Everything we possess and all we are

One thing is for certain, everything we possess and all we are—we have to work for. There is no favouritism in the Spirit World. Really working for what we get and accomplish is the making of the man and the soul within him.

Knowledge of the Astral's Existence

Why do we not realise the astral's signals?

Because we have not yet advanced to that point of thought.

Is it meant that we should know?

Yes, but fear keeps us from knowing the truth.

But—do we advance more quickly if they know the reality of the astral?

Yes, life is a test. We would advance more rapidly if we knew the astral existed. We would go through our tests and we would do them correctly because some would have that noble and trained instinct; others would do their lessons because they feared the darkness, for darkness is real death. Some are afraid of death because they fear a judgment follows. If we knew of the astral and that there was no death—only the darkness of space between the astral and the earth planes, in which we would have to stay until we worked out of our degradation, we would strive our best to pass directly through that and into light. Hence, we would try to do what is right on the earth. We should be enlightened—there should be knowledge of the astral's existence. It is for the best.

The Message—Lord Kitchener Lives (received by Ala Mana), Volume I, Grafton Publishing Corporation, California, 1922

Tests in the Astral Plane

What are the sustaining elements of man—physically and mentally? 

The sustaining elements of man—physically—are—

Air, food, water. The spinal cord should be perfect—feeling of the body, nerves—eyes possessing double sight or second sight. 

Mentally, the elements are—

Intelligence, soul love, life thoughts, visions, courage, decided control, the mental balancing with the body. The mental possess twelve brains because there are over six astral bodies—

One physical body

One inner body

One space body

One decided action body

One mental body

One spiritual body. 

Each must possess its own brain—a wireless base or station which receives its directions from the main station—the soul.

What is the most difficult test to pass? 

The most difficult test to pass is—trial without bitterness.

What is the greatest asset of the age? 

The greatest asset to the earth age is—the aerial. The reason for this is that the air brings physical men into close contact with the astral and in time they will reach that destination through many discoveries. 

What is the silence and space between the astral and the earth plane? 

The silence between the earth plane and the astral is—

The Spirit of God, the Creator. He holds together, with light and might, the earth plane and the astral. 

Where are the most prominent planets and what is the astral? 

The most prominent planets are beyond human sight; the astral is a planetary substance unseen in space. 

Will man ever reach the astral without passing through the stage called death? 

Yes, in time, for the astral consists of a number of planets; the earth plane is only one of the many, many ones, but through past connections became one by itself. Man had to pass out of consciousness for a moment in so-called death before he felt capable of ascending through the great distance and space. As time passed, all traces of the astral vanished and only the belief in it remained to help the struggling souls of the earth. A new system was formed because it became necessary, and birth was conceived— created. Men went to the earth plane in a false manner. In time the earth grew to believe it was the only planet of consequence—that all the others were nothing. As the ages went by, a climatic condition of the atmosphere came about, really caused by thought—for thought is atmosphere, and the astral schools and the earth plane school were separated. That is, they were not in relation or contact and only a vague thought of the astral existed. The earth would perish without the astral, for the astral is the creator of life and eternity, while the earth plane is only a dependent school. Therefore, men, after a certain time upon the earth, must cease their existence upon that planet and ascend to the astral for final tests. Then, if necessary, they will return again to the earth plane. Man is of the Mind, and his thought can travel through all space. That is the secret, but without material aid his physical body cannot. The earth plane must grow back into the circle of astral schools—be one of them—or in time all belief in the astral would be lost, and there would be no thought by which to ascend after passing on. The law of all being, mind, gives only so much time for the lessons to be completed upon the earth plane; therefore, in the scheme of all things, man must return to the astral. 

The Message—Lord Kitchener Lives (received by Ala Mana), Volume I, Grafton Publishing Corporation, California, 1922

Astral Bodies and Their Essentials

As he feels far from ready to sleep, Lord Kitchener* sits down and begins to study the rows and rows of books in his father's library. He cannot decide which to read. All appear so interesting. At last, he takes up one at random and finds that its title is Astral Bodies and Their Essentials. He sketches it over and the following are some of the ideas he gathers from it—

*The Message—Lord Kitchener Lives (received by Ala Mana), Volume I, Grafton Publishing Corporation, California, 1922

Astral bodies are coloured. There are seven important ones—The intelligence body, which is pink. The mind body, which is blue. The sight body, which is yellow. The bodies of the senses, which are green. The vibrating body, which is purple. The protecting body, which is orange. 

These bodies are necessary. 

The intelligence body is in the mind body. 

The sight body reflects upon the outer aura, seeing all things.

