CLAIRVOYANCEANDOCCULTPOWERS

INCLUDING:CLAIRVOYANCE,CLAIRAUDIENCE PREMONITIONANDIMPRESSIONS CLAIRVOYANTPSYCHOMETRY CLAIRVOYANTCRYSTALGAZING DISTANTCLAIRVOYANCE PASTCLAIRVOYANCE FUTURECLAIRVOYANCE SECONDSIGHT PREVISION CLAIRVOYANTDEVELOPMENT ASTRALBODYTRAVELING ASTRALPLANEPHENOMENA PSYCHICINFLUENCE(Personal andDistant) PSYCHICATTRACTION PSYCHICHEALING TELEPATHY MINDREADING THOUGHTTRANSFERENCEand otherPSYCHICPHENOMENA
By SwamiPanchadasi 1916

SYNOPSISOFTHELESSONS
LESSON1
THEASTRALSENSES Theskepticalpersonwho"believesonlytheevidenceofhissenses."Themanwhohasmuchtosayabout "horsesense.""CommonSense"versusUncommonSenses.Theordinaryfivesensesarenottheonlysenses. Theordinarysensesarenotasinfallibleasmanythinkthem.Illusionsofthefivephysicalsenses.Whatisback oftheorgansofphysicalsense.Allsensesanevolutionofthesenseoffeeling.Howthemindreceivesthereport ofthesenses.TheRealKnowerbehindthesenses.Whattheunfoldingofnewsensesmeanstoman.The superphysicalsenses.TheAstralSenses.Manhassevenphysicalsenses,insteadofmerelyfive.Eachphysical sensehasitsastralsensecounterpart.Whattheastralsensesare.Sensingontheastralplane.Howthemind functionsontheastralplane,bymeansoftheastralsenses.TheunfoldingoftheAstralSensesopensupanew worldofexperiencetoman.Pg...10

LESSON2
TELEPATHYvs.CLAIRVOYANCE Thetwoextraphysicalsensesofman.Theextrasenseof"thepresenceofotherlivingthings."The"telepathic sense."Howmanmaysensethepresenceofotherlivingthingsapartfromtheoperationofhisordinaryfive physicalsenses.Thispowerisstronglydevelopedinsavagesandbarbarians,buthasbecomeatrophiedinmost civilizedmen,bycontinueddisuse.Itisnowvestigalincivilizedman,butmaybedevelopedbypractice.Animals havethisextrasensehighlydeveloped,anditplaysaveryimportantpartintheirprotectionfromenemies;their captureofprey,etc.Thestrangeactionsofdogs,horses,etc.,explained.HowthegeesesavedRomebyreason ofthissense.Allhuntershaveexperiencedevidencesoftheexistenceofthissenseonthepartofanimals.The physicaltelepathicsense.Howitoperates.Interestinginstancesofitspossessionbyanimals,andsavagetribes. Womenpossessitstrongly.Thedistinctionbetweenthisformofthoughttransferenceandclairvoyance.Pg...16

LESSON3
TELEPATHYEXPLAINED What"telepathy"means.Thementalprocessbywhichone"knowsatadistance."Thesendingandreceivingof wavesandcurrentsofthoughtandfeeling.Thoughtvibrations,andhowtheyarecaused.Thepartplayedbythe cerebrum,cerebellum,andmedullaoblongatathethreebrainsofman.Thepartplayedbythesolarplexusand othergreatnervouscenters.Howthoughtmessagesarereceived.Howstatesofemotionalexcitementare transmittedtoothers.ThePinealGland:whatitis,andwhatitdoes.Theimportantpartitplaysintelepathyand thoughttransference.Mentalatmospheres.Psychicatmospheresofaudiences,towns,houses,stores,etc.Why youarenotaffectedbyallthoughtvibrationsinequalmeasureandstrength.Howthoughtvibrationsare neutralized.Affinitiesandrepulsionsbetweendifferentthoughtvibrations.Interestingfactsconcerningtelepathy. Scientificexplanationsoftelepathy.Pg...22

LESSON4
SCIENTIFICTELEPATHY TheimportantinvestigationsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch.Truetelepathyandpseudotelepathy;how theyaredistinguishedbyscientists.Stricttestsimposedininvestigations.Thecelebrated"CreeryExperiments," andhowtheywereconducted.Theelaborationofthe"guessing"game.Seventeencardschosenright,in straightsuccession.Precautionsagainstfraudorcollusion.Twohundredandtensuccessesoutofapossible threehundredandeightytwo.Sciencepronouncestheresultsasentirelybeyondthelawofcoincidencesand mathematicalprobability;andthatthephenomenaweregenuineandrealtelepathy.Stillmorewonderfultests. Telepathyanincontestablereality."Apsychicforcetransmittingideasandthoughts."Interestingcasesof spontaneoustelepathy,scientificallyproven.Extractsfromthescientificrecords.Coldscientificreportsreadlike aromance,andprovebeyonddoubttherealityofthisgreatfieldofphenomena.Pg...28

LESSON5
MINDREADING,ANDBEYOND What"MindReading"is.ThetwophasesofMindReading.MindReadingwithphysicalcontact;andwithout physicalcontact.Whythescientificinvestigatorsmakethedistinction.Whysciencehasbeenovercautious;and howitfallsshortofthefullunderstandingofcontactMindReading.Howthethoughtwavesflowalongthe nervesoftheprojectorandrecipient.Liketelegraphyoverwires,ascomparedwiththewirelessmethod.Howto learnbyactualexperience,andnotalonebyreadingbooks.Howtoexperimentforyourself;andhowtoobtain thebestresultsinMindReading.TheworkingprinciplesofMindReadingstated.Fulldirectionsandinstruction givenforthesuccessfulperformanceoftheinterestingfeats.Thislessonisreallyalittlemanualofpractical instructioninMindReading,andthehigherphasesofThoughtTransference.Thepersoncarefullystudyingand applyingtheprinciplestaughtthereinshouldbecomeveryproficientinbothprivateandpublicmanifestations. Pg...34

LESSON6
CLAIRVOYANTPSYCHOMETRY WhatClairvoyancereallyis;andwhatitisnot.Thefacultyofacquiringsupernormalknowledgeoffactsand happeningatadistance,orinpastorfuturetime,independentoftheordinarysenses,andindependentof telepathicreadingofthemindsofothers.ThedifferentkindsofClairvoyancedescribed.WhatisPsychometry? Clairvoyantenrapportrelationsontheastralplane,withdistant,pastorfuturehappeningsandevents;bymeans ofaconnectingmateriallink.Howtoobtainthepsychicaffinityorastralrelationtootherthingsbymeansofabit ofstone,lockofhair,articleofwearingapparel,etc.Interestinginstancesofclairvoyantpsychometry.Howtogo abouttheworkofpsychometrizing.Howtodevelopthepower.Howtosecurethebestconditions;andwhattodo whenyouhaveobtainedthem.Psychometrydevelopstheoccultistforstillhigherclairvoyantpowers.Pg...40

LESSON7
CLAIRVOYANTCRYSTALGAZING Thesecondgreatmethodofsecuringclairvoyantenrapportrelationswiththeastralplane.Howthecrystal, magicmirror,etc.,servestofocusthepsychicenergyoftheclairvoyantperson.Thecrystalservesthepurpose ofapsychicmicroscopeortelescope.Howcrystalstendtobecomepolarizedtothevibrationsoftheirowner.

Whycrystalsshouldbepreservedforthepersonaluseoftheirowners.Theuseofcrystals,orotherformsof shiningobjects,bydifferentpeoplesinancientandmoderntimes.HowtheyareemployedinAustralia, NewZealand,FijiIslands,SouthAmerica,etc.,bytheprimitivetribes.Varioussubstitutesforthecrystal.Full directionsforCrystalGazing.Completeinstructionsandwarnings.Allstagesdescribed,fromthefirst"milky mist"totheclearlydefined"psychicphotograph."TheAstralTube,andthepartitplaysinCrystalGazing.A completelittletextbookofthesubject.Pg...46

LESSON8
CLAIRVOYANTREVERIE ThehigherformsofClairvoyance,andhowtheymaybecultivatedandacquired.Tranceconditionsnotessential tohighestClairvoyance,althoughoftenconnectedtherewith.InClairvoyantReverie,theclairvoyantdoesnot becomeunconscious;butmerely"shutsout"theoutsideworldofsightsandsounds.Shiftingtheconsciousness fromthephysicalplanetotheastral.ClairvoyantReveriemaybesafelyandeffectivelyinducedbymental concentrationalone.Artificialmethodsdangerous,andnotadvisedbybestauthorities.Abnormalconditionsnot desirable.The"onepointed"mind.TheClairvoyant"daydream"or"brownstudy."False"psychicdevelopment." Useofhypnoticdrugsstronglycondemned.Scientificpsychologicalmethodsstatedandtaught.Thelawsof attentionandconcentrationofthemind.HowClairvoyancedevelopsbythismethod.Thetrueoccultinstruction givenfully.Pg...52

LESSON9
SIMPLECLAIRVOYANCE WhattheClairvoyantsensesinSimpleClairvoyance.PerceptionoftheAura,andAuricEmanationsofothers; PsychicVibrations;AstralColors;ThoughtCurrents,WavesandVibrations,etc.,arefeaturesofSimple Clairvoyance.ThebeautifulkaleidoscopicspectacleoftheAuricchanges.ThePranaAura,anditsappearances. TheMentalandEmotionalAura,anditsmanyinterestingphases.PerceptionofAstralThoughtForms.Other AstralPhenomena.TheAstralWorld,anditsMyriadManifestations.StrangeaspectsofAstralVisioning."Seeing throughaBrickwall."TheXRayVision.Readingfromclosedbooks,sealedenvelopes,etc.,andhowitis explainable.Seeingintothedepthsoftheearth,andtheoccultexplanationthereof.TheLawsandPrinciplesof thisExtraordinaryPower.MagnifyingandDiminishingClairvoyantVision.Awonderfulfieldforexperiment openedoutforthestudent.Pg...58

LESSON10
CLAIRVOYANCEOFDISTANTSCENES ThecharacteristicsofSpaceClairvoyance.TheAstralSeeingofDistantScenes;andthroughintervening objects.Remarkableinstancesofthispower,wellauthenticatedandestablished.Interestingandinstructive historicalcasesrecordedandexplained.TestimonyoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearchconcerningthisphase ofClairvoyance.TheinterestingcaseofW.T.Stead,thecelebratedEnglishwriter,whowentdownonthe "Titanic."TheimportanttestimonyofSwedenborg,theeminentreligiousteacher.Otherwellauthenticatedcases happeningtowellknownpersons.TheevidencecollectedbytheSocietyforPsychicalResearch.Interesting Germancase.Whysomanycasesofthiskindhappenwhenthepersonisonhisdeathbed,orseriouslyill.Why suchexperiencesoftenoccurindreams.Actual"appearance"ofpersonsatadistance,andhowexplained. ImportantandinterestingfactsrecitedinconnectionwiththisphaseofClairvoyance.Pg...64

LESSON11
CLAIRVOYANCEOFTHEPAST Theclairvoyantperceptionofthefacts,eventsandhappeningsofpasttime.Thereisnodifferenceinthenature ofthisstrangephenomenon,whaetherthepasttimebebutfiveminutesorelsefivethousandyears.Howisit possibleto"see"athingthatnolongerexists?The"justhow"ofthisstrangehappening.Nothingcouldbe perceivedifithadactuallydisappearedfromexistence.Butnothingentirelydisappearsinfact.Ontheastral planearerecordedallthings,eventsandhappeningssincethebeginningofthepresentworldcycle.The "AkashicRecords;"orthe"AstralLight;"constitutethegreatrecordbooksofthepast.Theclairvoyantgaining accesstothesemayreadthepastlikeabook.Analogiesinphysicalscience.Interestingscientificfacts.What astronomyteachesonthesubject.Howtherecordsofthepastarestored.Howtheyarereadbytheclairvoyant. Afascinatingsubjectclearlypresentedandexplained.Pg...70

LESSON12
CLAIRVOYANCEOFTHEFUTURE Theclairvoyantpowermanifestinallformsofperceptionoffacts,happeningsandeventsoffuturetime. ExplanationofProphecy,Prevision,Foretelling,SecondSight,etc.Thesepowersnotsupernatural;butare merelythedevelopmentoftheclairvoyantfaculties.Howmayathingbe"seen"yearsbeforeitreallyexists. Nothingcouldbeseen,unlessitexistedinsomeform,atleastpotentialandlatent.Keenperceptionofthe subconsciousfaculties.Subconsciousreasoningfromcausetoeffect.Comingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore. Fatevs.FreeWill."Timeisbutarelativemodeofregardingthings.""Eventsmay,insomesense,existalways, bothpastandfuture."Timelikeamovingpicturereel,containingthefuturesceneatthepresentmoment,though outofsight.Analogyofdreamtime.AnAbsoluteConsciousnessinwhichpast,presentandfutureexistasa singleperception.Aglimpseofatranscendentaltruth.HowtoacquirethefacultyofFutureClairvoyance.Pg...76

LESSON13
SECONDSIGHT,PREVISION,ETC. Manypersons,inalltimes,inalllands,havepossessedthegiftoflookingintothefuture.Notasuperstition,but ascientificfact.TheInvestigationsofthescientificbodies.TheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,anditsreports onthisphaseofClairvoyance.InterestingcasetoldbyaleadingTheosophist.TragedyandFuneralforeseenby ClairvoyantPrevision,orSecondSight.Historicalinstances.GeorgeFox,theQuaker,andhisSecondSight.The prophecyoftheDeathofCaesar.Biblicalinstances.ThecelebratedcaseofCazotte,whichhasbecomeamatter ofhistory.HowCazotteforetoldthecomingoftheFrenchRevolution,includingthefateofeminentpersonages presentatthetimeoftheprophecy.Astartlingoccurrence,wellworthyofcarefulstudy.Thehistoricalcaseofthe assassinationofSpencerPerceval,ChancelloroftheExchequer.Otherwellauthenticatedcases.Symbolic visions.IrishandScotchcases.Pg...82

LESSON14
ASTRALBODYTRAVELING AstralvisioninginClairvoyance,andvisioningbymeansoftheAstralBody.Thedifferencebetweenthetwo phasesofclairvoyantphenomena.ThecharacteristicsofAstralBodytraveling.HowonetravelingintheAstral Bodymay"seeallaroundhim,"insteadofmerelygazingatanastralpicture.LimitationsofAstralBodyvisioning.

WhattheAstralBodyreallyis;andwhatitislike.Howitdisengagesitselffromthephysicalbody,andtravelsin space.Manypersons"travelintheastral"duringordinarysleep.OccultteachingsregardingAstralBody traveling.Howdyingpersonsoftentravelintheastralbody,beforedeath.Manyinterestingcasescited,allwell authenticatedbyscientificinvestigation.SocietyforPsychicalResearch'srecordsandreportsonsuchcases. Dangersofuninstructedpersonsgoingoutontheastral,exceptindreamstate."Foolsrushinwhereangelsfear totread."Atimelywarning.Amostimportantandinterestingsubject.Pg...88

LESSON15
STRANGEASTRALPHENOMENA AdditionalphasesofAstralPhenomena.ProjectionofThoughtForms.Somethingbetweenordinary ClairvoyanceandAstralBodyperception.WhataThoughtFormis.Howitiscreated.Whatitdoes.Whereit goes.Howaportionofone'sconsciousnessisprojectedinaThoughtForm.UsingaThoughtFormasat cutpost,orobservationpoint.HowthingsappearwhenviewedfromaThoughtForm.Awonderfulphaseof occultphenomena.Advantagesanddisadvantagesofthisformofclairvoyantvisioning.HinduPsychicMagic, andhowitisperformed.RemarkableillusoryeffectsproducedbyHinduMagicians.Allisexplainedwhenthe principleofthecreationandprojectionofThoughtFormsisunderstood.WhytheHindusexcelinthisphaseof occultism.AninterestingdescriptionofHinduMagicfeats.Thepowerofconcentrated"visualization."The phenomenaofLevitation,orthemovingofarticlesatadistance.Theoccultexplanationofthisphenomenon. Naturalexplanationforsocalled"supernatural"occurrence.Pg...94

LESSON16
PSYCHICINFLUENCE:ITSLAWSANDPRINCIPLES Thelawsandprinciplesunderlyingthepowerofonemindtoinfluenceandaffectanothermind.Morethan ordinarytelepathy.Theinductivepowerofmentalvibrations.Everythingisinvibration.Mentalvibrationsare muchhigherinthescalethanarephysicalvibrations.What"induction"is.Howamentalstate,oranemotional feeling,tendstoinduceasimilarstateinanothermind.Manyinstancescited.Thedifferentdegreesofvibratory influence,andwhatcausesthedifference.Thecontagiouseffectofa"strongfeeling."Whyastrongdesirehaga dynamiceffectincertaincases.ThepowerofvisualizationinPsychicInfluence.TheAttractivePowerof Thought.TheeffectofMentalConcentration.FocusingyourForces.Holdingthemindtoastateof "onepointedness."Whytheoccultistcontrolshisimagination.Suggestionsastopractice,andrulesof development.Afeweasilymasteredprincipleswhichgiveyouthekeytothewholeofthiswonderfulsubject. Pg...100

LESSON17
PERSONALPSYCHICINFLUENCEOVEROTHERS PsychicInfluenceexertedoverothers,whenintheirpresence.Differentdegreesoftheinfluence.Possessionof thispowerbyAlexandertheGreat,NapoleonBonaparte,JuliusCaesar,andothergreatleadersofmen.The abilitytoinfluenceothersisasuresignofthepossessionofthispsychicpower.TheThreeUnderlyingPrinciples ofPsychicInfluence.Theimportanceofstrongdesiretoinfluenceandexertpower.Theimportanceofclear, positivementalpicturesofwhateffectyouwishtoproduce.Theimportanceofthefirmconcentrationofyour mindonthesubject.Thecreationofapositivepsychicatmosphere.ThePositivePsychicAura.Howtoproject yourPsychicPower.ThePsychicStrugglebetweentwopersons.Howtohandleyourselfinsuchconflictsof

PsychicPower.HowtoNeutralizethePsychicPowerofothers,andthusdisarmthem.TheOccultShieldof Defence.ValuabledirectionsregardingpracticeanddevelopmentofPsychicPower.ScientificExercisesfor Development.ImportantRulesofPractice.Pg...106

LESSON18
PSYCHICINFLUENCEATADISTANCE PsychicInfluenceoverothers,manifestedwhentheyaredistantfromthepersonexertingtheinfluence.Distance noobstacle.PsychicInductionatLongRange.Howtocreatetheenrapportconditionwiththeotherperson. Howtoprotectyourselfagainstsuchinfluenceatadistance.ThePsychicArmor.PsychometricMethodof producingDistantEnRapportCondition.Toproceedwhentheenrapportconditionissecured.Thescientific explanationoftheoldtalesaboutsorcery,witchcraft,supernaturalinfluence,etc.Theeffectoffear,andbelief, onthemindoftheotherperson.TheeffectofDenial.Thesecretofmanystrangecasesmadeplain.Some typicalcases.TheMasterKeywhichunlocksthedoorsofmanyMysteries.LowformsofOccultism,andhow theymaybedefeated.DangerousTeachingsinsomequarters.Warningsagainsttheiruse.TheAstralTube;how itiserected,usedandemployed.Asimple,plainexplanationofapuzzlingoccultmanifestation.SelfProtection. Pg...112

LESSON19
LAWSOFPSYCHICATTRACTION Howpsychicvibrationstendtoattracttotheircreatorotherpersonsvibratingalongthesamelines;andthings havingarelationtothethingsthoughtof.HarmonyanddisharmonyinthePsychicWorld.TheLawofPsychic Attraction.TheLawofPsychicRepulsion.AnimportantphaseofAstralPhenomena.TheLawworkstwoways.It drawsotherpersonsandthingstoyou;andyoutootherpersonsandthings.Howthemenof"bigbusiness" operateunderthisLawofAttraction.Howschemingexploitersofthepublicactually"treatthepublic"bypsychic means.Thevariousformsofpsychicinfluenceemployedbypersonsofthiskind.TheLawofAttraction,andhow itworksoutinBusinessLife.Thescientificfactsbehindtheoutwardappearanceofthings.Instancesand examplesoftheworkingoutoftheselawsandprinciples.TheLawofPsychicAttractionisasconstantand invariableasthegreatLawofGravitation,orMagneticAttraction.TheCoRelationofThoughtsandThings.How wemaycreateourownenvironmentbyPsychicInfluence.Pg...118

LESSON20
PSYCHICANDMAGNETICHEALING ThePsychicPrinciplesunderlyingthemanyformsofpsychicormentalhealing.Manytheoriesonesetof principles.PsychicHealingasoldastherace.TheBasicPrinciplesofPsychicHealing.ThePhysiological Principlesinvolved.HowtheAstralBodyisusedinPsychicHealing.HumanMagnetism,andwhatitreallyis.All aboutPrana.TheLayingonofHandsinHealing;andwhatisbackofit.WhathappensinMagneticHealing.The SecretofAbsentHealing.SpacenobarrierinPsychicHealing.TheHumanAuraandPsychicHealing.The SecretofSuggestiveTherapeutics.Theeffectofthe"affirmations"ofthehealers.HowtheHealingCultsobtain goodresults.SelfHealingbyPsychicPower.AbsentHealingbyPsychicPower.Howto"treat"othersbyAbsent Treatment.ValuableInstructionsandPracticalMethodsofPsychicHealing.Thewholesubjectcondensed,and madeplain,sothatitmaybeappliedbyanypersonofaverageintelligence.Nofancifultheories;onlyplain, practicalfactsforactualapplication.Pg...124

INTRODUCTION
InpreparingthisseriesoflessonsforstudentsofWesternlands,Ihavebeencompelledtoproceedalonglines exactlyoppositetothosewhichIwouldhavechosenhadtheselessonsbeenforstudentsinIndia.Thisbecause ofthediametricallyoppositementalattitudesofthestudentsofthesetwoseverallands. ThestudentinIndiaexpectstheteachertostatepositivelytheprinciplesinvolved,andthemethodswhereby theseprinciplesmaybemanifested,togetherwithfrequentillustrations(generallyinthenatureoffablesor parables),servingtolinkthenewknowledgetosomealreadyknownthing.TheHindustudentneverexpectsor demandsanythinginthenatureof"proof"oftheteachersstatementsofprincipleormethod;infact,hewould regarditasaninsulttotheteachertoaskforthesame.Consequently,hedoesnotlookfor,orask,specific instancesorillustrationsinthenatureofscientificevidenceorproofoftheprinciplestaught.Hemayaskformore information,butsolelyforthepurposeofbringingoutsomepointwhichhehasnotgrasped;butheavoidsasa pestilenceanyquestionseemingtoindicateargument,doubtofwhatisbeingtaughthim,orofthenatureofa demandforprooforevidence. TheWesternstudent,ontheotherhand,isaccustomedtomaintainingtheskepticalattitudeofmind;the scientificattitudeofdoubtanddemandforproof,andtheteachersounderstandsit.Bothareaccustomedto illustrationsbringingouttheprinciplesinvolved,buttheseillustrationsmustnotbefancifulorfigurative.They mustbeactualcases,wellauthenticatedandvouchedforasevidence.Inshort,theWesternteacherisexpected toactually"prove"tohisstudentshisprinciplesandmethods,beforehemayexpectthemtobeaccepted.This, ofcourse,notfromanyrealdoubtorsuspicionoftheveracityorabilityoftheteacher,butmerelybecausethe Westernmindexpectstoquestion,andbequestioned,inthiswayintheprocessofteachingandlearning. Consequently,inthisseriesoflessons,IhavesoughttofollowtheWesternmethodratherthantheHindu.Sofar asispossible,Ihaveavoidedtheflatpositivestatementofprinciplesandmethods,andhavesoughttoprove eachstepoftheteaching.Ofcourse,Ihavebeencompelledtoassumetheexistenceofcertainfundamental principles,inordertoavoidlongandtechnicalmetaphysicalandphilosophicaldiscussions.Ihavealsohadto contentmyselfwiththepositiveflatassertionoftheexistenceoftheAstralPlane,AkashicRecords,Prana,etc., whicharefundamentalpostulatesofHinduphilosophyandoccultscience,astheseareestablishedsolelybythe experienceofthosewhoareabletofunctiononthehigherplanesthemselves.But,beyondthisIhavesoughtto provebydirectandpositiveevidence(adaptedtotheWesternmind)everystepofmyteachingandmethods. Inofferingthisscientificproof,Ihavepurposelyomitted(exceptinafewinstances)allmentionofoccultor psychicphenomenaoccurringinIndia,andhaveconfinedmyselftoinstancesoccurringinWesternlandsto Westernpersons.Moreover,IhaveavoidedquotingandcitingHinduauthorities,andhave,instead,quotedand citedfromauthoritieswellknownandrespectedinWesternlands,suchastheSocietyforPsychicalResearch, andtheprominentscientistsinterestedintheworkofthesaidsociety.InthiswayIhavesoughttofurnishthe Westernstudentwithexamples,cases,andillustrationsfamiliartohim,andeasilyreferredto.HadIcitedIndian cases,Imightbeaccusedofofferingproofthatcouldnotbeeasilyverified;andquotingpersonsunknowntomy readers.ThereisawealthofsuchcasesandillustrationinIndia,naturally,buttheseasarulearetraditionaland notavailableinprintedform;andthesewouldnotlikelybeverysatisfactorytotheWesternstudent. Imust,however,positivelyandfirmlystatethatwhilethesecasesandillustrations,thesequotationsand

citations,arepurelyWestern,theprinciplestheyillustrateandproveareamongtheoldestknowntoHinduoccult scienceandphilosophy.Infact,havingbeenacceptedasprovedtruthinIndia,forcenturiespast,thereisvery littledemandforfurtherproofthereofonthepartoftheHindus.IntheWesternworld,however,thesethingsare comparativelynew,andmustbeprovedandattestedaccordingly.So,asIhavesaid,Ihavecuttheclothofmy instructiontoconformwiththepatternfavoredfortheWesterngarmentofknowledge.Sofarastheillustrations andcases,thequotationsandcitationsareconcerned,thesearepurelyWesternandfamiliartothestudent.But, whenitcomestotheprinciplesthemselves,thisisanothermatter.Imustbepardonedforstatingthattheseare theoutgrowthofHinduthoughtandinvestigation,andthathewhowoulddiscovertheirrootsmustdigaroundthe treeoftheWisdomoftheEast,whichhasstoodthestormsandwindsofthousandsofyears.Butthebranches ofthismightytreearewidespreading,andthereisroomformanyWesternstudentstorestinitsshadeand shelter. IntheselessonsIhavereferredoccasionallytomytwolittlebooks,entitled"TheAstralWorld,"and"TheHuman Aura,"respectively.Tothosewhoareinterestedinthesesubjects,Irecommendtheselittlebooks;theyaresold atanominalprice,andcontainmuchthatwillbehelpfultothestudentofHinduOccultScience.Theyarenot required,however,tocompletetheunderstandingofthesubjectstreateduponintheselessons,andare mentionedandrecommendedmerelyassupplementaryreadingforthestudentwhowishestotakelittle"side excursions"awayfromthemaintripcoveredintheselessons. ItrustthatmystudentswillfindthepleasureandsatisfactioninstudyingtheselessonsthatIhaveinwriting them. SWAMIPANCHADASI

LESSON1
THEASTRALSENSES

Thestudentofoccultismusuallyisquitefamiliarwiththecrassindividualwhoassumesthecheapskeptical attitudetowardoccultmatters,whichattitudeheexpressesinhiswouldbe"smart"remarkthathe"believesonly inwhathissensesperceive."Heseemstothinkthathischeapwithasfinallydisposedofthematter,the implicationbeingthattheoccultistisacredulous,"easy"personwhobelievesintheexistenceofthingscontrary totheevidenceofthesenses. Whiletheopinionorviewsofpersonsofthisclassare,ofcourse,beneaththeseriousconcernofanytrue studentofoccultism,neverthelessthementalattitudeofsuchpersonsareworthyofourpassingconsideration, inasmuchasitservestogiveusanobjectlessonregardingthechildlikeattitudeoftheaveragesocalled "practical"personsregardingthematteroftheevidenceofthesenses. Thesesocalledpracticalpersonshavemuchtosayregardingtheirsenses.Theyarefondofspeakingof"the evidenceofmysenses."Theyalsohavemuchtosayaboutthepossessionof"goodsense"ontheirpart;of having"soundcommonsense";andoftentheymakethestrangeboastthattheyhave"horsesense,"seemingto considerthisagreatpossession.Alas,forthepretensionsofthisclassofpersons.Theyareusuallyfoundquite credulousregardingmattersbeyondtheireverydayfieldofworkandthought,andacceptwithoutquestionthe mostridiculousteachingsanddogmasreachingthemfromthevoiceofsomeclaimedauthority,whiletheysneer atsomeadvancedteachingwhichtheirmindsareincapableofcomprehending.Anythingwhichseemsunusual tothemisdeemed"flighty,"andlackinginappealtotheirmuchprized"horsesense." But,itisnotmyintentiontospendtimeindiscussingtheseinsignificanthalfpennyintellects.Ihavemerely alludedtotheminordertobringtoyourmindthefactthattomanypersonstheideaof"sense"andthatof "senses"isverycloselyallied.Theyconsiderallknowledgeandwisdomas"sense;"andallsuchsenseasbeing deriveddirectlyfromtheirordinaryfivesenses.Theyignorealmostcompletelytheintuitivephasesofthemind, andareunawareofmanyofthehigherprocessesofreasoning. Suchpersonsacceptasundoubtedanythingthattheirsensesreporttothem.Theyconsideritheresytoquestion areportofthesenses.Oneoftheirfavoriteremarksisthat"italmostmakesmedoubtmysenses."Theyfailto perceivethattheirsenses,atthebest,areveryimperfectinstruments,andthatthemindisconstantlyemployed incorrectingthemistakenreportoftheordinaryfivesenses. Nottospeakofthecommonphenomenonofcolorblindness,inwhichonecolorseemstobeanother,our sensesarefarfrombeingexact.Wemay,bysuggestion,bemadetoimaginethatwesmellortastecertain thingswhichdonotexist,andhypnoticsubjectsmaybecausedtoseethingsthathavenoexistencesaveinthe imaginationoftheperson.Thefamiliarexperimentofthepersoncrossinghisfirsttwofingers,andplacingthem onasmallobject,suchasapeaorthetopofaleadpencil,showsushow"mixed"thesenseoffeelingbecomes attimes.Themanyfamiliarinstancesofopticaldelusionsshowusthatevenoursharpeyesmaydeceiveus: Everyconjurerknowshoweasyitistodeceivetheeyebysuggestionandfalsemovements.

Perhapsthemostfamiliarexampleofmistakensensereportsisthatofthemovementoftheearth.Thesenses ofeverypersonreporttohimthattheearthisafixed,immovablebody,andthatthesun,moon,planets,and starsmovearoundtheeartheverytwentyfourhours.Itisonlywhenoneacceptsthereportsofthereasoning faculties,thatheknowsthattheearthnotonlywhirlsaroundonitsaxiseverytwentyfourhours,butthatitcircles aroundthesuneverythreehundredandsixtyfivedays;andthateventhesunitself,carryingwithittheearth andtheotherplanets,reallymovesalonginspace,movingtowardoraroundsomeunknownpointfardistant fromit.Ifthereisanyoneparticularreportofthesenseswhichwouldseemtobebeyonddoubtorquestion,it certainlywouldbethiselementarysensereportofthefixednessoftheearthbeneathourfeet,andthe movementsoftheheavenlybodiesaroundit.Yetweknowthatthisismerelyanillusion,andthatthefactsofthe casearetotallydifferent.Again,howfewpersonsreallyrealizethattheeyeperceivesthingsupsidedown,and thatthemindonlygraduallyacquiresthetrickofadjustingtheimpression? Iamnottryingtomakeanyofyoudoubtthereportofhisorherfivesenses.Thatwouldbemostfoolish,forallof usmustneedsdependuponthesefivesensesinoureverydayaffairs,andwouldsooncometogriefwereweto neglecttheirreports.Instead,Iamtryingtoacquaintyouwiththerealnatureofthesefivesenses,thatyoumay realizewhattheyarenot,aswellaswhattheyare;andalsothatyoumayrealizethatthereisnoabsurdityin believingthattherearemorechannelsofinformationopentotheego,orsouloftheperson,thanthesemuch usedfivesenses.Whenyouoncegetacorrectscientificconceptionoftherealnatureofthefiveordinary senses,youwillbeabletointelligentlygraspthenatureofthehigherpsychicfacultiesorsenses,andthusbe betterfittedtousethem.So,letustakeafewmomentstimeinordertogetthisfundamentalknowledgewell fixedinourminds. Whatarethefivesenses,anyway.Yourfirstanswerwillbe:"Feeling,seeing,hearing,tasting,smelling."Butthat ismerelyarecitalofthedifferentformsofsensing.Whatisa"sense,"whenyougetrightdowntoit?Well,you willfindthatthedictionarytellsusthatasenseisa"faculty,possessedbyanimals,ofperceivingexternalobjects bymeansofimpressionsmadeuponcertainorgansofthebody."Gettingrightdowntotherootsofthematter, wefindthatthefivesensesofmanarethechannelsthroughwhichhebecomesawareorconsciousof informationconcerningobjectsoutsideofhimself.But,thesesensesarenotthesenseorgansalone.Backofthe organsthereisapeculiararrangementofthenervoussystem,orbraincenters,whichtakeupthemessages receivedthroughtheorgans;andbackofthis,again,istheego,orsoul,ormind,which,atthelast,isthereal KNOWER.Theeyeismerelyacamera,theear,merelyareceiverofsoundwaves,thenose,merelyan arrangementofsensitivemucousmembrane,themouthandtongue,simplyacontaineroftastebuds.The nervoussystem,merelyasensitiveapparatusdesignedtotransmitmessagestothebrainandothercenters.All ofthesebeingbutpartofthephysicalmachinery,andliabletoimpairmentordestruction.Backofallthis apparatus,istherealKnowerwhomakesuseofit. Sciencetellsusthatofallthefivesenses,thatofTouchorFeelingwastheoriginal,orthefundamentalsense. Alltherestareheldtobebutmodificationsof,andspecializedformsof,thisoriginalsenseoffeeling.Iamtelling youthisnotmerelyinthewayofinterestingandinstructivescientificinformation,butalsobecausean understandingofthisfactwillenableyoutomoreclearlycomprehendthatwhichIshallhavetosaytoyouabout thehigherfacultiesorsenses. Manyoftheverylowlyandsimpleformsofanimallifehavethisonesenseonly,andthatbutpoorlydeveloped. Theelementarylifeform"feels"thetouchofitsfood,orofotherobjectswhichmaytouchit.Theplantsalso havesomethingakintothissense,whichinsomecases,likethatoftheSensitivePlant,forinstance,isquitewell

developed.Longbeforethesenseofsight,orthesensitivenesstolightappearedinanimallife,wefind evidencesoftaste,andsomethinglikerudimentaryhearingorsensitivenesstosounds.Smellgradually developedfromthesenseoftaste,withwhichevennowitiscloselyconnected.Insomeformsofloweranimal lifethesenseofsmellismuchmorehighlydevelopedthaninmankind.Hearingevolvedinduetimefromthe rudimentaryfeelingofvibrations.Sight,thehighestofthesenses,camelast,andwasanevolutionofthe elementarysensitivenesstolight. But,yousee,allthesesensesarebutmodificationsoftheoriginalsenseoffeelingortouch.Theeyerecordsthe touchorfeelingofthelightwaveswhichstrikeuponit.Theearrecordsthetouchorfeelingofthesoundwaves orvibrationsoftheair,whichreachit.Thetongueandotherseatsoftasterecordthechemicaltouchofthe particlesoffood,orothersubstances,comingincontactwiththetastebuds.Thenoserecordsthechemical touchofthegasesorfineparticlesofmaterialwhichtouchitsmucousmembrane.Thesensorynervesrecord thepresenceofouterobjectscomingincontactwiththenerveendsinvariouspartsoftheskinofthebody.You seethatallofthesesensesmerelyrecordthecontactor"touch"ofoutsideobjects. Butthesenseorgans,themselves,donotdotheknowingofthepresenceoftheobjects.Theyarebutpiecesof delicateapparatusservingtorecordortoreceiveprimaryimpressionsfromoutside.Wonderfulastheyare,they havetheircounterpartsintheworksofman,asforinstance:thecamera,orartificialeye;thephonograph,or, artificialear;thedelicatechemicalapparatus,orartificialtasterandsmeller;thetelegraph,orartificialnerves. Notonlythis,buttherearealwaystobefoundnervetelegraphwiresconveyingthemessagesoftheeye,theear, thenose,thetongue,tothebrain,thattellssomethinginthebrainofwhathasbeenfeltattheotherendofthe line.Severthenervesleadingtotheeye,andthoughtheeyewillcontinuetoregisterperfectly,stillnomessage willreachthebrain.Andrenderthebrainunconscious,andnomessagewillreachitfromthenervesconnecting witheye,ear,nose,tongue,orsurfaceofthebody.Thereismuchmoretothereceivingofsensemessagesthan youwouldthinkatfirst,yousee. Nowallthismeansthattheego,orsoul,ormind,ifyouprefertheterm,istherealKnowerwhobecomesaware oftheoutsideworldbymeansofthemessagesofthesenses.Cutofffromthesemessagesthemindwouldbe almostablank,sofarasoutsideobjectsareconcerned.Everyoneofthesensessocutoffwouldmeana diminishingorcuttingoffofapartoftheworldoftheego.And,likewise,eachnewsenseaddedtothelisttends towidenandincreasetheworldoftheego.Wedonotrealizethis,asarule.Instead,weareinthehabitof thinkingthattheworldconsistsofjustsomanythingsandfacts,andthatweknoweverypossibleoneofthem. Thisisthereasoningofachild.Thinkhowverymuchsmallerthantheworldoftheaveragepersonistheworld ofthepersonbornblind,orthepersonborndeaf!Likewise,thinkhowverymuchgreaterandwider,andmore wonderfulthisworldofourswouldseemwereeachofustofindourselvessuddenlyendowedwithanewsense! Howmuchmorewewouldperceive.Howmuchmorewewouldfeel.Howmuchmorewewouldknow.How muchmorewewouldhavetotalkabout.Why,wearereallyinaboutthesamepositionasthepoorgirl,born blind,whosaidthatshethoughtthatthecolorofscarletmustbesomethinglikethesoundofatrumpet.Poor thing,shecouldformnoconceptionofcolor,neverhavingseenarayoflight:Shecouldthinkandspeakonlyin thetermsoftouch,sound,tasteandsmell.Hadshealsobeendeaf,shewouldhavebeenrobbedofastill greatershareofherworld.Thinkoverthesethingsalittle. Suppose,onthecontrary,thatwehadanewsensewhichwouldenableustosensethewavesofelectricity.In thatcasewewouldbeableto"feel"whatwasgoingonatanotherplaceperhapsontheothersideoftheworld, ormaybe,ononeoftheotherplanets.Or,supposethatwehadanXRaysense,sothatwecouldthensee

throughastonewall,orinsidetheroomsofahouse.Ifourvisionwereimprovedbytheadditionofatelescopic adjustment,wecouldseewhatisgoingoninMars,andcouldsendandreceivecommunicationswiththose livingthere.Or,ifwithamicroscopicadjustment,wecouldseeallthesecretsofadropofwater(maybeitiswell thatwecannotdothis).Ontheotherhand,ifwehadawelldevelopedtelepathicsense,wewouldbeawareof thethoughtwavesofotherstosuchanextentthattherewouldbenosecretslefthiddentoanyone,andwouldn't thatalterlifeandhumanintercourseagreatdeal?Thesethingswouldreallybenomorewonderfulthanisthe evolutionofthesenseswehave.Wecandosomeofthesethingsbyapparatusdesignedbythebrainofman andmanreallyisbutanimitatorandadapterofNature.Perhaps,onsomeotherworldorplanettheremaybe beingshavingseven,nineorfifteensenses,insteadofthepoorlittlefiveknowntous.Whoknows! Butitisnotnecessarytoexercisetheimaginationinthedirectionofpicturingbeingsonotherplanetsendowed withmoresensesthanhavethepeopleofearth.While,astheoccultteachingspositivelystate,therearebeings onotherplanetswhosesensesareasmuchhigherthantheearthman'sasthelatter'sarehigherthanthoseof theoyster,stillwedonothavetogosofartofindinstancesofthepossessionofmuchhigherandmoreactive facultiesthanthoseemployedbytheordinaryman.Wehavebuttoconsiderthehigherpsychicalfacultiesof man,righthereandnow,inordertoseewhatnewworldsareopentohim.Whenyoureachascientific understandingofthesethings,youwillseethattherereallyisnothingatallsupernaturalaboutmuchofthegreat bodyofwonderfulexperiencesofmeninalltimeswhichthe"horsesense"mansneeringlydismissesas"queer" and"contrarytosense."Youwillseethattheseexperiencesarequiteasnaturalasarethoseinwhichthe ordinaryfivesensesareemployedthoughtheyaresuperphysical.Thereisthegreatestdifferencebetween supernaturalandsuperphysical,youmustrealize. Alloccultistsknowthatmanhasothersensesthantheordinaryfive,althoughbutfewmenhavedevelopedthem sufficientlywelltousethemeffectively.Thesesuperphysicalsensesareknowntotheoccultistsas"theastral senses."Theterm"Astral,"usedsofrequentlybyalloccultists,ancientandmodern,isderivedfromtheGreek word"astra,"meaning"star."Itisusedtoindicatethoseplanesofbeingimmediatelyabovethephysicalplane. Theastralsensesarereallythecounterpartsofthephysicalsensesofman,andareconnectedwiththeastral bodyofthepersonjustasthephysicalsensesareconnectedwiththephysicalbody.Theofficeoftheseastral sensesistoenablethepersontoreceiveimpressionsontheastralplane,justashisphysicalsensesenablehim toreceiveimpressionsonthephysicalplane.Onthephysicalplanethemindofmanreceivesonlythesense impressionsofthephysicalorgansofsense;butwhenthemindfunctionsandvibratesontheastralplane,it requiresastralsensesinordertoreceivetheimpressionsofthatplane,andthese,asweshallsee,arepresent. Eachoneofthephysicalsensesofmanhasitsastralcounterpart.Thusmanhas,inlatency,thepowerof seeing,feeling,tasting,smelling,andhearing,ontheastralplane,bymeansofhisfiveastralsenses.Morethan this,thebestoccultistsknowthatmanreallyhassevenphysicalsensesinsteadofbutfive,thoughthesetwo additionalsensesarenotunfoldedinthecaseoftheaverageperson(thoughoccultistswhohavereacheda certainstageareabletousethemeffectively).Eventhesetwoextraphysicalsenseshavetheircounterpartson theastralplane. Personswhohavedevelopedtheuseoftheirastralsensesareabletoreceivethesenseimpressionsofthe astralplanejustasclearlyastheyreceivethoseofthephysicalplanebymeansofthephysicalsenses.For instance,thepersonisthusabletoperceivethingsoccurringontheastralplane;toreadtheAkashicRecordsof thepast;toperceivethingsthatarehappeninginotherpartsoftheworld;toseepasthappeningsaswell;andin casesofpeculiardevelopment,tocatchglimpsesofthefuture,thoughthisisfarrarerthantheotherformsof

astralsight. Again,bymeansofclairaudience,thepersonmayhearthethingsoftheastralworld,pastaswellaspresent, andinrarecases,thefuture.Theexplanationisthesameineachcase:Merelythereceivingofvibrations ontheastralplaneinsteadofonthephysicalplane.Inthesameway,theastralsensesofsmelling,tasting,and feelingoperate.Butthoughwehaveoccasionalinstancesofastralfeeling,incertainphasesofpsychic phenomena,wehavepracticallynomanifestationofastralsmellingortasting,althoughtheastralsensesare therereadyforuse.Itisonlyininstancesoftravelingintheastralbodythatthelasttwomentionedastralsenses, viz.,smellandtaste,aremanifested. Thephenomenaoftelepathy,orthoughttransference,occursonboththephysicalandthementalplane.Onthe physicalplaneitismoreorlessspontaneousanderraticinmanifestation;whileontheastralplaneitisasclear, reliableandresponsivetodemandasisastralsight,etc.Theordinarypersonhasbutoccasionalflashesof astralsensing,andasaruleisnotabletoexperiencethephenomenonatwill.Thetrainedoccultist,onthe contrary,isabletoshiftfromonesetofsensestotheother,byasimpleactoreffortofwill,wheneverhemay wishtodoso.Advancedoccultistsareoftenabletofunctiononbothphysicalandastralplanesatthesametime, thoughtheydonotoftendesiretodoso.Tovisionastrally,thetrainedoccultistmerelyshiftshissensory mechanismfromphysicaltoastral,orviceversa,justasthetypewriteroperatorshiftsfromthesmalllettertype tothecapitals,bysimplytouchingtheshiftkeyofhismachine. Manypersonssupposethatitisnecessarytotravelontheastralplane,intheastralbody,inordertousethe astralsenses.Thisisamistake.Ininstancesofclairvoyance,astralvisioning,psychometry,etc.,theoccultist remainsinhisphysicalbody,andsensesthephenomenaoftheastralplanequitereadily,bymeansoftheastral senses,justasheisabletosensethephenomenaofthephysicalplanewhenheusesthephysicalorgans quitemoreeasily,infact,inmanyinstances.Itisnotevennecessaryfortheoccultisttoenterintothetrance condition,inthemajorityofcases. Travelintheastralbodyisquiteanotherphaseofoccultphenomena,andisfarmoredifficulttomanifest.The studentshouldneverattempttotravelintheastralbodyexceptundertheinstructionofsomecompetent instructor. InCrystalGazing,theoccultistmerelyemploysthecrystalinordertoconcentratehispower,andtobringtoa focushisastralvision.Thereisnosupernaturalvirtueinthecrystalitselfitismerelyameanstoanend;apiece ofusefulapparatustoaidintheproductionofcertainphenomena. InPsychometrysomeobjectisusedinordertobringtheoccultist"enrapport"withthepersonorthing associatedwithit.Butitistheastralsenseswhichareemployedindescribingeitherthepastenvironmentofthe thing,orelsethepresentorpastdoingsofthepersoninquestion,etc.Inshort,theobjectismerelytheloose endofthepsychicballoftwinewhichthepsychometristproceedstowindorunwindatwill.Psychometryis merelyoneformofastralseeing;justasiscrystalgazing. InwhatisknownasTelekinesis,ormovementatadistance,thereisfoundtheemploymentofbothastral sensing,andastralwillactionaccompaniedinmanycasesbyactualprojectionofaportionofthesubstanceof theastralbody.InthecaseofClairvoyance,wehaveaninstanceofthesimplestformofastralseeing,without thenecessityofthe"associatedobject"ofpsychometry,orthefocalpointofthecrystalincrystalgazing.

Thisistruenotonlyoftheordinaryformofclairvoyance,inwhichtheoccultistseesastrallythehappeningsand doingsatsomedistantpoint,atthemomentofobservation;itisalsotrueofwhatisknownaspastclairvoyance, orastralseeingofpastevents;andintheseeingoffutureevents,asinpropheticvision,etc.Theseareallsimply differentformsofoneandthesamething. Surely,someofyoumaysay,"Thesethingsaresupernatural,farabovetherealmofnaturallaw,andyetthis manwouldhaveusbelieveotherwise."Softly,softly,dearreader,donotjumpatconclusionssoreadily.What doyouknowaboutthelimitsofnaturallawandphenomena?Whatrighthaveyoutoassertthatallbeyondyour customaryrangeofsenseexperienceisoutsideofNature?Doyounotrealizethatyouareattemptingtoplacea limituponNature,whichinrealityisillimitable? Themanofagenerationbackofthepresentonewouldhavebeenequallyjustifiedinassertingthatthemarvels ofwirelesstelegraphyweresupernatural,hadhebeentoldofthepossibilityoftheirmanifestation.Goingbacka littlefurther,thefatherofthatmanwouldhavesaidthesamethingregardingthetelephone,hadanyonebeenso boldastohaveprophesiedit.Goingbackstillanothergeneration,imaginetheopinionofsomeoftheoldmenof thattimeregardingthetelegraph.Andyetthesethingsaresimplythediscoveryandapplicationofcertainof Nature'swonderfulpowersandforces. IsitanymoreunreasonabletosupposethatNaturehasstillamineofundiscoveredtreasureinthemindand constitutionofman,aswellasininorganicnature?No,friends,thesethingsareasnaturalasthephysical senses,andnotawhitmoreofamiracle.Itisonlythatweareaccustomedtoone,andnottotheother,that makestheastralsensesseemmorewonderfulthanthephysical.Nature'sworkingsareallwonderful;nonemore sothantheother.Allarebeyondourabsoluteconception,whenwegetdowntotheirrealessence.Soletus keepanopenmind!

LESSON2
TELEPATHYvs.CLAIRVOYANCE
InthisworkIshallusetheterm"clairvoyance"initsbroadsenseof"astralperception,"asdistinguishedfrom perceptionbymeansofthephysicalsenses.Asweproceed,youwillseethegeneralandspecialmeaningsof theterm,sothereisnonecessityforaspecialdefinitionorillustrationofthetermatthistime. By"telepathy,"Imeanthesendingandreceivingofthoughtmessages,andmentalandemotionalstates, consciouslyorunconsciously,bymeansofwhatmaybecalled"thesixthsense"ofthephysicalplane.Thereis, ofcourse,aformofthoughttransferenceontheastralplane,butthisIincludeunderthegeneraltermof clairvoyance,forreasonswhichwillbeexplainedlateron. YouwillrememberthatintheprecedingchapterItoldyouthatinadditiontothefiveordinaryphysicalsensesof mantherewerealsotwootherphysicalsensescomparativelyundevelopedintheaverageperson.Thesetwo extraphysicalsensesare,respectively:(1)thesenseofthepresenceofotherlivingthings;and(2)thetelepathic sense.AsIalsotoldyou,thesetwoextraphysicalsenseshavetheirastralcounterparts.Theyalsohavecertain physicalorganswhicharenotgenerallyrecognizedbyphysiologistsorpsychologists,butwhicharewellknown toalloccultists.Ishallnowconsiderthefirstofthetwoabovementionedextraphysicalsenses,inordertoclear thewayforourconsiderationofthequestionofthedistinctionbetweenordinarytelepathyandthatformof clairvoyancewhichisitsastralcounterpart. Thereisineveryhumanbeingasensewhichisnotgenerallyrecognizedassuch,althoughnearlyeveryperson hashadmoreorlessexperienceregardingitsworkings.Irefertothesenseofthepresenceofotherliving things,separateandapartfromtheoperationofanyofthefiveordinaryphysicalsenses.Iaskyoutounderstand thatIamnotclaimingthatthisisahighersensethantheotherphysicalsenses,orthatithascometomanina highstateofevolution.Onthecontrary,thissensecametolivingthingsfarbackinthescaleofevolution.Itis possessedbythehigherformsoftheloweranimals,suchasthehorse,dog,andthemajorityofthewildbeasts. Savageandbarbaricmenhaveitmorehighlydevelopedthanitisinthecaseofthecivilizedman.Infact,this physicalsensemaybetermedalmostvestigialincivilizedman,becausehehasnotactivelyuseditformany generations.Forthatmatter,thephysicalsenseofsmellisalsodeficientinman,andforthesamereason, whereasinthecaseoftheloweranimals,andsavageman,thesenseofsmellisverykeen.Imentionthisfor fearofmisunderstanding.Inmylittlebook,"TheAstralWorld,"Ihavesaid:"Alloccultistsknowthatmanreally hassevensenses,insteadofmerelyfive,thoughtheadditionaltwosensesarenotsufficientlydevelopedforuse intheaverageperson(thoughtheoccultistgenerallyunfoldsthemintouse)."Somehavetakenthistomeanthat theoccultistdevelopsthesetwoextraphysicalsenses,justashedoescertainhigherpsychicorastralfaculties. Butthisiswrong.Theoccultist,insuchcase,merelyreawakensthesetwosenseswhichhavebeenalmostlost totherace.Byuseandexercisehethendevelopsthemtoawonderfulproficiency,foruseonthephysicalplane. Now,thissenseofthepresenceofotherlivingbeingsisverywelldevelopedintheloweranimals,particularlyin thosewhosesafetydependsupontheknowledgeofthepresenceoftheirnaturalenemies.Asmightbe expected,thewildanimalshaveitmorehighlydevelopedthandothedomesticatedanimals.Butevenamongthe latter,wefindinstancesofthissensebeinginactiveuse,suchasinthecaseofdogs,horses,geese,etc.,

especially.Whoofusisnotfamiliarwiththestrangeactionsofthedog,orthehorse,whentheanimalsenses theunseenandunheardpresenceofsomepersonoranimal?Veryoftenwewouldscoldorpunishtheanimal foritspeculiaractions,simplybecausewearenotabletoseewhatisworryingit.Howoftendoesthedogstart suddenly,andbristleupitshair,whennothingisinsight,orwithinhearingdistance.Howoftendoesthehorse grow"skittish,"orevenpanicky,whenthereisnothingwithinsightorhearing.Domesticfowls,especiallygeese, manifestanuneasinessatthepresenceofstrangepersonsoranimals,thoughtheymaynotbeabletoseeor hearthem.Itisamatterofhistorythatthissense,inaflockofgeese,oncesavedancientRomefromanattack oftheenemy.Thenightwasdarkandstormy,andthetrainedeyesightandkeenhearingoftheRomanoutposts failedtorevealtheapproachoftheenemy.But,thekeensenseofthegeesefeltthepresenceofstrangemen, andtheystartedtocackleloudly,arousedtheguard,andRomewassaved.Skepticalpersonshavesoughtto explainthishistoricalcasebythetheorythatthegeeseheardtheapproachingenemy.Butthisexplanationwill notserve,fortheRomansoldiersweremarchingaboutontheirpostsandguardduty,andthegeeseremained silentuntiltheysensedtheapproachofthesmallnumberoftheenemy'sscouts,whentheyburstintowildcries. TheancientRomans,themselves,wereundernoillusionaboutthematter,recognizedtheexistenceofsome unusualpowerinthegeese,andtheygavetheanimalsthefullcredittherefor. Huntersinwildandstrangelandshavetoldusthatoftenwhentheywerelyingconcealedforthepurposeof shootingthewildanimalswhentheycamewithinrange,theyhavewitnessedinstancesoftheexistenceofthis strangefacultyinthewildbeasts.Thoughtheycouldnotseetheconcealedhunters,norsmellthem(asthewind wasintheotherdirection)allofasuddenoneormoreoftheanimals(generallyanoldfemale)wouldstart suddenly,andashiverwouldbeseentopassoveritsbody;thenitwouldutteralowwarningnote,andaway wouldflythepack.Nearlyeveryhunterhashadtheexperienceofwatchinghisexpectedgame,whenallofa suddenitwouldstartoffwithanervousjerk,andwithoutwaitingtosnifftheair,asisusual,wouldbolt precipitatelyfromthescene.Moreover,manybeastsofpreyareknowntosensethepresenceoftheirnatural prey,evenwhenthewindisintheotherdirection,andthereisnosoundormovementmadebythecrouching, fearstrickenanimal.Certainbirdsseemtosensethepresenceofparticularwormsuponwhichtheyfeed,though thelatterbeburiedseveralinchesintheearth,orinthebarkoftrees. Savagemanalsohasthisfacultydeveloped,asalltravelersandexplorerswellknow.Theyareaskeenasawild animaltosensethenearnessofenemies,or,insomecases,theapproachofmaneatingbeasts.Thisdoesnot meanthatthatthesesavagesaremorehighlydevelopedthaniscivilizedman:Quitethereverse.Thisisthe explanation:whenmanbecamemorecivilized,andmadehimselfmoresecurefromhiswildbeastenemies,as wellasfromthesuddenattacksofhishumanenemies,hebegantousethissenselessandless.Finally,inthe courseofmanygenerations,itbecamealmostatrophiedfromdisuse,andceasedreportingtothebrain,orother nervecenters.Or,ifyoupreferviewingitfromanotherangle,itmaybesaidthatthenervecenters,andbrain, begantopaylessandlessattentiontothereportsofthissense(trustingmoretosightandhearing)untilthe consciousnessfailedtoawakentothereports.Youknowhowyourconsciousnesswillfinallyrefusetobe awakenedbyfamiliarsounds(suchasthenoiseofmachineryintheshop,orordinarynoisesinthehouse), althoughtheearsreceivethesoundwaves. Well,thisisthewayinthecaseofthisneglectedsense.Forthetworeasonsjustmentioned,theaverageperson isalmostunawareofitsexistence.AlmostunawareIhavesaid;nottotallyunaware.Forprobablyeveryoneofus hashadexperiencesinwhichwehaveactually"felt"thepresenceofsomestrangepersonaboutthepremises, orplace.Theeffectofthereportofthissenseisparticularlynoticedintheregionofthesolarplexus,orthepitof thestomach.Itmanifestsinapeculiar,unpleasantfeelingof"goneness"inthatregion;itproducesafeelingof

