THE SECRET DOCTRINE OF THE ROSICRUCIANS/PART 13

 

PART XIII.

THE SEVEN COSMIC PRINCIPLES

The Rosicrucians  teach that  there are  Seven  Cosmic  Principles present and operating throughout the Cosmos,  and  extending even to its smallest activities.  These  Seven Cosmic Principles are  as  follows:

 

I. The Principle of  Correspondence.

II.  The Principle of  Law  and  Order.

III.  The Principle of  Vibration.

IV.  The Principle of  Rhythm.

V.  The Principle  of Cycles.

VI.  The Principle of  Polarity.

VII.  The Principle of  Sex.

 

The student  is  now  asked  to consider  each of  the  above stated  Cosmic Principles in detail.

 

 

 

 

I.  The Principle of  Correspondence

The Principle of Correspondence manifests in a certain  correspondence or analogy or agreement between  manifestations  of  the various  planes  of activity  in  the  Cosmos.  It  is  indicated  by  the  old  Hermetic aphorism:  "As above,  so  below;  as  below,  so  above,"  and  by  the  Arcane axiom:  "Ex  Uno disce  Omnes,"  or  "From  One  know All."  The  Rosicrucians,  and other ancient  occultists,  hold  that  the laws  governing the nature and  activity of the amoeba,  likewise govern  the nature and  activity of  man  and  beings higher  than  man.  What  is  true of  matter  is  true  of  energy  and of mind. The occultists make a practical application of  this universal principle,  in the direction  of  studying the  unknown  by  means  of  the known,  with the knowledge that  the  same laws  govern  each.  Thus,  just  as the  solar  system may  be  known by  means of  studying  the  atoms  and molecules,  so  may the higher planes of being be studied by an examination of the lower planes in  manifestation  before us.

After discovering the operation  of  certain  principles  in  one thing we may safely reason by analogy based upon the assumption  that  these principles  exist  in  other  things  on  a  higher  plane,  and  thus  discover  the nature of  the unknown  "x."  Thus  the  occultist  reasons  that  there  is  Law and  Order  manifest  on  every  plane of  being;  that  there  is  a  Principle of Vibration  manifest  on  every plane of  being;  that  there is  a Principle  of Rhythm  manifest  on  every plane of  being;  that  there is  a Principle of Cycles  manifest  on  every plane of  being;  that  there is a Principle of Polarity  manifest on  every  plane of  being;  that  there is  a Principle  of  Sex manifest  on  every  plane of being. And the further that human investigation  is  pushed  into the Unknown,  the greater  is  the proof of  the existence of  these Cosmic  Principles  reasoned out by the ancient occultists upon the fundamental basis of the  Principle  of Correspondence.

A writer has said of this Cosmic Principle: "There is always a correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various  planes of  life and  being.  The grasping of  this truth gives  one the means  of solving many a  dark  paradox,  many  a  hidden  secret  of  Nature.  There are planes  beyond  our  knowing,  but  when we apply  the Principle of Correspondence to them  we  are  able to understand  much that  otherwise would be unknowable to us. This principle is of universal application and manifestation, on the various  planes  of  the material,  mental  and  spiritual universe—it is an universal law. The ancient Hermetists  considered  this principle  as  one of  the most  important  mental instruments by which man was able to pry aside the obstructions  which hid  from  view  the Unknown.  Its  use even  tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent that a glimpse of the face  of  the goddess  might be caught. Just as a knowledge of the principles of  Geometry enables  a  man  to  measure  distant  suns  and their  movements,  while seated  in  an  observatory,  so a  knowledge  of  the Principle  of  Correspondence  enables  man  to reason  intelligently from the Known to the Unknown. Studying the moneron,  he understands  the archangel.

Without going deeply into the matter of  the application  of  this  particular Cosmic  Principle,  we may say  that  one of  the fundamental facts of  being discovered by  the ancient occultists  by the  application of  the  said principle  is  this:  That  in  every thing there is  to  be found  (1)  Substance,  or Body;  (2)  Motion  or  Active  Energy;  and  (3)  Consciousness  or  Awareness.

Therefore, when dealing with planes of being of  which,  at  the time,  they had but  little  knowledge,  the  ancient  occultists  always assumed the existence in everything on the unknown  plane of these three great  forms of manifestation. And all future  esoteric investigation  and discovery tended  to  disclose facts  corroborating and  sustaining the  original assumption  derived  by analogy, and the discoveries of modern science have invariably  tended  in  the same direction.  It  may  be  interesting to take  a  hasty glance  at  the presence of  these three forms  of  manifestation, as follows:

Substance. The ancient occult teaching that  "Everything has  body" seems to be fully corroborated by all subsequent investigation.  But  it must  be noted  that  by " substance"  or  "body"  is  not  necessarily  meant what  modern  science calls  "matter,"  for  the latter  is  merely  one form  or phase  of "substance"  or  "body."  Matter,  as we  know it,  has a  great  range of  manifestation,  within  the limits  of  which are found  the  hardest  granite or  steel or  diamond,  as well as the  finest  and  most  subtle  and  tenuous gases.  The  discovery  by science  of what  it  calls  "radiant  matter"  opens out  a  field to  science  previously tilled only by  the  occultists and metaphysicians.  Such  matter  is really  not  "matter"  at  all,  but  "super-matter,"  and  a higher  form  of  "substance"  or  "body."  But,  known  to the occultists,  there  are  forms of "substance"  or  "body"  as much  finer  and rarer  than  radiant  matter as  the  latter  is  rarer  and  finer than the granite, steel,  or  diamond.  Even  the  hypothetical  Ether of science  is  gross  by comparison  with some of  the forms  and  phases of "substance" or "body" known to the  occultists and  alchemists.  As a  writer  has said:  'The  field of matter,  as  known  to science,  as  compared  with the real  extent  of  the Principle  of  Substance,  is  as  no more than  a  hair-line  drawn across  a yard-stick."  The occult  teachings  inform  us  that  there  are  living beings  in existence on  other  planes  whose bodies  are composed  of  substance so fine and  subtle  that  the term  "ethereal"  is  the only  one to be even  fairly adequate  to be employed  in  connection  with  them.  Remember,  the occult teaching is that "Everything has substance or body." And "everything"  includes All-that-is-Manifest.

Motion or Active Energy. The ancient occult teaching that "Everything moves" seems to be fully corroborated by all subsequent investigation. Motion, of course,  results  from  the presence and power of Active Energy. And Active Energy is found everywhere  present  and  in manifestation. Both the occult  teaching and  modern  science teach that everything is  undergoing constant  change, and change is impossible without active energy and motion. Active Energy manifests through gravitation, cohesion, chemical affinity, electronic  attraction,  expansion, contraction,  centrifugal  and  centripetal  force,  light,  heat, magnetism, electricity, etc., etc. And  there  are  much  finer  forces  than  these known  to the  occultists,  though not  as  yet  discovered by science. Wherever there is Substance there is  Motion. Nothing is at  absolute  Rest.  Everything Moves.  From  the tiniest  electron  or atom,  up  to  the greatest  sun,  all  is  in constant motion. Remember, the occult teaching is that  "Everything moves." And "everything" includes All-that-is-Manifest.

