How to Develop Psychometry W E Butler 1979 Scan Ocr

H O W T O D E V E L O P P S Y C H O M E T R Y T h e i m m a t e r i a l s u b s t a n c e c o n t a i n i n g m e m o r y r e c o r d s of all life u p o n t h e p h y s i c a l p l a n e t c a n b e ' r e a d ' w h e n objects a r e h e l d in t h e h a n d or p r e s s e d t o t h e f o r e h e a d . T h i s b o o k reveals t h e t e c h n i q u e s to e m p l o y .

By the same author A P P R E N T I C E D T O M A G I C M A G I C : I t s R i t u a l , P o w e r a n d P u r p o s e M A G I C A N D T H E Q A B A L A H In this series A N I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T E L E P A T H Y H O W T O D E V E L O P C L A I R V O Y A N C E H O W T O R E A D T H E A U R A

HOW TO

DEVELOP

PSYCHOMETRY

W . E . Butler

First published 1971 Third Impression 1975 Second Edition, revised and reset, 1979

© W E . B U T L E R 1979

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN 0 85030 180 7 (UK) ISBN 0 87728 440 7 (USA)

Photoset by

Specialised Offset Services Limited, Liverpool and printed in Great Britain by Weatherby Woolnough, Wellingborough,

C O N T E N T S Chapter 1. A T a l e to Unfold 2. C o n c e r n i n g P s y c h i c Gifts 3. P r e l i m i n a r y T r a i n i n g 4. First S t e p s 5. P o s t s c r i p t

C H A P T E R O N E

A T A L E T O U N F O L D

Y o u must often have heard people say, w h e n looking at some object of historical interest, 'What a tale it could unfold, if it could only speak'. T h o s e of us w h o have practical knowledge of what is popularly k n o w n as E.S.P. (short for Extra-Sensory-Perception) know from our o w n experience that this saying is true. T h e historic article, indeed every article, not only has a tale to tell, but it is already telling it constantly, in the same way, to use an analogy, that the magnetic tape of a tape-recorder has imprinted u p o n it words or music which, under suitable conditions, may be heard again and again as they are reproduced by the machine.

It is true that there is no instrument, electrical or otherwise, which can reproduce for us the sights and sounds, the e m o t i o n s passions and thoughts which have been recorded upon material objects. Certain people, however, appear to have a kind of 'sixth sense' which enables t h e m to pick up these hidden vibrations and impressions, and bring t h e m into their waking consciousness. Such people are called 'psychometrists'.

T h e word is derived from two Greek words, psyche, m e a n i n g 'the soul', and metron, signifying a 'measure'. So by this definition, psychometry is the power tQ measure and interpret 'the soul of things'.

P r o f e s s o r D e n t o n

T h i s n a m e w a s given t o t h e faculty b y a n A m e r i c a n Professor of G e o l o g y in t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y . Professor D e n t o n c a r r i e d o u t a n e x h a u s t i v e series of tests w i t h t h e aid of his sister, M r s A n n D e n t o n C r i d g e . H e found t h a t if she h e l d a geological s p e c i m e n t o h e r forehead, even t h o u g h it w a s carefully w r a p p e d u p , so t h a t its n a t u r e c o u l d not be g u e s s e d at t h r o u g h its a p p e a r a n c e , s h e w a s a b l e to o b t a i n , t h r o u g h vivid p i c t u r e s w h i c h a r o s e ci n h e r m i n d ' s eye', s o m e k n o w l e d g e of t h e p a s t h i s t o r y of t h e p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i m e n b e i n g t e s t e d . D e n t o n w r o t e a m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g b o o k , The Soul of Things, d e a l i n g w i t h t h e p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty, a n d gives t h e r e i n s o m e fine e x a m p l e s of t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e visions of his sister. P e r h a p s at t h e p r e s e n t t i m e w e m a y feel t h a t h e d i d not allow for t h e possibility of t e l e p a t h y b e t w e e n himself a n d his sister, a n d b e c a u s e of t h i s t h e v a l u e of s o m e of t h e e v i d e n c e for a s u p e r n o r m a l faculty is s o m e w h a t w e a k e n e d . H o w e v e r , t h i s a p p l i e s to o n l y a s m a l l p a r t of his r e s e a r c h e s . D e n t o n h a d b e e n d r a w n t o t h e s t u d y of t h i s s t r a n g e faculty b y r e p o r t s given b y a c e r t a i n D r R h o d e s B u c h a n a n , w h o e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h s o m e of his s t u d e n t s b y g e t t i n g t h e m t o h o l d p h i a l s c o n t a i n i n g powerful d r u g s . H e found t h a t s o m e of t h e m , w h e n h a n d l i n g p h i a l s d i s t i n g u i s h e d o n l y b y a n u m b e r e d l a b e l , b e g a n to e x p e r i e n c e t h e

p h y s i c a l r e a c t i o n s w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n p r o d u c e d in t h e m b y a n a c t u a l d o s e of t h e d r u g in q u e s t i o n . M e t a l l i c T a s t e B u c h a n a n himself h a d b e e n s t a r t e d off a l o n g this p a r t i c u l a r t r a i l b y t h e c h a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t , d u r i n g t h e A m e r i c a n Civil W a r , a c e r t a i n G e n e r a l P a l k h a d found t h a t if h e t o u c h e d a n y t h i n g m e t a l l i c , even in t h e d a r k , h e e x p e r i e n c e d a c u r i o u s m e t a l l i c t a s t e in his m o u t h . T h r o u g h t h e r e s e a r c h e s of D e n t o n t h e w o r d ' p s y c h o m e t r y ' w a s first c o i n e d , b u t since t h a t t i m e t h e w o r d h a s c o m e t o b e a r a s e c o n d a r y m e a n i n g , a n d it is in t h i s s e c o n d a r y sense t h a t it is n o w u s e d b y p s y c h o l o g i s t s . T h e d i c t i o n a r y definition of t h e w o r d gives b o t h m e a n i n g s . It r e a d s : ' T h e m e a s u r e m e n t of t h e d u r a t i o n of t h e m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s u s e d in p s y c h o - a n a l y s i s a n d intelligence t e s t i n g . Also, t h e occult faculty of divining, by t o u c h i n g a n object, t h e c h a r a c t e r , p e r s o n a l q u a l i t i e s , etc., of a n o t h e r p e r s o n w h o h a s h a n d l e d i t . ' It is s o m e w h a t a m u s i n g t o n o t e h o w e a g e r l y t h e p s y c h o l o g i s t s , as a b o d y , t r y to d i s s o c i a t e t h e m s e l v e s from t h e p r i m a r y m e a n i n g of t h e w o r d as c o i n e d b y D e n t o n , a n d a t t e m p t t o c o n v i n c e t h e p u b l i c t h a t t h e w o r d b e l o n g s to t h e m , a n d h a s n o p o s s i b l e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e firm n e x t d o o r : t h e ' o c c u l t i s t s ' !

A P s y c h o m e t r i s t at W o r k

H a v i n g briefly d e a l t w i t h t h e m o d e r n r e -discovery of this p s y c h i c faculty (it w a s well k n o w n in v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e w o r l d in p a s t c e n t u r i e s ) let us n o w w a t c h , in i m a g i n a t i o n , a p s y c h o m e t r i s t at w o r k . T h e r e a r e ' p s y c h o m e t r y m e e t i n g s ' , so-called, w h e r e a professional p s y c h o m e t r i s t d e a l s w i t h a n u m b e r of a r t i c l e s b r o u g h t b y m e m b e r s of t h e a u d i e n c e . A s a r u l e , t h e objects a r e p l a c e d in s e p a r a t e c o m p a r t m e n t s o n a t r a y , in o r d e r , it is said, to p r e v e n t t h e influences of o n e article affecting o t h e r s n e a r it. T h i s , as w e k n o w from p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , is not a l w a y s a c o m p l e t e s a f e g u a r d a g a i n s t m i x e d influences. In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , a story from t h e b e g i n n i n g s of m o d e r n p s y c h o m e t r i c e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n m a y be of i n t e r e s t . A c e r t a i n l a d y w h o h a d b e e n told of t h i s s t r a n g e n e w p o w e r , h a d g o n e t o b e d o n e n i g h t , a n d w a s lying a w a k e t h i n k i n g a b o u t p s y c h o m e t r y as it h a d b e e n d e s c r i b e d to h e r . S u d d e n l y she d e t e r m i n e d to m a k e a p r a c t i c a l test to see if t h e r e w a s a n y t h i n g in t h e idea. So g e t t i n g out of b e d in t h e d a r k s h e w e n t d o w n s t a i r s w i t h o u t a light a n d from h e r w r i t i n g desk c h o s e at r a n d o m a letter from a collection of letters w h i c h s h e k e p t in c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r in o n e of t h e desk d r a w e r s . S h e d u l y h e l d t h e letter t o h e r f o r e h e a d a n d t r i e d to ' s e e ' s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e p e r s o n w h o h a d w r i t t e n it, a n d w a s r e w a r d e d b y finding a flood of i m p r e s s i o n s c o m i n g t o h e r

