prevented acceptation, no longer
presents itself. We all know what happens during a "day-dream" or
"brown-study," when the Unconscious tide is high. A succession of
bright images glides smoothly through the mind. The original thought
spins itself on and on; no obstacles seem to stop it, no questions of
probability arise; we are cut off from the actual conditions of life
and live in a world where all things are possible. These day-dreams
cause very potent autosuggestions, and one should take care that they
are wholesome and innocent; but the important point is that on this
level of consciousness association seems to operate by similarity, and
emotion is comparatively intense. These conditions are highly
favourable to acceptation.

If, on getting into bed at night, we assume a comfortable posture,
relax our muscles and close our eyes, we fall naturally into a stage of
semi-consciousness akin to that of day-dreaming. If now we introduce
into the mind any desired idea, it is freed from the inhibiting
associations of daily life, associates itself by similarity, and
attracts emotion of the same quality as its own charge. The
Unconscious is thus caused to accept it, and inevitably it is turned
into an autosuggestion. Every time we repeat this process the
associative power of the idea is increased, its emotional value grows
greater, and the autosuggestion resulting from it is more powerful. By
this means we can induce the Unconscious to accept an idea, the normal
associations of which are contrary and unfavourable. The person with a
disease-soaked mind can gradually implant ideas of health, filling his
Unconscious daily with healing thoughts. The instrument we use is
Thought, and the condition essential to success is that the conscious
mind shall be lulled to rest.

Systems which hitherto have tried to make use of autosuggestion have
failed to secure reliable results because they did not place their
reliance on Thought, but tried to compel the Unconscious to accept an
idea by exercising the Will. Obviously, such attempts are doomed to
failure. By using the will we automatically wake ourselves up,
suppress the encroaching tide of the Unconscious, and thereby destroy
the condition by which alone we can succeed.

It is worth our while to note more closely how this happens. A
sufferer, whose mind is filled with thoughts of ill-health, sits down
to compel himself to accept a good suggestion. He calls up a thought