The Revelation Study Text

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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

A study of the endocrine system is integral to the study of the Book of the Revelation, because the ductless glands play a great part in our awareness. The readings seem to say that every force in creation works in us through this system.

Some of the many references to this system found in the readings are included as they apply to the appropriate verses in The Revelation. Many are not related to particular verses in this book. While some portions pertain more to anatomical body functions than to The Revelation material directly, psychological reactions through the system need to be considered from physical premises later herein. These will be noted specifically when considering the formation and sources of ideas and inherent soul qualities. In the light of the multiple activities of the various glands, it seems that some of these portions should properly be included in this section.

According to the readings these glands act - in addition to what is medically known about them and their various secretions - somewhat as transformers of psychic or soul energy into body life force energy so as to give needed impetus to the mind and body. These forces keep the body alive, even though there also must be air, food and water. There are times when this energy, by its vibrations, results in hunches, dreams, visions, or even words. One thing does seem clear: These glands are the contact points for communication between the soul or psyche to the body and conscious mind. The readings are replete with many examples of how this system operates, and perhaps the most references are found in those readings on the physical and mental. For our purposes, comments are primarily confined to the 281 series of readings given directly on The Revelation study.

The ductless glands of the endocrine system and their activities were referred to as “the churches.” They also act as point of input for what was termed the astrological forces reaching or influencing the body and mind. Just how and through what endocrine centers all the body forces, psychic, soul and unconscious impulses reach consciousness [will be given later].

In the following reading the churches’ importance to the total consciousness of the endocrine system by reason of the various activities of an entity is spelled out quite clearly. The emphasis on learning the WHY of us in the earth plane also cannot be overlooked.

For the visions, the experiences, the names, the churches, the places, the dragons, the cities, all are but emblems of those forces that may war within the individual in its journey through the material, or from the entering into the material manifestation to the entering into the glory, or the awakening in the spirit - in the inter-between - in the borderland, in the shadow.

Hence we find, as the churches are named, they are as the forces that are known as the senses, that must be spiritualized by the will of the individual made one in the very activities in a material world.

And the elders and the Lamb are the emblems, are the shadows of those acceptances or rejections that are made in the experiences of the individual.

As we find, in the various manners and forms that are presented as the vision or visions proceed, every force that is manifest is of one source; but the soul, the will of the individual, either makes such into a coordinating or cooperating influence in bringing about more and more manifestations in the material world of those experiences that are seen from the spiritual conditions, or the opposite.

Why, then, is it presented, ye ask, in the form of symbols? Why is there used those varied activities? These are for those that were, or will be, or may become, through the seeking, those initiated into an understanding of the glories that may be theirs if they will but put into work, into activity, that they know in the present.

In seeking, then, do individuals find from the beginning that there is presented, in every line, in every form, that good and bad (as termed) that arises from their activity, in what they do about that knowledge they have respecting the law, the love, the mercy, the understanding of the wherefore of the Lamb’s advent into the world that they, through His ensample set, may present themselves before that throne even as He, becoming - as given - heirs, joint heirs with Him, as the sons of God, to that EVERLASTING glory that may be had in Him 281-16

We now turn our attention to the readings having more to do with the physical/mental body and its relation to the unconscious or more universal forces.

The first of such readings points to the fact that at that time (1937) the study (medically and scientifically) of the endocrine system had only begun. The kinship of body and soul forces particularly should be noted for they point up the need of the many Revelation references. In this reading below "reverting to first principles" has a direct bearing on the birthing of the" Son of man" in each of us. This concept is also the reason for the many trials in varying relationships pictured in the overcoming of self in The Revelation, as well as the functions of each physical organ in the body.

Mrs. Cayce: You will give at this time a discourse on the endocrine glands of the human organism, discussing their functions in relation to physical body and their relations to the mental and spiritual forces.

Mr. Cayce: Yes, we have the activity of the endocrine system, as may be described from this body here. A discourse, to be of help or aid, may not be finished under fifteen or twenty series; for this is the system whereby or in which dispositions, characters, natures and races all have their source.

Little of course is as yet known or recorded as to the activities of same. For these are being discovered, or rediscovered by man in his search for the anatomical structure of the human body; and are continuing to be found. Hence, as is the natural thing, they are not present in a dead body. Hence those influences or opportunities that have been given to man under varied circumstances from the study of the anatomical structure in a way or means or manner in which they may be observed; namely, through the digestive system (and even about this very little is known).

For only this one portion in the animal kingdom and in the history of medicine has been studied by observation.

So in the, study of the glandular systems that work within the glands or the organs, or the active forces of a physical body, these become then only those that may be seen or observed as from an individual activity; and thus are only relative-or may be correlated to others as they may be observed in that which is produced within same.

For as has been indicated in some manners, some activities, there is an activity within the system produced by anger, fear, mirth, joy, or any of those active forces, that produces through the glandular secretion those activities that flow into the whole of the system. Such an activity then is of this endocrine system, and only has been observed in very remote manners, or just here and there. Only the more recently has this activity received that consideration from the specialist in any activity in the relationships to the human body.

And as has been indicated by those who are possibly leading the whole of the revolutionary activities as related to these, in making for the visibility even of the circulatory system, there is to be considered ever the whole activity; not as separating them one from another but the whole anatomical structure must be considered ever as a whole. . .

What are the activities of the glands? Most every organ of the body may be considered a gland, or at least there must be within the functioning activity of each portion-as the eye, the ear, the nose, the brain itself, the neck, the trachea, the bronchi, the lungs, the heart, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas-that which enables it to perform its duty in taking from the system that which enables it to reproduce itself! That is the functioning of the glands!
Not as a whole only, but as individual as well as the whole.

Hence there is then in the system that activity of the soul, that is the gift of the Creator to man. It may be easily seen, then, how very closely the glands are associated with reproduction, degeneration, regeneration; and this throughout-not only the physical forces of the body but the mental body and the soul body.

The glandular forces then are ever akin to the sources from. which, through which, the soul dwells within the body.

As an illustration-for this may be very brief for this particular period, but that you may grasp an inkling even of what you have begun:

Let us consider the race question. Why in the mixture of races is there in the third and then the tenth a reverting to first principles? (Remember, we are speaking only from the physical reaction.)

