[ThisstatementreceivesitsexplanationinouranswertoQuestion6，whenshowingthatthevibratoryexperimentshattersatumblertopieces。]

Q。Isthereanydifferencebetweenhypnosisproducedbymechanicalmeans，suchasrevolvingmirrors，andthatproducedbythedirectgazeoftheoperator（fascination）？

ANS。Thisdifferenceis，webelieve，alreadypointedoutintheanswertoQuestion1。Thegazeoftheoperatorismorepotent，hencemoredangerous，thanthesimplemechanicalpassesoftheHypnotizer，who，inninecasesoutoften，doesnotknowhow，andthereforecannotwill。ThestudentsofEsotericSciencemustbeawarebytheverylawsoftheoccultcorrespondencesthattheformeractionisperformedonthefirstplaneofmatter（thelowest），whilethelatter，whichnecessitatesawell—concentratedwill，hastobeenacted，iftheoperatorisaprofanenovice，onthefourth，andifheisanythingofanoccultistonthefifthplane。

Q。Whyshouldabitofcrystalorabrightbutton，throwonepersonintothehypnoticstateandaffectinnowayanotherperson？Ananswertothiswould，wethink，solvemorethanoneperplexity。

ANS。Sciencehasofferedseveralvariedhypothesesuponthesubject，buthasnot，sofar，acceptedanyoneoftheseasdefinite。Thisisbecauseallsuchspeculationsrevolveintheviciouscircleofmaterio—physicalphenomenawiththeirblindforcesandmechanicaltheories。The"auricfluid"

isnotrecognizedbythemenofScience，andtherefore，theyrejectit。Buthavetheynotbelievedforyearsintheefficacyofmetallo—therapeuty，theinfluenceofthesemetalsbeingduetotheactionoftheirelectricfluidsorcurrentsonthenervoussystem？Andthis，simplybecauseananalogywasfoundtoexistbetweentheactivityofthissystemandelectricity。

Thetheoryfailed，becauseitclashedwiththemostcarefulobservationandexperiments。Firstofall，itwascontradictedbyafundamentalfactexhibitedinthesaidmetallo—therapeuty，whosecharacteristicpeculiarityshowed（a）thatbynomeanseverymetalactedoneverynervousdisease，onepatientbeingsensitivetosomeonemetal，whileallothersproducednoeffectuponhim；and（b）thatthepatientsaffectedbycertainmetalswerefewandexceptional。Thisshowedthat"electricfluids"operatingonandcuringdiseasesexistedonlyintheimaginationofthetheorists。

Hadtheyhadanyactualexistence，thenallmetalswouldaffectinagreaterorlesserdegree，allpatients，andeverymetal，takenseparately，wouldaffecteverycaseofnervousdisease，theconditionsforgeneratingsuchfluidsbeing，inthegivencases，preciselythesame。

ThusDr。CharcothavingvindicatedDr。Burke，theoncediscrediteddiscovererofmetallo—therapeuty，Shiffandothersdiscreditedallthosewhobelievedinelectricfluids，andtheseseemnowtobegivenupinfavorof"molecularmotion，"whichnowreignssupremeinphysiology——forthetimebeing，ofcourse。Butnowarisesaquestion："Aretherealnature，behaviorandconditionsof’motion’knownanybetterthanthenature，behaviorandconditionsofthe’fluids’？"Itistobedoubted。AnyhowOccultismisaudaciousenoughtomaintainthatelectricormagneticfluids（thetwobeingreallyidentical）aredueintheiressenceandorigintothatsamemolecularmotion，nowtransformedintoatomicenergy，（1）towhicheveryotherphenomenoninnatureisalsodue。Indeed，whentheneedleofagalvano—orelectro—meterfailstoshowanyoscillationsdenotingthepresenceofelectricormagneticfluids，thisdoesnotproveintheleastthattherearenonesuchtorecord；butsimplythathavingpassedontoanotherandhigherplaneofaction，theelectrometercannolongerbeaffectedbytheenergydisplayedonaplanewithwhichitisentirelydisconnected。

Theabovehadtobeexplained，inordertoshowthatthenatureoftheForcetransmittedfromonemanorobjecttoanothermanorobject，whetherinhypnotism，electricity，metallo—therapeutyor"fascination，"isthesameinessence，varyingonlyindegree，andmodifiedaccordingtothesub—planeofmatteritisactingon；ofwhichsub—planes，aseveryOccultistknows，therearesevenonourterrestrialplaneasthereareoneveryother。

Q。IsScienceentirelywronginitsdefinitionofthehypnoticphenomena？

ANS。Ithasnodefinition，sofar。NowifthereisonethinguponwhichOccultismagrees（toacertaindegree）withthelatestdiscoveriesofphysicalScience，itisthatallthebodiesendowedwiththepropertyofinducingandcallingmetallo—therapeuticandotheranalogousphenomena，have，theirgreatvarietynotwithstanding，onefeatureincommon。Theyareallthefountainheadsandthegeneratorsofrapidmolecularoscillations，which，whetherthroughtransmittingagentsordirectcontact，communicatethemselvestothenervoussystem，changingtherebytherhythmofnervousvibrations——onthesolecondition，however，ofbeingwhatiscalled，inunison。Now"unison"doesnotalwaysimplythesamenessofnature，orofessence，butsimplythesamenessofdegree，asimilaritywithregardtogravityandacuteness，andequalpotentialitiesforintensityofsoundormotion：abellmaybeinunisonwithaviolin，andaflutewithananimalorahumanorgan。Moreover，therateofthenumberofvibrations——especiallyinanorganicanimalcellororgan，changesinaccordancewiththestateofhealth，andgeneralcondition。Hencethecerebralnervouscentersofahypnoticsubject，whileinperfectunison，inpotentialdegreeandessentialoriginalactivity，withtheobjecthegazesat，mayyet，owingtosomeorganicdisturbance，beatthegivenmomentatlogger—headswithit，inrespecttothenumberoftheirrespectivevibrations。Insuchcasenohypnoticconditionensues；ornounisonatallmayexistbetweenhisnervouscellsandthecellsofthecrystalormetalheismadetogazeat，inwhichcasethatparticularobjectcanneverhaveanyeffectuponhim。Thisamountstosayingthattoensuresuccessinahypnoticexperiment，twoconditionsarerequisite；（a）aseveryorganicor"inorganic"

bodyinnatureisdistinguishedbyitsfixedmolecularoscillations，itisnecessarytofindoutwhicharethosebodieswhichwillactinunisonwithoneoranotherhumannervoussystem；and（b）torememberthatthemolecularoscillationsoftheformercaninfluencethenervousactionofthelatter，onlywhentherhythmsoftheirrespectivevibrationscoincide，i。e。，whenthenumberoftheiroscillationsismadeidentical；

which，inthecasesofhypnotisminducedbymechanicalmeans，isachievedthroughthemediumoftheeye。

Therefore，thoughthedifferencebetweenhypnosisproducedbymechanicalmeans，andthatinducedbythedirectgazeoftheoperator，plushiswill，dependsontheplaneonwhichthesamephenomenonisproduced，stillthe"fascinating"orsubduingagentiscreatedbythesameforceatwork。

Inthephysicalworldanditsmaterialplanes，itiscalledMOTION；intheworldsofmentalityandmetaphysicsitisknownasWILL——themany—facedmagicianthroughoutallnature。

