> Again, fierce storms of mental activity, or emotional stress, disturb

its comparative calm, and the wildest scenes are witnessed in the aura

by the observer. So intense are the vibrations of some of these mental

storms that their effect is plainly felt by the average person, though

he is not able to distinguish the colors or the great whirls and swirls

of auric substance accompanying them.



A person sunk in reverie, dream-states, or sleep, presents an

interesting auric kaleidoscope, which possesses great beauty if the

person be normal and of average morality. In such a case there is a

cloudy-clearness (if the term may be used) tinged with tints and shades

of varying colors, blending in strange and interesting combinations,

appearing gradually from previous combinations, and sinking gradually

into new ones.



To the observer of the aura the term "opalescent" instinctly presents

itself, for there is a striking resemblance to the opaline peculiar play

of colors of delicate tints and shades in a body of pearly or milky hue.

Color shades into color, tint into tint, hue into hue, as in the color

scale of the spectrum of which the rainbow is the most familiar example.

But the rainbow or spectrum lacks the peculiar semi-transparency of the

auric colors, and also the constantly changing and dissolving body of

colors of the aura.



At this point, I wish to call your attention to a phase of the aura

which I purposely passed over in the preceding chapters. I allude to the

phase of the aura which presents the "pearly" appearance of the

opalescent body, which we have just noted. This appearance is manifested

neither by any of the mental or emotional states, nor is it the

prana-aura or vital force which I have described in a previous chapter.

It is the manifestation of what is known to occultists as "etheric

substance," and is a very interesting feature of the auric phenomena.



This etheric substance, which manifests this peculiar radiance in the

body of the aura, composes that which is called by some occultists "the

astral body," but this latter term is also employed in another sense,

and I prefer to use the term "etheric double" to indicate what some

others know as "the astral body." Etheric substance is much finer form

of substance than that which composes the physical body. It is really

matter in a very high degree of vibration--much higher than even the

ultra-gaseous matter of physical substance. It may be sensed,

ordinarily, only on the astral plane, which is its own particular plane

of activity.



The etheric double, composed of this etheric substance, is the exact

counterpart of its physical counterpart--the ordinary physical body of

the individual--although it is capable of great expansion or shrinking

in space. Like the physical body it radiates an aura, and this combining

with the other forms of the auric body, gives to it its peculiar pearly

appearance, which is the background of its opalescence previously noted.



The etheric double explains the phenomenon of spectral appearances or

ghosts, for it persists for a time after the death of the physical body,

and under some conditions becomes visible to the ordinary sight. It

sometimes is projected from the physical body, and at such times appears

as an apparition of the living, of which there are many cases recorded

by the societies investigating psychical subjects.



The etheric double, or astral body, is referred to here, however, merely

to explain the peculiar pearly tint of the background, or body, of the

aura, in and through which the mental and emotional auric colors play

and move. It may interest you, however, to know that this phase of aura

is always present around and about a "ghost" or dematerialized

disembodied soul, or "spirit" as common usage terms it.



The aura of the wide-awake person is, of course, far more active and

more deeply colored than is that of the person in reverie, dream, or

sleep. And, again the aura of the person manifesting a high degree of

mental activity, or strong feeling or passion, is still brighter and

deeper than the ordinary person performing his daily routine work. In

the state of anger, or love-passion, for instance, the aura is

violently disturbed, deep shades of color whirling and swirling in the

depths and surface of the auric body. Lightning-like flashes shoot forth

and great bodies of lurid smoky clouds fly on the surface. Looking into

the aura of a man wild with rage and passion, is like peering into

Inferno. The astral plane, in the region of a lynching mob, or other

body of persons filled with rage, becomes a frightful scene of auric

radiation.



A person filled with the emotion of pure love, fills his aura with the

most beautiful tints and shades of high rosy color, and to behold the

same is a pleasure fully appreciated by the occultist. A church filled

with persons of a high devotional ideality, is also a beautiful place,

by reason of the mingling of auric violet-blue vibrations of those

therein assembled. The atmosphere of a prison is most depressing and

presents a most unpleasant appearance to one possessing the astral

vision. Likewise the astral atmosphere of an abode of vice and passion,

becomes really physically nauseating to the occultist of high ideals and

taste. Such scenes on the astral plane are avoided by all true

occultists, except when the call of duty leads them to visit them to

give aid and help.



There are two distinct features connected with the auric coloring of

every person. The first is the coloring resulting from the more habitual

thoughts and feelings of the person--from his character, in fact; while

the second is the coloring resulting from the particular feelings, or

thoughts, manifested by him at that particular moment or time.



The color of the feeling of the moment soon disappears and fades away,

while the more habitual feeling, bound up with his character, causes its

corresponding color to abide more permanently, and thus to give a

decided hue to his general auric color appearance.



The trained occultist is, therefore, able to ascertain not only the

passing thoughts and feelings of a person, but also to determine

infallibly his general character, tendencies, past character and

actions, and general nature, simply from a careful examination and study

of the auric colors of the person in question.



As all occultists well know, every place, dwelling, business place,

church, courtroom--every village, city, country, nation--has its own

collective aura, known as "astral atmosphere," which is simply but a

combined reflection of the individual auras of the human units of which

its body of inhabitants is made up. These atmospheric vibrations are

plainly felt by many persons, and we are instinctively attracted or

repelled by reason thereof. But, to the developed occultists, these

places manifest the auric colors, in the combinations arising from the

nature of the mentalities of the persons dwelling in them.



Each place has its collective aura, just as each person has his

individual aura. The astral plane presents a wonderful scene of color by

reason of this and similar causes. The harmony of the color scheme, in

some cases, is marvellously beautiful; while the horrible aspect of

scenes resemble a nightmare vision of the worst kind.



It is easy to understand why some of the ancients who stumbled into

glimpses of the astral plane, while in dream-state or trance, reported

the vision of terrible hells of unquenchable fire, fiery lakes of

smoking brimstone, etc., for such ideas would naturally come to the mind

of the uninformed person who had peered into the astral plane in such

cases.



And, in the same way, the visions of heaven reported by the saints, and

others of high spirituality, are explainable on the theory that these

persons had sensed some of the beautiful scenes of the higher astral

planes, filled with the combined auric tints and hues of souls of high

development. The principle of auric colors holds good on all the many

planes of being and existence--high as well as low.



I merely hint at a great occult truth in making the above statements.

The thoughtful will be able to read between my lines. I have given you a

little key which will unlock the door of many mysteries, if you will but

use it intelligently.