August 22, 1920

Rhythm might be expressed as that cadenced movement which automatically sways those who employ it into line with certain of Nature's forces. It is that directed action, followed in unison by a body of people, which results in certain alignments and effects upon one or other of the bodies or on all. It has for its objects therefore:

1. The swinging of a body, or a concourse of bodies, into the radius of action of a stream of force.
2. It causes an adjustment of the matter of one of the various bodies or of all the bodies that go to the makeup of the personnel of a group. [197]
3. It blends - under certain geometrical balances and arrangements - the auras of the differentiated units in a group, and causes these auras to form one united group aura, thereby permitting of the rhythmic flow of force in certain specified directions, for certain specified ends.

This has been well understood right down the ages, even though the methods, procedure and results have not been scientifically comprehended or tabulated, except by various occult and esoteric bodies. In the old, so-called pagan rites the value of rhythm was well understood and even David, the psalmist of Israel, danced before the Lord. The swaying of the body to a certain tempo, and the swinging of the framework of the physical vehicle in various directions, subject at times to the musical sound of instruments, has a peculiar and definite effect upon the matter of the two subtler vehicles. By this rhythmic movement:

1. The force that is tapped in this manner is directed (according to the rhythm) to some one or other center in the body.
2. The matter of the emotional and mental bodies is entirely readjusted and reblended, resulting in certain effects having probably a physical manifestation.
3. The alignment of the vehicles is affected, and may be distorted or misplaced, or they may be correctly aligned and put in touch with the causal.

This is one of the main objects of the true rhythmic movement, distortions of which come down to us through the centuries, and have their apotheosis in the low type of modern dance. In the modern dance is found the corruptest manifestation of rhythmic movement, and the main effect of the rhythm is the direction of the force tapped by its means to the emotional vehicle, and to the lowest type of matter in that vehicle. This results on the physical [198] plane in a most undesirable stimulation of the sex organs. In the true use of rhythmic movement the effect is to align the three lower vehicles with the causal vehicle, and this lining up - when coupled with intensest aspiration and ardent desire - results in a downflow of force from above. This causes a vivification of the three major centers and a definite illumination.