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Sacred Science: The epithet given to the occult sciences in general, and by the Rosicrucians to the Cabala, and especially to the Hermetic philosophy. Sage:
From the Michael teachings, one of the seven essence roles. Its positive pole is expression; its negative
pole is oration. Sages
seek insight. Saint-German, Count: Born probably about 1710, one of the most celebrated mystic adventurers of modem times. Like Cagliostro and others of his kind almost nothing is known concerning his origin, but there is reason to believe that he was a Portuguese Jew. There are, however, hints that he was of royal birth, but these have never been substantiated. One thing is fairly certain, and that is he was an accomplished spy, for he resided at many European Courts, spoke several languages fluently, and was even sent upon diplomatic missions by Louis XV. He had always abundance of funds at his command, and is alluded to by Grimm as the most capable and able man he had ever known. He pretended to have lived for centuries, to have known Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and many other persons of antiquity. [Read complete article] Salamanders: In Alchemical tradition, are the elemental spirits of fire. The salamander is not a literal salamander, but simply the form in which the elemental appears. The salamander was first proposed by alchemical philosopher Paracelsus. Salem Witch Trial: Although not strictly Puritan the character of Salem was not essentially different from that of the other Massachusetts towns. The witchcraft delusion of 1692 centred about Salem Village, now in the township of Danvers, but then a part of Salem. Ten girls, aged nine to seventeen years, two of them house servants, met during the winter of 1691-1692 in the home of Samuel Parris, pastor of the Salem Village church, and after learning palmistry and various " magic " tricks from Parris's West Indian slave, Tituba, and influenced doubtless by current talk about witches, accused Tituba and two old women of bewitching them. The excitement spread rapidly, many more were accused, and, within four months, hundreds were arrested, and many were tried before commissioners of oyer and terminer (appointed On the 27th of May 1692, including Samuel Sewall, q.v., of Boston, and three inhabitants of Salem, one being Jonathan Corwin); nineteen were hanged,1 and one was pressed to death in September for refusing to plead when he was accused. All these trials were conducted in accordance with the English law of the time; there had been an execution for witchcraft at Charlestown in 1648; there was a case in Boston in 1655; in 1680 a woman of Newbury was condemned to death for witchcraft but was reprieved by Governor Simon Bradstreet; in England and Scotland there were many executions long after the Salem delusion died out. The reaction came suddenly in Salem, and in May 1693 Governor William Phips ordered 1 There is nothing but tradition to identify the place of execution with what is now called Gallows Hill, between Salem and Peabody. Samadhi: The name in India for spiritual ecstasy. It is a state of complete trance, induced by means of mystic concentration. Samkhara: One of the five Buddhist Skandhas or attributes. (See Skandhas.) "Tendencies of mind." Samma -Sambuddha: The sudden remembrance of all one's past incarnations, a phenomenon of memory obtained through Yoga. A Buddhist mystic term. Samothrace: An island in the Grecian Archipelago, famous in days of old for the mysteries celebrated in its temples. These mysteries were world-renowned. Sanyojanas: are in the Theosophical scheme the obstacles which the traveler along the Path must surmount. The number of them is ten and they are:
Sapphire: It is understood to make the melancholy cheerful and maintain the power or manly vigour of the body. The high priest of Egypt wore a sapphire upon his shoulder, and Aelian says that it was called truth. The Buddhists still ascribe a sacred magical power to it, and hold that it reconciles man to God. It is a good amulet against fear, promotes the flow of the animal spirits. Sardius: This gem resembles the cornelian, and
is an antidote to the onyx. It prevents unpleasant dreams,
makes its possessor wealthy, and sharpens the wit. Satan: Lucifer or the Devil. Satanism: hhhh Scandinavia, (Occultism in): For the early
history of occultism in Scandinavia (see article Teutons.) Schucman, (Helen): [See Course in Miracles] Scientology: hhhh Scorpio: The eighth sign of the zodiac. Scotland (Occultism in): (For early matter see
the article Celts.) Scrying: is a form of divination which involves prolonged gazing into a crystal, a pool of water, a black mirror, or similar surface, in order to obtain visions. The famous prognistor Nostradamus was said to have favored this method, using ink as a medium. Also known as crystal gazing, mirror gazing.
