_True Occult Knowledge Gives You Practical Power and Strength_

THE HUMAN AURAAstral Colors and Thought Forms

BySWAMI PANCHADASI

Printed byYOGA PUBLICATION SOCIETY

COPYRIGHT, 1940

COPYRIGHT1912YOGI PUBLICATION SOCIETY

CONTENTS

Chapter I. What Is the Human Aura 5

 The subtle, invisible emanation radiating from every individual. An ethereal radiation. The egg-shaped human nebula. Psychic atmosphere sensed by everyone, but seen by but few. The clairvoyant vision. The phosphorescent flame, and luminous cloud. The colors in the aura and what they mean. Effect of mental states, emotion and passion, upon its aura. The human aura is a very important and interesting phase of every personality. The finer forces, the most powerful. 

Chapter II. The Prana Aura 15

 Prana, the Vital Force, Life Essence. How it affects the human aura. Health Aura. Physical Aura. Health Magnetism. Peculiar appearance of Prana Aura. How animals follow trails of Prana Aura particles. The tiny electric sparks, and vibratory movements. How one may perceive the vibrations of Prana Aura. Interesting experiments. Seeing Prana Aura by ordinary vision. Prana Aura and Magnetic Healing. 

Chapter III. The Astral Colors 23

 Each mental or emotional state has its own astral hue, tint, shade or color. The Primary Colors, Red, Blue and Yellow. The Secondary Colors, Green, Orange and Purple. The combinations of Olive, Russet and Citrine. Black and White, and how formed. Key to the Astral Colors. Red the Physical Color; Blue, the Spiritual; Yellow, the Mental. White and Black the two poles of Spirituality. Rainbow astral colors. Whirlpools of flame. Flashes of astral light. A wonderful phenomena. Practice will enable almost everyone to perceive plainly the outlines of the Prana Aura. 

Chapter IV. The Astral Colors (Continued) 31

 Interpretations of the Astral Color Group. The Red Group. The varying reds of vitality and health; the shades of love; high and low; the crimson of sensuality; the scarlet plane of anger and passion. The Yellow Group of Orange, and the Pride of Intellect. The Golden Yellow of Intellectual Attainment. The haloes of the great teachers. The lemon hue of inferior intellect. The Green Group. The high and low greens. The green of love of nature. The green of Altruism. The green of sympathy. The dull green of insincerity and deceit. The ruddy green of Jealousy and malice. The Blue Group. The great souls of the spiritual and religious emotions. The Brown Group. The Gray Group. Black Group. White Group. The Great White light. 

Chapter V. The Aura Kaleidoscope 39

 What the astral body is composed of. Also the etheric double. The ever changing clouds of aura coloring. Placid scenes and furious storms of the Aura. Opalescent effects. The pearly color of the etheric substance. The Aura of mental activity. The Aura of reverie or sleep. The Aura of anger and passion. The Aura of hate. The Aura of love. The Aura of churches, prisons, hospitals and places of vice. The Aura of character and of passing feeling. Astral atmospheres of buildings and places. Collective and composite auras. A key to some great and deep occult teachings, and esoteric mysteries. How the trained occultist is able to ascertain the character, and tendencies of a person. 

Chapter VI. Thought Form 47

 What a Thought Form is and what it is made of. How Thought Forms are created. How Thought Forms travel. How Thought Forms affect persons. Why some Thought Forms are semi-living, elemental forces. Various forms and classes of Thought Forms. Full description of their character, appearance and effect. Thought Form whirls and swirls. Rotation Thought Forms. Thought Form whirlpools. Explosive Thought Forms. Thought Form bombs. Octopus Thought Form. How Thought Forms are projected and why they travel. A wonderful study of a fascinating subject. 

Chapter VII. Psychic Influence of Color 55

 Action and Re-action. Effect of Color on Mental States and Emotions. How certain tints affect persons favorably and unfavorably. The calming effect of restful greens. "Seeing Red. " Gloomy Black. Depressing Grays. Angry Reds. Soothing Blues. Illuminating Yellows. The Psychology of Color. Healing Effect of Colors. The principles of Healing by Colors. Effect of color upon character and morals. Color in Child Life. Interesting and instructive information and teaching. 

Chapter VIII. Auric Magnetism 63

 Human Magnetism. The Auric Reservoir of Magnetism. Magnetic Healing, how caused and why it occurs. Use of its hands. Flow of etheric force. New Methods of Magnetic Healing. Use of Auric Colors. Analysis and Full Explanation. Absent treatment by Auric Color Vibration. Tables of Auric Healing Colors, showing effect on Nervous System, Blood and Organs. Helpful suggestion in Auric Color Healing. How to Treat yourself and others by this method. Healing by the Great White Light. 

Chapter IX. Developing the Aura 71

 How to build up a strong, positive Aura. How to flood the Aura with the right vibration. How to influence the color in the Aura. "Holding the Thought. " Reflecting Color States. Principles of Occult Color Re-action. Self-analysis. Self-Treatment for Character and Qualities. Effect of visualizing colors. How to get the keynote of Color vibrations. The Key of Success. 

Chapter X. The Protective Aura 79

 A forbidden subject plainly discussed. Need of Occult protection. How to change the Aura so that it will repel physical contagion and psychic attacks. How to Guard the body by Auric Colors. How to energize and illumine the mind, so as to protect against mental influences. The protective Golden Aura. How to protect your emotional nature from undesirable vibrations. The Great Auric Circle of Protection. The oldest occultist's instructions regarding building up of the protective Aura. How to fill the aura with vibrations of health and physical strength. How to protect yourself from the low passions and feelings of others. The Aura of great moral teachers. How those in ignorance of occult laws have been led from the moral path. The Auric Circle of Protection. The crumbs of teaching scattered through this book, other than those concerning the Aura. Those for whom these teachings are intended will recognize and appreciate them. A shelter for soul, mind and body against psychic influence. An infallible Armor against all force of attack. The Great White Light. Words from the Master. 

CHAPTER I. 

WHAT IS THE HUMAN AURA?

The above question is frequently asked the student of occultism by someone who has heard the term but who is unfamiliar with its meaning. Simple as the question may seem, it is by no means easy to answer it, plainly and clearly in a few words, unless the hearer already has ageneral acquaintance with the subject of occult science. Let us commenceat the beginning, and consider the question from the point of view ofthe person who has just heard the term for the first time. 

The dictionaries define the word aura as: "Any subtle, invisibleemanation or exhalation. " The English authorities, as a rule, attributethe origin of the word to a Latin term meaning "air, " but the Hinduauthorities insist that it had its origin in the Sanscrit root _Ar_, meaning the spoke of a wheel, the significance being perceived when weremember the fact that the human aura radiates from the body of theindividual in a manner similar to the radiation of the spokes of a wheelfrom the hub thereof. The Sanscrit origin of the term is the onepreferred by occultists, although it will be seen that the idea of anaerial emanation, indicated by the Latin root, is not foreign to thereal significance of the term. 

Be the real origin of the term what it may, the idea of the human aurais one upon which all occultists are in full agreement and harmony, andthe mention of which is found in all works upon the general subject ofoccultism. So we shall begin by a consideration of the main conceptionthereof, as held by all advanced occultists, ancient and modern, omitting little points of theoretical variance between the differentschools. 

Briefly, then, the human aura may be described as a fine, etherealradiation or emanation surrounding each and every living human being. Itextends from two to three feet, in all directions, from the body. Itassumes an oval shape--a great egg-shaped nebula surrounding the body onall sides for a distance of two or three feet. This aura is sometimesreferred to, in ordinary terms, as the "psychic atmosphere" of a person, or as his "magnetic atmosphere. "

This atmosphere or aura is apparent to a large percentage of persons inthe sense of the psychic awareness generally called "feeling, " thoughthe term is not a clear one. The majority of persons are more or lessaware of that subtle something about the personality of others, whichcan be sensed or felt in a clear though unusual way when the otherpersons are near by, even though they may be out of the range of thevision. Being outside of the ordinary range of the five senses, we areapt to feel that there is something queer or uncanny about thesefeelings of projected personality. But every person, deep in his heart, knows them to be realities and admits their effect upon his impressionsregarding the persons from whom they emanate. Even small children, infants even, perceive this influence, and respond to it in the matterof likes and dislikes. 

But, human testimony regarding the existence and character of the humanaura does not stop with the reports of the psychic senses to which wehave just referred. There are many individuals of the race--a fargreater percentage than is generally imagined--who have the gift ofpsychic sight more or less developed. Many persons have quite awell-developed power of this kind, who do not mention it to theiracquaintances for fear of ridicule, or of being thought "queer. " Inaddition to these persons, there are here and there to be foundwell-developed, clear-sighted, or truly clairvoyant persons, whosepowers of psychic perception are as highly developed as are the ordinarysenses of the average individual. And, the reports of these persons, farapart in time and space though they may be, have always agreed on themain points of psychic phenomena, particularly in regards to the humanaura. 

To the highly developed clairvoyant vision, every human being is seen assurrounded by the egg-shaped aura of two or three feet in depth, moredense and thick in the portion nearest the body, and then graduallybecoming more tenuous, thin and indistinct as the distance from the bodyis increased. By the psychic perception, the aura is seen as a luminouscloud--a phosphorescent flame--deep and dense around the centre and thengradually shading into indistinctness toward the edges. As a matter offact, as all developed occultists know, the aura really extends verymuch further than even the best clairvoyant vision can perceive it, andits psychic influence is perceptible at quite a distance in many cases. In this respect it is like any flame on the physical plane--itgradually fades into indistinctness, its rays persisting far beyond thereach of the vision, as may be proved by means of chemical apparatus, etc. 

