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W IT H T HE D EAD
A PRA C TI CA L HA N D B O OK
N EW YORK
E . P . DUTTO N CO .
6 8 1 FIFT H AVENUE
C ON T E N T S
PA GE
V11
I . D O T HE D E A D S TI LL LI VE ? 1
S OU L AND LI F E
T E LEP A THY AN D T E LE -
MN E MO N I KY
DISC ARNA T E S P I RI TS 57
V . MED IU MS 77
C O MMU NI CA T I NG 90
PR A C TI CA L I N S TRU CT I O N S FO R S P EA K
IN G W I TH T HE D E A D 1 03
#
L
SP I RI TUA I SM AN D
c
T NA L I S M
RA I O
P RE F AC E
A few words which many persons w ill read
wi th amazement mus t be added here on th e
subj ec t of 0 252 b ono ? Multitudi nous vials o f
'
ab ys s of insanity ?
P RE FA CE ix
natural wealth .
craft ,
th ank s to the i nve s tigator s who have
P R E FAC E xi
tion 18 well founded if by knowledge is
meant merely that which is p o s s e s e s d by liv
Ing hum an beings and derived solely from nor
mal sources But if there be in reality cer
.
, ,
p e a r a n c e r e m a l n s unvaried W e
. need not
therefore e xp g ct a hu m an body or a chair to
Mr E dison In hi s spook factory where th e
.
SCIEN s
.
HO W T O SPE A K W IT H
T HE D E A D
C HAP T E R I
Do T H E DE AD STI LL L IVE ?
IF survival after what is called death be not
a fact the idea of communication with the dead
,
of the subjec t is D o the D ead still live This
?
to the question D o the D ead still live ?
v iv ali s ts prefer to u s e some other word well ,
tailed fashion .
, ,
eye etc the soul is not a ffected thereby in
, .
,
hum an being may be apparently drowned
or may become ent ranced H is breathing may .
cease to be operative and as actually hap ,
p ens now and again the individual may be s o
de ad in the judgment of physicians that he
or sh e is laid out for burial aye and is some , ,
g
freshly from a lau gh tere d calf the brain nds
itself once more able to send its messages to
the muscles and the man nds he can move h is
,
, ,
has a stroke as it is termed an apoplectic
,
D O T HE DEAD S TILL L IVE ? 7
as disti n c t a n d s e
p a r a t e ent ities is a d mit t ed
8 HOW T O S PEAK WIT H TH E DEAD
b y S c i ence and demonstrated by the everyday
e xper i ence o f mankind .
phrase is that thought may possibly be a se
cretion of the brain The idea is that although
.
detached do es not mean necessarily s epar a
10 HOW T O S PEAK WIT H TH E DEAD
t ion by any considerable interval of space or ,
grees . A n d with regard to dream ing the
, ,
explanation g iven is that the gradual passing
of the h igher n erv e centre s ~
th e highest
centres of the cerebral matter from normal t o
subnormal activity or rest removes from the
, ,
What is meant by the phrase dissociation of
c on s cl ou s n e s s ? It cannot very well signify
anything other than that consciousness during
sleep becomes detached from the brain some ,
of a certain inh ibition from the lower centres
comes in is by way of explaining that owing
to temporary physical conditions attending
sleep various brain cells are out of gear as
,
-
,
it were and work I rr egularly the case being
,
g u m e n t which
, mos t scientic men regard as
conclusive there exIsts a solid basis of scien
,
f
Institute E ra Mural L ecturer in Mechan
x #
-
,
r e garded as prov ing the existence of the in
visible intelligent beings mentioned by S ir
W illi am C rookes in 1 8 74 and as also proving ,
own words .
A d rawin g b o a r d wa s pl a c ed on th e pl a t fo rm
-
of
a W e i gh i n g m a c h i ne a nd a c h a i r wa s pl a c e d o n
th e top of th e b o a r d . T h e me di u ( Mi
m s s Go li gh er )
s at o n th e chai r , Wi th h e r fe t r e s t i ng o n th e b o a r d
e
I s i d t th e o p er a t o r s
.
E xp e rimen t 1 . a o to
th e pi r i t s ] Y o u
s ,
s a y th levi t a tin g c n t ilever c on
e a
ta i n s ma t t e r f r om th e b o dy o f th e med i u m I w a nt
.
