{"collection":"ritual-magic","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_17182/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_17182","id":"gutenberg_17182","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17182","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Novels","Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy","Occultism"],"text":"Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes, Cori Samuel and\nthe Online Distributed Proofreading Team at\nhttps://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWITHIN\nTHE TEMPLE OF ISIS.\n\nBY\n\nBELLE M. WAGNER.\n\nDenver, Colorado:\nASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.,\n1899.\n\nCOPYRIGHT, 1899,\nBY HENRY WAGNER, M.D.\n\n\n\n\nDEDICATION.\n\nTO MY HUSBAND,\n\nHenry Wagner, M.D.,\n\nIN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS TRUE WORTH AS A WARRIOR\nIN THE CAUSE OF TRUTH, AND HIS DEVOTION TO THE\nBROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD OF MAN, AND THE\nFATHERHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD OF GOD, I\nDEDICATE THIS BOOK.\n\nBY THE AUTHORESS.\n\n\n[Transcriber's Note: Small errors, mainly in punctuation, have been\ncorrected in this version.  To see where corrections have been made,\nplease view the HTML version.]\n\n\n\n\nPUBLISHER'S PREFACE.\n\n\nWe are safe in saying that \"Within The Temple of Isis\" is unique and\nstands alone. There is no other book in print like it, and if\nSolomon of old had not said, \"There is nothing new under the sun,\"\nwe would be inclined to contradict him.\n\n\"Within the Temple of Isis\" God's word was law as interpreted by his\nHierophants; their oneness with the fountain of Being made them\nconscious of Nature's secret operations, and enabled them, as it\ndoes the wise ones of to-day, to enter the Temple of Isis and\nobserve the hidden mysteries concealed behind the veil.\n\nPurity of motive and sincerity of purpose brought its own reward to\nthem of old as it does to those of to-day who purify themselves\nbefore seeking for the knowledge and wisdom hidden within the \"Holy\nof Holies\"--\"The Temple of Isis.\"\n\nIsis means Mother of all, while Osiris means Father of all.\n\nThe Temple of Two Truths as matter and spirit must be realized\nwithin.\n\nThe Polar Opposites are those of sex dually expressed as two poles\nof one law or principle as taught by Hermetic Philosophy before the\nlaw of polarization of spirit into matter, and matter back into\nspirit, can be understood.\n\nThe Alchemist and the Astrologer, alike, possess this wisdom, and it\nwas this knowledge that made the Priests Kings of Egypt, so justly\nfamous as Magicians or Wise Men.\n\nThey still exist in spirit realms and can transmit to this plane of\nearth their wisdom, that would make earth a veritable paradise if\nonly the race could be made to realize its magical powers.\n\nScientific inventions of great moment to the race are thus projected\nto the earth, and spiritual Adepts in occult laws will again revive\nthe \"Wisdom Religion\" upon earth in all its beauty and grandeur as\nthe western race becomes fitted intellectually and spiritually to\nreceive it.\n\nNature ever repeats herself in cycles of time on the spiritual and\nmental, as well as the physical planes of life.\n\nEnd, there is none. Time and eternity are the ever-present Now, so\nfar as the spirit is concerned. Therefore, the readers of this\nstrange occult book will some day realize its truths as realities of\nnatural law on the spiritual planes of life. It is a clear,\npractical statement of Soul Marriage and of Soul Transfer from one\nearthly temple to that of another.\n\nNature's laws are ever the same; therefore, the same experiences\nherein narrated are applicable to Neophytes seeking soul initiation\nto-day as they were in the days of The Temple of Isis, and if the\nveil of Isis could be raised for one single moment the world would\nbe startled by the mysterious revelations disclosed.\n\nTo the Seers and the Occult Initiates alike, this book will appeal\nwith magical force. Its truths are those of the soul and spirit, and\ncan await the reader's soul development for verification.\n\nTruth needs no apology; therefore, none will be offered as an\nexcuse for this publication. It is our desire that our readers may\nsome day know for themselves that Truth is indeed stranger than\nFiction.\n\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\n\nIn presenting this little volume to our readers we ask them to\naccept it, not as fiction, but as divine truth as to the laws herein\nrevealed.\n\nNot a statement is made that is not possible to the divine will of\nman. Although it can not be proven to your outward knowledge, do not\nreject and declare it is not true.\n\nHistory will teach you there actually existed a \"Temple of Isis,\"\nand the translations thereof, although many of them are very\nincorrect, of the wonderful magic therein performed, lead one to\nthink there was some Wisdom issued from that Temple that is yet\nbeyond the human family, as a whole, to understand.\n\n\"The Temple of Isis\" exists no more in external form, and the\nHierophants of that Temple have passed from this to the spiritual\nplanes above. But, need we think by that, the blind forces of Nature\ncan no more be controlled? The forces are just the same to-day, but\nman's mind fails to grasp the truth that history repeats itself.\n\nMighty Hierophants are upon the earth to-day, in embryo, and when\nthe time comes that points favorably for active spiritual work on\nthe Western Continent, they will be called forth and Egypt will not\nbe ashamed of her true children nor their works.\n\nThe Wisdom Religion of Egypt still exists and we can contact that\nWisdom by the development of our souls. Even do the Wise Men of the\nEast, that was, exert their spiritual influence upon us to-day if we\nbut knew it.\n\nThe trouble lies with us not with them. They will never conceal it\nfrom the honest soul truly seeking for Light, Life and Love.\n\nFollow us carefully to the end, without prejudice, and when you have\nfinished, if you still think it fiction, strive to prove its falsity\nand stop not until you have reached that stage of soul unfoldment\nthat will enable you to occupy that plane whereby you can stand\nbeside the great Hierophants of \"The Temple of Isis.\"\n\nTHE AUTHORESS.\n\n\n\n\nWITHIN THE TEMPLE OF ISIS.\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nTHE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.\n\n\nAlthough the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had\njust retired to her apartments for repose.\n\nThe Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they\nalways were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial\nservice of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as\nwell as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried\nthat day.\n\nThus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the\nimpressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely\nenough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead,\nbut her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times\nthroughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special\nattendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.\n\nSarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had\nfailed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching\nglance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted\nto the private courts.\n\nPoor child, she thought, the strain upon her emotions, the solemn\noccasion, was too great for her in view of the crisis, which all\nunknown to her, must be now impending. However, upon learning from\nan attendant that the young girl was resting quietly and apparently\nnot ill, she had not herself personally visited her, but concluded\nto wait until morning.\n\nOnce, twice, thrice, just as the Priestess had, as it were, passed\nthe border-land of sleep the pale face, with its pleading eyes and\nplaintive cry, had started her back to vivid consciousness.\n\n\"Ah! this will never do,\" she said, springing to her feet.\n\"Something is indeed wrong,\" and taking up her mantle she glided\nswiftly through the corridors, and a few moments later was bending\nover the silent and motionless form of Sarthia.\n\nNoiseless as had been the approach of the Priestess some interior\nvibration had informed Sarthia of her coming and, with a quivering\nand swift movement, she sprang from her couch and threw herself\nimpulsively into the arms of the Priestess.\n\n\"Ah! sweet Mother, well beloved of our blessed and divine Isis, hear\nme and help me,\" said the girl, in a whisper, tense and low, so low\nas only to reach the listening ear of the Priestess.\n\n\"Speak child,\" answered the Priestess, caressingly clasping Sarthia\nto her bosom with one strong arm, and with the other making soft,\nmesmeric passes over her trembling body.\n\n\"Ah! thank you, sweet Mother; this is so good and kind of you to\ncome to me to-night. I have suffered so all day from your thought;\nyou have been disappointed in your Sarthia and with reason, too. A\nVestal, who all but faints at the sight of death, is not made of the\nstuff required in the Temple Service. But, believe me, dear\nPriestess, the trouble is far deeper than appears upon the surface.\nThe Ritual this morning but furnished the occasion or, rather,\nhastened some crisis that was already near at hand. For some time\nnow I am haunted by most potent premonitions of a violent death.\nNight after night, dark apparitions hang around my bed, and only\nlast night I awoke to find the Bird of Nu, the Owl, from out the\ninner Sanctuary of the Temple, perched upon my pillow and shaking\nhis head and croaking at me most mournfully.\"\n\n\"What!\" exclaimed the Priestess. \"The Bird of Nu. Ah! this is indeed\nvery serious. The matter must be investigated at once. But, my\nchild, if all these portents prove true, do you fear death? Have\nall our teachings been in vain? Have you made so little progress in\nknowledge and the philosophy of existence as to be overcome by dark\nshadows and grow faint in the presence of the sentiment and show of\nan external ceremony? The pageantry, which appeals so overwhelmingly\nto the emotions of the outside world, is the necessary means of\nteaching the people these awful and stupendous mysteries of life and\ndeath. But the Initiate should be sustained by actual experiences\nwithin these hidden realms and possess a knowledge of their inner\nnature which places him on a plane far above the reach of Fear;\nbesides being endowed with that burning love for wisdom which calmly\ndiscerns good in evil, and immortal life in the shadow, called\ndeath. Do not think I am chiding you, my child. I am only seeking\nto recall my real Sarthia, who is incapable of Fear, back to this\nphysical expression called body.\n\n\"There, already the bright soul shines again with its usual clear\nlight. Hold it firmly and do not let it flicker so again, and now I\nmust leave you to seek an interview with the chief of the\nAstrologers. The record and Horoscope of your birth must be\ncarefully looked up, and the meaning of these portents determined.\nGood-night, my child.\"\n\nWith a kiss, fond and maternal, the Priestess withdrew. She\nproceeded leisurely and thoughtfully toward a distant part of the\nTemple, having first dispatched a messenger before her to announce\nher coming, seeking an audience, well knowing that at this now early\nhour of morning the Astrologer Priests would all be in the midst of\ntheir busiest studies, calculations and most profound observations.\n\nBut Sarthia, when left alone, although marvelously calmed and\ncomforted by the tender presence and lofty words of her idolized\nPriestess could not compose herself to sleep. Instead, she soon\nfloated into a state of restful contemplation, drifting from one\ntopic to another, until suddenly she found herself confronted by a\nmost intensely vivid and startling vision. \"Can it be?\" Yes, true\nenough, there sat the venerable Astrologer holding in his hand\nbefore him, her chart of birth. Beside him, engaged in completing\nthe necessary calculations, sat the scribe and youthful Astrologer\nPriest, Hermo. There was a strange pallor over his face and a\ncompression of the lips which betrayed unusual emotion. The\nPriestess was partially facing them, composed, yet with a serious\nthoughtfulness of mien.\n\nAt last, Hermo, looking up, said, \"The directions for the present\nyear of life are made out, and the fatal arc carefully computed,\nVenerated Master,\" and handed his work to the Astrologer who took\nit, studied a moment briefly, and turned to the Priestess.\n\n\"What is the result, Venerated Father?\" she asked gently.\n\nThe Astrologer slowly shook his head and replied impressively,\n\"According to all the laws of our Science, and you know how true\nthey are, the physical organism of Sarthia can not survive this\npresent cycle of yonder fair Goddess of the night.\" And, with a\nmajestic move, he pushed aside a curtain, revealing the Moon now low\nin the west.\n\n\"So short a time,\" said the Priestess. \"To-morrow night will be the\nfull, and must we indeed lose our Sarthia before another new Moon?\nWhat is the nature of these evil influences?\"\n\n\"The planets, in their configurations, indicate sudden and violent\ndissolution,\" was the reply.\n\n\"Ah, now,\" said Sarthia to herself resolutely, at this point turning\naway from the vision, \"now I understand it all,\" and with a feeling\nof amaze at her newly-attained clairvoyance she fell into a deep and\nrefreshing sleep.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nIN THE PRESENCE OF THE HIEROPHANT.\n\n\nWith the first waking moments a sharp pang recalled to Sarthia the\nvision and its revealments of the previous night. But her mind had\nfully recovered its philosophic tone and she proceeded about her\ncustomary routine of duties, calm and firm, and, as is often the\ncase, in view of some inevitable and stupendous catastrophy close at\nhand, life only seemed larger, more intensely real. So, when later\nin the day she received summons to meet the great Hierophant and\nHigh Priest, what, at any other time, would have seemed a most\nmomentous event, appeared now only in the light of the expected and\nnecessary.\n\nAs she was ushered into the presence of the Holy Father the whole\napartment seemed pervaded by an atmosphere of genial warmth and\nelectrical-giving life which somehow emanated from the inner nature\nof the Priest himself, radiating also spiritual and mental, as well\nas physical force.\n\nFor some moments the Hierophant regarded the young Vestal in\nsilence, but Sarthia was conscious that he was reading her inmost\nthought and motive like an open book, even down to her vision of the\nAstrologer and his fatal announcement regarding her life.\n\n\"My child,\" he said at length, \"are you ready for the great change\nnow already at hand?\"\n\n\"No, Father, not ready but resigned to what seems to be the\ninevitable decrees of the planets that rule my physical destiny.