in connection with which she knew
scarcely anything, and all her efforts at finding information regarding
it seemed to be of no avail.

She set to work, but it seemed as if even her own powers defied her.
Failure seemed imminent. Almost in desperation she decided to retire,
and putting the matter into her mind in such a way that she would be able
to receive the greatest amount of aid while asleep, she fell asleep and
slept soundly until morning. When she awoke her work of the previous
evening was the first thing that came into her mind. She lay quietly for
a few minutes, and as she lay there, the article, completely written,
seemed to stand before her mind. She ran through it, arose, and without
dressing took her pen and transcribed it on to paper, literally acting
simply as her own amanuensis.

The mind acting intently along a particular line will continue so to act
until some other object of thought carries it along another line. And
since in sleep only the body is in quiet while the mind and soul are
active, then the mind on being given a certain direction when one drops
off to sleep, will take up the line along which it is directed, and can
be made, in time, to bring over into consciousness the results of its
activities. Some will be able very soon to get results of this kind; for
some it will take longer. Quiet and continued effort will increase the
faculty.

Then by virtue of the law of the drawing power of mind, since the mind is
always active, we are drawing to us even while sleeping, influences from
the realms kindred to those in which we in our thoughts are living before
we fall asleep. In this way we can put ourselves into relation with what
ever kinds of influence we choose and accordingly gain much during the
process of sleep. In many ways the interior faculties are more open and
receptive while we are in sleep than while we are awake. Hence the
necessity of exercising even greater care as to the nature of the
thoughts that occupy the mind as we enter into sleep, for there can come
to us only what we by our own order of thought attract. We have it
entirely in our own hands.

And for the same reason,--this greater degree of receptivity during this
period,--we are able by understanding and using the law, to gain much of
value more readily in this way than when the physical senses are fully
open to the material world about us. Many will find a practice somewhat
after the following nature of val