To the highly developed clairvoyant vision, the human aura is seen to becomposed of all the colors of the spectrum, the combinations of colorsdiffering in various persons, and constantly shifting in the case ofevery person. These colors reflect the mental (particularly theemotional) states of the person in whose aura they are manifested. Eachmental state has its own particular combination formed from the fewelementary colors which represent the elementary mental conditions. Asthe mind is ever shifting and changing its states, it follows that therewill ever be a corresponding series of shifting changes in the colors ofthe human aura. 

The shades and colors of the aura present an ever changing kaleidoscopicspectacle, of wonderful beauty and most interesting character. Thetrained occultist is able to read the character of any person, as wellas the nature of his passing thoughts and feelings, by simply studyingthe shifting colors of his aura. To the developed occultist the mind andcharacter become as an open book, to be studied carefully andintelligently. 

Even the student of occultism, who has not been able to develop theclairvoyant vision to such a high degree, is soon able to develop thesense of psychic perception whereby he is able to at least "feel" thevibrations of the aura, though he may not see the colors, and thus beable to interpret the mental states which have caused them. Theprinciple is of course the same, as the colors are but the outwardappearance of the vibrations themselves, just as the ordinary colors onthe physical plane are merely the outward manifestation of vibration ofmatter. 

But it must not be supposed that the human aura is always perceived inthe appearance of a luminous cloud of ever-changing color. When we saythat such is its characteristic appearance, we mean it in the same sensethat we describe the ocean as a calm, deep body of greenish waters. Weknow, however, that at times the ocean presents no such appearance, but, instead, is seen as rising in great mountainous waves, white capped, andthreatening the tiny vessels of men with its power. Or again, we maydefine the word "flame" in the sense of a steady bright stream ofburning gas, whereas, we know only too well, that the word alsoindicates the great hot tongues of fiery force that stream out from thewindows of a burning building, and lick to destruction all with which itcomes in contact. 

So it is with the human aura. At times it may be seen as a beautiful, calm, luminous atmosphere, presenting the appearance of a great opalunder the rays of the sun. Again, it blazes like the flames of a greatfurnace, shooting forth great tongues of fire in this direction andthat, rising and falling in great waves of emotional excitement, orpassion, or perhaps whirling like a great fiery maelstrom toward itscentre, or swirling in an outward movement away from its centre. Againit may be seen as projecting from its depths smaller bodies or centresof mental vibration, which like sparks from a furnace detach themselvesfrom the parent flame, and travel far away in other directions--theseare the projected thought-forms of which all occultists are fond ofspeaking and which make plain many strange psychic occurrences. 

So, it will be seen, the human aura is a very important and interestingphase of the personality of every individual. The psychic phase of manis as much the man himself as is the physical phase--the complete manbeing made up of the two phases. Man invisible is as much the real manas is man visible. As the finer forms of nature are always the mostpowerful, so is the psychic man more potent than the physical man. 

In this book, I speak of the human aura, and its colors, as beingperceived by astral or clairvoyant vision, for this is the way in whichit is perceived and studied by the occultist. The occult teaching isthat, in the evolution of the race, this astral vision will eventuallybecome the common property of every human being--it so exists even now, and needs only development to perfect it. 

But modern physical science is today offering corroborative proof(though the same is not needed by the occultist who has the astralvision) to the general public, of the existence of the human aura. InEurope, especially, a number of scientists have written on the subjectof the aura, and have described the result of the experiments in whichthe aura has been perceived, and even photographed, by means offluorescent screens, such as are used in taking X-Ray photographs, etc. Leading authorities in England, France, and still more recently, inGermany, have reported the discovery (!) of a nebulous, hazy, radio-active energy or substance, around the body of human beings. Inshort, they now claim that every human being is radio-active, and thatthe auric radiation may be registered and perceived by means of a screencomposed of certain fluorescent material, interposed between the eye ofthe observer, and the person observed. 

This aura, so discovered (!) by the scientists, is called by them the"human atmosphere, " and is classified by them as similar to theradiations of other radio-active substances, radium, for instance. Theyhave failed to discover color in this atmosphere, however, and knownothing, apparently, of the relation between auric colors and mental andemotional states, which are so familiar to every advanced occultist. Imention this fact merely as a matter of general interest and informationto the student, and not as indicating, even in the slightest degree, anyidea on my part that the old occult teaching, and the observed phenomenaaccompanying the same, regarding the human aura, require any proof orbacking up on the part of material scientists. On the contrary, I feelthat material science should feel flattered by the backing up by occultscience of the new discovery (!) of the "human atmosphere. " A littlelater on, material science may also discover (!) the auric colors, andannounce the same to the wondering world, as a new truth. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE PRANA-AURA. 

Many writers on the subject of the human aura content themselves with adescription of the colors of the mental or emotional aura, and omitalmost any reference whatsoever to the basic substance or power of theaura. This is like the play of Hamlet, with the character of Hamletomitted, for, unless we understand something concerning the fundamentalsubstance of which the aura is composed, we cannot expect to arrive at aclear understanding of the phenomena which arises from and by reason ofthe existence of this fundamental substance. We might as well expect astudent to understand the principles of color, without having been madeacquainted with the principles of light. 

The fundamental substance of which the human aura is composed is noneother than that wonderful principle of nature of which one reads so muchin all occult writings, which has been called by many names, but whichis perhaps best known under the Sanscrit term, _Prana_, but which maybe thought of as Vital Essence, Life Power, etc. 

It is not necessary in this book to go into the general consideration ofthe nature and character of Prana. It is sufficient for us to considerit in its manifestation of Vital Force, Life Essence, etc. In itsbroadest sense, Prana really is the Principle of Energy in Nature, butin its relation to living forms it is the Vital Force which lies at thevery basis of manifested Life. It exists in all forms of living things, from the most minute microscopic form up to living creatures on higherplanes, as much higher than man as man is higher than the simplemicroscopic life-forms. It permeates them all, and renders possible alllife activity and functioning. 

Prana is not the mind or the soul, but is rather the force or energythrough which the soul manifests activity, and the mind manifeststhought. It is the steam that runs the physical and mental machinery oflife. It is the substance of the human aura, and the colors of mentalstates are manifested in that substance, just as the colors of chemicalbodies are manifested in the substance of water. But Prana is notmaterial substance--it is higher than mere matter, being the underlyingsubstance of Energy or Force in Nature. 

While it is true, as we have seen, that all auras are composed of thesubstance of Prana, it is likewise true that there is a simple andelementary form of auric substance to which occultists have given thesimple name of the prana-aura in order to distinguish it from the morecomplex forms and phases of the human aura. The simplicity of thecharacter of the prana-aura causes it to be more readily sensed orperceived than is possible in the case of the more complex phases orforms of the aura. For whereas it is only the more sensitive organismsthat can distinguish the finer vibrations of the mental and emotionalaura, and only the clairvoyant sight which can discern its presence byits colors, almost any person, by a little careful experimenting, maybecome aware of the presence of the prana-aura, not only in the way of"feeling" it, but in many cases of actually seeing it with the ordinaryvision rightly directed. 

That which is known as the prana-aura is of course the most simple formor phase of the human aura. It is the form or phase which is moreclosely bound up with the physical body, and is less concerned with themental states. This fact has caused some writers to speak of it as the"health aura, " or "physical aura, " both of which terms are fittinglyapplied as we shall see, although we prefer the simpler term we haveused here, i. E. , the prana-aura. For the prana-aura does show the stateof the health of the individual radiating it, and it also reallycontains physical power and magnetism which may be, and is imparted toothers. 

The basic prana-aura is practically colorless, that is to say, it isabout the color of the clearest water or a very clear diamond. By theclairvoyant vision it is seen to be streaked or marked by very minute, bristle-like lines, radiating outward from the physical body of theindividual, in a manner very like "the quills upon the fretfulporcupine, " as Shakespeare puts it. In the case of excellent physicalhealth, these bristle-like streaks are stiff and brittle-looking, whereas, if the general health of the person be deficient thesebristle-like radiations seem to be more or less tangled, twisted, orcurly; and, in some cases present a drooping appearance, and in extremecases present the appearance of soft, limp fur. 

It may interest the student to know that minute particles of thisprana-aura, or vital magnetism, is sloughed off the body in connectionwith physical exhalations such as scent, etc. , and remain in existencefor some time after the person has passed from the particular place atwhich they were cast off. In fact, as all occultists know, it is theseparticles of the prana-aura which serve to give vitality to the "scent"of living creatures, which enables dogs and other animals to trace upthe track of the person, or animal, for a long time after the person haspassed. It is not alone the physical odor, which must be very slight asyou will see upon a moment's consideration. It is really the presence ofthe particles of the prana-aura which enables the dog to distinguish thetraces of one person among that of thousands of others, and the feat isas much psychical as physical. 

Another peculiarity of the prana-aura is that it is filled with amultitude of extremely minute sparkling particles, resembling tinyelectric sparks, which are in constant motion. These sparks, which arevisible to persons of only slightly developed psychic power, impart avibratory motion to the prana-aura which, under certain conditions isplainly visible to the average person. This vibratory movement is akinto the movement of heated air arising from a hot stove, or from theheated earth on a mid-summer day. 