\"\n\n\"Thou hast well said thou art not ready. Your life has yet but only\nbegun for you. Its experiences, its many lessons and duties, are all\nunlearnt and you would pass to the spirit world immatured. Your\nyoung soul, like fruit plucked from the tree too soon, would ripen\nslowly, losing many of its flavors and never attaining certain of\nits best and highest qualities, for as you well know, progress in\nthe next stage of existence depends upon the attainments in this.\n\n\"Thou art not ready, yet say you are willing to bow to the\ninevitable. This is wise, still have you not heard it said many\ntimes that man is the arbiter of his own destiny and that the soul\nwas the inheritor of God-like powers by which it could rise to the\nplane whereby it ruled, instead of obeying the blind or planetary\nforces of Nature?\"\n\n\"True, O Venerated Father, I have indeed heard all this, but I am\nvery ignorant. Are there such possibilities for my soul?\" and\nsomehow imperceptibly hope began to dawn within her heart and\nquicken the life forces.\n\n\"Ruling the blind forces of Nature is very like ruling the wild\nbeast, although the beast is much stronger than man and capable of\ntearing him to pieces, yet man, by forethought, can evade or trap\nand chain or otherwise overcome him. So my child, there are ways\nwherein man, assisted by his own knowledge, and by the instruction\nof departed spirits; aye, by the immortal Gods themselves, can\nevade even the malefic planets in their devastating course.\n\n\"To my clairvoyant vision, as I now at this moment look at you,\nevery minute atom of your physical organism is in the subtle process\nof depolarization from unity toward chaos and disintegration. You\nare not yourself conscious of this condition only as it has been\nrevealed to you, for your soul is so alive that it has become almost\nunconscious of its physical expression and for this very reason the\nshock of dissolution would be all the greater when it did come; for\nexample, witness your unexpected collapse yesterday morning. Ah!\nsudden death is a most deplorable calamity, and your pitiable state\nof mind was but a foretaste of what would be the state of your soul\nfor many long years, if you had died then, and will yet be, to a\nless extent now, unless this swift-coming blow can be evaded.\n\n\"However, in case the worst comes to worst, you have about ten days\nmore of this external life and under our special care and\npreparation you can live years of experience in hours of physical\ntime, and your soul thus equipped may courageously enter upon its\njourney to the spirit world. Rest assured, my child, everything\npossible shall be done for you.\"\n\n\"Ah, thank you; thank you, kind and good Father,\" exclaimed Sarthia,\ncasting herself at the feet of the Hierophant and, with tears\nstreaming from her eyes, kissing the hem of his robe.\n\n\"But, truly life is sweet, especially to the young, is it not, my\nchild?\" said the Priest, gently raising Sarthia to his side and\nholding her trembling form in a firm clasp. \"Happily, there is an\nalternative which we have to offer for your most careful\nconsideration and decision.\n\n\"Listen now, and give me your closest attention. Know you the young\nPrincess Nu-nah?\" Sarthia bowed assent.\n\n\"For now these many weeks she lies in a semi-conscious condition,\nthe soul hovering about its earthly temple uncertain whether to go\nor stay. In some respects her condition corresponds with your own,\nonly that with you, as dissolution approaches, your soul grows\nbrighter and more active, while hers becomes more and more latent;\nthis result being largely the difference of environment--a contrast\nof the soul unfoldment possible in Temple life and that amid the\ndistractions of the outside world.\n\n\"To-night, the night of the full Moon, the Princess Nu-nah will be\nbrought to the Temple and the Rites performed initiatory to the\nsoul's great change. You, also, my child, must bear her company. The\nsame journey lies before you both and you can go hand in hand\nthrough the dark valley of the shadow of death.\n\n\"And now, right here is a point where all will depend upon _your_\ndecision. It is possible for us, by aid of the arts of Magic known\nto us, to bring your two souls in such magnetic rapport that at a\ncertain point the vibrations of the two will, for a single instant\nof time, be in unison. At that momentous instant the polarity of the\ntwo souls can be interchanged so that the subsequent vibrations of\nyour soul will draw you toward Nu-nah's body, while Nu-nah's soul\nwill be drawn toward your organism, and thus will be accomplished\nthe first great step in the drama.\n\n\"This great change will hasten the physical crisis in each organism.\nBut your soul, while connected with Nu-nah's body, can easily\novercome the malefic planetary influences which would destroy it if\nshe were there; while her soul in your body renders _nil_, by its\nvery non-resistance, the influences which would be absolutely fatal\nwere you still there when the evil descends. And thus do you evade\nthe blind forces of Nature. Two lives are spared for the duties and\nexperiences of this world. This will be the second part of the\ndrama, and now comes the third and last point to consider, the\nResult.\n\n\"In just the proportion as this is a most stupendous change in your\nsoul life, so indeed, perhaps, even appalling to your present\ncomprehension, will be the effect.\n\n\"After your soul has once entered its new temple it will be obliged\nto remain there polarized by the new forces set in operation while\npassing the crisis. Then, Sarthia, our bright and well-beloved\nVestal, will henceforth be known as Princess Nu-nah, and will be\nobliged for a time to live the life and perform the duties of the\nPrincess.\n\n\"On the other hand, the Princess Nu-nah will put on the external\nbody of our Vestal Sarthia and enter upon the life of the Temple\nService, but with this difference; that while this change is\nconsciously made by you, Nu-nah will probably never know it until\nshe passes finally to the spirit world. Her past life has already\nfaded from memory while consciousness of the new life will dawn\ngradually as upon an infant, and therefore, since she can not be\nconsulted in the matter, the decision rests solely with you.\n\n\"To-night, at midnight, your answer will be required. Until then,\nfare thee well, and God be with you.\"\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\nTHE MIDNIGHT OF THE FULL MOON.\n\n\nIt yet lacked several hours of the fateful midnight, as Sarthia, her\nbody perfumed and annointed, according to the prescribed rites, was\nborne by faithful attendants from the bath into the courts of the\nSanctuary and placed upon a couch beside another, upon which already\nrested the unconscious form of the lovely Princess Nu-nah.\n\nBut Sarthia, although to an external, observer as unconscious as the\nfair Nu-nah, was never more intensely awake, every atom of her being\nand soul alert to all transpiring about her and conveyed to her\nthrough her marvelous new gifts of clairvoyance and clairaudience.\n\nNever, with the external eye, had she seen more vividly the vista\nupon vista of columns and corridors winding in and about the\nSanctuary, now illuminated by the full-orbed Queen of the Night,\nwhich she could see shining through a certain archway, and her heart\nthrilled as she counted the number of archways fair Luna must pass\nuntil, at midnight, she would shine down through the one just above\nher.\n\nAlready had begun the weird chants, interspersed with solos of\nexquisite harmonies of stringed and wind instruments--responses and\nechoes.\n\nIncense burned and perfumes arose and blended in an indescribable\nunion with melody and motion, while as the fragrant vapors from the\nburning censers wafted and wreathed about the colonnades and\nporticoes, Spirit forms added their presence to the sublime scene,\nbringing with them flowers, aromas and harmonies from the divine\nabodes of the very Gods themselves.\n\nOblivious of the passage of time, while intently absorbed in every\nminutest detail of the wonders passing about her, Sarthia was almost\nbecoming drowsy, when suddenly, the Moon looked in upon her, fast\nnearing the final archway, and yet she was undecided. She turned and\ngazed upon her companion, mentally asking, \"Can I become Nu-nah?\"\n\nNu-nah was very beautiful and a Princess. But Sarthia was also\nbeautiful and the blood in her veins was royal, though of a\ndifferent branch from the present ruling House.\n\nNu-nah was cold and haughty, accustomed to rule and be obeyed.\n\nSarthia was humble externally, a Vestal of the Temple, but in her\nmind and soul as imperious as a Queen of the realm of Heaven.\nPassionately devoted to the pursuit of Wisdom and the possibilities\nof obtaining knowledge, even Magic was open to her, in the Temple\nService. Could she leave her Temple home, her opportunities for\ngrowth, her idolized Priestess, to go into the environments of\nNu-nah?\n\nThe thought seemed to her worse than death itself. \"Every one has to\ndie,\" she mused, \"and I may as well die one time as another.\"\n\nThen another thought came into her mind--Hermo. He had begun to\nteach her the mysteries of his science of Astrology. Hermo, for whom\nshe had a pure sisterly regard and who was so proud of her swift\nproficiency in his favorite study. And then she recalled the vision\nof the previous night when Hermo had shown to her clairvoyant eye\nhis agitation at her impending doom.\n\n\"But if I become Nu-nah and Nu-nah becomes Sarthia, Hermo will never\nknow the difference and thus be spared the pain of loving his young\nsister. And furthermore, Nu-nah has a lover to whom she is betrothed\nand would have married, ere this, but for her lingering malady, the\nsuperb young Prince Rathunor, whom I have never seen.\"\n\nAh! here was indeed a most dire complication. Love was a most\nmysterious and unknown emotion to her. She might hate Prince\nRathunor and \"then we would both wish I had died,\" and she half\nlaughed to herself at the domestic comedy thus presented to her\nmind.\n\nAt this period, either as a reaction from the light thrown, or\nlighter thought upon her overwrought nature, or possibly from some\nsubtle, potent influence emanating from the censer burning near her,\nSarthia lapsed into sudden and most profound unconsciousness.\n\nA few moments later--it seemed to Sarthia as if ages had\nintervened--she began a fierce struggle to awake. \"Why, how is\nthis?\" she thought. She seemed enveloped in a dead wall of some\nkind. The brain, the heart, the infinite ramification of nerves in\nno way responded to her will and her utmost effort. Almost worn out\nwith the unequal battle it began to dawn upon her that she was\nreally endeavoring to animate the other body. \"Am I becoming\nNu-nah?\" Yes, in the excitement of the moment she raised herself\nupon her couch and, resting upon her elbow, gazed upon the rigid\nform of what a moment before had been herself.\n\nBut her movement had startled a form beside the couch, some one who\nhad approached, unobserved by Sarthia, during the interval of\nunconsciousness.\n\nA young man who seemed to her the most God-like being she had ever\nbeheld and perceiving her glance, with a low exclamation of joy,\nsprang toward her, clasped her hand in his, and turning her face\nupward, gazed with most passionate tenderness into her eyes.\n\n\"My Nu-nah, you will live,\" he murmured. \"Do you know your\nRathunor?\"\n\nThrilled to suffocation by the love in his eyes, every atom of her\nsoul vibrating to a new-born and overwhelming emotion, she felt\nherself slowly but surely losing control of her new body. With,\nhowever, one supreme effort she pressed the hand holding hers and\nreturning the look in his eyes she gave one deep, quivering sigh and\nwas gone.\n\nWhen again she regained consciousness she was within her own body.\nRathunor had vanished and the first slanting rays of the Moon were\ndescending the last aperture.\n\nIt was midnight, and she found herself in communication with the\nHierophant, who, from a different portion of the Sanctuary, was\nseriously regarding her and again reading her inmost thoughts.\n\nA few moments before she had all but decided that she could not be\nNu-nah, that death now, here in this Holy Sanctuary were better far\nthan hundreds of years as a Princess of the realm of materiality.\nBut, a new factor had now entered her being. A force, more subtle\nthan all Wisdom,--more potent than life or eternity itself,--had\ntransfused her soul--Love! Love, the first, the highest, the\nall-embracing force of the mighty Universe, and with this new love\nhad been ushered also into being, Jealousy.\n\n\"Rathunor loved Nu-nah! Am I not a strange interloper? Was it not\nworse by my decision to rob Nu-nah of her lover than to deprive her\nof continued physical life?\"\n\nFor, it seemed to her now, that life without love would be more than\nthe agonies of the lowest hells. Then again, to live with Rathunor\nas his wife, while he all the time thought her to be Nu-nah, would\nbe an incessant torture, keener and more intense than if she were\nchained by, as a third person, to behold him loving the actual\nNu-nah in her own body.\n\n\"Holy Father and revered Hierophant,\" she moaned, \"help me, I can\nnot decide.\"\n\n\"My child,\" came the mental response to her call, \"if you could be\nassured that Rathunor would love _you_ in Nu-nah's body, would the\ndecision be easy?\"\n\n\"Aye, indeed, dear Father.\"\n\n\"Then rest assured it will be as you desire. We give you our sacred\nword that Rathunor will love _you_.\"\n\nThen, raising his arm, as in benediction, he slowly repeated thrice,\nlike an incantation, the words, \"Rest in Peace,\" and, ere the echoes\nof his voice had died away, the soul of Sarthia had left forever its\nearthly abode and Temple.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\nWITHIN THE ADYTUM.\n\n\nFor several days, after floating from her body into the Astral\nworld, Sarthia remained in a state of profound, dreamless slumber\nand then gradually passed into a condition of semi-consciousness\nwith occasional fitful gleams of memory until one day she realized\nherself in close proximity to two persons engaged in earnest\nconversation and became fully aware of the momentous events that had\njust transpired and her present disembodied situation. And with a\nthrill indescribable she recognized the voice of Rathunor addressing\nthe Hierophant.\n\n\"And so, most revered Father, all things are progressing favorably\nand toward a satisfactory culmination?\" he said.\n\n\"Even so, my son,\" was the reply. \"And yet,\" continued the Prince,\n\"save the one momentary gleam of recognition, upon the first night\nof the ceremonies, the soul of the Princess Nu-nah, to all outward\nappearance, has left entirely. The body is sustained, apparently, by\nsome magical process, the nature of which I do not understand.\"\n\n\"True, my son, but that need not disquiet you. The resources of\nNature are many and far from being exhausted. But then, youth is\nnaturally impatient. Did you so deeply love the Princess?\"\n\nAt this point Sarthia would have withdrawn but she found that her\ndesire to stay chained her to the spot, and glancing at the\nHierophant she realized that her presence was known to him and that\nhe wished her to remain.