[PAGE 259]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                                 SECTION VI

                            QUESTIONS CONCERNING

                                CLAIRVOYANCE.


[PAGE 260]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY



                                 DIAGRAM NO.14:
         THE VEHICLES OF THE HIGHEST INITIATES & ORDINARY HUMANITY



[PAGE 261]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 131.

   WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLAIRVOYANT, AN INITIATE AND AN ADEPT?

   ANSWER:  What a man sees depends upon the sensitiveness of his eye.  Some
people  can distinguish objects at a distance which makes them invisible  to
other people.  Artists perceive shades of color which ordinary people cannot
distinguish and some people are color blind; there are even those who cannot
see at all--they are blind.

   The  people  who can see the farthest or distinguish  the  most  delicate
shades of color are more CLAIRVOYANT, or clearsighted, than the rest.

   The majority among us are able TO SEE most things in our environment, but
we  know very little about the things we see just because we see  them.   WE
HAD TO BE INITIATED into the use of the telephone, the bicycle,  automobile,
piano, etc.

   But,  though we may know how to use these instruments under ordinary cir-
cumstances,  we are not so thoroughly familiar with their construction  that
we are able to build or repair them when they have become disabled.   Before
we become qualified for that work we must take a course of special training,
and if we apply ourselves with our whole heart,  we may become ADEPTS in our
special line.

   If we apply this illustration to the problem before us, we may understand
that A CLAIRVOYANT is a man whose sense of sight has become so extended that
he perceives another world, which is invisible to most of us, and that he IS


[PAGE 262]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

ABLE TO SEE everything there.

   But  he does not "know all about"  the things he sees there by  the  mere
fact of perception any more than we know all about the things we see in this
world.  He must apply himself to gain that knowledge.  Then, by degrees,  he
will become AN INITIATE, who UNDERSTANDS THE THINGS HE SEES, and may be able
to manipulate some of them under ordinary circumstances,  as we are able  to
play upon a piano or ride a bicycle when we have learned these arts.

   It will require further training to enable the Initiate TO EXERCISE POWER
over the things and the forces in the invisible world as AN ADEPT.

   Thus  the Clairvoyant is one who sees the invisible world;  the  Initiate
both sees the invisible world and understands what he sees,  while the Adept
sees, knows and has power over things and forces there.

                              QUESTION NO. 132.

   WHY  IS IT THAT TRAINED CLAIRVOYANTS DO NOT OFFER TO LEND  THEMSELVES  TO
SOME  SIMPLE  BUT CONCLUSIVE TESTS CONDUCTED BY MEN OF SCIENCE  WHICH  WOULD
CONVINCE  EVERYBODY  OF THE REALITY OF FACULTIES TRANSCENDING  THE  ORDINARY
SENSES?

   ANSWER:  In the first place, trained  clairvoyants have no axes to grind;
they are not concerned in the smallest degree whether people believe or not;


[PAGE 263]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

while it might make a great deal of difference to the people themselves were
they to believe, it makes no difference whatever to the trained clairvoyant.
He  never seeks for money,  or any other consideration that the world  could
offer him if convinced;  he has no wish for worldly power,  he never flaunts
his faculty or boasts of it,  but always speaks of it with exceeding modesty
when he does so at all.  If he does deeds that are meritorious, perhaps,  in
helping his fellow men, he does not care to have these facts known.  He usu-
ally does not let "his left hand know what his right hand does."

   A blind man does not see the colors and the light,  although they are ev-
erywhere  about  him,  and if he should come to us and ask us to  submit  to
tests  which  would prove to him beyond a doubt that we perceive  light  and
color,  we  should wonder what tests could possibly convince  him  of  those
facts.  So does the trained clairvoyant wonder what tests would convince EV-
ERYBODY.   There has been no test devised yet that would not be open to some
other explanation in the minds of some people, and the unfortunate clairvoy-
ant who should lend himself to such tests would have to keep on and on  for-
ever,  and  yet generations of skeptics would denounce him as a  fraud.   He
would  be required to submit to the tests of every single one of the  scien-
tists,  and scientists do not even believe their own eyes.   If their reason
says a thing is impossible they refuse to believe, though shown.  Scientists
are forced to be content to experiment under the laws of nature,  when  con-
ducting their researches in chemistry,  etc.,  of which they know something,
but  arrogate to themselves the right to prescribe conditions  when  testing
superphysical matters of which they are confessedly ignorant.   When mediums
demand  a  darkened  room for their experiments, the scientists usually say,


[PAGE 264]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

"Ah,  yes, that at once shows that they are frauds; they want the room dark-
ened so that they can play their tricks undetected."  The mediums usually do
not know WHY the room should be darkened and therefore cannot explain, but a
law underlies the demand of the medium.

   It is this:   Light rays set the ether into violent vibration and make it
difficult for the communicating entities to work with it in that  condition,
to mold it into a body, a vocal organ, a hand,  or other material manifesta-
tion.  The darker the room the less the ether vibrates, and the easier it is
for these entities to use it as required for the spiritualistic phenomena.

   There are numerous other laws affecting superphysical phenomena, of which
science has no conception,  and this ignorance at once disqualifies the sci-
entists for prescribing conditions.   The way is always open for them,  how-
ever,  to know at first hand.   They say to us,  procure a number of lenses,
ground  in a certain way,  place them in a tube in a certain  manner,  point
that  tube with your lenses in a certain direction in the sky and  you  will
see  eight  moons revolving around Saturn.  If we comply with  their  direc-
tions,  we  shall see that what they tell us is to be found  there.   If  we
refuse  to provide the necessary instrument we cannot see the moons of  Sat-
urn.   We say to them:  live the life and perform the exercises, so that you
may evolve in yourselves that faculty of which we speak.   Then you will see
that  we  have spoken the truth,  and you will be compelled  to  assert  the
things we assert.  If they are unwilling to comply with our directions, they
may remain as unconvinced  of  the existence of super-physical realms as the


[PAGE 265]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

man  who  will  not  procure a telescope may  doubt  the  existence  of  the
Saturnian moons, for all that the trained clairvoyants care.

                              QUESTION NO. 133.

   IF CLAIRVOYANCE IS SUCH AN ACCURATE MEANS OF INVESTIGATION,  SUCH A  HIGH
SPIRITUAL  FACULTY,  WHY  DO WE USUALLY SEE IT IN POSSESSION  OF  PEOPLE  OF
LITTLE  EDUCATION  AND  COARSE  BREEDING; WHO  HAVE  SEEMINGLY  VERY  LITTLE
SPIRITUALITY AND WHO OFTEN TELL LIES?

   ANSWER:   There was a time in the far, far past when the human body was a
very  much  less  complicated  organism  than  it  is  today,   before   the
cerebro-spinal nervous system had been evolved to give man voluntary control
over his body.   At that time the sympathetic or involuntary nervous  system
took care of the purely animal functions, much as it does today.   Then  man
was a much more spiritual being than he is now,  and his means of perception
of the Spiritual Worlds were organs which are now temporarily in disuse.  We
have a number of organs in our bodies in various stages of completion,  some
of  which are atrophying because they have served their uses.   The  muscles
which move the ears in animals,  for instance,  are also present in man, but


[PAGE 266]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

they are no longer needed and,  therefore,  most of us have lost the use  of
them.   Other organs are in a state of development,  such as,  for instance,
the  heart,  which  is an involuntary muscle,  but is  being  invested  with
cross-stripes like the voluntary muscles and will, at a future time,  be ca-
pable of regulation at any desired speed.

   Another  class  of organs are simply in a state or  dormancy,  and  among
these are THE PITUITARY BODY and THE PINEAL GLAND.   If they were not to  be
used in the future,  they would surely atrophy,  as do all other organs when
they have ceased to be useful.   In the far past these organs were connected
with the sympathetic system and invested man with involuntary  clairvoyance,
and because of their connection with the cerebro-spinal system they will  in
the  future enable mankind to effect a contact with the Spiritual Worlds  at
will.

   It  is easier to roll a stone down hill than to roll it up  hill;  retro-
gression is more readily accomplished than progression, and when people seek
for development in a negative condition they readily renew THE NEGATIVE  AC-
TIVITY  of  the  pituitary body and the pineal gland,  and  become  negative
clairvoyants.   But as any faculty which is exercised by means of the invol-
untary  nervous  system cannot be exercised by the power of the  will,  this
faculty is, of course, sporadic in mediums.  At times, when the power is on,
they  can contact the Spiritual Worlds in a limited way.   At  other  times,
when  the  power  is off,  they are unable to see.   Therefore,  they  often
simulate in order to earn a needed fee.

   The man who consciously evolves his spiritual faculty controls the vibra-
tion of the two little organs named by will power  and  has  no  "off" days.


[PAGE 267]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The power to see is his at any and all times.  Thus, in his hands, clairvoy-
ance is an accurate means of investigation, but it should be understood that
as  it is necessary to investigate in this world before we know,  so  it  is
also  in  that world.   Many people are foolishly skeptical  concerning  the
existence of superphysical worlds and senses, but people who think that when
a man "sees"  in the invisible worlds he at once knows everything about them
are equally foolish.   A blind man who has acquired the faculty of sight  by
an  operation affords an illustration of the fact that we must learn to  see
here in the Physical World,  for at first he very often shuts his eyes,  de-
claring that it is easier to walk by feeling than by sight,  because he  has
not yet learned to gauge distances.   The infant which reaches for the  moon
or for something on the other side of the room also demonstrates this  fact.
As above,  so below;  before a man has been trained, the mere fact of clair-
voyance  is  not of much use to him, and the idea that BECAUSE HE  SEES,  HE
NECESSARILY KNOWS EVERYTHING,  is gratuitous.  We who have seen here all our
lives do not know all about everything in this world;  neither do the people
who  "see'  know all about the other world.   Besides,  the forms  here  are
stable and do not easily change,  while the matter of sight and knowledge is
complicated  in the Inner Worlds by the plasticity of the forms  there,  for
they often change in the twinkling of an eye in response to the thoughts  of
entities who function there.

   To  evolve voluntary clairvoyance is an arduous task,  and this  faculty,
therefore, is possessed by few, while negative clairvoyance,  unfortunately,
has been developed by many who had no high ideals to prevent prostitution of
their faculty for gold.


[PAGE 268]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 134.

   WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY INITIATION, AND WHY ARE ONLY MEN INITIATES?

   ANSWER:  The ordinary idea of initiation is that of admittance into a se-
cret order,  usually IN CONSIDERATION OF AN INITIATION FEE,  but occult ini-
tiation is very different.

   When  a person has endeavored to live the higher life for some time,  has
purified his vehicles by mental,  moral and physical endeavors,  he emits  a
light  in  the invisible world and accumulates a power within.   In  time  a
point  of culmination is reached where this power must be given vent.   Then
there  appears in his life a teacher who shows him the power he  has  culti-
vated,  often unconsciously to himself, and its use.   This demonstration is
called initiation.   It may take place in a temple or not; it may or may not
be  accompanied  by  a ceremony,  as the circumstances demand.   Let  it  be
clearly  understood  that no ceremony can give to the candidate  the  powers
which initiation teaches him to use,  any ore than pulling the trigger of  a
pistol which is not loaded can cause an explosion.   The initiatory ceremony
would be worthless save as a culmination to the life of discipleship.

