StrangePowers

ColinWilson

ContentsIntroduction

1. RobertLeftwich2. MrsEuniceBeattie3. DrArthurGuirdham

Introduction'Thewriterfindsveryconsiderablereasonforbelievingthat,withinaperiodtobeestimatedbyweeksandmonthsratherthanbyaeons,therehasbeenafundamentalchangeintheconditionsunderwhichlife,notsimplyhumanlifebutallself-consciousexistence,hasbeengoingonsinceitsbeginning.'

Withthesestrangewords,H.G.WellsbeganhisfinalbookMindattheEndofItsTether,writtenin1945,theyearbeforehisdeath.ItsoundedlikeoneoftheJehovah'sWitnesses'doomsdayprophecies.'Theendofeverythingwecalllifeisathand,'saidWells,'andcannotbeevaded.'Inthequarterofacenturythathaspassedsincehisdeath,therehasbeennoobvioussignofthe'fundamentalchange'thatWellsforesaw.Butno,thatisnotquitetrue.Therehasbeenachange,andaveryimportantone:notintheconditionsoflife,butintheattitudeofthecivilizedwesternmindtothoseconditions.ItisachangethatwouldhaveamazedWells,andperhapsirritatedhim.ForalthoughWellscouldnothaveknownit,hediedinthelastdecadebeforetheendofscientificdeterminism.Thisdeterminism—thebeliefthattheuniverseisbasicallyamachine,andthatlifeisjustahighlycomplicatedmechanicalprocess—hadreignedsupremeformorethanacentury,anditseemedtohavecometostay.Itsbasicattitudecouldbesummarizedlikethis:'Manhasalwaysbeeninfinitelycapableoferrorandself-deception.Nowhehasfoundamethodthatcansavehimfromthem—thescientificmethod.Hemustclearhismindofallpreconceptions,andthenmerelyfacethefacts.Concentrateentirelyonfacts,andondrawingrationalconclusionsfromthosefacts...'ItwasacreedtowhichWellssubscribedwithoutreservation,andhecouldnotconceivethatitmighteverbechangedormodified—unlessthehumanmindshouldplungeagainintotheerrorsofthedarkages.ItwasthecreedthatfinallyledhimtothedespairofMindattheEndofItsTether,withitsfeelingthatmanisahopeless,incorrigibleself-deceiverwhoisdueforabrutalawakening...Victoriansciencesaidmanhadnorighttofalsehope;Wellssaidmanhadnorighttohopeatall.Hewassayingthatthehumanmindissofullofitsownimportancethatitcannotgetusedtotheideathatitistotallyunimportant;worsethanunimportant—negligible,almostnon-existent.

Wellshadtakenthe'scientificattitude'asfarasitwouldgo;thependulumhadtostartswingingintheoppositedirection...

Itdid—althoughthefirstsignsofitwouldhavestruckWellsasabsurd,asignofdecadence.IhadcometoLondon,attheageoftwenty,in1951,andInoticed,inbookshopsintheCharingCrossRoad,bookswithtitleslikeABuddhistBible,TheMythoftheMagus,Tibet'sGreatYogiMilarepa,TheIChing,InSearchoftheMiraculous,WorldsinCollision.Nowmyowntraining,insofarasI'dhadany,hadbeenscientific,andIwasverymuchofWells'swayofthinking.Iunderstoodthatthescientificattitudeisnotbasicallyjustaspoilsportskepticism.T.H.Huxleydefinedthescientificattitudeas'sittingdownbeforethefactslikealittlechild',andfollowingwherevertheylead.AndIknewthatthisattitudecanbringanalmostmysticalsensationofopeningvistas,auniversefullofextraordinaryfacts,allwaitingtobeabsorbedintotherealmofhumanknowledge.Butthereareallkindsoffactsandtruths:historical,philosophical,literary,legal,religious,andIsawnoreasontolimitmyinteresttothekindoffactsthatWellsregardedasthescientist'sproperprovince.SoIborrowedtheIChingandtheMalleusMaleficarumandtheTibetanBookoftheDeadandbooksbyMontagueSummersonwitchesandvampiresfromthelibrary.AnditsoonstruckmethatthereisaproblemherethatWellshadnevertakenthetroubletodefine.Forexample,ImmanuelVelikovsky'sbest-sellerWorldsinCollisioniscertainlyacrankbook;butnotbecausehebelievesthatagiantcometfromJupitercausedtidalupheavalsandgaverisetosuchphenomenaasthefallofthewallsofJerichoandthepartingoftheRedSeatolettheIsraelitesthrough.Fromthescientificpointofview,WorldsinCollisionandAgesinChaosarefullofinterestingfactsaboutsomestrangecatastrophethattoremammothsandmastodonslimbfromlimbandthenburiedtheminblackmud,aboutgiantbouldersintheJuramountainsapparentlytornfromtheAlps.Frozenmammothshavebeenfoundthatmusthavebeenfrozenalmostinstantaneously,fortherehasbeennodecayofinnertissues(theyarestillediblewhenunfrozen).Anymoderncoldstoragefirmwilltellyouthatthisisalmostimpossibleforacreatureofthatsize.Tobeginwith,unlessitisfrozenveryrapidly,thecrystalsoficethatformaresolargethattheyburstthecellsofthetissues,andthemeatlosesflavorwhenunfrozen;theBeresovka

mammothwasfrozensorapidlythatonlythetiniestcrystalsformedthroughout.[1]Somecatastrophehappenedverysuddenlyindeed,anditisthebusinessofsciencetotrytoexplainit.Ontheotherhand,thereisnorealevidencetolinktheseprehistoricmysterieswiththefallofthewallsofJerichowhentheIsraelitesblewtheirtrumpets.Velikovskyisacrankbecausehereasonsbadlyandwronglyfromhisfacts—notbecausethereissomethingwrongwiththefactsthemselves.ButascientistwhodeclinedtoreadVelikovskyonthegroundsthatheisacrankwouldalsobeguiltyofprejudicedthinking.Velikovsky'sreasoningmaybeshaky;butthefactsremain.AnditisnothispreoccupationwiththesestrangefactsthatmakesVelikovskyacrank.Thereisanemotionalprejudicebehindthechoiceof'thefacts'thescientistiswillingtotakeseriously:afeelingthatcertainfactsare'goodtaste'andcertainothersarebadtaste.Quiteunconsciously,hehascometolimithisinteresttothekindoffactsthatfitintothekindofjigsawpuzzleheisgoodatsolving.

IwasclearlyawareofthisasIreadtheIChingorOuspensky'sNewModeloftheUniverse.TheideaofthrowingdowncoinstolearnaboutthefutureisabsurdandindefensiblefromtheWellsianpointofview.Ontheotherhand,likeeverybodyelse,Ihadobservedthewaythatcoincidencesdosometimesformoddpatterns.Icanofferanexamplethatoccurredonlyafewdaysbeforewritingthesepages.ReadingareviewofarecordingofVerdi'searlyoperaAttila,IsawareferencetoaballetcalledTheLadyandtheFool,puttogetherfromearlyVerdioperas.Ifoundthisrecordonmyshelves—Ididn'tknowIhadit,andhadcertainlyneverplayedit—anddiscoveredthattheballethadbeenarrangedbyJohnCranko.TherecordnotesmentionedthatCranko'sothermostpopularballetwasPineapplePoll,arrangedfromthemusicofArthurSullivan.IknewIhadthis,soItookitout,andplayeditafterIhadplayedTheLadyandtheFool.Athalfpasteightintheevening—immediatelyafterplayingtherecords—therewasaprogramIwantedtolistentoontheradio;Iswitchedonat8.25.Theradiohappenedtobetunedtothewrongstation,andanewsreaderwasannouncingthedeaththatdayofJohnCranko,whosebest-knownballetswereTheLadyandtheFoolandPineapplePoll.Notatremendouslyexcitingcoincidence,Iagree.Butodd.IhadprobablypossessedtherecordofTheLadyandtheFoolforyearsbutneverplayedit;Ihadn'tplayedPineapplePollfor

yearseither,anddidn'tknowitwasbyCranko.TheseweretheonlytworecordsIplayedduringtheeveningbeforehearingthenewsofhisdeath.

Wellswouldsay:Verywell,whatconclusiondoyoudrawfromthat?ThatsomeinvisibleintelligencewantedtodirectyourattentiontoCranko?PerhapsCranko'sghost?Orthattherewassomemysteriousworkingofprovidence...?No,Iamnotsuggestingeitherofthese.Imerelyobservethatcoincidencesofthissorthappensufficientlyoftentosuggestthattheyshouldn'tbeignored.Scienceconsistsbasicallyofobservationofeventsthatarerepeated—whetheritisthesunrisingeverymorning,oracometreturningeveryhundredandfiftyyears.ThisisnoplacetodiscussJung'sideaofsynchronicity—Iwilldosolater;atthemoment,Iwouldonlysaythatifa'chance'occursoftenenough,thechanceofitbeingpurechancesoonbecomesunlikely.Ialsonote,inpassing,thatthesecoincidencesseemtooccurmoreoftenwhenIampsychologicallyhealthythanwhenI'mtiredordepressed—perhapssuggestingthatsomeunconsciousradar-systemisinoperation.

AstoOuspensky—andhisteacherGurdjieff:theyraisethequestionofcrankeryinaveryclearform.HalfGurdjieff's'system'consistsofpsychologicalobservationsofanacutenessthatamountstogenius;heisonthesamelevelasKierkegaard,NietzscheandWilliamJames.Theotherhalfconsistsofstrangeassertionsaboutplanetarylevels,the'rayofcreation'andtablesof'hydrogens'thatareunknowntochemistry.Thispartofthesystemmayhaveprofoundoccultmeanings,oritmaybeahomemadesymbolism,likethemythicalpersonalitiesofBlake'sPropheticBooks.Ahighlyintelligentfriendofmine—andoneofthemostintelligentmenIhaveeverknown—dismissedGurdjieffasacompletecrankandcharlatan;hewasahumanisticphilosopherratherthanascientist;buthewas,itseemstome,slippingintothesame'fallacyofintolerance'asWells.Gurdjieffdidnotsuithispreconceivedideaoftherationalandlogical;sohelethisemotionsguidehisreason,anddismissedhim.

Theproblemisthatthehumanisticrationalistblindshimselfincompletegoodfaith.Tokeepagenuinelyopenmindisamatteroftremendousdifficulty.Wecanslipintoa'pointofview'thatimposesrigidpatternsoneverythingwesee,andwhichmakescertainthingsinconceivable.Youonlyrecognizeitasamentalstraitjacketwhenyou

havegotridofit.Forexample,althoughIreadMontagueSummer'sHistoryofWitchcraftwithpleasure,itseemedself-evidenttomethathewasacrankoraliar.Nosensibleperson,writingintheageofEinsteinandPlanck,couldbelievethat'blackwitches'werereallywicked,andthattheypossessedrealpowers.Summersundoubtedlywasabitofacrankandabitofaposeur;soitseemedfairlyclearthathewaspretendingtobelieveinwitchcrafttogivehisbooka'newangle'.[1]Nearlytwentyyearslater,whenwritingTheOccult,Itookbasicallythesameview.So,forexample,whenwritingofthecuriouscaseoftheNorthBerwickWitches,executedin1591forraisingastorminwhichtheytriedtodrowntheking,Itookitforgrantedthatitwasbasicallyacaseofhysteria,superstitionandcredulity.Yetelsewhereinthesamebook,IacceptevidencethatAfricanwitchdoctorscansummonrain.(Tobeginwith,ithadbeendescribedtomebytwofriendswhohadactuallyseenit:NegleyFarsonandMartinDelaney.)ItonlystruckmesometimeafterwardsthatIwasbeingillogicalintakingitforgrantedthattheNorthBerwickWitcheswereinnocent.Someaspectsofthecaseareveryodd.Atonepointintheexamination,KingJamesIdeclaredthewholethingwasatissueofnonsense.Whereupon,oneofthechiefaccused,AgnesSampson,drewhimasideandwhisperedinhisearcertainwordsthathehadspokentohisbride,AnneofDenmark,ontheirweddingnightwhentheywerealone;noonebutthekingandhisbrideknewthem.Thekingwasimmediatelyconvincedthathewasdealingwithrealwitches.WhyshouldAgnesSampsonhavedonethis,whenJameswasinamoodtodismissthewholethingasimagination?TheaccountofthecasegivenbyRossellHopeRobbinsinhisEncyclopediaofWitchcraftandDemonology(1959)takesitforgrantedthatallwereinnocent,andpraisesthecourageoftheschoolmaster,JohnFian,whoconfessedaftertorture,butlaterwithdrewhisconfessionanddiedassertinghisinnocence.ButRobbinsfailstomentiontheimportantfactthatFianwasthesecretaryoftheEarlofBothwell—who,inlaterlife,hadthereputationofbeingadabblerinblackmagic,andwhohadeveryreasontointrigueagainsthiscousintheking.WhenthekingwassailingbackfromDenmarkwithhisnewlymarriedbride,atremendousstormaroseandalmostsanktheship;thewitchesconfessedtoraisingthisstorm,withFian'shelp.Neitherdoeshementionthat,onthemorningafterhis

confession,Fiantoldhisjailers,withoutprompting,thathehadbeenvisitedbythedevilduringthenight.RobbinsexplainstheconfessionbyemphasizinghowhorriblyFianwastortured,hislegcrushedby'theboot';yetFianescapedtwenty-fourhourslater,andmanagedtogetbackhome.(SoRobbinsisforcedtotheconclusionthattheescapewasmythical,insertedbythechroniclertoheightentheeffectofthestory.)

Robbinscouldberight.Butthereisanotherinterpretation.ThereisevidencethatBothwellwasplottingtokilltheking,whomhehopedtosupplantonthethroneofEngland.Fianwashissecretary.SupposeFianwasresponsibleforceremoniestotrytoraiseastormtowrecktheking'sship?Supposethewitcheswerenotjustself-deludingoldhags,butpossessedthesamepowerasAfricanwitchdoctors?SupposeAgnesSampsonhadsomegenuineextra-sensoryknowledgeofwhatpassedbetweenthekingandhisbrideontheirweddingnightand,havingoncecommittedherselftoconfessionandrepentance,decidedtousethisknowledgetoconvincethekingwhenhebecameskeptical...?ThisversionfitsthefactsaswellasRobbins''martyrdomoftheinnocent'theory.Infact,ratherbetter.

Havingreachedthisconclusion,itstruckmethatIwasnowappreciablyclosertothepositionofMontagueSummers,andthathemightnotbeasdishonestasIhadassumed.Summersdoesnotdenythatmanyinnocentwomenhavebeenexecutedaswitches;heonlyarguesthatthereisatraditionof'blackwitchcraft'inEurope.Icannotgoalongwithhiminbelievingthatwitchesreallysummonedthedevil—althoughIwouldacceptthattheymighthavesummoned'powersofevil',whateverthatmeans.ThetruthprobablyliessomewheremidwaybetweenSummers'totalacceptanceofblackwitchcraftandRobbins'totalskepticism.

Asfarasmagicandoccultismwent,Iremainedbasicallyaskeptic.ButinTheOutsiderwhichIstartedtowriteoverChristmas1954,Iexpressedmyrevulsionfromthedeterminismandreductionismofmodernscience.(Forexample,IhadalwaysdislikedFreud'sattempttoexplainMoses,LeonardoandDostoevskyintermsofOedipuscomplexes,castrationfears,etc.)InTheOutsiderandReligionandtheRebel,Iwasmoreconcernedwiththeproblemfromaphilosophicalangle:thattwoofthemostinfluentialmodernphilosophicalmovements,

logicalpositivismandlinguisticanalysis,shouldregardquestionsofhumanfreedomasmoreorlessmeaningless.WithHeideggerandSartre,Iacceptedthatmaniscapableofexpressingfreewill—andthereforeofsomenon-religiousversionof'damnation'and'salvation'.Havingworkedinfactories,offices,restaurants,Ihadahighlydevelopedsenseofthefutilityofcertainmodesofactivity,andalsoofthestrongfeelingofmeaningandfreedominothers—forexample,inself-expression(inmycase,throughwriting),intravel,inromanticorsexualinvolvements.AsfarasIwasconcerned,alifespentinmenialjobswasaformofdamnation;whileRupertBrooke'slinesaboutasmell

'...thatfibsThesoulwithlongingfordimhillsAndfarhorizons'

broughtatasteoffreedom,ofmeaning,of'salvation'.Itwasnogoodtellingmethatthesewordsexpresslinguisticmisunderstandings.

ButatthetimeTheOutsidercameout,in1956,whatIwaswritingstruckcriticsasthemostold-fashionedrubbish—asortofthrow-backtotheromanticismofYeats—orevenearlier,ofShelleyandBlake.ThesuccessofTheOutsiderwasfollowedbyanalmostimmediatebackswing.ThefatherfigureofEnglishlogicalpositivism,A.J.Ayer,ledtheattack;inareviewofTheOutsider,whileArthurKoestlerdismissedthebookas'bubbleoftheyear'(andhassincereprintedthisopinioninavolumeofessays,bywayofreaffirmingit).Theword'woolly'turnedupincreasinglyinreviews,particularlyofReligionandtheRebel,thesequeltoTheOutsider.Thentherewasanothergroupofobjectorsonpoliticalgrounds.Mostofmycontemporariesinliteraturewereleft-wing—Osborne,Amis,Braine,DorisLessing,ChristopherLogue,KennethTynan,Weskeretal.,andtheyadvocatedtheimportanceof'commitment',marchingtoAldermaston,signingpetitionsagainstrepressiveregimes,andsoon.Ihadnopositiveobjections;IwouldhavebeenentirelyinfavorofbanningtheH-bomborallowingRussia'sJewstogotoIsrael.Itwasjustaquestionofpriorities.Iwasinterestedinmyowninnerneeds,andintheinnerneedsofmeningeneral.ThatwasmyconceptofanOutsider:amandrivenbyapowerfulinnercompulsiontofreedom,whichmightleadhimtoactinoppositiontothedemandsof

society,tohisowndesireforcomfortandacceptancebyhisfellows.Inthenineteenthcentury,ithaddrivenmanyofthemajorartiststoanearlygrave;andmostoftheromanticsacceptedthisaspartoftheirbasicphilosophy:ifyouexperiencethisstrangeurgefor'dimhillsandfarhorizons',expectanearlydeath;thisbusyhumanworldhasnoplaceforyou.IwroteTheOutsiderbecauseIcouldn'tacceptthisnotion.IcouldseenoapriorireasonwhyShelleyandKeatshadtodieyoung,whyHölderlinandNietzschehadtogoinsane,whyBeddoesandVanGoghhadtocommitsuicide.Or,forthatmatter,whyWordsworthandSwinburnehadtodriftintoamediocreoldage.Tome,itseemed,quitesimply,thatmostofthemweretoopassive.EvenNietzsche,thatadvocateofwarandruthlessness,spenthislifequietlydriftingfrompensiontopension.Ibelievedthatif'theOutsider'couldlearntoknowhimself,andmakeadeterminedefforttocontrolhislifeinsteadofdrifting,hemightendasaleaderofcivilizationinsteadofoneofitsrejects.Buttheanswerwasnottojointhepeacecorpsormarchinprotestrallies.AndbecauseIheldthisindifferentattitudetocurrentpolitics,Ifoundmyself,tomyastonishment,labeledafascist.Ididn'tseethelogicofthis,andstilldon't.Iassumetheythoughtthatindividualismalwaysleadstofascism—unawarethatfascismisaformofsocialismthatexaltsthestateabovetheindividual.Atallevents,IhadtogetusedtoafeelingofworkingalonethatwasratherlikebeingsenttoCoventry.Icontinuedtowritebooks.ThesuccessofTheOutsidermeantthatIwasabletofindpublishers.Butreviewsweredismissive,andinafewcases(suchasIntroductiontotheNewExistentialism)therewerenoreviewsatall.

Lackofmoneymadelifedifficult;butotherwise,Ididn'tmindtoomuch.Afterall,IwasarguingthattheromanticOutsidershadbeendestroyedbecausetheylackedthestrengthtostandalone.Toallowmyselftobedepressedbytheneglectwouldhavebeenillogical.Anyway,Iwastoobusyjustkeepingalive.SoIcompletelyfailedtonoticethatsomethingstrangewashappening.Thetideofacenturyandahalfwasturning.Iknew,ofcourse,thattherewasincreasinglystrongmovementtowardsanti-reductionisminscience.Since1959IhadbeenincorrespondencewiththeAmericanpsychologistAbrahamMaslow,whobelievedthatFreudhad'soldhumannatureshort',andthatthe

idealisticandcreativepartofman'snatureisasfundamentalashissexualoraggressivedrives.IknewMichaelPolanyi'simportantbookPersonalKnowledge(1958),arguingthatthescientist'screativeprocessesareasinspirationalandillogicalasthepoet's,andthatthisistrueofallcreativethinking.Butitcameasasurprisetometolearnthattherewassuddenlyanewwaveofinterestineasternphilosophy,inromanticism,inmagicandoccultism.WhenIwroteaboutthenovelsofHermannHesseinTheOutsider,theywerealloutofprint;and,asfarasIknow,IwasthefirstpersontowriteaboutthemextensivelyinEnglish.Now,suddenly,hewasapparentlyabestseller.SowasTolkien;hisLordoftheRingshadbeena'cultbook'sinceitspublicationinthemid-fifties,readandre-readbyasmallcircleofenthusiasts;nowitliterallysoldbythemillioninpaperbackonAmericancampuses.SodidH.P.Lovecraft,awriterIhadfirstreadintheearlysixties,andhadwrittenaboutinabookcalledTheStrengthtoDreamin1962.WhenIfirstwroteabouthim,hisbookscouldonlybeobtainedthroughatinyAmericanpublisher,ArkhamHouse,runbyLovecraft'soldfriend,AugustDerleth;bythelatesixties,theywereallinpaperback.

Astothe'occultboom',itseemstohavestartedwithacuriousworkcalledTheMorningoftheMagicians,byLouisPauwelsandJacquesBergier,publishedinParisin1960.Thisalsobecameabestseller.Andthisinitselfwasabafflingphenomenon.Therehadalwaysbeenoffbeatbest-sellers,likeTheSearchforBrideyMurphy,WorldsinCollision,ThePassoverPlot(suggestingthattheResurrectionwasbasicallyaput-upjob);buttheyconfinedthemselvestooneparticulartheory.TheMorningoftheMagicians(translatedinEnglishasTheDawnofMagic)hadnocentralthesis.ItmovesfromGurdjiefftoalchemytotheGreatPyramidtoAtlantistothequestionofwhetherHitlerwasmixedupinblackmagic,andtherearesectionsonLovecraft,ArthurMachenandCharlesFort.TheEnglisheditionisafewpageslongerthantheAmerican;thepagesthathavebeencutoutoftheUSeditiondescribeanexperimentintelepathyconductedbetweentheatomicsubmarineNautilusandtheWestinghouseSpecialResearchCenter;presumablytheyweredroppedbecauseitwasimpossibletoobtainthenecessaryconfirmationfromWestinghouseortheUSNavy.Whichraisesthequestionofhowmanyotheritemsinthebookmightbeequallydifficulttoconfirm...A

fascinatingbook,certainly,butonethatwouldenrageanylogicalpositivistbecauseitsauthorsseemtohaveanattitudeofblissfulindifferencetowardsquestionsofproofandverification.AlthoughtheEnglishandAmericaneditionshavehadnothinglikethesuccessoftheFrench,theycertainlyplayedanimportantpartinthe'occultrevival'thatnowproceededtosnowball.Smallpressesthathadspecializedinoccultbooksforalimitedaudiencesuddenlyfoundtheyweremakingunprecedentedsumsofmoney.CopiesofworkslikeJohnSymonds'biographyofAleisterCrowley,TheGreatBeast—firstpublishedin1951byRider,England'sforemost'occultpress'—andIsraelRegardie'sfour-volumeworkontheritualsoftheGoldenDawn,changedhandsatfantasticprices.Witchcovenssprangupallovertheplace—until1951theyhadbeenillegalinEngland—encouragedbyabookcalledWitchcraftTodaybyGeraldGardner,inwhichitwasclaimedthatwitchcraft—theancientpagannaturereligionof'Wicca'—stillflourishedmorewidelythananyonehadsupposed.Whetheritreallydid,orwhetheritwasGardner'sbookthatcausedittoflourish,isperhapsbesidethepoint.Inthelatesixties,aseven-volumeencyclopaediaofoccultism,Man,MythandMagic,publishedinweeklyparts,achievedthekindofsuccessthathadpreviouslybeenachievedonlybycookerybooksandworkslikeWells'sOutlineofHistory.TheworksofeveryneglectedKabbalist,fromParacelsustoCrowley,begantofindtheirwaybackintoprint.

NowWellswouldhavesaidthatthe'occultboom'indicatesnothingexceptthatpeoplearestupidandgullible,andthereisobviouslysometruthinthisview.ButIbelieveitisfarmorethanthat.Itisallpartofwhatmightbecalled'thenewromanticism'.The'oldromanticism'datesbackjustabouttwocenturiesbeforetheoccultrevival;itmaybesaidtohavestartedwithRousseau'sNouvelleHeloisein1760;andRousseau'sbookisbasicallyapleaforfreedom:thatamanandwomanwhoareinlovehavearighttobecomeloverswithouttheapprovalofsociety.Andallromanticismhascontinuedtobeanobsessionwithfreedom:thefeelingthatfreedomcanbefoundifyougoandlookforit.ItrunsfromByron'sChildeHaroldtoHesse'sSiddharthaandJackKerouac'sOntheRoad.Theinterestingthingaboutthisnewincarnationofthespiritofromanticismisthatitcamesolate.Theoldromanticismmaybesaidto

havediedoutinthelastdecadeofthenineteenthcentury,thefindesiècle;itslastavatarswereRimbaud,Verlaine,Dowson,LionelJohnson,andthoseotherpoetsofwhatYeatscalled'thetragicgeneration'.Afterthat,therewasareaction:backtorealism,classicism,socialresponsibility.FromthetwilightsadnessofVerlaineandDowson,therewasaplungeintoasavagepessimismofthe1920s—Eliot,Pound,Hemingway,Huxley,Joyce.Thewritersofthethirtiesrallied,pullingthemselvesbackfromthebrink;theywroteaboutdolequeues,thewarinSpain,socialresponsibility.Thencamethewar;andafterit,asenseofhiatus.Nobodyseemedtoknowwheretogonext.TheAmericansociologistDavidRiesmanwroteanessaycalled'TheFoundGeneration'aboutthenewgenerationofstudents;itseemedthattheywerenolongerfullofpoliticalidealism,likeRiesman'sgenerationofthethirties;alltheywantedwasagoodjob,asuburbanhouseandacar.

WhenIwroteTheOutsiderin1955,itseemedtomethatIwasswimmingindirectoppositiontothecurrentofthetimes.NobodywasinterestedinNietzscheandHesseandNijinsky.YetKerouac'sOntheRoadhad,infact,beenwrittenthreeyearsearlierandwhenitfinallyappeared,in1957,itwasclearthatAmericaalsohaditsgenerationofdissatisfiedromanticswhothoughtthatfreedomlayjustaroundthecorner—inSanFrancisco,orNewMexico,orperhapsinDeathValley,whereCharlesManson's'family'werearrestedin1969.Withintenyears,thenewromanticismhadtransformedthefaceofsocietyinEuropeandAmerica;thestudentsweremarchingandprotestingagain,andthe'Beatniks'(thenamewascoinedbyaSanFranciscocolumnist)outnumberedholidaymakersinseasideresorts.Psychedelicdrugsandmarijuanaalsoplayedtheirpartintherevolution.In1953,AldousHuxley'sbookTheDoorsofPerceptionhadadvocatedtheuseofmescalinetoproduce'expandedconsciousness',butitwasanothertenyearsbeforemescalineandLSDbecameascommonasmarijuana.AnEnglishmanwhosettledinAmerica,AlanWatts,becametheprophetofthisnewgenerationof'mescalineeaters';hisdoctrineassertsbasicallythatwesternmanhasbecometooaggressivetowardsnature;hemustlearntostop'running',tobecomepassiveandreceptive.DrJohnLilly'simportantbookTheCenteroftheCyclonealsoadvocatesthecontrolleduseofpsychedelicdrugsfor'innerexploration',andgoesinto

considerabledetailaboutthetechniquesforthis'journeytotheinterior'.CarlosCastaneda'sthreebooksabouthis'magicalapprenticeship'totheYacquiIndianmedicineman,donJuan,haveallachievedthestatusofbestsellers;but,oncloseexamination,itisdifficulttoseewhy.WalterGoldschmidt,whointroducesthefirst(TheTeachingsofDonJuan)beginsbyadmittingthatitispartlyallegory,andCastaneda'saccountsofhismeetingwiththepeyotlgodMescalito,andofhisflightthroughtheairwhenherubshimselfwithaspecialointment,soundlikeexercisesinimaginativefiction.Castaneda'sbooksarebest-sellersbecausetheyexpresstheaspirationsofthenewromanticismsoclearly:thedesiretoescapeto'otherworlds',thesuggestionthatdrugsareavalidmeanstothisend,theserioustoneofthediscussionsaboutexpandedconsciousness.Butunlikethepopularclassicsofoldromanticism—Goethe'sWerther,Schiller'sRobbers,thedonJuanbooksmakeaclaimtobefact,notfiction;andthisismostimportantofall.As'imaginaryconversationswithdonJuan',theirappealwouldhavebeenmuchsmaller.Thedesiretoescapehasbecomemoreserious,moreurgent,thanitwasinthenineteenthcentury;ithungersforfact.

TheassociationbetweenHippiecultureandoccultismcanbeseenatGlastonbury,atownwhosesmallpopulation(justoverfourthousand)isalmostoutnumberedbytheinfluxofHippiesduringthesummermonths.Themanlargelyresponsibleforthisisashy,ratheraloofscholarnamedJohnMichell.Michell'sbookTheViewOverAtlantisappearedin1969;init,hediscussesthetheoriesofAlfredWatkins,aHerefordbusinessman,firstexpoundedinTheOldStraightTrack(1925).Watkinshadnoticedmanystraighttracksassociatedwithprehistoricmounds(orlumps),markedatintervalswithlargestones;heassumedthattheseweretheroadsofprehistoricman.JohnMichell'sfirstbookhaddealtwith'flyingsaucers',andheobservedthatUFOsareoftenassociatedwithspotswhereleysintersect—likeCradleHill,atWarminster.InTheViewOverAtlantis,hesuggeststhattheseleyswere'linesofpower'analogoustotheChinese'dragonpaths',linesassociatedwiththepowercalledfung-shui,theancientenergiesoftheearth.CertainleyslinkupStMichael'sMountinCornwallwithGlastonburyTotandStonehenge;allBritainisintersectedwiththesepaths,whichwereassociatedwithsomeancientcivilizationthatwasofafarhigherorderthananyonehassofar

guessed.(Thisishis'Atlantis'.)Inasubsequentbook,CityofRevelation,MichellexpandsthistheorythattheGoldenAgeismorethanalegend;thatitreallyexistedatsomeremoteepoch,andthatinformationaboutitisconcealedincodedform,inmanyancientbuildings,includingStonehenge.Twocentralconclusionsemergefromallthis.Oneisthat,duringthisremoteepoch,manwasinspiritualharmonywithnature,inthewaythatnativemagiciansandshamans(likedonJuan)stillare;theother,thatmanowedhisknowledge,inthisremoteepoch,toextra-terrestrialbeings.(Thisisanideathatseemstobeintheairofourtime;ArthurC.Clarkegaveitpopularcurrencyinhisfilmscriptfor2001,ASpaceOdyssey,inwhichbeingsfromouterspacelandonearth,andleavebehindamonolithwhosevibrationshavetheeffectofheighteningtheintelligenceofman'sremoteancestors.)

Inthefifties,Michell'sbookswouldhavebeenclassifiedwith'thelunaticfringe'(asWatkins'bookwas),andwouldhavereachedthetinyaudiencewhostudythemeasurementsoftheGreatPyramidandthemediaevalcathedrals.ItisaninterestingsignofourtimethattheyshouldhaveinspiredtheHippieinvasionofGlastonbury.Itseemsunlikelythathisbasicideascanhavewideappeal;theforminwhichhepresentsthemistooabstruse,oftenmathematical.ButwhatcertainlydoesappealisthisromanticideaoflinesofpowerconnectingspotslikeStonehenge,Woodhenge,SalisburyCathedral,MaidenCastle,andsoon.TheimaginativeappealofMichell'sworkisrelatedtothatofLovecraftandTolkien;butagain,likeCastaneda,hehastheadvantageofpresentinghisworkasfact,or,atleast,seriousspeculation.

