Where do thought forms come from?

Do you want to know the difference between astrals and thought forms?

They are quite different, for the latter is only a picture and not a spirit at all. There are two kinds of astrals, so-called because they are functioning on the Astral plane (the Astral).

First, there are the spirits existing there in their astral bodies, which are made out of actual atoms.

The astral body though fine in comparison with the physical body is still coarse, for it is only undeveloped people who are not spiritually evolved who live on that sphere. 

There is a great difference between it and the bodies of those on the third sphere.

There is no death after you leave earth, but this further difference in degree makes people think sometimes one has to undergo that ordeal again on going higher through the different planes. This is not so, though a great change certainly does take place in the Astral body―the chemical condition alters―it becomes refined, but it is no greater than that which takes place in your earth body continually―all the cells, which change and renew several times in the course of your life here though you are not conscious of it in either case.

When a human in the Astral changes mentally, his body changes too in sympathy with his development and corresponding degree, but more quickly than with you.

If a human longs to progress very fast and makes up his mind and concentrates on it, he can change in a very short time, but if he makes no special effort and progresses slowly mentally, his body changes slowly too.

This gradual refinement continues through the spheres―the change comes from within.

The second kind of Astral is a spirit connected with a physical body and functioning temporarily only on the Astral plane while its earth body sleeps or is unconscious. It looks much the same as the other, but its body is actually different, for it has an astral husk only―much on the same principle as the temporary body made for a materialising spirit at a séance and like that composed of astral atoms consolidated. These astral atoms collect round the aura of a developed man and on his soul emerging from the centre of his body, these atoms close round his spirit and form a husk or covering to protect it in its travels. 

He could not function in his real astral body, for that is not complete―it is not complete for a curious reason.

It is this―a certain amount of the material that makes his astral body is not available while he is connected with his physical body, for it goes to make the vital cord or connection between his travelling spirit and his stationary body, which is only severed at death, for the severing means death. 

After this has occurred, no cord being then required, this material is available for his astral body and so he no longer requires to borrow astral atoms to protect himself―his spirit is sufficiently clothed being complete.

As I am not in the Astral I find it difficult to tell if a person is in their permanent Astral body or not. This accounts too for the difficulty a clairvoyant sometimes has in being able to say if a person is in or out of their physical body permanently. They are too, it must be remembered, seeing in other conditions than their normal.

Sight varies enough even on the earth plane―no two men there see exactly alike.

If you took a collection of people to a hilltop and asked them to describe the view without artificial aid, they would all see in different degrees―some only things near, others only things distant, some as it were through a haze, others clearly. 

This is why normal clairvoyance is often incorrect―things are difficult to see in the right perspective and it varies too, according to the bias of the medium's brain on which it is registered by the sight.

A thought form is a picture, a thought photograph, projected through the atmosphere by someone, but the recipient would have to mentally develop it to see it―they would have to be thinking of the sender at the right moment and in the right way.

Space is nothing, for it takes no longer to think four or five hundred miles than into the next room.

So if you are in the right mental condition, you can see a thought form―it is only a picture in the atmosphere.

This explains certain things, for instance, visions of Christ to the dying.

Hundreds on the battlefields may see Him individually and spontaneously If He is projecting his thought to all who are lying there―all who are attuned in mind can, may be able to see him.

Just as when a ship at sea sends out a wireless message or a call for help, it is not confined to one receiver, but is open to all ships and receiving stations, which are suitably attuned. 

So all who are suitably attuned and harmonised can receive thought pictures, impressions and inspiration. This explains also how various people in widely separated places may simultaneously be inspired by one individual.

Inspired―not controlled.

People should always use common sense in judging what they are told. Personally, I do not believe spirits from the higher spheres ever control people on earth. It is hard enough for us who are only on the third sphere to get back into the old conditions, for those it would be exceedingly difficult and a deliberate waste―it would be like engaging a tutor of the highest scholastic attainments to teach an infant its ABC!

Now, as regards a so-called ghost haunting a particular spot.

If it is a persistent haunt that has continued for many years, even for centuries, it is almost certainly a thought form and not a spirit, for it is very unlikely that any spirit would be so unfriended as to be permitted to go on in this aimless and unhappy manner indefinitely, for as soon as anyone desires help here, it is forthcoming. What happens is this―

Certain events, probably tragic, which are felt very intensely by the participators at the time leave a very clear-cut and well defined picture in the atmosphere―at first, for a short time, the actors in the scene may return in spirit to the spot and by thinking over what happened, revivify and intensify that thought picture.

Ordinary people then come to that place knowing its history and some may see the ghost―they see it because they are psychic and unconsciously psychometrise the atmosphere, so mentally develop the picture that is there―so constantly renew the image, which thus becomes almost permanent. 

Yes―I know it does seem difficult to realise, but it also applies to feeling, as well as seeing past conditions, thus a medium feels pain and discomfort when describing anyone's illness.

The medium is psychometrising the condition connected with the spirit while it was a body, and not the spirit itself. I say this because I have been told―I have noticed myself that spirits are surprised on returning to earth to hear themselves described with symptoms of disease they have almost forgotten they ever suffered.

Claude's Book