THE AURA
The majority of our readers are familiar with the fact that all persons, and objects, are surrounded by an emanation called an "Aura," or egg-shaped psychic emanation extending several feet around them. This aura is charged with the thought-vibrations of the persons, and is really the "atmosphere" that we feel surrounding people and by which we feel attracted or repelled as the case may be. The trained and developed Psychomancer is able to see the colors by which the various emotions, thoughts, etc., are indicated, but even when that degree of power is lacking, he may "feel" the general character of the various component parts of the person's aura.
While it is not our intention to go deeply into this matter of Auric Colors, in this work, still we think it well to indicate the same here, by quoting from a well-known authority on the subject, who says: "As he looks at a person he will see him surrounded by the luminous mist of the astral aura, flashing with all sorts of brilliant colors, and constantly changing in hue and brilliancy with every variation of the person's thoughts and feelings. He will see this aura flooded with the beautiful rose-color of pure affection; the rich blue of devotional feeling; the hard dull brown of selfishness; the deep scarlet of anger; the horrible lurid red of sensuality; the livid grey of fear; the black clouds of hatred and malice; or any of the other hundredfold indications so easily to be read in it by a practiced eye; and thus it will be impossible for any persons to conceal from him the real state of their feelings on any subject."
But only a comparatively few are able to distinctly see these Auric Colors, by reason of their lack of development along these special lines. But a great number of people are able to feel the subtle vibrations which give rise to these colors. Just as there are well authenticated cases of blind men and women being able to distinguish by the sense of feeling (in touch) the various colors which their blind eyes fail to see, so are thousands of people able to feel the auric shades which their imperfectly developed clairvoyant vision fails to perceive. In this connection it is interesting to note that science informs us that the sense of Feeling was the first developed of any of the physical senses; in fact all the other senses are developments of, and extensions of, the original sense of Feeling. And there is a close correspondence between this phenomena of the Physical Senses, and that of the Astral Senses.
But there are other, and perhaps more wonderful, features of Simple Psychomancy. It is a well established scientific fact that nearly, if not indeed all, objects are constantly emanating streams of Radiant Energy, or Streams of Electrons as they are called by some. The delicate instruments of science are able to detect and register some of the coarser vibrations of this energy, but the more delicate ones have so far escaped them. But the Astral Senses of the developed Psychomancer register and record many of the finer vibrations, and in this way many so-called "miracles" of occultism are explained. Let us examine this phenomena at this point.
It becomes apparent to any student of the subject, early in his investigations, that the Psychomancer is able to "see" things hidden by other objects, and often surrounded by the densest matter. In other words he is able to see through solid objects– to see "through a brick wall" to use the familiar phrase. Now this may seem almost incredible to one at the first mention of the subject. But when the skeptic's attention is called to the fact that the "X Rays" and similar forms of energy recently discovered by science, readily pierce through solid objects, and may be actually "seen" by the eye (aided by the proper instruments), or recorded on a photographic plate – then the impossible feat of "seeing though a brick wall" becomes a very simple, understandable matter, indeed. And in an almost identical manner the Psychomancer sees through solid object– and the most solid material becomes transparent to his Astral Sight.
The fine streams or waves of energy constantly being emanated by all objects, which are invisible to the naked physical eye, are registered and recorded by the Astral Sense of Sight. The Psychomancer even by means of the comparatively elementary power of Simple Psychomancy is able to see what is going on in an adjoining room, or other nearby place; to read the contents of a sealed letter; to describe the contents of a locked, steel book; or to read a chosen passage in a closed book.
To the developed and trained Psychomancer, when he concentrates his power, the solid ground over which he is walking, becomes transparent, and he is able to see down into its depths to a considerable distance. In this way he may see living underground creatures at work, and play; and to discover veins of mineral, coal, etc., or underground streams of water. In these cases the Clairvoyant does not travel in the Astral, but merely receives and perceives the subtle vibrations or streams of fine energy constantly being emanated by the objects. Some Clairvoyants have developed certain other less common faculties of Astral Sight, which give the "telescopic" and "microscopic" vision in these cases, in addition to the main faculty of "seeing" things through solid coverings.
The question will naturally arise in the mind of the student, whether there is any limit to the depths open to the Astral Sight of the Psychomancer (in this phase of the phenomena), as for instance when he is looking into the solid earth. It may be urged that as objects at immense distances underground emanate rays just as truly as do objects nearer the surface, then there should be no difference in the power of vision. Answering this question we would say that the same objection and obstacle arises in this case, as in the corresponding physical phenomena, such as the X Rays. While a far distant object emits rays just as well as a nearby one, still there is a loss of energy according to distance, and the Astral Sense, like the Physical Sense, fails to clearly register after a certain distance is attained. This distance varies in the case of different persons using their Astral Vision, just as it does in the case of the different degrees of eyesight possessed by various persons. And then again, it must not be supposed that the earth becomes as clear as glass to the Astral Vision. On the contrary it presents a similar appearance to that obtained when one is seeing objects through water or mist, with the physical eye. One can see quite a way through water or mist with the physical eye, but after a certain distance the impressions grow dim, and finally fade from view. Of course in the case of the erecting of the Astral Tube better results may be obtained, but this phenomena belongs to the class of Space Psychomancy.
