THEFOURKINGDOMS 73
from the dense body, but the dense vehicles of all kingdoms
correspond to the shell of the snail, which is crystallized
from its juices, the snail representing the spirit; and the
juices of its body in their progress towards crystallization
representing the mind, desire body and vital body.These
various vehicles were emanated by the spirit from itself for
the purpose of gaining experience through them. It is the
spirit that moves the dense body where it will, as the snail
moves its house, and not the body that controls the
movements of the spirit. The more closely the spirit is able
to enter into touch with its vehicle the better can it control
and express itself through that vehicle, and vice versa. That
is the key to the different states of consciousness in the
different kingdoms. A study of diagrams 3 and 4 should give
a clear understanding of the vehicles of each kingdom, the
manner in which they are correlated to the different Worlds