Clf-Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by TQ Dumont 1913

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TheArtandScienceofPersonalMagnetism
byTheronQ.Dumont .CONTENTS
ChapterI:PersonalMagnetism .......................................................................................... 3 ChapterII:MentalandPhysicalPoles ................................................................................ 7 ChapterIII:TheMentalPhase .......................................................................................... 11 ChapterIV:ThePhysicalPhase......................................................................................... 15 ChapterV:PhysicalMagnetism ........................................................................................ 19 ChapterVI:GeneratingNerveForce ................................................................................ 23 ChapterVII:DistributingNerveForce .............................................................................. 28 ChapterVIII:NerveForceExercises.................................................................................. 32 ChapterIX:ProjectingNerveForce .................................................................................. 36 ChapterX:MentalRadiation ............................................................................................ 40 ChapterXI:MentalAttitudes ............................................................................................ 45 ChapterXII:TheMentalAtmosphere ............................................................................... 49 ChapterXIII:MagneticCurrents ....................................................................................... 53 ChapterXIV:TheDirectFlash ........................................................................................... 57 ChapterXV:ExercisesintheDirectFlash ......................................................................... 61 ChapterXVI:ThePositiveAura ......................................................................................... 65 ChapterXVII:TheDirectCommand.................................................................................. 69 ChapterXVIII:TheMagneticDuel..................................................................................... 73 ChapterXIX:CorporealMagnetism .................................................................................. 77 ChapterXX:MagneticSelfDefense.................................................................................. 81
THEARTANDSCIENCEOFPERSONALMAGNETISMBYTQDUMONT
ChapterI:
PersonalMagnetism
Itisastrangeandalmostamusingfactthatthereshouldbeatthesametime,onthe partofthegeneralpublic,suchageneralacceptanceoftheexistenceofpersonal magnetism,ontheonehand,andsuchanignoranceofthenatureofthiswonderful force,ontheotherhand.Inshort,whileeveryonebelievesintheexistenceofpersonal magnetism,scarcelyanyonepossessesknowledgeoftherealnatureofthesame,much lessaworkingknowledgeofitsprinciplesofapplication. Abeliefintheexistenceofapersonalpower,influence,oratmosphere,onthepartof certainindividuals,whichenablesthepossessortoattract,influence,dominateor controlothers,hasbeenheldbytheracefromtheearliestdaysofwrittenhistory.Many oftheoldestwritingsoftheracecontainreferencestothestrange,mysteriouspower possessedbycertainindividuals,whichenabledthemtoattractorinfluenceothers.And, followingthecourseofwrittenhumanhistoryalongtheages,wemayperceivea constantreferencetothisstrangepoweroftheindividual,sogenerallyacknowledged andatthesametime,solittleunderstood.Comingdowntothepresentage,anagein whichgreatattentionhasbeendevotedtothestudyofpsychologyandpsychicsubjects ingeneral,wefindthatwhiletheoldbeliefinpersonalmagnetismhasbeen strengthened,thereexists,atthesametime,verylittlegeneralknowledgeamongthe publicregardingtherealnatureoftheforceorthebestmeansofusingandemployingit. Butthislackofknowledgejustalludedtooisconfinedtothegeneralpublic.Inallages therehavebeenafewadvancedindividualswhohavethoroughlyunderstoodand employedtheforceofpersonalinfluence.Notonlyhavetheoccultstudentsofthepast possessedthisknowledge,andhavepasseditontotheirsuccessors,butmanyofthe greatestmenofhistoryhaveacquiredathoroughknowledgelikewise,andhave employeditinadvancingtheirowninterests.Insomecases,individualsofthislast mentionedclasshavereceiveddirectinstructionfromoccultteachers,butinmanycases theyhavestumbledacrosstheexistenceofthepowerwithinthemselves,andthen advancedintheirknowledgeofthesubjectbycarefulinvestigationandstudy, accompaniedbyconstantexperimentation.Manyofthem,intheirwritingsorsayings, havetestifiedtotheirknowledgeandusofthismostwonderfulpower.Itisdifficulteven tocorrectlydefinethetermpersonalmagnetism,solittleareitsprinciplesunderstood bythemassesofthepeople.Thedictionariesgiveusbutlittlehelpinthematter,so vaguearetheirsocalleddefinitions.Perhapsthebestdefinitionisthefollowing:the strong,peculiar,butlittleunderstoodpower,force,orinfluence,exertedbycertain
individuals,invaryingdegrees,bythemeansofwhichotherpersonsareattractedto, controlledby,dominated,orinfluencedbytheindividualpossessingthepower;aform ofmentalinfluenceexertedbycertainindividualsoverthosewithwhomtheycomein contact. TheprincipalobjectionthatI,personally,havetotheaboveotherwisefairlygood definition,isitimpliesthatonlycertainindividualspossesspersonalmagnetism,the implicationbeingthattheremainderoftheracearedevoidofit.This,inmyopinion,isa sadmistake.Thetruthis,eachandeveryindividualisinpossessionofacertaindegree ofpersonalmagnetism;thateachpersonmayincreasethedegreeandstrengthenthe powerbyknowledgeandpractice. Eventhemostunmagneticpersonpossessespersonalmagnetism,perhapseventoa considerabledegree,butisgenerallysoignorantofthenatureoftheforceofthemeans ofitsemployment,thatheorsheactuallyrepelsotherpersonsinsteadofattracting them.For,donotfailtonotethisfact,personalmagnetism,likematerialmagnetism, mayrepelaswellasattractithasitspositiveaswellasitsnegativeside.Manyvery repellentpersonsarereallymanifestingahighdegreeofpersonalmagnetismina negativeform,andaredrivingawaypersonsfromtheminthesamemannerthatothers attractpersonstothemitisallamatteroftheuseofthepower. Thefactisthateverypersongeneratesandthrowsoffacertaindegree(varyingamong differentindividuals)ofpersonalmagnetism,whichaffectsthemindsofotherpersons comingwithinthefieldofitsinfluence.Notonlydoeseachpersonemanateandproject acertainamountordegreeofpersonalmagnetism,additionally,eachpersonisalso constantlysurroundedbyafieldofpersonalmagneticinfluenceapersonal atmosphere,sotospeak.Thispersonalatmosphereaffectstoagreaterorlesserdegree otherpersonscomingwithinitsfieldofinfluence. Thispersonalatmospherevariesgreatlyindegreeofstrength,extentandgeneral character,amongdifferentindividuals.Theaveragepersonhasbutaweakpersonal atmosphere,whichextendsbutashortdistanceonallsidesofhim,whilethestrong charactersoftheracearesurroundedbyawidelyspreadpersonalatmosphereofgreat, power,especiallywhentheyarearousedbyanystrongemotion,feelingordesire.The personalatmosphereofthosestrongindividuals,whoaregenerallyrecognizedas leadersoftherace,usuallyextendsgreatdistancesfromtheperson,andisfairly saturatedwithstrongdynamicmagnetism,whichimpressesitselfstronglyuponthose comingwithintheirfieldofinfluence.
Buteventheweakerindividualsoftherace,orusingpersonalmagnetismunconsciously, exertatleastsomedegreeofinfluenceuponthosearoundthem.Itrequiresbuta momentsthoughttorecognizethatsomepersonsemanateanatmosphereofgood cheer,brightness,andhappiness,whichaffectsinadesirablewayallpersonswithwhom theycomeincontact.Others,inthesameway,aresurroundedbyanatmosphereof gloom,pessimismanddiscouragement,whichadverselyaffectspersonscomingnear them.Thesethingsaretoocommontoevenexciteinterestamongtheaveragepersons, butinthisphenomenamaybefoundthekeytothehigherformsofpersonal magnetism. Wearesoaccustomedtoregardingpersonalmagnetismasmeaningonlythepositive, attractivephase,thatitcomesasashocktosomeofustobetoldthattherepelling personalatmosphereisequallymagneticthatis,magneticinthewrongdirection. Thisshouldcausenowonder,whenwerememberthateventhephysicalmetallic magnetrepels,undersomecircumstances,asstronglyasitattractsunderothers.There are,itistrue,certainindividualswhoseemneithertoattractnorrepel,butthisdoesnot affectthegeneralrule.Theseneutralindividualsareusuallyofweakmagnetism,and weakcharacterthatistosaytheyhavenostrongmotives,aimsordesires,orstrong castofcharacterorpersonality.Eachfacultyofthementalityisneutralizedbysome otherfacultyofequalstrength,andtheresultisaneutralconditionakintolukewarm waterneitherhotnorcold.Itfollows,naturally,thatsuchpersonsexertbutaneutral influence,andhavebutaweakneutralpersonalatmosphere.Theyneitherattractnor repeltheysimplyborepersonswithwhomtheycomeincontact. Somemayraisethequestionthatif,asIhavesaid,eachandeverypersonispossessedof personalmagnetism,thenwhyshouldanyonebotheranymoreaboutthematter,or studythesubjectofpersonalmagnetismatall.Suchaquestion(anditisfrequently raised,forthatmatter)causesasmiletomanifestonthefeaturesofthosewhohave knowledgeofthesubject;sochildishdoesitseemtothem.Whileitistruethateachand everypersonispossessedofpersonalmagnetismtosomedegree,itisequallytruethat themajorityofpersonshavebutaweakmagneticforce,andthatoftenofanegativeor undesirablecharacter.And,itisafactpositivelyknowntothosewhohavemasteredthe subject,thateventheweakestandmostnegativepersonmaysodevelophisorher personalmagnetismastograduallyacquirethesamedegreeandcharacterof magnetismasthatpossessedbymanyindividualsoriginallyfarinadvanceofthemin magneticinfluence. Onemaycompletelychangethecharacterofhispersonalmagnetism,fromnegativeto positive,fromundesirabletodesirable,bycarefulstudyandpracticealongthelines,
whichIshalllaydowninthisbook.Moreover,itispossibleforanypersonpossessing sufficientwill,perseveranceanddeterminationtodevelopfromapunystateof magnetismintoaconditionofgiantmagneticpowers.Butthislatterrequires determination,constantpracticeuntilacertainstageisreached,andanindomitable will.Whileanyonemayeasilyincreasehisorherdegreeofpowerofpersonal magnetism,andstillmoreeasilychangethecharacterofonespersonalatmosphere,the higherprizesarereservedforthosewhowillperseveretotheend,andcontinuefaithful intheexercises.This,ofcourse,istruenotonlyofpersonalmagnetism,butalsoofevery otherthingworthhaving.Thereisnoroyalroadtoanythingworthhaving.Wemust workforwhatweget.Theprizesarenotfortheweaklingsandtriflers,butforthe persistent,earnestindividualswhowillhangonuntiltheysucceed. Inthislittlebook,Igiveyouthekeytothesecretofpersonalmagnetism,butitwillstill remainforyou,yourselves,todeterminejustwhatdegreeofsuccessyoushallattain.I giveyouthebesttools,andinstructionsastohowtousethembutyouwillhavetodo therestyourself.ThisIwillsay,however,successmustandwillbeyoursifyouwillfollow theinstructionscarefully,persistentlyandperseveringly.ThatisallIcandoforyouthe restisinyourownhands.
ChapterII:
MentalandPhysicalPoles
Someofthewritersonthesubjectofpersonalmagnetismhavefallenintotheerrorof consideringthattheentiresecretofpersonalmagnetismistobefoundinthe phenomenaoftelepathyortransferenceofthought.Thesewriters,however,havebeen socarriedawaybythewonderfulfactsofthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetism,that theyhaveentirelyoverlookedtheotherphase,i.e.thephysicalpoleofthemagnetic personality.Thissecondphaseisjustasimportantasisthementalphase,andthe personwhowishestocultivateanddeveloppersonalmagnetismmustgivethissecond phasethesamecarefulattentionandpracticeasthefirstphase.Therearetwodistinct phasesorpolesofpersonalmagnetism,(1)thementaland(2)thephysical.Donotfailto notethisfact,foryoursuccesswilldependuponthecoordinationoftheforceofboth poles. Tomany,thisideaoftherebeingasecondorphysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetismwill seemstrange,soaccustomedhavetheygrowntohearingtheteachingsthatpersonal magnetismisamentalphenomenonpureandsimple.Butasweproceedinourstudyof thesubjectinthisbook,Ihopetothoroughlyconvinceyouthatthissecondpoleof personalmagnetismreallyexists,andthatitisequallypotentasthefirst,ormental phaseorpole.Amanisadualorganism,withbothmentalandphysicalphasesof manifestation,bothmindandbody,soishispersonalforcecomposedoftwodistinct phasesorpoles,eachcoordinatingwiththeotherintheworkofmanifestingenergyand creatingeffects.Somepersonshavemorementalmagnetism,whileothershavemore physicalmagnetism,buttheindividualwhoreallymanifeststhehighestdegreeof personalmagnetismistheonewhoisdevelopedalongbothpolesofactivity,both phasesofmagnetismphysicalaswellasmental. Thementalpoleorphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsforitsforceandenergyupon theabilityofthemindtocreatethoughtwavesandtoprojectthembeyondthelimitsof thebrain,intothepersonalatmosphereoftheindividual,andevenbeyondtherangeof hisownpersonalatmospherewhennecessary.Whenaccompaniedwiththephysical magnetismgeneratedbytheotherpoleofmagneticactivity,thismentalmagnetism stronglyaffectsotherpersonscomingwithinthefieldofactionofthesethoughtwaves. Butwithoutagoodsupplyofthephysicalmagnetism,thesethoughtwavesfailtohave sufficientstrengthtoproducemarkedresults.Itwouldseemthatthephysical magnetismwereneededtogivebodytothementalmagnetism,justasthemental
magnetismisneededtogivecolor,characterorsoultothephysicalmagnetism.The twophasesofmagnetismmustworktogethertogainthebesteffects. Itwasformerlyverydifficulttoconveytothemindofthestudentthefactsregardingthe mentalphaseofpersonalmagnetism,sostrangedidthewholethingappeartohim.But inthesedays,whentherehasbeensomuchwrittenandtaughtregardingtelepathy, thoughttransferenceandmindpower,theaveragepersonissowellpostedonthe generalsubjectthathemayreadilyunderstandthespecialfeaturesofthoughtpoweras manifestedonpersonalmagnetism.Soitisnotnecessary,now,tofirstgivethestudenta thorougheducationregardingthegeneralsubjectoftelepathy,inordertoleadhimupto thespecialsubjectofpersonalmagnetism.Inthisbook,Ishalltakeitforgrantedthat thestudentknowssomethingofthesubjectoftelepathyorthoughttransference,and accordinglyIshallnottakeupspaceandtimeintravelingoverthisoldfamiliarground. But,nevertheless,Ithinkitadvisabletopointouttoyousomeofthelatestfacts discoveredbyscienceinconnectionwiththetransferenceofthought. Sciencehasdiscoveredthatthehumanbrain,intheprocessesofthinking,actually generatesandusesupacertainamountofenergyintheareaofthebraintissue.The generationandemploymentofthisenergyproducesheat,andactuallyincreasesthe temperatureofthebrainareas,asmaybeprovenbytheuseofthedelicateregistering instruments.Foundineverywellequippedbrainisasmuchanactualforceasis electricityortheordinarymagnetismofthelodestone,andisgovernedbymuchthe samegenerallawsandrules.And,likeelectricityorordinarymagnetism,itisnot confinedtothepointatwhichitisgenerated,but,instead,itmaybe,andis,diffusedto pointsbeyond.Inotherwords,thethoughtenergyofthebrainofapersonextends beyondthelimitsofhisbrain,createsathoughtatmospherearoundhim,andregisters aneffectuponthebrainsofotherscomingwithinhisfieldofenergy. Thediscoveryofradioactivityincertainnewlydiscoveredelementsofmatter,notablyin thecaseofradium,hasledsciencetoinvestigatethematterofthepossibleradio activityofothersubstances.Theresultismostsurprising,foradvancedsciencenow announcesthateverysubstanceisradioactive,thatis,everysubstanceisconstantly radiatingenergyofforcefromitself.Thisdiscoveryservestoharmonizethepreviously separatedfactsregardingthoughttransference,etc.,anditisnowacceptedasafactthat thehumanbrainisstronglyradioactive,andisconstantlysendingforthstreamsofradio energy.Thesamelaws,whichgoverntheradium,arenowperceivedtogovernthebrain action.Thissimplifiesthematter,andbringsthesubjectofthoughttransferenceintothe generalfieldofscience,andoutoftherealmsofmysticism.Thesubjectisnowtaught andstudied,onascientificbasis,intheprincipaluniversitiesoftheworld,andnew
discoveriesareconstantlybeingmaderegardingit.Thephysicalpoleofpersonal magnetismisnottobefoundintheflesh,blood,orbonesofthebodyfortheseare butthecrudemachinerybywhichthehigherpartsofthehumanorganismmovesand acts.Instead,itistobefoundinthatmostwonderfulpart,orparts,oftheorganism, knownasthenervoussystem.Thisnervoussystemisjustaswonderfulinitswayasis thebrain,anditseffectsinpersonalmagnetismarejustasimportant. Wearesoapttothinkofthenervesasbeingapartofthebodyoftheperson,thatitis somewhatdifficultforustogettheideathatthenervoussystemisreallyasmuchapart ofthementalsystemasisthebrain.Infact,thenervoussystemiscomposedofalmost exactlythesamekindofmatter,asisthebrain.Thenervoussystem,moreover, generatesenergyofakindverysimilartothatgeneratedbythebrain.Forthatmatter, advancedsciencereallyconsidersthatthebrainandnervoussystemarebutpartsofone andthesamething,governedbythesamegenerallaws,andtobeconsideredin connectionwitheachother.And,thestudentofpersonalmagnetismsooncomesto acceptthisview,whenheseestheimportantpartplayedbythegreatnervecentersin theworkofpersonalmagnetism.Therefore,althoughIcallthemagnetismofthe nervoussystembythetermphysical,andthatofthebrainbythetermmental,Ido somerelyinordertomakeaneasylineofdistinctionforthepurposeofteachingand study.Atthelast,however,theyarereallybutpartsofoneandthesamethingmerely twopolesofthesamesourceofenergy. Thenervoussystemofthehumanbeingisreallyamostintricatemechanism.Itsmain featureisthespinalcordwhichrunsalonganopeninginthespinalcolumnorbackbone, andwhichisdirectlyconnectedwiththebrainmatterintheskull.Fromthespinalcord emergemanysetsofnerves,inpairs,whichbranchoutinsmallerfilament,theseinturn branchingoutintostillsmaller,andsoon,untileachandeverypartofthebodyis suppliedwithadirectconnectionwiththemainnervetrunk.Othergreatcablesof nervesdescendintothetrunkofthebody,apartfromthespinalcordsystem,although connectedwiththelatterbynervelinks.Indifferentpartsofthebodyaretobefound greatmassesofnervesubstance,beingmattedknotsortanglesofnerves,thesecenters beingcalledplexusorplexuses,theprincipalonebeingthesolarplexuswhichis situatedrightbackofthepitofthestomach,andwhichplaysaveryimportantpartin thelifeoftheperson,soimportant,indeed,thatasevereblowstruckdirectlyoverit maycausethedeathoftheperson. Thenervoussystemnotonlyconveysmessagesfromthedifferentpartsofthebodyto thebrain,butalsoservestoconveytheenergyofmotiontothevariousparts.Inshort, therecanbenomotionofanypartofthebodyunlesstheimpulsecomesoverthe
nerves.Whenthenervesgoverninganypartofthebodyareparalyzed,thatpartofthe bodybecomesdevoidofmotion.Soyousee,thenervoussystemisapartofthegreat energyproducingsystemofthebodyasmuchapartofitasisthebrain.Remember this,always,foritisoneofthekeystothesecretsofpersonalmagnetism. Whenyourememberthatthisnerveenergyspreadsitselfbeyondthelimitsofthebody, justasdoestheenergyofthebrain,thenyoumaybegintoseewhatIamdrivingatin announcingthesecondpoleorphaseofpersonalmagnetism,namelythephysical pole,which,inreality,isthephaseofmagnetismgeneratedandradiatedbythenervous system,particularlybyitsgreatcentersofplexus.Ithinkthatyouarenowbeginningto gettheidea,althoughIhavecarefullyavoidedtechnicalscientifictermsandhave expressedmyselfinthesimplestform.
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ChapterIII:
TheMentalPhase
Thementalphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsupontwocoordinatedmanifestations ofmentalpower,asfollows: (1)theholdingofcertainmentalstatesuntilthementalatmospherebecomescharged withthevibrationsoftheparticularmentalstates;and (2)theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentfromthebraincenters,bytheaction ofthewilloftheindividual. Ishallnowproceedtodescribethesetwomentalphasesofmanifestationindetail. Itisafactknowntoallstudentsofthesubjectthatthecharacterofthemental atmosphereofanyindividualdependsentirelyuponthecharacterofthementalstates heldbyhim.Thementalatmosphereofthehopeful,expectantindividualiscomposedof vibrationsofahopeful,cheerfulcharacter,whichtendtoimpressandaffectother personscomingwithinthefieldofactivityofhispersonalatmosphere.Likewise,the mentalatmosphereofthegloomy,depressedindividualiscomposedofvibrationsofa gloomy,depressingcharacter,whichimpressesandaffectsindividualscomingincontact therewith.And,inthesamemanner,allofonesmentalstateswillbecomemanifestin hismentalatmosphere,andaccordingly,willaffectthosewithwhomhecomesinclose contact. Thetruthoftheabovestatementswillbecomeapparenttoanyonewhowillgivethe matteramomentscarefulconsideration,rememberingatthesametimethe impressionscreateduponhimwhenhehascomeincontactwithdifferentindividuals. Hewillrememberthatsomeindividualshaveleftuponhimtheimpressionofgloom, inefficiency,failure,etc.Othershaveleftwithhimafeelingofsuspicion,distrust,and uneasiness.Othersstillhavegivenhimtheimpressionofcheerfulness,friendliness, confidence,andgoodwill. Theatmosphereofsomepersonsissuchthatitcausesustoletthemalone,andtotake nostockwhatsoeverintheirbusinesspropositions.Others,instead,imbueuswith confidenceandtrust,andgiveusthefeelingthatwewouldliketodobusinesswith them.Somepersonsleaveuponustheimpressionsthatwehavebeeninthepresence ofasnakything,andweoftencanscarcelyrepressashudderofdisgustanddislikewhile
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otherscreateinustheimpressionthattheotherpersonisagoodfriendandcanbe dependeduponasahelperandcomrade.Why? Itisnotfromanythingthesepersonshavesaid,for,asweallknow,someofthe slipperiestpersonsareoftenthebestandsmoothesttalkers;andsomeofthebestand mostdependablepersonsareoftenveryreticent,andevenshortinspeech.The reasonliesdeeperthatwords.Itisthefeelingthatweexperiencewhenwecomein contactwithpersons,ratherthananyreportofthereasonregardingthem.Andthis feelingiscausedbytheregistryuponoursensitivebrainorganismofthethought vibrationsoftheotherpersonspersonalatmosphere.Notonlyarethesethingsnoticed inthepersonhimselforherself,buteventheveryresidences,storesorotherplaces frequentedbytheindividualarealsoaffectedbythecontinuousinfluenceofthe thoughtvibrationsofhisorherpersonalatmosphere.Didyouevernoticehowsome housesproduceuponyouafeelingofsadnessorwoe,orworse;whileothersseemto carrywithinthemanairofhealthandgoodcheer,happinessandcontent?Thisisoften truealthoughthehousemayhavebeenunoccupiedforsometime.Sostrongdothe mentalvibrationsoftheatmosphereofthepersonorpersonsformerlyinhabitingthem. Inthesamewaysomeofficesandplacesofbusinessaresosaturatedwiththevibrations ofthepersonalatmospheresoftheiroccupants,thatoneisforciblyimpressedbythe sameuponenteringthedoor.Amanmaydisguisehisthoughtsbyhiswordsorhisfacial expression,butthementalvibrationsofhispersonalatmospherewillfrequentlygive himaway. Thesearefacts,whichshouldrequirenofurtherproofyourownexperienceshouldbe proofenoughtosatisfyyoubutyoushouldmakementalnoteofthisfact,andcarryitin mindasweproceed.Manypersonsleavebutlittleimpressionuponus,forthereasons thattheirmentalstatesaresovaried,inconstantandfleetingthattheyneutralizeeach other,andfailtoimpartadefiniteshadeofthoughtcolortothepersonalatmosphere. Thestrongestpersonalatmospheresarethoseofpersonsofstrongfeelings,desiresand emotions,goodorbad,forsuchhavestrongandconstantmentalstateswhichimpress themselvesforciblyupontheirpersonalatmosphere,sostrongly,infact,thatonewho noticesthesethingscannotfailtoperceivethem. Amomentsthoughtwillinformyouthatifthesethingsbetrueandtrueyouwill realizetheymustbewhenyougivethematteramomentscarefulthoughtthenone shouldbeverycarefultoavoidharboringmentalstatesofacharacterlikelytoinspire undesirablefeelingsinotherpersons.And,atthesametime,oneshouldendeavorto cultivatementalstatesofacharacterlikelytoawakenfeelingsofadesirablecharacterin thosewithwhomwecomeincontact.Infact,agreatportionofthefollowingchapters
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willbeusedtoteachhowtocultivatejustsuchmentalstatessoastoratethedesired effectuponothers,forinthisliesoneofthegreatsecretsofpersonalmagnetism. Oneneednotdespairifhehasbeencreatingandcarryingaroundwithhimapersonal atmosphereofanundesirablekind.Forthesethingsmayberemedied,andonemay entirelychangethecharacterofhismentalstates,andthustransformhispersonal atmospherefromtheveryworsttotheverybest.Thesethingsrequirework, perseverance,andpatience,itistrue,buttherewardissogreatthatitpaysanyoneto devotehisattentionsandtimetoit.Theprincipleisverysimple,indeed,butitrequires determinationanddoggedwilltoobtainthebestresults,particularlyincaseswhere veryundesirableconditionshaveexisted. Thesecondwayinwhichthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetismoperates,i.e.,thatof theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentsfromthebraincenters,bytheactionof thewilloftheindividual,alsodemandsworkonthepartofthestudentwhowishto createastrongpersonalatmosphere. Theprincipleofthissecondformofmentalactionconsistsintheuseofthewillina consciousprojectionofthoughtcurrents.Thisistrueinthecaseofstimulatingthe personalatmosphere,andalsoincasesinwhichoneendeavorstoproduceaneffect uponthemindofsomeotherpersoninwhosepresencehemayhappentobe. Whileitistruethatthecharacterofthementalstatesofthepersonwillcolorandgive charactertohispersonalatmosphere,whichwill,ofcourse,produceaneffectuponthe otherpersonorpersonsinhisfieldofaction,itislikewisetruethattheeffectofsuch mentalvibrationsmaybeenormouslyincreasedbytheuseofthewillinthedirectionof theconsciousprojectionjustreferredto.Thementalstatesproduceandcreatethe mentalatmosphere,itistrue,butthewillservestoprojectthemforthwithforce,andto generallyenergizetheatmosphereandincreasetheeffect. Itisjustasifyouhadcreatedagreatstoreofmentalmagnetisminyourbrain,andgiven ittheproperqualityandcolorbythecharacterofyourmentalstates.Thiswould naturallycreateapersonalatmosphereorauraaroundyou,whichwouldbefeltby others.Butthenimaginetheincreasedstrengthandeffectthatwouldarisefromtheuse ofyourwilltoprojectandforceoutwardfromyourbrainthesementalvibrations.You willseeatoncehowsuchanactionofthewillwouldtendtoenergizeandincreasethe vibrationsofyourmentalatmosphere,canyounot?Itwouldbeliketurningonanextra forceofthepower,woulditnot?Certainlyitwould,andyoumaygainthiseffect wheneveryouwishtodoso,byusingthemethods,whichwillbegivenyouinthisbook asweproceed.
