Psychic, Occult and Mystical Definitions

Letter: Z

In classical mythology the west wind, the son of Astraeus and Aurora and the brother of Boreas. He loved Hyacinth, but because the youth preferred Apollo, Zephyr caused the god's quoit or discus to strike Hyacinth, causing his death. Zephyr was the father of Achilles' immortal horses Xanthus and Balius, which he fathered on the Harpy Podarge. His wife was said by some to be Iris, but he was also said to be the lover of Flora. He was identified with the Roman Favonius, and his name is used for any soft, gentle wind.

Zephyr

Zend-Avesta

The sacred writings of Zoroaster that formed the basis of the religion that prevailed in Persia from the 6th century BC to the 7th century AD. Avesta means the lore, or sacred writings, and Zend, the commentary. Hence the application of Zend to the ancient Iranian language in which the Zend-Avesta is written.

A Japanese term meaning "meditation." It is a major school of Japanese Buddhism that claims to transmit the spirit of Buddhism, or the total enlightenment as achieved by the founder of the religion, the Buddha. Zen has its basis in the conviction that the world and its components are not many things. They are, rather, one reality. The one is part of a larger wholeness to which some people assign the name of God. Reason, by analyzing the diversity of the world, obscures this oneness. It can be apprehended by the non-rational part of the mind — the intuition. Enlightenment about the nature of reality comes not by rational examination but through meditation.

Zen

Zem Zem

Also Zam Zam. The sacred well near the Kaaba at Mecca. According to Arab tradition, this is the very well that was shown to Hagar when Ismael was perishing of thirst.