ALCHEMY AND ASTROLOGY 265 



New ideas appear on the mental horizon, and old ideas 

 are lost. If a new comet appears on the sky, it fills the 

 hearts of the ignorant with terror ; if a new and grand 

 idea appears on the mental horizon, it creates fear in the 

 camp of those that cling to old systems and accepted 

 forms." 



** Physical man takes his nutriment from the earth ; 

 the sidereal man receives the states of his feelings and 

 thoughts from the stars ; but the spirit has his wisdom 

 from God. The heat of a fire passes through an iron 

 stove, and the astral influences, with all their qualities, 

 pass through man. They penetrate him as rain pene- 

 trates the soil, and as the soil is made fruitful by the 

 rain. Likewise man's soul is made fruitful by them ; 

 but the principle of the supreme wisdom of the uni- 

 verse penetrates into the centre, illuminates it, and rules 

 over all." 



" Hail may destroy the fruits of the earth, evil plane- 

 tary influences be attracted by the soul of the earth 

 and cause epidemic diseases, and the spiritual centre in 

 man be devoid of wisdom, and darkness rule in its 

 place. The earth, the animal kingdom, and physical 

 man are subject to the government of the stars ; but the 

 spiritual man rules over the stars and over the elements, 

 and conquers the worlds without and the world within 

 by the wisdom that comes from God. Stones, plants, 

 and animals obey the government of the mind, and 

 man should obey the will and wisdom of God. The 

 individual terrestrial life should correspond to the laws 

 governing the universe ; man's spiritual aspirations 

 should be directed to harmonise with the will and 

 wisdom of God. If this is attained, the inner con- 

 sciousness will awaken to an understanding of the influ- 

 ences of the stars, and the mysteries of Nature will be 

 revealed to his spiritual perception." 