18 HOW T O S PEAK W I T H T HE D EAD
y ou to ta ke bou t fr o m
o dy th e m a tt er
y h er
o u u s e
i n th e c o n s t ru c t i on o f th e c a n t ile v e r y o u empl o y to
levi t a t e thi s t a b le ( wei ght 1 2 4 lb s ) a nd t o pl a c e
1 .
th i s m tte r l o o s el y o n th e o o r n o t to b u il d u p
a
th e c a n t il e ve r b u t Si mply to pl a c e th e m a tt e r r e
q u i r e d fo r i t o n th e o o r G iv e t h r ee r a p s w h e n.
o u ha ve d o ne th i s
y .
T h e m e d i u m s W e i gh t be ga n to d e c re a s e a nd i n
th e th ree r a p s s i gni fy i n g t h a t th e o pe r a t i o n wa s
,
c omplete .
R E SU LT
Wei gh t o f med i m cha i r u
b o rd a b f r e th e e xp e rim n t
, e o st lb s e . .
F i r ly
a t e dy wei ght o f m d iu m
s a e
c h a i r bo a rd a ft er th r a p s , e
W re give n
e 8 st lb s . .
D e c r e s e i n W i gh t o f m d i u m
a e st 16 e .
I t i s n o t wo r thy th a t wh en I c rri e d o u t th e
e a
s me t es t
a b o u t i gh t ee n m nth s p r evi o u s l y I oh
a e o ,
t i n d th e s m e r e s u l t W i thi n a p o u n d o r two
a e a ( S ee .
E xp e rime n t 2 .
p e ra t o r s to pu t th e
I k d thas e e o
m a t t e r th e y s a i d th ey a b s t r a c t e d i n E xp e ri men t 1 ,
n o t o n th e o o r b u t o n th e d r a wm b o a r d u n d e r th e
g
e
m d i u m s c h a i r ( th e d r a wm g bo a r d wa s res ti ng o n
20 HOW T O S PE A K WITH TH E DEAD
th e machine or to r eport them corre c tly Y et .
re ect much of wh at he obs e rve d as b eing non
22 HOW T O S P E A K WITH TH E DEAD
s e ns e ,
and
good de al mo re he describes as
a
u nv e ri ab le and doubtful But he also .
be ge nuin e and convincing a COIl ClIl SlOIl fu lly
a cc e pt e d by serious r e a d er s who ar e not
qu e stion as follows :
H ow ve r i t e cc o mpli sh ed a nd wh a t ever re
be a ,
c e ti o n th e
p p r e d a
y s ci e-
n t i c w o r l d m a
y g i v e t o
th e a s s e r t a re m a n y n o w wh o k n o w by ,
r s t h a nd ew e r wn c e t h a t c o mmu n i c a t i o n i s p o s s ibl e
p ,
a c r o s s th e b o u n d r y i f th er e i s a b o u nd a r y b e
a - ~
r iv d a nd th e l a r ge r e xi s t e n c e c o n c e r ni ng
e s en s es
mu ni c a ti o n i s n o t e a s y b u t i t o cc u r s , Th e .
m r e r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n e l a b o r a t e s ch e m e o f
o
c ro s s c o r r e s p o n d en c e en t er ed u p on s i n ce th e d ea th o f
-
s p e ci a ll y e xp e r i e n c e d a n d c ri t ic a l i nv es t i ga t o r s o f
th e S o ci e ty fo r P s y c h ic a l R e s e a r c h wh o w e r e fa ,
m ili a r wi th all th e s e d if c u l t i e s a n d wh o h a v e t a ke n,
s t r o n g a n d m o s t i n em o u s m e a n s t o o v er c o me th m
g e ,
h a s m a d e th e p r o o f a l r e a dy ver y s t r o n g n o w a l
, ,
e
mo s t c r u ci a l T h e c h i e f th i n g t h a t th e e p i s o d e
.
e s t a bli s h e s to my mi n d a nd a thi ng th a t wa s w o r th
, ,
D O T HE DEAD S TILL L IVE ? 28
ca s i on lly h l d b y th e f a mil y ci cl e t M r i em o n t
a e r a a .
