THE ASTRAL WORLD/PART 11
CHAPTER XI.
ASTRAL ENTITIES.
WITHOUT intending to go deeply into this
subject—for the same is reserved for the sole teaching of the advanced pupil,
and must not be carelessly spread before others—I think it well to call your
attention to the fact that on certain planes of the Astral there exist certain
entities, or living beings, which never were human, and never will be, for they
belong to an entirely different order of nature.
These strange entities are ordinarily
invisible to human beings, but under certain conditions they may be sensed by
the astral vision. Strictly speaking, these strange beings do not dwell upon
the Astral at all—that is, not in the sense of the Astral as a part of space or
a place. We call them Astral entities simply because they become visible for
the first time to man when he is able to vision on the Astral, or by means of
the astral senses—and for no other reason.
So far as place, or space is concerned, these
entities or beings dwell upon the earth, just as do the human beings. They
vibrate differently from us, that is all. They are also usually of but a
microscopic size, and would be invisible to the human eye even if they vibrated
on the same plane as do we. The astral vision not only senses their vibrations,
under certain conditions, but also, under certain other conditions, it
magnifies their forms into perceptible size.
Some of these astral entities are known as
Nature Spirits, and inhabit streams, rocks, mountains, forests, etc. Their
occasional appearance to persons of psychic temperament, or in whom a degree of
astral vision has been awakened, has given rise to the numerous tales and
legends in the folk-lore of all nations regarding a strange order of beings, to
which various names have been given, as for instance: fairies, pixies, elves,
brownies, peris, djinns, trolls, satyrs, fauns, kobolds, imps, goblins, little
folk, tiny people, etc., etc., and similar names found in the mythologies and
legends of all people. The old occultists called the earth entities of this
class by the name of “gnomes, the air entities as “sylphs”, the water beings as
undines, and the fire, or ether beings as “salamanders.”
This class of astral entities, as a rule,
avoid the presence of man, and fly from places in which he dwells—-for instance
they avoid large cities as men avoid a cemetery. They prefer the solitudes of
nature, and resent the onward march of men which drives them further and
further into new regions. They do not object to the physical presence of man so
much as they do his mental vibrations which are plainly felt by them, and which
are very distasteful to them.
A certain class of them are what may be
called “good fellows,” and these, once in a while, seem to find pleasure in
helping and aiding human beings to whom they have formed an attachment. Many
such cases are related in the folk lore of the older countries, but modern life
has driven these friendly helpers from the scene in most places.
Another class, now also very uncommon, seems
to find delight in playing elfish, childish pranks, particularly in the nature
of practical jokes upon peasants, etc. At spiritualistic seances, and similar
places, these elfish pranks are sometimes in evidence.
The ancient magicians and wonder workers were
often assisted by creatures of this class. And, even today in India, Persia,
China, and other Oriental lands, such assistance is not unknown; and many of
the wonderful feats of these magicians are attributable only to such aid.
As a rule, as I have said, these creatures
are not unfriendly to man, though they may play a prank with him occasionally
under some circumstances. They seem particularly apt to play tricks upon neophytes
in psychic research, who seek to penetrate the Astral without proper
instruction, and without taking the proper precautions. To such a one they may
appear as hideous forms, monsters, etc., and thus drive him away from the plane
in which their presence may become apparent to him.
However, they usually pay no attention to the
advanced occultist, and either severely let him alone, or else flee his
presence—though cases are not unknown in the experience of the majority of
advanced occultists, when some of these little folk seem anxious and willing to
be of aid to the earnest, conscientious inquirer, who recognizes them as a part
of nature’s great manifestation, and not as an “unnatural” creature, or vile
monstrosity.
ARTIFICIAL ENTITIES. In addition to the non-human entities which
are perceived by astral vision, or on the Astral plane—including a number of
varietes and classes other than those mentioned by me, and to which I purposely
have omitted reference for reasons which will be recognized as valid by all
true occultists—there are to be found on the Astral, or on the earth plane by
means of astral vision, a great class of entities, or semi-entities, which
occultists know as “artificial entities.
These artificial entities were not born in
the natural manner, nor created by the ordinary creative forces of nature. They
are the creations of the minds of men, and are really a highly concentrated
class of thought-forms. They are not entities, in the strict sense of the term,
having no life or vitality except that which they borrow from, or have been
given by their creators. The student of occultism who has grasped the principle
of the creation of thought-forms, will readily grasp the nature, power, and
limitations of this class of dwellers in the Astral.
The majority of these artificial entities, or
thought-forms, are created unconsciously by persons who manifest strong
desire-force, accompanied by definite mental pictures of that which they
desire. But many have learned the art of creating them consciously, in an
elementary form of magic, white or black. Much of the effect of thought-force,
or mind-power, is due to the creation of these thought-forms.
Strong wishes for good, as well as strong
curses for evil, tend to manifest form and a semblance of vitality in the shape
of these artificial entities. These entities, however, are under the law of
thought-attraction, and go only where they are attracted. Moreover, they may be
neutralized, and even destroyed, by positive thought properly directed in the
way known to all advanced students along these lines.
