Serie D brev EL-4

Magazine Overview

Title: BREVCIRKELN
Issue: EL-4 (Lektion 4)
Date: Undetermined, but context suggests 1970s.
Publisher: BREVCIRKELN
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue, titled 'Lektion 4' (Lesson 4), is part of a series from BREVCIRKELN, focusing on spiritual and metaphysical concepts. The content is written by Elisabeth Lansenor and delves into the intricate structure of human existence through the lens of esoteric teachings.

The Seven Bodies and Their Interconnection

The lesson begins by emphasizing the importance of understanding the '7-division' (7-indelning) of all things, which helps to clarify relationships and contexts. It posits that all beings possess seven bodies, with varying degrees of development. Humans, as a threefold being of body, soul, and spirit, have seven bodies, with the lower ones being the personality and the higher ones representing the higher Self or Monad. The soul acts as the link between spirit and body.

We are said to live in five 'finished' bodies, but only have awareness of the lower ones. The text details these bodies:

1. Physical Body: Composed of solid, liquid, and gaseous matter, lacking inherent life until activated by the etheric body. Sensory organs function through the etheric body.
2. Etheric Body: Houses our sensory abilities, chakras, and organic functions. It is also the seat of memory, both conscious and subconscious. It represents the entry point of life into the physical body. The physical and etheric bodies together form a unit within the 7-division.
3. Astral Body: The seat of emotions, with lower aspects relating to earthly desires and higher aspects to spiritual striving. When this striving reaches a higher level, it transitions to the mental body.
4. Mental Body: Generates concrete and abstract thoughts, which are processed by the physical brain into thought-forms. These thoughts are living entities, sustained by consciousness, and perceived as living matter by higher beings.
5. Causal Body: Represents our ego-consciousness and is the lowest part of our threefold spirit. The two higher bodies of the spirit are yet to be formed. The mental and causal bodies are considered a single unit in their 7-division.

It is explained that each body penetrates and extends beyond the one below it (e.g., the astral body extends beyond the etheric, which extends beyond the physical). This principle of 'everything penetrates everything' is a fundamental concept.

The 7-Division and Worlds of Experience

The issue presents a diagram illustrating the 7-division for the physical and etheric bodies, breaking them down into eter 1-4, air, liquid, and solid form. It also lists the seven bodies in relation to the threefold division: physical, etheric, astral, mental, causal, bhuddisk, and atmisk, corresponding to soul and spirit.

We live in five worlds, and during sleep, we leave our physical and etheric bodies to travel in our astral body, which is also our astral world. This astral world is connected to the solar astral body. The solar system's bodies are composed of its planets' corresponding bodies, and the sun's higher vibrational frequency means we can only access its plane when we learn its means of expression.

Planes, Vibrations, and Elements

The text further elaborates on the physical body's matter, which consists of vibrations perceptible to human senses (solid, liquid, gas). The etheric body is described as having four etheric layers that, combined with the physical body's three forms of matter, constitute the 7-division. These are limited by different vibration frequencies. Ether is described as the material basis for our senses, including hearing, nerves, and sight. Ether 3 relates to the human chakras and their corresponding physical glands, while Ether 2 is linked to creative forces in the physical body, aiding in healing.

First ether (eter 1) is responsible for higher forms of creation. The physical body is not a 'principle' in itself, as its gross matter is not found in cosmic worlds, hence it is counted with the physical body in its 7-division.

Astral and Mental Bodies in Detail

The astral body is the lowest of the bodies we use when traveling in the astral world during sleep, while the etheric and physical bodies remain in bed. The etheric body's function during sleep is to rebuild the physical body. Dreams are thoughts generated in the mental body, which become diffuse due to the brain's weak connection to it. These thoughts originate in the mental body but are only perceived by our conscious mind if they reach the physical brain.

The astral realm contains bodily aspects, and negative traits like envy, revengefulness, and pride originate from its lower aspects. The higher part of the astral body fosters a longing for truth and righteousness. By conscious effort, one can move beyond the astral, and emotions then belong to the mental body's sphere.

The mental body, or soul, is the first body through which we can connect with higher spheres via thought power. Combined with deep feeling, it allows us to transcend material limits. Each body contains the principles of the others, meaning the mental body also has a sphere representing emotions, which, if of a higher nature, are superior to those in the astral body.

The Causal Body and the Self

The causal body, the lowest part of the threefold spirit, carries our 'I' or Self. It is not a cosmic principle in itself, and its characteristics do not apply to all series. Therefore, it is grouped with the mental body when viewed from a higher perspective.

Principles and Rays

Section 7 defines a 'principle' as a characteristic that is consistently distinguishing for its place in any 7-division across all series. The issue then discusses how human characteristics, actions, and feelings are influenced by cosmic rays, which are divine forces that provide impulses. These rays are divided into seven groups, representing Will, Love-Wisdom, Active Intelligence, Harmony, Science, Religious Feeling, and Ceremony/Magic.

Humans belong to one or more specific rays, which shape their lives. While these rays are high spiritual forces that determine destiny, individuals also possess free will to choose which rays to align with. A strong will shapes one's destiny, as freedom is a birthright.

Vibrations, Planes, and Lucifer

All is vibration, and increased vibration leads to a refined state where matter becomes less dense. The text suggests that if we consider water and air to change similarly to solid matter, we can better grasp this concept. The first planet is said to be dominated by Lucifer, an evil force that is not a cosmic principle and will eventually disappear as its vibrations increase. This force's influence is reflected in the lower divisions of each plane, with its effect weakening on higher planes. Lucifer's power is more active on the astral plane than the mental plane.

Terms and Elements

Planes create dimensions through vibrations, which encompass everything from the highest spiritual to the lowest material. These planes originate from the highest divinity and form the structure of the universe and our solar system. They are also referred to as worlds and represent different aspects of nature. The elements (earth, water, gas, air) are formed during a planet's creation, with earth progressing from etheric matter to solid form, then gas and water. Once solid form is established, nature can emerge. Humans are the highest form of nature; once their peak is reached, development shifts from involution (descent into matter) to evolution (return to origin).

Rays are spiritual concepts representing cosmic forces, their effects, and manifestations, describing humanity's position in the universe. Planes and rays are closely linked, with planes dividing groups based on ray effects. Planes describe dimensions divided into sections according to vibration frequencies, while rays determine characteristics and methods of operation for our bodies.

Chakras and rays have a close connection.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the esoteric understanding of human anatomy (the seven bodies), the interconnectedness of all things through vibrations and principles, and the influence of spiritual planes and cosmic rays on human existence. The editorial stance is clearly within the realm of spiritualism and occult philosophy, presenting these concepts as fundamental truths for spiritual development and understanding the universe. The text encourages the reader to strive for higher spiritual understanding and to consciously shape their destiny through will and alignment with higher forces.