AMERICANLECTURES

byGeoffreyHodsonContents

THERATIONALEOFCLAIRVOYANCE

CLAIRVOYANCEASANINSTRUMENTOFRESEARCH

THECLAIRVOYANTSTUDYOFMOTHERHOOD

THE CLAIRVOYANT STUDY OF FAIRIES, NATURE SPIRITS ANDDEVAS

THERATIONALEOFCLAIRVOYANCE

THEstudentof thehistoryof thenationsof theworlddiscovers, in thecourse of his studies, that the phenomenon of supernormal cognitionappears frequently as an accompaniment of the psychological andculturaldevelopmentofeachofthegreatraceswhichhasprecededourown.ThepeoplesofIndiahaveproduced,throughoutthelongcenturiesof their evolution, a large number of illuminated men who have givenpriceless treasuresofphilosophy to theworld; havehandedon to theirpeopleswisdomandknowledgewhich theyhadacquiredasa resultofthe development of their powers of interior cognition. Many names atonce leap into themind in this connection, such asVyasa,Manu,ShriShankarâchârya,TsongKa-Pa,Agastya,Patanjali,andthegreatspiritualteachersGautamaBuddhaandShriKrishna.

InEgypt, thescienceof seershipwasmadeasubjectof special study;schoolsandtempleswereestablishedforthetrainingofneophytesinthedevelopmentof their innerpowers.GreatTeachersappeared inanswerto the cry of those ancient peoples for knowledge; many of the kingsthemselveswerepriestsandhierophantsintheMysterySchools,asthetrainingestablishmentswerecalled.HermesappearedamongstthemastheLightBringer, the IlluminatedOne, the IncarnateGodofKnowledgeandofTruth.Fromallpartsofthethecivilizedworld,mencametostudyatthefeetoftheinitiatedteachersofEgypt.Moseshimselfdrankdeeplyatthewelloftheirwisdom.

InPersia,Zarathrustabroughtdivineknowledgeconcerningthescienceof the soul. Astronomy and astrology were developed to the highestdegree. Men studied the hidden forces of nature and learned tocooperatewith,andmanipulate,them.Thesoothsayers,astrologersanddream-readers,whoappearinthepagesoftheOldTestament,werethetraditionalfollowersoftheteachersoftheAncientWisdominthedaysofBabylon and Chaldea. In Greece, too, many proposed systems ofphilosophywere founded.ThemightyTeacher andHeavenlyMusician,Orpheus, drew around Him groups of disciples and students of the

ancient law and taught them of the mysteries of sound, the hiddenpowersofsong;Hefreedthembymeansofmusicfromthelimitationsofthefleshandopenedtheirinnereyesthattheymight,atfirsthand,gainknowledge of the eternal verities of which He taught and sang. Manywise ones followed Him, who also taught and sang, founding thephilosophieswhicharestudiedandtreasuredtothisday.

TheworksofPlato,Plotinus, Iamblicus,Aristotle,Proclusand thegreatPythagoras are still monuments of wisdom and knowledge concerningthe eternal verities of life. Then came the greatest of teachers andphilosophers,whohadyetspokentowesternears-JesusofNazareth-Whodrankdeeplyof theWisdomofEgyptandofGreece.The timeofHisilluminationcameatthestageinthedramaofHislifeknownastheBaptism. He saw with unfailing vision the truths He taught; the innerworldswereopentoHisextendedvisionandHetaughtthatofwhichHeknew.Hisfollowers-thedisciplesoftheNewTestamentandthesaintsofmoremoderntimes-havefollowedinHissteps;andalthoughtheirvisionhasbeenlessfarreaching,lessclearthanHis,theytoolearnedfromHimthewayofself-illumination.So,downthroughtheages, therehasbeenan unbroken line of seers who have taught of the things they saw. Inmodern days, although no mighty and outstanding figure -such asOrpheus, Hermes, Christ or Buddha- has been generally recognizedamongmen, thousands have testified to the possession of a power ofvision which transcends the limitations of the physical plane. ThevolumesoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,bothintheirLondonandAmericanbranches,arefilledwithinstancesofsupernormalcognition.Iftherebeanywho, in the faceof thegreatmassof historical evidence,ancient andmodern, still doubt the existence of that seership ofwhichevery man is heir, let him turn to those volumes and read there thecarefully collected evidence, the scientifically-tested cases ofclairvoyance,psychometryandsecondsight.

It isof interest tonote thatamoststriking figurehasrecentlyappearedupon thestageofhuman life in thepersonof theyoungHindu teacherandsage,J.Krishnamurti.Heclaimstospeakfrompersonalexperience,frominteriorillumination,oftheeternalveritieswhichhetravelsovertheworld toexpound.Many thousandsare followinghimandsee inhima

newmanifestationof thegreatTeacherof theworldwholastvisitedtheworld,asJesusChrist,inPalestine.

What has Theosophy to say upon the subject of the inner or psychicfacultiesofman?Adefiniteplaceisfoundforthesefacultiesinthegreatsystem of thought, which goes by the name of the ancient wisdom.Precise information isavailableconcerning them,andknowledgeof thelaws, bywhich theymaybedevelopedandused, is available to thosewhocaretostudyforthemselves.

I cannot do better than quote here from my book The Science ofSeership: "Theword 'psychic' is derived from theGreekword 'psyche',whichmeans'thesoul.'Psychicfaculties,therefore,arethosepertainingtothesoul;and'soul'maybetaken,broadly,tomeaneverythingthat isnot body -the feeling, the thinking, thewillingman, asdistinct from theacting, or physical man. Since these faculties are the powers andcapacitiesofthesoul,itisnecessarytomakeacleardistinctionbetweenthesubtleandphysicalbodies,whichareinstruments,andthesoulwhichusesthem.

"Psychicfacultiesexistinembryoineveryman-asalsoineveryanimal-and will one day be unfolded into their full and complete utmostimportance if the seer is to understand what he sees. For example,clairvoyantvisionof formandcolor,howeverbeautifuland interesting itmay be, is useless unless the seer also has the power to interpret hisvision and to translate it into terms of physical, waking consciousness.Indeed,theactualseeingofformandcolorandthehearingofsoundsisthe least important part of seership. Special powers of comprehensionandinterpretationarefarmorevaluable,anditmustbeadmittedthatthemajorityofclairvoyants,lackingthisfaculty,areinnowayilluminedbythethingstheysee.

"Inseekingtounderstandtherationaleofthepsychicfaculties,wemustremember that they are merely extensions of the range of the normalmeans of cognition. If we place a group of people before a spectrumwhichistheseriesofsevenbandsofcolorintowhichwhitelightmaybedividedbybeingpassedthroughaprism,anartificial"straight"rainbow,as itwereandask themtomarkwithapencil thepointswhere thered

andviolet raysend,weshall find that the limitsof their visionateitherend vary considerably. A clairvoyant is one who possesses aconsiderably wider range of vibratory response than is normal at thepresentstageofhumanevolution.

"There are two organs in the brain by means of which this extendedvisionismadepossible.Theyarethepituitarybodyandthepinealgland.Thelatter isconsideredbymedicalsciencetobetheatrophiedremainsofanorganwhichwasactiveintheveryearlydaysofhumanevolution.That view is accepted by occult science, which adds that both theseorgans have also a function to fulfill in the future, when they will beemployed as means of superphysical cognition, and says that theirdevelopment may be hastened by the application of special methods.When psychically developed and active they give the power first torespond toadditionalphysicalwave lengths,and later, tosuperphysicalvibrations.

"The analogy of wireless may help to a clearer comprehension of thesubject,forclairvoyanceissimplyaquestionoftuning-intowavelengthsto which the sense organs and brain cannot normally respond. Thepituitary body and the pineal gland are essential parts of the receivingmechanism, and theymust be "charged"with a special type of energyappropriatetothefunctionwhichtheyperform.Theseerisableto"tunein" and see and hear on superphysical wave-lengths, and thus totranscendphysicallimitations."

In addition to the two glands in the physical brain there are specialorgans in the three vehicles [See "The Etheric Double", "The AstralBody", "TheMentalBody"byA.E.Powell]of thepersonalitywhichareessentialtothedevelopmentanduseofpsychicfaculties.

