[ThisstatementreceivesitsexplanationinouranswertoQuestion6,whenshowingthatthevibratoryexperimentshattersatumblertopieces。]
Q。Isthereanydifferencebetweenhypnosisproducedbymechanicalmeans,suchasrevolvingmirrors,andthatproducedbythedirectgazeoftheoperator(fascination)?
ANS。Thisdifferenceis,webelieve,alreadypointedoutintheanswertoQuestion1。Thegazeoftheoperatorismorepotent,hencemoredangerous,thanthesimplemechanicalpassesoftheHypnotizer,who,inninecasesoutoften,doesnotknowhow,andthereforecannotwill。ThestudentsofEsotericSciencemustbeawarebytheverylawsoftheoccultcorrespondencesthattheformeractionisperformedonthefirstplaneofmatter(thelowest),whilethelatter,whichnecessitatesawell—concentratedwill,hastobeenacted,iftheoperatorisaprofanenovice,onthefourth,andifheisanythingofanoccultistonthefifthplane。
Q。Whyshouldabitofcrystalorabrightbutton,throwonepersonintothehypnoticstateandaffectinnowayanotherperson?Ananswertothiswould,wethink,solvemorethanoneperplexity。
ANS。Sciencehasofferedseveralvariedhypothesesuponthesubject,buthasnot,sofar,acceptedanyoneoftheseasdefinite。Thisisbecauseallsuchspeculationsrevolveintheviciouscircleofmaterio—physicalphenomenawiththeirblindforcesandmechanicaltheories。The\"auricfluid\"
isnotrecognizedbythemenofScience,andtherefore,theyrejectit。Buthavetheynotbelievedforyearsintheefficacyofmetallo—therapeuty,theinfluenceofthesemetalsbeingduetotheactionoftheirelectricfluidsorcurrentsonthenervoussystem?Andthis,simplybecauseananalogywasfoundtoexistbetweentheactivityofthissystemandelectricity。
Thetheoryfailed,becauseitclashedwiththemostcarefulobservationandexperiments。Firstofall,itwascontradictedbyafundamentalfactexhibitedinthesaidmetallo—therapeuty,whosecharacteristicpeculiarityshowed(a)thatbynomeanseverymetalactedoneverynervousdisease,onepatientbeingsensitivetosomeonemetal,whileallothersproducednoeffectuponhim;and(b)thatthepatientsaffectedbycertainmetalswerefewandexceptional。Thisshowedthat\"electricfluids\"operatingonandcuringdiseasesexistedonlyintheimaginationofthetheorists。
Hadtheyhadanyactualexistence,thenallmetalswouldaffectinagreaterorlesserdegree,allpatients,andeverymetal,takenseparately,wouldaffecteverycaseofnervousdisease,theconditionsforgeneratingsuchfluidsbeing,inthegivencases,preciselythesame。
ThusDr。CharcothavingvindicatedDr。Burke,theoncediscrediteddiscovererofmetallo—therapeuty,Shiffandothersdiscreditedallthosewhobelievedinelectricfluids,andtheseseemnowtobegivenupinfavorof\"molecularmotion,\"whichnowreignssupremeinphysiology——forthetimebeing,ofcourse。Butnowarisesaquestion:\"Aretherealnature,behaviorandconditionsof’motion’knownanybetterthanthenature,behaviorandconditionsofthe’fluids’?\"Itistobedoubted。AnyhowOccultismisaudaciousenoughtomaintainthatelectricormagneticfluids(thetwobeingreallyidentical)aredueintheiressenceandorigintothatsamemolecularmotion,nowtransformedintoatomicenergy,(1)towhicheveryotherphenomenoninnatureisalsodue。Indeed,whentheneedleofagalvano—orelectro—meterfailstoshowanyoscillationsdenotingthepresenceofelectricormagneticfluids,thisdoesnotproveintheleastthattherearenonesuchtorecord;butsimplythathavingpassedontoanotherandhigherplaneofaction,theelectrometercannolongerbeaffectedbytheenergydisplayedonaplanewithwhichitisentirelydisconnected。
Theabovehadtobeexplained,inordertoshowthatthenatureoftheForcetransmittedfromonemanorobjecttoanothermanorobject,whetherinhypnotism,electricity,metallo—therapeutyor\"fascination,\"isthesameinessence,varyingonlyindegree,andmodifiedaccordingtothesub—planeofmatteritisactingon;ofwhichsub—planes,aseveryOccultistknows,therearesevenonourterrestrialplaneasthereareoneveryother。
Q。IsScienceentirelywronginitsdefinitionofthehypnoticphenomena?
ANS。Ithasnodefinition,sofar。NowifthereisonethinguponwhichOccultismagrees(toacertaindegree)withthelatestdiscoveriesofphysicalScience,itisthatallthebodiesendowedwiththepropertyofinducingandcallingmetallo—therapeuticandotheranalogousphenomena,have,theirgreatvarietynotwithstanding,onefeatureincommon。Theyareallthefountainheadsandthegeneratorsofrapidmolecularoscillations,which,whetherthroughtransmittingagentsordirectcontact,communicatethemselvestothenervoussystem,changingtherebytherhythmofnervousvibrations——onthesolecondition,however,ofbeingwhatiscalled,inunison。Now\"unison\"doesnotalwaysimplythesamenessofnature,orofessence,butsimplythesamenessofdegree,asimilaritywithregardtogravityandacuteness,andequalpotentialitiesforintensityofsoundormotion:abellmaybeinunisonwithaviolin,andaflutewithananimalorahumanorgan。Moreover,therateofthenumberofvibrations——especiallyinanorganicanimalcellororgan,changesinaccordancewiththestateofhealth,andgeneralcondition。Hencethecerebralnervouscentersofahypnoticsubject,whileinperfectunison,inpotentialdegreeandessentialoriginalactivity,withtheobjecthegazesat,mayyet,owingtosomeorganicdisturbance,beatthegivenmomentatlogger—headswithit,inrespecttothenumberoftheirrespectivevibrations。Insuchcasenohypnoticconditionensues;ornounisonatallmayexistbetweenhisnervouscellsandthecellsofthecrystalormetalheismadetogazeat,inwhichcasethatparticularobjectcanneverhaveanyeffectuponhim。Thisamountstosayingthattoensuresuccessinahypnoticexperiment,twoconditionsarerequisite;(a)aseveryorganicor\"inorganic\"
bodyinnatureisdistinguishedbyitsfixedmolecularoscillations,itisnecessarytofindoutwhicharethosebodieswhichwillactinunisonwithoneoranotherhumannervoussystem;and(b)torememberthatthemolecularoscillationsoftheformercaninfluencethenervousactionofthelatter,onlywhentherhythmsoftheirrespectivevibrationscoincide,i。e。,whenthenumberoftheiroscillationsismadeidentical;
which,inthecasesofhypnotisminducedbymechanicalmeans,isachievedthroughthemediumoftheeye。
Therefore,thoughthedifferencebetweenhypnosisproducedbymechanicalmeans,andthatinducedbythedirectgazeoftheoperator,plushiswill,dependsontheplaneonwhichthesamephenomenonisproduced,stillthe\"fascinating\"orsubduingagentiscreatedbythesameforceatwork。
