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the t r e e o f l i f e
A n ael
A Z O T H P U B LISH IN G C O M P A N /*,
COOPERSTOWN, N. Y.
Hamilton Square Bldg. New York 3$
B ro a d w a y a t 137th S t.
TO OUR READERS
A zoth is not established to propagate any special teaching. I t is an O p en
F oru m f o r th e expression o f th e ideas and th ou g h t o f any person w h o has
som eth in g to say w o r th y o f consideration by o th ers .
It must therefore be understood that the editor does not necessarily endorse
the teaching or statements in the articles appearing in the magazine. In some
cases he distinctly disagrees, but considers that his province is to let readers
think for themselves and not attempt to influence their minds by his own.
He will welcome discussion of articles in the department called The
Caldron, and believes this is by no means the least important feature of A zoth .
<y>ci.B-a6oi53
Mi >4ltó>
AZOTH
M O N T H L Y
An Inspirational, H elp fu l, Philosophical and Progressive M agazin e
o f C on structive T h o u g h t
M I C H A E L W H I T T Y , E d itor
A ssisted by G ertru d e de B ielska, Sym bolism
E u gen e D e l M a r, H igh er T h o u g h t
F ra n k C . H iggin s, M ason ry
H o w ard U n d erh ill, A strology
CMtoriate
Angel Guardians
There are few persons of middle age or over, who, looking
back over the course of their lives are not able to recognize to
some greater or less extent a certain guidance running through
the changes and incidents through which they have passed. W ho
do not realize that the things striven for and unattained, the
gratified ambitions, the friends, acquaintances and enemies
made, the hopes deferred and the sickness of heart, the pleasures
and sorrows, have somehow been in the end for their own good,
the strengthening of character, the development of mind, the
modifying of egotism, a tolerance of others’ faults, a broader
mindedness, a greater degree of unselfishness.
Some of these persons, recollecting situations seemingly
desperate, sudden changes of environment, apparently fortuitous
meetings with others which have had marked results upon
their lives, will have felt that this guidance was quite definite and
marked and will have wondered at it perhaps. Unless they are
Spiritualists or occult students, they will, if religious, attribute
it to a wise all-seeing Providence or something of that kind, or
if materialistic, just to their luck in life and let it go at that, miss
ing the comfort and strength which a conviction that they were
personally both guided and guarded through life would have
given them.
272 A zoth
“ Spook Stuff”
It is seldom that it is worth while to comment upon the va
rious newspaper editorials and articles ridiculing or discounting
Spiritistic phenomena. Written with, at the most, a superficial
knowledge of the subject, they but echo the voice of the multi
tude who like to read their own opinions in print.
W e cannot, however, refrain from taking some notice of a
late ebullition of wisdom given to the world by Dr. Frank Crane
entitled “ Spook Stuff.”
Dr. Crane is to very many in this country a sort of oracle.
He seems to have captured the minds of the ordinary reader, the
reader who likes others to think for him, and his syndicated ar
ticles have therefore some power of moulding public opinion.
W e freely confess that sometimes the Doctor writes good stuff,
when he knows his subject, but quite as often it descends to the
class called drivel. The effusion in question comes under this
latter heading.
As an illustration of wanton and unwarranted assertion
based upon utter ignorance of his subject Dr. Crane’s article is
typical. W hy will such men risk their reputations by being so
idiotically foolish as to dogmatise upon subjects of which they
know nothing and have not attempted to investigate? They have
done it all through the ages. Every new discovery of science
has been met with scoffing, ridicule and denial of its truth by
such fossilized minds. Prejudice and a seeming inhibition of
mind to admit anything new is supreme in most mentalities but
we hardly expected to have to place this particular writer in the
class.
Read, ye occultists and spiritualists! these words of wisdom
A zoth 275
276 A zo th
M easu re fo r m easure represents the sum of life, perennial cause and effect.
A ll that w e give we receive, whether good or evil. E v er by hands unseen the
scales are balanced.
278 A zoth
Age was a reality that lasted in certain secret countries for some
160,000 years. These countries were known as the Old Land of
Ibez, and the Valley of Ibez, respectively.
This is to say that by first educating soothsayers in dreams,
and then by shaping events, or apparent events in nature, to seem
to have a sequential relation to coming events, in a manner cor
responding to the dream sequences, a means of warning, and in
structing humanity in general could be set up, in addition to the
symbolic methods that were reserved for the great and secret
educators in the Colleges of God.
It needs but very little imagination to perceive that the fear
of being in wrong relation to “ the powers manifesting in the uni
verse” must necessarily have caused primitive mankind to desire
to know the will of the Gods, so that they might preserve a benefi
cent relation with those mysterious beings. The former psychic
method having now almost ceased on account of the excessive
materiality prevailing; tribal superstitions or even individual
superstitions could in the way above described have been set up
to meet the requirements; setting up a link, clumsy though it was,
between men and groups of men, and their heaven-born but no
longer visible teachers and guides. These would be purely pri
vate omens through the medium of which incarnate souls could
ascertain whether a proposed course of action, for instance, was
pleasing or displeasing to “ the powers manifesting in the uni
verse.” Men further were apt to ask a sign of their own choos
ing, (as in the case of Gideon and his sign of dew on a fleece, the
story of which is found in Ju. 6 :3 7 ;) which sign could often be
legitimately manifested by the Gods, on the principle that
“ M an’s need is G od’s opportunity,” which is the one real legiti-
matizer of wonder working.
The story of Gideon is of course but a symbol of the condi
tion, and of the difficulties, which the mystical descent into
Egypt, * or the plunge of the heaven-born into earth-born condi
tions, had placed on the intercourse between the Gods, and the
Sons-of-God, while the latter were still in the depths of their
plunge. The dew on the fleece was an omen asked for by man, it
was granted; but in order to avoid the possibility of coincidence,
Gideon requested a reversal of the phenomenon and it was grant
ed also. In short, spiritualistic physical phenomena in answer to
prayer, could easily have given rise to a system of omens, such
as was practically devised, and applied to the policy of the
Roman Kingdom and Republic, under the College of Augurs.
• E g y p t ’s name w as Chem , m eaning d arkn ess; its other nam e M itzraim
signifies the straightened or distressed ones.)
A zoth 283
REGU LAR A U G U R Y B Y T H E C O L L E G E O F A U G U R S
“ M an is created with great pow ers; he is greater than heaven and greater
than earth. B y faith, im agination and w ill, he m ay accomplish w hatsoever he
desires.
“ H e m ay come into possession of creative power by identifying his own mind
with the U n iversal M in d , and he who succeeds in doing so, w ill be in the posses
sion of the highest possible wisdom ; the low er realm s of nature w ill be subject to
him, and the pow ers o f heaven w ill aid him, because heaven is the true servant of
wisdom.
“ T h e exercise of true magic does not require any ceremony or conjuration,
or the making o f circles or of signs ; it requires a strong faith in the omnipotent
power of the all good, that can accomplish everything if it acts through a human
mind who is in harmony with it, and without which nothing useful can be accom
plished.” P aracelus .
284 A zoth
m)tWfctl of l i f e
By B e r th a E l l in w o o d W a lk er
“ A thousand years is as a d ay ”
I ’m only tarry in g here aw hile
T o learn the beauty of a sm ile,
T o catch the sunshine in a rose
T o w atch and see how patience g ro w s;
H o w grie fs are m et, and love is born,
H o w color tints the com ing m orn.
A n d toils and troubles ? W h a t are th e y !
I only tarry for a d a y !
I t is n e e d le s s to r e m in d r e a d e r s o f th is m a g a z i n e th a t th e
fa c t o f th e l i f e a ft e r d e a t h c a n n o t b e p r o v e n o r d e m o n s t r a t e d
f r o m a le c t u r e p l a t f o r m . T h e c o n v i c t i o n o f its t r u th m u s t c o m e
f r o m p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a n d in m o s t c a s e s c u m u la t iv e e x p e r i
e n c e s w h i c h in t h e ir t o t a lit y e v e n t u a lly d e s t r o y a ll p o s s ib le
d o u b ts . S ir O l i v e r L o d g e , b y a p u r s u it o f e v id e n c e w h i c h h a s
e x t e n d e d o v e r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s , b y a c a r e fu l a n d a n a ly t ic a l in
v e s t ig a t io n o f th e e x p e r ie n c e s r e c e iv e d , h a s a r r iv e d a t th is c o n
v ic t io n , b u t a l t h o u g h h is e x p r e s s e d a n d c le a r l y sta te d fa it h is
w o r t h y o f g r e a t c o n s id e r a t io n a n d m u s t c a r r y a g o o d d e a l o f
w e ig h t , h e is n o m o r e a b le to g i v e it to o t h e r s th a n a n y o t h e r
p e r s o n .
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t th is w a s th e a t t it u d e S ir O l i v e r L o d g e
t o o k in a ll h is le c t u r e s . H e r e c o u n t e d s o m e o f h is e x p e r ie n c e s ,
o f f e r i n g t h e m as e v id e n c e , n o t p r o o f ; b u t h is p r i n c ip a l a r g u
m e n t s w e r e d e d u c t i o n s f r o m e x p e r ie n c e s a n d a n a lo g ie s to k n o w n
la w s o f p h y s ic s . T h i s w a s p a r t i c u la r l y n o t ic e a b le in h is le c t u r e s
“ T h e D e s t i n y o f M a n , ” “ T h e R e a li t y o f th e U n s e e n ” a n d th e
“ C o n t i n u i t y o f E x is t e n c e ,” a ll o f w h i c h w e r e m o r e o r less c a r e
fu l s p e c u la t io n s o f th e , to h im , u n k n o w n b a s e d o n th e k n o w n ;
g e n e r a l i z a t i o n w h i c h s e e m e d to h i m p r o b a b le b u t n o t p r o v a b le .
T o a s t u d e n t o f o c c u lt i s m th e s e g e n e r a liz a t io n s f a ll v e r y fa r
s h o r t o f w h a t h e b e lie v e s to b e fa c t, b u t c o n s i d e r in g th e p a u c it y
o f k n o w l e d g e u p o n w h i c h t h e y w e r e b u ilt, w e r e p e r h a p s as fa r as
a n y m a n c o u l d g o , a n d f a r t h e r th a n m o s t s c ie n tific m in d s w o u ld
g ° -
A m o n g th e m o s t c o n s p i c u o u s q u e s t io n a b le s ta te m e n ts o f
fa it h w a s th a t th e e t h e r e a l b o d y w a s a n d s h o u ld b e c a lle d th e
s o u l. I t s e e m s s t r a n g e th a t th is r e a lly g r e a t t h in k e r , k n o w i n g o f
a s u b s t a n c e fin e r a n d s u b t le r th a n p h y s ic a l m a t t e r , s h o u ld s to p
s ta n c e s th a n w h a t h e t e r m s e t h e r ; a n d th a t h e s h o u ld c o n fu s e
s p ir it , life , c o n s c io u s n e s s , w h i c h is n o t a n d c a n n o t b e s u b s ta n tia l,
S ir O l i v e r L o d g e is a n o t e d m a s t e r o f p h y s ic s , w h o h a s
b r o u g h t h is t r a in e d m in d to a c o n s id e r a t io n o f p h y s ic a l p h e n o m
e n a , w h i c h h e fin d s p r o v e s to h is f u ll s a t is fa c t io n t h a t th e h u m a n
b e i n g liv e s o n in a d iff e r e n t c o n d i t io n a ft e r th e c h a n g e w e c a ll
d e a t h . T h i s is th e e x t e n t o f h is k n o w l e d g e — a ll th e re st is s p e c u
la t io n w h i c h , in t e r e s t in g as it m a y b e , w o u l d b e v e r y d iffe r e n t
a n d m u c h c lo s e r to tr u th w e r e h e a ls o a s t u d e n t o f p h i l o s o p h y
a n d th e g r e a t t e a c h in g s o f th e a n c ie n t s c ie n tis ts w h o in v e s t ig a te d
th e la w s o f l if e a n d d e a t h , o f s p ir it a n d m a t t e r , b y a id o f d e v e l
o p e d f a c u lt y w it h in t h e m s e lv e s , w h i c h is s o f a r s u p e r io r to p h y -
286 A zoth
Is th e r e a n y l i v i n g o b j e c t m o r e a b je c t , u n c h r is t ia n , in toler
a b le a n d s u ic id a l to t h e m o r a l e o f o u r p e o p l e , w h i c h n e e d s to be
s t im u la t e d r a t h e r th a n d i s c o u r a g e d , t h a n w o m e n g a r b e d in d eep
est, c a n o n i c a l m o u r n i n g as t h o u g h d e c l a r i n g b y th e ir b la c k h a b it
w it h th e w o r l d a n d t h a t d e a t h h a d b lo t t e d o u t l i f e ’s m o r n in g and
e v e n in g s ta r ?
I n s p e a k in g o f d e a t h , R o b e r t I n g e r s o ll , th e w o r l d ’s greatest
r u s tle o f w in g s .” S u r e ly a C h r is t ia n c u s t o m o f b la c k m ou rn in g
s h o u ld fa s t b e c o m e m o r e h o n o r e d in th e b r e a c h th a n in th e observ
a n c e , in v i e w o f th e r e c e n t d e m o n s t r a b l e s c ie n t ific p r o o fs o f the
s u r v iv a l o f th e p e r s o n a lit y a ft e r d e a t h as f u r n is h e d b y th e Psy
c h ic a l R e s e a r c h S o c ie t y . I n fa c t , a g n o s t ic is m a n d ig n o ra n ce as
w e ll as e v il a r e s y m b o l i z e d b y b l a c k , a n d t h a t is o n e m ost im
p o r t a n t r e a s o n w h y th e p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f fe c t o f b l a c k is depress
in g a n d p e r n ic io u s , w h e r e a s w h it e , p u r p l e , v io le t , y e llo w are
s y m b o l ic o f k n o w l e d g e , i m m o r t a l it y , D iv i n i t y , co n se q u e n tly
th e ir p e a c e in s p ir in g a n d s o o t h i n g e f fe c t o n th e n e r v e s .
I f w e a r in g b l a c k as m o u r n i n g m u s t c o n t in u e , it w ill
fo s t e r th e p a g a n h a b it , ( w i t h a ll d u e r e s p e c t to th e d ea d ),
o p e n l y d e n y th e a s s u r in g fa c t s o f a C h r is t ia n re s u rre ctio n . It
w il l a u t o m a t ic a lly a n d m e c h a n i c a l l y a d v e r t is e a n e s c ie n c e o f the
S p ir it u a l W o r l d a n d o p e n l y d e f y t h e g r o w i n g c o n v ic t io n am ong
th e m a s s e s o f th e p e o p l e , t h a t d e a t h d o e s n o t e n d life . L o n g
f e l l o w w r o t e :
“ T h e r e is n o d e a t h ,
W h a t s e e m s s o is t r a n s itio n ,
T h i s l i f e o f m o r t a l b r e a t h ,
I s b u t th e s u b u r b o f th e l i f e e ly s ia n ,
W h o s e p o r t a l w e c a ll d e a t h .”
I f th e o n e s u p r e m e e n d o f th e w a r , b e y o n d th e a t t a in m e n t of
a w o r l d d e m o c r a c y is t h e r e -s t a t e m e n t o f t h e f a c t o f o u r im m o rta l
b e in g , th e n th e s p ir it u a l f r u it i o n o f t h e g a r n e r e d h a r v e s t o f the
s e lf s a c r ific e s w h i c h o u r l o y a l b o y s h a v e m a d e b y la y in g dow n
t h e ir liv e s f o r o u r sa k e , s h o u ld d e m o n s t r a t e n o t b y b la c k but by
w h it e , g r a y , o r a ll th e m o d e s t c o lo r s , t h a t f a c t o f i m m o r t a l v ictory.
I f s o c ia l c u s t o m d e c r e e s t h a t w e m u s t o u t w a r d l y d is p la y our
m o u r n i n g th e n le t th e m o d e s t c o l o r s o f g r a y , v io le t , p u rp le , or
p r e f e r a b ly w h it e b e u s e d ; f o r b l a c k is a b h o r r e n t a n d re p u lsiv e
w h a t th e h e a r ts o f m o s t m e n a n d w o m e n b e l ie v e a n d a ffirm . T h e
A zoth 3&9
I t is n e e d le s s to r e m in d r e a d e r s o f th is m a g a z i n e th a t th e
fa c t o f th e l i f e a ft e r d e a t h c a n n o t b e p r o v e n o r d e m o n s t r a t e d
f r o m a le c t u r e p l a t f o r m . T h e c o n v i c t i o n o f its tr u th m u s t c o m e
f r o m p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a n d in m o s t c a s e s c u m u la t iv e e x p e r i
e n c e s w h i c h in t h e ir t o t a lit y e v e n t u a lly d e s t r o y a ll p o s s ib le
d o u b ts . S ir O l i v e r L o d g e , b y a p u r s u it o f e v i d e n c e w h i c h h a s
e x t e n d e d o v e r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s , b y a c a r e fu l a n d a n a ly t ic a l in
v e s t ig a t io n o f th e e x p e r ie n c e s r e c e iv e d , h a s a r r iv e d a t th is c o n
v ic t io n , b u t a l t h o u g h h is e x p r e s s e d a n d c le a r ly s ta te d fa it h is
w o r t h y o f g r e a t c o n s id e r a t io n a n d m u s t c a r r y a g o o d d e a l o f
w e ig h t , h e is n o m o r e a b le to g iv e it to o t h e r s th a n a n y o t h e r
p e r s o n .
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t th is w a s th e a ttitu d e S ir O l i v e r L o d g e
t o o k in a ll h is le c t u r e s . H e r e c o u n t e d s o m e o f h is e x p e r ie n c e s ,
o f f e r i n g t h e m as e v id e n c e , n o t p r o o f ; b u t h is p r i n c ip a l a r g u
m e n ts w e r e d e d u c t i o n s f r o m e x p e r ie n c e s a n d a n a lo g ie s to k n o w n
la w s o f p h y s ic s . T h i s w a s p a r t ic u la r ly n o t ic e a b le in h is le c t u r e s
“ T h e D e s t i n y o f M a n , ” “ T h e R e a li t y o f th e U n s e e n ” a n d th e
“ C o n t i n u i t y o f E x is t e n c e ,” a ll o f w h i c h w e r e m o r e o r less c a r e
fu l s p e c u la t io n s o f th e , to h im , u n k n o w n b a s e d o n th e k n o w n ;
m d e n t o f o c c u lt is m th e s e g e n e r a liz a t io n s f a ll v e r y fa r
h e b e lie v e s to b e fa c t, b u t c o n s id e r in g th e p a u c it y
o n w h i c h t h e y w e r e b u ilt, w e r e p e r h a p s as fa r as
From t n n d f a r t h e r th a n m o s t s c ie n tific m in d s w o u l d
Thou hast coin«.
I cannot lead fh1Spicuous questionable statements of
I only could g.vj ^ ^ ^ shouI(j be called the
Strength by the , s e d i e r ; a n d t h a t h e s h o u ld c o n f u s e
T , to h is f u ll s a t is fa c t io n th a t th e h u m a n
T o Conquer thyat c o n d i t i o n a f t e r t h e c h a n g e w e c a ll
Then, behold, u s i t m a y b e , w o u l d b e v e r y d i f f e r e n t
w e r e h e a ls o a s t u d e n t o f p h i l o s o p h y
But, during thistbe a n c je n t s c ie n tis ts w h o in v e s t ig a t e d
I s t h e r e a n y l i v i n g o b j e c t m o r e a b je c t , u n c h r is t ia n , in to le r
a b le a n d s u ic id a l to th e m o r a l e o f o u r p e o p l e , w h i c h n e e d s to be
s t im u la t e d r a t h e r t h a n d i s c o u r a g e d , t h a n w o m e n g a r b e d in d eep
est, c a n o n i c a l m o u r n i n g a s t h o u g h d e c l a r i n g b y t h e ir b la c k h a b it
th a t G o d h a d f a ll e n f r o m H i s H i g h H e a v e n , t h a t a l l ’s w ro n g
w it h th e w o r l d a n d t h a t d e a t h h a d b l o t t e d o u t l i f e ’s m o r n i n g ana
e v e n i n g s t a r ?
