Personal Psychic Influence Over Others
Psychic Influence, as the term is used in this book, may be said to be
divided into three general classes, viz., (1) Personal Influence, in which
the mind of another is directly influenced by induction while he is in the
presence of the person influencing; (2) Distant Influencing, in which the
psychic induction is directly manifested when the persons concerned are
distant from one another; and (3) Indirect Influence, in which the
induction is manifested in the minds of various persons coming in contact
with the thought vibrations of the person manifesting them, though no
attempt is made to directly influence any particular person. I shall now
present each of these three forms of psychic influence to you for
consideration, one after the other in the above order.
Personal Influence, as above defined, ranges from cases in which the
strongest control (generally known as hypnotism) is manifested, down to
the cases in which merely a slight influence is exerted. But the general
principle underlying all of these cases is precisely the same. The great
characters of history, such as Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte,
and Julius Caesar, manifested this power to a great degree, and were able
to sway men according to their will. All great leaders of men have this
power strongly manifested, else they would not be able to influence the
minds of men. Great orators, preachers, statesmen, and others of this
class, likewise manifest the power strongly. In fact, the very sign of
ability to influence and manage other persons is evidence of the
possession and manifestation of this mighty power.
In developing this power to influence others directly and personally, you
should begin by impressing upon your mind the principles stated in the
preceding chapter, namely (1) Strong Desire; (2) Clear Visualization; and
(3) Concentration.
You must begin by encouraging a strong desire in your mind to be a
positive individual; to exert and manifest a positive influence over
others with whom you come in contact, and especially over those whom you
wish to influence in some particular manner or direction. You must let the
fire of desire burn fiercely within you, until it becomes as strong as
physical hunger or thirst. You must "want to" as you want to breathe, to
live. You will find that the men who accomplish the great things in life
are those who have strong desire burning in their bosoms. There is a
strong radiative and inductive power in strong desire and wish--in fact,
some have thought this the main feature of what we generally call strong
will-power.
The next step, of course, is the forming of a clear, positive, distinct
and dynamic mental picture of the idea or feeling that you wish to induce
in the other person. If it is an idea, you should make a strong clear
picture of it in your imagination, so as to give it distinctness and
force and a clear outline. If it is a feeling, you should picture it in
your imagination. If it is something that you wish the other person to do,
or some way in which you wish him to act, you should picture him as doing
the thing, or acting in that particular way. By so doing you furnish the
pattern or design for the induced mental or emotional states you wish to
induce in the other person. Upon the clearness and strength of these
mental patterns of the imagination depends largely the power of the
induced impression.
The third step, of course, is the concentration of your mind upon the
impression you wish to induce in the mind of the other person. You must
learn to concentrate so forcibly and clearly that the idea will stand out
clearly in your mind like a bright star of a dark night, except that there
must be only one star instead of thousands. By so doing you really focus
the entire force of your mental and psychic energies into that one
particular idea or thought. This makes it act like the focused rays in the
sun-glass, or like the strong pipe-stream of water that will break down
the thing upon which it is turned. Diffused thought has but a
comparatively weak effect, whereas a concentrated stream of thought
vibrations will force its way through obstacles.
Remember, always, this threefold mental condition: (1) STRONG DESIRE; (2)
CLEAR MENTAL PICTURE; and (3) CONCENTRATED THOUGHT. The greater the degree
in which you can manifest these three mental conditions, the greater will
be your success in any form of psychic influence, direct or indirect,
personal or general, present or distant.
Before you proceed to develop the power to impress a particular idea or
feeling upon the mind of another person, you should first acquire a
positive mental atmosphere for yourself. This mental atmosphere is
produced in precisely the same way that you induce a special idea or
feeling in the mind of the other person. That is to say, you first
strongly desire it, then you clearly picture it, and then you apply
concentrated thought upon it.