Seance: A sitting held for the purpose of
communicating with the dead, an essential requirement
being that at least one member of the company be possessed
of mediumistic powers. (See Medium.) Antiquity furnishes
many examples of what may be called " seances "—e.g.,
Saul's consultation with the Witch of Eador—but the term
is generally used only in connection with modern
spiritualism. When, in 1848, the Fox family at Hydesville
called in their neighbours to listen to the mysterious
sounds which have since become famous as the " Rochester
Rappings," the gathering was too informal to be called a
seance, though all the necessary elements were present;
but within the next two or three years the contagion
spread throughout a large part of the eastern states, many
" circles " (q.v.) were formed, and the phenomena which
was in the first instance apparently spontaneous was now
deliberately induced. In the early stages of the movement
these seances were conducted by private mediums, who took
no fee for their performances, but later professional
mediums arose whose seances were open to the public on the
payment of a fee. Both public and private seances
continued, and still continue, to be an indispensable
feature of spiritualism. Sea Serpent: hhhhhhh Second Sight: Second Sight: supernormal perception at a distance in time and space; a traditional psychic faculty in certain families in certain countries, especially in Scotland. See SECOND SIGHT. The faculty of foreseeing future events which is supposed to belong to certain individuals in the Scottish Highlands. The belief in second sight dates back to a very early period in the history of these regions, and is Still very far from being extinct, even in the more accessible parts. Saying the name, there is but little in second sight that is peculiar to the Celts of Scotland, for it is allied to the clairvoyance, prophetic vision, soothsaying, and so on, which have existed from time immemorial in practically every part of the world. Yet the second sight has certain distinctive features of its own. It may, for instance, be either congenital or acquired. In the former case it generally falls to the seventh son of a seventh son, by reason, probably, of the potency of the mystic number seven. Sometimes a Highlander may find himself suddenly endowed with the mysterious faculty. A person gifted with second sight is said to be " fey." Generally there is no apparent departure from the normal consciousness during the vision, though sometimes a seer may complain, of a feeling of disquiet or uneasiness. A vision may be communicated from one person to another, usually by contact, but the secondary vision is dimmer than that of the original seer. A frequent vision is that of a funeral, indicating that a death will shortly take place in the community. This is an instance of the second sight taking a symbolical turn, and perhaps this is .its usual form. Secret of Secrets: (See Kabala.) Secret Traditions: It has long been an article of faith with students of occultism that the secret tenets of the various sciences embraced within it have been preserved to modern times by a series of adepts, who have handed them down from generation to generation in their entirety. There is no reason to doubt this belief, but that the adepts in question existed in one unbroken line, and that they all professed similar principles is somewhat improbable. But one thing is fairly certain, and that is, that proficiency in any one of the occult sciences requires tuition from a master of that branch. All serious writers on the subject are at one as regards this. [Read complete article] Secret Words: Certain words relating to the Eucharist were communicated by Christ to Joseph of Arimathea and were committed orally from keeper to keeper of the Graal. In Robert de Borron's metrical romance, material power is added to their spiritual efficacy and whoever could acquire and retain them, had a mysterious power over all around him, could not suffer by evil judgments, could not suffer deprivation of his own rights, need not fear the result of battle, provided his cause were good. The words were the secret of the Graal and were either incommunicable in writing or were written only in the Book of the Graal which, de Borron implies, was itself written by Joseph of Arimathea. These words are the chief mystery of the Lesser Holy Graal, as the prose version of de Borron's poem is called. They were most probably a form of eucharistic consecration, and there is evidence that the Celtic church, following the example of the Eastern Church used them in addition to the usual consecration as practised in the Latin Church, which is merely a repetition of the New Testament account of the Lord's Supper. The separate clause they are supposed to have formed is called Epiclesis and consisted of an invocation of the Holy Ghost.
