| When the time for transition has come to the | | | | kleptomaniacs. Although not informed as to the nature |
| incarnated soul--the exact moment of which is | | | | of the inhabitants of the realm, certain events such as |
| determined and initiated by the Higher Self--the physical | | | | personal objects carried on our astral person at that |
| seed-atom which contains the soul-plan of the Higher | | | | time which was suddenly amiss made us realize the |
| Self, releases certain information to the endocrine | | | | common problem of those souls living there. Those |
| glands via the blood stream to stimulate the death | | | | souls were stuck in purgatory because of their thieving |
| process. The glands then secrete certain substances | | | | tendencies, and we were there to help them realize |
| that Earlyne Chaney calls the "death hormone." This | | | | and give up their negative habit. Bad habits and desires |
| hormone then circulates around the physical system | | | | follow us in the afterlife and they cause us intense |
| releasing the immaterial aspect from the physical. The | | | | suffering--the result of being unable to completely |
| mental, astral and etheric bodies dissociate themselves | | | | satiate, gratify, or fulfill them. It is for this reason that |
| from the physical body, followed by the seed-atoms. | | | | negative habits and desires should be extinguished, or |
| The first to be affected and released is the mental | | | | at least transmuted in the here and now, in the physical |
| seed-atom. As it leaves the physical body, the mental | | | | plane. Before entering purgatory, a soul may be given |
| records of the soul and consciousness goes along | | | | a glimpse of the astral heavens so as to awaken its |
| with it. This is in fact the commencement of the bardo, | | | | aspirations, its desires to improve its condition and |
| of which no soul can avoid experiencing, even in a | | | | soul-estate. When the soul is dissatisfied with mundane |
| sudden impact of death. | | | | and carnal things in the lower astral and when it |
| Once the mental seed-atom escapes from the | | | | aspires for something better, it commences to purify |
| physical system, the physical body falls into a coma. | | | | its astral body of the lower particles, and suddenly it |
| Although the physical body still reacts to external | | | | finds itself within a higher sphere. |
| stimuli, there is no registration in the consciousness of | | | | Souls that are psychologically unsound or mentally and |
| the soul through the brain. Next to be liberated from | | | | emotionally disturbed are brought to healing centers in |
| the physical body is the astral seed-atom. With the | | | | purgatory for the restoration of harmony among their |
| absence of the astral seed-atom, the physical body | | | | soul-vehicles. Souls with crystallized minds and are |
| lies inert and senseless. The departure of the physical | | | | mentally imprisoned by preconceived ideas concerning |
| seed-atom marks the beginning of clinical death. Its | | | | life after death are likewise brought to healing centers |
| disappearance from the physical body causes the | | | | for de-hypnotization, or rehabilitation. Souls that led |
| dissolution and disintegration of the physical form. In the | | | | violent lives fall into suspended animation for a lengthy |
| above process no pain is involved, for the absence of | | | | period of time. This enforced unconsciousness is |
| the mental seed-atom prevents any sensation to be | | | | therapeutic in nature, it is a period of soul-healing. |
| noted in the consciousness. Also, the "death hormone" | | | | These souls are awakened from time to time to |
| anesthetizes the whole physical system. Any death | | | | determine its attitude--whether it feels guilt or repents |
| struggle or spasms to be seen in the dying merely | | | | of its negative deeds. If not, it is once again tranquilized. |
| reflects the release of the components of the soul and | | | | When ignorant of the existence of the higher spheres, |
| the physical body's straining to prevent its departure. | | | | souls in purgatory and in the hell regions are often |
| As a person is about to leave the physical, the astral | | | | shown, by guiding souls, of the splendour and glory of |
| body increases in luminosity, even in the case of | | | | the upper regions of the astral and mental worlds. |
| sudden deaths. | | | | Souls are no more intelligent or knowledgeable in the |
| All of the seed-atoms as they leave the physical body, | | | | astral as they were in the physical. Ignorance in the |
| are transferred to the astral form. With the | | | | physical concerning Truth and Reality are brought |
| transference of the mental seed-atom, the | | | | along with them in the discarnate state. Opinions are |
| consciousness of the soul gradually awakens in the | | | | maintained. Souls, therefore, see and experience what |
| astral state and experiences the bardo. Once the | | | | they have learnt to believe. Such "lost souls" are |
| bardo is undergone, the soul, the awareness-principle in | | | | shown the way of ascension to the higher worlds. |
| average cases, is greeted by advance beings and | | | | The astral body is plastic-like in nature and it normally |
| earth-relatives who have prepared beforehand for the | | | | reflects the nature of the soul within. Souls with |
