Art of Mental Creating by Ralph M. Lewis, F.R.C

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ART OP MENTAL CREATI NG

by Ral ph M. Lewi s , P. R. C.

( Al l r i ght s r es er ved by Rosi cr uci an Or der , AMORC, San Jose, Cal i f orni a)

MJ - 139- 561



( Al l r i ght s r es er ved by Rosi cr uci an Or der , AMORC, San Jose, Cal i f orni a)

ART OP MENTAL CREATI NG - C-Page 1

By Ra l ph M. Lewi s , F. R. C.

The s ubj ec t of c r ea t i ng usua l l y p r esumes an i mmedi a t e d i s cuss i on of t het echni que or t he ways by whi ch t he c r ea t i ng i s accompl i shed. Such anappr oach i s a p r es umpt i on t ha t i t l i e s wi t h i n t he pr ov i nce of man t o bea cr ea t or . I f , however , i t can be shown t ha t man does not c r ea t e orcannot c r eat e , t hen, obvi ous l y, t he appr oach t o t he subj ec t mus t bedi f f er ent . We ar e t hen obl i ged t o ask our s e l ves , What i s meant by t hewor d c r e a t i ng ?

An abso l ut e c r ea t i on woul d be t he br i ngi ng i nt o exi s t ence of somet h i ngwh i c h ha s no p r i or r e a l i t y e i t he r as a f or m or as a subs t a nc e. Suc ha bso l ut e ne s s woul d ne e d t o i nc l ude not onl y t he i de a of t he r e a l i t ya nd i t s f unc t i on, but a l so t he ne c e s s a r y e l e me nt s of wh i c h i t c ons i s t s .I n ot he r wor ds , an abso l u t e c r ea t i on woul d cons i s t of t he concept i onor t he i dea, t he el ement s of whi ch i t woul d be compos ed, and t he end t obe se r ved by such a c r ea t i on. I f t he re a l r eady wer e i n exi s t ence anyr e a l i t y whi c h woul d c ont r i but e t o t he f i na l ma ni f e s t a t i on, t hen, o bviousl y, such woul d not be an absol ut e c r ea t i on.

Cr e a t i ng i s c l ose l y r e l a t e d t o t he s ubj e c t of ont ol ogy wh i c h c onc er nst he na t ur e and pr obl e m of be i ng. Pr om t he poi nt of vi e w of a bs t r a ctont ol ogy, a n a bso l ut e c r e a t i on i s a n i mposs i bi l i t y. An a bso l ut e c r e at i on woul d r e qui r e t ha t t he be i ng or r e a l i t y e me r ge f r om nonbe i ng. I fonl y t he e ss ence of t he c r ea t i on exi s t ed (on whi ch a un i ve r s a l mi ndwoul d ac t ) , even t ha t woul d not be a t r ue c r ea t i on, f or t he r e woul df i r s t need be t he ess ence and t hen, as wel l , t he mi nd whi ch woul d ac t

upo n i t . Conse q ue nt l y, t hose c r e a t i ons of mi n d r e f e r r e d t o ar e, i nf a ct , t he a s s e mbl i e s of r e a l i t i e s or of i de as . Huma n c r e a t i on i s butt he c ombi ni ng of a number of el ement s , i deas or s ubs t ances, whi ch comet o c ompose a di f f e r e nt a ppe a r a nc e or r e a l i t y t o us , but whi c h a c t ua l l ya r e not a bso l ut e c r e a t i ons .

Cr ea t i ng i n t he human sense , i s mor e t han a casual or advent i t i ousas s embl y of i deas or obj ec t s . Cr ea t i ng must not be conf used wi t h mer echange. I t i s qui t e t r ue t hat c r e at i ng i mpl i e s t r a ns i t i on, but i t i sf a r mor e t ha n t ha t . For a na l ogy, l e t us i ma gi ne a r oom f i l l e d wi t hva r i ous pi e c es of f ur ni t ur e . The pos i t i on or l oc a t i on of t he s e obj e ct sc ons t i t ut e s a pa r t i c ul a r pa t t e r n or a r r a nge me nt of t hem. Suppose wear e obl i ged t o pass t hr ough t hi s r oom. To make pass age f or our se l ves ,i t i s ne c e s s a r y t ha t we pus h a s i de c e r t a i n pi e c es o f f ur ni t ur e - - pe r ha psput t wo p i eces s i de by s i de or r emove t hem some di s t ance f r om our pa t h.The a r r a nge me nt , t hen, of t he f ur ni t ur e or i t s pa t t e r n ha s be e n a l t e r e di n t he r oom. I n e f f e ct , t he obj e c t s ha ve cha nge d t he i r r e l a t i onsh i pt o eac h ot her . Now, t hough we have br ought about t hi s new ar r angementof f ur ni t u re by pus h i ng i t out of our way, can i t be s a i d t ha t we havecr eat ed i t s pat t er n? The answer t o s uch a ques t i on must be no_. I f wewer e t o say yes , t hen, i n e f f ec t , we coul d say t ha t a t r ee i s t he c r eat or of i t s own shade mer el y because i t happens t o s t and i n t he way of



