Ophiel's FIRST CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF OCCULT KNOWLEDGE (Less 4-6)

[Brother_Moloch_969]

Ophiel's CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF OCCULT KNOWLEDGE

First Course

Copyright C 1967 by Edward C. Peach All rights reserved. No part of this course of lessons, in part or in whole, may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any other information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the holder of these rights, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address the publisher.


Lesson Four

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THE ASTRAL PLANE (S) - Two of them! The next plane we will deal with, in order of expansion, "up" from the Physical, is the ASTRAL PLANE. I am struck here again with the difficulty of dealing accurately, in the English language, with this subject. We are talking about an INNER PLANE and there is not very much that can be said about it clearly - in words - because it is so very different from/than the Earth Plane. I can only speak of the Astral Plane in terms of the Physical Plane, and then only in Physical Plane words. You are still living on the Physical Plane. I am still living on the Physical Plane 99.94% of the "time". I have a strong conviction, based on my work, that we do - during our sleep - freely enter and move about on/in the Astral Planes, but we do not recognise the, ‘Inner Planes,’ because they are so different than/from the Physical - and being so different - you simply do not recognise the Astral Plane when you are there.

Your work is therefore clearly cut out for you. “YOU MUST LEARN TO ENTER THE INNER ASTRAL PLANES AND LEARN TO RECOGNISE THE PLANE'S "INNARDS" FOR WHAT THEY ARE, BY THEMSELVES, AND NOT LOOK FOR, AND EXPECT, SOME KIND OF A GLORIFIED PHYSICAL PLANE - SET UP - EXISTENCE.” This is the method of all correct systems of the Occult which lead to control over the Inner Planes, and thus lead to knowledge and control over MAGICAL PROCESSES - which means, basically, knowledge and control over the Planes, one over the other, like the higher controlling the lower, until the "effects" reach the Earth Plane. So, therefore, you will have to take the following material with - not a grain but a POUND OF SALT! (Salt - alchemical symbol of the, ‘Element of Earth.’)

You should now understand that I have to write here in material terms as if the Astral Plane was physical. You must understand this and assimilate and adapt it as you follow these directions and penetrate into the Inner Planes. Now that you understand this fully (and I admit, I still don't understand it completely myself), let us go on!

All of the Planes seem to have progressive densities to them, a "higher" and a "lower" part. The lower part of any Plane is, of course, the most "dense". You may, or may not, have reasoned this out from your studies of the previous two planes - the Physical and the Etheric. - I will admit that the "higher" part of the Physical Plane is hard to detect from the "lower" Physical, but you should learn to notice this point after you have done some exploring of the Etheric. Those of you who have read my book, “THE ART AND PRACTICE OF ASTRAL PROTECTION.” Will recall the statements about the "sinking" feelings generated in a person's stomach when travelling up or down in a, ‘High-speed elevator.’ This sensation is your physical experience of the separation point between the Physical and Etheric Planes, and represents the "high point" of the Physical Plane.

The lower part of the Etheric Plane is very much like the upper part of the Physical, and this rule holds good throughout the planes' transition points. At all these transition points any two planes most closely resemble each other. With the foregoing out of the way, we can now proceed with our study of the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane demonstrates this idea of graduation more strongly than any other plane. From this it could be said that the, ‘Astral Plane,’ is one of the most important planes existing, both on the path "down" and the path "up". One of the many reasons for this is that there is a, ‘TREMENDOUS CONCENTRATION OF EMOTIONS (E-MOTIONS) CONNECTED WITH THIS PLANE.’ It is here, in the Astral Plane, that these "raw" emotions are changing into "forms", becoming imprisoned in form from a previous free state. This transformation accounts for the violent disturbances in connection with this plane.

These "disturbances" on the Astral Plane come from both directions - those people coming "up" from "below" encounter here the first place in which, ‘MATTER,’ dissolves into some kind of ‘NON-MATTER,’ which, they find can be manipulated; and those who are coming into, ‘Incarnation,’ find that they are "cribbed" and "confined", and there are the usual wild struggles against confinement. For these reasons, and many other connected reasons, the Astral Plane is divided, more or less, into two parts, and the differences between these two parts is so, ‘marked’ that in the Hindu terminology this actual, ‘One plane,’ is classified as, ‘Two planes.’ We shall discuss some of the differences between the Hindu and the Western terminology later in this lesson.

