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Sabbats:

 The eight seasonal festivals celebrated by witches, pagans and by many others. In order through the calendar year, they are: Imbolg, 2 February; Ostara, 21 March; Bealtaine, 30 April; Midsummer solstice, 22 June; Lughnasadh, 31 July; Autumn Equinox, 21 September; Samhain, 31 October; and the Winter Solstice or Yule, 22 December. Imbolg, Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain are known as the Greater Sabbats, and the Solstices and Equinoxes as the Lesser Sabbats. The dates for observing the Lesser sabbats may vary slightly in different traditions, and the actual dates of the Equinoxes and Solstices do vary, by a day at most, from year to year in astronomical fact.

Samadhi:

 (SKT) Literally "together with" (sam) "the Lord" (adhi). Ting-nge-'dzin (TIB), "fixing the mind". Sometimes called contemplation. The highest of the eight angas or limbs or yoga.
  Samadhi is a state of total involvement, unwavering awareness, and complete stillness of mind. The content of the meditation and the meditator are one. There are many different kinds and levels of samadhi. The meditation may be developed with a mental image, concentration upon a specific principle, or with consciousness itself as the object of meditation.
  Samadhi is the principle of total absorption in meditation. Terms such as prajna and vispa'syana refer to specific degrees of insight. The culmination of samadhi is sahaja-samadhi, which is not a trance state but a condition of permanent awareness. (see also Nirvana; Prajna)

Samaya:

 (SKT) "Coming Together." Dam-tshig (TIB), "sacred word" or "vow". A formal vow taken by a disciple during the Vajrayana Abhiseka ritual. During this ceremony the disciple vows to regard the master as an embodiment of enlightenment and to constantly maintain sacred outlook in all of life henceforth. (see also Sacred Outlook)

Soul:

 The immaterial essence, animating principle, or ultimate pattern of an individual life.
Usually used to mean an immaterial entity distinguishable and superior to the body. Spirit. The part of a human considered to be eternal. (See Atma; Spirit.)

Spirit:

 From the Latin spiritus, meaning "breath".

1. A Western term for ether or akasha. The most rarefied of the five elements. Pattern or essence. (See also Akasha; Quintessence.)
2. An immaterial being or entity. Any concept, force, event, object, place, pattern, or person can be thought of as having a spirit. (See also Soul.)

Spirit can also be thought of as information perceived as existing distinct from its medium.

Updated August 27th, 1998