The "world," meaning the little universe in which we live, is the outpicturing or reflection of the thought of him we know as God. The universe itself, a many-times reproduction of our world, is too vast and immense to give a thought to here, consequently we speak only of "our" world, the plane in which we physically live.

Scientists may possess the mental capacity to picture in their minds all of the many different worlds as active as is our own in the universe, but the average student concerned only with the sphere in which he lives and has his being and how the forces, powers and influences outside of himself and in Nature.

Many Initiates have written of this loval sphere as the Macrocosm or great world and of man as the Microcosm or little world; of man as a miniature duplicate of this greater world.

Hermes annunciated the statement, known as "the Hermetic Law," in these words:

"As it is above, so is it below:
As it is in the within, so it is without."

Accepting this as a fact, if man is a little world within himself, and if this little world duplicates the bigger world in which he lives, it necessarily follows that in like manner God is the great, unlimited universe of a spiritual nature, while the great physical universe is a duplication of this great, unlimited spiritual universe.

The Creator first had the thought of creating such a universe, i.e., a duplication of himself in physical form. This thought became a desire, and the result of the desire was this universe. In the same manner and after the creation of the universe and in it the smaller worlds, he had the thoughts, then the desire, to people this world with beings patterned after himself, and proceeded to do so, and, in time, the result as "man."

To that smaller duplicate of himself he gave a mind, and to that mind he gave the ability to think, and, by thinking, to reason and create. In reason alone does man differ from the animal. He made "man in his own image" but in a far lesser degree. Due to this fact, man, if he fulfills the intent of the Divine Will, will make of himself a co-creator with the universal Creator; a servant, yet a co-worker with God.

All that is good is eternal; nothing that is good can be lost. If we are capable of realizing that all that God made is good because it serves a useful purpose, then we will also realize that all good is for the benefit of those he created to be his co-workers and become like him, and, having become like him, share with him all that is desirable.

When consciousness has been attained and becomes introspective, or of an interior nature, then the inner vision will be able to see Soul images which either have not as yet become externalized, or which, having existed been active, have passed from the external plan much as large cities have existed and then vanished altogether, with only a memory of them left.

The Soul is the mirror of everything tenable, real or immutable, that has existed to transpired, and is likewise the record on which all events have been recorded.

As a material example, books have been written and destroyed, nevertheless the ideas which they expressed have either been personified by action or these ideas still remain impressed on the inner Soul world for some one to bring into expression when there is need and a Conscious Soul; one that has attained to Christisis, or Christification, will be able to read this record or feel (sense) it, thus becoming aware of it through the intuitive faculty of the consciousness of the Soul.

God should be considered as the Cosmic or Universal Soul; and the visible universe or would as his body. Everything that has ixisted, or does now exist, was first imaged in this Cosmic Soul, otherwise it could not have become manifested and would not now exist. The Soul of God is the universal mirror in which all things are reflected. This is the interior world, the universal world, and we call it the spiritual or Cosmic Soul world for want of a better term.

The mind of man that has become truly awakened and enlightened and withdraws itself from the externals by means of the training to bring about Christification, may become active in the inner or spiritual realm and may learn to perceive, by an interior vision and the faculty of intuition, the things that are yet to be; may appropriate these ideas or images by right of attainment, and bring them into expression for the benefit of itself and likewise for "the least of these my brethren."

This explains why the same truths that were expressed ages ago by an inspired Soul may centuries later be uttered by one who did not have the slightest opportunity to contact any material or visible source of such expression. The philosophical minds of the ages past understood this well and expressed it in words easily understood:

"The things which have been shall be again,"
and "There is nothing new under the sun."

The Acolyte, by keeping these facts in mind, will be far better able to understand that by passing through the training and development which brings about Christification, he will come into conscious touch with mush that existed before and is again to be brought into manifestation. The development he undergoes will make him capable of re-expressing great truths before; reproducing that which had existed before and his success in every department of life will be vastly increased.

As material men of every grade eat the same food and breathe the same air and move by the same means, yet each appropriates according to this needs and the degree of his enlightenment, so likewise does the spiritualized, i.e., the Soul Conscious individual, appropriate to himself that which he needs for any purpose and expresses of manifests these things in harmony with his individuality. This explains the differentiation of Soul expression by various individuals.

The greater knowledge brings with it greater Light. With every ascending step on the ladder of perfection there is also an ever increasing understanding of the wisdom which is part of the Infinite or Cosmic Soul. This is due to the fact that during the process of Christification the Soul is harmonized with the infinite ideals, enabling it to receive the vibrations of still greater Souls and to release and broadcast these new ideas to the world, much as the strings of the harp when released by the master player, releases the music which is the spirit of the instrument.

