Chapter 23 — Juggling with Consciousnessurantiabooksources.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MAM-Chapter23.… · Normal and Abnormal (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914, 1921)

WORK-IN-PROGRESS (APRIL 7, 2013) PARALLEL CHART FOR

Chapter 23 — Juggling with Consciousness

of The Mind at Mischief:Tricks and Deceptions of the Subconscious and How to Cope with Them

(1929)

byWilliam S. Sadler, M.D., F.A.C.S.

© 2013 Matthew Block

Sources for Chapter 23, in the order in which they first appear

(1) Wilfred Lay, Ph.D., Man’s Unconscious Spirit: The Psychoanalysis of Spiritism (NewYork: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1921)

(2) William S. Sadler, M.D., F.A.C.S., The Truth About Spiritualism (Chicago: A. C.McClurg & Co., 1923)

(3) Morton Prince, M.D., LL.D., The Unconscious: The Fundamentals of Human PersonalityNormal and Abnormal (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914, 1921)

(4) William S. Sadler, M.D., The Physiology of Faith and Fear: Or, The Mind in Health andDisease (Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1912)

(5) William S. Sadler, M.D., Worry and Nervousness: Or, The Science of Self-Mastery(Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1914, 1923)

(6) Edmund S. Conklin, Principles of Abnormal Psychology (New York: Henry Holt andCompany, 1927)

Key

(a) Green indicates where a source author (other than Sadler) first appears, or where he/shereappears.

(b) Magenta indicates an earlier Sadler book.

(c) Yellow highlights most parallelisms.

Page 1 of 2

(d) Tan highlights parallelisms not occurring on the same row, or parallelisms separated byyellowed parallelisms.

(e) An underlined word or words indicates where the source and Sadler pointedly differ fromeach other.

(f) Pink indicates passages where Sadler specifically shares his own experiences, opinions,advice, etc.

(g) Light blue indicates passages which strongly resemble something in the Urantia Book, orwhich allude to the Urantia phenomenon.

(h) Red indicates either: (1) an obvious error on Sadler’s part, brought about, in most cases,by miscopying or misinterpreting his source, or (2) Sadler’s use of an earlier text of histhat contained time-bound information which he didn’t revise when presenting it in TheMind at Mischief, resulting in a historical impossibility, or (3) Sadler’s use of an earliertext of his which he revised in such a way as to contradict that earlier text.

(i) Gold highlights key words or themes which will be discussed in the analysis of thechapter.

Matthew Block7 April 2013

Page 2 of 2

SOURCE 23: THE MIND AT MISCHIEF

Work-in-progress Version 5 Aug. 2012

© 2012, 2013 Matthew Block

Revised 7 Apr. 2013

XXIII — JUGGLING

WITH CONSCIOUSNESS

23:0.1 BY this time, have I not made itclear that human consciousness is a trickydeceiver? Have I not shown how one’swishes and desires may lead directly tothe juggling of consciousness and to thesinister manipulation of its elements?

Let us take another and parting glimpse ofthe methods whereby one thus comes topractise deception upon one’s own self.

XI: MAN’S UNCONSCIOUS SPIRIT(Lay 286)

§3. Narrowing of Consciousness (Lay 291)

[contd] Just as the narrowing ofconsciousness to a group of stimuli ofvital importance will render everythingexcept that group incapable of enteringconsciousness, so will the opposite actionof broadening the stream ofconsciousness by means of muffledexternal impressions (dimmed lights, softmusic, etc.) render a great many morethings than usual capable of enteringconsciousness (L 291-92).

23:0.2 Just as concentration of themind will serve to focus the attention andthus narrow the consciousness, so willother environmental influences serve towiden or broaden the stream ofconsciousness.

It may be that the peculiar and highlysuggestive environment of the séanceroom, with its dimmed lights, soft music,etc., is of real psychologic value; first, tohelp the medium to broaden the stream ofher consciousness, thus facilitatingcommunication between the consciousand the unconscious; and second, toprepare the sitters more easily to drawupon their imagination and thus morereadily and sympathetically to interpretand receive the purported spirit messages.

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The external conditions of themediumistic seance are as if planned toevoke the free associations of all thepersons concerned (L 292).

23:0.3 It has always seemed to me thatthe séance is most admirably planned andconducted for the purpose ofencouraging, in every way possible, thefree association of ideas

and the favorable reception andrecognition of the slightest impressionson the part of all in attendance.

From a psychologic viewpoint it is wellunderstood how important it is tofacilitate free association, when it comesto the encouragement of imagination,fantasy, and experimental hallucinations.The ideal environment and psychic stateon the part of both medium and believerswould be that which would favor andfacilitate the free and easy transference ofthe “feeling of reality” from one idea oremotion to other ideas and emotions.