Another, and quite a large class of these
artificial Astral entities, consist of thought-forms of supernatural beings,
sent out by the strong mental pictures, oft repeated, of the persons creating
them—the creator usually being unconscious of the result. For instance, a
strongly religious mother, who prays for the protective influence of the angels
around and about her children, and whose strong religious imagination pictures
these heavenly visitors as present by the side of the children, frequently
actually creates thought-forms of such angel guardians around her children, who
are given a degree of life and mind vibrations from the soul of the mother. In
this way, such guardian angels, so created, serve to protect the children and
warn them from evil and against temptation. Many a pious mother has
accomplished more than she realized by her prayers and earnest desires. The
early fathers of the churches, occidental and oriental, were aware of this
fact, and consequently bade their followers to use this form of prayer and
thought, though they did not explain the true underlying reason. Even after the
mother has passed on to higher planes her loving memory may serve to keep alive
these thought-form entities, and thus serve to guard her loved ones.
In a similar way, many “family ghosts” have
been created and kept in being in the same way by the constantly repeated tale
and belief in their reality on the part of generation after generation. In this
class belong the celebrated historic ghosts who warn royal or noble families of
approaching death or sorrow. The familiar family ghosts walking the walls of
old castles on certain anniversaries are usually found to belong to this class
(though not always so).
Many haunted houses are explained in this way
also—the ghost may be “laid” by anyone familiar with the laws of thought-forms.
It must be remembered that these artificial entities are of purely human
creation and obtain all their appearance and mind from the action of the
thought-force of their creators. Repeated thought, and repeated belief, will
serve to keep alive and to strengthen these entities— otherwise they will
disappear in time.
Many supernatural visitors, saints, semi-divine
beings, etc., of all religions have been formed in this way, and, in many
cases, are kept in being by the faith of the devotees of the church, chapel, or
shrine. In many temples in oriental countries, there have been created, and
kept alive for many centuries, the thought-form entities of the minor gods and
saints, endowed in thought with great power of response to prayer, offering,
and ceremonies. Those accepting the belief in these powers are brought into
harmony with its vibrations, and are affected thereby, for good or evil.
The power of the devils of savage races (some
of whom practically are devil-worshippers), arise in the same way. Even in the
early history of the western religions, we find many references to the
appearance of the Devil, and of his evil work; witchcraft diabolical presences,
etc., all of which were created thought-form entities of this kind. Many of the
effects of sorcery, black-magic, etc., were produced in this way—the element of
belief, of course, adding greatly to the effect. The Voodoo practices of
Africa, and later, of Martinique; and the Kahuna practices of Hawaii, are based
on these same principles. The effect of “charms,” etc., depend on the same
laws, including the effect of faith.
Even certain forms of “spirits,” so-called,
of certain forms of spiritualistic seances arise from this principle, and have
never been human beings, at all. An understanding of this principle will aid in
the interpretation of many puzzling phases of psychic phenomena.
“SPIRIT RETURN.” Nothing that I have said’ must be taken as
denying the reality and validity of what the western world knows as “spirit
return.” On the other hand, I am fully familiar with very many instances of the
real return to earth-life of disembodied souls. But at the same time, I, as
well as all other advanced occultists, are equally aware of the many chances of
mistake in this class of psychic phenomena. Shades, and even astral shells, too
often are mistaken for departed loved ones. Again, many apparently real “spirit
forms” are nothing more or less than semi-vitalized thought-form artificial
entities such as I have just described.
Again, many mediums are really clairvoyant,
and are able to unconsciously draw to some extent upon the Astral Records for
their information regarding the past, instead of receiving the communication
from a disembodied soul—in all honesty and in good faith, in many cases.
Occultism does not deny the phenomena of modern western spiritualism—it merely
seeks to explain its true nature, and to verify some of it while pointing out
the real nature of others. It should be welcomed as an ally by all true
spiritualists.
ASTRAL VISION. It must not be supposed that the astral
vision dawns suddenly upon anyone, in full force. Rather is it a matter of slow
gradual development in the majority of cases. Many persons possess it to a
faint degree, and fail to develop it further for want of proper instruction.
Many persons have occasional flashes of it, and are entirely without it at
other times. Many “feel” the astral vibrations, rather than seeing with the
astral vision. Others, gain a degree of astral vision by means of crystal
gazing, etc.
That which is frequently referred to as
“psychic sight,” or “psychic sensing,” is a form of astral visioning or
sensing. Psychism is bound up with astral phenomena in all cases.
In this little manual, I have sought to give
you, in a few lines, the great underlying facts of the Astral Plane. I have
crowded very much into a very small space, so that you will have to read and
study my words very carefully, in order to get the full meaning. In fact, this
is not a book to be read once and then laid aside—rather, it should be re-read
and restudied, until all the essence is extracted.
The glimpses of a number of the sub-planes of
the Astral should give you a general, clear idea of many other scenes on that
great plane. Remember, these scenes are typical of those witnessed by any
advanced occultist who is able to travel on those planes—as you, yourself, may
verify when you are able to vision on these planes. They are under-drawn,
rather than overdrawn. Some of the more startling and “sensational” scenes have
been omitted altogether, as I have no desire to attract those seeking
sensation—my work is for the earnest student, alone.
Use this manual as a key to unlock many
mysteries—not as a book to while away an idle hour. Do not have any “idle
hours.” Do not try to “kill time.” Be an earnest, thoughtful, occultist, ever
unfolding and evolving as you progress along The Path! Look Forward, not Backward!
Look Upward, not Downward! Have Faith, not Fear! For, within your soul is a
Spark of the Divine Flame, which cannot be extinguished!
VOLUME I OF THE OCCULT MANUALS
TRUE OCCULT KNOWLEDGE GIVES YOU PRACTICAL
POWER AND STRENGTH
END OF THIS BOOK
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