PRACTICAL MENTAL INFLUENCE /PART 8
CHAPTER 8
INFLUENCING
AT A DISTANCE
In the two preceding chapters we invited your
consideration of the manifestation of Mental Influence when the user or
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 former 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 mold 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 of its nefarious perversions
of Mental influence seemed to prefer these methods, although, on the contrary,
they are used with the very best results today 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 comes 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 an "astral-tube," mentioned in other
books in 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.
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