into full waking consciousness. During the process of
abstraction which precedes every vision or series of visions,
the consciousness of the seer is gradually and imperceptibly
withdrawn from his surroundings. He forgets that he is seated in
this or that room, that such a person is at his right hand, such
another at his left. He forgets that he is gazing into the crystal. He
hears nothing, sees nothing, save what is passing before the eyes
of his soul. He loses sight, for the time, even of his own identity.

Therefore, when his vision is suddenly arrested by an apparition,
startling in its reality and instantaneous production, even though
hoped for and expected, the reaction is so violent and rapid that
the seer is frequently carried back into the full consciousness
of his physical conditions. Therefore, the qualifications of
self-possession and confidence in one's own soul-faculties have been
stated as of primary importance in this domain of research. Excess
of joy or fear at sight of the vision will be fatal to its continuance
and to the condition of mind required for the process of
development. This fact must therefore be borne in mind.

CHAPTER V.

DIFFICULTIES

Under this head we propose to cite a few of the obstacles to be met
with in the process of inducing the psychic vision, and some also
which may be expected in connection with the faculty when
induced.

Putting aside the greatest of all obstacles--that of constitutional
unfitness--as having been already discussed in preceding pages,
the first obstacle to be avoided is that of ill-health. The importance
of a moderate and sustaining diet in regard to psychic development
cannot be too strongly urged. All overloading of the stomach with
indigestible food and addiction to alcoholic drinks tends to cloud
the spiritual perception, It depletes the brain-centres, gives the
heart too much work, and overthrows the equilibrium of the
system. Ill-health follows; the mind is centred upon the suffering
body, spiritual aspiration ceases, and the soul folds its wings and
falls into the sleep of oblivion. The consciousness of man works
from a centre, which co-ordinates and includes all the phenomena
of thought, feeling, and volition. This centre of consciousness is
capable of rapid displacement, alternating between the most
external of our bodily functions and the most internal of our
spiritual operations. It cannot be active in all parts of our complex
constitutio