Inthephysicalworldanditsmaterialplanes,itiscalledMOTION;intheworldsofmentalityandmetaphysicsitisknownasWILL——themany—facedmagicianthroughoutallnature。
Astherateofvibrations(molecularmotion)inmetals,woods,crystals,etc。,altersundertheeffectofheat,cold,etc。,sodothecerebralmoleculeschangetheirrate,inthesameway:i。e。,theirrateisraisedorlowered。Andthisiswhatreallytakesplaceinthephenomenonofhypnotism。
Inthecaseofgazing,itistheeye——thechiefagentoftheWilloftheactiveoperator,butaslaveandtraitorwhenthisWillisdormant——that,unconsciouslytothepatientorsubject,attunestheoscillationsofhiscerebralnervouscenterstotherateofthevibrationsoftheobjectgazedatbycatchingtherhythmofthelatterandpassingitontothebrain。Butinthecaseofdirectpasses,itistheWilloftheoperatorradiatingthroughhiseyethatproducestherequiredunisonbetweenhiswillandthewillofthepersonoperatedupon。For,outoftwoobjectsattunedinunison——astwochords,forinstance——onewillalwaysbeweakerthantheother,andthushavemasteryovertheotherandeventhepotentialityofdestroyingitsweaker\"co—respondent。\"Sotrueisthis,thatwecancalluponphysicalSciencetocorroboratethisfact。Takethe\"sensitiveflame\"asacaseinhand。Sciencetellsusthatifanotebestruckinunisonwiththeratioofthevibrationsoftheheatmolecules,theflameswillrespondimmediatelytothesound(ornotestruck),thatitwilldanceandsinginrhythmwiththesounds。ButOccultScienceadds,thattheflamemayalsobeextinguishedifthesoundisintensified(videIsisUnveiled,Vol。II,606and607)。Anotherproof。
Takeawine—glassortumblerofveryfineandclearglass;produce,bystrikingitgentlywithasilverspoon,awell—determinednote;afterwhichreproducethesamenotebyrubbingitsrimwithadampfinger,and,ifyouaresuccessful,theglasswillimmediatelycrackandbeshattered。
Indifferenttoeveryothersound,theglasswillnotresistthegreatintensityofitsownfundamentalnote,forthatparticularvibrationwillcausesuchacommotioninitsparticles,thatthewholefabricwillfallinpieces。
Q。Whatbecomesofdiseasescuredbyhypnotism;aretheyreallycuredoraretheypostponed,ordotheyappearinanotherform?ArediseasesKarma;and,ifso,isitrighttoattempttocurethem?
ANS。Hypnoticsuggestionmaycureforever,anditmaynot。Alldependsonthedegreeofmagneticrelationsbetweentheoperatorandthepatient。IfKarmic,theywillbeonlypostponed,andreturninsomeotherform,notnecessarilyofdisease,butasapunitiveevilofanothersort。Itisalways\"right\"totryandalleviatesufferingwheneverwecan,andtodoourbestforit。Becauseamansuffersjustlyimprisonment,andcatchescoldinhisdampcell,isitareasonwhytheprison—doctorshouldnottrytocurehimofit?
Q。Isitnecessarythatthehypnotic\"suggestions\"oftheoperatorshouldbespoken?Isitnotenoughforhimtothinkthem,andmaynotevenHEbeignorantorunconsciousofthebentheisimpressingonhissubject?
ANS。Certainlynot,iftherapportbetweenthetwoisonceforallfirmlyestablished。Thoughtismorepowerfulthanspeechincasesofarealsubjugationofthewillofthepatienttothatofhisoperator。
But,ontheotherhand,unlessthe\"suggestion\"madeisforthegoodonlyofthesubject,andentirelyfreefromanyselfishmotive,asuggestionbythoughtisanactofblackmagicstillmorepregnantwithevilconsequencesthanaspokensuggestion。Itisalwayswrongandunlawfultodepriveamanofhisfree—will,unlessforhisownorSociety’sgood;andeventheformerhastobedonewithgreatdiscrimination。
Occultismregardsallsuchpromiscuousattemptsasblackmagicandsorcery,whetherconsciousorotherwise。
Q。Dothemotiveandcharacteroftheoperatoraffecttheresult,immediateorremote?
ANS。Insofarasthehypnotizingprocessbecomesunderhisoperationeitherwhiteorblackmagic,asthelastanswershows。
Q。Isitwisetohypnotizeapatientnotonlyoutofdisease,butoutofahabit,suchasdrinkingorlying?
ANS。Itisanactofcharityandkindness,andthisisnexttowisdom。For,althoughthedroppingofhisvicioushabitswilladdnothingtohisgoodKarma(whichitwould,hadhiseffortstoreformbeenpersonal,ofhisownfreewill,andnecessitatingagreatmentalandphysicalstruggle),stillasuccessful\"suggestion\"preventshimfromgeneratingmorebadKarma,andaddingconstantlytothepreviousrecordofhistransgressions。
Q。Whatisitthatafaith—healer,whensuccessful,practisesuponhimself;whattricksisheplayingwithhisprinciplesandwithhisKarma?
ANS。Imaginationisapotenthelpineveryeventofourlives。
ImaginationactsonFaith,andbotharethedraughtsmenwhopreparethesketchesforWilltoengrave,moreorlessdeeply,ontherocksofobstaclesandoppositionwithwhichthepathoflifeisstrewn。SaysParacelsus:\"Faithmustconfirmtheimagination,forfaithestablishesthewill……Determinedwillisthebeginningofallmagicaloperations……Itisbecausemendonotperfectlyimagineandbelievetheresult,thatthearts(ofmagic)areuncertain,whiletheymightbeperfectlycertain。\"
Thisisallthesecret。Half,ifnottwo—thirdsofourailingsanddiseasesarethefruitofourimaginationandfears。Destroythelatterandgiveanotherbenttotheformer,andnaturewilldotherest。Thereisnothingsinfulorinjuriousinthemethodsperse。Theyturntoharmonlywhenbeliefinhispowerbecomestooarrogantandmarkedinthefaith—healer,andwhenhethinkshecanwillawaysuchdiseasesasneed,iftheyarenottobefatal,theimmediatehelpofexpertsurgeonsandphysicians。
FOOTNOTE:
l。InOccultismthewordatomhasaspecialsignificance,differentfromtheonegiventoitbyScience。Seeeditorial,PsychicandNoeticAction,inthetwolastnumbers。(returntotext)
StudiesinOccultismbyH。P。Blavatsky\"BlackMagicinScience\"BlackMagicinScienceCommenceresearchwheremodernconjectureclosesitsfaithlesswings——Bulwer’sZanoni。Theflatdenialofyesterdayhasbecomethescientificaxiomofto—day——CommonSenseAphorisms。ThousandsofyearsagothePhrygianDactyls,theinitiatedpriests,spokenofasthe\"magiciansandexorcistsofsickness,\"healeddiseasesbymagneticprocesses。ItwasclaimedthattheyhadobtainedthesecurativepowersfromthepowerfulbreathofCybele,themany—breastedgoddess,thedaughterofCoelusandTerra。Indeed,hergenealogyandthemythsattachedtoitshowCybeleasthepersonificationandtypeofthevitalessence,whosesourcewaslocatedbytheancientsbetweentheEarthandthestarrysky,andwhowasregardedastheveryfonsvitaeofallthatlivesandbreathes。Themountainairbeingplacednearertothatfountfortifieshealthandprolongsman’sexistence;hence,Cybele’slife,asaninfant,isshowninhermythashavingbeenpreservedonamountain。ThiswasbeforethatMagnaandBonaDea,theprolificMater,becametransformedintoCeres—Demeter,thepatronessoftheEleusinianMysteries。
