HOW T O DEVELOP

PSYCHOMETRY

The
immaterial
substance
containing
m e m o r y records of all life u p o n t h e physical
p l a n e t c a n be ' r e a d ' w h e n objects a r e held in
t h e h a n d or p r e s s e d t o t h e forehead. T h i s
book 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

APPRENTICED T O MAGIC
M A G I C : Its R i t u a l , P o w e r a n d P u r p o s e
MAGIC AND T H E QABALAH
In this series
AN I N T R O D U C T I O N T O TELEPATHY
H O W T O DEVELOP CLAIRVOYANCE
H O W T O READ THE AURA

HOW TO
DEVELOP
PSYCHOMETRY
by

W.E. Butler

SAMUEL WEISER INC.

740 B r o a d w a y , N e w York, N . Y . 10003

First published 1971

Third Impression 1975
Second Edition, revised and reset, 1979

W E . BUTLER 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,
Northamptonshire

CONTENTS

Chapter
1.

A T a l e to Unfold

2.

C o n c e r n i n g Psychic Gifts

3.

Preliminary Training

4.

First Steps

5.

Postscript

CHAPTER O N E

A TALE T O UNFOLD

You 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 who have practical
knowledge of what is popularly known 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 upon 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 emotions
passions and thoughts which have been
recorded upon material objects. Certain
people, however, appear to have a kind of
'sixth sense' which enables them to pick up
these hidden vibrations and impressions, and
bring them into their waking consciousness.
Such people are called 'psychometrists'.
T h e word is derived from two Greek
words, psyche, meaning 'the soul', and metron,
signifying a 'measure'. So by this definition,
psychometry is the power tQ measure and
interpret 'the soul of things'.

Professor D e n t o n
T h i s n a m e w a s given to t h e faculty by a n
A m e r i c a n Professor of Geology 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 exhaustive series of tests with 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 held 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
guessed 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
arose i 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 past history 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 tested.
D e n t o n w r o t e a m o s t interesting book, 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
he did 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 this t h e value of s o m e of t h e
evidence 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 , this applies
to only a small 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 to t h e s t u d y of
this s t r a n g e faculty b y r e p o r t s given by a
certain
Dr
Rhodes
Buchanan,
who
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 by
getting t h e m to hold 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 phials d i s t i n g u i s h e d only b y a
n u m b e r e d label, b e g a n to e x p e r i e n c e t h e
c

physical reactions w h i c h w o u l d have b e e n

p r o d u c e d in t h e m by a n a c t u a l dose of t h e
d r u g in q u e s t i o n .
Metallic Taste
B u c h a n a n himself h a d b e e n s t a r t e d off along
this
particular
trail
by
the
chance
information 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 Palk h a d found t h a t if
he t o u c h e d a n y t h i n g metallic, even in t h e
d a r k , he e x p e r i e n c e d a c u r i o u s metallic 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 coined, 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 to 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 this
s e c o n d a r y sense t h a t it is n o w used by
psychologists. T h e d i c t i o n a r y definition of
the 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
processes used in p s y c h o - a n a l y s i s
and
intelligence testing. Also, t h e occult faculty of
divining, by t o u c h i n g a n object,
the
c h a r a c t e r , p e r s o n a l qualities, etc., of a n o t h e r
p e r s o n w h o has h a n d l e d it.'
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
eagerly t h e psychologists, as a b o d y , t r y to
dissociate themselves 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 coined by D e n t o n ,
a n d a t t e m p t to convince t h e p u b l i c t h a t t h e
w o r d belongs to t h e m , a n d h a s n o possible
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e firm next d o o r : t h e
'occultists'!

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 dealt w i t h t h e m o d e r n rediscovery of this p s y c h i c faculty (it w a s well
k n o w n in various p a r t s of t h e w o r l d in past
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 work.
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 ' , socalled, w h e r e a professional p s y c h o m e t r i s t
deals with a n u m b e r of articles b r o u g h t by
m e m b e r s of t h e a u d i e n c e . As a rule, t h e
objects are 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 prevent 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
practical
experience, is not a l w a y s a c o m p l e t e
safeguard a g a i n s t m i x e d influences.
In this c o n n e c t i o n , a story from t h e
beginnings
of
modern
psychometric
e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n m a y be of interest. A c e r t a i n
lady w h o h a d b e e n told of this s t r a n g e n e w
power, h a d g o n e to b e d o n e night, 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 her. 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 getting out
of b e d in t h e d a r k she 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 writing desk
chose at r a n d o m a letter from a collection of
letters w h i c h she kept in chronological o r d e r
in one of t h e desk d r a w e r s .
She duly held t h e letter t o her forehead
a n d tried to ' s e e ' s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the 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 by
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 built u p t h e
c h a r a c t e r a n d g e n e r a l outlook of o n e m a n , a
very strong-willed a n d powerful p e r s o n . Full
of e x c i t e m e n t at this proof of t h e reality 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 her
i m p r e s s i o n s were c o r r e c t ; she felt so s u r e t h a t
they were.
Astonishment and Disillusionment
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 her
midnight psychometric experiment,
and
eagerly looked at t h e letter w h i c h she 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 beside h e r b e d . T o her great
astonishment
and
disillusionment,
the
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 she h a d felt
in h e r e x p e r i m e n t .
Full of gloom she w e n t d o w n to r e p l a c e t h e
letter in its correct position in t h e d r a w e r . As
she did 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 saw, w i t h
delight, t h a t all t h a t she 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 she
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 this one 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 Imaginary Reading
R e t u r n i n g to o u r p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g s , we

see t h a t t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t takes a n article

a n d either holds it in his h a n d or presses it to
his forehead, 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 comes into
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
reading, based u p o n our own experience
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 wide 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 ship it seems to be 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 kind, 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
sea 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 sunlight 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 coast-line, a n d I see,
nestling 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 coast, a t o w n of w h i t e walled 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 to a
m a n w h o is evidently t h e c a p t a i n of this ship.
H e is dressed in t h e uniform 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 trees,
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 ship a p p e a r s to be t a k i n g p a r t
in b l o c k a d i n g this s e a p o r t t o w n .
Prominent Churchman
' N o w I a m looking at a ring - 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 with
this. W h y , it belongs to this officer, b u t it

takes me back very many years before this

time. I seem 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 Churchman of his time - I sense
he was a bishop or some 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 been handed d o w n to the
captain as an heirloom and has in the same
way been passed d o w n to its present
possessor.
' N o w I want to come to the person who
gave in this ring for a reading. Y o u are at
present at the parting of the ways, and you
are finding it very difficult indeed to decide
which path to choose - they seem 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 become clear
to you and the way forward be opened up.
D o not make any sudden move until this
clear indication of the correct line to take
presents itself.
5

Sea Captain
T h e recipient of this message confirms that
the ring did in fact belong to one of Nelson's
sea captains, an ancestor of his, and it w a s at
one time owned by one of the great Catholic
bishops of the Renaissance 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 to w h i c h will be t h e correct
c o u r s e to follow.
T h i s is a typical p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g of
the better type. Some such readings are
m u c h b e t t e r , s o m e very m u c h worse, b u t this
gives a fair idea of w h a t m a y be expected.
Y o u will notice 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 ring
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 general
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
article.
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 second 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 varying
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 of K n o w l e d g e
The
question
arises,
how
has
the
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 majority of cases we c a n rule out
collusion 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 article 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 soon d e t e c t e d
a n d dealt w i t h . W e a r e left with 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 .
A d e t a c h e d s t u d y of t h e m a t t e r usually

reveals t h e p r e s e n c e of m u c h w h i c h is not in
any w a y evidential. It is d u e to t h e
psychological
fact
that
the
'level
of
a c c e p t a n c e ' , if we 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 those w h o s e critical faculty is
slight, a n d s u c h people will accept as
evidence m u c h t h a t m o r e critical p e o p l e
would 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 we m a y t e r m t h e
'credibility factor' h a s to be t a k e n into
account when judging the statements made.
W e w o u l d point out, 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 have a
real 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 provide 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
psychometrist.
Evidential Statements
W h e n , however, we have d i s c o u n t e d t h o s e
vague
general
statements
which
are
obviously non-evidential, b u t a r e w h a t we
m i g h t describe as verbal ' p a d d i n g ' , we a r e
left w i t h positive a n d detailed s t a t e m e n t s
w h i c h are truly evidential, a n d w h i c h c a n n o t
be e x p l a i n e d a w a y by a n y theories of fraud or
wishful t h i n k i n g . So we a r e b a c k to o u r
q u e s t i o n of h o w t h e s e evidential s t a t e m e n t s
c a m e into 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.
O n e answer, of course, is t h a t t h e

k n o w l e d g e w a s received telepathically from

t h e m i n d of t h e o w n e r of t h e article 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 be so in
s o m e instances, b u t we feel t h a t by 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 simply
s u b s t i t u t i n g one 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 simply d o e s not 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 driven 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 information. It is a n
attractive 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
against t h e claims of t h e spiritualists, 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
practice.
It will b e useful, p e r h a p s , to t a k e a look at
this idea of a pool of k n o w l e d g e u p o n w h i c h
we 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 .
Those who are acquainted with the work
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
he p u t forward in his writings t h e idea 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 individual
consciousness w i t h w h i c h w e a r e all familiar.
Each
person,
in t h e
depths
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 we 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 into t h e w a k i n g consciousness
s o m e of t h e k n o w l e d g e w h i c h lies in those
h i d d e n r e a l m s of t h e m i n d .

T h e Astral 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
one w h i c h is familiar to 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 usually
called occultism. 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 held t h a t t h e activities of this collective
u n c o n s c i o u s work t h r o u g h m a n y varying
degrees 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 physical m a t t e r .
It is further held 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 only 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 conscious 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
the channel through which the all-embracing
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 universe holds all manifestation, on all
levels of existence, w i t h i n Its p o w e r a n d
control.
T h e Akashic Records
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 said to work 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 this r e a s o n we 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 to
refer to this ' c o s m i c m e m o r y ' . T h i s , is, of
course, 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 system 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
Akashic Records'.
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 varying levels i n t h e
A s t r a l Light, 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

mental currents which surge through the

collective u n c o n s c i o u s of t h e p l a n e t .
So we h a v e t h e c o n c e p t of a n alle 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 e s s not far
r e m o v e d from earth-life a n d its struggles, b u t
actually i m m a n e n t w i t h i n it as well as
r e m a i n i n g in Its Fullness a b o v e a n d b e y o n d
all manifestation.
It is also held t h a t b y virtue 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 varying
degree,
en rapport
with
that
divine
consciousness, a n d in p r o p o r t i o n a s h e does
this, he is a b l e to m a k e c o n t a c t w i t h t h a t
cosmic 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
With J a m e s and Fechner and many other
p h i l o s o p h e r s , t h e occultists also hold 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 swinging 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, by this
h y p o t h e s i s , u n d e r s t o o d to 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 be c o n t a c t e d .
T h e Reflecting E t h e r
So we c o m e to t h e s i m p l e definition of
Denton
and
his co-workers,
that
in
p s y c h o m e t r y we 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 indelible 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 occultists 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 only 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 also reflects
clearly
or
otherwise,
according
to
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e fore-knowledge of t h e
Divine M i n d w h i c h is ever in t h e t r u e
Akashic Records.
T h u s , t h r o u g h t h e reflecting ether, s o m e
glimpses of futurity, s o m e ' s h a d o w s cast
before'
may
be
obtained
by
the
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 those 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.
In p a s s i n g we 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 existence of this universal
memory which was symbolized by the
records which were read, according to the
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 gods,
a n d s o m e of this E g y p t i a n s y m b o l i s m m a y
have b e e n b r o u g h t over into 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 were o p e n e d ' a n d
t h e d e a d were j u d g e d .
D e v e l o p i n g the Faculty
H a v i n g given y o u s o m e t h i n g of t h e theories
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 forward
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 ,
we w o u l d point o u t t h a t , i n t e r e s t i n g a n d

instructive t h o u g h s u c h ideas m a y be, it is as

well if w e get ' d o w n to e a r t h a n d c o n c e n t r a t e
u p o n developing t h e faculty; o n e c a n always
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 at a later
date when personal practical experience has
been gained.
It is not necessary t h a t you s h o u l d h o l d
any particular theory about psychometry;
you c a n j u s t develop t h e faculty a n d use it
w i t h o u t a c c e p t i n g a n y one 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
optics. O n c e you have developed
the
p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty you c a n use it, as
i n d e e d you c a n use all faculties, b o t h
physical 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 to you.
Remember,
however,
that
increased
ability brings w i t h it i n c r e a s e d responsibility
to use it in t h e right w a y , a n d h e r e , of c o u r s e ,
you c o m e u p a g a i n s t t h e m o r a l aspect 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 we shall have
m o r e to say later in this book.
5

CHAPTER T W O

CONCERNING PSYCHIC GIFTS

A n idea h a s g r o w n u p t h a t psychic faculties,

such
as
clairvoyance,
clairaudience,
p s y c h o m e t r y a n d so on, a r e p e c u l i a r 'gifts'
b e s t o w e d by n a t u r e o n c e r t a i n individuals,
a n d a r e not faculties possessed b y all
. m a n k i n d . T h i s belief h a s t h r e e aspects. First
of all, t h e r e is t h e old ' p a g a n ' idea 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
psychic qualities e n a b l e d s o m e kind of link t o
be m a d e b e t w e e n t h e gods a n d t h e i r
w o r s h i p p e r s , t h e psychic qualities, above 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
around
t h e i r use t h e r e g a t h e r e d
the
' n u m i n o u s ' a t m o s p h e r e of religion.
At 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 idea 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 exoteric 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 as a
religion t h e r e arose various g r o u p s w h i c h a r e
generally listed t o g e t h e r as ' G n o s t i c s ' , for
they c l a i m e d t o have 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 those w h o h a d
c o m e over into C h r i s t i a n i t y from o n e or
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
great d e a l of their 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 into 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
Church.

teachers

in t h e

infant

Psychic Faculties
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 early 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 psychic faculties did not 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
discarnate
human
beings
as
modern
s p i r i t u a l i s m envisages, 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 spiritual beings of various
kinds.
W h e n , by a n y m i s c h a n c e , w h a t a p p e a r e d
to 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 held 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 steps w e r e t a k e n to prevent 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
that neither Egyptian ' K e r h e b ' , Elusinean
Hierophant, Neo-Platonic Theurgist nor
Christian Gnostic sought communication
with the ' d e a d ' through mediumship, though
all forms of p s y c h i c faculty w e r e k n o w n to
them.
T h i s , of c o u r s e , does not disprove t h e
spiritualistic e x p l a n a t i o n , b u t as m a n y
spiritualists 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 have b e e n m a d e , a n d t h a t only w i t h
human spirits, it is necessary t o point 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 out, t h o s e w h o m we
have 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 psychic
practices.

