Astral Facts—The Astral Double

The Astral Double

In man and animals, the astral pattern is not directly related to the physical body, but projects from itself a shadowy counterpart called the astral double. This double is capable of infinite contraction so as to be contained in the foetus and become the basis of the physical manifestation. The growth of the foetus simply abstracts the physical elements from the mother and builds them into the meshes of the astral double, thus materialising it. This double is not only the model into the meshes of which the physical is built, but it is also the vehicle by means of which the currents of life-force from the astral body, which is always in the Astral World, as well as the life-force liberated by the digestion of food and derived from the water and air, reaches and supports the physical body. It is the reservoir or sponge of life, gathering it up from all the natural kingdoms around, and is the intermediary between the kingdoms of Pranic and physical life. Life cannot come immediately from the subjective to the objective, for Nature goes gradually through each sphere. Therefore, the astral body is the intermediary between the vital world and our physical body and pumps in the life. It is also the vehicle by which the vibrations of the Physical World reach our consciousness as sensations. The lower kingdoms, whose evolution has not as yet built up the body of sensation, or only in a rudimentary way, are more directly connected with the astral double.

All forms of life cease to grow in size when the astral double has been materialised to its full size, for then no further increase in size can take place.

Death is, therefore, simply the withdrawal of this finer astral double and its contained life-force from the physical shell. It is the withdrawal of this definite body that gives to the outer body that is left behind the shrunken and cadaverous appearance seen in so-called death. This also accounts for the loss in weight of the physical body immediately after death and before evaporation could account for such loss. This astral double is attached to the physical body by an astral cord (something like an umbilical cord), which does not permit it to withdraw very far from the physical, although in some mediums it can be extruded to a considerable distance and be used as the basis for materialisations. Normally, at death, it should be indrawn into the astral body proper, although it is often left floating near the physical corpse, and in certain atmospheric conditions, it can be seen objectively by the physical sight as a wraith or ghost.

Since the astral body is the counterpart of the physical when it is withdrawn from the physical, it bears the exact likeness of the individual, with all the distinguishing marks, moles, etc., it possessed at the time of transition. Those who have passed on into the astral are, therefore, as easily recognised and identified as they would be on earth. For, after leaving the physical body, there is little more change of appearance than there is in removing an overcoat, except that when a physical limb or part is lost, the astral part will not be lost, unless so shown for purposes of identification.

After passing on from a long and exhausting illness, and especially in the case of an old person who is tired of life and no longer clings to it by either thought or desire, it is common for such to pass into a deep and restful sleep varying in duration according to individual needs, previous ideas, etc. We know, of course, that thought and desire rule the Physical World, but in the Astral World, they rule to a far greater degree and far more quickly, for the plastic matter of that World yields very rapidly to the creative and moulding power of thought and will. Therefore, a person who for years held the thought that leaving the Physical World ended all or one who believed that he would sleep until Gabriel blew his trumpet would naturally pass into a comatose or dense sleeping condition after passing on. This condition would perhaps last for years or even centuries until the desire or thought force put into the idea was exhausted and he was released from its effects.

All these types of sleepers float aimlessly in the Astral World, swept hither and thither by astral currents which, much like the winds of earth, are continually flowing in various directions. In this Realm, we can see as well as feel these astral winds and  as the astral is the World of Desire and Sensation, we can here see that many of these winds are but the forces generated by humanity's restless and disquieting thoughts, which form mighty currents plainly seen to be made up of living elementals, tenuous forms even in this Realm, yet passing in great streams and with a moaning cry, much as the wind moans on earth. Again, there can be seen mighty storm-winds made up of the embodied evil and malignant thought forces generated by mankind, here seen entitised as demons of destruction sweeping on with tremendous power. Yet always there is blowing here a steady wind from the East, which is the force of blessing sent forth into all the world from the Heart of the Universe. This appears as made up of Angelic Beings who float on with faces radiant, unseeing and unheeding anything through which they pass, intent only on their mission, which is to carry the divine creative love-forces and pour them out on all creation. The sleeping and floating forms are, therefore, in danger as well as very much in the way, quite as much so as would one be on earth who lay down in a busy thoroughfare and went to sleep. Therefore, special attention is given to such, very much as special policemen would prevent a like occurrence on earth; there are those whose business it is to look alter such Souls and to convey them to specially prepared retreats where they are tenderly cared for and protected.

