Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AND
EARTH
HEAVEN
AND
EARTH
by
GABRIELLE HENRIET
Translated from the French
URANIA
M use of A stro n o m y
re p re se n te d p o in tin g to th e disc 16/-
of th e sun.
COPYRIGHT RESERVED
Introduction VI
the earth would inevitably bring twice a year. It apparent speed equal to its own. Consequently, there
might also be assumed that under those conditions, can be no speed in the heavens lower than that of
very high constructions would swerve from the the earth’s, since it represents a basic speed from
vertical. The American sky-scrapers and the Eiffel which the apparent motions would be derived; but
Tower, for instance, cannot be seen to lean right or as it can be seen, the displacement of the constella
left according to the seasons, although this should be tions and of the planets, with the exception of Mer
a logical and natural consequence of the alternate cury and V enus, is slower than the supposed speed
inclination attributed to the earth. of the earth, which under the circumstances stated
It must reasonably be said that the circumstances above, is a material impossibility. It should, more
which readily explain in the most extraordinary and over, be considered that the real speeds of the planets
unlikely way the cause of the seasons are not credi have to be added to the apparent motions created by
ble, especially in view of the fact that Copernicus, the supposed movement of the earth, with the result
when he published his theories on the movement of that the planets ought to pass before us like a flash
the earth in his Treaty on the Revolution of the of lightning. The absence of these mathematical cir
Celestial Spheres in 1543, insisted on their purely cumstances which, surely, have no reason to be
hypothetical nature. He said : ‘ ‘ The hypothesis of invisible, ought to be sufficient to prove that the
the movement of the earth is only one which is use hypothesis of the revolution of the earth round the
ful to explain phenomena, but it should not be con sun as put forward by Copernicus, has no basis in
sidered as an absolute tru th .” It was never his fact, and is not admissible, even if such theory could
intention, it seems, that his theories should be taken not be replaced by anything more logical, as it is.
in earnest by his successors. A n entirely different and more rational explanation
T he motion of the earth in space can be disproved of the cycle of the seasons, based on a reasoned
by a comparison between the supposed speed of the investigation of existing conditions can, however, be
earth and that of the other planets, if we base our given, so that it will no longer be necessary to send
considerations on the principle that a body in motion the earth travelling into space to this end.
creates an apparent speed equal to its own, in bodies The essential feature of the year is its division into
it encounters, which is usually demonstrated by the two equal periods of six months, based first on the
experiment of a moving vehicle, such as a train. It is predominating length of the days over that of the
difficult to judge at first sight whether it is the train, nights, and vice versa, conditions which are governed
or what can be seen outside which is moving away, by the varying hours of sunrise and sunset; and
but one fact is certain, i.e. that the two speeds, one of secondly, by the either high or low height reached by
which is real and the other apparent, are equal. For the sun in the heavens at mid-day. The first cycle,
this reason, if the earth were in motion, it would during which the days are longer than the nights and
create in the planets and constellations an initial the sun reaches its culminating point of the year,
H e a v e n and E arth O n the non-revolution o f the earth round th e sun 5
extends from the spring equinox to the autumn rising and setting are due to the passage and to the
equinox, i.e. March 21st to September 22nd; and impulsion of two regulating successive currents, or
the second cycle during which, inversely, the dura cosmic breath streams, of six months each, i.e. of a
tion of the nights exceeds that of the days, and the warm increasing and decreasing breath stream pre
sun descends to its lowest point of the year, extends vailing from the spring equinox to the autumn
from the autumn equinox to the spring equinox, i.e. equinox, followed by a cold, increasing and decreas
September 23rd to March 20th. ing breath stream from the autum n equinox to the
These two six-month periods are also character spring equinox; and the conclusion is that the impul
ized by an opposition of temperature. During the sion of these two summer and winter cosmic breaths
first cycle which corresponds to spring and summer, govern the height of the sun, and that they also have
the heat gradually rises and falls, while during the the effect of either advancing or retarding the hours
second cycle which comprises autumn and winter, of sunrise and sunset on which depend the respective
it is the intensity of the cold which progressively lengths of days and nights.
increases and decreases. It might be said that it is It is, therefore, the arrival and growing intensity
evident that the heat of the summer and the low of the warm summer breath stream which from
temperatures of the winter result from either the high March 21 S t causes the sun to gradually ascend to its
or low height reached by the sun at mid-day, and culminating point of the year at the June solstice,
also from the alternate predominating length of the and the decreasing intensity of this same warm
days over the nights, although it might not be abso stream which, after the solstice, causes the height of
lutely certain that the variations of temperature are the sun to decline steadily until the 22nd of Septem
entirely due to these particular circumstances. But to ber, moment of the equinox, when the cold current
what reason must be attributed the variations which sets in. A t the same time, the impulse of this warm
exist in regard to the sun’s daily height and the hours cosmic breath stream has the effect of advancing the
at which it rises and sets, which seem to determine hour of sunrise and of retarding that of sunset, so
the various temperatures of the year? These regular that the days become longer than the nights. On the
fluctuations must, necessarily, have an origin, and it other hand, it is the arrival and growing intensity of
might be remarked that no scientific research or the cold winter breath stream about the 23rd of Sep
speculation has ever been attempted in this direction. tember which causes the sun to further descend to its
The sun has been compared by the ancients to a lowest point of the year at the December solstice, and
chariot drawn by steeds and to a boat manned by the decreasing intensity of this cold breath which,
rowers, meaning by this that it is not self propelled. after the winter solstice, causes the sun to rise again
Its movement, therefore, is derived from some exter until the 21st of March when the warm breath takes
nal power, and in that case it would appear that the over. A t the same time, the cold current has the
variations in the height of the sun and its hours of effect of retarding the hour of sunrise and of advanc
6 H e a v e n and E arth O n th e non-revolution o j th e earth round th e sun 7
ing that of sunset, whereby the nights become longer and setting at the same hours for no less than five
days.*
than the days.
As it can be seen, these two semi-annual cosmic It could be added as a further proof of the exis
currents or streams, warm and cold, each represent a tence of a cosmic breath, that the high temperatures
complete breath comprising a rising phase of inspira of July and A ugust which are really abnormal, since
tion from the equinox to the solstice, and a falling it should be cooler as they occur when the days
phase of expiration from the solstice to the following become shorter and the height of the sun decreases,
equinox; and it is these two double phases of a dura are due to the fact that, as in the function of respira
tion of three months each, controlling the daily height tion, the pressure of the breathing out is greater
of the sun and the hours of its rising and setting, towards the middle of the expiration phase, and con-
which cause the four seasons. ^q u en tly , the temperature rises. On the other hand,
It may be explained that the principle of the exis it is observed that the cold becomes more intense in
tence of cosmic breaths is not new, and that it is to be January and February, although the days are growing
found in the cosmogonies of the Orient. It has, here longer and the decrease in the intensity of the cold
in particular, been borrowed from a French transla breath is causing the sun to rise. This recrudescence
tion of H indu texts in which the movement of the of the cold is due to the same reason of pressure
sun was said to respond to the influence of universal increase in the middle of the phase of expiration, and
breath streams. The author has adapted this theory the cosmic breath being cold, it follows that there is
to existing circumstances, thus permitting the specific a further drop of temperature during this perio d ;
respiratory nature of these cosmic breaths to be dis from which it can be seen that the pressure of the
covered. This fact is completely demonstrated, apart respective cosmic breath streams is susceptible of
from the obvious parallel of the phases of inspiration warming, or cooling the atmosphere as the case may
and expiration rhythmically governing the lengths of be, regardless of the height of the sun.
days and nights and the height of the sun, by a com
* It m ay be rem arked th a t d uring the tim e of the solstices when the
parison with another factor which is the pause existing h eight of the sun a t m id-day is stabilized for a few days either a t its
between inspiration and expiration. This pause is highest or lowest point in the heavens, m an, by reflex, follows the
cosmic conditions by stopping his w orking activities and ta k m g a rest.
precisely reproduced by the solstice which corres These particular m om ents are also the occasion of g re a t religious
ponds to the stoppage of the cosmic breath between C hristie fe stiv a ls; C hristm as at the w inter solstice and Corpus C hristi
a t the tim e of the sum m er solstice, which points undoubtedly to the
the two phases. T he existence of a breath governing existence of an association between the sun and C hrist. T his association
the movement of the sun becomes here manifest, exists also in the case of the E aster festival of the resurrection of
Christ, which in reality celebrates the solar new year. E aster takes place
since the height of the latter at mid-day does not vary on the Sunday follow ing the new moon after the spring equinox on
during the solstice interval, nor do the hours of its M arch 21st, which date m ark s the beginning of the spring and sum m er
cycle of the sun, when the h eight of the latter a t noon begins to rise over
rising and setting. T he respective lengths of the day the equator according to the actual astronom ical way of reckoning th&
and of the night remain unchanged, the sun rising solar declination.
