Clf-Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by TQ Dumont 1913

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TheArtandScienceofPersonalMagnetism
byTheronQ.Dumont
.CONTENTS
ChapterI:PersonalMagnetism .......................................................................................... 3
ChapterII:MentalandPhysicalPoles ................................................................................ 7
ChapterIII:TheMentalPhase .......................................................................................... 11
ChapterIV:ThePhysicalPhase......................................................................................... 15
ChapterV:PhysicalMagnetism ........................................................................................ 19
ChapterVI:GeneratingNerveForce ................................................................................ 23
ChapterVII:DistributingNerveForce .............................................................................. 28
ChapterVIII:NerveForceExercises.................................................................................. 32
ChapterIX:ProjectingNerveForce .................................................................................. 36
ChapterX:MentalRadiation ............................................................................................ 40
ChapterXI:MentalAttitudes ............................................................................................ 45
ChapterXII:TheMentalAtmosphere ............................................................................... 49
ChapterXIII:MagneticCurrents ....................................................................................... 53
ChapterXIV:TheDirectFlash ........................................................................................... 57
ChapterXV:ExercisesintheDirectFlash ......................................................................... 61
ChapterXVI:ThePositiveAura ......................................................................................... 65
ChapterXVII:TheDirectCommand.................................................................................. 69
ChapterXVIII:TheMagneticDuel..................................................................................... 73
ChapterXIX:CorporealMagnetism .................................................................................. 77
ChapterXX:MagneticSelfDefense.................................................................................. 81
THEARTANDSCIENCEOFPERSONALMAGNETISMBYTQDUMONT
ChapterI:
PersonalMagnetism
Itisastrangeandalmostamusingfactthatthereshouldbeatthesametime,onthe
partofthegeneralpublic,suchageneralacceptanceoftheexistenceofpersonal
magnetism,ontheonehand,andsuchanignoranceofthenatureofthiswonderful
force,ontheotherhand.Inshort,whileeveryonebelievesintheexistenceofpersonal
magnetism,scarcelyanyonepossessesknowledgeoftherealnatureofthesame,much
lessaworkingknowledgeofitsprinciplesofapplication.
Abeliefintheexistenceofapersonalpower,influence,oratmosphere,onthepartof
certainindividuals,whichenablesthepossessortoattract,influence,dominateor
controlothers,hasbeenheldbytheracefromtheearliestdaysofwrittenhistory.Many
oftheoldestwritingsoftheracecontainreferencestothestrange,mysteriouspower
possessedbycertainindividuals,whichenabledthemtoattractorinfluenceothers.And,
followingthecourseofwrittenhumanhistoryalongtheages,wemayperceivea
constantreferencetothisstrangepoweroftheindividual,sogenerallyacknowledged
andatthesametime,solittleunderstood.Comingdowntothepresentage,anagein
whichgreatattentionhasbeendevotedtothestudyofpsychologyandpsychicsubjects
ingeneral,wefindthatwhiletheoldbeliefinpersonalmagnetismhasbeen
strengthened,thereexists,atthesametime,verylittlegeneralknowledgeamongthe
publicregardingtherealnatureoftheforceorthebestmeansofusingandemployingit.
Butthislackofknowledgejustalludedtooisconfinedtothegeneralpublic.Inallages
therehavebeenafewadvancedindividualswhohavethoroughlyunderstoodand
employedtheforceofpersonalinfluence.Notonlyhavetheoccultstudentsofthepast
possessedthisknowledge,andhavepasseditontotheirsuccessors,butmanyofthe
greatestmenofhistoryhaveacquiredathoroughknowledgelikewise,andhave
employeditinadvancingtheirowninterests.Insomecases,individualsofthislast
mentionedclasshavereceiveddirectinstructionfromoccultteachers,butinmanycases
theyhavestumbledacrosstheexistenceofthepowerwithinthemselves,andthen
advancedintheirknowledgeofthesubjectbycarefulinvestigationandstudy,
accompaniedbyconstantexperimentation.Manyofthem,intheirwritingsorsayings,
havetestifiedtotheirknowledgeandusofthismostwonderfulpower.Itisdifficulteven
tocorrectlydefinethetermpersonalmagnetism,solittleareitsprinciplesunderstood
bythemassesofthepeople.Thedictionariesgiveusbutlittlehelpinthematter,so
vaguearetheirsocalleddefinitions.Perhapsthebestdefinitionisthefollowing:the
strong,peculiar,butlittleunderstoodpower,force,orinfluence,exertedbycertain
individuals,invaryingdegrees,bythemeansofwhichotherpersonsareattractedto,
controlledby,dominated,orinfluencedbytheindividualpossessingthepower;aform
ofmentalinfluenceexertedbycertainindividualsoverthosewithwhomtheycomein
contact.
TheprincipalobjectionthatI,personally,havetotheaboveotherwisefairlygood
definition,isitimpliesthatonlycertainindividualspossesspersonalmagnetism,the
implicationbeingthattheremainderoftheracearedevoidofit.This,inmyopinion,isa
sadmistake.Thetruthis,eachandeveryindividualisinpossessionofacertaindegree
ofpersonalmagnetism;thateachpersonmayincreasethedegreeandstrengthenthe
powerbyknowledgeandpractice.
Eventhemostunmagneticpersonpossessespersonalmagnetism,perhapseventoa
considerabledegree,butisgenerallysoignorantofthenatureoftheforceofthemeans
ofitsemployment,thatheorsheactuallyrepelsotherpersonsinsteadofattracting
them.For,donotfailtonotethisfact,personalmagnetism,likematerialmagnetism,
mayrepelaswellasattractithasitspositiveaswellasitsnegativeside.Manyvery
repellentpersonsarereallymanifestingahighdegreeofpersonalmagnetismina
negativeform,andaredrivingawaypersonsfromtheminthesamemannerthatothers
attractpersonstothemitisallamatteroftheuseofthepower.
Thefactisthateverypersongeneratesandthrowsoffacertaindegree(varyingamong
differentindividuals)ofpersonalmagnetism,whichaffectsthemindsofotherpersons
comingwithinthefieldofitsinfluence.Notonlydoeseachpersonemanateandproject
acertainamountordegreeofpersonalmagnetism,additionally,eachpersonisalso
constantlysurroundedbyafieldofpersonalmagneticinfluenceapersonal
atmosphere,sotospeak.Thispersonalatmosphereaffectstoagreaterorlesserdegree
otherpersonscomingwithinitsfieldofinfluence.
Thispersonalatmospherevariesgreatlyindegreeofstrength,extentandgeneral
character,amongdifferentindividuals.Theaveragepersonhasbutaweakpersonal
atmosphere,whichextendsbutashortdistanceonallsidesofhim,whilethestrong
charactersoftheracearesurroundedbyawidelyspreadpersonalatmosphereofgreat,
power,especiallywhentheyarearousedbyanystrongemotion,feelingordesire.The
personalatmosphereofthosestrongindividuals,whoaregenerallyrecognizedas
leadersoftherace,usuallyextendsgreatdistancesfromtheperson,andisfairly
saturatedwithstrongdynamicmagnetism,whichimpressesitselfstronglyuponthose
comingwithintheirfieldofinfluence.
Buteventheweakerindividualsoftherace,orusingpersonalmagnetismunconsciously,
exertatleastsomedegreeofinfluenceuponthosearoundthem.Itrequiresbuta
momentsthoughttorecognizethatsomepersonsemanateanatmosphereofgood
cheer,brightness,andhappiness,whichaffectsinadesirablewayallpersonswithwhom
theycomeincontact.Others,inthesameway,aresurroundedbyanatmosphereof
gloom,pessimismanddiscouragement,whichadverselyaffectspersonscomingnear
them.Thesethingsaretoocommontoevenexciteinterestamongtheaveragepersons,
butinthisphenomenamaybefoundthekeytothehigherformsofpersonal
magnetism.
Wearesoaccustomedtoregardingpersonalmagnetismasmeaningonlythepositive,
attractivephase,thatitcomesasashocktosomeofustobetoldthattherepelling
personalatmosphereisequallymagneticthatis,magneticinthewrongdirection.
Thisshouldcausenowonder,whenwerememberthateventhephysicalmetallic
magnetrepels,undersomecircumstances,asstronglyasitattractsunderothers.There
are,itistrue,certainindividualswhoseemneithertoattractnorrepel,butthisdoesnot
affectthegeneralrule.Theseneutralindividualsareusuallyofweakmagnetism,and
weakcharacterthatistosaytheyhavenostrongmotives,aimsordesires,orstrong
castofcharacterorpersonality.Eachfacultyofthementalityisneutralizedbysome
otherfacultyofequalstrength,andtheresultisaneutralconditionakintolukewarm
waterneitherhotnorcold.Itfollows,naturally,thatsuchpersonsexertbutaneutral
influence,andhavebutaweakneutralpersonalatmosphere.Theyneitherattractnor
repeltheysimplyborepersonswithwhomtheycomeincontact.
Somemayraisethequestionthatif,asIhavesaid,eachandeverypersonispossessedof
personalmagnetism,thenwhyshouldanyonebotheranymoreaboutthematter,or
studythesubjectofpersonalmagnetismatall.Suchaquestion(anditisfrequently
raised,forthatmatter)causesasmiletomanifestonthefeaturesofthosewhohave
knowledgeofthesubject;sochildishdoesitseemtothem.Whileitistruethateachand
everypersonispossessedofpersonalmagnetismtosomedegree,itisequallytruethat
themajorityofpersonshavebutaweakmagneticforce,andthatoftenofanegativeor
undesirablecharacter.And,itisafactpositivelyknowntothosewhohavemasteredthe
subject,thateventheweakestandmostnegativepersonmaysodevelophisorher
personalmagnetismastograduallyacquirethesamedegreeandcharacterof
magnetismasthatpossessedbymanyindividualsoriginallyfarinadvanceofthemin
magneticinfluence.
Onemaycompletelychangethecharacterofhispersonalmagnetism,fromnegativeto
positive,fromundesirabletodesirable,bycarefulstudyandpracticealongthelines,
whichIshalllaydowninthisbook.Moreover,itispossibleforanypersonpossessing
sufficientwill,perseveranceanddeterminationtodevelopfromapunystateof
magnetismintoaconditionofgiantmagneticpowers.Butthislatterrequires
determination,constantpracticeuntilacertainstageisreached,andanindomitable
will.Whileanyonemayeasilyincreasehisorherdegreeofpowerofpersonal
magnetism,andstillmoreeasilychangethecharacterofonespersonalatmosphere,the
higherprizesarereservedforthosewhowillperseveretotheend,andcontinuefaithful
intheexercises.This,ofcourse,istruenotonlyofpersonalmagnetism,butalsoofevery
otherthingworthhaving.Thereisnoroyalroadtoanythingworthhaving.Wemust
workforwhatweget.Theprizesarenotfortheweaklingsandtriflers,butforthe
persistent,earnestindividualswhowillhangonuntiltheysucceed.
Inthislittlebook,Igiveyouthekeytothesecretofpersonalmagnetism,butitwillstill
remainforyou,yourselves,todeterminejustwhatdegreeofsuccessyoushallattain.I
giveyouthebesttools,andinstructionsastohowtousethembutyouwillhavetodo
therestyourself.ThisIwillsay,however,successmustandwillbeyoursifyouwillfollow
theinstructionscarefully,persistentlyandperseveringly.ThatisallIcandoforyouthe
restisinyourownhands.
ChapterII:
MentalandPhysicalPoles
Someofthewritersonthesubjectofpersonalmagnetismhavefallenintotheerrorof
consideringthattheentiresecretofpersonalmagnetismistobefoundinthe
phenomenaoftelepathyortransferenceofthought.Thesewriters,however,havebeen
socarriedawaybythewonderfulfactsofthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetism,that
theyhaveentirelyoverlookedtheotherphase,i.e.thephysicalpoleofthemagnetic
personality.Thissecondphaseisjustasimportantasisthementalphase,andthe
personwhowishestocultivateanddeveloppersonalmagnetismmustgivethissecond
phasethesamecarefulattentionandpracticeasthefirstphase.Therearetwodistinct
phasesorpolesofpersonalmagnetism,(1)thementaland(2)thephysical.Donotfailto
notethisfact,foryoursuccesswilldependuponthecoordinationoftheforceofboth
poles.
Tomany,thisideaoftherebeingasecondorphysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetismwill
seemstrange,soaccustomedhavetheygrowntohearingtheteachingsthatpersonal
magnetismisamentalphenomenonpureandsimple.Butasweproceedinourstudyof
thesubjectinthisbook,Ihopetothoroughlyconvinceyouthatthissecondpoleof
personalmagnetismreallyexists,andthatitisequallypotentasthefirst,ormental
phaseorpole.Amanisadualorganism,withbothmentalandphysicalphasesof
manifestation,bothmindandbody,soishispersonalforcecomposedoftwodistinct
phasesorpoles,eachcoordinatingwiththeotherintheworkofmanifestingenergyand
creatingeffects.Somepersonshavemorementalmagnetism,whileothershavemore
physicalmagnetism,buttheindividualwhoreallymanifeststhehighestdegreeof
personalmagnetismistheonewhoisdevelopedalongbothpolesofactivity,both
phasesofmagnetismphysicalaswellasmental.
Thementalpoleorphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsforitsforceandenergyupon
theabilityofthemindtocreatethoughtwavesandtoprojectthembeyondthelimitsof
thebrain,intothepersonalatmosphereoftheindividual,andevenbeyondtherangeof
hisownpersonalatmospherewhennecessary.Whenaccompaniedwiththephysical
magnetismgeneratedbytheotherpoleofmagneticactivity,thismentalmagnetism
stronglyaffectsotherpersonscomingwithinthefieldofactionofthesethoughtwaves.
Butwithoutagoodsupplyofthephysicalmagnetism,thesethoughtwavesfailtohave
sufficientstrengthtoproducemarkedresults.Itwouldseemthatthephysical
magnetismwereneededtogivebodytothementalmagnetism,justasthemental
magnetismisneededtogivecolor,characterorsoultothephysicalmagnetism.The
twophasesofmagnetismmustworktogethertogainthebesteffects.
Itwasformerlyverydifficulttoconveytothemindofthestudentthefactsregardingthe
mentalphaseofpersonalmagnetism,sostrangedidthewholethingappeartohim.But
inthesedays,whentherehasbeensomuchwrittenandtaughtregardingtelepathy,
thoughttransferenceandmindpower,theaveragepersonissowellpostedonthe
generalsubjectthathemayreadilyunderstandthespecialfeaturesofthoughtpoweras
manifestedonpersonalmagnetism.Soitisnotnecessary,now,tofirstgivethestudenta
thorougheducationregardingthegeneralsubjectoftelepathy,inordertoleadhimupto
thespecialsubjectofpersonalmagnetism.Inthisbook,Ishalltakeitforgrantedthat
thestudentknowssomethingofthesubjectoftelepathyorthoughttransference,and
accordinglyIshallnottakeupspaceandtimeintravelingoverthisoldfamiliarground.
But,nevertheless,Ithinkitadvisabletopointouttoyousomeofthelatestfacts
discoveredbyscienceinconnectionwiththetransferenceofthought.
Sciencehasdiscoveredthatthehumanbrain,intheprocessesofthinking,actually
generatesandusesupacertainamountofenergyintheareaofthebraintissue.The
generationandemploymentofthisenergyproducesheat,andactuallyincreasesthe
temperatureofthebrainareas,asmaybeprovenbytheuseofthedelicateregistering
instruments.Foundineverywellequippedbrainisasmuchanactualforceasis
electricityortheordinarymagnetismofthelodestone,andisgovernedbymuchthe
samegenerallawsandrules.And,likeelectricityorordinarymagnetism,itisnot
confinedtothepointatwhichitisgenerated,but,instead,itmaybe,andis,diffusedto
pointsbeyond.Inotherwords,thethoughtenergyofthebrainofapersonextends
beyondthelimitsofhisbrain,createsathoughtatmospherearoundhim,andregisters
aneffectuponthebrainsofotherscomingwithinhisfieldofenergy.
Thediscoveryofradioactivityincertainnewlydiscoveredelementsofmatter,notablyin
thecaseofradium,hasledsciencetoinvestigatethematterofthepossibleradio
activityofothersubstances.Theresultismostsurprising,foradvancedsciencenow
announcesthateverysubstanceisradioactive,thatis,everysubstanceisconstantly
radiatingenergyofforcefromitself.Thisdiscoveryservestoharmonizethepreviously
separatedfactsregardingthoughttransference,etc.,anditisnowacceptedasafactthat
thehumanbrainisstronglyradioactive,andisconstantlysendingforthstreamsofradio
energy.Thesamelaws,whichgoverntheradium,arenowperceivedtogovernthebrain
action.Thissimplifiesthematter,andbringsthesubjectofthoughttransferenceintothe
generalfieldofscience,andoutoftherealmsofmysticism.Thesubjectisnowtaught
andstudied,onascientificbasis,intheprincipaluniversitiesoftheworld,andnew
discoveriesareconstantlybeingmaderegardingit.Thephysicalpoleofpersonal
magnetismisnottobefoundintheflesh,blood,orbonesofthebodyfortheseare
butthecrudemachinerybywhichthehigherpartsofthehumanorganismmovesand
acts.Instead,itistobefoundinthatmostwonderfulpart,orparts,oftheorganism,
knownasthenervoussystem.Thisnervoussystemisjustaswonderfulinitswayasis
thebrain,anditseffectsinpersonalmagnetismarejustasimportant.
Wearesoapttothinkofthenervesasbeingapartofthebodyoftheperson,thatitis
somewhatdifficultforustogettheideathatthenervoussystemisreallyasmuchapart
ofthementalsystemasisthebrain.Infact,thenervoussystemiscomposedofalmost
exactlythesamekindofmatter,asisthebrain.Thenervoussystem,moreover,
generatesenergyofakindverysimilartothatgeneratedbythebrain.Forthatmatter,
advancedsciencereallyconsidersthatthebrainandnervoussystemarebutpartsofone
andthesamething,governedbythesamegenerallaws,andtobeconsideredin
connectionwitheachother.And,thestudentofpersonalmagnetismsooncomesto
acceptthisview,whenheseestheimportantpartplayedbythegreatnervecentersin
theworkofpersonalmagnetism.Therefore,althoughIcallthemagnetismofthe
nervoussystembythetermphysical,andthatofthebrainbythetermmental,Ido
somerelyinordertomakeaneasylineofdistinctionforthepurposeofteachingand
study.Atthelast,however,theyarereallybutpartsofoneandthesamethingmerely
twopolesofthesamesourceofenergy.
Thenervoussystemofthehumanbeingisreallyamostintricatemechanism.Itsmain
featureisthespinalcordwhichrunsalonganopeninginthespinalcolumnorbackbone,
andwhichisdirectlyconnectedwiththebrainmatterintheskull.Fromthespinalcord
emergemanysetsofnerves,inpairs,whichbranchoutinsmallerfilament,theseinturn
branchingoutintostillsmaller,andsoon,untileachandeverypartofthebodyis
suppliedwithadirectconnectionwiththemainnervetrunk.Othergreatcablesof
nervesdescendintothetrunkofthebody,apartfromthespinalcordsystem,although
connectedwiththelatterbynervelinks.Indifferentpartsofthebodyaretobefound
greatmassesofnervesubstance,beingmattedknotsortanglesofnerves,thesecenters
beingcalledplexusorplexuses,theprincipalonebeingthesolarplexuswhichis
situatedrightbackofthepitofthestomach,andwhichplaysaveryimportantpartin
thelifeoftheperson,soimportant,indeed,thatasevereblowstruckdirectlyoverit
maycausethedeathoftheperson.
Thenervoussystemnotonlyconveysmessagesfromthedifferentpartsofthebodyto
thebrain,butalsoservestoconveytheenergyofmotiontothevariousparts.Inshort,
therecanbenomotionofanypartofthebodyunlesstheimpulsecomesoverthe
nerves.Whenthenervesgoverninganypartofthebodyareparalyzed,thatpartofthe
bodybecomesdevoidofmotion.Soyousee,thenervoussystemisapartofthegreat
energyproducingsystemofthebodyasmuchapartofitasisthebrain.Remember
this,always,foritisoneofthekeystothesecretsofpersonalmagnetism.
Whenyourememberthatthisnerveenergyspreadsitselfbeyondthelimitsofthebody,
justasdoestheenergyofthebrain,thenyoumaybegintoseewhatIamdrivingatin
announcingthesecondpoleorphaseofpersonalmagnetism,namelythephysical
pole,which,inreality,isthephaseofmagnetismgeneratedandradiatedbythenervous
system,particularlybyitsgreatcentersofplexus.Ithinkthatyouarenowbeginningto
gettheidea,althoughIhavecarefullyavoidedtechnicalscientifictermsandhave
expressedmyselfinthesimplestform.
10
ChapterIII:
TheMentalPhase
Thementalphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsupontwocoordinatedmanifestations
ofmentalpower,asfollows:
(1)theholdingofcertainmentalstatesuntilthementalatmospherebecomescharged
withthevibrationsoftheparticularmentalstates;and
(2)theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentfromthebraincenters,bytheaction
ofthewilloftheindividual.
Ishallnowproceedtodescribethesetwomentalphasesofmanifestationindetail.
Itisafactknowntoallstudentsofthesubjectthatthecharacterofthemental
atmosphereofanyindividualdependsentirelyuponthecharacterofthementalstates
heldbyhim.Thementalatmosphereofthehopeful,expectantindividualiscomposedof
vibrationsofahopeful,cheerfulcharacter,whichtendtoimpressandaffectother
personscomingwithinthefieldofactivityofhispersonalatmosphere.Likewise,the
mentalatmosphereofthegloomy,depressedindividualiscomposedofvibrationsofa
gloomy,depressingcharacter,whichimpressesandaffectsindividualscomingincontact
therewith.And,inthesamemanner,allofonesmentalstateswillbecomemanifestin
hismentalatmosphere,andaccordingly,willaffectthosewithwhomhecomesinclose
contact.
Thetruthoftheabovestatementswillbecomeapparenttoanyonewhowillgivethe
matteramomentscarefulconsideration,rememberingatthesametimethe
impressionscreateduponhimwhenhehascomeincontactwithdifferentindividuals.
Hewillrememberthatsomeindividualshaveleftuponhimtheimpressionofgloom,
inefficiency,failure,etc.Othershaveleftwithhimafeelingofsuspicion,distrust,and
uneasiness.Othersstillhavegivenhimtheimpressionofcheerfulness,friendliness,
confidence,andgoodwill.
Theatmosphereofsomepersonsissuchthatitcausesustoletthemalone,andtotake
nostockwhatsoeverintheirbusinesspropositions.Others,instead,imbueuswith
confidenceandtrust,andgiveusthefeelingthatwewouldliketodobusinesswith
them.Somepersonsleaveuponustheimpressionsthatwehavebeeninthepresence
ofasnakything,andweoftencanscarcelyrepressashudderofdisgustanddislikewhile
11
otherscreateinustheimpressionthattheotherpersonisagoodfriendandcanbe
dependeduponasahelperandcomrade.Why?
Itisnotfromanythingthesepersonshavesaid,for,asweallknow,someofthe
slipperiestpersonsareoftenthebestandsmoothesttalkers;andsomeofthebestand
mostdependablepersonsareoftenveryreticent,andevenshortinspeech.The
reasonliesdeeperthatwords.Itisthefeelingthatweexperiencewhenwecomein
contactwithpersons,ratherthananyreportofthereasonregardingthem.Andthis
feelingiscausedbytheregistryuponoursensitivebrainorganismofthethought
vibrationsoftheotherpersonspersonalatmosphere.Notonlyarethesethingsnoticed
inthepersonhimselforherself,buteventheveryresidences,storesorotherplaces
frequentedbytheindividualarealsoaffectedbythecontinuousinfluenceofthe
thoughtvibrationsofhisorherpersonalatmosphere.Didyouevernoticehowsome
housesproduceuponyouafeelingofsadnessorwoe,orworse;whileothersseemto
carrywithinthemanairofhealthandgoodcheer,happinessandcontent?Thisisoften
truealthoughthehousemayhavebeenunoccupiedforsometime.Sostrongdothe
mentalvibrationsoftheatmosphereofthepersonorpersonsformerlyinhabitingthem.
Inthesamewaysomeofficesandplacesofbusinessaresosaturatedwiththevibrations
ofthepersonalatmospheresoftheiroccupants,thatoneisforciblyimpressedbythe
sameuponenteringthedoor.Amanmaydisguisehisthoughtsbyhiswordsorhisfacial
expression,butthementalvibrationsofhispersonalatmospherewillfrequentlygive
himaway.
Thesearefacts,whichshouldrequirenofurtherproofyourownexperienceshouldbe
proofenoughtosatisfyyoubutyoushouldmakementalnoteofthisfact,andcarryitin
mindasweproceed.Manypersonsleavebutlittleimpressionuponus,forthereasons
thattheirmentalstatesaresovaried,inconstantandfleetingthattheyneutralizeeach
other,andfailtoimpartadefiniteshadeofthoughtcolortothepersonalatmosphere.
Thestrongestpersonalatmospheresarethoseofpersonsofstrongfeelings,desiresand
emotions,goodorbad,forsuchhavestrongandconstantmentalstateswhichimpress
themselvesforciblyupontheirpersonalatmosphere,sostrongly,infact,thatonewho
noticesthesethingscannotfailtoperceivethem.
Amomentsthoughtwillinformyouthatifthesethingsbetrueandtrueyouwill
realizetheymustbewhenyougivethematteramomentscarefulthoughtthenone
shouldbeverycarefultoavoidharboringmentalstatesofacharacterlikelytoinspire
undesirablefeelingsinotherpersons.And,atthesametime,oneshouldendeavorto
cultivatementalstatesofacharacterlikelytoawakenfeelingsofadesirablecharacterin
thosewithwhomwecomeincontact.Infact,agreatportionofthefollowingchapters
12
willbeusedtoteachhowtocultivatejustsuchmentalstatessoastoratethedesired
effectuponothers,forinthisliesoneofthegreatsecretsofpersonalmagnetism.
