Vol 6 Page 268

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

[The Theosophist, Vol. V, No. 11(59), August, 1884, p. 258]

[In an article on “Occultism in Modern Literature,” the author says: “. . . in a letter a learned English occultist . . . remarked to me that he had once asked a clairvoyant why he (the occultist) was not sensitive to ‘spirit’ influence. It is noteworthy that the reply was, ‘that he (the clairvoyant) saw those who were sensitive or clairvoyant with a dispersed cloud of aura about the head, and in others (who were not sensitive) he saw it in pyramidal form, which prevented “spirit influence” making itself felt.’ Perhaps the accomplished Editor will kindly throw some light on this subject?” To this H. P. B. appends the following footnote:]

The statement is, in our opinion, correct. In the case of a medium, the odic aura of the brain is rather poor and is constantly subject to fluctuations and disturbances by the surrounding astral influences, just like a flame of fire which loses its pyramidal form when fanned. But in the case of one who is not mediumistic, and especially in the case of an adept, this aura is compact and concentrated. Mahatmas, such as Buddha, are generally represented in Eastern pictures with pyramidal crown upon their heads. This crown is made up of purified, concentrated and undisturbed odic aura.