dible trials ahead. I am going to speak of them in the order of severity of impact. The DBBs really go to work on your weaknesses and try to drag ones away from their good intentions. They play to the Ego, greed and power drives of individuals and I warn you to look around you and see the impact upon your world this very day in these separate, but united, areas.

Always as relates to human kind, sexual indulgence and greed for money always head the list unless one is already into some physical addiction which produces “need” enough to overpower these two; mostly it is all wrapped up into one package.

At some point on the Path, as we will refer to it henceforth, the seeker will be presented with these pitfalls.

When one embarks on the Path, there is a phenomenon which tends to lend to him a greater “allure” or attractiveness. He will have a radiance about him which is most magnetic. In most cases that attractiveness is not directly from any increase in personal magnetism of a sexual nature, but rather there is an additional factor of power and knowledge automatically called into the person’s aura. It is this additional power which others sense, but because people today are so accustomed to interpreting this kind of impact in sexual (physical) terms, they mistakenly see the seeker as desirable.

Indeed, there is an enhanced attractiveness, but it is by no means at the sexual level. It usually pops its ugly head forth when a man who is not on the Path becomes enamored of women who are. Or, as often, women who are on the Path or involved in some manner or other, fall into the trap of a man who is corrupted at the lead of the flock on the Path. We will name no names in this document, but I know that you can name several instances which have spelled disaster for the humans involved.

Most of the involved parties will not understand the dimensions of the situation and just “why” they appear so attractive. The testing, of course, is for the seeker and is also the most destructive.

With this greater perceived attractiveness, beauty and serenity to others, and the propensity of others to read their own reactions in sexual terms, there is often an abundant opportunity for the seeker to indulge himself sexually if he so chooses. Exaggerated indulgence and misuse of the gift of procreation desires are he leading downfall of man and the evil projections of, it’s “OK” and “open marriages” and “understanding experiences if it doesn’t hurt anyone” seem to be the cop-out within or without the marriage contract. IT IS NOT OK AND NO LAW WRITTEN BY MAN WILL MAKE IT OK. MISUSE OF THAT ONE PLEASURE HAS LED YOUR WORLD TO ITS DEATH. IT IS NOT LOVE, IT IS A STRUGGLE FOR POWER, CONTROL, PLEASURE AND SELF-INDULGENCE. IT WILL RENDER THE INDULGER HELPLESS TO FURTHER ATTACKS.

Exaggerated behaviors will ultimately pull the seeker off the Path, because it would side-track his energies into exhausting pursuits, clandestined arrangements and drag his attention down to the purely physical level of such indulgence. Many, many potential seekers have succumbed to this elementary trap and have been lost to the hierarchy as really useful instruments for the salvation of the race of man, and pulled the partners in “crime” to destined loss.

Now let’s talk about the next deadly trap—MONEY! As the seeker acquires more and more ability in terms of helping his brothers, the opportunity invariably presents itself to make money from his spiritual endeavors. The main point here is not how much money should be charged for spiritual help, but what are the true desires in the heart of the seeker. For some seekers, because their services require them to assume certain expenses, a relatively large levy is justified, and does not represent a failure in this testing process. For others, even a small charge would represent taking personal advantage of a gift from God which was meant to be shared freely with all, just as God gave the gift most freely, and therefore, this levy represents failure of the test.

Each seeker must look into his own heart on this matter, for it is his own judgement which is written down in the scrolls of Heaven! Those life scrolls always hang there as the sword of Damocles in every matter of choice and always it is what is within that gets noted there.

It is interesting that these two tests of which I have just spoken relate to the “vows” which monks and priests of many religions have traditionally taken throughout the centuries. The two most significant vows have always been that of chastity and of poverty. By having individuals take these two vows, the church, of course, was allowing the soul to side-step these temptations which would surely be placed in his Path. By subscribing in such manner to these vows, the soul effectively makes a promise which it feels is very binding upon it, and because of this feeling of being bound, the soul tends to be less likely to fall in these manners. It obviously is not always effective and in these later days of evil conflict, it causes the “churches” to rewrite the Laws rather than lose all their teachers.

