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diff --git a/26633.txt b/26633.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c1d447 --- /dev/null +++ b/26633.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2470 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Second Sight, by Sepharial + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Second Sight + A study of Natural and Induced Clairvoyance + + +Author: Sepharial + + + +Release Date: September 16, 2008 [eBook #26633] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECOND SIGHT*** + + +E-text prepared by Ruth Hart + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 26633-h.htm or 26633-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/6/3/26633/26633-h/26633-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/6/3/26633/26633-h.zip) + + + + + +SECOND SIGHT + +A Study of Natural and Induced Clairvoyance + +by + +SEPHARIAL + +Author of "A Manual of Astrology," "Prognostic Astronomy," "A Manual +of Occultism," "Kabalistic Astrology," "The Kabala of Numbers," +Etc., Etc. + + + + + + + +London +William Rider & Son, Limited +1912 + +Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, +Brunswick Street, Stamford Street, S.E., +and Bungay, Suffolk. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +Introduction 7 +Chapter I. The Scientific Position 10 +Chapter II. Materials and Conditions 21 +Chapter III. The Faculty of Seership 29 +Chapter IV. Preliminaries and Practice 39 +Chapter V. Kinds of Vision 51 +Chapter VI. Obstacles to Clairvoyance 59 +Chapter VII. Symbolism 67 +Chapter VIII. Allied Psychic Phases 76 +Chapter IX. Experience and Use 84 +Conclusion 93 + + +INTRODUCTION + +Few words will be necessary by way of preface to this book, +which is designed as an introduction to a little understood and +much misrepresented subject. + +I have not here written anything which is intended to displace +the observations of other authors on this subject, nor will it be +found that anything has been said subversive of the conclusions +arrived at by experimentalists who have essayed the study +of clairvoyant phenomena in a manner that is altogether +commendable, and who have sought to place the subject on a +demonstrable and scientific basis. I refer to the proceedings of +the Society for Psychical Research. + +In the following pages I have endeavoured to indicate the nature +of the faculty of Second Sight or Clairvoyance, the means of its +development, the use of suitable media or agents for this +purpose, and the kind of results that may be expected to follow +a regulated effort in this direction. I have also sought to show +that the development of the psychic faculties may form an +orderly step in the process of human unfoldment and perfectibility. + +As far as the nature and scope of this little work will allow, I +have sought to treat the subject on a broad and general basis +rather than pursue more particular and possibly more attractive +scientific lines. What I have here said is the result of a personal +experience of some years in this and other forms of psychic +development and experimentation. My conclusions are given +for what they are worth, and I have no wish to persuade my +readers to my view of the nature and source of these abnormal +phenomena. The reader is at liberty to form his own theory in +regard to them, but such theory should be inclusive of all the +known facts. The theories depending on hypnotic suggestion +may be dismissed as inadequate. There appear to remain only +the inspirational theory of direct revelation and the theory of the +world-soul enunciated by the Occultists. I have elected in +favour of the latter for reasons which, I think, will be +conspicuous to those who read these pages. + +I should be the last to allow the study of psychism to usurp the +legitimate place in life of intellectual and spiritual pursuits, and +I look with abhorrence upon the flippant use made of the +psychic faculties by a certain class of pseudo-occultists who +serve up this kind of thing with their five o'clock tea. But I +regard an ordered psychism as a most valuable accessory to +intellectual and spiritual development and as filling a natural +place in the process of unfoldment between that intellectualism +that is grounded in the senses and that higher intelligence which +receives its light from within. From this view-point the +following pages are written, and will, I trust, prove helpful. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SCIENTIFIC POSITION + +It would perhaps be premature to make any definite pronouncement +as to the scientific position in regard to the psychic phenomenon +known as "scrying," and certainly presumptuous on my part +to cite an authority from among the many who have examined +this subject, since all are not agreed upon the nature and +source of the observed phenomena. Their names are, moreover, +already identified with modern scientific research and theory, +so that to associate them with experimental psychology would +be to lend colour to the idea that modern science has recognized +this branch of knowledge. Nothing, perhaps, is further from +the fact, and while it cannot in any way be regarded as derogatory +to the highest scientist to be associated with others, of less +scientific attainment but of equal integrity, in this comparatively new +field of enquiry, it may lead to popular error to institute a connection. +It is still fresh in the mind how the Darwinian hypothesis was utterly +misconceived by the popular mind, the suggestion that man was descended +from the apes being generally quoted as a correct expression of +Darwin's theory, whereas he never suggested any such thing, +but that man and the apes had a common ancestor, which makes +of the ape rather a degenerate lemur than a human ancestor. +Other and more prevalent errors will occur to the reader, these +being due to the use of what is called "the evidence of the +senses"; and of all criteria the evidence of sensation is perhaps +the most faulty. Logical inference from deductive or inductive +reasoning has often enough been a good monitor to sense-perception, +and has, moreover, pioneered the man of science to correct +knowledge on more than one occasion. But as far as we know +or can learn from the history of human knowledge, our senses +have been the chiefest source of error. It is with considerable +caution that the scientist employs the evidence from sense +alone, and in the study of experimental psychology it is the sense +which has first to be corrected, and which, in fact, forms the great +factor in the equation. A person informs me that he can see a vision in +the crystal ball before him, and although I am in the same relation +with the "field" as he, I cannot see anything except accountable +reflections. This fact does not give any room for contradicting him or +any right to infer that it is all imagination. It is futile to say the +vision does not exist. If he sees it, it does exist so far as he is +concerned. There is no more a universal community of sensation than of +thought. When I am at work my own thought is more real than any +impression received through the sense organs. It is louder than the +babel of voices or the strains of instrumental music, and more +conspicuous than any object upon which the eye may fall. These external +impressions are admitted or shut out at will. I then know that +my thought is as real as my senses, that the images of thought +are as perceptible as those exterior to it and in every way as +objective and real. The thought-form has this advantage, +however, that it can be given a durable or a temporary existence, +and can be taken about with me without being liable to impost +as "excess luggage." In the matter of evidence in psychological +questions, therefore, sense perceptions are only second-rate +criteria and ought to be received with caution. + +Almost all persons dream, and while dreaming they see and +hear, touch and taste, without questioning for a moment the +reality of these experiences. The dreaming person loses sight of +the fact that he is in a bedroom of a particular house, that he has +certain relations with others sleeping in the same house. He +loses sight of the fact that his name is, let us say, Henry, and +that he is famous for the manufacture of a particular brand of +soap or cheese. For him, and as long as it lasts, the dream is the +one reality. Now the question of the philosopher has always +been: which is the true dream, the sleeping dream or the waking +dream? The fact that the one is continuous of itself while the +other is not, and that we always fall into a new dream but +always wake to the same reality, has given a permanent value to +the waking or external life, and an equally fictitious one to the +interior or dreaming life. But what if the dream life became +more or less permanent to the exclusion of all other memories +and sensations? We should then get a case of insanity in which +hallucination would be symptomic. (The dream state is more or +less permanent with certain poetical temperaments, and if there +is any insanity attaching to it at all, it consists in the inability +to react.) Imagination, deep thought and grief are as much +anaesthetic as chloroform. But the closing of the external +channels of sensation is usually the signal for the opening of the +psychic, and from all the evidence it would seem that the +psychic sense is more extensive, acuter and in every way more +dependable than the physical. I never yet have met the man or +woman whose impaired eyesight required that he or she should +use glasses in order to see while asleep. That they do see is +common experience, and that they see farther, and therefore +better, with the psychic sense than with the physical has been +often proved. Emanuel Swedenborg saw a fire in Stockholm +when he was resident in England and gave evidence of it before +the vision was confirmed by news from Sweden. A lady of my +acquaintance saw and described a fire taking place at a country +seat about 150 miles away, the incident being true to the +minutest details, many of which were exceptional and in a +single instance tragic. The psychic sense is younger than the +physical, as the soul is younger than the body, and its faculty +continues unimpaired long after old age and disease have made +havoc of the earthly vestment. The soul is younger at a thousand +years than the body is at sixty. Let it be admitted upon evidence +that there are two sorts of sense perception, the physical and the +psychical, and that in some persons the latter is as much in +evidence as the former. We have to enquire then what relations +the crystal or other medium has to the development and exercise +of the clairvoyant faculty. We know comparatively little about +atomic structure in relation to nervous organism. The atomicity +of certain chemical bodies does not inform us as to why one +should be a deadly poison and another perfectly innocuous. We +regard different bodies as congeries of atoms, but it is a singular +fact that of two bodies containing exactly the same elements in +the same proportions the one is poisonous and the other +harmless. The only difference between them is the atomic +arrangement. + +The atomic theory refers all bodies to one homogeneous basic +substance, which has been termed protyle (proto-hyle), from +which, by means of a process loosely defined as differentiation, +all the elements are derived. These elements are the result of +atomic arrangement. The atoms have various vibrations, the +extent of which is called the mean free path of vibration; +greatest in hydrogen and least in the densest element. All matter +is indestructible, but at the same time convertible, and these +facts, together with the absolute association of matter and force, +lead to the conclusion that every change of matter implies a +change of force. Matter, therefore, is ever living and active, +and there is no such thing as dead matter anywhere. The hylo-idealists +have therefore regarded all matter as but the ultimate expression +of spirit, and primarily of a spiritual origin. + +The somewhat irksome phraseology of Baron Swedenborg has dulled +many minds to a sense of his great acumen and philosophical depth, but +it maybe convenient to summarize his scientific doctrine of +"Correspondences" in this place as it has an important bearing on the +subject in hand. He laid down the principle of the spiritual origin of +force and matter. Matter, he argued, was the ultimate expression of +spirit, as form was that of force. Spirit is to force what matter is to +form--its substratum. Hence for every spiritual force there is a +corresponding material form, and thus the material or natural world +corresponds at all points to the world of spirit, without being +identical. The apparent hiatus between one plane of existence and the +next he called a discrete degree, while the community between different +bodies on the same plane he called a continuous degree. Thus +there is community of sensation between bodies of the same +nature, community of feeling, community of thought, and +community of desire or aspiration, each on its own plane of +existence. But desire is translated into thought, thought into +feeling, and feeling into action. The spirit, soul (rational and +animal in its higher and lower aspects), and the body appear to +have been the principles of the human constitution according to +this authority. All spirits enjoy community, as all souls and all +bodies on their respective planes of existence; but between spirit +and soul, as between soul and body, there is a discrete degree. +In fine, mind is continuous of mind all through the universe, as +matter is continuous of matter; while mind and matter are +separated and need to be translated into terms of one another. + +Taking our position from the scientific statement of the atomic +structure of bodies, atomic vibration and molecular arrangement, +we may now consider the action exerted by such bodies upon +the nervous organism of man. + +The function of the brain, which may be regarded as the +bulbous root of a plant whose branches grow downwards, is +twofold: to affect, and to be affected. In its active and positive +condition it affects the whole of the vital and muscular +processes in the body, finding expression in vital action. In its +passive and negative state it is affected by impressions coming +to it in different ways