"somethingwrong,"whichdisturbsoneinastrangeway.Thisisgenerallyaccompaniedbya"bristlingup,"or "creepy"feelingalongthespine.Theorgansregisteringthepresenceofastrangeoraliencreatureconsistof certaindelicatenervesofthesurfaceoftheskin,generallyconnectedwiththerootsofthedownyhairofthe body,orrestingwherethehairrootswouldnaturallybe,inthecaseofahairlessskin.Theseseemtoreport directlytothesolarplexus,whichthenactsquicklybyreflexactionontheotherpartsofthebody,causingan instinctivefeelingtoeitherflythesceneorelsetocrouchandhideoneself.Thisfeeling,asmaybeseenatonce, isaninheritancefromoursavageancestors,orperhapsfromourlowlyanimalancestralroots.Itisamost unpleasantfeeling,andtheraceescapesmuchdiscomfortbyreasonofitscomparativeabsence. Ihavesaidthatoccultistshavedeveloped,orratherredevelopedthissense.Theydothisinordertohavea harmoniouswelldevelopedsevenfoldsensesystem.Itincreasestheirgeneral"awareness."Certainother knowledgeoftheoccultistneutralizestheunpleasantfeaturesofthemanifestationofthissense,andhefindsit oftenaveryvaluableadjuncttohissensesofseeingandhearing,particularlyinthecasesinwhichheis approachedbypersonshavingantagonisticorhostilefeelingstowardhim,asinsuchcasesthisfacultyis particularlyactive.Inconnectionwiththetelepathicsense(tobedescribedalittlefurtheron)thissenseoperates togiveapersonthatsenseofwarningwhenapproachedbyanotherpersonwhosefeelingsarenotfriendlyto him,nomatterhowfriendlytheoutwardappearanceofthatpersonmaybe.Thesetwoextrasensescooperate togiveapersonthatinstinctivefeelingofwarning,whichallofusknowinourownexperience. Thisparticular,aswellasthetelepathicsense,maybecultivatedordevelopedbyanyonewhowishestotakethe timeandtroubletoaccomplishthework.Theprincipleissimple:Merelythesameprinciplethatoneusesin developinganyoftheotherphysicalattributes,namely,useandexercise.Thefirststep(a)istherecognitionof theexistenceofthesenseitself;then(b)theattentiongiventoitsreports;thenfrequentuseandexercise.Just thinkofhowyouwouldproceedtodevelopanyofthefiveordinarysensesthehearing,sight,ortouch,for instancethenfollowthesameprocessinthecultivationofthisextrasense,ortwosenses,andyouwill accomplishthesamekindofresults. Now,letusconsidertheotherextraphysicalsense:The"telepathic"sense,orsenseofbecomingawareofthe thoughtwaves,oremotionalwaves,ofotherpersons.Now,asstrangeasthismayappeartosomepersonsthe mostofpersonsinfactthistelepathicfacultyisnota"higher"facultyorsense,butisreallyacomparativelylow one.Justlikethesensejustdescribed,itispossessedinahigherdegreebymanyoftheloweranimals,andby primitiveandsavageman.Thatwhichreallyis"higher"inthiskindofpsychicphenomenaisthemanifestationof thathigherformoftelepathybytheuseoftheastralcounterpartofthissensewhichweshallconsider,later, underthenameofclairvoyance,forthisisreallyaparticularphaseofclairvoyance. Asstrangeasitmayappeartosomeofyou,theloweranimalspossessakindoftelepathicsense.Ananimalis usuallyawareofyourfeelingstowardit,andyourpurposesregardingit.Domesticanimalslosesomeofthisby generationsofconfinement,whilethewildanimalshavethesensehighlydeveloped.Butevensomeofthe domesticanimalshavemoreorlessofit.Youwillreadilyrecognizethisfactifyouhaveevertriedto"cutout"a certainanimalfromaherdorflock.Youwillfindthattheanimalinsomewayhassensedyourdesignsuponit,no matterhowindirectlyyouapproachit,anditwillbegincirclingaroundtheotheranimals,twistinginandoutinits endeavorstobelosttoyoursight.Theotheranimals,likewise,willseemtoknowthatyouareafteronlythat particularone,andwillmanifestbutlittlefrightordistrust,comparatively. Ihavefrequentlyseenthisthing,inmyowncountryandinothers,amongpoultryraisers.Thepoultrymanwill

think,tohimself,"Now,Iamgoingtogetthatblackhenwiththeyellowlegs:Thatfat,clumsyone,"andhewill movetowardtheflockslowlyandwithanairofunconcern.But,lo!assoonashegetsnearthecreatures,that blackhenwillbeseenedgingherwaytotheoutercircleoftheflock,ontheoppositesidefromtheman.When themanmovesaroundtoherside,shewillbefoundtohaveplungedintothecrowd,anditishardtofindher. Sometimesshewillactuallytrytosneakoff,andconcealherselfinsomedarkcorner,orbackofsomelarge object.Everypoultrymanwillsmilewhenthisoccurrenceismentionedtohim:Heknowsbyexperiencethathens haveawayofsensingwhathehasinhismindregardingthem. Moreover,aseveryfarmerknows,thecrowfamilyhasamostuncannywayofsensingtheintentionsofthe farmerwhoistryingtodestroythem,andshowsgreatsagacityindefeatingthoseintentions.But,whilethecrow isaveryintelligentbird,oneofthewisestofthebirdfamilyinfact,itobtainsitsknowledgeofwhatisinthemind ofthemannotalonefrom"figuringonhisintentions,"butratherfromthatinstinctivesensingofhismentalstates. Thehen,asallknow,isaverystupidbird,showingbutlittleintelligentactivity.But,nevertheless,sheisvery quickaboutsensingthepoultryman'sdesignsonher,thoughgenerallyverystupidaboutplanningoutaskillful escape. Everyownerofdogs,catsandhorses,hashadmanyopportunitiesforobservingthemanifestationofthissense onthepartofthoseanimals.Everydogfeelstheemotionalstatesofhisowner,andothers.Thehorseknows whenhisownerseekstothrowthehalteroverhisneck,orwhen,onthecontrary,heismerelywalkingthrough thefield.Catssensetheirowners'feelingsandthoughts,andoftenresentthem.Ofcourse,theloweranimals cansensemerelyelementarymentalstates,andgenerallyonlyemotionalstates,astheirmindsarenot developedsoastointerpretthemorecomplexmentalstates.Primitivemenlikewisealmostinstinctivelysense thefeelingsanddesignsofothermen.Theydonotreasonthethingout,butrathermerely"feel"theideasand designsoftheothers.Thewomenofthelowerracesaremoreadeptininterpretingthesesensereportsthanare themen.Womenaremoresensitive,asarule,thanaremen:Onanypointonthescaleofdevelopment. Whenwecometoconsiderordinarytelepathyinthecaseofmenofcivilizedcountries,wefindamorecomplex stateofaffairs.Whilecivilizedman,asawhole,haslostsomeofthequicktelepathicperceptionofthelower races,hehas,insomeexceptionalcases,acquiredafacultyofreceivingandinterpretingmorecomplex thoughtformsandmentalstates.TheinvestigationsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,andthoseofprivate investigatorsaswell,haveshownusthatapictureofacomplicatedgeometricaldesignheldinthemindofone personmaybecarriedtoandreceivedbythemindofanotherperson,whoreproducesthedesignonpaper.In thesameway,complicatedthoughtshavebeentransmittedandreceived.Buttheseareonlyexceptionalcases. Inmanycasesthissenseseemsalmostdeadintheordinarycivilizedindividual,exceptwhenarousedin exceptionalcases. But,nevertheless,themajorityofpersonshaveoccasionalflashesoftelepathy;justenoughtomakethem realizethat"thereissomethinginit."Therenewedinterestinthesubject,oflateyears,hasdirectedthepublic mindtothephenomenaoftelepathy,and,consequently,morepersonsarenowtakingnoteofthecasesof thoughttransferencecomingundertheirpersonalnotice.Itmustberemembered,ofcourse,thatallofusare constantlyreceivingthoughtwaves,andfeelingthoughtinfluence,unconsciously.Iamspeakingnowonlyofthe consciousperceptionofthethoughtwaves. Manyinvestigatorshavesodevelopedtheirtelepathicsensethattheyareable,attimes,toobtainwonderfultest results.But,ithasbeenasourceofdisappointmenttomanyofthemtodiscoverthatatothertimes,under

apparentlysimilarconditions,theirsuccesswasveryslight.Sotrueisthisthatmanyauthoritieshaveaccepted thetheorythattelepathyismoreorlessspontaneous,andcannotbeproducedtoorder.Thistheoryistrueasfar asitgoes,butthereisasideofthecasethattheseinvestigatorsoverlook,probablybecauseoftheirlackofthe occultprinciplesinvolvedinthephenomena.Imeanthis:thattheirmostbrilliantsuccesseshavebeenobtained byreasonoftheirunconscious"switchingon"oftheastraltelepathicsense,theclairvoyantsense.Whileinthis condition,theyobtainedstartlingresults;butthenexttimetheytried,theyfailedtoawakentheastralsense,and, therefore,hadtodependentirelyuponthephysicaltelepathicsense,and,consequently,theirresultswere comparativelypoor. Youwillunderstandthedifferenceanddistinctionbetweenphysicalsensetelepathy,andastralsensetelepathy, ifyouwillcarefullyconsiderthenatureofeach,asIshallnowpresentittoyou.Iaskyourcloseattentiontowhat Ishallhavetosayonthissubjectintheremainingpagesofthischapter.Donotpassovertheseexplanationsas "dry,"forunlessyouhaveaclearfundamentalunderstandingofthething,youwillneverbeabletogetthebest results.Thisistrueofeveryphaseoflearning,physicalaswellaspsychical:Onemustgetstartedright,inorder toobtainthebestresults. Inthefirstplace,everythoughtprocess,everyemotionalactivity,everycreationofideas,isaccompaniedbya manifestationofforce:Infact,itistheresultofthemanifestationofaforce.Withoutenteringatallintothe questionofwhatmindis,initself,wemayrestfirmlyonthenaturalfactthateverymanifestationofmentalor emotionalactivityistheresultofanactionofthebrainornervoussystem,manifestinginaformofvibrations. Justasinthecaseofthemanifestationofelectricityinwhichcertainchemicalelementsareconsumed,or transformed,sointhecaseofmentaloremotionalactivitythereisaconsumingortransformationofthe substanceofwhichthenervoussystemiscomposed.WhenIsay"nervoussystem"inthisconnection,Iinclude thebrain,orbrainsofman,forthesearebutapartofhisgreatnervoussysteminwhichallemotionalormental activityismanifested. Moreover,justasthereisnorealdestructionofmatterinanyofNature'sprocesses,allseemingdestruction beingbutatransformation,sointhecasebeforeusthereisatransformationoftheenergyreleasedinthe thoughtoremotionalprocess.Wemaygraspthisideamoreclearlyifweconsiderwhattakesplaceinto transformationofelectricalenergy.Forinstance,transmitastrongcurrentofelectricityoverafinewire,or filamentofcarbon,andlo!thecurrentistransformedintolight.Useanotherkindofchanneloftransmission,and thecurrentistransformedintoheat.Everyelectriclight,orelectricheatingapparatusisproofofthis.Inthesame way,theelectriccurrentissentintospaceintheformofwirelesswaves.Thesewavescomingincontactwith certainformsofapparatusaretransformedintoformsofforcewhichareregisteredandinterpretedbythe wirelessoperator. Inthesameway,thetelepathicwavesofenergyaresentforthbytheactivityreleasedbythethoughtoremotion state.Thesewavestravelineverydirection,andwhentheycomeincontactwithphysicalapparatussufficiently sensitivetoregisterthem,theymaybereproducedorretransformedintothoughtormentalstatessimilarto thosewhichoriginallysentthemforth.Youtalkintothereceiverofthetelephone,andthesoundwavesare transformedintowavesofelectricity.Theseelectricwavestraveloverthewires,andonreachingtheotherendof thetelephonecircuitareagaintransformedintosoundwaveswhichareheardbytheearofthelistener.Well, then,whenyourbrainsendsoutthoughtwaves,thesetraveluntiltheyarereceivedbytheapparatusinthebrain ofanotherperson,whentheyareretransformedintothoughtsofthesamekindthatoriginallycausedthe thoughtwaves.Iwillhavemuchmoretosayonthissubjectinthenextchapter.Iwillpauseheretopointout

thedifferencebetweenthephenomenaofthisformoftelepathy,andthehigherformwhichisreallyaphaseof clairvoyance. Now,inthecaseofwhatmaybecalledaclairvoyanttelepathy,orastraltelepathy,theordinarythoughtwaves playbutasmallpart.Insteadofthese,thereisatransmissionofforcealongthechannelsoftheastralplane.Itis almostimpossibletodescribethephenomenaoftheastralplaneinthetermsofthephysical.Imayillustratethe matter,inageneralway,bysayingthatissomethinglikeyourastralselfactuallyextendingitselfoutuntilit touchestheastralselfoftheotherperson,andthusactually"feels"theastralactivitiesthere,insteadofitbeing acaseofsomethinglikewavestravelingalongspacebetweenbrainandbrain.Doyougetthisclearly?Thisis aboutasneartoitasIcanexplainittoyouatthisplace.Telepathyissimplyamatterofthetransmissionand receivingofwavesofvibratoryforcewhichhavetraveledalongtheaetherbetweentwopersons.But clairvoyanceorastraltelepathyissomethinglikeyourmindbeingextendedoutuntilitactuallytouchesthemind oftheotherpersonandseeswhatisthere. Ishallhavemuchtosayregardingtheworkingoutoftheprocessesofclairvoyance,asweproceed.Ihave merelygiventheaboveexplanationforthepurposeofdistinguishingbetweenordinarytelepathyand clairvoyance,soastopreventyoufromfallingintoacommonerror.Nowletusconsiderthephenomenaof ordinarytelepathy:Thisisverywonderfulinitself,althoughitisonalowerplaneofactivitythanitsastralor clairvoyantcounterpart.

LESSON3
TELEPATHYEXPLAINED
Telepathy,meaningThoughtTransference,bearsamisleadingtitle.Literallytranslated,itmeans"sufferingata distance,"or,perhaps,"feelingpainatadistance."Thenameshouldreallyindicate"knowingatadistance,"in ordertobeproperlydescriptive.Butasthetermhasacquiredaforcedmeaningbyreasonofyearsofusage,it willprobablybecontinuedinpopularfavor.Afterall,namesdonotcount,solongasthemeaningisaccepted andunderstood. Whilethetermitselfhasbeengenerallyusedinthesenseofconsciousanddeliberatesendingandreceivingof thoughtwaves,thereisafarwiderfieldofphenomenareallycoveredbyit,viz.,theunconscioussendingand receivingofmentalandemotionalvibrations.Ishalltakeupthisphaseofthesubjectinamoment,afterIhave calledyourattentiontothemechanismwherebythewavesofthoughtandemotionaretransmitted. Inthelastchapter,youwillrememberthatIcalledyourattentiontothefactthatthereisamanifestationofenergy orforce(intheformofvibrations)ineverymentaloremotionalstate.Thisistruenotonlyinthecaseofdeep thoughtorvividfeeling,butalsointhecaseofgeneralmental"feelings,"andemotionalstates.Duringsuch manifestationsthereisaradiationofmentaloremotionalvibrationsfromthebrainornervouscentersofthe system,whichflowsoutinalldirectionsjustasdolightandwirelesselectricity.Theprincipalseatsorcentersof theseradiationsare(1)theseveralbrainsofman,viz.,thecerebrum,cerebellum,andthemedullaoblongata, respectfully;and(2)theseveralgreatcentersofnervesubstanceinthehumansystem,calledtheplexi,suchas thesolarplexus,etc. Thevibrationsarisingfromemotionalexcitementaresentoutprincipallyfromtheplexi,orgreatcentersofthe sympatheticnervoussystem.Thosearisingfromthemorestrictlymentalstatesemanatefromcertaincenters andpointsofthebrain,orbrains,ofthepersonmanifestingthem.Certainformsofthesevibrationsconstitutethe realessenceofwhatisgenerallycalled"humanmagnetism,"whichwillbetreateduponintheproperplacein theselessons. Idonotthinkitadvisabletogointothetechnicaldetailsofthegenerationandmechanismoftransmissionof thesethoughtandemotionalvibrations,intheselessons.Tounderstandthesamewouldrequireatechnical knowledgeofphysiologyandorganicchemistry,whichisnotpossessedbytheaverageperson.Moreover,such detailsareneitherinterestingnorinstructivetothegeneralstudentofoccultism.But,Ithinkitpropertogiveat leastabriefdescriptionofthereceivingofsuchvibratorywavesbyotherindividuals. Inthefirstplace,everygreatplexus,orgroupsofnerveganglia,inthehumansystemisareceivingstation,as wellasasendingstation.Apersonmanifestingstrongemotionalexcitementtendstoawakensimilarstatesinthe nervouscentersofotherpersonsinwhomtheconditionsarefavorable.Thisexplainswhythevibrationsof anger,fear,panic,aresocontagious.Italsoexplainsthestrongeffectofthevibrationsemanatingfromthenerve centerscontrollingthereproductivesystem,incertaincasesofstrongsexualexcitation.Eachhuman sympatheticnervoussystemcontainsmanyreceivingstationswhereemotionalvibrationsarereceived,and wheretheytendtobetransformedintosimilarfeelinginthereceivingsystem,unlessneutralizedbyothermental

andemotionalstatesintheperson. Whenwecometoconsidertheapparatusbywhichisreceivedthevibrationsarisingfromwhatmaybecalled "purelymental"operationsofthebrain,suchasintellectualthought,constructiveimagination,etc.,wefinda morespecializedarrangement,asmightbeexpected.Thereareseveralminorreceivingpointsofmental vibrations,regardingwhichIdonotconsideritworthwhiletogointodetail,becauseofthetechnicalfeatures involved.Theprincipalapparatusforreceivingthoughtvibrationsofthiskindisthatwhichisknownasthe"pineal gland,"whichIshallnowdescribe. Thepinealglandisapeculiarmassofnervoussubstancewhichisembeddedinthehumanbrain,inaposition nearthemiddleoftheskullalmostdirectlyabovetheextremetopofthespinalcolumn.Itisshapedlikeasmall cone;andisofareddishgraycolor.Itliesinfrontofthecerebellum,andisattachedtothefloorofthethird ventricleofthebrain.Itcontainsasmallquantityofpeculiarparticlesofgritty,sandlikesubstance,whichare sometimescalled"brainsand."Itderivesitsscientificnamefromitsshape,which,asIhavesaid,resemblesa pinecone.Physiologistsareatsearegardingthefunctionofthisstrangeorgan,andgenerallycontent themselveswiththestatementthat"itsfunctionsarenotunderstood."Butoccultistsknowthatthepinealgland, withitspeculiararrangementofnervecellcorpuscles,anditstinygrainsof"brainsand,"isthephysical telepathicreceivinginstrument.Studentsofwirelesstelegraphyhavenoticedastartlingresemblancebetween thepinealglandandapartofthereceivinginstrumentemployedinwirelesstelegraphy. Thethoughtvibrationscomingincontactwiththenervoussystemofthereceivingperson,setupapeculiar vibrationinthesubstanceofthepinealglandandthusthefirststepinthetransformationofthesevibrationsinto thoughtformsinthemindofthepersonisunderway.Theremainderoftheprocessistootechnical,bothinthe physiologicalaswellasintheoccultsense,tobetakenupindetailatthisplace.Thestudentwilldowelltoget theideaoftheworkingsofwirelesstelegraphywellfixedinhismind,forthiswillsetuptherightconceptionofthe workingofordinarytelepathy,withoutthenecessityofcomplicatedtechnicaldiagramsanddescriptions. And,nowthen,letusseewhatresultsfromthesendingforthandreceivingofthesementalandemotionalwaves offorceandenergy.Itisamostinterestingsubject,Iassureyou.Whilethephenomenaoftheastralplaneis probablymorefascinatingtotheaveragestudent,Iwouldimpressuponyoutheimportanceofmasteringthe occultphenomenaofthephysicalplane,beforepassingontothatofthehigherplanes. Inthefirstplace,asalloccultistsknow,eachpersonisconstantlysurroundedwithwhathasbeencalledan "atmosphere"composedofmentalandemotionalvibrationswhichareemanatedfromhispersonality.The atmosphereofeachpersondependsuponthegeneralcharacterofthethoughtsandfeelingsofthepersonin question.Consequently,asnotwopersonsarepreciselyalikeincharacter,itfollowsthatnotwopersonal atmospheresareexactlyalike.Eachpersonhasapsychicatmosphereofhisorherown.Theseatmospheric vibrationsdonotextendveryfarfromthepresenceoftheperson,and,consequentlyaffectonlythosecoming neartohim. Inthesameway,everygrouporcrowdofpersonshasitsownpsychicatmosphere,composedofablendingof theindividualpsychicatmospheresofthepersonscomposingthecrowd,grouporassemblage,andrepresenting thegeneralaverageofthethoughtandfeelingsofthecrowd.Therearenotwogroupatmospheresexactlyalike, forthereasonthatnotwogroupsofpersons,largeorsmall,areexactlyalike.Actorsknowthateachaudience whichtheyfacehasitsownpsychicatmosphere,andtheactorsareaffectedbyit.Preachers,lawyers,and

speakersingeneralarequiteawareofthisfact,andfreelyadmitit,thoughtheymaynotbeacquaintedwiththe causesorlawsgoverningthephenomena. Followingthesamepsychiclaw,itwillbefoundthateverytownorlargecity,oreveneverysmallvillageor sectionofalargertown,willbefoundtohaveitsowndistinctivepsychicatmosphere,whichisveryperceptibleto strangersvisitingtheplace,andwhichaffectthosewhotakeuptheirresidenceintheplace.Inlargecities,ithas beennoticedthateverybuildinghasitsownpeculiarvibrationswhicharisefromthegeneralcharacterofthose occupyingit.Differentchurchbuildingslikewisereflectthecharacterofthegeneralhabitsofthoughtandfeeling ofthoseworshipinginthem.Likewise,certainbusinessstreetshavepleasantorunpleasantvibrationsintheir atmosphere,fromthesamecauses.Everypersonrecognizesthetruthofthesestatements,thoughbutfeware abletoaccountforthefactsinascientificmanner. Thebeginnerinthestudyofpsychicphenomenaoftenaskshowthesethingscanbe,whenthethoughtwhich hasoccasionedthevibrationshavelongsincepassedaway.Theexplanationissimple,whenproperlyexplained. Itissomethinglikethis:Justasheatremainsinaroomafterthestovehasceasedtothrowoutheatwaves,so dothevibrationsofthoughtandfeelingpersistlongafterthethoughtorfeelinghasdiedaway.Or,ifyouprefera morematerialillustration,wemaysaythatifapackageofperfumeryhasbeenopenedinaroom,andthen removed,theairwillremainchargedwiththeodorforalongtimeafterwards. So,yousee,thesameprincipleappliesinthecaseofpsychicvibrations.Thepersoncarriesaroundwithhimthe generalatmosphereofhischaracteristicmentalandemotionalvibrations.And,inthesameway,thehouse, store,church,street,town,orcity,etc.,ispermeatedwiththepsychicvibrationsofthosewhohavefrequented them.Nearlyeveryonerealizesthedifferentfeelingthatimpresseshimwhenheentersastrangehouse, apartment,storeorchurch.Eachonehasitsowndifferenceofpsychiceffect.And,sodoeseachpersoncreate hisorherpsychiceffectuponthosecomingincontactwithhimorher,orwhocomesintohisorherpresenceor vicinity. Thenextquestionaskedbythethoughtfulnewstudentisthis:Ifpersonsareconstantlysendingforthpsychic vibrations,andifsuchvibrationspersistforsometime,whyarewenotoverwhelmedwiththeforceofthem;and whyaretheynotallsomixedupastolosealltheireffect.Ishallnowanswerthisveryimportantquestion. Inthefirstplace,thoughweareconstantlyaffectedmoreorlessbythemultitudeofpsychicvibrationsbeating uponus,stillthegreaterpartofthemdonotconsciouslyimpressus.Foranexample,wehavebuttoconsider howfewofthesoundsorsightsofabusystreetareimpresseduponourconsciousness.Wehearandseeonlya fewofthethingswhichattractourattentionandinterest.Therestarelosttous,althoughoureyesandears receivethemall.Inthesameway,weareimpressedonlybythestrongervibrationswhichreachus,andthen onlybythosewhichwehaveattractedtoourselves,orwhichproveattractivetousbyreasonofourownlikes anddislikes. Inthesecondplace,theeffectofcertainthoughtvibrationsisneutralizedbytheeffectofthevibrationsof thoughtsofanoppositecharacter.Justasamixtureofblackandwhiteproducestheneutralcolorofgrey,sodo twocurrentsofopposingthoughtvibrationstendtoresolvethemselvesintoaneutralvibrationwhichhaslittleor noeffectuponthosecomingincontactwiththem.Youmaythinkofnumerouscorrespondencestothisinthe worldofmaterialthings.Forinstance,amixtureofveryhotandverycoldwater,willproduceaneutrallukewarm liquid,neitherhotnorcold.Inthesameway,twothingsofopposingtastecharacteristics,whenblended,will

produceaneutraltastehavingbutlittleeffectuponone.Theprincipleisuniversal,andisreadilyunderstood. Inthethirdplace,thereisthatwhichwemaycallan"affinity"betweenthoughtsandfeelingsofasimilar character.Notonlydothevibrationsofsimilarthoughtstendtocoalesceandcombine;but,morethanthis,each oneofusattractstohimselforherselfthethoughtvibrationswhichareingeneralaccordwithcorresponding thoughtsinourownminds,orfeelingsinourownnature.Likeattractslike.Inthesameway,thecharacterofour thoughtsandfeelingsacttorepelthoughtoremotionalvibrationsofanoppositeorinharmoniousnature.Asall occultistsknow,everyonedrawsthoughtvibrationsinharmonywithhisorherown;andalsorepelsthought vibrationsofaninharmoniousnature. Thesearethegenerallawsandprinciplesgoverningthephenomenaofthisphaseoftelepathicvibrations.There ismuchmoretobesaidonthesubject,ofcourse,butifyouwillnotecarefullytheleadingprinciplesandlawsof manifestationjustmentioned,youwillbeabletoreasoncorrectlyregardinganyphaseofthisclassof phenomenawhichmaycomebeforeyouforattention.Onceyoulearnageneralrule,therestbecomesmerelya matterofapplicationandinterpretation.Letusnowproceedtoaconsiderationofotherphasesofthegeneral subjectoftelepathicinfluence. Wenowcometothephaseofwhatmaybecalleddirecttelepathy.Thatiswhereathoughtisconsciously,and moreorlesspurposely,directedtowardanotherperson.Wecomeacrossmanyinterestingcasesofthiskind wherepersonsfindthemselvesthinkingintentlyofcertainotherpersons,andafterwardsaretoldbytheother personsthat"Ifoundmyselfthinkingintentlyaboutyou,atsuchandsuchatime,"etc.Insomeofthesecases itisdifficulttodeterminewhichonestartedthethinking.Again,howoftendowefindourselvesthinkingofa person,whenallofasuddenthepersoncomesintosight.Again,wethinkintentlyandearnestlyaboutacertain question;andthen,allofasudden,otherfolkswhomwemebegintalkingtousaboutthesamething.These instancesaretoocommontoneedmorethanapassingnotice. Alittlemorepurposeisdisplayedinthatclassofphenomenainwhichweintentlywishthatacertainpersonshall doacertainthing,andlo!wesoonlearnthatthatcertainpersonhasdoneit.Anumberofyearsago,apopular writerwroteanarticleinwhichhementionedwhatseemedtohimtobeacuriousinstanceofsomeformof mentalinfluenceortelepathy.Hesaidthathehadfoundoutthatifhewouldsitdownandcarefullywritealetter tosomepersonfromwhomhehadnotheardforalongtime,andthendestroytheletterinsteadofsendingit,he wouldbealmostcertaintoreceivealetterfromthatpersonwithinafewdays.Hedidnotattempttoaccountfor thephenomenon,hemerelycalledtheattentionofhisreaderstoit.Manypersonshavefollowedthesuggestion, oftenwithverywonderfulresults.Thereisnothingmiraculous,orsupernaturalaboutsuchoccurrences.Itis merelyonephaseoftelepathy.Theconcentratedthoughtofthewriteroftheletterisdirectedtowardtheother person,andthatpersonbeginstothinkofthefirstone;thenhethinkshewillwritetohim;thenheactuallydoes write.Distance,space,anddirectionhavenoimportanceinthisexperimentitisnotnecessarytoevenknow wherethesecondpersonis,infact. Thereareoftenfoundpersonssocloselyinpsychicharmonywitheachotherthattheyveryoftenareabletoask questionsandreceiveanswersfromeachother,eventhoughgreatdistancesseparatethem.Someparticular timesthereisabetterpsychicharmonyexistingbetweenthesamepersonsthanisfoundatothertimes.Allthis, ofcourse,affectsthesuccessoftheexperiment.Itissurprisingwhatwonderfulresultsalongtheselinesmaybe obtainedbyalmostanypersonofaverageintelligence,afteralittlecareful,patient,conscientiouspractice.

Buttherehavebeenphenomenaobtainedastheresultoflongseriesofcarefulexperimentswhichare,inaway, evenmorewonderfulthanthesesomewhatlessdeliberateexperimentsjustmentioned.Ialludetothe experimentsofanumberofearnest,carefulscientificstudents,whosurroundedthemselveswithevery precautionagainstoverenthusiasm,fraud,andcoincidence.Prominentamongthisclassofinvestigationswe findthoseconductedbytheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,ofEngland,whichreallyestablishedafirmbasisfor theworkofotherinvestigatorswhofollowedthegeneralmethodsofthesaidsociety.Inthefollowingchapter,I shallgiveyouasomewhatextendedstatementoftheresultsofsuchinvestigations,becausethisinformationis importanttoeverystudentofpsychicphenomena,notonlybecauseitestablishesafirmscientificbasisforhis studiesandbeliefs,butalsobecauseitgiveshimimportantinformationwhichhemayapplyinthecourseofhis ownexperimentalwork. Imaymentionthattheinvestigationsintothesubjectoftelepathy,andkindredsubjects,undertheauspicesof thesocietyjustmentioned,wereconductedbymenofcarefulscientifictrainingandexperience,andunderthe generalsupervisionandapprovaloftheofficersofthesociety,amongwhichhavebeennumberedsucheminent menasProf.HenrySidgwick,ofCambridgeUniversity;Prof.BalfourStewart,aFellowoftheRoyalSocietyof England;Rt.Hon.A.J.Balfour,theeminentEnglishstatesman;Prof.WilliamJames,theeminentAmerican psychologist;SirWilliamCrookes,thegreatchemistanddiscovererofphysicallaws,whoinventedthe celebrated"Crookes'Tubes,"withoutwhichthediscoveryoftheXRays,radioactivity,etc.,wouldhavebeen impossible;FrederickW.H.Myers,thecelebratedexploreroftheastralplanes,andwriteruponpsychic phenomena;SirOliverLodge,thepopularEnglishscientist;andothermenofinternationalreputationandhigh standing.Thecharacterofthesemenatoncegivesthestampofhonestyandscientificaccuracytoallthework ofthesociety. Inorderthatyoumayunderstandthespiritwhichanimatedthesescientificinvestigatorsintheirworkofthe explorationofthisnewandstrangeregionofNature,Iaskyoutocarefullyreadthefollowingwordsofthe presidentialaddressofSirWilliamCrookes,beforetheRoyalSociety,atBristol,England,in1898.Remember, please,thatthisaddresswasmadebeforeanassemblageofdistinguishedscientists,manyofthemrank materialistsand,quiteskepticalofalloccultphenomenathiswasnearlytwentyyearsago,remember.Sir WilliamCrookes,facingthisgathering,asitspresident,said: "WereInowintroducingforthefirsttimetheseinquiriestotheworldofscience,Ishouldchooseastartingpoint differentfromthatofold(whereweformerlybegan).ItwouldbewelltobeginwithTelepathy;withthat fundamentallaw,asIbelieveittobe,thatthoughtsandimagesmaybetransferredfromonemindtoanother withouttheagencyoftherecognizedorgansofsensethatknowledgemayenterthehumanmindwithoutbeing communicatedinanyhithertoknownorrecognizedways. ***Iftelepathytakesplace,wehavetwophysicalfacts:ThephysicalchangeinthebrainofA,thesuggester, andtheanalogousphysicalchangeinthebrainofB,therecipientofthesuggestion.Betweenthesetwophysical eventstheremustexistatrainofphysicalcauses.*** Itisunscientifictocallintheaidofmysteriousagencies,whenwitheveryfreshadvanceinknowledgeitisshown thateithervibrationshavepowersandattributesabundantlyabletoanydemandeventhetransmissionof thought. "Itissupposedbysomephysiologiststhattheessentialcellsofnervesdonotactuallytouch,butareseparated byanarrowgapwhichwidensinsleepwhileitnarrowsalmosttoextinctionduringmentalactivity.Thiscondition issosingularlylikeaBranlyorLodgecoherer(adevicewhichledtothediscoveryofwirelesstelegraphy)asto

suggestafurtheranalogy.Thestructureofbrainandnervebeingsimilar,itisconceivablethattheremaybe presentmassesofsuchnervecoherersinthebrain,whosespecialfunctionitmaybetoreceiveimpulses broughtfromwithout,throughtheconnectingsequenceofaetherwavesofappropriateorderofmagnitude. "Roentgenhasfamiliarizeduswithanorderofvibrationsofextrememinutenessascomparedwiththesmallest waveswithwhichwehavehithertobeenacquainted:andthereisnoreasontosupposethatwehavehere reachedthelimitoffrequency.Itisknownthattheactionofthoughtisaccompaniedbycertainmolecular movementsinthebrain,andherewehavephysicalvibrationscapablefromtheirextrememinutenessofacting directuponindividualmolecules,whiletheirrapidityapproachesthatofinternalandexternalmovementsofthe atomsthemselves.Aformidablerangeofphenomenamustbescientificallysiftedbeforeweeffectuallygraspa facultysostrange,sobewildering,andforagessoinscrutable,asthedirectactionofminduponmind. "IntheoldEgyptiandays,awellknowninscriptionwascarvedovertheportaloftheTempleofIsis:'Iam whateverhasbeen,is,oreverwillbe;andmyveilnomanhathyetlifted.'Notthusdomodernseekersaftertruth confrontNature:ThewordthatstandsforthebafflingmysteriesoftheUniverse.Steadily,unflinchingly,westrive topiercetheinmostheartofNature,fromwhatsheistoreconstructwhatshehasbeen,andtoprophesywhat sheshallbe.Veilafterveilwehavelifted,andherfacegrowsmorebeautiful,augustandwonderful,withevery barrierthatiswithdrawn." Youwillnoticethatthisaddressmadenearlytwentyyearsago,andfromthestandpointofphysicalscienceisin fullaccordwiththeideasofoccultismasoldasthehills.Andyet,thespeakerhadworkedouttheidea independently.Healsoinvestigatedhigherformsofpsychicphenomena,withresultsthatstartledtheworld.But, youwillnoticethathedoesnotattempttogiveanyotherthanpurelyphysicallawsthecreditfortheordinary phenomenaoftelepathy.Andhewasthoroughlyrightinthis,aswehaveseen.Heescapedthecommonerrorof confusingphysicalsensephenomenawiththephenomenaoftheastralsenses.Eachplanehasitsown phenomena,andeachclassissurelywonderfulenough.And,again,rememberthatbothphysicalandastral phenomenaarepurelynatural;thereisnoneedforseekinganysupernaturalagenciestoaccountforthese naturalfacts.

LESSON4
SCIENTIFICTELEPATHY
TheinvestigatorsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,ofEngland,startedbygivingabroaddefinitionof Telepathy,asfollows:"Telepathyisthecommunicationofimpressionsofanykindfromonemindtoanother, independentlyoftherecognizedchannelsofsense."Theytooktherationalpositionthattheactualdistance betweentheprojectorandtherecipientofthetelepathicmessageisnotmaterial;andthatallthatisrequiredis suchaseparationofthetwopersonsthatnoknownoperationofthesensescanbridgethespacebetween them.Theywiselyheldthattelepathybetweentwopersonsinthesameroomisasmuchtelepathyaswhenthe twopersonsarelocatedatoppositesidesoftheworld. Theinvestigatorsthenruledoutallinstancesofthoughttransmissioninwhichtherewaseventheslightest muscularcontactbetweentheprojectorandtherecipient.Theyheldthatthoughtheremightbegenuine telepathyinsuchcases,nevertheless,therewasalwaysthepossibilityoffraudorcollusion,orofunconscious muscularactiononthepartoftheprojector.Theydemandedabsoluteandactualseparationofthetwopersons, inorderthattheirexperimentsmightbeabovesuspicion.Theywerewiseinthis,forwhilethereisundoubtedlya psychiccommunicationinthecasesinwhichthereistheslightphysicalconnectionbetweenthetwopersons(as Ishallpointouttoyoualittlefurtheron),stilltheelementofdoubtorsuspicionmustbeentirelyeliminatedfroma scientifictest,inordertorenderitvaluableandvalid. They,therefore,confinedtheirinvestigationsinTelepathytothetwofollowingclasses,viz.:(1)whereactionsare performedwithoutphysicalcontactwiththepersonwilling;and(2)wheresomenumber,word,orcardis guessedapparentlywithoutanyoftheordinarymeansofcommunication.Theinvestigatorsrecognizedthe possibilitythatinthefirstoftheabovementionedtwoclassesofexperimentsthereisapossibilityofsuspicionof collusion,fraud,orunconscioussuggestion,inthematterofthemotionoftheeyesoftheparty,orsomemember ofit,whichmightbeseizedupon,perhapsunconsciously,bytherecipient,andusedtoguidehimtotheobject whichwasbeingthoughtofbytheprojectorortheparty.Theysoughttoobviatethisdifficultybyblindfoldingthe percipient,andbyplacingnonconductorsofsoundoverhisears.But,finally,theycametotheconclusionthat eventheseprecautionsmightnotprovesufficient;and,accordingly,theydevotedtheirattentiontothesecond classofexperiments,inwhichallordinarymeansofcommunicationbetweenprojectorandrecipientwere impossible.Theytooktheadditionalprecautionsoflimitingtheircircletoasmallnumberofinvestigatorsof scientificreputations,andwellknowntoeachother,alwaysavoidingapromiscuouscompanyforobvious reasons. Oneoftheearliestseriesofinvestigationsbythesespecialcommitteesofinvestigatorswasthatofthefamilyof theRev.A.M.Creery,inDerbyshire,England.Thechildrenofthisfamilyhadacquiredareputationinwhatwas knownasthe"guessinggame,"inwhichoneofthechildren,previouslyplacedoutsideoftheroom,then returnedtotheroomandattemptedto"guess"thenameorlocationofsomeobjectagreeduponbytheparty duringherabsence.Theresultswereveryinteresting,andquitesatisfactory,andhavefrequentlybeenreferred toinworksonthesubjectwrittensincethattime.Ithinkitwelltogivetheresultsofthisseriesofexperimentsin somelittledetail,fortheyformabasisforexperimentsonthepartofthosewhoreadtheselessons.

Prof.W.F.Barrett,ProfessorofPhysicsintheRoyalCollegeofScienceforIreland,conductedthemostofthe experiments.ThereporttotheSocietysays:"Webeganbyselectingthesimplestobjectsintheroom;then chosenamesoftowns,people,dates,cardsoutofapack,linesfromdifferentpoems,etc.,infact,anythingor seriesofideasthatthosepresentcouldkeepintheirmindssteadily.Thechildrenseldommadeamistake.Ihave seenseventeencardschosenbymyselfnamedrightinsuccessionwithoutanymistake.Wesoonfoundthata greatdealdependedonthesteadinesswithwhichtheideaswerekeptbeforethemindsofthethinkers,and upontheenergywithwhichtheywilledtheideastopass.Imaysaythatthisfacultyisnotbyanymeansconfined tothemembersofonefamily;itismuchmoregeneralthanweimagine.Toverifythisconclusion,Iinvitedtwoof aneighbor'schildrentojoinusinourexperiments,withexcellentresults." Thereportgivesthemethodsoftheexperiments,asfollows:"TheinquiryhastakenplacepartlyinMr.Creery's house,andpartlyinlodgings,oratahoteloccupiedbysomeofournumber.Havingselectedatrandomone child,whomwedesiredtoleavetheroomandwaitatsomedistance,wewouldchooseapackofcards,orwrite onapieceofpaperanameofanumberwhichoccurredtousatthemoment.Generally,butnotalways,thiswas showntothemembersofthefamilypresentintheroom;butnoonememberwasalwayspresent,andwewere sometimesentirelyalone.Wethenrecalledthechild,oneofusalwaysassuringhimselfthat,whenthedoorwas suddenlyopened,shewasataconsiderabledistance,thoughthiswasusuallyasuperfluityofcaution,asour habitwastoavoidallutterancesofwhatwaschosen.Onreentering,shestood:Sometimesturnedbyuswith herfacetowardthewall,oftenerwithhereyesdirectedtowardtheground,andusuallyclosetousandremote fromthefamily,foraperiodofsilencevaryingfromafewsecondstoaminute,tillshecalledouttoussome number,card,orwhateveritmightbe." Inthefirstexperiments,in"guessing"thenameofobjects,thechildguessedcorrectlysixoutoffourteen.She thenguessedcorrectlythenameofsmallobjectsheldinthehandsofoneofthecommittee;fivetimesoutofsix. Sheguessedfictitiousnameschosenbythecommittee:Fiveoutoften,atthefirsttrial.Thecommitteethen testedherbywritingdownthenameofsomeobjectinthehouse,fixedatrandom,andthen,afterallhadthought intentlyofthething,theysentforthechildandbadehertrytofindthethingthoughtof,thethoughtconcentration ofcoursecontinuingduringthesearch.Theresultisthusreported:"InthiswayIwrotedown,amongother things,ahairbrushitwasbrought;anorangeitwasbrought;awineglassitwasbrought;anappleitwas brought;andsoon,untilmanyobjectshadbeenselectedandfoundbythechild." Passingoverthedetailsofmanyotherexperimentswefindthatthefollowingremarkableresultswereobtained bythecommittee:"Altogether,threehundredandeightytwotrialsweremadeinthisseries.Inthecaseofletters ofthealphabet,ofcards,andofnumbersoftwofigures,thechancesofsuccessonafirsttrialwouldnaturallybe 25to1,52to1,and89to1,respectively;inthecaseofsurnamestheywouldofcoursebeinfinitelygreater. Cardswerefarmostfrequentlyemployed,andtheoddsintheircasemaybetakenasafairmediumsample, accordingtowhich,outofawholeseriesofthreehundredandeightytwotrials,theaveragenumberof successesatthefirstattemptbyanordinaryguesserwouldbesevenandonethird.Ofourtrials,onehundred andtwentysevenweresuccessesonthefirstattempt,fiftysixonthesecond,nineteenonthethird:MAKING TWOHUNDREDANDTWO,OUTOFAPOSSIBLETHREEHUNDREDANDEIGHTYTWO!"Thinkofthis, whilethelawofaveragescalledforonlysevenandonethirdsuccessesatfirsttrial,thechildrenobtainedone hundredandtwentyseven,which,givenasecondandthirdtrial,theyraisedtotwohundredandtwo!Yousee, thistakesthematterentirelyoutofthepossibilityofcoincidenceormathematicalprobability. Butthiswasnotall.Listentothefurtherreportofthecommitteeonthispoint:"Thefollowingwastheresultof

oneoftheseries.Thethingselectedwasdivulgedtononeofthefamily,andfivecardsrunningwerenamed correctlyonafirsttrial.Theoddsagainstthishappeningonceinaserieswereconsiderablyoveramilliontoone. Therewereothersimilarbatches,thetwolongestrunsbeingeightconsecutiveguesses,oncewithcards,and oncewithnames;wheretheadverseoddsintheformercasewereoveronehundredandfortytwomillionsto one;andintheother,somethingincalculablygreater."Theopinionofeminentmathematicianswhohave examinedtheaboveresultsisthatthehypothesisofmerecoincidenceispracticallyexcludedinthescientific considerationofthematter.Thecommitteecallsspecialattentiontothefactthatinmanyofthemostimportant testsnoneoftheCreeryfamilywerecognizantoftheobjectselected,andthat,therefore,thehypothesisoffraud orcollusionisabsolutelyeliminated.Thecommitteenaturallycametotheconclusionthatthephenomenawas genuineandrealtelepathy. Prof.BalfourStewart,LL.D.,F.R.S.,whowaspresentatsomeoftheseexperiments,thoughnotamemberofthe committee,expressedgreatamazementatsomeoftheresults.Hereports:"Thethoughtreaderwasoutsidea door.Theobjectorthingthoughtofwaswrittenonpaperandsilentlyhandedtothecompanyintheroom.The thoughtreaderwasthencalledin,andinthecourseofaminutetheanswerwasgiven.Definiteobjectsinthe room,forinstance,werefirstthoughtof,andinthemajorityofthecasestheanswerswerecorrect.Then numberswerethoughtof,andtheanswersweregenerallyright,though,ofcourse,thereweresomecasesof error.Thenamesoftownswerethoughtof,andagoodmanyofthesewereright.Thenfancynameswere thoughtof.Iwasaskedtothinkofcertainfancynames,andmarkthemdownandhandthemroundtothe company.Ithoughtofandwroteonpaper,'Bluebeard,''TomThumb,''Cinderella.'andtheanswerswereall correct!" Thecommitteealsoconductedanumberofexperimentswithotherrecipients,withverysatisfactoryresults. Colorswerecorrectlyguessedwithapercentageofsuccessesquitebeyondtheaverageorprobablenumber. Namesoftownsinallpartsoftheworld,werecorrectly"guessed"bycertainrecipientswithawonderfuldegree ofsuccess.But,probablymostwonderfulofall,wasthecorrectreproductionofdiagramsofgeometricaland otherfiguresandshapes.Inonecase,therecipient,inaseriesofninetrials,succeededindrawingthemall correctly,exceptthathefrequentlyreversedthem,makingtheuppersidedown,andtherighthandsidetothe left.TheSociety,haspublishedthesereproduceddiagramsinitsIllustratedreports,andtheyhaveconvincedthe mostskepticalofcritics.Someofthediagramswerequitecomplicated,unusual,andevengrotesque,andyet theywerereproducedwithmarvelousaccuracy,notinahesitatingmanner,butdeliberatelyandcontinuously,as iftherecipientwereactuallycopyingadrawinginfullsight.Similarresultshavebeenobtainedbyother investigatorswhohavefollowedtheleadoftheseoriginalones. Soyousee,thesealofscientificauthorityhasbeenplaceduponthephenomenaoftelepathy.Itisnolongerin therealmofthesupernaturaloruncanny.AsCamilleFlammarion,theeminentFrenchscientist,hassaid:"The actionofoneminduponanotheratadistancethetransmissionofthought,mentalsuggestion,communication atadistanceallthesearenotmoreextraordinarythantheactionofthemagnetoniron,theinfluenceofthe moononthesea,thetransportationofthehumanvoicebyelectricity,therevolutionofthechemicalconstituents ofastarbytheanalysisofitslight,or,indeed,allthewondersofcontemporaryscience.Onlythesepsychic communicationsareofamoreelevatedkind,andmayservetoputusonthetrackofaknowledgeofhuman nature.Whatiscertainis:ThattelepathycanandoughttobehenceforthconsideredbyScienceasan incontestablereality;thatmindsareabletoactuponeachotherwithouttheinterventionofthesenses;that psychicforceexists,thoughitsnatureisyetunknown. ***Wesaythatthisforceisofapsychicorder,andnotphysical,orphysiological,orchemical,ormechanical,

becauseitproducesandtransmitsideasandthoughts,andbecauseitmanifestsitselfwithoutthecooperation ofoursenses,soultosoul,mindtomind."*** Inadditiontoinvestigatingtheabovementionedclassesoftelepathicphenomena,theEnglishSocietyfor PsychicalResearchinvestigatedmanyremarkablecasesofasomewhathigherphaseoftelepathy.Theytook downthestoriestoldbypersonsdeemedresponsible,andthencarefullyexamined,andcrossexaminedother witnessestothestrangephenomena.Therecordoftheseexperiments,andinvestigations,fillanumberofgood sizedvolumesoftheSociety'sreports,whicharewellworthreadingbyallstudentsofthesubject.Theymaybe foundinthelibrariesofnearlyanylargecity.Ishall,however,selectanumberofthemostinterestingofthe casesthereinreported,togivemystudentsanideaofthecharacterofthephenomenasoinvestigatedandfound genuinebythecommitteeshavingthisclassoftelepathyunderinvestigation. AninterestingcaseofspontaneoustelepathyisthatrelatedbyDr.Ede,asfollows:"Thereisahouseabouta halfmilefrommyown,inhabitedbysomeladies,friendsofourfamily.Theyhavealargealarmbelloutsidetheir house.OnenightIawokesuddenlyandsaidtomywife:'IamsureIhearMrs.F'salarmbellringing.'After listeningforsometime,weheardnothing,andIwenttosleepagain.ThenextdayMrs.F.calleduponmywife andsaidtoher:'Wewerewishingforyourhusbandlastnight,forwewerealarmedbythieves.Wewereallup, andIwasabouttopullthealarmbell,hopingthathewouldhearit,sayingtomydaughters,"Iamsureitwill soonbringDr.Ede,"butwedidnotringit.'Mywifeaskedwhattimethishadhappened,andMrs.F.saidthatit wasabouthalfpastone.ThatwasthetimeIawokethinkingthatIheardthebell." Inthiscasetherewasmanifestedsimplyordinaryphysicalplanetelepathy.Hadthebellactuallybeenrung,and heardpsychically,itwouldhavebeenacaseofastralplanehearing,knownasclairaudience.Asitwas,merely thethoughtinthemindofMrs.F.,andherstrongideatoringthebell,causedatransmissionofthoughtwaves whichstruckDr.Edewithgreatforceandawakenedhim.Thiscaseisinterestingbecauseitistypicalofmany casesofasimilarnaturewithintheexperienceofmanypersons.Itisseenthatastrongfeeling,orexcitement, accompaniedbyastrongdesireorwishtosummonanotherperson,tendstogivegreatpowerandeffecttothe thoughtwavesemitted.Theystrikethemindoftherecipientlikethesuddenringingofanalarmclockbell. Anotherinterestingcaseisthatoftwoladies,bothwellknowntomembersofthecommittee,andvouchedforas ofstrictveracity.Thiscaseisunusualforthereasonthattwodifferentpersonsreceivedthethoughtwavesatthe sametime.Hereisanabridgmentofthecase:"LadyG.andhersisterhadbeenspendingtheeveningwiththeir mother,whowasinherusualhealthandspiritswhentheylefther.Inthemiddleofthenightthesisterawokein herfrightandsaidtoherhusband:'Imustgotomymotheratonce;doorderthecarriage.Iamsurethatsheis takenill.'Onthewaytohermother'shouse,wheretworoadsmeet,shesawLadyG.'scarriageapproaching. Whentheymeteachaskedtheotherwhyshewasthere.Theybothrelatedthesameexperienceand impression.Whentheyreachedtheirmother'shouse,theyfoundthatshewasdying,andhadexpressedan earnestwishtoseethem." Anothercaseofasimilarnatureisthis:"AtthesiegeofMooltan,MajorGeneralR.,thenadjutantofhisregiment, wasseverelywoundedandsupposedhimselftobedying.Herequestedthathisringbetakenoffhisfingerand senttohiswife.AtthesametimehiswifewasatFerozepore,onehundredandfiftymilesdistant,lyingonher bed,inastatehalfwaybetweenwakingandsleeping.Shesawherhusbandbeingtakenoffthefield,andheard hisvoicesaying:'Takethisringoffmyfinger,andsendittomywife.'"

Thiscasebearsthemarksofverystrongtelepathy,butalsohasasuspiciousresemblancetoclairvoyance accompaniedbyclairaudience.Orperhapsitisacombinationofbothtelepathyandclairvoyance.Itisimpossible todeterminewhich,inabsenceofmoredetailedinformation.Themessageofpersonsdying,orbelieving themselvestobeapproachingdeath,arefrequentlyverystrong,forcertainreasonswellknowntooccultists.But thereisnothingsupernaturalaboutthephenomena,andinmostcasesitismerelyacaseofstrongtelepathy. TheSocietyalsoreportsthefollowinginterestingcase:"A.wasawake,andstronglywilledtomakehimself knowntotwofriendswhoatthattime(oneo'clockinthemorning)wereasleep.Whenhemetthemafewdays afterward,theybothtoldhimthatatoneo'clocktheyhadawakenedundertheimpressionthathewasintheir room.Theexperiencewassovividthattheycouldnotgotosleepforsometime,andlookedattheirwatchesto notethetime."Casesofthiskindarequitecommon,andmanyexperimentershavehadequallygoodresults withthisphaseofthoughttransference.Youwillrememberthatthereisnoactualprojectionoftheastralbody,in mostofthesecases,butmerelyastrongimpressioncausedbyconcentratedthought. AnotherinterestingcaseisthatofthelateBishopWilberforce,andisrecordedinhisbiography,asfollows:The BishopwasinhislibraryatCuddleson,withthreeorfourofhisclergywithhimatthesametable.TheBishop suddenlyraisedhishandtohishead,andexclaimed:"Iamcertainthatsomethinghashappenedtooneofmy sons."Itafterwardstranspiredthatjustatthattimehiseldestson'sfootwasbadlycrushedbyanaccidenton boardhisship,thesonbeingatsea.TheBishophimselfrecordedthecircumstanceinalettertoMissNoel, saying:"ItiscuriousthatatthetimeofhisaccidentIwassopossessedwiththedepressingconsciousnessof someevilhavingbefallenmyson,Herbert,thatatthelast,IwrotedownthatIwasunabletoshakeoffthe impressionthatsomethinghadhappenedtohim,andnotedthisdownforremembrance."Thereisnothing unusualaboutthiscase,forithasbeenduplicatedintheexperienceofmanypersons.Itschiefimportanceliesin thefactthatitisrecordedbyamanofwidereputationandhighstanding,andalsothattheBishophadtakenthe precautiontonotedownthethingatthetime,insteadofmerelyrecallingitafterhehadheardoftheaccident. Youwillnoticethatinmanycasesofthiskindthephenomenoncloselyapproachestheaspectoftrue clairvoyance,orastralsensing.Insomecasesthereappearstobeablendingofbothtelepathyandastral clairvoyance.Infact,thereisbutverylittledifferencebetweenthehighestphasesofordinarytelepathy,andthe morecommonphasesofclairvoyance.Here,asinmanyothercasesofNature'sforces,thereseemstobea gradualblending,ratherthanasharpdividinglinebetweenthetwoclassesofphenomena.Moreover,the studentdevelopinghistelepathicpowerswillfrequentlyfindthatheisbeginningtounfoldatleastoccasional flashesofclairvoyance. Inthecaseoftelepathy,therecipientmerelysenseswhatisinthemindoftheprojector.Insomecasesapicture inthemindoftheprojectormaybeseenbytherecipient,andmaythusbemistakenforacaseofpure clairvoyance.But,ininvestigatingclosely,itwillbefoundthattherealscenewasslightlydifferentfromthe impression,inwhichcaseitshowsthattheimpressionwassimplytelepathic.Clairvoyantvisionshowsthescene asitreallyis,orratherasthephysicaleyeoftherecipientwouldhaveseenit.Theastralsightreallyseesthe scene,anddoesnotmerelyreceivethementalimpressionoftheprojector.Thefirstisoriginalseeing;the second,merelyareproductionofimagesalreadyinthemindoftheprojector,andcoloredbyhispersonality,etc. Inthenextlesson,Ishallgiveyouanumberofexercisesandmethodsdesignedtodevelopyourtelepathic powers.Youwillfindthepracticeofthesemostinterestingandentertaining,andatthesametimemost instructive.Youwillfindthatasyoupracticetheexercisesgiventherein,youwillbecomemoreandmoreadept

andproficientinproducingtelepathicphenomena.Fromthelowerstages,youwillbeabletoproceedtothe higher.And,intime,youwillbesurprisedtofindthatalmostunconsciouslyyouhavepassedintothestagein whichyouwillhaveatleastoccasionalmanifestationsofclairvoyance,psychometry,etc. Infact,thereisnobetterwayknowntopracticaloccultiststodevelopinastudentthepowersofclairvoyance thanjustthismethodofstartingthestudentwiththeexercisesdesignedtodevelopthetelepathicpower.Ithas beenfoundbycenturiesofexperiencethatthestudentwhodevelopstelepathicpower,inasystematicway,will graduallyunfoldandevolvetheclairvoyantandpsychometricpower.Itconstitutesthefirstrungsontheladderof psychicdevelopment. Ofcourse,undertheheadofclairvoyance,etc.,youwillbegivenmethodsandexercisedesignedtodevelop clairvoyantpowerssomeofthemveryvaluableandeffectivemethods,atthat.But,notwithstandingthis,Ifeel thatIshouldimpressuponyoutheimportanceoflayingafirmfoundationforsuchinstruction,bydeveloping yourselffirstalongthelinesoftelepathicpower.Suchacoursewillnotonlykeenlysharpenyourpowersof receptivitytosuchvibrationsasyoumaywishtoreceive;butitwillalsotrainyourmindinthedirectionof translating,interpreting,andrecordingsuchimpressionswhenreceived. Youmustrememberthatproficiencyinamentalartisattainedonlybymeansoftrainingtheattentionto concentrateuponthetask.Itisthesamewayinclairvoyanceandpsychometry.Telepathytrainsyourattentionto concentrateuponthereceptionofimpressions,andtoholdthemfirmlyandclearlyinconsciousness.Theresult isthatwhenyoureallydevelopclairvoyantreceptivity,yourattentionhasalreadybeentrainedtodothe necessarywork.Ineednottellyouwhatanadvantagethisgivesyouovertheclairvoyantwhohasnotreceived thistraining,foryourowngoodcommonsensewillassureyouofit. So,nowforourtrainingintelepathy;notonlyforitself,butalsoasameansofpreparingforthehigherstages.

