piece of wood or other medium used turns in
the hands--in most cases upwards for water and downwards
for minerals. The motion varies according to individual
temperaments: in some hands the turning is slow and but slightly
felt, or scarcely perceptible by lookers-on; with others it rotates
rapidly, and when held tightly by the thumb, the bark of the branch
or twig often peels off; and, with very susceptible operators. I have
seen the rod fly, out of the hands, or, if very tightly held, break."

As yet, however, the majority of people are wholly oblivious to
the fact that such psychic faculties exist, and even those who
possess them, _i.e._, who have them in something like working
efficiency, are conscious of having but an imperfect control over
them.

Probably it is as suggested by Mr. F. H. Myers, these things are, as
yet, imperfectly understood. Genius, far from being a condition
bordering on neurosis or other nervous ailments--as Lombroso and
Nordau have erroneously taught--is an exaltation of faculty which
brings its subject into relations with a plane of life possibly far in
advance of one's normal experience; so that while new centres of
activity are as yet under imperfect control, the normal functions of
the brain and other centres of action are left in neglect. Hence, to
the casual observer, the erratic nature of Genius is not
distinguishable from some incipent forms of insanity.

In just the same way the opening up of new centres of activity in
the psychic nature of man is frequently attended by temporary loss
of control over the normal brain functions. Loss of memory,
hysteria, absentmindedness, unconscious utterance of one's
thoughts, illusions and hallucinations, irritability, indifference to
one's surroundings, and similar perversions, are among the
products of the newly-evolved psychic faculty.

These, however, will pass away when the faculty has been brought
under control of the mind. Nature is jealous of its offspring, and
concentrates the whole of its forces when in the act of generation.
That is the reason of its apparent neglect of powers and function
already under its control while the evolution of a new faculty is in
process.

The would-be seer, therefore, must be prepared to pay the price of
any success which may attend his efforts in the direction of
inducing clairvoyance by means of the crystal.

"The universe is thine. Take what thou wilt, but pay the price," is
the mandate of Nature. "W