In this age of terror and “everything that feels good—go for it”, it is deadly venture. If you have not been bedeviled by these testings, then beware for you shall be. Perhaps you have already met them and dealt with them. I pray that our workers can move on without having to drag you up from the pits to continue our work.

You must find balance. The temptations must be confronted head on and one must not allow himself to be drawn from the Path. The solution to the sexual temptation is to see sexual reality in its true light and not in the manner presented upon your silver screens. For two souls united and sharing of a family vision, they do not, obviously, not have sexual relations. The trick, dear ones, is to find balance, and to experience all facets of life with an understanding of their true essence. Joy, laughter and physical pleasure all have their place in the human experience, but the point here is that those things must be experienced in the appropriate circumstances and for the right reasons. To get better balance, confront squarely “when” you demand and “what” you demand of a partner and see to it that you are doing naught to pull that one down or away from his appointed tasks. YOU do not deserve simply by being here or there.

God makes nothing that is inherently evil or inherently good. It is man that determines the way in which the gifts shall be utilized. God is abundance and to avoid using money and having the beauties surrounding you that money can purchase is foolish—that is an insult of God’s gift. Self-indulgent finery from another’s work is grievous. Man can use a hammer to build or to destroy; he can use a knife to heal or to kill. The determining factor is the motive in man’s heart, and thus it is man that determines the good and the evil in the world.

So it is with both money and sexual misadventure. It is man who determines whether they shall become sullied and negative, or whether they shall be made into tools for serving creation and love.

HOW ABOUT SOME SELF-ESTEEM

Many souls do not have a strong or positive self-image. They are unhappy with their own essence, and this reflects in the personality, which tends to develop feelings of inferiority or worthlessness—or both. IT IS UNSUITABLE IN THE EXTREME FOR ANY SEEKER TO LACK A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE! He must be happy with himself, for the simple reason that the Path which he is electing to tread is often a most lonely one. He will be required to walk it alone for certain periods, and if he cannot find contentment merely being with himself with no other company, then he will in all likelihood break down in his resolve to serve the race. His dependability will also be in doubt.

When the guides of the human race decide to entrust an important task to a soul in incarnation, they must first be satisfied that the vagaries of Earth life will not throw him off the Path, that the loss of friends or a separation from a loved one will not break down his determination to continue on the high road. So the guides test the soul severely in this area—most severely, as most of you dear ones will note. The most common testing procedure is one which arises almost naturally very soon after any individual places himself on the Path: it is the breakdown or severe testing of whatever personal relationship the individual might have had at the time of the decision to serve.

It does not do to “just be drifting around already” for in that instance you are already using the relationship as a convenience and utilitarian device. (sic, sic.) Take a moment and look squarely at whatever relationship you are experiencing! Are you a giver or a taker? Is it convenient and comfortable for you to continue, etc., etc.? Look carefully to see if your impact is of assistance in truth or evil in intent of keeping your security blanket tightly wrapped about self.

Many seekers reading this JOURNAL will attest to the accuracy of the point just made, for many of them will have seen their personal relationship—whether marriage or some other close inter-connection—founder, or nearly so, on the rocks of disagreement as to the importance of spiritual advancement and contribution. Typically the “other” partner will sense that the seeker has somehow placed spiritual matters above the relationship, and usually this is so. If that other partner is unable to accept such a state of affairs, then he/she will often present the seeker with an ultimatum: “It’s me or all this spiritual ‘stuff’”, is a typical refrain—one which many seekers will recognize. Further, in some instances you will have a divergence in which spiritual guidelines you will follow and that, too, will be utilized as a weapon—”Well, I believe in another teacher so we will use mine.” The thrust is painful and trying.