LESSON5
MINDREADING,ANDBEYOND
Thesimplerformsoftelepathicphenomenahavereceivedthename"MindReading"andbysomehavebeen regardedassomethingnotquitewithintheclassofrealtelepathy.Thislastimpressionhasbeenheightenedby thefactthattherehasbeenofferedthepublicmanyspectacularexhibitionsofpseudomindreading,thatisto say,imitationorcounterfeitmindreading,inwhichtheresulthasbeenobtainedbytrickery,collusion,orclever artifice.But,notwithstandingthisfact,genuinemindreadingisactuallyaphaseoftruetelepathy. Whatisgenerallyknownasmindreadingmaybedividedintotwoclasses,asfollows:(1)wherethereisan actualphysicalcontactbetweentheprojectorandthereceiver;and(2)wherethereisnoactualphysicalcontact, butwherethereisacloserelationinspacebetweenthetwoparties,asinthecaseofthe"willinggame."Inthe firstclassbelongallcasesinwhichtheprojectortouchestherecipient,oratleastisconnectedwithhimbya materialobject.Inthesecondclassbelongthosecasesinwhichtherecipientseekstofindanobjectwhichis beingthoughtofbyeitherasingleprojector,orbyanumberofpersonsinthesameroom.Youwillnoticethat bothoftheseclasseswereomittedfromtheexperimentsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,becauseofthe possibilityoffraudorcollusion.But,nevertheless,thestudentwilldowelltoacquireproficiencyinmanifesting thisformoftelepathy,notaloneforitsownsake,but,also,becauseitnaturallyleadstohigherdevelopment. Inthecaseofthefirstclassofmindreadingnamely,thatinwhichactualphysicalcontactishadbetweenthe projectorandtherecipient,therehasbeenadispositiononthepartofsomeauthoritiestoexplainthewhole matterbythetheoryofunconsciousmuscularimpulseoftheprojector;butthosewhohavecarefullystudiedthis subject,andwhohavethemselvesperformedthefeatsofthisclassofmindreading,knowthatthereisfarmore thanthistoit.Thosefamiliarwiththesubjectknowthatthereisadecidedtransferenceofthoughtwavesfrom theprojectortotherecipient,andthatthelatteractually"feels"thesameastheystrikeuponhismentalreceiving apparatus.Thewholedifferencebetweenthisandthehigherformsoftelepathyisthatinthisthe thoughtcurrentsgenerallyrunalongthewiresofthenervoussystem,insteadofleapingacrossthespace betweenthetwopersons. Itisknowntoallwhohaveconductedthisclassofexperiments,thatattimestherewillbeexperiencedachange orshiftinginthetransmissionofthethoughtcurrents.Foratime,thethoughtwaveswillbefeltflowinginalong thenervesofthehandsandarmswhen,allofasuddenthiswillcease,andtherewillbeexperiencedthe passageofthecurrentdirectfrombraintobrain.Itisimpossibletodescribethisfeelinginmerewords,tothose whohaveneverexperiencedit.ButthosetowhomithasoncebeenmanifestedwillrecognizeatoncejustwhatI meanbythisstatement.Itisadifferentsensationfromanyotherintheexperienceofahumanbeing,andmust actuallybeexperiencedtobeunderstood.ThenearestanalogyIcanofferisthatfeelingexperiencedbythe personwhenaforgottennameforwhichhehasvainlysought,suddenlyflashesorleapsintohisconsciousness; itisfelttocomefromsomewhereoutsideoftheconsciousfield.Well,inthecaseofthethoughtcurrentthe feelingismuchthesame,onlythereisafullersenseofthe"outsidedness"ofthesourceofthethought. Inordertomakeyouunderstandthedistinctionbetweenthetwoclassesofmindreadingmoreclearly,Iwillsay thatyoumaythinkofoneasakintotheordinarytelegraphyoverwires;andoftheotherasakintowireless

telegraphy.Itisthesameforceinbothcases,thedifferencebeingsimplyoneofthedetailsoftransmission.Fix thisideafirmlyinyourmind,andyouwillhavenotroubleinalwayshavingtherightconceptionofanykindof caseofmindreading,ortelepathy.But,youmustremember,therearecasesinwhichthereisacombinationof bothmethodsoftransmission,eithersimultaneously,orelseshiftingandchangingfromonetotheother. Iwillhereremindthestudentthathewilllearnmorebyahalfdozenactualexperimentsinmindreading,thanhe willbyreadingadozenbooksonthesubject.Itisverygoodtoreadthebooksinordertogetthecorrecttheory wellfixedinmind,andalsoinordertolearnthebestmethodsastaughtbythosewhohavehadawide experienceinthesubject;butthereal"how"ofthematterislearnedonlythroughactualexperience.So,Ishall nowgiveyouadviceandinstructionsconcerningactualexperimentalwork. You,thestudent,shouldbeginbymakingyourselfagoodrecipient;thatisagood"mindreader,"allowingothers toplaythepartofprojector.Lateron,youmayplaythepartofprojector,ifyousodesire,butthereal"finework" isdonebytherecipient,and,forthatreasonthatisthepartyoushouldlearntoplaybyfrequentrehearsals. Iadviseyoutobeginyourexperimentswithfriendswhoareinsympathywithyou,andwhoareinterestedinthe subject.Avoidparticularlyallearlyexperimentswithuncongenialorunsympatheticpersons;andavoidasyou wouldapestilenceallthosewhoareantagonisticeithertoyourselfortothegeneralsubjectoftelepathyand kindredsubjects.Asyoumustmakeyourselfespecially"sensitive"inordertosuccessfullyconducta mindreadingtest,youwillfindyourselfparticularlysusceptibletothementalattitudeofthosearoundyouatsuch times,andthereforeshouldsurroundyourselfonlywiththosewhoarecongenialandsympathetic. Youwillfindthatthereisagreatdifferencebetweentheseveralpersonswhomyou"tryout"asprojectors.Some willbemore"enrapport"withyouthanareotherswhomaybeequallygoodfriends."Enrapport,"youknow, means"invibrationalharmony."Whentwopersonsareenrapportwitheachother,theyareliketwowireless telegraphicinstrumentsperfectlyattunedtoeachother.Insuchcasesthereareobtainedtheverybestresults. Youwillsoonlearntodistinguishthedegreeofenrapportconditionsbetweenyourselfanddifferentpersons: Yousoonlearnto"feel"thiscondition.Inthebeginning,itwillbewellforyoutotryseveralpersons,oneafterthe other,inyourmindreadingexperiments,inordertopickoutthebestone,andalsotolearnthe"feel"ofthe differentdegreesofenrapportcondition. Evenincasesofpersonsinwhomtheenrapportconditionsaregood,itiswelltoestablisharhythmicunison betweenyou.Thisisdonebybothyouandthepersonbreathinginrhythmicunisonafewmoments.Beginby counting"onetwothreefour,"liketheslowtickingofalargeclock.Havetheotherpersonjoinwithyouinso counting,untilyourmindsbothworkinthesamerhythmictime.Thenyoushouldhavehimbreatheinunisonwith you,makingamentalcountwithyouatthesametime,sothatyouwill"breathetogether."Count(mentally)"one twothreefour,"asyouinhale;the"onetwo,"holdingthebreath;and,then"onetwothreefour,"exhalingor breathingout.Trythisseveraltimes,and,youwillfindthatyouhaveestablishedarhythmicunisonbetween yourselfandtheotherperson.Intheprogressofanexperiment,ifyoushouldfindthattheconditionsarenotas goodasmightbedesired,youwilldowelltopauseforafewmomentsandreestablishtheproperrhythmic harmonybythismethodofharmoniousrhythmicbreathing. Beginbyhavingtheprojectorselectsomeprominentobjectintheroom,achair,ortableforinstance.Thenhave himtakeyourlefthandinhisrighthand.Raiseyourlefthand,heldinhisrighthand,toyourforehead;thenclose youreyesandremainpassiveafewmoments.Havehimconcentratehismindintentlyontheselectedobject,

andwillthatyoushouldmovetowardit.Havehimthinkofnothingelseexceptthatobject,andtowillyoutomove towardit,withallhispower.Closeyoureyes,andquietyourmind,openingyourconsciousnesstoeverymental impressionthathemaysendyou.Instructhimtothinknotmerely"chair,"forinstance,butrather"there,nowgo there."Themainthoughtinhismindmustbethatofdirection.Hemustwillthatyoumovetowardthatchair. Afteramomentortwo,youwillbegintofeelavague,generalimpulsetomoveyourfeet.Obeytheimpulse.Take afewslowstepsinanydirectionthatseemseasytoyou.Sometimesthiswilltakeyouinanoppositedirection fromthatofthechair,butitwill"getyougoing,"andyouwillsoonbegintofeelthatthedirectionis"allwrong," andwillbegintobementallypulledintherightdirection.Youwillhavetoactuallyexperiencethisfeeling,before youwillfullyunderstandjustwhatImean. Aftersomelittlepractice,youwillbegintofeelquitedistinctlythementaldirection,orwillforce,oftheprojector, whichwillseemtotellyouto"comethisway,nowstop,nowturnalittletotheright,nowalittletotheleft,now stopwhereyouare,andputoutyourrighthand,loweryourhand,moveyourhandalittletotheright,that'sit, nowyouhavegotitallright."Youwillsoonlearntodistinguishbetweenthe"no,that'swrong"thought,andthe "that'sright"one;andbetweenthe"goon,"andthe"comeon"one.Bymakingyourselfcompletelypassive,and receptiveandobedienttothethoughtandwillimpulsesoftheprojector,youwillsoonactlikeashipunderthe influenceoftherudderinthehandoftheprojector. Afteryouhaveattainedproficiencyinreceivingthementalimpressionsanddirections,youwillfindyourself attractedordrawn,likeapieceofsteeltothemagnet,towardtheobjectselected.Itwillsometimesseemas ifyouwerebeingmovedtoitevenagainstyourownwill,andasifsomeoneelsewereactuallymovingyourfeet foryou.Sometimestheimpulsewillcomesostrongthatyouwillactuallyrushaheadoftheprojector,dragging himalongwithyou,insteadofhavinghimalittleinadvance,orbyyourside.Itisallamatterofpractice. Youwillsoondiscoverthegreatdifferencebetweendifferentprojectors.Someofthemwillbeinperfect enrapportconditionwithyou,whileotherswillfailtogetintotunewithyou.Someprojectorsdonotseemto knowwhatisrequiredofthem,andusuallyforgetto"will"youtotheobject.Ithelpssometimestotellthemthat thewholethingdependsupontheirwillpower,andthatthestrongertheirwillis,theeasieritisforyoutofindthe thing.Thisputsthemontheirmettle,andmakesthemusetheirwillmorevigorously. Youwillsoonlearntorecognizethatpeculiarfeelingof"allright,"thatcomeswhenyoufinallystandinfrontof thedesiredobject.Thenyoubegintomoveyourrighthandupanddownandaround,untilyougettheright"feel" aboutthatalso,whenyoushouldplaceyourhandontheplacewhichseemstoattractyoumost.Youwillfind thatthehandisjustasresponsivetothementalforce,asarethefeet.Youwillsoonlearntodistinguishbetween thementalsignals:"up,""down,""totheright,""totheleft,""stopnow,you'reright,"etc.Icannottellyoujustthe difference:Youmustlearnto"feel"them,andyouwillsoonbecomeexpertinthis.Itislikelearningtoskate,run anautomobile,operateatypewriteroranythingelse,allamatterofexerciseandpractice.Butitisastonishing howrapidlyonemaylearn;andhow,attimes,oneseemstoprogressbygreatleapsandbounds.NowIshall giveyouthedifferentstagesorsteps,whichyouwilldowelltofollowinyourexercises,progressingfromthe moresimpletothemorecomplexbutbesuretothoroughlymasterthesimpleones,beforeyoupassontothe morecomplexone.Behonestandstrictwithyourselfmakeyourself"passtheexamination"beforepromotion,in eachandeverystep.

1.LOCATIONS.Beginbyfindingparticularlocationsinaroom; corners,alcoves,doors,etc. 2.LARGEOBJECTS.Thenbegintofindlargeobjects,suchastables, chairs,bookcases,etc. 3.SMALLOBJECTS.Thenproceedtofindsmallobjects,suchasbooks onatable,sofacushions,ornaments,paperknives,etc.Graduallywork downtoverysmallobjects,suchasscarfpins,articlesofjewelry, pocketknives,etc. 4.CONCEALEDOBJECTS.Thenproceedtofindsmallobjectsthathave beenconcealedunderotherobjects,suchasapocketbookbeneatha sofacushion,etc.;orakeyinabook;orakeyunderarug,etc. 5.MINUTEOBJECTS.Thenproceedtodiscoververysmallobjects, eitherconcealedorelseplacedinaninconspicuousplace,suchasapin stuckinthewall,etc.;orasmallbeanunderavase,etc. Thepublicperformersofmindreadingvarytheabovebysensationalcombinations,butyouwillreadilyseethat thesearebutingeniousarrangementsoftheabovegeneralexperiments,andthatnonewprincipleisinvolved. Astheselessonsaredesignedforseriousstudyandexperiment,andnotforsensationalpublicperformances,I shallnotenterintothisphaseofthesubjectinthesepages.Thestudentwhounderstandsthegeneralprinciples, andisabletoperformtheaboveexperimentssuccessfully,willhavenodifficultyinreproducingthegenuinefeats ofthepublicmindreaders,bysimplyusinghisingenuityinarrangingthestageeffects,etc.Amongotherthings, hewillfindthathewillbeabletoobtainresultsbyinterposingathirdpersonbetweentheprojectorandhimself; orbyusingashortpieceofwiretoconnecthimselfandtheprojector.Drawingpicturesonablackboard,or writingoutnamesonaslate,bymeansofthoughtdirection,aresimplytheresultofafinedevelopmentofthe poweroffindingthesmallarticle.Theimpulsetomovethehandinacertaindirectioncomesinpreciselythe sameway.Thepublicdrivingfeatsoftheprofessionalmindreaderarebutamorecomplicatedformofthesame generalprinciple:Theimpressionof"direction"onceobtained,therestisamerematterofdetail.Theopeningof thecombinationofasafe,thoughrequiringwonderfulproficiencyonthepartoftheoperator,issimplyan elaborationofthe"direction"movement. Somerecipientsare,ofcourse,farmoreproficientthanareothers;buteachandeveryperson(anypersonof averageintelligence),willbeabletosecuremoreorlessproficiencyintheseexperiments,providedthatpatience andpracticeareemployed.Thereisnosuchthingasanabsolutefailurepossibletoanyonewhowillproceed intelligently,andwillpracticesufficiently.Sometimes,aftermanydiscouragingattempts,thewholethingwillflash intoone'smindatonce,andafterthattherewillbelittleornotrouble.Ifyouareabletowitnessthe demonstrationsofsomegoodmindreader,professionaloramateursitwillhelpyouto"catchtheknack"atonce. Youwillfindthattheseexperimentswilltendtogreatlyandrapidlydevelopyourpsychicreceptivityinthe directionofthehigherphasesofpsychicphenomena.Youwillbesurprisedtofindyourselfcatchingflashesor glimpsesofhighertelepathy,orevenclairvoyance.Iwouldadviseeverypersonwishingtocultivatethehigher psychicfaculties,tobeginbyperfectinghimselforherselfinthesesimplerformsofmindreading.

Besidesthebenefitsobtained,thepracticeprovesveryinteresting,andopensmanydoorstopleasantsocial entertainment.But,neverallowthedesireforsocialpraiseorpopularity,inthesematters,tospoilyouforserious investigationandexperiment. THESECONDSTEPOFDEVELOPMENT Thestudent,havingperfectedhimselfintheexperimentsalongthelinesofthefirstclassofmindreading, viz.,wherethereisnoactualphysicalcontactbetweentheprojectorandrecipient,butwherethereisaclose relationinspacebetweenthetwo. Now,thethoughtfulstudentwillnaturallywishtoaskaquestionhere,somethinglikethis:"Youhavetoldusthat thereisnorealdifferencebetweentelepathyatagreatdistance,andthatinwhichthereisonlytheslightest differenceinthepositionoftheprojectorandrecipient,providing,always,thatthereisnoactualphysicalcontact. Thisbeingso,whyyourinsistenceuponthe'closerelationinspace'justmentioned?Whatisthereasonforthis nearness?"Well,itislikethis:Whilethereisnodistinctionofspaceintruetelepathy,stillinexperimentssuchas Ishallnowdescribe,thephysicalnearnessoftheprojectorenableshimtoconcentratemoreforcibly,andalso givesconfidencetothenewbeginnerinreceivingmindcurrents.Thebenefitissolelythatofthepsychological effectuponthemindsofthetwopersons,andhasnothingtodowiththeactualpowerofthetelepathicwaves.It ismucheasierforapersontoconcentratehisthoughtandwilluponapersoninactualphysicalsightbeforehim, thanupononeoutofsight.And,likewise,therecipientfindshimselfmoreconfidentandateasewheninthe actualphysicalofthepersonsendingthethoughtsandwillpower.Thatisallthereistoit.Whenthepersons haveacquiredfamiliaritywithprojectingandreceiving,thenthisobstacleisovercome,andlongdistanceshave noterrorforthem. Thebestwayforthestudenttostartinonthisclassofmindreading,isforhimtoexperimentoccasionallywhile performinghisphysicalcontactmindreadingexperiments.Forinstance,whileengagedinsearchingforan objectlethimdisengagehishandfromthatoftheprojectorforamomentorso,andthenendeavortoreceivethe impressionswithoutcontact.(Thisshouldbedoneonlyinprivateexperiments,notinpublicones.)Hewillsoon discoverthatheisreceivingthoughtimpulsesinspiteofthelackofphysicalcontactfaint,perhaps,butstill perceptible.Alittlepracticeofthiskindwillsoonconvincehimthatheisreceivingthementalcurrentsdirectfrom braintobrain.Thiseffectwillbeincreasedifhearrangestohaveseveralpersonsconcentratetheirthoughtsand willpoweruponhimduringtheexperiment.Fromthisstage,hewillgraduallydevelopintothestageoftheWilling Game. TheWillingGame,quitepopularinsomecircles,isplayedbyoneperson(usuallyblindfolded)beingbrought intotheroominwhichanumberofpersonshavepreviouslyagreeduponsomeobjecttobefoundbyhim,they concentratingtheirthoughtfirmlyupontheobject.Theaudienceshouldbetaughttonotonlytothinkbutalsoto actively"will"theprogressoftherecipientfromthestarttothefinishofthehunt.Theyshould"will"himalong eachstepofhisjourney,andthen"will"hishandtotheobjectitselfwhereveritbehidden. AnadeptinthereceivingendoftheWillingGamewillbeabletoperformalltheexperimentsthatIhavejust pointedouttoyouinthecontactmindreadingclass.IntheWillingGame,youmustrememberthatthereisno takingholdofhandsoranyotherformofphysicalcontactbetweenprojectorandrecipient.Thetransmissionof thementalcurrentsmustbedirect,frombraintobrain.Otherwise,thetwoclassesofexperimentsarealmost identical.Thereisthesame"willing"towardtheobjectonthepartoftheprojectors,andthesamepassive

obedienceoftherecipient.Allthedifferenceisthatthecurrentnowpassesovertheaetherofspace,asinthe caseofthewirelessmessage,insteadofoverthewiresofthenervoussystemofthetwopersons. Thenextstepisthatof"guessing"thenameofthingsthoughtofbytheparty.Icangiveyounobetterdirections thanthosefollowedbytheinvestigatorsintheCreerychildren,asrelatedinaprecedingchapterofthisbook. Whenyoubecomesufficientlyproficientinthisclassofmindreading,youshouldbeabletoreproduceevery experimenttherementioned,withatleastafairdegreeofsuccess.Itisallamatterofpatience,perseverance andpractice. Afteryouhavebecomeveryproficientinthisclassofexperiments,youmaybegintotryexperimentsat"long distance,"thatiswheretheprojectorisoutofyourphysicalpresence.Itmakesnodifferencewhetherthe distancebemerelythatbetweentwoadjoiningrooms,orelseofmilesofspace.Atfirst,however,nearnessadds confidenceinthemajorityofcases.Confidenceoncegained,thedistancemaybelengthenedindefinitely, withoutimpairingthesuccessoftheexperiments.Thelongdistanceexperimentsmayconsisteitherofthe receivingofsinglewords,names,etc.,orelsedistinct,clearmessagesorideas.Somefinditnomoredifficultto reproducesimilegeometricaldesigns,suchascircles,squares,triangles,etc.,thantoreproducewordsorideas. Inlongdistanceexperiments,itiswellfortheprojectortowritedownthewordorthoughthewishestotransmit, andfortherecipienttowritedowntheimpressionshereceives.Thesememorandumswillserveasarecordof progress,andwill,moreover,giveascientificvaluetotheexperiments. SomeexperimentershavebeenquitesuccessfulinexperimentsalongthelinesofAutomaticWritingfromliving persons,producedbymeansoflongdistancetelepathy.Inthesecasestherecipientsitspassivelyatthehour agreeduponfortheexperiment,andtheprojectorconcentratesintentlyuponasentence,orseveralsentences, onewordatatimeatthesametime"willing"theotherpersontowritetheword.Thefamousinvestigatorof psychicphenomena,thelateW.T.Stead,editorofaLondonnewspaper,whowentdownonthe"Titanic,"was verysuccessfulinexperimentsofthiskind.Hiswrittenrecordsoftheseareveryinterestingandinstructive. Youwill,ofcourse,understandthatinallcasesoflongdistancetelepathicexperimentsthereshouldbean understandingbetweenthetwopersonsregardingthetimeanddurationoftheexperiment,soastoobtainthe bestresults.Personally,however,Ihaveknownofsomeveryexcellentresultsinwhichthereceivingofthe messageoccurredseveralhoursafterthesending.Thisshowsthattelepathyisinameasureindependentof time,aswellasofspace.But,asarule,thebestresultsareobtainedwhenthetwopersons"sit"simultaneously. Donotrestcontentwithacceptingthereportsofothersregardingthesethings.Trythemforyourself.Youwill openupawonderfulworldofnewexperiencesforyourself.But,rememberalways,youmustproceedstepby step,perfectingyourselfateachstepbeforeproceedingtothenext.

LESSON6
CLAIRVOYANTPSYCHOMETRY
Theword"clairvoyance"means"clearseeing."Initspresentusageitcoversawidefieldofpsychicphenomena; andisusedbydifferentwriterstodesignatephasesofpsychicphenomenadifferingwidelyfromeachother.The studentisapttobecomeconfusedwhenhemeetstheseapparentlyconflictingdefinitionsandusages.Inthe glossaryoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,thetermisdefinedas:"Thefacultyoractofperceiving,as thoughvisually,withsomecoincidentaltruth,somedistantscene;itisusedsometimes,buthardlyproperly,for transcendentalvision,ortheperceptionofbeingsregardedasonanotherplaneofexistence." Mrs.HenrySidgwick,adistinguishedwriteronthesubjectofpsychicphenomena,inoneofherreportstothe SocietyforPsychicalResearch,says:"Thewordclairvoyantisoftenusedverylooselyandwithwidelydifferent meanings.Idenotebyitafacultyofacquiringsupernormally,butnotbyreadingthemindsofpersonspresent,a knowledgeoffactssuchaswenormallyacquirebytheuseofoursenses.Idonotlimitittoknowledgethat wouldnormallybeacquiredbythesenseofsight,nordoIlimitittoaknowledgeofpresentfacts.Asimilar knowledgeofthepast,andifnecessary,offuturefactsmaybeincluded.Ontheotherhand,Iexcludethemere facultyofseeingapparitionsorvisions,whichissometimescalledclairvoyance." Theabovedefinitiveexplanationofthetermclairvoyanceagreeswiththeideaofthebestauthorities,and distinguishesbetweenthephenomenaofclairvoyanceandthatoftelepathy,ontheonehand;andbetweenthe formerandthatofseeingapparitions,ontheotherhand.I,personally,acceptthisdistinctionasbothscientificin form,andasagreeingwiththefactsofthecase.Youwill,ofcourse,seethattheacceptanceoftheexistenceof theastralsensesthrowslightonmanyobscurepointsaboutwhichthepsychicresearchersareindoubt,and reconcilesmanyapparentlyopposingfacts. Allscientificauthorities,aswellasthebestoccultists,dividethephenomenaofclairvoyanceintoseveral welldistinguishedclasses.Thefollowingclassificationissimple,andindicatesclearlytheprincipalformsof clairvoyantphenomena: (1)SimpleClairvoyance,inwhichtheclairvoyantpersonmerelysensestheauricemanationsofotherpersons, suchastheauricvibrations,colors,etc.;currentsofthoughtvibrations,etc.;butdoesnotseeeventsorscenes removedinspaceortimefromtheobserver. (2)ClairvoyanceinSpace,inwhichtheclairvoyantpersonsensesscenesandeventsremovedinspacefromthe observer;and,oftenalsoisabletosensesuchthingsevenwhentheyareconcealedorobscuredbyintervening materialobjects. (3)ClairvoyanceinTime,inwhichtheclairvoyantpersonsensesscenesandeventswhichhavehadtheir originalplaceinpasttime;orscenesandeventswhichwillhavetheiroriginalplaceinthefuture. Ishalldescribeeachofthesethreeclasses,withtheirmanyvariations,aswereachthemintheirproperplaces intheselessons.Beforedoingsohowever,Iwishtoexplaintoyoutheseveralmethodsbywhichclairvoyant

visionisusuallyinduced.Thesemethodsmaybedesignatedasfollows: (1)Psychometry,orthemethodofgettingenrapportwiththeastralplanebymeansofsomephysicalobject connectedwiththeperson,thing,orsceneaboutwhichyoudesiretobeinformed. (2)CrystalGazing,etc.,orthemethodofgettingenrapportwiththeastralplanebymeansofgazingintoa crystal,magicmirror,etc. (3)ClairvoyantReverie,orthemethodofgettingenrapportwiththeastralplanebymeansofpsychicstatesin whichthesights,soundsandthoughtsofthematerialandphysicalplaneareshutoutofconsciousness. Ishallnowproceedtogivethedetailsregardingeachoneofthesethreegreatclassesofmethodsinducing clairvoyantvision,orenrapportconditionswiththeastralplane. PSYCHOMETRY Psychometryisthatformofclairvoyantphenomenainwhichtheclairvoyantgetsintoenrapportrelationwiththe astralplanebymeansoftheconnectinglinkofmaterialobjects,suchasbitofstone,pieceofhair,articleof wearingappareletc.,whichhashadpreviousassociationswiththething,personorsceneregardingwhich clairvoyantvisionisrequired. Withoutgoingintotechnicaloccultexplanations,Iwouldsaythatthevirtueofthesearticlesconsistsentirelyof theirassociativevalue.Thatistosay,theycarryinthemcertainvibrationsofpastexperiencewhichserveasa connectinglink,orassociatedfilament,withthethingwhichissoughttobebroughtintothefieldofclairvoyant vision. Toreachclairvoyantlyathing,scene,orpersoninthiswayisakintotheunwindingofaballofyarn,whenyou holdthelooseendinyourhand.Or,itislikegivingakeenscenteddogasniffatahandkerchiefoncecarriedby thepersonwhomyouwishhimtonoseoutforyou. Awellknownauthorityonthesubjectofpsychicphenomenahassaidonthispoint:"Theuntrainedclairvoyant usuallycannotfindanyparticularastralpicturewhenitiswanted,withoutsomespeciallinktoputhimenrapport withthesubjectrequired.Psychometryisaninstanceinpoint.Itseemsasthoughtherewereasortofmagnetic attachmentoraffinitybetweenanyparticleofmatterandtherecordwhichcontainsitshistory;anaffinitywhich enablesittoactasakindofconductorbetweenthatrecordandthefacultiesofanyonewhocanreadit.For instance,IoncebroughtfromStonehengeatinyfragmentofstone,notlargerthanapin'shead,andonputting thisintoanenvelopeandhandingittoapsychometerwhohadnoideawhatitwas,sheatoncebeganto describethatwonderfulruinandthedesolatecountrysurroundingit,andthenwentontopicturevividlywhat wereevidentlyscenesfromitsearlyhistory,showingthattheinfinitesimalfragmenthadbeensufficienttoputher intocommunicationwiththerecordsconnectedwiththespotfromwhichitcame.Thescenesthroughwhichwe passinthecourseofourlifeseemtoactinthesamewayuponthecellsofourbrainasdidthehistoryof Stonehengeuponthatparticleofstone.Theyestablishaconnectionwiththosecellsbymeansofwhichour mindisputenrapportwiththatparticularportionoftherecords,andsowe'remember'whatwehaveseen." Oneofthesimplestandmostcommonformofpsychometryisthatinwhichthepsychometristisabletotellthe

physicalconditionofapersonbymeansofholdingtotheforehead,oreveninthehand,sometrinketorsmall articlesuchasahandkerchiefrecentlywornonthepersonoftheindividualregardingwhomtheinformationis sought.Inthecaseofsomeverysensitivepsychometrists,thepsychicperson"takeson"theconditionofthe otherpersonwhoseformerarticleofclothing,trinket,etc.,sheisholding.Shewilloftenactuallyexperiencethe physicalpainanddistressoftheperson,andwillbeabletoindicatefromwhatailmentthepersonissuffering. Somepersonsattaingreatproficiencyinthisdirection,andareagreatassistancetowisephysicianswhoavail themselvesoftheirservices.Somesuccessfulphysiciansthemselvespossessthisfacultywelldeveloped,and useittogreatadvantage,though,asaruletheykeepveryquietaboutit,fromfearofcreatingunfavorable commentfromtheirfellowphysiciansandfromthegeneralpublicwho"donotbelieveinsuchtomfoolery." Astepfurtheristhepowerofsomepsychometriststocorrectlydescribethepersonalcharacteristics,andeven thepasthistoryofpersonswithwhomtheycomeincontact,orwhose"associatedarticle"theyhaveintheir hands.Someveryremarkableinstancesofthisphaseofpsychometryarerelatedinthebookscontainingthe historyofclairvoyance.AninterestingcaseisthatrelatedbyZschokke,theeminentGermanwriter,whorelates inhisautobiographyhiswonderfulexperienceinthisdirection.Listentothestoryinhisownwords:"Ithas happenedtomeoccasionallyatthefirstmeetingwithatotalstranger,whenIhavebeenlisteninginsilencetohis conversation,thathispastlifeuptothepresentmoment,withmanyminutecircumstancesbelongingtooneor otherparticularsceneinit,hascomeacrossmelikeadream,butdistinctly,entirelyinvoluntarilyandunsought, occupyingindurationafewminutes.ForalongtimeIwasdisposedtoconsiderthesefleetingvisionsasatrick ofthefancy:Themoresoasmydreamvisiondisplayedtomethedressandmovementsoftheactors,the appearanceoftheroom,thefurniture,andotheraccidentsofthescene;tillononeoccasion,inagamesome mood,Inarratedtomyfamilythesecrethistoryofaseamstresswhohadjustquittheroom.Ihadneverseenthe personbefore.Nevertheless,thehearerswereastonished,andlaughedandwouldnotbepersuadedbutthatI hadapreviousacquaintancewiththeformerlifeoftheperson,inasmuchaswhatIhadstatedwasperfectlytrue. "Iwasnotlessastonishedtofindthatmydreamvisionagreedwithreality.Ithengavemoreattentiontothe subject,andasoftenasproprietyallowedofit,Irelatedtothosewhoseliveshadsopassedbeforemethe substanceofmydreamvision,toobtainfromthemitscontradictionorconfirmation.Oneveryoccasionits confirmationfollowed,notwithoutamazementonthepartofthosewhogaveit.OnacertainfairdayIwentinto thetownofWaldshutaccompaniedbytwoyoungforesters,whoarestillalive.Itwasevening,and,tiredwithour walk,wewentintoaninncalledthe'Vine.'Wetookoursupperwithanumerouscompanyatthepublictable, whenithappenedthattheymadethemselvesmerryoverthepeculiaritiesoftheSwissinconnectionwiththe beliefinmesmerism,Lavater'sphysiognomicalsystem,andthelike.Oneofmycompanions,whosenational pridewastouchedbytheirraillery,beggedmetomakesomereply,particularlyinanswertoayoungmanof superiorappearancewhosatopposite,andhadindulgedinunrestrainedridicule. "Ithappenedthattheeventsofthisperson'slifehadjustpreviouslypassedbeforemymind.Iturnedtohimwith thequestionwhaetherhewouldreplytomewithtruthandcandor,ifInarratedtohimthemostsecretpassages ofhishistory,hebeingaslittleknowntomeasItohim.Thatwould,Isuggested,gosomethingbeyondLavater's physiognomicalskill.HepromisedthatifItoldthetruthhewouldadmititopenly.ThenInarratedtheeventswith whichmydreamvisionhadfurnishedme,andthetablelearnedthehistoryoftheyoungtradesman'slife,ofhis schoolyears,hispeccadilloes,andfinally,ofalittleactofroguerycommittedbyhimonthestrongboxofhis employer.Idescribedtheuninhabitedroomwithitswhitewalls,wheretotherightofthebrowndoortherehad stooduponthetablethesmallmoneychest,etc.Theman,muchstruck,admittedthecorrectnessofeach circumstance,even,whichIcouldnotexpect,ofthelast."

Theaboveincidentistypicalofthisclassofpsychometry,andmanypersonshavehadatleastflashesofthis phaseofthepower.Theonlyremarkablethingaboutthisparticularcaseisitsfaithfulnessregardingdetails.This showsaveryfinedevelopmentoftheastralsense.Thefeaturethatmakesitpsychometric,insteadofpure clairvoyance,isthatthepresenceoftheotherpersonwasnecessarytoproducethephenomenon;abitof clothingwouldprobablyhaveansweredaswell.Zschokkedoesnotseemtohavebeenabletomanifest timeclairvoyanceindependentofthepresenceofthepersonconcerned:Heneedstheassociatedlink,orloose endofthepsychicballofyarn. Nextinorderinthelistofthephenomenaofpsychometryisthatinwhichthepsychometristisabletodescribea distantscenebymeansofabitofmineral,plant,orsimilarobject,oncelocatedatthatplace.Insuchcases,the psychometristgetsenrapportwiththedistantscenebymeansoftheconnectinglinkmentioned.Having obtainedthis,heisabletorelatetheeventsthatarehappeningonthatsceneatthatparticularmoment.Some veryinterestingcasesarementionedinwhichthepsychometristhasbeenableto"spy"inonacertainplace,by meansofsomesmallarticlewhichhasrecentlybeenlocatedinthatplace.ForinstanceIoncegaveayoung psychometristapenholderfromtheofficeofalawyer,afriendofmine,locatedabouteighthundredmilesfrom thepsychometrist.Shegaveaperfectpictureoftheinterioroftheoffice,thesceneacrossthestreetvisiblefrom theofficewindow,andcertaineventsthatwerehappeningintheofficeatthatmoment,whichwereverifiedby carefulinquiryastopersonsandtime.Everyoccultist,orinvestigatorofpsychicphenomenahasexperienced manycasesofthiskind. Anotherphaseofpsychometryisthatinwhichthepsychometerisabletosensetheconditionsexisting underground,bymeansofapieceofmineralormetalwhichoriginallywaslocatedthere.Somewonderful instancesofphychometricdiscernmentofmines,etc.,havebeenrecorded.Inthisphaseofpsychometry,allthat isneededisapieceofthecoal,mineralormetalwhichhascomefromthemine.Followingupthispsychic"lead" thepsychometristisabletodescribetheveinsorstrataofthesurroundingland,althoughtheyhavenotyetbeen uncoveredordiscovered. Stillanotherformofpsychometricdiscernmentisthatinwhichthepsychometristgetsenrapportwiththepast historyofanobject,orofitssurroundings,bymeansoftheobjectitself.Inthisway,thepsychometristholdingin hishand,orpressingtohishead,abulletfromabattlefield,isabletopicturethebattleitself.Or,givenapieceof ancientpotteryorstoneimplement,thepsychometristisabletopicturethetimeandpeoplesconnectedwiththe objectinthepast,sometimesaftermanycenturiesarepast.Ioncehandedagoodpsychometristabitof ornamenttakenfromanEgyptianmummyoverthreethousandyearsold.Thoughthepsychometristdidnot knowwhattheobjectwas,orfromwhenceithadcome,shewasabletopicturenotonlythescenesinwhichthe Egyptianhadlived,butalsothescenesconnectedwiththemanufactureoftheornament,somethreehundred yearsbeforethattime:ForitturnedoutthattheornamentitselfwasanantiquewhentheEgyptianhadacquired it. Inanothercase,Ihadthepsychometristdescribeindetailtheanimallife,andthephysicalphenomena,ofthe ageinwhichafossilhadexistedwhenalivemanythousandsofyearsago.Intheproperplaceinthisbook,I willexplainjusthowitispossibletopenetratethesecretsofthepastbypsychometricvision.Thatistosay,the psychiclawsmakingthesamepossible. SomeofthemostremarkableofrecordedinstancesofthisformofpsychometryknowntotheWesternworldare thoserelatedintheworksofageologistnamedDenton,whosomefiftyyearsagoconductedaseriesof

investigationsintothephenomenaofpsychometry.Hisrecordedexperimentsfillseveralvolumes.Beinga geologist,hewasabletoselectthebestsubjectsfortheexperiments,andalsotoverifyanddecideuponthe accuracyofthereportsgivenbythepsychometrists.Hiswife,herself,wasagiftedpsychometrist,andithas beensaidofher,bygoodauthority,that"sheisable,byputtingapieceofmatter(whateverbeitsnature)toher head,tosee,eitherwithhereyesclosedoropen,allthatthepieceofmatter,figurativelyspeaking,eversaw, heard,orexperienced."ThefollowingexampleswillgiveagoodideaoftheDentonexperiments,whichare typicalofthisclassofpsychometry. Dr.Dentongavethepsychometristasmallfragmentbrokenfromalargemeteorite.Sheheldittoherhead,and reported:"Thisiscurious.Thereisnothingatalltobeseen.IfeelasifIwereintheair.No,notintheaireither, butinnothing,noplace.Iamutterlyunabletodescribeit;itseemshigh,howeverIfeelasthoughIwererising, andmyeyesarecarriedupwards;butIlookaroundinvain;thereisnothingtobeseen.Iseeclouds,now,but nothingelse.TheyaresoclosetomethatIseemtobeinthem.Myhead,andneckandeyesareaffected.My eyesarecarriedup,andIcannotrollthemdown.Nowthecloudsappearlighterandlighter,andlookasthough thesunlightwouldburstthroughthem.Asthecloudsseparate,Icanseeastarortwo,andthenthemoon insteadofthesun.Themoonseemsnear,andlookscoarseandrough,andpalerandlargerinsizethanIever sawitbefore.Whatastrangefeelingcomesoverme!ItappearsasifIweregoingrighttothemoon,anditlooks asifthemoonwerecomingtome.Itaffectsmeterribly." Dr.Dentonadds:"Shewastoomuchaffectedtocontinuetheexperimentlonger.Hadthisaeroliteatsomeperiod ofitshistory,comewithinthesphereofthemoon'sattraction,andhaditsvelocitysoincreasedthatits augmentedcentrifugalforcehadcarrieditoffintospaceagain,whence,drawnbythesuperiorattractiveforceof theearth,ithadfallenandendeditscareerforever?" Atanothertime,Dr.Dentontestedthepsychometristwithawhalebonewalkingcane.Shesupposedittobe wood,butwhenshebegantoreportherpsychicimpressions,theycameasfollows:"IfeelasthoughIwerea monster.Thereisnothingofatreeaboutit,anditisuselessformetogofurther.Ifeellikevomiting.NowIwant toplungeintothewater.IbelievethatIamgoingtohaveafit.Myjawsarelargeenoughtotakedownahouseat agulp.Inowknowwhatthisis:Itiswhalebone.Iseetheinsideofthewhale'smouth.Ithasnoteeth.Ithasa slimylook,butIonlygetaglimpseofit.Now,Iseethewholeanimal.Whatanawfullookingcreature." Anothertime,Dr.Dentongavethepsychometristaminutepieceoftheenamelofthetoothofamastodon,which hadbeenfoundthirtyfeetbelowthesurfaceoftheearth.Thepsychometristhadnottheslightestknowledgeof thecharacterofthetinyflakeofenamelhandedher,butneverthelessreported:"Myimpressionisthatitisapart ofsomemonstrousanimal,probablypartofatooth.Ifeellikeaperfectmonster,withheavylegs,unwieldyhead, andverylargebody.Igodowntoashallowstreamtodrink.Icanhardlyspeak,myjawsaresoheavy.Ifeellike gettingdownonallfours.Whatanoisecomesthroughthewoods.Ihaveanimpulsetoanswerit.Myearsare verylargeandleathery,andIcanalmostfancytheyflapinmyfaceasImovemyhead.Therearesomeolder onesthanI.Itseemssooutofkeepingtobetalkingwiththeseheavyjaws.Theyaredarkbrown,asiftheyhad beencompletelytanned.Thereisoneoldfellow,withlargetusks,thatlooksverytough.Iseeseveralyounger ones.Infact,thereisawholeherd.Myupperlipmovescuriously;Icanflapitup.Itseemsstrangetomehowit isdone.Thereisaplantgrowinghere,higherthanmyhead.Itisnearlyasthickasmywrist,veryjuicy,sweet, andtender;somethinglikegreencornintaste,butsweeter.Itisnotthetasteitwouldhavetoahumanbeingoh no!itissickenish,andveryunpleasanttothehumantaste."Theseinstancesmightbemultipliedindefinitely,but theprincipleisthesameineach.Inmyownexperience,IgaveasmallpiecefromtheGreatPyramidofEgyptto

apsychometristwhowasuneducatedandwhoknewnothingofancientEgyptoritshistory.Notwithstandingthis, shegavemesuchadetailedandcompleteaccountofthelifeofancientEgypt,whichwasinsuchcomplete accordancewiththeopinionsofthebestauthorities,thatIwouldhesitateaboutpublishingthereport,forit certainlywouldberegardedasrankimposturebytheaveragescientificauthority.Someday,however,Imay publishthis. Therearenospecialdirectionstobegiventhestudentinpsychometry.Allthatcanbedoneistosuggestthat eachpersonshouldtrytheexperimentsforhimself,inordertofindoutwhetherhehas,orhasnot,the psychometricfaculty.Itmaybedevelopedbythemethodsthatwillbegiventodevelopallpsychicpowers,in anotherpartofthisbook.Butmuchwilldependuponactualpracticeandexercise.Takestrangeobjects,and, sittinginaquietroomwiththeobjectheldtoyourforehead,shutoutallthoughtsoftheoutsideworld,andforget allpersonalaffairs.Inashorttime,iftheconditionsareallright,youwillbegintohaveflashesofscenes connectedwiththehistoryoftheobject.Atfirstratherdisconnectedandmoreorlessconfused,therewillsoon cometoyouaclearingawayofthescene,andthepictureswillbecomequiteplain.Practicewilldevelopthe power.Practiceonlywhenalone,orwheninthepresenceofsomesympatheticfriendorfriends.Alwaysavoid discordantandinharmoniouscompanywhenpracticingpsychicpowers.Thebestpsychometristsusuallykeep thephysicaleyesclosedwhenpracticingtheirpower. Youhavedoubtlessheardthesensingofsealedlettersspokenofasclairvoyance.Butthisismerelyoneformof psychometry.Theletterisaverygoodconnectingmediuminpsychometricexperiments.Iadviseyoutobegin yourexperimentswitholdletters.Youwillbesurprisedtodiscoverhowreadilyyouwillbegintoreceivepsychic impressionsfromtheletters,eitherfromthepersonwhowrotethem,orfromtheplaceinwhichtheywere written,orfromsomeoneconnectedwiththesubsequenthistory.OneofthemostinterestingexperimentsIever witnessedinpsychometry,wasacaseinwhichaletterthathadbeenforwardedfromplacetoplace,untilithad gonecompletelyaroundtheglobe,waspsychometrizedbyayoungHindumaiden.Althoughignorantofthe outsideworld,shewasabletopicturethepeopleandsceneryofeverypartoftheglobeinwhichtheletterhad traveled.Herreportwasreallyaninteresting"travelogue"ofatriparoundtheworld,givenintabloidform.You mayobtainsomeinterestingresultsinpsychometrizingoldlettersbutalwaysbeconscientiousaboutit,and refrainfromdivulgingthesecretsthatwillbecomeyoursinthecourseoftheseexperiments.Behonorableonthe astralplane,aswellasonthephysical,moreso,ratherthanless.

LESSON7
CLAIRVOYANTCRYSTALGAZING
AsIhaveinformedyouintheprecedinglesson,CrystalGazingisthesecondmethodofgettingenrapportwith theastralplane.Underthegeneralterm"CrystalGazing"Iincludetheentirebodyofphenomenaconnectedwith theuseofthecrystal,magicmirror,etc.,theunderlyingprinciplebeingthesameinallofsuchcases. Thecrystal,etc.,servestofocusthepsychicenergyoftheperson,insuchawaythattheastralsensesare inducedtofunctionmorereadilythanordinarily.Thestudentiscautionedagainstregardingthecrystal,ormagic mirror,aspossessinganyparticularmagicpowerinitself.Onthecontrary,thecrystal,ormagicmirrorserves merelyasaphysicalinstrumentfortheastralvision,justasthetelescopeormicroscopeperformsasimilaroffice forthephysicalvision.Somepersonsaresuperstitiousregardingthecrystal,andaccordtoitsomeweird supernaturalpower,butthetrueoccultist,understandingthelawsofthephenomenaarisingfromitsuse,does notfallintothiserror. But,notwithstandingwhatIhavejustsaid,IwouldbeneglectingmyfulldutyinthematterifIfailedtocallyour attentiontothefactthatthecontinueduseofaparticularcrystaloftenhastheeffectofpolarizingitsmolecules soastorenderitafarmoreefficientinstrumentastimepassesby.Thelongerthecrystalisusedbyoneperson, thebetterdoesitseemtoservetheusesofthatperson.Iagreewithmanyusersofthecrystalintheirbeliefthat eachpersonshouldkeephiscrystalforhisownpersonaluse,andnotallowittobeusedindiscriminatelyby strangersorpersonsnotinsympathywithoccultthought.Thecrystaltendstobecomepolarizedaccordingtothe requirementsofthepersonhabituallyusingit,anditisfoolishtoallowthistobeinterferedwith. Theuseofcrystalsandotherbright,shiningobjects,hasbeencommontopsychicinvestigatorsofalltimes,and inpracticallyalllands.Intheearlierdaysoftherace,piecesofclearquartzorshiningpebblesweregenerally employed.Sometimespiecesofpolishedmetalweresoused.Infact,nearlyeveryobjectcapableofbeing polishedhasbeenemployedinthiswayatsometime,bysomeperson.Inourownday,thesamecondition exists.InAustraliathenativesoothsayersandmagiciansemploywaterandothershiningobjects,and,insome cases,evenbrightflame,sparks,orglowingembers.InNewZealand,thenativesfrequentlyemploydropsof bloodheldinthehollowofthehand.TheFijiansfillaholewithwater,andgazeintoit.SouthAmericantribesuse thepolishedsurfaceofblack,ordarkcoloredstones.TheAmericanIndiansusewater,orshiningpiecesorflint orquartz.Shiningpiecesofmetalarefrequentlyusedbytheprimitiveraces.Lang,writingonthesubject,has said:"Theystareintoacrystalball;acup;amirror;ablotofink(EgyptandIndia);adropofblood(theMaorisof NewZealand);abowlofwater(AmericanIndians);apond(RomanandAfrican);waterinaglassbowl(Fez);or almostanypolishedsurface,etc." InthepresentdayrevivalofinterestincrystalgazingamongthewealthierclassesofEuropeandAmerica,some ofthehighpricedteachershaveinsistedupontheirpupilspurchasingpurecrystalglobes,claimingthatthese alonearecapableofservingthepurposefully.But,assuchcrystalsareveryexpensive,thisadvicehas preventedmanyfromexperimenting.But,theadviceiserroneous,foranyglobeofclearquartz,orevenmolded glass,willservethepurposeequallywell,andthereisnoneedofspendingtwentyfivetofiftydollarsforapure crystalglobe.

Forthatmatter,youmayobtainverygoodresultsfromtheuseofawatchcrystallaidoverapieceofblack velvet.Some,today,usewiththebesteffectsmallpolishedpiecesofsilverorotherbrightmetal.Othersfollow theoldplanofusingalargedropofink,pouredintoasmallbutterplate.Somehavesmallcupspaintedblackon theinside,intowhichtheypourwater,andobtainexcellentresultstherefrom. Aboveall,Icautionthestudenttopaynoattentiontoinstructionsregardingthenecessityofperforming incantationsorceremoniesoverthecrystalorotherobjectemployedincrystalgazing.Thisisbutabitofidle superstition,andservesnousefulpurposeexcept,possibly,thatofgivingthepersonconfidenceinthething.All ceremoniesofthiskindhavefortheirpurpose,merelytheholdingoftheattentionofthepersoninvestigating, andgivinghimconfidenceintheresult(thelatterhavingadecidedpsychologicalvalue,ofcourse). Therearebutfewgeneraldirectionsnecessaryforthepersonwishingtoexperimentincrystalgazing.The principalthingistomaintainquiet,andanearnest,seriousstateofmind:Donotmakeamerrygameofit,ifyou wishtoobtainresults.Again,alwayshavethelightbehindyourback,insteadoffacingyou.Gazecalmlyatthe crystal,butdonotstrainyoureyes.Donottrytoavoidblinkingyoureyes;thereisadifferencebetween"gazing" and"staring,"remember.Somegoodauthoritiesadvisemakingfunnelsofthehands,andusingthemasyou wouldapairofoperaglasses. Inmanycases,anumberoftrialsarerequiredbeforeyouwillbeabletogetgoodresults.Inothers,atleast someresultsareobtainedatthefirsttrial.Itisagoodplantotrytobringintovisionsomethingthatyouhave alreadyseenwiththephysicaleyessomefamiliarobject.Thefirstsignofactualpsychicseeinginthecrystal usuallyappearsasacloudyappearance,or"milkymist,"thecrystalgraduallylosingitstransparency.Inthis milkycloudthengraduallyappearsaform,orface,orsceneofsomekind,moreorlessplainlydefined.Ifyou haveeverdevelopedaphotographicfilmorplate,youwillknowhowthepicturegraduallycomesintoview. W.T.Stead,theeminentEnglishinvestigatorofpsychicphenomena,haswrittenasfollowsregardingthe phenomenaofcrystalgazing:"Therearesomepersonswhocannotlookintoanordinaryglobularbottlewithout seeingpicturesformthemselveswithoutanyeffortorwillontheirpart,inthecrystalglobe.Crystalgazingseems tobetheleastdangerousandmostsimpleofallformsofexperimenting.Yousimplylookintoacrystalglobethe sizeofafiveshillingpiece,orawaterbottlewhichisfullofclearwater,andwhichisplacedsothattoomuch lightdoesnotfalluponit,andthensimplylookatit.Youmakenoincantations,andengageinnomumbojumbo business;yousimplylookatitfortwoorthreeminutes,takingcarenottotireyourself,winkingasmuchasyou please,butfixingyourthoughtuponwhateveryouwishtosee.Then,ifyouhavethefaculty,theglasswillcloud overwithamilkymist,andinthecentertheimageisgraduallyprecipitatedinjustthesamewayasaphotograph formsonthesensitiveplate." Thesameauthorityrelatesthefollowinginterestingexperimentwiththecrystal:"MissX.,uponlookingintothe crystalontwooccasionsasatest,toseeifshecouldseemewhenshewasseveralmilesoff,sawnotme,buta differentfriendofmineoneachoccasion.Shehadneverseeneitherofmyfriendsbefore,butimmediately identifiedthembothonseeingthemafterwardatmyoffice.Ononeoftheeveningsonwhichweexperimentedin thevainattemptstophotographa'double,'IdinedwithMadamC.andherfriendataneighboringrestaurant.As sheglancedatthewaterbottle,MadamC.sawapicturebeginningtoform,and,lookingatitfromcuriosity, describedwithconsiderabledetailanelderlygentlemanwhomshehadneverseenbefore,andwhomIdidnotin theleastrecognizefromherdescriptionatthemoment.Threehoursafterward,whenthesancewasover, MadamC.,enteredtheroomandrecognizedMr.Elliott,ofMessrs.Elliott&Fry,asthegentlemanwhomshehad

seenanddescribedinthewaterbottleattherestaurant.Onanotheroccasionthepicturewaslessagreeable;it wasanoldmanlyingdeadinbedwithsomeoneweepingathisfeet;butwhoitwas,orwhatitrelatedto,noone knew." AndrewLang,anotherprominentinvestigatorofpsychicphenomena,givesthefollowinginterestingexperiment incrystalgazing:"Ihadgivenaglassballtoayounglady,MissBaillie,whohadscarcelyanysuccesswithit. ShelentittoMissLeslie,whosawalarge,square,oldfashionedredsofacoveredwithmuslin(whichshe, afterwardfoundinthenextcountryhouseshevisited).MissBaillie'sbrother,ayoungathlete,laughedatthese experiments,tooktheballintohisstudy,andcamebacklooking'geygash.'Headmittedthathehadseena vision:Somebodyheknew,underalamp.Hesaidthathewoulddiscoverduringtheweekwhetherornothehad seenright.Thiswasat5:30onaSundayafternoon.OnTuesday,Mr.Bailliewasatadanceinatownfortymiles fromhishome,andmetaMissPreston.'OnSunday,'hesaid,'abouthalfpastfive,youweresittingundera standardlamp,inadressIneversawyouwear,ablueblousewithlaceovertheshoulders,pouringoutteafora maninblueserge,whosebackwastowardme,sothatIonlysawthetipofhismustache.''Why,theblindsmust havebeenup,'saidMissPreston.'IwasatDulby,'saidMr.Baillie,andheundeniablywas." MissX.,thewellknowncontributortotheEnglishmagazine,"Borderland,"severalyearsago,madeasomewhat extendedinquiryintothephenomenaofcrystalgazing.Fromherexperiments,shemadethefollowing classificationofthephenomenaofcrystalvision,whichIherewithreproduceforyourbenefit.Herclassificationis asfollows: 1.Imagesofsomethingunconsciouslyobserved.Newreproductions,voluntaryorspontaneous,andbringingno freshknowledgetothemind. 2.Imagesofideasunconsciouslyacquiredfromothers.Somememoryorimaginativeeffect,whichdoesnot comefromthegazer'sordinaryself.Revivalsofmemory.Illustrationsofthought. 3.Images,clairvoyantorprophetic.Picturesgivinginformationastosomethingpast,present,orfuture,which thegazerhasnootherchanceofknowing. Asamatteroffact,eachandeveryformorphaseofclairvoyancepossibleunderothermethodsofinducing clairvoyantvision,ispossibleincrystalgazing.Itisamistaketoconsidercrystalgazingasaseparateand distinctformofpsychicphenomena.Crystalgazingismerelyoneparticularformormethodofinducingpsychic orclairvoyantvision.Ifyouwillkeepthisinmind,youwillavoidmanycommonerrorsandmisunderstandingsin thematter. Inordertogiveyouthebenefitofasmanypointsofviewaspossible,IshallnowquotefromanoldEnglishwriter onthesubjectoftheuseofthecrystal.Idothisrealizingthatsometimesaparticularstudentwillgetmorefrom onepointofview,thanfromanother;someparticularphrasingwillseemtoreachhisunderstanding,where othersfail.ThedirectionsoftheEnglishauthorityareasfollows: "Whatisdesiredthroughtheregularuseofthetranslucentsphereistocultivateapersonaldegreeofclairvoyant power,sothatvisionsofthingsorevents,past,present,andfuture,mayappearclearlytotheinteriorvision,or eyeofthesoul.Inthepursuitofthiseffortonly,thecrystalbecomesatoncebothabeautiful,interestingand harmlesschannelofpleasureandinstruction,shornofdangers,andrenderedconducivetomentaldevelopment.

"Totheattainmentofthisdesirableend,attentionisaskedtothefollowingpracticaldirections,which,ifcarefully followed,willleadtosuccess: "(1)Selectaquietroomwhereyouwillbeentirelyundisturbed,takingcarethatitisasfaraspossiblefreefrom mirrors,ornaments,pictures,glaringcolors,andthelike,whichmayotherwisedistricttheattention.Theroom shouldbeofcomfortabletemperature,inaccordancewiththetimeofyear,neitherhotnorcold.About60to65 deg.Fahr.issuitableinmostcases,thoughallowancecanbemadewherenecessaryfornaturaldifferencesin thetemperamentsofvariouspersons.Thusthin,nervous,delicatelyorganizedindividuals,andthoseof lymphaticandsoft,easygoing,passivetypes,requireaslightlywarmerapartmentthanthemorepositiveclass whoareknownbytheirdarkeyes,hairandcomplexion,combinedwithprominentjoints.Shouldafire,orany formofartificiallightbenecessary,itshouldbewellscreenedoff,soastopreventthelightraysfrombeing reflectedin,orinanymannerdirectlyreachingthecrystal.Theroomshouldnotbedark,butrathershadowed,or chargedwithadulllight,somewhatsuchasprevailsonacloudyorwetday. "(2)Thecrystalshouldbeplacedonitsstandonatable,oritmayrestonablackvelvetcushion,butineither caseitshouldbepartiallysurroundedbyablacksilkorsimilarwraporscreen,soadjustedastocutoffany undesirablereflection.Beforebeginningtoexperiment,rememberthatmostfrequentlynothingwillbeseenon thefirstoccasion,andpossiblynotforseveralsittings;thoughsomesitters,ifstronglygiftedwithpsychicpowers inastateofunconscious,andsometimesconsciousdegreeofunfoldment,maybefortunateenoughtoobtain goodresultsattheveryfirsttrial.If,therefore,nothingisperceivedduringthefirstfewattempts,donotdespairor becomeimpatient,orimaginethatyouwillneverseeanything.Thereisaroyalroadtocrystalvision,butitis openonlytothecombinedpasswordofCalmness,Patience,andPerseverance.Ifatthefirstattempttoridea bicycle,failureensues,theonlywaytolearnistopayattentiontothenecessaryrules,andtoperseveredaily untiltheabilitytoridecomesnaturally.Thusitiswiththewouldbeseer.Persevereinaccordancewiththese simpledirections,andsuccesswillsoonerorlatercrownyourefforts. "(3)Commencebysittingcomfortablywiththeeyesfixeduponthecrystal,notbyafiercestare,butwitha steady,calmgaze,fortenminutesonly,onthefirstoccasion.Intakingthetimeitisbesttohangyourwatchata distance,where,whilethefaceisclearlyvisible,thetickingisrenderedinaudible.Whenthetimeisup,carefully putthecrystalawayinitscase,andkeepitinadarkplace,underlockandkey,allowingnoonebutyourselfto handleit.Atthesecondsitting,whichshouldbeatthesameplace,inthesameposition,andatthesametime, youmayincreasethelengthoftheefforttofifteenminutes,andcontinueforthisperiodduringthenextfiveorsix sittings,afterwhichthetimemaybegraduallyincreased,butshouldinnocaseexceedonehour.Theprecise orderofrepetitionisalwaystobefolloweduntiltheexperimenterhasdevelopedanalmostautomaticabilityto readilyobtainresults,whenitneedsnolongertobeadheredto. "(4)Anyperson,orpersons,admittedtotheroom,andallowedtoremainwhileyousit,should(a)keepabsolute silence,and(b)remainseatedatadistancefromyou.Whenyouhavedevelopedyourlatentpowers,questions may,ofcourse,beputtoyoubyoneofthosepresent,buteventheninaverygentle,orlowandslowtoneof voice;neversuddenly,orinaforcefulmanner. "(5)Whenyoufindthecrystalbeginstolookdullorcloudy,withsmallpinpointsoflightglitteringtherein,liketiny stars,youmayknowthatyouarecommencingtoobtainthatforwhichyouseekviz.,crystallinevision. Therefore,perseverewithconfidence.Thisconditionmay,ormaynot,continueforseveralsittings,thecrystal seemingattimestoalternatelyappearanddisappear,asinamist.Byandbythishazyappearance,initsturn,

willgiveplacequitesuddenlytoablindnessofthesensestoallelsebutablueorbluishoceanofspace,against which,asifitwereabackground,thevisionwillbeclearlyapparent. "(6)Thecrystalshouldnotbeusedsoonaftertakingameal,andcareshouldbetakeninmattersofdietto partakeonlyofdigestiblefoods,andtoavoidalcoholicbeverages.Plainandnourishingfood,andoutdoor exercise,withcontentmentofmind,orloveofsimplicityinliving,aregreataidstosuccess.Mentalanxiety,or illhealth,arenotconducivetothedesiredend.Attentiontocorrect,breathingisofimportance. "(7)Asregardsthetimeatwhicheventsseenwillcometopass,eachseerisusuallyimpressedwithregard thereto;but,asageneralrule,visionsappearingintheextremebackgroundindicatetimemoreremote,either pastorfuture,thanthoseperceivednearerathand,whilethoseappearingintheforeground,orclosertothe seer,denotethepresentorimmediatefuture. "(8)Twoprincipalclassesofvisionwillpresentthemselvestothesitter:(a)theSymbolic,indicatedbythe appearanceofsymbolssuchasaflag,boat,knife,gold,etc.,and(b)ActualScenesandPersonages,inaction orotherwise.Personsofapositivetypeoforganization,themoreactive,excitable,yetdecidedtype,aremost likelytoperceivesymbolically,orallegorically;whilethoseofapassivenatureusuallyreceivedirectorliteral revelations.Bothclasseswillfinditnecessarytocarefullycultivatetruthfulness,unselfishness,gratitudeforwhat isshown,andabsoluteconfidenceinthelove,wisdom,andguidanceofGodHimself." Asthestudentproceedswiththestudyoftheselessons,hewillbecomeacquaintedwithvariousdetailsand methodsconcernedwiththevariousphasesofclairvoyance,whichknowledgehemaythencombinewiththe above,thewholeaidinghiminthesuccessfulmanifestationofthepsychicphenomenaofcrystalgazing,which, asIhavesaid,ismerelyonephaseofclairvoyanceandunderthesamegenerallawsandrulesofmanifestation. Rememberthatpresent,pastandfutureclairvoyanceallispossibletothehighlydevelopedcrystalgazer. THEASTRALTUBE Closelyalliedwiththephenomenaofcrystalgazing,andthatofpsychometry,isthatwhichoccultistsknowas "theastraltube,"althoughthispsychicchannelmaybedevelopedinordinaryclairvoyancebymeansofthe powerofconcentratedattention,etc.Ishallnotenterintoadetailedortechnicaldiscussionoftheastraltube,at thisplace,butIwishtogiveyouageneralandcomprehensiveviewofitanditsworkings. Incaseofthestrongconcentrationofthemind,incasesofpsychometryorcrystalgazing,achannelor"lineof force"issetupintheastralsubstancewhichcomposesthebasisoftheastralplane.Thisislikethewakeofa shipmadeonthesurfaceofthewaterthroughwhichtheshiphaspassed.Oritislikeacurrentofmagneticforce intheaether.Itiscausedbyapolarizationoftheparticlescomposingtheastralsubstance,whichmanifestina currentofintensevibrationsintheastralsubstance,whichthusserveasareadychannelforthetransmissionof psychicforceorastralenergy. Theastraltubeservesasareadyconductorofthevibrations,currentsandwavesofenergyontheastralplane whichcarrytotheastralsensesofthepersontheperceptionofthethings,objectsandscenesfarremoved fromhiminspaceandtime.Howthesethingsfarremovedinspaceandtimeareperceivedbytheastralseeris explainedinsubsequentlessonsofthiscourse.Atthisplaceweareconcernedmerelywiththe"channel" throughwhichthecurrentsofenergyflow,andwhichhasbeencalledtheastraltube.