Ar t of Ment a l Cr ea t i ng- C-

Page 2

t he sun. Fur t he r , l i ne s wh i c h a r e at r i ght a ngl e s t o ot he r l i ne scannot be sa i d t o have crea t ed, by such ar r angement , a r ec t angl e . Sucht hi ngs o r a r r angement s f o l l ow f r om t he na t ur e of t he change ; t hey a rewha t t hey a re. Al l changes i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p of t hi ngs mus t , obv i

ousl y, pr oduce some ki nd of r ea l i t y, some f or m or new appear ance .However , t ha t does not i mpl y t ha t t he ef f ec t was i n t ent i ona l nor t ha ti t was pur pose f ul .

The i mpor t ant f ac t or i s t hi s ; i n any as s embl y or change out of whi ch anew ar r angement emer ges, we must as cer t ai n whet her s uch was det er mi ned.The r e i s no cr e a t i on i n t he a s se mbl y of i de as o r t hi ngs , r e ga r dl e s s ofhow f r equent l y t hey change appear ance , unl es s such changes a r e pr ecededby det e r mi na t i on. I t mus t be a sked, Was t he p r i mar y or i ni t i a l ac t i on,whi c h br ought a bout t he c ha nge , i nt e nt i ona l l y c a usa t i ve ? The i ni t i a lc ause mus t c onc e i ve a s e que nc e of or de r f r om whi c h ce r t a i n r e sul t s wi l lemerge. For ana l ogy aga i n, i f we p l aced t he f ur ni t ur e i n t he r ooma c c or di ng t o a p r e c o nc e i ve d l oc a t i on so as t o e f f e c t a n or de r p l e a s i ngt o our se l ve s , su ch woul d be a c r e a t i ve act . I t i s a ppa r e nt , t hen, t ha ta nyt hi ng wo r t hy of be i ng c a l l e d c r e a t i v e , mus t be t e l e o l o gi c a l . Thecause of t he change mus t be a mi nd ca us e . I t must s how pur pos e. I nf a ct , mi nd i s t he onl y wa y t o di s t i ngui s h cr e a t i on f r om c ha nge s whi c hf o l l ow f r om uni n t en t i ona l ac t i ons . Wher e we can t r ace a change t o ani nt e nt , t he r e we ha ve i ndi c a t i on of c r e at i on.

We a re accus t omed to t hi nk of so - ca l l ed evol u t i ona r y p rocess es of nat ur e as be i ng c r e a t i ve . I n f a ct , we poi nt t o wha t we ca l l e vol ut i onas i ndi ca t i ve of a c r ea t i ve i mpul se . How do we ar r i ve a t such a concept i on? Why, i n f act , do we ca l l a se r i e s of changes i n na t ur e evol ut i o na r y ? I s i t not b e c ause we a r bi t r a r i l y c onc e i ve t ha t t he mor e c om

pl ex s t a t e or condi t i on i s al ways t he hi gher one? Can we be cer t a i nt ha t t he s i mpl e e xpr e s s i on of a ny p he nome non i s not , a f t e r a l l , i t sgr ea t e s t mani f e s t a t i on? Coul d i t not be t ha t t he compl ex i s per haps acor r upt i on of t he si mpl e? When we concei ve or i magi ne, i n our per s onala f f a i r s , c e r t a i n f i na l e nds f or a pr oc e s s or a s a c our se f or our o wna ct i vi t i e s , t hi s c onc ept i on ca us e s us t o r e al i z e t hat e vol ut i on i n n at ur e , by whi ch t her e i s a change f r om t he s i mpl e t o t he compl ex, i s ac r e a t i ve t r e nd.

Eve r y cr e a t i ve pr oc e s s doe s not ne c e s s a r i l y ha ve a cons t r uc t i ve o b j ect i ve . Eve n i f t he pr oces s f ol l ows t he pr i nc i pl e of havi ng a de f ini t e p r econce i ved end, t he end i n i t se l f may be des t r uc t i ve . Men, f orexampl e, cr eat e menaces f or each ot her . They pl an wa r s , The ends ofma ny of t he i r c r e at i ons a r e de s t r uc t i ve . I t i s i nde ed a f a l s e c onc epthel d by many peop l e t ha t a l l t hi ngs you seek t o c r ea t e mus t necess a r i l ybe a l t r ui s t i c . Loo. k about you and not e t he des t r uct i ve c r ea t i ons .