Because that period is required for the cycle of activity in the glandular force of reproduction to reassert itself. How is it given in our Word? That the sins of the fathers are visited unto the children of the third and fourth generation, even to the tenth. This is not saying that the results are seen only in the bodily functions of the descendants, as is ordinarily implied; but that the essence of the message is given to the individual respecting the activity of which he mayor must eventually be well aware in his own being. That is, what effect does it have upon you to even get mad, to laugh, to cry, to be sorrowful? All of these activities affect not only yourself, your relationships to your fellow man, but your next experience in the earth!

This is indicated in this particular body which lies here, through which the information is being given - you call him Cayce; John would be better!

There are those very influences as used or manifested in those periods of activity in indulgences, as we have indicated, which have magnified such activity of the glandular system. Hence in the present actions as related to the physical forces of the body these make for a continual warring-against those influences or activities within the system.

This same reverting to first causes may be seen in others, when there has been the self-indulgence in any manner. Hence as you may see about you, and which is coming to pass: Why is the race of the people in America growing taller and taller? The exercising of the glandular forces as related to the activity that produces within the system the extension of the physical structural forces of the body! Fast rather than thinking! The glories of self rather than the glories of God!

Monstrosities or giants or such active forces are the results from the glandular secretions produced in the system - and these show themselves again and again.

This does not necessitate, as you may see from viewing of same, that the parents of such be monstrosities themselves, but that they have in their union made possible the expression of that which has made for the extravagant use of the individual's influences in his own experiences in the earth!

Then we find the endocrine system - not glands but system - is that which is disseminated throughout the whole of the body, as related to the physical forces of same; and may be studied or may be followed in their relationship not only to the physical structural forces of the body but to what we call hereditary and environmental forces and how they may be expected to react upon the system.

And if these are considered in their proper relationships at those periods during conception and during those formative periods, the application of these may be made in such a way and manner as to make-as the Romans did - a beautiful, lovely body; yet the life may be as of Satan itself! 281-38

The next reading in the series points up ideas relative to physical conception, yet some are important to our study.

Mr. Cayce: Yes, we have the group as gathered here; their purposes, their desires. In giving that as may be understandable in the study of man - man then as the inception and conception into that from the purpose, desire, and its relationships to the universe and universal consciousness - it will be well to follow, in the first, what the happenings are in conception; the growth and the determining factors as to that growth - spiritually, mentally, physically - by and through the word of that Creator.

Man was given the ability to create through self a channel through which the manifestations of spirit might be made manifest in a material world. As is observed in such, there needs be first that of desire, purpose. It is known as a fact that this may be wholly of the carnal or animal nature on the part of even one, and yet conception may take place; and the end of that physical activity is written in that purpose and desire.

Then it is evident that there is the ideal, as well as the partial or whole carnal force, that may be manifested or exercised in and through such activities - as to bring a channel of mental, spiritual and material expression in the earth.

The ideal manner, first, is that there may be a channel through which the spirit of truth, hope, divine knowledge and purpose, may be made manifest. What then, ye may ask, are the spiritual, mental and physical variations that may take place under the physical activities for varied expressions?

It may be seen that from the same source, even at the same period of conception, there may come quite varied expressions or characteristics in the individual expression manifested.

Desire, first, creates certain forces about which there is a physical nucleus that is the pattern of the universe. . .Thus the greater unison of purpose, of desire, at a period of conception brings the more universal consciousness - or being - for a perfect or equalized vibration for that conception.

The cord that is eventually known or classified as the pineal is the first movement that takes place of a physical nature through the act of conception; determining eventually - as we shall see - not only the physical stature of the individual entity but the mental capacity also, and the spiritual attributes. 281-46

In reading 281-51 below we find some general information about the endocrine system which helps us to understand some of the effects of vibration upon the body as well as the spirit of an activity as the moving influence or force in whatever we do. This point is, I believe, highly crucial to us in our everyday living, for "Spirit is the life-giving force in every condition, whether of mental or material action...We have the soul as the body of the spiritual force manifested in the individual..." (900-19) The importance of everyday awareness of the spirit in which we act is again found in this concept, "For soul's development is in the earth's plane." (900-16) This idea may well be upsetting to some but may become clearer as we move forward.

Particular attention should also be given to the last two-thirds of this reading, for it bears directly upon the psychological functions in Chapter 3 on the four elements (earth, water, fire and air), which are the building forces behind our temperaments; that body of characteristics in each other by which we recognize and react to them.

Mr. Cayce: Yes, we have the group as gathered here; as a group, as individuals; and the information which has been indicated through this channel. In continuing with the subject, and as we come to the application of that which has been indicated, let that which is given here and now not become confusing. For, it will require deep meditation upon such, that ye may get the correct insight; which ye will not be able to put into words at first, and will know when ye know, but by the experience of coordinating physical, mental and spiritual attributes into one.

For, as given, few have conceived of - or attempted to analyze - the effect created in a physical body through the mental impressions received, or conceded that there is an activity spiritually that may go on in active force within the human body.
For so oft we see contradictory effects produced in the activities of the individuality and personality of persons. Also it has been and is hard for individuals to conceive of Adam sinning in a material world - as a man, a son, made by the hands of God.

Neither is it easy to understand the illustrations used from the life of Kish, who conceived through righteous desire a son, a channel chosen for a manifestation of material power in a material world; given through the choice of the Maker Himself, and yet the individual in his personal relationships defied even that which had been prophesied by himself!

Few can conceive of the body through which the Prince of Peace manifested - the Son, the first and the last Adam - as having been a channel for material desire, when considered as a body so purified as to bear that perfect One.

Yet, all of these facts are demonstrated in the life of each individual.

There has long been sought, by a few, the interpretation of the seven centers; and many have in various stages of awareness, or development, placed the association or connection between physical, mental and spiritual in varied portions of the body. Some have interpreted as of the mind, motivated by impulse; and thus called the center from which mind acts.

This is only relatively so, as will be understood by those who analyze those conditions presented through these interpretations; for in fact the body, the mind and the soul are one, in the material manifestation. Yet in analyzing them, as given through The Revelation by john, they are active in the various influences that are a part of each living organism conceived in the forces making up that known as man; that power able to conceive - in mind - of God, and to demonstrate same in relationships to others; that in mind able to conceive of manners for the destruction of its fellow man, little realizing that it is self being) destroyed by that very activity!

Then, why are there such contradictions within those very influences? As is said, in the heart love finds its way. Love is conceived as of God, as of all-pleasant, as all-giving; given in that great expression - indicating to what power it may arise - "God so loved the world as to give His only begotten son; that through Him we might have eternal life. "

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Yet the other side, or the reverse of love, is suffering, hate, malice, ...injustice. It is the reverse. Why?

