The Creative Process in the Individual | Page 3

true nature, we cannot by any possibility be working in
opposition to one another. For these reasons, having now some general
idea of what it is we are in search of, we may commence our
investigation by considering this common factor which must be at the
back of all individual exercise of creative power, that is to say, the
Generic working of the Universal Creative Principle.
That such a Universal Creative Principle is at work we at once realize
from the existence of the world around us with all its inhabitants, and
the inter-relation of all parts of the cosmic system shows its underlying
Unity--thus the animal kingdom depends on the vegetable, the
vegetable kingdom on the mineral, the mineral or globe of the earth on
its relation to the rest of the solar system, and possibly our solar system
is related by a similar law to the distribution of other suns with their
attendant planets throughout space. Our first glance therefore shows us
that the All-originating Power must be in essence Unity and in
manifestation Multiplicity, and that it manifests as Life and Beauty
through the unerring adaptation of means to ends--that is so far as its
cosmic manifestation of ends goes: what we want to do is to carry this
manifestation still further by operation from an individual standpoint.
To do this is precisely our place in the Order of Creation, but we must
defer the question why we hold this place till later on.
One of the earliest discoveries we all make is the existence of Matter.
The bruised shins of our childhood convince us of its solidity, so now
comes the question, Why does Matter exist? The answer is that if the
form were not expressed in solid substance, things would be
perpetually flowing into each other so that no identity could be
maintained for a single moment. To this it might be replied that a
condition of matter is conceivable in which, though in itself a plastic
substance, in a fluent state, it might yet by the operation of will be held

in any particular forms desired. The idea of such a condition of matter
is no doubt conceivable, and when the fluent matter was thus held in
particular forms you would have concrete matter just as we know it
now, only with this difference, that it would return to its fluent state as
soon as the supporting will was withdrawn. Now, as we shall see later
on, this is precisely what matter really is, only the will which holds it
together in concrete form is not individual but cosmic.
In itself the Essence of Matter is precisely the fluent substance we have
imagined, and as we shall see later on the knowledge of this fact, when
realized in its proper order, is the basis of the legitimate control of mind
over matter. But a world in which every individual possessed the power
of concreting or fluxing matter at his own sweet will irrespective of any
universal coordinating principle is altogether inconceivable--the
conflict of wills would prevent such a world remaining in existence. On
the other hand, if we conceive of a number of individuals each
possessing this power and all employing it on the lines of a common
cosmic unity, then the result would be precisely the same stable
condition of matter with which we are familiar--this would be a
necessity of fact for the masses who did not possess this power, and a
necessity of principle for the few who did. So under these
circumstances the same stable conditions of Nature would prevail as at
present, varied only when the initiated ones perceived that the order of
evolution would be furthered, and not hindered, by calling into action
the higher laws. Such occasions would be of rare occurrence, and then
the departure from the ordinary law would be regarded by the multitude
as a miracle. Also we may be quite sure that no one who had attained
this knowledge in the legitimate order would ever perform a "miracle"
for his own personal aggrandizement or for the purpose of merely
astonishing the beholders--to do so would be contrary to the first
principle of the higher teaching which is that of profound reverence for
the Unity of the All-originating Principle. The conception, therefore, of
such a power over matter being possessed by certain individuals is in
no way opposed to our ordinary recognition of concrete matter, and so
we need not at present trouble ourselves to consider these exceptions.
Another theory is that matter has no existence at all but is merely an

illusion projected by our own minds. If so, then how is it that we all
project identically similar images? On the supposition that each mind is
independently projecting its own conception of matter a