s, cabalists, and wizards of the middle ages, and
the theosophists, spiritualists, clairvoyants, and mesmerists of the
present time, were members of the same fraternity who have obtained
their psychological powers from a study and practice of mystic
philosophy or magic."

"You say that the outer-world magicians derived their powers of soul
from abnegation of the body," said the goddess. "Now the soul priests
of Atvatabar can do quite as wonderful things, I dare say, as your
magicians, and they have never practised austerities, but, on the
contrary, have developed the body as well as the soul. In the worship
of the gods of science and invention, art and spirituality, both body,
mind, and soul are exercised to their utmost capability. In all stages
there is exultance, exercise, development. But I am deeply interested
in your remarks. Tell me just what the principles of the worshippers
of your Harikar are!"

"Spiritual culture in the outer world," I explained, "is obtained by a
variety of religious beliefs, but the belief that most nearly
resembles that of Atvatabar is that of the soul-worshippers, who deny
the existence of any power beyond the human soul, teaching that it is
only by our own inward light that we can rise to higher planes and
reach at last to Nirvana, or passive blessedness. This inward light
can only be truly followed by self-obliteration, fastings, penances,
and repression of desires and appetites of all kinds, carried on
through an endless series of reincarnations. The final blessedness is
a beatific absorption into the ocean of existence which pervades the
universe."

"That is a different creed to that of Harikar in Atvatabar," said the
goddess, "which is worship of body, mind, and soul. We believe with
your Greeks in perfection of body and also with your Hindoos in
perfection of soul. We re-enforce the powers of body and mind by
science and invention, and the soul powers by art and spiritual love.
We believe in magic and sorcery. Our religion is a state of ecstatic
joy, chiefly found in the cultured friendship of counterpart souls,
who form complete circles with each other. Enduring youth is the
consummate flower of civilization. With us it lasts one hundred years,
beginning with our twentieth birthday. There is no long and crucial
stage of bodily abstinence from the good things of life; there is only
abstinence from evil, from vice, selfishness, and unholy desire. Our
religion is the trinity of bo