Nature spirits are all around the Earth. These are individuated spirits, but not so distinctly individual as human souls, because there is much more interrelatedness in the kingdoms of nature. For example, a particular tree will be enfolded by its particular spirit (its consciousness and emotional being), similar to a human body having its own soul-spirit. So we can relate to the physical part of the tree and/or to the spirit of the tree, though we need to use our feeling and spiritual senses to experience the tree-spirit. Yet if we sense and relate to other tree-spirits as well, we will discover much more similarity than difference. This is because each of the individual tree-spirits are enfolded by a much larger spirit-being of nature. In other words, they share a common spirit-essence, or we might understand that each individual tree-spirit is part of a much greater Tree-Spirit, the Tree 'Oversoul'. Each pine tree is part of the Pine Tree Spirit, or that kind of tree Oversoul. Each oak tree is part of the Oak Tree Spirit, or Oversoul. And finally, all trees are part of the Great Tree Spirit Itself, the enfolding consciousness and intelligence of all trees.

Thus, we can picture in our creative intuitional imagination a hierarchy of tree spirits, from the particular-individual to its shared Oversoul and finally to the One Great Spirit of Tree... encompassing all trees. Even further, we might see that all parts of nature are within and part of the One Great Spirit we can call Mother Nature or Earth Nature. In this way, all lives of nature are interrelated spiritually and energetically, as well as in a physical ecological way. This example with trees can analogously be applied to other lives of nature, even including the animal kingdom. So, we can relate or communicate with an individual-particular nature spirit, or else with its larger Oversoul Spirit, or else with the One Great Spirit of Mother Nature.

The spirits of land are interrelated in a different sort of way which is spacial or geographic, whereby a particular area of land is interrelated, in spirit, with the larger area of land encompassing it. So this is a geographical-spacial hierarchy. For example, imagine a small pond and meadow area. It will have its own particular spirit. This is the spirit of the land, or it's called the spirit of place. Even more specifically, there is a spirit of the pond and a spirit of the meadow, even though the pond is within the meadow; one spirit being within the other. Then imagine the larger area in which this is. This too has its spirit of place, yet this is a larger spirit of place which encompasses all of the smaller areas within it. So, there are particular spirit-places, particular areas of spirit, but the boundaries of these particular areas are not at all fixed or definable, because each area merges with adjacent and surrounding areas. Yet all areas are within even larger areas, which means that any one spirit of place will be within a larger spirit of place (or spirit of the land).

To understand this, we need to think outside of our usual boxed way of understanding things, persons, and souls. We need to think much more interrelationally and without distinctly separate boundaries, in order to understand the spiritual world of nature.

In the esoteric sciences of theosophy the oversoul spirits of nature, as just explained, are called devas, and all of these deva-spirits are in the Deva kingdom of Nature. So this term, deva or devas, is an easy name to use for the intricate, interrelated web of nature spirits. For clarification, we will use the terms, 'nature-spirit' and 'spirit-of-place', when discussing particular-singular spirit-beings and particular places. But we will use the terms, deva or devas, when discussing larger and more encompassing spirit beings of nature. Additionally, the term 'Deva kingdom' will be used when discussing the overall interrelated spiritual Web of Nature, which could be understood as the soul-kingdom of the natural world. Thus, the mineral, vegetable (including trees and flowers), and animal kingdoms are actually all within the larger Deva kingdom.

Two kinds of Deva Spirits will be discussed here: Devas of the land (geographical Devas) and Devas of life (such as tree Devas, though also important are flower Devas and crop Devas, and of course weather Devas).

Devas have four aspects, which are energy, consciousness, intelligence, and quality of presence. We can experience and study each aspect separately or as a whole. The energies, these creative life energies maintaining and evolving the planet, accumulate and distribute across the land. The land hold, contains, the nature spirit presences. The land (minerals, rocks, water) holds consciousness, intelligence, quality, and energy. Memory patterns are also held in the land and in water.

Devas of the land include, spirit of place, mountain and hill spirits, lake and other water spirits, and any other kind of nature spirit that abides on the land. Trees and forests are, of course, also on the land and thus a part of its spirit of place; but tree Devas have special qualities. As already mentioned, Devas of the land are geographical spirit-beings, which hold the energies and qualities of large areas of land. In essence, all spirits of place or spirits of land, no matter how small or how large, are Deva spirits. But pragmatically, we refer to the spirit-being of smaller places of land simply as 'spirit of place' or as the nature spirit of this particular area of land. Whereas we use the term, Deva of the land, in reference to larger overall areas. We usually think of the Deva as larger and more encompassing, than any particular spirit-of-place we encounter. We might think of a Deva as the parent to any particular spirit of place, or that each spirit of place is a child-bud within a greater Deva of the land.

Yet again, in essence these are all Deva spirits, some larger and some smaller, geographically. The smaller ones exist within larger ones, which exist within even larger ones, until finally there is the whole of Mother Earth Spirit. So there is an intricate hierarchical Web of interrelating and interpenetrating spirits of the land, each being defined by a geographical area, small or large, and each being part of a larger Spirit as well as enfolding smaller ones within it. However, the boundaries between these spirits are not so definite, but rather fluid and permeable.

