HPB-SB-1-61: Difference between revisions

  | status = ok

Let those who would get at the truth on this subject ask the Colonel two questions:

Kirst: Have you had “direct conversation" with any persons, visible and tangible to your senses, who, not being mediums, could by mere forms and words, communicate to others, and available by them, produce “all the most startling phenomena of Modern Spiritualism?"

We do not think it at all improbable that there are hum bugging spirits who try to fool certain aspirants to occult knowledge with the notion that there is such an art as magic. A spirit may possibly make a medium believe that by the use of certain words and forms the latter may invoke and control spirits. But that there is a science, apart from mediumship and accompanying phenomena, and depending merely on a knowledge of forms and words, by the use of which spirit aid may be had, has never yet proved, and we doubt if it ever will.

Spiritualism, through its teachers, has taught that the medium and sitters should be in a “passive” condition — in other words, the circle negative, and the force controlling positive, in order to secure the best manifestations. And what has been the result? Simply to place the medium and sitters at the mercy of such spirits as might be present. The “mind” of the investigator, its “positive” or “receptive” condition, has been a fruitful subject for discussion. It is known that an exercise of the will, can destroy the power of a control. Can we not see in all this some proof of the possibility of the existence of a science “apart from mediumship and its accompanying phenomena, and depending merely on a knowledge of forms and words, by the use of which spirit j aid may be had?”

Question—From all past time there has come to us through tradition, and through half-suppresed foot-notes, a story, that men who knew the way and the formula, could summon to their aid and counsel, spirits who have certain superhuman mundane powers, but who are supposed not to belong to the best, or even a good order of spirits. There is a belief that men hold communion of the kind at the present day, calling it the “black art”—how far is there truth in the above?

Answer—There is an art known as the black art still in existence. This was what in olden times the Persian Magi exercised. It is the power of spirit over spirit. To this day the knowledge is retained among the Medes, Persians and Arabs. They have introduced it into many countries. It is known to many of France and Germany, and exercised to a considerable extent. This power has sometimes through man- resulted in evil. The same can be said of all knowledge where man has the power. That it attracts bad spirits can only be said when the spirit in man is impure and prone to evil. The art is great, one of the wonderful results of scientific researches, and can only be understood after long and earnest labor. The Magi of Persia were held in high repute; were often called to act as counselors to kings. There is no witchcraft, nothing of voudoo incantation in this ancient art. The Magi invoked the good demons, and with religious ceremonies opened their exercises. With judicious discipline it can be brought to bear upon principles with such force that the will of one man could remodel and change the entire laws of a country, through his will over the masses. It shows itself in an incipient stage to-day. All through the human family you see the workings of the will power; the action of the strong will over the weak. It is a science of wonderful merit, which, in time, will, through some clear, unselfish soul, be revealed to all mankind, giving a new impetus to governments.