Astherateofvibrations（molecularmotion）inmetals，woods，crystals，etc。，altersundertheeffectofheat，cold，etc。，sodothecerebralmoleculeschangetheirrate，inthesameway：i。e。，theirrateisraisedorlowered。Andthisiswhatreallytakesplaceinthephenomenonofhypnotism。

Inthecaseofgazing，itistheeye——thechiefagentoftheWilloftheactiveoperator，butaslaveandtraitorwhenthisWillisdormant——that，unconsciouslytothepatientorsubject，attunestheoscillationsofhiscerebralnervouscenterstotherateofthevibrationsoftheobjectgazedatbycatchingtherhythmofthelatterandpassingitontothebrain。Butinthecaseofdirectpasses，itistheWilloftheoperatorradiatingthroughhiseyethatproducestherequiredunisonbetweenhiswillandthewillofthepersonoperatedupon。For，outoftwoobjectsattunedinunison——astwochords，forinstance——onewillalwaysbeweakerthantheother，andthushavemasteryovertheotherandeventhepotentialityofdestroyingitsweaker"co—respondent。"Sotrueisthis，thatwecancalluponphysicalSciencetocorroboratethisfact。Takethe"sensitiveflame"asacaseinhand。Sciencetellsusthatifanotebestruckinunisonwiththeratioofthevibrationsoftheheatmolecules，theflameswillrespondimmediatelytothesound（ornotestruck），thatitwilldanceandsinginrhythmwiththesounds。ButOccultScienceadds，thattheflamemayalsobeextinguishedifthesoundisintensified（videIsisUnveiled，Vol。II，606and607）。Anotherproof。

Takeawine—glassortumblerofveryfineandclearglass；produce，bystrikingitgentlywithasilverspoon，awell—determinednote；afterwhichreproducethesamenotebyrubbingitsrimwithadampfinger，and，ifyouaresuccessful，theglasswillimmediatelycrackandbeshattered。

Indifferenttoeveryothersound，theglasswillnotresistthegreatintensityofitsownfundamentalnote，forthatparticularvibrationwillcausesuchacommotioninitsparticles，thatthewholefabricwillfallinpieces。

Q。Whatbecomesofdiseasescuredbyhypnotism；aretheyreallycuredoraretheypostponed，ordotheyappearinanotherform？ArediseasesKarma；and，ifso，isitrighttoattempttocurethem？

ANS。Hypnoticsuggestionmaycureforever，anditmaynot。Alldependsonthedegreeofmagneticrelationsbetweentheoperatorandthepatient。IfKarmic，theywillbeonlypostponed，andreturninsomeotherform，notnecessarilyofdisease，butasapunitiveevilofanothersort。Itisalways"right"totryandalleviatesufferingwheneverwecan，andtodoourbestforit。Becauseamansuffersjustlyimprisonment，andcatchescoldinhisdampcell，isitareasonwhytheprison—doctorshouldnottrytocurehimofit？

Q。Isitnecessarythatthehypnotic"suggestions"oftheoperatorshouldbespoken？Isitnotenoughforhimtothinkthem，andmaynotevenHEbeignorantorunconsciousofthebentheisimpressingonhissubject？

ANS。Certainlynot，iftherapportbetweenthetwoisonceforallfirmlyestablished。Thoughtismorepowerfulthanspeechincasesofarealsubjugationofthewillofthepatienttothatofhisoperator。

But，ontheotherhand，unlessthe"suggestion"madeisforthegoodonlyofthesubject，andentirelyfreefromanyselfishmotive，asuggestionbythoughtisanactofblackmagicstillmorepregnantwithevilconsequencesthanaspokensuggestion。Itisalwayswrongandunlawfultodepriveamanofhisfree—will，unlessforhisownorSociety’sgood；andeventheformerhastobedonewithgreatdiscrimination。

Occultismregardsallsuchpromiscuousattemptsasblackmagicandsorcery，whetherconsciousorotherwise。

Q。Dothemotiveandcharacteroftheoperatoraffecttheresult，immediateorremote？

ANS。Insofarasthehypnotizingprocessbecomesunderhisoperationeitherwhiteorblackmagic，asthelastanswershows。

Q。Isitwisetohypnotizeapatientnotonlyoutofdisease，butoutofahabit，suchasdrinkingorlying？

ANS。Itisanactofcharityandkindness，andthisisnexttowisdom。For，althoughthedroppingofhisvicioushabitswilladdnothingtohisgoodKarma（whichitwould，hadhiseffortstoreformbeenpersonal，ofhisownfreewill，andnecessitatingagreatmentalandphysicalstruggle），stillasuccessful"suggestion"preventshimfromgeneratingmorebadKarma，andaddingconstantlytothepreviousrecordofhistransgressions。

Q。Whatisitthatafaith—healer，whensuccessful，practisesuponhimself；whattricksisheplayingwithhisprinciplesandwithhisKarma？

ANS。Imaginationisapotenthelpineveryeventofourlives。

ImaginationactsonFaith，andbotharethedraughtsmenwhopreparethesketchesforWilltoengrave，moreorlessdeeply，ontherocksofobstaclesandoppositionwithwhichthepathoflifeisstrewn。SaysParacelsus："Faithmustconfirmtheimagination，forfaithestablishesthewill……Determinedwillisthebeginningofallmagicaloperations……Itisbecausemendonotperfectlyimagineandbelievetheresult，thatthearts（ofmagic）areuncertain，whiletheymightbeperfectlycertain。"

Thisisallthesecret。Half，ifnottwo—thirdsofourailingsanddiseasesarethefruitofourimaginationandfears。Destroythelatterandgiveanotherbenttotheformer，andnaturewilldotherest。Thereisnothingsinfulorinjuriousinthemethodsperse。Theyturntoharmonlywhenbeliefinhispowerbecomestooarrogantandmarkedinthefaith—healer，andwhenhethinkshecanwillawaysuchdiseasesasneed，iftheyarenottobefatal，theimmediatehelpofexpertsurgeonsandphysicians。

FOOTNOTE：

l。InOccultismthewordatomhasaspecialsignificance，differentfromtheonegiventoitbyScience。Seeeditorial，PsychicandNoeticAction，inthetwolastnumbers。（returntotext）

StudiesinOccultismbyH。P。Blavatsky"BlackMagicinScience"BlackMagicinScienceCommenceresearchwheremodernconjectureclosesitsfaithlesswings——Bulwer’sZanoni。Theflatdenialofyesterdayhasbecomethescientificaxiomofto—day——CommonSenseAphorisms。ThousandsofyearsagothePhrygianDactyls，theinitiatedpriests，spokenofasthe"magiciansandexorcistsofsickness，"healeddiseasesbymagneticprocesses。ItwasclaimedthattheyhadobtainedthesecurativepowersfromthepowerfulbreathofCybele，themany—breastedgoddess，thedaughterofCoelusandTerra。Indeed，hergenealogyandthemythsattachedtoitshowCybeleasthepersonificationandtypeofthevitalessence，whosesourcewaslocatedbytheancientsbetweentheEarthandthestarrysky，andwhowasregardedastheveryfonsvitaeofallthatlivesandbreathes。Themountainairbeingplacednearertothatfountfortifieshealthandprolongsman’sexistence；hence，Cybele’slife，asaninfant，isshowninhermythashavingbeenpreservedonamountain。ThiswasbeforethatMagnaandBonaDea，theprolificMater，becametransformedintoCeres—Demeter，thepatronessoftheEleusinianMysteries。