Oneneednotdespairifhehasbeencreatingandcarryingaroundwithhimapersonal
atmosphereofanundesirablekind.Forthesethingsmayberemedied,andonemay
entirelychangethecharacterofhismentalstates,andthustransformhispersonal
atmospherefromtheveryworsttotheverybest.Thesethingsrequirework,
perseverance,andpatience,itistrue,buttherewardissogreatthatitpaysanyoneto
devotehisattentionsandtimetoit.Theprincipleisverysimple,indeed,butitrequires
determinationanddoggedwilltoobtainthebestresults,particularlyincaseswhere
veryundesirableconditionshaveexisted.
Thesecondwayinwhichthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetismoperates,i.e.,thatof
theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentsfromthebraincenters,bytheactionof
thewilloftheindividual,alsodemandsworkonthepartofthestudentwhowishto
createastrongpersonalatmosphere.
Theprincipleofthissecondformofmentalactionconsistsintheuseofthewillina
consciousprojectionofthoughtcurrents.Thisistrueinthecaseofstimulatingthe
personalatmosphere,andalsoincasesinwhichoneendeavorstoproduceaneffect
uponthemindofsomeotherpersoninwhosepresencehemayhappentobe.
Whileitistruethatthecharacterofthementalstatesofthepersonwillcolorandgive
charactertohispersonalatmosphere,whichwill,ofcourse,produceaneffectuponthe
otherpersonorpersonsinhisfieldofaction,itislikewisetruethattheeffectofsuch
mentalvibrationsmaybeenormouslyincreasedbytheuseofthewillinthedirectionof
theconsciousprojectionjustreferredto.Thementalstatesproduceandcreatethe
mentalatmosphere,itistrue,butthewillservestoprojectthemforthwithforce,andto
generallyenergizetheatmosphereandincreasetheeffect.
Itisjustasifyouhadcreatedagreatstoreofmentalmagnetisminyourbrain,andgiven
ittheproperqualityandcolorbythecharacterofyourmentalstates.Thiswould
naturallycreateapersonalatmosphereorauraaroundyou,whichwouldbefeltby
others.Butthenimaginetheincreasedstrengthandeffectthatwouldarisefromtheuse
ofyourwilltoprojectandforceoutwardfromyourbrainthesementalvibrations.You
willseeatoncehowsuchanactionofthewillwouldtendtoenergizeandincreasethe
vibrationsofyourmentalatmosphere,canyounot?Itwouldbeliketurningonanextra
forceofthepower,woulditnot?Certainlyitwould,andyoumaygainthiseffect
wheneveryouwishtodoso,byusingthemethods,whichwillbegivenyouinthisbook
asweproceed.
13
Again,youwillsee,byalittlethought,howmuchstrongerwillbetheeffectuponany
specialindividual,if,inadditiontothevibrationsofourpersonalatmosphere,weadd
theforceofaspecialcurrentofmentalforcedirectedsteadilyandpointedlyathismind,
byaneffortofourwill.Doyouseethepoint?Youfirstaffecthimbytheeffectofyour
energizedpersonalatmosphere,andthenjustwhenheisintheproperreceptive
conditionyoudischargeathimapsychicrifleballwhichhitshimrightinthebullseyeof
hismindwithenormousforce.
Atfirstthought,thismayseemtoyoulikeverystrenuousproceedings,andonewhich
wouldrequiretheoutlayofagreatamountofwillpoweronyourownpart.But,thisis
notso,forthethoughtcurrentsareveryresponsivetotheactionofthewill,andthe
mainthingistoholdthewillfirmlytothetask,andthethoughtcurrentswillflowout
overthechannelthusmadeforthem.Itislikeholdingarifleproperlyaimed,andthen
lettingtheforceofthepowderdrivethebullethome;or,again,likeholdingthenozzleof
ahosepointedexactlywhereyouwishthecurrentofwatertogo,andlo!Whenthe
wateristurnedon,itfliesstraighttothemark,longafterithasleftthetipofthenozzle
ofthehose.
Thestrongmenofalltimeshaveemployedthewillinthiswayinthedirectionof
creatingastrongpersonalatmosphere,andalsointhedirectionofproducingstrong
impressionsuponthosewhotheywishedtoaffect.Inmanycasestheyhavenotfully
understoodthecharacteroftheforcessetintooperationbythemselves,butthey
understoodthehowpart,eveniftheydidnotgraspthewhy.Thenexttimeyou
comeintocontactwithastrongindividual,watchhimorher,andseeifyoucannot
almostseetheoperationofthisdirectionofmentalforceofwhichIhavejustspoken.
But,farmoreimportantthanevenstudyingothers,isthatofcultivatingtheartofdoing
thethingforyourself,andthisiswhatIamtryingtoteachyoutodo.Andyouwill
succeedinit,too,ifyouwillenterintotheworkfullywithheartandmind.Getinearnest
aboutit,andthepowerwilldevelopinyoutobringaboutsuccess.
14
ChapterIV:
ThePhysicalPhase
Thephysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsupontwocoordinated
manifestationsofnerveforce,asfollows:
(1)thegenerationwithinthenervoussystemofaplenteoussupplyofnerveforce;and
(2)theconsciousprojection,bythewill,ofthatsupplyofnerveforceintothepersonal
atmosphere,andeventoagreaterdistanceunderspecialconditions.
Bynerveforce,asusedintheaboveparagraph,Imeanthatstrange,mysteriousform
ofenergy,whichcontrolsallphysicalmovements,andyet,atthesametime,appearsto
besomethinghigherthanphysicalitself.Itisakintoelectricityormagnetism,initsreal
nature,and,liketheseforcesisimpossibletodefine.Nerveforceissomethingfar
differentfromthematterofwhichthenervoussystemiscomposed.Thenervous
system,fromspinalcordtothemostdelicatenervefilament,isatthebestbutasystem
ofwires,relays,etc.,overwhichthenerveforcetravels,or,elsecomplicatedreservoirs
inwhichthenerveforceisstored.
Theordinarynervesserveaswiresandcablesoverwhichthenerveforcetravelsto
movethepartsofthebody,whichwewilltomove,orwhichoursubconsciousmentality
desirestomove.Certainpartsofthebrainaregreatreservoirsofnerveforce,asarealso
thegreatgroupsofnervemattercalledtheplexus,prominentamongwhicharethe
solarplexus,andthesacralplexus.
Theordinarytextbooksofphysiologypassoverthequestionoftherealnatureofnerve
force,fortheirwritersdonotpossessthesecret.Theydisposeofthequestionbysaying:
Asinthecaseofelectricity,whilewefullyrecognizeitsexistenceanditspower,
neverthelesswedonotknowitsrealnature.And,so,thestudentmustgobacktosome
oftheoldoccultwritersofthepastages,andtheirfollowersinthepresentage,inorder
togetthesecret.
Alloccultists,ancientandmodern,haverecognizedtheexistenceofamightysubtle
forceofnatureoneofnaturesfinerforceswhichismostpotentititseffectsand
activities,butwhich,nevertheless,defiedallpowerofanalysisordefinition.Thereason
thatsciencehasneverbeenabletoclassifynerveforceisbecause,likeelectricity,itisin
aclassbyitself,andisdifferentfromanyotherformofforcesodifferentthatitcannot
beclassifiedwithotherforces.Science,insomecases,hasendeavoredtotreatitasa
15
secretionofthenervousmatter,butthatisafollyakintothatofthematerialistic
philosopherwhotriedtodefinemindasasecretionofthebrain,justasthebileisa
secretionoftheliver,thegallasecretionofthegallbladder,etc.Suchattemptsat
definitioncauseonlyasmileonthefaceofthewise.
Theoccultists,onthecontrary,whilenotattemptingtodefinenerveforce(recognizingit
tobeinaclassofitsown)neverthelesshavediscoveredthesourceofitsorigin,and
havegivenusvaluableinformationastoitsuse.Theyhavegivenitmanynames,asfor
instance:vitalforce,vitalenergy,lifeforce,vitalfluid,vitalmagnetism,etc.,and
inthecaseoftheOrientals,thetermsprana,orakashicenergyhavebeenappliedto
it.Butunderallofthesedifferentnames,theoccultistshavealwaysmeanttheoneand
samething,i.e.,nerveforce.ThenameIuseindescribingit,nerveforce,isemployed
simplybecauseitisfoundspecializedinthenervoussystem,andnotbecauseofanyidea
thatitoriginatesthere.Indeed,asyoushallseeinamoment,ithasafarhigherand
moreelementarysourceoforigin.
Theoldmaterialisticschoolofphysiologyhasattemptedtoshowthatnerveforce,like
thebodilymaterial,isderivedfromthefoodweeat,andiscreatedbychemical
combustionofthelatter.This,however,isonlypartlytrue.Whileitistruethatthereisa
certainamountofnerveforceinfreshfood(havingbeengatheredthereduringthelife
oftheplantofanimalofwhichthefoodformedapart),andwhileitistruethatacertain
amountofthisnerveforceistakenupbythesystemofthepersoneatingthefood,
particularlyifthefoodbefresh,nevertheless,theamountofnerveforcesoabsorbedis
comparativelysmall,andisfartoolittletosupplywhatisneededbytheindividualtorun
hisphysicalorganism.And,eventhesmallpartsoobtainedisnotderivedfromthe
chemicalcombustionofthefood.Foodchemicalcombustionresultsingivingbodily
heat,butneverincreatingnerveforce.
Thetruesourceofnerveforceisthesameasthesourceofelectricity,namelythe
universaletherthatfillsspace.Likeelectricity,also,thisforceisavailabletohuman
wantsonlywhenitisassociatedwith.Theatmosphereischargedwithnerveforce,
whichistakenupandabsorbedbythenervoussystem,andstoredawayinitsgreat
reservoirs,fromwhence,inturn,itflowsoverthenerveswhenrequired,bythephysical
ormentalneedsoftheindividual.
But,younaturallyask,howdoesthebodyabsorbtheuniversalnerveforcethrough
whatchanneldoesitenterthesystem.Theanswerisplain,viz.:Inplant,animal,and
humanlife,thenerveforceisbreathedintothesystem.Inotherwords,theprocessof
breathing,initshigherandlowerforms,isnotalonethatofextractingoxygenorother
elementsfromtheair,butalsothatofextractingtheuniversalnerveforceatthesame
16
time.Whenthisisunderstood,itwillbemoreeasilyunderstoodwhythelivingthing
perishessosooniftheprocessofbreathingbeinterferedwith.Theunderstandingofthis
secretofnaturethrowsamuchneededlightupontheimportantpartplayedby
breathing,inthelifeofallcreatures.
Beforeproceedingtoafurtherconsiderationoftheprocessoftheabsorptionofnerve
forcefromtheatmosphere,especiallyinthecaseofthestudentofpersonalmagnetism,
Iaskyoutoconsideranotherimportantquestioninrelationtothephysicalphaseof
personalmagnetism,namely,thatoftheprojectionofnerveforcebeyondthelimitsof
thenervoussystem.Youwillrememberthattheaveragephysiologistmaintainsthatitis
follytoholdthatnerveforcecanpossiblypassbeyondthelimitsofthenervoussystem
containingit.Heholdsthat,likeelectricityonthewires,itcannotpassexceptoverthe
wiresofthenerves.But,isthistrueevenofelectricity?Ipositivelyassertthatitisnot.
Theveriestnoviceinthestudyofelectricityisawarethatelectricitywilloftenleapfrom
oneconductingsubstancetoanotherjumpingthegapintheshapeofasparkand
thenflyingalongthenewchannel.Again,evenwithoutthespark,electricityand
magnetismwilloftenaffectothersubstancesbywhatisknownasinduction,without
theactualcontactofthetwoconductingmaterials.Thisissocommonthatitisawonder
thatthequestioniseverraised.And,whatistrueofelectricityandmagnetism,inthis
respect,islikewisetrueofnerveforce,foritwillnotonlyoftenleapoverthebarriersof
thenervoussystem,butwill,andconstantlydoes,affectothernervoussystemsbyakind
ofinduction.
Notonlyisthephenomenaofpersonalmagnetismaproofofthistransmissionofnerve
force,butthephenomenaofhumanmagnetism(asithasbeencalled)inthedirection
ofmagnetichealinganotherproofaproof,moreover,thatmaybeobtainedbyany
individualinhisownexperience.
Moreover,theexperienceofeveryindividualwillbearampleandgeneroustestimonyto
thefactthatcertainpersons,flowingoverwithvigorousnerveforce,willsoradiatethe
energythatitisactuallyperceptibletothoseshakinghandswiththem,orevencoming
intotheirvicinity.Theseindividualsfairlyradiatehealthandvigor,andexertapositive
healingandinvigoratingeffect,onthosewithwhomtheycomeincontact.Inasimilar
manner,ismanifestedalackofsufficientnerveforce,bythoseunfortunateindividuals
whogoaroundunconsciouslyabsorbingthenerveforceofothers,and,inextreme
cases,becomingactualvampiressuckingthevitalforcesfromthosearoundthem.Who
ofyouhavenotmetthislastclassofpersons,andhavenotnotedhowdepressedand
weakenedoneisafterhavingbeeninthecompanyofsuchpersonsforsometime?The
17
averagepersondoesnotneedanyfurtherproofinthiscase,beyondthataffordedbyhis
orherownexperience.
Itmaybeaskedthatifthenerveforceisinherentintheuniversalether,andobtained
fromtheatmosphere,whyallpersonsarenotequallyendowedwiththisenergy.The
answeristhatthelifehabitsofindividualsdiffer,andjustasoneisphysicallystrongand
robust,andanotherweakanddelicate,soisoneindividualstronginnerveforce,and
anotherweakinit.Moreover,achangeinthelifehabitsofthepersonwillinevitably
resultinachangeintheamountofnerveforceabsorbedandretainedbyhimorher.In
fact,oneofthepurposesofthisbookistoinstructyouhowyoumayincreasethenerve
forcewithinyourself.Whiletheobjectistheincreaseofyourpersonalmagnetism,you
willfindthatatthesametimeyourgeneralhealthandvigorwillimprove.
Inadditiontotheamountofnerveforcebeingdeterminedbythelifehabitsofthe
individual,itisalsotruethattheindividualmay,bytheproperexercises,soenergize
hisnervoussystemthathewilllargelyincreasethedegreeofactivityofhisnerveforce,
andmayrenderitfarmoreavailableforhisrequirements.Itisntonlyaquestionof
securingaplenteoussupplyofnerveforce,butalsoofhavingthesameinanactive
condition,andinsuchaformthatitmaybereadilyavailablefortherequirementsof
everydaylife.
18
ChapterV:
PhysicalMagnetism
Youwillrememberthatwhenyouhavecomeincontactwithanyofthestrong
charactersinanywalkoflifethegreatpreachers,lawyers,statesmen,orators,
businessmen,etc.thosewhosesuccessdependsuponthestrongeffecttheyproduce
uponotherpersons,youhavebeenconsciousofafeelingthattheyradiatestrength
andpower.Youactuallyfeltthepowercomingfromthem.And,youwillalsoremember
thatthispowerdidnotseemtoyoutobementalpower,orintellectualstrength,alone
itseemed,instead,tohavemuchofthephysicalinit.Sostrongisthispowerinthecase
ofsomeoftheworldsgreatcharactersthattheyseemtobepersonifiedwillpower
mightycentersofvitalizedenergy,affectingallwithwhomtheycomeincontact.
Inordertorealizethedifferencebetweenthispowerandpureintellectualstrengthand
ability,youhavebuttorememberanotherclassofgiftedpersons,namely,thegreat
students,writers,etc.,andothermenwhohavedevelopedgreatintellectualpower.
Thesemenasarulearenotmagnetic,asthetermisgenerallyused.Theydonot
radiateorthrowoffforce,andtheelementofphysicalmagnetismisalmostentirely
absent.Theyseemtobecentersofgreatintellectualenergybutnothingmore.Iam
notnowspeakingofindividualsinwhomboththeintellectualandthephysicalarewell
balancedandcombined,butinstead,ofthoseindividualswhoaredistinctlymentalor
intellectual.AmomentsthoughtwillrecallmanyexamplesofthetypetowhichIrefer
theteachers,preachers,lawyers,andstudentswhoseintellectualityiswelldeveloped,
butwholackthatsomethingwhichimpressespersons.
Anotherappealtoyourmemorywillshowyou;also,thatthemagneticpersonis
almostalwayspossessedofthatindefinablesomething,whichwecallstrengthand
energy.Hemaynotbeastout,largepersonhemayevenbeascrawny,lankindividual,
ofslightframeandsmallstaturebuteveninthelastcasehewillbewiryandlikea
coiledwirespring,fulloflatentenergy.Themagneticpersonisnevertheweak,flabby,
jellyfishtype.Ihaveseenthesethinmagneticpersonsontheirdeathbeds,weakenedby
disease,butevenintheirlastmomentstheygaveonetheimpressionofkeenspringlike
strength.Theothertypeofmagneticperson,thestouttype,alsogivestheimpressionof
powerandstrengthasomethingwithinwhichstoresandradiatesstrengthandpower.
Isthisnotsoinyourownexperience?Didyoueverseeagreatleaderamagnetic
personalitywhodidnotconveytheideaofstrengthinthephysicalsense?Ithink
not.
19
Now,remember,thatIamnotclaimingthatphysicalnerveforcealoneconstitutes
personalmagnetism.Farfromthistherearemanymenwhopossessandradiate
physicalnerveforcewhoarenotpersonallymagneticinthefullsenseoftheterm.The
combinationofmentalmagnetism,andphysicalmagnetismisneededtoproducethe
fullphenomenonofpersonalmagnetism,remember.But,Idoinsistthatmental
magnetismwithoutitsphysicalcounterpartislikeamindwithabodyitlacks
substanceandeffectiveness.
Theoccultistsinformusthatinthepersonalatmosphereoftheindividualhisaura,
theycallitthereistobefoundnotonlythevibrationsofhismentalstatesand
character,butalsothevibrationsofhisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforceasIhave
calleditinthisbook.Theystatethattothosewhohavedevelopedpsychicorclairvoyant
power,thesenerveforcevibrationsmaybeseenextendingfromthebodysometwoor
threefeetineitherdirection,thewholeaurahavinganeggshape,henceitsname.Itis
saidtohaveafaintvioletcolorsomethinglikeapaleelectricflameandtoquiverand
vibrateinamannersimilartothemotionsofheatedairarisingfromastove,orthe
groundonahotsummerday,sofamiliartoeveryobserver.Theyalsoclaimthatwhena
strongpersonisusinghiswill,thisnerveforce,carryingwithithismentalmagnetism,
maybeseenshootingingreatsheetsorflashesfromhimtotheotherpersonor
persons.Idonotclaimtopossesthispsychicvisionmyself,butthetestimonyofmanyof
mypsychicfriendsagreeinthismatter,andareinaccordwiththewritingoftheolder
occultists.And,atanyrate,anyoneexperimentingwithpersonalmagnetismwillbe
convincedthatnerveforceorphysicalmagnetismdoesactinjustthewaydescribed,
thoughitremainsunseenbytheeyeoftheordinaryperson.
Anotherimportantbitofinformationfurnishedbytheoccultistswhichisfullyverifiedby
myownobservationsandexperiments,andwhichinfactformsoneofthefoundation
pillarsofmysystemofpersonalmagnetism,isthatconcerningthepartplayedbynerve
forceinthephenomenaoftelepathy,hypnotism,mentalinfluence,andsimilar
phenomenainwhichthemindofonepersonactsuponthemindofanotherthisof
coursebeingoneofthemainfeaturesofpersonalmagnetism.Ialludetowhatmaybe
calledthevitalizingofthethoughtwavesbythecurrentofnerveforce,whichis
projectedatthesametimewithit.
Thoughtwavesunaccompaniedbycurrentsofnerveforcelackforceandeffect,andare
likecoldmentalpowerdevoidoflifeandactivity.Youwillgraspthisideabetterby
referencetoacommonoccurrence,forinstance,youhaveheardmanyasermon,
speech,orrecitationdeliveredbyapersonhavingmarkedintellectualability,andfilled
withgoodsoundthoughts,andyetthedeliveryseemeddead,dull,colorlessand
20
lifeless,diditnot?Itlackedthelife,vigor,andvimofthedeliveryofsomeotherspeaker
ofevenlessintellectualpower,didinnot?And,youhavenoticedthatthepersonalityof
someadmittedlyintellectualpersonagelackedlife;whilesomeotherlessgifted
personalityfairlyradiatedlifeandstrength,andconsequently,magneticpower.Well,this
representsthedifferencebetweenplainthoughtwaves,andthoughtwaves
accompaniedbystrongnerveforce.Theonelacksbodyandvitalizingforce,whilethe
otherpossessesthisinabundance.Thinkoverthiscarefully,untilyougetitforinit
laysoneofthetwogreatsecretsofpersonalmagnetism.
Apersoninwhomnerveforceisactivelypresent,andwhohasconsciouslyor
unconsciouslyacquiredtheartofcombiningitwithhisthoughtwaves,willsendforth
wordsorthoughtsfairlychargedwithdynamicforce,reachingandaffectingthosewith
whomtheycomeincontact.Likeahighpowerexplosiveshell,thenerveforcedrivesthe
thoughtwavelikeabullettothismark,hittingthebullseyewithatremendousimpact,
andmakingapowerfulimpressiononthemindoftheotherpersonorpersons.There
arepersonswhosewordsseemfairlyalive,sovitalistheiractionuponthemindsof
othersthesepersonshavestronglyactivenerveforceorphysicalmagnetismusedin
connectionwiththeirmentalcurrents.Theyflashoutthiscombinedforcetowardtheir
audiencesofmanypersons,andthelatterarefairlyliftedofftheirfeetbythepower.
Thegreatleadersofmenhavehadthisnerveforcelargelydevelopedandactively
employed.Whentheyspoke,theotherpersonswerealmostcompelledtodothe
biddingofthestrongperson.JuliusCaesarandNapoleonBonaparteweretwomarked
examplesoftheuseofthispower,but,asafact,everymanwhoswaysmovesandrules
otherpersons,isanexampleworthyofstudy.Thestudentshould,ifpossible,manageto
bethrownincontactwiththisclassofpersons,sothathemaysee,orratherfeel,for
himself,theeffectofthismightyforceemanatingfromtheseindividuals.Hewillthen
betterrealizejustwhatpartnerveforceplaysinthematterofpersonalinfluence,and
personalmagnetism,andthenbemorefirmlyresolvedtodevelopitinhimselfor
herself.
Therearesomepersonswhoseem,naturally,toabsorb,storeupandeffectivelyuse
theirnerveforceofphysicalmagnetism.Suchareveryfortunate,fortheyaresavedthe
troubleofcultivatingtheprocessesreferredto.Butthosewhodonotpossessthisgift,
naturally,maybypracticeandperseverancedevelopitinthemselves.Nay,more,they
may,eventually,evensurpassthenaturallygiftedman,forthelatterdoesnot
understandthesourceornatureofhispower,andisapttoneglectorabuseit,whilethe
personwhodevelopsitinhimself,accordingtorule,andwithafullunderstanding,has
thethingontapasitwere,andcanalwaysrecuperatefromanoverdrainonanervous
21
system.Knowledgeispower,andacultivatedanddevelopedfacultyisoftenfarmore
effectivethanasimilarfacultypresentatbirth,andnotunderstoodorworkedfor.
Beginningwiththenextchapter,Ipurposegivingyouplain,simpledirectionsforthe
increaseofyournerveforce,thestoringupofthesame,andtheconsciousprojectionof
ittovitalizeyourmentalcurrents.Theprocessisquitenatural,anddoesnotpartakeof
anymysticceremoniesoranythingofthatsort.Itisbasedonpurelyphysiological
principles,andisinfullaccordwithnaturallaws.Whenyouhaveonceacquiredtheart
andscienceoftheabsorptionandstoringofnerveforce,youwillbesurprisedthatyou
haveneverthoughtofitbefore.
Whenyouacquirethispower,youwillbeconsciousofbeingacenterofanenormous
energy,andwillalsobemadeawareofyourpowerbytheeffectuponotherpersons.
Notonlyinthematterofpersonalmagnetism,Imean,butalsointhematterof
impartingthevibrationsofstrengthandenergy.Youwillnoticethatotherpersonswill
beconsciousofsomethinginyourhandshakeandtouchthatwillsurprisethem.They
willnotunderstandjustwhataffectsthem,buttheywillbeconsciousofsomestrange
feelingpervadingthem.Thebestplanwillbeforyoutokeepyoursecrettoyourself,and
toavoidanyimpressionofbeingoutoftheordinary.Youwishtocreateconfidence,not
fearandthestrangeandmysteriouscausesfearratherthanconfidence.Sokeepyour
ownsecrets.
22
ChapterVI:
GeneratingNerveForce
ByreferencetothefirstparagraphofChapterIV,youwillseethatIhaveseparatedthe
physicalphaseofmentalmagnetismintotwocoordinatedmanifestations,thefirstof
whichi.e.,thegenerationwithinthenervoussystemofaplenteoussupplyofnerve
force,Ishallnowdescribe.
Thewordgeneration,inthisconnection,onlyimperfectlyconveystheideaofthe
actualprocessofacquiringnerveforcewithinthenervoussystem,fortheprocessisone
ofabsorptionanddistribution,ratherthanoneofgeneration.Butasthelatter
termconveysasimplerpictureoftheprocess,Ihavethoughtwelltouseitinthis
connection,particularlyasmanyoftheoldoccultwritershaveusedit,inthissense,
beforemytime.