If the seeker “gives in” for the sake of preserving the relationship then his path will be different from what might have occurred if he had adhered to his resolve. Perhaps neither choice is “better” than the other—but I plead with you to take very careful consideration to this matter.

The karma that would come to the seeker if he chose to abandon the partner who could not co-exist with the spiritual commitment would not be great enough to deter the seeker. Indeed, it usually happens that, even though the karma must quickly descend and be met, the rewards of having chosen the spiritual path would more than make up for the hardship of meeting that particular karma. Look carefully at your relationship prior to the choice—do you, perhaps, already wear the rose colored glasses of blindness?

I cannot be more specific here, since the “extras” which are given unto the seekers are highly individual, and exactly tailored to the preferences of the individual. Hard, Ashtar! I did not make the rules nor the Laws of the Universal Creation, I only practice them and therefore, know what you can and cannot bear—your guide is Esu Jesus Immanuel Sananda; would He have been easily removed from His task?

GLAMOUR VS. FAITH

Let us now assume the seeker already has an abundance of faith, so now you are hit with another blast from “glamour”. This particular test is extremely important, because many unwary seekers are drawn off the Path by it.

Let me try to characterize the attitude of mind that represents having failed this test. There are those who, upon first discovering a channel to one of the higher planes, or upon first developing their own “source” of information, become overly fascinated with the information for its own sake. They become excited to too great a degree. They think: “Isn’t this wonderful! We can see all these past lives; we can talk to entities on the other planes; we can find out things nobody else knows!” Further, they can find themselves drawn into the circle of influence of a teacher or psychic on the Earth plane whom they consider to be very special. The person of that leader may take on a heightened importance for these seekers, and they might “glamourize” him out of all proportion to what he is really trying to do.

Of course, as mentioned before in the guidelines, you must be perceptive and watch the clues run by. Some leaders allow, and encourage, their students or followers to glamourize them, and this is a serious failing on the part of the so-called leader. But the truly discerning seeker will be able to determine such silliness, and realize that what is important is the service he can render to others, and the understanding he can attain in terms of the great spiritual and cosmic laws. The pursuit of the spiritual Path has no other legitimate justification.

EGO BLAST

Finally we will deal with EGO! Many souls, upon first becoming part of a group following spiritual goals, will be tempted to think of themselves as special, as somehow being better or more spiritual than their brothers who are still living “normal” lives. You know, somehow your soapbox is just a bit loftier than your brother’s. No perception could have a more insidious result, because the very fact of putting oneself ahead of others has the precise reverse effect: the guides who watch the progress of seekers with special care will immediately relegate to the bottom of the list any individual who presumes to think of himself as holier, or more spiritual, or more worthy than any one of his brothers, no matter how low the vibrations of those brothers have descended. The truth of the matter is most simple; God loves all of His children equally. God has no favorites, for in a sense all are His favorites.

It is right here that the admonitions of the Christ Truth takes on true dimensions: He who would be first MUST be last; blessed are the humble for they shall inherit the Earth. Any who meditate upon the significance behind these seeming riddles will surely see that they express the greatest of all the truths in terms of seekers. Namely, that the purpose of the Path is to teach one to serve, not to lead; to give, not to take; to love, not to despise. One can only effectively lead through service, you can only receive love by giving forth love and you can only receive abundantly if you give abundantly. Seeming contradictions? Nay—truth.

Those who fail in this, the greatest of all the tests, must lose the right to be among those to whom is given the great privilege of serving the transition of the race of man and his world.

HOW IT ‘IS’!

A most crucial drama is being enacted on a little planet, the Earth upon which you dwell, from out of all the billions of planets and satellites strewn throughout this galaxy like cosmic dust broadcast among the living bodies of the stars.

Oh, brothers, it is the act of separation. It is the separation of the nobler from the baser fraction of humanity. This, that ones might progress in experience; that a planet in death seizures might be brought into transition and recovery—rebirthing and reberthing.

