Chapter XIV

THE SOUL CYCLE
N PRECEDING chapters we have spoken of the Cosmic vibrations and emanations throughout the universe, and the effect that these have upon the personal affairs of human beings through the tendencies, urges, inspirations, and conditions they create or stimu' late in our daily lives. It should be apparent to anyone who analyzies the principles involved, that these Cosmic vibrations and Cosmic periods of rhythm would have some effect upon the soul, personahty, and character of each human being. As it was stated before, the ideas contained in this book and the various systems presented here" with have no relationship with the postulations and principles of the so-called art of astrology; but if the soul entering each human body at birth is an essential part of the Cosmic energy or Cosmic vitality, and if this energy or vitality reaches the
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earth's surface in rhythmic pulsations of various combinations of rates and resulting tendencies, then a person born at any rhythmic period of the year should have natural tendencies different from those possessed by a person born during a different rhythmic period. It is not my intention to enter into a scientific explanation of how this is so, and why, but merely to present the effects of such rhythmic pulsations upon the soul and chap acter of classes of individuals, and let these facts establish the existence of the law. Those who wish to devote their time and study to a deep investigation of the principles involved, may do so, and will find in the work much knowledge and happiness.
Passing over the laws of principles, therefore, we come to the observed facts, and note that the solar year of three hundred and sixtyfive days may be divided into seven distinct periods, which constitute the soul cycle.
It must be borne in mind that the solar year be gins on or about March 22nd, when we have that distinct astro'phenomenon known as the spring equinox. In all foreign countries as in ancient
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times, the birth of the new year occurs on or about March 22nd. The estabHshment of January first as the beginning of a new year is a purely arbitrary thing, and has no foundation in natural law. The solar year is approximately three hun' dred and sixtyfive days in length, and for aU gen' eral purposes we may figure the year as being three hundred and sixtyfive days long. If divided into seven equal periods, we find that once again we have a periodicity of fifty'two days and a few hours. We may ignore the fraction of a day in each period, and make each period an even fifty two days, as we have with the other cycles.
Therefore, we begin the soul cycle on March 22nd, and divide it into periods of fiftytwo days each as follows. From March 22nd to May 12th, May 13th to July 3rd; July 4th to August 24th; August 25th to October 15th; October 16th to December 6th; December 7th to January 27th; January 28th to March 21st. Each of these periods has a dual polarity, and we find that the first half of each period produces a slightly different effect than the last half of each period. Therefore, we have seven periods, each having two natures, and
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producing a total of fourteen distinct natures or combinations of conditions.
Now everyone who is born takes the first breath of life and breathes into his system that Cosmic energy which starts his soul consciousness in at' tunement with the Cosmic vibrations and rhythm existing at that time, and, according to the ancient observations which have been verified through ceu' turies of careful examination and scrutiny, each person continues to vibrate in attunement with the rhythm established at the moment of birth. It is as though each person becomes an affinity of the rhythmic conditions existing at the time of birth, and, therefore, is continuously more sensitive, receptive, and responsive to the effects of that rhythm than to any of the others. It is as though various notes on a perfectly tuned musical instru- ment were being played at different hours of the day, and that a person who was born just as the note "A" was being played would ever after be responsive to and affected by the sound of "A" or the vibrations of the note "A" to a greater degree than to any of the other notes played in the entire octave.
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As a matter of fact, we are, as individuals, attuned to certain musical notes or musical rates of vibrations, and that is why some pieces of music which have our natural note more predominant than other notes affect us strongly. Every created material thing has its musical note, whether it be a glass pitcher or goblet, a chair, a mechanical device, or a copper pot. The note with which it is attuned is its natural note, and, therefore, there are certain harmonies of this note which have effects upon it also, to a lesser extent and in a dif- ferent manner. If a harmonic of the true natural note of a glass vessel can be properly played upon a violin string, for instance, it may either cause the glass vessel to shatter to pieces, or it may have some other effect upon it, according to which bar' monic of the natural note is played. AU of this, however, deals with other principles than those covered in the present volume, and may some day be presented in another volume dealing with nat' ural harmonics in himian life.
In outlining the system of the soul cycle, we observe that the seven periods with two polarities to each of them give us fourteen combinations of
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notes or rhythmic pulsations which produce cer- tain definite characteristics, tendencies, and ek' ments in the personality or soul conscio'usness of each individual. It is my purpose to outline each of these fourteen periods, so that the reader may have a true character analysis of the inner nature or soul personality of every person he contacts.
Before beginning to outline this system, with the various descriptions, I must call the reader's attention to the following important points. It must be kept in mind that the Cosmic effect upon the soul consciousness of each person does not always manifest itself in the outer, objective nature of an individual. The inner personality of persons we meet* may be very different from the outer in- dividuality or character. In many cases only inti' mate, friendly relationships over a long period of time will reveal to us the true inner nature of a person who we think we have understood very thoroughly.
