MIND POWER THE SECRET OF MENTAL MAGIC/PART 8
Chapter 8.
Mind-Power In Action
And
now let us consider the subject of the operation of Mind-Power, in the phase of
its employment, consciously or unconsciously, to affect the minds of others. It
is true that this subject will be considered in detail in the chapter on
Personal Magnetism and Telementation, but it will be well for us to take a
glance at the general workings at this point. I shall cover the points briefly,
the elaboration being made at the proper points in the lessons.
In
the first place, let us consider the matter of mentative induction. As you have
seen, the currents of Mind-Power flow in vibratory waves from the mind of the
individual, and act upon the minds of others according to the laws of mentative
induction. They thus set up corresponding vibrations, and therefore
corresponding mental states of feelings in the minds of such people. In other
words, these vibrations "induce” or set up by induction in the minds of
others, mental states similar to those existing in the mind of the mentator.
These
induced mental states are similar in quality and nature to those in the
original mind. But, of course, they are less in degree; for a part of the
original energy has been dissipated in many directions, and then again, a
certain amount of force is lost according to the degree of resistance in the
receiving mind. If the receiving mind sets up, consciously or unconsciously, a
considerable resistance to the vibrations, it will either entirely neutralize
or repel them, or else rob them of much of their power. If, on the contrary,
the receiving mind be in its nature more or less in accord with the vibrations,
it will set up little or no resistance, and the induced condition will be very
nearly as strong as the original impulse.
The
ether, or fine substance filling space, is constantly filled with these
mentative currents, of all kinds and degrees, streaming out from the minds of
all kinds of people. These currents, of course, come in contact with each
other, and often either combine or else act to neutralize each other. For
instance, currents of a certain degree or kind of vibration (that is, of a
certain mental state) when they come in contact with other currents of similar
vibration, will tend to coalesce and combine, there being a harmony and
attraction existing between them. But if they are opposing vibrations they will
antagonize each other and act in the direction of neutralizing each other's
force. If they are of equal strength, both will lose power, but if one is much
stronger than the other it will lose only in the inverse ratio of its strength,
and the weaker will suffer likewise. That is, the weaker will lose twice as
much power as the stronger, and the stronger will lose only half as much as the
weaker—supposing that the stronger is of twice the strength of the weaker.
In
this way is accounted for the well-known fact that places, towns, cities, etc.,
have their own "personal atmospheres,” which affect persons living in them
or visiting them. These "personal atmospheres” of towns arise from a
combining, neutralizing, etc., of the various vibrations arising from mentative
currents from the minds of the people living in the town. An average vibration
is struck, which is strongly felt by all within the "field of induction”
of that town. A little thought will make it clear to you that this is a correct
statement of the mental conditions manifest in various towns, cities, etc., all
over the world.
Each
place has its own individuality, which soon makes its impression on those
taking up their abode in it. It is more than geographical and atmospheric
conditions, although, of course, these play their parts, as we all know. The
average mental state of the people living in the town strikes the key-note. The
stronger vibrations affect the average, and give a mental tone to the place.
The best proof of this effect being caused by mental vibrations is found in the
fact that two towns only a few miles from each other, each having the same
atmospheric and geographical conditions, will manifest entirely different mental
atmospheres.
People
often ask: "If it be true that the ether is filled with mentative
currents, why are we not affected more than we are?” The answer is that they
are affected more than they imagine, but they are still affected much less than
one would suppose at first thought, for the reason that the currents conflict
with each other and rob each other of their force. And then again, Nature
instinctively affords a safeguard and sets up additional powers of resistance.
Just as Nature protects the hearing sense of those who are surrounded with many
and constant noises, until they fail to hear anything but an unaccustomed
noise—just as she operates upon the smelling sense of the chemist until he
fails to notice the odors which are most apparent to the stranger entering his
shop—so does she give additional unconscious resisting power to people situated
within an active field of mentative induction.
Bring
a person from a quiet place into a bustling, active city, and he is apt to be
swept off his feet at first with the "spirit of the place”—he will either
be swept into its prevailing life with an almost irresistible impulse, or else
he will be repelled by reason of the inharmonious mentative currents. In either
case, however, he will be intensely aware of the vibrations. But, the same man,
after a time, will fail to be so affected—he will be better able to resist the
vibrations and will manage to live with a greater peace and poise than at
first, although he will, of course, alter his nature more or less in harmony with
the prevailing tone of the place. He will "feel” the vibrations less as
time goes on. Some people have so developed this resisting power that they are
almost immune, while others have so little power of resistance that they are
swept here and there by each strong wave of mentative energy that reaches
them—they are always in some field of induction and being swayed by its
vibrations.