Theoccultboomshowsnosignoflettingup.Ifhistoryrunstruetoform,itshouldcontinueuntilabouttheturnofthecentury.Fortherehavebeenmagicalrevivalsinalmosteverycenturyforthepastfivehundredyears.Towardstheendofthesixteenthcentury,therewasJohnDeeandahostofotherpractisingmagiciansandalchemists.Itskippedacentury—theintellectualatmosphereoftheageofNewton,LeibnizandDescarteswasnotconducivetomagic—butthelateeighteenthcenturywastheageofMesmer,StGermain,Cagliostro,andthelatenineteenthcenturywastheageofMadameBlavatsky,EliphasLévi,theGoldenDawn.Intermsofthenumberofpeopleactuallyaffected,thelatestrevivalisthegreatestofall.Forexample,itisacuriousfactthatthe

best-sellingauthorinthewholeworldatthemomentisErichvonDäniken,aGermanwhoseChariotsoftheGods?—UnsolvedMysteriesofthePast,appearedin1969andbecameabestseller;sincethen,ReturntotheStarsandGoldoftheGodshavebrokenallrecords.IsayitisacuriousfactbecausevonDäniken'sbookssaynothingthathasnotalreadybeensaidmanytimesbyvariouswriters.Hisbasicthesisistheonewehavealreadymentioned:thatinsomeremoteage,'gods'fromflyingsaucerslandedontheearth,andhelpedcreateahighlyevolvedcivilization,whoseruinscanstillbeseeninthejunglesofSouthAmerica,onEasterIsland,etc.Histhesesarefascinating,ifnotnew;butthemannerinwhichhestatesthemis,toputitmildly,highlyunsatisfactory.Hegivestheimpressionofbeingunabletosticktoapoint,ramblingwildlysothatitisdifficulttofollowtheargument.Thereisanelementofboastfulnesswhichunsympatheticcriticshaveinterpretedasparanoia.(ChariotsoftheGods?begins,typically:'Ittookcouragetowritethisbook,anditwilltakecouragetoreadit,'bothstatementsbeingpatentlyuntrue.)Thestyleisofteninfantile,fullofjibesandjeersathiscritics;speakingofagoldhemispherewithacircularbrim:'Toanticipatefatuousobjections,itisnotasculpturalrepresentationofahatwithabrim.Hatshavehollowspacesforeventhemoststupidheadstofitinto.'Andinplaces,hedisplaysalackoflogicthatamountsalmosttoimbecility.Describingaskeletoncarvedoutofstonewhichhelocatedinanundergroundchamber,hesays:'Icountedtenpairsofribs,allanatomicallyaccurate.Werethereanatomistswhodissectedbodiesfortheprehistoricsculptor?Asweknow,WilhelmConradRontgendidnotdiscoverthenewkindofrayshecalledX-raysuntil1895!'Themindbogglesatthemadillogicality:theideathatasculptorwouldneedX-raystoseeaskeleton,wheneverygraveyardmusthavebeenfullofthem.Itisequallypuzzlinghowhispublishersallowedhimtoputsuchanabsurdityintoprint.

AtthebeginningofGoldoftheGods,heclaimstohaveinvestigatedasystemofundergroundtunnelsinSouthAmerica,'thousandsofmilesinlength',containingtheruinsoftheancientcivilizationforwhichtheastronaut'gods'wereresponsible.Heevenoffersamapoftheareainwhichthe'secretentrance'islocated,butsincetheareacoveredbythemapisafewthousandsquaremiles,itcannotberegardedasconclusive

evidenceofhisgoodfaith.Obviously,ifvonDänikenleadsinvestigatorstohistunnelsystem,hewillachieveacelebritythatwilloutshinethatofhisbest-sellingbooks,andwillconfoundallhiscritics.Butatthemoment,itmustbeadmittedthatthechaoticnatureofhisbooksdoessupporttheviewthatheisacharlatanandacrank.

ButagainImustemphasize:itisthepresentationofthebooksthatsuggeststhis,nottheirsubjectmatter.EversinceUFOsightingsbegan,soonaftertheSecondWorldWar,manypeoplehavepointedoutthatancienttexts—includingtheBible—refertoobjectsthatsoundlikeUFOs,thatancientdrawingsandcarvingsoftenshowdisc-likeobjectsthatcouldbeflyingsaucers,andodd-lookingmenwhocouldbeastronautsinflyingkit.Itisanunprovedhypothesis;buttogiveitseriousconsiderationisnotnecessarilythesignofacrank.

IwasaskedifIwouldcaretowriteabookontheoccultin1968.Itsoundedanamusingidea.EversincethoseearlydaysinLondon,Ihadbeeninterestedinthesubject,althoughItendedtotreatitaslightreading.WhenIwasinAmerica,onalecturetour,in1961,Iboughtpaperbacksaboutflyingsaucersandalliedtopicsateveryairportbookstall,andIalsopurchasedmostofthebooksonocculttopicsissuedbyUniversityBooksinNewYork:MontagueSummersonwitches,werewolvesandvampires,reprintsofthebooksofA.E.WaiteontheRosicrucians,theKabbalah,andsoon.Moreover,sinceanexperiencewithmescalinein1963,Ihaddevelopedmyowntheoryofman's'unusedpowers'.Ihaddislikedthemescalineexperience.Therewerenoneoftheusualvisualeffects;everythinglookedmuchasusual;itwasratherlikebeingdrunk,butwithlesscontrol.Forsomeoddreason,IhadastrongintuitionthatthedistrictinwhichIlive—insouthCornwall—wasonceassociatedwithwitchcraft.Ihavenevertriedtoverifythis;mywifecanfindnothingaboutitinbooksoflocalhistory.Whatinterestedmewasthatmymindseemedmoreintuitive,moretelepathic,asitwere.IrecalledthatJimCorbett,thefamoustigerhunter,saidthatafteryearsofhuntingmaneaters,hehaddevelopedasortofsixthsenseaboutdanger,whichhecalled'junglesensitivity'.Icouldunderstandthis.Themindhassensitiveareas,ratherlikethenervesinafish'ssides,thatregisterdelicatepressures.Mostanimalsseemtopossessthis'sixthsense'—inTheOccultIcitedmanycases;ofthehominginstinctinbirds

andanimals,of'foreknowledge'indogs—forexample,howHughMcDiarmid'sdogknowswhenheisgoingtoreturnhomefromalongjourney,andsitsattheendofthelaneacoupleofdaysbeforeheisdueback,waiting.Manmustalsohavepossessedthissame'psychicsensitivity'inthedistantpast.Buthedoesn'tneeditinmoderncivilizedlife;infact,itwouldbeanuisance.Mymescalineexperiencemayhavemadememoresensitive,moreintuitive;butitalsoruinedmynormalpowersofconcentration.Inordertotacklethecomplexbusinessofcivilizedliving,wemustnarrowourpowers,concentrateonwhathastobedone.Intensewill-driveandthistelepathicintuitionareincompatible.Neitherwoulditbeaccuratetosaythatcitylifedestroysthesixthsense;wedestroyitinourselves.

However,thatisnottheendofthematter.Thesepowershaveonlygoneintocoldstorage;theycanbebroughtoutagainifneeded—forexample,if,likeJimCorbett,wereturntocircumstanceswheretheybecomenecessaryforsurvival.Butthereisanotherpossibility.Theymayreturnasakindofby-productofanotherkindofpower,apowerthatmanisonlynowslowlylearningtodevelop.Adogmaybeabletosenseghostsinanemptyhouse.ButnoanimalcouldexperiencethekindofexcitementHeinrichSchliemannfeltasheuncoveredthewallsofancientTroy,orHowardCarterasheenteredthechambercontainingthecoffinofTutankhamen.Thisexcitementisbasedonwhatwemightcall'adirectsenseofotherness',ofothertimesandotherplaces.Itcouldbeobjectedthatthissenseofother-nessis'nothingbutimagination',butamoment'sthoughtwillshowthatthisiscarelessthinking.ItistruethatSchliemanncouldnotreallylookintothepast,totheTroyofelevencenturiesB.C.Butthewords'Homer'sTroy',which,formostofus,aremerelywords,suddenlybecamearealityforSchliemann.Troywasareality,andforamoment,Schliemannwasabletogaspitassuch,asifhehadbeentransportedbackthreethousandyears.

Thisisapointofvitalimportance.Themindpossessesapowertofocusreality.Everyonehasexperiencedthisonthefirstdayofaholiday,wheneverythingseemsclearerandfresherthanusual.Inthemoodofholidayexcitement,weseemtoseethingsinsharperfocus,andwealsoexperienceastrongersenseoftherealityofothertimes;ifIhappentoreadsomethingaboutMichelangeloorBeethoveninthismood,theyno

longerseemremotefiguresofhistory;Icangraspthattheywererealmen,likemyself.Thispowerto'focusreality'istheabilitytoprojectabeamofinterest.Allcreatureshavethisability—youhaveonlytoseethewayadoghangsaroundthehouseofabitchonheattoseethatdogscanbeassingle-mindedashumans—butanimalscanonlydirectitatthepresentmoment.Whenyoutakeyourdogforacountrywalk,youcanwatchhisbeamofinterestswitchingfromobjecttoobject—arabbithole,agapinthehedge,anoldbone.Ifanaeroplanegoesoverhead,hedoesnotlookupintothesky;thatistooremote.Andifyoumeetafriendonyourwalk,andstoptohavealeisurelyconversationaboutaneighborwhodiedtenyearsago,yourmindhasgoneintoarealmwhereyourdogcannotfollowyou;youhave,casuallyandwithouteffort,directedyourbeamofinteresttoanothertimeandanotherplace.

Humanbeingscannotonlydirecttheirbeamofinteresttodistantrealities;theycandirectittorealitiesthatneverexisted.AnovellikeWells'sTimeMachineorDavidLindsay'sVoyagetoArcturusdemonstratethisextraordinarypowerofthehumanmindtoevokeanon-existentrealityasvividlyasifthenovelwereavolumeoftravelsinCentralAfrica.AndamanlikeH.P.Lovecraft,boredanddissatisfiedwithhislifeinProvidence,RhodeIsland,cancreateafictional'reality'thatrevealsthathehastrainedhismindtofocusonaself-createdmentalworld.WhatisinterestinghereisthatLovecraftledaratherunsatisfying,unfulfilledexistence;itwouldhavebeenunderstandableif,likeanundernourishedchild,hehaddriftedaimlesslyanddiedwithouthavingachievedanything.Infact,helearnedtogeneratesomeofthe'psychologicalvitamins'heneededbyanactofimagination;inspiteofathoroughlyfrustratinglife,hemanagedtogrowintoaremarkablehumanbeing.Thisisasstartlingasifahalf-starvedmanputonweightbyimaginingfive-coursemeals.Man'spowertodirecthis'beamofinterest'atdistantrealitiesobviouslyhassomefascinatingimplications;itgiveshimanewkindofpoweroverhisownlife.

Thispowerisnotyethighlydevelopedinhumanbeings.Ihavecalledit'FacultyX';foritis,ineffect,anewfaculty,thefacultythatdistinguishesmanfromallotheranimals:thefacultythatmaybeconsideredtherealaimofhumanevolution.

ButthisFacultyXisnotanalternativetotheanimal'sintuitive

powers.Mandiscardedhissixthsensebecausehecouldn'taffordtokeepit;civilizationusedupallhissurplusenergies,andhehadnoneleftovertooperateasixthsense.ButFacultyXrepresentsanewlevelofpoweroverhimself;psychicenergiesarefreed:itcouldbecomparedtothefloodofmanpowerthatoccursattheendofawar,whenthearmyisdemobilized.Onceagainhecanaffordtodevelophis'psychicradar',hissixthsense.ThisiswhyIbelievethat,asmandevelopsFacultyX,hisso-calledpsychicpowerswillalsoincrease—secondsight,telepathy,theabilitytodowse,evenastralprojection.

WhydoIthinkso?Myownpsychicpowersarecertainlyunremarkable.Mytemperamentisbasicallyscientific.LikeWells,Iexperiencedatremendoussenseofimaginativereleasethroughthevisionofscience;attheageofeleven,theatomictableoftheelementsstruckmeasmorepoeticthananythingwrittenbyShakespeare.AndalthoughIabandonedscienceforliteratureattheageofsixteenorso,thetemperamentremains;itisideasandfactsthatexciteme,andtheprocessoffittingthemintolargerandlargerpatterns.Suchatemperamentisnotlikelytobevery'psychic'.Icannotdowse;Ihaveneverseenaghost;Ihaveneverhadanyexperienceofforeknowledgeorpre-vision;andmyfewunimportanttelepathicexperiencesaresummarizedinacoupleofpagesofTheOccult.ButIstillnotethatakindof'junglesensitivity'appearswhenIamhealthyand'ontopofthings'.

Icangiveanexampleofthis.Onemorningeveryweek,IdriveintoMevagissey,acoupleofmilesaway,tobuygroceriesandpickupourcleaninglady.Onemorningafewmonthsago—theexactdatewas8January1973—IwasmeditatingasIdrovein:bywhichImeanthatIwasthinkingseriously,tryingtodeepenaninsight,todowiththewaywerespondtocrisis.Theanswercametome,accompaniedbyasenseofcontrolandrelaxation.Thenarrowlanethatleadsuptoourhousemakesanacuteanglewithanalmostequallynarrowcountryroad,andgettingaroundthiscorner,withouthavingtostopandreverse,isamatterofsomeskill.AsIwasabouttoswingintothedrive,thethoughtenteredmyhead:'Wait.Thepostvanmaybecomingout.'Ihadnoreasontothinkso,forinmorethantenyearslivinginthishouse,Ihaven'tmetthepostvaninthelanemorethantwice.ButIwentintofirstgear,andtookthecornerverycautiously—andthepostvanpulledupwithinafew

inchesofmybonnet.Twoweeksago,thesamethinghappenedagain;beforeImadethedifficultturnintothedrive,Ihadafaint,naggingdiscomfort,likeaverydistantbell—andonceagain,metthepostvan.Iamnotsayingtheremighthavebeenaviolenthead-oncollisionifIhadn'thadthis'warning'feeling;butsomepsychicradarknewthepostvanwasthere,andwastakingnochances.Inbothcases,Iwasfeelingwide-awake,psychologicallyhealthy,notanxiousorpassive.

Havingsaidwhich,IhavedefinedtheunderlyingthemethatIwishtoexploreinthisbook.Writersonthe'supernatural'haveoftennotedthatsomemediumsseemtobesturdy,healthypeople,notatallliketheusualimageofthe'sensitive'.Notmanymonthsago,IwatchedHarryEdwardsgiveoneofhisfinaldemonstrationsof'spirithealing'beforehisretirement(attheageofeighty),andafterwardshadthepleasureofaconversationwithhim,whichheallowedmetotape.Iwasstruckbyhisutternormalityand'factualness';helooked,andsounded,morelikeahealthyfarmerthanaspirithealer.IwasstartledwhenIread,afewweekslater,thathewasnearlyeighty;Iwouldhaveplacedhisageatsixty-five.Everythingabouthimseemedtoconfirmmytheorythat'psychicpowers'areanaturalconsequenceofpsychologicalhealth.

SincewritingTheOccult,Ihavemetthreepeoplewhoseemtoconfirmmysuppositionthatunusualpowersmaybeakindofby-productofcomplete'normality';andsinceallthreeseemtometodeservemorespacethanIcouldreasonablyoffertheminmysecondprojectedvolumeofTheOccult,Ihavedecidedtodevotethisshortbooktothem;itshouldberegardedasapostscripttothefirstvolume.

Ihaveoneintenseregret.InTheOccultIquotedWitches,byT.C.Lethbridge,onthesubjectofdowsing.Subsequently,Ibecameawareofhisotherthreebooks,Gogmagog,GhostandGhoulandGhostandDivining-Rod,andIrealizedthatLethbridgeisaveryimportantfigureindeed.Amanwithathoroughlyscientificturnofmind,hetakesdowsingashisstartingpoint,andgoesontodevelopaconvincingtheoryofghostsandwhathecallsghouls—unpleasantfeelingsexperiencedatspotswheresometragedyhastakenplace.IsenthimacopyofTheOcculttogetherwithaletteraskinghimifIcouldcomeandseehim;hiswiferepliedtosaythathehaddiedthepreviousautumn(1971).Asatributetoaremarkableman,Idedicatethisbooktohismemory.

One

RobertLeftwichItwassometimeinthefirsthalfof1971thattheencyclopaediaMan,

MythandMagic—whichwasbeingpublishedinweeklyparts—appearedwithabackcoverheaded:'PsychicSalesManager'.RobertLeftwich,saidtheunsignedarticle,begantodevelophispsychicpowerswhilestillatschool,andsinceadulthood,hisrangeofpsychicexperienceshasgreatlywidened.Thearticlebegan:'RobertLeftwichisamanofapparentlylimitlessphysicalandmentalenergy.Heliterallyboundsfromplacetoplaceandfromsubjecttosubjectwithavigorwhichislittleshortofastonishing.'Hisinterestsandaccomplishmentswerethenlisted:'...heissalesmanagerofalargefirmofpumpingandhydraulicengineers[and]alsoanenthusiasticphilosopher,writer,antiquarianbookspecialist,dowser,archaeologistandoccultist.Inthelatterfieldhehaslocatedandapparentlyexorcisedaghostinhisownhome,[1]developedpowersofthoughttransferenceandpartialrecognition,successfullyexperimentedwithmostbranchesofextra-sensoryperception,andprojectedhis"astralbody"consciouslyoverdistances.'Itquotedhimassayingthathedidnotconsiderhimselfunique:'Anyonecandevelophislatentmentalpowersifhetrieshardenough.'

Itwasthisthatinterestedmesomuch.LeftwichsoundedlikeawalkingillustrationoftheideasIhaddevelopedinTheOccult.

Bythis,IdonotmeanIconsideredhimanexampleofFacultyX.ThisisapointIhadbetterclearupimmediately.FacultyXcouldbedefinedasahighlydevelopedpowertoenvisagetherealityofothertimesandplaces.InTheOccultIcitedanumberofcases:forexample,ArnoldToynbee'ssuddenfeeling,ashesatamongtheruinsofthecitadelofMistra,thattheinterveningyearshadbecomeunreal,andthatthebarbarianswhodestroyedMistramightsuddenlypouroverthathorizon...

Suchanexperienceisnottheprerogativeofpoetsandhistorians.In1960,Iinterviewedaladywholivedat29HanburyStreet,thesiteofJacktheRipper'smurderofAnnieChapmanin1888.Shetoldmeanamusinganecdoteofayoungwomanwhovisitedthehouse,andaskedto

gotothelavatory;herhostessescortedhertothelavatoryinthebackyard,andstoodwaiting.Shesaid:'Fromwhereyou'resitting,youcanseetheexactspotwhereJacktheRippercutopenthatwoman.'Thegirlshrieked,jumpedoffthelavatory,andrushedclumsilyacrosstheyard—somewhatincapacitatedbytheknickersthatwerestillaroundherankles.Nowsheknewthemurderhadtakenplaceinthepreviouscentury,soitwasnotsuddenfearthattheRippermightrevisitthescenethatmadeherscream.Itwasasuddenimaginativevisionofamurderthatwipedouttheinterveningyears,therealizationthatshewaslookingatthespotthathadbeenseenbytheRipperandhisvictim.

ButthisflashofFacultyXhadtobestimulatedbyaparticularsetofcircumstances—arathersinisterslumyardonawinterevening...PlacesaregreatstimulatorsofFacultyX.Itisrarertobeabletoachievethesame'freevision'throughreadingorstudy—althoughallloversofpoetryknowtheexperienceofgraduallyraisingthemselvesintoacuriousstateoffreedomthroughthereadingoffavoritepoems.ThisdemandswhatKeatscalled'negativecapability',thepowertoloseallsenseofone'sownpersonality,to'openup'andbecomelittlemorethanasensitivereceptor.

Thereasonthisissorarebecomesclearifoneacceptstheconceptofthe'hierarchyofneeds'orvalues,developedbythepsychologistAbrahamMaslow.[1]Maslowsuggestedthatoursenseofvaluesdevelopsinacertainorder.Amanwhoisstarvingcanconceiveofnothingmoredesirablethanagoodmealeveryday.Ifheachievesthis,hebeginstothinkaboutsecurity,aroofoverhishead.Ifheachievesthis,hebeginstothinkaboutsex,love,marriage,children.Andifthesexualneedsaresecurelysatisfied,thenextlevelofneedtoemergeisself-esteem,thedesiretobeliked,respected.(Thisisthestageatwhichmenjoinrotaryclubsandwomenholdcoffeemornings.)Finally,thereisthecreativelevel:theneedtodoajobwellforthepleasureofit.Itneednotbeartisticcreation;itmightbecollectingstampsorlandscapegardening.Awomanwhoisgoodatbringingupchildrenmightadoptchildrenwhenherownaregrownup,andMaslowwouldregardthisasanexpressionofcreativityratherthansexual(maternal)instinct.Nowobviously,thetruedevelopmentofFacultyXrequiresanegativecapability,anabsorptionin'otherrealities'fortheirownsake,whichis

unlikelytoappearatanylevelofthehierarchyexceptthiscreativelevel.Onotherlevels,itmayappearasanaccidentalflash;butitisnotlikelytobecultivated.(Andnotethattheself-esteemlevelalreadypossessesaconsiderabledegreeofimpersonalabsorption—orcanpossessit;forexample,arotarianmightderiveequalpleasurefromtherespectofhisfellowrotarians,andfromthesocialgoodthathedoesbyhisefforts.)Sopsychicpowers,eveninahighlydisciplinedperson,donotnecessarilyimplyFacultyX.

Allthesame,Leftwich'sconvictionthatanyonecandeveloppsychicpowersappealedtomeasanimportantstepinthedirectionofFacultyX.Andthedescriptionsofhisownpowers,asoutlinedinthearticle,werecertainlyfascinating.Atschool,Leftwichtoldhisinterviewer,hediscoveredhowtoavoidmemorizingthewholeoflongproseextractsorpoems.Hewouldmemorizeaparticularpassage;then,whenthemasterwentroundtheclass,pickingoutboysatrandomtorecitepassages,Leftwichwouldwillhimtoselecthimforthepassagehe'dlearned.Asanadult,hehad'moreorlesswilledhimselfintohispresentjob'.Otherpowershehaddevelopedincludeddowsing,astralprojection,andthedispersalofcloudsbyanactofwill.Hetellsananecdoteofastralprojection:'Thewifeofafriendofminewasscoffingatthesubjectoneevening,andIsuggestedthatshedeviseatestforme.Shetoldmethatshehadamoleonacertainpartofherbody.IfIcouldtellherwhereitwas,shewouldbemorefavorablydisposedtomyarguments.Thefollowingevening,Irelaxedandquiteeasilyleftthebodyandwilledmyselfintoherhomesomemilesaway.Shewasinherbathroom,preparingtogetintothebath,andIhadnodifficultyinspottingthemole—shewasextremelyalarmedwhenItoldherthefollowingday.'Headdedthatwhilewatchingher'astrally',thesexualurgewasonlystimulatedwhentheMindreturnedtotheBody.

Thearticlewentontospeakofhisdowsingability,andendedwithanoteonhisconvictions.HisreligiousleaningsaretowardsBuddhism.'Despitehiscomfortablesurroundings,hispersonallifeisalmostasaustereasthatofaBuddhistmonk.Heisastrictvegetarian,ateetotaler,anon-smoker,andevenabstainsfromteaandcoffee,explainingthatanyformofstimulantiscapableofinterferingwithhispowers.Healsosaysthatsexualexcesscandisruptthemindandcausethementalprocessesto

functioninefficiently—andthatforthisreasonsexualactivitiesarebestlimitedtooccasionswhenconceptionisdesired.'

IdecidedIoughttotryandcontactLeftwich.AlthoughTheOcculthadcontainedanumberofaccountsof'psychic'experiencesbyvariousfriends—A.L.Rowse,RobertGraves,LouisSinger,RonaldDuncan—Ihadneveractuallymetanyonewhoclaimedtohavepositivepsychicabilities,i.e.thepowertomakethingshappen,ratherthansimplyexperiencethem.Fortunately,Leftwich'saddresswasmentionedinthearticle—whichsaidthathishouseisthehighesthouseinSussex.SoIwrotetohim,askinghimaboutthispowertodisperseclouds,[1]andwhetherhecouldgivemeafewmoredetailsaboutthetechniquesfordevelopingit.Ananswercamebackfairlypromptly—apparentlyhehadreadmybook,andwasinterestedinthesuggestionthatImightputhimintothesequel.Hesaidthatthedispersalofcloudswasextremelydifficult,butthatitwasquiteeasytodemonstratepsychokinesis,themind'spowertodirectlyinfluencematter.Intheenvelope,heincludedasmallsquareofpaper,whichhadbeenfoldedfromcornertocorner,andalsoacrossthemiddle—givinganeffectlikeaUnionJackwithaStGeorge'sCrossandaStAndrew'sCross.Hetoldmetofoldthisintheformofapaperdartwithfourfins,balanceitonaneedlestuckinacork,andtrywillingittogoround.Hementionedthatitwasbesttotieahandkerchiefoverthenoseandmouth,soasnottobreatheonit.

Idecidedtotryit.Ifoldedthepaperintoadart,stuckaneedleonacork,andputthepaperdartontopofit,soitlookedlikeafairgroundroundabout.ThenItiedahandkerchiefroundmyface,cuppedmyhandsroundthedart,andconcentratedonit,tryingtopushthedartwithmygaze,asitwere.Iconcentrated'tillIwasredintheface,butitdidn'tbudge.Myfacebegantogethotandstickyunderthehandkerchief.Idecidedtoputtheroundaboutonmyworkbench,whichiswaisthigh,soIcouldcrouchbelowthelevelofthebenchandbreathenormally.Thatdidn'tworkeither.Iputitbackonmydesk,besidemytypewriter,andwentonwithmywriting,periodicallylookingupquicklytotrytocatchitoffguard.Itwasallnogood.

Itwasthenextday,Ibelieve,thatItriedagain.Havingwastedsomucheffortearlier,Inownolongertriedtodoitbysheerwillpower.Instead,Itriedtopersuadeittomove,sotospeak.Tomysurprise,it

begantodoso.Itwasawarmday,withthesunstreaminginthewindow,anditstruckmethatperhapstheheatfromthepalmsofmyhandswascausingwarmairtorise;Imovedthembackfurther,sothefingertipswereonlyjusttouching.Using'imagination'ratherthansheerforce,Igotittostopandmoveintheoppositedirection.Mywifecamedowntobringmeacupoftea,andIdemonstratedittoher.Inolongerbotheredaboutthehandkerchiefovermyface,beingcertainthatthe'roundabout'wasfarenoughawayfrommyfacenottobeaffected;anyway,mybreathwasgoingdownwards,belowtheedgeofmydesk,afootaway.Asamazingasitseemed,itactuallyworked.Ileftitonmytable,andpractisedperiodicallylaterintheday,sometimesnotevencuppingmyhandsaroundit.WhenItoldLeftwichaboutitinaletter,herepliedthattheelementofimaginingitmovingwascrucial.

Someweekslater—inJuly1971—IhadtodrivetoHastings,thentoLondon.Crowboroughlayonmyroute,soIaskedLeftwichifitwouldbeconvenienttocallonhim.Hesaiditwould.So,onaveryhotMondaymorning,IsetoutforCrowborough.Iwasn'tsurewhatkindofapersonIwasgoingtomeet:whetherhewouldprovetobealarming,orimpressive,orperhapsjustafraud.Somehow,Ipicturedhimasaratherquiet,pipe-smokingman—althoughIknewhedidn'tsmoke.

IexpectedthehighesthouseinSussextostandaloneonaremotehilltopoutsidethetown;infact,itfacedintoatree-linedroad.ItwassmallerthanI'dexpected,butverypretty,andobviouslyveryold,builtofgreystone.Thelawnswerelargeandsmooth.Itwasonlyaboutthreeintheafternoon,butIknewhe'dbehome—I'drunghimthenightbefore.Heheardthecar,whichIparkedbesidehisown,andcameouttomeetme.Averyrapid,firmhandshake,and'Nicetoseeyou.Comeonin.'IrealizedthatthephotographsinMan,MythandMagichadbestowedafalseairofreposeonhim.Hehadawayoftalkingandmovingrapidly,althoughwithoutanysuggestionofnervoustension.Wewentthroughthebackgardenandintothehouse.Hissittingroomhadanairofpolishedneatness.Myownhouse,whilenotchaotic,isneverexactlytidy;thefloorisusuallycoveredwithbooks,toysandchildren'srecords,andifyoumovethearmchairyouarelikelytoknockoverawinebottlethathasbeentheresincethenightbefore.RobertLeftwich'sbeautifullytidyroommademefeelalittleuncomfortable.

IsaidIhopedhehadn'tcomehomeearlyespeciallyforme.HesaidNo,heusuallymanagedtodoafullday'sworkinhalfaday;andsincehisjobinvolveddrivingaroundandmakingcalls,noonewasanythewiserifhecamehomeearly.Hesaidmostpeoplewastedtheirenergy;healwaysthrewhimselfintowhateverhedid,anddiditwithmaximumspeedandefficiency.

Italkedaboutmyideaofputtinghimintoabook.Hesaidhehadalsowrittenabook—andpromptlyproducedmethetypescript—andaskedmewhethertherewasmoneyinwriting.Isaidnotmuch,andgavehimabriefrun-downonthemoneyoneislikelytomakefromabook.Hedidn'tseemtoodowncast.'HowmuchdoyouthinkImake?'Lookingoutofthewindowathisenormousbackgarden,Imadeaguess:'Tenthousandayear?'Hechuckledandshookhishead.'Justovertwothousand.Andoutofthat,Iusuallymanagetosavetwelvehundredayear.''Whatfor?''IintendtoretirewhenI'mfifty.''Andwhatthen?''Iwanttobuyacaravan.PerhapsIshallgoandliveinFrance.Iwanttobeabletospendtherestofmylifedevelopingmyself,workingoutmyideas,writingbooks...'

Somehow,itwasdifficulttotalktohimabout'occultism'—althoughhehadanexcellentlibraryofoccultbooks.(Heislistedinvarioustradepublicationsasadealer;this,apparently,wasasideline.)Notthathewasevasive.Heseemedtotalkwithcompletefrankness.Hehadabrisk,good-humoredair,andalwaysseemedtobesmiling.

Hisconversationseemedtodraghimalonghecticallyfromsubjecttosubject.Hisaccentwassomewhatpublicschool,andpublicschoolEnglishhasaslightlyexplosivesound,asifthewordsarebeingfiredfromagun;Leftwich'snervousenergyemphasizedthis,sohisconversationwaslikeaseriesofsmalldetonations.Heisobviouslyahighlysociableman,intenselyinterestedinpeople—hementionedgettingintoconversationsontrainswithstrangersseveraltimes.IfI'dmethimcasually,Iwouldn'thavedreamedthathewasassociatedwithanyformof'occultism'.HemighthavebeenahousemasteratHarrow.Andhisobsessionwithorderandtidinessdeepenedthisimpression.Heexplainedhisdailyroutine:upat6.30,shreddedwheatforbreakfast,avegetarianlunch,notea,hislastmealatsix,aglassoforangejuiceatnine,andofftobedbyten...(Imayhavesomeofthedetailswrong,but

thatwasthegeneralimpression.}Wetalkedaboutdowsing,andheexplainedthatthiswassimplya

kindofoffshootofthisbaskfacultyto'makethingshappen'.Forexample,hehadmeplaceacoinunderthecarpet,onacertainline,whilehelookedtheotherway.Thenhetookadowsingrod—twocurvedstavesattachedtogetheratoneend—andwalkedacrosstheroom.Theroddippedviolentlyashecameoverthecoin.HeexplainedthatIcouldplacesomeotherobjectunderthecarpet—forexample,aletter—andthatifhethen'dowsed'forthat,hisrodwouldignorethecoinandonlydipwhenitcameovertheletter.Healsodemonstratedtomethathecouldmaketheroddipforeverythingbutthepenny;hewalkedacrosstheroomwithittwistingviolentlyinhishands,untilhestoodoverthecoin,whenitbecamequiescent.IrecalledT.C.Lethbridge'sremarkthateveryonepossessesthedowsingfacultypotentially,butthatinsomepeopleitissoweakastobeunnoticeable;Lethbridgeusesthecomparisonofaportableradio,whichwillnotplayifthebatteryisflat.Theimplicationisthatamanneedstohaveahighlychargedbatterytobeagooddowser.Leftwichcertainlygavetheimpressionofbeinghighlycharged.

Hischildrencamehomefromschool—bothunderten.Wewalkedinthegarden,andheremarked,withcharacteristicfrankness,thathedoesn'tfeelheiscutouttobeahusbandandfather;heisfondofhischildren,butdoesn'tfeelhehasanyvocationinthatdirection.This'figured',astheAmericanssay.Thereallyphiloprogenitiveparenthasastrong'negativecapability';Leftwichobviouslyfindstheworldtoointerestingtobenegative.Inaway,hemademethinkofayoungdogonacountrywalk,intenselycuriousabouteverything,rushingbackwardsandforwards.Hecertainlydidn'tlookorbehavelikeamancloseonfifty.

Altogether,Ifoundhimaparadoxicalcharacter,fullofapparentcontradictions.Thesexualasceticismisobviouslygenuine—theTolstoyanviewthatsexisintendedforreproductorypurposes,notasaplaything.Ontheotherhand,healwayshasbeen,andcontinuestobe,stronglyinterestedinwomen;heseemstofindthemmorestimulatingthanmenbecauseoftheirmorenaturalintuitivepowers.Hisconversationisfullofflashesofintuitiveinsightintotheworkingsofthe

mind,thefunctionofreligion,humanpotentiality;yetinanotherway,hisideasseemedtobeoddlymaterialistic,skeptical.Inthemanuscripthepresentedmewith,thereisasectionon'TheCauseofHumanAction',andheanalysesreligiousfeelinginathoroughlysimplistic,'reductionist'manner.'Manyreaderswillinsistthatreligiousfolkusuallypossessthequalityofkindnessasanaturalbasicattribute,butprofoundthoughtcombinedwithabsolutesincerityusuallyrevealsthetruecauseforthesupposedgoodness.Theyundoubtedlyappearmostkindtoonlookers,buttheirmotives...(frequentlyunknowntothemselves)arefundamentallyofaselfishnature.'Hegoesontomentionamanwhohelpedanoldladyrepairherradioset;whenpressed,themanadmittedthatheenjoyedcreatingafavorableimpression,andalsoenjoyedshowingoffhis(limited)electricalknowledgetosomeonewhowouldbeimpressedbyit.