Thisprocessofnerveforcegenerationmaybesaidtoconsistoftwodistinct,yet
coordinatedphases,viz.:(1)theabsorptionofanextraamountofnerveforcefromthe
atmosphere,byspecialformsofbreathing;and(2)thedistributionofthesametothe
greatcentersofthenervoussystemwhichactasreservoirsofnerveforce.Ishallnow
proceedtoconsiderthesetworespectivephases,intheirproperorder.
Thefirstphaseofnerveforcegenerationconsistsoftheabsorptionofanextrasupplyof
nerveforcefromtheatmosphere,bymeansofspecialformsofbreathing.Allpersons
constantlyabsorbnerveforcefromtheatmosphere,intheordinaryprocessof
breathing,theamountdifferingwiththeindividual,orrather,withhishabitsof
breathing.Youwillhavenoticedthatthevigorous,strongindividual,nearlyalways
breathesfullythatis,deeplyandregularlywhiletheweakpersonwillbreatheonly
partiallyandirregularly.Thereisaverycloseconnectionbetweenfull,regularbreathing
andgeneralphysicalhealthandstrength,butIshallnottouchuponthisphaseofthe
subjecthere,foritformsnopartofthisspecialinstruction.Imerelydropahint,which
thewisewilltakeadvantageof.
WithoutwishingtoleadyouintothesubtletiesofOrientalpsychology,withits
complicatedformsofbreathingforpsychicandspiritualdevelopment,etc.,Imustcall
yourattention,atthispoint,tothephilosophyunderlyingsomeoftheOriental
breathingpractices,forthesameisbasedonthesoundestscientificprincipals.The
Orientalphilosophyteachesthateachmentalandphysicalstateoftheindividualis
representedbyaspecialrhythmofbreath,therhythmandconditionalwaysbeingfound
together.Thementalorphysicalconditionwillinvariablymanifesttheparticularrhythm
23
ofbreath,whichbelongstoit;and,likewise(andthisisoneoftheoccultsecrets)the
deliberateassumptionofaparticularrhythmofbreathwillspeedilyresultinthe
manifestationoftheappropriatephysicalormentalcondition.
Youhavebuttoconsiderthesubjectforamoment,toseethatwhenyouarefrightened
orangry,youbreathewithadifferentrhythmthanwhenyouarecalmandpeaceful.
Eachemotion,upanddownthescale,hasitsownappropriaterhythmofbreath,which
invariablymanifestsatthesametime.Moreover,differentphysicalconditionslikewise
manifestincoordinatedbreathrhythms.Keepaclosewatchonyourself,andthose
aroundyou,andyouwillsoonseethattheabovestatementsoffactsarestrictlycorrect.
Youwillwonderwhyyounevernoticedthephenomenabefore.
Alittlelessknown,even,isthecorrelatedfactthatthedeliberateassumptionoracting
outoftheparticularbreathrhythmrelatedtoaparticularemotion,willresultina
speedyexperiencingoftheemotionitself.Thisalsomaybetestedoutonyourself.
Youwillfindthatafewmomentsangerbreathorfearbreath(ifwellactedout,or
assumedfaithfully)willresultinyousoonexperiencingafeelingofangerorfear,asthe
casemaybe.Likewise,youwillfindthatthedeliberateassumption,onyourpart,ofthe
breathrhythmofpeace,calm,selfcontrol,willbesufficienttoinducethatparticular
stateoffeelinginyou.Thereisabighintinthislastsentence,bytheway,forthatis
exactlywhattheOrientalsagesdotoinduceandmaintainthementalstateof
philosophiccalmforwhichtheyarenoted.Inthisconnection,letusremindyouthat
whenyouareendeavouringtocontrolyourtemper,andtomaintainyourpose,under
extremeprovocation,youwillfindthatyouinstinctivelystrivetocontrolyourbreath
rhythm,whichshowsamarkedtendencytoflyoffintoastateofrapidpantingand
gasping.And,solongasyoucanmaintainyoursteadycontrolledrhythmofbreath,you
willmaintainyourpoiseandselfcontrol.
Well,tomakealongstoryshorttogetrightdowntothegistofthesubjectofthe
absorptionofnerveforcethroughcontrolledbreathrhythmletmesaytoyou(1)that
thereisabreathrhythmwhichnatureusestorestorenerveforcetothedepleted
system,afteragreatdemanduponitinthedirectionofeitherastrongmentalor
emotionalstrain,orafteraseverephysicalstrain;and(2)thatadeliberateassumption
oractingoutofthisparticularbreathrhythmwillresultinyourbeingabletoquickly
absorbagreatlyincreasedsupplyofnerveforceforthepurposeofuseinpersonal
magnetismtorenderyoufullofphysicalmagnetism,infact.Doyoucatchthispoint?If
not,rereadtheaboveparagraph,severaltimes,untilyoufullygrasptheimportanceof
thestatementsthereincontainedfortheycompriseexactlyonehalfofthephilosophy
ofnerveforcegenerationandmuchmorebesidesifyouareabletograspit.
24
Younaturallyask,atthispoint:Whatisthisparticularbreathrhythmwhichnatureuses
toaidusinrecuperating,andwhichnatureusestoaidusingrecuperating,andwhich
maybeassumedwithsuchwonderfulresult?Verywell,letmeansweryoubyasking
youanotherquestion,namely:Howdoyoubreathewhenyoubegintorecuperatejust
afteraseveremotional,mentalorphysicalstrain,whenthecharacteristicfirstpanting
breathquietsdown?Ifyouwillconsidercarefully,youwillanswerthatyougenerally
beginbyoneortwolongdrawnoutsighingbreaths,followedbyaperiodofcalm,
deliberate,slow,deepbreaths.Youmaynothavenoticedit,buttheselastcalm,deep
breathsaremarkedbyaslowbutregularrhythmasregular,indeed,astheslowswing
ofthependulumofalargeclock,ortheaccompanyingtickthereof.Youwillfindthat
thisslow,regularrhythmicbreathcontinuesforsomelittletime,untilyoufeelrefreshed
andreinvigorated,whenthebreathwilldropintothenormaleverydayrhythm,and
thetaskisover.
Well,thisisexactlythebreathrhythm,which,ifproperlyassumedandwellacted
out,willresultindrawingtoyouagreatlyincreasedsupplyofnerveforcefromthe
universalstorehouseofthesame,i.e.,theatmospherearoundyou.
Iaskyou,student,topauseathispoint,andrereadtheprecedingparagraph.Considerit
carefully,rollitoverinourmind,untilyoufullygraspitstremendoussignificance,and
fullymakeityourownthought.Forinthosefewlinesiscondensedastatementof
wonderfultruth,which,iftakenadvantageof,willtransformyouintoaverygiantof
physicalmagnetism.Donotproceedwiththisreading,untilyouhavefullygraspedthe
importanceoftheinformationjustgivenyou.
Butdonotimaginethatyoucanjumpatonceintothisgreatpower.Youmustfirst
graduallyacquiretheexactrhythmforyourselfforIcandonomorethantoindicateit
toyou.Icannotsay,Breatheinjustsomanyseconds;holdthebreathjustsomany;and
thenbreatheoutjustsomany,andsoon,asmanyteachershavedonesomewho
shouldhaveknownbetter,forthatmatter.Foreachpersonhashisorherownparticular
breathrhythmofthiskind,thedifferencearisingfrommentalorphysicalformationand
characteristics.
Thefollowingistheruletheonlyruleinthismatter:Ascertain,first,theprecise
breathrhythmwhichnaturehasgivenyouforuseinmomentsofrecuperationafter
extrememental,emotionalorphysicalstrain;andthen,second,practicethesame
voluntarilybyassuming,oractingoutthementalandphysicalconditionsproducingit,
untiltherhythmbecomesfixedinyourmemory,sothatyoucaneasilyreproduceit,
instinctively,whenyouwish.Readthisruleoveruntilyouthoroughlyunderstandit.
25
Youwillfinditsomewhatdifficulttoassumeoractouttheconditionsproducingthe
rhythm,atfirst,unlessyouhappentobeanaturalorwelltrainedactor.Butkeeptrying,
untilyoumasterit.Practicewillmakeperfect,inthisasineverythingelse,remember.
Mentallyplaceyourselfinthesamevibrationsaswhenyouwereundersomegreat
strainofmind,emotionorbody,inthepast;andyouwillfindthatthesamewillbe
followedbyanactingoutoftheperiodofrecuperation,withitsaccompanimentof
appropriatebreathrhythm.Eachstudentwillmanagethisinhis,orher,ownway,and
willgettheresult,ifpersistent,perseveringeffortweremade.
Youwillfindthatthefirstindicationoftherecuperatingbreathrhythmwillusuallybea
longdrawnoutsigh,followedbyamomentofrest,which,inturn,isfollowedbyaneasy,
thoughdeep,slow,deliberatesuccessionofinbreathingandoutbreathing,inperfect
rhythm,whichwillbeaccompaniedbyafeelingofincreasedstrengthandvitality,of
mindandbodydelightedtoexperienceisthefeelingofreliefandfreshvigor,vitality
andvimwhichresultsfromthisbreathrhythm.
Inpracticingthisrecuperativebreathrhythmforthepurposeofresting,gaining
strength,orincreasingyourstoreofnerveforce,donotfallintothetoocommonerror
ofartificialrhythmicbreathing.Donotmakethemistakeoftryingtocounttheseconds
ofthebreath;ortomakethebreathsextendneitheroveraparticulartime,norto
exactlymatcheachother;ortoretainthebreathanyspecialtime;nortocounttime
betweenbreaths;oranythingofthatkid.Forgetallabouttheartificialstandards,and
giveyourselfupentirelytoapeaceful,calmfeelingofreliefandrecuperation,which
naturewillbestowuponyouifyouwillcreatetherightconditionsforthemanifestingof
herpower.Donotbeartificialtrustnaturetorunthethingarightandleave
everythinginherhands.
Donotbotheratthispoint,towonderjusthowmanytimesadayyoumustpracticethis
exerciseinordertogainphysicalmagnetismandabsorbnerveforce.Thatpointwillbe
coveredinalatterchapter,inconnectionwiththeaccompanyingprocessofnerveforce
distributionthesolethingbeforeyounowistolearnhowtoproducethisbreath
rhythm,andtopracticeuntilyoucanproduceitatwill,easilyandnaturally,without
effortorstraininstinctively,infact.Untilyouaccomplishthis,thereisnouseofyour
botheringyourselfaboutthesucceedingstages.
And,nowawordaboutpracticingthisstep.Donotoverdothethingmakehastslowly.
Itisamatterofgrowthanddevelopmentwithyou,andyoushouldnottrytorushthings
toorapidly.Letnatureproceedtomaketheprocessinstinctive,anddonotfallintothe
mistakeofpullinguptherootsofourplantinordertoseewhetherithasgrown
overnight.Itwillgrow.Neverfear.Youwillknowwhenyouareontherighttrack,and
26
willbeawareofyourprogress,byreasonofyourincreasingsenseofvigor,vitalityand
vim.
Remember,finally,thatthesecretofthewholethisisthatyouhavediscoveredhow
naturerecuperatesthesystemintimesofextremenecessity;andhavethenlearnedhow
todrawuponthissourcesofenergyatwill,therebyincreasingthesupplyfarabovethe
ordinary.Itisjustasifyouhaddiscoveredabottlecontainingtheelixirofenergywhich
kindMotherNatureusestorecuperateyouintimesofneed;andthenyouhadlearned
thatyoucouldpartakeoftheelixir,daily,orwheneveryoufeltlikeit;andwere
consequentlyenabledtoincreaseyourenergyandvitalityfarabovetheaverage.The
comparisonorfigureofspeechisnotexaggeratedforinthissecretyouhaveindeed
discoveredtheelixirofvitality,vigorandvim;thatis,ifyouuseitaright.
27
ChapterVII:
DistributingNerveForce
IntheprecedingChapterIhavegivenyougeneralinstructionsregardingthefirstphase
ofnerveforcebymeansofcertainformsofrhythmicbreathing.Inowproceedtothe
generalinstructionregardingthesecondphaseofnerveforcegeneration,namely,the
distributionoftheabsorbednerveforcetothenervoussystem,andparticularlytothe
greatreservoirsofnerveforce.
Thisprocessofnerveforcedistributionnaturallyfollowsdirectlyafterthatofnerve
forceabsorption,thetwobeingcoordinatedphasesofoneofnaturesrecuperative
processes.Justasistheprocessoftherecuperativebreathrhythm,natureswayof
restoringtothesystemafreshsupplyofnerveforcetoreplacethatusedintheextra
ordinarymental,emotionalorphysicalstrainprecedingit,soistheprocessofnerve
forceabsorptionanother(ortwin)methodofnaturetodistributetheabsorbednerve
forcetoallpartsofthebody,strengtheningandinvigorating,vitalizingandstimulating,
eachandeverypartofthebody,andatthesametimestoringupinthegreatreservoirs
ofthenervoussystemareservesupplyofnerveforcefortimesoffutureneed.
Againyouask:Whatisnatureswayofdistributingtheabsorbednerveforce,asabove
stated,whichalsoisthewayinwhichyoustatestudentsofpersonalmagnetismmay
distributetheirabsorbednerveforceorphysicalmagnetism?Asinthecaseofthe
previousquestion,Ianswer,Gotonatureherself,anddiscoverhermethod.Letusthen
doso.
Investigatingnaturesmethodofdistributingphysicalmagnetismornerveforce,whatdo
wefindnaturedoingjustafterthepersonisexhaustedbymental,emotionalorphysical
exertionthatis,inadditiontothepeculiarbreathrhythm.Answer:Wefind,
accompanyingthelongdeepsighprecedingthebreathrhythm,andalso,followingthe
rhythmicbreathing,atendencytostretchthemusclesofthebody.Notonlydowe
noticethisphenomenonatsuchtimes,butalsoitistobeobservedwhenweawakenin
themorningwithayawn,followedbyaninstinctivestretchingofthemuscles.We
observethesamethingafterwehaveusedupnerveforceinlistening,reading,studying,
etc.infact,inanyaction,whichhasrequiredconcentratedattention.Itisalwaysthe
yawn,thedeepsigh,themeasuredbreath,and,finally,thestretchingofthemuscles.
Now,donotdismissthismatterwithatriflingjest,oranamusedsmileforthis
stretchingofthemusclesinoneofnaturesmostimportantoffices.Itisnaturesown
favoritewayofdistributingtoallpartsofthebodythenerveforcebeingabsorbedinto
28
thesystem.Itisnaturesownwayofsendingavitalizingandinvigoratingcurrenttothe
placesinwhichitisneeded.And,moreover,ifwewilltakeherseriously;examinethe
meaningofherprocess;andthenintelligentlyapplythesameinourworkofdeveloping
physicalmagnetism,wewillhavegainedanimportantsecretofnature,andonewhich
wewillnotbewillingtopartwith,onceitisappliedandturnedtoaccount.
Inthefirstplacethisstretchingissomethingfarmorethanamanifestationoflaziness,
weariness,orfatigue.Itisaninstinctiveactionresultingfromnaturesrecognitionofthe
needofafreshsupplyofnerveforce,andherrushtosupplytheneededenergy.Donot
mistakeandconfusecausesandeffectsinthismatter.
Youwillnotice,incasesofcompletestretching,atwofoldmotion,viz.:(1)An
extensions;and(2)atensingorcontractionofthemuscles,inthedirectionofdrawingin
theextendedlimbsorpartsofthebody.Nownotethis,bothofthesemotionsareforms
oftensingorcontractingthemuscles.Theextensionmovementsresultfromthe
tensionorcontractingoftheoppositesetofmuscles.Theprincipalmusclesofthebody
arearrangedinopposingsets,onebeingusedtopushout,andtheothertodrawin,the
limborportionofthebody.Youmayalwayscountonthepresenceoftheseopposing
setsofmuscles.Whenintheprocessofstretchingyoufirstextend,andthendrawinthe
limbs,yourallyaretensingbothoftheopposingsets,inturn.Forwhatpurpose?Letus
see.
Naturespurposeintensingtheopposingmuscles,intheabovestatedcaseseemstobe
thatofsqueezingoutsomethingfromthemuscles.Andthatisexactlywhatitisa
squeezingoutofsomething.Ofwhat?Oftheold,stale,weakenednerveforceof
physicalmagnetism.Why?Towhatend?Totheendthatthesupplyoffresh,vital,
strongnerveforceorphysicalmagnetismmayrushintotaketheplacethereof.
Thisisequallytrueinthecaseofthebrainexhaustion,nerveexhaustion,ormuscle
exhaustingforthebraincells,thenervesthemselves,andthemusclesarekept
vitalizedandinvigoratedbythesameformofenergy,comingfromthesamesource.
Moreover,thefreshsupplyofnerveforcepouringintothemusclesandcells,fromthe
greatnerveforcereservoirsofthenervoussystem,leavethelattermoreorless
depleted,andcausethemtocallforafreshadequatesupplyfromtheuniversalsource.
Inshort,thestretchingprocesssetsintooperationthewholemachineryofthe
distributionofthesystemssupplyofnerveforce,andresultsinthewholenervous
mechanismbeinggiveanewimpetus.
29
Thisisthesecretofthepersonalmagnetismadeptsmethodofdistributingafresh
supplyofphysicalmagnetismornerveforcetoallpartsofthesystem,atwillthus
renderinghimselfaveritabledynamoofphysicalmagnetism,ifhesodesires.
Butthereismoretothismethodofthestudentthanmereordinarystretching,Iassure
you.Theordinarystretchingissimplyanelementaryformofnerveforcedistribution.I
shallcallyourattentiontoanextensionof,andimprovementupon,theelementary
method.Youhaveprobablyheardofthatfromofcalisthenicsgenerallyknownasthe
tensingexercises.Well,inthatsystemyoumayfindtheseedofamuchmoreefficient
system.Thetensingsystemofcalisthenicsistaughtforthepurposeofexercisingthe
musclesonlythisandnothingmore.Ithasbeenfoundtobringaboutthegreatest
results,andtogreatlydevelopthemusclesandbenefitthegeneralsystem.Why?Oh
justexercise,repliesthephysicalculturist.Butweknowbetter,forwhilewerealizethe
benefitobtainedfromthesesensibleexercisesalone,wealsounderstandhowsucha
rationalcourseofexercisemustresultingreatlyinvigoratingtheentiresystem,by
distributingthenerveforce,andasaconsequencebringingabouttheabsorptionofa
freshsupplytothegreatreservoircentersofthenervoussystem,dowenot?
Wehavethreedecidedpointsofadvantageoverthetensingexerciseschool,as
follows:(1)Weprecedeourtensingexercisesbyrhythmicbreathingexercises,thus
bringingtoourreservoirsafreshsupplyofmagnetismornerveforce;(2)weproceed
leisurelyandalmostlazily,ourideabeingthatofstretchingasopposedtotheideaof
vigorousexercisebytensing,thelatterbeingheldbythetensingexerciseschool;and
(3)weunderstandtherealreasonforthetensing,andhenceareabletoapplyit
intelligently,insteadofinahitormissstyle.
Theadditionoftherhythmicbreath,ofcourse,givesanewandnovelimpetustothe
workofnerveforcedistribution;infactthelattercannotbeperfectlyperformed
withouttheformer.Thistheordinarytensingexercisepractitioneralmostentirely
misses,exceptinsofarashebecomesfatiguedbyhisvigorousexercise,andisforcedto
breatherhythmically,asaconsequence,therebyunconsciouslyobtainingatleastsome
ofthebenefitsoftherhythmicbreath.Theordinarytensingexercisestudent,oncegiven
ourkeyoftherhythmicbreath,isenabledtoattainresultsimpossibletohimbefore.He
seesagreatlight,asaconsequence.
Mystudentsofpersonalmagnetismproceedabouttheexercisesfordistributionof
nerveforce,orphysicalmagnetism,inanentirelydifferentmannerfromthatofthe
ordinarypractitionerofthetensingexercisesystems.Thelatterworkthemselvesintoan
exhaustedcondition,underthebeliefthattheirmuscleswillbecomebetterdeveloped
bysuchvigorousexercise.Asaconsequence,manyofthemwearoutasmuchasthey
30
acquire,ofmusculardevelopment.Mystudents,instead,pursueanythingbuta
strenuouscourseofexercisingintensing.Insteadofmovingvigorously,theyproceed
slowly,calmlyandalmostlazilyintensingthemuscles,inturnextendingandthen
drawingin.Theykeepbeforethem,allthetime;naturesownprocessesofstretching,
andmodeltheirmovementsentirelyuponthesame.Inthisway,asaconsequence,
thereinnoexhaustionorusingupofnerveforceortissuetoanymarkedextent,but,on
thecontrary,thereisaconstanttakinginanddistributionofmagnetismfromthe
centerstotheparts,andconsequentlyamarkedincreaseinvigor,vitalityandvim.The
differencecanbeunderstoodperfectlyonlywhenonepracticesmyexercisesforhimself
orherself.
Finally,itfollowsthatamuchgreatereffectisobtainedbyonewhopracticesanyformof
exercises,understandingly,andwithfullknowledgeofthewhyaswellasthehowof
thethingofthetheoryaswellasthepractice.Whenoneknowsjustwhatheisabout,
andjustwhathewishesandexpectstoobtain,thenhehasgainedhalfofthebattle.
Lackingthisknowledge,hewastesenergyandeffort,anddoesmuchthathadbetterbe
leftundone,whileleavingundonemuchthatshouldbedone.Verily,knowledgeis
powerinthiscase,asinmanyothers.
Itissomewhatamusing,thoughsad,toseethesetensingexercisepeopleusing
themselvesupinvigorousexercising,and,atthesametime,losingninetenthsofthe
benefitsgainedbythosepracticingthelazystretchingexercises,accompaniedbythe
rhythmicbreath,astaughttomystudents.
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ChapterVIII:
NerveForceExercises
Ishallnowinstructyouinthedirectionofcertainformsofexercisedesignedtogenerate
nerveforce,orphysicalmagnetism,bothinthephaseofabsorptionandthatof
distribution,accordingtothegeneralprinciplessetforthintheprecedingchapters.
Absorption.Theexercises,themselves,aredesignedtogiveafreeandfulldistribution
tothenerveforceorphysicalmagnetism,butthestudentmustalwaysrememberthat
beforethenerveforcemaybedistributeditmustfirstbeabsorbed.Theabsorption,of
course,isperformedbymeansofthebreathrhythm,accordingtotheinstruction
alreadygivenyou.
IMPORTANT:Rememberthateveryseriesofdistributionexercisesmustbepreceded,
andfollowed,bythepracticeoftherhythmicbreathforafewmoments.Itwillalsobe
foundbeneficialandusefultointerjectashortperiodofrhythmicbreathinginbetween
theseexercises,fromtimetotime.Youwillsoondiscovertheneedofthis,fromyour
ownfeelings.Afteryouhavegainedfamiliarityandeaseinpracticingthedistribution
exercises,youwillfindyourselfbecomingverysensitivetotheinflowofthenerveforce
duringthebreathrhythmexercise,andinashorttimewillknowbyyourfeelingsexactly
whenyouneedtoabsorbmorenerveforceduringtheexercise.
AtthispointIwishtoagainremindthestudentthatoneofthemainfeaturesofmy
nerveforceexercisesisthatoftheentireabsenceofartificiality,andthepresenceof
naturalness.Idonotgivesetformsofbreathing,tobepracticedjustsooften,forso
manyminutesatatime.Instead,Igivethegeneralprinciplesofthemethodthewhy
aswellasthehowandthenbidthestudenttobegovernedentirelybyhisown
instinctsinthematterofthedurationofexercises,andfrequencyofthesame.
Afterashorttimethestudentwillfallintothenaturalhabit,justashedoesintothe
habitsofeatinganddrinking,andhewillknowexactlywhenheshouldpracticenerve
forcegeneration,andhowlongheshouldcontinuetheexercises.
KeepthewordsBeNaturalbeforeyourmind,andyouwillmakenomistake.Never
overdotheexercises,orforceyourselftoperformthemwhenyoudonotfeellikeit.
Avoidanythingapproachingartificialityinthematter.Sometimesyoumaygoalongtime
withoutpracticingandagainyoumayfeeltheneedofthesameveryoftenineither
casefollownaturesurgings.Again,youmayfeelliketakingbutamomentsexercisesat
atimeliketakingasipofwater,whileonotheroccasionsyouwillfeelliketakingalong
32
spellofexerciseliketakingadeepdraughtofwaterwhenyouhappentobevery
thirstyfollownatureinbothinstances.
STRETCHINGEXERCISE.Iwillbeginbycallingyourattentiontoaformofexercisewhich
consistsofintelligentsimplestretching,butwhichformofexercisewillbefoundvery
beneficial.Thereareavarietyofformsofthisexercise.Iwillgiveyouafewgeneral
forms,andyoumaythenenlargeonthese,andinventcombinations,variations,etc.
I.Lyingonyourback,extendyourarmsupwardoveryourhead,totheirfullextent
stretchthemouteasilybutthoroughlyasfarastheywillgo.Thenslowlypullthemin.
Repeatseveraltimes.
II.Stretchthearmssidewaysfromthebodyoutandthenin,severaltimes.
III.Stretchthelegsinthesameway,severaltimes.
IV.Stretchtheneckseveraltimes.
V.Stretchthehandandfingers,bymovingthehandsbackwardandforwardfromthe
wrist,clenchingandunclenchingthefist:openingandclosingthefingers.
VI.Stretchthefeetandtoes,inthesamegeneralmannerasinthecaseofthehandsand
fingers.
VII.Turnoverandlieonyourstomach,withthefacedownonthepilloworfloor,and
repeattheaboveexerciseinthisposition.Thiswillbringintoplayanumberofmuscles
notemployedintheformerposition.