Semites: This article on the Semites applies to the
more ancient divisions of the race, such as the
Babylonians and Assyrians, and the Hebrews in Biblical
times., For later Semitic occultism see Kabala, Arabs,
etc. In ancient Babylon, and Chaldea, magic was of course
a department of priestly activity, and in Mesopotamia we
find a sect of priests, the Asipu, set apart for the
practice of magic, which in their case probably consisted
of hypnotism, the casting out of demons, the banning of
troublesome spirits and so forth. Sensitive: One who is in any degree susceptible to the influence of spiritual beings. A medium is occasionally, and, according to some authorities, more correctly, termed a sensitive. Seth: (See Jane Roberts) Seth Material: the name given to the twenty-four books by Jane Roberts that were dictated by a transpersonal source named Seth and transcribed and edited by husband Robert F. Butts. Conventionally called a channeled body of information, Jane, Seth, and Rob all felt that this term was too narrow to capture the deep psychological connections involved. In addition to the Seth-dictated books are fifteen books of fiction, poetry, and Aspect Psychology written by Jane Roberts that explore the implications and depth of the concepts offered by the Seth personality. Jane Roberts lived from 1929-1984 and spent most of her life in Elmira, New York. She began channeling the Seth personality in December 1963 and continued until her passing in September of 1984. Taken as a whole, their life-long collaboration forms a contemporary expression of the perennial philosophy of unparalleled depth and richness in the Western postmodern world. It is consistently referred to as one of the top sources of metaphysical information by numerous scholars (Klimo, Hastings) and lay folk alike. The Seth material is the second most visited collection and the only metaphysical body of work to be archived in Yale University’s Sterling Memorial Library in New Haven, Connecticut. Seven Wonders of the World: the name conferred on a select group of ancient works of art which had obtained pre-eminence among the sight-seers of the Alexandrian era. The earliest extant list, doubtless compiled from the numerous guide books then current in the Greek world,, is that of the epigrammatist Antipater of Sidon (2nd century B.C.). A second and slightly divergent list from the hand of a Byzantine rhetorician has been incorporated in the works of Philo of Byzantium. The monuments are as follows: (I) the pyramids of Egypt, (2) the gardens of Semiramis at Babylon, (3) the statue of Zeus at Olympia (see PHEIDIAS), (4) the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, (5) the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (see MAUSOLEUM), (6) the Colossus at Rhodes, (7) the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, or the Walls of Babylon. Shaman: hhhh Shamanism: hhhhh Shapeshifting: hhhhh Ship of the Dead: Akin to the superstitious idea of the death coach is the belief that at times a phantom barque carries away the souls of men. In the form of a cloud-ship, or wrapped in a driving mist, it sails over mountains and moors, and at sea in despite of wind and tide. A story is told of a certain pirate, at whose death a spectral ship approached in a cloud. As it sailed over the roof te house was filled with a sound as of a stormy sea, and when the ship had passed by the soul of the pirate accompanied it. Shroud of Turin: hhhhh Silver Cord: hhhh Sirens: hhhhh Sitchen, Zecharia: believes there is a 12th
planet orbiting our sun named Nibiru. The planet allegedly
has an orbital period of 3600 years. Sixth Sense: A term used to denote the faculty of spiritual perception, which is distinct from, and higher than, the five physical senses. It is the possession of the medium, the psychic or sensitive, and in some measure of all hypnotic subjects. It is not properly a separate sense at all, but is compounded from the spiritual correlates of the physical senses. Skandhas: The attributes of every personality, which after death form the basis, so to say, for a new Karmic reincarnation. They are five in the popular or exoteric system of the Buddhists: i.e., Rupa, form or body, which leaves behind it its magnetic atoms and occult affinities; Vedana , sensations, which do likewise; Sanjna , or abstract ideas, which are the creative powers at work from one incarnation to another; Samkhara, tendencies of mind; and Vijñana, mental powers. Skyclad: In traditional Gardnerian Wicca, is a poetic way to refer to nudity ("clad" means "dressed."). Some Gardnerian and related traditions carry on many or all of their magical operations skyclad. Some believe this allows magical anergy to 'flow' unrestricted by clothing. Often it is believed a more honest way to appear before the Gods, or to provide a psychological demarcation between ordinary and magical consciousness, which is also accomplished with robes and ritual dress in other traditions. While the term itself was probably devised for the practice by Gardner (the term itself predates him but was unrelated to witchcraft), the idea of witches performing rituals in the nude stems from ancient popular superstition and may have some historical basis. Sneezing: It is said that the custom of blessing one who sneezes originated in Italy in the time of Gregory the Great, during a pestilence which proved mortal to those who sneezed. A still older date is given to this custom by some writers, who state that sneezing was fatal from the time of Adam to that of Jacob, when the latter begged that its fatal effects might be removed. On his bequest being granted, the people gratefully instituted the custom of saluting the sneezer. In some diseases sneezing was bad omen, and in others it was good. Sneezing to the right was lucky, and sneezing to the left, unlucky; from noon to midnight, good, from night to noon, bad. Solar System: Theosophists have special doctrines as to the formation of the solar system. They start by postulating the existence of all pervading ether, or, as it is termed in occult chemistry (q.v.) holion, an ether which is quite imperceptible to ordinary senses and indeed even to clairvoyants except the most highly-developed. It is, despite its diffusion, of extreme density. The Deity intending to create a universe invests this ether with his divine force, whereupon it becomes the constituent of matter in the shape of minute drops or bubbles, and of this the universe with its solar systems is formed. to be finished.....Solomon, Mirror of: The method of making the Mirror of Solomon, which is used for purposes of divination, is as follows: Take a shining and well-polished plate of fine steel, slightly concave, and with the blood of a white pigeon inscribed at the four corners the names -- Jehovah, Eloym, Metatron, Adonay. Place the mirror in a clean and white cloth, and when you behold a new moon during the first hour after sunset, repeat a prayer that the angel Anaël may command and ordain his companions to act as instructed; that is, to assist the operator in divining from the mirror. Then cast upon burning coals a suitable perfume, at the same time uttering a prayer. Repeat this thrice, then breathe upon the mirror and evoke the angel Anaël. The sign of the cross is then made upon the operator and upon the mirror for forty-five days in succession -- at the end of which period Anaël appears in the form of a beautiful child to accomplish the operator's wishes. Sometimes he appears on the fourteenth day, according to the devotion and fervor of the operator. The perfume used in evoking him is saffron. Solstices: Either of two points on the ecliptic at which the Sun reaches its farthest point north (0 degrees Cancer) or south (0 degrees Capricorn) of the equator. The longest day of the year occurs at summer solstice (the first day of summer, about June 21) as the Sun moves at its slowest rate; the winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year (about December 21) as the Sun reaches its fastest rate of travel.
