Influencing at a distance
In the two preceding chapters we invited your consideration of
the manifestation of Mental Influence when the user of projector of
the force was in actual contact with, or in presence of, the person
or persons he was aiming to influence. In this chapter, and the one
immediately following it, we shall pass on to a consideration of the
manifestation of the influence when the persons affected are removed
in space from the person using the influence.
The general public is familiar in a general way with the
phenomena of hypnotism, and to a lesser degree with the phenomena of
Fascination in its more common forms of Personal Magnetism, etc. But
as regards the use of the influence at a distance people are more or
less skeptical owing to a lack of knowledge of the subject. And
still every day is bringing to the mind of the public new facts and
instances of such an influence, and the teaching of various cults
along these lines is now awakening a new interest in the subject,
and a desire to learn something regarding the laws and principles
underlying the same.
As strange as it may appear at first glance, the principles
underlying Mental Influence at a distance are precisely the same as
those underlying the use of influence when the persons are in the
presence of each other. A little thought must show the truth of
this. In the case of present influence the mental-currents flow
across an intervening space between the two minds – there is a space
outside of the two minds to be traversed by the currents. And a
moment’s thought will show you that the difference between present
influence and distant influence is merely a matter of degree – a
question of a little more or less space to be traversed by the
currents. Do you see this plainly?
Well, then, this being so, it follows that the methods used must
be identical. Of course, in the case of personal influence the added
effect of the voice, manner, suggestive methods, the eye, etc., are
present, which render the result more easily obtained, and causes
the "rapport" condition to be more easily established. But with this
exception the methods are identical, and even the advantages
accruing from the exception mentioned may be duplicated by practice
and development in the case of distant influence.
There are a number of methods given by the authorities in this
matter of distant influencing, but they are all based upon the same
principles named in the previous chapters of this book, i. e.
Vibrations, Thought-Waves, Mental Induction, Concentration and
Mental Imaging – in these words you have the key to the subject –
the rest is all a matter of practice and development, and variation.
One of the most elementary, and yet one of the most effective
methods known to occultists is that of creating a Mental Image of
the person "treated" (for that is the common term among modern
writers on the subject) in the sense of imagining him to be seated
in a chair in front of the person treating him at a distance. The
treater proceeds to give both verbal commands, and at the same time
directs Thought–Waves toward the imaginary person seated before him.
This process establishes a psychic condition between the treater and
the actual person, although the latter may be removed from the
treater by many miles of space. This was the method of the ancient
magicians and wonder–workers, and has always been a favorite among
persons pursuing these experiments, of desirous, of mentally
influencing others at a distance.
A variation of the above, very common in former days, was to
mould a clay or wax figure, calling it by the name of the person
treated, and identifying it in the mind and imagination with the
other person. A variation is also noticed in the cases where a
photograph, lock of hair, article of clothing, etc. , is used in
this way as a psychic connecting link between the two persons. The
practitioners of Black Magic, Witchcraft and other nefarious
perversions of Mental Influence seemed to prefer these methods,
although, on the contrary, they are used with the very best results
to-day by many in giving beneficial treatments to absent patients,
friends and others whose welfare is desired. The only effect the
Mental Image of the person, or the picture, etc. , has is the fact
that by these means a psychic connection link is set up along which
the Thought – Waves travel more readily.
In the above forms of treatment the treater treats the Mental
Image, picture, etc. , precisely as he would if the person were
actually present. He forgets for the time being that the person may
be hundreds of miles away, and concentrates his influence on the
image, or picture, etc., because the latter is really the starting
point of the psychic chain, which leads direct to the person. The
treater sends his Thought–Waves toward the object, and in some cases
actually talks (mentally) to the person by means of the medium
mentioned. He may give commands, arguments, remonstrance,
persuasion, etc. , just as if the person were actually present. In
short, he acts as if the person were sitting before him, wide-awake,
and receptive to his influence.
Another way, employed by some, is to begin darting Thought–Waves
toward the other person, forming in the imagination a gradual
lengthening "psychic–wire" composed of thought–vibrations. Those
practicing this form state that when the psychic–wire is projected
sufficiently far (and it travels with incredible speed) and cones in
contact with the mind of the other person, the treater feels at once
that contact has been established, by a peculiar faint "shock"
similar to that of a very mild galvanic current. Then the treater
proceeds to send his thought–currents along the psychic–wire in the
same manner as if the person were actually in his presence, as
described under the head of "Fascination," in a preceding chapter.
In fact, such treatments, and the others mentioned in this chapter,
are really and practically "long-distance Fascination."
Another form of distant treatment consists in forming
"astral–tube," mentioned in other books of this series. The
astral–tube is set up in a similar manner to the "psychic–wire," and
projected toward the person desired to influence. It is formed in
the imagination as a "vortex–ring," similar to the little ring of
smoke puffed out by the cigar smoker, only larger – about six inches
to one foot wide – or, better still, like the ring of smoke ejected
from the stack of a locomotive sometimes when it is puffing rapidly.
This vortex–ring is then seen, in the imagination, by the use of the
will, to lengthen out in the shape of a tube which rapidly extends
and travels toward the person treated, in a manner identical with
that of the psychic–wire. This tube is known to occultists as the
"astral-tube," and is employed in various forms of occult and
psychic phenomena, such as clairvoyance and other forms of "Psychomancy,"
as described by us in our volume of this series, so entitled.
Those following this method of distant influencing report that
they recognize the completion of the tube by a sensation of stoppage
and a feeling of "rapport" having been established between
themselves and the other person.
In some cases they report that they are able to faintly "see" the
figure of the other person in miniature at the other end of the
tube, but this is undoubtedly due to the possession of
"psycho-mantic" powers, suddenly awakened in to effect. The tube
once established the treatment is proceeded with as if they were in
the actual presence of the person treated. In many respects the
"psychic–wire" and the "astral–tube" methods are similar, and a
statement concerning one is generally true of the other.
There are two other methods frequently used in distant
influencing which we shall now briefly describe.
The first of these two methods consists in sitting or standing in
a quiet place, or rather in some place in which you can concentrate
(the advanced occultist can find peace in the midst of the noise)
and then directing your Thought–Waves toward the other person,
forming in the imagination a mental picture of the force flying from
you toward the other, like tiny sparks of electricity, or of a
subtle fluid. This mental picture tends to give a concentrative
force to the current which renders them powerful, and sends them
direct to the desired spot.
The second of these two methods is that used by the most advanced
occultists who have advanced beyond the use of the methods described
just now. These people simply stand or sit quietly and concentrate
their minds until they attain the state of Mental Calm known to many
as "the Silence." Then they create a strong mental picture of the
person treated, surrounded by the conditions desired created, or
doing the things desired to be done. This is one of the highest
forms of Mental Influence and really approaches a higher phase of
influence than that of the mental plane as generally known. A
picture of a person held in the mind in this way – the person being
seen in perfect, robust health, and happy and successful – tends to
materialize the same conditions in the person in real life. This
form of treatment, however, is possible only to those of great
concentration, and who have mastered the act of Mental Imaging, and
who also possess Creative Will-Power to a marked degree. Some degree
of success in it, however, is open to nearly every student who
practices along these lines. Before practicing any of these
experiments, read what we have said in the chapter on "Magic Black
and White," and guard against employing the power for evil purposes,
for the fate of the Black Magician is a sad one. |