| arrival of the soul. This we know personally having had | | | | negative tendencies and evil traits assume forms with |
| psychic contacts when our dad was undergoing the | | | | facial features reflective of its nature. They may take |
| dying process. The dying are often instilled peace with | | | | on the appearance of misshapen, grotesque, and |
| the help of music played by the disembodied spirits. | | | | monstrous forms. Conversely, souls with positive, clean, |
| The departure of every soul from the physical plane is | | | | and pure natures take on angelic forms. The higher the |
| known by spiritual beings, and preparation is always | | | | quality and nature of the soul, the more beautiful and |
| made for their reception in the astral world. Even while | | | | scintillating its appearance. Even the clothings worn by |
| journeying in the bardo the soul is often aided by | | | | souls reflects the inner state. Referring to this principle |
| spiritual guides. Divine guides in the higher planes helping | | | | Swedenborg declares: |
| the newly dead is a common belief among ancient | | | | ". . . all the interior affections appear and shine forth |
| Egyptians. | | | | from the face." (1958:22) |
| When the physical seed-atom leaves the physical | | | | He also relates the mystery of soul-appearance of evil |
| form and transfers itself to the astral body, the | | | | persons: |
| sutratma, the silver cord, snaps and recoils to the | | | | ". . . and wonderful to tell, those in hell appear to one |
| physical form where it infuses itself into the bones of | | | | another as men, but in the light of heaven they appear |
| the body. Imbued with the qualities or magnetism of the | | | | as monsters, horrid in face and body, the exact form |
| personality of the soul, the sutratma, as it recoils to the | | | | of their own evil." (1958:66) |
| bones, impregnates the skeletal structure with the | | | | Among Chinese and Tibetan beliefs is that souls could |
| vibrations of the soul. The bones, therefore, acquire a | | | | reincarnate as animals. Considering the principle |
| magical quality, especially if the departed soul was a | | | | mentioned above, we can come to appreciate some |
| mystic or saint of a high caliber. This occult principle is | | | | truth in this concept. Men with animal characteristics do |
| well known among shamans of various cultures who | | | | reflect their animal nature in their astral-forms. |
| often utilize bones of revered men as implements as | | | | Through death the mind retains the same personality, |
| ceremonial magicians would use their consecrated | | | | habits, traits, character and inclinations, and this is |
| wands as tools of their will. We personally possess | | | | known through one's appearance. It is through the |
| such a magickal object, a very ancient trisula, part of | | | | facial appearance, the quality of the clothings worn, |
| which is made by a human bone. | | | | and the luminosity and colours of the aura of the soul |
| During the above process of soul-transference, or | | | | that the degree of evolution of the soul may be |
| transition, the awareness-principle undergoes the bardo, | | | | determined. Some beings are so radiant, that it hurts to |
| as we have said before. Since we will be considering | | | | look at them. We would probably shield our eyes with |
| the bardo at some length in a later section of this | | | | our hands to protect our sight from the glare--this |
| paper, we will now deal, instead, with the nature of the | | | | gesture could almost be interpreted as a salute--a sign |
| after-death state. | | | | of honor and respect to those beings. These souls are |
| Once soul-transference has been completed and the | | | | bearers of Light, Life and Love. Their presence heals |
| bardo experienced, the astral form drifts to the realm | | | | and vitalizes the younger souls. Overthere, in the astral |
| or region in the astral or mental world where it will | | | | and mental worlds, everyone sees us for what we |
| sojourn for a time. The etheric body, is however, still | | | | really are, including ourselves. Though we may be |
| connected with the physical form through a remnant | | | | "somebody" in the physical world, in the astral worlds |
| of the sutratma. It dissolves simultaneously with the | | | | we may be just another "person." In the higher worlds, |
| physical body. With the absence of the higher | | | | our true character stands revealed. There is nothing of |
| principles, the etheric body, like the physical form, is but | | | | our private thoughts, feelings and character that we |
| an empty shell, and it may somehow be galvanized | | | | can hide. We are an opened book that reveals our |
| into some resemblance of life by astral entities using | | | | inner selves to others around us. Again quoting |
| the life-force borrowed from incarnated beings. Some | | | | Swedenborg: |
| forms of vampirism is also related to the etheric body. | | | | ". . . an angel who excels in wisdom instantly sees the |
| Corpses remaining fresh in their graves is the result of | | | | quality of another from his face." (1958:22) |
| a vital etheric body animated by some intelligence | | | | Only virtues, good thoughts, deeds, and a search for |
| maintaining subsistence through the act of vampirism. | | | | Truth confers beauty of appearance. In the higher |
| Possessing some psychological traits and memory of | | | | worlds we will discover the fact that thoughts are |