The outer, objective mind and character of a man or woman may clothe him with certain tendencies, habits, expressions, and mannerisms which they may have assumed or acquired, or
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even affected for various reasons, and which may not be truly consistent with the inner self. The various systems of character reading, such as palm' istry, physiognomy, phrenology, handwriting, and so forth may be a fair index to the characteristics of the outer self, with occasional points relating to the inner self, but all of those systems fail in giving us a true picture of the inherent, deep' seated, soul personality.
Very often we find through character analysis of the outer self that persons whom we meet are in different occupations, professions, avocations, or social positions than we expected to find them, or anticipated. We discover, then, that the system we had used for such character reading was only an index to the changing, objective self, and be' cause this outer self is vacillating, and has the power and privilege to assume and affect tempcy rary conditions, mannerisms, choices of profes' sions and occupations, that we can place no depen' dabihty upon the system we have used. Whenever we use the system, however, that gives us an index of the inner nature of any person, we find upon close questioning and intimate association that,
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regardless of the outer life and characteristics of the person, inwardly, privately, and in seclusion these persons Hve true to the inner index and Cosmic soul nature.
Furthermore, it avails us very little to become thoroughly acquainted with the outer character and nature of any individual. So far as any benefit being derived from a knowledge of the outer na^ ture of a person is concerned, it is just as safe and serves just as much purpose to take persons as we find them outwardly and casually. Very few per' sons are capable of conceaHng their true outward natures. An acquaintanceship with anyone for twenty-four hours, which would include casual conversation in business or home life, will tell us as much about their outer habits and outer character- istics as any involved system that has ever been de- vised. I mean, of course, that to the student of hu- man nature and to the analytical mind this would be so. Knowing the general outer, objective, ma- terial traits, habits, and characteristics of a person does not in any considerable way give us an ad- vantage, a benefit, or a protection. The man who is a thief outwardly and in all of his habits cannot
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conceal that from the careful observer. It is the man who is inwardly a thief, a cheat, and a de' ceiver, while outwardly posing as honest, depend' able and reliable, that must be guarded against, and against whom we must be protected and warned.
In all social and business relations, the real value of character analysis or intimate acquaintance with personality, must relate to the true self within, and not to the fictitious, temporary, vacillating, incon' sequential outer self. If we would know whether it is safe to trust another person with our secrets, our money, our confidence, our association, then we must know the real nature and personality within, regardless of the artificial or temporary characteristics of the outer self. If one would know who to select for a partner in business or marriage, who to select as a friend or companion, who to select for an important errand or commis' sion, who to select for an important position, or place of authority, one must judge by the true inner nature and not by the temporary nature of the outer self.
If one would know one's friends better, and understand their moods with the resulting fancies,
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foibles, and tendencies, one must know the real inner selves of those friends, and disregard the outer selves.
If parents want to understand their children and help them to develop along the lines that originated as natural Cosmic tendencies, and which will keep them in attunement with the Cosmic personalities bom within them, and result in greater happiness, and success in life, the parents should have an intimate understanding of the inner natures of the children, and disregard the passing characteristics that impinge themselves upon children as a result of casual association, imitation of other's habits and similar external influences of a temporary nature.
And tibove all else, if one would know his real self and learn why there seems to be a constant conflict between the changing desires and wishes of the outer self, and the natural tendencies that urge from within, and thereby make the best of one's Hfe in all affairs and in every situation, one should know with what tendencies, abilities, char' acteristics, and strong points of personality one was born, and thereby become acquainted with the inner self in a surprising manner.
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The following index to soul character and per' sonality will do all these things in a different manner than any system of character reading has ever done heretofore. But just because the indi' cations and index of characteristics given herewith pertain to the inner self, the reader must be warned against what may seem to him to be contradictions or inconsistencies.
You may be tempted to use your own life as the first example with which to test this system. You may select your birthday from the table of periods published herewith and discover in what period and what polarity of the period of the solar year you were born. Then, turning to the descriptive index for that period, you may read that you have characteristics, tendencies, facul' ties, and abiHties that seem different from those that you have been using, manifesting, and ex" hibiting outwardly to yourself and to your closest acquaintances. Here, then, will be the temptation for you to feel that this system is either unre^ liable or incomplete. You may say to yourself, or to others, that you do not have the tendencies and characteristics indicated in these pages. The
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experts who have used this system, however, would say to you, "How do you know whether these are your real, inner characteristics or not?" You may say that you have often thought of yourself, noticed your natural habits and care- fully analy2;ed your inner wishes and desires. But, the expert will say to you that until you have carefully analy2;ed yourself over a period of many years, and have carefully tabulated, without bias, prejudice, or personal interest, the strong and weak points of your character, you cannot he a proper judge of the real nature that was bom into you at the time of your birth.
You will find that you will do better in test- ing the ^system to read the inner characteristics and nature of someone with whom you have been acquainted over a long period, and with a few of whose inner, personal traits you have become acquainted. If you are able to judge the other person without a personal interest, and without personal bias or prejudice, you will be able to discern the subtle and minute traits of inner character, better than you are able to judge your own.