H e a v e n a n d Earth
HE — 2
10 H e a v e n an d E arth O n th e fa c t that the earth d o es not rotate .n
positively be recognized as such, and it can safely be of the rotation according to whether such aircraft
said that if the earth cannot be seen to move, there travelled in the same direction, or against it. Thus,
are hundred chances in a hundred that it does not if the earth rotates, as it is said, at 1,000 kilometers
do so. an hour, and a plane flies in the same direction at
T he theory of the rotation of the earth, however, only 500 kilometers, it is obvious that its place of
may once for all be definitely disposed of as imprac destination will be farther removed every minute.
ticable by pointing out the following inadvertence. O n the other hand, if flying took place in the direc
It is said that the rotation takes twenty-four hours tion opposite to that of the rotation, a distance of
and that its speed is uniform, in which case, neces 1,500 kilometers would be covered in one hour, in
sarily, days and nights should have an identical dura stead of 500, since the speed of the rotation is to be
tion of twelve hours each all the year round. T he sun added to that of the plane. It could also be pointed
should invariably rise in the morning and set in the out that such a flying speed of 1,000 kilometers an
evening at the same hours, with the result that it hour, which is supposed to be that of the earth’s
would be the equinox every day from the 1st of rotation, has recently been achieved, so that an air
January to the 31st of December. One should stop craft flying at this rate in the same direction as that
and reflect on this before saying that the earth has a of the rotation could not cover any ground at all. It
movement of rotation. How does the system of gravi would remain suspended in mid-air over the spot
tation account for the seasonal variations in the from which it took off, since both speeds are equal.
lengths of days and nights if the earth rotates at a There would, in addition, be no need to fly from one
uniform speed in twenty-four hours? A t all events, place to another situated on the same latitude. T he
we have previously seen that there is no such move aircraft could just rise and wait for the desired
ment as the revolution of the earth round the sun; country to arrive in the ordinary course of the rotation,
and as the rotation was its sine qua non, it automatic and then land; although it is difficult to see how any
ally fails at the same time. There is also reciprocal plane can manage to touch ground at all on an airfield
invalidity; if the rotation is manifestly impossible as which is slipping away at the rate of 1,000 kilometers
demonstrated above, the translation which was an hour. It might certainly be useful to know what
uniquely derived from this movement, becomes void. people who fly think of the rotation of the earth.
Further, if flying had been invented at the time of It could also be said that if the earth did rotate,
Copernicus, there is no doubt that he would have such motion, as in the case of its assumed revolution
soon realized that his contention regarding the rota round the sun, would create in all directions apparent,
tion of the earth was wrong, on account of the rela fast and erratic movements of the planets and con
tion existing between the speed of an aircraft and that stellations, whereas, in fact, the movements ruling in
of the earth’s rotation. T he distance covered by an the heavens are extremely slow and perfectly orderly;
aircraft would be reduced or increased by the speed and notwithstanding the artless explanation that has
O n th e fa c t that the earth do es not rotate 13
12 H e a v e n a n d Earth
breath of day would begin in the early morning at
been offered that everything goes so fast that nothing dawn, the usual pause between inspiration and
can be seen to move at all. expiration taking place about m id-day; and we have,
It has also been endeavoured to explain day and in this connection, the infallible test of the behaviour
night, probably by way of giving an opportune and of man, who by reflex action, stops work at this
additional utility to the rotation, apart from its indis moment for a time. T he passage of the warm day
pensable role in the assumed revolution round the breath would, then, end at dusk upon the arrival of
sun, by the fact that the two halves of the earth are the cold night breath stream.
alternately exposed to the rays of the sun in twenty- It might be considered that the breath of day has
four hours. But day and night do not result from a a certain luminosity in view of the fact that it is day
play of light and shade caused by a turn of the earth. light long before sunrise, and also that the light per
As it can be realized by anyone, daylight is produced sists after sunset, as well as during total eclipses of
by the arrival and passage of the sun, and night by the sun. It can be seen from photographs taken dur
the disappearance of the latter. It is daylight when ing such eclipses that the details of the landscape,
the sun rises, and night when it sets. There is no buildings and objects remain visible, so that the pre
need at all for the earth to revolve in order to create sence of a luminous factor not dependent on the sun,
these facts of nature, the cause of which is evident but provided by the breath of day can be assumed.
and sufficient unto itself. The cold breath of night would, inversely, flow
A factor, however, other than the presence and from nightfall to dawn, with the usual interval some
absence of the sun, might be taken into account in time after midnight. There is a sharp drop of tem
the alternation of day and night. It is known that the perature about this hour, which corresponds to the
ancients insisted on the fact that day was caused by increased intensity of the cold night breath in its
a luminous vapour, and night by an opaque sort of breathing out phase.
fo g ; but this explanation is not satisfactory as far as There is an opposition in the circulation of the day
night is concerned, as the stars would not be visible, and night breaths round the world, so that when one
or at least, they would be obscured. W hat may be is north of the equator, the other is south of the
assumed, in reality, is the presence of a warm cosmic equator, and vice versa.
breath during the day, and of a cold one during the The day and night breaths are certainly connected
night, to correspond respectively to the warm breath with, and influenced by the greater breaths of summer
of the summer and the cold breath of the winter as, and winter, and it is, therefore, their combined
no doubt, day and night are on a small scale what actions which regulate the height of the sun and the
the two main divisions of the year are on a large one. hours of its rising and setting; but not directly, as
There is, moreover, a noticeable increase of tem pera said before, but through intermediate circumstances
ture after mid-day, which points to the existence of a which are explained later on.
breath in its phase of expiration. The passage of this
14 H e a v e n an d Earth 15
W e note with astonishment, however, the bizarre lasting several hours. This constitutes, therefore, a
and definitely suspicious fact that these planetary serious deviation from the laws of gravitation, and
movements are not visible. They cannot be seen and their impractibility is exposed. The transit of the sun
yet they are called r e a l! How then can these move by Mercury and Venus is only possible through a
ments be proved and their speed be ascertained since general motion of revolution of these planets round a
they are invisible? O n the other hand, the existing central point, which, in the circumstances, is the earth.
geocentric planetary motions which can be observed It is not either explained how the laws of gravita
and measured, and which, consequently, constitute tion manage to adapt themselves to the retrograde
a perfectly valid system, are condemned as unreal motion of the planets. Mercury, several times per
and apparent ! A pertinent remark may, incidentally, year retrogresses and becomes stationary altogether
be made on the subject. W hy do the astronomical for a month. This also occurs, less frequently but at
tables which are published year after year, give the regular intervals, in the case of Venus and Mars, and
so-called apparent movements of the planets in the for the heavier planets during much longer periods.
zodiac? W hy take the trouble of calculating and These numerous and prolonged retrogradations and
putting them on record at all if they are not real? interruptions in the movements of the planets ought,
W hy is it also that no mention is made of the so- therefore, to dislocate the orbits and the speeds, since
called real movements of the planets ? To make sense, the movements around the sun are supposed to be
it would seem that it is just these and not the former elliptical and uniform, but no mention is ever made
which ought to be shown in official astronomical of these difficulties.
publications. Another inconsistency can be pointed out. The fact
A single example would be sufficient to prove that that the planets move round the earth is rejected on
the laws of gravitation are not in conformity with the strength that these revolutions are only ap p aren t;
existing circumstances. It is known that Mercury and but, on the other hand, the motion of the moon round
Venus transit the face the sun on several occasions the earth is accepted as real. There is, however, no
during the course of a century. These phenomena last difference, whatsoever, between the course of the
several hours and they are even observed with great moon and that of the other planets. They can be seen
interest by astronomers the world over, but without all together and at the same time moving round the
any special reaction, it seems, as to their material earth. W hy should it be decreed against all evidence
possibility. T he shortest distance of Mercury from that the moon alone does so, and what is the motive
the sun is said to be somewhere in the region of 50 which underlies these illogical exceptions ?
million kilometers, and that of V enus, 100 million Is it also possible to unravel, in some way, the
kilometers. Consequently, if these two planets do tangle of the movements of the sun ?