m i n d . T h e s e i m p r e s s i o n s b u i l t u p t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d g e n e r a l o u t l o o k of o n e m a n , a very s t r o n g - w i l l e d a n d powerful p e r s o n . F u l l of e x c i t e m e n t at t h i s proof of t h e r e a l i t y of this s t r a n g e p o w e r , she w e n t b a c k to b e d w i t h o u t even a t t e m p t i n g to see if h e r i m p r e s s i o n s w e r e c o r r e c t ; she felt so s u r e t h a t t h e y w e r e . A s t o n i s h m e n t a n d D i s i l l u s i o n m e n t W a k i n g in t h e m o r n i n g , she r e m e m b e r e d h e r m i d n i g h t p s y c h o m e t r i c e x p e r i m e n t , a n d e a g e r l y looked at t h e letter w h i c h s h e h a d b r o u g h t u p w i t h h e r a n d w h i c h n o w lay o n t h e t a b l e b e s i d e h e r b e d . T o h e r g r e a t a s t o n i s h m e n t a n d d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t , t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e w r i t e r of t h e letter in no w a y w h a t s o e v e r r e s e m b l e d t h a t w h i c h s h e h a d felt in h e r e x p e r i m e n t . F u l l of g l o o m s h e w e n t d o w n to r e p l a c e t h e letter in its c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n in t h e d r a w e r . A s s h e d i d so, she g l a n c e d at t h e letter w h i c h lay next to it in t h e b u n d l e , a n d s a w , w i t h d e l i g h t , t h a t all t h a t s h e h a d felt w h e n a t t e m p t i n g to p s y c h o m e t r i z e t h e letter s h e h a d c h o s e n w a s to b e found in t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e w r i t e r of t h i s o n e w h i c h h a d b e e n lying next to it. T h e s t r o n g virile c h a r a c t e r h a d i m p r e s s e d itself not only o n t h e a c t u a l letter, b u t also u p o n t h e w e a k influence of t h e letter next to it.

A n I m a g i n a r y R e a d i n g

see t h a t t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t t a k e s a n a r t i c l e a n d e i t h e r h o l d s it in his h a n d or p r e s s e s it to his f o r e h e a d , a n d p r o c e e d s to d e s c r i b e t h a t w h i c h he feels a n d ' s e e s ' as h e c o m e s i n t o p s y c h i c c o n t a c t w i t h it. H e r e is a n i m a g i n a r y r e a d i n g , b a s e d u p o n o u r o w n e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a good p s y c h o m e t r i s t : ' I see before m e a w i d e e x p a n s e of w a t e r - 1 t h i n k it is t h e sea. Yes, I feel it is t h e A t l a n t i c o c e a n . I a m s t a n d i n g o n t h e deck of a s h i p -it s e e m s t o b e a w o o d e n s h i p - -it is a w a r s h i p of s o m e k i n d , for I see g u n s - m u z z l e - l o a d i n g g u n s of N e l s o n ' s t i m e or t h e r e a b o u t s . T h e s e a a p p e a r s to b e a d e e p b l u e a n d is very c a l m , a n d t h e s u n l i g h t is s t r o n g . I n t h e d i s t a n c e t h e r e is a low c o a s t - l i n e , a n d I see, n e s t l i n g in t h e low hills w h i c h rise b e h i n d t h e s a n d d u n e s of t h e c o a s t , a t o w n of w h i t e -w a l l e d b u i l d i n g s . M y a t t e n t i o n is d r a -w n t o a m a n w h o is e v i d e n t l y t h e c a p t a i n of this s h i p . H e is d r e s s e d in t h e u n i f o r m of a n officer in t h e R o y a l N a v y of N e l s o n ' s t i m e . I feel t h a t s o m e of t h e trees o n t h e hills a r e olive t r e e s , a n d I t h i n k this m u s t b e e i t h e r S p a i n or P o r t u g a l . T h e s h i p a p p e a r s to b e t a k i n g p a r t in b l o c k a d i n g t h i s s e a p o r t t o w n .

P r o m i n e n t C h u r c h m a n

' N o w I a m looking at a r i n g - a gold ring w i t h a large a m e t h y s t set in it - it is this s a m e r i n g w h i c h I a m n o w h o l d i n g - I feel a sense of p o w e r a n d a u t h o r i t y in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s . W h y , it b e l o n g s to t h i s officer, b u t it

takes m e back very m a n y years before this time. I s e e m to be in Italy - at least that is the impression I get - and I feel that the original owner of this ring lived in Italy and was a prominent C h u r c h m a n of his time - I sense he was a bishop or s o m e such dignitary -there is a sound as of Latin being chanted, and I feel that this ring goes back to the time of the Renaissance.

'This must have b e e n h a n d e d d o w n to the captain as an heirloom and has in the s a m e way b e e n passed d o w n to its present possessor.

' N o w I want to c o m e to the person w h o gave in this ring for a reading. Y o u are at present at the parting of the w a y s , and you are finding it very difficult indeed to decide which path to choose - they s e e m equally compelling. I feel, however, that within a short time - and this will be measured in days, not weeks, t h e i n a t t e r will b e c o m e clear to you and the w a y forward be o p e n e d up. D o not make any s u d d e n move until this clear indication of the correct line to take

presents itself.5

S e a C a p t a i n

T h e recipient of this m e s s a g e confirms that the ring did in fact belong to one of Nelson's sea captains, an ancestor of his, a n d it w a s at one time o w n e d by one of the great Catholic bishops of the R e n a i s s a n c e period. H e alsQ agrees that he is indeed approaching a crisis

in his m a t e r i a l affairs, a n d c a n n o t m a k e u p his m i n d as t o w h i c h will b e t h e c o r r e c t c o u r s e to follow. T h i s is a t y p i c a l p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g of t h e b e t t e r t y p e . S o m e s u c h r e a d i n g s a r e m u c h b e t t e r , s o m e very m u c h w o r s e , b u t this gives a fair i d e a of w h a t m a y b e e x p e c t e d . Y o u will n o t i c e t h a t t h e r e a r e t h r e e definite levels in this p a r t i c u l a r r e a d i n g . T h e r e is t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e original o w n e r of t h e r i n g a n d his g e n e r a l s u r r o u n d i n g s , t h e r e is t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e sea c a p t a i n a n d his g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s , a n d finally t h e r e is a s t a t e m e n t m a d e c o n c e r n i n g t h e p r e s e n t o w n e r of t h e a r t i c l e .

T h e first level w e m a y t e r m its ' p r i m a r y r e c o r d ' , t h e s e c o n d its s e c o n d a r y level, t h e level c o n c e r n i n g t h e p r e s e n t a n d future c o n d i t i o n s of t h e o w n e r of t h e r i n g b e i n g w h a t m a y b e d e s c r i b e d as t h e t e r t i a r y level. T h e s e t h r e e levels will b e found, in v a r y i n g p r o p o r t i o n s , in all p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g s . T h e S o u r c e o f K n o w l e d g e T h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s , h o w h a s t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t o b t a i n e d his k n o w l e d g e ? I n t h e m a j o r i t y of cases w e c a n r u l e o u t c o l l u s i o n b e t w e e n t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t a n d t h e o w n e r of t h e a r t i c l e c o n c e r n e d . W h e r e s u c h collusion does h a p p e n , it is s o o n d e t e c t e d a n d dealt w i t h . W e a r e left w i t h a very c o n s i d e r a b l e b o d y of s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h h a v e to b e e x p l a i n e d in s o m e o t h e r w a y .

reveals t h e p r e s e n c e of m u c h w h i c h is n o t in a n y w a y e v i d e n t i a l . It is d u e to t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l fact t h a t t h e 'level of a c c e p t a n c e ' , if w e m a y so call it, varies c o n s i d e r a b l y from o n e p e r s o n to a n o t h e r . T h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o s e critical faculty is slight, a n d s u c h p e o p l e will a c c e p t as evidence m u c h t h a t m o r e critical p e o p l e w o u l d not r e g a r d as b e i n g in a n y w a y evidential. So w h a t w e m a y t e r m t h e ' c r e d i b i l i t y f a c t o r ' h a s to b e t a k e n into a c c o u n t w h e n j u d g i n g t h e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e . W e w o u l d p o i n t o u t , however, t h a t often w h a t a p p e a r s to b e a triviality m a y h a v e a r e a l significance for t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d , a n d it is s o m e t i m e s t h e s e very trivialities w h i c h p r o v i d e conclusive proof of t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t . E v i d e n t i a l S t a t e m e n t s W h e n , however, w e h a v e d i s c o u n t e d t h o s e v a g u e g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h a r e obviously n o n - e v i d e n t i a l , b u t a r e w h a t w e m i g h t d e s c r i b e as verbal ' p a d d i n g ' , we a r e left w i t h positive a n d d e t a i l e d s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h a r e t r u l y e v i d e n t i a l , a n d w h i c h c a n n o t b e e x p l a i n e d a w a y by a n y t h e o r i e s of f r a u d or wishful t h i n k i n g . So w e a r e b a c k t o o u r q u e s t i o n of h o w t h e s e e v i d e n t i a l s t a t e m e n t s c a m e i n t o t h e m i n d of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t . It w a s obviously not t h r o u g h t h e o r d i n a r y five senses.

k n o w l e d g e w a s received t e l e p a t h i c a l l y from t h e m i n d of t h e o w n e r of t h e a r t i c l e w h i c h w a s b e i n g p s y c h o m e t r i z e d . T h i s m a y b e so in s o m e i n s t a n c e s , b u t we feel t h a t b y invoking t h e t e l e p a t h i c e x p l a n a t i o n , w e a r e s i m p l y s u b s t i t u t i n g o n e form of e x t r a s e n s o r y -p e r c e -p t i o n for a n o t h e r , a n d in m a n y cases t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s i m p l y d o e s n o t exist w i t h i n t h e m i n d of a n y living p e r s o n .

