This glossary is selective. It includes definitions of terms and concepts related to energy work, mind-body-spirit healing, personal and spiritual development, and various wellness modalities relevant to the content of this site. See also our web pages and blogs for more on these topics.
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V
Alpha Mind (Alpha Brain Waves or Alpha State) – The Alpha mind is deeply relaxed or in a light mediative, imaginative, or dream state, yet, still alert to the outer world. It is considered the gateway to the subconscious. Some say that intuition and inspiration arise from the Alpha state. This state reduces stress and induces creativity. An uncommon state of mind for the typical modern workplace, Alpha characterizes the mind of primary school-aged children. Its waves range from 8 Hz to 12 Hz. Alpha is one of five types or ranges of brain waves. Moving from the longest to shortest frequencies, the five ranges are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Allopathic – (same as conventional medicine) is a form of medicine or healing based on the treatment of symptoms. A disease is addressed through the application of remedies (essentially drugs or surgery) to create an effect that is different from those of the disease.
Angela Mudra – (also called prayer position and Gassho) palms of the hands placed together in front of the heart in prayer position. Returns your attention to your heart and heart center (Anahata). Connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Aromatherapy – is the use of the all-natural aromatic substances of plants to evoke physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or energetic change. (See our webpage on aromatherapy for more information.)
Aromatics – are derived from the parts of plants that contain volatile components that emit a distinct smell and can invoke physical, mental, emotional, energetic, or spiritual change. Depending on the specific plant, aromatics are extracted from flowers, leaves, twigs, roots, bark, resins, or fruits. (for more, see Subtle Aromatherapy and Mind Body Spirit blog post on aromatherapy and essential oils.)
Aura – (variously defined). The aura is a layered field of subtle, luminous energy that surrounds and radiates through the body. For some energy workers, the aura is divided into four layers: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. For others, it is divided into seven subtle bodies, each comprising seven layers corresponding to the seven chakras. Still, others envision seven layers, one for each chakra. The aura is sometimes defined as a subtle body and sometimes as an energy field.
Beta Mind (Beta Brain Waves or Beta State) – The Beta mind is awake, focused, analytical, and active. Beta is considered the state of consciousness. We are in our Beta mind when we are consciously thinking and problem-solving. Beta is the best state to be in for the execution of practical tasks, and the most prevalent in the modern workplace. Adults spend the bulk of their waking lives in Beta, unlike children under eight who are rapidly growing, learning, and developing and are more often in Delta, Theta, or Alpha states. Beta brain waves range from 12 Hz to 40 Hz. The higher end of the Beta range is associated with stress and an anxious, vigilant, and overactive mind. Beta is one of five types or ranges of brain waves. Moving from the longest to shortest frequencies, the five ranges are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Bija – is a one-syllable “seed” sound that can transform, clear, or balance the energy of a chakra. Chanting (toning) or tuning folks are used to create the bija of a particular chakra.
Bio-energy – (variously defined). For some, bio-energy refers to the energy of the body structure (bones, muscles, and so on). For others, it also includes the aura and all other etheric bodies and subtle or vibrational layers.
Blend – (variously defined). A blend is a combination of essential oils designed to evoke a specific physical, emotional, mental, energetic, or spiritual effect. A blend is typically added to a base or carrier resulting in a specific product, e.g., cream, balm, or spritz. (See our numerous blog posts on blending essential oils for a wide variety of intentions. Simply use keywords in the search bar to find related posts.)
Carrier – is a substance in which essential oils are diluted. Carriers have several functions. They possess their own nutritive or healing properties. They help to spread essential oils evenly and over a greater surface area, and they influence the rate of absorption. They can act as preservatives or antioxidants (depending on the carrier) and dilute essential oils that would otherwise be too potent or irritating to use at full strength. Typical carriers include vegetable oils, butters, waxes, and clays, among others.
Central light column – is an energetic column, channel, or space that runs from the base of the spine through the top of the head where the seven major chakras can be found. Also referred to as the Sushumna.
Chakra – is an energy center or vortex where subtle energy is absorbed and 
expelled from the body. There is no universal understanding of the human body’s energy systems. However, most people recognize seven primary chakras – root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. In addition, the palms and soles of the feet have significant minor chakras, which play important roles in energy healing. In fact, we have even more. For example, the soul star (eighth chakra) and the earth star (ninth chakra). Moreover, numerous references mention many more chakras, varied in number, but more than a hundred in total.
Chemotype – is a significant and reliable variation in essential oil chemistry derived from a single plant species, which typically arises from notable differences in the growing conditions. In other words, in a few instances, more than one chemically distinct essential oil can be derived from a single plant species depending on its growing conditions. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officincalis) are two common examples.