Theseorgansarecalledforcecentresorchakrams.Foradetailedstudyofthemandtheforcesbywhichtheyaremadetofunction,thereaderisreferred to the illustrated monograph by C. W. Leadbeater upon thesubject. ["TheChakrams,"byC.W.Leadbeater.]Chakram isaSanscritword which means a wheel and is applied to the force centres in thehumanbodiesbecausetheyhavetheappearanceofspinningvortices.

Theyareseveninnumberandaresituatedasfollows:

Muladhara(sacral)

svadhisthana(spleen)

Manipura(navel)

Anahita(cardiac)

Vishuddha(throat)

Ajna(pituitarybodyandpinealgland)

Brahmarandhra(anteriorfontanelle)

When studying the diagramswhich accompany this chapter itmust beclearlyunderstoodthattheyarediagrammaticratherthanexactpictorialrepresentationsofthesuperphysicalsenseorganswhichtheyportray.

Iftheheadofanormalmanisexaminedbyethericvision,Prana,[Pranameansvitality.See"TheEthericDouble,"byA.E.Powell.]whichappearsasagolden-yellowstream, isseentobeflowingupthespinalcord intothehead,whereitspreadsoutlikeagoldenraintovitalizethewholeofthecontentsoftheskull,theskullitself,thescalpandthehair.

Theethericcentreswhichcorrespond to thepituitaryandpinealglandsappear to etheric sight as small flames. A flow ofprana passes roundthese centres and out at the top of the head through an embryonicethericBrahmarandrachakram.TheAjna chakram,asyetunvivified, isfaintlyvisibleasanetherictubefilledwithapith-likeethericmatter.Pranaflowsaroundandthrough itand isdischargedthroughtheundevelopedchakram.

Thesame isalso trueof the throat centre.Before thesechakramscanconsciouslybeemployedassenseorgans,the"serpentfire"orkundalini[See"TheChakrams," byC.W.Leadbeater.]must bearousedand, byflowing through the proper channels, accompanied by its appropriate"vitalairs," idaandpingala,mustvivify thewholesevenchakramsas it

passesfromthebaseofthespine,whereitisnormallystored,tothetopofthehead.Onreachingthepituitaryandpinealcentresitpolarizesthemintopositiveandnegativeconditionsandvivifiesthemintoahyper-activestateinwhichtheyinteractsocloselythattheybecomeonecentrewhichforms the heart or core of the Brahmarandra chakram which is thusevolvedasaresult.

If thehead isexaminedafter kundalini hasbeenaroused,prana is stillseentobeflowingasbefore,butisnowaccompaniedbythefierypowerofkundalini. The pituitary and pineal etheric centres are "alight" and acontinuous interaction or "sparking" is taking place between them. Themainstreamofkundalinipassesroundandthroughthemandoutthroughthe now-awakened Brahmarandra chakram or "Thousand-petalledLotus,"asitiscalledintheEast.TheAjnachakramisnowmoreplainlyvisible, together with the etheric tube which is used for purposes ofmagnificationandtelevision.KundalinialsoplaysthroughthethroatandAjnachakramsandisdischarged,togetherwithaquantityofprang,intotheair.

Althoughitisnotpartofoursubjectwemayperhapsglancewithinterestat the sevenmajor chakrams as they appear after kundalini has beenaroused.

At the base of the spine the Muladhara chakram is seen projectingforwardstowardsthegenerativesystemwhichit ispartofitsfunctiontosupplywithprana. In the heart of this chakram lies the "serpent Fire,"kundalini,andthereitsleepsthroughouttheagesuntilthetimeisripeforit tobearoused.As itpassesupthespine itvivifies in turneachof thechakramstherebycausingtheethericcentrestobeopenedandchannelstobemade from thesuperphysical to thephysicalworlds, soprovidingconductors forsuperphysical vibrations.When it is thusarousedall thepsychicpowersarefullyunfoldedandbecomeavailableforusewhilstthemanisawakeinthephysicalbody.

The danger of arousing kundalini prematurely ismade obvious by thisdiagram,forunlessthedesire-naturehasbeenpurifiedandrefined,andthe neophyte has become "passion-proof," the fiery power may actdownwards and intensify both the desire nature and the activity of the

physicalorgansthroughwhichthisnaturefindsexpression.

Thesolarplexuschakram reachesalmost to theperipheryof theastralbody;itisthereceivingstationforallsubconsciousemotionalvibrations,which are conveyed by it to the physical nerve ganglion of the samename. Premature arousing of the etheric and astral solar plexus isproductive of both physical and emotional disorders. Physically, thedigestion is interferedwith, and emotionally the sufferer is prone to beunduly affected by the feelings of others, he tends to reproduce themwithinhimselfwithoutthepowerofself-protection,alsotosufferfromtheincursion of astral entities and forces which in their turn producenightmares, sudden panics, and, amongst other disorders, the diseaseknown as "claustrophobia." [Irrational fear of enclosed places.] At thepresent stageof evolution it is thischakramwhich is themost likely toproduce ill-health throughdistortionof itsshape,or interferencewith itsproper function. Students are warned against all systems of psychicdevelopmentwhichadvisemeditationonorinthiscentre.

Slightlyabovethesolarplexusweseethespleencentrewithitsopeningatthebackandslightlytotheleftsideofthebody.Beforevivificationitssolefunctionistheabsorption,"digestion,"assimilationanddistributionofprana. It is the vital receiving and transmitting station of the body.Loweredvitalityandnervousdebilitycanfrequentlybetracedtoafailureinthefunctioningofthischakram.After"vivification"itgivesthepowertotraveloutsidethephysicalbody.

Thenextabovethisistheheartchakramwhich,inthespiritualneophyte,is one of the main channels through which flows the power of theintuitionalworlds.ThisistheMysticRoseofoccultliterature,thepetalsofwhichopenonlyaftertheChrist-childhasbeenbornintheheart-oronlyafterpowersofintuition,compassionandoflovehavebeendevelopedtoa certain degree and are finding an expression through physical life.Meditationinthiscentreisquitesafeandisindeedavaluablemeansofdevelopingandexpressingtheabovequalities.

Thethroatchakram,whenvivified,bestowsthefacultyofclairaudience;itisinclosemagneticrelationshipwiththeMuladharachakramanditisnotunusual to find that disturbances of the creative organs and functions

produce corresponding disorders of the throat which is the highercreativecentre.

In the centre of the head we find that the etheric counterparts of thepituitaryandpinealglandshavebeencombinedintooneglowingcentre.TheforceofkundaliniflowsthroughandroundthiscentreandpassesoutthroughtheBrahmarandrachakram,whichisintheregionofthephysicalanterior fontanelle.Rising fromthepituitarybody theAjnachakramcanbe seen with its opening between and slightly above the eyes. ThevivificationoftheAjnachakramattheethericandastrallevels,givesthepowerofclairvoyance.WhentheBrahmarandra is fully formed, theegopossessesthepowertowithdrawfromandreturntothephysicalbodyatwill,withoutabreakinconsciousnessoccurring.

Theman isprobablynowan initiateof theGreatWhiteBrotherhoodofAdepts, and rapidly travelling towards adeptship atwhich stage hewillhavebecome"perfect,ashisFather inheaven isperfect."Thushewillhaveachievedthecompleteandperfectexpressionofallthepowersandattributesofhisdivinityonalltheplanesofnaturehehasevolved.

CLAIRVOYANCEASANINSTRUMENTOFRESEARCH

Ihavedealtfullywiththissubjectinmyforthcomingwork"TheScienceofSeership"(Rider8cCo.)andinthisbooklethavequotedfreelyfromthatvolume. The interested reader is directed to the larger work for moredetailed information upon the various branches of the subject toucheduponinthisbook.

(Signed)G.Hodson.