VIII.Risetoyourfeetandstandwiththelegsspreadout,thefeetseveralfeetapart,with
armsextendedupwardandoutward.Thiswillbringyourbodyintothegeneralshapeof
theletterX.Thenrisetoyourtoesandstretchupwardasifyouweretryingtotouch
theceiling.
Repeatseveraltimes.
Youwillbesurprisedatthefeelingofrestandrenewedstrength,whichwillcometoyou
astheresultofthepracticingoftheabovesimplestretchingexercises.Andyet,simpleas
theyare,theseexercisesperformagreatwork.Youmustnotlosesightofthefactthat
whenyoutensethesemuscles,intheactofstretchingandthencontractingthelimbs,
youreallysqueezeouttheold,wornout,depletedmagnetism,andabsorbinitsplace
afreshsupplyofvigor,vitalityandvimfromthegreatreservoirsofthenervoussystem.
33
Carryinyourmindtheideaofthesponge,whichinordertoabsorbfullyasupplyof
freshwater,mustfirstbethoroughlysqueezedout.Theprocessoftheabsorptionand
distributionofnerveforceisverycloseindeedtotheprocessofthesqueezingoutand
refillingofthesponge.Thefollowingtensingexercisesarereallybutanextensionof
thestretchingexercises,moreelaborateandcomplicated,butembodyingthesame
principle.Theyareusefulinenergizingtheseveralpartsofthebody,whicharenot
activelyenergizedbythesimplestretchingexercises.
ShouldersandChest.Standerect;feetclosetogether;armsatsides.Thendrawforward
yourshoulders,asfarfrontastheywillgo.Holdthepositionamoment,andthenslowly
presstheshouldersbackasfarastheywillgo.Thiswilltendtoenergizetheshoulders
andchest.
Thechestmayalsobeenergizedbytakingafewdeep,fullbreaths,whichwillinflatethe
lungsandthusextendthechest.Theshouldersmayalsobeenergizedbyraisingthem
upwardinashrugandthenslowlyloweringthemtooriginalposition.
Arms,Wrists,andHands.Anysimpleexercise,whichwillextendandthencontractthe
armmuscles,willservetoenergizethearms.Twistingthemfirstonewayandthen
anotherwilldolikewise.Twistingthewristandmovingthehandslooselybackwardand
forwardfromthewristtendstoenergizeseveralveryimportantmusclesandnervesin
thispartofthebody.
Clenchingandunclenchingthehandswillenergizethehandsandfingers.Spreadingout
thefingersfanshapeandthendrawingthemtogetherwillenergizethefingers
thoroughly.
Legs,Feet,andToes.Followthegeneralideaofthearmandhandexercises,just
mentioned,inthecaseofthelegs,feetandtoes.Squattingenergizesthethighs.
Raisingupthetoesandthenloweringtooriginalpositionenergizesthecalvesofthe
legs.Thestandingstillrunisagoodgenerallegenergizer.
Neck.Movetheneckforward,asfarasitwillgo,thenbackward,asfarasitwillgo;then
sideways,totheright,asfarasitwillgothentotheleftinthesameway;thentwistto
therightasfarasitwillgo,thentotheleftinthesamemanner.Thesearesplendidneck
energizers.Thereareimportantnervesrunningthroughtheneck,whichareenergized
bytheseexercises.
TwistingandBending.Whatmaybecalledatwistingofthedifferentpartsofthebody
servestoenergizethepartsverywellindeed.Inthesameway,bendingexercisesare
good.
34
Notonlymaythelegsandarmsbetwistedeasilyandeffectively,buttheentiretrunkof
thebodymaybeequallyeffectivelytwistedbystandingerectwithfeet,sayeightorten
inchesapart,toesout,andarmshangingeasilybythesides;theneasilytwistingthe
bodytotheright,theneck,trunkandthighsbeingcarriedasfarastheywillgo;then
twistingtotheleftinthesamemanner;repeatingseveraltimes.Bendingthebodyto
theright,thentotheleft,thenforward,thenbackward,isagoodenergizer.
InaNutshell.Theforegoingexercisesmightbeelaboratedintoabookbyitselfbut
whatstheuse?Ihavegivenyouinanutshellthemainelementsoftheexercises,and
youmaydotheelaboratingyourself.Infact,Icansumupthegeneralprinciplesofthe
exercisesinthreewords,viz.:STRETCHING,TWISTING,AndBENDING.Thinkoverthese
threewords,andyouwillseethatifyouwillapplythemineverypossiblewaytothe
variouspartsofthebody,youwillhaveawholesystemoftensingexercisesatyour
command,withoutpurchasingexpensivetextbooksonthesubject.And,also,remember
thatinanyandallofthesocalledtensingexercisessystemsistobefoundthebest
possibleprincipleofnerveforcedistributionalways,however,rememberingtoinclude
therhythmicbreathingaccordingtomypreviouslygiveninstructions.Now,gettowork
andexerciseyouringenuityindevisingvariationsandcombinationsofthestretching,
twistingandbendingprinciples.Thiswillenergizeyourmindaswellasyourbody.
EnergizingtheSolarPlexus.TheSolarPlexusliesexactlybehindthepitofthestomach.
Itmaybeenergizedbypracticingadrawinginoftheabdominalmuscles.Thismay
provealittledifficultatfirst,butalittlepracticewillmakeperfect.Drawtheabdominal
musclesinwardandupwardseveraltimesateachexercise.
TheSacralPlexus.TheSacralPlexusisanotherimportantplexus,orgreatcenterof
nerveforce.Itislocatedinfrontofthelowerpartofthespinalcolumnintheregionof
thehips.Itmaybeenergizedbyaspecialstretching,bendingandtwistingofthat
particularregionofthebody.
Incaseofimpairedvitalityorgeneralweakness,alittleextraenergizingofthesetwo
plexusmaybefoundveryadvantageousandbeneficial,astheydirectlyaffectlarge
regionsofthebody,andimportantorgans.
35
ChapterIX:
ProjectingNerveForce
AtthebeginningofChapterIV,Istatedthatthephysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetism
dependsupontwocoordinatedmanifestationsofnerveforce,namely:(1)The
generationofnerveforce;and(2)theconsciousprojection,bythewill,ofthatsupplyof
nerveforceintothepersonalatmosphere,andeventoagreaterdistanceunderspecial
conditions.Ihaveinstructedyouregardingthephaseofnerveforcegeneration.Letus
nowconsiderthesecondphase,i.e.,thatoftheprojectionofthesame.
Ofallofthementalforcesoftheindividual,thewillisthemostpowerful,andatthe
sametimetheoneleastunderstood.Itishardeventodefinethewill.Enoughforour
purposetorealizethatitisthepowerwithinthemindwherebymanisabletodothings.
Notonlydoesmandotheordinarythingsoflifebymeansofthewill,butalsoheisable
todosomeextraordinarythingswhenhelearnshow.
Theoldoccultistfullyrealizedthemightypowerofthewillofman;andtheirteachings
conveysomeveryvaluableinformationonthissubject.Oneoftheirteachingswasthat
bytheuseofhiswillmanisablenotonlytoprojectthoughtwavesfromhismentality,
butthatheisalsoabletoconsciouslyprojecthisphysicalmagnetism,orvitalenergy,in
thesameway.Thediscoveriesofthemostadvancedstudentsofthesubject,inour
times,verifytheoldteachingsoftheoccultistsinthisrespect.ThesystemIamherein
teachingisthereforebasednotonlyontheadvanceddiscoveriesofmodernscience,but
alsoupontheworldoldteachingsoftheancientoccultists.Truthknowsnospecialage
ortimeitisthepropertyoftheages.
Theaveragemanprojectshisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,intohispersonal
atmosphere,oraura,moreorlessunconsciouslyjustashewalksorbreathes,forthat
matter.Hehasnaturallyacquiredthehabit,anddoesnotconcernhimselfaboutthe
matterinfact,heisusuallyunconsciousofandignorantoftheprocessitself.The
differencesinthedegreeofphysicalmagnetismprojectedorradiatedbysuchpersonsis
determinedsolelybythedegreeofnerveforcegeneratedbythem,inabsenceofany
specialpowerofprojection.
Thereisasecondclass,however,themembersofwhich,whilenotfullyinformedof
theirpowertoprojectphysicalmagnetism,nevertheless,bytheirhabitualuseofthewill
inthedirectionofimpressingothers,powerfully,thoughunconsciously,directwavesof
thenerveforceoutward,sothattheirpersonalatmospherebecomeswellchargedwith
it,andtheirinfluenceisfeltbythosecomingincontactwithit.Inthisclassofindividuals
36
willbefoundtheactive,energetic,masterfulmeninvariouswalksoflife,whodirect
othersratherthanaredirectedbyothers,whogiveordersratherthanreceivethem.
Thesemengenerallyradiateenoughphysicalmagnetismtomakeitselffeltbythosewith
whomtheycomeincontact,andaregenerallyfelttobestrongmen.Buteventhese
personsdonotmanifestthegreatestamountofphysicalmagnetism.
Thethirdclassofpersonsisthatcomposedofindividualswhohaveacquiredagreateror
lessknowledgeoffactthatphysicalmagnetismmaybeprojectedbeyondthelimitsof
thebrainorbody,andwhohavelearned,atleastinadegree,theartofsoprojectingit
bytheuseofthewill.Theseindividualsrangefromthosewhohaveacquiredmerelya
glimpseofthetruth,up,bydegrees,tothosewhomaybespokenofasMastersofthe
Art.Thislastnamedclassofpersonsarethosewhosepowerisreadilyfeltand
acknowledged,andwholeavetheirimpressionuponthosewhocomeincontactwith
them.
Theprojectionofthephysicalmagnetism,bythewill,is,inaway,averysimple
procedure,consistingoftwoprocesses,asfollows:(1)Thebeliefin,orrealizationof,
onespowerstosoprojecttheforce;and(2)theactualwillingorcommandingtheforce
tobeprojected.
Atfirstitmayseemsomewhatstrangetolearnthatbeliefhasanythingtodowiththis
matter,butalittleconsiderationwillexplainthisgenerallawofpsychology.Itisthisway:
Thewillneveractsinadirection,whichthemindbelievesimpossible.Onenevertriesto
reachthemoon,becausehismindrefusestobelievethathecandoitbutthechild,
believingthatitispossible,willusehiswilltomovehishandinthatdirection.The
disbeliefactsasabrakeonthewilldoyouseethepoint?
But,youmaysay,thebeliefofthechilddoesnotenablehimtoreachthemoon.
Certainlynot,butitcausedhiswilltooperatesoastomovethehand.Beliefdoesnot
necessarilyrenderaccomplishmentcertainbutitremovesthebarriersofdisbelief,the
latterpreventinganyaccomplishmentbythewill.Therearemanythingsthatwewould
beabletodoifwecouldonlybelievethatwecoulddobutdisbeliefactsasabrakeand
abarriertotheeffortsofthewill.Realizationofonespowerwilloftengainhalfthe
battleofaccomplishmentforhim.
Inthecasebeforeus,theoneneedsonlytobelieveenoughtomaketheattempt.Then,
eachtimetheattemptismade,andoneperceivesaresult,thetaskbecomeseasierfor
thenexttime.And,atlast,thesenseoffullrealizationofthepowerofthewilldawns
upontheperson,andafterthattherestiseasy.
37
Thesecondprocess,i.e.,theactualwilling,orcommanding,bythewill,issimplywhat
thewordsactuallysay.Howcanyouwillorcommandthephysicalmagnetismto
moveintoyourpersonalatmosphere,andenergizeit?Willitobeyme?youask.
Certainlyitwill.Andthewillingorcommandingissimplyeffortthesamethatyou
employ,instinctively,whenyouwillorcommandthatyourhandberaised.Whatmakes
thehandrise?Ithasnopowertoraiseitself,neitherhavethemusclesanysuchpowerin
themselves.ItisonlywhenyouWILLittomove,thatthingsbegintomove.Themere
willingsendsacurrentofnerveforceoverthenerves,andintothemuscles,andthe
handrises.Soundssimple,doesntit?Andyetitisoneofthemostwonderfulthingsin
theworldonlywehavegrownsoaccustomedtoitthatwefailtonotethewonderofit
all.
Thecommandofthewilltothephysicalmagnetismactsinthesamemannerasthe
commandofthewilltothehand.Now,righthere,isapointtoberemembered.Youdo
notmerelysaytothehandraiseup.Tryitonyourownhandsaytoitraiseup
withoutactuallywillingittorise,andnothinghappens,itisonlywhenyouaccompany
thecommandwiththemysteriouseffortofthewill,thatmovementoccurs.
IcannottellyouhowtomoveyourhandbywillingallthatIcansayisthatyoumust
WILLittorise,andyouwillunderstandexactlywhatImean.Well,thenWILLthephysical
magnetismtoflowoutintoyourpersonalatmosphere,justasyouwillthehandtorise,
andthethinghappens.
But,youmaysay,youcanseethehandmove,andknowwhetheryourcommandhas
beenobeyed,whileyoucannotseethephysicalmagnetismflow.Certainly,butyoucan
feelthemagnetismflow,andthusbecertainofit.
Theflowofphysicalmagnetismsoonbecomesperfectlyapparenttoaperson,andheis
ascertainofhisradiationasheisthatheisradiatingheatonawarmday.Itisoneof
thosethingswhichcannotwellbeexplained,butwhichisreadilyunderstoodbythose
whoexperienceit.
Tryityourself,andyouwillsoonbecomeconsciousoftheflowofnerveforcefromyou,
intothefieldofyourpersonalatmosphereoraura,toadistanceofseveralfeetonall
sidesofyou.Youwillbecomeawareoftheeffectofyourphysicalmagnetismupon
otherswhocomeincontactwithyou.Youwillbeabletoperceivethereactionand
responsetoyourstrongmagneticinfluenceonthem.Theywill,unconsciously,letyou
knowthattheyfeelthepowerofyourpresence,andacknowledgeyourstrength.You
willfindapuzzledexpressiononthepartofsomeofyouroldacquaintancesand
associateswhowillbedimlyconsciousthatthereissomethingdifferentaboutyou,
38
whichtheycannotexplainsatisfactorilytothemselves.Donot,however,makethe
mistakeofinformingthem,forthiswillinviteunpleasantcommentandcriticism,and
willalsotendtomakepersonsassumeadefensiveattitudetowardyouandevenan
offensiveone,perhapsinselfprotection.
Youwillalsobecomeawareofthehealingandstrengtheningeffectofyourmagnetism
upondelicateandsickpersonswhocomeincontactwithyou.Suchpersonswillfeel
strengthenedbyyourpresence,andwilldislikeleavingyou.Youmayexperiencesome
difficultyinpreventingthemfromattachingthemselvestoyou,andseekingtoliveon
yourmagnetism.Butwhenyoulearntheartofusingthemindforce,ormental
magnetism,youwillbeabletoshakethemoffwhennecessary.Inthemeantime,you
maydomuchgoodbygivingthesepersonsmagnetictreatments,eitherbyconsciously
directingastreamofmagnetismtowardsthembytheuseofthewillorbytheuseof
thehand.Yourmagnetismwillflowfreelyoutofyourhands,andwillinvigorateweak
persons,tendtoremovepainfulconditions,etc.Alittleexperiencewillmakeyoua
magnetichealerifyoushouldsodesire.
Inthismatterofhandshaking,youwillnoticestrangethings.Personswhotakeyour
handwillbeimpressedbysomethingstrangeandpowerfulaboutyou,foryour
magnetismwillflowouttowardthemandthroughtheirbody,sometimesinamost
markedmanner,butmoreofteninaneasycurrent.
Youmayprojectyourphysicalmagnetisminadirectcurrent,quiteadistancefromyour
body,bythesimpleeffortofyourwill,whenonceyouhavelearnedthelittlepointsof
practicebyrepeatedtrials.
Ishallnotspeakatthisplaceoftheuseofthephysicalmagnetisminconnectionwith
thementalcurrents,forthattopicwillbetakenupinalaterchapter,orchaptersrather.
Butdonotwaituntilthattimetopracticegettoworkandpracticewiththephysical
magnetism,now,sothatyouwillhaveitwellinhandwhenyoureceivethehigher
instructionregardingthementalcurrents.Plantyourfeetfirmlyoneachstepofthe
ladderthenyouwillnotslipwhenclimbing.Doyouseethepoint?
39
ChapterX:
MentalRadiation
Leavingforthemomentthephaseofphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,andentering
intoaconsiderationoftheotherphase,namely,thatofmentalmagnetismorthought
force,letusfirsttakeageneralglanceatthereportofthemostadvancedscienceofthe
day,uponthesubjectofthephenomenaofmentalradiation.
Itwillbewellforyoutofeelfullyconvincedoftherealityofthisphenomenon,before
youundertaketomanifestthepower.Thisnotonlytomaintainconsistencyandmental
honestyonyourownpart,butalsothatyoumayridyourselfofanydoubtorunbeliefin
thematter,theresultofsuchdoubtorunbeliefbeingtointerposeabarrierorbrake
uponthewill,aswehavestatedinaprecedingchapter.
Listentothefollowingwordsfromthepenofoneofehworldsgreatscientists,
ProfessorOchorowicz,whohascreatedsuchawonderfulstirhereinParisbyhis
demonstrationsofpracticalpsychology,mentalphotography,etc.ProfessorOchorowicz
says:Everylivingbeingisadynamicfocus.
Adynamicfocustendsevertopropagatethemotionthatispropertoit.Propagated
motionbecomestransformedaccordingtothemediumittraverses.Motiontends
alwaystopropagateitself.
Therefore,whenweseeworkofanykindmechanical,electrical,nerve,orpsychic
disappearwithoutvisibleeffect,then,oftwothings,onehappens,eitheratransmission
oratransformation.Wheredoesthefirstend,andwheredoesthesecondbegin?
Inanidenticalmediumthereisonlytransmission.Inadifferentmediumthereis
transmission.Yousendanelectriccurrentthroughathickwire.Youhavethecurrent,
butyoudonotperceiveanyotherforce.Butcutthatthickwireandconnecttheendsby
meansofafinewire;thefinewirewillgrowhot;therewillbeatransformationofapart
ofthecurrentintoheat.
Takeaprettystrongcurrentandinterposeawirestillmoreresistant,oraverythin
carbonrod,andthecarbonwillemitlight.
Apartofthecurrent,then,istransformedintoheatandlight.Thislightactsinevery
directionaroundabout,firstvisiblyaslight,theninvisiblyasheatandelectriccurrent.
Holdamagnetnearit.Ifthemagnetisweakandmovable,intheformofamagnetic
40
needle,thebeamoflightwillcauseittodeviate;ifitisstrongandimmovable,itwillin
turncausethebeamoflighttodeviate.
Andallthisfromadistance,withoutcontact,withoutspecialconductors.
Aprocessthatisatoncechemical,physicalandpsychicalgoesoninabrain.Acomplex
actionofthiskingispropagatedthroughthegraymatter,aswavesarepropagatedin
water.Regardedonitsphysiologicalside,anideaisonlyavibration,avibrationthatis
propagated,yetwhichdoesnotpassoutofamediuminwhichitcanexistassuch.Itis
propagatesasfarasothervibrationsallow.Itispropagatedmorewidelyifitassumesthe
character,whichsubjectivelywecallemotive.Butitcannotgobeyondwithoutbeing
transformed.
Nevertheless,likeforceingeneral,itcannotremaininisolation,itescapesindisguise.
Thoughtstaysathome,asthechemicalactionofabatteryremainsinthebattery,itis
representedbyitsdynamiccorrelate,calledinthecaseofthebatteryacurrent,andin
thecaseofthebrainIknownotwhat;butwhateveritsnamemaybe,itisthedynamic
correlateofthought.Ihavechosenthetermdynamiccorrelate.Thereissomething
morethanthat;theuniverseisneitherdeadnorvoid.
Aforcethatistransmittedmeetsotherforces,andifitistransformedonlylittlebylittle
itusuallylimitsitselftomodifyinganotherforceatitsowncost,thoughwithout
sufferingperceptiblythereby.Thisisthecaseparticularlywithforcesthatarepersistent,
concentrated,wellsecondedbytheirmedium.Itisthecasewiththephysiological
equilibrium,nerveforce,psychicforce,ideas,emotions,andtendencies.Thesemodify
environingforces,withoutthemselvesdisappearing.Theyareimperceptibly
transformed,and,ifthenextmanisofanatureexceptionallywelladaptedtothem,they
gainininductiveaction.
Variousothereminentscientistshavetestifiedtothegeneralresemblanceofthebrain
toanelectricalormagneticbatteryorcellgroup.ProfessorBainhassaid:Thestructure
ofthenervoussubstances,andtheexperimentsmadeuponthenervesandnerve
centers,establishbeyonddoubtcertainpeculiaritiesasbelongingtotheforcethatis
exercisedbythebrain.Thisforceisofacurrentnature;thatistosay,apowergenerated
atonepartofthestructureisconveyedalonganinterveningsubstanceanddischarged
atsomeotherpart.Thedifferentformsofelectricityandmagnetismhavemadeus
familiarwiththiskindofaction.
ProfessorDrapertellsusthat:Ifindthecerebrumisabsolutelyanalogousin
constructiontoanyothernervousarc.Itiscomposedofcentripetalandcentrifugal
41
fibers,havingalsoregisteringganglia.Ifinothernervousarcsthestructureismerely
automatic,andcandisplaynophenomenaofitself,butrequirestheinfluenceofan
externalagenttheopticalapparatusinertsaveundertheinfluenceoflight,the
auditorysaveundertheimpressionofsoundthecerebrum,beingpreciselyanalogous
initselementarystructure,presupposestheexistenceofsomeagenttoactthroughit.
Dr.haddocksays,inconnectionwithhisconsiderationoftheideathatthoughtmaybe
communicatedthoughethervibrations:Theetherisacceptedbyscienceasareality,
andasamediumforlight,heatelectricity,magnetism,etc.Thenervoussystemis
certainlycomparabletoanelectricbatterywithconnectingwires.Communicationof
thoughtandfeelingwithoutthemediationofsenseperceptionascommonly
understood,isnowestablished.
Inanimateobjectsexert,nowandthen,strangeinfluences.Peoplecertainlycarrywith
themapersonalatmosphere.Therepresentationoftheconditionofthesefactsbya
psychicfield,comparedtothemagneticorelectricfield,becomes,therefore,ifnot
plausible,atleastconvenient.Assuchafieldexistssurroundingthesun,somayafield
beassumedassurroundingeachhumanindividual.Wehavealreadystronggroundsfor
believingthatweliveinamediumwhichconveystoandfromovementstousfromthe
sun,andthatthesemovementsareelectromagnetic,andthatallthetransformationof
lightandheat,andindeedthephenomenaoflife,areduetotheelectricalenergywhich
comestousacrossthevacuumwhichexistsbetweenusandthesunavacuumwhich
ispervadedbytheether,whichisafitmediumforthetransmissionofelectromagnetic
wares.Bymeans,then,ofasimilartheoryappliedtomindandbrainandbody,wemay
findreasonableexplanationsofmanyotherwiseinsolublemysteriesoflife,and,whichis
ofmoreimportance,deducecertainsuggestionsforthepracticalregulationoflifeinthe
greatestindividualinterest.
HaddockalsoapprovinglyquotesthefollowingfromDr.M.P.Hatfield,anauthoritywith
whomI,personally,amnotfamiliar:Thearrangementofthenerveenvelopesissolike
thatofthebestconstructedelectricalcablesthatwecannothelpthinkingthatboth
wereconstructedtoconductsomethingverymuchalike.Iknowthattherearethose
whostoutlymaintainthatnerveforceisnotelectricity,anditisnot,inthesensethatan
electricalbatteryisthesamethingsasaliveman;butneverthelessnerveforceisclosely
alliedtothatwonderfulthingthatforthewantofabetterandclearerunderstandingwe
agreetocallelectricity.
Haddockadds:Allstatesofbodyandmindinvolveconstantmolecularandchemical
change.Thesuggestionarisesthatthebrain,withitsmillionsofcellsandits
inconceivablechangesinsubstance,mayberegardedasatransmittingandreceiving
42
battery.Thebrainbeingakindofbattery,andthenervesconductorsofreleasedstored
energytodifferentpartsofthebody,byakindofactionsimilartotheactionsof
electricityandmagnetism,itissuggestedthat,eitherbymeansoftheether,orofsome
stillfinerformofmatter,dischargesofbrainenergymaybeconductedbeyondthelimits
ofthebody.Ifthenervetrackcorrespondstowires,thisrefinedmediummay
correspondtotheetherfieldsupposedtobeemployedinwirelesstelegraphy.As
electricalmovementsareconductedwithoutwires,orothervisiblemedia,somaybrain
dischargesbeconveyedbeyondthemechanismofthebattery,withouttheintervention
ofnervesexcept,astheymayconstituteapartofthebattery.Generallyspeaking,such
dischargeswouldoriginateintwoways:bydirectmentalaction,orbymentalorphysical
statesperhapsbyacombination.
Intheabovequotations,therewillbefoundconstantreferencetovibrationsinthe
universalether.Thatthereisaplace,andplentyofroom,inthescaleofetheric
vibrationsforthevibrationsofmentalforce,maybeseenbyareferencetothefollowing
quotationsfromeminentauthorities:
ProfessorGrayhassaid:Thereismuchfoodforspeculationinthethoughtthatthere
existssoundwavesthatnohumanearcanhear,andcolorwavesoflightthatnoeyecan
see.Thelong,dark,soundlessspacebetween40,000and400,000,000,000,000
vibrationspersecond,andtheinfinityofrangebeyond700,000,000,000,000vibrations
persecond,wherelightceases,intheuniverseofmotion,makesitpossibletoindulgein
speculation.
