Serie F brev nr 5

Magazine Overview

This issue of Brevcirkeln, titled 'Om Underjordens Verklighet' (On the Reality of the Underworld), is the fifth installment in Serie F. It delves into esoteric concepts of the Earth's interior, drawing heavily on the teachings of Max Heindel and the experiences of H.W. Percival. The magazine explores the idea of parallel realms within the Earth that mirror the spiritual planes of the outer universe.

Som Ovan, Så Nedan (As Above, So Below)

The main article begins by referencing Max Heindel's teaching that the Earth's interior contains a correspondence to the varied densities or consciousness planes of the outer cosmos. To aid understanding, a schema is presented, illustrating these planes. This schema starts with 'O. The Unbounded (The Great Void of Deep Space)' and descends through numbered levels: 1. World of God, 2. World of Divine Spirit, 3. World of Living, 4. Abstract Thought Region, 5. Concrete Thought Region, 6. Upper Desire World, 7. Lower Desire World, 8. Ethereal Region, and 9. Chemical Region. The schema also lists corresponding physical strata: 1. Our Physical Environment, 2. Mineral Stratum, 3. Liquid Stratum, 4. Vapor Stratum, 5. Water Stratum, 6. Seed Stratum, 7. Fiery Stratum, 8. Reflecting Stratum, 9. Atomic Stratum, and 0. The Unbounded.

The article notes that while literature on higher spiritual realms is abundant (citing Oliver's 'Phylos,' Elsa Baker's 'Letters from a Living Dead Man,' and works by Geoffrey Hodson and C.W. Leadbeater), descriptions of regions beneath the Earth's surface are scarce and often muddled with human fantasy. It mentions fictional works like John Uri Lloyd's 'Etidorpha,' Willis George Emerson's 'The Smoky God,' and Jules Verne's narratives as examples of imaginative explorations of the Earth's core.

It is stated that Max Heindel provided a classification of Earth's strata in the late 1920s. However, it was H.W. Percival, a generation later, who offered a continuous description of an initiate's experience entering the depths in search of divinity.

Den Viktiga Vägen (The Important Way)

This section focuses on H.W. Percival's work, specifically his book 'Thinking and Destiny.' In Section 5 of the chapter 'The Great Way,' Percival describes the path into the Earth opening for a person when their earthly ties—to family, society, and country—have been severed, and they no longer feel belonging to those near them. Such a person becomes a wanderer (initiate), preparing for the 'Way of Form.' This wanderer is associated with a brotherhood, described as outposts or mystery schools located in various parts of the world. When the time is right, this guide leads the wanderer to an opening in the ground, which could be in a forest, mountain, or even under a building, often concealed. The wanderer bids farewell to their companion and is met by a new guide.

The guide, who is neither male nor female but a being of another race, speaks the wanderer's language. Together, they leave the surface and enter the Earth's interior. The wanderer enters a new world with many levels, initially limited to one dimension, creating a barrier to perception similar to the surface world's focus on external appearances. Gradually, the wanderer develops the ability to perceive inwardly and between surfaces, experiencing other dimensions.

The inner world is described as vast, with chambers, passages, and labyrinths stretching for hundreds of kilometers. It contains immense mountains, vast plains, and swirling liquids where earth currents meet. There are large bodies of water, but no central light source, day, or night. Some chambers experience strong winds, while others are calm. The temperature is generally pleasant. Travel is by foot or in vehicles made of metal or derived from the air. Edible plants and fruits exist, some cultivated, others wild. The levels closest to the surface are inhabited by savage wild animals, degenerate tribes, and wild races.

Människor Inuti Jorden (People Inside the Earth)

The inhabitants of the crust nearest the surface are described as human-like beings, distinct from current surface races. Near the surface, these races are wild, degenerate, consuming raw meat and strong intoxicants. Deeper within, the people are peaceful and cultivated, with almost all races being white. Some are well acquainted with the planet and possess power over its forces.

The wanderer may witness shadows of people whose lives on the surface have ended, replaying scenes from their past lives. In other places, they see people working out judgments pronounced in their earthly courtrooms. The text emphasizes that these visions are only possible because the wanderer has left the surface world. Specific locations reveal groups of people lost due to selfishness and hatred, appearing as monstrous beings like spiders with malicious eyes, vampires, or crabs with human faces, or snakes with wings. These beings live in isolation, hanging from rocky ceilings or hiding among stones, driven by a constant, aching emptiness and a desire for blood or torture. They attack each other, finding no satisfaction, and are perpetually seeking something they cannot find.

