(ISIS)-HOMBRE V-XI

In the Cosmos, there are infinite forms of life which are governed by the absolute realities of the Universe.
Nevertheless, within these absolute realities there are temporal or relative truths, which are degrees of the absolute on an infinite scale of levels, each one having absolute and relative laws. In our condition as Homo sapiens, we live in the reality of the world which we know, that is, material body and terrestrial time. If we were to live on a distant planet, we might perhaps have an etheric or gaseous body, and a time adequate for the planet on which we would live.
Therefore, our fundamental reality as sapiens is the material world of the planet Earth, governed by terrestrial time, measured by terrestrial clocks. This is our concrete reality, as concerns our life in a biological body.
Carefully following the development of this subject, we will reach the following conclusions:
    1. Our physical body lives adjusted to the absolute reality of the vital conditions which govern our existence. Terrestrial time passes with respect to our body, according to the hands on the clock.
    2. Our "psychological I" is a fan opened towards the past, present, and future. It is never completely in the present, in the past, or in the future. With respect to time, it is different from the physical body; it has a different location in time.
    3. Our spirit lives in cosmic time, but in itself is beyond time. It is what is, what has been, and what will eternally be.
Our inability to be spiritual resides in the fact that our spirit and our body do not coincide in time; therefore there can be no communication between them.
To make our spirit and body coincide, there are two basic methods:
                A - Chaos
                B - Order
Both systems require a mediator or intermediary as the contact between body and spirit.
      In the case of A—Chaos, the individual uses his subconscious (in which the past, present, and future coexist) to unite with the spiritual. It is called chaos because it produces disorientation in time and space, which may affect the material conditions of an individual's life, but increases his spiritual illumination.
             In B—Order, an artificial mediator is created by means of theurgy; but it is superconscious, not subconscious. Further on, this will be explained in more detail.
Each method attempts to bring the spirit to the temporal reality of the physical body, because the reverse cannot be done.
In order to explain the mystery of being, the student must zealously study the concepts of being and not being. The student must identify himself with these states. Being, naturally, corresponds to reality, and not being corresponds to fantasy.
Stated in another way, all that is fantastic, in the sense of illusory fantasy, is not, as this corresponds solely to a subjective vision of the individual. On the other hand, reality IS, as it is equivalent to the objective contemplation of a phenomenon, which exists either externally, apart from the individual, or as an internal phenomenon, but which is perfectly studied, verified, and delineated.
It is humbling to observe how much the human being lives in a purely fantastic or illusory subjective personal world, without ever encountering concrete and objective reality. This is explained by sapiens' dreamlike state, as each person has a world of dreams or personal fantasies corresponding to his desires or fears. Thus, to a certain extent, each person lives in his own fantasy world imaginatively created according to his unconscious needs.
There is an absolute key which gives us a reference point for understanding the mystery of being, and this key is expressed in the following Hermetic concept: "the only reality is the present moment; there is no past or future; both are illusory." The past existed and the future will exist.
What is the present? The present is the exact point of union between the past and the future.
If we are able to understand that the only reality is the present moment, we will reach the foundation of the mystery of to be and not to be. Life is composed of real, absolute, and implacable nature, by dreams and time. In this life we are faced with fantasy modules and reality modules. Each module is always made up of three elements: time, space, and the individual. As these three elements are combined, the person either is or is not.
In order to understand this, we will construct the following image of the world:
    1. A space apparently immutable and immobile.
    2. A tape like that of a computer. This tape is divided into spaces, marked like a measuring tape. Each degree corresponds to a second, and this system moves along the immobile space at the speed of one degree per second. (In this case, it does not matter whether the space or the time moves, all that matters is that one of them moves.)
    3. Man standing upon the Earth (part of space), along the time band.
We must realize that there are many time bands in the Universe, one for man, another for minerals, animals, planets, galaxies, etc. For our purposes, we are only interested in one, the time band for man.
Suppose that this human time band is moving at the rate of one degree per second, and that man is standing alongside this measure and must walk in step with it. Let us stop the system for a moment and make a red mark on the tape, exactly in front of the man, and then start the system up again. To the extent that the man remains on the red mark, he will live in reality, that is, the man IS. On the other hand, upon leaving the mark, either by going backward or forward with respect to it, the man IS NOT.
Coincidence with time takes us toward the reality of our existence; a lack of this coincidence takes us toward an existence of fantasy. Furthermore, it is necessary to add a missing element to complete this module. The missing element is the physical and psychological activity of the individual at a given moment.
The following example illustrates this:
    So-and-so, knowing the secret of time as explained here, reaches complete coincidence with time at this moment.
What would his situation be?