The bodies of the senses are within the intelligence body. 

The mind body is the body of the soul. 

The intelligence body is the servant and must be kept beneath the mind body. 

The senses are ruled by the intelligence body, which receives its stamina from the mind. 

The sight body is a helper of the mind, physically and spiritually. 

The essentials of the bodies are—Understanding; Correcting of the mind; Faith; Courage; Soul force, and Spiritual endurance. 

Lord Kitchener is absorbed. He turns to the cover and he finds it to be one of Tolstoy's. He wishes he might have a talk with him, and at that very moment a bell rings. Lord Kitchener takes up the instrument which resembles a telephone. He hears a voice say, This is Tolstoy. I am coming over to see you. I just received the message that you wanted to see me. I will start at once. 

Lord Kitchener is so surprised he could not give an answer. He puts up the instrument and sinks to his chair. Tolstoy is coming! 

We take up the narrative— 

Certainly that would be a treat. It seemed scarcely a minute before he entered. I rose and took his outstretched hand. As we sat down, he went directly to the point. 

Lord Kitchener, I wrote that book since I have been here. I am glad you chose to read it. It will teach you much. I now want to give you a short lesson on mind, body, and soul. He paused, then went on—The mind is like a camera. It photographs the thoughts reflected from the other bodies and especially those of speech. There are two lenses, which are in the centre of the mind-body, and every word uttered reflects and is imprinted. Now, this is a very bad speech to make; I have changed my mind—because those words reflect upon the lenses; they cause a confusion and the mind-body has to proceed to change its lenses. This disturbs the working order.

Some people, I said, say I was tickled to death. What effect will that produce?

He leaned closer to me. The reason they say that is because it is a lens reflection of a past incarnation. Some say those words many times. That very thing happened to them, for those people have been Chinese ages ago, and, through some wrongdoing, they were sentenced to be tickled to death. That terrible phrase was photographed upon the subconscious expression of the mind-body, and it caused a double impression like that of a double exposure. When they are born again, that terrible impression of what happened to them comes again and again before the picture of the mind and flashes the memory to the physical brain. It is then spoken often, repeated as a form of speech, and with each utterance is more plainly imprinted upon the brain. Oh, I was just tickled to death! I wish mortals would come to the realisation that words are things to be guarded and spoken only after careful thought, for every word counts to make up the vibration surrounding the aura. Then the phrase, I almost died, is another bad impression to put into words. Every expression makes it more plain and gives it more power. Its reflection upon the mental sometimes causes a great confusion—often a terrible sickness. Yet mortals do not trace to that source the trouble which sometimes comes upon them. The phrase, I nearly dropped dead, is another of the same dangerous class and causes heart failure—for the mind controls the heart. The word guess is bad also. It has a decided lack of determination. One must be positive and say, I do not have that idea—or It is not the most favourable—something similar but more positive. He paused. Lord Kitchener, there is so much to learn—later you will find most of your conversation will be through thought. 

Lord Kitchener, I assume you are a cosmopolitan. Do you believe in the earth people knowing their fate and the source from which they are directed?

Please express your opinions. I wish to know your personal viewpoint. 

I smiled as I answered, I am certainly grateful. My opinion is—they should to a certain extent—that is, those who are ready, and yet—I paused. 

He smiled as he continued my sentence softly,  and yet—only those who are ready believe, and believing is knowing. 

He leaned back in the chair. Men are sometimes very crude and impulsive in their opinions. Keep me from the association of such a man—and yet—a man must not be judged by that quality, for he is then in the making. The man of knowledge speaks little, for the more he knows the less he thinks he knows—which is right.

Sometimes I do not want to go back to earth again; I can learn so much here. It is not my will, of course, but that of the great unseen God. I have two classes under my personal instruction—and I attend about fifteen myself— to learn—to learn.

Possess the great faith

But I do believe. Perhaps you do, but try to possess the great faith. 

The true secret of success

Study and patience—the secret of success is just that. To accomplish we must have that quality.

But I do believe

Arouse yourself to actual action of determined mind and body—and believe. 

I am the lead in my play

Fate—Fate, which sometimes seems cruel, heartless, and wrong, but which is life and at last everlasting happiness. We are guests of Fate whom no man knoweth. True are the words, life is a great stage and we are the actors. I am the lead in my play, you in yours, and so on.

Bitterness and hate stop progress

Bitterness and hate stop progress.

Forgive your enemy

Do you know the souls who stay in darkness suffer beyond description? Suppose someone you loved was in darkness; wouldn't you try to help him? Well, forgive the enemy.