As the old proverb says, “If you would know more you must be more.” Until then there is a veil[23] and a defence[24] upon the face of all knowledge. This is no doubt the meaning of the veil of Isis. This is the reason why so much of the ancient belief is wrapped up in symbolism, and why the ancient pictures are so full of symbols, for in them an initiate could tell at a glance how much the artist knew of the inner mysteries; for example, one often sees the ornamental broken pavement in ancient pictures. This was one of the many hints to look well into the picture and ponder much, for it represented not historical fact but mystic truth. The almond-shaped aura or _vesica piscis_ was used in much the same way. Many pictures of the Ascension of Christ and of the Assumption of the Virgin contain the _vesica piscis_ to show that if you did not believe these events to be historically true yet they are deep truths relating to the spirit and soul of every man--that the spirit and soul do ascend when their labours are done. The architects, too, were versed in these hidden truths, so that we may truly say that our great cathedrals and churches represent the sum-total of all the architect knew. They are really “frozen religion.” The ordinary person sees a great and stately edifice but the initiate sees worlds on worlds unfold. [23] Exodus xxxiv. 35. [24] Isaiah iv. 5. Black to us of the West is merely the sombre colour of mourning, a sign that our lives have been bereft of the joy of the presence of a loved one. It is perhaps the most depressing of all colours, physically, mentally, and morally, and surely if people believed in their religion they would never wear such a colour; but unfortunately few people have the courage to go against custom, and to openly rejoice that their loved ones are in a better land. We may remember how the Lady Olivia’s grief was reproved by the Clown in _Twelfth Night_:-- _Clown_: Good madonna, why mournest thou? _Olivia_: Good fool, for my brother’s death. _Clown_: I think his soul is in hell, madonna. _Olivia_: I know his soul is in heaven, fool. _Clown_: The more fool you, madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul being in heaven. Of course black used with other colours often gives beautiful effects and throws these colours into relief. It is a most useful decorative colour when used in moderation, but when totally unrelieved, it is an abomination. By shutting out the light rays of the sun it lays the whole system open to disease. In the human aura it is evidence of the deepest depths of human wickedness. Black in its lowest symbolism means this wickedness and foulness, and hatred of the light of the healing sun. The black angels are the evil angels. Black magic was occult art used for selfish purposes and very often requiring blood sacrifice, even of human blood, in the performing of it. CHAPTER IX THE OLD LANGUAGE OF BROWN AND GREY