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 one of his letters
to his C o r i n t h i a n converts, St P a u l gives
i n s t r u c t i o n s to 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
and prayer.
It m u s t b e kept in m i n d t h a t t h e early
' 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
were first called, took t h e p r o m i s e of their
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 told 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 , to lead t h e m , a n d t h e y
believed t h a t t h e influence of this s a m e H o l y
Spirit w a s to 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
Church'.
In t h e small g r o u p s g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r for
worship
and
communion,
psychic
p h e n o m e n a manifested, j u s t as t h e y did
m a n y c e n t u r i e s later in t h e similar 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
held 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
Spirit, r a t h e r t h a n t h e efforts of t h e so-called
'dead', which produces them.
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 one 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 we find a link
with t h e p a g a n a n d also t h e J e w i s h idea of
t h e gods or G o d , giving gifts to m e n .
A n u n f o r t u n a t e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e G r e e k

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 correctly 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 to t h e spirit; t o P a u l ,
m a n w a s a trinity 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 , these
psychic faculties h a v e b e e n r e g a r d e d as gifts
from above, a n d this 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 to all t h e faculties of m a n .
T h u s , we s p e a k of a gifted speaker, a gifted
artist or a gifted m u s i c i a n . I n all t h e s e cases
we a r e using t h e t h o u g h t forms of t h e past,
a n d this is especially n o t i c e a b l e w h e n we
c o m e to deal w i t h t h e psychic faculties.
T h r e s h o l d of Waking Consciousness
T h e r e is, however, 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 basis 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 writer. T h i s is, t h a t t h e psychic
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 latent fashion in all life, b u t in s o m e
cases 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 consciousness, w h e r e a s in
t h e majority 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 below 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 to b r i n g t h e m into conscious w o r k i n g
activity. I n s o m e cases it simply w o u l d not b e
worthwhile.
Let us t a k e a n illustration 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 have b e e n
t h o s e w h o , at a very early age, s h o w e d a n

a p t i t u d e for t h e subject, 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 expression as to be
r e g a r d e d as m u s i c a l prodigies. M u s i c a n d its
expression 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 great m u s i c a l c o m p o s e r s c o m e
into this category.
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 writer m a y b e t a k e n as a n
illustration. 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 mysteries 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 books to
him.
D u r i n g his early 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 singing lesson was
on, for not only c o u l d he not sing t w o notes in
t u n e b u t no o n e w i t h i n a fifty y a r d r a d i u s
could sing either, if he tried! It is obvious t h a t
a n y t i m e spent 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 be entirely w a s t e d .
Spontaneous Activity
So it is w i t h t h e psychic faculties. I n some
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 into
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 to b r i n g t h e m into
action. M o s t p e o p l e , however, lie b e t w e e n
these 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 individual.
H o w e v e r , to unfold a faculty is one 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 control
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 psychics fail t h e test. T h e y m a k e

n o a t t e m p t to discipline a n d t r a i n their
psychic ability, a n d this very often springs
from t h e m i s t a k e n idea of 'gifts' w h i c h we
have 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 to
this
whole
question
of
stabilization,
discipline a n d t r a i n i n g later o n in this book,
b u t we felt w e s h o u l d j u s t refer t o it at this
point.
W e c o m e n o w t o t h e ethical point of view.
As we have a l r e a d y p o i n t e d out, a n
unfortunate translation has connected these
faculties w i t h t h e idea of ' s p i r i t u a l i t y ' . It is
therefore 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 be a p p l i e d to
these 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 us.
Spirit a n d Matter
I n t h e early C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , t h e r e arose 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 ' originally m e a n t )
which
made
a
clear-cut
division
or
'dichotomy' between 'Spirit' and 'Matter'.
T h e b e g i n n i n g s of this c a n be t r a c e d in s o m e
p a r t s of t h e letters of St P a u l , b u t it c a m e into
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
Manes, a Christian teacher who had adopted
s o m e of t h e ideas 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 eternally o p p o s e d a n d M a t t e r
w a s held to b e absolutely evil.
T h i s heresy, t h o u g h c o n d e m n e d b y t h e
great 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
entirely 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 various guises a g a i n a n d
again.
It w a s t h e basis of t h e P u r i t a n streak 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 history,
a n d it c a u s e d a n y n a t u r a l a n d necessary
r e a c t i o n to licentious 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 out 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
equally detrimental to the true development
of t h e spirit of m a n .
Faulty Translation
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 use of t h e psychic faculty
c l a i m to have b e c o m e free from ' o r t h o d o x '
ideas, they a r e still a p p a r e n t l y b o u n d b y this
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 psychic gifts, a n d very m a n y of
their followers persist in r e g a r d i n g t h e s e
faculties as spiritual gifts.
In so far as all m a n ' s p o w e r s a n d faculties
a r e spiritual, 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
correct, but a n d this 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 spiritual, 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 heresy.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , however, t h e e r r o r persists
t h a t t h e possession of a psychic 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 ethical 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 at
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 subjects k n o w s full well t h a t this is not

t h e case, yet t h e idea is strongly e n t r e n c h e d ,
a n d will no d o u b t be w i t h us for a long t i m e .
As we have seen, it h a s a long history, a n d
c a n n o t be 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 possessor of
psychic 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 case.
Telepathic Suggestions
W e have a l r e a d y referred t o t h e varying
d e p t h s of t h e m i n d in w h i c h these psychic
faculties m a y b e l a t e n t . Let us n o w consider
t h e case of o n e in w h o m these 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 conscious field
of t h e w a k i n g self. T h e y a r e , however,
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 others 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 into their
m i n d s as suggestions, s o m e good, a n d s o m e
b a d , and are constantly altering the whole
consciousness.
All m e n a r e linked t o g e t h e r in this
m a n n e r , n o m a n is a n island, as one poet 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 , we 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
swirling 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 to

t h e c o n t e n t of this u n s e e n sea we a r e ever res p o n d i n g , w h e t h e r or not we a r e a w a r e of it.

L i f e of 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 chose 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
psychic 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 she w a s b r o u g h t u p w i t h c e r t a i n ideals of
c o n d u c t in sexual m a t t e r s , she m a y have
resisted t h e c o m b i n e d pull of h e r n a t u r a l
instincts a n d t h e insidious suggestions w h i c h
r e a c h e d her t h r o u g h h e r h i d d e n sensitivity.
T h e n a time may have come when she was
for t h e m o m e n t , 'off g u a r d ' , a n d t h e
instinctive
urges
and
the
telepathic
suggestions c o m b i n e d to lose her e m o t i o n a l
a n d ethical b a l a n c e , a n d so she 'fell into sin'.
But t h e b l a m e for t h a t fall m a y well lie
with
someone
who,
with
virtuous
' 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
weight of this t h o u g h t (itself very often t h e
product
of
thwarted
sexual
urges)
c o n t r i b u t e d to h e r downfall. ' C o n d e m n not,
t h a t ye b e not c o n d e m n e d ' is a Very s o u n d
injunction.
A C o d e of L i v i n g
Because of this psychic 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 highly
d e s i r a b l e t h a t , if we w o u l d most t r u l y b e

'ourselves', we s h o u l d consciously
and
deliberately 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 ethics
a n d m o r a l s , w h i c h will prevent us b e i n g at
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
environment.
W e k n o w t h e necessity of s u c h codes 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
codes 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
and intangible subconscious temptations.
H a v i n g e s t a b l i s h e d s u c h a code of living,
w e m a y safely a t t e m p t to b r i n g into t h e
conscious 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 by w a y of t h e s e
s u b m e r g e d psychic senses. W h e n
thus
b r o u g h t u n d e r o u r conscious control, t h e y
cease to b e t h e h i d d e n u n c h a r t e d sources of
s o m e of o u r irresponsible t h i n k i n g , a n d we
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 rule
w h i c h in a n c i e n t d a y s w a s inscribed 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,
which simply m e a n s ' K n o w Thyself!' W h e n
t h e psychic 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 consciousness, it is possible t o j u d g e
their value a n d to deal 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 has b e e n developed.
S c i e n c e of t h e S o u l
T h e r e a d e r is in a position to m a k e use 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 consciously a w a r e
of t h e m he will n o longer be at t h e i r m e r c y .
H e c a n observe t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h will
allow t h e m to work, 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 he m a y
also b e a b l e to begin to spell out 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 these faculties,
their 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 their
m a n i f e s t a t i o n , it will b e g i n to be 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.
Yoga Systems
T h i s science h a s never b e e n entirely 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
here. I n t h e East, however, 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 ,
fragments 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 this is a travesty of t h e t r u e
teaching.
In b o t h t h e East a n d W e s t , however, t h e r e
a r e t h o s e w h o a r e t h e initiates
and
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 those in t h e W e s t e r n

w o r l d w h o , at this m o m e n t o u s p o i n t in t h e
history 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 instructive 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 rightly used it c a n
b e of great value.
Special Training
It is c o m p a r a t i v e l y easy to 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 better, from every point
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 by 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 variety.
The
training
necessary
for
the
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 into 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 we will d e a l with t h e s e in s o m e
detail. H o w e v e r , before we p a s s o n to t h a t ,
we w o u l d like t o e x p l a i n w h a t m a y have
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 'faculty'. M o s t p e o p l e w h o
deal w i t h these 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 we prefer t o use t h e
t e r m ' f a c u l t y ' as it is a m o r e correct
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

PRELIMINARY TRAINING

W e have 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 , as, 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 , this h o l d s
good of all new 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 results o b t a i n e d t h a t t h e
underlying
laws
of
the
subject
are
f o r m u l a t e d . It t h e n b e c o m e s possible 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 .
However, 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 always b e
kept in m i n d t h a t t h e exercise of t h e s e
psychic 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 allow for
t h e personal factors involved.
A similar state of affairs is to be found 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
have 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 this psychic faculty
of p s y c h o m e t r y .
T h e R u l e of N a t u r a l L a w
T h e reference to a 'scientific' basis 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 to m a n y of o u r

readers, who have always understood that

these things b e l o n g e d to 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 were not therefore
a m e n a b l e t o scientific law. H o w e v e r , those
w h o have s t u d i e d these m a t t e r s m o s t deeply
a r e convinced t h a t t h e y a r e i n d e e d subject to
t h e rule of n a t u r a l law.
It is necessary, p e r h a p s , to p o i n t out t h a t
w h e n we talk of t h e n a t u r a l laws of t h e
universe, we a r e really referring to 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 observed over a long p e r i o d ' a n d not
t o t h e a c t u a l i m m u t a b l e cosmic law w h i c h is
t h e very f r a m e w o r k of this universe. 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 law.
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 gravity a n d light.
W i t h i n c e r t a i n limits these theories 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 into
their scheme, whereas the general hypothesis
of Relativity, as f o r m u l a t e d by Einstein, does
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,
forming 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 basis, w e r e convinced t h a t p s y c h i c
manifestations 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 .
New Hypotheses
' T h e r e is no place in t h e universe 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 this digression in o r d e r to
point out t h a t t h e ' l a w s of n a t u r e ' as
expressed 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 by new h y p o t h e s e s f o r m u l a t e d at
a later d a t e . All a r e b u t theories, h y p o t h e s e s ,
built 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 history 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 theories evolved by scientific
t h i n k e r s to a c c o u n t for t h e
observed
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
natural
law
are conditioned
by
our
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e facts observed, o u r
p e r s o n a l prejudices, b o t h conscious a n d
s u b c o n s c i o u s , a n d t h e scope 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 not
always 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 short t i m e a g o w e h e a r d a p r o m i n e n t
psychologist d e c l a r e t h a t n o a m o u n t of
evidence 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 basis of all m o d e r n
teaching.
Religious Thinkers
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 this 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 things
' s e c u l a r ' . It is this m e n t a l outlook 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 to 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 have w o r k e d
a l o n g these lines, we hold 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 above
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 this O n e w h i c h is t h e t r u e l a w of
t h e Universe.
Super-Normal Manifestation
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
existence, c o m e s u n d e r t h e n a t u r a l laws, 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, to refer to t h e psychic
faculties as ' s u p e r - n o r m a l ' . It follows, t h e n ,
t h a t they c o m e i n t o t h e r e a l m of scientific
observation and method.
Equally,
much
of t h e testing
and
investigating w h i c h is c a r r i e d out 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 at b o t h e n d s
of t h e m e n t a l
scale s h o w a
similar
p i g h e a d e d n e s s a n d a n unwillingness to
follow t h e d i c t u m of t h e great 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 be p r e p a r e d to 'sit d o w n before
N a t u r e as a little child, a n d follow w h e r e she
leads'.
I n w h a t we h a v e w r i t t e n h e r e in

connection
with
the
training
of
the
p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty we h a v e tried to avoid
t h e t w o e x t r e m e s of intellectual aridity o n t h e
one h a n d and sentimental stupidity on the
other.
E x a m p l e of an Inadequate R e a d i n g
Y o u will r e m e m b e r t h a t we gave a brief
outline of a ' p s y c h o m e t r y m e e t i n g ' , a n d we
said 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
psychometric
' r e a d i n g ' of t h e p o o r e r variety. Y o u will
notice 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
evidential, a n d a r e recognized b y t h e o w n e r
of t h e article. It is not i n t h e information
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 article 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
uniform - I see q u i t e a lot of trees, greyishg r e e n leaves - I have a feeling of C h u r c h
influence - incense - t h e trees a r e g r o w i n g on
low hills b e h i n d a t o w n - a r e you 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 this article
- t h e m a n is looking at s o m e t h i n g - have you
b e e n i n t e n d i n g to go t o I t a l y ? - I get t h e idea
of g u n s going 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 sword, h e seems 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 you in a few d a y s ' .

Selective Action
Y o u will observe t h a t this ' r e a d i n g ' c o n t a i n s
m o s t of t h e evidential facts given by 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 this arise?
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 . First of all, it is a peculiarity
of t h e psychic 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 comes 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 this is t h e n
sorted out b y t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d
projected into t h e w a k i n g consciousness in
s o m e kind of s e q u e n c e .
I n c i d e n t a l l y , this 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 total 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
this results 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 into t h e w a k i n g
consciousness. N o r m a l l y , t h e r e is a selective
action
which
goes
on
in
the
s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d it is this s u b c o n s c i o u s
selective action 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 to 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 action is
triggered off b y several t h i n g s . W e m a y have
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 course
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
seen. Almost i n v a r i a b l y t h e first t h i n g w e

shall notice 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 to it b y o u r
r e a d i n g earlier in t h e d a y .
Psychological Bias
O r w e m a y have a great 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
consciously 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 we 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 psychological bias
has
automatically
built
up
in
our
subconsciousness,
and
all
incoming
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 their w a y t h r o u g h to t h e
conscious levels of t h e m i n d .
If we k n o w w h a t bias w e have in a n y
direction, we a r e a b l e to consciously
c o m p e n s a t e for it, b u t if we 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 to affect o u r j u d g e m e n t of w h a t we
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 case w h e n w e have to 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 witnesses 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 in a l m o s t t h e s a m e
place, 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 these t w o
r e p o r t s will virtually 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 by
clairvoyants a n d p s y c h o m e t r i s t s , a n d is, in a

large m e a s u r e , d u e to lack of good m e n t a l

t r a i n i n g . It is fairly obvious t h a t everything
w h i c h c o m e s into t h e m i n d is recorded in
consciousness, a n d this m e n t a l r e c o r d is t h e
basis 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 result of
incoming psychic perceptions operates under
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 physical sense
perceptions.
T h e A b i l i t y to O b s e r v e
I n t h e case 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 psychic i m p r e s s i o n s m u s t be
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 as t h e visual
i m p r e s s i o n s received by a television s p o r t s
c o m m e n t a t o r m u s t be p u t out
again
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 he 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 incidents in t h e
g a m e in their correct s e q u e n c e , a n d for t h e
process to be c a r r i e d out successfully, t h e
first ability n e e d e d is t h e ability 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 psychological b l i n d
spots, t e n d t o observe s o m e t h i n g s a n d fail to
observe o t h e r s , or else we confuse t h e
s e q u e n c e in w h i c h t h i n g s took place.
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 using t h e psychic senses, a n d it is t h e
lack of this w h i c h we 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 psychic i m p u l s e s
w h i c h a r e received b y t h e psychic m u s t b e
realized, 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 , (some p s y c h o m e t r i s t s d o
w h a t is called ' p o s t a l p s y c h o m e t r y ' ) . If this is
not
done
almost
immediately,
these
i m p r e s s i o n s will m e r g e into 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 existing t h o u g h t i m a g e s
therein.
A n essential p a r t of t r a i n i n g , therefore, is
t h e cultivation of this p o w e r of o b s e r v a t i o n ,
a n d a s we have said, this p o w e r is not q u i t e
so 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 rarely ever
e m e r g e into t h e w a k i n g consciousness, b u t
r e m a i n below 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 necessary, therefore,
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 these 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 consciousness.
T h e r e a r e various exercises w h i c h have
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 too c o m p l e x , in
fact, t h a t t h e y defeat their 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 to be, t h e b e t t e r its c h a n c e of success.
Attention and Concentration
Let us consider for a m o m e n t
what
' 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
concentrated
and
consciously
directed
a t t e n t i o n to t h e i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h a r e

a r o u s e d in o u r m i n d s t h r o u g h t h e actions of
o u r senses, as those senses react to all t h e
various things a n d h a p p e n i n g s w h i c h form
t h e b a c k g r o u n d of o u r lives.
This directed a n d concentrated attention
m e a n s t h a t it is necessary to develop t h e
ability to keep t h e a t t e n t i o n fixed o n a n y p a r t
of t h a t b a c k g r o u n d at will. T h i s , of c o u r s e , is
w h a t is really m e a n t b y ' c o n c e n t r a t i o n ' . So
attention
and
concentration
are
both
v a l u a b l e t r a i n i n g tools in p s y c h o m e t r i c
d e v e l o p m e n t . I n d e e d , a t t e n t i o n is also t h e
key to m u c h successful physical life also, a n d
it s h o u l d be noticed t h a t t h e p r o p e r l y t r a i n e d
psychic,
whether
clairvoyant
or
p s y c h o m e t r i c , is not by a n y m e a n s t h e
d r e a m y , i m p r a c t i c a b l e p e r s o n h e is usually
t h o u g h t to b e .
O f course, t h e r e a r e s o m e psychics w h o are
dreamy and impracticable, and there are
several r e a s o n s for t h e i r b e i n g so. I n t h e s a m e
way, there are m a n y clergymen who to a
g r e a t e r or lesser e x t e n t p r e s e n t a n i m a g e
w h i c h closely r e s e m b l e s t h a t w h i c h h a s b e e n
built u p of t h e m o n t h e variety stage.
But j u s t as we w o u l d not j u d g e t h e great
number
of h a r d w o r k i n g
and
efficient
C h r i s t i a n priests a n d m i n i s t e r s by t h e
vagaries of t h e few, so we s h o u l d not j u d g e
t h e great n u m b e r of psychics b y t h e
comparatively
small
number
of
i m p r a c t i c a b l e 'freaks' to b e found in t h e
p s y c h i c field. I n t h e cases of m a n y of t h e
freaks, this lack of m e n t a l t r a i n i n g is o n e

r e a s o n for their failure to help or i m p r e s s t h e

average m a n .
False Spirituality
It m u s t also b e said t h a t t h e r e is a n o t h e r a n d
very s t r o n g influence at w o r k w h i c h t e n d s t o
e n c o u r a g e s u c h people. T h i s is t h e e m o t i o n a l
a n d entirely uncritical a p p r o a c h t o t h e s e
m a t t e r s b y so m a n y p e o p l e . T h i s usually
stems from a c u r i o u s s u p e r s t i t i o n t h a t t h e s e
faculties a r e ' s u p e r n a t u r a l , a n d therefore
t h e i r o w n e r s have a licence to be freakish.
Also t h e r e is a c o n t i n u i n g t r a d i t i o n t h a t t h e s e
s a m e faculties a r e ' s p i r i t u a l ' gifts a n d m a n y
e q u a t e t h e idea of s p i r i t u a l i t y w i t h v a g u e
s e n t i m e n t , e m o t i o n a n d g e n e r a l ' o u t of this
world' behaviour.
B e c a u s e of this a u r a of false spirituality,
their followers (for t h e y usually get a
'following') will also e q u a t e t h e possession of
psychic ability w i t h spirituality. T h i s leads to
a form of h e r o - w o r s h i p in w h i c h t h e
u n f o r t u n a t e psychic is willy-nilly p l a c e d
u p o n a p e d e s t a l , a n d in t h e eyes of his
followers c a n d o no w r o n g . W h e n finally h e
does d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t a l t h o u g h psychic he is
not spiritually developed, m o s t of his
followers will i m m e d i a t e l y kick a w a y t h e
p e d e s t a l a n d a b a n d o n h i m for a n o t h e r h e r o figure. A m i n o r i t y of his followers will s p e n d
t h e rest of their lives in a t t e m p t i n g t o justify
h i m at t h e b a r of t h e i r o w n e m o t i o n a l l y
biased judgement.
5

