I pass by the modern use of these things. Among the many abuses with which we are familiar, the strong human instinct asserts itself everywhere. We expect, for instance, that Youth and Beauty shall be surrounded by a sphere, sweet-smelling and elevating; and our instincts are true in this, for there is a close parallel between purity and aromatic odors.
It is a truth well understood that Spirit does not act immediately upon Matter. There always is a medium between them. It seems rational that it should be so. Spirit and Matter being the two poles of one and the same substance need the intermediate middle as a point of conjunction and exchange of energy.
Applying this general law to the particulars before us, it seems most natural to conclude that the Elementals are the media by means of which all our spiritual efforts are exerted upon Nature, and that nothing can be done without their intervention.
But the question also arises: how do we make the Elementals perform this work for us? By what means do we influence them?
Occult Science teaches that “the pure of heart,” those that, having travelled over “the Path,” have come to “freedom,” can, by a mere mental effort or by stretching out the hand, “do these things.”
In view of this teaching, I shall state a few facts relative to the power of the Mind and the Hand.
(1) The Word spoken consists of the thought or idea we want to convey to the person spoken to, and (2) this thought clothed in a form, a kind of vessel, by means of which we send the thought flying through space. These two elements are the main factors of the Word.
Let us now look a little closer upon each of these two factors.
When an animal in distress calls for another, we, human beings, understand that it throws its desire or animal life into the sounds which proceed from that throat, and the other animal answers instinctively, we say quite correctly, for we do not think that the animals reason about their doings.
This kind of “language,” if it can be so called, is not much different from the language of mankind at large. All language as used in ordinary daily life is but slightly higher in character, but not different in degree.