Those who wake up immediately or soon after passing on usually have a short period of confusion while they are getting their bearings, much as one is sometimes confused on awaking in a dimly lighted room, which seems full of vague shadows until one is fully awake and recognises things as they are. To many, this transitory condition inspires fear, especially if they passed on with a fear of death. But with the help of their loved ones or others duly appointed by the Masters, this fear soon passes and they realise what the change is that has taken place. The thing to impress upon the minds of all is that the moment a Soul cries out for Light and help, at that moment help is sent. And when one is passing through the change called death, if the friends and relatives send up the prayer of faith that the Soul shall be met on the threshold of the other world, it will be done. 

Many, however, are not welcomed owing to the fear inspired by their false earthly teaching. Those who are not thus met naturally do not know where they are or why they are surrounded by such unfamiliar conditions, or they may for a time think they are dreaming. They may remember that they have been sick but think they have just awakened from a night's sleep. 

Others, when they awaken to the fact that they are not really dead but are as much alive as ever, cannot believe they have crossed the great river and entered another state of existence. As they have considerable physical force and magnetism clinging to them, they are naturally in very close relation with the friends they have left behind; can still see them moving about preparing for the funeral of the body of flesh they have so recently quitted, but refusing to speak or pay attention to them. While in this sphere of attraction, they are acutely sensitive to the emotions of those to whom they are so closely connected, magnetically, as well as mentally. Hence, the weeping and display of grief so often indulged in by the mourners causes the departed ones great anguish and suffering, as emotions of grief, sorrow or inharmony cause greater suffering and have a far more depleting and exhausting effect upon the astral body than upon the physical body, great as we know that to be. This is especially so when the departed ones are unable to make the loved ones understand that they are not dead, only gone on before; cannot make them realise their presence, their love and their solicitude over the conditions and changes transpiring on earth. Therefore, as little emotion as possible should be displayed over the passing of a loved one, especially at the time of the passing when everything should be peaceful and calm, and for the first few days afterwards while the loved one is still closely enmeshed in earth conditions. This is particularly true of those who pass out through accident while in the full vigour of life. Such persons still have so much physical life-force and magnetism in their auras that they remain in close touch with earth conditions for long periods, at least as long as they would normally have lived but for the accident.

We should say farewell to our loved ones with no more grief than would be natural were they starting on a long journey on which they would be absent a number of years, for we will see them again, when we follow them, just as surely as on earth if we journeyed to their new home. Instead of spending time and force in useless grief and mourning, the time should be spent in quiet meditation and in an effort to correlate our consciousness with theirs and assure them of our love and understanding. Mourning clothing should not be worn, nor should constant visits be paid to the grave, for all such acts and thoughts tend to hold the departed one down to the discarded body through the law of attraction.

The recently deceased is often strongly, even morbidly attracted to the discarded physical body for some time, hence haunts its burial place. But it is thus held only as a result of thought or desire, the desire to see what becomes of the former outer garment it wore while on earth. Cremation is, therefore, always desirable, not only because more sanitary and less revolting to think of but because it consumes the physical magnetism and this releases the deceased at once from that source of attraction to the Physical World. But great care should be taken to see that cremation is not carried out until the astral body has had time to withdraw completely from the physical body or considerable suffering to the departed one may result. The best indication as to the proper time for cremation is when definite signs of physical disintegration appear. 

Excerpted and edited from Realms of the Living Dead—A Brief Description of Life After Death, Harriette Augusta Curtiss and F. Homer Curtiss, the Curtiss Philosophic Book Company, Washington D. C., 1926

Astral Facts | The Realm of Reflection

The Realm of Reflection—Its Scenery

The first Realm above the Physical World, in the rate of vibration, we term the Realm of Reflection. Here we find reflected every object, which exists in the Physical World, or, to be more accurate, the physical object—man, animal, vegetable, as well as all so-called inanimate things—is the reflection or materialisation of its astral duplicate. Here we find the astral pattern of all living things. But everything is seen reversed, as in a mirror. For instance, a number such as 123 would be seen as 321, etc. Day and night are also the reverse of the corresponding periods on earth. So-called night exists only in the Realm of Reflection, the Ethereal Realm and the Desire Realm. And even in these, it is far from being the same as an earthly night, although the moon and stars are visible. 

While the scenery of this Realm is the counterpart of the scenery of earth, it is much more, for here, there is a luminosity and translucence, which makes familiar objects far more brilliant and beautiful and reveals their true nature far more than does their physical counterpart on earth. While plants, trees, animals and people are all seen here, they can also be seen through, just as on earth we can see into and through a glass of water. In the Astral World, we can also see all sides at once (not in perspective) and with the glow and colours imparted to everything by the currents of life-force, which sweep through them, for the Astral World is a world of four dimensions, instead of three.

