 260 Scorpio "Astrological sign (October 24-November 22) ... Qualities — ... intense loyalty ... highly capable, enthusiastic, courageous ... however ... revengeful, pugnacious, arrogant...." 80 pp. 260-261 scriptograph "Messages alleged to have been written by deceased persons ... which appear on sensitive photographic materials...." 80 p. 261 scriptures "Sacred writings of various religions." 73 p. 185 scrying "Divination by crystal-gazing." 73 p. 185 seance "A sitting for the purpose of obtaining psychic manifestations, or for communication with the spirit world." 73 p. 185 [seasons In Anthroposophical belief, the seasons reflect the breathing patterns of the Earth. (Steiner sometimes taught that the Earth is alive; but he also said it is dead.)] [Second Coming According to Steiner, the return of Christ in the etheric realm.] second death "As a soul leaves the earth body for further development in a higher spirit sphere, so it is sometimes said there takes places a similar refinement of personality on passing to the next sphere above." 73 p. 186 second sight "Supernormal perception...." 73 p. 186 [secret brotherhoods Clandestine groups, often having evil intentions.] [secret temple A temple devoted to secret or occult knowledge.] seer "A natural clairvoyant or prophet." 73 p. 186 Sekhmet "[G]oddess of the ancient Egyptians who was depicted with a lion's head that bore the omnificient sun's disc...." 80 p. 261 sending "The practice of one with supernatural power in which he sends an object or person to bring evil to a designated person." 80 p. 262 senses "The significators of the five physical senses are Mercury — sight, Venus — touch, Mars — taste, Jupiter — smell, Saturn — hearing." 80 p. 262 [According to Steiner, we have twelve senses.] sensitive "A person possessing psychic powers...." 73 p. 186 [sentient body According to Steiner, the part of the astral body that receives sensations from the surrounding world.] sentient soul "(Anthroposophy) That developmental stage of human consciousness typified by the Egypto-Chaldean period. Chiefly, it represents man's growth in perceiving the earthly world through the physical senses." 80 p. 262 [Steiner said that the sentient soul is the first of our soul members.] sephiroth "Kabalistic [sic: cabalistic] system, descriptive of ten variously named creative emanations from God, constituting the existence of the world." 73 p. 187 [Seraphim Gods nine levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] seven deadly sins "Pride; Jupiter; Covetousness, Saturn; Lust; Venus; Wrath, Mars; Gluttony, Mercury; Envy, Moon; Indolence, Sun." 80 p. 263 Seven Heavens "In pseudepigraphic the Book of Enoch, there is a glorified description of the architecture and inhabitants of the Seven Heavens. These ... had a pronounced effect on the New Testament and, beyond that, occultism." 80 p. 263 seven principles "(Spiritualism) ... 1. The Fatherhood of God. 2. The Brotherhood of Man. 3. Communion of Spirits ... 4. The Continuous Existence of the Human Soul. 5. Personal Responsibility. 6. Compensation and Retribution [hereafter] 7. Eternal progress open to every soul." 80 pp. 263-264 seven principles of man "(Theosophy) ... (1) Atma — Spirit; (2) Buddhi — Spiritual Soul; (3) Manas — Mind; (4) Kama — Feeling; (5) Prana — Life; (6) Lingasharira — Etheric Double; (7) Sthyka-sharira — Physical Body." 80 p. 264 [sevenfold nature of man One of Steiner's descriptions of human nature. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [seven-year cycles We incarnate in seven-year stages: the etheric body at age 7, the astral body at age 14, and so on.] [seventh epoch The final epoch of our Stage of Form] sex "Seems to play a mysterious part in psychic phenomena. There are more female mediums than male." 73 p. 187 sextile "An apparent angle of 60 degrees between two celestial bodies, astrologically said to promote harmony between them." 73 p. 188 [shaded drawing Characteristic Anthroposophical drawing style in which pictures are built up from short, angled lines. The effect is meant to be vibrant and spiritual.] shamanism "Mediumistic practices of primitive tribes...." 73 p. 188 Shamash "The sun-god of the ancient Assyrian-Babylonion [sic] religion...." 80 p. 265 Shang-Ti "Ancient supreme god of China ... spontaneously evolved by the Yang and Yin interplay." 80 p. 265 Shema "A central tenet of Judaism ... the doctrine of the Unity or Oneness of God." 80 p. 266 [Steiner taught that Judaism is nearly unique in being monotheistic, and that the real universe is polytheistic.] Shinto "Former monotheistic state religion of Japan ... [I] centered around the divine authority of the sovereign Mikado...." 