Onesensesimmediatelyacertainlackoflogichere,evenifitisdifficulttopindown.Whatweretheman'smotivessupposedtohavebeen—toentitlehimtoacleanmoralbillofhealth?Theoldlady'ssonmighthaverepairedherradiooutofloveofhismother;akindlyneighbormighthavedoneitoutofpity.RobertLeftwich'sfriendapparentlyadmittedthathelpingheraidedhisinferioritycomplex.Butunlesshewentintothehousetostealhersavings,ithardlymatterswhyhedidit.Underthepleasureincreatingafavorableimpressiontherewasobviouslythesenseofresponsibilityforafellowcreature,whichiswhatisatissue.Butevenifhehadrepairedtheradiowhollyoutofsomeneuroticcompulsion,thisstillwouldnotprovethatthereisnosuchthingasadisinterestedfeelingofresponsibilityforotherpeople.WhatisinterestingiswhyRobertLeftwichshouldwanttoinsistthatmostpeopledo'disinterested'actsoutof'selfish'motives.Theanswerisfairlyclear,andIdonotthinkitisparticularlydiscreditabletohim.Heisdeeplyandintenselyinterestedinhimself,andthereisnoreasonwhyheshouldn'tbe:heisaninterestingman,burstingwithideas.Heisalsodetachedenoughtofeelamildguiltaboutthis.Ifall'disinterested'conductcanbereducedtoself-interest,thereisnoneedtofeelguilty...

Allofwhichisonlytosaythat,inMaslow'sterms,Leftwichstilloperates,tosomeextent,ontheself-esteemlevel.Infact,withtypicalhonesty,headmitsthis.HeisoneofMaslow'sself-actualizeswhohas

notyetactualizedhimself;this,heexplained,wasthereasonthathewantedtoretireatfiftyandspendtherestofhislifeseekingself-enlightenment,deepeninghisinsight,exploringfurtherdepthsofself-control.

WhenIlefthim,onthatJulyafternoon,todrivetoLondon,myfeelingsabouthimwereambivalent.Ifoundhimlikeable,becauseofthatchild-likeopennessandfrankness,andtheenormouszestheputsintoliving.ButIcouldimaginesomeonewhodidn'tlikehimfindinghimanintolerableegoist;andthis,inturn,wouldprobablyleadthemtodismisshis'powers'aswishfulthinking.This,Iwasfairlycertain,wouldbeamistake.Hisdowsingabilitiesareclearlyextraordinary;hehasevendemonstratedtheminfrontofatelevisionaudience.Obviously,hecan'dosomething'withhismindwhichenableshimtotuneintothingsthatarebeyondthenormalhumanradius.WhenhecametoCornwall,hedemonstratedoneofhisabilitieswithbothmeandmywife.Hestoodwithhisbacktous,holdingthediviningrod.Oneofuswastoldtowalkforwarduntilwecrossedaspotwhereweknewtherewasanundergroundpipe.Aswecrossedthepipe,therodinRobert'shandtwistedtoindicatewater.Hehad'tunedin'toourminds.AtTheBeaconHouse,hehadshowedmephotographsandbusinesslettersinconnectionwithdiviningmineralsfromanaeroplane,anditwasapparentthathehadbeensuccessful.Therecouldbenodoubtthathepossessedunusualpowers.WhatInowwantedtounderstandwasthenatureofthesepowers,howhecametopossessthem,andtheirrelationtohistotalpersonality.

Atthispoint,ImusttemporarilyleaveRobertLeftwich,andspeakmoregenerallyofthesubjectofdowsing.

Initssimplestform,thereisnothing'supernatural'aboutdowsing—anymorethanthereisaboutradio,orthewayironfilingsshapethemselvesalongamagnet'sfieldofforce.Dowsinghasbeenscientificallytested.(DescriptionsofexperimentscanbefoundinSirWilliamBarrett'sbookTheDiviningRod(1926).)In1968,RobertLeftwichperformedundercontrolledtestconditionsonaTVprogramcomperedbyBrianInglis,successfullycompletingthefirstpartoftheexperimentinvolvingsixdrums,fiveofwhichcontainedsalt.Inthesecondpart,helocatedthreecansofwaterthathadbeenburiedina

certainareaofwasteground.Althoughheconvertedaskeptic—ProfessorJohnCohen—Leftwichhimselfwasdisappointed;fivecansofwaterandaknifehadbeenburied,andhefailedtolocateallthese.

T.C.Lethbridgeasserts{inGhostandDivining-Rod)thatallobjectshaveafieldofforcearoundthem,likeamagneticfield,andthattheexactsizeofthisfieldindicatesthenatureoftheobject:forexample,apieceofbrassorcopperhasafieldexactly61inchesacrossatgroundlevel.Lethbridgeaddsthatifyoutrytogetabovethefield—byclimbingonsomething—youcannotdoit;thefieldextendsupwards.Hesays:'Youcannotdosowithoutafireman'sladder,'andadds'andperhapsyoucannotdosothen,'indicatingthathehasn'ttriedit.Infact,ifRobertLeftwichcandowsefromanaeroplane,itseemsprobablethatthefieldextendsupwardsforaverygreatdistance—although,admittedly,hewasdealingwithvastquantifiesofmineraldeposits.Lethbridgeremarksthatthesizeoftheobjectseemstomakenodifferencetothesizeofthefield;abrasspinheadorabrasscoinwouldstillcreatea61-inchfield.Thisagainsuggeststheneedforfurtherinvestigation,foritseemsunlikelythatabrassmountainwouldhavea61-inchfield.

Thedowser'picksup'thisfield,asifhewerearadioreceiver.Inanarticle'MoreInHeavenandEarth',publishedinthemagazineoftheBritishSocietyofDowsers,Leftwichsuggeststhatdowsingdependson'highfrequencyelectromagneticwaves'sentoutfromthedowser'sbrainlikeradarwaves.Inasecondarticleinthesamejournal,hesuggeststhatobjectsalsoemitwaves,whicharepickedupbythedowser,andhisfinalviewwouldseemtobethatthebraincanemit'radar'wavesandthatobjectspossesstheirownforcefield,hoveringarounditlikethesmellofgorgonzolacheese.(Iwilldiscusshismostrecentthoughtsondowsinglaterinthischapter.)

Nowthismatterof'fields'isofconsiderableinterest,anditseemslikelythatthiswillbethedirectionoftherealbreakthroughin'occult'researches.In1845,BaronKarlyonReichenbachpublishedabookwhoseshortenedtitleisTheDynamicsofMagnetism.Hewasnotdiscussingironmagnets,butthehumanmagneticfield.LikethephysicianAntonMesmer,Reichenbachbelievedthatmagnets{ironones)mighthavehealingproperties.Neurasthenicpatients—whathecalled'sicksensitives'—wereabletoseelightradiatingfromthepolesof

magnets—bluishfromthenorthpole,reddishfromthesouth.Theylostthispowerwhentheirhealthimproved.AsReichenbachtestedanincreasingnumberofmaterialsonhis'sicksensitives'—crystals,othermetals—hefoundthattheyallseemedtopossessafieldofforce.Hecalledthisforce'odile';itbecamenotoriousas'odicforce'.Hesaidthathumanbeingspossessodicforcetoanunusualdegree,anditcanbeseeninthedark,streamingfromthefingerendsintheformofalightemanation.

Foradecadeandahalf,scientistsbusilydiscussedandtestedodicforce.ThenDarwinpublishedTheOriginofSpecies(1859).Forawhile,everythingelsewasforgotten.AndasscientistshadtodefendthemselvesagainstattacksfromtheChurch,theylaidmoreandmoreemphasisonthescientificattitude—i.e.onlybelievingwhatcanbeprovedbyobservation.Reichenbachandhisodicforcewasoneoftheearliestvictimsofthisnewattitude;twentyyearsafterthepublicationofhisbook,hisname—andideas—hadbecomeajoke.Perhapsitwaspartlyhisownfaultforchoosingatermlikeodicforce;ifhehadcalledit'biomagneticvibrations'orsomethingofthesort,scientistsmighthavecontinuedtobelieveinit.

Almostacenturylater,inthelate1930s,acrankyandslightlyparanoidmanofgenius,WilhelmReich,concludedthattheuniverseispermeatedbyakindofvitalenergycalledorgoneenergy.Atfirst,Reichwasinclinedtobelievethatthisenergy—whichgavehimconjunctivitiswhenhehadbeenexaminingsea-sandcultureunderamicroscope—wasemittedby'bions',pulsatinglivingcells,whichhehadobservedsomeyearsearlier.Onenight,lookingatthenightskythroughanimprovisedtube,heobservedaflickeringinthedarkspacesbetweenthestars,andconcludedthattheatmosphereisfullof'orgoneenergy'.Histheory,roughly,isthatthisvitalenergyispresentthroughouttheuniverse,andthatitcanactuallycreatelivingcellseveninasterilefluid.Reichconstructedakindofgreenhouseforconcentratingthisorgoneenergy—aboxmadeofalternatelayersofsteelandasbestos(i.e.metalandorganicmaterial).ImyselfhavesatinoneoftheseboxesinthestudyofReich'sbrother-in-law,thelateRobertOllendorff,andexperiencedadistinctfeelingofwarmth—althoughthewallswerecold—andnotedthatmytemperaturerosebythreedegreesinafewminutes.

Withideaslikethis,itwasinevitablethatReichshouldberidiculedbythescientificestablishment.Hewas;notonlyridiculed,butattackedandpersecuted.Whenhediedinprisonin1957,hehadbecomedistinctlyparanoidandwassufferingfromdelusions.Thegeneralviewwasthatitwasgoodriddance;hewasacrankwithmessianicdelusions,andwasprobablybetterdead.

Now,nearlytwodecadesafterReich'sdeath,thereisreasontowonderwhetherbothheandReichenbachhadstumbledonsomethingthatorthodoxsciencehadoverlooked—somethingasfundamentalasNewton'sdiscoveryofthelawsofgravity.

In1935,beforeReichdiscoveredorgoneenergy,tworespectableAmericanscientists,DrHaroldSaxtonBurrandF.S.C.Northrop,bothofYale,publishedapapercalled'Electro-dynamicTheoryofLife,'suggesting,quitesimply,thatlivingthingsproduceelectricalfieldsthatcanbemeasured.Andforthenextthreedecades,Burrandhiscolleaguescontinuedtoinvestigatethese'lifefields'(orL-fields,asEdwardRussellhasproposedwecallthem).Thefirstproblemwastodevelopavoltmetersensitiveenoughtomeasureverysmallfields;butoncethiswasdone,itwasplainsailing.Thevoltmeterswereconnecteduptoacoupleoflargetreesforyears,andtheyshowedthattheelectricalfieldofthetreesvariedbetweendayandnight,andwithelectricalstormsandsunspots.Animalsweremoreproblematic,sincetheycannotbemadetostandstillforyears;butBurrsoondiscoveredthattherearevariationsinthebody'smagneticfieldwhenweareill,whenwoundsarehealing,whenwomenovulate.(Thislatterdiscoveryapparentlyprovidesamoreorlessinfallibleguideforparentswhowantchildren.Andthediscoveryofbodyvariationsinperiodsofillnessindicatesamethodfortheearlydetectionofcancer.)

Inthesixties,EuropeanandAmericandoctorsbecameincreasinglyinterestedintheancientChinesemedicalpracticeknownasacupuncture.Byallwesternstandards,thisoughttobeunscientificnonsense;butitworks.Itwasoriginallybasedontheobservationthatwhensomeoneisill,hisskinoftendevelops'tenderpoints',andthatpressureappliedtothesepointsseemstoimprovetheillness.Thetheorybehindacupunctureisthattheuniverseispermeatedwithvariousvitalforces—likethe'linesofpower'mentionedinJohnMichell'sTheViewOverAtlantis—andthat

thesamevitalforcespermeatethehumanbody,withdefinitecrossingpointslike'leys'.ThisvitalenergyiscalledQiorCh'i(breath).AtelevisionfilmshowninEnglandearlyin1973showeddoctorsperformingoperationsthatwouldusuallyrequireanesthesia,withthepatientfullyconscious,andafewwoodensliversstickingoutofvariouspointsofthebody.Thepatientwasabletowatchhisownstomachbeingcutopen,seeitsewnup,andapparentlytakeitallverycalmly.(Recoveryalsoseemedtobeincrediblyfast—somepatientswereeatinglargemealsafewhoursafterseriousoperations.)

InRussia,acupunctureisusednearlyasmuchasinChina.AndaRussianscientist,VictorAdamenko,developedadevicecalledatobioscopetoestablishacupuncturepoints.Adamenko'sstartingpointwasadeviceinventedthirtyorsoyearsagobytwoscientists,SemyonandValentinaKirlian.ThisconsistsofaTeslacoil—atransformerforhigh-frequencyalternatingcurrents,usedinradio—whichisconnectedtotwometalplates.Betweentheseplates,anobject—aliveorotherwise—isplacedincontactwithapieceoffilm,thenthehigh-frequencycurrentisswitchedon.Theresultisaphotographofthe'field'oftheobject.Forexample,ifanewly-cutflowerisplacedbetweentheplates,lightcanbeseenstreamingfromthecutstemintheformof'sparks',whileleavesandbudsshowflarepatterns.Photographsofthehumanbodyshowthesameflarepatterns,andStanleyKrippner,anAmericanscientistwhoexaminedthesephotographsinRussia(andwroteabouttheminanarticleintheSaturdayEveningPost,18March1972),commentsthattheychangeifthesubjectishypnotized,takesdrugsordrinksalcohol.Thissuggeststhattheyarenodesofenergy.Andsinceacupuncturetheoryhasitthatthese'meridional'pointscanbeblockedwithtoomuchenergy,itseemspossiblethatthecameraisrecordingsuchpoints.(Everyonemusthavenoticedthatsomepointoftheskinmaysuddenly'prickle'—sometimesasifaneedleisbeingdrivenin;youonlyhavetostartthinkingaboutthistoget'prickles'ontheskin—presumablyduetosomekindofdischargeofnervousenergy,likestatic.)

Obviously,itisnogreatscientificproblemtoconvertthelightenergy—asobservedbytheKirliandevice—intoelectricalenergy,andthisiswhatVictorAdamenkohasdoneinhistobioscope.Itisakindofflashlightthatispassedoverthepatient'sskin,andwhichgoesonand

offasitpassesoveracupuncturepoints.Ifthepatientishealthy,itgivesagoodlight;ifunhealthy,itisdim.TherelationtoHaroldBurr'sworkon'lifefields'isobvious.(Forexample,sunspotsaffecttheKirlianphotographs.)Kirlianphotographshavebeentakenofthewholebody;oneofMrsKulagina,anadeptinpsychokinesis,showsapulsatingfieldaroundthebody.(MrsKulaginais,apparently,abletomoveobjectslikematchesandpaperclipsbypassingherhandscloseto,them;StanleyKrippnerreportsthatshehasevenmadethemmovebythoughtalone.)

Itcertainlylooks,then,asthoughacenturyafterReichenbach,therealityofhisodicforce(read:'fieldofforce')isbeingdemonstrated.Whichmakesitseemthatdowsing,eveninitsoddermanifestations,isasexplainableasanyothersimplewavephenomena.WesimplyneedanIsaacNewtonofthisnewfieldtorecognizetheunderlyinglawsofthephenomena.I'minclinedtobelievethatLethbridgehastakenthelargeststepinthisdirectionsofar.InGhostandDivining-Rod,headvancesthetheorythattherearespecificelectricalfieldsconnectedwithwater(includingthesea),andwithmountainsanddeserts;andalthoughhechoosestocallthesebyromanticnamessuchas'Naiadfields','Oreadfields'and'Nereidfields',heregardsthemasperfectlynormalelectricalfields.Heobservedthat'ghost'and'ghoul'phenomenaoftenseemtooccurintheareaofsuchfields.Forexample,hesawa'ghost'atHoleMill,nearSeaton,anddiscoveredthatanundergroundstreamconnectedthespotwherehewasstandingwiththespotwherehesawtheghost.Atwhichpoint,hemakesafurtherassumption:thathisown'psychicfield'wasabletopickupapictureimplantedonthe'naiadfield'ofthestreambythe'ghost's'psychicfieldmanyyearsbefore.Inotherwords,thatthe'ghost'wasreallyakindofsnapshot,imprintedonthenaiadfieldbysomeintenseemotion,(Hesuggeststhatintensehappinesscan'imprint'itselfon'fields'justaseasilyasintensemiseryorfear.)Thesameappliestothe'ghouls'hehassensedonvariousoccasions—forexample,onLadrambeach.[1]

InhisbookDesignforDestiny(NevilleSpearman1971),EdwardRussell,anAmericanjournalist,quotesBurr'sexperimentswith'Lifefields',andthengoesontocitetheresultsoftheRussianscientist,L.L.Vasiliev,professorofphysiologyatLeningrad,whoperformedaseriesofexperimentsthatdemonstratedtherealityoftelepathybeyondall

reasonabledoubt.Vasilievhadtwosubjectssittingindifferentrooms;onesentoutsuggestionsthattheothershouldfallasleep.Itworked.Moreover,itworkedoverimmensedistances—fromLeningradtoSevastopol,anditworkedevenifthesubjectswereenclosedinametalchamberthatwouldpreventanytransmissionbyelectricalfields.Vasiliev'sextremelydetailedandcomplicatedexperimentswerepublishedinabookcalledExperimentsinMentalSuggestion,whichhassofarbeenpublishedinEnglandonlyinalimitededition.MrRussellarguesthattheseexperimentsprovetheexistenceofanotherkindoffield,'thoughtfields',whichhecalls'T-fields'.HegoesontostatethatT-fieldscan'attachthemselvestoanykindofmatter'.HeisspeakingaboutLethbridge's'ghouls'andsuchlike:'Manyanestateagent,tryingtoselladesirableproperty,musthavebeenpuzzledanddisappointedwhenclientsexclaimed:"Ugh,let'sgetoutofhere!Thisplacegivesmethewillies!"'Headdsthatthesizeoftheobjectonwhichthefieldisimpressedseemstomakenodifference:itcanbeaslargeasahouseorassmallasapinhead.AnobservationthatbringstomindLethbridge'sremarkabouttheconstantsizeofelectricalfieldsforvariousmetals,andagainsuggeststhatweareheredealingwithsomegenerallawconcerningfields.

AnotherimportantclueisofferedinthebookcalledTheWorldofTedSeriosbyDrJuleEisenbud(whichIhavealsodiscussedinTheOccult).TedSeriosisanalcoholicbellboywhohastheextraordinaryabilitytopressaPolaroidcameraagainsthis'head,andsomehowimprint'mentalphotographs'ontheplate.Thephotographs,manyofwhichareincludedinthebook,areusuallyofplaces.Eisenbudwasshockedwhenhediscoveredthat,althoughSerio'sresultsseemedgenuine,noonewasinterested.Heneednothavebeensurprised.TheproblemisthatSerio'spowersdonotfitintoanygeneralpattern.Itislikeapieceofajigsawpuzzlethatdoesn'tconnecttogetherwithanyotherpiece.So,forthetimebeing,itispushedtoacornerofthetableandleftalone;nooneisinterestedinituntilsomeinterlockingpiecescanbefound.Andthisisagaindemonstratedbythefateofthebook;itexcitedagooddealofinterestwhenitappeared;sincewhen,itseemstohavelapsedintorelativeoblivion.ButsomeoftheinterlockingpiecesmayperhapsbefoundinLethbridgeandtheKirliandevice.TheKirlian

devicetakesphotographsoflifefields,orpsychicfields,provingtheycanbeimpressedonaphotographicplate;TedSerioscanimpresshisT-fieldsonaphotographicplate.And,Lethbridgesuggests,anyhumanbeingsmayimpressaT-fieldontheelectricalfieldassociatedwithacertainarea,particularlyifthatareahaswaterrunningthroughit.

Iwasalreadyawareoftheprobableimportanceof'fields'inexplainingpsychicphenomenabeforeImetRobertLeftwich.SoIfoundmostofhisideasandtheorieseasyenoughtoaccept.Ihadanopportunitytoexplorethesefurtherafewmonthsafterthatfirstmeeting.InJanuary1972,1becameoneofthepresentersofamonthlyartsprogram,Format,onWestwardTelevision.InMay1972,MichaelJosephbroughtoutabookcalledTheTableRappers,ahistoryofspiritualismbyRonaldPearsall,wholivesinthewestcountry.MrPearsall'spointofviewisdistinctlyskeptical;sowhenIaskedhimtoappearontheprogram,IalsoaskedRobertLeftwichifhewouldcaretotakepart.Heagreed,anddrovedowntoCornwallonthedayoftheprogram.Itwasaninterestingdiscussion.IaskedLeftwichtoexplainabout'astralprojection';hesaidthathecouldonlydoitatcertaintimes,whichseemtocomearoundperiodically.Hecanfeelit'comingon'forsomedaysinadvance.Hedescribedhow,ononeoccasion,hehadbeensittingontheLondonUnderground,feelingratheroppressedbythecrowds;soheclosedhiseyes—tolookasifhewasasleep—and'projected'himselfoutofhisbody.Afterawhilesomeonenoticedhim;hisfacehadgoneverypale,andheseemedtohavestoppedbreathing.Therewasaminorpanic;butwhilethepassengerswerediscussingwhattodowiththecorpse,Robertarrivedathisstation,openedhiseyes,andwalkedoffthetrain...

Thestoryistypical;itdemonstratestheelementofschoolboyishmischiefthatisadefinitepartofLeftwich'smake-up.Itseemsincongruous;butthisisbecausemostofushaveformedourconceptionsabout'psychicpowers'fromfairystories;fromtheArabianNightstoTolkien'sLordoftheRings,thewizardshavegreybeards,piercingeyesandabasilisk-likestare.Thetruthisthatpsychicpowersarealmostaccidental;theirpossessorsmaybelongtoanypersonalitytype.Thisisparticularlytrueinthecaseof'astralprojection',alsoknownas'out-of-the-bodyexperience'(andecsomaticexperience).Theyoftenseemto

occurbyaccident,ifonecanacceptthetestimonyofthosewhoclaimtohaveexperiencedit.Forexample,inOut-of-the-BodyExperiencesbyCeliaGreen(Vol.IIoftheProceedingsoftheInstituteofPsychophysicalResearch,Oxford1968),awaitressdescribeshowshewaswalkinghomeinastateoffatiguewhenshesuddenlyrealizedthatherbodywasbelowher,walkingalongthestreet;agirlreadingabooksuddenlyfoundherselffloatingneartheceiling,lookingdownonherbodyinthechair;amansittingontheseatofabussuddenlyfoundhimselfonthestairs,lookingathimselfstillseated.ThetwoclassicbooksonthesubjectareThePhenomenaofAstralProjection(1950),andTheProjectionoftheAstralBody(1929),bothbySylvanMuldoonandHerewardCarrington,andImustreferthereadertotheseforfurtherinformation.

IhadbeenhopingtocarryoutsomesystematicexplorationofRobertLeftwich's'strangepowers'whenhecametoseeusinCornwall;butagain,Iwasdisappointed.Thiswasnothisfault.Heseemedwillingtodiscussanysubjectfrankly;buthisideasabouthispowersareboundupwithideasaboutvegetarianism,healthfoods,marriage,morality,andsoon.Soaquestionaboutthefirsttimeheexperiencedastralprojectionmightproduceadiscourseonhisdiet,childhoodfantasies,armyexperiencesormarriage.

WhenIhadbeenatTheBeaconHouse,hehadshownmethetypescriptofa'book',actuallyavolumeofessays,calledThePhilosophyofanEscapist;Ihadbeenpuzzledbythetitle,untilheexplainedthatby'escapist',hemeantsomeonewhowantedtoescapetherat-raceandretiretoaplacewherehecouldmeditate.Ihadwantedtoborrowthetypescript,butitwastheonlyoneandhewasunwillingtoletitoutofhishands.NowhebroughtmeaphotocopytoCornwall,andIhadachancetostudyitinmoredetail.Ifounditanimmenselyinterestingdocument,whichprovidedmewithagreatdealmoreinsightintohischaracter;butasfarasexplaininghis'powers'wasconcerned,itwasagainadisappointment.Allthesame,itdidprovidecertaininsights.ItwasclearfromtheopeningparagraphsthatLeftwichisatypical'outsider'figure.'TheideaofsettlingdownawayfromtheinfluencesofmoderncivilizationanditsappallingartificialityoriginatedinmymindalmostimmediatelyafterIleftCollege...'An'outsider',intheterminologyIdeveloped,isaself-actualizeswhowantstosidestepthe

demandsofeverydaylifeandgetdowntocreation.He(orshe)wantstoevolve,tomoveon.Maslow'sclassiccasewasofagirlwhohadbeenabrilliantsociologystudentatcollege,andwasforcedtotakeajobasapersonnelmanagerinachewinggumfactoryduringthedepressionyears;shebecamesodepressedsheevenceasedtomenstruate.Maslowcuredherbysimplysuggestingthatsheshouldcontinueherstudiesatnightschool.Shewasgettingsickofmarkingtime,stayinginthesameplace.W.B.Yeatshadafantasyofa'CastleonaRock'whereacommunityofpoetsandartistscouldspendtheirlivesgrowingvegetablesandlivingthelifeofthemind.WhatreallydestroyedVanGoghwasnotthementalstrainofbeingavisionary;itwasthestrainofneverknowingwherehisnextmealwascomingfrom,ofalwaysbeingpoor,ofhavingtoliveoffhisbrotherwho,unburdenedbyapowerfulcreativeurge,wasabletobringhimselftoworkforaliving.GauguinhopedtofindhisfreedomintheSouthSeas,butpovertyfollowedhimthere.ThisisthebasicproblemoftheOutsider;hejustwantstimetosorthimselfout,tobecreative.

Inmyownteens,IdreamedofretiringtooneofthosestonehutsontheAranIsles,formerlyoccupiedbyreligiousascetics.Thisproblem—ofhowtostayaliveanddevelopmypotentialities,inasocietythatinsistedthatIworkforty-fivehoursaweekforjustenoughmoneytokeepmealive—wassolvedbythesuccessofTheOutsider.Itistruethatitbroughtasmanyproblemsasitsolved;butitcertainlysolvedthatbasicproblem:ofhowtoavoidworkinginafactoryoroffice,doingsomebodyelse'sbusinessinsteadofmyown.SoIhadsolvedtheproblembythetimeIwastwenty-four.Thewriter'slifestillhasplentyofproblems—TheAuthorhasconductedasurveythatshowedthatlessthanahundredwritersinGreatBritaincanlivewhollyfromtheirworking—butatleasttheyareproblemsyoucanfeelstronglyabout,notproblemsthatstrikeyouasinfinitelyboringandirrelevant.

RobertLeftwichhadfacedtheproblemlogically,andsetouttosolveitinasensible,determinedway:tosaveenoughmoneytoretirewhilefairlyyoung,andbeabletodevotethelastthirdofhislifeto'self-actualization'.'Ibegantoeconomizeveryenthusiasticallybydeprivingmyselfofallunnecessaryluxuries......adhadashotatthesamemethod,workingforafewweekstomakealittlesparemoney,thensleepingout

inasleepingbagtosaverent,andeatingincheapworkman'scafes.IalsohadreasontosympathizewithRobert'sdivagation,ifthatistheword:'...ultimately,thebasicdesireforfemalecompanionshipsupersededthesegoodintentions,withtheresultthat...Ieventuallyfoundmyselfengaged.'Ihadalsofoundmyselfmarriedandaparent;Ifledthedilemma,ratherthansolvedit,byseparatingfrommywifeaftereighteenmonths.Roberthadbehavedmoredecently;hemarried,producedchildren,andcontinuedtoworktowardstheidealof'escape',whilecontinuingtotakefullresponsibilityforhiswifeandchildren.Hehadrecognized,afterawhile,thatmarriageandparenthoodwouldnotprovideasubstituteforwhathereallywanted.WhenIfirstmethim,hefelthehadaboutanotheryearbeforehecould'escape';atthetimeofwriting,twoyearslater,heissomewhereintheSouthofFrancewithacaravan,whilePatriciaandthechildrenareinEngland.

ThedesireforescapehasbeenLeftwich'slifelongpreoccupation.Anditsuggestsareasonforthedevelopmentofhisunusualpowers.Hesethimselfalong-distanceaim—averylong-distanceaim,sinceithastakenhimuntilheisfiftytoachieveit.Nowanybodywhohaseversetoutdeterminedlytoloseweightknowsaboutthecuriouseffectof'moraluplift'thatcancomefromself-discipline.Onceyou'veembarkedonthecourse,andseeyourweightvanishingatarateoffivepoundsaweek,youbecomeakindofmiserabouteverymouthfulofbread.Youbegintocalculate—byEasteryou'llhavelosttwenty-fivepounds...Beinghungrybecomesakindofpleasure.Itevenbecomesakindofaddiction;doctorsarefamiliarwithcasesofgirlswhodiettoachieve'Twiggyfigures',andthencontinuetostarveuntiltheyaresufferingfromseriousundernourishment,andhavetobeforce-fed.Butevendietingisafairlyshort-termdiscipline;attheendofthreemonthsorso,youcangobacktonormaleating.RobertLeftwichhasbeensubjectinghimselftoarigorousself-disciplinefortwenty-fiveyearsorso.

Nowwhatdoesdisciplinedo?Basically,itincreasesone's'vitalreserves'—or,rather,makesthemmoreavailable.Itmakesonemore'free'.Satresaidhehadneverfeltsofreeasduringthewar,whenhewasintheResistance,waslikelytobearrestedandshotatanymoment.Why?Becausehehadtomaintainahigherlevelofalertness,of'preparedness'.Similarly,thedisciplinesevolvedbyGurdjieff—and

practisedathisInstitutefortheHarmoniousDevelopmentofManatFontainebleau—aimedatkeepinghispupilsinastateofconstantalertness:theymightbeaskedtoleapoutofbedinthemiddleofthenightandinstantlyassumesomedifficultposition.Ayoungboy,FritzPeters,wasinducedtomakegreaterandgreatereffortsmowingthelawns,untilhecoulddovastareasinoneday.Theaimwastokeepeveryonebubblingwithenergy.'Comparedtowhatweoughttobe,weareonlyhalfawake,'saidWilliamJames,whomightalmosthavebeenquotingGurdjieff.(Gurdjieffwouldhavesaidthat,comparedtowhatweoughttobe,wearefastasleep.)'Wearemakinguseofonlyasmallpartofourmentalandphysicalresources.''Welivesubjecttoarrestbydegreesoffatiguewhichwehavecomeonlyfromhabittoobey.Mostofusmaylearntopushthebarrierfurtheroff,andtoliveinperfectcomfortonmuchhigherlevelsofpower.'Andheadds:'Thetransformation,moreover,isachronicone;thenewlevelofenergybecomespermanent.'Allthesequotationsarefromhisimportantessay'TheEnergiesofMan'.

Itisnotonlyignorance—orlaziness—thatkeepsus'belowourproperselves'.Allanimalsarecomplicatedsystemsofdrivesandinhibitions.Differentcircumstancesrequiredifferentresponses.Inbattle,itisofgreatadvantagetobecarriedawaybyanger;inpeacetime,itcouldbeagreatdisadvantage.Aself-controlledmanwouldbeabletoallowhimselftobecarriedawaybyangerwhenitsuitshim,andtoinhibititwhenitdoesn't:thatistosay,hesetsupasystemofcontrolevenovertheabilitytolosecontrol.Suchcomplexitiesareboundtodefeattheirownpurposesometimes—particularlyinmoderncivilizedlife:henceRousseau'snostalgiaforthelifeofthenoblesavage;hencetherisingrateofneurosisinoursociety.Thesheerentanglementofinhibitorysystemsandanti-inhibitorysystemsandsystemsforoverrulinganti-inhibitorysystemsisboundtoproduceacertainenergywastagethroughtension.Psychologistshaveobservedthatwhenapatientishypnotized,andtoldthathecannotmovehisarm,hefindsitimpossibletomoveit,nomatterhowhardhetries.Onexaminingwhatishappeninginmoredetail,ithasbeenfoundthat,forexample,apatientwhohasbeentoldtobendhisarmisactuallycontractinghisflexormuscles,butisalsocontractingtheextensormusclestopreventhimfrombendingit;hisself-division(inthiscase,anartificialonecausedbythe

hypnotist)causeshimtocanceloutanactionheisattemptingtoperform.Ontheotherhand,testsonpatientsunderhypnosishavealsoshownthattheycanbemadetoexertfarmorestrengththantheyarecapableofexertingwhen'awake':uptoone-thirdmore.Theirmentalperformancecanalsobeimprovedinasimilarratio.Wemightsay,then,thatournaturalpowersareinhibitedbyaself-consciousnessthathasthesamebasicnatureasembarrassmentorstagefright.Icanovercomethis'canceling'processintwoways:eitherbyrelaxingcompletely(perhapswiththeaidofdrugsoralcohol,orbymeditationtechniques),orbymakingsuchasteadyanddeterminedeffortthatIlaunchmyselfontoahigherplaneofenergy,inwhichtheforwarddrivecompletelyoverrulestheinhibitorymechanism.

Inhisbook,Leftwichsaysheisn'tsurewhetherhistirelessenergyisduetohis'self-imposedrestrictivewayoflife',orwhetherhewas'fortunateenoughtoinheritaveryhighbasicmetabolicrate'.Iwouldplumpforthefirst.

IreadagreatdealofPhilosophyofanEscapistthatfirstnighthestayedwithus,anditwasthenthatIdefinitelydecidedthatIwouldliketowriteabouthim,whetherornotIcouldsatisfymycuriosityabouthispowers.IhavetoadmitthatIhadmisgivingsabouthavingRobertactuallyaroundthepremises.Iusuallywriteallday;then,atsixo'clock,I'mreadytopouraglassofwineandspendalongeveninglisteningtomusicorreading,orevenwatchingTVifthereissomeculturallyrewardingprogramsuchasMaigretorTheAvengers.Iliketo'switchoffandbecomepurelyreceptive;andItendtoresentitifIhaveguestswhowanttodiscussquestionsofphilosophyorpsychology;itmayberelaxationforthem,butforme,itistalkingshop.ButRobertwasn'tasbadasI'danticipated.IwasamusedtowatchJoy'sreactiontohim;Icouldseeshedidn'tquiteknowwhattomakeofhim,bewilderedbytheimpactofhisschoolboyexuberanceandcompletelynon-offensive—becausetotallycandid—egoism.Herepeatedsomeofthethingshehadsaidtomebefore—forexample,aboutdowsing,ortheabilitytomakethingshappen—andInotedthatherepeatedtheminalmostexactlythesamewords.Thisreinforcedmyfeelingofhisbasichonesty;amanwhoislettinghisimaginationrunawaywithhimtendstochangethingsslightlyeachtime,toembroider...