Let us suppose that his location would be at the second degree of time (this is an imaginary division). At this degree, it is 3:42 p.m., and our experimental subject is in his downtown office. What is real for this individual? Only the space-time with which he is physically connected at that moment. This is his prime reality—his office with all that it contains and the work he is doing at that moment.
His house, his car, his family, and all that is apart from him at that moment exist only as a secondary reality. These are elements with which the individual will make contact in the near future, but which for the same reason, do not exist at that moment, as the only reality is the present moment.
Now, to the extent that the subject psychologically projects his awareness toward a secondary reality or toward a fantasy (to what is not involved in his space-time at that moment), the individual will no longer coincide with time, and will unfailingly fall into the power of dreams, fantasy, and unreality. It is for this reason that it is dimly recognized that mental concentration is a powerful weapon for obtaining something of value. It is obvious that a person can only remain in coincidence with time in direct relation to his self-discipline.
If we could in some way enter into coincidence with cosmic time, we would surely live thousands or millions of years; our age would be planetary, not human.
The individual's great enemy is his "psychological I" which, as stated before, is like a fan opened to the past, present, and future, thus making it impossible to achieve actual temporal coincidence.
The subject's imagination makes him project his awareness beyond the present moment, living thus an unreal and fantastic existence: not existing. We must understand that if a man lives in another time, he is not in relation to the present time.
It is necessary to add something tremendously important and this is the fact that when one exists in coincidence with time, located in the reality of the present moment, one obtains the manifestation of the spirit in the brain, thus succeeding in becoming spiritual. Therefore, the secret of spirituality is the mystery of time and its influence on the human being.
For the Hermeticist, people have two ages:
            1. Chronological age
            2. Real age
Chronological age is that which we all know. Real age is the sum total of all those tiny moments in which the spirit is manifested through the brain, and therefore has access to concrete material reality. For different reasons, some accidental and others that can be attributed to the individual himself, the spirit has some corporeal manifestations.
Nevertheless, these are so rare and brief in most people, that the real age of a forty year old person may only be six months, weeks, days, and at times, only hours. This real age is obtained by adding the spaces of time during which the spirit was manifested, moments in which the person acquires, in spite of their brevity, an increase and elevation of his awareness.
This reveals to us part of the methods employed by Hermeticists in the spiritual development of students, because obtaining the manifestation of the spirit and maintaining this condition is inevitably a process of authentic evolution. Nevertheless, this is a long and painful process, as it involves the "transubstantiation of the verb," that is, the verb or spirit should be converted into flesh and blood.
This is what Jesus taught his disciples during the Last Supper when he gave them bread and wine saying: "drink, for this is my blood, eat, for this is my body."
Very few accept that this statement is literal and not symbolic. The majority will not understand what has been said here in spite of the simplicity of the language. We write for a minority, but with the language of the majority, in order that everyone may have the same opportunity.
A reality module is composed of the following elements:
        1. The subject in the correct space-time
        2. What is contained in the space indicated above (material and psychological things)
A fantasy module contains:
        1. The subject in the incorrect space-time
        2. The material and nonmaterial things contained in that space
It is unnecessary to add that reality modules are rare exceptions. The majority of people live almost permanently entangled in the web of fantasy and dreams, which rob them of their best possibility for achieving true consciousness and happiness. Although this phenomenon is stated clearly and people are warned of this danger, only a small minority understand their precarious situation.
Let us recall the wise words of Jose Ortega y Gasset in one of the paragraphs from his book The Revolt of the Masses, when he says:
    All the matters about which science speaks, whatever the science be, are abstract, and abstract things are always clear. So that the clarity of science is not so much in the heads of scientists as in the matters of which they speak. What is really confused, entangled, is the concrete vital reality, always a unique thing. The man who is capable of steering a clear course through it, who can perceive under the chaos presented by every vital situation the hidden anatomy of the movement, the man, in a word, who does not lose himself in life, that is the man with the really clear head.
    Take stock of those around you and you will see them wandering about lost through life, like sleepwalkers in the midst of their good or bad luck, without the slightest suspicion of what is happening to them. You will hear them talk in precise terms about themselves and their surroundings, which would seem to point to them having ideas on the matter. But start to analyze those ideas and you will find that they hardly reflect in any way the reality to which they appear to refer, and if you go deeper you will discover that there is not even an attempt to adjust the ideas to this reality.
    Quite the contrary: through these notions the individual is trying to cut off any personal vision of reality, of his very own life. For life is from the start a chaos in which one is lost. The individual suspects this, but he is frightened at finding himself face to face with this terrible reality, and tries to cover it over with a curtain of fantasy, where everything is clear. It does not worry him that his "ideas" are not true, he uses them as trenches for the defense of his existence, as scarecrows to frighten away reality.
    The man with the clear head is the man who frees himself from those fantastic "ideas" and looks life in the face, realizes that everything in it is problematic, and feels himself lost. As this is the simple truth—that to live is to feel oneself lost—he who accepts it has already begun to find himself; to be on firm ground. Instinctively, as do the shipwrecked, he will look around for something to cling to, and that tragic, ruthless glance, absolutely sincere, because it is a question of his salvation, will cause him to bring order into the chaos of his life.
    These are the only genuine ideas; the ideas of the shipwrecked. All the rest is rhetoric, posturing, farce. He who does not really feel himself lost, is inexorably lost; that is to say, he never finds himself, never comes up against his own reality. This is true in every order, even in science, in spite of science being in its nature an escape from life. (The majority of men of science have given themselves to it through fear of facing life. They are not clear heads; hence their notorious ineptitude in the presence of any concrete situation.)
    Our scientific ideas are of value to the degree in which we have felt ourselves lost before a question; have seen its problematic nature, and have realized that we cannot find support in accepted notions, in prescriptions, in proverbs, nor in mere words. The man who discovers a new scientific truth has previously had to smash to atoms almost everything he had learned, and arrives at the new truth with hands stained with blood from the slaughter of a thousand platitudes.
In a brilliant manner, although profane and not Hermetic, Ortega y Gasset elucidates the difficulty of finding clear heads as he called them, for man is lost beneath the superficiality of his own thoughts and fantasies, and never reaches the reality of life.
Common man has never suspected the magnitude of his going astray in the world which surrounds him, as his fellow man lacks orientation as much or more than he himself does. Unfortunately, schools and universities offer no guidance in this respect, least of all regarding ethical and moral codes, or through laws or rules instituted by society. To be guides, they would have to be designed by clear heads, which are certainly not abundant.
Nevertheless, and this has been seen repeatedly in history, clear heads occasionally will suddenly appear and point out the road to be followed with a modicum of clarity. In general, people scorn such intelligence, as this is always the case with the ignorant who face something they do not understand, as a defense against showing their intellectual weakness.
Our world is, at least for the moment, a planet of cripples who believe themselves to be perfectly healthy because they are unaware of any other condition. Nevertheless, the damage is not in their bodies or intelligence, but in their lack of consciousness. But what is this consciousness we are referring to? Is it perhaps the difference between man and animals? Certainly not, although logically a sapiens is much more conscious than an animal which does not possess the divine spark.
The awareness or consciousness to which we refer originates with the exercise of an intelligence separated from dreamlike states. On the other hand, unconsciousness or lack of awareness pervades the intelligence of a dormant subject and does not impede mechanical thought or the functioning of dead intelligence.
The ideas we are endeavoring to explain are summarized in the following chart:
    1. Unconsciousness: Intelligence born from an apprenticeship of dreams. The individual's level of awareness is very low, even though his intellect may be brilliant, since this acute ness only reflects great dexterity in arranging combinations of cerebral information. This is called dead or programmed intelligence.
    2. Consciousness: Intelligence arising from and developed on the basis of an apprenticeship of awakeness. The individ ual's level of awareness is constantly high. We call this living or unprogrammed intelligence.
Man might well be called a mental cripple. The term mental is only figurative, as sapiens has no mind, which we will explain later. Nevertheless, with the expression mental cripple, we wish to point out the weakness and inoperative state of the mind which, Hermetically speaking, is considered to be the highest faculty of the human being, but which he possesses only in a dormant state.
Due to the lack of a state of higher awareness, the planet Earth is a small hell, where by divine grace or infernal evil, the individual neither notices nor evaluates his precarious condition or the cloudiness of his awareness. Like true madmen, each sapiens, like Don Quixote, the Castilian nobleman, strikes out against his own windmill. Thus, battle after battle, youth is lost, illusions die, purity withers, and the last glimmers of lucidity gradually disappear.
If we were perverse Gods or immoral despoilers, we could not invent a better method to make a group of slaves work peacefully than to make them believe, by means of collective hypnosis, that they are happy and important. We would then have perfect robots who would work untiringly, producing what we desire.
In addition, these robots would make and maintain themselves. It could be argued that sapiens, unlike other species, sows, produces, and labors only for himself and not for other beings. This is true for the products and material sapiens uses for his own maintenance. No nonhuman species steals the material product of sapiens' efforts. On the other hand, this is not the case with the subtle fruit produced by the human nervous system in everyday life.
This fruit is rapidly reaped by certain beings who are much higher on the evolutionary scale than the human being; veritable Gods of space, who profit from human efforts, but in turn fulfill certain cosmic functions and occupy an important position in the universal economy. These beings have been mentioned previously: they are the Archons of Destiny. We could also refer to them as Gods of the Zodiac, as they direct and govern human existence on this planet.
When we speak of true astrology, we do not refer to radiations from a specific planet, but to the influence of the Zodiacal Gods, each one of which (there are 72 in all) has personal and defined characteristics, influencing the people they control in a strange way. All of Earth's inhabitants are under the sway of one or more of these Gods, who regulate, shape, and direct the destiny of humanity. But this is not so for the destiny of the Hermeticist, who attains his vital autonomy at a certain moment, releasing himself from the mandate of the Archons.
The Archons of Destiny are terrifying beings, not because they are evil, but due to their cold and inexorable severity in the manipulation of sapiens. If we were to establish a symbol for these beings, no doubt they would be depicted with a whip in their hands, a girdle of bristles or netted wire with which they chastise humanity in order to ensure their progress, although this evolution may be imperceptible during our earthly time.
For example these occult judges pitilessly provoke a world war in which millions of people die. For them, these dead are of no more importance than that assigned by sapiens to the thousands of animals they sacrifice daily in order to feed.
Sapiens, in his extreme fight for existence and in his various relations with the natural and social environments surrounding him, inevitably experiences all kinds of tribulations, suffering, deceptions, and other experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant. As a consequence, his emotional and nervous systems develop certain embodied elements, that are extremely powerful, and which abandon the human body in the form of vibrations (everything vibrates; matter is only vibratory energy).
These vibrations are transmitted through antennae incorporated in the biological unit which are tuned to the frequency of the Archons, who then reap this power and use it for purposes we cannot divulge, again stating that they accomplish a cosmic function.
It is thus that sapiens is unwittingly stripped of the most noble product he has produced; the final distillate of human experience, the broth in which lies the blood, the soul, and the very life of the individual. The individual lived for this, suffered, loved, enjoyed, worked, built things, went to war, studied, investigated, only to prepare the golden broth of his life. We must understand that the central computer only exists in relation to the Archons of Destiny as an instrument to control sapiens.
The object of life, the reason for which sapiens was created, is not for him to enjoy life in the garden of the Lord, but rather to be a pawn in his vineyards, a worker so perfect he can act as cultivator and food at the same time.
If man could prevent his golden broth from being stolen, with this vital product he could become equal to the Gods, rapidly evolving by integrating within himself the products from the chemical laboratory of his physical body. This is exactly what is done by the student of Hermeticism, who is temporarily freed by the Archons of Destiny.
This individual, by virtue of his understanding and responsibility, has no need for an overseer with whip in hand to oblige him to evolve through suffering, as he takes responsibility for his evolution into his own hands, and if he deems it necessary, submits himself to the same temporary suffering in order to attain eternal happiness. This is in contrast to the profane or worldly person who chooses fleeting pleasure at the expense of eternal suffering.
If the student fails or turns aside from his path, abusing his temporary freedom, the Archons again take him under their control, punishing him very severely.
From another point of view, we can see how certain countries are chosen by the Archons for veritable martyrdom. Furthermore, one should not believe that this suffering is futile, as such a sacrifice generally brings about a moral, material, spiritual, and intellectual revival of the population by virtue of the law of suffering. So it is that after wars we notice a rapid rebirth toward a higher state. This is a high price to pay for evolution. These wars could have been avoided had there been sufficient clearheaded people in the world who the masses would have been willing to follow.
Enough revealing of secrets which are hidden from sapiens.
Let us spread a cloak of silence on this subject in order to comply with the mandate of the esoteric Sphinx who demands silence. Speech and silence are two swords, which must be handled with sublime skill in order not to disrupt universal harmony. Those who have "eyes to see" will understand everything not stated in the written word, but in the cryptic language of the initiate.
For those not in this state, it is best that they understand nothing and continue to sleep tranquilly. Ultimately, the Archons run no risk of a bad harvest from a possible rebellion of sapiens. Sapiens is too blind to see where the danger is really found.
It is sad to observe the tremendous limitation of sapiens, who shuts himself up in the small world of stereotypical concepts, of memorized knowledge, of imitation, and mechanisms of compensation and defense.
His mental disability prevents him from realizing just how small the cubicle is which imprisons him. And, thus, with a mind made up in advance, he accepts, condemns, or tolerates without bothering to intelligently analyze the situations with which he is confronted.VI - THE ILLUSION OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE
All true knowledge arises in the mind and not in the intelligence. Having a mind distinguishes the Hermeticist from the layman who, as we have seen in the last chapter, is a mental cripple.
The Hermeticist has a mind he himself has formed and developed, and this enables him to reach states of higher consciousness in which he has access to absolute truth.
Physically, mind is a magnetic orb established between two poles: the brain (negative pole in man) and the sex (positive pole in man). In women, the brain is the positive pole and the sex the negative. This orb is formed exclusively by the Hermetic student's work on himself, and is the result of lengthy efforts. From a higher spiritual point of view, the mind is the philosopher's stone through which the initiate attains a continuous transformation of base metals (ignorance, lies) into gold (true knowledge) and the immortality of his own individuality.
The mind is the stomach of intelligence. Lacking this, sapiens never digests the information he possesses, which develops into undigested intelligence. A glutton for knowledge, he devours information about many things, which is incorporated into the cerebral archive without ever releasing the quintessence of its secret.
This immense mass of information possessed by a moderately cultured individual is precisely what gives him the false sensation of "knowing many things." He feels morally empowered to give all kinds of opinions, while remaining in ignorance of his mental disability, which in the end, is a lack of intelligence. The more fame or prestige an author has, or the more lessons studied by the individual, the greater will be his intellectual blindness.
If the individual has a professional title gained from long studies in university classrooms, it is practically guaranteed that his intelligence has been totally and incurably damaged by becoming stratified, or even petrified, at very low levels. The student does not assimilate his education due to an insufficient state of awareness. The student limits himself to memorizing and juggling infinite combinations of the data he possesses with acrobatics, which give him extraordinary intellectual agility, and absolute certainty of being very intelligent and extraordinarily capable in his profession.
Nevertheless, this treadmill of knowledge fails him lamentably when he is faced with practical situations in real life, except the application of mathematical concepts. It is thus that in spite of all that sapiens knows, there has been no evolution in his internal nature throughout history; nor is there any real indication that such evolution is approaching. Man has been converted into the carrier of innumerable concepts which each day are more numerous and complex; but in the individual himself there is no change.
From this we can recognize sapiens' ultimate vulnerability—his inability to apply the information he carries to his own transformation and evolution. This impossibility is so vast that the knowledge possessed does not allow him to see himself and evaluate himself impartially, effectively, objectively, and in a higher manner. It is a fact that the individual cannot see himself and, therefore, is full of false concepts about his own importance, value, and capability.
The most he can aspire to is to better the material conditions in which he lives, and guided by a subconscious impulse, endeavor to reach the stars with the secret hope of finding a superior galactic race which would teach him to live as a human being and enable him to leave his animal state.
So it is that many people live with the hope that flying saucers are real, longing to meet extraterrestrial beings who can in some way help them to better themselves. As with all things in life, sapiens clings to far off hopes or illusions created to elude the real possibilities within his reach.
It is much easier to dream of flying saucers or explore any kind of religious dogma than to dedicate oneself to the work of one's spiritual advancement. Sapiens is basically a loafer and as such, always seeks the easiest path and the least effort possible. He is fascinated by simple belief and ignorant faith, bedazzled by anything that can be acquired without effort, either by act and grace of the Holy Spirit or by chance.
Thus, sapiens creates all kinds of absurd, subjective, illogical, and arbitrary dreams. The content of the dreams is not important if he can cling to convenient illusions, just as the shipwrecked person clings to a board in order to save himself. In search of this handhold, the frustrated person is converted to a religious faith and is able to thus free himself from an undesirable "I."
This satisfies a passion for individual renunciation and allows him to disappear in the mass movement which he has entered. Eric Hoffer, the great philosopher and thinker, refers to this when he says:
    "faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves."
With this strategy, the individual fully develops into a loafer, as he need not even think. He only needs to accept the religious dogma with which he has become affiliated without judgment or analysis. Only those who make efforts beyond duty and necessity are NOT loafers. People generally live dreaming of some future event which will radically change their lives. It may be the expectancy of a stroke of luck which will make them millionaires, finding a great love, or the arrival of superior forces or causes which will mold their destiny into a happier state.
Needless to say, this future illusion ruins or annuls all real and present intentions of attaining, by methodical and sustained efforts, whatever the individual desires. Sapiens is in truth a professional loafer, mainly because in his cerebral activity and in his conduct, he assiduously dopes himself with a dream drug. This drug exists, chemically speaking, but only within the human organism, where it induces somnambulistic sleep.
Undoubtedly, this laziness also extends to the boundaries of intelligence, and people do not wish to complicate their lives thinking about difficult things. It is much easier to follow those ideas which best justify the individual's temperament or way of life. For example, if a person is irresponsible, he will enthusiastically enter a religious or political movement which will free him from all responsibility through his unconditional surrender to a superior divine power; to a psychological oneness with a group in which no one is responsible for anything because it is anonymous. A cowardly person will choose a movement, which will deprive him of the largest possible quantity of vital experiences, which are a threat to his mental or physical tranquility.
Under the impulse of intellectual laziness, sapiens rapidly fills his brain with as much information as he is capable of absorbing and which he endeavors to memorize as exactly as possible. In this way, he hopes to have prefabricated solutions for every situation that arises in his life, which he falls back on with lightning speed, without making any effort to analyze the particular problem or conflict he is facing.
With this in mind, he rapidly and superficially absorbs all his studies, carrying out the process we call a dream apprenticeship (an apprenticeship in a low state of awareness; zero... from the point of view of essential truth). In this condition the individual gives great importance to the prestige of the source of his information.
The higher the source of this prestige, whether a professor, an author, or an institution, the more blindly the student will accept the concepts poured into him without taking the trouble to deeply analyze them. Also, following the same standards, he will imitate the behavior of famous people he admires and take on the ideologies of those individuals as his own.
In time, this person reaches a complete intellectual programming, which entails the death of his intellect, which is converted into mechanical or dead intelligence. No matter how brilliant the individual may be, we can be certain that if he is in this condition, he will be a mental cripple. Due to his cerebral myopia, he will be incapable of visualizing the enormous magnitude of his ignorance and be limited to living within the "egg" of his own knowledge.
Within his "mental egg" the individual is warm and comfortable, completely free from danger of arguments and facts, which may oblige him to think, and perhaps reach a complete revision of his intellectual baggage. This man has already formed his mechanism of adaptation and defense and clings blindly to the concepts he knows and understands, which constitute his cultural lineage.
At all times during his life when this individual is faced with phenomena, theories, or knowledge which are not filed in his cultural depository, he will vehemently reject them if they contradict his knowledge, or simply discredit them if they are unknown to him. If at any time he becomes aware of new or surprising topics, he will feel psychologically threatened, especially if they are in conflict with his interests and principles. We know that the psychological personality is integrated more substantially when it starts from separate behavioral units.
In practice, all experiences lived by an individual should be duly integrated into his personality. Nevertheless, the phenomenon already described in reference to intelligence also occurs with the personality. There is a very important difference between integrated experience and assimilated experience. People learn very much less than they believe from their experiences, as these are very frequently integrated into the personality in the form of clichés and empty stereotyped symbols which do not contribute beneficially to the individual's awareness.
They become fixed, empty rules for conduct, which the individual blindly follows without real discernment. The person seeks refuge in these programmed directives and hides behind them for protection, remaining comfortable and inert in reference to anything that involves real intelligence.
We call this assembly of protection and maintenance circuits the "egg." Within this, man keeps his infantilism and lack of maturity intact, avoiding any traumatic shocks, which might result from facing new realities and life challenging demands. It is for this reason that people automatically reject any new idea, which is not part of their cerebral program, no matter how valuable, or noble it may be.
On the other hand, they accept, a priori, any suggestion which is apparently in agreement with their beliefs, no matter how precarious this may be in the light of a deeper analysis. In truth, we must conclude that the art of thinking has been lost to humanity (if humanity ever possessed it) and has been supplanted by the art of imitation and informative memorization.
It is due to this that the wisest and most illustrious men, clever at solving profound scientific problems, completely fail in their attempt to solve difficulties of a vital and practical nature such as personal conflicts of an emotional nature, or understanding and wisely counseling their children.
The organization of society into institutions created for control and aid makes a civilized world where all is foreseen. The state has a solution for everyone, and even if no one is satisfied with government help, there is at least a solution, whether for medical, educational, or legal problems, etc. Everything is organized in such a way that it is difficult for an individual to have to face serious problems, or to go out and hunt for food as prehistoric man did. There are typical solutions for all. Man today knows that he may face hunger, but it is improbable he will die of starvation, which was a mass phenomenon in other ages.
This relative security is precisely that which encourages intellectual laziness, as the person is not pressured in any truly threatening manner. He never really needs to use his brain, and is content with placid mediocrity, free from intellectual conflict. There are very few individuals who seek total truth or the essential keys to all that has existed, exists, and will exist.
Wise men are content to be semi wise, reaching only the knowledge of some of the scientific disciplines, arts, or letters, remaining in total and absolute ignorance of their own human nature and the occult laws which govern life in the Universe. These men never become aware of the secret of life, limiting themselves to describing different phenomena, without ever explaining what a thing is, only stating how it is, which is not difficult to discern.
The Hermeticist proceeds inversely; he starts by studying and coming to know the vital keys of the Universe with which he then takes possession of the golden thread, which is the common nexus of all vital phenomena. It is as if in endeavoring to learn what a peach is, science proceeded to study the skin and the flesh without ever penetrating to the pit. The Hermeticist does not bother about either the skin or the flesh, as once the seed is planted it will multiply its fruits. The Hermeticist studies the rest of the books written by the semi-wise. The true sage, aware of absolute truths, has access to any of the relative truths when he so desires.
Similar to the agnostics, Hermeticists maintain that genuine knowledge cannot be manufactured. They add something more important which is the intrinsic principle of Hermetic philosophy; the fact that the impossibility for the existence of genuine knowledge is maintained only by special conditions in the consciousness of sapiens.
However, if these conditions are altered and modified by Hermetic techniques, understanding will occur in the individual. This will gradually enable him to reach true knowledge. Thus the Fraternity of Magicians has been formed, possessors of knowledge and beyond good and evil; of knowledge which transcends all polarity or partiality. Of necessity, this science must be absolutely impartial and impersonal.
The conceptual perspective of sapiens is built up to a great extent by his beliefs, for when man believes something with sufficient certainty, he confers on these beliefs the category of knowledge, which in the majority of cases are only a reflection of his opinions, hopes, likes, or dislikes.
Naively, many thinkers and men of science base all their hopes for the betterment of the human race on a major and massive development of sapiens' intelligence, believing in this way a certain kind of Paradise on Earth can be reached. These people, unaware of Hermetic science, do not realize that an intelligence which serves the beast cannot contribute anything which will ultimately be really beneficial for man.
Actually, between two beasts, one stupid and the other intelligent, which one is more dangerous? Naturally, the more intelligent one is.
Intelligence without consciousness inevitably leads man to chaos, but with the difference that this chaos is more complete, sophisticated, greater, and improved in relation to the upheaval provoked by mediocre brains.
Each individual develops inside the web of his own blindness, eagerly seeking to reinforce his position and discredit that of others. With horrible frequency, we find persons who take positions which are absolutely foolish, irrational, and spurious, but who are completely and sincerely convinced that they are right, they possess the truth, and they believe that everyone else is mistaken.
Furthermore, they suffer tremendously from the lack of understanding they receive from people. Basically, what these people wish to obtain is license and acknowledgement for their ideas, and to achieve the recognition or importance in life which Nature has denied them.
Some may say that Hermeticists believe themselves to be owners of the truth. From this point forward, we declare that no one has a monopoly on truth, but that we are the real possessors of Hermetic Art as this is ours by spiritual aristocracy and not by blood. Spiritual aristocracy begins and ends with the individual, and is inherited only from oneself, from the person one has been in previous incarnations. There are those who do not believe in reincarnation.
To them we would say that surely they will not reincarnate, as they have nothing within them which would survive death. Only Karma will have the last word, because even if they do not reincarnate, they must, in one way or another, pay their pending debts to Nature.
For a loafer it is very simple to discredit Hermeticism without taking the trouble to study and practice it. To deny Hermeticism without knowing its true dimensions is simply criticizing something unknown. Reproaching those who accept a certain idea in blind faith is justified, but at the same time it is correct to condemn those who reject an idea without rational analysis.
To illustrate this procedure so common among people, we will use the word anti-faith to describe an irrational belief in the opposite of what is being examined. This phenomenon certainly prevents all impartiality, which is the basis of deep and true reflection. It is harmful to have blind faith, but it is just as bad to have blind anti-faith.
It is true that many men are champions of faith or anti-faith, but absolutely lack true intelligence (awareness). We maintain that only a brain in a complete state of alertness can gradually establish the basis from which a conscious, awakened, and unprogrammed intelligence can be born. This intelligence, due to its acuteness, can have access to genuine knowledge.