If the student will close his eyes partially, until he peers out fromnarrowed lids, and then will closely observe some very healthy personsitting in a dim light, he may perceive this undulating, pulsingvibration extending an inch or two from the surface of the body. Itrequires some little knack to recognize these vibrations, but a littlepractice will often give one the key; and after the first recognition, the matter becomes easy. 

Again, in the case of persons of active brains, one may perceive thispulsating prana-aura around the head of the person, particularly when heis engaged in concentrated active thought. A little practice will enablealmost any one to perceive faintly the dim outlines of the prana-auraaround his own fingers and hand, by placing his hand against a blackbackground, in a dim light, and then gazing at it with narrowedeye-lids, squinting if necessary. Under these circumstances, after alittle practice, one will be apt to perceive a tiny outlined aura, orradiation, or halo, of pale yellowish light surrounding the hand. 

By extending the fingers, fan shape, you will perceive that each fingeris showing its own little outlined prana-aura. The stronger the vitalforce, the plainer will be the perception of the phenomenon. Often theprana-aura, in these experiments, will appear like the semi-luminousradiance surrounding a candle flame or gas light. Under the bestconditions, the radiation will assume an almost phosphorescentappearance. Remember, this is simply a matter of trained ordinarysight, --not clairvoyant vision. 

This prana-aura is identical with human magnetism, which is employed inordinary magnetic healing. That is to say it is the outer manifestationof the wonderful pranic force. It is felt when you shake hands, orotherwise come in close physical contact with a strongly magneticperson. On the other hand it is what the weakly, human vampire-likepersons unconsciously, or consciously, try to draw off from strongpersons, if the latter allow them so to do from want of knowledge ofself protection. Who has not met persons of this kind, who seem to sapone's very life force away from him? Remember, then, that the prana-aurais the aura or radiation of life force, or vital power, which is thesteam of your living activity, physical and mental. It is the pouringout of the vital "steam" which is running your vital machinery. Itspresence indicates Life--its absence Lifelessness. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE ASTRAL COLORS. 

The term "astral, " so frequently employed by all occultists, isdifficult to explain or define except to those who have pursued aregular course of study in occult science. For the purpose of thepresent consideration, it is enough to say that over and above theordinary physical sense plane there is another and more subtle plane, known as the Astral Plane. Every human being possesses the innate andinherent faculty of sensing the things of this astral plane, by means ofan extension or enlargement of the powers of the ordinary senses, so tospeak. But, in the majority of persons in the present stage ofdevelopment, these astral senses are lying dormant, and only here andthere do we find individuals who are able to sense on the astral plane, although in the course of evolution the entire race will be able to doso, of course. The colors of the human aura, mentioned in the precedingtwo chapters, and which arise from the various mental and emotionalstates, belong to the phenomena of the astral plane, and hence bear thename of "the astral colors. " Belonging to the astral plane, and not tothe ordinary physical plane, they are perceived only by the sensesfunctioning on the astral plane, and are invisible to the ordinaryphysical plane sight. But, to those who have developed the astral sight, or clairvoyance, these colors are as real as are the ordinary colors tothe average person, and their phenomena have been as carefully recordedby occult science as have the physical plane colors by physical science. The fact that to the ordinary physical senses they are invisible, doesnot render them any the less real. Remember, in this connection, that tothe blind man our physical colors do not exist. And, for that matter, the ordinary colors do not exist to "color blind" persons. The ordinaryphysical plane person is simply "color blind" to the astralcolors--that's all. 

On the astral plane each shade of mental or emotional state has itscorresponding astral color, the latter manifesting when the formappears. It follows then, of course, that when once the occultist hasthe key to this color correspondence, and thus is able to perceive theastral colors by means of his astral vision, he also is able to read themental and emotional states of any person within the range of hisvision, as easily as you are now reading the printed words of this book. 

Before proceeding to a consideration of the list of astral colors in thehuman aura, I wish to call your attention to a slight variation in thecase of the prana-aura, of which I have spoken in our last chapter. Ihave stated therein that the prana-aura is colorless like a diamond orclear water. This is true in the average case, but in the case of aperson of very strong physical vitality or virility, the prana-auratakes on, at times, a faint warm pink tinge, which is really areflection from the red astral color, of the meaning of which color youshall now learn. 

Like their physical plane counterparts, all the astral colors are formedfrom three Primary Colors, namely (1) Red; (2) Blue; and (3) Yellow. From these three primary colors, all other colors are formed. Followingthe Primary Colors, we find what are known as the Secondary Colors, namely: (1) Green, derived from a combination of Yellow and Blue; (2)Orange, formed from a combination of Yellow and Red; and (3) Purple, formed from a combination of Red and Blue. Further combinations producethe other colors, as for instance, Green and Purple form Olive; Orangeand Purple form Russet; Green and Orange form Citrine. 

Black is called an absence of color, while White is really a harmoniousblending of all colors, strange as this may appear to one who has notstudied the subject. The blending of the Primary Colors in variedproportions produce what is known as the "hues" of color. Adding whiteto the hues, we obtain "tints;" while mixing Black produces "shades. "Strictly speaking Black and White are known as "neutral" colors. 

Now for the meaning of the astral colors--that is, the explanation ofthe mental or emotional state represented by each. I ask that thestudent familiarize himself with the meaning of the Primary Colors andtheir combinations. A clear understanding of the key of the astralcolors is often an aid in the development of astral sight. 

KEY TO THE ASTRAL COLORS. 

RED. Red represents the physical phase of mentality. That is to say, itstands for that part of the mental activities which are concerned withphysical life. It is manifested by the vitality of the body, and inother hues, tints and shades, is manifested by passions, anger, physical cravings, etc. I shall describe the various forms of Redmanifestation, a little later on. 

BLUE. Blue represents the religious, or spiritual, phase of mentality. That is to say, it stands for that part of the mental activities whichare concerned with high ideals, altruism, devotion, reverence, veneration, etc. It is manifested, in its various hues, tints, andshades, by all forms of religious feeling and emotion, high and low, aswe shall see as we proceed. 

YELLOW. Yellow represents the intellectual phase of mentality. That isto say, it stands for that part of the mental activities which areconcerned with reasoning, analysis, judgment, logical processes, induction, deduction, synthesis, etc. In its various hues, tints andshades, it is manifested by the various forms of intellectual activity, high and low, as we shall see as we proceed. 

WHITE. White stands for what occultists know as Pure Spirit, which is avery different thing from the religious emotion of "spirituality, " andwhich really is the essence of the ALL that really is. Pure Spirit isthe positive pole of Being. We shall see the part played by it in theastral colors, as we proceed. 

BLACK. Black stands for the negative pole of Being--the very negation ofPure Spirit, and opposing it in every way. We shall see the part playedby it in the astral colors as we proceed. 

The various combinations of the three Astral Primary Colors are formedin connection with Black and White as well as by the blending of thethree themselves. These combinations, of course, result from the shadesof mental and emotional activity manifested by the individuality, ofwhich they are the reflection and the key. 

The combinations and blending of the astral colors, however, arenumberless, and present an almost infinite variety. Not only is theblending caused by the mixing of the colors themselves, in connectionwith black and white, but in many cases the body of one color is foundto be streaked, striped, dotted or clouded by other colors. At timesthere is perceived the mixture of two antagonistic color streamsfighting against each other before blending. Again we see the effect ofone color neutralizing another. 

In some cases great black clouds obscure the bright colors beneath, andthen darken the fierce glow of color, just as is often witnessed in thecase of a physical conflagration. Again, we find great flashes of brightyellow, or red, flaring across the field of the aura, showing agitationor the conflict of intellect and passion. 

The average student, who has not developed the astral vision, isinclined to imagine that the astral colors in the human aura present theappearance of an egg-shaped rainbow, or spectrum, or something of thatsort. But this is a great mistake. In the first place, the astral colorsare seldom at rest, for all mental and emotional activity is the resultof vibration, change, and rhythmic motion. Consequently, the colors ofthe aura present a kaleidoscopic appearance, of constant change ofcolor, shape and grouping--a great electrical display, so to speak, constantly shifting, changing, and blending. 

Great tongues of flamelike emanations project themselves beyond theborder of the aura, under strong feeling or excitement, and greatvibratory whirls and swirls are manifested. The sight is mostfascinating, although somewhat terrifying at first. Nature is wise inbestowing the gift of astral vision only gradually and by almostimperceptible stages of advance. There are many unpleasant, as well aspleasant, sights on the Astral Plane. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE ASTRAL COLORS (Continued). 

Remembering, always, the significance of the three primary colors on theastral plane, let us consider the meaning of the combinations, shades, hues, and tints of these colors. 

THE RED GROUP. In this group of astral colors seen in the human aura, wefind strongly in evidence the clear bright red shade, similar to that offresh, pure arterial blood as it leaves the heart, filled with purematerial freshly oxygenated. This shade, in the aura, indicates health, life-force, vigor, virility, etc. , in pure and untainted form. The auraof a healthy, strong child shows this shade of color very plainly andstrongly. 

Strong, pure natural emotions, such as friendship, love ofcompanionship, love of physical exercise, healthy clean sports, etc. , are manifested by a clear clean shade of red. When these feelings becometainted with selfishness, low motives, etc. , the shade grows darker andduller. Love of low companionship, unclean sports, or selfish games, etc. , produce an unpleasant muddy red shade. 