73 p. 189 ship of the dead "Ancient belief of a phantom ship that carries away the souls of men." 80 p. 266 [Shiva A member of the Godhead. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] Shu Shu "[T]he arts of divination in ancient China." 80 p. 267 sibyl "[A] prophetess, generally quite old." 80 p. 267 siddha "(Hinduism) [O]ne of the 88,000 semi-divine beings ... who inhabit the heaven between the earth and the sun." 80 p. 267 siddhi "Superhuman physical powers attained by Yoga experts." 73 p. 189 sigil "In astrology, an indication of something important in a person's life...." 80 p. 267 sign "A particular 30 degree segment of the tropical zodiac, named after one of the constellations...." 73 p. 189 signatures "The concept that planets were created by God for man's use ... [T]he structure of each plan showed its proper function...." 80 p. 268 silver cord "Occultists see this inner cord, which is anchored to the vestigial pineal gland ... as the vital link with the astral form." 80 p. 268 simulacra "In ancient Egypt ... paintings and statuettes of slaves, persons, animals ... placed in tombs. These simulacra accompanied their masters into the other world to render them service...." 80 p. 269 sinister "A term in astrology, meaning a left-handed aspect...." 80 p. 269 sin "Commonly understood as a transgression of divine laws ... Spiritualist view admits of divine laws, but does not claim comprehensive knowledge of them, therefore refrains from condemnation of particular acts as 'sins'." 73 p. 190 sitter "A member of a seance or sitting...." 73 p. 190 [sixth epoch The epoch that will follow our present epoch.] sixth sense "Postulated many times under many names as am alternative to the spirit hypothesis ... [T]he source and sum of all the senses ... [allowing] perception of the vibrations of reality." 73 p. 191 Siva, Shiva "[O]ne of the three pre-eminent [sic] gods of Hinduism ... Originally, he was the god Rudra, the Destroyer ... But Siva also means 'gracious' ... Siva represents the divine reality in its negative aspect...." 80 p. 270 [Shiva is sometimes deemed the highest god, sometimes a member of a trinity with Brahma and Vishnu. He is associated with dissolution but also reproduction.] sky walker "The yogi who can transcend his body and travel in astral form." 80 p. 271 sleep "[T]o dream that one is asleep and having a dream indicates that the chief incidents of such a dream ... will occur." 80 p. 271 sleep-state "[T]he physical body may separate from the spirit body, which can then travel unhampered...." 80 pp. 271-272 [Steiner taught that during sleep the etheric body remains with the physical body, but the astral body and the "I" travel into the spirit realm.] smells, psychic "All kinds from delicate flower perfumes to noxious odours, have been supernormally simulated many times." 73 p. 192 [social therapy Therapeutic communities for people with developmental deficits; used in the Camphill movement: small communities in the countryside where biodynamic agriculture and other Anthroposophical practices are employed.] [social threefolding Effort to follow Steiner's prescription for diving society into three spheres — spiritual/cultural, political, economic — that are kept strictly separate Waldorf schools are sometimes organized in accordance with threefolding.] [Solar Pitris Gods of the Sun.] solar plexus "An important network of nerves situated in the pit of the stomach. It is often associated with one of the psychic centres or 'chakras' of Yoga." 73 p. 195 solar semicircle "In astrology, these are the Signs or Houses from Leo to Capricorn...." 80 p. 274 soma "The historically important plant which when made into an intoxicating liquor supposedly gives ... supernatural powers." 80 p. 275 somnambules "[S]ensitives who were thrown into mesmeric trances for the purpose of activating supernormal faculties." 80 p. 275 [Sons of Fire Gods two levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Sons of Life Gods one level above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Sons of Twilight Gods one level above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] soothsaying "One of the ancient world's most important occult practices ... [S]oothsayers predicted future events...." 80 p. 276 [Sophia The divine female principle.] Sophia-Achemoth "For the Gnostics she was the Divine Mother and the bearer of divine wisdom." 80 p. 276 soul "In the usual sense it means the indestructible spiritual part of a personality ... It possesses a finer body, the etheric (astral, double)...." 73 p. 196 [Steiner differentiated between the soul and the spirit. The soul is the spiritual member that one possesses during an incarnation; the spirit is the undying spiritual self.] soul aura "That part of the human aura which radiates the intensity of spiritual power attained by the individual." 