   Thus it is evident that Initiation is the inevitable result of merit.  It
is never sold for money,  though there is no lack of unscrupulous charlatans
who offer to initiate anyone into the occult arts of which they know nothing
themselves; nor are gullible fools wanting, or dishonest persons who hope to
gain a sinister power over their fellow-man by purchase.  If Simon, the sor-
cerer,  merited  the  scathing rebuke of Peter when he attempted  to  buy  a
spiritual power for gold,  we  wonder  what condemnation is adequate to meet


[PAGE 269]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

the case of those who advertise them as commercial wares, particularly when,
in  the nature of things,  they are unable to deliver the goods offered  for
sale.   The inquirer is under a misapprehension when he believes  that  only
men  are Initiates,  at least so far as the Lesser Mysteries are  concerned.
There  are women Initiates and sometimes even Initiates of the Greater  Mys-
teries  take upon themselves a feminine body for the sake of a special  work
which they desire to accomplish.  It is true,  however,  that those who have
advanced so far that they have a choice regarding sex usually prefer a  male
body,  and the reason is not far to seek.   Woman has a positive vital  body
but a negative dense body and is,  therefore,  somewhat at a disadvantage in
the  world  as at present constituted.  Striving for the higher  ideals  and
living the higher life, we spiritualize the vital body and transmute it into
soul  which is always positive--a power usable regardless of  sex--and  when
the Initiate wears a masculine body also,  he is thoroughly positive in  the
Physical  World  and has a better chance for advancement than when  using  a
feminine vehicle.


[PAGE 270]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 135.


   IS IT NOT THE DUTY OF ONE WHO IS INFORMED ON SUBJECTS CONCERNED WITH  THE
HIGHER LIFE TO GIVE INFORMATION AND HELP TO THE LESS INFORMED?

   ANSWER:   Certainly, knowledge is the one thing which we may give to oth-
ers and still retain ourselves.  In fact, when we help others by disseminat-
ing  our  knowledge we are helping ourselves and increasing our  own  store.
For no one really knows a thing until he has told and explained it to  some-
one else,  and we should understand that whatever knowledge we may obtain is
not our exclusive property, but is to be used for the universal good.  If we
selfishly  hoard it and refuse to enlighten others,  it will act upon us  in
the same way as if we continued to eat physical food without getting rid  of
the ashes.   There would come a time when we could hold no more and we would
become sick.   So with people who obtain knowledge concerning things of  the
higher life.   When they hoard it up instead of using it for the benefit  of
others, they are very apt to become recluses, and may become insane.


[PAGE 271]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 136.

   WHAT  QUALIFICATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO BECOME AN INVISIBLE  HELPER?   MUST
THE WHOLE LIFE BE GIVEN OVER TO SPIRITUAL ENDEAVOR?

   ANSWER:  No, not at all; in fact, no one is justified in giving his whole
life  to spiritual endeavor unless he has first fulfilled whatever  material
obligations  he may have to others.   The duties in the family are means  of
being VISIBLE helpers,  and the man or woman who shirks duty here can surely
not  be  depended upon to fulfill the duties of an Invisible Helper  on  the
other side.

   Therefore,  A PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL  OUR  EARTHLY
DUTIES  to  the  very best of our ability is the first  and  most  essential
qualification of the aspirant.   As a further qualification,  we may mention
SELF CONTROL.  While we are living and working on our dense bodies,  the de-
sire  body is in a measure held in check by imprisonment in dense,  physical
matter.   If  we lose our temper here, the result may be dangerous  to  our-
selves and to those around us, but it is not a circumstance to the peril at-
tendant upon loss of temper in the other world,  for our desire body,  as we
know,  can wreck our physical body in a fit of temper so that it  may  some-
times be sick for weeks as a result of a few minutes'  loss of temper.   But
when outside the dense body, if its force were directed against anyone else,
it could instantly kill an army.

   KNOWLEDGE is also requisite to the aspirant.  Unless we have studied con-
ditions  after death and are familiar with the scheme of evolution,  have  a
comprehensive  idea  of  the  constitution of man and similar subjects it is


[PAGE 272]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

impossible for us to instruct those who are less informed, and to set us the
tasks of an Invisible Helper and instructor would be analogous to sending an
ignorant boor to teach school.

   Last,  but not least, the Invisible Helper must be imbued with AN ALL EM-
BRACING  LOVE OF HUMANITY.   We cannot be callous to the sufferings  of  our
fellow creatures HERE and at the same time be filled with love and a  desire
to help in the other world,  any more than a man who does not know a note in
earth  life can become a proficient musician by the mere fact of  dying,  or
acquire such a passion for music that he is anxious to spend eternity  toot-
ing in a horn or playing on a harp.  Therefore,  we reiterate that to become
an Invisible Helper THERE, we must first qualify by helping HERE.

                              QUESTION NO. 137.

   WHAT PURPOSE HAS THE PERSON IN GOING OUT OF HIS BODY?

   ANSWER:   At the present stage of our evolution,  the greater part of hu-
manity  are tied to their bodies during earth life.   They are placed  in  a
small and narrow environment  because  certain  lessons may be learned there


[PAGE 273]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

which can best be mastered by practically shutting out every other place and
condition from view.  But there comes a time when man has grown sufficiently
in knowledge to make it desirable that he should have a wider scope for  his
activities.  Then the body becomes a clog and a fetter which it is expedient
to leave at times, and accordingly he is taught by the Elder Brothers to ex-
tricate  himself at will.   They themselves have been helped in the past  by
more  advanced beings from other planets until they have now become  capable
of teaching the less evolved among humanity.

   The purpose in going out is to gain a wider knowledge.   But that  knowl-
edge in itself is only a means to an end,  namely,  to help others progress.
Therefore, those who are capable of leaving their bodies are known as Invis-
ible  Helpers.   Their work is to help both living and  dead,  according  to
ability.


[PAGE 274]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 138.

   IS  IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO LIVE A LIFE OF ASCETICISM IN ORDER TO  BE-
COME SPIRITUAL AND ENDOWED WITH PSYCHIC POWERS?

   ANSWER:   That depends upon what the inquirer means by asceticism.   Some
people  in the East creep into a barrel of spikes and roll themselves  about
in order to mortify the flesh,  or lash and maim themselves in various  ways
to attain a realization of spiritual powers.  That, assuredly, is not right.
They may and do at times become clairvoyant, but that course is as reprehen-
sible and its results as transitory as the effects obtained by crystal  gaz-
ing, the drug habit and similar methods.

   We  should realize that this physical body is our most  valuable  instru-
ment,  and that it is our duty to give it all reasonable care  under  condi-
tions which are conducive to its health and well-being.   Now power obtained
by  maltreating our body is of the highest kind,  and therefore  is  neither
lasting nor fully efficient.

   But some people mean by asceticism, "living a clean and pure life."  They
want spiritual power without sacrifice of animal propensities;  they  desire
to  soar in the clouds at will,  while at other times they claim liberty  to
wallow in the mire.  They want to continue feeding on coarse food,  to gorge
themselves  on  meat,  alcohol and tobacco,  to indulge their  passions  and
sensual desires in every direction,  and at the same time they want to  have
spiritual powers.

   That cannot be done.  Our bodies are our tools.   A good workman appreci-
ates   the   value  of  good  tools  and  keeps  them  in  the   very   best
condition--sharp and clean.  When our senses have been dulled by alcohol and


[PAGE 275]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

tobacco,  when  the system is forced to exert all its energy  to  digest  or
eliminate coarse food,  is it to be expected that the man should be a sensi-
tive?   We  cannot  serve God and mammon; ours is the choice.   If  we  want
spiritual powers we must pay the price of clean lives; we must give our bod-
ies pure food and conform to the rules of the simple life;  we must  abstain
from everything that dulls the senses--alcohol, tobacco, and similar abuses.
If that is called "a life of asceticism," then asceticism is absolutely nec-
essary.

                              QUESTION NO. 139.

   ARE ALL CHILDREN CLAIRVOYANT UP TO A CERTAIN AGE?


   ANSWER:  Yes, all are clairvoyant at least during the first year of their
life.  It depends upon the spirituality of the child to a great extent, also
upon its environment,  how long it will keep the faculty,  for most children
communicate all they see to their elders and the faculty of clairvoyance  is
affected by their attitude.   Often children are ridiculed,  and nothing  so
hurts  their  sensitive little natures.   They soon learn to  shut  out  the
scenes  which engender the ridicule of their elders,  or at least they  will
learn to keep such experiences to themselves.  When  listened to, they often


[PAGE 276]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

reveal  wonderful things,  and at times it is possible to trace  a  previous
life  by  information from a little child.   This happens  particularly,  of
course if the child died as a child in its previous life,  for then it would
only have been in the Invisible World from one to twenty years,  so that  it
is  possible to verify its information.   Children who,  in  their  previous
life,  died as children,  are much more apt to remember the past and  to  be
clairvoyant than other children,  because the desire body and vital body are
not born at the same time as the physical birth of the child,  but at  seven
and  fourteen years of age,  respectively, and what has not  been  quickened
cannot die,  so that if a child passes out before birth of the vital body or
of  the desire body,  it will not go into the Second and Third Heavens,  but
will  stay in the Desire World and will be reborn with the same desire  body
and  mind that it possessed in its previous life,  and therefore it will  be
very much more apt to remember what happened then.   The writer came  across
such an instance a few years ago in Southern California.

   One day in Santa Barbara,  a man by the name of Roberts was walking along
the street when a little child ran up to him,  put her arms around his knees
and called him "papa."   Mr.  Roberts thought someone was trying to foist  a
child upon him and indignantly freed himself.   The mother of the child  was
also indignant at its action and took it away.   But the child kept  crying,
"It is my papa,  it is my papa."  On account of circumstances which will ap-
pear later,  the incident preyed upon Mr. Roberts'  mind,  and he went to  a
gentleman whom we will call "X".   Together they sought the house where  the
little  child lived with her parents, and after some parleying were  allowed
to question her.  As soon as the little girl saw Mr. Roberts  she ran to him


[PAGE 277]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

again and called him "Papa."   Then,  in answer to intermittent  questioning
during the afternoon,  the child told the story, which we give here connect-
edly.

   Once  upon a time she lived with mr.  Roberts as her father  and  another
mama  in a little house by a brook where flowers grew (here she ran out  and
fetched some pussy willows).   There was a gang plank across the brook which
she was forbidden to cross, lest she fall in the water.  One day Mr. Roberts
left  her mama and herself never to return.   After some time her mama  laid
down and moved no more.  "She became so still,  and she died."   Then,  said
the child, "I died too; but I didn't die, I came here!"

   Next,  Mr.  Roberts told his story.   "About eighteen years previously he
had lived with his father, a brewer, in England.  He fell in love with their
servant girl,  but the father refused permission to marry.  The young people
ran  off to London,  were married,  went to Australia,  where he  cleared  a
little  farm in the bush,  and built a house by a brook where pussy  willows
grew.   There was a gang plank over the brook.   A little child was born  to
them,  and when that child was about two years of age, Mr.  Roberts went one
day to a clearing about a mile from the cabin and while there an officer  of
the  law approached him with a gun and arrested him for a bank robbery  com-
mitted on the night he left London.