A shade of red, very near to crimson, is the astral color of Love, butthe tint and shade varies greatly according to the nature of this formof emotional feeling. A very high form of love, which seeks the good ofthe loved one, rather than the satisfaction of oneself, manifests as abeautiful rose tint--one of the most pleasing of the astral tints, bythe way. Descending in the scale, we find the crimson shade becomingdarker and duller, until we descend to the plane of impure, sensual, coarse passion, which is manifested by an ugly, dull, muddy crimson of arepulsive appearance, suggesting blood mixed with dirty earth orbarnyard soil. 

A peculiar series of red shades are those manifesting anger in itsvarious forms, from the vivid scarlet flashes of anger color, arisingfrom what may be called "righteous indignation, " down the scale to theugly flashes of deep, dull red, betokening rage and uncontrolledpassion. The red of anger generally shows itself in flashes, or greatleaping flames, often accompanied by a black background, in the case ofmalicious hate, or by a dirty, greenish background when the rage arisesfrom jealousy, or envy. The color of avarice is a very ugly combinationof dull, dark red, and a dirty ugly green. If persons could see theirown astral colors accompanying these undesirable mental states, thesight would perhaps so disgust them with such states as to work a cure. At any rate, they are most disgusting and repulsive to the occultist whobeholds them in the human aura, and he often wonders why they do notsicken the person manifesting them--they often do just this thing, totell the truth. 

THE YELLOW GROUP. In this group of astral colors seen in the human aurawe find as many varieties as we do in the red group. Yellow, denotingintellect, has many degrees of shade and tint, and many degrees ofclearness. 

An interesting shade in this group is that of Orange, which representsdifferent forms of "pride of intellect, " intellectual ambition, love ofmastery by will, etc. The greater degree of red in the astral orangecolor, the greater the connection with the physical or animal nature. Pride and love of power over others, has much red in its astral color, while love of intellectual mastery has much less red in its composition. 

Pure intellectual attainment, and the love of the same, is manifested bya beautiful clear golden yellow. Great teachers often have this sostrongly in evidence, that at times their students have glimpses of agolden "halo" around the head of the teacher. Teachers of greatspirituality have this "nimbus" of golden yellow, with a border ofbeautiful blue tint, strongly in evidence. 

The paintings of the great spiritual teachers of the race usually havethis radiance pictured as a "halo, " showing a recognition of thephenomenon on the part of the great artists. Hoffman's celebratedpainting of the Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane shows this nimbus soaccurately depicted that the occultist is convinced that this artistmust have actually witnessed a similar scene in the astral light, sotrue to the astral facts are its details. The images of the Buddha alsoshow this radiance. 

The rich golden shades of intellectual yellow are comparatively rare, asickly lemon color being the only indication of intellectual power andfound in the aura of the great run of persons. To the sight of theoccultist, employing his power of astral vision, a crowd of persons willmanifest here and there, at widely separated points, the bright goldenyellow of the true intellect, appearing like scattered lighted candlesamong a multitude of faintly burning matches. 

THE GREEN GROUP. This is a peculiar group, consisting as of course itdoes of various combinations of blues and yellows, tinted and shaded bywhite or black. Even skilled occultists find it very difficult toaccount for the fact of certain green shades arising from the spiritualblue and the intellectual yellow--this is one of the most obscure pointsin the whole subject of the astral colors, and none but the mostadvanced occultists are able to explain the "why" in some instances. Tothose who are fond of analysis of this kind, I will drop the followinghint, which may help them out in the matter, viz. The key is found inthe fact that Green lies in the centre of the astral spectrum, and is abalance between the two extremes, and is also influenced by these twoextremes in a startling manner. 

A certain restful green denotes love of nature, out of door life, travelin the country, etc. , and also, slightly differing in tint, the love ofhome scenes, etc. Again, a clear beautiful lighter tint of greenindicates what may be called sympathy, altruistic emotion, charity, etc. Again, illustrating variety in this group of astral colors, anothershade of green shows intellectual tolerance of the views of others. Growing duller, this indicates tact, diplomacy, ability to handle humannature, and descending another degree or so blends into insincerity, shiftiness, untruth, etc. There is an ugly slate-colored greenindicating low, tricky deceit--this is a very common shade in the colorsof the average aura, I am sorry to say. Finally, a particularly ugly, muddy, murky green indicates jealousy and kindred feelings, enviousmalice, etc. 

THE BLUE GROUP. This interesting group of astral colors represents thevarying forms and degrees of religious emotion, "spirituality, " etc. Thehighest form of spiritual, religious feeling and thought is representedby a beautiful, rich, clear violet tint, while the lower and more grossphases of religious emotion and thought are represented by the darkerand duller hues, tints, and shades until a deep, dark indigo is reached, so dark that it can scarcely be distinguished from a bluish black. Thislatter color, as might be expected, indicates a low superstitious formof religion, scarcely worthy of the latter name. Religion, we mustremember, has its low places as well as its heights--its garden growsthe rarest flowers, and at the same time the vilest weeds. 

High spiritual feelings--true spiritual unfoldment--is indicated by awonderfully clear light blue, of an unusual tint, something akin to theclear light blue of the sky on a cool autumn afternoon, just beforesunset. Even when we witness an approach to this color in Nature, we areinspired by an uplifting feeling as if we were in the presence of higherthings, so true is the intuition regarding these things. 

Morality, of a high degree, is indicated by a series of beautiful shadesof blue, always of a clear inspiring tint. Religious feeling ruled byfear, is indicated by a shade of bluish gray. Purple denotes a love ofform and ceremony, particularly those connected with religious officesor regal grandeur of a solemn kind. Purple, naturally, was chosen as theroyal color in the olden days. 

THE BROWN GROUP. The brown group of astral colors represents desire forgain and accumulation, ranging from the clear brown of industriousaccumulation, to the murky dull browns of miserliness, greed andavarice. There is a great range in this group of brown shades, as may beimagined. 

THE GRAY GROUP. The group of grays represents a negative group ofthought and emotions. Gray represents fear, depression, lack ofcourage, negativity, etc. This is an undesirable and unpleasant group. 

BLACK. Black, in the astral colors, stands for hatred, malice, revenge, and "devilishness" generally. It shades the brighter colors into theirlower aspects, and robs them of their beauty. It stands for hate--alsofor gloom, depression, pessimism, etc. 

WHITE. White is the astral color of Pure Spirit, as we have seen, andits presence raises the degree of the other colors, and renders themclearer. In fact, the perception of the highest degree of Being known tothe most advanced occultist is manifested to the highest adepts andmasters in the form of "The Great White Light, " which transcends anylight ever witnessed by the sight of man on either physical or astralplane--for it belongs to a plane higher than either, and is absolute, rather than a relative, white. The presence of white among the astralcolors of the human aura, betokens a high degree of spiritual attainmentand unfoldment, and when seen permeating the entire aura it is one ofthe Signs of the Master--the token of Adeptship. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE AURIC KALEIDOSCOPE. 

As we have seen, the human aura is never in a state of absolute rest orquiet. Motion and change is ever manifested by it. It has its periods ofcomparative calm, of course, but even in this state there is a pulsing, wave-like motion apparent. The clouds of changing color fly over itssurface, and in its depth, like the fast driven fleecy clouds over thesummer sky, illumined by the rays of the setting sun. 

Again, fierce storms of mental activity, or emotional stress, disturbits comparative calm, and the wildest scenes are witnessed in the auraby the observer. So intense are the vibrations of some of these mentalstorms that their effect is plainly felt by the average person, thoughhe is not able to distinguish the colors or the great whirls and swirlsof auric substance accompanying them. 

A person sunk in reverie, dream-states, or sleep, presents aninteresting auric kaleidoscope, which possesses great beauty if theperson be normal and of average morality. In such a case there is acloudy-clearness (if the term may be used) tinged with tints and shadesof varying colors, blending in strange and interesting combinations, appearing gradually from previous combinations, and sinking graduallyinto new ones. 

To the observer of the aura the term "opalescent" instinctly presentsitself, for there is a striking resemblance to the opaline peculiar playof colors of delicate tints and shades in a body of pearly or milky hue. Color shades into color, tint into tint, hue into hue, as in the colorscale of the spectrum of which the rainbow is the most familiar example. But the rainbow or spectrum lacks the peculiar semi-transparency of theauric colors, and also the constantly changing and dissolving body ofcolors of the aura. 

At this point, I wish to call your attention to a phase of the aurawhich I purposely passed over in the preceding chapters. I allude to thephase of the aura which presents the "pearly" appearance of theopalescent body, which we have just noted. This appearance is manifestedneither by any of the mental or emotional states, nor is it theprana-aura or vital force which I have described in a previous chapter. It is the manifestation of what is known to occultists as "ethericsubstance, " and is a very interesting feature of the auric phenomena. 

This etheric substance, which manifests this peculiar radiance in thebody of the aura, composes that which is called by some occultists "theastral body, " but this latter term is also employed in another sense, and I prefer to use the term "etheric double" to indicate what someothers know as "the astral body. " Etheric substance is much finer formof substance than that which composes the physical body. It is reallymatter in a very high degree of vibration--much higher than even theultra-gaseous matter of physical substance. It may be sensed, ordinarily, only on the astral plane, which is its own particular planeof activity. 

The etheric double, composed of this etheric substance, is the exactcounterpart of its physical counterpart--the ordinary physical body ofthe individual--although it is capable of great expansion or shrinkingin space. Like the physical body it radiates an aura, and this combiningwith the other forms of the auric body, gives to it its peculiar pearlyappearance, which is the background of its opalescence previously noted. 

