The psychic and psychism

Front matter

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WORKS BY DR. HALPHIDE.

Preface

At the beginning of the Psychic century, as the 20th century is called, it is fitting that a work dealing with the elements of Psychic Phenomena should be forthcoming. The need has been felt by many who like myself have been studying and teaching these subjects and have repeatedly been asked by students to refer them to such a work. This volume is offered to meet the demands for a simple, concise statement of the elements of Psychism.

The author has made no attempt to write an exhaustive treatise. For several years, as a member and director of the Esoteric Extension he has led groups of students in their studies in this department. This book is the outcome of these courses of study, and is given to the public practically in the same form that it was presented to the Groups.

In preparing the work, everything has been sacrificed to simplicity and plainness. No metaphysical discussions have been indulged in, although the temptation to do so was great. And if it does for the general reader, what his

PREFACE.

students say it has done for them, namely, simplifies and explains a rather mysterious subject, he will be satisfied.

The many readers of the author's work Mind and Body, An application of Hypnotism and Suggestion in Therapeutics and Education, who have favored him with letters enquiring about various Psychic Phenomena, it is thought, will be fully answered in the present volume. Hoping that the same generous treatment and favorable reception may be accorded to this workthat was given to Mind and Body, the author intrusts it to the hands of his readers.

A. C. H.

No. 3217 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

January, 1901.

Chapter I. Psychism

Psychism an unexplored country — The Psychic — The way he is developed — The power of Suggestion — Psychic Healing — Thought Transference — Clear seeing and hearing — Soul measurement — Sleep and Dreams — Somnambulism and Trances — Is there a future life? — Psychism a study of man's inner life.

Chapter II. The Psychic

Man the highest product of evolution — A physical and mental being — The Psychic described — The definition of mind — The duality of the mind — The Psychic defined — He functions at will on the subconscious plane — The Psychic not a new creation — A classification of Psychics — Modern Psychics — The History of the Psychic — The extreme estimates of the Psychic — The personalities of the Psychic — The Psychic a marked character — The Psychic not wholly objectionable — He aims high — The Yogi as an example — Jesus a better example.

Chapter III. Psychic Development

The Psychic is a development — Exercise is the condition of all development — There is no best method — Many methods have been used — The ancient methods — An ancient method quoted — Modern methods are modifications of the old — Sitting in the Silence — The power of silence — The breathing exercises — A caution — Suggestion is a means of soul-culture — The use of Hypno-Suggestion — Ascetic austerities in development — The Japanese ascetic — The Yogi — All should understand Psychic development.

viii CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Suggestion

Ideas are contagious — Suggestibility constitutional — Two laws of mind — Suggestion defined — Suggestion in the waking state — The idea of free will must be modified — The power of Suggestion — The school boy — The student of music — Suggestion as a cure — A case — Hypno-Suggestion — Hypnotism defined — Hypnotic versus waking Suggestion — Hypnotism as a Cure — Illustrative cases — Suggestion in Psychiatry — Autosuggestion — The manner of selfsuggestion — Its value — A living monument of Autosuggestion — Illustrative cases — The limitation of Autosuggestions — Suggestion in subconscious conditions — The cases selected for illustration.

Chapter V. The Rational Of Psychopathy

The importance of the subject — The existence of a Psychic power — Mental medicine — A half dozen systems of the same — An underlying law common to all — A question of Psychology — The duality of mind explained — Proofs of double consciousness — Illustrative cases — The amenability of the mind to suggestion — Manner of increasing suggestibility — The subconscious mind suggestible — Subconscious mind controls the bodily functions — Power of the mind over the body — The law of Suggestion the law of cure — An illustration of the same — Absent treatments — The value of faith — Necessary conclusions.

Chapter VI. Telepathy

Telepathy a central factor in Psychic Research — Thoughts are mental creations — Telepathy defined — Telepathy in the waking state — Thought-Transference a common experience — It was known in an-

Contents

cient times — Rapport facilitates its operation — A well known author's experience — Unintentional plagiarism — A Telepathic experiment with cards — The theory of absent treatment — Telepathy easy to study — Telepathy in natural sleep — It usually occurs in dreams — Sees a brother murdered — Experiments — A Telepathic phantasm — Telepathy in Hypnosis — Hypnotism a great aid to its study — A case of mind lcaamg — The notes of an evening's experimentation — Delayed perception — The Professor's opinion — Telepathie a trois.