through the sense organs, resulting +in nervous and mental action. These two functions are interdependent. +It is the latter or afferent function with which we are now concerned. +The range of our sense-perceptions puts us momentarily in relations +with the material world, or rather, with a certain portion of it. For +we by no means sense all that is sensible, and, as I have already +indicated, our sense impressions are often delusive. The gamut of our +senses is very limited, and also very imperfect both as to extent and +quality. Science is continually bringing new instruments into our +service, some to aid the senses, others to correct them. The +microscope, the microphone, the refracting lens are instances. It used +to be said with great certainty that you cannot see through a brick +wall, but by means of X-rays and a fluorescent screen it is now +possible to do so. I have seen my own heart beating as its image +was thrown on the screen by the Rontgen rays. Many insects, +birds and animals have keener perceptions in some respects than +man. Animalculae and microbic life, themselves microscopic, +have their own order of sense-organs related to a world of life +beyond our ken. These observations serve to emphasise the +great limitation of our senses, and also to enforce the fact that +Nature does not cease to exist where we cease to perceive her. +The recognition of this fact has been so thoroughly appreciated +by thoughtful people as to have opened up the question as to +what these human limitations may mean and to what degree +they may extend. + +We know what they mean well enough: the history of human +development is the sequel to natural evolution, and this +development could never have had place apart from the hunger +of the mind and the consequent breaking down of sense limitations by +human invention. As to the extent of our limitations it has been +suggested that just as there are states of matter so fine as to be +beyond the range of vision, so there may be others so coarse as to be +below the sense of touch. We cannot, however, assert anything with +certainty, seeing that proof must always require that a thing must +be brought within our range of perception before we can admit it as +fact. The future has many more wonderful revelations in store for us, +no doubt. But there is really nothing more wonderful than human +faculty which discovers these things in Nature, things that have +always been in existence but until now have been outside our +range of perception. The ultra-solid world may exist. + +The relations of our sense-organs to the various degrees of +matter, to solids, fluids, gases, atmosphere and ether, vary in +different individuals to such a wide extent as to create the +greatest diversity of normal faculty. The average wool-sorter +will outvie an artist in his perception of colour shades. An odour +that is distinctly recognizable by one person will not be +perceptible to others. In the matter of sound also the same +differences of perception will be noted. On a very still night one +can hear the sugar canes growing. Most people find the cry of a +bat to be beyond their range. The eye cannot discern intervals of +less than one-fiftieth of a second. Atmospheric vibration does +not become sound until a considerable frequency is attained. +Every movement we make displaces air but our sense of touch +does not inform us of it, but if we stand in a sunbeam the dust +particles will show that it is so. Our sense of feeling will not +register above certain degrees of heat or below certain degrees +of cold. Sensation, moreover, is not indefinitely sustained, as +anyone may learn who will follow the ticking of a watch for +five minutes continuously. + +But quite apart from the sense and range of our perceptions, the +equality of a sense-impression is found to vary with different +persons, affecting them each in a different way. We find that +people have "tastes" in regard to form, colour, flavour, scent, +sound, fabric and texture. The experience is too general to need +illustration, but we may gather thence that, in relation to the +nervous system of man, every material body and state of matter +has a variable effect. These remarks will clear the ground for a +statement of my views upon the probable effect a crystal may +have upon a sensitive person. + + +CHAPTER II. + +MATERIALS AND CONDITIONS + +The crystal is a clear pellucid piece of quartz or beryl, +sometimes oval in shape but more generally spherical. It is +accredited by Reichenbach and other researchers with highly +magnetic qualities, capable of producing in a suitable subject +a state analogous to the ordinary "waking trance" of the +hypnotists. It is believed that all bodies convey, or are the +vehicles of certain universal property called od or odyle +(od-hyle), which is not regarded as a force but as an inert and +passive substance underlying the more active forces familiar to +us in kinetic, calorific and electrical phenomena. In this respect +it holds a position analogous to the argon of the atmosphere, +and is capable of taking up the vibrations of those bodies to +which it is related and which it invests. It would perhaps not be +amiss to regard it as static ether. Of itself it has no active +properties, but in its still, well-like depths, it holds the +potentiality of all magnetic forces. + +This odyle is particularly potent in certain bodies and one of +these is the beryl or quartz. It produces and retains more readily +in the beryl than in most other bodies the images communicated +to it by the subconscious activity of the seer. It is in the nature +of a sensitized film which is capable of recording thought forms +and mental images as the photographic film records objective +things. The occultist will probably recognize in it many of the +properties of the "astral light," which is often spoken of in this +connection. Readers of my _Manual of Occultism_ will already +be informed concerning the nature of subconscious activity. The +mind or soul of man has two aspects: the attentive or waking +consciousness, directed to the things of the external world; and +the subconscious, which is concerned with the things of the +interior world. Each of these spheres of the mind has its +voluntary and automatic phases, a fact which is usually lost +sight of, inasmuch as the automatism of the mind is frequently +confounded with the subconscious. All purposive action tends +to become automatic, whether it be physical or mental, sensory +or psychic. + +The soul in this connection is to be regarded as the repository of +all that complex of emotions, thoughts, aspirations, impressions, +perceptions, feelings, etc., which constitute the inner life of man. +The soul is none the less a fact because there are those who +bandy words about its origin and nature. + +Reichenbach has shown by a series of experiments upon sensitive and +hypnotized subjects, that metals and other materials produce very marked +effects in contact with the human body. The experiments further showed +that the same substance affected different patients in diverse manners. + +The hypnotic experiments of the late Dr. Charcot, the well-known +French biologist, also demonstrate the rapport existing between the +sensitive subject and foreign bodies in proximity. A bottle containing +a poison is taken at random from a number of others of similar appearance +and is applied to the back of the patient's neck. The hypnotic subject +at once begins to develop all the symptoms of arsenical, strychnine or +prussic acid poisoning; it being afterwards found that the bottle +contains the toxine whose effects have been portrayed by the subject. +But not all hypnotic subjects are capable of the same degree of +sensibility. + +Community of sensation is as common a phenomenon as community of +thought between a hypnotizer and his subject, and what are called +sympathetic pains are included in common experience. Sensitive persons +will simulate all the symptoms of a virulent disease, _e.g._ mock +measles. The phenomena of psychometry reveal the fact of bodies being +able to retain records and of the human possibility of reviving these +records as sensations and thought images, although there is no direct +community of sensation between an inanimate object and the +nervous organism of a sensitive. It need not, therefore, be a +matter of surprise that the crystal can exert a very definite and +sensible effect upon the nervous organism of a certain order of +subjects. It does not affect all alike nor act in a uniform +and constant manner on those whom it does so affect. The +modifications of sensibility taking place in the subject or +sensitive render the action of the agent a variable quantity. +Where its action is more or less rapid and remarkable, however, +the quartz or beryl crystal may be regarded as the most effective +agent for producing clairvoyance. + +In other cases the concave mirror, either of polished copper or +black japan, will be found serviceable. In certain cases where +the faculty is already developed but lying in latency, any +shining surface will suffice to bring it into activity. Ecstatic +vision was first induced in Jacob Boehme by the sun's rays +falling upon a bowl of water which caught and dazzled his eyes +while he was engaged in the humble task of cobbling a pair of +shoes. In consequence of this exaltation of the visual sense we +have those remarkable works, _The Aurora, The Four Complexions, +Signatura Rerum_, and many others, with letters and commentaries which, +in addition to being of a spiritual nature, are also to be regarded +as scholarly when referred to their source. In Boehme's case, as in +that of Swedenborg, whose faculty did not appear until he was +fifty-four years of age, it would appear that the faculty was +constitutional and already developed, waiting only the conditions +which should bring it into active operation. + +The agent most suitable for developing clairvoyance cannot +therefore be definitely prescribed. It must remain a matter of +experiment with the subject himself. That there are some +persons in whom the psychic faculties are more prone to +activity than in others is certain, and it would appear also that +these faculties are native in some by spiritual or hereditary +succession, which fact is evident from their genitures as +interpreted by astrology. Many planets in flexed signs and a +satellitium in the nadir or lower angle of the horoscope is +a certain indication of extreme nervous sensibility and +predisposition to telaesthenic impressions, though this +observation does not cover all the instances before me. It is true, +however, where it applies. The dominant influence of the planet +Neptune in a horoscope is also to be regarded as a special +indication of some form of psychic activity, as I have frequently +observed. + +In cases where the subject is not prepared by evolutional +process for the exercise of the psychic faculties, it will be found +that the same or similar indications will tend to the simulation +of such faculties, as by mediumism, conjuring, etc., while they +may even result in chicanery and fraud. + +But among those who are gifted in the direction spoken of, +all are not clairvoyant. The most common form of psychic +disturbance is involuntary clairaudience, and telaesthesia is not +perhaps less general. St. Paul indicates a variety of such +psychic "gifts," _e.g._ the gifts of prophecy, of healing, of +understanding, etc.; but these may also be regarded in quite a +mundane sense. The development among the early Christians of +spiritual gifts, visions, hearing, speaking in foreign tongues, +psychic healing, etc., appears to have given rise to a variety of +exceptional experiences by which they were induced to say "we +cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard." "One star +differs from another in glory," says St. Paul, and this diversity +of spiritual gifts proceeds from the celestial world, and is so +ordered that each may fulfil the part required of him in the +economy of life. + +Psychic tradition is as important a fact as is physical heredity. +The latter is a factor of immense importance as affecting the +constitution and quality of the organism in and through which +the soul is required to function. But psychic tradition is that +which determines the power and faculty brought to bear upon +the physical organism. Past evolution is not a negligible +quantity, and its effects are never wasted or lost to the +individual. We are what we are by reason of what we have +already been, as well individually as racially. "The future is, the +past unfolded" or "entered upon by a new door," as it has been +well said. We do not suddenly acquire faculties, we evolve them +by effort and successive selection. In our upward striving for +liberty we specialize along certain lines which appear to us to be +those offering either the least resistance or the most ready +means of self-preservation, liberty and well-being. Hence some +evolve a special faculty for money-making and, as schoolboys, +will be expert traders of alley-taws, jack-knives, toffee and all +sorts of kickshaws. Others of another bent or list will traffic in +knowledge to the abounding satisfaction of their masters and the +jealous pride of their form. + +So that psychic tradition while disposing some to the speedy +revelation of an already acquired faculty, disposes others to the +more arduous but not less interesting work of acquiring such +faculty. And because the spiritual needs of mankind are ever of +primary importance, there are always to be found those in +whom the power of spiritual interpretation is the dominant +faculty, such persons being the natural channels of intercourse +between the superior and inferior worlds. The physical body of +man is equipped with a corresponding order of microbic life +which acts as an organic interpreter, translating the elements of +food into blood, nerve, fibre, tissue and bone agreeably to the +laws of their being. What I have to say in this place is addressed +especially to those who would aspire to the faculty of clear +vision and in whom the psychic powers are striving towards +expression. Every person whose life is not wholly sunk in +material and selfish pleasures but in whom the aspiration to a +higher and better life is a hunger the world cannot satisfy, has +within himself the power to see and know that which he seeks +behind the veil of the senses. Nature