   "He protested his innocence, begged leave to visit wife and child to take
care  of them,  but the officer feared a trap to get him into the  hands  of
confederates,  and drove Mr.  Roberts to the coast at the point of the  gun.
He was taken to England, tried for the robbery and found not guilt.  Not un-
til then did the authorities listen to his constant ravings about a wife and
child  who  must  surely have starved in the wilds of Australia.  A telegram


[PAGE 278]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

was  sent,  a search party organized and in due time the answer came.   They
found  the  skeletons of the deserted ones,  and Mr.  Roberts  departed  for
America, a heart-broken man."

   The  child was then shown a number of pictures,  in a casual  way,  among
them being two photographs of Mr. Roberts and his wife.   Mr.  Roberts'  ap-
pearance  had altered very much since that photograph was taken.   Neverthe-
less, when the child came upon the picture, she joyously shouted, "Oh, there
is  Papa!"   She also recognized the picture of her mother in  the  previous
life.   The little child was only about three years of age at the time  when
Mr.  Roberts found her,  and could not possibly have made up such  a  story.
Later the case was investigated by one of the foremost newspapers in  South-
ern California, the Los Angeles Times, and the facts found to be as here re-
lated.


[PAGE 279]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 140.

   WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK MAGIC AND WHAT IS THE  EF-
FECT OF THE PRACTICE OF BLACK MAGIC UPON THE SOUL?

   ANSWER:  Magic is a process whereby we may accomplish certain results not
achieved by means of laws ordinarily known.  Some men have investigated laws
of nature unknown to most people, and have become adepts in manipulating the
finer forces.  They use their power to help their fellow man, where that can
be done in harmony with the laws of his growth.  Others,  having studied the
laws  and become capable of manipulating the hidden forces of the  universe,
use  their knowledge for SELFISH ENDS to gain power over their fellow  crea-
tures.   The first named class are WHITE Magicians,  the latter  are  BLACK.
BOTH  OF THEM USE AND MANIPULATE THE SAME FORCES,  the difference being  the
motive  which prompts them.   The White Magician is prompted  altogether  by
love and benevolence.  Although he is not actuated by thoughts  of reward, a
soul growth wonderful to contemplate results from his use of magic.   He has
put  his  talents out to usury and is gaining interest a  hundredfold.   The
Black Magician,  on the other hand,  is in a sad state,  for it is said that
the "soul that sinneth, it shall die," and all we do contrary to the laws of
God inevitably results in a deterioration of the soul qualities.

   The  Black Magician by his knowledge and art may,  sometimes for  several
lives, maintain his position in evolution, but eventually there comes a time
when  the soul disintegrates and the Ego reverts into what we may call  sav-
agery.


[PAGE 280]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

   Black  magic in its minor forms, such as hypnotism,  for instance,  some-
times causes congenital idiocy in a future life.  The hypnotist deprives his
victims of the free use of their bodies.  Under the law of consequence he is
then tied to a body with a malformed brain,  which prevents his  expression.
We must not infer,  however,  that every case of congenital idiocy is due to
such malpractice on the part of the Ego in a past life; there are also other
causes which may bring congenital idiocy as a result.

                              QUESTION NO. 141.

   YOU  SPEAK OF THE WESTERN AND THE EASTERN SCHOOLS OF OCCULTISM.   IS  NOT
THE WESTERN SCHOOL THE BETTER, AND IF SO, WHY?

   ANSWER:   There  are a number of different races upon earth  at  present.
The  Hindoos  are  the  FIRST  race in the  present  Aryan  Epoch,  and  the
Anglo-Saxon  is the FIFTH.   Naturally the latest teaching is given  to  the
most advanced people.  Therefore the western religion, Christianity,  is far
superior to the Hindooism and Buddhism of the East.   The mystery  teachings
of the East are not as advanced as in the West either.   In the East,  great
stress is laid upon  subjection  of  the  body  in  order  to  cultivate the


[PAGE 281]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

spiritual faculties.   They place the body in certain positions while under-
taking  arduous breathing exercises and other physical exercises not  neces-
sary by the western method.  In fact, the western body is not at all respon-
sive to those methods.  Besides, the pupil in the East is under the absolute
control of his teacher,  whom he calls "Master,"  and whose commands he must
obey to the most minute detail, without asking why.  In the West,  we follow
the teachings of the Christ, who said to his disciples, "Henceforth,  I call
you friends,  for the servant knoweth not what his master doeth,  but I have
taught  you  all things which I have learned of my Father."   (John  15:15.)
Therefore,  the teacher in the West is on terms of the most intimate friend-
ship with his pupil and always ready to answer his questions so far as  com-
patible with his stage of development.

   There are,  of course, some very advanced people in the East,  people who
are far advanced in the teachings of their school, but a corresponding stage
is usually reached by the western method in a shorter time and with less ef-
fort.


[PAGE 282]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 142.

   WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ETHERIC SIGHT,  CLAIRVOYANCE AND THE SIGHT
PERTAINING TO THE WORLD OF THOUGHT?

   ANSWER:   When  we look at a man with etheric sight,  we  first  see  his
outside clothing, then the lining inside, his underclothing, his skin,  ribs
and  the various organs of his body along the line of our vision;  then  the
spinal column, the back of the ribs, the flesh, the skin and the clothing on
his back.   In other words,  we see THROUGH him.  By the etheric sight a man
can see through books,  papers, letters, walls, or anything else for a short
distance.   In fact, this faculty may be called X-ray sight.   Only one sub-
stance  is  proof against its penetrative faculty.   Glass is as  opaque  to
etheric  sight as a stone wall to ordinary physical sight for the same  rea-
son, perhaps, that glass is such a splendid insulator for electricity.

   When  we look at a person or a thing with ordinary clairvoyant sight,  we
see their desire bodies and the counterparts of their other vehicles  inside
and out--every particle at the same time.  It is rather difficult to read  a
book or even a letter with etheric sight, because we must look through other
pages which blur the one we wish to read.  When we use ordinary clairvoyance
it seems as if the book or letter is spread out so that we can ready any age
or part without having to look through any other part.   But when we look at
an  object with the sight pertaining to the four lower regions of the  World
of  Thought,  and the writer has personal knowledge of no higher realms,  we
find that instead of FORMS there are HOLLOW SPACES or molds,  which SPEAK TO
US  and  tell  us  about themselves.   The  necessity  of  investigation  is
eliminated from that world.  THERE WE KNOW AT ONCE EVERYTHING ABOUT WHATEVER


[PAGE 283]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BECOMES AN OBJECT OF OUR ATTENTION.  There is,  however,  a curious drawback
to  the knowledge gained in that manner--it dawns upon us ALL AT ONCE.   The
sum of this knowledge is a WHOLE, and has neither beginning nor end.   It is
therefore usually a herculean task to unfold it into an orderly,  sequential
concept which may be comprehensively stated to ourselves and others.

                              QUESTION NO. 143.


   IS  IT  SAFE FOR A PERSON IN A GREATLY DEBILITATED NERVOUS  CONDITION  TO
TAKE OCCULT TRAINING GIVEN BY THE ROSICRUCIANS,  OR IS IT NECESSARY FOR SUCH
A PERSON TO FIRST RECOVER?  IS HEALTH REGAINED BY OCCULT TRAINING?

   ANSWER:   The only exercises given PUBLICLY by Rosicrucians are the morn-
ing and evening exercises.  The evening exercise consists of a retrospect of
events of the day IN REVERSE ORDER.  During this review the aspirant aims to
cultivate a feeling of the most sincere contrition for anything he may  have
done amiss,  and also TO FEEL intensely glad when he has been able to better
his previous conduct in any act during the past day.   The morning  exercise
consists in concentration upon a high ideal, the Christ, for instance.

   If a person of a nervous temperament will endeavor to calmly  and quietly


[PAGE 284]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

perform these exercises,  he will experience a very beneficial effect,  par-
ticularly if he will strive to RELAX EVERY MUSCLE of the body during the ex-
ercises.

   The  attitude of a cat watching a mouse hole affords an excellent  illus-
tration  of relaxation.   It sits in a perfectly easy position;  CALMLY  AND
QUIETLY IT WAITS for the appearance of the mouse.   No energy is  dissipated
by fretfulness or anxiety.   It quietly persists in the faith that sooner or
later opportunity will come.   All its strength is reserved for the  supreme
moment when it springs to secure its prey.  If the pupil will completely re-
lax  his  muscles,  calmly and quietly review the day's  happenings  in  the
evening exercise and concentrate upon a high ideal in the morning  exercise,
the nervousness will gradually disappear,  and one day the opportunity  will
come; the spiritual sight will unfold.

                              QUESTION NO. 144.


   A  SOUND  BODY BEING NECESSARY FOR SPIRITUAL UNFOLDMENT,  WHAT  DOES  THE
ROSICRUCIAN  TEACHING  HOLD OUT TO ONE NOT AT PRESENT IN THE  BEST  PHYSICAL
CONDITION?   WILL  PERFECT HEALTH BE ONE RESULT OF THE STUDY  OF  THIS  PHI-
LOSOPHY,  AND IF THE TEACHING IS PRACTICED, WILL IT TEND TO KEEP A PERSON IN
GOOD HEALTH?

   ANSWER:   The inquirer starts with a misconception, namely,  that a sound
body is necessary to true spiritual unfoldment, and, probably,  also forgets
the  distinction  between  "SOUND"  and  "SENSITIVE."   Many  people  of low


[PAGE 285]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

development have a most sound and healthy physical body,  but are not at all
sensitive with respect to spiritual vibrations.  An illustration will eluci-
date:   The writer has had an alarm clock,  a low-priced time-piece,  for  a
number  of  years.   It  has been packed at times  in  a  trunk  handled  by
baggagemen,  porters,  etc., in an exceedingly careless manner, and yet when
taken  out  of the trunk,  after all the shaking up and ill-usage,  it  will
still go and keep time after a fashion, that is to say, if one does not mind
a few moments'  variation one way or the other.  Such a time-piece is strong
and SOUND but not ACCURATE.

   On  the other hand,  a chronometer used on board ships is an  exceedingly
delicate  time-piece.   it  rests upon balances which always keep  it  in  a
horizontal position and compensate for the slightest motion of the ship,  so
that  the chronometer may keep perfect time,  for thousands of lives are  at
times  dependent  upon the extreme accuracy of that instrument.   A  captain
launched  upon  the trackless ocean knows how far east or west  he  is  from
Greenwich,  England,  by means of this accurate time-piece--the chronometer.
When  he calculates the difference between noon of the place where he  finds
himself and the time shown by the chronometer he has a correct gauge of  his
location, a gauge to which he trusts the lives of all his passengers and the
millions  of dollars'  worth of property in his care.   A comparison of  the
sensitive  chronometer and the rough and ready alarm clock  illustrates  the
difference between "sensitive" and "sound."

   When we understand the higher philosophies, when we live the life that is
taught by them,  our body becomes extremely SENSITIVE and must be given more
care  than  is necessary to the body of an Indian or a Negro in the wilds of


[PAGE 286]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

Africa.   They  have no delicately organized nervous system like  the  white
race.  Those who are interested along the lines of spiritual development are
particularly high-strung,  therefore, as we progress it becomes necessary to
take more and more care of this instrument.   But we also learn the laws  of
its nature and how to conform to them.  If we apply our knowledge it is pos-
sible  for  us  to have a sensitive instrument and keep  it  in  comparative
health.