really revolve the sun, they cannot transit it except Although it can be seen moving from east to
by means of an enormous distortion of their orbits. west, the sun is said to advance with the constella-
18 H e a v e n a n d Earth O n the revolution o f the planets round the earth 19
tions in the opposite direction at a speed of one all can be seen. T he only thing that one does see, in
degree per day, which signifies that it stays practi fact, is that the sun rises in the east in the morning
cally for twenty-four hours (one day and one night) and sets in the west in the evening, after having
in the same part of the heavens. slowly moved across the dome of the sky during the
It is, further, retrograding, also with the con day at the real speed, since it is observed and
stellations, by fifty seconds of a degree per year, measured, of one degree per day. The sun has abso
at the present moment in the sign of Pisces, which lutely no other movement.
thus becomes its domicile for a period of 2,160 To any well balanced mind, the conclusion is that
years, which means that it will stay 72 years at the system of gravitation, in view of all its contra
each of the thirty degrees of this sign. dictions and inconsistencies, is imaginary and not
It has an apparent motion from east to west of acceptable. Galileo’s reaction in this connection may
one degree in four minutes. be recalled, when in a letter of the 4th of August 1597
It rotates on its axis in twenty-four days in the to Kepler who was pressing him to support the new
region of its equator, but in twenty-five days at the dogmas, he replied that he would not hesitate to do
poles. so if he were not afraid of being loaded with ridicule.
It proceeds at a prodigious pace, and this is its It should also be remembered that the principles of
principal motion, in the direction of a particular gravitation, such as they were definitely formulated
spot of the sidereal expanse which has been identi by Newton in 1686, were not accepted in scientific
fied as being the constellation of Hercules in the circles, particularly in France, without resistance.
sign of Scorpio, which it will reach in X-million T he theory made its way only with the greatest diffi
years; while we learn from the astronomical culty, continuous objections being for a considerable
ephemeris that it moves through this sign in its time raised from all sides. It appears, however, that
entirety every year from October 24th to November pressure and the policy of laisser faire gave it a clear
23rd. scope in the end. It would, nevertheless, be most
How can it be said that the sun, unless it is instructive and interesting to read the contemporary
endowed with the faculty of ubiquity, is simultan comments on this question.
eously, invisibly present in different parts of the The objection could be raised that master minds,
Universe, moving forward and backward all at once, scientists and academicians the world over, have for
when it can be seen every day moving across the nearly three hundred years accepted these theories
heavens above the earth? O ne is now able to under without hesitation, and that it is inconceivable that
stand the reasons why no reference at all is made to they could have been mistaken, or that they should
the movements of the sun in certain modern encyclo- have been deceived. W ithout meaning to cast any
pediaes. reflection on the intellectual faculties, or on the judg
Of all these multiple solar movements nothing at ment, of these leading figures in the world of science,
20 H e a v e n an d E arth
O n the revolution o f th e planets round the earth 21
it can be said, either, that they were not competent in
orientation of the earth by the Greeks, the result
astronomical matters, a fact which does not constitute
would be that the southern hemisphere and its con
mental inferiority, or they lacked the moral courage
stellations, is really the northern hemisphere, and
to admit what they thought in their conscience of
vice versa. Australia would then be at the top of the
these incomprehensible abstractions, Galileo as well
world and Canada at its lower end. It should be noted
as the others. W ithout doubt he was convinced of
that there are several maps dating from the Middle
the immobility of the earth, but he had to submit to
Ages where the earth is shown in the manner of the
the diktat of error in order to escape from the diffi
ancient Egyptians, the opposite way up for us, and
culties which would have assailed him till the end of
consequently France appears, reversed, at the north
his days, as he implied in one of his letters, if he had
of England and Scotland, also reversed, in what
not given in.
would be the austral hemisphere.
W e repeat that all the planets including the sun,
whether their composition be material or not, revolve The satellites of the earth are also free from any
round the earth which, as stated by tradition imme movement of rotation. W e can take, for instance, the
morial, the word of Scripture and the authority of the case of the planet Jupiter which is said to accomplish
Church, is in a complete state of immobility at the one complete rotation in ten hours, so that its day and
centre of our Universe. night have an equal duration of five hours. It can be
T he revolution of the planets takes place in a direc observed, however, without a telescope, that there is
tion which we describe as from east to west, but it no change whatever in the luminosity of this satellite
should be noted that in the paintings which cover the all through the night, so that it does not have a move
walls of very ancient Egyptian tombs, the sun is seen ment of rotation; neither have the other satellites to
to rise in the west and set in the east. It is probably which the same theory applies. It may also be
from this fact that Plato evolved his theory that dur remarked that the reverse side of the satellites cannot
ing certain periods of time, the revolution of the be seen, and this fact cannot very well be reconciled
planets takes place in the opposite direction; but the with the idea of a possible rotation.
rational explanation which can be attached to this T he stupendous invisible speeds which have been
supposed reversal of the planets’ motion assumed by attributed to the satellites of the earth are also ficti
Plato, is simply that the Greek geographers repro tious. These latter move at the slow speeds which
duced the maps of the world, as it was known in can be observed and measured and which, conse
those days, the v^ong way up, so that the poles and quently, are real speeds.
the four points of the compass were reversed; and
this error would not be surprising considering the
lack of accurate topographical information in those
times. Thus, if a mistake has been made in the
22 O n th e solid d o m e o f the sk y . 23
The dome of the sky can be seen not only through Olympus, approximately six kilometers. This esti
the transparent satellite discs of the earth with the mation, evidently impossible, and which must have
help of the telescope, but also with the naked eye, in probably resulted from the exceptional purity of the
rare circumstances, it is true, i.e. when it is lighted by atmosphere in Greece which may be deceptive, gives,
flashes of lightning during night thunderstorms. By nevertheless, an idea of the manner in which this
a remarkable chance and in similar conditions, question of the distance of the vault of the sky from
the author has seen the vault of heaven entirely the earth, to which we shall return later on, is to be
illuminated, and has even been able to observe it envisaged.
steadily for several minutes, due to a rapid succession It results, therefore, from the foregoing explana
of sheet lightning discharges providing a perfect and tions, that the existence of a dome of matter encircling
continuous visibility. The remark may now be made the earth cannot be d en ied ; and this fact completely
that, if the ancients maintained that the sky was a revolutionizes the present day concepts on the outer
solid mass, it was for the reason that they had ascer world. T he earth is not freely suspended in space, but
tained the fact in the same circumstances, as many it is resting on the floor of a cavity whose walls sur
observers will now be able to do in the future. T he round it on all sides. The sidereal expanse does no
possibility, therefore, of taking photographs by night longer extend over unlimited and undetermined dis
of large areas of the vault of heaven can now be fore tances. The dimensions of our Universe are now
seen, particularly in those parts of the world where known to be restricted, and they are confined by the
owing to the frequency of thunderstorms, there are circular wall which encircles the earth. It is by this
numerous opportunities of doing so. obstacle that the radar waves are reflected; and we
T he aspect of the vault was that of a rather steep, may also recall, in this respect, the theory of Heavi
slightly sloping dome of pyramidal shape, and it side leading to the existence of an upper, wave-
appeared to be composed of a bright metallic resisting atmospheric layer, which is no other than
dark grey matter, uniformly showing small regular the solid vault of the sky. There is absolutely no
inequalities like lead which has been beaten or solid body between the earth and the dome of heaven,
chiselled. T he larger details, particularly the craters, since the constellations, like the planets, are nothing
but luminous phenomena.
were clearly visible against the background; but the
most impressive circumstance yet, was the incredible The meteorites are obviously fragments which
nearness of the vault, the highest point of which did become detached from the vault and reach the earth.
not appear to be, at the most, any more than sixty These masses when analysed prove to include a high
kilometers from the earth. It may be recalled in this percentage of metal, from which we can conclude
connection that in one of the texts of Homer, it is that the inherent brilliance of the sky is due to the
stated that the height of the bell-shaped vault which presence of metals in its composition. T he fact is
surrounds the earth is only twice that of Mount that the earth, at the beginning of time, must neces
HE—3
26 H e a v e n and Earth O n th e solid d o m e o f th e sky 27
sarily have become separated from the adjoining the ether, but has no luminous power of its own.