Chi – is the vital force that animates and gives life. It is the same as ki, prana, and qi (in fact, it is just another way to spell qi.).
Clairsenses, also known as clair senses or psychic senses, are collectively the six psychic abilities or senses: 1) clairvoyance (seeing), 2) clairsentience (sensing or feeling), 3) claircognizance (knowing), 3) clairaudience (hearing), 4) clairsalience (smelling), 5) clairgustance (tasting), and 6) clairtangency (touching).
Conventional medicine – (same as allopathic medicine) is a form of medicine or healing based on the treatment of symptoms. A disease is addressed through the application of remedies (essentially drugs or surgery) to create an effect different from those of the disease. Conventional medicine is also referred to as “modern medicine.”
Dantian – (essentially the same as the Tanden or Hara) A Chinese energy concept that refers to the seat of life-force energy within the body and is located just below the navel. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes three dantians: the lower just below the navel, the middle situated in the chest conterminous with the heart chakra, and the upper located in the middle of the forehead at the third eye.
The Delta Mind (Delta Brain Waves or Delta State) – The Delta mind occurs during the deepest stage of sleep: dreamless sleep. Some meditators are able to achieve this state. While adults spend only a portion of their nights in this state, children remain primarily in Delta from birth until two years of age. Delta brain waves range from .5 Hz to 3 Hz. Delta is one of five types or ranges of brain waves. Moving from the longest to shortest frequencies, the five ranges are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Distillation – is the separation of mixtures based on the volatility of their constituents. The most common method of essential oil extraction, and distillation uses steam heat to draw aromatic components from plant material and a condenser for cooling. Once cooled, the resulting liquid is separated into the water-loving component, termed the hydrosol (also known as the hydrolat), and the fat-loving component (in other words, the essential oil). While distillation is referred to as an extraction method (extraction of whole or complete essential oils), it is distinct from many other extraction processes used in the flavor and fragrance industry to extract specific chemical components of natural plant products, sometimes with the aid of chemicals or synthetics and more extreme heat.
Diffuser oil – is a blend of 100 percent all-natural plant-based essential oils that are placed in any kind of diffuser or vaporizer to diffuse the medicinal and vibrational (energetic or subtle) healing properties of the blend throughout a room or space.
Doctrine of Signatures – dates back to early the Greek herbalist Dioscorides and Galen of the first and second century AD, respectively, who noted that many herbs that looked like parts of the human body could be used to treat ailments of those particular parts of the body (systems, organs, etc).
Emotional Competence – also referred to as emotional capital. It refers to the possession of the essential set of personal and social skills to recognize, interpret, and respond constructively to emotions in oneself and others.
Energy blockage – is a point or area at which energy fails to move freely. Energy blockages are a source of imbalance and dis-ease.
Energy center – another term for a chakra. See the chakra definition above.
Energy healing or energy work – encompasses a wide range of mind-body-spirit healing practices that focus on the body’s energy systems (including subtle energy) and how they relate to human health and well-being, e.g., Reiki, Integrated Energy Therapy, and reflexology. (See my webpage on Energy Healing for more information.)
Essential oil – is an all-natural aromatic essence extracted from a whole or complete individual plant species. It is a hydrophobic substance (doesn’t like water) and lipophilic (loves lipid or fat) mixture of aromatic components. Essential oils are not actually oils or lipids. They do not leave an oily residue.
Felt Sense – is a sense or internal bodily awareness that arises from increased internal awareness that typically initiates as an inchoate yet unfolding notion that creates a mind, body, and spirit connection.
Flavor oil – is an aromatic oil blended with a carrier. These oils can be natural, synthetic, or both. Flavor oils are essentially the same as fragrance oils, although only those deemed safe to consume should be used for flavoring.
Fragrance oil – is an aromatic oil blended with a carrier. These oils can be natural, synthetic, or both. Fragrance oils are also called aromatic or aroma oils and are essentially the same as flavor oils.
Gamma Mind (Gamma Brain Waves or Gamma State) – Although still a bit of a mystery, the Gamma mind is a place of extremes: both high levels of cognitive functioning and the expansive synchronization of brain waves that highly experienced meditators can achieve. Gamma is said to stimulate insights and support mystical experiences. Its brain waves range from 40 Hz to 100 Hz. And, it’s one of five types or ranges of brain waves. Moving from the longest to shortest frequencies, the five ranges are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Gassho – (also called prayer position and Angela Mudra) palms of the hands placed together in front of the heart in prayer position. Returns your attention to your heart and heart center (Anahata). Connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Hara – (essentially the same as the Tanden or Dantian) is a Chinese energy concept that refers to the seat of life-force energy within the body and is located just below the navel.