The etheric double explains the phenomenon of spectral appearances orghosts, for it persists for a time after the death of the physical body, and under some conditions becomes visible to the ordinary sight. Itsometimes is projected from the physical body, and at such times appearsas an apparition of the living, of which there are many cases recordedby the societies investigating psychical subjects. 

The etheric double, or astral body, is referred to here, however, merelyto explain the peculiar pearly tint of the background, or body, of theaura, in and through which the mental and emotional auric colors playand move. It may interest you, however, to know that this phase of aurais always present around and about a "ghost" or dematerializeddisembodied soul, or "spirit" as common usage terms it. 

The aura of the wide-awake person is, of course, far more active andmore deeply colored than is that of the person in reverie, dream, orsleep. And, again the aura of the person manifesting a high degree ofmental activity, or strong feeling or passion, is still brighter anddeeper than the ordinary person performing his daily routine work. Inthe state of anger, or love-passion, for instance, the aura isviolently disturbed, deep shades of color whirling and swirling in thedepths and surface of the auric body. Lightning-like flashes shoot forthand great bodies of lurid smoky clouds fly on the surface. Looking intothe aura of a man wild with rage and passion, is like peering intoInferno. The astral plane, in the region of a lynching mob, or otherbody of persons filled with rage, becomes a frightful scene of auricradiation. 

A person filled with the emotion of pure love, fills his aura with themost beautiful tints and shades of high rosy color, and to behold thesame is a pleasure fully appreciated by the occultist. A church filledwith persons of a high devotional ideality, is also a beautiful place, by reason of the mingling of auric violet-blue vibrations of thosetherein assembled. The atmosphere of a prison is most depressing andpresents a most unpleasant appearance to one possessing the astralvision. Likewise the astral atmosphere of an abode of vice and passion, becomes really physically nauseating to the occultist of high ideals andtaste. Such scenes on the astral plane are avoided by all trueoccultists, except when the call of duty leads them to visit them togive aid and help. 

There are two distinct features connected with the auric coloring ofevery person. The first is the coloring resulting from the more habitualthoughts and feelings of the person--from his character, in fact; whilethe second is the coloring resulting from the particular feelings, orthoughts, manifested by him at that particular moment or time. 

The color of the feeling of the moment soon disappears and fades away, while the more habitual feeling, bound up with his character, causes itscorresponding color to abide more permanently, and thus to give adecided hue to his general auric color appearance. 

The trained occultist is, therefore, able to ascertain not only thepassing thoughts and feelings of a person, but also to determineinfallibly his general character, tendencies, past character andactions, and general nature, simply from a careful examination and studyof the auric colors of the person in question. 

As all occultists well know, every place, dwelling, business place, church, courtroom--every village, city, country, nation--has its owncollective aura, known as "astral atmosphere, " which is simply but acombined reflection of the individual auras of the human units of whichits body of inhabitants is made up. These atmospheric vibrations areplainly felt by many persons, and we are instinctively attracted orrepelled by reason thereof. But, to the developed occultists, theseplaces manifest the auric colors, in the combinations arising from thenature of the mentalities of the persons dwelling in them. 

Each place has its collective aura, just as each person has hisindividual aura. The astral plane presents a wonderful scene of color byreason of this and similar causes. The harmony of the color scheme, insome cases, is marvellously beautiful; while the horrible aspect ofscenes resemble a nightmare vision of the worst kind. 

It is easy to understand why some of the ancients who stumbled intoglimpses of the astral plane, while in dream-state or trance, reportedthe vision of terrible hells of unquenchable fire, fiery lakes ofsmoking brimstone, etc. , for such ideas would naturally come to the mindof the uninformed person who had peered into the astral plane in suchcases. 

And, in the same way, the visions of heaven reported by the saints, andothers of high spirituality, are explainable on the theory that thesepersons had sensed some of the beautiful scenes of the higher astralplanes, filled with the combined auric tints and hues of souls of highdevelopment. The principle of auric colors holds good on all the manyplanes of being and existence--high as well as low. 

I merely hint at a great occult truth in making the above statements. The thoughtful will be able to read between my lines. I have given you alittle key which will unlock the door of many mysteries, if you will butuse it intelligently. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THOUGHT FORMS. 

That interesting phase of occult phenomena, known as "thought forms, " isso closely related to the general subject of the human aura that amention of one must naturally lead to the thought of the other. Thought-forms are built up of the very material composing the aura, andmanifest all of the general characteristics thereof, even to the auriccolors. An understanding of the facts of the human aura is necessary fora correct understanding of the nature of the thought-forms composed ofthe same substance. 

A "thought form" is a peculiar manifestation of mental activity on theastral plane. It is more than a powerful disturbance in the body of thehuman aura, although this is the place of its embodiment or birth in theobjective world. It is formed in the following manner: A personmanifests a strong desire, feeling or idea, which is naturally filledwith the dynamic force of his will. This sets up a series of strongvibrations in the body of the aura, which gradually resolve themselvesinto a strong whirling centre of thought-force involved in a mass ofstrongly cohesive auric substance, and strongly charged with the powerof the prana of the person. 

In some cases these thought forms survive in the auric body for somelittle time, and then gradually fade away. In other cases they surviveand maintain an almost independent existence for some time, and exert astrong influence upon other persons coming in the presence of theperson. Again, these thought forms may be so strongly charged withprana, and so imbued with the mental force of the person, that they willactually be thrown off and away from the aura itself, and travel inspace until they exhaust their initial energy--in the meantime exertingan influence upon the psychic aura of other persons. 

A thought-form is more than merely a strongly manifested thought--itreally is such a thought, but surrounded by a body of etherealsubstance, charged with prana, and even carrying with it the vibrationof the life energy of its creator. It is a child of the mind of itscreator, and acquires a portion of his life-essence, so to speak, whichabides with it for a longer or shorter time after its birth. In extremeinstances it becomes practically a semi-living elemental force, ofnecessarily comparatively short life. 

To those who find it difficult to understand how a thought-form canpersist after separation from the presence of the thinker, I would saythat the phenomena is similar to that of light traveling in space, longafter the star which originated it has been destroyed. Or, again, it islike the vibrations of heat remaining in a room after the lamp or stovecausing it has been removed, or the fire in the grate having died out. Or like the sound waves of the drum-beat persisting after the beatitself has ceased. It is all a matter of the persistence of vibrations. 

Thought forms differ greatly one from the other in the matter of shapeand general appearance. The most common and simple form is that of anundulating wave, or series of tiny waves, resembling the circles causedby the dropping of a pebble into a still pond. Another form is that of atiny rotating bit of cloud-like substance, sometimes whirling towards acentral point, like a whirlpool; and sometimes swirling away from thecentral point like the familiar "pin-wheel" fireworks toy. Another formis akin the ring of smoke projected from the coughing locomotive, orthe rounded lips of the cigar smoker, the movement in this kind being aform of spiral rotation. Other thought forms have the appearance ofswiftly rotating balls of cloudy substance, often glowing with a faintphosphorescence. 

Sometimes the thought form will appear as a great slender jet, likesteam ejected from the spout of a tea-kettle, which is sometimes brokenup into a series of short, puffed-out jets, each following the jetpreceding it, and traveling in a straight line. Sometimes the thoughtform shoots forth like a streak of dim light, almost resembling a beamof light flashed from a mirror. Occasionally, it will twist its wayalong like a long, slender corkscrew, or auger, boring into space. 

In cases of thought-forms sent forth by explosive emotion, the thoughtform will actually take the form of a bomb, which literally explodeswhen it reaches the presence of the person toward whom it is aimed. Every person has experienced this feeling of a thought bomb having beenexploded in his near vicinity, having been directed by a vigorouspersonality. This form is frequently found in the thought forms sent outby a strong, earnest, vigorous orator. 

There are strong thought forms which seem to strive to push back theother person, so correctly do they represent the idea and feeling backof their manifestation. Others seem to strive to wind around the otherperson, and to try to literally drag him toward the first person, thisform often accompanying strong appeal, persuasion, coaxing, etc. , whenaccompanied by strong desire. A particularly vigorous form of this kindof thought form takes on the appearance of a nebulous octopus, withlong, winding, clinging tentacles, striving to wrap around the otherperson, and to draw him toward the center. 

The force of the feeling behind the manifestation of the thought formwill often travel a long distance from the sender--in fact, in cases ofgreat power of concentration, space seems to be no barrier to itspassage. In striking instances of thought transference, etc. , it will befound that thought forms play an important part. 

The variety of shapes of thought forms is almost endless. Eachcombination of thought and feeling creates its own form, and eachindividual seems to have his own peculiarities in this respect. Theforms I have above described, however, will serve as typical cases toillustrate the more common classes of appearances. The list, however, might be indefinitely expanded from the experience of any experiencedoccultist, and is not intended to be full by any means. All varieties ofgeometrical forms are found among the thought forms, some of them beingof remarkable beauty. 

In considering the subject of projected thought forms, moreover, it mustbe remembered that they partake of, and manifest, the same colors asdoes the aura itself, for they are composed of the same material and arecharged with the same energy. But, note this difference, that whereasthe aura is energized from the constant battery of the organism of theindividual, the thought form, on the contrary, has at its service onlythe energy with which it was charged when it was thrown off--being astorage battery, as it were, which in time expends all of its power andthen is powerless. 

