THEOSOPHY - THOUGHT-FORMS - ASTRAL PLANE Thought forms, seen by trained clairvoyants, on the astral plane: these two forms are rarely seen, for they are a consequence of trained meditation. The upper form shows the form that develops as a result of a reverential contemplation of the Logos: in a word, the form represents the 'thought of the Logos as manifest in man'. The lower form represents a meditative attempt to attain an intellectual conception of cosmic order: the threefold aspect of Spirit is interlacing with the downward pointing triangle, which indicates 'matter with its three inherent qualities'. Paintings of thought-forms were originated by a group of Theosophists, towards the end of the nineteenth century. The paintings were done, following the occult observations of such 'thoughts' or 'visions' on the astral plane, by Charles Leadbeater (Besant claimed such an astral vision, but it is unlikely that this was genuine), by John Varley (a descendant of the John Varley who taught William Blake astrology), Mr. Prince and Miss Macfarlane, all three of whom painted 'in earth's dull colours the forms clothed in the living light of other worlds'. The paintings were reproduced, and discussed, in Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, Thought-Forms, 1901 edn, from which these plates are photographed.