Consciousness.  The ancient  occult  teaching  that  "Everything is aware" seems to be fully corroborated by all subsequent  investigations.  As we have seen  in  the study  of  the chapters  concerning  the Planes  of Consciousness,  there  is  manifested consciousness of some  form,  phase, or  degree  on  all planes  of  life  and  being.  Wherever  there is Substance there is also Motion, and also Consciousness. Substance,  Consciousness, and  Motion  are  always  found  together—never  apart  or  divorced  one from another. There can be no Substance without  Consciousness  and  Motion; no Motion without Substance and Consciousness; and no Consciousness without  Substance  and  Motion.

In the above we have but one of  the many  applications  of  the Principle of Correspondence, which teaches  that  "As  above,  so below;  as  below,  so above;"  and  that  "From  One know  All."

 

II.  The  Principle  of  Law and  Order

The Principle of  Law  and  Order  manifests  in  the presence and manifestation  of  a regular  sequence,  and  orderly procession  of phenomena in  the  universe  of  things.  It  is  voiced  by  the celebrated  axiom of  a  leading scientist  that  "The Universe is  governed by laws." The spirit of this principle of truth is  embodied in the very term  "The Cosmos," which term  is  derived  from the Greek term "Kosmos," meaning: "The world or  universe considered  in  connection  with perfect  order  and arrangement,  as  opposed  to  Chaos."

In  the occult  teachings  of  the Rosicrucians  it  is  impressed  upon  the student  that  "there is  no such thing as  Chance,"  in  so far as  Chance is used  in  the sense of  "uncaused  happening."  The student  is  taught  that even  in  the instances  in  which Blind  Chance seems  to  rule,  there is  still the manifestation  of  Law  and  Order  and  Causation,  though the  Causes may lie outside of  human  knowledge.  The term  "Chance"  is  now employed  by careful  thinkers  only  in  the sense  of  "The unknown,  or unforeseen  cause or  causes  of  an  event."

In  the Cosmos  the  same Causes,  manifesting under  the same circumstances always produce the same Effects. All of our  science  and thought  is  based  upon  this  universal  fact,  and  intelligent  reasoning would  be  impossible without  the tacit  assumption  of  the truth of  this principle.  There is  no room  for  Chance or haphazard, lawless happenings in the Cosmos.  Everything,  every happening,  and  every  event,  must  have its "causes" and its "becauses." Everything  happens "because"  of so-and-so. Given certain causes, there must ensue certain results  and effects. "Nothing ever happens"  says  the old  proverb—and  nothing ever  does "happen"  except  for definite causes,  and  in  pursuance with universal laws.  As  someone has  said:  "There is  no room in the universe for anything outside of and  independent  of  Law  and  Order. The existence of such an outside Something would render  all Cosmic Law ineffective,  and would plunge the universe into chaotic disorder and lawlessness."

A writer has said regarding this: "A careful examination  will  show  that what  we  call 'Chance'  is merely  the  idea  of obscure  causes,  causes that  we cannot  understand.  The word  'Chance'  is  derived  from  a word  meaning "to fall"  (as  the falling of  dice from  the box  onto the board),  the essence of  the idea  being that  the fall  of  the dice are  merely 'happenings' unrelated  to any  cause.  And  this  is  the sense in  which the term  is generally employed.  But  when  the matter  is  closely examined  it  is  seen that  there  is  no chance whatsoever  about  the fall  of  the dice.  Each  time a die  falls,  and displays a  certain number,  it  obeys a  law  as  infallible  as that which governs  the  revolution  of  the planets  around  the sun,  and  the movement  of the  sun itself.  Back  of the  fall of the  die  are  causes,  or chains  of  causes,  running back  further  than  the mind  can  follow.  The position  of the die in the box;  the amount  of  muscular  energy  expended in  the throw;  the condition  of  the table;  etc.,  etc.,  all  are  causes,  the effect of  the  combination  of  which may  be  seen  in  the fall  and  position  of  rest of  the die.  But  back  of  these perceived  causes  there are chains  of  unseen preceding causes,  all of  which have had  a  bearing upon  the position  of the die as  it comes  to rest  on  the table.  If  the die  be cast  a  great  number of times, it will be found that  the  numbers shown will be  about  equal, that  is,  there will be an  equal number  of  one-spot,  two-spots,  etc., coming uppermost. Toss  a  penny  in  the air,  and  it  may  come down  either heads  or  tails.  But  make  a  sufficient  number  of tosses,  and the  heads and  tails  will even  up.  This  is  the operation  of  the Law  of  Average.  But bath  the  average  and  the single toss  come under  the Law  of  Cause  and Effect."

The same writer says: "There is no original happening;  and  every happening is  merely  a  link  in  a  great  chain  of  happenings. There is a continuity between precedent happenings, the present happenings, and future happenings. There is always the relation between what has gone before, and what is  happening now, and what will happen in the future. For  instance:  A  stone is  dislodged  from  the  mountain-side  and crashes through the roof  of  a  cottage in  the valley below.  At  first  sight  this  seems to be  a  chance effect,  but  when  we examine the  matter  we find  a  great chain  of  causes  behind  it.  In  the first  place,  there was  the  rain  which softened  the earth supporting the stone and  which allowed  or  caused  it to fall.  Then  back  of  that  there was  the influence of  the sun,  other  rains, etc.,  which  gradually  disintegrated the  rock  from  a  larger  piece.  Then there were the causes  which led  to the  formation  of  the mountain,  and  its upheaval  by  convulsions of nature,  and  so on  ad  infinitum.  We  might follow up  the  causes  behind  the rain.  Then  we might  consider  the existence of  the cottage just  at  that  place at  that  particular  moment.  In short  we  would soon find ourselves involved in a  mesh  of cause  and effect  from  which we  would soon strive  vainly to  extricate  ourselves."

But  the  Rosicrucians  do not  believe in  Fatalism  in  the ordinary sense of that term.  Fatalism  denies  that  preceding events  have any causal relation to preceding events, and holds  that  the fated  event  would  have happened in  spite of  any precedent  event.  Fatalism  makes  the fated  event  stand apart  from  the Law  of  Cause and  Effect,  and  implies  that  the event  arose from  the operation of some arbitrary degree or will. The following quotation  from  an  authoritative source will  serve to point out the essential distinction between Fatalism and the Determination  of  Cosmic Law:

"Fatalism  is  the doctrine  that  the course of  events  is  so determined  that what  an  individual  wills  can  have no effect  on  that  course.  Fatalism  must be carefully  distinguished  from  Determinism,  as  the confusion of these two conceptions has been  responsible for much  of  the popular prejudice existing against Determinism.  Fatalism,  as  has  been  said,  denies that Will has efficacy in shaping events.  Determinism  maintains  that  this causally efficient  Will is itself to  be  causally  accounted for;  this is entirely different  for  the fatalistic  assertion  that  Will counts  for  nothing. In fact Determinism  and  Fatalism are fundamental antagonistic. Determinism  asserts  that  events  are determined by some of the events that  immediately precede them;  that  if  the latter  were different  the former  would  be different.  Fatalism  denies that immediately preceding events have anything to do with the origination of events immediately following:  it asserts  that  the latter  would  occur  even  if  the former  were changed. To say  that  one's  death  is  fixed  by  Fate is to deny that it takes place by natural law. Or,  more  accurately,  it  is  to  say  that however  much one varies  the cause,  one cannot  vary  the  effect.  The fatalist's  position  is  that the  end  is predetermined, but not the  means;  the determinist's  position  is  that  the events  now  occurring lead  by  causality  to  other  events,  which are  thus  fixed  because their causes are  actually  existent.  Or,  to  put  it still  another way,  for the  fatalist what  actually determines the event is not another event  immediately preceding, but some mysterious decree issued by some mysterious  agent ages  before the event.  This  enables  us  to see that  Fatalism  gives  no scope to the  Will.  But  Determinism,  which merely asserts that every event has its determining conditions in its immediate antecedents,  includes  among those antecedents  the human  Will.  Thus  Determinism  is  consistent  with a  belief in  the  efficacy  of Will,  and Fatalism  is not."