The points in the Ecliptic at which the Sun is at its greatest distance north or south of the Equator, so-called because the Sun then appears to stand still. The Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun is at 0° Cancer, about June 21; the Winter Solstice, at 0° Capricorn, about December 21. Somnambulism: a state of sleep, or half-waking trance, spontaneously or artificially induced in which subconscious faculties take the place of normal consciousness and direct the body in the performance of erratic (sleep walking) or highly intellectual actions (solving problems). The personality , itself, in some cases, seems very wise and exhibits supernormal powers. See SOMNAMBULISM. Sorcery: one who practices divination by lots. The use of supposed supernatural power by agent of evil spirits called forth by spells by a witch or black magician. Sortilege: kkkk Soul: the term is used in two senses: it indicates the ego and the spirit-body. In ancient writings man is described as a triune being: body, soul and spirit. According to this the soul is just as much an envelope, animated by the spirit, as the physical body is an envelope for the soul. At death the soul withdraws and continues to function in the spiritual world. Astral body and soul are almost equivalent terms. Occult teachings, however, speak of five bodies of differing degrees of refinement which will be cast away in time just as the physical body is left behind. See SOUL. Soul age: From the Michael teachings, the soul's stage of development relative to the physical plane. The five main physical-plane soul ages are infant, baby, young, mature, and old. (See also Transcendental soul and "Infinite soul.") Each soul age is divided into seven levels. (See "Soul age level.") Soul age level: From the Michael teachings, one of seven subdivisions of soul age, e.g., a person might be described as being "fifth-level young." Speal Bone, Divination By: A form of divination used in Scotland. A speal bone, or blade bone of a shoulder of mutton is used, but details of the method are wanting. A common soldier, accompanying Lord Loudonon his retreat to Skye, told the issue of the battle of Culloden at the very moment it was decided, pretending to have seen the event by looking through the bone. Spells: Spells, incantations, a written or spoken formula of words supposed to be capable of magical effects. The conception of spells appears to have arisen in the idea that there is some natural and intimate connection between words and the things signified by them. Thus if one repeats the name of a supernatural being the effect will be analogous to that produced by the being itself. It is assumed that all things are in sympathy, and act and react upon one another, things that have once been in contact continue to act on each other even after the contact has been removed. Sphinx: hhhh Spiegelsehrift: Writing written backwards, from right to left, so as to be read in a mirror. Automatic writing is frequently done in this way, and it is said that the ability to produce spiegelschrift is often found where there is a natural tendency to automatism. Spider: As an amulet. This arachnid, baked, was sometimes worn round the neck as a charm. Spiders and their webs were often recommended as a cure for various maladies. Spirit: variously defined as the inmost principle, the divine particle, the vital essence, the inherent actuating element in life. it manifests through association with protoplasm and dwells in the astral body, also called the soul, which in turn is the connecting link between the spirit and the physical body. At death the connection is severed and the spirit will find no ordinary means of manifestation.In Theosophy, is the monad after he has manifested himself in the Spiritual, Intuitional, and Mental worlds, but the term is often used to denote the monad in the aspect of Will only. See Monad and also the various articles on these worlds. From the Michael teachings, the spirit is the soul, or "higher" self, in distinction to the outer personality, or "lower" self. It generally refers to all nonphysical levels of self, including the astral and causal selves, as well as those that resonate with the three highest planes, although it can be used to refer