plane. In other cases, the clairvoyant person is
able to picture scenes and happenings relating to his past incarnations,
even though he is not able to sense other past-time events and scenes.
But, here again, many good past-time clairvoyants are not able to catch
these glimpses of their own past lives, though able to perceive those of
other persons. All these variations are due to certain technical
differences into which I cannot go into detail at this place. Again some
persons are able to perceive events that have happened to persons present
before them, but are not able to contact past-time events in the ordinary
way. There are a thousand-and-one variations in clairvoyant work. Only the
highly advanced occultist is master of all of them. But, still every one
may develop himself or herself, from humble beginnings.

In concluding this lesson, I wish to call your attention to the following
advice from a man well advanced in the knowledge of the astral plane. He
says: "It would be well for all students to bear in mind that occultism is
the apotheosis of common-sense, and that every vision that comes to them
is not necessarily a picture from the Akashic Records, nor every
experience a revelation from on high. It is far better to err on the side
of healthy skepticism, than of over-credulity, and it is an admirable
rule never to hunt about for an occult explanation of anything when a
plain and obvious physical one is available. Our duty is to endeaveor to
keep our balance always, and never to lose our self-control, but to take a
reasonable, common-sense view of whatever may happen to us, so that we may
be wiser occultists, and more useful helpers than we have ever been
before.

"We find examples of all degrees of the power to see into this 'memory of
nature,' from the trained man who can consult the records for himself at
will, down to the person who gets nothing but occasional vague glimpses,
or has perhaps had only once such glimpse. But even the man who possesses
this faculty only partially and occasionally still finds it of the deepest
interest. The psychometer, who needs an object physically connected with
the past in order to bring it all into life again around him; and the
crystal-gazer who can sometimes direct his less certain astral telescope
to some historic scene of long ago, may both derive the greatest enjoyment
from the exercise of their respective gifts, even though they may not
always understand exactly how