I n s p e a k i n g o f d e a t h , R o b e r t I n g e r s o ll , th e w o r l d ’s greatest
o r a t o r a n d in fid e l r e m a r k e d t h a t “ h o p e s e e s a s ta r a n d h ea rs the
r u s tle o f w in g s .” S u r e l y a C h r is t ia n c u s t o m o f b l a c k m o u r n in g
s h o u ld fa s t b e c o m e m o r e h o n o r e d in th e b r e a c h th a n in th e o b s e rv
a n c e , in v i e w o f t h e r e c e n t d e m o n s t r a b l e s c ie n t ific p r o o f s o f th e
s u r v iv a l o f th e p e r s o n a lit y a ft e r d e a t h a s f u r n is h e d b y th e P sy
c h i c a l R e s e a r c h S o c ie t y . I n fa c t , a g n o s t ic is m a n d ig n o r a n c e as
w e l l as e v il a r e s y m b o l i z e d b y b la c k , a n d t h a t is o n e m o s t im
p o r t a n t r e a s o n w h y th e p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f fe c t o f b l a c k is d e p re s s
in g a n d p e r n ic io u s , w h e r e a s w h it e , p u r p l e , v io le t , y e l lo w are
s y m b o l ic o f k n o w l e d g e , im m o r t a l it y , D iv i n i t y , c o n s e q u e n tly
t h e ir p e a c e i n s p i r i n g a n d s o o t h in g e f fe c t o n th e n e r v e s .
I f w e a r i n g b l a c k as m o u r n i n g m u s t c o n t in u e , i t lin d
fo s t e r th e p a g a n h a b it , ( w i t h a ll d u e r e s p e c t to a n y o n e n ot
w h i c h stifle s th e s o u l’s a s p ir a t io n a ft e r i m m o r fs u c b w a s a
o p e n l y d e n y th e a s s u r in g fa c ts o f a C h r is t ia p r a n d k e e n th in k -
w i l l a u t o m a t i c a ll y a n d m e c h a n i c a l l y a d v e r ^ ' r e fu l th a t h is co n -
S p i n t u a l W o r l d a n d o p e n l y d e f y th p o b s | r v e d s ta te w i t h su ch
th e m a s s e s o f th e p e o p l e , th a t d e a t ,o c a l f a it h in th e t r u t h o f a
f e l l o w w r o t e : lg o f s u c h a m a n w i l l h a v e
“ T h e r e is n o d e a t h , t0 th e w r i t e r q u e s t io n a b le
W h a t s e e m s s o is tra n ^ h e E v i d e n c e f o r S u r v iv a l,
T h i s l i f e o f m o r t a l b r e a t ^ e s t in y o f M a n , a n d T h e
I s b u t th e s u b u r b o f t in d o i n g m o r e th a n s tim u -
W h o s e p o r t a l w e c a ll d m in d s o f th o s e o p e n to c o n -
)se w h o a l r e a d y h a d re a s o n
I f th e o n e s u p r e m e e n d o f th e w
fa c t o f t h e l i f e a ft e r d e a t h c a n n o t b e p r o v e n o r d e m o n s t r a t e d
f r o m a le c t u r e p l a t f o r m . T h e c o n v ic t io n o f its tr u th m u s t c o m e
f r o m p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a n d in m o s t ca ses c u m u la t iv e e x p e r i
e n c e s w h i c h in t h e ir t o t a lit y e v e n t u a lly d e s t r o y a ll p o s s ib le
d o u b ts . S ir O l i v e r L o d g e , b y a p u r s u it o f e v id e n c e w h ic h h a s
e x t e n d e d o v e r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s , b y a c a r e fu l a n d a n a ly t ic a l in
v e s t ig a t io n o f th e e x p e r ie n c e s r e c e iv e d , h a s a r r iv e d at th is c o n
w o r t h y o f g r e a t c o n s id e r a t io n a n d m u s t c a r r y a g o o d d e a l o f
w e ig h t , h e is n o m o r e a b le to g iv e it to o th e r s th a n a n y o th e r
p e r s o n .
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t th is w a s th e a ttitu d e S ir O li v e r L o d g e
t o o k in a ll h is le c t u r e s . H e r e c o u n t e d s o m e o f h is e x p e r ie n c e s ,
o f fe r in g t h e m as e v id e n c e , n o t p r o o f ; b u t h is p r in c ip a l a r g u
m e n ts w e r e d e d u c t i o n s f r o m e x p e r ie n c e s a n d a n a lo g ie s to k n o w n
la w s o f p h y s ic s . T h i s w a s p a r t i c u la r l y n o t ic e a b le in h is le c tu r e s
“ T h e D e s t i n y o f M a n , ” “ T h e R e a li t y o f th e U n s e e n ” a n d th e
“ C o n t in u it y o f E x is t e n c e ,” a ll o f w h i c h w e r e m o r e o r less c a r e
fu l s p e c u la t io n s o f th e , to h im , u n k n o w n b a s e d o n th e k n o w n ;
g e n e r a liz a t io n w h i c h s e e m e d to h i m p r o b a b le b u t n o t p r o v a b le .
T o a s t u d e n t o f o c c u lt i s m th e s e g e n e r a liz a t io n s fa ll v e r y fa r
s h o r t o f w h a t h e b e lie v e s to b e fa c t, b u t c o n s id e r in g th e p a u c it y
o f k n o w l e d g e u p o n w h i c h t h e y w e r e b u ilt, w e r e p e r h a p s as fa r as
a n y m a n c o u l d g o , a n d f a r t h e r th a n m o s t s c ie n tific m in d s w o u ld
g o -
A m o n g th e m o s t c o n s p ic u o u s q u e s t io n a b le s ta te m e n ts o f
fa ith w a s t h a t th e e t h e r e a l b o d y w a s a n d s h o u ld b e c a lle d th e
s o u l. I t s e e m s s t r a n g e th a t th is r e a lly g r e a t th in k e r , k n o w i n g o f
sta n ce s t h a n w h a t h e t e r m s e t h e r ; a n d th a t h e s h o u ld c o n fu s e
S ir O l i v e r L o d g e is a n o t e d m a s t e r o f p h y s ic s , w h o h a s
b r o u g h t h is t r a in e d m in d to a c o n s id e r a t io n o f p h y s ic a l p h e n o m
b e in g liv e s o n in a d iff e r e n t c o n d it io n a ft e r th e c h a n g e w e c a ll
d e a th . T h i s is th e e x t e n t o f h is k n o w l e d g e — a ll th e r e s t is s p e c u
la tio n w h i c h , in t e r e s t in g as it m a y b e , w o u l d b e v e r y d iffe r e n t
a n d m u c h c lo s e r to t r u t h w e r e h e a ls o a s tu d e n t o f p h ilo s o p h y
th e la w s o f l i f e a n d d e a t h , o f s p ir it a n d m a tte r , b y a id o f d e v e l
o p e d f a c u lt y w it h i n t h e m s e lv e s , w h i c h is s o fa r s u p e r io r to p h y -
29° AZOTH
s ic a l in s t r u m e n ts , t h a t t h e y w e r e a b le to e x p l o r e a n d m a p ou t
n e ld s n o t y e t i m a g i n e d b y u s m o d e r n s .
F o r e x a m p l e , in th e le c t u r e o n “ T h e D e s t i n y o f M a n , ” S ir
O l i v e r h a d , o r s e e m e d to h a v e , n o m o r e n o t i o n t h a n a c h ild w h a t
th is d e s t in y c o u l d b e . T h e a r g u m e n t w a s t h a t m a n h a d e x isted
u p o n th is E a r t h f o r 5 0 ,0 0 0 y e a r s , a s t a t e m e n t to w h i c h e v e n m a n y
a n t h r o p o lo g is t s w o u l d ta k e e x c e p t i o n , le t a lo n e e v e r y o ccu ltist.
u r i n g th is t im e m a n a d v a n c e d f r o m a n a p e - l ik e a n im a l cre a tu re
to w h a t w e k n o w o f h i m n o w . A c c o r d i n g to S i r O l i v e r h e has
a b o u t 2 0 m i l l i o n y e a r s m o r e d u r i n g w h i c h t h e S u n w i l l k e e p the
a r t h w a r m e n o u g h to s u p p o r t life . E r g o , th e u lt im a t e d e s tin y
m u s t b e s o m e t h in g w o n d e r f u l . P e r h a p s th is is a ll o n e c o u ld
e x p e c t , b u t h o w d iff e r e n t f r o m th e m o r e d e fin it e p ic t u r e o f th e
A d e p t , th e M a s t e r , th e g r e a t B e in g , w h o , e x p r e s s in g th e P o w e r ,
W i s d o m a n d L o v e o f o u r S o l a r F a t h e r , ta k e s h is p la c e in th e
a d m in is t r a t io n o f th e D i v i n e W i l l , c o n s c io u s ly a n d v o lu n t a r ily
w o r k i n g f o r its c o n s u m m a t io n .
B E A U T Y
B y M . T . H .
T h e t r u e b a s ic p r i n c ip l e s o f th e h u m a n s o u l a r e G o o d n e s s ,
. u .> a . ® e a u ty- I f is th e s e t h r e e f u n d a m e n t a ls th a t d is
t in g u is h it f r o m th e p u r e l y a n im a l s o u l. I t is e s s e n tia l th a t a ll
t h r e e s h a ll b e p r o p e r l y d e v e l o p e d a n d c u lt iv a t e d in o r d e r to p r o
d u c e s y m m e t r ic a l g r o w t h , th e o n l y w a y b y w h i c h m a n c a n b e c o m e
s u p e r m a n .
T h e w o r l d is c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e to r e c o g n i z e th e
p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e o f G o o d n e s s a n d T r u t h , b u t is h e e d le s s ly in
c li n e d to o v e r l o o k th e e q u a l i m p o r t a n c e o f B e a u t y . T h e r e f o r e ,
w e h a v e u n e q u a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e t h r e e p o w e r s , w h i c h re su lts
in e v it a b ly in a ll k in d s o f m e n t a l, m o r a l a n d s p ir it u a l d is to r tio n s ,
t h r o u g h th e c o n s t a n t s t r u g g le o f th e s o u l to e x p r e s s its e lf. I f it
c a n n o t f o l l o w a c le a r s t r a ig h t c h a n n e l, it m u s t p e r f o r c e s e e k a ll
m a n n e r o f d e v io u s c r o o k e d w a y s .
. P y e r e fo r m e r s a n d l o v e r s o f h u m a n it y , a ll y e w h o a r e
s t r iv in g a n d s a c r if ic in g f o r a b e t t e r d a y , n e g l e c t n o t B e a u t y 1
B e a u t y g e n t ly ta k e s u s b y th e h a n d a n d w o o s u s a w a y f r o m th e
p r o s a i c s o r d i d t h in g s o f th e w o r l d in t o th e n e w h e a v e n a n d n e w
e a r t h o f w h i c h w e h a v e d r e a m e d , a n d f e e d s u s f r o m th e v e r y
f o u n t o f L i f e its e lf. T h i s t r a n s f o r m i n g h e a v e n ly m a n n a b e a r s
w it h i n its e lf t h e f e r m e n t o f I m m o r t a l i t y .
G o o d n e s s , T r u t h , a n d B e a u t y , th e s e t h r e e in o n e ! W h e n
shall th e h u m a n r a c e c o m e in t o its h e r i t a g e ?
A zoth 291
)t Bemocracp of H a m a
B y H . K ellett C hambers
I t is a p o p u l a r t e a c h i n g o f T h e o s o p h i c a l t e x t b o o k s th a t th o s e
w h o f o l l o w th e P a t h o f A t t a i n m e n t c o n s t it u t e a n “ a r is t o c r a c y ” o f
“ o ld s o u ls ,” w h o h a v e e v o l v e d a s ta g e o r t w o b e y o n d th e r a n k a n d
file o f h u m a n it y . A n d m a n y a n e a r n e s t m y s t ic , h a r a s s e d b y k a r
m ic c a r e s , m o u l d s h is in n e r lif e u p o n a c o n s o l in g c o n c e p t io n o f
h im s e lf as a s p ir it u a l V e r e d e V e r e , m o d e s t ly m a s q u e r a d in g
a m o n g th e G r e a t U n w a s h e d .
F i r m l y g r a s p i n g th e a x e o f th e ic o n o c la s t , th e w r it e r a s p ir e s
to s p lit th a t p l e a s i n g f a n c y in t o f ir e w o o d . I t g r e w in th e first
p la c e f r o m th e a s s u m p t io n o f th e e a r lie r T h e o s o p h i c a l w r it e r s
th a t th e s p ir a l o f i n d i v id u a l e v o lu t io n le d th e e g o t h r o u g h lif e
a fte r l if e in c o m p l e t e i g n o r a n c e o f o c c u lt tr u th , u n t il it b r o u g h t
h im to a c e r t a in s ta g e o f “ r ip e n e s s ,” w h e r e u p o n h e w o u l d b e
c o m e a c o n s c io u s a s p ir a n t o f “ th e P a t h ,” a n d , if a ll w e n t w e ll,
w o u ld c o n t in u e in c o n s c io u s p r o g r e s s t h e r e o n , t h r o u g h lif e a ft e r
life , u n t il h e s h o u ld a c h i e v e M a s t e r y .
A r a t h e r h a s t y c o n c lu s io n , b u t as p la u s ib le as th e c a r d - in d e x
o f a n e ffic ie n c y e x p e r t , a n d c e r t a in ly f u ll o f s u b tle a p p e a l to th e
A f t e r a w h il e , to b e s u r e , th e d o c t r in e o f “ o l d s o u ls ” w a s
m o d i f i e d to d e n o t e “ a g e ” in p o i n t o f e x p e r ie n c e r a t h e r th a n o f
t im e ; b u t th e c o m p r o m i s e o n l y r a is e d n e w p e r p le x it ie s , a n d th e
“ a r is t o c r a c y ” r e m a in e d r o o t e d .
N o w , it is t r u e t h a t a ll t h o s e w h o s in c e r e ly f o l l o w , o r d i l
ig e n t ly s e e k , “ th e P a t h ” a r e in s p ir e d b y a n a r is to c r a t ic id e a l, th a t
o f s e r v ic e a n d s e lf-s a c r ific e . A n d h e r e a n d th e r e a m o n g t h e m —
s o m e t im e s c o n s p i c u o u s in th e g la r e o f th e b a t t le -fr o n t , b u t o t t e n
e r in r e m o t e s t r a t e g ic s e c lu s io n f r o m th e e y e s o f th e w o r l d —
lo o m s a fig u r e w h i c h , in its p le n t it u d e o f p o w e r , w i s d o m a n d
lo v e , h a n d s o m e l y fu lfils th e m o s t e x a c t in g p r e c o n c e p t io n o f a ll
th a t a n a ll- a r o u n d e v o l u t io n a r y a r is to c r a t o u g h t to b e . B u t th e
r a n k a n d file o f u s— le t th is b e c o n fe s s e d w it h b e c o m i n g h u m ilit y
b y o n e o f th e c r o w d — a la s ! w e c a n n o t , as a b o d y , r e a lly a n d tr u ly
fla tte r o u r s e lv e s t h a t w e m e a s u r e u p to a n a r is t o c r a t ic s ta n d a r d .
R a n g i n g f r o m t h o s e im m e r s e d in th e e n ig m a t ic r a p tu r e s o f
m y s t ic is m to t h o s e u n d e r g o i n g d i s c ip lin e in th e e x a lt e d c e r t i
t u d e s o f m a g i c , w e f a ll fa r b e l o w o u r o w n m o s t in d u lg e n t in m o s t
c o n c e p t io n o f a n e s o t e r ic élite. A n d a t o u r o f o u r m o s t f a s h io n
a b le c u lt t e m p le s is r a t h e r lik e l y to e x c it e th e u n e a s y s u s p ic io n
I t h in k th e m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d a m o n g u s a r e in c lin e d to resent
th a t a r i s t o c r a c y ” d e lu s io n , a n d to r e p e l th e s e lf- c o m p la c e n t id ea
th a t o c c u l t s tu d e n ts a r e n e c e s s a r ily f u r t h e r a d v a n c e d in e v o lu tio n
th a n m a n y a s o u l w h i c h is g r a p p l i n g w i t h th e p r o b le m s o f the
o u t e r life , a n d p e r h a p s “ m a k i n g g o o d ” u n d e r th e d a r k c lo u d of
a n o r t h o d o x fa it h o r n o fa it h a t a ll.
W h i c h le a d s u p to a r e v is e d c o n c e p t i o n — f o r m u la t e d in the
l ig h t o f m a t u r e m e d i t a t i o n — o f th e w o r k i n g o f K a r m a in th e e v o
lu t io n o f th e i n d i v id u a l e g o .
T h i s c o n c e p t i o n w o u l d d o a w a y w i t h th e a s s u m p t io n o f a
i n g o f th e P a t h .” I t w o u l d s u b s titu te a n o r d e r e d r h y t h m b e
in it ia t io n a n d liv e s o f m a n ife s t a t io n . P e r h a p s a S a b b a t h in c a r
n a t io n o f c o n s c io u s a d v a n c e m e n t in th e s t u d y o f o c c u lt tru th ,
f o l l o w e d b y a s e r ie s o f w e e k d a y liv e s f o r t h e t r a n s la t io n o f th at
tr u th in t o a c t io n .
I f th e L a w d o e s w o r k in th is w a y , as th e w r i t e r s t r o n g ly b e
n o t a n a r b it r a r y o n e — as i in 7 — b u t in fin it e ly a d a p t a b le to the
s p e c ia l n e e d s o f th e i n d iv id u a l. A n d , as e v e r y a s p ir a n t w il l re a l-
« « V t h e c e s s e s o f liv e s a r e v e r y l ik e l y to o v e r la p , so th a t the
S a b b a t h lif e o f ill u m i n a t io n is o f t e n l o a d e d w it h th e d r e a r ie s t
w o r k a d a y c o n d it io n s . I n d e e d , it s e e m s to b e a fe a t u r e o f th e
L a w th a t th e i n d i v id u a l b o r n in t o a l if e f o r o c c u l t a d v a n c e m e n t
s h o u ld h a v e n o m u n d a n e b e d o f r o s e s to lu ll h i m in t o a p a th y to
w a r d h is q u e s t o f th e H o l y G r a il.
A p r o p o s o f w h i c h , it is c le a r th a t th is d a y a n d g e n e r a t io n is
r e m a r k a b le f o r th e c o m i n g in t o in c a r n a t io n t h e r e in o f a h o s t o f
e g o s d e s t in e d f o r a S a b b a t h l i f e o f s t u d y a n d t e a c h in g . W h e r e i n
w e m a y se e th e h a n d s o f th e L o r d s o f K a r m a , a i d i n g a m a je s tic
c o u n t e r - s w i n g o f th e e v o l u t io n a r y p e n d u l u m a n d l a u n c h i n g a
n e w e p o c h o f o c c u l t e n lig h t e n m e n t a m i d th e b r e a k e r s a n d w r e c k
a g e o f th e p e r is h in g a g e o f m a t e r ia lis m .
A f a m il i a r e m o t io n o f th e s e e k e r w h o fin d s th e s o u r c e s o f
t r u t h a ft e r m u c h w a n d e r i n g in d a r k n e s s , is th e a r d e n t h o p e th at
in h is n e x t in c a r n a t io n h e m a y n o t b e c u t o f f a g a in f r o m th e
L i g h t . R a t h e r s h o u ld h e r e s o lv e to a s s im ila t e s o m u c h o f th e
L i g h t in th is, h is S a b b a t h , life , th a t it m a y e n g e n d e r in h im , b y
t r a n s m u t a t io n , a s to r e o f w i l l - p o w e r , in t e llig e n c e a n d s p ir itu a l
in t u it io n to c a r r y h i m v i c t o r i o u s l y t h r o u g h h is e n s u in g s e r ie s o f
w e e k - d a y liv e s , h o w s o e v e r s h a d o w e d t h e y m a y b e w it h i g n o r
a n c e , s o r r o w , o r t h a t w h i c h th e o r t h o d o x c a ll “ s in .”
A zoth 293
T h is r e v is e d c o n c e p t i o n o f K a r m a , as b e i n g m o r e d e m o
c r a tic a n d e ffic ie n t t h a n th e e a r ly T h e o s o p h is t s a p p r e h e n d e d ,
w o u ld e x p la in w h y t h e r e a r e n o b le , u n s e lfis h a n d h i g h l y in t e lli
g e n t m e n a n d w o m e n w h o c a n n o t b e in d u c e d to ta k e th e s m a lle s t
in te re s t in o c c u l t s c ie n c e . N o t , I v e n t u r e to a ffir m , b e c a u s e t h e y
a re “ n o t r ip e f o r it ” — a n a s s u m p t io n w h i c h a lw a y s s t r u c k m e as
d e c i d e d l y i m p e r t in e n t — b u t s i m p ly b e c a u s e th e y , w h i l e w e a r e
h a v in g o u r d a y in s c h o o l, h a p p e n to b e t a k in g t h e ir tu r n in th e
w o r k s h o p .
