by
Aart Jurriaanse
Devas and elementals constitute a separate evolution from that
of the human being. All evolutions or involutions are,
however, intimately integrated, and together compose
the body of the Planetary Logos. Each of these vast
systems is independently controlled by Hierarchies functioning
on parallel levels and status. The intention is not
to make a close study of these other vast fields of
expression, but the esoteric student should at least
be aware of these related evolutions, with a general
idea of how they are related to and affect our own immediate
system.
Elementals - The elementals are sub-human forms which have
not yet reached the evolutionary stage. They are in
fact still in process of involution, on the downward
arc - the stage where spirit is still being involved
in matter. Evolution, in contrast, denotes the upward
gradient, where that which has been created evolves,
or is being transmuted into forms on higher levels of
development, and thus refers to the ascent or return
of Spirit to its Source, carrying with it the gains
in experience of passing through matter.
Elementals are etheric forms of being, occurring on all planes,
and which have traditionally been known as gnomes, brownies
and pixies.
They may also be classified as:
Earth or Physical Elementals
Air or Etheric Elementals
Water or Astral Elementals
Fire or Mental Elementals.
These elementals are the essence or primordial phase of
all creation in both our Solar System and the Universe.
Within certain limits these elemental forces may be
controlled or guided by man. They can as a rule be harnessed
by particular rites and rituals, but this is an entirely
separate study, and the uninformed are warned that it
is definitely undesirable to meddle with these matters
unless thoroughly understood. The present purpose is
merely to point to the existence of these forces.
With more advanced spiritual development the disciple will acquire
knowledge and proficiency, based on the laws of nature,
enabling him to co-operate successfully with the involutionary
realms, and thereby also to promote the evolutionary
processes.
Devas - In contrast to the elementals, the devas are already
on the evolutionary path. They are the builders of the
material system, in which they work in their myriads
in 'serried ranks', and where they are grouped into
many grades.
Devas of every status are to be found, somewhat paralleling those
of the human evolution, and grading from ranks comparable
to that of a Planetary Logos, through the many intermediate
hierarchical grades down to the lesser ranks of the
building devas, who work unconsciously and automatically
in large groups, building the many forms known to human
evolution. These lower groups are guided only by vibration
and sound.
The devas avail themselves of the elemental forces, and the deva
builders control these blindly working forces to perform
their involutionary functions. The devas in their constructive
work produce cohesion, harmony and beauty out of elemental
chaos. The lower strata of the devas, the practical
builders, comparatively speaking, vary from the unthinking,
automatically working labourers, rising progressively
until the foreman quality is encountered, then the supervisor,
eventually arriving at the controllers, the industrial
executives or 'Great Building Devas', who are on a comparable
level with the Masters of Wisdom. On the physical plane
man is, mostly unconsciously, in daily and constant
contact with the deva world. All matter, and every physical
form, whether mineral, vegetable, animal or human, is
constituted of the vital substance of the many lesser
ranks of deva entities, and these are held together
by a higher ranking deva providing the coherence of
form to the object. Thus every crystal, drop of water,
and every plant or animal, has its own controlling deva-life.
The Dark Forces have also acquired the technique of handling the
elementals or involutionary forces, and pervert these
unwitting lesser forms of life to their evil and selfish
purposes. For man the correct procedure, as practised
by the Masters, is not to attempt direct control over
the elementals and lower grade devas, but rather to
effect such control through co-operation with their
senior ranks, such as the deva Lords or Angels. It is
therefore not for man to control the deva world, but
to collaborate with them by intelligent and loving understanding
of their functions.
Adepts have been taught the art of calling specific devas or elementals
to serve their purpose, by the use of mantrams. By a
mantram is understood arranging words or syllables in
some rhythmic order, which when thus sounded will generate
the desired vibrations. These vibrations may then serve
as a call-note for the required devas or elementals.
Such powers will be accorded to the disciple when he
is ready for their use, and when his work demands it.
Danger is, however, definitely provoked when the lesser
devas and forces are called by the unqualified in attempts
to further selfish ambitions.
As man is the custodian of the mental principle, so the deva evolution
is the custodian of the life principle, and therefore
also of magnetism and vitality - those qualities playing
such an important role in the three worlds of human
manifestation. For their mutual benefit close co-operation
is essential between these two evolutions, neither of
which can develop effectively without the support of
the other and, as far as the form is concerned, they
are actually indispensable partners. On the other hand,
man should increasingly orient himself towards spiritual
relationships, thus striving to evolve away from dependence
on form and matter.
