Thought-forms

THOUGHT-FORMS BY ANNIE BESANT AND C.W. LEADBEATER THE THEOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE LTD 38 GREAT ORMOND STREET, LONDON, W.C. 1 First Printed 1901 Reprint 1905 Reprint 1925 1 2 MEANING OF THE COLOURS 1 High Spirituality Devotion mixed 2 Devotion to Pure with a Selfish Religious Religious Affection Noble Ideal Feeling Feeling Religious Highest Strong Low Level of Pride Feeling tinged Intellect Intellect Intellect Love for Unselfish Selfish Pure Humanity Affections Affections Affections with Fear 3 Sympathy 4 Adaptability Jealousy Deceit Fear Depression 5 Selfishness Avarice Anger Sensuality Malice 3 FOREWORD The text of this little book is the joint work of Mr Leadbeater and myself; some of it has already appeared as an article in Lucifer (now the Theosophical Review), but the greater part of it is new. The drawing and painting of the Thought-Forms observed by Mr Leadbeater or by myself, or by both of us together, has been done by three friends—Mr John Varley, Mr Prince, and Miss Macfarlane, to each of whom we tender our cordial thanks. To paint in earth's dull colours the forms clothed in the living light of other worlds is a hard and thankless task; so much the more gratitude is due to those who have attempted it. They needed coloured fire, and had only ground earths. We have also to thank Mr F. Bligh Bond for allowing us to use his essay on Vibration 4 Figures, and some of his exquisite drawings. Another friend, who sent us some notes and a few drawings, insists on remaining anonymous, so we can only send our thanks to him with similar anonymity. It is our earnest hope—as it is our belief—that this little book will serve as a striking moral lesson to every reader, making him realise the nature and power of his thoughts, acting as a stimulus to the noble, a curb on the base. With this belief and hope we send it on its way. ANNIE BESANT. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD 3 INTRODUCTION 8 THE DIFFICULTY OF 11 REPRESENTATION THE TWO EFFECTS OF THOUGHT 15 HOW THE VIBRATION ACTS 16 THE FORM AND ITS EFFECT 18 THE MEANING OF THE COLOURS 25 THREE CLASSES OF 27 THOUGHT-FORMS ILLUSTRATIVE THOUGHT-FORMS 31 AFFECTION 31 DEVOTION 37 INTELLECT 46 6 AMBITION 49 ANGER 50 SYMPATHY 55 FEAR 56 GREED 58 VARIOUS EMOTIONS 60 SHIPWRECK 61 ON THE FIRST NIGHT 63 THE GAMBLERS 65 AT A STREET ACCIDENT 67 AT A FUNERAL 69 ON MEETING A FRIEND 71 APPRECIATION OF A PICTURE 73 FORMS SEEN IN MEDITATION 74 SYMPATHY AND LOVE FOR ALL 75 AN ASPIRATION TO ENFOLD ALL<