has never produced a +desire she cannot satisfy. There is no hope, however vague, that +the soul cannot define, and no aspiration, however high, that the +wings of the spirit cannot reach. Therefore be patient and strive. +To others I would say: Be content. All birds cannot be eagles. +The nightingale has a song and the humming bird a plumage the +eagle can never possess. The nightingale may sing to the stars, +the humming bird to the flowers, but the eagle, whose tireless +eyes gaze into the heart of day, is uncompanioned in its lofty +loneliness amid the mountain tops. + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FACULTY OF SEERSHIP + +Until quite recently the faculty of seership has been associated +in occult literature with various magical formulae. There are in +existence works by Tristemius, Francis Barrett, Ebenezer Sibley +and others in which the use of the crystal is made by means of +magical invocations and a variety of ceremonial observances. It +is not within the scope of this treatise to determine the +value of such rites or the desirability of invoking extraneous +intelligences and powers by the use of magical practices; but I +think we may conclude that communion of this order is not +unattended by grave dangers. When the Israelites were ill-content +with the farinaceous manna they invoked Heaven to send them meat. They +got what they wanted, but also the dire penalty which it incurred; and +it is quite likely that in invoking occult forces beyond one's power +to control great evils may ensue. All action and reaction are equal +and opposite. A child can pull a trigger but cannot withstand the +recoil of a gun, or by moving a lever may set machinery in motion +which it can by no means control. Therefore without strength and +knowledge of the right sort it is foolish to meddle with occult +forces; and in the education of the development of the psychic and +spiritual faculties native in us, it is better to encourage their +natural development by legitimate exercise than to invoke the action +of a stimulus which cannot afterwards be controlled. Water will +wear away a rock by continual fretting, though nobody doubts +that water is softer than a rock, and if the barrier between this +and the soul-world be like granite, yet the patient and persistent +action of the determined mind will sooner or later wear it away, +the last thin layer will break and the light of another world will +stream through, dazzling our unaccustomed eyes with its bright +effulgence. + +It is my object here to indicate by what means and by what +persons the natural development of the clairvoyant faculty may +be achieved. In regard then to the subject, medium or seer, there +are two distinct temperaments in which the faculty is likely to +be dominant and capable of high and rapid development. The +first is the nervous temperament, characterized by extreme +activity of body and mind, nervous excitability, dark complexion, +prominent features, and wiry frame. Types of this temperament are +to be seen in the descriptions of Dante, Swedenborg, Melancthon, +Edgar A. Poe and others. This type represents the positive seers. + +The other temperament is of the passive type and is characterized +by a full lymphatic habit, pale or delicate complexion, blue eyes, +straight fine hair, small hands, tapering fingers, cold and fleshy to +the touch; usually a thin or high voice and languid manner. + +These two types of seers--of which there are many varieties-- +achieve their development by quite opposite means. The positive +seer projects the mental images by a psychic process impossible +of description, but by a certain psychic metabolism by which the +apperceptions of the soul are transformed into mental images of a +purely symbolical nature. The psychic process of picture-production +is involuntary and unconscious, but the perception of the +mental pictures is a perfectly conscious process and involves +the exercise of an introspective faculty. The passive seer, on the +contrary, is effortless, and receives impressions by reflection, the +visions coming imperceptibly and having a literal interpretation. +The vision is not in this case of an allegorical or symbolic nature, +as is the case with the positive seer, but is an actual vision of a +fact or event which has already happened or as it will transpire in +the future. Thus the positive vision consists in the projection of +the mind towards the things of the soul-world, while the passive +vision in the result of a propulsion of the soul-world upon the +passive sense. Of the two kinds of vision, the passive is the more +serviceable as being the more perspicuous and literal, but it has +the disadvantage of being largely under the control of external +influences and consequently of greater variability than the +positive vision. It is, indeed, quite the common experience that +the passive medium requires "conditions" for the proper exercise +of the faculty and where these are lacking no vision can be +obtained. + +The positive type of seer exercises an introspective vision, +searching inwardly towards the soul-world whence revelation +proceeds. The passive seer, on the other hand, remains in a static +condition, open to impressions coming inwards upon the mind's +eye, but making no conscious effort towards inward searching. +Those who have experienced both involuntary and voluntary +visions will readily appreciate the difference of attitude, which is +difficult to convey to others in so many words. + +Now the exercise of this faculty does not exist apart from some +definite use, and it may be of advantage to consider what that use +may be. Primarily, I should be disposed to regard the mere +opening up of a channel of communication between the material +and psychic worlds as adequate reason for the exercise of the +faculty. The Gates of Heaven have to be kept open by human +endeavour and the exercise of the spiritual and psychic faculties, +otherwise a complete lesion and cutting off of our source of +inspiration would follow. Except we aspire to the higher world +that world will come no nearer to us. Action and reaction are +equal and opposite. It was never said that the door would be +opened to others than those who knocked. The law of spiritual +compensation involves the fact that we receive what we ask for. +If we get it otherwise, there is no guarantee of its continuance or +that its possession will be a blessing. But if we ask according to +our needs and strive according to our strength there is no law +which can prevent a commensurate response. The ignorance of +our asking and the imperfection of our striving will modify the +nature of the response, but they cannot be negative of results. We +can trust nature and there is a spiritual law in the natural world as +well as a natural law in the spiritual world, for they are +interdependent. + +But even our daily life affords numerous instances wherein the +use of the clairvoyant faculty is attended by beneficial results. +How many people there are who have been warned in dreams-- +wherein all people are naturally clairvoyant--of some impending +danger to themselves or those around them, must have struck any +casual reader of the daily press; for during recent years much +greater interest has been taken in psychological matters and we +are continually in hearing of new facts which give us knowledge +of the power of the soul to foresee danger, and to know what is +determined upon the world for the greater ends of human +evolution. Some experiences of this nature will no doubt form a +fit subject for a subsequent chapter. The qualifications which +should supplement and sustain the natural aptitude of the seer or +seeress demand consideration in this place, and the following +remarks may not be without value in this respect. + +Mental stability, self-possession and confidence in one's own +soul-faculties must be the firm rock on which all revelation +should rest. The element of doubt either negatives results or +opens the door to the ingress of all manner of deceptive +impressions. + +Integrity of purpose is imperative. The purer the intention and +motive of the seer the more lucid will be the vision accorded. No +reliable vision can be obtained by one whose nature is not +inherently truthful. + +Any selfish desire dominating the mind, in regard to any thing or +person will distort the vision and render it misleading, while a +persistent self-seeking spirit will effectually shut the door to all +revelation whatsoever. + +Therefore above all things it is essential for the investigator of +psychic phenomena to have an unflinching love of truth, to be +resigned to the will of Heaven, to accept the revelations accorded +in a spirit of grateful confidence, and to dispel all doubt and +controversy by an appeal to the eyes of one's own immortal soul. + +These are qualifications with which the seer or seeress should be +invested, and if with these the quest of the vision is unsuccessful +after a period of earnest trial, it must be taken as sufficient +warrant that the faculty of clairvoyance is not in the category of +one's individual powers. Haply the same qualifications brought to +bear on some other psychic faculty will result in a rich recompense. + +As for those triflers who at odd moments sit for the production of +what they call "phenomena," with no other object than the +gratification of an inquisitive vanity, I would drive them with +whips from the field of psychical research. They are people +whose presence in this area of serious enquiry does no good +either to the cause of truth or the service of the race, and this +loose traffic of sorts in the hope of finding a new sensation would, +were it transferred to another sphere of activity, deservedly +receive a very ugly name. + +The suggestion that the clairvoyant faculty is latent in all of us +has no doubt been responsible for much misunderstanding, and +not a little disappointment; but I doubt if it is so far removed +from the truth as that which makes the possession of the faculty a +certain sign of a superior degree of evolution. Although the +faculty of clear vision brings us into more intimate conscious +relations with a new order of existence, where the past and future, +the distant and the near, would seem to be brought into +immediate perception, it does not therefore confer upon us a +higher degree of spirituality. It may undoubtedly offer us a +truer perspective than that we may derive from the ordinary +circumstance of our lives, and may suggest good grounds for a +more comprehensive ethical system, but it cannot compel one to +do the right thing or to lead the virtuous life. Clairvoyance, +indeed, is a faculty which has no direct moral relations. It is no +more the gift or property of the wise or the good man than +extraordinary muscular power is an adjunct of high intelligence. +And yet it is a curious fact that in all the sacred writings of the +world there is a suggestion that holy men, or "Men of God," have +this and other transcendent faculties, such as clairaudience +and the power of healing. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures +clairaudience seems to constitute the peculiar authority of the +teacher or prophet. Thus we have expressions such as: "The +Word of the Lord came to me saying," etc., and "I heard a voice +which said," etc., which is sometimes but not always associated +with direct vision. But because holy men of old were distinguished +by this power of direct vision it is not to be supposed that all who +have it are equally sanctified. By natural gift or by such means we +are here discussing, the faculty may be brought into active function, +but we should not lose sight of the fact that the attainment of +righteousness implies that "all these things shall be added unto you." + +I think it right, therefore, to regard the quest of clairvoyance as a +legitimate occupation, providing that it is purposeful and carried +out with a right spirit, while not being allowed to interfere with +the proper performance of one's ordinary duties in life. For it is +possible to become over-zealous and even morbid over these +mysteries of human life, and to become so obsessed by the idea +of their importance as practically to render oneself unfitted for +any ordinary pursuits, thereby producing an isolation that is in the +best sense unprofitable. Moreover, there are mental dangers as +well as spiritual and social to be feared, and it is unfortunately +not uncommon to observe that neuraesthenia, nervous corrosion, +and even insanity attends upon the tireless efforts of the +enthusiast in this direction. + +If we regard clairvoyance as a normal faculty we are more likely +to treat it normally than if we give it a paramount and exceptional +value and seek to beatify those in whom it appears. I am +convinced from experience that it is both normal and educable +though not usually active in the large majority of people. I am +also of the opinion that it is not peculiar, except in its higher +functions, to human beings. I have known animals to possess this +faculty; in a higher degree I have seen humans in the exercise of +it. Perhaps even the archangels are yet seeking their vision of +God. + +But to us as normal beings clairvoyance should appear a +potentially normal faculty, to be studied and pursued by methods +that are efficient while yet harmless; and this is the purport of the +present treatise. I will therefore ask the reader to follow me in +these pages with a mind divested of all disposition to the +supernatural. