MAN AND THEMETHOD OFEVOLUTION 141
children is of the same negative character as that of the
mediums.
It is the same with the forces working in the desire body.
The passive feeling of physical pain is present, while the
feeling of emotion is almost entirely absent. The child will,
of course, show emotion on the slightest provocation, but the
duration of that emotion is but momentary. It all on the
surface.
The child also has the link of mind, but is almost
incapable of individual thought-activity. It is exceedingly
sensitive to forces working along the negative pole and is
therefore imitative and teachable.
Thus it is shown that all the negative qualities are active
in the new-born entity, but before it is able to use its
different vehicles, the positive qualities must be ripened.
Each vehicle is therefore brought to a certain degree of
maturity by the activity of the corresponding vehicle of the
macrocosm, which acts as a womb for it until that degr ee is
reached.
From the first to the seventh year the vital body grows
and slowly matures within the womb of the macrocosmic
vital body and because of the greater wisdom of this vehicle
of the macrocosm the child's body is more rounded and
well-built than in later life.
BIRTH OF THE VITAL BODY
While the macrocosmic vital body guides the growth of
the child's body it is guarded from the dangers which later
threaten it when the unwise individual vital body takes
unchecked charge. This happens in the seventh year, when
the period of excessive, dangerous growth begins, and
continues through the next seven years. During this time the
macrocosmic desire body performs the function of a womb