only to the latter. Spirit guide : Nonphysical souls who support our growth, help us complete our life tasks, and in general provide the spiritual assistance we need. Often we are spirit guides to others when we are not incarnate.Spirit Intervention: to find lost wills, other papers, objects of importance or to track down murderers has been often recorded. Spirit Photography: The production of photographs on which alleged spirit-forms are visible. When the photograph is developed there appears, in addition to the likeness of the sitter, a shape resembling more or less distinctly the human form, which at the moment of exposure was imperceptible to the normal vision. Read Spiritism: The name bestowed upon the French form of spiritualism, which was in the main founded on the doctrines of " Allan Kardec " (M. Rivail), (q.v.) Spiritism differed from spiritualism as expounded in Britain, America and elsewhere, chiefly in that it included among its "tenets the doctrine of reincarnation. Allan Kardec, who prior to his adoption of spiritualistic creeds, about 1862 had been an exponent of animal magnetism and phrenology, based his new teachings on spirit revelations received through clairvoyants, and so popular were these teachings that they rapidly spread over the Continent. In Britain, however, spiritism obtained but little hold, its only exponent being Miss Anna Blackwell, who endeavored without much success to establish the doctrine of reincarnation in that country. Spiritism and Spiritualism must not be confused, since the adherents of each section were opposed to the tenets of the other, and even in France, where Spiritism initially obtained the most footing, there was a distinct spiritualistic party who looked askance at the doctrine to one who seeks only the physical phenomena, and neglects the religious and philosophical aspect of spiritualism. Today Spiritism has found a new life in the country of Brazil, where it's tenets have flourished. Spiritual path: A way of living that emphasizes the growth of conscious awareness, particularly relative to the expression of agape, or unconditional love. (See also "Agape.") Spiritualism:
Spiritualism in its modern aspect has for its Basic
principles the belief in the continuance of life after
death, and the possibility of communication between the
dead and the living, through the agency of a medium or
psychic, a person qualified in some unknown manner to be
the mouthpiece of supernatural beings. On this foundation
has been raised the belief known as spiritualism,
variously regarded as a religion or a philosophy. Besides
the speaking (or writing, drawing, etc) indirectly through
the agency of the medium, there are also physical
manifestations, such as the materialisation of spirit
forms, and " apports," (q.v.) the so-called " direct "
writing, moving of inanimate objects without contact, and
other phenomena of a like nature. Spodomancy: Divination by means of the cinders from sacrificial fires. Spontaneous Human Combustion: hhhhhhh Spunkie, The: A goblin of the same nature as the Scottish " Kelpie." He is popularly believed to be an agent of Satan, and travellers who have lost their way are his especial prey. He attracts his unfortunate victim by means of a light, which looks as if it were a reflection on a window, and is apparently not far away; but as the man proceeds towards it, like the rainbow it recedes. However, he still follows its gleam, until the Spunkie has successfully lured him over a precipice or into a morass. Squinting: In ancient times it was considered an ill-omen. Starseeds: People who started their reincarnational cycle as alien beings from another planet, star system, or galaxy. Stigmata: are wounds that were, according to the Bible, inflicted on Jesus during his crucifixion. There have been many reports of other individuals who display similar wounds, the causes of which have been subject to considerable debate. Some contend that stigmata are miraculous, others argue they are hoaxes or can be explained medically. There have been over 500 reported stigmatics who have displayed wounds
similar to those supposedly inflicted upon Jesus. The first recorded case of
these wounds was in the year 1222, by a man named Stephen Langton of England.