T h e sceptic is therefore often d r i v e n to f o r m u l a t i n g a ' p o o l of k n o w l e d g e ' , a ' c o s m i c m e m o r y ' , from w h i c h , it is alleged, t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t d r a w s his i n f o r m a t i o n . It is a n a t t r a c t i v e t h e o r y , a n d , q u i t e a p a r t from t h e w a y in w h i c h it is s o m e t i m e s e m p l o y e d a g a i n s t t h e c l a i m s of t h e s p i r i t u a l i s t s , it does fit in w i t h t h e results of p s y c h o m e t r i c a l p r a c t i c e .

It will b e useful, p e r h a p s , t o t a k e a look a t this i d e a of a pool of k n o w l e d g e u p o n w h i c h w e m a y d r a w u n d e r c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s . T h o s e w h o a r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e w o r k of t h e late D r C . G . J u n g will r e m e m b e r t h a t h e p u t f o r w a r d in his w r i t i n g s t h e i d e a of w h a t he called t h e 'Collective U n c o n s c i o u s ' , w h i c h lies b e h i n d t h e n o r m a l i n d i v i d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s w i t h w h i c h w e a r e all familiar. E a c h p e r s o n , in t h e d e p t h s of his s u b c o n s c i o u s n a t u r e , is linked u p directly w i t h this collective unconscious. B e c a u s e of this w e m a y , u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , b r i n g t h r o u g h i n t o t h e w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s s o m e of t h e k n o w l e d g e w h i c h lies in t h o s e h i d d e n r e a l m s of t h e m i n d .

T h e A s t r a l L i g h t T h i s c o n c e p t of t h e collective u n c o n s c i o u s is o n e w h i c h is familiar t o a n y o n e w h o h a s s t u d i e d t h e t e a c h i n g s of w h a t is u s u a l l y called o c c u l t i s m . By t h e m t h e collective u n c o n s c i o u s is k n o w n as ' t h e a s t r a l l i g h t ' a n d it is h e l d t h a t t h e activities of t h i s collective u n c o n s c i o u s w o r k t h r o u g h m a n y v a r y i n g d e g r e e s of a n i m m a t e r i a l ' s u b s t a n c e ' w h i c h u n d e r l i e s all p h y s i c a l m a t t e r . It is further h e l d t h a t this u n d e r l y i n g s u b s t a n c e not o n l y c o n t a i n s t h e m e m o r y r e c o r d s , b o t h c o n s c i o u s a n d s u b c o n s c i o u s , of all life u p o n t h e p h y s i c a l p l a n e t , b u t it is also t h e c h a n n e l t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e a l l - e m b r a c i n g C o n s c i o u s n e s s of t h e C r e a t o r a n d S u s t a i n e r of this u n i v e r s e h o l d s all m a n i f e s t a t i o n , o n all levels of e x i s t e n c e , w i t h i n Its p o w e r a n d c o n t r o l . T h e A k a s h i c R e c o r d s I n t h e E a s t , t h e divine life a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s is s a i d t o w o r k in a n d t h r o u g h w h a t is k n o w n as ' A k a s h a ' , a n d for t h i s r e a s o n w e find t h e t e r m ' T h e A k a s h i c R e c o r d s ' e m p l o y e d t o refer t o t h i s ' c o s m i c m e m o r y ' . T h i s , is, of c o u r s e , only a very r o u g h o u t l i n e of a very i n t r i c a t e s y s t e m of p h i l o s o p h y , b u t it m a y serve t o e x p l a i n t h e use of t h e t e r m ' T h e A k a s h i c R e c o r d s ' . It is further t a u g h t t h a t t h e s e A k a s h i c R e c o r d s a r e reflected at v a r y i n g levels i n t h e A s t r a l L i g h t , a n d a r e liable to suffer s o m e d i s t o r t i o n w h e n n e a r to t h e e m o t i o n a l a n d

m e n t a l c u r r e n t s w h i c h s u r g e t h r o u g h t h e collective u n c o n s c i o u s of t h e p l a n e t .

So w e h a v e t h e c o n c e p t of a n all-e m b r a c i n g m i n d a n d c o n s c i o u s n all-e s s n o t far r e m o v e d from earth-life a n d its s t r u g g l e s , b u t a c t u a l l y i m m a n e n t w i t h i n it as well a s r e m a i n i n g in Its F u l l n e s s a b o v e a n d b e y o n d all m a n i f e s t a t i o n . It is also h e l d t h a t b y v i r t u e of his o w n i n n a t e divinity, m a n m a y b e c o m e , in v a r y i n g d e g r e e , en rapport w i t h t h a t divine c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d in p r o p o r t i o n a s h e does t h i s , he is a b l e t o m a k e c o n t a c t w i t h t h a t c o s m i c m e m o r y , of w h i c h his o w n p e r s o n a l m e m o r y is b u t a fractional p a r t . S o u l of t h e W o r l d W i t h J a m e s a n d F e c h n e r a n d m a n y o t h e r p h i l o s o p h e r s , t h e occultists also h o l d t h a t this p l a n e t is not a m e r e inert ball of m i n e r a l m a t t e r s w i n g i n g t h r o u g h t h e h e a v e n s , b u t is t h e ' b o d y ' or vehicle of a m i g h t y b u t s i m p l e life, a n d b e c a u s e of this it possesses its o w n m e m o r y of all t h a t h a s h a p p e n e d u p o n it.

Every p a r t i c l e of m a t t e r is, b y this h y p o t h e s i s , u n d e r s t o o d t o b e a m e a n s w h e r e b y t h e Anima Mundi, t h e Soul of t h e W o r l d , m a y b e c o n t a c t e d . T h e R e f l e c t i n g E t h e r So we c o m e t o t h e s i m p l e definition of D e n t o n a n d his c o - w o r k e r s , t h a t in p s y c h o m e t r y w e a r e m a k i n g c o n t a c t w i t h a n d r e a d i n g in t h e i n d e l i b l e m e m o r y of t h e

soul of t h i n g s . I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e o c c u l t i s t s say t h a t this p l a n e t a r y m e m o r y is r e c o r d e d in w h a t t h e y t e r m t h e 'reflecting e t h e r ' of t h e p l a n e t . T h i s reflecting e t h e r not o n l y h o l d s t h e p l a n e t a r y m e m o r y , b u t a l s o reflects c l e a r l y o r o t h e r w i s e , a c c o r d i n g t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e f o r e - k n o w l e d g e of t h e D i v i n e M i n d w h i c h is ever in t h e t r u e A k a s h i c R e c o r d s . T h u s , t h r o u g h t h e reflecting e t h e r , s o m e g l i m p s e s of futurity, s o m e ' s h a d o w s cast b e f o r e ' m a y b e o b t a i n e d b y t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t , b u t s u c h foretelling of t h e future will d e p e n d for its a c c u r a c y u p o n h o w clearly t h o s e reflections of t h e D i v i n e M i n d a r e b e i n g m i r r o r e d in t h e d e p t h s of t h e m e m o r y of t h e Anima Mundi. I n p a s s i n g w e m a y suggest t h a t it w a s t h e k n o w l e d g e of t h e e x i s t e n c e of this u n i v e r s a l m e m o r y w h i c h w a s s y m b o l i z e d b y t h e r e c o r d s w h i c h w e r e r e a d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e old E g y p t i a n belief, w h e n t h e d i s c a r n a t e soul w a s b r o u g h t to t h e j u d g e m e n t of t h e g o d s , a n d s o m e of t h i s E g y p t i a n s y m b o l i s m m a y h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t over i n t o C h r i s t i a n i t y in t h e i m a g e s of t h e b o o k of R e v e l a t i o n s , w h e r e it is said t h a t t h e ' b o o k s w e r e o p e n e d ' a n d t h e d e a d w e r e j u d g e d . D e v e l o p i n g t h e F a c u l t y H a v i n g given y o u s o m e t h i n g of t h e t h e o r i e s a n d h y p o t h e s e s w h i c h have b e e n p u t f o r w a r d to e x p l a i n t h e p h e n o m e n a of p s y c h o m e t r y , w e w o u l d p o i n t o u t t h a t , i n t e r e s t i n g a n d

i n s t r u c t i v e t h o u g h s u c h ideas m a y b e , it is as well if w e get ' d o w n t o e a r t h5 a n d c o n c e n t r a t e u p o n d e v e l o p i n g t h e faculty; o n e c a n a l w a y s a r g u e a b o u t t h e m e t a p h y s i c s of it a t a l a t e r d a t e w h e n p e r s o n a l p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e h a s b e e n g a i n e d . It is not n e c e s s a r y t h a t y o u s h o u l d h o l d a n y p a r t i c u l a r t h e o r y a b o u t p s y c h o m e t r y ; y o u c a n j u s t develop t h e faculty a n d u s e it w i t h o u t a c c e p t i n g a n y o n e t h e o r y , j u s t as o n e c a n see w i t h o u t a n y e x p e r t k n o w l e d g e of o p t i c s . O n c e y o u h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty y o u c a n u s e it, as i n d e e d y o u c a n u s e all faculties, b o t h p h y s i c a l a n d s u p e r - p h y s i c a l , for w h a t e v e r p u r p o s e a p p e a l s t o y o u . R e m e m b e r , h o w e v e r , t h a t i n c r e a s e d a b i l i t y b r i n g s w i t h it i n c r e a s e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o use it in t h e r i g h t w a y , a n d h e r e , of c o u r s e , y o u c o m e u p a g a i n s t t h e m o r a l a s p e c t of s u c h d e v e l o p m e n t . C o n c e r n i n g this w e shall h a v e m o r e t o say l a t e r in t h i s book.

