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