   There  are cases,  however,  when a sickness is necessary to bring  about
certain  changes  in  the  body which are precursors of  a  higher  step  in
spiritual unfoldment,  and under such conditions,  of course,  sickness is a
blessing  and not a curse.   In general, however,  it may be said  that  the
study of the highest philosophy will always tend to better one's health, be-
cause  "knowledge is power"  and the more we know the better we are able  to
cope with all conditions,  provided, of course,  we bring our knowledge into
practice and LIVE THE LIFE--that we are not merely hearers of the word,  but
doers  also,  for no teaching is of any benefit to us unless it  is  carried
into our lives and lived from day to day.


[PAGE 287]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 145.

   IN WHAT WAY WILL IT HELP US IN THE LIFE AFTER DEATH IF WE HAVE CULTIVATED
CLAIRVOYANCE IN THE PRESENT LIFE?


   ANSWER:   In a number of ways.   In the first place,  many people have  A
GREAT FEAR OF DEATH; the very mention of the word death sends the cold shiv-
ers down their backs, and they always avoid the subject.  Fear of death gen-
erates  thought forms of a hideous nature and when a person leaves the  body
at  death to enter the Invisible World,  he sees those dread forms  surround
him as so many fiends, and they sometimes drive him almost insane.  They are
his progeny, however, and he cannot rid himself of them until he learns that
they have no power over him and fearlessly bids them begone.  Then they van-
ish as dew before the sun.

   The  man who has cultivated clairvoyance during earth life  is  sometimes
also tormented on his first entrance into the Invisible World by various el-
emental entities which take upon themselves most hideous forms.  They recog-
nize in the neophyte a possible future master and seek to sway him from  his
purpose  by intimidation,  but as he is usually helped by a teacher  and  is
taught that these beings have no power over him,  he very quickly  overcomes
fear.   When  later  he leaves his body at death and  enters  the  Invisible
World,  he  is already familiar with many of the sights  and  scenes  there;
above all he has no fear to hamper him.


[PAGE 288]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 146.

   WOULD  THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE GOD WITHIN,  IF PERSISTENTLY CARRIED  ON,
AID ONE IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BRING ONE TO ADEPTSHIP?

   ANSWER:  We are living at the present time in the WORKADAY Western World,
where it is our duty to fill whatever niche is ours.   Each of us has a work
to do,  and if we shirk it for the sake of a morbid introspection,  we shall
not only not grow, but we shall degenerate spiritually.

   Some people,  unfortunately,  think themselves justified in leaving their
earthly duties when they imagine spiritual progress calls them, but until we
have fulfilled every duty here,  there can be no true spiritual advancement;
whatever may seem so will in the end turn out to be dust and ashes.

   The far Eastern countries illustrate,  by horrible example,  the evil re-
sults  of neglect of material duties for the indiscriminate pursuit of  what
they  imagine to be spiritual power.  There people emaciate and  deform  the
body  by such practices as holding an arm above the head until  it  withers.
That  is not true spirituality which does not promote the good of the  whole
world.   It is sometimes said, that "every herring must hang by its own gill
and  every tub must stand upon its own bottom."   But it is also  true  that
what  does not tend to life all will never lift anyone.   A  deepseated  and
heartfelt desire to further the common good is the only valid  justification
for  expending the effort incident to cultivation of spiritual power.   Sto-
ries  have been told of mothers attending mothers'  meetings to discuss  how
best to care  for  home  and children, meanwhile leaving their children in a


[PAGE 289]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

most untidy house without care.   These stories are not merely exaggerations
and jokes; they contain more truth than poetry.  And the people who prate of
spirituality,  who desire to contemplate the angel within, to the neglect of
their  families and other obvious duties,  are on a par with  such  mothers.
The sooner we awake to a realization of the fact that no present duty,  how-
ever humble, may be neglected with impunity for spiritual work,  however ex-
alted,  the better for ourselves and all concerned.  We would advise the in-
quirer to read Longfellow's poem,  the "Legend Beautiful."   It is very much
in point:   A monk is kneeling upon his floor of stone, when a beautiful vi-
sion  of the Christ appears to him just as the noonday bell summons  him  to
the gate where the poor are waiting for alms which it is his duty to give to
them each day.  There arises in the monk's mind the question,  shall he stay
and commune with the Blessed Visitor,  or shall he leave Him for the sake of
a parcel of hungry beggars?  But a voice within him says,

         "Do thy duty, that is best,
         Leave unto thy Lord the rest."

He follows the behest of that voice, leaving the Vision in his cell  wonder-
ing if it will be there when he returns.  Yet he feels it is right to do his
duty to others regardless of loss to himself,  and when,  after having dealt
alms  to the poor,  he returns to his cell,  the Vision greets him with  the
words:  "Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled."


[PAGE 290]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 147.

   HAS  IT  NOT  BEEN  RECORDED  THAT  CERTAIN  INDIVIDUALS  HAVE  DEVELOPED
SPIRITUAL POWER,  CLAIRVOYANCE, SIXTH SENSE, OR WHATEVER WE WISH TO CALL IT,
BY LIVING A CLEAN LIFE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE'S LAWS,  AND DO NOT THE TEACH-
INGS OF MODERN OCCULTISTS WITH SO MANY TERMS OF TECHNICALITY HAVE A TENDENCY
TO CREATE CONFUSION RATHER THAN BRING THE DESIRED RESULTS?

   ANSWER:   The  path  of development in all cases depends  upon  the  tem-
perament of the aspirant.   There are two paths,  THE MYSTIC and THE  INTEL-
LECTUAL.  The Mystic is usually devoid of intellectual knowledge; he follows
the dictates of his heart and strives to do the will of God as he FEELS  it,
lifting himself upward without being conscious of any definite goal,  and in
the end attains to knowledge.   In the middle ages people were not as intel-
lectual  as we are nowadays,  and those who felt the call of a higher  life,
usually followed the mystic path.   But, during the last few hundred  years,
since the advent of modern science, a more INTELLECTUAL humanity has peopled
the  earth;  the head has completely overruled the  heart,  materialism  has
dominated  all spiritual impulse and the majority of thinking people do  not
believe anything they cannot touch, taste or handle.  Therefore,  it is nec-
essary that appeal should be made to their intellect in order that the heart
may be allowed to believe what the intellect has sanctioned.   As a response
to this demand modern systems of occultism aim to correlate scientific facts
to spiritual verities.   The materialistic attitude of mind is,  of  course,
particularly adopted in  the  West, and the Rosicrucian Order was founded in


[PAGE 291]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

the  13th  century to prepare an antidote for poison  of  materialism  which
could  be  administered  in  doses  to suit  the  exigencies  of  the  case.
Paracelsus,  Comenius, Hellmond, Bacon and others gave in a more veiled man-
ner the teachings now being definitely promulgated to demonstrate that  sci-
ence,  art  and religion are a trinity in unity which  cannot  be  separated
without distorting our view.

   TRUE RELIGION embodies both science and art,  for it teaches a  beautiful
life in harmony with the laws of nature.

   TRUE  SCIENCE  is  artistic and religious in the highest  sense,  for  it
teaches us to reverence and conform to the laws governing our well-being and
explains why the religious life is conducive to health and beauty.

   TRUE  ART is as educational as science and as uplifting in its  influence
as religion.   In architecture we have a most sublime presentation of cosmic
lines of force in the universe.  It fills the spiritual beholder with a pow-
erful  devotion  and adoration born of an awe-inspiring  conception  of  the
overwhelming grandeur and majesty of Deity.   Sculpture and painting,  music
and  literature  inspire us with a sense of the transcendent  loveliness  of
God, the immutable source and goal of all this beautiful world.

   Nothing short of such an all-embracing teaching will answer the needs  of
a large and growing class, therefore the technico-devotional religion is ab-
solutely necessary at the present time.




[PAGE 292]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 148.

   IS IT POSSIBLE TO CULTIVATE CLAIRVOYANCE BY THE USE OF DRUGS,  BY CRYSTAL
GAZING  OR  BREATHING  EXERCISES,  AND DO THESE METHODS  NOT  BRING  RESULTS
QUICKER THAN THE METHODS YOU ADVOCATE?

   ANSWER:   Yes; it is possible to cultivate a certain kind of clairvoyance
by any of the methods mentioned,  but when a man cultivates the sixth  sense
by such means he is not master of his faculty; the power of producing clair-
voyance is vested in the crystal and not in the man.  He is in a similar po-
sition  to one who learns horsemanship at a riding-academy where the  horses
are trained to allow themselves to be ridden.  The pupils acquire no ability
to  deal with intractable animals,  but simply ride by permission  of  their
mount.

   If a man learns to break a wild horse he can break others,  and rides  by
virtue  of his own power to master his horse,  and when a man has used  will
power instead of drugs or a crystal to subdue his body and cultivate  clair-
voyance,  he has acquired a soul quality which enables him to  exercise  his
faculty in all future lives.   But the crystal gazer and the drug fiend have
lost their power at death, and must wait till they can obtain drugs or crys-
tals  in the new life to train the new body,  and thus a great loss of  time
and effort results from the use of such methods.   When we take into consid-
eration  the fact that drugs and breathing exercises have a  dreadfully  de-
structive effect upon the body, it will be seen that these methods are alto-
gether  undesirable.  Many  a  man  is  today in the insane asylum or in the


[PAGE 293]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

grave of the consumptive on account of breathing exercises,  and the effects
of drugs are well known.

   Besides,  there are various kinds of clairvoyants.   There are  some  who
have  a  faculty of such a nature that the clairvoyant may be likened  to  a
prisoner  who sits in his cell behind bars.   The window in his  cell  opens
upon a certain view;  he cannot escape seeing whatever comes into the  range
of his vision,  for he cannot turn away.  There is also a shutter before his
window which he cannot control either.   Thus at all times when that shutter
is  open  he must see whatever passes outside his window whether  the  sight
pleases him or not.   A faculty of that nature is an unmitigated curse,  for
sometimes  the most dreadful scenes are enacted before the vision of such  a
clairvoyant.  The writer remembers the case of a certain gentleman, who pos-
sessed  that kind of a faculty.   Lecturing before a certain society at  the
time of the War in the Phillippines,  a battle scene presented itself before
his  gaze.   An encounter was taking place at that moment between  Filipinos
and  our soldiers.   He saw horses ripped open and falling with entrails  on
the ground,  our men being hewn to pieces by the bolos of the natives,  etc.
Unable  to  shut off the vision,  he turned deathly pale,  but  exercise  of
will-power  enabled him to finish his lecture without  attracting  attention
from the general audience.

   There  are  other clairvoyants who have only a partial control  of  their
sight and who cannot count on the power at any time.   To this class belongs
the ordinary medium who prostitutes the faculty for a fee.   At times,  when
the power is on,  she may give exceedingly good readings and tell the truth,
but at other times,  when the power is off, there may be a temptation to se-
cure the fees needed for office rent  and  personal  expenses by simulating.