Asawriterwellsays:"Throughtheastraltubetheastralsensesactually'sense'thesights,andoftenthesounds, beingmanifestedatadistance,justasonemayseedistantsightsthroughatelescope,orheardistantsounds throughatelephone.Theastraltubeisusedinavarietyofformsofpsychicphenomena.Itisoftenused unconsciously,andspringsintoexistencespontaneously,underthestronginfluenceofavividemotion,desireor will.Itisusedbythetrainedpsychometrist,withouttheuseofany'startingpoint,'or'focalcenter,'simplybythe useofhistrained,developedandconcentratedwill.Butitsmostfamiliarandcommonuseisinconnectionwith someobjectservingasastartingpointorfocalcenter.Thestartingpointorfocalcenter,abovementioned,is generallyeitherwhatisknownasthe'associatedobject'intheclassofphenomenagenerallyknownas psychometry,orelseaglassorcrystalball,orsimilarpolishedsurface,inwhatisknownascrystalgazing." Anotherauthoritytellshisreadersthat:"Astralsight,whenitiscrampedbybeingdirectedalongwhatis practicallyatube,islimitedverymuchasphysicalsightwouldbeundersimilarcircumstances,thoughif possessedinperfectionitwillcontinuetoshow,evenatthatdistance,theauras,andthereforealltheemotions andmostofthethoughtsofthepeopleunderobservation. ***But,itmaybesaid,themerefactthatheisusingastralsightoughttoenablehimtoseethingsfromallsides atonce.Andsoitwould,ifhewereusingthatsightinanormalwayuponanobjectwhichwasfairlynearhim, withinhisastralreach,asitwere;butatadistanceofhundredsorthousandsofmilesthecaseisverydifferent. Astralsightgivesustheadvantageofanadditionaldimension,butthereisstillsuchathingaspositioninthat dimension,anditisnaturallyapotentfactorinlimitingtheuseofthepowersonthatplane.*** Thelimitationsresemblethoseofamanusingatelescopeonthephysicalplane.Theexperimenter,forexample, hasaparticularfieldofviewwhichcannotbeenlargedoraltered;heislookingathisscenefromacertain direction,andhecannotsuddenlyturnitallaroundandseehowitlooksfromtheotherside.Ifhehassufficient psychicenergytospare,hemaydropaltogetherthetelescopeheisusing,andmanufactureanentirelynewone forhimselfwhichwillapproachhisobjectivesomewhatdifferently;butthisisnotacourseatalllikelytobe adoptedinpractice." Thestudentwillfindthat,asweprogress,manyofthesepointswhichnowseemcomplicatedandobscurewill graduallytakeontheaspectofsimplicityandclearness.Wemustcrawlbeforewecanwalk,inpsychicresearch aswellasineverythingelse.

LESSON8
CLAIRVOYANTREVERIE
Intheprecedingtwochapters,Ihaveaskedyoutoconsiderthefirsttwomethodsofinducingtheclairvoyant phenomena,namely,Psychometry,andCrystalGazing,respectively.Inthesecasesyouhaveseenhowthe clairvoyantgetsenrapportwiththeastralplanebymeansofphysicalobjects,inthecaseofpsychometric clairvoyance;orbymeansofashiningobject,inthecaseofcrystalgazing.Letusnowconsiderthethirdmethod ofinducingtheclairvoyantconditionorstate,i.e.,bymeansofwhatmaybecalledClairvoyantReverie,inwhich theclairvoyantgetsenrapportwiththeastralplanebymeansofpsychicstatesinwhichthesights,soundsand thoughtsofthematerialandphysicalplaneareshutoutofconsciousness. Thestudentofthegeneralsubjectofclairvoyancewillsoonbeimpressedwithtwofactsconcerningthe productionofclairvoyantphenomena,namely,(1)thatinthemajorityoftherecordedcasesoftheinvestigators theclairvoyantphenomenawereobtainedwhentheclairvoyantwasinthestateofsleep,oratleastsemisleep ordrowsiness,thevisioningappearingmoreorlesslikeavividdream;and(2)thatinthecaseoftheclairvoyant voluntarilyenteringenrapportwiththeastralplane,heorshewouldenterintowhatseemedtobeakindof trancecondition,insomecasesanabsoluteunconsciousnessoftheoutsideworldbeingmanifested.The student,notingthesefacts,isapttoarriveattheconclusionthatallclairvoyanceisaccompaniedbythecondition ofsleep,ortrance,andthatnoclairvoyantphenomenaarepossibleunlessthispsychicconditionisfirst obtained.Butthisisonlyahalftruthasweshallseeinamoment. Inthefirstplace,thestudentarrivingatthisconclusionseemstohaveignoredthefactthatthephenomenaof psychometryandcrystalgazing,respectively,areastrueinstancesofclairvoyanceasarethosewhichare manifestedinthesleeportrancecondition.Itistruethatsomepsychometristsproducephenomenawhenthey areinastateofpsychicquiescence,but,ontheotherhand,manyclairvoyantpsychometristsmerelyconcentrate theattentionontheobjectbeforethem,andremainperfectlywideawakeandconsciousonthephysicalplane. Likewise,theaveragecrystalgazerremainsperfectlywideawakeandconsciousonthephysicalplane.When thestudenttakesthesefactsintoconsideration,hebeginstoseethatthetrancecondition,andsimilarpsychic states,aresimplyparticularmethodsofinducingtheenrapportconditionfortheclairvoyant,andarenot inseparablyboundupwiththephenomenaofclairvoyance. Asthestudentprogresses,moreover,hewillseethateveninthecaseofClairvoyantReverie,thethirdmethod ofinducingtheastralenrapportcondition,theclairvoyantdoesnotalwaysloseconsciousness.Inthecaseof manyadvancedandexceptionallywelldevelopedclairvoyants,notranceorsleepconditionisinduced.Insuch casestheclairvoyantmerely"shutsout"theoutsideworldofsights,soundsandthoughts,byaneffortoftrained will,andthenconcentratessteadilyonthephenomenaoftheastralplane.Forthatmatter,theskilledand advancedoccultistisabletofunctionontheastralplanebysimplyshiftinghisconsciousnessfromoneplaneto another,asthetypistshiftsfromthesmalllettersofthekeyboardtothecapitalletters,byamerepressureonthe shiftkeyofthetypewriter. Theonlyreasonthatmanyclairvoyantsmanifestingalongthelinesofthethirdmethod,knownas"clairvoyant reverie,"fallintothetranceorsleepcondition,isthattheyhavenotasyetacquiredtherareartofcontrollingtheir

consciousattentionatwill:Thisissomethingthatrequiresgreatpractice.Theyfinditeasiertodropintothe conditionofsemitrance,orsemisleep,thanitistodeliberatelyshutouttheouterworldbyanactofpurewill. Moreover,youwillfindthatinthemajorityoftherecordedcasesoftheinvestigators,theclairvoyancewasmore orlessspontaneousonthepartoftheclairvoyantperson,andwasnotproducedbyanactofwill.Asweproceed toconsiderthevariousformsandphasesofclairvoyantphenomena,intheselessons,youwillnoticethisfact. Therearebutfewrecordedcasesofvoluntaryclairvoyanceinthebooksoftheinvestigators(theskilled clairvoyants,andmoreparticularlytheadvancedoccultists,avoidtheinvestigatorsratherthanseekthem;they havenodesiretobereportedas"typicalcases"ofinterestingpsychicphenomena)theyleavethattothe amateurs,andthosetowhomthephenomenacomeasawonderfulrevelationakintoamiracle.Thisaccounts fortheapparentpredominanceofthisformofclairvoyance;thesecretisthatthenetoftheinvestigatorshas caughtonlyacertainkindofpsychicfish,whiletheothersescapeattention. Allthiswouldbeofnopracticalimportance,however,wereitnotforthefactthattheaveragestudentisso impressedbythefactthathemustlearntoinducethetranceconditioninordertomanifestclairvoyant phenomena,thathedoesnoteventhinkofattemptingtodotheworkotherwise.Thepowerofautosuggestion operateshere,asyouwillseebyamoment'sthought,anderectsanobstacletohisadvancealongvoluntary lines.Morethanthis,thismistakenideatendstoencouragethestudenttocultivatethetrancecondition,orat leastsomeabnormalpsychiccondition,byartificialmeans.Iampositivelyopposedtotheinducingofpsychic conditionsbyartificialmeans,forIconsidersuchpracticesmostinjuriousandharmfulforthepersonusingsuch methods.Outsideofanythingelse,ittendstorenderthepersonnegative,psychically,insteadofpositive:Ittends tomakehimorhersubjecttothepsychicinfluenceofothers,onboththephysicalandastralplane,insteadof retaininghisorherownselfcontrolandmastery. Thebestauthoritiesamongtheoccultistsinstructtheirpupilsthatthestateofclairvoyantreveriemaybesafely andeffectivelyinducedbythepracticeofmentalconcentrationalone.Theyadvicepositivelyagainstartificial methods.Alittlecommonsensewillshowthattheyarerightinthismatter.Allthatisneededisthatthe consciousnessshallbefocusedtoapoint;become"onepointed"astheHinduYogissay.Theintelligentpractice ofconcentrationaccomplishesthis,withoutthenecessityofanyartificialmethodsofdevelopment,orthe inductionofabnormalpsychicstates. Ifyouwillstopamomentandrealizehoweasilyyouconcentrateyourattentionwhenyouarewitnessingan interestingplay,orlisteningtoabeautifulrenditionofsomegreatmasterpieceofmusicalcomposition,orgazing atsomemiracleofart,youwillseewhatImean.Inthecasesjustmentioned,whileyourattentioniscompletely occupiedwiththeinterestingthingbeforeyou,sothatyouhavealmostcompletelyshutouttheouterworldof sound,sightandthought,youare,nevertheless,perfectlywideawakeandyourconsciousnessisalert.The samethingistruewhenyouarereadingaveryinterestingbook;theworldisshutoutfromyourconsciousness, andyouareoblivioustothesightsandsoundsaroundyou.Attheriskofbeingconsideredflippant,Iwould remindyouofthecommonspectacleoftwoloverssowrappedupineachother'scompanythattheyforgetthat thereisasmilingworldofpeoplearoundthemtimeandspaceareforgottentothetwoloverstothemthereis onlyoneworld,withbuttwopersonsinit.Again,howoftenhaveyoufallenintowhatisknownasa"brown study,"or"daydream,"inwhichyouhavebeensooccupiedwiththethoughtsandfanciesfloatingthroughyour mind,thatyouforgotallelse.Well,then,thiswillgiveyouacommonsenseideaofthestatethattheoccultists teachmaybeinducedinordertoenterintothestateofenrapportwiththeastralplane;thestateinwhich clairvoyanceispossible.Whetheryouareseekingclairvoyancebythemethodofpsychometry,orbycrystal gazing,orbyclairvoyantreverie,thiswillgiveyouthekeytothestate.Itisaperfectlynaturalstate;nothing

abnormalaboutit,youwillnotice. TosomewhomaythinkthatIamlayingtoomuchstressontheundesirabilityofartificialmethodsofinducingthe clairvoyantcondition,Iwouldsaythattheyareprobablynotawareoftheerroneousandoftenharmfulteachings onthesubjectthatarebeingpromulgatedbyignorantormisinformedteachers;"alittlelearningisadangerous thing,"inmanycases.Itmaysurprisesomeofmystudentstolearnthatsomeofthisclassofteachersare instructingtheirpupilstopracticemethodsofselfhypnosisbygazingsteadilyatabrightobjectuntiltheyfall unconscious;orbygazing"crosseyed"atthetipofthenose,oratanobjectheldbetweenthetwoeyebrows. Thesearefamiliarmethodsofcertainschoolsofhypnotism,andresultinproducingastateofartificialhypnosis, moreorlessdeep.Suchastateismostundesirable,notonlybyreasonofitsimmediateeffects,butalsoby reasonofthefactthatitoftenresultsinaconditionofabnormalsensitivenesstothewillofothers,oreventothe thoughtsandfeelingsofothers,onboththeastralandthephysicalplanesoflife.Iemphaticallywarnmy studentsagainstanysuchpractices,oranythingresemblingthem. WhileIdisliketodwellonthesubject,IfeelthatIshouldcalltheattentionofmystudentstothefactthatcertain teachersseektoproducetheabnormalpsychicconditionbymeansofexhaustingbreathingexercises,which makethepersondizzyandsleepy.Thisisallwrong.Whilerhythmicbreathingexerciseshaveacertainvaluein psychicphenomena,andareharmlesswhenproperlypracticed,neverthelesssuchpracticesasthosetowhichI havealludedareharmfultothenervoussystemoftheperson,andalsotendtoinduceundesirablepsychic conditions.Again,someteachershavesoughttohavetheirstudentsholdtheirbreathforcomparativelylong periodsoftimeinordertobringaboutabnormalpsychicstates.Theslightestknowledgeofphysiologyinforms onethatsuchapracticemustbeharmful;itcausesthebloodtobecomethickandimpure,anddeficientin oxygen.Itcertainlywillproduceakindofdrowsiness,forthesamereasonthatimpureairinaroomwilldothe samething:Inbothcasesthebloodstreamispoisonedandmadeimpure.Thepurposeofrationalandnormal breathingistoobviatejustthisthing,sotheseteachersarereversinganaturallawofthebody,inorderto produceanabnormalpsychicstate.Withalltheenergyinme,Icautionyouagainstthiskindofthing. Alongthesameline,Iprotestandwarnyouagainstthepracticesadvisedbycertainteachersof"psychic development,"whoseektohavetheirpupilsinduceabnormalphysicalandpsychicconditionsbymeansof drugs,odorofcertainchemicals,gases,etc.Suchpractices,asalltrueoccultistsknow,belongtotheclansof theBlackMagicians,ordevilworshipers,ofthesavageracesandtheyhavenoplaceintrueoccultteachings. Commonsensealoneshouldwarnpersonsawayfromsuchthings,butitseemstofailsomeofthem.Iassert withoutfearofintelligentcontradiction,thatnotrueoccultistevercountenancesanysuchpracticesasthese. Allthetrueteachersarevigorousintheirdenunciationofsuchfalseteachingsandharmfulpractices.Inthis samecategory,Iplacethemethodswhicharetaughtbycertainpersons,namely,thatofinducingabnormal physicalandpsychicconditionofgiddinessandhazinessbymeansof"whirling"aroundinacircleuntilone dropsfromgiddiness,oruntilone"feelsqueerinthehead."Thisisarevivalofthepracticesofcertainfanaticsin PersiaandIndia,whoperformitasareligiousriteuntiltheyfallintowhattheyconsidera"holysleep,"butwhich isnothingmorethananabnormalandunhealthfulphysicalandpsychiccondition.Suchpracticesarea downwardstep,notanupwardone.Itseemsapitythatthenecessityhasarisenforsuchwarningsasthese,but myduty,asIseeit,isveryplain.Toallwhoaretemptedto"develop"inthisway,Isay,positively,"DON'T!" Thescientific,rationalwaytodeveloptheastralsensesistofirstacquiretheartofconcentrating.Bearinmind thatinconcentrationtheperson,whileshuttingouttheimpressionsoftheoutsideworldingeneral,nevertheless

focusesandconcentrateshisattentionupontheonematterbeforehim.Thisisquiteadifferentthingfrom makingoneselfsensitivetoeverycurrentofthoughtandfeelingthatmaybeinthepsychicatmosphere.True concentrationrendersonepositive,whiletheothermethodsrenderonenegative.Contrarytothecommon opinion,psychicconcentrationisapositivestate,notanegative;anactivestate,notapassiveone.Theperson whoisabletoconcentratestronglyisamaster,whileonewhoopenshimselfto"control,"eitherphysicalor astral,ismoreorlessofaslavetootherminds. Thestudentwhowillbeginbyexperimentingalongthelinesofcontactmindreading,andwhothenadvances alongthelinesoftruetelepathy,asexplainedintheearlierchaptersofthisbook,willhavemadeagoodstart, andconsiderableprogress,alongtheroadtoclairvoyantdevelopment.Therestwillbelargelyamatterof exerciseandpractice.Hewillbeaidedbypracticingconcentrationalongthegenerallinesofthebestoccult teaching.Suchpracticemayconsistofconcentrationuponalmostanyphysicalobject,keepingthethingwell beforethemindandattention.Donottiretheattentionbypracticingtoolongatonetime.Thefollowinggeneral ruleswillhelpyouindevelopingconcentration: (1)Theattentionattachesmorereadilytointerestingratherthanuninterestingthings.Therefore,selectsome interestingthingtostudyandanalyzebyconcentratedthought. (2)Theattentionwilldeclineinstrengthunlessthereisavariationinthestimulus.Therefore,keepupthepower ofconcentrationbyeitherchangingtheobjectyouareobserving;orelsebydiscoveringsomenewproperties, qualitiesorattributesinit. (3)Thethingsyouwishtoshutoutofconsciousnesscanbestbeshutoutbyyourconcentrationuponsome otherthing:Theattentioncandwellonlyupononethingatatime,iffocuseduponthatonething. (4)Thepowerofapplyingyourattention,steadyandundissipated,toasingleobject,isamarkofstrongwilland superiormentaldiscipline:Weakmindscannotdothis.Therefore,incultivatingconcentratedattentionyouare reallystrengtheningyourmindandwill. (5)Todevelopconcentratedattention,youmustlearntoanalyze,analyze,andanalyzethethinguponwhichyou arebestowingconcentratedattention.Therefore,proceedbyselectinganobjectandanalyzingitbyconcentrated attention,takingonepartafteranother,onebyone,untilyouhaveanalyzedandmasteredthewholeobject.Give itthesameattentionthatthelovergiveshislovedone;themusicianhisfavoritecomposition;theartisthis favoriteworkofart;andthebookloverhisfavoritebook.Whenyouhaveaccomplishedthis,youhavemastered concentration,andwillbeabletoapplythemind"onepointed"uponanythingyouwish,physicalorastral;and, consequentlywillhavenotroubleinshuttingoutdisturbingimpressions. (6)Learntoconcentrateonthephysicalplane,andyouwillbeabletoconcentrateontheastralplaneaswell.By theonewhohasmasteredconcentration,trancesandabnormalpsychicstateswillnotbeneeded.The needlepointedmindisabletopiercetheastralveilatwill,whilethebluntpointedmindisresistedanddefeated bytheastralenvelope,whichwhilethinisverytoughandunyielding. Awellknownauthorityonpsychicdevelopmenthaswellsaid:"Occasionalflashesofclairvoyancesometimes cometothehighlyculturedandspiritualmindedman,eventhoughhemayneverhaveheardofthepossibilityof trainingsuchafaculty.Inhiscasesuchglimpsesusuallysignifythatheisapproachingthatstageinhisevolution

whenthesepowerswillnaturallybegintomanifestthemselves.Theirappearanceshouldserveasanadditional stimulustohimtostrivetomaintainthathighstandardofmoralpurityandmentalbalancewithoutwhich clairvoyanceisacurseandnotablessingtoitspossessor.Betweenthosewhoareentirelyunimpressionable andthosewhoareinfullpossessionofclairvoyantpower,therearemanyintermediatestages.Studentsoften askhowthisclairvoyantfacultywillfirstbemanifestedinthemselves:Howtheymayknowwhentheyhave reachedthestageatwhichitsfirstfaintforeshadowingsarebeginningtobevisible.Casesdiffersowidelythatit isimpossibletogivetothisquestionanyanswerthatwillbeuniversallyapplicable. "Somepeoplebeginbyaplunge,asitwere,andundersomeunusualstimulusbecomeablejustforoncetosee somestrikingvision;andveryofteninsuchacase,becausetheexperiencedoesnotrepeatitself,theseer comesintimetobelievethatonthatoccasionhemusthavebeenthevictimofhallucination.Othersbeginby becomingintermittentlyconsciousofthebrilliantcolorsandvibrationsofthehumanaura;yetothersfind themselveswithincreasingfrequencyseeingandhearingsomethingtowhichthosearoundthemareblindand deaf;others,again,seefaces,landscapes,orcoloredcloudsfloatingbeforetheireyesinthedarkbeforethey sinktorest;whileperhapsthecommonestexperienceofallisthatofthosewhobegintorecollectwithgreater andgreaterclearnesswhattheyhaveseenandheardonotherplanesduringsleep." Theauthorityinquestiongivesthefollowingexcellentadviceregardingthesubjectofthedevelopmentof clairvoyantpowerandastralvisioning:"Nowthefactisthattherearemanymethodsbywhichitmaybe developed,butonlyonewhichcanbeatallsafelyrecommendedforgeneralusethatofwhichweshallspeak lastofall.Amongthelessadvancednationsoftheworldtheclairvoyantstatehasbeenproducedinvarious objectionableways;amongsomeofthenonAryantribesofIndia,bytheuseofintoxicatingdrugsortheinhaling ofstupefyingfumes;amongthedervishes,bywhirlinginamaddanceofreligiousfervoruntilvertigoand insensibilitysupervene;amongthefollowersoftheabominablepracticesoftheVoodoocult,byfrightful sacrificesandloathsomeritesofblackmagic.Methodssuchasthesearehappilynotinvogueinourownrace, yetevenamonguslargenumbersofdabblersinthisancientartadoptsomeplanofselfhypnosis,suchas gazingatabrightspot,ortherepetitionofsomeformulauntilaconditionofsemistupefactionisproduced;while yetanotherschoolamongthemwouldendeavortoarriveatsimilarresultsbytheuseofsomeoftheIndian systemsofregulationofthebreath.Allthesemethodsareunequivocallytobecondemnedasquiteunsafefor thepracticeoftheordinarymanwhohasnoideaofwhatheisdoing;whoissimplymakingvagueexperiments inanunknownworld.Eventhemethodofobtainingclairvoyancebyallowingoneselftobemesmerizedby anotherpersonisonefromwhichIshouldmyselfshrinkwiththemostdecideddistaste;andassuredlyitshould neverbeattemptedexceptunderconditionsofabsolutetrustandaffectionbetweenthemagnetizerandthe magnetized,andaperfectionofpurityinheartandsoul,inmindandintention,suchasisrarelytobeseen amonganybutthegreatestofsaints. "Yetthereisonepracticewhichisadvisedbyallreligionsalike,whichifadoptedcarefullyandreverentlycando noharmtoanyhumanbeing,yetfromwhichaverypuretypeofclairvoyancehassometimesbeendeveloped; andthatisthepracticeofmeditation.Letamanchooseacertaintimeeveryday.Atimewhenhecanrelyupon beingquietandundisturbed,thoughpreferablyinthedaytimeratherthanatnight,andsethimselfatthattimeto keephismindforafewminutesentirelyfreefromallearthlythoughtsofanykindwhatever,and,whenthatis achieved,todirectthewholeforceofhisbeingtowardsthehighestidealthathehappenstoknow.Hewillfind thattogainsuchperfectcontrolofthoughtisenormouslymoredifficultthanhesupposes,butwhenheattainsit, itcannotbutbeineverywaymostbeneficialtohim,andashegrowsmoreandmoreabletoelevateand concentratehisthought,hemaygraduallyfindthatnewworldsareopeningbeforehissight.Asapreliminary

trainingtowardsthesatisfactoryachievementofsuchmeditation,hewillfinditdesirabletomakeapracticeof concentrationintheaffairsofdailylife;eveninthesmallestofthem.Ifhewritesaletter,lethimthinkofnothing elsebutthatletteruntilitisfinished;ifhereadsabook,lethimseetoitthathisthoughtisneverallowedto wanderfromhisauthor'smeaning.Hemustlearntoholdhismindincheck,andtobemasterofthatalso,aswell asofhislowerpassions;hemustpatientlylabortoacquireabsolutecontrolofhisthoughts,sothathewillalways knowexactlywhatheisthinkingabout,andwhy.Thisissothathecanusehismind,andturnitorholditstill,as apracticedswordsmanturnshisweaponwherehewill." Ihavegiventheabovefullquotationfromthisauthority,notmerelybecausethatfromanotheranglehestates thesamegeneralprinciplesasdoI;butalsobecausehispersonalexperienceinactualclairvoyantphenomena issoextendedandvariedthatanywordfromhimonthesubjectofthedevelopmentofclairvoyantpowermust haveavalueofitsown.WhileIdifferfromthisauthorityonsomepointsofdetailoftheoryandpractice, neverthelessIgladlytestifytothesoundnessofhisviewsasabovequoted,andpassthemontomystudentsfor carefulconsiderationandattention.Thestudentwilldowelltoheedwhathehastosay,andtocombinesuch opinionwithwhatIhaveutteredintheearlierpartofthischapter:Therewillbefoundacloseagreementin principleandpractice. And,nowletuspassontoaconsiderationofthevariousformsandphasesoftheclairvoyantphenomenaitself. Thesubjectisfascinating,andIamsurethatyouwillenjoythislittleexcursionintothestrangerealmofthought regardingtheastralphenomenaofclairvoyance.But,besuretomastereachlessonbeforeproceedingtothe rest,asotherwiseyouwillhavetoturnbacktheleavesofthecourseinordertopickupsomepointofteaching thatyouhaveneglected.

LESSON9
SIMPLECLAIRVOYANCE
Inapreviouschapterwehaveseenthattherearethreewelldefinedclassesofclairvoyance,namely,(1)Simple clairvoyance;(2)Clairvoyanceinspace;and(3)ClairvoyanceinTime.Ishallnowconsidertheseinsequence, beginningwiththefirst,SimpleClairvoyance. InSimpleClairvoyancetheclairvoyantpersonmerelysensestheauricemanationsofotherpersons,suchas theauricvibrations,colors,etc.,currentsofthoughtvibrations,etc.,butdoesnotseeeventsorscenesremoved inspaceortimefromtheobserver.ThereareotherphenomenapeculiartothisclassofclairvoyancewhichI shallnoteasweprogresswiththischapter. Anauthorityonthesubjectofastralphenomenahaswritteninterestingly,asfollows,regardingsomeofthe phasesofsimpleclairvoyance:"Whenwecometoconsidertheadditionalfacilitieswhichitoffersinthe observationofanimateobjects,weseestillmoreclearlytheadvantagesofastralvision.Itexhibitstothe clairvoyanttheauraofplantsandanimals,andthusinthecaseofthelattertheirdesiresandemotions,and whateverthoughtstheymayhave,areallplainlyshownbeforehiseyes.Butitisindealingwithhumanbeings thathewillmostappreciatethevalueofthisfaculty,forhewilloftenbeabletohelpthemfarmoreeffectually whenheguideshimselfbytheinformationwhichitgiveshim. "Hewillbeabletoseetheauraasfarupastheastralbody,andthoughthatleavesallthehigherpartofaman stillhiddenfromhisgaze,hewillneverthelessfinditpossiblebycarefulobservationtolearnagooddealabout thehigherpartfromwhatiswithinhisreach.Hiscapacityofexaminationoftheaethericdoublewillgivehim considerableadvantageinlocatingandclassifyinganydefectsordiseasesofthenervoussystem,whilefromthe appearanceoftheastralbodyhewillatoncebeawareofalltheemotions,passions,desiresandtendenciesof themanbeforehim,andevenofverymanyofhisthoughtsalso. "Ashelooksatapersonhewillseehimsurroundedbytheluminousmistoftheastralaura,flashingwithall sortsofbrilliantcolors,andconstantlychanginginhueandbrilliancywitheveryvariationoftheperson's thoughtsandfeelings.Hewillseethisaurafloodedwiththebeautifulrosecolorofpureaffection,therichblueof devotionalfeeling,thehard,dullbrownofselfishness,thedeepscarletofanger,thehorribleluridredof sensuality,thelividgreyoffear,theblackcloudsofhatredandmalice,oranyoftheotherhundredfoldindications soeasilytobereadinitbythepracticedeye;andthusitwillbeimpossibleforanypersonstoconcealfromhim therealstateoftheirfeelingsonanysubject.Notonlydoestheastralaurashowhimthetemporaryresultofthe emotionpassingthroughitatthemoment,butitalsogiveshim,byanarrangementandproportionofitscolors wheninaconditionofcomparativerest,acluetothegeneraldispositionandcharacterofitsowner." Bysimpleclairvoyanceinacertainstageofdevelopmenttheclairvoyantpersonisabletosensethepresenceof thehumanaura,bymeansofhisastralsight.Thehumanaura,asallstudentsofoccultismknow,isthatpeculiar emanationofastralvibrationsthatextendsfromeachlivinghumanbeing,surroundinghiminaneggshaped formforadistanceoftwotothreefeetonallsides.Thispeculiarnebulousenvelopeisnotvisibletothephysical sight,andmaybediscernedonlybymeansoftheastralsenses.It,however,maybedimly"felt"bymany

personscomingintothepresenceofotherpersons,andconstitutesapersonalatmospherewhichissensedby otherpersons. Thetrainedclairvoyantvisionseesthehumanauraasanebuloushazysubstance,likealuminouscloud, surroundingthepersonfortwoorthreefeetoneachsideofhisbody,beingmoredensenearthebodyand graduallybecominglessdenseasitextendsawayfromthebody.Ithasaphosphorescentappearance,witha peculiartremulousmotionmanifestingthroughitssubstance.Theclairvoyantseesthehumanauraascomposed ofallthecolorsofthespectrum,thecombinationshiftingwiththechangingmentalandemotionalstatesofthe person.But,inageneralway,itmaybesaidthateachpersonhashisorherordistinctiveastralauriccolors, dependinguponhisorhergeneralcharacterorpersonality.Eachmentalstate,oremotionalmanifestation,has itsownparticularshadeorcombinationofshadesofauriccoloring.Thisbeautifulkaleidoscopicspectaclehasits ownmeaningtotheadvancedoccultistwithclairvoyantvision,forheisabletoreadthecharacterandgeneral mentalstatesofthepersonbymeansofstudyinghisastralauriccolors.Ihaveexplainedtheseauriccolors,and theirmeanings,inmylittlebookentitled"TheHumanAura." Thehumanauraisnotalwaysinastateofcalmphosphorescence,however.Onthecontrary,itsometimes manifestsgreatflames,likethoseofafieryfurnace,whichshootforthingreattongues,anddartforthsuddenly incertaindirectionstowardtheobjectsattractingthem.Undergreatemotionalexcitementtheauricflamesmove aroundinswiftcirclingwhirlpools,orelseswirlawayfromacenter.Again,itseemstothrowforthtinyglistening sparksofastralvibrations,someofwhichtravelforgreatdistance. Theclairvoyantvisionisalsoabletodiscernwhatiscalledthe"pranaaura"ofaperson.Bythistermisindicated thatpeculiaremanationofvitalforcewhichsurroundsthephysicalbodyofeachandeveryperson.Infact,many personsofbutslightclairvoyantpower,whocannotsensetheauriccolors,areabletoperceivethispranaaura withouttrouble.Itissometimescalledthe"healthaura,"or"physicalaura."Itiscolorless,orratheraboutthe shadeofclearglass,diamond,orwater.Itisstreakedwithveryminute,bristlelikelines.Inastateofgood health,thesefinelinesarestiffliketoothbrushbristles;while,incasesofpoorhealth,theselinesdroop,curland presentafurlikeappearance.Itissometimesfilledwithminutesparklingparticles,liketinyelectricsparksin rapidvibratorymotion. Totheclairvoyantvisionthepranaauraappearslikethevibratingheatedairarisingfromafire,orstove,orfrom theheatedearthinsummer.Ifthestudentwillclosehiseyespartially,andwillpeerthroughnarrowedeyelids,he willinallprobabilitybeabletoperceivethispranaaurasurroundingthebodyofsomehealthy,vigorousperson, particularlyifthepersonissittinginadimlight.Lookingclosely,hewillseethepeculiarvibratorymotion,like heatedair,atadistanceofabouttwoinchesfromthebodyoftheperson.Itrequiresalittlepracticeinorderto acquiretheknackofperceivingthesevibrations(suchasalittleexperimentinginordertogetjusttherightlight ontheperson)butpracticewillbringsuccess,andyouwillberepaidforyourtrouble. Inthesameway,thestudentmaybypracticeacquirethefacultytoperceivinghisownpranaaura.Thesimplest waytoobtainthislastmentionedresultistoplaceyourfingers(spreadoutinfanshape)againstablack background,inadimlight.Thengazeatthefingerswithnarrowedeyelids,andhalfclosedeyes.Afteralittle practice,youwillseeafinethinlinesurroundingyourfingersonallsides;asemiluminousborderofpranaaura. Inmostcasesthisborderofauraiscolorless,butsometimesaverypaleyellowishhueisperceived.The strongerthevitalforceoftheperson,thestrongerandbrighterwillthisborderofpranaauraappear.Theaura surroundingthefingerswillappearverymuchlikethesemiluminousradiancesurroundingagasflame,orthe

flameofacandle,whichisfamiliartonearlyeveryone. Anotherpeculiarphenomenonoftheastralplane,perceivedbyclairvoyantsofacertaindegreeofdevelopment, isthatwhichisknownasthe"thoughtform."Athoughtformisaspecializedgroupingofastralsubstance, crystallizedbythestrongthoughtimpulsesorvibrationsofapersonthinking,ormanifestingstrongemotional excitement.Itisgeneratedintheauraoftheperson,inthefirstplace,butisthenthrownofforemittedfromthe atmosphereoftheperson,andissentoffintospace.Athoughtformisreallybutastronglymanifestedthought orfeelingwhichhastakenformintheastralsubstance.Itspoweranddurationdependuponthedegreeofforce ofthethoughtorfeelingmanifestingit. Thesethoughtformsdifferverymateriallyfromoneanotherinformandgeneralappearance.Themostcommon formisthatofatinyseriesofwaves,similartothosecausedbythedroppingofapebbleinapondofwater. Sometimesthethoughtformtakesontheappearanceofawhirlpool,rotatingaroundacenter,andmoving throughspaceaswell.Anotherformislikethatofthepinwheelfireworks,swirlingawayfromitscenterasit movesthroughspace.Stillanotherformisthatofawhirlingring,likethatemittedfromasmokestackofa locomotive,orthemouthofasmoker;thefamiliar"ring"ofthesmoker.Othershavetheformandappearanceof semiluminousglobes,glowinglikeagiantopal. Otherthoughtformsareemittedinjetlikestreams,likesteampuffedoutfromateakettle.Again,itwillappear asaseriesofshortpuffsofsteamlikeappearance.Again,itwilltwistalonglikeaneelorsnake.Anothertimeit willtwistitswaylikeacorkscrew.Atothertimesitwillappearasabomb,orseriesofbombsprojectedfromthe auraofthethinker.Sometimes,asinthecaseofavigorousthinkerorspeaker,thesethoughtformbombswillbe seentoexplodewhentheyreachtheauraofthepersonaddressedorthoughtof.Otherformsappearlike nebulousthingsresemblinganoctopus,whosetwiningtentaclestwistaroundthepersontowhomtheyare directed. Eachthoughtformbearsthesamecolorthatitpossessedwhengeneratedintheauraofitscreator,thoughthe colorsseemtofadewithtime.Manyofthemglowwithadullphosphorescence,insteadofbrightcoloring.The atmosphereofeveryperson,andeveryplace,isfilledwithvariousthoughtformsemanatedfromtheperson,or personswhoinhabittheplace.Eachbuildinghasitsowndistinctivethoughtforms,whichpermeateitsmental atmosphere,andwhichareclearlydiscerniblebytrainedclairvoyantvision. Iheretakethelibertyofquotingafewparagraphsfrommylittlebookentitled"TheAstralWorld,"inwhichthe phenomenaoftheastralplaneareexplainedindetail.Ireproducethemhereinordertoshowyouwhatyoumay seeontheastralplanewhenyourclairvoyantvisionissufficientlydevelopedtofunctionthere.Thewordsare addressedtoonewhoissensingontheastral,plane. "Noticethatbeautifulspiritualbluearoundthatwoman'shead!Andseethatuglymuddyredaroundthatman passingher!Herecomesanintellectualgiant;seethatbeautifulgoldenyellowaroundhishead,likeanimbus! ButIdon'texactlylikethatshadeofredaroundhisbody,andthereistoomarkedanabsenceofblueinhisaura! Helacksharmoniousdevelopment.Doyounoticethosegreatcloudsofsemiluminoussubstance,whichare slowlyfloatingalong?Noticehowthecolorsvaryinthem.Thosearecloudsofthoughtvibrations,representing thecompositethoughtofamultitudeofpeople.Alsonoticehoweachbodyofthoughtisdrawingtoitselflittle fragmentsofsimilarthoughtformsandenergy.Youseeherethetendencyofthoughtformstoattractothersof theirkind:Howliketheproverbialbirdsofafeather,theyflocktogether.Howthoughtscomehome,bringingtheir

friendswiththemandhoweachmancreateshisownthoughtatmosphere. "Speakingofatmospheres,doyounoticethateachshopwepasshasitsownpeculiarthoughtatmosphere?If youlookintothehousesoneithersideofthestreet,youwillseethatthesamethingistrue.Theverystreetitself hasitsownatmosphere,createdbythecompositethoughtofthoseinhabitingandfrequentingit.No!donotpass downthatsidestreet:Itsastralatmosphereistoodepressing,anditscolorstoohorribleanddisgustingforyouto witnessjustnow;youmightgetdiscouragedandflybacktoyourphysicalbodyforrelief.Lookatthose thoughtformsflyingthroughtheatmosphere!Whatavarietyofformandcoloring!Somemostbeautiful,the majorityquiteneutralintint,andoccasionallyafierce,fieryonetearingitswayalongtowarditsmark.Observe thosewhirlingandswirlingthoughtformsastheyarethrownofffromthatbusinesshouse.Acrossthestreet, noticethatgreatoctopusmonsterofathoughtform,withitsgreattentaclesstrivingtowindaroundpersonsand drawthemintothatflashydancehallanddramshop.Adevilishmonsterwhichwewoulddowelltodestroy.Turn yourconcentratedthoughtuponit,andwillitoutofexistence...There,that'stherightway;watchitsickenand shrivel!But,alas!moreofitskindwillcomeforthfromthatplace." Theaboverepresentsthesightscommontotheadvancedoccultistwhoexplorestheastralplaneeitherinhis astralbody,orelsebymeansofclairvoyantvision.Tosuchaone,thesesightsarejustasnaturalasthoseofthe physicalplanetothepersonfunctioningbyordinaryphysicalsenses.Oneisasnaturalasistheothersince thereisnothingsupernaturalabouteither. Butthereareother,andevenmorewonderfulattributesofastralvisioningthanthatwhichwehavejustrelated. Letustakeageneralsurveyofthese,sothatyoumaybefamiliarwithwhatyouhopetoseeontheastralplane, andwhichyouwillseewhenyouhavesufficientlydevelopedyourclairvoyantpowers. Whatwouldyouthinkifyoucould"seethroughabrickwall?"Well,theclairvoyantisabletodothis.Forthat matter,thephysicalXRaysareabletopenetratethroughsolidsubstances,andtheastralvibrationsareeven moresubtlethanthese.Itseemsstrangetohearofthiskindofvisioningaspurelynatural,doesn'tit?Itsmacks stronglyoftheoldsupernaturaltales,butitisassimplynaturalasistheXRay.Theadvancedclairvoyantisable toseethroughthemostsolidobjects,andinsideofanything,forthatmatter.Theastralsensesregisterthesubtle vibrationsoftheastralplane,justasthephysicaleyeregisterstheordinaryraysoflightenergy.Youareableto seethroughsolidglass,withthephysicaleye,areyounot?Well,inthesamewaytheclairvoyantseesthrough solidsteelorgranite.Itisallamatterofregisteringvibrationsofenergy;nothingmore,andnothingless. Itisinthiswaythatthetrainedclairvoyantisabletoreadfromclosedbooks,sealedletters,etc.Inthesameway, heisabletopiercethedensesoil,andtoseefardownintothedepthsoftheearth,subjecttocertainlimitations. Veinsofcoal,oil,andothersubstanceshavebeendiscoveredclairvoyantlyinthisway.Noteveryclairvoyantis abletodothis,buttheadvancedoneshavedoneit.Inthesameway,thetrainedclairvoyantisabletoseeinside thebodiesofsickpersons,andtodiagnosetheirailments,providing,ofcourse,heisfamiliarwiththe appearanceoftheorgansinhealthandindisease,andhasasufficientknowledgeofphysiologyandpathology tointerpretwhathesees. Anauthorityonthephenomenaoftheastralplanehaswrittenentertaininglyandcorrectlyregardingthisphase ofsimpleclairvoyance,asfollows:"Thepossessionofthisextraordinaryandscarcelyexpressiblepower,then, mustalwaysbeborneinmindthroughallthatfollows.Itlayseverypointintheinteriorofeverysolidbody absolutelyopentothegazeoftheseer,justaseverypointintheinteriorofacircleliesopentothegazeofa

manlookingdownuponit.Buteventhisisbynomeansallthatitgivestoitspossessor.Heseesnotonlythe insideaswellastheoutsideofeveryobject,butalsoitsastralcounterpart.Everyatomandmoleculeofphysical matterhasitscorrespondingastralatomsandmolecules,andthemasswhichisbuiltupoutoftheseisclearly visibletotheclairvoyant.Usuallytheastralformofanyobjectprojectssomewhatbeyondthephysicalpartofit, andthusmetals,stonesandotherthingsareseensurroundedbyanastralaura. "Itwillbeseenatoncethateveninthestudyofinorganicmatteramangainsimmenselybytheacquisitionof thisvision.Notonlydoesheseetheastralpartoftheobjectatwhichhelooks,whichbeforewaswhollyhidden fromhim;notonlydoesheseemuchmoreofitsphysicalconstitutionthanhedidbefore,butevenwhatwas visibletohimbeforeisnowseenmuchmoreclearlyandtruly. ***Anotherstrangepowerofwhichhemayfindhimselfinpossessionisthatofmagnifyingatwilltheminutest physicalorastralparticletoanydesiredsize,asthroughamicroscope,thoughnomicroscopeevermade,or everlikelytobemade,possessesevenathousandthpartofthispsychicmagnifyingpower.Byitsmeansthe hypotheticalmoleculeandatompostulatedbysciencebecomevisibleandlivingrealitiestotheoccultstudent, andonthiscloserexaminationhefindsthemtobemuchmorecomplexintheirstructurethanthescientificman hasyetrealizedthemtobe.Italsoenableshimtofollowwiththeclosestattentionandthemostlivelyinterestall kindsofelectrical,magnetic,andotheraethericaction;andwhensomeofthespecialistsinthesebranchesof scienceareabletodevelopthepowertoseethesethingswhereoftheywritesofacilely,someverywonderful andbeautifulrevelationsmaybeexpected.*** "ThisisoneoftheSIDDIHISorpowersdescribedintheOrientalbooksasaccruingtothemanwhodevotes himselftospiritualdevelopment,thoughthenameunderwhichitistherementionedmightnotbeimmediately recognizable.Itisreferredtoas'thepowerofmakingoneselflargeorsmallatwill,'andthereasonofa descriptionwhichappearssooddlytoreversethefactisthatinrealitythemethodbywhichthisfeatisperformed ispreciselythatindicatedintheseancientbooks.Itisbytheuseoftemporaryvisualmachineryofinconceivable minutenessthattheworldoftheinfinitelylittleissoclearlyseen.Inthesameway(orratherintheoppositeway) itisbyenormouslyincreasingthesizeofthemachineryusedthatitbecomespossibletoincreasethebreadthof one'sview,inthephysicalsenseaswellas,letushope,inthemoral,farbeyondanythingthatsciencehasever dreamtofaspossibleforman.Sothatthealterationinsizeisreallyinthevehicleofthestudent's consciousness,andnotinanythingoutsideofhimself;andtheoldOrientalbookshave,afterall,putthecase moreaccuratelythanhavewe.Ihaveindicated,thoughonlyintheroughestoutlines,whatatrained student,possessedoffullastralvision,wouldseeintheimmenselywiderworldtowhichthatvisionintroduced him;butIhavesaidnothingofthestupendouschangeinhismentalattitudewhichcomesfromtheexperimental certaintyregardingmattersofparamountimportance.Thedifferencebetweeneventheprofoundestintellectual conviction,andthepreciseknowledgegainedbydirectpersonalexperience,mustbefeltinordertobe appreciated." Now,hereatthisplace,Iwishtocalltheattentionofthestudenttothefactthatwhiletheabovestated, phenomenastrictlybelongtotheclassof"simpleclairvoyance,"ratherthanto"spaceclairvoyance,"or"time clairvoyance"respectively,neverthelessthesamephenomenamaybemanifestedinconnectionwiththatof theseotherclassesofclairvoyance.Forinstance,inspaceclairvoyancethetrainedclairvoyantisablenotonlyto perceivethingshappeningatpointsfardistant,butmayalso(ifhighlydevelopedpsychically)beabletoperceive thedetailsjustmentionedaswellasifhewereatthatdistantpointinperson.Likewise,intimeclairvoyance,the clairvoyantmayexercisethepowerofmagnifyingvisionregardingtheobjectfardistantintime,justasifhewere

livinginthattime.Sohereaselsewherewefindthedifferentclassesofphenomenashadingandblendinginto eachother.Atthebest,classificationsareusefulprincipallyforconvenienceinintellectualconsiderationand reasoning. Inthesameway,theclairvoyantmaymanifesttheabovementionedformsofastralsensingincaseswhenthe astralvisionhasbeenawakenedbypsychometry,orbycrystalgazing,aswellasinthosecasesinwhichthe conditionhasbeenbroughtaboutthroughmeditation,orsimilarmethods. Iwouldalsocalltheattentionofthestudenttothefactthatintheabovedescriptionofthephenomenaofsimple clairvoyanceIhavemadenomentionofthesightsoftheastralplanewhichoftenbecomevisibletothe clairvoyant,andwhichhavetodowithastralbodies,astralshells,thedisembodiedsoulsofthosewhohave passedontootherplanesofexistence,etc.Ishalltakeupthesemattersinotherpartsofthiscourse,andshall notdwellupontheminthisplace.But,Iwishyoutorememberthatthesamepowerwhichenablesyoutosense otherobjectsbymeansoftheastralscenes,isthesamethatiscalledintooperationinthecasestowhichIhave justreferred. Theastralplaneisawonderfulplaneorfieldofbeing,containingmanystrangeandwonderfulbeingsandthings. Thepersonlivingonthephysicalplanemayvisittheastralplaneintheastralbody;and,again,hemayperceive thehappeningsandscenesofthatplanebymeansoftheawakenedanddevelopedastralsenses.Some clairvoyantsfinditeasytofunctioninoneway,andsomeinanother.Itisreservedforthescientificallydeveloped clairvoyanttomanifestthewellroundedpowertoperceivethephenomenaoftheastralplaneinitswonderful entirety. Finally,youwillseebyreferencetootherchaptersofthisbook,thatonemaymanifestsimpleclairvoyantpowers (aswellasthemorecomplicatedonesoftimeandspaceclairvoyance)notonlyintheordinarywakingstate,but alsointhestateofdreams.Infact,someofthemoststrikingpsychicphenomenaaremanifestedwhentheseer isinthedreamstate.Asweproceed,youwillfindthateveryphaseofthegreatsubjectwillfitintoitsplace,and willbefoundtoblendwitheveryotherphase.Therewillbefoundalogicalharmonyandunityofthought pervadingthewholesubject.Butwemustusesinglebricksandstonesaswebuild:Itisonlyinthecompleted structurethatwemayperceivetheharmoniousunity.