T h e i r b u s in e s s in t h a t w o r k s h o p o f th e o u t e r w o r l d is to
m a n ife s t th e m i n d a n d s o u l q u a lit ie s g e n e r a t e d b y th e f o r g o t t e n
s c h o o lin g o f S a b b a t h liv e s l o n g a g o . A n d r e w C a r n e g ie , a g n o s t ic ,
in e x p l o d i n g th e f a l l a c y o f u s e le s s a c c u m u l a t io n b y s c a t t e r in g
m illio n s lik e c o n f e t t i, m a y h a v e b e e n i n n o c e n t ly d e m o n s t r a t in g
t r a n s c e n d e n t a l t r u th t h a t h e h a d i m b ib e d in a n o t h e r p e r s o n a lit y
u n d e r th e a u s p ic e s o f P y t h a g o r a s o r C h r is t ia n R o s e n k r e u t z .
C h a r le s D a r w i n , d e s t r o y in g a n g e l o f N in e t e e n t h C e n t u r y o r
t h o d o x y a n d u n w i t t i n g p a t h - b r e a k e r f o r a T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y
r e s u r g e n c e o f th e a n c ie n t w is d o m , m a y h a v e b e e n u n c o n s c io u s ly
d is t illin g th e t r a n s m u t e d e s s e n c e o f p o w e r a n d s a p ie n c e g a in e d
in th e c r y p t s o f th e G r e a t P y r a m i d o r in th e T e m p l e o f S o lo m o n .
A n d m a n y a h u m b l e l if e th a t s h e d s s w e e tn e s s a n d lig h t in d a r k
p la c e s , f in d in g its c r u c if i x io n in s o lit u d e , m a y b e th e k a r m ic
c o r o ll a r y o f m y r t l e - c r o w n e d in it ia t io n in th e E le u s in ia n
M y s t e r ie s .
Y e s ! th e D i v i n e S c ie n c e e x is ts f o r s o m e t h in g b i g g e r th a n
th e p o l i s h i n g a n d v a r n is h in g o f a B r a h m a n ca s te . A l l - e m b r a c
in g f o u n t a in o f l ig h t a n d life , it p o u r s its g r a d u a t e d p u ls a t io n s
i m p a r t i a l l y in t o e v e r y c ir c u l a t i n g m o n a d o n th is p r o d i g i o u s
r o u n d - t r ip t h r o u g h M a t t e r , n e v e r m is s in g th e la s t s t r a g g le r . T h e
P a t h is f o r th e w h o l e f a m il y , n o t th e e ld e r s a lo n e — f o r a ll th e
u n c o n s id e r e d m o b o f th e I n fin it e p r o g e n i t o r ’s o f fs p r in g , as th e y
t o il th e l o n g tr a il h o m e w a r d , e n r ic h e d w it h e v e r - a c c u m u la t i n g
s p o ils o f e x p e r ie n c e .
A n d it s e e m s to m e th a t th is c o n c e p t io n , b y p r i c k i n g th e to y -
b a l l o o n o f s e lf- im p o r t a n c e , m a k e s f o r a w i d e r fr a t e r n it y a n d a n
im m e a s u r a b ly d e e p e r a n d h i g h e r u n d e r s t a n d in g , l in k in g th e
d i s c ip l e in c o n s c io u s n e s s w it h H u m a n i t y , th e l a b o r in g T it a n ,
th e b l i n d l y e v o l v i n g G o d - T h a t - I s - T o - B e .
294 A zora
k i £ h t is th e l if e o f m a n , o f t h a t t h e r e c a n b e n o q u estion .
W h a t a v a ile t h p h y s i c a l l i f e to a m a n w h o l o n g s f o r s ig h t and
s u m b e r s in d a r k n e s s ? W h e n th e m a n b o r n b l in d c a m e to Jesus
to b e h e a le d , t h e q u e s t io n w a s p u t as to w h o h a d s in n e d , that
^ w a s in t h a t c o n d i t io n . T h e a n s w e r w a s , “ n e it h e r o f th e m .”
W h a t is th e a d v a n t a g e o f k n o w i n g t h a t p e r h a p s , it is th ru n o
sin o f y o u r o w n th a t y o u r e y e s r e m a in c lo s e d i f s o t h e y d o re
m a i n ? W e a r e s p e a k i n g o f s ig h t in a s p ir it u a l w a y , f o r it is at
th is p r e s e n t t im e t h a t m a n ’s s p ir it u a l s ig h t is d o i n g it’s b est to
t h r o w o f f th e s h a c k le d c o n d i t io n it h a s b e e n in f o r m a n y c e n
tu r ie s . W e c o m p a r e th e m a n w h o s e in n e r n a t u r e is s t r u g g lin g to
d is c e r n th e r e a lly g r e a t t h in g s o f l if e , to th e m a n b o r n b lin d , w h o
w it h a ll h is o t h e r se n s e s a c t iv e , e v e n m o r e a c u t e th a n th o se o f
m o s t p e o p l e , s till g o e s t h r u l if e in a m o r e o r less d e a d e n e d co n -
C lltl? i 1 k i ° r C a n ** t r u e h a P P in e ss to t h a t m a n to b e a b le to
s m e ll th e f r a g r a n c e o f a r o s e w h e n h e c a n h a v e n o c o n c e p t io n o f
it s b e a u t y ? O f w h a t u s e is it to b e a b le to ta ste a n d s m e ll, (p le a s
u r e s w h i c h s o la c e th e a n im a l p a r t o f h is n a t u r e o n l y ) w h e n h e
h a s n e v e r b e h e l d th e b e a u t y in th e v a r y i n g c o lo r s o f a g o ld e n
s u n s e t, o r w a t c h e d th e g lis t e n in g r a d ia n c e o f th e s p a r k lin g d e w
in th e e a r ly m o r n i n g ? G o d ’s la n d w o u l d b e f a ir y - l a n d in d e e d ,
to th e m a n b o r n b lin d , w h o s e e y e s w e r e s u d d e n ly o p e n e d to it’s
e a u ty , to a n e x t e n t t h a t th e p e r s o n w it h a ll h is se n se s p e r fe c t ly
d e v e l o p e d f r o m b ir th , c o u l d n o t im a g in e . N o w th a t is th e
e ffe c t l if e in g e n e r a l h a s f o r t h e m a n o r w o m a n w h o s e s p ir itu a l
e y e s ig h t h a s b e c o m e q u ic k e n e d . O u t s i d e a ll th e m is e r y a n d sor-
d id n e s s o f th e p h y s ic a l w o r l d w h i c h c o m e s w it h i n th e r a d iu s o f
g hP lc *1 v i s i o n , t h e y s e e th e g l o r y o f th e s p ir it a n d w a t c h
th e e f fu lg e n c e o f l ig h t w h i c h e m a n a t e s f r o m a m a n o r w o m a n ,
w h o a lt h o l i v i n g in a p h y s ic a l b o d y a c c o r d i n g to m a t e r ia l la w s ,
® s a m e t im e h a s u n c o v e r e d th e r e a l m a n o r w o m a n , th e tru e
s p ir it to s u c h a n e x te n t, th a t e v e r y o n e w it h w h o m t h e y c o m e in
c o n t a c t fe e ls a h e a l i n g s o o t h in g p o w e r , w h i c h u n w i t t i n g l y p e r
h a p s , t h e y t h r o w o u t to a ll t h e y m e e t . T h e y h a v e o p e n e d th e ir
e y e s to G o d s w o r l d o f s p ir it , w h e r e in d w e l l b e a u tie s s o m u c h
g r e a t e r t h a n th o s e th e m a t e r ia l w o r l d c a n fu r n is h , t h a t it is n o
w o n d e r t h e y s e e m a t t im e s to d w e l l in a n a t m o s p h e r e o f th e ir
0 W P ‘. s P e ° p l e a r e t ir e d o f l o o k i n g to e v a n e s c e n t a n d m a
t e r ia l t h in g s f o r h a p p in e s s , t h a t is w h y s o m a n y s a y , “ o h t h e r e ’s
A zoth 295
n o th in g I h a v e n ’t d o n e , n o p le a s u r e th a t I h a v e n ’t e n jo y e d , o f
w h a t g o o d is it a l l ? it a m o u n t s to n o t h i n g e v e n t u a lly a n d I ’m
g e ttin g t ir e d o f lif e . N o w o n d e r , f o r w h i l e e n jo y in g th e p le a s
u res o f th e fle s h , w h i c h la s t f o r a d a y t h e y h a v e o v e r l o o k e d e n
tire ly , th e p le a s u r e s o f th e s p ir it , w h i c h n e v e r s a tia te o r b e c o m e
‘e n n u y a n t .’ C a n y o u t ir e o f s e e in g th e w a n fa c e s o f ill- fe d , s ic k ly
c h ild r e n b e c o m e r o s y a n d h e a lt h y , c a n y o u tir e o f r e t a in in g th e
m e m o r y o f th e l o v e l i g h t in th e e y e s o f a m o t h e r , w h o p e r h a p s
th ru y o u r e ffo r t s w a s a b le to k e e p h e r little b r o o d u n d e r h e r
w in g , in s te a d o f h a v i n g t h e m s c a t t e r e d a m o n g p u b li c in s titu tio n s ,
n e v e r k n o w i n g t h e jo y s o f h o m e l i f e ? C a n y o u tir e o f th e
t h o u g h t th a t s o m e w o r n - o u t d e c r e p i t h o r s e h a s b e e n e n a b le d to
s p e n d it’s la s t d a y s in p e a c e ? Y o u m a y g o to th e th e a tr e a n d
r o w I ’ll n e v e r g i v e it a n o t h e r t h o u g h t .” B u t w h e n y o u r m o n e y
h as b e e n s p e n t f o r th e p le a s u r e s firs t r e fe r r e d to, as l o n g as y o u
a n d a n e v e r r e c u r r i n g w a r m t h to y o u r h e a r t. T h a t is th e r e a l
o p e n in g o f y o u r e y e s to th e lig h t , th e l ig h t o f lo v e f o r y o u r f e l
lo w m e n a n d y o u r f o u r f o o t e d fr ie n d s , th a n w h i c h th e r e a r e n o n e
tru e r. T h a t is w h a t w a s m e a n t b y th e w o r d s “ L e t th e r e b e
lig h t ” ! A n d w h e n th a t l ig h t b r o a d e n s a n d s p r e a d s o v e r th e
w o r ld , as it is b e g i n n i n g to d o e v e n n o w , w e s h a ll k n o w w h a t
it m e a n s to ‘see w it h t h e s p ir it ,’ a n d ‘e n n u i’ w i l l b e c o m e a n o b
s o le te w o r d , n o t r e c o g n i z e d e it h e r in d i c t i o n a r y o r th e h e a r t o f
m a n .
2fótral Creations
B y S. A . A . M c C a u sla n d
T o t h in k is to c r e a t e s o m e k i n d o f f o r m o u t o f a stra l m ate
r ia l. W e a k a n d u n c e r t a in t h o u g h t c a n o n l y r e s u lt in in ch oa te,
m is t y f o r m s l a c k i n g a n y s t a y in g c o h e s io n . S t r o n g , focu sed
t h o u g h t c r e a t e s w it h g r e a t p e r m a n e n c y o f c o h e r i n g fo r c e , and
f o r m s m a d e b y in t e n d in g , d e t e r m in e d t h o u g h t e n d u r e as p se u d o
i n d iv id u a lit ie s f o r l o n g p e r i o d s o f t im e . W h e n a f o r m o f th is
k in d is d e s ig n e d , a n d fille d w it h a f o r c e w h i c h is p o s it iv e to the
e le m e n t á is , th e c r e a t u r e s o c o n s t r u c t e d c a n , a n d d o e s , so m e tim e s
A s t r a l p la n e h a s a m o n g s t th e v a r i e d o r d e r s o f its d e n iz e n s m an y
o f th e s e f o r c e - c e n t e r e d t h o u g h t c r e a t io n s , s o m e o f w h ic h are
s a id to h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d b y th e A t l a n t e a n b l a c k m a g ic ia n s . T o
a n i n f o r m e d m i n d a t o u r o f th e s e a r t g a lle r ie s o f th e A stral
s h o u ld p r o v e to b e a n e x p e r i e n c e b o t h i n f o r m i n g a n d e n te rta in
S a n ta C la u s o f g e n e r a t io n s o f v i v i d i m a g i n i n g a n d b e lie f o f
c h i l d r e n : th e d e v i l o f p o p u l a r s u p e r s t it io n w o u l d c o n f r o n t the
i n v e s t ig a t o r : h e w o u l d fin d t h e r e th e h o u r is o f th e M o h a m e d a n :
th e a p e a n d e le p h a n t g o d s o f I n d i a : th e l o v e l y w i n g e d a n g e ls o f
th e C h r is t ia n , as a ll o t h e r f o r m s o f u g lin e s s , o r b e a u ty , w h ic h th e
g e n e r a t io n s o f p e o p l e h a v e b e e n b u s y c r e a t in g t h r o u g h th o u g h t,
l o n g s u s ta in e d a n d c o n t in u a l ly fe d , g e n e r a t io n a ft e r g e n e r a tio n ,
b y th e m in d s o f h u m a n it y . T o th is c o ll e c t io n o f a s tr a l a r t m a y
b e a d d e d s u c h fic t io n a l c h a r a c t e r s as h a v e b e e n s o f o r c e f u l l y c o n
c e iv e d b y w r it e r s t h a t a n a t t r a c t in g e le m e n t a l c e n t r e h a s b een
set a w h i r l w it h s o m e p e r m a n e n c y ; a n d i f th e s e h a v e b e e n o f an
f o r c e b e i n g f e d in t o th e c o n c e p t io n b y th e t h o u g h t s o f m a n y
r e a d e r s t h e y m a y s u r v iv e f o r a v e r y l o n g t im e , as a s tr a l sh ap es.
T h u s , o n th a t p la n e m i g h t b e s e e n b y a n in t e r e s t e d , w id e - a w a k e
t r a v e lle r s u c h c h a r a c t e r s as L o r d L y t t o n ’s A r b a c e s , a n d n o t d is
t in g u is h a b le b y t h e u n i n f o r m e d o f a s tr a l c o n d i t io n s f r o m th e
a s tr a l p e r s o n a lit y o f a d is c a r n a t e E g y p t i a n p r ie s t. O f th is n a tu re
I v a n h o e , S h y lo c k , I s a a c o f Y o r k , F a u s t, a n d M e p h is t o p h e le s ,
w it h m a n y o f th e f a ir ie f o l k o f th e i m a g in a t io n o f c h ild r e n ,
m i g h t b e m e t b y a n a d v e n t u r e r a n d p le a s a n t ly , o r , u n p le a s a n t ly
h o b n o b b e d w it h .
T h e b i b l ic a l s t a t e m e n t o f “ G o d c r e a t e d m a n in h is o w n
i m a g e ,” a ls o th e H e r m e t i c a x i o m “ A s a b o v e s o b e l o w , ” s e e m s to
sta te a p a r it y b e t w e e n th e m e t h o d o f K o s m i c c r e a t io n a n d th e
A zoth 297
its fu lln e s s ,
a n o t h e - -- ® f ) e V T t S i O t t
By Peggy Webster.
Concentration
ISLAND
W H A T I T I S A N D W F '
e it h e r Y p - e a r e s w i t h g r e a t p e r m a n e n c y o f c o h e r i n g fo r c e , and
s i m p ly t r a n s f e i i n t e n d i n g , d e t e r m in e d t h o u g h t e n d u r e as p seu d o-
c e n t r a t e c ’ ~ o e r i o d s o f t im e . W h e n a f o r m o f th is
Y e t ’ t h e a b ilit y t o c o n c e n t r a t e “ o i “ r f e u w h j ic h , i *,
it s e lf, a s m o s t y o u n g s tu d e n t s o f o c c u l t i s m t h in k , . ilo c V ^ t^ e
fic ia l sta te o f m in d , as s o m e t e a c h e r s a lm o s t le a d t h e ii m a
b e lie v e . C o n c e n t r a t i o n o f o n e ’s t h o u g h t is as n a t u r a l a state
m i n d as c a n b e . L e t m e g i v e y o u a n e x a m p l e ; s u p p o s e y o u are
r e a d i n g a b o o k . I f th e b o o k in te r e s ts y o u , g r a d u a ll y th e sou n d s
a n d s ig h ts o f th is w o r l d w i l l b e b a n is h e d f r o m y o u r m in d and
t h e t h o u g h t s t h a t th e r e a d i n g o f th e b o o k g iv e s r is e to w il l re p la c e
t h e m . Y o u w i l l n o t s a y th a t s u c h c o n c e n t r a t io n o f th e th o u g h ts
is a n a r t ific ia l sta te o f m in d , a n d y e t, s c o r e s o f a r t ic le s a re p u b
lis h e d e v e r y y e a r g i v i n g th e la te s t m e t h o d s o f h o w to c o n c e n tr a te
o n e ’s t h o u g h t .
T h e r e a l s e c r e t o f c o n c e n t r a t io n lie s in th e a b ility
to d o a t h in g r a t h e r t h a n th e a b ilit y to t h in k a b o u t d o i n g it.
L e t m e illu s t r a t e . S u p p o s e y o u w o u l d l ik e to tr a n s fe r a
m e s s a g e to a fr ie n d , m e n t a lly . U n d e r o r d i n a r y c o n d itio n s ,
u n c o n s c i o u s l y p e r h a p s , th e n e o p h y t e w o u l d sit d o w n a n d w ith
c o r r u g a t e d b r o w a n d c le n c h e d ja w , h e w o u l d r e p e a t m e n t a lly
“ Y o u w i l l b e t h e r e ,” a t th e s a m e t im e a t t e m p t in g to d r a w u p a
m e n t a l i m a g e o f h is f r ie n d . I f h e s h o u ld h a v e th e w i l l - f o r c e to
k e e p it u p f o r fiv e m in u t e s h e m i g h t s ta rt a h e m o r r a g e b u t so fa r
as h is fe a t, f o r s u c h it w o u l d b e u n d e r t h o s e c o n d it io n s , o f
t h o u g h t t r a n s f e r e n c e — h e m i g h t t r a n s fe r th e m e s s a g e a n d th en
a g a in h e m i g h t n ’ t. A m u c h e a s ie r w a y , a n d o n e t h a t is r e a lly
b a s e d u p o n th e c o r r e c t la w s o f t h o u g h t t r a n s fe r e n c e , is to sit in a
r e la x e d m a n n e r a n d s a y to y o u r f r i e n d m e n t a l ly “ I w a n t y o u to
b e a t s u c h a n d s u c h a p l a c e .” S p e a k to h i m m e n t a l ly as th o u g h
h e w e r e in t h e s a m e r o o m y o u a r e a n d w i t h o u t g o i n g t h r o u g h th e
r ite o f c o n c e n t r a t in g . N o t i c e th a t th e w r i t e r s a id “ in a r e la x e d
m a n n e r .”
A l w a y s r e m e m b e r to r e la x b e c a u s e th e c o n s c io u s m in d c a n
o n l y b e o n o n e t h in g a t o n e t im e . T w o t h o u g h t s c a n n e v e r b e in
th e c o n s c io u s m in d a t th e s a m e t im e . A n o t h e r t h in g , f o r g e t th a t
y o u e v e r h e a r d th e w o r d “ c o n c e n t r a t io n .”
A zo th 299
A W A K E N I N G
B y V ictor E. C romer .
T h e in t e lle c t u a l r a y is o n e o f th e s e v e n g r e a t s tr e a m s o f
lig h t p o u r i n g d o w n u p o n th e w o r l d in th e p r e s e n t a g e , o n e o f
th e “ s e v e n s p ir it s o f G o d s e n t f o r t h in t o a ll th e w o r l d . ” I n o r d e r
to c o m p r e h e n d th e m e a n i n g o f th e c o m i n g g r e a t R e n a is s a n c e in
its fu lln e s s , it w i l l b e a d v is a b le f o r u s to tu r n o u r t h o u g h t s to
a n o t h e r g r e a t e p o c h in th e w o r l d ’s h i s t o r y s o m e w h a t a n a lo g o u s to
th a t u p o n w h i c h w e a r e n o w e n t e r in g . A b o u t 5 0 0 B . C . th e r e
w a s a t r e m e n d o u s e p o c h a l c h a n g e g o i n g o n t h r o u g h o u t th e w h o le
w o r ld . T h e in t e lle c t u a l l if e o f th e w o r l d w a s b e i n g lift e d to
g r e a t h e ig h t s in th a t a u s p ic io u s p e r io d . T h e w o r l d w a s r e a d y
th en , as n o w , f o r a g r e a t f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t . A n d th is f o r w a r d
m o v e m e n t w a s f o c u s s e d in a n u m b e r o f g r e a t m e n , th e lik e o f
w h o m th e w o r l d h a s n o t w it n e s s e d s in c e . S o m e w h e r e a b o u t
6 0 0 B . C . a n u m b e r o f h i g h l y e v o l v e d m e n w e r e b o r n in to th e
o w n s p h e r e s , a n d u n k n o w n to e a c h o t h e r , b u t p r a c t ic a l l y a ll th a t
w e k n o w o f p h i l i s o p h y a n d r e li g i o n in th e w o r l d t o d a y b e g a n
th en .