In addition to that, the feeling of realitybeing like other feelings susceptible ofbeing detached from one idea andreattached to others is most likely in suchcircumstances to dissociate itself from themonotonous sameness of the sitting stilland being quiet of the seance

Thus we are able to recognize themonotonous quietude of the séance asbeing in every way favorable todissociating the “feeling of reality” fromthe ideas in the forefront of the mind,

and reassociate itself with the mentalimages which are in this physical settingin a most favourable situation foremerging from the unconscious (wherethey exist in the form of indefinite wishesfor self-aggrandizement) and appearing inconsciousness where they are immed-iately seized by the expectant andotherwise under-exercised feeling ofreality (L 292).

and to reassociating it with the slightestsound or the faintest image that may passthrough the mind,

or which may be suggested by themedium as passing through her mind.

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V: THE PSYCHIC PHENOMENA OFSPIRITUALISM (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 121)

4. THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 128)

Unquestionably the seance room, asconventionally conducted, constitutes avery favorable setting—one which is inevery way calculated to encourage theemergence of visual or auditoryhallucinations from the realms of theunconscious.

23:0.4 Unquestionably the séanceroom, as conventionally conducted, is inevery way calculated to encourage theemergence of visual or auditoryhallucinations from the realms of theunconscious.

These no sooner appear than the expectantattitude of both medium and spectatordisposes them early to transfer to thesechildren of subconscious creation that“feeling of reality,” which justifies theconsciousness from that time on in itsrecognition and reception of thesephenomena as a bona fide experience(TTAS 129).

These no sooner appear than theexpectant attitude of both medium andspectator disposes them early to transferto these children of subconscious creationthat “feeling of reality” which justifiesthe consciousness in its reception of thesephenomena as a bona fide experience.

XI: MAN’S UNCONSCIOUS SPIRIT(Lay 286)

§3. Narrowing of Consciousness (Lay 291)

The images become more real inproportion to the faintness anddiminished intensity of the externalsensations.

Images become more real as externalinfluences are decreased in intensity.

The less coming from the outside themore will come from inside and viceversa (L 294).

The less the outside is allowed to intrude,the more will come from the innerconsciousness, and vice versa.

It must not be considered necessarythat the thoughts, occurring in the sittersamid the undirected circumstances of theseance, should occur in the form of visualimages or of auditory images or of theimages of any of the other sense qualities.

These hallucinations will not appear to allsitters at a séance as images.

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The thoughts may occur merely as verbalthoughts. There are numbers of peoplewho do not have mental imagery at all orwho say they do not, though they cannotbe accused of not having ideas (L 292-93).

Many persons do not think pictorially—they think verbally.

FORGOTTEN EXPERIENCES

II: CONSERVATION OF FORGOTTENEXPERIENCES OF NORMAL,ARTIFICIAL, AND PATHOLOGICALLIFE (Prince 15)

I. Normal Life (Prince 15)

Evidence furnished by the method ofhypnosis. (Prince 31)

23:1.1 Under hypnosis we can resurrectin the patient’s mind two distinct sorts ofexperiences:

[contd] It is almost commonknowledge that when a person ishypnotized—whether lightly or deeply—he may be able to remember once well-known events of his conscious life whichhe has totally forgotten in the full wakingstate.

23:1.2 1. Those of which he has at onetime been conscious,

and which in the waking state he willrecall as being his experiences; that is, hewill remember events, images, episodes,etc.

It is not so generally known that he mayalso be able to recall conscious events ofwhich he was never consciously aware,that is to say, experiences which wereentirely subconscious (P 31).

23:1.3 2. Those experiences of whichhe was never consciously aware,

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[Compare C 56.] but which—as in the case of a recenthappening—can be proved to haveoccurred, and thus to have beenresurrected from his unconscious centers.

[Compare P 58.] I have in mind a case in which, underhypnosis, we secured the account of anexperience in which the subject had hearda friend of his make a certain statement toa third person. This statement was veryclearly and completely recovered from hissubconscious mind during hypnosis. Inthe waking state he denied all knowledgeor memory of it. In fact, he expressed adoubt that friend No. 1 had ever madesuch a statement to friend No. 2; butinvestigation proved that such a statementwas made by friend No. 1 to friend No. 2,and made at a time when the subject wasengaged in a telephone conversation afew feet away.

23:1.4 I could cite many cases similarto this, which prove that we not onlyconserve, in the realms of theunconscious, things which we once knewand have forgotten; but that we also holdthere a great deal of material of which wehave never been aware—it has droppedinto the subconscious reservoir withoutever attracting our attention. And howeasy to understand that just such materialas this could be brought up from thesubconscious mind of the medium, and,further, that the medium would be sincereand thoroughly honest in regarding suchstrange material as a spirit communi-cation!

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XVII: SUMMARY AND GENERALCONCLUSIONS (Prince 634)

23:1.5 Says Morton Prince:

We have also seen that coconsciousprocesses may exhibit intelligence of ahigh order, and the same thing is possiblytrue in a less degree of unconsciousprocesses.

23:1.6 We have also seen that coconscious

processes may exhibit intelligence of a high

order, and the same thing is possibly true in a

less degree of unconscious processes.