What is that about man's activity in body, as an individual, that causes such?

This has been indicated through those patterns which have been used as illustrations of what took place in the union of bodies that through desire, hope, conceived or prepared in conception a channel through which all this contradiction might be made manifest.
Is the First Cause, then, that the separation of God in the desire for companionship with Himself, that as created or brought into a material manifestation the reverse of love, of hope, of patience, of all the attributes that are the spirit of activity, the moving influence or force?

This we see manifested in a physical body through the glandular system - as the activity of conception, the dividing of the activity of the gland itself, that brings conception.
Thus, this is the first of the centers from which arises all that is movement, to bring into being both the face and the preface - or the back, or the reverse -in the experience. It carries with it, what? That mind! For, remember, ever, the pattern is ever the same - Mind the builder!
Conceived, then the first movement is along that center or gland which either fades or becomes a channel along which there may move the power and might to find expression through the very activities of the organs of the body itself.

Then the next is the pineal, through which the brain forces make manifest -either in its determining factor there of becoming mighty in stature physically or dwarfed; as may be understood by the face, as may be said, that is held to by the individual separation and combination of the activity of the glands in that period of conception. Hence there arises the race condition or contour, or the figure of that beheld by that choice in its activity as it has separated itself from the first cause, or first premise; by the very will of the Father-God in the beginning.
Then there is the third, that is ever of the feeding or building nature - or the basic cord through which during the period of gestation there is fed the imaginations, as well as the latent response of the body to those conditions external-or that center from which there is drawn the growth in the physical.

Then there becomes the first indication of individuality being established in that movement which has come about in its growth, its evolvement; or .the gland of the solar plexus, or that ye misinterpret and call the adrenals - as they act with the emotions and the growth and unfoldment of the body itself.

There begins then the gland - the heart - through which courses begin to flow; and then the gland - the liver - its counterpart; and then the spleen (as a balance); the thyroid - as the outer individual begins to show activities for self-protection, or the first laws of nature as would be made manifest in the material associations.

Then there are the general, or the whole of the activities through the system, as in the thymus, all of the centers of activity through which spirit first moves from the lyden - the center of the spiritual forces; the brain, or the highest force individually or personally; then the others in their order as they control themselves.

Then within each of the organs themselves (though they each are, in the main, glands) the functioning is stimulated by the activity of each organ's ability to assimilate that needed from the environs, as well as from that upon which it is fed, to grow into that direction given by the mental purpose, the mental desire of the personality - as it, as an individual, makes itself manifest in a material environ.

Hence we find - as has been interpreted for those who would interpret - the seven centers, the seven churches, the seven activities to which an individual physical activity is prompted. 281-51

In the book, A Commentary on the Book of the Revelation, a reading regarding experiments in yoga exercises and breathing provides a great deal of information which bears directly on our study here. Our focus is not on the exercises and breathing but on what happens in the body and the relations of the soul to the body.

These exercises are excellent, yet it is necessary that special preparation be made - or that a perfect understanding be had by the body as to what takes place when such exercises are used.
For, breath is the basis of the living organism's activity. Thus, such exercises may be beneficial or detrimental to their effect upon a body. . .

It would be very well for the body to study very carefully the information which we have given through these sources as respecting meditation...

...in the physical body there are those influences, then, through which each of these phases of an entity mayor does become an active influence.

There may be brought about an awareness of this by the exercising of the mind, through the manner of directing the breathing.

For, in the body there is that center in which the soul is expressive, creative in its nature - the Leydig [cells of Leydig, or Lyden] center. By this breathing, this may be made to expand - as it moves along the path that is taken in its first inception, at conception, and opens the seven centers of the body that radiate or are active upon the organisms of the body.

This in its direction may be held or made to be a helpful influence for specific conditions, at times - by those who have taught, or who through experience have found as it were the key, or that which one may do and yet must not do; owing to whatever preparation has been made or may be made by the body for the use of this ability, this expression through the body-forces.
As this life-force is expanded, it moves first from the Leydig center through the adrenals, in what may be termed an upward trend, to the pineal and to the centers in control of the emotions - or reflexes through the nerve forces of the body.

Thus an entity puts itself, through such an activity, into association or in conjunction with all it has ever been or may be. For, it loosens the physical consciousness to the universal consciousness. To allow self in a universal state to be controlled, or to be dominated, may become harmful.

But to know, to feel, to comprehend as to who or as to what is the directing influence when the self-consciousness has been released and the real ego allowed to rise to expression, is to be in that state of the universal consciousness - which is indicated in this body here, Edgar Cayce, through which there is given this interpretation...

So, in analyzing all this - first study the variations of what has been the body-temperament, in thought, in food. For, the body-physical becomes that which it assimilates from material nature. The body-mental becomes that it assimilates from both the physical-mental and the spiritual-mental. The soul is all of that the entity is, has been or may be.

Then, who and what would the entity have to direct self in such experiences?

To be loosed without a governor, or a director, may easily become harmful.

But as we would give, from here, let not such a director be that of an entity. Rather so surround self with the universal consciousness of the Christ, as to be directed by that influence as may be committed to thee.

Thus the entity may use constructively that which has been attained. . .

Thus ye may constructively use that ability of spiritual attunement, which is the birthright of each soul; ye may use it as a helpful influence in thy experiences in the earth.

But make haste slowly! Prepare the body. Prepare the mind, before ye attempt to loosen it in such measures or manners that it may be taken hold upon by those influences which constantly seek expressions of self rather than of a living, constructive influence of a crucified Savior.
Then, crucify desire in self; that ye may be awakened to the real abilities of helpfulness that lie within thy grasp.

...without preparation, desires of every nature may become so accentuated as to destroy - or to over exercise as to bring detrimental forces; unless the desire and purpose is acknowledged and set in the influence of self as to its direction - when loosened by the kundaline activities through the body.

...this opening of the centers or the raising of the life force may be brought about by certain characters of breathing - for, as indicated, the breath is power in itself; and this power may be directed to certain portions of the body. But for what purpose? As yet it has been only to see what will happen!

Remember what curiosity did to the cat! Remember what curiosity did to Galileo, and what it did to Watt - but they used it in quite different directions in each case! 2475-1

One question and answer in 281-54 is quite pertinent to the glandular study because the factor of will is introduced. This is the factor in Homo sapiens which differentiates man from the animal kingdom. Will as a personal factor should keep man from being classified as a mere biological organism, even though he has reasoning abilities.