Knowledge has many degrees, and to reach the highest degree requires a mystical process, but one which is in no way miraculous, but rather is logical and natural. This justifies the use of the term illumination, as referring to full clarification of a spiritualized intelligence. We can state in good conscience that genuine knowledge is something prohibited to sapiens, and it can only be attained when the individual achieves mutation from sapiens to Stellar Man thus acquiring the full right to knowledge.
Sapiens must be content with the relative knowledge of the semiwise which lights up the material world and obscures the internal panorama, thus making the knowledge of scientists useless; matter is meant to serve man, not the other way around.
Nevertheless, actual reality shows us a dehumanized world with imitations of men who unconditionally serve matter, which mercilessly absorbs their vital energy.
There is a strange symbiosis between matter and sapiens, in the sense that matter needs sapiens as sapiens needs matter. Thus, sapiens has, in spite of all we have said, a great difference from the all-animal; he possesses the divine spark, placing him at a higher level than the animal. Although the strength of the divine spark may be dim in an individual, the spark provokes in him an important phenomenon: the radiation of higher awareness, although in a microscopic degree.
Consciousness is the radiant energy of the divine spark or essence, and is a force which constantly surrounds and is irradiated by man, in the same way that light and heat are given off by the sun. In this way, any person will give off an energy similar to that of animal magnetism, but of a divine nature, or in other terms, this magnetism possesses a high vibration. The Hermeticist works on this small divine spark to make it grow in strength and power through the different phases of initiation.
The uninitiated is similar to the light of a candle in his awareness. On the other hand, the initiate, according to his degree of development, can reach a likeness to the sun. This illustrates the profound secret of the "Children of the Sun."
By virtue of his awareness, the individual projects this energy toward all he can touch with his hands or toward all that comes within his field of influence. An artist concentrates his awareness on his work, and this force is that which brings about a special experience and transmits an energy which impresses our psyche favorably or negatively.
A master carpenter or cabinetmaker puts his soul into his work whether he wishes to do so or not, as this is inevitable. Thus sapiens works giving consciousness to matter; that is, spiritualizing or giving subtlety to denseness. Consider who might capitalize on this force and profit from this phenomenon.
Still, as sapiens accomplishes this entirely unconsciously, it cannot be said that this is an independent voluntary act; it is more something which happens because it is thus decreed or programmed. Due to this ignorance, instead of man being owner and master of matter, matter subjugates man, extracting his conscious energy, which by impregnating the elemental bodies becomes incorporated into them.
Conscious energy has some intrinsic properties, and others that are contingent on the result of fusion with a specific person. This is explained in the following examples:
    1. Conscious Energy: Is pure and chaste in itself. It constitutes the body of God. An infinitesimal fraction of this emanated from the Supreme Creator and took a body in a specific person.
    2. Incarnated Awareness: Being incarnated in a certain individual, this energy, which is pure and chaste in itself, is modified according to the individual's basic vibratory tone, culture, self-control, discipline, and behavior.
On becoming incarnated, the conscious energy in Example 2 can follow two paths:
    A. Superior Incarnated Awareness: This exists in an infinitesimal portion of the human race. Pure spiritual and chaste conscious energy acquires, through the intelligent experience of the individual, the notion of good and evil—the human knowledge, which exists only in a material body. This essence, therefore, reaches the human intelligence, preserving divine intelligence. In this case the higher purpose in the life of man is accomplished.
    B. Inferior Incarnated Awareness: This exists in the great human mass. Conscious energy is blemished and degraded as its superior nature is corrupted by slavery to a perverted beast, due to the deviated intelligence of sapiens who is blind and ignorant, and who lives only to satisfy his own instincts. This awareness, still high in itself, becomes "inferior" in its manifestation, radiating an energy "stained" by the individual's base passions, impulses, and tendencies.
In his day-to-day existence, the individual imbues his material possessions with his conscious energy. When that energy inadvertently separates from him, it acts independently with its own intelligence, which has been taken from the individual.
This intelligence gives tone and color to pure awareness. Since each person has impulses, fears, desires, ambitions, and sentiments which manifest themselves as uncontrolled passions, this force imprints a directive onto the conscious energy and becomes an absolutely uncontrollable path for the individual from the moment this force leaves him to become incorporated into any material structure. This is the reason why a person can become completely enslaved by his material possessions, which make use of him, absorbing more and more of his awareness.
There are many science fiction stories, which cover the subject of machines, robots, or other objects, which suddenly acquire their own intelligence and consequent autonomy in their actions. Actually, these books have endeavored to hint at certain ideas in order to make their readers think and very gradually prepare them for more complex designs.
At times, reality is disguised as fiction in order that there should be no opposition from the masses, who obstinately refute all things not forming part of the orthodox cultural records of humanity. The truth is that this phenomenon exists and no one is free from it. The machine has turned into a monster that is not going to devour man, because it is already doing so.For example, the automobile is of great use to its owner, but we must ask ourselves who drives who, who is the owner and who is the servant? Is it the automobile who carries its owner as an obedient slave, or is it the owner who must work long hours to feed and maintain his car and drive it in order to fulfill the reason for its existence: driving over the roads at great speed devouring the Earth's blood, petroleum?
As another example, let us observe those who have pets, such as a dog, and how people work to maintain and keep them like their own children. Many times a sapiens can be seen pulling a dog tied to a chain, and we can ask ourselves who is leading whom.
With domestic animals, conscious energy explains the mysterious affinity between a dog and his master and how they, due to unexplainable circumstances, acquire an amazing likeness which at times is limited only to rules of conduct, but at other times goes as far as physical likeness. The explanation is simple: the animal, just as the automobile or other objects of personal use, absorbs the conscious energy of its master which is, as we have already explained, stained or impregnated with the person's individual characteristics, and in this way shapes the animal's appearance.
On some occasions the conscious energy displaced by the individual takes body in a machine which belongs to him, and then reacts destructively against its owner because his passions are indiscriminately destructive. The story of Dr. Frankenstein is symbolic of this explanation and it must be noted that emanated awareness is a virtual child of the man from which it originated. Many times there are persons who are destroyed by their own works and not by any karmic reaction of their acts. The passionate or destructive force they generated endeavors, in its unconscious manifestation, to destroy its own father.
Something very similar occurs with children of the flesh who, from the earliest age, develop all kinds of bad habits, tantrums, whims, or hysterical crying bouts when their wishes are not immediately gratified. We cannot blame these creatures as they are only giving way to the defects incorporated in them by their sires through incarnation of their consciousness. All the defects not controlled by their parents, all hidden tendencies of an instinctive type, take form in the children.
It is due to this that the Bible says: "the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children." Subsequently, the parents find that they cannot control or guide their children, but on the contrary, many times it is the children who exercise veritable tyranny on the authors of their days. This situation is no more than a repetition of past conditions, the impossibility of controlling internal energy, which bursts forth in the form of passion. The same then occurs with children, and in this case energy rebels against the parents from another physical body.
Continuing the commentary on machines, we can point out the extraordinary influence the operator has over a computer, which becomes very sensitive to the vital state and conditions of the operator. This occurs because the machine becomes impregnated with the conscious energy of the operator, which then acts independently, but following the basic directives of the operator's vibratory states.
We can also point out a phenomenon affecting all drivers and truck owners that is based on their close identification with the vehicle, which is a source of work and subsistence. I refer to the strange reactions these machines may have under certain circumstances, producing all kinds of absolutely illogical and incredible mechanical defects. In some cases, this reaction reaches the point where the owner of the machine is ruined. There is also the case of machines that have had an accident or collision, and when the owner or driver is changed, the accident is repeated with practically the same characteristics.
The case of doomed jewels that bring bad luck to their owners, to the extent that they inexorably suffer violent death, is well known. All this can be explained by the "invisible child" (consciousness) which inhabits material objects, and which was created by one of the owners of the object, or perhaps by the one who made it. The same thing happens with firearms, which, after having caused death, become dangerous as they are impregnated with the vibrations of the tragedy and of the person who caused it.From this comes the saying "firearms are loaded by the devil," because a revolver, which has death vibrations, awakens similar vibrations in its owner through a process of magnetic induction. Thus, this person, without realizing it, makes use of the firearm at the least provocation or emotional disturbance.
We will conclude this subject by citing the case of plants and flowers, as it has been proven that they are extremely sensitive to the influence of their owners consciousness, caretakers, or whoever is frequently near them. Any person with love for a plant or a tree, and who talks to them as if speaking to a person, will be able to witness the extraordinary increase in the beauty, health, and vitality of the specimen.
Since this entire subject has been elaborated to explain the impossibility of real knowledge under the condition of ordinary awareness, we wish to point out the enormous power of matter upon sapiens. He cannot emancipate his intelligence from the hypnotic influence of matter, which doubly affects him:
        1. By the projection of mass energy on the individual
        2. By the projection of previously absorbed conscious energy on the individual
Matter has an energy of its own which strongly radiates and affects man in a certain manner. Tied to his material possessions, he becomes unable to visualize any way of being, other than the conservation and multiplication of the property or assets he possesses. On the other hand, corporeal matter has a decisive influence on intelligence, either making it acute or clouding it. If the body's matter maintains a low and dense vibration, the intelligence inexorably declines.
This is the hidden reason why Moses, possessor of certain Hermetic secrets, forbade his followers to eat pork, as this animal has a particularly dense and low vibratory state which would therefore produce a deterioration in intellectual capacity. This is also the basis for the vegetarian system, and although there is much to be said about this, anyone who has abstained from meat for some time will prove that his thoughts have become noticeably clearer.
The conscious energy radiated by the masses affects the individual in a hypnotic manner, since this imposes the influence of a different vibration on him, which then impels him to act according to its particular vibration. A gift given to us due to a social obligation by someone with evil intentions can negatively influence our health, intelligence, and destiny.
Summing up, sapiens permanently lives in a somnambulistic condition which keeps him dormant, making it impossible for him to attain real knowledge, and seriously damaging his awareness and intelligence. Each day what he knows increases at the cost of his human essence, which is reduced in direct relationship to the extent and potency of his cerebral programming.
This programming converts him into a veritable biological robot with automatic physiological, instinctive, emotional, and intellectual reactions.
The individual's ideas, opinions, or sentiments lose all human validity, and he is converted into a mere circuit activated by external influences. These external influences are thus converted into disconnected elements of the individual's internal reactions, a mere echo of the cultural concert and the emotional and instinctive tide of humanity.
 VII - THE ILLUSION OF FREEDOM
One of the most powerful illusions of Homo sapiens is that of free will.
As an argument against what has been stated in the previous pages, it could be said that "come what may, the individual does as he pleases" and that this freedom really proves he is not under control of any kind by forces outside himself. Precisely, one of the things that gives sapiens a sensation of power is the illusion of freedom. To prove this freedom, the adolescent rebels against the rules of behavior imposed by society, believing that he is proving his independence, when really the only thing he accomplishes is submission to his own unconscious impulses.
Freedom has many aspects, and we speak therefore of private or personal freedom, public freedom, social freedom, freedom of action, words, and ideas, moral freedom, and economic freedom. In everyday life we speak of economic slavery, of the emancipation of women, of oppression of the lower classes by the upper classes, of subjugation by fear and anguish, dependence on higher authorities, subordination of youth in a world created by their elders, and many other concepts which would be too lengthy to enumerate.
We are not interested in fashioning an orthodox philosophical analysis, dwelling on what has been said by so many thinkers in the past. Instead, we wish to reflect upon the vital reality of sapiens.
Sapiens believes in his personal independence due to the fact that at any moment he may, if he so desires, violently break any of the bonds which imprison him without any impediments. It is possible for him, if he so desires, to leave the work which imprisons him and live as a vagabond on other people's charity.
Or, he can abandon those studies which are so arduous and look for a job or live as he can. If he undertakes any of these measures of "freedom," he knows he will have to pay for them, but considers the price cheap for doing as he pleases. The best proof of this apparent independence can be inferred by the reader, who imagines that at any time he can, by a voluntary act, quit reading this book once and for all. All these reflections suggest the possession of a force we could call "power for doing things," something of which sapiens feels extremely proud.
Consciousness, intelligence, will power, and freedom constitute the mythological quaternary of the human race, which considers these talents as equal to the holy teaching that designates them as human beings. Not for a moment do people have any doubt that they really are the possessors of these gifts.
In order to duly illustrate this chapter on freedom, we will form a ternary with the words freedom, will power and desire, as these are intimately related to the subject of our interest.
Before continuing, it is necessary to clarify the objective of this work. In its attempt to enlighten in a clear and open manner, it could rightly be called anti-Hermetic. It was written for all those who aspire to accomplish something in a real and effective way on the path of their own spiritual development.
For this goal to be realized, it is vitally important that the individual should know, in depth, his true internal nature and his real position on the vital scale of values. To the degree that sapiens is full of illusions about himself and his life, his spiritual fulfillment becomes impossible, becoming only the beautiful dream of a well-meaning person.
The world is full of mirages of this nature which end up being nothing more than devices used by people to avoid the reality that troubles them. There is no field more likely than esotericism to generate all kinds of fantasies by intellects anxious to avoid crude reality. In facing reality, there is the great disadvantage that the individual must suffer all kinds of sacrifices and make efforts in order to attain his purpose, and this is certainly arduous and difficult.
It is much easier for the loafer to stay dreaming without making any effort or taking a risk of any kind, because in dreams everything is possible and there is no danger of facing arduous, conflicting, or traumatic situations. For these people, occultism is the real "open sesame" which enables them to drug themselves with the illusion of perfection and spiritual progress, which only exists in their imagination, stimulated by unconscious desires and fears.
Generally, the seeker of esoteric doctrines only wishes to find an ideological system which justifies his own defects and stimulates his hidden dreams, although this system may be absurd and patently subjective or childish.
We can assert that sapiens only understands what he wishes to understand, or more accurately, that which is convenient. He absolutely discredits everything that affronts his cerebral guidelines or his habits of life and conduct. This is perhaps one of the greatest obstacles facing the student of Hermeticism or the neophyte who aspires to be a disciple. To analyze objectively and without prejudice requires a flexible and open disposition so as not to limit oneself and discredit what is being studied, without a prior alert and deep reflective process.
Still, however much an individual strives, he will not be successful if he has too high an opinion of himself or his own intelligence and knowledge. It is sufficient for someone to believe he is very intelligent, cultured, or wise, to refrain from thinking impartially, limiting himself to a superficial examination of concepts and very frequently taking from these only the emotional or symbolic content. Vanity and pride are two bandages which blind sapiens, preventing him from seeing what would be evident to an awakened, impartial, or impersonal observer.
Symbolically, we could visualize sapiens as a personage who has inflated himself, and this condition impels him to float in the air toward higher regions, but only in relation to the distance from the ground. From the clouds he contemplates the world and believes himself to be the most wise and perfect being in creation. Unfortunately, while he remains in this limbo, he will also be far removed from vital and everyday reality.
The first step taken by the student of Hermeticism, or of esotericism in general, is to really put his feet on the ground and proceed, despite the pain, with his own deflation until he reaches his real level. He will hopefully reach the lowest point possible, as there is no other starting point except from zero. If one has not started from zero, it is a false start and therefore, corrupt. The student must live the experience of entirely understanding his own insignificance and incredible smallness in face of the immensity of the Universe.
As we have already stated in previous pages, the individual must "appreciate the magnitude of his ignorance," as only the immense humility caused by this experience can lead the individual, along with powerful reasoning and adequate alertness, to the psychological conditions which are necessary for him to understand what Hermeticism is and the far-reaching truths involved.
If this state of humility has not been reached and there is still pride and strong self-esteem, together with a destructive internal nature, it is improbable that an individual will ever gain any spiritual benefit from Hermetic science. It is for this reason that we are endeavoring in this book to have the individual see himself as he really is and not as he believes himself to be. The student must not accept these concepts with the blind faith of a believer or a convert.
On the contrary, such concepts must be shaken countless times in the sieve of serene and unprejudiced meditation during a state of intensified alertness. Afterwards, one must not be content with this procedure, but prove this teaching in everyday life, observing his own experience and that of others.
In the practice and study of Hermeticism there is a necessary order which must be complied with for the student to reach his goal. Regarding this process, we urge the reader to make the greatest effort to understand this book.
There are three basic stages to be fulfilled in order to be successful:
            1. Motivation
            2. Understanding
            3. Practice
The result is evolution.
These are the three indispensable steps for the student to attain his goal. His motivation must be powerful; his understanding, deep; and his practice, intense. The result of all this is the evolution of the student. Yet what at first sight seems so simple is arduous and complex to accomplish. The student generally fails at one of the stages and evolution does not take place.
Many times the student reaches the following result:
            1. Motivation
            2.________
            3. Practice
The result is stimulation of mass energy and there is no evolution.
In this case, the individual is carried away by his enthusiasm and skips over the second point, directly proceeding to practice. It is also possible, and this is very common, that his own inability to understand impels him to evade this stage. The result will then be a "stimulation of mass energy," that is, corporeal euphoria, but without the desired result, evolution.
We must realize the fundamental importance of profound understanding on the path of Hermeticism, as this is not a footpath of faith and self conviction. Without authentic understanding, nothing real is gained, only subjective illusions.
Frequently the following situation occurs:
            1. Motivation: poor
            2. Understanding: insufficient
            3. Practice: scant
The result is insignificant evolution.
Occasionally a person's understanding and practice reach acceptable levels but motivation is deficient. In this case the individual lacks the fuel necessary to successfully reach his spiritual goal.
Having understood this, let us analyze the triangle of the words Freedom, Will Power, and Desire.
In the first place, sapiens is ambivalent in relation to freedom; he desires and fears it simultaneously. Generally, he desires it physically and fears it psychologically. Sapiens wants his physical, political, and economic freedom and he desires total freedom of action to accomplish his personal aims. In the end, this longing represents an immeasurable yearning for power, in that he wishes to be free enough to be able to exercise his power over people and within his environment.
Following his desire for freedom, he endeavors by all means within his reach to attain physical, ideological, and economic independence. In opposition to this, however, and obeying his ancestral fear of individual responsibility, he merges into religious, cultural, and political systems within which he dissolves his own "I," thus becoming free from the responsibility of his own decisions and actions.
From another point of view, freedom is understood as a lack of opposition to individual actions or tendencies, thus making it possible for the individual to accomplish his purposes, whatever these may be. It is for this reason that many individuals seek their freedom by means of successful economic negotiations, alleging that money makes them free and powerful.
Yet, sapiens' approach leaves out one truly important consideration in this aspect, a factor which in practice acts as a veritable jailer, and at times as the executioner of the individual. We refer to the internal nature of man; to his emotions, instincts, and passions, which are really his masters. The only possible freedom in this life is freedom from one's own passions, because as long as they dominate us, we will be mere puppets who obey the ebb and flow of the passionate states of the masses.
All independence is impossible while thinking and feeling according to the influence of the environment on our internal nature. Whatever experience of freedom we may have had will disappear in the face of the primitive force of our animal soul which dominates us.
Freedom does not depend on the individual's physical conditions; the prisoner in his cell can be more autonomous than a person who is very rich and has freedom of movement. The only true freedom is liberation of one's self and liberation from the central computer of the species. As long as this has not taken place, it is possible to be a great politician, a famous multimillionaire, have glory, honor, and power, but still be as much or more of a slave than the poorest man.
We invite the astute reader to analyze himself and establish what decisions he has made absolutely freely in his life, without being compelled by either external or internal pressures which oblige him to act in a certain way, or not solely because he had no other alternative, or not merely following the line of least resistance.
Of course, these are not decisions made freely, independently, and voluntarily, but are instead equivalent to things, which happen to the individual independently of his wishes. From the time we reach the age when we can make decisions, it will be noted that one decides to follow a certain career through imitation, qualification, or ambition. One marries due to loneliness, sexual desire, lack of love, or personal convenience, but not free will.
To choose freely implies a decision independent from internal and external pressure, behaving impartially and objectively, carefully weighing the pros and cons, then deciding what it is we really want and to what extent this may be favorable or harmful, and what degree of compatibility there is between our plan and family and social interests.
We have now arrived at the second word of our triangle: Will Power, which is ultimately the key that may shed more light on the problem under discussion. The capacity to choose and make decisions involves the possession of mature judgment manifested through will power, and this quality must be central to our lives. To be free we must be capable of voluntarily deciding our existence.
Nevertheless, it is here that will power is confused with desire, the third word of our triangle. It is necessary to recognize that the human being does not move by the impulse of his will power, but by the strength of his desire, which is in turn motivated and conceived by prevailing instincts or emotions.
To have Will Power implies the possession of a powerful, stable, and mature "Superior I." The will permits maintaining a constant line of action, which does not occur in practice, as the individual constantly changes his center of gravity or his "directing I." As Gurdjieff so aptly states,
    "Man has no "I," but many "I's" which, in reality, possess him, instinctively and anarchically, in a passionate manner."
For this reason sapiens rapidly changes his mind as well as his way of thinking and feeling. From this is born enormous internal contradictions, disorientation, doubt, and instability. What stability can there be if we change every minute? As sapiens unconsciously realizes this phenomenon, he creates the most rigid intellectual plans possible in order to cling to them, thus obtaining the semblance of stability.
It does not matter that the "directing I" is acting as the master of our "biological house" (the physical body); the intellectual plan will tell us what we must do. This is one of the reasons why sapiens petrifies his intelligence, limiting himself to an assembly of fixed, stable, and permanent circuits. This has some advantages, but they are insignificant in the face of the negative factors this implies.
It may be true that petrification is useful to the individual in attaining greater emotional or intellectual stability, or adjustment to the group to which he belongs. On the other hand, petrification converts the individual, metaphorically speaking, into a "tree of stone," rigid, inflexible, and static, depriving him of the dynamics of transformation.
While the world changes, this individual clings to his worn out plan, refusing to consider the importance and far-reaching effects of these transformations.
Without a grownup and mature "Superior I," man has no real will; the force of the unknown and unexpected impels him towards a completely unknown goal which was not chosen by him. Sapiens is an eternal wanderer toward the unknown and completely ignores the happiness or tragedy of his future. A premonition of this impels him to "enjoy life" in a compulsive manner, systematically searching for today's pleasures as he is unsure about tomorrow; he is a being without a future, at least in his choices.
Under these conditions the materialistic and purely selfish attitude of sapiens is, to a certain extent, understood and forgiven. Sapiens tries by all means within his reach to make his empty and inert internal world vibrate. In this pursuit he often prefers useless suffering to internal peace.
Lacking a "Superior I," sapiens tenaciously takes refuge in a "Collective I," which is projected into the individual, directing his life. In previous chapters, we have referred to this "I" as the Collective Soul or Central Computer of the species. It is thus that customs, norms, and the collective approval or rejection of certain guidelines for conduct masters the individual, and in the end alienates him completely.
All men who seem to have an original and successful attitude toward life are rapidly imitated by the masses who, without further thought, superficially adopt their ways without looking beneath the surface. Movie stars and singers bring about an imitative mania as they project a grand image, while the "gray men" endeavor to possess that image in order to become outstanding.
There are few people who act authentically, following their own internal impulses, appearing as they really are; the majority constantly seek the approval of others to justify and reinforce their way of being. A characteristic custom of nearly everyone is to frequently observe the facial expression of people with whom they come into contact in order to verify whether their faces show approval or rejection, and to modify their attitude accordingly.
The masses, in turn, constantly seek leaders to follow. This is the real recognition of the fact that their volition is void; they need someone to follow as they lack the will power to direct themselves. The leader is always a symbol of the man who is strong, daring, free, and has the determination, which is lacking in the common man.
We definitely deny the concept of sapiens' free will, and maintain that in truth and according to the oriental concept, "all is written." Sapiens occupies a specific level within the cosmic order, and for him all is predetermined and foreseen.
Nevertheless, we must not take this concept in an absolute, blind, and definitive manner. It is indispensable to interpret the concept in the sense that a person is limited to the possibilities offered by the Lords of Destiny or Zodiacal Gods. However, these beings do not impel the individual along a one-way path, but instead there are detours on the path which present a choice, but always within the structure imposed on him.
Though it may be true that for sapiens "all is written," this is not true for the wise man who has freed himself from the collective animal soul and has been converted into a stellar man. For this individual, nothing is written, and he has in his hands the book of destiny and the pen with which he may write as he pleases, but always within the laws that govern the Universe.
Sapiens cannot direct his life to whatever he really wants; he has to limit himself to being carried away on the ocean of collective "progress" whose ebb and flow is determined by the Lords of Destiny.
So the greatest civilizations are born through much blood, sweat, and tears, just so one day the pendulum will swing to the other extreme and rapidly destroy everything, leaving only ruins, traces, and memories. The pendulum of life crushes and overcomes human creations, no matter how powerful and important; they are scattered to the winds with the passing of time, thus removing any transcendence they may have had. Only the immortal Gods survive the terrible Cronos.
 VIII - HERMETICISM
Hermeticism is the Masterly Science of the Universe, which came to the planet Earth in the times of Lemuria. According to tradition, Hermeticism was brought by extraterrestrial Masters, who by this transcendental act tried to give sapiens the possibility of higher evolution, which until that time had been denied to them.
We do not know the deepest motives of these visitors. We only know that they came to this place and stayed for a long time. The physical facts of their arrival and in what vessels they may have arrived is what least interests us. Let's say that a space vehicle is not the only way of traveling in the Universe.
It is possible that human beings or humanoids, as they may be called, can under certain circumstances, and even without a material body, fly through the Universe at speeds faster than light. It is not light that flies fastest in the Cosmos, but thought, and we truly believe that it is possible to fly on the wings of thought as symbolized by the God Mercury.
From the Hermetic point of view, we are not interested in the scientific and technical advances of the visitors from space; we are only interested in the science of the internal nature of the human being, the absolute key to all sciences. For this reason we can correctly call Hermeticism the Science of all Sciences.