— T h e W o r l d ’s L e a d e r s 2 ,5 0 0 Y e a r s A g o . —
I n J u d e a I s a ia h th e P h o p h e t w a s flo u r is h in g , la y in g th e
f o u n d a t io n s in p r o p h e t i c a l l a n g u a g e o f th e c o m i n g o f th e M a s t e r
w h o w a s la t e r to c a r r y o n to its fu ln e s s th e in n e r J e w is h id e a l.
I t w a s a p e r i o d o f in te n s e lif e f o r th e J e w is h n a tio n , a n d I s a ia h
w a s th e c e n t e r f r o m w h e n c e th e lif e w a s s h e d a b r o a d u p o n th e
p e o p le . I n G r e e c e a ls o a t th e s a m e p e r i o d a w o n d e r f u l a g e w a s
b r e a k i n g f o r t h , le d b y t h o s e m i g h t y in t e lle c t u a l g ia n ts , S o c r a t e s
a n d P la t o , w h o h a v e g i v e n to th e w o r l d a ll t h a t is b e s t a n d n o b le s t
in p h i l o s o p h y . T h e s e t w o th in k e r s , th e r o u g h - h e w n , r u g g e d
S o c r a t e s a n d th e p o lis h e d , h ig h - s o u le d P la t o , h a v e le ft a n i m
p e r is h a b le in flu e n c e u p o n th e w o r l d th a t w i l l n e v e r p a s s a w a y .
T h e w e s t e r n n a t io n s h a v e sa t a t t h e ir fe e t e v e r s in c e in A n c i e n t
A t h e n s t h e y d is c o u r s e d u p o n th e w a y s o f w i s d o m a n d th e la w s o f
d e s tin y . B u t w h i l e G r e e c e w a s s itt in g a t th e fe e t o f S o c r a t e s a n d
P la t o , th e r e w a s s t ir r in g in th e h e a r t o f I n d i a a n o t h e r m ig h t y
m o v e m e n t , w h i c h h a s le ft its m a r k o n a ll th e E a s te r n n a tio n s ,
f o r a t th a t t im e f r o m e n d to e n d o f H in d u s t a n th e S a g e o f I n d ia ,
G a u t a m a B u d d h a , w a s p r e a c h i n g h is g r e a t p h i l o s o p h y a n d r e -
300 A zo th
l ig io n , a n d h e h a d th e w h o l e o f I n d i a f o r h is h e a r e r s , w h e re a s
S o c r a t e s a n d P l a t o h a d b u t G r e e c e . B u t e v e n th is d o e s n o t e x
h a u s t th e lis t o f s a g e s w h o w a l k e d u p o n th e e a r t h in th a t a u sp i
c io u s a g e , f o r in C h in a t w o m i g h t y m o v e m e n t s h a d th e ir b irth
c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w it h B u d d h i s m in I n d i a , C o n f u c i u s a n d L a o -
t z e , th e f o u n d e r s o f th e t w o C h in e s e s y s te m s o f t h o u g h t , liv e d
s id e b y s id e in C h in a . T h e y m e t o n s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s , and
L a o - t z e w a s c a l le d b y C o n f u c i u s “ th e o l d P h i l o s o p h e r .” B o th
th e s e s y s te m s h a d t h e ir r is e a b o u t 5 0 0 B . C . T h u s it w il l b e seen
th a t t h r o u g h o u t th e w o r l d a m i g h t y a g e w a s d a w n i n g th en , that
h a s m o u l d e d th e t h o u g h t s o f th e w o r l d till n o w . A l l th e d e
v e lo p m e n t s s in c e th e n h a v e b u t b e e n u n f o l d m e n t s o f th e th o u g h ts
a n d id e a ls p r o je c t e d o n th e s c r e e n o f th e w o r l d in th a t g lo r io u s
a g e . C h r is t ia n it y , w h i c h a r o s e 5 0 0 y e a r s la t e r , w a s b u t a n ou t-
p i c t u r i n g o f th e M e s s ia n ic p r o p h e c i e s o f I s a ia h a n d o t h e r J u
d e a n p r o p h e t s .
— T h e C o m i n g I n t e lle c t u a l R e n a is s a n c e .—
T h a t w o n d e r f u l a g e , 2 ,5 0 0 y e a r s a g o , w a s m o r e in th e n a
tu r e o f a m e s s a g e to th e h i g h e r c la s s e s o f th e w o r l d ’s p o p u la t io n s .
C o n f u c i u s a n d L a o - t z e d is c o u r s e d to th e e n lig h t e n e d fe w ,
B u d d h a to a la r g e e x t e n t p r e a c h e d to “ th e y o u n g m e n o f g o o d
f a m i l y ,” th e B r a h m a n a n d th e W a r r i o r c a s te s , a n d in G r e e c e th e
h e lo t r e c e iv e d b u t little in s t r u c t io n . T h i s a g e , h o w e v e r , th a t is
d a w n i n g o n th e w o r l d , w i l l b e a n in t e lle c t u a l a w a k e n i n g f o r th e
m a s s e s o f th e w o r l d .
A b o u t f o r t y y e a r s a g o th e e x t e n s io n o f f r e e e d u c a t io n to the
w h o l e o f th e p e o p l e o f E n g la n d , a n d its g r a d u a l a d o p t io n b y
n a t io n a ft e r n a t io n in th e in t e r v e n in g p e r i o d , h a s le d to a d is
s e m in a t io n o f lit e r a t u r e a n d le a r n in g t h a t w a s n e v e r p o s s ib le in
a n y p r e v io u s a g e .
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r in t in g , “ t h e a r t p r e s e r v a t iv e
o f a r ts ,” h a d m u c h to d o w it h th e in it ia t io n o f th is
g r e a t in t e lle c t u a l a w a k e n in g . W e a r e n o w in th e m id s t
o f th is t r e m e n d o u s o n r u s h i n g in t e lle c t u a l f lo o d , th e m in d s o f a ll
m a n k i n d h a v e b e e n s t im u la t e d to a r e m a r k a b l e d e g r e e . T h a t
k n o w l e d g e w h i c h in y e a r s g o n e b y w a s th e m o n o p o l y o f th e f e w
h a s n o w b e c o m e th e h e r it a g e o f th e m a n y . T h e m a s s e s o f t o d a y
a r e a b le to o b t a in a c c e s s to in fin it e ly m o r e k n o w l e d g e th a n th e
p h i l o s o p h e r s a n d s c ie n tis ts o f y o r e . P r ic e le s s w o r k s o f art,
s c ie n c e , lit e r a t u r e , a n d p h i l o s o p h y c a n n o w b e o b t a in e d in c h e a p
r e p r in t s b y a ll w h o d e s ir e to d i p in t o t h e ir p a g e s . O u t o f th is in
t e lle c t u a l in s p ir a t io n m u s t in e v it a b ly b e b o r n a h i g h e r t y p e o f
m e n t a lit y th a n w a s p o s s e s s e d b y th e m a s s e s o f th e p a s t. T h e r e
fo r e , w it h th e g r o w t h o f r e f o r m in a ll o t h e r d ir e c t io n s , s id e b y
A zo th 301
sid e w it h e v e r y f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t , as p a r t o f a g r e a t c o - o r d i n a t
ed w h o le , w il l b e e v o l v e d a h i g h e r m e n t a l o u t l o o k f o r th e m a s s e s
o f th e w o r l d . T h e p e o p l e o f th e f u t u r e w i l l b e in t e lle c t u a lly s u
p e r io r to th e r a c e s o f th e p a s t. F r o m m y r ia d s o f n e w s p a p e r s ,
d a ily , w e e k ly , m o n t h l y , t h e r e h a s p o u r e d o u t u p o n th e w o r l d a
m a m m o t h s t r e a m o f lit e r a r y m a t t e r , s o m e o f g r e a t a n d m u c h o f
le sse r v a lu e . S i d e b y s id e w it h th is th e r e h a s b e e n p la c e d u p o n
th e lit e r a r y m a r k e t a n e n d le s s s t r e a m o f b o o k s . A l l th e k n o w l
e d g e o f th e p a s t h a s b e e n r e v e a le d a n d p l a c e d in th e h a n d s o f th e
p e o p le . T h e m i n d o f m a n h a s b e e n p l a y e d u p o n b y th is t e r r ific
s tre a m o f id e a s . Its v i b r a t io n h a s b e e n a c c e le r a t e d to a d e g r e e
g r e a te r th a n a ll th e p r e v i o u s a g e s h a v e p r o d u c e d .
— A f t e r th e G r e a t W a r . —
W i t h th e c o m i n g o f th e g r e a t w a r a ll p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a s
w e r e je tt is o n e d , o r a t le a s t p l a c e d in th e c r u c ib le , to b e r e c a s t b y
th e r e fin e r ’s fire . A n d n o w w h e n th e t it a n ic s t r u g g le h a s e n d e d ,
a n d o n c e m o r e th e r e ig n o f p e a c e is e s t a b lis h e d t h r o u g h th e
in its d e p t h s a ll th e s w a m p s o f ig n o r a n c e a n d p r e ju d ic e .
T h e t h ir s t in g m in d o f h u m a n it y w i l l s e a r c h o u t th e c a u s e s
o f a ll th in g s , a n d th e m a s s e s w i l l d e m a n d th e r ig h t to le a r n
a ll th a t th e w o r l d ’s b e s t m e n h a v e t a u g h t in a ll d ir e c t io n s .
N o m o r e w i l l th e p e o p l e b e s a tis fie d w it h s to n e s f o r b r e a d , b u t
w ill d e m a n d th e r ic h n u t r it io u s m e n t a l f o o d th a t w il l e n a b le t h e m
to g r o w a n d d e v e l o p u n til t h e y c a n fa c e th e u n iv e r s e as f e l l o w
m e m b e r s o f a m ig h t y w o r l d - o r d e r o f w h i c h t h e y f o r m a p a r t,
u n d e r s t a n d in g th e u n iv e r s e , w o r s h i p p i n g in a n e n lig h t e n e d m a n
n e r th e A u t h o r o f a ll th in g s , a n d f u lf i ll i n g e a c h h is r ig h t fu l p a r t
in th e g r e a t s c h e m e o f th in g s .
T h e r e a r e n o lim it s to th e d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e m in d o f m a n ;
m ilia r s tu d ie s o f th e m a n in th e street. T h e b o o k s o f th e fu t u r e
w a n t to k n o w th e in n e r c a u s e s o f a ll th in g s . T h e n s h a ll th is o n e
l a w h o l d g o o d , th a t o n th e h e e ls o f th a t d e s ir e f o r lig h t s h a ll
c o m e th e f u lf illm e n t o f th a t w is h , a n d th e k n o w l e d g e o f th e u n i
v e r s e s h a ll c o v e r th e e a r t h as th e w a t e r s c o v e r th e sea. T h e r e is
n o c la s h b e t w e e n r e lig io n a n d s c ie n c e , p h ilo s o p h y , e c o n o m ic s , o r
p o lit ic s , e x c e p t in th e m in d s o f b ig o t s a n d m a te r ia lis ts , a n d b y
th o s e w h o f e a r th a t t h e y w i l l s u ffe r w h e n th e m a s s e s r is e . B u t
n o t h i n g n o w c a n s t o p o r h i n d e r th is in t e lle c t u a l a w a k e n in g , a n d
it is g o o d to liv e in s u c h a n a g e .
302 A zoth
GTtoentp jffle£&age$
M E S S A G E S E V E N
W e had been reading Matt. 1 7 / 2 1 : "• • • this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting.” One asked:
“ Have the Guides any thought to add to that beautiful verse” ?
T h e r e a r e m a n y w h o m i g h t h a v e a s k e d s u c h a q u estion ,
m i g h t w e l l a s k t h e m s e lv e s t h e q u e s t i o n : “ W h o a m I ” ? W e r e
t h e y a b le to a n s w e r th e q u e s t io n t h e y w o u l d l iv e th e ir liv e s on
th is E a r t h P l a n e in a v e r y d iff e r e n t m a n n e r . W e r e th e y to ask
t h e m s e lv e s th e q u e s t io n “ W h o a m I ” ? a n d th e a n s w e r c a m e b a c k :
“ Y o u a r e p a r t o f th e G r e a t D i v i n e ” ? w o u l d t h e y n o t b u ild w ith
g r e a t e r c a r e ?
“You realize, do you not, the struggles of humanity to grasp these truths
and the density of present interpretation” ?
Y e s l P e r h a p s i g n o r a n c e is n o t s o m u c h a t f a u lt as c o n c e it.
“W ill you kindly explain what Jesus meant by Prayer and Fasting” ?
P r a y e r a n d F a s t in g I A s t h e r e a r e n e v e r t w o le a v e s a lik e on
a tr e e s o t h e w a n t s o f m a n k i n d a r e n e v e r t h e s a m e . T o o n e , fa st
i n g m a y b e th e a b s t in e n c e f r o m m a t e r ia l th in g s . T o th e m a n
w h o h a s a l lo w e d h is b u s in e s s to b e c o m e h is m a s t e r , th a t, to h im ,
w o u l d b e a f o r m o f fa s t in g . T o th e d r u n k a r d , th e g i v i n g u p o f
d r i n k w o u l d a ls o b e fa s t in g . S o t h e r e a r e n o t w o c a s e s p a r a lle l.
th is G r e a t T r u t h . Anyone, i n p r o p o r t i o n t o h i s p r a y e r a n d fa st
A s k a n d y e s h a ll r e c e i v e ; k n o c k a n d it s h a ll b e o p e n e d u n to
Just to the height to which you can send your prayers, just
y o u .
to that height can you reach out and grasp the great truth.
T h e v ib r a t io n s a r e v e r y b e a u t if u l h e r e th is e v e n i n g — th ey
a r e s u c h v ib r a t io n s o f p e a c e , a n d l o v e a n d h a r m o n y . W e s e e m to
l o n g n o t e v e n to b r e a k th is b e a u t if u l s ile n c e , e v e n w it h th e s o u n d
o f a h u m a n v o i c e . W e c a r r ie d y o u e a c h a n d e v e r y o n e o u t a n d
g a v e y o u a s lig h t g l im p s e o f T h e B e y o n d . T h i s w a s s im p ly a
L i t t le J o u r n e y — ju s t e n o u g h to m a k e y o u l o n g f o r m o r e .
“ Is it possible that our vibrations can add anything to the happiness of our
Guides” ?
Y e s l W h e n in l o w e r v ib r a t io n s w e w h o a r e o n th e H i g h e r
A zoth 303
P la n e s c a n n o t r e a c h d o w n a n d h e lp . W o r r y o r a n g e r w il l c lo u d
o u r w a y a n d w e c a n n o t p e n e t r a t e y o u r a t m o s p h e r e . B u t w e a r e
v e r y h a p p y to s a y — t h r o u g h y o u r l o v e f o r u s— y o u r is e h i g h a n d
w e a re a lw a y s w it h y o u . N o t a lo n e b y y o u r w o r d s a r e y o u d o i n g
g o o d , b u t b y b r e a t h i n g o u t l o v e f o r a ll m a n k in d .
‘‘Our Guides realize then that thoughts of love, even to the people on the
street, though unexpressed, are recorded and heard by them” f
O f t e n n o t t h o s e y o u m e e t o n th e s tre e t— v e r y o ft e n t h e y a r e
in s u c h l o w v ib r a t io n s . T h e y ( t h e l o v i n g t h o u g h t s ) a r e n e v e r
lo st. T h e y fin d r o o t in s o m e h e a r t l o n g i n g f o r s u c h a v ib r a t io n .
N e v e r a k in d w o r d n o r a l o v i n g t h o u g h t is lo st. A n d it a ls o h a s
b irth .
“Kindly give us a little light on the sentences: 'Do not seek' and Let your
light shine' and ‘Spread the message there is no death/ “
Y e s ! Y o u r a n s w e r is g i v e n in y o u r firs t q u e s t io n : “ L e t y o u r
L i g h t so s h in e .” T a k e f o r e x a m p l e th e s u n in th e h e a v e n s , s h in in g
fo r t h , s p r e a d i n g g l a d t id in g s , w a r m i n g th e e a r th , b r i n g i n g fo r t h
v e g e t a t io n — f r u it — a ll to th e sta te o f p e r f e c t io n . T h i s is th e
h o ld it s te a d y , ju s t as th e s u n t h r o w s th e r a y s o n t o th e e a r th , s o
so f e w w h o h o l d t h e ir l ig h t s t e a d y — w h o f o c u s th e ir l ig h t u p o n
m a n k in d . T h e y t r y b y t h e ir o w n f o r c e to d r a w . O n e m u s t
n e v e r f o r g e t : th a t is a n im a l m a g n e t is m , in s te a d o f S p ir it u a l
L ig h t .
N o ! P e r h a p s a m o r e correct w o r d w o u l d b e physical m a g
h i g h e r v ib r a t io n s , t h e y a r e n o t u s in g th e S p ir it u a l L ig h t . T h e y
a r e still l a b o r i n g in th e m a t e r ia l p la n e .
Y e s ; F o r e x a m p l e : th e m a n w h o s la v e s — p u ts fo r t h e v e r y
e n e r g y to a c c u m u la t e a f o r t u n e : y o u c a n n o t s a y h e is la b o r in g o n
th e S p ir it u a l P la n e , a n d y e t in o r d e r to d o so h e m u s t b e d r a w in g
f r o m s o m e m a g n e t ic f o r c e o r p o w e r . H e m u s t c o m e in c o n t a c t
w it h c e r t a in m a t e r ia l v ib r a t io n s in o r d e r to d r a w to h im s e lf th is
m a t e r ia l g a in . T h e m a n w h o h a s r e a liz e d h is p o w e r is n o t s e e k -
- ■
304 A zo th
in g — h e is s i m p ly h o l d i n g h is l ig h t — b e t h a t l ig h t f o r m a te ria l
g a in o r f o r s p ir it u a l g a i n — h e is h o l d i n g h is l ig h t s te a d y , a n d at
t r a c t in g o t h e r s to it.
I f y o u h a v e a m a c h i n e , a n d t h e e n g i n e is o u t o f o r d e r , y ou
w o u l d s c a r c e ly o f f e r u p a p r a y e r — y o u w o u l d q u ie t ly ta k e off
y o u r c o a t a n d t r y to r e p a ir th e d a m a g e d o n e . W e m u s t n o t fo r
w o n d e r f u l p i e c e o f m e c h a n is m . O f t e n th e m i n d is n o t m e n ta lly
p o is e d e n o u g h to r e a d ju s t th e m a c h i n e r y . T h e n w h y a sk w h a t
m e a n s s h a ll b e u s e d ? T h e m a in q u e s t io n i s : t h a t th e d a m a g e s are
r e p a ir e d , a n d th a t th e m a c h i n e is a g a in in o r d e r .
“ In spitting on the clay and placing it on the lad’s eyes, Christ did not then
merely express his contempt for matter” ?
N o ! I t w a s o n l y th e la c k o f f a it h — H e m e a n t o n ly la c k o f
F a i t h ! W h e n o n e h a s a b s o lu t e ly F a it h a n d T r u s t — w h e n th ey
a r e a b s o lu t e ly in T u n e a n d R h y t h m , th is H o m e o f th e S o u l w ill
n o t b e o u t o f r e p a ir . B u t w h e n d i s c o r d c o m e s , th e n it is— th e
q u e s t io n th e n a r is e s h o w b e s t to r e a d ju s t it. A s w e s a id b e fo r e :
ju s t as t h e r e a r e n o t w o le a v e s th e s a m e , s o t h e r e a r e n o t w o h u
m a n b in g s a lik e . W h i l e th e D i v i n e S p a r k is in t h e m — is fr o m
th e s a m e F o u n t a in h e a d — y e t t h e ir p r o b l e m s a r e s o e n t ir e ly d i f
fe r e n t.
"Wouldn’t a realization of this fact make men love each other more” ?