F r i t i s th
o gh th s e ch i y tha t R ym n d r e
rou e e a o
m in a s mu c h
s a m mb r o f th f mily g u p a s
a e e e a ro
ev e r . In t h e ld d a y if I s t wi th m diu m
o s, a a e ,
I w s nev e t ol d o f a ny r i u s im gin y b er ve
a r se o a ar ea
men t wh i ch h d b e f lle n my lf b e y n d th n t u r l
a a se o e a a
a n d in evi t b l l o s s s f m n l d g n t i n whi h
a e e ro a o er e er a o c
f ll to th e lo t o f ve ry s n o f m n Bu t n w if I
a e o a . o ,
o r an
y m m b er o f m e
y f m il y g s a n o ny m u l y t a , oe o s o
l my s n i qu ic kly to th f o r a nd c nt inu s h i s
c ue, o s e e o e
givin g t e t im ny f a it ic lly l c t d ki nd s m
s o o cr a se e e , o e
t im esn t en t i n g h i m s lf w i th f i n dl y f m ily c h ff
co e r e a a
a n d r e m i ni s c n c e b u t lw y a t in g i n
e s, m an n r a a s c a . e
c on s i t n t w i th h i s p r o n li ty nd m m rie s nd
s e e s a a e o a
v r y i n g m o o ds
a In ver y w y h e h a s s h o wn
. e a
o v r h wa n t s me t p k o u t ; n d I s h ll I a m
e , e o s ea a a .
a s nvi n c e d o f c o nt i n u d e xi t n c e
co n th o th e r e s e , o e
s id e o f d th I am o f xi s t en c e h r e
ea , as e e .
Th ey are in e ff e ct a su mm ary of wh at h as b e e n
e st a blish e d by th e l abo r io u s inv e stig ations of
i
s c ence du ing th e l ast h alf century The
r -
.
me ntioned b y S ir O liver Lodge comprises ,
y
.
to which he gives the n ame hum an beings
ar e non mo r a l just as much as h i s t able or his
-
c ase bett er ed by conc e ding th at good con
duct may be bene c ial an d bad conduct
harmful to the m a ss of m atter i n action and ,
will both be ann ihil ated and he will al so know
th at du r ing life the b ad are mu ch better o ff
th an the good D o e s this doctrine commend it
.
SOU L AN D LI FE
wor d live m erely me ans exist ; in the latt e r
th e wo r d liv s connotes together with the
,
The life th at is found in human bodie s
and throughout the o rgani c world is imper
sonal It is m ate ri al or r ather physic al in
.
, , , ,
28
S O UL AND L IF E 29
de stitu tion is ass ert e d with r e sp e ct to dea d ,
inanim at e o rgani c m att er L ife is met with
.
only in liv m g ,a nim at e o rgani c m atter ;
j ust as cryst allis ation is fou nd only in cryst al
line an d not in amorphou s m att er ; an d to
pursue the simile it m ay b e pointed out th at
the s ame m atter which i s cryst alline under some
conditions becomes amorphous und er others ,
30 HOW T O S P E AK WI T H T HE DEAD
as i n the c a se o f c a rbon which i s sometime s
,
of the re being any specic vit al for ce vit al ,
m at eri a or vit al energy h as long ago b e e n
ab a n d oned A ll th e p ar ticul ar phenomen a oh
.
wh y of the Si mplest unic ellul ar organi sm We .
are forc ed says a le ading authority to the
, ,
#
,
m e ans of course th at the quantity of l ife
, ,
of expl anati on 1 8 to hold th at life i s one of
the p rote an modes of e nergy in the s ame w ay
th at he at i s under stood ( by those persons who
ar e cont e nt to a ccept th e B a co ni an a n d mod ,
fusion solution : i t never di e s
, . To spe ak of
it as being a living c r eatur e is th e refor e i nept
, , .
L ife is in contr ol T ake a ny ho rny hande d
.
-
son of toil . The skin of hi s h ands wh e n he
wa s a child an d until he began to wo rk wa s
soft an d t ender It bec ame inj u re d by fric
.
36 HOW T O S PE AK WITH T H E D EAD
te re d an d s e nt on its mu r d e r ou s w ay r e oi cing ,
j u st a s mu ch a s th e ph agocyt e s ( th e blood
sc ave nger s ) an d oth er de fe nsive o rgani sms
are in lik e m ann er p r ot e ct e d an d c au s e d to
2 . Is h omo ge neou s . It i s #
2 . Is h et e r o ge neou s . Sou ls
d i vi s i b l e i nto s ep arat e p or a re di s ti nct fr om e ach o th e r
ti ons only i n th e s am e s e ns e and do n ot co al e s ce .
th at th e s am e is t ru e of h e at ,
SO UL AND L IF E
LIFE ( con ti nu ed ) . S O UL ( c onti nu ed ) .
f rms f phy i al n r gy
o o s c e e .
