In connection with this subject of negative imagination or fancy, I would call your attention to a class of phenomena, along the same general lines, in which certain states of imagination, or fancy, are self-induced. Nearly all races of men have discovered that there are means possible to people whereby they may produce in themselves abnormal conditions, known as the "trance," "dream-states"; "tran-cendental condition"; etc. And men, from the dim past to the present time, have seen fit to indulge in these deplorable practices. The means by which these states are obtained are various, the favorite methods being the gazing at a bright object; fixing the gaze at the root of the nose; staring at the umbilicus, staring at a drop of ink; inhaling vapors; listening to weird music, etc., etc. Much mock-occultism, which is really "psychism," depends upon these methods for its results, manifestation and phenomena. The Hindu "fakirs" and the Arab dervishes indulge freely in these methods, and produce results which while highly esteemed by themselves, are viewed with disgust, horror and repulsion by true occultists of all lands, who regard these practices as harmful, and the phenomena resulting there-from as bogus and misleading.

And much of the latter-day western psychism is also based upon the same practices, and brings about like results. In this connection I would say that some of the practices adopted by some of the "New Thought" people belong to this class. I have seen certain methods advised for "Going into the Si-lence," in which the student is advised to focus his gaze on the root of his nose, etc., which is the identical method used by Braid to produce hypnotic conditions, and which is also used by the Hindu "fakirs" to produce "trance" conditions. Is it not time that the truth regarding these things should be known?

This "trance" phenomena, whether produced by mesmeric processes or by other means, are abnormal, unhealthy, and undesirable phases of mental condition. I cannot speak too strongly against the encouragement of, and instruction in, the development (I had almost said the "Devil-opment") of these abnormal states, either by self-practice or by means of hypnotic or mesmeric methods. It is high time that someone should call the attention of the public to the dangers of this so-called "psy-chism." I know positively that this kind of "psyehism" is not the desirable thing that it is supposed to be. I know, also, that it is very far from true occult development. This kind of "psychism," when compared with true occultism, is but as the baleful glare of the moon, as contrasted with the bright, warm, life-giving rays of the sun. This false occultism, which is not occultism at all, but merely a negative form of "psychism," has deluded many into its folds, and has led its followers on to planes which are akin to mental quagmires and swamps, following the ignis fatuus, or "will-o'-the-wisp" of this pseudo-spirituality which is but a negative form of psychism.

These self-induced abnormal conditions may be produced by hypnotic methods, by leading the subject into the "deeper stages," which some authorities speak of as if they were "highly spiritual," but which are nothing more than the miserable, abnormal, deplorable "trance" conditions just referred to. These conditions may be produced by hypnotic methods, simply because any mental state may be so produced, and not because of any mystic process, or knowledge, or connection. They resemble the so-called "sleep-conditions" of hypnotism. The only difference is that the operator induces the condition by mental influence, and suggestion, just as he would induce any other mental state - instead of the subject inducing it in himself. It is the same old abnormal, harmful practice, in another guise. And anything that is said against the self-induced condition is equally applicable to the operator-induced one. They are the same thing! It is all hypnosis, or auto-hypnosis.

I shall not describe the conditions at further length, nor shall I give any instructions in the production of them. I consider them essentially harmful, and my object in speaking of them here is to warn off and caution people not to allow themselves to be placed in this condition by experimenters. The practice is weakening to the will, for the reason that it depends upon the tiring of the attention by straining the eyes or other organs of sense. Practitioners of mental influence in all ages have recognized this fact and have employed objects calculated to tire out the attention. Bright objects to stare at and thus tire out the sense of sight have been employed; monotonous sounds ending in "um-m-m-m-m" are used by the Orientals to tire out the sense of hearing by its monotonous and soothing sound; vapors and perfumes and incense are used to overcome the sense of smell - all tending to tire out the will, and to reduce it to a passive, non-resisting stage. Then when the will has been rendered passive, or tired, the mind becomes receptive and impressionable, and, in extreme cases, becomes as was in the hands of the operator.

Let me urge upon you to avoid this abnormal "psy-chism" - put it away from you as you would a poisonous cobra, for it seeks to strike at the heart of your will, and would thus paralyze your mentality. Beware of all that tends to make you weak. Beware of the claims of "soul-development" or "spiritual-unfoldment" that are accompanied by these methods, for they are but psychism masquerading as occultism or spiritual development. Remember my test: "Does this make me strong?" Apply the touch-stone, and then govern yourself accordingly. Concluding this part of the subject, I would say that if any of you are disposed to question the correctness of my above statement, then you have but to examine the types of "psychics" seen on all sides. Are they not all hyper-impressionable; excessively sensitive; neurotic; hysterical; passive; negative people? Do they not become as mere psychic harps, upon which the passing mental breezes play, producing weird sounds? Remember, now, I am speaking of genuine psychics, not the bogus psychics, who "are out for the money," and who are a shrewd, cunning lot, far from being impressionable, and in reality using their mesmeric power to impress and influence the credulous persons coming under their influence. I am not alluding to these people, but to the poor, frail-willed, negative sensitives, who are as impressionable as the photographer's "negative" - and to whom also the " development" means but the bringing out of impression from outside. I pray you, be a human positive, not a human negative!