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PRELIMINARIES AND PRACTICE + +The first consideration by those who would develop clairvoyance +by artificial aids is the choice of a suitable agent. It has been the +practice for many years to substitute the original beryl or "rock +crystal" by a glass ball. I admit that many specimens I have seen +are very creditable productions, but they are nevertheless quite +worthless from the point of view of those who consider material +agents to be important factors in the production of clairvoyance. +The glass ball may, however, very well serve the preliminary +essential of concentration, and, if the faculty of clairvoyance is at +all active, will be entirely effective as an agent. + +Those who have any experience at all in this matter will allow +that the rock crystal exerts an influence of an entirely different +nature to that observable in the use of glass. Indeed, so far as +experiment serves us, it may be said that glass only produces +negative results and never at any time induced clairvoyance. If +this state followed upon the use of a glass ball I am sure that the +patient must have been naturally clairvoyant, in which case a +bowl of water, a spot upon a wall, a piece of polished brass or +copper, or a spot of ink would have been equally efficacious in +inducing the degree of hypnosis required. That glass spheres are +equally efficient as those of crystal is true only in two cases, +namely, when clairvoyance is natural, in which case neither need +be used; and when no results are observable after due experiment, +from which we may conclude either that the agent is unsuitable +or that the faculty is entirely submerged in that individual. + +In hypnotic clairvoyance the glass ball will be found as useful a +"field" as the best rock crystal. Yet it does not follow that because +the crystal is highly odylic and glass altogether negative the +former will induce clairvoyance. My own first experience with +the crystal was entirely disappointing, while very striking results +followed immediately upon the use of a black concave mirror. + +The mirror is usually circular in shape and about one-quarter-inch +curve to a six-inch diameter. This gives a long focus, so that the +mirror may be hung upon a wall at about two yards distance from +the subject. A greater degree of concavity proportionate to the +diameter will produce a focus which allows the mirror to be held +in the hand while resting in the lap. + +This disposes to a very easy and passive attitude and helps +towards results. The base of the mirror may be of tin, wood or +other material, and it is usually filled with a composition of a +bituminous nature, the glass covering being painted with a +preparation of coal-tar on its nether or convex side. The exact +focus and consequent size of the mirror employed as most +suitable to the individual is a matter of experiment. It is also to be +observed that the distance of the mirror, as also the angle of +vision, are matters of experiment. Beyond a certain distance it +will be found that the mirror has no "draw" on the subject. If +brought closer its pull is immediately felt. + +It is perhaps too early to theorize upon the _modus operandi_ of +the "magic mirror," as it has been called. It appears to induce +hypnosis and consequent elevation of nervous activity by +refracting and throwing back the rays of magnetic energy which +emanate from the subject. + +[Illustration of magic mirror] + +In the foregoing illustration let A-B be the mirror with F for its +focus. Let the subject be stationed at S. Then the rays directed +towards the surface of the mirror will be represented by RR-RR. +These rays impinge upon a diamagnetic surface which is concave. +The rays are therefore bent inwards and thrown back upon the +person at S in the form of a cone of energy which has the effect +of producing auto-hypnosis. There are other forms of agency, +such as the zinc disc with the copper centre as used by Braid to +induce the hypnotic sleep, but these appear to depend upon tiring +the optic nerves and thus, through their action upon the thalami to +produce temporary inhibition of the whole basilar tract of the +brain. + +The mesmerist who throws streams of energy upon the patient +would appear to be working on the same principle as that by +which the person using the concave mirror induces self-hypnosis. +Possibly the latter method may be found to be conducive to the +phenomena arising from auto-suggestion, while the conditions +induced by the action of the hypnotist may be less liable to the +effects of auto-suggestion and more responsive to hypnotic +suggestion, _i.e._ the mental action of the hypnotist. + +These, however, are considerations which need not trouble us +overmuch, since by whatever agent the subject is made clairvoyant, +the results are equally curious and informing. Auto-suggestion, +at least, can hardly be regarded in the category of objections, +since we cannot auto-suggest that which does not first of +all arise as an image in the mind. It is in the spontaneous and +automatic production of auto-suggested impressions that the +phenomena of clairvoyance very largely consist; only we have to +remember that the suggesting self is a more considerable quantity +than the personality to which these suggestions are made, and is +in touch with a world immeasurably greater and in every sense +less limited than that to which the person is externally related. +Looked at from whatever point of view we may choose, the +phenomena of clairvoyance cannot be adequately explained +without recourse to psychology on the one hand and occultism on +the other. Psychology is needed in order to explain the nature and +faculty of the human soul, and occultism to define for us the +nature of that universal mirror in which the whole category of +human events, both past and future, are reflected. Having decided +upon a course of experiments with a crystal or mirror, the best of +the kind should be obtained. A black velvet covering should be +made in which to envelop the crystal when not in use. Mirrors are +usually made with a suitable lid or covering. Care should be +taken not to scratch the surface, and all cleaning should be done +with a dry silk handkerchief kept for the purpose. Exposure to the +sun's rays not only scores the surface of a crystal or mirror, but +also puts the odylic substance into activity, distributing and +dissipating the magnetic power stored up therein. + +And now a word or two about the disposition and attitude of the +subject. The visions do not occur in the crystal itself. They may +appear to do so, but this is due, when it occurs, to the projection +and visualization of the mental images. The visions are in the +mind or soul of the seer and nowhere else. It is a matter of +constitutional psychism as to where the sense of clear vision will +be located. Personally I find the sense to be located in the frontal +coronal region of the brain about 150 to the right of the normal +axis of vision, which may be regarded as the meridian of sight. +Other instances are before me in which the sense is variously +located in the back of the head, the nape of the neck, the pit of the +stomach, the summit of the head, above and between the eyes, +and in one case near the right shoulder but beyond the periphery +of the body. The explanation appears to be that the nervo-vital +emanations from the body of the seer act upon the static odyle in +the agent, which in turn reacts upon the brain centres by means of +the optic nerves. And this appears to be sufficient reason why the +crystal or mirror should be kept as free as possible from +disturbing elements. Water is extremely odylic and should never +come in contact with the agent employed as it effectually carries +off all latent or stored imports. I am forced to use a crude +terminology in order to convey the idea in my mind, but I +recognize that the whole explanation may appear vague and +inadequate. It is of course at all times easier to observe effects +than to offer a clear explanation of them. Yet some sort of +working hypothesis is constructed when we collate our observations, +and it is this that I have sought to communicate. + +For similar reasons, when in use the crystal or mirror should be +shaded and so placed that no direct rays from sun or artificial +light may fall upon it. The odyle, as Reichenbach so conclusively +proved by his experiments, rapidly responds to surrounding +magnetic conditions and to the vibrations of surrounding bodies, +and to none more rapidly than the etheric vibrations caused by +combustion or light of any kind. There should be no direct rays of +light between the agent and the seer. + +The room in which the sitting takes place should be moderately +warm, shady, and lit by a diffused light, such as may be obtained +by a light holland blind or casement cloth, in the daytime. The +subject should sit with his back to the source of light, and the +illumination will be adequate if ordinary print can be read by it. + +It is important that all persons sitting in the same room with the +seer should be at least at arm's length from him. + +Silence should be uniformly observed by those present, until the +vision is attained. + +It will then be found convenient to have two persons present to +act as Interrogator and Recorder respectively. + +The Interrogator should be the only person whose voice is heard, +and it should be reduced to a soft but distinct monotone. The +Recorder will be occupied in setting down in writing all questions +asked by the Interrogator and the exact answers made by the +seer. These should be dated and signed by those present when +completed. It is perhaps hardly necessary to remark that +precautions should be taken to prevent sudden intrusions, and as +far as possible to secure general quiet without. + +I may here interject an observation which appears to me +suggestive and may prove valuable. It has been observed that the +inhabitants of basaltic localities are more generally natural +clairvoyants than others. Basalt is an igneous rock composed +largely of augite and felspar, which are silicate crystals of +calcium, potassium, alumina, etc., of which the Moonstone is a +variety. The connecting link is that clairvoyance is found to be +unusually active during and by means of moonlight. What +psycho-physical effect either basalt or moonlight has upon the +nervous system of impressible subjects appears to be somewhat +obscure, but there is little difference between calcium light and +moonlight, except that the latter is moderated by the greater +atmosphere through which it comes to us. It is only when we +come to know the psychological values of various chemical +bodies that we can hope for a solution of many strange phenomena +connected with the clairvoyant faculty. I recollect that the +seeress of Prevorst experienced positive pain from the near +presence of water during her abnormal phases. Reichenbach +found certain psycho-pathological conditions to be excited by +various metals and foreign bodies when brought into contact with +the sensitive. These observations are extremely useful if only in +producing an awareness of possible reasons for such disturbance +as may occur in the conditions already cited. + +At the outset the sittings should not last longer than at most +half-an-hour, but it is important that they should be regular, +both as to time and place. We are already informed from a number of +observations that every action tends to repeat itself under similar +conditions. Habits of life and mind are thus formed so that in +time they become quite involuntary and automatic. A cumulative +effect is obtained by attention to this matter of periodicity, while +the use of the same place for the same purpose tends to dispose +the mind to the performance of particular functions. In striving +for psychic development of any sort we shall do well not to +disregard these facts. For since all actions tend to repeat +themselves and to become automatic, to pass from the domain of +the purposive into the habitual, the psychic faculties will +similarly, if actuated at any set time and place, tend to bestir +themselves to the same effects as those to which they were first +moved by the conscious will and intention of the seer. Until the +clairvoyant faculty is fully assured and satisfactory results +obtained without any inconvenience to the seer, not more than +two persons should be present at the sittings. These should be in +close sympathy with the seer and with each other. + +When the sitting is over it will be found useful to repair to +another place and fully discuss the results obtained, the +impressions and feelings of the seer during the seance, and +matters which appear to have a bearing on the facts observed. + +A person should not be disheartened if at the first few sittings +nothing of any moment takes place, but should persevere with +patience and self-control. Indeed, if we consider the fact that for +hundreds of generations the psychic faculties latent in man have +lain in absolute neglect, that perhaps the faculty of clear vision +has not been brought into activity by any of our ancestors since +remote ages, it should not be thought remarkable that so few find +the faculty in them to be practically dormant. It should rather be a +matter of surprise that the faculty is still with us, that it is not +wholly irresponsive to the behests of the soul. While in the course +of physical evolution many important functions have undergone +remarkable changes, and organs, once active and useful, have +become stunted, impotent, and in some cases extinct, yet on the +other hand we see that seeds which have lain dormant in arid soil +for hundreds of years can spring into leaf and flower under the +influence of a suitable climate. + +The vermiform appendix, so necessary to the bone eaters of a +carnivorous age, has no part in the physical economy of a later +and more highly-evolved generation. The pineal gland and the +pituitary body are adjuncts of the brain whose functions have +long been in latency. The _Anastatica hierochuntica_, commonly +called the Rose of Jericho, is a wonderful example of functional +latency. The plant will remain for ages rolled up like a ball of +sun-dried heather, but if placed in water it will immediately open +out and spread forth its nest of mossy green fronds, the transition +from seeming death to life taking place in a few minutes. The +hygrometric properties of the plant are certainly exceptional. +They illustrate the responsiveness of certain natures to a +particular order of stimulus, and in a sense they illustrate the +functions of the human soul. The faculty of direct vision is like +the latent life of the vegetable world. It waits only the conditions +which favour its activity and development, and though for +generations it may have lain dormant, yet in a few days or weeks +it may attain the proportions of a beautiful flower, a thing of +wonder and delight, gracing the Garden of the Soul. + + +CHAPTER V. + +KINDS OF VISION + +There are two kinds of vision, and each of these may be +perceived in two different ways. The two sorts of vision are +called the Direct Vision and the Symbolic Vision. + +The first of these is an exact representation of some scene or +incident which has taken place