Another group described are those lost due to misguided religious worship, seeking favor from personal gods or nature out of selfish motives. After death, they temporarily lose their identity, as nature's gods have no identity other than the thoughts of these humans. They can never be absorbed into their gods. After death, they transform into one of the four elements, appearing in stones, water, wind, or fire, conscious but dissatisfied, like madmen trying to find themselves. Their cries are heard from stones, threads, or water, asking 'Who?' or 'Where?' or 'Lost, lost!'

Frestelser (Temptations)

During the journey, some beings warn the wanderer about their guide, offering peace and power if they stay with them. Others threaten the wanderer. The guide may step away, but if present, does not object or try to persuade the wanderer. If the wanderer succumbs to these temptations, they will never see the guide again and will fail to reach their goal.

Throughout the journey, the guide explains the structure, forces, and history of the inner Earth, the causal connections of phenomena, and their repercussions. The guide explains that the wanderer must bring their thoughts into balance, as the end and goal of the path lie in this equilibrium. The wanderer is often left alone in darkness, appearing dead but conscious, with inactive senses. Gradually, beings—human and non-human—appear. The wanderer condemns them but cannot drive them away. They see into the wanderer and are recognized as part of them. These beings wish to continue living by taking the wanderer's life force. The wanderer then understands they are his own thoughts. He weighs them and takes away their power to transition into physical form. He pronounces judgment on them in relation to himself, dissolving them, and peace returns. The guide reappears and greets the wanderer. The journey has so far taken place within the Earth's crust. During this passage through the 'Way of Form,' the wanderer's body has changed in structure and nature. It now has little or no weight and requires no solid food. It has assumed proportional forms and exquisite lines that surpass any body on the surface in nobility and grace.

The article concludes this section by stating that this provides a brief glimpse into the purpose and conditions of the Inner Earth, as seen through the eyes of someone who claims to have experienced it. The author states that this is their explanation until a better one can be found. The only way to prove or disprove Percival's claims is to seek the answer oneself, which can be achieved by studying the material provided by mystery schools, disciplining oneself, and cultivating clarity and concentration to demonstrate these difficulties. Otherwise, the Inner Earth will remain a mystery.

En Jordgud Talar (An Earth God Speaks)

This section presents a poetic piece, attributed to an 'Earth Spirit,' which is described as a plea for understanding. The spirit is not a 'Dero' but an overseer of birth, growth, maturity, and death in the plant kingdom. The poem, found in H.K. Challoner's book 'Watchers of the Seven Spheres,' speaks of subtle waves of energy, color, and tone that connect to a creative source. It describes the spirit's proximity to nature's elements—stones, water, wind, and fire—and the beings within them, such as elves and undines. The poem expresses a desire for unity with nature and a realization of one's own powers, leading to a shared purpose and the creation of many kingdoms.

The poem emphasizes love as the greatest force, binding all of creation. It speaks of a higher goal beyond mere existence, leading to a unity of beings. It describes death not as an end but as a rhythm, a tone, a harmony of countless voices. The poem addresses humanity, urging them to recognize their power to guide the Earth's drift towards higher realms. It speaks of a seed of life within, seeking light and freedom from darkness. This seed desires truth and harmony, a life of unity. The poem calls for this longing to grow, so that beings can be united in joyful expression and reveal the hidden beauty of the other realm. It suggests that humanity will perceive these spirits in rocks, rivers, forests, clouds, and flowers, and that the divine presence will be found in every stone, reflecting the music of the stars. The poem concludes with a promise that the music of a thousand souls will reach the listener, and that heavenly birds will come without fear, traveling together under the same sun. The reader is encouraged to learn that their powers can be tamed and used together for creation, and to discover many kingdoms that are uniquely theirs. By learning to listen to the tone that has been conveyed and interpreted, and by serving love and a common goal, humanity can achieve this.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the existence and nature of an 'Inner Earth,' spiritual journeys of initiation, the correspondence between different planes of existence (as above, so below), and the transformative power of love and consciousness. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting esoteric and theosophical concepts as factual or at least worthy of serious consideration, encouraging readers to explore these ideas through study and personal development. The inclusion of both detailed prose and a poetic piece suggests an aim to engage readers on both intellectual and spiritual levels.