Nature of the Soul
By Lucille Cedercrans
Lesson 6
We have enumerated and defined the three inherent characteristics of the Soul
found manifesting in and through the perfected form as Divine Will, Divine Love
Wisdom and Intelligent Activity. We have considered at some length these
attributes as the main factors of influence in the aspirant's treading of the
path. We realize now that the aspirant is impulsed by the Divine Will of the
Soul, infused and illuminated by the Divine Love Wisdom of the Soul and swept
into activity by the Divine Intelligence of the Soul.
We shall now consider these three attributes as being three types of vibratory
energy which reach and influence the aspirant according to his aspiration,
meditation and application. We shall consider at some length this threefold
method of contacting, accepting and embodying the Divine energies of the Soul.
This will give the student a further understanding of the Law and make it
possible for his eventual contact in awareness with his Soul.
ASPIRATION: What do we mean by this term? In order to clarify its meaning we
shall begin by consideration of its correspondence on a lower level, namely
Desire.
Desire, which is found to predominate in the emotional nature of the
personality, is based upon the selfish will of the brain.
I wish to insert here what is meant by our use of the word "selfish" in order to
avoid a misinterpretation by those reading these lessons. We are not concerned
with the so-called good and bad which characterizes this term as used by
humanity as a whole. Anything which concerns the separated self we consider as
being selfish. Certainly much of the so-called good and bad are results of this
attitude. It is the attitude of exclusion and can be at times very subtle and
difficult for the aspirant to see within himself.
The desire to attainment is selfish and characterizes almost all probationers on
the path. It separates the individual in awareness from his brother. A barrier
of thought and emotion is revolving around him in such a manner as to cut him
off from others. Thus he is rendered insensitive to anything which does not have
a direct impact upon him as a separated, all-important personality.
The aspirant recognizes and eliminates this personality trait by realizing first
that he is a part of a whole and that he is dependent upon each part of, and the
whole. He then realizes that he is important (and important is an incorrect
term) only insofar as his relationship to each part and the whole is recognized
and rightly balanced.
We shall now go back to our consideration of desire. The selfish will which
centers itself in the little I, acts upon the emotional nature as a vibratory
influence. A bombardment of electrical impulse passes from the little I, seated
in the brain, to the emotional polarization located in the region of the solar
plexus, via the nervous system. This calls forth from the emotional nature a
vibratory energy activity which is commonly called desire.
The emotional body of most persons, as seen by a clairvoyant, is in an almost
constant state of turmoil. There are vortices of energy, very similar to the
whirlpools in a stream or river, into which the energies of the individual are
pulled. These vortices represent the various desires which tend to pull the
individual first this way and then that.
They are spasmodically stimulated by the little will impulse, but without a
definite rhythm, being therefore somewhat unpredictable and erratic. In this
case we see the individual who is completely ruled by his emotions, who is
without purpose and a victim of so-called circumstance at all times.
There is a difference when there is desire coupled with purpose. The individual
then tends to become one-pointed in his desire and there is less turmoil in the
emotional body. The vortices will be confined to one or two large ones and a
more definite rhythm will be established. This rhythm attracts and repels, and
so we see periods of intense desire, with later gratification by the fulfillment
of that desire.
The gratification of desire always leads, sooner or later, to disillusion, and
so the individual still remains dissatisfied. This naturally leads to a
substitution of goal and a new period of intense desire, until such time as the
individual awakens to the fact that desire is a betrayer. He then turns from it
and gradually enters into a state of aspiration.
In summing up desire, we say it is an activity of the emotional nature impulsed
by the selfish will of the personality. It is always separative, being confined
to the satisfaction of the individual concerned and therefore, largely
responsible for the lack of brotherhood in the world today.
Aspiration is the result of an electrical impulse projected from the Soul
(focused in the region of the pineal gland) to the emotional aspect (located in
the region of the heart) via the energy underlying all substance. Thus is the
vibratory activity of the emotional nature quickened and this aspect literally
lifted up out of the lower level where desire characterizes it, to the higher
levels of aspiration.