SINCEwehavenowexamined the rationaleof thepsychic facultiesofman, let us consider the use to which such powers may be put. Thedirectioninwhichtheseerwillemployhisfaculties,dependslargelyuponhistemperament.Themostusefulfieldtowhichhecanturnhisattentionisprobablythatofmodernscience;thereisnotonebranchofscienceinwhich the process of clairvoyance may not be employed with greatbenefit and intense interest.Science, today, standson the thresholdofthe unseen; scientists have developed their instruments to the highestpitchofsensitivityandrefinement;theyhavealmostreachedthelimitofdevelopment in this direction, and it is becomingpatent to all that newinstrumentsof researchmustbedevised if theprogressof the last tenyearsaloneistobecontinuedinthefuture

Inthefieldsofastronomy,physics,light,electricity,botany,chemistryandmedicine,alone,greatdiscoveriesawait thescientistwhowillpenetratebeyond theconfinesof thephysicalplane, towhich,up till recently,hisresearcheshavebeen limited.Achange,however, isoccurring-the fieldofresearchischangingfromthatofmattertothatofforce.Wherethelastgeneration studied matter, the present studies the flowing energies,measures radiating forces, postulates the existence of the ether-andeven begins to suspect the presence of an invisible major GuidingIntelligence Which is directing the mighty energies of which themanifestedworldsarenowdiscoveredtoconsist.

Intherealmofmedicine,knowledgeofthehiddencausesofdiseaseandofthefinerforcesofnaturewhichmaybeemployedtocombatit,awaits

theclairvoyantstudentofpathology;tohimthebodyisnolongeropaque-herenders it transparentatwill; the interiororgans, their function, theircondition and their relationship to each other, are laid bare before hisinner eyes. The immediate and later effects of various remediesemployedmaybewatched,hourbyhour; the flowing life forces,asyetinvisibleandintangibletoscience,arewellwithintherangeofhisvision.Themagneticandelectricenergiesofthebody,theemotionalandmentalreactionswhichappear innerve,brainandmusclecanallbestudiedinminutestdetail.Thetransgressionsofpastlives,whichproducedisease,mayallbeobservedatwill,andasciencedevelopedbymeansofwhichopposingforcesmaybeexertedtoneutralizethekarmaoftheerrorsofthe past. The evolving soul within the body may be seen and itsintelligentco-operationobtained.

The vital forces and the consciousness ofminerals and plantsmay bediscovered and studied, so that remedies may be applied which areexactlyappropriatetothenatureofthedisease.

A vast field of useful research is open, therefore, to the clairvoyantstudentofhealthanddisease.Inastronomy,therelationoftheplanetstoeach other and to the sun, the play of the electro-magnetic energiesbetween and through them, the relation of the solar system to theuniverse of which it is a part, the plan by which their ordereddevelopment proceeds -all these may be studied by the clairvoyantstudentofastronomy.

Thelifesideofnature,thehiddenenergiesbehindthemineral,theplant,the animal and man, the divine impetus which urges for ward theevolutionofthewholemaybestudiedandunderstood.

The great principles by means of which all will, ultimately, reach thatstandard of perfection, which the Great Architect and Master Scientisthasplannedthattheyshouldreach,maybestudied.Thegoverninglawsmaybeobservedand taught toall the intelligentdenizensof theworldwhichHehasmade.

Theother great kingdomsof nature towhich conscious beings belong,now come within the seer's range. The mighty orders of the angelic

hosts, our invisible neighbors in the solar system, may be seen,contacted and their co-operationwon. They are the great engineers ofnature,whomanipulatetheflowingforcesofwhichallmanifestedworldsconsist. By their office, the relatively blind energies of nature areintelligentlydirectedtothefulfillmentofthedivinewill.Fromsuchcontact,powerfulandwisealliesmaybegained,bothinthelaboratoryandstudy,asalsointheconsultingroom,thehospitalandoperatingtheatre.

Itmayperhapsbeof interest to touchupon themethodofapproach tothe subject of the life after death, which distinguishes the trainedclairvoyant from the spiritualistic medium. As stated in my book, TheScienceofSeership,thestudentofoccultismapproachesthequestionoflifeafterdeath inastrictly scientificattitudeofmind.Heknows thatnodemonstrable proof of communication between the living and the so-calleddead,whichwillsurvivescientificallyapplied tests,canbegiven.Yet he believes both in the life after death and in the possibility ofcommunicationbetweenincarnateanddiscarnatebeings.

His methods of investigation are directly opposed to those of thespiritualist.His knowledge is the result of personal experience, andnotsecond, third, or even fourth-hand, as when a medium, guide andintermediateintelligencesareemployedforthepurposesofinvestigation.Theoccultstudentbelieves thatsuchmethods,evenat theirverybest,cannot possibly produceevidencewhichwill stand the test of scientificenquiry. The sorrowing and forlorn may gain satisfaction, comfort andconsolationby thesemethods,but theyare innowaysuited toseriousinvestigation.

Before I proceed to outline thealternativemethodsof occultism,may Idevote a little space to my reasons for these somewhat sweepingstatementsconcerningthoseofspiritualism?

Letusexaminetheclaimsofthespiritualist,madeinsupportofhisbeliefin the continuance of life and consciousness after death, and in thepossibilityofcommunicationbetweenthelivingandthedead.

Hesays,atbest,thatthroughtheguideofacertainmedium-apersonofthe highestmorality and of scrupulous honesty, who had nevermet or

heard of him before- he received a communication concerningmatterswith which only one other person in theworld was conversant, and ofwhich the medium could not possibly have been aware. Further, heclaimsthattheotherpersonwasdeceasedandthattheguide,speakingthroughthemedium,gavehisnameorinitials,astherealcommunicatorfrom the unseen. Later, perchance, this individual himself entered themedium, displayed certain peculiar tricks of manner and traits ofcharacter which were personal to him, and communicated furthermaterial which was known only to the two people concerned –thedeceased, and his living friend. He asserts that such demonstrationshavebeenmultipliedindefinitely,and,infact,arethecommonexperienceofpracticallyeveryspiritualist.

Such an event, as the one here described, is undoubtedly startling,calculatedtoshaketheconfidenceofthemosthardenedskeptic,andtointroduce a predisposition in favor of acceptance into the mostunprejudicedmind.Yet,itisthecontentionoftheoccultistthatitdoesnotcontain one shred of evidence upon which an opinion could justly bebased.

Therearemanyfactswhichcanbeadducedinsupportofthissomewhatdrasticstatement.Twoor threewill besufficient to indicate reasons forthe unreliability of spiritualistic methods as a guide to the truth in thismatter.

First, a mildly developed clairvoyance or telepathy and a fair gift ofmimicry would quite easily enable the medium to elicit the informationfromthememoryofthesitter,andtogiveareasonablygoodimitationofthemanner of his friend.Second, assuming that themediumdoes notpossesseitherofthesegifts,itiswellwithinthepowerofanydiscarnateentitywhomaybe in theneighborhoodor of suchaoneasmayhaveattachedhimselftothemediumas"guide,"toobtaintheinformationandto mimic the deceased through the medium's entranced body. Such amanifestationmay satisfy an unscientific observer and even console asorrowing relative but neither has any proof that the supposedcommunicatorisactuallypresent.

It follows, therefore, thathowever conclusive suchamanifestationmay

appear to be, it is never reliable, never trustworthy, unless the sitterhimselfcanseethecommunicator.Ifhecandothis,thenallneedforanintermediaryvanishes,forthecommunicationcanbemadedirectandinfull waking consciousness. If, then, the seer's power of vision is of asufficiently skilled order to prevent his being deceived by a set ofcircumstancessimilar to thosewhichIhavedescribed-andthis isquitepossible-thenhehasobtainedforhimselfproofofthelifeafterdeath.

Thisbringsmebacktothemethodoftheoccultist,forwhomnothinglessthansuchdirectpersonalproofisconclusive.Thereisagreatgulffixedbetweensecond-hand information and first-handknowledge. The latter,alone,iscapableofwithstandingalltestsandremainingunshaken.

What then is the method of the occultist? Just as the fact of three-dimensionalexistencecanneverbedemonstratedtoatwo-dimensionalbeing, so discarnate life can never be demonstrated to a being in theflesh.If,however,wepostulatethatthetwo-dimensionalbeingpossessesathree-dimensionalextensionofhimself,oftheexistenceofwhichheisentirelyunaware; thathe isreallya three-dimensionalbeing,but,at thepresent stage of his evolution, is only using two-dimensionalconsciousness,whilehisthree-dimensionalpowerliesdormantorlatent;thenitwillfollowthat,inhisnormalstate,hecannotpossiblycomprehendthree-dimensional existence; he can only observe its two-dimensionalmanifestations,andthesearesoimperfectandpartialthatnoconclusiveevidencecanpossiblyarise fromastudyof them.Therewillalwaysbethegreatunknownandunknowablebehind,as itwere.Hemayattemptto study thisunknown, through the known,may learnmuchof interest,evenofvalue,butnothingconclusivecaneveremerge;therealfactscanneverenterhistwo-dimensionalmind.