I t i s not di f f i c ul t , howe ve r , t o de t e r mi ne whe t he r t he end of a c r e at i ve pr oc es s i s , i n i t s el f , c r ea t i ve. I f a s e que nc e or pr ogr e s s i on ofi de as or r e al i t i e s s us t a i ns a n a cc e pt e d good t hr oughout - - t ha t i s , wha ti s g e ne r a l l y he l d t o be good- - a nd f ur t he r e vol ve s a nd de ve l ops t ha tgood as i t pr oceeds , t hen we can say t ha t t he obj ec t i ve or end of such



i s l i ke wi se cr e at i ve . Of cour se , he r e t he mor a l a nd e t hi c a l f a c t ore nt e r s i n. Wha t c ons t i t ut e s t he good or e vi l of a s i t ua t i on or of a n yt hi ng? Thi s mus t be cons i der ed l a t e r .

The ne xt c ons i de r a t i on i n me nt a l c r e a t i ng i s t he psy c hol ogi c a l f a ct or .I f c r ea t i ng i s t he as s embl i ng t o compos e some new or der or a r r angement ,t hen t ha t end or pur pos e mus t be pot ent i a l wi t h i n t he mi nd. Obvi ous l y,t ha t whi ch has not ye t had phys i ca l exi s t ence coul d not have beenp r e vi ou s l y pe r c e i ve d. The mi n d e nge nde r s i de as f r om t he i mpr e s s i onsr e c e i ve d t hr ough t he s e nse s , a nd f r om suc h i de as i t d r a ws i nf e r e nc es .The i nf er ences i n t hems el ves become ot her i deas . They are , however ,t he i dea s of r e f l e ct i on as di s t i ngui s h ed f r om t he i dea s of s e ns a t i on,t ha t i s , f r om t hi ngs t ha t ma y be s een, f e l t , or he ar d.

Those who seek t o c r eat e , as f or exampl e , i nvent or s or poe t s , a re i nf ac t ment a l her ds men. They must r ound up, i f t hey are t o be success f ul ,t he e l ement s of t he i r expe r i ences whi ch t hey be l i eve a re , i n some way,r e l a t e d, or out o f wh i c h t he y hope t o e s t a bl i s h a r e l a t i onsh i p. Co nsequent l y, t hey mus t f i r s t have a pur pos e i n mi nd be f or e t hey can r el a t e i deas t o such a pur pose . How does t ha t pur pos e or i g i na t e? I fwe ar e not t o be conf us ed i n our t hi nki ng, t he r e su l t of our va r i edexper i ences mus t , t o our mi nds , a ss ume an or de r . Thi s o r de r i s no t h i ngmor e t han an under s t andab l e a r r angement t o us . By r epe t i t i on of exper i ence, t hat whi ch once s eemed chaot i c may event ual l y become compr ehensi ve . For anal ogy, i f you have t o wal k t hr ough an a l l eyway t o andf r om your wor k eve r y day, t he a l l e y at f i r s t ma y s e em t o be pi l e d wi t ha di s o r ga ni z e d c ol l e c t i on of obj e ct s ; t ha t i s , t he y do not s e e m t oass ume any under s t andabl e r e l a t i ons hi p t o your mi nd. However , i f youwal k t hr ough t hat a l l ey t wi ce a day, week i n and week out , what was

once chaot i c t akes on or der i n your mi nd. Event ua l l y you know exact l y j us t wher e t ha t ba r r e l i s go i ng t o be l oc at ed, wher e t ha t box s t ands ,wher e t ha t empt y car t on may be found, and so f or t h. I n o t her wor ds,t he e l ement s a r r ange t hems el ves by exper i ence i n a compr ehens i ve for mso t hat what was di s or der becomes or der t o your mi nd.

I n our da i l y obse r vance , we see pat t e r ns of t hi ngs t ha t appea r t o havea pr ogr e s s i v e or de r ; t ha t i s , t he y a r e unde r s t a nd abl e t o us . One t hi ngs eems t o evol ve out of anot her . At ot her t i mes, hoxvever , we obser vet hi ngs whi ch may seem, t o r each an end. Thei r pr ogr es s or ar r angementseems bl ocked, ends i n confusi on, or we cannot seem t o advance i t anyf ur t he r . I n r eas oni ng about such an obs e r va t i on, we may i nf e r what

t he next p r ogr ess i ve f ac t o r shou l d be. The mi nd conce i ves s ome real i t y,s omet h i ng compl e t i ng t he i mage of t he or de r whi ch i t has . For f u r t heranal ogy, I f you saw a l ong r ow of chai r s and wal ked down al ongsi det ha t r ow, you woul d f i n al l y not i c e t ha t t he c ha i r s we r e t wo f e e t a pa r t .You woul d come t o t he concl usi on t ha t i t was i n t ended f or t hose cha i r st o be t wo f ee t apa r t . I f upon r each i ng t he end of t he r ow of cha i r s ,you want ed t o cont i nue t hat r ow i n a s i mi l ar manner , you woul d knowwhat t o do. You woul d have i n your mi nd an i mage of t he or der of t hei rar r angement , t ha t i s , .a s pac i ng of t wo f ee t be t ween t hem. Such ani nf e r e nc e a s t o t he sp at i a l a r r a nge me nt woul d be t he pr ogr e s s i ve f a ct or .