LESSON10
CLAIRVOYANCEOFDISTANTSCENES
Letusnowconsiderthephenomenaofthesecondclassofclairvoyance,namely,ClairvoyanceinSpace. InSpaceClairvoyancetheclairvoyantpersonsensesscenesandeventsremovedinspacefromtheobserver. Thatistosay,scenesandeventssituatedoutsideoftherangeofthephysicalvisionoftheclairvoyant.Inthis classalsoisincludedcertainphenomenainwhichtheclairvoyantvisionisabletodiscernthingsthatmaybe concealedorobscuredbyinterveningmaterialobjects.Someofthemanydifferentformsandphasesofspace clairvoyanceareillustratedbythefollowingexamples,alltakenfromthebestsources. Bushnellrelatesthefollowingwellknowncaseofspaceclairvoyance:"Capt.Yount,ofNapaValley,California, onemidwinter'snighthadadreaminwhichhesawwhatappearedtobeacompanyofemigrantsarrestedbythe snowsofthemountains,andperishingrapidlybycoldandhunger.Henotedtheverycastofthescenery, markedbyahuge,perpendicularfrontofwhiterockcliff;hesawthemencuttingoffwhatappearedtobe treetopsrisingoutofdeepgulfsofsnow;hedistinguishedtheveryfeaturesofthepersons,andtheirlookof peculiardistress.Heawokeprofoundlyimpressedbythedistinctnessandapparentrealityofthedream.Heat lengthfellasleep,anddreamedexactlythesamedreamoveragain.Inthemorninghecouldnotexpelitfromhis mind.Fallinginshortlyafterwithanoldhuntercomrade,hetoldhisstory,andwasonlythemoredeeply impressedbyhimrecognizingwithouthesitationthesceneryofthedream.ThiscomradecameovertheSierra bytheCarsonValleyPass,anddeclaredthataspotinthePassexactlyansweredhisdescription. "Bythistheunsophisticatedpatriarchwasdecided.Heimmediatelycollectedacompanyofmen,withmulesand blanketsandallnecessaryprovisions.Theneighborswerelaughingmeantimeathiscredulity.'Nomatter,'he said,'Iamabletodothis,andIwill,forIverilybelievethatthefactisaccordingtomydream.'Themenwere sentintothemountainsonehundredandfiftymilesdistant,directtotheCarsonValleyPass.Andtherethey foundthecompanyexactlyintheconditionofthedream,andbroughtintheremnantalive." Inconnectionwiththiscase,someleading,occultistsareoftheopinionthatthethoughtwavesfromthemindsof thedistressedlostpersonsreachedCapt.Yountinhissleep,andawakenedhissubconsciousattention.Having naturalclairvoyantpower,thoughpreviouslyunawareofit,henaturallydirectedhisastralvisiontothesourceof thementalcurrents,andperceivedclairvoyantlythescenedescribedinthestory.Nothavinganyacquaintance withanyofthelostparty,itwasonlybyreasonofthementalcurrentsofdistresssosentoutthathisattention wasattracted.Thisisaveryinterestingcase,becauseseveralpsychicfactorsareinvolvedinit,asIhavejust said. Inthefollowingcase,thereisfoundaconnectinglinkofacquaintancewithapersonplayingaprominentpartin thescene,althoughtherewasnoconsciousappealtotheclairvoyant,norconsciousinterestonherpart regardingthecase.Thestoryiswellknown,andappearsintheProceedingsoftheSocietyforPsychical Research.Itrunsasfollows: Mrs.Broughtonawokeonenightin1844,androusedherhusband,tellinghimthatsomethingdreadfulhad

happenedinFrance.Hebeggedhertogoasleepagain,andnottroublehim.Sheassuredhimthatshewasnot asleepwhenshesawwhatsheinsistedontellinghimwhatshesawinfact.Shesaw,first,acarriageaccident,or rather,thesceneofsuchanaccidentwhichhadoccurredafewmomentsbefore.Whatshesawwastheresultof theaccident:Abrokencarriage,acrowdcollected,afiguregentlyraisedandcarriedintothenearesthouse,then afigurelyingonabed,whichsherecognizedastheDukeofOrleans.Graduallyfriendscollectedaround thebed,amongthemseveralmembersoftheFrenchroyalfamily:Thequeen,thentheking,allsilently,tearfully, watchingtheevidentlydyingduke.Oneman(shecouldseehisback,butdidnotknowwhohewas)wasa doctor.Hestoodbendingovertheduke,feelinghispulse,withhiswatchintheotherhand.Andthenallpassed away,andshesawnomore."Assoonasitwasdaylightshewrotedowninherjournalallthatshehadseen.It wasbeforethedaysofthetelegraph,andtwoormoredayspassedbeforethenewspapersannounced'The DeathoftheDukeofOrleans.'VisitingParisashorttimeafterwards,shesawandrecognizedtheplaceofthe accident,andreceivedtheexplanationofherimpression.Thedoctorwhoattendedthedyingdukewasanold friendofhers,andashewatchedbythebedhismindhadbeenconstantlyoccupiedwithherandherfamily." Inmanycasesofclairvoyanceofthiskind,thereisfoundtoexistastrongconnectinglinkofmutualinterestor affection,overwhichflowsthestrongattentionarousingforceofneedordistress,whichcallsintooperationthe clairvoyantvisioning. Inothercasesthereseemstobelackinganyconnectinglink,although,eveninsuchcasestheremaybea subconsciouslinkconnectingtheclairvoyantwiththesceneorevent.Aninterestingexampleofthislast mentionedphaseisthatrelatedbyW.T.Stead,theEnglisheditorandauthor,ashavinghappenedtohimself.Mr. Stead'srecitalfollows: "Igotintobedandwasnotabletogotosleep.Ishutmyeyesandwaitedforsleeptocome;insteadofsleep, however,therecametomeasuccessionofcuriouslyvividclairvoyantpictures.Therewasnolightintheroom, anditwasperfectlydark;Ihadmyeyesshutalso.But,notwithstandingthedarkness,Isuddenlywasconscious oflookingatasceneofsingularbeauty.ItwasasifIsawalivingminiatureaboutthesizeofamagiclantern slide.AtthismomentIcanrecallthesceneasifIsawitagain.Itwasaseasidepiece.Themoonwasshining uponthewater,whichrippledslowlyontothebeach.Rightbeforemealongmoleranintothewater.Oneither sideofthemoleirregularrocksstoodupabovethesealevel.Ontheshorestoodseveralhouses,squareand rude,whichresemblednothingthatIhadeverseeninhousearchitecture.Noonewasstirring,butthemoonwas thereandtheseaandthegleamofthemoonlightontheripplingwaters,justasifIhadbeenlookingonthe actualscene.ItwassobeautifulthatIrememberthinkingthatifitcontinuedIshouldbesointerestedinlooking atitthatIshouldnevergoasleep.Iwaswideawake,andatthesametimethatIsawthesceneIdistinctlyheard thedrippingoftherainoutsidethewindow.Then,suddenlywithoutanyapparentobjectorreason,thescene changed. "Themoonlightseavanished,andinusplaceIwaslookingrightintotheinteriorofareadingroom.Itseemedas ifithadbeenusedasaschoolroominthedaytime,andwasemployedasareadingroomintheevening.I rememberseeingonereaderwhohadacuriousresemblancetoTimHarrington,althoughitwasnothe,holdup amagazineorbookinhishandandlaugh.Itwasnotapicture:Itwasthere.Thescenewasjustasif youwerelookingthroughanoperaglass;yousawtheplayofthemuscles,thegleamingoftheeye,every movementoftheunknownpersonsintheunnamedplaceintowhichyouweregazing.Isawallthatwithout openingmyeyes,nordidmyeyeshaveanythingtodowithit.Youseesuchthingsastheseasifitwerewith anothersensewhichismoreinsideyourheadthaninyoureyes.Thepictureswereaproposofnothing;theyhad

beensuggestedbynothingIhadbeenreadingortalkingof;theysimplycameasifIhadbeenabletolook throughaglassatwhatwasoccurringsomewhereelseintheworld.Ihadmypeep,andthenitpassed." AninterestingcaseofspaceclairvoyanceisthatrelatedofSwedenborg,onthebestauthority.Thestoryruns thatinthelatterpartofSeptember,1759,atfouro'clockoneSaturdayafternoon,Swedenborgarrivedhomefrom England,anddisembarkedatthetownofGothenburg.Afriend,Mr.W.Castel,methimandinvitedhimtodinner, atwhichmealtherewerefifteenpersonsgatheredaroundthetableinhonoroftheguest.Atsixo'clock, Swedenborgwentoutafewminutes,returningtothetableshortlythereafter,lookingpaleandexcited.When questionedbytheguestsherepliedthattherewasafireatStockholm,twohundredmilesdistant,andthatthe firewassteadilyspreading.Hegrewveryrestless,andfrequentlylefttheroom.Hesaidthatthehouseofoneof hisfriends,whosenamehementioned,wasalreadyinashes,andthathisownwasindanger.Ateighto'clock, afterhehadbeenoutagain,hereturnedcryingoutcheerfully,"Thankheaven!thefireisout,thethirddoorfrom myhouse!"Thenewsofthestrangehappeninggreatlyexcitedthepeopleofthetown,andthecityofficialsmade inquiryregardingit.Swedenborgwassummonedbeforetheauthorities,andrequestedtorelateindetailwhathe hadseen.Answeringthequestionsputtohim,hetoldwhenandhowthefirestarted;howithadbegun;how, whenandwhereithadstopped;thetimeithadlasted;thenumberofhousesdestroyedordamaged,andthe numberofpersonsinjured.OnthefollowingMondaymorningacourierarrivedfromStockholm,bringingnewsof thefire,havingleftthetownwhileitwasstillburning.Onthenextdayafter,Tuesdaymorning,anothercourier arrivedatthecityhallwithafullreportofthefire,whichcorrespondedpreciselywiththevisionofSwedenborg. Thefirehadstoppedpreciselyateighto'clock,theveryminutethatSwedenborghadsoannouncedittothe company. AsimilarcaseisrelatedbyStead,havingbeentoldtohimbythewifeofaDeanintheEpiscopalChurch.He relatesitasfollows:"IwasstayinginVirginia,somehundredmilesawayfromhome,whenonemorningabout eleveno'clockIfeltanoverpoweringsleepiness,whichdrowsinesswasquiteunusual,andwhichcausedmeto liedown.InmysleepIsawquitedistinctlymyhomeinRichmondinflames.Thefirehadbrokenoutinonewing ofthehouse,whichIsawwithdismaywaswhereIkeptallmybestdresses.Thepeoplewerealltryingtocheck theflames,butitwasnouse.Myhusbandwasthere,walkingaboutbeforetheburninghouse,carryingaportrait inhishand.Everythingwasquiteclearanddistinct,exactlyasifIhadactuallybeenpresentandseen everything.Afteratime,Iwokeup,andgoingdownstairstoldmyfriendsthestrangedreamIhad,had.They laughedatme,andmadesuchgameofmyvisionthatIdidmybesttothinknomoreaboutit.Iwastraveling about,adayortwopassed,andwhenSundaycameIfoundmyselfinachurchwheresomerelativeswere worshiping.WhenIenteredthepewtheylookedverystrange,andassoonastheservicewasoverIaskedthem whatwasthematter.'Don'tbealarmed,'theysaid,'thereisnothingserious.'Thentheyhandedmeapostcard frommyhusbandwhichsimplysaid,'Houseburnedout;coveredbyinsurance.'Thedaywasthedateupon whichmydreamoccurred.Ihastenedhome,andthenIlearnedthateverythinghadhappenedexactlyasIhad seenit.ThefirehadbrokenoutinthewingIhadseenblazing.Myclotheswereallburned,andtheoddestthing aboutitwasthatmyhusband,havingrescuedafavoritepicturefromtheburningbuilding,hadcarrieditabout amongthecrowdforsometimebeforehecouldfindaplaceinwhichtoputitsafely." Anothercase,relatedbyStead,thesameauthority,runsasfollows:"Thefatherofasonwhohadsailedonthe 'Strathmore,'anemigrantshipoutboundfromtheClydesawonenighttheshipfounderingamidthewaves, andsawthathisson,withsomeothers,hadescapedsafelytoadesertislandnearwhichthewreckhadtaken place.Hewassomuchimpressedbythisvisionthathewrotetotheownerofthe'Strathmore'tellinghimwhat hehadseen.Hisinformationwasscouted;butafterawhilethe'Strathmore'becameoverdue,andtheowner

becameuneasy.Dayfollowedday,andstillnotidingsofthemissingship.ThenlikePharaoh'sbutler,theowner rememberedhissinsoneday,andhunteduptheletterdescribingthevision.Itsuppliedatleastatheoryto accountfortheship'sdisappearance.Alloutwardboundshipswererequestedtolookoutforanysurvivorson theislandindicatedinthevision.Theseorderswereobeyed,andthesurvivorsofthe'Strathmore'werefound exactlywherethefatherhadseenthem." TheSocietyforPsychicalResearchmentionsanotherinterestingcase,asfollows:"Dr.Golinski,aphysicianof Kremeutchug,Russia,wastakinganafterdinnernapintheafternoon,abouthalfpastthreeo'clock.Hehada visioninwhichhesawhimselfcalledoutonaprofessionalvisit,whichtookhimtoalittleroomwithdark hangings.Totherightofthedoorhesawachestofdrawers,uponwhichrestedalittleparaffinlampofspecial pattern,differentfromanythinghehadeverseenbefore.Ontheleftofthedoor,hesawawomansufferingfrom aseverehemorrhage.Hethensawhimselfgivingherprofessionaltreatment.Thenheawoke,suddenly,and sawthatitwasjusthalfpastfouro'clock.Withintenminutesafterheawoke,hewascalledoutonaprofessional visit,andonenteringthebedroomhesawallthedetailsthathadappearedtohiminhisvision.Therewasthe chestofdrawers:Therewasthepeculiarlamp,therewasthewomanonthebed,sufferingfromthehemorrhage. Uponinquiry,hefoundthatshehadgrownworsebetweenthreeandfouro'clock,andhadanxiouslydesiredthat hecometoheraboutthattime,finallydispatchingamessengerforhimathalfpastfour,themomentatwhichhe awoke." Another,andamostpeculiar,phaseofspaceclairvoyanceisthatinwhichcertainpersonssoawakentheastral sensesofotherpersonsthatthesepersonsperceivethefirstperson.Usually,thishappensintheformof seeminglyseeingthepersonpresentintheimmediatevicinity,justasonewouldseeaghostlyvisitor.Insome casesthereismanifesteddoubleclairvoyance,bothpersonsvisioningclairvoyantly;inothercases,onlythe person"visited"astrallysensestheoccurrence.Thefollowingcasesillustratethisformofspaceclairvoyance. W.T.Steadrelatesthecaseofaladywellknowntohim,whospontaneouslydevelopedthepowerofawakening astralperceptioninothers.Sheseemedto"materialize"intheirpresence.Herpowerinthisdirectionbecamea sourceofconsiderableanxietyandworrytoherfriendstowhomshewouldpayunexpectedandinvoluntary visits,frighteningthemoutoftheirwitsbytheappearanceofher"ghost."Theynaturallythoughtthatshehad diedsuddenlyandhadappearedtotheminghostlyform.Thelady,herself,wastotallyunconsciousofthe appearance,thoughsheadmittedthatatoraboutthetimesoftheappearancesshehadbeenthinkingofher friendswhomshevisitedastrally. TheGermanwriter,JungStilling,mentionsthecaseofamanofgoodcharacterwhohaddevelopedpowerof thiskind,butalsowasconsciousofhisvisits.Heexertedthepowerconsciouslybyaneffortofwill,itseems.At onetimehewasconsultedbythewifeofaseacaptainwhosehusbandwasonalongvoyagetoEuropeand Asia(sailingfromAmerica).Hisshipwaslongoverdue,andhiswifewasquiteworriedabouthim.Sheconsulted thegentlemaninquestion,andhepromisedtodowhathecouldforher.Leavingtheroomhethrewhimselfona couchandwasseenbythelady(whopeeredthroughthehalfopeneddoor)tobeinastateofsemitrance. FinallyhereturnedandtoldherthathehadvisitedherhusbandinacoffeehouseinLondon,andgaveher husband'sreasonsfornotwriting,addingthatherhusbandwouldsoonreturntoAmerica.Whenherhusband returnedseveralmonthslater,thewifeaskedhimaboutthematter.Heinformedherthattheclairvoyant'sreport wascorrectineveryparticular.Uponbeingintroducedtotheclairvoyant,thecaptainmanifestedgreatsurprise, sayingthathehadmetthemaninquestiononacertaindayinacoffeehouseinLondon,andthatthemanhad toldhimthathiswifewasworriedabouthim,andthathehadtoldthemanthathehadbeenpreventedfrom

writingforseveralreasons,andthathewasontheeveofbeginninghisreturnvoyagetoAmerica.Headdedthat whenhelookedforthemanafewmomentsafterwards,thestrangerhadapparentlylosthimselfinthecrowd, disappearedandwasseennomorebyhim. TheSocietyforPsychicalResearchgivesprominencetothecelebratedcaseofthememberoftheLondonStock Exchange,whoseidentityitconcealsundertheinitials"S.H.B.,"whopossessedthispowerofvoluntary awakeningofastralsightinothersbymeansofhis"appearance"tothem.Themanrelateshisexperiencetothe Societyasfollows:"OneSundaynightinNovember,1881,IwasinKildareGardens,whenIwilledverystrongly thatIwouldvisitinthespirittwoladyfriends,theMissesX.,whowerelivingthreemilesoff,inHogarthRoad.I willedthatIshoulddothisatoneo'clockinthemorning,andhavingwilledit,Iwenttosleep.NextThursday, whenIfirstmetmyfriends,theelderladytoldmethatshewokeupandsawmyapparitionadvancingtoher bedside.Shescreamedandwokehersisters,whoalsosawme."(Thereportincludesthesignedstatementof theladies,givingthetimeoftheappearance,andthedetailsthereof.) "Again,onDecember1,1882,IwasatSouthall.AthalfpastnineIsatdowntoendeavortofixmymindso stronglyupontheinteriorofahouseatKew,whereMissV.andhersisterlived,thatIseemedtobeactuallyin thehouse.Iwasconscious,butwasinakindofmesmericsleep.WhenIwenttobedthatnight,Iwilledtobein thefrontbedroomofthathouseatKewattwelve;andtomakemypresencefeltbytheinmates.NextdayIwent toKew.MissV.'smarriedsistertoldme,withoutanypromptingfromme,thatshehadseenmeinthepassage goingfromoneroomtoanotherathalfpastnineo'clock,andthatattwelve,whenshewaswideawake,shesaw mecometothefrontbedroom,wheresheslept,andtakeherhair,whichisverylong,intomyhand.ShesaidI thentookherhand,andgazedintothepalmintently.Shesaid,'Youneednotlookatthelines,forIneverhave anytrouble.'Shethenwokehersister.WhenMrs.L.toldmethis,ItookouttheentrythatIhadmadethe previousnightandreadittoher.Mrs.L.isquitesureshewasnotdreaming.Shehadonlyseenmeoncebefore, twoyearspreviously.Again,onMarch22,1884,IwrotetoMr.Gurney,ofthePsychicalResearchSociety,telling himthatIwasgoingtomakemypresencefeltbyMissV.,at44NorlandSquare,atmidnight.Tendays afterwards,IsawMissV.,whenshevoluntarilytoldmethatonSaturdayatmidnight,shedistinctlysawme, whenshewasquitewideawake." Therecordsofthepsychicresearchersarefilledwithnumerousaccountsofcasesinwhichsimilarastral projectionshaveoccurredwhenthepersonwasonhisorherdeathbed,butwasstillalive.Itwouldseemthat undersuchcircumstancestheastralsensesareverymuchfreerfromtheinterferenceofthephysicalsenses, andtendtomanifestverystronglyintheformofappearancestopersonsinwhomthedyingpersonisattached bythetiesofaffection.Manywhoreadthiscoursehaveknownofcasesofthiskind,fortheyareofquite frequentoccurrence. Thestudentwillnoticethatinthemajorityofthecasescitedinthischaptertheclairvoyanthasbeeninastateof sleep,orsemisleep;ofteninadreamcondition.Butyoumustnotjumptotheconclusionthatthisconditionis alwaysnecessaryforthemanifestationofthisphenomenon.Onthecontrary,theadvancedandwelldeveloped clairvoyantsusuallyassumemerelyaconditionofdeepreverieormeditation,shuttingoutthesoundsand thoughtsofthephysicalplane,soastobeabletofunctionbetterontheastralplane. Thereasonthatsomanyrecordedcaseshaveoccurredwhentheclairvoyantpersonwasasleep,andthevision appearedasadream,issimplybecauseinsuchaconditionthephysicalsensesofthepersonarestilledandat rest,andthereislesslikelihoodofinterferencefromthem,andabetteropportunityfortheastralsensesto

functioneffectively.Itislikethefamiliarcasesinwhichonebecomessowrappedupinviewingabeautifulwork ofart,orinlisteningtoabeautifulmusicalrendition,thatheorsheforgetsallaboutthesightsandsoundsofthe worldoutside.Onesometimesgetsintothissameconditionwhenreadinganinterestingbook,orwhen witnessinganinterestingplay.Whenthepsychicpowersareconcentrateduponanyonechannelofvision,the othersfailtoregisteraclearimpression.Thesameruleholdsgoodontheastralplane,asonthephysical. Therearecertainpsychicconditionswhichareespeciallyconducivetothemanifestationofclairvoyant phenomena,asallstudentsofthesubjectknowverywell.Theseconditionsaresomewhathardtoinduce,at leastuntiltheclairvoyanthashadconsiderableexperienceandpractice.But,inthestateofsleep,theperson inducesthedesiredconditions,inmanycases,thoughheisnotconsciouslydoingso.Asmightnaturallybe expected,therefore,themajorityoftherecordedcasesofclairvoyancehaveoccurredwhentheclairvoyant personhasbeenasleep. Ishouldalsostate,oncemore,thatinmanycasesinwhichtheclairvoyanthaswitnessedthe"appearance"of anotherperson,asinthecasessuchasIhavejustmentioned,thereisalwaysthepossibilityoftheperson havingactuallyappearedinhisastralbody,unconsciouslytohimselfofcourse.Noonebutaskilledoccultistis abletodistinguishbetweencasesofthiskind.Thelinebetweenthisclassofclairvoyanceandastralappearance isverythin,and,infact,thetwoclassesofphenomenashadeandblendintoeachother.Inreality,whenone getsdowntobottomprinciples,thereisverylittledifferencebetweentheactualappearanceintheastralbody, andthestrongprojectionofone'spresencebymeansofwill,consciousorunconscious,alongthelinesof awakeningtheclairvoyantvisionofothers.Toattempttoexplaintheslightpointsofdifferencehere,wouldonly involvethestudentinamassoftechnicaldescriptionwhichwouldtendtoconfuse,ratherthantoenlighten him;fromthisIrefrain.

LESSON11
CLAIRVOYANCEOFTHEPAST
Thethirdgreatclassofclairvoyantphenomena,knownasTimeClairvoyance,isdividedintotwosubclasses, asfollows:(1)PastTimeClairvoyance;and(2)FutureTimeClairvoyance.Thecharacteristicsofeachofthese subclassesisindicatedbyitsname. PastTimeClairvoyance,asindicatedbythename,isthatclassofclairvoyantphenomenawhichisconcerned withtheperceptionoffacts,eventsandhappeningsofpasttime.Whetherthehappeningisthatoffiveminutes ago,oroffivethousandyearsago,theprinciplesinvolvedarepreciselythesame.Oneisnomoreorless wonderfulthanistheother. Manystudentsconfessthemselvesperplexedwhentheyarefirstconfrontedwiththisclassofphenomena.While theyfinditcomparativelyeasytoseehowbyastralvisiontheclairvoyantisabletosenseeventshappeningat thatmoment,thoughthousandsofmilesawayfromtheobserver,theycannotatfirstunderstandhowonecan "see"athingnolongerinexistence,butwhichdisappearedfromsightthousandsofyearsago.Naturally,they asktobeinformedhowthisispossible,beforeproceedingtodevelopthefacultyitself.Believingthatthis questionisnowbeingaskedbyyou,thestudentoftheselessons,Ishallpauseforafewmomentsandshowyou "justhow"thiswonderfulthingbecomespossibletotheclairvoyant. Inthefirstplace,itwouldundoubtedlybeimpossibletoperceiveathing,evenbyastralvision,ifithadentirely disappearedatsometimeinthepast:Thiswouldbebeyondallnaturalpowers,astralaswellasphysical.But, asamatteroffact,thethingsofthepasthavenotentirelydisappeared,but,onthecontrary,whilehaving disappearedonthephysicalplanetheystillexistontheastralplane.Ishallendeavortoexplainthiswonderful factofnaturetoyouinplainterms,althoughitbelongstooneofthemostmysteriousclassesoftheoccultfacts oftheuniverse. Intheoccultteachingswefindmanyreferencesto"theAkashicRecords,"orwhatissometimescalled"the recordsoftheAstralLight."Withoutgoingintotechnicaloccultdefinitionsandexplanations,Iwillsaytoyouthat thegistofthisoccultteachingisthatinthathighformoftheuniversalsubstancewhichiscalledtheUniversal aetherthereisfoundtoberecordedallthehappeningsoftheentireWorldCycleofwhichthepresenttimeisa part.AllthathashappenedfromtheverybeginningofthisWorldCycle,millionsofyearsago,ispreservedon theseastralrecords,andmaybereadbytheadvancedclairvoyantorotherpersonpossessingoccultpowersof thiskind.TheserecordsperishonlywiththeterminationofaWorldCycle,whichwillnothappenformillionsof yearsyettocome. Tothosewhocannotacceptthereasonablenessofthisoccultfact,Iwouldsaythatthereareanalogiestobe foundonotherplanesofnaturalmanifestation.Forinstance,asastronomyteachesus,astarmaybeblottedout ofexistence,andyetitslightwillpersistlongafter(perhapsuntiltheendofworldtime)travelingalongattherate of186,000mileseachsecond.Thelightthatwenowseecomingfromthedistantstarshasleftthosestarsmany yearsago;insomecasesthousandsofyearsago.Weseethemnotastheyarenow,butastheywereatthe timetherayoflightleftthem,many,manyyearsago.Infact,itisbelievedthatsomeofthesestarswhichwesee

twinklingatnighthaveactuallybeenblottedouthundredsofyearsago.Wewillnotbeawareofthisfactuntilthe lightrayssuddenlyceasereachingus,aftertheirjourneyofbillionsofmilesandhundredsofyears.Astarblotted outofexistencetodaywouldbeseenbyourchildren,andchildren'schildren. Theheatfromastovewillbefeltinaroomlongafterthestovehasbeenremovedfromit.Aroomwilllong containtheodorofsomethingthathasbeenremovedfromit.ItissaidthatinoneoftheoldmosquesofPersia theremaybeperceivedthefaintodorofthemuskthatwasexposedtherehundredsofyearsago:Theverywalls aresaturatedwiththepungentodor.Again,isitnotwonderfulthatourmemoriespreservetheimagesofthe soundsandformswhichwereplacedthereperhapsfiftyyearsandmoreago?Howdothesememoryimages surviveandexist?Thoughwemayhavethoughtofthepastthingforhalfalifetime,yet,suddenlyitsimage flashesintoourconsciousness.SurelythisisaswonderfulastheAkashicRecords,thoughits"commonness" makesitloseitswonderfulappearancetous. CamilleFlammarion,theeminentFrenchastronomer,inabookwrittenovertwentyfiveyearsago,andwhichis nowoutofprint,Ibelieve,picturedapossibleconditionofaffairsinwhichadisembodiedsoulwouldbeableto perceiveeventsthathappenedinthepast,bysimplytakingapositioninspaceinwhichhewouldbeableto catchthelightwavesthatemanatedfromadistantplanetatthatparticulartimeinthepastthehappenings ofwhichhewantedtoperceive.Thelittlebookwascalled"Lumen"andIadviseyoutoreadit,ifyoucanfinditin yourpubliclibraries. Anotherwriterhaswrittensomewhatalongthesamelines.Iherewithgiveyouaquotationfromhim,thatyou maygettheideahewishestoexpress;itwillhelpyouinyourconceptionoftheAkashicRecords.Hesays: "Whenweseeanything,whetheritbethebookweholdinourhands,orastarmillionsofmilesaway,wedoso bymeansofavibrationintheaether,commonlycalledarayoflight,whichpassesfromtheobjectseentoour eyes.Nowthespeedwithwhichthisvibrationpassesissogreatabout186,000milesinasecondthatwhen weareconsideringanyobjectinourownworldwemayregarditaspracticallyinstantaneous.When,however, wecometodealwithinterplanetarydistanceswehavetotakethespeedoflightintoconsideration,foran appreciableperiodisoccupiedintraversingthesevastspaces.Forexample,ittakeseightminutesandaquarter forlighttotraveltousfromthesun,sothatwhenwelookatthesolarorbweseeitbymeansofarayoflight whichleftitmorethaneightminutesago.Fromthisfollowsaverycuriousresult.Therayoflightbywhichwesee thesuncanobviouslyreporttousonlythestateofaffairs'whichexistedinthatluminarywhenitstartedonits journey,andwouldnotbeintheleastaffectedbyanythingthathappenedafteritleft;sothatwereallyseethe sunnotasitis,butasitwaseightminutesago.Thatistosaythatifanythingimportanttookplaceinthesun,the formationofanewsunspot,forinstance,anastronomerwhowaswatchingtheorbthroughhistelescopeatthe timewouldbeunawareoftheincidentwhileitwashappening,sincetherayoflightbearingthenewswouldnot reachhimuntilmorethaneightminuteslater. "Thedifferenceismorestrikingwhenweconsiderthefixedstars,becauseintheircasethedistancesareso enormouslygreater.Thepolestar,forexample,issofaroffthatlight,travelingattheinconceivablespeedabove mentioned,takesalittlemorethanfiftyyearstoreachoureyes;andfromthatfollowsthestrangebutinevitable inferencethatweseethepolestarnotasorwhereitisatthismoment,butasandwhereitwasfiftyyearsago. Nay,iftomorrowsomecosmiccatastropheweretoshatterthepolestarintofragments,weshouldstillseeit peacefullyshiningintheskyalltherestofourlives;ourchildrenwouldgrowuptomiddleageandgathertheir childrenabouttheminturnbeforethenewsofthattremendousaccidentreachedanyterrestrialeye.Inthesame waythereareotherstarssofardistantthatlighttakesthousandsofyearstotravelfromthemtous,andwith

referencetotheirconditionourinformationisthereforethousandsofyearsbehindtime.Nowcarrytheargument astepfarther.Supposethatwewereabletoplaceamanatthedistanceof186,000milesfromtheearth,and yettoendowhimwiththewonderfulfacultyofbeingablefromthatdistancetoseewhatwashappeninghereas clearlyasthoughhewerestillclosebesideus.Itisevidentthatamansoplacedwouldseeeverythingasecond afterthetimeitreallyhappened,andsoatthepresentmomenthewouldbeseeingwhathappenedasecond ago.Doublethatdistance,andhewouldbetwosecondsbehindtime,andsoon;removehimtothedistanceof thesun(stillallowinghimtopreservethesamemysteriouspowerofsight)andhewouldlookdownandwatch youdoingnotwhatyouaredoingnow,butwhatyouweredoingeightminutesandaquarterago.Carryhimto thepolestar,andhewouldseepassingbeforehiseyestheeventsoffiftyyearsago;hewouldbewatchingthe childishgambolsofthosewhoatthesamemomentwerereallymiddleagedmen.Marvelousasthismaysound, itisliterallyandscientificallytrue,andcannotbedenied." Flammarion,inhisstory,called"Lumen,"makeshisspiritheropassatwillalongtherayoflightfromtheearth, seeingthethingsofdifferenterasofearthtime.Heevenmadehimtravelbackwardalongthatray,thusseeing thehappeningsinreverseorder,asinamovingpicturerunningbackward.Thisstoryisofthegreatestinterestto theoccultist,forwhiletheAkashicRecordsarenotthesameasthelightrecords,yettheanalogyissomarkedin manywaysthattheoccultistseeshereanotherexemplificationoftheoldoccultaxiomthat"asabove,sobelow; asbelow,soabove." Itakethelibertyofquotingherefrommylittlebook,"TheAstralWorld,"inordertogiveyousomefurtherideaof thenatureoftheserecordsintheAstralLight.Thereaderissupposedtobetravelinginhisastralbody,having thephenomenaoftheastralpointedouttohimbyacompetentoccultistactingashisguide.Theoccultistguide saystothestudent:"Changingourvibrations,wefindourselvesenteringastrangeregion,thenatureofwhich youatfirstfailtodiscern.Pausingamomentuntilyourastralvisionbecomesattunedtothepeculiarvibrationsof thisregion,youwillfindthatyouarebecominggraduallyawareofwhatmaybecalledanimmensepicture gallery,spreadingoutinalldirections,andapparentlybearingadirectrelationtoeverypointofspaceonthe surfaceoftheearth.Atfirst,youfinditdifficulttodecipherthemeaningofthisgreatarrayofpictures.Thetrouble arisesfromthefactthattheyarearrangednotoneaftertheotherinsequenceonaflatplane;butratherin sequence,oneafteranother,inapeculiarorderwhichmaybecalledtheorderof'Xnessinspace,'becauseitis neitherthedimensionoflength,breadth,ordepth:Itispracticallytheorderofthefourthdimensioninspace, whichcannotbedescribedintermsofordinaryspatialdimension.Again,youfinduponcloselyexaminingthe picturesthattheyareveryminute,practicallymicroscopicinsize,andrequiretheuseofthepeculiarmagnifying powerofastralvisiontobringthemuptoasizecapableofbeingrecognizedbyyourfacultyofvisualrecognition. "Theastralvision,whendeveloped,iscapableofmagnifyinganyobject,materialorastral,toanenormous degree.Forinstance,thetrainedoccultistisabletoperceivethewhirlingatomsandcorpusclesofmatter,by meansofthispeculiarityofastralvision.Likewise,heisabletoplainlyperceivemanyfinevibrationsoflight whichareinvisibletotheordinarysight.Infact,thepeculiarAstralLightwhichpervadesthisregionisduetothe poweroftheastralvisiontoperceiveandregisterthesefinevibrationsoflight.Bringthispowerofmagnifying intooperation,andyouwillseethateachofthelittlepointsanddetailsofthegreatworldpicturesospread beforeyouintheAstralLightisreallyacompletesceneofacertainplaceonearth,atacertainperiodinthe historyoftheearth.Itresemblesoneofthesmallviewsinaseriesofmovingpictures;asingleviewofarollfilm. Itisfixed,andnotinmotion,andyetwecanmoveforwardalongthefourthdimension,andthusobtainamoving pictureofthehistoryofanypointonthesurfaceoftheearth,orevencombinethevariouspointsintoalarge movingpicture,inthesameway.Letusprovethisbyactualexperiment.Closeyoureyesforamoment,whilewe

travelbackintime(sotospeak)alongtheseriesoftheseastralrecords.Forindeed,theytravelbacktothe beginningofthehistoryoftheearth.Nowopenyoureyes!Lookingaroundyou,youperceivethepictured representationofstrangescenesfilledwithpersonswearingapeculiargarb;butallisstill,nolife,nomotion. "Now,letusmoveforwardintime,atmuchhigherratethanthatinwhichtheastralviewswereregistered.You nowseeflyingbeforeyouthegreatmovementoflifeonacertainpointofspace,inafardistantage.Frombirth todeathyouseethelifeofthesestrangepeople,allinthespaceofafewmoments.Greatbattlesarefought, andcitiesrisebeforeyoureyes,allinagreatmovingpictureflyingatatremendousspeed.Nowstop,andthen letusmovebackwardintime,stillgazingatthemovingpictures.Youseeastrangesight,likethatof'reversing thefilm'inamovingpicture.Youseeeverythingmovingbackward:Citiescrumblingintonothingness,men arisingfromtheirgraves,andgrowingyoungereachseconduntiltheyarefinallybornasbabes;everything movingbackwardintime,insteadofforward.Youcanthuswitnessanygreathistoricalevent,orfollowthecareer ofanygreatpersonagefrombirthtodeath,orbackward.Youwillnotice,moreover,thateverythingis semitransparent,andthataccordinglyyoucanseethepictureofwhatisgoingoninsideofbuildingsaswellas outsideofthem.NothingescapestheAstralLightRecords.Nothingcanbeconcealedfromit.Bytravelingtoany pointintime,onthefourthdimension,youmaybeginatthatpoint,andseeamovingpictureofthehistoryofany partoftheearthfromthattimetothepresent.Or,youmayreversethesequencebytravelingbackward,aswe haveseen.YoumayalsotravelintheAstral,onordinaryspacedimensions,andthusseewhathappened simultaneouslyallovertheearth,atanyspecialmomentofpasttime,ifyouwish." Now,Idonotforamomentwishyoutounderstandthattheaboveexperienceispossibletoeveryclairvoyant whoisabletosensepasttimeeventsandhappenings.Onthecontrary,theaboveexperienceispossibleonlyto theadvancedoccultist,ortothestudentwhomhemaytakewithhimonanastraltrip,intheastralbody.The clairvoyantmerelycatchesglimpsesofcertainphasesandfieldsofthegreatastralrecordregionorstate.For thatmatter,theordinaryclairvoyantmerelyseesareflectionofthetrueAstralLightpictures:Areflectionsimilar tothatofalandscapereflectedinapond.Moreover,thisreflectionmaybe(andfrequentlyis)disturbedasifby theripplesandwavesofthepondinwhichthelandscapeisreflected.But,still,eventheordinaryclairvoyantis abletosecureresultswhicharewonderfulenoughinalltruth,andwhichfartranscendthepoweroftheperson functioningonthephysicalplanealone. Pasttimeclairvoyanceisfrequentlyinducedbymeansofpsychometry,inwhichtheclairvoyantisabletohave "thelooseend"tounwindtheballoftime.But,still,insomecasestheclairvoyantisabletogetenrapportwith theastralrecordsofpasttimebytheordinarymethodsofmeditation,etc.Themainobstacleinthelast mentionedcaseisthedifficultyofcomingincontactwiththeexactperiodofpasttimesoughtfor,inpsychometry, thevibrationsofthe"associatedobject"suppliesthemissinglink. Lackingthe"associatedobject,"theclairvoyantmayobtainthelinkbybringingintotheimaginationsome associatedsceneofthattime;somethingelsethathappenedaboutthesametime.Allthatisneededistoget holdofsomethingassociatedinspaceorintimewiththesoughtforscene.Allthatisneededisthe"looseend" ofassociation.Sometimestheclairvoyantsensessomepasttimeexperience,theplaceandtimeofwhichis unknowntohim.Insuchcases,itisnecessaryforhimtogetholdofsome"looseend"bywhichhemayworkout thesolution.Forinstance,thepictureofacertainbuildingorpersonage,orhistoricalhappening,maygivethe keytothemystery. Inveryhighformsofpasttimeclairvoyance,theclairvoyantisablenotonlytoperceivetheactualhappeningsof

thepast,butalsotoactuallysensethethoughtandfeelingsoftheactorstherein,forthese,too,arerecordedon theastralplane.Inothercases,theclairvoyantpersonisabletopicturescenesandhappeningsrelatingtohis pastincarnations,eventhoughheisnotabletosenseotherpasttimeeventsandscenes.But,hereagain,many goodpasttimeclairvoyantsarenotabletocatchtheseglimpsesoftheirownpastlives,thoughabletoperceive thoseofotherpersons.AllthesevariationsareduetocertaintechnicaldifferencesintowhichIcannotgointo detailatthisplace.Againsomepersonsareabletoperceiveeventsthathavehappenedtopersonspresent beforethem,butarenotabletocontactpasttimeeventsintheordinaryway.Thereareathousandandone variationsinclairvoyantwork.Onlythehighlyadvancedoccultistismasterofallofthem.But,stilleveryonemay develophimselforherself,fromhumblebeginnings. Inconcludingthislesson,Iwishtocallyourattentiontothefollowingadvicefromamanwelladvancedinthe knowledgeoftheastralplane.Hesays:"Itwouldbewellforallstudentstobearinmindthatoccultismisthe apotheosisofcommonsense,andthateveryvisionthatcomestothemisnotnecessarilyapicturefromthe AkashicRecords,noreveryexperiencearevelationfromonhigh.Itisfarbettertoerronthesideofhealthy skepticism,thanofovercredulity,anditisanadmirablerulenevertohuntaboutforanoccultexplanationof anythingwhenaplainandobviousphysicaloneisavailable.Ourdutyistoendeavortokeepourbalancealways, andnevertoloseourselfcontrol,buttotakeareasonable,commonsenseviewofwhatevermayhappentous, sothatwemaybewiseroccultists,andmoreusefulhelpersthanwehaveeverbeenbefore. "Wefindexamplesofalldegreesofthepowertoseeintothis'memoryofnature,'fromthetrainedmanwhocan consulttherecordsforhimselfatwill,downtothepersonwhogetsnothingbutoccasionalvagueglimpses,or hasperhapshadonlyoncesuchglimpse.Buteventhemanwhopossessesthisfacultyonlypartiallyand occasionallystillfindsitofthedeepestinterest.Thepsychometer,whoneedsanobjectphysicallyconnected withthepastinordertobringitallintolifeagainaroundhim;andthecrystalgazerwhocansometimesdirecthis lesscertainastraltelescopetosomehistoricsceneoflongago,maybothderivethegreatestenjoymentfromthe exerciseoftheirrespectivegifts,eventhoughtheymaynotalwaysunderstandexactlyhowtheirresultsare obtained,andmaynothavethemfullyundercontrolunderallcircumstances. "Inmanycasesofthelowermanifestationsofthesepowerswefindthattheyareexercisedunconsciously.Many acrystalgazerwatchesscenesfromthepastwithoutbeingabletodistinguishthemfromvisionsofthepresent. Andmanyavaguelypsychicpersonfindspicturesconstantlyarisingbeforehiseyes,withouteverrealizingthat heisineffectpsychometrizingthevariousobjectsaroundhim,ashehappenstotouchthemorstandnearthem. Aninterestingvariantofthisclassofpsychicsisthemanwhoisabletopsychometrizepersonsonly,andnot inanimateobjectsasismoreusual.Inmostcasesthisfacultyshowsitselferratically,sothatsuchapsychicwill, whenintroducedtoastranger,oftenseeinaflashsomeprominenteventinthatstranger'searlierlife,buton similaroccasionswillreceivenospecialimpression.Morerarelywemeetwithsomeonewhogetsdetailed visionsofthepastlifeofnearlyeveryonewhomheencounters.Itmayeasilyhappen,moreover,thataperson mayseeapictureofthepastwithoutrecognizingitassuch,unlesstherehappenstobeinitsomethingwhich attractsspecialattention,suchasafigureinarmor,orinantiquecostume.Itsprobable,therefore,that occasionalglimpsesoftheseastralreflectionsoftheakashicrecordsarecommonerthanthepublishedaccounts wouldleadustobelieve." Iwouldsaytomystudents,makehasteslowly.Donottrytorushdevelopmenttoorapidly.Perfectanddevelop yourselfinonelineofpsychicpower,beforeseekinganother.Takethingscooly,anddonotloseyourhead becauseyouhappentoachievesomewonderfulphenomena.Donotbecomeconceitedandvainglorious.And,

finally,donotprostituteyourpowerstoignobleends,andmakeacheapshowofthem.Bycheapeningand prostitutingthehigherpsychicpowers,thestudentfrequentlyendsbylosingthemaltogether.Moderationinall thingsisthesafepolicy.Anditalwaysiswellfortheoccultisttoresisttemptationtousehispowersforunworthy, sensational,orpurelyselfishpurposes.

LESSON12
CLAIRVOYANCEOFTHEFUTURE
FutureTimeClairvoyance,asindicatedbyitsname,isthatclassofclairvoyantphenomenawhichisconcerned withtheperceptionoffacts,eventsandhappeningsoffuturetime.Inthisclassofclairvoyantphenomena naturallyfallallgenuinecasesofprophecy,prevision,foretelling,secondsight,etc.History,theologicaland secular,isfilledwithinstancesoftheforetellingofthefuturebyprophets,wisemen,andothers.Bymany,such powersaregenerallyregardedassupernaturalordivine.Withoutwishingtocombatsuchtheoriesandbeliefs,I wouldsaythattheadvancedoccultistsaccountforallsuchphenomenaunderthegenerallawsofclairvoyance. Butwhilethephenomenaitselfisverywellknown,andisacceptedasgenuineinevenmanycasesinwhich pasttimeclairvoyanceisdoubted,stillitisevenmoredifficulttoexplainthanispasttimeclairvoyancebasedon theAkashicRecordsortheAstralLight.Tothepersonnotwellversedinoccultknowledge,andesoteric principles,itisdeemedimpossibletointelligentlyaccountfortheperceptionofaneventbeforeithasactually happened;perhapsyearsbeforeitsactualhappening.WhileIcannothopetomakethismatterabsolutelyclear tothepersonwhoisnotanadvancedstudentofoccultism,stillIshalltrytothrowatleastsomelightonthe underlyingprinciplesofthiswonderfulclassofoccultphenomena.Themainpointforthestudenttorealizeis thattherearenaturallawsunderlyingthisphenomenon,andthatitisnotamatterofsupernaturalpower,or necessarilyofdivinespecialdispensation. Inthefirstplace,insomeofthesimplerformsoffuturetimeclairvoyance,thereismerelyahighdevelopmentof subconsciousreasoningfromanalogy.Thatistosay,thesubconsciousmentalfacultiesofthepersonreasonout thatsuchandsobeingthecase,thenitfollowsthatsoandsowillresult,unlesssomethingentirelyunexpected shouldpreventorintervene.Thisismerelyanextensionofcertainformsofreasoningthatweperformordinarily. Forinstance,weseeachildplayingwithasharptool,andwenaturallyreasonthatitwillcutitself.Weseeaman actingincertainwayswhichgenerallyleadtocertainends,andwenaturallyreasonthattheexpectedresultwill occur.Themoreexperiencethattheobserverhashad,andthekeenerhisfacultyofperceptionandhispowerof deductivereasoning,thewiderwillbetherangeofhispowerinthedirectionofpredictingfutureresultsfrom presenthappeningsandconditions. Inthisconnection,wemustrememberthattheordinaryclairvoyanthaseasieraccesstohissubconscious mentalitythanhastheaverageperson.Thesubconsciousmindperceivesandnotesmanylittlethingsthatthe consciousmindoverlooks,andthereforehasbetterdatafromwhichtoreason.Moreover,asallstudentsofthe subconsciousknow,thesewonderfulsubconsciousmentalfacultieshaveaveryhighlydevelopedpowerof reasoningdeductivelyfromagivenpremiseorfact.Infact,thesubconsciousfacultiesarealmostperfect reasoningmachines,providingtheyaresuppliedwithcorrectdatainthefirstplace.Muchofthesocalled "intuitivereasoning"ofpersonsarisesfromtheoperationsofthesubconsciousmentalfacultiesjustmentioned. But,youmaysay,thisisveryinteresting,butitisnotclairvoyance.Certainly,goodstudent,butstillclairvoyance playsanimportantparteveninthiselementaryformofprevisionandfutureseeing.Youmustrememberthatby clairvoyantvisiontherealthoughtsandfeelingsofapersonmaybeperceived.But,unlesstheattentionofthe clairvoyantisspeciallydirectedtothis,theconsciousminddoesnotnoteit,andthematterreachesthe

subconsciousfacultieswithoutinterferenceorconsciousknowledgeonthepartoftheclairvoyant.Thisbeingso, itwillbeseenthatthesubconsciousmindoftheclairvoyantisabletoreasondeductively,insuchcases,far beyondthepowerofeventhesubconsciousmindoftheordinaryperson:Ithasfullerdataandmorecomplete materialtoworkupon,ofcourse. Ithasbecomeaproverboftheracethat"comingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore";andmanypersons frequentlyhavelittleflashesoffuturetimeseeingwithoutrealizingthattheyarereallyexercisingelementary clairvoyantpowers.Thecombinationofevenasimpleformofclairvoyanceandanactivesubconsciousmindwill oftenproduceverywonderfulresults,althoughnotofcoursethemorecomplexphenomenaoffullclairvoyance andprevision.Somepersonshaveclaimedthateventhisformofprevisionimpliessomethinglikefateor predestination,butthisisnotfullytrue,forwemustrememberthefactthatinsomecasesitispossibletosoact inaccordancewithaclairvoyantwarningofthiskindthattheimpendingcalamitymaybeescaped.But,onthe otherhand,wemustalsorememberthateveryeventistheresultofcertainprecedingevents,withoutwhichit couldnothavehappened,andwhichexistingitmusthappenunlesssomenewelementintervenes.Thereis suchathingascauseandeffect,wemustrememberandifwecanreasonclearlyfromonetotheotherwith sufficientclearness,thenwemayactuallyprophesycertainthingsinadvance,alwaysmakingallowanceforthe interventionoftheunexpected. Anauthoritysaysonthisphaseofthequestion:"Thereisnodoubtwhateverthat,justaswhatishappeningnow istheresultofcausessetinmotioninthepast,sowhatwillhappeninthefuturewillbetheresultofcauses alreadyinoperation.Evenonthisplaneoflifewecancalculatethatifcertainactionsareperformed,certain resultswillfollow;butourreckoningisconstantlyliabletobedisturbedbytheinterferenceoffactorswhichwe havenotbeenabletotakeintoaccount.Butifweraiseourconsciousnesstothehigherplaneswecanseemuch furtherintotheresultsofouractions.Wecantrace,forexample,theeffectofacasualword,notonlyuponthe persontowhomitwasaddressed,butthroughhimonmanyothersasitispassedoninwideningcircles,untilit seemstohaveaffectedthewholecountry;andoneglimpseofsuchavisionismoreefficientthananynumberof moralpreceptsinimpressinguponusthenecessityofextremecircumspectioninthought,word,anddeed.Not onlycanwefromthatplaneseethusfullytheresultofeveryaction,butwecanalsoseewhereandinwhatway theresultsofotheractionsapparentlyquiteunconnectedwithitwillinterferewithandmodifyit.Infact,itmaybe saidthattheresultsofallcausesatpresentinactionareclearlyvisible;thatthefuture,asitwouldbeifno entirelynewcausesshouldarise,liesopenbeforeourgaze. "Newcausesofcoursedoarise,becauseman'swillisfree;butinthecaseofallordinarypeopletheusewhich theymakeoftheirfreedommaybecalculatedbeforehandwithconsiderableaccuracy.Theaveragemanhasso littlerealwillthatheisverymuchthecreatureofcircumstances;hisactioninpreviouslivesplaceshimamid certainsurroundings,andtheirinfluenceuponhimissoverymuchthemostimportantfactorinhislifestorythat hisfuturecoursemaybepredictedwithalmostmathematicalcertainty.Withthedevelopedmanthecaseis different;forhimalsothemaineventsoflifearearrangedbyhispastactions,butthewayinwhichhewillallow themtoaffecthim,themethodsbywhichhewilldealwiththemandperhapstriumphoverthemtheseareallhis own,andtheycannotbeforeseenevenonthementalplaneexceptasprobabilities. "Lookingdownonman'slifeinthiswayfromabove,itseemsasthoughhisfreewillcouldbeexercisedonlyin certaincrisesinhiscareer.Hearrivesatapointinhislifewherethereareobviouslytwoorthreealternative coursesopenbeforehim;heisabsolutelyfreetochoosewhichofthemhepleases,andalthoughsomeonewho knewhisnaturethoroughlywellmightfeelalmostcertainwhathischoicewouldbe,suchknowledgeonhis

friend'spartisinnosenseacompellingforce.Butwhenhehaschosen,hehastogothroughwithitandtakethe consequences;havingentereduponaparticularpathhemay,inmanycases,beforcedtogoonforaverylong timebeforehehasanyopportunitytoturnaside.Hispositionissomewhatlikethatofadriverofatrain;whenhe comestoajunctionhemayhavethepointsseteitherthiswayorthat,andsocanpassontowhicheverlinehe pleases,butwhenhehaspassedontooneofthemheiscompelledtorunonalongthelinewhichhehas selecteduntilhereachesanothersetofpoints,whereagainanopportunityofchoiceisofferedtohim." But,interestingandwonderfulasthisphaseoffuturetimeclairvoyanceundoubtedlyis,itpalesbeforethefuller andmorecompletephases.And,inthelatter,wemustlookelsewherefortheexplanation,orapproachtoan explanation.Theexplanationofthishigherformoffuturetimeclairvoyancemustbelookedforinanew conceptionofthenatureandmeaningoftime.Itisdifficulttoapproachthisquestionwithoutbecomingatonce involvedintechnicalmetaphysicaldiscussion.Asanexampleofthisdifficulty,Iinviteyoutoconsiderthe followingfromSirOliverLodge,inhisaddresstotheBritishAssociation,atCardiff,severalyearsago.While whathesaysisverycleartothemindofapersontrainedalongtheselinesofsubtlethought,itwillbealmostlike Greektotheaverageperson.SirOliverLodgesaid: "Aluminousandhelpfulideaisthattimeisbutarelativemodeofregardingthings;weprogressthrough phenomenaatacertaindefinitepace,andthissubjectiveadvanceweinterpretinanobjectivemanner,asif eventsmovednecessarilyinthisorderandatthispreciserate.Butthatmaybeonlyonemodeofregarding them.Theeventsmaybeinsomesenseofexistencealways,bothpastandfuture,anditmaybewewhoare arrivingatthem,nottheywhicharehappening.Theanalogyofatravelerinarailwaytrainisuseful;ifhecould neverleavethetrainnoralteritspacehewouldprobablyconsiderthelandscapesasnecessarilysuccessiveand beunabletoconceivetheircoexistence. ***Weperceive,therefore,apossiblefourthdimensionalaspectabouttime,theinexorablenessofwhoseflow maybeanaturalpartofourpresentlimitations.Andifweoncegrasptheideathatpastandfuturemaybe actuallyexisting,wecanrecognizethattheymayhaveacontrollinginfluenceonallpresentaction,andthetwo togethermayconstitutethe'higherplane'ortotalityofthingsafterwhich,asitseemstome,weareimpelledto seek,inconnectionwiththedirectingofformordeterminism,andtheactionoflivingbeingconsciouslydirected toadefiniteandpreconceivedend."*** SirOliver'sillustrationissomewhatakintothatofapersonwhoseesamovingpictureshowforthefirsttime, anddoesnotknowhowitisproduced.Tohimitlooksasiftheeventsofthepicturedstoryactuallywere developingandhappeningintime,whereas,inrealitythewholepictureisexistingatonetime.Itspast,present andfutureisalreadypictured,andmaybeseenbyonewhoknowsthesecretandhowtolookforthepastor futurescene;while,totheordinaryobserver,thesceneprogressesinsequence,thepresentbeingfollowedby somethingelsewhichisatthismoment"inthefuture,"andtherefore,unknowable.Tothesensesoftheordinary observeronlythepresentisinexistence;while,infact,the"future"isequallytrulyinexistenceatthesametime, althoughnotevidenttothesensesoftheobserver.Thinkoverthisalittle,andlettheideasinkintoyourmind:It mayhelpyoutounderstandsomethingconcerningthemysteryoffuturetimeclairvoyance,prevision,orsecond sight. Time,youknow,isfarmorerelativethanwegenerallyconceiveit.Itisascientificfactthatapersoninthedream statemaycoveryearsoftimeinadreamthatoccupiesonlyafewsecondsoftime.Personshavenoddedand awakenedimmediatelyafterwards(asprovedbyotherspresentintheroom),andyetinthatmoment'stimethey havedreamedoflongjourneystoforeignlands,greatcampaignsofwar,etc.Moreover,aloudsound(apistol

shot,forinstance)whichhasawakenedasleepingperson,hasalsosetintoeffectadreamstatetrainof circumstances,constitutingalongdreamstatestorywhich,aftermanyeventsandhappenings,terminatedinthe shotofafiringsquad,andthenthemanawoke.Nowinthislastmentionedcase,notonlyhasthedreamer experiencedeventscoveringalongtime,allinthespaceofasecondoftime;but,also,theverysoundwhich terminatedthedream,alsoinduceditfromtheverybeginningthelastthingcausedthefirstthingstoappear andproceedinsequencetothelast!Personsundertheinfluenceofchloroform,or"laughinggas,"havesimilar experiences.Oftenthefirstsoundheardatthemomentofrecoveringconsciousnessseemstobethelast thinginalongdreamwhichprecededit,thoughthelongdreamwasreallycausedbythefinalsound.Now, remember,thatherenotonlydidpast,presentandfutureexistatthesamemomentoftime;but,also,thefuture causedthepastandpresenttocomeintobeing. Onthephysicalplane,wehaveanalogiesillustratingthisfact.Itissaidthatineveryacornrestsandexists,in miniature,theformofthefutureoak.And,somegosofarastosaythattheoakisthe"ultimatecause"ofthe acorn;thattheideaoftheoakcausedtheacorntobeatall.Inthesameway,the"idea"ofthemanmustbein theinfantboy,fromthemomentofbirth,andevenfromthemomentofconception.But,letuspassontothebold conceptionofthemostadvancedmetaphysicians,andtheyhaveastillmoredazzlingexplanation,letuslisten toit. Theseoccultistsandmetaphysicianswhohavethoughtlonganddeeplyupontheultimatefactsandnatureofthe universe,havedaredtothinkthattheremustexistsomeabsoluteconsciousnesssomeabsolutemindwhich mustperceivethepast,presentandfutureoftheuniverseasonehappening;assimultaneouslyandactively presentatonemomentofabsolutetime.Theyreasonthatjustasmanmayseeasonehappeningofamoment ofhistimesomeparticulareventwhichmightappearasayeartosomeminuteformoflifeandmind:The microscopiccreaturesinadropofwater,forinstance;sothatwhichseemsasayear,orahundredyears,tothe mindofmanmayappearasthehappeningofasinglemomentofahigherscaleoftimetosomeexaltedBeing orformofconsciousnessonahigherplane.Yourememberthatitissaidthat"athousandyearsisbutasaday totheLord;"andtheHinduVedastellusthat"thecreation,duration,anddestructionoftheuniverse,isasbut thetimeofthetwinklingofaneyetoBrahman."Ishallnotproceedfurtheralongthisline.Ihavegivenyouavery stronghinthere;youmustworkitoutforyourself,ifyoufeelsodisposed.Buttherearecertainconsequences arisingfromthisultimateuniversalfact,whichImustmentionbeforepassingon. Thehighoccultteachingsholdthatthereisaplaneofthehigherastralworldwhichmaybesaidtocarrya reflectionoftheUniversalMind,justasalakecontainsareflectionofthedistantmountain.Well,then,the clairvoyantvisionattimesisabletopenetratetotherealmofthatastralreflectingmedium,andseesomewhat dimlywhatispicturedthere.Asthefuturemaybediscernedinthisreflectedpicture,bytheclairvoyantmind,we seehowfutureseeing,prevision,andsecondsightmaybeexplainedscientifically. Awriterhassaid:"Onthisplane,insomemannerwhichdownhereistotallyinexplicable,thepast,thepresent, andthefuture,areallthereexistingsimultaneously.Onecanonlyacceptthisfact,foritscauseliesinthefaculty ofthatexaltedplane,andthewayinwhichthishigherfacultyworksisnaturallyquiteincomprehensibletothe physicalbrain.Yetnowandthenonemaymeetwithahintthatseemstobringusatriflenearertoadim possibilityofcomprehension.Whenthepupil'sconsciousnessisfullydevelopeduponthishigherplane, therefore,perfectprevisionispossibletohim,thoughhemaynotnay,hecertainlywillnotbeabletobringthe wholeresultofhissightthroughfullyandinorderintohisphysicalconsciousness.Still,agreatdealofclear foresightisobviouslywithinhispowerwheneverhelikestoexerciseit;andevenwhenheisnotexercisingit,

frequentflashesofforeknowledgecomethroughintohisordinarylife,sothatheoftenhasaninstantaneous intuitionastohowthingswillturnout." Thesamewritersays:"Shortofperfectprevisionwefindthatalldegreesofthistypeofclairvoyanceexist,from theoccasionalvaguepremonitionswhichcannotinanytruesensebecalledsightatall,uptofrequentandfairly completesecondsight.Thefacultytowhichthislattersomewhatmisleadingnamehasbeengivenisan extremelyinterestingone,andwouldwellrepaymorecarefulandsystematicstudythanhashithertobeengiven toit.ItisbestknowntousasanotinfrequentpossessionoftheScottishHighlanders,thoughitisbynomeans confinedtothem.Occasionalinstancesofithaveappearedinalmosteverynation,butithasalwaysbeen commonestamongmountaineersandmenoflonelylife.WithusinEnglanditisoftenspokenofasifitwerethe exclusiveappanageoftheCelticrace,butinrealityithasappearedamongsimilarlysituatedpeoplestheworld over,itisstated,forexample,tobeverycommonamongtheWestphalianpeasantry. "Sometimesthesecondsightconsistsofapictureclearlyforeshowingsomecomingevent;morefrequently, perhaps,theglimpseofthefutureisgiveninsomesymbolicalappearance.Itisnoteworthythattheevents foreseenareinvariablyunpleasantones,deathbeingthecommonestofall.Idonotrecollectasingleinstancein whichthesecondsighthasshownanythingwhichwasnotofthemostgloomynature.Ithasaghastly symbolismofitsown:Asymbolismofshroudsandcorpsecandles,andotherfuneralhorrors.Insomecasesit appearstobetoacertainextentdependentuponlocality,foritisstatedthatinhabitantsoftheIsleofSkyewho possessthefacultyoftenloseitwhentheyleavetheisland,eventhoughitbeonlytocrosstothemainland.The giftofsuchsightissometimeshereditaryinafamilyforgenerations,butthisisnotaninvariablerule,foritoften appearssporadicallyinonememberofafamilyotherwisefreefromitslugubriousinfluence. "Theremaybestillsomepeoplewhodenythepossibilityofprevision,butsuchdenialsimplyshowstheir ignoranceoftheevidenceonthesubject.Thelargenumberofauthenticatedcasesleavenoroomfordoubtas tothefact,butmanyofthemareofsuchanatureastorenderareasonableexplanationbynomeanseasyto find.ItisevidentthattheEgopossessesacertainamountofprevisionalfaculty,andiftheeventsforeseenwere alwaysofgreatimportance,onemightsupposethatanextraordinarystimulushadenabledhimforthatoccasion onlytomakeaclearimpressionofwhathesawuponhislowerpersonality.Nodoubtthatistheexplanationof manyofthecasesinwhichdeathorgravedisasterisforeseen,buttherearealargenumberofinstanceson recordtowhichitdoesnotseemtoapply,sincetheeventsforetoldarefrequentlytrivialandunimportant." InthefollowingchapterIshallpresenttoyourconsiderationsomeveryremarkablecasesoffuturetime clairvoyance,prevision,orsecondsight;someofthesearehistoricalcases,andallarevouchedforbythebest authorities.Iquotethesecasesnotmerelyfortheirowninterestingfeatures,butalsotogiveyouanideaofhow remarkablesomeoftheseinstancesare;andalsotogiveyouaclearconceptionofthewayinwhichthisformof clairvoyancetendstomanifestitself. Beforepassingontotheseinterestingcases,however,Iwishtoremindyouthatinfuturetimeclairvoyance,as wellasinpasttimeclairvoyance,thephenomenonmaybemanifestedinmanywaysandaccordingtoseveral methods.Thatistosay,thatinfuturetimeclairvoyancethevisionmaycomeinthestateofmeditationorreverie; itmaycomealongthelinesofpsychometry,someassociatedobjectorpersonsupplyingtheconnectinglink;or, again,itmaycomeastheresultofcrystalgazing,etc.Thisisaswemightnaturallyexpect,forthisformof clairvoyanceismerelyonespecialandparticularphaseofclairvoyanceingeneral,andofcourse,comesunder thegenerallawsandrulesgoverningallclairvoyantphenomena.

Futuretimeclairvoyance,previsionandsecondsightmay,likeanyotherformofclairvoyance,bedevelopedand unfolded,bymeansofthesamerulesandmethodsthatIhavealreadysuggestedtoyouinthepreceding lessons.Itisallamatterofattention,application,patience,exerciseandpractice.Imaysay,however,thatthe strongdesireandwishfortheperceptionoffutureevents,heldfirmlyinmindduringthepracticingand exercising,willtendtounfoldanddeveloptheclairvoyantfacultiesinthisparticulardirection.Strongdesire,and earnestattentioninthedesireddirection,willdomuchtocultivate,developandunfoldanypsychicfaculty. Justasmeditationandreverieaboutpasttimesandthingstendtodeveloppasttimeclairvoyance,sowill meditationandreverieaboutfuturetimeandthingstendtodevelopprevisionandtheseeingoffuturethings. This,indeed,istheveryfirststeptowardtheattainmentofthisformofclairvoyance.Theattentionclearsthe psychicpath,overwhichtheastralfacultiestravel.Intheastral,asonthephysical,theruleis:alwayslookwhere youaregoing:Lookaheadonthepathoverwhichyouwishtotravel.