The "lower" part of the Astral Plane is, as mentioned before, rather like the "upper" part of the Etheric Plane where they connect, as it were. This section of the Astral is well known. It has been called the Storehouse of Images. I am told that every thing and every thought ever said, thought, and done since the world began is recorded/stored on this "reflecting" material of the Higher Etheric and Lower Astral. Everybody is somewhat "psychic", and everyone thus comes, more or less, into inward contact with the Lower Astral and "sees" and "feels" these images. Now note that I said that, ‘Upper Etheric’ and ‘Lower Astral,’ formed the place of the "Storehouse of Images". This is true, but what I want to emphasise in that this place where the two planes merge into each other is not so well defined as the material world is. In the Inner World, the planes merge into each other - there is not an, ‘Abrupt changeover.’ Seeing, feeling, sensing, these images is all right by itself. No harm can be, done by that ‘AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT THE IMAGES ARE.’

It is regarding these "reflecting ether" images as REAL - in the sense of Physical Real - that the trouble can come. I repeat, it is in regarding, in believing the stored up reflecting ether images to be REAL that leads to all sorts of trouble. The main trouble comes from the fact that these images are plastic and easily respond to any and all kinds of thoughts and influences. Thus they "act" accordingly as you wishfully thing of them doing. They do, and even say, just what you "think"/desire then to do and say. So you can see how you could easily deceive yourself by unconsciously influencing these contacted images. And the images, thus responding to your unconscious desires, give you back what you inwardly desire and thus filling you with delight - but based on nothing really real.

Even some of the most intelligent and advanced ‘Occultists’ in the world have been self-fooled by their, ‘Unconscious manipulations,’ of these Lower Astral images into all kinds of fake religions and "revelation" movements. This Lower Astral is truly a fairyland where everything is, as you want it to be and does what you want it to do. However, in spite of my warning you will probably be fooled by these images, ‘Everybody,’ is sooner or later. All I can do is warn you.

For example, in the newspapers at this time of writing is an account of a black woman in Africa named Alice who claims to have been talked to by God and given different sets of distractions as to what to do here on earth, etc. Her "revelations" have resulted in cruel deaths for many, which is always the result of this sort of thing, especially in a more primitive society. Also Pearl Buck, in her story of the, ‘Last Empress of China,’ tells how a man, in one of the southern provinces, got a bee in his bonnet from the missionary's talk of Jesus and claimed he was the reincarnation of ‘Christ,’ going to change things around, and raised, ‘Hell,’ so that 20,000,000 people lost their lives as an end result. These two people were, ‘Psychics,’ who had contacted this ‘Store house of Images’ and, guided, by their, ’Own wishes’ and nothing else, manipulated them about to suit themselves. If you will look at history you can detect many other examples of this now that you know what to look for. SO LOOK OUT!!!! It is necessary that you should learn your way through this plane as quickly and easily as you can.

The higher part of the Astral Plane is more; calm, and not so easily ‘Contacted’ with what come sup from "below". It is rather more filled with what comes down from "above". And it appears to be here in the, ‘Middle Astral,’ where these two kinds of "creations" meet. I don't know the exact reason for this, but ‘Accept it,’ and act accordingly. In regard to the densities "inside" the ‘Inner Planes,’ note that the Hindu teachings refer to a plan of ‘SEVEN’ steps up or down through the planes. We, however, will use the, ‘Western Caballa’ idea of a ‘FIVE-step,’ change through the planes up or down. This five-step change would be either way in this order: Akasha - Air - Fire - Water - Earth, with, of course, Akasha being the "lightest" and Earth the "heaviest."

Now each of these single five steps also changes by five steps from one into the other, and you will make all the symbols of these five steps later in the Course. Don't fret over this knowledge now if you don't immediately understand it as this knowledge is advanced and definitely not too easy to understand so hidden it is, as it were. You may also find the, ‘Concept’ of ‘EMOTION,’ ‘Changing’ into ‘FORM’ to be somewhat baffling. On our present type of physical plane existence we do not usually associate emotions-feelings with Physical "forms". Can you, do you, for example, "feel" a chair? Well actually, in a hidden Occult sense Operation, you do!