\n\nThe Prince mused thoughtfully for a few moments before replying and\nthen said with a half sigh, \"You know, O Father, that I myself did\nnot particularly desire that marriage. From my earliest childhood I\nhave been fond of my cousin and playfellow. As she matured I have\nadmired, with family pride, her perfect beauty of form, her haughty\nspirit and her ability to rule. And yet, as you, who can so easily\nread the innermost secrets of the heart, must know I have not been\nable to discern the happiness for myself in this union that my soul\nwould crave, or that you led me to expect in wedded love. If my\nambition irresistibly impelled me to fill the external destinies of\nmankind, to become a monarch of unsurpassed power and magnificence,\nthen would Nu-nah be the royal consort absolutely adapted for such\npride and pomp. But, you know, O Father, all these things are as\nempty bubbles and child toys to one aspiring to become a Priest\nKing, to him who hungers and thirsts, day and night for wisdom, for\nknowledge of the more inner secrets of Nature, guarded so jealously\nby the Priesthood but revealed by the very Gods themselves to those\nworthy to know and fit to use and assist in carrying out the plans\nand orderly workings of the very Universe itself.\n\n\"In form and feature Nu-nah's image meets my highest ideal, but when\nI would speak of the thoughts and ambitions upon which my soul\ndwells, then her cold look of incomprehension appalls me with the\nvast difference in our natures. Her thoughts can never penetrate\nthe realm wherein my life-forces are all centered. Never have I\nexperienced from her the response my love would crave.\"\n\n\"Have you then never at any time felt that Nu-nah's love for you\ncould be trained and in time evolved to the plane whereby she would\nrespond to you?\"\n\n\"Nu-nah does not seem capable of the love of soul. She accepts me as\na lover due her, and whose attention and presence gratify her pride\nand vanity. Never once, or perhaps only once, have I ever seen or\nimagined I saw a recognition of love, and that was the night of the\nfull Moon, during the recent ceremonies. As, with your permission, I\nfor a moment drew near the couch on which she reposed, she suddenly\nraised to a half-sitting position and seemed strangely startled by\nmy presence. With a thrill of hope, that finally love was\nawakening, I sprang forward and spake anxiously and fondly to her.\nFor the first time in all my life her glance vibrated to my heart's\nvery core. My brain reeled with intoxication as she pressed my hand,\nand the love from her eyes burns now into my soul as I recall that\none second of bliss. But, alas! she fell back into her former\nlifeless state and lingers so until I am in doubt if after all it\nwere not some illusion connected with the wonderful Magic of that\nnight.\"\n\n\"Nay,\" said the Hierophant, \"I can assure you that what you\nexperienced was _real_ and that if this matter reaches a successful\nissue you will henceforward find in Nu-nah all that your soul\ndesires, that ever will her eager spirit lead yours in the pursuit\nof knowledge and the highest wisdom.\"\n\nThen the Hierophant turning, mentally addressed Sarthia, the unseen\nwitness of the interview, \"Am I not right in making this pledge for\nyou to Rathunor? Think you we have also fulfilled our promise that\nRathunor shall love you?\"\n\nBut her heart was too full to reply. He then directed her attention\nto her location and surroundings and for the first time she became\naware with amazement, almost terror, that she was within \"THE\nSACRED ADYTUM--THE HOLY OF HOLIES,\" while the Hierophant and\nRathunor were within an adjoining court and private apartment of the\nHigh Priest.\n\n\"My child,\" said the Hierophant in reply to her speechless inquiry\nas to the meaning of this wonder, \"there are no barriers to the\ndisembodied soul. This place, so religiously guarded, so\ninaccessible to the ordinary mortal, is open to any soul having\npassed a certain grade of initiation into the divine mysteries of\nNature and attained unto that purity of heart whereby man may see\nhis God.\n\n\"To-morrow night, on the occasion of the new Moon, will be\nconsecrated within this Holy Chamber, the union of your soul with\nthat of Rathunor's and here also will be consummated that mystic\ntransfer between your soul and that of Nu-nah's.\n\n\"And now, I leave you here while I accompany Rathunor. As you\ngradually lapse into the sweet silence of this Holy place, observe\nthe meaning of some of the stupendous mysteries of Nature revealed\nhere openly to the one having eyes to see and possessing the gift of\nunderstanding.\"\n\nHer first sensation on being left alone was, that she was floating\nlike the vapor of a breath upon the swaying wreaths of burning\nincense, and as she reclines thus in blissful repose there dawned\nupon her vision a view of the vast Temple in its absolute entirety.\nIt assumed the strange outline of a gigantic human body, all its\nintricacies becoming orderly correspondencies of the human organism\nin its multitudinous ramifications. Then all the vast ceremonial of\nthis body passed in review before her mind, each rite symbolic of\nsome function, physical, mental and spiritual, and she marveled at\nthe adaptability of the parts to each other and then to the grand\nwhole.\n\nBut, above all, was she impressed by the depth in depths of meaning\nof this Sacred Adytum in its symbolic relation to the whole\nstructure. However, ere she could tarry to reflect, the nature of\nthe vision changed as if her eye had been turned suddenly from the\nlense of a Microscope to that of an immense Telescope. Before her\nview stretched the starry Zodiac, in outline, the same as its\nprototype, the human body--the Grand Temple. The Sun and its solar\nsystem corresponding to various vital functions in the human\norganism, but the crowning wonder of all came as she comprehended\nthe relation which our planet, mother Earth, bore to the Grand Man\nof the skies, and her soul was overwhelmed as all the implications\nof this relation rushed in upon her being.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nTHE TRANSFER.\n\n\nAccording to the calculations made by the chief Astrologer Priest it\nwas just at midnight that the conjunction of the luminaries took\nplace in the Zodiacal sign belonging to the Moon. This union of the\nluminous orbs of the day and night is powerfully magical in its\nresults.\n\nThe vibrations, set in motion by this mighty union of the positive\nand negative forces of Nature, react, not only upon the waters and\nthe Earth, but the human family. Not only does the mighty ocean obey\nthis wonderful influence in the ebb and flow of its tides, but the\nEarth, as she rotates upon her axis, obeys this mighty power and\nmanifests in her depths and heights in her serpentine movement about\nthe Sun.\n\nNature's laws are very exact and man, to become the Arbiter of his\nown destiny, must blend his energies in harmony with those of\nNature.\n\nAgreeable to appointment and the arrangements to be made it was\nnecessary for the Hierophant and the Holy men of the Temple to\nassemble at an early hour, although the Transfer was not to take\nplace until midnight.\n\nMuch preparation was necessary as a most momentous ceremony was to\nbe performed this night; one that rarely ever was performed, owing\nto the fact that few of the Temple Priests were initiated into these\nsacred Magical Rites. They were too Sacred and Holy to be imparted\nto many, too dangerous for possible failures, too infinite in\nresponsibilities accompanying such undertakings. Only those where\nthe mind, soul and spirit, blended as one in their organism, were\never entrusted with the interior knowledge of the Sacred Adytum--The\nHoly of Holies.\n\nOnly the invocations were to be made, the chants and ceremonies\nbelonging to the Holy Sanctuary were to be observed. The air was\nladened with the sweet fragrance of incense and those subtle\nperfumes that are so delightful and enticing to the soul. Hours\nbefore the solemn Rites were to be performed, every part of the Holy\nTemple must be permeated with their magical and mystical influence.\n\nThe bodies of both Sarthia and Nu-nah lay in state before the Altar\nin the Holy Sanctuary, both robed and perfumed as if for burial.\n\nThe Hierophant of the Temple, the Priests and the Lay Priests, and\nthe Priestesses with their Vestal Virgins, were now assembled in\ntheir respective places.\n\nThe hour of midnight had arrived. The chants now begun, set in\nvibration the spiritual forces that appeal only to the soul and\nspirit.\n\nThe subtle, silent will of the High Priest mentally commanded the\npresence of the departed spirit of Sarthia. At his bidding, she came\nfloating toward him, and when within a certain distance from her\ninanimate body, she remained hovering over it. Most willingly and\njoyfully she came, knowing the promise of the High Priest would be\nrealized when she became able to animate and control the body and\nmind of what was still Nu-nah's.\n\nRathunor was present at the urgent request of the Priest. He little\ndreamed why his presence was so much desired, and how he, who was so\nignorant of the Temple rules and service, could be of any\nassistance.\n\nA spark had been kindled within his very soul, the night that\nSarthia found herself in Nu-nah's temple and for a moment\nconsciously remembered and spoke, that had been burning deeper and\ndeeper until now, it was ready to burst forth as an ever-living\nflame at the first breath of hope that this new emotion was of the\nsoul--real and immortal.\n\nDid he dare for a moment listen to the whispering of the interior\nself? Fear alone made him drive back and quell the monitions that\nsprang from within, for O, if they were only vain hopes could he\nsurvive the disappointment? The thought was crushing, and better,\nhe thought, not to hope than believe an illusion.\n\nThe magnetic chord that yet held Nu-nah to her frail, prostrated\nbody had not yet been severed. The unconscious soul hung or rather\nfloated about its temple, apparently waiting for a stronger force\nfrom the interior realm to call it away.\n\nThe Hierophant stepped to the front of the Altar and, raising his\nhands, invoked the presence of the Gods and their assistance in this\nSacred ceremony of making that Transfer of the spiritual life-line\nthat binds the spirit to soul, and soul to body.\n\nAs the two souls hung suspended by these magnetic life-chords above\ntheir own bodies, through the magical influences of the Priests,\nthe chants and music came closer and closer, as if drawn together by\nsome strong magnetic attraction.\n\nSarthia, now, as well as Nu-nah, was unconscious of what was taking\nplace. Nu-nah's was the natural unconscious state of an undeveloped\nsoul in passing from the physical temple to the realms beyond, while\nSarthia's was purposely induced by the magical will of the Operator.\n\nThe middle of the mystical hour had just been reached when the two\nlife-lines met and blended for one single instant, then separated\nand, obeying the powerful wills of the Priests, became polarized in\neach other's body.\n\nThe magical invisible agency that had been animating the body of\nSarthia was now withdrawn, and the soul of Nu-nah's gradually but\nfaintly began to supply the animating force to revive and control\nthe apparently lifeless form.\n\nSarthia's spiritual consciousness was not immediately allowed to\nreturn. The awakening must be gradual to her, for knowing what was\nbeing done, the joy and ecstacy of a prolonged life in the holy\nbonds of pure love with Rathunor would be disastrous if suddenly\nconveyed to her consciousness.\n\nThe High Priest, turning to Rathunor, said, \"Our beloved pupil,\nreturn now to your usual duties, but fail not to return to the\nTemple a little before twelve o'clock to-morrow night.\"\n\nNow the bodies of Sarthia and Nu-nah were removed to another part of\nthe Temple. The Priestesses and Vestals, with the choir and\nmusicians, were dismissed as the first part of the solemn and\nsacred Rites was over, but the Priests remained, never stopping in\ntheir magical work, for yet the vibrations of the new-born souls\nwere not of sufficient strength and power to remain unassisted,\nespecially that of Nu-nah's.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\nTHE AWAKENING.\n\n\nThe constant presence of some of the Priests of the Temple had been\nnear the bodies of Nu-nah and Sarthia continuously for the last\ntwenty-four hours, and by their magic assistance the vibrations of\nthe souls to their new tenements grew stronger and quite harmonious.\n\nThe hour of midnight was again near at hand. The reviving forms of\nthe two young girls were again brought into the Holy Sanctuary of\nthe Temple and placed in front of the Altar and the Hierophant who\nhad already taken his position.\n\nThe Priestesses of the Temple with their Vestals were quietly and\nsolemnly wending their way to their usual places. The choir had\nbegun to chant the opening service when Rathunor with one of the\nPriests approached with slow and measured strides as if a false\nmovement would disturb the solemnity of this midnight's mystic\nsilence.\n\nAs they approached the spot where the two bodies lay, there was a\nperceptible movement, as of consciousness in the silent form of\nNu-nah.\n\nJust as the distant chimes pealed forth their announcement of the\nmidnight hour the Hierophant arose and stepped forth to the front of\nthe Altar and, at a silent signal, there broke forth, as of one\nvoice, the low-distant strains of the most enchanting music. The\nvoices and the tones from the musical instruments were so\nharmoniously and wonderfully blended that the result was magically\neffective. The strains increased in volume--they seemed to approach\nnearer and nearer--until the whole edifice resounded and re-echoed\nas though filled with one vast orchestra sounding forth the Anthem\nof Creative Life, \"We Praise Thee, O God.\"\n\nThis enchanting music continued for some time, then gently died away\nuntil only the breathings of music could be heard, when the\nHierophant raised his hands as if in supplication. The solemn, awful\nstillness of the hour was awe-inspiring.\n\nOnce, twice, thrice, the voice of the Hierophant resounded\nthroughout the Sanctuary as he thus spoke to their souls:\n\n\"Arise, O ye daughter of Isis, come forth and again enter the daily\nlives of a Vestal and a Princess. Many years now are granted to\nyour service, and now that you have both been beyond the dividing\nline of this and the other plane, your lives henceforth should be\nguided and influenced by that experience.\"\n\nAt this he descended from the Altar and took the helpless hand of\nSarthia to magically convey to the silent, lifeless body the\nelectric forces of life.\n\nTurning to Rathunor, who stood near, beckoning him to his side, he\ntook his hand and led him to that which _was_ Nu-nah's body, and\ngently raising the apparently lifeless hand of the silent form\nplaced it within that of Rathunor's. The effect was indeed magical.