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CHAPTER III MENTAL
TRANSMUTATION
"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. True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental
Art."--The Kybalion.
As we have stated, the Hermetists were
the original alchemists, astrologers, and
psychologists, Hermes having been the founder of
these schools of thought. From astrology has grown
modern astronomy; from alchemy has grown modern
chemistry; from the mystic psychology has grown
the modern psychology of the schools. But it must
not be supposed that the ancients were ignorant of
that which the modern schools suppose to be their
exclusive and special property. The records
engraved on the stones of Ancient Egypt show
conclusively that the ancients had a full
comprehensive knowledge of astronomy, the very
building of the Pyramids showing the connection
between their design and the study of astronomical
science. Nor were they ignorant of Chemistry, for
the fragments of the ancient writings show that
they were acquainted with the chemical properties
of things; in fact, the ancient theories regarding
physics are being slowly verified by the latest
discoveries of modern science, notably those
relating to the constitution of matter. Nor must
it be supposed that they were ignorant of the
so-called modern discoveries in psychology--on the
contrary, the Egyptians were especially skilled in
the science of Psychology, particularly in the
branches that the modern schools ignore, but
which, nevertheless, are being uncovered under the
name of "psychic science" which is perplexing the
psychologists of today, and making them
reluctantly admit that "there may be something in
it after all."
The truth is, that beneath the material
chemistry, astronomy and psychology (that is, the
psychology in its phase of "brain-action"), the
ancients possessed a knowledge of transcendental
astronomy, called astrology; of transcendental
chemistry, called alchemy; of transcendental
psychology, called mystic psychology. They
possessed the Inner Knowledge as well as the Outer
Knowledge, the latter alone being possessed by
modern scientists. Among the many secret branches
of knowledge possessed by the Hermetists, was that
known as Mental Transmutation, which forms the
subject matter of this lesson.
"Transmutation" is a term usually
employed to designate the ancient art of the
transmutation of metals--particularly of the base
metals into gold. The word "Transmute" means "to
change from one nature, form, or substance, into
another; to transform" (Webster). And accordingly,
"Mental Transmutation" means the art of changing
and transforming mental states, forms, and
conditions, into others. So you may see that
Mental Transmutation is the "Art of Mental
Chemistry". if you like the term--a form of
practical Mystic Psychology.
But this means far more than appears on
the surface. Transmutation, Alchemy, or Chemistry,
on the Mental Plane is important enough in its
effects, to be sure, and if the art stopped there
it would still be one of the most important
branches of study known to man.
But this is only the beginning. Let us
see why!
The first of the Seven Hermetic
Principles is the Principle of Mentalism, the
axiom of which is "THE ALL is Mind; the Universe
is Mental". which means that the Underlying
Reality of the Universe is Mind; and the Universe
itself is Mental--that is, "existing in the Mind
of THE ALL." We shall consider this Principle in
succeeding lessons, but let us see the effect of
the principle if it be assumed to be true.
If the Universal is Mental in its nature,
then Mental Transmutation must be the art of
CHANGING THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSE, along the
lines of Matter, Force and Mind. So you see,
therefore, that Mental Transmutation is really the
"Magic" of which the ancient writers had so much
to say in their mystical works, and about which
they gave so few practical instructions. If All be
Mental, then the art which enables one to
transmute mental conditions must render the Master
the controller of material conditions as well as
those ordinarily called "mental."
As a matter of fact, none but advanced
Mental Alchemists have been able to attain the
degree of power necessary to control the grosser
physical conditions, such as the control of the
elements of Nature; the production or cessation of
tempests; the production and cessation of
earthquakes and other great physical phenomena.
But that such men have existed, and do exist
to-day, is a matter of earnest belief to all
advanced occultists of all schools. That the
Masters exist, and have these powers, the best
teachers assure their students, having had
experiences which justify them in such belief and
statements. These Masters do not make public
exhibitions of their powers, but seek seclusion
from the crowds of men, in order to better work
their way along the Path of Attainment. We mention
their existence, at this point, merely to call
your attention to the fact that their power is
entirely Mental, and operates along the lines of
the higher Mental Transmutation, under the
Hermetic Principle of Mentalism. "The Universe is
Mental"--The Kybalion.
But students and Hermetists of lesser
degree than Masters--the Initiates and Teachers--
are able to freely work along the Mental Plane, in
Mental Transmutation. In fact all that we call
"psychic phenomena"; "mental influence"; "mental
science"; "new-thought phenomena". etc., operates
along the same general lines, for there is but one
principle involved, no matter by what name the
phenomena be called.
The student and practitioner of
Mental Transmutation works among the Mental Plane,
transmuting mental conditions, states, etc., into
others, according to various formulas, more or
less efficacious. The various "treatments".
"affirmations". "denials". etc., of the schools of
mental science are but formulas, often quite
imperfect and unscientific, of The Hermetic Art.
The majority of modern practitioners are quite
ignorant compared to the ancient masters, for they
lack the fundamental knowledge upon which the work
is based.
Not only may the mental states, etc., of
one's self be changed or transmuted by Hermetic
Methods; but also the states of others may be, and
are, constantly transmuted in the same way,
usually unconsciously, but often consciously by
some understanding the laws and principles, in
cases where the people affected are not informed
of the principles of self-protection. And more
than this, as many students and practitioners of
modern mental science know, every material
condition depending upon the minds of other people
may be changed or transmuted in accordance with
the earnest desire, will, and "treatments" of
person desiring changed conditions of life. The
public are so generally informed regarding these
things at present, that we do not deem it
necessary to mention the same at length, our
purpose at this point being merely to show the
Hermetic Principle and Art underlying all of these
various forms of practice, good and evil, for the
force can be used in opposite directions according
to the Hermetic Principles of Polarity.
In this little book we shall state the
basic principles of Mental Transmutation, that all
who read may grasp the Underlying Principles, and
thus possess the Master-Key that will unlock the
many doors of the Principle of Polarity.
We shall now proceed to a consideration
of the first of the Hermetic Seven Principles--the
Principle of Mentalism, in which is explained the
truth that "THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is
Mental". in the words of The Kybalion. We ask the
close attention, and careful study of this great
Principle, on the part of our students, for it is
really the Basic Principle of the whole Hermetic
Philosophy, and of the Hermetic Art of Mental
Transmutation.
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