Saint Francis of Assisi first suffered the wounds in La Verna, Italy, in 1224. Stoicheomancy: A method of divination which is practiced by opening the works of Homer or Virgil, and reading as oracular statement the verse which presents itself. It is a branch of rhapsodomancy. Stolisomancy: Divination from the manner in which a person dresses himself. Augustus believed that a military revolt was predicted on the morning of its occurence by the fact that his valet had buckled his right sandal to his left foot. Stonehenge: (Sax. Stanhen gist, hanging stones), a circular group of huge standing stones situated on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, about 7 m. N. of Salisbury. Until comparatively recent times the surrounding district was in a state of nature with merely a thin coating of turf interspersed with tufts of heath and dwarf thistles, but bare of trees and shrubs and altogether devoid of the works of man, with the exception of a series of prehistoric barrows of the Bronze Age which, singly and in groups, studded the landscape. It is safe to say that no prehistoric monument in Great Britain has given rise to more speculation as to its origin., date and purpose; and although the few hoary stones still extant are but a small portion of the original structure they are still sufficiently imposing to excite the wonder of the passing traveller, and mysterious enough to puzzle the antiquary. Stonehenge was first mentioned by Nennius in the 9th century, who asserts that it was erected in commemoration of the 400 nobles who were treacherously slain near the spot by Hengist in 472. A similar account of its origin is given in the triads of the Welsh bards, where its erection is attributed to Aurelius Ambrosius, the successor of Vortigern. This was regarded as a miraculous feat brought about by the incantations oi the magician Merlin, who caused a great stone circle in Ireland (said to have been previously carried thither out of Africa by giants) to be transported to Salisbury Plain, where, at Merlins word of power, all the stones moved into their proper places. On the other hand, the Welsh bard Aneurin states that Stonehenge existed before the time of Aurelius, whose title of Ambrosius may, as suggested by Davies, have been derived from Stonehenge. Geoffrey of Monmouth, in recording the death of Constantine, which took place about the middle of the 6th century (ilistoria britonum), states that he was buried close by Uther Pendragon, within the structure of stones which was set up with wonderful art not far from Salisbury, and called in the English tongue, Stonehenge. Inigo Jones, in his work on Stonehenge, published in 16I5, endeavours to prove that it was a Roman temple, inscribed to Cnelus, the senior of the heathen gods, and built after the Tuscan order. This theory was attacked by Dr Charleton (1725), one of the physicians of Charles II., who maintained that it was erected by the Danes, and consequently after the departure of the Romans from Britain. The next controversialist who appeared on the scene was the famous Dr Stukely (1740) who propounded the theory that Stonehenge, the stone circle at Avebury (Abury), &c., were temples for serpent worship, Dracontia as he called them, the serpent worshippers being the Druids. Subsequent writers dropped the ophite portion of this theory, but still continued to regard Stonehenge as a temple or observatory of the Druids. Lord Avebury regards it as a temple of the Bronze Age (1500boo B.C.), though apparently it was not all erected at one time, the inner circle of small unwrought, blue stones being probably older than the rest (Prehistoric- Times). On the other hand James Fergusson (1872) contended that it was a sepulchral monument of the Saxon period. The original number and position of the stones have suffered in the course of time from wind and weather, in days when archaeological interest was not alive to the importance of preserving so ancient a monument. That, however, these natural causes of its dilapidation were assisted by the sacrilegious hand of man there is no lack of documentary evidence. Thus Inigo Jones laments the disappearance of stones that were standing when he measured it; and both Stukely and Aubrey deplore the loss of fallen stones that were removed to make bridges, mill-dams and the like. On the evening of the 31st of December 1900, one of the outer trilithons (22 on plan), with its lintel, was blown down in the course of a severe storm, this being the first collapse since the 3rd of January 1797, when one of the fine trilithons (57, 58) of the horseshoe fell. This catastrophe attracted renewed attention to the state of Stonehenge, and much discussion took place as to the taking of precautions against further decay. - The annexed plan, which is that of Professor Flinders Petrie, shows the state of Stonehenge at the moment preceding the fall of the trilithon on the 31st of December 1900. Within a citcular earthwork, 300 ft. in diameter and approached from the northeast by a road or avenue which can still be traced by banks of earth, is an outer circle of trilithons (roo ft. in diameter) formed by great monoliths (sarsens), originally thirty in number, with large 29 4/ If9 32 - \ ~, ~ ~ ,. 5/) ---%~.