Th s v ari us p ar l
e e o ce s c oa
l s wh n b r u ght int
e ce e n o o co
t a t with a h th r nd f rm
c e c
o e a o
a wh l th at i s uni f rm with
o e o
o t
u ny d i ff r nt i ati n
a e e o .
3 . I s th ei r o f m at o r ga n se 3 . I s th e e m pl y r of o e
te r a nd th e c o nt r oll i n g i n o r g a n f rm s o e d b y Li fe .
u e n c e t h a t d e t e r m i n e s th e
m or p hology p hy s i ology e m , ,
aet i o lo gy of th e o r g a ni s m s
pr d o u ce d .
Is no n-
cons c ou s , i non 4 . Is cons c o i u p r
s, e cep tive ,
s e ns o ry a nd In c ap abl e 0
1 iti ve e m o o
s ens , ti nal , i ntelli
th o u ght 01
m em o ry .
gent thi nking and
, , m ne m oni c .
5 . Is non -
mo ral . It i s co n 5 . h aracte ri s e d b y v oli
Is c
with ut
s ci e nc ele s s y o a n ti on a ccomp anie d by a fu ll
,
k wl d g
no f g de d ile o oo an ev .
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f g oo d a nd
It s fu t i p r f rm d
nc on s a re e o e e vil I t i s c ap ab le o f a cti n g
.
m h a i ally with ut
ec n c y o an re ri ghtly an d w rongly and o f
g ar d t wh at r ult m y n
o es s a e ap pr e ci atin g th e r esults o f
su e .
i ts a cti on s .
6 . ap abl f i d it
Is c 6 I i ap abl
e o f r prn e n e . s nc e o e o
i r a b y r p r du ti
nc e s e It du ti
e E a h i d i vi d a l
o c l on .
c on . c n u s ou
m y p
a i bly bos sr i g i at d b y i a l f t a i d l f f
e o n e s se -
c on ne , se -
su
a p arti ular gr up i g f m
c i g lf
o ti ui g
n tity o a c n , se -
co n n n en
t i l at m
er a i om b i at is th at h n t ri gi at d fr m
co n on as no o n e o
fr
o ce s d u d an p arti ula r matt r f phy i al f r
n er c e o s c o ce .
p h y i al s c di ti con ons .
42 HOW T O S PE AK WIT H T H E DEAD
These contra sts n e cessit ate a du ality of sig
n i c ati o n of th e wo r d d e a th. Wh e n th e de ath
of an o rganic being is spok e n of th e phra s e
,
by th e forme r .
able an d w e ll found e d if r e g ar d b e h a d s ol e ly
-
TELEPA T H Y A N D TEL E M N E M ON I K Y
-
mingled with su b e cts of survivals an d
comm u ni cati n s ,
an d a s r e gar ds t e lep athy
Many peopl e ar e aw are an d indeed h ave
, ,
th emselves t ried the e xp erim e nt th at mind
c an in uence mind without the int er v e ntion of
p h e r e
. A common ph e nom e no n is th e m e nt al
44
TE L E PA THY
AND TEL E MN E MON IKY
familiar inst ance of th e s am e or d er of things
,
p er sons imp re ss e d .
F a cts such a s th e se which are positive an d
undisp u t e d h ave le d to e xpe riment al t e sts ,
The fa c t o f t elep a thy p r o v e s th a t b o d il y or g a ns
a re not a b s o l u t el y e s s en ti l
c omm u n ic a t i o n o f
a to
i dea s . Mi n d t u rn s ou t to b e a b le to a c t di r e c t ly
o n mi n d a n d s t i m u l a t e i t i n t o r e s p o n e b th e r th a n
, y s o
ma t e r i a l m a n s e Th o u ght d o s n o t b elo n g to th e
. e
m a t e ri a l r e gi o n a l th o u gh i t i a b l e to e x e r t a n i n
, s
u en c e o n th a t r gi o n th r o u gh m e c h ni s m p r o vi d d
e a e
by vi t a li ty Y e t th e me a n s wh r eb y i t a e c o m
. e
li s h e s th e f e a t a r e e s s n t i a ll y u n k n o wn n d t h
p ea e ,
)
fa c t th a t s u ch i n t e r a c t i o n i s p o s s ib l e w o u l d b e
s t r a n ge a n d s u r p r i s i n g i f W w e re n o t to o m u c h a o e
c u s t ome d to i t I t i s r e o n a b l e t o s u pp o s e th a t
. as
th e m in d c a n b e m o r e a t h o m e a n d m o r e d i r e c t l y a n d ,
mo r e e xu b e r a n tl y a c t iv e wh e n th e n ee d fo r s u c h i n
,
ter a c ti on b e tw e e n p s y hi a l an d p hy s i c a lc o r le t u s
c
mo r e s a fel y a n d s p e ci c lly s a y b e tw e e n m n t l a nd
a e a
m a t e ri a l n o l o n ge r exi s t s wh en th e r e s t r i n i n g i n , a
u e n c e o f b r a i n a n d n e r v e m e c h n i s m i s r e m o v e d a n d a ,
wh en s ome o f th e li mi t t i o ns c o nn e c t e d wi t h b o dily
a
l o c a t io n i n s p a c e a r e ended .