I will assume that you are filled with the strong desire for a positive
mental atmosphere around you. You want this very much indeed, and actually
crave and hunger for it. Then you must begin to picture yourself (in your
imagination) as surrounded with an aura of positive thought-vibrations
which protect you from the thought forces of other persons, and, at the
same time impress the strength of your personality upon the persons with
whom you come in contact. You will be aided in making these strong mental
pictures by holding the idea in your concentrated thought, and, at the
same time, silently stating to your mind just what you expect to do in the
desired direction. In stating your orders to your mind, always speak as if
the thing were already accomplished at that particular moment. Never say
that it "will be," but always hold fast to the "it is." The following will
give you a good example of the mental statements, which of course should
be accompanied by the concentrated idea of the thing, and the mental
picture of yourself as being just what you state.
Here is the mental statement for the creation of a strong, positive
psychic atmosphere: "I am surrounded by an aura of strong, positive,
dynamic thought-vibrations. These render me positive to other persons, and
render them negative to me. I am positive of their thought-vibrations, but
they are negative to mine. They feel the strength of my psychic
atmosphere, while I easily repel the power of theirs. I dominate the
situation, and manifest my positive psychic qualities over theirs. My
atmosphere creates the vibration of strength and power on all sides of me,
which affect others with whom I come in contact. MY PSYCHIC ATMOSPHERE IS
STRONG AND POSITIVE!"
The next step in Personal Influence is that of projecting your psychic
power directly upon and into the mind of the other person whom you wish to
influence. Sometimes, if the person is quite negative to you, this is a
very simple and easy matter; but where the person is near your own degree
of psychic positiveness you will have to assert your psychic superiority
to him, and get the psychic "upper hand" before you can proceed further.
This is accomplished by throwing into your psychic atmosphere some
particularly strong mental statements accompanied by clear visualizations
or mental pictures.
Make positive your psychic atmosphere, particularly towards the person
whom you seek to influence, by statements and pictures something along
the following lines: "I am positive to this man"; "He is negative to me";
"He feels my power and is beginning to yield to it"; "He is unable to
influence me in the slightest, while I can influence him easily"; "My
power is beginning to operate upon his mind and feelings." The exact words
are not important, but the idea behind them gives them their psychic force
and power.
Then should you begin your direct attack upon him, or rather upon his
psychic powers. When I say "attack," I do not use the word in the sense of
warfare or actual desire to harm the other person--this is a far different
matter. What I mean to say is that there is usually a psychic battle for a
longer or shorter period between two persons of similar degrees of psychic
power and development. From this battle one always emerges victor at the
time, and one always is beaten for the time being, at least. And, as in
all battles, victory often goes to him who strikes the first hard blow.
The offensive tactics are the best in cases of this kind.
A celebrated American author, Oliver Wendall Holmes, in one of his books
makes mention of these duels of psychic force between individuals, as
follows: "There is that deadly Indian hug in which men wrestle with their
eyes, over in five seconds, but which breaks one of their two backs, and
is good for three-score years and ten, one trial enough--settles the whole
matter--just as when two feathered songsters of the barnyard, game and
dunghill, come together. After a jump or two, and a few sharp kicks, there
is an end to it; and it is 'After you, monsieur' with the beaten party in
all the social relations for all the rest of his days."
An English physician, Dr. Fothergill by name, wrote a number of years ago
about this struggle of wills, as he called it, but which is really a
struggle of psychic power. He says: "The conflict of will, the power to
command others, has been spoken of frequently. Yet what is this will-power
that influences others? What is it that makes us accept, and adopt too,
the advice of one person, while precisely the same advice from another has
been rejected? Is it the weight of force of will which insensibly
influences us; the force of will behind the advice? That is what it is!
The person who thus forces his or her advice upon us has no more power to
enforce it than others; but all the same we do as requested. We accept
from one what we reject from another. One person says of something
contemplated, 'Oh, but you must not,' yet we do it all the same, though
that person may be in a position to make us regret the rejection of that
counsel. Another person says, 'Oh, but you mustn't,' and we desist, though
we may, if so disposed, set this latter person's opinion at defiance with
impunity. It is not the fear of consequences, not of giving offense, which
determines the adaption of the latter person's advice, while it has been
rejected when given by the first. It depends upon the character or
will-power of the individual advising whether we accept the advice or
reject it. This character often depends little, if at all, in some cases,
upon the intellect, or even upon the moral qualities, the goodness or
badness, of the individual. It is itself an imponderable something; yet it
carries weight with it. There may be abler men, cleverer men; but it is
the one possessed of will who rises to the surface at these times--the one
who can by some subtle power make other men obey him.