From ancient times until now, Hermetic science has not been lost or weakened, but remains in all its purity, although many pseudophilosophical mystifications have arisen which have been transformed into systems based on Hermeticism, but which lack true knowledge.
In our age, Hermeticism is fully active and continues to give man the opportunity to escape from his cosmic classification and to rise to an infinitely higher level: the level of man, that is, of the creature in whom the highest human qualities are manifested, which sapiens definitely lacks. This prodigious passage requires the authentic mutation of sapiens who, if successful in the process, will forever abandon his terrestrial condition to convert himself into a Stellar Man.
This is not an abstraction or a symbol, but an absolutely real, true, concrete, and tangible possibility. However much we study the marvels of Nature, or the wonders of science and technology, there does not exist, nor will there ever exist, a marvel such as what we are pointing out: the metamorphosis of the human larva into a Stellar Man.
This occurs at present in our age, in this world, and it is not something that people are completely ignorant of, since much has been written regarding Esoteric Initiatic tradition.
However, sapiens prefers to be involved in studies which are absolutely unimportant, unproductive, and temporal, and which do not produce any benefit that will withstand the passing of time. In Santiago, Buenos Aires, Paris, Peking, New York, Moscow, or Cairo, mutants are being formed, Stellar Men who will forever abandon their terraqueous beings, although they may physically live on this planet and collaborate more than anyone else toward real progress.
It is possible to be a stranger on your own planet, but as superior beings, living a simple and anonymous life. Insignificant men continually strive to call attention to themselves; the truly important endeavor to pass unnoticed.
The "invaders" or "aliens," as the hypothetical visitors from the stars have been called, are not about to arrive; they have been here since the remote era of Lemuria, anonymous and entirely mixed with the crowd. These men have always been the light of humanity. Like Prometheus, they carry the divine flame in their hands, lighting, inspiring, and helping terrestrial men who are in a mere larval state of evolution.
What do these Stellar Men do? To what do they dedicate their time? They do the same work as ordinary men, since they must earn their daily bread, because their superior condition does not free them from the responsibility of labor. On the contrary, the more aware a man is, the greater his responsibilities will be.
Apart from their struggle to survive, they undertake intensive Hermetic activities; that is, their existence, actions, thoughts, and ideas have a transcendental superior purpose. Do not think that these beings live attempting to teach Hermeticism to terrestrial beings. On the contrary, Hermetic science is stellar knowledge prohibited to terrestrials, to whom this teaching may be transmitted only when they successfully comply with the formalities of a process which we call Initiation.
Those who do not fulfill these requirements have no right out of mere curiosity to know what is veiled by the laws of the Supreme Creator or Great Orderer of the Universe. Do not believe either that all these Stellar Men live making the process of initiation known. Only a very few of them have taken on this serious responsibility. The rest labor in other works, which in this case cannot be divulged.
Continuing this explanation, there are two kinds of Stellar Men:
       1.
          those who originally arrived from outer space and continued their evolution on this planet
       2.
          those who by Initiation were transformed into mutants and reached the qualification of Stellar Man due to the elevation of their awareness
The most recent manifestation of Hermeticism in the past occurred in Egypt with the "Master of Masters," Hermes Trismegistus (the three times great), in an era not able to be determined historically. Tradition tells us that this Master reached our planet Earth thirty thousand years ago. Hermetic philosophy derived its name from the teachings of Hermes, who was a perfect heir and follower of the early Masters.
We must understand that before Hermes, Hermetic science must have been called by another name, but this is not important as words are only symbols which can change many times while the designated object remains the same in its own nature. During the course of history, Hermetic science adopted many names but remained constant in its internal nature. The most known Hermeticists were the early Rosicrucians (not those who currently carry this name) who adopted a series of explanatory symbols in order to facilitate the transmission of the teaching to students. It must be said that if in fact a few true Rosicrucians exist today, no one knows about them.
The Hermeticists, whether they be Rosicrucians, magicians, initiates, Masters, wizards, etc., are not grouped into one "Hermetic Order" or "Rosicrucian Order," but they are scattered throughout the world, each one independent, in spite of working within a common plan. A Stellar Man may be an eminent politician, a priest, a schoolmaster, an author, a screen star, a soldier, an artisan, or any thinker. Each one of these knows exactly what he is doing in his job. These men do not act as master instructors. The Masters of wisdom are generally in charge of a school for Hermetic instruction, but as stated before, there are few of these men.
When we speak of Hermetic philosophy, many people believe that it is an abstract and theoretical discipline, a mere exercise of thought, which gives nothing practical to the individual.
Traditional philosophy offers an immense range of reflections on innumerable problems which concern sapiens. The great philosophers who existed in the history of humanity are today the pillars of civilized thinking. Apparently, there is little more to be added to what has already been stated in this respect.
For this reason, speaking of Hermetic philosophy does not disturb or stir anyone. We must state that we do not endeavor in any way to call attention to ourselves, cause sensationalism, or to proselytize; we only wish to tell something to the world so that according to its inhabitants ability to think, they may understand the rudiments of Hermetic Art, or deny them, make fun of them, or merely shrug their shoulders.
The great Hermetic sages are not interested in convincing anyone; they only fulfill their work of spiritually enlightening humanity. If their message is heard, they rejoice with the promise of a new dawn for sapiens; if they are not understood or appreciated, they will lament for those who will be deprived of such a beautiful and remarkable opportunity.
Stellar Men are not very concerned with the passage of time, as they are immortal in their intrinsic nature. They may be transformed many times, suffering the process we call death, but beyond this they retain their conscious identity and the memory of their knowledge, returning each time to physical existence as one who awakens from a health giving sleep. It is sapiens who should be concerned about time, as the brevity of his existence as a thinking identity obliges him to work rapidly if he wishes to be converted into a Stellar Man and attain immortality.
Many ask how it is that Hermeticism remains so unknown if it is really so important. Others will identify Hermetic philosophy with yoga, occultism, mentalism, parapsychology, spiritualism, demonology, or black magic, etc., believing that there is no Hermetic secret, despite the abundant literature which exists on this subject.
It should be known that Hermeticism has not spread beyond the true schools, as it is an art whose knowledge can only be attained in a special state of consciousness which, if not reached, makes all study in this respect hollow and empty talk. The wisdom of awakened men cannot be understood by sleeping beings however intelligent they may be.
It could be believed that Hermetic philosophy is some thing that must be studied constantly in spiritual retirement, sharpening the intellect to the maximum in order to fulfill the "instructional plan" as soon as possible. Conversely and distinct from traditional philosophy, Hermeticism is something deeply vital. The individual must face the different transformations through which man passes during his earthly existence in order to take advantage of the teaching in a practical manner, as Hermetic philosophy is the art of living, not taught in any university or school.
The student must take possession of Hermetic wisdom by the sweat of his brow, getting to know life at its roots, passing through as many experiences as possible, enlightened by what he has truly learned, enabling him to develop himself into a true Hermetic sage and a Stellar Man.
Hermeticism is the only living philosophy, the only knowledge which is idea, concept, flesh, blood, and spirit. As it is flesh and blood (recall Jesus at the Last Supper), it constantly renews itself; it is dynamic, flexible, and eternally young.
Hermeticism is the achievement of wisdom as a living philosophy. It is the universal and divine spirit, transubstantiated into a body of living matter.
There is no "Hermetic mold," die, or matrix which could serve as a model to produce Stellar Men according to an established pattern. On the contrary, each one of these men is truly unique. It is for this reason that Hermetic philosophy is not taught in the traditional manner which sapiens is accustomed to, for in traditional study success is guaranteed to the most studious or intelligent.
If Hermeticism was taught according to a program of subjects the student had to master, we would be creating brainwashed men; men programmed according to a plan. It would be a violation of this science itself, which simply stated, seeks freedom, independence, and the free will of man.
It is difficult for a person to understand how it is possible to "teach without teaching," how to convey knowledge without a programmed and methodical instructional process. The answer is simple. In the initiatic process the student is placed before very peculiar, vital conditions in order that he may, with a self-taught criteria, "create his own knowledge," the basis of which is given to him in oral instructions of a very special nature, and in a mystic process we could call mental osmosis.
To tell the truth, Hermeticism recognizes no other possibility of real learning aside from self-taught knowledge in which it is the subject himself who is teaching himself, having received basic information from a teacher or simply from the written word. The educational system used in schools and universities suffers from a serious defect: it programs the student according to rigid plans engraved in his brain by force of the prestige and authority of these establishments.
The intelligence of the pupil is seriously damaged and transformed into a static capacity, focused solely on the subject learned, making it practically impossible for him to take on the profound analysis of really new and different things. At a professional level, it is regrettable to observe specialists who have been modeled after a basic stereotype as if they were manufactured on an assembly line.
Hermetic science is the only science which does not cerebrally program an individual, and it frees his intelligence from established mechanical circuits. The intelligence of the Stellar Man is free and unprogrammed. The explanation of how this is achieved is beyond the reach of a programmed intellect and therefore is not a subject to be explained in this book.
As a general orientation only, the reader should reflect upon the relationship between the specific and the general, and on the popular saying that "nothing is true or untrue, all is according to the color of the glass through which it is seen." Truly, only by rising above the many facets of truth is it possible to know absolute truth, which summarizes in itself what is and what is not, truth and falsehood, good and evil, ignorance and wisdom, life and death.
We also wish to refer to the koans used in Zen Buddhism as an example of what we are saying. The koan is a type of symbolic dialogue between a Master and his disciple. The Master sets up a question which cannot be solved intellectually because it is beyond reason. This method is an attempt to destroy and surpass conceptual thought in order to reach the essential and unique nature of all things.
Hermeticism says "all is mind" (the word mind has been chosen to designate the unique energy of the Universe, but another could be used, such as spirit) and that the nature of the Universe is mental. In this way, the profound nature of all that exists would be comprised of mind energy. The atom is mind; man is mind; God is mind.
Herein lies the maximum interest of Hermetic philosophy: taking possession of the knowledge of the unique essence of all things, and this essence, being everywhere, is the master key to wisdom.
Life itself is contradictory and paradoxical; no one can explain to themselves why there is so much injustice in the world if there is a Supreme Being. In the light of Hermetic wisdom all contradictions disappear and paradoxes are reconciled, and the hidden cause of all things is thus understood.
Truth is an exaggeration of the simple, and to reach what is simple, no great wisdom or instruction in traditional matters is necessary. But, it is essential to have a minimal degree of culture, because without this, our intelligence would lack the data and material to work with in order to reach a synthesis, a state in which the individual needs no culture, at least not of the usual sort.
 IX - THE SEEKERS
The abundant esoteric mythology does not reveal the occult, but instead veils it, causing profound concern among those who seek, whether sincerely or falsely, the light of Hermetic truth. There are many schools, centers, and movements, each one with its own philosophy. Each of these currents apparently flows against the others and there is a great lack of agreement and coincidence in their teachings.
Naturally, each school proclaims that its truth is correct, and that those similar to it are imperfect or spurious. It is not our intention to criticize the different schools, but rather to guide seekers so they may find what they seek and at the same time obtain more insight into their personal motives. Each seeker has a special concept of what he desires to find, and although he may indeed find what he is seeking, he will later realize that his discovery is not leading him to anything superior, real, or positive.
Under the general context of "occult sciences" there are those who feel attracted to spiritualism, yoga, rosicrucianism, parapsychology, or mentalism. In turn, within each of these currents there are numerous schools and "pseudoschools." The candidate for initiation finds it difficult to choose appropriately.
In the first place, we may say that each individual has his own level within the general average of humanity. It is as if we all lived in a water tank, similar to an aquarium, and each person found his own level of flotation according to the density of his body. There are many kinds of sapiens; there are those who are very low and others who are very high for their species.
Under these conditions, it is natural that each person should seek an adequate movement or school appropriate to his own level; otherwise he would find it impossible to gain any benefit. In this case, it is understood that "like attracts like." As an example, let us suppose a very low or dense individual arrives at a high level school, attracted by the goal he seeks. With absolute certainty, this individual will consider this institution bad or deficient as his concept of badness will be all that is beneath or above his own level. For him, "good" will be that which is suitable to his own vibration.Following this analogy of a level of flotation, those of dense vibration find it practically impossible to remain in high level initiatic groups, and must resign themselves to others of a lower category.
It must be stated that all schools are of use, even those of a low level, for if it were not for them, there would be none which could cope with individuals of inferior quality, who also need a light equal to their capabilities in order to see. On the other hand, if a man of high vibration enters a movement of low category, he will find it easy and comfortable to remain there, but his spiritual development will be scarce or nil.
To be a disciple of Jesus, it was necessary to attain the level of an Apostle; it was not possible any other way.
It is most important to state that true schools are very scarce, and the majority of these are only centers of study and practice of elementary principles. As an explanation we will divide these schools into three groups:
        1. Study centers. These comprise the great majority.
        2. Schools connected to a superior occult force. These are extremely scarce.
        3. Schools of initiation. These schools teach the mystical process of initiation in a real, and not symbolic, manner. They are extremely scarce and virtually unknown.
In practice, any person can enter the study centers as mentioned in the first point. It is sufficient to pay the dues and to attend regularly, or maintain constant communication in the case of instructions by correspondence.
It is useful for a person to belong to one of these study centers as they prepare the individual for higher things, and at the same time awaken in him greater spiritual restlessness. We could say that these groups represent the exoteric or external side of Hermetic doctrine.
Under the second point, we find the schools which are actually linked to a higher power, that is, in some manner they are connected with the Stellar Men. The student can get a lot of benefit from these schools.
Under the third point, we have the initiatic schools which are the only ones that can truly lead the student through the process of initiation in a real and not symbolic manner. These schools are characterized by a leading Master, and are the bearers of the celestial fire, which is transmitted to the student during initiation. It is essential to establish that initiation is not, as some naive people believe, a ritual ceremony practiced in a temple.
The word initiation designates the entire process of mutation of the human larva into a Stellar Man, which is brought about and directed by the Masters of these schools.
Physically, where are these schools of initiation located?
Their location is not important, because in spite of the fact that their number is very small, all candidates who truly and powerfully yearn for spiritual superiority and have the capacity for it will surely find someone to guide them to one of these "workshops."
We must now speak of candidates for wisdom. We know there are individuals who have gone through every existing school searching for what they desire, but have never found it, probably because they do not know what they really want. They generally have the most fantastic ideas in this respect and honestly believe that the only true Masters are in India or in some mysterious and inaccessible place in the East. Others believe that it is necessary to communicate with flying saucers by telepathy in order to receive instructions from their hypothetical crews, who are assumed to be possessors of esoteric knowledge.
There are also those who believe only in spiritualism, parapsychology, or the teachings of Freemasonry. The more naive demand all types of credentials, secret scrolls, or material proof which attest to and establish the authority of the school. There are also those who, influenced by the publicity, fame, or prestige of some institution, believe it the best to be found.
The reality is that the candidate is not capable of choosing, and even less capable of effectively judging the goodness or defects of the institute he enters. If he was able to choose, it would be because his spiritual vision surpasses that of the instructors he is seeking, in which case there would be nothing they could teach him.
Only the illumination of his own spirit would guide the candidate in this case. Far back in antiquity, the candidates for initiation into certain esoteric brotherhoods were given two glasses of wine or liquor, and were warned that one contained a deadly poison, leaving the neophyte to choose one and drink all its contents. If he did not accept this, he was immediately rejected.
We know that sometimes it was only a trick to weigh the courage and decision of the individual, but in other cases the contents were truly toxic. The premise was that if the individual drank the toxic drink, he would have already failed, because he was not illuminated by his divine spark in the search he had embarked upon.
It is very important that the seeker should analyze the motives guiding him, for in this way he will avoid much unpleasantness and loss of time. We know that one of the most unpleasant aspects of human behavior is the fact that sapiens lies to himself with astounding frequency. His lies are so astute, subtle, and perfect, that he may waste many years of his life, only to discover that he was being cheated and he himself was the charlatan.
The object of this self-deception has been very precisely identified by psychology, and generally refers to the individual's need for a high level of self-esteem.
There are many techniques for self-deception and these are grouped under the general category of "rationalization." Professor Gordon Allport gives this definition:
    "Reason fits one's impulses and beliefs to the world of reality; rationalization fits one's concept of reality to one's impulses and beliefs. Reasoning reveals the real causes of our actions, and rationalization finds good reasons, to justify them."
Here we have a treasure of psychological wisdom in a few words! Unfortunately no one makes use of this, in spite of the fact that it may give many people the key to the tragic events of their lives.
The individual lies to himself in order to avoid facing his internal conflicts, and thereby attains a momentary relief, but never a solution. This is why it is vital that anyone interested in Hermeticism or various esoteric movements should examine his motives.
          Is there an authentic and true desire for spiritual superiority within him?
          Does he feel true spiritual thirst?
          Or is he only guided by the selfish desire to attain power, which will give him prestige, popularity, and recognition?
It may be that the individual is a potential convert for any collective movement, and who (as is frequently the case) seeks only to rid himself of his insignificant or undesirable "I," by merging with some mass movement. The individual may be paranoid, an extremely neurotic personality, a failure, a vain individual who requires an audience, or an intellectual impelled solely by curiosity.
It is possible that he is fleeing from himself or from the world, or that a great amorous disillusionment, or his terrible loneliness, may lead him to seek any company whatsoever. Others may claim magic powers or secrets in order to obtain money or to attract the opposite sex, or they may simply wish to open their "third eye" without really having the least idea what it means. In any of these or similar cases, it is easily inferred that the individual is not led by a genuine desire for spiritual superiority, and therefore it is preferable that he should refrain from requesting Hermetic light, as he is not prepared for it, and is not really interested in it.
This does not mean that a person in any of the above cases does not possess, in direct proportion to the problem afflicting him, a real desire for spiritual advancement.
Many times the most spiritual persons are those who encounter more than the usual amount of problems in their terrestrial life; they have more difficulty adapting their psychic vehicles, which are more subtle than usual, to the vicissitudes of our civilization. In many cases it occurs that a student enters a Hermetic brotherhood and cannot remain there because of the enormous difficulties that arise along the way.
For this reason, the majority of the candidates may be lost, as it is very simple to become part of a study group or contemplative school where there is no real initiation. If the student enters an initiatic school, he must face and overcome the phantom of himself if he desires to reach the light.
Nature will test him without mercy in order to establish his true spiritual quality. In Hermetic alchemy it is said that "to make gold there must be gold, even an infinitesimal fraction of it." So, through the tests it will be known with absolute certainty how much spiritual gold the candidate has. If he does not have this golden seed, all mutation will be impossible and the individual must be prepared to fight during this life in order to create his tiny portion of spiritual gold, which will enable him to go forward in his next incarnation.
It also happens that once within a Hermetic brotherhood, the student may remain there for several years, blind and deaf to the teaching he receives, without being able to weigh the immense value of the school and the knowledge he is receiving. This situation may last forever or be overcome one day by an illuminating experience that opens the individual's eyes forever.
The lack of progress or success is generally due to the fact that the individual does not make sufficient effort, limiting the work he does. In order not to deceive anyone, it must be stated that Hermeticism is not in any way for those who are lazy or cherish their comfort. On the contrary, it is for those who are willing to make titanic efforts toward evolution.
Here we have touched a point which we have already spoken of, but it is necessary to analyze this point many times in order to understand it. We refer to the fact that the layman always thinks of occultism, magic, or Hermeticism as a system which will permit him, by the use of magic formulae, to obtain more rapidly and without any significant effort, that which would normally be attained only after much perseverance, for example that wealth, love, work, or special favors will be gained through the intervention of higher powers.
As already stated, people always believe what they want to believe; what is convenient for their purposes. In this case, all that entails avoiding effort and obtaining things by miraculous procedures will be immediately accepted by the populace. Without doubt, the tale of Aladdin and his Magic Lamp and A Thousand and One Arabian Nights were written by a loafer, unconsciously projecting his occult dreams.
This does not mean that these marvels are not possible, but they can in no way be an "abracadabra" for obtaining things with little work or effort. One of the Hermetic Principles states that "every cause produces an effect," which would be potentially equivalent to the action that gave it origin, and will have a period of gestation or realization according to the importance of what is sought.
There is no miracle for obtaining things without effort, as if they could fall from heaven. This would be an arbitrary alienation of the cosmic order, and if this capricious act were possible, the matter integrating the Universe would break up. In the Cosmos there are neither miracles nor chance, only the Law of Cause and Effect, and the natural phenomena produced by the laws of Nature which are little known. What is called a miracle is only a natural occurrence, but of an unknown nature.
There are also those who do not find because they do not wish to find, for if they were to do so, they would be obliged to face the arduous problem of overcoming themselves in order to evolve. They know this beforehand, and it frightens them. On the other hand, to turn into an eternal seeker requires no great effort; just the opposite, it enables the individual to give free rein to his most audacious dreams without any danger of misfortune.
By surrendering himself to dreamlike fantasies, the perpetual explorer avoids facing the real opportunity of fulfilling himself in a genuine manner. It is very easy to dream for thirty years or more that one is becoming more perfect as the days go by, and that one is on the road to spiritual perfection. Naturally this fantasy, according to the degree of self-deception, makes life easier and more bearable for the individual, but one day he must face the cruel truth.
Without wishing to offend anyone and only to make known what is true, it is necessary to consider that there are as many types of schools as there are types of individuals. There are schools for those who arrive into the light of Hermetic teaching for the first time in their chain of incarnations. There are schools for the greatly evolved, for people who are very intelligent, stupid, simple, for those who have failed in their initiation in their past lives, for masters punished by the occult judges. There are schools of white magic and also of black magic.
We have already mentioned the danger of those who are psychologically sick taking refuge in Hermeticism as a means of escaping their internal problems, or using Hermeticism as an incentive for their most exalted dreams. Much more dangerous is the lamentable case of becoming a disciple of a sick master. Are there sick masters? Certainly there are, and this is explained by the ambiguity of the word "Master" and the fact that the human brain has a ceiling of resistance, and beyond that limit it may become unbalanced.
Let us take the case of an individual who has gathered much esoteric knowledge, but who has not evolved spiritually as a real Stellar Man due to insufficient internal cleanliness and not having been able to overcome his mental disturbances arising from frustrations or diverse complexes (remember that mental disturbance is not a synonym for in sanity).
This individual, at any given time, for reasons not necessary to analyze, may found a school and transmit teachings which naturally will be distorted by this master's psychological disturbances. This does not mean that the teachings transmitted by this man will be false; on the contrary, they could be entirely true in theory.
Here we must cite an aphorism of great esoteric significance which says,
    "correct methods in the hands of incorrect men function incorrectly; incorrect methods used by correct men function correctly."
This refers to the fact that true knowledge in the hands of an individual who has morally, emotionally, or mentally gone astray will act deviously, and the one who receives this teaching will experience a negative reaction as a result.
On the other hand, it could happen that a man of integrity and purity could be mistaken in some of the knowledge he possesses. In this case, we have not the least doubt that magically the final result will be adequate and correct. Naturally, the ideal would be an individual of integrity with accurate knowledge. This explains why the black magicians may possess great esoteric knowledge, but their goal and true purposes are never known, as their object is always to deceive the student in their schools, to make use of him in a covert manner for their own ends. It is thus they always exploit the weaknesses of their followers, making them conceive all kinds of great illusions for the future.
Returning to the case we pointed out regarding a sick master, this individual is generally completely sincere and is convinced that he is the sole possessor of the truth and knowledge. One of the most outstanding characteristics of these disturbed individuals is their self worship, which is so overwhelming that they are completely convinced they are God himself incarnated on Earth, and naturally are infallible and omniscient.
They are never mistaken, because they are always right. The loss of a sense of self-criticism and their self glorification is easily recognized by the language they use in referring to themselves, as all their tales are always directed toward showing how they are powerful, wise, intelligent, and infallible.
Any psychiatrist would find any of these men to be classic case studies. We must realize that it is easy for a paranoid person and even a schizophrenic to have access to esoteric knowledge and adopt the role of Master. Nevertheless, it is relatively easy to recognize them: self worship, insane infallibility, self deification, self glorification, and a supposed monopoly on the truth will generally be the most outstanding characteristics of these men.
Summarizing,
    initiation may derail an individual from his purpose of spiritual perfection and lead him to a delirium of greatness and megalomania, within which he confuses the truth he has been exposed to with the dreams and illusions knit together in his unconscious state. That is, there is an "initiatic abortion."
For example, consider the case of an individual who was not able to cleanse his soul, but who attained knowledge of certain things and was converted into the shadow of light. The devil always uses inverted truth to confuse people. That which is demonic is only the divine inverted.
There are also schools whose real purpose is not initiation, but politics, and they use the organization as a screen to recruit followers. Their real purpose is not to form Stellar Men, but to enlarge the battalions of certain ideological systems.
One last warning with regard to the schools: always distrust those which praise the individual's self-esteem with repeated assurances that "he is a very evolved person," "very spiritual," or "very intelligent and prepared."
In some centers this system of flattery is used, either brazenly or subtly, as a method of using the student for purposes of which he is unaware. Lies, skillfully dosed and directed, are used there as a weapon for handling the student, exploiting his base passions with a promise that he will unfailingly attain his desires. In the same way, we must distrust those who teach without asking anything in return, like a romantic Jesus Christ. If teachings are given gratis, it is because they are of no value. That which is valuable to possess always requires something of equivalent value in return.
Many pseudomasters say that "Teachings must be free." We state something absolutely different:
    true Teachings cannot be bought, as they are not for sale. But it is necessary that the student contribute something of value to those who instruct him—either to the school, or to the physical Master. This is an occult law which cannot be violated.
In conclusion, we insist that a school must always have a Master, because without one, being limited to just transmitting a legacy of the past, there can be no disciples, since in order to have students, there must be a Master. It does not matter if the instructor at the head of an esoteric brotherhood has not reached the stature of a "great Master," because not everyone can reach this.
What is important is that this individual be effectively well-oriented and be a person who is straight, healthy, and pure. The seeker has no other manner of finding the Master other than by his own internal aspiration. The stronger his desire for truth and freedom, the more certain it is that he will find what he is seeking.THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM

The Principle of Mentalism states:

"The All is Mind; The Universe is Mental."

In this, the first of the seven Hermetic Principles, it is stated that "the Universe is mental" and that the only essential reality of all things is mind, for the Universe in itself is a mental creation. We live within the mind of God, who maintains the Cosmos in the same way someone sustains a thought by mental concentration.

The Kybalion, a compendium of Hermetic Principles, gives us two aphorisms, which illustrate our knowledge.

1. The infinite mind of The All is the womb of the Universe.
2. The All creates in its Infinite Mind countless Universes, which exist for eons of Time—and yet, to The All, the creation, development, decline, and death of a million Universes is as the time of the blinking of an eye.

It is thus that God, or the All Mental, creates life through thought, just as man can create a Universe within his own mind. The Great Creator visualizes creation and projects this toward the cosmic egg, giving origin to life in its infinite manifestations. In this way, the Hermeticist is not greatly concerned with studying the chemical composition of the elements, but prefers to study the Principle of Mind, the essential composition of all that exists.

 

Animals, minerals, vegetables, men, Gods, planets, galaxies, universes, matter, and energy: all is mind, the Universe is mental. For this reason, in the entire Cosmos there are the same laws, those of the mind.

Mental energy is manifested on an infinite scale of vibrations, from the densest to the most subtle. The combination of these vibrations, similar to the mixture of musical notes from a piano, produces the different elements or material of the Universe, with different characteristics between them, but with their intrinsic nature formed by mind.

It is due to this that the ancient alchemists believed in the transmutation of lead or any other metal into gold, as the intrinsic composition of all metals is exactly the same: mind.

In particular, our physical body is mind; our bones, blood, nervous system, intelligence, spirit, and our thoughts: all is mind.

The All Mind (God) is infinite, eternal, immutable, and unknowable. The All Mind is neither energy nor matter, it is something superior to this; it is a living and infinite mind, which can also be called Spirit, or real essence.

The All Mind has always existed and will always exist; it is the absolute, which is beyond all understanding.

All that is finite, mutable, and transformable cannot be The All. Since nothing exists beyond this, in reality all which is finite must really be nothing. The Kybalion places before us the following Hermetic question: What is the Universe? If nothing can exist beyond The All, then is the Universe all?

 

No, this cannot be so, as the Universe seems to be made of multiple units and constantly changes. Then, if the Universe is not all, it must be nothing. We still have senses and feel the existence of the Universe. And if the Universe is something and is not The AH, what can it be? Simply stated, it is a mental creation of The All.

This is the origin of the well-known Hindu principle of "Maya." The Hindus say that "All is Maya." Translated, this means All is illusion. Certainly a thought of ours is illusion. If we have imaginatively created the personage of a small, green-eyed old man with a walking stick made from a branch of a tree, this personage is a fantasy and an illusion from our material point of view, but absolutely tangible, concrete, and real for the matter, elements, or personages of our imaginative dream. A ghost is a ghost for the physical man, but a material being for another ghost. It will pass through wooden doors but not through "doors for ghosts" made of "ghost wood."

An automobile manufactured by thoughts (imaginary) cannot collide with a material vehicle, but it can collide with another imaginary car, as it is on the same vibration, or within the same density of matter.

We must understand that as sapiens, creatures of flesh and blood, we are located on a specific vibratory level and we occupy a space in the order of the Universe. We should reflect on the fact that for us, matter is only that energy with vibratory characteristics similar or identical to our own, and that energy will be the opposite pole. On the other hand, for a man whose body is made up of energy of a different vibratory state, matter for him will be the energy similar to that constituting his body.

Therefore, neither matter nor energy exist; there exists only one primordial energy, matter, or essence which comprises everything.

If we could escape from our classification in the Universe and join the All Mind, participating in its nature, the Universe would instantly disintegrate (only for us) as we would have changed the observer's situation or position.

It is not difficult to understand that if from the point of view of the absolute "all is illusion," then from our mortal situation "nothing is illusion" because all that occurs affects what we can see and feel. Now, as sapiens, we have been made in the image of God and have within us the divine spark. If the corporal part of us is finite, relative, and mutable, the divine spark or spiritual essence is the absolute.

 

Reflecting on this will lead us to a transcendental discovery: sapiens is the only being in the Universe who participates both in the nature of the thinker (God—divine spark), as well as in the structure of that imagined by the thinker (material world— physical body).

By understanding this Principle, it is possible to get an idea of the reason why man was created; he is the instrument used by God to create the material of the Universe with his thoughts. The Supreme Creator uses man's brain to create life. Within this process of creation we can distinguish two stages:

1. Man, God of his own Universe
2. Man, the organ of the creation of life (the sexuality of God?)

In the first stage, sapiens imagines an entire Universe within his thoughts, a process astonishingly similar to creation by divinity. It should be asked if in this Universe imagined by sapiens, there are not also planets, galaxies, vegetables, minerals, and even ourselves on another dimensional scale.

 

In reality, that which is infinitely great becomes confused with the infinitely small. We cannot say when something will become so small as to disappear or so large as to disintegrate. We truly believe there is an entire Universe in the thought of each man, and for him this passes within a second; for those who live in his imagination, millions of years could have passed.

In the second stage, life created by man within his imagination and existing within his mental Universe passes from this world to the Universe of God, where man himself lives; that is, his material density is similar to that of his creator.

It is possible that the same may happen to man, and that at a given moment he may pass to another Universe higher than the one we know.

The understanding that all is illusion ("all is Maya"), can perturb one who is not prepared for this truth, for in his own vulgar interpretation he would have us believe that if all is illusion, it is not worthwhile doing anything, because ultimately nothing has any value if "all is nothing." This error should not be committed. It stems from placing oneself on the level of an observer existing outside of this Universe.

The spiritual betterment promised by Hermeticism consists of the development, strengthening, growth, and evolution of the divine part of sapiens—what is usually called the Spirit. This essential part is developed at the expense of the oneiric (illusory) and thus sapiens can be converted into a mutant; an individual whose center of gravity shifts from the illusory to the absolute existing within himself (his own spirit, which is an emanation of God).

 

Thisvery profound change enables the individual to gradually begin tounderstand the truth and finally reach the knowledge of absolute truth,which is immutable, immortal, and eternal, and which does not sufferchange as time goes by because it is beyond time. In the end, onlyabsolute truth is completely truthful, as relativity can only encirclea small section of the absolute. It is due to this that Hermeticism, asproclaimed by the Kybalion, speaks of the wise and the semi wise.

 

These latter are those who are limited to having knowledge of the illusory world of Maya, the world imagined by the Great Creator, without ever ascending to the original source of all that exists. They are a species of sages from the world of phantoms, the oneiric world. The true Hermetic sage becomes polarized within the essential part of himself, and then his spirit manifests through his own brain. He avoids the world of oneiric fantasy in order to penetrate into the level of the Great Thinker, where the absolute resides.

This explains why personality, the means of adapting to the illusory in order to become blind in reference to its inherent nature, impedes the individual's higher spiritual development by blocking his contact with reality. Generally, the more programmed a person is, the more difficult it will be for him to elevate himself to the knowledge of the world of the absolute.

THE PRINCIPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE

The Principle of Correspondence states:

"As above, so below; as below, so above."

This Hermetic Principle refers to the similarity between the various vibratory planes or classifications that exist within the arrangement of the Universe. The great scale of life runs from matter to spirit, existing in the midst of an infinite vibratory scale. Within this range, the same laws acting on density, for example, also act on that which is spiritual or subtle.

 

There is a correspondence or similarity among all cosmic phenomena, and the study of this analogy enables one to reach the unknown commencing from what is known. For example, astrology is based on the supposition that man is a microcosm and he has inside himself an analogous replica of the Universe, and that by means of this basic outline, we are joined to the planets of our solar system and are influenced by them.

 

The chart of the horoscope endeavors to reach the design of our internal vital structure by means of the Law of Correspondence. The planets manifest their influence through the different parts of our body with which they correspond. We know that Aries corresponds to the head and Pisces to the feet, and there is a sympathetic connection between the zodiacal sign, its ruling planet, and the area of the body dominated by it.

 

A talisman is an object through which a magnetic relationship can be established betweenthe individual to be protected and the corresponding cosmic force. The Cosmos influences man with its energy, but at the same time, is also influenced by man.

Here is a principle of feedback, whose exact dimensions we cannot visualize. It is said that if a person throws a pebble into a lake, this simple act will some day influence the boundaries of the Universe in some way. Universal unity exists in the sense that all is united to all; we cannot separate ourselves from people or from our environment. You, the reader, are joined by an invisible thread to each inhabitant of our planet and to all beings that exist in the Cosmos.

 

If you hate someone, you are destroying yourself. If you wish to wreak revenge on someone, that force you set in motion will eventually fall upon you. Let us remember the Christian principles based on pure Hermeticism: "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you" or, "Love one another." This Principle of Correspondence is explained by the fact that "All is Mind; The Universe is Mental." Mind energy is the common nexus of all that exists.

As there is external correspondence (with that which is external), this also exists within our body, and also in relation to the opposite sex. Let us observe the likeness between the tonsils and testicles or ovaries, between the spermatozoon and the medulla oblongata in the brain, or the relation between this latter and the sex. In this case, the loss of sexual sensitivity is often derived from increased intellectual sensitivity and vice versa.

 

This is shown by an insatiable sexual appetite or lechery, which generally leads to a deterioration of intelligence. With respect to the opposite sex, we can see that the penis corresponds to the clitoris and the uterus to the prostate.

Sympathetic magic is the art of establishing artificial correspondence between a person and a wax figure, talisman, plant, or any other object. In this way, the influence received by the wax doll will finally be directed toward the individual who has served as the model. Based on the same principle, an individual can enter into correspondence with a tree or a plant, and transfer his own illness to them, being thus equivalently healed.

Acupuncture shows us a case of the advantageous use of corporeal equivalences, where through stimulation on the lobe of the ear, a headache may be cured. At first, it is very difficult to believe that there can be any relationship between the lobe of the ear and the head, but concrete experience has proven that there is. It is possible by means of the needles used in acupuncture to cure many ailments or to lessen pain—all this by correspondence.

The study of the Hermetic aphorism "As above, so below; as below, so above" is of extreme interest, as this explains the bonds of reciprocal influence which exist between an individual and terrestrial and celestial Nature. The environment, radiating its forces upon us, brings about changes inside us and in the events which occur to us daily.

 

On the other hand, our psychological condition and our mental state are projected toward Nature, and as a consequence of this, fortunate or tragic events may occur in our lives. This Hermetic aphorism has great practical value, which will be revealed only to the zealous student.

 

We will give some examples:

1. An individual keeps his room untidy and in complete disorder. This material fact of a physical nature immediately reflects upon the individual's psyche, and he is intellectually and emotionally converted into a replica of the physical conditions he maintains. His psyche will be the likeness of his room and vice versa.

2. The same individual from the above example spends a whole day scrupulously cleaning and tidying his room. As a consequence of this, he experiences a careful cleaning of his psyche and feels extraordinarily happy, "light," and comfortable.

3. An individual who is bitter and negative habitually meets people who instinctively reject him, and without any rea son whatsoever they may end up hating him.

4. A woman believes she is ugly and feels unattractive. Al though she is really "fascinating," her mental attitude repels the opposite sex.

Further explanation of these cases is not necessary.

Within the context of this important theme of the Principle of Correspondence, we will take a close look at the relationship between legal acts to which the individual is subject and the concomitant dependence and lack of freedom, which takes place on the plane of energy. To illustrate this, let us suppose that a wife is not in harmony with her husband and they separate, but are not divorced.

