Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
SCHOOL FOR MEDIUMS
Queerest Educational Institu-
tion on Earth.
TEACHINGSECONDSIGHT
SIX STAGES IN THE SYSTEM OF
TRAINING.
The Kind Of People Who Make
the Very Best
Pupils.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


and be made a medium while you wait"
or you may take a correspondents course.
If you live at a distance.
Two methods of developing the occult
powers are taught-the voluntary and the
involuntary" Under the former the ma
circulate is put through process of self
culture" Tho latter Is a postgraduate
course in the study of hypnotism. Says
one of the faculty: Socrates and Apo
lonius exercised this self same power which
we teach. Cicero and Pliny speak of 1t.
and recommend that some one should re-
cord what these sleepers say. because they
do not retain any recollection of them
Such powers were supposed to be gifts.
but modern science has revealed that most
persons are to a greater or less extent
clairvoyant subjects"
Hold Objects to Forehead.
The pupil taught the voluntary method
is required to hold articles against the GEN.
ter of his 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, brio-a-brac, etc, beginning
with simple forms and gradually taking up
others more complex in form and outline:
In the next exercise-"real perception
he practices transferring his thoughts to
some place with which he Is we'll acquaint-
ed. He must strive until he obtains vivid
mental picture Of this place as 1t exists,
must commit this impression to paper, then
visit the place, compare 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 OF
fhn fr,dn yKyd
neys, gables and general outlines; then
things of greater and greater detail, as the
arrangement of the rooms. their furniture,
ornaments, ETC.. noting their exact location
and arrangement. 1t Is claimed that con-
scientious application to this 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 recumbent 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 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 1t Is al
legged that after nractico
ability not only to readily enter state of
sleep, but to retain continuous conscious
ness; that although they 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.
Crystal Images.
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 glass of clear
water, or upon a shiny crystal. Remaining
thus he drops into a semi-sleep. Having
longing to know, his mind-so 1t is prom
ised-will travel to the place or person con-
corning whom information is desired and
the image will appear as If reflected upon
the water or crystal.
So much for the voluntary seIf-deyelop-
ment leading up to the trance phenomena
proper. Before taking up these alleged
phenomena, we will lead up to the same
point py 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
trance requires the presence Of a hypnotist
He conducts the pupil through six different
degrees or stages Of sleep. The first de-
gree is produced by simple hypnosis"
you choose to call the influence. The pupil
having fallen into slumber is commanded
to sleep peacefully for few minutes.
The Cataleptic Stage.
Next the hypnotist commands, go deep
err! and If the subject obeys the sugges-
ton he will take one or more deep inspira-
ton. Directly he will become quiet again
and breathe naturally. This is the second
stage To induce the third, the operator
commands: Go into the cataleptic stage
where your body becomes perfectly rigid!''
He watches the subjects pulse carefully;
also the condition of his hands If the lat
ter assume rigid condition and the entire
body straightens out, the third or catalep-
tic degree has been reached. handker-
chief is now laid over the pupils eyes and
If 1t be night. the light is turned down
The pupil is tested for the cataleptic stage
by lifting his hand slightly. If the condi-
ton obtains, his arm will rise also and re-
main, perfectly rigid, wherever 1t Is placed
The hypnotst now commands: go deeper!
Go into light clairvOyant stage! or Go
into the mind-reading stage!' Immediately
a relaxation of the muscles is noted and
the subject, 1t Is claimed, will indicate by
the character of his remarks that he is in a
light stage OF clairvoyance." But he must
not be permitted to remain long in this
stage the first time. he reaches it, because
any one may now awaken him and the
pains spent in the previous steps may be
lost as result Of some slight sound or
interruption.
Go into deeper trance. where your
mind may be able to visit distant persons
or places commands the Svengal at this
juncture. And If the pupils mind be def
nitely directed to make visits and bring
back reports 1t will do so. it is claimed,
more accurately as the clairvoyant power
develops. Or. to put 1t in the words of
the professor" IF your subject is clear
you can send him anywhere to visit friends,
He can read their minds and describe
places as If he were there; and IL he be in
the right condition his answers to your
questions will begin to open up to your in
telligenoe new ideas Of life"