Y e s ! B u t th e G r e a t D r a w i n g V i b r a t i o n m u s t a lw a y s b e the
C h r is t S p ir it W i t h i n T h e m .
“Wars and rumors of wars— hell and Satan of M an’s own invention un
loosed to plague the stricken world. Shall the sentence of death be eternally pro
claimed against those who stand in the way of heaven’s decrees, or shall man
rise in rebellion against the powers of evil” ?
C a r l y l e — Automatically.
A zo th 305
Occult ¡fetorp
A S O U T H A F R I C A N G H O S T S T O R Y
B y G erda C a l m a d y -H a m l y n
( C o n c l u d e d )
H e s le p t f o r s o m e t im e — o n e — t w o — t h r e e h o u r s p e r h a p s ;
th e n a w o k e w it h a s ta rt a n d a s h iv e r .
H e * — th e m o s t h a r d e n e d a n d s t r o n g -n e r v e d o f A f r i c a n e x
p lo r e r s — f o u n d h i m s e lf l y in g th e r e “ a ll o f a t r e m b le ” a m id s t
th e e n s h r o u d i n g d a r k n e s s , lis t e n in g w it h s t r a in in g e a r s to a
w h o le c o n c o u r s e o f c u r io u s s o u n d s — g r u n t in g , s n o r t in g , r o o t in g ,
a n d s n u fflin g as t h o u g h th e sty e in w h i c h h e h a d ta k e n r e fu g e
w e r e f u ll to th e v e r y d o o r s w it h w a l l o w i n g p ig s .
W h a t c o u l d th e s t r a n g e n o is e m e a n ? M i g h t th e K a ffirs , b y
a n y c h a n c e , h a v e d r i v e n in a h e r d th e w h i l e h e la y a s le e p , if s o it
w a s a s in g u la r ly a w k w a r d p r e d i c a m e n t ! H e r e a lly m u s t s tr ik e a
m a t c h a n d see. S o , f u m b l i n g in h is in s id e p o c k e t , h e f o u n d , to
h is g r e a t r e lie f, a b o x o f w a x v e s ta s , w h i c h — d e s p it e th e s e r io u s
w e t t in g t h e ir o w n e r h a d r e c e iv e d — still r e m a in e d d r y a n d u s e -
a b le . H e s t r u c k o n e , a n d g l a n c e d n e r v o u s ly a r o u n d ; th e s h e d
a p p e a r e d p e r f e c t l y e m p t y . N o t a c r e a t u r e w a s to b e se e n , n o t
a pig o f a n y s o r t o r k i n d — n o t s o m u c h as a v e n t u r e s o m e r a t o r a
c r e e p in g c h i r p i n g l i z a r d ; h e m u s t s u r e ly h a v e d r e a m t o r fa n c ie d
th o s e e x t r a o r d i n a r y n o is e s ; h is b r a in n o d o u b t h a d b e e n o v e r
e x c it e d b y fa t ig u e a n d y e s t e r d a y ’s l o n g m a r c h . S o — off to s le e p
a g a in .
A n d , o n c e m o r e , h e w a s a w a k e n e d to u n s p e a k a b le h o r r o r
a n d d is g u s t b y th e s o u n d o f “ C h o o g — c h o o g — c h o o g — ” a ll
a r o u n d h im , s n o r t in g , g r u n t in g , g u z z l i n g , as t h o u g h d o z e n s o f
e n o r m o u s p o r k e r s w e r e h u s t lin g a n d p u s h in g o n e a n o t h e r in -a n d -
o u t th e s t r a w in q u e s t o f s o m e lu s c io u s m o r s e l o r o t h e r ; th e in
d r a w i n g m o t io n o f c o v e t o u s t o n g u e s — c r u n c h i n g o f b o n e s — th e n ,
o n c e a g a in , th a t l a p — l a p — l a p p i n g n o is e a c r o s s th e stilln e s s ,
w h i c h p a r t ic u la r ly g o t o n h is n e r v e s .
h is d u t i f u l n ie c e o p e n ly .e x p r e s s e d h e r d is g u s t. S h e , as y o u know ,
is a f o u l - m o u t h e d , n a g g i n g v i r a g o , P i e t , a s u l l e n b u l l y . T h in g s
w e r e n o t g o i n g v e r y w e l l j u s t t h e n u p o n t h e f a r m , t h e y h a d had
o n e o r t w o b a d s e a s o n s ; a lit t le r e a d y m o n e y in h a n d w o u l d prove
e x c e e d in g ly u se fu l.
In th e en d , I d o n ’t k n o w e x a ctly what h a p p e n e d , b u t the
s to ry g o e s th at, o n e e v e n in g , P i e t h a d drunk deep ( a s h e does
s o m e t i m e s ) ; M e v r o u w w a s in o n e o f h e r w o r s t t e m p e r s , th e o ld
m a n w a i l i n g lik e a f r e t f u l c h i l d in p a in . T o “ s to p h is n o is e ” and
in a d v e r t a n t ly s e r v e t h e ir o w n p u r p o s e , th e v i l la i n o u s p a ir p ick ed
u p th e o l d f e l l o w as h e l a y o n h is s i c k b e d a n d c a r r i e d h i m across
th e y a r d to t h e p ig - s t y e , w h e r e t h e y l a i d h i m d o w n o n a b u n d le of
le a v e s an d straw .
T here are no p ig s now on P ie t V a n D e r k e n ’s f a r m as he
v e r y t r u l y in f o r m e d y o u , b u t in th o s e d a y s th e p la c e w a s fa m e d
f o r a p a r t i c u l a r b r e e d o f s w in e — g r e a t , r a w - b o n e d , b r is t ly h a ire d
b ru te s, a lm o s t as b i g as a g r e y w o l f a n d v e r y n e a r ly as sav a ge.
W e l l , th e K a ffir s d r o v e in th e h e r d as u s u a l t h a t e v e n in g ,
P ie t Van D erken d id an unusual th in g fo r him— m et th e
d r o v e r s c o m i n g b a c k w i t h t h e i r c h a r g e s a t t h e o u t e r g a t e o f th e
yard and himself h u s tle d th e p ig s o ff to t h e ir stye. H e l o c k e d th e
d o o r u p o n t h e m a n d s a id n o t h i n g to a n y b o d y , m u c h lo u d g r u m
b li n g a n d s q u e a lin g w a s h e a r d d u r in g th e e v e n in g , m in g le d w ith
a c r y or tw o th at sou n d ed s t r a n g e ly h u m a n , b u t th e K a ffirs , if
th e y lis te n e d at all p a i d l i t t le a t t e n t io n to e it h e r , o n ly , w h e n th ey
w e n t in th e m o r n i n g to l e t o u t t h e h e r d , o n e o f t h e m fo u n d --!
W e ll, p e r h a p s as y o u r E n g lis h proverb h a s it, “ t h e le a s t said
soonest m e n d e d ,” M evrouw Van D e r k e n ’s a n c ie n t r e la t iv e w a s
n e v e r seen a g a in ; th in g s, (o d d ly en o u gh ) grew m o r e flo u rish
in g a t th e f a r m d u r in g h is a b s e n c e ; d e b ts w e r e p a id o f f ; m o n ey
se e m e d r e a d y a t h a n d , P ie t b e c a m e a s h a d e o r tw o m o r e su rly
a n d v i c i o u s , i f s u c h w e r e p o s s i b l e — t h a t is a l l . B u t if you m en
tio n pigs, th e m e r e word in h is h e a r in g , w e l l , I ’m to ld ’ t is as
m u c h a s y o u r l i f e is w o r t h ; P i e t i s a s a v a g e f e l l o w !
“ Y o u lo o k fa in t, E n g la n d e r — w e ll, a n d r e a lly I d o n ’t w o n
d e r ” ! e x p la in e d y o u n g J a k o b L i e b e r t a f t e r a p a u s e , t a k i n g h is
c ig a r e t t e f r o m h is m o u th a n d g la n c i n g f u r t i v e l y o u t o f th e c o rn e r
o f o n e e y e a t h is s u r p r is e d a n d h o r r o r - s t r ic k e n c o m p a n io n . ’T i s
a h o rrid sto ry, su re e n o u g h , th o u g h I ’v e h e a r d it p retty' o ften .
C o m e r o u n d to t h e b a r a n d l e t ’ s h a v e a g o o d s t i f f w h i s k e y a n d
s o d a to g e t th e ta ste o u t o f o u r m o u t h s . A s y o u say it m a y not
really b e true.”
A zoth 309
F r a n k C . H iggins , 3 2 0 A . A . S . R .
Past Master, Ivanhoe N o. 6 1 0 , N ew York
In o r d e r to a p p r e c ia t e th e tru e re la tio n of th e f o r e g o in g
g e o m e t r i c a l f o r m s to th e s y m b o li s m s a n d a p h o r is m s o f a n c ie n t
r e l i g i o n a n d p h i l o s o p h y , i t is n e c e s s a r y to s t u d y t h e m in s y n th e s is .
T h a t is t o s a y , b y g r o u p i n g t h e m a l l t o g e t h e r , i n t h e s e n s e s o f
th e ir n a t u r a l r e la t io n s , o n e to a n o t h e r , so t h a t w e m a y p e r c e i v e
th e e n g e n d e r i n g th ereb y o f th e o c c u lt fo rm s w h ic h are th ose
g e o m e trica l fig u re s lin k in g to g eth er th eo rem s so to ta lly d is
s im ila r, th a t th e ir r e la tio n s h ip w o u ld n o t b e o r d in a r ily su sp ected .
W h e n s u c h f i g u r e s c a n , in t u r n b e s h o w n to b e th e f u n d a m e n t a l
can ons o f c o sm ic la w , w e m a y fe e l assured t h a t w e a r e in th e
p resen ce o f th e u ltim a te m y s te r y fa th o m a b le b y m o rta l m an .
I t w i l l b e r e m a r k e d , a s w e p r o c e e d t h a t t h e r e is a c l o s e , n o t
to s a y i n s e p a r a b l e r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e “ s a c r e d ” G e o m e t r y o f t h e
a n c ie n t w o r l d a n d th e n u m e r o lo g y o f th e a n cie n ts. T h e uses o f
th e la tte r , p a r t i c u l a r l y as gematria, w e r e p r i n c i p a l l y to r e c o r d
an d c o n c e a l th e m a r v e ls o f th e fo rm e r .
D u r i n g th e v a s t p e r io d o f tim e in w h i c h th e S u n o f o u r u n i
v e rse w a s u n e q u i v o c a ll y h a ile d as th e s u p r e m e D e i t y th e r e o f an d
f o u n t a in o f a l l i n t e l l i g e n c e o r w is d o m , h u m a n as w e l l as d i v i n e ,
it w a s th e f u n c t i o n o f m a n y s y m b o ls to r e f e r th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t
fu n c t io n s o f N a t u r e to a s o la r o r i g i n o r in s p ir a t io n . L a t e r , w h e n
as th e f r u i t o f ir r e s i s t a b l e l o g i c a p p l i e d to a s t r o l o g i c a l p r e s u m p
tio n s, th e a s s u m p t io n o f a d e s c e n t o f th e r u l i n g s p i r i t o f th e S u n
to a f l e s h l y c a r e e r b e c a m e th e c h i e f h u m a n s p e c u l a t i o n , t h e s a m e
g e o m e t r i c a l a n d a r i t h m e t i c a l m y s t i c is m w a s d r a w n u p o n as th e
so u rce o f th e ir c re d e n tia ls an d th e y p r o v e d w h o an d w h a t th e y
w e r e t o t h e i r d i s c i p l e s b y u t t e r i n g p a r a b l e s a n d logia, w h i c h
c o u ld n o t f a i l to b e r e c o g n i z e d b y a d e p t s as th e p e c u l i a r k e y
w o r d s o f S o la r m yth o s.
T h e f u n c t io n s o f th e S u n , as th e a c t u a l c r e a t i v e a g e n c y , b y
a n d t h r o u g h w h ic h , a ll th in g s te rre s tia l h a d c o m e in to b e in g an d
w e r e c o n t in u o u s ly s u s ta in e d in t h e ir l if e p ro c e sse s, w e r e a r r iv e d
at, b y t h e w is e , l o n g b e f o r e th e f a c t s c o n c e r n i n g th e a c t u a l p r o
cesses h a d b e e n a s c e r t a in e d , b y m e a n s o f s u c h a b s t r a c t s c ie n c e s as
c h e m is try , g e o lo g y , b io lo g y a n d th e lik e .
T h e c u lt o f th e “ G r e a t A r c h i t e c t o f th e U n iv e r s e ,” w h ic h
3 io A zo th
o n o p p o s it e s id e s o f o u r E a r t h in s i l e n t t e s t i m o n y to f u t u r e g e n e r
a tio n s. D i v i d i n g th e l a r g e c ir c le b y tw o s m a lle r ones, e a c h c o n
t a in in g e x a c t l y o n e q u a r t e r o f its a r e a , w e r e m a r k th e m a n n e r in
w h ic h th e p y r a m id tr ia n g le s , seen p o i n t to p o in t in th e la r g e
sq u a re a re c r e a t e d b a se to b a se in th e s m a ll c ir c le s . T h e c irc le
d i v i d e d in t o t w o p a r t s b y a l i n e d i v i d i n g its d i a m e t e r in t o t h r e e
a n d f iv e p a r t s , r e s p e c t i v e l y , is o n e o f t h e m o s t a n c i e n t a n d w i d e l y
d istrib u te d S o la r s y m b o ls in th e w o r ld and a p ro p o rtio n u n i
v e r s a lly r e c o g n iz e d b y A r t is t s a n d A r c h i t e c t s as th e m o st h a r
m o n io u s d iv is io n o f lin e s o r sp aces, th e fa m o u s “ G o ld e n m e a n ,”
3 to 5. T h e p y r a m id a l tr ia n g le s , w h i c h it co n ta in s, r e -c o m b in e
in to tw o o b lo n g s , o n e 3 x 4 a n d th e o t h e r 4 x 5 .
T 1 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 II m u
S \ T \ 6 s —
11! 1111111 1
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A n c i e n t S o l a r S y m b o l s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e " S q u a r e d C i r c l e ."
Higfjer iEfjougtjt
T H E L A W OF CORRESPON DEN CE
B y E u g en e D el M ar.
th o u g h t c a u s e s h e is c o n s t a n t ly s e t t in g in m o t io n o r th e p h y s ic a l
resu lts th a t h e is t h e r e b y in v it in g . O n e p la n t s o n io n s a n d e x p e c t s
a p p le s to g r o w ; o r s o w s t o a d s t o o ls a n d e x p e c t s to r e a p m u s h
r o o m s . O r m o r e f r e q u e n t ly , o n e s c a tte rs a lo t o f m is c e lla n e o u s
a n d u n k n o w n s e e d s a n d is a m a z e d a t th e n o n d e s c r ip t h a r v e s t
th a t s p r in g s u p .
A b s t r a c t t h o u g h t s h a v e b u t s lig h t p o w e r . F le e t in g a n d
e ffe r v e s c e n t t h o u g h t s p r o d u c e b u t s c a n t e ffe c t. I t is th e g e n e r a l
ly p r e v a ilin g a t t it u d e o f m in d t h a t is o f m o s t im p o r t a n c e . I t is
th e s p ir it u a l e le m e n t t h a t g iv e s q u a lit y to t h o u g h t , a n d th e
e m o t io n a l f a c t o r t h a t c o n f e r s p o w e r u p o n it. W h e n o n e p u t s
lo v e a n d e n t h u s ia s m in t o h is t h o u g h t it b e c o m e s d y n a m ic , c r e a
tiv e a n d c o n s t r u c t iv e .
E a c h o f u s p r e f e r s to e x is t in a w e ll - a p p o i n t e d r e s id e n c e .
W h y n o t m a k e o u r p h y s ic a l h o m e a n e x p r e s s io n o f b e a u t y a n d
h a r m o n y ? W h y n o t fa s h io n th e b o d y in t o a h a b it a t io n w h e r e in
o n e m a y l iv e in c o m f o r t ? I f it is c r a m p e d , ten se, d is jo in t e d , d i
la p id a t e d a n d g e n e r a l l y u n c o m f o r t a b le , m u s t n o t th e s p ir it u a l
o c c u p a n t e x p r e s s its e lf p h y s i c a l ly in te r m s o f th e b o d y it in
h a b it s ? I f th e b o d y is d is e a s e d , o r o u t o f ea se , m u s t n o t th a t
w h i c h e x p r e s s e s , o r p r e s s e s o u t , t h o u g h th e b o d y c o n f o r m to its
p e c u lia r it ie s ? T h e s h a p e o f th e m o u l d m u s t d e t e r m in e th e
s h a p e o f th e product.
H o w m a y th is b e r e m e d i e d ? O n l y b y c h a n g i n g th e b o d y .
A n d h o w m a y th is b e d o n e ? B y c h a n g i n g th e t h o u g h t . A n d
h o w m u s t it b e c h a n g e d ? B y c o n s t a n t in d u lg e n c e in c o n s t r u c t iv e ,
o p t im is t ic , p o s it iv e , h e a lt h f u l t h o u g h t . N o p e r s o n w i l l d e n y
th e d e s t r u c t iv e r e s u lt o f n e g a t iv e t h o u g h t . I s it n o t s tr a n g e th a t
p e o p l e d o n o t a s f r e e l y r e a liz e th e c o n s t r u c t iv e r e s u lt o f p o s it iv e
t h o u g h t ? O n e is e x a c t ly as t r u e as th e o t h e r ; th e L a w o p e r a t e s
to c r e a t e o r to d e s t r o y .
O n e d o e s n o t h a v e to t h in k a p p e n d ic it is in o r d e r to g e t it.
O n e d o e s n o t o r d i n a r i l y in v it e a c o l d b y s a y in g “ I w a n t a c o l d .”
F e v e r s d o n o t a lw a y s v is it o n e m e r e ly b e c a u s e h e c a lls t h e m b y
t h e ir first n a m e s , a l t h o u g h s u c h f a m ilia r it y is a p t to b e d a n g e r
o u s . D is e a s e c o m e s as th e r e s u lt o f a t h o u g h t c a u s e o f w h ic h
d is e a s e is th e c o r r e la t e d r e s u lt. F e a r t h o u g h t is th e d o m in a n t
c a u s e o f a ll p h y s ic a l a ilm e n t s . W i t h o u t fe a r , it w o u l d b e p r a c
t ic a lly im p o s s ib le to h a v e a n y t h in g b u t p e r f e c t h e a lth . A n d fe a r
t h o u g h t s in c lu d e a ll th a t a r e n e g a t iv e , p e s s im is t ic o r d e s tr u c tiv e .
E a c h a t o m o f th e b o d y h a s its i n d iv id u a l in t e llig e n c e , a n d
it r e c o g n i z e s its t h o u g h t m a s te r . E a c h a t o m is im p r e s s io n a b le to
o n e ’s m e n t a l a ttitu d e . I t ta k e s little h e e d o f m e r e w o r d s , b u t
r a t h e r p la c e s tru s t in o n e ’s p r e v a i l in g t h o u g h t as th e c le a r e s t in -
3 16 A zo th
d i c a t io n o f h is d e s ir e s . W h e n o n e is l o o k i n g f o r t r o u b le in any
p a r t i c u la r p a r t o f h is b o d y , t h e in t e r e s t e d a t o m s p r o m p t ly a c
c e p t h is v i e w s a n d d o t h e ir b e s t to a c c o m o d a t e th e m s e lv e s to h is
t h o u g h t c o m m a n d s . I f o n e in d u l g e s in “ c r o o k e d ” th o u g h ts , a ll
th e n a t u r a lly s t r a ig h t a t o m s a c q u i r e a n i m m e d i a t e a m b it io n to be
a s c r o o k e d as h e is. L i k e m a s t e r , lik e s e r v a n t ; t h a t is th e L a w o f
C o r r e s p o n d e n c e .
I f in o n e ’s t h o u g h t t h e U n iv e r s e in w h i c h h e liv e s is r e g a r d
e d as b e i n g d e l ig h t f u l , p le a s a n t a n d h a r m o n i o u s , th e L a w m e a s
u r e s h i m in t e r m s o f h is t h o u g h t a n d d e m o n s t r a t e s to h im that
h e is q u it e r ig h t . I f h is m e n t a l a t t it u d e is to l o o k u p o n it as
h id e o u s , u n p le a s a n t a n d d is c o r d a n t , its r e a c t io n s w i l l c o n v in c e
h i m t h a t h e is n o t m is t a k e n . W h e t h e r o n e r e g a r d s e n v ir o n m e n t
a s b e i n g p le a s a n t o r u n p le a s a n t , d i s c o r d a n t o r h a r m o n io u s , o r
lo o k s u p o n it as o p p o r t u n i t y o r o b s t a c le , th e u n iv e r s a l lo o k in g
g la s s s e n d s b a c k its r e fle c t io n in e x a c t d u p l i c a t i o n o f h is p o in t o f
v i e w . I t is n o r e s p e c t o r o f p e r s o n s ; it ju s tifie s e a c h a n d a ll o f
u s.
