Chapter
8 - Planes of Correspondence
"As
above, so below; as below, so above." -The
Kybalion.
The great Second Hermetic Principle embodies the truth that there
is a harmony, agreement, and correspondence between the several
planes of Manifestation, Life and Being. This truth is a truth
because all that is included in the Universe emanates from the same
source, and the same laws, principles, and characteristics apply to
each unit, or combination of units of activity, as each manifests
its own phenomena upon its own plane.
For the purpose of convenience of thought and study, the Hermetic
Philosophy considers that the Universe may be divided into three
great classes of phenomena, known as the Three Great Planes,
namely:
I.
The Great Physical Plane.
II.
The Great Mental Plane.
III.
The Great Spiritual Plane.
These divisions are more or less artificial and arbitrary, for the
truth is that all of the three divisions are but ascending degrees
of the great scale of Life, the lowest point of which is
undifferentiated Matter, and the highest point that of Spirit. And,
moreover, the different Planes shade into each other, so that no
hard and fast division may be made between the higher phenomena of
the Physical and the lower of the Mental; or between the higher of
the Mental and the lower of the Physical.
In short, the Three Great Planes may be regarded as three great
groups of degrees of Life Manifestation. While the purposes of this
little book do not allow us to enter into an extended discussion
of, or explanation of, the subject of these different planes, still
we think it well to give a general description of the same at this
point.
At the beginning we may as well consider the question so often
asked by the neophyte, who desires to be informed regarding the
meaning of the word "Plane," which term has been very freely used,
and very poorly explained, in many recent works upon the subject of
occultism. The question is generally about as follows: "Is a Plane
a place having dimensions, or is it merely a condition or state?"
We answer: "No, not a place, nor ordinary dimension of space, and
yet more than a state or condition. It may be considered as a state
or condition, and yet the state or condition is a degree of
dimension, in a scale subject to measurement." Somewhat
paradoxical, is it not? But let us examine the matter. A
"dimension," you know, is "a measure in a straight line, relating
to measure," etc. The ordinary dimensions of space are length,
breadth, and height, or perhaps length, breadth, height, thickness
or circumference. But there is another dimension of "created
things," or "measure in a straight line," known to occultists, and
to scientists as well, although the latter have not as yet applied
the term "dimension" to it-and this new dimension, which, by the
way, is the much speculated-about "Fourth Dimension," is the
standard used in determining the degrees or "planes.''
This Fourth Dimension may be called "the Dimension of Vibration."
It is a fact well known to modern science, as well as to the
Hermetists who have embodied the truth in their "Third Hermetic
Principle," that "everything is in motion; everything vibrates;
nothing is at rest." From the highest manifestation, to the lowest,
everything and all things Vibrate. Not only do they vibrate at
different rates of motion, but as in different directions and in a
different manner. The degrees of the "rate" of vibrations
constitute the degrees of measurement on the Scale of Vibrations-in
other words the degrees of the Fourth Dimension. And these degrees
form what occultists call "Planes." The higher the degree of rate
of vibration, the higher the plane, and the higher the
manifestation of Life occupying that plane. So that while a plane
is not "a place," nor yet "a state or condition," yet it possesses
qualities common to both. We shall have more to say regarding the
subject of the scale of Vibrations in our next lessons, in which we
shall consider the Hermetic Principle of Vibration.
You will kindly remember, however, that the Three Great Planes are
not actual divisions of the phenomena of the Universe, but merely
arbitrary terms used by the Hermetists in order to aid in the
thought and study of the various degrees and forms of universal
activity of life. The atom of matter, the unit of force, the mind
of man, and the being of the arch-angel are all but degrees in one
scale, and all fundamentally the same, the difference between
solely a matter of degree, and rate of vibration-all are creations
of THE ALL, and have their existence solely within the Infinite
Mind of THE ALL.
The Hermetists sub-divide each of the Three Great Planes into Seven
Minor Planes, and each of these latter are also sub-divided into
seven sub-planes, all divisions being more or less arbitrary,
shading into each other, and adopted merely for convenience of
scientific study and thought.
The
Great Physical Plane, and its Seven Minor Planes, is that division
of the phenomena of the Universe which includes all that relates to
physics, or material things, forces, and manifestations. It
includes all forms of that which we call Matter, and all forms of
that which we call Energy or Force. But you must remember that the
Hermetic Philosophy does not recognize Matter as a "thing in
itself," or as having a separate existence even in the Mind of THE
ALL. The Teachings are that Matter is but a form of Energy-that is,
Energy at a low rate of vibrations of a certain kind. And
accordingly the Hermetists classify Matter under the head of
Energy, and give to it three of the Seven Minor Planes of the Great
Physical Plane.