The aspirant should recognize that it is not only his physical
body which consists of deva life, but also his etheric
and emotional bodies, and that even thoughts are nothing
but deva substance. It is for this reason that the average
man, still functioning on emotional levels, remains
largely under the control of astral devas, and his objective
must therefore be to liberate himself as soon as possible
from these influences, allowing the soul to dominate
his life and the Spirit to become his guide.
It is perhaps interesting to know that a group of entities has
been gathered from the ranks of the most advanced devas,
who are serving as 'guardian angels' over the human
race. Each human being has thus been furnished with
his own particular guardian angel, whose function it
is to remain with him night and day, warding off unfavourable
energies which might constitute a menace to the physical
well-being of the protégé. These guardian angels must
not be confused with those spiritual helpers who on
etheric levels stand by the disciple providing him with
Spiritual support when needed and invoked. The guarding
devas have much to give to humanity, but their own attainment
also lies in this kind of service.
On hierarchical levels there is close collaboration between human
and deva evolutions. Evolved devas may be recognized
on etheric levels as great Angels, and according to
the Sages at least four groups of these Angels are assembled
around the Christ, pledged to his service and that of
humanity. One of the responsibilities with which the
Christ has charged them is to make men aware of certain
concepts or conditions which today may still seem far-fetched:
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1. Humanity must be taught to see etherically.
This the devas will achieve through heightening
vibration by devic interaction.
2. Man must be taught the use of colour
and sound for healing certain diseases.
Violet light, for instance, seems to be
particularly effective for treating disturbances
originating in the etheric body.
3. Materialistic thinkers must be convinced
of the existence of the etheric worlds,
where the 'spirit' of both men and angels
may be contacted.
4. Men must be made aware of 'super-human
physics' - how to eliminate gravitation
and attain weightlessness, and how to eliminate
fatigue by moving without resistance and
with the rapidity of thought. These 'impossible'
conditions will only be accomplished by
gaining control over the etheric vehicle.
5. Humanity will be taught how to nourish
the body by drawing sustenance from etheric
energy. This will mean that life activities
will increasingly have to be focused on
etheric existence, with a simultaneous withdrawing
of active attention from physical functions,
allowing the latter to become largely automatic.
6. To encompass the above will involve penetrating
and eventually destroying the 'etheric web',
which today still separates the physical
world of human existence so effectively
from the invisible etheric spheres.
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To the ordinary human being these conceptions may
seem fantastic and even beyond all consideration,
and many will consequently ridicule these visions.
But just think how impossible many of our present
day scientific inventions, such as television, computers,
electronics, nuclear power, spacecraft, etc, would
have sounded if prophesied to our forebears of only
100 years ago. Nobody at that time would have taken
any notice of such utter nonsense!
Those with an open mind and unbiased outlook must
already be aware of the steadily spreading influence
of these Deva Angels, which is slowly but surely
permeating human life, affecting its many activities
and fields of consciousness. Everywhere there are
signs of increasing psychic awareness; science is
rapidly discovering and accepting several aspects
of 'extra-sensory perception' (ESP), and these are
now receiving widespread attention. At long last
science has ascertained the existence of the etheric
world (or at least certain aspects thereof), although
the scientific approach is being wrapped up in such
complicated technical terminology that it becomes
nearly unrecognizable to the esoteric student.
The existence of telepathic faculties of communication
are also being recognized, and with growing human
sensitivity it is expected that there will be a
corresponding increase in the practical application
of these powers.
The fulfilment of some of these prophecies must therefore
be regarded as imminent, and it is merely a question
of time before a more refined sensitivity will be
developed for recognizing the surrounding etheric
world, with its many active Entities and influences.
This will again lead to further expansion of consciousness
and a deeper comprehension of the reality of the
inner worlds.
Aart Jurriaanse wrote a number of compilations from
the books of Alice A. Bailey. Among these are: Of Life
and other worlds; Prophecies; Ponder on this; Serving
Humanity; The Soul; The Quality of Life; and he is also
the author of Bridges which is a Commentary on these
teachings.
(This article appears on www.lightinfo.org)
