The Power of the Lower Realms

We have already spoken about how, for the full development of human-level consciousness, it must interact with the three other available forms of life’s manifestation – mineral, plant, and animal.

At the same time, to increase the effectiveness of that interaction, it is important to understand the peculiarities of each form of mind and, accordingly, the possible points of contact with the human mind.

In particular, interaction with minerals can give stability to the stream of consciousness, with plants – increase its intensity, and with animals – its flexibility.

However, despite this general principle, each form of mind is expressed through a wide variety of individual streams. At the mineral level, individuality concerns chemical composition alone; at the plant level, species affiliation predominates; and at the animal level, species characteristics begin to be overlaid by the individuality of particular specimens.

Therefore, to determine with reasonable probability the particular power of a specific mineral, one can rely only on its appearance and origin; for a plant, in addition to appearance one must take into account the emerging spirit in that species; and a judgment about the Power of an animal can often be formed only by entering into interaction with that particular animal.

Mythic tradition establishes correspondences of minerals’ powers primarily with planetary and zodiacal influences, assigns a leading role among plants to elemental correspondences, and, for animals, emphasizes the alignment of their power with the streams of the gods. Nevertheless, this does not mean one cannot trace the influence of the elements or gods in the mineral world, or of planets or the zodiac in the animal world; it simply affirms the predominance of a given symbolic field at each level of consciousness, although in many cases it is important to take the other series of analogies into account.

Tradition grants magical properties to only a very small number of stones and minerals; the number of plants having power is somewhat larger; and among animals, Power may manifest in an individual specimen even when the species itself is unremarkable, although certain species are noted as more inclined to accept Power.

Let us examine several examples. To begin with minerals: it is well known that the ruler of the zodiac sign Leo is the Sun, and the principle of that sign is fire. Therefore one may consider diamond to be suitable for that sign. However, although Aries also belongs to the fire principle and has the Sun on the throne, diamond is not recommended for them. The zodiac sign determines the organs supported by a given stone, while the principle indicates on which finger the stone is best worn.

Astrologers commonly hold that by understanding the meanings of stones and their properties one can alter a person’s character and, consequently, their fate. If a person whose horoscope describes them, say, as a hesitant melancholic were to wear stones embodying opposite qualities — for example, a diamond, which disperses excessive doubt and melancholy — then, gradually, that person would adopt a different pattern of behavior.

As for plants, they are divided into two clear groups — trees and herbs, with shrubs forming the transition between them. At the level of herbs, species characteristics predominate, while at the arboreal level individual differences are already perceptible. For example, the fire principle in a relatively pure form manifests in St. John’s wort, water in mint, earth in wormwood, and air in yarrow; yet an apple tree, though it carries a great deal of water energy, being old and powerful, may have absorbed many other elemental forces, which must be taken into account. In addition, at the level of trees the power of the gods also manifests: for example, the oak was dedicated to Perun, the beech — with its powerful threshold energy — to Veles and Semargl, the apple tree to Lada, and the maple to Dazhdbog.

Finally, among animals the power of the gods to whom they are dedicated forms the basis of their individual power. For example, although the bear is Veles’s and the golden eagle is Perun’s animal, a particular bear may carry that power to a greater or lesser degree — sometimes rising to a high degree of correspondence with those energies, and sometimes expressing them only faintly. In addition, special importance belongs to Magical animals, interaction with which can also give the Magus a push forward.

Thus, a Magus who wishes, for example, to increase his receptivity may employ either one of the lunar minerals (for example, selenite or malachite), or a plant of the water principle (for example, begonia), or enter into interaction with an animal of Lada (for example, a cat).

However, this does not mean that the effects of these forms are identical: selenite simply enhances psychological receptivity and emotionality, begonia helps to build up one’s receptivity, and the cat brings new possibilities of perception.

Therefore, it is necessary not only to understand which type of energy the Magus seeks to engage with, but also to choose the most effective way to engage.