Animalmagnetism（nowcalledSuggestionandHypnotism）wastheprincipalagentintheurgicmysteriesasalsointheAsclepieia——thehealingtemplesofAesculapius，wherethepatientsonceadmittedweretreated，duringtheprocessof"incubation，"magnetically，duringtheirsleep。

Thiscreativeandlife—givingForce——deniedandlaughedatwhennamedtheurgicmagic，accusedforthelastcenturyofbeingprincipallybasedonsuperstitionandfraud，wheneverreferredtoasmesmerism——isnowcalledHypnotism，Charcotism，Suggestion，"psychology，"andwhatnot。But，whatevertheexpressionchosen，itwilleverbealooseoneifusedwithoutaproperqualification。Forwhenepitomizedwithallitscollateralsciences——whichareallscienceswithinthescience——itwillbefoundtocontainpossibilitiesthenatureofwhichhasneverbeenevendreamtofbytheoldestandmostlearnedprofessorsoftheorthodoxphysicalscience。

Thelatter，"authorities"so—called，arenobetter，indeed，thaninnocentbaldinfants，whenbroughtfacetofacewiththemysteriesofantediluvian"mesmerism。"Asstatedrepeatedlybefore，theblossomsofmagic，whetherwhiteorblack，divineorinfernal，springallfromoneroot。The"breathofCybele"——Akasatattwa，inIndia——istheonechiefagent，anditunderlaytheso—called"miracles"and"supernatural"phenomenainallages，asineveryclime。Astheparent—rootoressenceisuniversal，soareitseffectsinnumerable。Eventhegreatestadeptscanhardlysaywhereitspossibilitiesmuststop。

ThekeytotheveryalphabetofthesetheurgicpowerswaslostafterthelastgnostichadbeenhuntedtodeathbytheferociouspersecutionoftheChurch；andasgraduallyMysteries，Hierophants，TheophanyandTheurgybecameobliteratedfromthemindsofmenuntiltheyremainedinthemonlyasavaguetradition，allthiswasfinallyforgotten。ButattheperiodoftheRenaissance，inGermany，alearnedTheosophist，aPhilosopherperignem，astheycalledthemselves，rediscoveredsomeofthelostsecretsofthePhrygianpriestsandoftheAsclepieia。Itwasthegreatandunfortunatephysician—Occultist，Paracelsus，thegreatestAlchemistoftheage。Thatgeniusitwas，whoduringtheMiddleAgeswasthefirsttopubliclyrecommendtheactionofthemagnetinthecureofcertaindiseases。

TheophrastusParacelsus——the"quack"and"drunkenimpostor"intheopinionofthesaidscientific"baldinfants"ofhisday，andoftheirsuccessorsinours——inauguratedamongotherthingsintheseventeenthcentury，thatwhichhasbecomeaprofitablebranchintradeinthenineteenth。Itishewhoinventedandusedforthecureofvariousmuscularandnervousdiseasesmagnetizedbracelets，armlets，belts，rings，collarsandleglets；onlyhismagnetscuredfarmoreefficaciouslythandotheelectricbeltsofto—day。VanHelmont，thesuccessorofParacelsus，andRobertFludd，theAlchemistandRosicrucian，alsoappliedmagnetsinthetreatmentoftheirpatients。Mesmerintheeighteenth，andtheMarquisdePuysegurinthenineteenthcenturyonlyfollowedintheirfootsteps。

InthelargecurativeestablishmentfoundedbyMesmeratVienna，heemployed，besidesmagnetism，electricity，metalsandavarietyofwoods。

HisfundamentaldoctrinewasthatoftheAlchemists。Hebelievedthatmetals，asalsowoodsandplantshaveallanaffinitywithandbearacloserelationto，thehumanorganism。EverythingintheUniversehasdevelopedfromonehomogeneousprimordialsubstancedifferentiatedintoincalculablespeciesofmatter，andeverythingisdestinedtoreturnthereinto。Thesecretofhealing，hemaintained，liesintheknowledgeofcorrespondencesandaffinitiesbetweenkindredatoms。Findthatmetal，wood，stone，orplantthathasthemostcorrespondentialaffinitywiththebodyofthesufferer；and，whetherthroughinternalorexternaluse，thatparticularagentimpartingtothepatientadditionalstrengthtofightdisease——（developedgenerallythroughtheintroductionofsomeforeignelementintotheconstitution）

——andtoexpelit，willleadinvariablytohiscure。ManyandmarvelousweresuchcureseffectedbyAntonMesmer。Subjectswithheart—diseaseweremadewell。Aladyofhighstation，condemnedtodeath，wascompletelyrestoredtohealthbytheapplicationofcertainsympatheticwoods。Mesmerhimself，sufferingfromacuterheumatism，cureditcompletelybyusingspecially—preparedmagnets。

In1774hetoohappenedtocomeacrossthetheurgicsecretofdirectvitaltransmission；andsohighlyinterestedwashe，thatheabandonedallhisoldmethodstodevotehimselfentirelytothenewdiscovery。Henceforwardhemesmerizedbygazeandpasses，thenaturalmagnetsbeingabandoned。

Themysteriouseffectsofsuchmanipulationswerecalledbyhim——animalmagnetism。ThisbroughttoMesmeramassoffollowersanddisciples。ThenewforcewasexperimentedwithinalmosteverycityandtownofEuropeandfoundeverywhereanactualfact。

About1780，MesmersettledinParis，andsoonthewholemetropolis，fromtheRoyalfamilydowntothelasthystericalbourgeoise，wereathisfeet。Theclergygotfrightenedandcried——"theDevil"！Thelicensed"leeches"feltanever—growingdeficitintheirpockets；andthearistocracyandtheCourtfoundthemselvesonthevergeofmadnessfrommereexcitement。

Nouserepeatingtoowell—knownfacts，butthememoryofthereadermayberefreshedwithafewdetailshemayhaveforgotten。

ItsohappenedthatjustaboutthattimetheofficialAcademicalSciencefeltveryproud。Aftercenturiesofmentalstagnationintherealmofmedicineandgeneralignorance，severaldeterminedstepsinthedirectionofrealknowledgehadfinallybeenmade。Naturalscienceshadachievedadecidedsuccess，andchemistryandphysicswereonafairwaytoprogress。AstheSavantsofacenturyagohadnotyetgrowntothatheightofsublimemodestywhichcharacterizessopre—eminentlytheirmodernsuccessors——

theyfeltverymuchpuffedupwiththeirgreatness。Themomentforpraiseworthyhumility，followedbyaconfessionoftherelativeinsignificanceoftheknowledgeoftheperiod——andevenofmodernknowledgeforthematterofthat——comparedtothatwhichtheancientsknew，hadnotyetarrived。

Thoseweredaysofnaiveboastingofthepeacocksofsciencedisplayinginabodytheirtails，anddemandinguniversalrecognitionandadmiration。