Animalmagnetism(nowcalledSuggestionandHypnotism)wastheprincipalagentintheurgicmysteriesasalsointheAsclepieia——thehealingtemplesofAesculapius,wherethepatientsonceadmittedweretreated,duringtheprocessof\"incubation,\"magnetically,duringtheirsleep。
Thiscreativeandlife—givingForce——deniedandlaughedatwhennamedtheurgicmagic,accusedforthelastcenturyofbeingprincipallybasedonsuperstitionandfraud,wheneverreferredtoasmesmerism——isnowcalledHypnotism,Charcotism,Suggestion,\"psychology,\"andwhatnot。But,whatevertheexpressionchosen,itwilleverbealooseoneifusedwithoutaproperqualification。Forwhenepitomizedwithallitscollateralsciences——whichareallscienceswithinthescience——itwillbefoundtocontainpossibilitiesthenatureofwhichhasneverbeenevendreamtofbytheoldestandmostlearnedprofessorsoftheorthodoxphysicalscience。
Thelatter,\"authorities\"so—called,arenobetter,indeed,thaninnocentbaldinfants,whenbroughtfacetofacewiththemysteriesofantediluvian\"mesmerism。\"Asstatedrepeatedlybefore,theblossomsofmagic,whetherwhiteorblack,divineorinfernal,springallfromoneroot。The\"breathofCybele\"——Akasatattwa,inIndia——istheonechiefagent,anditunderlaytheso—called\"miracles\"and\"supernatural\"phenomenainallages,asineveryclime。Astheparent—rootoressenceisuniversal,soareitseffectsinnumerable。Eventhegreatestadeptscanhardlysaywhereitspossibilitiesmuststop。
ThekeytotheveryalphabetofthesetheurgicpowerswaslostafterthelastgnostichadbeenhuntedtodeathbytheferociouspersecutionoftheChurch;andasgraduallyMysteries,Hierophants,TheophanyandTheurgybecameobliteratedfromthemindsofmenuntiltheyremainedinthemonlyasavaguetradition,allthiswasfinallyforgotten。ButattheperiodoftheRenaissance,inGermany,alearnedTheosophist,aPhilosopherperignem,astheycalledthemselves,rediscoveredsomeofthelostsecretsofthePhrygianpriestsandoftheAsclepieia。Itwasthegreatandunfortunatephysician—Occultist,Paracelsus,thegreatestAlchemistoftheage。Thatgeniusitwas,whoduringtheMiddleAgeswasthefirsttopubliclyrecommendtheactionofthemagnetinthecureofcertaindiseases。
TheophrastusParacelsus——the\"quack\"and\"drunkenimpostor\"intheopinionofthesaidscientific\"baldinfants\"ofhisday,andoftheirsuccessorsinours——inauguratedamongotherthingsintheseventeenthcentury,thatwhichhasbecomeaprofitablebranchintradeinthenineteenth。Itishewhoinventedandusedforthecureofvariousmuscularandnervousdiseasesmagnetizedbracelets,armlets,belts,rings,collarsandleglets;onlyhismagnetscuredfarmoreefficaciouslythandotheelectricbeltsofto—day。VanHelmont,thesuccessorofParacelsus,andRobertFludd,theAlchemistandRosicrucian,alsoappliedmagnetsinthetreatmentoftheirpatients。Mesmerintheeighteenth,andtheMarquisdePuysegurinthenineteenthcenturyonlyfollowedintheirfootsteps。
InthelargecurativeestablishmentfoundedbyMesmeratVienna,heemployed,besidesmagnetism,electricity,metalsandavarietyofwoods。
HisfundamentaldoctrinewasthatoftheAlchemists。Hebelievedthatmetals,asalsowoodsandplantshaveallanaffinitywithandbearacloserelationto,thehumanorganism。EverythingintheUniversehasdevelopedfromonehomogeneousprimordialsubstancedifferentiatedintoincalculablespeciesofmatter,andeverythingisdestinedtoreturnthereinto。Thesecretofhealing,hemaintained,liesintheknowledgeofcorrespondencesandaffinitiesbetweenkindredatoms。Findthatmetal,wood,stone,orplantthathasthemostcorrespondentialaffinitywiththebodyofthesufferer;and,whetherthroughinternalorexternaluse,thatparticularagentimpartingtothepatientadditionalstrengthtofightdisease——(developedgenerallythroughtheintroductionofsomeforeignelementintotheconstitution)
——andtoexpelit,willleadinvariablytohiscure。ManyandmarvelousweresuchcureseffectedbyAntonMesmer。Subjectswithheart—diseaseweremadewell。Aladyofhighstation,condemnedtodeath,wascompletelyrestoredtohealthbytheapplicationofcertainsympatheticwoods。Mesmerhimself,sufferingfromacuterheumatism,cureditcompletelybyusingspecially—preparedmagnets。
In1774hetoohappenedtocomeacrossthetheurgicsecretofdirectvitaltransmission;andsohighlyinterestedwashe,thatheabandonedallhisoldmethodstodevotehimselfentirelytothenewdiscovery。Henceforwardhemesmerizedbygazeandpasses,thenaturalmagnetsbeingabandoned。
Themysteriouseffectsofsuchmanipulationswerecalledbyhim——animalmagnetism。ThisbroughttoMesmeramassoffollowersanddisciples。ThenewforcewasexperimentedwithinalmosteverycityandtownofEuropeandfoundeverywhereanactualfact。
About1780,MesmersettledinParis,andsoonthewholemetropolis,fromtheRoyalfamilydowntothelasthystericalbourgeoise,wereathisfeet。Theclergygotfrightenedandcried——\"theDevil\"!Thelicensed\"leeches\"feltanever—growingdeficitintheirpockets;andthearistocracyandtheCourtfoundthemselvesonthevergeofmadnessfrommereexcitement。
Nouserepeatingtoowell—knownfacts,butthememoryofthereadermayberefreshedwithafewdetailshemayhaveforgotten。
ItsohappenedthatjustaboutthattimetheofficialAcademicalSciencefeltveryproud。Aftercenturiesofmentalstagnationintherealmofmedicineandgeneralignorance,severaldeterminedstepsinthedirectionofrealknowledgehadfinallybeenmade。Naturalscienceshadachievedadecidedsuccess,andchemistryandphysicswereonafairwaytoprogress。AstheSavantsofacenturyagohadnotyetgrowntothatheightofsublimemodestywhichcharacterizessopre—eminentlytheirmodernsuccessors——
theyfeltverymuchpuffedupwiththeirgreatness。Themomentforpraiseworthyhumility,followedbyaconfessionoftherelativeinsignificanceoftheknowledgeoftheperiod——andevenofmodernknowledgeforthematterofthat——comparedtothatwhichtheancientsknew,hadnotyetarrived。
Thoseweredaysofnaiveboastingofthepeacocksofsciencedisplayinginabodytheirtails,anddemandinguniversalrecognitionandadmiration。