In any particular locality/place there is a larger area of which it is a part, and this larger area will be guided by a land Deva, which will have its own unique intelligence and quality of feeling, and its own 'field of consciousness.' Each place on Earth is guided by at least one Deva. The guardian spirit of the land is a Deva responsible for that area, its maintenance, growth, and evolution. The natural presence, the nature-consciousness, the love, and the natural power of a place are all aspects of the Deva present. We can sometimes physically locate the 'Devic throne' or 'Guardian's Throne' in a large area of land, which is where a larger concentration of this spirit-presence 'sits', and this is also known as the center vortex of an area. Yet the whole area is enfolded in this spirit-presence and its nature energies. The quality of a place relates to the kind of Deva present. The Devic presence influences the quality present. Thus, the quality of a locality/place depends on the quality type of the Deva present there. However, it is also possible to attract a certain quality of Deva by what we do on the land or by what we build, and we can attract certain qualities by requesting a certain kind of Devic presence.

The Deva kingdom is the overall, encompassing, enfolding Spirit-intelligence of all that is of nature. It is an interrelational and hierarchical Web of nature spirit-beings, each with its unique consciousness and intelligence, yet without any distinctly fixed boundaries separating these. Again, to understand this, we need to think beyond our usual boxes and transcend our usual way of understanding nature as separate things. For in the Deva kingdom, the individuality of these spirit-beings is fluid, such that individualized spirit-consciousness arises (like individual particles), but can also merge together into a larger field of spirit-consciousness. Thus, there is both individuality and collectivity of spirit. By analogy, there is both particle-ization (particularization) and energy-field (or collectivity) properties, all functioning simultaneously. And remember, there are fields within greater fields.

Practically speaking, in any area we stand we are in a 'field of consciousness', which is in the land we are on. The land has consciousness. Each place has consciousness, and every larger area has consciousness. So we are always in a natural field of consciousness. The same can be said of presence. In any natural area we are in a field of spirit-presence, which is the presence of the Deva-spirit.

Also, in every place on the land there is a memory present. The land holds memory. The rocks hold memory and water holds memory. This memory is in the crystalline structure of rocks and water. Feelings and emotions are recorded in this memory. The land records the feelings and consciousness patterns of what is around it. Then, this memory becomes part of the 'personality' (as it were) of the place. The soul of a place is its natural quality and spirit-presence, but the personality of the place will hold past memories from those who were around and from what has occurred there, which might be very positive or contrarily troublesome. When there has been troublesome or negative energies recorded in the land, from past emotions and activities occurring there, then the land is in need of healing. The need for healing will be especially important if there were past traumatic emotions involving violence, which produces a memory shock in the land. -- LINK to- Healing the land

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The Earth Mother is a planetary Being with consciousness, creative intelligence, love, and vitality; which are themselves powers of the Universal Spirit. The creative intelligence of Earth divides into various kinds of intelligence, and these various intelligences also exist in geographical areas all over the planet. These are the Devas. They are creative intelligences, of various kinds, and in various locations. Each Deva is a Spirit-being with consciousness and intelligence.

Devas are known as the intelligences of nature, or the intelligences of Mother Earth, which guide and pattern the natural creative evolution of all life. They are not absolutely dictating and designing how every life will be on Earth, for there is still creative chance at work, but they are only generally guiding the evolutionary process, and each general specie of life has its guiding Deva Intelligence.

So most significantly, we should understand the Devas as the Intelligences of Nature, though they also possess consciousness, presence-qualities, and vital energy-powers. These Intelligences of Nature are the guiding beings of nature. The whole physical world of nature is guided by these Deva Intelligences. Even in our own physical bodies the Devas of Intelligence are at work. For this is the Natural Intelligence of our physical body, guiding our health and capable of incredible healing power when circumstances happen to set our health astray. The Devas of nature created these physical bodies, so they can just as well heal them with the same natural intelligence.

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Devas are the Archetypes of nature. Nature abounds with various spirits and energies, but Devas are the greater spirits, the archetypal souls of nature. They are the essential intelligences of nature. For example, a Deva exists for each species of plant and tree, each mineral kind, and each animal species. Each Deva is the 'group-soul', or intelligence, which holds the archetypal blueprint for the growth and characteristics of each kind of plant or animal or mineral or molecular entity. The Devas are, thus, the governing intelligences and essential consciousnesses at work behind the forms of all natural life.

Each particular pine tree, for example, may have its own particular spirit with a memory of its own individual growth and its distinct surroundings and relations. But there is only one Deva Intelligence within all pine trees; that is, all pine trees have the sane Deva - which is like the ancestral guide or pattern. Same for different animal species, etc.

This should be easy to understand. Yet there is an added complexity in all this, which is that there are hierarchies of Devas, or Devas encompassed within greater Devas. To understand hierarchies, imagine a pyramid of levels, or imagine circles within circles such that there are inner circles within outer circles. One can also imagine a large geographical area with a number of smaller areas in it, like parcels of land, and then there are further smaller areas within each of these parcels, such that the larger parcels encompass smaller parcels, and many smaller parcels might exist within a larger parcel-area which itself might be within an even greater area.

So, some Devas are greater and more encompassing than others, and these could be the called the Grand Devas or Grand Archetypes. For example, certain species of trees have common basic characteristics; like many species of trees have the same basic evergreen characteristics. Certain kinds of animals have cat-like characteristics, and therefore we can empirically classify them in a cat family, which would have at its essence of intelligence the Grand Deva of all cat creatures. Thus, there is a natural hierarchy of Devas, some inclusive of others and some interwebbed with each other, which comprise the intelligent essences of nature. These are the essential intelligences of Mother Earth, which pattern the physical forms and behavioral characteristics found on earth.