Thisabilitytomakethingshappen,was,ineffect,anextensionofhistrickofmakingtheschoolmasteraskhimtorepeattheonlylineshe'dlearned,andIfoundonestoryparticularlyinteresting.Robertsaidhe'dbeentalkingwithafriendaboutthepowerofthemind.TheywerewalkingthroughcentralLondon,andRobertsaid:'Forexample,wecouldwalkintoanyshopandtakeanythingwithoutpayingforit.'Whenhisfriendshowedskepticism,heofferedtodemonstrate.Theywalkedintoashopthathadtwoassistants.Astheydidso,oneassistantsaid'I'mgoingtothestoreroom'andwentout.Atthatmoment,thetelephonerang,andtheotherassistantsaid:'Excuseme,'andalsowentout,leavingthemalone:Robertsaid:'Yousee.''Butthat'sjustcoincidence,'saidhisfriend.'Allright,I'lldoitagain.'Theywentintoanothershop.Withinafewminutes,awomanfaintedandallthestaffwenttoheraid,leavingthemfree...Bythistimethefriendwaslookingworried.'It'sstillcoincidence...''Allright,we'lldoitagain.'Andtheydid.Onthethirdoccasion,theywentintoashopandhewarnedthattheywereplayingwithverydangerousforces.Theyhadhardlybeenintherefortwominutes,whentherewasanaccidentintheroadoutsidecausingallthestaffandcustomerstoleave.

Ifthisstorysoundedastonishing,hisnextstatementwasevenmoreso.Inordertoestablishbeyondalldoubtthatthiswasa'power'ofthemindhewasusing,hedecidedtodoitathousandtimes.Andheclaimshedid.Hedidn'tsayhowlongthistookhim,buthedidmentionthathedevotedhis'proceeds',suchastheywere,tocharity.

Nodoubtthisanecdotewillarousemoreskepticismthananysofar.IfinditconsistentwithLeftwich'sotherpremises.Therecanbenodoubtthatthechieffaultwehavedeveloped,throughthelongcourseofhumanevolution,isacertainbasicpassivity.Whenprovokedbychallenges,humanbeingsaremagnificent.Whenlifeisquietandeven,wetakethepathofleastresistance,andthenwonderwhywefeelbored.Amanwhoisdeterminedandactivedoesn'tpaymuchattentionto'luck'.Ifthingsgobadly,hetakesadeepbreathandredoubleshiseffort.Andhequicklydiscoversthathismomentsofdeepesthappinessoftencomeaftersuchefforts.Themanwhohasbecomeaccustomedtoapassiveexistencebecomespreoccupiedwith'luck';itmaybecomeanobsession.Whenthingsgowell,heisdelightedandgoodhumored;whentheygobadly,

hebecomesgloomyandpetulant.Heisunhappy—ordissatisfied—mostofthetime,forevenwhenhehasnocauseforcomplaint,hefeelsthatgratitudewouldbepremature;thingsmightgowrongatanymoment;youcan'treallytrusttheworld...Gamblingisonebasicresponsetothispassivity,revealingtheobsessionwithluck,thedesiretomakethingshappen.

Theabsurdityaboutthisattitudeisthatwefailtorecognizetheactivepartweplayinmakinglifeapleasure.Whenmywillisactive,mywholementalandphysicalbeingworksbetter,justasmydigestionworksbetterifItakeexercisebetweenmeals.Igainanincreasingfeelingofcontrolovermylife,insteadofthefeelingofhelplessness(whatSartrecalls'contingency')thatcomesfromlongperiodsofpassivity.Yetevenpeoplewhoareintelligentenoughtorecognizethisfindthehabitofpassivitysodeeplyingrainedthattheyfindthemselvesholdingtheirbreathwhenthingsgowell,hopingfatewillcontinuetobekind.

Toactuallybelieve,asLeftwichdoes,thatyoucontrolyourluck,couldbeavitalstepinhumanevolution,arealturningpoint.Andwhatisespeciallyimportantisthatherejectstheideathatyoucan'pushyourluck'toofar.Hebelievesthatthispowertomakethingsgowellisasstraightforwardasanyotherphysicalactivity.Whenamansetsouttodrivetohisoffice,hedoesn'ttakeadeepbreathandsay:'Well,heregoes.Let'shopeImakeittoday...'Thereisachancethathemaynotmakeit,especiallyinmoderncitytraffic;buthealsoknowsthatifhedrivescarefullyenough,he'llmakeit.Hedoesn'teventhink:'There'satenthousandtoonechanceImightmeetwithanaccident.'Hesimplytakesitforgrantedthathe'llreachhisoffice.Alittlelate,perhaps,ifthetrafficisbad;buthe'llgetthere.SoLeftwich'sassertionthathedecidedtorepeathisperformanceathousandtimes,toprovethatthemindcancontrol'luck',isofsomeimportance.Hehaslaiddownabasicprincipleofthenextstepinhumanevolution.

InTheOccult,IquotearemarkRobertGravesmadetome:thatmanyyoungmenuseaformofwitchcrafttoseduceyoungwomen.Ihadbeeninstantlystruckbythetruthofthis.Myownexperiencehasnotbeenwideorvaried,butIknewexactlywhathemeant.Amanwantsagirl,andhebeginstothinkaboutherinaparticularway;notjustdaydreaming,butwithakindofcalculatingdetermination,likeahunter

whoisdeterminedtogetacertainanimalifhehastotrackitforweeks.Somekindofpsychicforceseemstocomeintooperation—connectedwithimagination,justlikethetrickofturningthepaperroundabout—andhemayfeelcertainthathe'llachievehisobjectlongbeforehehasanyconcretereasonsforthinkingso.

Leftwich'spowerto'makethingshappen'isanextensionofthis.Iaminclinedtobelievethatitinvolvesno'occult'faculty(suchassecondsight):thatitisapowerthatdependssimplyoncallinguponour'vitalreserves'andabandoningthecustomaryattitudeofpassivity.

LeftwichhasvisitedmetwiceinCornwall—thesecondtimeearlyin!973.Hehadfinallyresignedfromhisjob,boughthimselfaCommer'Highwayman'andwaspreparedtotakeuphis'lifeoffreedom'atlast.Heshowedusthe'Highwayman',andallitsgadgets;theseincludedageneratorthat,atthetouchofaswitch,wouldcausesixhundredvoltstosurgethroughthebodyworkofthevehicle.Asensibleprecaution,perhaps:nodoubtamanwhohassleptinahousemostofhislifefeelsinsecureifheparksatthesideoftheroadinsomeremotepartofFrance—perhapsrememberingthefateoftheDrummondfamily...ButalsotypicalofRobertLeftwich,withthatschoolboydelightingadgets.

Frommyownexperienceofhim,Icanvouchthatheneverseemstogettired—atleast,notnoticeably.Atseveninthemorning,asJoywassleepilyswitchingonthekettleandpreparingtogetthechildren'sbreakfast,Robertwouldappearoutsidethekitchenwindow,aschirpyasifhe'dbeenforaten-milewalk,lookingforshreddedwheatandeagertoelaborateonsomepointthathe'doverlookedthenightbefore...Healsoseemstopossesstheabilitytopreventhimselffromgettingcold.IfindIneedafairlyeventemperature;iftheroomgetscool,Ibegintofeelchillyaroundtheneck,andneedascarf;ifmyworkroomgetstoowarm,Ihavetochangemywoollensweaterforacottonone.Robertalwaysseemedtobedressedinthesameclothes—asportsjacket,shirtandtie,flanneltrousers—andtobeunaffectedbytemperature.Heexplainedthatithadstruckhimonedaythatwhenyouareembarrassed,yougo'hotallover',andthatthispowertoincreaseone'sbodytemperaturemustbenaturaltoman.Eversincethattime,hesays,hehasbeenabletoincreasehisbodilytemperatureatwill.

ItwasduringthefirstvisittoCornwallthatIsetthetaperecorder

going,andstartedaskinghimquestions.WhatIwantedchieflywasastraightforwardbiographicaloutline.Thefollowingisabriefsummaryofwhathetoldme.

TheLeftwichfamilyisbasicallyFrench,originatinginSaint-SauveurinnorthernFrance;thefamilynamewasoriginallyDeLeftwyche.SincehismotherwasalsoFrench,RobertLeftwichmayberegardedasmorethan50percentGallic.ThefamilymovedtoNorthwich,wheretherewas,atonetime,aLeftwichHall.Onthewhole,then,thefamily'camedownintheworld'.Evenso,hisfather,amathematicianandmemberoftheRoyalSociety,hadsomedistinguishedfriends,includingSirJamesJeans,SirArthurEddingtonandSirCharlesBoys,themanwho'weighedtheearth'.Robert'srathercasualrelationshipwiththelatterendedwhenhewaselevenortwelve;SirCharlesinvitedtheLeftwichfamilytohishomenearAndover.Wanderingaroundthegarden,Robertfoundapump.Evenatthistime,hewasfascinatedbyhydraulicdevices.Heprimedthepumpwithabucketofwater,andworkedthehandle.Asludgysubstancecameout.Heassumedthepumpneededalotmoreworkingbeforeclearwatercamethrough,sohewentonpumping...Infact,heemptiedtheliquidmanuretanks,andfloodedthelawn.SirCharleswroteLeftwichsenioraletter,askinghimnottobringhissontothehouseinfuture...

Fortunately,hisfatherwasapatientman—heneededtobewithasonwhowasabornrebelandalwaysintomischief.(Atthispoint,Robertmadeaninterestingdigression.Hehimself,hesays,isnotaparticularlygoodorpatientfather.'Ilovemychildren,butIdon'treallylikethem.Because,Isuppose,they'retoomuchlikeme—rebellious.ParticularlyBobby.Whichislargelymyownfault.IdecidedIwantedtohaveachildwiththesamebirthdayasmyself.SomywifeandIdidcalculations.Infact,Bobbyarrivedafewhoursaftermybirthday—6May—wasover.Butifthere'sanythinginastrology—ourcharactersarealmostidentical.'*)[*ImustadmitthatIneverceasetobeamazedattheweirdaccuracyofastrologicalcharacterassessments.AccordingtoDerekParker'sTheCompleatAstrologer,thecharacteroftheTaurean—21stAprilto21Mayis'Practical,reliable,adeptatbusiness,havingstrongpowersofendurance,afirmsenseofvalues'.Negativetraitsmayincludepossessivenessandanobsessionwithroutines.'Hewillbelikelytobe

successfulinacareertodowithfinance,andhewilllookforwardtosecurity(withpension)inretirement...Atthesametime,hehasadistinctartisticleaning.'Astotherelationwithhischildren:'ItisverydifficultfortheTaurean,withhisveryconservativeinstincts,tobridgethegenerationgapwiththeyoung;andalltooeasyforhim,withhislikingfordiscipline,toignorethefactthathischildrenmaynotbeinsympathywithhisideas...'

Robertmayhaveinheritedsomeofhis'psychic'facultiesfromhismother;shewasthesortofpersonwhocouldsayatbreakfast'I'vegotafeelingI'mgoingtohearfromsoandsotoday'—andthepostmanwouldthenarrivewiththeletter.Butonthewhole,therewasnothingpsychicabouthisfamily;itwasamatterthatsimplydidnotinterestthem.Sowhen,attheageoffourorfive,Robertfoundhimselfoneeveninglookingdownonhisownbodyinthebed,therewasnooneinthefamilywhocouldexplaintohimthathewassimplyexperiencing'astralprojection'.Childrentakethesethingsmuchmoreforgrantedthanadults,sothisoddabilityneverworriedhim.HewascertainlynotoneofReichenbach's'sicksensitives'.Infact,hisaccountofhimselfasachildmakeshimsoundmorelikeRichmalCrompton'sJustWilliam,withatouchofJefferies'Beyis.Heplayedelaborateimaginativegameswithaclosefriend,andtheyencouragedoneanotherinsuchdangerousfeatsasdroppingoffarailwaybridgeontothemovingcarriagesbelow.Thisadventurous'JustWilliam'elementcontinuedtobeastrongpartofhischaracter;lateron,hetraveledthousandsofmilesaroundEuropeandNorthAfricaonthetopsoftrains,or,occasionally,clingingunderneaththecarriages.

Inspiteofhisself-discipline,hisattentiontodetail,Leftwichisbasicallyananarchist.'Ican'tbearanyformofregimentation.'Listeningtohisanecdotes,IwassuddenlyremindedofGurdjieff.InhisautobiographicalbookMeetingswithRemarkableMen,Gurdjieffemergesasanamiablerogue.Hespentthefirsthalfofhislifewanderingfromplacetoplace—'bummingaround',aswewouldsaynowmakingalivingasbesthecould;hismethodswereusuallyingenious,sometimesdownrightcrooked.Andyet,beyondallshadowofdoubt,hewasnocharlatan;hepossessedknowledgeandhepossessedpower.Inmanyways,Robert'spersonalitymake-upresemblesGurdjieffs.Itsuddenly

struckmethattheseanecdotesabouthisanti-authoritarianism,hisobsessionwithtravel,arenotasirrelevantasIatfirstthought.HewastellingmeastoryaboutanRAFdrivinginstructorwhowassupposedtoteachhimtodriveatruck.Robertcouldalreadydrive,sowhenthemanbegantoexplain:'Thisistheignitionkey,thisistheclutch'hebecameimpatient.Whenhestartedthetruck,hewentfromfirst,intosecond,thenintothirdgear.Atwhichtheinstructorstoppedhimwitharoarofrage.'Ifyoudon'tdoasyou'retoldwe'llnevergetanywhere.''ButIcandrive.''AsfarasI'mconcerned,youcan't.Now,let'sstartagain.Thisistheignitionkey...'Onecanunderstandhisreactioninthefaceofthiskindofunbelievablestupidity.Ontheotherhand,itreinforcedtheindividualism,thedeterminationtogohisownwayandtostandalone.Andthis,inturn,encouragedthedevelopmentofthisoddpower'tomakethingshappen'.'Witchcraft',ofthekindwehavebeendiscussing,dependsonclearlywantingsomething,anddirectingallyourpsychicenergiestowardsgettingit.Robert'sdasheswithauthorityinitsmostobtuseandbigotedformledhimtoformaverydearideathathewantedfreedom:thefirstnecessityforobtainingit.

HisRAFcareerofferssomeexcellentexamplesoftheworkingof'Leftwitchcraft'.Thewarwasover—fortunately—whenhewaspostedabroad.OntheboattoDieppe,theseawasrough,andthewashroomswerefullofvomitingmen.Robertwantedtousethetoilet;sohemarchedaroundthedeckuntilhecametoasign'Outofboundstoallranks',andunhesitatinglywentpastit.Thecrewallowedhimtousetheirtoilet,andtheninvitedhimtojointheminagameofcards;hehadactuallywon7/6dwhentheboatarrivedinFrance.Thentherewasalongrailjourneysouth.ItsuddenlystruckRobertthathewasapproachingthecountryofhisancestors,andthathehadrelativesinCannes.Inthetransitcamp,allwasconfusion.Soheburiedhiskitbag,andwalkedout.InCannes,fortunately,therewerenomilitarypolice.Hefoundhisrelatives,livedthereforacoupleofmonths,thenfinallymadehiswaybacktothecamp.Heduguphiskitbagandfoundhimselfabed.Thenextdayonparade,nameswerecalledfromalist.Robertreasonedthatnoonewascheckingoneachindividual,sohepickeduphiskitbagandjoinedthegroupwhowereduetoleave.Atthedocks,theywerecountedandfoundtobeonetoomany.Thelastmanonthelistwassent

back.RobertwentontoNorthAfrica,andfoundhimselfinthecampthatcontainedtheremainingmenofhisoldunit—theresthadalreadybeenpostedallovertheMiddleEast.Acoupleofdaysafterthat,hisownnamewascalledoutonparade,andhewasposted.Noonehadevennoticedhisabsence.Insteadofthankinghisstarsthathe'davoidedacourtmartial,Robertcontinuedto'pushhisluck'.Hewasassignedtothejobofdrivingthe'shitwagon';hedidn'tlikeit.Soonthesecondday,herefused.Itshouldhaveresultedinbeingputonacharge;instead,afterbeinginterviewedbyeveryonefromtheMTofficertotheWingCommanderinchargeofthestation,hewastemporarilytakenoffduty.Thenhewasofferedthejobofhelpingtoreclaimandreconditionvehiclesthathadbrokendowninthedesertduringthewar,andateamofengineerstohelphimdoit.Onceagain,hehadthefreedomhewanted.Oneday,hewastoldtotakeaDaimlertoCairo,andtoinstructthechauffeurofSirCharlesMedhurst,CommanderinChiefintheMiddleEast,inhowtodriveit.ItstruckRobertthatthiswasthekindofjobhewouldenjoy.Inthiscase,his'Leftwitchcraft'wasfacilitatedbythefactthatSirCharleshadknownhisAuntVeraLeftwich.HebecameMedhurst'schauffeur;andeventuallywithacertainamountofstringpulling(involvingAuntVera),heobtainedhisdischargefromtheforces.Bythistime,hisdirectionwasfixed,althoughhestillhadalongwaytogobeforeunderstandingwhatitwashewantedoutoflife.Heknewhewantedtotravel;healsoexperiencedanobscurerneed,adesiretounderstandhisowninner-being,whichtooktheformofintensecuriosityaboutworldreligions.HewentbacktotheMiddleEast,tostudyMahommedanismatfirsthand;healsousedhischildhoodknowledgeoftrainstotravellongdistanceswithoutpaying.(Ononeoccasion,travellingfromCairotoHaifaontheroofofatrain,hecameclosetobeingdecapitated.Hewasstandingupontheroof,stretchingandyawning,whenthefriendwithwhomhewastravellingdraggedhimdown;thetelegraphwirescrossedfromonesideofthetracktotheother,aboutfivefeetabovetheroofofthetrain...)

LikeSirRichardBurton,hedisguisedhimselfasanArabandwentintomosques.HesawnothingthatconvincedhimthathisanswerlayinIslam.TheinterestinreligiondisposedhismindmorefavorablytoChristianity(towhichhisattitudehadalwaysbeenlukewarm),although

hefoundthe'middleoftheroad'doctrinesoftheChurchofEnglanduninteresting.ThemillennialismoftheSeventhDayAdventistsappealedaltogethermorestrongly:theirconvictionoftheimminenceoftheSecondComing,theirabsorptioninthepropheciesoftheOldTestament;eventheirSabbatarianFundamentalismappealedtotheasceticsideofhim.Butafterawhile,hefoundhimselfunabletostomachthedogmatism,andturnedtothestudyofreligionsoftheeast—HinduismandBuddhism.HewasalsounabletoaccepttheideaofJesusastheGod-ManandSavior,anddeclinedtoacceptthatthemiraclesprovedhisdivinity.Healreadyhadasuspicionthatanyonecanperformmiraclesifhecantaphishiddenresources.Nevertheless,theSeventhDayAdventistswereanimportantinfluence,withtheiremphasisontheimportanceofphysicalhealth,theirsparinguseofmeatandintensedislikeoftobaccoandalcohol.(IaskedRobertifhehadalwaysbeenanon-smoker.HesaidNo;hehadsmokedasayoungman.Onedayinacinema,herealizedhewasoutofcigarettes,andfeltsuchastrongdesireforasmokethathewentouttothefoyertobuysome.Backinthecinema,hebegantobroodonhisdependenceoncigarettes—eventhenhebelievedthatthemindshouldbeabletocompletelycontrolthebody.Hegotup,leftthecinema,presentedthecigarettestothefirstmanhemetinthestreet,andgaveupsmoking.)

Onthewhole,Buddhismstruckhimasthereligionthatmadethestrongestappealtohisinnerneeds;hestillregardshimselfasfundamentallyaBuddhist(although,inPhilosophyofanEscapist,hestateshisbeliefinaCreatoroftheuniverse,andseemsaltogetherclosertoamysticalpantheism).Duringthisstage—whenhewasinvestigatingcomparativereligions—hehadnoparticularinterestin'occultism'.Iaskedhimifhecouldsayroughlywhenitbegantointeresthim.Heplacedthedateatabout1957,whenhewaslookingaroundanantiqueshopnearReigate.Hegotintoconversationwiththeproprietor,awoman,andwhenheleft,shookherhand.Shelookedathiminanoddway,andsaid'You'reahealer,aren'tyou?'Robertsaidnotasfarasheknew.Shelookedathishand,andwhatshesawinhispalmapparentlyconfirmedherintuition;shetoldhimthathehadalineonhispalmthatonlyonepersonintenthousandpossesses.

Still,hewasskeptical—orperhapsonlyuninterested.Fivemore

yearswentby.Onemorning,onhiswaytowork,henoticedworkmendiggingahole;ontheprevioustwodayshehadnoticedthemdiggingholesinotherplacesnearby.Hestoppedthecarandaskedthemwhattheyweredoing('YouknowI'mextremelyinquisitive').Theysaidthey'dlostthewatermain—andatthatmoment,adivinerarrived,tookouthisrods,andwithinafewminuteshadlocatedthemain.Robertaskedifhecouldtryit,andthedivinerhandedhimtheforkedstick.Robertwalkedoverthemain—andfeltthesticktwistviolentlyinhishands.Hewassoexcitedthathedecidednottogotowork.Instead,hewenttotheLewesPublicLibrary,andconsultedalltheirbooksondowsing.HediscoveredthatthereisaBritishSocietyofDowsers,andthatthepresidentwasaColonelBellwholivedinCuckfield.Robertcontactedhim,andsoonbecameanactivedowser.Atthesametime,hediscoveredhealsopossessedcertainhealinggifts—someonetoldhimthatdowsingandhealinggotogether.Hehasnevertriedtodevelopthese;buthecancurehiswifeofseveremigraineinafewminutes,bylayinghishandsonherforehead;andcancureanordinaryheadacheintenseconds.)

WhenBrianIngliscametolecturetotheSociety,heaskedifanydowserswouldbewillingtodemonstratetheirpowersontelevision.Everyonedeclined;thegeneralfeelingwasthatthesethingsdependonacertaininner-concentration,andthatTVcameraswouldspoilit.Robertsaidthiswasuntrue:Ifdowsingdependedonthepowerofthemind,thenitshouldn'tmakeanydifferencewhereitwasdone.

TheresultwastheTVbroadcastof1968when—asalreadymentioned—hefoundthreeoutoffivetinsofwater,aresultheregardedaspoor,butwhichsatisfiedBrianInglis—aswellastheSocietyofDowsers,whohaddeclinedtohaveanythingtodowiththeprogram.

Havingdiscoveredthathecoulddowseforwater,Leftwichwascurioustoknowwhatotherhiddenabilitieshemightpossess.Experimentsoonconvincedhimthathecouldfindanything—providedhehadanideaofwhathewaslookingfor.Hecandetectanyliquid—forexample,oil—anysolidobject,andevenemptyspace(hehasoftenbeenaskedtodowsefortunnels).Thisobviouslysuggeststhathehassomesubconsciousknowledgeofthe'field'heislookingfor.Again,itisthe'directionality'ofthemindthatseemstobeimportant.Mostofuslacktheseabilitiesbecauseweneverdirectthemindinthatdirection.

Healsoseemstopossessstrongtelepathicabilities,althoughthesedepend,toalargeextent,uponwhethertheotherpersoninvolvedisagoodreceiver(ortransmitter).Hementionedonefriendwhoisanexceptionallygoodreceiver.Roberthandshimapackofcards,tellshimtoshufflethem,andthenplaceseveralcards,facedownwards,onatable.Hesays:'Moveyourhandbackandforwardoverthecards;theoneyoufinallydecidetopickupwillbethetenofdiamonds.'Hisfriendmoveshishand,hesitates,thensays:'No,Iwon'thavethatone—I'llhavethis...'Andhissecondchoiceprovestobethetenofdiamonds.Thefriendoftenasks:'Howdidyoudothat?'towhichRobertreplies:'Idon'tknow.'

IfeltthiswasanareainwhichIcouldtesthim.Ihadcontemplatedgettinghimtoaccompanymeroundthelocalshops,andgettinghimtodemonstratehispowersofshoplifting;butitstruckmethatifhefailed,wemightbothbeintrouble.Wetookapackofcards—itwasours,nothis.Hetoldmetoshufflethem,andthenstartplacingthem,facedown,onthetable,whilehestoodseveralfeetaway,wherehecouldnotseethecards.'I'llstopyouwhenyougettotheaceofclubs.'AfterIhadthrowndowntwentycardsorso,hesaid:'Stop,that'sit.'Itwastheaceofclubs.Wediditseveraltimesmore.Hewasnotrighteverytime—Ithinktherewerethreefailuresoutofseven.Hewasapologetic,andsaidthatitcouldbebecausethiswasthefirsttimewe'dtriedit;butIfoundtheperformanceimpressive.

Ontheotherhand,Ihavetoadmitthat,inspiteofhisobviousdowsingabilities,hisdemonstrationinthatdirectionwasnotwhollysuccessfuleither.Whenhecametoseeusin1972,1washavingwatertrouble.Tobeginwith,Inoticedthatthewallsofanewroomwe'djusthadbuiltontothehouseweregettingdampatthebottom.Oneday,Imovedabookcaseandfoundthefloor,andcarpet,underneathitflooded.Withthehelpofthelocalhandyman—whobuilttheroom—Iknockedaholeintheoutsidewall,justbelowgroundlevel.Asthechiselwentthrough,therewasaviolentgushofwater,andatorrentcamefromunderthehouse.Whenweturnedoffthewateratthemain,thefloodceased;obviously,wehadaburstpipe.Theproblem:tolocatetheburst,anddigdowntoit.Ithadtobeexactlylocated,unlessIwantedtotearupseveralyardsofconcrete.Robertwalkedaroundtheroom,andgot

strongwaterreactionsfromnearthefarwall.(Oddlyenough,sodidJoy,whoaskedifshecouldtryhisrods—sheisobviouslyanothernaturaldowser.)Hewanderedaroundoutsidethehouse,andgotaverystrongreactionoutsidethewall.'Ithinkyourburstpipe'sdownhere...'Igotoutasteelpunchandalumphammer,andstartedcuttingdownintotheconcrete.Ittookmemostofamorning,butwhenIwasaboutsixinchesdown,thewaterbegantowellupthroughit.ThenIreachedtheearthunderneath,andthewaterbegantoseepintothehole.Ispenttherestofthedayenlargingit,suddenlydelightedattheprospectoffindingthebrokenpipe,andbeingabletocallinthelocalplumbertorepairit...ButalthoughIenlargedtheholetoafootorso,anddugdownnearlytwofeet,Icouldfindnopipe.Onthehousingestatebelowus,abulldozerwasinaction;Iwentdownandaskedhimifhecouldcomeupanddigthroughsomeconcreteforme;heagreedtocomethenextday.BythattimeRoberthadleft,torejoinhisfamilynearPenzance.Thenextmorning,thebulldozerarrived.Ithadanarrowdiggingshovelwithlongsteelteeth.Themethodofbreakingintotheconcretewastoposetheshovel,teethdownwards,sixfeetabovetheground,thenallowittodrop;eachtime,theteethbitindeeper.Finally,thesurfacewascrackedenoughtotearuptheconcreteinlumps.Ilookedonwithsatisfaction,waitingforthewatertospurtfromtheleak;nothinghappened.Whenhe'dreachedadepthofsixfeet,itwasobviousthatnothingwouldhappen.Baffled,Isuggestedthathediginanotherplaceroundthecornerwherethewaterwasrunninginasteadystreamfromunderthehouse.Hetoreuptheconcretethere.Nopipe.Finally,IaskedhimtodigataspottenfeetawaywhereIknewthepiperan.Itwasaluckyguess;thepipemadearight-angle-bendatthatspot,andwecouldassumethatitranfromtherestraightintothehouse—severalyardsfrombothspotswherewe'dbeentearingupconcrete.IcursedRobert,andaskedthebulldozeroperatortofillintheholesagain...(Wesolvedthewaterproblembyhavinganewpipelaidfromtheright-angle-bend,aroundtheoutsideofthehouse.)WhenIwrotetohimaweeklater,Imentionedcasuallythathehadbeenmistakenaboutthewater—butIdidn'tmentionwherethepipewasactuallysituated.Hewroteback,commentingthathehadfoundanotherwaterpipeunderthedeepfreeze,buthadn'tbotheredtomentionitsinceIseemedsocertaintheonewewerelookingforran

outsidethehouse.Soonthewhole,Iwouldcountourwaterproblemasoneofhis

failures—although,sincemostofthespaceunderthenewroomwasfloodedwithwater,perhapsthisisunfair.

WhataremygeneralimpressionsandconclusionsaboutRobertLeftwich?

Imustfirststateageneralprinciple,whichisknowntoeverystudentofmysticism.'Strangepowers'havenothingtodowithwhatthemysticswouldcall'knowledgeofGod'.ThePersianmageswere,infact,priestsofZoroaster,andwetendtoassociatetheideaofthe'magician'withspiritualpower—anideathathasbeenfosteredbytheChristiantraditionofmiracles.AccordingtoSriRamakrishna,thepowerto'workmiracles'maybeaby-productofspiritualadvancement;butitisanunimportantbyproduct.InTheOccult,Iwrote:'EusapiaPalladinowasundoubtedlyagenuinemedium;yetshewasexposedforfraudseveraltimes;akindofgenialdishonestyseemedtobepartofhercharacter,asofMadameBlavatsky's.'AndinmybookonRasputin,Imadethesamepoint:thatsomesaintsacquire'power'inthecourseofspiritualadvancement,othermenarebornwithit—likeRasputin,andevenHitler(whosepowerwas,ofcourse,ofadifferentkind)—andmaymisuseit.

IsaythisbecauseIamfullyawarethatifanythoroughgoingskeptic,withalogical-positivistturnofmind,readmyaccountofLeftwich,hewouldsaythatitdemonstratesnothingbutRobert'sdesirefor'fame',andmygullibility.Infact,whenIfirstmetRobert,Iwasawareofthispossibility.Notthathemakesanimpressionofdishonesty;hedoesn't.Butthatamansoobviouslypeople-orientedmightbedeceivinghimself.Ontheotherhand,hisdemonstrationswiththediviningrodmadeitperfectlyclearthathepossessesthepowerofdowsingtoahighdegree.ThemoreIgottoknowhim,themoreIfeltthatheisbasicallyasolidandconsistentcharacter,whoseschoolboyishexterioronlyseemstobeatvariancewiththepowershepossesses.

ItendtobenaturallysympathetictohimbecauseIhavealwaysbeenarathercheerfulandoptimisticsortofperson,andtosomeextent,myexperienceparallelshisown.Hisdescriptionsofhischildhoodmakeitclearthathealwayshadsuperabundantvitality,andintensecuriosity.Hementionsthat,attheageoffive,heusedtobeupbeforeanyoneelsein

thehousehold—atsixa.m.—andoutinthestreet,buildingdamsinthegutterwiththeaidofatoysweepingbrush.Theoddaffinityforwaterwasalreadyapparent.Atschool,hedevelopedtheknackofconcealinghislazinessbythetrickalreadymentioned:somehow'willing'themastertoaskhimonlythequestionsheknew.Theresultwasthathealwaysdidbadlyinexams;butthiswasattributedtoexamnerves.Andinconversationswithme,hementionedseveraltimeshislifelongabilitytogethisownway.(Forexample,hedecidedonedaythathewouldlikeaKipp'sapparatus—adeviceforproducingHydrogenSulphideinthelaboratory.Thenextday,hesawoneamongapileofunusedglasswareatafactoryhewasvisitingonbusiness;whenheaskedabouttheapparatus,themanagersaiditwasgoingtobethrownout,andtoldhimtotakeithome.Hementionedadozenotherexamplesofsimilar'coincidences.')Hesaid,wryly,thatthisabilitytogetwhateverhewantshasprobablybeenbadforhischaracter;and,tosomeextent,thismaybetrue.Iamnotsayingthatpeopleneedadversitytoimprovetheircharacters;intelligenceandself-criticismwillservejustaswell;butsomeproblemsmayturnyourattentioninaparticulardirection,andproduceimportantinsights.Amanwithtoomuchpowertocontrolhisowndestinymaybeindangeroflimitinghisexperiencetowhathethinkshewants.Forexample,itmaybeallverynicetogetaKipp'sapparatuswithinaweekofdecidingyou'dliketoownone;butheadmitsithasbeeninhisattic,unused,eversince.

Thisbreezy,willfulaspectofhischaractermayexplainwhyheisagood'transmitter'butapoor'receiver'.Hementionedafriend,WalterMellor,thechiefengineerofalargefirm,whoisasuperbreceiver.Mellorcangooutoftheroom,andRobertthinksofanumber,'transmits'it,andwritesitdownonapieceofpaper.Mellorcomesintotheroom,andcanannouncethefour-figurenumbercorrectlyandwithouthesitation,beforeliftingthepapertoverifyit.ButifRobertgoesoutoftheroom,andMellortriestotransmit,thereisnoresult.Mellor'sforeheadbeginstoperspire,andnothingcomesintoRobert'shead.Mellorisalsoa'sensitive':hecantakeanobject—say,Patricia'swatch—andtellherallkindsofthingsaboutherselfthathecannotpossiblyhaveknown.Leftwichcannotdothis;hismindisattunedto'doing',notreceiving.YetwhenIaskedhimaboutthis,heremarked,interestingly,

thathefelthe'didn'tknowwheretostart'.'PerhapsifIknewwheretostart,Icoulddoit.ButIjustdon'tknow.'