We then see a body of energy which is relatively quiescent characterized by a
radiatory activity which is both expansive and contractive.
We have then, an impulse from the Soul which stimulated the aspiration into
being. The aspirant begins by a sort of longing, a yearning toward the light.
Just as a flower reaches toward the light of the sun, so the aspirant reaches
toward the light of the Soul.
Just as a flower grows and blooms and radiates beauty, so does the aspirant grow
and bloom and radiate Divinity. This radiation of the aspirant is characterized
by his giving in the form of activity of the energies he has received from the
Soul. This continual reaching toward the light and in turn the giving or sharing
of that light, has been termed aspiration.
This in turn evokes a further response from the Soul, and the aspirant is the
recipient of greater light. In this manner through a cyclic ebb and flow of
energies; a call from the personality, response from the Soul and visa versa, we
see man bloom as a Soul infused personality.
The slang phrase, "Man lifts himself up by his bootstraps" is a very good
analogy for this activity in which all aspirants are engaged.
The term itself "aspirant" as applied to an individual denotes a certain
development and is not carelessly used in connection with all students. The
aspirant is one who is engaged in the evocation of the Divine Will impulse.
This is most important and should be contemplated by all sincere students. Only
in this manner can the first aspect of Divinity be brought into active
manifestation within the individual environment.
When the aspirant is well into this phase of growth, his mental attitude can
best be described by the following words:
"Not my will, Oh Soul, but Thine".
Deliberately and often at great seeming cost to the personality is the call
sounded forth. The little will of the personality which has ruled for a long
period of time is subordinated to the will of the Soul, and not without battle.
Those forms which are out of harmony with Soul purpose are destroyed and
remember this destruction includes any discordant form, whether it be a
thoughtform, emotion, a physical form or an activity form. Thus is the attention
of the aspirant lifted up and the eye opened.
I shall speak of alignment at this time for it is here that it is first
consciously put to use.
Alignment is the establishment of a path for the flow of energies between any
two points. It is the path of least resistance for any manifesting activity.
The aspirant aligns himself with the Will of the Soul and this he does in the
following manner:
1. He recognizes first the fact of the existence of the Soul.
2. He mentally and emotionally accepts the Will of the Soul.
3. He visualizes a line of light reaching out from his brain, extending through
his mind to his Soul. Along this line the call is sent.
Evocation is a calling forth, and when done correctly the response is
inevitable. A vibration is set up along this line which reaches the Soul and
commands its attention. The answer is then sent forth.
It is important for the student to realize that this response does not come in
the form of words spoken into the brain. It is at first nothing more than a
subtle change of and in his activities; and the presentation of opportunity via
activity or lack of activity.
Most students are so busily engaged in looking for and thinking about unusual
phenomena that they fail to register and recognize the more subtle influence of
the Soul. Remember we spoke of Divine Will impulse; this is an actuality. It is
an electrical impulse, the impact of which changes the vibratory frequency of
the aspirant's instrument and in this manner produces change in his thoughts,
emotions, words, deeds and environment.
He maintains this line of contact at all times, subordinating his activities and
his personal will to the Divine Will of the Soul.
In considering this lesson, and in application, remember that we are concerned
with ASPIRATION and not meditation. The alignment given should not at this time
be any more than a mental activity which is simultaneous with the routine of
daily living. Let the eyes remain open, the brain subjectively attentive and the
physical instrument outwardly busy as usual. Do not use this alignment given as
a meditation form.
In summing up aspiration, we say it is an activity of the higher emotional
nature and the mind, which is impulsed by the Soul. It is always concerned with
the Divine Plan, being therefore inclusive; and eventually producing within the
mind and the heart of the aspirant the recognition, acceptance and practice of
brotherhood.