mass which constitutes now the vault of heaven; and, The British astronomer Palmer, in the last century,
therefore, the parts now divided must contain the held the view that the sun is a lens which, he also
same elements. All the metals and ores of the earth said, transmits to us the rays emanating from the
are consequently present in the surface of the sky. Almighty. It is further known that Ptolemy in his
A n association is actually made between metals and system of the constitution of the Universe, speaks of
the sky, since the latter is instinctively compared to the existence of a crystalline sky, i.e. a sky in the
lead and copper in very hot countries where broiling nature of a transparent mineral substance. One may
temperatures intensify its metallic action and render think, in this connection, that it is not impossible
it more perceptible. that due to the heat developed by the passage of the
In classical literature there are two specific refer sun’s disc, there may be a fusion and vitrification of
ences to the metallic nature of the sky, apart from the siliceous materials contained in the vault, so that
the one to be found in the Egyptian cosmology, but it becomes coated in certain places with a layer of
the former may not be independent of the latter. glass, which would communicate to the solar disc by
First, we read in the poems of Homer that star-strewn transparence, identical properties, so that it might
Olympus, dwelling of the Gods, is made of glittering become similar to a lens. The presence of dross or
bronze; and secondly, in the Old Testam ent, the slag similar to that formed on fused metal has also
prophet Job gives what may be regarded as an exact been observed on the surface of the sun, which is
definition of the sky when he proclaims it to be a really, owing to its transparence, the foundation of
mirror of metal. It is to be observed, in this connec the sky, and this seems to confirm the possibility of
tion, that when poetical reference is made to the silver thermal and chemical reactions taking place among
mirror of the moon, it is the metallic surface of the the elements which compose the vault.
dome appearing under the transparent disc which, It can now be understood that the light and the
in reality, may be described as a silver mirror. It heat which appeared to be produced by the sun do
may further be remarked that in the mythology of the not proceed from this source, but are due to a burn
Orient the attribute of the sun goddess is the sacred ing glass effect which is generated by the brilliant
mirror. This is another association with the true metallic surface of the vault under the luminous disc.
nature of the vault; and it must be admitted that the Under these conditions, all the vivifying and bene
latter, especially when it shines and sparkles under ficial properties which are attributed to the sun must
the sun, undoubtedly looks like a mirror. be transferred to the solid dome of the sky, as well
It has frequently been observed that there is a as the rays. These are not the sun’s rays, but they are
resemblance between glass and the sun. In the 6th the rays of the metallic surface of the vault.
century B.C. Empedocles regarded the sun as a It is also obvious that the electrical discharges
vitreous body which collects and reflects the light of which produce lightning take place between the mass
28 H e a v e n an d E arth O n th e solid d o m e o f th e sk y 29
of the earth and that of the dome of the sky. It can These currents contribute eventually to the accumu
further be surmised that parts of the dome expand, lation at a certain spot of the quantity of electricity
and split or explode under the stress of the passage which is required to cause a discharge towards the
of the intense electrical currents and of their dis earth, which occurs then in a direct line.
charge; hence the short detonations called thunder The comets, meteors and shooting stars are pheno
claps, which are later amplified into loud rumblings, mena which also have their origin, like the so-called
and reverberated in the interior of the vast cavern forked lightning, in the mass of the vault. The
which contains the earth. It can further be remarked author, definitely, knows this to be the case. Comets
that crashes of thunder are always immediately are spontaneous luminous manifestations which are
followed by a metallic resonance similar to that of created by electrical reactions occurring in the vault
bronze or b rass; and it can be said that this particular of the sky, and this explains their unexpected and
resounding, which is clearly perceptible, is certainly sudden appearances, as well as their rapid and
produced by the metallic walls of the vault which erratic movements, indifferently direct or retrograde.
are made to shake and vibrate under the stress of the T he passage of a comet is not accompanied by sound,
detonations. that is to say that there is no electrical discharge like
T he ancients have said that rain is part of the in the case of lightning which causes the vault to
waters which exist on the other side of the vault and split and detonate. It can be surmised that lightning
which pass on to this side through cracks. It may be takes place in the thickness of the vault, whereas a
remarked, in this connection, that rain is always dis comet is a surface phenomenon. The orbit of comets
charged at the end of a thunderstorm, that is, after which may be seen to sweep across the vast expanse
the sound of the splitting of the dome, otherwise the of the sky is described as parabolic. This means, in
thunder, has been heard; and this fact would seem to fact, since the passage takes place on the surface of
substantiate the theory of the ancients concerning the dome, that the orbit follows exactly the curvature
ram. of same and acquires, therefore, a seemingly para
Lightning is a phenomenon which results from the bolic shape.
electrification of the v a u lt; but it must be explained The formation of comets seems to be due to the
that the luminous branches and ramifications which influence of the satellite discs of the earth as they
are observed in what is called forked lightning, are pass at certain points of the vault of the sky; other
not lightning at all, strictly speaking; neither do they wise, when they occupy ceiiain degrees of the zodiac,
traverse the atmosphere as is believed. They corres particularly the 29th degiee of Sagittarius. In the
pond to luminous elctrical currents which travel in case of Encke’s comet of December 21st, 1795, the
the vault of the sky itself where they follow irregular sun was at the 29th degree of Sagittarius. In that of
tracks, probably metallic veins; and it can also be Brook’s comet of November l l t h, 1911, Mercury
seen that they adopt the convex shape of the vault. was passing at the same degree, and again for
H e a v e n and Earth O n th e solid d o m e o f th e sky 31
30
Donati’s comet, October 2nd, 1858, it was Mars this figure confirms the estimate which is given fur
which was effecting its passage at this very spot. The ther on of the probable distance of the vault of the
same remark applies, moreover, to the 3rd degree of sky from the surface of the earth.
various signs, particularly Gemini. In the last case From the ancients we know that the heavens at the
mentioned, that of Donati’s comet, Uranus was at beginning of time were adjacent to the earth, which
the 3rd degree of Gemini. For H ailey’s comet which is consistent with the primeval dislocation from the
returned on March 4th, 1910, Mercury was at the surrounding mass; and that they were progressively
same degree; Venus at the 2nd degree of Libra; lifted in the course of ages. This rising of the vault
Mars at the 2nd degree of Cancer; while simultan could not have been very great. The mere fact that
eously Saturn passed at the 29th degree of Aries, etc. the latter can be seen through a telescope under the
A ll these circumstances, which cannot be coinci satellite discs of the earth, as well as with the u n
dences, point evidently to the existence of a m athe aided eye, as stated previously, indicates that it can
matical law governing the formation of comets, not be very far away. It is not true, either, that m an’s
through the combined agencies of the satellites when eyesight can cover an infinite distance, even with the
they pass simultaneously at various degrees of the help of the most powerful instruments, keeping in
zodiac ; and since the satellites have a regular motion * mind at the same time a possible magnifying effect
it follows that the periodicity of comets, if it does due to the different densities of the various atmos
exist, may be due to this fact. pheric layers, so that it must be accepted that the
Shooting stars are not to be confused with the stars dome of the sky is incredibly low. If it were at an
in the ordinary sense, which form the constellations enormous distance, meteorites would disintegrate and
and move at a very slow pace. They are luminous become pulverised, and rain be volatilised before
manifestations which glide rapidly on the surface of reaching the earth.
the vault of heaven, without any electrical discharge There is not, and there never will be, an absolutely
towards the earth. They are, thus, related to vault reliable method whereby the exact distance separating
lightning, especially as they sometimes can be heard the surface of the earth from the sky may be ascer
to emit crackling sounds like sparks. tained. It is very doubtful, as a matter of fact,
Meteors are also luminous phenomena resulting whether the laws of physics which apply to terres
from electrical reactions which occur in the vault of trial conditions, would be still valid in the case of the
the sky. It has been observed that they are frequently upper atmosphere and of the spaces adjacent to the
accompanied by detonations and by a sound similar top of the dome, but certain data can be taken into
to that of thunder, which is, therefore, caused by the account.
splitting of the dome, so that there can be no doubt The height of the Heaviside layer, which is the
as to their real origin. It has been calculated that the dome of the sky, has been measured by the time
height of meteors never exceeds 90 kilometers, and taken by radar waves to return to earth. This distance
32 H e a v e n a n d E arth O n th e solid d o m e o f th e sk y 33
has been given as being from 40 to 50 kilometers in say, that instead of saying 80 to 90 kilometers, 50 to
the day-time, and 90 kilometers during night-tim e; 60 might be nearer the mark.
but the figure obtained for the day may be considered The vault of the sky may not be absolutely rigid,
unreliable, since it may well be believed that an but may at intervals, alternately recede and advance,
acceleration takes place in the propagation of the so that under these conditions the changes of atmos
waves due to the heat of the sun. pheric pressure would obviously result from the vary
It is known, on the other hand, that the thickness ing heights of the vault.