TheSirOracleswerenotasnumerousastheyarenow,yettheirnumberwasconsiderable。Andindeed,hadnottheDulcamarasofpublicfairsbeenjustvisitedwithostracism?Hadnottheleecheswellnighdisappearedtomakeroomfordiplomaedphysicianswithroyallicensestokillandburyapiacereadlibitum?Hence,thenodding\"Immortal\"inhisacademicalchairwasregardedasthesolecompetentauthorityinthedecisionofquestionshehadneverstudied,andforrenderingverdictsaboutthatwhichhehadneverheardof。ItwastheREIGNOFREASON,andofScience——initsteens;
thebeginningofthegreatdeadlystrugglebetweenTheologyandFacts,SpiritualityandMaterialism。IntheeducatedclassesofSocietytoomuchfaithhadbeensucceededbynofaithatall。ThecycleofScience—worshiphadjustsetin,withitspilgrimagestotheAcademy,theOlympuswherethe\"FortyImmortals\"areenshrined,anditsraidsuponeveryonewhorefusedtomanifestanoisyadmiration,akindofjuvenilecalf’senthusiasm,atthedooroftheFaneofScience。WhenMesmerarrived,ParisdivideditsallegiancebetweentheChurchwhichattributedallkindsofphenomenaexceptitsowndivinemiraclestotheDevil,andtheAcademy,whichbelievedinneitherGodnorDevil,butonlyinitsowninfalliblewisdom。
Butthereweremindswhichwouldnotbesatisfiedwitheitherofthesebeliefs。Therefore,afterMesmerhadforcedallParistocrowdtohishalls,waitinghourstoobtainaplaceinthechairroundthemiraculousbaquet,somepeoplethoughtthatitwastimerealtruthshouldbefoundout。
Theyhadlaidtheirlegitimatedesiresattheroyalfeet,andtheKingforthwithcommandedhislearnedAcademytolookintothematter。Thenitwas,thatawakeningfromtheirchronicnap,the\"Immortals\"appointedacommitteeofinvestigation,amongwhichwasBenjaminFranklin,andchosesomeoftheoldest,wisestandbaldestamongtheir\"Infants\"towatchovertheCommittee。Thiswasin1784。EveryoneknowswhatwasthereportofthelatterandthefinaldecisionoftheAcademy。Thewholetransactionlooksnowlikeageneralrehearsaloftheplay,oneoftheactsofwhichwasperformedbythe\"DialecticalSociety\"ofLondonandsomeofEngland’sgreatestScientists,someeightyyearslater。
Indeed,notwithstandingacounterreportbyDr。Jussieu,anAcademicianofthehighestrank,andtheCourtphysicianD’Eslon,who,aseye—witnessestothemoststrikingphenomena,demandedthatacarefulinvestigationshouldbemadebytheMedicalFacultyofthetherapeuticeffectsofthemagneticfluid——theirdemandfellthrough。TheAcademydisbelievedhermosteminentScientists。EvenSirB。Franklin,somuchathomewithcosmicelectricity,wouldnotrecognizeitsfountainheadandprimordialsource,andalongwithBailly,Lavoisier,Magendie,andothers,proclaimedMesmerismadelusion。
Norhadthesecondinvestigationwhichfollowedthefirst——namelyin1825——anybetterresults。Thereportwasoncemoresquashed(videIsisUnveiled,vol。I,pp。171—176)。
Evennowwhenexperimenthasamplydemonstratedthat\"Mesmerism\"oranimalmagnetism,nowknownashypnotism(asorryeffect,forsooth,ofthe\"BreathofCybele\")isafact,weyetgetthemajorityofscientistsdenyingitsactualexistence。Smallfryasitisinthemajesticarrayofexperimentalpsycho—magneticphenomena,evenhypnotismseemstooincredible,toomysterious,forourDarwinistsandHaeckelians。Oneneedstoomuchmoralcourage,yousee,tofacethesuspicionofone’scolleagues,thedoubtofthepublic,andthegigglingoffools。\"Mysteryandcharlatanismgohandinhand,\"theysay;and\"self—respectandthedignityoftheprofession,\"
asMagendieremarksinhisPhysiologieHumaine,\"demandthatthewellinformedphysicianshouldrememberhowreadilymysteryglidesintocharlatanism。\"Pitythe\"wellinformedphysician\"shouldfailtorememberthatphysiologyamongtherestisfullofmystery——profound,inexplicablemysteryfromAtoZ——andaskwhether,startingfromtheabove\"truism,\"
heshouldnotthrowoverboardBiologyandPhysiologyasthegreatestpiecesofcharlatanryinmodernScience。Nevertheless,afewinthewell—meaningminorityofourphysicianshavetakenupseriouslytheinvestigationofhypnotism。Buteventhey,havingbeenreluctantlycompelledtoconfesstherealityofitsphenomena,stillpersistinseeinginsuchmanifestationsnohigherafactoratworkthanthepurelymaterialandphysicalforces,anddenythesetheirlegitimatenameofanimalmagnetism。ButastheRev。
Mr。Haweis(ofwhommorepresently)justsaidintheDailyGraphic……\"TheCharcotphenomenaare,forallthat,inmanywaysidenticalwiththemesmericphenomena,andhypnotismmustproperlybeconsideredratherasabranchofmesmerismthanassomethingdistinctfromit。Anyhow,Mesmer’sfacts,nowgenerallyaccepted,wereatfirststoutlydenied。\"
Andtheyarestillsodenied。
ButwhiletheydenyMesmerism,theyrushintoHypnotism,despitethenowscientificallyrecognizeddangersofthisscience,inwhichmedicalpractitionersinFrancearefaraheadoftheEnglish。Andwhattheformersayis,thatbetweenthetwostatesofmesmerism(ormagnetismastheycallit,acrossthewater)andhypnotism\"thereisanabyss。\"Thatoneisbeneficent,theothermaleficent,asitevidentlymustbe;since,accordingtobothOccultismandmodernPsychology,hypnotismisproducedbythewithdrawalofthenervousfluidfromthecapillarynerves,whichbeing,sotosay,thesentriesthatkeepthedoorsofoursensesopened,gettinganaesthetizedunderhypnoticconditions,allowthesetogetclosed。
A。H。Simoninrevealsmanyawholesometruthinhisexcellentwork,\"Solutionduproblemedelasuggestionhypnotique。\"(1)
Thusheshowsthatwhile\"inMagnetism(mesmerism)thereoccursinthesubjectagreatdevelopmentofmoralfaculties\";thathisthoughtsandfeelings\"becomeloftier,andthesensesacquireanabnormalacuteness\";
inhypnotism,onthecontrary,\"thesubjectbecomesasimplemirror。\"
ItisSuggestionwhichisthetruemotorofeveryactioninthehypnotic:
andif,occasionally,\"seeminglymarvelousactionsareproduced,theseareduetothehypnotizer,nottothesubject。\"Again……\"Inhypnotisminstinct,i。e。,theanimal,reachesitsgreatestdevelopment;
somuchso,indeed,thattheaphorism’extremesmeet’canneverreceiveabetterapplicationthantomagnetismandhypnotism。\"Howtruethesewords,also,astothedifferencebetweenthemesmerizedandthehypnotizedsubjects。
\"Inone,hisidealnature,hismoralself——thereflectionofhisdivinenature——arecarriedtotheirextremelimits,andthesubjectbecomesalmostacelestialbeing(unange)。Intheother,itishisinstinctswhichdevelopinamostsurprisingfashion。Thehypnoticlowershimselftotheleveloftheanimal。Fromaphysiologicalstandpoint,magnetism(Mesmerism)iscomfortingandcurative,andhypnotism,whichisbuttheresultofanunbalancedstate,is——mostdangerous。\"