\n\nRathunor was held spell-bound, the thrilling sensations, the\nemotions that sprang forth from the heart were electrifying. He\ncould feel the tense vibrations passing from his hand to that of her\nbody, the source of which he could not fathom nor understand, and\nlittle did he care at that moment when he perceived the slight\ntremor that was creeping over the heretofore lifeless form of his\nPrincess Nu-nah.\n\nHere, Rathunor would have been overcome by his emotions of joyful\nbliss and thrown himself prostrate at the feet of the Priest in\nthankful gratitude for the restoration to life of his lovely Nu-nah,\nhad not the Hierophant just at this moment laid his hand upon\nRathunor's shoulder saying, \"My child, have you become unconscious\nof the place and the occasion, and the solemn promise you gave me to\nbravely follow my instructions without a show of weakness. Let not\nan outward manifestation of your feelings escape you again. Are you\nyourself again?\"\n\nWith a mighty effort of his will Rathunor commanded an outward calm\nat least, but he could not speak, he could only bow his head in\nassurance and being told to retain the hand of Nu-nah, the Priest\ncontinued audibly, \"In the name of the Almighty and ever-living God\nI now join these two souls as one. May their consciousness of this,\ntheir soul-union, dawn upon their outward memory as time proceeds,\nand then journey together in conscious union on the eternal path of\nprogress to the Divine Throne of God. Amen! Amen!\"\n\nRathunor heard but did not understand and being overcome by the\nsilent over-powering influence surrounding him, fell insensible to\nthe floor beside the reviving form of Nu-nah.\n\nAs soon as he had been conveyed to an outer court, the Hierophant\nagain continued. Turning his attention to Sarthia, mentally he\ncalled three times, \"Nu-nah, Nu-nah, Nu-nah, henceforth you shall be\nknown as Sarthia the Vestal. May the guardian angels that have been\nplaced over your reviving body, keep and hold the soul with it until\nhealth of body and strength of mind returns. God bless our new-found\nVestal. Amen.\"\n\nAs the last echo of the Priest's voice died away the music burst in\na joyful song of praise, and continued until the bodies of each of\nthe young girls were removed. Sarthia's to that formerly occupied by\nthe Vestal, and Nu-nah's to that of the home of the Princess.\n\nRathunor soon revived in the fresh air of the outer court and now\nbeing summoned by a messenger from the Hierophant presented himself\nagain before him.\n\n\"My son,\" said the High Priest, \"go to the home of the Princess and\nremain, either with, or near her until three cycles of seven shall\npass by. At the end of twenty-one days you may return to your own\nhome and enter the accustomed life of a Prince, until that time\nshall come when the Prince of the world shall enter the path that\nleads to a King of Wisdom,\" and with a fervent press of the hand and\na benediction for his soul's welfare he bid him good-night and\nretired from the Holy Sanctuary.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\nA VISIT TO THE CHIEF ASTROLOGER.\n\n\nA few weeks after the preceding ceremonies, a messenger announced to\nthe Astrologer Priest that the Priestess sought an interview.\n\nHermo was at his post making the usual, daily calculations for the\nPriest. As the Priestess entered, Hermo arose, and was about to\nwithdraw, when the Priestess, by a wave of her hand, gave him to\nunderstand his presence was required.\n\nThe Priestess began, \"O, most Venerated Father, I come again to ask\nassistance, with your astrological knowledge, in behalf of Sarthia.\nThe memory of the past seems to be entirely blotted out. Is there\nany aspect showing that memory will return, and if not, at what time\ndo the planets indicate a commencement of the training of the mind\nthat will bring a successful issue in spiritual things? We will have\nto commence with her as a child and train the body, mind and soul to\nVestal Service.\"\n\nThe Astrologer turned to Hermo and said, \"Hear you the request of\nour Priestess here? Make note, and see at what time the planets\npoint favorably to the initiation of our new Sarthia into the Temple\nService of Isis.\"\n\n\"How is our new Sarthia?\" inquired the Priest.\n\n\"Nothing, as yet,\" answered the Priestess, \"But that does not\ndisturb my hope and faith that she will become all that we wish and\ndesire of her, and instead of having but one Vestal we shall have\ntwo, for ere long Nu-nah will also be numbered among our Vestals,\nand Rathunor as one of our Priests.\"\n\nThanking the Priest for his promised service the Priestess withdrew.\n\nThe Astrologer returned to his studies and was soon absorbed with\nthem, when, suddenly he turned to Hermo and said, \"Hermo, I shall\nplace Sarthia under your special tutelage as soon as she is ready to\ncommence her studies in Astrology.\"\n\nThe suddenness of the Priest's remarks quite confused the young\nscribe and set him to seriously thinking. Strange thoughts came into\nhis mind, \"why should Sarthia _not_ continue her studies with me,\nwhy would she become a special and _not_ a fellow student?\"\n\nHe could not account for these strange thoughts that had been\nexcited within his mind, and the rest of the hours of work did not\nshow the usual amount accomplished.\n\nAt an early hour the next night, before Hermo had arrived for his\nnight's work, the Astrologer Priest sent for the Priestess. She\nhastily responded to the summons feeling there was some very\nimportant news to be received. As soon as she entered the Priest\nsaid, \"Most noble Priestess, I find by the calculations made, that\nnot before another month may our infant child, Sarthia, be\ninitiated, as a pupil, into the Temple of Isis. Two days before the\nfull Moon the spiritual rays will be most active and potent, and\nbeing of so harmonious a nature we may hope for the most\nsatisfactory results. The task will be slow and require much\npatience, my Priestess, for the hereditary tendencies of the brain,\nthat have so far influenced that soul's life and experiences, will\nhave to be polarized in other channels and gradually awakened to\nconsciousness. The life of the body it has been animating in past\nyears was not of such a nature as to mature a healthy soul.\n\n\"The work now, with our new Sarthia, is with the Soul, to make it\nequal to the brain that has been cultivated and enlarged in\nspiritual ways; while with Nu-nah, the work will be in arousing and\ndeveloping that brain to the conscious response of the matured soul.\nDo I make myself plain to you? In my young pupil, Hermo, we will\nhave a most valuable assistant in our work with Sarthia, for I have\ndiscovered that the divine relation of brother and sister exists\nbetween them. They are blest with being the emanations from the same\ndivine state and children of the same spiritual parents. I spoke to\nHermo of Sarthia last night, at the same time _willing_ that my new\ndiscovery might be imparted to his soul, which I could see had been\npartially accomplished.\n\n\"We will allow them often in each other's society, and that holy\nlove of brother of sister, and sister of brother, which can only be\nkindled in the outer heart when this spiritual relation exists.\n\n\"This will soon be recognized by each of them, and this alone will\nbe a most potent influence in nourishing and teaching the soul of\nSarthia. Nothing lies in Sarthia's path that portends serious evil\nfor many years to come. Therefore, my good Priestess, take new hope\nand courage, and not many Moons will grow and wane before an inward\npride will be born for your new Vestal.\"\n\nThe Priestess retired after thanking him most cordially, and could\nhardly conceal her emotions of joy and rapture until she was safe in\nher own apartments, where she could give full vent, in tears and\ncries of joy and gratitude.\n\nAs soon as all traces of the effects, which this knowledge had\nproduced, were erased, and she became perfectly calm and composed,\nshe sought Sarthia's chamber. The young girl was reclining upon a\ncouch that had been drawn near the window, apparently much absorbed\nin studying the heavens. Scarcely did she notice the presence of the\nPriestess until she knelt beside her and said, \"What thoughts are\nbeing born in my Sarthia's mind as she views the mighty heavens\nabove with its millions of silent monitors, awaiting our pleasure to\nread and understand? Are they speaking to my darling child? Do you\nhear their silent voices and feel their subtle and powerful\ninfluences upon you?\"\n\nThe young girl did not reply immediately. The body was still very\nweak and feeble, the mind was as one just awakening from a prolonged\nslumber.\n\n\"My beloved Priestess, did you speak to me of the stars, those\nloving lights in the heavens? They do seem to speak, but I can not\nunderstand and know what they say. Do you, dear Mother, and can you\ntell me?\"\n\nThis first ray of awakening memory was more radiant to the Priestess\nthan a thousand stars could have produced if all their rays could\nhave blended into one. But calmness was her external bearing.\nSeldom any manifestation of an unusual emotion, was permitted to\nfind an outward expression either in manner or speech. She had\nattained that perfect command of herself that neither joy nor\nsorrow, good nor evil, praise nor blame, could unbalance the perfect\npoise and tranquillity of her developed Soul.\n\n\"My Sarthia,\" replied the Priestess, \"I can not know what they are\nsaying to _you_, but they do speak to me. They tell me that life is\nimmortal, that the growth and the progress of the soul are eternal,\nthat we may know and read their language while in these bodies if we\ntry; then as we draw nearer and nearer to them, as our souls grow\nand become familiar with their teachings, we can know them as well,\nif not better, than our Astrologer Priests do, also as well as your\nbrother Hermo is learning to do.\"\n\n\"My--brother--Hermo,\" and there was a perceptible light of\nintelligence in the eyes for a moment.\n\nThe Priestess was not speaking to the mind, but to the soul, at the\nsame time willing to find a response there. The mere words availed\nnothing to her, only in so much as they expressed the longings and\ndesires of the interior self.\n\nAs Sarthia said no more, the Priestess arose and, moving quietly\nabout the room, gave a few directions and cautions to those in\nattendance, then presently withdrew.\n\nThat night was passed by the Priestess in her own private chamber,\nnot in sleep and rest, but actively and earnestly engaged in silent\nprayer for her new-born children, Nu-nah, Sarthia and Rathunor.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\nPRINCESS NU-NAH.\n\n\nThe morning following the Priestess' visit to Sarthia's apartments,\nshe sent a messenger to inquire for the welfare of Princess Nu-nah.\n\nShe was reported to have slept well, seemed much stronger, but a\npeculiar change had taken place during her almost fatal illness. She\nspoke strangely, almost weirdly at times, which excited much comment\nand anxiety amongst her immediate friends and relatives.\n\nThe Princess had been a general favorite and much admired by those\noccupying the same station in life with herself; but by those who\nwere subject to her commands and rule, she was looked upon as cold,\nstern, and heartless, kind in her way when obeyed, but the slightest\ndisobedience brought scornful reproaches and often punishment.\n\nThe Priestess, knowing the source of the peculiar change spoken of,\nfelt that all was well. No other attention than the presence of\nRathunor was needed. The developed soul of the Vestal Sarthia would\nsoon come into control of the brain she was now trying to find\nexpression through.\n\nThen, too, the organs of the brain that Sarthia's soul would\nnaturally vibrate, had never become active, nor developed; they, as\nit were, were dormant, fast asleep, awaiting the pulsating\nvibrations of the spiritual influx to give them life and usefulness.\nWhile those that had been so fully developed in the brain, by the\nlife of the Princess, found no corresponding vibrations from the\nsoul.\n\nTruly, a strange commingling of the two opposing forces, and one in\nwhich time was required to bring about perfect adjustment.\n\nThe High Priest had commanded all visitors to be excluded, except\nRathunor, who was to have access at all times, and as the\nHierophant's word was that of God to them, so, purely from a\nreligious standpoint, they were strictly obeyed. While the Priestess\nand others of the Temple knew the secret of the Priest's strict\ninjunctions, they likewise knew that none of Sarthia's associates\ndared approach, lest their presence would too suddenly awake to\nconsciousness the slumbering soul, before the brain had yet fully\nresponded and vibrated to the new animating spark of life.\n\nRathunor, most of all, observed the change in the Princess; at the\nslightest touch there was a response within--his very presence\nstruck the chords of sympathy that existed between them. This was,\nto him, a very unaccountable change. In all his life association\nwith Nu-nah these emotions, that now seemed to spring from the soul,\nhad never before been experienced. He was very much inclined to\nattribute it to an abnormal sympathy aroused by her sickness and\nterrible suffering. Still, the words of the High Priest haunted him\nand the feelings born from within, on the night of the solemn Rites\nat the Temple, could not be vanished by any amount of reasoning;\nstill he would not allow such thoughts to be nourished by the\nslightest hope--much less be watered by the spirit of faith and\nallowed to grow. Although Rathunor was brave in external pain, and\ndaringly courageous in acts of chivalry, he was an infant when\nsubject to disappointment. Here was the battle of self going on.\n\n\"Have I the strength and manly courage to bear the disappointment\nborn from a delusive hope? Not yet.\" So he suffered and heeded not\nthe whisperings from within, until he could not endure it any\nlonger, when he sought the presence of the Hierophant for advice and\nenlightenment. Scarcely able to hold in check his impatience he\nburst forth without the recognition due the superior presence of a\nHigh Priest.\n\n\"O, most Holy and Revered Father, tell me, am I wrong in not\nlistening to the monitions that are racking my inmost being? May I\nhope the love that is growing within my soul will be surely\nrecognized and reciprocated by Nu-nah on her return to physical\nhealth? Is this love a vain delusion on my part, an imagination born\nfrom sympathies that will vanish as soon as health is restored and\nwe enter the whirl of the social world again? If it is in thy power,\nO Father, tell me the truth. Repeat thy assuring words once more,\nand I will be guided by them in the future, and never again allow\nthe shadow of doubt to cross the threshold of my mind.