When the final decision within each individual heart place can be put off no longer, when each must make his choice either for or against his own spiritual advancement, that is when the race of man will crack into two portions—no middle ground—no “just be”! It will be a wrenching experience deep within the soul essence for billions of humans, for they will be the ones who must be separated forever from others whom they have loved through many life-times along their life-stream. But none will escape the choosing—NONE!

THE TIME OF THAT CHOICE HAS COME. THESE TEACHINGS AND WORDS OF FINAL NATURE WILL SOON BE BROUGHT FORTH AND THE TIME OF CHOICE WILL HAVE REACHED ITS POINT OF ACTION. NO ONE CAN DO IT FOR YOU—THESE TRUTHS ARE ALL YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE SUPPORT—THE TIME IS COME!

In the few segments of time which you call years, perhaps months, much can be done, many can be salvaged from the dissolution which awaits those who cannot set their feet upon the upward path. If you do not get forth the Word, it cannot reach all in time. It is no greater to pen the Word than to publish the Word, or make the movie or the documentary. It is a team job or it will not be done. Blessings infinite upon you ones who risk and dare for the teachings will not be desired as truth—the lie has lived too long to fall easily. You have naught, however, but to make it available—man, individual, must discern truth.

In the physical dissolving, though it will not obliterate the essence of any soul, (unless you bring into play destruction of your place through particle beams and/or nuclear chaos), it will remove the uniqueness that so many lives and so much effort have created. The ones that are drawn back into the common pool will never see their more advanced brothers again out of the same eyes.

All efforts will be thrust forth from the Dark Brotherhood to promote the split so that the greatest number will have failed to move forward into spirituality and Light. We are seeking, equally as diligently, to bring as many as possible into the love and radiance of new experience—a new and wondrous age experience for mankind.

You who receive of this recording can throw your energies behind either side, for that is your choice—your free-will choice! BUT IT IS NOW THAT YOU MUST DECIDE!!**!! IT IS NOW THAT THE HUMAN RACE CRIES DESPERATELY FOR HELP. IT IS NOW THAT THE DEDICATION AND FAITH OF THE SEEKERS IS BEING SORELY TESTED AND RETESTED.

I PLEAD WITH YOU, DO NOT FAIL YOUR BROTHERS; DO NOT FAIL YOUR RACE—YOUR SPECIES, FOR THEN, MY BELOVED FRIEND, YOU WILL HAVE FAILED YOURSELF.

The peace and blessings of all the higher beings who watch over and care for humanity’s struggle are with you forever more. I AND MY COMPATRIOTS STAND READY TO SERVE, TO ASSIST AND TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY—BUT YOU MUST ASK FOR WE CANNOT ACT IF NOT REQUESTED FOR IT IS THE LAW OF THE COSMOS.

I REQUEST HEREBY, THAT THE PORTIONS OF THE OTHER TEACHERS BE ADDED UNTO THIS BOOK THAT THE SPIRIT OF EACH OF MY OWN COLLEAGUES BE MADE AVAILABLE UNTO YOU. DO NOT OVERLOAD; BUT PRESENT SEVERAL FOR YOU ONES OF OUR GROUP HAVE HAD MANY LESSONS REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF EVIL. SO BE IT.

MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION, DHARMA, FOR A JOB WELL DONE. I PLACE MY HAND UPON YOUR HEAD THAT YOU MIGHT BE GIVEN REST AND PEACE. MY THANKS GO FORTH TO YOU WHO WILL TAKE THE PORTIONS AND PRESENT THEM—THEY WILL GO FORTH WITH THE POWER OF THE CENTRAL LIGHT. I PLACE THE SEAL OF TRUTH UPON THESE WRITINGS. SO BE IT, FOR IN YOUR TIME WILL COME THE TIME OF THE REVELATIONS AND PROPHECIES COME FULL CYCLE.

I TAKE MY LEAVE AND MOVE TO STAND-BY. I SALUTE YOU!

I AM ASHTAR