Every thought form bears the same color that it would possess if it hadbeen retained in the body of the aura itself. But, as a rule, the colorsare plainer, and less blended with others--this because each thoughtform is the representation of a single definite feeling or thought, orgroup of same, instead of being a body of widely differing mentalvibrations. Thus the thought form of anger will show its black and red, with its characteristic flashes. The thought form of passion will showforth its appropriate auric colors and general characteristics. Thethought form of high ideal love will show its beautiful form andharmonious tinting, like a wonderful celestial flower from the garden ofsome far off Paradise. 

Many thought forms never leave the outer limits of the aura, whileothers are projected to great distances. Some sputter out as theytravel, and are disintegrated, while others continue to glow like apiece of heated iron, for many hours. Others persist for a long time, with a faint phosphorescent glow. A careful study of what has been saidregarding the characteristics of the various feelings and emotions, asmanifested in the auric body, will give the student a very fair generalidea of what may be the appearance of any particular variety of thoughtform, for a general principle runs through the entire series of auricphenomena. An understanding of the fundamental principles will lead toan understanding of any of the particular varieties of the manifestationthereof. 

Finally, remember this: A thought form is practically a bit of thedetached aura of a person, charged with a degree of his prana, andenergized with a degree of his life energy. So, in a limited sense, itreally is a projected portion of his personality. 

CHAPTER VII. 

PSYCHIC INFLUENCE OF COLORS. 

In all of Nature's wonderful processes we find many evidences of thatgreat principle of Action and Reaction, which, like the forward andbackward swing of the pendulum, changes cause into effect, and effectinto cause, in a never ending series. We find this principle in effectin the psychic relation of mental states and colors. That is to say, that just as we find that certain mental and emotional states manifestin vibrations causing particular auric astral colors, so do we find thatthe presence of certain colors on the physical plane will have a decidedpsychic effect upon the mental and emotional states of individualssubject to their influence. And, as might be expected by the thoughtfulstudent, the particular astral colors manifested in the aura by thepresence of some particular mental or emotional state exactly correspondwith the particular physical colors which influence that particularmental or emotional state. 

Illustrating the statements in the preceding paragraph, I would say thatthe continued presence of red will be apt to set up emotionalvibrations of anger, passion, physical love, etc. , or, in a differenttint, the higher physical emotions. Blue, of the right tint, will tendto cause feelings of spirituality, religious emotion, etc. Green isconducive to feelings of relaxation, repose, quiet, etc. Black producesthe feeling of gloom and grief. And so on, each color tends to produceemotional vibrations similar to those which manifest that particularcolor in the astral aura of the person. It is a case of "give and take"along the entire scale of color and emotions, according to the greatnatural laws. 

While the explanation of these facts is not known to the average person, nevertheless nearly everyone recognizes the subtle effect of color andavoids certain colors, while seeking certain others. There is not asingle living human being but who has experienced the sense of rest, calm, repose, and calm inflow of strength, when in a room decorated inquiet shades of green. Nature, herself, has given this particular shadeto the grass and leaves of trees and plants, so that the soothing effectof the country scene is produced. The aura of a person experiencingthese feelings, and yielding to them, will manifest precisely the tintor shade of green which is shown on the grass and leaves around him, sotrue is this natural law of action and reaction. 

The effect of scarlet upon animals, the bull for instance, is wellknown--to use the familiar term, it causes one to "see red. " The sightof the color of blood is apt to arouse feelings of rage, or disgust, byreason of the same law. The sight of the beautiful clear blue sky tendsto arouse feelings of reverence, awe or spirituality. One can neverthink of this shade of blue arousing rage; or red arouse feelings ofspirituality. 

It is a well known fact that in insane asylums, the use of red indecorations must be avoided, while the proper shades of blue or greenare favored. On the other hand, the use of a proper red, in certaincases, will tend to arouse vitality and physical strength in a patient. It is not by mere chance that the life giving blood is a bright, richred color when it leaves the heart. 

When one "feels blue" he does not have the impression of a bright orsoft blue--but he really is almost conscious of the presence of a dullbluish gray. And the presence of such a color in one's surroundings, tends to cause a feeling of depression. Everyone knows the effect of a"gray day" in the Fall or Spring. 

Again, who does not know the feeling of mental exaltation coming fromthe sight of a day filled with golden sunshine, or from a golden sunset. We find proofs of this law of Nature on all sides, every day of ourlives. It is an interesting subject, which will repay the student forthe expenditure of a little time and thought upon it. 

Speaking of the general class characteristics of the three primarygroups of colors, all occultists, as well as many physiologists andpsychologists, are agreed on the following fundamental propositions, viz. : that (1) Red is exciting to the mind and emotions; (2) Yellow isinspiring and elevating, and intellectually stimulating; and (3) Blue iscool, soothing, and calming. It is also universally conceded that theright shades of green (combining the qualities of blue and yellow inappropriate proportions) is the ideal color of rest and recuperation, followed by a stimulation and new ambition. The reason for this may beseen, when you consider the respective qualities of blue and yellowwhich compose this color. 

It is interesting to note that the science of medicine is now seriouslyconsidering the use of colors in the treatment of disease, and the bestmedical authorities investigating the subject are verifying theteachings of the old occultists, regarding the influence of colors onmental states and physical conditions. 

Dr. Edwin Babbitt, a pioneer in this line in the Western world, gave thegeneral principles in a nutshell, when he laid down the following rule:"There is a trianal series of graduations in the peculiar potencies ofcolors, the center and climax of electrical action, which cools thenerves, being in violet; the climax of electrical action, which issoothing to the vascular system, being in blue; the climax of luminositybeing in yellow; and the climax of thermism or heat being in red. Thisis not an imaginary division of qualities, but a real one, the flamelikered color having a principle of warmth in itself; the blue and violet, aprinciple of cold and electricity. Thus we have many styles of chromaticaction, including progression of hues, of lights and shades, of finenessand coarseness, of electrical power, luminous power, thermal power, etc. "

Read the above statement of Dr. Babbitt, and then compare it with theoccult teaching regarding the astral colors, and you will perceive thereal basis of the science which the good doctor sought to establish, andin which cause he did such excellent pioneer work. The result of hiswork is now being elaborated by modern physicians in the great schoolsof medicine, particularly on the Continent, in Europe--England andAmerica being somewhat behind the times in this work. 

The advanced occultist also finds much satisfaction in the interest, onthe part of physicians and jurists, in the matter of the influence ofcolor upon the mental, moral and physical welfare of the public. Theeffect of color upon morality is being noticed by workers for humanwelfare, occupying important offices. 

The American journals report the case of a judge in a large Western cityin that country, who insisted upon his courtroom being decorated inlight, cheerful tints, instead of in the old, gloomy, depressing shadesformerly employed. This judge wisely remarked that brightness led toright thinking, and darkness to crooked thinking; also that his court, being an uplift court, must have walls to correspond, and that it wasenough to turn any man into a criminal to be compelled to sit in a dark, dismal courtroom, day after day. 

This good judge, who must have had some acquaintance with the occultteachings, is quoted as concluding as follows: "White, cream, lightyellow, and orange are the colors which are the sanest. I might addlight green, for that is the predominant color in Nature; black, brownand deep red are incentives to crime--a man in anger sees red. " Surely aremarkable utterance from the bench!

The effect of color schemes upon the moral and mental welfare of personsis being recognized in the direction of providing brighter color schemesin schools, hospitals, reformatories, prisons, etc. The reportsnaturally show the correctness of the underlying theory. The color of atiny flower has its effect upon even the most hardened prisoner; whilethe minds of children in school are quickened by a touch of brightnesshere and there in the room. It needs no argument to prove the beneficialeffect of the right kind of colors in the sickroom, or hospital ward. 

The prevailing theories, and practice, regarding the employment of colorin therapeutics and human welfare work, are in the main correct. But, Iurge the study of the occult significance of color, as mentioned in thisbook in connection with the human aura and its astral colors, as a soundbasis for an intelligent, thorough understanding of the real psychicprinciples underlying the physical application of the methods referredto. Go to the center of the subject, and then work outward--that is thetrue rule of the occultist, which might well be followed by thenon-occult general public. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

AURIC MAGNETISM. 

The phenomenon of human magnetism is too well recognized by the generalpublic, to require argument at this time. Let the scientists disputeabout it as much as they please, down in the heart of nearly all of theplain people of the race is the conviction that there is such a thing. The occultists, of course, are quite familiar with the wonderfulmanifestations of this great natural force, and with its effect upon theminds and bodies of members of the race, and can afford to smile at theattempts of some of the narrow minds in the colleges to pooh-pooh thematter. 

But the average person is not familiar with the relation of this humanmagnetism to the human aura. I think that the student should familiarizehimself with this fundamental relation, in order to reason correctly onthe subject of human magnetism. Here is the fundamental fact in anutshell: The human aura is the great storehouse, or reservoir, of humanmagnetism, and is the source of all human magnetism that is projected bythe individual toward other individuals. Just how human magnetism isgenerated, is, of course, a far deeper matter, but it is enough for ourpurpose at this time to explain the fact of its storage andtransmission. 

In cases of magnetic healing, etc. , the matter is comparatively simple. In such instances the healer by an effort of the will (sometimesunconsciously applied) projects a supply of his pranic aura vibrationsinto the body of his patient, by way of the nervous system of thepatient, and also by means of what may be called the induction of theaura itself. 