These
Seven Minor Physical Planes are as
follows:
I.
The Plane of Matter (A). II. The Plane of Matter (B). III. The
Plane of Matter (C). IV. The Plane of Ethereal Substance. V. The
Plane of Energy (A). VI. The Plane of Energy (B). VII. The Plane of
Energy (C).
The Plane of Matter (A) comprises the forms of Matter in its form
of solids, liquids, and gases, as generally recognized by the
text-books on physics. The Plane of Matter (B) comprises certain
higher and more subtle forms of Matter of the existence of which
modern science is but now recognizing, the phenomena of Radiant
Matter, in its phases of radium, etc., belonging to the lower
sub-division of this Minor Plane. The Plane of Matter (C) comprises
forms of the most subtle and tenuous Matter, the existence of which
is not suspected by ordinary scientists. The Plane of Ethereal
Substance comprises that which science speaks of as "The Ether," a
substance of extreme tenuity and elasticity, pervading all
Universal Space, and acting as a medium for the transmission of
waves of energy, such as light, heat, electricity, etc. This
Ethereal Substance forms a connecting link between Matter
(so-called) and Energy, and partakes of the nature of each. The
Hermetic Teachings, however, instruct that this plane has seven
subdivisions (as have all of the Minor Planes), and that in fact
there are seven others, instead of but one.
Next above the Plane of Ethereal Substance comes the Plane of
Energy (A), which comprises the ordinary forms of Energy known to
science, its seven subplanes being, respectively, Heat; Light;
Magnetism; Electricity, and Attraction (including Gravitation,
Cohesion, Chemical Affinity, etc.) and several other forms of
energy indicated by scientific experiments but not as yet named or
classified. The Plane of Energy (B) comprises seven sub-planes of
higher forms of energy not as yet discovered by science, but which
have been called "Nature's Finer Forces" and which are called into
operation in manifestations of certain forms of mental phenomena,
and by which such phenomena becomes possible. The Plane of Energy
(C) comprises seven sub-planes of energy so highly organized that
it bears many of the characteristics of "life," but which is not
recognized by the minds of men on the ordinary plane of
development, being available for the use on beings of the Spiritual
Plane alone-such energy is unthinkable to ordinary man, and may be
considered almost as "the divine power." The beings employing the
same are as "gods" compared even to the highest human types known
to us.
The Great Mental Plane comprises those forms of "living things"
known to us in ordinary life, as well as certain other forms not so
well known except to the occultist. The classification of the Seven
Minor Mental Planes is more or less satisfactory and arbitrary
(unless accompanied by elaborate explanations which are foreign to
the purpose of this particular work), but we may as well mention
them. They are as follows:
I.
The Plane of Mineral Mind. II. The Plane of Elemental Mind (A).
III. The Plane of Plant Mind. IV. The Plane of Elemental Mind (B).
V. The Plane of Animal Mind. VI. The Plane of Elemental Mind (C).
VII. The Plane of Human Mind.
The
Plane of Mineral Mind comprises the "states or conditions" of the
units or entities, or groups and combinations of the same, which
animate the forms known to us as ''minerals, chemicals, etc." These
entities must not be confounded with the molecules, atoms and
corpuscles themselves, the latter being merely the material bodies
or forms of these entities, just as a man's body is but his
material form and not "himself." These entities may be called
"souls" in one sense, and are living beings of a low degree of
development, life, and mind-just a little more than the units of
''living energy which comprise the higher sub-divisions of the
highest Physical Plane. The average mind does not generally
attribute the possession of mind, soul, or life, to the Mineral
kingdom, but all occultists recognize the existence of the same,
and modern science is rapidly moving forward to the point-of-view
of the Hermetic, in this respect. The molecules, atoms and
corpuscles have their "loves and hates"; likes and dislikes;
"attractions and repulsions"; "affinities and nonaffinities," etc.,
and some of the more daring of modern scientific minds have
expressed the opinion that the desire and will, emotions and
feelings, of the atoms differ only in degree from those of men. We
have no time or space to argue this matter here. All occultists
know it to be a fact, and others are referred to some of the more
recent scientific works for outside corroboration. There are the
usual seven sub-divisions to this plane.
The Plane of Elemental Mind (A) comprises the state or condition,
and degree of mental and vital development of a class of entities
unknown to the average man, but recognized to occultists. They are
invisible to the ordinary senses of man, but, nevertheless, exist
and play their part of the Drama of the Universe. Their degree of
intelligence is between that of the mineral and chemical entities
on the one hand, and of the entities of the plant kingdom on the
other. There are seven sub-divisions to this plane, also.