Chapter VII. Clairvoyance And Clairaudience

Clairvoyance and Clairaudience real facts — The avenues which lead to the mind — Sense perceptions dependent upon the mind — The seen and the unseen relative terms — The impenetrability of matter and the Xray — Clairvoyance and Clairaudience in conscious states — The phenomena intimately related with Telepathy — Natural and developed power — The Author's experience — A Clairvoyant reading verified — Clairvoyance and Clairaudience in the subconscious state — Intentional and unintentional experiences — The subconscious states — Experiments with hypnotized subjects — A young man sent to Cuba — A young lady sent home — A trip to South Africa — Describes a Battle — She tells the time — Conclusion.

Chapter VIII. Psychometry

The intimate relationship between supersensuous faculties — Definition of Psychometry — Mysterious constitution of nature — Dr. Brewster quoted — "The book of nature" — History of Psychometry — The Psychometrist's development — Psychometry in the waking ^ state — Its application — A Mineral Psychometrist — Psychometry in Medicine — An experi-

CONTENTS.

ment with a piece of wood from the Mount of Olives — Psychometry deals only with the past — Some unscrupulous Psychometrists — Psychometry in Hypnosis — The states compared — Experiment with a souvenir from Niagara Falls — The Hypnotic visits the falls — The Psychic atmosphere of countries — America's position — Psychometry needs careful study to place it upon its proper footing.

Chapter IX. Sleep And Dreams

The importance of the subject — Sleep and Dreams common to man and animals — The cause of errors — Sleep — "Nature's sweet restorer" — Definitions — Physiology versus Psychology in sleep — Sleep a subconscious condition — An experiment showing the relation of Sleep to Hypnosis — The key to the Phenomena of Sleep — Dreams — The ancient conception of Dreams — The "stuff that Dreams are made of"-*-Dreams defined — The causation of Dreams — Physiologic Causes — Psychologic causes — An Ancient illustration — A Suggested Dream — Telepathic Dreams — A Clairvoyant Dream — The influence of a room or place — The meaning and value of Dreams — The study of Dreams.

Chapter X. Somnambulism And Trances

The Subconscious States— The Eastern classifications of them — Somnambulism — It belongs to the phenomena of Sleep — Definition — Natural Somnambulism — Two examples of Sleep-walking — Professor McClure's opinion — Morbid Somnambulism — The case of a French lady — Artificial Somnambulism — Hypnotic experiments — The power of divination — Amnesia — Trances — Kinds of Trances — Definition

CONTENTS.

— Spontaneous Trances — "Wrapped into visions" — Autotrances — They are self-induced and self-limited — The profound Trances of the Yogis — Harides test — Trances and Theosophy — The English Teacher — Induced Trances — Suggestion in Trances — The unreliability of Trance revelations — Spiritistic Trances — Mediums hypnotized by Spirits — Does the soul leave the body?

CHAPTER XL

SPIRITISM.

The interest in the subject — Spiritism defined — Its relation to immortality — The phenomena — A list of the same — Fraudulent Phenomena — Genuine Phenomena — The means of the productions — The Medium — Kinds of Mediums — All Mediums Psychics — Going under control — The manner of their production — The Seances — "Fortune Telling" — The Spiritistic circle — Slate writing — The messages — Levitations— Materializations — Explanations of the production — Spiritists' theory discarded — Hallucination and Telepathy — This theory insufficient in some instances — Indian fakirs — The mind creation theory — "Thoughts are things" — Psychics can produce phantasms — Witchcraft — Some conclusions.

Chapter XII. The Future Of Psychism

A forecast of Psychism — Some problems to be solved— The Psychic's character must be exalted — ■Psychism must prepare the way for the development of such a character — No Psychic influence without its power for good or ill — The study of the future will be the study of the forces within man — "Do coming events cast their shadows before them?" — "If a man die shall he live again?" — Our banner bears the motto Psychism.

Chapter I. Psychism

Psychism an unexplored country — The Psychic — The way he is developed — The power of Suggestion- Psychic Healing — Thought Transference — Clear seeing and hearing — Soul measurement — Sleep and Dreams — Somnambulism and Trances — Is there a future life? — Psychism a study of man's inner life.

Psychism is still largely an unexplored country supposed to be peopled by all sorts of mysterious dangers and promising prospects. To be sure, excursions have been made into its unknown regions by venturesome explorers; \j

some have returned with the report that the country is uninviting, full of dangers, and that the Anakim possess the land and have advised to avoid it; others have brought back the report that it is a beautiful land, most desirable and flowing with milk and honey, and have advised to go up and possess it. These reports deserve further consideration, and it is purposed to make a more careful study of the subject. 19

A study of Psychism includes an investigation into the character of the people who produce its phenomena, and a careful review of the wonders and works performed. The reduction of any subject to a scientific basis includes the collection of its body of facts and an investigation of the laws and conditions governing the facts. Let us adopt this method in the treatment of the subject of Psychism.