"The will-power goes on universally. In the young aristocrat who gets his
tailor to make another advance in defiance of his conviction that he will
never get his money back. It goes on between lawyer and client; betwixt
doctor and patient; between banker and borrower; betwixt buyer and seller.
It is not tact which enables the person behind the counter to induce
customers to buy what they did not intend to buy, and which bought, gives
them no satisfaction, though it is linked therewith for the effort to be
successful. Whenever two persons meet in business, or in any other
relation in life, up to love-making, there is this will-fight going on,
commonly enough without any consciousness of the struggle. There is a dim
consciousness of the result, but none of the processes. It often takes
years of the intimacy of married life to find out with whom of the pair
the mastery really lies. Often the far stronger character, to all
appearances, has to yield; it is this will-element which underlies the
statement: 'The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong.' In Middle-march' we find in Lydgate a grand aggregation of
qualities, yet shallow, hard, selfish Rosamond masters him thoroughly in
the end. He was not deficient in will-power; possessed more than an
average amount of character; but in the fight he went down at last under
the onslaught of the intense, stubborn will of his narrow-minded spouse.
Their will-contest was the collision of a large warm nature, like a
capable human hand, with a hard, narrow selfish nature, like a steel
button; the hand only bruised itself while the button remained
unaffected."
You must not, however, imagine that every person with whom you engage in
one of these psychic duels is conscious of what is going on. He usually
recognizes that some sort of conflict is under way, but he does not know
the laws and principles of psychic force, and so is in the dark regarding
the procedure. You will find that a little practice of this kind, in which
no great question is involved, will give you a certain knack or trick of
handling your psychic forces, and will, besides, give you that confidence
in yourself that comes only from actual practice and exercise. I can point
out the rules, and give you the principles, but you must learn the little
bits of technique yourself from actual practice.
When you have crossed psychic swords with the other person, gaze at him
intently but not fiercely, and send him this positive strong
thought-vibration: "I am stronger than you, and I shall win!" At the same
time picture to yourself your forces beating down his and overcoming him.
Hold this idea and picture in your mind: "My vibrations are stronger than
are yours--I am beating you!" Follow this up with the idea and picture
of: "You are weakening and giving in--you are being overpowered!" A very
powerful psychic weapon is the following: "My vibrations are scattering
your forces--I am breaking your forces into bits--surrender, surrender
now, I tell you!"
And now for some interesting and very valuable information concerning
psychic defense. You will notice that in the offensive psychic weapons
there is always an assertion of positive statement of your power and its
effect. Well, then, in using the psychic defensive weapon against one of
strong will or psychic force, you reverse the process. That is to say you
deny the force of his psychic powers and forces, and picture them as
melting into nothingness. Get this idea well fixed in your mind, for it is
very important in a conflict of this kind. The effect of this is to
neutralize all of the other person's power so far as its effect on
yourself is concerned--you really do not destroy it in him totally. You
simply render his forces powerless to affect you. This is important not
only when in a psychic conflict of this kind, but also when you wish to
render yourself immune from the psychic forces of other persons. You may
shut yourself up in a strong defensive armor in this way, and others will
be powerless to affect you.
In the positive statement, "I deny!" you have the Occult Shield of
Defense, which is a mighty protection to you. Even if you do not feel
disposed to cultivate and develop your psychic powers in the direction of
influencing others, you should at least develop your defensive powers so
as to resist any psychic attacks upon yourself.
You will find it helpful to practice these offensive and defensive weapons
when you are alone, standing before your mirror and "playing" that your
reflection in the glass is the other person. Send this imaginary other
person the psychic vibrations, accompanied by the mental picture suitable
for it. Act the part out seriously and earnestly, just as if the reflected
image were really another person. This will give you confidence in
yourself, and that indefinable "knack" of handling your psychic weapons
that comes only from practice. You will do well to perfect yourself in
these rehearsals, just as you would in case you were trying to master
anything else. By frequent earnest rehearsals, you will gain not only
familiarity with the process and methods, but you will also gain real
power and strength by the exercise of your psychic faculties which have
heretofore lain dormant. Just as you may develop the muscle of your arm by
calisthenic exercises, until it is able to perform real muscular work of
strength; so you may develop your psychic faculties in this rehearsal
work, so that you will be strongly equipped and armed for an actual
psychic conflict, besides having learned how to handle your psychic
weapons.