The Plane of Plant Mind, in its seven subdivisions, comprises the
states or conditions of the entities comprising the kingdoms of the
Plant World, the vital and mental phenomena of which is fairly well
understood by the average intelligent person, many new and
interesting scientific works regarding "Mind and Life in Plants"
having been published during the last decade. Plants have life,
mind and "souls," as well as have the animals, man, and
super-man.
The Plane of Elemental Mind (B), in its seven sub-divisions,
comprises the states and conditions of a higher form of "elemental"
or unseen entities, playing their part in the general work of the
Universe, the mind and life of which form a part of the scale
between the Plane of Plant Mind and the Plane of Animal Mind, the
entities partaking of the nature of both.
The Plane of Animal Mind, in its seven subdivisions, comprises the
states and conditions of the entities, beings, or souls, animating
the animal forms of life, familiar to us all. It is not necessary
to go into details regarding this kingdom or plane of life, for the
animal world is as familiar to us as is our own.
The Plane of Elemental Mind (C), in its seven sub-divisions,
comprises those entities or beings, invisible as are all such
elemental forms, which partake of the nature of both animal and
human life in a degree and in certain combinations. The highest
forms are semi-human in intelligence.
The
Plane of Human Mind, in its seven subdivisions, comprises those
manifestations of life, and mentality which are common to Man, in
his various grades, degrees, and divisions, In this connection, we
wish to point out the fact that the average man of to-day occupies
but the fourth sub-division of the Plane of Human Mind, and only
the most intelligent have crossed the borders of the Fifth
Sub-Division.
It
has taken the race millions of years to reach this stage, and it
will take many more years for the race to move on to the sixth and
seventh sub-divisions, and beyond. But, remember, that there have
been races before use which have passed through these degrees, and
then on to higher planes. Our own race is the fifth (with
stragglers from the fourth) which has set foot upon The Path. And,
then there are a few advanced souls of our own race who have
outstripped the masses, and who have passed on to the sixth and
seventh sub-division, and some few being still further on. The man
of the Sixth Sub-Division will be "The Super-Man"; he of the
Seventh will be "The Over-Man."
In our consideration of the Seven Minor Mental Planes, we have
merely referred to the Three Elementary Planes in a general way. We
do not wish to go into this subject in detail in this work, for it
does not belong to this part of the general philosophy and
teachings. But we may say this much, in order to give you a little
clearer idea of the relations of these planes to the more familiar
ones-the Elementary Planes bear the same relation to the Planes of
Mineral, Plant, Animal and Human Mentality and Life, that the black
keys on the piano do to the white keys.
The
white keys are sufficient to produce music, but there are certain
scales, melodies, and harmonies, in which the black keys play their
part, and in which their presence is necessary. They are also
necessary as "connecting links" of soul-condition; entity states,
etc., between the several other planes, certain forms of
development being attained therein-this last fact giving to the
reader who can "read between the lines" a new light upon the
processes of Evolution, and a new key to the secret door of the
"leaps of life" between kingdom and kingdom. The great kingdoms of
Elementals are fully recognized by all occultists, and the esoteric
writings are full of mention of them. The readers of Bulwer's
"Zanoni" and similar tales will recognize the entities inhabiting
these planes of life.
Passing on from the Great Mental Plane to the Great Spiritual
Plane, what shall we say? How can we explain these higher states of
Being, Life and Mind, to minds as yet unable to grasp and
understand the higher sub-divisions of the Plane of Human Mind? The
task is impossible. We can speak only in the most general terms.
How may Light be described to a man born blind-how sugar, to a man
who has never tasted anything sweet-how harmony, to one born
deaf?
All that we can say is that the Seven Minor Planes of the Great
Spiritual Plane (each Minor Plane having its seven sub-divisions)
comprise Beings possessing Life, Mind and Form as far above that of
Man of to-day as the latter is above the earthworm, mineral or even
certain forms of Energy or Matter. The Life of these Beings so far
transcends ours, that we cannot even think of the details of the
same; their Minds so far transcend ours, that to them we scarcely
seem to "think," and our mental processes seem almost akin to
material processes; the Matter of which their forms are composed is
of the highest Planes of Matter, nay, some are even said to be
"clothed in Pure Energy." What may be said of such Beings?
