Speaker 1: The reconciliation. In my last chapter, I have shown you
the opposing theories of the various schools which have investigated
and experimented along the lines of mental fascination under some
of its many names. All of these schools obtained results,
notwithstanding their varying in diametrically opposite theories, the same kinds
of results. Remember, and more than this, they all obtained
these results in very much the same way. When we
come to examine the essence of the procedure, after discarding
the forms added to fit in with the particular theories
of the practitioner, a new synthesis. I believe that all
the opposing theories of the schools may be reconciled by
a new synthesis, that of meditative energy, with its incidental
phenomenon of meditative induction, as set forth in My Mental Magic,
and further expounded in this little Manual, of which this
chapter is a part. I believe that theories so far
divergent as Mesmer's universal magnetic fluid, Abipharia's sleep, Braid's hypnotism,
bov Dodd's electro biology, le Bolt's suggestion, Bernheim's suggestion, the
later suggestion without sleep Bremen's fascination and the various other
theories advanced since the time of Mesmer, can be reconciled
and harmonized by a careful application of the theory of
mentitative induction, as advanced in my work on mental magic.
And I believe that all the phenomena obtained by any
and all of the above schools, as well as the
phenomena of the ancient fascinators, and the phenomena known as
personal magnetism, charming, personal influence, magnetic personality, etc. Et cetera,
of ancient and modern times, may be accounted for by
the same theory. And so this chapter shall be devoted
to the reconciliation of the various old theories with this
basic principle of mentitative induction. Mesmer explained. Let us first
examine the real facts underlying Mesmer's theory of the universal
magnetic fluid. Mesmer taught that there existed a peculiar, subtle
fluid magnetic in its nature, which was diffused throughout all space,
which permeated everything, and which was capable of receiving and
communicating all sorts of motions and impressions. He taught that
this fluid flowed freely from one body to another, acted
at a distance, and could be reflected by a mirror,
et cetera. He did not explain what this fluid was,
except that it produced magnetic effects and must therefore be
magnetic in its nature. He proved that he could produce effects,
and he gave out a theory to fit in with
the facts, and that was within the comprehension of the
people of his time. Now let us apply the idea
of universal menditative energy with its incidental phenomenon of meditative induction,
to Mesmer's theory, and see how easily the reconciliation is effective.
The menditative energy, like Mesmer's fluid, is universal, is diffused
through all space, permeates everything. Like the fluid, it apparently
passes from body to body, and communicates impressions, et cetera.
But now we know that the energy is transmitted in
waves or vibrations, which reduce the original feeling by meditative
induction in the second person, there is no necessity for
the flowing fluid anymore than there is for an electric
fluid flowing over wires or through the air. The fluid
idea has been superseded by the wave idea in both
physics and metaphysics the nature of the magnetic fluid. We
may readily see that this magnetic fluid theory of Mesmer
may be explained by the theory of mentitative energy and
mentitative induction. There is no magnetic fluid. The energy is
mental in nature and operation, and the phenomena arising therefrom
is meantitative. Also, Mesmer sought for his answer in physics,
but we find it in metaphysics. The force is not physical,
it is mental. All the phenomena obtained by Mesmer and
his followers may be accounted for by the theory of
meditative energy and meditative induction. The mental states of the
mesmerist may be communicated to his subject by waves of
meditative energy, and a corresponding feeling or mental state is
induced by meditative induction. As we shall see as we proceed,
the sleep of the Mesmerists and hypnotists is merely an
induction condition, arising from the desire in the mind of
the operator, accompanied by the suggestion on his part. Fabria
explained the theory of Abbe Pharia that the sleep condition
was not the result of any outside force, but arose
from within the patient. Himself is also reconciled by the
theory of mentitative energy and induction. Of course, the sleep
arises from within the patient himself, but it is induced
by the waves of menditative energy of the operator accompanied
by his active suggestions. Braid reconciled. Braid's theory is also reconciled.
