The term "Psychomancy" (pronounced, "sy-ko-man-see"), is derived
from two Greek words, the first "psycho," meaning "the soul; the
mind; the understanding" (and generally used to indicate "psychic"
or unusual powers of the soul or mind); the second word, "mancy"
meaning "to divine; to foresee, or foreknow; to detect secret
things,"—and in occult parlance, "to sense," or "to receive
impressions by the Astral Senses." So the word, as we use it, may
be said to mean "Psychic Sensing," and in this work will be so
used. The word "Psychomancer" means "one practicing Psychomancy;"
and the word "Psychomantic" means "relating to Psychomancy."
The word "Clairvoyance" is frequently used by people to designate
some of the phases of Psychomancy, but strictly speaking this term
is incorrect when used in this sense, the true occult meaning of
the word "Clairvoyance," being "transcendental vision, or the
perception of beings on another plane of existence—the seeing of
disembodied souls, elementals, etc." And so, in this work, we shall
consider the true phenomena of Clairvoyance, as distinct from that
of Psychomancy.
In this work, we shall regard as the true phenomena of Psychomancy,
all the various phenomena known as Psychometry; Crystal Gazing;
Perceiving Distant Scenes; a perception of Past Events, and
Indication of Future Events; either in the full waking state; the
state of reverie; or the state of dreams.
And, so this work will examine, consider, and explain, the various
phases of phenomena above indicated—in short, the phenomena of
"sensing" objects by means of Astral Senses, omitting the phenomena
of Clairvoyance, or seeing disembodied souls, etc., which we regard
as belonging to a different phase of the general subject, and which
require special consideration and examination.
The majority of works upon these lines begin by an elaborate
attempt to "prove" the reality of the phenomena in question. But we
shall not fall into this error, for such we regard it. The time for
the necessity of such proof is past. The records of the Societies
for Psychical Research are full of proofs, and evidence, which are
as full, complete and strong as ever required by any court to hang
or clear a man. And the book shelves of the libraries are full of
other books, giving like proof. And, for that matter, this work is
not written to convince people of the truth of this phenomena—it is
intended for those who have already convinced themselves of its
reality, but who wish for specific information regarding its
nature, manner of manifestation, etc. Where we quote instances of
the manifestation of some form of Psychomantic phenomena, in this
work, we do so simply to illustrate the characteristics of some
particular form of the phenomena, and not as corroborative proof.
With this explanation, we propose plunging right into the main
subject itself.
There have been many attempted explanations of, and theories
regarding the phenomena of Psychomancy, some of which are more or
less plausible, while others are quite visionary, "wild," and
fantastic. In this work, we shall pay no attention to those more or
less ingenious "guesses" of the theorists, but shall, instead, give
you plainly, clearly, and simply, the time-honored teachings of the
advanced Occultists which teachings we believe to be the Truth,
tested and tried by centuries of investigation, and
experiment.
THE ASTRAL SENSES.
The Occult Teachings inform us that in addition to the Five
Physical Senses possessed by man, viz: Seeing; Feeling; Hearing;
Tasting; and Smelling; each of which has its appropriate sense
organ, every individual is also possessed of Five Astral Senses,
which form a part of what is known to Occultists as the Astral
Body. These Astral Senses, which are the astral counterparts of the
five physical senses, operate upon what Occultists call the Astral
Plane, which is next above the Physical Plane, in the Sevenfold
Scale of Planes. Just as do the Physical Senses operate upon the
Physical Plane, so do the Astral Senses operate upon the Astral
Plane.
By means of these Astral Senses, one may sense outside objects
without the use of the physical senses usually employed. And it is
through this sensing by these Astral Senses, that the phenomena of
Psychomancy becomes possible.