ThustheadverseReportdrawnbyBaillyattheendoflastcenturyhashaddireeffectsinthepresent,butithaditsKarmaalso。Intendedtokillthe\"Mesmeric\"craze,itreactedasadeath—blowtothepublicconfidenceinscientificdecrees。InourdaytheNon—PossumusoftheRoyalCollegesandAcademiesisquotedontheStockExchangeoftheworld’sopinionatapricealmostaslowastheNon—PossumusoftheVatican。Thedaysofauthoritywhetherhumanordivine,arefastglidingaway;andweseealreadygleamingonfuturehorizonsbutonetribunal,supremeandfinal,beforewhichmankindwillbow——theTribunalofFactandTruth。
Aye,tothistribunalwithoutappealevenliberalclergymenandfamouspreachersmakeobeisanceinourday。Thepartshavenowchangedhands,andinmanyinstancesitisthesuccessorsofthosewhofoughttoothandnailfortherealityoftheDevilandhisdirectinterferencewithpsychicphenomena,forlongcenturies,whocomeoutpubliclytoupbraidscience。
Aremarkableinstanceofthisisfoundinanexcellentletter(justmentioned)
bytheRev。Mr。HaweistotheGraphic。Thelearnedpreacherseemstoshareourindignationattheunfairnessofthemodernscientists,attheirsuppressionoftruth,andingratitudetotheirancientteachers。
Hisletterissointerestingthatitsbestpointsmustbeimmortalizedinourmagazine。Herearesomefragmentsofit。Thusheasks:——Whycan’tourscientificmensay:\"WehaveblunderedaboutMesmerism;it’spracticallytrue\"?Notbecausetheyaremenofscience,butsimplybecausetheyarehuman。Nodoubtitishumiliatingwhenyouhavedogmatizedinthenameofsciencetosay,\"Iwaswrong。\"Butisitnotmorehumiliatingtobefoundout;andisitnotmosthumiliating,aftershufflingandwrigglinghopelesslyintheinexorablemeshesofserriedfacts,tocollapsesuddenly,andcallthehatedneta\"suitableenclosure,\"
inwhichforsooth,youdon’tmindbeingcaught?Nowthis,asitseemstome,ispreciselywhatMessrs。CharcotandtheFrenchhypnotistsandtheirmedicaladmirersinEnglandaredoing。EversinceMesmer’sdeathattheageofeighty,in1815,theFrenchandEnglish\"Faculty,\"withsomehonorableexceptions,haveridiculedanddeniedthefactsaswellasthetheoriesofMesmer,butnow,in1890,ahostofscientistssuddenlyagree,whilewipingoutasbesttheymaythenameofMesmer,torobhimofallhisphenomena,whichtheyquietlyappropriateunderthenameof\"hypnotism,\"\"suggestion,\"
\"TherapeuticMagnetism,\"\"psychopathicMassage,\"andalltherestofit。
Well,\"What’sinaname?\"Icaremoreforthingsthannames,butIreverencethepioneersofthoughtwhohavebeencastout,troddenunderfoot,andcrucifiedbytheorthodoxofallages,andIthinktheleastscientistscandoformenlikeMesmer,DuPotet,Puysegur,orMayoandElliotson,nowtheyaregone,isto\"buildtheirsepulchers。\"ButMr。Haweismighthaveaddedinstead,theamateurHypnotistsofSciencedigwiththeirownhandsthegravesofmanyamanandwoman’sintellect;
theyenslaveandparalyzefreewillintheir\"subjects,\"turnimmortalmenintosoulless,irresponsibleautomata,andvivisecttheirsoulswithasmuchunconcernastheyvivisectthebodiesofrabbitsanddogs。
Inshort,theyarefastbloominginto\"sorcerers,\"andareturningscienceintoavastfieldofblackmagic。Therev。writer,however,letstheculpritsoffeasily;and,remarkingthatheaccepts\"thedistinction\"[betweenMesmerismandHypnotism]\"withoutpledginghimselftoanytheory,\"headds:——Iammainlyconcernedwiththefacts,andwhatIwanttoknowiswhythesecuresandabnormalstatesaretrumpetedaboutasmoderndiscoveries,whilethe\"faculty\"stillderideorignoretheirgreatpredecessorswithouthavingthemselvesatheorywhichtheycanagreeuponorasinglefactwhichcanbecallednew。Thetruthiswearejustblunderingbackwithtoiltoworkoveragaintheolddisusedminesoftheancients;therediscoveryoftheseoccultsciencesisexactlymatchedbytheslowrecoveryofsculptureandpaintinginmodernEurope。Hereisthehistoryofoccultscienceinanutshell。(1)Onceknown。(2)Lost。(3)Rediscovered。(4)Denied。(5)
Reaffirmed,andbyslowdegrees,undernewnames,victorious。Theevidenceforallthisisexhaustiveandabundant。HereitmaysufficetonoticethatDiodorusSiculusmentionshowtheEgyptianpriests,agesbeforeChrist,attributedclairvoyanceinducedfortherapeuticpurposestoIsis。StraboascribesthesametoSerapis,whileGalenmentionsatemplenearMemphisfamousfortheseHypnoticcures。Pythagoras,whowontheconfidenceoftheEgyptianpriests,isfullofit。Aristophanesin\"Plutus\"describesinsomedetailaMesmericcure——[kaiprotamendeteskephalesephepsato],etc。,\"andfirsthebegantohandlethehead。\"CaeliusAurelianusdescribesmanipulations(1569)fordisease\"conductingthehandsfromthesuperiortotheinferiorparts\";andtherewasanoldLatinproverb——Ubidoloribidigitus,\"Wherepain,therefinger。\"ButtimewouldfailmetotellofParacelsus(1462)(2)andhis\"deepsecretofMagnetism\";ofVanHelmont(1644)(3)
andhis\"faithinthepowerofthehandindisease。\"MuchinthewritingsofboththesemenwasonlymadecleartothemodernsbytheexperimentsofMesmer,andinviewofmodernHypnotistsitisclearlywithhimandhisdisciplesthatwehavechieflytodo。Heclaimed,nodoubt,totransmitananimalmagneticfluid,whichIbelievetheHypnotistsdeny。Theydo,theydo。Butsodidthescientistswithregardtomorethanonetruth。Todeny\"ananimalmagneticfluid\"issurelynomoreabsurdthantodenythecirculationoftheblood,astheyhavesoenergeticallydone。
AfewadditionaldetailsaboutMesmerismgivenbyMr。Haweismayproveinteresting。ThusheremindsusoftheanswerwrittenbythemuchwrongedMesmertotheAcademiciansaftertheirunfavorableReport,andreferstoitas\"propheticwords。\"\"YousaythatMesmerwillneverholduphisheadagain。Ifsuchisthedestinyofthemanitisnotthedestinyofthetruth,whichisinitsnatureimperishable,andwillshineforthsoonerorlaterinthesameorsomeothercountrywithmorebrilliancythanever,anditstriumphwillannihilateitsmiserabledetractors。\"MesmerleftParisindisgust,andretiredtoSwitzerlandtodie;buttheillustriousDr。Jussieubecameaconvert。LavatercarriedMesmer’ssystemtoGermany,whilePuysegurandDeleuzespreaditthroughoutprovincialFrance,forminginnumerable\"harmonicsocieties\"devotedtothestudyoftherapeuticmagnetismanditsalliedphenomenaofthought—transference,hypnotism,andclairvoyance。SometwentyyearsagoIbecameacquaintedwithperhapsthemostillustriousdiscipleofMesmer,theagedBaronduPotet。(4)
Roundthisman’stherapeuticandmesmericexploitsraged,between1830