E a c h s o - c a lle d p h y s ic a l d is e a s e h a s a m e n t a l c o u n te r p a r t.
S o h a s e a c h c o n d i t io n o f e a s e . T h e m e n t a l b e i n g th e r e a lm o f
c a u s e a n d th e p h y s ic a l th a t o f r e s u lt, c o n d i t io n s o f d is e a s e m a y
b e c h a n g e d to t h o s e o f e a s e b y c h a n g e o f t h o u g h t . W h i l e th e
m e n t a l c o n d i t io n o f b e i n g c h e e r f u l a n d o p t i m i s t ic m a y h e lp m a
t e r ia lly in th is d ir e c t io n , o p t i m i s m a n d c h e e r fu ln e s s a r e o n ly th e
b a b y - t a l k o f m e n t a l o r s p ir it u a l h e a lin g . S o m e o n e h a s s a id :
“ S m ile , b u t k n o w w h i l e y o u s m ile .” T h e t h in k e r w a n t s to k n o w
w h y , a n d is s e e k in g to u n d e r s t a n d th e a r t o r s c ie n c e o f h e a lth ,
o f w h i c h c h e e r fu ln e s s is b u t a m i l d l y p le a s a n t e x p r e s s io n .
T h e r o o t o f fe a r t h o u g h t lie s in t h e b e l ie f in fu n d a m e n t a l
s e p a r a t io n a n d o p p o s i n g in te re s ts , a n d is e v i d e n c e d b y se lfish n e ss
a n d e g o t is m . A l l s u c h t h o u g h t s a r e h a r b in g e r s o f d is c o r d , d is
e a s e a n d d e a t h . T h e r o o t o f c o n t r a s t in g fa it h t h o u g h t lie s in an
u n d e r s t a n d in g o f e s s e n tia l u n it y a n d h a r m o n i o u s in te re s ts , a n d
is e v i d e n c e d in a lt r u is m a n d e g o is m . T h e s e i n d u c e h e a lth ,
h a r m o n y a n d life . E a c h t h o u g h t g r o u p b r in g s b a c k c o r r e s p o n d
e n c e s o f its o w n k in d . I t c a n d o n o t h i n g e ls e .
T h e r e is a h e a lin g a r t o r s c ie n c e , a n d its u n d e r s t a n d in g e n
a b le s o n e to c o n v e r t d is c o r d s in t o h a r m o n y a n d d is e a s e in to
h e a lt h . T h e h e a lin g a r t c o n s is ts in e m p l o y i n g c o n s c io u s ly f o r
c o n s t r u c t iv e p u r p o s e s th e s a m e L a w s t h a t h a v e b e e n p r e v io u s ly
u s e d u n c o n s c i o u s l y as d e s t r u c t iv e a g e n c ie s . O n e m a y tu r n o n an
e le c t r ic l ig h t b y th e s a m e s w it c h t h a t t u r n s it o f f ; o n l y h e g iv e s
it a d iff e r e n t tu r n . O r if b u t t o n s a r e u s e d f o r c o n n e c t io n s , th e
A zoth 317
re su lt w il l d e p e n d u p o n w h i c h b u t t o n is t o u c h e d . H a v i n g
c h o s e n th e c a u s e , t h e r e s u lt h a p p e n s as a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e .
E a c h o f u s w a n t s h e a lt h , p r o s p e r i t y a n d h a p p in e s s . E a c h
w is h e s to t o u c h th e r ig h t b u t t o n o r tu r n th e r ig h t s w it c h . T o d o
th is, o n e m u s t b e c a r e f u l o f h is t h o u g h t s , c u lt iv a t e c o n s t r u c t iv e
id e a s a n d in s p ir e h is id e a s w it h h i g h s p ir it u a l id e a ls . T h e f u n
d a m e n ta ls o f a ll id e a ls a r e th e r e a liz a t io n s o f c o m p le t e u n it y
w ith G o d e v e n to th e p o i n t o f id e n t it y o f th e a b s o lu t e g o o d n e s s
o r b e n e fic e n c e o f th e I n fin it e , a n d o f th e b a s ic h a r m o n y o f th e
U n iv e r s e .
W h e n o n e r e a liz e s th e s e tr u th s , fills h is c o n s c io u s n e s s w it h
c o n s t r u c t iv e t h o u g h t s , d ir e c t s h is t h o u g h t c o n s t a n t ly a n d c o n
th e U n iv e r s e c a n n o t f a il to r e s p o n d in t e r m s o f h e a lt h , h a r m o n y
a n d h a p p in e s s . N o t h i n g e ls e is p o s s ib le . L o v i n g it w it h h e a r t
a n d m in d a n d s o u l, it lo v e s in r e t u r n t h r o u g h its m y r id u n iv e r s a l
a v e n u e s o f e x p r e s s io n .
W h e t h e r it b e h e a lt h o r d is e a s e , o n e c a n r e c e iv e o n ly th a t
w h ic h h e h a s e a r n e d . I f h e a lt h w e r e s o u g h t f o r as d ir e c t ly a n d
p e r s is t e n t ly as d is e a s e is, th e w o r l d w o u l d s o o n b e c h a n g e d w o n -
d r o u s ly f o r th e b e tte r . I f o n e b id s f o r h a te , d is c o r d a n d d is e a s e ,
is it n o t a n e x p r e s s io n o f lo v e th a t h e s h o u ld h a v e w h a t h e w a n t s ?
T h a t is c e r t a in ly th e h u m a n c o n c e p t io n . H e w o u l d n o t b e sa tis
h is w is h . I f h e c h o o s e s th a t m e t h o d o f s o u l u n f o ld m e n t , a n d th e
L a w ju s tifie s h is r e q u e s t b y g r a n t i n g it, w h o c a n s a y th a t th is d o e s
n o t r e p r e s e n t th e a c m e o f l o v e a n d w i s d o m ?
I n h is c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m o f c h o i c e , o n e m a y p r e f e r to in v ite
h e a lt h , h a r m o n y a n d h a p p in e s s . I n th is e v e n t, th e L a w h o n o r s
h is d r a f t in e x a c t ly th e s a m e s p ir it. T h e U n iv e r s e is w o n d r o u s l y
s e n s itiv e , p la s t ic a n d r e s p o n s iv e . O n e m a y a lw a y s a ttr a c t h is
d e s ir e s if h e p la c e s h i m s e lf in h a r m o n y w it h th e L a w , p r e s is te n t-
ly t h in k s o f w h a t h e w a n ts , in v ite s it a n d e x p e c t s it. A l w a y s a n d
e v e r th e U n iv e r s e r e tu r n s in k in d . T h e w it h o u t m u s t b e c o m e a
f a it h f u l r e p lic a o f th e w it h in , a n d th e v is ib le a n e x a c t c o u n t e r
p a r t o f th e in v is ib le .
I t is in th e in v is ib le r e a lm o f t h o u g h t th a t th e w o n d r o u s
p r o c e s s e s o f c o n v e r s io n ta k e p la c e . I t is t h e r e th a t a r e f o r g e d th e
lin k s c o n n e c t in g th e in v is ib le w it h th e v is ib le . Y e s ; “ th e S ile n c e
a n d th e D a r k n e s s k n e w ” ; f o r t h e y w o r k e d in t o th e l o o m o f lif e
th e t h o u g h t s th a t h a d b e e n p la c e d a t t h e ir d is p o s it io n . T h e in
d i v i d u a l m a y c h o o s e h is t h o u g h t , b u t “ th e S ile n c e a n d th e D a r k
n e s s ” h a v e n o c h o i c e . T h e y c a n o n l y e x p r e s s th e d iv in e lo v e
a n d w i s d o m o f th e L a w o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e .
3 i8
A zo th
®o ®()e ¡aspirant
By T h e T orch B ear er
Y o u m u s t k n o w t h a t in th e b e g i n n i n g o f a ll t h in g s e a c h atom
m u s t b e p e r f e c t in o r d e r t h a t th e D i v i n e F a t h e r m a y see H is re
fle c t io n a n d m a n ife s t a t io n .
I f a n y o n e a t o m w h i c h is u s e d b y H i m in H i s m a r v e lo u s
w o r k s w e r e i m p e r f e c t , t h e b e a u t y a n d p e r f e c t i o n o f th e cre a tio n
w o u l d a t s o m e t im e s h o w a m a r u p o n its s u r f a c e in s te a d o f ever
g r o w i n g in t o g r e a t e r lo v e lin e s s a n d p e r f e c t i o n .
I t is o n l y a ft e r m a n ta k e s h o l d o f th e s e a t o m s a n d seek s w h a t
h e c a lls p e r f e c t i n g t h e m , t h a t t h e y b e c o m e w a r p e d , d is to r te d , d is
c o l o r e d a n d u n fit f o r p e r f e c t c r e a t io n s .
M a n k i n d m o ld s t h e m in t o a m a t r ix o f h is c r e a t io n , a n d to
h is i m p e r f e c t e y e s ig h t t h e y s e e m to b l e n d a n d h a r m o n i z e an d
f o r m a c r e a t io n o f b e a u t y . B u t a s t im e g o e s o n h e d is c o v e r s th at
g l o w w it h e q u a l r a d ia n c e to th e rest.
T h e n b e g in s th e p u l l i n g a p a r t o f h is c r e a t io n s — p u t t in g in
n e w b its in p l a c e o f t h o s e w h i c h s e e m to b e i m p e r f e c t . A t la st
th e w h o l e o n c e a g a in s e e m s a ll p e r f e c t io n . B u t s u d d e n ly a n o th e r
t h r e a d b r e a k s , a k n o t s lip s a n d i m p e r f e c t io n s a r e p e r c e iv e d o n c e
m o r e , a n d th e w o r k m u s t c o n t in u o u s l y b e p a t c h e d a n d a lte re d .
D o y o u n o t se e th a t so it is w i t h th e in s t r u m e n ts w h i c h a re to
b e u s e d in th e D i v i n e S e r v ic e . T h e y m u s t b e te s te d , h e r e , th ere,
in e v e r y w a y , a l o n g a ll lin e s , u n t il t h e M a s t e r B u i l d e r a c c e p ts
t h e m as b e i n g w o r t h y o f H i s u s e a n d to b e r e lie d u p o n f o r ta k in g
H i s m a t e r ia l a n d b l e n d i n g a n d h a r m o n i z i n g it in t o a p e r fe c t
w h o le .
T h i n k o f th is w h e n y o u g r o w w e a r y a n d fa in t -h e a r t e d a n d
fe e l th a t th e tests a r e n e v e r e n d in g . D w e l l r a t h e r u p o n th e g lo r y
w h i c h is y o u r s in h a v i n g b e e n s e le c t e d a s a n in s t r u m e n t to b e
t e m p e r e d a n d fitte d to th e h a n d o f th e D i v i n e D e s ig n e r .
I k n o w th e w a y s e e m s l o n g a n d th e tr ia ls m a n y . L o o k
a h e a d ! S e e w h a t is in f r o n t o f y o u ! G a z e u p a n d o u t — not b a c k
a n d d o w n .
Y o u a r e n e a r in g th e m o u n t a in t o p a n d h a v e n a u g h t to d o
w it h th e lif e w h i c h w a s y o u r s w h e n in th e v a lle y s .
S i n g a s o n g o f t r i u m p h !
L e t j o y v ib r a t e t h r o u g h y o u r v o i c e — l o v e b e a m t h r o u g h y o u r
e y e s a n d f lo o d th e w o r l d w it h th e s u n s h in e o f y o u r h a p p in e s s .
A zo th 319
®f)eosopincal ®alk$
L E T T E R S T H A T M A Y H E L P Y O U
1
B y A sek a
N u m b e r 8
N o w th a t I h a v e g iv e n y o u s o m e d a ta r e g a r d in g th e d o c
trin e o f r e -in c a r n a t io n , le t u s ta k e u p th e m a in t h r e a d a n d s h o w
h o w th is t e a c h in g o f r e - e m b o d im e n t fits in th e g e n e r a l s c h e m e .
H . P . B la v a t s k y s a id in e ffe c t ( I h a v e n ’t th e e x a c t q u o t a t io n
h a n d y ) : I m a g i n e a r a y o f L I G H T ( “ A t m a , ” “ S p ir it ,” “ O v e r -
S o u l ” ) s t r ik in g o n a m i r r o r ( “ M a n a s ,” “ M a n , ” “ E g o , ” “ H u m a n
S o u l ” ), a n d b e i n g r e fle c t e d f r o m th a t m ir r o r b n to a l u m p o f
c la y ( p h y s i c a l m a n ) . T h a t is a r o u g h illu s t r a t io n o f w h a t w e
c a ll “ m a n ,” “ h u m a n it y .”
L e t u s t r y a n o t h e r : F a u lt w a s f o u n d w it h H e n r y I r v i n g (th e
g r e a t E n g li s h a c t o r ) f o r n o t l o s in g h is id e n t it y in th e v a r io u s
p a r ts h e p o r t r a y e d ; h is individuality w a s so m a r k e d , so p o w e r
fu l th a t, in s te a d o f L o u is X I , H a m le t , W o l s e y , e tc ., b e i n g o n th e
sta g e , it w a s I r v i n g acting th e p a r t. T h i s m a y m a k e it p la in to
y o u w h a t w e m e a n b y th e “ I n d i v i d u a l i t y ” — th e “ E g o . ”
T h e “ E g o ” (t h e ‘ I a m I ’ f e e li n g in e v e r y o n e o f u s ) is th e
( lik e I r v i n g p l a y i n g H a m l e t y e s t e r d a y , L o u is X I t o d a y , W o l s e y
t o m o r r o w ) in h is p r e v io u s lif e (h is l i f e ’s y e s t e r d a y ) liv e d a n d
a c t e d th e c h a r a c t e r , sa y , o f a n a r is to c r a t in F r a n c e o f th e 18 th
c e n t u r y , t o d a y is in th e c h a r a c t e r , sa y , o f a lit e r a r y o r o t h e r p r o
fe s s io n a l m a n , t o m o r r o w m a y b e in th e c h a r a c t e r o f a n o t h e r ty p e .
H e , th e r e a l in n e r M A N ( c a ll e d in t h e o s o p h ic a l lit e r a t u r e
“ M a n a s a - p u t r a ” — S o n s o f M i n d ) is th e individual w h o is th e
T h e p h y s ic a l a n im a l-m a n in w h i c h th is I n d i v i d u a l r e -in c a r
n a te s is t h e “ p e r s o n a lit y .”
I n t h e o s o p h ic a l b o o k s y o u w i l l fin d m e n t io n o f 7 “ p r i n c i
p le s ” in c o n n e c t io n w it h “ M a n , ” a n d as s o m e o f th e n a m e s f o r
th e s e “ p r i n c ip l e s ” g iv e n b y th e v a r io u s w r it e r s a r e n o t th e s a m e ,
th e s t u d e n t is l ik e ly to b e c o n f u s e d . I h a v e f o u n d th e f o l l o w i n g
th e s im p le s t w a y o f p r e s e n t in g th e s u b je c t ; it m a y h e lp y o u .
T h i n k o f th e “ E g o ” ( H u m a n S o u l, T h in k e r , M a n a s a r e
Spirit ( A t m a , a r a y o f th e A b s o lu t e ) c lo t h e d in a b o d y ( f o r w a n t
320 A zoth
o f a b e t t e r t e r m ) o r v e h i c l e c a l le d Spiritual Soul ( B u d d h i) ,
is a t t a c h e d f o r th e p e r i o d o f a n e a r t h - lif e .
T h i s p h y s ic a l a n im a l, o r a n i m a l - m a n , is f o r m e d o n a b o d y
( A s t r a l B o d y — w h i c h is in v is ib le to u s ) le ft b y a p r e v io u s h u
m a n i t y w h o s e s c e n e o f e v o l u t io n w a s t h e M o o n ( in th o s e tim e s
v e r y m u c h la r g e r t h a n it is n o w ) ; h e n c e th e n a m e o f th is M o o n -
h u m a n it y — L u n a r P it r is ( M o o n F a t h e r s ) . T h e co n s c io u s n e s s
( A n i m a l S o u l ) o f th is a n i m a l - m a n is m e r e l y t h a t o f “ d e s ir e ” an d
‘ p a s s io n .” ( I m a y b e w r o n g , b u t m y s t u d y o f C h r is t ia n S c ie n c e
le a d s m e to b e l ie v e th a t th is “ a n i m a l - m a n ” is id e n t ic a l w it h the
“ m o r t a l m a n ” o f th e C h r is t ia n S c ie n t is t . A n y h o w , th e “ a n im a l-
T h i s p h y s ic a l a n i m a l - m a n h a d n o in t e lle c t , n o m in d , n o
r e a s o n in g p o w e r u n t il th e e n t it y w e c a ll th e “ E g o ” ( w h i c h is a
m a n k i n d ” — a n i m a l - m e n — h a s b e e n to d e v e l o p a b u n c h o f n e rv e
m a t t e r in t o a b r a in , a n o r g a n w it h w h i c h to “ t h in k ” w it h th e
f u r t h e r r e s u lt t h a t th e a n i m a l -m a n t h r o u g h l o n g a g e s o f s u c h re
in c a r n a t io n s — o r r e - e m b o d im e n t s — is w h a t w e , t o d a y , see in o u r
streets, s to r e s a n d h o u s e s , b a r t e r in g a n d s e llin g , p r o f it e e r in g a n d
b e i n g p r o fit e e r e d , c o n s u m e d w it h a m b it io n s to b e p r e s id e n ts , sen
a to r s , m il l io n a ir e s — to b e “ s u c c e s s fu l” ; e a c h t r y in g t ) o u t d o h is
f e l l o w s b y h o o k o r b y c r o o k ( m o s t l y c r o o k ) , c u n n in g , s c h e m in g ,
fig h t in g , e n v io u s , b a c k - b it in g , ( w i t h s o m e n o t a b le e x c e p t io n s to
p r o v e th e r u l e ) — in s h o r t, h u m a n b e in g s .
A f t e r a ll th e m il l e n i u m s s p e n t in th e E g o ’s e n d e a v o r s to
r a is e th is a n im a l-m a n ( f o r th a t p a r t ly is h is j o b ) th e w o r l d to
d a y s h o w s th e n e t r e s u lt. N o t v e r y p r o m is i n g , is it ?
1he e ffe c t o f th e E g o ’s s t im u la t in g a n d , as f a r a s it h a s b e e n
a p r i d e a n d c o n c e it in t h a t l o w - g r a d e in t e lle c t a n d its a c h ie v e
m e n t s ; a s till fu r t h e r c o n s e q u e n c e b e i n g th a t th is a n im a l-m a n
( w h i c h is th e m a n o f t o d a y , d o n ’t f o r g e t ) th in k s h e is th e p in
n a c le , th e e fflo r e s c e n c e o f e v o l u t io n ! M o s t o f h is t h o u g h t s a n d
e n e r g ie s g o to g e t t in g m o n e y w it h w h i c h to c lo t h h im s e lf in b e t
te r a n d r ic h e r r a im e n t th a n h is f e llo w s , to f e e d h is a lr e a d y o v e r
f u ll s t o m a c h w it h m o r e c o s t ly a n d r ic h e r f o o d ; to g e t to a p o s i
t io n in lif e w h e r e h e w i l l b e a b le to l o o k d o w n o n o t h e r s a n d b e a
s o u r c e o f e n v y to th e o t h e r fa t h e a d s w h o h a v e th e s a m e a s p ir a
tio n s .