Such a comprehension of the universal Law and the complexity, yet simplicity, of living in harmony with the Cosmic Light, of which the individual Light inherent in every Soul is a part, brings to the understanding Soul the revelations which can come only from God; and is obtainable only by means of building the Soul by the correct application of the forces of an enlightened mind. Such building always results in Christification, the becoming of Manisis, or the Son of God, which the Divine commands all men must do before they can be fully free.

This Light, this Christisis, this divine intelligence awakening in the Consciousness, Illuminates all things of which it is, or becomes a part. It is, as it were, like a universal sea, in which souls move as conscious entities, and from which they absorb all knowledge. Only such as have passed through this process of Illumination can be said to belong to the Church of God, the Congregation of Illuminated Souls, a church that can exist only in that "kingdom of heaven" where only the obedient ones can enter, because to them is not merely promised, but:

"Unto you is given to know the kingdom of heaven,
but to them [to others] it is not so given." __Matt: 13:11.

This wondrous sea of intelligence, of wisdom, therefore of Light, like rivers running in many directions, has many channels and numerous cross currents, but all of them finally ending in one of the two great oceans.

The cross currents contain the though images of the undesirable. For example, all fear thoughts, form one mighty river whose predominating quality is fear, and all caught therein may be led to destruction. Fortunately for humanity, fear is a delusion, it is an idea. This idea may be changed; transmuted into something real. Fear is transitory, therefore it is not truth, but may be converted into truth.

Fear is an illusion which holds men in bondage because they accept it as real and as something tangible. The unreality of fear must ultimately be recognized and eliminated. As the mind becomes awakened to the truth this illumination scatters the darkness of fear as does the morning sunlight the fog that envelops the earth.

All those thoughts and desires which are based on love, truth, graciousness, kindliness and others of kindred nature, form the river of Life, and all who become part of that river will be led to the source of the river, the fountain of life. The waters of this river are the life-forces of the Soul; its source is the Infinite and of it is said:

"Men may come and men may go,
but I go on forever."

Positive, bright, happy thoughts are like sparkling brooklets on their way to the river; these are invigorating and buoyant, therefore exalting and uplifting; all those who seek the Light must come into this stream and this is possible only as they permit its waters to wash away all that is evil and debasing; all that is depressing and productive of physical weakness and mental innervation.

Poetry, art, science based on truth and fact, idealism and uplifting in nature; the religions which are spiritual inj their nature; the religious which are spiritual in their nature, are streams from , and leading to, the universal ocean wending its way God-ward. In God there is contained only the positive; all that is evil is this good from Bod in reverse; the misuse of all that might be directed in constructiveness. God had nothing to do with it; men have made the good bad by giving way to their evil tendencies.

The Creator did bring the earth into being, and its tendency is toward negativity, but he gave man a reasoning mind so that this reasoning faculty might be used in directing his energies and the energies of all things on earth, for his benefit and for his use in the right manner. The unenlightened man has permitted himself to become earthly by Nature. He has given way to hate, spitefulness, revengeful thoughts and become inclined toward all that is evil and destructive. It is the duty of those awakening from this nightmare of delusion to become positive in their attitude, to raise themselves from a serpent creeping on its belly in the dust to the status of manhood. By means of inner development and Soul upliftment they must again bathe themselves in the ocean of the Divine Light, become baptized by the Holy Ghost, and become as God had intended them to be.

The unenlightened mortal permits himself to be wholly guided by his physical, mortal self and lives under the delusion that evils of thought, desire and action can bring him good returns, benefits, and profits, and that these are real and do not exact payment with interest.

This is an illusion. It is one of the cross-currents of the river that has left its original course and flowing in it are the thick, muddy, polluted waters of misery, sorrow, disease, failure and ultimately death itself.

Whosoever opens himself up to fear, will thereby attract to himself fears of like nature. "The thing I feared has come upon me," an old, but true, statement. Fears of accident may bring accidents upon the one who fears. Fears of sickness result in illness, and any or all of such fears may become so strong as to wholly submerge the person foolish or ignorant enough to give way to them. Fear is depressive. It lowers vital and mental activity; it stagnates and in stagnation there is disease and death.

On the contrary, whosoever formulates in his mind thoughts of well-being, goodness, kindliness and kindred thoughts will thereby align himself with the cross currents which bring into actuality many desirable possessions and these will lead him to a state of being wherein courage, knowledge, wisdom and attainment are the ultimate.

