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profound depths of their own reincarnated souls for high conceptions, like men of genius, poets, and
composers.) Often the medium is conscious in the beginning of her trance state. But as soon as the action of
the spirit is accentuated, she finds herself under the influence of a force which acts independently of her will: a
sort of weight oppresses her - her eyes are veiled, and she passes under an invisible dominion. Then the
medium is but an instrument of reception and transmission. As a machine obeys an electric current which
moves it, the medium obeys the current of thought which envelops her.
In the exercise of intuitive mediumship in a waking state, many are discouraged with the difficulty of
distinguishing their own ideas from those which are suggested. It is nevertheless easy, we believe, to recognize
the difference. The spiritually inspired ideas emanate suddenly from an interior source and jet forth
spontaneously, while our own ideas are always at our disposition, and occupy our intellect in a permanent
manner. Not only do the inspired ideas surge up as by enchantment, but they rapidly follow one another, and
are often expressed in an almost feverish manner. Almost all authors, poets, and orators are mediums at certain
moments. They have the intuition of occult assistance in their work. Thomas Paine said: ‘There is no one who,
being occupied with the progress of the human mind, has not observed that there are two distinct classes of
ideas: those produced in ourselves by reflection, and those which are precipitated into our minds. I make a rule
of welcoming the politeness these unexpected visitors, and of determining with all possible care if they are
worthy of attention. I declare that it is to these stranger guests I we all the knowledge I possess.’ Emerson said:
‘Thoughts penetrate themselves into my intellect like a ray of light shining into the darkness. The truth comes
to me, not alone by reason, but by intuition.’
Walter Scott explained to his astonished friends the rapidity with which he wrote the Bard of Avon, as
follows: ‘My fingers worked independently of my thought, and it was the same when I wrote Woodstock. I had
not the least idea that the story would develop into a catastrophe in the third volume! Often when I take my
pen, it moves so fast, I am tempted to let it go alone, to see if it will not write without my assistance.’ Jean
Jacques Rousseau recounts experiences of similar sources of inspiration. The most extraordinary case of
mediumistic inspiration of modern times is that of Andrew Jackson Davies. At the age of fifteen he became
celebrated in American for his ability to diagnose sickness and prescribe remedies. He had at age of fourteen
been magnetized by a Mr. Livingstone of Poughkeepsie, who discovered the boy’s astonishing powers, and
retired from business to associate with him. A poor boy, able only to read, write, and compute in simple
numbers, he announced at the age of eighteen that he was going to be the instrument of a new and astonishing
spiritual power, and he commenced by a series of conferences, which produced considerable effect upon the
scientific and religious world of that day. Eminent men attended his conferences, and his work, Divine
Revelations of Nature, was of so marvelous a nature, emanating from a person of no education or experience,
that it astounded all classes of society. Other voluminous works followed, and this young man, in the course of
years, dictated day by day extraordinary and well-conceived books treating of all the great questions of the
day: among them, ‘Science, and nature in all its ramifications,’ ‘Man in his numberless modes of existence,’
‘God in his depths of love, wisdom and power.’ His MSS. were often submitted to high intelligences, who
declared them most profound, and acknowledged the impossibility of his having written them in his normal
state. The result of the life of this phenomenal person was the revelation that the mind of man could
communicate spiritually with spirits of the higher worlds, and acquired knowledge from those spheres.
* * *
We have incidentally spoken of the method to follow to develop the psychic senses. It consists in
isolating oneself during certain hours of the day or night, suspending the exterior senses, and putting away the
sights and sounds of outside life. This it is possible to do, even in the most humble conditions, and in the heart
of the most common occupations. We must, so to say, turn in upon ourselves, and in the calm and tranquillity
of our thoughts make a mental effort to see and read the great mysterious book within. At these moments,
drive away every thought which is light, trivial, and changing. Material preoccupations create horizontal
currents of vibrations which are obstacles to the etheric radiations, and restrict our perceptions. On the
contrary, meditation and contemplation and the constant effort toward the good and beautiful form ascensional
currents which establish a rapport with the higher planes, and facilitate the penetration in us of divine effluvia.
By this exercise, repeated and prolonged, the inner being becomes little by little illuminated, fertilized, and
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