\"\n\n\"My child,\" said the High Priest, \"once more I assure you of the\nloving response of Nu-nah's soul and mind, as soon as she is herself\nagain. But, mark you well, at the return of consciousness, be not\nrash in any of your words or acts; remember, her return to life is\nas a new-born babe--weak, tender and easily impressed by stronger\nminds and wills than its own. You are the stronger at present, and\nall patience and indulgence are exacted from you. Let her\nimaginations and fancies play as they will for awhile; yours must be\ncalm, loving, sympathetic and unwavering in hope and faith that all\nwill eventually be well; and again, I assure you that not many years\nshall pass before you will enter the path and the life your soul is\nnow longing for. Princess Nu-nah will more than compensate you for\nall the kind attentions you now bestow upon her in the guiding,\nteaching and leading your soul in the paths to spiritual knowledge\nand the spiritual life, while still inhabiting the physical form.\n\n\"The hungerings of your soul shall be more than satisfied by her\nministering spirit. The interior consciousness will gradually dawn\nupon you both, but to Nu-nah first.\" Then, taking Rathunor by the\nhand, he continued, \"Doubt no more, my child, have faith in the\nInfinite Wisdom that guides and directs the struggling soul through\nthe intricate ways of evolution up to the final consciousness of\nImmortal Life. God be with and bless you.\"\n\nRathunor had no words to express his gratitude. But they would have\nbeen useless to the Hierophant, for the new-born light that shone\nforth, though dimly, was more to the Priest than a world of words.\n\nHe merely looked, bowed, and with a fervent pressure of the hand,\nwas gone from the presence of the Holy Priest. As he retraced his\nsteps toward the home of Princess Nu-nah, a holy calm pervaded his\nwhole being; his doubts fled as an enemy; his excitement was\ntransformed into tranquil earnestness; a sublime sense of the\nrealities of life filled his brain, and a willingness to await the\nprogress and development, that time would bring forth and mature,\npossessed him, until he was so changed that he scarcely recognized\nhimself.\n\nWas this change volitional?\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\nTHE INITIATION.\n\n\nDays of weary watching, and toilsome care that the new-born Vestal\nwould not be misled in her awakening thoughts, were necessary. The\nbody needed but little care other than the proper nourishment and\nattention of any one in usual health. Sarthia's physical organism\nhad not become depleted by disease and suffering, and the\ndisorganization that had commenced was checked by the magical agent\nthat had been placed over it, even before Sarthia had entirely left\nit.\n\nThe lethargy was more mental than physical. It was that\nsemi-consciousness that precedes sleep, or that one sometimes\nexperiences when awakened suddenly out of a deep, profound slumber.\n\nThe Priestess visited her many times throughout the day when she\ncould spare the time from her duties in the Temple. In the course of\na few days Sarthia was able to be assisted in short walks about the\nhalls and corridors, but took little heed of things about her. Day\nby day, the body grew stronger and a new light began to dawn in the\neyes and shone upon the countenance of the fair young girl.\n\nIn the meantime, Hermo had been apprised by the Astrologer Priest of\nthe true relation existing between himself and Sarthia. His joy knew\nno bounds, for neither his heart nor soul had ever thrilled with the\nlove of mother, sister, or kindred. It had been his misfortune to\nbe deprived of his parents before his young mind and heart could be\nmoved by the tender emotions of love, but now it needed no more than\nthe Priest's revelations to kindle into flaming fires that\nsomething, he knew not what, that had been smoldering in his bosom\nall his life.\n\nNow, the Astrologer's words were clear and the cause of the strange\nthoughts that were excited in his mind was revealed. Over and over\nhe asked himself, \"Can I wait to see my beloved sister?\"\n\nHis impatience became equal with his joy, and days that had before\npassed as moments now seemed as ages. One morning, much to the\nPriestess' surprise, a messenger announced that Hermo desired an\ninterview with her in the waiting-room below. The Priestess\ndescended to where Hermo was waiting and, with a questioning look\nin her face, clasped his hand in a firm but anxious manner,\ninquired, \"Is all well with our young Astrologer, Hermo, this\nmorning. Does he bring tidings from our revered Father? Has any new\ntestimony been given by the stars that portends evil to our\nSarthia?\"\n\nHermo stood in mute astonishment. \"How could the Priestess receive\nsuch forebodings from his presence when his whole being was\nthrobbing with pulsations of unbounded happiness,\" he thought.\n\n\"Nay, my dear Priestess, quite the reverse. Has not our worthy\nFather acquainted you with my new-found joy, my Love--my Sister?\nKnow you not the divine relation that exists between Sarthia and\nmyself? The hours have seemed days since this knowledge was\nrevealed to me and I now beg to see my new sister and walk with her\nand yourself upon the lawn in the private grounds of the Temple. Can\nmy request be granted, O Priestess?\"\n\nShe still retained his hand and, again pressing it warmly between\nher own, said, \"Our brave and noble Hermo deserves this blessing as\na reward for his honest toil alone in his struggle for Truth and\nKnowledge. Yes, my dear Hermo, I was made aware of the relation\nbetween you and our new Sarthia and have been anxious for this\nmoment to arrive when you would be sent to escort Sarthia in her\ndaily walks about the grounds, but I caution you to be guarded in\nyour words. Remember she is yet but an infant and must be taught as\na child. Remain here and I will go and bring Sarthia thither and we\nwill walk together.\"\n\nIt was not long before the Priestess, Sarthia and her attendant\nappeared. The Priestess was leading Sarthia and as they approached\nHermo placed her hand in that of his saying, \"Sarthia, I place you\nin the care and protection of your brother Hermo.\"\n\n\"Hermo! Hermo!! My brother Hermo?\" said Sarthia.\n\nTo the penetrating eyes of the Priestess and Hermo the light of\nconsciousness was momentarily seen and to the clairvoyant vision of\nthe Priestess a startling scene was beheld. The vibrations of soul\nto soul, the love that had been kindled in Hermo's heart and soul\nwent out with such intensity that it aroused into a vivid activity\nthe slumbering soul of Sarthia, and the brain, being already so\nfinely tuned to the higher vibrations of the Spirit, responded at\nonce.\n\nThe fresh air, the green grass, the beautiful flowers and shrubbery,\nwith the inspiring presence of Hermo, were like magic to quicken the\npulsations of body and mind and bring to her cheek and eyes the\nflush of health and life. Not much of the conversation was directed\nto Sarthia, but when reference to the stars was made, she instantly\ninquired, \"Brother Hermo, do the stars speak to you, and do you know\nwhat they say? Our lovely Priestess here can read them, and how much\nI would love to speak with them, too.\"\n\n\"I will teach you how some day, my sister, as soon as you are able\nto commence your studies.\"\n\n\"Will that be soon?\"\n\n\"Yes, in a short time; so soon as you become an attendant in The\nTemple of Isis.\"\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSarthia was silent, and the Priestess reminded them it was time to\nreturn,--Sarthia to her room and Hermo to his studies, while the\nPriestess' presence was required in the Temple.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThese walks continued daily with most satisfactory results to the\nPriestess and the Hierophant. All fears of the perfect harmonizing\nof the new soul to the body of Sarthia were allayed. The animating\nspark of life was growing stronger and the vibrations from soul to\nbody were complete; not with consciousness, but that involuntary\nvibratory exchange that exists with the majority of the people that\nmake up the earth's human family. As only the higher portion of the\nbrain of Sarthia had been active the soul must necessarily manifest\nitself through those organs. Often, were the much beloved Priestess,\nHermo and Sarthia's attendants, surprised at her expressions and\nprofound questions on spiritual subjects.\n\nIt was nearing the time when Sarthia was to take her initiatory step\nas a Vestal in the Temple of Isis. In fact, only one more day\nintervened before the ceremony was to take place. As the incidents\nrelative to the transfer were known to all the Temple attendants, it\nwas looked forward to with much silent rejoicing and gratitude that\nthey had not been robbed of their lovely Vestal who always was held\nin sacred esteem by them all.\n\nAll had been notified to prepare for the Initiatory service--the\nmusic, chants, and ceremonies sacred to this occasion, must be in\nreadiness. The night had arrived; the fair Goddess of the night\nshone forth in all her radiant splendor, seemingly conscious, that\nshe was shedding forth the magnetic influence necessary for the\nsacred Rites now about to be performed. It had almost reached the\nZenith when the solemn march of the Priestesses, Vestals and\nattendants that were to conduct Sarthia to the Holy Sanctuary of the\nTemple started. The Priestess walked beside Sarthia. Sarthia was\nclothed in pure spotless linen, her head was bare with the exception\nof a wreath of laurel leaves that rested lightly upon her flowing\nhair. In her hands she carried a white-bound volume which contained\nthe songs, chants, litany and regime for the Vestals of the Temple.\n\nJust as they reached the door, the High Priest arose, and\nsimultaneously the music burst forth in joyful strains that spoke\nwelcome, courage and love to the heart of Sarthia. When they reached\nthe foot of the altar, where stood the Hierophant, Sarthia knelt\nupon a velvet cushion at his feet. The music ceased while the High\nPriest stood with uplifted hands in silent prayer. At a signal, the\nchoir began chanting the Litany. Sarthia was bidden to rise, when\nthe Priest, in measured and solemn tones, addressed her:\n\n\"Do you come to pledge yourself to Temple Service? Is it your desire\nto become a Vestal of Isis? Do you take the pledge of celibacy to\nthe virgin Rites of the Temple; your time, energy and purpose to be\ndevoted to the duties that devolve upon a Vestal?\"\n\nThe low, clear voice of Sarthia was heard throughout the Sanctuary\nas she bowed and answered in assent.\n\n\"So be it, my holy virgin. I now commit your soul to the Guardian\nAngels of this Sacred Sanctuary to guide, guard and protect your\nbudding soul to perfect at-one-ment with its divine center, that you\nmay inherit immortal life while yet with us. Amen!\"\n\nSarthia opened the book within her hands and, kissing its pages\nwhich she had already subscribed to, handed it to the High Priest.\nHe took it, and held it in his left, while he placed his right hand\nupon her head, and said:\n\n\"I bid thee welcome, my Vestal Sarthia, and commend thy soul to the\nGods above, that ever keep watch o'er the children of earth. God\nbless thee. Amen! Amen!\"\n\nThen, as if they were voicing the words of the Hierophant, the\nchants grew louder, the music poured forth in grander tones as\nthough to join the invisible hosts above in praise to God most high.\n\nThe ceremony was over and Sarthia was conducted back to her chamber,\na Vestal of The Temple of Isis. The occult powers that had been\nevoked in behalf of Sarthia soon became manifest in her daily life.\nThe zeal and zest with which she pursued her studies and the\nunderstanding of their interior meanings were sufficient evidence of\nher teacher's inspiring influence. She was soon placed under her\nbrother Hermo's instruction in astronomical and astrological lore,\nand here also displayed a proficiency in learning that surprised\nHermo and delighted the Astrologer Priests. At Temple Service she\nwas all devotion and, as an Attendant, ever true and faithful. The\nbrother and sister became devotedly attached to each other and the\nPriestess often observed this attachment, which sent a pang through\nher heart, lest such joy and happiness might not be granted Hermo\nfor the remainder of his life. Then instantly would she offer a\nsilent prayer that such supreme happiness would be theirs throughout\neternity.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\nTHE PRINCESS' WEDDING.\n\n\nThe Princess' recovery was very slow, owing to the great depletion\nof the physical body during her recent illness. Much care and\nattention were bestowed upon her by her royal friends. All the\nluxury which wealth alone could procure, and the kindly influences\nof loving associates were brought to bear to speedily hasten the\nrestoration of their Princess to her former health and spirits.\nHealth was slowly but surely gaining the ascendency, but the spirits\nof heart and mind were not of that buoyant, external nature that she\nformerly displayed.\n\nWith her return to health, demands of a social nature were made\nupon her. She enjoyed pleasures but a seriousness attended her every\nmovement that much annoyed her friends. The attendants and servants\nwere excited to wonder at her kind and thoughtful interests of\nthem--while many thought it was due to her weak physical condition,\nothers remarked, how much the Princess' sickness had improved her.\nThose that before feared her, now began to love and seek to please\nand serve her.\n\nRathunor was a daily visitor, and remembering the advice and\ninstructions of the Hierophant he was calm, silent, and patient in\nhis attentions to her and apparently took no heed of her fancies and\nstrange conversation. She would constantly plan amusements and\nsocial entertainments on a grand scale, but with such a seriousness\nof purpose that it quite annoyed Rathunor at times and caused him to\nwonder if this was really his former Nu-nah.\n\nWhile the annoyance came purely from the external, there was an\ninterior attraction that was, irresistibly, holding him spell-bound\nto her side. His happiness now was greatest when they sat, rode or\nwalked in silence. Little did he dream, while in that silence which\nso enraptured him, the soul of Nu-nah was blending and drawing the\nelectric life-essence from his own to hers. That interchange was\ngoing on wherein there is no robbery, but an inter-blending of the\nmagnetic and electric life-forces that cause to spring into activity\nthe harmonious vibrations of a complete whole, and the reaction upon\nboth brain and the physical organism was health, contentment and\nhappiness that rises above all external cares, sorrows and discords.\n\nAlthough the soul of the, now known, Princess was highly developed\nit could find but few responsive echoes from the dormant spiritual\norgans of the brain. These she must arouse to sensitiveness and\naction. It was this that gave rise to the peculiar ideas, expressed\nin her conversation, that so mystified her friends. Visitors soon\nbegan to pour in upon her congratulations, presents and invitations\nto once again enter the gilded salons of fashion and the round of\namusements that are the daily life of a favorite Princess. To all\nshe gave a modest, quiet reply, neither accepting nor rejecting\ntheir attentions, which left them in wondering doubt at times of her\nsanity.