This
phase of mentative induction explains the phenomena of those great waves of
feeling that sweep over a country, such as the emotion that followed the
sinking of the Maine in the harbor of Havana. You will remember the first shock
that came to you when you read the account in the morning papers. Then there
came upon you a growing sense of some impending event of great moment, mingled
with a feeling of horror and indignation, followed by an almost irresistible
desire to join in a movement to avenge the outrage. This latter feeling grew
perceptibly as wave after wave of feeling passed over the country in mentative
currents, setting up increased mental feeling by induction. Older people will
remember many similar waves that swept over the land in past days.
These
things are common, and give you a clue to the apparent mystery of the action of
mobs composed of a number of individuals who combine in numbers and then commit
acts that no one man of the lot would think of perpetrating singly or
individually. The conscience of the mob is apparently a thing apart from the
individual consciences of the units composing it. After the excitement—the
morning after—many, if not all, of the persons concerned, felt a sickening
horror and wonder at their work. A mob is a cyclonic center of mentative
currents, resembling a whirlpool or whirlwind, with an active center and a less
active circumference.
Great
waves of religious fervor noticeable in communities during the progress of
"revivals” are accounted for in the same way. A few active revivalists
start a whirlwind of fervid feeling and emotion, and it spreads out in
constantly widening circles, increasing until a climax is reached, and then a
diminishing strength is apparent, which gradually settles down into the
accustomed mental state of the community.
These
whirlwinds or whirlpools of emotional excitement, of whatever kind, are, of
course, strengthened by the constantly repeated suggestions of those
participating in it, which with the constantly growing volume of mentative
energy being thrown forth serves to add fuel to the fire. This force would go
on forever, steadily gaining in strength and volume, were it not for a
provision of nature which causes the law of rise and fall; increase and
decrease; that universal law of rhythm, to manifest in this as in all else in
her domain. Everything has its rise, its climax, and its decline.
So
much for these general waves of mentative energy, or mentative currents. But
there is another phase to be considered—many phases, in fact. Let us examine
them.
First
there are mentative currents, arising from the strong centered desire of some
person, who forming a strong mental image, by means of visualization, creates
for himself a center of desire-force, which guided by his Will-power attracts
to himself all that will fit into his plans. He constitutes himself a mentative
center, around his visualized idea, and constantly sends out strong mentative
currents charged with the strongest, most ardent desire-force, guided,
directed, and projected by his developed Will-Power. He thus sets into
operation the great mental Law of Attraction, of which the early writers on Mental
Science talked so much. These mentative currents, charged with desire, spread
out, and soon begin a rotary movement like a whirlpool, sweeping around and
around, always drawing in toward its center persons and things tending to fit
in with the plans of the center.
The
original desire in the man's mind is reproduced in kind in the minds of
thousands of people by the law of mentative induction, and they all fall in
with the plan, the degree, of course, depending upon the degree of positivity
or negativity of the receptive mind, multiplied by the degree of positivity of
the mentator. The great plans of the so-called "Captains of Industry” are
carried out by reason of this law.
Many
of these great centers of Desire-Force—these successful men, who attract to
them that which they want, and those whom they need—do not realize the nature
of the force that they are using, but there are a constantly increasing number
who do know it, and they are "working it for all it is worth.” Many of
these steady, cool business leaders are really deeply versed in occult laws. If
the true facts of the case were to creep out, there would be the greatest
sensation that the country has ever known.
Then
there is still another phase of the matter. I allude to the cases of men who
(generally consciously, but sometimes unconsciously) are focusing their
mentative currents directly upon some person or persons who are necessary to
their plans and desires. They are filled with desire to have these persons do
thus and so, or not do thus and so, as the case may be. These men, according to
their degree of concentration and Will-power direct to the other person or
persons strong mentative currents of Desire-Force, and by mentative induction
set up vibrations of a corresponding rate in the minds of these others, the
degree of effect produced, of course, depending upon the degree of negativity
of the recipient. This effect is produced in two ways, both according to the
law of mentative induction.
The
first way is to set up corresponding desire vibrations in the mind of the
other, so that it will in turn cause his will to carry out the desire. A
variation of this is to direct the desire-force toward the Will of the other,
and thus "entice” or "charm” the other's Will into compliance with
the desire of the sender. This will be understood if you will remember what I
have said about the resemblance of the desire pole to the feminine, and the Will
pole to the masculine. You will see an illustration of this in every phase of
mentative influence.
The
second way is for the will of the sender to force its way past the will of the
other and boldly "make love” to the desire of the other, and endeavor to
"seduce” it by mere strength and persistency until it accedes to his
wishes. The variation of this is seen in the case where the attacking will
boldly grapples with the will of the other, and by sheer superiority of power
overcomes it and makes it captive and obedient. This latter is very rare,
except in cases of personal interviews between the two persons, aided by
telementation between interviews.