Thisledusontothesubjectofdowsing;Iaskedhimhow,inthatcase,heaccountedforhisabilitytodivinealmostanything.Theanswerwasimportant.'Thereusedtobetwoschoolsofthought,andImadeathird.Oneschoolbelievesallmatteremitssomeradiation,andsomepeoplearesensitivetoit.Two,thatweemitsomeminuteradarsignalthatenablesusto"pickup"whatwe'relookingfor.Butthisdoesn'texplainhowIcanuseotherpeopletodowse.Icanseeamanwalkingdownthestreet,andtuneintohim.Andashepassesover,say,awaterpipe,heemitsasignalwhichIpickup.'Thisisobviouslynotquiteaccurate;thisisaccountedforbytheradartheory.Butthen,asLeftwichwentontopointout,neitherofthesetheoriesaccountsformapdowsing.Thisiscertainlythemostbafflingformofdivining;themapdowsercansitathome,suspendhispendulum—orwhateverheuses—overamap,andsay:'Thereiswaterinthecomerofthisfield.'Althoughthissoundspreposterous,itiswellattestedasthemorecommonformofdowsing.InRasputin,Idescribedhowamap-dowserhadtakenaletterfrommeandheldit(unopened)inonehand,whileheallowedapendulumtoswingabovethemapofEnglandwiththeother.Thetwointersectinglinesofitsswingpinpointedtheplacewherethesender(MargaretLane)wasatthatmoment,asIlaterconfirmed.Leftwichbelievesthatalldowsingdependsonthe'superconscious'mind—aterminvented,asfarasIknow,byAldousHuxley,whoaskedwhy,ifthemindhasaFreudian'basement'whichishiddenfromconsciousness,itshouldnotalsohaveanon-Freudianattic.[1]This,Leftwichbelieves,isthebasicsourceoftheabilitytodowse.Thesuperconsciousmindiscertainlyanextremelytemptinghypothesistoallwhoareinterestedinthetheoryofoccultism.Itexplains,forexample,thethousandsofwell-attestedcasesof'spectersoftheliving'.Goetherelates,forexample,how,whenhewasoutforawalkintherain,hesawafriendwearinghisowndressinggownandslippers,walkinginfrontofhim.Whenhearrivedhome,hefoundthefriendseatedinfrontofthefireinhisdressinggownandslippers;hehadgotsoakedonhiswaytoGoethe'shouse.ThefriendwascompletelyunawareofhavingwalkedinfrontofGoetheintherain.Andinmanycasesof'spectersoftheliving',thepersonwhose'specter'isseenknows

nothingaboutit—althoughhemayhavebeenthinkingaboutthepersontowhomitappearedatthetime.Telepathyisapossibleexplanationofthesespecters—i.e.theassumptionthattherewasno'real'specter,onlyanimageofthepersoninthemindofthe'receiver'.Ontheotherhand,therehavebeencasesinwhichthespecterhasbeenseenbyseveralpeople,anditseemsunlikelythatallaregoodreceivers.Leftwich's'superconscious'seemsabetterexplanation:thatthereisapartofthemindwhosepowersexceedthoseofnormalconsciousness,andthatcanbe'elsewhere'—likeProspero'smessengerArid—whenitpleases.Leftwichhas,tosomeextent,learnedthetrickofcontrollinghisArid.MyowntheoryofLeftwich'spowersissimplythis.Thesuperconsciousoperatesefficientlyonlywhenourenergiesarehigh.Itis,inasense,a'dispensable'partofthemind,notessentialtooursurvival.Goethe'sguestwassittingcomfortablyinfrontofthefire,relaxedandthinkingaboutGoethe;perhapshehada'peakexperience',oneofthosespontaneousoverflowsofsheerjoydescribedbyMaslow.ThesuperconsciousfeltfreetogoandfindGoetheMostaccountsofspectersofthelivingthatIhaveseenoccureitherwhenthepersonisthinkingofsomeone,oristotallyrelaxed.

Leftwichhasalwaysbeenapersonofhighenergy;consequently,hehasalwayshadanactivesuperconscious.Thesuperconsciousis,asIhavesaid,themind'sArid;sometimesitactssimplyasaradarsystem,warningofdangers,possibleaccidents.('Accident-proneness'andmisfortune-pronenessingeneralseemtobeconnectedwithlowpsychicenergies,self-pity,tiredness,defeatism.)Thesuperconsciousis,basically,thepowertoprojectoneself.ThisexplainswhyLeftwichalsopossessesthepowerofastralprojection,althoughheisbynomeansa'sicksensitive',(heexplainedtomethattheperiodswhenhecan'project'hisastralbodyarealwaysprecededbyafeelingthatseemstoresemblethefeelingsofanepilepticbeforeanattack—hehasdiscussedthesubjectwithepilepticsinthecourseofhisworkfortheSamaritans.)Italsoexplainshis'luck',hisabilitytogetwhathewants.

WhenhecametoCornwallforthefirsttime,hewasdrivingabluesalooncar.Hetoldmethathealwaysdrivesveryfastbeinganimpatientsortofperson—buthasneverhadanaccident.This,hesaid,wasbecausehisastralbodywas'above'thecar,enablinghimtotellwhatwascoming.

Idonotthinkhemeantthatliterally—forwhentheastralbodyisbeingprojected,thephysicalbodygoesintoatrance.Hemeant,Isuspect,thathis'superconscious'enableshimtoavoidaccidents;andhetalkedabouttheastralbodybecauseheisawarethatthereisacloseconnection(perhapstheyareeventhesamething).Hehadatypicalstoryaboutthis.Oneearlymorning,drivingveryfast,hewasstoppedbyapolicepatrolcar;aniratepolicemanaskedhimifhewasawarethathehadovertakendangerouslythreetimeswithinthepastfiveminutes.Robert,withtypicalprecision,explainedthathehadn'tbeenovertakingdangerously.'It'sdifficulttoexplain,butit'stodowithpartialdetachmentfromthephysicalbody.TheSocietyforPsychicalResearchcantellyouaboutit—I'mamembermyself'Idon'tcarewhatbloodysocietyyou'reamemberof.Getoutofthatbloodycar...'But,typically,heescapedwithoutasummons,althoughthepatrolcarfollowedhimformiles;then,whenhethoughthe'dlostit,anotherpatrolcarfollowedhim,obviouslyalertedbyradiotolookoutforanutinabluesalooncar.

The'superconscious'hypothesisseemstometoexplainhisrathercuriousassortmentofpowers:dowsing,astralprojection,'makingthingshappen'andgettinghisownway.Butitleavesotherquestionsunanswered.Forexample:arewedealingwith'natural'powers,pureandsimple?ThiswasaquestionalsoraisedinTheOccult.Primitivepeoplebelieveinexternalforcesofgoodandevil;wehavegonetotheoppositeextreme,andtrytoaccountforeverythinginmechanicalornaturalterms.Forexample,Lethbridge'stheoryofghostsregardsthemas'recordings'ratherthanlivingcreatures.ButRobertLeftwichmentionedthattherearetimeswhenhiswife—andotherpeople—feelthatheisemanatingaforceofevil—not-strong,perhaps,butnoticeable.Hesaysthatheisunawareofthis;ithasnothingtodowithmalignantthoughts.Ishe'pickingitup'fromoutsidehimself,andunconsciouslytransmittingit?Idonotknow,andhecertainlydoesn't.

Again,hehasthepowertostoppeoplesmoking.Hedescribedtheprocesstomeasfollows.Thesubjectsitsoppositehim,andRobert'attunes'hismindtohim.Roberttheninducesafeelingofnumbnessinhisownfingers.Whenthesubjectsays:'Myfingersarefeelingnumb,'heknowstheattuningprocessiscomplete.Atwhichpointhesays:'Thisisbecauseyou'reattunedtome.AndIcannowassureyouthatyou'llnever

feeltheneedtosmokeagain.'This,hesays,hasbeenafailureinonlyonecase—andeventhen,themangaveitupforthreeyears.Thissoundsclosertotelepathy—orstraighthypnosis—thantotheuseofthesuperconscious.Whatistherelationbetweenthispowerofsuggestionandthesuperconscious?Again,Ihavenoidea.

AndyetIamstronglyinclinedtobelievethatwearedealingwithnaturalforces.IhavejustbeenplayingbackthetapeImadeofaconversationwithLeftwichayearago,andIreflectthatParacelsuswouldhavethoughtitwassorcery.Andsoitis,inaway.Iknowaboutmagnetismimprintingvoicepatternsinironoxide;butitstillseemsstrangethatatapeshouldbecapableofcarryingallthevibrationsofthelivingvoice—justasitseemsstrangetomethatawavylineonthesurfaceofagramophonerecordcancarryallthecomplexitiesofagreatorchestra.Soitisnotdifficulttobelievethattheremaybeothervibrationsandfieldsofwhichweareatpresentignorant.AsIlookacrosstheroomnow,Icanseeaphotographonthebackofabookjacket—aperfectlyrecognizableface.Ipickitupandplaceitwithinthreeinchesofmyeyes.NowIcanseejusthowlittleinformationthepageactuallycarries—justafewblurrypatchesofblackandgrey.Iholditatarm'slength—again,itisaface.Myeyescanobviously'decode'thesepatches,andreadmeaningintothem—providedtheyaregivenenoughofthemtoformajudgement.AsRobertLeftwichwalksovertheground,lookingforwater,somefacultyasnaturalassightdecodesasetofvibrations,andtellshimwhenhehasfoundit.IfItakethesamedowsingrod,nothinghappens;Iam,comparativelyspeaking,'shortsighted'.

Butamidallmyuncertainties,Iamfairlysureofonething.RobertLeftwichisanon-passivepersonality;infact,heisahighlyactivepersonality,whosepsychehasalwaysexertedadefinitepressureontheoutsideworld,intheformofcuriosity,expectancy,interest.Suchpressureislikewater;itfindsitswayintocracks,andenlargesthem.Hispowersaretheoutcomeofhisattitude.Hedemonstrates,tomysatisfaction,thatpsychicpowersareamatterofchoice,notofchance.

Two

MrsEuniceBeattieAsan'occultinvestigator',IamawarethatI'mthoroughly

unsatisfactory.WhenIoughttobeaskingpenetratingquestions,ordevisingmeansoftestingthetruthofwhatIambeingtold,Isimplylistenandmakenotes.This,Isuspect,isbecauseIseetheworldthroughtheeyesofanovelist.Inasense,Iamincuriousaboutpeople—abouttheiraffairs,theirlives;butI'minterestedinthewaytheirmindswork,intheirmotivations.Fromafairlyearlyage,Idevelopedtheconvictionthatmostpeoplewastetheirlivesbecausetheyseetheworldfalsely.Anyonecanunderstandwhatismeantifwesaythatsomeoneis'utterlyconventional':thatsuchapersonacceptsasetofsocialvalueswithoutquestion,likeasheepthatneverfeelscuriousaboutwhatliesontheothersideofthehedge.Butwefinditaltogethermoredifficulttograspthatweallliveaccordingtoasetofconventionsofconsciousness:that,onthewhole,weseeandhearwhatweexpecttoseeandhear,andthattheremaybeenormousareasofexperiencethatcannotgetpastourmentalfilters.Forexample,canyouimagineMrPickwickappreciatingthemusicofBeethoven,orthepaintingofGoya?(CanyouimagineDickenshimselfappreciatingit,ifitcomestothat?)CouldJaneAusten,evenwiththegreateststretchoftheimagination,understandthemurderscommittedbytheCharlesManson'family'?Ourperceptionshavecertaininbuiltlimitations;yet,inasense,itiswewholimitthem,aswemightturndownthevolumecontrolontheradiotowhatweconsidera'bearablevolume'.ThisiswhyRimbauddreamedofan'orderedderangementofthesenses',deliberatelypushingthesensesbeyondtheirnormallimits.

ThisiswhyIwouldfindRobertLeftwichaninterestingcharacter,evenifIcannotstatepositivelythatallhisclaimsaretrueandunexaggerated.Heisawarethatthenormalboundariesarenotabsolutes;hewantstobreakoutbeyondthem.LikeRimbaud,hehasalreadyrejectedthe'communalfife-world'.Aworldinwhichthereweremillionsofpeoplelikehimwouldbe,forme,amoreinterestingplace.

AndthesameappliestoMrsEuniceBeattie,whoisotherwiseabout

asunlikeLeftwichascouldbeimagined.Outwardlysheappearstobeaperfectlyordinaryperson—aretirednurse,devotedtohermarriedsonandhisfamily,livinginanattractivesuburbofPlymouth.Shehaswritten(andtyped)hundredsofpagesthatrevealthateither(a)shehasaremarkablemind,or(b)thatshehas'tunedin'tootherintelligencesandtranscribedsomeoftheirideas.

IhavenotkeptarecordofwhenIfirstmetMrsBeattie,butitmusthavebeenintheearlymonthsof1972.ItwasatthetimewhenIwasstillreceivingfloodsofcorrespondenceaboutTheOccult,whichhadappearedthepreviousautumn.MrsBeattie'slettersaidthatshehopedIwouldn'tconsiderheracrank,butthatshehadbeenproducingautomaticwritingthatseemedtohertoanswersomebasicquestionsabouthumanpurposeanddestiny.IrepliedthatI'dliketoseesomeofit,andaskedherifshewouldliketocomeandhavelunchattheWestwardTVstudiosnexttimeIwasthere.Igaveherthedate.

I'dforgottenaboutherwhenamessagecametosaythataladywantedtoseemeatthedesk.Iwentdown,andfoundMrsBeattielookingnervouslyoutofthewindow,asiftemptedtodashoutintothestreet.Iaskedhertocomeintothecanteenforlunch.Assoonaswesatdown,shehandedmeamanilafolderfullofmanuscript.Iopenedit,andsawthatthefirstpagewasheadedwithaquotationfromoneofArthurWaley'stranslationsofaChinesepoem.Ireaditwithacertainamountofpleasure—anunderstandablereaction,Ithink,whenoneisfacedwithagreatsheafoforiginalmanuscriptthatmaybetotallyunreadable.Itislikefindinganoasisinadesert.IaskedherifshelikedChinesepoetry.Shelookedblank;then,whenIpointedtotheWaleyquotation,saidshehadnoideawhoArthurWaleywas.Ithadsimplybeen'dictated'toher.Iglancedattherestofthetypescript,andsawmentionsofWaltWhitmanandAngelusSilesius.'Whataboutthese?Haveyoureadthem?''No.WhoisWaltWhitman?'

Asweate,Ilookedathercuriously.Sheseemedshy,rathertense,asiftryingtocutherselfofffromthesoundsoftheroom.Shewassmall,attractive,aroundsixty;ajournalistmighttaketheeasywayoutanddescribeherasmotherly,buttherathersmarthairstyleandtheneatclothesremindedmethatshehadbeenahospitalsister—shehadtoldmethatinherletter.Verymuchthetypechildrentaketo—asIdiscovered

whenshemetmychildren.Shedidn'tstrikemeasinanywayacrank;or,forthatmatter,anythinglikemyideaofa'psychic'neithertheprofessionalspiritmedium,northevisionarypeasantwomanofthetypedescribedbyYeats.Ifoundherverydifficulttoplace.

Shecameandwatchedtheprogrambeingvideotaped,sittingquietlyinacornerofthestudiowithoutspeakingtoanybody.AfterwardsIaskedherifshe'dfounditinteresting.'Oh,yes.Fascinating.'ButIhadafeelingshewouldn'thavesaidsounlessI'daskedher.

Clearly,Iwasn'tgoingtobeabletoassessherwithoutseeingrathermoreofher.Iaskedherifshecouldcometomyhomethatweekend.Shelookedanxious.'Areyousureyourwifewon'tobject?''Idon'tthinkso.''Perhapsyou'dbetteraskherfirstandletmeknow.'

Beforeweleftthestudio,Iaskedherhowshehadcometowritetome.Iexpectedhertosaythatshe'dreadsomethingaboutTheOccult,orseenmeontelevision.Againshesurprisedme.'Yournamecamefloatingintomyheadoneday.I'dnoideawhoyouwere.Then,aweeklater,Isawsomethingaboutyouinanewspaper.IhadanoddfeelingthatIoughttogetintouchwithyou.'

WhenItoldJoyI'daskedMrsBeattieoverfortheweekend,sheasked:'Whatsortofapersonisshe?'andIhadtoadmitIdidn'tknow.Icouldonlysaysheseemedaperfectlyordinary,normalpersonandIdidn'tthinkshe'dbeadifficultguest.ApartfromRobertLeftwich,myacquaintancewith'psychics'hadbeensmall.Inmyearlytwenties,whenIwasworkingatUnitedDairies,Chiswick,IhadmetawomancalledGracewhoworkedinthecanteen(Ihaveforgottenherothername),andIhadbeenconvincedthatshepossessedunusualpowers.Sheseemedtobeanordinary,middle-agedcockneylady,ofthekindyou'dfindbehindalmostanycounterinanyworkscanteeninthecountry;butJoyandIspentaneveningwithher,andIrealizedthatshe'knew'agreatdeal—inthesensethatGurdjieffdid;andthethingsshewasabletotellmeaboutmyselfstartledme.MrsBeattieseemedasordinaryasGrace;andIwaswillingtogiveherthebenefitofthedoubt.Iamaveragelyskeptical,andIwasawareofthepossibilitythatshemightbesufferingfromdelusions,ormightbemakingitalluptomakeherselfinteresting.Ididn'tbelieveforamomentthatshewassufferingfromdelusions.Neitherdiditseemlikelythatshewasmakingitallup—althoughIhadtoentertainthe

possibility.Shewasawidow,livingonherown—and,byherownadmission,withoutmanyclosefriends.Isettleddowntoreadinghermanuscript,hopingitmightprovideclues.Andthefirstthingthatwasobviouswasthatifshewaspullingmyleg,thenitwasn'tarecentlyconceivedplan.She'dwrittenalot,andoveralongperiod;therewerediaryreferencesdatingbacktenyears.Anditsoonstruckme,fromthegeneraltoneofherwriting,thatsheisdeeplyandgenuinelypreoccupiedwithwhatwelooselyterm'thespiritual'.Nowwhensomeaverage,not-very-intelligentpersonbecomesobsessedwithreligion,theresultisanobviousfeelingofunbalance;theirmindsbecomelop-sided;theyspoutthejargon,butitisalmostameaninglessnoise.Infact,itbecomesakindofmask,designedtohidetheirstupidity.ThemostobviousthingaboutMrsBeattie'swritingwasthatitwascarefullyandpainstakinglysayingsomething,andwhatitwassayingwasclosetowhatallsaintsandmysticshavealwayssaid,'WearecompletelydependentonthecreativeenergyofGod,fromourfirstbreath.Ourlivesareusuallywreckedbyoursenseofpersonalpower.'AldousHuxley'santhologyofmysticism,ThePerennialPhilosophy,isfullofthesestatementsabouttheneedtoabandonthe'Self,tobecomeidentifiedwiththeNot-Self.'Therearemany,'saidMrsBeattie,'whoarebranchesofatreethatarecutofffromthemainstem,andwhodonotknowtheyaredying.'Igotafeelingsheknewwhatshewastalkingabout;thiswasnotjustreligiousgobbledygook.AndtherewereplaceswhereIsuddenlyfoundmyselfreadingwithincreasedinterest.'Maninhisspiritualstateisbothmaleandfemale,andcanthuscreateforhimself—justashisFathercan.Christsaidthatallhecoulddo,mencoulddoalso,whentheyhadcometofullrealization.'ForsomemonthsbeforemeetingMrsBeattie,IhadbeenstrugglingwiththeobscurebutimpressiveworkofaHungarianphilosopher,CharlotteBach,whosestudiesofsexualperversion—particularlyof'trans-sexuality'(i.e.theman'sdesiretobecomeawoman,andviceversa)hadledhertoacompletelynewtheoryofevolution,inwhichtheinnertensionscreatedbythissexualambiguitydrivemanuptheevolutionaryladder.Shehadalsonotedthatsomehumanbeingsachieveaprecariousbalancethroughthecreativeact.MrsBeattieseemedtobestatingthesamethingmuchmoresimply.Inmanyways,shemightbepolesapartfromtheformidablyintellectualanderuditeMrs

Bach;butsheseemedequallyawareofthepossibilitiesofanevolutionofconsciousness.AdiscipleofGurdjieffsoncesaidthathissystemwas'amethodofpreventingyourpastfrombecomingyourfuture';thesamepreoccupationranthroughoutthesemanuscriptsofMrsBeattie's.

Nowifthatwasalltherewastoit,IwouldhavenodifficultyaboutplacingMrsBeattie.Iwouldsaythatshewasoneofmy'outsiders',drivenbydeeperurgesthanmostpeople,andthereforefeelingratheroutofplaceinourordinary,workingsociety.Thatinspiteofthis,inspiteofalackofformaleducation,shehadgraduallytaughtherselftothinkforherself,andachievedsomedegreeofinsightintotheproblemoftheevolutionofspiritualconsciousness.'

Butherwritingmadeitclearthatitwasmorecomplicatedthanthat.Aftersomestudy,itseemedtometherewerethreedistinctaspectstoMrsBeattie.Tobeginwith,therewasthestraightreligiousaspect:thepreoccupationwithwhatmostreligiouspeoplewouldcallsalvation,andwhichsheisinclinedtocallevolution.Next,therewastheoccultiststrain,whichmightbereminiscentoftheworkofEmanuelSwedenborg:

'Iwentoutofmybodyonenight,intheusualway,butinsteadofdeterminingmydestination.Iwascalledinstead;IfoundthatIwasonahighplateau,upinamountainouscountry;itwasverybeautiful.Therewereagroupofpeople,alldressedinwhite.Oneofthesewasmyteacher,andhecametome,andsaidthatthisnight,theyweregoingtoshowmesomescenesfromthehistoryoftheworld.Isatdownamongthem,andthenpictureafterpicturecamebeforeme,andIsatandwatchedasIsawtheworldasitusedtobe.TheytoldmeIwaslookingatscenesintheracememory.'

Andthiswascloselyconnectedtoanotheraspect:pre-visionorprophecy.SomeofthesesoundmorelikeNostradamusthanSwedenborg:'ThecoastofFrancewillchangeovernight.Pariswillfalltorocketbombardment.''Onemanshallgoverntheworld,centuriesahead;far,toofaraheadforustosee.''Arainofmeteorsontheearth;Ithinkitisaperiodiccycle.'ShealsopredictsthatRomewillbecomeaheapofashes(thismaybeconnectedtoanotherprophecytotheeffectthattheRomanCatholicChurch—andallothers—willfail),andthatthelastPopewillbecalledPeter.ShesaysthatthereisnowachildinAsia,abouttenyearsold,whowillgovernalltheeast.'Amoreevilmanhas

neverbeenborn.'NewYorkwillbeshakenbyagreatearthquake.'Thiswillbecausedbytherisingoftheeastcoastoutofthewater;thiswillcauseatidalwave,andIrelandwillbecoveredbywater.'(EdgarCayce,theAmericanhealerandprophet,madesimilarpredictionsabouttheeastcoastofAmerica.)TheChinesewillconquerEuropeasfarasScandinaviaandmostofthepopulationsofItalyandAustriawillbewipedoutbyaerialweapons.Anotherentryreads:'May1969:Anewplanetwillbediscoveredattheendof1970—theremaybeanotheronelateron.Nov.197x:ThiswasverifiedonTVlastweek.'Alaterentryclarifiesthis:'3Jan.73:Outerplanet,Poseidon,confirmedasbelongingtooursystem.Theoryofexplosionwithinoursystemconfirmed,astheoryofourscientiststoexplainoddorbitofPoseidonandlasttwoplanets.'

Frommypointofview,the'religious'partsofherwritingweretheleastinteresting.'EachmanmustfollowhisownpathtoGod,andthereisnooneway.Onlyhisownpersonalway—andthisChristwillteachhimwhenheopenshismindandhearttohim.'True,nodoubt,butitcouldhavebeenwrittenbyanybody.

Altogethermoreinterestingwasthedescriptionofdirectexperiencescatteredamongthepages.This,forexample:

'I,too,wasoncethesame;Ididnotbelieveanythingbuttheevidenceofmyownsenses.Yetsomethingpulledatmyheart,andIwasnothappy.Ilongedtobelieveinsomethingorsomeone;Ialsowantedtoknowwhytheuniversewas,whymenwere,andwhatfor,andwhywewereborn,anddied,andwheredidwegowhenwedied?...Therewasareason,Iknewtheremustbe.Noonewouldgotothetroubleofcreatingauniversefornoreason.SoItriedtoreachthisPersonbytalkingtoHim.Ispokeinmyownway,beingessentiallyasimpleanddirectperson...ItoldthisPersonwhatwastroublingme,IsaidIwantedtoknow,andwaswillingtolearn,andIwouldworkhardtounderstand,ifHewouldtellme.Hesaid:"First,youmustbetried..."HetoldmetomeetHimeverydayatthesamehour.ThisIdidmostfaithfully,andlittlebylittle,hetaughtmeandtrainedme,untilIreachedthepointwhereIcannotlearnmoreuntilIpassoverintothesoulworld.'Sheaddsthat'He'speaksintothemind,likeasilentwhisper,whichhastheeffectoffillingherwithjoy.

Inanotherplace,shedescribeshowshewastaughtastralprojection.'Iwastorestflatuponeitherabed,divanorfloor,supportedbyapillow—ifnecessarycoveredbyaquilt.Thentobeginrecollection—thiswasintheearlydays.LaterIrelaxedthroughhabitandbeganmeditationimmediately:firststep:concentrationuponmind,relaxthebody;itbecomesstillandheavy.Secondstep:themindslowlybeginstobecomequiet,thebreathingslows.Concentrationintothedirectcenterofconsciousmind—itstillsandsmoothesout.Concentrationhasforgottenbody,andisentirelyclosedintothecenterofmind.Themindstills,andbecomessmoothasastillpond,thenstops.Thisisthepointwhereonelooksintoasilence,ordarkness...yetitisnotdarkness,butalightsointenseastoblindone,andoneseesdarkness.Thereoneispoisedandutterlystill,intenseconcentration,andlisteningintensely.Andonewaitsandwaitsandwaits.Sometimesthereisnothingbutanansweringwarmth.Sometimesavoicespeaksandoneseesexactlywhatissaid.Ifoneisneededforalesson,orsomeotherreason,thisisthepointwhereIleavethebody.Firstthereisashortblank,andthenIamfullyconsciousbesidemybody.Atfirstthesecondbodywasnude,butIwastaughttowillitclothed.Occasionally,Iwouldpassothersoulswhowereunconscious,andattimesbeginnerswhowerenotclothed,butansweringasummons—onecanalwaystell.'

Well,allthiswasfairlyplain,andwhatInowneededwastotalkfurtherwithMrsBeattietoclarifyandenlarge.ImetheroffthetrainatStAustellonaFridayevening.Onthejourneyhome,shetalkedabouthersonJohn,hiswifeandchildren,andvariousotherpracticalmatters;sheseemedtohavenoinclinationtotalkaboutherwriting.Butsheconfirmedthatmuchofitwas'automatic':thatshefeltasuddenimpulsetositdownandbegintowrite;herhandtwitched,andassoonassheseizedapen,itbeganwriting.

Backhome,shemetJoyandmythreechildren.Theyoungest,thenlessthanayearold,wasn'tmuchinterestedinstrangers,buttheothertwo—agedsixandeleven—tooktoherimmediately.Mysix-year-oldsonDamonseemedtoacceptherasakindofextragrandmother,andlostnotimeinclimbingonheranddemandingstories.Obviously,asfarasthechildrenwereconcerned,her'vibrations'weregood.Sally,whohadoverheardmetellingJoyaboutMrsBeattie'sfeatsofastralprojection,

immediatelybeganaskingherquestionsaboutit.MrsBeattieansweredfactually,withoutevasionorembarrassment.IgotthefeelingthatSallythoughtitwasallabitweird,butnot'scary'.Asthedaughterofawriter,shegetsusedtomeetingallkindsofpeople.

Thereisnotmuchtotellaboutthatweekend.Ididn'twanttoasklotsofquestionsunlesssheobviouslywantedtotalk;andassheseemedquitecontentedtoplaywiththechildrenandtalktoJoy,Ididn'tpressit.Itwasjustamatterofgettingtoknowher,andlettingthingshappen.Shedidn'tseemtohaveanyfaddistpreferences.Sheatemeat,andwhenwetookhertothelocalpubonSaturdayevening,shedrankMosellewinewithme.Therewasonlyoneoddevent.Asshewassittingoppositeme,onthesettee,herrighthandbegantojumpabout,ratherinthewayyourlegtwitchesifadoctorstrikesthekneetotestyourreflexes.Pointingtoitwithherotherhand,shesaid:'Look,someone'stryingtogetthrough.''Who?''Idon'tknow.That'showitusuallyhappens.'Shewentontalking,andthehandcontinuedtotwitch.Atthispoint,Sally,whowaswatchingitwithinterest,gotapencilandnotepad,andaskedhertoseewhat'they'wanted.Shetookthepencil,andbegantoscribble,inanodd,jerkyway.Afterthirtysecondsorso,shereadit,wrinkledhernose,andhandedittome.Itcertainlydidn'tseemtomakesense.'Hearkenuntome,'repeatedthreetimes,andthensomesuchmessageas'Iamthatwhichiseternal.'(Unfortunately,althoughwekeptthepaper,ithasgotmislaid.)The'Hearkenuntome'madeitsoundlikesomereligiouscrankwithadesiretobeheard,butnothingmuchtosay.Iaskedher:'Doyouoftengetmessageslikethat?'Sheshrugged.'Sometimes.Sometimesitdoesn'tmakesense.'Overthenextfewminutes,asshetalked,herhandtwitchedperiodically,butsheignoredit,asifitwasatelephoneshedidn'twanttoanswer...Whichledmetoreflectthatthe'spiritworld'obviouslyhasitsnutsandcrankstoo,itspersistenttalkerswhoareconvincedtheyhavesomethingofworld-shatteringsignificancetocommunicate,whenalltheyreallywantisattention.Aninterestingthought—thatperhapsevendisembodiedspiritsmaybeunfulfilledneurotics...OrisitpossiblethatsomeofthesevoicesarefromMrsBeattie'ssubconscious?Isuspectshewouldsayno,forthesubconsciousmindplaysadefinitepartinhersystemofideas...Ihavealwaysbeenfascinatedbythewaythesubconsciouscanthrowupideasandimages

thatseemtotallyindependentoftheconsciouspersonality.Forexample,ontheedgeofsleep,theimagesandthoughtsthatwashthroughthemindseemtobeasobjectiveasthesea,comingfromsomewhereelse,notfromyourownmemorybanks...

WhenIdroveMrsBeattietothestationonthefollowingMondaymorning,Istillhadn'tmadeupmymindabouther.ItwouldhavebeenallverystraightforwardifshehadbeenoneofYeats'ssimple,illiteratepeasantwomen;thentherewouldbenodoubtthateverythingshewrotecamefromsomewhereoutsideherownconsciousmind.Butshestruckmeasafairlyacuteandastuteperson,andinmuchofherwriting,shespeakswithadirectpersonalvoice—asinthepassagesquotedabove.Ifthesearenot'automaticwriting',thenwheredoesthepersonalwritingendandthe'dictatedwriting'begin?

Atwhichpoint,itisnecessarytomakesomegeneralcommentson'automaticwriting'.Andthefirstthingthatmustbesaidflatlyisthatnospiritmessage,whetherreceivedviaamedium,automaticscript,orevenonrecordedtape(asinConstantinRaudive'sexperiments)haseversaidanythingofprofoundimportance.AsfarasIknow,thereisnoautomaticscriptonrecordthatsaysanythingthattheactualwriter(i.e.thepersonholdingthepencil)wouldnothavebeencapableofsaying.TheLondonhousewife,MrsRosemaryBrown,hasproducedmanypianoworkswhichshebelievesaredictatedbydeadcomposerssuchasChopin,Schumann,Liszt,anditseemstomehighlyunlikelythatsheisafraud.[1]Ontheotherhand,shehasnotproducedasinglepiecethatcanbeseriouslycomparedwiththebestofthesecomposers.IfshecouldproduceapieceofChopinorLisztaspopularastheMinuteWaltzorLiebestraumshewouldconvertthousandsofskeptics.SheisnowapparentlyengagedintakingdownBeethoven'sTenthsymphonyfromthecomposer'sdictation;anexcitingprospect—butexperiencetellsmethatitwillbeanoisy,pretentiouspiecewithafewechoesoftheFifthandNinthsymphonies.

InModernSpiritualism(1902),FrankPodmore(oneofthefoundersoftheSPR)hasseveralchaptersonautomaticwriting,tranceutterance,andsoon.MrsCoraTappanofAmericacouldproduceanincredibleflowofwords,bothinproseandverse,anditusually'madesense';buttheextractsPodmorequotesneverriseabovetheinspiration,say,of

HymnsAncientandModern.AspiritwhoprofessedtobeFrancisBaconaskedwhether'inthewholehistoryofwrittenthoughtthereisanythingthatcanapproach[histranceutterances]in'themagnitudeoftheideasortheprofundityofthethoughts',andabeliever,namedTallmadgeadmittedthat'theirequalneverproceededfrommortalman'.Aglanceatsomeexamplesof'Bacon's'eloquenceandprofundityisaletdown:

'Howgloriousthatman'sdestiny!Heleavesbehindtheerrorsoftime,andboldlypushingforwardthroughtheuntriedfuture,heplantshisstandardontheveryoutwardwallofeternity,andherehemakeshisstand...'