We found evidence showing that aconserved idea may undergosubconscious incubation and elaboration,and that subconscious processes mayacquire a marked degree of autonomy,may determine or inhibit consciousprocesses of thought, solve problems,enter into conflicts, and in various modesproduce all sorts of psychologicalphenomena (hallucinations, impulsivephenomena, aboul ia , amnesia ,dissociation of personality, etc.) (P 638-39).

We found evidence showing that a conserved

idea may undergo subconscious incubation

and elaboration, and that subconscious

processes may acquire a marked degree of

autonomy, may determine or inhibit conscious

processes of thought, solve problems, enter

into conflicts, and in various modes produce

all sorts of psychological phenomena

(hallucinations, impulsive phenomena,

aboulia, amnesia, dissociation of personality,

etc.).

[contd] We have seen how, by the useof the experimental method of “tapping,”and by hypnotic and other procedures,that this same autonomy can bedemonstrated, manifesting itself byimpulsive phenomena (writing, speech,gestures, and all sorts of motorautomatisms) on the one hand, andsensory automatisms (hallucinations) onthe other (P 639).

We have seen how, by the use of experimental

method of “tapping,” and by hypnotic and

other procedures, that this same autonomy can

be demonstrated, manifesting itself by

impulsive phenomena (writing, speech,

gestures, and all sorts of motor automatisms)

on the one hand, and sensory automatism

(hallucinations) on the other.

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T A P P I N G T H E

SUBCONSCIOUS


18. TAPPING THE SUBCONSCIOUS (The TruthAbout Spiritualism 163)

[contd] It has been scientificallydemonstrated that the subconscious mindcan hold, formulate, and subsequently giveforth for expression, ideas, images,emotions, and associations of ideas, whichhave never been consciously recognized orentertained for one instant—even in thefringe of the personal consciousness.

23:2.1 It has been scientificallydemonstrated that the subconscious mindcan hold, formulate, and subsequentlygive forth for expression, ideas, images,emotions, and associations of ideas,which have never been consciouslyrecognized or entertained for oneinstant—even in the fringe of the personalconsciousness.

Never have these things been brought tothe attention of the individual, so that intheir subsequent upbringing from thesubconscious depths they are recognized asthings wholly foreign to that very mindwhich has just given them birth.

Never have these things been brought tothe attention of the individual, so that intheir subsequent upbringing from thesubconscious depths they seem whollyforeign to the very mind that has justgiven them birth.

That this is true is conclusively shown inthe case of the study of Mrs. Holland who,by automatic writing and in hypnosis,described things transpiring in herenvironment of which she was whollyunaware at the time (TTAS 163).

That this is true is conclusively shown inthe case of Mrs. Holland, who, both byautomatic writing and in hypnosis,described things in her environment ofwhich she was wholly unaware at thetime.

[contd] In experiments of this sort Ihave been able to have subjects recallthings which had been read in newspapers,but without sufficient attention being paidto them to enable the consciousness to beaware of the fact,

23:2.2 In experiments of this sort, Ihave known subjects to recall eventswhich had been read in newspapers, butread without sufficient attention to enablethe critical consciousness to be aware ofthe fact.

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and to trace out in the very depths of thesubconscious mind experiences long sinceforgotten and which were produced as newcreations in automatic writing, trancespeaking, etc. (TTAS 163).

I have also known them to trace out, inthe very depths of the subconscious mind,experiences which had been longforgotten, and which were produced asnew creations in automatic writing or intrance speaking.

III: CONSERVATION OF FORGOTTENEXPERIENCES OF NORMAL,ARTIFICIAL, AND PATHOLOGICALLIFE (Prince 49)

I. Normal Life (Continued) (Prince 49)

Again, in other experiments thereappear, in the crystal, visions rich indetail of persons whom she does notremember having seen, although it can beproved that she actually has seen them (P58-59).

23:2.3 Again, in crystal vision, peoplesee things as a new apparition which arebut a resurrection, or a rehash, of imagesand ideas buried in the unconscious.

[contd] The reproduction ofsubconscious perceptions and forgottenknowledge in dreams, visions, hypnosis,trance states, by automatic writing, etc., isinteresting apart from the theory ofmemory.

Likewise, in dreams these buried andforgotten complexes are reproduced,

Facts of this kind offer a rationalinterpretation of many well-authenticatedphenomena exploited in spiritisticliterature.

and it is just such scientific facts as arebeing brought forth in profusion at thepresent time that enable us to offer, atlast, a rational and scientific explanationfor the so-called psychic phenomena ofspiritualism and the endless vagaries ofthe psychoneuroses.

23:2.4 We are now in position to provethat

Much of the surprising information givenby planchette, table rapping, and similardevices commonly employed bymediums, depends upon the translation offorgotten dormant experiences intomanifestations of this sort.

the bulk of the information divulged bymediums as emanations from the spiritworld are but an up-to-date translation oftheir own buried and forgottenexperiences.