of the atmosphere has also been measured. But the The azure colour of the atmosphere may be due
atmosphere is invisible, and since the dome is the to the presence in the surface of the sky of certain
only surface on which the eye can rest, it is clear metals or of their alloys, which provide a blue colour
that the thickness of the atmosphere means the height ing matter, such as copper oxide or cobalt. This lat
of the dome. In the 11th century the Arabs, by ter metal, particularly, which is used for producing
measuring the duration of twilight, assuming that blue coloured glass, is found in very large quantities
their method is acceptable, established that this thick in meteorites, and its colour could be diffused by the
ness is 92 kilometers; and nowadays, by the same sun on to the atmospheric layers, even if they do not
method, a figure of 64 kilometers has been obtained. completely reach the top of the dome as the latter
A similar indication comes from Ceylon where the could cast a reflection from a distance.
inhabitants claim that the dome is there particularly It might also be inferred that the reddish tint of
low, being only 40 miles high, i.e. 60 kilometers the transparent disc of Mars is due to the fact that
from the earth; and it does not necessarily follow, the part of the dome which underlies its orbit con
whether this statement is based on conviction only or tains iron oxide which provides a compound of this
not, that it is untrue. This figure is also consistent colour.
with the impression of the author who has seen and
observed the dome of the sky during a sufficiently
long period of time to enable its probable distance to
be judged, as well as humanly possible; and the con
clusion is that the distance separating the surface of
the earth from the sky, and which may vary in some
places, does not exceed 80 to 90 kilometers. T he
first telescope used by Galileo, which was of his own
construction, had only a three-fold magnifying
power. Nevertheless, he could with this small instru
ment see the eminences of the vault, described by
him as being the mountains of the m o o n ; that is to
34 O n the im m aterial nature o f the satellites o f the earth ^5
and thereby hold them in space, would cease to earth since the latter is not round. Copernicus was the
operate, due to the absence of motion. The only first to assign this shape to the earth in order to sup
physical law to which the planets would then be sub port the rotation. It should, moreover, be borne in
jected would be that of gravity and, under the cir m ind that the circular shape which the earth appears
cumstances, they would normally be precipitated on to affect is merely due to the convexity of the dome
earth, or on the sun as the case might be. The fact of the sky which bounds the horizon. The ancients
that the satellites are able to remain suspended in have always said that the earth is flat and this is con
space for days during the stationary period which firmed by the photographic records of a large number
follows retrogradation indicates that they are not of airmen, and also by the declaration of Prof.
masses of matter, and that they can only be luminous Piccard when he ascended in the stratosphere. It is,
manifestations, which fact is compatible with the further, difficult to believe as it has been explained,
impressive silence ruling in the heavens. that the inhabitants of the Antipodes, as a natural
It was recognised from the earliest times that the consequence of the rotundity of the earth, are able to
satellites of the earth, particularly the sun and the stand and walk, feet on earth and head down in the
moon, were not solid, opaque bodies. They were manner of insects crawling on a ceiling. W e may
first, until Aristotle, considered to be souls or spirits, reasonably think that the inhabitants of the whole
which does not imply a physical nature. To the world walk in the same manner as we do, and on the
ancients, they were simply lights, and they gave the same plane, which is the horizontal surface of the
sun and the moon a very apt name. They called them e a rth ; and it is undoubtedly that which would be
luminaries. X enophanes, in the 6th century B.C. seen if Australia could be reached by television.
thought that the sun was an accumulation of sparks Since concrete notions have now been obtained con
resulting from the influence of the earth. Several cerning the existence of a circular vault round the
other physicists believed that it was a vitreous body, earth, it logically follows that the latter is a plane
or a lens reflecting the light of the ether, and this surface, apart, of course, from the irregularities of the
theory which is based on observation is logical, con m ountains, which fills with the oceans the lower part
sidering that the metallic nature of the surface of the of the cavity in which it is situated. T he polar regions
dome of the sky was probably unknown at that time. would, therefore, lie flat and extend to the base of
A s for the moon, it is said that ages ago, long before some of the circular walls surrounding the earth.
the beginning of the Christian era, the Babylonian It would, thus, appear that the satellite discs are not
astronomer-priests were teaching in their temples that reflections of the earth like the Babylonians believed
it was a reflection of the earth. This supposition of in the case of the moon, since the earth is not round.
reflection is exact, but that of the origin of the reflec They are either direct projections emanating from
tion is not, for the lunar disc, which is as perfectly luminous centres, or reflections on the vault of the
circular as possible, cannot be a reflection of the sky, of primary luminous projections. It has been, in
38 H e a v e n an d E arth O n the im m aterial nature o f th e satellites 0/ th e earth 39
fact, said by the ancients, speaking of the sun, that attached, vibrate together, the spot of light then
it is only a reflection of a much greater and more describes a curve, the form of which varies according
powerful sun existing in an exterior Universe. If to the rate of vibration. The continuous luminous
either of these two alternatives is correct, the great curve is also created by a fast to and fro motion of
difficulty, however, which still remains to be solved the spot of light, like the straight line obtained
in a satisfactory manner, is the motion itself of the previously by the vibration of one of the reflecting
satellites. Now, in the course of research on light, mirrors only. Under these conditions the satellite
the author has come across certain experiments car discs of the earth may result from similar circum
ried out in the last century by the French physicist stances, i.e. two successive reflections (the last one
Lissajou* whereby a spot of light reflected on a on to the vault of the sky) of a primary luminous
screen is made to move, simply by imparting a vibra projection, the motion being automatically created,
tion to the surface from which this spot of light is as well as the curved line of the orbit, by the vibra
reflected; and the experiments in question seem to tory modes of the surfaces from which they are
supply the mechanism of the motion, including even reflected, as per the demonstration. If we suppose
retrogradation, of reflected luminous projections on the existence of slow vibrations, the retrogradation,
the vault of heaven corresponding to the discs. which corresponds to the to and fro motion of the
In these demonstrations, rays of light are allowed spot of light as reflected on the screen, would be
to fall on a mirror fixed to one branch of a tuning obtained; but in the case of the sun and the moon,
fork. T he spot of light thus obtained is reflected from which do not retrograde, the vibrations of the reflect
the mirror on to a second one similarly attached to ing surfaces would be fast in order to conform to that
another tuning fork, and from there again reflected part of the experiment, where due to the persistence of
on a screen. T he screen, in this comparison, corres vision created by the rapidity of the vibrations, a con
ponds to the vault of the sky, and the spot of light to tinuous curve is produced. It would, thus, appear
the various satellite discs of the earth. By letting that since the results obtained by Lissajou reproduce
either fork vibrate alone, the motion of its attached the characteristics displayed by the satellite discs of
mirror will cause the spot to travel to and fro in a the earth as regards their origin and their motion,
straight line on the screen; but on account of the this explanation could be accepted. If experiments
persistence of vision we then see an unbroken line of were carried out thereby ascertaining the suitable
light. W e now come to the important part of the vibratory motions to be applied to the reflecting sur
demonstration. If the two forks, with mirrors faces, it is probable that a complete reconstitution of
the cosmic device could be effected. Before becoming
aware of the Lissajou tests, which now seem conclu
* Jules, Antoine Lissajou, born in Versailles in 1822. Died 1880. sive, the author was of opinion that the motion of
C arried out im portant research w ork on sound and optic. H is reputation
w as established by his E tude Optique des M ouvements V ibratoires, 1873. the disc satellites of the earth was due to a natural,
40 H e a v e n an d Earth O n th e im m aterial nature o f the satellites o f the earth 41
although unexplainable, moving projection device, greatly enlarged by the successive reflections, par
since the fast or slow, either direct or retrograde ticularly the last one on the vault of the sky. These
movements, as well as the period of immobility of the primary sources of light may be situated, as the
satellites, can all be reproduced by the mechanism of ancients thought in the case of the sun, in an exterior
cinem atography. Universe communicating with the interior of the
As to the origin of the vibratory agents, the cavity which contains the earth by means of openings,
author’s theory is that they result from the passage as early cosmogonies include many references to the
of the semi-annual and daily cosmic breath streams, existence of doors and windows in the vault of the
of which they follow the increasing and decreasing sky. It is improbable that the exploration of sidereal
phases. It is stated in the Hindu texts, to which space, as far as it can be carried, will ever permit to
reference has already been made, that the chariot (of clear up the difficulty, or furnish information as to
the sun) becomes restless upon the arrival of dawn, the situation of the vibrating surfaces from which the
signifying here the breath of day, which sets it in discs are reflected on the vault of the sky.