Letus furtherassumethat it ispossible for the latent three-dimensionalportionofthisbeingtobeprematurelyawakened;thatitmaybeforced,bytheapplicationofknownlaws,asahorticulturistforcesaplant.

Thetwo-dimensionalbeingwillthenbecomecapableofobservingthree-dimensionalphenomena.Graduallyhecouldperfecthisabilitytofunctionin the three-dimensional world, and could then meet and study itsdenizensonequalterms.Undertheseconditionsitbecomespossiblefor

himtoobtainconclusiveknowledgeforhimself.

Occultism teaches that everymanhas a vehicle of consciousness andappropriate organs of cognition by means of which he can study theinvisible worlds and such intelligences as dwell therein. The onlysatisfactoryandfinaltestoftheirexistenceisthatappliedbythetrainedoccultist.Applyingage-longknowledgeandexperience,heunfoldsandlearnstousethenecessaryfaculties.Heawakensthelatentseership,towhich every man is heir, and by its means is enabled to explore theregionsbeyondtheportalofdeath.

This is not the place to attempt a statement of the results of suchinvestigations;but,inconclusion,Imaysaythattheknowledgesogainedplaces death in its rightful place as an incident which marks thetranslationofhumanconsciousnessfromoneplaneofmanifestationandgrowthtoanother,andwhichdiffersfromsleeponlyinthatthetranslationis permanent. During sleepwe temporarily enter the after-death world,andtheremeetourdepartedfriendsandrelationswheneverwechoose.Atdeathwe join thempermanently,until the timecomes forus topassstillfurtheronwardstothenextstageinthecycleoflifeanddevelopment.

Eventuallymanwithdrawsfromactivemanifestedexistenceandpassesthroughaperiodinwhichalltheexperienceandfaculties,resultingfromthe cycle which has just closed, are converted into capacity andcharacter.When thisprocess iscompleteanewcycleopens.Againhedescendsintomanifestedworldsandisbornofwoman,tocompleteoncemore a pilgrimage through matter, further developing the faculties healreadypossessesandatthesametimeacquiringnewpowersandnewknowledge.Thus ishe layingup forhimself those"treasures inheavenwhereneithermothnorrustdothcorrupt."(St.Matt.6:20.)

Intheendalllessonsarelearned,allpowersunfolded,andallknowledgegained. Here the outgoing ceases, for there is no longer need forexperience in the flesh. New fields of evolution open up before theperfectedman;higherpeaksarethentobeclimbed,widerpowerstobeattained.For thesenoearthly form isneeded, for "him thatovercomethwillImakeapillarinthetempleofmyGod,andheshallgonomoreout."(Rev.3:12.)

Such, briefly stated, is the field open to each and allwhowill take thenecessarytroubletotrainandperfectthemselvesinthedevelopmentoftheir interiorpowers.Oneday,allmenwillpossess them;all lifewillbelived according to the dictates of the higher knowledgewhich theywillplacewithin thehandofman-then, the interiorandessentialunityofalllife,willbeobservedfacts-first-handknowledgetoallmen.Faithwillthenbefoundeduponfirst-handexperienceandbenolongerblind;thefactsofreligionwillbecomerecognizedasfundamentalrealitiesof life.Then,and then alone, will mankind enter the Golden Age, which has beenpromised him by those seers of the past and presentwhose propheticvisionrevealedthecomingofthemillenniumtoman.

THEMISTRESSOFVISION

XIX

WhereistheLandofLuthany,

WhereisthetractofElenore?

Iamboundtherefor.

XX

"Piercethyhearttofindthekey;

Withtheetake

Onlywhatnoneelsewouldkeep;

Learntodreamwhenthoudostwake,

Learntowakewhenthoudostsleep;

Learn'towaterjoywithtears,

Learnfromfearstovanquishfears,

Tohope,forthoudar'stnotdespair,

Exult,forthatthoudar'stnotgrieve;

Ploughthoutherockuntilitbear;

Know,forthouelsecouldstnotbelieve

Lose,thatthelostthoumay'streceive;

Die,fornoneotherwaycanstlive.

Whenearthandheavenlaydowntheirveil,

Andthatapocalypseturnstheepale;

Whenthyseeingblindeththee

Towhatthyfellow-mortalssee;

Theirliving,death;theirlight,mostlightless;

Searchnomore-

PassthegatesofLuthany,treadtheregionElenore."

XXI

WhereisthelandofLuthahy,

AndwheretheregionElenore?

Idofainttherefor.

XXII

"Whentotheneweyesofthee

Allthingsbyimmortalpower,Nearorfar,

Hiddenly

Toeachotherlinkedare,

Thatthoucanstnotstiraflower

Withouttroublingofastar;

Whenthysongisshieldandmirror

Tothefairsnake-curledPain,

Wherethoudar'staffrontherterror

Thatonherthoumay'stattain

Perseanconquest;seeknomore,

Oseeknomore!

PassthegatesofLuthany,treadtheregionElenore."

FrancisThompson.

THECLAIRVOYANTSTUDYOFMOTHERHOOD

INORDERthattheideaswhichIamabouttoputforwardmaybemoreeasilyunderstood,Iproposetopresentabriefstatementoftheirplaceinthefundamentalphilosophyuponwhichtheyarebased.Thepurposeofhuman existence in the flesh -according to this philosophy- is that ofgrowth.Asaresultofrepeatedincarnationsinhumanform,theimmortalSpirit,whichisMan,eventuallyattainstoastandardofperfectionwhichhasbeensetforhimbythatMajorIntelligenceofwhichheisatonceaprojectionandapart.

Eachincarnationinthefleshisinrealityafifthpartorstageofacycleofexistence.ThiscycleopensatthetimewhentheimmortalSpirit,whichismanclothedinthatundyingprinciplewhichtheGreekscalledtheShiningAugoeides, under the impulse of the divinewill, feels a thirst for widerpowersof self-expressionandanurge toenter new fieldsof evolution.Underthatimpulse,heprojectsaportionofhimself,downward.AsIshallseek toexplain later,assistedbycertain intelligentagentsof theLogoshebuilds forhimself vehiclesofexpression in theworldsof thought,offeelingandofphysicalmatter.Whentheprocessofbuildingissufficientlyadvanced,he isbornasahelpless infantandentersupon thephysicalstage of the life cycle. After that stage is completed, the process ofdescent is reversed. The physical body is cast off, its materialdisintegrates,andthemanthenfindshimselffunctioninginhisemotionalbody;thatvehicle,initsturn,wearsoutandislaidaside,leavingthemanwith no vehicle of consciousness lower than themental level. Likewisethe mental body eventually disintegrates, and that portion of himselfwhichwasput forthat thebeginningof the lifecycle is thenwithdrawn,bearingwith it in termsofmemoryandcapacity theproductsof all theexperiencesthroughwhichthemanhaspassed.

Then follows a gestatory period, during which all experiences aretranslated into faculty, into powers and gifts, and are added to thosewhich have already been developed in previous life cycles.When thatstage is over the thirst for new experience is felt once more, and the

process is repeated over and over again until the time when everypossible power has been unfolded, every human lesson learned. Allnecessity for birth has then been transcended and a new phase ofunfoldment begins: man enters the superhuman fields of evolution,continuingtherehislongpilgrimagebacktoThatfromwhichhecame.

Suchisthestoryoftheprodigalson,whoisman:suchisthephilosophicbasis for the ideas which I am about to expound. They are not putforwardintheleastasdogmaticassertions,butratherassuggestionstoprovoke thought and to provide a possible explanation of many thingswhich are difficult of comprehension without them. They represent theage-old teachings of the AncientWisdom tested and examined by theoccult researches of an unbroken succession of investigators intonature'shiddenmysteries.