The people who produce the unusual phenomena form a most interesting body, and as we consider them we are led to wonder whether they are endowed with any unusual peculiarities, or have by some means developed their occult power. It seems that the latter supposition is true, namely, that they have developed by patient, persistent practice psychical power sufficient to differentiate them from the ordinary people. The Psychic is the center around which is arranged all of the facts and phenomena of Psychism, therefore, he is a most important factor in our investigation. It is worth while to approach as near to him as possible and study him in various lights, so that we may understand what sort of a person he is. This is not difficult for one who has the patience and can do so with an unprejudiced mind. He may be watched as he works, conversed with about his

PSYCHISM. 21 achievements, and often he will explain by what methods he attained to his enviable position. Those who will may follow him if they are willing to pay the price in self-sacrifice and persevering practice, and duplicate his development. The development that one has attained is within the possibilities of another.

Suggestion, Simple, Hypnotic and Auto, is a most important factor in the production of Psychic Phenomena, for it furnishes the means of opening the door which leads to the heart of Psychism. By its aid the mind may be studied in its most intimate operations, and by its aid the constitution of the mind may be revealed. Its artificial somnambulism and trances duplicate spontaneous subconscious conditions and explain many of their mysteries that without it would be inscrutable. Any attempt to unravel the wonders of Psychism without its aid must almost certainly fail, but we have and may use it ; let us do so conscientiously.

This is illustrated in Psychism, in no connection better than in Psychic Healing. Psychopais a young science, but it has already abundantly proven its worth. Many persons who were suffering from so called incurable mala'dies are indebted to it for their present state of health. There are many different schools of Psycho-curative systems, all of which might be classified under the title Mental Medicine. The theories of their curative action vary almost infinitely, but surely the mind cannot have so many different modes of cure. Is it not possible to unify these under one all-embracing law of mind? There is as much need of unity here as there is in religion. Let us hope that a solution of these problems may soon appear. That man's mind, or soul if you will, with its powers and destinies, may soon be more fully understood.

That the mind has other modes of communication besides those depending upon the special and general senses no longer admits of a reasonable doubt. Thoughts speed from soul to soul across wide distances of space independently of sense connections. Telepathy is a fact. The senses are not the only avenues that lead to the soul ; many other windows exist if only they are unbarred and opened. Open the windows of your soul and let in the whole truth ! The window of one narrow creed is too meager to satisfy the longings, aspirations and hopes of the human soul.

The mind can look far away and see without the use of the physical sight. The mind can catch far distant sounds, without the aid of the physical hearing. The beauties, pleasures and

PSYCHISM. 23 knowledge of the world are not kept from the mind though separated from it by many leagues of space. Friend sees friend across distances of thousands of miles, looking into the dear face with loving felicitude, and hearing the sweet, fond voice speaking words of comfort and cheer. Is it too much to hope that the time may come when these things may be done not occasionally by the few, but frequently by the many ? I think not. What man has done man may do, and it seems that all men have been endowed with faculties sufficient for these things.

Things as well as persons, it is said, speak to the receptive mind. A bit of stone, wood or cloth will tell its history to him who has faculties keen enough to receive the message. A lock of hair or a garment is sufficient material for the* Psychometrist to tell the whole history of the person who wore it. To such a person the walls of a room reveal the secrets known to none but those who took part in them. All pronounce this development wonderful. Surely man is wonderfully and fearfully made — mentally. How fine are his perceptions when properly developed!

Sleep may serve not only as a period of rest, but also serve as an opportunity to aid others. We may lie down to sleep, to recuperate our own bodily forces, and at the same time lie down to send helpful messages, encouraging and curative thoughts to persons who may be in need of them, though separated from them by many miles. Also, we may receive help from others. While we sleep they may send us the same helpful thoughts that it is possible for us to send to them. Not only is this true, but it is possible to do it in such a way that we may be conscious of the exchange of friendly thoughts or messages. One may waken in the morning to find that he has a message from a far distant friend or loved one brought not by post, but by a far speedier carrier, one that speeds with the wings of thought.

Somnambulists and Trance Mediums, when in that subliminal condition become the receivers of the thoughts of the world. Having put aside for the time being the grosser sensibilities of the mind, they are able to catch the subtle waves of thoughts that come from various sources and directions that are constantly knocking at the door of the subconsciousness during their waking hours, but the gentle knocking is rarely noticed during the ordinary conscious state. The information and messages brought back from these states of subconsciousness are often misunderstood and misinterpreted, but they are none

PSYCHISM.

the less important, and it behooves us to find some method by which a proper understanding and true interpretation of them may be made. He who does this will render mankind a great service, which will not soon be forgotten.