It is due to the operation of this Law that the General, or the private in the army who is free from fear, may be in the very midst of the severest fighting, bullets flying in every direction, hundreds of his fellow men falling around and about him, yet remain himself untouched by bullet or sword. Likewise, the man tired of life and seeking relief from its burdens, may rush into the midst of all manner of danger and emerge without harm. In desiring to die, he is free from fear, and there is lack of attraction for that which he seeks.

In this power of fear we find the answer why the promising young man with rare ability and many opportunities is suddenly stricken by some fatal disease or accident which cuts short his career. He feared that he might not live to succeed in his endeavor and his fear attracted the thing he feared. "The thing he feared had come upon him."

The command is: Cast out all fear. Rely on the promises of the Divine Law but make yourself worthy of the fulfillment. Build according to the Law; awaken the mind to the truth; harmonize the desires of the heart with the divine emotions, bring the Soul into Consciousness; let love and the desire for justice be your guide; bring into manifestation the divine within, attain to Christification.

Do you seek mastery on any special subject; then study diligently the texts and by your own endeavor render unto "Caesar that which belongs to Caesar." Open your Soul to the influx of wisdom from the river of knowledge. Seek the fountainhead of all that is; come into touch with the supreme source; this will be "rendering unto God that which belongs to God." Let your questions be definite, then withdraw all thoughts from the physical self; cease thinking, become quiet, and await the answer. In the interior stillness, wherein may be heard the voice of the Soul, and the interpretation of things in harmony with the ideal world, the answer will be found but beware; the answer will be according to the purity, the unselfishness, and the nobility of the desire which prompted the demand.

In proceeding in this manner, you are seeking an answer to your question from the infinite or Cosmic Soul of intelligence. By this means omnipresent knowledge may flow into your mind in a manner understandable by you. Remember the command: "Peace be still," and the "winds (uncertainty of mind) ceased and there was a great calm [a great peace came upon the mind'.] David of old worded this differently:

"Be still [and in that stillness] know [feel] that I am God."

To be able to succeed in this, the thoughts must be noble, honest and exalted; the heart clean and free from guile, and the desires such as may be revealed unashamed before God.

All men have the innate ability to cease and be still; listen and await the answer. This ability becomes constantly greater as development progresses. To be still and wait in faith, is to come into touch with the divine intelligence. The answer awaited will be conveyed as a feeling, a wordless understanding, by a vision or an image, or by an urge. The Voice of Conscience is a feeling-sensing-urging. The answer may not come at once; days may pass, but there must be no impatience; the mind must be kept receptive by a willingness to wait and to receive.

The Acolyte on the path who is truly sincere will ultimately realize that there is nothing to keep him from being receptive to all good things, providing he is in truth ready to appropriate what God offers, whether this be knowledge, power, comprehension, or the gifts that belong to the spirit, i.e., the Soul. He will perceive that now he is beginning to have his existence in a new state of being; that of the Soul realm. He will realize that a new language is being learned; the language of the Soul. He will gradually come to realize that on the Soul plane spiritual qualities and verities exist of which he had no knowledge. Through the attainment of these faculties a link between him and God is formed. He realizes that religion, like true science, is something to feel, and in feeling, know. From this, to know, comes our word "knowledge," and not from the memorizing of text, or by mental acceptance, which is neither more mor less than cold intelligence, Soulless and minus spiritual feeling.

In proportion as the Acolyte appreciates the full depth and all-embracingness of the spiritual quality will this become manifested in his individuality. As he develops the spiritual faculties there will be born a new manner of understanding; his comprehension will be of the spirit, rather than of the mind.

Spiritual qualities, using the term "spirit" in the same sense as "Soul," are neither more nor less than the radiation of God's love finding acceptance in the Soul. When this force of radiation is finally consciously recognized, as it will be after a sufficient depth of Soul development has been attained, it spiritualizes the character. The vibrations of God's love will instill into that character all of the tendencies and graces possible to bestow by the love that is of God. To covet earnestly the best and highest is first of all to covert that supreme love which radiates from god upon all who are ready and prepared to receive it. This is the fountain from which all good gifts flow and makes life an expression of the divine.

The Acolyte must come to realize, actually know by feeling that not until after he has set aside the self can the Soul qualities or spiritual forces predominate in his life and character. Man, in his foolish ignorance, does not accept God as he really is, but makes of God something to conform to his mortal or ignorant belief. Man limits God. God never limited either himself or man. God made man after his own image, in his likeness, and conferred upon him all the potentialities, qualities and abilities he himself possesses, though in lesser degree. "In His Image made He him." Were this not true, then man could never become "as one of the gods," not "the Son of God."