 

Thus she is still firmly joined to her husband, and if he is a negative individual who wishes evil to befall her, this woman cannot become detached from these forces; she will continue to receive them and they will surely continue to harm her even after ten years apart from her mate. What is the reason for this?

 

The cause resides in the aphorism "As above, so below; as below, so above," because while there is a legal contract between both spouses, they still are in reality indissolubly joined so long as the contract is legally binding. The laws of men project their influence into the world of energy which we shall call the "astral plane," "mental plane," or "fourth dimension" in order to designate a place where the vibrations are much more subtle than the material ones.

 

What occurred in the previous example also happens to ordinary people who are joined by a contract forming a legal entity, as in the case of a corporation. While the articles of incorporation are in force, the partners will remain united and each one will have some effect on the life of the rest, either positively or negatively, and in turn will also receive from them a force which will determine the important events in their lives. Thus there is danger in uniting our lives with those persons affected by heavy or negative Karma, which, in the case of a legal tie, will inevitably fall upon us.

Through this Principle of Correspondence it is possible to understand how immensely cruel it is to condemn a felon to life imprisonment. As a result of a law of sapiens, this individual will remain a prisoner indefinitely or permanently even after his death. Life imprisonment basically means prison after death.

Those in this situation should not despair, and I wish to counsel them to practice a kind of mental defense to attain freedom upon death. This "way out" as we could call it, consists of repeating the following prayer every day: "I free myself from the laws of man and deliver myself into the hands of divine justice." In order for this formula to be effective and for the individual to truly become free, it is important that he should deeply feel what he is saying. If this is repeated mechanically, it will surely fail. It is different when a prisoner is condemned to capital punishment, as in this case death frees him.

We must also mention the enormous importance of astronomical discoveries or observations for sapiens. If any individual should discover a new star through his telescope and this star emits subtle energy of a destructive nature (all bodies emit energy which might be called "mass energy"), these forces will reach our planet in a very intense form, as a mental channel has been created for them.

The temples of ancient Egypt were constructed so that during certain times of the year a person, looking toward the sky through a precisely situated opening, would see a specific star known to the constructors, with which the subject would try to establish mental contact in order to receive a positive influence from it.

It is also necessary to mention that this teaching of the seven Hermetic Keys is basic, so that the student will discover himself what remains hidden or what may be read between the lines.

I wish to conclude this commentary on the Principle of Correspondence by honoring the memory of the extraordinary Egyptians, who possessed great Hermetic knowledge before their decline. Both laymen and ignorant archeologists have always commented that in ancient Egypt people were so backward that they worshipped animal Gods, which was considered the height of moral decadence. As far as we are concerned, this was the manifestation of ancient Hermetic wisdom.

 

To explain: the Egyptians had animal Gods, not to be worshipped by them, but by the ordinary animals (thosenot set up as Gods). The object of creating animal Gods was to maintain the purity and elevation of the human race. These "magical" methods were used to prevent animals from penetrating into the human scale, from being incarnated as sapiens. In the chapter "The Illusion of True Knowledge," we dealt with the incarnation of consciousness which relates to this subject.

 

Upon receiving the irradiation of man's consciousness, animals partly assimilate the energy of the divine spark or magical fire, which then enables them to enter into the human scale for the first time after they die as animals. This occurs primarily with domestic animals or those which for any special reason are constantly in contact with man, such as a circus dog, for example, as he is exposed closely to human vibrations.

I must pause for a moment to imagine the ironic smiles of those who believe that certainly the writer of this book suffers from some mental disorder. I think I understand them perfectly well, because if I had not had the opportunity of verifying the absolute truth of Hermetic science to my satisfaction, or if I was a neophyte in these matters and was reading this book, I would think as they do.

 

On the other hand, if unbelieving readers could change places with me for a few minutes by means of a magical transmigration, they would completely agree with me. It is necessary to live the Hermetic experience to confirm what has been learned intellectually. I also feel obliged to state that in Hermeticism one does not believe or disbelieve; one simply understands or does not understand.

We continue with the explanation of the animal Gods. When an animal incarnates as a human being for the first time, it will be like an individual on a very inferior level, with very strong animal instincts, and will certainly cause great harm to society. It will either become a delinquent or an immoral pervert as it lacks adequate restraints on its instincts. This animal individual must very gradually rise in level throughout many reincarnations. It must be understood that if many animals are converted into the sapiens species, humanity will face a serious crisis, and this is precisely what is occurring now.

By means of ritual magic, the Egyptian priests sacrificed and mummified a dog, for example, and buried it in a secret place. This dog received a name and was anointed as "God of the dogs" at the moment of its death. Thus, this animal was converted into the occult guardian, which prevented dogs from entering into the human scale, and it had been specially prepared for this. We reserve the complete and profound explanation of this magical operation, which would only serve to satisfy the curiosity of the unversed.

We must add that man can never reincarnate as an animal, and that not everyone reincarnates, but this is a separate subject.

THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION

The Principle of Vibration states:

"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates."

This law indicates that everything in the Universe vibrates and that nothing remains stationary. Matter, energy, and spirit are only the result of different vibratory states.

The spirit represents the extreme pole of the fastest vibrations whose frequency is so high that it appears to be absolutely still. The other pole is formed by extremely dense matter. Hermeticism states that between both poles there are millions and millions of different intensities and modes of vibration. We know that the molecules comprising matter are in constant vibration, and that in turn, the atoms forming them are also in constant motion and vibration. In their turn, the electrons and protons are also vibrating rapidly.

Without any fear of error, we can affirm that there is nothing in the Universe that is not "mental matter vibrating at different frequencies." Light, heat, magnetism, and electricity are only different vibratory modes. That mysterious plane known as the "fourth dimension" is only a vibratory state of high frequency. If a person could make his physical body vibrate at a very high frequency—let us call this frequency X—he would physically penetrate into the world of the fourth dimension.

 

Nevertheless, it is not any such remote possibility that interests us, but only the control of our own vibrations. Our thoughts, emotions, desires, or impulses are only vibratory states. Our physical body is an assembly of systems, which vibrate at the same frequency, and health is only the harmonious vibration of the body. Illness is disharmony, and death is the rupture of the vibratory cohesion of the biological systems. In our personal life, everything revolves around vibration; if we are happy it is due to a positive vibration, sadness is due to a negative vibration.

 

Our thoughts will make us more or less intelligent according to our mental vibration. Each person has a mental wavelength of his own, according to the vibratory frequency of his intelligence; the shorter the mental wave, the more intelligent the individual and vice versa.

The difficulty some people have in communicating comes from their different mental wavelengths. When their vibratory frequencies do not coincide, mutual understanding is impeded. If we wish to communicate with an individual and have him really understand us, we must make an effort to adapt our mental wave to his vibratory state in order to establish perfect affinity. This explains the surprising differences between two persons who normally understand each other well; one of them will have notably varied his mental wavelength, either by lengthening or shortening it, leaving the other person "out of frequency," just as if he tried to tune in to a certain radio station on a wrong frequency.

There are different reasons for vibratory drops in people. Health problems, depressive states, inertia, internal conflicts, and intellectual apathy are some of the principal causes. In the case of those individuals who permanently have a very long wavelength (of low frequency), this is caused by the individual's lack of intellectual preparation.

The environment is also a very powerful influence on people's vibrations, as we live within an ocean of vibrations that constantly have an impact upon us, awakening similar forces within us. The cosmic and terrestrial space which surrounds us is saturated with vibrations, and they have an important influence on people. One can sense in the inhabitants of a city, for example, either a positive or negative vibratory atmosphere, and the same thing can occur with a visit to a family home where we will immediately feel a warm and positive atmosphere or a force which repels us.

 

What takes place in our homes is that the vibratory radiationof those who live there penetrates the physical structure, impregnating it with positive or negative energy easily sensed by the visitors. Thus, there are homes, which awaken in visitors an intolerable sadness, or in some cases, visitors feel a profound depression or even suicidal tendencies.

We receive the psychic states of those who live or work in these places. The behavioral habits, the emotional states, the habitual thoughts, and the moral and spiritual standards of the individual determine the goodness or unsuitability of his vibratory state, which in turn decisively influences his daily life. Family and human groups in general are made up of whirlpools of energy which are felt by those coming into contact with them.

 

Vibrations accumulate within the individual, that is, he collects good or evil vibrations, and there are times when he is a veritable time bomb due to the latent forces within him. These forces are either destructive or creative, and under the influence of an adequate detonator, will violently explode, producing either favorable or negative events.

This force has the characteristic of greatly affecting anyone who comes into contact with a person whose vibrations are intense, the result being that one can be contaminated by what the "sender" feels. This is especially true when a "sender" shares his troubles with another and then feels great relief while the listener becomes depressed. Perhaps the most vulnerable persons are those in professions such as psychiatry, who are damaged or tainted by contact with their patients' mental scars.

Those places where base passions are let loose, such as bars or brothels, are the center of base and negative vibrations, which noticeably harm those who frequent them.

Any man who wishes to be successful in his personal objectives or who wishes to increase his capacity to accomplish things, either spiritually or materially must, through self-discipline, raise his vibrations in order not to be affected by what is called "bad luck" or misfortune.

It is necessary to practice strict mental hygiene in order not to be affected by elements in the atmosphere surrounding us. There are strong negative forces actually capable of killing a person because their tone or basic note is destructive and capable of causing disintegration. We know there are sounds (vibrations) which can destroy the cohesion of matter (infrasonic) or which can produce medicinal healing (ultrasonic). The power of the laser is well known (vibration), its light can pierce the hardest material.

Sapiens unconsciously seeks a remedy for his vibratory disharmony and resorts to good music, which reestablishes his internal equilibrium. Nevertheless, there are musical rhythms so inharmonious that they create negative states within people. The sound of certain instruments have cadences that under certain conditions cause deep sadness, as is the case of the "quena," a type of indigenous flute. We also know the pernicious effect of sounds which exceed certain decibel levels and which provoke considerable nervous fatigue causing loss of both manual and intellectual efficiency.

The vibration of the spoken word also has a powerful effect on listeners, either beneficial or harmful. There are those with great personal charm, but whose voices, although not disagreeable, are repellent. This depends on the result of the impact of sonic oscillations. If this impact is harmonious with ours, we will feel affection and liking, and vice versa. People are not aware that they are received either well or badly according to their vibrations.

It is easy to verify the influence of an individual's oscillatory energy. There is a very simple experiment, which consists of having two groups of indoor plants which must be put in separate places. One group of plants should be spoken to every day as if they were human beings and given thoughts of love, friendship, and fortitude. The other group should be abandoned to chance. As the days go by, it will be seen that the plants spoken to and given positive attention become very beautiful and grow faster, although they have the same earth, light, and water as the others.

Another very simple experiment is to test the inductive power of our vibrations on people. For this, it is necessary to contact someone who does not like us. After overcoming the feeling of repulsion this person provokes in us, we must make an effort to feel deep sympathy and cordiality for him. After a short time we will see a radical change in him and he will come to feel very friendly toward us. Many times it is we ourselves who cause rejection due to our hostility toward others.

Through the Principle of Vibration, it is possible to understand that curses really exist but have nothing supernatural about them; they are only the condensation and projection of powerfully destructive vibrations. The same phenomenon exists with blessings, but acts inversely.

When a couple who are lovers speak words of love, the pleasure experienced is not only due to the knowledge that they are loved, but also to the vibratory influence of the words.

If we reflect on this, it is possible to conceive of the existence of magical words, which are only the combination of letters that produce oscillatory phenomena. The traditional karate shout (kiai), for example, was originally conceived in order to effectively paralyze the adversary. It had to be emitted in a certain tone and frequency, because if it was not, it would have no effect.

The attentive student who meditates on the Principle of Vibration will be able to understand things of great importance; the one without eyes to see or ears to hear will remain on the threshold of the mystery.

THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY

The Principle of Polarity states:

"Everything is dual; everything has two poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled."

This principle involves the teaching that unity as such does not exist in the Universe because everything is dual; everything has two faces or opposite poles. The most profound secrets of life are hidden behind this simple fact, as it is polarity which maintains the rhythm of life. If there were no opposite poles, life would not be possible.

 

The basic point to be understood in the study of polarity is the fact that opposites are always present in the same element; this law can never be applied to different elements. Temperature has two extremes, cold and heat, but one cannot speak of the positivepole of temperature in relation to the negative pole of electricity. The Principle of Polarity works along a vibratory scale of degrees in which a strength is manifested, a gradation which goes from the positive to the negative.

Thus, light and darkness represent two extremes of the same thing; in one case there is the presence of light and in the other, the lack of it. Love and hate are opposite poles of the same thing, that is, the human feeling of attraction and repulsion. Spirit and matter are the same thing, but are manifested in opposite vibrations. The same is true with life and death and good and evil.

It is necessary to note that in these terms there is no absolute, as no one can state what is absolute cold or heat, for example. We simply speak of more or less of a quantity of something at a given moment. Thus, undoubtedly, we could say that "love is less hate than no love." And "fear is less bravery than pure bravery." The two poles can always be classified as positive and negative, and their difference is just a question of degree.

 

This is why Hermeticism upholds the feasibility of mental transmutation, that is, of transforming something into its opposite. Hate may be transmuted into love, poverty into riches, cowardice into bravery, and ignorance into wisdom, by means of sliding along the scale of polarity. There is always an extreme positive and an extreme negative, the positive pole being of a higher nature than the negative. Courage is positive with respect to fear; light with respect to darkness; love with respect to hate.

The Hermeticist, acting as a true scientist of the mind, can raise his internal vibrations at will and transmute negative into positive.

According to The Kybalion, "the undesirable is slain by changing its polarity." Illness can be converted to health by changing its polarity through the power of the mind, which polarizes at the extreme opposite of what it is trying to overcome. Logically, it is only possible to transmute opposites of the same thing, as it would not be possible, in any way, to transmute a pear into a peach. On the other hand, it is possible to transform a green pear into a ripe pear.

In occultism there is a well-known symbol found in ancient esoteric books—the snake biting its own tail. Specifically, this represents polarity, in which the two extremes are perpetually attracted and seek to devour each other, although this never occurs. Vacuum attracts plenitude, innocence and experience are mutually absorbed.

 

Under this principle the existence of an accessible truth to sapiens in his habitual condition of life is denied, and we maintain that all truth is semi truth, and it is only possible to reach absolute truth by raising oneself above the Principle of Polarity, beyond opposites, to reach the world of causes. Naive people believe that the time will come when good will triumph over evil in the world in a definite manner. According to this principle, the victory of either good or evil is impossible.

 

Good and evil represent the two extremes of something and are therefore absolutely relative. If a fox enters a chicken coop and devours a chicken, it is very bad for the hen, but very good for the fox that is only following the natural principle of staying alive. In reality, evil works for good and good for evil. Life works for death, for from the moment one is born, one starts to die. Death works for life, as all destruction is a transformation, which creates a new form of life. Whatwould happen to the light if there was no darkness? Does not light owe its existence to the fact that darkness exists? Solely from the evidence that something exists, we must immediately know that the opposite is also a reality.

Due to polarity man and woman are attracted and try to fuse. This is the law of the eternal serpent who constantly bites its own tail. It is very interesting to analyze the aphorism that "extremes meet." If we apply this to love, for example, we can verify that it is easier to transform hate into love than to convert indifference into love. As opposites meet, the distance is shorter from one extreme to another than from the middle of the scale to an extreme pole. Hermetically speaking, we may say that the shortest distance from one point to another is not a straight line, but a circle.

This circle represents the gradual scale which runs between two poles, the positive represented by number one hundred and the negative by zero. These figures are entirely arbitrary and for demonstration purposes only. We maintain that it is easier to cross the bridge from zero to one hundred than to go from fifty to one hundred.

 

The drawing shows this, as the distance is much shorter than if we lay out the circumference of the circle as a straight line. In our example, number fifty is the symbol of eternal indecision and apathy, representing those who are lukewarm who have no place in the kingdom of God. This explains the phenomenon of conversion, when one individual changes his ideology for a diametrically opposite one.

 

This secret may act as consolation to those with serious problems; they are closer to success than they may think, only mediocrity has no remedy. Hermeticism maintains that indecision is more fatal than error; the reason for this is clear. Those who are able to read between the lines and digest this knowledge will derive great wisdom.

The ancient alchemists held that it is possible to transmute lead into gold. In some cases this referred to a material act, and in others it was symbolic. Gold is only one end of the scale of metals; therefore, the alchemist changed the vibration and the polarization of the lead until it was transformed into gold. When this refers to the transformation of the internal metals into spiritual gold, the example is equally valid.

Following the Principle of Mental Transmutation employed by advanced Hermeticists, we will make a brief sketch of the mechanism that must be employed, although this will be useless in the hands of those who have not first reached internal unification under the command of a "Superior I." This subject will be covered in subsequent pages.

We have already explained that there are many planes of vibration. As regards the Principle of Mental Transmutation, for the sake of simplicity we will speak of two basic planes: the superior world of causes, and the lower world of effects, as shown in diagram 5.

The lower world of effects is the physical plane; the superior world of causes is the plane of the emanation of life. The Hermeticist, in order to accomplish a process of transmutation, rises to the world of his "Superior I" and polarizes himself through his mind in the pole opposite to the vibration he wishes to destroy. Recall that "the undesirable is slain by changing its polarity."

 

This is equivalent to rising above the effects or phenomena which the individual maybe suffering at a certain time. By this process, a vibration is changed degree by degree until one reaches what is desired. Even though this might seem easy in theory, in order to achieve this in practice, a rigid discipline and the prior creation of a "Superior I" is required; otherwise, this will never be more than just theory.

Recall the aphorism from The Kybalion which says, "Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted from state to state, degree to degree, condition to condition, pole to pole, vibration to vibration." In order to put mental or alchemical transmutation into practice, it is first necessary to learn to change the polarity of our own mind, as otherwise we will not be able to influence our environment.

 

All processes of transmutation, whether it is an attempt to change our internal world or the material world, is always a mental operation, as All is Mind. It is very interesting for the student to be able not only to change his own mental state, but also that of other people who are suffering from negative or destructive vibrations of any kind.

From the point of view of the analysis of daily problems, polarity is a very useful key, as it enables people to appreciate the true value of their conflicts or obstacles, without magnifying or underestimating them. The Hermeticist will know, for example, that if he finds himself temporarily in a distressing situation, it is possible to change this gradually, polarizing toward the opposite, until the other extreme is effectively reached. The time required for this operation will depend on the importance of what is desired, as everything has its gestation time in Nature. Something of little importance will be accomplished very quickly; a much larger project will take a longer time to bear fruit.

Let us keep before us the great Hermetic lesson that "the undesirable is slain by changing its polarity." Meditating on this will enable the student to reach great knowledge.

THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM

The Principle of Rhythm states:

"Everything flows out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right, is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates."

