Etheric Double and allied phenomena

by Arthur E. Powell

The health aura: What it is and does. Based on the works of famous theosophists.

Genres: Theosophy, Spirituality, Occult, Metaphysics, Nonfiction, Health, New Age

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1925

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is series of 5 books edited by Colonel Arthur E. Powell. He very methodically combined information from a number of theosophical authors in the early part of the 20th century. These books are a wealth of esoteric information. They are more head centered than heart centered. However these books must be read in the following order: Etheric Double, Astral Body, Mental Body, Causal Body, and Solar System. Each builds on the last. Although not all are mentioned in Goodreads, I recommend ordering the Quest book editions. You can get them on Amazon or from Quest Books.

First published in 1925 this book covers everything you ever wanted to know about the etheric double and its chakras. The only objection I have to this book is the substitution of the spleen chakra for the sacral chakra. I think this was because these people were raised in Victorian times. According to the Tibetan (Alice Bailey) both chakras exist.

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte plina de informatii despre corpul eteric, cel mai apropiat corp subtil de cel fizic, energizandu-l si fiind o punte de transmitere a informatiilor de la fizic la astral si invers. Informatii despre prana, chakre, importanta lor, dar si despre chakra care le alimenteaza cu energie eterica pe celelalte. Cartea se incheie cu informatii despre mesmerism si ectoplasma. O carte plina de informații utile doar pentru aceia care sunt interesati de astfel de idei legate de energiile subtile.

[Anson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of a series each unit of which deals specifically with one of the bodies of humans and other beings as seen from the common "esoteric" perspective; ie, the etheric body, astral body, mental body, and causal body/ego. The author, A. E. Powell has drawn from sources associated with the Theosophical Society, primarily Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, and describes his work as a compilation from many sources for the convenience of the student. Those who are unfamiliar with the ideas and terminology of Theosophy may meet with some difficulty when they encounter "Great outpourings", "Logoi" and the like, but the information is well organized, practical and fascinating nonetheless.
The etheric double is the body of vitality amd electro-magnetism of a being, being composed of prana, bio-plasma, chi, or whatever you wish to name it. It is the health aura. Healers and yogis, therefore, will especially find this book useful. One useful understanding I gained was a reinforcement of the notion that one could approach consciousness from the form side, or the body.
The book was published in 1925 and since then research in this field has progressed quite a bit; nonetheless, this book is a quick, interesting and useful read based on clairvoyant observations and the knowledge of the Theosophy school and so is not so subject to time as a ny times bestseller.

[Glenn Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation on the etheric body from the writings of three theosophists (namely, A. Besant, C.W. Leadbeater and H.P. Blavatsky).

[Sergio ruocchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

un testo sorprendente, bisogna leggerlo almeno 3-4 volte per coglierne tutta l'essenza.una spiegazione attenta del corpo eterico e di come l'energia si sviluppa e si muove.

[Danko Glibota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kamen temeljac ezoterije

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in what would come to be a series of primers on the nature of man and the universe according to the clairvoyant investigations of members of The Theosophical Society, this little book, originally published in 1925, delivers a lot of information in a short space. The author, A. E. Powell, combed through 40 different texts written mostly by the prominent Theosophists Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater, and arranged the information in a concise, orderly way by topic. (While there are three texts by H. P. Blavatsky, Powell confesses that it was beyond his scope to include all of her works in his survey.) The result is a dense but readable introduction to the key findings of the Theosophists, complete with a number of diagrams.

If you're not familiar with the findings of Theosophy, the Theosophists were and are clairvoyants who used their talents to investigate and document the unseen realms beyond our world of the five senses. If you're used to navigating only in this world of the five physical senses, this is mind-stretching stuff. For, according to them, we are all composed of much more than the physical body (with attendant mind) that we associate with ourselves. Our physical body is composed of what they call dense or coarse matter; but the organization and vitality of this body depends on other bodies made of finer kinds of matter that are mostly undetectable with our coarse senses. The densest of these other bodies is the so-called etheric body or etheric double: a body made of finer-grade matter than our dense physical body, but otherwise mirroring it closely in form and occupying the same space. It is slightly larger than our dense body, generally having its outer border about a centimeter beyond our skin. It has the function of connecting our dense body to our higher-order bodies, and channeling vital energy or prana into our body, which is what keeps us alive. For it turns out that while food is essential for us to live, prana is even more essential. Its source, for us anyway, is the sun.