and1846,abittercontroversythroughoutFrance。Amurdererhadbeentracked,convicted,andexecutedsolelyonevidencesuppliedbyoneofDuPotet’sclairvoyants。TheJugedePaixadmittedthusmuchinopencourt。
ThiswastoomuchforevenscepticalParis,andtheAcademydeterminedtositagainand,ifpossible,crushoutthesuperstition。Theysat,but,strangetosay,thistimetheywereconverted。Itard,Fouquier,Guersent,BourdoisdelaMotte,thecreamoftheFrenchfaculty,pronouncedthephenomenaofmesmerismtobegenuine——cures,trances,clairvoyance,thought—transference,evenreadingfromclosedbooks;andfromthattimeanelaboratenomenclaturewasinvented,blottingoutasfaraspossiblethedetestednamesoftheindefatigablemenwhohadcompelledthescientificassent,whileenrollingthemainfactsvouchedforbyMesmer,DuPotet,andPuyseguramongtheundoubtedphenomenatobeaccepted,onwhatevertheory,bymedicalscience……Thencomestheturnofthisfoggyislandanditsbefoggedscientists。\"Meanwhile,\"[goesonthewriter],Englandwasmorestubborn。
In1846thecelebratedDr。Elliotson,apopularpractitioner,withavastclientele,pronouncedthefamousHarveianoration,inwhichheconfessedhisbeliefinMesmerism。Hewasdenouncedbythedoctorswithsuchthoroughresultsthathelosthispractice,anddiedwell—nighruined,ifnotheart—broken。
TheMesmericHospitalinMaryleboneRoadhasbeenestablishedbyhim。OperationsweresuccessfullyperformedunderMesmerism,andallthephenomenawhichhavelatelyoccurredatLeedsandelsewheretothesatisfactionofthedoctorswereproducedinMarylebonefifty—sixyearsago。Thirty—fiveyearsagoProfessorListerdidthesame——buttheintroductionofchloroformbeingmorespeedyandcertainasananaesthetic,killedforatimethemesmerictreatment。ThepublicinterestinMesmerismdieddown,andtheMesmericHospitalintheMaryleboneRoad,whichhadbeenunderacloudsincethesuppressionofElliotson,wasatlastclosed。LatelyweknowwhathasbeenthefateofMesmerandMesmerism。MesmerisspokenofinthesamebreathwithCountCagliostro,andMesmerismitselfisseldommentionedatall;but,then,wehearplentyofelectro—biology,therapeuticmagnetismandhypnotism——justso。Oh,shadesofMesmer,Puysegur,DuPotet,Elliotson——sicvosnonvobis!Still,IsayPalmamquimeruitferat。WhenIknewBaronduPotethewasonthebrinkofthegrave,andnearlyeightyyearsold。HewasanardentadmirerofMesmer;hehaddevotedhiswholelifetotherapeuticmagnetism,andhewasabsolutelydogmaticonthepointthatarealmagneticaurapassedfromtheMesmeristtothepatient。\"I
willshowyouthis,\"hesaidoneday,aswebothstoodbythebedsideofapatientinsodeepatrancethatweranneedlesintoherhandsandarmswithoutexcitingtheleastsignormovement。TheoldBaroncontinued:\"I
will,atthedistanceofafootortwo,determineslightconvulsionsinanypartofherbodybysimplymovingmyhandabovethepart,withoutanycontact。\"Hebeganattheshoulder,whichsoonsetupatwitching。Quietbeingrestored,hetriedtheelbow,thenthewrist,thentheknee,theconvulsionsincreasinginintensityaccordingtothetimeemployed。\"Areyouquitesatisfied?\"Isaid,\"Quitesatisfied\";\"and,\"continuedhe,\"anypatientthatIhavetestedIwillundertaketooperateuponthroughabrickwallatatimeandplacewherethepatientshallbeignorantofmypresenceormypurpose。This,\"addedDuPotet,\"wasoneoftheexperienceswhichmostpuzzledtheAcademiciansatParis。Irepeatedtheexperimentagainandagainundereverytestandcondition,withalmostinvariablesuccess,untilthemostscepticalwasforcedtogivein。\"WehaveaccusedscienceofglidingfullsaildowntotheMaelstromofBlackMagic,bypractisingthatwhichancientPsychology——themostimportantbranchoftheOccultSciences——hasalwaysdeclaredasSorceryinitsapplicationtotheinnerman。Wearepreparedtomaintainwhatwesay。Wemeantoproveitoneofthesedays,insomefuturearticles,basingourselvesonfactspublishedandtheactionsproducedbytheHypnotismofVivisectioniststhemselves。ThattheyareunconscioussorcerersdoesnotmakeawaywiththefactthattheydopracticetheBlackArtbeletbien。Inshortthesituationisthis。Theminorityofthelearnedphysiciansandotherscientistsexperimentin\"hypnotism\"becausetheyhavecometoseesomethinginit;whilethemajorityofthemembersoftheR。C。P。’sstilldenytheactualityofanimalmagnetisminitsmesmericform,evenunderitsmodernmask——hypnotism。Theformer——entirelyignorantofthefundamentallawsofanimalmagnetism——experimentathap—hazard,almostblindly。Toremainconsistentwiththeirdeclarations(a)thathypnotismisnotmesmerism,and(b)thatamagneticauraorfluidpassingfromthemesmerizer(orhypnotizer)ispurefallacy——theyhavenoright,ofcourse,toapplythelawsoftheoldertotheyoungerscience。Hencetheyinterferewith,andawakentoactionthemostdangerousforcesofnature,withoutbeingawareofit。
Insteadofhealingdiseases——theonlyusetowhichanimalmagnetismunderitsnewnamecanbelegitimatelyapplied——theyofteninoculatethesubjectswiththeirownphysicalaswellasmentalillsandvices。Forthis,andtheignoranceoftheircolleaguesoftheminority,thedisbelievingmajorityoftheSadduceesaregreatlyresponsible。For,byopposingthem,theyimpedefreeaction,andtakeadvantageoftheHypocraticoath,tomakethempowerlesstoadmitanddomuchthatthebelieversmightandwouldotherwisedo。ButasDr。A。Testetrulysaysinhiswork——\"Therearecertainunfortunatetruthswhichcompromisethosewhobelieveinthem,andthoseespeciallywhoaresocandidastoavowthempublicly。\"
Thusthereasonofhypnotismnotbeingstudiedonitsproperlinesisself—evident。
Yearsagoitwasremarked:\"ItisthedutyoftheAcademyandmedicalauthoritiestostudyMesmerism(i。e。,theoccultsciencesinitsspirit)andtosubjectittotrials;finally,totakeawaytheuseandpracticeofitfrompersonsquitestrangerstotheart,whoabusethismeans,andmakeitanobjectoflucreandspeculation。\"Hewhoutteredthisgreattruthwas\"thevoicespeakinginthedesert。\"Butthosehavingsomeexperienceinoccultpsychologywouldgofurther。Theywouldsayitisincumbentoneveryscientificbody——nay,oneverygovernment——toputanendtopublicexhibitionsofthissort。Bytryingthemagiceffectofthehumanwillonweakerwills,byderidingtheexistenceofoccultforcesinNature——forceswhosenameislegion——andyetcallingoutthese,underthepretextthattheyarenoindependentforcesatall,notevenpsychicintheirnature,but\"connectedwithknownphysicallaws\"(BinetandFere),meninauthorityarevirtuallyresponsibleforallthedireeffectsthatareandwillbefollowingtheirdangerouspublicexperiments。VerilyKarma——theterriblebutjustRetributiveLaw——willvisitallthosewhodevelopthemostawfulresultsinthefuture,generatedatthosepublicexhibitionsfortheamusementoftheprofane。