Q-2. God made the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, then out of these He made man and breathed into him the breath of life. Adam, who at that period was devoid of any of the spiritualized cells of the physical body, had a stronger urge to revert to physical desires.

A-2. Yes and no. Consider that, whether it is mineral, vegetable or animal, these are spiritualized in that ability of using, doing, being all that the Creator had given them to do.

Hence man was given that which is not a part of mineral, vegetable or animal kingdoms; though man, by man, is considered of the animal ./ kingdom. Will - with the environmental forces and the spiritual negative in the serpent - acceded to desire, to become and to experience in that kingdom of influence. This brought the acceptance, by man's own will. 281-54

The questions of the soul's connection with the body, the source of impulse to the body throughout life and the developing fetus through gestation to birth, all are reviewed in 281-57 below. And these questions are not just pathological; they are also mental and spiritual.
The activities through the system, stated in the last two paragraphs, are the basis for our handling of the elements, which comprise our makeup; which is, of course, our temperaments by which we are recognized by others. Again, this idea is a most important aspect of The Revelation study and will be noted over and over again as we move from verse to verse later. This idea is more fully developed under Chapter 3, "The Elements." The point is that the correlation of ideas found in this reading with other general subjects about the essence of man may entice others to study scientifically the endocrine system as presented by the readings.

Mr. Cayce: Yes, we have the work of the prayer group; its purpose, its aims and desires, and the studies thus far made of the endocrine system. In continuing a discourse, or in giving information regarding same, it would be well - before too much information becomes burdensome - that what has already been given be better understood; either by the attempts of individuals to discuss same or by the compilers setting in order those activities that are related to the physical, the mental and spiritual development.

As may be easily indicated, some of the activities of the glands relate to the purely physical functioning; yet the physical functioning in a life-giving body must of its very nature be empowered with mind and spirit.

Ye have interpreted, and have data indicating what, where, when there are the various stations or centers in the body-function physically, and how these also are analyzed as to their activity in a physical sense, and how they each are related to the mental body, and the relation its relative activity bears with the spiritual forces of the body.

Thus this group should be able to answer - to self, at least - that question which has not been answered since man began to think: Where is the dwelling place of the soul in the physical body? What is the connection or center through which the mind and the soul function, that makes one individual a devil and another a saint?

These should be the studies. Then, they may be applied to that purpose for which this group came into being; aiding seekers to find health, understanding and prosperity in their own environs.
Then, find the answers to these in that ye have attained, in that which has been given. Ye comprehend that though there may be the complete development to manhood or womanhood, the foetus in its activities, the gland of reproduction becomes the source from and through which impulse acts. Thus it is the source or propagation throughout the experience.

Ye have gained that the first movement of same physically reaches out and becomes the brain, through which the pineal in its activity brings its physical development; and that it is related to the mind of the body and the environs of the body supplying physical activities to that developing physical entity. Ye know that it reverts then to the brain of the nervous system, to the solar plexus center, and then reflexes through its own mental activity to the physical forces of the still developing body. Ye know that when such a body has developed, when gestation has been completed and it becomes an entity in itself -because of its center through which all physical and mental impulse has passed - it is then cut asunder - and yet functions on. Why? How?

These are not merely pathological questions, but mental and spiritual also.
We are through for the present. 281-57

We have presented, in part, the readings on the endocrine system which relate particularly to this study. The focus is on the way the system handles the natural body forces relative to the mental and spiritual development rather than to the pathological. Of course, much of the glandular activities involve psychological functions also.

Careful reading of this series on the endocrine system - especially regarding the forces from impulses to the pineal and their return to the solar plexus - allowed me to arrive at my idea regarding the operation of the earth elements long before learning of their presentation by the alchemists.

If for no other reason, I feel that the endocrine system readings are truly important and should be studied both from a pathological and psychological standpoint; and this is not overlooking the spiritual connotations and religious implications. They, too, are a major part of this study.
It is important to note the movement or flow of the forces (call them creative from the universal, or inherited body ones) from the glands of reproduction and propagation throughout the life experience. Desires, once formed, receive their impulse to life from the Lyden center - or cells of Leydig, which cells are in the gonads and the adrenals - and rise to the pineal, from which they return to the solar plexus for the impulse through the body. Simply stated, this says that we, because of our desires, propagate their forms through the body - throughout life. These forms become our temperaments (our psychic grids, personality characteristics, etc.), so that we become known by the expressions and life we give to our concepts. God creates the body - we create us as we are known. "I AM THAT I AM" becomes very earthy.

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THE ELEMENTS - CONSCIOUSNESS - BUILDING FORCES EARTH, WATER, AIR, FIRE and THE WHITE STONE

INSTINCTS - the PRECONSCIOUS

In any study of The Revelation, we need to consider the total man, at least insofar as the conscious and unconscious mind is concerned. The basic human natures of man and how they work in us is a part of this study . We need to look at the essences of, the causes of, as many of our reactions as we can before we can really know ourselves as we are. We must look at some of the fundamental formative aspects of the mind in the development of the mental capacities. :!}1e readings indicated that the mental capacities in man reached their full development in the period from Abraham to Jesus.

(251-63) It can be presumed that at the beginning of this period; man became aware of certain inner reactions in the body which were his animal urges. These are basic to man as well as to all life forms in the earth. These natural urges are broadly classified into ,four general categories, i.e., propagation, sustenance, preservation and gratification, and are known as the instincts. These forces, being' instinctual and recognized by early man as his governing of the natural elements, were not in themselves thoughts but were urges which were experienced.

e.g. Jung has said that in early man consciousness did not think, it only perceived. Man's perceptions, not being thought out, became a natural and therefore unconscious part of himself. Man unconsciously reacted to his perceptions and experiences, and such reactions are remembered in symbolic concepts of primordial and archetypal actions and urges. His unconscious perceived and re-corded the essences of his experiences. Later, when by reason of the development of the mental capacities man developed the ability to correlate thoughts and use words, he recognized these forces to be the essences of his animal nature. These are now called the instincts and are accepted as the natural governing body forces.

Ideas of these primordial images as functions of conscious perceptions at a deeper level of meaning were considered by Heraclitus, Plato, the Stoics, the alchemists and others on down to present-day philosophers. These were anciently recognized to be the basis of operation of the fundamental principles within the components of a body in the earth. A flesh-and-blood body was composed of matter, but it used water and air as activating forces and also needed heat or warmth to sustain life. The chemicals in earth need the penetrating force in water (spirit) to activate them into forming a substance from which life could come into being. Thus the principle in earth forces is the force which forms the pattern inherent in the seed planted.