Wild animals, snakes, etc., are also encountered in the astral, but only in the localities corresponding to where they would naturally be found on earth. Every animal does not have a conscious life in the Astral World, as it takes many animals of one kind to express the Group Soul of a species. Hence, it is only the more advanced animals that are sufficiently individualised to have an astral life. This is most common among those, which have had some kind of contact with man and have absorbed more or less of his emanations of individuality. Hence, it is common for all domesticated animals to be found in the astral.

Here also the vegetation follows the seasonal changes of the various countries, but they occur somewhat in advance of their manifestation on earth, for that which is to manifest on earth descends from the higher Worlds into the Astral World and later is embodied on earth. We must not think, however, that it is the physical forms of objects that are thus seen, for this is not the case. As a rule, physical objects are not seen from the Astral World, except during the period of dense earth attraction just after leaving the Physical World and while the consciousness is responding to the keynote of the physical more than to the astral.

Since love is the greatest attractive power, one in the astral may choose to remain in close physical contact with a loved one on earth for many years. For instance, a mother may remain so close to her children on earth that she would be able to see into their physical conditions throughout their entire lives, although she would gradually tend to see into the conditions in their hearts and minds rather than their physical conditions. There are, however, certain exceptions. By special training, one in the astral may be taught to see into the Physical World, for the astral body, when purified, emanates a form of radiance, which, under proper conditions, can be projected into dense physical matter and thus make the physical visible. Also, the presence of a certain type of physical medium enables the one in the astral to see physical objects and persons. Otherwise, the objects of the Physical World are just as non-existent to the dweller in the astral, as are the things of the astral to the average dweller in the physical. Those in the astral see the astral bodies of physical objects, animals and people, which are more or less luminous, or more or less foggy or dense, according to their degree of development. But since the consciousness of those dwelling on earth is not functioning in their astral bodies, but in the physical, they appear asleep, insensible or unresponsive to those on the astral, except when the consciousness of the earth dweller is responding more or less imperfectly to the Astral World during dreams, visions, trances, etc.

The Realm of Reflection, being the most objective of the Astral World, may be called the physical aspect of the astral. The astral bodies of the great majority of the lesser evolved humanity who have left the Physical World therefore naturally gravitate to this Realm. Many such so-called spirits report through mediums that there is no heaven world, or perhaps, since their sensations are far more acute, that they are worse off than when on earth, thus showing that they are living what is little more than an extension of their life on earth be that life pleasant or unpleasant. For the interests of those dwelling in this Realm of Reflection are largely what they were on earth and they have similar gatherings and organisations, clubs, churches, theatres, recreations, etc, which attract those whose desires affinitise them to such gatherings, each one going just where he or she belongs by affinity.

Here also teachers and helpers from the higher Realms descend to help and instruct those who are seeking to understand their changed conditions and surroundings. Many, however, are so absorbed in the earth attractions and in trying to communicate with their friends on earth that they will not listen or pay any attention to such teachers, although they are accessible to all.

There is an organisation in the higher Realm similar to the Red Cross Society, which has workers whose duty it is to descend into this lower Realm to aid, care for, comfort and instruct those who are passing out, especially those who know something about the change and are willing to listen and receive instruction. This organisation is specially equipped to watch over, help and instruct those who are passing out in great numbers in times of disaster, pestilence and war; indeed, many soldiers, as soon as they are fully awakened to the astral conditions, are enlisted in this astral Ambulance Corps and most eagerly give their services under the able instruction of appointed teachers until they can be taught no longer to identify themselves with earth conditions. Those who will not profit by instruction must be left, just as such must be left on earth, to learn through experience, perhaps by suffering, if they will not learn without it.

Those who know of these helpers can, therefore, be met and be taken care of. They can also arrange for their loved ones to be met by a reception committee, which will include the dear ones who have gone before provided they are still interested in those left behind and naturally wish to welcome them. All that is necessary for anyone in any part of the world is to send out a mental wireless call for the invisible helpers and the loved ones will be gathered to greet the newcomer. These facts are the basis for the belief in the efficacy of prayers for the dead—purgatory being simply the lower Realm of the Astral World—also, for the belief in the value of baptism for the dead, as advocated by St Paul. Not only do such prayers surround the loved one with comforting, helpful and protective thought forces, but they also serve to call the attention of the invisible helpers to their needs.

It should be clearly understood that no one is confined to this Realm of Reflection except by the density of his astral body and the earthliness of his thoughts and desires, just as no one is confined to materialistic thoughts while on earth unless he so desires, for in this Realm, a cry or even a strong desire for Light and help will bring it.

