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