Spirit, The First Great Cause
Spirit. The First Great Cause. The Corner Stone.
The Constitution of the Solar Universe - Matter- Extension - Divisibility - Impenetrability - Ether - Force - Attraction and Repulsion - Spirit Primordial - Will
The Solar Universe, of which the earth is a part, consists of Matter, Force and Spirit.
Matter is an aggregation of minute, indestructible atoms, existing in the four states known as solid, fluid, gaseious and ethereal. The general attributes which distinguish matter in the three first conditions, are indestructibility, extension, divisibility, impenetrability, and inertia.
By indestructibility is meant that property which is the antithesis of annihilation, and utterly prevents the assumption that a single atom of matter, however minute, whether in the finest condition of air or the hardest of crystal, can ever be wholly put out of existence.
Extension is the property by which an atom of matter can be changed so as to occupy more or less space.
Divisibility is the property by which an atom can be divided or reduced to the smallest known particles, and yet each particle preserve some capacity for farther subdivision.
Impenetrability implies the impossibility of one atom occupying the space of another; an inertia is the tendency of matter to continue either in that condition of rest or motion in which it has once been set by the application of force, until another force changes the former direction. There are many other definitions applicable to matter; such as crystalline, porous, dense, elastic, etc.; but the five general properties enumerated above, will sufficiently explain its nature for our present purpose.
Ether is matter in so rare and sublimated a condition, that its divisibility into particles is no longer possible to man in his present stage of scientific attainment. It far transcends the rarefaction of the finest of gases, hydrogen, and filling up every space of the solar universe explored by man, not occupied by particles matter, may with propriety be called unparticled matter.
Force is the life principle of being. It is the second of the grand Trinity of elements which constitute existence, and ranks, therefore, next to matter, which it permeates, vitalizes, and moves. It is motion per se, and though matter is never exhibited without it. Force, as we shall hereafter prove, can exist without a material body for its exhibition.
Its attributes are dual, and should be named Attraction and Repulsion.
The vast and extended orbits of planetary bodies are marked out and regulated by Force, with its dual attributes, now attracting the revolving satellite to the centre, now forcing it off into a relative point of distance, but always maintaining it in a given path or orbit between the oscillations of its contending motions.
Force is the unresting life which charges every atom of matter, and fits inorganic masses to become organic. It is Electricity in the air; Magnetism in the earth; Galvanism between different metallic particles - cohesion, disintegration, gravitation, centripetal and centrifugal forms of motion; Life in plants, animals, and men, the aural, astral, or magnetic body of spirits.
Spirit is the one primordial, uncreated, eternal, infinite Alpha and Omega of Being. It may have subsisted independent of Force and Matter, evolving both from its own incomprehensible but illimitable perfection; but Force and Matter could never have originated Spirit, as its one sole attribute comprehends and embraces all others, must antedate, govern, and surpass all others, and is itself the cause of all effects. That attribute is Will.
As there are but two attributes of Force, namely, attraction and repulsion, yet many varieties of modes in which attraction and repulsion are perceived, so, whilst there is but one attribute of Spirit, namely, Will, there are many subordinate principles emanating from Will, such are Love, Wisdom, Use, Beauty, Intelligence, Skill, etc. The most marked and distinctive procedures are, however, nine; namely, Love, Wisdom, and Power; Creation, Preservation, and Progress; Live, Death, and Regeneration.
In Matter, Force, and Spirit, then, is the grand Trinity of Being, which constitutes the solar universe and its inhabitants.
Reasoning from analogy, and still more, founding upon the assertions of wise teaching angels and the vague shadows of antique beliefs, founded in a spiritual enlightenment far in advance of the present, we have authority for supposing that the astral, and all other universes included in the illimitable fields of being, may have proceeded from and include the same primordial Trinity of elements, and that Spirit, Force, and Matter form that stupendous Ego, the totality of which, to finite beings, is vaguely called God, the separated units of which include Astral and Solar Systems, Suns, Satellites, Worlds, Spirits, Men, Animate and Inanimate Things, and Atoms.
Comments
It is foolish to attempt to classify spirit and belief systems in terms of attributes in the physical world. It is disingenuous to attempt to warp the realities of the physical world in order to bolster one's own theories of how the spiritual realm works.
One's theories should be capable of standing on their own, without the necessity to redefine elements of nature and the physical world, as this author did, even allowing for the knowledge available in 1898 when this book was published.
Posted by: Mikki | January 15, 2004 05:51 PM
Throughout the book, there are many attempts by the author to "prove" his theories by referring to various other phenomena, natural and human created (as well as those claimed to be of supernatural origin) which the author claims to have personal knowledge. The interesting thing about all of this is that at the time the book was written, Spiritists or spirit mediums, were under scrutiny from many sectors of society, and claims of fraud abounded. Many of these mediums were indeed frauds, who used rigged rooms and played on the deep emotions of those who had suffered great personal loss.
Whether or not any of the spirit mediums were actually genuine in their claims to be capable of contacting various spirits is not the question I am trying to answer here. Instead, the plan is to analyze this book, published in 1898, to see what elements (if any) it has in common with Modern Wiccan practices.
It has been said that there are many different sources that were and are being drawn from to make Modern Wicca what it is. While tracing every belief and every practice to its source is not always possible (even for new practices due to the unfortunate fact that people tend to "borrow" from others without attribution), it is useful to trace at least the ones we can to the extent that we can.
It may sound silly, but I feel that there was a reason that this particular book was given to me by my grandmother, despite the fact that she had never read it. She had no way of knowing that less than 250 copies of this book were originally published and distributed to a small mailing list of "progressive thinkers" headed by Emma Hartidge Britten, a noted Spiritist of her time. Finding out why my grandmother had the book was quite difficult, as she has never been very forthcoming with me, and all I have been able to find out is that it likely came from the collection of two spinster great great aunts who lived next door to my grandmother. One of them, my "Aunt Lizzie" is the reason I gave my daughter the middle name "Elizabeth." Although I never really knew her as she died when I was very young, I felt a strange kinship with her.
So that, in a nutshell, is the story of this book, and the reason for my desire to use it as a project for Third Circle. Since the book was far too fragile to use a scanner, as it was in poor condition when I received it, I manually typed it. If there are any typos that you happen to find, please email them to me.
Posted by: Mikki | August 23, 2004 11:11 AM
The final paragraph of this section presents an interesting view of God, which seems to reflect the view some modern Wiccans hold. The author seems to be saying that God is made of all parts of the astral and mundane worlds, including humans and the inanimate. Many Wiccans, including myself, believe that the universe is indeed the body of the Goddess (or the One), and that all things, alive or not, carry within them at least a spark of the divine.
Posted by: Silverlotus | September 6, 2004 10:20 PM