gaseous, and etheric; the etheric being the invisible state of the physical and is divided into four separate states, consisting of chemical ether, where all assimilation and excretion takes place; life ether, where all propagation takes place; the light ether, in which all sense perception takes place; and reflecting ether, which reflects to the brain consciousness the memory of nature.

In other words, the etheric realm is merely the invisible side of the physical world and of everything in the universe, or is the etheric state of that world, and everything the physical is found in the etheric, only in a subtler state of matter invisible to the human eye. Once the consciousness is freed from the brain, before it leaves the physical world, it would still be conscious in the etheric realm, as described in the above experience. The consciousness might then be said to be in its etheric body, or as it is called, in the etheric double.

An astral force trying to enter the body, which means the brain, and thus drive from it its rightful tenant—the soul or consciousness, would naturally have to enter the etheric realm to reach the body. What would be such a force, but some other intelligence or entity seeking to dispossess the owner for some purpose, usually selfish, and often evil?

Our friend was evidently given this experience to teach her (1) her own spiritual power, and (2) how to protect herself and to drive away any inimical force. It will serve also to teach you how to protect yourself on the inner planes of being from such forces, as well as to show you that, if you only know it, you have the power to drive away such force, providing you do not allow yourself to fear it in the slightest degree.

Study this experience carefully, trying to go through it all in your consciousness as if you were personally feeling that force in your room, so that you can see yourself doing exactly as did our friend. It will fortify you by building up a strength and understanding that will serve you someday when contacting anyone in the visible or invisible who would exert over you an influence similar to that our friend felt. For such a force in another person would use exactly the same method to get possession of your mind as was shown in the experience.