In the above we have illustrations of some of the many  applications  of the Principle of  Law  and  Order,  which teaches that "Nothing happens by Chance, but  everything happening is  in  accordance with  Law,  Order,  and Causation."

III.  The  Principle  of Vibration

The Principle of Vibration manifests in the manifestation  of  a  state of vibration  in  everything in  the Manifested  Cosmos.  It  is  voiced  by the old occult  axiom:  "Everything  vibrates."

Modern  science has  advanced  to the  position of  the  ancient  occultists who asserted  that everything  in  the Cosmos  was  in  a state  or  condition  of continuous  vibration.  Science now  tells  us  that  not  only is  every  particle of  matter,  or every  mass  of  matter,  in  a state  of  continual  vibration,  but also  that  light,  heat,  magnetism,  electricity  and  every  other  form  of natural  force  results  from  a state  of  vibration.

The occultists  go further than  this,  and  assert  that  even  on  the mental and spiritual planes there is ever manifest a  condition  of  vibration.  In fact,  the occultists  teach that  the distinction between the several planes of  being is almost  entirely  due to the difference in  the rate  and  character on  the vibrations  manifested.  The difference between  steel  and  gold,  or diamond and clay is entirely a matter of difference in  vibrations.  All forms  of  energy are accompanied  by  distinctive degrees  of  vibrations. The conditions  of  material  substances  are  created  by the  respective degree of  vibrations  manifested  by  each.

A writer  has said:  "Science  offers  the illustration  of  a  rapidly moving wheel, top, or cylinder, to show the effects of increasing rates  of vibration.  The illustration  supposes  a  wheel,  top,  or  revolving cylinder, running at  a high rate of  speed—we will call  this revolving thing 'the object'  in  following  out  the  illustration.  Let  us  suppose the object  to  be moving slowly.  It  may  be seen  readily,  but  no sound  of  its  movement reaches  the ear.  Then  the speed is gradually increased. In a few moments the movement  becomes  so rapid  that  a  deep  growl or  low  note may be heard.  Then  as  the  rate of  motion  is  increased  the note rises  higher  in  the musical  scale.  Then,  the motion  being still further increased, the next highest note is  distinguished.  Then, one after another, all the notes of the musical scale appear,  rising  higher  and  higher  as  the  motion  is  increased. Finally,  when  the motions  have reached  a  certain  rate,  the final  note perceptible to human  ears  is  reached,  and  the shrill,  piercing shriek dies away,  and silence  follows.  No  sound is then heard  from  the revolving object,  for  its  rate  of  motion  is  so high that  the human  ear  cannot  register the vibrations.  Then  comes  the perception  of  rising degrees  of  Heat. After quite a  time  in  which degrees  of  heat  are  being manifested  without any sign of distinguishable color (though certain colors are  there,  but imperceptible  to  human  vision) there  gradually  is  manifested  a dull  dark reddish color  in  the revolving object.  As  the  rate of  speed  increases,  the red  becomes  brighter.  Then,  as  the speed  is  still  further increased,  the red  changes  into an orange color. Then  follow,  successively,  the shades  of green,  blue, indigo, and finally violet, as the  rate of  vibrations  increase. Then the violet fades away,  and  all color  disappears,  the human  eye not being able to register them.  But  there  are  invisible rays  emanating  from the revolving object, the rays  that are used in  photographing,  and  other subtle  rays  of  light.  Then  begin  to be  manifested  the peculiar  rays  known as  the  'X  Rays,'  etc.,  as the constitution of the object changes. Electricity and  Magnetism  are emitted  when  the appropriate rate of  vibration  is attained.

"When the revolving object  reaches  a  certain  degree or  rate of vibration, its  molecules  disintegrate,  and  resolve themselves  into the original elements  or  atoms.  Then  the atoms,  in  turn  disintegrate,  and  are resolved into the countless corpuscles  which constitute the atom. And finally even the corpuscles  disintegrate, and a condition  of  ethereal substance  is produced.  Science  does not dare to follow  the illustration further,  but  the occultists  teach that  if  the vibrations were continuously increased the revolving object would mount up the successive states of manifestation,  and  would display the various higher stages of consciousness."

The  occultists  teach that  each and  every  mental  or  emotional state has its own distinctive rate of  vibration, and that  the secret  of "emotional contagion" is due to the fact that similar  vibrations are set up in the emotional nature of persons subjected to the influence of  strong emotion in  another  person.  All manifestations  of  thought,  emotion,  will,  desire,  or feeling,  or  any  other  mental  state,  are  accompanied  and  caused  by vibrations  of  a  certain  high  rate,  and  that  these vibrations  tend  to influence others  in  their  field  of  "induction,"  and  tend  to set  up  in  the others  similar  vibrations.  In  this  fact  lies  the secret of Mental Influence, Personal Magnetism, etc. A  knowledge and mastery of the science of mental vibrations  enables  the skilled  Rosicrucian  to change the  rate of his  mental vibrations  at  will,  and  to thus  maintain  a  state  of  mental  calm and  power,  unaffected  by  the  thought  vibrations  of  those around  him.

So truly  does  advanced  modern  scientific  thought  recognize  the nature of vibrations,  that  the  axiom  is announced that  "The difference in things consists entirely of  difference in  vibrations."  This  axiom  is  akin  to the ancient  occult aphorism  that  "Things  manifest  differences  according to their  rate  of  vibrations."

So,  it  is  seen,  all human  investigation  tends  to prove the truth of  the old occult axiom  that "Everything  vibrates."

 

IV.  The  Principle  of Rhythm

The Principle of  Rhythm  manifests  that  universal  regular swing or  time-beat  which is  apparent  in  all the manifested  world,  from  its  highest  to its lowest  manifestation.  The ancient  occult  axiom  "Everything beats  time" expresses  this  fundamental fact  of  the  Cosmos.

Rhythm means: "Regularly recurring  motion,  change or  impulse proceeding in time-measured, alternating sequence."  The term "alternating"  means  "succeeding,  acting or  happening in  turn."  The term "recurring"  means  "returning repeatedly;  occurring at  stated  intervals,  or according  to some  regular  rule."

Rhythm  manifests  in  regular  recurrence,  succession  in  turn,  repeated occurrence  at stated  intervals,  etc.  The  simplest  and most  typical example  or  illustration  of  Rhythm  is  found  in  the swinging of  the pendulum;  the  revolution  of  the earth on  its  axis.,  and  around  the sun,  in regular measured  time;  the "beating time"  of  the metronome or the baton of  the musical director;  or  the  measured  time in  poetry  or  music. Rhythm  means "beating  time"  in  regular  motion.

In  all  Rhythm  there  is  recurring motion,  change,  and  activity;  action  or motion  in  opposite  directions;  alternations  between  the opposite  poles  of action  or  motion;  and  a  regular  interval  of  time  between  the alternating actions  or motions.  In  all phenomenal change or  motion  there is  to  be always  found  the existence of  two opposite extremes  between  which the rhythmic change or motion is manifested.  Rhythmic  change and  motion proceed  by alternating swings  between  these two extremes,  with  a regular period  of  time elapsing between  each beat, swing, or impulse in either  direction.  The period  of "time" between  the two  alternating impulses  constitutes  the rhythmic  rate,  degree,  or  beat—its  rhythmic measure  of periodicity.

