by Preparation for passive interaction with other beings
Conveying the meaning and purpose of “passive communication”, as described by Franz Bardon, is challenging. It is a practice with significant implications, and any attempt to compare it to spiritualistic mediumistic experiences would be erroneous.
The practice initially introduced by Franz Bardon involves establishing communication with “invisible beings.” Specifically, the objective is to connect with the internal source of inspiration, commonly called the “guardian angel” in Western culture. This guardian angel is an observer of our existence who only reveals itself in particular moments, such as through images and suggestions, premonitory dreams, periods of intense emotional stress, or when consciously invited through practices of passive communication, as in this case. The practice aims to facilitate constructive dialogue with this internal source of inspiration, thereby enabling one to benefit from its guidance and insights.
The existence of a guardian angel, as an entity in itself, beyond the human level, remains an indeterminate matter. Our consciousness manifests in an individual form, and as carriers of this ‘singularity’, we must acknowledge the reality of other singularities by objectifying them and recognising their existence beyond the confines of our personal monad. However, when we express universal concepts, such as ‘brotherhood’, we expand our degrees of freedom to accept an experience that transcends individual barriers, thereby bringing us together with our peers. In doing so, we relinquish a part of our specificity in favour of a wider field of consciousness.
We can, therefore, consider that the transition from a limited self to a self of amplified awareness can be viewed as a reduction of the distance that separates us from our guardian angel. This higher guide serves as a bearer of spiritual understanding, an advisor, and a monitor to our conscience in moments when we navigate the world of necessity. At advanced stages of integration, this distance disappears, and we become one with our higher guide, much like an organism that cooperates as a unified entity despite being composed of individual cells. Following this integration, communication is no longer necessary as we become aware of our task in the carousel of earthly existence.
Now, passive communication techniques do not aim for such lofty goals. These techniques are designed to create awareness and convince individuals of the existence of other worlds, such as the astral and mental planes. These planes are considered the dynamic and causal basis of material reality and are inhabited by various beings. The next step in this process involves actively communicating with these beings. This type of communication can be defined as “epistolary”, where a response follows a question. At this level, individuals have no control over the situation other than what their practice provides. The practice prepares the necessary mental, astral, and physical tools to facilitate communication.
This approach presents a potential challenge, as it allows for the possibility of mistaking self-induced thought for genuine communication. The unconscious mind may deceive us into believing that we are experiencing a spiritual encounter when, in reality, we are not. This situation is likely to occur frequently, particularly in the early stages of the practice. To overcome this impasse, one must concentrate on the depth point, located at the centre of our being, or have reached an advanced phase of the mental practice of Step V.
Franz Bardon intended to elevate mental teachings to the same level as physical teachings, familiarise students with passive communication tools, and instil the belief that contact with subtle states of being is possible. In this sense, working with the depth point provides a direct vision of the highest levels of consciousness, while using the indirect or “passive” communication channel requires a different technique. The distinction between the two is only apparent as we must know how to combine both knowledge and methods of implementation.
Rispondi