PRACTICAL PSYCHOMANCY/PART 1
LESSON I
THE NATURE OF PSYCHOMANCY.
The
term "Psychomancy" (pronounced, "sy-ko-man-see"), is
derived from two Greek words, the first "psycho," meaning "the
soul; the mind; the understanding" (and generally used to indicate
"psychic" or unusual powers of the soul or mind); the second word,
"mancy" meaning "to divine; to foresee, or foreknow; to detect
secret things,"—and in occult parlance, "to sense," or
"to receive impressions by the Astral Senses." So the word, as we use
it, may be said to mean "Psychic Sensing," and in this work will be
so used. The word "Psychomancer" means "one practicing
Psychomancy;" and the word "Psychomantic" means "relating
to Psychomancy."
The
word "Clairvoyance" is frequently used by people to designate some of
the phases of Psychomancy, but strictly speaking this term is incorrect when
used in this sense, the true occult meaning of the word
"Clairvoyance," being "transcendental vision, or the perception
of beings on another plane of existence—the seeing of disembodied souls,
elementals, etc." And so, in this work, we shall consider the true
phenomena of Clairvoyance, as distinct from that of Psychomancy.
In
this work, we shall regard as the true phenomena of Psychomancy, all the various
phenomena known as Psychometry; Crystal Gazing; Perceiving Distant Scenes; a
perception of Past Events, and Indication of Future Events; either in the full
waking state; the state of reverie; or the state of dreams.
And,
so this work will examine, consider, and explain, the various phases of
phenomena above indicated—in short, the phenomena of "sensing"
objects by means of Astral Senses, omitting the phenomena of Clairvoyance,
or seeing disembodied souls, etc., which we regard as belonging to a different
phase of the general subject, and which require special consideration and
examination.
The
majority of works upon these lines begin by an elaborate attempt to
"prove" the reality of the phenomena in question. But we shall not
fall into this error, for such we regard it. The time for the necessity of such
proof is past. The records of the Societies for Psychical Research are full of
proofs, and evidence, which are as full, complete and strong as ever required
by any court to hang or clear a man. And the book shelves of the libraries are
full of other books, giving like proof. And, for that matter, this work is not
written to convince people of the truth of this phenomena—it is intended for
those who have already convinced themselves of its reality, but who wish for
specific information regarding its nature, manner of manifestation, etc. Where
we quote instances of the manifestation of some form of Psychomantic phenomena,
in this work, we do so simply to illustrate the characteristics of some
particular form of the phenomena, and not as corroborative proof. With this
explanation, we propose plunging right into the main subject itself.
There
have been many attempted explanations of, and theories regarding the phenomena
of Psychomancy, some of which are more or less plausible, while others are
quite visionary, "wild," and fantastic. In this work, we shall pay no
attention to those more or less ingenious "guesses" of the theorists,
but shall, instead, give you plainly, clearly, and simply, the time-honored
teachings of the advanced Occultists which teachings we believe to be the
Truth, tested and tried by centuries of investigation, and experiment.
THE ASTRAL SENSES.
The
Occult Teachings inform us that in addition to the Five Physical Senses
possessed by man, viz: Seeing; Feeling; Hearing; Tasting; and Smelling; each of
which has its appropriate sense organ, every individual is also possessed of
Five Astral Senses, which form a part of what is known to Occultists as the
Astral Body. These Astral Senses, which are the astral counterparts of the five
physical senses, operate upon what Occultists call the Astral Plane, which is
next above the Physical Plane, in the Sevenfold Scale of Planes. Just as do the
Physical Senses operate upon the Physical Plane, so do the Astral Senses
operate upon the Astral Plane.
By
means of these Astral Senses, one may sense outside objects without the use of
the physical senses usually employed. And it is through this sensing by these
Astral Senses, that the phenomena of Psychomancy becomes possible.
By
the employment of the Astral Sense of Seeing, the Psychomancer is able to
perceive occurrences, scenes, etc., at a distance sometimes almost incredibly
far; to see through solid objects; to see records of past occurrences in the
Astral Ether; and to see Future Scenes thrown ahead in Time, like the shadows
cast by material objects—"coming events cast their shadows before,"
you have heard. By the use of the Astral Sense of Hearing, he is able to sense
sounds over immense distances and often after the passage of great periods of
time, for the Astral vibrations continue for many years.
The
Astral senses of Taste and Smell are seldom used, although there are abundant
proofs of their existence. The Astral Sense of Feeling enables the Psychomancer
to become aware of certain occurrences on the Astral Plane, and to perceive
impressions, mental and otherwise, that are being manifested at a distance. The
Astral Sense of Feeling may be explained as being rather a sense of
"Awareness," than a mere "Feeling," inasmuch as the
Psychomancer, through its channel, becomes "aware" of certain
occurrences, other than by Astral Sight or Hearing, and yet which is not
"Feeling" as the word is used on the Physical Plane. It may be well
called "Sensing" for want of a better name, and manifests in a vague
consciousness or "awareness." But still we must not overlook the fact
that there are many instances of true "feeling" on the Astral Plane,
for instances, cases where the Psychomancer actually "feels" the pain
of another, which phenomena is commonly known as "sympathetic pains,"
"taking on the condition," etc., etc., and which are well known to
all investigators as belonging to the phenomena of the Astral Senses.
