39 Chapter XXXIX: Initiatic Preparation

In Chapter XXXIX, Vicente Beltrán-Anglada recounts the rigorous training sessions conducted by the Master to develop full astral and mental self-consciousness, involving the mastery of elemental forces. These took place many years ago, yet their memory remains vivid, and their description may serve as a guide for aspirants who stand ready to enter the peripheral halls of the Ashram. The sessions were dedicated specifically to the conscious development of the astral body and were always held in the Master’s physical retreat—a small house nestled among high mountains, before which a quiet, crystalline river flowed with serene grace.

Before these sessions, the Master had already introduced them to the elemental builders of earth, water, fire, and air—the invisible beings of etheric nature known as gnomes, undines, salamanders, and sylphs. “It is necessary that you know these creatures, children of the ether,” He told them, “for in proper proportion they constitute the elements that give life to your lower bodies—the physical, the etheric double, the astral, and the mental—and they sustain the vital consistency of all works of Nature.”

By pure logic, it becomes evident that one cannot possess perfect physical consciousness without understanding the spirits of earth; that astral development depends greatly on the control of the spirits of water; and that mental unfoldment requires mastery over the spirits of fire and air. Thus, before entering more advanced phases of control and self‑awareness, the disciples spent long periods studying the reactions of each group of elemental builders and learning to contact the higher devas who guide and command them.

The spiritual preparation required to attain self‑consciousness on subtle levels unfolded in several phases, each presenting its own difficulties and obstacles. The Master once told them: “Your subtle bodies are of such a nature that earth cannot bury them, water cannot drown them, and fire cannot burn them. Maintain always a consciousness of synthesis. The synthesis of your being is your true Self; the bodies are your servants and allies. Increase their vibration through this consciousness of synthesis, and the spirits of earth, water, fire, and air will obey you as the masters and lords of their elemental lives.” Yet it took a long time before these truths became effective realities. After prolonged stages of preparation, they finally began to acquire this consciousness of synthesis.

In one memorable session, the Master led them—while in their astral bodies—to a deep subterranean region of the Earth, where they beheld the immense sphere of fire at the planet’s core, known in esoteric studies as the Fire of Kundalini or the Fire of Brahma. “Do not lose the consciousness of synthesis,” He instructed. “Remain serenely expectant and contemplate this fiery wonder of Nature, which gives vital breath to all geological strata and to all living beings. If you feel excessive heat, it means you have ceased to be attentive, and the fire elementals may harm your physical vehicle through the etheric body.” Many participants, including the author, later experienced physical congestion similar to the effects of prolonged exposure to the summer sun—restlessness, fever, and discomfort, though without the burning of the skin.

The trial of fire also included passing unharmed through the flames of a great blaze or descending into the depths of an erupting volcano, always under the Master’s guidance. “Fire cannot burn you,” He said, “because your spirit of synthesis is powerfully igneous, and you may pass serenely expectant through any fiery force released by the great Agnis.” These words revealed that the Spirit of Synthesis in the human being stands above the elemental laws governing Nature’s evolution.

The trial of earth was among the first they faced and consisted of passing etherically through solid bodies. To attempt this without relinquishing physical consciousness was impossible and dangerous. Bruises, impacts, and even minor injuries resulted when they tried to perform an etheric experience while still anchored to the physical brain. Attempting to walk through a stone wall without having deliberately withdrawn physical consciousness resulted in a violent blow transmitted through the etheric double to the dense body. But when the astral self‑awareness was fully engaged, the same experience became effortless. The more the disciple used the subtle vehicle under conscious control, the easier it became to overcome dense substance and even manipulate it through mastery of the elemental builders.

The trial of water resembled the others, differing only in the element to be mastered. To descend into the depths of an ocean while retaining physical consciousness produced a terrible sensation of suffocation, violently projecting the disciple back into the physical body with anguish identical to that of drowning. These experiences, though difficult, were essential. For how could a disciple assist human beings on astral levels without having developed astral self‑awareness? And how could he dispel illusion in the mental regions, offering understanding and discernment to aspirants, without having fully unfolded his mental vehicle?

The Ashrams of the Hierarchy safeguard the creative seeds of the disciples who will one day open for esoteric and mystical researchers—and eventually for all humanity—the luminous perspectives of the New Era.

There was also the trial of air, whose purpose was to gain mastery over the stability of the astral and mental vehicles, completely separated from the physical body, and to maintain them in perfect equilibrium in space. This pre‑initiatory exercise required great attention, for the absence of the etheric double—the natural compensating vehicle—made it easy to lose balance. The subtle bodies were repeatedly thrown against the aura of the physical form, which rejected them until the mental vehicle, through patience and persistence, gained control and achieved equilibrium. Only then could the disciple use the subtle bodies to travel through space at great speed and collaborate in the service work of the Great Brotherhood.

These Ashramic trials continue periodically until the disciple receives the third initiation and becomes master of his bodies. Then begin the so‑called buddhic exercises, preparing him for higher initiations and transforming him into a Master of Compassion and Wisdom.

After reflecting on these teachings, one understands how difficult it truly is to travel astrally or mentally, and how little credence should be given to the claims of many aspirants—however sincere—who speak of their supposed journeys in subtle bodies. To dream of flying, no matter how vivid the dream, is not to fly consciously. Only consecrated disciples receiving spiritual training in an Ashram of the Hierarchy can do so. Self‑consciousness is the law of the Soul manifesting through a subtle vehicle, astral or mental, in accordance with the natural rhythm of the initiations received.

Keynotes

• The Master’s Retreat: Training took place at the Master's physical residence—a small house surrounded by high mountains and a crystalline river—emphasizing that even high-level esoteric work often has a physical anchor.

• Consciousness of Synthesis: The central requirement for success is maintaining a "consciousness of synthesis." This state of awareness allows the disciple to realize that their subtle bodies are servants and allies, preventing the physical body from being harmed by intense elemental forces.

• The Four Elemental Tests: To serve the Hierarchy in all three worlds, disciples must master the "elemental builders" (Gnomes, Undines, Salamanders, and Sylphs) that constitute their lower vehicles:

  • Fire: Entering the Earth’s core (Kundalini/Brahma fire) and passing through volcanoes or great fires. Lack of attention causes physical fever or congestion.

  • Earth: Passing through solid walls etéricamente. Retaining dense physical consciousness during this causes actual bruises or wounds on the physical body.

  • Water: Submerging into deep oceans. Failure to maintain astral control results in a terrifying sensation of drowning and suffocation.

  • Air: Achieving stability and balance in the astral/mental bodies while separated from the physical. This allows travelling at great speeds to perform hierarchical service.

• The Threshold of Mastery: These "ashramic tests" continue until the Third Initiation, at which point the disciple becomes "lord and master" of their bodies and begins Buddhic exercises.

• A Warning on "Astral Travel": The author clarifies that dreaming about flying is not true conscious travel. Real self-consciousness in subtle vehicles is a law of the Soul that only trained disciples can achieve through initiation rhythm.

Summary

Elemental Group	Vehicle Influenced	Mastery Result
Gnomes (Earth)	Dense Physical	Ability to pass through solid matter etéricamente.
Undines (Water)	Astral Body	Control over emotions and deep-sea astral movement.
Salamanders (Fire)	Mental Body	Immunity to intense heat; mastery of creative fire.
Sylphs (Air)	Higher Mental	Perfect equilibrium and high-speed cosmic travel.

The author concludes that these tests are necessary for the disciple to become a dependable "candidate for creative service" for the Great White Brotherhood.