The messages brought back from sleep, somnambulic and trance conditions are most important. Their importance cannot be overstated if it be true, as many claim it is, that they emanate not only from the minds of the living, but from discarnate souls, who have gone on before us into the great unknown. It is said that these messages answer the ancient question that has reverberated and echoed down through the ages, namely, "If a man die, shall he live again?" How many of us have voiced this query as with aching heart and tear-blinded eyes, we have stood over the dead bodies of our loved ones ? Is it possible that by long search and careful investigation we may find the answer, to the satisfaction of the whole world of this momentous question? It may be so. It may be so, but who can foretell the future?

There is no science today confronted by such momentous questions as those presented to Psychism for solution. The answers to these problems are demanded by an impatient, anxious multitude to whom the answers mean more than

J life or death. How long must they wait or will no answer be forthcoming? The future alone can answer these questions, but we hope that Psychism will be equal to the task.

If Psychism is made up of such facts and it is possible to learn the laws governing their relationship, it is amply worth any man's while to study and try to understand it. In the interest that has been bestowed upon the physical sciences man has too much overlooked and neglected the study of his own mind. Is it not passing strange that we should spend our time on the study of everything under heaven outside of self and almost ignore the greatest thing in the world — the mind? Let us not do so longer; let us redeem the past. If the things that attention has been called to above are important and interesting, begin to study them and if no better opportunity is available, follow the outline laid down in the chapters which follow. Let us first study the Psychic.

Chapter II. The Psychic

Man the highest product of evolution — A physical and mental being— The Psychic described — The definition of mind — The duality of the mind — The Psychic defined — He functions at will on the subconscious plane — The Psychic not a new creation — A classification of Psychics — Modern Psychics — The History of the Psychic — The extreme estimates of the Psychic — The personalities of the Psychic — The Psychic a marked character — The Psychic not wholly objectionable — He aims high — The Yogi as an example — Jesus a better example.

Evolution has given us man as its highest product ; first, it gave us man with a body only and then after an almost infinite stride it gave us man with a body and a mind. Man is neither wholly body nor wholly mind, although there are some thinkers and teachers who hold and teach these extreme notions. The one degrades man to a mere animal without a soul, the other exalts him to a divinity equal with his maker. Man is neither physical nor mental only; he is 27 more ; he is a synthesis of both. His life is not lived on the low plane of the physical nor upon the high plane of the mental, but upon an intermediate plane where the physical and the mental overlap and blend. Man may vary his plane of living, he may cater to the body and live very near the physical plane, or he may cater to the mind and live very near the mental plane, but he can by no means reach either extreme. Man's life must ever be psycho-physical.

Between these wide limits all human beings are found during their sojourn upon the earth. Those who approximate the plane of the body are said to live physical lives and those who approximate the plane of the mind are said to live psychical lives. The one turns back to the time when man was a savage whose whole attention was occupied with a struggle for existence and he was simply a hunter for food ; the other forges forward toward a time when man shall become an enlightened being whose whole attention will be occupied with a struggle for knowledge and he will be chiefly a hunter for truth. These two classes of people are not separated by any sharp line of demarcation — they are simply the extreme borders of the stream of human life. The one being largely 'dependent upon the physical senses, while the other has learned to depend more or less upon the intuitive faculties of the mind. It is among these last that the Psychic is found; he is a person who has learned to function upon the mental plane more or less independently of the physical senses.

In order that this conception of the Psychic may be perfectly plain, it will be necessary to define mind. Mind is the subject of all of our conscious activities, the whole of the psychical being of man. By mind we mean the soul, the ego, the spirit, the conscious self which is selfactive and self-existant. Mind is double in its nature and functions upon two planes, namely, the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious plane is largely dependent upon the senses and may be characterized as sensorial; the subconscious plane or subliminal consciousness is largely dependent upon the intuition and the immediate perceptions and may be characterized as intuitional. These planes of consciousness will be more fully considered in another chapter. Enough has been said to call attention to their existence and explain their relation to this subject.

The Psychic is a person who by natural endowment or mental development is able at will to function upon the subconscious plane more or less independently of the sensorial. In short he is able to see without the aid of the physical organs of sight, to hear without the physical organs of hearing, to communicate over wide distances without the aid of the physical senses, and in many other ways justify his right to the name by producing abundant psychic phenomena. Let us approach and study this interesting personage, enquiring into I. His classification, 2. His history and 3. His personal characteristics.

