Elementaries

The term "elementary" derives from the Latin "elementum," meaning a first principle or basic constituent. In this context, it refers to beings intimately connected with, or composed of, the fundamental forces of nature, particularly after their separation from a higher spiritual essence.

Properly, the disembodied souls of the depraved ; these souls having at some time prior to death separated from themselves their divine spirits, and so lost their chance for immortality ; Init 104 THEOSOI'IIICAL at the present stap:o of li-aniiiif; it lias Imth tlioiifrlit best to apply the term to the spooks or ])liaiitoiiis of (lisciiihodicd jxtsoiis. in general, to those vvhosi' tt'inporary lial)itation is the Kama Loka. Eliphas Levi and some other Kabbalists make little distiiietion between elementary spirits wlio liave been men, and tliose beinpfs wiiich people the elements, and are the blind forces of nature. Once divorced from their higher triads and their bodies, these souls remain in their Kdma-rupic envelopes, and are irresistibly drawn to the earth amid elements congenial to their gross natures. Their stay in the Kama Loka varies as to its duration ; but ends invariably in disintegration, dissolving like a column of mist, atom by atom, in the surrounding elements.

Blavatsky's definition of Elementaries, drawing from occult traditions and figures like Eliphas Levi, presents a sobering vision of post-mortem existence. It's a stark reminder that the spiritual journey is not a passive one, but requires active engagement with one's higher nature. The idea of souls deliberately separating themselves from their "divine spirits" suggests a profound act of spiritual self-sabotage, a willful turning away from the light that leads to immortality. These are not merely ghosts in the conventional sense, but souls trapped in the lower astral planes, the Kama Loka, drawn to the grossest elements by their own unredeemed natures.

Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, often discusses the soul's journey and its potential perils. While not using the term "Elementary," his work touches upon the dangers of losing one's spiritual bearings, of becoming entangled with lower forces or succumbing to the allure of the material. The disintegration of the Elementary, dissolving "like a column of mist, atom by atom," evokes a sense of profound loss, a cosmic unmaking that stands in contrast to the spiritual ascent or even the cyclical rebirth found in other traditions. Carl Jung's concept of the shadow, the disowned and darker aspects of the psyche, offers a psychological parallel. If the "divine spirit" represents the integrated Self, then the Elementary could be seen as the fragmented ego, overwhelmed by its shadow aspects and unable to achieve wholeness. The term, therefore, serves as a potent symbol for the consequences of spiritual negligence, a warning against the dissipation of consciousness when it fails to align with its eternal source.

The Elementary's fate is to be reabsorbed into the elemental forces, a kind of spiritual entropy. This resonates with the ancient understanding of the cosmos as a dynamic interplay of forces, where form is temporary and dissolution is a natural, albeit in this case tragic, part of the cycle. It compels us to consider what truly constitutes our essential selves and the vital importance of nurturing that spark, lest we too become mere ephemeral echoes in the elemental flux.