THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF SPIRIT COMMUNICATION

 

The stars as glowing suns send out waves of light, which break on coasts at inconceivable distances. The light of 61 Cygnet, one of the nearest, traveling at the velocity of 192,000 miles in a second, is twelve years in passing the distance from that star to the earth, and how much further it reaches is beyond understanding. Its light is thrown out in every direction, so that in every part of that vast sphere the star is visible. A luminous body is one which throws off light-waves. In the same manner a heated body throws off vibrations of different length and velocity, which are recognized as heat. An electrically excited body, that is one thrown into intense vibrations, sends off waves known as electricity. These waves go out in every direction as radii from a center to the circumference of its sphere, and when unimpeded in perfect spheres. The wire, being a better conductor, more readily transmits these waves.

 

When such a vibrating body is elevated to some height in the air (set in vibration by being charged), it throws out these waves, and at all points in the sphere of its waves they can be received by a proper instrument. It is thus seen that wireless telegraphy does not differ from telegraphy by wire in principle. This is, however, at once observed: As these waves go out, the surface they cover rapidly increases, and their intensity must decrease in the same ratio. This may be beautifully illustrated by dropping a stone into a perfectly still pond. The waves go out from the point of disturbance in circles. They rapidly decrease in height as they follow each other and break on the shore. If the surface is large they almost disappear, and were its area sufficient they are lost, although in theory, were the surface infinitely extended they could go on infinitely.

 

This decrease is found to be as the square of the distance. Thus, if the energy of a light, heat or electric vibrant body, at a certain distance be represented by a unit, at twice the distance the energy will be four times less; at four times the distance sixteen times less. While this does not hold good on a conducting wire, it will be found to limit within its narrow bounds, the distance to which wireless telegraphy can be employed. With these physical facts clearly impressed on our minds, we are prepared for the reception of the grand principles on which the superstructure of the spiritual philosophy is founded. It is this: As the radiant star is a center of light, so the brain is a center of radiant thought. The spirit using the brain as its instrument, is the source and vortex of that energy sending out vibrations in every direction. The parallel is made complete by the analogous ethers, for as there is an ether of extreme tenuity for the explanation of the phenomena of the physical forces of light, heat and electricity, there is a still more refined ether, which is the medium of psychic vibrations.

 

This principle, as simple and yet as sublime as that of gravitation, was first announced in "The Philosophy of Spirit and the Spirit World," published in 1860. The spirit authors for the first time explicitly stated the theory of thought vibrations with diagrams, as the fundamental explanation of all that marvelous class of phenomena now known as thought transference, telepathy, etc. It is to the spiritual what the law of gravitation is in the physical world.

 

The existence of a universal spirit-ether was declared similar to that of light-ether. It was called "Zoether," in preference to nerve-aura, or nervous fluid. On page 131 it is said:

 

"There must be a medium of communication, otherwise no influence could pass from one individual to another. * * * * * If an individual can influence another at a distance simply by an effort of his will, then it is self-evident that something passes from one to the other. * * * * * What is this something? Facts conflict with its being matter radiated from one individual to another as light was once supposed to be transmitted. On the other hand, all these phenomena show a striking relationship to light, heat and kindred agents, and whatever applies to one applies to all. We have already discussed this subject and to the universal ether-ocean referred these phenomena.

 

As a luminous body is one capable of producing waves of light, a living being is capable of producing Zoethic waves. These waves are transmitted with greater rapidity than waves of light, their velocity being 250,000 miles per second. * * * * * All brains throw off vibrations as all strings when extended give out waves of sound; and as the string must have a corresponding string to receive its vibrations, so the brain must have a harmonial other's brain to receive its vibrations. * * * * * Here we arrive at the source of all psychological influence, whether received under the name of animal magnetism, hypnotism, mental influence or spirit impression. It underlies and ramifies through all these diversified effects."