Also, Devas are in their own process of evolution, as gradually over time they better integrate and harmonize together, and they become more intelligently adaptable and cooperative with each other’s expressive purposes. Thus, the kingdoms and species of nature are, from their own intelligence, developing a greater ecological harmony and co-operation. As human intelligences, having the possibility of a wider scientific view of natural life, we can help and cooperate in this natural ecological evolution.

We can learn to communicate with the Devas and with all nature spirits. When humanity learns how to communicate with nature-beings, then we will live much more harmoniously in nature, in our natural world. And as we learn to literally communicate with nature, we will learn more about nature, including its etheric healing energies, its intelligences, and the spirit-presences of nature. We can literally learn from the Spirits of Nature, if we first learn to be sensitive in nature and communicate with the Spirits from our hearts and minds.

Within the greater cosmic dimension, above or beyond the earth, yet inclusive of earth as well, there is a hierarchy of Divine Spirits, who act as guides for the Devic kingdom of earth. These are the Angels of Divine Presence. In some eastern teachings these are translated as 'devas', but for clarification sake there is a distinction between earth devas (earth spirits of intelligence) and cosmic-universal Spirits-Powers-Intelligences which in western teachings have been called Angels, or Higher Powers. These are Universal Intelligences, which are also the essential Qualities-Powers of the One Divine Being, or the various Colors of the One Light. These are also guides and patterning powers active on earth, who are especially significant to the human kingdom. We can understand them as the spiritual archetypes of our essential Self. --link-to Angels

Within the human psyche, in the unconscious realm of potential, are the spiritual divine essences, archetypes, or intelligences. These are the Qualities and Powers of Divine Being. Yet they remain as potentials until realized and brought into living expression. They need to be personally realized and personally expressed, and eventually they will be collectively realized and expressed. Yet any realization and expression will be somewhat limited and relatively imperfect from a higher cosmic view; so the Divine expression, as found on earth and in humanity, is in a continuing process of possible evolution. Part of the Divine purpose of life is for the human psyche to realize these Qualities of Being in oneself and to synthesize, integrate and harmonize these in life's expression, leading us towards an ever-greater realization and expression of Divine Qualities.

Through our human experience and consciousness, the Divine Being realizes in living existence Its own Qualities of Being and various creative integrations of these. For, whereas the lower kingdoms can exhibit various qualities and patterns of Divine potential, and also express potentials of extraordinary beauty, the human being can consciously realize and become all divine qualities in creative ways of integration. This is the great potential for all human beings, who have evolved from and through the three lower kingdoms.

All intelligences and qualities of nature are actualized potentials of the One Cosmic Being. Thus, reflected throughout nature we can find the spiritual Essences or Qualities of God -- in diversified ways and in certain degrees of potential perfection. God, or the One Divine Being, can be found immanent in nature and pervading throughout all life, though this life expression of the Divine is continually evolving toward greater perfection, more perfect radiance, and harmony.

If we could imagine our self as Mother Earth, then the Devas are our powers of intelligence, or our different kinds of intelligences. Even in our physical body is an intricate hierarchy of natural intelligence. Each cell has an intelligence, different tissues have their intelligence, and so do our various organs, and finally each body system has its intelligence. So this is a physical body example of how natural intelligence works hierarchically and spatially.

But Intelligence also works in an ontological functional hierarchy, which can be visualized as a hierarchical pyramid, ranging from general to specific. This is general and more essential Intelligence ranging into more specific intelligences and applications. This is the Intelligence hierarchy of Higher to lower, General to specific.

To understand this, consider Devas of the trees. These are the Intelligences of trees. At the top of this Deva hierarchy is the Grand Intelligence (or Grand Deva) of all trees. This embodies the most general and essential intelligence of all trees. Higher than this would be the Grand Deva Intelligence of all growing things, also known as Queen Deva of all the Vegetable Kingdom. So the Grand Queen Deva of the trees is the Great Intelligence essential in all trees. Next are the Deva Genius's of particular tree species, which embody the particular intelligence creating each distinct kind of tree. Then, there is each particular tree, which we do not refer to as a Deva, but as a particular-individual tree-spirit.

Each particular life has its own intelligence, yet a Deva is the source of its particular intelligence. For example, each particular tree has its individual intelligence, and each particular cat has its individual intelligence. Yet, the source of each particularized intelligence is its Deva Spirit, its ancestral source. In esoteric teachings this is described in the following sentence. Each individual life is given its intelligence by the greater Intelligence of which it is within. This greater Intelligence is the guiding general pattern of that particular life, which has existed prior to that life, and which has given birth to that life. Thus, each life has its own intelligence, but this is due to the greater Intelligence of which it is part, and that particular life-form cannot become what is outside of its given general intelligence. There is a creative diversity possible, its possible biological variation, but only within a certain boundary of pattern. In other words, each think could not possibly have become something too different from its general pattern given, though each life does have degrees of variable freedom. Each life-form is, in fact, a unique creative variation of the general Intelligence-pattern of which it is.

Each particular life has its own DNA, the intelligence of its seed, which was given by its parent, its predecessor, its ancestry. Yet, the DNA intelligence is simply the physical counterpart of the spirit intelligence. Each living thing holds a unique pattern of DNA intelligence as its guidance for development, and this was passed on by physical processes from its ancestry. So, scientifically each intelligence could be explained by this and by natural selective evolution. But as yet unrecognized by science are the Deva-Spirit Intelligences which guide the formulation of DNA and the general patterns of a species development. These work in morphogenetic fields.