The facultyused in such researches is that known inmoderndays -asclairvoyance. By "clairvoyance," I do not in the least wish to implyconditions of mediumship, trance or any of the supposed phenomenasurrounding the spiritualistic concept of psychic powers. I refer to thepositively controlled seership which is latent in every man, and isawakenedinthefew.Thispoweriscapableofbeingdevelopedintothatsixth-or even seventh-sense which, one day, all humanity will possessand which, by the application of certain principles, can be aroused inadvanceofthetimeofitsnormalevolution.(IhavewrittenofthissubjectinTheScienceofSeershipandmustrefertheinterestedstudenttothatbookforfurtherelucidationofthisengrossingsubject.)

Clairvoyant research-applied to the processes of birth and death-disclosesthefactthatamidthemyriadofatomsofwhichthethreemortalbodiesofmanarecomposed, there isone ineachof themwhichdoesnotshareinthegeneraldissipationofmaterialwhichoccursatdeath.Itisan essential part of the mechanism of incarnation and plays a mostimportantpartinthelifecyclereferredtoabove.Thesethreepermanentatoms -the physical, emotional andmental- are attached to the ego orspiritualmanbyathreadoflight,andtheybecomethestore-houseofallthe experiences through which the man passes in each of his threevehicles.Alltheseexperiencesareindeliblyimplantedupontheseatomsintermsofpowerofvibratoryresponse.Nothingthathappenstotheman

is ever lost, but is permanently imprinted upon the atoms of which hisbodiesarecomposed.

Wemaypicture,then,theopeningofthelifecycle-atwhichpointtheegoismakingreadytoplunge,oncemore,downintothematerialworlds, insearch of knowledge and of power. Hanging below him on a glowinggoldenthreadarehisthreepermanentatoms,eachquiescentduringthegestatoryperiod,butnowansweringtothethrillofhislife,asheturnshisattentionoutwardstothelowerworlds.

Under that impulse each becomes amagnet, and draws towards itselfmaterialappropriatetothetypeofvibrationswhichit isemitting.Bythismeans,as themonthsofprenatal lifearepassing,anagglomerationofmatter is gathered around the three permanent atoms and is graduallyorganizedintoavehicleofconsciousness-oneineachofthethreelowerworlds. This attraction of material appears to be governed byelectromagnetic laws,and the resultof it is thateachvehicle isbuilt ofmatterwhichisexactlyappropriatetothedevelopmentandneedsoftheman himself. It follows, therefore, that injustice is impossible, and thebodieswithwhichweare equipped represent absolute justice for eachoneofus.

This process, however, is not entirely automatic; for clairvoyantobservationreveals thepresenceof intelligentbeingswhoareguardingandguidingthegrowingvehicles.

It is necessary, at this point, to explain, briefly, the nature of suchintelligencesandtheirplaceinnature.

One of the most striking results which follow the awakening of theclairvoyantfaculty,isthediscoveryofthefactthatthehumanraceisnottheonlyorderof intelligencesusing thisplanetandsolarsystemasanevolutionary field. In addition to the growingmineral, vegetable, animaland human consciousness, there exist many other orders of beingsevolving side by side with the known occupants of our planet andmingling, invaryingdegree,with them.Onesuch race is thatcalled -intheEast-by thenameofDevas,whichmeansShiningOnes-socalledbecause the bodies of its members are built of material which is self-

luminous. These "Shining Ones" are the angels of the ChristianScriptures, and they constitute a parallel stream of evolution, existingside by sidewith the stream towhichwebelong, and thoughnormallyinvisible,verycloselyassociatedwithourselves.

I have not time to dwell long on this subject, but would refer thoseinterestedtomybooks:TheBrotherhoodofAngelsandofMenandTheAngelicHosts.Forourpresentpurposeitissufficienttosaythatthebodyusedbyboththehumanandtheangelicracesisapparentlytakenfromthesamemodel;forangelsappearwithhumanforms,humanfaces;theirexpressiondiffersfromourown,however,inthattheircountenancesarestampedwithasuperhumanbeautyand"other-worldliness."

Toreturntooursubject,membersofthisracewerefoundtobeassistingintheprocessesofhumanbirth.Asarule, itwouldappearthatat leastthreemembersoftheangelichierarchyarepresentfromthetimeoftheopeningof the lifecycle.Oneof theseoperates from thehighermentallevel and is in possession of full knowledge concerning the karmicsituation of the ego about to incarnate; he co-operates with hissubordinatesatthelowermentalandemotionallevels,andpassesontothemsufficientknowledgeoftheparticularaspectandmeasureofkarmawhichistobeworkedoutintheforthcomingincarnation.

Anunderstandingoftheirworkwill,perhaps,bestbegraspedfromabriefaccountof theactivitiesof thedevaworkingat theemotional level.Thefunctionofthisbeingistosupervisetheconstructionoftheastral,ethericand physical bodies. In the pursuance of his tasks he continuallyendeavors to produce the best possible result which the karma of theindividualwillpermit.Forthemostpart,heachievesthisbyenclosingthegrowingformswithinhisownaura,allowinghisownpotentandvividlife-force to play upon, purify and vitalize them: by this means, also, heinsulatesbothmotherandchild-particularlythelatter-fromtheeffectsofexternal adverse circumstances, maternal shocks, emotionaldisturbancesandinharmoniouspsychicenvironment.Heremainsinthisclosecontactuptotheverymomentofdelivery,watchingtheincreaseinthe size and development of the bodies, taking advantage of everyfavorable circumstance and serving as a channel for the force of hishierarchytotheembryo.Inaddition,hepaysthegreatestattentiontothe

processoflinkingtheconsciousnessoftheegowiththatofhisvehicles.Theextremelyfineadjustmentthatisnecessaryfortheperfectworkingofthesuperphysicalandphysicalmechanismofconsciousness isbroughtaboutbyhisagency.

No great effort of imagination is needed to realize how strenuous andimportanttheworkofthisdevamustsooftenbeinthecrowdedareasofgreat cities where, frequently, both parents are addicted to vices. Thechild itself is unwanted and the psychic environment is coarse andvicious in the extreme. The wonder is that under such conditions themiracleofbirthcanpossiblyoccur;yetsuchistheadaptabilityofnatureand theworkof theangels that splendidbodiescontinue tobeborn inspiteoftheseconditions.

Theethericandphysicalbodiesarebuiltbyadualprocess:thisispartlyautomatic and partly the product of the semi-intelligent activity of anumberof subordinateworkers callednature-spirits.These tinybeings,whostandonthelowerrungsoftheangelicadderofevolution,fulfilltheoffice of builder in our worlds of form as constructed by them. Themethods by which they work are so interesting that it is worth whiledescribingtheminsomedetail.

Attheformationofthezygoteorfirstcell,fromwhichthefoetusdevelops,and the attachment of the permanent atom, a distinctive vibration isemittedfromthatcompositebody.Thisvibrationbelongstotheorderofsound;thoughnotphysicallyaudibleitisoccultlydiscernible,andisseentoproducethefollowingeffects

1. The insulation of the sphere of influence within which the buildingoperationsaretooccur.

2.Themagnetizationorspecializationofallmaterialwithinthatsphere.

3.Theproductionof anetheric formwhich is themould intowhich thenewbodyistobebuilt.

4. The calling of appropriate nature-spirit builders (i. e., those on thatparticularwave-length).

Thesebuilders,calledbythefundamentalnoteoftheirownnature,entertheinsulatedsphere;theyfindwithinitanatmospherepeculiarlysuitedtothem,inwhichtheycanconvenientlywork,andmaterialwhichhasbeenmagnetized to the samewave-lengthas themselves -asa result of theoriginal emitted vibrations. They then work like a hive of bees: theyabsorbthismaterial,assimilateitandimplantuponitstillmoredefinitelytheirownspecificvibration,andthendeposititinandaroundthegrowingform.Thepositionwhichthismaterialassumesisgovernedbythelinesofforcewhichrepresent,etherically,theshapeandstructureofthebody-to-be.Freematterisalsobeingattractedintopositionbysimilarlaws.Asthedifferent typesof tissueare tobeconstructedsuchasbone,nerve,brain,muscle,etc.,furthermodificationoftheoriginalvibrationisemittedandgovernsboththechoiceofmaterialanditsarrangementinthebody.