in the past or will subsequently be +experienced in the future. It may have relation to the experience +of the seer, or of those who are present at the sitting, or yet may +have a general or public application. + +The second order of vision is a representation by ideograph, +symbol or other indirect means, of events similar to those +conveyed by direct vision. The visions of Ezekiel and John of +Patmos are of the symbolic order, and although to the seers +themselves there probably was a very clear apperception of their +import, yet for others they require interpretation. In most cases it +will be found that the nature of the vision has relation to that +sphere of life and interest in which the seer or those for whom he +is serving are concerned. But this is not always the case, for there +are some peculiarly sensitive seers whose visions have a wider +range and a more general application. In the first case it would +seem that the impressions latent in the individual sphere of +subconscious activity are brought into evidence, and in the other +case the seer comes into relations with the world-soul or +earth-sphere, so that political, social and cosmic events +are brought out of latency into conscious perception. In most +cases it will be found that answers to questions are conveyed +by symbols, though this is not an invariable rule, as will +appear from the following remarks. + +The vision, when it occurs, may be conveyed in one of two ways: +first, as a vivid picture affecting the focus and retina of the eye, +perfect in its outline and colouring, and giving the sense of +nearness or distance; secondly, as a vivid mental impression +accompanied by a hazy or dim formation in the "field" of vision. +In this latter form it becomes an apperception rather than a +perception, the mind receiving the impression of the vision to be +conveyed before it has had time to form and define itself in the +field. + +As already intimated, there appears to be a connection between +the temperamental peculiarities of the two classes of clairvoyants +and the kind of vision developed in them. Thus the direct +vision is more generally found in association with the passive +temperament. The direct vision is neither so regular nor so +constant as the symbolic vision owing to the peculiarities of the +negative or passive subject. When it does develop, however, the +direct vision is both lucid and actual, and has literal fulfilment in +the world of experience and fact. It is an actual representation of +what has actually happened or will have place in the future, or yet +may be presently happening at some place more or less distant. + +The symbolic vision, on the other hand, is more generally +developed in the positive or active type of seer. It has the +advantage of being more regular and constant in its occurrence +than the direct vision, while at the same time being open to the +objection that it is frequently misinterpreted. Nothing shows this +better perhaps than the various interpretations which have been +made of the Apocalypse. + +The positive temperament appears to throw off the mental images +as speedily as they are developed in the subconscious area, and +goes out to meet them in a mood of speculative enquiry. But the +passive temperament most frequently feels first and sees +afterwards, the visionary process being entirely devoid of +speculation and mental activity. In a word, the distinction +between them is that the one sees and thinks while the other feels +and sees. + +The manner in which the visions appear to develop in the field +requires some description, and for reasons which will presently +appear it is essential that the earliest experiments should be made +in the light of a duly informed expectancy. + +At first the crystal or mirror will appear to be overclouded by a +dull, smoky vapour which presently condenses into milky clouds +among which are seen innumerable little gold specks of light, +dancing in all directions, like gold-dust in a sunlit air. The focus +of the eye at this stage is inconstant, the pupil rapidly expanding +and contracting, while the crystal or mirror alternately disappears +in a haze and reappears again. Then suddenly the haze disappears +and the crystal looms up into full view, accompanied by a +complete lapse of the seer into full consciousness of his +surroundings. + +This may be the only experience during the first few sittings. It +may be that of many. But if it occurs it is an entirely satisfactory +and hopeful symptom. For sooner or later, according to the +degree of susceptibility or responsiveness in the subject, there +will come a moment when the milky-looking clouds and dancing +starlights will suddenly vanish and a bright azure expanse like an +open summer sky will fill the field of vision. The brain will now +be felt to palpitate spasmodically, as if opening and closing again +in the coronal region; there will be a tightening of the scalp about +the base of brain, as if the floor of the cerebrum were contracting; +the seer will catch his breath with a spasmodic sigh and the first +vision will stand out clear and life-like against the azure screen of +space. + +Now the danger at this supreme moment is that the seer will be +surprised into full waking consciousness. During the process of +abstraction which precedes every vision or series of visions, the +consciousness of the seer is gradually but imperceptibly +withdrawn from physical surroundings. He forgets that he is +seated in a particular place or room, that he is in the company of +another or others. He forgets that he is gazing into a crystal or +mirror. He knows nothing, sees nothing, hears nothing, save that +which is being enacted before the senses of his soul. He loses +sight for the time even of his own identity and becomes as it were +merged in the vision itself. + +When, therefore, his attention is suddenly arrested by an +apparition, startling in its reality and instantaneous production, +the reaction is likely to be both rapid and violent, so that the seer +is frequently carried back into full waking consciousness. When, +however, the mind is previously instructed and warned of this +stage of the process, a steady and self-possessed attitude is +ensured and a subconscious feeling of expectancy manifests at +the critical moment. I have known so many cases of people being +surprised out of clairvoyance and so to have lost what has often +been an isolated experience, that this treatise will be wholly +justified if by the inclusion of this warning the novice comes +successfully through his first experience of second sight. + +We come now to the point where it becomes necessary to consider +other important reactions which the development of any psychic +sense involves. To some favoured few these supernormal faculties +appear to be given without any cost to themselves. Perhaps they +are direct evolutional products, possibly psychic inheritances; +but to such as have them no price is asked or penalty imposed. + +Others there are who are impelled by their own evolutional +process to seek the development in themselves of these psychic +powers; and to these a word of warning seems necessary, so that +at the risk of appearing didactic I must essay the task. To some it +may seem unwelcome, to others redundant and supererogatory. +But we are dealing with a new stage in evolutional progress--the +waking up of new forces in ourselves and the prospective use of a +new set of faculties. It is of course open to anybody to +experiment blindly, and none will seek to deter them save those +who have some knowledge of the attendant dangers, and which +knowledge alone can help us to avoid. I should consider the man +more fool than hero who, in entire ignorance of mechanics and +aeronautics, stepped on board an aeroplane and started the +engines running. Even the most skilful in any new field of +experiment or research consciously faces certain but unknown +dangers. The victims of the aeroplane--brave pioneers of human +enterprise and endeavour that they were--fell by lack of +knowledge. By lack of knowledge also have the humane efforts +of many physicians been cut short at the outset of what might +have been a successful career. It was this very lack of knowledge +they knew to be the greatest of all dangers, and it was this they +had set out to remedy. + +It is not less dangerous when we begin to pursue a course of +psychic development. The ordinary functions of the mind are +well within our knowledge and control. There is always the will +by which we may police the territory under our jurisdiction and +government. It is another matter when we seek to govern a +territory whose peculiar features and native laws and customs are +entirely unknown to us. It is obvious that here the will-power, if +directed at all, is as likely to be effectual for evil as for good. +The psychic faculties may indeed be opened up and the unknown +region explored, but at fatal cost, it may be, to all that constitutes +normal sanity and physical well-being; in which case one may +say with Hamlet it be better to "bear those ills we have, than fly +to others that we know not of." + +Some of the conditions imposed upon those who, not being +naturally gifted in this direction, would wish to experiment in +clairvoyant development, may conveniently be stated and +examined in another chapter. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OBSTACLES TO CLAIRVOYANCE + +Various impediments stand in the way of inducing second sight, +and certain others may be expected to arise in connection with +the faculty when induced. Putting aside the greatest of all +obstacles, that of constitutional unfitness, as having already been +discussed in the preceding pages, the first obstacle to be +encountered is that of ill health. It can hardly be expected that +new areas can be opened up in the mind without considerable +change and adjustment taking place by reflection in the physical +economy. The reaction is likely to be attended by physical +distress. But Nature is adaptable and soon accommodates herself +to changed conditions, so that any results directly attributable to +the development of the psychic centres of activity is not likely to +be more than transient, providing that due regard has been given +to the normal requirements of health. + +The importance of a moderate and nourishing diet cannot be too +strongly urged upon those who seek for psychic development. All +overloading of the stomach with indigestible food and addiction +to alcoholic drinks tend to cloud the higher faculties. The brain +centres are thereby depleted, the heart suffers strain, and the +equilibrium of the whole system is disturbed. Ill health follows, +the mind is centred upon the suffering body, spiritual aspiration +ceases, and the neglected soul folds its wings and falls into the +sleep of oblivion. + +But, on the other hand, one must not suppose that the adoption of +a fruit and cereal diet will of itself induce to the development +of the psychic powers. It will aid by removing the chief +impediments of congestion and disease. Many good people who +adopt this dietetic reform have a tendency to scratch one another's +shoulder blades and expect to find their wings already sprouting. +If it were as easy as this the complacent cow would be high up in +the scale of spiritual aspirants. + +The consciousness of man works from a centre which co-ordinates +and includes the phenomena of thought, feeling, and volition. +This centre is capable of rapid displacement, alternating +between the most external of physical functions and the most +internal of spiritual operations. It cannot be active in all parts of +our complex constitutions at one and the same moment. When +one part of our nature is active another is dormant, as is seen in +the waking and sleeping stages, the dream-life being in the +middle ground between the psychic and physical. It will therefore +be obvious that a condition in which the consciousness is held in +bondage by the infirmities of the body is not one likely to be +conducive to psychic development. For this reason alone many +aspirants have been turned back from initiation. The constitution +need not be robust, but it should at all events be free from +disorder and pain. Some of the most ethereal and spiritual natures +are found in association with a delicate organism. So long as the +balance is maintained the soul is free to develop its latent powers. +A certain delicacy of organization, together with a tendency to +hyperaesthesia, is most frequently noted in the passive or direct +seer; but a more robust and forceful constitution may well be +allied to the positive type of seership. + +As a chronic state of physical congestion is altogether adverse to +the development of the second sight or any other psychic faculty, +so the temporary congestion following naturally upon a meal +indicates that it is not advisable to sit for psychic exercise +immediately after eating. Neither should a seance be begun when +food is due, for the automatism of the body will naturally demand +satisfaction at times when food is usually taken and the +preliminary processes of digestion will be active. The best time is +between meals and especially between tea and supper, or an hour +after the last meal of the day, supposing it to be of a light nature. +The body should be at rest, and duly fortified, and the mind +should be contented and tranquil. + +The attitude of the would-be seer should not be too expectant or +over-anxious about results. All will come in good time, and the +more speedily if the conditions are carefully observed. It is +useless to force the young plant in its growth. Take time, as +Nature does. It is a great work and much patience may be needed. +Nature is never in a hurry, and therefore she brings everything to +perfection. The acorn becomes the sturdy oak only because +Nature is content with small results, because she has the virtue of +endurance. She is patient and careful in her beginnings, she +nurses the young life with infinite care, and her works are +wonderfully great and complete in their issues. Moreover, they +endure. Whoever breathes slowest lives the longest. + +This statement opens up a very important matter connected with +all psychic phenomena, and one that deserves more than casual +notice. It has been long known to the people of the East that there +is an intimate connection between brain and lung action, and +modern