THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE MAN.

hydrogen, oxygen, gold, silver, lithium, or platinum. Once divided, one reaches a type of atom that is completely identical, except that some are positive and others are negative.

The study of these atoms and their combinations is very interesting. However, it does not relate directly to our subject. Those who are interested should read Mrs. Besant's essay on Okkulte Chemie Occult Chemistry. It appeared in the journal Lucifer in November 1895 original: "Lucifer", an English theosophical journal now appearing under the name "Theosophical Review". It has since been printed in a special edition. Even these atoms are only called atoms from the perspective of the physische Ebene physical plane. Methods exist by which these can be divided even further. Then we obtain matter that belongs to another kingdom of the world. This matter cannot be expanded by any degree of heat we can achieve. It cannot be condensed by any known degree of cold. Yet even this extremely fine substance is not simple. It is composite. It shows its own series of Aggregatzustände states of aggregation. These correspond fairly accurately to the states of physical matter that we call solid, liquid, gaseous, or etheric. If we continue our division process far enough, we find another atom. This is the atom of the natural kingdom that occultists have named the Astralwelt astral world.

Then the whole process can be repeated. By dividing the astral atom again, we reach an even higher and finer world. This world is still material. Here too we find matter existing in different states. These states correspond to the states we know on that much higher plane. The final result of our investigation leads us to an atom of this third great natural kingdom. Occult science calls this the Mentalwelt mental world. One might assume that divisibility is limitless. However, there are definite limits to our ability to observe it. We see enough to be convinced of the existence of a large number of these different kingdoms. Each forms a world of its own. In another and higher sense, they are all parts of a wonderfully constructed whole.

Theosophical literature often calls these different natural kingdoms Ebenen planes or Pläne planes.