The foundationonwhich thebody isbuilt,asalso theplanetandsolarsystem,isnotafoundationofsolidmatter,butofflowingelectro-magneticenergies.Justasmanreachesthestandardofperfectionsetforhimbyassociationwithandmasteryofmatter,so theangelichostsreachtheirgoalbyassociationwithandmanipulationoftheseflowingenergiesandforces of the solar system. In the processwhich I have just previouslydescribed,wesee thematwork.When theeighthmonth is reached,achange begins to occur in the appearance of the emotion-deva ;graduallythesemblanceofabrightbluecloakistobeseencoveringhisheadandshouldersasheassumesmoreandmore the likenessof theMadonna.Theastral,ethericandphysicalbodiesareheldbyhimwithina tenderandreverentembrace: thebluemantle restsupon themother,and to thosewhocansee,a visionofwondrousbeauty is revealedasthischangebecomesmoreandmoremarked.

Iusethemasculineforconvenienceonly;thedevaisa-sexual.

Investigationshowsthatthisremarkablephenomenonistheresultofthework of the feminine aspect of the Deity, of Whom all women arerepresentatives and in Whose service every mother officiates. ThisaspectoftheLogoshasbeenrepresentedonourplanetbyasuccessionof great Beings, known to the ancients under various names -such asIsis,Ishtar,Venusand,inourowntimes,theVirginMotherofourLord.

Understanding of the work of this aspect of the Deity may be helped,perhaps, by consideration of one mode of its action on our planet. Itwould appear that there is a department in the great Hierarchy ofPerfected Beings -Who guide and guard the evolution of life and formupon earth and are known as the Great White Brotherhood- which isconcerned with the feminine aspect of existence, and particularly withmaternity.AttheheadofthatdepartmentisagreatBeingknownastheWorldMother,whoisassistedinHerworkbycountlesshostsofangelicbeings. These serve asHer representatives at every human birth and,ultimately, by a process which is somewhat difficult of comprehensionShe,Herself,ismanifestedineverychamberofbirth.JustasOurLordissaid to be present on a thousand altars at the celebration of the HolyEucharist, and yet to be one and indivisible, so is the World Motherpresent at every birth and yet remains Her own most glorious andwondrous Self. She broods over the women of the race, guarding,guiding and inspiring them; sharing their sufferings and their joys. Shestandsbesideeveryhumanmother,enduringwithherthepangsofbirth,helping in thegreatexpansionof consciousnesswhichcomes toeverywomanatthistime,andturningeverychamberofbirthintoasanctuaryintheTempleofMotherhood.

Wearetoldthatontheseoccasionssheisseekingtoawakenmankindtoa higher conception of womanhood, marriage and parenthood. She iscalling for thosewhowill serveHer in bringing about reforms in thesedepartmentsofhumanlife,whicharesonecessaryforthewell-beingandfuturedevelopmentoftherace.

A vast field of research is awaiting the investigators of the future. Thehelpwhich isnowgivenby theangels toman isatpresentreceivedallunconsciouslybyhim;thepresenceofourBlessedLadybythemother'sside, though sometimes revealed and realized, is, for the most part,unknown.The timeapproaches,however,when thescaleswill fall fromtheeyesofmenandtheywillsee:seeing,theywilllearntoco-operate,toworkconsciously and intelligentlywith thegreat forcesandbeingswithwhom theyareso intimatelyassociated in theworkingoutof theirowndestinyandinthefulfillmentofthedivineplan.

That day is drawing near, and the veil which hides these inner worlds

fromoureyesisalreadygrowingthinner.Awonderfulopportunityisnowbeingoffered tousall toenter theseworlds;so thatwemaybearmedwiththewiderknowledgewhichweshallgainfromthemandthusrenderourselvesmoreusefulintheserviceofourfellowmen.

THECLAIRVOYANTSTUDYOFFAIRIES,NATURESPIRITSANDDEVAS

IT MAY be asked whether my lecture is designed for children or foradults,forthetitlecertainlysuggeststhatthesubjectmatterwillbemoresuitable for the former. In spite of that fact, however, I propose to putbefore you, in all seriousness, an account of the denizens of fairylandwhichwillverycloselyresemblethenarrationofanexplorerconcerningtheinhabitantsofanewly-discoveredland.

Youmayask,onhearingthis,whetherIseriouslybelievethatthereisabasisoffactbehindthefolkloreofallnationsoftheworldconcerningtheexistence of invisible intelligences associated with nature. My reply ismostdefinitelyintheaffirmative;andImightwellbaseituponthefactofthe persistence and universality of these legends and myths of allpeoples of the earth, both ancient and modern, saying that whereverthereisapersistentlegendthereisalwaysabasisoftruth,andarguingthat legends, myths and folk lore form the most reliable history, whenoncethekeytotheirinterpretationhasbeendiscoveredandapplied.

Or Imightdrawattention to the fact that largenumbersofpeoplehavehadfirst-handexperienceoftheseinvisibleintelligencesofvariousordersanddegrees,theirevidenceformingagreatbodyofindividualtestimony.I donot, however, basemyanswer upon thesealone, but uponactualexplorationsoffairylandwhichImyselfhaveattempted.

Bywhatmethodmaysuchexplorationsbemade,andhowmaywetestthetruthorotherwiseofthetestimonytowhichIhavejustreferred?Onlybyscientificmethodsofinvestigation,anduntilwehave,eachoneofus,fitted ourselves for, and carried out, such investigations,we surely hadbestwithholdouropinionuponthesubject,andsilencewellbecomesus.

Letusconsiderfirsthowwemayinvestigatethekingdomoffaerie,studythelittlefolksofnature,entertheirworldanddiscovertheirappearance,habits and methods of evolution. Why are they normally invisible?Modern science immediately provides us with two possible answers to

that question; one, "Because their vibratory rate may differ so largelyfromourown thatweareunable to contact them"; two, "Because theymaybeoccupyinganotherdimensionofspace; theymaybe living inafourth,fifth,sixthorevenseventhdimension."

With regard to the firstof theseanswers,weknow that therearemanyratesofvibrationbeyond the rangeofournormalphysicalsenses,andwe are witnessing the gradual extension of that range by means ofscientific instruments. The invisibleX-rays,N-rays, ultra-violet, infra-redand cosmic rays have all been detected by means of mechanicaldetectors,though,asyet,therehavebeennoinstrumentsdevisedwhichhavepickedupthefairywave-length.

How,then,canwebecomeconsciousoftheinvisiblefairyrays?Though,eventually, science may succeed in developing machines of suchdelicacyandrefinementastoenabletheoperatortocontactworldsandintelligencesatpresent invisible tous, it ismore reasonable,andmoreimmediatelypractical, toassumethatmanpossesseswithinhimself themeansofcognitionnecessarytotheattainmentofthatresult.

Man himself is far from being fully developed.We have no reason forconcludingthatthepresentfivesensesmarkthelimitofhisdevelopmentof means of cognition; there may be a sixth, seventh and still highersenseslatentwithinman,waitingtobedeveloped.

Even now, we all differ in our power of response to various rates ofvibration.Manymencanhearsoundswhicharepitched toohigh tobeaudibletootherswithlesssensitiveears.Ifweplaceanumberofpeoplebeforethebandofthespectrum,andaskthemtomarkthepointatwhichtheirvisionofthebandceases,weshallfindthatsomeseemuchfurtherthanothers,bothattheultra-violetandinfra-redends.

This variation seems to suggest the possibility of extension still furtherbeyondthenormal. Infact, thenameofclairvoyancehasbeengiventoallsuchextensionintotherealmofsuper-normalcognition.

I amaware that it is not easy for thepractical, and still less so for thescientificmind toacknowledge the findingsof clairvoyantsasworthyof

recognition.Thesubject is,unfortunately,surroundedbyanatmospherewhichisrepellanttothescientificmind.ButIwoulddrawattentiontothefactthatthereisatypeofclairvoyancewhichdoesnotdemanddarkness,sitting in circles, mediumship or trance for its manifestation; that mandoes possess a facultywhich, if developed and used, is of the utmostvalue in scientific investigation. It is with this faculty-and this facultyalone-thatreliableresearchintotheinvisibleworldscanbemade.