E xp er i en c e mu s t b e ou r gui de T o s hu t th e .
p a r t i c u l r r e gi on b e a u s e f p c o n c ived i de s a n d
a , c o re e a
o bs t i n t e p r e u di c e i t t i t d c mm o n e n o u gh
a
j s an , u a e o ,
e v en a m o n g s ci en t i m en ; b u t i t i s a n a tt i t u d m r k
c e a
w i s ly d i s t r u s t i ng th i r own p w r s s h r i nk fr o m eu
e e o e ,
t r in g o n s u h a n i nqu i r y Bu t if th r e a r e a ny
e c . e
fa c t s to b e a s c e r t a in d i t mu s t b e th e du ty o f s ome
e ,
v lu nt e e r s to a s c e t i n th m : a n d fo r p o ple h vin g
o r a e e a
a ny q u i
ac n t n a
e w i th s ci
a n tci fic hi s t o r y t o s h u t th eei r
e y e s to f t s when d e ni t el y a nn o u n e d a nd to fo r
ac c ,
b i d i n ves t i g t i n o r r ep o r t c o n c r ni n g th em o n p a i n
a o e
o f o s t a ci s m r i s t o imi t a t e a b y go n e th e o l o gi c a l
, e
a tt i t u d e in a s pi r i t
f u n i n t e n d e d tte r y a a tt e r y
o a
wi e to d i s pl a y a n ex t r a o r din a r y l a k o f humou r
s c .
M tt r i s n in d ir e c t med iu m o f c ommuni c a
a e a
t i o n b etw e n m i n d nd m i nd Th a t d i re c t t ele
e a .
~
p a th i i n t r u s e h u l d b a b l e to o cc u r b e tw en
c e co r s o e e
m i n d n d mi n d wi th t ll thi s i n t rm e d i a t e p hy s
a ,
ou a e
i a l m e h ni m i s th r e f r n t r ll y s u rp ri s m g
c c a s , e o e o ea .
I t h as to b e p r o v e d n o d o b t b u t th e f a c t i s i n
, u ,
~
t i n s i lly l s p
r ca li ng th n ma n y o f th o e o the r
es u zz a s
fa c t s to whic h w h a v e gr own h r d ne d b y u s a ge
e a e .
a dmi ssible .
In th e ne xt pl a ce it is to be born e in mind
,
TE LEPATHY AND -
49
vested with an aura a s it i s termed an d can
, ,
title d to r ej e ct th e id e a m erely b e c au se it in
volves the exist ence o f some a s yet unknown
me ans of inter action If the fact of t e lep athy
.
s mi p le enough until the ch ar acter o f the vi
br ations a nd uctu ations i s l ooke d i nto .
tel ep a th y.
f
The term though t re ading i s o ften em
-
sittings a mediu m sometimes ment ions a name
or a cir cum st ance known only to the sitter ;
a n d th i s i s fr equently consid e r ed to be a com
#
.
,
ond sight dre ams p res ent im ents
-
, , inspir a
,
tion an d such m ent al impuls e s a s are com
,
it m ay be a dded with ever y a ttrib u te of mat
ter T h e old s aying r em a ins a s true a s eve r :
.
ch e st er re sp e ctively are abl e to exch ange
thoughts without any app re ci abl e d elay .
equally sp ee dy mann er .
C HAP T E R I V:
DI SCA RN A TE SP I RI T S
57
58 HOW T O S PE AK WITH TH E DEAD
cases of wh at i s c alled an u nveri ab le char
,
r e e cte d
. And i f two sep ar ate u nv er i ab le
st atem e nts contradi ct each other i t i s obvious
th at they c ann ot both be tru e : o ne of them at ,
y
certain thus arising th at great num
ab le kin d is often nons e nse
, as S ir O liver
,
is metempsychosis which i n mo r e popular
,
l angu age is known as transmigration It .