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And, strange as it may appear,

In clinical medicine, too, we can oftenlearn, through reproductions obtained byspecial methods of investigation, theorigin of obsessions and other ideaswhich otherwise are unintelligible (P 59).

we are using the very same methods everyday in our medical offices to determinethe secret origin of nervous disorders,worries, fears, hysterical paralyses, and ahost of other neurotic disturbances.

II. Forgotten Experiences of Artificial and

Pathological States (Prince 61)

Artificial states. (Prince 62)

By automatic writing, also, evidenceof the same principle may be obtained.The conserved memories are tapped, so tospeak.

23:2.5 The subconscious can also betapped in some persons by means ofautomatic writing.

Thus I suggest to Mrs. R. in hypnosis thatafter waking she shall write certain versesor sentences.

Thus, if I hypnotize a susceptible subject,and suggest to her that after waking shewill write certain phrases from the Bible,a certain poem, or a thesis on a givensubject;

After being awakened she reproducesautomatically, as directed, the desiredverses or sentences which, of course,belonged to her hypnotic experiences.

and if, after coming out from the hypnoticstate, her attention be diverted, and thenwe put a pencil in her hand, she will writeexactly as she has been instructed towrite;

and yet a thorough examination will showthat

In other words, although the personalconsciousness did not remember thehypnotic experience of having receivedthe command and of having given thepromise to write the verses, etc.,

her conscious mind knows nothing of theinstructions given to her whilehypnotized;

in executing her automatic writing shehas no thought that she is doing so inobedience to a command.

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the automatic writing by the act offulfilling the command showed that allthis was conserved; here again wasevidence of conservation, in some form,of an experience at the very momentwhen the personal consciousness wasunable to voluntarily recall what hadtaken place in hypnosis (P 64).

Here again we have the scientificevidence—actual proof—of theconservation of our experiences in theunconscious mind,

and of their ability subsequently to escapein an intelligent and orderly fashion.

TRANCES AND CATALEPSY

XXXVIII: PSYCHIC FADS ANDFAKES (The Physiology of Faith and Fear 457)

TRANCES AND CATALEPSY (The Physiology ofFaith and Fear 461)

[contd] In the cataleptic stateconsciousness is diffused—seems to bepushed far out toward the periphery. It is ata dead level of intensity.

23:3.1 In the cataleptic state,consciousness is diffused; it seems to bepushed far out toward the periphery andto be at a dead level of intensity.

The mental life is largely in the dimmarginal state.

The mental life is largely in the dimmarginal state.

The physiological processes of the body areslowed down; in fact, they come to assumeconditions very much like those whichprevail in the hibernating animal.

The physiological processes of the bodyare slowed down; in fact, they come toassume conditions very much like thosewhich prevail in the hibernating animal.

The body may become stiff andextraordinarily rigid.

The body may become stiff—absolutelyrigid.

It is in this condition that the great trancemediums of history and of the present timeusually are found when they receive theirwonderful revelations and visions (See Fig.41.) (PF&F 461).

It is in this condition that the great trancemediums of history and of the presenttime usually are found when they receivetheir extraordinary revelations and seetheir wonderful visions.

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16. TRANCES AND CATALEPSY (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 157)

[contd] It is not uncommon for personsin a cataleptic trance to imagine themselvestaking trips to other worlds.

23:3.2 It is not uncommon for personsin a cataleptic trance to imaginethemselves taking trips to other worlds.

In fact, the wonderful accounts of theirexperiences, which they write out afterthese cataleptic attacks are over, are sounique and marvellous as to serve as thebasis for founding new sects, cults, andreligions.

In fact, the accounts of their experiences,which they write out afterward, are somarvelous as to serve as the basis for newsects, cults, and religions.

Many strange and unique religiousmovements have thus been founded andbuilt up.

Many strange religious movements havethus been founded and built up.

It is an interesting study in psychology tonote that these trance mediums always seevisions in harmony with their owntheological beliefs.

It is interesting to note that these trancemediums always see visions in harmonywith their own theological beliefs.

For instance, a medium who believed in thenatural immortality of the soul, was alwaysled around on her celestial travels by someof her dead and departed friends.

For instance, a medium who believed inthe natural immortality of the soul, wasalways led around on her celestial travelsby some of her departed friends.

One day she changed her religiousviews—became a soul sleeper, and everafter that, when having trances, she waspiloted about from world to world on hernumerous heavenly trips by the angels; nodead or departed friends ever made theirappearance in any of her visions after thischange in her belief (TTAS 157-58).

One day she changed her religiousviews—became a “soul-sleeper”—andever after that, when having trances, shewas piloted about from world to world onher numerous heavenly trips by theangels; no dead friends ever made theirappearance in her visions after thischange in her belief.

[contd] Nearly all these victims oftrances and nervous catalepsy, sooner orlater come to believe themselves to bemessengers of God and prophets ofHeaven; and no doubt most of them aresincere in this belief.

23:3.3 Nearly all these victims oftrances and nervous catalepsy, sooner orlater come to believe themselves to bemessengers of God and prophets ofHeaven; and no doubt most of them aresincere in their belief.