I n f act , i t woul d become t he caus e by whi ch you woul d ext end t he r owof cha i r s i n t he same or de r , i f necess a r y.

Thi s f unct i oni ng of t he mi nd whi ch we have been c ons i der i ng i s t he

i nduc t i ve pr oces s o f r easoni ng. I t cons i s t s of f i ndi ng some commonunde r l yi ng pr i nc i pl e i n a s e r i e s of p ar t i c ul a r t hi ngs whi c h c an becons i de r ed t he end or pur pose of t hose t hi ngs . The r e f or e , i f we be l i evet ha t t he end or se r i e s i s not compl e t e , we ar e t hen i n a pos i t i on t ot r y t o f i nd t ha t wh i c h wi l l t e r mi na t e or e xt e nd t he pr oc e s s t o ours a t i s f a c t i o n .

Mor e mys t i f y i ng i s t he deduc t i ve pr ocess of r easoni ng as appl i ed t oment a l c r ea t i ng. Here t he gene r a l concept i on i s a l r eady had. I t cons i s t s of g r oupi ng a numbe r of i de as t oge t he r . Pe r ha ps a l l of t he sei deas a r e t he r e s ul t of e nt i r e l y di f f e r e nt obj e ct i ve expe r i e nc es .However , i n t he mi nd, t he nexus, t he pr i nc i pl e whi ch woul d t i e t hesesepa ra t e i deas t oget he r i n a way we woul d l i ke t hem t o be t i ed, r ema i nsunknown. But neve r t he l e ss t he mi nd i s s t i mul a t ed by t he appar ent i n t egr a t i on of s uch i deas . The i mage whi ch t hese combi ned i deas f or m i sgr a t i f y i ng t o t he mi nd. The mi nd des i r e s t o exper i ence a s i mi l a r uni t yobj e ct i ve l y. I t s e eks e xt e r na l l y i n t he t hi ngs of t he out s i de wor l dt hat whi ch wi l l compos e a f or m, or s t at e , l i ke t he i mage i n mi nd. Thei ndi vi dua l t r i e s t o br i ng t hi ngs t oge t he r obj e c t i ve l y i nt o t he s ameuni t y as t he concept of t hem whi ch he has . He a t t empt s t o put t hepa r t i c ul a r s of t he expe r i e nc e s of s i ght or t ouc h, f or e xa mpl e , i nt ot he s ame f r ame as t he r eas on or as t he i magi nat i on has concei ved.

Pr om t he ps y c hol ogi c a l p oi nt of vi e w, t hen, i de as c ons t i t ut e t he b ui l di ng bl oc ks of c r e a t i ve t hought . The se i de as eme r ge f r om t he se nsa t i ons

caused by t he i mpres s i ons r ece i ved t hr ough our obj ec t i ve senses andf r om t he spe c i a l r e l a t i onsh i ps i nt o whi c h t he mi nd a s s e mbl e s su ch se nsa t i ons . The obj ec t i ve mi nd, a s t he phi l osopher s have sa i d, i s at a bul a r a s a ; t ha t i s , t he br a i n i s a bl a nk t a bl e t a nd i t mus t ha vei deas wr i t t en or i mpr es s ed upon i t . The most i mpor t ant means of ac compl i s h i ng t hi s i s t o c ul t i va t e a cut e obs e r va nc e or a t t e nt i ve ne s s . Eve ni f we a r e endowed wi t h an exce l l en t i magi na t i on, gi f t ed wi t h such af a cul t y, s t i l l we mus t ha ve e xpe r i e nc e f r om wh i c h i de as a r e d er i ve d sot ha t t he i magi na t i on can wor k wi t h t hem and ext end t hem.

Expe r i e nc e c ome s f r om pl a c i ng our s e l ve s i n va r yi ng r e l a t i ons h i ps wi t ht he t hi ngs of our envi r onment . We need t o meet peopl e , go pl aces , l i s

t e n t o ot he r s - - r e a d a nd de r i ve c onc e pt s d i f f e r e nt f r om our own. Wemust not be per f unct or y i n our obs er vat i ons . As we wal k down a s t r ee t ,we must see wi t h t he mi nd as wel l as wi t h t he eyes, not j ust see butunder s t and what we s ee. We must hear wi t h t he mi nd as wel l as wi t h t heear s - - compr ehend wor ds, not j us t accept t hem as sounds. We s houl d bea bl e e ac h da y t o su mma r i z e t he d a y ’ s e ve nt s - - t o e xt r a c t f r om t he da i l yse r i e s of h a ppe ni ngs some poi nt of i nf or ma t i on, some l i t t l e bi t ofknowl edge t ha t con t r i but e s t o our f ount of i deas . We shoul d t hi nk t hi sove r be f o r e r e t i r i ng, r e ca l l as be s t we c an t he i mpor t a nt i nc i de nt s oft he day. Thi s r eco l l ec t i on gi ves t hem a r enewed f or ce i n memor y.



