Spiritual Words And Definitions with Explanatory Quotes

In this List of Spiritual Words and Definitions I have tried to present a comprehensive list of spiritual terms like “what is consciousness?”. Each spiritual word is defined and some are accompanied by quotes from various thinkers, authors and spiritual leaders. 

Angel: Spiritual beings often depicted as messengers of God or guardians who assist and protect humans. In many religious and spiritual traditions, angels are considered to embody pure spirit, acting as intermediaries between the divine and the earthly realm. Unlike Spirit Guides, angels are celestial beings, not having had lived human lives.

Angel number: Angel numbers are repetitive numbers or numbers in sequence believed to be used by guardian angels, spirit guides or indeed our Higher Self, to grab our attention, offering us messages, comfort or warnings. Each number has a specific meaning. The key to understanding the meaning of angel numbers lies in our intuition and recognition of the unique circumstances of our life at the moment of seeing the repeating numbers. See also the difference between angel numbers and numerology.

Ascended Master: Ascended Masters are spiritual beings believed to have lived earthly lives and achieved a high level of spiritual enlightenment, transcending physical existence. They are thought to guide and assist humanity from higher planes of existence, imparting wisdom and spiritual teachings to help others on their paths to enlightenment. Examples include Jesus Christ, Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), Krishna, Saint Germain and Kwan Yin (Guanyin).

Aura: An invisible, yet tangible, energy field that surround and permeate all living things composed of subtle layers of electromagnetic energy, reflecting a person’s emotional, mental, and spiritual state.
“The aura given out by a person is as much a part of them as their flesh.” – Lucien Freud¹

Chakra System: A network of energy centres, called chakras (meaning “wheel” or “disc”) aligned vertically along the core of the body, each associated with specific emotional and spiritual aspect of consciousness and corresponding to specific organs and systems in the physical body.
“Like beads on a necklace, these radiant jewels of energy are strung together along the inner cord of the soul, the vertical core within you that stretches from the base of your spine to the top of your head.”
“Chakras are oganizational centres for the reception, assimilation, and expression of life-force energy.” – Anodea Judith² (Chakras Made Easy)

Consciousness: The state of being aware of, and able to perceive, one’s surroundings, thoughts, and experiences. In spiritual contexts it extends to a higher awareness of a universal connectedness and the deeper aspects of reality beyond the physical senses.
“Consciousness is a personal awareness of Life at the level of energy. It is a way of describing the degree to which any sentient being knows, experientially, its unity with all things. It is the quality of being aware of the Awareness of one’s singularity with every aspect of Life—including that energetic expression which many people call Divinity.“ – Neale Donald Walsch³ (Conversations With God)

Conscious Mind: The conscious mind refers to the aspect of the mind that is aware of one’s immediate environment and experiences. It actively processes information gathered through the five senses. The conscious mind is responsible for logical thinking, reasoning, and the awareness of oneself as an individual. See also Ego.
“The conscious mind is a remarkable thing but it’s not who you are. It’s a tool. A beautiful tool. But it’s just one part of your total being.“ – Michael Singer⁴

Divine, The: The term “Divine” generally refers to anything that is of, from, or like God or a god, encompassing qualities of holiness, sacredness, and transcendence. It’s often used to describe the nature of deities, spiritual realms, and anything that is considered supremely good or morally superior. The Divine can be understood as encompassing divine beings, divine principles, and divine actions or interventions in the world.
“Your spiritual connection, whether it be to God, Buddha, Jesus Christ or Allah.” – Caroline Myss⁵

Earthing: The practice of physically connecting oneself to the Earth’s surface (like walking barefoot on grass or sea sand) to balance the body’s electrical state and promote physical and emotional well-being. Also known as grounding.

Ego: A psychological concept that refers to the mind that is responsible for creating a sense of individuality and separateness from others. The ego operates based on personal experiences, societal norms, and individual beliefs. It helps navigate and interact with the external world, but can sometimes lead to a sense of separation or disconnection from others and the spiritual realm. See also Conscious Mind.
“The ego is your self-image; it is your social mask; it is the role you are playing.“ – Deepak Chopra⁶

Energy Healing: A broad term for various practices that aim to balance and restore the body’s energy fields for improved physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Techniques can include reiki, acupuncture, crystal healing, and sound healing, among others, and are based on the belief in an underlying life force energy that influences and determines overall well-being.
“The practice of energy healing is the practice of aligning and balancing the flow of life forces within us.” – Brett Bevell⁷

Energy Field: See Aura.