The Psychic is not a new creation unless it be in name, for under various appellations he has figured upon the pages of history since the beginning of its record. In ancient times we recognize him as the Seer, the Prophet, the Sooth-Sayer, the Yogi, the Magician and many others. It is unnecessary to more than call attention to these, but there is a modern group t) a! it will be necessary to more exactly define. A complete list will not be attempted, and doubtless every reader will be able to add others, but enough will be given to indicate the conception of the modern Psychic.

The Psychic was for some time and is still by some writers conceived to be a Spiritistic Medium. The Medium is undoubtedly a Psychic, but the Psychic is much more than a

Medium. The Medium is the Psychic whb is said to be able to communicate with disembodied spirits and to occupy a position as intermediate between the living and the dead; he is the "one whose psychic force supplies the power the spirit uses to produce the various phenomena."

A Clairvoyant is a Psychic who is able to see beyond the range or without the aid of the physical organs of sight; that is, he sees with the mind, and more often than not does so with his eyes closed. A Clairaudient is a Psychic who is able to hear beyond the range and without the aid of the physical organs of hearing; that is, he hears with the mind.

The Telepathist is a Psychic who is able to communicate with others by the use of occult mind forces beyond the range of and without the aid of the physical senses. He sends thought messages across wide distances of space, thousands of miles, with none other than mind connection.

The Somnambulist is a Psychic who in normal or induced sleep produces the phenomena common to the waking state and usually has no memory of his somnambulistic experience after waking. A Hypnotic is a somnambulist who when hypnotized is able to produce the phenomena peculiar to hypnosis.

The Psychometrist is a Psychic who has the power of divination who can tell by being near or in contact with a person, place, or thing, the past history of the subject by simply holding it in his hand.

Throughout the pages of history where reference has been made to the Psychic we everywhere find him misunderstood and consequently misrepresented. Sometimes he was favorably received by the people as a divine messenger and his unusual and mysterious deeds were ascribed to the aid of Divine power; at other times the people would have none of him, believing that he was in league with the powers of darkness and that his works so strange and weird was performed by the aid of his satanic majesty. In the one case the people were ready to worship the performer and treated him with the utmost consideration, showering gifts and benefactions upon him ; and in the other case they feared and shunned him and were ready to heap all sorts of abuse and persecutions upon him, even to the extent of putting him to death. The history of the past is repeated in the history of the present, modified only by the degree of civilization. The performers of occult phenomena and psychic wonders are considered by many today to be especially gifted with Divine power and their works considered authentications of a Divine mission. By others, all persons able to perform these mysterious mental feats are considered as workers of black magic and are shunned and feared, if not persecuted to the aforetime degree.

The present estimates of the Psychic results from two causes; first, the prejudice that surrounds the phenomena, and second, the mystery with which the performer surrounds them. The past has given us the prejudice as its legacy, but the mystery with which the Psychic intentionally or otherwise has shrouded it, is by far the greater hinderance to a popular understanding of the subject. Many performers deck themselves with a mantle of mystery and pretend they have some occult power. It is time for them to throw off the mantle of mystery and to stand forth as men and women who have simply developed unusual mental powers. The mysterious is always feared. Let us make this subject so plain and simple that any one who will may understand it.

The personalities of Psychics are peculiar; either the natural endowment or developmental exercises necessary to the practice of their cult renders them marked people. One is rarely found who is not peculiar, not to say eccentric.

Moreover, most of them have characters in which there is a moral twist. This twist may be considered by some to be an ornament, but others will surely think it otherwise. Undoubtedly the strain of the psychic work laid upon them may account for much of their moral laxity. The Psychic after a seance is more or less exhausted and feels the need of a stimulant which he too often takes, with the result that he not infrequently develops drug and liquor habits. The physical condition of Psychics is phenomenally bad, especially among those who practice many ascetic austerities. There is a belief more or less common among them that the body must be etherealized by asceticism in order to secure mental development. This is especially true of Oriental Psychics. They are usually pale and emaciated and might be described as having "a lean and hungry look," but their eyes, through which the soul looks, are generally bright. These practices will be more fully discussed in the next chapter.

Notwithstanding the truth of all that has been said above, the Psychic is not always or wholly objectionable. Indeed, he has many good qualities, qualities that are thought by many to abundantly offset the questionable ones. The law of compensation not only demands payment for this peculiar development, but also rewards him for the losses he sustains by the quality of the power he gains. What the Psychic gains and the marvelous feats he is able to perform will be amply set forth and illustrated in the subsequent chapters. If Psychism is the latest and highest development in the evolution of the mind, it is worth the high price that must be paid for it. This it seems to be, although there are some who see in it only a vestigeal remnant brought up from a lower plane of existence. It will be possible to make a better judgment of this after our study has been completed.