Nature
and propoerties
of fluids
We present in this issue
the topic #87 from the
Systematized Study of
the Spiritist Doctrine,
that is being presented
weekly, according to the
programme elaborated by
the Brazilian Spiritist
Federation (FEB),
structured in 6 modules
and 147 topics.
If the reader uses this
program for a study
group, we suggest that
questions proposed be
discussed freely before
the reading of the text
that follows. If you
would like to study
alone, we ask you to try
to answer the questions
at first and only then
read the text that
follows. The answer key
can be found at the end
of the lesson.
Questions
1. What is the role of
the universal fluid?
2. Is the state of
imponderability the
primitive or normal of
the universal fluid?
3. What is the
importance of the
spiritual fluids in the
particular dwellings in
the Spirit-world?
4. What makes up the
spiritual atmosphere on
Earth?
5. Do the fluids have
intrinsic qualities or
not?
Text
The universal fluid is
the intermediate between
the Spirit and matter
1. The universal cosmic
fluid is the primitive
element indispensable to
the intermediation
between the Spirit and
the matter. To make such
thing happen, it has
properties common to
both, for which cannot
be said it is either
matter or, since these
are the general
elements, distinct, of
the Universe.
2. From the answer given
by the Superior Spirits
to the question 27 of
The Spirits’ Book, we
extract the following:
“And above them both is
God, the Creator, and
Parent of all things.
These three elements are
the principle of all
that exists-the
universal trinity. But
to the material element
must be added the
universal fluid which
plays the part of
intermediary between
spirit and matter, the
nature of the latter
being too gross for
spirit to be able to act
directly upon it.”
(...)
“This universal,
primitive, or elementary
fluid, being the agent
employed by spirit in
acting upon matter is
the principle without
which matter would
remain forever in a
state of division, and
would never acquire the
properties given to it
by the state of
ponderability.”
3. For its countless
combinations with
matter, under the action
of the Spirit, the
universal fluid is able
to produce the huge
array of bodies in
Nature. In its condition
as the primitive element
of the Universe, the
cosmic fluid assumes the
states of
etherealization and
materialization or, in
other words, of
imponderability and
ponderability.
4. The first can be
considered the primitive
normal state and the
latter is the result of
the transformations of
the first as to become
tangible matter in its
multiple aspects. The
second state is
consecutive to the first
one and the tangibility
of the matter assigns
the passage of one state
to another. However,
there still is no sudden
transition, for one can
consider our
imponderable fluids as a
boundary between the two
states.
5. Each one of these
states gives place
necessarily to special
phenomena. To the second
belongs those of the
visible world, and to
the first those of the
invisible one. Those
called material
phenomena are,
properly speaking, in
the domain of science.
The solution of the
others designated
spiritual or psychical
phenomena, because
they are allied more
especially to the
existence of Spirits.
For the Spirits, the
fluids have a material
aspect
6. In an etherealized
state the cosmic fluid
is not uniform. Without
ceasing to be ethereal,
it is submitted to
modifications as varied
in their kind and more
numerous than in a state
of tangible matter.
These modifications
constitute distinct
fluids, which, although
proceeding from the same
principle, are endowed
with special properties,
and give rise to
particular phenomena of
the invisible world.
7. The fluidic elements
of the spiritual world
elude our instruments of
analysis, and the
perception of our
senses. They are things
suited to tangible and
not ethereal matter.
Spiritual substances
belong to a midst so
different from ours that
we can judge of them
only by comparisons as
imperfect as those by
which a man born blind
seeks to form an idea of
the theory of the
color.
8. The starting-point of
the universal fluid is
the degree of absolute
ethereality, of which
nothing can give us an
idea. Its opposite point
is its transformation
into material substance.
Between these two
extremes there exist
innumerable
transformations, which
are allied more or less
to one another.
9. The fluids which are
the nearest materiality
– consequently the least
pure – are composed of
that which might be
called the spiritual
terrestrial atmosphere.
In this midst are found
the widely different
degrees of ethereality
whence the incarnated
and disincarnated
inhabitants of the Earth
draw the necessary
elements for the economy
of their existence.
These fluids, however
subtle and impalpable
they may be to us, are
nevertheless of
comparatively gross
nature to the ethereal
fluids of the superior
regions.
The denomination
“spiritual fluids” is
not that correct
10. The spiritual
fluids, which constitute
one of the states of the
universal cosmic fluid,
are then the atmosphere
of spiritual beings.
This expression is not
very correct though,
because truly spiritual
only the soul is. Such
fluids constitute, in
fact, the matter of the
Spirit-world.
11. Spirits act upon
spiritual fluids,
not by manipulating them
as man manipulates gas,
but by the aid of
thought and will.
Thoughts and will are to
the spirit that which
the hand is to man. By
thoughts they impress
these fluids into such
and such directions.
12. We can state that
thoughts, whether being
pure or not, can pollute
or purify the spiritual
fluid. The fluids which
involve the evil
Spirits, or those which
they cast upon, are,
therefore, addicted, as
well as those by the
good Spirits are as pure
as themselves.
13. It would be
impossible to itemize or
classify the good and
bad fluids. Neither
could we specify their
respective qualities,
considering that their
diversity is as great as
that of the thought.
14. Fluids do not have
“sui generis” qualities,
except those they
acquire whereat they are
elaborated; they are
modified by the
effluviums of the
ambient, just as the air
is modified by
exhalations, and the
water by the layers of
salt it crosses.
Depending on the
circumstances, their
qualities are, like
those of the air and the
water, either temporary
or permanent, which
makes them more suitable
for the production of
certain specific
effects.
Answer
Key
1. What is the role of
the universal fluid?
A.: The universal cosmic
fluid is the primitive
element indispensable to
the intermediation
between the Spirit and
the matter.
2. Is the state of
imponderability the
normal of the universal
fluid?
A.: Yes.
3. What is the
importance of the
spiritual fluids in the
particular dwellings in
the Spirit-world?
A.: Each one of these
states gives place
necessarily to special
phenomena. To the second
belongs those of the
visible world, and to
the first those of the
invisible one. Those
called material
phenomena are, properly
speaking, in the domain
of science. The solution
of the others designated
spiritual or psychical
phenomena, because they
are allied more
especially to the
existence of Spirits.
4. What makes up the
spiritual atmosphere on
Earth?
A.: The fluids which are
the nearest materiality
– consequently the least
pure – are composed of
that which might be
called the spiritual
terrestrial atmosphere.
5. Do the fluids have
intrinsic qualities or
not?
R.: No. They are
modified by the
effluviums of the
ambient.
Bibliography:
The
Spirits’ Book,
by Allan
Kardec, items 21 - 27.
Genesis,
by Allan Kardec, items
2, 5, 16 - 17, pp. 274 -
284.