Energy System, Human: “Quantum physics defined this is an electromagnetic field in and around the body which is generated by the body’s biological processes. An easy way to explore the human energy system is to use the chakra model.” – Caroline Myss⁸

Enlightenment: a state or process in spiritual and philosophical traditions characterized by the profound understanding and realization of spiritual truths. It often involves transcending ordinary perceptions of the self and the world, leading to a deep sense of unity, peace, and insight into the nature of existence. “Enlightenment is when a wave realizes it is the ocean.“ – Thich Nhat Hanh⁹

Evolution of the soul: The process is “to experience and become the next grandest version of the greatest vision ever we held about Who We Are.” – Neale Donald Walsch¹⁰ (Conversations With God)

Frequency: The rate at which energy, including thoughts and emotions, vibrates; higher frequencies are generally associated with positive, spiritual states while lower frequencies are linked to negative, denser conditions.
“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” – Nikola Tesla¹¹

Grounding: In spiritual terms, grounding is the process of centering one’s energy, often through practices like meditation or physical connection to the Earth, to achieve a balanced and stable emotional and energetic state.
“Grounding is the actual process of pulling our energy out of the chaos and into order.” – Anodea Judith¹²

Higher Self: an individual’s most true and enlightened state, embodying wisdom, inner guidance, and a deep connection to the universal source. Also known as Soul, Super-conscious Self, Spirit.
“The Higher Self is whispering to you softly in the silence between your thoughts.” – Deepak Chopra¹³

Intuition: The ability to understand or know something immediately, based on feelings rather than conscious reasoning, often considered a deeper form of inner knowing or insight.
“The skill of interpreting the language of human energy. Contrary to popular belief that strong intuitive abilities are a gift, I believe intuition is a learned skill that is based primarily on fully developed self-esteem.” – Caroline Myss¹⁴ (Anatomy of the Spirit)

Ki: In Japanese tradition, ‘Ki’ refers to the universal life-force energy that flows through all living beings, synonymous with ‘Qi’ in Chinese culture and ‘Prana’ in Indian spirituality.
“The vital universal energy which composes, permeates and moves through everything that exists.” – Ni Hua Ching¹⁵

Life-Force Energy: See Ki.

M

Mindfulness: “A state of awareness in which you can be conscious of perfect moments.” – Deepak Chopra (The Book Of Secrets)¹⁶

Mind: The second aspect of our being. We are a three-part being, made up of body, mind and spirit.
“What you call the mind is really an energy. It is … thought. And thought is an energy, not an object. Your brain is an object.” – Neale Donald Walsch¹⁷ (Conversations with God)

Reiki: Reiki is a complimentary, holistic healing system developed in Japan in 1922. The word Reiki can be translated as “divinely guided energy”. Reiki practitioners consciously connect to Reiki and then we allow the energy to flow through our hands which we place directly on the body or a few inches above. Reiki stimulates the body to heal itself on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level.
“Reiki is love, love is wholeness, wholeness is balance, balance is well-being, well-being is freedom from disease.” – Mikao Usui¹⁸

Sacred Geometry: Sacred Geometry refers to the study and use of geometric shapes and patterns that are believed to hold symbolic and spiritual significance, often seen in religious architecture and art. These shapes are revered in various spiritual and mystical traditions for their mathematical perfection, believed to illustrate the fundamental principles of the universe. Examples of sacred geometric shapes are the Flower of Life, Seed of Life, Merkaba (or Metatron’s Cube), and Tree of Life.
“Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe.”  – Galileo Galilei¹⁹

Samskara: In Buddhism, “samskara” refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, driven by karma, in which beings are continuously reincarnated, symbolizing the ongoing cycle of suffering and existence in the material world.
“A samskara is a groove in the mind that makes thoughts flow in the same direction….Your personal samskaras, built up from memories of the past, force you to react in the same limited way over and over, robbing you of free choice (i.e., choosing as if for the first time).” – Deepak Chopra (The Book of Secrets)²⁰

Soul: Our spiritual and eternal essence which leaves the physical body after death. Also known as Higher self, Super-conscious Self, Spirit. It is the third aspect of our being. We are a three-part being, made up of body, mind and spirit.
“Our true self, which is fully connected to the God/dess consciousness and has full knowledge of our life purpose and the lessons and experiences we have chosen for this life.” – Penelope Quest²¹ (Self-healing with Reiki)
“The tool through which God expresses and experiences Itself.” – Neale Donald Walsch²² (Conversations With God)

Soul, Corporal: In Chinese Medicine our corporal soul (also known as “Po”) refers to the aspect of the soul believed to be connected to the body’s physical vitality and functions. It resides in the lungs. It is our ego self and dies with the body.

Soul, Ethereal: In Chinese Medicine the ethereal soul (also known as “Hun”) is viewed as the aspect of the soul related to consciousness, emotions, and spiritual life. It resides in the liver and survives death.

Source Energy: the fundamental, all-encompassing life force or energy, considered to be the origin and sustainer of everything in the universe. It’s the primal energy from which all things arise and to which all things return, seen in many spiritual traditions as the ultimate truth or reality. This energy is considered divine in nature, implying that it is pure, sacred, and the essence of all creation. Also referred to as Source, Universal Life Force Energy, God, Brahman, the Tao.