T h i s is th e “ P e r s o n a lit y ,” th e “ p e r s o n a l m a n ,” th e J o h n
A zoth 32 f
S m ith , W i l h e l m H o h e n z o l l e r n , C h a r le s M u r p h y , th e o r d i n a r y
th e g r o s s p h y s ic a l b o d y is d i s c a r d e d ; th e m a n h a s th e n th e a s tra l
b o d y as h is e x t e r n a l e n v e l o p e , w h i c h , la t e r o n , a ls o d ie s . W h a t
r e m a in s is th e E g o w it h w h a t e v e r it h a s g a t h e r e d in th e w a y o f
k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e d u r i n g its c o n n e c t io n w it h th is p a r
a n im a l-w o m e n . A s th e a s tr a l is a p a r t o f th e p h y s ic a l (a m o r e
im m a t e r ia l e x t e n s io n o f th e p h y s i c a l ) , a n d as th e “ p e r s o n a lit y ”
k n o w s p r e c io u s lit t le m o r e w h e n h e is f u n c t io n i n g o n l y o n th e
a stra l ( a ft e r d e a t h ) th a n h e d i d w h e n in h is fu ll p h y s ic a l e q u i p
m e n t, y o u c a n p r o b a b l y s e e t h a t “ m e s s a g e s ” f r o m th e d e a d h a v e
p r a c t ic a lly n o v a l u e a s i n f o r m a t i o n o n “ h e a v e n ” c o n d it io n s , o r
th e r e a l s p ir it u a l w o r l d .
T h i s e p i s o d e o f th e G o d s (t h e “ E g o s ,” th e “ T h in k e r s ,” th e
“ I n d i v i d u a l s ” t h a t r e -in c a r n a t e in th e s e a n i m a l - m e n ) is w h a t is
k n o w n as “ T h e F a l l . ” T h i s is th e e p is o d e th a t in m o r e c h i l d
lik e f o r m is g i v e n in G e n e s is as th e F a ll o f A d a m a n d E v e s to r y .
fie s h i m s e lf in Space ( o r th e d u r a t io n o f th e l i f e - c y c l e ) f o r th e
r e d e m p t io n o f M a t t e r .
T h e s e e n titie s , th e s e G o d s ( E g o s ) , ‘d i v i n e in t h e ir e s s e n tia l
n a tu r e , y e t n o t p u r e e n o u g h to b e o n e w it h th e A L L , h a v e , in
th a t g o a l. T h e y c a n d o s o o n ly b y p a s s in g individually a n d per
sonally, i. e ., s p i r i t u a l l y a n d p h y s ic a lly , t h r o u g h e v e r y e x p e r ie n c e
a n d f e e li n g th a t e x is ts in th e m a n i f o l d o r d iffe r e n t ia t e d U n i
v e r s e . T h e y h a v e t h e r e fo r e , a ft e r h a v i n g g a in e d s u c h e x
p e r ie n c e in th e l o w e r k in g d o m s , a n d h a v i n g a s c e n d e d h i g h e r a n d
still h i g h e r w it h e v e r y r u n g o n th e la d d e r o f b e in g , to p a s s
t h r o u g h e v e r y e x p e r ie n c e o n th e h u m a n p la n e .’ A c c o r d i n g to
th is t e a c h in g , y o u c a n se e h o w fa r ( ? ) a m e r e b e lie f in a J e s u s
c r u c if ie d o n a c r o s s w il l ta k e y o u , a n d h o w fa r ( ? ) th a t b e lie f
w i l l g o in c h a n g i n g th e a n im a l-m a n o f t o d a y in t o a s p ir it u a l
G o d .
P r o b a b l y y o u w il l see, to o , th e r e a s o n f o r th e s ta te m e n t,
“ T h e k i n g d o m o f H e a v e n is w i t h i n y o u ,” a ls o “ K n o w y e n o t th a t
y e a r e a t e m p le o f G o d , a n d th a t th e S p ir it o f G o d d w e lle t h in
y o u ” ? S t. P a u l ( w h o is s u p p o s e d to h a v e w r it t e n th e la tte r ) w a s
a n I n it ia t e in th e A n c i e n t W i s d o m ; a “ M a s t e r - B u i l d e r ” — as h e
c a lls h im s e lf. I f y o u r e a d ‘C o r in t h ia n s ’ f r o m th e p o in t o f v i e w
o f th e t e a c h in g r e g a r d i n g th e “ E g o ” a n d “ a n im a l-m a n ,” y o u m a y
d is c o v e r m a n y id e a s th a t w i l l e n la r g e y o u r m e n t a l v is io n .
" *
322 A zo th
astrology
B O T H E N D S O F T H E R E P T I L E
A s th e s t u d y o f a s t r o lo g y b e c o m e s m o r e g e n e r a l it m u st
1 h e e x is t e n c e o f e v il a s t r o n o m ic a l c o n d i t io n s as a n a r b it r a r y o r
p e r m a n e n t h i n d r a n c e to h u m a n p r o g r e s s is as u n t h in k a b le as the
c o n d i t io n s c e a s e to b e e v il ju s t as s o o n as w e le a r n to u n d e r s ta n d
t h e m a n d c o - o p e r a t e w it h t h e m .
O n e o f th e m o s t m a l ig n e d f a c t o r s in a s t r o lo g y is th e M o o n ’s
S o u t h N o d e , o r T h e D r a g o n ’s T a i l ; b u t w h e n w e b e c o m e a c
q u a in t e d w it h its o ffic ia l d u t ie s w e le a r n t h a t it is o n e o f o u r
tr u e s t fr ie n d s .
A s a n in t r o d u c e r o f th e n e w a n d a t e r m in a t o r o f th e o ld ,
e a c h e x t r e m it y o f th e r e p t ile c o -o p e r a t e s v e r y w e l l w it h U ra n u s .
T h e i r o n l y o ffic e s e e m s to b e to k e e p u s f r o m f r e e z i n g fa s t in th e
r u t o f u n v a r ie d in te re s t. T h e D r a g o n ’s T a i l is c a lle d e v il b e
c a u s e h e o f t e n h a s to u s e a c o l d c h is e l o n o u r fix e d fe e lin g s to
ja r u s lo o s e f r o m o u r id o ls s o th a t w e c a n h e a r th e c a ll o f the
D r a g o n s H e a d th a t is t r y in g to s ta rt s o m e t h in g n e w in th e o p
p o s it e h o u s e . I f it w e r e n o t f o r th e v a r i e d a c t iv it y th r u s t u p o n
u s b y th e s u d d e n t e r m in a t io n o f th e o l d a n d th e in t r o d u c t io n o f
th e n e w a n d u n e x p e c t e d , w e w o u l d s u r e ly r e t r o g r a d e . I t is in
th e is o la t e d c o m m u n it i e s w h e r e l if e flo w s in a n u n in t e r r u p t e d
c h a n n e l th a t fe u d s a n d h a t r e d flo u r is h . F r e q u e n t c h a n g e o f in
te r e s t a n d a c t iv it ie s is a u n iv e r s a l s p e c ific f o r u n k in d c r it ic is m ,
a n d a ll f o r m s o f u n c h a r it a b le n e s s . J u s t a t p r e s e n t th e s w e e t e n in g
p o w e r o f c h a n g e h a s a f a it h f u l a lly in N e p t u n e th e P u r if ie r w h o
is t r a n s it in g th e s ig n L e o , a n d c le a n s in g th e h e a r t o f m a n k in d .
C o n s e r v a t iv e a s t r o lo g e r s o ft e n s p e a k d i s p a r a g i n g l y o f th e
M o o n as p r o m o t i n g u n s t a b le sta tes o f m in d ( A s if m e n t a l r ig id
ity w e r e a v i r t u e !) S o m e w h e r e I r e c e iv e d th e im p r e s s io n th a t it
w o u l d b e to o u r a d v a n t a g e to “ B e c o m e as little c h i l d r e n .” N o w
th e m a in d iff e r e n c e b e t w e e n lit t le c h i ld r e n a n d a d u lt s is th a t th e
f o r m e r l a c k s ta b ility . T h e y a r e o f t e n f o r g e t f u l — so m u c h so
t h a t o f t e n t h e y le a v e t h e ir s o r r o w s o u t in th e h o t s u n u n t il th e y
d r y u p a n d b l o w a w a y ; w h e r e a s a fix e d a n d fa r s e e in g a d u lt
w o u l d p r e s e r v e t h e m in la v e n d e r , o r s a v e t h e m o n th e p a n tr y
A zoth 323
s h e lf w h e r e th e s w e e t m i l k is k e p t ( a n d th e n w o n d e r w h y th e
m ilk s o u r e d .)
im p r o v id e n t . T h e y “ T a k e n o t h o u g h t f o r th e m o r r o w , ” c o n s e
q u e n tly t h e y h a v e n o fix e d p r o g r a m to b e d is t u r b e d b y c h a n g e s .
T h e y d o n o t p r o v i d e f o r r a in y d a y s , a n d as fa r as t h e y a r e c o n
c e r n e d , w o u l d t h r o w a ll th e r e s p o n s ib ilit y o f r u n n i n g th e U n i
v e r s e u p o n G o d A l m i g h t y — w i t h o u t e v e n a p r e a c h e r o r a p o l i t i
c ia n to h e l p H i m . I w o n d e r if th e w o r l d w o u l d s u r v iv e if w e
lik e a b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s w it h H i m as a n o m in a l m e m b e r ! C h i l
d r e n s u ffe r n o i n c o n v e n i e n c e f r o m th e tr a n s its o f T h e D r a g o n ’s
T a il b e c a u s e t h e y n a t u r a lly ta k e a d e t a c h e d v i e w o f a ll l i f e ’s
a c tiv itie s e x c e p t th o s e o f th e im m e d i a t e p r e s e n t. T h i s tr a it a ls o
p r o m o t e s c o n c e n t r a t io n . N o w o n d e r c h i ld r e n a r e h a p p y —
e v e n in s p ite o f th e d i li g e n t e ffo r t s o f p a r e n t s to t e a c h t h e m fe a r .
T h e O ff ic ia l E l i m i n a t o r fin d s n o t h i n g in t h e m to ta k e a w a y b e
c a u s e t h e y l iv e in a n a t m o s p h e r e o f n o n a t t a c h m e n t .
N o w w h a t I a m t r y in g to s a y is th a t f r e e d o m im p lie s s p o n -
c a n b e a c q u i r e d o n l y b y f r e q u e n t c h a n g e s , a n d th a t th e M o o n ’s
N o d e s a r e th e o ffic ia l s c e n e s h ift e r s th a t u s h e r in th e s e c h a n g e s .
T h e b e g in n in g s a n d e n d in g s o f c o n d it io n s , c ir c u m s t a n c e s a n d
m o t iv e s a r e m a r k e d b y th e tra n s its o f th e M o o n ’s N o d e s . T h e
D r a g o n ’s T a i l ta k e s a w a y th e o ld , th e o u t - g r o w n a n d th e u s e le s s ;
a n d th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d u s h e r s in th e n e w , b u t th e c h a r a c t e r o f
th e c h a n g e s d e p e n d s e n t ir e ly u p o n th e h o u s e s a n d s ig n s in w h i c h
t h e y o c c u r , a n d th e p la n e t a r y in flu e n c e o p e r a t i n g t h r o u g h t h e m
a t th e t im e o f th e tra n sits. T h e R e p t i l e is m e r e ly th e tr a in d e -
s p a t c h e r to sta rt a ll tr a in s o n t im e a n d see th a t th e t r a c k is c le a r ,
a n d h a s n o t h i n g to d o w it h th e s e le c t io n o f th e p a s s e n g e r s o r c a r
g o — J u p it e r , S a t u r n & C o . a tte n d to th a t— b u t w e o u r s e lv e s in
v it e th e p a s s e n g e r s a n d e a r n th e c a r g o .
T h e a c t iv it ie s in a u g u r a t e d b y th e o ffic ia l s ta r te r in a n y p a r
t ic u la r h o u s e o r s ig n w il l to a g r e a t e x t e n t b e in flu e n c e d b y th e
la s t e v e n t fu l h o u s e h e p a s s e d t h r o u g h . F o r e x a m p l e : I k n o w o f
a c a s e w h e r e a m a n e n g a g e d in a n u n p r o fit a b le s p e c u la t io n ,
t h r o u g h th e in flu e n c e o f h is p a r t n e r a n d a g a in s t h is b e tte r j u d g
m e n t , w h il e th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d w a s t r a n s itin g h is fifth h o u s e . A
g la n c e a t h is c h a r t s h o w e d th a t th e la st e v e n t fu l h o u s e th a t th e
D . H . p a s s e d t h r o u g h w a s th e s e v e n th ( T h e h o u s e o f p a r t n e r
s h ip ) - — th e s ix th b e in g v a c a n t a t th e t im e , a n d it a n d its r u le r
w e a k in h is n a ta l fig u r e .
T h e D r a g o n ’s H e a d c a lls r e g u l a r ly a t th e d o o r o f e a c h
324 A zoth
h o u s e a n d le a v e s w it h u s th e m a t e r ia l w i t h w h i c h w e m a y create
s o m e n e w t r e a s u r e to a d o r n th e t e m p le o f c h a r a c t e r . O n th e sam e
fin is h e d p r o d u c t . T h e s e tr a n s its a c t p r i m a r i l y u p o n o u r in m o st
m o t iv e s , a n d s o m e t im e s i n d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e a c t iv it ie s in s o m e oth er
h o u s e . F o r in s t a n c e , th e tr a n s it o f th e D . H . t h r o u g h th e secon d
h o u s e m a y p r o d u c e jo u r n e y s , b u t th e o b j e c t o f th e jo u r n e y w ill
b e fin a n c ia l.
s im ila t e , w h i l e in L i b r a w e le a r n p o is e a n d b a la n c e b e t w e e n rest
D r a g o n ’s H e a d in a u g u r a t e s n e w a c t iv it ie s in a n y p a r tic u la r
house, th e T a i l w in d s u p s o m e t h in g in th e o p p o s i t e h o u s e th at
w o u l d t e n d to d i v e r t o u r a t t e n t io n f r o m p r e s e n t le s so n s . F o r
e a c h s ig n o f th e z o d i a c i n d ic a t e d b y s o m e f o r m o f l if e in m o tio n ,
we fin d th e s y m b o l ic o c c u p a n t o f th e o p p o s i t e s ig n is a fig u r e at
rest. T h r o u g h th e s e th e r e p t ile r in g s th e c h a n g e s o n u s f o r a l
t e r n a t in g p e r io d s o f p u r p o s e f u l a c t iv it y a n d r e s t fu l c o n t e m p la
A q u a r iu s , t h e T a i l t e r m in a t e s o u r e a s e in th e o p p o s it e sig n ,
w h e r e p r e d a t o r y la z in e s s r e c lin e s a n d a d m ir e s h is p h y s iq u e in
th e o n l y s ig n o f th e z o d i a c t y p ifie d b y a b e a s t o f p r e y .
H u m a n d e s ir e is e v e r r e a c h i n g f o r s o m e t h in g m a n h a s n ot,
and e v e r t r y in g to e s c a p e f r o m s o m e t h in g h e h a s . W h e n th e
h o p e s o f th a t h o u s e . W h e n th e D r a g o n ’s T a i l tr a n s its a h o u s e
is a f a v o r a b l e t im e to s h a k e f r o m o u r fe e t th e d u s t o f its u n d e s ir
u s to w o r k a t i m p r o v i n g o u r p e r s o n a lit y , w h i c h w e a r e la te r
c a l le d u p o n to tr y o u t t h r o u g h th e r e la t io n s h ip s o f th e o p p o s it e
w o r k w e w i l l e n jo y a g r e e a b le p a r t n e r s h ip s in th e s e v e n t h h o u s e
a s s o c ia tio n s , b u t if w e f a il in o u r first h o u s e le s s o n s o u r s e v e n th
h o u s e b e c o m e s a h o u s e o f e n e m ie s . B u t e v e n th is is b e n e fic ia l,
b e c a u s e w e th e n h a v e a c h a n c e to le a r n o u r w e a k p o in t s , w h ic h
w e m a y r e p a ir w h e n th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d a g a in c a lls a t o u r first
h o u s e — y e a r s la te r.
I f w h e n th e D r a g o n ’s T a i l is th r u s t t h r o u g h th e d o o r o f a
fu s e s u s. I f o u r p la t e is p i le d w it h m u s s e d o v e r a n d n ib b le d
f o o d it m a k e s u s n e r v o u s to h a v e h i m ta k e it a w a y — e v e n t h o u g h
th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d is a t th a t m o m e n t in s in u a t in g a d is h o f ic e
c r e a m a t th e d o o r o f th e o p p o s i t e h o u s e . B y th e s a m e r u le if w e
A zoth 325
lo a f o n th e b a c k p o r c h u n t il th e m e a l h o u r h a s p a s s e d a n d o u r
d in n e r is c o l d , w e fe e l t h a t w e h a v e b e e n r o b b e d w h e n th e D r a g
o n ’s T a i l e n te r s a n d c le a r s th e ta b le .
A h o u s e t h a t c o v e r s p a r t s o f t w o o r m o r e s ig n s w i l l n a t u r a lly
g iv e u s a g r e a t e r v a r ie t y o f le s s o n s th a n o n e t h a t is c o n f i n e d to o n e
sig n o n ly . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n th a t th e e n t ir e p r o g r a m is
c h a n g e d w it h e a c h t r a n s it o f th e r e p t ile — o n l y th e m a t u r e d p a r t s
o f it.
T h e tr a n s it o f th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d t h r o u g h th e firs t h o u s e
p r o m o t e s in it ia t iv e , s e l f- r e li a n c e a n d a n in c lin a t io n to g o it
a lo n e ; a n d in S a t u r n in e p e r s o n s it in c lin e s to s o lit u d e . T h e n ,
to le a v e u s f r e e to f o l l o w o u r im p u ls e s a t s u c h tim e s , th e D r a g o n ’s
T a il is o n t im e a t th e d o o r o f th e s e v e n t h h o u s e to o f fe r u s s o m e
r e s p ite f r o m th e lim it a t io n s o f i m p e d i n g p a r t n e r s h ip s .
I t is n o t n e c e s s a r y t h a t I r e la te s p e c ific c a s e s in s u p p o r t o f
th e se c o n c lu s io n s , f o r a n y a s t r o lo g e r c a n v e r i f y th is la w if h e
ta k es th e t im e to in v e s t ig a te , r e v i e w a n d c o m p a r e a f e w h o r o
s c o p e s . I p a r t i c u la r l y r e c o m m e n d th is m a t t e r to th e s tu d e n ts o f
o u r n a t io n a l h o r o s c o p e as a h e l p to c o r r e c t l y r e a d i n g th e tre s sle -
b o a r d o f p r o g r e s s .
T h e d e e p e r I g o in t o a s t r o lo g y th e m o r e I a m c o n v i n c e d th a t
th e h e a v e n s i m p a r t n o e v il. I f w e n e g le c t to w a t e r th e p la n t a n d
th e s u n w it h e r s it, th e e v il is n o t f r o m th e su n . T h e G r e a t I n t e l
lig e n c e n e v e r a sk s u s to p e r f o r m th e im p o s s ib le , b u t g iv e s u s le s
s q u a r e a s p e c t is la r g e ly a m a t t e r o f d e g r e e . T h e n a t iv e w it h th e
m o s t b a c k b o n e h a s h is le s s o n s m e a s u r e d o u t to h i m b y th e s q u a r e ,
w h il e w e a k e r m o r t a ls g l id e t h r o u g h l if e o n th e e a s ie r g r a d e s o f
th e tr in e .
W h e n th e D r a g o n ’s t a il e n t e r s a h o u s e a n d fin d s th a t w e h a v e
b e e n lo a fin g o n th e jo b , a n d h a v e h i d d e n o u r o n e ta le n t in a n a p
k in , w e a r e a p t to c r y a n d c a ll h i m b a d n a m e s w h e n h e ta k e s it
a w a y f r o m u s ; b u t i f w e h a v e b e e n d i li g e n t in le a r n in g th e le s
s o n s p e r t a in in g to th a t p a r t i c u la r h o u s e , w e s m ile w it h s a t is fa c
tio n w h e n h e e n te r s th e d o o r to s w e e p a w a y th e c h ip s a n d le a v e
u s a c le a n s la te f o r fu r t h e r p r o b le m s .
A f t e r th e D r a g o n ’s H e a d h a s c a lle d a n d le ft u s a n o r a n g e
a n d w e h a v e s u c k e d a ll th e ju ic e o u t o f it, w e w i l l n o t m o u r n
w h e n th e D r a g o n ’s T a i l c o m e s a n d ta k e s a w a y th e r in d . B u t if
w e la y it o n a s h e lf a n d f o r g e t a b o u t it u n t il it w it h e r s , w e t h in k
w e h a v e b e e n m is t r e a t e d w h e n th e D . T . w a g s t h r o u g h th e h o u s e
a n d k n o c k s it o f f th e s h e lf a n d t h r o u g h th e w i n d o w .
326 A zoth
fix things up to avoid that whipping. So I asked one of the other boys to go
home with me and help me out. Now it so happened that the two boys who had
used the knife went to the house with me. Father was gone. I thought the best
way out of it was to tell the truth and how sorry I was. So I told Mother all
about it, and when I finished she hardly believed me. She told me the knife
was still in the cupboard where I had left it when going away and if I would
go and look I would find it there. I and the two other boys went to the cup
board and true enough, there lay the knife. The two boys told Mother that
they and myself had used the knife.
