1. If the door to the astral plane has been opened by
following certain breathing exercises, plus certain postures, and other methods taught by
ignorant teachers at this time, I would suggest certain preliminary and necessary steps,
as follows:
- Let the man drop all such exercises and postures and avoid all contact with the teacher.
This is a first and necessary step.
- Let him live a full life of physical activity, permitting himself no time for the
introspective life. If he is materially minded, let him fulfil his commercial, business
or social obligations, by physical plane interests and his due responsibilities with every
power he has, permitting himself no backward thought.
- Let him focus his attention upon the things of physical living until such time as
evolution carries him to the stage of mental focusing and spiritual orientation. Before
this can be done, the lower door must be closed. Let him, therefore, control emotion, for
emotion serves to keep the door ajar and facilitates astral experience. [589]
- Let him "learn to work and think with the spine and head and not with the forefront
of the body", as the ancient rule can be translated. The idea is that the average
psychic regards the solar plexus and throat centers (the only two about which they seem to
know anything) as existing in the front and center of the torso or the front of the
throat. This carries the energy downwards by the involutionary route and not upwards by
the evolutionary route of the spinal column. This is of moment.
2. If the door to the astral plane is open because of natural birthright, the activity
of previous lives and because the flow of the forces normally focuses in the solar
plexus, the problem is much more difficult. It will be necessary to gain:
- Some understanding of the etheric constitution of man and teaching must be given as to
the nature of the centers of force so that the Aryan psychic has some intelligent
background upon which to work. The effort must be made to build a healthy body.
- Higher goals must be emphasized and the necessity for the life of service must be
stressed. I would remind you that service is a scientific method whereby the forces which
awaken, stimulate and control the solar plexus are directed to the heart center, thus
causing the closing of the astral door and a decentralization of the interests of the
psychic. This decentralization is technically fulfiled when the central plexus is
no longer the dominant factor and the thought interests of the man are of a different
nature.
- One other practical hint may be useful here. When the psychic is at the Aryan stage of
unfoldment and is not simply at the Atlantean, then much good can [590] come from the
frequent use of the color yellow. He should surround himself with that color, for
it serves to keep the inflowing energies in the head or to prevent their descent no lower
than the diaphragm. This deprives the solar plexus of a constant inflow of energy and
greatly aids in freeing of the psychic from the astral plane. I would point out here that
the psychic with the Atlantean consciousness (and they constitute the great majority) is
functioning normally when displaying the psychic faculties, though along an arc of
retrogression, but the man with the Aryan consciousness who displays these powers is an
abnormality.
3. Where the danger is of a serious nature, producing great nervous tension or
excessive debility, extreme care must be used. Where there is a violent fight against the
psychic activity going on, or where there is a nervous breakdown and loss of mental grip
and control, then it is essential that at times the psychic should be forced to take a
long rest in bed, with light diet and complete freedom from all contacts. It may be
necessary at times to put him under restraint. Today, many such cases - fighting hard for
mental equilibrium and seeking to close the astral door - are deemed insane or on the
border line of insanity. Their plight is greatly enhanced by the lack of understanding of
their friends, and of the consulting physicians and psychologists. Their trouble is not
mental but is entirely related to the solar plexus. Only when this is recognized will we
begin to have a right handling of these problem cases. It is rare indeed to find a
psychologist who would be willing to admit the possibility of these premises. [591]
When
psychic difficulties arise in the case of the advanced mystic, the disciple or the occult
student, the mode of approach has to be more definitely scientific, for the trouble is
more deep seated owing to the fact that the mind is more involved. Definite work with the
centers up the spine and in the head is in order but must be carried forward under careful
supervision. I cannot here give the exercises which lead to
- The closing of the different centers
- The opening of the higher centers
- The transference of force from one center to another.
This treatise is intended primarily for the general public and will be widely read
during the next generation. Should I give them here, my readers might experiment with them
and only succeed in doing real harm to themselves. |