TheSirOracleswerenotasnumerousastheyarenow，yettheirnumberwasconsiderable。Andindeed，hadnottheDulcamarasofpublicfairsbeenjustvisitedwithostracism？Hadnottheleecheswellnighdisappearedtomakeroomfordiplomaedphysicianswithroyallicensestokillandburyapiacereadlibitum？Hence，thenodding"Immortal"inhisacademicalchairwasregardedasthesolecompetentauthorityinthedecisionofquestionshehadneverstudied，andforrenderingverdictsaboutthatwhichhehadneverheardof。ItwastheREIGNOFREASON，andofScience——initsteens；

thebeginningofthegreatdeadlystrugglebetweenTheologyandFacts，SpiritualityandMaterialism。IntheeducatedclassesofSocietytoomuchfaithhadbeensucceededbynofaithatall。ThecycleofScience—worshiphadjustsetin，withitspilgrimagestotheAcademy，theOlympuswherethe"FortyImmortals"areenshrined，anditsraidsuponeveryonewhorefusedtomanifestanoisyadmiration，akindofjuvenilecalf’senthusiasm，atthedooroftheFaneofScience。WhenMesmerarrived，ParisdivideditsallegiancebetweentheChurchwhichattributedallkindsofphenomenaexceptitsowndivinemiraclestotheDevil，andtheAcademy，whichbelievedinneitherGodnorDevil，butonlyinitsowninfalliblewisdom。

Butthereweremindswhichwouldnotbesatisfiedwitheitherofthesebeliefs。Therefore，afterMesmerhadforcedallParistocrowdtohishalls，waitinghourstoobtainaplaceinthechairroundthemiraculousbaquet，somepeoplethoughtthatitwastimerealtruthshouldbefoundout。

Theyhadlaidtheirlegitimatedesiresattheroyalfeet，andtheKingforthwithcommandedhislearnedAcademytolookintothematter。Thenitwas，thatawakeningfromtheirchronicnap，the"Immortals"appointedacommitteeofinvestigation，amongwhichwasBenjaminFranklin，andchosesomeoftheoldest，wisestandbaldestamongtheir"Infants"towatchovertheCommittee。Thiswasin1784。EveryoneknowswhatwasthereportofthelatterandthefinaldecisionoftheAcademy。Thewholetransactionlooksnowlikeageneralrehearsaloftheplay，oneoftheactsofwhichwasperformedbythe"DialecticalSociety"ofLondonandsomeofEngland’sgreatestScientists，someeightyyearslater。

Indeed，notwithstandingacounterreportbyDr。Jussieu，anAcademicianofthehighestrank，andtheCourtphysicianD’Eslon，who，aseye—witnessestothemoststrikingphenomena，demandedthatacarefulinvestigationshouldbemadebytheMedicalFacultyofthetherapeuticeffectsofthemagneticfluid——theirdemandfellthrough。TheAcademydisbelievedhermosteminentScientists。EvenSirB。Franklin，somuchathomewithcosmicelectricity，wouldnotrecognizeitsfountainheadandprimordialsource，andalongwithBailly，Lavoisier，Magendie，andothers，proclaimedMesmerismadelusion。

Norhadthesecondinvestigationwhichfollowedthefirst——namelyin1825——anybetterresults。Thereportwasoncemoresquashed（videIsisUnveiled，vol。I，pp。171—176）。

Evennowwhenexperimenthasamplydemonstratedthat"Mesmerism"oranimalmagnetism，nowknownashypnotism（asorryeffect，forsooth，ofthe"BreathofCybele"）isafact，weyetgetthemajorityofscientistsdenyingitsactualexistence。Smallfryasitisinthemajesticarrayofexperimentalpsycho—magneticphenomena，evenhypnotismseemstooincredible，toomysterious，forourDarwinistsandHaeckelians。Oneneedstoomuchmoralcourage，yousee，tofacethesuspicionofone’scolleagues，thedoubtofthepublic，andthegigglingoffools。"Mysteryandcharlatanismgohandinhand，"theysay；and"self—respectandthedignityoftheprofession，"

asMagendieremarksinhisPhysiologieHumaine，"demandthatthewellinformedphysicianshouldrememberhowreadilymysteryglidesintocharlatanism。"Pitythe"wellinformedphysician"shouldfailtorememberthatphysiologyamongtherestisfullofmystery——profound，inexplicablemysteryfromAtoZ——andaskwhether，startingfromtheabove"truism，"

heshouldnotthrowoverboardBiologyandPhysiologyasthegreatestpiecesofcharlatanryinmodernScience。Nevertheless，afewinthewell—meaningminorityofourphysicianshavetakenupseriouslytheinvestigationofhypnotism。Buteventhey，havingbeenreluctantlycompelledtoconfesstherealityofitsphenomena，stillpersistinseeinginsuchmanifestationsnohigherafactoratworkthanthepurelymaterialandphysicalforces，anddenythesetheirlegitimatenameofanimalmagnetism。ButastheRev。

Mr。Haweis（ofwhommorepresently）justsaidintheDailyGraphic……"TheCharcotphenomenaare，forallthat，inmanywaysidenticalwiththemesmericphenomena，andhypnotismmustproperlybeconsideredratherasabranchofmesmerismthanassomethingdistinctfromit。Anyhow，Mesmer’sfacts，nowgenerallyaccepted，wereatfirststoutlydenied。"

Andtheyarestillsodenied。

ButwhiletheydenyMesmerism，theyrushintoHypnotism，despitethenowscientificallyrecognizeddangersofthisscience，inwhichmedicalpractitionersinFrancearefaraheadoftheEnglish。Andwhattheformersayis，thatbetweenthetwostatesofmesmerism（ormagnetismastheycallit，acrossthewater）andhypnotism"thereisanabyss。"Thatoneisbeneficent，theothermaleficent，asitevidentlymustbe；since，accordingtobothOccultismandmodernPsychology，hypnotismisproducedbythewithdrawalofthenervousfluidfromthecapillarynerves，whichbeing，sotosay，thesentriesthatkeepthedoorsofoursensesopened，gettinganaesthetizedunderhypnoticconditions，allowthesetogetclosed。

A。H。Simoninrevealsmanyawholesometruthinhisexcellentwork，"Solutionduproblemedelasuggestionhypnotique。"（1）

Thusheshowsthatwhile"inMagnetism（mesmerism）thereoccursinthesubjectagreatdevelopmentofmoralfaculties"；thathisthoughtsandfeelings"becomeloftier，andthesensesacquireanabnormalacuteness"；

inhypnotism，onthecontrary，"thesubjectbecomesasimplemirror。"

ItisSuggestionwhichisthetruemotorofeveryactioninthehypnotic：

andif，occasionally，"seeminglymarvelousactionsareproduced，theseareduetothehypnotizer，nottothesubject。"Again……"Inhypnotisminstinct，i。e。，theanimal，reachesitsgreatestdevelopment；

somuchso，indeed，thattheaphorism’extremesmeet’canneverreceiveabetterapplicationthantomagnetismandhypnotism。"Howtruethesewords，also，astothedifferencebetweenthemesmerizedandthehypnotizedsubjects。

"Inone，hisidealnature，hismoralself——thereflectionofhisdivinenature——arecarriedtotheirextremelimits，andthesubjectbecomesalmostacelestialbeing（unange）。Intheother，itishisinstinctswhichdevelopinamostsurprisingfashion。Thehypnoticlowershimselftotheleveloftheanimal。Fromaphysiologicalstandpoint，magnetism（Mesmerism）iscomfortingandcurative，andhypnotism，whichisbuttheresultofanunbalancedstate，is——mostdangerous。"

