ater. It is
streaked with very minute, bristle-like lines. In a state of good health,
these fine lines are stiff like toothbrush bristles; while, in cases of
poor health, these lines droop, curl and present a furlike appearance. It
is sometimes filled with minute sparkling particles, like tiny electric
sparks in rapid vibratory motion.

To the clairvoyant vision the prana-aura appears like the vibrating heated
air arising from a fire, or stove, or from the heated earth in summer. If
the student will close his eyes partially, and will peer through narrowed
eyelids, he will in all probability be able to perceive this prana-aura
surrounding the body of some healthy, vigorous person--particularly if the
person is sitting in a dim light. Looking closely, he will see the
peculiar vibratory motion, like heated air, at a distance of about two
inches from the body of the person. It requires a little practice in order
to acquire the knack of perceiving these vibrations--a little
experimenting in order to get just the right light on the person--but
practice will bring success, and you will be repaid for your trouble.

In the same way, the student may by practice acquire the faculty to
perceiving his own prana-aura. The simplest way to obtain this last
mentioned result is to place your fingers (spread out in fan-shape)
against a black background, in a dim light. Then gaze at the fingers with
narrowed eyelids, and half-closed eyes. After a little practice, you will
see a fine thin line surrounding your fingers on all sides--a
semi-luminous border of prana-aura. In most cases this border of aura is
colorless, but sometimes a very pale yellowish hue is perceived. The
stronger the vital force of the person, the stronger and brighter will
this border of prana-aura appear. The aura surrounding the fingers will
appear very much like the semi-luminous radiance surrounding a gas-flame,
or the flame of a candle, which is familiar to nearly everyone.

Another peculiar phenomenon of the astral plane, perceived by clairvoyants
of a certain degree of development, is that which is known as the
"thought-form." A thought-form is a specialized grouping of astral
substance, crystalized by the strong thought impulses or vibrations of a
person thinking, or manifesting strong emotional excitement. It is
generated in the aura of the person, in the first place, but is then
thrown off or emitted from the atmosphere of the person, and is sent off
into spa