PRACTICAL MENTAL INFLUENCE/PART 11
CHAPTER 11
MAGIC BLACK AND WHITE
The use of the word
"Magic" in connection with Mental Influence is quite ancient.
Occultists make a clear distinction between the use of Mental Influence in a
manner conducive to the welfare of others, and its use in a selfish, base
manner calculated to work harm on others. Both forms are common and are
frequently mentioned in all occult writings.
White Magic has many forms,
both in its ancient manifestations and in these latter days of revived occult
knowledge. The use of Mental Influence in this way generally takes the form of
kindly "treatments" of persons by others having their welfare at
heart. In this particular class fall the various treatments of the several
cults and schools of what is known as Mental Science, or similar names. These
people make a practice of giving treatments, both "present" and
"absent," for the purpose of healing physical ailments and bringing
about a normal Physical condition of health and strength. Similar treatments
are given by some to bring about a condition of Success to others, by imparting
to the minds of such persons the vibrations of courage, confidence, energy,
etc., which surely make for success along the lines of material occupation,
etc.
in the same way one may
"treat" adverse conditions surrounding others, bringing the force of
the mind and will to bear on these conditions with the idea of changing the
prevailing vibrations and bringing harmony from in-harmony, and success
from failure.
The majority of persons, not
informed along these lines, are surrounded by a mental atmosphere arising from
the prevailing mental states, thoughts, feelings, etc., and also arising from
the thought-currents which they have attracted to them by the Law of Mental
Attraction. These Mental Atmospheres, when once firmly settled around a person,
render it most difficult for him to "break away" from their
vibrations. He struggles and fights, but the prevailing vibrations are beating
down upon him all the time and must produce a strong effect upon even persons
of strong will, unless indeed they have fully acquainted themselves with the
laws of Mental influence and have acquired the power of Concentration.
The habit of a lifetime,
perhaps, has to be overcome, and besides the constant suggestive vibrations
from the mental atmosphere are constantly bringing a pressure to bear upon the
person, so that indeed he has a mighty task before him to throw off the old
conditions, unaided and alone. And, so, while individual effort is preferable,
there comes a time in the lives of many people when "a helping hand,"
or rather a "helping mind," is of great service and aid.
The person coming to the
mental aid of a person needing his or her services is performing a most worthy
and proper act. We hear a great deal about "interfering with other
people's minds" in such kind and worthy "treatments," but in
many cases there is but little real interference done. The work of the helper
is really in the nature of neutralizing and dissipating the unfavorable Mental
Influence which surrounds the other person, and thereby giving the other person
a chance to work out his own mental salvation. It is true that everyone must do
his or her own work, but help of the kind above indicated is surely most worthy
and proper.
In these White Magic
treatments the person giving the treatments forms the Mental Picture of the
desired condition in his mind, and then sends his thought-currents to the other
person endeavoring to reproduce the Mental Picture in the mind or
thought-atmosphere of the other person. The best way of doing this, of course,
is to assert mentally that the desired condition actually exists. One may be of
great help and aid to others in this way, and there is no good reason why it
should not be done.
And now for the reverse side
of the shield - We wish it were possible to avoid even a mention of this
hateful form and manifestation of Mental Influence, but we feel that ignorance
is no protection, and that it is useless and foolish to pursue the policy of
the ostrich which sticks its head in the sand when pursued, that not seeing the
hunter the latter may not see him. We believe that it is better to look things
in the face, particularly where it is a case of "forewarned being
forearmed."
It is a fact known to all students of occultism that Black Magic has been
frequently employed in all times to further the selfish, base aims of some
people. And it is also known to advanced thinkers today that even in this
enlightened age there are many who do not scruple to stoop to the use of this
hateful practice in order to serve their own ends, notwithstanding the
punishment that occultists know awaits such persons.
The annals of history are
full of records of various forms of witchcraft, conjuration and similar forms
of Black Magic. All the much talked of forms of "putting spells" upon
people are really forms of Black Magic, heightened by the fear and superstition
of those affected.
One has but to read the
history of witchcraft to see that there was undoubtedly some force at work
behind all of the appalling superstition and ignorance shown by the people of
those times. What they attributed to the influence of people "in league
with the devil" really arose from the use of Black Magic, or an unworthy
use of Mental Influence, the two things being one. An examination of the
methods used by these "witches," as shown by their confessions, gives
us a key to the mystery. These "witches" would fix their minds upon
other people, or their animals, and by holding a concentrated mental picture
there, would send forth Thought-Waves affecting the welfare of the persons
being "adversely treated," which would influence and disturb them,
and often bring on sicknesses. Of course, the effect of these
"treatments" were greatly heightened by the extreme ignorant fear and
superstition held by the masses of people at the time, for Fear is ever a
weakening factor in Mental influence, and the superstitions and credulity of
the people caused their minds to vibrate in such a manner as to render them
extremely passive to the adverse influences being directed against them.
It is well known that the
Voodoos of Africa, and similar cults among other savage races, practice Black
Magic among their people with great effect. Among the natives of Hawaii there
are certain men known as "Kahunas," who pray people sick, or well,
whichever way they are paid for. These instances could be multiplied had we the
space and inclination to proceed further with the matter.
And in our own civilized lands there are many people who have learned the
principles of Mental Influence, and who are using the same for unworthy
purposes, seeking to injure others and defeat their undertakings, or else
trying to bring them around to their own (the "treater's") point of
view and inclinations. The modern revival of occult knowledge has operated
along two lines. On the one hand we see and hear of the mighty power for good
Mental Influence is exerting among the people today, raising up the sick,
strengthening the weak, putting courage into the despondent and making
successes of failures. But on the other hand the hateful selfishness and greed
of unprincipled persons in taking advantage of this mighty force of nature and
prostituting it to their own hateful ends, without heeding the dictates of
conscience or the teaching of religion or morality. These people are sowing a
baleful wind that will result in their reaping a frightful whirlwind on the
mental plane. They are bringing down upon themselves pain and misery in the
future.
At this point we wish to
utter a solemn warning to those who have been, or are tempted, to employ this
mighty force for unworthy purposes. The laws of the mental plane are such that
"as one sows so shall he reap." The mighty Law of Attraction acts
with the accuracy of a machine, and those who seek to entangle others in a net
of Mental influence sooner or later are caught by their own snare. The Black
Magician involves him to pieces. He is sucked down into the whirlpool of his
own making, and is dragged down to the lowest depths. These are not idle
remarks, but a statement of certain laws of nature, in operation on the mental
plane, which all should know and heed.
And to those who may feel
appalled at this mention of the existence and possibilities of Black Magic we
would say that there is one thing to be remembered, and that is that GOOD
always overcomes EVIL on the mental plane.
A good thought always has the
power to neutralize the Evil one, and a person whose mind is filled with Love
and Faith may combat a multitude whose minds are filled with Hate and Evil. The
tendency of all nature is upward and toward Good. And he who would pull it back
toward Evil sets himself against the law of Spiritual Evolution, and sooner or
later falls a victim to his folly.
And then, remember this:
Thought-Waves find entrance only to those minds that are accustomed to think
similar thoughts.
He who thinks Hate may be affected by Hate thoughts, while he whose mind is
filled with Faith and Love is surrounded by a resistant armor which repels the
invading waves, and causes them to be deflected, or else driven back to their
senders. Bad thoughts, like chickens, come home to roost. Thoughts ace like
Boomerangs, in their tendency to return to their sender. To the poison of Black
Magic Nature gives the antidote of Right-Thinking.
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