Polarization

You have heard of "Polarity," and "Polarization" in connection with

electrical phenomena. "Polarity" is defined by Webster as: "That

quality or condition of a body by virtue of which it exhibits opposite

or contrasted properties or powers, in opposite or contrasted parts or

directions; or, a condition giving rise to a contrast of properties

corresponding to a contrast of positions." And, "Polarization" is

defined by th same authority as: "Act of polarizing; state of having

polarity." Well, then, the process of erecting the Astral Tube is

practically that of the "polarization" of the particles of Astral

matter by an effort of the human Will, set in motion by means of a

strong Desire or Determination, under certain conditions.



When the human Will is directed toward a distant person or object,

under the proper psychic conditions, it tends to "polarize" a path or

channel through the Astral atmosphere toward the desired point, which

channel becomes at once an easy course of psychic communication for the

transmission or receiving of psychic impressions or expressions, as the

case may be. And, in the case of Psychomancy and kindred phenomena, the

Astral Senses of the person (even though his Astral Body be still

within its physical counterpart) are able to readily "sense" the

impressions being manifested at a far distant point in space.



The above mentioned channel of communication--the Astral Tube--has not

of course the advantages of actual travel in the Astral Body, and is

besides affected by certain Astral happenings, such as the breaking up

of the tube, or an impairment of its efficiency, by reason of some

stronger astral current or channel, etc., for instance. When one

considers the currents and cross-currents constantly in operation on

the Astral Plane, it will be seen how likely the above mentioned

interference is to happen.



Through the Astral Tube the Astral Senses actually "sense" the sights,

and often the sounds being manifested at a distance, just as one may

see distant sights through a telescope, or hear distant sounds through

a telephone, for instance. It also may be used as a microscope, as we

shall see as we proceed. The student's attention is especially directed

toward the fact that in this form of phenomena, the Psychomancer

remains within his physical body, and does not travel in the Astral at

all. He sees the distant scenes, just as a man sees them through a

telescope. His consciousness remains within his physical body.



A well known writer on this subject has truly said: "* * * the

limitations resemble those of a man using a telescope on the physical

plane. The experimenter, for example, has a particular field of view

which cannot be enlarged or altered; he is looking at his scene from a

certain direction, and he cannot suddenly turn it all around and see

how it looks from the other side. If he has sufficient psychic energy

to spare, he may drop altogether the telescope that he is using, and

manufacture an entirely new one for himself which will approach his

objective somewhat differently; but, this is not a course at all likely

to be adopted in practice. But it may be said, the mere fact that he is

using Astral Sight ought to enable him to see it from all sides at

once. And so it would, if he were using that sight in the normal way

upon an object which was fairly near him--within his astral reach as it

were; but at a distance of hundreds or thousands of miles the case is

very different. Astral sight gives us the advantage of an additional

dimension, but there is still such a thing as position in that

dimension, and it is naturally a potent factor in limiting the use of

the powers of its plane. * * * Astral sight, when it is cramped by

being directed along what is practically a tube, is limited very much

as physical sight would be under similar circumstances, though if

possessed in perfection it will continue to show, even at that

distance, the auras, and therefore all the emotions and most of the

thoughts of the people under observation."



The Astral Tube, in connection with Psychomancy, is used in a variety

of forms. It is often used unconsciously, and springs into existence

spontaneously, under the power of some strong emotion, desire or will.

It is also observed in some cases of hypnotic phenomena, in which the

hypnotist uses his will to cause his subject to form an Astral Tube,

and then report his impressions. It is also used by the trained

Psychomancer, without the use of any "starting point," or "focal

centre," simply by the exercise of his trained, developed and

concentrated will. But its most familiar and common use is in

connection with some object serving as a "starting point," or "focal

centre."



The "starting point" or "focal centre," above mentioned, is generally

either what is known as "the associated object" in the class of

phenomena commonly known as "Psychometry," or else a glass or

crystal-ball, or similar polished reflecting surface, in what is known

as "Crystal Gazing." In the two next succeeding lessons, we shall

consider these two forms of phenomena, respectively.