LESSON13
SECONDSIGHT,PREVISION,ETC.
Notwithstandingthedifficultiesinthewayofanintelligentexplanationofthephenomenaoffuturetime clairvoyance,secondsight,prevision,etc.,ofwhichIhavespokenintheprecedinglesson,thehumanracehas alwayshadalivelyreminderoftheexistenceofsuchphenomena;andtherecordsoftheracehavealways containedmanyinstancesofthemanifestationthereof.Amongallpeoples,inalllands,inalltimes,therehave beennotedremarkableinstancesofthepowerofcertainpersonstopeerinto,andcorrectlyreportfrom,the mysteriousregionsofthefuture.Passingfromthetraditionalreportsoftherace,andtheminorinstancesknown toalmosteveryperson,wefindthatthescientificinvestigatorsofpsychicphenomenahavegatheredtogetheran enormousarrayofwellauthenticatedcasesofthisclass.ThereportsoftheSocietyforPsychicalresearch containhundredsofsuchcases,whichthestudentmayreadandstudywithinterestandprofit. Itisnotmyintentiontopresentafullhistoryofthereportsofthischaracter.Rather,Ishallcallyourattentiontoa fewstrikingcases,inordertoillustratethephenomenonclearlyandforcibly.Thereissuchawealthofmaterialof thiskindthatitembarrassesonewhowishestoselectfromit.However,IshalldothebestIcaninthatdirection. Following,tocommencewith,Igiveyouextractsfromawellknowncasereportedbyaprominentmemberofthe TheosophicalSociety,whichhasattractedmuchattention.Itwasrelatedtothispersonbyoneoftheactorsin thescene.IthappenedinIndia.ApartyofEnglisharmyofficerswasenteringadensejungle.Thenfollowsthe story,asbelow: "Weplungedintothejungle,andhadwalkedonforaboutanhourwithoutmuchsuccess,whenCameron,who happenedtobenexttome,stoppedsuddenly,turnedpaleasdeath,and,pointingstraightbeforehim,criedin accentsofhorror:'See!see!mercifulheavens,lookthere!''Where?What?Whatisit?',weallshouted confusedly,aswerusheduptohim,andlookedaroundinexpectationofencounteringatigeroracobrawe hardlyknewwhat,butassuredlysomethingterrible,sinceithadbeensufficienttocausesuchevidentemotionin ourusuallyselfcontainedcomrade.Butneithertigernorcobrawasvisible:NothingbutCameronpointingwith ghastlyhaggardfaceandstartingeyeballsatsomethingwecouldnotsee. "'Cameron!Cameron!'criedI,seizinghisarm,'forheavenssakespeak!Whatisthematter?'Scarcelywerethe wordsoutofmymouthwhenalowbutverypeculiarsoundstruckuponmyear,andCameron,droppinghis pointinghand,saidinahoarse,strainedvoice,'There!youheardit?ThankGodit'sover!'andfelltotheground insensible.Therewasamomentaryconfusionwhileweunfastenedhiscollar,andIdashedinhisfacesome waterwhichIfortunatelyhadinmyflask,whileanothertriedtopourbrandybetweenhisclenchedteeth;and undercoverofitIwhisperedtothemannexttome(oneofourgreatestskeptics,bytheway),'Beauchamp,did youhearanything?''Why,yes,'hereplied,'acurioussound,very;asortofcrashorrattlefarawayinthe distance,yetverydistinct;ifthethingwerenotutterlyimpossible,Icouldhaveswornthatitwastherattleof musketry.''Justmyimpression,'murmuredI;'buthush!heisrecovering.' "Inaminuteortwohewasabletospeakfeebly,andbegantothankusandapologizeforgivingtrouble;and soonhesatup,leaningagainstatree,andinafirm,thoughlowvoicesaid:'Mydearfriends,IfeelthatIoweyou anexplanationofmyextraordinarybehavior.ItisanexplanationthatIwouldfainavoidgiving;butitmustcome

sometime,andsomayaswellbegivennow.Youmayperhapshavenoticedthatwhenduringourvoyageyou alljoinedinscoffingatdreams,portentsandvisions,Iinvariablyavoidedgivinganyopiniononthesubject.Idid sobecause,whileIhadnodesiretocourtridiculeorprovokediscussion,Iwasunabletoagreewithyou, knowingonlytoowellfrommyowndreadexperiencethattheworldwhichmenagreetocallthatofthe supernaturalisjustasrealas...nay,perhapsevenmorerealthan,thisworldweseeaboutus.Inotherwords,I, likemanyofmycountrymen,amcursedwiththegiftofsecondsight:Thatawfulfacultywhichforetellsinvision calamitiesthatareshortlytooccur. "'SuchavisionIhadjustnow,anditsexceptionalhorrormovedmeasyouhaveseen.Isawbeforemeacorpse; notthatofonewhohasdiedapeaceful,naturaldeath,butthatofthevictimofsometerribleaccident.Aghastly, shapelessmass,withafaceswollen,crushed,unrecognizable.Isawthisdreadfulobjectplacedinacoffin,and thefuneralserviceperformedoverit.Isawtheburialground.Isawtheclergyman,andthoughIhadneverseen eitherbefore,Icanpicturebothperfectlyinmymind'seyenow:Isawyou,myself,Beauchamp,allofusand manymore,standingroundasmourners.Isawthesoldiersraisetheirmusketsaftertheservicewasover.I heardthevolleytheyfired,andthenIknewnomore.'AshespokeofthatvolleyofmusketryIglancedacross withashudderatBeauchamp,andthelookofstonyhorroronthathandsomeskeptic'sfacewasnottobe forgotten." Omittingthesomewhatlongrecitalofeventswhichfollowed,Iwouldsaythatlaterinthesamedaythepartyof youngofficersandsoldiersdiscoveredthebodyoftheircommandingofficerintheshockingconditionsovividly andgraphicallydescribedbyyoungCameron.Thestoryproceedsasfollows: "When,onthefollowingevening,wearrivedatourdestination,andourmelancholydepositionhadbeentaken downbytheproperauthorities,CameronandIwentoutforaquietwalk,toendeavorwiththeassistanceofthe soothinginfluenceofnaturetoshakeoffsomethingofthegloomwhichparalyzedourspirits.Suddenlyhe clutchedmyarm,and,pointingthroughsomeruderailings,saidinatremblingvoice,'Yes,thereitis!thatisthe burialgroundofyesterday.'And,whenlateronwewereintroducedtothechaplainofthepost,Inoticed,though myfriendsdidnot,theirrepressibleshudderwithwhichCamerontookhishand,andIknewthathehad recognizedtheclergymanofhisvision." Thestoryconcludeswiththestatementthatinallthelittledetails,aswellasthemainpoints,thesceneatthe burialofthecommandingofficercorrespondedexactlywiththevisionofCameron.Thisstorybringsoutthefact thattheScotchpeopleareespeciallygiventomanifestationsofsecondsight;particularlytheHighlandersor mountainpeopleofthatland.ItishardtofindaScotchman,who,inhisheart,doesnotbelieveinsecondsight, andwhohasnotknownofsomewellauthenticatedinstanceofitsmanifestation.Inotherlands,certainraces,or subraces,seemtobespeciallyfavored(orcursed,asCameronasserted)withthispower.Itwillbenoticed, usually,thatsuchpeopledwell,orhavedweltinthehighlandsormountainsoftheircountry.Thereseemstobe somethinginthemountainsandhillswhichtendstodevelopandencouragethispowerinthosedwellingamong them.ThestoryisalsoremarkableinthefactthattheimpressionwassostronginthemindofCameronthatit actuallycommunicateditselfbyclairaudiencetothoseneartohim.Thisisquiteunusual,thoughnotwithout correspondenceinothercases.Otherwise,thecaseismerelyatypicalone,andmaybeduplicatedinthe experienceofthousandsofothermenandwomen. GeorgeFox,thepioneerQuaker,hadthisfacultywelldeveloped,andnumerousinstancesofitsmanifestationby himarerecorded.Forinstance,heforetoldthedeathofCromwell,whenhemethimridingatHamptonCourt;he

saidthathefelt"awaftofdeath"aroundandaboutCromwell,andCromwelldiedshortlyafterwards.Foxalso publiclyforetoldthedissolutionoftheRumpParliamentofEngland,therestorationofCharlesII,andtheGreat FireofLondon.Thesearehistoricalfacts,remember.Forthatmatter,historycontainsmanyinstancesofthis kind:theprophecyofCaesar'sdeath,anditsfurtherprevisionbyhiswife,forinstance.TheBiblepropheciesand predictions,majorandminor,giveussemihistoricalinstances. Acelebratedhistoricalinstanceofremarkablesecondsightandprevision,isthatofCazotte,whosewonderful predictionanditsliteralfulfillmentaremattersofFrenchhistory.Dumashaswoventhefactintooneofhis stories,inadramaticmannerbutevensohedoesnotmakethetaleanymorewonderfulthanthebarefacts. HereistherecitalofthecasebyLaHarpe,theFrenchwriter,whowasapersonalwitnessoftheoccurrence,and whosetestimonywascorroboratedbymanyotherswhowerepresentatthetime.LaHarpesays: "Itappearsasbutyesterday,andyet,nevertheless,itwasatthebeginningoftheyear1788.Wewerediningwith oneofourbrethrenattheAcademy;amanofconsiderablewealthandgenius.Theconversationbecame serious;muchadmirationwasexpressedontherevolutioninthoughtwhichVoltairehadeffected,anditwas agreedthatitwashisfirstclaimtothereputationheenjoyed.Weconcludedthattherevolutionmustsoonbe consummated;thatitwasindispensiblethatsuperstitionandfanaticismshouldgivewaytophilosophy,andwe begantocalculatetheprobabilityoftheperiodwhenthisshouldbe,andwhichofthepresentcompanyshould livetoseeit.Theoldestcomplainedthattheycouldscarcelyflatterthemselveswiththehope;theyounger rejoicedthattheymightentertainthisveryprobableexpectation;andtheycongratulatedtheAcademyespecially forhavingpreparedthisgreatwork,andforhavingbeentherallyingpoint,thecenter,andtheprimemoverofthe libertyofthought. "Oneonlyoftheguestshadnottakenpartinallthejoyousnessofthisconversation,andhadevengentlyand cheerfullycheckedoursplendidenthusiasm.ThiswasCazotte,anamiableandoriginalman,butunhappily infatuatedwiththereveriesoftheillumaniti.Hespoke,andwiththemostserioustone,saying:'Gentleman,be satisfied;youwillallseethisgreatandsublimerevolution,whichyousomuchdesire.YouknowthatIamalittle inclinedtoprophesy;Irepeat,youwillseeit,'Hewasansweredbythecommonrejoinder:'Oneneednotbea conjurertoseethat.'Heanswered:'Beitso;butperhapsonemustbealittlemorethanconjurerforwhat remainsformetotellyou.Doyouknowwhatwillbetheconsequencesofthisrevolution?Whatwillbethe consequencetoallofyou,andwhatwillbetheimmediateresult?Thewellestablishedeffectandthethoroughly recognizedconsequencestoallofyouwhoareherepresent?' "'Ah'saidCondorcet,withhisinsolentandhalfsuppressedsmile,'letushearaphilosopherisnotsorryto encounteraprophetletushear!'Cazottereplied:'You,MonsierdeCondorcet,youwillyieldupyourlastbreath onthefloorofadungeon.Youwilldiefrompoison,whichyouwillhavetakeninordertoescapefromexecution; frompoisonwhichthehappinessofthattimewillobligeyoutocarryaboutyourperson.You,Monsieur deChamfort,youwillopenyourveinswithtwentytwocutsofarazor,andyetwillnotdietillsomemonths afterward.'Thesepersonageslookedateachother,andlaughedagain.Cazottecontinued:'You,Monsieur Vicqd'Azir,youwillnotopenyourownveins,butyouwillcauseyourselftobebledsixtimesinoneday,duringa paroxysmofthegout,inordertomakemoresureofyourend,andyouwilldieinthenight.' "Cazottewenton:'You,MonsieurdeNicolai,youwilldieonthescaffold;you,MonsieurBailly,onthescaffold; you,MonsieurdeMalesherbes,onthescaffold.'Ah,Godbethanked,'exclaimedRoucher,'andwhatofI?' Cazottereplied:'You?youalsowilldieonthescaffold.''Yes,'repliedChamfort,'butwhenwillallthishappen?'

Cazotteanswered:'Sixyearswillnotpassover,beforeallthatIhavesaidtoyoushallbeaccomplished.'HereI (LaHarpe)spoke,saying:'Herearesomeastonishingmiracles,butyouhavenotincludedmeinyourlist.' Cazotteansweredme,saying:'Butyouwillbethere,asanequallyextraordinarymiracle;youwillthenbea Christian!'Vehementexclamationsonallsidesfollowedthisstartlingassertion.'Ah!'saidChamfort,'Iam conforted;ifweshallperishonlywhenLaHarpeshallbeaChristian,weareimmortal;' "ThenobservedMadamelaDuchessedeGrammont:'Asforthat,wewomen,wearehappytobecountedfor nothingintheserevolutions:whenIsayfornothing,itisnotthatwedonotalwaysmixourselvesupwiththema little;butitisareceivedmaximthattheytakenonoticeofus,andofoursex.''Yoursex,ladies'saidCazotte, 'yoursexwillnotprotectyouthistime;andyouhadfarbettermeddlewithnothing,foryouwillbetreatedentirely asmen,withoutanydifferencewhatever.''Butwhat,then,areyoureallytellingusofMonsieurCazotte?Youare preachingtoustheendoftheworld.''Iknownothingonthatsubject;butwhatIdoknowis,thatyouMadamela Duchesse,willbeconductedtothescaffold,youandmanyotherladieswithyou,inthecartoftheexecutioner, andwithyourhandstiedbehindyourbacks.'Ah!Ihopethatinthatcase,Ishallatleasthaveacarriagehungin black.''No,madame;higherladiesthanyourselfwillgo,likeyou,inthecommoncar,withtheirhandstiedbehind them.''Higherladies!what!theprincessesoftheblood?''Yea,andstillmoreexaltedpersonages!'replied Cazotte. "Hereasensibleemotionpervadedthewholecompany,andthecountenanceofthehostwasdarkand loweringtheybegantofeelthatthejokewasbecomingtooserious.MadamedeGrammont,inorderto dissipatethecloud,tooknonoticeofthereply,andcontentedherselfwithsayinginacarelesstone:'Yousee, thathewillnotleavemeevenaconfessor!''No,madame!'repliedCazotte,'youwillnothaveone.Neitheryou, noranyonebesides.Thelastvictimtowhomthisfavorwillbeaffordedwillbe...'Herehestoppedforamoment. 'Well!whothenwillbethehappymortaltowhomthisprerogativewillbegiven?'Cazottereplied:'Itistheonly onewhichhewillhavethenretained,andthatwillbetheKingofFrance!'"Thislaststartlingpredictioncaused thecompanytodisbandinsomethingliketerroranddismay,forthemerementionofsuchthingwasakinto treason. Theamazingsequeltothisstrangestoryisthatwithinthesixyearsallottedbytheprophecy,everydetailthereof wasverifiedabsolutely.ThefactsareknowntoallstudentsoftheFrenchRevolution,andmaybeverifiedby referencetoanyhistoryofthatterribleperiod.Toappreciatethestartlingnatureoftheprophecywhenmade,one needsbuttobeacquaintedwiththepositionandcharacteristicsofthepersonswhosedestinieswereforetold. Thiscelebratedinstanceofhighlyadvancedfuturetimeclairvoyance,orprevision,hasneverbeenequaled.The reason,perhaps,isthatCazotteindeedwasanadvancedandhighlydevelopedoccultist;theaccountmentions this,youwillnotice.Thisclassofpersonsveryseldomprophecyinthisway,forreasonsknowntoalloccultists. Theordinarycasesrecordedarethoseinwhichthemanifestationisthatofapersonoflesserpowersandless perfectdevelopment. Advancedoccultistsknowthedangerofacarelessuseofthispower.Theyknowthat(omittingotherandvery importantreasons)suchrevelationswouldworkaterribleeffectuponthemindsofpersonsnotsufficientlywell balancedtostandthedisclosure.Moreover,theyknowthatiftheaveragepersonknewtheprincipaldetailsofhis futurelifeonearth,thenhewouldloseinterestinit:Itwouldbecomestaleandwouldlosetheattractionofthe unknown.Insuchacase,thepleasantthingstocomewouldlosetheirattractivenessbyreasonofhavingbeen dweltonsolongthattheirflavorwaslost;andtheunpleasantthingswouldbecomeunbearablebyreasonofthe continualanticipationofthem.Weareapttodiscountourpleasuresbydwellingtoomuchuponthemin

anticipation;and,asweallknow,thedreadofacomingeviloftenisworsethanthethingitselfwesuffera thousandpangsinanticipationtooneinreality.But,asIhaveintimated,thereareother,andstillmoreserious reasonswhytheadvancedoccultistsdonotindulgeinpublicpropheciesofthiskind.ItisprobablethatCazotte decidedto,andwaspermittedto,makehiscelebratedprophecyforsomeimportantoccultreasonofwhich LaHarpehadnoknowledge.Itdoubtlesswasapartoftheworkingoutofsomegreatplan,anditmayhave accomplishedresultsundreamedofbyus.Atanyrate,itwassomethingverymuchoutofthe;ordinary,evenin thecaseofadvancedoccultistsandmastersofesotericknowledge. AnothercasewhichhasahistoricvalueisthewellknowncaseconcerningtheassassinationofSpencer Perceval,theChancelloroftheExchequer,inEngland,whichoccurredinthelobbyoftheHouseofCommons. Thepersonswhohaveaknowledgeofthecasereportthatsomeninedaysbeforethetragicoccurrencea Cornishminemanager,namedJohnWilliams,hadavision,threetimesinsuccession,inwhichhesawasmall man,dressedinabluecoatandwhitewaistcoat,enterthelobbyoftheHouseofCommons;whereuponanother man,dressedinasnuffcoloredcoat,steppedforward,and,drawingapistolfromaninsidepocketfiredatand shotthesmallman,thebulletlodgingintheleftbreast.Inthevision,Williamsturnedandaskedsomebystander thenameofthevictim;thebystanderrepliedthatthestrickenmanwasMr.SpencerPerceval,theChancellorof theExchequer.Thevaluablefeatureofthecase,fromascientificstandpoint,liesinthefactthatWilliamswas verymuchimpressedbyhisthricerepeatedvision,andwasgreatlydisturbedthereby.Hisanxietywassogreat thathespokeofthemattertoseveralfriends,andaskedthemwhetheritwouldnotbewellforhimtogoto LondonforthepurposeofwarningMr.Perceval.Hisfriendsridiculedthewholematter,andpersuadedhimto giveuptheideaofvisitingLondonforthepurposenamed.Thosewhohadaknowledgeofthevisionwere greatlystartledandshockedwhenseveraldaysafterwardtheassassinationoccurred,agreeinginperfectdetail withthevisionoftheCornishman.Thecase,vouchedforasitwasbyanumberofreliablepersonswhohad beenconsultedbyWilliams,attractedmuchattentionatthetime,andhassincepassedintothehistoryof remarkableinstancesofprevision. Insomecases,however,theprevisionseemstocomeasawarning,andinmanycasestheheedingofthe warninghaspreventedtheunpleasantfeaturesfrommaterializingasseeninthevision.Uptothepointofthe actionuponthewarningtheoccurrenceagreeperfectlywiththevisionbutthemomentthewarnedpersonacts soastopreventtheoccurrence,thewholetrainofcircumstancesisbroken.Thereisanoccultexplanationof this,butitistootechnicaltomentionatthisplace. Whatisknowntopsychicresearchersas"theHannahGreencase"isofthischaracter.Thisstory,briefly,isthat HannahGreen,ahousekeeperofOxfordshire,dreamtthatshe,havingbeenleftaloneinthehouseofaSunday evening,heardaknockatthedoor.Openingthedoorshefoundatrampwhotriedtoforcehiswayintothe house.Shestruggledtopreventhisentrance,buthestruckherwithabludgeonandrenderedherinsensible, whereuponheenteredthehouseandrobbedit.Sherelatedthevisiontoherfriends,but,asnothinghappened forsometime,thematteralmostpassedfromhermind.But,somesevenyearsafterward,shewasleftincharge ofthehouseonacertainSundayevening;duringtheeveningshewasstartledbyasuddenknockatthedoor, andherformervisionwasrecalledtohermemoryquitevividly.Sherefusedtogotothedoor,rememberingthe warning,butinsteadwentuptoalandingonthestairandlookedoutthewindow,shesawatthedoorthevery trampwhomshehadseeninthevisionsomesevenyearsbefore,armedwithabludgeonandstrivingtoforcean entranceintothehouse.Shetookstepstofrightenawaytherascal,andshewassavedfromtheunpleasant conclusionofhervision.Manysimilarcasesarerecorded.

Insomecasespersonshavebeenwarnedbysymbolsofvariouskinds;orelsehavehadprevisioninthesame way.Forinstance,manycasesareknowninwhichthevisionisthatoftheundertaker'swagonstandingbefore thedoorofthepersonwhodiessometimeafterward.Or,thepersonisvisionedcladinashroud.Thevariations ofthisclassareinnumerable.SpeaktotheaveragedwellerinthehighlandsofScotland,orcertaincountiesin Ireland,regardingthis,andyouwillbefurnishedwithawealthofillustrationsandexamples. Thisphaseofthegeneralsubjectofclairvoyanceisveryfascinatingtothestudentandinvestigator,andisonein whichthehighestpsychicorastralpowersofsensingarecalledintoplay.Infact,asIhavesaid,thereisherea reflectionofsomethingverymuchhigherthantheastralorpsychicplanesofbeing.Thestudentcatchesa glimpseofregionsinfinitelyhigherandgrander.Hebeginstorealizeatleastsomethingoftheexistenceofthat UniversalConsciousness"inwhichwelive,andmove,andhaveourbeing;"andoftherealityoftheEternalNow, inwhichpast,presentandfutureareblendedasonefactofinfiniteconsciousness.Heseesthesignboard pointingtomarveloustruths!

LESSON14
ASTRALBODYTRAVELING
Thereismuchconfusionexistinginthemindsoftheaveragestudentsofoccultismconcerningthedistinction betweenastralvisioningbymeansoftheastralsensesinclairvoyance,andthevisioningoftheastralsenses duringthetravelsoftheastralbodyawayfromthephysicalbody.Thereissuchacloseconnectionbetweenthe twoseveralphasesofoccultphenomenathatitiseasytomistakeonefortheother;infact,thereisoftensucha blendingofthetwothatitisquitedifficulttodistinguishbetweenthem.However,inthislessonIshallendeavorto bringoutthecharacteristicsofastralbodyvisioning,thatthestudentmaylearntodistinguishthemfromthoseof theordinaryclairvoyantastralvisioning,andrecognizethemwhenheexperiencesthem. Themainpointsofdistinctionarethese:Whenvisioningclairvoyantlybymeansoftheastralsenses,as describedintheprecedingchaptersofthisbook,theclairvoyantusuallyperceivesthescene,personoreventas apictureonaflatsurface.Itistruethatthereisgenerallyaperfectperspective,similartothatofagood stereoscopicview,orthatofahighgrademovingpicturephotograph:Thefigures"standout,"anddonot appear"flat"asinthecaseofanordinaryphotograph;butstillatthebestitislikelookingatamovingpicture, inasmuchasthewholesceneisallinfrontofyou.Visioningintheastralbody,onthecontrary,givesyouan"all around"viewofthescene.Thatistosay,insuchcaseyouseethethingjustasyouwouldwereyouthereinyour physicalbodyyouseeinfrontofyou;onthesidesofyou,outofthecornerofyoureye;ifyouturnyourhead, youmayseeinanydirection;andyoumayturnaroundandseewhatishappeningbehindyou.Inthefirstcase youaremerelygazingatanastralpictureinfrontofyou;whileinthesecondplaceyouareACTUALLYTHERE INPERSON. Therearesomelimitationstothis"seeingallaround"whenintheastralbody,however,whichIshouldnotein passing.Forinstance,ifwhenintheastralbodyyouexaminetheakashicrecordsofthepast,orelsepeerinto thescenesofthefuture,youwillseethesethingsmerelyasapicture,andwillnotbeconsciousofbeingpresent personallyinthescene.(Anapparentexceptionistobenotedhere,also,viz.,ifyourpasttimevisioningincludes theperceptionofyourselfinaformerincarnation,youmaybeconsciousoflivingandactinginyourformer personality;again,ifyouarepsychometrizingfromfossilremains,oranythingconcernedwithalivingcreatureof thepast,youmay"takeon"thementaloremotionalconditionsofthatcreature,andseemtosensethingsfrom theinside,ratherthanfromtheoutside.This,ofcourse,isalsoacharacteristicoftheordinaryclairvoyantvision ofthepast.)Butwhen,intheastralbody,youperceiveapresenttimesceneinspace,youare,toallintentsand purposes,anactualparticipant;youareactuallypresentattheplaceandtime.Thesenseof"beingactually presentinthebody"istheleadingcharacteristicoftheastralbodyvisioning,anddistinguishesitfromthe "pictureseeing"sensingofordinaryclairvoyance.Thisisstatingthematterisasplainandsimpleformasis possible,ignoringmanytechnicaldetailsandparticulars.You,beingastudentofoccultism,ofcourseknowthat theastralbodyisafinecounterpartofthephysicalbody,composedofafarmoresubtleformofsubstancethan isthelatter,thatundercertainconditionsyoumaytravelinyourastralbody,detachedfromyourphysicalbody (exceptbeingconnectedwithitwithaslenderastralcord,bearingacloseresemblancetotheumbilicalcord whichconnectsthenewbornbabewiththeplacentainthewombofitsmother),andexploretherealmsofthe astralplane.Thisprojectionoftheastralbody,asarule,occursonlywhenthephysicalbodyisstilledinsleep,or intrancecondition.Infact,theastralbodyfrequentlyisprojectedbyusduringthecourseofourordinarysleep,

butwefailtorememberwhatwehaveseeninourastraljourneys,except,occasionally,dimflashesofpartial recollectionuponawakening.Insomecases,however,ourastralvisioningissodistinctandvivid,thatwe awakenwithasenseofhavinghadapeculiarexperience,andashavingactuallybeenoutofthephysicalbody atthetime. Insomecases,thepersontravelingintheastralisabletoactuallytakepartinthedistantscene,andmay,under certaincircumstancesactuallymaterializehimselfsoastobeseenbypersonsintheirphysicalbodies.Iam speakingnow,ofcourse,oftheuntrainedperson.Thetrainedanddevelopedoccultist,ofcourse,isabletodo thesethingsdeliberatelyandconsciously,insteadofunconsciouslyandwithoutintentionasinthecaseofthe ordinaryperson.Ishallquoteherefromanotherwriteronthesubject,whosepointofview,inconnectionwithmy own,mayservetobringaboutaclearunderstandinginthemindofthestudentitisalwayswelltoviewany subjectfromasmanyanglesaspossible.Thiswritersays: "Weenterhereuponanentirelynewvarietyofclairvoyance,inwhichtheconsciousnessoftheseernolonger remainsinorcloselyconnectedwithhisphysicalbody,butisdefinitelytransferredtothescenewhichheis examining.Thoughithasnodoubtgreaterdangersfortheuntrainedseerthaneitheroftheothermethods,itis yetquitethemostsatisfactoryformofclairvoyanceopentohim.Inthiscase,theman'sbodyiseitherasleepor inatrance,anditsorgansareconsequentlynotavailableforusewhilethevisionisgoingon,sothatall descriptionofwhatisseen,andallquestioningastofurtherparticulars,mustbepostponeduntilthewanderer returnstothisplane.Ontheotherhand,thesightismuchfullerandmoreperfect;themanhearsaswellassees everythingwhichpassesbeforehim,andcanmoveaboutfreelyatwillwithintheverywidelimitsoftheastral plane.Hehasalsotheimmenseadvantageofbeingabletotakepart,asitwere,inthesceneswhichcome beforehiseyes.Hecanconverseatwillwithvariousentitiesontheastralplane,andfromwhomgainsomuch informationthatiscuriousandinteresting.Ifinadditionhecanlearnhowtomaterializehimself(amatterofno greatdifficultyforhimwhenoncetheknackisacquired),hewillbeabletotakepartinphysicaleventsor conversationsatadistance,andtoshowhimselftoanabsentfriendatwill. "Again,hewillhavetheadditionalpowerofbeingabletohuntaboutforwhathewants.Bymeansoftheother varietiesofclairvoyance,forallpracticalpurposeshemayfindapersonorplaceonlywhenheisalready acquaintedwithit;or,whenheisputenrapportwithitbytouchingsomethingphysicallyconnectedwithit,asin psychometry.Bytheuseoftheastralbody,however,amancanmoveaboutquitefreelyandrapidlyinany direction,andcan(forexample)findwithoutdifficultyanyplacepointedoutuponamap,withouteitherany previousknowledgeofthespotoranyobjecttoestablishaconnectionwithit.Hecanalsoreadilyrisehighinto theairsoastogainabird'seyeviewofthecountrywhichheisexamining,soastoobserveitsextent,the contourofitscoastline,oritsgeneralcharacter.Indeed,ineverywayhispowerandfreedomarefargreater whenheusesthismethodthantheyareinanyofthelesserformsofclairvoyance." Inmanywellauthenticatedcases,wemayseethatthesoulofadyingperson,onewhosephysicalendis approaching,visitsfriendsandrelativesintheastralbody,andinmanycasesmaterializesandevenspeaksto them.Insuchcasesthedyingpersonaccomplishesthefeatofastralmanifestationwithoutanyspecialoccult knowledge;theweakenedlinksbetweenthephysicalandthehigherphasesofthesoulrenderthetemporary passingoutcomparativelyeasy,andthestrongdesireofthedyingpersonfurnishesthemotivepower necessary.Suchvisits,however,areoftenfoundtobemerelythestronglychargedthoughtofthedyingperson, alongthelinesoftelepathy,asIhavepreviouslyexplainedtoyou.Butinmanycasestherecanbenodoubtthat thephenomenonisaclearcaseofastralvisitationandmaterialization.

TherecordsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearchcontainmanyinstancesofthiskind;andsimilarinstancesare tobefoundinotherrecordsofpsychicalresearch.Ishallquoteafewofthesecasesforyou,thatyoumaygeta clearideaofthecharacteristicsthereof.AndrewLang,aneminentstudentandinvestigatoralongthelinesofthe psychicandoccult,givesusthefollowingcase,ofwhichhesays,"Notmanystorieshavesuchgoodevidencein theirfavor."ThestoryasrelatedbyMr.Langinoneofhisbooksisasfollows: "Mary,thewifeofJohnGoffeofRochester,beingafflictedwithalongillness,removedtoherfather'shouseat WestMailing,aboutninemilesfromherown.Thedaybeforeherdeathshegrewveryimpatientlydesirousto seehertwochildren,whomshehadleftathometothecareofanurse.Shewastooilltobemoved,and betweenoneandtwoo'clockinthemorningshefellintoatrance.Onewidow,Turner,whowatchedwithherthat night,saysthathereyeswereopenandfixed,andherjawfallen.Mrs.Turnerputherhandtohermouth,but couldperceivenobreath.Shethoughthertobeinafit,anddoubtedwhethersheweredeadoralive.Thenext morningthedyingwomantoldhermotherthatshehadbeenathomewithherchildren,saying,'Iwaswiththem lastnightwhenIwasasleep.' "ThenurseatRochester,widowAlexanderbyname,affirmsthatalittlebeforetwoo'clockthatmorningshesaw thelikenessofthesaidMaryGoffecomeoutofthenextchamber(wheretheelderchildlayinabedbyitself), thedoorbeingleftopen,andstoodbyherbedsideforaboutaquarterofanhour;theyoungerchildwasthere lyingbyher.Hereyesmovedandhermouthwent,butshesaidnothing.Thenurse,moreoversaysthatshewas perfectlyawake;itwasthendaylight,beingoneofthelongestdaysoftheyear.Shesatupinbedandlooked steadfastlyontheapparition.Inthattimesheheardthebridgeclockstriketwo,andawhileaftersaid:'Inthe nameoftheFather,SonandHolyGhost,whatartthou?'Thereupontheapparitionremovedandwentaway;she slippedoutofherclothesandfollowed,butwhatbecameofhershecannottell." Inthecasejustmentioned,Mr.Langstatesthatthenursewassofrightenedthatshewasafraidtoreturntobed. Assoonastheneighborswereupandaboutshetoldthemofwhatshehadseen;buttheytoldherthatshehad beendreaming.Itwasonlywhen,lateron,newscameofwhathadhappenedattheotherendoftheline,atthe bedsideofthedyingwoman,thattheyrealizedjustwhathadhappened. InaworkbyRev.F.G.Lee,thereareseveralothercasesofthiskindquoted,allofwhicharestatedbyMr.Leeto bethoroughlywellauthenticated.Inoneofthecasesamother,whendyinginEgypt,appearstoherchildrenin Torquay,andisclearlyseeninbroaddaylightbyallfivechildrenandalsobythenursemaid.Inanother,aQuaker ladydyingatCockermouthisclearlyseenandrecognizedindaylightbyherthreechildrenatSeattle,the remainderofthestorybeingalmostidenticalwiththatoftheGoffecasejustquoted. IntherecordsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,thefollowingcaseappears,thepersonreportingitbeing saidtobeofgoodcharacterandreputationfortruthfulnessandreliability.Thestoryisasfollows:"Onemorning inDecember,1836,A.hadthefollowingdream,orhewouldprefertocallit,revelation.Hefoundhimself suddenlyatthegateofMajorN.M.'savenue,manymilesfromhishome.Closetohimwasagroupofpersons, oneofwhomwasawomanwithabasketonherarm,therestweremen,fourofwhomweretenantsofhisown, whiletheotherswereunknowntohim.SomeofthestrangersseemedtobeassaultingH.W.,oneofhistenants, andheinterfered.A.says,'Istruckviolentlyatthemanonmyleft,andthenwithgreaterviolenceattheman's faceonmyright.Finding,tomysurprise,thatIhadnotknockeddowneither,Istruckagainandagainwithallthe violenceofamanfrenziedatthesightofmypoorfriend'smurder.TomygreatamazementIsawmyarms, althoughvisibletomyeye,werewithoutsubstance,andthebodiesofthemenIstruckatandmyowncame

closetogetheraftereachblow,throughtheshadowyarmsIstruckwith.Myblowsweredeliveredwithmore extremeviolencethanIeverthinkIexerted,butIbecamepainfullyconvincedofmyincompetency.Ihaveno consciousnessofwhathappenedafterthisfeelingofunsubstantialitycameuponme.' "Nextmorning,A.experiencedthestiffnessandsorenessofviolentbodilyexercise,andwasinformedbyhiswife thatinthecourseofthenighthehadmuchalarmedherbystrikingoutagainandagaininaterrificmanner,'asif fightingforhislife.'He,inturn,informedherofhisdream,andbeggedhertorememberthenamesofthose actorsinitwhowereknowntohim.Onthemorningofthefollowingday(Wednesday)A.receivedaletterfrom hisagent,whoresidedinthetownclosetothesceneofthedream,informinghimthathistenanthadbeenfound onTuesdaymorningatMajorN.M.'sgate,speechlessandapparentlydyingfromafractureoftheskull,andthat therewasnotraceofthemurderers. "ThatnightA.startedforthetown,andarrivedthereonThursdaymorning.Onhiswaytoameetingof magistrates,hemettheseniormagistrateofthatpartofthecountry,andrequestedhimtogiveordersforthe arrestofthethreemenwhom,besidesH.W.,hehadrecognizedinhisdream,andtohavethemexamined separately.Thiswasatoncedone.Thethreemengaveidenticalaccountsoftheoccurrence,andallnamedthe womanwhowaswiththem.Shewasthenarrestedandgavepreciselysimilartestimony.Theysaidthatbetween elevenandtwelveontheMondaynighttheyhadbeenwalkinghomewardsaltogetheralongtheroad,whenthey wereovertakenbythreestrangers,twoofwhomsavagelyassaultedH.W.,whiletheotherpreventedhisfriends frominterfering.H.W.didnotdie,butwasneverthesamemanafterwards;hesubsequentlyemigrated." Stead,theEnglisheditorandpsychicalresearcher,relatesthefollowingcase,whichheacceptsastruthfuland correct,aftercarefulinvestigationofthecircumstancesandofthecharacterandreputationofthepersonrelating it.Thestoryproceedsasfollows: "St.EglosissituatedabouttenmilesfromtheAtlantic,andnotquitesofarfromtheoldmarkettownof Trebodwina.HartandGeorgeNortheywerebrothers,andfromchildhoodtheirliveshadbeenmarkedbythe strongestbrotherlyaffection.HartandGeorgeNortheyhadneverbeenseparatedfromtheirbirthuntilGeorge becameasailor,Hartmeantimejoininghisfatherinbusiness.Onthe8thofFebruary,1840,whileGeorge Northey'sshipwaslyinginportatSt.Helena,hehadthefollowingstrangedream: "LastnightIdreamtthatmybrotherwasatTrebodwinaMarket,andthatIwaswithhim,quiteclosebyhisside, duringthewholeofthemarkettransactions.AlthoughIcouldseeandhearwhichpassedaroundme,Ifeltsure thatitwasnotmybodilypresencewhichthusaccompaniedhim,butmyshadoworrathermyspiritualpresence, forheseemedquiteunconsciousthatIwasnearhim.Ifeltthatmybeingthuspresentinthisstrangeway betokenedsomehiddendangerwhichhewasdestinedtomeet,andwhichIknowmypresencecouldnotavert, forIcouldnotspeaktowarnhimofhisperil." ThestorythenproceedstorelatehowHartcollectedconsiderablemoneyatTrebodwinaMarket,andthen startedtoridehomeward.Georgetellswhathappenedtohisbrotherontheway,asfollows: "MyterrorgraduallyincreasedasHartapproachedthehamletofPolkerrow,untilIwasinaperfectfrenzy, franticallydesirous,yetunabletowarnmybrotherinsomewayandpreventhimfromgoingfurther.Isuddenly becameawareoftwodarkshadowsthrownacrosstheroad.Ifeltthatmybrother'shourhadcome,andIwas powerlesstoaidhim!Twomenappeared,whomIinstantlyrecognizedasnotoriouspoacherswholivedina

lonelywoodnearSt.Eglos.Theywishedhim'Goodnight,mister!'civillyenough.Hereplied,andenteredinto conversationwiththemaboutsomeworkhehadpromisedthem.Afterafewminutestheyaskedhimforsome money.Theelderofthetwobrothers,whowasstandingnearthehorse'shead,said:'Mr.Northey,weknowyou havejustcomefromTrebodwinaMarketwithplentyofmoneyinyourpockets;wearedesperatemen,andyou bean'tgoingtoleavethisplaceuntilwe'vegotthatmoney;sohandover!'Mybrothermadenoreplyexceptto slashathimwiththewhip,andspurthehorseathim. "Theyoungeroftheruffiansinstantlydrewapistol,andfired.Hartdroppedlifelessfromthesaddle,andoneof thevillainsheldhimbythethroatwithagripofironforsomeminutes,asthoughttomakeassurancedoubly sure,andcrushoutanyparticleoflifemypoorbrothermighthaveleft.Themurdererssecuredthehorsetoa treeintheorchard,and,havingrifledthecorpse,theydraggeditupthestream,concealingitunderthe overhangingbanksofthewatercourse.Thentheycarefullycoveredoverallmarksofbloodontheroad,andhid thepistolinthethatchofadisusedhutclosetotheroadside;then,settingthehorsefreetogallophomealone, theydecampedacrossthecountrytotheirowncottage." ThestorythenrelateshowGeorgeNorthey'svesselleftSt.Helenathenextdayafterthedream,andreached Plymouthinduetime.Georgecarriedwithhimaveryvividrecollectionofhisvisiononthereturnvoyage,and neverdoubtedforaninstantthathisbrotherhadbeenactuallymurderedinthemannerandbythepersons named,asseeninthevision.Hecarriedwithhimthedeterminationtobringthevillainstojusticeandwasfilled withtheconvictionthatthroughhiseffortsretributionwouldfalluponthemurderers. InEngland,justicewasatwork,butthemissinglinkwasneeded.Thecrimearouseduniversalhorrorand indignation,andtheauthoritiesleftnothingundoneinthedirectionofdiscoveringthemurderersandbringing themtojustice.TwobrothersnamedHightwoodweresuspected,andintheircottagewerefoundbloodstained garments.Butnopistolwasfound,althoughtheyoungerbrotheradmittedhavingownedbutlostone.Theywere arrestedandbroughtbeforethemagistrates.Theevidenceagainstthemwaspurelycircumstantial,andnotany toostrongatthat;buttheiractionswerethoseofguiltymen.Theywerecommittedfortrial.Eachconfessed,in hopesofsavinghislifeandobtainingimprisonmentinstead.Butbothwereconvictedandsentencedtobe hanged.Therewasdoubtinthemindsofsome,however,aboutthepistol.Thestorycontinues: "Beforetheexecution,GeorgeNortheyarrivedfromSt.Helena,anddeclaredthatthepistolwasinthethatchof theoldcottageclosebytheplacewheretheyhadmurderedHartNorthey,andwheretheyhadhidit.'Howdo youknow?'hewasasked.Georgereplied:'IsawthefouldeedcommittedinadreamIhadthenightofthe murder,whenatSt.Helena.'Thepistolwasfound,asGeorgeNortheyhadpredicted,inthethatchoftheruined cottage."Investigationrevealedthatthedetailsofthecrimewereidenticalwiththoseseeninthevision. Itisafactknowntoalloccultiststhatmanypersonsfrequentlytravelintheastralbodyduringsleep;andinmany casesretainafaintrecollectionofsomeofthethingstheyhaveseenandheardduringtheirtravelsintheastral. Nearlyeveryoneknowstheexperienceofwakingupinthemorningfeelingphysicallytiredand"usedup;"in somecasesadimrecollectionofwalkingorworkingduringthedreambeinghad.Whoamongushasnothad theexperienceof"walkingontheair,"orintheair,withoutthefeettouchingtheground,beingpropelledsimply bytheeffortofthewill?Andwhoofushashadnotexperiencedthatdreadful,"fallingthroughspace"sensation, indreams,withthesuddenawakeningjustbeforeweactuallystruckearth?Andwhohasnothadthemortifying dreamexperienceofwalkingalongthestreet,orinsomepublicplace,andbeingsuddenlyovercomebythe consciousnessthatwewereinournightclothes,orperhapswithoutanyclothingatall?Allofthesethingsare

moreorlessdistortedrecollectionofastraljourneyings. Butwhilethesedreamexcursionsintheastralareharmless,theconscious"goingoutintheastral"isnotso. Therearemanyplanesoftheastralintowhichitisdangerousandunpleasantfortheuninstructedpersonto travel;unlessaccompaniedbyacapableoccultistasguide.Therefore,Icautionallstudentsagainsttryingto forcedevelopmentinthatdirection.Naturesurroundsyouwithsafeguards,andinterposesobstaclesforyour ownprotectionandgood.Donottrytobreakthroughtheseobstacleswithoutknowledgeofwhatyouaredoing. "Foolsrushinwhereangelsfeartotread,"remember;and"alittlelearningisadangerousthing."Whenyouhave reachedthestageofdevelopmentinwhichitwillbesafeforyoutoundertakeconsciousastralexplorations,then willyourguidebeathand,andtheinstructionfurnishedyoubythosecapableofgivingittoyou.Donottryto breakintotheastralwithoutduepreparation,andfullknowledge,lestyoufindyourselfinthestateofthefishwho leapedoutofthewaterontothebanksofthestream.Yourdreamtripsaresafe;theywillincreaseinvarietyand clearness,andyouwillremembermoreaboutthem;allthisbeforeyoumaybegintotrytoconsciously"goout intotheastral"asdotheoccultists.Becontenttocrawlbeforeyoumaywalk.Learntoadd,multiply,subtractand divide,beforeyouundertakethehighermathematics,algebra,geometry,etc.,ofoccultism.

LESSON15
STRANGEASTRALPHENOMENA
Thereareseveralphasesofastralphenomenaotherthanthosementionedintheprecedingchapters,whichit willbebetterforthestudenttobecomeacquaintedwithinordertoroundouthisgeneralknowledgeofthe subject,althoughthemanifestationsarecomparativelyrare,andnotsogenerallyrecognizedinworksonthis subject. OneofthefirstoftheseseveralphasesofastralphenomenaisthatwhichmaybecalledThoughtForm Projection.Thismanifestationcomesintheplaceonthepsychicscalejustbetweenordinaryclairvoyanceonthe onehand,andastralbodyprojectionontheother.Ithassomeofthecharacteristicsofeach,andisoften mistakenforoneortheotherofthesephases. Tounderstandthisphenomena,thestudentshouldknowsomethingregardingthefactthatthoughtfrequently takesonastralform,andthatthesemanifestationsareknownasthoughtforms.Ihavespokenoftheseinsome oftheprecedinglessons.Theordinarythoughtformisquitesimple,asarule,anddoesnotbearanyparticular resemblancetothesenderthereof.Butinsomecasesapersonmay,consciouslyorunconsciously,stronglyand clearlythinkofhimselfaspresentatsomeotherplace,andthusactuallycreateathoughtformofhimselfatthat place,whichmaybediscernedbythosehavingclairvoyantvision.Moreover,thisthoughtformofhimselfis connectedpsychicallywithhimselfandaffordsachannelofpsychicinformationforhim.Asarulethese thoughtformsareonlyprojectedbythosewhohavetrainedtheirmindsandwillalongoccultlines;but occasionallyunderthestressofstrongemotionordesireanordinarypersonmayfocushispsychicpowerto suchanextentthatthephenomenaismanifested. HereIwillquotefromanEnglishinvestigatorofastralphenomena,whohashadmuchexperienceonthatplane. Hesays:"Allstudentsareawarethatthoughttakesform,atanyrateuponitsownplane,andinthemajorityof casesupontheastralplanealso;butitmaynotbesogenerallyknownthatifamanthinksstronglyofhimselfas presentatanygivenplace,theformassumedbythatparticularthoughtwillbealikenessofthethinkerhimself, whichwillappearattheplaceinquestion.Essentiallythisformmustbecomposedofthematterofthemental plane,butinverymanycasesitwoulddrawrounditselfmatteroftheastralplanealso,andsowouldapproach muchnearertovisibility.Thereare,infact,manyinstancesinwhichithasbeenseenbythepersonthoughtof, mostprobablybymeansoftheunconsciousinfluenceemanatingfromtheoriginalthinker.Noneofthe consciousnessofthethinkerwould,however,beincludedwithinthisthoughtform.Whenoncesentoutfromhim, itwouldnormallybeaquiteseparateentity:Notindeedabsolutelyunconnectedwithitsmaker,butpracticallyso asfarasthepossibilityofreceivinganyimpressionthroughitisconcerned. "Thistypeofclairvoyanceconsists,then,inthepowertoretainsomuchconnectionwithandsomuchholdover anewlycreatedthoughtformaswillrenderitpossibletoreceiveimpressionsbymeansofit.Suchimpressions asweremadeupontheformwouldinthiscasebetransmittedtothethinker;notalonganastraltelegraphline, butbyasympatheticvibration.Inaperfectcaseofthiskindofclairvoyanceitisalmostasthoughtheseer projectedapartofhisconsciousnessintothethoughtform,anduseditasakindofoutpost,fromwhich observationwaspossible.Heseesalmostaswellashewouldifhehimselfstoodintheplaceofhis

thoughtform.Thefiguresatwhichheislookingwillappeartohimasoflifesizeandclosetohand,insteadof tinyandatadistanceasinthecaseofsomeotherformsofclairvoyance;andhewillfinditpossibletoshifthis pointofviewifhewishestodoso.Clairaudienceisperhapslessfrequentlyassociatedwiththistypeof clairvoyancethanwiththeothers,butitsplaceistosomeextenttakenbyakindofmentalperceptionofthe thoughtsandintentionsofthosewhoareseen. "Sincetheman'sconsciousnessisstillinthephysicalbody,hewillbeable(evenwhenexercisingthisfaculty)to hearandtospeak,insofarashecandothiswithoutanydistractionofhisattention.Themomentthatthe intentnessofhisthoughtfails,thewholevisionisgone,andhewillhavetoconstructafreshthoughtformbefore hecanresumeit.Instancesinwhichthiskindofsightispossessedwithanydegreeofperfectionbyuntrained peoplearenaturallyrarerthanintheothertypesofclairvoyance,becausethecapacityformentalcontrol required,andthegenerallyfinernatureoftheforcesemployed." Imaymentionthatthisparticularmethodisfrequentlyemployedbyadvancedoccultistsofallcountries,being preferredforvariousreasons.Someofthereasonsofthispreferenceasfollows:(a)Theabilitytoshiftthevision, andtoturnaroundalmostaswellasinthecaseofactualastralbodyprojectionthisgivesquiteanadvantageto thismethodoverthemethodofordinaryclairvoyance;(b)itdoesawaywithcertaindisadvantagesof"goingout intotheastral"intheastralbody,whichonlytrainedoccultistsrealizeitgivesalmostthesameresultsas astralbodyclairvoyance,withoutanumberofdisadvantagesandinconveniences. InIndia,especially,thisformofclairvoyanceiscomparativelyfrequent.ThisbyreasonofthefactthattheHindus, asarace,arefarmorepsychicthanarethoseoftheWesternlands,allelseconsidered;and,besides,thereare amuchgreaternumberofhighlydevelopedoccultiststherethanintheWest.Moreover,thereisacertainpsychic atmospheresurroundingIndia,byreasonofitsthousandsofyearsofdeepinterestinthingspsychicand spiritual,allofwhichrenderstheproductionofpsychicphenomenafareasierthaninotherlands. InIndia,moreover,wefindmanyinstancesofanotherformofpsychic,orastralphenomena.Ialludetothe productionofthoughtformpictureswhichareplainlyvisibletooneormorepersons.Thisphaseofpsychic phenomenaistherealbasisformanyofthewondertaleswhichWesterntravelersbringbackwiththemfrom India.Thewonderfulcasesofmagicalappearanceoflivingcreaturesandplants,andotherobjects,outofthe clearairaretheresultofthispsychicphenomena.Thatistosay,thecreaturesandobjectsarenotreally produced;theyarebutastralappearancesresultingfromtheprojectionofpowerfulthoughtformsfromthemind ofthemagicianorotherwonderworker,ofwhomIndiahasaplentifulsupply.Eventheignorantfakirs(Iusethe wordinitstruesense,notinthesensegivenitbyAmericanslang)eventheseitinerantshowmenofpsychic phenomena,areabletoproducephenomenaofthiskindwhichseemsmiraculoustothosewitnessingthem.As forthetrainedoccultistsofIndia,Imaysaythattheirfeats(whentheydeigntoproducethem)seemtooverturn everytheoryandprincipleofmaterialisticphilosophyandscience.Butinnearlyeverycasetheexplanationisthe same:Theprojectionofastrongandclearthoughtformonalargescale. AlthoughIhavepurposelyomittedreferencetoHindupsychicphenomenainthisbook(forthereasongivenin myIntroduction),IfinditnecessarytoquotecasesinIndiainthisconnection,forthesimplereasonthatthereare butfewcounterpartsintheWesternworld.TherearenoitinerantwonderworkersofthiskindinWesternlands, andthetrainedoccultistsoftheWestofcoursewouldnotconsenttoperformfeatsofthiskindforthe amusementofpersonsseekingmerelysensations.ThetrainedwillsoftheWestaregivenrathertomaterializing objectivelyonthephysicalplane,creatinggreatrailroads,buildings,bridges,etc.,fromthementalpictures,

ratherthandevotingthesametime,energyandwilltotheproductionofastralthoughformsandpictures.There isagreatdifferenceintemperament,aswellasadifferenceinthegeneralpsychicatmosphere,betweenEast andWest,whichservestoexplainmattersofthiskind. AnAmericanwritertrulysays:"ThefirstprincipleunderlyingthewholebusinessofHinduwonderworkingisthat ofastrongwill;andthefirstnecessaryconditionofproducingamagicaleffectisanincreaseinthepowerof thought.TheHindus,owingtothatintenseloveforsolitarymeditation,whichhasbeenoneofthemost pronouncedcharacteristicsfromtimeimmemorial,haveacquiredmentalfacultiesofwhichweoftheWestern andyoungercivilizationaretotallyignorant.TheHinduhasattainedapastmaster'sdegreeinspeculative philosophy.Hehasforyearsretiredformeditationtothesilentplacesinhisland,livedahermit,subduedthe bodyanddevelopedthemind,thuswinningcontroloverotherminds." InIndia,Ihaveseenscenesoffardistantplacesappearingasamirageinclearair,eventhecolorsbeing presenttothescenes.This,thoughsomewhatuncommon,wassimplyaremarkableinstanceofthoughtform projectionfromthemindofamanhighlydevelopedalongoccultlines.Youmustrememberthatinorderto produceapictureintheastral,ofthiskind,theoccultistmustnotonlyhavethepowerofwillandmindtocause suchapicturetomaterialize,buthemustalsohavearemarkablememoryfordetailinthepicture.Otherwise, nothingappearsinthepictureunlessithasalreadybeenpicturedinthemindofthemindofthemanhimself. Suchamemoryandperceptionofdetailisveryrare;intheWesternworlditispossessedbyonlyexceptional artists.However,anyonemaycultivatethisperceptionandmemoryifhewillgivethetimeandcaretoitthatthe Hindumagiciansdo. YouhaveheardoftheHinduMangoTrick,inwhichthemagiciantakesamangoseed,plantsitintheground, waveshishandsoverit,andthencausesfirstatinyshoottoappearfromthesurfaceoftheground,this followedbyatinytrunk,andleaves,whichgrowandgrow,untilatlastappearsafullsizedmangotree,which firstshowsblossomsandthenripefruit.Inshort,inafewmomentsthemagicianhasproducedthatwhich Naturerequireyearstodo...thatisheapparentlydoesthis.Whathereallydoesistoproduceawonderful thoughtformintheastral,fromseedstagetotreeandfruitstage;theastralpicturereproducingperfectlythe pictureinhisownmind.Itisasifhewerecreatingamovingpicturefilmrollinhismind,andthenprojectingthis uponthescreenoftheair.Thereisnomangotreethere,andneverwas,outsideofthemindofthemagicianand themindsofhisaudience. Inthesameway,themagicianwillseemtothrowtheendofaropeupintotheair.Ittravelsfarupuntiltheendis lostsightof.Thenhesendsaboyclimbingupafterit,untilhetoodisappearsfromsight.Thenhecausesthe wholethingtodisappear,andlo!theboyisseenstandingamongtheaudience.Theboyisreal,ofcourse,buthe neverleftthespottherestwasallanappearancecausedbythemindandwillofthemagician,picturedinthe astralasathoughtform.Inthesamewaythemagicianwillseemtocuttheboyintobits,andthencausethe severedpartstospringtogetherandreassemblethemselves.Thesefeatsmaybevariedindefinitelybutthe principleiseverthesame:Thoughtformprojection. WesternvisitorshavesoughttoobtainphotographsofthesefeatsoftheHindumagicians,buttheirplatesand filmsinvariablyshownothingwhateverexcepttheoldfakirsittingquietlyinthecenter,withapeculiarexpression inhiseyes.Thisisasmightbeexpected,forthepictureexistsonlyintheastral,andisperceivedonlybythe awakenedastralsensesofthosepresent,whichhavebeenstimulatedintoactivitybythepowerofthemagician; bysympatheticvibration,tobeexact.Moreover,incertaininstancesithasbeenfoundthatthevisionisconfined

toalimitedarea;personsoutsideofthelimitringseenothing,andthosemovingnearertothemagicianlose sightofwhattheyhadpreviouslyseen.Therearescientificreasonsforthislastfact,whichneednotbegoneinto atthisplace.ThemainpointIamseekingtobringoutisthatthesewonderfulscenesaresimplyandwholly thoughtformpicturesintheastral,perceivedbytheawakenedastralvisionofthosepresent.Thistobesureis wonderfulenough,butstillnomiraclehasbeenworked! Imaymentionherethatthesemagiciansbegintheirtrainingfromearlyyouth.Inadditiontocertaininstruction concerningastralphenomenawhichishandeddownfromfathertosonamongthemtheyaresettowork practicing"visualization"ofthingspreviouslyperceived.Theyaresettoworkupon,say,arose.Theymust impressupontheirmemorytheperfectpictureoftherose;noeasymatter,Imaytellyou.Thentheyproceedto moredifficultobjects,slowlyandgradually,alongwellknownprinciplesofmemorydevelopment.Alongwiththis theypracticetheartofreproducingthatwhichtheyrememberprojectingitinthoughtformstate.Andsothe youngmagicianproceeds,fromsimpletocomplexthings;fromeasytodifficult;until,finally,heispronouncedfit togivepublicexhibitions.Allthistakesyearsandyears.Sometimestheboygrowstobeamiddleagedman beforeheisallowedtopubliclyexhibithispower.ImagineaWesternboyormanbeingwillingtostudyfromearly childhoodtomiddleagebeforehemayhopetobeabletoshowwhathehasbeenlearning!Verily"theEastis East,andtheWestisWest:Thetwopolesofhumanactivityandexpression. Anotherphaseofpsychicastralphenomenawhichshouldbementioned,althoughitismanifestedbut comparativelyseldom,isthatwhichhasbeencalled"Telekinesis."Bytheterm"telekinesis"ismeantthatclassof phenomenawhichmanifestsinthemovementofphysicalobjectswithoutphysicalcontactwiththeperson responsibleforthemovement.IunderstandthatthetermitselfwascoinedbyProfessorCowes,withwhose worksIamnotpersonallyfamiliar.ItisderivedfromthetwoGreekwordsTELE,meaning"faroff,"andKINESIS, meaning"tomove." ThisclassofphenomenaisknownbetterintheWesternworldbyreasonofitsmanifestationinspiritualistic circlesinthemovementoftables,etc.;theknockingortappingontablesanddoors,etc.;allofwhichare usuallyattributedtotheworkof"spirits,"butwhichoccultistsknowaregenerallyproduced,consciouslyor unconsciously,bymeansofthepowerinthemediumorotherspresent,sometimesboth.IwouldsayherethatI amnottryingtodiscreditgenuinespiritualisticphenomenaIamnotconsideringthesameintheselessons.All thatIwishtosayisthatmanyofthephenomenacommonlyattributedto"spirits"arereallybutresultsofthe psychicforcesinherentinthelivinghumanbeing. Undercertainconditionstheremayappearinthecaseofapersonstronglypsychic,andalsostronglycharged withprana,theabilitytoextendaportionoftheastralbodytoaconsiderabledistance,andtothereproducean effectuponsomephysicalobject.Thosewithstrongclairvoyantvisionmayactuallyperceivethisastral extension,underfavorablecircumstances.Theyperceivetheastralarmofthepersonstretchingout,diminishing insizeasitextends(justasapieceofflexiblerubbershrinksindiameterasitexpandsinlength)andfinally comingincontactwiththephysicalobjectitwishestomoveorstrike.Thenisseenastrongflowofpranaalong itslength,which(byapeculiarformofconcentration)isabletoproducethephysicaleffect.Icannotenterinto thesubjectofastralphysicsatthisplace,forthesubjectisfartootechnicaltobetreatedinlessonsdesignedfor generalstudy.Imayatleastpartiallyexplainthephenomenon,however,bysayingthattheprojectedastralarm actsinamanneralmostpreciselylikethatofanextendedphysicalarm,weresuchathingpossibleinnature. Thisastralbodyextensionproducesspiritrapsontables;tabletiltingandmovement;levitation,ortheliftingof

solidobjectsintheair;playinguponmusicalinstrumentssuchastheguitar,accordion,etc.Insomecasesitis abletoactuallyliftthepersonhimselffromthefloor,andcarryhimthroughtheair,inthesameway.Itmayalso causethemovementofapencilinaclosedslate,orbitofchalkuponablackboard.Infact,itmayproduce almostanyformofmovementpossibletothephysicalhand.Inthecaseofthelevitationofthepersonhimself, theastralarms,andsometimesthelegsaswell,extendtothefloorandpushupthephysicalbodyintotheair, andthenpropelitalong.Therearemanycomplextechnicaldetailstothesemanifestations,however,andina generalstatementthesemustbeomitted. Somewhoarefirmlyweddedtothespiritualistictheoryresentthestatementofoccultiststhatthisformof phenomenamaybeexplainedwithoutthenecessityofthe"spirits."Butthebestgroundforthestatementofthe occultistsisthatmanyadvancedoccultistsareabletoproducesuchphenomena,consciously,byanactofpure will,accompaniedbythepowerofmentalpicturing.Theyfirstpicturetheastralextension,andthenwillthe projectionoftheastralandthepassageoftheprana(orvitalforce)aroundthepatternofthementalimage.In thecaseofsomeveryhighlydevelopedoccultiststheastralthoughtformoftheirbodybecomessochargedwith pranathatitisabletomovephysicalobjects.Therearenotmeretheories,fortheymaybeverifiedbyany occultistofsufficientlyhighdevelopment. Idonotwishtointimatethatthemediumsareawareofthetruenatureofthisphenomena,andconsciously deceivetheirfollowers.Onthecontrary,mostofthemfirmlybelievethatitisthe"spirits"whodothework; unawarethattheyareunconsciouslyprojectingtheirastralbodies,chargedwithprana,andperformingthefeat themselves.Thebestmediums,however,willgenerallytellyouthattheystrongly"wish"thatthethingbedone, andalittlecrossexaminationwillrevealthefactthattheygenerallymakeaclearmentalpictureoftheactual happeningjustbeforeitoccurs.AsIhavealreadystated,however,thebestproofisthefactthatadvanced occultistsareabletoduplicatethephenomenadeliberately,consciously,andatwill.Idonotthinkthatdetracts fromthewonderandinterestinthesocalled"spiritistic"phenomena;onthecontrary,Ithinkthatitaddstoit. Againinvadingtherealmofthe"spirits,"Iwouldsaythatoccultistsknowthatmanycasesofsocalled materializationof"spiritforms"takeplacebyreasonoftheunconsciousprojectionoftheastralbodyofthe medium.Moreover,suchaprojectionoftheastralbodymaytakeontheappearanceofsomedepartedsoul,by reasonofthementalpictureofthatpersoninthemindofthemedium.But,itmaybeaskedifthemediumhas neverseenthedeadperson,howcanheorshemakeamentalpictureofhimorher.Theansweristhatthe mindsofthepersonspresentwhoknewthedeadpersontendtoinfluencetheappearanceofthenebulousspirit form.Infact,inmostcasesthemediumisunabletoproducethephenomenonwithoutthepsychicassistanceof thoseinthecircle.Inthiscase,also,Iwouldsaythattheadvancedoccultistisabletoduplicatethephenomena atwill,asallwhohaveenjoyedtheprivilegeofcloseacquaintancewithsuchpersonsareaware. Thefactthemediumisusuallyinatranceconditionaidmateriallyintheeasewithwhichthephenomenaare produced.Withtheconsciousmindstilled,andthesubconsciousmindactive,theastralphenomenaare producedwithmuchlesstroublethanwouldbethecaseifthemediumwereintheordinarycondition. Now,Iwishtoimpressuponthemindsofthoseofmyreaderswhohaveastrongsympathyforthespiritistic teachingsthatIrecognizethevalidityandgenuinenessofmuchofthephenomenaofspiritism:Iknow thesethingstobetrue,forthatmatter;itisnotamatterofmerebeliefonmypart.ButIalsoknowthatmuchof thesocalledspiritualistphenomenaispossiblewithouttheaidof"spirits,"butby,theemploymentofthepsychic astralforcesandpowersasstatedintheselessons.Iseenoreasonforanyhonestinvestigatorofspiritismtobe

offendedatsuchstatements,foritdoesnottakeawayfromthewonderofthephenomena;anddoesnot discreditthemotivesandpowerofthemediums.Wemustsearchfortruthwhereveritistobefound;andwe mustnotseektododgetheresultsofourinvestigations.Thereistoomuchwonderfulphenomenainspiritismto begrudgetheexplanationthattheoccultistoffersforcertainofitsphases. WhileIamonthesubjectofmaterializationhowever,Iwoulddirecttheattentionofthestudenttomylittlebook entitled"TheAstralWorld,"inwhichIhaveexplainedbrieflythephenomenaofthoseplanesoftheastralin whichdwellthecastoffshellsofsoulswhichhavemovedontothehigherplanesofthegreatastralworld.Ihave thereshownthatmanyastralshellsorshades,orotherastralsemientitiesmaybematerialized,andthus mistakenforthe"spirits"ofdepartedfriends.Ihavealsoexplainedinthesamelittlebookhowtherearecertain powerfulthoughtformswhichmaybemistakenforspiritmaterializations.Ihavealsoshownhowmanyahonest mediumisreallyagoodclairvoyant,andbyreadingtherecordsoftheastrallightisabletogiveinformation whichseemstocomefromthedepartedsoul.Allofthesethingsshouldbefamiliartotheearnestinvestigatorof spiritism,inorderthathemaybeabletoclassifythephenomenawhichhewitnesses,andtoavoiderrorand disappointment. Inthisconnection,beforepassingontotheconsiderationofotherphasesofpsychicphenomena,Iwouldsay thatoneofthebestmediumsknowntothemodernWesternworld;amediumwhohasbeenconsultedby eminentmen,universityprofessors,psychologists,andothers,andwhoserevelationsregardingpast,present andfutureastoundedcarefulandintelligentmenofinternationalreputation.Thismediumattheheightofher professionalsuccessmadeapublicannouncementthatshefeltcompelled,fromconscientiousmotives,to assertthatshehadcometotheconclusionthathermessagecamenotfromdeparted"spirits"butratherfrom someunknownrealmofbeing.Themessagebeingbroughthitherbytheexerciseofsomefacultyinherentinher anddevelopedtoahighpowerinherforsomereason,andwhichpowerseemedtomanifestmoreeffectively whensheshutoffherordinaryphysicalfacultiesandfunctionedonaplanehigherthanthem.Ithinkthatthe studentofthepresentlessonswillbeabletopointoutthenatureofthephenomenamanifestedbythismedium, andalsothesourceofherpower.Ifnot,Ishallfeeldisappointedatmyworkofinstruction.