While the astral body is still dense and heavy with the water vapour, gases and. the magnetism of the earth, the recently deceased person is apt to think he can be transported only by walking, running or riding in conveyances. He, therefore. walks or rides either in the astral counterpart of such vehicles or in their thought-forms, created either by himself or collectively by all who think they need such vehicles. Later on, they learn that so little energy is required that the astral body can be transported by the will, a strong thought of or desire to be in a certain place, transporting it there almost immediately. Although, there is usually a sense of a definite journey through the air. During such incredibly swift passages, the emanations of their auras stream out behind them and are often mistaken for wings by untrained psychics. We dream of flying through the air because we remember such journeys made in the astral during sleep or because we remember such experiences during our excarnate existence previous to our present incarnation.

The recently deceased thinks he can be nourished only by the same kinds of food, which were necessary for his physical body. In fact, the glamour of this Realm makes him think that he must carry on life just as he did while on earth, and subject to the same laws, and it may be a long time before he learns better. Hence, many of the more ignorant and less advanced, as well as the high livers and the gluttonous are found thronging the kitchens of hotels and restaurants and sucking in the vapours and emanations from the food that is being cooked, as do many others in the kitchens of their former homes. The more intelligent are able to draw to themselves duplicates of their favourite dishes, the creative power of their thought forming them, not as mere illusions, but from the astral emanations of the physical substances, for while the astral body still contains so much dense earth magnetism and matter, the need is still felt for some form, even if it be only the less material of physical food.

In the astral, as in the physical, you seek the association of those with whom you affinitise. 

The law of specific gravity obtains here as well as in the Physical World; just as a physical object or body will sink or float, according to its density, so the astral body will sink into the denser strata or will float up into the particular stratum and Realm to which it is affinitised. We are told As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he, and in the Astral World, this fact becomes very apparent. Here we literally find ourselves in the environment our thoughts had created while on earth with the same kindred Souls and living out the true inmost thoughts and desires of our heart, which perhaps on earth we had tried to hide, for here there is no cloak to hide our true inner desires. As we think, so are we. Therefore, to some, it is hell; to some, but an extension of earth life, while just as surely to others it seems to be Heaven. 

The more degraded haunt bars and brothels in an effort still to experience the desired sensations, but as the denser atoms fall away and the earth attraction loses its power, the person finds that, in some mysterious way, he is transported through the air wherever in thought he desires or wills to be and is nourished by currents of force brought to him by the mere thought of food, and still later, he forgets all about the necessity for food.

While the astral body may remain for a long time in this Realm, the consciousness can soar into the higher Realms at any time, provided the desire to reach up is present, just as with those still on earth, the consciousness can leave business and household cares and soar into the realms of literature, art, science or spiritual thought. In other words, desire is the governing factor in the Astral World even more fully than on earth. But, in this more ethereal World, the desire promptly brings the condition desired, while on earth its attainment is hampered and delayed by the limitations of the more dense and rigid matter, which must be overcome before it can manifest.

The substance of the Astral World is so ethereal that it is moulded by thought, hence any entity who understands the mechanism can assume any appearance it desires, even that of an angel of light, as St Paul tells us.

Here also are found the astral graveyards where the discarded astral bodies are gathered.

Edited excerpt from Realms of the Living Dead—A Brief Description of Life After Death, Harriette Augusta Curtiss and F. Homer Curtiss, the Curtiss Philosophic Book Company, Washington D. C., 1926

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Astral Facts—Reality and Nature of the Astral World

Reality and Nature of the Astral World

The astral is a real and not an imaginary or hypothetical world and is composed of matter in much finer and far more ethereal states than we find it in the Physical World—so ethereal that even in its densest expression, the physical senses are scarcely able to respond to its vibrations. Nevertheless, the astral is a material world which exists above in the sense of being higher in rate of vibration, the next higher octave (a state of matter conditioned by an octave of vibration above the octave within which the Physical World manifests), as well as extending far above and beyond the earth's surface—around and within the Physical World, interpenetrating every atom more completely than the air penetrates every building, receptacle or body, i.e., this finer astral matter penetrates the coarse physical matter. The astral is, therefore, a locality in space in relation to the Physical World and its lower Realms are so physical that under certain conditions of condensation, their inhabitants can be photographed by the ordinary camera, attesting to the reality and the material nature of the substance of that world.

The Various Divisions of the Astral World

Everything is reflected in the Astral World or the astral plane, both from the spiritual Realms above and the earth plane below. The ethereal and rarefied matter of the Astral World surrounds both this globe, its humanity in general and each individual Soul just as the amniotic waters do the unborn foetus [born of water and of spirit], separating them from direct contact with the higher worlds. 