C . X . Sm it h .
T H E RUSSIAN S T E A M ROLLER
B y V ic t o r E. C rom er .
During the first Balkan War, 1 9 1 2 , I was in London, and during a par
ticular phase of that great struggle, which to a certain extent paved the way for
the European War, I gave a series of clairvoyant lectures on the Balkan War.
The procedure was to get a circle together, and I would then get into a medita
tive attitude, which would then be changed to concentration on the war zone, the
consequence of which was that I would see visions of the actual fighting going on,
and describe these to the audiences. On one of these occasions I was describing
a magnificent series of struggles between the Turks and the Bulgarians. The
Bulgarians were in difficulties, and the Turks were driving them helter skelter.
Suddenly two great steam rollers came across the field of the visions, and ran
over the area in which the Turks were deploying their armies. I described these
steam rollers, adding that they were undoubtedly due to the fact that the Rus
sians were getting ready to send their armies to the assistance of the Bulgarians,
and that the Turks would soon be driven into the Bosphorus. The audience
were delighted at the turn of events. However, at the conclusion of the lecture,
a man took me aside and asked me to describe these rollers more minutely. I did
so to the best of my ability, and he said that it corresponded exactly with certain
knowledge of his own. His mother, who was present at the lecture, and he were
interested in the invention of a new road roller, and while I was giving my lecture
their thoughts were welling up visions of the money they would make out of these
road rollers, hence their road rollers and my visions of the Balkan struggles were
inextricably tangled up together.
Sorrow oftentimes leaves a gap which memory strives to fill, resetting long
forgotten scenes and recasting the actors. Then, as on a stage, life is presented
once again with all its wonderful lessons, its laughter and tears.
328 A zoth
®f)t Calbron
A S T R O L O G Y A N D FREE W I L L
Sir:
•^r>. w^'Ites a very able explanation of the case of “ Free Will and
Destiny. Ever since a small child I have been studying natural law in an
effprt to see just how far man could change it, and indeed, I must confess that
it is very limited.
I have heard it remarked that a strong will could accomplish anything, but
if you will take the cases where it seemed as though they did change the course
of events, and make a careful survey of their natal charts, you will find in every in
stance that the planets declared such would be the case. They were only fol
lowing the lead of the planetary aspects at the respective times in which the
“ natural law” was to take effect.
b rom some cause previously; which possibly may have been in this life but,
more probable in a past life it had just gotten ripe for manifestation on the ma
terial plane. If that was not true, then astrology would be absolutely nothing at
all and everything else in the entire Universe would count for naught to the in
dividual. He would be free to change it to suit his own taste.
I do observe however, that every man woman and child are not doing the
things they really want to do but, do the things they have to do. So, that must
be some proof that man’s will is not quite so flexible as a whip lash. If the will
was free, we would all change our conditions and do the things we would like to-
do. I do not mean that man has no free will at all but, I do say it works very
little in a free state. When it works it is because of the binding from different
angles, and from action and reaction from all other beings.
W e must consider one a b so lu te w i l l with all using it the best we can in ac
cordance with the amount of wisdom we have and we cannot go beyond the
wisdom of the individual.
_The mind is the talents and everyone uses so much as he has and in the di
rection that was meant. He cannot go beyond that border for, all is dark
and sharp cragged peaks. W ith the best light the way is naturally slow and
without the light, no one can pass that way, for it was decreed that those that
did pass must be illuminated with light and feel their way slowly.
W e all know how easy it is for any good astrologer to determine just the
stage of any one’s mind from their chart, and just what that mind can see and
accomplish.
There is not one that would think of taking a high-way robber and putting
him in a great church to preach or, have him to plead law for them. Neither
would they have him doctor them.
It is as our friend says in the Azoth, “ that it is as if we were cogs, each one
taking his own place,” or the world is a stage with each playing his particular
part of the drama.
Sincerely,
J. M. L y n n .
I think you precipitated something when in Azoth for March you printed
the extraordinary article by Martin Petry entitled “ Astrology and Free W ill.”'
And I ’m blessed if I can see how you can agree with all his propositions. I ex
perienced some cerebral crepitations myself. May I transmit you a few?
M r. Petry presented this question: “Are our lives controlled by Fate or do
A zoth 329
“All we are free to do.” declares M r. Petry, “ is to make the most of the
talents that have been given to us.” W hat more would Mr. Petry wish us to
have? Does he realize that these talents are our senses, our desires, our power
of thought, our rational volition, our will, and that when we have attained self-
mastery of these we are climbing rapidly toward the freedom of Godhood. At
the soul’s first incarnation in human form as a morally accountable entity it
possesses the free will to use these talents well or ill. Those who cultivate their
talents and opportunities come into subsequent incarnation, reaping the effects of
their efforts and creating new causes. Those who wasted or buried their tal
ents come into incarnation now with them dwarfed and stunted. True enough,
there may be some unavoidable karma, but even that karma is derived from
causes that were self-engendered through the use of free will. Were it not so,
then there could be no justice whatever in the law of karma in its action as the
law of cause and effect. Shall a man reap what he has not sown? And shall he
be obliged to reap that which he had no free will in sowing?
If in all our past incarnations we had no rational control over the shaping
of our lives and cannot shape our present life, then certainly we have now no con
trol over our future, nor do I see how we can be charged with Personal Respon
sibility. W e are simply automatons bobbing and pirouetting in response to plane
tary influence.
F r e d e r ic k K . D a v is .
AN SW ER T O ABOVE
I expected that my article in Azoth for March, “ Astrology and Free W ill,”
would meet with considerable criticism, but I did not look for the large number
of commendatory and congratulatory letters which have come to me from all
over the country agreeing with my views. I was glad that M r. Davis criticised
my article in great detail, yet in the main he agrees with me nevertheless.
Though no astrologer can predict what effect a certain aspect will have,
that does not prevent the aspect from operating with mathematical precision.
Something is going to happen, and whatever it may be it pops up at the appointed
time. The fact that the astrologer cannot judge it aright, is not the fault of as
trology.
True, we have a little free will— that of doing what is assigned to us
in the best way we know how; and I agree with M r. Davis that this can be de
veloped. That, however, is not possible in this short existence. It will require
many incarnations before our eyes will be opened to our real possibilities. I will
maintain that a strong evil aspect will have its effect, and it cannot be sidestepped
or avoided. Take, for instance, the square of Saturn to the moon in a persons
chart. It is an aspect of sorrow, of disappointment, of interminable delay, of
restriction and limitation. However able the person may be who has it, he can
make no real progress. Persons of less ability and worth pass him on Life’s path
way, and all the prizes of existence— love, wealth, happiness and even health— are
denied to him. He can use all the free will at his command, can exert his ability
to the utmost— yet his energy is all wasted. He cannot accomplish anything, and
must be content with mediocrity. And yet there are others who have the Midas
touch and forge ahead with little effort. The man with Saturn square to the
moon is in a position analogous to Tantalus. The cup of happiness is ever held
before his lips, but the moment he attempts to drink from the refreshing bowl,
it is withdrawn from him. This is only one instance of the workings of an ad
verse aspect, but it will demonstrate how helpless we are in its clutches. A square,
conjunction or opposition will ruthlessly and inexorably have its effect, and it can
A zoth 33i
no more be prevented than can an eclipse of the sun. O f course, the river event
ually winds its way to the sea, but often the course is tortuous, uncertain, beset
with dangers, and it must hew its path through mountains, forests, and over
hills and rocks. Life runs much the same course.
M a r t in P e t r y .
D ear C aldron :
I have been reading Aseka’s articles and letters on Theosophy in Azoth since
May, 1 9 1 9 , until Feb., 1 9 2 0 , and I declare I don’t seem to get much soul-food or
enlightenment on Theosophy out of them. He seems to have a bitterness in his
heart against the Jesuits (the Jesuits seem to have a considerable number of
friends among the theosophists at present— Aseka) and the Church folks (Prot
estant). It appears those two elements have embittered his life. This is sad
(it would be if it were true— A ) and doesn’t seem to be the right attitude of a
Theosophist. His tone seems untheosophical in that he hasn’t got charity and
tolerance for his brothers in all walks of life. Truth isn’t advanced by knocking.
She rather attracts man through love and kindness. Love not malice (not guilty
of malice— A ) is the divine attribute. Even the Jesuits and all Protestants are
our brothers, and sometime, some place, somewhere, they will receive the light.
(From where?— A ) I quote from H . P. B. “ A clean life, a pure heart, a brother
liness for all, a readiness to give and receive advice and instruction” (why don’t
you follow her precept?— A ) . These are the golden stairs up the steps of which
the learner may climb to the temple of divine wisdom.” (W h y don’t you quote it
correctly? Among other things you have left out “ a brave declaration of prin
ciples” also “ an open mind, an eager intellect”— A ) . I often wonder if we take
these statements to heart and act on them. In “ Light on the Path” by M . C. we
read: “ Before the voice can speak in the presence of the Masters it must have
lost the power to wound.” How many of us have lost this power? Perhaps few
have evolved that consciousness. “ Jesus” apparently had not for: “ And when he
had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple” — John
II, 1 5 - A lso: “Y e serpents, ye generation of vipers”— Matt. 2 3 . 3 3 ., “ Y e are
of your father, the Devil”— John 8 . 4 4 ., “ Depart from me ye cursed, into ever
lasting fire * * ”— M att 2 5 .4 1 ). But if we persevere and discipline our lower
selves, a day will come when we will feel and be a brother to all that lives.
Yours for Love, Tolerance and Charity, C. F. W ater s .
A n sw er
I don’t wonder that C. F. W . has failed to find pabulum for his soul in
my articles if he reads them in the manner his letter indicates. W hile it is true
that I have an antipathy for the Jesuits (which I share with a not inconsiderable
number of Roman Catholic clergy and laymen), it is untrue that I have bitter
ness in my heart for “ Church folks,” either Romanist, Protestant, or any other
denomination, and my critic will find it difficult to find anything in my articles to
give color to such accusation. He talks a lot of charity and the other virtues,
but does not mind descending to dishonesty in making such an accusation. If he
will turn to A Z O T H for June ’ 19 he will find me saying that I take off my hat
to the sincere worshipper of whatever creed. Take a squint at that mote in thine
own eye, C. F. W . !
An admirer of H . P. B. (as he assumes to be for he quotes from her “ Golden
Stairs” ) should be honest enough to quote also from “ Isis Unveiled” which is a
book largely devoted to exposing the Jesuits and their underhand methods. If
I am doing wrong in exposing them, I am in good company,— H . P. B’s.
I can clearly see that sometime in the near future I shall have to write an
332 A zoth
essay on Love, Tolerance and Charity, for the minds of the average would-be
theosophists are so muddled regarding these things and their connotations, that,
in my opinion, they need instruction.
These persons seem to have been brought up on the "turn the other cheek”
teaching of Jesus, not knowing that that teaching was and is for disciples (not
for "householders” ), men and women who are ''u n a t t a c h e d ," who have no family
or national ties or duties. The acceptance of that teaching by the “ordinary” man
is shown to be impractical by so-called Christians, for in our Christian countries
we have Bishops blessing battleships, offering up prayers for the success of our
armies and navies in killing our fellow men— our brothers.
If this kindly gentleman lived in Belgium, had seen his wife and daughter
raped, his baby hoisted on the end of a bayonet, he, of course, would have thrown
his arms around the Huns, possibly kissed their dear brotherly cheeks, and, if he
had another daughter in hiding, would have brought her out so that she could
have the benefit of making the acquaintance of her "brothers." In other words:
he would put the teaching “ if a man smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the
other.”
I believe the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita is better, because, while it aims
at the ideal that “ Jesus" is said to have taught (but which was in existence ages
before A. D . 3 0 ), it is p ra ctica l.
For three years I sweated over that very problem and that same teaching
of Jesus. In my inner soul I felt, nay I knew, the teaching was the true teach
ing, but I couldn’t see how I could make it a part of my everyday life. (And if
one’s philosophy or religion cannot be made to fit in and better one’s daily life, it
is absolutely useless). Chas. Johnston’s Bhagavad Gita opened my eyes. Krishna
tells Arjuna to go and fight and overcome his "brothers"; but he also makes it
plain ‘why’ and in what spirit he should fight. And this is the c r u x of the whole
matter which muddles Christians and theosophists alike. That fighting should
not be done with any personal feeling or rancor, hatred or malice, but in an im
p erso n a l way, as a matter of duty, as the agent of Higher Powers who are making
for the evolution and progression of Humanity.
I have absolutely no p erso n a l feeling against any man or woman any So
ciety, Cult or Religion; feel no rancor or hatred for any individual (not even
for those who have "wronged" me, for I believe it is my own wrong
coming back to me as a result of past wrong-doing), not even for
Jesuits or Huns— as p e r s o n s ; B U T !— when I believe that they are
doing evil, and so helping to retard man’s progress, I hate their evil, their ac
tions with every bit of me, and I gird up my loins, sharpen my little tomahawk
and go after them with every ounce of energy I possess. I try to feel as imper
sonal as a policeman does when he clubs the head of a wife-beater or thug— as a
matter of duty and for the good of humanity.
For Steiner (I admire him in many things). Annie Besant (I love her for
the great soul she is, although now gone wrong through her vaulting ambition
and love of power), Leadbeater (I really think he and I would be great pals,
he has such a fund of good common sense), I feel no more animosity than I do
against rats that steal and foul my food which means life to me and others, or
against the bacilli of influenza, cancer or tuberculosis which hampers life and
threatens to extinguish it. The aforementioned are, in a sense, my brothers
(just like the Turks and Huns are), but they are erring brothers who need the
lash of the written and spoken Truth (in the case of the Huns, Turks and mad
dogs more drastic measures are used), and those who th in k they know a little of
that Truth are in duty bound to prevent the disease of error growing up and
around the tree of Truth and attempting to destroy it.
A zoth 333
More particularly in the case of Theosophy. Those who subscribe to the
teaching as given out by H . P. B. have as their duty to see that her teaching (and
those whose messenger she claimed to be) is kept as near her teaching as possible;
to see that that teaching is not travestied, garbled or misrepresented. By handing
out thwacks to these fakers and garblers of the Ancient Wisdom I am doing the
recipients a good turn, for my efforts may help to bring them to a sense of their
misdoing and so save them from going farther along the wrong road, with the
karma such wrong-doing will bring on them.
M y articles, while they try to give some instruction, cannot hope to even ap
proach H . P. B ’s and Judge’s writings; so my articles are intended more as
tonics; “ tonics to tone the thinking tanks” of would-be theosophists, self-right
eous theosophists, the led-by-the-nose theosophists, and, more particularly, the
humble trying-to-live-the-Iife theosophists.
A seka.
P. S. Here are some texts for meditation— -“ Be ye angry and sin not”—
Eph: 4 . 2 6 ., “ D o ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the
world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that "we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain
to this life?— ”— I C or: 6 . 2 , 3 .
R E IN C A R N A T IO N
E d . of A z o t h :
I have just been reading a Book written by a Spirit I knew when he was
on Earth.
He says he was talking to Jesus so he asked him if Reincarnation was true or
false. Jesus condemned the doctrine as most unreasonable nonsense. I believed
in reincarnation for many years and have been reading books and magazines on
the subject. 1
I also have in my possession a book called Oahspe. In that book it says only
evil spirits teach reincarnation. Some spirits are for it others against it so what is
the use of reading anything, when you can take no one’s word.
I am
K. H o h l .
D ear M r . H o h l :
If you want to know anything, you must gather the evidence and argu
ments, for and against, together and by study of them form your own opinion—
If you stop half a dozen men in the street and ask them do they believe in the
soul— some will say no and some yes— and give various reasons for their
belief. You will never get anywhere or know anything with certainty by simply
listening to the opinions of persons who may or may not be familiar with the
subject.
Your spirit friend no doubt thinks he was talking to Jesus but jmu must
remember spirits are in more or less of a dream state and imagine things which
are very real to them but illusions all the same. This friend did not know about
reincarnation or did not believe in it before he died otherwise he would not have
said what he did in the book. Spirits do not know a bit more after death than
they did on earth— and with the difficulties of transmission of messages through
mediums— their communications are seldom of any value— Oaspe is but a ro
mance and not to be taken seriously.
I would recommend you to read carefully the last two or three Theosophical
Talks and digest the information there given.
M ic h a e l W h i t t y .
334 A zo th
ftebtetos
T h e K e y of D estiny. B y Harriette A u g u sta Curtiss and F. Homer
Curtiss, B. S., M . D . Cloth, 328 pp„ 1919. E . P. Dutton & Com
pany, N . Y .
This is a sequel to The Key to the Universe, containing explanations
of the occult meanings of the numbers from II to 2 2 , of the Hebrew letters
from Kaph to Tau, and of the Tarot major trumps from Strength (numbered
xi, in this instance,) to The World. T h e title-page informs the prospective
reader that this work has been “ transcribed” by M rs. Curtiss, in collaboration
with her husband; and nobody who is at all familiar with the literature of
number-occultism, the Kabalah, and the Tarot will be disposed to dispute the
statement, for the bulk of the matter in the forty-six chapters is a hetero
geneous collection of quotations from various sources, ranging in importance
from the Sepher Yetzirah to that curious product of continental Masonic
fantasy, The Grata Repoa, sometimes called The Initiations of the Egyptian
Priests. Madame Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine, of course, has been largely
drawn upon, and there is considerable material that will be an old story to
readers of Papus’ Tarot of the Bohemians and MacGregor Mathers’ Kabalah
Unveiled.
Some of the quotations from this latter work suggest that the transcriber
of The Key of Destiny had not fully entered into the spirit of the original,
as for example, in the statement (p. 1 3 4 ) : “ In the Book of Concealed Mys
teries (sic), Number 13 is called ‘the Vast Countenance’ and is represented
in the Grand M an as the forehead, ‘the benevolence of those benevolences
which are manifested through the prayers of the inferior powers.’ ” A
Kabalist might have some difficulty in discovering the connection between
Macroprosopus and the number 1 3 , but it seems to be sufficiently indicated
for Mrs. Curtiss by the fact that “ His forehead is the benevolence of those
benevolences, etc.” happens to be the thirteenth sentence in Chapter 1 of
The Book of Concealed Mystery.
In following the exoteric attribution of the Tarot trumps to the Hebrew
alphabet, The Key of Destiny adds to the confusion of tongues, and to make
matters worse the reproductions of the Tarot keys are incorrectly designated.
These reproductions are given in a series of plates, each of which shows four
versions of the same major trump. O f these four the upper two are labelled
“ Medieval,” but both are from The Tarot of the Bohemians, and one is the
work of Oswald W irth, drawn in 1 8 8 9 , while the other is from Court de
Gebelin’s Monde Primitif. O f the two versions which occupy the lower
portion of each plate, one is a reproduction of the Tarot drawn by Miss
Pamela Smith to suit M r. W aite’s notions of a rectified Tarot, and the
other, although it is called “ Egyptian,” is from St. Germain s Practical
Astrology.
These are typical examples of the degree of accuracy that characterizes
The Key of Destiny, which in the present reviewer’s opinion, sheds no
light upon the subjects that it is supposed to explain, and distorts much of
the illumination that it borrows from earlier and better-informed writers.
It may be recommended, however, together with its companion volume.
The Key to the Universe, to the advanced student who is in need of a handy
compilation of the teachings of the earlier numerologists. Such a reader, al
though he may often derive more amusement than inspiration from its pages,
will find The Key of Destiny a useful reference-work.
P. F. C.
A zoth 335
The L ast Passion P lay. B y M ary Catherine Sm eltzley. Cloth, 46
pages. Christopher Publishing H ou se, Boston.
A most exquisite descriptive narrative of Oberammergau and the Passion
Play of 1 9 1 0 , giving interesting and “ chatty” particulars about the Play, its
performers, its stage, its audiences, the village people, etc. T o read it is
almost as good as to have been present. The author frankly states that one
object of her effort is “ to call to the minds of lovers of the Play its
decennial in 1 9 2 0 .”
T . R.
L ight on the Future. B eing extracts from the N ote Book of a M em
ber of the Society for Psychical Research, Dublin, Kegan,
Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., L td., London, 1917.
gold, and some of it is genuine wisdom. Its modesty will commend its reading.
It is really an earnest effort to reduce or eradicate the fear of death in the popu
lar mind, and there is a good deal of quaint everyday philosophy in it.
T . R.