Man has foolishly limited himself by following false beliefs, unfounded creeds, in short, he has been following, and continues to "follow after false gods."

Because of this, man finds himself deep in the depths of the put of darkness known as Gehenna, or "hell." All of these false ideas must be discarded. Man must fully recognize his divine heritage, and then begin to undo all the wrongs of which he has been guilty,. He will thus become a builder "after the manner of Solomon," the all wise, "he who works without mistakes," and begin the construction of that "temple not made with hands," eternal in the heavens; that temple within may dwell the living God.

The experiences that come to the Acolyte seeking to establish his life in this foundation will be many and varied. They will affect his life on the threefold planes of being: physical, mental and spiritual (moral). On the physical plane he will meet with much opposition; with menacing conditions; this should be an added incentive; a means of gaining strength for the greater achievement. It is essential for him to overcome all opposition. He must change that which opposes him by positive effort and positive affirmations and as a result create Soul supremacy. The effect which opposition has upon him and his efforts will depend entirely on his attitude of mind toward it. If he is determined to extract good from every experience, so-called misfortunes will become blessings in disguise.

On the mental plane the Acolyte also will find much to depress the mind and deflect his aims. It is essential that he conquer depression and have his moral purposes high and holy, thereby gaining power to overcome. The more trials are met and overcome the greater will be the resulting strength.

The overcoming of all opposition is accomplished by a realization of the real nature of his being: by making his efforts on a spiritual basis. In the depth of his Soul, that Soul which is the offspring of god, there is hidden omnipotence, all power; omnipresence, God's presence. Considerable growth will be necessary before the acolyte can fully realize all the divine elements of his being.

As a spiritual being, he will not only comprehend abstract truths, but the positive truth as well. He will ultimately be able to honestly say: "I know; the knowledge that I possess is not the result of a study of books, not the acceptance of the authority of men, but comes direct from the Cosmic Soul, through the medium of the intuitive instinct which derives its knowledge from the Consciousness of my Soul, the result of Christification.

Man, in the finale, is Soul; created in the image of the, because it is a chip, or a Spark, of the Supreme Soul. The Soul is an expression of God, and expresses spiritual knowledge and the power native to its divine inheritance by right of having returned to its original state of Consciousness.

The inner being, the Christisis, once awakened and brought into Consciousness, is no longer subject to mundane conditions It can say with authority, "I am the Master; I have become the Captain of my Soul; As the master, I direct, govern and change all undesirable relations and conditions. As a Conscious Soul, I know. As an Illuminated Soul I have all the graces and gifts of the Father; I live in the Father and the Father lives in me. Am I not the temple of the living God?" Such a mastery is possible only by overcoming our own thought-kingdom and living in the love-kingdom; the kingdom of God.

Soul wisdom brings with it understanding and the ability to control what is commonly called the lower, animal or carnal nature, much after the fashion we would use with a child in need of direction and discipline. Possessing the wisdom, and the love inherent in the divine spirit, we will neither severely condemn not harshly criticize that which we know to be wrong, but with patience, and the firmness based on wisdom, we will control and direct into the proper channels all those elements which so frequently lead astray.

Love is not alone the redeeming and regenerating power, but it is the source of perfection. He who is in possession of the love that is of the Soul will finally manifest it in life and action, and by it his character will be molded. In love there is no condemnation; no partiality; no limitation. It is not a respecter of persons. We will see mistakes of others in the light that will prevent us from making the same mistakes, but in no wise as a judgment of those guilty of making them.

If the Acolyte is seeking the divine source of all good, then morning and night let his first and last thought be of the Supreme Divinity, in which he lives, moves and has his being. Let his thought be:

I realize that my body is created in the image of the Father who is the Light of the world; that my Soul, as I myself develop it, will be in the likeness of the universal Soul which is pure Light. I seek most humbly to become a creator of all that is desirable, instead of being the plaything of men and my own passions. I shall try to become the master of my destiny, Christisis in truth, and as I succeed in this effort toward Christification, come into conscious touch with the divine Creator, and be governed by his Will."

No words, however cruel must turn you aside; no discord dare move you from your serenity. Whether you speak or are silent, whether asleep or awake, the power of your spirit and your Soul's Consciousness will be felt as a Light to those in darkness.

Let the light of love grow steadily within you; seek the radiance of the Light which is from the Soul and never cease seeking to become the Christisis in a constantly greater and higher degree.
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