Definitions of Common Metaphysical Words and Terms

Chakra (pronounced "chalk-raw"), is an ancient Sanskrit word that means "wheel". A chakra is an invisible spinning portal into the body's complex energy system. Chakras act as focal points for reception and transmission of life force energies. Each chakra has its own set of specific attributes with the overall purpose of the system being to vitalize the physical body and facilitate development of the self: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. See our Chakra page for more detailed information on this subject.

Conscious Mind - The waking, thinking, perceiving self.

Divination - Using intuition or intuitive tools to discover hidden knowledge.

Dowsing - The art of divination that uses a pendulum, rod, wand or other divining tool to access intuition and gather information not directly available to the thinking self. Also known as doodlebugging or water-witching (when searching for water).

Divining Rod - A rod, forked stick or wand used to locate underground water, metal deposits, pipes, energy fields, etc.

Dowser - A person who uses a pendulum or divining rod.

Higher Self - The soul or the part of one's being that connects with the divine or the universe. It is the non-physical, spiritual self, also called the "true self", "soul self", or "intuitive self".

Intuition - A knowing or understanding that you get by way of an unconscious process – such as a feeling or knowing that occurs from an unconscious combining of relevant patterns that emerge from seemingly unrelated events. Some people refer to intuition as "gut instinct", some call it the higher self, inner voice, or soul self. Google defines "Intuition" as the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning - or a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.

Pendulum - A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot that allows it to swing freely. It is typically a small portable device. It utilizes gravity and momentum to respond to energy in a way that is meaningful to the pendulum user. In essence, it's a tool that helps your intuition or "higher self" communicate with your conscious self. Read more about pendulums.

Radiesthesia - Detecting or measuring a spectrum of energies or radiation through divination. In dowsing, this term is most often used when referring to health or medical purposes.

Subconscious - The part of the mind below the level of conscious perception. It is also thought to be the operating system of the mind and body. The subconscious exists outside of the conscious mind’s control and may reveal itself in ways that the conscious mind is unable to contain.