Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 69.djvu/39

Rh Dean's great pines. Around the abandoned mining shafts there were other essentials of an evil disposition with an unpleasant smell of sulphur which suggested human origin. When examined and unrolled by means known to initiates, these sprites were found to be mere bundles of oaths held together by the force of spent passions and evaporate spirits of rye. The highest of these essentials or non-human entities is the deva, a superhuman essence destined to become man, but which has remained fixed for a time in an intermediate or higher stage. Such creatures, according to the common expression in Devachan, 'have yielded to the temptation to become a god.' No blame attaches to this expression. The path to incarnation thus selected is not the shortest one, but it is a very noble one, and for some not yet well tempered for humanity it is the one best suited to their natures. It is of course impossible at this stage of our striving to tell when we shall have earned the right to choose our own future. We should not, at any rate, before we ourselves reach Devachan, be too ready to despise those who have never seen fit to drop below that level. These devas are the winged globes and fiery wheels of our secret doctrine. There must of course be seven classes of these as there are seven of nature spirits and seven of elemental essences. For each class there must be a devarajah or king of devas, seven in all, but outside the circle of initiation, little is known and less must be said of the higher three. The four we know are called, respectively, the north, south, east and west wind, or the kings of earth, air, water and fire, clad, respectively in green, yellow, blue and red. These words and garments are symbols only telling nothing of their names or duties. These are inner mysteries of the White Mahatmas, unknown even to the Black Magicians, or to the seers of djinns and wraiths.

The last, or seventh, class of etheric entities is by far the most important to man. The artificials are man-created and by their return influence they make and unmake man. To this class belong the creations of the poet, undying and tangible in proportion to the poet's creative power. In this class too are all good wishes and all anathemas, all hopes, fears, faiths, creeds, and embodied loves and hates. All these find in time a living shape felt or seen by all canny psychic children in the flesh, a menace or a shield not limited by space or time. Elemental of this shape are often utilized in the 'sendings' of living objects transmitted invisible through space for the delight of a friend or the confusion of a foe. To this class belongs the white bird of the Oxenhams, whose appearance ever since the time of Queen Elizabeth is a sure presage of the death of some member of the family. In the noble family of the Whistlehursts a spectral coach drives up to the castle gate calling 'What, ho!', whenever a similar calamity is impending. Strains of wild music, the policeman's rattle, the blood-curdling shriek of a trampled cat, the clank of chains, all these are familiar to those who