To the second answer, concerning the dimensions of space and thestatementthatthereexistaninfinitenumberofdimensions,itmaywellbeobjected that there is no evidence formore than three; and that whileaccepting the mathematical theory, we are, by no means, obliged toadmit as fact that which cannot be tested by means of our normalsenses.Inreplytothisquitelegitimateobjection,onemightsaythatwedo,infact,acceptagreatmanytheoreticalstatementsofscientistswhichcannotbetestedbythesensesasactualfacts.Examplesofthisaretheexistenceofsucheverydayconceptionsasthatoftheatom,theelectronand the vitamin.No one has ever seen these bodies, and there are, atpresent,noinstrumentsdelicateenoughtophotographormagnifythemsufficiently to render them visible. Yet we accept the statements ofsciencethattheapparentlysolidobjects,withwhichwearesurrounded,are not solid at all; that they consist of a countless number ofultramicroscopicbodiescalledatoms,and,despitetheirapparentsolidityanddensity,notwooftheirconstituentatomsareactuallytouching;each,infact,isvibratinginitsownmagneticfield.

Inthecircumstances,weshalldonoviolencetoourreasonifweadmitthepossibilityoftheexistenceofhigherdimensionsofspacethanthosewithwhichwe are normally familiar. The answer of themathematician,concerningtheexistenceofahigherdimension,maybestbeunderstoodby the non-mathematical mind if we consider, for a moment, thelimitationsofa two-dimensionalbeingwhenendeavoring tounderstandthree-dimensional phenomena. Living on a surface, having length andbreadthbutnothickness,hecanonlycontactsuchportionsofobjectsaspass throughhis flat plane of existence.A pencil, for example, passedverticallythroughthatplane,wouldbevisibletohimasaflatdisc,forhewould see only that part of itwhichwas on his plane andwould know

nothingofitsexistenceaboveandbelow.

Mathematically, thereareaninfinitenumberofdimensions,andit isnotimpossible that the evolution of man will be found to consist of thegradual increase in the number of dimensions in which he is able tofunction.

Ifwepostulatethatmanhimselfisfarmorethanthephysicalbody,whichwe know, and that he has extensions into an infinite number ofdimensions,thenwecanseethatitwouldbepossibleforhimgraduallytodevelopthepowertomanifestinanincreasingnumberofdimensionsof space. At this point, the two answerswould seem tomeet; andwehave a definition of supernormal cognition which is that it enables itsobservertoseeandhearuponwavelengthsbeyondthenormalrate,andtofunctionindimensionsofspaceinwhichmanisnotyetaccustomedtolive.

The informationwhich Iamabout toputbeforeyou,concerning fairies,nature-spirits and angels, has been gained by attempts to employ thatsupernormalcognitionforpurposesofresearch.

Whatdoestheexplorerfindwhenhestepsoutofthethirddimensionintothe fourth?What does the receiving setwithin his brain convey to himwhenhetunesintothewavelengthsoffairyland?

An important factwhichhe immediatelydiscovers inhis firstattempt tocross the frontier is that there is no necessity for any motion throughspaceorfortraveltofar-distantlandsforthepurposesofhisexploration.Fairylandishere-inourgardens,fields,woodlandsandlandscapes.Thechangewhichisneededisnotofplace,notofgeographicalarea,butofconsciousness.Hewithdrawshisattentionfromthephysicalworldsanddirectsittowardsthesuperphysical.

Mostprobablythefirstphenomenonwhichwillbecomeapparenttohimisthatthenumbersoftheinhabitantsoffairylandareinfinitelygreaterthanthoseofourownphysicalearth.Theairisseentobefilledwithcountlessmillionsofbeauteousbeingsof varyingstature,powerand intelligence.Theearth,nowtransparenttotheexplorer'sgaze,isadenselypopulated

world.Lake,pool, river,stream,oceanandcloudhavetheirappropriateinhabitants;while a slight change in the focusof consciousness showsthatallabouthimisasensationofthepresenceoffire,oftheroaringofflames and the near approach of the spirits of the fire. Let uswith themind of the explorer examine these four great races of superphysicalbeingsinsomedetail.Eachraceisatonceseentoconsistofagradedorderofintelligences,withverylowly-evolvedcreaturesattheleveloftheinfusoria,insect,bird,atoneendofthescaleoftheirexistence,andthemost gloriousand splendid spiritual intelligences, far outshiningman inpower,andknowledge,attheother.

Playingontheearthroundhisfeet,passinginandoutofthetreetrunks,rootsandbranches,willbeseentribesoflittlemen,knowninfolkloreasbrownies, kobolds, elves and pixies, closely resembling the traditionalfigures which those names denote. An air of business surrounds thebrowniemen.Forthemostpart,theirworkisanimitationoftheactivitiesof such primitivemenas they have been able to contact and observe.Theydiganddelveand frequentlycarry in theirbelts tiny toolssuchasshovels, picks, axes and pincers which they materialize by thought-power, andwhich last as longas their attention is focusedupon them.Their intelligence is just about at the level of the chicken; they areactuated by a group consciousness and communicate in gruff tones,somewhatresemblingthelanguageofthecountryinwhichtheyliveandpractically impossible to translate. The real communication, as with alltheirbrethrenoffairyland,isbyasystemofthought-transference.

Deepdowninthedepthsoftheearth,hugeethericearthcreaturesaretobe found. These differ, in a strikingway, fromall their brethren, in thattheyarenotbeautifulaccording tohumanstandards.Thegnome is themostunattractiveofallthenature-spirits;hisbodyappearstobemadeofsomedarkbrownspongysubstance,resemblingpeat;hislimbsarelooseanddisproportionatelylong;hisfeetendinapointandhisarmshavetheappearanceofaclosedfist.Heisthin,hisfaceiscadaverous,hiseyesaredeepsunkandslantinganduponhisfaceisaweirdandsomewhatlearing grin. He is generally unclothed and may be seen in openmoorland, mountainsides and sometimes on newly-ploughed fields,floating or driftingwith loosely-hanging limbs, just above the surface of

theground.Hevaries inheight, fromsix toeight inchesuptotwelveorfifteenfeetaccordingtohisevolutionarystanding.Therewouldseemtobeaprinciplethatthestatureofthenaturespirit increasesinproportionto his evolutionary progress, the most highly evolved angels being ofcolossal stature. A height of thirty feet is not uncommon in the higherranksoftheangelichosts.

If we follow the race of the spirits of the earth until we reach thosestandingonthehigherrungsoftheirladderoflife,weobservetheangelsofwoods, fields,mounds, hills,mountainsandmountain-rangesandofvast landscapes. These have grown out of the relative uncouthness ofthenature-spiritofearthandintheirangelhoodorindividualizedstatearebeautifulintheextreme;theyensoulthedistrictwhichtheyhaveadoptedorofwhichtheyhavebeenputincharge,andtheylabortoquickentheevolutionoftheformandtheunfoldingoftheconsciousnessofallthingswithintheareaoftheirinfluence.

The greatest of these Great Ones is that mysterious and inscrutableBeingwhoisknownastheSpiritoftheEarth,whoissaidtoensoulthewhole planetwithHis life and to be responsible to theSolar Logos forcertainaspectsoftheevolutionoftheplanet.

All the physical planets of a solar system are said similarly to beensouled,whilethereisalsoonemightyBeingWhoisinchargeofallthephysicalglobesofasolarsystemandwhoseSubordinatesaretheSpiritsofthePlanetsandTheirlesserBrethren.ThisHierarchyreachesrightupto the Spirit of the Sun itself-amighty Being of inconceivable splendorandpower.

Oftheelementofearthitissaidthatitprovidesthequalityofstabilitytothe solar system; it is themighty fulcrum bymeans ofwhich the solarforces, sent forth outwards in their vitalizing and quickening missionthroughoutthewholewideconfinesoftheuniverse,obtaintheresistanceandtheleverageessentialtothefulfillmentoftheirtasks.Allthesevariedphenomenatheexplorermayexamineathisleisureand,aswillbeseen,vastfieldsofresearchlieopenforhisinvestigation.