The mere presence of a person strongly charged with prana, is oftenenough to cause an overflow into the aura of other persons, with aresulting feeling of new strength and energy. By the use of the hands ofthe healer, a heightened effect is produced, by reason of certainproperties inherent in the nervous system of both healer and patient. 

There is even a flow of etheric substance from the aura of the healer tothat of the patient, in cases where the vitality of the latter is verylow. Many a healer has actually, and literally, pumped his life forceand etheric substance into the body of his patient, when the latter wassinking into the weakness which precedes death, and has by so doing beenable to bring him back to life and strength. This is practically akinto the transfusion of blood--except that it is on the psychic planeinstead of the physical. 

But the work of the magnetic healer does not stop here, if he be wellinformed regarding his science. The educated healer realizing the potenteffect of mental states upon physical conditions--of mental vibrationsupon the physical nerve centers and organs of the body--endeavors toarouse the proper mental vibrations in the mind of his patient. Ordinarily, he does this merely by holding in his mind the correspondingdesired mental state, and thus arousing similar vibrations in the mindof the patient. This of itself is a powerful weapon of healing, andconstitutes the essence of mental healing as usually practiced. Butthere is a possible improvement even upon this, as we shall see in amoment. 

The advanced occultist, realizing the law of action and reaction in thematter of the auric colors, turns the same to account in healing work, as follows: He not only holds in his mind the strong feeling and thoughtwhich he wishes to transmit to the patient, but (fix this in your mind)he also pictures in his imagination the particular kind of color whichcorresponds with the feeling or thought in question. 

A moment's thought will show you that by this course he practicallymultiplies the effect. Not only do his own thought vibrations (1) set upcorresponding vibrations in the mind of the patient, by the laws ofthought transference, but (2) his thought of the certain colors will setup corresponding vibrations not only (a) in his own aura, and thence (b)to that of the patient, but will also (3) act directly upon the aura ofthe patient and reproduce the colors there, which (4) in turn willarouse corresponding vibrations in the mind of the patient, by the lawof reaction. 

The above may sound a little complicated at first reading, but a littleanalysis will show you that it is really quite a simple process, actingstrictly along the lines of Action and Reaction, which law has beenexplained to you in preceding chapters of this book. The vibrationsrebound from mind to aura, and from aura to mind, in the patient, something like a billiard ball flying from one side of the table toanother, or a tennis ball flying between the two racquets over the net. 

The principle herein mentioned may be employed as well in what is called"absent treatment" as in treatments where the patient is present. Bythe laws of thought transference, not only the thought but also themental image of the appropriate astral color, is transmitted over space, and then, impinging on the mind of the patient, is transmitted intohelpful and health-giving vibrations in his mind. The healer of anyschool of mental or spiritual healing will find this plan very helpfulto him in giving absent as well as present treatments. I recommend itfrom years of personal experience, as well as that of other advancedoccultists. 

Of course the fact that the ordinary healer is not able to distinguishthe finer shades of astral color, by reason of his not having actuallyperceived them manifested in the aura, renders his employment of thismethod less efficacious than that of the developed and trainedoccultist. But, nevertheless, he will find that, from the knowledge ofthe auric or astral colors given in this little book, he will be able toobtain quite satisfactory and marked results in his practice. Thefollowing table, committed to memory, will be of help to him in thematter of employing the mental image of the auric colors in his healingwork. 

TABLE OF HEALING COLORS. 

Nervous System-- Cooling and soothing: Shades of violet, lavender, etc. Resting and invigorating effect: Grass greens. Inspiring and illuminating: Medium yellows, and orange. Stimulating and exciting: Reds (bright). 

Blood and Organs-- Cooling and soothing: Clear dark blues. Resting and invigorating: Grass greens. Inspiring and illuminating: Orange yellows. Stimulating and exciting: Bright reds. 

The following additional suggestions will be found helpful to thehealer: In cases of impaired physical vitality; also chilliness, lack ofbodily warmth, etc. , bright, warm reds are indicated. In cases offeverishness, overheated blood, excessive blood pressure, inflammation, etc. , blue is indicated. Red has a tendency to produce renewed and moreactive heart action; while violets and lavenders tend to slow down thetoo rapid beating of the heart. A nervous, unstrung patient, may betreated by bathing her, mentally, in a flood of violet or lavenderauric color; while a tired, used up, fatigued person may be invigoratedby flooding him with bright reds, followed by bright, rich yellows, finishing the treatment with a steady flow of warm orange color. 

To those who are sufficiently advanced in occult philosophy, I would saythat they should remember the significance of the Great White Light, andaccordingly conclude their treatment by an effort to indicate anapproach to that clear, pure white color in the aura--mentally, ofcourse. This will leave the patient in an inspired, exalted, illuminatedstate of mind and soul, which will be of great benefit to him, and willalso have the effect of reinvigorating the healer by cosmic energy orpara-prana. 

Everything that has been said in this chapter regarding the use of colorin magnetic treatments, is equally applicable to cases of self-healing, or self-treatment. Let the patient follow the directions above given forthe healer, and then turn the healing current, or thought, inward--andthe result will be the same as if he were treating another. Theindividual will soon find that certain colors fit his requirementsbetter than others, in which case let him follow such experience inpreference to general rules, for the intuition generally is the safestguide in such cases. However, it will be found that the individualexperience will usually agree with the tables given above, with slightpersonal variations. 

CHAPTER IX. 

DEVELOPING THE AURA. 

When it is remembered that the aura of the individual affects andinfluences other persons with whom he comes in contact--and is, in fact, an important part of his personality--it will be seen that it isimportant that the individual take pains to develop his aura in thedirection of desirable qualities, and to neutralize and weed outundesirable ones. This becomes doubly true, when it is also rememberedthat, according to the law of action and reaction, the auric vibrationsreact upon the mind of the individual, thus intensifying and adding fuelto the original mental states which called them forth. From any point ofview, it is seen to be an important part of self development andcharacter building, to develop the aura according to scientific occultprinciples. 

In this work of aura development, there is found to be two correlatedphases, namely: (1) the direct work of flooding the aura with the bestvibrations, by means of holding in the mind clear, distinct and repeatedmental pictures of desirable ideas and feelings; and (2) the addedeffect of mental images of the colors corresponding to the ideas andfeelings which are deemed desirable and worthy of development. 

The first of the above mentioned phases is probably far more familiar tothe average student, than is the second. This from the fact that theaverage student is apt to be more or less familiar with the teachings ofthe numerous schools or cults which agree in the axiom that "holding thethought" tends to develop the mind of the individual along theparticular lines of such thought. 

This is a correct psychological principle, for that matter, even whenthose practicing it do not fully understand the underlying facts. Mentalfaculties, like physical muscles, tend to develop by exercise and use, and any faculty may be developed and cultivated in this way. 

Another teaching of these same schools is that the character of thethoughts so "held" by the individual, effects other persons with whom hecomes in contact, and, in a way attracts to him objective things, persons, and circumstances in harmony with such thoughts. This also isin accordance with the best occult teaching--from which, of course, itwas originally derived. 

I heartily endorse the facts of these teachings, and pronounce themfundamentally correct. And, in this connection, I may say that everyhealer may apply his own methods PLUS this teaching regarding the aura, and thus obtain greatly increased results. 

By the faithful, persevering, holding in mind of certain ideas andfeelings, the individual may flood his aura with the vibrations andcolors of such ideas and feelings, and thus charge it with auric energyand power. By so doing, he gains the benefit of the reaction upon hisown mind, and also secures the advantage of the effect thereof uponother persons with whom he comes in contact. In this way he not onlybuilds up his individual character along desirable lines, but at thesame time develops a strong, positive, attractive "personality" whichaffects others with whom he comes in contact. 

I do not consider it necessary to go into details here regarding thisphase of "holding the thought, " for, as I have said, the average studentis already familiar with the rules regarding the same. In a nutshell, however, I will say that each individual is largely the result of thethoughts he has manifested, and the feelings which he has harbored. Therefore, the rule is to manifest and exercise the faculties you woulddevelop, and inhibit or refrain from manifesting the ones you wouldrestrain or control. Again, to restrain an undesirable faculty, developand exercise its opposite--kill out the negatives by developing thepositives. The mind produces thought; and yet, it tends to grow from theparticular portion of its own product which you may choose to feed toit--for it not only creates thought, but also feeds upon it. So, finally, let it produce the best kind of thought for you, and then throwthat back into the hopper, for it will use it to grind out more of thesame kind and grow strong in so doing. That is the whole thing in anutshell. 

The second phase of aura development (as above classified), however, isnot likely to be familiar to the average student, for the reason that itis not known outside of advanced occult circles, and very little hasbeen allowed to be taught regarding it. But, the very reticenceregarding it is a proof of its importance, and I strongly advise mystudents to give to it the attention and practice that its importancemerits. The practice, thereof, however, is extremely simple, and theprinciple of the practice, moreover, is based solely upon the facts ofthe relation of color and mental states, as shown in the astral auriccolors, as fully explained in the preceding chapters of this book. 

In order to intelligently practice the development of the aura by meansof flooding or charging it with the vibrations of psychic colors, it isfirst necessary that the student be thoroughly familiar with the scaleof colors related to each set of mental states or emotional feelings. This scale and its key is found in a number of places in the precedingchapters. 