The term "periodicity" so often employed in  connection  with  the subject of  Rhythm,  means  "state of  occurring  or  recurring at  fixed  intervals  of time."  Every  phenomenal  thing manifests  periodicity, by reason of the presence and activity of the  Principle  of  Rhythm. Every phenomenal thing has its own  rhythmic beat, or measure of periodicity. All scientific investigation  tends  to corroborate  the  ancient  occult  axiom:  "Everything beats  time."  A  leading  scientist  has said:  "Rhythm  is a necessary characteristic of all motion. Given the co-existence everywhere of antagonistic forces—a postulate which is  necessitated  by  our experience—and  Rhythm  is  a  necessary corollary.  All  motion  alternates— be  it the  motion  of  planets  in  their  orbits,  or  ethereal  corpuscles  in  their undulations—be it  the cadence of  speech,  or  the  rise  and  fall of  prices—it became manifest that this perpetual reversal of motion  between  limits  is inevitable."

The  atoms  in  their  vibrations  manifest  Rhythm.  The swing of  the planets and  the whirling of  the earth  manifest Rhythm. The rise and fall of the tides  manifest  Rhythm.  The swing of  the pendulum  is  interrupted Rhythm. Completed Rhythm is  represented only by a completed revolution or circular movement—uninterrupted Rhythm always manifests as a  complete movement  in  an  orbit.  But  inasmuch as  the centre between  the two extremes  is,  itself,  moving in  response to a  higher order  of  Rhythm,  we  see  at  last  that  all  completed Rhythm  manifests as  a spiral—a  circular  movement  which  at  the same time is  moving forward.

By the  Principle  of Rhythm  day  is followed by  night,  and night  by day. Summer and winter alternate in their appearance. Sleeping and waking alternate.  Work  and  rest exchange places.  Involution is followed by evolution,  and  evolution  by involution. All changes proceed according to rhythmic  order  and  sequence.  The conduct  of  mankind  is  regulated  by Rhythm.  Fashions  in  dress,  in  taste,  and  in  feeling,  all come and  go,  and come again.  Everything "comes  back"  in  time.  Races  rise and  fall,  and then  rise  again,  again  to fall.  The course of  empire wends  its  way  in  cyclic procession  around  the earth.  History repeats  itself.  Even  our  emotions have their  tidal  movements.

A writer  has  said  of  an  important  fact  concerning Rhythm  in  our emotional  states:  "Nothing swings  beyond  the limit  of  its  extremes— nothing can pass beyond its rhythmic limits.  Consequently,  if  a  thing swings  far  in  one direction,  it  swings  back  equally  far  in  the other.  Its reaction  is  in  the  measure of  its  action,  though in  an  opposite direction.

If its swing  is great,  its extremes are  widely  apart—if  the  swing  is  small, then  the extremes  are close together.  The pendulum  illustration  may  be applied  to the phenomena  on  all  planes.  A  short  beat  of  the metronome allows  the rod  to  move only  a  short  distance  each way—the long beat admits of  a  wide  swing.  And,  in the  same  way,  those  who  suffer  keenly also enjoy keenly,  while those whose  natures  admit  of  but  little suffering are  also  incapable  of  more than  a  limited  capacity for  enjoyment.  A  pig suffers little,  and enjoys but  little;  while  a  highly organized,  sensitive individual suffers  the torments  of  emotional  and  mental  hell at  times, while at  others  he  mounts  to the heavenly emotional and mental realms. The pendulum  swings  as  far in  one direction  as  in  the other."

In some of  the higher  teachings  of  the Rosicrucians  the student  is instructed  in  the  application  of  the Principle of  Rhythm  to the  mastery  of his  emotional states  and  feelings.  The essence of this secret  teaching is that  the  wise,  perceiving the inevitable reaction  following  action,  the ebb tide following the  high tide,  manage to escape the consequences  of  the reaction  by rising to their higher realms or planes of  consciousness  just before the time  of  the backward  swing of  the emotional  pendulum,  thus allowing the reactionary  movement  to  be manifested  only  on  their  lower planes  of  consciousness  while the Ego dwells  serenely  on  the upper plane.

A writer, speaking along the lines just  mentioned,  has said:  "The  masters taught  that  by  an  understanding of  the Principle of  Rhythm  man  could escape many bewildering and  perplexing changes  in  his  emotional  states and  feelings.  *  *  *  They called  this  the Process  of  Neutralization,  the operations  of  which consisted  of  raising the Ego above  the vibrations  of the ordinary  conscious  plane,  and  on  to the higher.  This  was  akin  to rising  above a  thing  and  allowing the thing to pass  beneath one. The occult masters, and their  advanced students,  polarized  themselves  at  the positive  pole  of a  particular  emotional state,  and by  a  process of "refusing"  or  "denial"  they  managed  to escape  the effects  of  the swing of the emotional pendulum  to the negative pole of  that  emotion.  All individuals who  have  attained  any  degree of  self-mastery  really  proceed in this same manner, though usually unconsciously and without a true understanding of the law they are operating. By refusing to allow  their negative  mental  and  emotional states  to manifest  in  them,  they  really 'neutralize'  them,  and  cause  them  to  pass  under them on a lower  plane of consciousness.  The advanced occultist, however, proceeds consciously and  deliberately  to  this  end,  and  acquires  a  degree of  balance,  poise,  and power  almost  incredible."

The further the student penetrates in his  investigations,  along the lines of  the physical,  the  mental,  or  the spiritual,  the  more will he become convinced of the truth of the ancient occult  axiom:  "Everything beats time."

 

V.  The  Principles of Cycles

The Principle of Cycles manifests that universal circular  direction of process  or  progress  which is  apparent  in  all  the  manifested  world,  from its highest  to  its lowest  manifestation.  The  spirit  of  this  principle  was expressed  in  the  ancient  occult  axiom:  "Everything proceeds in circles."

It is  apparent  to all careful  thinkers  and  investigators  that  all  progress  or procession  of  things  or  events  follows  the path  of  the circle.  All things, physical,  mental,  and spiritual  manifest  the  cyclic or  circular  trend. World  and atoms,  the Cosmos  and  man,  all  are  under  this  law.  This principle  is  understood  more clearly when we understand that a completed and uninterrupted manifestation of Rhythm results in the completion  of  a  circular  movement—therefore  the  circular or cyclic  trend of things is really closely  allied to  the  Principle  of Rhythm,  and  both Rhythm  and  Cyclicity are closely allied  to the  Principle of  Vibration.