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Again,youwillsee,byalittlethought,howmuchstrongerwillbetheeffectuponany specialindividual,if,inadditiontothevibrationsofourpersonalatmosphere,weadd theforceofaspecialcurrentofmentalforcedirectedsteadilyandpointedlyathismind, byaneffortofourwill.Doyouseethepoint?Youfirstaffecthimbytheeffectofyour energizedpersonalatmosphere,andthenjustwhenheisintheproperreceptive conditionyoudischargeathimapsychicrifleballwhichhitshimrightinthebullseyeof hismindwithenormousforce. Atfirstthought,thismayseemtoyoulikeverystrenuousproceedings,andonewhich wouldrequiretheoutlayofagreatamountofwillpoweronyourownpart.But,thisis notso,forthethoughtcurrentsareveryresponsivetotheactionofthewill,andthe mainthingistoholdthewillfirmlytothetask,andthethoughtcurrentswillflowout overthechannelthusmadeforthem.Itislikeholdingarifleproperlyaimed,andthen lettingtheforceofthepowderdrivethebullethome;or,again,likeholdingthenozzleof ahosepointedexactlywhereyouwishthecurrentofwatertogo,andlo!Whenthe wateristurnedon,itfliesstraighttothemark,longafterithasleftthetipofthenozzle ofthehose. Thestrongmenofalltimeshaveemployedthewillinthiswayinthedirectionof creatingastrongpersonalatmosphere,andalsointhedirectionofproducingstrong impressionsuponthosewhotheywishedtoaffect.Inmanycasestheyhavenotfully understoodthecharacteroftheforcessetintooperationbythemselves,butthey understoodthehowpart,eveniftheydidnotgraspthewhy.Thenexttimeyou comeintocontactwithastrongindividual,watchhimorher,andseeifyoucannot almostseetheoperationofthisdirectionofmentalforceofwhichIhavejustspoken. But,farmoreimportantthanevenstudyingothers,isthatofcultivatingtheartofdoing thethingforyourself,andthisiswhatIamtryingtoteachyoutodo.Andyouwill succeedinit,too,ifyouwillenterintotheworkfullywithheartandmind.Getinearnest aboutit,andthepowerwilldevelopinyoutobringaboutsuccess.
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ChapterIV:
ThePhysicalPhase
Thephysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetismdependsupontwocoordinated manifestationsofnerveforce,asfollows: (1)thegenerationwithinthenervoussystemofaplenteoussupplyofnerveforce;and (2)theconsciousprojection,bythewill,ofthatsupplyofnerveforceintothepersonal atmosphere,andeventoagreaterdistanceunderspecialconditions. Bynerveforce,asusedintheaboveparagraph,Imeanthatstrange,mysteriousform ofenergy,whichcontrolsallphysicalmovements,andyet,atthesametime,appearsto besomethinghigherthanphysicalitself.Itisakintoelectricityormagnetism,initsreal nature,and,liketheseforcesisimpossibletodefine.Nerveforceissomethingfar differentfromthematterofwhichthenervoussystemiscomposed.Thenervous system,fromspinalcordtothemostdelicatenervefilament,isatthebestbutasystem ofwires,relays,etc.,overwhichthenerveforcetravels,or,elsecomplicatedreservoirs inwhichthenerveforceisstored. Theordinarynervesserveaswiresandcablesoverwhichthenerveforcetravelsto movethepartsofthebody,whichwewilltomove,orwhichoursubconsciousmentality desirestomove.Certainpartsofthebrainaregreatreservoirsofnerveforce,asarealso thegreatgroupsofnervemattercalledtheplexus,prominentamongwhicharethe solarplexus,andthesacralplexus. Theordinarytextbooksofphysiologypassoverthequestionoftherealnatureofnerve force,fortheirwritersdonotpossessthesecret.Theydisposeofthequestionbysaying: Asinthecaseofelectricity,whilewefullyrecognizeitsexistenceanditspower, neverthelesswedonotknowitsrealnature.And,so,thestudentmustgobacktosome oftheoldoccultwritersofthepastages,andtheirfollowersinthepresentage,inorder togetthesecret. Alloccultists,ancientandmodern,haverecognizedtheexistenceofamightysubtle forceofnatureoneofnaturesfinerforceswhichismostpotentititseffectsand activities,butwhich,nevertheless,defiedallpowerofanalysisordefinition.Thereason thatsciencehasneverbeenabletoclassifynerveforceisbecause,likeelectricity,itisin aclassbyitself,andisdifferentfromanyotherformofforcesodifferentthatitcannot beclassifiedwithotherforces.Science,insomecases,hasendeavoredtotreatitasa
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secretionofthenervousmatter,butthatisafollyakintothatofthematerialistic philosopherwhotriedtodefinemindasasecretionofthebrain,justasthebileisa secretionoftheliver,thegallasecretionofthegallbladder,etc.Suchattemptsat definitioncauseonlyasmileonthefaceofthewise. Theoccultists,onthecontrary,whilenotattemptingtodefinenerveforce(recognizingit tobeinaclassofitsown)neverthelesshavediscoveredthesourceofitsorigin,and havegivenusvaluableinformationastoitsuse.Theyhavegivenitmanynames,asfor instance:vitalforce,vitalenergy,lifeforce,vitalfluid,vitalmagnetism,etc.,and inthecaseoftheOrientals,thetermsprana,orakashicenergyhavebeenappliedto it.Butunderallofthesedifferentnames,theoccultistshavealwaysmeanttheoneand samething,i.e.,nerveforce.ThenameIuseindescribingit,nerveforce,isemployed simplybecauseitisfoundspecializedinthenervoussystem,andnotbecauseofanyidea thatitoriginatesthere.Indeed,asyoushallseeinamoment,ithasafarhigherand moreelementarysourceoforigin. Theoldmaterialisticschoolofphysiologyhasattemptedtoshowthatnerveforce,like thebodilymaterial,isderivedfromthefoodweeat,andiscreatedbychemical combustionofthelatter.This,however,isonlypartlytrue.Whileitistruethatthereisa certainamountofnerveforceinfreshfood(havingbeengatheredthereduringthelife oftheplantofanimalofwhichthefoodformedapart),andwhileitistruethatacertain amountofthisnerveforceistakenupbythesystemofthepersoneatingthefood, particularlyifthefoodbefresh,nevertheless,theamountofnerveforcesoabsorbedis comparativelysmall,andisfartoolittletosupplywhatisneededbytheindividualtorun hisphysicalorganism.And,eventhesmallpartsoobtainedisnotderivedfromthe chemicalcombustionofthefood.Foodchemicalcombustionresultsingivingbodily heat,butneverincreatingnerveforce. Thetruesourceofnerveforceisthesameasthesourceofelectricity,namelythe universaletherthatfillsspace.Likeelectricity,also,thisforceisavailabletohuman wantsonlywhenitisassociatedwith.Theatmosphereischargedwithnerveforce, whichistakenupandabsorbedbythenervoussystem,andstoredawayinitsgreat reservoirs,fromwhence,inturn,itflowsoverthenerveswhenrequired,bythephysical ormentalneedsoftheindividual. But,younaturallyask,howdoesthebodyabsorbtheuniversalnerveforcethrough whatchanneldoesitenterthesystem.Theanswerisplain,viz.:Inplant,animal,and humanlife,thenerveforceisbreathedintothesystem.Inotherwords,theprocessof breathing,initshigherandlowerforms,isnotalonethatofextractingoxygenorother elementsfromtheair,butalsothatofextractingtheuniversalnerveforceatthesame
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time.Whenthisisunderstood,itwillbemoreeasilyunderstoodwhythelivingthing perishessosooniftheprocessofbreathingbeinterferedwith.Theunderstandingofthis secretofnaturethrowsamuchneededlightupontheimportantpartplayedby breathing,inthelifeofallcreatures. Beforeproceedingtoafurtherconsiderationoftheprocessoftheabsorptionofnerve forcefromtheatmosphere,especiallyinthecaseofthestudentofpersonalmagnetism, Iaskyoutoconsideranotherimportantquestioninrelationtothephysicalphaseof personalmagnetism,namely,thatoftheprojectionofnerveforcebeyondthelimitsof thenervoussystem.Youwillrememberthattheaveragephysiologistmaintainsthatitis follytoholdthatnerveforcecanpossiblypassbeyondthelimitsofthenervoussystem containingit.Heholdsthat,likeelectricityonthewires,itcannotpassexceptoverthe wiresofthenerves.But,isthistrueevenofelectricity?Ipositivelyassertthatitisnot. Theveriestnoviceinthestudyofelectricityisawarethatelectricitywilloftenleapfrom oneconductingsubstancetoanotherjumpingthegapintheshapeofasparkand thenflyingalongthenewchannel.Again,evenwithoutthespark,electricityand magnetismwilloftenaffectothersubstancesbywhatisknownasinduction,without theactualcontactofthetwoconductingmaterials.Thisissocommonthatitisawonder thatthequestioniseverraised.And,whatistrueofelectricityandmagnetism,inthis respect,islikewisetrueofnerveforce,foritwillnotonlyoftenleapoverthebarriersof thenervoussystem,butwill,andconstantlydoes,affectothernervoussystemsbyakind ofinduction. Notonlyisthephenomenaofpersonalmagnetismaproofofthistransmissionofnerve force,butthephenomenaofhumanmagnetism(asithasbeencalled)inthedirection ofmagnetichealinganotherproofaproof,moreover,thatmaybeobtainedbyany individualinhisownexperience. Moreover,theexperienceofeveryindividualwillbearampleandgeneroustestimonyto thefactthatcertainpersons,flowingoverwithvigorousnerveforce,willsoradiatethe energythatitisactuallyperceptibletothoseshakinghandswiththem,orevencoming intotheirvicinity.Theseindividualsfairlyradiatehealthandvigor,andexertapositive healingandinvigoratingeffect,onthosewithwhomtheycomeincontact.Inasimilar manner,ismanifestedalackofsufficientnerveforce,bythoseunfortunateindividuals whogoaroundunconsciouslyabsorbingthenerveforceofothers,and,inextreme cases,becomingactualvampiressuckingthevitalforcesfromthosearoundthem.Who ofyouhavenotmetthislastclassofpersons,andhavenotnotedhowdepressedand weakenedoneisafterhavingbeeninthecompanyofsuchpersonsforsometime?The
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averagepersondoesnotneedanyfurtherproofinthiscase,beyondthataffordedbyhis orherownexperience. Itmaybeaskedthatifthenerveforceisinherentintheuniversalether,andobtained fromtheatmosphere,whyallpersonsarenotequallyendowedwiththisenergy.The answeristhatthelifehabitsofindividualsdiffer,andjustasoneisphysicallystrongand robust,andanotherweakanddelicate,soisoneindividualstronginnerveforce,and anotherweakinit.Moreover,achangeinthelifehabitsofthepersonwillinevitably resultinachangeintheamountofnerveforceabsorbedandretainedbyhimorher.In fact,oneofthepurposesofthisbookistoinstructyouhowyoumayincreasethenerve forcewithinyourself.Whiletheobjectistheincreaseofyourpersonalmagnetism,you willfindthatatthesametimeyourgeneralhealthandvigorwillimprove. Inadditiontotheamountofnerveforcebeingdeterminedbythelifehabitsofthe individual,itisalsotruethattheindividualmay,bytheproperexercises,soenergize hisnervoussystemthathewilllargelyincreasethedegreeofactivityofhisnerveforce, andmayrenderitfarmoreavailableforhisrequirements.Itisntonlyaquestionof securingaplenteoussupplyofnerveforce,butalsoofhavingthesameinanactive condition,andinsuchaformthatitmaybereadilyavailablefortherequirementsof everydaylife.
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ChapterV:
PhysicalMagnetism
Youwillrememberthatwhenyouhavecomeincontactwithanyofthestrong charactersinanywalkoflifethegreatpreachers,lawyers,statesmen,orators, businessmen,etc.thosewhosesuccessdependsuponthestrongeffecttheyproduce uponotherpersons,youhavebeenconsciousofafeelingthattheyradiatestrength andpower.Youactuallyfeltthepowercomingfromthem.And,youwillalsoremember thatthispowerdidnotseemtoyoutobementalpower,orintellectualstrength,alone itseemed,instead,tohavemuchofthephysicalinit.Sostrongisthispowerinthecase ofsomeoftheworldsgreatcharactersthattheyseemtobepersonifiedwillpower mightycentersofvitalizedenergy,affectingallwithwhomtheycomeincontact. Inordertorealizethedifferencebetweenthispowerandpureintellectualstrengthand ability,youhavebuttorememberanotherclassofgiftedpersons,namely,thegreat students,writers,etc.,andothermenwhohavedevelopedgreatintellectualpower. Thesemenasarulearenotmagnetic,asthetermisgenerallyused.Theydonot radiateorthrowoffforce,andtheelementofphysicalmagnetismisalmostentirely absent.Theyseemtobecentersofgreatintellectualenergybutnothingmore.Iam notnowspeakingofindividualsinwhomboththeintellectualandthephysicalarewell balancedandcombined,butinstead,ofthoseindividualswhoaredistinctlymentalor intellectual.AmomentsthoughtwillrecallmanyexamplesofthetypetowhichIrefer theteachers,preachers,lawyers,andstudentswhoseintellectualityiswelldeveloped, butwholackthatsomethingwhichimpressespersons. Anotherappealtoyourmemorywillshowyou;also,thatthemagneticpersonis almostalwayspossessedofthatindefinablesomething,whichwecallstrengthand energy.Hemaynotbeastout,largepersonhemayevenbeascrawny,lankindividual, ofslightframeandsmallstaturebuteveninthelastcasehewillbewiryandlikea coiledwirespring,fulloflatentenergy.Themagneticpersonisnevertheweak,flabby, jellyfishtype.Ihaveseenthesethinmagneticpersonsontheirdeathbeds,weakenedby disease,butevenintheirlastmomentstheygaveonetheimpressionofkeenspringlike strength.Theothertypeofmagneticperson,thestouttype,alsogivestheimpressionof powerandstrengthasomethingwithinwhichstoresandradiatesstrengthandpower. Isthisnotsoinyourownexperience?Didyoueverseeagreatleaderamagnetic personalitywhodidnotconveytheideaofstrengthinthephysicalsense?Ithink not.
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Now,remember,thatIamnotclaimingthatphysicalnerveforcealoneconstitutes personalmagnetism.Farfromthistherearemanymenwhopossessandradiate physicalnerveforcewhoarenotpersonallymagneticinthefullsenseoftheterm.The combinationofmentalmagnetism,andphysicalmagnetismisneededtoproducethe fullphenomenonofpersonalmagnetism,remember.But,Idoinsistthatmental magnetismwithoutitsphysicalcounterpartislikeamindwithabodyitlacks substanceandeffectiveness. Theoccultistsinformusthatinthepersonalatmosphereoftheindividualhisaura, theycallitthereistobefoundnotonlythevibrationsofhismentalstatesand character,butalsothevibrationsofhisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforceasIhave calleditinthisbook.Theystatethattothosewhohavedevelopedpsychicorclairvoyant power,thesenerveforcevibrationsmaybeseenextendingfromthebodysometwoor threefeetineitherdirection,thewholeaurahavinganeggshape,henceitsname.Itis saidtohaveafaintvioletcolorsomethinglikeapaleelectricflameandtoquiverand vibrateinamannersimilartothemotionsofheatedairarisingfromastove,orthe groundonahotsummerday,sofamiliartoeveryobserver.Theyalsoclaimthatwhena strongpersonisusinghiswill,thisnerveforce,carryingwithithismentalmagnetism, maybeseenshootingingreatsheetsorflashesfromhimtotheotherpersonor persons.Idonotclaimtopossesthispsychicvisionmyself,butthetestimonyofmanyof mypsychicfriendsagreeinthismatter,andareinaccordwiththewritingoftheolder occultists.And,atanyrate,anyoneexperimentingwithpersonalmagnetismwillbe convincedthatnerveforceorphysicalmagnetismdoesactinjustthewaydescribed, thoughitremainsunseenbytheeyeoftheordinaryperson. Anotherimportantbitofinformationfurnishedbytheoccultistswhichisfullyverifiedby myownobservationsandexperiments,andwhichinfactformsoneofthefoundation pillarsofmysystemofpersonalmagnetism,isthatconcerningthepartplayedbynerve forceinthephenomenaoftelepathy,hypnotism,mentalinfluence,andsimilar phenomenainwhichthemindofonepersonactsuponthemindofanotherthisof coursebeingoneofthemainfeaturesofpersonalmagnetism.Ialludetowhatmaybe calledthevitalizingofthethoughtwavesbythecurrentofnerveforce,whichis projectedatthesametimewithit. Thoughtwavesunaccompaniedbycurrentsofnerveforcelackforceandeffect,andare likecoldmentalpowerdevoidoflifeandactivity.Youwillgraspthisideabetterby referencetoacommonoccurrence,forinstance,youhaveheardmanyasermon, speech,orrecitationdeliveredbyapersonhavingmarkedintellectualability,andfilled withgoodsoundthoughts,andyetthedeliveryseemeddead,dull,colorlessand
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lifeless,diditnot?Itlackedthelife,vigor,andvimofthedeliveryofsomeotherspeaker ofevenlessintellectualpower,didinnot?And,youhavenoticedthatthepersonalityof someadmittedlyintellectualpersonagelackedlife;whilesomeotherlessgifted personalityfairlyradiatedlifeandstrength,andconsequently,magneticpower.Well,this representsthedifferencebetweenplainthoughtwaves,andthoughtwaves accompaniedbystrongnerveforce.Theonelacksbodyandvitalizingforce,whilethe otherpossessesthisinabundance.Thinkoverthiscarefully,untilyougetitforinit laysoneofthetwogreatsecretsofpersonalmagnetism. Apersoninwhomnerveforceisactivelypresent,andwhohasconsciouslyor unconsciouslyacquiredtheartofcombiningitwithhisthoughtwaves,willsendforth wordsorthoughtsfairlychargedwithdynamicforce,reachingandaffectingthosewith whomtheycomeincontact.Likeahighpowerexplosiveshell,thenerveforcedrivesthe thoughtwavelikeabullettothismark,hittingthebullseyewithatremendousimpact, andmakingapowerfulimpressiononthemindoftheotherpersonorpersons.There arepersonswhosewordsseemfairlyalive,sovitalistheiractionuponthemindsof othersthesepersonshavestronglyactivenerveforceorphysicalmagnetismusedin connectionwiththeirmentalcurrents.Theyflashoutthiscombinedforcetowardtheir audiencesofmanypersons,andthelatterarefairlyliftedofftheirfeetbythepower. Thegreatleadersofmenhavehadthisnerveforcelargelydevelopedandactively employed.Whentheyspoke,theotherpersonswerealmostcompelledtodothe biddingofthestrongperson.JuliusCaesarandNapoleonBonaparteweretwomarked examplesoftheuseofthispower,but,asafact,everymanwhoswaysmovesandrules otherpersons,isanexampleworthyofstudy.Thestudentshould,ifpossible,manageto bethrownincontactwiththisclassofpersons,sothathemaysee,orratherfeel,for himself,theeffectofthismightyforceemanatingfromtheseindividuals.Hewillthen betterrealizejustwhatpartnerveforceplaysinthematterofpersonalinfluence,and personalmagnetism,andthenbemorefirmlyresolvedtodevelopitinhimselfor herself. Therearesomepersonswhoseem,naturally,toabsorb,storeupandeffectivelyuse theirnerveforceofphysicalmagnetism.Suchareveryfortunate,fortheyaresavedthe troubleofcultivatingtheprocessesreferredto.Butthosewhodonotpossessthisgift, naturally,maybypracticeandperseverancedevelopitinthemselves.Nay,more,they may,eventually,evensurpassthenaturallygiftedman,forthelatterdoesnot understandthesourceornatureofhispower,andisapttoneglectorabuseit,whilethe personwhodevelopsitinhimself,accordingtorule,andwithafullunderstanding,has thethingontapasitwere,andcanalwaysrecuperatefromanoverdrainonanervous
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system.Knowledgeispower,andacultivatedanddevelopedfacultyisoftenfarmore effectivethanasimilarfacultypresentatbirth,andnotunderstoodorworkedfor. Beginningwiththenextchapter,Ipurposegivingyouplain,simpledirectionsforthe increaseofyournerveforce,thestoringupofthesame,andtheconsciousprojectionof ittovitalizeyourmentalcurrents.Theprocessisquitenatural,anddoesnotpartakeof anymysticceremoniesoranythingofthatsort.Itisbasedonpurelyphysiological principles,andisinfullaccordwithnaturallaws.Whenyouhaveonceacquiredtheart andscienceoftheabsorptionandstoringofnerveforce,youwillbesurprisedthatyou haveneverthoughtofitbefore. Whenyouacquirethispower,youwillbeconsciousofbeingacenterofanenormous energy,andwillalsobemadeawareofyourpowerbytheeffectuponotherpersons. Notonlyinthematterofpersonalmagnetism,Imean,butalsointhematterof impartingthevibrationsofstrengthandenergy.Youwillnoticethatotherpersonswill beconsciousofsomethinginyourhandshakeandtouchthatwillsurprisethem.They willnotunderstandjustwhataffectsthem,buttheywillbeconsciousofsomestrange feelingpervadingthem.Thebestplanwillbeforyoutokeepyoursecrettoyourself,and toavoidanyimpressionofbeingoutoftheordinary.Youwishtocreateconfidence,not fearandthestrangeandmysteriouscausesfearratherthanconfidence.Sokeepyour ownsecrets.