- --l~ SCALE OF FEET ~Sbnecstarsdthg on 304i2)ecember/POO ~iStone~ ,-ecament on same date. lintel stones. About 9 ft. within this circle and concentric with it is another, formed of smaller blue stones, originally forty in number, but only a few of which now remain in situ; within that was a horseshoe of five huge trilithons formed by ten monoliths with their imposts (all sarsens); and within the horseshoe was an inner horseshoe of blue stones, originally nineteen in number. The open part of the horseshoe exactly faces the sunrise at the summer solstice. Beyond the outer circle (not shown on plan) a great monoliththe sun stone, or so-called Friars Heel standing on the axis of the horseshoe, marks the point where a spectator, centrally placed within the horseshoe, would see the sun. rise on the horizon at the solstice. On the circumference of the earthern circle or surrounding rampart (not shown on plan), which is here intentionally broken, a great recumbent stonethe slaughter stonelies along the axis: and across the axis, near the central curve of the inner horseshoe, lies a fine recumbent stonethe altar stoneI 5 ft. long. Only half the outer circle (sarsens) now remained upright, three on the west, thirteen on the east; and this indicated the effect of the prevalent west wind. The fall of trilithon 22 and its lintel opened a larger path to the wind, and added to the danger of further destruction. Moreover, the narrow passages between the eastern monoliths had become worn by use into hollows which threatened their foundations. The acquisition of Salisbury Plain by the war office for military purposes seemed likely, again, to add to the risk of harm from thoughtless visitors. For all reasons an attempt to preserve Stonehenge was desirable; and the own.er, Sir Edmund Antrobusi was willing, on certain conditions, as to limitations of access, to co-operate with the Society of Antiquaries, Wiltshire Archaeological Society and Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments in taking such steps as might be necessary to prevent more stones from falling, and even (if possible) to set up some which had fallen. i The ownership of Stonehenge having been questioned, Sir E. Antrobuss legal title to it was confirmed by a lawsuit in 1905. The societies advised that trilithon 6, 7, with lintelwhich had slewed roundand trilithon 56, which was leaning at a dangerous angle, should be examined with a view to replacement with as little excavation as possible; that the monolith and lintel 22 be replaced, and its companion sarsen (21) secured; and that trillthon 57, 58, should be re-erected in its place, which was exactly known. Steps were taken to place the matter in the hands of engineering experts. On the I9th of September 1901 trilithon 56 was successfully raised to a perpendicular position. It then presented an imposing appearance, standing 21 ft. above ground: its total length was found to be 29 ft. 6 in., and its weight about 30 tons. The excavations were carried to a depth of 8 ft. 3 in. below the datum line, and many objects were found, including chippings and lumps of the stones, stone tools, bones, and (in the upper strata) coins and fragments of pottery. Nearly 100 stone implements were excavatedaxes, hammer axes, stone hammers and maulswhich, according to Dr Gowland, who superintended the work, had been used not only for breaking the rude blocks into regular forms, but also for working down their faces to a level or curved surface. No light was thrown, however, on the transport of the blocks. Notwithstanding the many attempts, both by excavations and speculative writings, to elucidate the history of this unique monument, the archaeological data available are insufficient to decide definitely between the conflicting opinions held with regard to the date of its construction and the purpose br which it was originally intended. The finding of chips of sarsens and blue stones together down to the bed of the rock would seem to disprove the theory that the inner circle and inner horseshoe were built earlier than the rest of the monument. Dr Gowland at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries (Dec. 19, 1901), read a paper on his recent excavations on the site of Stonehenge, in which he came to the conclusion that the structure was a temple dedicated to the worship of the sun, and he assigns its erection to the end of the Neolithic period (2000 to 1800 B.c.), on the ground that no bronze implements or relics were found during his explorations. It does not follow, however, from the fact that only stone tools were found at the bottom of the trenches that the monument was constructed when metal tools were unknown, because none of the Stonehenge tools have the characteristic forms of Neolithic implements, so that they might have been specially improvised for the purpose of roughly hewing these huge stones, for which, indeed, they were really better adapted, and more easily procured, than the early and very costly metal tools of the Bronze Age. On. the other hand, the recorded discovery of iron armour, Roman and British pottery and coins, together with the bones and horns of deer and other animals, is of little evidential value without a precise record of the circumstances in which they were~found. Only one object, viz, an incense burner, seems to the present ~writer to have any chronological value, as it is an undoubted sepulchral relic of the Bronze Age. That the sun on midsummer day rises nearly, but not quite, in line with the avenue and over the Friars Heel, has long been advanced as the chief argument in support of the theory that Stonehenge was a temple for sun-worship. On the supposition that this stone was raised to mark exactly the line of sunrise on midsummers day when the structure was erected, it would naturally follow, owing to well-known astronomical causes, that in the course of time the direction of this line would slowly undergo a change, and that, at any subsequent date since, the amount of deviation would be commensurate with the lapse of time, thus supplying chronological data to astronomers for determining the age of the building. The solution of this problem has recently been attempted by Sir Norman Lockyer (Stonehenge and other British Stone Monuments), who calculates that on midsummer day, 1680 B.C., the sun would rise exactly over the Friars Heel, and in a direct line with the axis of the temple and avenue. The above date he therefore considers to be the date of the erection of this great national monument, within a margin of possible error, on either side, of 200 years. Looking at Stonehenge from the architectural standpoint, there can be no hesitancy in regarding it as an advanced representative of the ordinary stone circles, some two hundred of which, great and small, are known within the British Isles. It is, however, differentiated from them all by having hewn stones, capstones, tenons and sockets. That its analogues were chiefly used as sepulchres has been fully established, and this is presumptive evidence that the sepulchral element was, at least, one of the objects for which Stonehenge was constructed: and it was probably for this reason that it was erected on Salisbury
