An explanation of how natural laws fit into the physical and spiritual universe.
What are natural laws? According to Henry Drummond in Natural Law in the Spiritual World, natural law is an “ascertained working sequence or constant order among the phenomena of nature.”
All things are somehow connected, and it is through natural law that you can better understand those connections. Natural law can be thought of as a continuum—a long line, never beginning or ending—that applies to both physical and spiritual aspects of our lives.
Within overall natural law are several laws, some of which apply more to physical life than spiritual life, some of which seem more spiritually applicable. However, Drummond writes that, to be understood, natural law must be applied to all aspects of life and that they do not operate under one set of principles in the natural world and another set in the spiritual.
Some natural laws and their meanings:
Law of Acceleration
In physics: an increase in velocity is equivalent to acceleration.
In biology: The more important a structure or organ is to the physical being, the sooner it develops.
Law of Conservation of Energy
This is an orderly universe where the total amount of matter in the universe is constant and matter and energy are interchangeable.
Law of Gravitation
Commonly known as “What goes up, must come down,” this law keeps everyone literally grounded on the earth.
The Golden Rule
Many religions have some form of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Essentially, it means, treat other people as you’d like them to treat you.
Law of Attraction
Like attracts like—what you put out there is what you bring right back to you.
Law of Cause and Effect
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Whatever you do, say, think or pray has some kind of effect, somewhere, even if you can’t see or understand it just yet.
Laws of Compensation and Retribution
Sooner or later you receive in direct measure exactly what you’ve earned. These laws cover both receiving positive compensation for good work and effort and dealing with the consequences for doing injury to another.
Law of Continuity
There is no break between physical and spiritual law (back to that long continuum line). This law covers the entire spectrum of being, including both matter and spirit.
Law of Harmony
This law is also known as the law of rhythm (not related to musical endeavors). All harmony/rhythm is motion and all motion is regulated by a particular, flowing order. This order produces the manifestations of the entire universe and its key is in the rhythmic consistency that produces each specific manifestation.
Law of Truth
This encourages you to search for greater understanding and awareness and encompasses the knowledge and understanding of right thinking, living and acting. It is law of guidance, helping you know right from wrong.
Law of Thought
This law encompasses the laws of contradiction and identity and relates to the incalculable energy force of the universe. It also refers to creative thought—each thought has three parts: the kind of thought (constructive or destructive), the direction of the thought and the intensity of the thought. Basically, positive thought creates higher vibrations than negative thought. You are what you think.
Sources:
Drummond, Henry, Natural Law in the Spiritual World, New York, James Pott & Co., 1887.
SAM, Inc., “Natural Law Governs,” Washington, D.C.: Sam, Inc. Publications, 1979.
Morris Pratt Educational Course on Modern Spiritualism, Lesson 4, Milwaukee, Wis., 1999.
Previously published on Suite101.com