However, it is easier for us to understand the mental ideal of a chair, creating a chair, than feeling a chair. But stop and think - what is back of this mental "thought" of a chair? Is it not first the desire "to sit"? A mental picture is then formed of the desire "to sit" which begins in a mental image of a chair and ends in a Physical Chain. So you can consider, even from the work-a-day-world idea that a "chair" is the, ‘Crystallized Emotion,’ of the, ‘Infinitive verb,’ to “sit." The MENTAL Astral Plane is where these two conceptions meet, where the chair - "to sit" - coming down from "above" meets the point of changing from an emotion to a form, and where your form desires/ideas coming up from "below" change back into emotions-desires.

The student viewing this section of the Inner Planes from a projection exploration has a terrific experience. The Operation, with all its ‘Flashing Lights,’ and wild, ‘Inner Plane,’ movements bewilder our untrained earth-experience senses. There is a Universe of this Knowledge tied up in this exploration of the Inner Planes, and the real knowledge of the Occult you will have to get when you project/explore it for yourself.

Much Occult literature is concerned with the Astral Plane, and some of it is ‘good’ and will help you gain a background understanding that will be useful in your own exploration. That's the value of all the ‘textbooks’ and ‘guidebooks’ to give you the background so that you will recognise necessary, ‘Landmarks’ in your own travelling of the path. I am working on an idea’ for the exploration of this, ‘Astral Plane,’ by means of building a permanent path "in there", and keeping it "in place" by means of a physical map on the physical plane as a help to students. Refer to the remarks about "counter parts" in Lesson Three. Your physical-astral plane work this time will be to draw and paint the symbol of this plane, i.e., the symbol for the Element of Fire - a red triangle on a green background.

HOW TO DRAW THE SYMBOL OF THE ELEMENT OF FIRE

Make your 4" x 4" square as instructed in Lesson Two. Measure off and make a line vertical down the centre of the square. Using your measuring compass measure off and mark the dots as shown on the sample drawing below. Fill in the lines connecting the dots in pencil. Ink in the lines that form the outer square and the inner triangle and erase your pencil lines. Paint the space inside the triangle red, and the space between the triangle and square green.

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QUESTIONS

Do you understand the problems of describing, and of recognising, the phenomena of the Astral Plane?

Do you understand why people who do contact the Astral Plane, and the Store House of Images, often become victims of self-illusion unless they have been properly prepared for this experience?

Can you think of some samples in history, or your own experience, of such illusions?

Why is it that you cannot just be taught about things Occult, but must also experience things for yourself?

Where do you think the "heavens" of the many religions (and the "Summerland" of Spiritualists) have their existence?

Do you see any connection between the teachings in this ‘Lesson’ and the instructions in the various BOOKS OF THE DEAD? Save your answers until asked for them PRACTICES

Make your Symbol for the Element of Fire.

Watch your dreams for experiences of an ‘Astral nature.’

SUGGESTED READING

THE ASTRAL BODY AND OTHER ASTRAL PHENOMENA, by A.E. Powell. A complete description of the astral world, the nature of the astral body and its relationship to clairvoyance, the Chakrams, Kundalini, astral entities, development of astral bodies, spiritualism, thought forms, etc.

THE ART AND PRACTICE OF ASTRAL PROJECTION, by Ophiel. This is by far the most important book on the subject, and the only truly practical one that teaches you how to project your consciousness via the astral body with absolute safety. Teaches four different methods, including the BODY OF LIGHT and SYMBOL techniques, and also a system of ETHERIC projection. Illustrated.

THE SECRETS OF DR. TAVERNER, by Dion Fortune. Fictionalised accounts (Based the author says, on true cases known to her.) of contacts with the Astral Plane that illustrates various Occult phenomena.

THE HUMAN AURA, by Walter J. Kilner. Description of the, ‘Aura’ in health and disease as seen with the aid of filter of dicyanin dye, and a description of the use of such a filter.

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Ophiel's CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF OCCULT KNOWLEDGE

First Course

Copyright C 1967 by Edward C. Peach All rights reserved. No part of this course of lessons, in part or in whole, may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any other information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the holder of these rights, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address the publisher.