Incoming Psychic Impressions

It is for this r e a s o n t h a t t h e g e n u i n e psychic
needs a t r a i n i n g w h i c h will e n a b l e h i m t o b e
t h e m a s t e r in his o w n m e n t a l s p h e r e , a n d not
d e p e n d e n t u p o n o t h e r s . T h i s is w h a t t h e
t r a i n i n g in o b s e r v a t i o n , a t t e n t i o n
and
c o n c e n t r a t i o n gives to t h o s e w h o a t t e m p t it.
It p r o d u c e s a m i n d w h i c h c a n register a n d
sort out t h e i n c o m i n g p s y c h i c i m p r e s s i o n s ,
w h i c h , as we h a v e a l r e a d y p o i n t e d out, a r e
very faint as c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e i m p r e s s i o n s
w h i c h a r e received t h r o u g h t h e physical
senses.
Curiously
enough,
when
once
the
p s y c h o m e t r i c faculty h a s b e e n developed a n d
t r a i n e d , it is possible for t h e s e i n c o m i n g
i m p r e s s i o n s t o . e q u a l a n d in s o m e cases
exceed t h e vividness of p u r e l y physical
sensory p e r c e p t i o n s .
'Conditioned Reflex'
T h e followers of c e r t a i n ' o c c u l t ' systems
t e a c h t h a t t h e a v e r a g e p e r s o n goes t h r o u g h
life
in
a waking
dream,
responding
a u t o m a t i c a l l y to c o n d i t i o n s a r o u n d h i m , a n d
in general justifying t h e c o n t e n t i o n of t h e
'Behavourist'
psychologists
and
the
c o m m u n i s t i c Dialectical M a t e r i a l i s t s t h a t a
h u m a n b e i n g is b u t a n e l a b o r a t e piece of
m e c h a n i s m , w o r k i n g b y w h a t is t e r m e d
' c o n d i t i o n e d reflex'.
T h e famous e x p e r i m e n t o f ' P a v l o v ' s d o g s '
is r e g a r d e d as proof of this m e c h a n i s t i c view

of life, a n d these occult schools, t h o u g h

entirely
disagreeing
with
the
basic
m a t e r i a l i s t i c view, nevertheless say t h a t t h e
bulk of t h e t h i n k i n g a n d action of t h e a v e r a g e
m a n is t h e result of this ' c o n d i t i o n e d reflex .
H o w e v e r , they definitely t e a c h t h a t it is
possible for m a n t o a w a k e n from this d r e a m
a n d b e g i n to act as a conscious b e i n g .
T h e further i m p l i c a t i o n s of this t e a c h i n g
w o u l d lead us too far from o u r c h o s e n course,
b u t we have m e n t i o n e d it b e c a u s e it is a n
u n d o u b t e d fact t h a t to s o m e extent or other,
this d r e a m l i k e q u a l i t y of consciousness does
s h o w itself in o u r w a k i n g life a n d work.
5

U r b a n Life Blunts Perception

T h e c o n d i t i o n s of m o d e r n life in u r b a n
s u r r o u n d i n g s t e n d to c a u s e us t o react
automatically to c o n d i t i o n s a r o u n d us, w h e r e a s
if
we
were
living
in
wild
natural
s u r r o u n d i n g s , w h e r e i n a t t e n t i o n to t h e
details of life w o u l d p r o b a b l y m e a n o u r
d e a t h , we s h o u l d find ourselves consciously
observing e v e r y t h i n g n e a r us in a w a y w h i c h
we s h o u l d never t h i n k of d o i n g in u r b a n life.
Every sense i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h c a m e into o u r
m i n d w o u l d be consciously e v a l u a t e d a n d as
a result, t h e keenness of o u r p h y s i c a l sense
would be greatly increased.
Even in m o d e r n u r b a n life, it w o u l d
greatly r e d u c e t h e m o r t a l i t y r a t e d u e to
' a c c i d e n t s if we l e a r n t to p a y a t t e n t i o n to o u r
s u r r o u n d i n g s , i n s t e a d of w a l k i n g or driving
5

a l m o s t entirely a u t o m a t i c a l l y , d e p e n d i n g
m e r e l y u p o n t h e good sense of o t h e r s , or t h e
speed of o u r reflexes.
N o w this does not m e a n t h a t w e should
a l w a y s be w a t c h i n g o u r e n v i r o n m e n t w i t h
t h e s a m e intensity as t h e w h i t e ' s c o u t ' used
t o h a v e to e m p l o y in t h e d a y s of t h e
A m e r i c a n W i l d W e s t , b u t it does m e a n t h a t
s o m e p a r t of t h a t q u a l i t y of intensity m u s t b e
b r o u g h t into o r d i n a r y life. T h i s , in itself,
w o u l d not b e a b a d t h i n g .
Kim's Game
I n s o m e of m y earlier w r i t i n g s , I m e n t i o n e d a
c e r t a i n exercise in a t t e n t i o n w h i c h is
c o m m o n l y k n o w n as ' K i m ' s G a m e ' , a n d
w h i c h w a s taken- from t h e book e n t i t l e d Kim
by R u d y a r d K i p l i n g . J u d g i n g b y c o m m e n t s
from m y r e a d e r s , this exercise w a s found by
m a n y t o be too difficult.
M u c h of this difficulty w a s , I think,
psychological, for w h e n o n e first starts this
exercise, it is u s u a l l y found to b e s o m e w h a t
d i s h e a r t e n i n g . T h e r e a s o n for this is t h a t it
d e m o n s t r a t e s very forcibly h o w poorly we a r e
e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e m e n t a l p o w e r of a t t e n t i o n .
However,
by
steady
application
this
p a r t i c u l a r exercise c a n develop t h e p o w e r in
a r e a s o n a b l y short t i m e .
F o r t h o s e w h o m a y not have h e a r d of
K i m ' s g a m e , it is p l a y e d by h a v i n g a n u m b e r
of small objects, s u c h as rings, c o l o u r e d or
c a r v e d b u t t o n s , small n u t s , screws a n d o t h e r
small e n g i n e e r i n g objects all p l a c e d u p o n a

t r a y . F o r a b o u t t w o or t h r e e m i n u t e s one
directs o n e ' s a t t e n t i o n u p o n these t h i n g s a n d
t h e n t h e t r a y is covered w i t h a cloth. O n e
now writes d o w n t h e n a m e s of t h e objects
w h i c h o n e r e m e m b e r s seeing o n t h e t r a y . It is
as well if o n e gets a n a c q u a i n t a n c e t o collect
t o g e t h e r t h e various objects, b u t this is not
really essential.
H a v i n g w r i t t e n d o w n as m a n y of t h e
n a m e s of t h e objects as possible, t h e covering
over t h e t r a y is r e m o v e d , a n d a check m a d e
b e t w e e n t h e total n u m b e r r e m e m b e r e d a n d
the actual n u m b e r on the tray.
As a r o u g h guide, if, o u t of t w e n t y articles
on t h e t r a y o n e c a n r e m e m b e r eight or n i n e ,
t h e n t h e score is q u i t e good. M o s t l y a b o u t
five o r six a r e t h e best t h a t c a n be e x p e c t e d .
W i t h p r a c t i c e t h e p o w e r of recollection
improves until a score of seventeen or
eighteen o u t of t w e n t y is possible.
W h e n a r e a s o n a b l e score h a s b e e n
o b t a i n e d , t h e exercise m a y be varied b y
a t t e m p t i n g t o recollect details of e a c h object:
its s h a p e , t h e n a t u r e of a n y carving o n it, its
colour a n d a n y flaws w h i c h m a y have b e e n
noticed. T h o s e w h o find t h a t t h e e l e m e n t of
c o m p e t i t i o n helps t h e m m a y try this exercise
as a g a m e , w i t h o n e or t w o friends. M o s t l y ,
however, w e a r e usually so a s h a m e d of o u r
initial failures t h a t we prefer t o p l a y this
g a m e solo!
t

Think Shoelace
H e r e is a n o t h e r exercise, a g a i n , a simple o n e ,

b u t very effective n o n e t h e less. I call it

' T h i n k S h o e l a c e ' since it w a s so d e s c r i b e d t o
m e b y m y first t e a c h e r in these m a t t e r s .
Briefly it amounts to this, that the attention is
fixed upon whatever one may be doing at the moment.
T h u s , we a r e t y i n g o u r shoelace. T h e n w e
s i m p l y p u t t h e w h o l e of o u r a t t e n t i o n o n
d o i n g j u s t t h a t . W e a r e not a u t o m a t i c a l l y
t y i n g t h e shoelace a n d at t h e s a m e t i m e
listening, ' w i t h half a n e a r ' as w e say, to t h e
news o n t h e r a d i o , or t h e wife's voice as she
gives us a list of w h a t we m u s t b r i n g h o m e
w h e n we r e t u r n . N o r a r e we subjectively
w o n d e r i n g w h a t w e o u g h t to d o at t h e office,
or t h e works, in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h s o m e
difficulties w h i c h m a y arise. N o , we simply
c o n c e n t r a t e o n tying t h a t shoelace.
It s o u n d s so s i m p l e t h a t t h e i d e a of m e n t a l
t r a i n i n g r e s u l t i n g from it a p p e a r s farcical,
a n d we a r e liable t o fall into t h e e r r o r of t h e
g e n t l e m a n in t h e Bible story w h o , o n b e i n g
told to w a s h in t h e w a t e r s of t h e J o r d a n to
c u r e his leprosy, i n d i g n a n t l y d e c l a r e d t h a t
t h e n o t e d p r o p h e t w h o h a d given t h e advice
s h o u l d have d o n e s o m e t h i n g s p e c t a c u l a r :
' S t r e t c h e d out his h a n d u p o n m e ' as h e p u t
it, a n d so m a d e a n i n s t a n t a n e o u s c u r e . I n
a n y case, t h e y h a d s o m e wonderful rivers,
A b a n a a n d P h a r p a r , in his l a n d . R e a l rivers,
not like this little m u d d y a n d t u r b u l e n t
J o r d a n ! H o w e v e r , as t h e story goes, t h e
despised river c u r e d t h e disease.
T h i s c u r i o u s desire for t h e b i z a r r e a n d
s p e c t a c u l a r is o n e w h i c h h a s persisted

t h r o u g h t h e ages, a n d w e still find it in

evidence t o d a y . It is this t a s t e w h i c h causes
m a n y p e o p l e to fall victims t o t h e psychic
a n d occult ' q u a c k s ' w h o are to be found in or
around
some
of
the
societies
and
o r g a n i z a t i o n s devoted to t h e s t u d y of these
matters.
T h e simplicity of this exercise is only
a p p a r e n t . W h e n you have p r a c t i s e d it a few
times, you will h a v e b e c o m e a w a r e of t h e
tricks w h i c h y o u r m i n d c a n play o n you,
given a n o p p o r t u n i t y .
T h e b e a u t y of this s i m p l e exercise is t h a t it
c a n be p r a c t i s e d at a n y t i m e , w i t h o u t a n y
involved p r e p a r a t i o n , a n d t h e least of its
effects
is
an
increased
power
of
c o n c e n t r a t i o n , w h i c h a l o n e c a n yield q u i t e a
r e a s o n a b l e dividend in daily life.
T h e F a c u l t y of R e c o l l e c t i o n
A further d e v e l o p m e n t is to e x t e n d this direct
a n d conscious a t t e n t i o n to w h a t e v e r is
h a p p e n i n g a r o u n d us as we c a t c h t h e b u s or
t r a i n o n o u r w a y to t h e factory or t h e office.
H o w m a n y of m y r e a d e r s , as t h e y r e a d t h e s e
w o r d s , c o u l d r e m e m b e r t h e details of t h e
h o u s e at t h e corner, as t h e y t u r n from t h e i r
o w n r o a d into t h e m a i n r o a d ? Its g e n e r a l
appearance,
how
many
windows,
its
d e c o r a t i o n s or its front g a r d e n (or lack of
same)?
A g a i n , t h e people in t h e b u s or t r a i n , t h e i r
a p p e a r a n c e , their m a n n e r i s m s , a n d so on.
H o w m a n y of us give t h e m a n y b u t t h e

slightest a t t e n t i o n ? H e r e a r e t h e m a t e r i a l s for
a r e w a r d i n g m e n t a l exercise, a n d a g a i n , it is
o n e w h i c h c a n b e p r a c t i s e d at a n y t i m e .
O f course, s u c h a t t e n t i o n to o t h e r p e o p l e
does not m e a n t h a t o n e n e e d s to stare in a
p o p - e y e d m a n n e r at t h e m , w h i c h w o u l d b e
discourteous
and
might
probably
be
p r o d u c t i v e of t r o u b l e , if t h e y objected to
b e i n g s t a r e d at. It is not necessary to stare
fixedly for m i n u t e s at a t i m e in o r d e r to
r e t a i n a good visual p i c t u r e of a p e r s o n or
object. T h i s is a n i m p o r t a n t point to
r e m e m b e r . As a m a t t e r of fact, a quick
glance, w i t h c o n c e n t r a t e d a t t e n t i o n , is
sufficient.
I n proof of this, let m e give a n a c c o u n t of
visual recollection given m e by a friend w h o
is a h y p n o t i s t . H e s h o w e d to s o m e o n e a p a g e
of a book o n psychology, h a v i n g previously
found o u t t h a t t h e subject of psychology w a s
o n e of w h i c h t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d k n e w
nothing.
H e t h e n h y p n o t i z e d her, a n d w h e n she w a s
in t h e deep h y p n o t i c state h e suggested to her
t h a t she w a s a p o p u l a r l e c t u r e r a n d w a s
s t a n d i n g o n a p l a t f o r m r e a d y to give a talk o n
t h e p a r t i c u l a r a s p e c t of psychology w h i c h
w a s t o u c h e d u p o n in t h e p a g e at w h i c h she
h a d g l a n c e d for one m i n u t e only.
She i m m e d i a t e l y a c c e p t e d t h e suggestion
a n d gave q u i t e a good l e c t u r e t t e u p o n w h a t
she h a d r e a d in t h a t brief glance at t h e p a g e
of t h e book o n psychology. W h e r e t h e p a g e
did not m e n t i o n a n y t h i n g , t h e n o n t h a t

aspect she ' t a l k e d a r o u n d ' it, b u t w h e r e

definite s t a t e m e n t s h a d b e e n m a d e , she
e l a b o r a t e d o n t h e m a n d q u o t e d w o r d for
w o r d from t h e p a g e itself.
T h i s w a s after only o n e m i n u t e ' s g l a n c e at
a p a g e of small p r i n t . W e have ourselves
c o n d u c t e d similar e x p e r i m e n t s , w i t h t h e
s a m e g e n e r a l results. I n c i d e n t a l l y , it is this
e x t r e m e l y powerful faculty of recollection
possessed b y t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d w h i c h so
often falsifies w h a t a p p e a r at first sight t o be
evidences of E x t r a - S e n s o r y - P e r c e p t i o n .
So it is not a q u e s t i o n of t h e a m o u n t of
t i m e spent in observing a n y t h i n g or a n y
p e r s o n , b u t t h e intensity of a t t e n t i o n w h i c h is
required.
P r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e E v i d e n c e
H e r e we c o m e to a very i m p o r t a n t point in
this t r a i n i n g . Y o u will r e m e m b e r t h a t w h e n
we d e s c r i b e d t h e ' r e a d i n g ' given b y a psychic
we gave t w o versions of it, o n e b y a
p s y c h o m e t r i s t of t h e b e t t e r kind, a n d t h e
o t h e r by one w h o s e w o r k w a s greatly inferior.
W e said t h a t it w a s in t h e presentation of t h e
evidence t h a t t h e difference b e t w e e n t h e t w o
psychics w a s m o s t a p p a r e n t , a n d this links
u p w i t h w h a t we have j u s t b e e n saying a b o u t
concentrated attention.
T h e r e is a ' t e c h n i q u e of d e s c r i p t i o n ' , a n d
this t e c h n i q u e is not, as a general rule, l e a r n t
i m m e d i a t e l y . It involves a disciplined u s e of
t h e a t t e n t i o n , b u t o n c e gained, it m a k e s all
t h e difference b e t w e e n success a n d failure. I n