ProfessorWilliamshassaid:Thereisnogradationbetweenthemostrapidundulations
ortremblingthatproduceoursensationofsound,andtheslowestofthosewhichgive
risetooursensationsofgentlestwarmth.Thereisahugegapbetweenthem,wide
enoughtoincludeanotherworldofmotion,alllyingbetweenourworldofsoundand
ourwordofheatandlight.Andthereisnogoodreasonwhateverforsupposingthat
matterisincapableofsuchintermediateactivity,orthatsuchactivitymaynotgiverise
tointermediatesensations,providedthereareorgansfrotakingupandsensifyingthese
movements.
ArecentwriterintheLondonPostsays,Theknowledgewegainbyexperimentbrings
hometouswhatamiserablyimperfectpieceofmechanismourbodiesare.Theearcan
detecttheslowfootedsoundvibrationsthatcometousattherateofbetween40and
40,000asecond.Butthewholeofspacemaybequiveringandpalpitatingwithwavesat
allsortsofvaryingspeeds,andoursenseswilltellusnothingofthemuntilwegetthem
comingtousattheinconceivablespeedof400,000,000,000,00asecond,whenagainwe
respondtothemandappreciatethemintheformoflight.
43
Anotherwriter,anAmericanpsychologist,carriesonthetalefromthispoint,asfollows:
Thefirstindicationsofwarmthcomeswhenthevibrationsreachtherateof
35,000,000,000,000persecond.Whenthevibrationsreach450,000,000,000,000the
lowestvisiblelightraymanifests.Thencomestheorangerays,thegoldenyellow,the
pureyellow,thegreenishyellow,thepuregreen,thegreenishblue,theoceanblue,the
cyanicblue,theindigo,andfinallytheviolet,thehighestdegreeoflightwhichthe
humaneyecanregister,andwhichoccurswhenthevibrationsreachtherateof
750,000,000,00,00persecond.Thencometheultravioletrays,invisibletohumansight,
butregisteredbychemicalmedia.InthisultravioletregionlietheXRaysandtheother
recentlydiscoveredhighdegreerays;alsotheactinicrayswhich,whileinvisibletothe
eye,registeronthephotographicplate,sunburnonesface,blisteronesnose,andeven
causeviolentexplosionsinchemicalsubstancesexposedtothem,aswellasactingon
thegreenleavesofplants,causingthechemicalchangeoftransformingcarbonicacid
andwaterintosugarandstarches.Theseformsofdarklight,thatis,lighttoofinetobe
perceivedbythehumaneye,arebutfaintindicationsoftheexistenceofstillhigherand
finervibrationsthefinerforcesofnature.
Oh,yes!ThereisplentyofspaceandroominNaturesscaleofforces,forthevibrations
ofmentalenergy,nerveforce,andpersonalmagnetism,whichcombinesthetwo.Itrust
thattheforegoingstatementsofscientificfacthaveclearedyourmindofanylurking
doubtsonthesubject.
44
ChapterXI:
MentalAttitudes
Inaprecedingchapter,Ihavestatedthatthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetism
consistsoftwocoordinatedmanifestationsofmentalpower,thefirstofwhichwasthe
holdingofcertainmentalstatesuntilthementalatmospherebecomeschargedwiththe
vibrationsoftheparticularmentalstates.Letusnowconsiderwhatarethesecertain
mentalstateswhicharetobeheld.
Inthefirstplace,thesementalstatesarenotsomuchanysetofparticularthoughts,
butratherarestatedmentalattitudesinrelationtooneselfandtheouterworldofmen.
Amansmentalattitude,iffirmlydefinedandasfirmlyheld,impressesitselfupon
everythingaroundtheman.Hislooksgrowtoconform;hisvoice;hiswalk;hisgeneral
appearance;allgrowtoreflecthisinnerstatesofmind.Moreover,hismental
atmospherebecomessochargedwithcertainvibrationsthatthosewhocomeincontact
withthemanactuallyfeelhismentalattitude,andadjustthemselvestoit.
Whoofuscannotrecallthesomeekandhumble,UriahHeepmentalattitude
manifestedbysomepersonsofouracquaintance?Whodoesnotrememberhaving
actuallyfeltthesneaky,foxymentalattitudeofcertainotherpersons?Andwhocan
forgetthebold,masterful,mentalattitudeofcertainsuccessfulmeninourfieldof
businessacquaintance?Eachoftheseclassesispossessedofamentalatmosphere,
whichrevealsitselfatoncetous,whenwemeetthem.
Ineedscarcelyurgeuponyoutheimportanceofproducinginyourselfthemost
desirablekindofpersonalatmosphere.And,asIhavesaid,thementalatmosphereisthe
directresultofthementalattitudeoftheperson,andreflectsthesameinevitably.Of
course,thementalattitudeofapersoniscomposedofavarietyofbeliefs,opinions,
views,ideals,etc.,andmustofnecessitybeofasomewhatmixedcharacter.Inthecase
ofthemajorityofpersons,thepersonalatmospherelacksforceandcharacterbecause
ofalackofanyparticularmentalcolor.But,inthecaseofthestrongindividualsofthe
race,itwillbefoundthatthereisalwaysastrongfixedmentalattitudeastrongdesire
whichcolorsallthethought;apowerfulambitionwhichgivestonetoalltherest;ora
firmresolvewhichfirestheentirementalcharacter.Thisstrongvibrationiscarriedout
intothepersonalatmosphere,anditsinfluenceisfelt,andmenreactthereto.
Inageneralway,mentalattitudesmaybedividedintotwoclasses,viz.:(1)positiveand
(2)negative.
45
Itisdifficult,atfirst,togivethekeynoteofeachofthesetwoclassesofmentalattitude,
butIcallyourattentiontothewordsofanAmericanwriter,inthisconnectionwhowell
says:Thatwhichtendstorenderonestrong,ispositive;thatwhichtendstorenderhim
weak,isnegative.IdonotthinkthatIcanimproveonthisdefinition,andIadviseyouto
adoptit,andtomeasureyourmentalattitudesbythatstandard.
Byallmeanscultivateanddevelopthepositives,andrestrictthenegatives,inyour
mentalmakeupsothat,intheend,yourmentalattitudemaybepositiveinsteadof
negativestronginsteadofweak.
Aninterestingthingaboutthecultivationofamentalattitude,isthatnotonlydoesthe
improvedmentalattitudetendtoimpressitselfuponotherswithwhomyoucomein
contact,butthatitalsotendstoimpressitselfuponyourownmentality,sothatyou
graduallybecomemoreandmorefixedinthementalattitude.
Mentalattituderesemblesyeast,inthesensethatifyouinsertasinglebitofthe
fermentinyourmind,itwillbegintowork,andgrowothercells,untilitfinallyfillsyour
entiremind.Ittendstoreproduceitself.Thisistrueofbothdesirableandundesirable
mentalideas,butandrememberthiswellhereisamosthopefulandencouraging
fact:apositiveideawilltendtokillanegativeone,soyouseeNatureisfightingonyour
side.Thebestwaytokillanddestroynegativementalideasandattitudesistoplanta
goodcropofpositiveintheirplaces,andthenencouragethefightthenegativeswillgo
undersurely.Itislikepouringfreshwaterintoabasinofdirtywaterintimethewater
willbecomeclear;or,again,likefloodingaroomwithsunshinethedarknesswillbe
destroyed.
Letustakealittleglanceattheprincipalpositivesandnegativesinthelistofmental
attitudes:
Positives:courage,masterfulness,activity,initiative,dynamicthought,selfesteem,
assertiveness,continuity.
Negatives:fear,slavishness,sluggishness,waitingfororders,staticthought,selfdistrust,
retreativeness,fickleness.
Thislistmightbeextendedmuchfurther,butIthinkthatyouwillhavecaughttheidea
bythistime.Runoverthelistofthestrongpositivequalitiesofthestrongmenofyour
acquaintanceandendeavortoreproducetheminyou.Runoverthelistofweak,
negativequalitiesoftheweakpersonsyouknowandendeavortocutthemoutof
yourmentalattitudes.
46
Inthisworkofbuildingupofmentalattitude,rememberthis:Thismindgrowsto
resemblethatuponwhichitfeeds,andtherefore,youshouldfeedyourmindwith
theverykindofideas,whichyouwouldliketohaveyourmentalattitudereflect.For
instance,ifyoudesireamentalattitudeofCourage,Determination,Masterfulness,
Success,etc.,youshouldreadstoriesinwhichthesepointsofcharacterarebroughtout;
youshouldfrequentthecompanyofthiskindofpersons;youshouldconstantlyholdin
yourmindtheIDEALofthethingsyouwishtodevelopinyourmentalattitude,andyou
willfindthatyouwillnaturallyfindintheouterworldthematerialthingscorresponding
tothem.And,rememberthis,avoidtheoppositeandnegativebooks,personsand
thoughts,asyouwouldpoisonoussnakes.
Itisastonishinghowquicklythemindwillrespondtothesteadfastholdingofthe
POSITIVEIDEAL,andthestimulatingenvironmentofPOSITIVEthings.Inashorttime,
therewillbesetupaninstinctivehabitofmind,whichwillselectthepositivethings
fromitsenvironmentandwillalsorejectthenegativethings.Trainyourmindtoselect
therightkindoffoodforitself,anditwillsoonacquirethehabitandperformthework
instinctivelywithoutanyspecialsupervisiononyourpart.Moreover,therewillbe
developedinyourmindthatwhichthatgiftedAmericanwriter,PrenticeMulford,once
calledTheAttractivePowerofThought,bymeansofwhichyouwilldrawtoyourself
thethings,persons,books,etc.,whichwillsupplyyouwiththeparticularkindofmental
foodbestfittedtotheIDEALyouarecarryinginyourmind.Ishallnotdiscussthislast
wonderfulphenomenon,butaskyoutorememberandapplythefact,nevertheless,for
itisoneofthegreatforcesofnature.
Finally,Iadviseyoutositdownandmakeacareful,full,andhonestchartofyourmental
characteristics,positiveandnegative.Then,placeaplussignbeforethepositives,and
minussignbeforethenegative.Theneverydayrunoveryourpluslist,andfixinyour
mindtheideathatthesepositivesMUSTbedeveloped;andthenegativesMUSTbe
restarted.Thedevelopmentofthepositiveswillcomeaboutbytheholdinginmindof
theidealofthemthustheywilldevelopandincrease,likeaselfmultiplyingcell.The
negativesmayberestrictedbydevelopingtheiroppositesfor;thisistheapplicationof
thelawthatpositiveskilloutnegatives.Uponthesetwogreatfundamentallawsof
practicalpsychology,onemaybuildacharacteratwill.Iwillrepeatthemoncemore,so
thatyouwillfixtheminyourmind.
I.Feedyourpositivequalitiesbyideasofthesamekind,inthoughts,books,persons,
environment,etc.
II.Restrictorkilloutyournegatives,bydevelopingtheirpositiveopposites.And,now,
forawonderfulplanofdevelopingapositivementalattitude.
47
Thisplanhasbeensuccessfullypracticedmymanyofmystudents,someofwhomstand
highinthelistoftheworldsgreatmen.
Itisthis:
Buildupforyourownuse,anIDEALPATTERNofthatwhichyouwishtobe.Mapout
exactlythecharacteristics,whichyouwishtobeyours.Thenpicture,inyourmindseye,
anindividualpossessedofjustthesequalitiesacompletemodel,orpattern,ofthat
whichyouwishtobe.Thenholdthatpatternormodel,constantlyinyourimagination.
Seeitever;thinkalwaysaboutit;viewitfromtheinsideandtheoutside;getfully
acquaintedwithit.And,graduallyyouwillbegintogrowlikeyourideal.TheIDEALwill
begintomaterializeinyourowncharacter,andyourmentalattitudewillbethatofyour
model.
Donotpassbythisrule,becauseofitssimplicity.Ithasworkedmiraclesforotherswhy
notforyou?Ifyouwillpersistwiththisplan,yourmentalattitudewillbecomepositive
andfixed,andyourpersonalatmospherewillbechargedwiththestrong,positive
vibrations,whichwillproclaimyouasamaster.
Letthisideabeyours,instudyingthefollowingchapters,andrememberthatinthisway
youcangetthebestresultsfromthespecialinstruction,whichistofollowthischapter.
48
ChapterXII:
TheMentalAtmosphere
Followingtheconsiderationofthefirstmanifestationofthementalphaseofpersonal
magnetismintheprecedingchapter,wenaturallyreachthesecondmanifestationofthe
same,namely:Theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentfromthebraincenters,
bytheactionofthewilloftheindividual.
Thisconsciousprojection,inturn,maybesaidtoconsistoftwoformsof
manifestation,viz.:(1)theprojectionintothepersonalatmosphere;and(2)the
projectionofadirectcurrent,underspecialcircumstances,intothemindofanother
person,forthepurposeofdirectinfluenceuponhimorher.Letusconsiderthesetwo
forms,inturn,beginningwiththefirstnamed.
Astothenatureoftheprocesswherebyonemayprojecthismentalcurrentsintohis
personalatmosphere,Iwouldsaythatthemethodisalmostpreciselyidenticalwiththat
wherebyoneprojectshisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,intohispersonal
atmosphere,asfullysetforthinChapterIX.
Asinthecaseofphysicalmagnetism,isfoundthattheaveragepersoncolorshis
personalatmospherebythecharacterofhismentalstates,orratherbythepredominant
colorofhismentalattitude,withoutanyspecialeffortonhispart.Thedegreesofcolor
notitsparticularkind,remember,butitsdegreeofforcedependsuponthedegreeof
mentalactivityoftheperson.Thepersonofinactivethought,ideasorfeeling,willhave
analmostcolorlesspersonalatmosphere,whilethepersonoftheactivemindwill
displayamarkeddegreeofthoughtcolortherein.
Wefindhere,also,thesecondclassofpersons,who,whilenotfullyunderstandingthe
natureofthepower,ortheprocessesofprojection,neverthelessmanifestahighdegree
ofthoughtcolorandpowerintheirpersonalatmosphere.Thisstrongcolorandpower
resultsfromthefactthatsuchpersonsareusuallyindividualsofahighdegreeoffeeling
oridealismthatistosay,theyexperiencestrongfeelings,ontheonehand;orelse
havestrongmentalideasofanythinginwhichtheyareinterestedorperhapsboth
strongfeelingandstrongidealism.
Thestrongestcolorandpowermanifestedbypersonsofthisclass,isfoundinpersons
whotakeastronginterestinthings.Thisstronginterestreallycombinesthetwo
elementsoffeelingandattention,respectively.Feelingisastrongmentalelement;and
attention,youwillremember,isadirectapplicationofthewill.So,itfollows,thatsuch
49
personsmuststronglyprojecttheirmentalstatesintotheirpersonalatmosphere,
althoughunconsciousofthesame,andwithoutadeliberateemploymentofthewillfor
thispurpose.
But,here,asinthecaseofthephysicalmagnetism,thestrongestandmostpowerful
effectisproducedbytheindividualswhounderstandstheprocess,andwhoconsciously
anddeliberatelyprojecttheirthoughtintotheirpersonalatmosphere,whereitjoinsand
isvitalizedbytheirphysicalmagnetism,sothatitsfulleffectismanifesteduponthose
whomaycomewithinitsfieldofinfluence.
Theprocessofusingthewillinthedirectionofprojectingthoughtcolorandpowerinto
thepersonalatmosphereispracticallyidenticalwiththeuseofthewillinthecaseof
physicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,asdescribedinChapterIX.Inotherwords,it
consistsoftwophases,viz.:(1)beliefinonespowertosoproject;and(2)theactual
projectionbythewill.Ihaveinformedyoufullyregardingthepartplayedbybeliefin
thisprocessofprojection,andshallsaynothingmoreonthissubjecthere.Theuseof
thewillinthematterofprojection,herealso,consistsoftheactualwillingor
commandingofthethingitself.
Thementalcurrentsareveryobedienttothewill,andinfact,dependalmostentirely
uponthewillforpowertomoveandact.And,donotforgetthis,foritisimportant,the
willismovedlargelybydesire.Ifyouwillstronglydesirethatyourpersonalatmosphere
becoloredbyyourthoughtcurrents,andwillatthesametimepicturethethought
currentsflowingoutandfillingyourpersonalatmosphere,youwillhavelittlelefttodo
inthedirectionoftheconscioususeofthewill.Thisbecause,inthefirstplace,thewill
naturallyoperatesalongthelinesofstungdesire;andsecond,becausetheformingof
thementalpicturewillresultintheuseoftheattention,andtheattention,asIhave
said,isapositiveanddirectactionofthewillinthedirectionoffocusingitspower.So,
yousee,byfollowingthisplan,youarereallysettingintooperationthepowerofthewill
itself,althoughnotbydirectcommand.Youmayalsousethedirectcommandtothewill
toprojectthethoughtcurrents,justasyouusethesametoliftyourarmorcloseyour
eyes.
Thereisoneotherimportantpoint,though,whichyoumustmakenoteofandactively
employinyourworkofbuildingupandmaintainingastrongpositivepersonal
atmosphere.Ialludetotheprocessofinterminglingandcombiningthetwoelementsof
personalmagnetism,i.e.,(1)thephysicalmagnetism,and(2)thementalmagnetism.
Whilethereisanaturalcombinationandinterminglingofthesetwo,withoutanyspecial
effortonyourpart,nevertheless,anenormouslygreatereffectwillbeobtainedbya
distinctmentalprocessonyourpart,inwhichprocessiscombinedtheseveralusesof
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thewillabovereferredto.Thisspecialprocessconsistsofthreedistinctmental
operations,asfollows:
(1)Youmustearnestlydesirethecombinationofthetwoelementsofpersonal
magnetism,thephysicalandthementalforces.Youmustcreatethestrongestkindof
desireforthiscombination.Thisdesiremustbestrongerthanamerewantitmust
befanneduptothestageofanactuallongingorcravingforthecombinationin
question.(2)Youmustusetheimagination,actively,inthedirectionofformingamental
pictureoftheminglingofthetwoformsofmagnetism,justasyouwouldpicturethe
combinationoftwoclouds,ortwocurrentsofwaterinalake,flowinginfromtwo
differentsources.Thestrongerandmorevividyoucanmakethispicture,thestronger
andmoreeffectivewillbetheresult.Ihaveexplainedthatthesementalpicturesrequire
theuseoftheattention,andthattheattentionisduetoadirectandconcentrateduse
ofthewill.Therefore,thewillisactivelyandpowerfullyemployedinthisprocessand
theresultiscorrespondinglyeffective.(3)Thedirectcommandofthewillitself,inthe
directionofwillingthecurrentstocoalesceandcombine.Thesethreephasesofthe
useofthewill,combined,willproveveryeffectiveinthedirectionnames.Alittle
practicewillenableyoutoperformallthreeofthem,atonetime,almostautomatically.
Youwillsee,byalittlethought,thattheprocessjustdescribed,ispracticallythatused
whenyouperformanyconscious,voluntarymotionofthebody.Letussee:Youwishto
raiseyourhand.Whatprocessesareinvolved?Three,asfollows(1)Desireyouwishto
raiseyourhand;(2)mentalpictureforalmostunconsciouslyyouformtheimageofthe
raisedhand;and(3)thedirectcommandofthewill,whichisthefinalmentaleffort.
Thecombinationofthetwoformsofpersonalmagnetism,thephysicalandthemental,
worksalongtwolinesofactionnamely,(1)thementalmagnetismgivescolorand
charactertothephysicalmagnetism;and(2)thephysicalmagnetismgivesvitalityand
actingforcetothementalmagnetism.Itmightbesaid,almost,thatthephysical
magnetismgivesthebodyandmovingforcetothecombination,whilethemental
magnetismgivesthesoultoit.Eachredoublestheefficiencyoftheother,bythe
powerofcombination.
Theoccultistsinformusthatthepersonalatmosphereiscomposedofcertaincolors,
dependingupontheparticularqualityofmentalstatesthathappentobepredominant
inthecombinationeachmentalstatebeingsaidtohaveitsowncolor.Ishallnottake
upthisphaseofthesubject,butmerelymentionitbecauseofitsgeneralinterestinthis
connection.
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Theoccultistsalsoinformusthat,whenthecombinationofthetwoelementsof
magnetismcombine,thementalmagnetismtakesonadeeperandmorepronounced
colorandhue,andappearsalsotosolidifyandbecomedenser;andthatthephysical
magnetismseemstoberendereddoublyactive,itsincreasedenergybeingevidencedby
tinysparksanddancingglitteringatoms.Itseemstobelikethecombinationoftwo
differentchemicals,eachtendingtoincreasethepotencyandactivityoftheother,and
thetwocombiningintheproductionofparticularlypotentandactivenewthing.
Fromthesamesources,welearnthattheauraorpersonalatmosphereoftheperson
whousesthewillinthedirectionofformingthepotentcombinationofthetwoformsof
magnetism,seemstobealmostalive,sofilledwithenergyisit.Itissaidthatwhenit
comesincontactwithotherpersonsparticularlywhentheownerisusinghismindto
impressandinfluencetheotherstheaurawillreachoutandactuallyenfoldtheother
personswithinitsfieldofenergy,seeminglytryingtoembracethepersonandholdhim
subjecttothevibrationofitsownersmind.
Whenyoulearntoproducethiscombinationeffectively,youwillbegintonoticethat
youwillalmostunconsciouslyaffectandinfluenceotherpersonswithwhomyoucome
incontact.Youwillnoticethattheywillbegintotakeonyourmoodsandgeneral
feelings,andthattheywillfallintunewithyourmentalvibrations,generally.Ifyouare
enthusiasticaboutanything,theywillbegintomanifestenthusiasm.Andsoon,eachof
yourmentalstatesregisteringaneffectupontheotherpersons.Moral:Holdonlythose
mentalstates,whichyouwishothertotakeon.
And,keepyourinneropinionsanddesignswelltothebackofyourmind,byaneffortof
thewill,andshowonlywhatyouwishtobesensedbyothers,forrememberyour
thoughtcurrentswillhavebecomewonderfullydynamicandpowerful.
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ChapterXIII:
MagneticCurrents
Themagneticenergyoftheperson,formedbyacombinationofhisphysicalandmental
force,likeallotherformsofmagneticorelectricforce,tendstorunincurrents,andto
betransmittedinwaves.Thepersonalatmosphereofthepersonis,infact,composedof
manywavesofmagneticenergy,circlingaroundtheconfinesofhisaura,aconstant
wavelikemotionbeingmaintained,andarapidrateofvibrationalwaysbeing
manifested.
Itisthesewavesofmagneticenergywhich,whencomingincontactwiththemindof
otherpersons,setupacorrespondingrateofvibrationthere,andthusproduceamental
stateinthemcorrespondingtothatofthepersonsendingforththemagnetism.AsI
havealreadystatedseveraltimes,thephysicalmagnetismgivesthebodyand
energizingqualitytothispersonalmagnetism,whilethementalmagnetismsuppliesthe
qualityofcolororcharactertoit.
AtthispointIwishtodigressforafewmomentsinordertomakecleartoyourmindthe
importantfactthatinchargingthementalatmospherewiththecombinedmentaland
physicalmagnetism,itisnotnecessarytomaketwodistinctandseparatedeffortsofthe
will.Indescribingandexplainingtoyoutheprocessofsendingforthecurrentsof
physicalmagnetism,andmentalmagnetism,respectively,Ihavebeencompelledtotake
upeachphaseseparately,anddescribetheactionofthewillintheprocessofprojecting
eachofthesephasesofpersonalmagnetism.And,ifIweretosaynomoreonthispoint,
thestudentmightbeleftwiththeimpressionthatinordertofullychargehispersonal
atmospherewiththecombinedwavesofphysicalandmentalmagnetism,hewouldhave
tofirstchargeitwithonekindofmagnetism,andthenwiththeother.Thisisnotcorrect,
foracombinedeffortofthewillisallthatisrequired,asyoushallnowsee.
Itispossibletocombinethementalpictureofthetwoformsofpersonalmagnetism,the
physicalandthemental,intooneimageorideainthemind.Itisalsopossibleto
combinethetwointothedesireorinclinationtoprojecttheenergy.And,itisequally
possibletocombinetheprojectionofthetwointooneeffortofthewill.Itisasimple
thingassimpleasthatoftwistingtwosilkthreads;threadingthemintotheeyeofa
coarseneedle;andthentakingstitcheswiththeneedle.Thinkofthephysicaland
mentalmagnetismastwotwistedthreadsinsertedintotheeyeofyourneedleofwill,
andthenthinkofyourpassingthesethreadstogetherintothefabric,bysimplypushing
53
theneedlethrough.Thisillustrationwillenableyoutoformaclearermentalpictureof
theprocess.
Youwillfindthatafteralittlepracticeyouwillinstinctivelycombinethetwothreadsin
theeyeoftheneedleofyourwill.Atfirstyoumayfinditeasiertofirstthinkofthe
physicalmagnetism,andthenofthementalsotospeak,threadingfirsttheonethread
andthentheother.Butafterverylittlepracticeyouwillfinditeasiertotakeupthetwo
threadsatonce,givingthemalittletwisttogether,andthenpassingbothofthem
throughtheeyeofthewillneedleatthesametime.Remember,then,learntotwist
togetherthethreadsofthetwokindsofmagnetism,sothatthewillmaypushthem
boththroughatthesametime.
Youshouldkeepthepersonalatmospherewellchargedatalltimes,byprojecting
magnetismintoitseveraltimesaday.Nospecialtimesornumberoftimesisabsolutely
necessaryyoumustuseyourownjudgmentandfeelinginthismatter.Youwillsoon
learntofeelwhenyourmagneticauraisweak,andwhenitisstrong.Thesethingscome
toonebypracticeandactualexperience,andcannotverywellbetaughtexceptthrough
actualexperience.Youwillsoonlearnwhatitistofeeltheconditionofyour
magnetism,justasyounowfeelheatorhumidity,orthereversethereof.