While the spirits of earth are definitely masculine in their character,

although a-sexual, the spirits of the water present for the most part adefinitely feminine appearance. If the explorer wanders beside theflowingriverorgazesatthewaterfallwithopenedeyes,hewillseemostbeautifully modelled roseate female human forms reveling in the vitalforcesofthecataract,hangingpoisedinthespray,rejoicinginthebrightsunlightandeverandanonplungingdownwardsintothepoolbelow.Thewater spirits are ofmany degrees, from the tiny nymphs, undines andnereidsofthelesserpoolsandstreams,uptothestatelywaterqueensofthe larger rivers, who may be seen, madonna-like, serene and lovely,floatingover thegreenmeadowlandorhoveringhigh in theairaboveariver'ssource.

The nature-spirits of the sea differ some what from their fresh-watersisters, they aremore active,more vital and less definitely feminine inappearanceandcharacter.Onthewhole, theyaresomewhat lesseasytocontactandcommunicatewith.Faroutatseahugeethericmonstersaretobeseen,and,onrareoccasions,glimpsesmaybehadoftheoldsea gods riding on their strange shell-like chariots, and closelyresemblingtheclassicalfiguresofNeptuneandhiscourt.

The large rivers, such as the Thames, the Severn and the greatcontinental rivers, also have their gods, who may be seen rising anddescendingaboveandbelowthesurfaceoftheirriverhomes.

The clouds, too, are peopled by a race closely resembling the waterqueens and the undines, though partaking also sometimes of theappearanceofthespiritsoftheair.

Water is said to be the great conducting element of Nature, theconveyingmediumoneveryplaneforcertainaspectsoftheenergyoftheSolarLogos.

Let theexplorer in thought leapoutwards fromtheclouds,high into theair, and he will instantly find himself surrounded by countless hosts ofsylphsorspiritsofair.Marvellouslydynamiccreaturesthese,chargedtothe full with the vitality of their elements. They may be seen flying,floating, shooting, diving, combining in large companies to perform theaerial gambols in which they engage as they swiftly sweep down "the

longsavannahsof theblue,"asFrancisThompsonsobeautifullycalledtheaerialfieldsofspace.

These, too,areofmany ranks,and ifhedescendsoncemore toearthandenterssome fairgarden fullof flowers,hewill find thateveryplanthasitsfairyattendant-thefairyofthefairytale-thewingedmaiden,thelovelyfairyqueen.

Ifhewatches,hewillseethefairyhovernearherchargeandeverandanondescend into theveryheartof theplantor clumpof flowers, loseher fairy shape and become spread out as it were, as an essencepervadingeverycellofstem,leaf,tendrilandofflower.Inthisstatesheispouringherownlifeforcesintothoseoftheflower,quickeningitsgrowthbeautifyingand,insomemeasure,guidingitsformandgivinganaddedthrillofconsciousexistencetothe life forcewhich isevolvingwithin.Asthusshelabors,sheherselfevolves,andgradually is liberatedfromherjoyfulservicetotheflowersandsharesthefreedomoftheupperairwithherelderbrethren,thesylphs.

A curious phenomenon is presented here, in that her appearance isdistinctlyfemale,butwhenangelhoodisentered,themasculinetendstopredominate.

Inthehigherranksofthespiritsoftheairwefindthemightyaeriallords,thegodsofpower, theangelsofsound, thegandharvaseof theHindu.ThesemightyonesaretheexternalembodimentofthepowerofthewordofGod.Intheirworldalllifeisexpressedintermsofsound;everybeing,every form,has itsappropriatesound;every idea,every thought,givesforthitssong.Thisworldmaybethoughtofasthekingdomofmusic,auniverseofharmony,theveritableapotheosisofthepowerofsound.

Vast throngs of these glorious beings inhabit that wondrous world,singing,playingandchantingthroughouteternity.Vastoratories,glorioussymphonies, ever praising, worshipping and adoring the Creator ofWhoseoutflowinglifeandbeautyTheyaretheconsciousembodiments.Echoesofthemusicofthatworldofsoundfindtheirwaydowntothedullearsofman,andattimesfavoredhumanbeingsbecomethedirectandinspiredchannelsofthemusicoftheLordsofSound.

By theirmusic, the angels of soundmanipulate, and direct and controlthemighty forces of the creativeWord, ever shaping the forms of thesolar systemnearerandnearer to thearchetype in theCreator'smind;everattuningHismanyworldsnearerandnearertotheperfectsound-thenotewhichHesingseternally,andwhicheventuallymustbeechoedfrom all the forms which He has made. He works by the law ofresonance, governs by the rule of rhythm, creates and unfolds by thepower of sound. The aerial lords, with their subordinates, are HisintelligentlieutenantsinthisaspectofHisvastactivities.

Fromtheaerialheights,lettheexplorerdescenddeepintothecentreoftheearth,wherehewill findragingamightyfire,aportionof theprimalflame which forms the planet's solar heart. Amid the flames, vast firespiritswork -for this is the laboratoryof theplanet,andhere labors thechemist and the physicist aspect of God. Here dwells and worksunceasinglythepoweroftheHolyGhost.

Everyfireonearthisareflectionofthesolarfirewhichburnswithinthecentreof theplanet,and isbutamanifestationof the fireaspectof thesolarsystemlife.

Firespiritsexist inmanygrades,fromthesalamanderof thefireonthehearth, through the larger fire spirits of the great conflagrations, theburning prairies and forest lands and up to the mighty fiery sun itselfwhere dwell the solar fire lords. Between the lowest and the highest,countlessmillionsoffirespiritsstand,everlaboringintheserviceoffire.Thefunctionoftheirelementistoregenerate,transformandrenew,everto produce change; to resist and destroy stagnation and to ensure asteadyandcontinuousgrowth.

Such, briefly, are four of the great races of the denizens of fairylandwhomtheexplorerwillmeet.Variationsintypeandappearanceoccurindifferent parts of the world. Each country and even departments in acountryhasitstypicalnature-spiritandangeliclife.

Outsidethesefourraces,manyotherordersmaybefound.IntheBiblewearetaughtofthenineordersofangels,andeventhesedonotincludethemall-fortheyareasnumerousasthesandsoftheseashore.

Atvariousepochsinthehistoryofhumanlife,theveilwhichhidesthemfromour sight grows thin andangelswalkwithmen.Therehavebeenperiodsineachofthegreatcivilizationsofthepastwhencommunicationandco-operationbetweenangelsandmenhavebeenemployedforthefulfilment of the divine plan and for the perfecting of the civilizationconcerned.

Many seers and mystics believe that we are once more approachingsuchanepoch;thatevennowtheangelsarestandingonthethresholdofhuman life,waiting toenter in.Theirbeauty, theirpower, their splendorand their knowledge are at the disposal of those who will preparethemselvestoworkwiththem.Thereisnofieldofhumanitarianendeavorinwhich theirco-operationmaynotusefullybeattained.Thehealersofmen, themedicalscientist, thepriest, thephysicianandthenurse,maylearntoinvoketheirfieryandvitalenergyforthehealingofthesick;maycalluponthegreatraceofhealingangels,undertheArchangelRaphael,who is their head, to descend into the sickrooms, nursing homes,hospitals andasylumsofmenand to flood the suffererswith their vitalenergyandfillthemwiththeirhealingpowerandlove.

The horticulturist and agriculturist may gain the aid of the nature-spiritand angel builders of form upon our planet, and by conscious co-operation, evolve new examples of floral beauty,may develop cereals,vegetablesandfruitsmorenutritiousandlife-giving,bytheangels'aid.

Theclimateof theglobemaybe forecastand, inameasure,controlledbytheaidoftheelementalsofair.

Theangels ofmotherhood, childbirth and infancyalreadyhelp in everychamberofbirth.Ifhumanheartswereopentotheirgentlepresenceandhuman minds would learn to listen consciously to their guidance andadvice, the pain with which mankind is born might be banished andmotherhoodbecomeatimeofjoyundimmedbypain.

Andsothroughallthefieldsofhumanlife,ourangelbrethrenwillhelpusif we will. Co-operation between angels and men will be one of thekeynotes of the new race. The technique of that co-operation is notdifficult to acquire. Aworld ofwonder, joy and beauty lies open to him

who cares to enter it through the gateway of combined service in thefulfilmentofthedivineplan.Such,inpart,isthevisionwhichtheexplorerintofairylandwillbringbackwithhimonhisreturntothehauntsofmen.