To Light a Thousand Lamps - The Theosophical Society

116 / TO LIGHT A THOUSAND LAMPS
and hence the reflector of the most altruistic thoughts and
aspirations as well as the most degraded of human impulses
of the countless men and women who have ever lived on
our planet. There is continual interchange: we imprint the
astral light, and the astral light in turn leaves its imprint
upon us, a two-way flow of astral energies circulating in and
through earth and its kingdoms. Actually, we are awash
with astral currents all the time: our thoughts are astral, our
feelings also. As we talk together, we are using astral
thought substance. When we are inwardly in harmony, we
may unknowingly be the recipient of intimations of truth
and beauty either from our inner god, or from the upper
ranges of the astral light (ākāśa). Contrariwise, when we are
depressed and allow negative thoughts and emotions to
make inroads into our consciousness, we may be opening
the door unawares to lower astral influences. Unless we are
in command of ourselves, it is often downright hard to shut
that door when we want to, and even more diªcult to keep
it shut. Moreover, to the undisciplined and untrained, the
currents of the astral light can prove extremely deceptive,
and therefore dangerous. Rashly to venture into astral and
psychic experimentation, ignorant of the hazards involved
and, most important, without the protection of an utterly
stainless soul, is as foolhardy as to jump into quicksand.
In spite of admonitions against the potential misuse of
our latent psychomental power, psychic manifestations
among all types of people have notably increased in recent
decades. In consequence, there has been a tremendous upsurge
of interest in ESP, levitation, divination, crystal and
pyramid power, psychokinesis, and all manner of astral