Lesson Five

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Dear Student,

With this lesson, Lesson Five of the Correspondence Course in the Foundations of Occult Knowledge (first series), we end the preliminary study of the planes. In the first lessons you have learned something about the "material" of the physical world and the Inner Planes, and something about the "Forces" operating through the inner planes. With your next lesson, Number Six, you are going to start your introduction to the study of the Qabalah with the, ‘TREE OF LIFE.’ The ‘TREE OF LIFE,’ as you will study it here, is a "guide" to a way of thinking, a system into which you can place the different things you learn and observe so that they fit into an overall pattern of relationships. With this pattern of relationships you will have a guide to the ways in which the Forces of the Universe function.

With this lesson you will begin to see that the fundamental to Occultism is a way of looking at the world. This is true of all systems of study. Science, for example, is really "the Scientific Method", and part of the study of science today is the "Philosophy of Science" which is an analysis of the way in which the scientist must look at the World. The Occult Way of Looking at the World is concerned with what goes on behind the appearance of things.

It is important to remember, however, that the Occult does not confine itself to just the "Inner Side of Things," for Occultism is also concerned with using your Occult Knowledge to make a better life for you. And as you begin to see a broader pattern of relationships, as you begin to perceive some of the inner factors that lead up to your present outward circumstances, you will unconsciously begin the process of a new adjustment and control over your life. Later in your Occult study and work you will take a more conscious direction over your environment and life.

Sincerely,

THE GNOSTIC INSTITUTE

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We now come to the next plane above the Astral Plane/s. This is the so-called MENTAL PLANE. "Mental Plane" is not a very satisfactory name for this plane, but again we are faced with the inadequacy of the English language and this is the closest we can come. Let us attempt to explain the use of the word "Mental" in this connection. The word comes, of course, from the Latin ‘Mentes,’ meaning: the MIND - Thinking, Thoughts, Ideas and Images. In these lessons, when we refer to "mental," "emotions," "desires," etc., we are, of course, referring to the essence of these things, and not so much to our personal expression of these things - although we do partake of the prime essence of these states when we express these states ourselves. All our physical existence consists of the qualities of these planes fused together, as it were, and ex-(out)-pressed in/or the Physical Plane as a final resultant.

How this is done is part of a later study. After you have accumulated enough of the basic data of Occultism we will take up the details of this work in later lessons. So, for now confine your understanding of the word "Mental" to the idea of, ‘ARCHETYPAL.’ The word "archetypal" comes from two Greek words, ‘Archi’ - meaning ‘Beginning,’ and ‘Typos,’ - meaning ‘Stamp/Pattern.’ Therefore, the Mental Plane consists of, and deals with, beginning, original patterns already set up and clearly delineated - but only of a mental-idea-image-nature, and having no qualities yet of desire to be "real" (Astral Plane), to "exist" (Etheric Plane), and to "force to be existent" (Physical Plane). This will all be treated later. To those of you who have my book, ‘THE ART AND PRACTICE OF ASTRAL PROJECTION,’ and who follow the instructions therein, with time and with practice you may make a cautious personal contact with this Mental Plane. When you "see" the Mental Plane all that you will "see" are colours, a wild "assembly" of colours. These are the basic colours of the, ‘ELEMENTAL FORCES,’ them selves as they exist in the, ‘Pure-State,’ of just, ’BE-ING.’

You cannot do mush with, or about, the "raw" forces on the Mental Plane in any direct manner. Much, ‘Moulding’ and ‘Forming’ work has to be done, and the raw Mental Plane Forces are conducted down through the "lower" planes to HERE. You will not use the Mental Plane directly but only through the agency of the DEMIURGOS (Look up the meaning and etymology of this word.) As this subject is rather hard to assimilate I am going to review it for you. As I said, the next plane above the "two" Astrals is called the Mental Plane, and it is given that name because of the distinct mental quality of this Plane. So far we have dealt with the following planes: Physical, Etheric, Astral, and now, Mental. Please decide for yourself a quality that characterizes each of these planes - such as Physical - inertia, etc.