Academi c ps ychol ogy has a t t empt ed a c l i ni ca l ana l ys i s of t he pr ocessof c r e a t i ve t hought . I t ha s t r i e d t o f i nd j us t wha t i s t he c ont r i buti ng c aus e of t he c r e a t i ve a bi l i t y of pe opl e . I t s cl i ni c al a na l ys i s ha scompar ed t he exper i ences of poe t s , a r t i s t s , i nvent or s , and compose r s .

I t ha s de t e r mi ne d t ha t t he r e a r e f o ur pa r t s t o t he c r e a t i ve pr oc es s .The s e ar e pr e pa r a t i on, I nc uba t i on, i l l umi na t i o n, a nd ve r i f i c a t i on .

Pr epa r a t i on means wor k. I t i s work as r e f l ec t i on and t hought . I t i st he a t t empt t o compose i deas , t o f i nd a t hr ead t o uni t e t hem, or t odr a w some ne w s i gni f i c a nc e f r om t he i r r e l a t i onsh i p as t he y a r e a r r a ye di n t he cons ci ous ness . Thi s may mean an at t empt t o ext end t he or derof what obj ec t i ve l y seems t o be a l i mi t ed i mage . Thi s pr epa r a t i on obvi ous l y ne ce s s i t a t e s c onc ent r a t i on and r a t i oc i n at i on. I t i s de f i ni t e l ya l a bor of t hought . On t he ot he r ha nd, i f t he so l ut i on i s not f o r t hcomi ng f a i r l y soon, t he mi nd, as we know f r om our own exper i ence , bec ome s f a t i gue d by t he e f f or t . Pe r s i s t e nc e i n i nt e ns e me nt a l e f f or te ve nt ua l l y r e s t r i c t s t he e xpl or a t i ve a ct i vi t i e s of t he mi nd. The mi ndi s t hen not abl e t o cope wi t h any f i e l ds of t hought . I n ot her wor ds ,we ge t i nt o a ment a l ru t , when t he mi nd i s f a t i gued. Thi s cons i s t s off ol l owi ng t he pa t h of l eas t r e s i s t ance , and we f i nd t he same cha i n ofi deas r ecur s aga i n and aga i n.

Whe n suc h i ne r t i a oc cur s , t he ne xt s t e p i n t he pr oc e s s i s t ha t of i nc uba t i on. Thi s i nc uba t i on i s a ve r y i mpor t a nt poi nt t o us . I t ha s apr o pi nq ui t y t o t he mys t i c a l a n d Ros i c r uc i a n doc t r i ne s . The i nc uba t i oni s a pe r i od of r e s t whi ch mus t f ol l ow, i f we ar e not success f ul I n t hea ct i ve s t a t e of me nt a l c r e a t i ng- - t ha t i s , t he pr e pa r a t or y one. Dur i ngt hi s i ncuba t i on s t age , we a re t o f or ge t , f or t he t i me , t he t hought s wewer e hol d i ng and di smi ss t he ent i r e t hi ng f r om t he mi nd. Psychol ogy

admi t s t ha t subs equent l y t he so l u t i on may t hen come as an i nsp i r a t i onal f l a s h, t he i ns p i r a t i on be i ng t he pr ope r r e l a t i ons hi p of t he i deasf or whi c h we h ad b ee n s t r uggl i ng d ur i ng t he p er i od of r e f l e ct i on.

Psychol ogy of f e r s t he t heor y of unconsc i ous wor k to expl a i n t hi s i ncuba t i on s t a ge . I t i s t hi s : Whe n we c ea se c onsc i ous ce r e br a t i on, t ha ti s , our c o nc e nt r a t i on a nd r e aso ni ng, t he n t he unc onsc i ous c e r e br a t i onor br a i n ac t i v i t y begi ns . When we have f a i l ed t o accompl i s h what wewant ed t o wi t h t he cons c i ous mi nd and have ent er ed t he per i od of i ncuba t i on, di smi s s i ng t he t hought f r om t he c onsc i ous mi nd, t he n t he su bconsc i ous goes on wi t h t he wor k. When t he wor k i s compl et ed i n t hes ubcons c i ous mi nd, i t i s t hen f l as hed i nt o t he consc i ous mi nd and weha ve i t as a n i nsp i r a t i on. Howe ve r , i t i s t he i nt e nse obj e c t i ve c on-c ent r a t i on- - t he pr e pa r a t i on, t he l a bor of t hought - - t ha t s t i mul a t e s t heunconsc i ous mi nd and caus es i t t o compl et e t he wor k.

