Today, we will start a two-part look at the composition and structure of the causal envelope. The causal envelope is made up of matter from the first, second, and third sub-planes of the mental plane. It’s important to remember that an atom of mental matter (47:1) contains approximately 8.25 x 1076 primary atoms. We will be talking about the atoms and molecules that make up the Mental World, yet it is easy to forget that those atoms are made up of unconscious monads that form the substrate of the entire Universe. These are not the primary atoms that roam in intergalactic space. Those atoms are still on Plane 1. These atoms have been folded into rings of 49 primary atoms 46 times to end up with this spectacular number of individual monads. When an atom of the first subplane of the 47th, or atomic plane, is assembled into a molecule or becomes part of the envelope of the soul, there is one monad, as small as the rest, that is, the controlling consciousness. It may be passively conscious and, therefore, secondary matter, or actively conscious and consequently tertiary matter. That controlling monad decides what that unit of 47 matter is doing, yet it is all those other monads that make it all possible. The sheer mind-boggling nature of what a monad is and how small it is never ceases to amaze me.
In average individuals, in the first three stages of development, the causal envelope is not fully active, so only the matter belonging to the third sub-plane is energised. As the soul evolves over time, the higher matter becomes gradually active. However, it is only in perfected individuals known as Adepts or Masters, who are 45-selves, that it is fully developed. So, not even after you have taken the (i3) and gained continuity of consciousness do you have full control over this envelope. Why? Because it takes you two more advancements in your evolution (i4 & i5) to gain full mastery of matter. That happens when you arrive and seat your monad in the 45:4 permanent molecule of your triad structure.
It is challenging to fully describe a causal envelope because the senses used to perceive the causal world are entirely different and more advanced than those we use at the physical level. When a clairvoyant brings the memory of the appearance of a causal envelope into their physical brain, they perceive it as ovoid, which is the shape of all higher bodies. It surrounds the physical envelope of a person, extending about 18 inches from the surface of the physical envelope. A human who has just individualised from the animal kingdom has a causal envelope of minimum size.
The causal envelope of primitive humanity resembles a bubble and gives the impression of being empty. It is a colourless film that seems only to hold itself together and form a reincarnating entity. Although it is filled with higher mental matter, it is not yet active, so it remains colourless and transparent. As a soul develops, this matter is gradually stirred into alertness by vibrations from the lower bodies. This process happens slowly because the activities of the monad in the earlier stages of its evolution do not express in matter as fine as that of the causal envelope. However, when a person reaches a stage where they are capable of abstract thought or unselfish emotion, the matter of the causal envelope is aroused into response.
The vibrations that are stirred up manifest as colours in the causal envelope. Instead of just being a transparent bubble, it gradually transforms into a sphere filled with matter of the most exquisite and delicate hues, making it an incredibly beautiful object beyond imagination.
The student will become familiar with the meanings of various colours through studying the same phenomenon in the emotional and mental bodies. For example, pale rose expresses unselfish affection, yellow indicates high intellectual power, blue signifies devotion, green represents sympathy, and luminous lilac-blue symbolises higher spirituality. These colours appear differently in denser bodies, being less delicate and less vivid.
In the process of evolving through different stages of existence, individuals often develop qualities in their character that are not suitable for their higher spiritual self, such as pride, irritability, and sensuality. However, these negative qualities cannot manifest in the core of their being, that core being the causal body. The diagram provides a visual explanation for this phenomenon. Each part of the emotional body influences the corresponding part of the mental plane. As a result, the lower, coarser vibrations of the emotional body only affect the lower levels of the mental plane and do not impact the causal body. Consequently, the causal body is only influenced by the higher, more refined aspects of the emotional body, which represent positive qualities.
The practical effect of this is that a person can incorporate only good qualities into their soul. The negative qualities that the person develops are, from the perspective of the soul, only temporary and must be discarded as the person progresses because they no longer have within them the capacity to express them.
The subplanes of the emotional and mental planes are depicted here as having paler hues to illustrate their increasing fineness as we ascend from lower to higher levels.
The spaces between adjacent sub-planes within each plane suggest that some of the vibrations from one sub-plane can be transferred to the sub-plane directly above it. These openings or gateways get progressively narrower, suggesting that only the most subtle vibrations can move upward to the higher levels.
Openings between each subplane of the emotional plane and the corresponding subplane of the mental plane indicate that there is a possibility of emotional vibrations being communicated at a higher octave to the corresponding mental subplane.
The diagram further illustrates that the mental envelope is more directly affected by the four lower levels of the emotional plane. In comparison, the causal envelope is affected by only three higher levels of emotional matter.
The causal envelope of a 1. Young Soul can be compared to a large, transparent, and iridescent soap bubble. It appears nearly empty, with only a few qualities inside that may have been developed within the Group Soul to which it previously belonged. Faint hints of these vibrational frequencies can be seen as emerging flashes of colour within the young causal envelope.
It might have been thought that the causal envelope of a primitive person would be very small at first, but this is not the case. Their causal envelope is the same size as any other. It does increase in size at a later stage, but not until it has first been vivified and filled with active matter.
The average person’s aura distinctly increases in size. It contains delicate and ethereal colours, although it is still less than half-filled. There are indications now of higher intellect, as well as the power of devotion and unselfish love. Additionally, there is a faint hint of delicate violet, which signifies the capacity for love and devotion to the highest ideal, as well as a faint touch of clear green, representing sympathy and compassion.
When a person starts to grow spiritually or intellectually, a change occurs. The true self begins to have a consistent character of its own, separate from the one shaped by each personality through training and circumstances. This character is evident in the size, colour, brightness, and clarity of the causal envelope, just as the personality is reflected in the mental envelope, except that the higher vehicle is naturally more subtle and beautiful.
The spiritually developed individual undergoes a significant transformation. The radiant, iridescent film becomes saturated with beautiful colours representing higher forms of love, devotion, and sympathy, which are supported by a refined and spiritualised intellect and aspirations that constantly strive towards the divine. Some of these colours are not found in the physical spectrum.
The incredibly fine and delicate material of such a causal envelope is intensely alive and pulsating with living fire. It forms a radiant globe of flashing colours, with high vibrations that send ripples of changing hues over its surface—hues that Earth knows nothing about, brilliant, soft, and luminous beyond the power of language to describe.
A causal envelope is filled with living fire that seems to be connected to a higher plane by a thread of intense light, known as the Sutratma. As the soul grows, it is able to receive more from the infinite Divine Spirit, which flows through the thread as a channel. The channel expands as the soul grows, allowing the Divine Spirit to flow more freely. Eventually, the causal envelope seems to dissolve into the inpouring light. A stanza describes how the connection between the watcher and his shadow becomes stronger and more radiant with every change, akin to the morning sunlight transforming into noonday glory. It symbolises the unity of the flame and the spark. The passage suggests a journey of transformation, leading to the realisation that the spark is a manifestation of the flame and that they will reunite at the “Be-With-Us” day, when thou shalt re-become myself and others, thyself and me.