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ChapterVI:
GeneratingNerveForce
ByreferencetothefirstparagraphofChapterIV,youwillseethatIhaveseparatedthe physicalphaseofmentalmagnetismintotwocoordinatedmanifestations,thefirstof whichi.e.,thegenerationwithinthenervoussystemofaplenteoussupplyofnerve force,Ishallnowdescribe. Thewordgeneration,inthisconnection,onlyimperfectlyconveystheideaofthe actualprocessofacquiringnerveforcewithinthenervoussystem,fortheprocessisone ofabsorptionanddistribution,ratherthanoneofgeneration.Butasthelatter termconveysasimplerpictureoftheprocess,Ihavethoughtwelltouseitinthis connection,particularlyasmanyoftheoldoccultwritershaveusedit,inthissense, beforemytime. Thisprocessofnerveforcegenerationmaybesaidtoconsistoftwodistinct,yet coordinatedphases,viz.:(1)theabsorptionofanextraamountofnerveforcefromthe atmosphere,byspecialformsofbreathing;and(2)thedistributionofthesametothe greatcentersofthenervoussystemwhichactasreservoirsofnerveforce.Ishallnow proceedtoconsiderthesetworespectivephases,intheirproperorder. Thefirstphaseofnerveforcegenerationconsistsoftheabsorptionofanextrasupplyof nerveforcefromtheatmosphere,bymeansofspecialformsofbreathing.Allpersons constantlyabsorbnerveforcefromtheatmosphere,intheordinaryprocessof breathing,theamountdifferingwiththeindividual,orrather,withhishabitsof breathing.Youwillhavenoticedthatthevigorous,strongindividual,nearlyalways breathesfullythatis,deeplyandregularlywhiletheweakpersonwillbreatheonly partiallyandirregularly.Thereisaverycloseconnectionbetweenfull,regularbreathing andgeneralphysicalhealthandstrength,butIshallnottouchuponthisphaseofthe subjecthere,foritformsnopartofthisspecialinstruction.Imerelydropahint,which thewisewilltakeadvantageof. WithoutwishingtoleadyouintothesubtletiesofOrientalpsychology,withits complicatedformsofbreathingforpsychicandspiritualdevelopment,etc.,Imustcall yourattention,atthispoint,tothephilosophyunderlyingsomeoftheOriental breathingpractices,forthesameisbasedonthesoundestscientificprincipals.The Orientalphilosophyteachesthateachmentalandphysicalstateoftheindividualis representedbyaspecialrhythmofbreath,therhythmandconditionalwaysbeingfound together.Thementalorphysicalconditionwillinvariablymanifesttheparticularrhythm
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ofbreath,whichbelongstoit;and,likewise(andthisisoneoftheoccultsecrets)the deliberateassumptionofaparticularrhythmofbreathwillspeedilyresultinthe manifestationoftheappropriatephysicalormentalcondition. Youhavebuttoconsiderthesubjectforamoment,toseethatwhenyouarefrightened orangry,youbreathewithadifferentrhythmthanwhenyouarecalmandpeaceful. Eachemotion,upanddownthescale,hasitsownappropriaterhythmofbreath,which invariablymanifestsatthesametime.Moreover,differentphysicalconditionslikewise manifestincoordinatedbreathrhythms.Keepaclosewatchonyourself,andthose aroundyou,andyouwillsoonseethattheabovestatementsoffactsarestrictlycorrect. Youwillwonderwhyyounevernoticedthephenomenabefore. Alittlelessknown,even,isthecorrelatedfactthatthedeliberateassumptionoracting outoftheparticularbreathrhythmrelatedtoaparticularemotion,willresultina speedyexperiencingoftheemotionitself.Thisalsomaybetestedoutonyourself. Youwillfindthatafewmomentsangerbreathorfearbreath(ifwellactedout,or assumedfaithfully)willresultinyousoonexperiencingafeelingofangerorfear,asthe casemaybe.Likewise,youwillfindthatthedeliberateassumption,onyourpart,ofthe breathrhythmofpeace,calm,selfcontrol,willbesufficienttoinducethatparticular stateoffeelinginyou.Thereisabighintinthislastsentence,bytheway,forthatis exactlywhattheOrientalsagesdotoinduceandmaintainthementalstateof philosophiccalmforwhichtheyarenoted.Inthisconnection,letusremindyouthat whenyouareendeavouringtocontrolyourtemper,andtomaintainyourpose,under extremeprovocation,youwillfindthatyouinstinctivelystrivetocontrolyourbreath rhythm,whichshowsamarkedtendencytoflyoffintoastateofrapidpantingand gasping.And,solongasyoucanmaintainyoursteadycontrolledrhythmofbreath,you willmaintainyourpoiseandselfcontrol. Well,tomakealongstoryshorttogetrightdowntothegistofthesubjectofthe absorptionofnerveforcethroughcontrolledbreathrhythmletmesaytoyou(1)that thereisabreathrhythmwhichnatureusestorestorenerveforcetothedepleted system,afteragreatdemanduponitinthedirectionofeitherastrongmentalor emotionalstrain,orafteraseverephysicalstrain;and(2)thatadeliberateassumption oractingoutofthisparticularbreathrhythmwillresultinyourbeingabletoquickly absorbagreatlyincreasedsupplyofnerveforceforthepurposeofuseinpersonal magnetismtorenderyoufullofphysicalmagnetism,infact.Doyoucatchthispoint?If not,rereadtheaboveparagraph,severaltimes,untilyoufullygrasptheimportanceof thestatementsthereincontainedfortheycompriseexactlyonehalfofthephilosophy ofnerveforcegenerationandmuchmorebesidesifyouareabletograspit.
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Younaturallyask,atthispoint:Whatisthisparticularbreathrhythmwhichnatureuses toaidusinrecuperating,andwhichnatureusestoaidusingrecuperating,andwhich maybeassumedwithsuchwonderfulresult?Verywell,letmeansweryoubyasking youanotherquestion,namely:Howdoyoubreathewhenyoubegintorecuperatejust afteraseveremotional,mentalorphysicalstrain,whenthecharacteristicfirstpanting breathquietsdown?Ifyouwillconsidercarefully,youwillanswerthatyougenerally beginbyoneortwolongdrawnoutsighingbreaths,followedbyaperiodofcalm, deliberate,slow,deepbreaths.Youmaynothavenoticedit,buttheselastcalm,deep breathsaremarkedbyaslowbutregularrhythmasregular,indeed,astheslowswing ofthependulumofalargeclock,ortheaccompanyingtickthereof.Youwillfindthat thisslow,regularrhythmicbreathcontinuesforsomelittletime,untilyoufeelrefreshed andreinvigorated,whenthebreathwilldropintothenormaleverydayrhythm,and thetaskisover. Well,thisisexactlythebreathrhythm,which,ifproperlyassumedandwellacted out,willresultindrawingtoyouagreatlyincreasedsupplyofnerveforcefromthe universalstorehouseofthesame,i.e.,theatmospherearoundyou. Iaskyou,student,topauseathispoint,andrereadtheprecedingparagraph.Considerit carefully,rollitoverinourmind,untilyoufullygraspitstremendoussignificance,and fullymakeityourownthought.Forinthosefewlinesiscondensedastatementof wonderfultruth,which,iftakenadvantageof,willtransformyouintoaverygiantof physicalmagnetism.Donotproceedwiththisreading,untilyouhavefullygraspedthe importanceoftheinformationjustgivenyou. Butdonotimaginethatyoucanjumpatonceintothisgreatpower.Youmustfirst graduallyacquiretheexactrhythmforyourselfforIcandonomorethantoindicateit toyou.Icannotsay,Breatheinjustsomanyseconds;holdthebreathjustsomany;and thenbreatheoutjustsomany,andsoon,asmanyteachershavedonesomewho shouldhaveknownbetter,forthatmatter.Foreachpersonhashisorherownparticular breathrhythmofthiskind,thedifferencearisingfrommentalorphysicalformationand characteristics. Thefollowingistheruletheonlyruleinthismatter:Ascertain,first,theprecise breathrhythmwhichnaturehasgivenyouforuseinmomentsofrecuperationafter extrememental,emotionalorphysicalstrain;andthen,second,practicethesame voluntarilybyassuming,oractingoutthementalandphysicalconditionsproducingit, untiltherhythmbecomesfixedinyourmemory,sothatyoucaneasilyreproduceit, instinctively,whenyouwish.Readthisruleoveruntilyouthoroughlyunderstandit.
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Youwillfinditsomewhatdifficulttoassumeoractouttheconditionsproducingthe rhythm,atfirst,unlessyouhappentobeanaturalorwelltrainedactor.Butkeeptrying, untilyoumasterit.Practicewillmakeperfect,inthisasineverythingelse,remember. Mentallyplaceyourselfinthesamevibrationsaswhenyouwereundersomegreat strainofmind,emotionorbody,inthepast;andyouwillfindthatthesamewillbe followedbyanactingoutoftheperiodofrecuperation,withitsaccompanimentof appropriatebreathrhythm.Eachstudentwillmanagethisinhis,orher,ownway,and willgettheresult,ifpersistent,perseveringeffortweremade. Youwillfindthatthefirstindicationoftherecuperatingbreathrhythmwillusuallybea longdrawnoutsigh,followedbyamomentofrest,which,inturn,isfollowedbyaneasy, thoughdeep,slow,deliberatesuccessionofinbreathingandoutbreathing,inperfect rhythm,whichwillbeaccompaniedbyafeelingofincreasedstrengthandvitality,of mindandbodydelightedtoexperienceisthefeelingofreliefandfreshvigor,vitality andvimwhichresultsfromthisbreathrhythm. Inpracticingthisrecuperativebreathrhythmforthepurposeofresting,gaining strength,orincreasingyourstoreofnerveforce,donotfallintothetoocommonerror ofartificialrhythmicbreathing.Donotmakethemistakeoftryingtocounttheseconds ofthebreath;ortomakethebreathsextendneitheroveraparticulartime,norto exactlymatcheachother;ortoretainthebreathanyspecialtime;nortocounttime betweenbreaths;oranythingofthatkid.Forgetallabouttheartificialstandards,and giveyourselfupentirelytoapeaceful,calmfeelingofreliefandrecuperation,which naturewillbestowuponyouifyouwillcreatetherightconditionsforthemanifestingof herpower.Donotbeartificialtrustnaturetorunthethingarightandleave everythinginherhands. Donotbotheratthispoint,towonderjusthowmanytimesadayyoumustpracticethis exerciseinordertogainphysicalmagnetismandabsorbnerveforce.Thatpointwillbe coveredinalatterchapter,inconnectionwiththeaccompanyingprocessofnerveforce distributionthesolethingbeforeyounowistolearnhowtoproducethisbreath rhythm,andtopracticeuntilyoucanproduceitatwill,easilyandnaturally,without effortorstraininstinctively,infact.Untilyouaccomplishthis,thereisnouseofyour botheringyourselfaboutthesucceedingstages. And,nowawordaboutpracticingthisstep.Donotoverdothethingmakehastslowly. Itisamatterofgrowthanddevelopmentwithyou,andyoushouldnottrytorushthings toorapidly.Letnatureproceedtomaketheprocessinstinctive,anddonotfallintothe mistakeofpullinguptherootsofourplantinordertoseewhetherithasgrown overnight.Itwillgrow.Neverfear.Youwillknowwhenyouareontherighttrack,and
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willbeawareofyourprogress,byreasonofyourincreasingsenseofvigor,vitalityand vim. Remember,finally,thatthesecretofthewholethisisthatyouhavediscoveredhow naturerecuperatesthesystemintimesofextremenecessity;andhavethenlearnedhow todrawuponthissourcesofenergyatwill,therebyincreasingthesupplyfarabovethe ordinary.Itisjustasifyouhaddiscoveredabottlecontainingtheelixirofenergywhich kindMotherNatureusestorecuperateyouintimesofneed;andthenyouhadlearned thatyoucouldpartakeoftheelixir,daily,orwheneveryoufeltlikeit;andwere consequentlyenabledtoincreaseyourenergyandvitalityfarabovetheaverage.The comparisonorfigureofspeechisnotexaggeratedforinthissecretyouhaveindeed discoveredtheelixirofvitality,vigorandvim;thatis,ifyouuseitaright.
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ChapterVII:
DistributingNerveForce
IntheprecedingChapterIhavegivenyougeneralinstructionsregardingthefirstphase ofnerveforcebymeansofcertainformsofrhythmicbreathing.Inowproceedtothe generalinstructionregardingthesecondphaseofnerveforcegeneration,namely,the distributionoftheabsorbednerveforcetothenervoussystem,andparticularlytothe greatreservoirsofnerveforce. Thisprocessofnerveforcedistributionnaturallyfollowsdirectlyafterthatofnerve forceabsorption,thetwobeingcoordinatedphasesofoneofnaturesrecuperative processes.Justasistheprocessoftherecuperativebreathrhythm,natureswayof restoringtothesystemafreshsupplyofnerveforcetoreplacethatusedintheextra ordinarymental,emotionalorphysicalstrainprecedingit,soistheprocessofnerve forceabsorptionanother(ortwin)methodofnaturetodistributetheabsorbednerve forcetoallpartsofthebody,strengtheningandinvigorating,vitalizingandstimulating, eachandeverypartofthebody,andatthesametimestoringupinthegreatreservoirs ofthenervoussystemareservesupplyofnerveforcefortimesoffutureneed. Againyouask:Whatisnatureswayofdistributingtheabsorbednerveforce,asabove stated,whichalsoisthewayinwhichyoustatestudentsofpersonalmagnetismmay distributetheirabsorbednerveforceorphysicalmagnetism?Asinthecaseofthe previousquestion,Ianswer,Gotonatureherself,anddiscoverhermethod.Letusthen doso. Investigatingnaturesmethodofdistributingphysicalmagnetismornerveforce,whatdo wefindnaturedoingjustafterthepersonisexhaustedbymental,emotionalorphysical exertionthatis,inadditiontothepeculiarbreathrhythm.Answer:Wefind, accompanyingthelongdeepsighprecedingthebreathrhythm,andalso,followingthe rhythmicbreathing,atendencytostretchthemusclesofthebody.Notonlydowe noticethisphenomenonatsuchtimes,butalsoitistobeobservedwhenweawakenin themorningwithayawn,followedbyaninstinctivestretchingofthemuscles.We observethesamethingafterwehaveusedupnerveforceinlistening,reading,studying, etc.infact,inanyaction,whichhasrequiredconcentratedattention.Itisalwaysthe yawn,thedeepsigh,themeasuredbreath,and,finally,thestretchingofthemuscles. Now,donotdismissthismatterwithatriflingjest,oranamusedsmileforthis stretchingofthemusclesinoneofnaturesmostimportantoffices.Itisnaturesown favoritewayofdistributingtoallpartsofthebodythenerveforcebeingabsorbedinto
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thesystem.Itisnaturesownwayofsendingavitalizingandinvigoratingcurrenttothe placesinwhichitisneeded.And,moreover,ifwewilltakeherseriously;examinethe meaningofherprocess;andthenintelligentlyapplythesameinourworkofdeveloping physicalmagnetism,wewillhavegainedanimportantsecretofnature,andonewhich wewillnotbewillingtopartwith,onceitisappliedandturnedtoaccount. Inthefirstplacethisstretchingissomethingfarmorethanamanifestationoflaziness, weariness,orfatigue.Itisaninstinctiveactionresultingfromnaturesrecognitionofthe needofafreshsupplyofnerveforce,andherrushtosupplytheneededenergy.Donot mistakeandconfusecausesandeffectsinthismatter. Youwillnotice,incasesofcompletestretching,atwofoldmotion,viz.:(1)An extensions;and(2)atensingorcontractionofthemuscles,inthedirectionofdrawingin theextendedlimbsorpartsofthebody.Nownotethis,bothofthesemotionsareforms oftensingorcontractingthemuscles.Theextensionmovementsresultfromthe tensionorcontractingoftheoppositesetofmuscles.Theprincipalmusclesofthebody arearrangedinopposingsets,onebeingusedtopushout,andtheothertodrawin,the limborportionofthebody.Youmayalwayscountonthepresenceoftheseopposing setsofmuscles.Whenintheprocessofstretchingyoufirstextend,andthendrawinthe limbs,yourallyaretensingbothoftheopposingsets,inturn.Forwhatpurpose?Letus see. Naturespurposeintensingtheopposingmuscles,intheabovestatedcaseseemstobe thatofsqueezingoutsomethingfromthemuscles.Andthatisexactlywhatitisa squeezingoutofsomething.Ofwhat?Oftheold,stale,weakenednerveforceof physicalmagnetism.Why?Towhatend?Totheendthatthesupplyoffresh,vital, strongnerveforceorphysicalmagnetismmayrushintotaketheplacethereof. Thisisequallytrueinthecaseofthebrainexhaustion,nerveexhaustion,ormuscle exhaustingforthebraincells,thenervesthemselves,andthemusclesarekept vitalizedandinvigoratedbythesameformofenergy,comingfromthesamesource. Moreover,thefreshsupplyofnerveforcepouringintothemusclesandcells,fromthe greatnerveforcereservoirsofthenervoussystem,leavethelattermoreorless depleted,andcausethemtocallforafreshadequatesupplyfromtheuniversalsource. Inshort,thestretchingprocesssetsintooperationthewholemachineryofthe distributionofthesystemssupplyofnerveforce,andresultsinthewholenervous mechanismbeinggiveanewimpetus.
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Thisisthesecretofthepersonalmagnetismadeptsmethodofdistributingafresh supplyofphysicalmagnetismornerveforcetoallpartsofthesystem,atwillthus renderinghimselfaveritabledynamoofphysicalmagnetism,ifhesodesires. Butthereismoretothismethodofthestudentthanmereordinarystretching,Iassure you.Theordinarystretchingissimplyanelementaryformofnerveforcedistribution.I shallcallyourattentiontoanextensionof,andimprovementupon,theelementary method.Youhaveprobablyheardofthatfromofcalisthenicsgenerallyknownasthe tensingexercises.Well,inthatsystemyoumayfindtheseedofamuchmoreefficient system.Thetensingsystemofcalisthenicsistaughtforthepurposeofexercisingthe musclesonlythisandnothingmore.Ithasbeenfoundtobringaboutthegreatest results,andtogreatlydevelopthemusclesandbenefitthegeneralsystem.Why?Oh justexercise,repliesthephysicalculturist.Butweknowbetter,forwhilewerealizethe benefitobtainedfromthesesensibleexercisesalone,wealsounderstandhowsucha rationalcourseofexercisemustresultingreatlyinvigoratingtheentiresystem,by distributingthenerveforce,andasaconsequencebringingabouttheabsorptionofa freshsupplytothegreatreservoircentersofthenervoussystem,dowenot? Wehavethreedecidedpointsofadvantageoverthetensingexerciseschool,as follows:(1)Weprecedeourtensingexercisesbyrhythmicbreathingexercises,thus bringingtoourreservoirsafreshsupplyofmagnetismornerveforce;(2)weproceed leisurelyandalmostlazily,ourideabeingthatofstretchingasopposedtotheideaof vigorousexercisebytensing,thelatterbeingheldbythetensingexerciseschool;and (3)weunderstandtherealreasonforthetensing,andhenceareabletoapplyit intelligently,insteadofinahitormissstyle. Theadditionoftherhythmicbreath,ofcourse,givesanewandnovelimpetustothe workofnerveforcedistribution;infactthelattercannotbeperfectlyperformed withouttheformer.Thistheordinarytensingexercisepractitioneralmostentirely misses,exceptinsofarashebecomesfatiguedbyhisvigorousexercise,andisforcedto breatherhythmically,asaconsequence,therebyunconsciouslyobtainingatleastsome ofthebenefitsoftherhythmicbreath.Theordinarytensingexercisestudent,oncegiven ourkeyoftherhythmicbreath,isenabledtoattainresultsimpossibletohimbefore.He seesagreatlight,asaconsequence. Mystudentsofpersonalmagnetismproceedabouttheexercisesfordistributionof nerveforce,orphysicalmagnetism,inanentirelydifferentmannerfromthatofthe ordinarypractitionerofthetensingexercisesystems.Thelatterworkthemselvesintoan exhaustedcondition,underthebeliefthattheirmuscleswillbecomebetterdeveloped bysuchvigorousexercise.Asaconsequence,manyofthemwearoutasmuchasthey
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acquire,ofmusculardevelopment.Mystudents,instead,pursueanythingbuta strenuouscourseofexercisingintensing.Insteadofmovingvigorously,theyproceed slowly,calmlyandalmostlazilyintensingthemuscles,inturnextendingandthen drawingin.Theykeepbeforethem,allthetime;naturesownprocessesofstretching, andmodeltheirmovementsentirelyuponthesame.Inthisway,asaconsequence, thereinnoexhaustionorusingupofnerveforceortissuetoanymarkedextent,but,on thecontrary,thereisaconstanttakinginanddistributionofmagnetismfromthe centerstotheparts,andconsequentlyamarkedincreaseinvigor,vitalityandvim.The differencecanbeunderstoodperfectlyonlywhenonepracticesmyexercisesforhimself orherself. Finally,itfollowsthatamuchgreatereffectisobtainedbyonewhopracticesanyformof exercises,understandingly,andwithfullknowledgeofthewhyaswellasthehowof thethingofthetheoryaswellasthepractice.Whenoneknowsjustwhatheisabout, andjustwhathewishesandexpectstoobtain,thenhehasgainedhalfofthebattle. Lackingthisknowledge,hewastesenergyandeffort,anddoesmuchthathadbetterbe leftundone,whileleavingundonemuchthatshouldbedone.Verily,knowledgeis powerinthiscase,asinmanyothers. Itissomewhatamusing,thoughsad,toseethesetensingexercisepeopleusing themselvesupinvigorousexercising,and,atthesametime,losingninetenthsofthe benefitsgainedbythosepracticingthelazystretchingexercises,accompaniedbythe rhythmicbreath,astaughttomystudents.
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ChapterVIII:
NerveForceExercises
Ishallnowinstructyouinthedirectionofcertainformsofexercisedesignedtogenerate nerveforce,orphysicalmagnetism,bothinthephaseofabsorptionandthatof distribution,accordingtothegeneralprinciplessetforthintheprecedingchapters. Absorption.Theexercises,themselves,aredesignedtogiveafreeandfulldistribution tothenerveforceorphysicalmagnetism,butthestudentmustalwaysrememberthat beforethenerveforcemaybedistributeditmustfirstbeabsorbed.Theabsorption,of course,isperformedbymeansofthebreathrhythm,accordingtotheinstruction alreadygivenyou. IMPORTANT:Rememberthateveryseriesofdistributionexercisesmustbepreceded, andfollowed,bythepracticeoftherhythmicbreathforafewmoments.Itwillalsobe foundbeneficialandusefultointerjectashortperiodofrhythmicbreathinginbetween theseexercises,fromtimetotime.Youwillsoondiscovertheneedofthis,fromyour ownfeelings.Afteryouhavegainedfamiliarityandeaseinpracticingthedistribution exercises,youwillfindyourselfbecomingverysensitivetotheinflowofthenerveforce duringthebreathrhythmexercise,andinashorttimewillknowbyyourfeelingsexactly whenyouneedtoabsorbmorenerveforceduringtheexercise. AtthispointIwishtoagainremindthestudentthatoneofthemainfeaturesofmy nerveforceexercisesisthatoftheentireabsenceofartificiality,andthepresenceof naturalness.Idonotgivesetformsofbreathing,tobepracticedjustsooften,forso manyminutesatatime.Instead,Igivethegeneralprinciplesofthemethodthewhy aswellasthehowandthenbidthestudenttobegovernedentirelybyhisown instinctsinthematterofthedurationofexercises,andfrequencyofthesame. Afterashorttimethestudentwillfallintothenaturalhabit,justashedoesintothe habitsofeatinganddrinking,andhewillknowexactlywhenheshouldpracticenerve forcegeneration,andhowlongheshouldcontinuetheexercises. KeepthewordsBeNaturalbeforeyourmind,andyouwillmakenomistake.Never overdotheexercises,orforceyourselftoperformthemwhenyoudonotfeellikeit. Avoidanythingapproachingartificialityinthematter.Sometimesyoumaygoalongtime withoutpracticingandagainyoumayfeeltheneedofthesameveryoftenineither casefollownaturesurgings.Again,youmayfeelliketakingbutamomentsexercisesat atimeliketakingasipofwater,whileonotheroccasionsyouwillfeelliketakingalong
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spellofexerciseliketakingadeepdraughtofwaterwhenyouhappentobevery thirstyfollownatureinbothinstances. STRETCHINGEXERCISE.Iwillbeginbycallingyourattentiontoaformofexercisewhich consistsofintelligentsimplestretching,butwhichformofexercisewillbefoundvery beneficial.Thereareavarietyofformsofthisexercise.Iwillgiveyouafewgeneral forms,andyoumaythenenlargeonthese,andinventcombinations,variations,etc. I.Lyingonyourback,extendyourarmsupwardoveryourhead,totheirfullextent stretchthemouteasilybutthoroughlyasfarastheywillgo.Thenslowlypullthemin. Repeatseveraltimes. II.Stretchthearmssidewaysfromthebodyoutandthenin,severaltimes. III.Stretchthelegsinthesameway,severaltimes. IV.Stretchtheneckseveraltimes. V.Stretchthehandandfingers,bymovingthehandsbackwardandforwardfromthe wrist,clenchingandunclenchingthefist:openingandclosingthefingers. VI.Stretchthefeetandtoes,inthesamegeneralmannerasinthecaseofthehandsand fingers. VII.Turnoverandlieonyourstomach,withthefacedownonthepilloworfloor,and repeattheaboveexerciseinthisposition.Thiswillbringintoplayanumberofmuscles notemployedintheformerposition. VIII.Risetoyourfeetandstandwiththelegsspreadout,thefeetseveralfeetapart,with armsextendedupwardandoutward.Thiswillbringyourbodyintothegeneralshapeof theletterX.Thenrisetoyourtoesandstretchupwardasifyouweretryingtotouch theceiling. Repeatseveraltimes. Youwillbesurprisedatthefeelingofrestandrenewedstrength,whichwillcometoyou astheresultofthepracticingoftheabovesimplestretchingexercises.Andyet,simpleas theyare,theseexercisesperformagreatwork.Youmustnotlosesightofthefactthat whenyoutensethesemuscles,intheactofstretchingandthencontractingthelimbs, youreallysqueezeouttheold,wornout,depletedmagnetism,andabsorbinitsplace afreshsupplyofvigor,vitalityandvimfromthegreatreservoirsofthenervoussystem.