After you have practiced sufficiently along the general offensive and
defensive lines, and have learned how to manifest these forces in actual
conflict, you will do well to practice special and specific commands to
others, in the same way. That is to say, practice them first on your
reflected image in the mirror. The following commands (with mental
pictures, of course) will give you good practice. Go about the work in
earnest, and act out the part seriously. Try these exercises: "Here! look
at me!" "Give me your undivided attention!" "Come this way!" "Come to me
at once!" "Go away from me--leave me at once!" "You like me--you like me
very much!" "You are afraid of me!" "You wish to please me!" "You will
agree to my proposition!" "You will do as I tell you!" Any special command
you wish to convey to another person, psychically, you will do well to
practice before the mirror in this way.
When you have made satisfactory progress in the exercises above mentioned,
and are able, to demonstrate them with a fair degree of success in actual
practice, you may proceed to experiment with persons along the lines of
special and direct commands by psychic force. The following will give you
a clear idea of the nature of the experiments in question, but you may
enlarge upon and vary them indefinitely. Remember there is no virtue in
mere words--the effect comes from the power of the thought behind the
words. But, nevertheless, you will find that positive words, used in these
silent commands, will help you to fit in your feeling to the words. Always
make the command a real COMMAND, never a mere entreaty or appeal. Assume
the mental attitude of a master of men--of a commander and ruler of other
men. Here follow a number of interesting experiments along these lines,
which will be very useful to you in acquiring the art of personal
influence of this kind:
SEVEN VALUABLE EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1: When walking down the street behind a person, make him turn
around in answer to your mental command. Select some person who does not
seem to be too much rushed or too busy--select some person who seems to
having nothing particular on his mind. Then desire earnestly that he shall
turn around when you mentally call to him to do so; at the same time
picture him as turning around in answer to your call; and at the same time
concentrate your attention and thought firmly upon him. After a few
moments of preparatory thought, send him the following message, silently
of course, with as much force, positiveness and vigor as possible: "Hey
there! turn around and look at me! Hey! turn around, turn around at once!"
While influencing him fix your gaze at the point on his neck where the
skull joins it--right at the base of the brain, in the back. In a number
of cases, you will find that the person will look around as if someone had
actually called him aloud. In other cases, he will seem puzzled, and will
look from side to side as if seeking some one. After a little practice you
will be surprised how many persons you can affect in this way.
EXERCISE 2: When in a public place, such as a church, concert or theatre,
send a similar message to someone seated a little distance in front of
you. Use the same methods as in the first exercise, and you will obtain
similar results. It will seem queer to you at first to notice how the
other person will begin to fidget and move around in his seat, and finally
glance furtively around as if to see what is causing him the disturbance.
You, of course, will not let him suspect that it is you, but, instead will
gaze calmly ahead of you, and pretend not to notice him.
EXERCISE 3: This is a variation of the first exercise. It is
practiced by sending to a person approaching you on the street, or walking
ahead of you in the same direction, a command to turn to the right, or to
the left, as you prefer. You will be surprised to see how often you will
be successful in this.
EXERCISE 4: This is a variation of the second exercise. It is
practiced by sending to a person seated in front of you in a public place
the command to look to the right, or to the left, as you prefer. Do not
practice on the same person too long, after succeeding at first--it is not
right to torment people, remember.
EXERCISE 5: After having attained proficiency in the foregoing
exercises, you many proceed to command a person to perform certain
unimportant motions, such as rising or sitting down, taking off his hat,
taking out his handkerchief, laying down a fan, umbrella, etc.