This principle teaches us that everything is subject to rhythmic oscillation, which is manifested between two poles. There is action and reaction, an ebb and flow, an advance and retreat, a rise and fall, and this is applicable to absolutely everything.

 

The Universe, the planets, Nature, man, nations, and civilizations, all are born to reach the heights and then to decline and be destroyed, thus fulfilling the cycle of life. This ebb and flow is manifested in our physical body, in our emotions, feelings, instincts, intelligence, and even in the different vital situations in which we live. It refers to our personal projects, our relationships with other people, our contact with Nature, and in general, everything that forms a part of our lives.

The symbol of the Principle of Rhythm is the pendulum. Its oscillation explains the action of rhythm, whose measurement toward the left is the same as that toward the right. On a practical note, we could even call this law, "the Law of the Pendulum." Creation occurs according to the pendulum; there is an emanation of The All, and an absorption follows.

Emanation is the time of creation and absorption is the stage in which The All reintegrates its energy in itself.

We can compare this to the cycle of human respiration. The Supreme Being radiates his energy until it materializes into a physical creation, and when this reaches the summit, its maximum degree of materialization, it then starts the opposite oscillation of the pendulum until it again reaches dematerialization or death, and the divine creative energy is reintegrated into its original source. In the same way, nations reach the summit of their power and then gradually decline.

 

Nothing escapes this law; it is an absolutely inevitable process. It is not easy, however, to determine when a human being, a civilization, or a strength has reached its zenith. What we do know with certainty is that decay inevitably takes place.

The Principle of Rhythm together with that of Polarity, previously mentioned, are the forces which maintain the process of life, as life is always a force which moves alternatively and rhythmically between two poles. If we had to define life and death, we would say that life is the oscillation between two poles, and death the polarization of the force at one extreme for a time which surpasses the equilibrium of Nature.

 

This polarization can be negative or positive. It is negative when both poles are too close together, each one of them losing a great part of its intrinsic qualities. It is positive when it is possible to consciously destroy an undesirable vibration and the polarity is changed, polarizing in the extreme opposite direction.

In the case of negative polarization due to a weakening of the opposite poles, a decay of vital forces is produced which may end in the fusion of the poles; this is equivalent to death. The secret of life is thus revealed in a simple manner: it is the constant maintenance of the tension between two poles. Truthfully, we could say that when a child is born, the opposite poles of his life are very far apart and therefore the tension between them is great.

 

But as the child grows older, the opposites begin to join, and life declines. In this case, the two poles are the conscious and the subconscious, or we may also speak of the individual himself and his environment. The constant impact between man and environment (stimulus) slowly depolarizes him, draining his vital force.

By examining man's vital functions, we can verify that polarity and rhythm control the organism in its most delicate processes, and that illness is always a disturbance of the rhythm or polarity. The body needs to maintain a constant state of equilibrium, and the loss of this implies an abnormal condition. Science calls this equilibrium homeostasis. Homeostasis has not been sufficiently studied, and it is certain that if scientists would use the Principles of Rhythm and Polarity, they would discover many new things.

The functions of the heart, breathing, sleeping, and alertness are all governed by the law of the pendulum. Sleep, for example, provides us with the necessary alternation in order to maintain our equilibrium. We know that the lack of sleep provokes serious disorders, as it destroys organic equilibrium.

For a long time the knowledge of "biorhythms" remained in the heart of esoteric schools. This consists of the vital cycles which affect the human being with a positive or negative alternation. Today this knowledge has become popular and there are even pocket calculators for determining this action. Nevertheless, only three rhythms have been revealed.

• The 24day masculine rhythm, with 12 positive days and 12 negative days

• The 28day feminine rhythm, with 14 positive days and 14 negative days

• The 33day intellectual rhythm, with 16½ positive days and 16½ negative days

The rhythms of 40day, 56day, 92day, and 276day cycles have not yet been revealed to the masses.

The object of this book is not to supply instructions on biorhythms which would require a separate volume. Therefore, we will only give an extremely important tip for those who follow the indications of biorhythms in their daily life. These people should keep a diary in which they note all happy or unfortunate occurrences, in order to determine which of the rhythms has a greater influence in their lives, as this is something that is entirely personal.

Some individuals will be very affected by the negative in the 24day rhythm, while others will feel the negative cycle of the 33day rhythm.

One of the most important aspects of the Principle of Rhythm is the fact that each person creates his own rhythmic state according to the nature of his acts, which take on a rhythm of their own when repeated several times. By virtue of these events being repeated periodically in an individual's life, these events or acts occur without his will. That is, events do not happen because the individual wants them to, but on the contrary, he will be incapable of neutralizing negative events.

We will briefly illustrate how a negative rhythm is born: a person becomes the victim of a theft for example, and as it is not a very large theft, he does not bother to file a follow-up complaint with the authorities. As a consequence of this, a negative rhythm is formed and this individual periodically suffers losses of an economic nature, which doubtlessly will occur during planetary positions similar to those that existed on the day the first theft took place.

 

Another easily verifiable example concerns marital fights, which end by creating a rhythm of disharmony that will provoke the arising of new and more serious problems. It is thus that rhythms of wealth or poverty are created, happiness or misfortune, harmony or disharmony, and once they are in motion, it is very difficult to neutralize them. It is well known that misfortunes come in "waves" as the flowing of the tide; that is, they occur rapidly without the individual having time to react. On the other hand, there are also streaks of "good luck" during which a person experiences a series of positive occurrences.

 

From this it is deduced that the individual takes on a rhythm at a certain moment for reasons not always easy to establish, and as long as that rhythm does not change, the positive or negative tone will be maintained. Unfortunately, there are individuals who take on a rhythm of different calamities from an early age which are then repeated at each oscillation of the pendulum.

 

This is generally very difficult to neutralize, as the longer it lasts, its power of fluctuation strengthens. Those marriages that live with the result of negative rhythmswould do well to abstain from having children until the pendulum moves to the other extreme, as the child would be born with an unfortunate rhythmic vibration, fulfilling the biblical aphorism that the children will pay for the sins of their parents.

Habits are formed by a rhythm and when they are pernicious, they can only be destroyed by the creation of a new rhythmic state of an opposite nature.

The Law of the Pendulum completes the knowledge of mental transmutation, as it teaches us that it is possible to rise above rhythmic oscillation by becoming polarized in the pole where one desires to remain, thus avoiding being carried by the ebb and flow. Sapiens is a slave to the oscillatory movement of the pendulum, and if he is successful in anything, it is because his actions happen to coincide with the movement of the pendulum purely by chance.

 

People are absolutely subjected to the Law of the Pendulum, whether it be regarding their finances, health, work, vitality, or love, and are like leaves in a storm, blown here and there without having any idea of where the tide of life is taking them. On the other hand, the Hermeticist can surmount this Principle of Rhythm, even though he cannot annul it. With his will power he can rise to the superior plane of causes and let the rhythmic oscillation flow beneath him.

What is called the "Law of Compensation" has much in common with the Principle of Rhythm. Compensation means equilibrium or balancing, which occurs when "the measure of the swing to the left determines the measure of the swing to the right." This determines the amount of things a person can possess, as the individual has, in quantity, the exact proportion of what he is lacking. It is thus that a man who is rich lacks other advantages given to the poor.

 

We all know the saying, "lucky in cards, unlucky in love" or vice versa. This aphorism indicates something about the idea we are discussing. As we have already covered this point, it is therefore interesting to state that absolutely all human beings are born with the same quantity or margin of things they may have; the only variation is their distribution.

Thus, let us say that we all have one hundred vital units (that which we can in time possess) and one hundred negative units (that which we lack). A rich man is one who has nullified the greater part of his possibilities in order to concentrate his one hundred vital units on making money. Love, spiritual sensitivity, family happiness, or other things will certainly be among the things lacking, or negative units.

 

Expressed in a different way, a man may never have more than the symbolic one hundred, but this quantity can be distributed among many things or concentrated on only two or three. An even distribution results in a more balanced life, but a life that will probably not be outstanding in any special way. Concentration implies the sacrifice of many things.

Example 1:

Distribution of Vital Units
Riches: 45 units
Power: 20 units
Moral Nobility: 5 units
Love: 5 units
Intelligence: 10 units
Health: 10 units
Happiness: 5 units
Result: An individual who is rich and powerful, but very unhappy.

Example 2:

Distribution of Vital Units
Riches: 10 units
Power: 10 units
Love: 15 units
Friendship: 10 units
Moral Nobility: 15 units
Intelligence: 15 units
Health: 10 units
Happiness: 15 units
Result: A more balanced individual, with a richer life, filled with different elements.

These examples are absolutely arbitrary, and their only point is to illustrate what occurs with the distribution or concentration of vital units. The reader who is aware of this theory can set up examples for different cases.

For example, we could map out the distribution of our muscular capacity which we could entirely use up just by walking. Or, we could walk, chop wood, swim, climb, and box, distributing our vital energy into various areas. Similarly, we can use a fixed electrical potential to supply one source of great power consumption, or divide it among hundreds of ordinary bulbs.

According to the law of vital units, it is very interesting to analyze what occurs when two people wed, thus sharing their vital units. Or, in the case of a child's birth, this baby arrives with its own one hundred vital units, which while under the parents' care, increases "the family estate of vital units."

In conclusion, we would say that only those who are able to rise above the Principle of Rhythm can consider themselves truly free.

THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

The Principle of Cause and Effect states:

"Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; everything happens according to the Law; Chance is only a name for a Law not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law."

This law teaches us that nothing in the Universe happens by chance; everything has a specific cause. What we call chance is only something where its causes remain unknown. It is not possible that something should exist apart from and beyond the laws, as this force would be independent and superior to the Universe.

 

Applying the Law of Rhythm to the Law of Cause and Effect, we could state that the magnitude of an effect is always equivalent to the importance of the cause which generated it. As we explained when discussing the Principle of Polarity, there are two basic planes: that of causes (superior) and that of effects (lower), and man in his daily life is aware only of the latter. We live in the world of effects, and only the Hermeticist has knowledge of the occult causes of events.

The most well-known manifestation of chance is what Hindus call Karma, a word which we will use because it is the most adequate. Karma endeavors to explain the relationship existing between events currently happening to an individual and his actions in the past, either in this life or in a previous one. Contrary to what is believed, Karma is not always negative; there is also a positive side of Karma, which is equivalent to our good deeds in the past. The Law of Karma is intimately bound to reincarnation, a truth we will leave aside for now.

Reincarnation is a very personal matter in which the individual "feels" within him that it exists, and if he does not feel it, then no argument will convince him. Furthermore, if it were possible to produce proof, it would detract from the freedom of choice, as it would pressure the individual; if an individual was convinced of the truth of some occult phenomenon, he might enter an esoteric school without genuine spiritual concern.

 

Nevertheless, in previous pages, we suggested a method of intellectually conceiving what reincarnation is: "a power which takes possession of matter." With the experiment on indoor plants, we might realize that what we really did was to "incarnate" a force in the vegetable matter which survives the life of the plant and continues evolution indefinitely. This is an analogy of what happens when "spiritual" energy incarnates in an animal body, for when the animal dies, the spirit continues incarnating in new bodies until completing an evolutionary cycle in matter.

The Law of Cause and Effect gives us a rational explanation of the apparent injustices in the world; we can understand why a child is born crippled or dies at an early age; it is possible to realize why some people with exquisite spiritual sensitivity live in poverty and other true beasts swim in riches. This law clarifies the phenomenon of child prodigies who show extraordinary musical potential from a very young age, or the extraordinary possession of sudden wealth due to a "stroke of luck."

 

We will shed further light on the reason why an individual who works himself todeath never attains economic success and why, on the other hand, fortune smiles on another who is habitually lazy. New light is thus shed on historical events; we can understand how certain relevant historical figures reached great power arising from nothing, as in the case of Hitler. Certainly we do not know what cause placed him in the position of power he occupied, for life is like an enormous tapestry upon which history is woven stitch by stitch, and on which all events are interwoven. This is the veil of Maya, which cannot be penetrated by common mortals.

The action of Karma is one of the reasons why we maintain that "all is written," as the present is always determined by our past acts. Each person has a certain quantity of causes, which are held in check for a period of time during his life, which forge the individual's destiny as they materialize into effects. Only the truly wise man can partially neutralize the effects of undesirable causes.

We have already spoken of the Lords of Destiny or Archons who govern the destiny of sapiens. In reality, they work with the Karma of individuals, but from a collective point of view. It is the Karma of humanity that they control and manage, and within this general context they act as occult judges who reward or penalize the actions of the human being.

The Principle of Cause and Effect acts parallel to this, that is, the human being "punishes himself" with his own Karma; the Archons plan and "stage" the action so the individual receives beneficial lessons and can undergo important experiences.

There are people who in their past lives were extremely rich and took advantage of the power of their money, and who in their present lives are practically beggars in order that they may themselves suffer the experiences of extreme poverty. He who had murdered a fellow man will in turn die due to the direct or indirect influence of his past action. The one who took advantage of love or passion to enslave a woman will in this life be under the domination of the female sex.

 

Occasionally a beggar will display terrible arrogance and seem to despise the entire world, and this attitude is not just simple psychological compensation, but has deeper roots. Certainly this individual occupied a high position in his past life, and as a result, his excessive pride survived the death of his physical body.

It can be debated that if we had lived previously in other bodies, we would surely remember this, but this reasoning is infantile; when the brain is destroyed, memory is erased. Nevertheless, instinctive impulses derived from past experiences survive. For example, if an individual had been condemned for theft in his previous incarnation, he would in his present life be extremely honest, but compulsively so.

In the case of gambling we can see a direct action of the Archons of Destiny, who choose which individuals will win the greatest prizes and who will then have their lives entirely changed.

In the case of those who are already millionaires who win a substantial prize, this will only increase or reinforce the events previously decreed by the Lords of Destiny. Chance is only the visible effect of a cause unknown to us. Generally, it is not possible to establish all the causes which have provoked a certain effect, as these are entwined one with absolutely selfish manner. To help deceitful louts or ruffians could eventually cause the destruction of a man who is valuable and spiritually elevated.

There is another aspect of great interest in what we are covering, and this refers to the individual who commits a concealed theft, enjoying ill-gotten gains or property he has not earned. This man enters into a contract with Nature; someday he must return or pay for what he stole. Therefore, if we are imprudent enough to help this person, we will to a great extent be responsible for the development of his life, and Nature will demand that we pay the pending debt.

All that we need or desire belongs to the common pool of Nature, which gives nothing, but sells us what we require, and it must always be paid for. Nothing is gratis; we even have to pay for our lives, for the moments of pleasure, for love, for serenity, for knowledge, for power, and even for the air we breathe.

 

We do not notice this, as we consider money as the only viable instrument of payment. We are not aware that in cosmic commerce money has no value, and other things are required, such as the "golden broth" which we mentioned in previous chapters. To the "devil," for example, one soul is more valuable than all the gold in the world.

The most important thing about the Law of Cause and Effect is that the advanced Hermeticist can raise himself to the higher world of causes by a prodigious effort of will. By polarizing himself on this plane, he converts himself into a cause, and thus stops living the effects which emanate from the higher plane. From the world of causes, the Hermeticist can channel his life according to his own planning, as he has the certainty that the causes placed into movement by hisspiritual power will sooner or later materialize into concrete material effects.

THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER

The Principle of Gender states:

"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes."

The seventh Hermetic Principle completes the knowledge of the laws of Nature, showing us that gender is manifested in everything and that the masculine and feminine forces are present in everything. We must not make the mistake of confusing gender with sex, as sex refers only to the structure of the genital organs and the difference in adaptation between male and female.

 

Sex is one of the many manifestations of the Principle of Gender and corresponds to the physical plane, but as we are aware, there are many planes where the Mind Principle exists, as does gender. Hermeticism maintains that gender has an impelling nature, and that this nature acts even in the atom, in which we find both the positive and the negative, whose mutual influence creates energy. Instead of referring to positive and negative poles, we can speak more appropriately of the masculine and feminine, the generator and the conceiver. The positive element of electricity is masculine, and the negative element is feminine.

The feminine or negative is the womb of all electrical and magnetic phenomena. The feminine energy seeks union with the masculine, and absorbs from it that which is active, thus producing a new force.

Hermetic teaching also affirms that gravity is produced by the attraction and repulsion of masculine and feminine principles.

As stated in previous pages, analyzing our physical body, we will discover that it possesses bipolarity. Thus, man is masculine from the solar plexus down and feminine from this zone up to and including the head, while with woman, the opposite is true. In this manner we can observe that woman is cerebrally masculine, and man cerebrally feminine. The principle of conception in man is in his imagination, and in woman is in her uterus.

 

Within our bodies, the right side is masculine or positive and the left side, negative; the right cerebral hemisphere is positive and the left, negative. It is possible, by means of the Principle of Gender, to understand the hidden significance of the mystic or religious act of joining the palms of the hands in prayer, which involves a process of generation upon opposing positive and negative.

It is through the occult law that the student of Hermeticism can create a new being, a mutant who will be conceived with superior qualities of an acutely human being. There is no other real path for spiritual evolution; all that does not involve using this secret is pure fantasy, and from it only purely subjective results will be attained.

From understanding this Law of Gender we can also realize how deceptive it is to evade problems, difficulties, and obstacles, considering them merely as hurdles, a waste of time, or irritating situations. The Hermeticist must visualize problems as the negative pole of life, that is, the force against which he must oppose his positive generative energy in order to create what he desires.

 

If we understand this phenomenon we will achieve a completely new and differentvision of the hurdles in our life, which will be nothing more than the complement needed to develop our consciousness. Consciousness, the precise quality we wish to attain, is the result of the collision between inertia and our will power, directed by an awakened intelligence. If this struggle between opposing forces did not exist, Hermetic progress would not be possible, and neither would evolution.

At this point we will reveal the great magic secret of mutation of sapiens, or man of clay, into a Stellar Man. This transformation is only possible if the subject enters into contact with a flesh and blood Master who will be his spiritual Father. And who will the mother be?

 

The mother is the beast in the individual, that is, the side of himself that is of a feminine or negative polarity, spiritually speaking. It is thus that the initiate is a child of the beast and the spiritual Master. The student who is facing a real process of initiation (not symbolic) will find himself strongly dragged by the pendulum in an oscillation which will suddenly bring him closer to the Master, or to the beast.

 

There will be moments when he will sense the overwhelming evidence of Hermeticism deep within himself, feeling himself raised to high planes of awareness. At other times, all will be darkness; the initiation will lose all sense and purpose, and the student will believe himself submitted to a cruel joke. Only the gradual stopping of this pendular movement will enable him to reach the stability of conscious knowledge.

The Principle of Gender shows us that it is not possible for a creation to exist without the presence of the father and mother elements, and this is valid throughout the entire Universe, including the process of initiation. This is the reason why a solitary man, no matter how much theoretical knowledge he may possess, can only reach subjective results because he lacks the other generative pole.

