THE

WORD

FEBRUARY 1910

MOMENTS WITH FRIENDS

Is there not a belief that the Atlanteans could fly? If so, where is such belief stated?

Plato was perhaps the first to acquaint the western world with the lost continent of Atlantis. Others following him have taken up the subject and commented upon the bit of history which he gave as coming from his ancestor, Solon, who claimed to have had it transmitted to him from the old priests of ancient Egypt. Many legends have come down in various forms, of the island or continent of Atlantis. Bacon wrote about it, but the most notable book is that of Ignatius Donnelly: “Atlantis; the Antediluvian World.” We do not think that any of those who have written about Atlantis, have mentioned anything about aerial navigation, or the ability of the Atlanteans to fly.

Not until Madame Blavatsky published her “Secret Doctrine” in 1888 was anything definitely said about the Atlanteans and flying. In the “Secret Doctrine” Madame Blavatsky states that, with the Atlanteans, aerial navigation was a fact and she gives a bit of history concerning the cause of the downfall of Atlantis and how navigation of the air played an important part in the fall. Madame Blavatsky does not claim the honor of this discovery for herself. She says in the “Secret Doctrine” that that which she states was given to her from the actual history of Atlantis, taken from the records of those wise men who have become immortal and who keep and pass on the history of the rise and fall of continents and the geological and other changes of the earth, in connection with the racial development of humanity and the rise and fall of its civilizations throughout time. The writer of the question and others to whom the “Secret Doctrine” may not be accessible will be interested in the following quotation from the work:

“It is from the Fourth Race that the early Aryans got their knowledge of ‘the bundle of wonderful things,’ the Sabha and Mayasabha, mentioned in the Mahabharata, the gift of Mayasura to the Pandavas. It is from them that they learnt aeronautics, Viwan, Vidya, the ‘knowledge of flying in air-vehicles,’ and, therefore, their great arts of Meteorography and Meteorology. It is from them, again, that the Aryans inherited their most valuable Science of the hidden virtues of precious and other stones, of Chemistry, or rather Alchemy, of Mineralogy, Geology, Physics and Astronomy.” (3d Ed. vol. II., p. 444.)

“Here is a fragment of the earlier story from the Commentary:

“ ‘. . . And the ‘Great King of the Dazzling Face,’ the chief of all the Yellow-faced, was sad, seeing the sins of the Black-faced.

“ ‘He sent his air-vehicles (Vimanas) to all his brother-chiefs (chiefs of other nations and tribes) with pious men within, saying: Prepare. Arise, ye men of the Good Law, and cross the land while (yet) dry.

“ ‘The Lords of the storm are approaching. Their chariots are nearing the land. One night and two days only shall the Lords of the Dark Face (the Sorcerers) live on this patient land. She is doomed, and they have to descend with her. The nether Lords of the Fires (the Gnomes and Fire Elementals) are preparing their magic Agnyastra (fire-weapons worked by Magic). But the Lords of the Dark Eye (“Evil Eye”) are stronger than they (the Elementals) and they are the slaves of the mighty ones. They are versed in Astra (Vidya, the highest magical knowledge). Come and use yours (i. e., your magic powers, in order to counteract those of the Sorcerers). Let every Lord of the Dazzling Face (an Adept of the White Magic) cause the Vimana of every Lord of the Dark Face to come into his hands (or possession), lest any (of the Sorcerers) should by its means escape from the waters, avoid the rod of the Four (Karmic Deities), and save his wicked (followers, or people).’ ”. (Ibid, p. 445.)

“ ‘(But) the nations had now crossed the dry lands. They were beyond the watermark. Their Kings reached them in their Vimanas, and led them on to the lands of Fire and Metal (East and North).’ ”

“ ‘The waters arose, and covered the valleys from one end of the Earth to the other. High lands remained, the bottom of the Earth (the lands of the antipodes) remained dry. There dwelt those who escaped; the men of the Yellow Faces and of the straight eye (the frank and sincere people).

“ ‘When the Lords of the Dark Faces awoke and bethought themselves of their Viwans in order to escape from the rising waters, they found them gone.’ ”. (ibid. p. 446.)

Are the individuals who are trying to solve the problem of aerial navigation, reincarnated Atlanteans?