o u r opinion, success in this descriptive

t e c h n i q u e is essential if you wish t o c a r r y out
a n y work in this field. A s i m i l a r t e c h n i q u e is
used by detectives, a n d also in t h e r e g u l a t i o n
work of t h e police.
H a v e you ever c o n s i d e r e d how you
recognize a friend or a c q u a i n t a n c e ? P r o b a b l y
not, for m o s t of us e x p e r i e n c e recognition in a
s u b c o n s c i o u s m a n n e r , a n d c a n s e l d o m say
h o w we d o it. It is necessary for us to
e x a m i n e this q u e s t i o n fairly carefully.
T h e r e a r e , of course, c e r t a i n t h i n g s ,
c e r t a i n salient p o i n t s in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h
p e o p l e , a n d in s o m e cases s u c h p o i n t s a r e so
strongly e m p h a s i z e d t h a t r e c o g n i t i o n is often
b a s e d entirely u p o n t h e m . T h u s , t h e n a s a l
o r g a n of C y r a n o d e B e r g e r a c w o u l d identify
h i m i m m e d i a t e l y , as w o u l d t h e crooked
b a c k of R i c h a r d III (if t h e S h a k e s p e a r e a n
i m a g e is c o r r e c t ) . H o w e v e r , a n y or all of
these most a p p a r e n t p o i n t s of recognition
m a y be d u p l i c a t e d , a n d t h e y a r e not so g o o d
for recognition p u r p o s e s as s o m e o t h e r
a s p e c t s of t h e individual.
T h e F i n e r P o i n t s of I d e n t i f i c a t i o n
O n e of these o t h e r p o i n t s , a n d a very useful
one, is t h e m a n n e r in w h i c h a p e r s o n s t a n d s
a n d moves. E a c h o n e of us h a s his o w n
p a r t i c u l a r w a y of s t a n d i n g a n d moving
a r o u n d , a n d this c o m e s to be associated w i t h
us in t h e m i n d s of those w h o m we m e e t . I n
fact, t h e r e is w h a t m a y be d e s c r i b e d as a
w h o l e g r o u p of s u c h finer p o i n t s , t h e n a t u r e

of w h i c h definitely identifies us as a c e r t a i n
person.
M o v e m e n t s of t h e h a n d s , t h e fingers a n d
t h e feet, g r i m a c e s w h i c h b e c o m e h a b i t u a l to
us, s u d d e n t u r n s of t h e h e a d a n d c h a n g i n g
tensions in t h e m u s c l e s of t h e face, especially
a r o u n d t h e eyes, all these, a n d m a n y m o r e ,
serve to identify us, a n d it is t h e identification
afforded b y these finer p o i n t s w h i c h is very
often t h e best evidence w h i c h c a n b e given b y
the psychometrist.
D e s c r i p t i o n of Face a n d F o r m
After this, in o r d e r of i m p o r t a n c e c o m e s t h e
a c t u a l d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e face a n d form, t h e
clothes a n d a n y p o i n t s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m .
H e r e a g a i n , t h e t e c h n i q u e is a very definite
one, a n d t h e g e n e r a l r u l e is t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d
b e c o h e r e n c e in t h e d e s c r i p t i o n given.
F o r instance, t h e b u d d i n g p s y c h o m e t r i s t
s h o u l d n o t begin a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e face he
is perceiving psychically by s t a t i n g t h a t t h e
m a n h a s b l u e eyes a n d a small w a r t o n his
neck. H e s h o u l d s t a r t first of all by d e s c r i b i n g
a n y outstanding feature o n t h e face, s u c h as t h e
large nose of w h i c h we have spoken, or t h e
a b s e n c e of p a r t of o n e ear, or t h e a b s e n c e of
one eye.
T h e n he s h o u l d p r o c e e d to d e s c r i b e t h e
face, s t a r t i n g w i t h t h e colour a n d t e x t u r e of
t h e hair, w h e t h e r it is s m o o t h l y dressed or
sticks u p in a n u n r u l y fashion. T h e n t h e
forehead, w h e t h e r it is b r o a d a n d high or low
a n d n a r r o w , lined w i t h wrinkles or s m o o t h .

T h e e y e b r o w s thick or t h i n , b u s h y or
s m o o t h ; t h e eyes, their colour, their setting in
t h e face, close t o g e t h e r or far a p a r t , lines a n d
sagging muscles a r o u n d t h e m , deeply set or
s o m e w h a t p r o t r u d i n g ; t h e nose, a q u i l i n e ,
s t r a i g h t or retrousse, b r o a d or t h i n a r o u n d t h e
nostrils; t h e ears, l a r g e or small, h o w set o n
t h e h e a d ; t h e cheeks, full a n d r o u n d or
s u n k e n , florid or p a l e , general c o m p l e x i o n ;
moustache a n d / o r beard, type, shape and
g e n e r a l colour a n d a p p e a r a n c e ; m o u t h a n d
lips, full lips or t h i n lips; j a w a n d chin, firm
or o t h e r w i s e , g e n e r a l t y p e of face, r o u n d ,
s q u a r e or l a n t e r n - j a w e d ; neck, t h i n or thick,
long or short.
A u t o m a t i c S e q u e n c e of A t t e n t i o n
All this w o u l d seem at first sight to be a very
f o r m i d a b l e task, b u t as we always register
these a n d o t h e r details every t i m e we look at
a p e r s o n ( t h o u g h t h e b u l k of t h e detail
remains
below
the
threshold
of
consciousness) it is not t h e m e r e r e g i s t r a t i o n
of t h e details w h i c h calls for s o m e t r a i n i n g on
t h e p a r t of t h e b e g i n n e r .
W h a t is i m p o r t a n t is t h e g r a d u a l b u i l d i n g u p of a n automatic sequence of attention, so t h a t
all t h e details a r e stored in their correct
pigeon-holes in t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s , from w h i c h
t h e y c a n b e d r a w n in t h e s a m e s e q u e n c e .
T h i s t e c h n i q u e also applies to t h e details
of t h e b o d y , t h e a r m s a n d legs, t h e dress a n d
all c o n n e c t e d w i t h it. O b v i o u s l y , t h e r e a r e

c e r t a i n general c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w h i c h s h o u l d
b e d e s c r i b e d at t h e very b e g i n n i n g of t h e
description. T h e height, g e n e r a l t y p e of b o d y
(fat or t h i n ) a n d a n y o u t s t a n d i n g details s u c h
as a n artificial leg, a r e s o m e of these.
T h e n we c o m e to t h e m o r e subtle p o i n t s of
s t a n c e , etc., w h i c h we have a l r e a d y s p o k e n
of, a n d it is h e r e t h a t often t h e m o s t
convincing bits of evidence m a y be g a i n e d .
T o s u m m a r i z e w h a t we have b e e n saying o n
this q u e s t i o n of a c c u r a t e description, we
would
suggest
the
following
general
sequence:
1. E s t i m a t e d height a n d b u i l d of p e r s o n
perceived, t o g e t h e r w i t h a n y o u t s t a n d i n g
peculiarities, s u c h as a n artificial leg or
deformity of a n y kind.
2. C l o t h i n g , style a n d colour.
3. Q u i c k detailed d e s c r i p t i o n of features,
a n y peculiarities to b e n o t e d a n d d e s c r i b e d
first.
4. A n y finer p o i n t s of identification,
m a n n e r i s m s , a n d so on.
Personal Talents
W h a t we have j u s t given applies to t h e
d e s c r i p t i o n s of people, b u t , of course, t h e
s a m e principles a p p l y in t h e case of
l a n d s c a p e s a n d s u c h g e n e r a l s u r r o u n d i n g s as
m a y be given. N o w t h a t you have t h e
p r i n c i p l e involved, you m a y a p p l y it in y o u r
o w n w a y . I n d e e d , in all p s y c h i c work, t h e r e

is a n a r e a w h e r e t h e personal t a l e n t s c o m e into
play, j u s t as t h e y d o in p a i n t i n g a n d
s c u l p t u r e , for i n s t a n c e .
Y o u will r e m e m b e r t h a t w e have said t h a t
all psychic work is as m u c h a n a r t as a
science. H e r e is w h e r e y o u r o w n individual
t a l e n t m a y b e e m p l o y e d , a n d it is h e r e t h a t
n e w discoveries m a y be m a d e .
So d o n ' t b e afraid to e x p e r i m e n t in this
field. T h e outline given is a g e n e r a l one, a n d
as long a s you h a v e t h e p r i n c i p l e of sequential
description fixed in y o u r m i n d , you m a y vary
t h e a p p l i c a t i o n in a c c o r d a n c e with y o u r o w n
particular 'slant'.
R e m e m b e r t h a t even w i t h s u c h s e q u e n t i a l
description, it is possible for you to get into a
rigid groove, a n d this m a y prevent further
p r o g r e s s in y o u r work. It w a s Oliver W e n d e l l
H o l m e s , in o n e of his b o o k s , w h o said; ' t h e
difference b e t w e e n a g r a v e a n d a groove is
only o n e of d e p t h ' .
So preserve flexibility of m i n d . U s e t h e
t e c h n i q u e s b o t h psychological a n d psychic
w h i c h you have b e e n given here until y o u are
perfectly familiar w i t h t h e m , a n d c a n rely
u p o n t h e m . T h e n , as y o u r k n o w l e d g e a n d
e x p e r i e n c e grow, you c a n a d a p t t h e m to y o u r
o w n individual m e t h o d of w o r k i n g .
Remember
always
that
your
s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a s its o w n p o i n t of view,
w h i c h does not always agree w i t h t h a t of t h e
w a k i n g self> a n d unless you give this h i d d e n
aspect of yourself a c h a n c e t o express itself it

m a y b e g i n t o w o r k against y o u r efforts. W e
shall r e t u r n to this later on.
C o n t r o l of E m o t i o n a l R e a c t i o n s
H e r e we c o m e to a n o t h e r very i m p o r t a n t
factor, n a m e l y , t h e place of e m o t i o n in o u r
p s y c h o m e t r i c work. V e r y often, as we
a t t e m p t t o p s y c h o m e t r i z e a n article, w e find
t h e e m o t i o n a l a t m o s p h e r e w h i c h we a r e
sensing is b e g i n n i n g to flood o u r m i n d , a n d
we feel very acutely t h e s o r r o w or p a i n or
a n g e r c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e object.
N o w this e m p a t h y , or 'feeling-with , is of
t h e very essence of p s y c h o m e t r i c work, b u t if
w e allow it to d o m i n a t e o u r consciousness,
t h e n we lose control of o u r e m o t i o n a l
r e a c t i o n s a n d so o b l i t e r a t e t h e fine p s y c h i c
i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h are c o m i n g in.
A perfect a n a l o g y is to b e found in t h e
well-known
radio
phenomenon
of
'oscillation . A r a d i o set m a y , u n d e r c e r t a i n
c o n d i t i o n s , not only receive t h e signals o n a
p a r t i c u l a r wave-length, b u t m a y also rer a d i a t e t h e m in a d i s t o r t e d form as t h e
p i e r c i n g whistle or howl w i t h w h i c h w e a r e
all familiar. I n t h e early d a y s of r a d i o this
p h e n o m e n o n w a s very c o m m o n , b u t t h e
t u n i n g devices w h i c h have since b e e n
developed have largely e l i m i n a t e d it, t h o u g h ,
u n d e r c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s it c a n still occur.
5

Controlling Emotional Reactions

I n t h e s a m e w a y , it is possible to sense t h e

e m o t i o n a l r e c o r d of t h e object y o u a r e
h a n d l i n g a n d be so affected by it as to lose all
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e psychic i m p r e s s i o n s a n d
simply flounder in a sea of e m o t i o n , w i t h o u t
realizing t h a t t h e w h o l e t h i n g is o u t of focus,
a n d w h a t m a y b e a mild e m o t i o n a l record
has been enormously exaggerated by your
own reactions.
It is well, therefore, if you c a n t r a i n
yourself to control y o u r e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n s ,
a n d o n e of t h e best exercises for this is a very
old o n e indeed. It is a s i m p l e one, too, a n d
consists in m a k i n g yourself listen t o s o m e
highly e m o t i o n a l a t t a c k u p o n one of y o u r
o w n pet subjects.
If you a r e a C o n s e r v a t i v e in politics, t h e n
listen to a violent c o m m u n i s t a t t a c k u p o n
y o u r political c r e e d ; if you a r e a Socialist,
t h e n listen to a d i e - h a r d Conservative
a t t a c k i n g all the ideas w h i c h s e e m t o you to
be so i m p o r t a n t . T h e s a m e t e c h n i q u e c a n be
used on religious, artistic or sociological
ideas.
T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g is t h a t you m u s t not
sit a n d listen in a s t a t e of s u p p r e s s e d w r a t h ,
b u t n e i t h e r m u s t you i m p o s e u p o n yourself a
m e n t a l s t a t e of passive resistance. Y o u m u s t
simply listen calmly and attentively to t h e
s t a t e m e n t s m a d e , a s s e n t i n g or d i s a g r e e i n g
with t h e m mentally, not emotionally.
R e m e m b e r t h a t t h e ideas w h i c h seem so
repulsive to you a r e tidings of j o y t o t h e one
t o w h o m you a r e listening, a n d in t h e s a m e
w a y t h e ideas w h i c h to you s e e m so self-

evidently t r u e a r e e q u a l l y repulsive to h i m .
A few e x p e r i m e n t s a l o n g t h e s e lines will
soon convince you of t h e p a r t e m o t i o n plays
in w h a t we a r e usually p l e a s e d to t e r m
'rational thought'.
Even in t h e r e a l m of m a t h e m a t i c s , w h i c h
at one t i m e w a s t h o u g h t to be practically t h e
only n o n - e m o t i o n a l subject, we c a n find t h e
s a m e e m o t i o n a l bias at w o r k as t h e different
p r o p o u n d e r s of n e w systems of g e o m e t r y a n d
t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y h y p o t h e s i s of Relativity get
into p r i n t or fulminate a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r at
t h e m e e t i n g s of l e a r n e d societies.
Is T r a i n i n g N e c e s s a r y ?
Many
p e o p l e develop
t h e faculty
of
p s y c h o m e t r y w i t h o u t a n y such m e n t a l
t r a i n i n g as t h a t w h i c h we have o u t l i n e d in
this c h a p t e r , a n d some m a y ask w h e t h e r all
this ' t r a i n i n g ' is necessary. T h e short a n s w e r
is t h a t it is not a b s o l u t e l y necessary, b u t it
c a n be of t r e m e n d o u s h e l p .
In the same way, there are those who are
b o r n w i t h a n i n n a t e sense of m u s i c a n d
rhythm, and who can perform on a musical
i n s t r u m e n t in q u i t e a c r e d i t a b l e fashion.
O t h e r s a r e b o r n m u s i c a l prodigies, b u t t h e
work of b o t h types is t r e m e n d o u s l y i n c r e a s e d
if they l e a r n t h e t h e o r y a n d t e c h n i q u e of
music.
So t h e r e a r e m a n y w h o have g a i n e d t h e
faculty of p s y c h o m e t r y w i t h o u t a n y t r a i n i n g ,
except p e r h a p s t h a t given in a ' d e v e l o p m e n t
circle' a n d they c a n c a r r y o u t q u i t e good

work. H o w e v e r , it so often h a p p e n s t h a t t h e
faculty h a s b e e n m i s d i r e c t e d a n d e m p l o y e d
for p u r p o s e s w h i c h to m a n y of us w o u l d
a p p e a r t o b e o u t s i d e t h e l e g i t i m a t e scope of
psychometry.
T h i s is p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e case w h e r e
p s y c h o m e t r y is u s e d in a n a t t e m p t to c o n t a c t
discarnate people. T h a t this attempt may
s o m e t i m e s be successful, as m a n y years of
e x p e r i e n c e in t h e s e fields gives us r e a s o n for
believing, does not m e a n t h a t this is a l w a y s
t h e case, a n d we d e p l o r e t h e use of t h e
faculty in this w a y .
W e a r e of t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e r e a r e o t h e r
a n d b e t t e r ways of effecting s u c h c o n t a c t ,
a n d we w o u l d strongly suggest t h a t it is m o s t
d e s i r a b l e t h a t this wonderful faculty be t a k e n
out of t h e s e c t a r i a n religious a t m o s p h e r e in
w h i c h it is usually to b e found, a n d t r e a t e d in
a n objective fashion. E q u a l l y , a n d with even
m o r e urgency, we w o u l d try t o rescue it from
t h e b a s e uses m a d e of it by t h e professional
fortune-telling e l e m e n t w h i c h infests t h e
fringe of t h e p s y c h i c m o v e m e n t .