The following interesting quotation from a  writer  on  the subject  serves  to bring out  some of  the main  points  concerned in  the consideration  of  the activities  of  this  particular principle:

"Cyclicity is akin to  Rhythm,  and arise  by  reason of it.  All  events tend to move  in cyclic trend—in  constant  circular  movement.  The Law of Cyclicity manifests in the universal tendency of  things  to  swing in  circles. Cyclicity is  the outgrowth,  or  more complex  form, of Rhythm.  The  primal manifestation  of  Rhythm  is  action  to-and-fro  in  a straight line  or  path— a  movement  backward  and  forward  between  two extremes  or  poles  of action.  This would  be  the  invariable movement if the particular force manifested  were the only manifestation  of  force or  energy in  that particular field  of  the Cosmos.  But  when  the swinging pendulum  (free to move in  any  direction)  is  subjected  to  the conflicting attractions and repulsions  of  other  manifestations  of  force and  energy,  then  there is manifested the universal tendency toward the  circular  trend—the tendency to convert  the straight  path  of  the swing into a  circular  path or cycle.  The  action  and  reaction,  the attraction  and  repulsion,  arising from the conflict between the force of the rhythmic swing in a  straight  line on the one hand,  and  the attractive and  repellant  forces  from  without, on the other hand, tend to swing the moving thing  in  a  perfect  circle around a  central  point,  axis,  or  pivotal  centre. And these conflicting forces are in operation through  the Cosmos,  and  the  manifestation  of  Cyclicity may be noticed  on  all planes.  There is  ever  the evidence of  the cyclic  trend  of things and events—the tendency to move in circles. The electrons  in  the atoms  move in  circles,  just  as  do the planets  around  the sun,  and  just  as does  the sun  move  around  some other  centre in  space.  The highest  occult teachings,  as  well  as  the highest  speculations  of  science,  inform  us  that there is  always  a  movement  in  circles  around  some given  point,  and  the movement  of  the said  point,  or  centre  of  motion,  around  some other centre,  and  so on,  and  on,  to  infinity."

The same  writer  continues:  "All  events  tend  to  move in cyclic trend—in constant circular movement of continuous  recurrence.  The experience of man,  aided  by  the reports  of  history, bears out this  statement.  The student  of human  history is struck by the  continuous cyclic trend manifested throughout  the ages of  history.  The student  of philosophy  is attracted  by  the same evidence in  his  own  field.  And  so  it  is  with  every field of human thought—the cyclic trend is noticeable everywhere. Races and nations rise,  flourish,  decline,  and fall;  only to  be  succeeded by others  travelling over  the same lines.  'Westward  the star of  Empire takes its flight  '—the centre of  political power is constantly changing. The civilizations of Lemuria,  Atlantis,  Egypt,  Chaldea,  Rome  and  Greece arose  and  passed away.  Our  own civilization is  but  travelling  over  the same general lines. All forms of political government, monarchic, autocratic,  democratic,  in  all  their variations,  were known in the past as in  the present.  The same law  is  observable in  the history  of  philosophical thought.  Philosophical theories  popular in Greece over two thousand years ago fell into disrepute,  but  are now  again  forcing their  way  to  the front.  The scientific  theories  of  Causation,  Continuity,  Determinism,  and Evolution were popular in Ancient Greece over two thousand  years  ago. And they  were likewise popular  in  Ancient  Egypt and India centuries before that time. Fashions in  literature, dress, and manner constantly recur—travelling 'round  and  'round  their  little circles.  Laugh as  we  may at  the absurdity of  fashion  in dress,  nevertheless it  is proceeding according  to  Cyclic  Law.  Religious ideas are  as  old as the  world— pantheism,  polytheism, monotheism, and atheism—all have  played their parts  of  fashion  in  religious  thought,  over  and  over  again,  and  will  play them  again.  The present-day revival of  interest  in  the occult  teachings arise  from  the  operations of the  same  law.  And  the  life of individuals manifest  the same  trend  and  tendency.  A  little  thought  will convince you that  the  majority  of  people travel  in  circles  throughout  their  entire  life. The same  old  thing,  over  and  over  again,  recurring at  intervals  of  greater or  lesser  duration,  according  to the nature  and  character of  the person. Many people are like the squirrel who travels  all  day on  his  whirling wheel—always  going but  getting nowhere,  ever  ending just  where  he began."

The thoughtful student,  considering  what  has  just  been  called  to  his attention,  will  naturally  ask  us how it  is,  if this  be  so,  that  there  is  any real progress  at  all.  If,  says  he,  there is  nothing but  a continuous  running around  in circles—a  constant  travelling around  without  getting anywhere—how  is  it  that  there is  evident  a  real  progress,  a  real evolution, a  real advancement  in  the scale of  life and  being?  The  answer  is  simple: given  a  circular  movement  around  a given  point,  axis,  or centre of attraction, and further given an advancing movement  of  that  centre, point,  or  axis,  it  follows that  the  first  circular  movement  will  also  be  a spiral movement.  If the  Central Point is advanced, then the circular movement is  converted  into  a  spiral  movement—and  while there persists a  "going 'round  and  'round"  as  before,  each "going 'round"  process travels  on  a  little higher  plane,  or  a  more advanced  position.  And  this  is just  what  exists  in  the Cosmos—a  Cosmic Spiral Process,  onward  and upward,  in advancing  and rising  circles.

An old  aphorism  of  an  ancient  school  of  occultism  is:  "The only escape from Cyclicity is by means of  transmutation  into  Spirality,  i.e.,  by advancing the Central Point  of  Motion.  The conversion  of  the  Circle into the Spiral  is  one of  the highest  forms  of  Alchemy."  And  in  this  aphorism is  found  one of  the secrets  of  Rosicrucianism.  The rule operates  on  each and every  plane  of  being,  physical,  mental,  and  spiritual.

A writer  has  said  of  this:  "The  Ego  may convert  the  circle  of its life-motion  into an  advancing and  rising spiral,  which while carrying him around  the life circle will  at  the same time  raise  him  a  stage higher  at each turn.  The Mountain  of  Attainment,  around  which winds  the Spiral Path,  is  travelled  only in  this  way. Around and around the Pilgrims travel,  seemingly retracing their steps but in reality constantly mounting upward. By  advancing the  Central  Point,  by  means of  the  Will, the wise and the strong convert the Circles into Spirals,  and  thus advance and  attain.  This,  indeed,  as  the old  aphorism  states,  'is  one of  the highest forms  of  Mental  Alchemy.'"

The further the student penetrates in his  investigations,  along the lines of  the physical,  the  mental,  or  the spiritual,  the  more will  he become convinced  of  the truth of  the  ancient  occult  axiom  that  "Everything proceeds in circles."

 

VI.  The  Principle  of Polarity

The  Principle  of  Polarity  manifests  that  universal  fact of  "the  pairs  of opposites,"  or  "the  antinomies,"  which is  apparent  in  all the manifested world, from its highest to its lowest  manifestation.  The  spirit  of  this principle  was expressed in the  ancient  occult  axiom:  "Everything  has its Opposite,  which is  the other  pole of  its  manifestation."

The Principle of Polarity may be stated as follows: "All  phenomena manifest  polarity,  or  opposite and  contrasted  sets  of  qualities,  properties, or  powers,  operating in  opposite and contrasted directions." The ancient philosophers  made this  one of  the chief  features  of  their  teachings,  under the  name  of  "The Opposites," "The Pairs of Opposites," or "The Antinomies,"  according to the usage of  the respective schools.  They  held that  every  phenomenal thing  possesses  and  manifests  these pairs  of opposite  qualities,  properties,  and powers.  They  also  held  that each  and every set  of  polarized  opposites  constitutes  a  unity consisting of a reconciliation and balancing of  the opposing poles. They also held that every phenomenal thing,  itself,  is  one of a pair  of  polarized  opposites which,  together,  constitute  a greater unity; and so on, either to infinity or until  the opposites  find  final  reconciliation  and  harmony in  an  Infinite Reality.