experiment has shown by means of the spirometer that +the systole and diastole motion of the hemispheres of the brain +coincide exactly with the respiration of the lungs. The brain +as the organ of the mind registers every emotion with unerring +precision. But so also do the lungs, as a few common observations +will prove. Thus if a person is in deep thought the breathing +will be found to be long and regular, but if the mind is +agitated the breathing will be short and stertorous, while if fear +affects the mind the breathing is momentarily suspended. A +person never breathes from the base of the lung unless his mind +is engrossed. Hard exercise demands deep breathing and is +therefore helpful in producing good mental reactions. It is said +that the great preacher De Witt Talmage used to shovel gravel +from one side of his cellar to the other as a preliminary to his fine +elocutional efforts. It is this obvious connection between +respiration and mental processes which is at the base of the +system of psycho-physical culture known as _Hatha Yoga_ in +distinction from _Raj Yoga_, which is concerned solely with +mental and spiritual development. The two systems, which have +of late years found frequent exposition in the New Thought +school, are to be found in Patanjali's _Yoga sutra_. Some +reference to the synchronous action of lung and brain will also be +found in Dr. Tafel's translation and exposition of Swedenborg's +luminous work on _The Brain_. In this work the Swedish seer +frankly refers his illumination regarding the functions of the brain +to his faculty of introspective vision or second sight, and it is of +interest to observe that all the more important discoveries in this +department of physiology during the last two centuries are clearly +anticipated by him. The scientific works of this great thinker are +far too little known by the majority, who are apt to regard him +only as a visionary and a religious teacher. + +_Ad rem_. The vision is produced. The faculty of clairvoyance is +an established fact of experience and has become more or less +under the control of the mind. There will yet remain one or two +difficulties connected with the visions. One is that of time +measure, and another that of interpretation. The former is +common to both orders of vision, the direct and the symbolic. +The difficulty of interpretation is, of course, peculiar to the latter +order of vision. + +The sensing of time is perhaps the greatest difficulty encountered +by the seer, and this factor is often the one that vitiates an +otherwise perfect revelation. I have known cartomantes and +diviners of all sorts to express their doubt as to the possibility of a +correct measure of time. Yet it is a question that follows naturally +upon a clear prediction--When? + +It is sometimes impossible to determine whether a vision relates +to the past, the present, or the future. In most cases, however, the +seer has an intuitive sense of the time-relations of a vision which +is borne in upon him with the vision itself. It will generally be +observed that in ordinary mental operations the time sense is +subject to localization, and a distinct throw of the mind will be +experienced when speaking of the past and the future. Personally +I find the past to be located on my left and the future on my right +hand, but others inform me that the habit of mind, places the past +behind and the future in front of them, while others again have +the past beneath their feet and the future over their heads. It is +obviously a habit of mind, and this usually inheres in the +visionary state so that a sense of time is found to attach to all +visions, though it cannot be relied upon to register on every +occasion. But also it is frequently found that there is an automatic +allocation of the visions, those that are near of fulfilment being in +the foreground of the field, the approximate in the middle ground, +and the distant in the background; position answering to time +interval. In such case the vision has a certain definition or focus +according to the degree of its proximity. These points are, +however, best decided by empiricism, and rarely does it happen +that the intuitive sense of the seer is at fault when allowed to have +play. + +The other difficulty to which I have referred, that of interpretation +of symbols when forming the substance of the vision, may +be dealt with somewhat more fully. Symbolism is a universal +language and revelation most frequently is conveyed by means +of it. As a preliminary to the study of symbolism the student +should read Swedenborg's _Hieroglyphical Key to Natural and +Spiritual Mysteries_, one of the earliest of his works and +in a great measure the foundation of his thought and teaching. +The Golden Book of Hermes containing the twenty-two Tarots is +open to a universal interpretation as may be seen from the works +of the Kabalists, and in regard to their individual application may +be regarded in a fourfold light, having reference to the spiritual, +rational, psychic and physical planes of existence. It is by means +of symbols that the spiritual intelligences signal themselves to +our minds, and the most exalted vision is, as an expression of +intelligence, only intelligible by reason of its symbolism. +Something more may be said in regard to the interpretation of +symbols which may possibly be of use to those who have made +no special study of the subject, and this may conveniently form +the material of another chapter. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SYMBOLISM + +Symbols formed the primitive language of the human race, they +spoke and wrote in symbols. The hieroglyphic writings of the +aborigines of Central America, of the ancient Peruvians, of the +Mongolians, and of the ancient Copts and Hebrews all point to +the universal use of the ideograph for the purpose of recording +and conveying ideas. + +If we study the alphabets of the various peoples, we shall find in +them clear indications of the physical and social conditions under +which they evolved. Thus the Hebrew alphabet carries with it +unmistakable evidence of the nomadic and simple life of those +"dwellers in tents." The forms of the letters are derived from the +shapes of the constellations, of which twelve are zodiacal, six +northern and six southern. This implies a superficial intimacy +with the heavens such as would result from a life spent in hot +countries with little or no superstructure to shut out the view. The +wise among them would sit beneath the stars in the cool night air +and figure out the language of the heavens. + +It was God's message to mankind, and they sought not only to +understand it but to make imitation of it. So they built an alphabet +of forms after the pattern of things in the heavens. But when we +come to the names of these forms or letters we come at once into +touch with the life of the people. Thus _aleph_, an ox; _beth_, a +tent; _daleth_, a tent-door; _lamed_, an ox-goad; _mem_, water; +_tzadde_, a fish-hook; _quoph_, a coil of rope; _gimel_, a camel; +_yod_, a hand; _oin_, an eye; _vau_, a hook or link; _heth_, a +basket; _caph_, a head; _nun_, a fish; _phe_, a mouth; _shin_, +a tooth; _resh_, a head; etc., all speaking to us of the +ordinary things of a simple, wandering life. These symbols were +compounded to form ideographs, as _aleph_ = a, and _lamed_ = l, +being the first and last of the zodiacal circle, were employed for +the name of the Creator, the reverse of these, _la_, signifying +non-existence, negation, privation. In course of time a language +and a literature would be evolved, but from the simple elements +of a nomadic life. Knowledge came to them by action and the use +of the physical sense. They had no other or more appropriate +confession of this than is seen in the root [Hebrew letters] yedo-- +knowledge, compounded of the three symbols _yod_, _daleth_, _oin_-- +a hand, a door, an eye. The hand is a symbol of action, power, +ability; the door, of entering, initiation; the eye, of seeing, vision, +evidence, illumination. + +Hence the ideograph formed by the collation of these symbols +signifies, opening the door to see, _i.e._ enquiry. + +The Chinese alphabet of forms is entirely hieroglyphic and +symbolical in its origin, though it has long assumed a typal +regularity. What were once curved and crude figures have +become squared and uniform letterpress. But the names of these +forms bring us into touch at once with the early life of the +Mongolian race. We have, however, indications of a wider scope +than was enjoyed by the primitive Semites, for whereas we +find practically all the symbols of the Hebrews employed as +alphabetical forms, we also have others which indicate artifice, +such as _hsi_, box; _chieh_, a seal or stamp; _mien_, a roof; +_chin_, a napkin; _kung_, a bow; _mi_, silk; _lei_, a plough, and +many others, such as the names of metals, wine, vehicles, leather +in distinction from hides, etc. But further, we have a mythology +as part of the furniture of the primitive mind, the dragon and the +spirit or demon being employed as radical symbols. + +Considered in regard to their origin, symbols may be defined as +thought-forms which embody, by the association of ideas, +definite meanings in the mind that generates them. They wholly +depend for their significance upon the laws of thought and the +correspondence that exists between the spiritual and material +worlds, between the subject and object of our consciousness, the +noumenon and phenomenon. + +All symbols therefore may be translated by reference to the +known nature, quality, properties and uses of the objects they +represent. A few interpretations of symbols actually seen in the +mirror may serve to illustrate the method of interpretation. + +A foot signifies a journey, and also understanding. A mouth +denotes speech, revelation, a message. An ear signifies news, +information; if ugly and distorted, scandal and abuse. + +The sun, if shining brightly, denotes prosperity, honours, good +health, favours. + +The moon when crescent denotes success, public recognition, +increase and improvement; when gibbous, sickness, decadence, +loss and trouble. + +The sun being rayless or seen through a haze denotes sickness to +a man, some misfortune, danger of discredit. When eclipsed +it denotes the ruin or death of a man. The moon similarly +affected denotes equal danger to a woman. These are all natural +interpretations and probably would be immediately appreciated. + +But every symbol has a threefold or fourfold interpretation and +the nature of the enquiry or purpose for which the vision is +sought will indicate the particular meaning conveyed. For if the +enquiry be concerning things of the spiritual world the +interpretation of the answering vision must be in terms of that +world, and similarly if the question has relation to the intellectual +or the physical worlds. Thus a pain of scales would denote in the +spiritual sense, absolute justice; in the intellectual, judgment, +proportion, comparison, reason; in the social, debt or obligation, +levy, rate, or tax; and in the material, balance of forces, +equilibrium, action and reaction. If the scales are evenly balanced +the augury will be good and favourable to the purport of the quest, +but if weighted unevenly it is a case of _mene, tekel, upharsin_; +for it shows an erring judgment, an unbalanced mind, failure in +one's obligations, injustice. A sword seen in connection with the +scales denotes speedy judgment and retribution. This is an +illustration of an artificial symbol. + +A ship is a symbol of trading, of voyaging, and is frequently used +in the symbolical vision. If in full sail it indicates that +communication with the spiritual world is about to be facilitated, +that news from distant lands will come to hand, that trade will +increase, that a voyage will be taken. If writing should appear on +the sails it will be an additional means of enlightenment. If flying +the pirate flag it denotes translation to another land, death. The +land indicated may be the spiritual world itself, in which case the +death will be natural; but if it should be a foreign country, then +death will take place there by some unlooked-for disaster. The +ship's sails being slack denotes a falling off of afflatus or spiritual +influx, loss of trade, misfortune, delays and bad news, or if news +is expected it will not come to hand. + +Black bread denotes a famine; spotted or mottled bread, a plague. +This symbol was seen in June 1896, with other symbols which +connected it with India, and there followed a great outbreak of +bubonic plague in that country. This symbol, however, was not +properly understood until the event came to throw light upon it. +The following note is from a seance which took place in India in +the spring of 1893: "A leaf of shamrock is seen. It denotes the +United Kingdom or the Triple Alliance. It is seen to split down +the centre with a black line. It symbolizes the breaking of a treaty. +Also that Ireland, whose symbol is the shamrock, will be +separated by an autonomous government from the existing +United Kingdom and will be divided into two factions." + +In this way all symbols seen in the crystal or mirror may be +interpreted by reference to their known properties and uses, as +well as by the associations existing between them and other +things, persons and places, in the mind of the seer. Nor is it +always required that the scryer should understand symbology, for +as already said, the meanings of most of the symbols will be +conveyed to the consciousness of the seer at the time of their +appearance in the field. Experience will continually throw new +light upon the screen of thought, and a symbol once known will +assume a constant signification with each seer, so that in course +of time a language will be instituted by means of which constant +revelations will be made. + +It will thus be obvious, I think, that symbolism is to a large extent +subject to a personal colouring, so that the same symbol may, by +different associations, convey a different meaning to various +seers. This may arise in part from the diversities of individual +experience, of temperament, and the order to which the soul +belongs in the spiritual world. These dissimilarities between +individuals may be noted from their highest intellectual +convictions down to the lowest of their sensations, and it is +difficult to account for it. We all