CHAPTER FOUR

FIRST STEPS

H u m a n n a t u r e b e i n g w h a t it is, we expect
t h a t q u i t e a n u m b e r of o u r r e a d e r s will have
t u r n e d to this c h a p t e r w i t h o u t r e a d i n g
a n y t h i n g t h a t h a s gone before, w h i c h is a
pity, b u t it is not u n c o m m o n . H o w e v e r , it
gives us t h e c h a n c e to p o i n t out t h a t a l t h o u g h
it is really b e t t e r to u n d e r t a k e t h e p r e l i m i n a r y t r a i n i n g , before a t t e m p t i n g to d o
p r a c t i c a l work, m u c h of t h a t t r a i n i n g c a n be
carried out together with the
actual
p s y c h o m e t r i c a l work. At t h e s a m e time, it
does i m p o s e a n e x t r a s t r a i n u p o n t h e
developing psychic, a n d we w o u l d suggest
t h a t , h a v i n g b r o w s e d t h r o u g h this c h a p t e r ,
o u r w o u l d - b e p s y c h o m e t r i s t s go b a c k to t h e
work o u t l i n e d in t h e previous c h a p t e r , a n d
begin
on
that,
making
occasional
experiments
in
the
actual
'sensing'
technique.
Psychometrical Sensings
S u c h a n a p p r o a c h will, as w e have said, yield
dividends, for t h e m o r e t h e m i n d h a s b e e n
b r o u g h t u n d e r s o m e k i n d of discipline, t h e
m o r e reliable t h e p s y c h o m e t r i c a l sensings
will be.
It will b e n o t e d t h a t w e speak of sensing',
a n d this is t h e best w a y of describing w h a t
happens
when
one
attempts
to
p s y c h o m e t r i z e a n article. S u c h sensing is a

general i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h is received, a n d for

q u i t e a time, unless t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r has t h e
visual or a u r a l forms of p e r c e p t i o n strongly
developed,
it will r e m a i n
simply
an
impression.
T h e n , as d e v e l o p m e n t p r o c e e d s , t h e visual
a n d / o r a u d i b l e i m a g e s will b e g i n to s h o w
themselves.
Remember,
all
perception,
w h e t h e r physical or s u p e r - p h y s i c a l , is, in fact
a d e v e l o p m e n t of one basic set of i m p r e s s i o n s .
O n t h e physical p l a n e , t h e sense o f ' t o u c h '
is t h e basic sense, a n d e a c h of t h e five senses
is a different kind of ' t o u c h i n g ' T h u s , t h e
r a y s of light t o u c h t h e sensitive r e t i n a of o u r
eye, a n d c a u s e c e r t a i n c h e m i c a l
and
electrical c h a n g e s t h e r e a n d in t h e optic
nerves. T h e s e c h a n g e s a r e t r a n s m i t t e d to t h e
s i g h t - c e n t r e in t h e b r a i n , a n d a r e t h e r e , in
some m y s t e r i o u s m a n n e r , t r a n s l a t e d into
visual i m p r e s s i o n s .
S o u n d waves striking t h e ear d r u m cause
m o v e m e n t in t h e c o m p l i c a t e d ' h a m m e r - a n d s t i r r u p b o n e s ' of t h e m e c h a n i s m of t h e ear,
a n d this m o v e m e n t affects t h e fluid in a
special c a n a l w h i c h also c o n t a i n s m a n y nerve
fibres.
F r o m t h e s e fibres c h e m i c a l a n d
electrical c h a n g e s a r e t r a n s m i t t e d to t h e
c e n t r e in t h e b r a i n w h i c h governs h e a r i n g ,
a n d a r e t h e r e t r a n s l a t e d into a u d i b l e
impressions.
In j u s t t h e s a m e w a y t h e senses of taste,
a n d smell o p e r a t e ; all five senses b e i n g b a s e d
u p o n t h e one sense of t o u c h , w h i c h w a s t h e
first sense to e m e r g e in evolutionary t i m e .

A Single Immediate Perception

I n exactly t h e s a m e w a y , t h o u g h after
a n o t h e r m o d e , t h e psychic p e r c e p t i o n s work.
Actually, t h e p s y c h i c is a single i m m e d i a t e
p e r c e p t i o n , conveying direct k n o w l e d g e t o
t h e self, b u t as the m i n d h a s developed in a
c e r t a i n w a y , t h r o u g h t h e specialization of t h e
physical senses, t h e psychic i m p r e s s i o n s
w h i c h a r e received a r e , as a g e n e r a l rule
t r a n s l a t e d a u t o m a t i c a l l y into t h e physical
sense i m a g e s w i t h w h i c h w e a r e familiar.
So in t h e first stages of d e v e l o p m e n t , it is
this general i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h will b e
received a n d you m u s t not b e d i s a p p o i n t e d if
for a long t i m e you get s u c h i m p r e s s i o n s
w i t h o u t a n y visual or a u d i b l e images.
At
a
much
later
stage
in
your
d e v e l o p m e n t , if you have p e r s e v e r e d so far,
t h e r e will c o m e a t i m e w h e n t h e p i c t u r e s a n d
a u d i t o r y i m a g e s will give place t o a formless
p e r c e p t i o n w h i c h , however, will give you all
a n d m o r e t h a n you ever received t h r o u g h t h e
images. At t h e s a m e t i m e , you will r e t a i n t h e
p o w e r to use t h e p i c t u r e - i m p r e s s i o n s if you
so wish.
Later D e v e l o p m e n t
H o w e v e r , this later stage of d e v e l o p m e n t will
not as a g e n e r a l rule c o m e for s o m e
c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e after you have s t a r t e d y o u r
d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d , indeed, it need not ever
a p p e a r unless you yourself aspire to its
unfoldment.
For s o m e of you, such further d e v e l o p m e n t

w o u l d possibly be out of y o u r r e a c h , a n d you

w o u l d be well advised to stick to a n d t r a i n
t h e ' f o r m ' t y p e of p s y c h o m e t r y .
N o w a l t h o u g h we have said t h a t t h e
i m p r e s s i o n s give w a y t o t h e i m a g e s of various
kinds, nevertheless t h e r e is a l w a y s a
b a c k g r o u n d of i m p r e s s i o n a l sensing w h i c h
a c c o m p a n i e s t h e p i c t u r e s seen or t h e s o u n d s
h e a r d , a n d this b a c k g r o u n d is i m p o r t a n t in
e n a b l i n g you to i n t e r p r e t t h a t w h i c h you
perceive. W e will r e t u r n to this q u e s t i o n of
i m p r e s s i o n a l a t m o s p h e r e later.
P r e p a r i n g for a R e a d i n g
N o w you a r e r e a d y to c o m m e n c e y o u r a c t u a l
psychometrical development. W h a t are the
m a i n points to b e o b s e r v e d ? T h e first, we
t h i n k , is t h a t for successful w o r k you s h o u l d
b e as c o m f o r t a b l e as possible. N o tight
c l o t h i n g , ill fitting shoes w h i c h give p a i n , n o
u n c o m f o r t a b l e seat; t h o u g h it is as well if you
avoid t h e o t h e r e x t r e m e in t h e m a t t e r of
seating, for you c a n b e too comfortable.
As far as possible, y o u should b e relaxed
physically. A good w a y to achieve this is to
use a c o m b i n e d b r e a t h i n g - a n d - r e l a x a t i o n
exercise such as t h e following.
Sit comfortably, b u t do n o t cross t h e legs;
keep t h e feet firmly o n t h e floor, a n d take
c a r e t h a t t h e edge of t h e c h a i r you a r e sitting
on does not c a t c h you j u s t b e h i n d t h e knees
a n d so i m p e d e t h e c i r c u l a t i o n in y o u r legs.
Let y o u r h a n d s rest on y o u r knees. N o w t a k e
in a d e e p b r e a t h , a n d b r e a t h e out slowly, at

t h e s a m e t i m e quietly fixing y o u r m e n t a l
a t t e n t i o n u p o n t h e t o p of t h e h e a d , a n d as
you c o n t i n u e to exhale, allow t h a t a t t e n t i o n
to travel d o w n over all y o u r b o d y , until at t h e
e n d of t h e b r e a t h i n g - o u t it h a s r e a c h e d y o u r
feet. N o w t a k e in a n o t h e r b r e a t h a n d r e p e a t
t h e process.
T h e essence of t h e exercise is t h a t as you
allow your a t t e n t i o n t o s w e e p d o w n over t h e
b o d y , so, at every point r e a c h e d you must also
relax the muscles of that part. Y o u will find t h a t
at first you will not b e a b l e to keep all t h e
muscles r e l a x e d ; s o m e of t h e m , p a r t i c u l a r l y
t h e m u s c l e s of t h e face a n d neck will m o r e or
less a u t o m a t i c a l l y tense u p a g a i n as soon as
y o u r a t t e n t i o n h a s p a s s e d o n to t h e next p a r t
of y o u r b o d y . D o not w o r r y a b o u t this, j u s t
p r o c e e d w i t h t h e exercise. In t i m e t h e
muscles will r e m a i n relaxed after
the
a t t e n t i o n has p a s s e d t h e m .
At first half a d o z e n i n b r e a t h i n g s a n d
o u t b r e a t h i n g s will b e e n o u g h , b u t this is
s o m e t h i n g w h i c h y o u will have to j u d g e for
yourself. T h e success of t h e exercise is seen
w h e n you find t h a t t h e b o d y as a w h o l e
a p p e a r s to b e c o n s i d e r a b l y relaxed.
Choosing the Objects
Y o u are n o w r e a d y to a t t e m p t y o u r first
r e a d i n g . W h i c h b r i n g s us t o t h e q u e s t i o n of
w h a t objects you s h o u l d choose for y o u r first
e x p e r i m e n t s , for objects vary greatly in t h e
r e c o r d w h i c h c a n b e o b t a i n e d from t h e m ,
a n d in y o u r early d a y s it is as well if you

choose those w h i c h give t h e strongest a n d

m o s t easily r e a d i m p r e s s i o n s .
Before discussing t h e kinds of objects, it
m a y b e as well to consider w h e r e t h e y m a y
b e o b t a i n e d . If you c a n enlist t h e aid of o n e
or t w o friends, w h o c a n s u p p l y t h e m , a n d
w h o c a n check u p on t h e a c c u r a c y of y o u r
' r e a d i n g ' , you will have a c o n s i d e r a b l e
a d v a n t a g e , since you will not have to
d e m o n s t r a t e y o u r faculty to people w h o m a y
b e sceptical or even a n t a g o n i s t i c to t h e
subject.
It is as well, also, if you d o not k n o w very
m u c h of y o u r friends' private lives, since s u c h
p r i o r k n o w l e d g e m a y q u i t e easily confuse
you a n d in a n y case will d e t r a c t from t h e
value of w h a t e v e r you m a y r e a d from t h e
object.
T w o 'Memories'
T h e r e are two main 'memories' connected
w i t h every object. T h e first is w h a t we m a y
call t h e i n h e r e n t or p e r s o n a l m e m o r y of t h e
object's individual a n d s e p a r a t e existence.
T h e n t h e r e is w h a t we m a y t e r m t h e
' g a t h e r e d ' m e m o r y . T h i s is t h e s u m of all t h e
i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h have b e e n m a d e u p o n it
by its association w i t h h u m a n beings, a n d
this will give highly c o m p l e x m e m o r i e s w h i c h
n e e d c o n s i d e r a b l e skill to r e a d .
O f course, it usually h a p p e n s t h a t o n e
s t r a t u m or a n o t h e r in this c o m p o s i t e m e m o r y
is so powerful t h a t it d o m i n a t e s t h e rest, a n d
p r e v e n t s you from going m o r e d e e p l y into t h e

general m e m o r y c o n n e c t e d w i t h its history.

It is suggested, therefore, t h a t in y o u r initial
e x p e r i m e n t s you select objects w h i c h have
either a powerful p r i m a r y or i n h e r e n t
m e m o r y - a u r a , or w h i c h have not p a s s e d
through many hands.
It is best, of c o u r s e , if t h e object h a s b e e n
c o n n e c t e d w i t h one p e r s o n only, as it is t h e n
u n n e c e s s a r y for you to have to try t o sort o u t
t h e m e m o r y layers c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e
various p e o p l e to w h o m t h e object m a y h a v e
belonged.
The
simpler
your
initial
e x p e r i m e n t s c a n be m a d e , t h e better. L a t e r ,
as you g a i n confidence in y o u r p o w e r s , you
c a n a t t e m p t to p s y c h o m e t r i z e m o r e difficult
objects..
Necklaces usually m a k e good articles for
r e a d i n g , b u t rings a n d very small objects a r e
m o r e difficult. Keys a r e not good objects, for
t h e y a r e a p t to p a s s t h r o u g h several h a n d s ;
n e i t h e r a r e h a n d k e r c h i e f s or o t h e r w a s h a b l e
articles, for t h e r e p e a t e d processes of
w a s h i n g a n d being h a n d l e d by others m a k e it
difficult to pick u p t h e a u r a - m e m o r y .
If you a t t e m p t to p s y c h o m e t r i z e gloves, it
is best to t u r n t h e m inside out, as t h e o u t e r
surfaces will have collected e x t r a n e o u s
impressions.
L e t t e r s a r e a good source, b u t if you d o
e x p e r i m e n t with t h e m r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e
envelope h a s p a s s e d t h r o u g h several h a n d s ,
a n d is of very little use. Y o u s h o u l d therefore
remove t h e letter from its envelope before
a t t e m p t i n g to p s y c h o m e t r i z e it. P e r h a p s we

m a y start o u r d e s c r i p t i o n of y o u r first
a t t e m p t s in p s y c h o m e t r y by t a k i n g t h e letter
as t h e object used.
T e c h n i q u e of Sensing
Y o u c a n s p r e a d t h e letter o n t h e t a b l e a n d
rest t h e p a l m of y o u r h a n d o n it. O r you m a y
j u s t p u t your fingertips o n t h e s i g n a t u r e , or
hold t h e letter to y o u r forehead. It is for you
to find for yourself t h e m e t h o d w h i c h best
suits you; every p e r s o n h a s his o w n
peculiarity in this m a t t e r .
Preferably, as we have i n d i c a t e d , t h e
writer of t h e letter s h o u l d not b e k n o w n to
you personally, t h o u g h , of course, it s h o u l d
be possible to o b t a i n s o m e k n o w l e d g e a b o u t
h i m after y o u r r e a d i n g , as o t h e r w i s e it will b e
impossible for you to verify t h e t r u t h or
falsity.
H a v i n g t a k e n u p t h e letter, you will n o w
m a k e a simple act of will or ' i n t e n t i o n ' to t h e
effect t h a t you a r e going to r e a d t h e psychic
r e c o r d of this letter. J u s t a s i m p l e i n t e n t i o n is
all t h a t is necessary; a sufficient i n d i c a t i o n to
y o u r s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t you wish a n y
i n c o m i n g i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h m a y b e picked
u p to be p a s s e d t h r o u g h to y o u r w a k i n g self.
T h i s is a 'trigger a c t i o n ' c o n c e r n i n g w h i c h
w e shall say s o m e t h i n g later.
Y o u now quietly wait until you b e c o m e
conscious of new a n d different i m p r e s s i o n s
c o m i n g into y o u r m i n d . T h e s e i m p r e s s i o n s
m a y r e m a i n as s i m p l e i m p r e s s i o n s , or t h e y
m a y b e a c c o m p a n i e d by vivid p i c t u r e s a n d

i n n e r s o u n d s . S o m e t i m e s t h e p i c t u r e s will
arise w i t h o u t a n y s u r r o u n d i n g i m p r e s s i o n s ,
b u t w h a t e v e r you get s h o u l d be d e s c r i b e d to
t h e friend w h o is assisting you in y o u r
e x p e r i m e n t s by a c t i n g as a n a u d i t o r . S h o u l d
you be c o m p e l l e d to work w i t h o u t s u c h help,
t h e n a g o o d t a p e - r e c o r d e r ' c a n be u s e d t o
record y o u r description.
Bodily Sensations
Y o u will often feel yourself impelled to react
strongly to t h e i m p r e s s i o n s you a r e getting,
b u t if you a r e wise y o u will not allow this
r e a c t i o n to flood y o u r field of consciousness
a n d a r o u s e similar c o n d i t i o n s in y o u r o w n
self. Y o u m a y also, a n d this is a frequent
h a p p e n i n g in p s y c h o m e t r y , receive bodily
s e n s a t i o n s , indications of illness or accident,
a n d these i m p r e s s i o n s m a y b e very s t r o n g
indeed. Never allow t h e m t o influence y o u in
a n y u n d e s i r a b l e fashion.
R e m e m b e r t h a t you a r e o p e n to all t h e
influences c o m i n g from t h e object y o u a r e
' r e a d i n g ' , a n d t h a t m e a n s t h a t y o u often
sense c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h you do not like, j u s t
as you also sense c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h a p p e a l to
y o u . Y o u m u s t not, however, be selective at
this s t a g e in y o u r d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t m u s t
allow all 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 t o c o m e u p into consciousness.
At a later d a t e you can b e selective, a n d
follow o n e p a r t i c u l a r t r a i n of psychic i m a g e s ,
b u t at first this is not possible. At t h e s a m e
t i m e you m u s t not allow a n y u n d e s i r a b l e

i m p r e s s i o n to affect you too strongly. W h e n

this seems likely to h a p p e n , it is best to p u t
d o w n t h e object a n d b r e a k y o u r c o n t a c t w i t h
it. T h i s
is s o m e t i m e s
done by
the
p s y c h o m e t r i s t w a s h i n g his h a n d s before
s t a r t i n g to c o n t a c t a n o t h e r article, b u t it c a n
also be d o n e by a s i m p l e act of will, a definite
i n t e n t i o n to b r e a k t h e c o n t a c t .
N e c e s s i t y for D i s c r i m i n a t i o n
W h a t you often get, a n d this applies
p a r t i c u l a r l y to letters, is a n i m p r e s s i o n of t h e
p e r s o n a l i t y of t h e o w n e r or writer, a n d this
can
be
both
evidential
and
useful.
R e m e m b e r , however, if t h e w r i t e r of t h e
letter or t h e o w n e r of t h e object h a s recently
suffered a great shock, or h a s b e e n u n d e r
c o n s i d e r a b l e m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l strain,
t h e n you will, in all p r o b a b i l i t y pick u p this
c o n d i t i o n before a n y t h i n g else.
So even in t h e simplest r e a d i n g , you will
find t h a t it is necessary to use a g o o d deal of
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , a n d not t o a c c e p t all y o u r
i m p r e s s i o n s at t h e i r face value. T h o u g h t h a s
a very real existence, a p a r t from t h e m i n d
a n d e m o t i o n s w h i c h f o r m u l a t e d it, a n d t h e
results of s u c h t h i n k i n g a r e often m o s t
strongly i m p r e s s e d u p o n t h e object, a n d m a y
well b e r e a d off b y you as i m p r e s s i o n s of
a c t u a l o c c u r r e n c e s . I n t h e s a m e way,
c l a i r v o y a n t s often find it e x t r e m e l y difficult
to differentiate b e t w e e n s u c h e m o t i o n a l l y
charged thought images and actual astral
beings or c o n d i t i o n s .

