174 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



act, rendering them invisible against the snow. We 

 cannot suppose that the will of the creature works this 

 alteration. It is due to the subconscious Life which 

 controls the creature's body. 



When your heart beats day and night persistently, 

 it is not you not the conscious part of you which 

 keeps that heart going and regulates its beating. Here, 

 again, the unconscious or subconscious Life in you does 

 the work. Your soul controls your body ; consciously in 

 part, unconsciously in part. The " soul " or " life " 1 

 may be said in a manner to know what is needful for 

 your body, and to bring about, so far as it can, what is 

 needed, apart from any effort of your conscious will. 



In like manner the life the soul of an animal con- 

 trols its growth and developments, and does all in its 

 power to bring about what is required for the good of 

 the animal, quite irrespective of the latter's will. When 

 we talk of the " healing power of Nature," as seen in a 

 wounded body of man or animal, it is this to which in 

 reality we are referring. 



And so too, though in a much lower degree, may we 

 not claim for the Plant a " soul " or " life " which does 

 its utmost to obtain all that the plant craves for or 

 needs to keep it in health ? As the " life " of the coral- 

 polype secretes and builds the solid framework on which 

 it dwells, so the " life " or "soul " of a plant secretes 

 and builds the framework of that plant, controls its 

 actions, and fosters its developments. 2 



1 One Greek word stands for both " soul " and " life," and 

 may be translated by either. 



2 It may be asked If plants and animals consist, like Man, 

 of body and soul in even very limited degrees, are they to be 

 regarded as in the game category with Jan ? are they a.11 more, 