ThustheadverseReportdrawnbyBaillyattheendoflastcenturyhashaddireeffectsinthepresent，butithaditsKarmaalso。Intendedtokillthe"Mesmeric"craze，itreactedasadeath—blowtothepublicconfidenceinscientificdecrees。InourdaytheNon—PossumusoftheRoyalCollegesandAcademiesisquotedontheStockExchangeoftheworld’sopinionatapricealmostaslowastheNon—PossumusoftheVatican。Thedaysofauthoritywhetherhumanordivine，arefastglidingaway；andweseealreadygleamingonfuturehorizonsbutonetribunal，supremeandfinal，beforewhichmankindwillbow——theTribunalofFactandTruth。

Aye，tothistribunalwithoutappealevenliberalclergymenandfamouspreachersmakeobeisanceinourday。Thepartshavenowchangedhands，andinmanyinstancesitisthesuccessorsofthosewhofoughttoothandnailfortherealityoftheDevilandhisdirectinterferencewithpsychicphenomena，forlongcenturies，whocomeoutpubliclytoupbraidscience。

Aremarkableinstanceofthisisfoundinanexcellentletter（justmentioned）

bytheRev。Mr。HaweistotheGraphic。Thelearnedpreacherseemstoshareourindignationattheunfairnessofthemodernscientists，attheirsuppressionoftruth，andingratitudetotheirancientteachers。

Hisletterissointerestingthatitsbestpointsmustbeimmortalizedinourmagazine。Herearesomefragmentsofit。Thusheasks：——Whycan’tourscientificmensay："WehaveblunderedaboutMesmerism；it’spracticallytrue"？Notbecausetheyaremenofscience，butsimplybecausetheyarehuman。Nodoubtitishumiliatingwhenyouhavedogmatizedinthenameofsciencetosay，"Iwaswrong。"Butisitnotmorehumiliatingtobefoundout；andisitnotmosthumiliating，aftershufflingandwrigglinghopelesslyintheinexorablemeshesofserriedfacts，tocollapsesuddenly，andcallthehatedneta"suitableenclosure，"

inwhichforsooth，youdon’tmindbeingcaught？Nowthis，asitseemstome，ispreciselywhatMessrs。CharcotandtheFrenchhypnotistsandtheirmedicaladmirersinEnglandaredoing。EversinceMesmer’sdeathattheageofeighty，in1815，theFrenchandEnglish"Faculty，"withsomehonorableexceptions，haveridiculedanddeniedthefactsaswellasthetheoriesofMesmer，butnow，in1890，ahostofscientistssuddenlyagree，whilewipingoutasbesttheymaythenameofMesmer，torobhimofallhisphenomena，whichtheyquietlyappropriateunderthenameof"hypnotism，""suggestion，"

"TherapeuticMagnetism，""psychopathicMassage，"andalltherestofit。

Well，"What’sinaname？"Icaremoreforthingsthannames，butIreverencethepioneersofthoughtwhohavebeencastout，troddenunderfoot，andcrucifiedbytheorthodoxofallages，andIthinktheleastscientistscandoformenlikeMesmer，DuPotet，Puysegur，orMayoandElliotson，nowtheyaregone，isto"buildtheirsepulchers。"ButMr。Haweismighthaveaddedinstead，theamateurHypnotistsofSciencedigwiththeirownhandsthegravesofmanyamanandwoman’sintellect；

theyenslaveandparalyzefreewillintheir"subjects，"turnimmortalmenintosoulless，irresponsibleautomata，andvivisecttheirsoulswithasmuchunconcernastheyvivisectthebodiesofrabbitsanddogs。

Inshort，theyarefastbloominginto"sorcerers，"andareturningscienceintoavastfieldofblackmagic。Therev。writer，however，letstheculpritsoffeasily；and，remarkingthatheaccepts"thedistinction"[betweenMesmerismandHypnotism]"withoutpledginghimselftoanytheory，"headds：——Iammainlyconcernedwiththefacts，andwhatIwanttoknowiswhythesecuresandabnormalstatesaretrumpetedaboutasmoderndiscoveries，whilethe"faculty"stillderideorignoretheirgreatpredecessorswithouthavingthemselvesatheorywhichtheycanagreeuponorasinglefactwhichcanbecallednew。Thetruthiswearejustblunderingbackwithtoiltoworkoveragaintheolddisusedminesoftheancients；therediscoveryoftheseoccultsciencesisexactlymatchedbytheslowrecoveryofsculptureandpaintinginmodernEurope。Hereisthehistoryofoccultscienceinanutshell。（1）Onceknown。（2）Lost。（3）Rediscovered。（4）Denied。（5）

Reaffirmed，andbyslowdegrees，undernewnames，victorious。Theevidenceforallthisisexhaustiveandabundant。HereitmaysufficetonoticethatDiodorusSiculusmentionshowtheEgyptianpriests，agesbeforeChrist，attributedclairvoyanceinducedfortherapeuticpurposestoIsis。StraboascribesthesametoSerapis，whileGalenmentionsatemplenearMemphisfamousfortheseHypnoticcures。Pythagoras，whowontheconfidenceoftheEgyptianpriests，isfullofit。Aristophanesin"Plutus"describesinsomedetailaMesmericcure——[kaiprotamendeteskephalesephepsato]，etc。，"andfirsthebegantohandlethehead。"CaeliusAurelianusdescribesmanipulations（1569）fordisease"conductingthehandsfromthesuperiortotheinferiorparts"；andtherewasanoldLatinproverb——Ubidoloribidigitus，"Wherepain，therefinger。"ButtimewouldfailmetotellofParacelsus（1462）（2）andhis"deepsecretofMagnetism"；ofVanHelmont（1644）（3）

andhis"faithinthepowerofthehandindisease。"MuchinthewritingsofboththesemenwasonlymadecleartothemodernsbytheexperimentsofMesmer，andinviewofmodernHypnotistsitisclearlywithhimandhisdisciplesthatwehavechieflytodo。Heclaimed，nodoubt，totransmitananimalmagneticfluid，whichIbelievetheHypnotistsdeny。Theydo，theydo。Butsodidthescientistswithregardtomorethanonetruth。Todeny"ananimalmagneticfluid"issurelynomoreabsurdthantodenythecirculationoftheblood，astheyhavesoenergeticallydone。

AfewadditionaldetailsaboutMesmerismgivenbyMr。Haweismayproveinteresting。ThusheremindsusoftheanswerwrittenbythemuchwrongedMesmertotheAcademiciansaftertheirunfavorableReport，andreferstoitas"propheticwords。""YousaythatMesmerwillneverholduphisheadagain。Ifsuchisthedestinyofthemanitisnotthedestinyofthetruth，whichisinitsnatureimperishable，andwillshineforthsoonerorlaterinthesameorsomeothercountrywithmorebrilliancythanever，anditstriumphwillannihilateitsmiserabledetractors。"MesmerleftParisindisgust，andretiredtoSwitzerlandtodie；buttheillustriousDr。Jussieubecameaconvert。LavatercarriedMesmer’ssystemtoGermany，whilePuysegurandDeleuzespreaditthroughoutprovincialFrance，forminginnumerable"harmonicsocieties"devotedtothestudyoftherapeuticmagnetismanditsalliedphenomenaofthought—transference，hypnotism，andclairvoyance。SometwentyyearsagoIbecameacquaintedwithperhapsthemostillustriousdiscipleofMesmer，theagedBaronduPotet。（4）