Andsoonandsoon,withtheclichesclashinglikecymbals.Thespiritsgivenoevidencewhateverofthekindofsharpnessofmindthatweassociatewithgenius.Itisallwoollyandbombastic.OnesinglecuttingversebythespiritofHeinewouldcarrymoreconvictionthanreamsofpseudo-Bacon.Inmyownopinion,itrequiresacertaindegreeofself-deceptiontoseeanythingveryremarkableinmost'spiritteachings'ormessagesfromthedead.Icanthinkofonlyoneoccasionwhentheresultswerewellabovetheusualstandard:inthatcuriousautomaticscriptthatW.B.YeatspublishedunderthetitleofAVision.Withitscomplicatedexplanationofhowdifferenttypesofhumancharactercorrespondtodifferentphasesofthemoon,thisisaworkofconsiderablefascination.Yeats'biographersgenerallyaccepthisstorythathiswifeGeorgewrotedownmostofthebookatthedictationof'spirits';thefactremainsthatitisthekindofthingYeatsmighthavewrittenasanexerciseincosmologicalspeculation,andthereisnotawordinitthatYeatscouldnothavewritten.

AmIsuggestingthatallautomaticwritingisfraud?Notforamoment.Itispossiblethatonlythesubconsciousmindisinvolved—orperhapsthe'superconscious'thatRobertLeftwichspeaksof.Butinthatcase,itwouldbereasonabletosupposethatallso-called'spiritphenomena'arepurelysubjective—springingfromunseendepthsofthehumanmind—andtheevidenceisagainstthat.Onthewhole,theweightofevidencesuggeststhatcommunicationwiththedeadexplainsvariousspiritmessagesatleastaswellasthehypothesisoffraudortelepathy.(IhavediscussedthisatlengthinTheOccult.}Soautomaticwritingfindsitselfinanembarrassingkindoflimbo:nevertotallyconvincing,but

muchtooconvincingtobedismissedasfraudorself-deception.Inmostspiritwriting(orpainting,or,inthecaseofRosemaryBrown,music)theevidenceisonthesideofsubconsciousmentalactivity.Forexample,agreatdealof'spiritpainting'hasmoremerit—andtalent—thanthepainterisabletocalluponwhenpaintingnormallyandconsciously;butinviewofourtendencytounder-utilizeourpowers(discussedearlier),thisiswhatwemightexpect.

SowhenIsettleddowntostudyingMrsBeattie'smanuscripts,Ihadnoexpectationofdiscoveringprofoundrevelations.AndIdidn'tfindany.Buttherewereagreatmanykeeninsights,someofthemexciting:'WhenRogerBannisterranthefour-minutemile,hemadeitpossibleforallmentodoit.Sincethattime,manyhavedoneso—thepotentialforthishadalwaysbeenthere,butnooneelsehadtriedit;thetimehadnotyetcome.Soitiswithallthings,inthewayofevolution.'Thatstruckmeaswayabovetheleveloftheeloquenceandprofundityof'FrancisBacon'.Itisanodditythathasbeenobservedbywritersonmountaineering.Firstamountainisregardedasunclimbable;mendieintheattempt.Thensomeonesucceeds;andwithinacoupleofdecades,Sundayschoolteachersaretakingpartiesofchildrenupit.

Ontheotherhand,thereweremisunderstandings.'Ouspenskysays:"Thesoulandthefuturelifeareoneandthesame."Itisimperativetokeepoursouls,ifwearetowineternallife...'ButOuspenskywassayingsomethingmuchprofounderthanthat.Hemeantthatmanisafragmentedcreaturewiththousandsof'/V,allreplacingoneanotherminutebyminute.Howcansuchacreaturehavea'future'?Hisfutureissharedoutbetweenathousandselves.Inthesameway,howcanhebesaidtohaveasoul?Hehasathousandfragmentsofsoul,likeashatteredmirror.Sotoachieveunity(asingle'selforsoul)wouldalsoentailhavingarealfuture.

Ontheotherhand,thespiritgenerallypervadingthemanuscriptisclosetothatofRamakrishna,theHindusaintwhowentintoastateofsamadhi(ecstasy)atthemerementionofthename'God'or'Krishna'.'TellyourselfthatGodisgood,unchangeablygood.ThatHeexistsinyou,andthatwithoutHimyoucouldnotexistatall.FeeladesiretounitewithHim,sothatHemayexpressHimselfthroughyou.FeelGodaslove.'Thewordsaretrite,buttheoverallimpressionisofagenuine,

deep,strongreligiousimpulse,notofsomeonerepeatingreligiousplatitudes.Thereisastrongoverallfeelingofgenuineness.'Theinsightsarereal:forexample,therecognitionthatmosthumanbeingsarehopelesslypassive,failingtorecognizethat'allpowercomesfromwithin',andthat'weareweakonlywhenwefailtorecognizethis'.Thisis,ofcourse,thesamebasicrecognitionasinRobertLeftwich'sbook.AndonceIhadnotedthissimilarity,Inotedmanyothers:theinsistenceontheimportanceofdisciplineandresponsibility,forexample.Shewritesofthenecessitiesforspiritualevolution:toleadanorderedlife,tokeepthebodyasfitaspossible,andnotto'useittoexcess',toacceptobligationstofamilyandsociety,andtakeupaprofessionaccordingtoourcapacities.Nooutsider-ish'optingout',no

'Dowhatyouwill,thisworld'safictionAndismadeupofcontradiction...'

Again,sheagreeswithLeftwichthatitisnecessaryto'retire'inordertobeabletodevotetimetothinkingandself-knowledge.'SinceretirementIliveasecludedlife,akindofcontemplativelife.Itwouldnotbepossibletolivethenormaleverydayworkinglifefull-timeandtobeabletohavethiskindofinner-experience.Thisisnotpossible;whichiswhy,Ithink,IwasabletoleavethebodyonlybeforeandafterIhadceasedtoliveafullemotionalsexlifeandafull-timeworkinglife.Alllevelsofconsciousness,aswellasthethreebodies,havetobeinalignment,inharmony,atrest,beforerealcontemplativeexperienceispossible.'Passageslikethishaveadefinitesenseofauthenticity.

Certainphrases—likethereferencetothethreebodies—puzzledme.WhenIaskedMrsBeattieaboutthem,shewouldrefermebacktothemanuscript,sayingtheywereexplainedthere;butIcouldn'tseethem,ortheexplanationsweremixedupwithothermatters,whichconfusedme.Sothenexttimeshecameoverforaweekend,Iaskedhertositdownandtalkintoataperecorder,givingmedetailsofherlife,andanoutlineofherbasicideas.

EuniceBeattiewasborninBangor,NorthWales,andgrewuponanearbyfarm—whichhadbeeninherfamilyforgenerations.(IwassurprisedtorealizeshewasWelsh—shehasnotraceoftheaccent.)ItwasinterestingtorealizeshewasaCelt.Therewasatraditioninherfamily(althoughsheadmitssheisnotsurewhetherthereisanytruthin

it)thatonememberofeachgenerationshouldbecomeahermit,andakindofpriest.The'religion',asshedescribedit,soundedlikesomecurioussurvivalofpaganism;thefamilywouldgotosomekindofstonecirclenearthefarm,andperformaharvestfestivaltypeofceremonythatinvolvedplacingwheat,honeyandwateronaflatstonewhichservedasanaltar.(Notethattheharvestfestival,asknowninEnglishchurchestoday,wasintroducedinthenineteenthcenturybytheRev.R.S.Hawker,thepoetandsmugglerofMorwenstow.)AprayerwasofferedinWelsh.AndjustbeforeChristmas,thefamilydecoratedacauldron,knownasCeridwen'scauldron,withholly.Thissoundslikethekindofsemi-pagansurvivaldescribedbyMargaretMurray,althoughMrsBeattieinsiststhatitwasasimplereligiousceremony,nothingtodowithwitchcraft.

Herchildhoodwascompletelynormal—attendingschool,workingonthefarm(withherbrothersandsisters).Shewasalwayslonely,andregardedbytherestofthefamilyasdelicate,althoughsheonlysufferedtheusualchildishillnesses.Itwasatsixteenthatshehadherfirstunusualexperience.Onenight,justbeforedawn,shewokeupandfoundherselfstandingbesideherbed,andlookingdownonherbodywhichlayinthebed.Therewasamanstandingbesideher—orratherafigure,whosebodyseemedtobeanareaofluminosity.Shecouldonlyseehishead,althoughthiswasnotparticularlyclear.This'man'shereferstoasherteacher.Hetoldherthathehadbroughtheroutofherbody,andthathewantedtowarnherthatshewouldhaveaseriousaccidentwithintwoweeks.Preciselyfourteendayslater,thebrakesonherbicyclefailedandshewasthrownintoabrickwall;shespentseveralweeksinhospital.Iwonderedwhyherteachercouldn'tsimplyhavewarnedhertohaveherbrakeslookedatbythelocalrepairman,butshewentonamomentlatertosaythattheaccident,andtheperiodinhospital,wereessentialtoherevolution.Thisisaninterestingpoint.Many'psychics'havestartedtheircareerswithanaccidentorseriousillness.(InTheOccult,Ihavecitedthewell-authenticatedcaseofPeterHurkos,whobecamepsychicafterreceivingaseriousheadinjurywhenhefelloffaladder;whenhewokeupinhospital,hefoundhecouldreadpeople'sthoughtsand'see'theirfuture.)

Subsequently,shehadmanyexperiencesofastralprojection.Atthis

point,sheexplainedthepuzzlingbusinessofthe'threebodies'.Thereis,apartfromthephysicalbody,anelectromagnetic(orenergy)body,andthe'astral'body(whichshepreferstocalltheemotionalorsoul-body).TheenergybodywouldseemtobewhatHaroldBurrmeasureswithhisvoltmeters,andwhattheKirliandevicedetects.Theastralbodyisthebodythattravels—perhapsRobertLeftwich'ssuperconscious.Theenergybodyhoversabovethephysicalbodywhenitisunconscious—oranesthetized.MrsBeattiesaidshehadoftenseenthisintheoperatingtheatre.(ThepsychicPhoebePayne,quotedinTheOccult,wasalsoabletoseethe'auras'offlowersandanimals.TheinferencewouldseemtobethatpeoplelikeMrsBeattieandPhoebePaynehaveasensethatcandetectthe'energybody'liketheKirliandevice.)Theaura,inahealthyperson,spreadsoutaboutafootbeyondthephysicalbody,anditradiatesvariouscolors—dependingontheconsciousnessoftheindividual.Whentheindividualistired,theauradims.

Shelaidageardealofstressonthismatterofvitalenergy.IfounditinterestingbecauseIhadrecentlybeenfascinatedbyanaccountofexperimentscarriedoutatMcGillUniversity,asdescribedinLyallWatson'simportantbookSupernature.Barleyseedsweretreatedwithsaltandbakedinanoven—butnotlongenoughtokillthem.Theywerethenplanted,andsomeweretreatedwithwaterwhichhadbeenheldforthirtyminutesperdaybyaknown'healer'.Theplantstreatedwiththiswatergaveappreciablybetterresultsthanthosetreatedwithordinarytapwater.Moreover,whenthewaterwas'treated'byawomansufferingfromseveredepression,andamanwithpsychotictendencies,thegrowthoftheseedswasnotablyretarded.TheseexperimentsbyBernardGrad,whichseemtoconfirmthefindingsofHaroldBurr,alsofitthepatternofMrsBeattie'sowninsightsintothesubjectofvitalenergy.(Oddlyenough,chemicalanalysisofthewatertreatedby'healers'revealedaslightspreadingbetweenthehydrogenandoxygenatoms.)

ThisledMrsBeattietomakesomecommentsonnegativepeopleand'vampirism'—thewaythatsomepeoplecandrainyourenergy,soyoufeelcompletelywornoutafterhalfanhourwiththem.Itwasphenomenon,shesaid,thatshehadoftennotedwhenworkingonoldpeople'swards.Theywouldgetintoathoroughlynegativestateofmind,anddraintheenergyofanyonewhoworkedontheward.Iaskedher

whetherthenegativeattitudecausestheirsickness,orviceversa.Icouldguesswhatheranswerwouldbe,andIwasright:thatmostsicknessiscausedby'negativity',andbeginswiththeenergybody,whichthenaffectsthephysicalbody.'Themindaffectstheemotions,theemotionsaffecttheenergy,theenergyaffectsthephysicalbody.'

Theeffectofheraccidentatsixteenwastogivehercertainpowersofinsight,ofthesametypeasPeterHurkos'.Shefoundthatsheoftenknewaboutpeoplesimplybylookingatthem,andfoundthatbylookingattheirhands—orthetealeavesleftintheircups—shewasabletodescribetheirlivesandforetellthefuture.Thiswas'instinctive',shesaid—anditsounds,asshedescribesit,notunlikeRobertLeftwich'sdescriptionofdowsing.Atalaterstage,thesepowersdiminished,althoughtheyneverfaded.Shehadnodefiniteideaofwhatshewantedtodowhenshegrewup—onlythatshedidn'twanttomarryafarmerandsettledowntoexistenceasahousewife.Whenshethoughtaboutit,shewasinclinedtofeelthatshewouldbecomeanurseoranun.Butbythetimesheleftschool,herfatherhadleftthefarmandmovedtoKnowsley,nearLiverpool,wherehetookoveramarketgardenonLordDerby'sestate.Euniceworkedforherfather—tendinggreenhouses,wrappingflowers.Fromthefamily'spointofview,thechangewasasuccess;herfatherprovedtobeagoodmarketgardener,andthebusinessprospered.FromEunice'spointofview,itwaslesssatisfactory;afterfarmlifeinWales,shefoundtheEnglishtoopracticalanddowntoearth.Itwasluckythatshecouldworkforherfather.Theout-of-the-bodyexperiencescontinuedtohappenperiodically,precededbyafeelingofintrospection,adesireto'sinkintoherself.Shetoldnooneoftheseexperiences.Shealsodecided,atafairlyearlystage,thatitwasimportanttokeeptheseexperiencessecret;shefeltthatthiswasessentialifshewastoliveanormallife.Attheageof22%,shewasreadytoleavehome;shewantedtogetasfarawayaspossible.Sosheansweredanadvertisementtobecomeanurse—aprobationer—atahospitalatKingstononThames.Atthattime,hospitalworkwasavocationratherthanacareer.Paywasminimal;theyhadtoworklonghours,andbuytheirownuniforms.Butitwasabouttheonlyvocation—apartfromanunnery—thatsuitedhertemperament.Theproblem,asalways,wassimplyamountofworkinvolved;shewouldbesoexhaustedattheendofadaythattherewasno

timeforspiritualadventures.Asshedescribedallthistome,Ifoundmyselfformingadefinite

pictureofwhatwasinvolved,andrealizingthat,inaway,itwasnotsoverydifferentfrommyownteensandearlytwenties—or,forthatmatter,fromanybodywhohasthisromanticimpulsetoescapefromtheworld.ThomasMann'snovelBuddenbrookscontainsaclassicportraitofthe'artistasayoungman',andthechapteronHanno'svisitstotheseaside—asachild—isparticularlypowerful:thesenseofrelease,thepeace,thedelight,thefreedom,ofwidebeaches,seaweedontherocks,anemonesinpools,hoursoflyingquietlyonthesand,'whileyouletyoureyesroveidlyandlosethemselvesinthegreenandblueinfinitybeyond.Therewastheairthatsweptinfromthatinfinity—strong,free,wild,gentlysighinganddeliciouslyscented;itseemedtoenfoldyouround,toveilyourhearingandmakeyoupleasantlygiddy,andblessedlysubmergeallconsciousnessoftimeandspace.'AndIcanrecall,atfifteenorsixteen,spendingeveningsreadingpoetryinmybedroom,whileallthetensionsgraduallyrelaxedoutofthesoul,untilyoufelttired,butcompletelysereneandfree,likesomeonewhoisconvalescingfromadangerousillness.ThomasMannfeltthatthiscapacityfortotalrelaxation,thelongingfor'dimhillsandfarhorizons',makesoneunfitfornormallife;itisalmostinevitablethatHannoshoulddieyoung.MrsBeattiealwaysbeenmadeofstrongerstuff;shehasalwaysbeenpreparedtoliveanormallifeandworkforaliving...

WhatIamnowsuggesting—withnocertaintyofbeingontherighttrack—isthattheforcesthatwerestrugglingtofindanoutletinherwereverymuchthesameforcesthatproduceallliteratureandart.Theyseekoutwhateverchannelsareavailabletothem.Yeats'imaginationturnedtofairylandsandtheworldoftheoccult.AyoungCornishmannamedLeslieRowse—fromaworking-classbackground—managedtowinascholarshiptoOxford,andbecameahistorian,findinginthestudyofthepastthesamereleasethatYeatsfoundhisfairylands.Einsteinfoundthesamereleaseintheworldofstarsandatoms;Freudinthedarkwatersoftheunconscious.Butpoetsandartistsandscientistshaveapathtofollow;oncetheyhaveseenit,alltheyhavetodoissticktoit.Agirlbroughtuptofeedchickensandtendflowershadnocomparableoutlet;thecreativeenergiesturnedinwards.AFreudianwouldtalkabout

'compensations',evenofsexualunfullfilment,andthereIthinkhewouldbewrong.MrsBeattiesaidwrylythatshealwaysthoughtofherselfasanoldmaid;butsheadmittedthat,asateenager,andasanurse,shehadflirtationsandoccasionallywentoutwithboys.Shewouldbeunlikelytomeetanyonelikeherselfinthehospitalmilieu;sothelackofinterestinsexwasbasicallyafailuretofindanyonewhoappealedtoherasanideal.

Infact,shedidmarryeventually.Duringthewar—bywhichtimeshewasworkingasadistrictnurseinLiverpool—shemetanRAFmaninabusqueuejustasthesirensweresoundingforanairraid;theygotintoconversation;hesawherhome,andeventually,theymarried.Marriagedidn'tsuither;itwasnotwhatshewaslookingfor.Almostimmediatelyshefeltshehaddonethewrongthing,andherinnerlifemarkedtime.In1947,hersonJohnwasborn.Sometwoyearslater,herhusband,whohadtakenajobwiththeMinistryofSupply,waskilledwhenhewastakingacaroutontest.'Itwasanemotionalshock,butIsupposeitwasakindofreliefaswell.'Idon'tthinkthecommentindicatesheartlessness.Herlifesofarhadgivenherfewopportunitiesforself-expression,self-development—whatMaslowwouldcallself-actualization.Workasanursewasfarfromideal,longhoursofpatrollingwards,changingsheets,emptyingbedpans;andbeingadistrictnurse,whileitwasmoreinteresting,wasalsonon-stophardwork.Shetriedmarriageandrealizeditwasanothercul-de-sac,asfarasself-actualizationwasconcerned(althoughshewasadotingmother).

Fromthepracticalpointofview,thedeathofherhusbandmeantlossofsecurity.Shehadbeenworkinginahospital(BootleMaternity)duringhermarriage;nowshedecidedtobecomeadistrictnurseagain.WhenJohnwasten,shedecidedtowidenherfieldtosocialwork,specializinginchildren.Thiswasthemostrewardingworkshehaddonesofar.JohnwasatschoolinareligiouscommunityinShropshire;sheenjoyedsocialwork,andthevarietyofpeopleitbroughtherintocontactwith.Thesameinsightthathadenabledhertotellfortunesnowmadeheragoodsocialworker.Finally,shemovedtoPlymouth—toFreedomFieldsHospital—andbecameasisterinthematernityunit.Shewasthereuntilherretirementthreeyearsago.Andnow,afterfortyyears,sheatlasthadthefreedomtopursueher'habit'(assheoncecalledit):that

capacitytoretiredeepintoherself,achieveastateofinnerserenity,andthenleavethebody.Atnostagehassheregardedherselfasa'psychic'orpotentialmedium;theevolutionarypreoccupationhasalwaysbeenthere.These'astral'activitieswerestrictlyforthepurposeofself-actualization.HerviewwasconfirmedindiscussionwithFatherTrevorHuddleston,whoagreedthattoomuchpreoccupationwiththe'psychic'couldplaceanobstacleinthewayofspiritualprogress.

Bythistime,theskepticallyinclinedreaderwillbeaskingwhyIshouldbelieveasinglewordshetoldme,sincesheofferedno'proofofanyunusualpower?AndIcanonlysay:becausemostofwhatshesaid'fittedin'tothingsIalreadykneworsuspected.Iwasgropingmywaytowardssomegeneraltheoryof'hiddenpowers'andastralprojection,tryingtorelatethembacktoknownpsychologicalfacts.

Mybasicassumptionisthatwepossessrangesofpowerthatwedonotsuspect.Anybodywhohaseverboughtsomegadget—likeataperecorder—knowsthatitisnecessarytoreadthehandbookbeforeyoucanfullyunderstandallthethingsyoucandowithit.Ifyoudon'treadthehandbook,youmayhaveitforyearswithoutrealizingthatacertainbuttonwillenableyoutosuperimposeonerecordingonanother,orthatasocketisintendedforanearphonethatautomaticallycutsoutthemainloudspeaker...Humanbeingscomewithoutinstructionbooks,andwehavetofindoutourpotentialitiesbytrialanderror.Andsincemostofuslacktheexploratoryurge,weneverdiscoverallourcapacities.Totakeasimpleexample:mostofuscanwakeupatacertaindefinitehourifwehaveto,asifwepossessedsomeinneralarmclock;but,asfarasIknow,nopsychologisthaseverconductedaninvestigationintothis'power',tofindouthowitworks.Again,wehaveallexperienced'secondwind',theabilitytocalluponvitalreserves;butnooneknowswherethesevitalreservesarestored.

Nowthepowerto'retreatwithinoneselfisoneofourmostinterestinghumancapacities.Idonotmeansimplytogooffintoadaydream;mostdaydreamingisanegativething,akindofinattention,a'switchingoff,aformoflossofmemory.Ontheotherhand,achildsometimesbecomessocompletelyabsorbedinabookthatitisjustasifhehasretreatedtoaroominsidehimself.Youcanoftenseeitinayoungmotherbreast-feedingababy;itisasifsheandthebabyhadretreated

intoaninner-room.InWolfSolent,JohnCowperPowysdescribesWolfs'trickofsinkingintohissoul',whichWolfcallshis'mythology'.'Powysdescribesitas'adevicethatsuppliedhimwiththesecretsubstratumofhiswholelife'.

'This"sinkingintohissoul"...consistedofacertainsumming-up,tothesurfaceofhismind,ofasubconsciousmagneticpowerwhich...ashewatchedtheglitterofsunandmoonuponthewatersfromthatbowwindow,hadseemedpreparedtoanswersuchasummons.'

InthelaternovelPorius,Powysinventsyetanotherwordforthisability,'cavoseniargising',whichhedescribesas:

'...thoserecurrentmomentsinhislifewhenthegulfbetweentheanimalconsciousnessofhisbody...andtheconsciousnessofhisrestlesssoulwastemporarilybridged;sothathissoulfounditselfabletofolloweverycurveandrippleofhisbodilysensations,andyetremainsuspendedabovethem..."(Porius,p.83).

Thisprocessofself-withdrawalisundoubtedlyoneofthemajorunexploredsecretsofhumannature.Andthediscoveryofpsychedelicdrugsinthelatefortiessuggestedsomeinterestingnewmethodsofexploration.AldousHuxleywasthefirsttoassert,inhistwobooksonthemescalineexperience,thatman's'innerlandscapes'couldbeasvastandasvariedasthesurfaceoftheearth.Sincethen,therehavebeenmanyattemptstochartthisinnerworld.Oneofthemostinteresting—becausethemostreasonableandlogical—isTheCenteroftheCyclone,byJohnLilly.DrLillyisascientist,whoseearlyworkonthemindofthedolphinattractedconsiderableattention.Lateron,heexperimentedwithsensorydeprivationinatankoflukewarmwater,andexperienceddream-likestates,trance-likestates,mysticalstates.Itwasduringthecourseoftheseexperimentsthathebegantohaveexperienceswhichcouldhavebeendelusions,butwhichseemedtohaveacertainauthenticity:afeelingofapparentlybeingjoinedbyotherpeopleinthedark,floatingenvironment,andtimeswhenheapparentlytunedinonnetworksofcommunicationthatarenormallybelowourlevelsofawareness,networksofcivilizations'waybeyondours'.HedecidedtotrytheeffectofLSD—lysergicacid—inthewater-tank.Hedescribeshow,inthisfirstexperiment,therewasasenseofcompletelyblack,completelysilent,emptyspacewithoutabody.Hecalleditthe'zero

point',andsays:'Iwishtoemphasizethatthiszeropointwasnotinthebody,itwasoutintheuniverseofnothingexceptsilenceandblackness...'Apositivistwouldsaythisisjustquibblingwithwords;hewasstill'inhisbody',evenifhisimaginationproducedasensationofouterspace.Thepositivistcouldberight;butIamnotsure.AccordingtoMrsBeattie,thisisthestateinwhichthe'astralbody'maypassoutofthephysicalbody.Isthis,perhaps,themeaningofthatcuriouspassageatthebeginningofBlake'sEurope:

Fivewindowslightthecavern'dMan;thro'onehebreathestheair;Thro'onehearsmusicofthespheres;thro'onetheeternalvineFlourishes,thathemayreceivethegrapes;thro'onecanlookAndseesmallportionsoftheeternalworldthatevergroweth;Thro'onehimselfpassoutwhattimeheplease;buthewillnot,Forstolenjoysaresweet,andbreadeateninsecretpleasant.'

Theopeninglinesareclearenough—theyobviouslyrefertothefivesenses.Butwhatisthis'windowthroughwhichmancanpassoutwhattimeheplease'?Andwhatisthemeaningoftheoddlineaboutstolenjoysandbread'eateninsecret'?IsthisnowPowys''cavoseniargising'or'mythologising',withdrawingdeepintosomesecretplace?IsBlakesayingthatthisistheroutetopassingoutofthebody?

TheinterestingthingaboutJohnLilly'sbookisthathequiteobviouslybelievesthathisstrangeexperiencesunderLSDweremorethan'imagination'.Andhecontinuestoemphasizethedistinctionbetweenbeing'in'hisbodyandoutofit.

'ThenIbecameintenselyexhilaratedandwentintoahighwhileinmybody.Igotoutofthetankandwentoutintothesunlight,lookingupintothesky,savoringthefactthatIwasahumanbeingonaplanet.Forthefirsttimesincechildhood,lifewasprecious.Mybodywasprecious.Myfeelingsofenergyandextremeexhilarationcontinued.Isatandcontemplatedthewonderofourcreation,ofthecreationofourplanet.Anhourorsolater,Iclimbedbackintothetankandlaunchedintootherregions.Ihadhadenoughofthevastspaces,thevastentitiesforawhile.NowIattemptedtocontactothersystemsoflife,moreonalevelwithourown,andyetalientous.Imovedintoaregionofstrangelifeforms,neitherabovenorbelowthehumanlevel,butstrangebeings,ofstrangeshapes,metabolism,thoughtformsandsoforth...Thevastvarietyof

possibleformsintheuniversepassedbeforeme.'Earlierinthebook,JohnLillydescribesacrucialexperiencein

whichhecameclosetolosinghislife.Ingivinghimselfanantibioticinjection,healsoinjectedasmallquantityofdetergentintohisbloodthesyringehadnotbeenthoroughlycleanedout;thebubbleslodgedinhisbrain,andhewentintoacoma.Fortunately,hewastakentoahospitalwherehewasknown,andeventuallyrecovered.Whileinacoma,waitingfortheambulance,hehadasensationofcomingintocontactwithtwo'guardians':

'Thepoundingheadache,thenauseaandthevomitingthatoccurredforcedmetoleavemybody.Ibecameafocussedcenterofconsciousnessandtraveledintootherspacesandmetotherbeings,entities,orconsciousnesses.Icameacrosstwowhoapproachedmethroughalargeemptyspace,andwholooked,feltandtransmittedguidingandteachingthoughtstome.'Hesaysofthem:'IrealizethattheyarebeingsfargreaterthanI.Theybegintoteachme.TheytellmeIcanstayinthisplace,thatIhaveleftmybody,thatIcanreturntoitifIwish.TheythenshowmewhatwouldhappenifIleftmybodybackthere—analternativepathformetotake...Theytellmeitisnotyettimeformetoleavemybodypermanently,andthatIstillhaveanoptiontogobacktoit.Theygivemetotalandabsoluteconfidence,totalcertitudeinthetruthofmybeinginthisstate.Iknowwithcertaintythattheyexist...'Andheadds:'Theysaythattheyaremyguardians,thattheyhavebeenwithmebeforeatcriticaltimes,andthatinfacttheyarewithmealways,butthatIamnotusuallyinastatetoperceivethem.'

Again,muchofthissoundedfamiliartome.Forexample,amannamedEdMorrell,whowasconfinedinastraitjacketinaprisoninArizona.Infact,thetreatment—designedtobreakthespiritof'tough'prisoners—wastolacethemtightlyintwostraitjackets,oneoutsidetheother,andthenpourwateronthemsotheywouldshrink.Itwaslikebeing'slowlysqueezedtodeathbyaboaconstrictor'.Butattheheightofthepain,hesuddenlyfoundhimselfwanderingaroundoutsidetheprison.SummarizingthiscaseinThePhenomenaofAstralProjection,MuldoonandCarringtondeclarethatwhile'projecting',MorrellmettheGovernoroftheState,GeorgeW.P.Hunt,whowaslaterabletoverifywhatMorrellhadseenatthetime.JackLondonmadeMorrelltheheroof

hisbookTheStarRover.Similarly,themediumEnaTwigg(whosecontactswiththedeadson

ofBishopJamesPikearesummarizedinTheOccult}hasdescribedinherautobiography(Medium)how,asachildoftwoorthree,shecouldflyupanddownthestairsafterherbodyhadbeenputtobed.Shewasalwaysawareofentitieswhowereapparentlyinvisibletootherpeople;shenamedthese'mistypeople'.Attheageoffourteen,the'mistypeople'toldherthatherfatherwouldbe'withthem'inaweek'stime.Exactlyaweeklaterheslippedandfracturedhisskull,dyingafewhourslater.Butuntilshewasanadult,sheremainedonlyvaguely'psychic'.Theturningpointcamewithaseriousillness—appendicitis.Underanaesthetic,shewasawareofherselfsuspendedaboveherbody,lookingdown.Theoperationwasnotwhollysuccessful;shefailedtogainweightafterit,andgraduallybecameweaker.Oneday,threeofher'mistypeople'walkedintothebedroom.Theyseemedtobedoctors;onewrotedownwhatshetoldhimabouthersymptoms;anothergaveheraninjectioninthebaseoftheneck.Themarkwastherethenextmorningwhenshetoldherhusbandabouttheexperience.Thethree'guardians'cameweekly,andherhealthrecovered.Sheaskedthemhowshecouldrepaythem.'Byhelpingothers.'Theygavehertheaddressofaspiritualistcircle.CaseslikethisobviouslydonothingtodisproveorconfirmtheindividualcaseofMrsBeattie.Askepticwouldsaytheywereallliarsorvictimsoftheirimagination.Ontheotherhand,ifyouacceptthatthesheerweightoftheevidencetendstoconfirmthat'therearemorethingsinheavenandearth'thanBertrandRusselleversuspected,thenallthesecaseswillbeseenaspartofadiscerniblepattern,andMrsBeattie'sclaimsfitintothispattern.

OnthesecondoccasionMrsBeattiecametostaywithus,Iaskedherhowshe'dslept.Shesaidshehadn'tsleptmuch,becauseshe'dhadtospendthenighthelpingsomeoneinSheffield.Ipressedforfurtherdetails.Shesaidshehadbeen'summoned'toSheffield,tohelpsomeoneshehadnevermet;thewomanwasthinkingofkillingherself.MrsBeattie'staskwastosootheherbystandingbesideherandpouringreassuringthoughtsintoherhead.Theguidingoftheastralbody,shesaid,wasachievedbyakindofimaginativewilling—astatementthatagreeswithmostwriterswhohavedescribedastralprojection.

MrsBeattiesobservationsstruckmeasrathermoreinterestingthan

mostoftheaccountscontainedinMuldoonandCarrington—whicharesimplystraightforwarddescriptionsofout-of-the-bodyexperiences.Sheisverymuchpreoccupiedwiththeevolutionaryaspectofthewholeexperience.Ihadhopedtofindaconsecutiveaccountofher'cosmology'inthemanuscripts;buttheymovedfromsubjecttosubject.Buthereisabriefoutlinesketch,compiledfromthemanuscripts,andfromheranswersontape:

Humanbeingshavethreebodies:thephysicalbody,theenergybodyandtheastral(orsoul-)body.Allourmemoriesareassociatedwiththeenergybody.Afterdeath,theastralbodyisfreed;theenergybodyremainsinastateofquiescenceorunconsciousnessforthreedays.Theenergybodyisjoinedtothephysicalbodyatthenavel,andhasitsrootintheliver.ThisbodyisalsocalledtheKa,theEgyptianwordforit.TheKaremainswiththephysicalbodytokeepitalivewhentheastralbodytravels.Afterdeath,theKagraduallydisintegratesasthephysicalbodydecomposes;itsmemoriesaretransferredtotheastralbodyatdeath.Incasesofviolentdeath,theastralbodyfindsitselfinagrey,mistyplaceandfeelsconfusedandlost.MrsBeattiehasalsohelpedto'guide'theselostsoulsoutofthislimbostate.'Ghosts'arenotlostsouls,butfragmentsoftheenergybodywhichhavenotdisintegrated.Thishappensincasesofviolentdeath,whenthememoryhasnothadtimetobetransferredtothesoul-body.

