In one of their novels, the Gears included a line that struck a chord with me, "The end of the universe is near and only those whose bodies are made of light will survive it." That is as close as I can come to it, but I'm sure I have misquoted, since I simply can't remember the exact quote. I believe I have the essence of it.

And in the Gnostic Mass, Crowley includes a great line in the Priest's solar invocation. I will give the entire (brief) invocation, with the relevant line emphasized: "Thou that art One, our Lord in the Universe, the Sun, our Lord in ourselves whose name is Mystery of Mystery, uttermost being whose radiance enlightening the worlds, is also the breath that maketh every God even and Death to tremble before thee--by the Sign of Light appear thou glorious upon the throne of the Sun.
"Make open the path of creation and of intelligence between us and our minds. Enlighten our understanding. Encourage our hearts. LET THY LIGHT CRYSTALLIZE ITSELF IN OUR BLOOD, FULFILLING US OF RESURRECTION."

In this last line, I see an echo of the one in the novel quoted above. And I was told in a meditation once that Light is the driving force of the universe that powers the expansion of space and the advancement of time. Putting all these together and meditating on them, I see the outline of a doctrine that covers the complete range of mystical thought. Those who are the heirs of eternal life are those who have pursued the alchemical task of transforming their blood, flesh, soul and thought into pure light, the light of spirit. I feel this is the task we have before us in our mundane lives, with alchemy as our guide and teacher. Those who complete the task will emerge from the world as immortal spirits of light. And those who do not, but make significant progress, I believe, will at minimum undergo a transformation, perhaps a rebirth to have time to complete the transformation. Light is the only immortal principle of the universe. It travels from its source into the vastness of space, but light itself is neither created nor destroyed. It may freeze into matter for a time, but it will eventually be released as matter decays. Only if we can become entirely composed of light will we attain to eternal life and universal consciousness.

Or at least, this is my current take on these questions. Any additional input, whether in support or in disagreement will be welcome.

It is always possible I am getting carried away with poetic metaphor, but currently I feel this very strongly as a definite truth.

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:5)

Light will always defeat the darkness of the world. In this is the secret of the Great Work, the Summum Bonum, True Wisdom and Perfect Happiness. (comprehend = apprehend, Gr. katalambano, "to lay hold of", to grasp, to seize, in John 1:5, to perceive mentally.) Hence, darkness will never be able to see the light. Light is invisible to darkness, which explains perfectly why those who are prisoners of darkness scoff at the idea of light; to them it must be a fiction since they are unable to see it or imagine it. The theme is echoed throughout the writings of all prophets, seers, oracles, magicians and alchemists once we start looking. "And God said, Let there be light," on the first day.

With love under will,

Bob, Adastra,
The Wizzard of Jacksonville