Ifyouareabouttocomeintocontactwithotherswhomyouwishtoinfluence;or,onthe
otherhand,ifyouareabouttocomeincontactwithotherswhomaywanttoinfluence
you;youshouldchargeyourselfwellwithmagnetismthatistosay,youshould
generateandprojectintoyourpersonalatmospherealargeamountofmagnetism,
whichwillthusrenderyouraurastrongandpositive,insteadofweakandnegative.The
principalthinginbattleistobefullypreparedforanyemergency,andthisruleis
applicabletothecaseoftheusesofpersonalmagnetisminyourdealingwithother
persons.
Remember,then,tocombinetheideaandimageofthecombinedmagnetismwhen
projectingorchargingwithpersonalmagnetismthetwotwistedthreadsintheneedle,
remember.
Now,toreturntothesubjectofmagneticcurrents:
Thecurrentsofmagnetismnotonlyconstantlyflowaroundwithinthelimitsoftheaura,
butalsooftenpushforwardtowardotherpersonswhoattracttheattentionofthe
person.Insuchcases,theauraseemstostretchouttowardtheotherpersons,andeven
toenveloptheminitsfolds.Remember,Iamnowspeakingoftheinvoluntaryactionof
theauraormagneticcurrents,notoftheconsciousanddeliberateprojectionofthe
currentsfromthemindtotheothermind.Thereisanalmostautomaticactionofthe
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auraormagneticcurrentsinthewayjuststated,whenanotherpersonarousesthe
interestorattentionoftheperson.
Ofcourse,ifyouinsistuponthestrictestscientificinterpretationofthisapparently
automaticmovementofthecurrents,Imustadmitthateveninsuchcasesthewillofthe
personisthedirectcauseoftheprojection.For,itmustberemembered,thatinthe
mentalactsofinterestandattentionthereisanondeliberateactionofthewillan
automaticaction,sotospeak.Thewilliscalledintooperationthemomenttheattention
isattractedinfact;theattentionisapositiveactofthewill.And,consequently,thewill
setsintomotionthemagneticcurrentsinthedirectionoftheobjectofattention.
So,youwillsee,whenyouareconversingwithanotherperson,oraddressinganumber
ofpersons,youarereallysendingintheirdirectionaseriesofcurrentsofpersonal
magnetism,thevibrationsofwhichmustaffectthemunlesstheirownvibrationsareofa
morepositivenature.Infact,verymanymenofthegreatestpersonalforce,whose
personalmagnetismmayactuallybefelt,employtheforceinthismanner,andmakebut
littleuseofthedirectflashmethodsofimmediateconcentratedmagneticforce,which
youwillbeaskedtoconsiderinthesucceedingchapters.Theirgeneralstoreofpersonal
magnetismissogreattheirpersonalatmospheresochargedthatmerecontactwith
itproducestheresult.
Butwhiletheabovegeneralmethodofmagneticinfluenceisveryeffective,providedthe
individualhaslearnedtosufficientlychargehimself,itstillremainsthatthemethodis
thatoftheshotgun,ascomparedtothatoftherifle,andusesupmuchpowerwhilea
smalleramountwouldsuffice.Everythingpointstothevalueofaconcentratedforce,
ratherthanthatofthescatteredenergy.Atthelast,however,thebestmethodisthat
whichemployeesboththeshotgunandriflemethodstheriflebulletgoingrighttothe
mark,surroundedbyacloudofflyingshotswhichcompletesthework,andrenders
successcertain.So,therefore,whenyoubecomeinterestedinthedirectflashmethods
inthesucceedingchapters,donotlosesightoftheimportantpartinpersonalinfluence
playedbythegeneraleffectofthemagnetismoftheaura.
BeforeIleavethissubject,Iwishtoexplainacertainbitofphenomena,whichhas
puzzledmanystudentsofpersonalmagnetism.Ialludetotheapparentlyunconscious
useofmagneticpower,whichwesooftenwitness.Forinstance,youmaybethinking
intentlyofsomeotherperson,withoutanyconsciousintentionofinfluencingthemin
anymanner,andyet,whenyoumeetthepersonafterward,orhearfromhim,youwill
findthatyourmagneticcurrentshaveinfluencedhim,oftenverymarkedlyso.Thisis
puzzling,whenyourememberthatyoumadenoefforttoinfluencethepersonbythe
55
directflashmethod,andwhenyourememberthatthepersonwasfarremovedfrom
yourpersonalatmosphereoraura.Whatistheansweryouask?
Theexplanationisthis:Byyourconcentratedattentionandinterest,youhaveactively
(thoughunconsciouslysetthewillintomotion,andtheresultisthattherehasbeen
projectedtowardtheotherpersonacurrentofyourmagnetismagreatstretchingout
ofyourpersonalatmosphereinhisdirectionandhehasbeenaffectedbyitjustasifhe
hadbeeninyourpresence.Ofcourse,theotherpersonwillnotbegreatlyaffectedby
yourcurrents,unlessthesehappentobechargedwithgreatphysicalmagnetism,and
stronglycoloredbyyourmentalstatus.But,nevertheless,therewillalwaysbesome
influenceexerted,unless,indeed,theotherpersonismorepositive,magnetically,that
areyou,inwhichcasehewillnotbeaffectedintheleast.
Soyousee,wenotonlyareconstantlysurroundedbyanauraoratmosphereofour
magneticcurrents,butarealsomoreorlessunconsciouslysendingforthcurrentsofour
magnetismintotheauraofothers,whichexertmoreorlessinfluenceuponthem.Inthe
sameway,thecurrentsofothersareconstantlyreachingouraura,andexertingmoreor
lessinfluenceuponus,unlesswehappentobemorepositivethanthey,inthematterof
ourvibrationsor(notethis),unlesswedeliberatelyuseaneffortofthewillinthe
directionshuttingthedoorontheseoutsidevibrations.
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ChapterXIV:
TheDirectFlash
Wenowapproachaphaseofthegeneralsubjectofpersonalmagnetism,whichishighly
important,aswellasmostinterestingtothestudent,becauseofitsstrikingandstartling
features.Thisphaseconsistsofthedeliberate,consciousprojectionofpersonal
magnetismintotheauraofanotherperson,orpersons;orintotheatmosphereofa
crowdofpersons.Thismethodhasbeencalledthedirectflash,becauseitresembles
theflashoftheelectricspark,ratherthanthediffuseddischargeofasteadycurrentof
electricity.
Thedirectflashisthemethodemployedinprojectingapositiveinfluenceinthe
directionofothersamentalcommandbackedupbythecombinedphysicalandmental
magnetism.Themethodis:(1)Theforminginthemindofadirectcommand
accompaniedbyamentalpictureofthedesiredactiononthepartoftheotherperson;
(2)thementalgatheringofthetwocombinedformsofmagnetismintooneforce;and
(3)thedeliberatedischargeoftheflashbythewill.
Youhavebeenfullyinstructedregardingthefirsttwophasesofthisdirectflash
method;andyouhavebeengivengeneralinformationwhichwillenableyouto
comprehendthethirdphase,i.e.,thatofthedeliberatedischargeoftheflashbythe
will.Thatistosay,youunderstandtheformingofthementalpicture,andthe
projectionofmagnetism,inconnectionwiththegatheringupofthetwoformsof
magnetism;andyoulikewiseareacquaintedwiththepowerandactionofthewillinthe
workofprojectingmagnetism.Allyouneedtocompetetheinstructionregardingthe
methodofusingthedirectflashisalittlefurtherinstructionregardingtheuseofthe
willinprojectingthisdeliberatedischarge.AndthisfurtherinstructionIshallnowgive
you.
Thekeytothedirectflashconsistsinthedeliberateactionofthewillinprojectingor
flashingintothemindoftheotherpersonacertaindirectstatementorcommand,
backedupbyallthemagneticforceswithinyou.Thiscomeseasilyandrapidlyasthe
resultofalittlepractice.And,moreover,youmaypracticeinprivate,standingbefore
yourmirror,untilyouacquirethementalmechanicalease,whichisnecessary.
Letusnowbeginwithsomeconcreteexamples,ratherthancontinuingthegeneral
consideration.Inotherwords,letusnowgetdowntobrasstacks,inthematter.
57
PreliminaryExercise.Standbeforeyourmirror;gazepositivelyandfirmlyatyourown
imagetherein,justasyouwouldgazetowardanotherperson.Infact,youmusttryto
imaginethatyouarereallygazingatanotherperson.Then,sendthatimaginaryperson
picturedbyyourreflectedimagethemessage:Iamstrongerthanyou!
Now,trytogetmyexactmeaning,asIproceed.Youmustnotrestcontentwithmerely
thinkingorsayingthewordsofthemagneticcommandabovegivenyoumust
cultivateanddevelopanactualwillingthecommand,justasyouwouldwilltheraising
ofyourhand,ortheclenchingofyourfist.Youwillfinditnecessarytocultivatethis
powerofsowilling,foryourbeliefwillnotatfirstcoordinatewiththewill.Youcouldnot
verywellwillyourhandtobelifted,orfistclenched,unlessyouactuallybelievedthat
thethingitselfwerepossible.Inthesamewaythelittlechildhastofirstlearnthe
possibilityofhisusinghiswill,deliberately,inperformingphysicalactions.Hefirstsees
othersperformingcertainactions,andtheideagraduallydawnsuponhimthathe,too,
maydothem.Thenhebeginstousehiswill,awkwardlyatfirst,indirectingthemuscles
asrequired.Inthesamewaywillyouhavetodevelopyourabilitytouseyourwill
deliberatelyinthedirectionofthisformofpersonalmagnetism?Butbyalittlesteady,
earnestpracticebeforethemirror,youwillsoonmasterthemechanismofthething
therestwillbeallamatterofpracticeuponpersons.
Insendingthemessage,Iamstrongerthanyou,youmustaccompanytheeffortofthe
will(bywhichyousendforththethoughtcommand)withastrongmentalconviction
thatyourarestronger(magnetically)thanhim,andalsowiththebeliefthathewillbe
impressedbythisfactandwillacceptyourstatement.Youmustgetyourselfintothe
mentalattitudeofdemandingthatheacceptyourstatement,notthatyoumerely
requesthimtodoso.Inthisformofmagneticinfluencethereisnosuchthingas
requestingitisallamatterofinsistentcommanddonotforgetthis.Whenyou
merelyrequest,youusuallytakesecondmagneticposition,givingtotheotherperson
thefirstplace.Butwhenyoucommand,youtakethefirstplace,yourself,andpushhim
intothesecond.Inpracticingbeforeyourmirror,rememberthis,andendeavortoraise
yourselfintothefirstposition.Youwillknowwhenyouhavedonethis,bythepeculiar
feelingofsuperiormagneticstrengththatyouwillexperience.
Afterhavingmasteredtheaboveexercisetoyourownsatisfactionthatis,untilyou
havethoroughlyacquiredthefeelingofmastery,andmagneticsuperiority,whenyou
sendforththeflashofcommandyoumayproceedtothefollowing,whichisbased
uponthefirst,andresultsfromit.Imean,thatyouarenowinapositiontopracticethis
secondstageoftheexercisebeforethemirror.Youwillfeellikebeginningtotryyour
58
poweruponotherpersons,butyouwoulddobettertowaituntilyouhavethoroughly
masteredthemechanismofmagnetismbeforethemirror.
Thissecondstageofthepreliminarymirrorexerciseissummedupinthewordofmental
magneticcommand,whichyouaddresstotheimaginarypersonrepresentedbyyour
reflectedimage,viz.:Icancommandyoutoact.This,asyouwillseebyacareful
considerationofthewords,isreallyatremendouslypowerfulstatement,anditwill
requireagreatexerciseofourpowerofbelief,andmentalimagery,togetyourselfinto
thepropermentalstate,sothatthewillmaytraveleasilyonitspathtoenforcethe
command.Remember,thatinorderforthewilltobeabletomovesmoothlyoverits
channel,sothatitmayreachthemark,itisnecessarythatyouclearawayanyobstacles
thatmayremaininyourownmind.Itisenoughforthewilltohavetofightandbreak
downtheobstaclesinthemindoftheotherperson,withoutalsobeingcalledonto
combatandovercometheobstaclesinourownmind.So,youmustgetyourselfinthe
propermentalstate,beforeyoucanhopetoinfluenceothers.
Whenyousendforththementalcommandtothereflectedimage,youmust
concentrateatremendouspowerofmeaninginthestatement,Icancommandyouto
act.Thestatementmustbeaccompaniedbythefullforceofyourownconvictionand
beliefthatyoucansocommand,andthatyouwillbeobeyed.And,inordertodothis,
youwillhavetoarouseinyourselfthefullconsciousnessofyourownmagneticforce,so
thatyoucanfairlyfeelitvibratinginandaroundyou.Youwillhavetorereadthese
instructionsseveraltimesbeforetheywillbecomeperfectlycleartoyou.Infact,youwill
havetobeginpracticing,andthenrereadingthembetweenexercises,beforeyouwill
getthefullmeaning.Themeaningwillgraduallyunfoldintoyourunderstanding,asyou
proceedwithyourpracticing.ItisjustasifIweregivingyoudirectionsastomastering
theartofskatingyouwouldnotreallygraspthefullmeaningoftheinstructionsuntil
youbeganactuallypracticingontheiceandeachtimeyouwouldrefertothebook,
youwouldperceiveanewmeaningtothewords.Soitisinthecasebeforeusyouwill
understandtheinstructionsfullyonlywhenyoubegintheactualpractice.
Now,afteryouhavegottentothepointinthemirrorpracticewhereyouareableto
actuallyfeelthatyouhavesentforthtothereflectedimagethecommandthatyouare
stronger,therebyforcingtheotherpersonintothesecondmagneticplaceandalso
thatyoucancommandtheotherpersontoactasyouwill,therebyplacinghiminthe
subordinatecapacityofactionyoumayproceedtotryuponthereflectedimagesome
specialcommandsinthesamespirit.Nowdonotfallintotheerrorofsupposingthatall
thismirrorpracticeismerelychildsplay.Ifyoudo,youwillbemakingagreatmistake,
foritisanythingbutplayoridlepastime.Itisthelearningofthemechanismofthe
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directflash,beforeyoustartintorunthemachineinearnest.Itisliketheperiodof
preliminarypracticeinanything,whichprecedestheactualperformance.Itisthe
rehearsal,whichmustprecedetheplay.Donotfailtofaithfullyperformtherehearsal
exercises,beforeyoubegintomanifestyourmagnetisminearnest.Youmustfully
acquaintyourselfwithyourmagneticmachinebeforeyoubegintorunitinearnest.
Theprecedingpracticeexercisesmaybefollowedbyasimilarpracticeofsendingforth
flashesofanythingthatyoumaywishtoactuallysendtootherpersonslateron.You
maysupplythesecommandsforyourself,oryoumaypracticeonthefollowingexcellent
commands,allofwhicharelikelytobeusedbyyouinyouractualmanifestationof
personalmagnetism.
Thesecommandsmaybevaried,ofcourse,tosuityourtastes.Theymustallbe
deliveredbeforethemirror,inexactlythesamemannerasIhavealreadystated:
Lookatme!
Givemeyourfullattention!
Comethisway!
Goawayfrommeletmealone!
Youlikeme.Youloveme
YoufeellikedoingasIwishyoutodo!
Youwanttopleaseme!
Youwillagreetomyproposition!
Getoutofmyway!
Youareattractedtowardme!
Ifascinateyou!
IamyourMASTER!
Come!Bequick,anddoasItellyou!
Youarereceptivetomywishes!
Youareresponsivetomywill!
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ChapterXV:
ExercisesintheDirectFlash
And,now,havingmasteredthepreliminarymirrorexercises,yourereadytobeginyour
experimentsonrealpersons.But,here,too,youmustcrawlbeforeyoucanwalkand
run.Youmustbeginwiththesimplerformsofmagneticinfluence,beforeyoucan
accomplishthemorecomplicatedordifficulttasks.But,youhavenowemergedfromthe
kindergartenstage,andarereadytopracticeinearnest.Ifyouhavefaithfullyfollowed
theinstructionsinthemirrorpractice,youhavemasteredthemechanismofmagnetic
influence,andarereadytorunthemachineinpubicview.Butdonotforamoment
losewhatyouhavegainedinthemirrorexercise.Holdtightandfasttothetechnique
youhaveacquired,anddonotforamomentfallintotheerrorthatyoumustnowbegin
alloveragain.Thethingforyoutoremember,always,isthatyouarereallybutcarrying
themirrorexercisesforwardonahigherscale,inabroaderfield.Andyouwillfindsome
interestingworkaheadofyou.Takemywordforit.
FirstExercise.Ishallnowgiveyouanexercisethatisalmostalwaysgiventobeginners,
bythebestteachersofmagnetism.Itconsistsoftheprocessofcausingapersonahead
ofyou,onthestreet,toturnaroundasifhehadheardsomeonecallouttohimby
name.Theprocessisverysimple.Youhavebuttowalksomelittledistancebehindthe
otherperson,onthestreet,parkorotherpublicplace.Concentrateyourfixedattention
ontheperson,gazingatthelowerbackpartofhishead.Andsendinghimfirstastrong
flashofmagneticforce,thisbeingfollowedbythedirectflashcommand;Hereyou!
Turnaround,justasifyouwereactuallycallingoutaloudtohim.Youmayevenwhisper
thewordssosoftlythatnooneelsecanhearthemthismayhelpyoutoputforceinto
thecommandatfirst,butyouwillsoonoutgrowtheneedofthesame.Atthetimeyou
sendtheflashcommandyoumustactuallyWILLthatthepersonwillaroundinyour
direction.Putallthemagneticforcewithinyou,inthiseffort.
Youwillfindthatinsomecasestheotherpersonwillturnhisheadalmostatonce,and
lookinquiringlybehindhiminyourdirection.Inthemajorityofcases,however,hewill
takealongertimeaboutit.Hewillbeapttofirstgrowuneasyandrestless,andbeginby
glancingfromsidetoside,asiflookingforsomeone;thenhewillalmost(butnotquite)
turnhisheadaround;then,finallyhewillglancebackwardsomewhatfurtivelyand
suspiciously.Notwopersonsactpreciselyalikeinthisrespect;and,then,again,the
samepersonwillactdifferentlyunderdifferentconditions.Therearecertaintimesat
whichtheconditionsseemtobemorefavorablethanatothers,forvariousreasons,as
youwilldiscoverforyourself.
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Youwillfind,inthisaswellasthefollowingotherexercisesthatthebestresultswillbe
obtainedwhiletheotherpersonisproceedingidlyalong,withouthisattentionbeing
directedparticularlyinanydirection.
Whentheattentionisfree,themindismoreopentooutsideinfluences.Whenthe
otherpersonsattentionisfirmlyfixedonanythingelse,itwillbefounddifficultto
influencehimtoanymarkeddegree.Thisistheresultofanestablishedruleof
psychology,andwillbefoundtobeoperativeinallcases,asforinstance,ifyoucalla
personwhenheispreoccupiedeitherwithdeepthought,orelsewhenhissurroundings
hewillprobablynothearyoucallhim,thoughunderotherconditionshewouldturn
readily.Thesameruleis,ofcourse,operativeinthecaseofmagneticinfluence.
SecondExercise.Wheninchurch,theatreorotherpublicplace,oreveninaroomfullof
company,fixyourgazeatthelowerbackoftheheadofsomepersonintheplace,and
sendhimthedirectflashcommand:Here,you!Turnaroundandlookatme!Using
allthemagneticforcewithinyou,andputtingtheforceofyourwillbackofthe
command.
Youwillnoticethesamepeculiarresultasintheprecedingexercise,i.e.,thefidgetingin
theseat,theuneasinessandrestlessness,thefinalquickturnoftheheadinyour
direction,followedbytheconfusedexpressionofcountenance.Inbothofthesecases,
youshouldmaintainacalm,uninterestedgazeahead,apparentlynotnoticingthe
person.Itisnotwelltohavepersonsgettheideathatyouareexperimentingupon
them,atanytime.Thereisnopowersopotentasthesilent,reservedpower.Sokeep
yourowncounsel,anddonotscatterandweakenyourforcebytalkingaboutittoothers
farlessbyboastingaboutit.Therearecertaingoodpsychologicalandoccultreasons
formyadmonitionregardingkeepingyourowncounsel,andnotdissipatingyourenergy
bytalkingaboutit,orrevealingittoothers.Ishallnotsaymoreonthesubjectatthis
timebutIwantyoutorememberwhatIhavesaid,andtoheedit.
ThirdExercise.Thisisavariationofthefirstexercise,andconsistsofmakingtheperson
aheadofyouturntotherightortotheleftwhilewalkingaheadofyou.Thismayfollow
yourexerciseofmakinghimturnaround.Whenheapproachesanotherperson,send
himaflashtomovetotheright,ortotheleft,asyouwill.Youmayalsocommanda
personinlikemannerwhenheisapproachingyou.Youwillbesurprisedatyoursuccess
inthisdirection,afteralittlepractice.Inthecaseofaverysensitivesubject,youcan
causehim,orher,tozigzaginacomicalmanner.Donotoverdothis,however,oryou
maydefeatyourownobject,besidesbeingunkindtothesensitiveperson.
62
FourthExercise.Thisisavariationofthesecondexercise,andconsistsinmakingthe
seatedperson,infrontofyou,turnandglancetotheright,andthentotheleft,asyou
will.Duringtheexercise,whichmayextendoversometime,youmayobtainsomevery
markedresultsfromtheexperiment,insomecases.Asbefore,Icautionyouagainst
goingtoofarwiththeexperiment,lestyoubenoticedbyothers,andalso,becauseitis
notfairtothesubject.
FifthExercise.Inthisexperiment,youcommandtheotherpersontodrophiscane,or
umbrella,etc.,orherfan,handkerchief,etc.Inshort,youcausetheotherpersonto
performsomelittlemuscularactionunderthecontrolofyourwill.
SixthExercise.Theaboveexercisemaybevariedbysendingpassingpersonsvarious
commandswhileyouareseatedatyourwindow,oronyourporch,etc.Youmayputin
aninterestinghourinsendingflashestothepassingcrowd,oneatatime,ofcourse,and
thennotingthepercentageofsuccesses.Youwillfindthatthepercentagewillvary;but
thegeneraldegreeofsuccessshouldslowlybutsteadilyincrease,ontheaverage.Donot
maketheteststoocomplicated,butsendtheflashtoperformsomeverysimplemotion.
Youwillbesurprisedtodiscoverwhatalargepercentofthepersonswillglanceinyour
direction,eventhoughyouhavenotparticularlycommandedthemtodoso.Thislatter
resultoccursbecauseofethgeneralattractionthattheywillfeeltowardyou,byreason
oftheinfluenceofyourmagneticwave.
SeventhExercise.WhileIhaveadvisedyoutolookdirectlyattheotherpersons,in
sendingtheflash,thisisnotabsolutelynecessaryafteryouhavefullyacquiredthe
mechanismoftheflash.Infact,afterashorttime,youwillbeabletoobtaintheresult
eventhoughyoureyesareturnedinanotherdirection.Itisnotyoureyethatinfluences
them,butmerelythatbygazingintentlyyoumanagetofirmlyconcentrateyour
attentionandwillintheirdirection.Youmaytrytheexperimentofgazingstraightahead
ofyouinapublicplace,oronthestreet,andthenflashingthecommandtotheother
persontolookatyou,andyouwillfindthatyouwillmeetwithquitealargepercentage
ofsuccess,particularlyafteryouhavesucceededwiththegazingplanofprocedure.
EighthExercise.Afterhavingmasteredtheaboveexercise,youmayproceedtoastill
higherformofmagneticinfluence,namely,thatofinfluencingthespeechofanother
person.Youproceedinthiscaseinthesamegeneralmannerasintheexercisesjust
given.Whenapersonisspeakingtoyou,youmayputwordsintohismouthbya
strongmentalcommand,ormagneticflash.Donottrytomakehimsayawhole
sentenceatleastatfirst.Ratherbeginbywaitinguntilhepausesinhisspeech,and
thenstronglywillacertainwordtohimawordthatwillnaturallyfitintohissentence
andhewillbeveryapttorepeatit.Afteralittlepracticeyoucanmakehimrepeatan
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absurdword,ortostammer,haltandstutterinhisspeech,ifyousowillit.Afterstill
morepractice,youmaysucceedincausinghimtorepeatawholesentence,oreven
more,toexpressthethoughtyouhaveputintohismind;ortoasksomequestionwhich
youhavewilledthatheshouldask.
Youwillreadilyseebythistime,thataconstantpracticealongtheselines,willresultin
youracquiringthepowertowillandmagneticallyinfluenceanotherpersontodomany
things,inresponsetoyourwill,andsilentcommand.Infact,aconstantdevelopment
alongtheselineswillmakeofoneaverygiantinmagneticpower,whoseresultsare
proportionedonlybythedegreeofmagneticforceofotherpersons,orthedegreeof
persistentpracticeanddevelopmentonhisownpart.
ButIwishtocautionyou,atthispoint,againstusingthispowerforanyunworthy
purpose.Thiscautiondoesnotarisefrommerelyamoralmotiveonmypart,butfrom
knowledgeofcertainpsychiclawswhichcauseareactionequalingtheaction,and
whichwillbringsorryresultstoyouifyouviolatetherule.Solongasyouuseyour
newfoundpowerforpurelyscientificexperiments,orlegitimatepurposesofhuman
association,allverywellandgood.Butneverprostituteyourpowertoaccomplish
unworthyorcriminalends,lestyoubecomeinvolvedinastormofyourownraisingor
enmeshedinawebofourownweaving.Therearecertainpsychicallaws,aswellas
physicallaws,whichmustnotbebrokenandthisisoneofthem.Thisisparticularly
trueofthecaseofapersonusingthepowerforthepurposeofinfluencingtheothersex
inanimmoraldirection.Alltheoldoccultwriterscautionparticularlyagainstthis
practice.Soheedtheadvice,anddotherightthingonly,withyourpower.