m otion; and this might indicate that the simultaneous It can also now be understood that, since they are
vibrating of the two reflecting surfaces which deter reflections, the satellite discs of the earth cannot, of
mine the ascending and descending movement of their own, produce any sort of phenomenon; and if
the sun, is produced and governed by the breath of spots or shadows appear in their circumference it is
day. In that case, there would be a new sun every clear that these modifications occur in the first place
morning, and this could perhaps explain the reason either in the primary projector centre or on the reflect
of its obvious weakness upon rising and setting; in ing surfaces, or, perhaps, on the vault of the sky;
the latter circumstance the usual flickering which and that these modifications are reproduced even
precedes the extinction of a light can readily be tually in the interior of the discs. Circular currents
observed. T he passage of the semi-annual increasing moving at unequal speeds at various latitudes have
and decreasing summer and winter breath streams been observed in the sun; and as these appear to
would also create in the reflecting surfaces corres represent a rotary motion, it has been assumed that
pondingly increasing and decreasing vibrations, the latter rotates on its axis at a speed of twenty-four
affecting, thus, the yearly height of the sun. These days in the region of its equator, and of twenty-five
hypotheses may only constitute an imperfect solution days in the case of its other latitudes; but it can be
of the problem, but they may lead in the future, by understood that these currents, or vortices, exist either
means of suitable research and experiments, to a in the primary projector centre, or in the reflecting
more concrete explanation. surfaces, and that they are represented in the interior
The origin and situation of the luminous projector of the solar disc, although these manifestations might
centres would still have to be elucidated. Their size also be due to the disc’s motion on the reflecting con
may be very small, but the projections would be vex walls of the sky.
H E-
42 H e a v e n an d E arth .43
equator are due to the fact that the vault is nearer its influence during the day. T he dome of heaven
the earth in this part of the world. must also constitute an important factor of physical
T he influence of the vault is principally exercised and mental well-being, particularly when its presence
through the medium of the satellite discs of the earth is known and kept in mind. The author knows that
moving on its surface, by the particular action they healers transmit the vital energies it contains, and
exert on the latter. The discs stimulate and reveal its also, incidentally, that these operate through the
characteristics. W e have seen, for instance, iri this correspondence existing between the shape of the
connection, that heat and light rays are developed by body and the shape of the heavens, of which man is
the vault under the sun. A ll the discs are conductors a small replica. It has been said before to-day, in this
of the radiations which proceed from those parts of connection, that the Universe, signifying the heavens
the vault which underlie the path of their orbit, and it or the vault, is like the body of a man which, accord
may be understood that these radiations are not all ing to some texts, lies over the earth face downwards,
of the same variety, nor do they have the same inten with the head in the east and the other extremity in
sity, since the composition of the vault is likely to the west.
vary according to its height, and also that the nature, A much deeper implication must, however, be
size and speed of the discs are different. It is there attributed to the vault of heaven on the religious
fore due to this function of transmission of the radia plane, since some of the cosmic energies it contains
tions from the vault, that the ancients had given the and radiates must definitely be regarded as divine.
satellite discs of the earth the name of interpreters. It They are the universal gods which were the object of
is now possible to assume that life, with its phases of primitive worship, and have since reappeared under
incarnation, birth, growth, decay and death results different names in successive religions. It may be
from cycles combining earth energies and the cosmic said at this point, that the fact of knowing the true
forces which are received from the vault of the sky origin of the energies which create the religious com
through the medium of the satellite discs of the earth. plex in m an, does not in any way affect their divine
Another important feature concerning the vault is nature, or prevent their being worshipped as in the
the fact whereby, taking into consideration the past— on the contrary. The heavens, and this word
metallic nature of its surface, it must possess a has a single meaning which is that of the material
hypnotic non-vibratory influence, which, it may be and radiating vault which encircles the earth, was
expected, participates with the earth energies and the therefore described as being the dwelling of the gods.
cosmic forces in the phenomenon of life. It is also, In all early theologies, the vault itself, under the
most probably, this hypnotic action exerted on the names of God the Father, Lord Almighty, was the
earth throughout the day by the vault, which induces supreme deity personified, for instance, in Greece,
sleep at night. Insomnia would, therefore, mainly by Zeus, the God on High, of whom all the other
result from an insufficient exposure of the body to gods were only parts or manifestations, meaning by
46 H e a v e n and Earth O n th e action o f the vault o f the s k y and on cosm ic rays^ 47
this the various radiations which proceed from the repeated passages of the discs over certain points of
different parts of the vault. T he satellite discs of the the vault, infallibly determined in the behaviour of
earth, particularly the sun, w^ere also regarded as gods man and in nature. In this way they could establish
due to their revealing and communicating the divine a systematic and accurate classification of the energies
energies. W e are, thus, gradually led to identify the which are contained in the vault. These forces, con
triad of divinities which form, in a more or less con sidered as gods, were said to govern all terrestrial
fused way, the basis of all religions. T he first is and hum an circumstances, including all diseases. It
obviously the vault of heaven, God the Father. The would, thus, appear that the cosmic rays emitted by
second is the sun, true saviour of the world, classically a particular spot of the vault and personified by Ares,
described in early theologies as the S o n ; and since the the god of war, through transmission by the discs,
third, or Holy Spirit, according to the theological incite men and nations to fight one another; but when
definition, proceeds from the Father and is revealed the discs, however, move away from the dangerous
by the Son, it is clear that the heat and light rays, as spot in the vault and the influence is no longer trans
well as other energies which proceed from the vault, mitted, the desire for war dies away. Or again, that
or Father, such as they are revealed and communi the particular vault radiations personified by Apollo,
cated by the intermediary of the sun, otherwise the confer what is called innate, poetical, musical or other
Son, correspond to the rays or breath of the Holy artistic genius to the individual, and this, by means of
Spirit.* an exact geometrical relation called aspect, existing on
The Babylonian priest-astronomers had identified the day of birth between ther position of the discs and
thirty-six gods or cosmic energiest which, conse a determining point of vault, say, in this instance, the
quently, emanate from thirty-six specific points of 25th degree of Virgo. It may also be that the hyp
the vault, if the figure is exact. But in what way were notic action exercised by the vault compels man to
they able to discover the existence of these energies, blindly obey the cosmic impulsions such as they are
or gods? Simply by observing the movements of the received through the medium of the satellite discs of
satellite discs of the earth on the vault, which they the earth, but some of which it is said, may be resisted.
had, to this end, divided into 350 fixed degrees It should also be pointed out that since the heavens
(twelve signs of thirty degrees), and recording the are in the shape of m an, it is presumable that all the
particular reactions, always the same, which the waves they discharge, whatever their length or speed
of propagation, reproduce this pattern, and this has
consequently led to the mythological belief that gods
* One cannot help rem ark in g in this connection th a t the assum ption
of the British astronom er Palm er, in the last century, th a t the sun descend from heaven to earth to be born there as
transm its the rays which em anate from the Alm ighty, proves to be men, and also to the narratives of their discourses
correct.
■j"These correspond presum ably to the 22 m ajor arcana and to some
and actions in this world.
of the m inor arcana of the T arot.
48 O n d e fe c ts o f projection, flyin g discs an d the rainbow 49
considering existing circumstances, is not a very the shadow, its circumference remaining visible
realistic proposition. It is also to be pointed out that throughout the whole duration of the obscuration.
the partisans of the system of gravitation show no For the author, eclipses are due to an optical effect
scruples at all in having recourse to the geocentric obtained by a modification in the slant of the vault
system, although condemned by them as unaccept of the sky, thus determining an inclination of the
able, in order to explain and calculate eclipses; and disc. It can be readily understood that the convexity
as yet it would be useful to know whether the motion of the vault confers an apparent volume to the trans
of a solar eclipse is at all real, since the motion of parent disc, thus giving it an optical thickness; and
the sun in which the latter takes place is described as it is just the reason why the sun has been compared
being only apparent. to a lens. Therefor, following an inclination of the
It is said that eclipses of the sun occur when the vault by the disc, a shadow could be cast in the
latter and the moon, which are considered as solid, latter by its own edge, as there is no doubt that
opaque bodies, are in conjunction, thus producing an eclipses are self induced, i.e. that the sun and the
obscuration; and that in lunar eclipses the luminaries moon cause their own eclipses, seeing that the
are in opposition to each other, but it m ust be remem obscuration occurs strictly within the limits of their
bered that the position of the sun, as based on an circumference. A s the luminous disc moves on, the
inexistent advance of one degree per day, has no optical circumstances being restored, the shadow is
connection whatever with true circumstances, and, gradually eliminated. It is possible to effect an exact
therefore, the conclusions which have been drawn reconstitution of an eclipse by means of an ordinary
from this are false from the very beginning in both magnifying glass representing the disc. It can be
cases of solar and lunar eclipses. W e are also told, seen, by holding this magnifying glass vertically and
in this respect, that the black disc of the moon moving it slowly forward in the manner of the move
advances on the sun, and then recedes, but the moon ment of the satellites, that, by giving it a slight inclin
is never retrograde. W hy should it become so now ation, a shadow similar to that of an eclipse is cast in
and again for a few minutes just for the purpose of the interior of the magnifying glass by its edge, and
an eclipse of the sun? Further, the moon is not an without the interposition of any opaque obstacle.