The simplest  and  yet  the  most  characteristic  of  the many examples  and illustrations  of  Polarity  is  seen  in  the presence and  activity  of  the two opposite  and  contrasting  poles  of  the magnet—the positive and  negative poles.  The magnet  is  one—a  unity  consisting  of  a  balance  and  a reconciliation  of  the two opposing poles  and  their  respective activities and powers.  The illustration is typical, and fully illustrates the general principle.

We may  see evidences  of  Polarity  in  any  direction  toward  which we may turn  in our  search.  There  is  always an  up  and a  down;  a  top  and  a bottom;  a  high and  a  low;  a right  and  a  left;  a  forward  and  a  backward. There  is  always  a past  and  a  future;  a  now  and a then;  a  before  and  an after;  a day  and  a  night;  a  time  and  an  eternity.  There  is  always  a  fast  and a slow;  a  motion  and  a  rest;  a hot  and  a cold;  a  good  and  a  bad;  a light and a  dark;  a  conscious  and  an unconscious;  an  active  and an inactive; an  involution  and  an  evolution;  an  analysis  and  a  synthesis;  a  thesis  and an  antithesis;  a  male and  a  female;  a  positive  and  a  negative;  a youth and an  age;  a  health  and  a disease;  a  building-up  and  a  tearing-down;  a  birth and  a death;  a  coming and  a  going;  a  life and  a  death;  material  and  an immaterial;  a heavy  and  a  light;  an  abstract  and  a concrete;  a long  and  a short;  a broad  and  a  narrow;  a  large  and  a  small;  a  north  and  a south;  an east  and  a  west;  a  love  and  a  hate;  a courage  and  a fear;  a  faith  and  a doubt;  a  belief  and  a  disbelief;  a  truth and  an  error;  and  so on,  ad infinitum.

Whenever we see a phenomenal quality, property or  characteristic,  a state  or  a  condition,  we  are  fully  justified in assuming  the existence of  an opposite to it,  which opposite thing will be found  to act  in  the opposite and  contrasted  direction  to  it.  This  is  an  infallible and invariable rule of phenomenal  existence.

In  case the opposite of  a  thing is  not  known  to us,  because it  has not as yet been discovered by or made known to us,  nevertheless  in  such case we are fully justified  in  ascribing  to the unknown opposite the qualities and characteristics  diametrically opposed  to the  known  opposite.  The rule  is  this:  "Whatever  is  affirmed  of  one of  a  pair  of  opposites  must  be denied  to  the other";  and  "whatever  is  denied  to  the one,  must  be affirmed  of  the other."  So true and  infallible is  this  rule that  it  may be applied  and  employed  as  the  basis  of  logical reasoning from the known to the unknown, for the  purpose of  discovering the latter.

One of  the most  surprising features  of  this  discovery is  that  we finally perceive that  the two contrasting sets  of  qualities  are  really  but  two aspects  or  phases  of  the whole thing—the real  thing,  or  thing in  itself— the unity  of  the two,  instead  of  being two separated  and  distinct  things. Or,  stating it  in  other  words, we discover that  the two opposing sets  of characteristics  are merely relative to each other, and together form a correlated  unity  and  balanced  whole.

As  an  illustration  of  the fact  just  stated,  we may  consider  the two opposites  known  as  Hot  and  Cold,  respectively;  surely there can  be no two qualities  apparently more distinct  and separate from each other— more diametrically  different  from  each other.  But  careful  examination shows  us  that  the  two contrasting things  are  really but  degrees, conditions, and  states  of  the  same  thing.  There is  no such thing as  an "absolute  hot,"  or  an  "absolute cold."  There are  merely different  degrees of this Hot-Cold pair  of opposites,  which  for  convenience  we  call "Heat." We cannot  point  out  a place  on  the thermometer  where  Hot  ceases  and Cold  begins,  or  vice versa.  The two states  or conditions  blend  into each other,  and  any  statement  regarding  them  is  found  to  be merely comparative.  If  we place one hand  in  a  bowl of  very  hot  water,  and  the other  in  a bowl of  ice-cold water,  and  then suddenly  withdraw  both hands  and  plunge them  into a  bowl of  lukewarm  water,  what  happens  is simply  this,  that  we find  that  the hot-water  hand  feels  a  sensation  of coolness,  while the cold-water  hand  feels  a sensation of heat—each experience resulting from the comparison  with the previous  experience.

We may  consider  the emotional  states  of  Love and  Hate  as  another illustration  of  the same principle;  surely  these two emotions  seem irreconcilable  and  impossible to harmonize.  But  let  us  see!  At  the  one end  of  the emotional  scale  of  Love-Hate we find  intense love,  then descending on  the scale we find  varying and  gradually lessening degrees of  love.  Then  we find  the balanced  point  of  indifference,  which seems  to be neither love nor hate, but which in reality is the subtle  balancing of the two emotions.  Then  descending the scale we find  a faint  degree of aversion  or  dislike;  then  a  series  of  gradually  increasing  degrees  of dislike,  until finally  real hate is  met  with,  and  so on  until  we reach  the degree of  intense and  extreme hate.  Yet  all are seen  to be but  degrees  on the same  emotional scale of  Love-Hate.

Sometime  there is  a  rapid  change and  shift  on  the scale of  the opposites. Love is quickly transmuted to hate; the best  friends  and  most  ardent lovers  become the bitterest  enemies. And, on the other  hand,  persons who originally  detest  each other  frequently become ardent  lovers  after a time;  and  old  enemies, when reconciled, frequently become the closest friends.  The  swing  is often as far  in one  direction as was  its former  swing in  the opposite direction.  Up  changes  to down,  as the earth revolves; and hot becomes cold when  the vibrations  are  changed.  This also  applies to hard  and  soft, tenuous  and  solid,  etc.,  the conditions  depending entirely upon  the  rate of  vibrations  and  relative positions  of  the particles  of  the matter  of which the things are composed. Moreover, constant  emphasis or  activity of one opposite frequently leads to a  manifestation  of  the other  opposite.  We  often  fly  to the other  extreme  of  feeling  and  action, when we have over-emphasized  the former emotional states.  We get tired  and  disgusted  with one  set  or  condition  of  things,  and  feel a  desire to fly to  the opposite condition  or  set.  Too much of  a  good  thing often causes us  to  dislike  it.  Likewise,  if we  travel far  enough  west,  we  finally reach  the extreme east,  and  vice versa.  If  we travel far enough north, we pass the pole and find ourselves  proceeding south. At the North Pole, no matter in what  direction we  may  travel,  we  always find ourselves travelling south;  while at  the South Pole,  we can  travel  north only,  no matter which  way  we  may  step  out.

The discovery  that  "opposites  are  identical,"  in  the sense  of  being but  the two contrasting  poles  of  the same  thing,  opens  up a wonderful field of mastery to the occultist who has  acquainted  himself  with the law  of Polarization,  in  its  phases  of  Transmutation  and  Balance.