[PAGE 294]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

The  only safe way to cultivate the faculty of clairvoyance is by  means  of
exercises  given by the mystery schools, but these exercises and lessons  in
the development of the higher faculties are never sold for gold or any mate-
rial  consideration.   They are always given without money as  a  reward  of
merit.  The man who possesses this faculty, cultivated by their method,  has
no off days, but he will never consent to use it to gratify anyone's curios-
ity, for tests or other frivolous purpose.  He directs all his energy to aid
in uplifting humanity.


                              QUESTION NO. 149.

   WHAT TIME IN THE MORNING IS BEST FOR CONCENTRATION?

   ANSWER:   The  object of the exercises, both morning and evening,  is  to
bring the pupil into conscious touch with the invisible worlds, and there is
no  time so good as the morning, for during the night the  spirit  withdraws
from the dense body and enters the invisible world,  leaving the body asleep
upon the bed; and it is the return of the spirit in the morning which causes
the  body  to awake and focuses our consciousness upon  the  material  world
Through the sense organs.   Wordsworth says in his beautiful "Ode to  Immor-
tality":

   "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
   The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
   Hath had elsewhere its setting, and cometh from afar:
   Not in entire forgetfulness, and not in utter nakedness,
   But trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who
         is our home:

   "Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
   Shades of the prison-house begin to close
   Upon the growing Boy,
   But He beholds the light, and whence it flows,
   He sees it in his joy.

   "The Youth, who daily farther from the east
   Must travel, still is Nature's Priest,
   And by the vision splendid
   Is on his way attended;
   At length the Man perceives it die away,
   And fade into the light of common day."

   During  the  life of a person,  the Inner Worlds are closest  to  him  in
childhood's years, as Wordsworth says, for that is life's morning, and so it
is  with us;  when we waken in the morning we are in closer touch  with  the
Spirit Worlds than at any other time of day,  and then it is easiest to  re-
turn to them.   Therefore,  THE PUPIL SHOULD COMMENCE HIS EXERCISES THE VERY
MOMENT HE WAKENS, without allowing his mind to rest upon anything else.   He
should be particular to relax his body perfectly so that no muscle is  tense
and fix his mind upon a high ideal or upon the first five verses of the Gos-
pel of St. John, either sentence by sentence, or as a  whole.  That will put


[PAGE 296]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

him in touch with cosmic vibrations.   He should still the senses so that he
can hear nothing and see nothing in his room.   When he succeeds the  scenes
of  the  Desire World will present themselves to his  inner  vision.   First
spasmodically, later more and more clearly, as practice makes him perfect.

   For most persons,  however, the evening exercise is of the greater impor-
tance and will probably bring results quicker,  because that works upon  the
life we lead and ennobles us in a way that the morning exercise cannot.

                              QUESTION NO. 150.

   IT  IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REVIEW THE EVENTS OF THE DAY IN REVERSE  ORDER
WHEN DOING MY EVENING EXERCISES.   IS THIS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY,  AND IF SO,
WHY?

   ANSWER:   In the evening exercise the pupil reviews and judges  his  life
for  that day.   He is then doing the work ordinarily reserved to  Purgatory
and  the  First Heaven.   There the life is lived backward from  effects  to
causes in order that we may see HOW AND WHY suffering results from our  mis-
takes.   Reviewing our daily life, in reverse order, from effects to causes,
we note that our troubles and trials have all been caused  by  previous acts


[PAGE 297]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

during the past day or some other day of our life.

   It  is our task to find that cause and to analyze the reason which  leads
up to every development, so that we may know in future how to take advantage
of opportunities for soul growth and avoid evil.   Thus if we follow up  the
day's experience in reverse order we profit by the experiences gained  right
away instead of waiting until we have passed out of this life and are FORCED
to reap the fruits of our deeds in Purgatory and the First Heaven.

                              QUESTION NO. 151.

   WHAT VALUE ARE BREATHING EXERCISES IN DEVELOPING BODY AND MIND?

   ANSWER:   The value of breathing exercises depends upon the knowledge  of
the  person  who  gives them.   Breathing exercises given in  books  and  by
so-called teachers,  who advertise courses in psychic development,  are  ex-
ceedingly  dangerous and many a person is in the insane asylum today on  ac-
count of having attempted to use them, or, perhaps,  sleeps under the sod in
the grave of a consumptive.


[PAGE 298]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

   Every  human being is an individual and needs individual exercises.   The
appropriate  exercises can only be given by a person who is clairvoyant  and
also able to watch the growth of certain etheric organs in the physical body
of  his pupil.   He must also know what this growth should be in each  indi-
vidual case.   Anyone who has the ability to thus give this individual exer-
cise also knows how to check undesirable developments.   But such a  teacher
does not advertise psychic developments for so much per lesson.   Such exer-
cises are never sold for money, but are always given for merit.

   The reason is evident.   One who has the faculty of clairvoyance at  com-
mand  has  an  enormous power;  if misused it can work more  harm  than  any
earthly weapon.   it could cause a panic in the markets of the world,  bring
about wars and enmities among people anywhere and everywhere,  and thus  the
possessor  would become a scourge to society unless he were also of  such  a
mind that he would never use his faculty save for good.   The powers  behind
evolution,  the Elder Brothers of humanity who have developed  these  powers
and are capable of teaching them, take exceeding good care that no one shall
attain to this power until they have given proofs of unselfishness and  have
been bound by vows and restrictions.   Therefore it may be said that no  one
should  undertake  breathing  exercises  unless  prescribed  by  the  proper
teacher,  and neither is it necessary to run about the world seeking such  a
teacher.   The aspirant ought rather to strive to do good and use the facul-
ties which he now possesses in the environment where he is,  for that is the
only proper stepping stone towards a higher power.  When he has sufficiently
fitted  himself,  the teacher will appear in his life and he will not for  a
moment  be  in  doubt  of  the genuineness of the teaching that will then be


[PAGE 299]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

given.  In this respect we may quote a little poem that is exceedingly beau-
tiful:

   "Don't waste your time in longing
         For bright, impossible things;
   Don't sit supinely waiting
         For the sprouting of angel wings.
   Don't scorn to be a rushlight,
         Everyone can not be a star;
   But brighten some of the darkness
         By shining just where you are.

   "There's need of the tiniest candle
         As well as the garish sun,
   And the humblest deed is ennobled
         When it is worthily done;
   You may never be called on to brighten
         Darkened regions afar,
   So fill day by day your mission
         By shining just where you are."


[PAGE 300]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 152.

   IS NOT THE INVISIBLE WORLD OF WHICH YOU SPEAK VERY UNREAL AND SHADOWY  IN
COMPARISON TO THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE?

   ANSWER:   God is the Prime Reality.   The Desire World and the  World  of
Thought  are one and two steps nearer to that central source of  energy  and
hence they are more real.   By "real"  the inquirer presumably means that in
this world the forms are stable and do not easily change, whereas in the In-
visible  Worlds they are more than plastic and change with the  rapidity  of
thought,  but THE LIFE within is the reality and not THE FORM.  Stability is
not  a mark of reality.   Everything in the world which is now  crystallized
and stable has first existed in a plastic condition in the Invisible  World.
Everything  which has been made by the hand of man was first a thought  form
in the mind of its maker.

   When an architect desires to build a house,  he first thinks it out.   He
seeks  to  form an idea as clearly as possible of what the house is  to  be.
Could  the workmen see the thought form in the mind of the  architect,  they
would be able to work from that without plans,  but the architect's idea  is
hidden from them by the veil of flesh and,  therefore,  it is necessary  for
the architect to put his idea on paper and make a plan.   This is the  first
stage  of crystallization;  afterward the workmen build the house  in  iron,
wood and stone.

   According  to the ideas of most people this house is much more real  than
the  thought form in the mind of the architect,  but in reality that is  not
so.  The concrete house may  be  destroyed  in  a  moment  by earthquake, by


[PAGE 301]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

dynamite,  or in other ways,  but THE IDEA in the architect's mind will last
as long as he lives and from that idea a new house, or a dozen, may be built
at any time, yes, even after the death of the architect the house will still
exist as a model in the ether, and any clairvoyant capable of contacting the
Invisible Worlds and reading in the memory of nature is capable of seeing it
there at any time, though millions of years may elapse.   Thus the Invisible
World is the source and everlasting record of all that is or was here, hence
it is the prime reality.


[PAGE 303]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                                 SECTION VII

                            QUESTIONS CONCERNING

                                  ASTROLOGY


[PAGE 304]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY





                                 DIAGRAM 17

                    THE PATH OF THE UNUSED SEX CURRENTS

                                     IN

              THE MYSTIC         THE OCCULTIST               THE ADEPT


               |---------|        |---------|               |---------|
               |   THE   |        |   THE   |               |   THE   |
               |  HUMAN  |        |  HUMAN  |               |  HUMAN  | 
ORGANS OF      |   HEAD  |        |   HEAD  |               |   HEAD  |
KNOWLEDGE--------[BRAIN]------------[BRAIN]-------------------[BRAIN] |
               |         |        |         |               |         |
               |---------|        |---------|               |---------|
                  |   |    ||        |   |    ||               |   |       
LARYNX----------->| * |----||--------| * |----||----CREATIVE---| * |<--THE 
                  |   |    ||        |   |    ||     ORGAN     |   |  WORD 
                  |   |    ||        |   |    ||               |   |      
                  |   |    ||        |   |    ||               |   |       
                _/\___/\_  ||      _/\___/\_  ||             _/\___/\_     
ORGAN OF       |   THE   | ||     |   THE   | ||            |   THE   |    
FEELING--------|  HUMAN  |-||-----|  HUMAN  |-||------------|  HUMAN  |    
                \ HEART /  ||      \ HEART /  ||             \ HEART /     
                 \     /   ||       \     /   ||              \     /      
                  \___/    ||        \___/    ||               \___/       
                           ||                 ||                           
RIGHT SIDE                 ||    LEFT SIDE    ||                           
SPINAL CORD--------------->||   SPINAL CORD-->||                           
                           ||                 ||                           
                           ||                 ||                           

         THE MYSTIC:            THE OCCULTIST:                THE ADEPT: 

      UNUSED SEX FORCE         UNUSED SEX FORCE                PERFECT
      POSITIVE IN HEART        NEGATIVE IN HEART               BALANCE
      NEGATIVE IN BRAIN        POSITIVE IN BRAIN


NOTE: As it is impossible to represent in ASCII text characters all of the 
information in the original diagram, the following explanation is given:

In the Mystic, the path of the unused sex currents forms a figure eight. The 
upper part of the figure eight is in the brain and the currents are flowing 
in a counterclockwise direction if the human body is viewed from the left 
lateral position. The lower part of the figure eight includes the right side 
of the spinal cord and the heart and the forces here flow in a clockwise 
position. The two segments of this figure eight meet at the larynx. 

In the Occultist the pattern of the forces is identical to the Mystic, 
except that the direction of the forces is reversed. Therefore, in the brain 
the forces flow in a clockwise direction, and through the left side of the 
spinal cord and heart they flow in a counterclockwise direction.

In the Adept the figure eight includes the larynx, heart and brain, which 
are in perfect balance, and the original diagram does not show either 
clockwise or counterclockwise flow of the forces. 







[PAGE 305]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 153.


   IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ASTROLOGY AND PALMISTRY CAN BE TRUE,  INASMUCH AS  WE
COULD AVERT COMING DISASTER BY BEING FOREWARNED IN THAT MANNER?   AND  WOULD
THIS NOT INTERFERE WITH OUR DESTINY?