You
will notice that the phase in which the desire pole of the mentator does the
work is along the lines of feminine action, the force being of a charming, fascinating,
drawing, coaxing nature; and where the Will is employed, the action is
decidedly masculine, the attack being made boldly, and with a show of strength,
the subtlety of the desire attraction being absent. The giants in the art of
mentative attraction combine poles in their attacks and work, and thus in the
words of "Uncle Remus”: "Dey cotch 'em comin', and dey cotch 'em
goin',” like "Brer Fox.”
Then
again, there is the use of mentative induction, in what is known as
"Personal Magnetism,” which we will see in other chapters of this book. In
this phase the mentator pours forth his mentative currents, either in a general
way, or else in a concentrated, directed manner, toward the other, in a
personal interview. This is the secret of what is called "personal
magnetism,” and also of that unaccountable (to the uninformed) manner which
some people have of overpowering others by sheer "strength of Will.” The
"personal magnetism” phase of personal influence is the phase of feminine
activity; and the "force of Will” phase is the phase of masculine
activity.
Then
there is that form of mentative induction called "mental suggestion,”
which I take up in later chapters. Although suggestion has to do with words,
etc., rather than with mentative currents, still the principle is the same—the
mental state is "induced” by words or physical things which are the result
of feeling and mental states, just as is the phonographic record the result of
the original speech which it is able to reproduce when the diaphragm is brought
in contact with it by means of the needle. And then there is very little mental
suggestion that is not accomplished with mentative currents— very little,
indeed.
In
closing this lesson I wish to caution my readers to refrain from manifesting or
feeling anything like fear at what I have said about the use of mentative
energy by other people. Remember, that fear in itself is the most negative
influence and most weakening mental state known. It renders negative the most
positive man if freely indulged in. No matter how potent may be these mentative
currents, there are none that may not be rendered impotent, and ineffectual by
your own Will-power set in motion by your own desire-force. Each and every one
of you have within you, and under your own control, a force that will render
you perfectly and absolutely immune from undesirable mentative influence, no
matter who may use it against you.
Nature
has blessed all of us in this respect—it makes no bane without its antidote,
and does not depart from its rule in this phase any more than in any other. It
supplies the means of self-protection to everyone, and always furnishes the
defensive weapon to match the offensive one. As a matter of fact, you are
defending yourself constantly, although you may not know it. Much of this
defensive work is done along subconscious lines, but you are doing much of it
consciously by the use of your Will and spirit of individuality. You are using
the mental "No!” all the time—that is, unless you are some poor creature
who is afraid to say "No!” even mentally, and if you are that, then this
book is doubly needed by you.
I
shall instruct every student of this book, in many different ways, as we
proceed with the lessons in this art of self-protection. No one who studies
this book need ever again fear any undue influence on the part of others. I
purpose to make mental masters of you, and to teach you to throw off the bonds
and shackles of mental slavery. I intend to make you strong, positive
individuals, instead of weak, negative personalities.
There
is nothing to be afraid of except fear—so the sooner you cast off fear the
better you will be and the more advanced on the road to mastery. While this is
not the place for exercises, still I want each and every one of you to start
right in now and form a mental attitude of fearlessness and strength, that you
may begin at once to send forth mentative currents of that rate of vibration.
If you do so—and you will, I know—then you will begin to notice an improvement
at once. You will begin to realize your increasing power, and you will also see
that others are beginning to feel it. Begin today—this moment—to radiate
mentative currents of strength and power in all directions. Stimulate the
currents by arousing a strong, intense, burning desire to be strong and to
radiate strength vibrations—then back this up by the application of a strong,
steady, masterful and dominant Will—and then "the trick will be done.”
But
right here, remember, first, last, and all the time, that it is not a mere
matter of thinking—but a matter of feeling. Thoughts are cold, but feelings are
warm, alive and vital. Therefore you must not merely think "I Am Strong,”
or say it like a parrot—but you must stir up your nature to its depth, until
you can really feel that you are indeed strong and possessed of the radiant
energy of mentative force. Feeling is living thought. Everything that is worth
while was produced by this feeling thought. Feeling—Desire—Emotion —
Passion—Wanting—Willing-Demanding—these are the things that have creative power.
So do not deceive yourself with this "holding the thought,” or any such
nonsense of which you have heard so much until you get sick at the mention of
the words. It is not simply "holding the thought,” it is "holding the
desire,” and backing it up with the Will, that does the work. To create a thing
you must want it with a burning, eager want that brooks no denial—backed up by
a will that knows no such word as "can't” or "no.”
NEXT CHAPTER
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