A "New Age" Glossary Quiz

Answer: Mantra

"Mantra" comes from a root meaning "that which protects the mind". A classic Hindu Mantra is "Om Mani Padme Hum". This roughly translates into English as "The jewel in the lotus", which is a description of the soul. Just the word "Om" is used in many meditation techniques and is supposedly the sound of which the universe was created. It is believed that to begin and end meditation with this mantra will give you the power to create as well.

Answer: False

In his book "Life after Life", Raymond Moody wrote about NDE's, which was a compilation of people that were resuscitated after they were pronounced dead and all had similar visions and feelings. However, OOBE's or astral projection can be triggered in meditations, hypnosis, as a result of intense stress or pain, sleep deprivation, drugs, or even during sleep. There have been experiments with hidden numbers where the subjects read the numbers in an inaccessible place to a human body and were able to repeat the numbers after waking.

Answer: Dream Catcher

These were inspired by spider webs and had a sticky mesh like texture. The bad dreams would slide through and dissolve into the morning sun. They consisted of round frames woven with a net and decorated with feathers, shells, stones, and beads. The Native Americans reported great success with these devices in warding off bad dreams.

Answer: Reiki

This was developed in the 19th century and its founder is Mikao Usui, a Japanese teacher of theology. Reiki is Japanese for "universal life energy". There are 5 basic principles:
1) "Just for today, do not worry"
2) "Just for today, do not anger"
3) "Honor your parents, teachers, and elders"
4) "Earn your living honestly"
5) "Show gratitude to every living thing"
Once you accept these principles there is a three-stage program of training that gets you tuned in to your Reiki energy and you can help heal humans, animals, and even plants.

Answer: Stonehenge

Its earliest roots go back to a ditch with a ring of chalk-filled pits (known as the "Aubrey Holes" with a wooden circle in the center with the possibility of a roof. Around 2000 BC, nearly 100 bluestones weighing about 4 tons each were brought to this English site from Ireland or Wales to make a double circle.

However, the end result was two horseshoe shapes and two circles and was finished by 1500 BC. Its ruins are still available to see today. The reason for its construction is unknown and is speculated to possibly be an astronomical observatory.

There are many theories of who built it including extraterrestrials, the people of Atlantis, and even Merlin. Some even state that mind power was used in its construction! English Heritage is the current guardian of the site.

Answer: The Chinese art of placement

"Feng Shui" has been practiced in China for centuries and has recently become popular in the West. There are several different schools, but all of them use eight "trigrams". A trigram represents a different type of energy, such as relationships, fortunate blessings, and illumination. Feng Shui is correlated highly with astrology, which also can be considered a "placement method". Astrological charts have 12 houses and find your signs depending upon where the planets were at your time of birth. Concepts such as the "yin/yang" are used to bring balance, as some trigrams are harmonious while others are not.

Answer: 7

Chakras are energy centers located at different parts of your body. It is a Sanskrit word for wheel, as ancient yogis described them as appearing like cone shaped vortexes. Each chakra corresponds to a different spectrum of energy as well as a different color, musical note, gland, organ, and physical system. They are as follows:

1) Base chakra (at groin) is red and is the energy center of physical survival.
2) Sacral chakra (below navel) is orange and is the energy center of social and sexual giving and receiving.
3) Solar plexus chakra (above navel) is yellow and is the energy center of ideas, willpower, and self-image.
4) Heart chakra (middle of chest) is green and is the energy center of emotions.
5) Throat chakra (at the base of the neck) is blue and is the energy center of organization, duty, and self-expression.
6) Third eye chakra (at forehead) is indigo and is the energy center of intuition and psychic abilities.
7) Crown chakra (top of head) is violet and is the energy center for connection with the Divine (and your Divine self) and channeling.

You might have noticed that they go in order of the colors of the rainbow and move upwards through your body. Violet is a spiritual color that usually indicates the transmutation of energy.

Answer: Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga aims to balance the flow of subtle energy as it enters and leaves the body. Yoga is exercise for the mind, body, and soul. Almost all yoga practices stem originally from ancient Hinduism. "Ha" means sun and "Tha" means moon (Sanskrit) which signifies the beginning and ending of each day. This parallels the notion that it is good to circulate energy and begin fresh again daily. Postures are common in hatha yoga, such as upward and downward dog. Very limited clothing is required or even suggested while doing hatha yoga.

Answer: True

Zen first flourished in Japan in the 12th century and is considered to be a type of Buddhism. A philosopher named Fritjof Capra referred to Zen as "living with spontaneity, simplicity, and total peace and presence of mind." In the most simplistic terms, it is being aware and alert at all times while at peace.

Answer: Edgar Cayce

Edgar Cayce was known as "The Sleeping Prophet" and was born on March 18, 1877 and passed away on January 3rd, 1945 (or as his children put it... "Had his soul released to continue its celestial journey"). He was a psychologist and would go into a trance like state and was able to conduct several readings for people which helped them in not only their daily lives but in furthering education and helping people to "step out of the box." He was a devout Christian but during his trancelike state discussed many things that were in contrast with the beliefs of the Church.

He made many predictions that have come true and many more that have yet to come to light. I obtained this information and all the above topics from "The Edgar Cayce Companion" and would suggest that anyone that finds this information interesting sneak a peek.