Letthemonlythinkofdangersbred,ofnewformsofdiseases,mentalandphysical,begottenbysuchinsanehandlingofpsychicwill!Thisisasbadonthemoralplaneastheartificialintroductionofanimalmatterintothehumanblood,bytheinfamousBrownSequardmethod,isonthephysical。
TheylaughattheoccultsciencesandderideMesmerism?Yetthiscenturywillnothavepassedawaybeforetheyhaveundeniableproofsthattheideaofacrimesuggestedforexperiment’ssakeisnotremovedbyareversedcurrentofthewillaseasilyasitisinspired。Theymaylearnthatiftheoutwardexpressionoftheideaofamisdeed\"suggested\"mayfadeoutatthewilloftheoperator,theactivelivinggermartificiallyimplanteddoesnotdisappearwithit;thatoncedroppedintotheseatofthehuman——or,rather,theanimal——passions,itmayliedormantthereforyearssometimes,tobecomesuddenlyawakenedbysomeunforeseencircumstanceintorealization。Cryingchildrenfrightenedintosilencebythesuggestionofamonster,adevilstandinginthecorner,byafoolishnurse,havebeenknowntobecomeinsanetwentyorthirtyyearslateronthesamesubject。
Therearemysterious,secretdrawers,darknooksandhiding—placesinthelabyrinthofourmemory,stillunknowntophysiologists,andwhichopenonlyonce,rarelytwice,inman’slifetime,andthatonlyunderveryabnormalandpeculiarconditions。Butwhentheydo,itisalwayssomeheroicdeedcommittedbyapersontheleastcalculatedforit,or——aterriblecrimeperpetrated,thereasonforwhichremainsforeveramystery……
Thusexperimentsin\"suggestion\"bypersonsignorantoftheoccultlaws,arethemostdangerousofpastimes。Theactionandreactionofideasontheinnerlower\"Ego,\"hasneverbeenstudiedsofar,becausethatEgoitselfisterraincognita(evenwhennotdenied)tothemenofscience。Moreover,suchperformancesbeforeapromiscuouspublicareadangerinthemselves。MenofundeniablescientificeducationwhoexperimentonHypnotisminpublic,lendtherebythesanctionoftheirnamestosuchperformances。Andtheneveryunworthyspeculatoracuteenoughtounderstandtheprocessmay,bydevelopingbypracticeandperseverancethesameforceinhimself,applyittohisownselfish,oftencriminal,ends。
ResultonKarmiclines:everyHypnotist,everymanofScience,howeverwell—meaningandhonorable,oncehehasallowedhimselftobecometheunconsciousinstructorofonewholearnsbuttoabusethesacredscience,becomes,ofcourse,morallytheconfederateofeverycrimecommittedbythismeans。
Suchistheconsequenceofpublic\"Hypnotic\"experimentswhichthusleadto,andvirtuallyare,BLACKMAGIC。
FOOTNOTES:
1。SeethereviewofhisworkintheJournalduMagnetisme,Mai,Juin,1890,foundedin1845byBaronduPotet,andnoweditedbyH。Durville,inParis。(returntotext)
2。Thisdateisanerror。ParacelsuswasbornatZurichin1493。(returntotext)
3。ThisisthedateofVanHelmont’sdeath;hewasbornin1577。(returntotext)
4。BaronduPotetwasforyearsHonorarymemberoftheTheosophicalSociety。AutographletterswerereceivedfromhimandpreservedatAdyar,ourHeadquarters,inwhichhedeplorestheflippantunscientificwayinwhichMesmerism(thenontheeveofbecomingthe\"hypnotism\"
ofscience)washandled\"parlescharlatansdujour。\"Hadhelivedtoseethesecretscienceinitsfulltravestyashypnotism,hispowerfulvoicemighthavestoppeditsterriblepresentabusesanddegradationintoacommercialPunchandJudyshow。Luckilyforhim,andunluckilyfortruth,thegreatestadeptofMesmerisminEuropeofthiscentury——isdead。(returntotext)
StudiesinOccultismbyH。Blavatsky,\"TheSignsoftheTimes\"TheSignsoftheTimesItisintenselyinterestingtofollowseasonafterseasontherapidevolutionandchangeofpublicthoughtinthedirectionofthemystical。
Theeducatedmindismostundeniablyattemptingtofreeitselffromtheheavyfettersofmaterialism。Theuglycaterpillariswrithingintheagoniesofdeath,underthepowerfuleffortsofthepsychicbutterflytoescapefromitsscience—builtprison,andeverydaybringssomenewgladtidingsofoneormoresuchmentalbirthstolight。
AstheNewYork\"Path\"trulyremarksinitsSeptemberissue,when\"Theosophicalandkindredtopics……aremadethetextsfornovels,\"and,wemayadd,scientificessaysandbrochures,\"theimplicationisthatinterestinthemhasbecomediffusedthroughallsocialranks。\"Thatkindofliteratureis\"paradoxicallyproofthatOccultismhaspassedbeyondtheregionofcarelessamusementandenteredthatofseriousenquiry。\"ThereaderhasbuttothrowaretrospectiveglanceatthepublicationsofthelastfewyearstofindthatsuchtopicsasMysticism,Magic,Sorcery,Spiritualism,Theosophy,Mesmerism,or,asitisnowcalled,Hypnotism,allthevariousbranchesinshortoftheOccultsideofnature,arebecomingpredominantineverykindofliterature。Theyvisiblyincreaseinproportiontotheeffortsmadetodiscreditthemovementsinthecauseoftruth,andstrangleenquiry——whetheronthefieldoftheosophyorspiritualism——bytryingtobesmeartheirmostprominentheralds,pioneersanddefenders,withtarandfeathers。
Thekey—noteformysticandtheosophicliteraturewasMarionCrawford’sMr。Isaacs。ItwasfollowedbyhisZoroaster。ThenfollowedTheRomanceofTwoWorlds,byMarieCorelli;R。LouisStevenson’sDr。JekyllandMr。Hyde;TheFallenIdol,byAnstey;KingSolomon’sMinesandthethricefamousShe,byRiderHaggard;AffinitiesandTheBrotheroftheShadow,byMrs。CampbellPraed;EdmundDowney’sHouseofTears,andmanyotherslessnoticeable。
AndnowtherecomesafreshoutburstinFlorenceMarryat’sDaughteroftheTropics,andF。C。Philips’StrangeAdventuresofLucySmith。
Itisunnecessarytomentionindetailtheliteratureproducedbyavowedtheosophistsandoccultists,someofwhoseworksareveryremarkable,whileothersarepositivelyscientific,suchasS。L。MacgregorMathers’KabbalahUnveiled,andDr。F。Hartmann’sParacelsus,Magic,WhiteandBlack,etc。WehavealsotonotethefactthattheosophyhasnowcrossedtheChannel,andismakingitswayintoFrenchliterature。LaFrancepublishesastrangeromancebyCh。Chincholle,pregnantwiththeosophy,occultismandmesmerism,andcalledLaGrandePretresse,whileLaRevuepolitiqueetlitteraire(19Feb。1887,etseq。)containedoverthesignatureofTh。Bentzon,anovelcalledEmancipee,whereinesotericdoctrinesandadeptsarementionedinconjunctionwiththenamesofwellknowntheosophists。Asignofthetimes!