.
D I S CA R NA TE S P I R I T S 63
p e ct e d th a t e r e i s a l ways a gr e ater or l es s
p l aces are undoubte dly haunted ; an d it is
equ ally c ertain that some persons are h aunted
a lso ; for it wou l d otherwise be imposs i b l e to
D I S CAR NA TE S P I R IT S 65
g r a a a e ct
person s fe ature s an d distu rb the func tioning
y
becom e s s ep arat e d fr om the body it cannot
logic ally b e e xp e ct e d to h av e ex actly the s ame
ch ar a cte r th at it app are ntly pos ses sed in life .
ti o n ally to b e li e ve
,
th at the Spirits of thei r
dec e a s e d r el ative s an d fr iends beh ave and
sp e ak ex a ctly as they us e d to do in life ; but
this is n ot quite bo rne out by th e reco rde d evi
denc e It is custom ar y also where the di s
.
,
they p rofess to be .
side The eminent authority h ere quoted
.
go e s on indee d to s ay
, ,
The s e a re wha t we c all th e
u nv e ri a b le
co m
mu ni c a ti ons ; fo r we c a n no t b rmg them to b o o k by
su bs equ ent t er res t ri a l i nqm ry l n th e s a me Wa y as We
c a n t e s t i n f o rm a t i o n c o n c e rn i n g p e r s o n a l o r mu n
a nim als .
ac t .
r ar iti e s
. Re ally good unselsh high prin
, ,
-
77
78 HOW T O S PEAK WIT H T H E DEAD
tim es when these s mg ularly constituted be ings
,
-
a r e c all e d mediums th e ir nu mber s still r e ,
ln
p o m t of f a ct exist to some e xtent,i s c ert ain .
T hus S ir O liver L odge says i n Raymond
, ,
D o we d e r s t and h ow a min d [ s ou l ] c a n
un 2
wi th d if cu lt y nd imp er f c tly op r a t e a no th r bo dy
a e e e
s u bmi tt d t o i ts t e mp o r a r y gu i d a n c
e a nd c o n t r o l ? e
No D o we kn o w fo r a fa c t th a t i t d oes ? A y th t e, a
i s th e qu s t i o n a q u e s t i on
e f e vi d e n c e I my s elf o .
n w e r th e q u e i n a f rm a t ivel y ; n o t o n t h e o re t ic l
y
a s a
s
o
gr o u nd s f r f o m th t b u t o n a b a s i s o f s tra i gh t
a a
f o r w a rd exp e r i e n c e O th rs if .th e y ll w t h m e , a o e
s elv s t o t k
e th e t ro u b l to ge t th e e xp e r i e n c e w ill
a e e ,
c o me to th e s a me c on cl s io ns Le t u s b e a s c u
u . a
ti o u s a nd c r i tic a l ye a nd a s s c p t ic a l a s we lik
, a , x
e e,
b u t le t u s a l s o b e p a t i n t a nd p er s ever in g a nd f i r ;
e a
d o n o t l t u s s t a r t wi th a p r c n c e iv d n o t i o n o f
e e o e
wh a t i s p o s s ible nd wh t i s imp o s s ib le i n th i s a l
a a
m o s t u n xpl o re d u n i v r s e ; le t u s o n l y b e w illi n g to
e e
le rn a nd be gu i d d by fa ct s a nd n o t d o gma s : a nd
a e ,
i n g nd m a k e fo r i t s lf a pl a c i n o u r mi n d s a s s
a e e e
u r e a s i n an t h e r br a n c h o f ob s e rv a t i o n a l s c i
c
y o
en c e .
C o mmun i c a ti o n i s y b u t i t o c c u rs ; a n d
not e a s ,
hu ma ni ty h s r a n to b e gr t e ful to th s
ea s o few i n a o e
d iv idu ls wh
a ndi n g th ms lv s p o s s e s ed o f th
o, e e e s e
fa cu l ty o f m d i msh ip nd th r fo e b l e to t
e u , a e e r a ac
a s i n t rm di r es
e e a ll o w t h m s e lv s to b e u s e d fo r
a l , e e
th i s p u rp o s e .
The n ature of the p e culiarities an atomic al ,
comb i ned th at distinguish a medium from
oth e r human b eings i s not yet kn own an d no ,
cate d p er son s he ar d of pious frau ds p erp e
tr ate d by th e hold er s of high religious o fc e ?