Devas are nature spirits of the highest order. They are the mind of nature, the guiding intelligences and organizers of form. They are the patterning forces, which create the unique patterns and forms on the earth. In more scientific terms, there are morphogenetic mind fields, governing this creative existence. These 'fields of intelligence' have an aspect of beingness, which we call devas or nature spirits.

The Devic Kingdom is organizer of the elements that make up this manifesting world. Devas are the intelligences behind this world of life and form, the regulators and maintainers of our physical existence. The Devic Kingdom can be understood to be the 'mind of nature', which organizes and patterns the various lives and forms on the planet. This great mind of nature is actually a vast, complex system of interpenetrating mind fields, each having a semi-distinct, semi-autonomous reality and place in the overall design. These mind-fields direct and pattern the energies of nature, and they hold things together, maintaining the growth patterns of each unique form of life. Each 'field' (within a larger Field) has its own [semi-independent] consciousness and presence of being. Thus, we experience nature as alive with spirit and presence, and the overall presence of nature is made up of many presences, many beings within it.

It is important to understand that these beings are not really separate, just as the energy-fields are not absolutely separate or divided by a distinct boundary. Yet, each has its own individuality, in a partial way. Ultimately, there is just one Great Spirit, or we could say just one Mother Earth. If we forget this wholism and interconnectiveness of all life and mind, then we might fall into the trap of worshiping certain beings or powers separately from the whole, or falsely believe that nature is merely a conglomerate of pantheistic beings. Yet it is also important to recognize that the natural world divides itself into unique features, properties and qualities, so we need to respect the different, unique manifestations of the One Life, One Spirit, One Earth.

The idea of nature as both parts and Whole is hard to grasp, let alone explain. One helpful image is to see that the earth is like a prism with light emerging out in all the different colors, and as the prism rotates around, the colors mix and break up the one light in many ways. The distinction of mind-being-energy at any one place or through any one life-form, depends on how the One Light reveals itself to us.

The Devic world is an interpenetrating hierarchy of being-consciousness, divided into field-patterns having both an individual and group presence. That is, they are both individual and collective consciousnesses, so we can see them as either distinct beings or as a complex collective system. At the highest levels are the great spirits, the great morphogenetic mind-fields, which interpenetrate time and space as we normally know it. The inter penetration of space is easier to understand, if we can visualize mind and presence existing in many places at once, simultaneously. In the great musical symphony of nature, Devas are nature's chords and the various harmonics resounding through and patterning all life. The Devas are like EM (electromagnetic) fields, intense in some areas while fading in other areas, interpenetrating other vibrational patterns, blending and resonating with these.

Visualize, for instance, different musical instruments spread out about 100 yards from eachother over a 100 square mile area of land, and being played at the same time. Each instrument player at each spot would try to harmonize with whatever he could hear to cooperatively make some good music. What would happen and what would you hear as you traveled across the whole area? Obviously, each player could only hear those sounds within a limited radius of where he stands, and would play accordingly, thus also influencing those around him. Yet, eventually he would be influenced indirectly by even the farthest player from him, since there would be a kind of chain-reaction of all the players in between who keep altering their tune to be in greater harmony. Now visualize the sound waves and how the music would differ as you walk about the area. Wherever you stand, there would be certain instruments and tunes that are loudest, and your attention would be mostly on these, especially the one you are closest to. There will always be far off sounds unheard, but as you move in a direction, certain instruments will all of a sudden be heard faintly in the distance, becoming louder as you approach and adding to the music heard, while in the opposite direction sounds once momentous will fade away. You may hear some far away instrument to your left that a player far to your right (heard by you) cannot hear. The sounds intermix at each spot differently, creating a unique music and feeling at that place, and as you move your perceptions and feelings change.

The Earth Matrix

The whole Earth Intelligence, which we call Mother Earth or Spirit Earth, exists as an interrelated and interconnected Web. This is the creative Matrix of Earth. Now, when we call this a Matrix, the tendency is to think of it as a fixed and determined pattern, sort of like a blueprint for things - such that manifestation is simply a replication of the blueprint. This is not exactly correct. The creative Intelligence Matrix is a sort of pattern or blueprint, but it is very general and open-ended, rather than being exactly specific and absolutely deterministic. It is more like a general guidance, while allowing for incredible possibilities of creative freedom. It would be best understand this Matrix as an available Creative Intelligence, and this Intelligence can manifest in many many possible ways.

This Intelligence Matrix is not monotone, nor simplistic. It is vastly intricate, with multiple aspects and kinds of intelligences within it; thus forming an intricate and hierarchical Web-Matrix. Devas are the spirit-intelligences of this creative Matrix. Intelligence is everywhere on Earth and available to all parts of Earth, yet it exists more in some places than in others, and each area will have more a certain kind of the intelligence at work.

Intelligence, and the Intelligence Matrix of this planet, essentially has a patterning, formative effect upon manifestation. This is a patterning and guiding effect, not an exact deterministic effect. It does not negate creative freedom, spontaneity, nor the chance aspect of natural evolution. But when we think of the patterning effect of nature's intelligence, or if we think of the guiding wisdom of Mother Earth, this is what the Devas are. They are the Intelligences of Earth. They are the Natural Intelligences.