The sight/view of this Plane to those of you who will penetrate that far in the Inner planes, and probably you all can/will get a glimpse of it sooner or later (a glimpse is all you'll need!), will be that of lots of colours. The Mental Plane consists of Mental Forces, and the colours you see are the "forms" of the Mental Forces - if you can conceive of colours as anything like a form - appearing to the drawn-out semi-physical sight of the clairvoyant. As you should be beginning to know/think by now, it is in/on the next plane further "down" that these colours-forces become the "watery" forms, and later becomes "solid" forms. We will deal with this process later, but for now IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU BEGIN TO THINK ALONG THESE DIFFERENT LINES ABOUT LIFE, and to switch away from your former way of, ‘Thinking.’

I said that your future glimpses of the Mental Plane would show it to be all colours, which colours represent, Forces. Where do these Forces come from? An answer, of course, is that these Forces come from "above" the Mental Plane. In this first course of lessons we will not go above the Mental Plane for the reason that the object of our studies at this point is to gain basic Occult Knowledge that can be used in living Life, or, as could be said, dealing with Forces when the reach the lower planes where we, as Physical lives, are presently in existence.

We will not use the planes higher than the Mental, but we will deal with them in a knowledge manner. Dealing thoroughly with the Inner Plane Forces, and handling them properly, then becomes an ART, the proper use of which can enable you TO LIVE A PLANNED PHYSICAL LIFE. You should realise that all Magic, Metaphysics, Clairvoyance, Witchcraft, Second Sight, Medium-ship, etc. has to do with the different planes and with YOU SHIFTING YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AROUND BETWEEN THEM, BACK AND FORTH, TO AND FRO, etc. Your thinking about these things, and about life itself, should, therefore, become adjusted accordingly from now on to this Occult Way of Looking at Things, and will become still more adjusted towards this point of view the further you proceed in these lessons.

Try to adopt the approach to life that asks yourself the question: "How would this (thing, event, problem, etc.) Look to me from the Inner Planes?" Remember that Physical Plane things are the end result of a long, behind-the-scenes series of Inner Planes' processes. It is not that the Physical Plane is just an "illusion" as some of the Eastern philosophies say - it is "real" enough - but it is part of a much larger reality of which you have had, at best, only a partial vision. In fact, it may be very helpful for you to try looking at some of the more ordinary things that happen on the Physical Plane as if you were witnessing a theatrical production, and trying to think about the various operations that have occurred leading up to this outwardly visible performance.

In the case of the play there is the creation of the stage scenery, then there are the many rehearsals in which the performance took its final shape, and before that there is the bringing together of the various elements and resources that make the play possible, and before that there was the writing of the play itself, and still earlier there were the idea that lead to the writing of the play, and so on. In Physical Life Happenings there are many levels of activity behind-the-scenes too. From your Occult Way of Looking at Things you will become increasingly aware of these Inner Plane activities, the "Inner Side of Things."

Now make your symbol for the Mental Plane.

HOW TO DRAW THE SYMBOL FOR THE MENTAL PLANE - THE ELEMENT OF AIR

I. Make your 4" x 4" square as instructed in Lesson Two.

Draw two pencil lines from opposite corners to intersect. This establishes the exact centre of your square.

Set your compass to correspond with the diameter of the circle shown below, and make the circle from the centre of the square.

Ink in the outlines.

Paint the circle blue, and the space between the circle and the inner edges of the square orange.

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QUESTIONS

Describe in your own words and ideas what the Mental Plane consists of, and deals with?

What is the meaning of the word "Demiurgos", and what is its etymology?

What are the qualities of the,

Mental Plane
Astral Plane
Etheric Plane
Physical Plane

Where do the Forces of each Plane, come from?

Write at least one paragraph answering this question: What did you think the Occult, or Magic, Metaphysics, Witchcraft, Medium-ship, etc was before your study of these lessons. Save your answers until asked for them PRACTICES

Make the symbol for Elemental Air.

Take some Physical Plane Happening, and write down a description of it in terms of the "behind-the scenes" operations as if it were a theatrical production you were seeing. Do not try, as yet, to describe the, ‘Inner Plane,’ operations behind the Physical Plane Happening, just confine yourself to getting the feel of thinking in terms of the various levels of activity on the Physical Plane that lead up to the production of a play.


