It is well in the beginning of these experiments to make the scene as simple, and yet as natural and as complete in detail, as possible. For instance, let the operator think of such a picture as this:—A bright little landscape, having a well-defined cottage on the left, just on the margin of a small lake; boat with two figures in the foreground; rising bank upon the right; and a little higher up a defined windmill, well thrown out by the perspective of blue-ridged and undulating mountains, and sky in the background.
The agent, having satisfied himself of his sensitive’s whole or partial powers of psychic perception, might ask:—“Do you see anything now?” and quickly and deliberately go to work, meanwhile formulating definitely such a picture as the above; even allowing himself to get into ecstacies over the scene—peopling the cottage and the mill, and introducing imaginary conversation between the individual dwellers therein, and so on. The sensitive will describe the whole as the same is felt or perceived. This experiment may appear to some to be impossible, but the word impossible belongs to the limitations of sense, and not to the range of the things possible to the human spirit.
Some sensitives and mediums take impressions from their surroundings—their clairvoyant revelations are often nothing more than so much Mind-reading. Nothing more; but this nothing more is a great deal. Certainly, it may not prove the existence of spirit, apart from the sensitive’s own powers; but it does prove that man has other avenues of knowledge than those with which he is usually credited.
The development of mind-reading in the psychic states may be encouraged by a little judicious assistance or direction. Invite the sensitive to pay attention to So-and-so; to visit places, to examine rooms, or describe people whom the sensitive has never seen. But the places, the rooms, and the persons must be distinctly in the minds of those persons, or agents, with whom he or she is placed in rapport.
During these experiments the sensitive will say, “I see this,” or describe that other, as if he actually saw. Hence the infinitely close relationship of mind-reading to clairvoyance. Thought-reading in spiritualism will be referred to in the next chapter.
Once possessing a good sensitive, the development of the power, as a matter of fact, lies particularly in the operator’s ability to concentrate and focus his thoughts—to think clearly, calmly, vividly, and distinctly himself—and to deliberately and conscientiously project the same.
THE NORMAL EXPERIMENTS WITHOUT CONTACT.
A pleasant hour or so can be profitably filled up on a long winter’s evening with experiments in mind reading, without resorting to mesmerism. It will be found that there are mind-readers in every family—some boy, girl, or young woman more sensitive than the rest to impressions.
Sometimes it has been found, when two or more persons think of the same object, as in the “willing game,” the impression becomes more vivid, and the sensitive finds, or describes, the article, or thing, more easily. It has been left to the versatility of Professor Lodge, of the University College, Liverpool, to project two distinct images at the same time to a sensitive. He requested two friends to look at a paper that he had given to each. On one paper a square was drawn, and on the other an oblique cross. Neither person knew what the other was looking at, and after they had looked intently at these diagrams for a short time, the sensitive, who was in a normal condition, but blindfold, said:—“I see two figures—first I see one, and then, below that, another. I do not know which I am to draw. I cannot see either plainly.” Having been requested to draw what she saw, she drew a square, with an oblique cross inside of it. On being questioned, she replied that she did not know why she placed the cross in the square. The two images projected by distinct minds, intermingled, and were produced, as narrated by Professor Lodge. We can readily see that confusion will arise where a number of persons are thinking of different subjects, or when some positive-minded individual declares mind-reading to be an impossibility.
Something after the above experiments of Professor Lodge are those which were conducted by Mr. Guthrie, a London barrister, and reported by him to the Society of Psychical Research.