Theastralbodyhasawarenessofthe'subconscious'mind.Ashumanbeingsachieveextensionofconsciousness,theyalsoachieveacloserrelationtothesubconsciousmind.Atahigherlevelstill,theastralbodyisincontactwiththewholeracememory,whichcanbecomeavailabletoit.Interestinglyenough,MrsBeattiesaysthatshedisbelievesinreincarnation.Peoplewhothinktheyhaveglimpsedthemselvesinpreviousexistencesareactuallycontactingfragmentsoftheracememory.ThisisapointonwhichsheisinflatdisagreementwithArthurGuirdham,thesubjectofmynextchapter.Butitisonlyfairtosaythatspiritualistsingeneraldisagreeaboutthissubject.IaskedProfessorWilsonKnightif,nexttimeheattendedaseance,hewouldaskaboutreincarnation.Heobligedme,andtoldmelaterthatthereseemedtobenogeneralagreement.Reincarnationprobablydidoccur,butitwastheexceptionratherthantherule.

WhenMrsBeattiewasinourhouse,shepickedupabookcalledAWorldBeyondbyRuthMontgomery,purportingtobeadescriptionoftheafter-life,transmittedtoRuthMontgomeryfromthemediumArthurFord,afterhisdeath.MrsBeattieopeneditatapagedealingwithracememory,andshowedittome,saying'Look,that'sexactlywhatIwassayingearlier.'Itwas;butonotherpoints,thereisconsiderabledisagreementbetweenMrsBeattie's'worldbeyond'andRuthMontgomery's.RuthMontgomerystatesthatreincarnationisdefinitelytherule,andthatitisthemeansbywhichmenworkout'evilkarma'(althoughshedoesn'tusethisphrase).Forexample,aphilanthropistwhohadanappallingdisfigurementononesideofhisfacehadkilledachildinapreviousexistencebystrikingitwithgreatviolenceinthesameplace...

Afterdeath,thesoulfeelsasifitistravellingdownalongtunnel,andthenemergesintoaregionthatisverymuchlikethisphysicalworld.Inasense,theyarestillexactlythesamepersontheywerewhenalive;'theydon'tbecomespiritualjustbecausethey'vedied'.Evilsoulsmayfallintoakindoflimbo,anouterdarkness.(RuthMontgomeryexplainsthatHitlerhasfallenintothisstate,butthathepropelledhimselfintoit.Theparanoidself-assertioncontinuedinthe'worldbeyond',butproducednoeffect,exceptincreasingfrustrationandfuryinHitler—producingafragmentedmentalstatelikeinsanity...)

Fromthe'ordinary'(or'earthly')level,soulsmayevolvetoalevelinwhichtheybecomeinvolvedinusefulwork(the'guardians'?).Beyondthis,therearetwohigherlevels.Allchildren—soulsofthosewhohavediedyoung—congregateatthethirdlevel.Thefourthlevelis'purelycreative'.Ifoundthisslightlybaffling—afterall,creativitycanexistonanylevel—butMrsBeattieexplainedthatthesefourlevelsalsoexistinthemindsoflivingpeople,i.e.wecanevolvethroughtheselevelswhilestillalive,andthelevelwehavereacheddeterminesourplaceinthe'worldbeyond'.

Atthispoint,MrsBeattiemadesomecommentsthatIdidnotfullyunderstand.'We'vegottogrow,tobalancethenegative,unconsciousforces.We'vegottohavethreeextensionsofconsciousnessinourconsciousmindstobalancethethreelevelsofunconsciousforces.'Sheconceivesthesubconsciousasnegative.(Elsewhereinthemanuscripts,

thereisaninterestingtablelabeled'Humanpolarization',whichdeclaresthatinman,thephysicalbodyispositive,andinwoman,negative.Theenergybodyinmanisnegative,andinwoman,positive.Thesoulorastralbodyinmanispositive,inwoman,negative;andmaleconsciousnessisnegative,whileinwoman,consciousnessispositive.This,shesays,iswhymanandwomanharmonize,complementingeachother.)WhenIaskedhertoexplainthethreenegativeforcesoftheunconsciousmorefully,shereferredmetothemanuscripts;butIhavenotbeenabletofindanything.

ButitseemstomethattheessenceofMrsBeattie'sideasiscontainedinaphrasesheusedwhenIaskedherwhysome'spiritual'peoplearecompletelynon-psychic.'Wemakeaninwardjourney,tofindthetruthofourownbeing.Yougothroughtheemotionalsoullevel,andinsodoing,youbecomeawareofthepsychiclevel.'

Alotofwhatshesayspuzzlesme,orsimplyringsnobellsatall.Butthisphraseseemedtometobeofcentralimportance:theinwardjourney.Shesaysseveraltimesinthemanuscriptthatmostpeopleliveonapurelyphysicallevel,unawarethatthisisonlyanimitationofreallife.Inherteens—perhapsearlier—shelearnedthetrickof'cavoseniargising',makingtheinwardjourney,focusingtheinner-mind.

Anybodycandothis.EdMorrelldiditbyfocusingonpain.Ihaveheardofcasesinwhichasimilaractoffocusingcouldbringacertainrelease.InAmerica,Imetayoungcollegeteacherwhosaidhecouldinducesuddenintenseexperiencesofjoy,andthathehadlearnedthistrickasaboy,whenhehadtositstillinchurch.Oneday,whenhehadbeenfidgeting,hismothertoldhimhewouldbepunishedifhedidn'tstopit.Thenhebegantoitch—Ithinkhesaiditwasinthesmallofhisback—andexperiencedanoverwhelmingdesiretoscratchit,whichhehadtoresist.Theitchbecameunbearable—then,asheconcentratedonit,wassuddenlyreplacedbyanintense'peakexperience'.

Itisnotnecessarytofocusonpain.IfIsettledowntoreadabookthatIhavebeentryingtoobtainforalongtime,ortolistentosomemusicthatIreallywanttohear,Irelaxcompletely,andpreparetodevotemyfullestattentiontotheactoffocusing;anditisthisthatleadstostatesofabsorptionthatresemblethemystic'scontemplation.Suchanactofconcentrationononethingalsorefreshesus;nomatterhowweary

Ifeel,ifIbecomedeeplyinterestedinsomething,myenergiesslowlyreturn.Irecall,attheageoffifteenorso,cyclingnearlyfiftymilestoMatlockBath,inDerbyshire,andarrivingtherewornout.IfeltthatallIwantedtodowastoliedownandsleep;instead,wepaidourshillingsandwentonaguidedtourofthedeepcavesthatrunbelowthelimestonehills.Itinvolvedagreatdealofwalkingandscrambling;yetwecameoutasrelaxedandrefreshedasifwe'dhadagoodnight'ssleep.Theproperuseofourenergiesdependsonthispowertodirectthem—orrather,directtheattention—tonewregionsofthemind.Thisistheway'mentalvoyages'aremade;thisisthewayinwhichweexploreourhiddenpowers.Thisisthereasonpeopleseekpleasure—becausepleasurehasthepowertodirectthemindinasingledirection.Andsucha'focusing'is,literally,avoyage.Afterashorttime,wefindourselvesinnewmentalrealms,justasifwewereexploringaroad,andwhenwelookback,wehaveanoddsenseofbeingfarfromhome—oratleast,fromthestartingpoint.

Forme,whatisimportantaboutMrsBeattieisnotherclaimtobeabletoprojecttheastralbody,orherdescriptionsoftheafter-life.Iamunabletojudgethese,nothavinganybasisofpersonalexperiencetogoon.Butitseemsdeartomethattheratherodd,introspectivegirlwhowasbroughtuponaWelshfarm,developedthesamepowerthatallartistsandpoetspossess:thepowertomake'inwardjourneys'...andperhapsdevelopedittoagreaterextentthanmost.Anartistmightregardherasanartistmanque,butitseemstomethatshewouldhaveasmuchrighttoregardtheartistasa'psychicmanque".Bothbelongtothegroupof'inwardvoyagers'.MrsBeattieisnotaphilosopher;butthecentralideathatemergesfromherworkisthebasisofmodernexistentialistphilosophy:Kirkegaard'srecognitionthat'truthissubjectivity'.But,expressedinthisway,wefailtograspitssignificance.Whatwearetalkingaboutisarealpowerthatispossessedbyhumanbeings:thepowertoevolvebyaprocessof'innervoyage'.

Sheherselfhasaratherskepticalattitudetowardsagreatdealofwhatshehaswritten,andisobviouslynotsurehowmuchofitcomesfromherownmind,andhowmuchfrom'outside'.Shewritesinhernotes:'ThethingsIhavewrittenfromtimetotime,whenthemoodwasonme,seemtomenottypicalofme.Someistoodonnish,otherpiecesaretoo

sentimental.(Itallhasareligiousbackground,whichis,ofcourse,me.)ButIrathersuspecttheothermaterial,whichiswhyIdon'tknowwhattodowithit.It'sallbrokenup...'

Thismaybetrue,butitdoesnotmatter.Whatissignificantaboutheristhatshehaslearnedthetrickofmaking'innervoyages'withouttheaidofawater-tankorpsychedelicdrugs,andshedemonstratesthatitcanbedone.Ithinkthatsheisrighttobelievethatshehastakenastepalongtheroadthatleadstothenextphaseofhumanevolution.

Three

DrArthurGuirdhamIhadjustcompletedTheOccult—sometimearoundAugust1970—

whenIsawareviewofabookcalledTheCatharsandReincarnationbyArthurGuirdham.Itwasashortreview,butitsaidthatitwasprobablythebestauthenticatedcaseofreincarnationonrecord.SoIhastenedtobuythebook,whichwaspublishedbySpearman—afirmthatseemedtohavesucceededRiderasEngland'schief'occult'publishers.

Thebookarrivedinmid-September.Ithadasub-title:'Therecordofapastlifein13thcenturyFrance'.Isettleddowntoreadit;fromtheblurb,itsoundedfascinating.

Myfirstimpressionwasofdisappointment.Itbeganbystatingthatoneofthewriter'spatients—hewasadoctor—hadwrittendownallkindsofdetailsabouttheCathars,ahereticalsectofthetwelfthandthirteenthcenturies,andthatatthetimeshewrote,mostofthesedetailswereunknowntoscholars.Sincethattime—twenty-sixyearsago—manyofthesedetailshavebeenverified,saidDrGuirdham.

Hecertainlyhadmyattention.Infact,itseemedfairlycleartomethathehadthematerialofabest-seller.Allhehadtodowastotellhisstorysimply,inchronologicalsequence.

Unfortunately,thiswaspreciselywhathedidn'tdo.Hisstylewasclearenough,buthegotinvolvedinallkindsofminordetailsabouttheCatharsandthirteenth-centuryFranceuntilIwascompletelyboggeddown.Whatitneededwastotellthereader,inwordsofonesyllable,exactlywhotheCatharswere,andtheirhistoryuptothetimeoftheirdestructionbytheInquisition.Andthen,stepbystep,totellthestoryofhispatient,whomhecallsMrsSmith,andshowhowitcorrespondedindetailwithwhatisknownoftheCatharsinLanguedocinthemiddleofthethirteenthcentury—particularlyofthemurderofthetwoInquisitorsatAvignonetin1242,whichledtothegreatpersecutionofCathars,culminatinginthemassacreofMontsegur.

Ontheotherhand,theveryfactthathehadn'ttriedtoturnthebookintoanotherSearchforBrideyMurphywasevidenceforthegenuinenessofthebook.Igottheimpressionthat,asadoctor,hewasslightly

embarrassedbythesensationalnatureofthematerialhewaspresenting,andwasanxioustopresentitassoberlyaspossible.

ThestorypresentedinTheCatharsandReincarnationis,briefly,asfollows:

Throughouthisadultlife,ArthurGuirdhamhasfeltastrongattractiontothehereticalsectknownastheCathars,or'pureones'.TheirbasicdoctrinewassimilartothatoftheManicheesandtheGnostics:thatthisworldisthedomainofSatan,andthathumanbeingsarethespiritsofangelswhorevoltedagainstGod,andwhohavebeencondemnedtospendalifetimeimprisonedinthebody.Thisworldishell,createdbythedevil.Aman'sonlychanceofredemptionistobecomeunitedwithChristinthislife,tobecomecompletelypure.

TheCatholicChurchhasalwaysbeeninclinedtocondemnthistypeofdoctrine;tobeginwith,theBiblesaysthatGodlookedattheworldandsawthatitwasgood.Second,themajorityofclerics,fromprieststopopes,havebeenordinaryhumanbeings,lackinginfanaticism;theSavonarolasandCorneliusJansensstrikethemasslightlynutty.Ontheotherhand,intensenatureslongtoevolveatafasterratethantheChurchmakesprovisionfor,andthishasbeenthesourceofalltheChurch'stroubles,fromChrysostomtoLuther.The'purists',thefanatics,areanuisanceandamenace.Puristdoctrinesalwaysmadetheirstrongestappealintimesofuniversalhardshipandsuffering;andatthetimeofthesecondCrusade,therewasplentyofhardshipandsufferinginEurope.

Troublebeganafter1174,whenStBernardpreachedagainsttheCatharsinToulouse,whichwasvirtuallytheircapitalcity;CountRaymondofToulousewasaCathar.In1205,amonkcalledDominicGuzman—laterSaintDominic—beganhisownpersonalcrusadeagainsttheCathars,wanderingaroundbarefootandpreachingagainstthem.Hisfollowers—theDominicans—werelatergiventhejobofrootingoutCatharism,andbecameknownastheInquisition.In1204,thepopeaskedthekingofFrancetodeposeCountRaymondandplaceagoodCatholicinhisposition.In1208,oneofRaymond'ssquiresretaliatedbyassassinatingthepapallegate;thepopewassofuriousthathecouldn'tspeakfortwodays.Andthefirst'crusade'againsttheCatharsbeganin1209.TwentythousandpeopleweremassacredatBeziers.SimondeMontfort(senior—fatherofthefounderofEnglishdemocracy)wasa

particularlyviolentpersecutor.HeplunderedToulousein1215.Theslaughterandpersecutionwenton,withToulousechanginghands,forthenextthirtyyears.Butthebeginningoftheendhappenedin1242,whenthetwoInquisitorswerebetrayedbytheirhost,andmurdered.In1243,theCatharswerebesiegedatMontsegur;theyheldoutfortenmonths;whentheyfinallysurrendered,twohundredwhorefusedtorenouncetheirfaithwereburntaliveinonehugepyre.

AllthisisnecessarytounderstandArthurGuirdham'sbook—andArthurGuirdham.ForhereachedtheconclusionthathisobsessiveinterestinCatharism,andintheMontsegurarea,wasduetothefactthathehadbeenaCathar'priest'namedRogerdeGrisollesduringthisfinalperiodofpersecution.

Hereachedthisconclusioninaratheroddway.Throughouthislife,hehadhadnightmaresinwhichhewasasleepinaroomwhenatallmanapproachedhim;sometimeshewouldwakeupscreaming.InMarch1962,hesawapatientwhohadbeensufferingfromaverysimilarnightmare:MrsSmith.Hershrieksweresoloudthatherhusbandwasafraidshewouldwakeupthestreet.ThedoctorwhohadreferredhertoArthurGuirdhamhadatonetimewonderedifshewasepileptic.Infact,MrsSmith'snightmaresceasedwhenshemetGuirdham.(Hisnightmaresceasedatroughlythesametime.)Shedidn'ttellhimthis,forshewantedtocontinueashispatent—foraratheroddreason.Shehadrecognizedhimasamansheknewwellfromherdreams.

MrsSmithhesitatedforsometimebeforeshefinallytoldGuirdhamherfullstory.Whatemerged,finally,wasthis.Asachildshehadpossessedaremarkablememory;duringanexamshewasabletowriteoutpageafterpageofWordsworth,sothatshewasaccusedofcheating.Attheageofelevenshebecameunconsciouswithasevereheadache;whenshewokeup,shehadadegreeofsecondsight;sheknewwhenherfatherwoulddie;sheknewthatafriend'smarriagewouldnottakeplace;sheknewwhatwasinlettersbeforeopeningthem.Duringherteens,shehadthreemoreattacksofunconsciousness—whichwerediagnosedasepilepticfits;thenshebegantohavethecurious,detaileddreamsofherpreviouslifeinthethirteenthcentury.Shewasagirlofhumblebackgroundwholivedwithherfamilyinasingle-roomhousenearToulouse.

Onenight,amanhadarrivedatthehouse,andaskedforshelter.ThiswastheCathar'priest',RogerdeGrisolles(orRoger-Isarn).Theyounggirl—MrsSmith—fellinlovewithhim.(Oddlyenough,thedreamsdidnotincludeherrealname—GuirdhamcallsherPuerilia)Shecreptovertohiminthenightandkissedhishand.Thetwobecamefriendly.Oneday,herfatherbeather,andshelefthomeandwenttoRoger'shouse,whereshebecamehismistress.(Rogerwasnotafullyfledgedpriest,ora'parfait'—Catharswhohadforeswornsex.)

Then,inMrsSmith'sdreams,therewasamurder.Amancamebackfromthemurder,boastingaboutit;hisnamewasPierredeMazerolles.Later,Rogerwasarrested,anddiedinprison.MrsSmith—orratherPuerilia—wasburnedatthestake.Shealsodreamedofthisburning—ingruesomedetail,withherblooddrippingintotheflames,andhereyelidsburntoff.

AllkindsofnamesoccurredinMrsSmith'sdreams.Nowtherearestillrecordsextantoftheperiod—ofthetrialsofCathars,andsoon.SoArthurGuirdham'staskwastostudytherecords,andseeifMrsSmith'sdreamsmadesense.HequicklydiscoveredthatPierredeMazerolleswasoneofthemeninvolvedinthemurderofthetwoInquisitors.HewasabletoidentifyRoger,andhisparentsandothermembersofthefamily.MrsSmith'sstorydefinitelyheldtogether.Notonlythat,buthernotes,writtensomanyyearsearlier,containedmaterialabouttheCatharsthatwasnotknowntoscholarsatthetime,andhasonlysincethenbeenconfirmed.

Altogether,IfoundTheCatharsandReincarnationapuzzling,difficultbook.Notlongafterbuyingit,IrealizedthatIhadacouplemorebooksbyArthurGuirdhamonmyshelves:ATheoryofDiseaseandTheNatureofHealing.IhadboughtthematthetimeIhadbeenwritingmystudyofRasputinandthefalloftheRomanovs—IhadaskedProfessorWilsonKnight'sadviceonbooksaboutthaumaturgichealing,andhehadrecommendedtheseandacouplebyHarryEdwards.Atthetime,theyhadfailedtostrikeachord,andIhadforgottenIhadthem.NowIopenedATheoryofDisease(1957)again,IrecalledwhathaddissatisfiedmeatthetimeIreadit.Itholdstheratherunusualthesisthatdiseaseisoftenduetothedegreetowhichapersonispreoccupiedwithhisownpersonality.Shaw'sSaintJoanremarks,'Thinkingaboutyourself

islikethinkingaboutyourstomach—it'sthequickestwaytomakeyourselfsick.'SoIcouldunderstandhisbasicthesis—therelationofdiseasetoself-awareness.Atthesametime,accordingtothisthesis,'outsiders'oughttobefarmoresubjecttodiseasethanmostpeople.Andwhileitistruethatalargenumberofartistsandpoetsofthenineteenthcenturydiedoftuberculosis,Icouldn'tseeotherwisethatoutsidersaremorediseasepronethantheaverage;onthecontrary,they'reoftenlessso.IthoughtoftheoccasionwhenStrindbergdeterminedtocommitsuicidebygettingpneumonia,soheflunghimselfintoicywater,thenclimbedatalltree,andcrouchedinthecoldwindallnight.Inthemorning,hestaggeredoffandfoundabed,expectingtowakeupdying;insteadhewokeupfeelinginthebestofhealth.

ButnowIre-readthebook,Irealizedthatthisargumentdoesn'taffectitsthesis.Thewholepointabout'outsiders'isthat,inspiteoffeelingisolatedfromsociety,andperhapsfromlifeitself,theyoftenpossessremarkabledepthsoftoughness.Havinggotoverthatmisunderstanding,IfoundATheoryofDiseasearemarkablebook.(Istillthinkitisinmanywayshisbest.)Whenitcameoutin1957,itmusthavebeenregardedasextremelyunorthodox,eventhoughmanypsychologistsrecognizedthementaloriginofmanyphysicaldiseases.Buttherewasatendencytoblamediseaseonsexualrepressions.NowGuirdhammakesthecontroversialstatementthatapartfromthe'personality',withitsself-obsession,thereisalayerofourbeingthatcouldbecalled'theYouthatisNotYou'.(Ihadonceexpressedthisbysayingthatmanpossessesapersonality,whichisorientedtowardsself-satisfaction,andanimpersonality,whichcangetapureandimpersonaldelightoutofmathematicsorasunset.)Healthmaydependoncontactwiththislayer.Thementallyillpatientoftensays:'Icannotgetawayfrommyself.Ithinkonlyofmyself'Itwouldbebetter...ifthedoctorwereabletoinstructthepatientinsomemeditativeandspiritualtechniquewherebyhecouldlimittheoperationsofhispersonalitybymerginghimselfwiththeabsolute...ModernmedicinehaditsbeginningsintheGreektemples.Itmayhavetoreturntothetempleforitssalvation...'Butwhatmakesthebooksofascinatingistheauthor'sanalysisof'varioustypesofdiseases',andofthewaytheserelatetovariouslevelsofthepersonality.Mostbooksthatrelatehealingtothe

'spiritual'areratherairy-fairyandunrealistic;Guirdham'sbookhasastrongflavorofreality.

TheNatureofHealing,publishedsevenyearsafterATheoryofDisease,goesagreatdealfurther—whichisobviouslywhyWilsonKnighthadrecommendedittome.Heisconcernedwiththegiftofhealing,suchaswaspossessedbyRasputin;youmightsaythatheisinthefieldofChristianScience.Hehasobviouslyreachedawatershed,andIcouldeasilytracetheroutebywhichhearrivedatit.Everybodymusthavenoticedthewaythatcertainpeoplearetotallypreoccupiedwiththemselves,inafeverish,unhealthyway,andthatsuchpeopleseemunabletodrawupontheirfullpowers;theyseemtobecutofffromtheirinnerresources;whereaspeoplewhoexudecalmandserenity—andhealth—areoftencuriouslyun-egoistic.Infact,theyoftenpossessthepowertoheal.(ThinkofMatthewArnold'slineaboutWordsworth'shealingpower—connectedwithhisawarenessof'unknownmodesofbeing',ofthingsoutsidehimself.)InATheoryofDisease,Guirdhamispreoccupiedwithworkingouttheimplicationsoftheseobservations.InTheNatureofHealing,hegoesontoconsiderthewaythatnegro'medicinemen'cancausedeathbylayingacurseonsomeone,andhowaboriginesmaywiltawayanddiebecausesomeonehas'pointedthebone'atthem.Anypsychologistwouldacceptthis,andwouldsaythatitispurelypsychological.Butifthisisso,thenhowfarisalldiseasepurelypsychological?Andifweacceptthatpurelypsychologicalforcesareinvolvedindisease,canwediscountthepossibilityofsuchforcesbeing'projected'byamedicinemaninordertocausedisease?Isitnotpossiblethatsuchforcesareasreal,ifasinvisible,asgerms?

InTheNatureofHealing,Guirdhamalsotouchesonreincarnation;describinganursewithunusualhealingpowers,hecommentsthatsheknewthelayoutofHamptonCourtlongbeforeshewentthere,sothatvisitingitwaslikegoinghome;shewasconvincedthatshehadhadsomeintenseexperienceofhappinessinthegardenatHamptonCourtin1660.'SheknewtheLondonofCharlestheSecondbetterthanthatoftoday,'andasachild,shemadedrawingsofNormanarchitecture,withthesameoddsenseoffamiliarity.Guirdhamads:'Iamconvincedthatthepowerofhealingwhichsheundoubtedlypossessedinvolvesthecapacitytodisperseoneselfthroughtime.'

ThesetwobooksmadeitcleartomethatGuirdhamwasnotacrank—orperhapsjustgiventowishfulthinking.Thereisafeelingofclarity,balance,fair-mindedness,aboutthem.Hehadobviouslycomealongway,andcomeveryslowly;hementionsthatinthepasthehadbeencompletelyskepticalaboutthepossibilityof'healing'exceptbypurelyphysical(ornatural)forces.AtaboutthetimeIwasreadingthesebooks,anoldfriend,TomGreenwell,cametostaywithus;heworksontheYorkshirePost,andhebroughtwithhimapamphletcalledCatharism:TheMediaevalResurgenceofPrimitiveChristianity,byArthurGuirdham.This,Ifelt,wasbeginningtolookmorelikesynchronicitythancoincidence.TheCatharsandReincarnationbeginsbydescribinghowGuirdhamkeptstumblinguponreferencestoCatharismallovertheplace.Oneday,hewasdiscussingavillage,andtriedtorecallthenameofitspub;laterthesameday,hetookabookonthePyreneesoutofthepubliclibrary—andcameacrossthenameofthevillageanditspubinit.IfeltthatthepamphletontheCathars—andthefactthatTomGreenwellhadmetGuirdhamatthetimewhenhewascontributingmedicalarticlestotheYorkshirePost—dearlyindicatedthatIoughttowritetohim.Ididso,sayinghowmuchIhadenjoyedthebook,butthatIfelthehaddeliberatelythrownawaythepossibilityofabest-seller.Afewdayslater,Igotafriendlyletterback,inwhichhesaidthathehaddeliberatelyplayeddownthesensationalelements—whichiswhatIhadsuspected.

IwroteasectionabouthiminTheOccult,aswellasanarticleforthebackpageofMan,MythandMagic.Bythattime,wehadfinallymet.Inthespringof1971,hedrovedowntothewestcountrytovisitrelatives,andcametostayovernight.Thefinalparagraphofmyarticleonhimread:'Earlierthisyear,hecamedowntostaywithus.Mymentalpictureofhimhadvariedbetweentheimageofakeen-eyedpsychiatrist,andofanabsent-mindedmystic.Hewasneitherofthesethings:agentle,intelligentmanwiththenaturalkindnessthatallgooddoctorshave.Throughoutthefirstevening,whilewetalkedmostlyaboutpsychology,IfeltthattherewasanelementabouthimthatIcouldnotplace.Lateron,itcametome:therewassomethingpriestlyabouthim,somethingakintoFatherBrown,oroneofthosemediaevalpriorsdescribedbyRabelais.'

This,Ithink,isafairlygooddescription.Heiswhitehaired,rather

squarelybuilt—hepointsoutinthehealingbookthatmanyhealersare—withacalm,rathersoothingvoice.Heremindedmeofanotheroldmedicalfriend,KennethWalker,whohadbeenapupilofGurdjieffs.HehadhiswifeMarywithhim,andshestruckmeasanidealsortofpersonforadoctor'swife:calm,goodtempered,practicalandthoroughlyefficient.SheandJoyseemedtohaveacertainamountincommon;writers,likedoctors,tendtobecomeobjectsoffixationforpeoplewhoimaginetheyholdthesolutiontoalltheirproblems.Theirwiveshavetolearntoputupwiththis,andtoadoptaphilosophicalattitude,particularlytofemaleadmirers;youcanreadintheireyesakindofmild,patientirony.Inaway,MaryGuirdhamconvincedmemorethanherhusbandthatArthurGuirdhamwasn'tover-credulousorover-inventive.ShestruckmeassobalancedandintelligentthatIcouldn'tbelieveshewouldaidandabetanykindofself-deception.

Wetalked,asIhavesaid,mainlyaboutpsychology.IwaswritingNewPathwaysinPsychology,andIwasstruckbythesimilarityofMaslow'sviewsandArthurGuirdham's.TranslatedintoMaslow'slanguage,youcouldsaythatArthurGuirdhambelievedthatdiseasewasduetoblockageofcreativeenergies—thatis,blockageofself-actualization.Butthen,inaway,GuirdhamwentfurtherthanMaslow.WhenMaslowdied,hewaslookingintothisquestionofthevarietiesofself-actualization—whatRobertLeftwichmightcallthestructureofthesuperconscious.Maslowwasconcernedonlywithlearningtoexpresscreativeenergy:i.e.toevolve.ArthurGuirdhamseemedtobeimplyingthatevolutionofconsciousnessmayinvolveusintherealmof'strangepowers'.Allthesame,itwasnotthe'strangepowers'wetalkedaboutthatevening,butthepsychotherapyofmenlikeMaslowandViktorFrankl.IwasparticularlyfascinatedbyastorytoldbyRobertArdreyabouttwoscientists,RubinsteinandBest,whohaddiscoveredthatplanarionwormsaresubjecttoboredomand'lifefailure'ifmadetorepeatataskoverandoveragain.Butbymakingthetasksodifficultthatthewormshavetomakeanenormousefforttolearnit,theywereabletomakethewormsrepeatithundredsoftimeswithoutboredom.Somehow,thewormscametoattachmeaningtothetaskwhentheyhadtoreallysummontheirvitalitytolearnit,andthismeaningstayedpermanently,un-erodedbyrepetition.Clearly,thequestionofdiseaseandhealthis

closelyconnectedwiththequestionofmeaningandboredom.Diseaseisbasicallytheoutcomeoflife-failure.

Arthurdisclaimedanyhealingpowersofhisown,andany'psychic'ability.Hewas,hesaid,justacatalyst,thesortofpersonwhoseemstobringout'strangepowers'inotherpeople.Buthecertainlypossessesadegreeofnatural,ifnotsupernatural,healingpower.Ihaddevelopedaratheroddpainatthebackofmyskull.Therewasaslightacheinthemusclesoftherightrear-sideofmyneck,andasharppainatthebackoftheheadinmomentsofexcitement,suchassexualorgasm.Arthurstoodbehindmychair,andgentlymassagedthemusclesoftheneckandshouldersforafewminutes;afterthis,thestiffnessvanished,andstayedawayforaboutaweek.Therewasadefinitelysoothingfeelingashepressedthemuscles.

Myten-year-olddaughtertookanimmediateandwarmlikingtohim—somuchsothatsheaskedhimifhewouldmindbeinghergodfather.She'dbeenlookingoutforagodfatherforsometime,eversincewe'dcalledonthegodfatherofherbrotherDamon—theBlakescholarFosterDamon—atAnnisquam,Mass.Arthurseemedagreeable;heisnowSally'sgodfather...

TheonlyotherthingIrecollectabouthistwo-dayvisitisthathetalkedagreatdealaboutthesouthofFrance,andplaceshe'dvisited;healsoproducedsomebottlesofanoddsweetchampagnefromtheLanguedoc.Idon'tparticularlyliketravel,andtraveler'stalesusuallyboreme;buttherewassomethingabouthisdescriptionofsmallFrenchvillagesintheMidi—theheatandthelazinessandthelocalwines—thatfascinatedme.Itwasobviousthathelovedthearea—that,inaway,hewasobsessedbyit.

Laterintheyear,IvisitedtheGuirdhamsattheirhomenearBath—weweredrivingbackfromthenorthofEngland.Wewereonlystayingovernight,sotherewasn'ttimeforagreatdealoftalk;buthetoldmethathewasworkingonanevenmoreremarkablestorythanthatofMrsSmith—arecordofawholegroupofreincarnations.Heletmeseesomeofthemanuscript.AsIreadthefirstpage,Ibegantofeel—no,notexcited;thatwouldbethewrongword;akindofsatisfaction,aswhensomethingturnsoutverymuchtoyourliking.Thismanuscript—whichIhavewithmenowasIwrite—wasclearerandmorestraightforwardthan

theearlierbookonreincarnation.Anditraisedandansweredmostofthequestions—anddoubts—thathadoccurredtomeasIreadtheearlierbook.Hesaysonthefirstpage:

'Iamnaturallyofaskepticalandcautiousnature,andamknowninmyfamilyasDoubtingThomas.IamastonishedthatthephenomenaIhaveencounteredhavebeenrevealedtomeofallpeople.Ihaveoccupiedmyselfindiscoveringthesignificanceofnamesandmessagesproducedindreams,visions,instatesofclairaudienceanddictatedbydiscarnateentities.BecauseoftheunusualoriginofmydataIhavetostressallthemorecarefullythatIwasforfortyyearsarun-of-the-millpsychiatrist.IntheNationalHealthServiceIwastheSeniorConsultantinmyclinicalarea.Iholdascientificdegree,aswellasbeingadoctorofmedicine.ItisallthemorenecessarytomakethesepointssinceIclaimthatthis,myownstory,is,ofitskind,themostremarkableIhaveencountered.'

Andinthefirstchapter,hemakesanobservationthatarousedmyinterest:thatmostofthecasesofreincarnationhehascomeacrosswereratherhealthy,activepeoplewith'morethanaverageenergy';not,asyoumightexpect,'sicksensitives'.ThisiscertainlywhatIwouldhavepredicted,onthebasisofthepsychologyIhavedevelopedinNewPathways.Knowledgeofpreviousexistencesiscertainlynotnecessarytooureverydaysurvival;allweneedisanarrow,commonplaceconsciousness.Flashesofthiskindofknowledgewouldonlycome,like'peakexperiences',toveryhealthypeople,withenergytospare.

IwasalsointriguedbysomethinghesaysaboutMissMills,anacquaintancewhoaskedhimonedaywhetherthewords'Raymond'and'Albigensians'meantanythingtohim.(Theykeptrecurringinherhead.)MissMillsmentionedchildhooddreams—followinganillness—ofrunningawayfromacastle,andofbeingledtowardsastakewithheapedfaggots.Shecommentedthat,asachild,therestofthefamilyhadenjoyedthespectacleofabuildingonfire,whileshehadbeenhysterical.Irecallsimilarfeelingsinmyownchildhood.Therewasaweeklyserialonatthelocalcinema,withacharactercalledtheEagle—aLoneRangertypewhoalwaysfoundhimselfinsomedangeroussituationattheendofeveryepisode.Butoneday,hewastrappedinaburningchurch;andIwassohorrifiedthatIcouldn'tbeartoeverwatchhimagain.Notlong

afterTheOccultcameout,afriendaskedmeifhecouldbringsomeonealongtomeetme,awomanwhorananursinghomeinCornwall,andwhowasinterestedinoccultmatters.Wespentaninterestingeveningtalkingaboutallkindsofthings;butatonepoint,shesuddenlytoldmethatshewascertainIhadbeenamonkinapreviousexistence,andhadbeenburnedtodeath...