On the Seven Minor Planes of the Great Spiritual Plane exist Beings
of whom we may speak as Angels; Archangels; Demi-Gods. On the lower
Minor Planes dwell those great souls whom we call Masters and
Adepts. Above them come the Great Hierarchies of the Angelic Hosts,
unthinkable to man; and above those come those who may without
irreverence be called "The Gods," so high in the scale of Being are
they, their being, intelligence and power being akin to those
attributed by the races of men to their conceptions of Deity. These
Beings are beyond even the highest flights of the human
imagination, the word "Divine" being the only one applicable to
them. Many of these Beings, as well as the Angelic Host, take the
greatest interest in the affairs of the Universe and play an
important part in its affairs. These Unseen Divinities and Angelic
Helpers extend their influence freely and powerfully, in the
process of Evolution, and Cosmic Progress. Their occasional
intervention and assistance in human affairs have led to the many
legends, beliefs, religions and traditions of the race, past and
present. They have superimposed their knowledge and power upon the
world, again and again, all under the Law of THE ALL, of
course.
But, yet, even the highest of these advanced Beings exist merely as
creations of, and in, the Mind of THE ALL, and are subject to the
Cosmic Processes and Universal Laws. They are still Mortal. We may
call them "gods" if we like, but still they are but the Elder
Brethren of the Race,-the advanced souls who have outstripped their
brethren, and who have foregone the ecstasy of Absorption by THE
ALL, in order to help the race on its upward journey along The
Path. But, they belong to the Universe, and are subject to its
conditions-they are mortal-and their plane is below that of
Absolute Spirit.
Only the most advanced Hermetists are able to grasp the Inner
Teachings regarding the state of existence, and the powers
manifested on the Spiritual Planes. The phenomena is so much higher
than that of the Mental Planes that a confusion of ideas would
surely result from an attempt to describe the same. Only those
whose minds have been carefully trained along the lines of the
Hermetic Philosophy for years-yes, those who have brought with them
from other incarnations the knowledge acquired previously-can
comprehend just what is meant by the Teaching regarding these
Spiritual Planes. And much of these Inner Teachings is held by the
Hermetists as being too sacred, important and even dangerous for
general public dissemination. The intelligent student may recognize
what we mean by this when we state that the meaning of "Spirit" as
used by the Hermetists is akin to "Living Power"; "Animated Force";
"Inner Essence"; "Essence of Life," etc., which meaning must not be
confounded with that usually and commonly employed in connection
with the term, i.e., ''religious; ecclesiastical; spirituelle;
ethereal; holy," etc., etc.
To
occultists the word "Spirit" is used in the sense of "The Animating
Principle," carrying with it the idea of Power, Living Energy,
Mystic Force, etc. And occultists know that that which is known to
them as "Spiritual Power" may be employed for evil as well as good
ends (in accordance with the Principle of Polarity), a fact which
has been recognized by the majority of religions in their
conceptions of Satan, Beelzebub, the Devil, Lucifer, Fallen Angels,
etc. And so the knowledge regarding these Planes has been kept in
the Holy of Holies in all Esoteric Fraternities and Occult
Orders,-in the Secret Chamber of the Temple.
But
this may be said here, that those who have attained high spiritual
powers and have misused them, have a terrible fate in store for
them, and the swing of the pendulum of Rhythm will inevitably swing
them back to the furthest extreme of Material existence, from which
point they must retrace their steps Spiritward, along the weary
rounds of The Path, but always with the added torture of having
always with them a lingering memory of the heights from which they
fell owing to their evil actions. The legends of the Fallen Angels
have a basis in actual facts, as all advanced occultists know. The
striving for selfish power on the Spiritual Planes inevitably
results in the selfish soul losing its spiritual balance and
falling back as far as it had previously risen. But to even such a
soul, the opportunity of a return is given-and such souls make the
return journey, paying the terrible penalty according to the
invariable Law.
In conclusion we would again remind you that according to the
Principle of Correspondence, which embodies the truth: "As Above so
Below; as Below, so Above," all of the Seven Hermetic Principles
are in full operation on all of the many planes, Physical, Mental
and Spiritual. The Principle of Mental Substance of course applies
to all the planes, for all are held in the Mind of THE ALL. The
Principle of Correspondence manifests in all, for there is a
correspondence, harmony and agreement between the several planes.
The Principle of Vibration manifests on all planes, in fact the
very differences that go to make the "planes" arise from Vibration,
as we have explained. The Principle of Polarity manifests on each
plane, the extremes of the Poles being apparently opposite and
contradictory. The Principle of Rhythm manifests on each Plane, the
movement of the phenomena having its ebb and flow, rise and flow,
incoming and outgoing. The Principle of Cause and Effect manifests
on each Plane, every Effect having its Cause and every Cause having
its effect. The Principle of Gender manifests on each Plane, the
Creative Energy being always manifest, and operating along the
lines of its Masculine and Feminine Aspects.
"As Above so Below; as Below, so Above." This centuries old
Hermetic axiom embodies one of the great Principles of Universal
Phenomena. As we proceed with our consideration of the remaining
Principles, we will see even more clearly the truth of the
universal nature of this great Principle of Correspondence.