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Not understanding the physiology andpsychology of their afflictions, theysincerely come to look upon their peculiarmental experiences as somethingsupernatural, while their followers blindlybelieve anything they teach because of thesupposed divine character of these so-called revelations (TTAS 158).

Not understanding the physiology andpsychology of their afflictions, theynaturally come to look upon their peculiarmental experiences as somethingsupernatural, while their followers blindlybelieve anything they teach because ofthe supposed divine character of these so-called revelations.

23:3.4 For more than twenty-five years,I have been a careful observer of manydifferent persons who were trancemediums, and who exhibited thesepeculiar psychic and physical phenomenain connection with dreams and visions.

[It will be observed that most clairvoyants arewomen, for it is a well known fact that womenusually possess more of this intuitive ability to discernhuman nature as compared with men.

More than four-fifths of the individualsstudied—they have numbered more thana score—have been women.

Some of the specialists in the study of ductless glandstell us that this is because women have a largerposterior pituitary; that man possesses a largeranterior lobe and is therefore more gifted in analyticalreason and more reliable in mature judgment; butwoman, because of this fact that she has a superiorposterior lobe of the pituitary gland, has more abilitywhen it comes to sizing up and prognosticatinghuman character (TTAS 40-41).]

It seems that both the nervous system andthe endocrine or ductless gland system ofthe female lend themselves more readilyto these phenomena.

I am slow to believe that the spiritualforces of the universe visit the female ofthe species more frequently because shehappens to be a more highly spiritualizedcreature; I am inclined toward the beliefthat the phenomena in question are due tothe posterior pituitary body and otherfactors of an endocrine or chemicalnature, which directly serve in subjectingthe nervous system of the female toperiodic upheavals and disturbances ofboth a psychologic and physiologicnature.

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Another most interesting phenomenonI have noticed in connection with trancemediums, who, as previously remarked, arein the majority of cases women, is thatthese trance or cataleptic phenomenawhich in some respects are very similar toattacks of major hysteria—only carried outstill further—I say, it has been myexperience that they usually make theirappearance after adolescence has beenestablished, and in no case which I haveobserved, or of which I have known, havethese phenomena ever survived theappearance of the menopause (TTAS 159).

I have never yet observed thesephenomena to survive the menopause.

VII: THE CONCLUSION OF THEWHOLE MATTER (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 193)

6. THE STORY SUMMARIZED (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 205)

Trances, visions, and speaking withtongues, so far as I have studied thesephenomena, are fully explained by well-known and established psychologic data.Again, I would distinctly disclaim allintention of discussing or commentingupon the genuine Seers of either ancient ormodern times.

23:3.5 I desire to make it distinctlyclear that I am not, in this discussion,calling in question or challenging beliefin the validity of true prophets, either ofancient or of modern times,

who may have been in actual contact withthe spiritual forces of their day andgeneration.

The prophets of the Almighty are notunder discussion in this thesis.

I am not desirous of either raising ordiscussing that question at all in thisthesis.

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If there be those who had visions in theolden time, who were the voice of “Onecrying in the wilderness;” and if there bethose who have visions in modern times(and I have met a few of this sort who werevery difficult to understand and adequatelyexplain on purely psychologic grounds) Isay, if there be those who have seen avision in our day and generation, it isfarthest from our purpose either to judgeor stigmatize them (TTAS 208-09).

I, for one, am perfectly willing to admitthat such divinely taught persons mayhave lived, or may even now live;

but I am equally desirous of making itplain that it is my opinion that the vastmajority of those who have made suchsupernatural claims were either out-and-out frauds or self-deceived individuals,who, in their ignorance of thingspsychical, actually believed their spells,visions, or visitations to be of divineorigin.



As far as my actual experience goes, asfar as I have personally been able to testand observe those who have trances,visions, and other seizures or experiencesof this sort, I have not yet contacted with acase in which I could not, after a thorough-going psychologic research and painstakingphysical examinations, determine fully—atleast to my own satisfaction—those variouspsychic, chemical and physical influenceswhich quite fully accounted for theirunusual and extraordinary behavior (TTAS158-59).

As far as my actual experience goes—asfar as I have personally been able to testand observe those who have seizures orexperiences of this sort—I have not yetmet with a case in which I could not, aftera thoroughgoing examination, discovercertain psychic, chemical, and physicalinfluences which quite fully accounted—at least to my own satisfaction—for theirextraordinary behavior.

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VII: THE CONCLUSION OF THEWHOLE MATTER (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 193)

6. THE STORY SUMMARIZED (The Truth AboutSpiritualism 205)

23:3.6 Perhaps this statement should bequalified by adding that there are possiblyone or two exceptions to this generalclassification of so-called psychics andtrance mediums. Many years ago I wasmade acquainted with a veryextraordinary phenomenon of this sort,which it has been my privilege to observeperiodically from that time to this, andsome day I hope to report more fully uponthis unique case;

[contd from 23:3.5] But again, I hasten torecord the fact that those few cases ofpsychic phenomena coming under myobservation, which might possibly be ofsupernatural origin, had nothing whateverin common with spiritualism.

but I hasten to say that in none of myobservations of this individual and thepeculiar associated experiences of thenight period was there ever anything thatpointed toward spiritualism.