opaque body, and moreover, as it moves on the vault There exists, further, an evident and important
of heaven on the same surface as the sun, it cannot feature which has been overlooked so far concerning
possibly pass between the latter and the earth. the position of the other satellites of the earth during
Eclipses are not caused either, as it might be eclipses. It can readily be observed that during these
inferred at first, by a partial or total temporary extinc manifestations, certain zones of the vault are simul
tion of the projector centre, thus provoking an inter taneously aspected by the other satellites. The
ruption of luminosity on a corresponding surface of degrees in question are the 28th of Sagittarius, 8 - 9 -
the projected disc, since the latter is extant behind 10—1 1-12th of Capricorn, 14-17—21st of Virgo and
54 H e a v e n a n d E arth O n the phases 0/ the m o o n and eclipses jy
2nd of Aquarius. There cannot be an eclipse of the pass in close conjunction with one of the lunar nodes
sun, or the moon, on any one date without these at the time of the new moon. These coincidences
degrees being simuUaneously aspected by the other permit effectively to calculate solar eclipses, but do
satellites; and it appears, consequently, that the not determine them. Natural manifestations should
combined influences of certain parts of the vault of not necessarily be confused with their own causes,
the sky which become sensitive by the passage of the nor regarded as such.
satellite discs, contribute to the formation of eclipses.*
T he correspondences between the longitudes of the
discs and the true position of the sun, or moon, dur
ing eclipses should be systematically investigated
in order to discover the connection. It may, however,
be regarded as certain that eclipses are not due to
any intercalary passages taking place between the
sun, the moon and the earth, nor to any shadow cast
by the latter.
The fact that eclipses of the sun occur in certain
conditions at the time of the new moon must be
regarded merely as coincidences between the cycle
of solar eclipses, the periodicity of the moon and the
movement of an X-point of the wheel of constella
tions, which in this work is held to be an immaterial
structure supporting the luminous manifestations
called stars. It is this X-point of the wheel of con
stellations which, moving with it at the speed of one
degree per day, should replace the sun which is sup
posed to move at this speed. This point would then
* I t should be added th a t not only eclipses but also all lum inous m ani
festations as well as atm ospheric and geological phenomena, such as
comets, flying saucers, falls of m eteorites, earthquakes, volcanic erup
tions, inundations, tornadoes and even thunderstorm s, rain and snow, are
alw ays system atically accompanied by aspects formed by the satellite
discs of the earth with certain fixed degrees. It may be easily checked,
for instance, th a t earthquakes only occur when there are sim ultaneous
aspects w ith the 8th degree of Aries, loth of Capricorn, 29th of S a g it
tariu s and 2nd of Aquarius.
56 O n th e stars 57
is this advancing motion of the constellations of one thought he had discovered, does not exist, and if it
degree per day which, for some incomprehensible does exist why, considering the importance which is
reason, has been attributed to the sun. In our regions attached to it, does it not figure in any of the official
north of the equator this movement takes place from astronomical publications ?
west to east, in a direction opposite to that of the There is, therefore, no retrograde motion of the
satellite discs of the earth. As to the possible origin zodiacal signs over each other. Aries, actually
of the motion of the stars, this could be determined presumably occupied by Taurus, is not in Pisces,
by a magnet action exercised by the metallic dome Pisces in A quarius, etc. They are still, in the same
of the sky, or perhaps by the passage of the daily order, at the place they occupied in the beginning of
and semi-annual cosmic breath streams. time. Further, the theory of the precession of the
It has been said that there exists a regular retro equinoctial point which was derived from this sup
gression of the constellations of fifty seconds of posed retrogradation of the constellations, as extended
degree per year, and that this movement was first to the sun, cannot be substantiated.
noticed by Hipparchus in the 2nd century B.C. when
comparing his notes with those which another obser
ver, Timochris by name, had made one and a half
centuries beforehand. It would be necessary, in the
first place, to know whether the calculations these
two investigators made at an interval of one hundred
and fifty years are correct, and whether they must be
accepted, which is by no means certain; but why,
anyhow, has this retrogradation which was visible
and measurable in the time of H ipparchus, been
mysteriously transformed through the ages into an
invisible retrogradation? A difference of fifty seconds
per year is appreciable over a length of time, as it
amounts to one degree in seventy-two years, and it
should by now since the 2nd century B.C. equal
about thirty degrees. It is, however, impossible
nowadays to see this considerable difference in longi
tude in the position of the constellations. These
always return to the exact spot they occupied in the
heavens the preceding years at a given instant. T hat
is to say that this retrogradation which Hipparchus
HE—5
60 O n th e precession o f th e equinoctial p o in t , 61
on its base and crushing the bold Titans under enor vertical stone supports, thus forming tables, have
mous blocks of burning rock; the terrifying fracas of also been released in these particular arrangements
the th u n d er; the flashes of lightning; the fire consum from the vault of the sky. The megalithic blocks
ing the earth and emitting suffocating vapours in a were never erected by man, nor were they either
blazing atmosphere. It could be added, the prodi transported from one place to another. They were,
gious masses of water falling in cataracts from the however, fashioned, shaped and even cemented in
depths of heaven on to the earth. Hesiod states that situ by the hand of man to serve for religious and
the revolt of the Titans, that is to say the length of burial purposes. Their geometrical and symmetrical
time taken by the dislocation, lasted ten years. It is disposition is also a fact of nature. T he pyramid must
even probable that for a long time afterwards parts originally have been a single block of rock released
of the vault must have crashed from time to time, in that shape from the vault of the sky, since it can
before its final consolidation. be observed that quite a number of mountain summits
It may be said that mountains did not result from affect this geometrical shape, and it may have been
volcanic upheavals, but that they were released in imitated by the Egyptians in view of its unusual
that shape, including summits and peaks, from the appearance.
depths of heaven. Thus, the mountains of the earth There has been no addition, whatsoever, to the
find their counterparts in the valleys of the vault of layers which constitute the earth’s crust since the
the sky, and vice versa. In the same way, the deep beginning. They all date naturally from the disloca
and wide circular depressions which have been dis tion, although volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and
covered, sometimes at very high altitudes, and are inundations may have caused some upheavals and
filled with water either from atmospheric condensa shifting of the original layers. A transformation of
tion or from rain and appear like lakes, have not the primary constituents resulting from the action of
been hollowed out as it is assumed, by the fall of the vault may have also occurred through the ages,
gigantic meteorites of which no traces can be found, particularly in the case of coal, petrol, ores and
but are natural formations which result from the dis precious stones.
location, and the mounts or circular eminences which T he evolution of the earth was accomplished in
exist in the vault are their counterparts. several periods of time of undetermined duration
T he megalithic blocks, including the extraordinary which correspond to the days of Genesis; but this
specimens found in the Easter Islands, are also evolution has always resulted from the influences of
natural rock formations, the upper parts of which the cosmic radiations which proceed from the vault,
happened to be freed from, or broken off, the mass of such as they are transmitted by the satellite discs of
fhe vault at the moment of the dislocation while their the earth. These may not either have appeared all at
lower parts remained buried in the earth. The flat the same time, and their successive formations may
horizontal stones, called dolmens, which are laid on have contributed to a large extent to the evolution of
66 H e a v e n a n d E arth O n th e fo rm ation a n d the age o f the earth 67
the earth which, from a certain period, became This period of consolidation was followed by a
exteriorized through the appearance of vegetation, transitional era. It is stated in very early texts that
animal species, hum an races and their various degrees there was no retrogradation at the beginning of time,
of civilisation. It is impossible to speak with certainty which means that the satellite discs of the earth which
of the different ages which have followed the disloca are subject to this particular motion had not yet made
tion of the earth, neither is it possible to estimate their appearance in the heavens, and that only the
correctly their duration, but certain divisions may be sun and the moon did exist, since their motion is
established. In the first place, it may be remarked always direct. The other discs, up to and including
that the age of the earth does not run into millions of Saturn which all retrograde, may have started to
years. W e may, in fact, consider that once the initial appear successively a few hundred years after the
vital impulse was imparted, the earth’s evolution was dislocation of the earth. It is also said that the inclin
accomplished in a comparatively short span of time, ation of the earth did not exist and that there were no
but that it is rather the separation of our Universe eclipses. This early transitional period must have
from the amorphous chaos, its slow preparation and lasted a considerable time, and its duration be esti
organisation, and also the descent of the cosmic mated at about 10,000 years.