The understanding of the Principle of Polarity enables the occultist  to transmute one mental state  into another, along the lines of Polarization. Things belonging to different classes  cannot  be  transmuted  into each other,  but  the opposing poles  of  the same thing  may  be so  changed—that is,  may  have a  change in  their  polarity  effected  and  thus  be transmuted one into the other.  Thus,  love can  never  become east  or  west,  or  red  or violet;  but  love may be changed  into  hate,  or hate  into love,  by a  shifting of  polarity.  Courage may  be  transmuted  into fear,  or  fear into courage; hard  may  be changed  into soft,  dull  into sharp, hot  into cold,  and  so on, the transmutation  always  being between  things  of  the same kind.  The fearful man  may shift  his  polarity  and  by  thus  changing his  emotional vibrations may  become  filled with  courage.  Likewise,  the  slothful  man may shift  his  polarity into  activity  and  energetic  action.  The key lies  in the fact  that  in  this  process  of  transmutation  there is  not  an  actual change of  one thing into another  distinct  thing,  but rather a shifting of the centre of polar force from one extreme of  the scale to the other,  just as  one would  shift  the carriage of  his  typewriter from  1  to  70,  or change the focus  of  an  opera  glass.

A writer  on  the subject  has  said  of  this  particular point:  "In  addition  to the changing of  one's  own  mental  states  by  the operation of the art of Polarization, the principle may be extended  so as  to embrace the phenomena  of  the influence  of  one mind  over  that  of  another,  of  which so much  has  been  written  and  taught  of  late years.  When  it  is  understood that  Mental  Induction  is  possible,  that  is  that  mental states  may  be produced  by 'induction'  from  those of  other  persons,  then we can see how readily  a  certain  rate of  mental vibrations,  or polarization of a certain mental state, may be  communicated  from  one person  to another, and  the polarity of  the second  person  be changed  accordingly.  It  is  along these lines  that  many excellent  results  of 'mental treatment' are obtained, though the practitioner  may  not  understand  the nature of  the principle he is using. For instance, a person is  'blue,'  melancholy, depressed in spirits,  and full of fear.  A  mental  scientist  bringing his  own mind  up  to the desired  vibration,  by means  of  his  own  will which thus produces  the desired  polarization  in  his  own  case,  then  by induction communicates  these polarized  vibrations  to the  mind  of  the patient,  the result  being that  the patient's  emotional  states  are converted  from  the negative  polarization  to the  positive.  A  knowledge of  the existence of  this great  occult  principle will enable the occultist  to better  understand  his own mental  states,  and  those of  other people.  He will  see that  these states  are all matters  of  degree,  and  seeing thus  he will  be  able to  raise or lower  his  mental  and  emotional  vibrations  at  will—to change his  mental poles,  and  thus  be  a  master  of  his  emotions  instead  of  being a  slave to them.  And  by his  knowledge  he  will be  able  to  aid his fellow men intelligently,  and  by appropriate  methods  change their  mental and emotional polarization when  the same is  desirable."

In  concluding our  consideration  of  the Principle of  Polarity,  we  ask  the student  to  study carefully the following words  written  by one who has  a knowledge of  the great  subject  of  Balance, the art of  which consists  in finding the Centre  between  the Two Extremes,  and  thus  maintaining a Poise and  Balance  which is  undisturbed  by  any  mental  or  emotional storm.  This writer  says:

 

"Poise is Power.  Poise  results from  Balance.  Balance  is  secured by adjusting  and  maintaining the Centre  between  the Poles  of  the Pairs of Opposites. By Balanced  Poise the Master  neutralizes  Polarity and Rhythm,  by  resolving them  into Unity.  In  the Heart  of  the Storm  is Peace.  In  the Centre of  Life there is  Poise and  Power.  Seek  it  ever,  O Neophyte—for  in  it  thou  shalt  find  thyself. 

The foregoing  sentences compose the substance of  an  ancient arcane aphorism, in which is contained the seed thought  generated  in  the centuries  of  thought  and experience of  the arcane  teachers.  Do not  pass  it  by  because of  its simplicity.  Poised  balance is  the aim  and  goal of  the arcane initiates.  It  is the secret of mastery.  There  is  always  a  centre of  everything.  But the centre exists only because of the existence of the circumference.  There is always  a  point  or poise between  the poles  of  every pair of  opposites.  But that  point  exists  only because the extremes  exist.  And  in  the central point is always  found the  power  of  the whole event  or  thing.  In  the centre of gravity  of  the earth  one would  be  able  to remain  in  a position of perfect poise, unsupported except by the concentrated  gravity  of  the whole earth.  So  nicely  poised  that  a mere effort  of  the  will  would  exert  sufficient energy to  propel him in any desired  direction.  The power  of  the opposites  are  concentrated  at  the central point.  There all  power  is  to  be found,  and  there only. 

The axiom  'Action  and  Reaction  are equal' indicates  a  central  point  in  which lies  the true lever  which will move the whole.  At  the centre one is  able to use  action  and  reaction  without  being subject  to  either.  The initiate strives  to attain  the state of  equilibrium and  absolute poise.  He yearns  to master  the  art of traversing the razor-edge of Life, balancing himself  perfectly,  like the trained  mental  athlete that  he is,  by  means  of the balancing-pole of the Opposites which he has firmly grasped. Pitting the Opposites  one against  the other—balancing law by  law—the Master traverses the slender tightrope thread  which separates  the world  of  desire from  the world  of  will. O  Neophyte,  in  the Centre  of  Life shalt  thou  indeed  find  Poise and  Power.  In  the Heart  of  the Storm  shalt  thou  find  Peace.  In  the Centre of  the Cosmos  shalt  thou  find THYSELF.  He who finds  the Centre  of  Himself,  finds  the Centre  of  the Cosmos.  For,  at  the  last,  they  are  ONE!"

 

The student  when  confronted  with  questions  and  problems  in  which a choice is  difficult  by  reason  of  the strong activity  of both extremes of polarization—of both of the Pair of  Opposites,  is  advised  to seek  out  the Centre between  the two opposing poles,  and  to stand  firmly there,  feeling assured  that  there,  and  there only  is  the place of  peace,  poise and  power. In  the one word  "BALANCE"  there is  to be found  the Secret  of  many,  or most  of  the perplexing questions  of  Life.  Seek  ever,  Poise and  Balance, and you  will have  Power  and Peace!

The further  the student  penetrates  in  his  investigations  along the lines  of the  physical,  the  mental,  and the  spiritual,  the  more will  he become convinced  of  the truth of  the  ancient  occult  axiom  that  "Everything has its  Opposite,  which  is  the other  pole of  its  manifestation."

 

VII.  The  Principle  of Sex

The Principle of Sex manifests in the universal  presence of sex distinction and activity which is  apparent  in  all the manifested  world, from  its  highest  to its  lowest manifestations. The spirit of  this  principle was  expressed  in  the ancient  occult  axiom:  "Sex is omnipresent and all-pervasive in the universe. All creation  is  generation,  and  all generation proceeds from  Sex."

All deep  students of occultism,  and  many students of modern science, perceive the truth of  the Rosicrucian  ancient  doctrine  that  Sex  is  all-pervasive,  all-present,  and  is  the cause  of  all creation,  for  creation  always results  from  generation,  and  generation  proceeds  from sex-activity. There is Sex manifested in  everything—the masculine and  feminine principles  are  ever  at  work  in  the universe.  This  not  only on  the physical plane of  being,  but  also on  the mental  and spiritual  planes of being.  On the physical plane  Sex  manifests  physical  generation;  on  the mental plane it  manifests  mental generation;  and  on  the spiritual plane it manifests spiritual generation. An  understanding of  the Cosmic  Principle of Sex will  give one a  clear  insight  into  many subjects  which have  proved perplexing to the  majority  of  thinkers.

