Within the Temple of Isis | Page 4

most momentous event,
appeared now only in the light of the expected and necessary.
As she was ushered into the presence of the Holy Father the whole
apartment seemed pervaded by an atmosphere of genial warmth and
electrical-giving life which somehow emanated from the inner nature of
the Priest himself, radiating also spiritual and mental, as well as
physical force.
For some moments the Hierophant regarded the young Vestal in silence,
but Sarthia was conscious that he was reading her inmost thought and
motive like an open book, even down to her vision of the Astrologer
and his fatal announcement regarding her life.
"My child," he said at length, "are you ready for the great change now
already at hand?"
"No, Father, not ready but resigned to what seems to be the inevitable
decrees of the planets that rule my physical destiny."
"Thou hast well said thou art not ready. Your life has yet but only
begun for you. Its experiences, its many lessons and duties, are all

unlearnt and you would pass to the spirit world immatured. Your young
soul, like fruit plucked from the tree too soon, would ripen slowly,
losing many of its flavors and never attaining certain of its best and
highest qualities, for as you well know, progress in the next stage of
existence depends upon the attainments in this.
"Thou art not ready, yet say you are willing to bow to the inevitable.
This is wise, still have you not heard it said many times that man is the
arbiter of his own destiny and that the soul was the inheritor of
God-like powers by which it could rise to the plane whereby it ruled,
instead of obeying the blind or planetary forces of Nature?"
"True, O Venerated Father, I have indeed heard all this, but I am very
ignorant. Are there such possibilities for my soul?" and somehow
imperceptibly hope began to dawn within her heart and quicken the life
forces.
"Ruling the blind forces of Nature is very like ruling the wild beast,
although the beast is much stronger than man and capable of tearing
him to pieces, yet man, by forethought, can evade or trap and chain or
otherwise overcome him. So my child, there are ways wherein man,
assisted by his own knowledge, and by the instruction of departed
spirits; aye, by the immortal Gods themselves, can evade even the
malefic planets in their devastating course.
"To my clairvoyant vision, as I now at this moment look at you, every
minute atom of your physical organism is in the subtle process of
depolarization from unity toward chaos and disintegration. You are not
yourself conscious of this condition only as it has been revealed to you,
for your soul is so alive that it has become almost unconscious of its
physical expression and for this very reason the shock of dissolution
would be all the greater when it did come; for example, witness your
unexpected collapse yesterday morning. Ah! sudden death is a most
deplorable calamity, and your pitiable state of mind was but a foretaste
of what would be the state of your soul for many long years, if you had
died then, and will yet be, to a less extent now, unless this swift-coming
blow can be evaded.

"However, in case the worst comes to worst, you have about ten days
more of this external life and under our special care and preparation
you can live years of experience in hours of physical time, and your
soul thus equipped may courageously enter upon its journey to the
spirit world. Rest assured, my child, everything possible shall be done
for you."
"Ah, thank you; thank you, kind and good Father," exclaimed Sarthia,
casting herself at the feet of the Hierophant and, with tears streaming
from her eyes, kissing the hem of his robe.
"But, truly life is sweet, especially to the young, is it not, my child?"
said the Priest, gently raising Sarthia to his side and holding her
trembling form in a firm clasp. "Happily, there is an alternative which
we have to offer for your most careful consideration and decision.
"Listen now, and give me your closest attention. Know you the young
Princess Nu-nah?" Sarthia bowed assent.
"For now these many weeks she lies in a semi-conscious condition, the
soul hovering about its earthly temple uncertain whether to go or stay.
In some respects her condition corresponds with your own, only that
with you, as dissolution approaches, your soul grows brighter and more
active, while hers becomes more and more latent; this result being
largely the difference of environment--a contrast of the soul unfoldment
possible in Temple life and that amid the distractions of the outside
world.
"To-night, the night of the full Moon, the Princess Nu-nah will be
brought