Water is the force which penetrates and activates the patterns, giving life to that which is formed., Water is the material counterpart of the universal force of life. The forces in air are also necessary to sustain the growth of the form. It is only in the air that the form can partake fully of the universal, or etheric, forces. Although for' man there is another function which has to do with expression, the manifestation of whatever is created.

Another element is also necessary, fire, the warmth resulting from fire. Nothing could grow without fire as a source of warmth. This too, however, has yet another function in the testing of that which is created; this is a testing process, for the earth plane is the "testing portion of the universal vibration." (900-16) This testing gets to the real essence of fire: the justification of whatever is created.

The primeval forces were experienced by early man as eternal truths and thus became an a priori factor in the preconscious and eventually led to the formation of an unconscious structure of consciousness which today we call the psyche. These primordial images and experiences as "ideas" were illustrated by lung in his reference to "...the concept of energy, which is an interpretation of physical events." He said it was the secret fire of the alchemists, or the heat force inherent in matter like the primal warmth of the stars, or the Heraclitan ever-living fire, which borders on the primitive notion of an all-pervading force.

In like manner the early Greeks dealt with the forces of earth, water, fire and air. Subsequent philosophers have dealt with their hidden meanings somewhat as did lung, that is, as unconscious, mystical or archetypal influences. lust what in particular these forces were and how they work in the body seems never to have been clearly or even broadly delineated. An exception, however, does seem to have been attempted by the alchemists; although their understanding is shrouded in mystical and religious symbolism, multiple meanings for words, etc., so as to render their writings almost completely incomprehensible, and hence misunderstood.

ALCHEMICAL SYMBOLISM

Before Jung rekindled an interest in the alchemists by his evaluation of the psychological content of their writings, it was generally thought that their main interest was in making or turning metals into gold. While conceding that alchemy was the basis of modern chemistry, little attention was otherwise paid to them. With lung's studies showing the psychological content of their efforts, a new interest in the deeper meanings came to light. It is not my intention to go into a study of the alchemists nor their writings; however, since by reason of lung's work, my own understanding of portions of The Revelation have been enhanced so that a discussion of the alchemists' work is needed at least in part in presenting my concepts, especially in interpreting the alchemical symbolism in The Revelation. The Revelation is full of such symbols, which together with the mysticism and religious nature of the book become more meaningful when considered in the light of alchemy.

The particular portions of the alchemists' writings which seem relevant to The Revelation are those ideas of the alchemical furnace and its operation in respect to the elements earth, water, fire and air. and the production of the lapis and the Great White Stone. The concept of an alchemical furnace or vessel originally appears in the most ancient scripts, even before the birth of Christ. It was called the Hermetic vessel and was typified by retorts or melting furnaces. It was supposed to be round or spherical, like the cosmos, so that the influence of the stars might contribute to the success of their efforts. It was conceived of as a matrix or uterus in which the miraculous stone was to be created. Hence the vessel was not only rounded but egg-shaped. There was repeated insistence that the vessel must allow for the influence of the stars to enter the matter in the vessel. The vessel was to be heated by the "Great South Wind," or Mercurius, the hidden fire, the creative force.

The alchemists referred to their work as the opus which eventually would produce the Great White Stone, sometimes called the philosopher's stone. (Yet first was the lapis, which although never clearly identified appears to have had a physiological as well as a psychological meaning.) The opus was pictured as a dragon eating its tail and it was said that the opus "proceeds from the one and leads back to the one." In the opus, Mercurius or the primal wind is said to be the play of colors in the division of the four elements, for he stands at the beginning and end of the work. This division and play of colors is presented by lung in a manner which he calls "the three regimena"; wherein the elements were converted into one another so as to reach the quintessence, as follows:

1st Regimen: Earth to Water
2nd Regimen: Water to Air
3rd Regimen: Air to Fire

This represents the cycle of the internal creative process, a creation by the self after which it returns to the creator, the self. This process will be examined in some detail a little later on. (As to the alchemists' concept of what the quintessence would be, I have found no understandable explanation.) Since the alchemists did not yet have psychological under-standing or language to express what was going on inside them-selves, they used their knowledge of chemical reactions in trans-forming agents and catalysts to show analogously what was happening inside - what happens in the outside world must necessarily happen inside. True, they projected their concepts onto their processes, but that aspect is not a part of our presentation.

They knew that earth, water, fire and air were basic to life and, while having certain transforming or catalytic qualities similar to some other chemicals, the elements themselves do not lose their identities; they remain stable. These qualities, more universal in nature, caused so much emphasis to be placed on them. Within the four elements lay the secret of life, of creation; there certainly must - also be an inward secret. The philosopher Hermes said, "The wind hath carried it in his belly." This concept, along with the uterine shape of the furnace, and the fiery wind from the south, gives us a picture of the place of the retort in us. The place is the belly -within us we find the real alchemical furnace and not "out there" as the alchemists seem to have projected.

To show how their opus portrayed their projections inside the belly, we need to consider separately the activities involved in each of the elements. We shall follow the three regimens in the creative process and show their relevancy to all the mental concepts we create. Each element plays a vital part as their activities move along the endocrine system in us. The regimen, however, is not separate as to the various centers, for the endocrine system itself acts as a whole. For our purposes, though, we must view the activities as separate, as if each element were limited to a particular place.

EARTH - THE CREATIVE-FORMING FORCE

The earth as a symbol of creative forces is well accepted. A tree seed planted in earth grows according to the pattern inherent in it, which also contains the power of reproduction. The tree grows to maturity, sheds its leaves and itself finally dies. The material in the tree as well as the fallen leaves return to the soil to feed other plants or trees. The principle of the dragon consuming itself is not only mystical, it is in nature itself. It is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth pictured by the phoenix arising from the ashes of its own demise.

This, though, is not the whole story of the earth. The process (the alchemical opus) is the total creative effort in which all the creative forces take part. The seed needs water and warmth (heat) to arouse the life force within the pattern. Once growing it also needs air and heat from the sun in order for the leaves to reflect the life pattern inside the tree, as well as to create other seeds bearing similar patterns.

This simple explanation may seem too long for a process so familiar and well known, so mundane; yet it seems necessary so as to point up all the factors entering into the greater concept and meaning of earth as seen by the alchemists, the early philosophers and mystics - man's mental abilities had reached a plateau.