Roundthisman’stherapeuticandmesmericexploitsraged，between1830

and1846，abittercontroversythroughoutFrance。Amurdererhadbeentracked，convicted，andexecutedsolelyonevidencesuppliedbyoneofDuPotet’sclairvoyants。TheJugedePaixadmittedthusmuchinopencourt。

ThiswastoomuchforevenscepticalParis，andtheAcademydeterminedtositagainand，ifpossible，crushoutthesuperstition。Theysat，but，strangetosay，thistimetheywereconverted。Itard，Fouquier，Guersent，BourdoisdelaMotte，thecreamoftheFrenchfaculty，pronouncedthephenomenaofmesmerismtobegenuine——cures，trances，clairvoyance，thought—transference，evenreadingfromclosedbooks；andfromthattimeanelaboratenomenclaturewasinvented，blottingoutasfaraspossiblethedetestednamesoftheindefatigablemenwhohadcompelledthescientificassent，whileenrollingthemainfactsvouchedforbyMesmer，DuPotet，andPuyseguramongtheundoubtedphenomenatobeaccepted，onwhatevertheory，bymedicalscience……Thencomestheturnofthisfoggyislandanditsbefoggedscientists。"Meanwhile，"[goesonthewriter]，Englandwasmorestubborn。

In1846thecelebratedDr。Elliotson，apopularpractitioner，withavastclientele，pronouncedthefamousHarveianoration，inwhichheconfessedhisbeliefinMesmerism。Hewasdenouncedbythedoctorswithsuchthoroughresultsthathelosthispractice，anddiedwell—nighruined，ifnotheart—broken。

TheMesmericHospitalinMaryleboneRoadhasbeenestablishedbyhim。OperationsweresuccessfullyperformedunderMesmerism，andallthephenomenawhichhavelatelyoccurredatLeedsandelsewheretothesatisfactionofthedoctorswereproducedinMarylebonefifty—sixyearsago。Thirty—fiveyearsagoProfessorListerdidthesame——buttheintroductionofchloroformbeingmorespeedyandcertainasananaesthetic，killedforatimethemesmerictreatment。ThepublicinterestinMesmerismdieddown，andtheMesmericHospitalintheMaryleboneRoad，whichhadbeenunderacloudsincethesuppressionofElliotson，wasatlastclosed。LatelyweknowwhathasbeenthefateofMesmerandMesmerism。MesmerisspokenofinthesamebreathwithCountCagliostro，andMesmerismitselfisseldommentionedatall；but，then，wehearplentyofelectro—biology，therapeuticmagnetismandhypnotism——justso。Oh，shadesofMesmer，Puysegur，DuPotet，Elliotson——sicvosnonvobis！Still，IsayPalmamquimeruitferat。WhenIknewBaronduPotethewasonthebrinkofthegrave，andnearlyeightyyearsold。HewasanardentadmirerofMesmer；hehaddevotedhiswholelifetotherapeuticmagnetism，andhewasabsolutelydogmaticonthepointthatarealmagneticaurapassedfromtheMesmeristtothepatient。"I

willshowyouthis，"hesaidoneday，aswebothstoodbythebedsideofapatientinsodeepatrancethatweranneedlesintoherhandsandarmswithoutexcitingtheleastsignormovement。TheoldBaroncontinued："I

will，atthedistanceofafootortwo，determineslightconvulsionsinanypartofherbodybysimplymovingmyhandabovethepart，withoutanycontact。"Hebeganattheshoulder，whichsoonsetupatwitching。Quietbeingrestored，hetriedtheelbow，thenthewrist，thentheknee，theconvulsionsincreasinginintensityaccordingtothetimeemployed。"Areyouquitesatisfied？"Isaid，"Quitesatisfied"；"and，"continuedhe，"anypatientthatIhavetestedIwillundertaketooperateuponthroughabrickwallatatimeandplacewherethepatientshallbeignorantofmypresenceormypurpose。This，"addedDuPotet，"wasoneoftheexperienceswhichmostpuzzledtheAcademiciansatParis。Irepeatedtheexperimentagainandagainundereverytestandcondition，withalmostinvariablesuccess，untilthemostscepticalwasforcedtogivein。"WehaveaccusedscienceofglidingfullsaildowntotheMaelstromofBlackMagic，bypractisingthatwhichancientPsychology——themostimportantbranchoftheOccultSciences——hasalwaysdeclaredasSorceryinitsapplicationtotheinnerman。Wearepreparedtomaintainwhatwesay。Wemeantoproveitoneofthesedays，insomefuturearticles，basingourselvesonfactspublishedandtheactionsproducedbytheHypnotismofVivisectioniststhemselves。ThattheyareunconscioussorcerersdoesnotmakeawaywiththefactthattheydopracticetheBlackArtbeletbien。Inshortthesituationisthis。Theminorityofthelearnedphysiciansandotherscientistsexperimentin"hypnotism"becausetheyhavecometoseesomethinginit；whilethemajorityofthemembersoftheR。C。P。’sstilldenytheactualityofanimalmagnetisminitsmesmericform，evenunderitsmodernmask——hypnotism。Theformer——entirelyignorantofthefundamentallawsofanimalmagnetism——experimentathap—hazard，almostblindly。Toremainconsistentwiththeirdeclarations（a）thathypnotismisnotmesmerism，and（b）thatamagneticauraorfluidpassingfromthemesmerizer（orhypnotizer）ispurefallacy——theyhavenoright，ofcourse，toapplythelawsoftheoldertotheyoungerscience。Hencetheyinterferewith，andawakentoactionthemostdangerousforcesofnature，withoutbeingawareofit。

Insteadofhealingdiseases——theonlyusetowhichanimalmagnetismunderitsnewnamecanbelegitimatelyapplied——theyofteninoculatethesubjectswiththeirownphysicalaswellasmentalillsandvices。Forthis，andtheignoranceoftheircolleaguesoftheminority，thedisbelievingmajorityoftheSadduceesaregreatlyresponsible。For，byopposingthem，theyimpedefreeaction，andtakeadvantageoftheHypocraticoath，tomakethempowerlesstoadmitanddomuchthatthebelieversmightandwouldotherwisedo。ButasDr。A。Testetrulysaysinhiswork——"Therearecertainunfortunatetruthswhichcompromisethosewhobelieveinthem，andthoseespeciallywhoaresocandidastoavowthempublicly。"

Thusthereasonofhypnotismnotbeingstudiedonitsproperlinesisself—evident。

Yearsagoitwasremarked："ItisthedutyoftheAcademyandmedicalauthoritiestostudyMesmerism（i。e。，theoccultsciencesinitsspirit）andtosubjectittotrials；finally，totakeawaytheuseandpracticeofitfrompersonsquitestrangerstotheart，whoabusethismeans，andmakeitanobjectoflucreandspeculation。"Hewhoutteredthisgreattruthwas"thevoicespeakinginthedesert。"Butthosehavingsomeexperienceinoccultpsychologywouldgofurther。Theywouldsayitisincumbentoneveryscientificbody——nay，oneverygovernment——toputanendtopublicexhibitionsofthissort。Bytryingthemagiceffectofthehumanwillonweakerwills，byderidingtheexistenceofoccultforcesinNature——forceswhosenameislegion——andyetcallingoutthese，underthepretextthattheyarenoindependentforcesatall，notevenpsychicintheirnature，but"connectedwithknownphysicallaws"（BinetandFere），meninauthorityarevirtuallyresponsibleforallthedireeffectsthatareandwillbefollowingtheirdangerouspublicexperiments。VerilyKarma——theterriblebutjustRetributiveLaw——willvisitallthosewhodevelopthemostawfulresultsinthefuture，generatedatthosepublicexhibitionsfortheamusementoftheprofane。