C H A P T E R T W O C O N C E R N I N G P S Y C H I C G I F T S A n i d e a h a s g r o w n u p t h a t p s y c h i c faculties, s u c h a s c l a i r v o y a n c e , c l a i r a u d i e n c e , p s y c h o m e t r y a n d so o n , a r e p e c u l i a r 'gifts' b e s t o w e d b y n a t u r e o n c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d a r e not faculties p o s s e s s e d b y all . m a n k i n d . T h i s belief h a s t h r e e a s p e c t s . F i r s t of all, t h e r e is t h e old ' p a g a n ' i d e a of t h e ' g o d s ' s h o w e r i n g gifts u p o n m e n . M o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y , since it w a s t h o u g h t t h a t s u c h p s y c h i c q u a l i t i e s e n a b l e d s o m e k i n d of link t o b e m a d e b e t w e e n t h e g o d s a n d t h e i r w o r s h i p p e r s , t h e p s y c h i c q u a l i t i e s , a b o v e all o t h e r s , w e r e r e g a r d e d in a special w a y , a n d a r o u n d t h e i r use t h e r e g a t h e r e d t h e ' n u m i n o u s ' a t m o s p h e r e of religion. A t t h e h e a r t of t h e p r i m i t i v e religions of m a n k i n d w a s t o b e found- t h e i d e a of t h e ' o r a c l e ' , t h e seer, t h e ' s o o t h s a y e r ' , a n d b e h i n d t h e official e x o t e r i c religion of t h e d a y a n ' i n n e r ' or ' e s o t e r i c ' t e a c h i n g a n d p r a c t i c e . W h e n C h r i s t i a n i t y b e g a n to e m e r g e a s a r e l i g i o n t h e r e a r o s e v a r i o u s g r o u p s w h i c h a r e g e n e r a l l y listed t o g e t h e r as ' G n o s t i c s ' , for t h e y c l a i m e d t o h a v e direct p e r s o n a l knowledge of s p i r i t u a l t h i n g s . M a n y of t h o s e w h o h a d c o m e over i n t o C h r i s t i a n i t y from o n e o r a n o t h e r of t h e old M y s t e r y F a i t h s , felt t h a t a g r e a t d e a l of t h e i r p r e v i o u s k n o w l e d g e c o u l d b e ' b a p t i z e d i n t o C h r i s t ' a n d m a n y of t h e m

b e c a m e influential t e a c h e r s in t h e infant C h u r c h . P s y c h i c F a c u l t i e s It is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t in b o t h t h e classical M y s t e r i e s a n d e a r l y C h r i s t i a n G n o s t i c i s m , t h e use of t h e p s y c h i c faculties d i d n o t i m p l y a n y s u c h c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h t h e ' s p i r i t s ' of d i s c a r n a t e h u m a n b e i n g s as m o d e r n s p i r i t u a l i s m e n v i s a g e s , b u t w a s c o n c e r n e d w i t h c o n t a c t w i t h s p i r i t u a l b e i n g s of v a r i o u s k i n d s . W h e n , b y a n y m i s c h a n c e , w h a t a p p e a r e d t o b e a d i s c a r n a t e h u m a n b e i n g m a d e itself felt, it w a s h e l d t h a t s o m e t h i n g h a d g o n e w r o n g , a n d s t e p s w e r e t a k e n t o p r e v e n t its r e c u r r e n c e . It is w o r t h e m p h a s i z i n g t h e p o i n t t h a t n e i t h e r E g y p t i a n ' K e r h e b ' , E l u s i n e a n H i e r o p h a n t , N e o - P l a t o n i c T h e u r g i s t n o r C h r i s t i a n G n o s t i c s o u g h t c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t h e ' d e a d ' t h r o u g h m e d i u m s h i p , t h o u g h all forms of p s y c h i c faculty w e r e k n o w n to t h e m . T h i s , of c o u r s e , does n o t d i s p r o v e t h e s p i r i t u a l i s t i c e x p l a n a t i o n , b u t as m a n y s p i r i t u a l i s t s h a v e c l a i m e d t h a t s u c h c o n t a c t must h a v e b e e n m a d e , a n d t h a t only w i t h human spirits, it is n e c e s s a r y t o p o i n t o u t t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e possibility of s u c h c o n t a c t w i t h t h e d e a d c a n n o t b e r u l e d o u t , t h o s e w h o m w e h a v e m e n t i o n e d d i d not in a n y w a y r e g a r d it as t h e p r i m a r y object of t h e i r p s y c h i c p r a c t i c e s .

St P a u l I n a w e l l - k n o w n p a s s a g e in o n e of his letters t o his C o r i n t h i a n c o n v e r t s , St P a u l gives i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e s m a l l g r o u p s of C h r i s t i a n s w h o m e t t o g e t h e r for s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i o n a n d p r a y e r . It m u s t b e k e p t in m i n d t h a t t h e e a r l y ' F o l l o w e r s of t h e W a y ' , as t h e C h r i s t i a n s w e r e first called, t o o k t h e p r o m i s e of t h e i r L o r d a n d M a s t e r very seriously i n d e e d . H e h a d t o l d t h e m t h a t H e w o u l d s e n d t h e H o l y Spirit to t h e m , t o l e a d t h e m , a n d t h e y believed t h a t t h e influence of t h i s s a m e H o l y Spirit w a s t o b e found in all t h e g a t h e r i n g s of t h e faithful. It w a s , t h e y said, a 'Spirit-filled C h u r c h ' . In t h e s m a l l g r o u p s g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r for w o r s h i p a n d c o m m u n i o n , p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a m a n i f e s t e d , j u s t a s t h e y d i d m a n y c e n t u r i e s l a t e r in t h e s i m i l a r g r o u p s of t h e Society of F r i e n d s ( m o r e c o m m o n l y k n o w n as t h e ' Q u a k e r s ' . ) H e r e a g a i n , in t h e Q u a k e r M e e t i n g s it is h e l d to b e t h e p o w e r a n d p r e s e n c e of t h e S p i r i t , r a t h e r t h a n t h e efforts of t h e so-called ' d e a d ' , w h i c h p r o d u c e s t h e m . P s y c h i c Gifts P a u l i n d e e d says t h a t t h e o n e a n d selfsame Spirit a p p o r t i o n s t o e a c h p e r s o n a p a r t i c u l a r 'gift' or ' c h a r i s m ' , a n d h e r e w e find a link w i t h t h e p a g a n a n d also t h e J e w i s h i d e a of t h e g o d s or G o d , giving gifts to m e n .

h a s m a d e P a u l refer to 'spiritual' gifts, b u t t h e p h r a s e is m o r e c o r r e c t l y t r a n s l a t e d as ' p s y c h i c ' gifts, i.e., a p p e r t a i n i n g to t h e soul or ' p s y c h e ' , r a t h e r t h a n t o t h e s p i r i t ; t o P a u l , m a n w a s a t r i n i t y of b o d y , soul a n d spirit. So, from p a g a n a n t i q u i t y , t h r o u g h t h e C h r i s t i a n ages u p to t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , t h e s e p s y c h i c faculties h a v e b e e n r e g a r d e d as gifts from a b o v e , a n d t h i s a t t i t u d e of m i n d h a s also b e e n a p p l i e d t o all t h e faculties of m a n . T h u s , w e s p e a k of a gifted s p e a k e r , a gifted artist o r a gifted m u s i c i a n . I n all t h e s e cases w e a r e u s i n g t h e t h o u g h t forms of t h e p a s t , a n d this is especially n o t i c e a b l e w h e n w e c o m e to deal w i t h t h e p s y c h i c faculties. T h r e s h o l d o f W a k i n g C o n s c i o u s n e s s T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , a n o t h e r p o i n t of view, w h i c h is implicit in t h e t e a c h i n g s w h i c h form t h e b a s i s of t h e p h i l o s o p h y of life of t h e p r e s e n t w r i t e r . T h i s is, t h a t t h e p s y c h i c faculties a r e p r e s e n t in all m e n , a n d , i n d e e d in a l a t e n t fashion in all life, b u t in s o m e c a s e s t h e y a r e w o r k i n g a b o v e t h e t h r e s h o l d of t h e n o r m a l w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h e r e a s in t h e m a j o r i t y t h e y a r e below t h a t t h r e s h o l d . H o w far t h e y lie b e l o w t h a t t h r e s h o l d d e t e r m i n e s w h e t h e r it is w o r t h t h e effort n e e d e d t o b r i n g t h e m i n t o c o n s c i o u s w o r k i n g activity. I n s o m e cases it s i m p l y w o u l d not b e w o r t h w h i l e .