EXERCISE 6: The next step is to command persons to say some
particular word having no important meaning; to "put words in his mouth"
while talking to him. Wait until the other person pauses as if in search
of a word, and then suddenly, sharply and forcibly put the word into his
mouth, silently of course. In a very susceptible person, well under your
psychic control, you may succeed in suggesting entire sentences and
phrases to him.
EXERCISE 7: This is the summit of psychic influencing, and, of
course, is the most difficult. But you will be surprised to see how well
you will succeed in many cases, after you have acquired the knack and
habit of sending the psychic message. It consists of commanding the person
to obey the spoken command or request that you are about to make to him.
This is the art and secret of the success of many salesmen, solicitors,
and others working along the lines of influencing other people. It is
acquired by beginning with small things, and gradually proceeding to
greater, and still greater. At this point I should warn you that all the
best occult teachings warn students against using this power for base
ends, improper purposes, etc. Such practices tend to react and rebound
against the person using them, like a boomerang. Beware against using
psychic or occult forces for improper purposes--the psychic laws punish
the offender, just as do the physical laws.
Finally, I caution the student against talking too much about his
developing powers. Beware of boasting or bragging about these things. Keep
silent, and keep your own counsel. When you make known your powers, you
set into operation the adverse and antagonistic thought of persons around
you who may be jealous of you, and who would wish to see you fail, or make
yourself ridiculous. The wise head keepeth a still tongue! One of the
oldest occult maxims is: "Learn! Dare! Do! Keep Silent!!!" You will do
well to adhere strictly to this warning caution.
More
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Mediumistic Auto-suggestion
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Mediumistic phenomena, i.e., the phenomena by and through which spirits manifest their presence and demonstrate their power, may be broadly classified under two heads, as follows, (1) physical phenomena, and (2) mental phenomena. ... Mediumistic Flashes
A writer has the following to say concerning this class of mediumistic persons: "Those persons who are naturally sensitive sometimes experience strange and sudden impulses. Thoughts come to them 'in a flash,' so to speak. They say things spontaneous... Mediumistic Phenomena
Some students of this book who have noted in the foregoing pages certain references to the conduct of the sitters in the circle may ask themselves the question: "Why are the SITTERS so important, when the power is really exerted by the spirits thr... Mediumistic Sensitivity
Emma Hardinge Britten said: "Whatever that force may be which constitutes the difference between a 'medium' and a non-medium, it is certainly of a mental and magnetic character--that is, a combination of the subtle elements of mind and magnetism, an... Mediumistic Stage Fright
In the same way the placid reflecting surface of the mediumistic mind may become disturbed by the presence of fear, doubt, and distrust in the mind of the medium. It may at first seem strange that the medium should doubt the manifestations being mad... Mediumship
Among the higher categories of Nature's Finer Forces is included that which is popularly known as "mediumship." Although this term has suffered more or less by reason of its misappropriation by certain charlatans and the unprincipled exploiters of... Mediumship And Genius
The spirits controlling the hand of a celebrated writing medium, once delivered through him the following message regarding the nature and development of mediumistic powers: "Mediumship is a development of that which is, in another sort, genius. Gen... Mediumship And Individuality
The student will find it desirable to acquaint himself with the best opinions concerning the possible or probable effects of the practice of mediumistic powers upon the medium himself. There is evidenced a disposition in certain quarters to hold to ... Mediumship And Religious Belief
The careful student will of course notice that this communication with the higher planes of life and being--this so-called "mediumship"--does not depend upon any particular form of religious belief, or teaching, concerning the nature of the state or... Mediumship And The Bible
A third writer, Rev. H. E. Haweis, says in connection with the relation of spiritualism with religion: "People now believe in the Bible because of spiritualism; they do not believe in spiritualism because of the Bible. Take up your Bible and you wil... Mediumship Beneficial
A second writer says: "There is no reason why the reactive consequences of frequent control by enlightened and earnest spirits, even in the case of the 'trance' medium, should not prove extremely beneficial to the sensitive, and this, we believe, ha... Mediumship Not Dangerous
The following additional quotations from spiritualistic writers on this point, serve to throw important light on this subject. J. J. Morse says: "Andrew Jackson Davis, Hudson Tuttle, and other writers, if I correctly understand them, claim that medi... Mental Atmosphere Of The Medium