A Curious Intuition
T h i s d i s c r i m i n a t i o n will develop as you
c o n t i n u e to p r a c t i c e p s y c h o m e t r y . Y o u will
find t h a t you a r e developing a c u r i o u s
i n t u i t i o n w h i c h e n a b l e s y o u to perceive t h e
s u b t l e differences b e t w e e n t h e i m p r e s s i o n s
d u e to t h o u g h t a n d t h o s e d u e to a c t u a l
physical activity. T h i s s u b t l e p e r c e p t i o n is
s o m e t h i n g well w o r t h cultivating, as its use
c a n b e e x t e n d e d to m a n y o t h e r fields of
experience.
W h e n describing the impressions you are
receiving you
should
always aim
at
p r e s e n t i n g as b a l a n c e d a p i c t u r e as possible.
If you m u s t err, t h e n it is best to err o n t h e
side of brevity r a t h e r t h a n o n t h e side of longwindedness.
A l t h o u g h t h e psychic i m p r e s s i o n s a r e
received in t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s n e s s in a block,
you will find t h a t in p r a c t i c e they e m e r g e
into t h e w a k i n g consciousness at varying
speeds. I n s o m e cases you m a y have t o wait
for q u i t e a long t i m e before a n y i m p r e s s i o n
comes t h r o u g h , a n d s u c h a slow r a t e of
emergency may continue.
W i t h o t h e r objects y o u will find t h a t t h e
i m p r e s s i o n s c o m e p o u r i n g t h r o u g h a t a very
r a p i d r a t e . So d o n ' t b e w o r r i e d if t h e
i m p r e s s i o n s s e e m to ' d r i b b l e ' into y o u r m i n d ,
or if, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e y a r e so r a p i d t h a t
it seems impossible to m a k e a note of t h e m .
A g a i n , t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e p e r s o n a l i t y of
t h e o w n e r of t h e object will very often force
these i m p r e s s i o n s u p o n it in s u c h a w a y t h a t

t h e y form t h e strongest layer of influence

c o n n e c t e d w i t h it, a n d t h e y will therefore be
t h e first to b e sensed by you.
I n c r e a s e of A c c u r a c y
It very often h a p p e n s t h a t t h e p a r t i c u l a r
h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s of t h e o w n e r of t h e article
m a y be sensed by you a n d in s o m e cases this
sensing m a y b e so s t r o n g t h a t you a c t u a l l y
feel t h e p a i n s t h a t a r e felt b y h i m to s u c h a n
extent they seem t o be a c t u a l l y in y o u r o w n
body.
T h i s could b e u n d e s i r a b l e , unless you
deliberately a n d w i t h i n t e n t i o n b r e a k t h e
contact
with
the
object
you
are
p s y c h o m e t r i z i n g . I n a later section we will
suggest to y o u a m e t h o d w h i c h will e n a b l e
you to b r e a k a n y p a r t i c u l a r c o n t a c t a n d also
t o ' t u n e in', as it were, to a n y aspect of t h e
general block of p s y c h i c i m p r e s s i o n s received
from a n y object. T h i s , however, is best d o n e
after you have b e g u n to get s o m e a c t u a l
results from y o u r e x p e r i m e n t s .
At first you m a y find t h a t out of t e n
s t a t e m e n t s you m a y m a k e a b o u t a n y object,
p e r h a p s t w o will b e m o r e or less a c c u r a t e ,
one m a y b e a r r e l a t i o n to t h e a c t u a l state of
t h i n g s , a n d t h e rest m a y b e e i t h e r s o m e w h a t
n e a r or else far from t h e m a r k .
With
practice,
this
proportion
will
gradually
change,
and
as
you
gain
confidence t h e p r o p o r t i o n of ' h i t s ' to ' m i s s e s '
m a y b e sixteen or seventeen o u t of t w e n t y .

W h e n you h a v e arrived at this stage, t h e n

you m a y c o n s i d e n y o u r s e l f t o be q u i t e a good
psychometrist.
Above all t h i n g s , ' t o t h i n e o w n self be
t r u e ' , for it is no p a r t of o u r work a l o n g t h e s e
lines to e n c o u r a g e you to lower y o u r
s t a n d a r d s of t r u t h , n o r d o we desire to
h o o d w i n k you into a n y self-deception.
Record of Experimental Work
K e e p a r e c o r d of y o u r e x p e r i m e n t a l work,
a n d r e c o r d not only t h e successes b u t also t h e
failures. Never b e afraid to a d m i t t h a t you
have failures, b u t use t h e failures as m e a n s
whereby
you
can
discover
the
laws
u n d e r l y i n g your w o r k .
T h e r e a r e psychic tides a n d c u r r e n t s
w h i c h will work for you or against you, t h e r e
a r e psychic tides w i t h i n y o u r o w n i n n e r self
w h i c h m a y work w i t h or a g a i n s t t h e o u t e r
tides a n d influences, a n d t h e r e is also t h a t
i m p o n d e r a b l e factor: t h e influence of y o u r
o w n p e r s o n a l i t y u p o n y o u r p s y c h o m e t r y . As
w e have a l r e a d y said, this p a r t a k e s of t h e
n a t u r e of science and a r t .
L e a r n to observe y o u r o w n r e a c t i o n s to t h e
i m p r e s s i o n s you receive. Y o u will find t h a t t o
s o m e of t h e m you give a w e l c o m e , to o t h e r s
you erect a b a r r i e r . T r y to find o u t w h y this
is; e n d e a v o u r to u n d e r s t a n d y o u r p e r s o n a l
e q u a t i o n , a n d a b o v e all t h i n g s , never
consciously twist or alter w h a t y o u receive
e i t h e r to i m p r e s s o t h e r s or to excuse yourself.

C o n d i t i o n s of I l l n e s s o r D e a t h
N o w we wish to t o u c h u p o n a n o t h e r point.
T h i s is, h o w you s h o u l d p r e s e n t y o u r
'reading'.
It
sometimes
happens
that
c o n d i t i o n s of illness or even d e a t h a r e
strongly felt, a n d h e r e you m u s t b e e x t r e m e l y
careful not to express this i m p r e s s i o n in a
way which might cause the person concerned
t o a u t o - s u g g e s t themselves into t h e idea t h a t
t h e c o n d i t i o n is o n e t h a t c a n n o t b e a l t e r e d or
t h a t d e a t h is inevitable.
W e have h e a r d s o m e very r e p r e h e n s i b l e
statements
made
in
this
way
by
p s y c h o m e t r i s t s a n d w e w o u l d most strongly
u r g e u p o n you t h a t you give out t h e s e
i m p r e s s i o n s in s u c h as w a y as to give
w a r n i n g of difficulties a h e a d , t o g e t h e r with
w h a t e v e r i m p r e s s i o n s you m a y have as t o
h o w these difficulties m a y be s u r m o u n t e d .
R e m e m b e r t h i s : even w h e n you have
a t t a i n e d q u i t e a c o n s i d e r a b l e proficiency in
this work, you a r e still far from being a b l e to
act as Sir O r a c l e . I n t h e first stages you m o s t
certainly a r e not in a n y s u c h position of
infallibility.
W e a r e strongly m o v e d to e m p h a s i z e this
p o i n t b e c a u s e w e have seen h o w h a r m f u l
s u c h s t a t e m e n t s c a n be. F r i e n d s of ours w e r e
told s u c h t h i n g s a n d t h e results in their lives
w e r e d i s a s t r o u s . F o r this r e a s o n we w o u l d
u r g e you to exercise discretion in t h e s e
things.

I m p o r t a n c e of D i s c r e t i o n
H e r e we t o u c h u p o n a n o t h e r t h i n g . W e have
j u s t used t h e w o r d ' d i s c r e t i o n ' .
Many
psychics have a n a s t y h a b i t of discussing
w i t h o t h e r s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y have
received psychically a b o u t o t h e r p e o p l e . T h i s
is i n e x c u s a b l e on a n y c o u n t .
T h e a t t i t u d e of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t s h o u l d
b e t h a t of t h e d o c t o r or lawyer; w h a t e v e r h e
learns t h r o u g h t h e exercise of his p s y c h i c
faculty s h o u l d b e r e g a r d e d as entirely
confidential a n d s h o u l d not be divulged to
a n y o t h e r person.
W e have seen so m u c h t r o u b l e arise
t h r o u g h a failure to observe this rule, t h a t we
w o u l d i m p r e s s it u p o n you w i t h all t h e force
in o u r p o w e r . S u c h malicious or i g n o r a n t
gossip is o n e of t h e r e a s o n s w h y so m a n y
c u l t u r e d a n d intelligent p e o p l e a r e t u r n e d
a w a y from t h e w h o l e subject, a n d t h e s e a r e
j u s t t h e people w h o m we w o u l d wish to
b e c o m e interested.
Selective Working
W h e n you have b e g u n to g a i n s o m e
proficiency in p s y c h o m e t r i z i n g objects in t h e
w a y w e have d e s c r i b e d , t h e n you s h o u l d
begin to e m p l o y w h a t we m a y t e r m a
'selective' m e t h o d of w o r k i n g . So far, you
have b e e n passively receiving w h a t e v e r
impressions a n d pictures entered your mind
as you ' r e a d ' t h e object. N o w you m u s t l e a r n
to develop t h e p o w e r t o direct y o u r p s y c h i c
vision in a n y w a y y o u wish.

Y o u m u s t actively r e a c h out for t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n you desire, instead of passively
receiving w h a t e v e r m a y c o m e a l o n g . S u c h a
p o w e r of selection, once a c q u i r e d , is a
distinct step forward in y o u r d e v e l o p m e n t
a n d gives you a n i n c r e a s i n g c o n t r o l over y o u r
o w n faculty.
T h e r e a r e t w o w a y s in w h i c h this m a y be
d o n e . In t h e first w a y a general i n t e n t i o n is
m a d e b y asking a definite q u e s t i o n a n d this
q u e s t i o n m u s t be p u t in simple a n d pictorial
t e r m s . T h e m o r e pictorial it is, t h e b e t t e r
c h a n c e it h a s of b e i n g a n s w e r e d by t h e
psychic faculty of t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d .
A n a c t u a l e x a m p l e m a y help to illustrate
this point. If we wish to o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n
a l o n g o n e p a r t i c u l a r line c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e
object b e i n g p s y c h o m e t r i z e d , we t a k e t h e
article a n d m a k e t h e u s u a l passive c o n t a c t
w i t h it. As a g e n e r a l rule, t h e r e t h e n b u i l d s
u p in o u r m i n d a w h i r l i n g s p h e r e of greyish
mist, in w h i c h small s t a r r y p o i n t s of light
g l e a m . E a c h point of light is t h e s t a r t i n g
p l a c e of a line of k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g t h e
object a n d t h o s e linked w i t h it.
W e n o w m e n t a l l y ask t h e q u e s t i o n w e have
in m i n d , a n d at o n c e o n e of t h e p o i n t s of light
a p p e a r s to become significant, a n d as w e look at
it, a s t r e a m of i m p r e s s i o n s referring t o t h e
q u e s t i o n asked begins t o p o u r i n t o o u r m i n d .
T h i s is o n e m e t h o d in w h i c h a positive a c t i o n
is b r o u g h t into play.

T h e T r e e of L i f e
T h e second w a y in w h i c h selective c o n t a c t
m a y b e m a d e is by u s i n g a ' K e y S y m b o l ' .
T h i s s y m b o l has b e e n linked w i t h a
p a r t i c u l a r e m o t i o n a l a n d m e n t a l idea. T h u s ,
a key-symbol w h i c h could b e used could be
a n o r a n g e coloured circle w i t h t h e s y m b o l of
t h e p l a n e t M e r c u r y in its c e n t r e . T h i s
p a r t i c u l a r s y m b o l is one of a set of t e n w h i c h
t o g e t h e r form w h a t is called ' T h e T r e e of
Life', a n d this is one of t h e very i m p o r t a n t
g r o u p of s y m b o l s used in a c e r t a i n occult
p h i l o s o p h y k n o w n as t h e Q a b a l a h . F o r
further i n f o r m a t i o n o n this great g r o u p s y m b o l , o u r book entitled Magic and the
Qabalah, p u b l i s h e d by t h e A q u a r i a n Press
m a y be c o n s u l t e d .
T h e s y m b o l of M e r c u r y h a s special
reference
to
all
matters
concerning
mentality:
books,
lecturing,
conveying
i n f o r m a t i o n by a n y m e a n s ( M e r c u r y or
H e r m e s , as t h e G r e e k s called h i m ; w a s t h e
M e s s e n g e r of t h e G o d s ) s u c h as letters,
cables, t e l e g r a m s or p e r s o n a l c o n v e r s a t i o n .
So if it is desired to o b t a i n b y p s y c h o m e t r i c a l
m e a n s s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n as to t h e intellectual
c a l i b r e of t h e w r i t e r of a letter w h i c h is b e i n g
p s y c h o m e t r i z e d , t h e n this s y m b o l w o u l d
serve as a n excellent key-symbol, a n d keep
t h e psychic i m p r e s s i o n s r o u t e d along t h e o n e
line, to t h e exclusion of irrelevant m a t t e r s .
But the key symbol must have been thought out
and linked in the mind with the characteristic to
which it was to be the key. So you w o u l d have to

m a k e y o u r o w n key-symbols, t h o u g h , of
c o u r s e you could use t h e s y m b o l system of
t h e T r e e of Life as y o u r basis.
Colour Symbolism
T h e r e is also t h e q u e s t i o n of colour
s y m b o l i s m . Y o u will find t h a t you will
receive m a n y i m p r e s s i o n s of colour in
c o n n e c t i o n with objects you p s y c h o m e t r i z e ,
a n d in s o m e cases t h e colour will a p p e a r
q u i t e vividly before you. T h e r e is a general
c o d e of colour s y m b o l s , a n d this m a y be
found in s u c h a b o o k as Man, Visible and
Invisible,
b y A n n i e Besant a n d
C.W.
Leadbeater.
H o w e v e r , you will also discover t h a t y o u r
i n n e r self h a s its o w n p a r t i c u l a r m e a n i n g s
w h i c h it a t t a c h e s to various colours, a n d for
you this is m u c h b e t t e r t h a n simply relying
u p o n t h e findings of o t h e r s . So you will have
to w o r k out y o u r o w n scale of colour
s y m b o l i s m , a n d this in itself will be of
considerable
value
to
you
in
your
d e v e l o p m e n t , as you will discover.
Incidentally, some psychometrists regard
s t r o n g v i b r a n t colours as relatively ' l o w ' a n d
' e a r t h l y ' , a n d delicate pastel s h a d e s as being
' h i g h ' a n d ' s p i r i t u a l ' . D o not fall into this
p a r t i c u l a r t r a p . T h e s t r o n g v i b r a n t colours
a r e j u s t as ' h i g h ' as t h e w e a k pastel s h a d e s .
I n t h e s e m a t t e r s , you m u s t use y o u r o w n
r e a s o n a n d not slavishly follow o t h e r s .

