THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PERSONAL MAGNETISM/PART 4
CHAPTER 4.
THE PHYSICAL PHASE
The physical phase of personal magnetism depends upon two
coordinated manifestations of nerve-force, as follows:
· the generation within the nervous system of a
plenteous supply of nerve-force; and
· the conscious projection, by the will, of that
supply of nerve-force into the personal atmosphere, and even to a greater
distance under special conditions.
By “nerve-force,” as used in the above paragraph, I mean
that strange, mysterious form of energy, which controls all physical movements,
and yet, at the same time, appears to be something higher than physical itself.
It is akin to electricity or magnetism, in its real nature, and, like these
forces is impossible to define. Nerve-force is something far different from the
matter of which the nervous system is composed. The nervous system, from spinal
cord to the most delicate nerve filament, is at the best but a system of wires,
relays, etc., over which the nerve-force travels, or else complicated
reservoirs in which the nerve-force is stored.
The ordinary nerves serve as wires and cables over which
the nerve-force travels to move the parts of the body, which we will to move,
or which our subconscious mentality desires to move. Certain parts of the brain
are great reservoirs of nerve-force, as are also the great groups of
nerve-matter called the plexus, prominent among which are the solar plexus, and
the sacral plexus.
The ordinary textbooks of physiology pass over the
question of the real nature of nerve-force, for their writers do not possess
the secret. They dispose of the question by saying: “As in the case of
electricity, while we fully recognize its existence and its power, nevertheless
we do not know its real nature.” And, so, the student must go back to some of
the old occult writers of the past ages, and their followers in the present
age, in order to get the secret.
All occultists, ancient and modern, have recognized the
existence of a mighty subtle force of nature - one of nature’s “finer forces” -
which is most potent in its effects and activities, but which, nevertheless,
defied all power of analysis or definition. The reason that science has never
been able to classify nerve-force is because, like electricity, it is in a
class by itself, and is different from any other form of force - so different
that it cannot be classified with other forces. Science, in some cases, has
endeavored to treat it as a secretion of the nervous matter, but that is a
folly akin to that of the materialistic philosopher who tried to define mind as
“a secretion of the brain,” just as the bile is a secretion of the liver, the
gall a secretion of the gall-bladder, etc. Such attempts at definition cause
only a smile on the face of the wise.
The occultists, on the contrary, while not attempting to
define nerve-force (recognizing it to be in a class of its own) nevertheless
have discovered the source of its origin, and have given us valuable
information as to its use. They have given it many names, as for instance:
“vital force,” “vital energy,” “life force,” “vital fluid,” “vital magnetism,”
etc., and in the case of the Orientals, the terms “prana,” or “akashic energy”
have been applied to it. But under all of these different names, the occultists
have always meant the one and same thing, i.e., nerve-force. The name I use in
describing it, ‘nerve-force,” is employed simply because it is found
specialized in the nervous system, and not because of any idea that it
originates there. Indeed, as you shall see in a moment, it has a far higher and
more elementary source of origin.
The old materialistic
school of physiology has attempted to show that nerve-force, like the bodily
material, is derived from the food we eat, and is created by chemical
combustion of the latter. This, however, is only partly true. While it is true
that there is a certain amount of nerve-force in fresh food (having been
gathered there during the life of the plant of animal of which the food formed
a part), and while it is true that a certain amount of this nerve-force is
taken up by the system of the person eating the food, particularly if the food
be fresh, nevertheless, the amount of nerve-force so absorbed is comparatively
small, and is far too little to supply what is needed by the individual to run
his physical organism. And, even the small part so obtained is not
derived from the chemical combustion of the food. Food chemical combustion
results in giving bodily heat, but never in creating nerve-force.
The true source of nerve-force is the same as the source
of electricity, namely the universal ether that fills space. Like electricity,
also, this force is available to human wants only when it is associated with.
The atmosphere is charged with nerve-force, which is taken up and absorbed by
the nervous system, and stored away in its great reservoirs, from whence, in
turn, it flows over the nerves when required, by the physical or mental needs
of the individual.
But, you naturally ask, how does the body absorb the
universal nerve-force -- through what channel does it enter the system. The
answer is plain, viz.: In plant, animal, and human life, the nerve force is
breathed into the system. In other words, the process of breathing, in its
higher and lower forms, is not alone that of extracting oxygen or other
elements from the air, but also that of extracting the universal nerve-force at
the same time. When this is understood, it will be more easily understood why the
living thing perishes so soon if the process of breathing be interfered with.
The understanding of this secret of nature throws a much-needed light upon the
important part played by breathing, in the life of all creatures.
Before proceeding to a
further consideration of the process of the absorption of nerve-force from the
atmosphere, especially in the case of the student of personal magnetism, I ask
you to consider another important question in relation to the physical phase of
personal magnetism, namely, that of the projection of nerve-force beyond the
limits of the nervous system. You will remember that the average physiologist
maintains that it is folly to hold that nerve-force can possibly pass beyond
the limits of the nervous system containing it. He holds that, like electricity
on the wires, it cannot pass except over the wires of the nerves. But, is this
true even of electricity? I positively assert that it is not. The veriest
novice in the study of electricity is aware that electricity will often leap
from one conducting substance to another -- jumping the gap in the shape of a
spark -- and then flying along the new channel. Again, even without the spark,
electricity and magnetism will often affect other substances by what is known
as “induction,”
without the actual contact of the two conducting materials. This is so common
that it is a wonder that the question is ever raised. And, what is true of
electricity and magnetism, in this respect, is likewise true of nerve-force,
for it will not only often leap over the barriers of the nervous system, but
will, and constantly does, affect other nervous systems by a kind of
“induction.”
Not only is the phenomena of personal magnetism a proof
of this transmission of nerve-force, but the phenomena of ‘human magnetism” (as
it has been called) in the direction of “magnetic healing” another proof -- a
proof, moreover, that may be obtained by any individual in his own experience.
Moreover, the experience of every individual will bear
ample and generous testimony to the fact that certain persons, flowing over
with vigorous nerve-force, will so radiate the energy that it is actually
perceptible to those shaking hands with them, or even coming into their
vicinity. These individuals fairly radiate health and vigor, and exert a
positive healing and invigorating effect on those with whom they come in
contact. In a similar manner is manifested a lack of sufficient nerve-force by
those unfortunate individuals who go around unconsciously absorbing the
nerve-force of others, and, in extreme cases, becoming actual vampires sucking
the vital forces from those around them. Who of you have not met this last
class of persons, and have not noted how depressed and weakened one is after
having been in the company of such persons for some time? The average person
does not need any further proof in this case beyond that afforded by his or her
own experience.
It may be asked that if
the nerve-force is inherent in the universal ether, and obtained from the
atmosphere, why all persons are not equally endowed with this energy. The
answer is that the life-habits of individuals differ, and just as one is
physically strong and robust, and another weak and delicate, so is one
individual strong in nerve-force, and another weak in it. Moreover, a change in
the life habits of the person will inevitably result in a change in the amount
of nerve-force absorbed and retained by him or her. In fact, one of the
purposes of this book is to instruct you how you may increase the nerve-force
within yourself. While the object is the increase of your personal magnetism, you will find
that at the same time your general health and vigor will improve.
In addition to the amount of nerve-force being determined
by the life habits of the individual, it is also true that the individual may,
by the proper exercises, so “energize” his nervous system that he will largely
increase the degree of activity of his nerve-force, and may render it far more
available for his requirements. It isn’t only a question of securing a
plenteous supply of nerve-force, but also of having the same in an active
condition, and in such a form that it may be readily available for the
requirements of everyday life.
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