Likewise, it must not be forgotten that an important factor in the production of mediumistic phenomena is that which Morse, in the above quotation, has called "the mental atmosphere of the medium controlled." In many cases the spirit powers are pres... Mental Atmospheres
A well known American writer on this subject has said concerning this point: "There are many places today filled with the thought-vibrations of minds long since passed out of the body. There are places filled with the strong vibrations of tragedies ... Mental Attunement
It should not fail to be noticed, moreover, that we habitually receive and accept more readily those thought vibrations which are in harmony with our own average habitual mental states; and, according to the same general principle, we tend to habitu... Mental Phenomena
MENTAL PHENOMENA cover another wide range of mediumistic phenomena, among which may be mentioned the following, viz., involuntary or automatic writing and drawing, writing by means of the planchette or "ouija" board or similar mechanical aid to writ... Mental Tidal Waves
"We know how great waves of feeling spread over a town, city, or county, sweeping people off their feet, and causing them to lose their balance. Great waves of political enthusiasm, or war-spirit or prejudice for or against certain people, or groups... Mental Vibrations And Transmissions
In the category of Nature's Finer Forces must be included that class of manifestations which are generally known as Telepathy, Thought Transference, Thought Force, etc., all of which are based upon the fact that there is present in all such mental... Mental Whirlpools
The contagion of thought-vibrations is manifested by such vibrations coming into contact with the minds of other persons within the field of mental induction of the first person, and there setting up similar vibrations. We know that orators, actors,... Methods Of Development
The same authority, after warning students against attempting to develop their psychic powers by unnatural and harmful practices, such as self-hypnotism, self-stupefication, etc., gives the following excellent advice concerning the normal developmen... Microscopic Vision
Another phase of clairvoyant power of this general class, but one not nearly so common as those above mentioned, is described by a well-known occultist as follows: "Another strange power of which the clairvoyant may find himself in possession is tha... Mind Reading
Perhaps the best plan for the beginner is to practice the popular "mind reading" experiment or game, which is quite popular in some localities, and among persons interested in this line of thought. The experiments of this kind are performed, general... Mind Reading And Beyond
The simpler forms of telepathic phenomena have received the name "Mind Reading" and by some have been regarded as something not quite within the class of real telepathy. This last impression has been heightened by the fact that there has been offe... Modern Black Magic
"In our own civilized lands there are many people who have learned the principles of mental influence, and who are using the same for unworthy purposes, seeking to injure others and to defeat their undertakings, or else trying to bring them around t... Natural Unfoldment
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One of the most common mistaken conceptions of the average student of the occult sciences, and of so-called "psychic phenomena" in general, is that which may be expressed by the term "supernatural." This term, as you know, is used to express the i... Need Of Special Development
A writer says: "As a general rule, the best results of mediumship are secured by special development along the lines of natural aptitude. A 'Jack of all trades is master of none,' and such a one is a failure in mediumship as in anything else. You ma... Neutralizing Psychic Influences
Another writer gives us the following most interesting information and advice for use in cases of this kind: "I wish to point out to you a means of protection against the use of psychic influence against yourself on the part of unscrupulous persons,... No Loss Of Individuality
In concluding this part of our book, we would call your attention to the following statements made by writers along the lines of spiritualism in the leading journals of that school of modern thought. The first writer says: "There is no need for the ... Opening Of The Seance
It will be well to open the seance with a few moments of earnest, silent meditation--a few moments of dwelling "in the silence," as some have well called it; and these moments should be observed in a religious and devotional state of mind, all frivo... Other Historical Instances
To mention but a few other celebrated instances of historic prophecy: George Fox, the pioneer Quaker Friend, had the clairvoyant faculty well developed, and numerous instances of its manifestation by him are recorded. For instance, he foretold the d... Other Persons Present
"(4) Any person, or persons, admitted to the room, and allowed to remain while you sit, should (a) keep absolute silence, and (b) remain seated at a distance from you. When you have developed your latent powers, questions may, of course, be put to y... Ouija Boards