The student should turn back the pages of this book, and then carefullyre-read and re-study every word which has been said about the relationof mental states and auric colors. He should know the mentalcorrespondence of the shades of red, yellow, and blue, so thoroughlythat the thought of one will bring the idea of the other. He should beable to think of the corresponding group of colors, the moment he thinksof any particular mental state. He should be thoroughly familiar withthe physical, mental, and spiritual effect of any of the colors, andshould moreover, test himself, psychically, for the individual effectsof certain colors upon himself. 

He should enter into this study with interest and earnestness, and thenby keeping his eyes and ears open, he will perceive interesting factsconcerning the subject on every side in his daily work and life. He willperceive many proofs of the principle, and will soon amass a stock ofexperiences illustrating each color and its corresponding mental state. He will be richly repaid for the work of such study, which, in fact, will soon grow to be more like pleasure than like work. 

Having mastered this phase of the subject, the student should givehimself a thorough, honest, self-examination and mental analysis. Heshould write down a chart of his strong points and his weak ones. Heshould check off the traits which should be developed, and those whichshould be restrained. He should determine whether he needs developmentalong physical, mental, and spiritual lines, and in what degree. Havingmade this chart of himself, he should then apply the principles ofcharging the aura with the color vibrations indicated by his selfdiagnosis and prescription. 

The last stage is quite simple, once one has acquired the general ideaback of it. It consists simply in forming as clear a mental image aspossible of the color or colors desired, and then projecting thevibrations into the aura by the simple effort of the will. This doesnot mean that one needs to clinch the fist or frown the brow, inwilling. Willing, in the occult sense, may be said to consist of aCOMMAND, leaving the rest to the mechanism of the will and mind. Takeaway the obstacle of Doubt and Fear--then the Royal Command performs thework of setting the will into operation. This, by the way, is animportant occult secret, of wide application--try to master its allimportant significance. 

The mental imaging of colors may be materially aided by concentrationupon physical material of the right color. By concentrating theattention and vision upon a red flower, for instance; or upon a bit ofgreen leaf, in another instance; one may be able to form a clear, positive mental image of that particular color. This accompanied by thewilling, and demand, that the vibrations of this color shall charge theaura, will be found to accomplish the result. Have something around youshowing the desirable colors, and your attention will almostinstinctively take up the impression thereof, even though you may bethinking of, or doing something else. Live as much as possible in theidea and presence of the desirable color, and you will get the habit ofsetting up the mental image and vibration thereof. A little practiceand experience will soon give you the idea, and enable you to get thebest results. Patience, perseverance, and sustained earnestinterest--that is the key of success. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE PROTECTIVE AURA. 

Among the very oldest of the teachings of occultism, we findinstructions regarding the building up and maintenance of the protectiveaura of the individual, whereby he renders himself immune to undesirablephysical, mental, psychic or spiritual influences. So important is thisteaching, that it is to be regretted that there has not been more saidon the subject by some of the writers of recent years. The trouble withmany of these recent writers is that they seem to wish to close theireyes to the unpleasant facts of life, and to gaze only upon the pleasantones. But this is a mistake, for ignorance has never been a virtue, andto shut one's eyes to unpleasant facts does not always result indestroying them. I consider any teaching unfinished and inadequate whichdoes not include instruction along protective lines. 

Physical auric protection consists in charging the aura with vitalmagnetism and color, which will tend to ward off not only the physicalcontagion of ill persons, but, what is often still more important, thecontagion of their mind and feelings. 

The student who has really studied the preceding chapters will at oncerealize that this protection is afforded by filling the aura with thevibrations of health and physical strength, by means of the mentalimaging of the life-preserving reds, and the exercise of the mind in thedirection of thought of strength and power. These two things will tendto greatly increase the resistive aura of anyone, and enable him tothrow off disease influences which affect others. 

The aura of the successful physician and healer, in the presence ofdisease, will invariably show the presence of the bright, positive redin the aura, accompanied by the mental vibrations of strength, power andconfidence, and the absence of fear. This in connection with the AuricCircle, which shall be described presently, will be of great value tohealers, physicians, nurses, etc. , as well as to those who are broughtinto intimate contact with sick persons. 

Of practically the same degree of importance, is the charging of theaura with the vibrations of mental protection, viz, the vibrations oforange, yellow and similar colors. These are the colors of intellect, you will remember, and when the aura is charged and flooded with them itacts as a protection against the efforts of others to convince oneagainst his will, by sophistical arguments, plausible reasoning, fallacious illustrations, etc. It gives to one a sort of mentalillumination, quickening the perceptive faculties, and brightening upthe reasoning and judging powers, and finally, giving a sharp edge tothe powers of repartee and answer. 

If you will assume the right positive mental attitude, and will floodyour aura with the vibrations of the mental orange-yellow, the mentalefforts of other persons will rebound from your aura, or, to use anotherfigure of speech, will slip from it like water from the back of theproverbial duck. It is well to carry the mental image of your head beingsurrounded by a golden aura or halo, at such times--this will be foundespecially efficacious as a protective helmet when you are assaulted bythe intellect or arguments of others. 

And, again, there is a third form of protective aura, namely protectionof one's emotional nature--and this is highly important, when oneremembers how frequently we are moved to action by our emotions, ratherthan by our intellect or reason. To guard one's emotions, is to guardone's very inmost soul, so to speak. If we can protect our feeling andemotional side, we will be able to use our reasoning powers andintellect far more effectively, as all know by experience. 

What color should we use in this form of auric protection? Can anyone bein doubt here, if he has read the preceding chapters? What is theemotional protective color?--why, blue, of course. Blue controls thispart of the mind or soul, and by raising ourselves into the vibrationsof positive blue, we leave behind us the lower emotions and feelings, and are transported into the higher realms of the soul where these lowvibrations and influences cannot follow us. In the same way, the bluecolored aura will act as an armor to protect us from the contagion ofthe low passions and feelings of others. 

If you are subjected to evil influences, or contagion of those harboringlow emotions and desires, you will do well to acquire the art offlooding your aura with the positive blue tints. Make a study of bright, clear blues, and you will instinctively select the one best suited foryour needs. Nature gives us this instinctive knowledge, if we will butseek for it, and then apply it when found. The aura of great moralteachers, great priests and preachers, advanced occultists, in fact allmen of lofty ideals working among those lower on the moral scale, arealways found to be charged with a beautiful, clear blue, which acts as aprotection to them when they are unduly exposed to moral or emotionalcontagion. Ignorance of the occult laws have caused the downfall of manya great moral teacher, who could have protected himself in this way, intimes of strong attack of low vibrations, had he but known the truth. The individual who knows this law, and who applies it, is renderedabsolutely immune from evil contagion on the emotional plane of being. 

THE GREAT AURIC CIRCLE. 

But no occult instruction on this subject would be complete without areference to the Great Auric Circle of Protection, which is a shelter tothe soul, mind, and body, against outside psychic influences, directed, consciously or unconsciously against the individual. In these days ofwide spread though imperfect, knowledge of psychic phenomena, it isespecially important that one should be informed as to this great shieldof protection. Omitting all reference to the philosophy underlying it, it may be said that this Auric Circle is formed by making the mentalimage, accompanied by the demand of will, of the aura being surroundedby a great band of PURE CLEAR WHITE LIGHT. A little perseverance willenable you to create this on the astral plane, and, though (unless youhave the astral vision) you cannot see it actually, yet you willactually FEEL its protective presence, so that you will know that it isthere guarding you. 

This White Auric Circle will be an effective and infallible armoragainst all forms of psychic attack or influence, no matter from whom itmay emanate, or whether directed consciously or unconsciously. It is aperfect and absolute protection, and the knowledge of its protectivepower should be sufficient to drive fear from the heart of all who havedreaded psychic influence, "malicious animal magnetism" (so-called), oranything else of the kind, by whatever name known. It is also aprotection against psychic vampirism, or draining of magnetic strength. 

The Auric Circle is, of course, really egg-shaped, or oval, for itfringes the aura as the shell cases the egg. See yourself, mentally, assurrounded by this Great White Auric Circle of Protection, and let theidea sink into your consciousness. Realize its power over the influencesfrom outside, and rejoice in the immunity it gives you. 

The Auric Circle, however, will admit any outside impressions that youreally desire to come to you, while shutting out the others. That is, with this exception, that if your inner soul recognizes that some ofthese desired influences and impressions are apt to harm you (thoughyour reason and feeling know it not) then will such impressions bedenied admittance. For the White Light is the radiation of Spirit, whichis higher than ordinary mind, emotion, or body and is Master of All. Andits power, even though we can but imperfectly represent it evenmentally, is such that before its energy, and in its presence, in theaura, all lower vibrations are neutralized and disintegrated. 

The highest and deepest occult teaching is that the White Light mustnever be used for purpose of attack or personal gain, but that it mayproperly be used by anyone, at any time, to protect against outsidepsychic influences against which the soul protests. It is the armor ofthe soul, and may well be employed whenever or wherever the needarises. 

Throughout the pages of this little book have been scattered crumbs ofteaching other than those concerning the aura alone. Those for whomthese are intended will recognize and appropriate them--the others willnot see them, and will pass them by. One attracts his own to him. Muchseed must fall on waste places, in order that here and there a grainwill find lodgment in rich soil awaiting its coming. True occultknowledge is practical power and strength. Beware of prostituting thehigher teachings for selfish ends and ignoble purposes. To guard andpreserve your own will is right; to seek to impose your will upon thatof another is wrong. Passive resistance is often the strongest form ofresistance--this is quite different from non-resistance. 

THE END.