In  a  preceding chapter  of  this  book  we  have called  your  attention  to  the fact  that  the activities  of  the electrons,  the atoms,  and  the  corpuscles  of which  matter  is composed,  are  purely  sexual  activities—that  all attraction  is  sex-attraction,  and that as all Cosmic activity  results  from Attraction,  therefore Sex  is  the Motive Power  behind  the activities  of  the Cosmos.  A  careful  examination  of  the discoveries  of  modern  science which are  being  announced  from  year  to year will convince the student that all are explainable under the Rosicrucian theory of the Principle of Sex, and are explainable under no other  hypothesis.

Passing on  to the Plane of  Mind,  we find  that  many  of the  discoveries of modern psychology  tend  to verify the  Rosicrucian  theory  also.  Modern psychologists  are devoting much time and space to their presentations of the various theories and  discussions  of  that  "other  mind"  which they variously  call  the "subjective  mind,"  the "subconscious  mind,"  the "subliminal mind,"  etc.,  etc.  In  all of  their  theories,  however,  one point stands  out  prominently,  i.e.,  the point  that  this  "other  mind"  is  subject  to stimulating influences  from  the "conscious"  or  "objective"  mind,  and after being so subjected  to  the influence of  stimulus  of  the latter  the "other  mind"  becomes  fertile and  produces  a  wealth of  ideas,  thoughts, and  actions.  But  so far none of the psychologists  have even  attempted  to explain  the nature of  the influence or  stimulus  of  the one mind  upon  the other.  And  here is  where the Rosicrucian  teachings  are  much needed,  for the Rosicrucian  recognizes  and  realizes  at  once  the fact  that  the "other mind"  is  feminine,  and  the  stimulating  mind  is  masculine,  and  that the process  is  clearly one of fertilization followed by mental conception and generation.

So clear  is  the analogy that  one has  but  to have  his  attention  directed toward it to realize  its  truth  and  its  proper  application  to  the  case  before us.  It  is  so clear  that  one,  on  learning  it,  cannot  see why  the promulgators of  the "dual-mind"  theories,  and  their  commentators,  can  have failed  to perceive the secret  underlying the phenomena  discovered  by  them  and embodied  in  their  various  theories.  Thompson  J.  Hudson,  in  his  book "The Law of Psychic Phenomena," in which in 1893 he announced  his celebrated  theory  of  "the dual mind,"  came near to perceiving the secret hidden in the teaching of the ancient  occultists,  but  his  prejudices  caused him  to  pass it  by.  In  his  statement,  at  the beginning of  his  second  chapter of the said  book,  he says:  "The mystic  jargon  of  the Hermetic  philosophers discloses  the same  general  idea,"  i.e.,  the general  idea  of  the duality  of mind,  but  he failed  to follow  up  the promising lead,  and  thus  lost  the opportunity  to  complete  his  discovery—or rediscovery, for the duality of the mind's  activities  has  been  known  to occultists  for  ages.

The "other  mind"  of  the human  individual  may  be regarded  as  a mental womb ---in  fact  the  ancients so  styled it— in  which is  generated  a  wealth of mental  offspring. It is a mine of latent  possibilities  of  generation—the generation  of  mental progeny of  all sorts  and  kinds.  Its  powers  of  mental generative energy are enormous.  But  it  does  not  generate except  under the  stimulus of the  "conscious mind"  of its owner,  or  some  other individual. The phenomena  of  Suggestion  and  Hypnotism  are explainable under  the Rosicrucian  Theory of  Mental Sex.  A  writer  on  this subject  has said:

"Suggestion  and  Hypnotism  operate in  the same  way,  viz., by the Masculine Principle projecting its  vibrations  toward  the  Feminine Principle  in  the mind  of  the other  person,  the latter  taking the seed-thought and allowing it  to develop  into maturity when  it  is  born  on  the plane of  consciousness.  The Masculine Principle in the mind  of  the person  giving the suggestion  directs  a  vibratory  current  toward  the Feminine Principle  in  the  mind  of  the person  who is  the  object  of  the suggestions,  and the  latter accepts it according to natural laws, unless the will  interposes  an  objection. The seed-thought  thus  lodged  in  the mind  of  the other  person  grows  and  develops,  and  in  time is  regarded  as the rightful mental  offspring  of  the person,  whereas  it  is  really like the cuckoo's  egg placed  in  the nest  of  the  sparrow;  and  like the offspring of the cuckoo,  it  destroys  the rightful offspring of the owner of the nest. The proper method is  for  the Masculine and  Feminine Principles  in  the mind of a person to co-ordinate and to act  harmoniously in conjunction with each other. But  unfortunately  the Masculine Principle in  the mind  of  the average  person  is  too lazy  to  act—the activities of  the Will too slight—the consequence being that  such  persons  are  ruled  almost  entirely  by  the minds and wills of other  persons,  whom  they  allow  to do their  thinking and  willing for  them.  The majority of  persons  are but  mere shadows  and echoes  of  other  persons  having stronger  wills  and  minds  than themselves.  The strong men  and  women  of  the world  invariably  manifest the  Masculine  Principle  of Will,  and  their  strength depends  materially upon  this  fact.  Instead  of  living by the  impressions  made  upon  their minds  by  others,  they  dominate  their  own  minds  by means  of  their  own will,  obtaining the  kind  of  thoughts  desired;  and  moreover  they dominate the minds  of  others,  likewise,  in  the same  manner.  

Look  at  the strong  people,  see how  they manage to implant  their  seed-thoughts  in  the minds  of  the masses  of  the people,  thus  causing the latter to think  thoughts  in  accordance with the desires  and  wills  of  the  strong individuals. 

This is why the masses of the people are such sheep-like creatures,  never originating an  idea  of  their  own,  nor  using their own powers of mental activity. The manifestation  of  Mental  Sex  may  be noticed  all around  us  in our  daily  life.  The magnetic  persons  are those  who are  able to use  the Masculine Mental  Principle  in  the direction  of  impressing their  ideas upon  others.  

The actor who makes people weep or cry as he wills is  employing this principle,  more  or  less unconsciously.  So  is the  successful  orator, statesman,  preacher,  writer,  or  other  person  who is  before the public. The peculiar influence exerted by many persons  over  others  is explainable in  this  way—the  operation  of Mental  Sex  activity in  the form of  vibratory  mental  currents.  Here we  may find  the secret  of  personal magnetism,  personal  influence,  fascination,  etc."

The Principle of  Sex  manifests  and  operates  also on  the Spiritual Plane of being, according to its characteristic  principles,  and  its  results  are spiritual  generation  and  regeneration.  

We regret  that  we  are not  permitted  to  go deeply  into  this  phase of  the subject  in  this  book,  but  a detailed  consideration  of  the operation  of  Sex on  this  high plane would  be  contrary to the interests  of  the best  in occultism,  and would invite  a misuse of  power  on  the part  of unprincipled  persons  who fail  to understand the evil consequences to themselves coming as a reaction  following actions  of  this  kind.  The true student,  however, by using his power of  reasoning by  analogy,  doubtless will  be  able to work  out  some  of  the problems  concerned  with  the phase of  the question  thus  mentioned.  Such will find  the secret  in  the old axiom:  "As above,  so  below;  as below,  so  above."

The further the student penetrates in his  investigations  along the lines of the physical, the mental,  and  the spiritual,  the  more will  he become convinced  of  the truth of  the  ancient  occult  axiom that "Sex is omnipresent and all-pervasive in  the universe.  All creation  is  generation, and  all  generation  proceeds  from  Sex."

 

Finis

END OF THIS BOOK.

CREATED BY WISDOM DRAGONS