ral thought-form of their body becomes
so charged with prana that it is able to move physical objects. There are
not mere theories, for they may be verified by any occultist of
sufficiently high development.

I do not wish to intimate that the mediums are aware of the true nature of
this phenomena, and consciously deceive their followers. On the contrary,
most of them firmly believe that it is the "spirits" who do the work;
unaware that they are unconsciously projecting their astral bodies,
charged with prana, and performing the feat themselves. The best mediums,
however, will generally tell you that they strongly "wish" that the thing
be done, and a little cross-examination will reveal the fact that they
generally make a clear mental picture of the actual happening just before
it occurs. As I have already stated, however, the best proof is the fact
that advanced occultists are able to duplicate the phenomena deliberately,
consciously, and at will. I do not think that detracts from the wonder and
interest in the so-called "spiritistic" phenomena; on the contrary, I
think that it adds to it.

Again invading the realm of the "spirits," I would say that occultists
know that many cases of so-called materialization of "spirit-forms" take
place by reason of the unconscious projection of the astral body of the
medium. Moreover, such a projection of the astral body may take on the
appearance of some departed soul, by reason of the mental picture of that
person in the mind of the medium. But, it may be asked if the medium has
never seen the dead person, how can he or she make a mental picture of him
or her. The answer is that the minds of the persons present who knew the
dead person tend to influence the appearance of the nebulous spirit form.
In fact, in most cases the medium is unable to produce the phenomenon
without the psychic assistance of those in the circle. In this case, also,
I would say that the advanced occultist is able to duplicate the phenomena
at will, as all who have enjoyed the privilege of close acquaintance with
such persons are aware.

The fact the medium is usually in a trance condition aid materially in the
ease with which the phenomena are produced. With the conscious mind
stilled, and the subconscious mind active, the astral phenomena are
produced with much less trouble than would be the case if the medium were
in the ordinary condition.

Now, I wish to impress upon the minds of those of my readers wh