The Cosmic Mirror: Why Harming Animals Harms You, According to Universal Law

To strike a mirror is to shatter the image of oneself. This is not a poet’s metaphor; it is an illustration of an immutable cosmic law. It speaks to a fundamental truth about the nature of the universe: any harm directed outward is ultimately and inevitably reflected back upon the self. While this may sound like a spiritual maxim, the work of Walter Russell, particularly his seminal text The Universal One, presents it not as a matter of faith, but as a consequence of a logical and divinely mechanical cosmology.

Herein, we shall illuminate the principles laid out by Russell that provide a scientific framework for understanding this reflexive law. We will examine why the act of harming animals, specifically through the cycle of meat consumption, is not an isolated event but a cosmic transaction that invariably causes a balanced and equal harm to the participant. By delving into Russell’s science of Universal Oneness and the immutable law of balanced action and reaction, we can construct a logical case for why, in a unified cosmos, harming any part of the whole is functionally equivalent to harming oneself.

1. The Foundation: The Principle of Universal Oneness

To comprehend the nature and consequence of any action, one must first understand the nature of the reality in which that action takes place. The entire framework of Walter Russell’s cosmology rests upon a single, foundational principle: the universe is an indivisible whole. This is not a poetic sentiment but the cornerstone of his science.

Russell posits that all of creation is an expression of a single, thinking Mind and is composed of a single, universal substance. The apparent separation we perceive between ourselves, other beings, and the world around us is an illusion—a trick of perspective born from the interchange that gives rise to form. In reality, there are no discrete parts, only variations in the state of the One substance.

This concept is articulated with precision in THE UNIVERSAL ONE:

“Separation of Mind into parts is impossible, therefore there are not two Minds or two substances.”

Every object, every being, from a distant star to a grain of sand, is interconnected and interdependent, composed of and contained within the same universal fabric. The perceived boundaries are merely appearances. Russell further states:

“Everything that is, is of everything else that is. Nothing is of itself alone.”

“Verily I say, every wave encompasseth every other wave unto the One; and the many are within the One, e’en down to the least of waves of Me.”

The core implication of this principle is profound and inescapable. If there is no true separation, then the concepts of “self” and “other” are merely constructs of perception. An action directed at “another” being is, in reality, an action occurring within the unified field of the One substance of which we are all a part. The distinction between actor and recipient dissolves into the truth of a shared existence.

If all of creation is an inseparable whole, what governing law dictates the consequence of actions within this unity?

2. The Cosmic Pendulum: The Law of Balanced Action and Reaction

According to Russell’s divine mechanics, the universe is not chaotic but operates with mathematical precision. Every interaction, from the formation of galaxies to the generation of a thought, is governed by an immutable law of balanced exchange which ensures the universe remains in a constant state of equilibrium.

Russell describes this process as a rhythmic interchange between opposing forces, akin to the swing of a cosmic pendulum. Every motion is composed of an action—the generative, contracting, centripetal force that creates form—and an equal and opposite reaction—the radiative, expanding, centrifugal force that dissolves it. These are not two separate forces, but two faces of a single, unified process.

Russell builds upon a law universally recognized in physics: “To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Yet, in his cosmology, this is not merely a physical law but a universal constant governing all motion, including thought itself. As he states:

“An action and its opposite reaction are not two. Their energies, when combined, make one.”

This principle extends far beyond physics into the realm of human thought and deed. What one might call a harmful act or “wrong thinking” is, in Russell’s cosmology, an “action” that creates a disequilibrium within the universal field. Because the universe cannot sustain imbalance, this action must be met with a perfectly balanced reaction to restore equilibrium. The consequence is not a punishment meted out by a higher power, but a mechanical and automatic rebalancing.

This is where the law becomes deeply personal. The reaction is not an abstract event in the cosmos; it is recorded directly upon the soul of the one who initiated the action. As Russell explains:

“That action which man calls wrong thinking is simultaneously written on the soul as positive charge and is balanced by its opposite and equal negative reaction.”

Thus, every action creates its own echo. The universe, through its own mechanical laws, ensures that what is given is returned in equal measure to maintain its fundamental balance. We are now prepared to see how the principles of Oneness and Balanced Reaction combine to explain the consequences of our choices regarding other living beings.

3. The Act and Its Echo: Applying Universal Law to the Consumption of Animals

Grasping the principles of Universal Oneness and Balanced Reaction fundamentally alters one’s perception of everyday choices. An act as commonplace as a meal is transformed from an isolated event into a cosmic interaction with definite, lawful consequences. By synthesizing these two laws, we can build a clear, logical argument for why harming animals for consumption inevitably harms the consumer.

The sequence of this divine mechanics unfolds as follows:

1. We begin from the premise of Universal Oneness, where the animal and the human are not fundamentally separate entities. They are expressions of the same One substance, manifestations of the same thinking Mind. The perceived separation is an illusion.
2. The act of harming an animal—or participating in a system that necessitates this harm—is a discordant “action“ initiated within this unified substance. It is a centripetal, contracting impulse of disequilibrium, a motion that disrupts the harmony of the whole.
3. According to the immutable Law of Balanced Reaction, this action must be met with an equal and opposite reaction to restore equilibrium. The reactive force is centrifugal and radiative. Because there is no true “other”—no external place to send this force—it cannot be projected away. It must, by law, radiate back to its point of origin: the actor.