Let us t a k e a n i l l u s t r a t i o n from a n o t h e r of t h e 'gifts', t h a t of m u s i c . T h e r e h a v e b e e n t h o s e w h o , at a very e a r l y a g e , s h o w e d a n

a p t i t u d e for t h e s u b j e c t , a n d s u c h a t a l e n t for m u s i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n a n d e x p r e s s i o n as t o be r e g a r d e d as m u s i c a l p r o d i g i e s . M u s i c a n d its e x p r e s s i o n a p p e a r to b e i n n a t e in t h e m . S o m e of t h e g r e a t m u s i c a l c o m p o s e r s c o m e into this c a t e g o r y . As a n e x a m p l e of t h e o t h e r e n d of t h e scale, t h e p r e s e n t w r i t e r m a y b e t a k e n as a n i l l u s t r a t i o n . H e h a s never, from earliest c h i l d h o o d , b e e n a b l e to sing in t u n e , b e i n g p a r t l y ' t o n e - d e a f , a n d t h e m y s t e r i e s of o r c h e s t r a l p e r f o r m a n c e a r e as closed b o o k s to h i m . D u r i n g his e a r l y s c h o o l d a y s , he w a s given a b o o k to r e a d w h e n t h e s i n g i n g lesson w a s on, for not only c o u l d h e not sing t w o n o t e s in t u n e b u t n o o n e w i t h i n a fifty y a r d r a d i u s c o u l d sing either, if he t r i e d ! It is o b v i o u s t h a t a n y t i m e s p e n t b y h i m in m u s i c a l t r a i n i n g w o u l d b e e n t i r e l y w a s t e d . S p o n t a n e o u s A c t i v i t y So it is w i t h t h e p s y c h i c faculties. I n s o m e cases t h e y s e e m t o s p r i n g s p o n t a n e o u s l y i n t o activity. I n o t h e r s , y e a r s of ' s i t t i n g for d e v e l o p m e n t ' will fail t o b r i n g t h e m i n t o a c t i o n . M o s t p e o p l e , h o w e v e r , lie b e t w e e n t h e s e t w o e x t r e m e s . T h e y c a n develop or unfold s u c h faculties, b u t t h e t i m e n e e d e d to d o this varies w i t h e a c h i n d i v i d u a l . H o w e v e r , t o unfold a faculty is o n e t h i n g ; to stabilize it a n d h a v e it u n d e r o n e ' s c o n t r o l is q u i t e a n o t h e r ! It is h e r e t h a t so m a n y w o u l d - b e p s y c h i c s fail t h e test. T h e y m a k e

n o a t t e m p t t o d i s c i p l i n e a n d t r a i n t h e i r p s y c h i c ability, a n d t h i s very often s p r i n g s from t h e m i s t a k e n idea of 'gifts' w h i c h w e h a v e a l r e a d y c o n s i d e r e d . W e shall r e t u r n t o t h i s w h o l e q u e s t i o n of s t a b i l i z a t i o n , d i s c i p l i n e a n d t r a i n i n g l a t e r o n in t h i s book, b u t w e felt w e s h o u l d j u s t refer t o it a t t h i s p o i n t . W e c o m e n o w t o t h e e t h i c a l p o i n t of view. As w e h a v e a l r e a d y p o i n t e d o u t , a n u n f o r t u n a t e t r a n s l a t i o n h a s c o n n e c t e d t h e s e faculties w i t h t h e i d e a of ' s p i r i t u a l i t y ' . It is t h e r e f o r e w o r t h w h i l e to c o n s i d e r w h a t this t e r m m e a n s , a n d h o w far it m a y b e a p p l i e d to t h e s e s u p e r n o r m a l faculties w h i c h lie w i t h i n e a c h of u s . S p i r i t a n d M a t t e r I n t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , t h e r e a r o s e a c u r i o u s ' h e r e s y ' or p o i n t of view (for t h a t is w h a t t h e w o r d ' h e r e s y ' o r i g i n a l l y m e a n t ) w h i c h m a d e a c l e a r - c u t division or ' d i c h o t o m y ' b e t w e e n ' S p i r i t ' a n d ' M a t t e r ' . T h e b e g i n n i n g s of this c a n b e t r a c e d in s o m e p a r t s of t h e l e t t e r s of St P a u l , b u t it c a m e i n t o p r o m i n e n c e in t h e t e a c h i n g s of a c e r t a i n M a n e s , a C h r i s t i a n t e a c h e r w h o h a d a d o p t e d s o m e of t h e i d e a s of t h e P e r s i a n religion of Z o r o a s t r i a n i s m . Spirit a n d M a t t e r w e r e r e g a r d e d as e t e r n a l l y o p p o s e d a n d M a t t e r w a s held to b e a b s o l u t e l y evil. T h i s h e r e s y , t h o u g h c o n d e m n e d b y t h e g r e a t C o u n c i l s of t h e C h u r c h , h a s never b e e n e n t i r e l y b a n i s h e d from C h r i s t e n d o m , a n d

h a s a p p e a r e d in v a r i o u s guises a g a i n a n d a g a i n . It w a s t h e b a s i s of t h e P u r i t a n s t r e a k w h i c h r u n s t h r o u g h t h e w h o l e of C h r i s t i a n h i s t o r y , a n d it c a u s e d a n y n a t u r a l a n d n e c e s s a r y r e a c t i o n to l i c e n t i o u s t e a c h i n g a n d c o n d u c t to b e c o m e b a d l y e m p h a s i z e d a n d o u t of b a l a n c e , r e s u l t i n g in a t e a c h i n g a n d p r a c t i c e e q u a l l y d e t r i m e n t a l t o t h e t r u e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e spirit of m a n . F a u l t y T r a n s l a t i o n N o w , a l t h o u g h t h o s e schools of t h o u g h t w h i c h t e a c h t h e u s e of t h e p s y c h i c faculty c l a i m t o h a v e b e c o m e free from ' o r t h o d o x ' i d e a s , t h e y a r e still a p p a r e n t l y b o u n d b y t h i s faulty t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t c o n c e r n i n g p s y c h i c gifts, a n d very m a n y of t h e i r followers persist in r e g a r d i n g t h e s e faculties as spiritual gifts.

I n so far as all m a n ' s p o w e r s a n d faculties a r e s p i r i t u a l , in t h e t r u e sense, for M a t t e r is b u t o n e m a n i f e s t a t i o n of Spirit, t h e y a r e c o r r e c t , but a n d t h i s is a big ' b u t ' , if t h e y d o so r e g a r d psychic faculties as s p i r i t u a l , t h e n t h e y m u s t also r e g a r d m a n ' s physical faculties as e q u a l l y s p i r i t u a l , o t h e r w i s e t h e y fall i n t o t h e M a n i c h a e a n h e r e s y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h o w e v e r , t h e e r r o r p e r s i s t s t h a t t h e p o s s e s s i o n of a p s y c h i c faculty of necessity m e a n s t h a t t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d is also a ' s p i r i t u a l ' p e r s o n in t h e e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l sense. A n y o n e w h o is a c q u a i n t e d a t first h a n d w i t h t h e w o r l d of p s y c h i s m a n d

allied s u b j e c t s k n o w s full well t h a t t h i s is not t h e c a s e , yet t h e i d e a is s t r o n g l y e n t r e n c h e d , a n d will n o d o u b t b e w i t h us for a l o n g t i m e . As w e h a v e seen, it h a s a l o n g h i s t o r y , a n d c a n n o t b e e l i m i n a t e d in five m i n u t e s . T h e fact r e m a i n s , t h a t t h e p o s s e s s o r of p s y c h i c faculties a n d m e d i u m i s t i c abilities is not necessarily a p e r s o n of h i g h m o r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l c h a r a c t e r . I n d e e d , t h e reverse is very often t h e c a s e . T e l e p a t h i c S u g g e s t i o n s W e h a v e a l r e a d y referred t o t h e v a r y i n g d e p t h s of t h e m i n d in w h i c h t h e s e p s y c h i c faculties m a y b e l a t e n t . Let us n o w c o n s i d e r t h e case of o n e in w h o m t h e s e faculties a r e very n e a r t h e surface of t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d , b u t a r e not w i t h i n t h e c o n s c i o u s field of t h e w a k i n g self. T h e y a r e , h o w e v e r , c o n s t a n t l y a c t i n g in t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s levels, receiving i m p r e s s i o n s from t h e t h o u g h t s a n d e m o t i o n s of o t h e r s a r o u n d t h e m . All t h e s e i m p r e s s i o n s a r e c o m i n g i n t o t h e i r m i n d s as s u g g e s t i o n s , s o m e g o o d , a n d s o m e b a d , a n d a r e c o n s t a n t l y a l t e r i n g t h e w h o l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . All m e n a r e linked t o g e t h e r in t h i s m a n n e r , n o m a n is a n i s l a n d , a s o n e p o e t h a s said, a n d , q u i t e a p a r t from o u r c o m m o n s u b c o n s c i o u s b a s e in w h a t is k n o w n as t h e 'Collective U n c o n s c i o u s ' of t h e r a c e , w e a r e ever s u r r o u n d e d b y a n d i m m e r s e d in a s w i r l i n g sea of t h o u g h t a n d e m o t i o n , t h r o u g h w h i c h flow r h y t h m i c tides of e n e r g y , a n d t o

t h e c o n t e n t of t h i s u n s e e n sea w e a r e ever r e -s p o n d i n g , w h e t h e r or n o t w e a r e a w a r e of it.

