higher impulses of the soul within, and to all higher forces and
influences from without. It may, however, be unfortunate and extremely
inconvenient to be so organized unless one recognize and gain the power
of closing himself, of making himself positive to all detrimental or
undesirable influences. This power every one, however sensitively
organized he may be, can acquire.

This he can acquire through the mind's action. And, moreover, there is
no habit of more value to anyone, be he sensitively or less sensitively
organized, than that of occasionally taking and holding himself
continually in the attitude of mind--I close myself, I make myself
positive to all things below, and open and receptive to all higher
influences, to all things above. By taking this attitude of mind
consciously now and then, it soon becomes a habit, and if one is deeply
in earnest in regard to it, it puts into operation silent but subtle
and powerful influences in effecting the desired results. In this way
all lower and undesirable influences from both the seen and the unseen
side of life are closed out, while all higher influences are invited,
and in the degree that they are invited will they enter.

And what do we mean by the unseen side of life? First, the thought
forces, the mental and emotional conditions in the atmosphere about us
that are generated by those manifesting on the physical plane through
the agency of physical bodies. Second, the same forces generated by
those who have dropped the physical body, or from whom it has been
struck away, and who are now manifesting through the agency of bodies
of a different nature.

"The individual existence of man _begins_ on the sense plane of the
physical world, but rises through successive gradations of ethereal and
celestial spheres, corresponding with his ever unfolding deific life
and powers, to a destiny of unspeakable grandeur and glory. Within and
above every physical planet is a corresponding ethereal planet, or soul
world, as within and above every physical organism is a corresponding
ethereal organism, or soul body, of which the physical is but the
external counterpart and materialized expression. From this
etherealized or soul planet, which is the immediate home of our arisen
humanity, there rises or deepens in infinite gradations spheres within
and above spheres, to celestial heights of spiritualized existence
utterly inconceivable to the sense man. Embodiment, accordingl