HOW TO BECOME PSYCHOMETRIC

 

To cultivate this faculty, the essential is use, constant observance of impressions received from surrounding objects, letters, and persons, until a distinction can be made between these and the workings of the mind.

 

All have the gift of psychometry, in degree, as all are sensitive to impressions from surrounding objects. The chief and most difficult part is to learn to distinguish such impressions from the thoughts springing from the mind itself. The two are intricately blended, and all are accepted in every-day life, as from the mind. Let it here be distinctly understood that while the so-called "readings" of psychometrists may be simply impressions given by spirits interested, we are now studying that form of manifestation wherein the spirit of the experimenter alone is engaged, and reading by the same law that governs disembodied spirits. As every object throws out waves, the necessity is to receive and interpret these waves. A letter or garment, a lock of hair, have what may be called their primary waves, and many other series of secondary waves received from contact with other persons. These primary vibrations will be the most intense, although the others may be vividly recognizable.

 

PRACTICAL LESSON.

 

In the practice of psychometry, it is best to have an assistant. Perfect quiet and uninterruption should be secured. The subject placed in a perfectly easy and restful position, as in a reclining chair. The assistant takes the letter or object to be experimented with, without knowing its author, or nature, if possible, and gives it to the subject. If he know, mind­reading might be the explanation and the result vitiated. The letter is held in the hand or placed lightly against the forehead. The first impression should be immediately spoken, and as these come they should be uttered without stopping to reason on the why and wherefore. If it is a medicinal substance the effect it produces should be at once described. With relics, or minerals, scenes arise like a mirage, which, however clear, pass with great rapidity. These should be described as they pass. Not more than two or three tests should be made at a seance, as the influences are liable to blend and cloud the delineation. Continuous and patient practice is essential to acquire skill in this direction.

 

TRANCE.

 

It is impossible to attain the profound state of trance without partially surrendering the will. The same passivity must be allowed as in going to sleep. Nor should there be any more fear. Why should there be? One state is as natural as the other, and, understood, fraught with no more danger. When one enters the state of sleep, he is not certain that he will ever awake. He is helpless to all external conditions and trusts that in case of imminent danger he may arouse. The trance state is so profound the awakening may not come even in the most deadly peril. The mourning of friends, the preparation for burial, and even the horrible entombment, although the person is fully conscious, fails to restore the power of expression.

 

In trance, the spirit does not leave the body, as has been advocated. The spirit only leaves the body at death, and when it does so it cannot again return to its possession. If a person in a trance should be cremated, separation of spirit and body would take place, or death, and the condition of the spirit would not differ from that occasioned by other forms of departure.

 

The facts which have led to the conclusion are those of "double appearance," where the person has appeared at a distance from where his body was known to be. This usually occurs at the moment of death, but a great number of well authenticated cases have been observed where the participant was in perfect health. In the former case, the real presence of the spirit maybe inferred, in the latter the thoughts are so intensely projected, that the waves strike the mind of a sensitive with such force that they give the impression of objective reality.

 

Trance induced in a circle requires trust in the dominating intelligence and the surrounding conditions. There is no danger of bad results, if the circle is harmonious, its members actuated by pure and exalted motives, with desire for spiritual knowledge, and remain self-possessed, and undisturbed by fear or curiosity. The recipient should be incited by pure and unselfish motives that only the highest influences may be attracted. However well prepared the subject may be, he should approach the state slowly, and maintain a will positive to any degrading influence. And here it may be well to deeply impress the importance of carefully distinguishing the trance state from death, which it so nearly approaches. There are, no doubt, many premature burials because of ignorance on this subject. Volumes might be filled with ell attested cases, and of those where the awful fate was averted at the last moment. Bishop, the celebrated mind-reader, is a conspicuous illustration. The doctors did not wait the usual time, but hurried an autopsy that they might perchance find in the cells or fibres of his brain the secret of his sensitiveness. They found a slight congestion, that was all.