L i f e o f a P r o s t i t u t e

So it often h a p p e n s t h a t a w o m a n a d o p t s t h e life of a p r o s t i t u t e not b e c a u s e she consciously c h o s e s u c h a p a t h , b u t b e c a u s e of t h e effect u p o n h e r p a r t i a l l y a w a k e n e d p s y c h i c senses of t h e t h o u g h t s a n d e m o t i o n s of o t h e r s c o n c e r n i n g h e r . H e r very sensitivity h a s b e t r a y e d her. If s h e w a s b r o u g h t u p w i t h c e r t a i n i d e a l s of c o n d u c t in s e x u a l m a t t e r s , s h e m a y h a v e r e s i s t e d t h e c o m b i n e d p u l l of h e r n a t u r a l i n s t i n c t s a n d t h e i n s i d i o u s s u g g e s t i o n s w h i c h r e a c h e d h e r t h r o u g h h e r h i d d e n sensitivity. T h e n a t i m e m a y h a v e c o m e w h e n s h e w a s for t h e m o m e n t , 'off g u a r d ' , a n d t h e instinctive u r g e s a n d t h e t e l e p a t h i c s u g g e s t i o n s c o m b i n e d to lose h e r e m o t i o n a l a n d e t h i c a l b a l a n c e , a n d so she 'fell i n t o s i n ' .

But t h e b l a m e for t h a t fall m a y well lie w i t h s o m e o n e w h o , w i t h v i r t u o u s ' r e s p e c t a b i l i t y ' p r e j u d g e d her, a n d , b y t h e w e i g h t of this t h o u g h t (itself very often t h e p r o d u c t of t h w a r t e d s e x u a l u r g e s ) c o n t r i b u t e d to h e r d o w n f a l l . ' C o n d e m n n o t , t h a t ye b e not c o n d e m n e d ' is a V e r y s o u n d i n j u n c t i o n . A C o d e o f L i v i n g B e c a u s e of this p s y c h i c i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n ourselves a n d all a r o u n d us, it is h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e t h a t , if w e w o u l d m o s t t r u l y b e

' o u r s e l v e s ' , w e s h o u l d c o n s c i o u s l y a n d d e l i b e r a t e l y c o n s t r u c t for o u r daily life a n d w o r k a c o d e of living, a s t a n d a r d of e t h i c s a n d m o r a l s , w h i c h will p r e v e n t u s b e i n g a t t h e m e r c y of t h e s e u n s e e n b u t powerful influences w h i c h w e a r e receiving from o u r e n v i r o n m e n t . W e k n o w t h e necessity of s u c h c o d e s of t h o u g h t a n d c o n d u c t in t h e face of t h e visible a n d t a n g i b l e t e m p t a t i o n s w e m e e t in o r d i n a r y w a k i n g life. E v e n m o r e so a r e s u c h c o d e s n e e d e d as a g u a r d a g a i n s t t h e s e u n s e e n a n d i n t a n g i b l e s u b c o n s c i o u s t e m p t a t i o n s . H a v i n g e s t a b l i s h e d s u c h a c o d e of living, w e m a y safely a t t e m p t t o b r i n g i n t o t h e c o n s c i o u s w a k i n g m i n d t h e i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h a r e b e i n g received b y w a y of t h e s e s u b m e r g e d p s y c h i c senses. W h e n t h u s b r o u g h t u n d e r o u r c o n s c i o u s c o n t r o l , t h e y c e a s e to b e t h e h i d d e n u n c h a r t e d s o u r c e s of s o m e of o u r i r r e s p o n s i b l e t h i n k i n g , a n d w e b e g i n t o b e less affected b y t h e c o m p o s i t e ' m o b - m i n d ' of t h o s e a r o u n d . W e a r e in t h e c o u r s e of o b e y i n g t h e r u l e w h i c h in a n c i e n t d a y s w a s i n s c r i b e d over t h e T e m p l e of t h e M y s t e r i e s : Gnothi seauton, w h i c h s i m p l y m e a n s ' K n o w T h y s e l f ! ' W h e n t h e p s y c h i c i m p r e s s i o n s a r e t h u s b r o u g h t into c o n s c i o u s n e s s , it is p o s s i b l e t o j u d g e t h e i r v a l u e a n d t o d e a l w i t h t h e m w i t h i n t h e c o d e of living w h i c h h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d . S c i e n c e o f t h e S o u l T h e r e a d e r is in a p o s i t i o n t o m a k e u s e of

t h e m for his o w n t r u e a d v a n c e m e n t in c h a r a c t e r , a n d , b y b e i n g c o n s c i o u s l y a w a r e of t h e m h e will n o l o n g e r b e at t h e i r m e r c y . H e c a n o b s e r v e t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h will allow t h e m t o w o r k , a n d c a n also b e g i n t o assess t h e i r value to h i m in his life. If his m i n d is of t h e scientific t y p e , t h e n h e m a y also b e a b l e t o b e g i n to spell o u t t h e a l p h a b e t of w h a t is, in t h e s e m o d e r n t i m e s , a long forgotten science: a science of t h e soul.

It is t r u e t h a t in t h e p r e s e n t s t a t e of o u r m o d e r n k n o w l e d g e r e g a r d i n g t h e s e faculties, t h e i r exercise p a r t a k e s far m o r e fully of art, r a t h e r t h a n science, b u t as p r o g r e s s is m a d e in u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e laws w h i c h g o v e r n t h e i r m a n i f e s t a t i o n , it will b e g i n t o b e seen w h a t a s u b l i m e science lies b e h i n d t h e w o r k i n g s of t h e s e s u p e r n o r m a l faculties. Y o g a S y s t e m s

T h i s science h a s never b e e n e n t i r e l y lost to m a n k i n d , t h o u g h in t h e W e s t it h a s a p p a r e n t l y b e e n o b s c u r e d b e c a u s e of t h e t y p e of civilization w h i c h h a s b e e n built u p h e r e . I n t h e E a s t , h o w e v e r , it h a s p e r s i s t e d m o r e o p e n l y in t h e v a r i o u s Y o g a s y s t e m s , f r a g m e n t s of w h i c h a r e b e i n g so a s s i d u o u s l y p e d d l e d in t h e W e s t at t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . M u c h of t h i s is a t r a v e s t y of t h e t r u e t e a c h i n g . In b o t h t h e E a s t a n d W e s t , h o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o a r e t h e i n i t i a t e s a n d c u s t o d i a n s of this Ageless W i s d o m , a n d t h e y s t a n d r e a d y to assist t h o s e in t h e W e s t e r n

w o r l d w h o , at t h i s m o m e n t o u s p o i n t in t h e h i s t o r y of m a n , a r e e n g a g e d in r e s e a r c h w o r k in this field of t h e s u p e r n o r m a l . T h e faculty of p s y c h o m e t r y is o n e of t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i v e of t h e s e p a r a n o r m a l p o w e r s , a n d if r i g h t l y u s e d it c a n b e of g r e a t value. S p e c i a l T r a i n i n g It is c o m p a r a t i v e l y e a s y t o a c q u i r e some ability to p s y c h o m e t r i z e w i t h o u t a n y special t r a i n i n g , b u t it is far b e t t e r , from every p o i n t of view, if s o m e definite s y s t e m of t r a i n i n g is u n d e r g o n e b y t h e w o u l d - b e p s y c h o m e t r i s t . T h e faculty so t r a i n e d is in every w a y s u p e r i o r to t h e u n t r a i n e d v a r i e t y . T h e t r a i n i n g n e c e s s a r y for t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty c a n b e divided i n t o several t e c h n i q u e s , a n d in t h e next c h a p t e r w e will d e a l w i t h t h e s e in s o m e d e t a i l . H o w e v e r , before w e p a s s o n to t h a t , w e w o u l d like t o e x p l a i n w h a t m a y h a v e s e e m e d to s o m e of o u r r e a d e r s a n excessive use of t h e w o r d ' f a c u l t y ' . M o s t p e o p l e w h o d e a l w i t h t h e s e t h i n g s w o u l d c o m m o n l y refer t o ' p s y c h i c powers', b u t w e prefer t o u s e t h e t e r m ' f a c u l t y ' as it is a m o r e c o r r e c t d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e m . T h e y a r e receptive faculties, not expressed powers.