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Carryinyourmindtheideaofthesponge,whichinordertoabsorbfullyasupplyof freshwater,mustfirstbethoroughlysqueezedout.Theprocessoftheabsorptionand distributionofnerveforceisverycloseindeedtotheprocessofthesqueezingoutand refillingofthesponge.Thefollowingtensingexercisesarereallybutanextensionof thestretchingexercises,moreelaborateandcomplicated,butembodyingthesame principle.Theyareusefulinenergizingtheseveralpartsofthebody,whicharenot activelyenergizedbythesimplestretchingexercises. ShouldersandChest.Standerect;feetclosetogether;armsatsides.Thendrawforward yourshoulders,asfarfrontastheywillgo.Holdthepositionamoment,andthenslowly presstheshouldersbackasfarastheywillgo.Thiswilltendtoenergizetheshoulders andchest. Thechestmayalsobeenergizedbytakingafewdeep,fullbreaths,whichwillinflatethe lungsandthusextendthechest.Theshouldersmayalsobeenergizedbyraisingthem upwardinashrugandthenslowlyloweringthemtooriginalposition. Arms,Wrists,andHands.Anysimpleexercise,whichwillextendandthencontractthe armmuscles,willservetoenergizethearms.Twistingthemfirstonewayandthen anotherwilldolikewise.Twistingthewristandmovingthehandslooselybackwardand forwardfromthewristtendstoenergizeseveralveryimportantmusclesandnervesin thispartofthebody. Clenchingandunclenchingthehandswillenergizethehandsandfingers.Spreadingout thefingersfanshapeandthendrawingthemtogetherwillenergizethefingers thoroughly. Legs,Feet,andToes.Followthegeneralideaofthearmandhandexercises,just mentioned,inthecaseofthelegs,feetandtoes.Squattingenergizesthethighs. Raisingupthetoesandthenloweringtooriginalpositionenergizesthecalvesofthe legs.Thestandingstillrunisagoodgenerallegenergizer. Neck.Movetheneckforward,asfarasitwillgo,thenbackward,asfarasitwillgo;then sideways,totheright,asfarasitwillgothentotheleftinthesameway;thentwistto therightasfarasitwillgo,thentotheleftinthesamemanner.Thesearesplendidneck energizers.Thereareimportantnervesrunningthroughtheneck,whichareenergized bytheseexercises. TwistingandBending.Whatmaybecalledatwistingofthedifferentpartsofthebody servestoenergizethepartsverywellindeed.Inthesameway,bendingexercisesare good.
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Notonlymaythelegsandarmsbetwistedeasilyandeffectively,buttheentiretrunkof thebodymaybeequallyeffectivelytwistedbystandingerectwithfeet,sayeightorten inchesapart,toesout,andarmshangingeasilybythesides;theneasilytwistingthe bodytotheright,theneck,trunkandthighsbeingcarriedasfarastheywillgo;then twistingtotheleftinthesamemanner;repeatingseveraltimes.Bendingthebodyto theright,thentotheleft,thenforward,thenbackward,isagoodenergizer. InaNutshell.Theforegoingexercisesmightbeelaboratedintoabookbyitselfbut whatstheuse?Ihavegivenyouinanutshellthemainelementsoftheexercises,and youmaydotheelaboratingyourself.Infact,Icansumupthegeneralprinciplesofthe exercisesinthreewords,viz.:STRETCHING,TWISTING,AndBENDING.Thinkoverthese threewords,andyouwillseethatifyouwillapplythemineverypossiblewaytothe variouspartsofthebody,youwillhaveawholesystemoftensingexercisesatyour command,withoutpurchasingexpensivetextbooksonthesubject.And,also,remember thatinanyandallofthesocalledtensingexercisessystemsistobefoundthebest possibleprincipleofnerveforcedistributionalways,however,rememberingtoinclude therhythmicbreathingaccordingtomypreviouslygiveninstructions.Now,gettowork andexerciseyouringenuityindevisingvariationsandcombinationsofthestretching, twistingandbendingprinciples.Thiswillenergizeyourmindaswellasyourbody. EnergizingtheSolarPlexus.TheSolarPlexusliesexactlybehindthepitofthestomach. Itmaybeenergizedbypracticingadrawinginoftheabdominalmuscles.Thismay provealittledifficultatfirst,butalittlepracticewillmakeperfect.Drawtheabdominal musclesinwardandupwardseveraltimesateachexercise. TheSacralPlexus.TheSacralPlexusisanotherimportantplexus,orgreatcenterof nerveforce.Itislocatedinfrontofthelowerpartofthespinalcolumnintheregionof thehips.Itmaybeenergizedbyaspecialstretching,bendingandtwistingofthat particularregionofthebody. Incaseofimpairedvitalityorgeneralweakness,alittleextraenergizingofthesetwo plexusmaybefoundveryadvantageousandbeneficial,astheydirectlyaffectlarge regionsofthebody,andimportantorgans.
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ChapterIX:
ProjectingNerveForce
AtthebeginningofChapterIV,Istatedthatthephysicalphaseofpersonalmagnetism dependsupontwocoordinatedmanifestationsofnerveforce,namely:(1)The generationofnerveforce;and(2)theconsciousprojection,bythewill,ofthatsupplyof nerveforceintothepersonalatmosphere,andeventoagreaterdistanceunderspecial conditions.Ihaveinstructedyouregardingthephaseofnerveforcegeneration.Letus nowconsiderthesecondphase,i.e.,thatoftheprojectionofthesame. Ofallofthementalforcesoftheindividual,thewillisthemostpowerful,andatthe sametimetheoneleastunderstood.Itishardeventodefinethewill.Enoughforour purposetorealizethatitisthepowerwithinthemindwherebymanisabletodothings. Notonlydoesmandotheordinarythingsoflifebymeansofthewill,butalsoheisable todosomeextraordinarythingswhenhelearnshow. Theoldoccultistfullyrealizedthemightypowerofthewillofman;andtheirteachings conveysomeveryvaluableinformationonthissubject.Oneoftheirteachingswasthat bytheuseofhiswillmanisablenotonlytoprojectthoughtwavesfromhismentality, butthatheisalsoabletoconsciouslyprojecthisphysicalmagnetism,orvitalenergy,in thesameway.Thediscoveriesofthemostadvancedstudentsofthesubject,inour times,verifytheoldteachingsoftheoccultistsinthisrespect.ThesystemIamherein teachingisthereforebasednotonlyontheadvanceddiscoveriesofmodernscience,but alsoupontheworldoldteachingsoftheancientoccultists.Truthknowsnospecialage ortimeitisthepropertyoftheages. Theaveragemanprojectshisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,intohispersonal atmosphere,oraura,moreorlessunconsciouslyjustashewalksorbreathes,forthat matter.Hehasnaturallyacquiredthehabit,anddoesnotconcernhimselfaboutthe matterinfact,heisusuallyunconsciousofandignorantoftheprocessitself.The differencesinthedegreeofphysicalmagnetismprojectedorradiatedbysuchpersonsis determinedsolelybythedegreeofnerveforcegeneratedbythem,inabsenceofany specialpowerofprojection. Thereisasecondclass,however,themembersofwhich,whilenotfullyinformedof theirpowertoprojectphysicalmagnetism,nevertheless,bytheirhabitualuseofthewill inthedirectionofimpressingothers,powerfully,thoughunconsciously,directwavesof thenerveforceoutward,sothattheirpersonalatmospherebecomeswellchargedwith it,andtheirinfluenceisfeltbythosecomingincontactwithit.Inthisclassofindividuals
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willbefoundtheactive,energetic,masterfulmeninvariouswalksoflife,whodirect othersratherthanaredirectedbyothers,whogiveordersratherthanreceivethem. Thesemengenerallyradiateenoughphysicalmagnetismtomakeitselffeltbythosewith whomtheycomeincontact,andaregenerallyfelttobestrongmen.Buteventhese personsdonotmanifestthegreatestamountofphysicalmagnetism. Thethirdclassofpersonsisthatcomposedofindividualswhohaveacquiredagreateror lessknowledgeoffactthatphysicalmagnetismmaybeprojectedbeyondthelimitsof thebrainorbody,andwhohavelearned,atleastinadegree,theartofsoprojectingit bytheuseofthewill.Theseindividualsrangefromthosewhohaveacquiredmerelya glimpseofthetruth,up,bydegrees,tothosewhomaybespokenofasMastersofthe Art.Thislastnamedclassofpersonsarethosewhosepowerisreadilyfeltand acknowledged,andwholeavetheirimpressionuponthosewhocomeincontactwith them. Theprojectionofthephysicalmagnetism,bythewill,is,inaway,averysimple procedure,consistingoftwoprocesses,asfollows:(1)Thebeliefin,orrealizationof, onespowerstosoprojecttheforce;and(2)theactualwillingorcommandingtheforce tobeprojected. Atfirstitmayseemsomewhatstrangetolearnthatbeliefhasanythingtodowiththis matter,butalittleconsiderationwillexplainthisgenerallawofpsychology.Itisthisway: Thewillneveractsinadirection,whichthemindbelievesimpossible.Onenevertriesto reachthemoon,becausehismindrefusestobelievethathecandoitbutthechild, believingthatitispossible,willusehiswilltomovehishandinthatdirection.The disbeliefactsasabrakeonthewilldoyouseethepoint? But,youmaysay,thebeliefofthechilddoesnotenablehimtoreachthemoon. Certainlynot,butitcausedhiswilltooperatesoastomovethehand.Beliefdoesnot necessarilyrenderaccomplishmentcertainbutitremovesthebarriersofdisbelief,the latterpreventinganyaccomplishmentbythewill.Therearemanythingsthatwewould beabletodoifwecouldonlybelievethatwecoulddobutdisbeliefactsasabrakeand abarriertotheeffortsofthewill.Realizationofonespowerwilloftengainhalfthe battleofaccomplishmentforhim. Inthecasebeforeus,theoneneedsonlytobelieveenoughtomaketheattempt.Then, eachtimetheattemptismade,andoneperceivesaresult,thetaskbecomeseasierfor thenexttime.And,atlast,thesenseoffullrealizationofthepowerofthewilldawns upontheperson,andafterthattherestiseasy.
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Thesecondprocess,i.e.,theactualwilling,orcommanding,bythewill,issimplywhat thewordsactuallysay.Howcanyouwillorcommandthephysicalmagnetismto moveintoyourpersonalatmosphere,andenergizeit?Willitobeyme?youask. Certainlyitwill.Andthewillingorcommandingissimplyeffortthesamethatyou employ,instinctively,whenyouwillorcommandthatyourhandberaised.Whatmakes thehandrise?Ithasnopowertoraiseitself,neitherhavethemusclesanysuchpowerin themselves.ItisonlywhenyouWILLittomove,thatthingsbegintomove.Themere willingsendsacurrentofnerveforceoverthenerves,andintothemuscles,andthe handrises.Soundssimple,doesntit?Andyetitisoneofthemostwonderfulthingsin theworldonlywehavegrownsoaccustomedtoitthatwefailtonotethewonderofit all. Thecommandofthewilltothephysicalmagnetismactsinthesamemannerasthe commandofthewilltothehand.Now,righthere,isapointtoberemembered.Youdo notmerelysaytothehandraiseup.Tryitonyourownhandsaytoitraiseup withoutactuallywillingittorise,andnothinghappens,itisonlywhenyouaccompany thecommandwiththemysteriouseffortofthewill,thatmovementoccurs. IcannottellyouhowtomoveyourhandbywillingallthatIcansayisthatyoumust WILLittorise,andyouwillunderstandexactlywhatImean.Well,thenWILLthephysical magnetismtoflowoutintoyourpersonalatmosphere,justasyouwillthehandtorise, andthethinghappens. But,youmaysay,youcanseethehandmove,andknowwhetheryourcommandhas beenobeyed,whileyoucannotseethephysicalmagnetismflow.Certainly,butyoucan feelthemagnetismflow,andthusbecertainofit. Theflowofphysicalmagnetismsoonbecomesperfectlyapparenttoaperson,andheis ascertainofhisradiationasheisthatheisradiatingheatonawarmday.Itisoneof thosethingswhichcannotwellbeexplained,butwhichisreadilyunderstoodbythose whoexperienceit. Tryityourself,andyouwillsoonbecomeconsciousoftheflowofnerveforcefromyou, intothefieldofyourpersonalatmosphereoraura,toadistanceofseveralfeetonall sidesofyou.Youwillbecomeawareoftheeffectofyourphysicalmagnetismupon otherswhocomeincontactwithyou.Youwillbeabletoperceivethereactionand responsetoyourstrongmagneticinfluenceonthem.Theywill,unconsciously,letyou knowthattheyfeelthepowerofyourpresence,andacknowledgeyourstrength.You willfindapuzzledexpressiononthepartofsomeofyouroldacquaintancesand associateswhowillbedimlyconsciousthatthereissomethingdifferentaboutyou,
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whichtheycannotexplainsatisfactorilytothemselves.Donot,however,makethe mistakeofinformingthem,forthiswillinviteunpleasantcommentandcriticism,and willalsotendtomakepersonsassumeadefensiveattitudetowardyouandevenan offensiveone,perhapsinselfprotection. Youwillalsobecomeawareofthehealingandstrengtheningeffectofyourmagnetism upondelicateandsickpersonswhocomeincontactwithyou.Suchpersonswillfeel strengthenedbyyourpresence,andwilldislikeleavingyou.Youmayexperiencesome difficultyinpreventingthemfromattachingthemselvestoyou,andseekingtoliveon yourmagnetism.Butwhenyoulearntheartofusingthemindforce,ormental magnetism,youwillbeabletoshakethemoffwhennecessary.Inthemeantime,you maydomuchgoodbygivingthesepersonsmagnetictreatments,eitherbyconsciously directingastreamofmagnetismtowardsthembytheuseofthewillorbytheuseof thehand.Yourmagnetismwillflowfreelyoutofyourhands,andwillinvigorateweak persons,tendtoremovepainfulconditions,etc.Alittleexperiencewillmakeyoua magnetichealerifyoushouldsodesire. Inthismatterofhandshaking,youwillnoticestrangethings.Personswhotakeyour handwillbeimpressedbysomethingstrangeandpowerfulaboutyou,foryour magnetismwillflowouttowardthemandthroughtheirbody,sometimesinamost markedmanner,butmoreofteninaneasycurrent. Youmayprojectyourphysicalmagnetisminadirectcurrent,quiteadistancefromyour body,bythesimpleeffortofyourwill,whenonceyouhavelearnedthelittlepointsof practicebyrepeatedtrials. Ishallnotspeakatthisplaceoftheuseofthephysicalmagnetisminconnectionwith thementalcurrents,forthattopicwillbetakenupinalaterchapter,orchaptersrather. Butdonotwaituntilthattimetopracticegettoworkandpracticewiththephysical magnetism,now,sothatyouwillhaveitwellinhandwhenyoureceivethehigher instructionregardingthementalcurrents.Plantyourfeetfirmlyoneachstepofthe ladderthenyouwillnotslipwhenclimbing.Doyouseethepoint?
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ChapterX:
MentalRadiation
Leavingforthemomentthephaseofphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,andentering intoaconsiderationoftheotherphase,namely,thatofmentalmagnetismorthought force,letusfirsttakeageneralglanceatthereportofthemostadvancedscienceofthe day,uponthesubjectofthephenomenaofmentalradiation. Itwillbewellforyoutofeelfullyconvincedoftherealityofthisphenomenon,before youundertaketomanifestthepower.Thisnotonlytomaintainconsistencyandmental honestyonyourownpart,butalsothatyoumayridyourselfofanydoubtorunbeliefin thematter,theresultofsuchdoubtorunbeliefbeingtointerposeabarrierorbrake uponthewill,aswehavestatedinaprecedingchapter. Listentothefollowingwordsfromthepenofoneofehworldsgreatscientists, ProfessorOchorowicz,whohascreatedsuchawonderfulstirhereinParisbyhis demonstrationsofpracticalpsychology,mentalphotography,etc.ProfessorOchorowicz says:Everylivingbeingisadynamicfocus. Adynamicfocustendsevertopropagatethemotionthatispropertoit.Propagated motionbecomestransformedaccordingtothemediumittraverses.Motiontends alwaystopropagateitself. Therefore,whenweseeworkofanykindmechanical,electrical,nerve,orpsychic disappearwithoutvisibleeffect,then,oftwothings,onehappens,eitheratransmission oratransformation.Wheredoesthefirstend,andwheredoesthesecondbegin? Inanidenticalmediumthereisonlytransmission.Inadifferentmediumthereis transmission.Yousendanelectriccurrentthroughathickwire.Youhavethecurrent, butyoudonotperceiveanyotherforce.Butcutthatthickwireandconnecttheendsby meansofafinewire;thefinewirewillgrowhot;therewillbeatransformationofapart ofthecurrentintoheat. Takeaprettystrongcurrentandinterposeawirestillmoreresistant,oraverythin carbonrod,andthecarbonwillemitlight. Apartofthecurrent,then,istransformedintoheatandlight.Thislightactsinevery directionaroundabout,firstvisiblyaslight,theninvisiblyasheatandelectriccurrent. Holdamagnetnearit.Ifthemagnetisweakandmovable,intheformofamagnetic
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needle,thebeamoflightwillcauseittodeviate;ifitisstrongandimmovable,itwillin turncausethebeamoflighttodeviate. Andallthisfromadistance,withoutcontact,withoutspecialconductors. Aprocessthatisatoncechemical,physicalandpsychicalgoesoninabrain.Acomplex actionofthiskingispropagatedthroughthegraymatter,aswavesarepropagatedin water.Regardedonitsphysiologicalside,anideaisonlyavibration,avibrationthatis propagated,yetwhichdoesnotpassoutofamediuminwhichitcanexistassuch.Itis propagatesasfarasothervibrationsallow.Itispropagatedmorewidelyifitassumesthe character,whichsubjectivelywecallemotive.Butitcannotgobeyondwithoutbeing transformed. Nevertheless,likeforceingeneral,itcannotremaininisolation,itescapesindisguise. Thoughtstaysathome,asthechemicalactionofabatteryremainsinthebattery,itis representedbyitsdynamiccorrelate,calledinthecaseofthebatteryacurrent,andin thecaseofthebrainIknownotwhat;butwhateveritsnamemaybe,itisthedynamic correlateofthought.Ihavechosenthetermdynamiccorrelate.Thereissomething morethanthat;theuniverseisneitherdeadnorvoid. Aforcethatistransmittedmeetsotherforces,andifitistransformedonlylittlebylittle itusuallylimitsitselftomodifyinganotherforceatitsowncost,thoughwithout sufferingperceptiblythereby.Thisisthecaseparticularlywithforcesthatarepersistent, concentrated,wellsecondedbytheirmedium.Itisthecasewiththephysiological equilibrium,nerveforce,psychicforce,ideas,emotions,andtendencies.Thesemodify environingforces,withoutthemselvesdisappearing.Theyareimperceptibly transformed,and,ifthenextmanisofanatureexceptionallywelladaptedtothem,they gainininductiveaction. Variousothereminentscientistshavetestifiedtothegeneralresemblanceofthebrain toanelectricalormagneticbatteryorcellgroup.ProfessorBainhassaid:Thestructure ofthenervoussubstances,andtheexperimentsmadeuponthenervesandnerve centers,establishbeyonddoubtcertainpeculiaritiesasbelongingtotheforcethatis exercisedbythebrain.Thisforceisofacurrentnature;thatistosay,apowergenerated atonepartofthestructureisconveyedalonganinterveningsubstanceanddischarged atsomeotherpart.Thedifferentformsofelectricityandmagnetismhavemadeus familiarwiththiskindofaction. ProfessorDrapertellsusthat:Ifindthecerebrumisabsolutelyanalogousin constructiontoanyothernervousarc.Itiscomposedofcentripetalandcentrifugal
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fibers,havingalsoregisteringganglia.Ifinothernervousarcsthestructureismerely automatic,andcandisplaynophenomenaofitself,butrequirestheinfluenceofan externalagenttheopticalapparatusinertsaveundertheinfluenceoflight,the auditorysaveundertheimpressionofsoundthecerebrum,beingpreciselyanalogous initselementarystructure,presupposestheexistenceofsomeagenttoactthroughit. Dr.haddocksays,inconnectionwithhisconsiderationoftheideathatthoughtmaybe communicatedthoughethervibrations:Theetherisacceptedbyscienceasareality, andasamediumforlight,heatelectricity,magnetism,etc.Thenervoussystemis certainlycomparabletoanelectricbatterywithconnectingwires.Communicationof thoughtandfeelingwithoutthemediationofsenseperceptionascommonly understood,isnowestablished. Inanimateobjectsexert,nowandthen,strangeinfluences.Peoplecertainlycarrywith themapersonalatmosphere.Therepresentationoftheconditionofthesefactsbya psychicfield,comparedtothemagneticorelectricfield,becomes,therefore,ifnot plausible,atleastconvenient.Assuchafieldexistssurroundingthesun,somayafield beassumedassurroundingeachhumanindividual.Wehavealreadystronggroundsfor believingthatweliveinamediumwhichconveystoandfromovementstousfromthe sun,andthatthesemovementsareelectromagnetic,andthatallthetransformationof lightandheat,andindeedthephenomenaoflife,areduetotheelectricalenergywhich comestousacrossthevacuumwhichexistsbetweenusandthesunavacuumwhich ispervadedbytheether,whichisafitmediumforthetransmissionofelectromagnetic wares.Bymeans,then,ofasimilartheoryappliedtomindandbrainandbody,wemay findreasonableexplanationsofmanyotherwiseinsolublemysteriesoflife,and,whichis ofmoreimportance,deducecertainsuggestionsforthepracticalregulationoflifeinthe greatestindividualinterest. HaddockalsoapprovinglyquotesthefollowingfromDr.M.P.Hatfield,anauthoritywith whomI,personally,amnotfamiliar:Thearrangementofthenerveenvelopesissolike thatofthebestconstructedelectricalcablesthatwecannothelpthinkingthatboth wereconstructedtoconductsomethingverymuchalike.Iknowthattherearethose whostoutlymaintainthatnerveforceisnotelectricity,anditisnot,inthesensethatan electricalbatteryisthesamethingsasaliveman;butneverthelessnerveforceisclosely alliedtothatwonderfulthingthatforthewantofabetterandclearerunderstandingwe agreetocallelectricity. Haddockadds:Allstatesofbodyandmindinvolveconstantmolecularandchemical change.Thesuggestionarisesthatthebrain,withitsmillionsofcellsandits inconceivablechangesinsubstance,mayberegardedasatransmittingandreceiving
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battery.Thebrainbeingakindofbattery,andthenervesconductorsofreleasedstored energytodifferentpartsofthebody,byakindofactionsimilartotheactionsof electricityandmagnetism,itissuggestedthat,eitherbymeansoftheether,orofsome stillfinerformofmatter,dischargesofbrainenergymaybeconductedbeyondthelimits ofthebody.Ifthenervetrackcorrespondstowires,thisrefinedmediummay correspondtotheetherfieldsupposedtobeemployedinwirelesstelegraphy.As electricalmovementsareconductedwithoutwires,orothervisiblemedia,somaybrain dischargesbeconveyedbeyondthemechanismofthebattery,withouttheintervention ofnervesexcept,astheymayconstituteapartofthebattery.Generallyspeaking,such dischargeswouldoriginateintwoways:bydirectmentalaction,orbymentalorphysical statesperhapsbyacombination. Intheabovequotations,therewillbefoundconstantreferencetovibrationsinthe universalether.Thatthereisaplace,andplentyofroom,inthescaleofetheric vibrationsforthevibrationsofmentalforce,maybeseenbyareferencetothefollowing quotationsfromeminentauthorities: ProfessorGrayhassaid:Thereismuchfoodforspeculationinthethoughtthatthere existssoundwavesthatnohumanearcanhear,andcolorwavesoflightthatnoeyecan see.Thelong,dark,soundlessspacebetween40,000and400,000,000,000,000 vibrationspersecond,andtheinfinityofrangebeyond700,000,000,000,000vibrations persecond,wherelightceases,intheuniverseofmotion,makesitpossibletoindulgein speculation. ProfessorWilliamshassaid:Thereisnogradationbetweenthemostrapidundulations ortremblingthatproduceoursensationofsound,andtheslowestofthosewhichgive risetooursensationsofgentlestwarmth.Thereisahugegapbetweenthem,wide enoughtoincludeanotherworldofmotion,alllyingbetweenourworldofsoundand ourwordofheatandlight.Andthereisnogoodreasonwhateverforsupposingthat matterisincapableofsuchintermediateactivity,orthatsuchactivitymaynotgiverise tointermediatesensations,providedthereareorgansfrotakingupandsensifyingthese movements. ArecentwriterintheLondonPostsays,Theknowledgewegainbyexperimentbrings hometouswhatamiserablyimperfectpieceofmechanismourbodiesare.Theearcan detecttheslowfootedsoundvibrationsthatcometousattherateofbetween40and 40,000asecond.Butthewholeofspacemaybequiveringandpalpitatingwithwavesat allsortsofvaryingspeeds,andoursenseswilltellusnothingofthemuntilwegetthem comingtousattheinconceivablespeedof400,000,000,000,00asecond,whenagainwe respondtothemandappreciatethemintheformoflight.