The early thinkers recognized that basic to the earth forces was the form-producing element in the creative effort in nature as well as the reproductive principle. For them the form-producing element in the earth was basic to all life. The alchemists, just as the Greeks, had looked for the essence behind the form and, for the earth, found that propagation was an essence of their opus, their work. Thus it was that earth is a symbol of the propagation principle, of the form by reason of the pattern in the seed. Their studies of nature told them that they also were the same as nature, hence earth was also basic to their own being: As seed planted in the body, or the mind, reproduces or propagates the form inherent in the seed. The earth has its counterpart In us, Just as the readings said - there would never be found outside of us anything but that its counterpart would be found in man.

In us the imagination desires and the earth forces create the form of the concept necessary to fulfill it. The alchemists said the imagination was the key which opened the door* to the opus. For them the influence of the stars was very important, although I have found no reference as to just how such was to affect the matter in their crucible. The readings give an answer: The influence of the planets reaches the body by means of the endocrine system and such forces are a major art of the total reproductive and propagative effort. Wherein e readings Slate that the propagation activities are active throughout the life. In the handling of ideas and desires this can readily be understood.

For each of the planets the readings named a relevant endocrine gland or center of the body activity. We must remember, though: that the readings insisted that the endocrine system operates as a system - as a whole - and there are no isolated glandular actions. In this presentation it might seem that I am speaking of individual glandular functions; however, my purpose is to convey the influence of the forces in the elements and not the individual gland functions.

The planetary force through or at the gonad level is that of Saturn; and herein lies the secret of the earthly woes, for into this Influence is cast "all insufficient matter" for a beginning, or a remolding, the readings say. (900-10) Our insufficient desires and imagined wants must again and again go into the fires of Saturn's remolding influences for purification as we continually try to create what we want. It is no small wonder that the snake became the uroborus - the dragon eating its tail. We do it, too.

WATER AS BEING

Biblically, water is the' 'water of. life' , as Jesus told the woman at the well. To most of us water is just plain H20, two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen in each molecule. It is like manna from the skies and we drink it - it is good for us, even necessary. There seems to be nothing mystical about it. To the ancient Greeks and the alchemists, however, water meant something much more, for they both looked for the essence behind the form. While the Greeks found water to be an element carrying magical or mythical qualities, to the alchemists water was" aqua divina," the "substance that penetrated all substances." It was the stone-penetrating spirit -- the water of life, or the spirit which activated all growth in tile earth. It penetrated the stone, the lapis (which psychologically is a -fixed idea, a vibratory pattern like a quartz crystal, a memory which can be called upon as a basis for a response). This form or pattern, however, was not the white stone so fervently sought by the alchemists. It seems, though, that through their opus they hoped to create a stone which would become the white stone. This was also the philosopher's stone, a concept older than The Revelation.

Historically, it is a well-accepted idea that all life comes from the sea. Mythologically as well as biblically, water is a mystical substance, and Neptune is king of the sea. As handled in The Revelation study, water is a symbol of the mystical influence of the planet Neptune and is active in the creative influence of the cells of Leydig, the lyden gland. As to the influence of Neptune->- the' readings said it is''ot the mystic. " (900-10) This refers to Neptune's' influence as being the mystique of life itself, yet is a force. It is not the total life force, only the mystic part, and this appears to be more of a mystery, as we look a little further at just how we use this force. Homo sapiens is the only creature on earth having free "ill, and that, too, is part of the mystery.

We have looked at how the earth forces create the form of a mentally desired expression. The readings say that the cells of Leydig are "in and above" the gonads, some being in the adrenal"' glands. One might well say that the" aqua divina, " the divine spirit is in the middle of any creative activity as the spirit in the life force is mixed in the form being created by the earth forces, both being activated as the form takes its shape. Again, remember that the life, j force enters the body at the gonad level, and at that point it IS our force to do with as we choose.

As the mixing of the forces of Saturn and Neptune goes on, the stone-penetrating spirit of the water of life becomes a living thing and we can give birth to our ideas. They have life, our life, and they live in us just as does any other memory. It is we who create all our memories by using our life forces, and in like manner we have created an image of a desire - ours. As we go through life we create most of our images of ideas, concepts, ideals, prejudices, likes and dislikes, etc. Some of these become mannerisms and habit patterns of reactions - they are our temperaments by which we are known. We become them, they are us, for we made them, and (holy of holies!) we are not only androgynous, but also the creators of ourselves.

Our imagination has opened the door (Rev. 4: 1) to the alchemists' opus which is now ready to tell our inmost secrets and desires because of the life we give to the forms of the images we have created. Our secret life becomes exposed as we allow our imaginations to become our guiding lights in whatever we do. We cherish our images, they are our children, we created them and gave them life - ours. The analogy to God creating all souls from within Himself should not be overlooked. We are simply emulating God, learning to be a creator, even as Jesus, that eventually we may become one with, but separate from, the Father.

Just how we can give life to an image and yet not lose our life seems quite unique, even mystical. It could seem that we create life, but we can only thank the stars, which found a secret passage into the alchemical pot, for fulfilling our desires. It is easy to see that water equals being,- the being we become.

AIR AS INCARNATION

Air is that element in the earth without which all life forms would perish. It sustains the activity of the life force once activated. Air is that element that allows any created form to express the purpose behind its creation. It is the expression of the spirit of toe creator of whatever is created which shows the purpose of that creation, and this is only accomplished by reason of air - the breath of life into the form. Hermes said: "Wind is air, air is life and life is soul." As propagation is an essence behind the earth, a hidden essence of air is the propagation of the form created - keeping it alive so that it can show, can express, the essence of its life.~ essence behind the living form is the living creator of the form. It is just as in the beginning with Adam. God breathed into the breath of life and Adam became a living soul.

In us this is readily seen when we. "air" our convictions, prejudices, ideas, likes and dislikes, etc., as we state our position on a subject. We have created the form of all these ideas. We gave each of them a portion of our life, the only life they have. They express the purposes of their creator (us), and they live in us.

Together they make a unified whole which is the living being in us. While our ideas, concepts and desires, when formed, are endowed with the life force in their creation, they are not able to express their being themselves, to show or express their purposes until we give them the breath of life, just as Adam received his life after the creation of the body. We are creators of the mental form while God was the creator of the flesh form; yet the earth forces were used in both creations.