Plain, where there already existed an extensive necropolis of the Bronze
Age. Nor would this by any means militate against its use as a temple
for consecrating the dead, or for sun-worship, or any other religious
purpose. - Strieber, Whitley: The author of several books about alien
abductions, including "Communion" (1987) and "Transformation". Both of
these books describe the aliens (Grays) as being friendly. He describes
how he felt intense fear when being around the Grays, but the aliens
explained they were only trying to teach him to overcome his deepest
fears by facing them. Stroking Stones and Images: It is related by Cotton Mather that an Irish-American witch produced pain and disease in others by merely wetting her finger with saliva, and stroking small images, or sometimes a long slender stone. Sthula-Sharira: The Sanskrit name for the human physical body, in Occultism and Vedanta philosophy. Succubus: A demon who takes the shape of a woman. It is mentioned in certain writings that Adam was visited during a hundred and thirty years by female demons, and had intercourse with demons, spirits, spectres, lemurs, and phantoms. In another story, under the reign of Roger, king of Sicily, a young man, bathing by the moonlight with several others, thought he saw someone drowning, and hastened to the rescue. Having drawn from the water a beautiful woman, he became enamoured of her, married her, and had by her a child. Afterwards she disappeared mysteriously with her child, which made everyone believe that she was a succubus. Hector Boece, in his history of Scotland, relates that a very handsome young man was pursued by a female demon, who would pass through his closed door, and offer to marry him. He complained to his bishop, who enjoined him to fast, pray, and confess himself, when the infernal visitor ceased to trouble him. Delancre says that in Egypt, an honest marechal-ferrant being- occupied in forging during the night there appeared to him a demon under the shape of a beautiful woman. He threw a hot iron in the face of the demon, which at once took to flight. [Editor's note: Hardly surprising.] Sufism: hhhhh Suggestion: The sensitiveness to suggestion of the entranced subject is the characteristic and invariable accompaniment of the hypnotic state, and is also a distinctive feature of hysteria. Indeed, many modern scientists give to hypnotism the name " Suggestion." An abnormal suggestibility implies some measure of cerebral dissociation. (See Hypnotism.) In this state every suggestion advanced by the operator, whether conveyed by word, gesture, or even unconscious glance, operates with abnormal force in the brain of the subject, as being relieved from the counter-excitement of other ideas. The outbreaks of religious frenzy or ecstasy which swept Europe in the Middle Ages were examples of the results of mass-suggestion—i.e., suggestion made by a crowd, and much more potent than that made by an individual. Cases of so-called collective hallucination may be referred to the same cause. Suggestion is doubtless responsible to some extent for clairvoyant and mediumistic faculties, and on the whole enters largely into the study of psychic science. Summerland: kkkkSummons by the Dying: It was formerly maintained by the theologians that if anyone who was unjustly accused or persecuted should summon, with his dying breath, his oppressor to appear before the supreme tribunal, a miracle would take place, and the person thus summoned would die on the day fixed by his innocent victim. Swedenborg, Emanuel, 1688-1772: One of the greatest mystics of all time, was born at Stockholm in Sweden am the agth January. His father was a professor of theology at Upsala, and afterwards Bishop of Scara, and in his time was charged with possessing heterodox opinions. Swedenborg completed his education at the university of Upsala in 1710, after which he visited England, Holland, France and Germany. Five years later he returned to h» native town, and devoted much time to the study of natural science and engineering, editing a paper entitled Daedalus hyperboreus which dealt chiefly with mechanical inventions. About 1716, Charles XII. appointed him to the Swedish Board of Mines. He appears at this time to have had many activities. He published various mathematical and mechanical works, and even took part in the siege of Friederickshall in an engineering capacity. Originally known as Swedberg, he was elevated to the-rank of the nobility by Queen Ulrica and changed his name to Swedenborg. Sitting in the House of Nobles, his political utterances had great weight, but his tendencies were distinctly democratic. He busied himself privately ia scientific gropings for the explanation of the universe, and published at least two works dealing with the origin of things which are of no great account, unless as foreshadowing many scientific facts and ventures of the future. Thus his theories regarding light, cosmic atoms, geology and physics, were distinctly in advance of his time, and had they been suitably disseminated could not but have influenced scientific Europe. He even sketched a flying-machine, and felt confident that although it was unsuitable to aerial navigation, if men of science applied themselves to the problem, it would speedily be solved. [Read complete article] Switzerland (Occultism in): (For ancient matter see Teutons.) Sybil: An oracle or prophetess; mysterious. Sycomancy: Divination by the leaves of the fig tree. Questions or propositions on which one wished to be enlightened were written on the leaves. If the leaf dried quickly after the appeal to the diviner, it was an evil omen; but a good augury if the leaf dried slowly. Symbolism: hhhh Sympathetic Magic: hhhhh Synchronicity: kkkk Home | Alternative
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10.09.03 Phasellus porta. Fusce suscipit varius mi. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nulla dui.  read more...
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