THE ASTRAL BODY
But,
to understand the Astral Senses, one must be made acquainted with the existence
of that which Occultists know as "The Astral Body." There is no point
in the Occult Teachings better established; longer held; or more thoroughly
proven than that of the existence of the Astral Body. This teaching of the
Ancient Occultists is being corroborated by the experiments, and investigations
of the Psychic Researchers of the present day.
The
Astral Body, belonging to every person, is an exact counterpart of the perfect
physical body of the person. It is composed of fine ethereal matter, and is
usually encased in the physical body. In ordinary cases, the detaching of the
Astral Body from its physical counterpart is accomplished only with great
difficulty, but in the case of dreams; great mental stress; and under certain
conditions of occult development, the Astral Body may become detached and sent
on long journeys, traveling at a rate of speed greater than that of light
waves. On these journeys it is always connected with the physical body by a
long filmy connecting link. If this link were to become broken, the person
would die instantly, but this is an almost unheard of occurrence in the ordinary
planes of action. The Astral Body exists a long time after the death of the
physical body, but it disintegrates in time. It sometimes hovers around the
resting place of the physical corpse, and is mistaken for the
"spirit" of the deceased person, although really it is merely a shell
or finer outer coating of the soul. The Astral Body of a dying person is often
projected to the presence of friends and loved ones a few moments before the
physical death, the phenomenon arising from the strong desire of the dying
person to see and be seen.
The
Astral Body frequently travels from its physical counterpart, in Psychomantic
phenomena, and visits scenes far distant, there sensing what is occurring. It
also leaves the body during what are known as Psychomantic dreams; or under the
influence of anaesthetics; or in some of the deeper phases of hypnosis; when it
visits strange scenes and places, and often holds mental conversation with
other Astral Bodies, or else with disembodied entities. The jumbled and distorted
recollections of these dreams are occasioned by the brain not having received
perfect impressions transmitted to it, by reason of lack of training,
development, etc., the result being like a blurred or distorted photographic
plate.
In
order to intelligently grasp the underlying principles of the phenomena of
Psychomancy, and its allied subjects, you must familiarize yourself with the
truth concerning the Astral Senses, which we have just stated. Unless you
understand and accept this truth and fact, you will not be able to grasp the
principles underlying the phenomena in question, but will be lost in the
quagmire of idle theories, and fantastic "explanation" hazarded by
investigators of psychic phenomena who have not made themselves acquainted with
the Occult Teachings which alone give the student an intelligent key to the
mysteries of the Astral Plane.
THE THREE CLASSES
The
phenomena of Psychomancy, etc., may be grouped into three classes, each being
produced by its own special class-cause. In either or all cases, the
impressions are received by and through the Astral Senses, but there are three
distinct ways in which, and by which, these impressions are received. These
ways, which we shall now proceed to consider in detail, may be classified under
the following terms:
(1)
Sensing by the "quickening" of one's Astral Senses sufficient to
perceive more clearly the etheric vibrations or currents, the auric emanations
of persons and things; and similar phases of Psychomancy, but which does not
include the power to sense occurrences happening in distant places; nor the
power to sense the records of the past, or to receive indications of the
future. (See Lesson III.)
(2)
Sensing by means of the "Astral Tube," erected in the Ether by the
operation of one's Will or Desire, and which acts as a Psychic
"telescope," or "microscope," with "X Ray"
features. (See Lesson IV.)
(3)
Sensing by means of the actual projection of one's own Astral Body to the
distant scene. (See Lesson VII.)
CLAIRAUDIENCE.
"Clairaudience"
is a term sometimes used to indicate Astral Hearing. Some writers on this
subject treat "Clairaudience" as a separate class of phenomena. But
we fail to see the distinction they make. It, of course, employs a different
Astral Sense from that generally employed, but both are Astral Senses
functioning on the Astral Plane, just as the physical senses of Seeing and
Hearing function on the Physical Plane. And, more important, both forms of
Astral Sensing are subject to the same laws and rules. In other words, all that
is said in the lessons of this book on the subject of Psychomantic Vision holds
equally true of Clairaudience.
Thus,
there may be Simple Clairaudience; Space Clairaudience;
Past Time Clairaudience; FutureTime Clairaudience, etc.;
also Clairaudient
Psychometry; Clairaudience through
Crystal Gazing, etc. Psychomantic Vision is the employment of the Astral Sight,
while Clairaudience is the similar employment of the Astral Hearing.
In
many cases of Psychomantic Vision there is an accompaniment of Clairaudience;
while in others it may be missing. Likewise, Psychomantic Vision usually
accompanied Clairaudience, although sometimes one may be able to hear astrally,
although no seeing.
You
will notice that in many of the instances of Psychomantic Vision related in
this book, there is a mention of the person hearing words or
sounds, while seeing the vision—this, of course, is Clairaudience.
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