The t hi r d s t e p i n t he pr oc e s s of psy c hol o gy' s f i ndi ngs wi t h r e sp ec t t ome nt a l c r e a t i ng i s i l l umi na t i on. Thi s i l l umi na t i on i s t he pa s s i ng ofconf us i on f r om t he mi nd. The ment a l c r ea t i on appea r s as a c l ea r i mageand i t i s accompani ed by a gr ea t sense of s a t i s f ac t i on whi ch we a l lhave exper i enced f ol l owi ng such an achi evement .



The f i na l s t a t e of t hi s ps y c hol ogi c a l pr oc e s s i s ve r i f i c at i on. Thi sve r i f i c at i on c ons i s t s of c aus i ng t he i mage, t he ul t i ma t e i ns pi r a t i onor i dea, t o be obj e c t i f i e d, t o be r e al i z ed. I n ot he r wor ds , i t i s t hepr ocess of mani f e s t i ng t he i dea. Thi s i s ach i eved when t he poe t wr i t e s

hi s t heme , when t he i nvent or ac t ual l y bui l ds h i s devi ce , or when t hecompos e r ve r i f i e s hi s concept i on by p l ay i ng t he scor e .

I t mus t now be obvi ous t ha t one c a nnot j us t be gi n t o cr e at e a r bi t r a r i l y.He must f i r s t have a gener a l obj ec t i ve . He must per haps see a hi a t usi n some chai n of event s . At l eas t an i mage of uni t y must appear t o t hemi nd, and he mus t des i r e t o mani f e s t i t , t o f i nd some ext e r na l a r chet ype t o cor r e spond t o t he i mage . I t i s an ol d aphor i s m t ha t somepe opl e s i t a nd t hi nk whi l e ot he r s j us t s i t . So i t i s wi t h me nt a lcr ea t i ng. Ther e a re t hose who concent r a t e upon t he obj ec t i ve and anal yz e i t , a nd t hose who j us t f i gu r a t i ve l y s i t wi t hout suc h pr e pa r a t i on.

Al l c r ea t i ng begi ns wi t h t he mi nd. As sa i d, t he r e mus t be a t e l eo-l ogi ca l or mi nd cause t o conce i ve an end or obj ec t i ve . Thi s be i ng so, j us t wher e does t he mys t i ca l pr oces s of ment a l c r ea t i ng di f f e r f r omt he psychol ogi ca l one? Why s peak of t he myst i ca l pr ocess as ment a lc r e a t i ng whe n, f r om t he ps y chol ogi c a l poi nt of vi e w, c r e a t i ng be gi nswi t h t he mi nd a l so? Wi t h t he mys t i ca l pr ocess , t he mi nd i s t he ac t i veagent a t a l l t i mes. The mi nd does not mer e l y f or m i mages, concei vee l e me nt s or e nds of a pr oc e s s , but , i n t he mys t i c a l pr oc e s s , i t a l souses t he ps ychi c power s of t he i ndi vi dua l t o d r aw and e s t abl i s h t hosecondi t i ons by whi ch t he i mage wi l l become ma t e r i a l i zed, have ex i s t encebey ond t he mi nd.

For anal ogy, s uppos e we want t o advance our s el ves i n our e mpl oyment .

We know t hat we ar e pr of i ci ent . We have had cons i der abl e t r ai ni ng.We f ee l t ha t we a re t r us t wor t hy and capabl e of mor e r e spons i bi l i t y.How do we begi n? Fi r s t , as wi t h t he psychol ogi ca l pr ocess , we begi nwi t h pr epa r a t i on. We s t a r t t o f o r m a vi sua l i mage of t ha t whi ch wewa nt t o a c compl i sh . I n t hi s p ar t i c ul a r i ns t a nc e, we wou l d s ee o urse l ves pr omot ed t o the new posi t i on. We woul d f i nd our s e l ves as s umi ngt he dut i e s of t hat of f i c e, pe r f or mi ng al l t he va r i ous de t a i l s t o p e rf ect i on. Then, by what psychol ogy cal l s empat hy, (or , as we say, byp r o j e c t i n g t he s e l f i nt o t ha t me nt a l i ma ge ) , we do not j us t s e e o urse l ve s i n t he p os i t i on we wa nt t o r e a l i z e , but we f e e l our se l ve s t he r eas wel l . We es t abl i s h t he a t mospher e of t he of f i ce or shop. We f ee lt he pr e se n ce o f o ur a s s oc i a t e s a bout us .

I n ot he r wor ds , as Ros i c r uc i a n doc t r i ne s s ay, we a ct ua l i z e t he r e a l i t y.The I mage needs t o become as c oncr et e as you ar e- - not mer el y s omet hi ngyou woul d t hi nk of as bei ng i n your mi nd, but as s omet hi ng havi ngexi s t ence equal t o you and t o your mi nd. You exper i ence al l of t hea spe c t s of t he p os i t i o n you wi sh t o a t t a i n. As t he Ros i c r uc i a ns t e ach,a c r y s t a l l i z ed t hought , one t ha t i s c l e ar , vi vi d, a nd a ct ua l i z ed,becomes a ver y gr ea t v i t a l i zed power i n t he mi nd. Thi s power ps ychi ca l l y r a di a t e s out i nt o s pa ce f r om t he l i mi t s of t he huma n hi ms e l f . I tr e a c he s a nd e ve nt ua l l y a f f e c t s pe r so ns a nd t hi ngs .