The Earth Matrix is a matrix of consciousness, intelligence, and energy. It holds and transmits the higher energies of consciousness. We could think of it as the overall structure that holds consciousness and makes consciousness available. This higher energy of consciousness ultimately comes from beyond our planet. It is a fundamental universal energy, which we call divine energy, and it from the beyond into this planet, into the Earth Matrix -- in a sense, feeding the Matrix and empowering it. Vital-life energies also come into the Matrix from power centres in the Universe, which provide life energy to the Matrix, which then is distributed to all parts of earth by way of the Matrix lines. So, the Matrix receives, holds, and transmits higher consciousness energies and vital-life energies.

Thirdly, the Matrix receives, holds, and transmits Intelligence. This is a formative, patterning Intelligence. This too is a kind of cosmic energy, in the larger sense of energy, and it too originally comes from universal sources, that is, from divine sources.

Our usual meaning of intelligence is about how to do things, or it may be about having lots of knowledge. This is part of intelligence, but not all of it. The more important aspect of intelligence is an ability to learn, develop and evolve; and also having an intelligence that is guided by higher Purpose; and finally, the higher form of intelligence could also be called love-wisdom, because love embedded into intelligence turns into wisdom. The ability of intelligence is also about synthesis and harmony, which is related in this as well.

The Earth Matrix transmits this Intelligence and the two other kinds of energy to all parts of the planet by its lines of energy. These lines are matrix ley lines. We can visualize the Earth as a sphere with intricate geometric connective lines along its surface. We see these lines forming some kind of geometric pattern, a pattern matrix. However in reality, the actual lines moving along the land are not necessarily straight or perfectly geometrical. Some people think that ley lines must be perfectly like this kind of geometric model. But really, the lines tend to follow the natural geographical “ley of the land,” with mountains or hill often punctuating the flow.

Also, the matrix line model is only half right, because the whole Matrix is also a spherical energy field. An spherical energy field will have 'lines of force', but these will not be exact lines. The lines of force are generalities, norms, or probability lines. It does not mean that all of the spherical energy follows just along these skinny lines. Rather, the spherical energy is all over, and can manifest at any place, not just along the 'generality lines'. So the Matrix energies are really all over the place, spread all around in this whole energy field; though the energies will tend to concentrate more at certain vortex places and along connecting lines of the Matrix -- though these lines will not necessarily be straight nor exactly mapped out geometrically.

Elementals

The energies and elements which combine together in forming the growth and maintenance of life on earth are known as the elemental energies. We use this term when describing the energies at work forming the manifesting world. Both Devas and elementals are stronger and more alive in some areas more than others.

In the elemental world we find elemental energies that carry out the work of maintenance and growth. These are beings called elementals, and they are the invisible workers within nature. In the great play of nature, the Devas are the stage designers and the elementals are the stage builders and destroyers. The Devas hold the idea and plan in mind, while the elementals do the actual work. In esoteric science, we not only recognize energies at work throughout nature as industrialized science would, but we also see the being and consciousness aspects of these energies.

Traditional folklores of many cultures have described these elementals in different ways, just as they have described Devas, Deities or Spirits in different ways. Some people see the elementals as small little elfs, fairies, gnomes, or whatever. What they actually look like, depends on the person looking. We give them form within our psyche, much as we personify feelings and self-qualities in our dreams. The perception of elementals and of Devas depends upon what energy-being is actually being focused on and how we give recognizable form to this through our creative imagination. I am not denying what anyone sees or calling it merely an illusion of the imagination. What someone experiences is real for them, and it probably is the best way for them to understand what is really happening. The elementals and Devas are real beings, but how we see and understand them can differ depending upon the psyche receiving the subtle sense of their presence.

We see in anthropological studies that different cultures perceive this manifested world of phenomena in different ways. The perception of the world is a combination of what sensory information is being received and how this is given form and understanding within our psyche. Reality is neither solely subjective nor objective. It is a combination of the two polarities. Some people and more likely children have an ability to easily sense these energy-beings and form images around them. Anyone can develop their subtle or psychic senses to a greater refinement, and learn how to use the creative imagination.

This use of the imagination is not the same as illusion or fantasy. The creative imagination is a needed faculty of intelligence and understanding. Great thinkers, scientists and artists all use the creative imagination to make analogies, representations and models for understanding and describing the world. We need to trust this innate faculty of the mind, and allow it to freely form images, colors, sounds, patterns, etc. to understand and communicate what is otherwise too subtle or obscure. The whole idea of nature being conscious, let alone believing in nature spirits and other invisible entities, is usually laughed off by "rational scientists" as primitive animism and a projection of an imaginative psyche; but it is important to look at this with an open mind and heart, otherwise it will never be real. Yet a true scientist would not deny anything he has yet to definitively disprove, nor would he make final conclusions about things as yet unseen, nor refuse to look at alternative possibilities of truth.

As already explained, there is an aspect of psyche projection and imagination involved, and this should be considered, but it does not preclude the reality of a living consciousness in all things. In fact, the projection of self-qualities and self-thoughts onto natural phenomena or sensed energies can lead to greater self-knowledge if we make the effort to learn from this interaction. The beings and spirits of nature are in fact within us, as well as outside. The lives and forms of the world are each unique manifestations of the mystery of life, and are representations of the qualities within ourselves. The gods are the archetypes of mind, and the elementals correspond to our thought-forms. The dynamic relationships and processes found in nature are also alive within our psyche. Each helps create the other, and it all comes from the same source. The psyche assimilates and represents the world, relating everything experienced into a human scale, where upon we re-create or act upon the world by way of how we believe it to be.