In fact, I may say that they were more orless actively anti-spiritualistic, and thereforetheir presentation or study does notconcern us in this work (TTAS 209).

In fact, the contacts of this individualwith the alleged forces which dominatedat such times, whatever they were, werealways in a most positive mannerantagonistic to, and condemnatory of, allbeliefs or tendencies associated with theidea of the return of the dead toparticipate in the affairs of the world ofthe living.* [*See Appendix.]

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SPIRITISTIC TENDENCIES

23:4.1 But what is the actual influence,the net result, upon the popular mind, ofthese visions, trances, and other similarmanifestations? It must be evident that inthe main they are bound to contribute toincreasing credulity on the part of thecommon people, and to lead to a deep-rooted belief in the idea that spiritualforces hovering over us are able to setaside certain suitable and favorable typesof individuals to use as mediums and thusto communicate with the living.

23:4.2 Upon persons untrained in themethods of the laboratory, these trancesand visions cannot help but make aprofound impression. To such minds theyconstitute conclusive evidence of theexistence of spiritual forces operatingupon, and through, physical beings; andwhen these phenomena becomeassociated with the propaganda of thebelief in the ability of the spirits ofdeparted humans to communicate withthe friends they have left behind amongthe living, the cause of spiritualism hasgained its most powerful ally. And evenin cases where such manifestations arenot directly allied with spiritualism, theirreal influence upon the public mind isnaturally in that direction.

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C R Y S T A L -G A Z I N G A N D

SHELL-HEARING

XXXVIII: PSYCHIC FADS ANDFAKES (The Physiology of Faith and Fear 457)

CRYSTAL-GAZING AND SHELL-HEARING(The Physiology of Faith and Fear 460)

[contd] Among the psychic delusions ofthe recent past which persist even to thepresent hour are to be found the practicesof crystal-gazing and shell-hearing. (See Fig.40.)

23:5.1 Among the psychic delusions ofthe recent past which persist even to thepresent hour are to be found the practisesof crystal-gazing and shell-hearing.

Certain persons with unstable nervoussystems, when they have long gazedintently into a crystal, become, in ameasure, auto-hypnotized.

Certain persons with unstable nervoussystems, when they have long gazedintently into a crystal, become, in ameasure, auto-hypnotized.

In such a state, groups of thoughts may betransmitted from the marginalconsciousness to the central consciousness,with such a suddenness and vividness as toimpress the crystal-gazer with the idea thatthey originated in the external world.

In such a state, groups of thoughts may betransmitted from the marginalconsc iousness to the cen t ra lconsciousness, with such a suddennessand vividness as to impress the crystal-gazer with the idea that they originated inthe external world.

These thoughts are suddenly projectedoutward from the consciousness, and takehold of the semi-hypnotized inquirer afterthe fashion of an ordinary hallucination.

These thoughts are suddenly projectedoutward and take hold of the semi-hypnotized inquirer after the fashion of anordinary hallucination.

That is, the crystal-gazer has hissubconscious images apparently projectedinto the crystal, so that he sees images,pictures, and other things, which, in hisignorance, he believes originate and actuallyexist in the crystal (PF&F 460).

That is, the crystal-gazer has hissubconscious images apparently projectedinto the crystal, so that he sees picturesand other things, which, in his ignorance,he believes originated and actually existin the crystal.

[contd] The old practice of shell-hearingis an instance of this same sort of reversionof psychic behavior.

The old practise of shell-hearing is aninstance of this same sort of reversion ofpsychic behavior.

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In this case voices originate in the marginalconsciousness (the subconscious mind) andare projected outward into the shell, andthus the listener experiences auditoryhallucinations.

In this case voices originate in themarginal consciousness (the subconsciousmind) and are projected outward into theshell, and thus the listener experiencesauditory hallucinations.

Crystal-gazing and shell-hearing areanalogous to automatic writing andspeaking, which will be consideredpresently (PF&F 460-61).

Crystal-gazing and shell-hearing areanalogous to automatic writing andspeaking, which have already beenconsidered.

IV: CONSERVATION A RESIDUUMOF EXPERIENCES (Prince 87)

Residual processes under ly inghallucinations. (Prince 90)

23:5.2 In crystal-gazing we may alsohave transference of sensory impressions;that is, something once heard may betransferred in the memory centers fromthe auditory group to the visual. This iswell illustrated by a case reported by Dr.Morton Prince.

[contd] We will take the observation ofB. C. A. looking into a crystal andreading some printed words—a cable-gram—which she had previouslyunconsciously overheard.

On looking into a crystal, the subject readsome printed words—a cable-gram whichshe had previously, but unconsciously,overheard being read.

The words were, let us say, “Best Wishesand Happy New Year.”

The words were, if I recall correctly,“Best wishes and a happy New Year.”