Letthemonlythinkofdangersbred，ofnewformsofdiseases，mentalandphysical，begottenbysuchinsanehandlingofpsychicwill！Thisisasbadonthemoralplaneastheartificialintroductionofanimalmatterintothehumanblood，bytheinfamousBrownSequardmethod，isonthephysical。

TheylaughattheoccultsciencesandderideMesmerism？Yetthiscenturywillnothavepassedawaybeforetheyhaveundeniableproofsthattheideaofacrimesuggestedforexperiment’ssakeisnotremovedbyareversedcurrentofthewillaseasilyasitisinspired。Theymaylearnthatiftheoutwardexpressionoftheideaofamisdeed"suggested"mayfadeoutatthewilloftheoperator，theactivelivinggermartificiallyimplanteddoesnotdisappearwithit；thatoncedroppedintotheseatofthehuman——or，rather，theanimal——passions，itmayliedormantthereforyearssometimes，tobecomesuddenlyawakenedbysomeunforeseencircumstanceintorealization。Cryingchildrenfrightenedintosilencebythesuggestionofamonster，adevilstandinginthecorner，byafoolishnurse，havebeenknowntobecomeinsanetwentyorthirtyyearslateronthesamesubject。

Therearemysterious，secretdrawers，darknooksandhiding—placesinthelabyrinthofourmemory，stillunknowntophysiologists，andwhichopenonlyonce，rarelytwice，inman’slifetime，andthatonlyunderveryabnormalandpeculiarconditions。Butwhentheydo，itisalwayssomeheroicdeedcommittedbyapersontheleastcalculatedforit，or——aterriblecrimeperpetrated，thereasonforwhichremainsforeveramystery……

Thusexperimentsin"suggestion"bypersonsignorantoftheoccultlaws，arethemostdangerousofpastimes。Theactionandreactionofideasontheinnerlower"Ego，"hasneverbeenstudiedsofar，becausethatEgoitselfisterraincognita（evenwhennotdenied）tothemenofscience。Moreover，suchperformancesbeforeapromiscuouspublicareadangerinthemselves。MenofundeniablescientificeducationwhoexperimentonHypnotisminpublic，lendtherebythesanctionoftheirnamestosuchperformances。Andtheneveryunworthyspeculatoracuteenoughtounderstandtheprocessmay，bydevelopingbypracticeandperseverancethesameforceinhimself，applyittohisownselfish，oftencriminal，ends。

ResultonKarmiclines：everyHypnotist，everymanofScience，howeverwell—meaningandhonorable，oncehehasallowedhimselftobecometheunconsciousinstructorofonewholearnsbuttoabusethesacredscience，becomes，ofcourse，morallytheconfederateofeverycrimecommittedbythismeans。

Suchistheconsequenceofpublic"Hypnotic"experimentswhichthusleadto，andvirtuallyare，BLACKMAGIC。

FOOTNOTES：

1。SeethereviewofhisworkintheJournalduMagnetisme，Mai，Juin，1890，foundedin1845byBaronduPotet，andnoweditedbyH。Durville，inParis。（returntotext）

2。Thisdateisanerror。ParacelsuswasbornatZurichin1493。（returntotext）

3。ThisisthedateofVanHelmont’sdeath；hewasbornin1577。（returntotext）

4。BaronduPotetwasforyearsHonorarymemberoftheTheosophicalSociety。AutographletterswerereceivedfromhimandpreservedatAdyar，ourHeadquarters，inwhichhedeplorestheflippantunscientificwayinwhichMesmerism（thenontheeveofbecomingthe"hypnotism"

ofscience）washandled"parlescharlatansdujour。"Hadhelivedtoseethesecretscienceinitsfulltravestyashypnotism，hispowerfulvoicemighthavestoppeditsterriblepresentabusesanddegradationintoacommercialPunchandJudyshow。Luckilyforhim，andunluckilyfortruth，thegreatestadeptofMesmerisminEuropeofthiscentury——isdead。（returntotext）

StudiesinOccultismbyH。Blavatsky，"TheSignsoftheTimes"TheSignsoftheTimesItisintenselyinterestingtofollowseasonafterseasontherapidevolutionandchangeofpublicthoughtinthedirectionofthemystical。

Theeducatedmindismostundeniablyattemptingtofreeitselffromtheheavyfettersofmaterialism。Theuglycaterpillariswrithingintheagoniesofdeath，underthepowerfuleffortsofthepsychicbutterflytoescapefromitsscience—builtprison，andeverydaybringssomenewgladtidingsofoneormoresuchmentalbirthstolight。

AstheNewYork"Path"trulyremarksinitsSeptemberissue，when"Theosophicalandkindredtopics……aremadethetextsfornovels，"and，wemayadd，scientificessaysandbrochures，"theimplicationisthatinterestinthemhasbecomediffusedthroughallsocialranks。"Thatkindofliteratureis"paradoxicallyproofthatOccultismhaspassedbeyondtheregionofcarelessamusementandenteredthatofseriousenquiry。"ThereaderhasbuttothrowaretrospectiveglanceatthepublicationsofthelastfewyearstofindthatsuchtopicsasMysticism，Magic，Sorcery，Spiritualism，Theosophy，Mesmerism，or，asitisnowcalled，Hypnotism，allthevariousbranchesinshortoftheOccultsideofnature，arebecomingpredominantineverykindofliterature。Theyvisiblyincreaseinproportiontotheeffortsmadetodiscreditthemovementsinthecauseoftruth，andstrangleenquiry——whetheronthefieldoftheosophyorspiritualism——bytryingtobesmeartheirmostprominentheralds，pioneersanddefenders，withtarandfeathers。

Thekey—noteformysticandtheosophicliteraturewasMarionCrawford’sMr。Isaacs。ItwasfollowedbyhisZoroaster。ThenfollowedTheRomanceofTwoWorlds，byMarieCorelli；R。LouisStevenson’sDr。JekyllandMr。Hyde；TheFallenIdol，byAnstey；KingSolomon’sMinesandthethricefamousShe，byRiderHaggard；AffinitiesandTheBrotheroftheShadow，byMrs。CampbellPraed；EdmundDowney’sHouseofTears，andmanyotherslessnoticeable。

AndnowtherecomesafreshoutburstinFlorenceMarryat’sDaughteroftheTropics，andF。C。Philips’StrangeAdventuresofLucySmith。

Itisunnecessarytomentionindetailtheliteratureproducedbyavowedtheosophistsandoccultists，someofwhoseworksareveryremarkable，whileothersarepositivelyscientific，suchasS。L。MacgregorMathers’KabbalahUnveiled，andDr。F。Hartmann’sParacelsus，Magic，WhiteandBlack，etc。WehavealsotonotethefactthattheosophyhasnowcrossedtheChannel，andismakingitswayintoFrenchliterature。LaFrancepublishesastrangeromancebyCh。Chincholle，pregnantwiththeosophy，occultismandmesmerism，andcalledLaGrandePretresse，whileLaRevuepolitiqueetlitteraire（19Feb。1887，etseq。）containedoverthesignatureofTh。Bentzon，anovelcalledEmancipee，whereinesotericdoctrinesandadeptsarementionedinconjunctionwiththenamesofwellknowntheosophists。Asignofthetimes！