Of late years the sitters at circles have found a quicker method of obtaining "letter by letter" messages by means of the apparatus called "the Ouija Board," which consists of a moving "Planchette" with an indicator which moves over the letters mark... Past Time Clairvoyance
In what is known as Past Time Clairvoyance there is the manifestation of clairvoyant vision in the direction of scenes and occurrences of the past. Here, the clairvoyant perceives the events and scenes of past time just as clearly and plainly as if ... Persistent Watchful Waiting
Some persons are so disappointed because they have not obtained results after two or three sittings that they give up further efforts. It would perhaps amaze such persons to know that many of the world's most celebrated mediums have, in the beginnin... Personal Psychic Influence Over Others
Psychic Influence, as the term is used in this book, may be said to be divided into three general classes, viz., (1) Personal Influence, in which the mind of another is directly influenced by induction while he is in the presence of the person inf... Phenomena Without Darkness
"Home always refused to sit in the dark. He said that, with firmness and perseverance, the phenomena could be got just as well in the light, and even if some of the things were not so strong, the evidence of one's eyesight was worth making same sacr... Physical Phenomena
PHYSICAL PHENOMENA cover a wide range of mediumistic manifestations, among which are movements of tables, the production of "raps," the manifestation of spirit lights, freedom from the effects of fire, the passage of matter through matter, direct wr... Physical Requirements
"(6) The crystal should not be used soon after taking a meal, and care should be taken in matters of diet to partake only of digestible foods, and to avoid alcoholic beverages. Plain and nourishing food, and outdoor exercise, with contentment of min... Planes And Vibrations
To those who may be disposed to regard the above statements concerning the "planes of being" as somewhat visionary, theoretical, or imaginary, we would say: "Go to modern science, and verify this statement." The following quotation from a writer on ... Practical Advice To Developing Mediums
The young developing medium who has read the foregoing pages of this book will in all probability soon discover just what phase of mediumship is best suited for his natural powers, temperament and psychic constitution. As his innate psychic powers u... Prana
The orientals account for physical mediumistic phenomena in a similar way, though their terms are different. Instead of speaking of zoether, or psychic force, they always employ the term "prana." In the oriental philosophies "prana" is explained as ... Pre-test Manifestations
Do not be in too much of a hurry to obtain "test" messages. Let the communications flow on in a somewhat rambling manner at first, until the lines of communication are fully and firmly established, and then you may begin to think about asking test q... Prejudice Against The Unusual
Those to whom the above illustration may seem far-fetched, exaggerated, and unwarranted, are asked to carefully consider the ignorant and unthinking attitude which the great majority of the general public, at least at first, present toward that most... Premature Tests
Regarding the matter of premature tests, or unreasonable demands, the same writer further says: "Remember that the first requisite is to establish the channel of communication; and all personal questions as to who and what the spirit is should be re... Present Clairvoyance
In what is called Present Clairvoyance the objects perceived by the clairvoyant are present in time and in space, at the moment and place of the perception, although invisible to normal sight. It is seen at once that if the object seen clairvoyantly... Private Experiments
But, after all, the most convincing evidences of Telepathy are those which most of us have met with in our own experience. There are but few intelligent, observing persons who have not, at some time in their life, had experiences of this kind, in wh... Psychic Attunement
The entity, or spirit, dwelling on one of the many higher planes of being who wishes to communicate with persons on earth through a medium, must first select some person capable of raising his or her own vibratory rate of consciousness to become "in... Psychic Attunement
Those who have read the above carefully stated opinion, will begin to see the reason why certain mediums who have attained the greatest proficiency in certain forms of mediumship, and who have become what are known as "reliable mediums," almost alwa... Psychic Attunement
One of the most common faults of the sitters at a circle is to become unduly impatient, and to try to force matters to a clear manifestation of phenomena almost from the moment of the start. This is all wrong, and is frequently the cause of many fai... Psychic Detective Work
Many cases are recorded by the investigators in which the psychometrist is able to "sense" a particular locality, a house, a room, a place of business, for instance, by means of the connecting link afforded by some physical object formerly associate... Psychic Force
Various explanations of the power employed by the spirits, assisted by the medium and by the circle, have been offered by the scientific investigators of the subject. The most generally accepted theory of the western scientists is that the spirits e... Psychic Influence At A Distance