   ANSWER:   The destiny which we generate under the law of causation by our
own acts may be divided into three kinds.  In the first place,  there is the
destiny  which  from the very nature of the case we cannot  expiate  in  the
present life;  for instance,  when a man commits murder,  whether he suffers
the  penalty for it here or not,  the prison life usually does not have  the
effect of making him more mellow and kind.   Sometimes it does the  reverse;
it makes him bitter and turns his hand against all.   Before nature will  be
satisfied, he must learn that he may not deprive a fellow being of his form;
he must learn to SERVE.  Thus the case is not satisfied until he has had the
opportunity at a future time to render service of importance to his previous
victim.

   A second kind of destiny we reap from day to day; it is, we might say, as
a cash transaction, we pay as we go.  If we overeat, we have indigestion; if
we go out without sufficient clothing, we take cold, etc.

   A third kind is called "ripe" or "mature"  destiny.   It is the result of
our actions in past lives or in our early years,  which has matured into ef-
fect  so  far  that  it  is  embodied  in the pictures shown a spirit as the


[PAGE 306]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

panorama of its coming life when starting toward rebirth.   Once the  spirit
has chosen a certain life with the 'ripe"  destiny allotted for  liquidation
by the Recording Angels,  it is bound by its choice.   the TENDENCIES to act
in  a manner conducive to adjustment of this mature destiny are inherent  in
the  body  and inscribed in the stars,  for the stellar influences  are  the
source of man's activity, and therefore this mature destiny may be seen from
the horoscope at birth, standing out with exceeding clearness, so that it is
very  plain and patent to the spiritually minded astrologer or palmist.   He
can  also see the other kinds of destiny and may sometimes mistake one  kind
for  the other and hence be wrong in his view as to whether an event can  be
avoided or not.   If it is "ripe" destiny, it will be impossible to avoid it
despite all warnings, as perhaps the following instance may serve to show:

   In 1906 the writer gave some lessons in astrology to Mr. L., a well known
lecturer,  in Los Angeles,  using the gentleman's own horoscope for purposes
of instruction,  as that enables the pupil to check the truth of the  inter-
pretations  of the symbols so far as the past is concerned,  and lends  more
interest than when using the horoscope of a stranger.  It was found that Mr.
L.  had had a number of accidents;  these were figured to the day when  they
happened.   An impending accident, due to occur at the time of the new moon,
July 21, 1906, was also noted.  Mr. L. was, therefore, warned to stay in the
house on that day and the seventh day after,  the latter date being regarded
as the more dangerous.   He was told that there would be danger of an  acci-
dent to the lower part of the head,  the neck,  breast and arms,  in  conse-
quence of a short journey by bicycle, buggy or electric car.


[PAGE 307]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

   Mr.  L.  was  much impressed and promised to stay at home  on  the  dates
named.   The writer went North and from there wrote reminding Mr. L.  of his
danger just before the time it was due.   He received a letter assuring  him
that Mr. L. would be careful.

   The next communication regarding the matter came from a mutual friend and
stated that Mr.  L. had gone to Sierra Madre to lecture on the twenty-eighth
of  July  and had been hurt in the places mentioned in the prediction  by  a
collision with a locomotive.   The writer wondered why his instructions  had
been  so  disregarded,  and the answer came three months later when  Mr.  L.
thanked him for the information which had been very valuable to him,  as  he
said,  in proving the truth of astrology.   The reason for the accident  was
that he had forgotten the date.  He wrote "I thought the 28th was the 29th."

   This  case,  in the estimation of the writer,  shows that MATURE  destiny
cannot be interfered with and that we may safely do anything we can to avoid
impending  danger  without fear of interfering with the  law  of  causation.
There are invisible agencies around us to counteract any move upon our  part
which  would interfere,  and in the opinion of the writer they were  respon-
sible for Mr. L.'s confusion of dates.


[PAGE 308]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 154.

   IS IT WRONG TO USE PALMISTRY, ASTROLOGY OR PHRENOLOGY AS A MEANS OF LIVE-
LIHOOD?

   ANSWER:   What is right or wrong depends upon the viewpoint of the  indi-
vidual.  Less than fifty years ago it was thought right to kill a refractory
negro.   His master could do so with impunity as he may nowadays kill a  hog
or a horse.   Today we would consider that murder.   Some people today  look
upon  astrology  as merely a matter of calculation and  upon  palmistry  and
phrenology  as material sciences,  without any spiritual significance.   Who
thus  views these sciences would be blameless if he used them as a means  of
livelihood,  while anyone who had obtained an idea of the spiritual side  of
these sciences would,  in the estimation of the writer,  be prostituting his
knowledge.   Besides, no one who thus belittles these spiritual sciences can
ever  give the highest and best advice to his clients,  for the  glimmer  of
gold will always obscure the judgment.   Such has been the experience of the
writer and many others who hold the same views.  The inquirer,  at any rate,
would do wrong to use his knowledge of these spiritual sciences for a  live-
lihood,  for his question shows that he must have misgivings; and then he is
already judged from within if he prostitutes his talent.

   There is a reward that is much more than gold.   If we use our  knowledge
to heal and to help we shall never lack means of living and we shall be lay-
ing up treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupt.   Greater and
better  opportunities for service will be ours if we devote our  talents  to
unselfish service.


[PAGE 309]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 155.

   ARE MARS,  JUPITER AND OTHER PLANETS INHABITED;  IF SO,  ARE THOSE PEOPLE
SUPERIOR TO THE PEOPLE ON THE EARTH;  DO THE SOULS FROM THE EARTH EVER REIN-
CARNATE ON OTHER PLANETS AND VICE VERSE?

   ANSWER:  All the planets in the solar system are inhabited and are fields
of evolution for different classes of spirits at various stages of  develop-
ment.   The  planets nearest to the sun support the beings  which  are  most
evolved.  Jupiter forms an exception to this rule; it is peopled by a human-
ity slightly higher than that of the earth.

   The principle is this:   The highest vibrations exist in the central sun,
which  at one time contained all the beings now dwelling upon the  different
planets.   But not all were able to sustain the terrific vibrations of  that
central  firemist;  therefore,  a crystallization took place at  the  poles;
gradually the crystallized matter gravitated toward the equator and was  ex-
pelled,  with  the spirits dwelling thereon.   That first  emanation  became
Uranus.   Later on other classes of spirits have crystallized a part of  the
sun  and been expelled to move in orbits at varying distances from the  cen-
tral source, according to the rate of vibration necessary for the unfoldment
of the spirits upon them,  forming eventually the solar system as we know it
now.

   Each  class of spirits stays in its environment,  being under the  direct
tutelage  and  guidance of one of the Planetary Spirits whose  body  is  the
planet where they dwell.   As the spirits have been incarnated on  different
planets because they are at widely different stages of spiritual unfoldment,


[PAGE 310]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

they  do not usually incarnate upon the other planets,  save that  at  times
some  from  the inner planets are sent as teachers'  to the  outer  spheres.
This, at least, was the case when our humanity needed teachers, embodied and
visible.  Then some of the beings from Venus and mercury were brought to the
earth to guide nascent humanity.   They were known as messengers of the Gods
and  these lords from Venus were the first kings and rulers over  the  human
race.   Later on the most precocious among human beings were turned over  to
the  lords  of mercury who initiated them into the mysteries and  these,  in
turn,  became the rulers over their brethren.  They were then truly kings BY
THE GRACE OF GOD,  ruling the people for their upliftment and good,  regard-
less of power and self aggrandizement.

                              QUESTION NO. 156.

   DOES NOT THE NEBULAR THEORY ACCOUNT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE UNIVERSE  IN
A MUCH MORE SCIENTIFIC MANNER THAN THE CREATION STORIES OF THE BIBLE?

   ANSWER:  THE NEBULAR THEORY WAS REJECTED BY HERBERT SPENCER BECAUSE, LIKE
THE BIBLE, IT POSTULATES A FIRST CAUSE.

   Viewed briefly,  the theory is this,  that at one time there appeared  in
space a firemist,  SPONTANEOUSLY.   Within that firemist,  currents started,
ALSO  SPONTANEOUSLY,  and  that  under  the  impact  of  these currents, the


[PAGE 311]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

firemist took a spherical shape, revolving with intense rapidity.   The cen-
trifugal force caused it to throw off a ring which disintegrated,  the frag-
ments coalesced and became a planet revolving in an orbit around the central
mass.  Thus different planets were brought into existence one after another.
They cooled gradually, and at last the solar system was complete.   Upon one
of these planets at least, there appeared,  SPONTANEOUSLY,  Life,  or proto-
plasm,  which gradually evolved through the different classes  of  Radiates,
Mollusks,  Articulates and Vertebrates, finally flowering in man, who is the
highest Intelligence in the Cosmos, lord of all he surveys.

   This the scientist says, with a wise mien, and may also add:   "Don't you
see how simple and reasonable this is?  If not,  let me show you by a demon-
stration."   He  may then take a basin full of water and pour a  little  oil
upon the surface, the water to represent space and the oil the firemist.  He
may then take a needle and commence to stir the oil in imitation of the cur-
rents generated in the firemist,  and under his stirring the oil will take a
spherical  shape.   Gradually the sphere will bulge at the equator,  a  ring
will be thrown off and shape itself into a planet which will revolve  around
its primary and the scientist will then triumphantly say:  "There, don't you
see how natural it is, not the slightest need for your God!"

   We  only wonder that the men who have a mind capable of  conceiving  this
splendid demonstration can at the same time be so dull that they do not  see
that they,  themselves,  take the place of God,  who thought out and brought
into being the universe as the scientists conceived their demonstration, and
carried  it  into execution.   God by his power preserves our  universe  and
moves  the planets as the scientist moves his oil-planet,  and were  God  to
cease  his  activity  for  a  single  moment, cosmos would instantly resolve


[PAGE 312]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

itself  into a conglomerate chaos as the oil-sun and planet cease to be  the
moment the scientist discontinues his operation.

   Therefore,  so far from refuting the assertion of the Bible that  God  is
the Creator and sustainer of the cosmos, the nebular theory demonstrates the
necessity for divine interference most thoroughly,  and when properly under-
stood,  there is no essential difference between the scientific and religion
conception.

                              QUESTION NO. 157.

   WHAT ARE COMETS?

   ANSWER:   Contemplating the wisdom of the Great Creative  Hierarchies  as
compared with our own,  we would naturally feel inclined to think that  they
are  above mistakes;  but upon second thought it appears reasonable that  as
they are yet evolving,  though learning lessons far beyond us,  they must at
times make mistakes.   They are active in the Macrocosm,  the "Great World,"
the  Body of God,  as we are working in the Microcosm,  the "Little  World,"
composed of our different vehicles, and just as we make mistakes in handling
our affairs and in learning the lessons we are learning,  so also the  Great
Creative hierarchies at times fail in their labors.

   We know that when bringing a child  to  birth there may be a miscarriage.