| its former occupant, the etheric form is often used by | | | | things. What we think manifests and affects us almost |
| malicious entities to deceive and mislead living relatives | | | | immediately without any time interval. |
| and persons through channels, psychics and mediums. | | | | Those with pre-conceptions regarding heaven, such as |
| It is for this reason that cremation, from the occult point | | | | religious devotees, will experience the type of heaven |
| of view, is often seen as a spiritual necessity and a | | | | of their expectations. These various heavenly |
| psychically sanitary method for disposing physical | | | | conditions, however, are illusions. They exist temporarily |
| remains. It prevents the occurrence of negative | | | | as dramas played on the behalf of the newly-arrived |
| phenomena such as obsession and possession. In | | | | soul for the purpose of teaching spiritual lessons, such |
| burial grounds, the etheric body may often be seen as | | | | as the errors of pre-conceived ideas. The dramas are |
| bluish lights hovering buried bodies; these are often | | | | sometimes played by negative beings with |
| mistaken for ghosts or human spirits--the correct term | | | | non-benevolent motive. These dramas last until the |
| for these are phantoms. | | | | soul awakens to the fact that its concept of heaven |
| In ancient Egypt, the desire for preserving the etheric | | | | as experienced, hardly reflects the true reality, state, |
| body may underlie the practice of mummification. Like | | | | and nature of the mansions of the Cosmos; or |
| the bones of a deceased person, the etheric body is | | | | conversely, it could entrap him even further. The |
| also often used for occult and magical | | | | former condition is brought home when certain events |
| purposes--usually necromancy or sciomancy, which | | | | occur in their personal "heaven" which indicates the |
| are forms of divination. This is usually done with the | | | | artificiality of their paradise. For instance, a soul |
| use of the shedding of blood where it attracts the | | | | conceiving heaven to be one where its inhabitants |
| shades, the etheric forms of the dead used not by its | | | | wear wings and halos, and play on the harp and sing |
| former occupant, but by elemental or elementary | | | | hymns for all eternity will experience just that . . . until |
| spirits. Blood, as a medium of the life-force, is an | | | | ennui sets in, and voices begin to get hoarse, and harp |
| energy source sought after by malicious or | | | | strings begins to burst, and halos begin to fall, and |
| mischievous spirits. With the presence of blood such | | | | wings begin to molt . . . In reference to these dramas in |
| spirits find it possible to be fully aware of the physical | | | | the astral dimensions, Torkom Saraydarian comments |
| plane and materialize and converse with material | | | | in The Science of Meditation: |
| beings; and also possible to satisfy certain base | | | | "Once you enter into it, you see that many colorful |
| desires. | | | | events are rapidly forming and dissolving according to |
| We mentioned before that the soul, the | | | | your unnamed urges, aspirations, thoughts, and volitions, |
| awareness-principle, gravitates to the realm most | | | | which are in continuous change and motion and in |
| suited for it in terms of vibration. Mercy does not | | | | various intensities. All you see is the response of your |
| automatically lead a soul to heaven. A soul's | | | | astral substance, which mirrors your desires, urges, |
| personality determines where it would go. If the nature | | | | dreams, and mental modifications. The comic part of |
| of the soul is of a low type, it will find itself in one of | | | | this is that you do not realize that whatever you see |
| the lower astral regions which corresponds to the | | | | or experience is your creation, your own expression, |
| religious concept of hell. High-natured souls will be | | | | which sometimes becomes the vehicle of astral |
| drawn to the high astral worlds or to the mental | | | | entities who perform an illusive play or comedy to |
| mansions. Swedenborg speaks of this in his book, | | | | englamour and trap you even more." (1993:208) |
| "Heaven and Hell": | | | | In the various astral and higher planes, the soul |
| "It ought to be clearly understood that with the angels | | | | occupies some of its time analyzing its past life and |
| [souls] it is their interiors which cause them to be in one | | | | the assimilation of its experience. This introspection is |
| heaven or another. For, the more their interiors are | | | | often done with the assistance of spiritual guides and |
| open towards the Lord, the more interior is the heaven | | | | group discussions. In the heavenly worlds the soul finds |
| in which they are." (1958:16) | | | | time to do and to learn the things that it always |
| Here Swedenborg says that souls enter the type of | | | | wanted to without being bothered by the necessities |
| heaven that corresponds with the quality of the inner | | | | of earning a daily living. There are Halls of Wisdom and |
| heaven within them. This spiritual principle is a known | | | | Temples of Learning in all branches of the arts and |
| law among occultists. Cornelius Agrippa in the Three | | | | sciences, including the science of creation. In these |