CHAPTER T H R E E P R E L I M I N A R Y T R A I N I N G W e h a v e a l r e a d y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t it is q u i t e possible to develop t h e p o w e r of p s y c h o m e t r y w i t h o u t any t r a i n i n g , a s , of c o u r s e w a s t h e case w i t h t h e p i o n e e r s in t h e m o d e r n r e -discovery of t h e faculty. I n d e e d , t h i s h o l d s g o o d of all n e w discoveries or re-discoveries, for it is only b y r e p e a t e d e x p e r i m e n t a n d classification of t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d t h a t t h e u n d e r l y i n g laws of t h e subject a r e f o r m u l a t e d . It t h e n b e c o m e s p o s s i b l e t o devise a m e t h o d of s y s t e m a t i c t r a i n i n g . H o w e v e r , even w h e n s u c h a s y s t e m of t r a i n i n g h a s b e e n evolved, it m u s t a l w a y s b e kept in m i n d t h a t t h e exercise of t h e s e p s y c h i c faculties, a l t h o u g h b a s e d o n a t r u e scientific f o u n d a t i o n , is also very m u c h of a n art, a n d a n y s y s t e m of t r a i n i n g m u s t a l l o w for t h e personal factors involved.

A s i m i l a r s t a t e of affairs is t o b e f o u n d in t h e visual a r t s ; a p a i n t e r , for i n s t a n c e , m a y h a v e a very exact m e c h a n i c a l t e c h n i q u e of p a i n t i n g , b u t t h e real value of his w o r k will lie in t h e p e r s o n a l e l e m e n t w h i c h h e p u t s i n t o his p i c t u r e s . So it is w i t h t h i s p s y c h i c faculty of p s y c h o m e t r y . T h e R u l e o f N a t u r a l L a w T h e reference t o a 'scientific' b a s i s t o p s y c h i c p r a c t i c e m a y c a u s e s u r p r i s e t o m a n y of o u r

r e a d e r s , w h o h a v e a l w a y s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e s e t h i n g s b e l o n g e d t o a ' s u p e r n a t u r a l ' o r d e r of t h i n g s , a n d w e r e n o t therefore a m e n a b l e t o scientific law. H o w e v e r , t h o s e w h o h a v e s t u d i e d t h e s e m a t t e r s m o s t d e e p l y a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e y a r e i n d e e d subject t o t h e r u l e of n a t u r a l l a w . It is n e c e s s a r y , p e r h a p s , t o p o i n t out t h a t w h e n we t a l k of t h e n a t u r a l l a w s of t h e universe, w e a r e really referring t o w h a t h a s b e e n t e r m e d ' t h e p r e d i c t a b l e s e q u e n c e of events o b s e r v e d over a l o n g p e r i o d ' a n d n o t t o t h e a c t u a l i m m u t a b l e c o s m i c l a w w h i c h is t h e very f r a m e w o r k of t h i s u n i v e r s e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , it is our concept of t h e true n a t u r a l l a w .

A n e x a m p l e is to b e found in t h e N e w t o n i a n h y p o t h e s e s of g r a v i t y a n d light. W i t h i n c e r t a i n limits t h e s e t h e o r i e s w o r k well, a n d a c c o u n t for m o s t of t h e o b s e r v e d facts, b u t t h e r e are facts w h i c h d o not fit i n t o t h e i r s c h e m e , w h e r e a s t h e g e n e r a l h y p o t h e s i s of Relativity, a s f o r m u l a t e d by E i n s t e i n , d o e s cover t h e m . I n t h e s a m e w a y , t h e V i c t o r i a n scientists, f o r m i n g t h e i r h y p o t h e s e s u p o n a p u r e l y m a t e r i a l b a s i s , w e r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t p s y c h i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s h a d n o p a r t in t h e ' r a t i o n a l u n i v e r s e ' of scientific t h o u g h t . N e w H y p o t h e s e s ' T h e r e is n o p l a c e in t h e u n i v e r s e for g h o s t s ' d e c l a r e d o n e of t h e m , a n d a n o t h e r d e c l a r e d , ' I n m a t t e r I see t h e p r o m i s e a n d p o t e n c y of all life'.

W e h a v e m a d e t h i s d i g r e s s i o n in o r d e r t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e ' l a w s of n a t u r e ' as e x p r e s s e d at a n y o n e t i m e , m a y well b e s u p e r s e d e d b y n e w h y p o t h e s e s f o r m u l a t e d at a l a t e r d a t e . All a r e b u t t h e o r i e s , h y p o t h e s e s , b u i l t u p t o express a n d e x p l a i n c e r t a i n facts. B e h i n d t h e m all is t h e i m m u t a b l e l a w of t h e universe, a n d t h e t r u t h or falsity of a n y ' n a t u r a l law h y p o t h e s i s ' , d e p e n d s u p o n h o w closely it a p p r o a c h e s to t h a t true law.

T h e a n n a l s of scientific h i s t o r y a r e c r o w d e d w i t h e x a m p l e s of t h e relative a c c u r a c y of t h e t h e o r i e s evolved b y scientific t h i n k e r s to a c c o u n t for t h e o b s e r v e d p h e n o m e n a of n a t u r e . All h y p o t h e s e s a n d s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t n a t u r a l law a r e c o n d i t i o n e d b y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e facts o b s e r v e d , o u r p e r s o n a l p r e j u d i c e s , b o t h c o n s c i o u s a n d s u b c o n s c i o u s , a n d t h e s c o p e a n d e x t e n t of o u r e x p e r i e n c e of t h e subject. T h i s w a s n o t a l w a y s u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e V i c t o r i a n scientists or, for t h a t m a t t e r , b y m a n y scientists t o d a y .

A s h o r t t i m e a g o w e h e a r d a p r o m i n e n t p s y c h o l o g i s t d e c l a r e t h a t n o a m o u n t of e v i d e n c e w o u l d ever m a k e h i m e n t e r t a i n t h e idea of t h e possibility of E x t r a S e n s o r y -P e r c e p t i o n , since t o a d m i t s u c h a possibility w o u l d d e s t r o y t h e b a s i s of all m o d e r n t e a c h i n g . R e l i g i o u s T h i n k e r s A s i m i l a r ' b l o c k a g e ' exists also in t h e m i n d s of m a n y religious t h i n k e r s , a n d t h i s s h o w s

itself in t h e t e n d e n c y t o m a k e a h a r d a n d fast division b e t w e e n t h i n g s ' s a c r e d ' a n d t h i n g s ' s e c u l a r ' . It is t h i s m e n t a l o u t l o o k w h i c h h a s a l w a y s t e n d e d to r e g a r d t h e p s y c h i c faculties as b e i n g ' s u p e r n a t u r a l ' .

W e d o not s u b s c r i b e t o this belief, for in c o m m o n w i t h m o s t of t h o s e w h o h a v e w o r k e d a l o n g t h e s e lines, w e h o l d t h e belief t h a t t h e only ' s u p e r n a t u r a l ' is t h e O n e W h o is a b o v e all N a t u r e b e c a u s e H e is its F o u n t a n d O r i g i n . W e also believe t h a t it is t h e Will a n d P u r p o s e of t h i s O n e w h i c h is t h e t r u e l a w of t h e U n i v e r s e . S u p e r - N o r m a l M a n i f e s t a t i o n So all m a n i f e s t a t i o n , o n w h a t e v e r p l a n e of e x i s t e n c e , c o m e s u n d e r t h e n a t u r a l l a w s , a n d s h o u l d not b e t e r m e d ' s u p e r n a t u r a l ' . It is u s u a l , therefore, t o refer to t h e p s y c h i c faculties as ' s u p e r - n o r m a l ' . It follows, t h e n , t h a t t h e y c o m e i n t o t h e r e a l m of scientific o b s e r v a t i o n a n d m e t h o d . E q u a l l y , m u c h of t h e t e s t i n g a n d i n v e s t i g a t i n g w h i c h is c a r r i e d o u t is a n y t h i n g b u t scientific, a n d its e x t r e m e s a t b o t h e n d s of t h e m e n t a l scale s h o w a s i m i l a r p i g h e a d e d n e s s a n d a n u n w i l l i n g n e s s to follow t h e d i c t u m of t h e g r e a t V i c t o r i a n scientist, H u x l e y , w h o said t h a t t h e t r u e scientist m u s t b e p r e p a r e d to 'sit d o w n before N a t u r e as a little c h i l d , a n d follow w h e r e she l e a d s ' .

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e t r a i n i n g of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty w e h a v e t r i e d t o a v o i d t h e t w o e x t r e m e s of i n t e l l e c t u a l a r i d i t y o n t h e o n e h a n d a n d s e n t i m e n t a l s t u p i d i t y o n t h e o t h e r . E x a m p l e o f a n I n a d e q u a t e R e a d i n g

Y o u will r e m e m b e r t h a t w e gave a brief o u t l i n e of a ' p s y c h o m e t r y m e e t i n g ' , a n d w e s a i d t h a t t h e ' r e a d i n g ' given b y t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t w a s o n e of t h e b e t t e r t y p e . W e n o w w a n t to p o r t r a y a p s y c h o m e t r i c ' r e a d i n g ' of t h e p o o r e r variety. Y o u will n o t i c e t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e a r e q u i t e e v i d e n t i a l , a n d a r e r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e o w n e r of t h e a r t i c l e . It is not i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n given, b u t in its p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t t h e w e a k n e s s lies. O u r p s y c h o m e t r i s t t a k e s t h e a r t i c l e a n d s a y s : ' I see a lot of w a t e r - t h e r e ' s a m a n h e r e - I t h i n k it is t h e sea - t h e m a n h a s a q u e e r u n i f o r m I see q u i t e a lot of trees, g r e y i s h -g r e e n leaves - I h a v e a feelin-g of C h u r c h influence - i n c e n s e - t h e t r e e s a r e g r o w i n g o n low hills b e h i n d a t o w n - a r e y o u in s o m e d o u b t as t o t h e best t h i n g t o d o ? - t h e r e a r e I t a l i a n influences c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h i s article - t h e m a n is looking a t s o m e t h i n g - h a v e y o u b e e n i n t e n d i n g t o go t o I t a l y ? - I get t h e i d e a of g u n s g o i n g off - w e r e y o u in t h e W a r ? - t h e m a n is w e a r i n g a s w o r d , h e s e e m s t o b e in c o m m a n d of s o m e t h i n g - d o n ' t w o r r y , t h e w a y will b e m a d e p l a i n for y o u in a few d a y s ' .