have the same laws of thought +and the same general constitution. Humanity comprehends us all +within the bonds of a single nature. Yet despite these facts we are +divided by differences of opinion, of emotion, of sympathy, of +taste and faculty. It is probable that these differences obtain in +spheres immeasurably higher than our own, the sole element of +consent being the recognition of dependence upon a Higher +Power. God is the co-ordinating centre in a universe of infinite +diversity. + +Therefore, despite the fact that symbolism is capable of a +universal interpretation, it would appear that the images +projected by the magical power of the soul must have different +significations with each of us, the meanings being in some +mysterious way in agreement with the nature of the person who +sees them. Hence we may come to the conclusion that every +person must be his own interpreter, there being no universal code +for what are peculiarly individualized messages. For although +every symbol has a general signification in agreement with its +natural properties and uses, it yet obtains a particular signification +with the individual. + +It is within common experience with those who have regard to +the import of dreams, wherein the faculty of seership is acting on +its normal plane, that a dream constantly recurring is found to +have a particular meaning, which however is not applicable to +others who have a similar dream. Every person is a seer in dream +life, but few pay that attention to dreams which their origin and +nature warrant. The crystal or mirror is an artificial means of +bringing this normal faculty of dreaming into activity in waking +life. Those who are capable of making the dream life normal to +the working consciousness, rise to a higher plane when they sleep. + +But, as stated above, the differences of import or meaning, even +in dream life, of any particular symbol is a common experience. +One person will dream of wading in water whenever there is +trouble ahead. Another will dream of a naked child, and yet +another of coal, when similar trouble is in store. Butchers' meat +will signify financial trouble to one person, to another the same +will denote a fortunate speculation. + +The controlling factor in this matter would appear to be founded +in the mental and psychic constitution conferred by physical +heredity and psychic tradition, converging at the conception of +the individual and expressed in the birth. Probably an argument +could thence be made in regard to the influence of the planets and +the general cosmic disposition attending upon birth: I have +frequently found that dreams may be interpreted by reference to +the individual horoscope of birth, and if dreams, possibly also +visions, which are but dreams brought into the field of conscious +reality. But any such argument, however tempting, would be +beyond the scope of this work. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ALLIED PSYCHIC PHASES + +The faculty of second sight is not by any means the most +common of the psychic powers. Psychometric impressions which +proceed by the sense of touch into that of a superior order of +feeling are far more general. We are affected much more than is +generally recognized by the impressions gathered from the things +we have contact with, and it is quite a common experience that +very delicate and sensitive people take the "atmosphere" of places +into which they go. I have in mind an instance of an extremely +high-keyed person who invariably takes on the atmosphere of +new localities, houses and even rooms. Going to view a house +with the object of taking it on rental, she will as likely as not +pronounce against the moment she enters on the ground that it is +a "house of death" or a "quarrelsome house," full of sickness, +intemperance or what not, and wherever enquiry has been +possible it has invariably confirmed her impressions. On one +occasion she had telegraphed to engage a room at an hotel in a +seaside town, and on being shown to it by the maid found that it +was locked. While the maid went to fetch the key the young +lady tried the door and immediately received a psychometric +impression. "Oh, M--," she said to her companion, "we cannot +possibly have this room, there's a corpse in it!" This was +confirmed, almost as soon as said, by the appearance of the +proprietor, who explained that the maid had made a mistake in +the number of the room, and then, feeling that there was a state of +tension, confidentially informed his visitors that the locked room +had really been booked to them but the old lady who was to have +vacated it that morning had unfortunately died, and in order not +to distress the other visitors the door had been locked pending the +removal of the body, and even the servants had not been +informed of it. + +The experiments of Denton recorded in his _Soul of Things_ are +full of interest for those who would learn something more about +the phenomena of psychometry. + +The suggestion is that every particle of matter has its own aura or +"atmosphere" in which are stored up the experiences of that +particle. What is said of the particle applies also to the mass of +any body, and in effect we get the aura of a room, of a house, of a +town, of a city; and so successively until we come to that of the +planet itself. These stored-up impressions are not caused by the +mental action of human beings in association with the material +psychometrized, they appertain entirely to the associations of the +material itself, and the psychometric sense consists in recovering +these associations and bringing them into terms of human sense +and consciousness. The experience seems to suggest a nexus +between the individualized human soul and the world-soul in +which the generic life is included; also that the human soul is a +specialized evolution from the world-soul, and hence inclusive of +all stages of experience beneath the human. I think it was Draper +who suggested in his _Conflict_ that a man's shadow falling upon +a wall produced an indelible impression which was capable of +being revived. The cinematograph film is that brick wall raised to +the nth power of impressibility. The occultist will point you to a +universal medium as much above the cinema film as that is above +the brick or stone, and in which are stored up the _memoria +mundi_. It is this sensitized envelope of the planetary atom that +your sensitive taps by means of his clairvoyant, psychometric and +clairaudient senses. + +Clairaudience is far more general than second sight, but there is +the same variability in the range of perception as is seen in +clairvoyance and psychometry. Thus while one hears only the +evil suggestions of "obsessing spirits" or discarnate souls being +dinned into his ears, another will be lifted to the third heaven and +hear "things unutterable." Brain-cell discharges will hardly +account for the phenomena of clairaudience. A brain-cell +discharge never goes beyond the repetition of one's own name in +some familiar voice, or at most the revival of a phrase or the +monotonous clang of a neighbouring church bell. These are not +clairaudiences at all. Clairaudience consists in receiving auditory +impressions of intelligible phrases not previously associated with +the name of person or place involved in the statement. These +impressions may be sporadic or may be continuous. In the case of +a genuine development where the interior sense is fully opened +up, the communication will be continuous and normal, as much +so as ordinary conversation, and the translation of consciousness +into terms of sense will be so rapid and unimpeded as to give the +impression to an Englishman that he is listening to his native +language and to a Frenchman that he is listening to French, +though the communication may proceed from a source which +renders this impossible. The universal language of humanity is +neither Volapuk, nor Esperanto, nor Ido. It is Thought, and when +thought proceeds from a point beyond the plane of differentiation +it can be determined along the line which makes for English as +readily as that which makes for French, or any other tongue. It is +they of the soul-world who convey the thought, it is we of the +sublunary world who translate that thought into our own +language. The Hebrew prophets were almost uniformly instructed +by means of clairaudience. But as I have already said there are +degrees of clairaudience, as of any other psychic faculty. The +danger is that a false value may be set upon the experiences, +especially during the early stages of development when everything +is very new and very wonderful. + +Telepathy is another and yet more general phrase of psychic +activity. It may consist in the transmission from one person to +another of a feeling or impression merely, which results in a +certain degree of awareness to the state of mind in which the +transmitter may be at the time, as when a mother has a "feeling" +that all is not well with her absent child. Or it may yet take a +more definite and perspicuous form, even to the transmission of +details such as the names of persons and places, of numbers, +forms and incidents. Telepathy commonly exists between persons +in close sympathy; and when two persons are working along +separate lines toward the same result, it is quite usual that they +unconsciously "telepath" with one another, their brains being for +the time in synchronous vibration. Spiritual communication in +any degree is nothing more or less than sympathy--those who feel +together, think together. The modern development of the aerial +post is a step towards the universal federation of thought, but it is +not comparable with the astral post which carries a thousand +miles an hour. In this sort of correspondence the communication +is written like any ordinary letter designed for transmission, but +instead of stamping and posting it, a lighted match is applied to +the finished work. The material part is destroyed, but the +intangible and only real and lasting part remains behind. This is +attached, by the direction of the will, to a particular person and +set in a certain direction. If all the conditions have been properly +observed it will not fail to reach its destination. I have fortunately +been able to demonstrate this fact in public on more than one +occasion. The phenomenon is repeated in a less striking +form in every case of what is called "crossing," as when one +correspondent feels suddenly called upon to write urgently to +another and receives a reply to his enquiries while his letter is +still in course of delivery. + +Nature is full of a subtle magic of this sort for which we have no +organized science. It is said that if you put snails together and +afterwards separate them, placing each upon a copper ground to +which electric wires are attached, a shock given to one snail will +be registered by the other at the same moment. I have not tried +this theory, but the idea is fundamental to a mass of telepathic +observations which have found practical expression in wireless +telegraphy. Some thirty years ago, however, I made trial of the +twin magnet theory and was entirely successful in getting +wireless messages from one room to another. The performance +was, however, clumsy and tedious, and I did not then know +enough to see how it could be perfected. The idea is now in the +very safe custody of the Patents Office. + +Community of taste can be demonstrated under hypnosis. It is not +otherwise usually active in sensitives, and Swedenborg was +hence of opinion that the sense of taste could not be obsessed. +This, however, is incorrect. I have illustrated community of all +the senses under hypnosis in circumstances which entirely +precluded the possibility of feint or imposition on the part of the +subject. + +Another phase of psychic activity is that illustrated in "dowsing" +or water-finding by means of the hazel fork. It may be accounted +a form of hyperaesthesia and no doubt has a nervous expression, +but it is not the less psychic in its origin. I have already referred +to the action of water upon psychic sensitives, and there seems +little room for doubt that it is the psychometric sense which, by +means of the self-extensive faculty inhering in consciousness, +registers the presence of the great diamagnetic agent. Professor +Barrett has written a most interesting monograph on this subject, +and there are many books extant which make reference to and +give examples of this curious phenomenon. The late British +Consul at Trieste and famous explorer and linguist, Sir Richard +Burton, could detect the presence of a cat at a considerable +distance, and I have heard that Lord Roberts experiences the +same paralyzing influence by the proximity of the harmless feline. +If, therefore, one can register the presence of a cat, and another +that of a dead body, I see no difficulty in others registering water +or any other antipathetic. All we have to remember is that these +things are psychic in their origin, and not ignorantly confound +sensation with consciousness, or hyperaesthesia with the various +psychopathic faculties we have been discussing. But it is +necessary to return to our main subject and consider where our +developed clairvoyant or second-sight faculty will lead us, and +what sort of experience we may expect to gain by its use. These +points may now be dealt with. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +EXPERIENCE AND USE + +First let us have the facts, we can then best see what use we can +make of them. This I think is the correct position in regard to any +abnormal claim that is made upon our attention. Everybody has +heard of the prophecies of the Brahmin seer, most people +have some acquaintance with the phenomena attending the +clairvoyance of the seeress of Prevorst, while the experiences of +Emanuel Swedenborg have been set forth in many biographies, +but in none more lucidly and dispassionately than that by William +White. Traditions have come to us concerning the clairvoyance of +the Greek exponent of the Pythagorean teachings, Apollonius of +Tyana, and the case of Cavotte, who predicted his own death and +that of Robespierre and others by the guillotine, is on record. The +illumination of Andrew Jackson Davis, the Poughkeepsie seer, +and that of Thomas Lake Harris of Fountain Grove, are modern +examples of abnormal faculty of a nature which places them +outside the field of direct evidence. A prophecy made from the +use of the super-sense which is followed by exact fulfilment +appears to be the best criterion, though it is a very imperfect +illustration of the scope of clairvoyance. + +The following instances are within my personal experience, and +being already on record and well attested, will serve equally to +illustrate the fact of clairvoyance as would numerous others +within my knowledge. + +In June, 1896, a lady visited me in Manchester Square and, being +anxious on several points, asked that I would scry for her. A blue +beryl was used as agent. She was told that she would have news +from a tropical country concerning the birth of a child, a boy, +who would arrive in the following year in the month of February. +That on a certain date while travelling she would meet with an +accident to the right leg. Previous to this, in October she would +have a welcome surprise connected with papers and a contest in +which her son was engaged. + +Now here was a network of disaster for any would-be prophet +who relied upon what is called the "lucky shot." If we enumerate +the items of prediction, on any of which a fatal error could have +been made, we shall find a very formidable list:-- + + A tropical country. + A birth. + A boy then unborn. + February, 1897. + A journey on a particular date. + The right leg. + The son. + October. + Papers. + +At least nine points on which the faculty could have been wholly +at fault. The fulfilment, however, came in due course. The lady +heard that her sister, then vicereine of India, was about to have a +child, and in February, 1897, a son was born to Lord Elgin. In +October the lady referred to was agreeably surprised to learn that +her son had passed his examination for the military college with +honours. Further, while boarding a train at Victoria station she +had the misfortune to slip between the platform and the footboard, +so that the shin of the right leg was badly damaged and severe +muscular strain was also suffered, in consequence of which she +was laid up for several days. + +Mrs. H. was consulted by an authoress, her profession being +unknown to the scryer. She was told that she would go up a dingy +staircase with a roll of papers under her arm; that she would see a +dark man, thickset and of quiet demeanour. He would take the +roll of papers and it would be a source of good fortune to her. +The prediction was literally fulfilled. + +The first case cited is an example of the positive and symbolic +type of vision; the second being of the passive and direct type. + +Mrs. A. was consulted by a lady of the writer's acquaintance and +was told that she would not marry the man to whom she was then +engaged as there was a certain other person, described, coming +across the seas to claim her. She would meet him three years later +in the month of January. + +The event transpired exactly as stated, though nothing at that time +appeared less probable, and indeed the lady was not a little irate +at the allusion to the breaking off of the engagement and of +marrying a man whom she had never seen and for whom she +could have no sort of regard. In fact, the whole revelation was +very revolting to one so wholly absorbed as was she at the time. +It cannot be argued that this was a case of suggestion working +itself out, for one cannot auto-suggest the arrival of a person +of a particular description from a distant land to one's own +drawing-room at any time, and there is here a prediction as +to the date which was duly fulfilled. This was a case of direct +vision. + +Mrs. G. consulted a seer on September 27, 1894. She was told +she would have sickness affecting the loins and knees; that she +would be the owner of a house in the month of December; that a +removal would be made when the trees were leafless; that there +would be a dispute about a sum of money. + +This is positive or symbolical clairvoyance. The symbols seen +were as follow: a figure with a black cloth about the loins, the +figure stooping and resting the hands upon its knees. A house +covered with snow, bare trees around it. A bird on a leafless +branch; the bird flies away. Several hands seen grabbing at a pile +of money. + +All the predictions were fulfilled. + +Interpretations of symbols when made during the vision are +frequently far removed from what one would be led to expect. +But we have to remember that the seer is then in a psychologized +state, and there is reason to believe that interpretations made from +the inner plane of consciousness are due to the fact that the +symbols appear in a different light. Our ordinary dreams +follow the same change. While asleep we are impressed by the +importance and logical consistency of the dream incident, which +assumes, possibly, the proportions of a revelation, but which +dissolves into ridiculous triviality and nonsense as soon as we +awake. The reason is that there is a complete hiatus between the +visionary and the waking state of consciousness, and even the +laws of thought appear to undergo a change as the centre of +consciousness slides down from the inner to the outer world of +thought and feeling. + +In the Eastern conception the three states of _jagrata_, waking, +_swapna_, dreaming, and _sushupti_, sleeping, are penetrated by +the thread of consciousness, the _sutratma_, a node of complete +unconsciousness separating one state from the next. The centre of +consciousness, like a bead on the thread, alternates between the +three states as it is impelled by desire or will. + +[Illustration of the three states of jagrata] + +I have known sickness predicted, both as to time and nature of +the malady; the receipt of unexpected letters and telegrams with +indications of their contents and resulting incident; changes, +voyages, business transactions, deaths, and even changes in the +religious views of individuals, all by means of the crystal vision. + +It sometimes happens that the visionary state is induced by +excessive emotion during which the prophetic faculty is +considerably heightened. Some temperaments on the other hand +will fall into the clairvoyant condition when engaged in deep +thought. The thread of thought seems suddenly to be broken, and +there appears a vision wholly unconnected with the subject but a +moment ago absorbing the mind. It is as if the soul, while probing +the depths of its inner consciousness, comes into contact with the +thin partition which may be said to divide the outer world of +reason and doubt from the inner world of intuition and direct +perception, and breaking through, emerges into the light beyond. +In trance there is generally a development of other super-senses, +such as clairaudience and psychic touch, as well as clairvoyance. +Examples might be multiplied and would but serve to show that +the rapport existing between the human soul and the world soul, +the individual consciousness and the collective consciousness, is +capable of being actively induced by recourse to appropriate +means and developed where it exists in latency by means of the +crystal, the black concave mirror or other suitable agent. As yet, +however, the majority are wholly ignorant of the existence of +such psychic faculties, and even those who possess them are +conscious of having but an imperfect control of them. + +As in the case of genius where nature is opening up new centres +of activity in the mind, the casual observer notes an eccentricity +hardly distinguishable from some incipient forms of insanity; so +the development of new psychic faculties is frequently attended +by temporary loss of control over the normal brain functions. +Loss of memory, hysteria, absent-mindedness, unconscious +utterance of thought, illusions, irritability, indifference, +misanthropy and similar perversions are not infrequent products +of the preliminary stages of psychic development. These, +however, will pass away as the new faculty pushes through into +full existence. Nature is jealous of her offspring and concentrates +the whole of her forces when in the act of generation, and that is +the reason of her apparent neglect of powers and functions, +normally under her control, while the evolution of a new faculty +is in process. Let it be understood therefore that the faculty of +clairvoyance or any other super-sense is not to be artificially +developed without some cost to those who seek it. "The universe +is thine; take what thou wilt, but pay the price," says Emerson. +This is the divine mandate. It is not merely a question of the price +of a crystal or a mirror, the sacrifice of time, the exercise of +patience: it may mean something much more than this. It is a +question of the price of a new faculty. What is it worth to you? +That is the price you will be required to pay. And with this +equation in mind the reader must consider the use to which, when +obtained, he will apply his faculty; for the virtue of everything is +in its use. It is reasonable to presume that one's daily life can +supply the true answer. To what use are we employing the +faculties we already have, all of them acquired with as much pain +and suffering, it may be, as any new ones we are ever likely to +evolve? If we are using these faculties for the benefit of the race +we shall employ others that are higher to even greater effect. In +other case it is not worth the effort of acquiring, nor is it likely +that anybody of a radically selfish nature will take the trouble to +acquire it. Natural selection is the fine sieve which the gods use +in their prospecting. The gross material does not go through. + + +CONCLUSION. + +The foregoing short treatise will gain some practical value by a +statement of the conditions most suitable for scrying. + +A diffused natural light, preferably from the north, is always +better than an artificial light. + +The subject should sit with his back to the source of light, at a +distance from the mirror determined by its focus; or if the agent +be a crystal it should be held in the hands, one supporting the +other. + +Steady gazing in complete silence should be maintained for a +quarter of an hour, which may be afterwards gradually extended +to half or even a full hour. Success depends largely upon +idiosyncrasy and temperamental aptitude. Seers are often to be +found among men and women of imperfect education owing to +fitness of temperament; seers of this order are born with the +faculty. Others, seemingly non-sensitive at first, may develop the +faculty after a few short sittings. + +The eyes should not be strained, but the gaze should be allowed +to rest casually yet steadily on the agent as if one were reading a +book. + +It will be found that the sight is presently drawn inwards to a +focus beyond the surface of the agent. This opening up of the +field of vision is the symptom of success. The next step is +indicated by a change in the atmosphere of the field. Instead of +reflecting or remaining translucent, the agent will appear to cloud +over. This will appear to become milky, then to be diffused with +colour which changes to black or murky brown, and finally the +screen appears to be drawn away, revealing a picture, a scene, +figures in action, symbolical forms, sentences, etc. + +The physiological symptoms are: first, a slight chill along the +spine like cold water trickling from the neck downwards; +secondly, a returning flush of heat from the base of the spine +upwards to the crown of the head; thirdly, a gaping or spasmodic +action of the brain; and lastly, a deep inward drawing of the +breath, as if sobbing. When these symptoms follow closely upon +one another, vision will be assured. It generally happens, +however, that the various symptoms are separately developed by +repeated sittings, only appearing in proper sequence when the +experiment is finally successful. + +One of the most interesting phases of this development of second +sight is the opening up of lost impressions, the revival of lapsed +memories; "looking for one thing, you find another" is an +experience in daily life which has a psychological application. +The things which pass into the limbo of forgetfulness are never +lost to us. They remain stored up in latency and are ready to +spring into activity as soon as the depths of the mind are probed. +Necessarily this experience is more generally interesting than +pleasant, but it serves to give one a sense of the connectedness of +life's incident and to show a certain sequential necessity in the +course of events. The "whyness" of our various experiences is +revealed when they are displayed in their true relations and given +their true value in the scheme of individual evolution. As +detached experiences they appear without reason or purpose, +apparently futile, often painful and even cruel; but as a +consecutive scheme, completed by the revival of all the +connecting links, the wisdom, justice, kindness and beneficence +of the Great Arbiter of our destinies are fully and conspicuously +revealed. My own first suspicions of a former embodied existence +were derived from psychic experiences, and later on were +confirmed by the course of events. I saw myself reaping that +which I had sown, and I observed that what was sown in ignorance +might be reaped in the light of a fuller knowledge; only +we must henceforth be wise in the sowing. I would say in +conclusion that it is the duty of man to himself and humanity not +only to hold himself in readiness, but also to fit himself for the +reception of new light. Since evolution is the law of life and the +glory of going on man's highest guerdon, and since we are all +candidates for responsibility, asking as reward for work well +done to-day a task of greater magnitude on the morrow, it appears +that the development of the psychic faculties may well form an +orderly step in the process of human perfectibility, and help to +bring us nearer to the source of all good. If it serves only to keep +open the door between the two worlds it will have filled a good +purpose, and if in the writing of this little exposition, I may have +contributed to the confidence and security of any who may +adventure these obscure paths, I shall be well content. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SECOND SIGHT*** + + +******* This file should be named 26633.txt or 26633.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/6/3/26633 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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