A r e th e re not m any inst anc e s of ignor ant ,
d iu m s ; an d there ar e also m any othe r indi
v i du als who ar e co n s c10 u s of p o s s e s s m g what
are spoken of a s psychi c power s and yet
,
th ere would still remain an abundance of
trustworthy exp erienti al and experimental
e vidence est ablishing the re ality of Spe aking
ments in the h ands of the powe rs fr om the
other side ; much as wa s the case we read , ,
follow th at t e common p r actice of t e sting
the mediu ms nd putting const raint upon them
is a mer e w a st e of time an d atte ntion If they
,
.
a littl e common s e ns e to be ar .
M any me dium s th e great maj ority in fact
,
a sse r t
, an d ar e genuin e ly convinced t h at,
som e time s a dv anc e d th a t a control is a s e c
ond per sonality of th e mediu m a su pposi
tion th at me ets th e difculties to which allu
sion h a s b ee n m ad e But a s e cond p er son
.
a lity is in f e et a second soul no m att e r
, , ,
wh at attem p 3 m ay b e m a de to Whittl e down
its m e aning by t alk of s u b consciousness ,
subliminal individu ality an d the like A .
b e a nd h s b ee n w r i tt en o n thi s s u bj e c t a nd wha t
a ,
eve r d i ff er en t o p i n i o ns m a y b e h el d i t i s u n i ve r s a lly ,
t r ol i s u n d o u b t e d l y t h a t o f a s e p r a t e p e r s o n [ 5 e a . .
a s o u l d i s t in c t f r o m th n o r m l s o u l o f th e me
e a
diu m ] a pe r s o n a s s e r t e d t o b e p e rm a n ent ly e x
i ti ng o n th e o th er s i d e nd t b e o cc u pi e d o n th a t
s a o
s i d e i n mu c h th s a me fu n c t i o n s a s th e m e d iu m i s o n
e
thi s T h e d u t y o f c on t r lli n g a nd t r a ns mi t t in g o
me s s a ge s s eems to b e l i d u p on s u ch a o ne i t i s hi s
a
s p e c i l w o k T h e d r m t ic ch r c t er o f m os t o f
a r . a a a a
th e c o n t r l s i s s o v iv i d a nd s elf c o n s i s ten t
o t hat -
,
i s th e p r o b a b l e t r u th c o n c e r ni ng thei r r ea l n a t u r e ,
th e s i mpl t w y i s t o h u m o u r th em by t a k i ng t hem
es a
a t t h e i r f a c e v l u e a n d t r e a t i ng the m a s s e p a r t e
a a
a nd r es p o n s i b le n d r e a l i nd ivi d u a l s
a I t i s t ru e t ha t .
i n th c s e o f s o me me d iu ms
e a s p e c i a lly w hen o ve r
, e
tr u s i o n s e v e r y n o w nd t he n whi c h c a nn o t b e s eri
a ,
far a n y o n t o t re a t th em a s r ea l p o ple w u l d b e
e e o
a c h a r a c t e r a n d p e s n li t y a n d m em o r y o f th i r
r o a e
o wn , a nd th e y a pp ea r t o c r r y o n a s c o n t inu o u s ana
e x i s t e n c e a s a ny o n e el s e wh om one o nl y mee t s o c
c a s i o n a lly fo a c onve r s a t i o n
r .
M E D I UM S 89
suggestion that the controls are persons per
ma nen tly e x isting on the other side -
a sug
O liver means by evanescent and absurd in
trusions that cannot b e seriously regarded
or treated as real people is also not clear ,
but probably refers to some form of s oph isti
cation resulting from a derangement of the
transmitting mechani sm In any case the con
.
COM M U N I CA T I N G
1 . E#P E CTA N CY
90
92 HOW TO S P EAK W IT H T HE DEAD
that as explai ned in a previ ou s part o f th i s
,
2 . AU T OM A T I C WRIT IN G
It i s very rarely that the results of ex
p ec ta n cy go beyond thought impression and -
3 . T RA N CE WRIT IN G AN D S P E A K IN G
In cases where the sitter is marke dly p sy
chic and a dopts the method of E xpectancy
it frequently happens that normal control over
the b ody is lost A condition of trance super
.
s itters supply magnetism which is gathered
C OMM UN I CATI NG 97
i n th e me di um and goes into the table From .
5 . D IRE CT ME SSAGE S
These have a lready been mentioned under
the heading of E xpectancy ; but they are occa
Si o n ally f ound to occur in con unction with
be guided by the sim ula crum of a hand a ph e
n ome non that takes place more frequently
to be recei ved .