Heartwave® – pulls in intuitive impressions and supports the manifestation of the client’s intentions, aspirations, and life goals.
Higher Self – varies in meaning across belief systems. Here, it’s the individual’s eternal omnipresent consciousness that spans all lifetimes. Considered the “true” or “real” self, it’s the highest level of consciousness accessible to a person. It communicates through meditation, imagining, dreaming, and embodied awareness.
Holistic means of or related to holism. It is an approach that includes all parts, aspects, and interconnections within and of the whole. In relation to study, analysis, healing, and well-being, it is concerned with complete wholes or systems and their interrelatedness and not just a part or subset of the whole or system.
Hydrolat – see hydrosol.
Hydrosol – results from distillation, whereby water-loving volatile plant constituents are evaporated into steam and then condensed into liquid form—the hydrosol. Hydrosols are also referred to as hydrolats or floral waters. A word of caution. The latter term (floral water) is also used for a liquid to which essential oil has been added, which is not a hydrosol and does not have the same properties as a hydrosol. A true hydrosol has healing properties that are similar but not identical to the essential oil extracted from the same distillation process. Hydrosols are less concentrated than essential oils but can be quite energetically powerful.
Ida is one of three major nadis – It is the channel or space through which passive or introvertive prana or life force energy travels in the body. The other two major nadis are the sushumna and the pingala.
Integrated Energy Therapy ® (IET) – is an energy work modality that was developed by Stevan Thayer, founding director of the Center of Being, Inc. IET is a mind-body-spirit practice and laying-of-the-hands energy healing modality that combines energy channeling and specific pressure points. (See our webpage on IET for more information.)
Interoception – perception of sensations inside the body and includes sensations related to the functioning of organs and systems such as respiration, temperature, constriction of muscles, activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), etc.
Intuition – arises as an instant understanding of something without knowing how or why it arose. It comes without thinking or conscious reasoning. What distinguishes it from other important forms of internal sensing such as felt senses, gut feelings, and heartfelt notions, is that it takes the form of a short, direct, objective message, which may, or may not be, associated with one of these other forms.
Karmic memory – comprises old energetic patterns and responses, often acquired through trauma, which inhibit or limit fulfillment. Some associate karmic energies with past lives, whereas others believe that karma can be acquired during past and current lives.
Ki – is the life force or vital force (essentially the same as qi, chi, and prana).
Kundalini – (or Kundalini energy) is thought to be “asleep” and to lie coiled at the base of the spine and central light column (which runs from the base of the spine through the top of the head and contains the seven major chakras). Through meditation and other spiritual practices, Kundalini can be awakened and released. The release of Kundalini is associated with a surge in creative and spiritual energy and access to personal truths.
Life-force energy – is essentially what animates and gives life to people, animals, plants, and other living things. Life-force energy is synonymous with universal life force.
Lightarian – (or Lightarian Rays) is essentially an energetic tool. They grant energy workers (and by extension, clients) access to the energy of higher vibrations, transforming and strengthening the healing from energy work as well as facilitating the progression along a spiritual path.
Limbic system – is part of the human brain that is the seat of emotions, instinct, and memory. It includes but is not limited to the amygdala (seat of emotion), hippocampus (integration of short- and long-term memory), and the hypothalamus (body regulation: temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, sexual impulse). The limbic system is also responsible for our sympathetic autonomic nervous system response, or what is often referred to as the “fight/flight response.”
Mechanosensory – is the innate sensing of mechanical stimuli (such as pressure or vibration) by mechanosensory cells mechanosensory neurons. It transduces mechanical stimuli into neural signals and provides the basis for the senses of light touch, hearing, proprioception, and pain.
Meridians – are channels or lines along which vital energy (chi) flows through the body.
Mind-Body – integrates the physical and mental aspects and processes of a human being. Related to health, mind-body healing or medicine acknowledges that both the mind and body influence an individual’s health and illness.
Mind-Body-Spirit – integrates the physical, mental, and energetic (or spiritual) aspects and processes of a human being. Related to health, mind-body-spirit healing acknowledges that the mind, physical body, and energetic bodies influence an individual’s health and illness.
Nadi (Nadis plural) – is a channel or space through which prana or life force energy travels in the body.
Neuroception – is the innate bodily process of scanning the environment for cues of safety or danger, which is constantly working below our subconscious, although a person is likely to be aware of the physiological responses it causes (S Porges).
Non-ordinary reality – is that which belongs to our non-language-based and extra-ordinary perception accessible through altered states, trances, and various energy work and spiritual practices. The non-ordinary reality is accessible to everyone, but the day-to-day reality (ordinary reality) of most people is based on, and understood through, the left brain, cerebral, learned capacities, and means of perception. To access the non-ordinary, one needs to suspend the dominance of ordinary perceptions and preconceptions. Non-ordinary reality is considered to be the same as life force energy or “all that is.” Compare this to ordinary reality.