It is important not to get too caught up in believing the absolute truth in everything we happen to experience. Some people get too gullible, especially when there is a kind of glamor involved, and we can fool ourselves easily. Find perspective in all experience, and question the validity of every experience, though keeping an open and compassionate mind. It is fine to go about finding invisible little beings or great spirits, and having some kind of communication with these, but it would be a shame if people were to spend all their time "channeling" nature entities. We can learn things from these beings and cooperate together.

Each specie of mineral, plant and animal life has a kind of over-soul or morphogenetic mind-field patterning its overall growth and behavior. This is the governing Deva, the guiding intelligence of that species. A whole, complex hierarchy of Deva Beings oversee and guide the natural world. Each form of life has different elementals to help build and maintain it. Yet, the elementals do not just work separately from eachother, like these for that and those for this. They are continually interacting with eachother, cooperating together to form harmonious relationships between lives and forms. The Devas of the area work with the Devas of different species to intelligently promote adaption and harmony for that eco-system, while choosing what is best to do, given the circumstances and potentials to unfold, then the elementals communicate with eachother about the plan given and work out the details of the operation. The overseeing Deva or guardian spirit of the area converses with the surrounding overseeing Ones, to cooperate together in fulfilling the greater plan of an even larger area, of which a higher Deva is responsible for, and so the levels of management continue on up to the planet Earth Being Herself.

I'm describing the Devas and elementals in terms of corporate and government management, and one does not need to take this terminology too literally, but this model is a useful way to describe the reality. If one can understand the principles of systems in general, whether it be ecological or human created, then one can better understand the more subtle, less tangible realities.

The elementals are not just mechanical entities. Neither are the Devas. They certainly do perform their duties with a great degree of mechanicalness, just like us humans, but they have varying degrees of freedom and creativity. They learn by experience and can make mistakes. They have some amount of free play in their creative work. Yet their potential for free choice is extremely limited compared to the human potential. In fact we have unlimited potential for freedom, which is good or dangerous, depending on how it's used. The elementals have definite jobs to do, and the Devas regulate their freedom, keeping them in bounds so to speak. But elementals do play. They celebrate their living space and enjoy themselves. The stories of these invisible creatures abound with silliness, humor and lots of fun. If there wasn't work to do, they would probably dance and sing all through the day and night. I heard from a few that they would love to play with us humans, but that we are much too serious and just don't know how to have a good time out and about. The few of us who do know to play freely and have a good time are always welcomed by the elementals, and they will reveal themselves only to the playful, fun loving people. No wonder so many people deny their existence, and cannot see or sense them -- they're just too serious and grumpy!

The elementals are influenced by the quality and emotions of the place they inhabit. They are influenced by the people inhabiting the area. If the people are happy, joyous and jubilant, then they will come out to play and reveal themselves, but if the people are unhappy, depressed and negative about life, then they will just mechanically do their jobs and hide away. Elementals are most seen and experienced in places of less human habitation, because they tend to shy away from our negative, destructive emotions. It is generally best to leave them alone, and we can even leave them a designated place to gather and play. Elementals will sometimes migrate to more peaceful and lovely areas, so we can set places up for them, and can attract them through our creative and good work on the land. If a place becomes too chaotic with negative emotions or harmed by our destructiveness, many of the elementals will leave the area, and it will soon die of life for lack of the invisible workers.

Our recognition of the invisible world and our cooperation with these invisible lives bring them out to play and work with us. In whatever we do on the land the Devic and elemental worlds will come to help us, if we aspire to do our best in creating love, beauty and harmony on the land and in our activities. If we think that we can do it all by ourselves without help from the natural kingdoms, then we are limiting the help available from these kingdoms. The intelligences of nature are available and wanting to help us fulfill our creative destiny. If we consciously try to cooperate with the natural worlds, then they will cooperate with us. We can communicate with these invisible lives and intelligences, and ask for their help and guidance. They will respond to our recognition and requests for help. They can teach us much about the realities and potentials of nature, and reveal ways to fulfill our needs. We only need to open up the communication, in a spirit of cooperation, and listen with respect to the knowledge and advice given. If we ask permission in humility to be or creatively act in an area, and come into agreement with these forces, then great things are possible and much will be fulfilled. We need to remember that that the elemental world has its own job to do, and will work diligently toward its goals, so we are smart to make friends with this world. We need to make friends with the Devic world, to cooperate together for a common purpose and plan. The Devic intelligences know what can be done for the creative evolution of the land, but they need our help, just as we need theirs. The elemental world does not know the Divine purpose or the quest of evolution. It only does what it does in the most efficient way knowable. It knows not vision nor value nor potential. It only knows cyclical time, not spiral time.

All lives are part of the Great Whole Life, and make up the whole with presence, activity, interaction and relationship. We need to remember the Whole within the parts, and respect each part as being "wholly". Everyone and everything is equally important in essence, having an equal right to live and be true to its nature. Yet, each has unique functions to play within the whole, and life's interactions are not always equal. Some dominate over others, some eat others. Human beings are given the potential power to govern and direct the elemental world. Yet we have to accomplish this with love-wisdom and a will-towards-harmony with nature. We should not be in opposition to nature. Nor should we dominate nature from a human self-righteous arrogance.