By the employment of the Astral Sense of Seeing, the Psychomancer
is able to perceive occurrences, scenes, etc., at a distance
sometimes almost incredibly far; to see through solid objects; to
see records of past occurrences in the Astral Ether; and to see
Future Scenes thrown ahead in Time, like the shadows cast by
material objects—"coming events cast their shadows before," you
have heard. By the use of the Astral Sense of Hearing, he is able
to sense sounds over immense distances and often after the passage
of great periods of time, for the Astral vibrations continue for
many years.
The Astral senses of Taste and Smell are seldom used, although
there are abundant proofs of their existence. The Astral Sense of
Feeling enables the Psychomancer to become aware of certain
occurrences on the Astral Plane, and to perceive impressions,
mental and otherwise, that are being manifested at a distance. The
Astral Sense of Feeling may be explained as being rather a sense of
"Awareness," than a mere "Feeling," inasmuch as the Psychomancer,
through its channel, becomes "aware" of certain occurrences, other
than by Astral Sight or Hearing, and yet which is not "Feeling" as
the word is used on the Physical Plane. It may be well called
"Sensing" for want of a better name, and manifests in a vague
consciousness or "awareness." But still we must not overlook the
fact that there are many instances of true "feeling" on the Astral
Plane, for instances, cases where the Psychomancer actually "feels"
the pain of another, which phenomena is commonly known as
"sympathetic pains," "taking on the condition," etc., etc., and
which are well known to all investigators as belonging to the
phenomena of the Astral Senses.
THE ASTRAL BODY
But, to understand the Astral Senses, one must be made acquainted
with the existence of that which Occultists know as "The Astral
Body." There is no point in the Occult Teachings better
established; longer held; or more thoroughly proven than that of
the existence of the Astral Body. This teaching of the Ancient
Occultists is being corroborated by the experiments, and
investigations of the Psychic Researchers of the present day.
The Astral Body, belonging to every person, is an exact counterpart
of the perfect physical body of the person. It is composed of fine
ethereal matter, and is usually encased in the physical body. In
ordinary cases, the detaching of the Astral Body from its physical
counterpart is accomplished only with great difficulty, but in the
case of dreams; great mental stress; and under certain conditions
of occult development, the Astral Body may become detached and sent
on long journeys, traveling at a rate of speed greater than that of
light waves. On these journeys it is always connected with the
physical body by a long filmy connecting link. If this link were to
become broken, the person would die instantly, but this is an
almost unheard of occurrence in the ordinary planes of action. The
Astral Body exists a long time after the death of the physical
body, but it disintegrates in time. It sometimes hovers around the
resting place of the physical corpse, and is mistaken for the
"spirit" of the deceased person, although really it is merely a
shell or finer outer coating of the soul. The Astral Body of a
dying person is often projected to the presence of friends and
loved ones a few moments before the physical death, the phenomenon
arising from the strong desire of the dying person to see and be
seen.
The Astral Body frequently travels from its physical counterpart,
in Psychomantic phenomena, and visits scenes far distant, there
sensing what is occurring. It also leaves the body during what are
known as Psychomantic dreams; or under the influence of
anaesthetics; or in some of the deeper phases of hypnosis; when it
visits strange scenes and places, and often holds mental
conversation with other Astral Bodies, or else with disembodied
entities. The jumbled and distorted recollections of these dreams
are occasioned by the brain not having received perfect impressions
transmitted to it, by reason of lack of training, development,
etc., the result being like a blurred or distorted photographic
plate.
In order to intelligently grasp the underlying principles of the
phenomena of Psychomancy, and its allied subjects, you must
familiarize yourself with the truth concerning the Astral Senses,
which we have just stated. Unless you understand and accept this
truth and fact, you will not be able to grasp the principles
underlying the phenomena in question, but will be lost in the
quagmire of idle theories, and fantastic "explanation" hazarded by
investigators of psychic phenomena who have not made themselves
acquainted with the Occult Teachings which alone give the student
an intelligent key to the mysteries of the Astral Plane.
THE THREE CLASSES