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Anotherwriter,anAmericanpsychologist,carriesonthetalefromthispoint,asfollows: Thefirstindicationsofwarmthcomeswhenthevibrationsreachtherateof 35,000,000,000,000persecond.Whenthevibrationsreach450,000,000,000,000the lowestvisiblelightraymanifests.Thencomestheorangerays,thegoldenyellow,the pureyellow,thegreenishyellow,thepuregreen,thegreenishblue,theoceanblue,the cyanicblue,theindigo,andfinallytheviolet,thehighestdegreeoflightwhichthe humaneyecanregister,andwhichoccurswhenthevibrationsreachtherateof 750,000,000,00,00persecond.Thencometheultravioletrays,invisibletohumansight, butregisteredbychemicalmedia.InthisultravioletregionlietheXRaysandtheother recentlydiscoveredhighdegreerays;alsotheactinicrayswhich,whileinvisibletothe eye,registeronthephotographicplate,sunburnonesface,blisteronesnose,andeven causeviolentexplosionsinchemicalsubstancesexposedtothem,aswellasactingon thegreenleavesofplants,causingthechemicalchangeoftransformingcarbonicacid andwaterintosugarandstarches.Theseformsofdarklight,thatis,lighttoofinetobe perceivedbythehumaneye,arebutfaintindicationsoftheexistenceofstillhigherand finervibrationsthefinerforcesofnature. Oh,yes!ThereisplentyofspaceandroominNaturesscaleofforces,forthevibrations ofmentalenergy,nerveforce,andpersonalmagnetism,whichcombinesthetwo.Itrust thattheforegoingstatementsofscientificfacthaveclearedyourmindofanylurking doubtsonthesubject.
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ChapterXI:
MentalAttitudes
Inaprecedingchapter,Ihavestatedthatthementalphaseofpersonalmagnetism consistsoftwocoordinatedmanifestationsofmentalpower,thefirstofwhichwasthe holdingofcertainmentalstatesuntilthementalatmospherebecomeschargedwiththe vibrationsoftheparticularmentalstates.Letusnowconsiderwhatarethesecertain mentalstateswhicharetobeheld. Inthefirstplace,thesementalstatesarenotsomuchanysetofparticularthoughts, butratherarestatedmentalattitudesinrelationtooneselfandtheouterworldofmen. Amansmentalattitude,iffirmlydefinedandasfirmlyheld,impressesitselfupon everythingaroundtheman.Hislooksgrowtoconform;hisvoice;hiswalk;hisgeneral appearance;allgrowtoreflecthisinnerstatesofmind.Moreover,hismental atmospherebecomessochargedwithcertainvibrationsthatthosewhocomeincontact withthemanactuallyfeelhismentalattitude,andadjustthemselvestoit. Whoofuscannotrecallthesomeekandhumble,UriahHeepmentalattitude manifestedbysomepersonsofouracquaintance?Whodoesnotrememberhaving actuallyfeltthesneaky,foxymentalattitudeofcertainotherpersons?Andwhocan forgetthebold,masterful,mentalattitudeofcertainsuccessfulmeninourfieldof businessacquaintance?Eachoftheseclassesispossessedofamentalatmosphere, whichrevealsitselfatoncetous,whenwemeetthem. Ineedscarcelyurgeuponyoutheimportanceofproducinginyourselfthemost desirablekindofpersonalatmosphere.And,asIhavesaid,thementalatmosphereisthe directresultofthementalattitudeoftheperson,andreflectsthesameinevitably.Of course,thementalattitudeofapersoniscomposedofavarietyofbeliefs,opinions, views,ideals,etc.,andmustofnecessitybeofasomewhatmixedcharacter.Inthecase ofthemajorityofpersons,thepersonalatmospherelacksforceandcharacterbecause ofalackofanyparticularmentalcolor.But,inthecaseofthestrongindividualsofthe race,itwillbefoundthatthereisalwaysastrongfixedmentalattitudeastrongdesire whichcolorsallthethought;apowerfulambitionwhichgivestonetoalltherest;ora firmresolvewhichfirestheentirementalcharacter.Thisstrongvibrationiscarriedout intothepersonalatmosphere,anditsinfluenceisfelt,andmenreactthereto. Inageneralway,mentalattitudesmaybedividedintotwoclasses,viz.:(1)positiveand (2)negative.
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Itisdifficult,atfirst,togivethekeynoteofeachofthesetwoclassesofmentalattitude, butIcallyourattentiontothewordsofanAmericanwriter,inthisconnectionwhowell says:Thatwhichtendstorenderonestrong,ispositive;thatwhichtendstorenderhim weak,isnegative.IdonotthinkthatIcanimproveonthisdefinition,andIadviseyouto adoptit,andtomeasureyourmentalattitudesbythatstandard. Byallmeanscultivateanddevelopthepositives,andrestrictthenegatives,inyour mentalmakeupsothat,intheend,yourmentalattitudemaybepositiveinsteadof negativestronginsteadofweak. Aninterestingthingaboutthecultivationofamentalattitude,isthatnotonlydoesthe improvedmentalattitudetendtoimpressitselfuponotherswithwhomyoucomein contact,butthatitalsotendstoimpressitselfuponyourownmentality,sothatyou graduallybecomemoreandmorefixedinthementalattitude. Mentalattituderesemblesyeast,inthesensethatifyouinsertasinglebitofthe fermentinyourmind,itwillbegintowork,andgrowothercells,untilitfinallyfillsyour entiremind.Ittendstoreproduceitself.Thisistrueofbothdesirableandundesirable mentalideas,butandrememberthiswellhereisamosthopefulandencouraging fact:apositiveideawilltendtokillanegativeone,soyouseeNatureisfightingonyour side.Thebestwaytokillanddestroynegativementalideasandattitudesistoplanta goodcropofpositiveintheirplaces,andthenencouragethefightthenegativeswillgo undersurely.Itislikepouringfreshwaterintoabasinofdirtywaterintimethewater willbecomeclear;or,again,likefloodingaroomwithsunshinethedarknesswillbe destroyed. Letustakealittleglanceattheprincipalpositivesandnegativesinthelistofmental attitudes: Positives:courage,masterfulness,activity,initiative,dynamicthought,selfesteem, assertiveness,continuity. Negatives:fear,slavishness,sluggishness,waitingfororders,staticthought,selfdistrust, retreativeness,fickleness. Thislistmightbeextendedmuchfurther,butIthinkthatyouwillhavecaughttheidea bythistime.Runoverthelistofthestrongpositivequalitiesofthestrongmenofyour acquaintanceandendeavortoreproducetheminyou.Runoverthelistofweak, negativequalitiesoftheweakpersonsyouknowandendeavortocutthemoutof yourmentalattitudes.
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Inthisworkofbuildingupofmentalattitude,rememberthis:Thismindgrowsto resemblethatuponwhichitfeeds,andtherefore,youshouldfeedyourmindwith theverykindofideas,whichyouwouldliketohaveyourmentalattitudereflect.For instance,ifyoudesireamentalattitudeofCourage,Determination,Masterfulness, Success,etc.,youshouldreadstoriesinwhichthesepointsofcharacterarebroughtout; youshouldfrequentthecompanyofthiskindofpersons;youshouldconstantlyholdin yourmindtheIDEALofthethingsyouwishtodevelopinyourmentalattitude,andyou willfindthatyouwillnaturallyfindintheouterworldthematerialthingscorresponding tothem.And,rememberthis,avoidtheoppositeandnegativebooks,personsand thoughts,asyouwouldpoisonoussnakes. Itisastonishinghowquicklythemindwillrespondtothesteadfastholdingofthe POSITIVEIDEAL,andthestimulatingenvironmentofPOSITIVEthings.Inashorttime, therewillbesetupaninstinctivehabitofmind,whichwillselectthepositivethings fromitsenvironmentandwillalsorejectthenegativethings.Trainyourmindtoselect therightkindoffoodforitself,anditwillsoonacquirethehabitandperformthework instinctivelywithoutanyspecialsupervisiononyourpart.Moreover,therewillbe developedinyourmindthatwhichthatgiftedAmericanwriter,PrenticeMulford,once calledTheAttractivePowerofThought,bymeansofwhichyouwilldrawtoyourself thethings,persons,books,etc.,whichwillsupplyyouwiththeparticularkindofmental foodbestfittedtotheIDEALyouarecarryinginyourmind.Ishallnotdiscussthislast wonderfulphenomenon,butaskyoutorememberandapplythefact,nevertheless,for itisoneofthegreatforcesofnature. Finally,Iadviseyoutositdownandmakeacareful,full,andhonestchartofyourmental characteristics,positiveandnegative.Then,placeaplussignbeforethepositives,and minussignbeforethenegative.Theneverydayrunoveryourpluslist,andfixinyour mindtheideathatthesepositivesMUSTbedeveloped;andthenegativesMUSTbe restarted.Thedevelopmentofthepositiveswillcomeaboutbytheholdinginmindof theidealofthemthustheywilldevelopandincrease,likeaselfmultiplyingcell.The negativesmayberestrictedbydevelopingtheiroppositesfor;thisistheapplicationof thelawthatpositiveskilloutnegatives.Uponthesetwogreatfundamentallawsof practicalpsychology,onemaybuildacharacteratwill.Iwillrepeatthemoncemore,so thatyouwillfixtheminyourmind. I.Feedyourpositivequalitiesbyideasofthesamekind,inthoughts,books,persons, environment,etc. II.Restrictorkilloutyournegatives,bydevelopingtheirpositiveopposites.And,now, forawonderfulplanofdevelopingapositivementalattitude.
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Thisplanhasbeensuccessfullypracticedmymanyofmystudents,someofwhomstand highinthelistoftheworldsgreatmen. Itisthis: Buildupforyourownuse,anIDEALPATTERNofthatwhichyouwishtobe.Mapout exactlythecharacteristics,whichyouwishtobeyours.Thenpicture,inyourmindseye, anindividualpossessedofjustthesequalitiesacompletemodel,orpattern,ofthat whichyouwishtobe.Thenholdthatpatternormodel,constantlyinyourimagination. Seeitever;thinkalwaysaboutit;viewitfromtheinsideandtheoutside;getfully acquaintedwithit.And,graduallyyouwillbegintogrowlikeyourideal.TheIDEALwill begintomaterializeinyourowncharacter,andyourmentalattitudewillbethatofyour model. Donotpassbythisrule,becauseofitssimplicity.Ithasworkedmiraclesforotherswhy notforyou?Ifyouwillpersistwiththisplan,yourmentalattitudewillbecomepositive andfixed,andyourpersonalatmospherewillbechargedwiththestrong,positive vibrations,whichwillproclaimyouasamaster. Letthisideabeyours,instudyingthefollowingchapters,andrememberthatinthisway youcangetthebestresultsfromthespecialinstruction,whichistofollowthischapter.
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ChapterXII:
TheMentalAtmosphere
Followingtheconsiderationofthefirstmanifestationofthementalphaseofpersonal magnetismintheprecedingchapter,wenaturallyreachthesecondmanifestationofthe same,namely:Theconsciousprojectionofthementalcurrentfromthebraincenters, bytheactionofthewilloftheindividual. Thisconsciousprojection,inturn,maybesaidtoconsistoftwoformsof manifestation,viz.:(1)theprojectionintothepersonalatmosphere;and(2)the projectionofadirectcurrent,underspecialcircumstances,intothemindofanother person,forthepurposeofdirectinfluenceuponhimorher.Letusconsiderthesetwo forms,inturn,beginningwiththefirstnamed. Astothenatureoftheprocesswherebyonemayprojecthismentalcurrentsintohis personalatmosphere,Iwouldsaythatthemethodisalmostpreciselyidenticalwiththat wherebyoneprojectshisphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,intohispersonal atmosphere,asfullysetforthinChapterIX. Asinthecaseofphysicalmagnetism,isfoundthattheaveragepersoncolorshis personalatmospherebythecharacterofhismentalstates,orratherbythepredominant colorofhismentalattitude,withoutanyspecialeffortonhispart.Thedegreesofcolor notitsparticularkind,remember,butitsdegreeofforcedependsuponthedegreeof mentalactivityoftheperson.Thepersonofinactivethought,ideasorfeeling,willhave analmostcolorlesspersonalatmosphere,whilethepersonoftheactivemindwill displayamarkeddegreeofthoughtcolortherein. Wefindhere,also,thesecondclassofpersons,who,whilenotfullyunderstandingthe natureofthepower,ortheprocessesofprojection,neverthelessmanifestahighdegree ofthoughtcolorandpowerintheirpersonalatmosphere.Thisstrongcolorandpower resultsfromthefactthatsuchpersonsareusuallyindividualsofahighdegreeoffeeling oridealismthatistosay,theyexperiencestrongfeelings,ontheonehand;orelse havestrongmentalideasofanythinginwhichtheyareinterestedorperhapsboth strongfeelingandstrongidealism. Thestrongestcolorandpowermanifestedbypersonsofthisclass,isfoundinpersons whotakeastronginterestinthings.Thisstronginterestreallycombinesthetwo elementsoffeelingandattention,respectively.Feelingisastrongmentalelement;and attention,youwillremember,isadirectapplicationofthewill.So,itfollows,thatsuch
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personsmuststronglyprojecttheirmentalstatesintotheirpersonalatmosphere, althoughunconsciousofthesame,andwithoutadeliberateemploymentofthewillfor thispurpose. But,here,asinthecaseofthephysicalmagnetism,thestrongestandmostpowerful effectisproducedbytheindividualswhounderstandstheprocess,andwhoconsciously anddeliberatelyprojecttheirthoughtintotheirpersonalatmosphere,whereitjoinsand isvitalizedbytheirphysicalmagnetism,sothatitsfulleffectismanifesteduponthose whomaycomewithinitsfieldofinfluence. Theprocessofusingthewillinthedirectionofprojectingthoughtcolorandpowerinto thepersonalatmosphereispracticallyidenticalwiththeuseofthewillinthecaseof physicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,asdescribedinChapterIX.Inotherwords,it consistsoftwophases,viz.:(1)beliefinonespowertosoproject;and(2)theactual projectionbythewill.Ihaveinformedyoufullyregardingthepartplayedbybeliefin thisprocessofprojection,andshallsaynothingmoreonthissubjecthere.Theuseof thewillinthematterofprojection,herealso,consistsoftheactualwillingor commandingofthethingitself. Thementalcurrentsareveryobedienttothewill,andinfact,dependalmostentirely uponthewillforpowertomoveandact.And,donotforgetthis,foritisimportant,the willismovedlargelybydesire.Ifyouwillstronglydesirethatyourpersonalatmosphere becoloredbyyourthoughtcurrents,andwillatthesametimepicturethethought currentsflowingoutandfillingyourpersonalatmosphere,youwillhavelittlelefttodo inthedirectionoftheconscioususeofthewill.Thisbecause,inthefirstplace,thewill naturallyoperatesalongthelinesofstungdesire;andsecond,becausetheformingof thementalpicturewillresultintheuseoftheattention,andtheattention,asIhave said,isapositiveanddirectactionofthewillinthedirectionoffocusingitspower.So, yousee,byfollowingthisplan,youarereallysettingintooperationthepowerofthewill itself,althoughnotbydirectcommand.Youmayalsousethedirectcommandtothewill toprojectthethoughtcurrents,justasyouusethesametoliftyourarmorcloseyour eyes. Thereisoneotherimportantpoint,though,whichyoumustmakenoteofandactively employinyourworkofbuildingupandmaintainingastrongpositivepersonal atmosphere.Ialludetotheprocessofinterminglingandcombiningthetwoelementsof personalmagnetism,i.e.,(1)thephysicalmagnetism,and(2)thementalmagnetism. Whilethereisanaturalcombinationandinterminglingofthesetwo,withoutanyspecial effortonyourpart,nevertheless,anenormouslygreatereffectwillbeobtainedbya distinctmentalprocessonyourpart,inwhichprocessiscombinedtheseveralusesof
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thewillabovereferredto.Thisspecialprocessconsistsofthreedistinctmental operations,asfollows: (1)Youmustearnestlydesirethecombinationofthetwoelementsofpersonal magnetism,thephysicalandthementalforces.Youmustcreatethestrongestkindof desireforthiscombination.Thisdesiremustbestrongerthanamerewantitmust befanneduptothestageofanactuallongingorcravingforthecombinationin question.(2)Youmustusetheimagination,actively,inthedirectionofformingamental pictureoftheminglingofthetwoformsofmagnetism,justasyouwouldpicturethe combinationoftwoclouds,ortwocurrentsofwaterinalake,flowinginfromtwo differentsources.Thestrongerandmorevividyoucanmakethispicture,thestronger andmoreeffectivewillbetheresult.Ihaveexplainedthatthesementalpicturesrequire theuseoftheattention,andthattheattentionisduetoadirectandconcentrateduse ofthewill.Therefore,thewillisactivelyandpowerfullyemployedinthisprocessand theresultiscorrespondinglyeffective.(3)Thedirectcommandofthewillitself,inthe directionofwillingthecurrentstocoalesceandcombine.Thesethreephasesofthe useofthewill,combined,willproveveryeffectiveinthedirectionnames.Alittle practicewillenableyoutoperformallthreeofthem,atonetime,almostautomatically. Youwillsee,byalittlethought,thattheprocessjustdescribed,ispracticallythatused whenyouperformanyconscious,voluntarymotionofthebody.Letussee:Youwishto raiseyourhand.Whatprocessesareinvolved?Three,asfollows(1)Desireyouwishto raiseyourhand;(2)mentalpictureforalmostunconsciouslyyouformtheimageofthe raisedhand;and(3)thedirectcommandofthewill,whichisthefinalmentaleffort. Thecombinationofthetwoformsofpersonalmagnetism,thephysicalandthemental, worksalongtwolinesofactionnamely,(1)thementalmagnetismgivescolorand charactertothephysicalmagnetism;and(2)thephysicalmagnetismgivesvitalityand actingforcetothementalmagnetism.Itmightbesaid,almost,thatthephysical magnetismgivesthebodyandmovingforcetothecombination,whilethemental magnetismgivesthesoultoit.Eachredoublestheefficiencyoftheother,bythe powerofcombination. Theoccultistsinformusthatthepersonalatmosphereiscomposedofcertaincolors, dependingupontheparticularqualityofmentalstatesthathappentobepredominant inthecombinationeachmentalstatebeingsaidtohaveitsowncolor.Ishallnottake upthisphaseofthesubject,butmerelymentionitbecauseofitsgeneralinterestinthis connection.
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Theoccultistsalsoinformusthat,whenthecombinationofthetwoelementsof magnetismcombine,thementalmagnetismtakesonadeeperandmorepronounced colorandhue,andappearsalsotosolidifyandbecomedenser;andthatthephysical magnetismseemstoberendereddoublyactive,itsincreasedenergybeingevidencedby tinysparksanddancingglitteringatoms.Itseemstobelikethecombinationoftwo differentchemicals,eachtendingtoincreasethepotencyandactivityoftheother,and thetwocombiningintheproductionofparticularlypotentandactivenewthing. Fromthesamesources,welearnthattheauraorpersonalatmosphereoftheperson whousesthewillinthedirectionofformingthepotentcombinationofthetwoformsof magnetism,seemstobealmostalive,sofilledwithenergyisit.Itissaidthatwhenit comesincontactwithotherpersonsparticularlywhentheownerisusinghismindto impressandinfluencetheotherstheaurawillreachoutandactuallyenfoldtheother personswithinitsfieldofenergy,seeminglytryingtoembracethepersonandholdhim subjecttothevibrationofitsownersmind. Whenyoulearntoproducethiscombinationeffectively,youwillbegintonoticethat youwillalmostunconsciouslyaffectandinfluenceotherpersonswithwhomyoucome incontact.Youwillnoticethattheywillbegintotakeonyourmoodsandgeneral feelings,andthattheywillfallintunewithyourmentalvibrations,generally.Ifyouare enthusiasticaboutanything,theywillbegintomanifestenthusiasm.Andsoon,eachof yourmentalstatesregisteringaneffectupontheotherpersons.Moral:Holdonlythose mentalstates,whichyouwishothertotakeon. And,keepyourinneropinionsanddesignswelltothebackofyourmind,byaneffortof thewill,andshowonlywhatyouwishtobesensedbyothers,forrememberyour thoughtcurrentswillhavebecomewonderfullydynamicandpowerful.