The mechanism of this law is absolute. Its effect can be perfectly captured by the analogy of a reflexive mirror: Hurting ‘another’ is like punching a mirror. Indeed, “just as striking a mirror shatters the image of the one striking it, harming another fractures the aggressor’s own peace, for they share the same single existence.”

The logical outcome is inescapable. To participate in a cycle that requires harm to be inflicted on any part of the Universal One is to necessarily inflict a balanced, reactive harm upon oneself. This act disrupts one’s own equilibrium and records a dissonant charge upon one’s soul, not as a moral judgment, but as a simple, mechanical consequence of universal law. From this theoretical understanding, we can explore the practical implications for an individual’s life.

4. The Path of Understanding: Living in Accordance with the Law

Knowledge of universal law is not meant for mere intellectual exercise; it is a catalyst for transforming one’s behavior and aligning one’s life with cosmic harmony. Understanding these principles provides a logical, rather than purely emotional, basis for making choices that lead toward equilibrium. The following narratives illustrate how this understanding can translate into a profound personal shift.

Case Study 1: The Analyst

An engineer, trained to see the world through the lens of immutable laws, encounters Russell’s cosmology. For weeks, the principle of Universal Oneness remains a fascinating but abstract concept. Then, one evening, while observing the complex interplay of a natural ecosystem, the understanding clicks into place with the force of a revelation. She sees it not as a collection of separate parts, but as a single, flowing substance. The boundary between herself, the earth, and the animals on it dissolves. They are not resources in a system; they are the system.

Later, she contemplates the Law of Balanced Reaction, a concept she knew from physics but had never applied so universally. The industrial suffering of animals for meat no longer appears as a distant, unfortunate reality. She visualizes it as a vast, discordant centripetal action, a violent contraction of harmony. The inescapable conclusion dawns on her: the equal and opposite centrifugal reaction—the wave of that suffering—must radiate back to its countless points of origin, including herself as a consumer. For her, the choice to abstain from meat is no longer a matter of ethics but of mechanics. It becomes an act of profound self-preservation, a conscious decision to step out of the path of a guaranteed and destructive cosmic echo.

Case Study 2: The Philosopher

A student of philosophy, long immersed in the paradoxes of self and other, discovers The Universal One. He reads the line, “Everything that is, is of everything else that is. Nothing is of itself alone,” and feels the intellectual scaffolding of his identity crumble. The “self” he had sought to define is revealed as a perceptual illusion, a temporary eddy in the single ocean of Mind. In a moment of profound clarity, he realizes that his consciousness is not contained within his body but is a localized expression of a universal awareness that he shares with every living being.

He then encounters Russell’s statement that any harmful action “is simultaneously written on the soul as positive charge and is balanced by its opposite and equal negative reaction.” The insight strikes him with visceral force. If the animal is not truly “other,” then the violence inflicted upon it for food is not an external event. It is a dissonant action occurring within the very substance of his own being. The reactive harm is not a future karmic debt but an immediate fracturing of his own inner equilibrium. The choice becomes simple, an undeniable imperative. To continue eating meat would be to consciously participate in the desecration of his own being. His dietary change is not an intellectual decision; it is the only possible action for a man who has suddenly understood he is the universe he inhabits.

In both narratives, the choice aligns with what Russell describes as the path toward equilibrium and “perfect thinking,” which he identifies as the source of omnipotence. It is a conscious decision to cease initiating discordant actions and to live in accordance with the balanced, rhythmic nature of the cosmos.

5. Conclusion: Beyond Diet—A Philosophy of Universal Harmony

The central argument, drawn from the cosmological science of Walter Russell, is a direct and logical sequence: the principle of Universal Oneness, which states that all things are part of an indivisible whole, combined with the Law of Balanced Action and Reaction, which demands that every action be met with an equal and opposite reaction, makes all harm reflexive. In a universe without true separation, an act of harm directed at any being is functionally identical to striking a mirror—the consequence is returned directly to the source.

While this exploration has focused on the specific example of consuming animals, the underlying principle applies universally. It governs every thought, word, and deed directed at others. Every act of kindness, compassion, or cruelty is an “action” that initiates a perfectly balanced “reaction,” shaping the equilibrium and the recorded state of our own soul. This understanding elevates our awareness from seeing life as a series of disconnected events to recognizing it as a continuous, resonant exchange with the cosmos. It places the responsibility for our inner state of being squarely in our own hands, reminding us that the harmony we create for others is the same harmony we create for ourselves.

As we conclude, we are left with a profound sense of interconnectedness and personal responsibility, encapsulated in one of the greatest of all universal laws as articulated by Russell:

“Everything that is, is of everything else that is. Nothing is of itself alone. He who knows this greatest of all laws knows love.”

Darcie French Dec 26/2025