S e l e c t i v e A c t i o n

Y o u will o b s e r v e t h a t t h i s ' r e a d i n g ' c o n t a i n s m o s t of t h e e v i d e n t i a l facts given b y t h e first p s y c h o m e t r i s t , b u t i n s t e a d of b e i n g a c o h e r e n t series of s t a t e m e n t s , it is a m a s s of j u m b l e d f r a g m e n t s . H o w does t h i s a r i s e ? T h e r e a r e t w o m a i n factors a n d o n e s u b s i d i a r y o n e . F i r s t of all, it is a p e c u l i a r i t y of t h e p s y c h i c faculties t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n received t h r o u g h t h e m c o m e s i n t o t h e m i n d as a solid block of k n o w l e d g e , a n d t h i s is t h e n s o r t e d o u t b y t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d p r o j e c t e d i n t o t h e w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s in s o m e k i n d of s e q u e n c e . I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h i s s a m e k i n d of t h i n g h a p p e n s w i t h o r d i n a r y p h y s i c a l vision. T h e eyes p r e s e n t t h e t o t a l p i c t u r e t h e y a r e receiving t o t h e visual c e n t r e in t h e b r a i n a n d t h i s r e s u l t s in i n f o r m a t i o n b e i n g p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s i n t o t h e w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s . N o r m a l l y , t h e r e is a selective a c t i o n w h i c h g o e s o n i n t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d it is t h i s s u b c o n s c i o u s selective a c t i o n w h i c h b r e a k s u p t h e block of visual i m p r e s s i o n s received a n d p r e s e n t s its p a r t s in a p a r t i c u l a r p a t t e r n t o t h e w a k i n g self. T h e s u b c o n s c i o u s selective a c t i o n is t r i g g e r e d off b y several t h i n g s . W e m a y h a v e b e e n r e a d i n g a b o u t a river in flood, a n d t h e d a m a g e it h a s c a u s e d , a n d t h e n , in t h e c o u r s e of t h e d a y w e a r e in c o u n t r y c o n d i t i o n s in w h i c h , a m o n g s t m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s , a river is s e e n . A l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y t h e first t h i n g w e

shall n o t i c e a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w e a r e looking at will b e t h e river, b e c a u s e o u r s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a s b e e n keyed t o it b y o u r r e a d i n g e a r l i e r in t h e d a y . P s y c h o l o g i c a l B i a s O r w e m a y h a v e a g r e a t a n t i p a t h y t o c e r t a i n a n i m a l s , cows, for e x a m p l e , a n d w i t h o u t c o n s c i o u s l y b e i n g a w a r e of it, o u r first o b s e r v a t i o n is t h a t t h e r e a r e cows a r o u n d ! H e r e w e c o m e to t h e s e c o n d factor in this m a t t e r of p e r c e p t i o n . A p s y c h o l o g i c a l b i a s h a s a u t o m a t i c a l l y b u i l t u p in o u r s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d all i n c o m i n g i m p r e s s i o n s from a n y of t h e senses a r e affected b y it o n t h e i r w a y t h r o u g h to t h e c o n s c i o u s levels of t h e m i n d . If w e k n o w w h a t b i a s w e h a v e in a n y d i r e c t i o n , w e a r e a b l e t o c o n s c i o u s l y c o m p e n s a t e for it, b u t if w e a r e u n a w a r e of even h a v i n g s u c h a m e n t a l twist, t h e n it is liable t o affect o u r j u d g e m e n t of w h a t w e receive t h r o u g h o u r senses. P a r t i c u l a r l y is this t h e c a s e w h e n w e h a v e t o assess a n d r e c o r d w h a t w e s a w or h e a r d .

T h i s is well k n o w n in police a n d legal circles. T w o w i t n e s s e s of t h e s a m e a c c i d e n t , s t a n d i n g at t h e t i m e i n a l m o s t t h e s a m e p l a c e , will give t w o h o n e s t , s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d a c c o u n t s of w h a t h a p p e n e d , a n d t h e s e t w o r e p o r t s will v i r t u a l l y c o n t r a d i c t e a c h o t h e r ! T h i s imperfect selection of i m p r e s s i o n s is obvious in s o m e of t h e ' d e s c r i p t i o n s ' given b y c l a i r v o y a n t s a n d p s y c h o m e t r i s t s , a n d is, in a

l a r g e m e a s u r e , d u e to lack of g o o d m e n t a l t r a i n i n g . It is fairly o b v i o u s t h a t e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h c o m e s i n t o t h e m i n d is recorded in c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d t h i s m e n t a l r e c o r d is t h e b a s i s of w h a t w e call ' m e m o r y ' . So t h e r e c o r d w h i c h is t h e r e s u l t of i n c o m i n g p s y c h i c p e r c e p t i o n s o p e r a t e s u n d e r t h e s a m e m e n t a l laws as t h e m e n t a l r e c o r d w h i c h is m a d e b y i n c o m i n g p h y s i c a l s e n s e p e r c e p t i o n s . T h e A b i l i t y t o O b s e r v e I n t h e c a s e of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t t h e i n c o m i n g block of p s y c h i c i m p r e s s i o n s m u s t b e r e c o r d e d a n d sent o u t a g a i n very quickly, in s o m e w h a t t h e s a m e w a y a s t h e visual i m p r e s s i o n s received b y a television s p o r t s c o m m e n t a t o r m u s t b e p u t o u t a g a i n i m m e d i a t e l y as a r u n n i n g c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e g a m e h e is w a t c h i n g . T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e selective p o w e r of t h e m i n d m u s t r a p i d l y select i n c i d e n t s in t h e g a m e in t h e i r c o r r e c t s e q u e n c e , a n d for t h e p r o c e s s to b e c a r r i e d o u t successfully, t h e first ability n e e d e d is t h e a b i l i t y t o observe. O b s e r v i n g in s e q u e n c e is not q u i t e so c o m m o n as s o m e p e o p l e m i g h t i m a g i n e . M o s t of us, b e c a u s e of p s y c h o l o g i c a l b l i n d s p o t s , t e n d t o o b s e r v e s o m e t h i n g s a n d fail t o o b s e r v e o t h e r s , or else w e confuse t h e s e q u e n c e in w h i c h t h i n g s t o o k p l a c e . T r a i n e d o b s e r v a t i o n is a n essential for a n y o n e u s i n g t h e p s y c h i c s e n s e s , a n d it is t h e lack of t h i s w h i c h w e referred t o as a

s u b s i d i a r y c a u s e of t r o u b l e in p s y c h o m e t r i c d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e fine p s y c h i c i m p u l s e s w h i c h a r e received b y t h e p s y c h i c m u s t b e r e a l i z e d , r e c o r d e d a n d t r a n s l a t e d i n t o vocal or w r i t t e n w o r d s , ( s o m e p s y c h o m e t r i s t s d o w h a t is c a l l e d ' p o s t a l p s y c h o m e t r y ' ) . If this is not d o n e a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y , t h e s e i m p r e s s i o n s will m e r g e i n t o t h e g e n e r a l m e n t a l field, a n d b e c o m e m i x e d w i t h a n d d i s t o r t e d b y t h e e x i s t i n g t h o u g h t i m a g e s t h e r e i n . A n essential p a r t of t r a i n i n g , therefore, is t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of this p o w e r of o b s e r v a t i o n , a n d a s w e h a v e said, this p o w e r is not q u i t e s o c o m m o n , for, t h o u g h all i m p r e s s i o n s a r e r e c o r d e d in t h e m i n d , t h e y r a r e l y ever e m e r g e i n t o t h e w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t r e m a i n b e l o w t h e m e n t a l t h r e s h o l d , in t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s . It is n e c e s s a r y , t h e r e f o r e , to t r a i n t h e m i n d to so o p e r a t e t h a t m a n y m o r e of t h e s e i n c o m i n g i m p r e s s i o n s a r e r e c o r d e d in t h e w a k i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s exercises w h i c h h a v e b e e n devised to effect t h i s t r a i n i n g , b u t m a n y of t h e m suffer from b e i n g far t o o c o m p l e x , in fact, t h a t t h e y defeat t h e i r p w n e n d . I n all t h e s e m a t t e r s t h e s i m p l e r a n exercise c a n b e m a d e t o b e , t h e b e t t e r its c h a n c e of success. A t t e n t i o n a n d C o n c e n t r a t i o n L e t us c o n s i d e r for a m o m e n t w h a t ' o b s e r v a t i o n ' really is. It is t h e p o w e r t o p a y c o n c e n t r a t e d a n d consciously d i r e c t e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h a r e