Domination is a negative word to most people, yet there is often a need to have power of authority. Many times we have to be terribly strong in life, and take on an authority that cannot be weakened by sentimentality or passiveness. If I'm doing carpentry work, I must hold the hammer with strength and authority, otherwise there is insufficient force to accomplish my goal and a weak grip can even be dangerous. If I need to pull out something in my garden, I must use my energy to say "no" to this and destroy it, though I can do this with love and compassion. A hawk uses his dominion of the sky to search the land for prey, then swoops down to snatch his food, and if it screams he doesn't feel sorry for it and drop it to safety. I'm not trying to justify killing, but it is a necessary part of nature. Death is a part of life and destruction is a part of creation. In making any decision, we sentence something to death by saying "no" to it. And in order for us to live here on this planet, we, like all creatures, have to destroy and eat somethings, transforming them for our assimilation and use. Life is a process of transformation, of death and re-creation, and we are transformers, as well as being the subject of transformation. One can try to hide away from this, or one can grip this responsibility firmly in the hand and do something good with it. We need to firmly take on the authority invested upon us, or become passive victims swayed here and there by the world. This authority is not for our purely selfish purposes, but is the use of our powers and intelligence to serve the greater whole of life. We can consciously serve a greater purpose, and do whatever is necessary for this.

The illusion of separation can only be destroyed by its assimilation into the whole, finding truth and purpose in the whole, and serving the whole with submission to it. The kingdoms of nature are part of the whole. The elemental world is part of the whole. It serves the whole as best as it knows how, guided by the overseeing intelligences on the planet. Yet the mechanical nature of the elemental world performs its relative functions without a complete consciousness of the whole. It is unconscious of the whole, greater consciousness of life's purpose. As human beings we have the potential to be evermore conscious of this greater purpose, and attune ourselves into the greater consciousness of life. In doing this we come into the responsibility and obligation to serve the Greater Purpose.

So, it is our responsibility to teach and show the lower kingdoms how to live in greater harmony and manifest the greater potential beauty of the whole. We teach cooperation, harmony and beauty first through our example. In other words, we can't expect the natural world to cooperate with us in just the way we want, without having the sense of cooperation ourselves. We must first come into conscious cooperation with nature, giving her loving recognition, understanding her ways and serving her unfoldment; then, the lives and energies of nature will come to serve us in the recognition of our loving togetherness in this whole, purposeful expression of life. We can help wake up life on the planet to its wholeness and common purpose, and to a greater consciousness of love and togetherness.

The kingdoms of nature have a potential understanding of the greater purpose, of the whole, but it is unconscious of the greater purposes, until we give them our love, our understanding and our recognition. Every part of nature unconsciously wishes to help and serve us in our role as transformers and creators, but the wish needs to be made conscious, and this is only possible through our awakening to love, our recognition of life in love, and our good-will to serve and cooperate. We are usually unconscious of the life and energies around us, as we take so much for granted. We seldom wake up the realities and magnificence of this planet, and most often in our work and activities we plow and tramp all over the place without awareness of anything but ourselves and our limited, little purposes.

So, how can the elemental world awaken to love in this case or be able to cooperate? If we just use nature without love, there is no awakening and no cooperation. But if we make use of nature in love and with respect, then there is the awakening of love, gratitude and cooperation. The elemental world will love us as we love it, and will work with us as we work with it. The relationship can continue to grow and flourish in a loving, cooperative way as trust is built between us and the natural kingdoms.

There are parts of the elemental world, which resist change and will not cooperate with our intentions. They will struggle to fight our creative work and transformation, and seek to maintain their inertia and mechanical ways. They are un-convinced about our intentions, and resist out of fear. We can remedy this, by showing our love and good intentions, and communicate the greater purpose and plan of action, in order to gain their agreement and help. We should also request help from the Devic powers. But sometimes these efforts are not enough, and we do not have sufficient time to educate these resisting ones. So, we have to take strong authority over the elements at hand, using our powers to accomplish the transformative work in spite of resistance. Most often there is at least some resistance to anything new, especially in the beginning stages, whether it be in creative or healing work. These reactionaries can even become malevolent forces, which can do a lot of harm if we are not strong in our wakefulness and determination. We can see this same effect within our own psyche and in human relationships, where there is much fighting and argument, and powerful resistance to change. The higher intelligence and will-to-good must take on authority. In some ways the elemental world is like children. It is great when understanding and agreement can come about easily and peacefully, but sometimes we have to discipline and demand obedience from our children, not as cruel dictators, but for their own good and the harmony of the whole family. We can not let children run all over us and behave just as they want, if it is harmful to the overall living environment. Sometimes the elemental world needs our firm discipline, and we can do this in the most gentle and loving way possible.

We can make good use of the elemental world, realizing that this world is here for us to use, enjoy and learn from, as we are here to take good care of the world. We can take on our Divine role as creator within The Creator, and lead the world to its finest perfection of love, harmony and beauty. Human beings have potential power over the elements, but not until we come into this power through sacrifice and service. True power is developed out of self-purification and the will-to-serve with loving wisdom. The power is available to all of us with work, yet some people seem to be born with a natural ability and predisposition of shamanism. The shaman is a kind of magician, because he can do things that the ordinary person is mystified by. But magic is really an inherent fact of man's potential. It is not evil, nor the work of power hungry people. The world itself is magical. Life is magic. Magic is really just power manifesting. Of course, power and magic can be wrongly used and cause a lot of harm, even when performed with good intentions. One also needs wisdom and an attunement with the greater purpose and Divine Will. Science in action, ie. technology, is magic and sorcery, and this can be used for good or not so good. An aspect of geomancy is the directing of and transformation of elements. It is possible to direct the winds and the rains, to direct the growth of the plant kingdom, to evolve the animal kingdom, and to transform energies and elements. We can not do these things alone. We need the help of the Devic world and higher powers. We must aspire toward greater knowledge and love.