\n\nIn the midst of some grand occasion she would be suddenly missed and\non being sought out would be found concealed in some pleasant nook,\nor even out in the open air, or beside an open window, absorbed in\nmeditation or gazing into the heavens. When her attention was\nattracted she would start and, with a strange, far-away look in her\neyes that would indicate to a superficial observer she had been\nasleep, would allow herself to be led back and enter the festivities\nof the hour.\n\nWith all their efforts they could not enthuse her with the\nexcitement and merriment surrounding her. But, if any one should\nbecome serious and express thoughts that appealed to the interior,\nshe was all attention and the questions that were so ready when such\nan opportunity afforded showed plainly that, although present in\nbody, the soul and interests were in other realms and spheres than\nthis.\n\nNo one but Rathunor could hold her attention for any length of time.\nWith him she was animated, and charmingly beautiful and joyous and\nwould, with some enthusiasm, enter into the pleasantries of the hour\nwhich brought to her face the charming attraction of natural beauty.\nBehind those orbs of vision there seemed to shine forth a light that\nwas more radiant than the gorgeously brilliant illuminations of the\nsalons. Her beautiful face, her perfect form and bearing, made her\nthe center of attraction and she was much sought after. But, as soon\nas she was induced to leave Rathunor's side, that which made her\npresence so irresistibly attractive and radiant before, faded out.\n\nThus time passed on, and as health returned, Prince Rathunor pressed\nhis suit. There was now, no apparent reason why he could not claim\nhis promised bride and make the Princess Nu-nah his own. His more\nearnest friends cautioned him to wait further developments and, in\nan undertone, reminded him of the peculiar and unnatural bearing of\nthe Princess at times. They were sure, in time, their once lovely\nPrincess would be herself again. Rathunor listened, knowing their\nkindly interest sprang from good motives, but he was silent--he\ncould not speak for none would understand. The yearnings of his\nheart and soul would not be quelled by any outward show.\n\nWhile to the world Nu-nah was a source of mystical wonder, to\nRathunor she was his stay and comfort. He needed no further evidence\nand assurance of Nu-nah's love for him. Too often had he experienced\nthe response from within to her silent pleadings for light, truth\nand wisdom. The attraction of the outer world was losing its\nfascination for him, the longings from within grew stronger and more\nclamorous for outward expression until, one day, he advanced the\nsubject of astrology to the Princess Nu-nah. For an instant, her\nwhole being was illuminated by that mysterious light--for a single\nmoment the soul arose to the supremacy of the brain and found a\nfaint glimmering expression that was visible to Rathunor's\never-watchful eye.\n\n\"Astrology, my Rathunor, fascinates me with its name and the\nwonders and mysteries it is said to reveal. Do you think those\nAstrologer Priests of the Temple know whereof they speak, and do\nthey read the stars and gain from them the wisdom they are said to\npossess?\"\n\nHere was the first opportunity to present these sacred subjects to\nNu-nah's mind. He tried to think and, feeling that the present\nexcitement of the brain's higher organs, was of a temporary nature,\nhe was really at a loss what to say that would be most effective and\nimpress itself indelibly upon her awakening brain.\n\n\"Yes, my dear Nu-nah, I believe they do possess the knowledge they\nclaim and, I also am convinced that much of that wisdom and\nknowledge is gained through their understanding the laws of\nastrology. Those celestial bodies in our heavens were not placed\nthere by our Divine Creator without a purpose. I believe they have\nan influence upon us that can be learned, defined and utilized by\nthose who study and know this influence through astronomy and\nastrology. Nu-nah what is that which produces the interior longings\nto know? Is it not that there is something to know--something that\nour common brains can not grasp and analyze? Do you not think that\nsilent, yet persistent, monitor which lies concealed somewhere\nwithin our being is excited to action from some source other than\nour outward selves, and that longing to go out must be accounted for\nby a something without that calls and attracts us to it? May this\nnot be the stars that we see twinkling and motioning to us as we\ngaze into the midnight heavens?\"\n\nHe stopped, wondering what the effect of his words would be, when,\nto his amazement, there appeared a more vivid consciousness in her\neyes and features than he had ever seen since her return to physical\nhealth and, taking new hope from this manifestation, he continued,\n\"Do you love the social world longer? Is there not that longing,\ntoo, within your bosom for something more real, more ennobling than\nthe pastimes of worldly pleasures?\"\n\nAt the mention of the worldly things, the light from her eyes died\nout and was gone. Rathunor said no more but silently thanked God\nthat he had for those few moments assisted the soul of Nu-nah to\nvibrate, too; and had set in motion the vitalizing currents to the\nspiritual portion of the brain and earnestly prayed that this might\nbe the beginning of many opportunities that were to follow.\n\nRealizing that only he could arouse the dormant organs of her\nspiritual brain, he became more anxious than ever to have her\nconstantly in his company. He again pressed his suit and the day for\nthe wedding-nuptials was to be at once submitted to the Astrologer.\n\nRathunor again sought the Astrologer Priest for advice. He wished to\nknow when the stars would point most favorably toward such a\nmomentous event. This, the Astrologer was not long in finding out\nand soon conveyed the news to Rathunor that at an early date such\nmight be consummated. As the Prince arose to go the Priest took his\nhand and said, \"My child, in taking the Princess Nu-nah as your\nwife, you obey the holy intuitions of the soul and not only will you\nbe united in soul but in body and mind. I wish you the eternal\nbliss that attends all who are truly mated. Farewell, my child; my\nblessings go with you.\"\n\nRathunor was too much absorbed in other things to understand the\nmysterious words of the Priest, but notwithstanding this the seed\nhad been again sown that would sometime spring up unannounced and\nunexpected.\n\nThe announcement of the wedding was soon made and invitations sent\nout, far and near. Congratulations poured in from every source,\nalthough some would have refused, had they been true to their own\nsentiments, for the remarkable and unaccountable change which had\ntaken place during her terrible malady was too evident to be\naltogether right and should be righted before the Prince should make\nthe Princess his wife.\n\nRathunor was satisfied, never forgetting the Hierophant's sacred\nwords, and none other need be consulted. In their silent hearts they\nwished the wedding might be private and the holy ceremony of the\nTemple be performed by the High Priest. This, of course, could not\nbe owing to the station and position they occupied in life, for the\nlives of a Princess and Prince are not wholly their own, so to the\npublic they must bow and pay obeisance.\n\nPreparations for the wedding commenced at once, for it was to be a\ngrand affair. Nothing was to be spared that would add beauty and\ngrandeur to the occasion. Extravagant expenditures were indulged in,\nuntil money seemed at a loss to supply more. The trousseau was\nexquisitely magnificent and, on the wedding night, the beaming\nradiance of the countenance of the Princess was neither dimmed by\nthe rich silks, nor the rare, priceless laces and lovely jewels that\nglittered and sparkled with the living spark of life within them,\nthat adorned her form.\n\nNever a bride so fair; never a couple so happy. It was that quiet,\nsubtle happiness, which permeates the very atmosphere about them and\nleaves its traces in every susceptible heart that breathes it.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\nTHE RETIREMENT.\n\n\nAfter the wedding the Prince and Princess were, from necessity,\ndrawn within the whirl of social pleasures with attentions in the\nway of entertainments, court suppers, balls, drawing-room\nreceptions, etc. The interior longings were compelled to creep into\nthe background until the external was gratified to exhaustion. The\nPrincess' seriousness departed for a time and they were very happy\nin the round of pleasures that were planned for them. But as time\nsped on they began to grow weary of the show, pomp and shallowness\nof external life. The seeds that had been sown in Rathunor's heart\nand brain, and that which he had aroused in Nu-nah's slumbering,\nspiritual organs of her brain, had taken root and now began to\nspring forth into activity, first as weariness of the superficial\npleasures of society, then a desire to gradually withdraw from this\nlife into a more quiet and secluded one, where they might listen to\nthe inner voices and gain pleasure, as well as knowledge, from this\nsource.\n\nThe Prince anxiously awaited another opportunity for speaking to\nPrincess Nu-nah on spiritual subjects. The Hierophant had given him\nto understand that at no distant day Nu-nah would become interested\nin spiritual things and be his teacher. He had not been made aware\nof the transfer--that was to be revealed to him by Nu-nah herself.\nHe had begun to wonder how and where Nu-nah's spiritual awakening\nwould take place when an opportunity presented itself in a most\nunexpected manner.\n\nOne lovely evening they were taking a stroll about the grounds of\ntheir castle, when the full Moon arose in a flood of light, it rose\nhigher, fuller, until the whole world seemed bathed in her magical\nbeauty and in order to longer enjoy her light and magnetic influence\nthe Prince suggested a longer walk. Unconsciously they chose the\npath that led them towards the Temple, which was only a short\ndistance from their home. As they neared the Temple distant strains\nof music attracted their attention. They listened, and it seemed to\nspeak in the plaintive tones of a hungering soul; they hastened\ntheir steps until they had quite reached the private grounds of the\nTemple of Isis, Nu-nah was in advance of Rathunor, being\nirresistibly drawn by some invisible power, when she suddenly\nstopped and clasping his arm, as within a vice, cried out, \"My\nRathunor, do you hear that music; what is it? I have heard it\nbefore, but where, O, where? How came I to know the chants and music\nof the Temple Service?\"\n\nThey were held spell-bound to the spot, when the Prince was warned,\nby the trembling and the gradual loosening of Nu-nah's hand upon his\narm, to quit the spot at once. The Prince placed his arm about her\nwaist to support her as he urged their return home, but she stood\nimmovable apparently chained by the magical power of some invisible\nforce.\n\nStronger grew the mystical power of the spell until the Princess\nseemed compelled to rush madly on and into the Temple, if the\nPrince had not held her back in a firm grasp, and at the same time\ntrying to attract her attention by his words. \"Come, my darling, let\nus retrace our steps and as we walk I will tell you all I know about\nwhat you have heard.\"\n\n\"O, my Rathunor, speak to me quickly before I have time to forget. I\ncan not remember this long, yet it as a recurrence of a vivid dream.\nTell me while I am awake, where I have been. I saw, and felt, and\nknow I was there--there in the Sacred Sanctuary of that Temple. O,\nthat I might go again and remain there forever to listen to that\nenchanting music and the solemn heavenly voices of that choir.\"\n\nA quiver ran through her whole frame and with a mournful cry she\nfell fainting in the arms of Rathunor. Here his innate born courage\nand bravery sustained him, and instantly there flashed into his mind\nthe words he had once heard the High Priest use while passing his\nhands over an insensible form. So, gently laying her inanimate body\nupon the grass, he repeated in slow, but firm and commanding tones\nthese words:\n\n\"Return, O soul, to thy physical body. Return, I command thee, and\nreanimate this lifeless tenement of your soul. Come, come, I command\nthee, come.\"\n\nScarcely had the last words been uttered when a movement of the\nhands and limbs announced to Rathunor the return of life. She was\nsoon able to rise and, being supported by the Prince, they slowly\nwended their way back to the castle. She walked as in a dream, but\nas her step was stately and firm, the Prince did not become alarmed\nuntil he had her safe in her room, when the extent of the occurrence\ndawned upon him and then he hurriedly called her maid and sent at\nonce to dispatch a servant for their physician. Nu-nah had become\nquite herself before the Doctor came and after he had administered a\nlittle palliative, withdrew saying, \"The Princess will soon be well.\nIt was only the result of fatigue induced by the constant excitement\nof social pleasures.\"\n\nThe Prince was silent and, seeing the Princess was so comfortable,\nhe retired to his own apartments with strict injunctions, he should\nbe notified at once if any symptoms of the prostration should\nappear. When once within his private chamber he threw himself down\nin a chair and fell into a profound study. Over and over he\nreviewed the incidents of the evening. \"What was there in that music\nthat so enchanted Nu-nah? What did she see and hear that revived a\nfaint memory of something in the past? What magical force was it\nthat drew her so irresistibly toward the Temple? What produced that\nquiver which preceded her falling insensible into his arms?\"\n\nHe was half inclined to blame the Priests for it all, for he knew\nsomething of the power of magic and its psychologic effect. The more\nhe reasoned the farther he wandered from a solution. Now he mused,\n\"If that had been the beautiful Vestal, Sarthia, I could understand\nwhy she would be so powerfully attracted to the Temple, but Nu-nah,\nwho had never entered the Holy Sanctuary except for those sacred\nRites that are administered to all who are supposed to be bordering\non the land of the spiritual world; only those two nights, to his\nknowledge, had she ever been in the Sacred Sanctuary; there was\nsomething in those ceremonies that he had not as yet understood;\nthere must have been some mystical, magical power employed to\nrestore the frail, feeble, unconscious Nu-nah to life and health\nand, to him.\"\n\nHe thought and reasoned until his brain was on fire, and still no\nsolution of the mystery was presented to his understanding.\n\n\"Well,\" he at last exclaimed, so loud that he startled himself, \"I\nwill have to accept it as a mystery and patiently wait time's own\npleasure for the explanation.\"\n\nHe began to prepare for retiring, but he could not calm himself--a\nrestlessness took possession of him that he could not quell; he\nwalked the floor, tried to read, and resorted to many ways to\nrestore his tranquillity, but all in vain.