Spirit: See Soul

Spirit Guide: Spirit guides are benevolent souls who have lived earthly lives and choose to assist living individuals in their spiritual journey, offering guidance based on their own experiences. They offer protection and support to those who ask for their help. Everyone has a life guide. Other guides will appear for a specific purpose and leave when that purpose has been fulfilled. Spirit guides can also appear in groups.

Subconscious Mind: The subconscious mind is a part of the mind operating below conscious awareness, it stores memories, habits, and beliefs. Operates separately from the conscious mind and does not rely on logic or reasoning. It perceives by intuition.
“All your experiences, events, conditions, and acts are produced by your subconscious mind in reaction to your thoughts [produced by the conscious mind]. The subconscious is subject to the conscious mind. That is why it is called subconscious or subjective.” – Dr. Joseph Murphy²³ (The Power of your Subconscious Mind)

Super-conscious Self: See Higher Self, Soul, Spirit

Spirituality: A sense of connection to something greater than oneself.

Spiritual Growth: Spiritual growth is the process of evolving and deepening one’s spiritual life, often involving increasing awareness, understanding, and embodiment of spiritual principles.
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” – Lao Tzu²⁴

Synchronicity: “Speaking from a Jungian viewpoint, synchronicities are meaningful coincidences; they are events that seemingly have no causal relationship, but are in fact related. On an energetic level, you attract synchronicities into your life, such as when you are seeking guidance.” – Caroline Myss²⁵

Vibrational Energy: Vibrational energy in spirituality refers to the concept that everything in the universe, including humans, is made of particles of energy vibrating at different frequencies, with the belief that these frequencies can influence our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
“Everything in life is vibration.” – Albert Einstein²⁶

1. Lucian Freud: A British painter and draftsman, specializing in figurative art, and is known as one of the foremost 20th-century portraitists. ↩︎
2. Anodea Judith: A therapist, spiritual teacher, and expert in chakra and energy systems, best known for her work integrating psychology, spirituality, and energy healing. ↩︎
3. Neale Donald Walsch: An American author of the series “Conversations with God,” he focuses on spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. ↩︎
4. Michael Singer: An American author, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Temple of the Universe, known for his books “The Untethered Soul” and “The Surrender Experiment.” ↩︎
5. Caroline Myss: An American author and speaker in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality, and mysticism, health, energy medicine, and the science of medical intuition. ↩︎
6. Deepak Chopra: An Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, known for his work in the New Age movement and mind-body spiritual healing. ↩︎
7. Brett Bevell: An American author and energy healer, known for his innovative methods in the realm of Reiki and energy work, and for integrating modern healing techniques with traditional spiritual practices. ↩︎
8. Caroline Myss: An American author and speaker in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality, and mysticism, health, energy medicine, and the science of medical intuition. ↩︎
9. Thich Nhat Hanh: A Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist, revered around the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace ↩︎
10. Neale Donald Walsch: An American author of the series “Conversations with God,” he focuses on spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. ↩︎
11. Nikola Tesla: An inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. ↩︎
12. Anodea Judith: A therapist, spiritual teacher, and expert in chakra and energy systems, best known for her work integrating psychology, spirituality, and energy healing. ↩︎
13. Deepak Chopra: An Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, known for his work in the New Age movement and mind-body spiritual healing. ↩︎
14. Caroline Myss: An American author and speaker in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality, and mysticism, health, energy medicine, and the science of medical intuition. ↩︎
15. Ni Hua Ching: A Taoist spiritual teacher and author who bridges the gap between the wisdom of the East and the practicality of the West. ↩︎
16. Deepak Chopra: An Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, known for his work in the New Age movement and mind-body spiritual healing ↩︎
17. Neale Donald Walsch: An American author of the series “Conversations with God”, he focuses on spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. ↩︎
18. Mikao Usui: Founder of the system of Reiki ↩︎
19. Galileo Galilei: An Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, often referred to as a polymath, who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. ↩︎
20. Deepak Chopra: An Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, known for his work in the New Age movement and mind-body spiritual healing ↩︎
21. Penelope Quest: A respected Reiki master and teacher, known for her contributions to the field of energy healing and her work in expanding the understanding and application of Reiki practices. ↩︎
22. Neale Donald Walsch: An American author of the series “Conversations with God,” he focuses on spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. ↩︎
23. Dr. Joseph Murphy: An Irish born author and New Thought minister, known for his book “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.” ↩︎
24. Lao Tzu: An ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, considered the author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism. ↩︎
25. Caroline Myss: An American author and speaker in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality, and mysticism, health, energy medicine, and the science of medical intuition. ↩︎
26. Albert Einstein: A theoretical physicist, famous for the theory of relativity and the equation E=mc^2, which has been dubbed “the world’s most famous equation.” ↩︎