Theos-Talk Archives (December 2005 Message tt00186)

Anands rantings got me into Isis Unveiled and also the discrepancies 
between what Leadbeater wrote and what was detailed in Isis.  
Leadbeater and Besant were of the opinion that our loved ones were 
still available to us after death.

On mediumship, however, 

"How dangerous may often become untrained mediumship, and how 
thoroughly it was understood and provided against by the ancient 
sages is perfectly exemplified in the case of Socrates. The old 
Grecian philosopher was a "medium"; hence, he had never been 
initiated into the Mysteries; for such was the rigourous law. (HPB 
was, CWL and AB were not) But he had his "familiar spirit" as they 
call it, his daimonion; and this invisible counsellor became the 
cause of his death. It is generally believed that if he was not 
initiated into the Mysteries it was because he himself neglected to 
become so. But the Secret Records teach us that it was because he 
could not be admitted to participate in the sacred rites, and 
precisely, as WE state, on account of his mediumship. There was a 
law against the admission not only of such as were convicted of 
deliberte witchcraft* but even of those who were known to have "a 
familiar spirit." The law was just and logical, because a geniune 
medium is MORE OR LESS IRRESPONSIBLE; and the eccentricities of 
Socrates are thus accounted for in some degree.
* WE really think that the word "witchcraft" ought, once for once, 
to be understood in the sense which properly belongs to it.  
Witchcraft may be either conscious or unconscious. Certain wicked 
and dangerous results may be obtained through the mesmeric powers of 
a so-called sorcerer, who misuses his potential fluid; or again they 
may be achived through an easy access of malicious tricky "spirits" 
(so much the worse if human (disincarnate) to the atmosphere 
surrounding a mediu. How many thousands of such irresponsible 
innocent victims have met infamous deaths through the tricks of 
those Elementaries!

Comments appreciated
Cass