6 . MA TE RIALI SA TION
This i s a development o f direct commu ni ca
tion The Spirit becomes either visible or
.
wh o wishes to speak with the dead is as is
also every other person in the world at least
a potential medium s o far as he or She knows
at the outset If it be found on trial that
.
The term development a s here used means
an increased sensitiveness of th e per ceptive
fac ulty by which the me di um becomes aware
of an d inuenced by the proximity of di scar
nate spirits It means a lso an intens ie d
.
1 02 HOW T O S P EA K WITH T H E DEAD
p as sivi ty of the normal s oul thu s facilitating
,
lo cality
The thought s need not t ake any rel igiou s
turn and prayer is quite unnecessary It is
, .
This acc ounts for the traditional notion of the
Witching hour , which is not based as is su p ,
telepathy .
)
suppose that disembodied souls do in fact
cater for the arbitrary wishes and personal
, ,
rm e d a s in an ordinary scientic laboratory
b y the test of repetition For the friends
.
The next step after solitary E xpectancy
has been tried i s to arrange wi th one s friends
m g as sceptica l as they please A Sitter may
.
be o f opinion that all occultism is tomfoolery
and piffle . O pinions do not alter facts . If
psychical phenomena do really occur all the
s cepticism in the world is of no moment ; and
no good ev i d n ce h a s ever been brought for
ward to sh o that s p lrits are in any way em
h arras s ed by the presence of doubters and re
S isters ; though it i s true enough that passivity
on the part of the Sitter s favours commu ni ca
tion A sceptic may hap pen to be a good me
.
s m gi ng of hymns praying and other relig
,
ious features are to be deprecated They do .
1 1 4a HOW T O S PEAK WIT H T H E DEAD
not aff ect the actual phenomena ; but th e i r t en
deney I s to produce a morbid and emot i onal
frame o f mind which in its turn facilitates self
deception and the im aginary perception of
happenings that do not really occur C onver .
At the
ation of a few minutes assum
ing no In tati o n to hav e happened some
sitter sh o ask aloud the question Is ,
any Spirit present and if no answer be re
?
4 .
-
When an E xpectancy C ircle has had
several succes sful sittings and h as establis hed
communications with spirits those latter ,
has had his or her a lleged controls who in an ,
des ign of s o d om g brought disembodied souls
to the s c mces And Sittings especially o f the
.
t able kind have taken place i n p rivate
homes where the enqu irers have usually been
restricted to a few members of a single family ,
It i s found however that Spirits are j ust
, ,
as keen and interested in p sychical ph enom
e n a a n d the extension of communicati o n across
known as table turning or raps and con
-
,
-
ly employed it i s desirable for the hands of
the S i tters to be placed on the table ( though
the reason for this is not yet clear ) but it i s not
,
contact with those of his neighbours there not
P RAC TI CAL I N S TRUC TI O N S 121
6 .
The Sittings referred to in the foregoing
ve Instructions are such a s may take place
without the aid of professional mediums and ,
-
as for example by pulling down the win
, ,
7 .
Mater i alisation Sittings with the assist
-
classed under the head o f communications ,
open and above board as is the case with
-
, ,
the analogous proceed ings of ordinary table
turning l privat e circles where very
g
,
or indi ff erent but never on a ccount of any
real necessity materialising med iums in the
,
cabinets and Screens in the shelter of which
.
many of the normal explanations in them
selves I t is for example said sometimes that
.
, ,
)
and should b e gu i d e d by facts quite irre Sp e c
tiv ely of whether the facts b e normal or s up er
1 32 HOW T O S PEA K WIT H TH E DE A D
of the rationalist s and wh en they at th e s ame
,
,
. .
,
by E dward Clo dd .
r e s p o n d i ngly conclusive
. But the reader is
thus enabled to s e e both sides of the shield ,
S u rsu m cord a
. L e t u s sp e ak to the dead
and let us add their knowledge and coun s el to
comm on s tore .
dm
De ac n ed us mg th e Boo kk ee ep r proc e ss
Ne utra llz mg e
a g nt Magne s rum O xnd e
Tr e me
at nt Dat e Nov 2 0 0 4
Pres ervationTechnologies
A WO RLD LE A DE R IN PA P E R P RE S E RVAT IO N
1 1 1 Th oms on Pa rk Dnve
C ranb e rry Towns h ip PA 1 6 0 6 6
,
( 72 4 ) 7 79 -
2111