Literature——especiallyincountriesfreefromgovernmentcensorship——isthepublicheartandpulse。Besidestheglaringfactthatweretherenodemandtherewouldbenosupply，currentliteratureisproducedonlytoplease，andisthereforeevidentlythemirrorwhichfaithfullyreflectsthestateofthepublicmind。True，Conservativeeditors，andtheirsubmissivecorrespondentsandreporters，stillgoonslashingoccasionallyinprintthefairfacesofmysticspiritualismandtheosophy，andsomeofthemarestillfound，fromtimetotime，indulginginabrutalpersonalattack。

Buttheydonoharmonthewhole，exceptperhapstotheirowneditorialreputations，assucheditorscanneverbesuspectedofanexuberanceofcultureandgoodtasteaftercertainungentlemanlypersonalattacks。Theydogoodonthecontrary。For，whilethetheosophistsandspiritualistssoattacked，mayviewtheBillingsgatepouredupontheminatrueSocrateanspirit，andconsolethemselveswiththeknowledgethatnoneoftheepithetsusedcanpossiblyapplytothem，ontheotherhand，toomuchabuseandvilificationgenerallyendsbyawakeningthepublicsympathyforthevictim，intheright—mindedandtheimpartial，atanyrate。

InEnglandpeopleseemtolikefairplayonthewhole。Itisnotbashi—boozook—likeactions，thedoughtydeedsofthosewhodelightinmutilatingtheslainandthewounded，thatcanfindsympathyforanygreatlengthoftimewiththepublic。If——asmaintainedbyourlayenemiesandrepeatedbysomena&iuml；fandtoosanguinemissionaryorgans——SpiritualismandTheosophyare"deadasadoornail"（sic！——videAmericanChristianperiodicals），——aye，"deadandburied，"why，insuchcase，goodChristianfathers，notleavethedeadatresttill"JudgmentDay"？Andiftheyarenot，theneditors——theprofaneaswellastheclerical——whyshouldyoustillfear？Donotshowyourselvessuchcowardsifyouhavethetruthonyourside。Magnaestveritasetprevalebit，and"murderwillout，"asitalwayshas，soonerorlater。Openyourcolumnstofreeandfearlessdiscussion，anddoasthetheosophicalperiodicalshaveeverdone，andasLUCIFERisnowpreparingtodo。The"brightSonofthemorning"

fearsnolight。Hecourtsit，andispreparedtopublishanyinimicalcontributions（couched，ofcourse，indecentlanguage），howevermuchatvariancewithhistheosophicalviews。Heisdeterminedtogiveafairhearinginanyandeverycase，tobothcontendingpartiesandallowthingsandthoughtstobejudgedontheirrespectivemerits。Forwhy，orwhatshouldonedreadwhenfactandtruthareone’sonlyaim？DuchocdesopinionsjaillitlaveritewassaidbyaFrenchphilosopher。IfTheosophyandSpiritualismarenobetterthan"giganticfraudsandwill—o’—the—wispsoftheage"whysuchexpensivecrusadesagainstboth？Andiftheyarenot，whyshouldAgnosticsandsearchersaftertruthingeneral，helpbigotedandnarrow—mindedmaterialists，sectariansanddogmatiststohideourlightunderabushelbymerebrutalforceandusurpedauthority？Itiseasytosurprisethegoodfaithofthefair—minded。Stilleasiertodiscreditthat，whichbyitsintrinsicstrangeness，isalreadyunpopularandcouldhardlybecreditedinitspalmiestdays。"Wewelcomenosuppositionsoeagerlyasonewhichaccordswithandintensifiesourownprejudices"says，inDonJesualdo，apopularauthor。Therefore，factsbecomeoftencunninglyconcocted"frauds"；andself—evident，glaringliesareacceptedasgospeltruthsatthefirstbreezeofDonBasilio’sCalumnia，bythosetowhosehard—crustedpre—conceptionssuchslanderislikeheavenlydew。

But，belovedenemies，"thelightofLucifer"may，afterall，dispelsomeofthesurroundingdarkness。Themightyroaringvoiceofdenunciation，sowelcometothosewhoselittlespitesandhatesandmentalstagnationinthegraspofthesocialrespectabilityitpandersto，mayyetbesilencedbythevoiceoftruth——"thestillsmallvoice"——whosedestinyiteverwastofirstpreachinthedesert。Thatcoldandartificiallightwhichstillseemstoshinesodazzlinglyovertheallegediniquitiesofprofessionalmediumsandthesupposedsinsofcommissionandomissionofnon—professionalexperimentalists，offreeandindependenttheosophists，mayyetbeextinguishedattheheightofallitsglory。Foritisnotquitetheperpetuallampofthealchemistphilosopher。Stilllessisitthat"lightwhichnevershoneonseaorland，"thatrayofdivineintuition，thesparkwhichglimmerslatentinthespiritual，never—erringperceptionsofmanandwoman，andwhichisnowawakening——foritstimeisathand。Afewyearsmore，andtheAladdin’slamp，whichcalledforththeministeringgeniusthereof，who，makingthreesalutestothepublic，proceededforthwithtodevourmediumsandtheosophists，likeajugglerwhoswallowsswordsatavillagefair，willgetoutoforder。Itslight，overwhichtheanti—theosophistsarecrowingvictorytothisday，shallgetdim。Andthen，perhaps，itwillbediscoveredthatwhatwasclaimedasadirectrayfromthesourceofeternaltruthwasnobetterthanapennyrush—light，inwhosedeceitfulsmokeandsootpeoplegothypnotized，andsaweverythingupsidedown。ItwillbefoundthatthehideousmonstersoffraudandimposturehadnoexistenceoutsidethemurkyanddizziedbrainsoftheAladdinsontheirjourneyofdiscovery。Andthat，finally，thegoodpeoplewholistenedtothem，hadbeenallthetimeseeingsightsandhearingthingsunderunconsciousandmutualsuggestion。

Thisisascientificexplanation，andrequiresnoblackmagiciansordugpasatwork；for"suggestion"asnowpractisedbythesorcerersofscienceis——dugpashipitself，pursang。NoEastern"adeptofthelefthand"candomoremischiefbyhisinfernalartthanagravehypnotizeroftheFacultyofMedicine，adiscipleofCharcot，orofanyotherscientificlightofthefirstmagnitude。InParis，asinSt。Petersburg，crimeshavebeencommittedunder"suggestion。"Divorceshaveoccurred，andhusbandshavenearlykilledtheirwivesandtheirsupposedcorrespondents，owingtotricksplayedoninnocentandrespectablewomen，whohavethushadtheirfairnameandalltheirfuturelifeblastedforever。Ason，undersuchinfluence，brokeopenthedeskofanavariciousfather，whocaughthimintheact，andnearlyshothiminafitofrage。

OneofthekeysofOccultismisinthehandsofscience——cold，heartless，materialistic，andcrasslyignorantoftheothertrulypsychicsideofthephenomenon：hence，powerlesstodrawalineofdemarcationbetweenthephysiologicalandthepurelyspiritualeffectsofthediseaseinoculated，andunabletopreventfutureresultsandconsequencesofwhichithasnoknowledge，andoverwhichithas，therefore，nocontrol。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读