Flower Psychometry
T h e r e is a curious form of ' s e n s i n g ' w h i c h is
very often d e m o n s t r a t e d in p u b l i c m e e t i n g s
for p s y c h o m e t r y . It is u s u a l l y called ' F l o w e r
P s y c h o m e t r y ' a n d t h e p r o c e d u r e is as
follows. T h e q u e r e n t b r i n g s a flower to t h e
m e e t i n g , a n d this flower is p s y c h o m e t r i z e d in
t h e usual w a y . Before c o m i n g to t h e m e e t i n g ,
t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d takes t h e flower he has
picked (which is t h e best p r o c e d u r e ) or
b o u g h t (which it not s u c h a good p r o c e d u r e )
a n d h o l d i n g t h e flower h e c o n s i d e r s in his
m i n d a n y p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m w h i c h is
w o r r y i n g h i m , a n d u p o n w h i c h h e desires
advice.
In a great m a n y cases it is this p r o b l e m
w h i c h is picked u p by t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t , a n d
t h e resulting advice m a y c o m e from his o w n
m e n t a l point of view, or be derived from t h e
psychic i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h he receives from
t h e flower. In a n y case, t h e flower h a s
p r o v i d e d a link b e t w e e n t h e q u e r e n t a n d t h e
psychometrist.
Flower Aura
T h e e x p l a n a t i o n w h i c h is given of this
p a r t i c u l a r m e t h o d is t h a t a r o u n d every object
t h e r e is a psychic a t m o s p h e r e or ' a u r a ' as it is
called. In objects g e n e r a l l y this a u r a , w h i c h
carries t h e r e c o r d s , is c o m p l e x , as it h a s b e e n
subjected t o so m a n y influences at various
t i m e s in its history, a n d for this r e a s o n it is
m o r e difficult for t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t to pick
up any particular past.

But t h e a u r a of t h e flower, w h i c h is also a

living t h i n g , is m u c h m o r e of a b l a n k sheet, a
tabula rosa a n d t h e s t r o n g t h o u g h t a n d
e m o t i o n i m p r e s s e d o n it by t h e q u e r e n t will
b e far m o r e easily picked u p .
T h e b u d d i n g p s y c h i c m a y try e x p e r i m e n t s
with floral p s y c h o m e t r y , b u t we w o u l d
strongly i m p r e s s u p o n h i m t h a t he s h o u l d
c o n t i n u e to e x p e r i m e n t w i t h all kinds of
objects, b e a r i n g c o m p l e x p s y c h i c r e c o r d s ,
a n d not r e m a i n c o n t e n t with this e l e m e n t a r y
method.
It is very easy to fall into this t r a p , b u t if
you do, t h e n you will have limited y o u r
p s y c h o m e t r i c p o w e r s c o n s i d e r a b l y , since t h e
use of t h e triggering key-symbols is j u s t as
effective as t h e floral c o n t a c t , a n d c a n yield
m u c h m o r e information.
E x p e r i m e n t s for G r e a t e r P r o f i c i e n c y
T h e m a i n t h i n g to r e m e m b e r is t h a t you
s h o u l d never b e c o n t e n t t o stay at one level.
A l w a y s you s h o u l d b e p r e s s i n g forward to
g r e a t e r proficiency, a n d you s h o u l d never be
afraid to m a k e e x p e r i m e n t s . T h o s e w h i c h
you c a n t h i n k u p for yourself will usually
p r o v e m o r e fruitful t h a n those suggested to
you b y o t h e r s , as t h e y will usually be the
results of s o m e effective t h i n k i n g w h i c h h a s
t a k e n p l a c e in y o u r d e e p e r m i n d .
At t h e s a m e t i m e you s h o u l d b e on t h e
look-out for n e w suggestions for further
e x p e r i m e n t s . Let us give you a n illustration
of w h a t we m e a n . A n u m b e r of years ago, we

attended
a
public
demonstration
of
p s y c h o m e t r y given b y a c e r t a i n C a p t a i n
B l a n d . D u r i n g this d e m o n s t r a t i o n he s h o w e d
us a n interesting e x p e r i m e n t .
I n s t e a d of h o l d i n g a n object in his h a n d in
o r d e r to p s y c h o m e t r i z e it, C a p t a i n B l a n d
asked t h e o w n e r of it to place it o n a t a b l e
s o m e t e n feet a w a y from h i m . H e t h e n
c o n c e n t r a t e d his a t t e n t i o n u p o n it for a
m o m e n t a n d p r o c e e d e d to give a very
evidential r e a d i n g c o n c e r n i n g it.
H e r e a n interesting p o i n t w a s raised, for
there
are
those
who
say
that
the
p s y c h o m e t r i s t r e a d s t h e r e c o r d w h i c h is held
in t h e ' a u r a ' of t h e article, in a similar
fashion to t h e dog w h i c h follows a m a n b y
t h e a c t u a l scent he leaves u p o n t h e g r o u n d
a n d u p o n everything h e t o u c h e s , whilst
o t h e r s m a i n t a i n t h a t t h e object, b e i n g b y its
a c t u a l existence linked w i t h all its associated
r e c o r d s in t h e Universal M i n d a n d t h e m i n d
of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t , t h r o u g h t h e i m a g e s it
calls u p in his m i n d .
T h e foregoing s o u n d s s o m e w h a t involved,
t h o u g h if o n e s u b s t i t u t e s t h e t e r m ' A k a s h i c
R e c o r d ' for ' U n i v e r s a l M i n d ' , it is t h e t h e o r y
h e l d very largely in t h e E a s t . T h e o t h e r
c o n c e p t , w h i c h we call t h e ' B l o o d h o u n d
t h e o r y ' is, p e r h a p s m o r e easily a c c e p t e d b y
the average person t h a n the metaphysical
oriental idea. M a y w e suggest t h a t b o t h
views a r e correct, b u t e a c h needs t h e o t h e r to
r o u n d it o u t fully.
At o n e t i m e w e d i d a good deal of

e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n a l o n g this line, a n d t h e idea

w h i c h w e have tentatively p u t forward is
really b a s e d u p o n o u r findings in these
experiments.
Charged Objects
N o w we c o m e to a m o r e r e c o n d i t e aspect of
o u r subject. W h e n w e gave a n i m a g i n a t i v e
d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e average p s y c h o m e t r y
r e a d i n g , we i n c l u d e d in it a r i n g w h i c h h a d
o n c e b e e n in ecclesiastical h a n d s , a n d we did
this for a definite r e a s o n .
I n a n earlier p a r t of this b o o k w e referred
to t h r e e kinds of i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h it w a s
possible to receive, b u t later we referred to
only t w o of these. O n e w a s t h e r e c o r d of t h e
article
itself,
its
basic
nature
and
manufacture. T h e n came the gathered
m e m o r i e s w h i c h it h a d a c q u i r e d in its use b y
h u m a n beings u n d e r differing c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
There
is, however,
another
set of
i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h a n object m a y c a r r y , a n d
these a r e i m p r e s s i o n s t h a t have b e e n
deliberately i m p o s e d u p o n t h e object by t h e
will of s o m e being, w h e t h e r s u c h a b e i n g w a s
h u m a n , s u b - h u m a n or s u p e r - h u m a n .
V e r y often t h e i m p r e s s i o n s w h i c h have
b e e n m a d e u p o n t h e object p a r t a k e of t h e
qualities of all t h r e e g r a d e s of intelligence.
H e r e , of course, we a r e to s o m e extent
t o u c h i n g u p o n s o m e a s p e c t s of b e i n g w h i c h
a r e r e g a r d e d by m a n y ' m o d e r n s ' as b e i n g
entirely fictional.
Angels a n d fairies a r e r e l e g a t e d to t h e

phantasies
of c h i l d h o o d ,
and
learned
a n t h r o p o l i g i s t s spin wonderful theories to
e x p l a i n t h e records in every p a r t of t h e w o r l d
w h i c h a p p e a r to i n d i c a t e t h a t forms of life
o t h e r t h a n those u s i n g m a t e r i a l bodies h a v e
b e e n seen by m a n y p e o p l e u n d e r m a n y
different c o n d i t i o n s .
However,* b e c a u s e of o u r o w n p e r s o n a l
e x p e r i e n c e in this field, we feel p r e t t y s u r e
t h a t t h e r e a r e good r e a s o n s for t h e
c o n t i n u i n g belief in t h e existence of s u c h
intelligences.
Borders of the Magical
H e r e , we a r e s t e p p i n g u p o n t h e b o r d e r s of
t h e m a g i c a l . A n y w a y , w e a r e going to place
before you c e r t a i n ideas a n d suggest c e r t a i n
e x p e r i m e n t s w h i c h m a y b e of interest t o
those of you w h o wish t o go b e y o n d t h e m e r e
giving of p s y c h o m e t r i c a l ' r e a d i n g s ' .
P e r h a p s this is t h e p o i n t w h e r e we s h o u l d
give t h e details of a n i m p o r t a n t aspect of
y o u r d e v e l o p m e n t . If you were c o n c e r n e d
w i t h c e r t a i n c h e m i c a l work, you w o u l d have
learnt a little trick w h i c h often saves t h e
c h e m i s t q u i t e a lot of t r o u b l e . H e m a y w a n t
to k n o w w h a t is in a given bottle or flask,
from w h i c h t h e label h a d b e e n r e m o v e d , a n d ,
of course, if identification by sight is not
possible, t h e n a t u r a l p r o c e d u r e is to o p e n t h e
bottle a n d see w h a t it smells like inside.
H e r e t h e r e is a possibility of d a n g e r , for
t h e s u b s t a n c e m a y be highly toxic a n d highly
volatile, so t h a t before you c a n get it out of

y o u r lungs y o u m a y h a v e b e e n affected by it.

T h e trick is first t o t a k e a good d e e p b r e a t h
a n d t h e n , h o l d i n g t h a t b r e a t h in t h e lungs,
t a k e a further sniff at t h e c o n t e n t s of t h e
bottle.
Y o u r lungs, b e i n g filled w i t h air d o not
t a k e in a n y q u a n t i t y of t h e gas w h i c h is given
off b y w h a t e v e r s u b s t a n c e is b e i n g tested, b u t
sufficient reaches t h e olfactory nerves for you
to identify it. If it is s o m e t h i n g very i r r i t a t i n g
or d a n g e r o u s , t h e lungs c a n i m m e d i a t e l y b e
e m p t i e d , a n d t h e released air sweeps o u t
w i t h it t h e very small t r a c e of t h e lethal
e l e m e n t w h i c h m a y b e in t h e nose. I n t h e
p a s t we have found this little trick h a s saved
us q u i t e a lot of t r o u b l e .
Receptive Attitude
W e have m e n t i o n e d it h e r e b e c a u s e y o u r
a p p r o a c h to w h a t w e p r o p o s e to call ' c h a r g e d
o b j e c t s ' s h o u l d r e s e m b l e s u c h a m e t h o d of
d e a l i n g w i t h w h a t e v e r force you m a y c o n t a c t
in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h s u c h articles, of w h i c h , for
i n s t a n c e , t h e ring w h i c h we m e n t i o n e d in o u r
' p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g ' is one.
It is necessary t h a t you a p p r o a c h s u c h
objects w i t h t h e correct a t t i t u d e of m i n d . T h i s
s h o u l d be a positive i n t e n t i o n t o r e a d t h e
r e c o r d of t h e object. T h e n , following this
triggering-off action, t h e m i n d s h o u l d b e kept
receptive, b u t still positive.
T h i s a t t i t u d e h a s b e e n d e s c r i b e d by a
R o m a n C a t h o l i c writer, t h e late M o n s i g n o r
R . H . B e n s o n as c o m p a r a b l e t o t h e flight of a

seagull
hovering
practically
motionless
a g a i n s t a s t r o n g gale. W e k n o w t h a t in spite
of its a p p a r e n t i m m o b i l i t y , t h e gull is w o r k i n g
very h a r d i n d e e d to stay in t h e o n e p l a c e .
So t h e receptive a t t i t u d e of w h i c h we have
s p o k e n s h o u l d also be t h e 'receptive p o i n t ' of
a s t r o n g m e n t a l i n t e n t i o n . T h i s a t t i t u d e of
m i n d is not a c q u i r e d at t h e first a t t e m p t ,
a n d it is for this r e a s o n t h a t we have reserved
o u r t r e a t m e n t of t h e s e c h a r g e d objects until
we have given you t h e m o r e simple a n d easily
acquired techniques.
Misuse of 'Mystical'
I n c i d e n t a l l y , in case a n y of o u r r e a d e r s a r e
led by o u r reference to R . H . B e n s o n to t h i n k
t h a t h e b e c a m e a convert to psychic
t e a c h i n g s , we m a y say t h a t t h e illustration
w a s used by h i m in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a b o o k of
stories o n mysticism, a n d this h a s very little
to d o w i t h psychic p h e n o m e n a .
It is t r u e t h a t c e r t a i n psychic p h e n o m e n a
very often a p p e a r in t h e lives of t h e mystics,
b u t t h e y a r e r e g a r d e d as h i n d r a n c e s , not
helps to t h e mystical life. T h i s , b y t h e w a y , is
t r u e also of B u d d h i s m a n d s o m e o t h e r
O r i e n t a l religions. T h e y all strongly o p p o s e
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e psychic p o w e r s ,
w h i c h , t h e y say, a r e like toys w h i c h lure a
p e r s o n a w a y from t h e spiritual p a t h , a n d at
best a r e t i m e - w a s t e r s .
T h e w o r d ' m y s t i c a l ' is greatly m i s u s e d in
these m o d e r n t i m e s , a n d m a d e to refer to
psychic a n d occult p h e n o m e n a . At s o m e d a t e

in t h e future we h o p e to b e a b l e to discuss t h e
relative values, as we see them, of p s y c h i s m ,
o c c u l t i s m a n d m y s t i c i s m , in a n o t h e r book.
Talismans and Charms
E x a m p l e s of ' c h a r g e d o b j e c t s ' a r e t a l i s m a n s
a n d c h a r m s , t h e virtues of w h i c h a r e extolled
in
the
various
psychic
and
occult
p u b l i c a t i o n s . S o m e of these a r e sold o n t h e
well-known
dictum
of
the
American
s h o w m a n , B a r n u m , ' T h e r e ' s o n e b o r n every
m i n u t e ' , b u t o t h e r s have b e e n carefully m a d e
by p e o p l e w h o have a good w o r k i n g
k n o w l e d g e of t h e principles of m a g i c .
T h e first class of c h a r g e d objects works
p r i m a r i l y by a u t o - s u g g e s t i o n o n t h e p a r t of
t h e i r possessors, b u t t h e second class really
h a s p o w e r a p a r t from s u c h a u t o - s u g g e s t i o n ,
a n d it is t h e objects in this second class w h i c h
should be approached with caution.
If it is k n o w n t h a t one h a s , or is
developing, psychic p o w e r s , t h e offering of
s u c h a n object for a ' r e a d i n g ' is c o m m o n
p r a c t i c e , a n d it is as well to t a k e d u e
p r e c a u t i o n s . After
all, you
have
not
a t t e m p t e d t a d e v e l o p p s y c h o m e t r i c p o w e r s in
o r d e r to b e ' b u t c h e r e d to p r o v i d e a psychic
h o l i d a y ' , if we m a y s o m e w h a t t r a n s p o s e a
saying
regarding
the
ancient
Roman
gladiators.
W e c o m e n o w to t h e second class of
'charged objects' a n d these are those which
have b e e n blessed or c o n s e c r a t e d by t h e
priests of s o m e C h r i s t i a n a n d n o n - C h r i s t i a n

bodies. O f s u c h w a s t h e ring w h i c h o u r
hypothetical
querent
put
up
for
a
p s y c h o m e t r i c r e a d i n g . H e r e t h e influence
r a d i a t i n g from t h e object is keyed (if t h e
blessing or c o n s e c r a t i o n h a s b e e n p r o p e r l y
c a r r i e d out, a n d not in t h e perfunctory
m a n n e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of s o m e ecclesiastics)
to a h i g h m o r a l a n d ethical level, a n d t h e
effect of it c a n n o t b u t b e helpful.
Even h e r e , however, it is advisable to
a p p r o a c h s u c h a n object with t h e s a m e
m e n t a l a t t i t u d e as t h a t used in t h e case of t h e
o t h e r t y p e of subject.
A n Exercise in Charging Objects
N o w we m a y suggest t h a t you c a r r y out
certain
experiments
of y o u r
own
in
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h these ' c h a r g e d objects'. T h i s
will
require
the
co-operation
of
a
s y m p a t h e t i c friend, a n d if this friend h a s a
good p o w e r of visualization, so m u c h t h e
better.
T h e exercise is c a r r i e d out in t h e following
w a y : five pieces of w o o d , say a b o u t t h r e e
inches long a n d a n i n c h wide (thickness
i m m a t e r i a l ) a r e t a k e n a n d m a r k e d either by
n u m b e r s or letters, so t h a t t h e y c a n b e
d i s t i n g u i s h e d from e a c h other. T h e o n e w h o
is to ' c h a r g e ' t h e m t h e n e n t e r s in a n o t e b o o k
exactly w h a t s t r o n g e m o t i o n he wishes t o
i m p r e s s u p o n e a c h one. As this is best d o n e
by visual i m a g e s , he s h o u l d also e n t e r in t h e
n o t e b o o k t h e i m a g e s he p r o p o s e s to use in
e a c h case.