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ChapterXIII:
MagneticCurrents
Themagneticenergyoftheperson,formedbyacombinationofhisphysicalandmental force,likeallotherformsofmagneticorelectricforce,tendstorunincurrents,andto betransmittedinwaves.Thepersonalatmosphereofthepersonis,infact,composedof manywavesofmagneticenergy,circlingaroundtheconfinesofhisaura,aconstant wavelikemotionbeingmaintained,andarapidrateofvibrationalwaysbeing manifested. Itisthesewavesofmagneticenergywhich,whencomingincontactwiththemindof otherpersons,setupacorrespondingrateofvibrationthere,andthusproduceamental stateinthemcorrespondingtothatofthepersonsendingforththemagnetism.AsI havealreadystatedseveraltimes,thephysicalmagnetismgivesthebodyand energizingqualitytothispersonalmagnetism,whilethementalmagnetismsuppliesthe qualityofcolororcharactertoit. AtthispointIwishtodigressforafewmomentsinordertomakecleartoyourmindthe importantfactthatinchargingthementalatmospherewiththecombinedmentaland physicalmagnetism,itisnotnecessarytomaketwodistinctandseparatedeffortsofthe will.Indescribingandexplainingtoyoutheprocessofsendingforthecurrentsof physicalmagnetism,andmentalmagnetism,respectively,Ihavebeencompelledtotake upeachphaseseparately,anddescribetheactionofthewillintheprocessofprojecting eachofthesephasesofpersonalmagnetism.And,ifIweretosaynomoreonthispoint, thestudentmightbeleftwiththeimpressionthatinordertofullychargehispersonal atmospherewiththecombinedwavesofphysicalandmentalmagnetism,hewouldhave tofirstchargeitwithonekindofmagnetism,andthenwiththeother.Thisisnotcorrect, foracombinedeffortofthewillisallthatisrequired,asyoushallnowsee. Itispossibletocombinethementalpictureofthetwoformsofpersonalmagnetism,the physicalandthemental,intooneimageorideainthemind.Itisalsopossibleto combinethetwointothedesireorinclinationtoprojecttheenergy.And,itisequally possibletocombinetheprojectionofthetwointooneeffortofthewill.Itisasimple thingassimpleasthatoftwistingtwosilkthreads;threadingthemintotheeyeofa coarseneedle;andthentakingstitcheswiththeneedle.Thinkofthephysicaland mentalmagnetismastwotwistedthreadsinsertedintotheeyeofyourneedleofwill, andthenthinkofyourpassingthesethreadstogetherintothefabric,bysimplypushing
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theneedlethrough.Thisillustrationwillenableyoutoformaclearermentalpictureof theprocess. Youwillfindthatafteralittlepracticeyouwillinstinctivelycombinethetwothreadsin theeyeoftheneedleofyourwill.Atfirstyoumayfinditeasiertofirstthinkofthe physicalmagnetism,andthenofthementalsotospeak,threadingfirsttheonethread andthentheother.Butafterverylittlepracticeyouwillfinditeasiertotakeupthetwo threadsatonce,givingthemalittletwisttogether,andthenpassingbothofthem throughtheeyeofthewillneedleatthesametime.Remember,then,learntotwist togetherthethreadsofthetwokindsofmagnetism,sothatthewillmaypushthem boththroughatthesametime. Youshouldkeepthepersonalatmospherewellchargedatalltimes,byprojecting magnetismintoitseveraltimesaday.Nospecialtimesornumberoftimesisabsolutely necessaryyoumustuseyourownjudgmentandfeelinginthismatter.Youwillsoon learntofeelwhenyourmagneticauraisweak,andwhenitisstrong.Thesethingscome toonebypracticeandactualexperience,andcannotverywellbetaughtexceptthrough actualexperience.Youwillsoonlearnwhatitistofeeltheconditionofyour magnetism,justasyounowfeelheatorhumidity,orthereversethereof. Ifyouareabouttocomeintocontactwithotherswhomyouwishtoinfluence;or,onthe otherhand,ifyouareabouttocomeincontactwithotherswhomaywanttoinfluence you;youshouldchargeyourselfwellwithmagnetismthatistosay,youshould generateandprojectintoyourpersonalatmospherealargeamountofmagnetism, whichwillthusrenderyouraurastrongandpositive,insteadofweakandnegative.The principalthinginbattleistobefullypreparedforanyemergency,andthisruleis applicabletothecaseoftheusesofpersonalmagnetisminyourdealingwithother persons. Remember,then,tocombinetheideaandimageofthecombinedmagnetismwhen projectingorchargingwithpersonalmagnetismthetwotwistedthreadsintheneedle, remember. Now,toreturntothesubjectofmagneticcurrents: Thecurrentsofmagnetismnotonlyconstantlyflowaroundwithinthelimitsoftheaura, butalsooftenpushforwardtowardotherpersonswhoattracttheattentionofthe person.Insuchcases,theauraseemstostretchouttowardtheotherpersons,andeven toenveloptheminitsfolds.Remember,Iamnowspeakingoftheinvoluntaryactionof theauraormagneticcurrents,notoftheconsciousanddeliberateprojectionofthe currentsfromthemindtotheothermind.Thereisanalmostautomaticactionofthe
THEARTANDSCIENCEOFPERSONALMAGNETISMBYTQDUMONT 54
auraormagneticcurrentsinthewayjuststated,whenanotherpersonarousesthe interestorattentionoftheperson. Ofcourse,ifyouinsistuponthestrictestscientificinterpretationofthisapparently automaticmovementofthecurrents,Imustadmitthateveninsuchcasesthewillofthe personisthedirectcauseoftheprojection.For,itmustberemembered,thatinthe mentalactsofinterestandattentionthereisanondeliberateactionofthewillan automaticaction,sotospeak.Thewilliscalledintooperationthemomenttheattention isattractedinfact;theattentionisapositiveactofthewill.And,consequently,thewill setsintomotionthemagneticcurrentsinthedirectionoftheobjectofattention. So,youwillsee,whenyouareconversingwithanotherperson,oraddressinganumber ofpersons,youarereallysendingintheirdirectionaseriesofcurrentsofpersonal magnetism,thevibrationsofwhichmustaffectthemunlesstheirownvibrationsareofa morepositivenature.Infact,verymanymenofthegreatestpersonalforce,whose personalmagnetismmayactuallybefelt,employtheforceinthismanner,andmakebut littleuseofthedirectflashmethodsofimmediateconcentratedmagneticforce,which youwillbeaskedtoconsiderinthesucceedingchapters.Theirgeneralstoreofpersonal magnetismissogreattheirpersonalatmospheresochargedthatmerecontactwith itproducestheresult. Butwhiletheabovegeneralmethodofmagneticinfluenceisveryeffective,providedthe individualhaslearnedtosufficientlychargehimself,itstillremainsthatthemethodis thatoftheshotgun,ascomparedtothatoftherifle,andusesupmuchpowerwhilea smalleramountwouldsuffice.Everythingpointstothevalueofaconcentratedforce, ratherthanthatofthescatteredenergy.Atthelast,however,thebestmethodisthat whichemployeesboththeshotgunandriflemethodstheriflebulletgoingrighttothe mark,surroundedbyacloudofflyingshotswhichcompletesthework,andrenders successcertain.So,therefore,whenyoubecomeinterestedinthedirectflashmethods inthesucceedingchapters,donotlosesightoftheimportantpartinpersonalinfluence playedbythegeneraleffectofthemagnetismoftheaura. BeforeIleavethissubject,Iwishtoexplainacertainbitofphenomena,whichhas puzzledmanystudentsofpersonalmagnetism.Ialludetotheapparentlyunconscious useofmagneticpower,whichwesooftenwitness.Forinstance,youmaybethinking intentlyofsomeotherperson,withoutanyconsciousintentionofinfluencingthemin anymanner,andyet,whenyoumeetthepersonafterward,orhearfromhim,youwill findthatyourmagneticcurrentshaveinfluencedhim,oftenverymarkedlyso.Thisis puzzling,whenyourememberthatyoumadenoefforttoinfluencethepersonbythe
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directflashmethod,andwhenyourememberthatthepersonwasfarremovedfrom yourpersonalatmosphereoraura.Whatistheansweryouask? Theexplanationisthis:Byyourconcentratedattentionandinterest,youhaveactively (thoughunconsciouslysetthewillintomotion,andtheresultisthattherehasbeen projectedtowardtheotherpersonacurrentofyourmagnetismagreatstretchingout ofyourpersonalatmosphereinhisdirectionandhehasbeenaffectedbyitjustasifhe hadbeeninyourpresence.Ofcourse,theotherpersonwillnotbegreatlyaffectedby yourcurrents,unlessthesehappentobechargedwithgreatphysicalmagnetism,and stronglycoloredbyyourmentalstatus.But,nevertheless,therewillalwaysbesome influenceexerted,unless,indeed,theotherpersonismorepositive,magnetically,that areyou,inwhichcasehewillnotbeaffectedintheleast. Soyousee,wenotonlyareconstantlysurroundedbyanauraoratmosphereofour magneticcurrents,butarealsomoreorlessunconsciouslysendingforthcurrentsofour magnetismintotheauraofothers,whichexertmoreorlessinfluenceuponthem.Inthe sameway,thecurrentsofothersareconstantlyreachingouraura,andexertingmoreor lessinfluenceuponus,unlesswehappentobemorepositivethanthey,inthematterof ourvibrationsor(notethis),unlesswedeliberatelyuseaneffortofthewillinthe directionshuttingthedoorontheseoutsidevibrations.
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ChapterXIV:
TheDirectFlash
Wenowapproachaphaseofthegeneralsubjectofpersonalmagnetism,whichishighly important,aswellasmostinterestingtothestudent,becauseofitsstrikingandstartling features.Thisphaseconsistsofthedeliberate,consciousprojectionofpersonal magnetismintotheauraofanotherperson,orpersons;orintotheatmosphereofa crowdofpersons.Thismethodhasbeencalledthedirectflash,becauseitresembles theflashoftheelectricspark,ratherthanthediffuseddischargeofasteadycurrentof electricity. Thedirectflashisthemethodemployedinprojectingapositiveinfluenceinthe directionofothersamentalcommandbackedupbythecombinedphysicalandmental magnetism.Themethodis:(1)Theforminginthemindofadirectcommand accompaniedbyamentalpictureofthedesiredactiononthepartoftheotherperson; (2)thementalgatheringofthetwocombinedformsofmagnetismintooneforce;and (3)thedeliberatedischargeoftheflashbythewill. Youhavebeenfullyinstructedregardingthefirsttwophasesofthisdirectflash method;andyouhavebeengivengeneralinformationwhichwillenableyouto comprehendthethirdphase,i.e.,thatofthedeliberatedischargeoftheflashbythe will.Thatistosay,youunderstandtheformingofthementalpicture,andthe projectionofmagnetism,inconnectionwiththegatheringupofthetwoformsof magnetism;andyoulikewiseareacquaintedwiththepowerandactionofthewillinthe workofprojectingmagnetism.Allyouneedtocompetetheinstructionregardingthe methodofusingthedirectflashisalittlefurtherinstructionregardingtheuseofthe willinprojectingthisdeliberatedischarge.AndthisfurtherinstructionIshallnowgive you. Thekeytothedirectflashconsistsinthedeliberateactionofthewillinprojectingor flashingintothemindoftheotherpersonacertaindirectstatementorcommand, backedupbyallthemagneticforceswithinyou.Thiscomeseasilyandrapidlyasthe resultofalittlepractice.And,moreover,youmaypracticeinprivate,standingbefore yourmirror,untilyouacquirethementalmechanicalease,whichisnecessary. Letusnowbeginwithsomeconcreteexamples,ratherthancontinuingthegeneral consideration.Inotherwords,letusnowgetdowntobrasstacks,inthematter.
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PreliminaryExercise.Standbeforeyourmirror;gazepositivelyandfirmlyatyourown imagetherein,justasyouwouldgazetowardanotherperson.Infact,youmusttryto imaginethatyouarereallygazingatanotherperson.Then,sendthatimaginaryperson picturedbyyourreflectedimagethemessage:Iamstrongerthanyou! Now,trytogetmyexactmeaning,asIproceed.Youmustnotrestcontentwithmerely thinkingorsayingthewordsofthemagneticcommandabovegivenyoumust cultivateanddevelopanactualwillingthecommand,justasyouwouldwilltheraising ofyourhand,ortheclenchingofyourfist.Youwillfinditnecessarytocultivatethis powerofsowilling,foryourbeliefwillnotatfirstcoordinatewiththewill.Youcouldnot verywellwillyourhandtobelifted,orfistclenched,unlessyouactuallybelievedthat thethingitselfwerepossible.Inthesamewaythelittlechildhastofirstlearnthe possibilityofhisusinghiswill,deliberately,inperformingphysicalactions.Hefirstsees othersperformingcertainactions,andtheideagraduallydawnsuponhimthathe,too, maydothem.Thenhebeginstousehiswill,awkwardlyatfirst,indirectingthemuscles asrequired.Inthesamewaywillyouhavetodevelopyourabilitytouseyourwill deliberatelyinthedirectionofthisformofpersonalmagnetism?Butbyalittlesteady, earnestpracticebeforethemirror,youwillsoonmasterthemechanismofthething therestwillbeallamatterofpracticeuponpersons. Insendingthemessage,Iamstrongerthanyou,youmustaccompanytheeffortofthe will(bywhichyousendforththethoughtcommand)withastrongmentalconviction thatyourarestronger(magnetically)thanhim,andalsowiththebeliefthathewillbe impressedbythisfactandwillacceptyourstatement.Youmustgetyourselfintothe mentalattitudeofdemandingthatheacceptyourstatement,notthatyoumerely requesthimtodoso.Inthisformofmagneticinfluencethereisnosuchthingas requestingitisallamatterofinsistentcommanddonotforgetthis.Whenyou merelyrequest,youusuallytakesecondmagneticposition,givingtotheotherperson thefirstplace.Butwhenyoucommand,youtakethefirstplace,yourself,andpushhim intothesecond.Inpracticingbeforeyourmirror,rememberthis,andendeavortoraise yourselfintothefirstposition.Youwillknowwhenyouhavedonethis,bythepeculiar feelingofsuperiormagneticstrengththatyouwillexperience. Afterhavingmasteredtheaboveexercisetoyourownsatisfactionthatis,untilyou havethoroughlyacquiredthefeelingofmastery,andmagneticsuperiority,whenyou sendforththeflashofcommandyoumayproceedtothefollowing,whichisbased uponthefirst,andresultsfromit.Imean,thatyouarenowinapositiontopracticethis secondstageoftheexercisebeforethemirror.Youwillfeellikebeginningtotryyour
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poweruponotherpersons,butyouwoulddobettertowaituntilyouhavethoroughly masteredthemechanismofmagnetismbeforethemirror. Thissecondstageofthepreliminarymirrorexerciseissummedupinthewordofmental magneticcommand,whichyouaddresstotheimaginarypersonrepresentedbyyour reflectedimage,viz.:Icancommandyoutoact.This,asyouwillseebyacareful considerationofthewords,isreallyatremendouslypowerfulstatement,anditwill requireagreatexerciseofourpowerofbelief,andmentalimagery,togetyourselfinto thepropermentalstate,sothatthewillmaytraveleasilyonitspathtoenforcethe command.Remember,thatinorderforthewilltobeabletomovesmoothlyoverits channel,sothatitmayreachthemark,itisnecessarythatyouclearawayanyobstacles thatmayremaininyourownmind.Itisenoughforthewilltohavetofightandbreak downtheobstaclesinthemindoftheotherperson,withoutalsobeingcalledonto combatandovercometheobstaclesinourownmind.So,youmustgetyourselfinthe propermentalstate,beforeyoucanhopetoinfluenceothers. Whenyousendforththementalcommandtothereflectedimage,youmust concentrateatremendouspowerofmeaninginthestatement,Icancommandyouto act.Thestatementmustbeaccompaniedbythefullforceofyourownconvictionand beliefthatyoucansocommand,andthatyouwillbeobeyed.And,inordertodothis, youwillhavetoarouseinyourselfthefullconsciousnessofyourownmagneticforce,so thatyoucanfairlyfeelitvibratinginandaroundyou.Youwillhavetorereadthese instructionsseveraltimesbeforetheywillbecomeperfectlycleartoyou.Infact,youwill havetobeginpracticing,andthenrereadingthembetweenexercises,beforeyouwill getthefullmeaning.Themeaningwillgraduallyunfoldintoyourunderstanding,asyou proceedwithyourpracticing.ItisjustasifIweregivingyoudirectionsastomastering theartofskatingyouwouldnotreallygraspthefullmeaningoftheinstructionsuntil youbeganactuallypracticingontheiceandeachtimeyouwouldrefertothebook, youwouldperceiveanewmeaningtothewords.Soitisinthecasebeforeusyouwill understandtheinstructionsfullyonlywhenyoubegintheactualpractice. Now,afteryouhavegottentothepointinthemirrorpracticewhereyouareableto actuallyfeelthatyouhavesentforthtothereflectedimagethecommandthatyouare stronger,therebyforcingtheotherpersonintothesecondmagneticplaceandalso thatyoucancommandtheotherpersontoactasyouwill,therebyplacinghiminthe subordinatecapacityofactionyoumayproceedtotryuponthereflectedimagesome specialcommandsinthesamespirit.Nowdonotfallintotheerrorofsupposingthatall thismirrorpracticeismerelychildsplay.Ifyoudo,youwillbemakingagreatmistake, foritisanythingbutplayoridlepastime.Itisthelearningofthemechanismofthe
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directflash,beforeyoustartintorunthemachineinearnest.Itisliketheperiodof preliminarypracticeinanything,whichprecedestheactualperformance.Itisthe rehearsal,whichmustprecedetheplay.Donotfailtofaithfullyperformtherehearsal exercises,beforeyoubegintomanifestyourmagnetisminearnest.Youmustfully acquaintyourselfwithyourmagneticmachinebeforeyoubegintorunitinearnest. Theprecedingpracticeexercisesmaybefollowedbyasimilarpracticeofsendingforth flashesofanythingthatyoumaywishtoactuallysendtootherpersonslateron.You maysupplythesecommandsforyourself,oryoumaypracticeonthefollowingexcellent commands,allofwhicharelikelytobeusedbyyouinyouractualmanifestationof personalmagnetism. Thesecommandsmaybevaried,ofcourse,tosuityourtastes.Theymustallbe deliveredbeforethemirror,inexactlythesamemannerasIhavealreadystated: Lookatme! Givemeyourfullattention! Comethisway! Goawayfrommeletmealone! Youlikeme.Youloveme YoufeellikedoingasIwishyoutodo! Youwanttopleaseme! Youwillagreetomyproposition! Getoutofmyway! Youareattractedtowardme! Ifascinateyou! IamyourMASTER! Come!Bequick,anddoasItellyou! Youarereceptivetomywishes! Youareresponsivetomywill!
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ChapterXV:
ExercisesintheDirectFlash
And,now,havingmasteredthepreliminarymirrorexercises,yourereadytobeginyour experimentsonrealpersons.But,here,too,youmustcrawlbeforeyoucanwalkand run.Youmustbeginwiththesimplerformsofmagneticinfluence,beforeyoucan accomplishthemorecomplicatedordifficulttasks.But,youhavenowemergedfromthe kindergartenstage,andarereadytopracticeinearnest.Ifyouhavefaithfullyfollowed theinstructionsinthemirrorpractice,youhavemasteredthemechanismofmagnetic influence,andarereadytorunthemachineinpubicview.Butdonotforamoment losewhatyouhavegainedinthemirrorexercise.Holdtightandfasttothetechnique youhaveacquired,anddonotforamomentfallintotheerrorthatyoumustnowbegin alloveragain.Thethingforyoutoremember,always,isthatyouarereallybutcarrying themirrorexercisesforwardonahigherscale,inabroaderfield.Andyouwillfindsome interestingworkaheadofyou.Takemywordforit. FirstExercise.Ishallnowgiveyouanexercisethatisalmostalwaysgiventobeginners, bythebestteachersofmagnetism.Itconsistsoftheprocessofcausingapersonahead ofyou,onthestreet,toturnaroundasifhehadheardsomeonecallouttohimby name.Theprocessisverysimple.Youhavebuttowalksomelittledistancebehindthe otherperson,onthestreet,parkorotherpublicplace.Concentrateyourfixedattention ontheperson,gazingatthelowerbackpartofhishead.Andsendinghimfirstastrong flashofmagneticforce,thisbeingfollowedbythedirectflashcommand;Hereyou! Turnaround,justasifyouwereactuallycallingoutaloudtohim.Youmayevenwhisper thewordssosoftlythatnooneelsecanhearthemthismayhelpyoutoputforceinto thecommandatfirst,butyouwillsoonoutgrowtheneedofthesame.Atthetimeyou sendtheflashcommandyoumustactuallyWILLthatthepersonwillaroundinyour direction.Putallthemagneticforcewithinyou,inthiseffort. Youwillfindthatinsomecasestheotherpersonwillturnhisheadalmostatonce,and lookinquiringlybehindhiminyourdirection.Inthemajorityofcases,however,hewill takealongertimeaboutit.Hewillbeapttofirstgrowuneasyandrestless,andbeginby glancingfromsidetoside,asiflookingforsomeone;thenhewillalmost(butnotquite) turnhisheadaround;then,finallyhewillglancebackwardsomewhatfurtivelyand suspiciously.Notwopersonsactpreciselyalikeinthisrespect;and,then,again,the samepersonwillactdifferentlyunderdifferentconditions.Therearecertaintimesat whichtheconditionsseemtobemorefavorablethanatothers,forvariousreasons,as youwilldiscoverforyourself.
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Youwillfind,inthisaswellasthefollowingotherexercisesthatthebestresultswillbe obtainedwhiletheotherpersonisproceedingidlyalong,withouthisattentionbeing directedparticularlyinanydirection. Whentheattentionisfree,themindismoreopentooutsideinfluences.Whenthe otherpersonsattentionisfirmlyfixedonanythingelse,itwillbefounddifficultto influencehimtoanymarkeddegree.Thisistheresultofanestablishedruleof psychology,andwillbefoundtobeoperativeinallcases,asforinstance,ifyoucalla personwhenheispreoccupiedeitherwithdeepthought,orelsewhenhissurroundings hewillprobablynothearyoucallhim,thoughunderotherconditionshewouldturn readily.Thesameruleis,ofcourse,operativeinthecaseofmagneticinfluence. SecondExercise.Wheninchurch,theatreorotherpublicplace,oreveninaroomfullof company,fixyourgazeatthelowerbackoftheheadofsomepersonintheplace,and sendhimthedirectflashcommand:Here,you!Turnaroundandlookatme!Using allthemagneticforcewithinyou,andputtingtheforceofyourwillbackofthe command. Youwillnoticethesamepeculiarresultasintheprecedingexercise,i.e.,thefidgetingin theseat,theuneasinessandrestlessness,thefinalquickturnoftheheadinyour direction,followedbytheconfusedexpressionofcountenance.Inbothofthesecases, youshouldmaintainacalm,uninterestedgazeahead,apparentlynotnoticingthe person.Itisnotwelltohavepersonsgettheideathatyouareexperimentingupon them,atanytime.Thereisnopowersopotentasthesilent,reservedpower.Sokeep yourowncounsel,anddonotscatterandweakenyourforcebytalkingaboutittoothers farlessbyboastingaboutit.Therearecertaingoodpsychologicalandoccultreasons formyadmonitionregardingkeepingyourowncounsel,andnotdissipatingyourenergy bytalkingaboutit,orrevealingittoothers.Ishallnotsaymoreonthesubjectatthis timebutIwantyoutorememberwhatIhavesaid,andtoheedit. ThirdExercise.Thisisavariationofthefirstexercise,andconsistsofmakingtheperson aheadofyouturntotherightortotheleftwhilewalkingaheadofyou.Thismayfollow yourexerciseofmakinghimturnaround.Whenheapproachesanotherperson,send himaflashtomovetotheright,ortotheleft,asyouwill.Youmayalsocommanda personinlikemannerwhenheisapproachingyou.Youwillbesurprisedatyoursuccess inthisdirection,afteralittlepractice.Inthecaseofaverysensitivesubject,youcan causehim,orher,tozigzaginacomicalmanner.Donotoverdothis,however,oryou maydefeatyourownobject,besidesbeingunkindtothesensitiveperson.
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FourthExercise.Thisisavariationofthesecondexercise,andconsistsinmakingthe seatedperson,infrontofyou,turnandglancetotheright,andthentotheleft,asyou will.Duringtheexercise,whichmayextendoversometime,youmayobtainsomevery markedresultsfromtheexperiment,insomecases.Asbefore,Icautionyouagainst goingtoofarwiththeexperiment,lestyoubenoticedbyothers,andalso,becauseitis notfairtothesubject. FifthExercise.Inthisexperiment,youcommandtheotherpersontodrophiscane,or umbrella,etc.,orherfan,handkerchief,etc.Inshort,youcausetheotherpersonto performsomelittlemuscularactionunderthecontrolofyourwill. SixthExercise.Theaboveexercisemaybevariedbysendingpassingpersonsvarious commandswhileyouareseatedatyourwindow,oronyourporch,etc.Youmayputin aninterestinghourinsendingflashestothepassingcrowd,oneatatime,ofcourse,and thennotingthepercentageofsuccesses.Youwillfindthatthepercentagewillvary;but thegeneraldegreeofsuccessshouldslowlybutsteadilyincrease,ontheaverage.Donot maketheteststoocomplicated,butsendtheflashtoperformsomeverysimplemotion. Youwillbesurprisedtodiscoverwhatalargepercentofthepersonswillglanceinyour direction,eventhoughyouhavenotparticularlycommandedthemtodoso.Thislatter resultoccursbecauseofethgeneralattractionthattheywillfeeltowardyou,byreason oftheinfluenceofyourmagneticwave. SeventhExercise.WhileIhaveadvisedyoutolookdirectlyattheotherpersons,in sendingtheflash,thisisnotabsolutelynecessaryafteryouhavefullyacquiredthe mechanismoftheflash.Infact,afterashorttime,youwillbeabletoobtaintheresult eventhoughyoureyesareturnedinanotherdirection.Itisnotyoureyethatinfluences them,butmerelythatbygazingintentlyyoumanagetofirmlyconcentrateyour attentionandwillintheirdirection.Youmaytrytheexperimentofgazingstraightahead ofyouinapublicplace,oronthestreet,andthenflashingthecommandtotheother persontolookatyou,andyouwillfindthatyouwillmeetwithquitealargepercentage ofsuccess,particularlyafteryouhavesucceededwiththegazingplanofprocedure. EighthExercise.Afterhavingmasteredtheaboveexercise,youmayproceedtoastill higherformofmagneticinfluence,namely,thatofinfluencingthespeechofanother person.Youproceedinthiscaseinthesamegeneralmannerasintheexercisesjust given.Whenapersonisspeakingtoyou,youmayputwordsintohismouthbya strongmentalcommand,ormagneticflash.Donottrytomakehimsayawhole sentenceatleastatfirst.Ratherbeginbywaitinguntilhepausesinhisspeech,and thenstronglywillacertainwordtohimawordthatwillnaturallyfitintohissentence andhewillbeveryapttorepeatit.Afteralittlepracticeyoucanmakehimrepeatan
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absurdword,ortostammer,haltandstutterinhisspeech,ifyousowillit.Afterstill morepractice,youmaysucceedincausinghimtorepeatawholesentence,oreven more,toexpressthethoughtyouhaveputintohismind;ortoasksomequestionwhich youhavewilledthatheshouldask. Youwillreadilyseebythistime,thataconstantpracticealongtheselines,willresultin youracquiringthepowertowillandmagneticallyinfluenceanotherpersontodomany things,inresponsetoyourwill,andsilentcommand.Infact,aconstantdevelopment alongtheselineswillmakeofoneaverygiantinmagneticpower,whoseresultsare proportionedonlybythedegreeofmagneticforceofotherpersons,orthedegreeof persistentpracticeanddevelopmentonhisownpart. ButIwishtocautionyou,atthispoint,againstusingthispowerforanyunworthy purpose.Thiscautiondoesnotarisefrommerelyamoralmotiveonmypart,butfrom knowledgeofcertainpsychiclawswhichcauseareactionequalingtheaction,and whichwillbringsorryresultstoyouifyouviolatetherule.Solongasyouuseyour newfoundpowerforpurelyscientificexperiments,orlegitimatepurposesofhuman association,allverywellandgood.Butneverprostituteyourpowertoaccomplish unworthyorcriminalends,lestyoubecomeinvolvedinastormofyourownraisingor enmeshedinawebofourownweaving.Therearecertainpsychicallaws,aswellas physicallaws,whichmustnotbebrokenandthisisoneofthem.Thisisparticularly trueofthecaseofapersonusingthepowerforthepurposeofinfluencingtheothersex inanimmoraldirection.Alltheoldoccultwriterscautionparticularlyagainstthis practice.Soheedtheadvice,anddotherightthingonly,withyourpower.