Now, this woman actually saw thosewords while gazing intently into a crystalglobe.

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This visual picture was not a literalreproduction of the original experience,which was a subconscious auditoryexperience of the same words, of whichshe was not aware; but plainly,nevertheless, the visual picture must havebeen determined somehow by theauditory experience. Equally plainly thevisual image was not a recurrent phase ofthe consciousness, for the words of themessage had not been previously seen.

The words, as such, in the cablegram, hadnever been seen by her; but she hadrecently heard them,

What occurred was this: and in explaining what actually occurred,psychologically speaking, Dr. Princeoffers the following suggestion:

the antecedent auditory perceptionmanifested itself in consciousness afteran interval of time as a visualhallucination of the words.

23:5.3 The antecedent auditory perception

manifested itself in consciousness after an

interval of time as a visual hallucination of the

words.

There was a reproduction of the originalexperience but not in its original form.

There was a reproduction of the original

experience but not in its original form.

It had undergone a secondary alterationby which the visual perception replacedthe auditory perception.

It had undergone a secondary alteration by

which the visual perception replaced the

auditory perception.

As a memory it was a conversion ortranslation of an auditory experience intoterms of another sense.

As a memory it was a conversion or

translation of an auditory experience into

terms of another sense.

Now the conversion must have beeneffected by some mechanism outside ofconsciousness; that is to say, it was not anordinary visualization, i. e., intenselyvivid secondary images pertaining to aconscious memory, as when one thinks ofthe morning’s breakfast table andvisualizes it; for there was no consciousmemory of the words, or knowledge thatthere ever had been such an experience.

Now the conversion must have been effected

by some mechanism outside of consciousness;

that is to say, it was not an ordinary

visualization, i.e., intensely vivid secondary

images pertaining to a conscious memory, as

when one thinks of the morning’s breakfast

table and visualizes it; for there was no

conscious memory of the words or knowledge

that there ever had been such an experience.

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The visualization therefore must havebeen induced by something not in thecontent of consciousness,—somethingwhich we have called a secondaryprocess, of which the individual isunaware (P 90-91).

The visualization therefore must have been

induced by something not in the content of

consciousness—something which we have

called a secondary process, of which the

individual is unaware.

II: CONSERVATION OF FORGOTTENEXPERIENCES OF NORMAL,ARTIFICIAL, AND PATHOLOGICALLIFE (Prince 15)

I. Normal Life (Prince 15)

Evidence from hallucinatory phenomena.(Prince 39)

*Crystal or artificial visions are

hallucinatory phenomena which, like

automatic writing, can be cultivated by some

people.

23:5.4 Like automatic writing, thecrystal vision can be cultivated by certainindividuals with unstable minds andnervous systems.

The common technic is to have a person look

into a crystal, at the same time concentrating

the mind, or putting himself into a state of

abstraction.

Sitting down before the crystal

encourages the shifting of the borderconsciousness, and facilitates thetransference of its content into symbols ofvision.

Under these conditions the subject sees a

vision, i. e., has a visual hallucination. The

vision may be of some person or place, or may

represent a scene which may be enacted.

This whole practise is nothing more norless than visual hallucination;

Because of the use of a crystal such

hallucinations are called “crystal visions,” but

a crystal is not requisite; any reflecting surface

may be sufficient, or even the concentration of

the attention.

other psychic souls can indulge suchexperiences without the aid of the glassball.

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They are able to turn the mind adrift andsee these visions at will. And in the caseof certain forms of insanity, of course, itis this very sort of hallucinatory visionthat has taken possession of the brain andgoes on grinding out these hallucinationswithout end.

23:5.5 In crystal vision, thesubconscious is being more or less deeplytapped—at least it is being superficiallydrawn upon—

The crystal or other object used of course acts

only by aiding the concentration of attention and the crystal or other object used is anartificial aid to the concentration of theattention.

and b y fo rce o f suggest io n .— Th e

subconscious is tapped (P 42).It also probably serves, indirectly, as asuggestive influence.

MEMORY ABNORMALITIES

[The lower forms of life seem utterly unable toprofit by experience—they have little or noassociative memory, and, of course, they are notaddicted to the human vice of worry (Worry andNervousness 52).]

23:6.1 Animals without an associativememory are not given to worry,

[Chronic Fear or Common Worry [chapter title],(Worry and Nervousness 51-62)]

for worry is chronic fear;

[Compare C 55.] and it is highly probable that the defectivefunctioning of memory is sometimesmore or less responsible for the initiationand accumulation of our neurotic fears.

III: MEMORY ABNORMALITIES(Conklin 43)

It seems most convenient to think ofthe abnormalities of memory in theirrelationship to the four aspects orprocesses which make a memoryconsciousness possible and complete (C43).

23:6.2 The psychologists are in thehabit of recognizing four different kindsof abnormalities which characterizememory,

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and they are:

I. Defects as the consequence ofimperfect impression.

23:6.3 1. Imperfect impression—

That which is but vaguely sensed orperceived makes so poor an impressionthat its subsequent recall or reproductionis not likely (C 44).