He held that the phenomenon was of a physical nature
rather than a mental and that it was a reflex
physical action arising from fixing the eyes, rigidity of the muscles,
et cetera. His hypnotic sleep was undoubtedly heightened by his
practice of tiring the eyes and muscles, on the same
principle that one is tired mentally by unusual exertion of
the eyes, as in the case of visiting an art gallery, museum,
strange city, et cetera, and that the power of resistance
is thereby weakened, and one is far more likely to
then accept suggestions of menditative waves. How many of us
have felt mentally done out after visiting a museum, or
after witnessing a long parade, or after sitting through a
modern circus performance with its three rings going at one time,
And who does not remember how many foolish things he
had done at times when he was too tuckered out
to object to the suggestions and influences of those around him,
a danger signal. Many a girl has gone to her
ruin by the subtle suggestions and influence of some male
scoundrel directed toward her after an evening of the show
or circus, or after a day of sight seeing in
a strange city. I tell you, friends, that in such cases,
the will becomes tired by overuse, arising from unaccustomed tasks,
and it becomes woozy and incapable of resisting the attacks
upon it. As I have told you in my larger work,
beware of all suggestions, et cetera. When in a tired state,
make a habit of saying no to attempts to make
you commit yourself. At such times, wait until you feel
fresh and strong and the will is able to attend
its business for you. Many a man has said yes
to his sorrow to propositions advanced to him when he
was tired by the day's work, and his will was
weak and unable to resist. I cannot say this to
you too often, and have therefore dragged it in again
at this place there is a great psychological principle involved
in this point, and you will do well to fasten
it in your memory. Braid's theory may be reconciled to
the idea of meditative energy and induction when we see
that his eye fixation and muscular rigidity is merely the
means of producing a suggestible condition, that is to say,
a condition in which suggestions are more readily accepted and
meditative currents are more readily received. In both cases, the
tired will allowing the outside influence to enter suggestion explained.
The theories of suggestion are not contrary to those of
meditative energy and induction when properly understood. The facts of
the suggestionists are undoubted, but they make the mistake of
ignoring the mental states of the suggestionist. They think that
their effects are produced by suggestion alone, and forget the
mental state behind the suggestion, which is the real motive force.
If their theories be true, why is it that two
men using the same words of suggestion upon the same
subject produce varying degrees of effect. It is because the
mental states or dynamic mentation of the two men varying
quality and degree. The suggestionist thinks that he is merely
directing his suggestion by words, et cetera, towards the subject,
but all the time he is pouring out a current
of menditative energy which rapidly induces the desired mental state
in the subject. The best suggestionists are those who have
acquired the suggestive manner, which is developed by the exercise
of authoritative utterances and commands, the physical appearance, manner and
tones arising from a reflection of the mental state within.
I have seen this in the case of one of
America's most celebrated suggestionists, a prominent physician and scientist with
whom I was associated in magazine and other work in
the years nineteen hundred and one. I have seen the
doctor giving the most powerful suggestions at one of his
classes or clinics. So powerful were the emanations of menditative
energy or currents of the same, that the members of
the class could distinctly feel the same, and at times
could almost see them. And yet the doctor, who was
wedded to his particular theories of suggestion pure and simple,
after such a wonderful manifestation, would calmly inform his class
that it was nothing but suggestion, nothing more to it,
and he believed it. But hundred who attended his classes
went away more firmly convinced than ever that there was
something more to it, and that there was a cause
behind his suggestions. The theory of suggestion is all right,
But what lies back of suggestion? What gives the suggestion
its force? Of what inner and invisible thing is the suggestion?
The visible and outward sign meditative energy in harmony, harmonized
and my theory of meditative energy and induction may be
reconciled with the theories of the later suggestionists, including those
who still adhere to the sleep delusion, as well as
those who have advanced beyond it. And it explained all
the phenomena of the ancients with the religious and mystic rites,
the phenomena of charming, fascination, personal magnetism, personal influence, et cetera,
is all embraced under the theory advanced in this work
and my larger work which preceded it. As we proceed
with this work, we shall see the meditative energy and
mentitative induction in actual active operation in these various phases
of phenomena. But I trust that this chapter will have
shown you that there is one principle underlying all of
the various theories and phenomena, and that the facts of
meditative energy and the operation of the same in its
phenomenal incident a meditative induction, are sufficient to include and
cover all of the varying manifestations of the force observable
under the disguises of the conflicting theories of the various
schools and cults. There is but one underlying cause, and
that is meantitative energy. There is but one underlying law
of the operation of this force in the direction of
affecting other minds, and that law is menditative induction, either
direct ie by meditative currents, or indirect ie by suggestion, or,
as is generally the case, by both combined