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ChapterXVI:
ThePositiveAura
Nowthatyouhavemasteredthetechniqueofthemechanismofthedirectflash,you arereadytoproceedtotheactualdemonstrationandcontactwiththegeneralpublic. But,beforetakingupthatphaseofthesubject,Ithinkitwelltoaskyoutoconsiderthe matterofthecreationandmaintenanceofthepositiveaura.Ihavepurposely postponedtheconsiderationofthisphaseofthesubject,untilwereachedthisparticular pointintheinstruction,because,inordertoproperlycreateandmaintainthepositive aura,itisnecessarythatoneunderstandsthemechanismandtechniqueofthedirect flash,forhewillneedtomanifestthesamepowerinthecaseofthepositiveaura.But, nowthatyouhavemasteredthetechniqueormechanismofthedirectflash,youare readytoreceivetheinstructionregardingthepositiveaura,andwemayaswellproceed toconsideritatthisverypoint. Ihavealreadygivenyouinstructionsregardingthecultivationofadesirablepersonal atmosphere,oraura,andneednotrepeatherewhatIhavealreadysaidelsewhere.But, amomentsconsiderationwillshowyouthattherewillarisecertainconditionsor occasionsinwhichyouwillfinditverydesirabletobeabletoinfluenceanumberof personsenmassethecrowdasawholeratherthantosendthedirectflashtoeach oftheindividualsseparately.Ofcourse,thecrowdwillbeinfluencedbyyourgeneral personalatmosphere,butyounowneedsomethingmorepositive,andmoretothe point.Andthepositiveauraiswhatyoumustacquiretosatisfythisrequirement. Thepositiveauraissimplythegeneralpersonalatmosphere,butdirectlyandpositively chargedbyaconcentratedeffortofthewillthesameeffort,infact,asthatmadein thecaseofthedirectflash. Letmeillustratethepositiveaurabymeansofseveralstoriesfromreallifethe experiencesofseveralstudentsofmine.Thesepersonalexperienceswillgiveyoua betterideaofjustwhatisneededthanwouldpagesofgeneralinstructiononthe subject.Thelittlestoriesarenotfiction,remember,butaretakenfromlife,andare bitsofhumandocumentsfromthelivesofrealpeople,allofwhichhavecomeundermy personalobservationandconsideration. Severalyearsago,inParis,Ihadastudentwhoserealstrengthofcharacterwasmarred byherabnormalselfconsciousness,shyness,timidity,andsensitivenessinfact;inthe wordsensitivenessyouhavethekeynoteofthisyoungwomanspersonality.Shewasa
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youngartistoffarmorethantheaveragetalent,andhercharmofmannerrenderedher companysoughtafterbyalargecircleoffriends. Thisladycomplainedtomethatshesufferedfromtheactualrudeness,nay,andalmost positivebrutality,ofthecrowdsofpersonsthrongingthebusystreetsofsomeofthe principalthoroughfaresofParis.Shecomplainedthatshewasjostledhereandthere, andpushedrudelyasidebythepassingthrong.Moreover,shewastreatedrudelyinthe shops,thesuperficialveneerofpolitenessoftheaverageParisianshopclerkscarcely concealingtheunderlyingcontemptandveiledsneerofthesecheapsatellitesofthe ubiquitousshopkeepersofthischarmingcity. Myfirstthoughtwasthattheyoungwomanhadworkedherselfupintoastateof imaginarywrongs,theresultofherhighlysensitiveorganismandshrinkingdisposition inshort,Ithoughtthatshewassufferingfromastateofmorbidselfconsciousness,with itsfrequentaccompanimentofimaginarypersecution,etc.SoIdeterminedtotestout thematter,andascertainformyselfjusthowmuchtruthwasinthecase. Makingaslightchangeinmypersonalappearance,bymeansofasimpledisguiseonce taughtmebyanotherofmystudents,acelebrateddetectiveofParis,Ifollowedthe youngladyforseveralhourswhenshewasonashoppingexpedition.Muchtomy surprise,and,Imayadd,muchtomyindignation,Ifoundthatallthatshehadtoldme wascorrect.Icouldscarcelycontrolmyselfattimes,andmorethanoncefeltlike chastisingsomerudefellowwithmycane,sobrutalwastheconductofcertain individualscallingthemselvesmen. ThereisacertainclassofParisianmen,welldressedandwithaveneerofpolish,but boorsandcuresatheart.Thesemenseemtotakeaspecialdelightinjostlingyoung women,almostpushingthemoffthesidewalks,attimes,andinotherwaysearninga goodcaningatthehandsofrealgentlemen.Well,thesecursseemedattractedtothis sweetyounggirl,justasfliesaredrawntotabitofsugar.Theyexceededthemselvesin theirdisplayofrudenessandcowardlyinsolence,andallthewhilethegirlwasfreefrom anyoutwardappearancethatwouldattractsuchcursnaturally.Isawatoncethatthere wassomeinnercauseoperating. Moreover,Inoticedthattheyoungwomanwasalsopushedasiderudelybyhurrying businesspersons,whoneverglancedinherdirection,butwhothrustherasideasifshe wereaninanimatethinginsteadofaperson.AgainIfoundaninnercause.Inthesame wayIfoundthatshewastreatedexactlyinthewayshehadcomplainedofintheshops, bytheclerksandshopmen,althoughshewasaliberalcustomer,easilysuited,and givingbutlittletrouble.Hereagain,theinnertroublewasapparent.
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Iwenthomeandcarefullydiagnosedthecase,andlaiddownacourseortreatment.I sentfortheyoungwomanandtoldherthathertroublewasacaseofingrown sensitiveness,andovergrownmodestyinshort,thatshehadsurroundedherselfwith anauraofselfdepreciationandmorbidsensitiveness.Thisaurapracticallyinvited personstopickonher,tocrowdhertothewall,topushherinthegutter,andto generallyslight,snubandcovertlyinsultherintheshops.Heraurawasnotonly negative,butalsoactuallyattractivelynegativethatistosay,sonegativethatit actuallyattractedmorepositivenaturesinthedirectionofimposingonherweakness. (Thisisfarfrombeingunusualitisaruleofthepsychicaswellasofthephysicalworld, amonganimalsaswellasamongmen) Iimmediatelybeganteachingthisladythetechniqueofthedirectflashbeforethe mirror(exactlyasIhavetaughtyou),herflashesbeinginvariablyalongthelinesof positivismandstrength.ShewouldflashoutIampositivefarmorepositivethanthe crowdaroundme;Getoutofmyway,orIwillwalkoveryou;Clearthepathforme, youvermin,andotherexaggerateddemandsintendedforthestreetcrowds.Inthe samewayshewouldflashoutthecommandtotheshoppeople.Come,now,Idemand respectfulattention;Lively,now,attendtomywants;Iamaprincessoftheblood, bowtome,youunderlings,etc.YouwillnotethatIpurposelyexaggeratedthemental demandsandflashes,becausesheneededanexaggeratedpositivementalattitudein ordertoovercomehernaturalandacquiredhandicap.Inashorttimeshehadacquired thetechniqueperfectlyandhaddevelopedamentalattitudeandgeneralpersonal atmosphereofaprincess.Thensheproceededtotryitonthecrowd,bymeansofthe positiveaura. Theresultwasmarvelous.Fromthemomentherfeettouchedthesidewalks,her progresswasthatofaprincess,personsinstinctivelymovedoutofherway,someeven slightlybowingastheydidso.Therowdygentlemen(?)movedfarawayfromher.Andin theshopsthequeenofEnglandcouldhavereceivednomorehumbleserviceorcareful attention.Thecurewascomplete,andhasremainedso.Theyoungladyhaslongsince laidasidethePrincessRoyalmanner,andnowsimplymaintainsanauraofpositive selfrespectandselfconfidence,andademandthatshebeaccordedtheproper consideration. AnothercaseisthatofayoungstudentofmineanAmerican,thesonofaprominent businessman.Thisyoungmanwaswelleducated,polished,andmoreover,possessedof aalltherequisitesofasuccessfulsalesman,exceptthatofinspiringafeelingof friendshiponthepartofthosewithwhomhecameincontact.Hewascalleduponto approachprominentbusinessmeninconnectionwithhisworkforhisfather,andwhile
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hewasabletopresenthisargumentslogicallyandforcibly,hewasnevertheless handicappedbythefacttheherepelledfriendship,ratherthaninvitedit.Indesperation, hemadethetripacrosstheAtlantictoconsultme,andtobegacureforhisserious psychictrouble. Hiscurewasveryeasy.Isimplyputhimthroughacourseofthemirrorexercisesinthe directflash,untilhehadmasteredthetechnique;andthenhadhimsaturatehismind withthementalimageandideaof:Youlikemeyoulikemeverymuch;Youfeel attractedtowardme;Youaremyfriend,andwishtoshowyourfriendshipforme, etc.,etc.,etc.Alltheseideaswerebutvariationsof,animprovementupon,thesimple ideaofYoulikeme! Well,thisyoungmanbegantoradiatesuchanatmosphereoflikeability,friendship,etc., thathemadefriendsrightandleft,evenwithouttyingitwasintheairaroundhim,it seemed.Hisoldtroubledisappearedlikemagichewasmadeoverintoanewman. And,yetitwasallverysimple,yousee.Merechildsplay,whenonehasthesecret,as younowhave.Theyoungmaninsisteduponpresentingmewithhischeckfor$1,000, althoughIhadchargedhimbutonetenthofthatamount,formytimeandtrouble. Icouldgooninthisvein,recitingcaseaftercasecomingundermyownexperience,butI thinkthatthetwocasesIhavementionedwillgiveyouthegeneralideaofwhatIam tryingtoteachyou,withoutmytakingupmoretimeandspaceatthispoint.Theruleis generalitisforyoutoapplyittotheparticularrequirementsofyourowncase.Find outyourweakspotsofpersonalatmosphere,andthenproceedtobuilduptheopposite qualitiesofmindandcharacter.Findoutyournegativepointsofattracting,andthen proceedtobuildoftheiroppositepositivequalities,justasthetwostudents,just mentioned,didwithsuchmarkedsuccess.Readovercarefullythischapteragain,and again,untilyougetthepointfixedinyourmind.Therestismerelyamatterofpractice.
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ChapterXVII:
TheDirectCommand
Havingbythistimeacquiredthetechniqueofthedirectflash,byyourmirrorpractice; andhaving,also,masteredtheartofcultivatingthepositiveaura,youshouldbeableto manifestwhatisknownasthedirectcommand,withoutmuchadditionalinstruction. Bythedirectcommandismeanttheflashingofadirectcommandordemandtothe mindofanotherperson,backedupbytheconcentratedpowerofbothyourmentaland physicalmagnetism.DoyouseenowwhyIhavefirsttaughtyoutoacquirethe techniquebymeansofthemirrorpractice,andhavethennexttaughtyouhowto generateandmaintainthepositiveaura?Certainly,youhaveseenthepoint!A momentsthoughtwillshowyouthatthedirectcommandisreallyacombinationof themethodsofthemirrorpractice,andthatofthepositiveaura.Themirrorpractice taughtyouthetechnique,andthepracticeaffordedbythepositiveauramethodshave servedtogiveyouease,selfconfidence,andanalmostinstinctiveuseofyourmagnetic powersinthedirectionofinfluencingotherpersons.Youwillalsoseethepartplayedin yourdevelopmentbythespecialexercisesinthedirectflash,whichIgaveyouina precedingchapter.YounowbegintoseewhyIhaveledyoutothepresentpointby degrees,doyounot? Thedirectcommandisreallyahighformofthedirectflash,andisthemethod wherebythelattermaybeusedtothehighestdegreeofeffectiveness. Inthedirectcommandyouflashyourcommandtothemindoftheotherperson, mentally,ofcourse,butinexactlythesamewaythatyouwouldmakeanactual commandbyspokenwords,iftheconditionsadmittedofthesame.Youformthewords ofthecommandinyourmind,carryingwithitasstrongamentalpictureasyoucan create,andthenmentallyflashthecommandtotheotherpersonwithasmuch magneticforceasyoucanmuster. Youwillfinditanaidtoeffectiveness,inthecaseofacontemplateddemanduponsome particularperson,foracertainthing,topracticeitbeforethemirror,usingyourown imageasatargetjustasyoudidintheexercisepreviouslygivenyou.Youwillfind thatarehearsalofthiskindwilltendtoincreaseyourpoweratthetimeoftheactual manifestationorcommand. Itisimpossibletogiveyouspecificinstructionforthecarryingoutofthisprogramin specialcases,foreachpersonwillhavehisorherownspecialrequirements,thesame
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dependinguponthespecialcircumstancesofthecase.AllthatIcandoistogiveyouthe generalrulestoyourownparticularcasesandrequirements.ThegeneralrulesIhave alreadygivenyou.PerhapsIcanillustratetheapplicationofthesamebycitingafew cases,whichhaveactuallycomeundermyownobservationandexperience. OneofthemostinterestingcasesofthekindthatIhaveevermetwithwasthatofa professorinoneoftheAmericanuniversities.Thisman,aspecialistinhisparticularline ofscientificresearch,andathoroughmasterofhisownparticularsubject,commanded alargeaudienceofreadersofhisbooksandmagazinearticles,but,atthesametimewas almostafailureinhisclasswork,owingtohisinabilitytogainandholdtheattentionof hisstudents.Hecametome,inParis,andexplainedhistrouble.Igavehimmyshort courseinmentalinfluence,etc.,anddrilledhimwellalongthelineslaiddowninthis book.Imadehimpracticebeforeanimaginaryroomfulofstudents,sendingthema strongdirectcommandofGivemeyourfullattention!Steady,now,yourattention yourfullandcompleteattentiontomywords!andThatsright,youaregivingmeyour fullattentionnowholditfirmlyfixedonme!andasimilarstockofdirectcommands. Thesecommandsweredirectedcommandsweredirectedfirsttothebellwethersof theclassthosenaturalleaderswhoaretobefoundineachclass,andthenscattered amongtheclassatlarge.Theprofessortoldmethat,afteranumberoftheseimaginary classroomscenes,eachfacebeingdistinctandplain,andthathecouldalmostseethe flashofhiscommandreachingthem. WhenIthoughtthathehadmasteredthegeneralprinciples,andacquiredthe technique,Idismissedhim,andhereturnedatoncetotheuniversityinAmerica.I receivedseverallettersfromhimduringthefollowingyear,andhetestifiedtothe completesuccessoftheplanwhenputintoactualeffect.Fromthefirstdayofhisreturn heobtainedandheldtheattentionofhisclass,andtodayheisoneofthebestpersonal instructorsinhisuniversity,orelsewhereforthatmatter.Inthiscaseheappliedthe directcommandtospecialindividualsoftheclass,buttheprinciplewasthesameasin thecaseofasinglespecialindividual,anddifferedfromthepositiveauramethod. Anothercasewasthatofapromoter,nowofinternationalreputation,whoformerlywas unabletoclosemanyofhisplans,owingtoalackofsomethinginhismentalmakeup, hethought.Hecouldevolveplans,whichattractedtheattentionofprominentmenand others,andhecouldalsomanagetofascinatethembyhisgeneraltalkregardinghi enterprises.Buthefounditmostdifficulttoinducethemtotakethefinalstepocoming in,orsigningthecontract,orenteringthesubscription,asthecasemightbe. Ilaboredwiththisman,experiencingmuchtroubleinovercominghisfixedandstubborn ideathattherewas,somethingwrongwithhismentalmakeup.Finally,afteralong
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periodofcarefuldrillingbeforeanimaginaryprospect(thistermbeingappliedto prospectivecustomers)hebegantofeelthathehadthemissingelement,afterall.From thatmomenthewasfilledwithnewcourage,andthrewnewlifeandenergyintothe exercises.Sopowerfullymagneticwasthisman,andsohighadegreeofconcentrated forcedidehgenerate,thatIcouldactuallyfeeltheforceofhispowerwhilepresentin theroomdirectingtheexercises.Iactually,myself,feltlikesubscribingtosomeofhis stock,andamsurethathadheapproachedmeonthesubjectitwouldhaverequired theexerciseofmyfullpowerofselfprotectionandresistancetohaveovercomehis magnetism. Whenthismanfinishedhisinstructionatmyhands,heatonceplungedintothefloating ofanewgreatenterprise,andcarriedthesametoamostsuccessfulconclusion.He closednearlyeveryprospectthatheapproached,andsoondroppedallthesmaller prospects,anddevotedhisentireattentiontothelargefish.Idonotfeelatlibertyto stateheretheexactwordsofthedirectcommandusedbyhim,forhepaidmealarge feeformyservices,andthesecretshouldbehisown,underthecircumstancesbutthisI willsay,thathisdirectcommandwasastraightoutfromtheshouldermentalDEMAND upontheprospecttocomein. Anotherinterestingcasewasthatofanowwellknownactress,wholacked fascination.Shewasamagnificentactress,offinepresenceandathoroughknowledge ofherart,butforsomereasonheractingseemedtolacksoul.Shecametometolearn howtoinfluenceheraudiencebypersonalmagnetism,butIsawatoncethatherart,if fullyexercised,wouldbesufficienttocarryheraudienceswithher.Hertroublelayinthe factthattherewasacertainfascinationlacking.Isethertowork,traininghersothat shewouldactuallyfascinatetheactorsplayingwithher,andanairofrealitywouldbe thuscreated.Sheprogressedrapidly,soquickwereherperceptions.Whensheleftme shewasabletothrowsuchadegreeoffascinationintohervoiceandmanner,thatthe actorplayingwithherwouldbefairlysweptoffhisfeet;theresultbeingthatthe audiencewouldcatchthesamebyakindofmentalcontagion.Shesimplyhurledmental directcommandsattheactors,whilerecitingherlines,andwhileapproachingthem. Hersuccessisnowassured,butIcannotresistthetemptationofmentioningthatshe hashadthegreatesttroublewithherleadingmeninhercompaniestheyallinsistand persistinfallinginlovewithher,andshehashadtochangethemfrequentlytogetridof theirunwelcomeattentions,forherheartistakenelsewhere. IfellthatIamjustifiedincallingtheattentiontoanothercasethatofaleading statesmanwhotookmyinstructionsbymeansofaseriesofletters,severalyearsago. ThismanwantedMASTERY.Hegotit.Igavehimthecue,andkeynote,andhedidthe
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rest.Somasterfuldidhebecome,bytheemploymentofmysuggesteddirect commands,thathedominatedallwhocamenearhim.Infacthecarriedthethingalittle toofarhegrewtoberegardedasdangerousandtyrannical,andpowerfulinterests conspiredagainsthim.Heisintemporaryretirementatthistimebutheisreallybut bidinghistime.Itisimpossibletoremaininthismanspresenceforanytime particularlyifhisattentionisdirectedtowardyouwithoutacknowledginghimtobea MASTER. Inowaskyourefertothelastpagesofthechapteronthedirectflash.Youwillfind thereanumberofsentencesgivenaspracticesbeforethemirror.Studyoverthese sentencescarefully,andyouwillfindthereinastronghintoftheidea,whichyoushould weaveintoyourowndirectcommands.Studentsofmind,undermydirection,have effectivelyemployedallofthesesentences;inactualpracticeandallofthemhavethe germofsuccessinthem.Youmayusethemsingly,incombination,orasageneral patternaroundwhichyoumayweaveyourownideas.Practiceeachofthem,untilyou catchthespirit,andyouwillthenhavenotroubleincreatingyourowncommandsinthe mostapprovedstyle.YouwillnoticetheDIRECTNESSandPOSITIVENESSofeachofthese commandsthesearethetwoessentialqualitiestobeobservedandusedinthiswork ofthedirectcommand.Putallyourmagneticforcebehindthem,andflashthemout righttothepointsquarelyintothementalityofthepersonswhomyouwishto influence.
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ChapterXVIII:
TheMagneticDuel
Thelawsofpersonalmagnetismareinaccordwiththeotherlawsofnaturein recognizingtheuniversalfactthattherearevariousdegreesofpower,andthat,allelse beingequal,thestrongerpowerwillprevailovertheweaker.But,itislikewisetruethat theindividual,byasuperiorknowledgeoftheartofscienceofdefenseandoffense,may oftentriumphoverasuperiordegreeofstrengthintheotherperson.Thisfactisastrue ofpersonalmagnetismasitisofphysicalstrength.Theskilledmagneticindividualmay overcomehisstrongeradversary,justastheskilledboxermayovercomeastrongerman, oraskilledfencermaydisarmanddefeatamuchstrongeropponent. Theconflictbetweentheopposingmagnetismofindividualsistobeseenonallhands everyday.Infact,ithasbeenwellsaidthattwopersonsnevermeetbutthatthereisat leastapreliminarytrialofmagneticstrength.Atanyrate,notwopersonsevermeet, whoseinterestsareintheleastopposed,butthatthereoccursalittletiltofmagnetic strengthsometimesaquitestrenuoustest,infact.Andintheseteststherealwaysis onetriumphantandonedefeated.Itistruethatthecircumstancesofthecase sometimesaffecttheresult,andthedefeatedtodaymaybethevictortomorrow,butthe factremains,thatforthetimebeing,atleast,thereisalwaysoneontopandtheother underneathatthefinishofthemagneticduel,beitslightorserious.Onehasbutto recallincidentsintheirownexperiencetorecognizethisfact. OliverWendellHolmesrecognizedthismagneticduel,inoneofhisbooks,whenhe speaksofthatdeadlyIndianhuginwhichmenwrestlewiththeireyes,overinfive seconds,butwhichbreaksoneoftheirtwobacks,andisgoodforthreescoreyearsand ten,onetrialenoughsettlesthewholematterjustaswhentwofeatheredsongsters ofthebarnyard,gameanddunghill,cometogether.Afterajumportwo,andafewsharp kicks,thereisanendofit;anditisAfteryou,monsieurwiththebeatenpartyinallthe socialrelationsforalltherestofhisdays. Dr.Fothergill,awellknownEnglishPhysician,nowdeceased,oncewrotealittlebook uponthesubjectofthewill.Thegooddoctorwasaclosestudentofpersonal magnetism,althoughhedidnotchoosetousethetermitselfinhiswritings,becauseof thenarrowcodeofprofessionalethicsthenimposeduponthemedicalprofessionin GreatBritain.Ihavepersonalmagnetism,intheoryandpractice.Ithereforetakegreat pleasureinquotingfromhimontheparticularsubjectnowbeforeus,asfollows:
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Theconflictofwill,thepowertocommandothers,hasbeenspokenoffrequently.Yet whatisthiswillpower,whichinfluencesothers?Whatisitthatmakesusaccept,and adopttoo,theadviceofoneperson,whilepreciselythesameadvicefromanotherhas beenrejected?Isittheweightorforceofwill,whichinsensiblyinfluencesus,theforce ofwillbehindtheadvice?Thatiswhatitis!Thepersonwhothusforceshisorheradvice uponushasnomorepowertoenforceitthanothers;butallthesamewedoas requested.Weacceptfromonewhatwerejectfromanother.Onepersonsaysof somethingcontemplated,Oh,butyoumustnot,yetwedoitallthesame,thoughthat personmaybeinapositiontomakeusregrettherejectionofthatcounsel.Another personsays,Oh,butyoumustnt,andwedesist,thoughwemay,ifsodisposed,setthis latterpersonsopiniontdefiancewithimpunity.Itisnotthefearofconsequences,nor ofgivingoffence,whichdeterminestheadoptionofthelatterpersonsadvice,whileit hasbeenrejectedwhengivenbythefirst.Itdependsuponthecharacterorwillpowerof theindividualadvisingwhetherweaccepttheadvice,orrejectit.Thischaracteroften dependslittle,ifatall,insomecases,upontheintellect,orevenonthemoralqualities, thegoodnessorbadness,oftheindividual.Itisitselfanimponderablesomething;yetit carriesweightwithit. Theremaybeablermen,cleverermen;butitistheonepossessedofwillwhorisesto thesurfaceatthesetimestheonewhocanbysomesubtlepowermakeothermen obeyhim Thewillstrugglegoesonuniversally.Intheyoungaristocrat,whogetshistailortomake anotheradvanceindefianceofhisconvictionthathewillnevergethismoneyback?It goesonbetweenlawyerandclient;betwixtdoctorandpatient;betweenbankerand borrower;betwixtbuyerandseller.Itisnottact,whichenablesthepersonbehindthe countertoinducecustomerstobuywhattheydidnotintendtobuy,andwhichwhen bought,givesthemnosatisfaction,thoughitislinkedtherewithfortheefforttobe successful. Whenevertwopersonsmeetinbusiness,orinanyotherrelationinlife,upto lovemaking,thereisthiswillfightgoingon,commonlyenoughwithoutany consciousnessofthestruggle.Thereisadimconsciousnessoftheresult,butnoneofthe processes.Itoftentakesyearsoftheintimacyofmarriedlifetofindoutwithwhomof thepairthemasteryreallylays.Oftenthefarstrongercharacter,toallappearances,has toyield;itisthiswillelement,whichunderliesthestatement.Theraceisnotalwaysto theswift,northebattletothestrong.InMiddlemarchwefindinLydgateagrand aggregationofqualities,yetshallow,hard,selfishRosamondmastershimthoroughlyin theend.Hewasnotdeficientinwillpower,possessedmorethananaverageshareof
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character;butinthefighthewentdownatlastundertheonslaughtoftheintense, stubbornwillofhisnarrowmindedspouse.Theirwillcontestwasthecollisionofa large,warmnature,likeacapablehumanhand,withahard,narrow,selfishnature,likea steelbutton;thehandonlybruiseditselfwhilethebuttonremainedunaffected. Ifyouwillsubstitutethetermmagneticforce,forwill,willpower,etc.,inthegood doctorswords,youwillseehowperfectlyhewasinaccordwiththeteachingscontained inthisbook. Thestudentwhohascarefullystudiedtheforegoingpageswillhaveacquiredsufficient knowledgeofthetheoryandpractice,themethodandthetechnique,ofpersonal magnetism,tobeabletocarryhimselforherselfthoughamagneticduelwithcredit tohimselforherself,andcredittomyself,theteacher.Butremember,thatthereisas muchinadroitness,andskill,asthereisinmerestrengthofmagnetism.Carryinmind thetacticsofthegoodboxer,orgoodfencertrytoreproduce(inthemagneticduel) theguards,thefeints,theunexpectedstroke,therushes,theoverpoweringstroke,etc. Itwillnothurtyoutopurposelyengageinsomeoftheseconflicts,asgoodpractice preparingforthedayofarealtestofpoweronsomeimportantpoint.Assertyourwilla little,andstrivetohaveyourownwayinsmallmatters,particularlyifyouareopposed thereinbyothers.Theskillandpractice,togetherwiththeselfconfidenceyouwillgain willproveusefultoyouinthehourorneed. Inadditiontothegeneralandspecialinstructionregardingtheuseofpositive magnetisminrelationtootherpersons,Inowofferforyourconsiderationthefollowing specialflashes,foruseonspecialoccasions,especiallyincasesofthemagneticduel. Youwillfindtheseflashesofgreatusetoyouonsuchoccasions,particularly(asis generallythecase)wheretheopponentdoesnotknowthesecretofhisownnatural powerofmagnetism,andisnotversedintheartandscienceofusingit.Studyover thesecarefullyfortheyarevaluable,andrepresenttheresultofyearsofexperience andpractice.Herefollowsthelistjustspokenof:Mymagnetismisstrongerthanyours itisoverpoweringyou. Mymagnetismisbeatingdownyourguardyouareweakening. Iammorepositivethanyouyouarenegativeandarebeginningtoretreatandgivein tome. Youarebeginningtofeelafraidofme,afraid,afraid,afraidofme. Retreat,retreat,retreat,ItellyouIamforcingyoubackward.