This occurs when the sensory stimuli arevery slight

The wandering of attention because offatigue and the physiological condition ofthe central nervous system in fatigueprevent a good impression (C 44).

or when the attention is distracted.

Anything which tends to lessen theintensification of the sensory impressionsor their emotional accompaniments has todo with lessening memory.

II. Defects as the consequence ofimperfect or disturbed retention (C 44).

23:6.4 2. Imperfect retention—

It is well known that even our mostprofound sensory impressions aresometimes imperfectly retained.

This is more especially shown in thosecases of accidents in which, afterrecovery,

The remarkable thing here is not theautomatic activity after [a college studentwas injured in a football game] but thefact that he does not recall leaving hislaboratory, dressing for the game, thebeginning of the game, nor any of itsevents up to the time of his injury,—thathe does not now recall events which tookplace some little time prior to the injury(C 47).

an individual is unable to recall thingswhich happened immediately before theaccident.

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III. Defects due to disturbance ofreproduction or representation. (C 48)

23:6.5 3. Abnormal reproduction—

In other cases, altho the content of thememory is normal, the patient is unableproperly to recall past events. Thisamnesia may be more or less complete.

Sometimes there is a complete amnesiafor the entire past of the patient and yet itis not of the degenerative type becausethe past which cannot be voluntarilyrecalled nor stimulated to re-presentationin waking consciousness can be and isreproduced in dream states and inhypnotism (C 48).

The entire past life of the patient may befor the time wiped out.

In other cases there appears to be a localdissociation,

In other cases certain systematizedportions of the past are similarly beyondthe possibility of recall or re-presentationin the waking consciousness, and there islikewise adequate evidence that thematerial is retained but for some reasoncannot be recalled (C 48).

so that memory is lost only for a certaintime and for certain things.

The “shell shock” cases of loss of speech,paralysis of arms and legs, etc., are reallydisturbances of an amnesic nature.

This is well illustrated in the case ofhysterical paralysis.

In these cases the patients are unable tothink in terms of the lost function. Theyare unable to move hand or arm or leg, asthe case may be, because they are unableto think of doing so (C 50).

The patient for the time being has lost thememory of how to move the supposedlyparalyzed arm.

IV. Defects due to disturbances ofrecognition. (C 50)

23:6.6 4. Defective memory due todisturbance of recognition—

Of such disturbances there can be isolatedat least four forms (C 51).

We have four groups of memorydisturbance belonging to this class:

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1. The complete failure to recognizeor the illusion of the “never-seen” (C 51).

23:6.7 a. Those cases characterized bycomplete failure of memory or theillusion of “never having seen.”

2. The illusion of having alreadyseen, false memory or false recognition(C 52).

23:6.8 b. The illusion of having alreadyseen.

A friend of the writer’s while trampingthrough mountains where he had neverbeen before came out into an openingwhere everything appeared to be familiar,he seemed to recognize it all.

I have had this experience a number oftimes in viewing natural scenery

In another instance a man who had neverbeen west of Chicago had business whichtook him into a town in Iowa. As hestarted up the street of the town he wassurprised to find it familiar, he seemed tohave seen it all before (C 52-53).

or upon first visiting a town, experiencingvery definitely the impression that I hadseen these places before.

3. Distortions of memory by“Unconscious inference” (C 54).

23:6.9 c. Distortion of memory—

getting the imagination mixed up with thefactual details,

Tales of dreams that came true, allegedtelepathic experiences, apparitions, theevents of spiritistic séances, reports of theconduct of those suspected of insanity,must all be scrutinized with the mostmeticulous care and checked in everypossible way to eliminate such errors (C54-55).

as is so commonly illustrated by thetendency to make agreements betweentelepathic experiences, spiritistic séances,etc.

There is a very definite tendency to getfictitious details woven into the narrativeof facts.

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4. Retroactive paramnesia. (C 55) 23:6.10 d. Retroactive memory.

We have so often heard from our eldersthat we did certain exceptionally brilliantthings in our childhood

Hearing about things that happenedbefore you were born,

and have ourselves been guilty ofoccasionally relating the incidents that wefind ourselves recalling the time when theevents occurred. That which we could notoriginally recall becomes fitted into ourrecollections through the reports of ourelders (C 55).

and then attaching them to your memorycomplex, so that later on you actuallythink you remember these events.

I very well remember recalling a floodexperience in my youth; but in adult lifeinvestigation proved it happened a yearbefore I was born; it had been so vividlyrelated during my babyhood that itbecame confused with my memory of realevents.

We are, however, also prone to confusethe memory of phantasies with the pastand eventually fail to distinguish factfrom phantasy (C 55).

It is also highly probable that we indulgein fantasy and then subsequently get theseimages scrambled with the realities ofliving, all of which tends to confuse usafterward when we attempt to recall thesememories.

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Chapter 23 — Juggling with Consciousnessurantiabooksources.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MAM-Chapter23.… · Normal and Abnormal (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914, 1921)