LESSON16
PSYCHICINFLUENCE;ITSLAWSANDPRINCIPLES
Oneofthephasesofpsychicphenomenathatactivelyengagetheattentionofthestudentfromthevery beginningisthatwhichmaybecalledPsychicInfluence.Bythistermismeanttheinfluencingofonemindby another;theeffectofonemindoveranother.Therehasbeenmuchwrittenandsaidonthisphaseofthegeneral subjectinrecentyears,butfewwriters,however,havegonedeeplyintothematter. Inthefirstplace,mostofthewritersonthesubjectseektoexplainthewholethingbymeansofordinary telepathy.Butthisismerelyaonesidedviewofthetruthofthematter.For,whileordinarytelepathyplaysan importantpartinthephenomena,stillthehigherformoftelepathy,i.e.,astralthoughttransference,isfrequently involved.ThestudentwhohasfollowedmeintheprecedinglessonswillunderstandreadilywhatImeanwhenI saythis,sothereisnonecessityforrepetitiononthispointatthisplace. Atthispoint,however,Imustaskthestudenttoconsidertheideaofpsychicvibrationsandtheirinductivepower. Itisagreatprincipleofoccultism,aswellasofmodernscience,thateverythingisinastateofvibration: Everythinghasitsownrateofvibration,andisconstantlymanifestingit.Everymentalstateisaccompaniedby vibrationofitsownplaneandeveryemotionalstateorfeelinghasitsownparticularrateofvibration.Theserates ofvibrationsmanifestjustasdothevibrationsofmusicalsoundwhichproducetheseveralnotesonthescale, onerisingabovetheotherinrateofvibration.Butthescaleofmentalandemotionalstatesisfarmorecomplex, andfarmoreextendedthanisthemusicalscale;therearethousandsofdifferentnotes,andhalfnotes,onthe mentalscale.Thereareharmoniesanddiscordsonthatscale,also. Tothosetowhomvibrationsseemtobesomethingmerelyconnectedwithsoundwaves,etc.,Iwouldsaythata generalandhastyglanceatsomeelementaryworkonphysicalsciencewillshowthateventhedifferentshades, huesandtintsofthecolorsperceivedbyusarisefromdifferentratesofvibrations.Colorisnothingmorethan theresultofcertainratesofvibrationsoflightrecordedbyoursensesandinterpretedbyourminds.Fromthelow vibrationsofredtothehighvibrationsofviolet,allthevariouscolorsofthespectrumhavetheirownparticular rateofvibration.And,morethanthis,scienceknowsthatbelowthelowestredvibrations,andabovethehighest violetvibrations,thereareothervibrationswhichoursensesareunabletorecord,butwhichscientific instrumentsregister.Theraysoflightbywhichphotographsaretakenarenotperceivedbytheeye.Therearea numberofsocalledchemicalraysoflightwhichtheeyedoesnotperceive,butwhichmaybecaughtbydelicate instruments.Thereiswhatsciencehascalled"darklight,"whichwillphotographinaroomwhichappearspitch darktothehumansight. AbovetheordinaryscaleoflightvibrationsarethevibrationsoftheXRaysandotherfineforces.Thesearenot perceivedbytheeye,butarecaughtbydelicateinstrumentsandrecorded.Moreover,thoughsciencehasnotas yetdiscoveredthefact,occultistsknowthatthevibrationsofmentalandemotionalstatesarejustastrueand regularasarethoseofsoundorlight,orheat.Again,abovetheplaneofthephysicalvibrationsarisingfromthe brainandnervoussystem,therearethevibrationsoftheastralcounterpartsofthese,whicharemuchhigherin thescale.Foreventheastralfacultiesandorgans,whileabovethephysical,stillareundertheuniversalruleof vibration,andhavetheirownratethereof.Theoldoccultaxiom:"Asabove,sobelow;asbelow,soabove"is

alwaysseentoworkoutonallplanesofuniversalenergy. Closelyfollowingthisideaoftheuniversalityofvibrations,andintimatelyconnectedtherewith,wehavethe principleof"induction,"whichislikewiseuniversal,andfoundmanifestingonallplanesofenergy."Whatis induction?"youmayask.Well,itisverysimple,orverycomplex,justasyoumaylookatit.Theprincipleof induction(onanyplane)isthatinherentqualityorattributeofenergybywhichthemanifestationofenergytends toreproduceitselfinasecondobject,bysettingupcorrespondingvibrationstherein,thoughwithoutdirect contactofthetwoobjects. Thus,heatinoneobjecttendstoinduceheatinanotherobjectwithinitsrangeofinduction.Theheatedobject "throwsoff"heatvibrationswhichsetupcorrespondingvibrationsinthenearbysecondobjectandmakeithot. Likewise,thevibrationsoflightstrikinguponotherobjectsrenderthemcapableofradiatinglight.Again,a magnetwillinducemagnetisminapieceofsteelsuspendednearby,thoughthetwoobjectsdonotactually touch,eachother.Anobjectwhichiselectrifiedwillbyinductionelectrifyanotherobjectsituatedsomedistance away.Anotesoundedonthepiano,orviolin,willcauseaglassorvaseinsomedistantpartoftheroomto vibrateand"sing,"undercertainconditions.And,soon,ineveryformorphaseofthemanifestationofenergydo weseetheprincipleofinductioninfulloperationandmanifestation. Ontheplaneofordinarythoughtandemotion,wefindmanyinstancesofthisprincipleofinduction.Weknow thatonepersonvibratingstronglywithhappinessorsorrow,cheerfulnessoranger,asthecasemaybefendsto communicatehisfeelingandemotions,statetothosewithwhomhecomesincontact.Allofyouhaveseena wholeroomfullofpersonsaffectedandinfluencedinthisway,undercertaincircumstances.Youhavealsoseen howamagneticorator,preacher,singeroractorisabletoinduceinhisaudienceastateofemotionalvibration correspondingtothatmanifestedbyhimself.Inthesamemannerthe"mentalatmospheres"oftowns,cities,etc., areinduced. Awellknownwriteronthissubjecthastruthfullytoldus:"Weallknowhowgreatwavesoffeelingspreadovera town,cityorcountry,sweepingpeopleofftheirbalance.Greatwavesofpoliticalenthusiasm,orwarspirit,or prejudicefororagainstcertainpersons,sweepoverplacesandcausementoactinamannerthattheywill afterwardregretwhentheycometothemselvesandconsidertheiractsincoldblood.Theywillbeswayedby demagoguesormagneticleaderswhowishtogaintheirvotesorpatronage;andtheywillbeledintoactsofmob violence,orsimilaratrocities,byyieldingtothesewavesofcontagiousthought.Ontheotherhand,weallknow howgreatwavesofreligiousfeelingsweepoveracommunityupontheoccasionofsomegreat'revival' excitementorfervor." Thesethingsbeingperceived,andrecognizedastrue,thenextquestionthatpresentsitselftothemindofthe intelligentstudentisthis:"Butwhatcausesthedifferenceinpowerandeffectbetweenthethoughtand feelingvibrationsofdifferentpersons?"Thisquestionisavalidone,andarisesfromaperceptionofthe underlyingvarietyanddifferenceinthethoughtvibrationsofdifferentpersons.Thedifference,mystudents,is causedbythreeprincipalfacts,viz.,(1)differenceindegreeoffeeling;(2)differenceindegreeofvisualization; and(3)differenceindegreeofconcentration.Letusexamineeachofthesesuccessively,soastogetatthe underlyingprinciple. Theelementofemotionalfeelingisliketheelementoffireintheproductionofsteam.Themorevividandintense thefeelingoremotion,thegreaterthedegreeofheatandforcetothethoughtwaveorvibratorystream

projected.Youwillbegintoseewhythethoughtvibrationsofthoseanimatedandfilledwithstrongdesire,strong wish,strongambition,etc.,mustbemoreforcefulthanthoseofpersonsoftheoppositetype. Thepersonwhoisfilledwithastrongdesire,wishorambition,whichhasbeenfannedintoafierceblazeby attention,isadynamicpoweramongotherpersons,andhisinfluenceisfelt.Infact,itmaybeassertedthatasa generalrulenopersonisabletoinfluencemenandthingsunlesshehaveastrongdesire,wishorambition withinhim.Thepowerofdesireisawonderfulone,asalloccultistsknow,anditwillaccomplishmuchevenifthe otherelementsbelacking;while,inpropercombinationwithotherprinciplesitwillaccomplishwonders. Likewise,astronginterestinathingwillcauseacertainstrengthtothethoughtvibrationsconnectedtherewith. Interestisreallyanemotionalfeeling,thoughwegenerallythinkofitasmerelysomethingconnectedwiththe intellect.Acoldintellectualthoughthasverylittleforce,unlessbackedupbystronginterestandconcentration. Butanyintellectualthoughtbackedupwithinterest,andfocusedbyconcentration,willproduceverystrong thoughtvibrations,withamarkedinductivepower. Now,letusconsiderthesubjectofvisualization.Everypersonknowsthatthepersonwhowishestoaccomplish anything,orwhoexpectstodogoodworkalonganyline,mustfirstknowwhathewishestoaccomplish.Inthe degreethatheisabletoseethethinginhismind'seye,topicturethethinginhisimagination,inthatdegreewill hetendtomanifestthethingitselfinmaterialformandeffect. SirFrancisGalton,aneminentauthorityuponpsychology,saysonthispoint:"Thefreeuseofahighvisualizing facultyisofmuchimportanceinconnectionwiththehigherprocessesofgeneralizedthought.Avisualimageis themostperfectformofmentalrepresentationwherevertheshape,position,andrelationsofobjectstospace areconcerned.Thebestworkmenarethosewhovisualizethewholeofwhattheyproposetodobeforetheytake atoolintheirhands.Strategists,artistsofalldenominations,physicistswhocontrivenewexperiments,and,in short,allwhodonotfollowroutine,haveneedofit.Afacultythatisofimportanceinalltechnicalandartistic occupations,thatgivesaccuracytoourperceptionsandjusticetoourgeneralizations,isstarvedbylazydisuse insteadofbeingcultivatedjudiciouslyinsuchawayaswill,onthewhole,bringbestreturn.Ibelievethata seriousstudyofthebestwayofdevelopingandutilizingthisfaculty,withoutprejudicetothepracticeofabstract thoughtinsymbols,isoneofthepressingdesirataintheyetunformedscienceofeducation." Notonlyontheordinaryplanesistheformingofstrongmentalimagesimportantanduseful,butwhenwecome toconsiderthephenomenaoftheastralplanewebegintoseewhatanimportantpartisplayedtherebystrong mentalimagesorvisualizedideas.Thebetteryouknowwhatyoudesire,wishoraspireto,thestrongerwillbe yourthoughtvibrationsofthatthing,ofcourse.Well,then,thestrongerthatyouareabletopicturethethingin yourmind(tovisualizeittoyourself)thestrongerwillbeyouractualknowledgeandthoughtformofthatthing. Insteadofyourthoughtvibrationsbeinggroupedinnebulousforms,lackingshapeanddistinctfigure,asinthe ordinarycase;whenyouformstrong,clearmentalimagesofwhatyoudesireorwishtoaccomplish,thendothe thoughtvibrationsgroupthemselvesinclear,strongdistinctforms.Thisbeingdone,whenthemindofother personsareaffectedbyinductiontheygettheclearideaofthethoughtandfeelinginyourmind,andarestrongly influencedthereby. Alittlelateron,IshallcallyourattentiontotheAttractivePowerofThought.ButatthispointIwishtosaytoyou thatwhilethoughtcertainlyattractstoyouthethingsthatyouthinkofthemost,stillthepoweroftheattraction dependsverymateriallyupontheclearnessanddistinctnessofthementalimage,orthoughtvisualization,ofthe desiredthingthatyouhavesetupinyourmind.Theneareryoucanactuallyseethethingasyouwishitto

happen,eventothegeneraldetails,thestrongerwillbetheattractiveforcethereof.But,Ishallleavethe discussionofthisphaseofthesubjectuntilIreachitinitsproperorder.Forthepresent,Ishallcontentmyself withurginguponyoutheimportanceofaclearmentalimage,orvisualizedthought,inthematterofgivingforce anddirectiontotheideainducedinthemindsofotherpersons.Inorderfortheotherpersonstoactually perceiveclearlytheideaorfeelinginducedinthem,itisnecessarythattheideaorfeelingbestronglyvisualized inthemindoriginatingit;thatisthewholethinginonesentence. Thenextpointofimportanceinthoughtinfluencebyinduction,isthatwhichisconcernedwiththeprocessof concentration.Concentrationistheactofmentalfocusing,orbringingtoasinglepointorcenter.Itislikethe workofthesunglassthatconvergestheraysofthesuntoasingletinypoint,thusimmenselyincreasingitsheat andpower.Or,itislikethefinepointofaneedlethatwillforceitswaythroughwhereabluntthingcannot penetrate.Or,itislikethestronglyconcentratedessenceofachemicalsubstance,ofwhichonedropisas powerfulasonepintoftheoriginalthing.Thinkoftheconcentratedpowerofatinydropofattarofroses;ithas withinitstinyspacetheconcentratedodorofthousandsofroses;onedropofitwillmakeapintofextract,anda gallonofweakerperfumery!Thinkoftheconcentratedpowerinalightningflash,ascontrastedwiththesame amountofelectricitydiffusedoveralargearea.Or,thinkoftheharmlessflashofasmallamountofgunpowder ignitedintheopenair,ascontrastedwiththeignitionofthesameamountofpowdercompelledtoescape throughthesmallopeninginthegunbarrel. Theoccultteachingslaygreatstressuponthispowerofmentalconcentration.Allstudentsoftheoccultdevote muchtimeandcaretothecultivationofthepowersofconcentration,andthedevelopmentoftheabilityto employthem.Theaveragepersonpossessesbutaverysmallamountofconcentration,andisableto concentratehismindforbutafewmomentsatatime.Thetrainedthinkerobtainsmuchofhismentalpowerfrom hisacquiredabilitytoconcentrateonhistask.Theoccultisttrainshimselfinfixinghisconcentratedattention uponthematterbeforehim,soastobringtoafocalcenterallofhismentalforces. Themindisaveryrestlessthing,andisinclinedtodancefromonethingtoanother,tiringofeachthingaftera fewmoment'sconsiderationthereof.Theaveragepersonallowshisinvoluntaryattentiontorestuponevery triflingthing,andtobedistractedbytheidlestappealstothesenses.Hefindsitmostdifficulttoeithershutout thesedistractingappealstothesenses,andequallyhardtoholdtheattentiontosomeuninterestingthing.His attentionisalmostfreeofcontrolbythewill,andthepersonisaslavetohisperceptivepowersandtohis imagination,insteadof,beingamasterofboth. Theoccultist,onthecontrary,mastershisattention,andcontrolshisimagination.Heforcestheoneto concentratewhenhewishesittodoso;andhecompelsthelattertoformthementalimageshewishesto visualize.Butthisafardifferentthingfromtheselfhypnosiswhichsomepersonsimaginetobeconcentration.A writeronthesubjecthaswellsaid:"Thetrainedoccultistwillconcentrateuponasubjector objectwithawonderfulintensity,seeminglycompletelyabsorbedinthesubjectorobjectbeforehim,and oblivioustoallelseintheworld.Andyet,thetaskaccomplished,orthegiventimeexpired,hewilldetachhis mindfromtheobjectandwillbeperfectlyfresh,watchfulandwideawaketothenextmatterbeforehim.Thereis everydifferencebetweenbeingcontrolledbyinvoluntaryattention,whichisspeciesofselfhypnosis,andthe controloftheattention,whichisanevidenceofmastery."AneminentFrenchpsychologistoncesaid:"The authorityoftheattentionissubjecttothesuperiorauthorityoftheEgo.Iyieldit,orIwithholdit,asIplease.I directitinturntoseveralpoints.Iconcentrateituponeachpoint,aslongasmywillcanstandtheeffort."

Inanearlierlessonofthisseries,Ihaveindicatedinageneralwaythemethodswherebyonemaydevelopand trainhispowersofconcentration.Thereisnoroyalroadtoconcentration;itmaybedevelopedonlybypractice andexercise.Thesecretconsistsinmanagingtheattention,soastofixituponasubject,nomatterhow uninteresting;andtoholditthereforareasonablelengthoftime.Practiceuponsomedisagreeablestudyor othertaskisgoodexercise,foritservestotrainthewillinspiteoftheinfluenceofmoreattractiveobjectsor subjects.Andthisallservestotrainthewill,remember;forthewillisactivelyconcernedineveryactofvoluntary attention.Infact,attentionofthiskindisoneofthemostimportantandcharacteristicactsofthewill. So,asyousee,inordertobesuccessfulininfluencingthemindsofothersbymeansofmentalinduction,you mustfirstcultivateastrongfeelingofinterestintheideawhichyouwishtoinduceintheotherperson,orastrong desiretoproducethething.Interestanddesireconstitutethefirewhichgeneratesthestreamofwillfromthe waterofmind,assomeoccultistshavestatedit.Secondly,youmustcultivatethefacultyofformingstrongand clearmentalimagesoftheideaorfeelingyouwishtosoinduce;youmustlearntoactually"see"thethingin yourimagination,soastogivetheideastrengthandclearness.Thirdly,youmustlearntoconcentrateyourmind andattentionupontheideaorfeeling,shuttingoutallotherideasandfeelingsforthetimebeing;thusyougive concentratedforceandpowertothevibrationsandthoughtformswhichyouareprojecting. Thesethreeprinciplesunderlieallofthemanyformsofmentalinduction,ormentalinfluence.Wefindthemin activeoperationincasesinwhichthepersonisseekingtoattracttohimselfcertainconditions,environment, persons,things,orchannelsofexpression,bysettingintomotionthegreatlawsofmentalattraction.Wesee themalsoemployedwhenthepersonisendeavoringtoproduceaneffectuponthemindofsomeparticular person,ornumberofpersons.Weseetheminforceinallcasesofmentalorpsychichealing,underwhatever formitmaybeemployed.Inshort,thesearegeneralprinciples,andmustthereforeunderlieallformsand phasesofmentalorpsychicinfluence.Thesoonerthestudentrealizesthisfact,andthemoreactivelydoeshe sethimselftoworkincultivatinganddevelopingtheseprincipleswithinhimself,themoresuccessfulandefficient willhebecomeinthisfieldofpsychicresearchandinvestigation.Itislargelyinthedegreeofthecultivationof thesethreementalprinciplesthattheoccultistisdistinguishedfromtheordinaryman. Itmaybethatyouarenotdesirousofcultivatingorpracticingthepowerofinfluencingotherpersonspsychically. Well,thatisforyoutodecideforyourself.Atanyrate,youwilldowelltodevelopyourselvesalongtheselines,at leastforselfprotection.Thecultivationofthesethreementalprincipleswilltendtomakeyouactiveandpositive, psychically,ascontrastedwiththepassive,negativementalstateoftheaverageperson.Bybecomingmentally activeandpositiveyouwillbeabletoresistanypsychicinfluencethatmaybedirectedtowardyourself,andto surroundyourselfwithaprotectiveauraofpositive,activementalvibrations. And,moreover,ifyouaredesirousofpursuingyourinvestigationsofpsychicandastralphenomena,youwillfind itofgreatimportancetocultivateanddevelopthesethreeprinciplesinyourmind.For,thenyouwillbeableto brushasidealldistractinginfluences,andtoproceedatoncetothetaskbeforeyou,withpower,clearnessand strengthofpurposeandmethod. InthefollowingchaptersIshallgiveyouamoreorlessdetailedpresentationofthevariousphasesorformsof psychicinfluence.Someofthesemayseematfirsttobesomethingindependentofthegeneralprinciples.ButI askthatyoucarefullyanalyzeallofthese,soastodiscoverthatthesamefundamentalprinciplesareunderand backofeachandeveryinstancepresented.Whenyouoncefullygraspthisfact,andperfectyourselvesinthe fewfundamentalprinciples,thenyouarewellstartedontheroadtomasteryofallthevariousphasesofpsychic

phenomena.Insteadofpuzzlingyourmindoverahundreddifferentphasesofdisconnectedphenomena,itis bettertomasterthefewactualelementaryprinciples,andthenreasondeductivelyfromthesetothevarious manifestationthereof.Mastertheprinciples,andthenlearntoapplythem.

LESSON17
PERSONALPSYCHICINFLUENCEOVEROTHERS
PsychicInfluence,asthetermisusedinthisbook,maybesaidtobedividedintothreegeneralclasses,viz.,(1) PersonalInfluence,inwhichthemindofanotherisdirectlyinfluencedbyinductionwhileheisinthepresenceof thepersoninfluencing;(2)DistantInfluencing,inwhichthepsychicinductionisdirectlymanifestedwhenthe personsconcernedaredistantfromoneanother;and(3)IndirectInfluence,inwhichtheinductionismanifested inthemindsofvariouspersonscomingincontactwiththethoughtvibrationsofthepersonmanifestingthem, thoughnoattemptismadetodirectlyinfluenceanyparticularperson.Ishallnowpresenteachofthesethree formsofpsychicinfluencetoyouforconsideration,oneaftertheotherintheaboveorder. PersonalInfluence,asabovedefined,rangesfromcasesinwhichthestrongestcontrol(generallyknownas hypnotism)ismanifested,downtothecasesinwhichmerelyaslightinfluenceisexerted.Butthegeneral principleunderlyingallofthesecasesispreciselythesame.Thegreatcharactersofhistory,suchasAlexander theGreat,NapoleonBonaparte,andJuliusCaesar,manifestedthispowertoagreatdegree,andwereableto swaymenaccordingtotheirwill.Allgreatleadersofmenhavethispowerstronglymanifested,elsetheywould notbeabletoinfluencethemindsofmen.Greatorators,preachers,statesmen,andothersofthisclass,likewise manifestthepowerstrongly.Infact,theverysignofabilitytoinfluenceandmanageotherpersonsisevidenceof thepossessionandmanifestationofthismightypower. Indevelopingthispowertoinfluenceothersdirectlyandpersonally,youshouldbeginbyimpressinguponyour mindtheprinciplesstatedintheprecedingchapter,namely(1)StrongDesire;(2)ClearVisualization;and (3)Concentration.Youmustbeginbyencouragingastrongdesireinyourmindtobeapositiveindividual;to exertandmanifestapositiveinfluenceoverotherswithwhomyoucomeincontact,andespeciallyoverthose whomyouwishtoinfluenceinsomeparticularmannerordirection.Youmustletthefireofdesireburnfiercely withinyou,untilitbecomesasstrongasphysicalhungerorthirst.Youmust"wantto"asyouwanttobreathe,to live.Youwillfindthatthemenwhoaccomplishthegreatthingsinlifearethosewhohavestrongdesireburning intheirbosoms.Thereisastrongradiativeandinductivepowerinstrongdesireandwish.Infact,somehave thoughtthisthemainfeatureofwhatwegenerallycallstrongwillpower. Thenextstep,ofcourse,istheformingofaclear,positive,distinctanddynamicmentalpictureoftheideaor feelingthatyouwishtoinduceintheotherperson.Ifitisanidea,youshouldmakeastrongclearpictureofitin yourimagination,soastogiveitdistinctnessandforceandaclearoutline.Ifitisafeeling,youshouldpictureit inyourimagination.Ifitissomethingthatyouwishtheotherpersontodo,orsomewayinwhichyouwishhimto act,youshouldpicturehimasdoingthething,oractinginthatparticularway.Bysodoingyoufurnishthepattern ordesignfortheinducedmentaloremotionalstatesyouwishtoinduceintheotherperson.Upontheclearness andstrengthofthesementalpatternsoftheimaginationdependslargelythepoweroftheinducedimpression. Thethirdstep,ofcourse,istheconcentrationofyourmindupontheimpressionyouwishtoinduceinthemindof theotherperson.Youmustlearntoconcentratesoforciblyandclearlythattheideawillstandoutclearlyinyour mindlikeabrightstarofadarknight,exceptthattheremustbeonlyonestarinsteadofthousands.Bysodoing youreallyfocustheentireforceofyourmentalandpsychicenergiesintothatoneparticularideaorthought.This

makesitactlikethefocusedraysinthesunglass,orlikethestrongpipestreamofwaterthatwillbreakdown thethinguponwhichitisturned.Diffusedthoughthasbutacomparativelyweakeffect,whereasaconcentrated streamofthoughtvibrationswillforceitswaythroughobstacles. Remember,always,thisthreefoldmentalcondition:(1)STRONGDESIRE;(2)CLEARMENTALPICTURE;and (3)CONCENTRATEDTHOUGHT.Thegreaterthedegreeinwhichyoucanmanifestthesethreemental conditions,thegreaterwillbeyoursuccessinanyformofpsychicinfluence,directorindirect,personalor general,presentordistant. Beforeyouproceedtodevelopthepowertoimpressaparticularideaorfeelinguponthemindofanotherperson, youshouldfirstacquireapositivementalatmosphereforyourself.Thismentalatmosphereisproducedin preciselythesamewaythatyouinduceaspecialideaorfeelinginthemindoftheotherperson.Thatistosay, youfirststronglydesireit,thenyouclearlypictureit,andthenyouapplyconcentratedthoughtuponit. Iwillassumethatyouarefilledwiththestrongdesireforapositivementalatmospherearoundyou.Youwantthis verymuchindeed,andactuallycraveandhungerforit.Thenyoumustbegintopictureyourself(inyour imagination)assurroundedwithanauraofpositivethoughtvibrationswhichprotectyoufromthethoughtforces ofotherpersons,and,atthesametimeimpressthestrengthofyourpersonalityuponthepersonswithwhom youcomeincontact.Youwillbeaidedinmakingthesestrongmentalpicturesbyholdingtheideainyour concentratedthought,and,atthesametime,silentlystatingtoyourmindjustwhatyouexpecttodointhe desireddirection.Instatingyourorderstoyourmind,alwaysspeakasifthethingwerealreadyaccomplishedat thatparticularmoment.Neversaythatit"willbe,"butalwaysholdfasttothe"itis."Thefollowingwillgiveyoua goodexampleofthementalstatements,whichofcourseshouldbeaccompaniedbytheconcentratedideaofthe thing,andthementalpictureofyourselfasbeingjustwhatyoustate. Hereisthementalstatementforthecreationofastrong,positivepsychicatmosphere:"Iamsurroundedbyan auraofstrong,positive,dynamicthoughtvibrations.Theserendermepositivetootherpersons,andrenderthem negativetome.Iampositiveoftheirthoughtvibrations,buttheyarenegativetomine.Theyfeelthestrengthof mypsychicatmosphere,whileIeasilyrepelthepoweroftheirs.Idominatethesituation,andmanifestmy positivepsychicqualitiesovertheirs.Myatmospherecreatesthevibrationofstrengthandpoweronallsidesof me,whichaffectotherswithwhomIcomeincontact.MYPSYCHICATMOSPHEREISSTRONGAND POSITIVE!" ThenextstepinPersonalInfluenceisthatofprojectingyourpsychicpowerdirectlyuponandintothemindofthe otherpersonwhomyouwishtoinfluence.Sometimes,ifthepersonisquitenegativetoyou,thisisaverysimple andeasymatter;butwherethepersonisnearyourowndegreeofpsychicpositivenessyouwillhavetoassert yourpsychicsuperioritytohim,andgetthepsychic"upperhand"beforeyoucanproceedfurther.Thisis accomplishedbythrowingintoyourpsychicatmospheresomeparticularlystrongmentalstatements accompaniedbyclearvisualizationsormentalpictures. Makepositiveyourpsychicatmosphere,particularlytowardsthepersonwhomyouseektoinfluence,by statementsandpicturessomethingalongthefollowinglines:"Iampositivetothisman";"Heisnegativetome"; "Hefeelsmypowerandisbeginningtoyieldtoit";"Heisunabletoinfluencemeintheslightest,whileIcan influencehimeasily";"Mypowerisbeginningtooperateuponhismindandfeelings."Theexactwordsarenot important,buttheideabehindthemgivesthemtheirpsychicforceandpower.

Thenshouldyoubeginyourdirectattackuponhim,orratheruponhispsychicpowers.WhenIsay"attack,"Ido notusethewordinthesenseofwarfareoractualdesiretoharmtheotherperson:Thisisafardifferentmatter. WhatImeantosayisthatthereisusuallyapsychicbattleforalongerorshorterperiodbetweentwopersonsof similardegreesofpsychicpoweranddevelopment.Fromthisbattleonealwaysemergesvictoratthetime,and onealwaysisbeatenforthetimebeing,atleast.And,asinallbattles,victoryoftengoestohimwhostrikesthe firsthardblow.Theoffensivetacticsarethebestincasesofthiskind. AcelebratedAmericanauthor,OliverWendallHolmes,inoneofhisbooksmakesmentionoftheseduelsof psychicforcebetweenindividuals,asfollows:"ThereisthatdeadlyIndianhuginwhichmenwrestlewiththeir eyes,overinfiveseconds,butwhichbreaksoneoftheirtwobacks,andisgoodforthreescoreyearsandten, onetrialenoughandsettlesthewholematter,justaswhentwofeatheredsongstersofthebarnyard,gameand dunghill,cometogether.Afterajumportwo,andafewsharpkicks,thereisanendtoit;anditis'Afteryou, monsieur'withthebeatenpartyinallthesocialrelationsforalltherestofhisdays." AnEnglishphysician,Dr.Fothergillbyname,wroteanumberofyearsagoaboutthisstruggleofwills,ashe calledit,butwhichisreallyastruggleofpsychicpower.Hesays:"Theconflictofwill,thepowertocommand others,hasbeenspokenoffrequently.Yetwhatisthiswillpowerthatinfluencesothers?Whatisitthatmakesus accept,andadopttoo,theadviceofoneperson,whilepreciselythesameadvicefromanotherhasbeen rejected?Isittheweightofforceofwillwhichinsensiblyinfluencesus;theforceofwillbehindtheadvice?That iswhatitis!Thepersonwhothusforceshisorheradviceuponushasnomorepowertoenforceitthanothers; butallthesamewedoasrequested.Weacceptfromonewhatwerejectfromanother.Onepersonsaysof somethingcontemplated,'Oh,butyoumustnot,'yetwedoitallthesame,thoughthatpersonmaybeina positiontomakeusregrettherejectionofthatcounsel.Anotherpersonsays,'Oh,butyoumustn't,'andwe desist,thoughwemay,ifsodisposed,setthislatterperson'sopinionatdefiancewithimpunity.Itisnotthefear ofconsequences,notofgivingoffense,whichdeterminestheadaptionofthelatterperson'sadvice,whileithas beenrejectedwhengivenbythefirst.Itdependsuponthecharacterorwillpoweroftheindividualadvising whetherweaccepttheadviceorrejectit.Thischaracteroftendependslittle,ifatall,insomecases,uponthe intellect,orevenuponthemoralqualities,thegoodnessorbadness,oftheindividual.Itisitselfanimponderable something;yetitcarriesweightwithit.Theremaybeablermen,cleverermen;butitistheonepossessedofwill whorisestothesurfaceatthesetimestheonewhocanbysomesubtlepowermakeothermenobeyhim. "Thewillpowergoesonuniversally.Intheyoungaristocratwhogetshistailortomakeanotheradvancein defianceofhisconvictionthathewillnevergethismoneyback.Itgoesonbetweenlawyerandclient;betwixt doctorandpatient;betweenbankerandborrower;betwixtbuyerandseller.Itisnottactwhichenablesthe personbehindthecountertoinducecustomerstobuywhattheydidnotintendtobuy,andwhichbought,gives themnosatisfaction,thoughitislinkedtherewithfortheefforttobesuccessful.Whenevertwopersonsmeetin business,orinanyotherrelationinlife,uptolovemaking,thereisthiswillfightgoingon,commonlyenough withoutanyconsciousnessofthestruggle.Thereisadimconsciousnessoftheresult,butnoneofthe processes.Itoftentakesyearsoftheintimacyofmarriedlifetofindoutwithwhomofthepairthemasteryreally lies.Oftenthefarstrongercharacter,toallappearances,hastoyield;itisthiswillelementwhichunderliesthe statement:'Theraceisnotalwaystotheswift,northebattletothestrong.'InMiddlemarch'wefindinLydgatea grandaggregationofqualities,yetshallow,hard,selfishRosamondmastershimthoroughlyintheend.Hewas notdeficientinwillpower;possessedmorethananaverageamountofcharacter;butinthefighthewentdown atlastundertheonslaughtoftheintense,stubbornwillofhisnarrowmindedspouse.Theirwillcontestwasthe collisionofalargewarmnature,likeacapablehumanhand,withahard,narrowselfishnature,likeasteel

button;thehandonlybruiseditselfwhilethebuttonremainedunaffected." Youmustnot,however,imaginethateverypersonwithwhomyouengageinoneofthesepsychicduelsis consciousofwhatisgoingon.Heusuallyrecognizesthatsomesortofconflictisunderway,buthedoesnot knowthelawsandprinciplesofpsychicforce,andsoisinthedarkregardingtheprocedure.Youwillfindthata littlepracticeofthiskind,inwhichnogreatquestionisinvolved,willgiveyouacertainknackortrickofhandling yourpsychicforces,andwill,besides,giveyouthatconfidenceinyourselfthatcomesonlyfromactualpractice andexercise.Icanpointouttherules,andgiveyoutheprinciples,butyoumustlearnthelittlebitsoftechnique yourselffromactualpractice. Whenyouhavecrossedpsychicswordswiththeotherperson,gazeathimintentlybutnotfiercely,andsendhim thispositivestrongthoughtvibration:"Iamstrongerthanyou,andIshallwin!"Atthesametimepictureto yourselfyourforcesbeatingdownhisandovercominghim.Holdthisideaandpictureinyourmind:"My vibrationsarestrongerthanareyours!Iambeatingyou!"Followthisupwiththeideaandpictureof:"Youare weakeningandgivingin!Youarebeingoverpowered!"Averypowerfulpsychicweaponisthefollowing:"My vibrationsarescatteringyourforces!Iambreakingyourforcesintobits!Surrender,surrendernow,Itellyou!" Andnowforsomeinterestingandveryvaluableinformationconcerningpsychicdefense.Youwillnoticethatin theoffensivepsychicweaponsthereisalwaysanassertionofpositivestatementofyourpoweranditseffect. Well,then,inusingthepsychicdefensiveweaponagainstoneofstrongwillorpsychicforce,youreversethe process.Thatistosayyoudenytheforceofhispsychicpowersandforces,andpicturethemasmeltinginto nothingness.Getthisideawellfixedinyourmind,foritisveryimportantinaconflictofthiskind.Theeffectof thisistoneutralizealloftheotherperson'spowersofarasitseffectonyourselfisconcerned;youreallydonot destroyitinhimtotally.Yousimplyrenderhisforcespowerlesstoaffectyou.Thisisimportantnotonlywhenina psychicconflictofthiskind,butalsowhenyouwishtorenderyourselfimmunefromthepsychicforcesofother persons.Youmayshutyourselfupinastrongdefensivearmorinthisway,andotherswillbepowerlesstoaffect you. Inthepositivestatement,"Ideny!"youhavetheOccultShieldofDefense,whichisamightyprotectiontoyou. Evenifyoudonotfeeldisposedtocultivateanddevelopyourpsychicpowersinthedirectionofinfluencing others,youshouldatleastdevelopyourdefensivepowerssoastoresistanypsychicattacksuponyourself. Youwillfindithelpfultopracticetheseoffensiveanddefensiveweaponswhenyouarealone,standingbefore yourmirrorand"playing"thatyourreflectionintheglassistheotherperson.Sendthisimaginaryotherperson thepsychicvibrations,accompaniedbythementalpicturesuitableforit.Actthepartoutseriouslyandearnestly, justasifthereflectedimagewerereallyanotherperson.Thiswillgiveyouconfidenceinyourself,andthat indefinable"knack"ofhandlingyourpsychicweaponsthatcomesonlyfrompractice.Youwilldowelltoperfect yourselfintheserehearsals,justasyouwouldincaseyouweretryingtomasteranythingelse.Byfrequent earnestrehearsals,youwillgainnotonlyfamiliaritywiththeprocessandmethods,butyouwillalsogainreal powerandstrengthbytheexerciseofyourpsychicfacultieswhichhaveheretoforelaindormant.Justasyoumay developthemuscleofyourarmbycalisthenicexercises,untilitisabletoperformrealmuscularworkofstrength; soyoumaydevelopyourpsychicfacultiesinthisrehearsalwork,sothatyouwillbestronglyequippedand armedforanactualpsychicconflict,besideshavinglearnedhowtohandleyourpsychicweapons. Afteryouhavepracticedsufficientlyalongthegeneraloffensiveanddefensivelines,andhavelearnedhowto

manifesttheseforcesinactualconflict,youwilldowelltopracticespecialandspecificcommandstoothers,in thesameway.Thatistosay,practicethemfirstonyourreflectedimageinthemirror.Thefollowingcommands (withmentalpictures,ofcourse)willgiveyougoodpractice.Goabouttheworkinearnest,andactoutthepart seriously.Trytheseexercises:"Here!lookatme!""Givemeyourundividedattention!""Comethisway!""Cometo meatonce!""Goawayfrommeleavemeatonce!""Youlikeme;youlikemeverymuch!""Youareafraidof me!""Youwishtopleaseme!""Youwillagreetomyproposition!""YouwilldoasItellyou!"Anyspecial commandyouwishtoconveytoanotherperson,psychically,youwilldowelltopracticebeforethemirrorinthis way. Whenyouhavemadesatisfactoryprogressintheexercisesabovementioned,andareable,todemonstrate themwithafairdegreeofsuccessinactualpractice,youmayproceedtoexperimentwithpersonsalongthe linesofspecialanddirectcommandsbypsychicforce.Thefollowingwillgiveyouaclearideaofthenatureof theexperimentsinquestion,butyoumayenlargeuponandvarythemindefinitely.Rememberthereisnovirtue inmerewords:Theeffectcomesfromthepowerofthethoughtbehindthewords.But,nevertheless,youwillfind thatpositivewords,usedinthesesilentcommands,willhelpyoutofitinyourfeelingtothewords.Alwaysmake thecommandarealCOMMAND,neveramereentreatyorappeal.Assumethementalattitudeofamasterof men;ofacommanderandrulerofothermen.Herefollowanumberofinterestingexperimentsalongtheselines, whichwillbeveryusefultoyouinacquiringtheartofpersonalinfluenceofthiskind:

SEVENVALUABLEEXERCISES EXERCISE1 Whenwalkingdownthestreetbehindaperson,makehimturnaroundinanswertoyourmentalcommand. Selectsomepersonwhodoesnotseemtobetoomuchrushedortoobusy.Selectapersonwhoseemsto havingnothingparticularonhismind.Thendesireearnestlythatheshallturnaroundwhenyoumentallycallto himtodoso;atthesametimepicturehimasturningaroundinanswertoyourcall;andatthesametime concentrateyourattentionandthoughtfirmlyuponhim.Afterafewmomentsofpreparatorythought,sendhim thefollowingmessage,silentlyofcourse,withasmuchforce,positivenessandvigoraspossible:"Heythere! turnaroundandlookatme!Hey!turnaround,turnaroundatonce!"Whileinfluencinghimfixyourgazeatthe pointonhisneckwheretheskulljoinsitrightatthebaseofthebrain,intheback.Inanumberofcases,youwill findthatthepersonwilllookaroundasifsomeonehadactuallycalledhimaloud.Inothercases,hewillseem puzzled,andwilllookfromsidetosideasifseekingsomeone.Afteralittlepracticeyouwillbesurprisedhow manypersonsyoucanaffectinthisway. EXERCISE2 Wheninapublicplace,suchasachurch,concertortheater,sendasimilarmessagetosomeoneseatedalittle distanceinfrontofyou.Usethesamemethodsasinthefirstexercise,andyouwillobtainsimilarresults.Itwill seemqueertoyouatfirsttonoticehowtheotherpersonwillbegintofidgetandmovearoundinhisseat,and finallyglancefurtivelyaroundasiftoseewhatiscausinghimthedisturbance.You,ofcourse,willnotlethim suspectthatitisyou,but,insteadwillgazecalmlyaheadofyou,andpretendnottonoticehim.

EXERCISE3 Thisisavariationofthefirstexercise.Itispracticedbysendingtoapersonapproachingyouonthestreet,or walkingaheadofyouinthesamedirection,acommandtoturntotheright,ortotheleft,asyouprefer.Youwill besurprisedtoseehowoftenyouwillbesuccessfulinthis. EXERCISE4 Thisisavariationofthesecondexercise.Itispracticedbysendingtoapersonseatedinfrontofyouinapublic placethecommandtolooktotheright,ortotheleft,asyouprefer.Donotpracticeonthesamepersontoolong, aftersucceedingatfirst:Itisnotrighttotormentpeople,remember. EXERCISE5 Afterhavingattainedproficiencyintheforegoingexercises,youmanyproceedtocommandapersontoperform certainunimportantmotions,suchasrisingorsittingdown,takingoffhishat,takingouthishandkerchief,laying downafan,umbrella,etc. EXERCISE6 Thenextstepistocommandpersonstosaysomeparticularwordhavingnoimportantmeaning;to"putwordsin hismouth"whiletalkingtohim.Waituntiltheotherpersonpausesasifinsearchofaword,andthensuddenly, sharplyandforciblyputthewordintohismouth,silentlyofcourse.Inaverysusceptibleperson,wellunderyour psychiccontrol,youmaysucceedinsuggestingentiresentencesandphrasestohim. EXERCISE7 Thisisthesummitofpsychicinfluencing,and,ofcourse,isthemostdifficult.Butyouwillbesurprisedtosee howwellyouwillsucceedinmanycases,afteryouhaveacquiredtheknackandhabitofsendingthepsychic message.Itconsistsofcommandingthepersontoobeythespokencommandorrequestthatyouareaboutto maketohim.Thisistheartandsecretofthesuccessofmanysalesmen,solicitors,andothersworkingalongthe linesofinfluencingotherpeople.Itisacquiredbybeginningwithsmallthings,andgraduallyproceedingto greater,andstillgreater.AtthispointIshouldwarnyouthatallthebestoccultteachingswarnstudentsagainst usingthispowerforbaseends,improperpurposes,etc.Suchpracticestendtoreactandreboundagainstthe personusingthem,likeaboomerang.Bewareagainstusingpsychicoroccultforcesforimproperpurposes:The psychiclawspunishtheoffender,justasdothephysicallaws. Finally,Icautionthestudentagainsttalkingtoomuchabouthisdevelopingpowers.Bewareofboastingor braggingaboutthesethings.Keepsilent,andkeepyourowncounsel.Whenyoumakeknownyourpowers,you setintooperationtheadverseandantagonisticthoughtofpersonsaroundyouwhomaybejealousofyou,and whowouldwishtoseeyoufail,ormakeyourselfridiculous.Thewiseheadkeepethastilltongue!Oneofthe oldestoccultmaximsis:"Learn!Dare!Do!KeepSilent!!!"Youwilldowelltoadherestrictlytothiswarning caution.

LESSON18
PSYCHICINFLUENCEATADISTANCE
ThesecondphaseofPsychicInfluenceisthatcalledDistantPsychicInfluence,inwhichpsychicinductionis manifestedwhenthepersonsaredistantinspacefromoneanother,i.e.notinthepresenceofeachother. Here,ofcourse,weseetheprincipleoftelepathyinvolvedinconnectionwiththeprocessofmentalinduction: andinsomecaseseventheastraltelepathicsenseiscalledintooperation. Thestudentwhohasfollowedmyexplanationandcourseofreasoningintheprecedinglessonswillreadily perceivethattheprincipleinvolvedinthisdistantphaseofpsychicinfluenceispreciselythesameasthat employedindirectpersonalpsychicinfluence.AsIhaveexplainedinanearlylesson,itmatterslittlewhetherthe spacetobecoveredbythepsychicvibratorywavesisbutonefootorathousandmiles,theprincipleisexactly thesame.Thereare,ofcourse,otherprinciplesinvolvedinthecaseoftwopersonsmeetingfacetofaceand callingintoforcetheirpsychicpowers;forinstance,thereistheelementofsuggestionandassociation,andother psychologicalprincipleswhicharenotinforcewhenthetwopersonsareoutoftheactualpresenceofeach other.Butsofarasthetelepathicorastralpsychicpowersareconcerned,themereextensionofspacedoesnot changetheprinciple. Thestudentwhohasdevelopedhispowerofpsychicinductioninthephasesmentionedinthepreceding chapter,maybegintoexperimentandpracticepsychicinductionatlongrange,ifhesowishes.Thatistosay, insteadofcausingpsychicinductioninthemindsofpersonsactuallyinhispresenceandsight,hemayproduce similarresultsinpersonsoutofhissightandpresence.Thepersonmaybebroughtintopresenceandpsychic contact,forallpracticalpurposes,byusingthevisualizingpowersforthepurposeofbringinghimintotheen rapportcondition.Thatistosay,byusingtheimaginationtobringintothemindastrongclearpictureoftheother person,youmayinduceanenrapportconditioninwhichhewillbepracticallyinthesamepsychicrelationtoyou asifhewereactuallybeforeyou.Ofcourse,ifheissufficientlywellinformedregardingoccultmatters,hemay shutyououtbydrawingapsychiccirclearoundhimselfwhichyoucannotpenetrate,orbysurroundinghimself withpsychicarmororatmospheresuchasIhavealreadymentionedinprecedinglessons.Butashewillnot likelyknowanythingofthis,theaveragepersonmaybereachedinthemannerjustmentioned. Oragain,youmayestablishenrapportconditionsbypsychometricmethods,byholdingtoyourforeheadan articlewhichhasbeenintheotherperson'spossessionforsometime;anarticlewornbyhim;apieceofhishair; etc.Or,again,youmayusethecrystaltobringuphisastralvisionbeforeyou.Or,again,youmayerectan"astral tube"suchasIwillmentionalittlefurtheroninthischapter,andthusestablishastrongenrapportcondition. Havingestablishedtheenrapportconditionwiththeotherperson,andhavingthuspracticallybroughthiminto yourpresence,psychicallyspeaking,youmayproceedtosendhimcommandsordemands,justasyoudidin thephaseofpersonalpsychicinfluencepreviouslymentioned.Youactpreciselyasiftheotherpersonwere presentbeforeyou,andstateyourcommandsordemandstohimjustasyouwouldwereheseatedorstanding inyourpresence.Thisisthekeynoteofthewholething;therestissimplyanelaborationandstatingofdetailsof methods,etc.Withthecorrectprincipleonceestablished,youmayapplythesameaccordingtoyourownwishes anddiscretion.

Thisphaseofdistantpsychicinfluenceisatthebottomofallthewonderfultales,storiesandlegendsof supernaturalpowers,witchcraft,sorcery,etc.,withwhichthepagesofhistoryarefilled.Thereisofcoursealways tobefoundmuchdistortionandexaggerationintheselegendsandtales,buttheyhavetruthatthebottomof them.Inthisconnection,letmecallyourattentiontoaveryimportantpsychicprincipleinvolved.Ihavetoldyou thatbydenyingthepowerofanypersonoveryou,youpracticallyneutralizehispsychicpower.Thestrongerand morepositiveyourbeliefinyourimmunity,andyourdenialofhispoweroveryou,themoredoyourobhimofany suchpower.Theaverageperson,notknowingthis,ismoreorlesspassivetopsychicinfluencesofother persons,andmaybeaffectedbythemtoagreaterorlessextent,dependinguponthepsychicdevelopmentof thepersonseekingtoinfluencehim.Attheextremeofthesensitivepoleofpsychicinfluence,wefindthose personswhobelievefirmlythattheotherpersonhaspoweroverthem,andwhoaremoreorlessafraidofhim. Thisbeliefandfearactstomakethemparticularlysensitiveandimpressionable,andeasilyaffectedbyhis psychicinduction.Thisisthereasonthatthesocalledwitchesandsorcerersandothersofevilreputehavebeen abletoacquiresuchapowerovertheirvictims,andtocausesomuchtrouble.Thesecretisthatthevictims believedinthepoweroftheotherperson,andfearedtheirpower.Thegreaterthebeliefin,andfearof,thepower oftheperson,thegreaterthesusceptibilitytohisinfluence;thegreaterthesenseofpowerofneutralizingthe power,andthedisbeliefinhispowertoaffectthem,thegreaterthedegreeofimmunity:Thisistherule! Accordinglywefindthatpersonsinvariousstagesofthehistoryoftheworldhavebeenaffectedbythe influencesofwitches,sorcerers,andotherunprincipledpersons.Inmostcasesthesesocalledwitchesand sorcerersthemselveswereunderthedelusionthattheywereassistedbythedevilorsomeothersupernatural being.Theydidnotrealizethattheyweresimplyusingperfectlynaturalmethods,andemployingperfectly naturalforces.Forthatmatter,youmustrememberthatmagnetismandelectricity,inancientdays,were consideredassupernaturalforcesinsomewayconnectedwithdemonicpowers. Studyingthehistoryofwitchcraft,sorcery,blackmagic,andthelike,youwillfindthatthedevoteesthereof usuallyemployedsomepsychometricmethod.Inothercasestheywouldmoldlittlefiguresofclay,orofwax, inthegeneralshapeandappearanceofthepersonwhomtheywishedtoaffect.Itwasthoughtthattheselittle figureswereendowedwithsomesupernaturalpowersorattributes,butofcoursethiswasmeresuperstition.The wholepoweroftheselittlefiguresarosefromthefactthattheyaidedtheimaginationofthespellworkerin formingamentalimageofthepersonsoughttobeinfluenced;andthusestablishedastrongenrapport condition.Addedtothis,youmustrememberthatthefearandbeliefofthepublicgreatlyaidedthespellworker andincreasedhispowerandinfluenceoverthesepoorpersons. Iwillgiveyouatypicalcase,takenfromanoldGermanbook,whichthoroughlyillustratestheprinciplesinvolved incasesofthiskind.Understandthiscase,andyouwillhavethesecretandworkingprincipleofthemall.The storyistoldbyaneminentGermanphysicianofthelastcentury.Herelatesthathewasconsultedbyoneofhis patients,awealthyfarmerlivingnearby.Thefarmercomplainedthathewasdisturbedeverynightbystrange noiseswhichsoundedlikesomeonepoundingiron.Thedisturbancesoccurredbetweenthehoursofteno'clock andmidnight,eachandeverynight.Thephysicianaskedhimifhesuspectedanyoneofcausingthestrange trouble.Thefarmeransweredthathesuspectedanoldenemyofhis,anoldvillageblacksmithlivingseveral milesawayfromhisfarm.Itappearsthatanoldlongstandingfeudbetweenthemhadbrokenoutafresh,and thattheblacksmithhadmadethreatsofemployinghis"hex"(witchcraft)powersontheoldfarmer.The blacksmithwasreputedtobeasortof"hex"ormalewitch,andthefarmerbelievedinhisdiabolicpowersand wasverymuchinfearofthem.Soyouseetheidealconditionforpsychicreceptivitywaspresent.