Ther e I s an af f i n i t y or bond be t ween t he e l ement s of t he ment a l I mageand t he ac t ual one t ha t you hope t o mat er i a l i ze . The mi nd does noti ma gi ne su ch a n a f f i ni t y or n exus , but , by t he mys t i c a l pr oc e s s ofme nt a l c r e at i ng, i t a c t ua l l y e s t a bl i sh e s suc h a bond. I n t he a na l ogy

we have j us t cons i de r ed, t ha t of des i r i ng p romot i on, one of such e l ement s concer ned wi t h t he i mage i n mi nd i s t he empl oyer . An i nt ensevi s u al i z a t i on of hi m i n c onne ct i on wi t h wha t i s d es i r e d wi l l a f f e cthi s t hought s conc e r n i ng you. I t ma ke s hi m pa r t i c ul a r l y i nt e r e s t e d i nyou, per haps wi t hout be i ng awar e as t o why. I t causes h i m t o wat cha nd obse r ve you, pe r ha ps f i r s t wi t h a s e nse of c ur i os i t y. Thi s i s af a vor a bl e i ndi c at i on, f or i t me ans t ha t you ar e cl e a r l y vi s ua l i z i ng.Fur t he r , i t p ut s y ou i n an e a s i e r pos i t i on, s i nc e you ha ve hi s a t t e nt i on, t o obj ec t i ve l y i mpr ess h i m wi t h wha t you want t o do or what youe xpe c t .

You gr adua l l y, t hen, begi n t o a t t une your s e l f t o t he t hi ngs or t hecondi t i ons whi ch have a r e l a t i ons h i p to your ment a l i mage . You s t a r tt o dr a w t he se t hi ngs t o you by your r e a l i z a t i on. El e me nt s , f a ct or s ,new c i r cums t ances neces s ar y to your a t t a i nment , whi ch per haps wer eot her wi s e not not i ced by you, become pr omi nent , and you see wi t hi nt he m t he pos s i bi l i t i e s of f ur t he r i ng your c onc ept i ons . You obs e r ve howt he ne c e s s a r y f a c t or s i n you r e n vi r onme nt ma y gr a dua l l y be pu l l e d t oge t he r f or t he ma ni f e s t a t i o n ne ede d. I t ma y a t t i me s s e e m t o you t ha tf or c e s o ut s i de of y ou a r e doi ng t he c r e at i ng, as i f a l l you di d wa s t opus h t he but t on of a swi t ch. Thi s i s t he r e su l t of wha t psychol ogyhas cal l ed t he uncons ci ous wor k. You have l abored; you have sugges t edt he ca use t o t he psy c hi c s e l f , a nd i t i s c ar r yi ng i t out .

Na t ur a l l y, mys t i c a l c r e a t i on i s not a s s i mpl e as t he f o r mi ng of a n

i ma ge . I n t he f i r s t pl a c e, t he i ma ge mus t at a l l t i me s be pl a us i bl e .I t mus t be r a t i ona l - - not a f a nt a s t i c as s e mbl y of i de as . I t mus t a r o us ec onf i de nc e. The i ma ge mus t s e e m t o you t o be p ot e nt i a l wi t h f u l f i l lment . I f i t doe s not s e em c l e ar and pl a us i bl e , i t i s not f ul l y c r yst al l i zed; t her ef or e, i t wi l l not vi t a l i z e t he ps yc hi c s el f , and t her ewi l l be no r adi a t i on f r om you t o accompl i s h what you want . The end t obe a t t a i ne d i n c onne c t i on wi t h t he pl a n or o bj e c t i ve mus t be j us t asde f i ni t e i n mys t i c a l c r e a t i ng as i n t he us u al pr oc e s s of me nt a l c r e a ti ng. Mer e wi s hes a r e i nef f ec t ua l . The wi s h t ha t you want s omet hi ngor woul d l i ke t o have i t wi l l not be p r oduc t i ve of r e su l t s . You mus ta l s o i nc l ude i n your vi s u al i z i ng, t o t he be s t of y our r e a s oni ng abi l i t y,t he s t eps t o be t aken t o r each such an end.

