Karma

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing House

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Activity of Thought-Forinsi12
The life-period of these ensouled thought-forms depends first on their initial intensity, on the energy bestowed upon them by their human progenitor; and secondly on the nutriment supplied to them after their generation, by the repetition of the thought either by him or by others. Their life may be continually reinforced by this repetition, and a thought which is brooded over, which forms the subject of repeated meditation, acquires great stability of form on the psychic plane. So again thought-forms of a similar character are attracted to each other and mutually strengthen each other, making a form of great energy and intensity, active in this astral world.
Thought-forms are connected with their progenitor by what-for want of a better phrase—we must call a magnetic tie; they react upon him, producing an impression which leads to their reproduction, and in the case mentioned above, where a thought-form is reinforced by repetition, a very definite habit of thought may be set up, a mould may be formed into which thought will readily flow-helpful if it be of a very lofty character, as a noble ideal, but for the most part cramping and a hindrance to mental growth.