\n\n\"I must see my Nu-nah once more before I can sleep,\" and, hurriedly\nreadjusting the clothing he had removed, he repaired to the\nPrincess' private room. A gentle knock brought the attendant to the\ndoor.\n\n\"Is the Princess quiet and sleeping,\" he inquired in a whisper.\n\n\"No,\" answered the servant. \"She is awake and feeling well, and just\nnow remarked, that if she thought you were not sleeping she would\nhave you called for she had something she wished to tell you.\"\n\nHis presence was at once made known to the Princess, and, with a\nlow cry of delight, she called him to her side. A signal sent the\nattendant from the room, when the Princess began, \"My Rathunor, my\nbeloved husband, I am so glad you came. I have something to tell you\nthat I might forget before morning. To-night, when we came within\nthe sound of the music in the Temple, I felt as if I left my body\nand you, and by some unknown power was drawn into the Sacred\nSanctuary. I saw the High Priest, the lovely Mother Priestess, the\nVestals, the choir and musicians, all earnestly engaged in some holy\nceremony. The music, the heavenly spiritual influence of the\natmosphere, the exquisite fragrance of incense and perfumes, with\nthe purity reflected by the Vestal attendants, so enraptured and\nenthralled me that the thought that I would ever have to leave its\nsacred boundaries caused me to lose consciousness and, when I awoke,\nyou were bending over me.\"\n\nSeeing a strange look in Rathunor's eyes and interpreting it to mean\njealousy, she continued, \"but that was not all, my Rathunor; you\nwere there, too, for awhile. I tried to keep you, but could\nnot--something drew you away from _me_ and I, for an instant,\nsuffered the same pangs that are torturing your heart now. I thought\nyou would rather go than stay, and a feeling of jealousy entered my\nheart, but the strange fascination of the place was more to me at\nthat instant than you, my Rathunor, so I longed to stay but could\nnot. I have been trying to think what it all means. You must help me\nfor already I feel the memory of the event passing away.\"\n\nShe ceased speaking, and in a few moments was fast asleep. The\nPrince kissed the hand he held, then gently laid it by her side and\nquietly left the room fully conscious that the mystery had been\npartially revealed, and that now the Princess would sleep for the\nrest of the night. After returning to his rooms he again flung\nhimself into an easy chair determined to seriously think and arrive,\nthat night, at some immediate steps to take his Nu-nah from the\nexcitement she had been subjected to for so long, so that a\nrecurrence of the sad event might not be repeated. Before another\nSun arose the Prince had decided upon his future course. \"I will\ntake Nu-nah away, ostensibly on a long tour of the country for\npleasure. Aye, for pleasure, but not the kind we have submitted to\nsince our marriage.\"\n\nThe next morning, as soon as the Princess could see him, he\nrequested her presence at once. He met her at the door and with a\nloving inquiry as to her health, led her to an easy chair beside the\nopen window where the rays of the morning Sun could fall upon her as\nthey penetrated the delicate lace which hung at the window. Drawing\na chair to her side he began to unfold his plans, at the same time\nwatching every motion and expression of the face to see what effect\nthey would have upon her. She did not betray her thoughts until he\nsaid his object was not so much for travel as to retire to some\nquiet, pleasant nook, where they could be excluded from the world,\nand those they knew, for awhile, and instead of spending their time\nin the superficial pleasures of the world they could enjoy each\nother's society and learn something about the invisible mysteries\nthat surrounded them.\n\nWhen the motives of his plans were mentioned a perceptible change\nflashed across her countenance and a light appeared in her eyes that\nhe had not seen for some time and, by the time he had finished, her\nwhole face was beaming with an inward delight, that urged the Prince\nto further reveal the plans that he had laid during his midnight\nreasonings. The Princess raised not a single exception to his\nschemes but, on the contrary, entered into them with a zest that\nsurprised even the Prince.\n\n\"O, to be alone, Rathunor, where we could think and study that which\nwe choose has been the longing of my very soul these many weeks; can\nnot we go at once, to-day if possible.\" She felt she could not wait\nthe necessary time for the preparations to be made.\n\nThere was a duty toward their friends that must be fulfilled. The\ndevoted attentions that had been showered upon them for so long must\nnot be ignored. So, it was decided to give a farewell reception,\nbefore taking their departure for an indefinite stay in strange\nlands.\n\nAccordingly invitations were issued to a grand state occasion, when\nthe Prince and Princess would bid their friends and associates\nFarewell. Ah! farewell. Little did those who were of that brilliant\nassembly dream, as they clasped the hands of the Princess and Prince\nin cordial and sincere good-by, that it was indeed a Farewell to\nall. Neither did they conceive for a moment what those Farewells\nmeant to the Princess and Prince. It was hard for them to conceal\ntheir happiness as every minute of time brought their departure\nnearer, and what their guests took for the happiness of their\npresence, was really induced by the thoughts of the future.\n\nThey were soon off and we can only follow them in thought for a\ntime. Let those thoughts be kind, for, knowing thoughts are potent,\nsend them out lovingly toward the awakening mind of Princess Nu-nah.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\nTHE RETURN TO A NEW LIFE.\n\n\nSeveral years have elapsed since we bade our Prince and Princess\nfarewell. Only at long intervals had they communicated with their\nfriends. The outer world had almost forgotten them, but not so with\nthe Hierophant and the Priestess of the Temple. Daily, had their\nprayers gone in behalf of their souls' welfare. Although not in\ncommunication with them in body they were in spirit, and from this\nsource they knew all was well. The High Priest, in his astral\nvisits, could see the growing power of the soul over the\nslowly-evolving brain of the Princess, and with the electric\nsoul-force, the great nourisher and renewer of life, though\nunconscious to him, the rounding out was fast nearing completion of\nthe soul's mastery over the brain and body of Nu-nah.\n\nThey had settled in distant lands, near a little country village\nthat lay just at the foot of the mountains. It was made up of the\nsimple peasantry, where life was free from cant, suspicions,\ncriticism and morbid curiosity. Here they could live and follow the\nbent of their minds, undisturbed and unobserved if they so wished.\nThey kept their identity unknown yet the villagers knew from the\nPrincess' delicate beauty of form and features she belonged to some\nnoble family and station in life, but her kind, thoughtful bearing\ntowards them won their love and esteem at once, and equally did they\nesteem the Prince for he was ever lavish with his money and\nattention to those who appealed to him for assistance. The mountains\nsoon became their favorite resort. Long walks were taken daily, and\nrests made in the quiet nooks on the mountain side. One place\nparticularly, became a very dear retreat to them, for never did they\nstop there but that some inspirations were born. It was here that\nNu-nah took her first lesson from Rathunor; it was in this sacred\nspot that Rathunor gently but cautiously revealed to her the\nInitiatory Rites of the Temple that had been performed over her\nunconscious body. This excited an intense curiosity, if not deep\ninterest, in Nu-nah's mind. She began to question and think and, as\nshe thought, there came a vague, glimmering memory of the past, and\nwhen Rathunor would inquire the cause of her almost unconscious\nmoods, she would raise her hand to silence his voice, and whisper,\n\"I am dreaming--O, something so grand, so solemn, so sacred haunts\nmy mind; just wait and it will all come by and by,\" then her dark\neyes seemed to grow larger and larger and to burn with a\nconcentrated fire.\n\nThe Prince's delight knew no bounds as these expressions led him to\nbelieve they sprang from deep desires and interests, so the time\nseemed to shorten for the day to come when their whole time and\nattention would be turned to the study of Nature's mysteries and the\nsecrets of life be revealed to them, thus satisfying that inward\nlonging for the realities of life. Also, he knew, the new love that\nhad been born in Nu-nah's heart for him was more than that love that\nthe external only can know. Its depths he could not fathom nor its\nsource pursue, so he was content to wait that promised time,\npredicted by the Astrologer, that Nu-nah would lead, guide and teach\nhim these spiritual truths and reveal to his already awakening soul\nthe laws of the spirit.\n\nNow, a new joy was revealed to the Prince when the Princess made him\naware that a new soul had been entrusted to their tender care and\nkeeping. The thoughts of maternity filled her heart with bliss.\nBlessed privilege, to bring to this plane of existence a soul\nawaiting incarnation in human form, to live, grow and experience on\nthis planet the last grand objective existence that the soul can\nknow. What care, what pleasure would she take in training that\nlittle soul to know its God and the mysteries of life and in\nmaturity stand forth to teach mankind Wisdom and Truth.\n\nThe pleasure in preparing for its advent made days pass as minutes.\nTime, borne on the wings of love, passed quickly. Her soul had\ngained that control over the mind that it was full with pure, holy\nand spiritual thoughts. Her mind could not get beyond her husband\nand the young soul that had been transmitted to her keeping. The\ndivine joy of love was singing in her soul. Rathunor left her alone\nin her happiness, knowing that in her condition any great effort on\nhis part to draw her mind--thoughts into new channels might lead to\ndire results.\n\nAt last the Natalday arrived. The magnetic, as well as the physical,\nperiod of gestation being completed, to them a son was born. Never\nwas there a human soul greeted with greater love and welcome than\nthis one. Not only was it the offspring of the physical union, but\nthat of the souls. Welcome, thrice welcome, to the children born of\nsuch love. The physical condition of the Princess was very critical\nfor several days. The Prince's grief and anxiety was almost\nunbearable; neither sleep nor food took a moment of his time during\nher severe illness, and often did he think that again Nu-nah's soul\nwould take its flight and wend its way to the realms above.\n\nThe eighth day after confinement was one of stupor and\nunconsciousness. Not a moment passed unheeded. It was near midnight\nwhen, the attendants having retired for a short rest, and Rathunor\nsat alone by her bedside, her eyes suddenly opened and bent their\ngaze upon him. Beautiful, calm, divine Nu-nah, her wonderful eyes\nshone with a surprising brilliancy and they were so riveted upon him\nthat he dare not move, much less speak. The minutes that intervened\nbetween her waking and speaking seemed as an eternity to Rathunor.\n\n\"My darling husband, are you beside me--are you where I can speak to\nyou, and are we alone?\"\n\nOnly by a gentle pressure of the hand could he respond, and, gently\nlaying his right hand upon her brow, he assured her by this act of\nhis presence. She began speaking--her voice was low, yet clear and\ndistinct, \"My Rathunor, my true-soul companion, I have returned with\nthe knowledge I now impart to you. While you so patiently and\ntenderly watched beside my frail and almost lifeless body, my soul\nwas away gaining knowledge and experience in the soul-world. There I\nlearned who I am and my relation to you. Do you know, O my Rathunor,\nthat our souls sustain that divine relation to each other that makes\nus immortal, because of being complete? The whole, the two rays of\nthe Divine Ego, are joined and blended as one in our union. Can you\nhear me further?\"\n\nThe agitation of his grief began to assuage and he could now listen\ncalmly and without emotion to her words.\n\n\"Yes, go on. What you have already said has been indelibly burned\nupon my mind and soul. Let me hear all you have to impart.\"\n\n\"Know you that this body was Nu-nah's and this soul that of\nSarthia's?\"\n\nIt was here that only by a mighty effort of his will was he able to\nkeep in abeyance the emotions of his heart, but the superior and\nGod-like power of an invisible Presence sustained him. The Princess\ntook no heed of his silence and continued her revelations.\n\n\"Do you know that on the night of the full Moon, the solemn and\nsacred Rites performed over the unconscious bodies of Sarthia and\nNu-nah in the Sacred Sanctuary of the Temple of Isis, our souls were\ntransferred by the magical power of the High Priest and the\ninvisible assistants? Nu-nah's soul was polarized in Sarthia's\nphysical temple and that of Sarthia's in this of mine. Both were\nprostrated, even to dissolution by the malefic influence of\nplanetary arcs, and this method was resorted to, that both our\nlives might be spared to round out our necessary physical existence\nwhile yet in these bodies, and also for your sake was this\nundertaken by our Holy Father that you might have that love which\nyou so much craved and the longings of your soul might be satisfied\nwith the knowledge it thirsted for. This will explain to you the\ngreat change observed at times in your Nu-nah, and the unnatural,\ndreamy moods that possessed me sometimes. The brain was slow to\nrespond to the wonderfully developed soul of Sarthia and it was at\nthose times that the soul gained the supremacy, that the greatest\nchange would manifest. You now have the true devoted love of your\nsoul companion and the lovely form of Nu-nah for your wife. My\nRathunor, are you satisfied? If a pang of disappointment cross your\nheart, our darling child here may blot that out as he grows and\nlearns our mystic lore and become also a soul companion of his\nfathers in climbing the ladder to higher wisdom and spheres than\nours.\"\n\nThe Prince could not speak. He sank on his knees beside the bed and\nburied his face in her bosom. Here silence was more profound and\nspoke deeper wisdom and contentment than ever words could do; how\nlong he remained in this humble attitude and poured forth his\ngratefulness in prayer he knew not; but when he arose the Princess\nwas sleeping quietly, the breathing, though feeble, was deeper and\nmore even. He gently crossed her hands upon her bosom, adjusted the\nclothing carefully and left her side, full of a new hope he had had\nfor many days. Life again appeared in all its glory, not a shadow\nappeared upon its horizon; weariness and anxiety forsook him and he\nwent about as if walking on air, but not a word escaped his\nlips--nor an act betrayed his new-born joy.