I n p ut t i ng f or t h a psy c hi c su gge s t i on t o r e a c h out t hr ough your p sy chi cse l f t o cause ce r t a i n t hi ngs t o be mot i va t ed or come about , you a rea l so i nc ur r i ng r e sp ons i bi l i t y, s i nc e you a r e t he pr i me move r . Youmust not , t her ef or e , f a i l t o meet t he demands t ha t wi l l be made uponyou whe n c ondi t i ons s t a r t t o ma t e r i a l i z e a s t he r e s ul t of your mys t i c a lcr ea t i ng. I f you f a l l t o meet t hese demands, you s how weaknes s andyou a re c r ea t i ng Kar ma . You mus t a l so r ea l i ze t he e f f ec t s of t hepr i nc i pl es whi ch you are usi ng. When sudden event s r api dl y shape upi n accor dance wi t h t he i mage of your p l ans , you must be pr epar ed t o



accept such condi t i ons . I f you a re not p r epa r ed, you wi l l p r oduceonl y chaos i n your l i f e , and you may af f ec t o t her s by havi ng causedt he m t o be br ought i nt o l i ne wi t h your pl a ns .

I n mys t i c a l c r e a t i ng, one mus t use phys i c a l a nd i nt e l l e c t ua l powe r s aswel l . The whol e of one ' s be i ng must be coor di nat ed, not j us t one aspect empl oyed. You must meet peopl e or go pl aces wher e t her e i s t heposs i b i l i t y of f u r t he r i ng t he e nd you ha ve i n vi e w. I n mys t i c a lcr ea t i ng, you must cooper a t e wi t h t he Cosmi c for ces i n devel opi ng youri de as . I t i s ne c es s a r y t o obj e c t i f y a nd e xt e r na l l y f ol l ow t he or de rof y our pl a ns , not j us t vi s u al i z e t he m a nd ke ep t he m l oc ke d wi t hi n t heconsc i ousness . To r e f e r aga i n t o t he ana l ogy, i n seek i ng p r omot i on i ti s neces s a r y t o ac t ua l l y speak t o t he empl oye r when, a s a r e su l t ofyour mys t i c al c r e a t i ng, t he i nt ui t i ve i mpul s e s u gge s t s t he r i ght t i me.The Cosmi c f or ces whi ch you se t i n mot i on by t hi s myst i ca l pr ocessha ve be c ome your s i l e nt p ar t ne r , but n ot your s l a ve . The r e f or e , t he r ei s much t hat you must do i n conj unct i on wi t h t hem.

I n c onc l us i on, a t t e nt i on i s dr a wn t o t he mor a l a nd e t hi c a l a spe c t s ofment a l c r ea t i ng. We cannot mat er i a l i ze or hope t o make obj ec t i ve suchconcept s a s ar e cont r a r y t o na t ur a l l aw. You can t hi nk of a cont r a r yor ne ga t i ve s t a t e , but you ca nnot Cosmi c a l l y ma ni f e s t i t a nd e xpe c ti t t o cont i nue wi t hout de t r i ment t o you. We a l l know, f r om our ownexper i ences , t ha t we may t empor a r i l y def y a na t ur a l l aw, but event ual l yt hese l aws as s er t t hems el ves and we suf f er as a cons equence. We cant hr ow a s t one i nt o t he ai r , s eemi ngl y f or t he moment def yi ng t he l awof gr avi t y, but we cannot make t ha t s t one s t ay t he re . Fur t he r more ,i n mys t i c a l c r e a t i ng, t he Cosmi c wi l l not a i d us t o vi ol a t e c onsc i e nc esuccess f ul l y. By cons c i ence we mean t he accept ed sense of r i ght and

wr ong whi ch each i ndi vi dual has wi t hi n hi msel f . We cannot a t t empt t opr oj e c t our t hought s , whi c h we c ons i de r t o be evi l , t o a f f e c t ot he r swi t hout a f f e c t i ng our s e l ve s . Me nt a l c r e a t i ng t ha t t r i e s t o c ount e rCosmi c pr i nc i pl e s p r oduc e s a r i p t i de whi c h r e t ur ns wi t h de va s t a t i ngf or c e t o us . I t br i ngs i n i t s wa ke a c onc a t e na t i on of pos i t i ve Cosmi cpr i nc i pl es whi ch engul f s us . Of t en such Kar mi c af t e r mat h may be somuch l a t e r t ha t we a t t he t i me do not a t t r i but e t he cause t o our ownpr e vi ous a ct s .

As we t hi nk, so we a re , i s not onl y an ol d mys t i ca l aphor i s m but i ti s al so a psy c hol o gi c a l t r ui sm. Our va r y i n g s t a t e s of c onsc i ousn e s sa re t he sum of our i deas exacced f r om numer ous expe r i ences . The i deaswh i c h we a s s e mbl e i n t he pr oc e s s of t hi nki ng r e f l e c t our p a s t e x pe r iences and, a s we l l , our pr esen t s t a t e of deve l opment . These i deas a repot e nt i a l wi t h our r e t r ogr e s s i on as a n i ndi vi dua l or wi t h our pr o gr e ss i on. I n o t her wor ds , we moment a r i l y , and wi t hout t hi nki ng, a re r ec r e a t i ng t he s el f , t he ego.

MJ - 139- 561

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Art of Mental Creating by Ralph M. Lewis, F.R.C