 

There should not be such haste as is usually manifested in consigning the body to the grave. The signs of death should be sure and unmistakable, and those generally relied on are not absolute evidence. The only one that is so, is the plain approach of decomposition. Even this must be pronounced, for the profound trance by suspending the organic functions allows the accumulation of effete matter, which by its decay produces an unpleasant odor and discoloration. Even after these have been observed there has been recovery.

 

MUSICAL MEDIUMSHIP

 

This is not a distinct phase, for the same conditions which allow a spirit to write, or inspire, facilitates its using the medium for the production of music. For success the control must be more perfect than for the communication of thoughts.

 

There are two distinct methods, the automatic, where the exceeding sensitiveness of the medium allows of that mechanical control, exhibited by a hypnotized subject. When this is united with an organization attuned to music, the results are wonderful. Blind Tom is one of the most conspicuous instances of this form of control.

 

By an unknown pre-natal impression his susceptibility to musical tones was intense, while his other faculties were dwarfed to idiocy. Yet imbecile, uncouth, untaught, he unhesitatingly executed the most difficult music in a manner only attained by others by years of study and practice. His improvisations have been the wonder and delight of his listeners and an unsolved mystery to scientists. By what method could his astonishing facility of execution, delicacy of expression, and masterly touch be explained?

 

He was never taught a lesson in music, was incapable of forming a continuous train of thought; yet no conservatory ever graduated a superior performer. We are forced to accept one of two conclusions; either that he was himself superior to anyone in musical ability, or that he derived his gift from an outside source. The first, on the face of it, is absurd; he was no more the cause of the music he produced than was the piano on which he played.

 

History affords many parallel examples, where an exceptional sensitiveness dependent on physical organization has been seized upon by spiritual beings, and the recipient made to respond like an instrument. Yet even the most perfect control has its limitations by the attainments, character and development of the spirit, which determines the channel in which the control shall move, as music, mathematical calculations, money-getting, etc.

 

The other form of control is of mediums who have by education and training prepared their minds to receive and understand. The musician by his long continued training not only prepares himself for the production of music in its most artistic style, but he also cultivates his susceptibility to be controlled by intelligences of far superior musical attainment. Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and a host of others furnish examples of this form of control. Their concentration of mind brought others to their aid.

 

It is thus apparent that it is possible to be born into this phase of mediumship, idiotic on all else but music. It is a low form, and most undesirable. There can be no approach to it made by seances, however long continued.

 

They who await the coming of spirits to use them in the same manner will meet with saddening disappointment. If they desire the assistance of higher intelligences they must prepare themselves for their reception by study and observation. They must do all they can of and for themselves before they touch the high sphere of influence.

 

INSPIRATIONAL MEDIUMSHIP.

 

Inspirational mediumship may be as reliable as trance, if the voice of inspiration can be recognized and separated from the medium's own thoughts with which it is entangled. This is often extremely difficult, the methods by which inspiration is given being in direct line with the action of the brain.

 

An inspirational speaker is one who is in more or less sensitive condition, and therefore able to receive the thoughts of spirits. If deeply entranced they do not take cognizance of what they are saying; in less profound approach to the trance, they are conscious, and the thoughts received take form and expression in their own minds. They may not be conscious of receiving thoughts from outside their own organisms, and the product is always a blending of their own thoughts and ideas with those of the control. Many public speakers who make no claim to being assisted, really are at times inspired, but it does not follow that all speakers are controlled to speak. The speaker as a spirit has the same faculties as those who would inspire him, and hence is capable of independent thought and speech.

 

It must be remembered that inspiration is always limited by the capabilities of the medium who receives and transmits it.

 

Education does not affect the mediumship, but its character and the tone of messages received depend on the training of the mind acted on. You would not take a half-finished violin to an Ole Bull, and expect perfect music. You would feel that you dishonored the musician if you did not take the best instrument. The world is exceedingly foolish and ignorant, but a lecturer going out with nothing but his desire to speak, and imperfect trance or inspiration to assist him, will find it better informed than himself.