| Books of Occult Philosophy, has this to say about the | | | | schools the soul learns the purpose of life, the laws of |
| reward of lofty souls: | | | | the spiritual planes and how it may function effectively |
| "But the spirit of man, which is of a sacred nature, and | | | | therein in its higher vehicles. The potential and |
| divine offspring, because it is always faultless, | | | | expressions of one's creativity are also taught. |
| becomes incapable of any punishment; but the soul of | | | | Generally, the average soul will spend its time studying |
| it hath done well, rejoiceth together with the spirit, and | | | | and serving others, with intervals of relaxation and play. |
| going forth with its aerial chariot [astral body], passeth | | | | In the astral state one discovers that it is unnecessary |
| freely to the graves of the heroes, or reacheth | | | | to eat or to drink to nourish the astral form. |
| heaven, where it enjoys all its senses, and powers, a | | | | Nourishment occurs through spiritual osmosis. The |
| perpetual blessed felicity, a perfect knowledge of all | | | | astral form automatically absorbs the life-giving |
| things, as also the divine vision, and possession of the | | | | energy-fluid flowing through the astral ethers. This |
| kingdom of heaven, and being made partaker of the | | | | could be done physically as well, but it requires intense |
| divine power bestows freely divers gifts upon these | | | | spiritual training to reach this level. Streams and |
| inferiors, as if it were an immortal god . . ." (1995:594) | | | | fountains of energy are to be found in the higher |
| He goes on to say that the soul of a negative nature | | | | heavens. Muslims call them Salsabil. A dip in them also |
| is left to the pleasure of the "devil": | | | | vitalizes the whole spiritual constitution. |
| "Wherefore then this soul being void of an intelligible | | | | There are several modes of locomotion available to |
| essence and being left to the power of a furious | | | | the inhabitants of the heavenly worlds. There are |
| planetary, is ever subjected by the torment of | | | | vehicles to convey one from place to place. One may |
| corporeal qualities." (1995:594) | | | | also choose to walk or to use the astral body's innate |
| Agrippa alludes here to hell or purgatory. Should there | | | | capability to fly. This latter mode of travel requires |
| be coarse material in the astral form as a result of | | | | some mastery though, however, once mastered, it |
| negative habits, negative patterns of thoughts and | | | | offers one of the most convenient methods of |
| desires, the soul sojourns temporarily in purgatory | | | | mobilization. Once settled in the higher astral, the soul |
| before transmigrating to its rightful place in the | | | | does not possess the ability to view or manifest in the |
| heavenly regions. Purgatory is a transitional plane of | | | | earth plane unless it has acquired the occult ability to |
| human souls of various natures and types; for instance, | | | | do so. Generally speaking, it is not possible for the soul |
| there are those bound there because of their | | | | to visit the higher worlds beyond its soul-level because |
| unrealistic religious concepts, and they linger in | | | | of the intense fiery vibrations emanating from those |
| purgatory until they accept the truth concerning the | | | | worlds. Journeying to lower worlds, however, is much |
| spiritual laws governing the higher spheres. There are | | | | more easily accomplished. |
| those also stuck in purgatory until certain habits or | | | | Communication in the subtle worlds is done mainly |
| desires are overcome. Atheists and intellectuals | | | | through telepathy, although sometimes normal speech |
| likewise find themselves in purgatory for a time. | | | | is used. The utilization of telepathy means that every |
| Attachment to earthly wealth, position, and power may | | | | soul understands every other soul eventhough in |
| also be a cause of bondage to purgatory. | | | | physical terms there may be a language barrier. For |
| In purgatory the soul strives to rid itself of its moral, | | | | instance, through the means of telepathy it is possible |
| mental and emotional defects; and also the effects of | | | | for an Englishman to understand an Italian, and vice |
| its physical and sensual indulgences, as well as those | | | | versa. One also eventually learns to communicate |
| sensual desires itself. In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, | | | | through colours and sounds, these being universal |
| these souls in purgatory are called Pretas, or "hungry | | | | languages. There is, however, a phenomenon that |
| ghosts." Until the astral form has reached the required | | | | should be noted and expressed clearly by |
| degree of purification, the soul would find it | | | | Swedenborg: |
| uncomfortable to live anywhere else in the astral plane. | | | | ". . . the angels of a lower heaven cannot speak with |
| Purgatory is said to resemble the earth plane's slums | | | | those of a higher heaven. In fact when they look |
| and ghetto areas. | | | | towards them, they do not see them, the higher |
| The author of this paper once had an interesting | | | | heavens appearing like a mist over their heads. Angels |
| experience in one of the lower astral regions in which | | | | of a higher heaven, however, can see those in a lower |
| he was directed to counsel souls who were | | | | heaven . . . |