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ChapterXVI:
ThePositiveAura
Nowthatyouhavemasteredthetechniqueofthemechanismofthedirectflash,you
arereadytoproceedtotheactualdemonstrationandcontactwiththegeneralpublic.
But,beforetakingupthatphaseofthesubject,Ithinkitwelltoaskyoutoconsiderthe
matterofthecreationandmaintenanceofthepositiveaura.Ihavepurposely
postponedtheconsiderationofthisphaseofthesubject,untilwereachedthisparticular
pointintheinstruction,because,inordertoproperlycreateandmaintainthepositive
aura,itisnecessarythatoneunderstandsthemechanismandtechniqueofthedirect
flash,forhewillneedtomanifestthesamepowerinthecaseofthepositiveaura.But,
nowthatyouhavemasteredthetechniqueormechanismofthedirectflash,youare
readytoreceivetheinstructionregardingthepositiveaura,andwemayaswellproceed
toconsideritatthisverypoint.
Ihavealreadygivenyouinstructionsregardingthecultivationofadesirablepersonal
atmosphere,oraura,andneednotrepeatherewhatIhavealreadysaidelsewhere.But,
amomentsconsiderationwillshowyouthattherewillarisecertainconditionsor
occasionsinwhichyouwillfinditverydesirabletobeabletoinfluenceanumberof
personsenmassethecrowdasawholeratherthantosendthedirectflashtoeach
oftheindividualsseparately.Ofcourse,thecrowdwillbeinfluencedbyyourgeneral
personalatmosphere,butyounowneedsomethingmorepositive,andmoretothe
point.Andthepositiveauraiswhatyoumustacquiretosatisfythisrequirement.
Thepositiveauraissimplythegeneralpersonalatmosphere,butdirectlyandpositively
chargedbyaconcentratedeffortofthewillthesameeffort,infact,asthatmadein
thecaseofthedirectflash.
Letmeillustratethepositiveaurabymeansofseveralstoriesfromreallifethe
experiencesofseveralstudentsofmine.Thesepersonalexperienceswillgiveyoua
betterideaofjustwhatisneededthanwouldpagesofgeneralinstructiononthe
subject.Thelittlestoriesarenotfiction,remember,butaretakenfromlife,andare
bitsofhumandocumentsfromthelivesofrealpeople,allofwhichhavecomeundermy
personalobservationandconsideration.
Severalyearsago,inParis,Ihadastudentwhoserealstrengthofcharacterwasmarred
byherabnormalselfconsciousness,shyness,timidity,andsensitivenessinfact;inthe
wordsensitivenessyouhavethekeynoteofthisyoungwomanspersonality.Shewasa
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youngartistoffarmorethantheaveragetalent,andhercharmofmannerrenderedher
companysoughtafterbyalargecircleoffriends.
Thisladycomplainedtomethatshesufferedfromtheactualrudeness,nay,andalmost
positivebrutality,ofthecrowdsofpersonsthrongingthebusystreetsofsomeofthe
principalthoroughfaresofParis.Shecomplainedthatshewasjostledhereandthere,
andpushedrudelyasidebythepassingthrong.Moreover,shewastreatedrudelyinthe
shops,thesuperficialveneerofpolitenessoftheaverageParisianshopclerkscarcely
concealingtheunderlyingcontemptandveiledsneerofthesecheapsatellitesofthe
ubiquitousshopkeepersofthischarmingcity.
Myfirstthoughtwasthattheyoungwomanhadworkedherselfupintoastateof
imaginarywrongs,theresultofherhighlysensitiveorganismandshrinkingdisposition
inshort,Ithoughtthatshewassufferingfromastateofmorbidselfconsciousness,with
itsfrequentaccompanimentofimaginarypersecution,etc.SoIdeterminedtotestout
thematter,andascertainformyselfjusthowmuchtruthwasinthecase.
Makingaslightchangeinmypersonalappearance,bymeansofasimpledisguiseonce
taughtmebyanotherofmystudents,acelebrateddetectiveofParis,Ifollowedthe
youngladyforseveralhourswhenshewasonashoppingexpedition.Muchtomy
surprise,and,Imayadd,muchtomyindignation,Ifoundthatallthatshehadtoldme
wascorrect.Icouldscarcelycontrolmyselfattimes,andmorethanoncefeltlike
chastisingsomerudefellowwithmycane,sobrutalwastheconductofcertain
individualscallingthemselvesmen.
ThereisacertainclassofParisianmen,welldressedandwithaveneerofpolish,but
boorsandcuresatheart.Thesemenseemtotakeaspecialdelightinjostlingyoung
women,almostpushingthemoffthesidewalks,attimes,andinotherwaysearninga
goodcaningatthehandsofrealgentlemen.Well,thesecursseemedattractedtothis
sweetyounggirl,justasfliesaredrawntotabitofsugar.Theyexceededthemselvesin
theirdisplayofrudenessandcowardlyinsolence,andallthewhilethegirlwasfreefrom
anyoutwardappearancethatwouldattractsuchcursnaturally.Isawatoncethatthere
wassomeinnercauseoperating.
Moreover,Inoticedthattheyoungwomanwasalsopushedasiderudelybyhurrying
businesspersons,whoneverglancedinherdirection,butwhothrustherasideasifshe
wereaninanimatethinginsteadofaperson.AgainIfoundaninnercause.Inthesame
wayIfoundthatshewastreatedexactlyinthewayshehadcomplainedofintheshops,
bytheclerksandshopmen,althoughshewasaliberalcustomer,easilysuited,and
givingbutlittletrouble.Hereagain,theinnertroublewasapparent.
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Iwenthomeandcarefullydiagnosedthecase,andlaiddownacourseortreatment.I
sentfortheyoungwomanandtoldherthathertroublewasacaseofingrown
sensitiveness,andovergrownmodestyinshort,thatshehadsurroundedherselfwith
anauraofselfdepreciationandmorbidsensitiveness.Thisaurapracticallyinvited
personstopickonher,tocrowdhertothewall,topushherinthegutter,andto
generallyslight,snubandcovertlyinsultherintheshops.Heraurawasnotonly
negative,butalsoactuallyattractivelynegativethatistosay,sonegativethatit
actuallyattractedmorepositivenaturesinthedirectionofimposingonherweakness.
(Thisisfarfrombeingunusualitisaruleofthepsychicaswellasofthephysicalworld,
amonganimalsaswellasamongmen)
Iimmediatelybeganteachingthisladythetechniqueofthedirectflashbeforethe
mirror(exactlyasIhavetaughtyou),herflashesbeinginvariablyalongthelinesof
positivismandstrength.ShewouldflashoutIampositivefarmorepositivethanthe
crowdaroundme;Getoutofmyway,orIwillwalkoveryou;Clearthepathforme,
youvermin,andotherexaggerateddemandsintendedforthestreetcrowds.Inthe
samewayshewouldflashoutthecommandtotheshoppeople.Come,now,Idemand
respectfulattention;Lively,now,attendtomywants;Iamaprincessoftheblood,
bowtome,youunderlings,etc.YouwillnotethatIpurposelyexaggeratedthemental
demandsandflashes,becausesheneededanexaggeratedpositivementalattitudein
ordertoovercomehernaturalandacquiredhandicap.Inashorttimeshehadacquired
thetechniqueperfectlyandhaddevelopedamentalattitudeandgeneralpersonal
atmosphereofaprincess.Thensheproceededtotryitonthecrowd,bymeansofthe
positiveaura.
Theresultwasmarvelous.Fromthemomentherfeettouchedthesidewalks,her
progresswasthatofaprincess,personsinstinctivelymovedoutofherway,someeven
slightlybowingastheydidso.Therowdygentlemen(?)movedfarawayfromher.Andin
theshopsthequeenofEnglandcouldhavereceivednomorehumbleserviceorcareful
attention.Thecurewascomplete,andhasremainedso.Theyoungladyhaslongsince
laidasidethePrincessRoyalmanner,andnowsimplymaintainsanauraofpositive
selfrespectandselfconfidence,andademandthatshebeaccordedtheproper
consideration.
AnothercaseisthatofayoungstudentofmineanAmerican,thesonofaprominent
businessman.Thisyoungmanwaswelleducated,polished,andmoreover,possessedof
aalltherequisitesofasuccessfulsalesman,exceptthatofinspiringafeelingof
friendshiponthepartofthosewithwhomhecameincontact.Hewascalleduponto
approachprominentbusinessmeninconnectionwithhisworkforhisfather,andwhile
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hewasabletopresenthisargumentslogicallyandforcibly,hewasnevertheless
handicappedbythefacttheherepelledfriendship,ratherthaninvitedit.Indesperation,
hemadethetripacrosstheAtlantictoconsultme,andtobegacureforhisserious
psychictrouble.
Hiscurewasveryeasy.Isimplyputhimthroughacourseofthemirrorexercisesinthe
directflash,untilhehadmasteredthetechnique;andthenhadhimsaturatehismind
withthementalimageandideaof:Youlikemeyoulikemeverymuch;Youfeel
attractedtowardme;Youaremyfriend,andwishtoshowyourfriendshipforme,
etc.,etc.,etc.Alltheseideaswerebutvariationsof,animprovementupon,thesimple
ideaofYoulikeme!
Well,thisyoungmanbegantoradiatesuchanatmosphereoflikeability,friendship,etc.,
thathemadefriendsrightandleft,evenwithouttyingitwasintheairaroundhim,it
seemed.Hisoldtroubledisappearedlikemagichewasmadeoverintoanewman.
And,yetitwasallverysimple,yousee.Merechildsplay,whenonehasthesecret,as
younowhave.Theyoungmaninsisteduponpresentingmewithhischeckfor$1,000,
althoughIhadchargedhimbutonetenthofthatamount,formytimeandtrouble.
Icouldgooninthisvein,recitingcaseaftercasecomingundermyownexperience,butI
thinkthatthetwocasesIhavementionedwillgiveyouthegeneralideaofwhatIam
tryingtoteachyou,withoutmytakingupmoretimeandspaceatthispoint.Theruleis
generalitisforyoutoapplyittotheparticularrequirementsofyourowncase.Find
outyourweakspotsofpersonalatmosphere,andthenproceedtobuilduptheopposite
qualitiesofmindandcharacter.Findoutyournegativepointsofattracting,andthen
proceedtobuildoftheiroppositepositivequalities,justasthetwostudents,just
mentioned,didwithsuchmarkedsuccess.Readovercarefullythischapteragain,and
again,untilyougetthepointfixedinyourmind.Therestismerelyamatterofpractice.
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ChapterXVII:
TheDirectCommand
Havingbythistimeacquiredthetechniqueofthedirectflash,byyourmirrorpractice;
andhaving,also,masteredtheartofcultivatingthepositiveaura,youshouldbeableto
manifestwhatisknownasthedirectcommand,withoutmuchadditionalinstruction.
Bythedirectcommandismeanttheflashingofadirectcommandordemandtothe
mindofanotherperson,backedupbytheconcentratedpowerofbothyourmentaland
physicalmagnetism.DoyouseenowwhyIhavefirsttaughtyoutoacquirethe
techniquebymeansofthemirrorpractice,andhavethennexttaughtyouhowto
generateandmaintainthepositiveaura?Certainly,youhaveseenthepoint!A
momentsthoughtwillshowyouthatthedirectcommandisreallyacombinationof
themethodsofthemirrorpractice,andthatofthepositiveaura.Themirrorpractice
taughtyouthetechnique,andthepracticeaffordedbythepositiveauramethodshave
servedtogiveyouease,selfconfidence,andanalmostinstinctiveuseofyourmagnetic
powersinthedirectionofinfluencingotherpersons.Youwillalsoseethepartplayedin
yourdevelopmentbythespecialexercisesinthedirectflash,whichIgaveyouina
precedingchapter.YounowbegintoseewhyIhaveledyoutothepresentpointby
degrees,doyounot?
Thedirectcommandisreallyahighformofthedirectflash,andisthemethod
wherebythelattermaybeusedtothehighestdegreeofeffectiveness.
Inthedirectcommandyouflashyourcommandtothemindoftheotherperson,
mentally,ofcourse,butinexactlythesamewaythatyouwouldmakeanactual
commandbyspokenwords,iftheconditionsadmittedofthesame.Youformthewords
ofthecommandinyourmind,carryingwithitasstrongamentalpictureasyoucan
create,andthenmentallyflashthecommandtotheotherpersonwithasmuch
magneticforceasyoucanmuster.
Youwillfinditanaidtoeffectiveness,inthecaseofacontemplateddemanduponsome
particularperson,foracertainthing,topracticeitbeforethemirror,usingyourown
imageasatargetjustasyoudidintheexercisepreviouslygivenyou.Youwillfind
thatarehearsalofthiskindwilltendtoincreaseyourpoweratthetimeoftheactual
manifestationorcommand.
Itisimpossibletogiveyouspecificinstructionforthecarryingoutofthisprogramin
specialcases,foreachpersonwillhavehisorherownspecialrequirements,thesame
69
dependinguponthespecialcircumstancesofthecase.AllthatIcandoistogiveyouthe
generalrulestoyourownparticularcasesandrequirements.ThegeneralrulesIhave
alreadygivenyou.PerhapsIcanillustratetheapplicationofthesamebycitingafew
cases,whichhaveactuallycomeundermyownobservationandexperience.
OneofthemostinterestingcasesofthekindthatIhaveevermetwithwasthatofa
professorinoneoftheAmericanuniversities.Thisman,aspecialistinhisparticularline
ofscientificresearch,andathoroughmasterofhisownparticularsubject,commanded
alargeaudienceofreadersofhisbooksandmagazinearticles,but,atthesametimewas
almostafailureinhisclasswork,owingtohisinabilitytogainandholdtheattentionof
hisstudents.Hecametome,inParis,andexplainedhistrouble.Igavehimmyshort
courseinmentalinfluence,etc.,anddrilledhimwellalongthelineslaiddowninthis
book.Imadehimpracticebeforeanimaginaryroomfulofstudents,sendingthema
strongdirectcommandofGivemeyourfullattention!Steady,now,yourattention
yourfullandcompleteattentiontomywords!andThatsright,youaregivingmeyour
fullattentionnowholditfirmlyfixedonme!andasimilarstockofdirectcommands.
Thesecommandsweredirectedcommandsweredirectedfirsttothebellwethersof
theclassthosenaturalleaderswhoaretobefoundineachclass,andthenscattered
amongtheclassatlarge.Theprofessortoldmethat,afteranumberoftheseimaginary
classroomscenes,eachfacebeingdistinctandplain,andthathecouldalmostseethe
flashofhiscommandreachingthem.
WhenIthoughtthathehadmasteredthegeneralprinciples,andacquiredthe
technique,Idismissedhim,andhereturnedatoncetotheuniversityinAmerica.I
receivedseverallettersfromhimduringthefollowingyear,andhetestifiedtothe
completesuccessoftheplanwhenputintoactualeffect.Fromthefirstdayofhisreturn
heobtainedandheldtheattentionofhisclass,andtodayheisoneofthebestpersonal
instructorsinhisuniversity,orelsewhereforthatmatter.Inthiscaseheappliedthe
directcommandtospecialindividualsoftheclass,buttheprinciplewasthesameasin
thecaseofasinglespecialindividual,anddifferedfromthepositiveauramethod.
Anothercasewasthatofapromoter,nowofinternationalreputation,whoformerlywas
unabletoclosemanyofhisplans,owingtoalackofsomethinginhismentalmakeup,
hethought.Hecouldevolveplans,whichattractedtheattentionofprominentmenand
others,andhecouldalsomanagetofascinatethembyhisgeneraltalkregardinghi
enterprises.Buthefounditmostdifficulttoinducethemtotakethefinalstepocoming
in,orsigningthecontract,orenteringthesubscription,asthecasemightbe.
Ilaboredwiththisman,experiencingmuchtroubleinovercominghisfixedandstubborn
ideathattherewas,somethingwrongwithhismentalmakeup.Finally,afteralong
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periodofcarefuldrillingbeforeanimaginaryprospect(thistermbeingappliedto
prospectivecustomers)hebegantofeelthathehadthemissingelement,afterall.From
thatmomenthewasfilledwithnewcourage,andthrewnewlifeandenergyintothe
exercises.Sopowerfullymagneticwasthisman,andsohighadegreeofconcentrated
forcedidehgenerate,thatIcouldactuallyfeeltheforceofhispowerwhilepresentin
theroomdirectingtheexercises.Iactually,myself,feltlikesubscribingtosomeofhis
stock,andamsurethathadheapproachedmeonthesubjectitwouldhaverequired
theexerciseofmyfullpowerofselfprotectionandresistancetohaveovercomehis
magnetism.
Whenthismanfinishedhisinstructionatmyhands,heatonceplungedintothefloating
ofanewgreatenterprise,andcarriedthesametoamostsuccessfulconclusion.He
closednearlyeveryprospectthatheapproached,andsoondroppedallthesmaller
prospects,anddevotedhisentireattentiontothelargefish.Idonotfeelatlibertyto
stateheretheexactwordsofthedirectcommandusedbyhim,forhepaidmealarge
feeformyservices,andthesecretshouldbehisown,underthecircumstancesbutthisI
willsay,thathisdirectcommandwasastraightoutfromtheshouldermentalDEMAND
upontheprospecttocomein.
Anotherinterestingcasewasthatofanowwellknownactress,wholacked
fascination.Shewasamagnificentactress,offinepresenceandathoroughknowledge
ofherart,butforsomereasonheractingseemedtolacksoul.Shecametometolearn
howtoinfluenceheraudiencebypersonalmagnetism,butIsawatoncethatherart,if
fullyexercised,wouldbesufficienttocarryheraudienceswithher.Hertroublelayinthe
factthattherewasacertainfascinationlacking.Isethertowork,traininghersothat
shewouldactuallyfascinatetheactorsplayingwithher,andanairofrealitywouldbe
thuscreated.Sheprogressedrapidly,soquickwereherperceptions.Whensheleftme
shewasabletothrowsuchadegreeoffascinationintohervoiceandmanner,thatthe
actorplayingwithherwouldbefairlysweptoffhisfeet;theresultbeingthatthe
audiencewouldcatchthesamebyakindofmentalcontagion.Shesimplyhurledmental
directcommandsattheactors,whilerecitingherlines,andwhileapproachingthem.
Hersuccessisnowassured,butIcannotresistthetemptationofmentioningthatshe
hashadthegreatesttroublewithherleadingmeninhercompaniestheyallinsistand
persistinfallinginlovewithher,andshehashadtochangethemfrequentlytogetridof
theirunwelcomeattentions,forherheartistakenelsewhere.
IfellthatIamjustifiedincallingtheattentiontoanothercasethatofaleading
statesmanwhotookmyinstructionsbymeansofaseriesofletters,severalyearsago.
ThismanwantedMASTERY.Hegotit.Igavehimthecue,andkeynote,andhedidthe
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rest.Somasterfuldidhebecome,bytheemploymentofmysuggesteddirect
commands,thathedominatedallwhocamenearhim.Infacthecarriedthethingalittle
toofarhegrewtoberegardedasdangerousandtyrannical,andpowerfulinterests
conspiredagainsthim.Heisintemporaryretirementatthistimebutheisreallybut
bidinghistime.Itisimpossibletoremaininthismanspresenceforanytime
particularlyifhisattentionisdirectedtowardyouwithoutacknowledginghimtobea
MASTER.
Inowaskyourefertothelastpagesofthechapteronthedirectflash.Youwillfind
thereanumberofsentencesgivenaspracticesbeforethemirror.Studyoverthese
sentencescarefully,andyouwillfindthereinastronghintoftheidea,whichyoushould
weaveintoyourowndirectcommands.Studentsofmind,undermydirection,have
effectivelyemployedallofthesesentences;inactualpracticeandallofthemhavethe
germofsuccessinthem.Youmayusethemsingly,incombination,orasageneral
patternaroundwhichyoumayweaveyourownideas.Practiceeachofthem,untilyou
catchthespirit,andyouwillthenhavenotroubleincreatingyourowncommandsinthe
mostapprovedstyle.YouwillnoticetheDIRECTNESSandPOSITIVENESSofeachofthese
commandsthesearethetwoessentialqualitiestobeobservedandusedinthiswork
ofthedirectcommand.Putallyourmagneticforcebehindthem,andflashthemout
righttothepointsquarelyintothementalityofthepersonswhomyouwishto
influence.
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ChapterXVIII:
TheMagneticDuel
Thelawsofpersonalmagnetismareinaccordwiththeotherlawsofnaturein
recognizingtheuniversalfactthattherearevariousdegreesofpower,andthat,allelse
beingequal,thestrongerpowerwillprevailovertheweaker.But,itislikewisetruethat
theindividual,byasuperiorknowledgeoftheartofscienceofdefenseandoffense,may
oftentriumphoverasuperiordegreeofstrengthintheotherperson.Thisfactisastrue
ofpersonalmagnetismasitisofphysicalstrength.Theskilledmagneticindividualmay
overcomehisstrongeradversary,justastheskilledboxermayovercomeastrongerman,
oraskilledfencermaydisarmanddefeatamuchstrongeropponent.
Theconflictbetweentheopposingmagnetismofindividualsistobeseenonallhands
everyday.Infact,ithasbeenwellsaidthattwopersonsnevermeetbutthatthereisat
leastapreliminarytrialofmagneticstrength.Atanyrate,notwopersonsevermeet,
whoseinterestsareintheleastopposed,butthatthereoccursalittletiltofmagnetic
strengthsometimesaquitestrenuoustest,infact.Andintheseteststherealwaysis
onetriumphantandonedefeated.Itistruethatthecircumstancesofthecase
sometimesaffecttheresult,andthedefeatedtodaymaybethevictortomorrow,butthe
factremains,thatforthetimebeing,atleast,thereisalwaysoneontopandtheother
underneathatthefinishofthemagneticduel,beitslightorserious.Onehasbutto
recallincidentsintheirownexperiencetorecognizethisfact.
OliverWendellHolmesrecognizedthismagneticduel,inoneofhisbooks,whenhe
speaksofthatdeadlyIndianhuginwhichmenwrestlewiththeireyes,overinfive
seconds,butwhichbreaksoneoftheirtwobacks,andisgoodforthreescoreyearsand
ten,onetrialenoughsettlesthewholematterjustaswhentwofeatheredsongsters
ofthebarnyard,gameanddunghill,cometogether.Afterajumportwo,andafewsharp
kicks,thereisanendofit;anditisAfteryou,monsieurwiththebeatenpartyinallthe
socialrelationsforalltherestofhisdays.
Dr.Fothergill,awellknownEnglishPhysician,nowdeceased,oncewrotealittlebook
uponthesubjectofthewill.Thegooddoctorwasaclosestudentofpersonal
magnetism,althoughhedidnotchoosetousethetermitselfinhiswritings,becauseof
thenarrowcodeofprofessionalethicsthenimposeduponthemedicalprofessionin
GreatBritain.Ihavepersonalmagnetism,intheoryandpractice.Ithereforetakegreat
pleasureinquotingfromhimontheparticularsubjectnowbeforeus,asfollows:
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Theconflictofwill,thepowertocommandothers,hasbeenspokenoffrequently.Yet
whatisthiswillpower,whichinfluencesothers?Whatisitthatmakesusaccept,and
adopttoo,theadviceofoneperson,whilepreciselythesameadvicefromanotherhas
beenrejected?Isittheweightorforceofwill,whichinsensiblyinfluencesus,theforce
ofwillbehindtheadvice?Thatiswhatitis!Thepersonwhothusforceshisorheradvice
uponushasnomorepowertoenforceitthanothers;butallthesamewedoas
requested.Weacceptfromonewhatwerejectfromanother.Onepersonsaysof
somethingcontemplated,Oh,butyoumustnot,yetwedoitallthesame,thoughthat
personmaybeinapositiontomakeusregrettherejectionofthatcounsel.Another
personsays,Oh,butyoumustnt,andwedesist,thoughwemay,ifsodisposed,setthis
latterpersonsopiniontdefiancewithimpunity.Itisnotthefearofconsequences,nor
ofgivingoffence,whichdeterminestheadoptionofthelatterpersonsadvice,whileit
hasbeenrejectedwhengivenbythefirst.Itdependsuponthecharacterorwillpowerof
theindividualadvisingwhetherweaccepttheadvice,orrejectit.Thischaracteroften
dependslittle,ifatall,insomecases,upontheintellect,orevenonthemoralqualities,
thegoodnessorbadness,oftheindividual.Itisitselfanimponderablesomething;yetit
carriesweightwithit.
Theremaybeablermen,cleverermen;butitistheonepossessedofwillwhorisesto
thesurfaceatthesetimestheonewhocanbysomesubtlepowermakeothermen
obeyhim
Thewillstrugglegoesonuniversally.Intheyoungaristocrat,whogetshistailortomake
anotheradvanceindefianceofhisconvictionthathewillnevergethismoneyback?It
goesonbetweenlawyerandclient;betwixtdoctorandpatient;betweenbankerand
borrower;betwixtbuyerandseller.Itisnottact,whichenablesthepersonbehindthe
countertoinducecustomerstobuywhattheydidnotintendtobuy,andwhichwhen
bought,givesthemnosatisfaction,thoughitislinkedtherewithfortheefforttobe
successful.