SUGGESTED READING

THE MENTAL BODY, by A. E. Powell. The nature and function of the highest of man's mortal bodies, and the mechanism of thought transference, mental creation, the Akashic Records, the Devas, concentration, meditation, etc.

THE ART AND PRACTICE OF GETTING MATERIAL THINGS THROUGH CREATIVE VISUALIZATION, by Ophiel. This book shows how to use the Laws of the Inner Planes in order to gain material things, and how to develop your power of, ‘Creative Visualization,’ to gain positive control over the Inner Plane factors in your life.

REGENTS OF THE SEVEN SPHERES, by H. K. Challoner. A poetic description of the Devas, the beings who build in etheric matter, that gives the reader an introduction to the ways in which the various creative intelligences of the Universe function and the ways by which they can be contacted by man. Illustrated in colour.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM, by A. E. Powell. An occult description of our Solar System and the various streams of life evolving within it, demonstrating the importance of the Mental Plane in man's evolution and showing the relationship between the various kingdoms of being, angels, man, etc.

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Ophiel's CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF OCCULT KNOWLEDGE

First Course

Copyright C 1967 by Edward C. Peach All rights reserved. No part of this course of lessons, in part or in whole, may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any other information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the holder of these rights, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address the publisher.

Lesson Six

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Dear Student,

Here is Lesson Six in your First Correspondence Course in the Foundations of Occult Knowledge. With this lesson you begin your study of the Qabalah and the "Tree of Life". You will find that your study of the Tree of Life is something that is going to continue for as long as you are interested in the Occult, so it is probably going to continue the rest of your life! Not only are you going to study the Tree of Life, but also you are going to learn to use it as a means of study. Soon you will begin to think of it as a "filing system" (or even as a "computer program") by which you classify your knowledge and observations into an inter-related whole. In your studies of the Tree of Life and the Qabalah you will learn how to look behind things to see how they are to be classified into this filing system or program, and as you study "things" you will learn to think in terms of their interrelatedness.

Also, as your studies of the Occult continue, you are going to see more and more how the Occult becomes part of your entire life - not just a special compartment - not just a "Sunday religion" - not just a "party dress" - and everything in life is going to have new meanings for you. You will find that you can look upon other fields of study as rather specialized studies in various aspects of the Occult. In your next lesson after this, for example, you will read something that could give you a new insight into that interesting school of modern philosophy known as "phenomenology", or a new understanding of what happens in cases of hallucinations, or a better appreciation of the different kinds of realities presented by different artists. In later lessons you are going to develop a new concept of the material cosmos, and of your relationship to it. So, don't neglect your study and work on the Tree of Life. The effort you put into your study now will be reflected in your later work.

Sincerely,

THE GNOSTIC INSTITUTE.

This lesson is the introduction to the Occult Knowledge data called the "TREE OF LIFE." The TREE OF LIFE is a part of the system of the Caballa. (The name "Caballa" is spelled several different ways - Quaballa, Qabalah, Quballah, Kabbalah, Cabalah, etc. I will use various different spellings in these lessons because I want you to recognize the older spellings if and when you run across them in your readings.) In the sphere of the Occult there are two great systems: The WESTERN SYSTEM and the EASTERN SYSTEM. These two are further subdivided in many different ways, and this is especially true of the Eastern System. If I had the space to give you just a list of these divisions you would be astounded at their diversity and complexity.

This basic-basic system of the West, or the Occident, is the System called the Caballa". The word "Caballa" means to receive (roughly) in Hebrew. The exact origins of this system are lost in the mazes of antiquity, but I'd say that it originated by becoming composed of fragments of demonstrable metaphysical truths which advanced persons of all nationalities and nations exchanged with each other as they progressed enough to recognise the deep basic Truths of the Physical Cosmos. Thus, the Caballa system grew from beginnings of simple Natural Magic - with many additions from Egypt, Greece, Babylon, Persia, Africa, and many other mystery systems of places this side of the Orient. There is only one Truth, and when you reach the top - by any religious system - you find the same thing/truth at the top.

