Motion and frequency

Use in the book

II compares an extremely rapid moving wheel with apparent rest and uses this to describe the highest spiritual vibration. VIII calls differences in vibration a dimension of the planes. IX expands the physical examples through planetary movement, molecular movement, sound, light, and an imagined increase in the rate of a rotating object.

That imagined sequence passes from audible to visible effects and finally to disintegration into subtler constituents. The exposition then extends the model from matter to mental states and spiritual levels.

Places to read

1. II The Seven Hermetic Principles · Block 13… “Principle embodies the truth that "everything is in motion"; "everything vibrates"; "nothing is at rest"; facts which Modern Science endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to verify. And yet” …
2. VIII Planes of Correspondence · Block 8… “their "Third Hermetic Principle," that "everything is in motion; everything vibrates; nothing is at rest." From the highest manifestation, to the lowest, everything and all things Vibrate. Not only do they” …
3. IX Vibration · Block 3… “are that not only is everything in constant movement and vibration, but that the "differences" between the various manifestations of the universal power are due entirely to the varying rate and” …
4. IX Vibration · Block 5… “heat vibrations, and in that sense is in motion and vibration. Then all particles of Matter are in circular movement, from corpuscle to suns. The planets revolve around suns, and many” …
5. IX Vibration · Block 6… “Magnetism and Electricity are but forms of vibratory motion connected in some way with, and probably emanating from the Ether. Science does not as yet attempt to explain the nature of” …
6. IX Vibration · Block 8… “have offered the illustration of a rapidly moving wheel, top, or cylinder, to show the effects of increasing rates of vibration. The illustration supposes a wheel, top, or revolving cylinder, running” …
7. IX Vibration · Block 9“When the object reaches a certain rate of vibration its molecules disintegrate, and resolve themselves into the original elements or atoms. Then the atoms, following the Principle of Vibration, are separated” …

In this edition

The headword signals an explanatory comparison. The attested-forms section lists only source forms; it does not manufacture an occurrence of frequency. Apparent rest is an image within the vibration argument.

Reading the argument

Rate, intensity, speed, and frequency are not all one physical quantity. Nor does the imagined rotating object establish that a mechanical vibration can be increased through the electromagnetic spectrum and into mind. The sequence is best read as the author's illustrative construction, with its physical and metaphysical steps distinguished.

motion

“motion” — 19 occurrences in 13 text blocks: II.13, 19; VI.7; VII.18; VIII.8; IX.2–6, 8; XI.2, 5.

movement

“movement” — 13 occurrences in 8 text blocks: II.19; VII.13; VIII.31; IX.3, 5, 8; XI.2, 5.

rate

“rate” — 23 occurrences in 15 text blocks: II.13, 16; IV.9, 19; VII.19; VIII.8–9, 11; IX.3, 7–9, 11; X.11; XV.6.

wheel

“wheel” — 5 occurrences in 4 text blocks: II.13; IV.7; IX.3, 8.