\n\nWhen the nurses returned they at once remarked the change in the\nPrincess. They, too, became hopeful and assured the husband that his\nwife would soon be well. The Princess recovered rapidly, and it was\nnot long before her gentle presence and noble influence shed its\neffulgence in the home as she moved about it.\n\nAs soon as Rathunor could spare the time from Nu-nah's side he sent\nthe Natal hour of his first-born to the Astrologer Priest. Anxiously\ndid he await the reading of the stars and what they indicated for\nhis child. The calculations were made, the judgment submitted in\nwriting, but \"Shall I transmit them to the Prince and Princess, can\nthey yet receive and philosophically accept the revelations therein\nmade?\"\n\nHe left the study-room and repaired to the apartments of the High\nPriest to seek advice and instructions. Then, by the exercise of his\npotent will, he made the necessary observations to see if it were\nwise to convey the knowledge of the predictions to his children,\nNu-nah and Rathunor.\n\n\"Not yet will we send the reading. Our Nu-nah has not sufficiently\nrecovered to bear any unpleasant news.\"\n\nRathunor became impatient and thought, at times, he would write\nagain--the letter must have been lost--but something withheld him.\nAt last strange forebodings haunted him. He knew too well the\npromptness of the Astrologer Priest; there must be something that\ncould not be revealed to Nu-nah. He thought he was strong enough to\nbear resignedly all that might come, but when it did come all his\nforebodings had not prepared him to receive it. It was only a\nletter--no calculations--no reading, as indicated by the stars, was\nin it. The letter had been dictated by the Priest and transcribed by\nthe scribe Hermo, and read thus:\n\n\"Our darling children, Rathunor and Nu-nah, bear bravely the news I\nnow impart to you. Your first born, the offspring of true\ninspiration and soul-love, can not remain with you long in the\nphysical form. The stars deny a prolonged life, and my interior\nknowledge of the planetary influence, also tells me his life upon\nour Earth's plane will be of short duration. His already matured\nsoul does not need much of Earth's experience to round out its\nobjective existence, before entering the true life in the spiritual\nrealm; there it will remain, my dear children, ever beckoning you\non, and contributing to you that energy that will ever spur you to\ngreater effort to realize while yet in the physical form Immortal\nLife. Tend it carefully, but when the Great Powers that Be summon\nits soul to go, do not try to hold it here, but add the strength of\nyour united prayers to its flight and bid it depart to its home in\nthe spiritual realms above. God bless and give you the strength, my\nchildren, is the prayer of your devoted Father. Amen! Amen!\"\n\nThe strength of spiritual force that seemed to accompany the letter\nand his loving advice imparted courage to their hearts, and instead\nof giving way to grief, began to philosophically reason and console\nthemselves that God's ways were wiser than man's.\n\nNot many months did their lovely spiritual child remain with them\nuntil its soul took its flight to realms beyond, where truly it\nbecame as a beacon-light to the souls of its parents. Its departure\nleft the Prince and Princess sad and lonely for a time and their\nstruggle to reconciliation was great--but this was of the heart and\nnot of the soul. Time healed the external wound and the interior\nvacancy was filled by study, investigation and the development to\nexternal consciousness of the knowledge within.\n\nAgain, they became restless and plans were laid to leave their\nhappy home near the mountains, and the devoted friends they had made\namong the villagers who were sorry to part with them and, as memento\nto their honest, noble friendship, they distributed their household\nand personal effects among them. They revealed to no one where they\nwere going. They disappeared as mysteriously as they came, but\nwhere? Only one place on Earth could tempt them to leave that sacred\nhome, where such extreme joy and sorrow were known, and that was the\nformer home of the soul of Nu-nah, The Temple of Isis. Nu-nah was to\nenter as an aspirant to a Priestess, and Rathunor as a Priest King.\n\nThe Return to a New Life, was hailed with joyful welcomes from all\nof the Attendants of the Temple. Rathunor and Nu-nah soon passed\nthe ceremonial Rites of the Temple and none were more faithful in\ntheir efforts and studies than these new-born children--the especial\ncare of the High Priest and the Priestess.\n\nWe leave them here, wishing them the progress, the happiness and\nthat Divine Peace and Understanding that comes to all Perfected\nSouls. God be with them.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK REVIEWS.\n\nCELESTIAL DYNAMICS.\n\n\n=CELESTIAL DYNAMICS= is a course of astrometaphysical study\nparticularly well adapted to new beginners in the consideration of\noccult forces--it being so simply, yet so forcefully written, that\nit carries conviction to the mind of the student without mental\neffort on his part. Published by the Astro-Philosophical Publishing\nCompany of Denver, Colo.--_Banner of Light_.\n\n=CELESTIAL DYNAMICS=, by the author of \"The Light of\nEgypt,\" etc. Cloth, Price, $1.00. This is an excellent treatise upon\nthose subtle or Occult Influences of Nature--that Solar Force or\nPlanetary Influence, which lies at the basis of Astrological\nScience, and which is generally known under the broad name of\n\"Vibration.\" The work is divided into twelve chapters, of which the\nfollowing is an epitome. Chapter I, treats upon the Occult Forces of\nNature; II, the Language of the Starry Heavens; III, Vital Force;\nIV, the Temperament, Physical and Magnetic; V, the Mental and\nIntellectual Powers; VI, the Financial Prospects; VII, Love and\nMarriage; VIII, Friends and Enemies; IX, Celestial Dynamics in\nOperation; X, the Diagnosis of Disease; XI, the Treatment of\nDisease; XII, Man, and His Material Destiny, etc. Altogether, the\nbook is a very valuable _Vade mecum_ to those who are interested in\nOccult Studies; particularly that of Astrology.--_The Morning Star_.\n\n=CELESTIAL DYNAMICS=. A course of Astro-Metaphysical Study,\nby the author of the \"Language of the Stars,\" and the \"Light of\nEgypt.\" Price, $1.00, cloth bound.\n\n\"This is a metaphysical work which deals with the elucidation of the\nhidden powers of nature, and will interest the thoughtful\neverywhere, and cause them to study the occult sciences and help\nthem in so doing.\"--_The Philosophical Journal_.\n\nTHE ASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY\n\n1609 DOWNING AVE., DENVER, COLO.\n\n\n\"=THE LANGUAGE OF THE STARS=,\"\n\nA New and Important Book (50 Cents), for Everybody.\n\nBY THE AUTHOR OF\n\n\"THE LIGHT OF EGYPT,\" \"CELESTIAL DYNAMICS,\" ETC.\n\n_A Master of Esoteric Masonry_.\n\nA work that no Mental Healer, Christian Scientist or Magnetic\nPhysician can afford to be without, if they would become the real\nmasters of their profession in the study of man and the healing art\ndivine.\n\n_A Primary Course of Lessons in Celestial Dynamics_.\n\nThis important primary work is the first practical exposition of the\nAstro-Magnetic forces of Nature--in their relation to man--that has\nyet been issued by the American Press. It contains fourteen special\nlessons, embracing each department of human life, in such plain,\nsimple language, that a child can understand the elementary\nprinciples laid down. And in addition to these lessons there is an\nAppendix, containing a full explanation of all technical and\nscientific terms in general use upon the subject, thus forming a\nbrief, yet practical Astro Dictionary. This work is illustrated with\nspecial plates.\n\nPRICE, ONLY 50 CENTS, POST FREE.\n\n--FOR SALE BY--\n\nAstro-Philosophical Pub. Co., 1609 Downing Ave., Denver, Colo.\nBanner of Light Pub. Co., No. 9 Bosworth St., Boston, Mass.\nThe Progressive Thinker, No. 40 Loomis St., Chicago, Ills.\nThe Bancroft Book Co., 1126-1128 16th St., Denver. Colo.\n\n: : : ALSO : : :\nRELIGIO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE,\n1429 Market St., San Francisco, Cal.\n\n\n\"=The Light of Egypt=;\"\n\n--OR--\n\nTHE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL AND THE STARS.\n\nFOURTH EDITION.\n\n_In Two Parts. Price, Cloth, $2; Paper, $1._\n\n=By an Initiate in Esoteric Masonry.=\n\nFINELY ILLUSTRATED WITH EIGHT FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS.\n\nIt is claimed that this book is not a mere compilation, but\nthoroughly original.\n\nIt is believed to contain information upon the most vital points of\nOccultism and Theosophy that cannot be obtained elsewhere.\n\nIt claims to fully reveal the most recondite mysteries of man upon\nevery plane of his existence, both here and hereafter, in such\nplain, simple language that a child can almost understand it.\n\nThe secrets and Occult mysteries of Astrology are revealed and\nexplained for the first time, it is affirmed, since the days of\nEgyptian Hieroglyphics.\n\nAn effort is made to show that the science of the Soul and the\nscience of the Stars are the twin mysteries which comprise THE\nONE GRAND SCIENCE OF LIFE.\n\nThe following are among the claims made for the work by its friends.\n\nTo the spiritual investigator this book is indispensable.\n\nTo the medium it reveals knowledge beyond all earthly price, and\nwill prove in real truth, \"a guide, philosopher and friend.\"\n\nTo the Occultist it will supply the mystic key for which he has been\nso long earnestly seeking.\n\nTo the Astrologer it will become a \"divine revelation of Science.\"\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nOPINIONS OF PRESS AND PEOPLE.\n\n\"A noble, philosophical and instructive work.\"--_Mrs. Emma Hardinge\nBritten_.\n\n\"A work of remarkable ability and interest.\"--_Dr J.R. Buchanan_\n\n\"A remarkably concise, clear and forcibly interesting work. * * * It\nis more clear and intelligible than any other work on like\nsubjects.\"--_Mr. J.J. Morse_.\n\n\"A careful reading of THE LIGHT OF EGYPT discovers the\nbeginning of a new sect in Occultism, which will oppose the\ngrafting on Western Occultists the subtile delusive dogmas of Karma\nand Re-incarnation.\"--_New York Times_.\n\n\"It is a volume likely to attract wide attention from that class of\nscholars interested in mystical science and occult forces. But it is\nwritten in such plain and simple style as to be within the easy\ncomprehension * * * of any cultivated, scholarly reader.\" _The\nChicago Daily Inter-Ocean_.\n\n\"However recondite his book, the author certainly presents a theory\nof first causes which is well fitted to challenge the thoughtful\nreaders' attention and to excite much reflection.\"--_Hartford Daily\nTimes_.\n\n\"Considered as an exposition of Occultism, or the philosophy of the\nOrient from a Western standpoint, this is a remarkable production. *\n* * The philosophy of the book is, perhaps, as profound as any yet\nattempted, and so far reaching in its scope as to take in about all\nthat relates to the divine ego-man in its manifold relation to time\nand eternity--the past, present and future.\"--_The Daily Tribune,\nSalt Lake City, Utah_.\n\n\"This work, the result of years of research and study, will\nundoubtedly create a profound sensation throughout the philosophic\nworld.\"--_The Detroit Commercial Advertiser_\n\n\"It is an Occult work but not a Theosophical one. * * * It is a book\nentirely new in its scope, and must excite wide attention.\"--_The\nKansas City Journal_.\n\n\"The book is highly interesting and very ably written, and it comes\nat an opportune time to eliminate from the \"Wisdom Religion,\"\nre-incarnation and other unphilosophical superstitions of the\notherwise beautiful structure of Theosophy.\"--_Kansas Herald_\n\n\"What will particularly commend the book to many in this country is\nthat it is the first successful attempt to make the truths of\nTheosophy plain and clear to any one not a special student, and it\nlays bare the frauds of the Blavatsky school.\"--_San Francisco\nChronicle_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nBeautifully printed and illustrated on paper manufactured for this\nspecial purpose, with illuminated and extra heavy cloth binding.\nCloth, $2.00; Paper, $1.00.\n\nFor sale, wholesale and retail, by ASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL\nPUBLISHING CO., 1609 Downing Ave., Denver, Colo.; BANNER OF\nLIGHT PUBLISHING CO., No. 9 Bosworth St., Boston, Mass.;\nTHE PROGRESSIVE THINKER, No. 40 Loomis St., Chicago, Ills.;\nTHE BANCROFT BOOK CO., 1126-1128 16th St., Denver, Colo.;\nAlso, RELIGIO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, 1429 Market\nSt., San Francisco, Cal.\n\n\nCELESTIAL DYNAMICS.\n\nBEING\n\nA NORMAL COURSE OF STUDY\n\n--IN--\n\nTHE ASTRO-MAGNETIC FORCES OF NATURE.\n\nBY THE AUTHOR OF\n\n\"THE LIGHT OF EGYPT,\" \"THE LANGUAGE OF THE STARS,\" ETC.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nA magnificent and complete course of Astro-metaphysical study\nembodying VITAL PRINCIPLES OF LIFE, MENTAL FORCE, SICKNESS AND\nDISEASE. With the only true and really Scientific method of\ntreating the sick successfully.\n\nMental Healers, Metaphysicians, and all who practice the healing Art\nDivine, should give \"Celestial Dynamics\" a thorough and impartial\nstudy and thus learn the real cause of their frequent failures.\n\nNo Astro Student can afford to be without this work, if he would\nunderstand the Metaphysics of Astrology.\n\nThe PRICE, ONE DOLLAR, is within the reach of all who seek\nfor light. Orders accompanied by cash, will be filled immediately.\nApply early, as the edition is limited. Address,\n\nTHE ASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUB. CO.\n\n1609 DOWNING AVE., DENVER, COLO.\n\n  N.B.--This work has been specially prepared for publication to\n  meet the demands of a large and very earnest class of people who\n  cannot afford to pay for a regular course of instruction under a\n  qualified teacher. And those who can afford this privilege will\n  find the work an invaluable text book to their studies.\n\n\nTHE DUALITY OF TRUTH;\n\n--OR--\n\nTHE OCCULT FORCES OF NATURE.\n\nReviewed from the Standpoint of Hermetic Philosophy\n\nBY HENRY WAGNER, M.D.\n\nThis is a clear, practical statement of Nature's dual forces, and\nwill prove of great value to Occult students. A rare treat is in\nstore for you on The Sphinx and Pyramids of Egypt. Symbolism and\nCorrespondence alone are worth many times the cost of this unique\nbook.--_Zanoni_\n\nCLOTH, PRICE $1.00.\n\n=THE ASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.,=\n\n1609 DOWNING AVE., DENVER, COLO.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\"WITHIN THE TEMPLE OF ISIS.\"\n\nBY BELLE M. WAGNER.\n\nThis is an Occult Novel of rare value, as it contains a vast deal of\nOccult lore on many subjects. Soul Transfer and Soul-Marriage are\nespecially dealt with in a scientific manner. Everybody should read\nit.--_Zanoni_\n\nCLOTH, PRICE 75 CENTS.\n\n=THE ASTRO-PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING CO.,=\n\n1609 DOWNING AVE., DENVER, COLO.","title":"Within the Temple of Isis","tradition":"ritual-magic","translated_text":null,"word_count":20407}