THE PHYSICAL AND THE PSYCHICAL. 3^ 



point we may again see that the Biocosmos is 

 the third or ever-returning stage of total 

 Nature. 



When we seek to unfold the process of the 

 cell, as a nucleated oft-dividing mass of proto- 

 plasm, the activity we call a psychosis ; that 

 is, its genetic movement is after the order of 

 the Psyche, which thus furnishes the typical 

 form of life, the creative energy, and, it may 

 be added, the end toward which the vital 

 world or Biocosmos is advancing. The psy- 

 chosis is the basic process of the Self both as 

 individual and universal, and is that secret 

 but very active determinant of the cell and of 

 all Life which the biologists are pursuing with 

 such an outlay of industry and talent. The 

 difficulty with it is that it cannot be coaxed 

 to show itself under the most penetrating mi- 

 .croseopic eye, and yet is present and on duty. 

 It is often recognized as the architectonic 

 principle in the living organism the cunning 

 artificer who is ever building and rebuilding 

 the outer structure according to his idea. But 

 that idea how can we catch it with a lens? 

 Really it can be overtaken only with our own 

 Psyche, cognate to it, and able to unite with 

 it just in its process which is also psychical. 

 To be sure, Life's Psyche is immanent in its 

 material shape, is one with its physical matrix 

 as we see in the cell. The psychosis in the 



