not distinctly and clearly marked; then at the meal He caused His features to be fully materialized so that the disciples might readily recognize Him.  All occultists who have witnessed the materialization of an Astral Body will readily understand this statement.  The orthodox theory of Jesus having reappeared in His physical body wholly fails to explain this nonrecognition by His disciples, who had been His everyday companions before His death.  The slightest consideration should show which statement is nearer the bounds of reasonable probability.

Jesus remained visible to the chosen few for forty days.  The testimony of several hundred people attested the fact.  There are a number of mystic legends about some of His appearances, which are not mentioned in the Gospel narratives.  One of these states that He appeared before Pontius Pilate and forgave him for the part he had played in the tragedy.  Another that Herod witnessed His form in his bedchamber.  Another that He confronted the High-priests in the Temple and brought them to their knees in terror.  Another that He came one night to the Eleven, who sat behind bolted doors in hiding, and saying to them, “Peace be unto you, my beloved,” vanished from sight.

The Gospels record another appearance before the Eleven, upon which occasion Thomas, the doubter, satisfied himself of the identity of the Astral Body by placing his fingers in the wounds, which, of course, were reproduced in the Astral Form according to the well known laws regarding the same.

This coming and going of Jesus—­these sudden appearances and disappearances—­these manifestations of His form only to those whom He wished to see Him, and His concealment from those whom He desired to remain in ignorance of His return, all show conclusively to every occultist the nature of the vehicle which He used for manifestation upon His return.  It would seem incredible that there could be any general doubt on the subject were the public informed on the laws concerning the Astral World phenomena.

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The Gospel narrative shows that the disciples recognized that Jesus was not a “spirit” in the sense of being an airy, unsubstantial form.  They felt His body, and saw Him eat—­but what of that?  The laws of materialization of Astral forms make it possible, under certain conditions, that the Astral Form become so thoroughly materialized that it may not only be seen but actually felt.  Even the records of the English Society for Psychical Research prove this fact, leaving out of account the phenomena with which all advanced occultists are familiar.

Then, one day He appeared to the disciples, and they accompanied Him to the hills, Jesus talking to them regarding their future work on earth.  He then bade them farewell, and began to fade away from their sight.  The common account pictures Him as ascending into the air until out of sight, but the mystic account informs us that His astral form began to slowly dematerialize and He gradually faded away from the sight of His beloved followers, who stood gazing in wistful longing at His form which, each moment, grew more and more ethereal in structure, until finally the dematerialization was complete and His soul had cast off all material form, shape and substance, and so passed on to the higher planes of being.