[PAGE 313]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The foetus is then expelled from the system and at once commences to  decay.
There is a similar risk when a world is in the making, namely, that it crys-
tallizes or sets before it has completed the period of gestation in the  De-
sire  World.   Then it has not been properly molded,  and may be likened  to
plaster of Paris mixed by a sculptor to form a beautiful statue, but set be-
fore  it was molded--a shapeless,  useless mass.   When this happens in  the
making of the world, we have what is known as a comet,  and the elliptic or-
bit which it travels is the path of a current in the Desire World.   We have
something  similar to the comets in the appearance of the Ego before it  en-
ters  the womb of the mother.   Then that is also such a  bell-shaped  thing
with  a  nucleus at the top and a great deal of material flowing  behind  it
similar to the tail of the comet.   And these bell shaped reincarnating Egos
also  traverse elliptic orbits around the earth,  until it is necessary  for
them to enter the womb of the future mother.


[PAGE 314]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 158.

   DOES THE MOVEMENT OF A PLANET THROUGH SPACE CREATE A NOISE?

   ANSWER:   Pythagoras spoke of the harmony of the spheres,  and he did not
use that expression simply as a poetical allusion.  There is such a harmony.
We are told by John that in the beginning was the word . . .  and without it
was  nothing  made that was made.   That was the creative fiat  which  first
started the world into being.   The familiar experiment of placing sand upon
a  glass  plate and creating geometrical figures by bowing the edge  with  a
violin bow,  illustrates the creative ability of sound.   And we hear of ce-
lestial music,  for from the point of the heaven World,  everything is first
created in terms of sound,  which then molds concrete matter into the multi-
tudinous forms which we see around us.

   In the occultist's sphere of vision,  the whole solar system is one  vast
musical instrument,  spoken of in the Greek mythology as "the seven-stringed
lyre of Apollo, the radiant Sun God."  As there are twelve semi-tones in the
chromatic scale, so we have in the heavens, twelve signs of the zodiac,  and
as we have the seven white keys or whole tones on the keyboard of the piano,
we  have  seven  planets.   The signs of the zodiac may be said  to  be  the
sounding-board  of  the cosmic harp and the seven planets are  the  strings;
they  emit  different  sounds as they pass through the  various  signs,  and
therefore they influence mankind in diverse manner.  Should the harmony fail
for one single moment,  should there be the slightest discord in that  heav-
enly  band,  this  whole  universe  as  such  must  crumble.  For  music can


[PAGE 315]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

destroy  as well as build.   This has been well proven by  great  musicians.
For instance, the grandson of the immortal Felix Mendelssohn has for several
years been experimenting with the power of sound in that direction.   He has
come  to the conclusion that once we find the keynote of a building,  bridge
or  other structure,  we may raze that structure to the ground  by  sounding
that not sufficiently loud and long.  An illustration in point occurs to the
writer:

   "A  few  years ago a band of musicians were rehearsing near an  old  ruin
outside  the city of heidelberg,  Germany.  At one point in their  exercises
they came to an extremely high pitched and long continued note,  and as they
sounded it the massive wall of the nearby ruin tumbled to the ground with  a
tremendous  crash.   They had struck the keynote of that wall and it  fell."
In view of these facts,  our supercilious smiles of bygone days when listen-
ing to the story of Joshua and the walls of jericho are no longer in  place.
The  sound of the ram's horn undoubtedly struck the keynote of  those  walls
which had been much sensitized by the rhythmic tramp of his army in prepara-
tion  for this final climax.   The rhythmic tramp of many feet will  destroy
any bridge,  and therefore soldiers are instructed to break step when cross-
ing a bridge.  So that we may say in answer to the question that every plant
gives  out a certain keynote which is the sum total of all the  noises  upon
it,  blended and harmonized by the indwelling Planetary Spirit.   That sound
can be heard by the spirit ear.  As Goethe says:

   "The sun intones his ancient song
   Mid rival chant of brother spheres;
   His prescribed course he speeds along
   In thunderous way, throughout the years."


[PAGE 316]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

This, from the first part of Faust, the prologue in heaven.  And also in the
second part of Faust, spirits of air greet the rising sun with the words:


   "Sound unto the spirit ear proclaims the new born day
         is here;
   Rocky gates are creaking, rattling,
   Phoebus' wheels are rolling, singing--
   What sound intense the light is bringing."


                              QUESTION NO. 159.

   WHAT  IS THE ESOTERIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE USE OF THE NAMES OF THE  TWELVE
SONS  OF  JACOB IN CONNECTION WITH THE TWELVE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC,  AND  ARE
THESE  USED  IN CONNECTION WITH THE EARTH'S ZODIAC OR THE SUN'S  ZODIAC,  OR
BOTH?

   ANSWER:   There is only one zodiac,  the twelve constellations  which  we
call Aries,  Taurus,  etc.   These are the stars,  located in a narrow  belt
about eight degrees each side of the ecliptic, or the sun's path,  as viewed
from  the earth.   The twelve sons and one daughter of Jacob are  identified
with the twelve constellations,  because Josephus mentions that the  Israel-
ites  wandering in the wilderness carried emblems of these twelve groups  of
stars on their banner.   In the 49th chapter of Genesis and the 33rd chapter
of Deuteronomy, are pronounced blessings upon his twelve sons in such a man-
ner  that  it  is  impossible  to  one  who  knows  astronomy  not  to see a


[PAGE 317]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

resemblance  between the description of these sons and the twelve  signs  of
the zodiac.

   Also,   if   we  regard  the  manner  of  pitching  the   camp   of   the
Israelites--grouping the twelve tribes around the tabernacle where the seven
branched candlestick was--we see again a reference to the astronomical  dis-
position  of  the twelve signs of the zodiac outside of the  seven  planets,
which are the lights of the solar system, the House of God.

   The spiritual reason of the analogy between Jacob, his wives, their chil-
dren and the cosmos, may be found in the hermetic axiom, as above, so below.
Jacob,  with his four wives,  symbolize the sun and the four phases  of  the
moon,  which are the givers of life to all that live upon earth;  the twelve
sons  and one daughter symbolize the Creative Hierarchies,  which have  been
active in the evolution of our solar system and have brought not only human-
ity but also all the various other kingdoms to their present stage of evolu-
tionary attainment,  and are working with them now in order to still further
develop them into spiritual beings.  It was they who made man in their like-
ness.   Even to this day humanity is stamped with the characteristics of the
twelve celestial signs.   Therefore the original Semites, who were to be the
progenitors of a new race, were divided into twelve classes by their leader,
each class representing one of the constellations.


[PAGE 318]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 160.

   CAN  YOU GIVE AN IDEA OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HELIOCENTRIC AND  GEOCEN-
TRIC ASTROLOGY?   IS THE GEOCENTRIC CONCERNED ONLY WITH THE AFFAIRS OF  THIS
EARTH THE MATERIAL LIFE, AND THE HELIOCENTRIC WITH THE SOUL OR THE SPIRITUAL
SIDE?   THE SUN,  BEING THE SPIRITUAL PLANET AND THE RULER OF OUR SOLAR SYS-
TEM,  WOULD LEAD TO THIS CONCLUSION,  INASMUCH AS WE USE THE SUN'S ZODIAC IN
HELIOCENTRIC  ASTROLOGY AND THE EARTH'S ZODIAC IN GEOCENTRIC.   CAN  PREDIC-
TIONS IN THIS LIFE EVER BE MADE BY THE SUN'S ZODIAC, OR IS THE LATTER SIMPLY
CONCERNED WITH THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF A PERSON'S NATURE?

   ANSWER:   One of the objections raised to the ancient system of astrology
is  that it regards the earth as the centre of the solar system in the  same
manner  as the ancients did,  and that since Copernicus showed us  that  the
planets  move around the sun,  many people regard astrology as "an  exploded
science,"  a palpably proven fallacy,  and in order to overcome this  objec-
tion,  certain  astrologers  in modern times have invented  what  is  called
"heliocentric Astrology,"  which regards the sun as the centre of our  solar
system and the planets as moving about it.

   It is perfectly true that, scientifically speaking, the geocentric system
of astrology,  which regards the earth as a centre, is incorrect.  And it is
wrong  when  we say that the sun is in Cancer when it is  really  the  earth
traveling  in its orbit that has come to the sign Capricorn and,  therefore,
it appears to us here upon the earth as if the sun were in Cancer.  But that
is  not  the crux;  it really does not matter which of the  two  bodies  has
moved, THE ASTROLOGER JUDGES BY THE POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS RELATIVE TO THE
EARTH.  And it is much more convenient to regard the planets as moving round


[PAGE 319]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

the  earth as the center than it is to use the opposite system,  for in  the
geocentric  system we note the relationships of the planets AS  THEY  APPEAR
FROM  OUR  EARTH and note the effects upon various people at the  time  when
such planetary influences were felt, and so, BY EXPERIENCE,  we have come to
our present system of judgment,  which is,  therefore,  as true today as  it
ever was.   "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," says the homely old
proverb.   The proof of astrology is in the truth of its predictions, and no
one who has honestly studied this science and has tried to test it for  him-
self can fail to find this truth.

   Predictions sometimes fail because the astrologer misinterprets, but even
allowing for the fallibility of the astrologer, there is, nevertheless, such
a mass of predictions which come true that it is quite beyond explanation as
a coincidence.

   The geocentric system is correct and takes in all sides of man's  nature,
not  only  the  material manifestation but also  the  spiritual  side.   The
heliocentric system,  on the other hand,  has been trumped up by people  who
aim to conform to science and have no concern with the spiritual side of na-
ture,  therefore that is the least satisfactory.   Besides,  while those who
have  used the geocentric astrology for many centuries have  recorded  their
observations  of the effects of the planets from that standpoint,  there  is
very  little  of  such  empirical  knowledge  from  the  standpoint  of  the
heliocentric system, which we would advise the inquirer to leave alone.


[PAGE 320]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

                              QUESTION NO. 161.

   HOW  IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET ON GOOD TERMS WITH SATURN?   THE INQUIRER  HAS
BEEN  UNDER  HIS  INFLUENCE  ALL  HIS  LIFE.   SICKNESS,  POVERTY,  LOSS  OF
INHERITANCE  AND  ACCIDENTS  ARE BAD ENOUGH, BUT CAN SATURN  ALSO  CAUSE  US
TROUBLE  SPIRITUALLY;  CAN HE PUT BARRIERS UP FOR OUR  UNFOLDMENT  WHEN  OUR
SPIRIT IS STRUGGLING FOR THE GOOD,  AND ARE WE LIBERATED FROM HIS  INFLUENCE
WHEN WE PASS OUT AT DEATH?


   ANSWER:   Materialistic astrologists speak of Uranus, Saturn, and Mars as
evil,  while Venus and jupiter are called good.   in God's kingdom there  is
nothing  evil.   That which appears so is only good in the making.   Neither
must  it be imagined that the influences from any of the planets operate  TO
HARASS  MEN.   We have come into this world in order to get certain  experi-
ences necessary to our spiritual unfoldment, and when we seek to  understand
the stellar influences we shall find that they are potent factors in helping
us  to gain just that experience.   Saturn is the chastener.   When we  have
gone astray from the path of righteousness, wilfully or unwittingly,  we are
not allowed to continue in evil,  for Saturn comes to stop us.   Perhaps  we
have  gained an inheritance;  we misuse and squander it in every  direction.
In  doing so,  we usually abuse our body as well.   Then comes an aspect  to
Saturn, a sickness ensues and we are laid low.  We are forced to diet and to
give our system a rest, and as a result we arise from our sick-bed a new man
or a new woman.   But the question is,  have we learned our lesson?   During
our  repose upon the sick-bed,  we have had time to think over the  life  we
have  been leading.   Have we analyzed our life,  so that we understand  the
causes  that  brought  us  low?  If so, we have profited.  For then we shall


[PAGE 321]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

know how to do better and avoid the pitfalls that caused our sickness in the
future.  Or, our inheritance being altogether squandered we stand with empty
pockets upon the street.  Perhaps we can turn nowhere for help;  we are then
forced to think and to break a way for ourselves.   Our talents were useless
while we were squandering our money.  In poverty they are turned to account,
we are forced to use them in doing our share of the world's work.   We  have
lost  our inheritance,  but the world has gained a worker,  and if  we  have
learned  our  lesson in that way,  then the influence of Saturn has  been  a
blessing in disguise.

