The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
How Clairvoyance, Second sight,
Spiritual Sight and similar Fow-
ers Are Said to BE Taught.
A SUPERINTENDENT METHOD
SIX STAGES OF HYPNOTIC TRAINING
PRODUCE OTHER PHENOMENA.
What to Most People Is n Lot OF
Tomfoolery IL Regarded seri-
ouxIy by Others

a school for clairvoyants and trance me-
diums. You may attend this institution
and be made a medium while you watt
or you may take a correspondence course.
if you live at a distance.
Two methods OF developing the occult
powers are t~aught-the voluntary and the
Involuntary" Under the former the ma
regulate is put through a process of self
culture" The latter is a postgraduate
course in the study of hypnotism. Says
one of the faculty; Socrates and Appo-
lonius exercised this self-same power which
we teach. Cicero and Pliny speak Of il.
and recommend that some one should re-
cord what these sleepers say, because they
do not retain any recollection OF them
Such bowers were supposed TO be gifts.
but modern science has revealed that most
persons are to a greater or less extent
clairvoyant subjects"
The pupil taught the voluntary method"
is required to hold articles against the GEN.
ter of the forehead for several seconds or
minutes until he obtains a vivid mental
picture thereof. With his eyes closed. In
a quiet room and entirely alone. he must
practice this exercise one full hour every
day. He is taught TO make his first expert
ments with pieces of earth. glass, rock,
stone, china, bric-a-brac, ETC.. beginning
with simple forms and gradually taking up
others more complex in form and outline.
In the next exercise-'real conception
he practices transferring his Thoughts to
some place with which he is well acquaint-
ed. He must strive until he obtains a vivid
mental picture of this place as it exists,
must commit this impression to paper. then
visit the place, comp are his notes with the
original and see how many mistakes he has
made. He first takes up the most conspic-
uous objects in the scene, as, in the case or
a house, a porch, windows, roof. CHM
neys, gables and general outlines; then
things of greater and greater detail, as the
arrangements of the rooms, their furniture.
rnament ETC., noting their exact location
and arrangement. 1t is claimed that con-
scientious application TO his exercise will
soon develop ability to clearly perceive any
familiar object sought for. wherever
located.
ENTERING THE SILENCE"
The third process is termed entering the
silence" The pupil is still alone in the
quiet room. where he must recline in an
easy chair or assume a position
on a lounge or bed, close his eyes, relax, be
absolutely comfortable, and leave all cares.
fears and worries behind. He sits facing a
dull, black cloth, about a yard square.
spread upon the wall. He must hold his
eyes upon some particular point on the
cloth, without moving them in any manner
whatever. Still completely relaxing body
and mind, he must cease thinking and rest.
Before entering the silence he is in
structed to command his subconscious
mind" to carry him into a deep sleep. He
suggests to himself the time he wishes to
remain asleep. 1t Is claimed that this trance
sleep may be developed after a very few
trials, and that the time set for waking
will soon be realized. The sleeping stage
having been developed, some person is at
first requested by the pupil TO awaken him
after a stated interval has elapsed Ii is al
legged that after practice pupils develop
ability not only to readily enter a state or
sleep, but to retain continuous conscious
ness; that although they are asleep their
subjective minds will soon be trained to
remain awake and act intelligently. In
other words. the previous exercises are al
legged to develop a hypnotic sleep from
which the pupil carries himself into a deep
trance.
Another method OF developing the trance
state is this: The pupil in 1.-The silence is
placed before a table. rests his hands
thereupon and concentrates his mind upon
the rejecting surface of a glass OF clear
water. or upon a shiny crystal. Remaining
thus he drops into a semi-sleep. Having
previously asked something which he 10
longing to know, his mind-so il is prom
ised-will travel to the place or person con-
corning whom Information is desired. and
the image will appear as IL reflected upon
the water or crystal.
So much for the voluntary self-develop-
ment leading up to the trance phenomena
proper. Before taking up these alleged
phenomena, we will lead up TO the same
point by way of the involuntary method
then follow both preparatory methods
through this stage of clairvoyance TO
which the pupil is drawn by the most Sc
ductive promises.
The Involuntary method of producing the
trance requires the presence OF a hy2notist.
He conducts the pupil through six different
degrees or stages of sleep The first de-
gree is produced by simple hypnosis"
Suggestion" or 'mesmerism," whichever
you choose to call the influence. The pupil
Id lll6 Aallth INV a 0AAAD -
TO sleep peacefully for a few minutes.
H CATALEPTIC STAGE.
Next the hypnotist commands, G deep
err and II the subject obeys the sugges-
ton he will take one or more deep inspira-
ton. Directly lie Will become quiet again
and breathe naturally. This is the second
stage. To induce the third. the operator
commands: &c into the cataleptic stage
where your body becomes perfectly rigidt'
He watches the subjects pulse carefully:
also the condition OF his hands. II the lat
ter assume a rigid condition and the entire
body straightens out. the third or catsIeptic
degree has been reached. A handkerchief
is now laid over the pupils eyes and. IL il
be night, the light is turned down The
pupil is tested for the cataleptic stage by
lifting his right hand slightly. II the eondi-
ton obtains, his arm will rise also and re-
main. perfectly rigid. wherever IL is placed.
The hypnotist now commands; Go deeper!
Go into a light clairvoyant STAGE" or go
into the mind-reading stage Immediately
a relaxation Of the muscles is noted and
the subject. it is claimed. viii indicate by
the character of his remarks that he 10 In .