ANTHROPOLOGY 89 



lective activity of the universe.^ The Evestra prophetica 

 proceed directly from the Turha magna, the Evestra 

 obumbrata come into existence at the time when the 

 forms to which they belong appear. The Evestra pro- 

 phetica^ are the harbingers of great events that may 

 concern the well-being of the world. If some such 

 important event is to take place, they will be the fore- 

 runners to announce it to the world, so that the latter 

 may be prepared for it, and a person who understands 

 the true 'nature of such an Evestrum is a seer and pro- 

 phet. Even the highest God has his Evestrum mysteriale 

 by which his existence and his attributes may be re- 

 cognised,^ by which everything good may be known, and 

 which may illuminate every mind. All the powers of 

 evi], from the lowest to the highest, have their Evestra 

 mysteriales, which may predict future evil, and which 

 shed their bad influence over the world." 



" Necromantia gives its signs through the Astra^ 

 which we also call * Evestra! They mark the bodies of 

 the sick and the dying with spots, showing that he will 

 die on the third day ; they mark the hands and fingers 

 of men with yellow spots, foreshowing fortunate events. 

 Through them the dead perform signs and wonders, 

 such as the bleeding of a corpse in the presence of the 

 murderer, and through their power voices are sometimes 

 heard from out of the tombs. Noises and hauntings 

 may thus take place in charnel - houses, and the dead 

 appear in the clothing which they used to wear while 

 living, and various visions be seen in mirrors, stones, 

 water, &c. A great deal might be said about such 

 things, but it would create fears and superstitions and 

 other evils. This we wish to avoid, and we will there- 

 fore say no more about such things, which ought not to 

 be publicly known " (Signat. Eer., ix.). 



^ The Soul of the Universe. According to Jacob Boehme, it is the 

 awakened life of the inner world, perturbing Nature. 



' Direct emanations of the Universal Mind ; Thought bodies. 

 » The transcendental bodies of the Dhyan-Chohans collectively. 



