Elemental:

An elemental is a mythic being that is described in occult and alchemical works from around the
time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works
of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsus and his subsequent followers, there are four categories
of elementals, which are gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders.[1] These correspond to the
four Empedoclean elements of antiquity: earth, water, air, and fire, respectively

Conatus:

Spinoza refers to man’s tendency to “persevere in his being”, that is the desire to be and to
continue to want things. Man is conatus.

Monad:

The Monad is a concept invented by Leibniz which means a simple substance endowed trend
and perception. Any individual consciousness is a monad because it has desires, and a unique
perspective on the world.

Philosopher’s Stone/ Lapis Philosophorum

a legendary alchemical substance capable of turning base metals such

as mercury into gold (chrysopoeia, from the Greek χρυσός khrusos, "gold", and ποιεῖν poiēin,
"to make") or silver.

Elixir of Life

Also known as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is
a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also
said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means of
formulating the elixir.

Eternalism
a philosophical approach to the ontological nature of time, which takes the view that all
existence in time is equally real, as opposed to presentism or the growing block universe theory
of time, in which at least the future is not the same as any other time.[1]

Rosicrucianism
a spiritual and cultural movement which arose in Europe in the early 17th century whose
mysterious doctrine is allegedly "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which "concealed
from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe, and the spiritual
realm."
Eye of Horus
also known as wadjet, wedjat[1][2][3] or udjat,[4][5] is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection,
royal power, and good health.
In Ancient Egypt, most fractions were written as the sum of two or more unit fractions (a fraction
with 1 as the numerator), with scribes possessing tables of answers (see Rhind Mathematical
Papyrus 2/n table).[15] Thus instead of 3⁄4, one would write 1⁄2 + 1⁄4.
Different parts of the Eye of Horus were thought to be used by the ancient Egyptians to
represent one divided by the first six powers of two:[16]
The right side of the eye = 1⁄2
The pupil = 1⁄4
The eyebrow = 1⁄8
The left side of the eye = 1⁄16
The curved tail = 1⁄32
The teardrop = 1⁄64

Ankh
The ankh is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol that was most commonly used in writing
and in art to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself. Its use
continued through the Coptic Egyptians who adapted it as the crux ansata, a variant form of
the Christian cross.
Borborygmus
a rumbling or gurgling noise in the intestines
Catoptromancy or Katoptromancy
foretelling the future by means of a mirror
Coprolalia
the involuntary repetitive use of obscene language
TRIVIA

Confucius
It is generally thought that Confucius was born on September 28, 551 BC. The son of a once
noble family who had recently fled from the State of Song, his father, Kong He, was seventy
and his concubine mother, Yan Zhengzai, only fifteen at his birth.

He had 9 older sisters and a crippled brother.

Confucius' father died when he was three. His mother was rejected by his father's family
after his death and Confucius' family were forbidden to attend his funeral. From then on
they lived in poverty.

As a boy, he lived on a diet of rice and cabbage with possibly a little pork and bean broth.

His real name was K'ung Fu-Tsu- (The Master). Confucius is the latinised form given to
him.

As a boy Confucius followed the Chinese custom of wearing plain metal necklaces like a
collar to fool the evil spirits into thinking he was a dog.

A shy and lonely boy, Confucius acted out games with his toys made from clay and flew
kites.

At the age of six, people noted his fondness for putting ritual vases on the sacrifice table.

Despite his poverty, Confucius received a fine education, for the Lu state was famous for
preserving the state traditions of the Zhou dynasty.

Confucius married at the age of 19, The full name of his wife is not known, only that she was
from a family with the name of Kienkuan. A year later the couple had their first child, Kong
Li.

Confucius' wife didn't his expectations as a cook. The fastidious Chinese teacher demanded
that meat should always be served in its proper sauce, be cut perfectly square and have
exactly the right color. For him, even the choicest of rice is generally not white enough, and
minced meat rarely fine enough.

It was not a happy marriage. Despite this Confucius stressed in his teaching the importance
of a strong family.

Confucius' mother died in 527 BC, and after a period of mourning of three years he began
his career as a state official.

As a young man he was a minor administrative manager in the State of Lu and rose to the
position of Justice Minister. It is said that, after several years, disapproving of the politics of
his Prince, he resigned.

When nearly 50 Confucius accepted governship of a small town where he distinguished

himself in suppression of crime and promotion of morality. He performed so well that a
neighbouring governor became jealous and plotted his overthrow and Confucius was forced
into voluntary exile and wandered around for 13 years.

A portrait of Confucius by the Tang dynasty artist Wu Daozi (680–740)

Confucius then began a twelve year journey around China, seeking the "Way" and trying
unsuccessfully to convince many different rulers of his political beliefs and to push them
into reality.

Confucius developed his philosophy during a time of anarchy and war. His teachings based
on reason sought to inspire true goodness in a social setting of morally correct behaviour
governed by a righteous ruler.

During his lifetime Confucius gradually attracted a number of disciples who accompanied
him whilst he sought such a ruler who would enable him to put in practice his vision of a
just and humane society.

Confucius wore hemp or silk robes over trousers and in winter thick quilted coats and
wooden clogs or straw sandals.

Confucius used mulberry for inner ear problems and dizziness, Chinese yam for fatigue and
loss of appetite and buckbean root for the common cold.

A story is told of how one day Confucius and his disciples were all thirsty. One disciple
discovered a hidden rain puddle, so he filled his rice bowl and offered it to him. Confucius
emptied the offering on the ground saying, "It would be too much for one, too little for all of
us, let us continue our walk."

One day the Chinese teacher came upon an old woman weeping beside a grave. Confucius
asked her why. A tiger had killed her husband and her father in law she explained. Now it
had recently slain her only son. "Why then do you live in this savage place?" asked
Confucius. "Because there is no oppressive government here came the reply. "My children"
said Confucius to his followers. "Remember that oppressive government is worse than a
tiger."

Confucius devoted himself to collecting and editing the ancient Chinese holy writings.
Amongst the material he collected were 300 Chinese songs, ceremonial dances, love songs
and work songs.

He died in 479BC believing he had failed in his aims but many attend his burial and his
grave became a center of pilgrimage.
There are reckoned to be 40,000 direct descendants of Confucius living in China today.
Many of them are, to this, day, buried in Confucius forest.

Confucius's family, the Kongs, have the longest recorded extant pedigree chart in the world
today. The family tree, now in its 83rd generation, has been recorded since the death of
Confucius. With over 2 million registered descendants alive today. it is the largest family
tree in the world.

For over 2,500 years Confucianism has been the religion of most Chinese people. In 136 BC
Confucianism became the state religion.

Until the beginning of the 20th century all Chinese students training for official posts had to
learn the sayings of Confucius, the country's most revered philosopher.