Literature——especiallyincountriesfreefromgovernmentcensorship——isthepublicheartandpulse。Besidestheglaringfactthatweretherenodemandtherewouldbenosupply,currentliteratureisproducedonlytoplease,andisthereforeevidentlythemirrorwhichfaithfullyreflectsthestateofthepublicmind。True,Conservativeeditors,andtheirsubmissivecorrespondentsandreporters,stillgoonslashingoccasionallyinprintthefairfacesofmysticspiritualismandtheosophy,andsomeofthemarestillfound,fromtimetotime,indulginginabrutalpersonalattack。
Buttheydonoharmonthewhole,exceptperhapstotheirowneditorialreputations,assucheditorscanneverbesuspectedofanexuberanceofcultureandgoodtasteaftercertainungentlemanlypersonalattacks。Theydogoodonthecontrary。For,whilethetheosophistsandspiritualistssoattacked,mayviewtheBillingsgatepouredupontheminatrueSocrateanspirit,andconsolethemselveswiththeknowledgethatnoneoftheepithetsusedcanpossiblyapplytothem,ontheotherhand,toomuchabuseandvilificationgenerallyendsbyawakeningthepublicsympathyforthevictim,intheright—mindedandtheimpartial,atanyrate。
InEnglandpeopleseemtolikefairplayonthewhole。Itisnotbashi—boozook—likeactions,thedoughtydeedsofthosewhodelightinmutilatingtheslainandthewounded,thatcanfindsympathyforanygreatlengthoftimewiththepublic。If——asmaintainedbyourlayenemiesandrepeatedbysomenaï;fandtoosanguinemissionaryorgans——SpiritualismandTheosophyare\"deadasadoornail\"(sic!——videAmericanChristianperiodicals),——aye,\"deadandburied,\"why,insuchcase,goodChristianfathers,notleavethedeadatresttill\"JudgmentDay\"?Andiftheyarenot,theneditors——theprofaneaswellastheclerical——whyshouldyoustillfear?Donotshowyourselvessuchcowardsifyouhavethetruthonyourside。Magnaestveritasetprevalebit,and\"murderwillout,\"asitalwayshas,soonerorlater。Openyourcolumnstofreeandfearlessdiscussion,anddoasthetheosophicalperiodicalshaveeverdone,andasLUCIFERisnowpreparingtodo。The\"brightSonofthemorning\"
fearsnolight。Hecourtsit,andispreparedtopublishanyinimicalcontributions(couched,ofcourse,indecentlanguage),howevermuchatvariancewithhistheosophicalviews。Heisdeterminedtogiveafairhearinginanyandeverycase,tobothcontendingpartiesandallowthingsandthoughtstobejudgedontheirrespectivemerits。Forwhy,orwhatshouldonedreadwhenfactandtruthareone’sonlyaim?DuchocdesopinionsjaillitlaveritewassaidbyaFrenchphilosopher。IfTheosophyandSpiritualismarenobetterthan\"giganticfraudsandwill—o’—the—wispsoftheage\"whysuchexpensivecrusadesagainstboth?Andiftheyarenot,whyshouldAgnosticsandsearchersaftertruthingeneral,helpbigotedandnarrow—mindedmaterialists,sectariansanddogmatiststohideourlightunderabushelbymerebrutalforceandusurpedauthority?Itiseasytosurprisethegoodfaithofthefair—minded。Stilleasiertodiscreditthat,whichbyitsintrinsicstrangeness,isalreadyunpopularandcouldhardlybecreditedinitspalmiestdays。\"Wewelcomenosuppositionsoeagerlyasonewhichaccordswithandintensifiesourownprejudices\"says,inDonJesualdo,apopularauthor。Therefore,factsbecomeoftencunninglyconcocted\"frauds\";andself—evident,glaringliesareacceptedasgospeltruthsatthefirstbreezeofDonBasilio’sCalumnia,bythosetowhosehard—crustedpre—conceptionssuchslanderislikeheavenlydew。
But,belovedenemies,\"thelightofLucifer\"may,afterall,dispelsomeofthesurroundingdarkness。Themightyroaringvoiceofdenunciation,sowelcometothosewhoselittlespitesandhatesandmentalstagnationinthegraspofthesocialrespectabilityitpandersto,mayyetbesilencedbythevoiceoftruth——\"thestillsmallvoice\"——whosedestinyiteverwastofirstpreachinthedesert。Thatcoldandartificiallightwhichstillseemstoshinesodazzlinglyovertheallegediniquitiesofprofessionalmediumsandthesupposedsinsofcommissionandomissionofnon—professionalexperimentalists,offreeandindependenttheosophists,mayyetbeextinguishedattheheightofallitsglory。Foritisnotquitetheperpetuallampofthealchemistphilosopher。Stilllessisitthat\"lightwhichnevershoneonseaorland,\"thatrayofdivineintuition,thesparkwhichglimmerslatentinthespiritual,never—erringperceptionsofmanandwoman,andwhichisnowawakening——foritstimeisathand。Afewyearsmore,andtheAladdin’slamp,whichcalledforththeministeringgeniusthereof,who,makingthreesalutestothepublic,proceededforthwithtodevourmediumsandtheosophists,likeajugglerwhoswallowsswordsatavillagefair,willgetoutoforder。Itslight,overwhichtheanti—theosophistsarecrowingvictorytothisday,shallgetdim。Andthen,perhaps,itwillbediscoveredthatwhatwasclaimedasadirectrayfromthesourceofeternaltruthwasnobetterthanapennyrush—light,inwhosedeceitfulsmokeandsootpeoplegothypnotized,andsaweverythingupsidedown。ItwillbefoundthatthehideousmonstersoffraudandimposturehadnoexistenceoutsidethemurkyanddizziedbrainsoftheAladdinsontheirjourneyofdiscovery。Andthat,finally,thegoodpeoplewholistenedtothem,hadbeenallthetimeseeingsightsandhearingthingsunderunconsciousandmutualsuggestion。
Thisisascientificexplanation,andrequiresnoblackmagiciansordugpasatwork;for\"suggestion\"asnowpractisedbythesorcerersofscienceis——dugpashipitself,pursang。NoEastern\"adeptofthelefthand\"candomoremischiefbyhisinfernalartthanagravehypnotizeroftheFacultyofMedicine,adiscipleofCharcot,orofanyotherscientificlightofthefirstmagnitude。InParis,asinSt。Petersburg,crimeshavebeencommittedunder\"suggestion。\"Divorceshaveoccurred,andhusbandshavenearlykilledtheirwivesandtheirsupposedcorrespondents,owingtotricksplayedoninnocentandrespectablewomen,whohavethushadtheirfairnameandalltheirfuturelifeblastedforever。Ason,undersuchinfluence,brokeopenthedeskofanavariciousfather,whocaughthimintheact,andnearlyshothiminafitofrage。
OneofthekeysofOccultismisinthehandsofscience——cold,heartless,materialistic,andcrasslyignorantoftheothertrulypsychicsideofthephenomenon:hence,powerlesstodrawalineofdemarcationbetweenthephysiologicalandthepurelyspiritualeffectsofthediseaseinoculated,andunabletopreventfutureresultsandconsequencesofwhichithasnoknowledge,andoverwhichithas,therefore,nocontrol。