73 p. 196 [soul body The astral body.] [Soul Nature The second major division of the ninefold nature of man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [soul world The world between the physical and the spiritual.] space "[S]pace in the spirit world presents no limitations, the mere wish to travel being sufficient to bring it about." 73 p. 197 spectral flames "Supernormal lights which have been seen around churches and cemeteries." 73 p. 197 spectre "An apparition." 73 p. 197 [Steiner said that specters are beings detached from the spirit world by human wickedness.] speculum "A table in a horoscope detailing astronomical data...." 80 p. 277 [speech formation A form of recitation and declamation propounded by Steiner and his wife Marie: meant to project the spiritual essence and formative powers of language.] spell in black magic "Casting a spell on a victim requires the exercise of both a prescribed verbal and ritual routine." 80 p. 277 Spenta "[T]he helpers of the powers of Ahura Mazda." 80 p. 277 sphere, lower "(Spiritualism) The nearest condition to earth, a transition place through which all must pass at death." 80 p. 277 spheres "The several successive states of spirit life following that of earth. They would appear to exist at indeterminate levels above, and concentric with the earth's surface, interpenetrating, the higher levels invisible to the lower strata." 73 p. 198 spheres, celestial "The sphere [sic: spheres] inhabited by beings far in advance spiritually of earth consciousness." 73 p. 198 [spider beings Monstrosities of intellect.] spirit "A being. In almost every tongue, it is related to 'breath'; the divine afflatus ... The word spirit is often loosely used to describe a discarnate person...." 73 p. 199 [Steiner said the spirit is the undying spiritual self. Compare this to his description of the soul.] spirit body "See bodies." 73 p. 199 spirit children "[C]hildren who die before maturity are considered to continue their growing and development in spirit life. Often they help in mediumship...." 73 p. 199 spirit councils "[C]ouncils are held in the spirit world to determine courses of missionary action in the earth sphere ... God works by delegation." 73 p. 200 spirit doctors "Doctors skilled on this earth, who have passed over but who continue to administer to the sick from the spirit spheres...." 73 p. 200 [Spirit Man The third human spiritual member. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirit Nature The highest component of the ninefold nature of man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] spirit operations "Cases have been known in spirit healing where portions of diseased tissue have apparently been excised by supernormal means." 73 p. 200 spirit operators "[W]orkers in the spirit band, who are assisting the production of psychic phenomena...." 73 p. 200 spirit photography "Reproductions on a photographic plate of discarnate entities...." 80 p. 281 [Spirit Self The first human spiritual component in the ninefold nature of man; also, the combination of this with the Spiritual Soul.] [spirit-soul Human identity consisting of both spirit and soul.] spirit world "A collective term for all the realms of spirit, inclusive of the spheres or planes, but excluding the earth world." 73 p. 203 [Steiner said the spirit world is above the soul world.] [spiritland From Theosophy: The realm we enter after death.] spiritism "The belief that the spirits of ancestors or other spirits can both communicate with and be contacted by man. Further, that there are souls of matter, nature spirits, demons, [and other spirit beings]...." 80 p. 281 [Spirits of an Age Gods three levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Darkness Evil gods three levels above man; also rebellious spirits demoted from the spirit realm. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Dusk Gods one level above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Fire Gods two levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Form Gods four levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Freedom Us, in the distant future. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Light Gods four levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Love Gods four levels above man; also god nine levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Movement Gods five levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Personality Gods three levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Temptation Evil spirits of Saturn. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of the Harmonies Gods eight levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of the Rotation of Time Gods that manifest as natural laws. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Will Gods seven levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Wisdom Gods six levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spirits of Form Gods four levels above man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [spiritual guides Elevated beings who steer human evolution. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] [Spiritual Nature The third major division of the ninefold nature of man. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] spiritual realism "A doctrine that self-forgetfulness leads to a supreme realization of personality...." 80 p. 281 [spiritual science Either Theosophy or Anthroposophy, or more generally any "scientific" approach to the study of the spirit realm.] [Spiritual Soul The highest member of Soul Nature. - See The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.] spiritualism "Is the Science, Philosophy and Religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live in the Spirit World." 73 p. 202 spiritualist "One who has accepted [spiritualism]...." 73 p. 202 spodomancy "[D]ivination by interpreting the cinders remaining in sacrificial fires." 80 p. 282 squassation "A form of rope-hanging torture formerly used to force those accused of witchcraft to name their accomplices." 80 p. 283 [Stages of Form Seven evolutionary stages falling between Epochs and Conditions of Life.] statue "In old dream interpretation to dream of marble statues is a sign that the dreamer will soon experience preferment." 80 p. 283 Steiner, Rudolf (1861-1925) "Great Austrian psychic and clairvoyant. Founder of Anthroposophy, or 'spiritual science' ... known chiefly for his educational influence ... He believed that human history shows an evolution of consciousness, and that new faculties of cognition are still to be developed." 73 p. 204 [Note that Theosophy also refers to itself as "spiritual science." Steiner was a Theosophist before breaking away to establish his own movement, Anthroposophy.] stigmata "Marks on the body spontaneously produced, and usually resembling the wounds of the Crucifixion." 73 p. 205 stigmata diaboli "The seal or mark of the Devil...." 80 p. 285 Stoicism "A dour system of philosophy, approaching monotheism ... It graduated from a materialistic pantheism to an austere transcendant [sic] god, actually called Zeus [sic]." 73 p. 206 Strangler, the "[T]he Devil...." 80 p. 286 [subhumans Humans who become demonic or fall out of evolution; ceasing to be human, they become monstrous.] subject "A creature of the earth, human or animal...." 73 p. 207 Sufism "A mystical development within Islam ... The principal duty of the Sufi is meditation on the unity of God." 73 p. 208 sukya "Throughout Central America a sorcerer who practices the art of curing disease." 80 p. 289 Summerland "In Spiritualism it is the sphere of the spirit world most often referred to ... a blissful land of rest and harmony...." 80 p. 289 [Sun In Anthroposophy, the star the Earth either orbits or follows, home of the Sun beings, and especially the home of Christ, the Sun God.] [Sun at midnight Initiates are thought to be able to produce the Sun's spiritual radiance even in the depths of night.] [Sun God Christ. He was known to earlier religions by other designations, but always as the Sun God.] [Sun Hero A high initiate in Mithraism, and, higher still, Christ.] [Sun Leader Christ as foreseen in Zoroastrianism.] superior planets "[In astrology] those farther in orbit from the Sun than the Earth's [sic]...." 80 p. 289 [supermen Beings superior to humans, coming from various planets; they make spiritual science possible.] supernatural "Phenomena which violate natural laws." 73 p. 209 supernormal "[S]upernatural, when describing psychic phenomena. Its modern equivalent is 'paranormal'...." 73 p. 209 [supplementary exercises Some of the numerous spiritual exercises prescribed by Steiner: control of thought; control of will; control of feeling; positivity; open-mindedness; harmonization of inner and outer] [supersensible Beyond the reach of ordinary senses.] survival "The demonstration of a continuation of personality after death...." 73 p. 209 Surya "(Hinduism) ... [T]he sun, the Sun-god [sic]." 80 p. 290 sycomancy "Divination by using the leaves of the fig tree." 80 p. 292 [sylphs Nature spirits that live in the air.] [sympathy Union of the soul with the surrounding world; opposite of antipathy. Rhythmic fluctuation between sympathy and antipathy are needed by the soul, Steiner said.] Synoptic Gospels "Those of Matthew, Mark and Luke, as giving a general view of the same events." 73 p. 211 |