[WalksInSpirit]

Both physically and psychologically in the body a form is created, a propagation at the gonadal level: and takes on the possibility of life from the cells of Leydig as an essential factor in the propagative effort. When the form is completed, the body life force moves the form by vibration along the appropriate nerve system to consciousness where the mind accepts the form as being what it desired. Once accepted, the message of its acceptance is sent to the solar plexus so as to activate the body for expression of the Idea.". Remember, the life force crosses the solar plexus twice. (2475-1)

At this point the thought form, once expressed, activates the purifying power of fire which brings the testing. The justification of that we have created begins. To use an old idiom "the fat is in me fire, " for we are now vulnerable to critical reactions or rejections"
of our creations from others or even from ourselves.

What we are, our ideas manifesting through us, has told others just what they see. They see the creator of us - that unified whole of the expressions of our creations - as our ideas live out the life we gave them. They show what is incarnate in a flesh-and-blood body. Because of this operation, I associate air with what is living " in us; and I state that the manifest essence hidden in air is the principle of incarnation.)

FIRE - THE MANIFESTATION OF JUSTICE

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher of 500 B.C., considered fire to be the first principle of all things, an ethereal substance, self-kindled and self-extinguished. For the Greeks, fire was life and death, the most elusive element. It was justice. For modern man the self-kindling envisioned by the "big bang" theory fits that of the old Greeks, at least as to the beginning of all things: And if the universe is slowly running down, so does their self-extinguishing idea fit. In the life-and-death context, fire is the opposite of water, while as the ethereal substance it reflects the principle of justice. Just how the Greeks arrived at the idea of fire being justice has never been clear to me; however, I also consider fire to be the same manifest principle. Here is why: Fire is the transforming and purifying force by which all earth substances are tested ("trial 6i fire"). Their values, their worth must conform to a preset or pre-judged standard for the justification of their being, what they are to be used for. Most metals go through a process of purification in smelters; iron and steel need fire before they can be used in the manufacture of products; and we are well acquainted with the value of fire in cooking. Since the earth plane is the "testing portion of the universal vibration," (900-16) fire as justice works hand in glove with efforts of the alchemists to determine the worth of any man-created idea, just the same as in nature.

Fire is the same as the glue which binds atomic particles together to make atoms and molecules. It also is the source of the heat and light from the stars, as well as atomic radiations, the slow disintegration of matter. Whether Heraclitus or the modern "big bang" theory is correct, I do not know; our concern here is with fire as an ethereal substance rather than the material, the weighing of values and their spiritual worth for us our everyday living situations the fires of the planet (star) Saturn influence our lives as a weighing and purifying factor. The readings say: " . . . in the earth's plane that entity that manifests such hate, such aggrandizement of the laws of the flesh, in any desire made unnatural - these find their reclamation, their re-molding, their beginning again, in the spheres of Saturn's relative forces." (900-25)

From this it seems that somewhere there must be a weighing of inner values, inner worth - or else why the need for Saturn's forces? In addition we must look for the place or activity in the body where the purification and/or reclamation process may occur, or where such hate or unnatural laws may be kept in us. Where in us could there be a need for the concept of justice? The readings place fire as being one of the attributes of the action of Mars; it is activated in us through the adrenal glands. This endocrine center is also associated with memory; it is the storehouse of our debts, o~' desires, our karma. With the idea of reaping whatever is sown, or paying a debt, the activity of Mars would be a justification process; a weighing as symbolized by the two adrenal glands - one on top of each kidney.

As we express our desires - especially those "unnatural" ones as mentioned in 900-25 above - the concepts are returned to Saturn's forces for a remolding. It is the same with any matter of ours (what "matters" to us); when insufficient it must be returned to Saturn for a remolding, a new beginning. It seems little wonder that the readings related the forces of Saturn to the' 'beginning of earthly woes." (900-10) When we have expressed a desire (as stated in the section above on Air) and it is later rejected by us or others, we try, try again by remolding that desire so it may be acceptable or we try to start all over again. The justification process involves the "snake eating its tail." We feed upon what we have created or consume ourselves trying.

If the forms of thoughts, desires, etc. (as described in the Earth section), are found lacking in their makeup, in a sufficiency of value to justify their having the life we gave them, they must be returned to the fiery furnace (the alchemical retort - or Saturn's remolding activity at the gonadal level of consciousness in the endocrine system) for a remolding of their structure, their worth, so as to stand me tests given !hem in our contacts with one another. The being - the form we have created and given life to by expressing it - is weighed in the balances of self's will and desire as opposed to "not my will but Thine." If the image as made is to be weighed in favor of self-will, self's desires, the cycle that returns to the self ,what we sow, we reap) will have 'been completed. Colloquially, we eat our words, feed upon our mistakes, but the price we pay may seem quite high. The burning anger inside, which the readings said was the force of Mars - madness, the warring with ourselves, is in reality our anger because we are not yet gods! Or again, it is madness to have given our life to a mere image of a desire, a pet creation.

In all of this we should remember there are two adrenal glands; they may be found to relate to the two minds living in us at all times. The split-brain functions can also cause us to war with our-selves as indicated in Rev. 10. Also at any time the ideals held by the soul (put there in previous lives) may be warring with the ideals we apply in everyday living. These conflicts usually appear in dreaming more than in the waking state. However, should we continue the war and not pay attention to the soul-mind (possibly a bodily function of the right brain) the fight may manifest in the flesh body, making-us sick. (The degree of illness depends on the fierceness and longevity of the conflict.): On the other hand, if an expression has been accepted by others or accepted by us as a way to react repeatedly, then such reaction patterns become habits and are so recognized by others. Those i patterns of actions are known as our temperaments. They become i memories, which, because of their repetitive functionings become subconscious or at least unconscious. We then have become those habits. It is as if we stand aside and watch our habits live our lives!

In this manner, we create an alchemical lapis - a fixed pattern of responses built into memory. Should we build enough of such pat-terns that we almost totally react to them, we, as their creator, would seemingly become such creatures as are called the "walking dead"
- for only our images live our life; we have withdrawn from ourselves. In such case, what Jesus said about letting the dead bury the dead (Matt. 8:22) becomes quite personal and meaningful, as well as understandable.

The weighing at the adrenal level goes on for every response.

Every kindred memory responds to the vibratory rate and context of a stimulus reaching us. Those memories (those patterns built into the lapis) have been given the strongest will force to react; they are allowed to activate the body in response to that stimulus. (The justification of our being is decided by the rider of the horse with the scales, the symbol in Rev. 8:5.)

The earth plane does its job as the testing portion of the universal vibration as we work with the regimen pictured by the alchemists. As we use the essences of earth, water, air and fire, we create the quintessence found in the lapis, but we wonder as they did: What about the white stone?