The Truth you arrive at, and which you are seeking for in this course of lessons, is a thing you gain through being guided "there" by means of a System of thinking and corresponding acting. And certainly this system does not consist of any kind of merely "believing" in something! No! It consists of all kinds of - WORK - gaining knowledge of what has to be done, how to do it, and then doing it. In point of ‘text,’ this lesson may seem a bit short. But you should have plenty to do in making up the diagram. Part of the diagram is made with your compass and ruler in pencil, and later parts will be written in free hand. Copy this diagram now, and then fill it in with the names, symbols, and other material as it is given to you. You will make a number of these diagrams and be adding new material from time to time, so you don't have to be over meticulous with this first one, but still, do a good job. Also in this first diagram you can feel free to make a few arrangements of your own.

It’s a good idea to make several of these diagrams until you feel you understand the layout. In time your thinking can become very "POWERFUL" in that it can bring about changes in your physical plane surroundings quickly. In fact we all do it all the time, but now the thoughts of power do not always work fast enough because of the Astrological "blocks" (see Lesson One) set up in our life paths. I do not know the reason for these blocks. All I know is they are there, and some people have them more than others, and some people learn to avoid them and to work round them, and others never learn at all how to live a life by working around their astrological blocks. I can give a hint here. These Astrological blocks are not "solid set" things. They are movable, and they shift about.

Let us imagine some picture like this - Let us say that we are faces with a series of doors through which we must pass, through all the doors not just any one of them, to get where we want to go. Let us say that these six doors are opening and closing all the time so that at some times more doors will be open, or closed, at the same time than at other times. There are even time when all six doors are open at once and you can get through them quickly and easily. Well now, naturally if you are an aggressive person you will always be on the alert and always pressing against the astrological doors - and when suddenly they do fly open you dart on through even though you may have been waiting a seemingly endless time for them to open. So you see your part in and of life is very important - how you go about living your life is a big factor in a successful life's living, and these things go for non-business types of life, too. For living a spiritual life too, if you are not interested in Physical Success. ‘More about this later.’

Now with regard to the diagram you are going to work on for this lesson. Follow the sample illustration on the next page pretty closely this first time, and do your first work on this diagram in pencil so that you can continue to add new material as it comes to you. Next, divide the drawing into four sections as indicated and label them 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. These will be rough approximations of the idea of the four planes we have studies so far. As I mentioned before, you have probably heard or read of "seven planes", "ten planes" and even other numbers of planes. These number divisions are, all true, and are in, these ‘four planes,’ we are concerned with here. The other numbers are all arrived at, by making other kinds of divisions of these four planes.

For example, each of the, ‘Ten Circles,’ in the diagram can be considered a, ‘Plane,’ by itself alone. Also, as mentioned before, the astral Plane can be divided into two parts and each part listed as a separate plane. Also the Mental Plane can be divided into a higher and lower, and each of these sections considered as a separate plane. So if you have heart about these other systems of division forget about them now, and work with the Four until you are more advanced and can work the others out for yourself Make your drawing of the diagram on the left side of your paper as per the sample on the next page. Draw three pencil lines connecting the three columns of the circles as indicated. Then fill in the information on the next page after that.

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QUESTIONS

What is the basic system of Western Occultism? If "there is only one Truth", then how is it that there are in the Occult "two great systems: The Western System and the Eastern System?"

What do you understand to be meant by the word "system" in this context?

Do you feel that you are a person who has more "astrological blocks" than most other people you know? Or do you feel that you have learned to work around these blocks? How do you think these blocks generally work in your life?

How do you think that you can change your approach to life to live your life more successfully?

Save your answers until asked for them

PRACTICES

Make the drawing of the TREE OF LIFE as instructed.

Think about this matter of learning to live around the astrological blocks, and make a plan for doing this in your own life.

SUGGESTED READING

THE KABBALAH, by W. J. Colville. This is a good introductory book to the study of the Kabbalah. Its history, its literature and its views of the Soul and its relationship to Biblical traditions, (Additional books on the Kabbalah will be suggested in subsequent lessons.) This study is so fundamental to your building of a, foundation knowledge, of Occultism that you will probably build an extensive library of books on the Kabbalah. The above book is not the "best" book on the subject, but it is a good "starter", and - as the subject is a complex one - we recommend this one to prepare you for later books.)

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