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IamscatteringyourforcesIamdissipatingyourenergyIambreakingyour magnetismtobits,bythepowerofmyownforce. Iamstandingonthesolidrockofpoweryourfeetareonsand,andareslippingway fromyou. GETOUTOFMYWAYICOMMANDYOUTOGETOUT! Iamcrowdingyouback,offyourfeet;moveback,ItellyouBACK,outofmyway,Itell you! Youmaygetthespiritoftheabovebycarefullyreadingthem,repeatingthemtoyour imageinthemirror,throwingfullforeintothewords,andtheexpressionintoyoureyes. Thenyouwillbeabletoflashthemouttootherswhentheoccasionarises,withease, powerandeffect.YouneednotbeboundbytheprecisewordsthatIhavegivenyou, providingyoucatchthespiritbehindthem.Youmayuseyourownwordsthevery wordsthatyouwouldliketoactuallyuttertotheotherperson,ifyouprefer.Thething todoistogetthefeelingandmeaningintohismind. Inasucceedingchapter,entitledMagneticSelfDefense,youwillfindfullinstruction fordefensiveflashes,andguards,whicharetobeusedinconnectionwiththeabove offensiveones,inthemagneticduel.Beattheopponentoffbyneutralizinghis magnetism,accordingtotheadvicegiveninthenextchapter,andthenplungeinyour ownmentalweaponsofattack.Thefollowingconstitutesabroadswordmentalweapon, whichmayoftenbeusedwiththegreatesteffect: Iampouringintoyouastrongconcentratedcurrentofmagneticpower.Whichis overpoweringyouandconqueringyou,andbendingyoutomywill.Mymagnetismisfar strongerthanisyours,andIknowhowtouseittobetteradvantagethandoyou.Iam overpoweringyouIamconqueringyouIambendingyoutomywill.Iam MASTERINGyou,steadilyandcompletely.IshallcommandyoutodoasIwill.YouMUST doit,anddoitnow.Surrender,ItellyousurrendernowSURRENDERtomeatonce. YouMUST,andyouSHALL.Iambreakingdownyourresistance.Youaregivingup SURRENDERNOWSURRENDERATONCE.
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ChapterXIX:
CorporealMagnetism
Beforeconcludingmyinstructionregardingthesubjectoftheprojectionofpersonal magnetism,Iwishtohaveafewwordswithyouonthesubjectofwhatmaybecalled corporealmagnetism.Bycorporealismeant,pertainingtothebody.Iusetheterm corporealmagnetismtoindicateanddesignatetheconveyanceofpersonalmagnetism bymeansofphysicalcontact,as,forinstance,bythetouchofthehands,lips,etc. Itmaybeobjectedtothatthistermisneedless,inasmuchasIhavealreadyconsidered thephaseofphysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce,inconnectionwiththegeneralsubject ofpersonalmagnetism.But,Ianswer;bycorporealmagnetismImeansomething differentfrommerephysicalmagnetism,ornerveforce.Thenewtermisfarmore inclusive,for,bycorporealmagnetismImeantheprojectionofthecombinedpersonal magnetism(physicalandmental)totheotherperson,overthechannelsofthenervous systemofbothpersons,insteadofthroughtheetherasinthecaseoftheordinary projectionofpersonalmagnetismNotethisdistinction:Undertheheadofphysical magnetism,Iexplainedtoyouhowmagnetichealingtreatmentsmightbegivenbythe useofthehands,thephysicalmagnetismpassingoverthenervoussystemofthehealer, makingtheleapbetweenthefingertipsandthebodyoftheotherperson.But,in corporealmagnetismnotonlythephysicalmagnetismornerveforce,issoprojected totheotherperson,butatthesametimeisalsoprojectedthementalmagnetism.In short,theentireprocessoftheprojectionofcombinedpersonalmagnetismis performed,butthemagnetismflowsalongphysicalchannels,insteadofacrossthe ether,toreachtheotherperson.Itrustthatyouclearlyperceivethisdistinction,before weproceedfurther. Thatthereexiststhisphaseofpersonalmagnetism,calledcorporalmagnetismcannot bedoubtedbythecarefulinvestigator.Onallsideswemayseeevidenceofthe phenomenaofthisphaseofpersonalmagnetism.Inthehandshakeofthepersonis oftenconveyedthestrongestkindofpersonalmagnetisminthetouchofthehandis oftenfoundthestrongestkindofemotionalvibrations.Inthekiss,andthecontactofthe cheek,areoftentobefoundthemostactiveformofemotionalvibrations,asalmost everyoneknows.Inshort,bybodilycontacttheremayoftenbeconveyedthemost dangerousformsofsexualmagnetismandotherformsofmagnetism. Idonotintendtosaymuchregardingsexualmagnetisminthisbook,butIwouldnotbe doingjusticetomystudentsifIfailedtoatleastmentionsomeplainfacts,inpassing.I
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needscarcelyremindmystudentofthepowerfulsexualemotionsoftenarousedbya kiss,ortouchofthecheek,oreventheholdingofhandsthisknowledgeiscommon totherace,althoughfewunderstandtherealnatureofthephenomena.Enoughforme tosaythatthelibertinegenerallyrealizesfullwellthepowerfulvibrations,whichmaybe conveyedinthismanner,althoughhedoesnotunderstandthescientificfactsofthecase hehasthepracticewelldefinedinhismind,althoughhedoesnotunderstandthe theory.Youngpersons,especiallyyoungwomen,shouldbetaughtthedangerofthis formofmagnetism,andshouldavoidallowingthephysicalcontactwhichmakesthe sameactive.Theholdinghands,thethoughtlesskiss,pressureofthecheek,embrace, orclosephysicalcontact,allaffordandfurnishadirectlineforthepassageofthisform ofmagnetism,i.e.,thesexualmagnetismconveyedthroughcorporealchannels.The unprincipledperson,ofstrongpassions,soonlearnsthatbyclosephysicalcontacthe mayoftenconveyhisemotionalvibrationtotheyoungwoman,andthusarouse reciprocalvibrations,whichmaysweepheroffherfeet,andintohisarmsoftentoher utterruinanddisgrace.Thisisnotapleasantsubject,butIfeelthatIwouldnotbetrue tomystudentsifIfailedtopointoutthisdangerousforce,andtocautionthemtoguard againsttheemploymentofthesameagainstthem. Leavingthisphaseofthesubject,Inowwishtocalltheattentionofmystudentstothe useofcorporealmagnetismintheordinaryuseofthehands,asinshakinghands,etc. Hereisasubjectworthyoftheclosestattentiononyourpart. Stronglymagneticmen,andthosewhohavestudiedthissubject,frequentlyemploythis methodofprojectingpersonalmagnetisminmakingtheirpreliminarymovesinthe directionofinfluencingotherpersonsbypersonalmagnetism.Whohasnotexperienced themagnetichandshakeofindividualsofthiskind?And,ontheotherhand,whohasnot beenconsciousofthefeelingofrepulsioninspiredbythecold,clammy,snakelike handshakeofothertypesofpersons? Youhavealsoprobablynoticedthatmanymenwhosebusinessitistoinfluenceyouin anydirection,suchaspoliticians,preachers,promoters,salesmen,etc.,haveahabitof placingtheirhandsuponyourshoulders,duringtheconversationorlayingtheirhand lightlyonyourarmwhilespeakingtoyouinsomecases,givingyouafinalpatonthe backastheyurgeyoutosignrighthere,andclosethethingup.Haveyourealizedthat thisisaformofcorporalmagnetism,andthattheresultisoftenveryeffective?Lookout forthesefellowsinthefuture,andneutralizetheirmagnetismaccordingtotherules giveninthenextchapterofthisbook.Ifyouchoosetoemploythesemethodsyourself well,thatisyourownbusiness,andamatterforyourselftodecide.Itisaverystrong methodofconveyingcorporealmagnetism,Iassureyou.
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Inshakinghandswithanypersonwhomyoumaywishtoinfluence,youshouldthrow intotheclaspthestrongestpossiblekindofpersonalmagnetism,physicalandmental, accordingtotherulesalreadygivenyouinthisbook.Givethepersonthedirect commandatthemomentoftheclasp,throwingitintohimbymeansofthenervesof thehandandfingers.(Alittlepractice,inthedirectionofshakinghandswithyourself willbeofgreataidtoyouinthismatter).Sendhimamentalmessagejustasyouwould ifyouweremerelylookingathim. Whenyoumeetapersonwithwhomyouareacquainted,thehandclaspisthenatural thing,anditgivesyouasplendidopportunitytogetinapowerfulpreliminaryflashof personalmagnetism,accompaniedbythestrongestpossibledirectcommand.Whenthis isperformedproperly,itwillservetogettheotherpersoninexactlytherightpsychic conditionstoreceiveyourfurtherdirectcommands,andtoyieldmorereadilytoyour magnetism.Itisyouradvanceguardpreparingthewayforthegrandchargeuponthe breastworksoftheenemy.Useitwellandhalfthebattlewillbewonatonestroke. Alwaysbeheartyinyourhandclaspnotroughortoostrenuous,fornoonelikesto havehishandtightlysqueezedorbruisedalwaysrememberthewordheartyinthis connection.Bewareofthelifelesshandshakethrowfeelingintoit,andmakeitbealive andvital.Shakehandsasiftheotherpersonmeantsomethingtoyou,andholdontohis handforamoment,andthenletgoasifwithreluctance.Seekoutsomestrongly magneticperson,usedtomeetingpeoplesomesuccessfulpolitician,forinstance andlethimshakehandswithyou.Noticehowmuchinterestandfeelingheputsintohis claspandthentakenotesfromhismethods.Agoodmagneticpreacher,meetinghis flockatthechurchdoorastheypassout,alsowillgiveyouagoodexample.Studythem andcatchthemotion. Whenshakinghandswithapersonwhoyouwishtoinfluence,youshouldthrowinto thehandclaspthedirectcommand,whichyouwishtoimpressuponhim.Ifyouwish him,orher,tolikeyou,yourdirectcommandshouldbealongthoselines,forinstance,a strongYouLIKEme!Ifyouwishtoassertyourpositivityoverhispower,youshouldget toworkatoncewithaverystrongpositiveIamstrongerthanyou,orIamfarmore POSITIVEthanyou!orsomeotherstatementofthesamegeneralkind,suchasIhave givenyouintheprecedingchapters.Infact,youmayusenayorallofthestatements previouslygiventoyou,inthisformaswellasintheordinaryphasesofthedirect command. Inconcludingthischapter,Iwishtocallyourattentiontoaphaseofthephenomenaof corporealmagnetism,whichisoftenoverlookedbyteachersofthesubject.Ialludeto thatformofmagnetism,whichisprojectedbymerenearnessofthebodiesofpersons,
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eventhoughdirectcontactmaynotbehad.Goodsalesmenandothersoftenknowthis fromtheirownexperience,althoughnotunderstandingtherealcause.Theyknowthat bysittingneartothecustomer,theycangetabettermagneticeffectthanifcompelled tositatalittledistance.Theresultofthehearttohearttalkoftenresultsfromthis nearness.Inthesameway,thegesturesofthehandsofaspeaker,cominginclose contacttootherpersons,oftenservestoconveythemagnetismtothem,althoughno actualcontactishad. Thehands,particularly,areveryeffectiveinstrumentsfortheconveyorofcorporeal magnetism,forthenervesofthefingersareverysensitive,andreadilyconveyand projectthemagnetismwithgreatconcentratedforce.Theuseofthefingersofthe mesmeristisbutoneexampleofthisfact.Youwillalsonoticethatthemajorityof effectiveoratorsandspeakershaveawayofmakingpassesandwavesattheir audiences.Thegoodsolicitororpromoterusuallyemployshishandsinthisway. Remember,Idonotsaythatthesepeoplearealwaysconsciousofthefactsbehindtheir gesturestheyoftenareignorantofthesame,andusetheirhandsinstinctively,having acquiredthemovementsthroughhabit.Butthefactsremain,andthosewholearnthe secretoftheforceanditsemployment,andthereafteruseitconsciouslyand deliberately,areplacedatagreatadvantageoverotherswhodonotpossessthis knowledge.And,markmywords,therearethousandsoftheworldsgreatestmenwho havelearnedthissecret,takenlessonsinitsuse,andarenowemployingitactively.You maynowjointheirranks,ifyoucaretodoso.
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ChapterXX:
MagneticSelfDefense
And,now,havingacquaintedyouwiththevariousformsofthemanifestation,projection anduseofpersonalmagnetismhavingtaughtyounotonlythetheory,butalsothe practice;notonlyhowtoacquirethetechnique,butalsohowtoeffectivelyemploythe sameIwillconcludebycallingyourattentiontothedefensivesideofthequestion.In boxingorfencing,youhavenotmasteredtheartfullyuntilyouareablenotonlyto attack,butalso,howtodefendnotonlytheartofaggressiveaction,butalsothe scienceofdefensiveaction.And,soitisinthecaseofpersonalmagnetism,youmustnot onlyknowhowtousetheforceintheformofprojection,butyoumustalsoknowhow todefendyourselfagainsttheprojectionoftheforcebyothers. Itistruethatthecarefulanddiligentstudentoftheselessonswillgraduallydevelop suchapowerwithinhimselfthathewillscarcelyevermeetindividualsmorepowerful thanhimself.But,still,therearealwaystheverystrongindividualstobereckonedwith, andIwantyoutopossessthesecretofdispersinganddissipatingthemagnetismofsuch persons,sofaraseffectonyourselfisconcerned,bythemethodsknowntoalladvanced studentsandpractitionersofpersonalmagnetism. Thisdefensivescienceisfarsimplerthanyouwouldthinkatfirst,althoughtobe effectiveinthesameyoumustfirsthavelearnedhowtoprojecteffectively.Imaysumit upinafewwordsheedthemcarefully.Thesecretisthis:Indefendingoneselfagainst magneticprojectioninanyorallofitsforms,youhavebuttoprojecttowardtheother personastrongDENIALofhispowertoinfluence,affect,ormasteryou.Thatisthe wholethinginanutshell.Nowforthedetails. But,righthere,Iwanttoremindyouofaveryimportantfact,andthatisinthisdenial youdonotreallydestroyorlessenthepoweroftheotherperson,ingeneral.Youonly neutralizehismagnetismsofarasitaffectsyourself,orthosewhomyouwishtoprotect. Inotherwords,insteadofdestroyinghisweapons,youmerelyturnthemaside,and causethemtoglanceoff,leavingyou,andyours,harmless.Touseafamiliarillustration fromthefieldofelectricity,yourenderyourselfanonconductor,andtheforceglances offyouwithoutaffectingyouintheslightest.Rememberthisillustration,andyouwill havetheideafirmlyfixedinyourmind. Youmayrenderyourselfimmunenotonlyfromthedirectflash,anddirectdemandor command,ofothers,nomatterhowstrongtheymaybe;butalsofromthegeneral contagionofthementalatmosphereoraurasofothers.Byproperconcentratedeffort,
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alongtheselines,youmayrenderyourselfabsolutelyimmunefromtheforceofthe personalmagnetismofothers,ifyousodesire.Or,ifyouprefer,youmayshutoutonly certainindividualsfromyourfield,andallowthebeneficialmagnetismofotherstoenter it.Intruth,youareyourownMASTER,ifyoubutexertyourpower. Astothemethodstobeemployed,youhavebuttousethoseyouhavealreadylearned intheselessons,bymerelychangingthementalattitudeandstatementorcommand. Forinstance,insteadofprojectingthedirectcommandthatyouarestrongerthanthe otherperson,andcanthereforeinfluencehim;youhavebuttocalmlyDENYhispower overyou,anddefyhimtoaffectyouintheslightest.Asamatteroffact,thatmental attitudeisfarlessstrenuousthantheaggressiveformofmagneticprojection.Itrequires merelytheinterpositionofyourmagneticshieldofdefense,andhispowerwillglance offwithoutaffectingyou,eventhoughheismoststrenuouslyprojectingit.Thereisof coursetheotherplanoffightingaggressivemagnetismwithaggressivemagnetismthis istherealmagneticduelinitsplainform,andmaybeusedwhendesired.Butifyou merelywishtorepeltheaggressionofothers,youhavebuttousethedefensiveplanof theDENIAL,asIhavejusttoldyou. Informingthementalstatement,whichaccompaniesallformsoftheuseofmental magnetism,asyouhaveseen,youmerelyexpress(mentally)inafew,strongpositive words,theideayouwishtoreachtheotherpersonsmind.Well,soitisthecaseof magneticselfdefense.Yousimplymentallystateinafewstrongwordsthatyoudenythe poweroftheotherperson.Youwillfind,asyouexperiment,thatintheverywordsI DENY,thereisamightydynamicpowerofdefense.Itisthementalideabehindthese words,which,figurativelywipesoutofexistencetheotherpersonsmagnetism,atleast sofarasyou,yourself,areconcerned.ItisthegreatSHIELDOFDEFENSE.Letthefull meaningofthewordDENYenterintoyourmindyouwillfinditcontainsanew meaningandstrength,whenconsideredinthisconnection. Now,rightatthispoint,beforeproceedingfurther,Iaskyoutoturnbackovertheleaves oftheprecedinglessons,andmakenoteofthenumerousstatementsgivento accompanythepositiveaura,thedirectflash,thedirectcommand,etc.Thenfrom withinyourownmind,thedenialofthesestatements(iftheyareprojectedbyanother person),andyouwillfindthatyoupossessinstinctivelythepowertoframesuch statementsofdenial,easily.Practicealittle,imaginingthatanotherpersonishurling theseflashesorcommandsatyou,andthatyouareinterposingtheshieldofdenialin eachcase.Youwillbesurprised,anddelighted,torealizehoweasilyyoucanrepelthe strongestoftheseassaults.Youmaythenbegintopracticebythrowingyourselfintothe presenceandcompanyofthestrongestmagneticpersonsyouknow,andthenseehow
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easilyyoucanrepeltheirpowerandhowfree,calmandsereneyounowfeelintheir presence. TherearetwothingstoberememberedinthisconnectionIhavealreadytoldyou them,butitiswelltorepeattheminordertofixthemfirmlyinyourmind.Iaskyouto considertheminthefollowingparagraphs. Inthefirstplace,asIhavetoldyou,thisdefensiveprocessmerelyenablesyoutothrow offandrenderyourselfimmunefromtheaggressivemagnetismofothersitdoesnot enableyoutomasterthemortocompelthemtodoyourbidding.Inorderto accomplishthelatter,youmustbeatdowntheguardoftheotherperson;protect yourselfatthesametime;andthencarrythedaybyadirectmagneticassaultuponhim. Youcandothesethingsifhefightsyouwiththeweaponsofaggressivemagnetismonly, butifheDENYyourpower,heisimmune,andyoucannotaffecthim;justasifyouDENY hispower,youareimmuneincasebothDENY,thenthebattleisdrawn,andneither win.TheDenialisnotaweaponofaggressivenessitismerelytheshieldofdefense. Rememberthis!Ofcourse,ifyouusebothshieldandsword,youwillhaveadouble advantage,providinghedoesnotalsousetheshield.Forifyoucanrepelhismagnetism, andatthesametimeuseyourownthenheisatyourmercy.Butifheknowsenough toalsousehisshieldthenthebattlewillbedrawn,andneitherwillwinadecided victory.Doyoucatchtheidea?Thinkoverituntilitisplaintoyou. ThesecondpointIwishtoimpressuponyou,inthisconnection,isthefact,already statedbyme,thatyoudonotactuallydestroyorweakentheotherpersonsmagnetism, bytheuseoftheshieldofdenial.Hismagnetismremainsjustasstrong,andjustas muchinevidence,asifyoudidnotusetheshieldtheonlydifferencebeingthatby usingityourenderhisweaponspowerlessagainstyou,orthoseyoumaywishto protect;andthuscreateimmunityforyourself,andyourprotgs,byinterposingthe shieldofdefense.Butyoudonotimpairthepoweroftheotherpersonagainstothers whomyoudonotdirectlyshelterbehindyourshield.Doyougetthispoint?Thinkoverit untilyougetitclearly. Whenyourepelthemagnetismofoneofthepersonswhohavebeenusingitwithout knowingthenatureofhispower(andtherearemanywhosouseitthemajorityof persons,infact)youwillbeamusedtoseehowbrokenupsuchapersonbecomes.He willbecomebewilderedathisfailuretoinfluenceandaffectyou,andwilloftenbecome embarrassedand,insomecases,actuallyentangledinthecurrentsofhisown magnetism.Itmayevenhappen(itoftendoes,really)thatsuchapersonwillbecomeso confusedbyhisapparentlossofpower,thathewilllosehisassuranceandconsequently hisabilitytoattack.Insuchcases,hebecomesaneasysubjectforamagneticrushor
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broadsideonyourownpart,whichwillquicklydrivehimintoadisastrousretreat.Of course,ifhehasascientificknowledgeofthesubject,hewillnotbesotakenoffguard, but,recognizingyourknowledgeandpower,hewillpassitoffwithasmile,and relinquishtheattack. And,now,goodstudent,wepartcompanyforthepresent.Iamgladtohavehadthe honorofgivingyouthisinstruction,intheselessons,andItrustthatyouwillsoconduct yourselfthatyouwillbeacreditablepupilofmine,anddomehonorbyyour accomplishmentsandattainments.Ihavesuppliedyouwiththeweaponsofboth aggressiveandalsoofdefensivepersonalmagnetism,andhavetaughtyouhowto employbothofthemsoastogetthebestresults.Itisnowuptoyoutomakethebest useoftheseweapons,accordingtotheruleandprincipleswhichIhavelaiddownfor yourguidance. Inparting,Iwishtoagainimpresstwoimportantrulesuponyou,andtheseare: (1)Practice,practice,practice,untilyouhaveeverydetailoftheinstructionsowell learned,andsofixedbyhabit,thatyoucanandwillusetheminstinctively,justasyou nowwalk,orbreathe,orspeak. (2)Keepyourownsecrets,anddonotdissipateandscatteryourinfluencebyhintingof yoursecretsofyourpoweroverothers.Therearemanygoodreasonsforthisrule somereasonsthatdonotappearonthesurface,bytheway.RemembertheoldItalian proverb:Ilboccachiusa,noncentramoscathatistosay:Intotheclosedmouth, nofliesenter.Heedthespiritoftheproverb. Aurevoir,mymagneticfriendsweshallmeetagain,induetime. TheronQ.Dumont
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Clf-Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by TQ Dumont 1913

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