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- Herausgeber: Andura Publishing
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
Experience the life-changing power of Henry T. Edge with this unforgettable book.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
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The Astral Light
Henry T. Edge
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – Introductory
The work of theosophists and others have familiarized us with the word “astral” in such expressions as “astral body,” “seeing in the astral light,” “getting on to the astral plane”; and in the following pages an attempt is made to furnish inquirers with an outline of the subject in accordance with the theosophical teachings. The entire subject is vast and comprehensive; but, as with other subjects, it is possible to begin with what may be called an elementary textbook, which shall outline the main features without perplexing the neophyte with too many details; leaving these latter to be mastered in the course of further studies of the theosophical teachings.
Though much has been written about the astral light in other works, we have in mind in this manual a particular object, and that is to relate the subject to recent changes in world-thought which have taken place, especially as regards the scientific outlook. In a world in which the old-fashioned scientific universe is regarded as a plenum, and in which nature and her laws are held to be fully explained by scientific formulas, such a conception as the astral light may appear to belong to that mysterious category known as the “supernatural.” Here, however, the supernatural will be entirely rejected, and we propose to show that the astral light is a part of nature, and an essential part of nature. It is realized today by scientists themselves that their former conceptions are by no means adequate to an explanation of the natural phenomena which have now come under their ken; and they are actually feeling their way towards ideas conformable to the theosophical teachings.
The restricted spheres of both religion and science have left unexplored a very large realm of nature and of human experience, thus leaving us without guidance in a realm which it is of the utmost importance for us to understand. This lack is partially and very inadequately filled by various schools of psychology, psychoanalysis, and the like, which are groping largely in the dark. Again there is the whole vast subject of the “night side of nature”— apparitions, wraiths, presentiments, haunted houses, and the like, the reality of which is so well attested that few remain today who feel able to get away with a simple denial of the facts. Such things are natural, a part of nature, and demand to be explained and understood.
Chapter 2 – Meaning of the Term “Astral Light”
This term, though perhaps not the best that could be chosen, has come down to us from certain medieval mystics and passed into current use. Astral means “starry,” and was used both by ancient and medieval philosophers to designate spheres above the terrestrial or earthy. In the same way, such spheres were often spoken of as spheres of light or fire or aether. As to the word “light,” we might substitute the word “matter” and speak of astral matter instead of astral light. But in this case it would be a kind of matter that was self-luminous. We might also speak of the astral plane; and this may help us to realize that we need to feel more certain as to just what such words as light, matter, and plane, really mean. How does science regard light? If it is a vibration, then we must suppose some vibrating medium, and this medium must be of a material nature. And if light is not a vibration, then we must suppose that it is itself a form of matter.
Theosophy recognizes several different planes of nature. The plane familiar to us is called the physical plane; it is related to our physical senses. These senses are limited in their scope; they give us a partial view of nature. While they are commonly regarded as our means of communication with nature, it is also possible to regard them as windows which only allow us to see a small part of nature and shut us out from the rest. From the reports received from these senses we have constructed an imaginary picture of the universe: put in technical language, we have a set of concepts derived from our percepts. If we have other senses, more subtle ones, and these should come into play while our former senses became inactive, we should get quite another picture of the universe. Things which we have taken for granted because we are so familiar with them, and which we have assumed to be universal and invariable, would be seen to be peculiar to the physical plane, to our physical consciousness, and not necessarily appropriate to other planes. Notions of space and time, magnitude and position, and density and force might be entirely different. We should have left the physical plane; we should be on the astral plane, in the astral light.