   And so it is with everything in the horoscope that may appear evil.   Be-
sides, the more spiritual we grow the less will these so-called evil planets
or  evil aspects affect us adversely.  They are transmuted to good.   Saturn
will not give disaster to the spiritual man, but persistence;  not sickness,
but strength;  and thus, by conforming to the laws of nature,  BY LIVING OUR
LIVES IN HARMONY WITH THE STARS, we rule them and change our lives as we de-
sire.

   The  greater part of humanity drifts with the tide and acts according  to
the  tendencies  implanted by the stellar influences.   Therefore,  the  as-
trologer  can  predict what they will do with wonderful accuracy.   But  the
more a man or woman lives the spiritual life the more he becomes a factor to
be taken into consideration, and the predictions of the astrologer will fail
as far as he is concerned in a measure corresponding to his attainment.

   The stars are our helpers in evolution.  They are not dead bodies of mat-
ter but the living, throbbing and vibrating bodies of great spiritual intel-
ligences  called  in  the Christian religion the Seven  Spirits  before  the
throne.  As we change, their influence upon us changes, but we do not escape


[PAGE 322]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

from  that influence by the mere incident of death.   When the morning of  a
new life dawns for us,  we shall arise with a new horoscope,  and if we have
aimed to grow spiritually,  to learn the lessons that the Star Angeles  have
aimed to teach us in the past life, we shall have new aspects and new  posi-
tions of the planets to help us further along the path of evolution.  On the
other hand,  if we have "kicked against the pricks"  in a previous life,  we
shall  find that THE SCREWS WILL HAVE BEEN PUT ON A LITTLE HARDER,  that  we
will have been placed under influences a little stronger, so that in the end
we must learn the lessons.  And the quicker we do so, the better for us.

                              QUESTION NO. 162.

   HOW MAY WE PRAY TO OR ADDRESS SATURN WHEN HE IS IN THE RULING STAR  CAUS-
ING US TROUBLE AND SORROW?

   ANSWER:   To understand what prayer is, let us use the illustration of an
electric  power  house with wires to the different houses in the  city.   In
each  house  there is a switch and when we turn that,  the power  which  was
hitherto outside in the wires and in the power house,  enters our  dwelling,
illuminates it or runs motors,  ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF ITS  MANIFESTATION.
We  may say that God primarily and the Seven planetary  Spirits  secondarily
correspond to the power house  which  is wired to everyone of us, and prayer


[PAGE 323]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

may be said to be the switch whereby we put ourselves in touch with the  di-
vine light and life,  allowing it to flow into us and illuminate us for  our
spiritual uplifting.

   It is a law that electricity will flow readily along copper or other met-
als,  but is barred by glass, and before we can get the electricity into our
houses  we  must have a switch MADE IN CONFORMITY WITH THIS  LAW,  a  copper
switch.  If we used a glass switch we would obtain no electricity; the glass
switch  would  be a most effective way of altogether  barring  the  electric
fluid from our dwelling.   In similar manner,  if our prayers (which  corre-
spond to the switch) are in conformity with the laws of God, the divine pur-
pose  can manifest through us and our prayers are answered,  but if we  pray
contrary  to the will of God,  naturally, such a prayer would operate  in  a
similar manner to a glass switch in an electric circuit.

   As a great nation sends its ambassador and plenipotentiaries to other na-
tions,  so there are also ambassadors from each one of the great Star Angels
present upon our earth.  Their names are as follows:

   Ithuriel is the ambassador from Uranus.
   Cassiel is the ambassador from Saturn.
   Zachariel is the ambassador from Jupiter.
   Samael is the ambassador from Mars.

   Anael is the ambassador from Venus.
   Raphael is the ambassador from Mercury.
   Michael is the ambassador from the Sun.
   Gabriel is the ambassador from the Moon.

   The moon is our satellite and is not in the same position as those of the
other  planets.   The ambassadors from those planets are  Archangels,  while
Gabriel is an Angel.

   Ordinarily humanity prays to God.  These  prayers are at the present time


[PAGE 324]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

mostly SELFISH and ignorant.   The prayers of such people cannot receive at-
tention from the ambassadors who have charge over the different  departments
of life,  but are generally attended to, as far as may be,  by the Invisible
Helpers  who  work  for the upliftment of their brethren.   The  occult  as-
trologer,  however,  who knows what he wants and is able to work in  harmony
with  the stellar forces,  addresses the ambassadors of the Star Angels  di-
rectly  and  obtains  his desire more easily in that way.   He  studies  the
planetary hours when those stars have rule and at that time proffers his re-
quest which is usually for someone else,  or for spiritual illumination con-
cerning certain matters to be used for the common good.


[PAGE 325]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                                SECTION VIII

                            QUESTIONS CONCERNING

                                   ANIMALS



[PAGE 327]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 163.

   WHY DO ANIMALS, WHICH ARE A LOWER EVOLUTION, HAVE AN INSTINCT WHICH SEEMS
SO MUCH MORE RELIABLE THAN THE REASON OF HUMAN BEINGS?

   ANSWER:   The answer to that question has to do with the descent  of  the
Ego into matter,  but in the first place,  we must differentiate between the
separate animal spirits and the group spirit, which is their guardian.   The
separate animal spirits are as yet not SELF-conscious,  hence they act with-
out question according to the suggestions of the group spirit.   The  latter
is an entity belonging to a different evolution, and it functions in the In-
visible  Worlds where things are much more apparent than they are here.   It
follows,  therefore, that what we call instinct is really the suggestions of
the group spirit in the Invisible World which guides the animals.

   The human spirits,  on the other hand,  have descended directly into  the
Physical  World and are,  consequently,  blinded to a certain extent by  the
denser matter of this plane of existence.  An illustration may perhaps serve
to elucidate the reason of the fact that although the spirit is  exceedingly
wise in the higher worlds, the increased materiality which it attains on ac-
count of its descent necessarily obscures that wisdom.

   The  hand  is  the  most  valuable instrument of man and its dexterity is


[PAGE 328]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

perhaps nowhere more apparent than in the case of a musician.   A master mu-
sician may produce from his beloved instrument the most soul stirring melody
by  the caressing touch of his well trained and sensitive fingers,  but  let
him put on a pair of gloves and at once the delicate touch has vanished;  if
he  adds a second pair of gloves over the first pair and these  are  thicker
and  of  heavier  material,  he will probably be unable to  produce  even  a
melody,  and should he finally put a pair of mitts over the gloves, he would
be unable to play at all,  but would produce discord should he make the  at-
tempt.   The various gloves on the hand of a musician find their counterpart
in the different vehicles which the spirit puts on in its descent into  mat-
ter.  The mitt corresponds to the physical body.

   Anyone seeing the musician attempt to play with the mitt on his hand, and
who had not heard him play before he put on gloves,  might suppose him inca-
pable of playing,  but the inference would be wrong.   The human Ego is in a
similar position, its spiritual powers have been obscured by the vehicles in
which  it  is at present incased,  but there will come a time  when  it  has
learned how to use these vehicles properly and then its spiritual power will
shine forth in a splendor at present unimaginable.


[PAGE 329]                                             QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                              QUESTION NO. 164.

   CAN  YOU THROW SOME LIGHT ON WHAT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LOWER FORMS  OF
LIFE SHOULD BE?

   HAVE WE THE RIGHT TO KILL ANYTHING HARMLESS,  SINCE EVERY LIVING THING IS
IN A SENSE OUR BROTHER?

   HOW ABOUT THE VENOMOUS INSECTS AND REPTILES?

   ANSWER:   There is only One Life in the Universe,  which is  God's  life.
"In Him we live,  and move and have our being."   And not only we,  but  all
that  lives is thus a manifestation of God.   We are in time to become  cre-
ators,  as He is a Creator.  But so long as we brutally destroy the forms of
other beings we are hindering ourselves.  The inquirer is right when he says
that the lower animals are our brothers, but, sad to say,  instead of caring
for  them and inspiring them with confidence and love,  we have  managed  to
make  ourselves  feared by every animal upon the face of the  earth  by  the
ruthless destruction we have spread among them, and it seems but a just ret-
ribution that we,  ourselves, should be in constant fear of microscopic life
in the form of bacilli, which cannot be killed by gun or knife.

   As  for the destructive insects and reptiles,  they may in many cases  be
said  to be an embodiment of our own evil thoughts and produced by  our  own
unclean  habits.   Science has shows us how by proper sanitation we may  get
rid  of them,  at least in a very great measure,  without the  necessity  of
killing them.   The larger reptiles, such as snakes, are not as dangerous as
they  are  often  thought to be.   In the temples in  India,  where  certain
classes  of people have cultivated an attitude of absolute  harmlessness  by
refusing to kill even the smallest thing,  one may see as a daily occurrence


[PAGE 330]                                            ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY

venonmous  snakes crawling among the people congregated there,  never  doing
them the slightest harm,  and if we would cultivate a harmless attitude  to-
ward the lower creatures they would soon learn to trust us as they now  fear
us.  Stories are on record of sailors who went to desert islands where man's
foot had never before trodden, and found the birds there perfectly devoid of
fear  until  a number had been killed by the invading  ruffians.   Then  the
birds learned to fly away at the approach of man.

   We  have also made human beings into beasts of prey--thieves and  robbers
we  call them--who waylay their fellow-men, deprive them of their goods  and
often harm them bodily,  even to committing murder,  and all as a result  of
our  harsh treatment which is dictated by fear.   If we had love  we  should
have  no fear,  "for perfect love casteth out all fear";  and if we  had  no
fear,  nothing could harm us,  for the fearless and trusting attitude  is  a
safer protection than pistol and lock.  Therefore,  we should cultivate that
attitude  of love for everything that lives and breathes;  we  should  cease
killing the lower animals by the million for food,  and for sport,  which is
the worst form of cruelty.   An attitude of love toward our fellow men would
generate  in them similar emotions and locksmiths and gunmakers  would  very
soon be useless.   We complain of the enormous taxes necessary to support  a
strong police force,  the machinery of the courts,  great jails and peniten-
tiaries,  but all of these institutions would disappear as if by magic IF WE
WOULD REPLACE FEAR BY LOVE.   The Bible pictures to us a time when the  lion
and  the ox,  the little child and the venomous reptile shall all  play  to-
gether in peace.  That may indeed become a fact, for the beasts of prey have
not always been carnivorous.  In the far past man had his share in their de-
velopment, and in the future it will be his task to change these conditions.



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