W e will s u p p o s e t h a t t h e object m a r k e d
' A ' is to be c h a r g e d w i t h t h e e m o t i o n of
anger. H e m a y use a n y i m a g e w h i c h h e
t h i n k s gives a good p i c t u r e of this e m o t i o n ,
a n d , h o l d i n g t h e object b e t w e e n his h a n d s ,
he b u i l d s u p t h e p i c t u r e as strongly as
possible, at t h e s a m e t i m e e n d e a v o u r i n g to
feel t h e e m o t i o n w h i c h it p o r t r a y s .
H a v i n g d o n e t h i s , h e w r a p s t h e object in a
piece of silk a n d t u r n s his a t t e n t i o n to t h e
next object. It is advisable, b y t h e way, t o
allow a p e r i o d of s o m e fifteen m i n u t e s or so
for h i m to clear t h e e m o t i o n a l bias from his
m i n d , o t h e r w i s e t h e influences o n t h e next
object will be s o m e w h a t m i x e d .
T h i s w o r k s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d o n until all
five objects have b e e n c h a r g e d . O f course,
d u r i n g this work you s h o u l d not have b e e n in
t h e s a m e r o o m , n e i t h e r s h o u l d you have b e e n
w i t h i n e a r s h o t of w h a t w a s going on. F o r
preference it w o u l d be best for you t o be o u t
of t h e house a l t o g e t h e r .
'Reading' the Objects
N o w t h e objects a r e h a n d e d to you, or you
t a k e t h e m u p o n e b y o n e yourself, u n w r a p
t h e m only as you d o so, a n d t h e n give y o u r
' r e a d i n g ' , e n d e a v o u r i n g to d e s c r i b e t h e
general e m o t i o n a l effect, t o g e t h e r w i t h a n y
pictures which may come up.
H a v i n g dealt w i t h t h e first article, you p a s s
o n t o t h e second, u n w r a p it a n d r e p e a t t h e
process, a n d so on w i t h t h e m all. It is as well
if, after e a c h r e a d i n g , y o u r u b y o u r h a n d s

vigorously t o g e t h e r as t h o u g h r u b b i n g off
dust. Some psychometrists wash their hands
after e a c h r e a d i n g , b u t this is really
u n n e c e s s a r y , a n d , i n d e e d , is i m p o s s i b l e if
you a r e giving a p u b l i c d e m o n s t r a t i o n .
T h e r e a d i n g s w h i c h w e r e given for e a c h
object a r e n o w c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e e n t r y
m a d e in t h e n o t e b o o k by t h e o n e w h o
' c h a r g e d ' t h e m , a n d successes a n d failures
noted down.
T h i s is a very good exercise, for w h e n you
d o b e g i n to be a b l e to sense t h e s e different
e m o t i o n s in this w a y , you a r e i n c r e a s i n g y o u r
ability to select j u s t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r line
w h i c h you wish to follow t h r o u g h , from o u t
of t h e m a s s of i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h you receive
from a n y article.
O n c e you a r e a b l e t o pick u p t h e s e
influences in this w a y , you c a n use t h e
faculty t o sense t h e c o n d i t i o n s of a n y r o o m or
h o u s e you m a y enter, a n d this m a y be helpful
to you at a later d a t e .
Person-Psychometry
Finally, it is also possible for you to
p s y c h o m e t r i z e a person, by d i r e c t i n g y o u r
intention towards him a n d then picking up
t h e images a n d sensings w h i c h c o m e into
consciousness. H e r e is a big field for
experimentation.
Incidentally, you will find in c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h this ' p e r s o n - p s y c h o m e t r y ' t h a t m o s t
p e o p l e c a r r y a r o u n d in t h e i r a u r a q u i t e a few
definite t h o u g h t - f o r m s , a n d in s o m e cases

these forms have c o n s i d e r a b l e e m o t i o n a l

e n e r g y locked u p in t h e m . S o m e m a y be t h e
result of intensive visualization; t h e y m a y
have b e e n r e a d i n g a g r i p p i n g a n d exciting
novel, a n d t h e c h a r a c t e r s in t h e story have
b e e n so clearly visualized t h a t t h e y exist in
t h e a u r a as well-defined forms w h i c h m a y
easily b e picked u p b y t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t .
A n o t h e r interesting p h e n o m e n o n m a y also
be e x p e r i e n c e d in this p s y c h o m e t r i z i n g of
p e r s o n s . A p a r t from i m a g i n a r y c h a r a c t e r s
from novels one s o m e t i m e s sees o t h e r forms,
w h i c h w h e n d e s c r i b e d b y us a r e usually not
recognized by t h e p e r s o n c o n c e r n e d . If,
however, t h e form is sufficiently striking in
a p p e a r a n c e , t h e p e r s o n m a y say, ' t h a t ' s
n o t h i n g to d o w i t h m e , b u t it is a very good
d e s c r i p t i o n of a m a n w h o called o n us this
week, a n d c a u s e d a bit of a r o w ! '
T h e key is in t h e latter p a r t of t h a t r e m a r k .
T h e s t r o n g e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n s a r o u s e d have
c a u s e d t h e i m a g e of t h e one c o n c e r n e d to be
strongly i m p r i n t e d o n t h e a u r a , a n d so b e
easily
seen
and
described
by
the
psychometrist.
W e have, o n
occasion,
amused
ourselves
by
describing
such
' i m p r i n t s ' , as we call t h e m , to s o m e o n e
w h o m we h a d j u s t m e t , a n d c o n c e r n i n g
w h o m we k n e w n o t h i n g at all. T h e results
were often striking.
I n a later piece of w r i t i n g d e a l i n g w i t h t h e
subject of ' r e a d i n g t h e a u r a ' , w e h o p e to go
m o r e fully into this a n d o t h e r a s p e c t s of w h a t
we have called ' p e r s o n a l i t y - p s y c h o m e t r y ' .

Diagnostic Psychometry
T h e r e is a n o t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g a p p l i c a t i o n of
p s y c h o m e t r y . T h i s is w h a t we m a y call
' d i a g n o s t i c p s y c h o m e t r y . It is a n occult
t e a c h i n g t h a t disease in t h e physical b o d y
originates in t h e s u b t l e ' e t h e r i c d o u b l e
w h i c h is t h e b a c k g r o u n d to t h e physical
b o d y , a n d u p o n w h i c h t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y is
c o n t i n u a l l y being built u p a n d b r o k e n d o w n ,
so t h a t we d o not possess t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l
b o d y t h a t we h a d say five years ago. ( S o m e
m e d i c a l a u t h o r i t i e s say t w o y e a r s see a
c o m p l e t e e x c h a n g e of p h y s i c a l m a t t e r in t h e
body.)
So, a c c o r d i n g to this occult t e a c h i n g , t h e
etheric b o d y is t h e real persisting b o d y , w h i c h
we keep d u r i n g o u r e n t i r e life, a n d it is in this
b o d y t h a t t h e first s y m p t o m s of disease a r e to
be found, long before a n y p u r e l y physical
s y m p t o m s a r e felt or signs seen w h i c h c a n
provide m a t e r i a l for diagnosis b y t h e d o c t o r .
It is d u r i n g this ' p r e - m a t t e r p h a s e t h a t
disease m a y best be d e a l t w i t h b y t h e m o r e
s u b t l e m e t h o d s of h o m o e o p a t h i c m e d i c i n e
a n d so-called ' s p i r i t u a l h e a l i n g , t h o u g h , of
course,
these m e t h o d s
can
be
quite
successfully a p p l i e d even w h e n t h e disease
h a s g a i n e d a s t r o n g hold o n t h e a c t u a l
m a t e r i a l body.
5

Physical Contact Unnecessary

I n this field of p s y c h o m e t r y great c a r e is
r e q u i r e d , for t h e r e a r e m a n y people w h o c a n
b e adversely affected b y s u c h a diagnosis

b e c a u s e of a u t o - s u g g e s t i o n o n t h e i r p a r t , a n d
this c a n a n d h a s led to t r a g e d i e s in t h e p a s t .
If you s h o u l d d e c i d e t o follow u p this line
of work, it w o u l d help you g r e a t l y if you
followed t h e e x a m p l e of a friend of m i n e w h o
took a t w o - y e a r c o u r s e in a n a t o m y a n d
physiology before c o m m e n c i n g .
I n t h e first stages of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of
this p h a s e of p s y c h o m e t r y y o u should move
y o u r h a n d over t h e subject's b o d y , k e e p i n g at
least t h r e e inches a w a y from a c t u a l physical
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p e r s o n . It is never necessary in
this d i a g n o s t i c w o r k to m a k e a n y physical
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e b o d y of t h e p e r s o n
c o n c e r n e d . If you b r e a k this rule, t h e n you
align yourself w i t h t h o s e m a l p r a c t i t i o n e r s
w h o s e a i m s a r e sexual, not psychic, a n d you
will b u i l d u p u n t o l d t r o u b l e for yourself o n
all levels.
F o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n , if you ever d o this
kind of work, always have a t h i r d p e r s o n
p r e s e n t d u r i n g a n y interview. W e have
referred to this form of p s y c h o m e t r y , since it
is a very i n t e r e s t i n g p h a s e of t h e work, b u t
p e r s o n a l l y s p e a k i n g , w e w o u l d not advise
you to t a k e it u p o n a n y large scale.
A n o t h e r interesting p h a s e of t h e work is
t h a t of d i s t i n g u i s h i n g ' f a k e ' j e w e l s from t h e
real variety, fake E g y p t i a n a n t i q u e s m a d e in
B i r m i n g h a m from t h e real articles, a n d fake
p e r i o d furniture a n d a r t pieces from t h o s e
that are genuine. Those who are interested
c a n devise q u i t e a n u m b e r of e x p e r i m e n t s in
this field.

CHAPTER FIVE

POSTSCRIPT

T h e w r i t i n g of this book h a s b e e n for us a

l a b o u r of love. Q u i t e a p a r t from a n y
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s of royalties, we have derived
great satisfaction in p u t t i n g t o g e t h e r s o m e of
t h e k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g this wonderful
faculty w h i c h w e h a v e g a i n e d t h r o u g h s o m e
fifty-three years of p r a c t i c a l experience in t h e
field.
T h e r e a r e few books o n t h e subject, a n d
what there are seem mostly to be written
from a s e c t a r i a n , religious point of view. W e
have t r i e d in this book t o avoid a n y s u c h
a p p r o a c h , since w e firmly believe, a s we have
s u g g e s t e d in t h e b o d y of t h e book, t h a t these
psychic faculties a r e in themselves in t h e
s a m e c a t e g o r y as o u r o t h e r p h y s i c a l p l a n e
senses, a n d do not d e p e n d u p o n o u r m o r a l or
ethical outlook.
At t h e s a m e t i m e , of course, it will have
b e c o m e evident t o those w h o have r e a d so
far, t h a t t h e r e is a definite s t a n d a r d w h i c h
m u s t b e m a i n t a i n e d by t h e w o u l d - b e
psychometrist.
T h i s does not m e a n t h a t a p s y c h o m e t r i s t
m u s t b e l o n g to a n y definite religious b o d y ,
b u t it does m e a n t h a t if h e is t o get t h e full
value o u t of his work, h e m u s t b e p r e p a r e d to
discipline himself.
T h e Bible says, ' g r e a t e r is he t h a t
c o n t r o l l e t h himself t h a n h e t h a t t a k e t h a city

by a r m s ' . T h i s self-control is o n e of t h e
greatest virtues of t h e p s y c h o m e t r i s t , a n d
m u s t , if it is t o be really effective, e x t e n d over
a w i d e a r e a of his o w n p e r s o n a l self, a n d
b e c o m e a powerful factor in his e v e r y d a y life.
H a v i n g m o r e c o n t r o l over himself, t h e
p s y c h o m e t r i s t finds t h a t he is b e g i n n i n g to
have m o r e p o w e r over o t h e r s , a n d at o n c e
c e r t a i n ethical c o n s i d e r a t i o n s c o m e into play.
R u l e s of C o n d u c t
Since he finds himself able to exert p o w e r
over o t h e r s a r o u n d h i m , h e is n o w faced w i t h
t h e q u e s t i o n , w h a t k i n d of influence a r e you
going to exert o n o t h e r s , a n d b y w h a t
a u t h o r i t y d o you use this influence? T h e r e is
a saying t h a t p o w e r c o r r u p t s , a n d certainly
in this
field
of psychic activity
the
t e m p t a t i o n s of p o w e r arise, a n d t h e m o r e
successful in his w o r k t h e psychic b e c o m e s ,
t h e g r e a t e r is t h e t e m p t a t i o n to m i s u s e his
p o w e r over o t h e r s .
All t h e discipline w h i c h he h a s i m p o s e d
u p o n himself so far is a n e m o t i o n a l a n d
m e n t a l control, a n d it is this discipline w h i c h
gives h i m his p o w e r . But h o w shall t h a t
p o w e r b e e m p l o y e d , w h a t rules shall he
follow, a n d w h a t code of c o n d u c t shall he
a p p l y to himself? All t h e s e a r e q u e s t i o n s
w h i c h he m u s t ask himself before he goes a n y
further in his work.
W e have carefully avoided a n y s e c t a r i a n ,
religious a p p r o a c h to this p u r e l y n a t u r a l
faculty, b u t now w e a r e c o m p e l l e d to e n t e r
t h e field of religion, for t h e exercise of t h e s e

p o w e r s , as of every p o w e r we possess, is in
essence a s p i r i t u a l t h i n g . T h e r e c a n be no
d i c h o t o m y ; no splitting of life into ' s p i r i t u a l '
a n d ' m a t e r i a l ' , for all existence is in t h e last
resort a spiritual t h i n g .
T e a c h i n g s of R e l i g i o n
So w e m a y look for s o m e code of c o n d u c t ,
s o m e rules to follow in t h e t e a c h i n g s of
religion. T h i s is, of course, t h e age of
iconoclasm, t h e b r e a k i n g d o w n of all old
e s t a b l i s h e d images a n d , of course, t h e
e n t h r o n e m e n t of n e w i m a g e s , for m a n m u s t
have some i m a g e s , s o m e rules. T h e old codes
a r e therefore o u t of favour, b u t we a r e going
to suggest t h a t t h e y m a y yet r e t u r n to p o w e r .
In t h e early d a y s of t h e R u s s i a n R e v o l u t i o n
t h e idea of permissiveness w h i c h seems to be
t h e keynote of t o d a y w a s e x t e n d e d t o t h e
whole a r e a of sexual ethics, a n d t h e 'free love'
w h i c h is b e i n g so fervently a d v o c a t e d b y
m a n y people t o d a y w a s allowed to flourish.
However, t h e resulting misery a n d t h e
social d i s r u p t i o n c o n s e q u e n t u p o n
the
a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e free love ethic w a s such
that
the Russian
rulers revoked
this
permissiveness a n d m o v e d b a c k t o w a r d s t h e
very i m a g e w h i c h t h e y h a d in t h e i r h a s t e cast
down.
The Ten Commandments
W e w o u l d suggest, therefore, t h a t t h e code of
c o n d u c t k n o w n as t h e T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s
is a useful one for a n y o n e w h o is using t h e s e
e x t e n d e d p o w e r s of t h e self. T h e s u m m a r y of

t h e law, as given by J e s u s , is a positive

affirmation of this s a m e c o d e , b u t in t h e
p r e s e n t state of s e m a n t i c c h a o s , w h e n t h e
m e a n i n g s of w o r d s s e e m to be in d o u b t ,
p e r h a p s t h e definite a n d b l u n t s t a t e m e n t s of
t h e old M o s a i c c o d e m a y be m o r e helpful.
O t h e r religions have t h e i r o w n ethical
codes, a n d s u c h c a n b e of value to t h e
developing psychic. F o r ourselves, we long
a g o took t h e s t a n d a r d s laid d o w n by t h e
M a s t e r J e s u s as o u r code of c o n d u c t , a n d
t h o u g h o n m a n y occasions we m u s t o w n to
h a v i n g t r a n s g r e s s e d t h a t code, yet it r e m a i n s
as a g u i d i n g line in t h e difficulties of life, a n d
p a r t i c u l a r l y in t h e difficulties w h i c h arise in
the exercise of t h e s e s u p e r n o r m a l p o w e r s of
the mind.
O u r final w o r d t o o u r r e a d e r s is, a d o p t a
s t a n d a r d , i m p o s e u p o n yourself a s y s t e m of
self-discipline a n d t h e n go forward w i t h t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t of this power. So will it b r i n g t o
you, as it h a s b r o u g h t to us over t h e years,
h a p p i n e s s a n d i n c r e a s e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s of
serving y o u r fellow m a n .
F o r in t h e e n d , t h e sole r e a s o n for a n y
intensive cultivation of this or a n y o t h e r
faculty is, in t h e w o r d s of t h e n e o p h y t e w h o
s t a n d s before t h e d o o r of t h e L o d g e of t h e
M y s t e r i e s , 'I desire to k n o w , in o r d e r to
serve', a n d t h a t service is t o G o d a n d his
fellow m e n , a n d b r i n g s s o m e glimpse of t h a t
t r u e p e a c e a n d freedom w h i c h c o m e from
O n e w h o said, I a m a m o n g s t you as o n e w h o
serves'. For i n d e e d a s D a n t e said, long a g o ,
' I n H i s Will is o u r p e a c e ' .
C