THE ETHERIC WORLDS

Aradia originally taught the concept of four "worlds" or Realms

of Existence. These were the Physical, Lunar, Solar and Stellar.

According to her Teachings, the Physical World was the dwelling place

of those spirits/souls who were not prepared to dwell within the

Higher Realms. The Lunar World was connected to the Physical, and was

a temporary dwelling place which served to revitalize the soul between

incarnations. It is interesting to note, that the old legends say that

the light of the moon grows as it receives those souls who are depar-

ting the physical life (until it is full) and then the light wanes as

those souls reincarnate.

The Solar World served to also revitalize the soul, but in add-

ition it "forged" a new body for the soul to inhabit. Then the soul

could enter into the Higher Realms and abide there. The Stellar World

was considered the Final Realm where the soul would come to dwell.

This was the "original" Realm from whence we had first come (according

to her Teachings).

Through the functions of these Four Worlds, the souls "work their

way" up through various levels, as they evolve. In each World a type

of body is required, through which the soul can be animated and per-

form the tasks which are necessary to that realm of existence (thus a

physical body for the Physical Plane, an astral body for the Lunar

Plane, and so on).

DEATH AND THE SOUL

According to the old Teachings, the physical body is merely a

vehicle, or vessel, which the soul employs to experience the Physical

Existence. In some respects, the body may be thought of as a "garment"

which the soul wears during its "lifetime" upon the Physical Dimen-

sion. In time it wears out, or is damaged beyond repair, and can no

longer serve its function. The soul will then pass through the "death"

experience, and be freed from the physical vessel, which once "housed"

it.

The Teachings tell us that the soul remains near the body for

three days, as the astral cord gradually dissolves. This "cord" is an

energy link, between the soul and the body (more about this in the

next note). In the case of cremation, the soul is freed almost im-

mediately.

According to the old Teachings, the soul will then be drawn to

that Realm of Existence which is most Harmonious to its general vibra-

tion (which is the tonal, or vibration, resonating from the sum of all

the experiences through which it has passed).

It is from here, that the Mythos of the Summerland (or Luna, as

it is called in the Aridian Tradition) begins.

THE ASTRAL BODY

Aradia taught that the soul, which dwells within our physical

body, has a body of "light" called a spirit body (commonly called an

astral body today). The soul can leave the physical body by employing

this body of light, and does so every evening, while a person's physi-

cal body is asleep. Sometimes a soul will only journey out into the

Dream Worlds, and sometimes it will travel out into the Astral Worlds.

The soul requires nourishment for its body of light, just as the

physical body does, and it is through contact with these other Realms,

that the astral body is maintained.

The Teachings tell us that the astral body is connected to the

physical body by a "silver cord" of etheric material. This cord will

always draw the soul back to the physical body, as long as it remains

intact. Once the silver cord is broken, the soul is freed from the

physical body, and cannot dwell within it any longer.

The astral body is a duplicate of the physical body, which the

soul is using in the Physical Dimension. It is this spirit body which

we see in dreams, and in hauntings, and so on. Some Occultists believe

that this astral body is what Jesus was using when he walked upon the

water, was resurrected, and so forth.

The consciousness of the personality (you or me) dwelling within

the physical body, can be transferred into the astral body, and ex-

perience these other Realms, just as we do this Physical Dimension. It

is similar to dreaming, except that we are in control of our own

actions, and can direct our activities.

During the time of the Inquisition, it was extremely dangerous

for witches to gather for their Festivals. So the Priestesses and

Priests, of the Old Religion, developed an ointment commonly referred

to as "Flying Ointment". It contained many Alkaloid ingredients such

as belladonna, and could "force" an inexperienced witch out of his or

her physical body, thus causing astral projection of the spirit body,

to take place. The Elders of the Coven would then "escort" the neo-

phytes to the "Sabbat". Because of the nature of both the ointment,

and the astral dimension, many wild and preposterous stories were

recalled by the new witches, of what had taken place at the Sabbat (if

you've ever been so "out of it" that your friends had to tell you what

you did at a party, the next day, you can probably relate to what I'm

getting at here). This came up from time to time, during the witch

trials. The fact that the Inquisitors were not above fabricating a

"confession" does not help us sort out the truth of these times,

anyway. Therefore, it is hard to say how much was because of the

belladonna, and how much was because of the Inquisitors.

BLESSED BE.