CHAPTER XVII 



MERCURY AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SUSHUMNA 



<*TT "IT ERMES, as the messenger of God, 

 I I reveals to us His paternal will, and 



JL -*- developing in us intuition im- 

 parts to us knowledge. The knowledge which 

 descends into the soul from above, excels any that 

 can be attained by the mere exercise of the intel- 

 lect." 



This quotation from the Neoplatonist Proclus 

 is a most fitting introduction to our study of the 

 influence of the planet Mercury called by the 

 Greeks, "Hermes" upon human life, for by 

 the illuminating light of the Tattvic Law we are 

 able to remove the statement from the realm of 

 " mere speculation," to which it has been indul- 

 gently relegated for centuries, and to feel convinced 

 of the intuitional truth embodied in the ancient 

 Greek thought. All scientific data concerning the 

 planet Mercury as well as the fables and ancient 

 myths connecting planet and god are strictly in 

 harmony with what I believe to be Mercury's 



185 