Thephysiciancalledontheblacksmith,andtakinghimbysurprise,gazingsternlyintohiseyesandaskedhim: "Whatdoyoudoeverynightbetweentenandtwelveo'clock?"Theblacksmith,frightenedanddisturbed, stammeredout:"Ihammerabarofironeverynightatthattime,andallthewhileIthinkintentlyofabad neighborofminewhooncecheatedmeoutofsomemoney;andI'will'atthesametimethatthenoisewill disturbhisrest,untilhewillpaymebackmymoneytogetpeaceandquiet."Thephysicianbadehimtodesist fromhisevilpractices,underthreatsofdirepunishment;andthenwenttothefarmerandmadehimstraighten outthefinancialdisputebetweenthetwo.Thereafter,therewasnomoretrouble. Soyouseeinthiscaseallthenecessaryelementswerepresent.Firsttherewasthebeliefoftheblacksmithin hisownpowers.Thisgavehimselfconfidenceandpsychicpower.Thentherewasthebeliefandfearonthepart ofthefarmer.Thismadehimaneasysubject,andverysusceptibletopsychicinduction,etc.Thentherewasthe actionoftheblacksmithbeatingtheiron.Thisgaveforceandclearnesstohisvisualizationoftheideahewished toinduceinthemindoftheother.And,finally,therewashiswillemployedineverystroke,goingoutinthe directionoftheconcentratedwishandpurposeofinfluencingthefarmer.Yousee,then,thateverypsychic elementwaspresent.Itwasnowonderthattheoldfarmerwasdisturbed. AmongtheBlacksoftheSouth,inAmerica;andamongtheHawaiians;wefindmarkedinstancesofthiskind. TheBlackVoodoomenandwomenworkblackmagiconthoseoftheirracewhoaresuperstitiousand credulous,andwhohaveamortalfearoftheVoodoo.Youseetheconditionsobtainedaremuchthesameasin thecaseoftheGermancasejustcited.TravelerswhohavevisitedthecountriesinwhichthereisalargeBlack population,havemanyinterestingtalestoreciteoftheterribleworkingsoftheseVoodooblackmagicians.In somecases,sicknessandevendeathistheresult.But,markyouthis!itisonlythosewhobelievein,andfear, thepoweroftheVoodoosthatareaffected.InHawaii,theKahunasornativemagiciansarerenownedfortheir powertocausesicknessanddeathtothosewhohaveoffendedthem;ortothosewhohaveoffendedsome clientoftheKahuna,andwhohavehiredthelatterto"pray"theenemytosicknessordeath.Thepoorignorant Hawaiians,believingimplicitlyinthepoweroftheKahunas,andbeingindeadlyfearofthem,arevery susceptibletotheirpsychicinfluence,andnaturallyfalleasyvictims,unlesstheybuyoftheKahuna,ormake peacewithhisclient.WhitepersonslivinginHawaiiarenotaffectedbytheKahunas,fortheydonotbelievein them,neitherdotheyfearthem.Unconsciously,butstillstrongly,theydenythepower,andareimmune.So,you see,theprincipleworkingouthere,also.Onceyouhavethemasterkey,youmayunlockmanydoorsofmystery whichhaveheretoforebeenclosedtoyou. Wedonothavetofallbackoncasesofwitchcraft,however,inordertoillustratethisphaseoftheuseofpsychic influenceforselfishends.InEuropeandAmericathereareteachersofalowformofoccultismwhoinstructtheir pupilsintheartofproducinginducedmentalstatesinthemindsofothers,forpurposesoffinancialgainorother selfishends.Forinstance,thereisaWesternteacherwhoinstructshispupilstoinducedesiredmentalstatesin prospectivecustomers,orotherswhomtheymaywishtoinfluenceforselfishreasons.Thisteachertellshis pupilsto:"Imagineyourprospectivecustomer,orotherperson,asseatedinachairbeforewhichyouare standing.Maketheimaginedpictureasstrongaspossible,foruponthisdependsyoursuccess.Thenproceedto 'treat'thispersonjustasifhewereactuallypresent.Concentrateyourwilluponhim,andtellhimwhatyou expecttotellhimwhenyoumeethim.Usealloftheargumentsthatyoucanthinkof,andatthesametimehold thethoughtthathemustdoasyousay.Trytoimaginehimascomplyingwithyourwishesineveryrespect,for thisimaginingwilltendto'cometrue'whenyoureallymeettheperson.Thisrulemaybeused,notonlyinthe caseofprospectivecustomers,butalsointhecaseofpersonswhomyouwishtoinfluenceinanyway whatsoever."Surelythisisacaseofemployingpsychicpowersforselfishpurposes,ifanythingis.

Again,inEuropeandAmerica,particularlyinthelattercountry,wefindmanypersonswhohavepickedupa smatteringofoccultknowledgebymeansofsomeofthemanyhealingcultsandorganizationswhichteachthe powerofthoughtoverphysicaldiseases.Intheinstructionalongthelinesofdistantmentalhealing,thestudent istaughttovisualizethepatientasstronglyandclearlyaspossible,andtothenproceedtomakestatementsof healthandstrength.Themindofthepatient,andthatofthehealer,cooperateandinmanycaseswork wonderfulcures.Asyouwillseeinthelastlessonofthiscourse,thereisgreatpowerinthemindtoinduce healthfulvibrationsinthemindofothers,andtheworkisagoodandworthyone.But,alas!asissooftenthe case,thegoodteachingissometimesperverted,andappliedforunworthyandselfishends.Someofthe personswhohavepickeduptheprinciplesofmentalhealinghavediscoveredthatthesamepowermaybeused inabadaswellasinagooddirection.Theyaccordingly,proceedto"treat"otherpersonswiththeobjectof persuadingthemtodothingscalculatedtobenefitthepersonusingthepsychicpower.Theyseektogetthese otherpersonsundertheirpsychicinfluence,andtothentakeadvantageoftheminsomewayorother. Ihopethatitispracticallyunnecessaryformetowarnmystudentsagainstevilpracticesofthiskind:ItrustthatI havenotdrawnanystudentsofthisclasstome.Incase,however,thatsomeofyoumayhavebeen,ormaybe inthefuture,temptedtouseyourpsychicpowersimproperly,inthisway,Iwishtocautionandwarnyou positivelyagainstsodoing.Outsideoftheordinarymoralitywhichshouldpreventyoufromtakingadvantageof anotherpersoninthisway,Iwishtosaytoyouthatanyonesomisusingpsychicorastralpowerswillinevitably bringdownuponhishead,soonerorlater,certainoccultastralforceswhichwillprovedisastroustohim.Hewill becomeinvolvedinthewebofhisownmaking,andwillsuffergreatly.Neverbyanymeansallowyourselftobe temptedintoindulginginanyofthepracticesofBlackMagic,underanyformofdisguise.Youwilllivetoregretit ifyoudo.Employyourpowers,whenyoudevelopthem,forthegoodofothers;oratleast,forpurelyscientific investigationandknowledge. Thescientificinvestigatorofthisphaseofpsychicinfluence,willwishtobecomeacquaintedwithwhatthe occultistscall"theastraltube."Inthisphaseofthephenomena,youmanifestupontheastralplane,ratherthan uponthephysical.Theastralformoftelepathyismanifested,ratherthantheordinaryform.Whiletherearea numberoftechnicalpointsinvolvedintheproductionoftheastraltube,Ishallendeavortoinstructyouregarding itscreationanduseinasplainwordsaspossible,omittingallreferencetotechnicaloccultdetailswhichwould onlyservetodistractyourattentionandconfuseyourmind.Theadvancedoccultstudentwillunderstandthese omittedtechnicalitieswithoutbeingtoldofthem;theotherswouldnotknowwhatwasmeantbythem,if mentioned,intheabsenceofalongstageofpreparatoryteaching.Afterall,thetheoryisnotofsomuch importancetomostofyouasarethepracticalworkingprinciples.IaskyourcarefulattentiontowhatIhaveto sayinthissubjectoftheastraltube. TheAstralTubeisformedbythepersonforminginhisimagination(i.e.,ontheastralplanebymeansofhis imaginationorvisualizingpowers),atubeorsmalltunnelbetweenhimselfandthepersonwhomhewishesto influence.Hestartsbypicturingitinhismindawhirlingvortex,similartothewhirlingringofsmokeemittedfrom a"coughing"engine,andsometimesbyamansmokingacigar,aboutsixinchestoonefootindiameter.He mustwilltheimaginedvortexringtomoveforwardasifitwereactuallyboringatunnelthroughtheatmosphere. Whentheknackofproducingthisastraltubeisacquired,itwillbefoundthatthevisualizedtunnelseemsto vibratewithapeculiarintensity,andwillseemtobecomposedofasubstancefarmoresubtlethanair.Then,at theotherendofthisastraltubeyoumustpicturetheotherperson,theonewhomyouwishtoinfluence.The personwillseemasifviewedthroughthewrongendofanoperaglass.Whenthisconditionisgained,therewill befoundtobeahighdegreeofenrapportbetweenyourselfandtheotherperson.Thesecretconsistsinthefact

thatyouhavereallyestablishedaformofclairvoyancebetweenyourselfandtheperson.Whenyouhave inducedthiscondition,proceedwithyourmentalcommandsandpicturesjustasifyouwereinthepresenceof thepersonhimself.Thatisthewholethinginanutshell. Inorderthatyoumayhaveanotherviewpointfromwhichtoconsidertheastraltube,orwhatcorrespondstoit,I wishtogiveyouherealittlequotationfromanotherwriteronthesubject,whopresentsthematterfroma somewhatmoretechnicalstandpoint.Readthisquotationinconnectionwithmyowndescriptionoftheastral tube,andyouwillformaprettycompleteandclearideaofthephenomenon.Thewritermentionedsays:"It isimpossibleheretogiveanexhaustivedisquisitiononastralphysics;allIneedsayisthatitispossibletomake intheastralsubstanceadefiniteconnectinglinethatshallactasatelegraphwiretoconveyvibrationsbymeans ofwhichallthatisgoingonattheotherendofitmaybeseen.Suchalineisestablished,beitunderstood,not byadirectprojectionthroughspaceofastralmatter,butbysuchactionuponaline(orrathermanylines)of particlesofthatsubstanceaswillrenderthemcapableofformingaconductorforvibrationsofthecharacter required.Thispreliminaryactioncanbesetupintwoways:Eitherbythetransmissionofenergyfromparticleto particle,untilthelineisformed,orbytheuseofaforcefromahigherplanewhichiscapableofactinguponthe wholelinesimultaneously.Ofcoursethislattermethodimpliesfargreaterdevelopment,sinceitinvolvesthe knowledgeof(andthepowertouse)forcesofaconsiderablyhigherlevel. "Eventhesimplerandpurelyastraloperationisadifficultonetodescribe,thoughquiteaneasyonetoperform. Itmaybesaidtopartakesomewhatofthenatureofthemagnetizationofabarofsteel;foritconsistsinwhatwe mightcallthepolarization,byaneffortofthehumanwill,ofanumberofastralatomsreachingfromtheoperator tothescenewhichhewishestoobserve.Alltheatomsthusaffectedareheldforthetimebeingwiththeiraxes rigidlyparalleltooneanother,sothattheyformakindoftemporarytubealongwhichtheclairvoyantmaylook. Thismethodhasthedisadvantagethatthetelegraphlineisliabletodisarrangementorevendestructionbyany sufficientlystrongastralcurrentwhichhappenstocrossitspath;butiftheoriginalcreativeeffortwerefairly definite,thiswouldbeacontingencyofonlyinfrequentoccurrence.Theviewofadistantsceneobtainedby meansofthis'astralcurrent'isinmanywaysnotunlikethatseenthroughatelescope.Humanfiguresusually appearverysmall,likethoseonadistantstage,butinspiteoftheirdiminutivesizetheyareasclearasthough theywerecloseby.Sometimesitispossiblebythismeanstohearwhatissaidaswellastoseewhatisdone; butasinthemajorityofcasesthisdoesnothappen,wemustconsideritratherasthemanifestationofan additionalpowerthanasanecessarycorollaryofthefacultyofsight." IwouldfeelthatIhadnotdonemywholedutytothestudent,orreaderofthisbook,wereItoconcludethis chapterwithoutpointingoutameansofprotectionagainsttheuseofthisphaseofpsychicinfluenceagainst themonthepartofsomeunscrupulousperson;orforthatmatter,againstthemeddlinginfluenceofanyperson whatsoever,foranypurposewhatsoever,withoutone'spermissionandconsent.Therefore,Iwishnowtopoint outthegeneralprinciplesofselfprotectionordefenseagainstthisclassofpsychicinfluence. Inthefirstplace,youmust,ofcourse,refusetoadmittoyourmindanyfeelingoffearregardingtheinfluenceof otherpersons;forthatistheopendoortotheirinfluence,asIhavepointedouttoyou.Ifyouhavebeen,orare fearfulofanypersonspsychicinfluence,youmustgettoworkanddriveoutthatfeelingbypositiveandvigorous denials.Thedenial,youremember,isthepositiveneutralizerofthepsychicinfluenceofanotherperson, providingyoumakeitinfullbeliefofitstruth.Youmusttaketheposition(whichisatrueone)thatyouare immunetothepsychicattackorinfluence.Youshouldsay,mentally,"Idenytoanypersonthepowertoinfluence mepsychicallywithoutmyconsent;Iampositivetoallsuchinfluences,andtheyarenegativetome;Ineutralize

thembythisdenial!" Ifyoufeelsuddenimpulsestoactinsomewaywhichyouhavenotthoughtofdoing,ortowardwhichyouhave hadanaversion,pauseamomentandsay,mentally,"Ifthisisanoutsideinfluence,Idenyitspoweroverme;I denyit,andsenditbacktoitssender,tohisdefeatandconfusion."Youwillthenexperienceafeelingofrelief andfreedom.Insuchcasesyoumayfrequentlybeapproachedlateronbythepersonwhowouldhavebeen mostbenefitedbyyouraction;hewillappearsurprisedwhenyou"turnhimdown,"andwillactinaconfused way.Hemaynothaveconsciouslytriedtoinfluenceyou,butmayhavemerelybeenwishingstronglythatyou woulddoashedesired. Itshouldencourageyoutoknowthatitrequiresmuchlessforcetorepelandneutralizepsychicinfluenceofthis kind,thanisrequiredtosendforththepower;anounceofdenialandprotectionovercomesapoundofpsychic attackingpower.Naturegivesyouthemeansofprotection,andgivesyou"thebestendofthestick,"anditis yourownfaultifyoudonoteffectivelyuseit.Awordtothewiseissufficient.

LESSON19
LAWSOFPSYCHICATTRACTION
ThethirdphaseofPsychicInfluenceisthatwhichmaybecalledIndirectPsychicInfluence,inwhichpsychic inductionismanifestedinthemindsofotherpersonscomingincontactwiththethoughtvibrationsoftheperson manifestingthem,althoughnodeliberateattemptismadetoinfluencethemindofanyparticularpersonor persons.Closelyconnectedwithandinvolvedinthisphaseofpsychicinfluence,isthatwhichiscalledthe PsychicLawofAttraction.SocloselyarethesetwoconnectedthatIshallconsiderthemtogetherinthislesson. Thefundamentalprincipleofthisphaseofpsychicinfluenceisthewellknownpsychicfactthatmentaland emotionalstatesnotonlyinducesimilarvibrationsinthosewhoaresimilarattunedonthepsychicvibratory scale,butalsotendtoattractanddrawtothepersonotherpersonswhoarevibratingalongsimilarlines,and alsotendtorepelthosewhoarevibratinginanopposingnoteorscaleofpsychicvibration. IntheprecedinglessonsIhaveshownyouhowbyinductionwetendtoarouseinothersmentalandemotional statessimilartoourown.Butthereisalawineffecthere,whichmustbenotedifyouwishtothoroughly understandthisphaseofpsychicinfluences.Omittingalltechnicalexplanations,andgettingrightdowntothe heartofthephenomenon,Iwouldsaythatthegeneralprincipleisthis:Psychicinductionisdifficultinproportion totheopposingqualityofthecharacteristicmentalandemotionalstatesofthepersonaffected;andeasyin proportiontotheharmoniousqualitythereof.Thatistosay,inplainwords,thatifaperson'shabitualthoughtand emotionsarealongthesamelinesthatyouaretryingtoinduceinhim,youwillfinditeasytoinducethesamein him;if,onthecontrary,theyareofanopposingnature,thenyouwillfinditdifficulttosoinfluencehim.Themany degreesofagreementanddifferenceinthepsychicvibrationsofpersonsconstituteascaleofcomparative responsetoanyparticularformofmentaloremotionalvibrations. Itishardtochangethespotsofaleopard,ortheskinofanEthiopian,aswearetoldonancientauthority.Itis almostasdifficulttochangethecharacteristicmentalandemotionalstatesofapersonbypsychicinduction, exceptafterlongandrepeatedefforts.Onthecontrary,letapersonhavecertaincharacteristicmentaland emotionalhabits,thenthesemaybearousedinthemwiththegreatesteasebymeansofpsychicinduction.For instance,ifapersonischaracteristicallyandhabituallypeaceful,mildandcalm,itwillbeverydifficulttoarouse inhimbypsychicinductionthevibrationsofanger,fightandexcitement.Ontheotherhand,iftheotherpersonis combative,fierceandeasilyexcitedtowrath,itistheeasiestpossiblethingtoarousethesefeelingsinhimby psychicinduction.Somuchforordinarypsychicinduction;letusnowconsiderindirectpsychicinduction,in whichthesameprincipleoperates. Inindirectpsychicinduction,thatistosayincasesinwhichpsychicvibrationsarearousedbyinductionwithout deliberateattemptordesigntoinfluenceanyparticularpersonorpersons,thereisnotedthemanifestationofa peculiarlawofattractionandrepulsionalongpsychiclines.Thispsychiclawoperatesinthedirectionof attractingtooneselfotherpersonswho,activelyorpassively,vibrateonthesamenote,oronsomenoteornotes ingeneralharmonytherewith.Inthesame,way,thelawcausesyoutorepelotherpersonswhovibrateonanote ornotesingeneraldisharmonyordiscordtoyourself.So,inshort,wegothroughlifeattractingorrepelling, psychically,othersinharmoniousorinharmoniouspsychicrelationtous,respectively.Anunderstandingofthis

lawanditsworkingswillthrowlightuponmanythingsinyourlifewhichyouhavenotunderstoodpreviously. Youofcourseunderstandthatyouareconstantlyradiatingcurrentsofpsychicvibrations,someofwhichflowout togreatdistancesfromyou,andaffectothersoftenfarremovedfromyouinspace.Butyoumaynotalsoknow thatontheastralplanethereismanifestingasimilarsequenceofcauseandeffect.Astrongemotionalvibration, orastrongdesireorwill,tendstomanifestontheastralplanebyattractingorrepellingothersinpsychic harmonyordisharmonywithyou.Thisphenomenonisnotsocommonasisthatofordinarythoughtvibrations frombraintobrain,butitisfarmorecommonthatisgenerallysupposed.Itisparticularlymarkedincasesof menofstrongdesireandwill,andstrongcreativeimagination.Thesevibrationsawakeningresponseinthe mindsofthoseinharmonywiththem,tendtodrawtoonethoseotherpersonswhosegeneralcharacterwillfitin withthedesiresandideasofthefirstperson,ortorepelthosewhoarenotharmonioustherewith.Thisexplains thepeculiarphenomenonofstrongmeninbusiness,politicsandotherwalksoflife,drawingandattractingto themothermenwhowillfitinwiththeirgeneralplansandaims. Thislawworkstwoways.Notonlydoyoudrawsuchpersonstoyouaswillfitinwithyourplansandpurposes, butyouareattractedtothembythesamelaw.Notonlythis,butyouwillfindthatthroughthepeculiarworkings ofthislaweventhingsandcircumstances,aswellaspersons,willseemtobemoldedbyyourstrongdesires andideas,providingyourpsychicvibrationsaresufficientlystrongandclear.Haveyounevernoticedhowa strong,resourcefulmagneticmanwillseemtoactuallydrawtohimthepersons,thingsandcircumstancesthat heneedstocarryoutandmanifesthisplansanddesigns.Tomany,notunderstandingthisgreatlaw,these thingshaveseemedpositivelyuncannyandmysterious.But,nowadays,thebigmenofbusinessandpolitics arebeginningtounderstandthesepsychiclaws,andtoapplythemdeliberatelyandwithpurpose. Someofthegreatleadersinthebusinessworld,andinpolitics,areknowntodeliberatelystartintooperation strongpsychicvibrations,andtosendoutstrongpsychiccurrentsofattraction,bythemethodsthatIhave alreadyexplainedtoyou.They,ofcourse,arefilledwithamorethanordinarydegreeofdesireandwilland,in thesecondplace,theycreateverystrongandclearmentalpicturesoftheirplansworkingoutsuccessfullytoa finish;thenconcentratestronglyonthething;andlo!theeffectisfeltbyallhandsandonallsides.They"treat thepublic"(tousethetermfavoredbysomeofthemetaphysicalcultsoftheday)byholdingthementalpictureof thatwhichtheystronglydesiretocometopass,andbyconcentratingtheirthoughtandwillstronglyuponit. Afavoritementalpictureofsomeofthesemen(whohavebeeninstructedbyteachersofoccultism),isthatof themselvesasthecenterofagreatpsychicwhirlpool,drawingtothemselvesthepersons,thingsand circumstancescalculatedtobringsuccessandrealizationtothem.Otherspicturetheirthoughtvibrationsflowing fromthemliketheringsinapondintowhichastonehadbeendropped,influencingaconstantlywideningcircle ofotherpersons;thentheypicturethepersonsbeingdrawntotheminthemannerjustmentioned.Theypersist inthispracticedayafterday,weekafterweek,monthaftermonth,yearafteryear.Isitanywonderthattheydraw tothemselvesthatwhichtheydesire? Otherpersonsoflessercalibertakesimilaradvantageofthelawinthesameway,butonasmallerscale.In everycommunitytherearecertainpersonswhoseemtodrawtothemselvesthepatronageandcustomofthe community,insomepeculiarway.Inmostcasesthismaybetracedbacktosomeformofpsychicinfluence.Ido notmeanthatthesepersonsconsciouslyanddeliberatelysettheseforcesintooperation.Onthecontrary,many ofthemdosomoreorlessunconsciously,andwithoutaknowledgeoftheunderlyingpsychicprinciplesinvolved. Suchpersonshavestumbledonaportionofthepsychiclaws,andhaveusedthemmoreorlessunconsciously

andwithoutunderstandingtherealreasonofthehappening.Theyfoundoutthatcertainmentalstatesand certainmentalpicturestendedtoproducecertainresults(mentalpicturesthatthey"workedout),andsothey continuedthem.Someofthesementhinkofthewholethingassomethingsupernatural,andgettobelievethat theyarebeinghelpedbysomesupernaturalpower;whereas,theyaresimplyoperatingunderauniversal psychiclawofcauseandeffect. InAmericaanumberofteachersandwritershavedevotedmuchattentiontothisphaseofthegeneralsubjectof psychicinfluence.Cultshavebeenformeduponthisgeneralbasis,themainideaoftheirfollowersbeingthatof attractingfinancialandothersuccessbymeansofthisphaseofpsychicforce.Oneoftheleadingwritersalong thisline,says:"Anindividualwhohascultivatedthefacultyofconcentration,andhasacquiredtheartofcreating sharp,clear,strong,mentalimages,andwhowhenengagedinanundertakingwillsochargehismindwiththe ideaofsuccess,willbeboundtobecomeanattractingcenter.Andifsuchanindividualwillkeephismental pictureeverinhismind,eventhoughitbeinthebackgroundofhismind,whenheisattendingtothedetailsand planningofhisaffairs(ifhewillgivehismentalpictureaprominentplaceinhismentalgallery,takingafrequent glanceatit,andusinghiswilluponittocreatenewscenesofactualsuccess),hewillcreateforhimselfacenter ofradiatingthoughtthatwillsurelybefeltbythosecomingwithinitsfieldofinfluence. "Suchamanfrequently'seespeopleascomingtohimandhisenterprises,andasfallinginlinewithhisplans. Hementally'sees'moneyflowingintohim,andallofhisplansworkingoutright.Inshort,hementallyimagines eachstepofhisplansalittleaheadofthetimefortheirexecution,andheconcentratesforciblyandearnestly uponthem.Itisastonishingtowitnesshowevents,people,circumstances,andthingsseemtomoveinplacein actuallifeasifurgedbysomemightypowertoservetomaterializetheconditionssoimagedinthemindofthe man.But,understand,theremustbeactivementaleffortbehindtheimaging.Daydreamersdonotmaterialize thought:Theymerelydissipateenergy.Themanwhoconvertsthoughtinactivityandmaterialbeingthrows energyintothetask,andputsforthhiswillpowerthroughthepicturedimage.Withouttheraysofthewillthere willbenopictureprojected,nomatterhowbeautifullytheimaginationhasprojectedit.Thoughtpicturedin mentalimages,andthenvitalizedbytheforceofthedesire,andwill,tendtoobjectifythemselvesintomaterial being." Thestudentwillbeinterestedinreadingandhearingthevarioustheoriesandexplanationsgivenbydifferent writersandteacherstoaccountforthephenomenaofpsychicinfluence.Oncehehasgraspedtherealscientific principlesinvolved,hewillbeabletoseethesameinoperationinallofthecasescitedbythedifferentteachers andwriters,andwillfindthatthisfundamentalprinciplefullyexplainsandaccountsforallofthesecases,no matterhowpuzzlingtheymayseem,orhowmysterioustheymaybeclaimedtobebythosementioningthem. Truthisverysimplewhenwebrushawaythefantasticdressingswhichhavebeenplacedarounditbythosewho havelackedknowledgeofthetruefundamentalprinciples. Weseethissamelaworprincipleoperatinginverymanydifferentwaysfromthosepreviouslymentioned.For instance,wefrequentlyfindcasesinwhichonepersonhasastrongdesireforacertainkindofassistanceinhis businessorotherwork.Hehasalmostgivenuphopeoffindingtherightkindofperson,forthosewhomhehas triedhavefailedtomeasureuptherequirementsofthesituation.Ifhewill(andhesometimesdoes)followthe generalplanjustmentioned,hewillsetintooperationthepsychicforceswhichwillattractthatpersontohim,and himtothatperson.Insomepeculiarway,thetwowillbethrowntogether,andthecombinationwillworkouttothe bestadvantageofboth.Inthesecases,eachpersonisseekingtheother,andthepsychicforcesofattraction, oncesetintooperation,servetobringthemtogether.

Inlikemanner,oneoftendrawstohimselfcertainknowledgeandinformationthatherequiresorisdesirousof gaining.But,andyoumustalwaysrememberthis,nomiracleisworked,foritissimplyamatteroftheworking outofnaturallawsofcauseandeffectattractionandresponsetoattractiononthepsychicorastralplane. Suchapersonwillaccidentally(!)runacrosssomeotherpersonwhowillbeledtogivehimthekeytothe knowledgeheseeks.Perhapsabookmaybementioned,orsomereferencetosomewriterbemade.Ifthehint isfollowedup,thedesiredinformationcomestolight.Manypersonshavehadthepsychicexperienceofbeing ledtosomebookstoreandinducedtoexamineaparticularshelfofbooks,whereuponaparticularbook presentsitselfwhichchangesthewholecourseoftheperson'slife.Or,perhaps,onewillpickupanewspaper apparentlyatrandom,andwithoutpurpose;andthereinwillfindsomeinformation,oratleastahintinthe directionwheretheinformationmaybefound.Whenoneaccustomshimselftotheworkingsofpsychicforces, thesethingssoonbecomeacceptedasamatterofcourse,andceasetoarousewonderorsurprise.The workingsofthePsychicLawofAttractionisseentobeasnaturalandinvariableasthelawofgravitation,or magneticattraction,onceonehasmastereditsprinciples,andlearnedthemethodsofitsapplication.Surely suchawonderfullawiswellworthstudy,attention,investigation,andmastery,isn'tit? AwriteralongthelinesofMentalScience,whichisreallybasedontheprincipleswhichhavebeenstatedinthis book,hasthefollowingtosayregardinghissystem:"Wonderfulresultsarisebyreasonofwhathasbeencalled 'TheLawofAttraction,'bytheworkingsofwhicheachpersoniscontinuallydrawingtohimselfthepeople,things, objects,andevencircumstancesinharmonyandaccordwithhisprevailingmentalstates.Likeattractslike,and thementalstatesdeterminethatwhichonedrawstohimself.Ifyouarenotsatisfiedwithwhatiscomingtoyou, starttoworkandchangeyourmentalattitudesandmentalstates,andyouwillseeachangegraduallysettingin, andthenthethingsthatyouwantwillbegintocomeyourway. ***Amostimportantfactabouttheeffectofmentalvibrationsuponpeopleliesintheprinciplethatoneismore affectedbyvibrationsinharmonywithhisownaccustomedfeelingsandmentalstates,thanbythoseofan oppositenature.Amanwhoisfullofevilschemes,andselfishaims,ismoreapttobecaughtupbysimilar vibrationsthanonewholivesabovethatplaneofthought.Heismoreeasilytemptedbyevilsuggestionsand influences,thanonetowhomthesethingsareabhorrent.Andthesameistrueoneveryplane.Amanwhose mentalattitudeisoneofconfidenceandfearlessness,isnotapttobeaffectedbyvibrationsofanegative, pessimistic,gloomynature,andviceversa.Therefore,ifyouwishtoreceivethevibrationsofthethoughtsand feelingsofothers,youmustplaceyourselfinamentalattitudecorrespondingwiththosevibrationswhichyou wishtoreceive.Andifyouwishtoavoidvibrationsofacertainkind,thebestwayistoriseabovetheminyour ownmind,andtocultivatethementalstatesoppositethem.Thepositivealwaysovercomesthenegativeand optimisticmentalstatesarealwayspositivetopessimisticmentalstates."*** Anotherwriteron,andpractitionerofMentalScience,inAmerica,severalyearsago,explainedhertheoryand practicebymeansoftheterm"correlationofthoughtsandthings."Sheheldthatwhenonethoughtpositively, clearlyandforciblyofathing,he"related"himselftothatthing,andtendedtoattractittohim,andtobeattracted towardit.Sheheldthattruewisdomconsistsinsomanagingourthoughtsthatweshallrelateourselvesonlyto thosethingswhichweknowtobedesirableandbeneficialtoourselves,andtoavoidthinkingofthosewhichare harmfulanddetrimentaltous.ThestudentofthisbookwillseehowthispracticalMentalScientistwasreally usingthesameprinciplesthatwehaveexaminedandbecomeacquaintedwithinthisbook,althoughshecalled thembyanothername,andexplainedthembyanothertheory.Atthebottomofalltheteachingsandtheories youwillalwaysfindtheonesamebasicprincipleanduniversallaw. Theadvancedstudentofoccultismknowsthateachandeveryoneofusisreallyacreatorofhisown

circumstances,environmentandconditions,toagreatextent.Eachofusisabletosomodifyourmental activitiesastobringaboutsuchchangesinourenvironmentandsurroundingsastoactuallyrecreatethem.The thingsaccomplishedbysuccessfulmenarereallybutmaterializationsofthatwhichtheyhavepreviouslyheldin theirmentalvision.Everythingisfirstcreatedonthepsychicplane,andthenmanifestedinthephysicalworld.All thegreatworksofman,thegreatbridges,greatbuildings,tunnels,machinery,cities,railroads,canals,worksof art,musicalcompositions,etc.,firstexistedinthemindoftheircreators,andwerethenafterwardmaterializedin physicalformandshape.And,soyouseeweareproceedingwithourworkofmentalcreationswheneverwe thinkandmakementalimages.This,however,isnonewteaching.Itisasoldastheraceofmankind.Over twentyfivehundredyearsago,Buddhasaidtohisdisciples:"Allthatweareistheresultofwhatwehave thought;itisfoundedonourthoughts;itismadeupofourthoughts." IwouldbetellingyoubuthalfthestorydidInotwarnyouthatstrongFearmayplaythepartordinarilyfilledby Desireintheproductionofthepsychicphenomenaofmaterializationofmentalpictures.Strangeasitmay appearatfirst,astrongfearthatathingwillcometopasswillactmuchthesameasastrongdesirethatthe happeningwilloccur.Consequently,manypersonsbycontinuallydwellinguponthethingthattheyfearmay happentothem,actuallyattractthatthingtothem,justasiftheyhadactuallydesiredandwishedforit.Icannot gointoocculttechnicalitiesinexplainingthisstrangefact;butthegistofthesecretmaybesaidtoconsistinthe factthatthepersonclearlyandvividlypicturesinhismindthethingthathefearsmayhappentohim.Hethus createsastrongmentalpictureorimageofit,whichsetsintoforcestheattractivepowerofpsychicinfluenceand drawsthefearedthingintomaterialreality.AsJobsaid:"ThethingthatIfearedhathcomeuponme."Themoral ofthisis,ofcourse,thatpersonsshouldlearntostampoutfearandmentalimagesofthingsfeared.Instead, theyshouldmakestrongpositivementaldenialsofthethingsthattheymayfindthemselvesfearing.Theyshould denytherealityofthefearedthing,andassertpositivelytheirownsuperioritytothething,andtheirpowerto overcomeit. Agreatreligiousculthassprungintoexistencewhichmakesaleadingdoctrineofthisabilitytomaterializethe thingswhichonedesires,andtodenyoutofexistenceundesirablethings.Manypersonswhohavewitnessed thewonderfulsuccessofsomeofthefollowersofthiscultororganization,havebeenpuzzledtoaccountforthe sameonscientificandrationalgrounds.Alittleunderstandingoffundamentaloccultandpsychicprinciples,as givenintheselessons,willshowthe"whyandwherefore"ofthesestrangeandwonderfulmanifestations.Inthis connectionyoumustrememberthatthecombinedthoughtofthethousandsofpersonscomposingthiscultor organizationundoubtedlygivesadditionalpsychicforcetothementalaffirmationsanddenialsoftheindividual memberthereof. Inpastandpresent,andprobablyinfuturetime,therehavebeenmanyinstancesofmagicalprocedurestending tobringabouttheresultsthatwehavehereinseentocomeaboutbyreasonofpsychicinfluence,insomeofits manyphases.Thesemagicprocedureshaveusuallybeenaccompaniedbyincantations,ceremonies,strange rites,evocations,etc.,whichweresupposedtohavegreatvirtueinbringingaboutdesiredresults.Butthetrue occultistsnowknowthattheseceremoniesandritesweremerelyhopestotheimaginationandaidstofaith,and thustendedtobringaboutthepsychicphenomena.Therewasnovirtueintheseceremoniesthemselves,and thesameresultsmaybesecuredbysimplyfollowingtheprocedureoutlinedinthisbook.Thewondersofancient magichavebeenreproducedbythemodernoccultists,withoutallthemumbojumboofthepastritesand ceremonies. AgiftedEnglishwriteruponthesubjectoftherelationofmysticismandmagic,sumsupthegistoftheprinciples

ofMagicasfollows: "ThecentraldoctrineofMagicmaynowbesummedupthus: "(1)Thatasupersensibleandrealcosmicmediumexists,which interpenetrates,influences,andsupportsthetangibleandapparentworld, andisamenabletothecategoriesbothofmetaphysicsandofphysics." [Thisofcourseistheastralplane,whichisthecontainerofthesubtle formorframeworkofallthatexistsonthephysicalplane. "(2)Thatthereisanestablishedanalogyandequilibriumbetweenthereal (andunseen)world,andtheillusorymanifestationthatwecalltheworld ofsense."[Bythisofcourseismeantthecorrespondenceandbalance betweenthesubtleformofthingsandthematerialmanifestationthereof. Thingscreatedintheastral,tendtomaterializeonthephysicalplane. Allcreationproceedsfromtheastraltothephysical. "(3)Thatthisanalogymaybediscerned,andthisequilibriumcontrolled, bythedisciplinedwillofman,whichthusbecomesmasterofitselfandof fate."[TheessenceofWillconsistsofstrongdesireaccompaniedbya clearmentalpictureofthethingdesired,andheldsteadyandfirmby concentration. SoyouseebyreferencetotheaboveveryclearstatementofthecentraldoctrineofMagic,andmyexplanations thereof,thatintheselessonsyouhavebeentaughttheveryessenceofthewonderful,mysteriousancient Magic,anditsmoderncounterpart.Asforthevariousritesandceremonies,asIhavesaid,thesearemere symbolsandaidstomentalimagingandconcentration.Asaneminentoccultistoncesaid,"Ceremoniesbeing butartificialmethodsofcreatingcertainhabitsofthewill,theyceasetobenecessarywhenthesehabitshave becomefixed."Themasterofoccultismseesceremonies,rites,andritualasbuttheplaythingsofthe kindergartenscholar:Usefulandimportantsofarastheygo,butservingmerelytoteachthescholar,sooneror later,thathemayproceedwithoutthem. InthischapterIhavecondensedenoughinformationtofillawholebook.Itrustthatyouwillstudyitcarefully,and notmissitsmainpoints.

LESSON20
PSYCHICANDMAGNETICHEALING
ProbablynophaseofpsychicinfluenceismorefamiliartotheaveragepersonoftheWesternworldthanisthat ofthehealingofphysicalillsandconditionsbymeansofpsychicinfluenceunderonenameoranother.Great healingcultsandorganizationshavebeenbuiltupuponthisbasis,andtheinterestinthesubjecthastakenon theformofagreatpopularmovement. Asisnaturalincasesofthiskind,therehavebeenhundredsoftheoriesadvancedtoaccountforthephenomena ofpsychichealing,andastillgreaternumberofmethodsoftreatmentsdevisedtocarryouttheprinciplesofthe theories.Rangingfromtheteachingofactualdivineinterpositionandinfluencearisingfromcertainformsof beliefandpractice,coveringmanyintermediatestages,thetheoriesevenincludeasemimaterialistichypothesis inwhichmindisconsideredasanattributeofmatter,buthavingamagicinfluenceovertheformsofmatterwhen properlyapplied.Butitisworthyofnotethatnomatterwhatthegeneralorparticulartheory,orwhatthefavored methodofapplication,thesehealingschoolsorcults,aswellastheindependentpractitioners,meetwithavery fairdegreeofsuccessandperformquiteanumberofcures. ManyoftheseWesternadvocatesandpractitionersofpsychichealingpracticallyholdthatthewholesystemisof veryrecentdiscovery,andthatithasnothingwhatsoevertodowithordinaryoccultscience.Theoccultists howeverareabletosmileattheseideasandbeliefs,fortheynotonlyrecognizethegeneralprinciplesinvolved, buttheyalsoareawarethattheseprinciples,andtheirapplication,havebeenknowntoadvancedoccultistsfor thousandsofyears.Idonotsaythisinanydisparagementofthemodernsschoolsofpsychichealing,forIamin fullsympathywiththeirgreatwork;Imerelymentionthematterthatthestudentmaygettherighthistorical perspectiveinconsideringthisphaseofpsychicphenomenaandinfluence. Sofarasthemethodsofapplicationareconcerned,thetrueoccultistrecognizesthatmostofthemethodsand formsoftreatmentarebutoutwardcloaksordisguisesfortherealpsychichealingprinciple.Thegistofthereal methodsistobefoundintheprinciplesoftheapplicationofpsychicinfluencewhichIhavepresentedtoyouin theselessons,viz: (1)Strongdesiretomakethecure. (2)clearmentalimageorpictureofthedesiredconditionasactuallypresentinthepatientatthistime. (3)concentrationoftheattentionandmindofthehealer,soastobringtoafocustotwoprecedingmentalstates. Hereyouhavetherealsecretofpsychichealingmethods:Therestareallelaborationsthereof,dressedup formsandceremonieswhichaffecttheimagination,faith,beliefandconfidenceofthepatient,andthusmakethe healingprocessmucheasier.Infact,withtheproperdegreeoffaithandconfidenceonthepartofthepatient, thereisbutlittleneedofahealer,forthepatientmaytreatandcurehimself.However,inmostcases,the presenceofthehealeraidsmateriallyinarousingthefateandconfidenceofthepatient,andhastensthecure. Again,sofarasthetheoriesunderlyingthecuresareconcerned,occultistsareabletoreducethemalltoa singleworkingtheoryorprinciple,whichincludesalltherest.Brushingasidealltechnicaldetails,andall attemptstotracebackthehealingprocesstotheultimatefactsoftheuniverse,Imaysaythatthegistofthe principleofallpsychichealingisthatofinfluencingtheastralfoundationofthevariousorgansandparts,cells

andcenters,soastomakeitproceedtomanifestamoreperfectphysicalcounterpart.Allpsychichealingis reallyaccomplishedontheastralbodyfirst,thenthephysicalbodyrespondstotherenewedactivitiesofitsastral counterpart.Togettherealsignificanceofthisstatementitisnecessaryforyoutorealizejustwhattheastral bodyreallyis.Thisoncegrasped,thedifficultiesvanish,andyouareabletoformaclearconceptionoftheentire matterandprocess. Theastralbodyisaprecisecounterpartofthephysicalbody,itsorgans,itsparts,itscenters,anditscells.In fact,theastralbodyisthepatternuponwhichthephysicalbodyismaterialized.Theastralbodyiscomposedof anaethericsubstanceofaveryhighrateofvibration.Inonesenseitmaybeconsideredasaverysubtleformof matter,inanotherasasemimaterializedformofforceorenergy.Itisfinerandmoresubtlethattherarestvapors orgasesknowntoscience.And,yet,ithasastrongdegreeoftenacityandcohesivenessthatenablesittoresist attacksfromthematerialsideofnature.AsIhavesaid,eachorgan,part,centerorcell,ofthephysicalbodyhas itsastralpatternorbasis.Infact,thephysicalbodyhasbeenbuiltup,inwholeandinallofitsparts,onthe patternandbaseoftheastralbody.Moreover,incaseofimpairedfunctioningofthephysicalorgansorparts, andimpairedactivityofthephysicalbody,itslimbs,etc.,ifwecanmanagetoarousetheactivitiesoftheastral bodywemaycauseittorematerializeorreenergizethephysicalbody,andthusrestorehealthandactivitytoit. Iftheliver,forinstance,isnotfunctioningproperly,weproceedtostartuptheactivitiesoftheastralcounterpart ofthatorgan,totheendthatthephysicalorganmaybereenergized,andrecreatedinameasure.Alltrue psychichealingworkisperformedontheastralplane,beforeitmanifestsonthephysical. Atthispoint,Ishouldalsocallyourattentiontotheeffectof"prana,"orlifeenergy,insomecasesofhealing. ThispranaiswhatWesternhealersmeanwhentheyspeakof"humanmagnetism"intheirhealingwork.Sofar frombeinganimaginaryforce,asclaimedbythephysicalscientistsandmaterialists,itisknowntoalloccultists asanactiveprincipleofthehumanbody,andasofgreatefficacyinthepsychictreatmentofdisease.Ishall mentionthedetailsofthisformoftreatmentasweproceedImentionitatthisplacemerelytocallyourattention tothefactofitsexistence. Beforepassingontotheconsiderationofotherphasesofthesubjectbeforeus,Iwouldliketocallyourattention tothefactthatfromtheearliestdaysofhistorytherehavebeenrecordedinstancesofsomeformofpsychic healing.Intheearlierdaysthepsychichealingworkwasleftentirelyinthehandsofthepriesthoodofthevarious religionsprevailingintheseveralcountiesoftheworld.Claimingtohaveanexclusivedivinesanctiontoperform healingwork,thesepriestsusedvariousceremonies,rites,incantations,etc.,inordertoobtaintheirresults.In manycasesthesepriestswereignorantoftherealpsychicforcesinvokedandsetintooperation;theymerely practicedmethodswhichhadbeenfoundtoworkouteffectively,andwhichhadbeenhandeddowntothemby theirpredecessors.Inothercases,however,thepriestsundoubtedlywereskilledoccultists,andhadaveryfull knowledgeoftheforcestheywereusing;though,asthemassesofthepeoplewereveryignorantitwas impossibletoacquaintthemwiththesethingssofarabovetheirunderstanding;and,consequently,thepriests appliedthehealingforcesunderthedisguiseoftheirreligiousceremoniesandrites. Fromtimetotime,however,ascivilizationprogressed,therecameintoprominencepersonswhoworkedcuresof physicalillsbymeansofmagicalceremoniesandothersimilarmethods,butwhowereoutsideofthepriesthood. Someofthesemenundoubtedlyhadaveryfairknowledgeoftherealsecretoftheircures,thoughthey disguisedthemtosuitthementalconditionoftheirpatients,and,also,probablyforpurposesofselfglorification. Inothercases,however,itisprobablethatthesehealershadmerelystumbledacrossthefactthatcertainthings saidinacertainwaytendedtoworkcures;orthatcertainphysicalobjectsseemedtohavetherapeuticvirtue.

Theydidnotrealizethatthewholehealingvirtueoftheirsystemsdependeduponthestrongideaintheirown minds,coupledwiththestrongfaithandconfidenceinthemindofthepatient.Andsotheworkwenton. Insomeoftheoldestrecordsofthehumanrace,thescripturesofthevariouspeoples,wefindthat"layingonof hands"wasthefavoritemethodemployedbytheholymenandpriests,andotherperforminghealingwork.From thefirstthereseemstohavebeenanalmostinstinctiverecognitiononthepartofmanofthefactthatthereisa healingpowerinthetouchofthehand.Evenignorantandsavagemothersinstinctivelyapplytheirhandstothe hurtbodiesoftheirchildren;acustomthathasitscounterpartincivilizedraces,bytheway.Thechildistaughtto expectphysicalrelieffromtheapplicationofthemother'shands,anditsmindatoncepicturesrelief.Notonlyis thementalpicturecreated,butthedesireandconfidenceisestablishedinthemindsofbothpersons.Thesame thingistrueofall"layingonofhands,"andthusaretheprinciplesofallpsychicinfluencebroughtintoplay.But thisisnotallthereistoit.Inthefirstplace,thereisanactualtransferenceofpranafromthebodyofthehealerto thatofthepatient,whichservestoenergizeandrevitalizethecellsandcentersofthebodyofthelatter.Inthe secondplace,thereistheeffectupontheastralbodyofthepatient,whichtendstomaterializebetterphysical conditions.Inthethirdplace,thereisthatcombinationandunionofthemindsofthetwopersons,whichgives extraforceandpowertopsychicinfluence.Isitanywonderthatcurestakeplaceunderthesecircumstances? Inthemodernrevivalofthealmostlostartandscienceofpsychichealingamongthegeneralpublic,therehas beenunusualstresslaiduponthefeatureof"absenthealing,"inwhichthepatientandthehealerarenotineach other'spresence.Tomanythishasseemedactuallymiraculous,andasapositiveproofofdivineinterposition. Butalittlethoughtwillshowthestudentthatsuchcuresarenotunknowninthepagesofhistory,asacasual examinationofthesacredbooksofalmostanyreligionwillshow.Moreover,thestudentwillseethattotheeffect ofcertainprinciplesofpsychicinfluencethereneedsbuttobeaddedtheprinciplesoftelepathiccommunication, or,betterstill,theprinciplesofastralcommunicationbysomephasesofclairvoyance,toaccountfortheentire phenomenaof"absenthealing." Spaceisnobarrierontheastralplane,asyouhaveseenintheprecedingchaptersofthisbook.Oncethe enrapportconditionisestablishedbetweenhealerandpatient,andtherestissimple:Theastralbodyisinduced toenergizemoreactively,andasaresultthephysicalmanifestationisimprovedandnormalfunctioningrestored. Ofcourse,allthisiswonderfulenough;allpsychicphenomenais,forthatmatter.But,weseethatwedonot havetogooutsideofestablishedoccultlaws,principlesandfactsinordertoaccountforsomeofthesemodern miracleswhichhavepuzzledandperplexedsomanygoodpersonswhohavenotknownoftheoccultteachings, andwhofearthattheworldisbeingturnedupsidedown,andNature'slawsoverturnedbythese"newfangled" ideasandmethods. Perhapsthemostsimplemethodofhealingbypsychicinfluenceisthatwhichisatthesametimetheoldest method,i.e.,the"layingonofhands."ThismethodwasrevivedabouttwentyyearsagoinAmericaandEurope bythenewschoolof"magnetichealing"whichsprungrapidlyintopublicfavor.Theotherschoolsofpsychic healing,generallyknownas"mentalhealing,""spiritualhealing,""divinehealing,"etc.,generallyfrownuponthe useofthehandsinpsychichealing,deemingit"toomaterial,"andtoomuchalliedtohypnotism,etc.Butthis viewisquitebigotedandnarrow,forthismethodhasnorelationtohypnotism,and,moreover,itgivesthepatient thebenefitoftheflowofpranafromthehealer,whileatthesametimeproducingthepsychiceffectontheastral body,asIhavejustmentioned. Itakethelibertyofquotingheresomethingonthissubjectfrommylittlebookentitled"TheHumanAura."Inthe

chapterofthatbookdevotedtotheconsiderationofthesubjectof"AuricMagnetism,"Isaid:"Incasesof magnetichealing,etc.,thehealerbyaneffortofhiswill(sometimesunconsciouslyapplied)projectsasupplyof hispranicauravibrationsintothebodyofhispatient,bywayofthenervoussystemofthepatient,andalsoby meansofwhatmaybecalledtheinductionoftheauraitself.Themerepresenceofapersonstronglycharged withprana,isoftenenoughtocauseanoverflowintotheauraofotherpersons,witharesultingfeelingofnew strengthandenergy.Bytheuseofthehandsofthehealer,aheightenedeffectisproduced,byreasonofcertain propertiesinherentinthenervoussystemofbothhealerandpatient.Thereisevenaflowofaethericsubstance fromtheauraofthehealertothatofthepatient,incasesinwhichthevitalityofthelatterisverylow.Manya healerhasactually,andliterally,pumpedhislifeforceandaethericsubstanceintothebodyofhispatient,when thelatterwassinkingintotheweaknesswhichprecedesdeath,andhasbysodoingbeenabletobringhimback tostrengthandlife.Thisispracticallyakintothetransfusionofblood,exceptthatitisuponthepsychicplane insteadofthephysical." Butthetrue"magnetichealer"(callhimbywhatevernameyouwish)doesnotmakethispranictreatmentthe allinallofhispsychictreatment.Onthecontraryitisbutthelesssubtlepart,whichleadsuptothehigher phases.Whiletreatinghispatientsbythelayingonofhands,he,atthesametime,strivestoinduceinthemind ofthepatientthementalimageofrestoredhealthandphysicalstrength;hepicturesthediseasedorganas restoredtohealthandnormalfunctioning;heseestheentirephysiologicalmachineryoperatingproperly,the workofnutrition,assimilation,andexcretiongoingonnaturallyandnormally.ByproperwordsofadviceLand encouragementheawakenshopeandconfidenceinthemindofthepatient,andthusobtainsthecooperationof thatmindinconnectiontohisownmentalefforts.Theastralbodyrespondstothistreatment,andbeginsto energizethephysicalorgansandcellsintonormalactivityandthejourneytowardhealthisbegun. [Inthelittlebookjustmention,"TheHumanAura,"Igavesomevaluableinformationregardingtheinfluenceof colorsinpsychichealing,whichIdonotreproducehereasitisoutsidethescopeandfieldofthepresent lessons.Thosewhomayfeelinterestedinthesubjectarerespectfullyreferredtothelittlemanualitself.] IntheformofpsychictreatmentwhichcomesundertheheadofSuggestiveTherapeutics,greatinsistenceislaid upontheverbalsuggestiontothepatient,onthepartofthehealer.Thepatientistoldthathewillgetwell;that hisorganswillfunctionnormally;etc.,etc.Butthestudentofthepresentlessonswillreadilyseethattheonly virtueinthespokenwordsconsistsintheirpowertoevokeandinducethementalimageofthedesiredcondition inthemindofthepatient.Thementalpicturethusevokedproducesacorrespondingeffectintheastralbodyof thepatient,andsetsintooperationthematerializationofdesiredresults.Inaddition,thewordsproduceastrong mentalpictureinthemindofthehealerhimself,andthusgiveformandstrengthtohispsychicvibrationswhich arebeingpouredouttowardthepatient.Thisisreallythesecretofsuggestivetreatment. Themanycultsofmetaphysicalhealing,inAmericaandEurope,laygreatstressuponwhattheycall "affirmations,"whicharebutstatementsofthepatientofhisorherfaithinthehealingpowerofGod,orofMind, orSpirit,orPrinciple(differentnamesareused).Thepatientnaturallyhasconfidencearoused,andasnaturally beginstopicturethedesiredcondition;thisinturnreactingupontheastralbody,andthisuponthephysicalbody ororgan.Inaddition,thehealer'smindisalsosettoworkinthesameway,andsetsintomotionthehealing psychicforcesinthewayjustmentioned.Youwillnoticethatthesameprincipleisalwaysinvolvedandsetinto operationandmanifestation. Thereisnoparticularvirtueintheformofaffirmationusedbythehealerorpatient,excepttheimportantvirtueof

beingabletoarousestrongmentalpicturesofrestoredhealth,properfunctioning,etc.Thereisofcoursethis also:Certainformsofaffirmationsormentalstatementsarebettersuitedthanotherstotheparticularwantsof certainpersons.Forinstance,averyreligiouspersonwillbearousedbetterbyaffirmationsandstatementsfilled withreligioussentimentsandideas;whileapersonofapurelyscientificturnofmindwillreceivemore benefitfromaffirmationsinwhichtheprecisephysiologicalfunctionsarespecificallymentioned;whiletheperson whoisfondofmysteryandstrangeceremonieswillbebetterservedintheaffirmationsorstatementstakenin theformofsomemagicalincantation,etc.Thedifference,however,liesinthemindofthepatient,ratherthanin thewordsthemselves.Wordsaremerelyinvokersofideas:Symbolsofideas.Inthemselves,wordsarenothing. Ideasareeverything. Ifyouwishtotreatyourselfpsychicallyforsomephysicaldisorder,orifyouwishtodogoodtoothersinthesame way,youhavebuttoputintooperationthegeneralprinciplesofpsychicinfluencehereindescribed.Thatisto say,youmustfirstbefilledwiththestrongdesireandwishtomakethecure;thenyoumustmakeastrong mentalimageofthedesiredresult,asactuallypresent.(Donotthinkofitas"goingtobe;"insteadsayandthink thatit"isnow!");thenconcentratetheattentionfirmlyandpositivelyupontheidea.Youmayaidyourselfand othersbyaffirmationsorautosuggestions(wordscreatingdesiredideasandmentalpictures)ifyouwish,and youmaygetbetterresultsinthisway.Inthisconnection,letmeremindyouthatthehealingworkinmanycases consistslargelyinplacingpropermentalpicturesinthemindofthepatient,therebydisplacingimproperand harmfulmentalpicturesofdisease,etc.,whichhavebeengivenlodgmenttherebefore.Manypersonsaresick becauseofimproperandharmfulmentalpicturesthattheyhaveallowedtobeplacedtherebythesuggestionsof others.Fearanddreadofdiseaseoftenactstobringaboutthefearedcondition,forreasonsthatyoucanreadily see. And,now,finallyfortheworkof"absenthealing"bypsychicinfluence.Icanstatethistoyouverysimplyanditis this:TakewhatIhavejusttoldyouregardingpersonaltreatments,andcombineitwithwhatIhavetoldyouin previouslessonsabout"longdistancepsychicinfluence".Thenyouwillhavethewholething.Hereisasample ofaneffectivedistanttreatment;or"absenttreatment,"tousethepopularterm.Itmaybevariedandenlargedup tofitindividualcases: Sitquietlyinyourownroom,inducingacalm,peacefulmentalattitudeandstate.Then(inthewayalreadytold youinthisbook)makeamentalpictureofthepatientassittingoppositetoyou,orlyingdowninfrontofyou.If youhaveneverseenthepatient,makesimplyamentalimageofaman,orawoman,asthecasemaybe,and thinkofthefigureasbeingthepatient.Thebestpractitionersofdistantpsychichealingproducesuchastrong mentalimageofthepatientthattheycanoftenactually"feel"hisorherpresence.(Thisofcourseistheresultof asimpleformofclairvoyance.)Thenmakeastrongmentalpictureoftheconditionthatyouwishtoinduceinthe patient:Thehealthyphysicalconditionoftheorgan,orpartorbody,asthecasemaybe.Seethisconditionas existingatthepresenttime,andnotasmerelytocomeinthefuture.Atthesametime,youwilldowellto mentallyspeaktothepatient,justasyouwouldincaseheorsheweresittingbeforeyouinthephysicalbody. Tellthepatientjustwhatyouwouldinsuchcase.Pourinthesuggestions,oraffirmations,orwhateveryoumay wishtocallthem.Insomecasesinwhichanexcellentenrapportconditionisestablished,patientsbecome awareofthetreatment,andsometimescanalmostseeandfeelthepresenceofthehealer. AprominentMentalScientist,ofAmerica,instructshispupilstoconsidereachoftheorgansofthepatient,orof themselves,ashavingaseparateintelligence;and,therefore,to"speakuptoit"asifitreallyunderstoodwhat wasbeingsaidtoitsorganmind.Iwouldsaythatsuchformoftreatmentwouldbecalculatedtobringaboutvery

goodresults,indeed.Theprincipleofconcentrationandmentalpicturingwouldbeinvokedverystronglyinsuch acase,andtheastralcounterpartoftheorganshouldrespondtosuchtreatmentquicklyandeffectively.Itisan occultfactthatthereismindineveryorganandcellofthebody,andifthesameisawakenedintheastral counterpart,itwillrespondtothecommand,suggestion,ordirection.Thewriterinquestionevidentlyiswell acquaintedwiththisoccultlaw,judgingfromhisotherwritings,andhassimplyveiledhisknowledgewiththis easilyunderstoodmethodoftreatmentwhichundoubtedlywill"dothework,"tousetheAmericanterm. Finally,nomatterwhatmaybethetheory,ormethod,giveninconnectionwithpsychichealingofanyorallkinds, youwillfindthesamegeneralprinciplesunderlyingitthathavebeenpresentedoverandoveragaininthisbook. Infact,manypurelymaterialandphysicalremediesowetheirsuccesstothefactthattheyappealtothe imaginationofthepatient,andalsoinspireconfidenceinhim.Anythingthatwillinspireconfidence,faithand hopeinthemindofapatient,andwillbringtohismindstrongmentalpicturesofrestoredhealthandnormal functioningofhisorgans,thatthingwillmakeforhealthforhim.So,thereyouhavethe wholetheoryandpracticeinasentence! ***** Iwouldremindthestudentthatthesearenotlessonstobereadbutonceandthenlaidaside.Inordertoget fromthemallthattheycontainforyou,youwillfinditnecessarytoreadthemseveraltimes,withareasonable intervalbetweenreadingsfortheknowledgetosinkintoyourmind.Ifeelsurethatyouwillfindwitheachreading thattherearemanypointsthatyouoverlookedbefore.Thelessonscoverawidefield,withmanylittle excursionsintobyepathsandlanesofthought.Itrustthatthereadingandstudywillmakeyounotonlyawiser person,butalsoastrongerandmoreefficientone.Ithankyouforyourkindattention,andtrustthatweshall meetagaininthefuture.

FINIS