In all probability many of the minds which worked through Atlantean bodies are again appearing in the civilization which is now being built up, this civilization having its center in the United States with its branches and ramifications extending to all quarters of the globe. In all probability the inventors of this age are those minds who worked out or were instructed in the sciences of Atlantis and who are causing to reappear similar inventions in our age with which they have been familiar in Atlantis. Among the inventions is that of flying. The possibility of man’s flying, or the navigation of the air, was scoffed at and ridiculed up to very recent times, and even the most “scientific” minds sneered at the suggestion or spoke of it as an ignis fatuus or a childish superstition. The invention of the aeroplane and dirigible balloon have demonstrated that navigation of the air is possible, and what has been done indicates that at a time not far distant man will be able to steer his way through the air as effectively as he now steers his way through the water. The mind of man is fast overcoming the difficulties of aerial navigation. But he has not yet discovered the means nor is he able to contact the means by which easy flight is attained. Man may fly as easily as birds now fly, but only when he has learned to contact and use the force which birds use in their flight. Birds do not depend only on physical force to fly. They call into operation a force which is not physical and which they contact with their bodies and which moves their bodies. Birds do not depend on their wings for the power of flight. They use their wings and tail more as a balance or lever by which the body is balanced and directed through the currents of the air. Man may do with his body what the birds now do with theirs, or, man may build machines with which he may navigate the air. He will navigate the air, most successfully only when he has learned to adjust and relate the force which is in himself to the flying machines which he may build. If man may do this in this age it is quite likely and highly probable that man has done the same in times past. It is quite probable that the Atlanteans did have a knowledge of the power which causes flight and were capable of causing this power to act through their bodies, thereby enabling them to fly, and of adjusting the same power to aerial machines, thereby regulating the flight of such machines according to their will. The mind reincarnates from age to age, from one physical race to another. The mind of man is not educated and perfected in one race or civilization. It is necessary for the mind to pass through many or all races and civilizations in its gradual development. It is logical to suppose that the minds which are engaged with the question or practice of aerial navigation are the same minds which have been concerned with the problem in Atlantis.

If the Atlanteans had solved the problem of aerial navigation, and if those who are now concerned with the same problem were Atlanteans, then why have these individuals not reincarnated since the sinking of Atlantis and before the present time, and if they have reincarnated before the present age, why have they not been able to master the air or to fly before the present time?

That the Atlanteans did solve the problem of aerial navigation is not yet proven, nor is it proven that Atlantis existed. At least it is not proven by any of those proofs which are required by modern science. Much evidence has been given that Atlantis did exist, such as those mentioned or that furnished by the Sargasso Sea. But if present humanity can solve the problem of navigation of the air, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the humanity in Atlantis could also have solved it. If reincarnation be a fact, it is quite probable, indeed it is almost certain, that if those who live today and construct machines with which they navigate the air were acquainted with the aerial problem in Atlantis, and that they have reincarnated many times and possibly in many lands since the submersion of Atlantis. Yet, what was possible at one period in a great civilization may not be possible at every other time in every other civilization. It does not follow that because an individual mind had solved the aerial problem in Atlantis he should be able to fly or build flying machines in other bodies in other lands and at unpropitious times.

Aerial navigation is a science, however, it is only one of the sciences. It depends on and cannot do without other sciences. Until certain of the sciences had been developed the physical side of aerial navigation could not have been achieved. A knowledge of such sciences as mechanics, of steam, chemistry, electricity, are necessary to the successful navigation of the air. Whatever fundamental knowledge the mind may have in itself as to its knowledge and its power and ability to fly, yet until physical devices have been contrived and until the mind has become acquainted with the laws which govern physical bodies, no aerial ships or machines could be successfully constructed or used. Only in modern times have these sciences been rejuvenated or rediscovered. Only when the information which they furnish was or is applied to flight through the air, is it reasonable to suppose that aerial navigation is possible. It is quite likely that the ancients did have a knowledge of the sciences, but they have left us no records such as are required as proof to show that they had a working knowledge of all of the sciences together, as is now being gradually developed.

An individual mind reincarnating in any of the countries of Europe or Asia within the past five thousand years could not have found the necessary conditions to build airships and fly in them. If for no other reason, then because religious prejudices of the country would have prevented him from using the knowledge which he may have applied in Atlantis. For example: if all of the text books of modern science were removed from the world and some of our great inventors and scientists were to die and reincarnate in some part of the world not in touch with modern civilization, the greatest of these scientists and inventors would be unable in that life to provide the conditions which the civilizations they had left had afforded. The most they could do even with a knowledge that they had lived and had known and done what is now known to be done would not enable them to do the same thing under changed conditions. The most that they could do would be to act as pioneers. They would be obliged to educate the people among whom they reincarnated up to an appreciation of future possibilities, to acquaint the people with certain facts, and educate them to an understanding of the rudiments of the sciences. One life would not allow them the time necessary to build up the conditions and educate the people up to the desire for modern advantages. Only as other advanced minds incarnated among the people, and advanced minds continued to incarnate and “discover” certain laws and improve the industries and customs of the country, would it be possible to have the working basis for a civilization. It has taken ages for humanity to be educated and developed to its present condition, after it sank into the darkness following the downfall of previous civilizations. As humanity emerges from the darkness and ignorance and prejudices and as the incarnated minds become freer, then what existed in past civilizations may again, will again, be introduced and perfected. We are evidently approaching the time for the reappearance of what have been considered as wonders, but which are gradually becoming necessities and parts of our life. Though the individuals who lived in Atlantean bodies and who there navigated the air, must have many times reincarnated since the sinking of Atlantis, and though the season and time prevented their using the knowledge of aerial flight, the time is at hand when these individuals may call to the present their knowledge of the past, because the conditions are ready and they will be able to master the air and fly in the future as they were masters of the air in forgotten Atlantis.

A Friend [H. W. Percival]