Perhaps I have elsewhere written that music in spirit states does not
always accompany the one who was a “musician” on Earth; and harmony
of color, beautiful surroundings may ensphere one who never thought
of being an “artist.” Their lives have been interwoven with sweet and
loving thoughts and deeds.
That which would have been a source of surprise had I not previously
known it was that “artists,” “painters,” “sculptors,” “musicians,”
and even some of the “poets,” known by those names on Earth, are not
fashioning landscapes, portraits, or carving from stone the images of
lovely forms, nor are they fashioning or weaving into music or verse
some classical or other theme: All of those who were “geniuses,” all
who were Idealists, _true lovers of their kind_, find here (in spirit
life) their highest happiness in _ministering to others_, in moving
upon the minds, hearts, spirits of those to whom they are adapted,
until they perceive the _Soul of Beauty_ and fashion it into their
lives. The “Masters” of art: painters, sculptors, builders, construct
their temples and adorn them with _lives_--the true images of beauty in
thought, feeling, aspiration, achievement.
Music is _perfect Harmony_, of one life with itself and others, of many
lives in all their highest purposes. Such are the creators of the
“Symphonies of the Skies.”
Those who had “Talent,” hoping to achieve the works of “Genius”--
sometime, somewhere, are still intent on fashioning reproductions or
imitations of natural objects and scenes, or impressing art students of
Earth to produce such effects. But these are not the creators--“every
‘creation’ is from within and must _live_,” said my Teacher.
One wishes for a magic pen, or for a perfect Gift of Expression, to
convey in language the subtle consciousness of the Beauty and Harmony
that meet one as one is led to the “_Atmospheres_” of some of the
“CREATORS OF BEAUTY.”
More wonderful than all else was the knowledge that many who had never
painted, carved, builded, or traced the “score” of musical composition
were surrounded and pervaded by such ineffable loveliness that one
could _weep for very joy_ on perceiving it.
“Art is Great, but the perception of the Soul of Beauty is _Life!
Love!_” said the Guide.
One perceives in such states as were there revealed that the true
“artist” has not always been known among his fellow human beings,
moving upon the world of thought, influencing other lives by the beauty
and harmony of their own natures, these seem, when viewed from the
spirit, to constitute the real artists.
“Is not the Temple of the Soul a Living Temple, is not the art of
molding the mind to perform the mandates of the spirit more to be
sought for and greater when attained?” “Eternal in the Heavens” are the
Temples “not made with hands,” so said the Guide and so I perceived
more and more clearly.
In marked contrast to the foregoing were the thought-forms surrounding
some of those who had been “artists” on Earth: broken lines,
inharmonious colors, discords, sharp and jagged corners--all portraying
disturbed conditions of the unruly thoughts and impulses that had
possessed them in Earth life.
I had interesting glimpses of those who were “_working with
themselves_.” One who was considered “eminent” in art on Earth was
cutting, carving, breathing upon an _image of himself_.
“What _is_ he doing?” I exclaimed, now really surprised.
“Removing the angularities and errors of his own nature: jealousy of
other artists, the deepest scar; selfish love of human praise--that
overweening desire for adulation; unwillingness to accord to others
appreciation of their true merits,” replied the Guide.
Later, I saw that artist self-renovated, and one whom he had envied
derided and scorned, when both were in Earth life, _working together_,
producing, through artist minds on earth, works that possess the merits
of both with the added _tone_ of harmony; the strength of one being
merged in perfect accord with the grace and loveliness of the other,
blending in wondrous works of Beauty.
This was a wonderful lesson, serving to illustrate that at first,
and possibly for some time after entering spirit life one’s chief
occupation is--or should be--removing one’s own limitations; but this
cannot _begin_ until one is aware that one _has_ the imperfections; to
be conscious of one’s faults is half the remedy.
Bodily imperfections, infirmities and disease, unless retained
psychologically by having constantly encroached upon the mind, or
deformities that are dwelt upon mentally, are dropped with the body;
but such _infirmities of mind_ as are born of an undue “egotism,” undue
_self love_, (the capital “I” around which the universe revolves),
must be removed before the spirit can enter upon _real work_. As
with artists so with those eminent in science or any department of
human thought and endeavor; the truly Great are ever the most humble;
realizing that however much they know, and however clearly they can
_think_ “the universe is full of things we do not know”; as one of the
great ones aptly said.
I had met one--a brilliant mind--who in Earth life was gifted in many
ways, chiefly mathematics. He had breakfasted on billions, dined on
duodecillions, supped on sepdecillions, he wrote to the rythm of
“logarithms,” and worshiped at the shrine of the calculus! I tried
to imagine what he might be doing. Perhaps he was measuring the
immeasurable or calculating the uncalculable! I saw him! Where was his
Observatory? Where his maps, charts, instruments? The answer swept over
and through me with a great thrill.
The knowledge that comes to the spirit is instantaneous--if one is
ready--how can one use even the most perfect instrumentalities and
methods when time and space are eliminated? _Truth is perceived_: in
homely phrase “No ladder for the air men,” “no mathematics for the
soul!” I never could have imagined how quickly he would “perceive.” He
had attained the real knowledge of wisdom and love.
The poet-prophets of the world, those who have sung in immortal verse
the Truths of the Skies: Truths of Freedom, Justice, Love, Spiritual
Exaltation, moved by the _theme_ of their songs, using their art as a
setting to the Jewel of Truth, these endowed ones knew that without
the inspiring _theme_, the words, the rythm would be empty bubbles,
glittering nothings.