Whenevertwopersonsmeetinbusiness,orinanyotherrelationinlife,upto
lovemaking,thereisthiswillfightgoingon,commonlyenoughwithoutany
consciousnessofthestruggle.Thereisadimconsciousnessoftheresult,butnoneofthe
processes.Itoftentakesyearsoftheintimacyofmarriedlifetofindoutwithwhomof
thepairthemasteryreallylays.Oftenthefarstrongercharacter,toallappearances,has
toyield;itisthiswillelement,whichunderliesthestatement.Theraceisnotalwaysto
theswift,northebattletothestrong.InMiddlemarchwefindinLydgateagrand
aggregationofqualities,yetshallow,hard,selfishRosamondmastershimthoroughlyin
theend.Hewasnotdeficientinwillpower,possessedmorethananaverageshareof
74
character;butinthefighthewentdownatlastundertheonslaughtoftheintense,
stubbornwillofhisnarrowmindedspouse.Theirwillcontestwasthecollisionofa
large,warmnature,likeacapablehumanhand,withahard,narrow,selfishnature,likea
steelbutton;thehandonlybruiseditselfwhilethebuttonremainedunaffected.
Ifyouwillsubstitutethetermmagneticforce,forwill,willpower,etc.,inthegood
doctorswords,youwillseehowperfectlyhewasinaccordwiththeteachingscontained
inthisbook.
Thestudentwhohascarefullystudiedtheforegoingpageswillhaveacquiredsufficient
knowledgeofthetheoryandpractice,themethodandthetechnique,ofpersonal
magnetism,tobeabletocarryhimselforherselfthoughamagneticduelwithcredit
tohimselforherself,andcredittomyself,theteacher.Butremember,thatthereisas
muchinadroitness,andskill,asthereisinmerestrengthofmagnetism.Carryinmind
thetacticsofthegoodboxer,orgoodfencertrytoreproduce(inthemagneticduel)
theguards,thefeints,theunexpectedstroke,therushes,theoverpoweringstroke,etc.
Itwillnothurtyoutopurposelyengageinsomeoftheseconflicts,asgoodpractice
preparingforthedayofarealtestofpoweronsomeimportantpoint.Assertyourwilla
little,andstrivetohaveyourownwayinsmallmatters,particularlyifyouareopposed
thereinbyothers.Theskillandpractice,togetherwiththeselfconfidenceyouwillgain
willproveusefultoyouinthehourorneed.
Inadditiontothegeneralandspecialinstructionregardingtheuseofpositive
magnetisminrelationtootherpersons,Inowofferforyourconsiderationthefollowing
specialflashes,foruseonspecialoccasions,especiallyincasesofthemagneticduel.
Youwillfindtheseflashesofgreatusetoyouonsuchoccasions,particularly(asis
generallythecase)wheretheopponentdoesnotknowthesecretofhisownnatural
powerofmagnetism,andisnotversedintheartandscienceofusingit.Studyover
thesecarefullyfortheyarevaluable,andrepresenttheresultofyearsofexperience
andpractice.Herefollowsthelistjustspokenof:Mymagnetismisstrongerthanyours
itisoverpoweringyou.
Mymagnetismisbeatingdownyourguardyouareweakening.
Iammorepositivethanyouyouarenegativeandarebeginningtoretreatandgivein
tome.
Youarebeginningtofeelafraidofme,afraid,afraid,afraidofme.
Retreat,retreat,retreat,ItellyouIamforcingyoubackward.
75
IamscatteringyourforcesIamdissipatingyourenergyIambreakingyour
magnetismtobits,bythepowerofmyownforce.
Iamstandingonthesolidrockofpoweryourfeetareonsand,andareslippingway
fromyou.
GETOUTOFMYWAYICOMMANDYOUTOGETOUT!
Iamcrowdingyouback,offyourfeet;moveback,ItellyouBACK,outofmyway,Itell
you!
Youmaygetthespiritoftheabovebycarefullyreadingthem,repeatingthemtoyour
imageinthemirror,throwingfullforeintothewords,andtheexpressionintoyoureyes.
Thenyouwillbeabletoflashthemouttootherswhentheoccasionarises,withease,
powerandeffect.YouneednotbeboundbytheprecisewordsthatIhavegivenyou,
providingyoucatchthespiritbehindthem.Youmayuseyourownwordsthevery
wordsthatyouwouldliketoactuallyuttertotheotherperson,ifyouprefer.Thething
todoistogetthefeelingandmeaningintohismind.
Inasucceedingchapter,entitledMagneticSelfDefense,youwillfindfullinstruction
fordefensiveflashes,andguards,whicharetobeusedinconnectionwiththeabove
offensiveones,inthemagneticduel.Beattheopponentoffbyneutralizinghis
magnetism,accordingtotheadvicegiveninthenextchapter,andthenplungeinyour
ownmentalweaponsofattack.Thefollowingconstitutesabroadswordmentalweapon,
whichmayoftenbeusedwiththegreatesteffect:
Iampouringintoyouastrongconcentratedcurrentofmagneticpower.Whichis
overpoweringyouandconqueringyou,andbendingyoutomywill.Mymagnetismisfar
strongerthanisyours,andIknowhowtouseittobetteradvantagethandoyou.Iam
overpoweringyouIamconqueringyouIambendingyoutomywill.Iam
MASTERINGyou,steadilyandcompletely.IshallcommandyoutodoasIwill.YouMUST
doit,anddoitnow.Surrender,ItellyousurrendernowSURRENDERtomeatonce.
YouMUST,andyouSHALL.Iambreakingdownyourresistance.Youaregivingup
SURRENDERNOWSURRENDERATONCE.
76
ChapterXIX:
CorporealMagnetism
Beforeconcludingmyinstructionregardingthesubjectoftheprojectionofpersonal
magnetism,Iwishtohaveafewwordswithyouonthesubjectofwhatmaybecalled
corporealmagnetism.Bycorporealismeant,pertainingtothebody.Iusetheterm
corporealmagnetismtoindicateanddesignatetheconveyanceofpersonalmagnetism
bymeansofphysicalcontact,as,forinstance,bythetouchofthehands,lips,etc.
Itmaybeobjectedtothatthistermisneedless,inasmuchasIhavealreadyconsidered
thephaseofphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,inconnectionwiththegeneralsubject
ofpersonalmagnetism.But,Ianswer;bycorporealmagnetismImeansomething
differentfrommerephysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce.Thenewtermisfarmore
inclusive,for,bycorporealmagnetismImeantheprojectionofthecombinedpersonal
magnetism(physicalandmental)totheotherperson,overthechannelsofthenervous
systemofbothpersons,insteadofthroughtheetherasinthecaseoftheordinary
projectionofpersonalmagnetismNotethisdistinction:Undertheheadofphysical
magnetism,Iexplainedtoyouhowmagnetichealingtreatmentsmightbegivenbythe
useofthehands,thephysicalmagnetismpassingoverthenervoussystemofthehealer,
makingtheleapbetweenthefingertipsandthebodyoftheotherperson.But,in
corporealmagnetismnotonlythephysicalmagnetismornerveforce,issoprojected
totheotherperson,butatthesametimeisalsoprojectedthementalmagnetism.In
short,theentireprocessoftheprojectionofcombinedpersonalmagnetismis
performed,butthemagnetismflowsalongphysicalchannels,insteadofacrossthe
ether,toreachtheotherperson.Itrustthatyouclearlyperceivethisdistinction,before
weproceedfurther.
Thatthereexiststhisphaseofpersonalmagnetism,calledcorporalmagnetismcannot
bedoubtedbythecarefulinvestigator.Onallsideswemayseeevidenceofthe
phenomenaofthisphaseofpersonalmagnetism.Inthehandshakeofthepersonis
oftenconveyedthestrongestkindofpersonalmagnetisminthetouchofthehandis
oftenfoundthestrongestkindofemotionalvibrations.Inthekiss,andthecontactofthe
cheek,areoftentobefoundthemostactiveformofemotionalvibrations,asalmost
everyoneknows.Inshort,bybodilycontacttheremayoftenbeconveyedthemost
dangerousformsofsexualmagnetismandotherformsofmagnetism.
Idonotintendtosaymuchregardingsexualmagnetisminthisbook,butIwouldnotbe
doingjusticetomystudentsifIfailedtoatleastmentionsomeplainfacts,inpassing.I
77
needscarcelyremindmystudentofthepowerfulsexualemotionsoftenarousedbya
kiss,ortouchofthecheek,oreventheholdingofhandsthisknowledgeiscommon
totherace,althoughfewunderstandtherealnatureofthephenomena.Enoughforme
tosaythatthelibertinegenerallyrealizesfullwellthepowerfulvibrations,whichmaybe
conveyedinthismanner,althoughhedoesnotunderstandthescientificfactsofthecase
hehasthepracticewelldefinedinhismind,althoughhedoesnotunderstandthe
theory.Youngpersons,especiallyyoungwomen,shouldbetaughtthedangerofthis
formofmagnetism,andshouldavoidallowingthephysicalcontactwhichmakesthe
sameactive.Theholdinghands,thethoughtlesskiss,pressureofthecheek,embrace,
orclosephysicalcontact,allaffordandfurnishadirectlineforthepassageofthisform
ofmagnetism,i.e.,thesexualmagnetismconveyedthroughcorporealchannels.The
unprincipledperson,ofstrongpassions,soonlearnsthatbyclosephysicalcontacthe
mayoftenconveyhisemotionalvibrationtotheyoungwoman,andthusarouse
reciprocalvibrations,whichmaysweepheroffherfeet,andintohisarmsoftentoher
utterruinanddisgrace.Thisisnotapleasantsubject,butIfeelthatIwouldnotbetrue
tomystudentsifIfailedtopointoutthisdangerousforce,andtocautionthemtoguard
againsttheemploymentofthesameagainstthem.
Leavingthisphaseofthesubject,Inowwishtocalltheattentionofmystudentstothe
useofcorporealmagnetismintheordinaryuseofthehands,asinshakinghands,etc.
Hereisasubjectworthyoftheclosestattentiononyourpart.
Stronglymagneticmen,andthosewhohavestudiedthissubject,frequentlyemploythis
methodofprojectingpersonalmagnetisminmakingtheirpreliminarymovesinthe
directionofinfluencingotherpersonsbypersonalmagnetism.Whohasnotexperienced
themagnetichandshakeofindividualsofthiskind?And,ontheotherhand,whohasnot
beenconsciousofthefeelingofrepulsioninspiredbythecold,clammy,snakelike
handshakeofothertypesofpersons?
Youhavealsoprobablynoticedthatmanymenwhosebusinessitistoinfluenceyouin
anydirection,suchaspoliticians,preachers,promoters,salesmen,etc.,haveahabitof
placingtheirhandsuponyourshoulders,duringtheconversationorlayingtheirhand
lightlyonyourarmwhilespeakingtoyouinsomecases,givingyouafinalpatonthe
backastheyurgeyoutosignrighthere,andclosethethingup.Haveyourealizedthat
thisisaformofcorporalmagnetism,andthattheresultisoftenveryeffective?Lookout
forthesefellowsinthefuture,andneutralizetheirmagnetismaccordingtotherules
giveninthenextchapterofthisbook.Ifyouchoosetoemploythesemethodsyourself
well,thatisyourownbusiness,andamatterforyourselftodecide.Itisaverystrong
methodofconveyingcorporealmagnetism,Iassureyou.
78
Inshakinghandswithanypersonwhomyoumaywishtoinfluence,youshouldthrow
intotheclaspthestrongestpossiblekindofpersonalmagnetism,physicalandmental,
accordingtotherulesalreadygivenyouinthisbook.Givethepersonthedirect
commandatthemomentoftheclasp,throwingitintohimbymeansofthenervesof
thehandandfingers.(Alittlepractice,inthedirectionofshakinghandswithyourself
willbeofgreataidtoyouinthismatter).Sendhimamentalmessagejustasyouwould
ifyouweremerelylookingathim.
Whenyoumeetapersonwithwhomyouareacquainted,thehandclaspisthenatural
thing,anditgivesyouasplendidopportunitytogetinapowerfulpreliminaryflashof
personalmagnetism,accompaniedbythestrongestpossibledirectcommand.Whenthis
isperformedproperly,itwillservetogettheotherpersoninexactlytherightpsychic
conditionstoreceiveyourfurtherdirectcommands,andtoyieldmorereadilytoyour
magnetism.Itisyouradvanceguardpreparingthewayforthegrandchargeuponthe
breastworksoftheenemy.Useitwellandhalfthebattlewillbewonatonestroke.
Alwaysbeheartyinyourhandclaspnotroughortoostrenuous,fornoonelikesto
havehishandtightlysqueezedorbruisedalwaysrememberthewordheartyinthis
connection.Bewareofthelifelesshandshakethrowfeelingintoit,andmakeitbealive
andvital.Shakehandsasiftheotherpersonmeantsomethingtoyou,andholdontohis
handforamoment,andthenletgoasifwithreluctance.Seekoutsomestrongly
magneticperson,usedtomeetingpeoplesomesuccessfulpolitician,forinstance
andlethimshakehandswithyou.Noticehowmuchinterestandfeelingheputsintohis
claspandthentakenotesfromhismethods.Agoodmagneticpreacher,meetinghis
flockatthechurchdoorastheypassout,alsowillgiveyouagoodexample.Studythem
andcatchthemotion.
Whenshakinghandswithapersonwhoyouwishtoinfluence,youshouldthrowinto
thehandclaspthedirectcommand,whichyouwishtoimpressuponhim.Ifyouwish
him,orher,tolikeyou,yourdirectcommandshouldbealongthoselines,forinstance,a
strongYouLIKEme!Ifyouwishtoassertyourpositivityoverhispower,youshouldget
toworkatoncewithaverystrongpositiveIamstrongerthanyou,orIamfarmore
POSITIVEthanyou!orsomeotherstatementofthesamegeneralkind,suchasIhave
givenyouintheprecedingchapters.Infact,youmayusenayorallofthestatements
previouslygiventoyou,inthisformaswellasintheordinaryphasesofthedirect
command.
Inconcludingthischapter,Iwishtocallyourattentiontoaphaseofthephenomenaof
corporealmagnetism,whichisoftenoverlookedbyteachersofthesubject.Ialludeto
thatformofmagnetism,whichisprojectedbymerenearnessofthebodiesofpersons,
79
eventhoughdirectcontactmaynotbehad.Goodsalesmenandothersoftenknowthis
fromtheirownexperience,althoughnotunderstandingtherealcause.Theyknowthat
bysittingneartothecustomer,theycangetabettermagneticeffectthanifcompelled
tositatalittledistance.Theresultofthehearttohearttalkoftenresultsfromthis
nearness.Inthesameway,thegesturesofthehandsofaspeaker,cominginclose
contacttootherpersons,oftenservestoconveythemagnetismtothem,althoughno
actualcontactishad.
Thehands,particularly,areveryeffectiveinstrumentsfortheconveyorofcorporeal
magnetism,forthenervesofthefingersareverysensitive,andreadilyconveyand
projectthemagnetismwithgreatconcentratedforce.Theuseofthefingersofthe
mesmeristisbutoneexampleofthisfact.Youwillalsonoticethatthemajorityof
effectiveoratorsandspeakershaveawayofmakingpassesandwavesattheir
audiences.Thegoodsolicitororpromoterusuallyemployshishandsinthisway.
Remember,Idonotsaythatthesepeoplearealwaysconsciousofthefactsbehindtheir
gesturestheyoftenareignorantofthesame,andusetheirhandsinstinctively,having
acquiredthemovementsthroughhabit.Butthefactsremain,andthosewholearnthe
secretoftheforceanditsemployment,andthereafteruseitconsciouslyand
deliberately,areplacedatagreatadvantageoverotherswhodonotpossessthis
knowledge.And,markmywords,therearethousandsoftheworldsgreatestmenwho
havelearnedthissecret,takenlessonsinitsuse,andarenowemployingitactively.You
maynowjointheirranks,ifyoucaretodoso.
80
ChapterXX:
MagneticSelfDefense
And,now,havingacquaintedyouwiththevariousformsofthemanifestation,projection
anduseofpersonalmagnetismhavingtaughtyounotonlythetheory,butalsothe
practice;notonlyhowtoacquirethetechnique,butalsohowtoeffectivelyemploythe
sameIwillconcludebycallingyourattentiontothedefensivesideofthequestion.In
boxingorfencing,youhavenotmasteredtheartfullyuntilyouareablenotonlyto
attack,butalso,howtodefendnotonlytheartofaggressiveaction,butalsothe
scienceofdefensiveaction.And,soitisinthecaseofpersonalmagnetism,youmustnot
onlyknowhowtousetheforceintheformofprojection,butyoumustalsoknowhow
todefendyourselfagainsttheprojectionoftheforcebyothers.
Itistruethatthecarefulanddiligentstudentoftheselessonswillgraduallydevelop
suchapowerwithinhimselfthathewillscarcelyevermeetindividualsmorepowerful
thanhimself.But,still,therearealwaystheverystrongindividualstobereckonedwith,
andIwantyoutopossessthesecretofdispersinganddissipatingthemagnetismofsuch
persons,sofaraseffectonyourselfisconcerned,bythemethodsknowntoalladvanced
studentsandpractitionersofpersonalmagnetism.
Thisdefensivescienceisfarsimplerthanyouwouldthinkatfirst,althoughtobe
effectiveinthesameyoumustfirsthavelearnedhowtoprojecteffectively.Imaysumit
upinafewwordsheedthemcarefully.Thesecretisthis:Indefendingoneselfagainst
magneticprojectioninanyorallofitsforms,youhavebuttoprojecttowardtheother
personastrongDENIALofhispowertoinfluence,affect,ormasteryou.Thatisthe
wholethinginanutshell.Nowforthedetails.
But,righthere,Iwanttoremindyouofaveryimportantfact,andthatisinthisdenial
youdonotreallydestroyorlessenthepoweroftheotherperson,ingeneral.Youonly
neutralizehismagnetismsofarasitaffectsyourself,orthosewhomyouwishtoprotect.
Inotherwords,insteadofdestroyinghisweapons,youmerelyturnthemaside,and
causethemtoglanceoff,leavingyou,andyours,harmless.Touseafamiliarillustration
fromthefieldofelectricity,yourenderyourselfanonconductor,andtheforceglances
offyouwithoutaffectingyouintheslightest.Rememberthisillustration,andyouwill
havetheideafirmlyfixedinyourmind.
Youmayrenderyourselfimmunenotonlyfromthedirectflash,anddirectdemandor
command,ofothers,nomatterhowstrongtheymaybe;butalsofromthegeneral
contagionofthementalatmosphereoraurasofothers.Byproperconcentratedeffort,
81
alongtheselines,youmayrenderyourselfabsolutelyimmunefromtheforceofthe
personalmagnetismofothers,ifyousodesire.Or,ifyouprefer,youmayshutoutonly
certainindividualsfromyourfield,andallowthebeneficialmagnetismofotherstoenter
it.Intruth,youareyourownMASTER,ifyoubutexertyourpower.
Astothemethodstobeemployed,youhavebuttousethoseyouhavealreadylearned
intheselessons,bymerelychangingthementalattitudeandstatementorcommand.
Forinstance,insteadofprojectingthedirectcommandthatyouarestrongerthanthe
otherperson,andcanthereforeinfluencehim;youhavebuttocalmlyDENYhispower
overyou,anddefyhimtoaffectyouintheslightest.Asamatteroffact,thatmental
attitudeisfarlessstrenuousthantheaggressiveformofmagneticprojection.Itrequires
merelytheinterpositionofyourmagneticshieldofdefense,andhispowerwillglance
offwithoutaffectingyou,eventhoughheismoststrenuouslyprojectingit.Thereisof
coursetheotherplanoffightingaggressivemagnetismwithaggressivemagnetismthis
istherealmagneticduelinitsplainform,andmaybeusedwhendesired.Butifyou
merelywishtorepeltheaggressionofothers,youhavebuttousethedefensiveplanof
theDENIAL,asIhavejusttoldyou.
Informingthementalstatement,whichaccompaniesallformsoftheuseofmental
magnetism,asyouhaveseen,youmerelyexpress(mentally)inafew,strongpositive
words,theideayouwishtoreachtheotherpersonsmind.Well,soitisthecaseof
magneticselfdefense.Yousimplymentallystateinafewstrongwordsthatyoudenythe
poweroftheotherperson.Youwillfind,asyouexperiment,thatintheverywordsI
DENY,thereisamightydynamicpowerofdefense.Itisthementalideabehindthese
words,which,figurativelywipesoutofexistencetheotherpersonsmagnetism,atleast
sofarasyou,yourself,areconcerned.ItisthegreatSHIELDOFDEFENSE.Letthefull
meaningofthewordDENYenterintoyourmindyouwillfinditcontainsanew
meaningandstrength,whenconsideredinthisconnection.
Now,rightatthispoint,beforeproceedingfurther,Iaskyoutoturnbackovertheleaves
oftheprecedinglessons,andmakenoteofthenumerousstatementsgivento
accompanythepositiveaura,thedirectflash,thedirectcommand,etc.Thenfrom
withinyourownmind,thedenialofthesestatements(iftheyareprojectedbyanother
person),andyouwillfindthatyoupossessinstinctivelythepowertoframesuch
statementsofdenial,easily.Practicealittle,imaginingthatanotherpersonishurling
theseflashesorcommandsatyou,andthatyouareinterposingtheshieldofdenialin
eachcase.Youwillbesurprised,anddelighted,torealizehoweasilyyoucanrepelthe
strongestoftheseassaults.Youmaythenbegintopracticebythrowingyourselfintothe
presenceandcompanyofthestrongestmagneticpersonsyouknow,andthenseehow
82
easilyyoucanrepeltheirpowerandhowfree,calmandsereneyounowfeelintheir
presence.
TherearetwothingstoberememberedinthisconnectionIhavealreadytoldyou
them,butitiswelltorepeattheminordertofixthemfirmlyinyourmind.Iaskyouto
considertheminthefollowingparagraphs.
Inthefirstplace,asIhavetoldyou,thisdefensiveprocessmerelyenablesyoutothrow
offandrenderyourselfimmunefromtheaggressivemagnetismofothersitdoesnot
enableyoutomasterthemortocompelthemtodoyourbidding.Inorderto
accomplishthelatter,youmustbeatdowntheguardoftheotherperson;protect
yourselfatthesametime;andthencarrythedaybyadirectmagneticassaultuponhim.
Youcandothesethingsifhefightsyouwiththeweaponsofaggressivemagnetismonly,
butifheDENYyourpower,heisimmune,andyoucannotaffecthim;justasifyouDENY
hispower,youareimmuneincasebothDENY,thenthebattleisdrawn,andneither
win.TheDenialisnotaweaponofaggressivenessitismerelytheshieldofdefense.
Rememberthis!Ofcourse,ifyouusebothshieldandsword,youwillhaveadouble
advantage,providinghedoesnotalsousetheshield.Forifyoucanrepelhismagnetism,
andatthesametimeuseyourownthenheisatyourmercy.Butifheknowsenough
toalsousehisshieldthenthebattlewillbedrawn,andneitherwillwinadecided
victory.Doyoucatchtheidea?Thinkoverituntilitisplaintoyou.
ThesecondpointIwishtoimpressuponyou,inthisconnection,isthefact,already
statedbyme,thatyoudonotactuallydestroyorweakentheotherpersonsmagnetism,
bytheuseoftheshieldofdenial.Hismagnetismremainsjustasstrong,andjustas
muchinevidence,asifyoudidnotusetheshieldtheonlydifferencebeingthatby
usingityourenderhisweaponspowerlessagainstyou,orthoseyoumaywishto
protect;andthuscreateimmunityforyourself,andyourprotgs,byinterposingthe
shieldofdefense.Butyoudonotimpairthepoweroftheotherpersonagainstothers
whomyoudonotdirectlyshelterbehindyourshield.Doyougetthispoint?Thinkoverit
untilyougetitclearly.
Whenyourepelthemagnetismofoneofthepersonswhohavebeenusingitwithout
knowingthenatureofhispower(andtherearemanywhosouseitthemajorityof
persons,infact)youwillbeamusedtoseehowbrokenupsuchapersonbecomes.He
willbecomebewilderedathisfailuretoinfluenceandaffectyou,andwilloftenbecome
embarrassedand,insomecases,actuallyentangledinthecurrentsofhisown
magnetism.Itmayevenhappen(itoftendoes,really)thatsuchapersonwillbecomeso
confusedbyhisapparentlossofpower,thathewilllosehisassuranceandconsequently
hisabilitytoattack.Insuchcases,hebecomesaneasysubjectforamagneticrushor
83
broadsideonyourownpart,whichwillquicklydrivehimintoadisastrousretreat.Of
course,ifhehasascientificknowledgeofthesubject,hewillnotbesotakenoffguard,
but,recognizingyourknowledgeandpower,hewillpassitoffwithasmile,and
relinquishtheattack.
And,now,goodstudent,wepartcompanyforthepresent.Iamgladtohavehadthe
honorofgivingyouthisinstruction,intheselessons,andItrustthatyouwillsoconduct
yourselfthatyouwillbeacreditablepupilofmine,anddomehonorbyyour
accomplishmentsandattainments.Ihavesuppliedyouwiththeweaponsofboth
aggressiveandalsoofdefensivepersonalmagnetism,andhavetaughtyouhowto
employbothofthemsoastogetthebestresults.Itisnowuptoyoutomakethebest
useoftheseweapons,accordingtotheruleandprincipleswhichIhavelaiddownfor
yourguidance.
Inparting,Iwishtoagainimpresstwoimportantrulesuponyou,andtheseare:
(1)Practice,practice,practice,untilyouhaveeverydetailoftheinstructionsowell
learned,andsofixedbyhabit,thatyoucanandwillusetheminstinctively,justasyou
nowwalk,orbreathe,orspeak.
(2)Keepyourownsecrets,anddonotdissipateandscatteryourinfluencebyhintingof
yoursecretsofyourpoweroverothers.Therearemanygoodreasonsforthisrule
somereasonsthatdonotappearonthesurface,bytheway.RemembertheoldItalian
proverb:Ilboccachiusa,noncentramoscathatistosay:Intotheclosedmouth,
nofliesenter.Heedthespiritoftheproverb.
Aurevoir,mymagneticfriendsweshallmeetagain,induetime.
TheronQ.Dumont
84

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