scheme into matter, which must have previously T he next great event in the evolution of the earth
required an infinite length of time. was its inclination. It is said in some Oriental cos
It is stated in Nordic Mythology that the earth mogonies that one of the pillars supporting the earth
floated on the waters during 700 years, but this period collapsed and made it lean in a south-westerly direc
of stabilisation must have been much longer and have tion, while the heavens were then said to incline
taken at least 2,000 years; and even after its final towards the north-east. W e may consider that such
consolidation, the earth must have been subjected to an upheaval did really occur, as several Greek authors
periodical cataclysms resulting from seismic shocks have recorded a tradition existing among very ancient
and submersion by water, but not volcanic eruptions people that a tremendous commotion shook the
since the internal fire of the earth may only have been foundations of the earth at a very remote time,
in an early smouldering stage at this time. It would Anaxagoras, who lived in the 5th century B.C., was
be interesting to know, in this connection, how this of opinion that the inclination of the earth was of a
fire in the centre of the earth started at the beginning. fairly recent date, but it must have occurred much
It may have originated from a spontaneous ignition earlier than he thought, and could be situated at
produced by the impact of burning rocks from 7.000 years B.C. Taking into consideration the 2,000
heaven, or even lightning, but the fact of its existing years which have elapsed since the Christian era, the
in the interior of the earth may point to a natural slow actual age of the earth since the dislocation would be
combustion of matter, in which, however, vegetation 21.000 years, which means that since the beginning
could not have played a part. the sun has risen over seven and a half million times
68 H e a v e n a n d E arth O n the form ation and the age o f th e earth 69
over the earth, a staggering figure. T he age of the already to be perceptible. T he new satellite disc,
substance of the earth itself, considered as part of the Pluto, may be of recent formation and have had an
original mass of matter is, evidently, impossible to influence on the great inventions which characterize
estimate. modern times. T he flying saucers which seem to have
Anaxagoras also states that vegetation, animal recently become habitual features of the heavens,
species and the hum an races had already appeared on may well relate to the formation at an early stage of
the earth before its inclination. Nothing can be pre new satellite discs of the earth.
sumed, as may well be realised, on this question. As to the end of the world, one of the perils to be
The creation may have necessitated lengthy periods faced would be the failure of the discs, particularly
of time. O n the other hand, it is also possible that the sun. The strength and solidity of the vault may
all could have appeared in the space of a few months be held to be absolutely secure, and its downfall upon
depending on the intensity of the creative forces, the earth should not be anticipated as our forbears
effects of the discs, suitable climatic conditions and used to fear, although the inertia of its surface or the
time of the year, but there must certainly have been disappearance of its reflecting power would prove
numerous cases of spontaneous generation. It may be calamitous; but barring celestial or geological dis
estimated that the hum an and animal skeletons called asters of any sort, we must realize that all life on the
prehistoric, as well as the most ancient vestiges of face of the earth might, and perhaps much sooner
civilisation, and also the mural art of the cave age than could be expected, be completely wiped out, by
men, are not mor than 4 to 5,000 years old— if they accident, by the dangerous and powerful energies
are that. which are now being released in different parts of the
After its inclination the earth must have passed world, especially taking into consideration the rela
through several stages, the exact nature of which is tively small space in which the earth is confined.
impossible to ascertain, but which are made evident A question arises: In case of total destruction of
by their repercussion on the progress of civilisation in life, would there be a revival on earth after a certain
all its forms, particularly on the religious plane. The interval of time? W e might think so, and in the same
beginning of the Christian era, nearly 2,000 years pattern, since the great creative forces of the vault of
ago, certainly corresponds to a physical evolution of heaven are said to be unchangeable, constantly active,
the earth. There are actually, however, precursory and also immortal.
signs of the advent of a new age, that of atomic
energy, which should also be interpreted as another
step in the evolution of the earth itself, and which,
like the preceding eras, will bring in its train new
reactions in the fields of religion, ideology, culture,
science and hum an society, the effects of which seem
70 O n th e fu n ctio n o f th e earth in the U niverse ^ 71
cannot be seen to exist. It would rather appear that circulation of the blood is removed, the analogy
the blood is immobilised in the heart, veins and between the heart and the earth appears to be com
arteries in the same way as the marrow is enclosed in plete, taking into consideration the fact that this
the bones, and the similarity of the arrangem ent analogy is only an assumption, and also that the pre
seems to confirm this view. It should also be con ceding remarks were only brought forward for the
sidered that it is a material impossibility for one and purpose of endeavouring to support same.
three-quarter pints of blood to pass every ten seconds,
as it is said, through the heart which is the size of a
m an’s fist. The speed of the blood, given as 50cm.
per second, is also difficult to accept. Furthermore, it
has been calculated that this speed is reduced to 5mm.
per second in the capillaries; but since the volume of
the blood which is said to issue from the heart is con
stant, it is obvious that if it circulates rapidly when
leaving this organ, it cannot continue its assumed cir
cuit at a considerably reduced speed in the capillaries
without causing an obstruction resulting in an immed
iate blocking of the circulation. It is also evident that
if there is no communication between the two halves
of the heart, there cannot be any communication
either between the capillaries to permit circulation.
This points to the existence of two independent and
opposite systems or networks of blood vessels. T he
valves, which are found in the veins, have nothing to
do with the circulation of the blood. Their function is
to support the weight of the veinous blood which is
heavy, and to keep it in place, particularly when the
body is erect. The ancient Greek physicians thought
that a kind of subtle air or spirit was transported by
the blood in the arteries and veins, and it could be
added that this subtle air may correspond to the cos
mic breath streams mentioned previously; the breath
of day in the arteries and the night breath in the veins.
Consequently, once the obstacle of the supposed
74 Is th e earth th e heart o f a gigantic M ari-W orld? 75
and also contains the heart. Thus, the earth may well
be the heart of a gigantic Man-W orld possessing the
characteristics of the hum an body which is the univer
sal prototype, and which would be composed of the
same elements as the earth itself, i.e. the substance
of the earth proper, as well as minerals, metals,
stones and rocks, and would also contain water, as
reference is often made in ancient cosmogonies to the
CHAPTER THIRTEEN superior waters which exist on the other side of the
vault of heaven. O n the other hand, air and fire might
IS T H E E A R T H T H E H E A R T O F A G IG A N T IC be particular to the earth.
M A N -W O R L D ? It is possible to calculate the height of the Man-
W orld which would shelter the earth since the cir
cumference of the latter, which is to be taken now as
a flat expanse, is said to be 39,840 kilometers, and
JT has been said that the Universe is an organic body
that the dimension of the heart is approximately
exactly like the hum an body, and that the interior,
1/ 13th of that of the body; and this would give us the
that is the hollow part of the body of man, is, and
figure of 517,920 kilometers which, after all, does
should be interpreted as the space between the stars not seem so absolutely inconceivable, compared to
and the earth. W e have also previously seen, in this the immensities to which we have been accustomed
connection, that there appears to be an analogy
in the past.
between the earth and the heart. W e may, further, Finally, one must confess that the intelligence of
consider the text of the first chapter of Genesis man will for ever be defeated by the problems of the
according to which Jehovah took one of A dam ’s ribs reason of the existence of the Cosmos, of its shape
and made it into a woman. This does not mean that
and method of organisation, its probable magnitude,
the female hum an body was evolved from a supple antiquity and duration, and particularly its mode of
mentary bone from the m ale’s, but refers to the
support. Logic and imagination remain powerless in
creation of the earth, the name of which is Eve,*
front of these unfathomable mysteries.
such as it became detached from the principal mass
of matter, A dam , which means man, in the neigh
bourhood of the thorax which is formed by the ribs
1938 — 1956
Eve h anding an apple to a m an and inviting him to eat it, is merely
the symbol of the earth feeding hum anity. T he serpent is a representa
tion of hu n g er which tem pts m an to take ifood.