There is another power open to the Psychomancer along the lines of Simple Psychomancy. We refer to the phenomena of "seeing into" the physical bodies of other people; examining the internal organs; diagnosing diseases, etc. Of course, in this case, before the Clairvoyant is able to correctly diagnose a disease he must be acquainted with the nature of the organs, and their appearance in their normal state, etc., so that he will recognize a diseased condition when he sees it. One must needs have an acquaintance with Anatomy and Physiology, as well as possessing trained Psychomantic powers for this work.
LESSON IV.
THE ASTRAL TUBE
The term, "The Astral Tube," is frequently met with in the writings of Occultists, but you will find very little more than a mention of it in many of such works, the proverbial caution of the older writers having acted in the direction of preventing their entering into a fuller description or explanation, for fear of the information falling into improper hands. This will be more readily understood, when we tell you that the Astral Tube is, and may be, used for classes of phenomena other than that of Psychomancy, notably that of Mental Influencing, "treating", etc., which however forms no part of the present work, but which will be discussed in a future volume of the series to be called "Mental Influence, etc."
The Astral Plane is composed of an ethereal form of matter, very much rarer and finer than the matter of the Physical Plane – but matter, nevertheless, and subject to fixed laws and conditions. And, just as it is possible to establish "lines of force" in the physical matter, so may corresponding "lines of force" be established in Astral matter. And this Astral Tube is really such a "line of force." In other words, it is possible to set up and establish a "line of force" on the Astral Plane, that will serve as a ready conductor of Astral vibrations, currents, etc., and which affords a highly efficient channel of communication between objects far removed from each other in space. And this channel is actually created and used in a variety of forms of Occult phenomena.
POLARIZATION
You have heard of "Polarity," and "Polarization" in connection with electrical phenomena. "Polarity" is defined by Webster as: "That quality or condition of a body by virtue of which it exhibits opposite or contrasted properties or powers, in opposite or contrasted parts or directions; or, a condition giving rise to a contrast of properties corresponding to a contrast of positions." And, "Polarization" is defined by the same authority as: "Act of polarizing; state of having polarity." Well, then, the process of erecting the Astral Tube is practically that of the "polarization" of the particles of Astral matter by an effort of the human Will, set in motion by means of a strong Desire or Determination, under certain conditions.
When the human Will is directed toward a distant person or object, under the proper psychic conditions, it tends to "polarize" a path or channel through the Astral atmosphere toward the desired point, which channel becomes at once an easy course of psychic communication for the transmission or receiving of psychic impressions or expressions, as the case may be. And, in the case of Psychomancy and kindred phenomena, the Astral Senses of the person (even though his Astral Body be still within its physical counterpart) are able to readily "sense" the impressions being manifested at a far distant point in space.
The above mentioned channel of communication – the Astral Tube – has not of course the advantages of actual travel in the Astral Body, and is besides affected by certain Astral happenings, such as the breaking up of the tube, or an impairment of its efficiency, by reason of some stronger astral current or channel, etc., for instance. When one considers the currents and cross-currents constantly in operation on the Astral Plane, it will be seen how likely the above mentioned interference is to happen.
Through the Astral Tube the Astral Senses actually "sense" the sights, and often the sounds being manifested at a distance, just as one may see distant sights through a telescope, or hear distant sounds through a telephone, for instance. It also may be used as a microscope, as we shall see as we proceed. The student's attention is especially directed toward the fact that in this form of phenomena, the Psychomancer remains within his physical body, and does not travel in the Astral at all. He sees the distant scenes, just as a man sees them through a telescope. His consciousness remains within his physical body.
A well known writer on this subject has truly said: "* * * the limitations resemble those of a man using a telescope on the physical plane. The experimenter, for example, has a particular field of view which cannot be enlarged or altered; he is looking at his scene from a certain direction, and he cannot suddenly turn it all around and see how it looks from the other side. If he has sufficient psychic energy to spare, he may drop altogether the telescope that he is using, and manufacture an entirely new one for himself which will approach his objective somewhat differently; but, this is not a course at all likely to be adopted in practice. But it may be said, the mere fact that he is using Astral Sight ought to enable him to see it from all sides at once. And so it would, if he were using that sight in the normal way upon an object which was fairly near him – within his astral reach as it were; but at a distance of hundreds or thousands of miles the case is very different. Astral sight gives us the advantage of an additional dimension, but there is still such a thing as position in that dimension, and it is naturally a potent factor in limiting the use of the powers of its plane. * * * Astral sight, when it is cramped by being directed along what is practically a tube, is limited very much as physical sight would be under similar circumstances, though if possessed in perfection it will continue to show, even at that distance, the auras, and therefore all the emotions and most of the thoughts of the people under observation."
The Astral Tube, in connection with Psychomancy, is used in a variety of forms. It is often used unconsciously, and springs into existence spontaneously, under the power of some strong emotion, desire or will. It is also observed in some cases of hypnotic phenomena, in which the hypnotist uses his will to cause his subject to form an Astral Tube, and then report his impressions. It is also used by the trained Psychomancer, without the use of any "starting point," or "focal centre," simply by the exercise of his trained, developed and concentrated will. But its most familiar and common use is in connection with some object serving as a "starting point," or "focal centre."
The "starting point" or "focal centre," above mentioned, is generally either what is known as "the associated object" in the class of phenomena commonly known as "Psychometry," or else a glass or crystal-ball, or similar polished reflecting surface, in what is known as "Crystal Gazing." In the two next succeeding lessons, we shall consider these two forms of phenomena, respectively.