Olfaction – is the scene of smell or the process by which an animal can smell something.
Ordinary reality – is our day-to-day reality, which is based on, and understood through, our “left-brain” cerebral, learned capacities and means of perception, e.g., our senses and language. Compare this to non-ordinary reality.
Pingala – is one of three major nadis. It is the channel to the left of the spine through which active or extroversive prana or life force energy flows. The other two major nadis are the sushumna and ida.
Prana – means “vital life” in Sanskrit and is the vital force that animates and gives life (essentially the same as chi, ki, and qi).
Proprioception – is the perception or awareness of the position, movement, and location of the body as well as parts of the body.
Psychic Senses, also known as clairsenses or clair senses, are collectively the six psychic abilities or senses: 1) clairvoyance (seeing), 2) clairsentience (sensing or feeling), 3) claircognizance (knowing), 3) clairaudience (hearing), 4) clairsalience (smelling), 5) clairgustance (tasting), and 6) clairtangency (touching).
Qi – (another way of spelling chi) is the vital force that animates and gives life (and is essentially the same as ki and prana).
Quala – instances of subjective, conscious experience or perception that can not be definitively or accurately measured, labeled, or expressed due to its subjective and uniquely individual nature. Commonly applied in the exploration of music, art, consciousness, and the mind.
Rei – means universal, universal wisdom, spiritual wisdom, or divine.
Reiki – is a type of energy work practice, which originated in Japan and now has many different forms (see our webpage on Reiki for more information).
Smudging – is a purification and energy-clearing practice whereby wands of certain dried healing herbs are lit, the flame extinguished and the smoldering smoke passed over a person, an object, or throughout a room or sacred space in order to purify and clear. (See our various blog posts on smudging, diffuser oil smudge (using essential oil blends), and liquid smudge.)
Soulstar – is the eighth chakra, which contains the soul’s mission or one’s life purpose.
Soulstar clearing – is an advanced IET that allows the individual to work directly with the Soulstar (eighth chakra), explore his/her life purpose, and help bring those aspirations to life.
Subtle Aromatherapy – is a form of aromatherapy that works principally with the energetic or vibrational qualities and influences of aromatic plant essences typically in the form of essential oils or hydrosols (the same as Vibrational Aromatherapy). See also our webpage on subtle aromatherapy
Subtle Energy – is an energy that is difficult to perceive or imperative for all life. Currently, subtle energy is unmeasurable by conventional instruments used to measure energy or waves created by vibration. Nevertheless, humans have perceived and documented subtle energy for thousands of years referring to it as prana, chi, and ki just to mention a few. See also our webpage on healing energy.
Sushumna – is one of three major nadis, or energetic channels or spaces through which prana or light force energy flows. It runs from the base of the spine through the top of the head where the seven major chakras can be found. The store of Kundalini energy lies at the base of the sushumna. Two other nadis run along the sides of the Sushumna: the Ida to the left and the pingala to the right. The sushumna is the same as the Central Light Column.
Tanden – (essentially the same as the Dan dian, Dandian, or Hara) is an energy concept that refers to the seat of life-force energy within the body and is located just below the navel.
Theta Mind (Theta Brain Waves or Theta State) – Theta mind is deep meditation, daydreaming, and dreaming. It’s a state of unconditional, nonjudgemental awareness. In addition, it is the state of the subconscious where imagination and reality are nearly indistinguishable and the mind is highly impressionable. All these attributes promote super learning. Theta is also a state that alternative (energy) healers access to intimate spontaneous healing and transformation. Theta brain waves range from 4 Hz to 7 Hz. From two to about five or six years old, children’s minds are primarily characterized by Theta brain waves. It is one of five types or ranges of brain waves. Moving from the longest to shortest frequencies, the five ranges are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
Transpersonal – experiences and connections beyond the individual (the self) and encompassing humanity, life, psyche, higher consciousness, and/or the cosmos.
Universal life force – is essentially the vital force that animates and gives life to people, animals, plants, and other living things. Universal life force is synonymous with life force energy.
Universal Heart – is the heart of the universe or all that there is. This energy extends out to everything within every dimension. Because the soul star or soul star chakra is merged with all that there is, some refer to it as the universal heart.
Vibrational Aromatherapy – is a form of aromatherapy that works principally with the energetic or vibrational qualities and influences of aromatic plant essences typically in the form of essential oils or hydrosols (the same as Subtle Aromatherapy). See also our webpage on Subtle Aromatherapy.
Starchaser is always willing to provide clients and visitors with additional references and resources.