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The real value of this index is that it enables the honest investigator of his own inner self, or of the inner selves of his children and friends, to help strengthen the inherited birthrights that are good, and overcome those which are unfortunate or undesirable. In other words, this index should become a guide to character building, and the moulding of a more ideal and perfect personality.
Granting that each one of us is bom with cer" tain tendencies, with certain natural abilities, and special faculties, it is certain that the best of these, or those which are good and useful, will become a greater asset to us if developed than any abilities or capabihties which we may arbitrarily assume to be ours, and artificially create in our own lives. Let us say, for example, that a man s inner nature is revealed in the index as being that of a natural healer, or physician, and that he has certain Cos' mic tendencies and abilities for healing, which although part of his inner nature, remain dormant awaiting development, application, and usefulness. Let us assume also that not knowing of this natural tendency of his inner nature, he arbitrarily selected as his profession that of architecture, be^
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cause of acquaintances he had in that profession, and because of another inner, natural tendency toward art and drawing. To become the proficient architect that he wishes to be, he has to create and build up a faculty and ability that was not natu' rally born in him, and this effort requires years of study, along with years of patient practice. Even so, he cannot attain in his profession of architec ture that success, that prosperity, and that renown which would come to him if he had become a phy sician. He would find that to become a proficient physician he would have had to do less studying, less concentrating upon the development of his ability, and less striving after the success and fame that he sought. As an architect, he might attain a reputation as a careful, conscientious, and me" chanically exact worker. As a physician, however, he would have attained the reputation for being an inspired, natural, proHfic, and wonderful healer. There would be that difference between his work as a physician and his work as an architect that is noticeable in the work of the great masters in art, music, and the sciences, which comes from inner inspiration and so'called fortunate inheritance.
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Another person may have an inner, natural ability for writing and for the beautiful expression of thoughts in impressive language. Not conscious of this natural tendency, he may become a painter or a musician by arbitrary choice, or because with' in him there was also the Cosmic urge to express himself in the finer arts. To become a proficient musician or painter would require for him many years of study and practice, accompanied by many years of suffering and privation, bringing fame and fortune to his name only after he had passed to the great Beyond. As a writer, however, he would have found his pen and mind becoming more facile and proHfic in expression, with less study and less practice than art required, and he would have found fame and fortune early in his life and would have lived to enjoy the fruits of his divine in' heritance. As a writer, he would have been recog' ni2;ed as an inspired thinker, but as an artist or musician he would have been classified as mediocre, or perhaps simply as a successful one who had bat- tled against the odds of life to attain recognition.
In other words, the faculties and tendencies which are our divine inheritance through Cosmic
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direction at the time of birth are the things which we may easily develop and apply in our lives to attain success, happiness, prosperity, and at the same time contribute to the needs of mankind and the benefits of civili2;ation.
It would appear, therefore, from all of the ob- servable facts, that each one of us is born to fulfill certain niches in life and to carry on definite missions in connection with certain lines of work and labor in our earthly lives. We hear so often of the horn musician, the horn artist, the horn business man, the horn creator and thinker, and others, who seem to have come into this life with certain abilities well estabHshed and well developed. Such persons are those who have learned, or discovered in some way, their true inheritance and their natural birthright, and have been permitted to develop along these inherited lines and to become successful in expressing them for the benefit of others. A musician may be bom in a family of carpenters, and a great architect may be born in a family of farmers who have never had even a primitive realiziation of architectural design. A great musician may be born in a family
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of persons who have never heard of good music, and had no opportunity of judging between good music and that which is otherwise. Nothing can explain this great diversity of natural tendencies, except the Cosmic law of divine inheritance. That in some cases a carpenter may have a son who becomes even more successful than himself in that trade, or an artist or musician may have a son or daughter who follows successfully in the same line, in no wise warrants the belief that physical in' heritance determines the natural tendencies and attributes which we find in all human beings. Therefore, in the following chapters a complete system is offered to you whereby you may analy2;e and study the inner, natural, inherited tendencies, abilities, and traits of character of any man, woman, or child. Again the note of warning must be sounded in regard to the differences in the stages of evolution to be found in the human race. The negro born in South Africa, and living in the natural, primitive conditions of his tribe or race would not express, nor even possess to the same degree, the inherited tendencies outlined in this system as would one born in modern civili2;a'
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tion, and, having passed through other incarna' tions of development, has attained a higher place in the evolutionary scale. The remarkable accomp' lishments, however, on the part of negroes and those of other races, v^hen given an opportunity to develop their natural tendencies, plainly indi' cate that neither race nor color has any bearing upon the blessings which each human being may receive from the Cosmic. And this should make all of us more tolerant and sympathetic in our thought of those in other lands, and among other races, who may not be of the same stage of evolution as ourselves, or who may not have the advantages we may have, but who are neverthe' less equal with us as sons of God, and recipients of the Cosmic benedictions.
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