Meditation Words Phrases and Terminology:
The definitions here are simple because they are meant as a quick explanation not an encyclopedia 🙂 I’ve included some definitions of meditation words phrases and terminology that you may come across on other sites that are not used on this site as they relate to topics I don’t cover.
Aura, This is the concept that everyone (some beliefs include all animals, plants and even inanimate objects) have an energy field around them. Generally this energy is your own energy radiating outward from your body. The size, shape, intensity and colour of a person’s aura is individual to that person, and can fluctuate and change over time depending on factors like physical health, emotions and so on.
Beginner’s mind, A mind that is open to the experience of the moment, free of preconceived ideas.
Centering, Being in the calm center of the brain. Often when you are “centered” you will find you use all of your mind more fully and instinctively rather than focusing on just the analytical (thinking) part of the brain. This allows you to experience what is going on right now more fully.
Chakra, In Hindu, yogic and other belief system. chakras are energy centers in the body. According to different beliefs there may be dozens of chakras, however there are generally thought to be 7 main chakras please see http://totallymeditation.com/chakras-the-tiny-tour/ for more information.
Clairaudience, The ability to ‘hear’ sounds said to exist beyond the reach of ordinary experience or ability, such as hearing the voices of the dead.
Clairsentience, Some people are believed to perceive information (as in a “sixth-sense”) by touching or thinking about an object. A clairsentient may be able read “auras” of people (and objects or animals) to discover their state of health or personal history.
Clairvoyance, The ability to see objects or actions removed in space or time from the person who is “seeing”. It can also take the form of a quick intuitive knowledge of people and things.
Grounding, The process of feeling connected to the earth. Practicing meditations or visualizations that focus on either drawing fresh energy up from the center of the earth or sending unwanted energy down to earth (often by what is referred to as roots or a “grounding cord”) can be used to release emotions and/or boost your energy level.
Higher-Self, See “Source” below.
Kundalini, May be “awakened” with the help of a teacher or by spiritual practices such as yoga or meditation. Sometimes it awakens spontaneously as the result of physical or psychological trauma, or even for no apparent reason. When awakened, Kundalini is said to be an energy that rises up from the first chakra to the top of the head. In physical terms, one commonly reported experience is a feeling like a mild electric current running along the spine.
Mantra, Words or phrases that are repeated as a focus of (or a part of) a meditation.
Mindfulness, Non-judgmental observation of experience. If you key the word mindfulness into this site’s search box you will find several articles that cover different mindfulness techniques.
OM, (or Aum) is a mantra sound in Sanskrit of Hindu origin (geographically India and Nepal), sacred and important in various Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism
Namaste, A common greeting of respect in India that means roughly “I bow to the devine within you”.
Psychic Intuition, Unusual mental powers and abilities (such as the ability to predict the future, to know what other people are thinking, or to receive messages from dead people) that cannot be explained by natural laws.
Mediums, A person thought to be a channel of communication between the earthly world and a world of spirits
Psychometry, The ability to divine facts about an object or a person associated with an object by simple contact or proximity to it.
Source, I see this as universal energy, an energy that infuses and connects all humans. Some people refer to this as a “higher power“. Others would refer to this energy as “God” still others would call it any one of dozens of other names. I use the word source because it doesn’t have the religious connotations that the other words have.
Spirit Guide, An entity which provides spiritual guidance. When a person says they were “guided by spirit” often they mean that they got a strong feeling about something or even saw an image in their minds or heard words.
Telepathy, The communication between people of thoughts, feelings, desires and so on involving mechanisms that are not understood by science.