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The astral, being the great reflector, contains all the mud, debris and offscourings of earth mingled with the pure, clear Waters of Life from the spiritual plane. This is a World to be passed through under perfect control but is not the Father's home. It is the Hall of Learning. In it, thy Soul will find the blossoms of life, but under every flower, a serpent coiled.

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Just as the Physical World is divided by nature into seven subdivisions, according to the various forms and conditions of manifestation of which we and the World are made up, so the Astral World is naturally divided into seven subdivisions—Realms—for they are more than mere subplanes—corresponding to the seven principles of man, in each subdivision or Realm of which one of the seven Worlds of Manifestation is represented and has its characteristic manifestation, i.e., each as corresponding to a separate Realm with its own characteristics.

Each Realm is divided into seven Orders and each Order into seven suborders. This classification is, therefore, not an arbitrary one, but is in harmony with the universal seven-fold classification of the universe.

These seven Realms are classified as follows (giving their correspondence to the Worlds of Manifestation)—

The Realm of Reflection (corresponding to the Physical World)

The Ethereal or Etheric Realm (corresponding to the Astral World)

The Realm of the Life-force or Vital Realm (corresponding to the World of the Life-force or Pattern World)

The Desire Realm (corresponding to the Desire World)

The Mental Realm (corresponding to the Mental World)

The Spiritual or Inspirational Realm (corresponding to the Spiritual World)

The Divine of Ecstatic Realm (corresponding to the Divine World).

If we regard the Astral World as the next higher octave above the physical, its seven Realms will correspond to the same Realms or notes of the Physical World, but in a higher octave, hence will have corresponding characteristics.

Since the Astral World as a whole is the World of sensation and desire, all its Realms partake of those characteristics, although greatly enhanced and intensified by the far more ethereal conditions of that World and includes as many states of consciousness, even more than the Physical World, which is entered through the gate of birth, for birth into the Physical World is death to the Astral World, just as death to the Physical World is birth into the Astral World.

Excerpted and edited from Realms of the Living Dead—A Brief Description of Life After Death, Harriette Augusta Curtiss and F. Homer Curtiss, the Curtiss Philosophic Book Company, Washington D. C., 1926

Sail a middle course

Learn to master your ship of life.

Follow the Ark

Follow the Ark of the Covenant in obedience to your Divine Guidance.

Swallowed up in the Great Deep

Make all that is good and pure and helpful stand as a wall of protection and helpfulness upon your Right Hand and all that is evil or impure to flow away on your Left Hand and out of your life, to be swallowed up in the Great Deep.

The Divine in You

Learn consciously to bathe in the Crystal River proceeding out of the throne of God, the place where the Divine in you rules all your conditions, your life and all its activities.

Seeds of Karma

A wise gardener will destroy the tiny shoots [the seed of a weed] ere they have time to choke out the flowers. So it is with the seeds of Karma. 

By their fruits ye shall know them

By their fruits ye shall know them—

We are judged by the life we lead.

Fruit of Intolerance

The child of fear sows seeds of prejudice and the fruit of intolerance leads us to condemn those who believe differently.

The Dweller

As a man throweth away old garments and putteth on new, even so, the dweller in the body, having quitted its old mortal frame, entereth into others which are new.

Bhagavad Gita

Trust Unswervingly

To know no doubtful hopes, no absurd fears, and to dare without danger is to trust unswervingly in the power of God and of the Christ within; to courage, honesty, purity of life and thought and fearlessness.

Universal Rule

The axiom, As above so below; as below so above is a universal rule which applies to all Worlds.

Set to work to be really the thing which you admire

Set to work to be really the thing which you admire.

Accomplish and overcome

Try to correlate your mind with your Higher Divine Self and to ask of this Divine Self that it shall help you to learn the lessons step by step as they come up in your life and that as you accomplish and overcome you may recognise what you have accomplished.

The Teacher

The Greatest Magnet

The greatest magnet is love and next most powerful is hate.

In the path of the Ego's Evolution

In the path of the Ego's evolution, it is said we have three mounts to climb; the first is always one of worldly preferment; then we go down into the valley where all such things are taken from us except the lessons we have learned; then we climb the mental height and again are plunged into the valley, or have great mental ability yet lack all opportunity to study; until finally with all these lessons impressed upon us we laboriously climb the spiritual height.

The Teacher

The Divine Flame

Humility is the keynote through which we enter into the Divine Realms. 

What does "even as you are known" mean?

If you could lift your consciousness more closely to Divinity, and realise that you also are Divine, and one with the Father, you would have no questionings at all, but would know even as you are known.

―The Teacher

Only His love for this world can save us all

Do not take literally or believe in anything which makes God a cruel God, for God is love. God is Love and Love is God. Therefore, it is only His love for this world that can save us all.

The Teacher