THE PLANE OF ETHER 35 



Dean's great pines. Around the abandoned mining shafts there were 

 other essentials of an evil disposition with an unpleasant smell of sul- 

 phur which suggested human origin. When examined and unrolled by 

 means known to initiates, these sprites were found to be mere bundles 

 of oaths held together by the force of spent passions and evaporate 

 spirits of rye. The highest of these essentials or non-human entities is 

 the deva, a superhuman essence destined to become man, but which has 

 remained fixed for a time in an intermediate or higher stage. Such 

 creatures, according to the common expression in Devachan, l have 

 yielded to the temptation to become a god.' No blame attaches to this 

 expression. The path to incarnation thus selected is not the shortest 

 one, but it is a very noble one, and for some not yet well tempered for 

 humanity it is the one best suited to their natures. It is of course im- 

 possible at this stage of our striving to tell when we shall have earned 

 the right to choose our own future. We should not, at any rate, before 

 we ourselves reach Devachan, be too ready to despise those who have 

 never seen fit to drop below that level. These devas are the winged 

 globes and fiery wheels of our secret doctrine. There must of course 

 be seven classes of these as there are seven of nature spirits and seven 

 of elemental essences. For each class there must be a devarajah or king 

 of devas, seven in all, but outside the circle of initiation, little is known 

 and less must be said of the higher three. The four we know are called, 

 respectively, the north, south, east and west wind, or the kings of earth, 

 air, water and fire, clad, respectively in green, yellow, blue and red. 

 These words and garments are symbols only telling nothing of their 

 names or duties. These are inner mysteries of the White Mahatmas, 

 unknown even to the Black Magicians, or to the seers of djinns and 

 wraiths. 



The last, or seventh, class of etheric entities is by far the most im- 

 portant to man. The artificials are man-created and by their return in- 

 fluence they make and unmake man. To this class belong the creations 

 of the poet, undying and tangible in proportion to the poet's creative 

 power. In this class too are all good wishes and all anathemas, all 

 hopes, fears, faiths, creeds, and embodied loves and hates. All these 

 find in time a living shape felt or seen by all canny psychic children 

 in the flesh, a menace or a shield not limited by space or time. Ele- 

 mental of this shape are often utilized in the e sendings ' of living 

 objects transmitted invisible through space for the delight of a friend 

 or the confusion of a foe. To this class belongs the white bird of the 

 Oxenhams, whose appearance ever since the time of Queen Elizabeth is a 

 sure presage of the death of some member of the family. In the noble 

 family of the Whistlehursts a spectral coach drives up to the castle gate 

 calling ' What, ho ! ', whenever a similar calamity is impending. 

 Strains of wild music, the policeman's rattle, the blood-curdling shriek 

 of a trampled cat, the clank of chains, all these are familiar to those who 