The second phase of Psychic Influence is that called Distant Psychic Influence, in which psychic induction is manifested when the persons are distant in space from one another--not in the presence of each other. Here, of course, we see the princip... Psychic Influence; Its Laws And Principles
One of the phases of psychic phenomena that actively engage the attention of the student from the very beginning is that which may be called Psychic Influence. By this term is meant the influencing of one mind by another--the effect of one mind ov... Psychic Sensitiveness
The student of this book will find in the succeeding portions thereof, from time to time, certain general instructions regarding the cultivation of psychic receptivity and sensitiveness. These general instructions are also applicable to the cultivat... Psychic Sponges
A writer has also called the attention of young mediums to another undesirable class of psychic hangers-on at seances, as follows: "There are some people who, when they sit in a circle, are extremely helpful, and give off the right kind of force tha... Psychic Underground Exploration
Psychometry is frequently employed to describe underground or "mine" conditions existing at the present time at the particular place from which a particular piece of ore or mineral has been taken, which ore or mineral has been handed the psychometri... Psychometric Getting In Touch
"A psychometrist may, by holding a letter in his hand, or putting it to his forehead, be able to perceive and delineate the personal appearance of the writer thereof, and, in a way, to 'take on' his conditions, describe his feelings and thoughts to ... Psychometric Readings
"The person who sits for the psychometrist for a 'reading' should not be antagonistic nor frivolous, neither should he desire special information, nor concentrate his thought forces upon any given point, as otherwise he may dominate the psychic and ... Psychometry
In Psychometry, the clairvoyant establishes the en rapport connection with objects, persons or scenes, removed in space or in time, by means of some physical object associated with the distant object, person or scene; for instance, the physical obje... Public Seances
A writer, himself a successful medium, gives the following good advice to young mediums: "I strongly advise all mediums to wait and serve out their apprenticeship thoroughly before they undertake to sit for sceptics or perform public work, either as... Public Speaking Under Control
A writer gives the following advice concerning Speaking Mediumship: "Should you be controlled to give public addresses, it will be best to withhold the name of the spirit who prompts or controls your utterances. Most intelligent spirits prefer to be... Questioning The Spirits
After a satisfactory arrangement of the sitters is obtained, and the table tiltings or rappings have assumed a clear, definite character, then the sitters may proceed to ascertain the identity of the spirit seeking to communicate to the circle; or e... Radio-activity
In the theory of vibratory forces, as set forth in the earlier chapters of this book, we have the only scientific explanation of the phenomena of distant clairvoyance. Modern science, in its teachings regarding the radio-activity of physical objects... Rational Mediumship
Wallis says: "The rational course for mediums and inquirers to follow is assuredly that of avoiding the extremes alike of credulity and sceptical incredulity, by letting the spirits do their best and then collating the facts observed and drawing con... Reading The Light Waves
Now, if our physical vision was sufficiently powerful to magnify objects on the stars, or if we had instruments to do this for us, we could actually witness scenes, objects, persons and events which had passed out of existence a thousand years ago. ... Reasonable Demands Of Spirits
In the above stated instance, and others similar to it, it at first seems as if the spirits were overparticular, and "finnicky" about the conditions, but a little careful thought will show you that this is not the real state of affairs at all. The s... Reasons For Changes
In cases in which the spirits suggest changes in the order of sitting of the members of the circle, or suggest other changes in the personnel of the circle, such suggestions should be heeded, and those who are asked to withdraw from the table should... Recalling Past Incidents
"After looking around the room very deliberately at various objects, then at one person after another, and fixing her eyes on my wife, she ran across the room, and throwing her arms around my wife's neck, she kissed her most affectionately, addressi... Repelling Adverse Influences
This writer continues: "Not only in the case of personal influence in the actual presence of the other person may be defeated in this way, but the same method will act equally well in the matter of repelling the mental influence of others directed a... Result Of Bad Sitters
And Wallis has said: "Although the spirits may be intensely anxious to demonstrate their power, they are sometimes repelled from those whom they seek to approach by the bristling and discordant conditions of mind that prevail among the sitters, who ...