This is why it is necessary to find a Master, and the significance of this fact was stated previously. If a Master is not a mutant, he is then a false master, but this term is relative. Although he may be false in relation to that which is superior and optimum, he can also be very true in relation to that which is inferior. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify that although a Master is not a mutant, he can be of great help for a student.

 

What he will not be able to offer, in this case, will be knowledge of the absolute, nor could he transmit the sacred flame, which according to fables was stolen from heaven by Prometheus. This sacred flame is not an abstraction or a symbol. It is a fact, and is the spiritual power symbolized in the acronym INRI which appears over the head of Jesus Christ. Its true Hermetic meaning is:

Inge Natura Renovatur Integral, but can also be read as Jesus Nascente Renovatur Iao, or Igni Nitrus Roris Invenitur.

All these formulas were used by the early Rosicrucians (unknown today) and they referred precisely to the divine fire, the magic ferment of alchemists, which as we have already stated, "renews everything."

Nevertheless, one must not assume that it is sufficient to find a Master in order to evolve. On the contrary, the disciple will progress only to the extent that he himself handles the Principle of Gender in a superior manner, because even though a positive or active spiritual ferment is necessary, it is also nonetheless indispensable that the student himself create a mental and etheric being with the character andqualities of the initiate. This is known as Theurgy, a secret teaching we will study further on.

Continuing with the Principle of Gender, it is necessary to consider the tremendous positive or negative influence that marriage can have in a person's life. The influence is injurious when the union is so inharmonious that it becomes dangerously destructive, and favorable when there is true love and harmony.

The Hermetic concept of marriage is quite different from the common one. It is not necessary for there to be a marriage contract to give this union its name. We will explain this proceeding from the opposite angle: there may be a couple (and this, unfortunately, is frequent) who have entered into a legal and lawful marriage, but who absolutely lack the aptitude for achieving what we could call a matrimonial aura, and therefore they can be married for twenty years without forming this aura.

 

The matrimonial aura is a hidden offspring, a mental child of both mates; it is a closed positive magnetic field which joins, harmonizes, and protects the couple, making the marriage truly "established" or really formed, according to the laws of Nature. It is not the laws of man which wed two people; it is only Nature which joins or separates them, according to prevailing conditions. The matrimonial aura is the true secret of conjugal happiness and union.

 

When this does not exist, there is nothing, no matter how many certificates have been issued by competent authorities. Hermetically, only that which is joined by the occult bond of the bipolar orb is a marriage, which is formed solely by true and genuine love. Couples who lack this occult child of love are not married, they are joined solely by passion, personal convenience, loneliness, or habit.

Religions which consider marriage something indestructible and irreversible, binding the parties for life under the penalty of serious sin, urgently need to modify that commandment, for this approach means proceeding inversely, as the sapiens beast generally does. This approach means trying to maintain the artificial union of the family by an unnatural imposition instead of a clear and beautiful manifestation of love. Is it not preferable to teach people to truly love?

 

In truth, if a family is not joined by genuine love, it is only a group of beasts who live together under obligation or for convenience, a situation that relates to more people than we would like. It is superfluous to say that happiness is only possible in homes where there is a real marriage, for otherwise there is only a poor imitation of an ideal situation, as there is only one tie which will keep man and wife united in a true way—love. The lack of it is the only thing that conspires against the stability of the family.

We wish to conclude this brief study of gender, suggesting that the reader try to discover for himself all that lies between the lines and meditate deeply on this subject, as the most profound secrets are revealed with this key. For our part, we are not interested in revealing too much; only enough to provide the tools for the growth and development of the initiate. XI - THE DISCIPLES

To bring about Hermetic realization, it is not enough to find a Master, but it is necessary to have a disciple, a candidate who is converted into a true student of the mysteries of life. It is not that easy to find as people are used to the traditional concept of education or learning which maintains that all the student needs to do is study with perseverance to become a savant in a subject.

 

It is also believed that greater or lesser advancement depends on the quantity of knowledge that the individual receives from his teacher or from the school to which he belongs. In this way, if an institution exhibits an inflated "program of Hermetic studies" or "esoteric studies," the individual would feel very inclined to believe he has found the right path. Again, it is necessary to underline the enormous difference which exists between a study program and an initiatic school. In a study program the individual is there only to learn things, which may or may not be useful, which may be real or subjective.

 

In any case, the individual will not obtain salvation (will not be freed from the collective soul of the species), but in any event will advance along his path of development, attaining the necessary merit to continue his progress and perhaps become free in a future incarnation.

In an initiatic school the disciple has an opportunity to reach true evolution, to free himself from the collective soul of sapiens and convert himself into an authentic mutant or Stellar Man. A person who has been able to enter an initiatic school will need a series of indicators or points of reference to become oriented in the work accomplished there. Otherwise, he will become prematurely disillusioned when he cannot understand the sense or contents of the disciplines and instructions.

 

Perhaps the greatest obstacle a student may encounter is the fact that it is useless to study Hermetic theory, since his intellect is not sufficiently advanced to unveil the mysteries presented to him. However intelligent an individual may be, he will find that reason and logic are not sufficient to understand the profound truth necessary to reach a very high state of awareness in which his intellectual powers attain optimum efficiency.

We have already mentioned that a human being lives in a permanent dreamlike state, interrupted only by slight sparks of awareness, and although he appears to be awake during the day, he is in reality a somnambulist with a very low state of alertness. Thus, sapiens' reason and logic are intellectual instruments of oneiric fantasy.

 

This is very difficult to become aware of, because of natural obstacles to self-observation presented by the subtleties of human consciousness. For this reason, intelligence alone is not enough to become aware ofevents which take place in the world of waking reality. Thus, the student cannot at first rely on the strength of his reasoning. The student must learn to think with "another brain" so that "another reasoning," superior to the ordinary, can be born within him.

 

This can only be attained through true and not symbolic initiation. True initiation induces profound and concrete changes in the student's psychological structure. Initiation, however, is a painful and difficult process, and will be successful only with the neophyte's superhuman effort. This will be explained in more detail in subsequent chapters.

 

For the moment, we will limit ourselves to describing the conditions which a disciple must possess, and the internal and external obstacles he must overcome. In general terms, the schools do not choose their disciples from among the most intelligent candidates, but rather from those who have characteristics which make them especially fit to face the specter of their own bestiality, as in truth they must.

 

A good guide for selection would be more or less the following:

1. To possess spiritual gold (internal content)
2. To be free from prejudices or be capable of overcoming them
3. To have consciousness of one's own insignificance
4. To ardently yearn for initiation (the complete process) as the most important thing in life
5. To practice loyalty, dedication, constancy, and faithfulness toward the School
6. To possess a flexible and agile intelligence
7. To harmonize oneself with the fundamental keynote of the School
8. To willingly comply with the instructions received
9. To be free from mental disturbances of a certain nature

We can appreciate how purity, the intellectual factor, professional titles, or social position do not count for much. What is basically sought is the individual's inner nature, and his capacity to dedicate himself to a Hermetic task which lasts not only for all this terrestrial life, but will furthermore determine his future existence.

 

No true School wishes to waste its time with individuals who "cheat," that is, who delude themselves in their yearning for spiritual excellence and their firm determination to become converted into superior beings. The Schools prefer to dedicate their efforts to those who effectively maintain a constant line of action in their work toward initiation. It is necessary to clarify that it is only possible to become a disciple after a period of trial in the School.

 

An individual, however, may remain forever as a simple student without ever becoming a disciple, because he does not have the required aptitude for it. There is an "easy path" and a "difficult path" which are the paths of the student and of the disciple. Each has disadvantages and privileges, and therefore no one, without an exhaustive analysis of the matter, can state that "he will never be satisfied" until he becomes a disciple.

To explain these differences, we will compare both options:

Obligations: Very few. These specifically refer to living a life following high moral and spiritual principles, and to practicing kindness and brotherhood. Logically, the student must also comply with the rules of the institution.
Tests to be passed: These are relatively simple, and do not demand great effort to be passed successfully.

Attainments: Dominating and channeling of one's character, overcoming complexes, inhibitions, and frustrations. Learning to handle mental power in order to channel it toward the goal of overcoming oneself or helping others. Knowledge of the mysteries of life and the fundamental causes of all that exists. Preparation for complete fulfillment in a future incarnation. In summary, the student evolves to a great extent, but does not achieve Hermetic death; he is not completely freed from the collective soul of sapiens.

Obligations: Tremendous and difficult to accomplish. The disciple must be willing to renounce his self during a certain period and take an oath of absolute obedience to his instructor. He must be willing to renounce everything, if this is required.

Tests to be passed: Very few individuals can endure them. In the novel Zanoni, one of these tests is described: the meeting with the specter on the threshold. Nevertheless, in real life this experience is less spectacular than the description in Edward Bulwer Lytton's novel, but more difficult due to its subtlety. The negative part of Nature (which could be called Satan) reacts against the disciple, who is faced with all kinds of negative reactions, as the powers of darkness attempt to prevent his arrival at Olympus.

Attainments reached in the case of triumph in the tests: After Hermetic death, the disciple is converted into a mutant or Stellar Man, an individual who has reached the peak of evolution as a terrestrial man, and who must start his evolution on a higher level.

 

He reaches the immortality of his essence through the practice of conscious reincarnation, and crosses the veil of the Maya, reaching absolute truth. He is beyond good and evil, beyond opposites, beyond pleasure and pain; beyond happiness and misfortune; beyond life and death.

 

These are not symbolic achievements, but are absolutely real and true. However, at this point the neophyte is impelled to ask a series of questions. The neophyte will wonder if there is an attempt to convert the initiate into a "Superman," an invincible and indestructible being who cannot become ill or die, and who does not need to eat or carry out normal biological functions. Many ask themselves, for example, why Cagliostro died in prison, deducing from this and from the countless hazards in his life that he was not a true initiate.

 

For our part, we accept Cagliostro and the Count of Saint Germain as two of the greatest Hermetic Masters who have ever existed, and deny, at the same time, the alleged death of Cagliostro in prison. Even if this had occurred, it would not in any way make this great man any less brilliant.

 

Appearances are generally deceptive, and Masters of the stature of a Cagliostro take great care when they reveal their true purposes in order not to suffer negative reactions from the human beast. In this case we can apply the popular saying that "those who dine with the Devil should use a long spoon." That is, those who intervene in worldly matters in order to save sapiens from inconvenient situations or to easeor improve their life conditions, end up being crucified by those they have tried to help.

Continuing with the false concept of "Superman," we wish to ask the reader to imagine how he would feel if he was Clark Kent, Superman of American comics, the man who arrived from the planet Krypton. At first this may seem very desirable, but after reflecting a while, it is easy to understand what a terrible punishment it would be, to be physically immortal and indestructible, illness proof, danger proof, immune to any attack, able to resist desires of the heart or sex, to be constantly and inflexibly virtuous and perfect.

 

If such a being existed, he would truly be a creation of the devil, a mechanical robot, a being absolutely inhuman and unhappy, and deserving of great pity. We must remember that we learn from our failures and not from our successes, and that we appreciate things only when we are in danger of losing them. The spice of life is the lack of knowledge about what the future holds for us, constantly facing the danger of losing all we have or of failing to reach our desires. Having everything and never losing anything would be unbearable and inhuman.

The great Hermetic Masters are not free from danger, illness, or death, and this is precisely what is most beautiful, sublime, and human about their existence—the fact that being so powerful in their fight for others, they are so reluctant to use their spiritual strength for their own benefit. We know that Jesus refused to save himself when faced with the threat of crucifixion, but this does not mean that he was an impostor. On the contrary, it means that he accepted with resignation and meekness the terrible ordeal imposed on him by his Universal Father.

The great Kabbalist Eliphas Levi said that "those men (the great initiates) found it preferable to govern kings than to be kings themselves." Is it possible to understand this? It is not difficult to understand that a truly important man should prefer to pass through life unnoticed, occupying a second-rate or third-rate position, fleeing from the fame, riches, and honors which mortalize human genius.

The candidate for initiation must choose the easy or difficult path, but it should be done impartially and consciously, considering that if he chooses the path of the student, in the future he may become a disciple. If he endeavors to turn himself prematurely into a disciple, his failure may be so crushing and painful that he will become irreversibly traumatized, and in this case must await another opportunity in a future incarnation.

Whatever the choice, the student is faced with internal barriers that he must be aware of in order to have a clear idea of what is happening to him at a given moment. These barriers, among others, are: vanity, pride, egotism, and self-sufficiency.

When the individual has a very high degree of self-importance, this becomes the main barrier against facing Hermetic truth without prejudice; he believes he knows everything and "is above these tricks." Of course, he uses this or some similar rationalization out of ignorance of the subject, as without doubt he has never before been to a Hermetic School of Initiation, and without having lived through this experience, he can have no opinion.

 

There are otherswhose contact with a school has not been felicitous, and whose pride has been seriously wounded as they were not able to overcome the ordeals they faced. Torn apart by this feeling, and in order to save their precious pride, they discredit the Teachings and the School, alleging for some reason (which they always find) that the School is deficient, useless, or dangerous.

Returning to the four main obstacles which face the candidate for initiation, it is necessary to state that vanity is not only the narcissism of the individual, but also refers to his hollow knowledge—that knowledge which has neither content nor any truly essential, profound, or transcendental significance.

 

Vanity and pride require that a person should constantly appear before others as having power, importance, or intelligence, which without doubt he does not possess. Pride is an infantile endeavor to fight against one's own weakness, assuming a strength one lacks. Egotism leads the individual to believe that he is the center of the Universe, and that all revolves around him. On the other hand, self-sufficiency is only ignorance of what one does not know.

In summary, these defects make man exaggerate his own importance and believe himself to be superior to common mortals, looking down on all those who don't have his same educational level, social standing, or economic status. Only the experience of day-to-day living will eventually convince him that he is not as privileged as he had thought. The real harm that this situation creates regarding an individual's possibility of Hermetic evolution consists in his unconscious rejection of all he hears, except when it comes from people with an image, prestige, or fame superior to his own.

In reality there is no possibility that the candidate will authentically face Hermeticism with his intelligence until he lives the esoteric experience which Gurdjieff described as "the experience of his own nothingness/' which is basically becoming aware of his own impotence to escape from the general conditions which guide one's life.

 

This means realizing that it is not possible to attain what onedesires, because things turn out differently than we expect, or simplydo not occur, and moreover, undesirable events also happen. It would bemore to the point to state that what Gurdjieff called "our ownnothingness" is, in truth, the practical realization that one isabsolutely programmed physically, instinctively, emotionally, andintellectually; that it is impossible to disrupt the program, as thiscannot be destroyed or modified in its fundamental and profoundstructures.

 

Thus, the more important and inflated image a man has of himself, the less likely it is that he will be able to understand Hermetic philosophy. The program rejects Hermeticism, as it is not incorporated in cultural community values, and if it were, people would blindly accept it. But such acceptance would have no value, as people would not go beyond imitation and superstition.

 

In other words, it is important to genuinely and intrinsically recognize one's own smallness and insignificance in order to take the first steps to initiation, otherwise, it would not be the individual himself who would be a student or disciple, but the "false being," the "mask," or the "person," that is to say, the personality.

 

Hermetically, we maintain that personality and the program are very similar, and as long as the student is not able to raise himself above his own personality, he will not come intocontact with his true being, let alone attain knowledge of the truth. For the Hermeticist, "personality" has a "diabolic" sense, as it is the mechanism which keeps the "essential I" dormant and a prisoner.

At the beginning of his initiation, the student must endeavor to transcend his cerebral programming, even for a few minutes, for it will permit him to "see himself" to a certain extent. In order to transcend his program, he must force himself to be as impersonal as possible, leaving all previous concepts or ideas aside, as if he was a living intelligence flying through the Universe, but without a physical body.

 

To be impersonal involves impartiality, peace, freedom from fear, and a lack of faith and "anti-faith." There is nothing more dangerous than those neophytes who are possessed with a "holy faith" or those who are dominated by blind "anti-faith." Neither can ever approach Hermeticism in a truly intelligent way.

It is necessary to insist that the neophyte must clearly understand that if he approaches a school, it is not to be taught, since this is not the function of initiatic schools; Hermeticism is a science prohibited to Homo sapiens. He is admitted to the School only to give him an opportunity to demonstrate the value of his internal content, that is, the power of his latent spiritual force.

 

If this force does not exist, or is too scant, the individual is closer to the animal. This would make the leap he is trying to take completely impossible, due to the immensity of the abyss between the opposite poles: animal and man. The degree of spiritual force required indicates the magnitude of the distance an individual is from the animal condition. The neophyte is placed under very special vitalconditions, and is given the tools necessary to enable him to raise his state of consciousness and have access to knowledge.

 

The knowledge is in the School, but is not made available in the same manner as a science, a discipline, or any technique is taught; it is the disciple who must grasp this basic knowledge, which is always veiled. Thus it is necessary to "have eyes to see and ears to hear." This grasping of knowledge will only be possible if the student, with a supreme effort of consciousness, is able to penetrate the veil of allegories, parables, comparisons, and similes.

 

Only those who are guided by their spirit or "essential I" will learn the truth. Those who are motivated solely by curiosity, egotism, or purely passional interests cannot reach the light of truth. This is fortunate, as there could be no greater curse than a Stellar Man or Stellar Woman who is villainous, immoral, or irresponsible; it is certain this cannot come to pass.

When sapiens shows his internal value, he is worthy of being helped and prepared for his subsequent and planned mutation. Gradually, Hermetic science will cease being a prohibited knowledge for him, as he will be found worthy of the high honor of knowing the Universal science.

Summarizing, Hermetic knowledge is only for a small elite, but anyone who is deeply moved by an authentic spiritual restlessness, may form part of this elite. Furthermore, the populace does not desire this knowledge; on the contrary, they despise it, confirming Jesus' words, "do not throw pearls before swine."

There are many who were born swine, are happy in that state, and will die swine.

It is practically certain that this Hermetic secret will shock many people who would wish this knowledge to be freely given, and who will see in its prohibition a sign of egotism or weakness. Those who think this, should observe Nature, where abundance and mediocrity are synonymous, as superior organisms are scarce and appear only rarely and after a rigorous process of selection, as they form the elite of the species.

Although the neophyte does not arrive at an initiatic school "to be taught" as we have already stated, he must attend lectures or instructional classes. How is one to understand this paradox? It is very simple: instruction is not for teaching, but rather to destroy the disciple's cerebral program to a certain extent, so he will gather his own knowledge through a process of interior illumination. The lectures are not to be memorized or "learned," but they are the spiritual and intellectual ferment for the profound transformations which must be produced within the student.

Nevertheless, for these changes to be effective, it is necessary to know how to listen so that everything received during instruction reaches one's reasoning faculty in an integral form, as sapiens usually understands only what he wishes to, and rejects whatever conflicts with his self-esteem, inferior passions, or personal interests.

CONTINUARA......