Our ultimate goal is to come into the Power of God, Great Spirit, by surrendering to the Power of God; hence becoming a pure instrument of The Divine Purpose and Will of Life. Man has the potential to stand in the Pure Light, and be a Light-house of radiating force and influence throughout the world. The ultimate power is Love and the ultimate means is Wisdom. All powers and forces will eventually bow down to this ultimate Love and Wisdom through the instrument of perfected man. Ignorance and wrong use of power cannot dominate the Light of Love, which is the greatest power and eventually will purify and harmonize all powers on the planet. But this great work needs us, it needs our participation, it needs our self-transformation and it needs our agreement and creative powers.

The elemental world is continually influenced by powers. It is influenced by mind and intention. The Devic or Angelic kingdom intentional directs the elemental world through mind. And human beings influence the elemental world, as well, through mind and thought. Humans are continually interjecting new influences through thought and of course action. Thus, the influencing mind-fields are complex mixtures of different patterns and directions, often with much conflict and chaos. And so we have the world as it now is. There is great stability and inertia in all of this, because changes in mind are very slow, but it is always possible to interject new energies and influences, which will effect new change depending on the power of the new impulse. Those who can concentrate their powers of mind in a definite direction can evoke some transformation in the patterns that be. So, there is great potential for good in all of this, on many levels, especially if one combines the effort with others in a group agreement. Remember that we are working for the good of the whole planet, for ourselves and for the overall environment. The ideal of serving the planet is vast and often too ambiguous to understand in practical efforts, so we have to begin with ourselves and our local environment, gaining knowledge of what we truly need and want out of life. Having vague concepts of what is good for the planet is fine for a start, but the practical work begins at home with ourselves and our community. When we begin to study the realities and ideals in front of us, and practice service wherever we are, then real transformation can be effected, and this will have an influence throughout the greater whole. We can only do what we are capable of at this particular place and time, and here there is always great potential for beneficial transformation. When we come into study and service, love and knowledge, and accept the responsibility as transformers of energy, then we cease to fear power, and trust the love and wisdom of all life, including ourselves.

As human beings, we are not something separate from this work. We are not separate from the Devic or Angelic world. In a sense, we are it. The higher aspect of our mind and creative will is exactly the same. Yet we separate the worlds to more easily understand the whole system of life and how it works. We, as human beings are the pivot point in the work. Our true function and purpose is to be instruments for the Divine, creative work on this planet. We are to be conscious workers and participate in conscious evolution. The Devic kingdom is the maintainer of all life, and within it are all the potentials for further creativity to unfold. So, we need to seek the help of the Devic kingdom for understanding and right creative impulse, and we need to consciously cooperate with the work already going on. We are not alone, and we have the responsibility to live in cooperation and harmony with the whole of nature.

A Spiritual Metaphysics

Even though all is ultimately Divine, Sacred Energy and One Absolute Being, we can usefully divide the Whole into five different worlds for describing the process of creative manifestation The highest world is The Source, The Divine Being transcending all. This is ultimately the unknown Mystery, but it can be known as the One Energy, One Light, One Consciousness, One Being, One Love, One Power, One Will. These descriptions are the Absolute Properties of the Great Mystery, so they are the next world, the highest world being completely unknowable, let alone describable (in fact the first world of Mystery is beyond "world"). So then, the second world (which is really the first "world", just to confuse you even more), is what can be described, but in absolute terms only, and each term is not really separate from the others, yet we can only understand this Truth by separating the description and relating each to each. It is a world of Absolute Unity, but can only be understood correctly as a Triad. This is called the Divine or Spiritual Triad, or the Holy Trinity. It is Will, Love and Consciousness, or Energy, Being and Purpose, or some other Triad, depending on the system or tradition. What is important is that one doesn't limit their understanding to just one aspect of the triad, like saying God is just energy or just love without recognizing the intelligence and beingness of this Reality. I do not want to be too definite or dogmatic in describing this world, because it would limit your understanding. I'm giving you the sense of it and the keys to understanding, letting you intuit the truth within your own being.

The next world is a little more clearer to us. It is the world of qualities, that is Divine Qualities. It is the Attributes of God, the Rays of Divine Light interpenetrating time and space. It is the world of Divine Ideas and Ideals, the world of Potentials, the Creative Intelligences of Life, the Archetypes of Mind. The higher aspect of Angelic and Devic Beings are in this world, coming out of the Spiritual Triad as Seven Rays, Great Beings and Attributes of The One, then dividing into a whole multiplicity of Pure, Divine Qualities, each interpenetrating eachother with interdependence of power, love and wisdom.

Next, we find the world of energy relationships and patterns. This is the formative world working through the subtle energies and elements on the planet. It is composed of the energies and elements, the basic substances and building blocks which form the manifesting patterns of life on the planet. Included in this world are the Devas, Angels, elementals and nature spirits.

The last world is called the phenomenal or manifested world, where in we find the unique distinctions of material form.