The etheric body is organized around the chakras, seven energy centers that receive and redirect prana from the outside world. It enters at the 3rd chakra, the spleen center, which then sends it on to the others via particular channels. Each chakra has its own structure and functions. If we activate and develop our chakras, we acquire new powers, notably the ability to relate consciously with the higher-order parts of ourselves. Many occult and magical phenomena area accounted for by the activities of the etheric and higher bodies.

The author has done a great service to the student of reality in the widest sense. I feel a little like the prisoner of Plato's cave who has been released from his chains, and is starting to squint at new and unimagined surroundings, moving instinctively toward the light at the cave's entrance. What lies out there? The world he has truly lived in all along, but without knowing it.

[Archana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading every chapter. The insights were amazing. Impact on my healing approaches are yet to be explored. I definitely appreciate the teachings of my Guru with greater respect and gratitude.

I liked the chapter on Death the most. The Inner reflection technique from Master Choa is such an impacting method to prepare for the best moment of life.

[Hunter Kinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was almost interesting until the end when it got racist basically saying that central Africans don't have the vitality or some shit to access the health aura, without that BS (which essentially discredits the author), it was a decent read. That being said, it's theosophy, so idk if I'd recommend this to many people and don't feel like I've gained a whole lot from it. It's unfortunate, because I don't know whether I should continue the series of books. I was really excited about them because I have some experience with astral projection and essentially wanted a primer on it and thought I could get decent analyses on this and other phenomenon without being too woo-woo. SPOILER ALERT: it's pretty freaking woo-woo, and racist so idk if I even wanna go further down the path and associate myself with guy's like Powell.

[Russell Eric Dobda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like “the astral plane” this book is 2nd hand from previous theosophists, but better conceived both because it is more concise and also studies a phenomenon closer to the physical plane. Powell lays out good details around how the physical world is created from the Etheric world, and how the etheric connects us to the astral. Great coverage of the chakras and how we convert and use sun prana. Also goes into energy vampires, channeling (why channels often have health problems) and related phenomenon like auras, etheric shields, and a bit about physical science supporting the existence of the etheric plane. I really enjoyed this book and want to read “the mental plane” next if i could find it.

[Nitika Saluja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The set of 5 books by Powell, is for anyone interested in Theosophy, energy healing, Chakras, life continuum after death for doctors, teachers and nurses too. This book is well divided into sections and relatively easy to comprehend.

[Michalis Filippou]

This book gives a nice introduction to the etheric double. It may not be the best starting point and some of the topics it explains might be provided as harmless when they may not be but it is a good stepping stone nonetheless.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un buen resumen sobre lo referente al cuerpo eterico, saca informacion de varias fuentes. Aprendi varias cosas que desconocia del tema. existe un par de capitulos donde habla de investigaciones en particular que creo que estan un poco de mas. Pero en general es un excelente libro.

[Karan Bhanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very tough read

[*AndreA* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concepts about the Etheric body and Astral phenomena.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the information in this book is a bit outdated but it is still a neat little snapshot of the past.

[Sky Feather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A considerable account on the etheric faculties of man, the unfolding of the etheric body and its properties. Unseen forces such as the ectoplasm, animal magnetism, mesmerism etc. are being forgotten in our times, though they mark the founding elements for the study into the unseen elements and with the help of this book, I was able to read about them again and also read the studies that have been done from researchers of the time such as W.J. Crawford and Baron von Schrenck Notzing. This book is a collection of previous works on the subject, such as those of C. W. Leadbeater and Annie's Besant, and many others; making it as such a valuable resource for the seeker of the fine elements of our surrounding world.

I will add below an eloquent quote from the ending of the book:
"The real blossom of life grows above the stature of man, and its bulb drinks deep from the river of life. In the heart of that flower man will read the secrets of the controlling forces of the physical plane, and will see, written within it, the science of mystic strength. He will learn how to expound spiritual truths, and to enter into the life of his highest self, and he can learn also how to hold within him the glory of that higher self, and yet to retain life upon this planet so long as it shall last, if need be ; to retain life in the vigor of manhood, till his entire work is completed, and he has taught to all who look for light these three truths:-

1. The soul of man is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendor has no limit.
2. The principle which gives life is in us and without us, is undying and eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by the man who desires perception.
3. Each man is his absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself ; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment.

These truths, which are as great as life itself, are as simple as the simplest mind of man. Let the food of knowledge be given to all those who are hungry for it."

[M. Joseph Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. Not what you would call a light read.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some interesting stuff in this book... some of it I just couldn't believe at all, but maybe that's because I don't see etheric matter. :)

[Manish Kanodia · Rating 5 out of 5]

suggestive reading to all healer

[Grady McMurtry]

You might think this is about yoga, but really it's about Theosophy, particularly of the Leadbeater/Besant variety.