THE WHITE STONE

While the alchemists wrote much about the white stone, or the philosopher's stone, none seemed to say with certainty exactly what the stone was. A few references were made to Christ as being the white stone but there seems nothing convincing about such statements. There are also a few references to "the stone the builders rejected" (Luke 20: 17); and, strangely enough, this could be what they were looking for but did not know enough about the workings of the mind in the whole body to see the entire concept.

I have presented above an idea about how the "lapis" is built by us in our unconscious efforts to become a companion creator with God. In our efforts we use free will to build concepts which become memories, then patterns for responses. The fact is, though, that we adulterate the creative energy with our desires and attitudes. The resulting lapis may well be compared to the many colors found in natural quartzes; we color responses in many shades - none as pure white. By using will to try to build a response we must necessarily add at least the color of our wanting to use free will. By separating the colors to build our lapis, we have also rejected the building of the white stone. "The stone the builders rejected" becomes quite personal and meaningful, for we insist on coloring our responses the way we want.

How we build a response (a lapis) has been covered insofar as our desires are concerned, but not as to how the forces which build the lapis, or the white stone, do the building, as well as the patterning that may become built into it. As the life force, the creative force, enters the body at the gonad level, it has the qualities of pure white light. It is unadulterated pure energy, if you please, moving as a universal vibration - Spirit moving according to the idea of ex-pressing the purposes of the All. It contains the potential of creating ;my possible form in creation.

This energy travels from the gonads to the pineal and returns to the solar plexus for its impetus to the body. It moves as vibration "its all the vibrations in light, hence it may harmonize with any pattern of vibration held in the memory cells in the body. By this harmony, any of the various memories we may be focusing on at me moment are brought to awareness.

We adulterate this energy with our memories before it reaches the pineal, and we focus our attention on the memory and not the energy itself - we are not yet aware of the white light. As the energy moves upward, it also picks up and is adulterated with any desire which might also be in the forefront of our attention. Thus in many ways is the energy colored before it reaches consciousness so that we usually and immediately respond, not to the pure energy, but to our desires, for we have given our will to them and they (the memory urges) motivate us. This process may become clearer if we look at it in this manner: At the gonad level we impregnate the life force with our will and desires, our wants, and there comes to consciousness the self-created images - our children. The force acts as we have chosen and the lapis is formed, it is born in us.

This process goes on continually in us, especially in the formative years, causing our traits of character and temperaments. We create ourselves; but we like to blame others, or God, for making us whatever we are. Since we are the results of the conglomerate of our creations, we are responsible for them and for us. If we are going to change this pattern and grow so as to be a co-creator with God, we must grow a new way of handling the energy which comes through us.
If we are to come to know our real purposes and ourselves, instead of the mere images of our desires and wants, we must go back to the beginning of our images, to the creative energy before
we adulterate it. We must allow the mind (the idea in the force itself) to create whatever it would - which inevitably and necessarily would be what we need. The request in the Lord's Prayer for our daily bread becomes the criterion.

To do this we must hold will in check, which is the strongest use of free will that can be made. In effect the result is giving our will over to the life force as it enters the body; as if we stand at the door with a welcome mat made of our will which we give freely to the creative Spirit. We give our will to God - emulating Him. We can do this if we would stand still, as in meditation, before whatever happens. We then allow the life force to rise - unadulterated by our desires, wants or memories - to the pineal. There the choice is made, not by us, but by that mind in the Creative Force Itself, as to what reaction is needed by the body-mind. The force of the choice made then returns to the solar plexus and activates the body accordingly. This not only creates a new memory pattern free of our will and desires, but helps to cleanse our other response patterns, for they have been deprived of their impetus, our will.

As we, time after time, stand still before whatever happens, there gradually is built into the body-mind stronger and stronger response patterns which we learn will guide us through even the valley of the shadow of death - whatever happens.

This is the process whereby the response patterns become as a white lapis, a white stone, for it is unadulterated with our will or desires. The saying of Jesus that we should not commit adultery begins to mean much more to us as we accept the hidden manna given to us, as is pictured in Rev. 2: 17, when we listen to the angel of the church of Pergamos (purified adrenals) proclaiming our new name and we find it engraved on a white stone.

This chapter on the four elements may not mean much unless we consider overall the operations in the body. It should be clear how the individual elements work through the endocrine system, both before and after consciousness has grown to the status of the "Son of man." While these were somewhat compared to the production of the "stone" of the alchemists, and even to their white or philosopher's stone, there is yet another ancient figure we should look at which is vitally involved in its operations. That figure is the "tree of life," so dear to the alchemists as well as those who are highly intrigued with the "tree" in The Revelation.

For me, the "roots" of this tree start in the heavens, in consciousness, as pictured in Rev. 9: 1 where there was seen "a star fall from the heaven unto the earth." This star is taken as an idea which goes to the gonads (earth) as the seed for the formation of the idea, which then grows through the endocrine system to become the tree of life (of us). The patterns for response built into the form become the leaves of the tree. Many such growths produce the leaves of the tree which in effect are as the angelic forms built by those beastly elements, ultimately for the healing of the nations (of cells of memory) as found in Rev. 22:2.

This tree is thus the same tree found in the Garden of Eden which was not to be eaten of by Adam and Eve, for it was the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). We might also note that there were two trees especially planted there, the tree of life and the tree of good and evil (Gen. 2:9), but only the fruit of the second one was forbidden to be eaten. These two trees correspond with the two in Rev. 22:2.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil is the tree we eat from in our daily lives, which produces the leaves of our temperaments. These are mostly' 'for self," and thus we know good and evil in the contrast of motives: "for others" or "for self." The tree is pictured as having its start in 9: 1 and seems to particularly relate to the upside-down tree in the cabala which tree has its roots in the heavens.

While this same tree is the endocrine system in us and is our source of life, we use it to give life to the forms we create for self The tree primarily relates to the operation of the conscious mind; yet once we allow it to be fed by the unadulterated life force in light, it will produce the same leaves and fruit as the other tree - the knowledge of life as comes from the right brain - the eternal life of the soul. It is thus that we find two trees in the Garden of Eden, the fruit of one forbidden and the other left alone (for it would not come into consciousness until we became like the" Son of man"). After such we find again the two trees in Rev. 22:2 operating in that "Son"; this is in the Garden of Eden. We may become it.

It is thus that the elements - earth, water, air and fire -working with the animal instincts (see Rev. 12), return the tree of knowledge of good and evil to its original function and purpose -just as the divided man returns to the One, the Father.