Inmanyrespects,ArthurGuirdham'saccountofhisexperienceswithMissMillsparallelsthatofhisexperienceswithMrsSmith.MissMillswouldwakeupinthenightwithnamesinherhead—nameslikeMontserver,Braida,Cisilia;thesehewasabletoidentify,throughhisknowledgeofthesiegeofMontsegurandtheburningofthehereticstwodaysafteritssurrender.Afterawhile,shewouldfindnoteswrittenonanotepadshekeptbyherbed,scrawledinahandresemblingherown.Onesaid:'RaymonddePerella.Sun—No.Treasure—No.Books—Yes.'ArthurGuirdhaminterpretedthisasareferencetoquestionsaboutMontsegur.IthadbeensuggestedthatMontsegurhadbeenthesiteofasun-worshiptemple;MissMills's'instructor'wasapparentlydenyingthis.AstothetreasureofMontsegur,thisisanotherquestiondebatedbyhistorians.Four'parfaits'(thehighestCathargrade)wereloweredfromthewallsofthecitadeljustbeforeitssurrender,carryingunspecified'treasure'.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthiswasmoney,oreventheHolyGrail.MissMills'sinstructorwasassertingthatthe'treasure'consistedofCatharsacredbooks.

Inhiseighthchapter,Guirdhamhasaninterestingandimportantdiscussionofabasicdoctrinalpoint:reincarnation.HecommentsthatmanyofthebiblicalquotationsdictatedtoMissMillswerefromStPaul—which,hesays,isnaturalenough,sinceStPaulisthe'supremeinterpreterofChristianityfromtheoccultpointofview'—anobservationthathadcertainlyneveroccurredtome.Paullaysemphasisonthedifferencebetweenthecorporealbodyandthespiritualbody.Guirdhamsays:'Hisoutlooktiedupdirectlywithmodernconceptionsofethericandastralbodiesandthelike.OrthodoxChristiansmayjibattheideathatearlyChristianitywascharacterizedbypsychiccommunicationandspiritistphenomena.WhatwastoberevealedlatertoMissMillsindicatedclearlythatprimitiveChristianitywasofthisnature.'HegoesontostatethattheversefromCorinthiansI(Chapter15,verse45)'...the

firstAdamwasmadealivingsoul,thelastAdamwasmadeaquickeningspirit'isspecificallyCathar,althoughorthodoxChristianstendtoacceptitwithoutreallyaskingwhatitmeans.'ThisparticularverseimpliesthatalivingsoulisinmanfromtheBeginning...Manisbornwithhisfullpsychiccomplement.Thisisanessentialfeatureofthedoctrineofreincarnation.Afterdeath,thepsychedoesnotpassintoanysuchstateofcosmicsomnolenceasisrepresentedbylimbo.Itembarksonaprocessofreincarnation.'ThelastAdamwasmadeaquickeningspirit'referstoourultimatedevelopmentinbeingemancipatedfrommatter.TotheCathars,thiswastheraisond'etreofourexistence.Theyrecognizedthattherewaseverygradationbetweenmatterconceivedofasinertspirit,and,attheotherextreme,assospiritualizedthatChristcouldappearonearthandrevealthetruenatureofhisspiritualizedbodytothedisciplesattheTransfiguration.'

ButImustmoveontothecentralpointofthisstrangebook.Theadjective'strange'isanunderstatement.Itiseitherapieceofsheernuttiness,oroneofthemostimportantbookseverwritten.ForitscentralassertionisthatawholegroupofCatharsfromMontsegurhavebeenreincarnatedinEnglandinthetwentiethcentury.MissMillswasonlythefirst.AndalthoughshebeganbyhavingtoaskGuirdhamwhetherRaymondandAlbigensianmeantanythingtohim,sheendedbyactuallyseeingBraidadeMontserver,a'Parfaite'(i.e.akindoffemalepriest)whowasburned;Braidabegantopayhernightlyvisits,andinstructherinthehistory,philosophyandhealingtechniquesofCatharism.Later,shewasvisitedbytwomaleCathars,GuilhabertdeGastres,andabishop,BertranddeMarty.Andhere,wemightsay,theplotthickens.MissMillsbecameconvincedthatBertranddeMartywasherfather—thatistosay,thatherowntwentieth-centuryfatherhadbeenareincarnationofMarty.

InOctober1971,MissMillswascontactedbyafriendfromtheMidlands,whomGuirdhamcallssimply'Betty'.Betty'shusbandhaddiedofaheartattack,andshewasbadlyshaken.Shedecidedtotakeaholidayabroad—inthePyrenees.Guirdhamwasaskedtosupplynamesofplacesworthvisiting,Inevitably,manywereassociatedwithCatharism.BettywenttothePyrenees,andapparentlyfoundtheexperienceprofoundlysatisfying.AndonherreturntoEngland,she

begantomentionnamesofthirteenth-centuryCatharsthatsoonconvincedMissMillsthatherewasyetanothercharacterfromMontsegur,reincarnatedintwentieth-centuryEngland.Unfortunately,beforethisexcitingnewdevelopmentcouldbestudied,Bettydiedofastroke.Hermother,Jane,begansortingthroughherpapers,andfoundreferencestovariousnames—Braida,Isarn,andsoon.ShealsodiscovereddrawingsmadebyBettyasachild—duringaseriousillnessattheageofseven.Thesedrawings,mostlyofacrude,matchstickvariety,containreferencestopeoplepresentatthesiegeofMontsegur,andarefullofCatharreferences.Theyseemedtotriggeroffsomereaction—orburiedmemory—inJane,whonowherselfbegan'recalling'herownlifeinthethirteenthcenturyinsnatches.

Anotherpersonentersthestory—anoldschoolfriendofMissMillsnamedKathleen.SheenquiredafterBetty—whomshehadalsoknown—andonbeingtoldshewasdead,describedadreaminwhichshehadseenBettyinawoodwithamandressedindarkbluewithachainaroundhiswaist...ThismanwasactuallyGuirdham'searlierincarnation,RogerIsarn;Guirdhamgoesintotheevidenceforthiswithhisusualscholarlyprecision.ItbecomesclearthatKathleenisanotherofthegroupofreincarnated.

Andtherearestill'moretocome.ThereisPenelope,whohadbeenabusinessassociateofMissMills'someyearsago.Oneevening,Penelopediedunexpectedly,ahundredmilesfromBath;MissMills,whowaswithGuirdhamatthetime,hadasuddenpowerfulpremonitionthat'somethingishappeningtosomebody'.Penelope'shusbandJacksaidthatthelastwordshespokewas'Brasillac'—thenameofasergeant-at-armswhofoughtatMontsegur,andhadbeenburnedatthestake.JackcametocallonMissMills,describinghiswife'sdreamsofacastleonahill,ofmendressedinbluerobes;hespokeofherhorroroffire,andofhavingstonesthrownather.(Thecastlewasbombardedwithstonesthrownbygiantcatapults.)Afterthis,Jackhimselfbegantohavedreamsoffightinginacastleonthehill,accompaniedbynames.GuirdhamfinallyconcludedthatJackwasBrasillac,andthathiswifePenelopehadbeenhissweetheartinhisthirteenth-centuryexistence...

Attheendofthebook,GuirdhammentionsthatMissMillscontinuestopractise'healing',underBraida'sdirection,andheconcludes:

'Tome,asadoctor,thereissomethingofspecificimportancetransmittedbyBraida'smessages.Dualismisanimportantantidotetothematerialismofmedicine.Thenextstepinourevolutionasdoctorsistorecognizemoretheinfluenceofthepsycheimprisonedinmatter.Itsrecollectionsofexperiencesinpastlivesarerelatedtopresentsymptoms.Therecognitionoftwobasicenergiesofgoodandevilisvitaltoanycosmicconceptofmedicine.Healingisaparticularexpressionoftheemanationofgoodness.Ontheotherhand,itisindisputablethatmanydiseasesymptomsandsyndromesareattributabletothepowerofevil.Discussingsuchfactorsisbeyondthescopeofthisbook.AllonecansayhereisthatBraida'smessagesenlargedenormouslyone'smedicalhorizons.'

Obviously,thisbook—entitledWeAreOneAnother—answersthebasicobjectionsthatcanbemadetoCatharsandReincarnation.Itispossibletoacceptthatapatientshouldhavedetailedmemoriesofapreviousexistenceinthethirteenthcentury;butmuchmoredifficulttobelievethatthedoctorhimselfisareincarnationofamanwithwhomthepatientwasinvolvedsevenhundredyearsago.Italsopresentsaproblemforthetotalskeptic,whoisinclinedtodismissthewholethingasself-delusionordownrightlies.ArthurGuirdhamisanintelligentman;thiswasplaintomefromhisbooks,beforeImethim;ifheisinventingthewholething,whyshouldhegooutof-hiswaytomakehisstoryunbelievable?WeAreOneAnotherrevealsthatthePuerilia-Rogerrelationisjustpartofamuchlargerpattern;itwouldseemthatdozensoftheCatharsofMontsegurhavebeenreincarnatedinthetwentiethcenturyforaspecificpurpose.Thepurpose,presumably,istoprovetherealityofreincarnation.

Letusagreethatbothexplanations—theskepticalandthenon-skeptical—fitthefactsaspresentedinthesetwobooks.ANewsoftheWorldreporter—thekindwhopublishesinvestigationsofmediums,healersandastrologers—wouldhavenodifficultyexplainingwhathashappened.Guirdhamhasalwaysbeenanunorthodoxdoctor,withtendenciestooccultism.HebecomesinterestedintheCatharsandCatharism.AndwhenMrsSmithtalkstohimaboutherownthirteenth-centuryincarnations,heiswillingtobelievethathewasherlover.Infact,ofcourse,allthathashappenedisthatapatienthasbecomefixated

onherdoctor,andlooksaroundforwaystogainhisinterest...MissMillsisalso,significantly,anunmarriedlady.Shegetsdrawnintothefantasy,andshedrawsothersintoit,untilawholegroupofherfriendsareconvincedthattheywerethirteenth-centuryCathars.Aninterestingcaseofgrouphysteriaorgroupsuggestibility...

NowGuirdhamisfullyawareoftheseobjections,andhetakesagreatdealoftroubleinbothbookstoemphasizethatthecomplexfactscannotbeaccountedforbysuggestibilityorevenbytelepathy.MrsSmith'snotesabouttheCatharsdatebacktoherchildhood,andvarioushistoricaldetails—whichshementionedinthenotes—werenotevenknowntoscholarsatthetime.Agreatdealofspaceinboththesebooksistakenupwiththeexaminationofsuchdetails,whichmakesthem,insomeways,rathertediousfortheordinarylayreader.IfoneacceptsthegenuinenessofBetty'snotesanddrawingsinthesecondbook,thenitisquiteimpossiblethatshecouldhavebeendrawnintothefantasybyMissMills.

Infact,theonlyskepticalhypothesisthatcanberegardedasunassailableisthatGuirdhamhimselfhasinventedthewholething:thatneitherMrsSmith,MissMills,Betty,Janeandtheresteverexisted.AndonmyownknowledgeoftheGuirdhams,Ifindthisalmostimpossibletoaccept.Forwhatitisworth—andIagreeitwouldnotconvincetheNewsoftheWorldreporter—hestrikesmeaseminentlysane,balancedandhonest.

MissMillstoldGuirdhamthatitwasimportanttogoaheadwiththepublicationofthefactsaboutthisstrangecase,becausethesamekindofthingishappeningallovertheworldatthemoment,anditisimportantthatotherpeopleinvolvedshouldrealizethattheyarenottheonlyones.Inwhichcase,itcouldbearguedthatitisinGuirdham'sinterests—andthoseofthe'Cathars'—totrytofurnishsomesolidproofs.HementionsseveraltimesthatMissMillshadbeenunwillingtodiscussherownexperiences,evenwhensomeoftheothersinvolved—Betty,Jane,Jack—offeredevidencethatsuggestedthattheythemselveswereCathars.Ontheotherhand,MissMillsisobviouslythekeytotheproblem.Atafairlyearlystageintheiracquaintance,sheexperiencedapaininherhip,andwhenGuirdhamexaminedher,hefoundthatshehadastrangelineofblistersacrossherback—hardblisters.This,saidMissMills,was

whereshehadbeenstruckacrossthebackwithaburningtorchasshewasledtothestake.Theblisterswouldcertainlybeverypowerfulcorroborativeevidenceforthestory.

However,letme,forthemoment,putasidethedoubtsandqualifications,andaskthevitalquestion:Ifthisisalltrue,whatdoesitmean?

Centrally,itwouldestablishthefactofreincarnation,ascertainlyasNewton'sobservationsestablishedthefactofgravity.Which,eveninoccultcircles,wouldcauseasensation.For,asIhavealreadycommented,bynomeansallspiritualistsacceptreincarnation—infact,veryfewofthemdo.MrsBeattieseemsinclinedtodenyitcompletely.Ontheotherhand,thereisagreatdealofsolidevidenceforsomethingofthesort.InTheOccult,IquoteTwentyCasesSuggestiveofReincarnationbyIanStevensonMD,publishedbytheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearchin1966.Thisisoneofthosetypicallycareful,painstakingvolumesthatoffershugequantitiesofdetailedinformationaboutcasesofsupposedreincarnation.Inatypicalcase,anIndiangirlofsevendescribedtoherparentsherpreviousexistenceinanearbytown,whichshehadnevervisited.Shesaidthatshehadbeenamother,andhaddiedinchildbirth.Takentothetowninquestion,shewasabletopointoutpeopleandplacesinawaythatdemonstratedthatshecertainlyhadathoroughknowledgeofthem,and,asabletotalktorelativesofherprevious'selfinthelocaldialect,althoughshehadonlybeentaughtHindustani.InthecaseofaHinduboywhohadbeenbeheadedattheageofsixbyarelativewhowantedtoinheritpropertythatwoulddescendtothechild,the'reincarnated'boyhadascaronhisneckresemblingaknifewound.Anotherchildwhobegantodescribeapreviousexistence(attheageoftwo)hadscarsonhisstomachresemblinggunshotwounds;heclaimedtohavebeenkilled(inhispreviousexistence)byagunblastintheabdomen.AllthiswouldseemtosupportGuirdham'sstatementsabouthisreincarnatedCatharssufferingthepainsoftheirburninganddevelopingblisters.

EvenifIdidnotknowArthurGuirdham,andconsiderhimhonest,IwouldstillbeinclinedtogivecredittohistwoCatharbooksinthelightofhisotherwork.ATheoryofDiseaseshowshim,quitesimply,breakingawayfromtheFreudianismandbehaviorismthatformthe

foundationofeverypsychiatrist'smedicaltraining.LikeJungandRank,heisgropingtowards'holistic'concepts.AndtheholistictrendhasbeensteadilygainingforceinscienceandphilosophyeversinceHusserlformulatedPhenomenologyin1912andthegestaltpsychologistsbegantheirexperimentsinperception.Man,DivineorSocial(1960)isadeterminedattempttoformulateakindofmetaphysicsof'holism'.Heagainstartsfromtherecognitionofthe'YouthatisNotYou'—whatHusserlwouldcallthetranscendentalego.Thisbookisabouttheconflictbetweenman'stwobasicurges:whathecalls'thecosmicurge'andtheHerd-PersonalityImpulse.Thisisless'metaphysical'thanitsounds.Wordsworth'spoem'Theworldistoomuchwithus'dealswiththesameproblem.(SodoesmyOutsider.}Observedpurelyobjectively—phenomenologically—manisadualbeing,tornbetween'thetrivialityofeverydayness'(touseHeidegger'sphrase)andsuddenflashesofdeepermeanings,'acertainodoronthewind'.Theproblemis'close-upness',beingforcedtolivewithournosespressedagainstreality.Hisuseoftheterm'Herd-PersonalityImpulse'indicatesthatheispreoccupiedwiththe'outsider'problemandhowtosolveit.

Oneofhismostrevealingbooksisashortwork—amereninety-fivepages—publishedin1966underthepseudonymFrancisEaglesfield;itiscalledSilentUnion,ARecordofUnwilledCommunication,andconsistsofextractsfromhisjournalsaboutpatientswhohad'occultfaculties'.Forexample,arugger-playingcoalmerchant,whohadoftendreamedofthingsbeforetheyhappened.Whenhefollowedthebeagles,thismanneverhadtolookinthenewspapertoseewhattimethehuntwouldstart;heseemedtoknowintuitively,andwouldsetoutattherighttime.Thisbookformsalinkbetweentheearlyhealingbooksandthelater'occult'books.Manyofitscasesaresimply'odd'.Forexample,theratherrepressed,silentmanwhoblamedhimselfforthedeathofhisseven-year-old-son—hehadfailedtocallthedoctorsoonenough.Hissonhadhadawartonhisforehead,andthefatheroftenfeltitwithhisindexfingerashestrokedtheboy'sforehead.Oneday,tenyearsaftertheboy'sdeath,thefatherdevelopedawartonthefingertip;thentheyspreadacrossthehand.Adoctorburnedoffonewartwithcaustic;afterthis,themancalledonanamateurwartcharmer,whomadetheothers'disappear'veryquickly.Theincidentdemonstratesthatwartsmaybecured,aswell

ascaused,bypsychologicalstrain.Butthemostinterestingandsignificantsectionofthebookisits

longestchapter.HebeginsbydescribinganoddoccurrencewhenhewasonholidayinYorkshirewithMary.Theywerestayingatahotel,andhadbeentovisitafriendatatownfifteenmilesaway.Theyhadonlybeendrivinghomeaboutfourminuteswhentheypassedasignpostsayingthattheirdestinationwasonlythreemilesaway.Thisseemedimpossible;theystoppedandlookedintheAAbook—whichconfirmedthatthetownswerefifteenmilesapart.Afewminuteslater,theyfoundthemselvesdrivingintothetown—eventhelastthreemileshad'vanished',orbeenforeshortened.Timehadsomehowaccelerated.

Hegoesontodescribethehoteltheywerestayingin:'therewassomethingfascinatingandmacabreinitsperfectionofmediocrity'.Yetoneevening,lookingupfromhisbookinthelounge,everyoneseemedtobeintenselyalive,'andendowedsuddenlywithanewandinexplicabledignity'.Itwasafterthesetwoeventsthathebegantokeepadiary,thediaryhequotesinthisbook.

Theeventsseem,inaway,trivial.Buttheyareofconsiderablesignificance.Thefirstindicatestheillusoryandrelativenatureoftime;thesecond,therelativenatureofourperceptionoftheexternalworld.Nothingcouldseem'realer'thanthedullnessofalotofordinarymiddle-classpeople,apparentlyincapableofanoriginalthought—oranythoughtatall.Somethinghappensinthebrain,akindofpsychicorgasm,andtheyaretransfigured.Itisasifanew'eye'hadopenedinthebrain.

Hegoesontorecounttwomoreoddevents.Onewealreadyknowabout.Inacoupleofpages,withoutanydetailsaboutCathars(orhisowninvolvement)herecountsthestoryofMrsSmith,callingherD;hementionssimplythatherdetailedaccountofapreviousexistenceconvincedhimofreincarnation.Healsomentionsanoldfriend,Celia,inwhosepresencehehasalwaysfeltrefreshed,'asifIhadbeenchargedbyaninexhaustiblebattery'.ButCeliahadadeepdistrustofanything'psychic',anddislikedMrsSmith'sinfluence(suchasitwas).OnawalkwithCeliaoneday,Guirdhamfeltcompletelylowandexhausted,asifrecoveringfromaseriousillness,andfeltlikethisforseveraldays.HeconcludedthatCeliahad,insomeway,withdrawnherpsychicenergy.Again,aminorevent—pointingonlytothemind'spowertogive

strengthandtoheal.Thereisanotherbriefandinterestingepisode.Hiswifeaskedhim

whathethoughtKeatslookedlike;andthen,afewminuteslater,whatwasthenextlineafter'Fearnomoretheheatofthesun'fromCymbeline.Tenminuteslater,inabookonNapoleon,shecameacrossareferencetoKeats,andthesonginCymbeline.

Andwhyshouldthesedisparateepisodesbegroupedtogether?Because,Ithink,theyallpointtothesamething:a'bridgeperiod'inlifeinwhichsomefundamentalchangeoccurs.AsfarasIknow,noonehaseverwrittenabouttheimportanceof'bridgeperiods'.Duringtheseperiods,yousensethatsomethingishappening,somebasicchange,ofthesortthatoccursatpuberty.Butthen,whenthebodychangesatpuberty,youareawarethatthisisapurelysubjectivechange;itishappeningtoyou,nottotherestoftheworld.Butinother'bridgeperiods',thereisacuriousfeelingthatcanonlybedescribedas'involvement',asifyouareinvolvedinsomewider,moregeneralchange.Itisthekindof'senseofchange'youmightexperienceifyoudrovedownfromNewYorktoFloridainmidwinter,andsawthescenerybecominggreener,andfelttheairbecomingwarmer.Iamnotimplyingthat'theWorld'issomehowtakingaccountofyou;onlythatyouseemtohavepassedintoaregionwhereyouaresubjecttoslightlydifferentlaws.Newexperiencesseemtobethrustingthemselvesunderyournose.Theseperiodsaresoimportantbecauseweacceptastaticexistence;theheroesofChekhovandBeckettseemtobesaying:'Thingsdon'tchange.Thingscan'tchange.Lifejustgoesonrepeatingitself,likeagramophonestuckinagroove,andwejustgetolderanddie...'Butanyyoungmanwhohasjustdiscoveredpoetryormusicorscienceknowsthisisuntrue.Theuniverseisendlesslynewandfresh.Andifwefinditdifficulttobeendlesslynewandfresh,thisisbecauseofsomeabsurdmisunderstanding,somepieceofignorance—forexample,likeamanwhotookabatheverymorninginthesamedirtywater,unawarethattheplugisforemptyingthebathandthetapsforrefillingitwithcleanwater...

Beingstatichasitsuses.Thereareperiodswhenthemindneedstobeclosedtooutsideinfluences.WhenIreadFreudorBertrandRussell,Irealizethattheirpositivequalitiesdependontheirrathernarrow

pragmaticattitudes.Youcannotbakeacakewiththeovendooropen.Toomuchopen-mindednessmakesformediocrity.Weknowthisinstinctively;thisiswhyweacceptacertainnarrownessofconsciousnesswithouttoomuchprotest.Allthesame,itisanexcitingmomentwhenmentalbarriersseemtobewithdrawn;theshuttersopen;lightcomesin.Achrysalismustfeelratherthesameasitchangesintoabutterfly.Insuchstates,youtendtofeelsorryforChekhovandBeckett,andalsorathercontemptuous;theirgloomislargelytheirownfault.

ArthurGuirdhamwentintohis'bridgeperiod'comparativelylateinlife.Hespecifiestheperiodashislateforties,whenhebeganrelaxationexercises.Thesesometimesproducedasenseofbeingdetachedfromhisbodyorlookingdownonhimselffromneartheceiling;butheiscarefultostatethatitwasonlya'sense'—notafull-fledgedexperience.Thentherewerethecasesofclairvoyance,telepathyandhealingthathementionsinSilentUnion.'SometimesIacquiredthesymptoms,oftenphysical,ofpatientswhobegantorecoveratthesametimethatIhadassumedtheirsymptoms.DuringtheseperiodsIexperiencedallmannerofso-calledcoincidences.PeopleIhadneverseenforyearscamevividlytomymind.InafewminutesIwouldmeettheminthestreet.Iwouldpuzzlemymindwithabstruseproblems.TheanswerswouldbeproddedbystrangersIhadmetincasualencounters.Iobtainedfromtheseexperiencesanutterconvictionoftheindivisibilityofhumanconsciousness.Idiscoveredthatinthesphereofmedicineweshareacommonpsychiclifeandexchange,withthoseonthesamewavelength,notonlythoughtsandfeelings,butthesyndromesofdisease.'ThegroundwasbeingpreparedfortheinsightsintoCatharism.

Theinterestingthingisthathewasnotentirelyunprepared;inchildhood,andagaininearlymanhood,therehadbeen'glimpses'.Attheageoffour,hehadaseriousillness,andhadadreamofheaven—adreamofsuchintensitythathenowbelievesittohavebeenarealexperienceof'theotherworld'.Hewasinafieldwithalittlegirl,butthecolorshadanextraordinaryintensity.Inhisteens,hehadexperiencesofpremonitions,noneofthemimportant,ofthingsthathewouldlaterseeinthenewspapers;thissoundslikethe'timeexperiences'describedbyJ.W.Dunne.TherewasalsoacuriousepisodeinhisthirdyearatOxford.StayinganightataninnatBeckley,ontheedgeofOtmoor,hebeganto

shiverviolently.Adoctordiagnosedalivercomplaint.Fortwodayshefeltcoldandjaundiced,thenrecovered.Lateron,hediscoveredthatOtmoorwasoneofthelastplacesinEnglandwheremalariaoccurred,anditstruckhimthathehadexperiencedallthesymptomsofmalaria,withoutactuallyhavingthedisease.Itseemstohavebeenacaseofpickingupthepsychicvibrations.

AllthesespeculationsabouttheoriginsofdiseasearegatheredtogetherandexploredinabookcalledObsession(1972).Herehesuggestsopenlythatchildren's'nightterrors'maynotbeduetonightmares,buttogenuineforcesofevil.Inanautobiographicalbook,AFootinBothWorlds(recentlypublished),hedescribesoneofhisown'nightterrors'attheageofsix—whatseemedtobeanencounterwiththeDevil.InObsession,heisconcernedwith'compulsives'.Onechildpatientsufferedfromconvulsions,asthmaandnightterrors.Hewasalsoincredibly,rigidlypunctual.Hehadarecurringdreaminwhichhewasgaspingwiththirstinadesert.Hewasanomnivorousreader,butneverreadfiction;hepreferredbooksonRomanhistory,andontravelsinAmericaandAustralia—bothcountrieswithlargetractsofdesert,asGuirdhampointsout.Hedoesnotreachanypositiveconclusionsaboutthepatient,butanyonewhohasreadhisotherbookscanseethedirectionofhisthoughts:thatthedeepinterestinRomanhistorycouldindicatereincarnation,andthatthegaspingforbreathandthedreamsofdyingofthirstinthedesertcouldstemfromanexperienceinapreviousexistence.Astotheobsessivepunctuality,itistheattempttoescapefears'outsidetime'byplungingintotime—tryingtograspit,sotospeak.

Healsomentionssomecases—whichhedescribedtomepersonally—ofhousesthatproducementalillness;whenthepatientmoves,hetendstorecover.HetoldmeofastreetinBathinwhichthirteenoutoffortyhouseshaveproducedmentalillnessinpatients.Here,obviously,wearebacktotheL-fieldsandT-fieldsdiscussedearlierinthisbook.

WhyamIdiscussingArthurGuirdhamatsuchlength,whenhehimselfsaysheisnotparticularly'psychic'—onlya'catalyst'?BecauseIthinkIcanenterintohismindmorefullythanintothoseofRobertLeftwichorMrsBeattie.Forthefirstfiftyyearsofhislife,hewasapparentlynon-psychic.IfIhadmethimtwentyyearsago,IverymuchdoubtwhetherIwouldhavepredictedthathemightbecomesoinvolved

inpsychicmatters.Why?Because—andhereImusttreadcarefully—Iaminclinedtobelievethat'psychic'activitiesareoftenanoutletforenergiesthatcouldfindamorenormalcreativerelease.IsitentirelycoincidencethatCrowleywasnotaverygoodpoetornovelist?Orthatsomanypeopleonthefringeof'occultism'haveahighlydevelopeddesireforattentionandrecognition?Ontheotherhand,Guirdhamwasasuccessfulmedicalman,seniorconsultantforhisarea,medicalcorrespondentforamajornewspaper.Moreover,heisanaturallygoodwriter.WhenhesentmehisnovelTheGibbetandtheCross,Iexpectedittobeatypical'amateurnovel',even,thoughhisotherbooksarewellwritten;fictionandnon-fictioncallforentirelydifferenttalents.Iwassurprisedandimpressedbythetight,cleanprose,theeconomy,thesenseofknowingexactlywhereheisgoing.Crowley'snovelsrevealhismind:sloppy,self-indulgent,undisciplined.Beforeamanhaslearnedhowtomakeuseofhispowers,he'salwaysabitofaconfidencetrickster;youcansmellitinhiswork.Guirdhamhastheeconomyofamanwhohaslearnedthetrickofcreation.Youfeelyouareinthehandsofanhonestandsingle-mindedman.

Sowhetherornothehimselfpossesses'strangepowers',theissuesheraisesareperhapsthemostimportantinthisvolume.Oneofthechiefdrawbackstomostmanifestationsof'theoccult'—whetherinwitchcraft,astralprojection,communicationwiththedead—isthattheyareultimatelyambiguous.Ifthe'spirits'reallywantedtoconvinceusoftheirexistence,theycouldmakeafarbetterjobofit.Apartfromafewreallygiftedmediums—likeDanielDunglasHome—or'magicians',likeGurdjieff,most'psychics'raisemoredoubtsthantheyallay.Namealmostanyimportantfigureof'occultism',fromCorneliusAgrippatoMadameBlavatsky,andthesuggestionsofgenuinepowersandofcharlatanismjustaboutbalanceoneanotherout.

NowArthurGuirdham,amanwhomnoonehassofaraccusedofcharlatanism,hasmadeclaimsthatseemtobeasstartlingandfarreachingasthoseinEinstein'soriginalpaperonrelativity.Hisfirstbookonreincarnationcouldbedismissedbytheskepticasapieceofgullibility;MrsSmithhappenedtoengagehisintellectualinterestwithherrevelationsaboutCatharism,andheallowedhertoconvincehimthatsheandhehadbeenassociatedinthethirteenthcentury...Thesecond

bookisnotopentothisinterpretation.Itstatesthathalfadozenpeople,alreadyinloosecontact,independentlyreachedtheconclusionthattheybelongedtotheMontsegurCathars.Theevidencepresentedistoodetailedtobedismissedasself-deception.Thisiseitherdeliberate,carefullyplanneddeception,oritisanimportantbreakthroughinourknowledgeoftheuniverse.IfGuirdhamisright,thenthepsychiclawsgoverninghumanexistencearemorecomplexthanDarwinorMendeleversuspected,andtheinter-relationsbetweenhumanbeingsaredeeperthanFreudeversuspected.

AndwhatdoIpersonallythink?Myownnaturalskepticismleadsmetowonderiftherearenototherpossibleexplanations.ImustconfessthatIambasicallydubiousaboutGuirdham'sdualism.AllmylifeIhavebeennaturallyandinstinctivelyaPlatonist.Thatistosay,Ihaveneverbeenabletoaccepttheideaofevilasanindependentforce;rather,astheoutcomeofmuddleandstupidity.Ifamothfliesintoacandleflame,noevilisinvolved;nodoubtatthenextstageintheirevolution,mothswilllearntodevelopasensitivitytoheatthatwillsavethemfromgettingsinged.Ahumanbeingwho'commitsevil'isonewho,forreasonsoffrustrationandimpatience,preferstoincreasethemuddleandchaosintheuniverse.Idonotmindusingtheword'evil'aboutamanwhotakespleasureininflictingpain,forIbelieveintheexistenceoffreewillandofchoice;butitstillseemstomethatheisdoingeviloutofakindofinner-muddle.Allhigh-dominancepeoplearepossessedbytheurgetodosomething,andiftheycanseenowaytocreate,thentheymaydestroyoutofakindofchildishangerwiththeuniverse.Itseemstomequitepossible—indeed,veryprobable—thatthepsychicforcesofevilunleashedbyhumanbeingsmaypersistaftertheirdeath,sothatahouseinwhichsomeonehasbeenthoroughlymiserableordiedhorriblymayretaintheimprintforyearsafterwards.Iamevenpreparedtoadmitthatsuch'forces'mightbehavelikediscarnateentities,continuingtotrytodestroy.ButthatisstillalongwayfromacceptingtheCatharpositionofevilasagenuinelyindependentforce.Moreover,fromGuirdham'sbooks,Iamnotreallyclearwhetherheisagenuinedualist—thatis,onewhobelievesthattheworldofmatterwascreatedbytheDevil.[1]TheChurchpersecutedManicheesandotherdualistsbecausetheBookofGenesisstatesthatGodlookedupontheworldandsawthatitwasgood;

andthebasicvisionofthemysticshasconfirmedthis.Itassertsthattheworldisathousandtimesmorebeautifulthanoursensestellus,andthatourhabitof'cuttingout'99percentofourexperience—whichhasenabledustoevolvetoourpresentstage—hasalsopreventedusfromrealizinghowentirelyblesseditistobealive.IfIamhonestwithmyself,IhavetoadmitthatIdonothaveanysympathyforCatharism.ThemannerinwhichtheChurchstampeditoutwashorribleandwicked;butdoctrinally,IsuspectIamonthesideoftheChurch.

Butthen,itdoesnotseemtomethatthebasicattitudesofGuirdham'sbooks,fromATheoryofDiseasetoWeAreOneAnotherandObsession,areroundedonadualistpointofview.Onthecontrary,thedelightthatemergesfromhisdescriptionsofnaturemakeitdearthat,emotionallyanyway,helooksupontheworldandfindsitgood.Hispreviousincarnation,Roger-Isarn,evidentlyfeltthesameway,sincehelivedwith'Puerilia'ashismistress—althoughhelaterbecameaParfait,andpresumablyrenouncedsexualpleasure.

Atthispoint,Imustsquarelyansweraquestionthatmusthaveoccurredtoeveryreaderwithalogicalturnofmind.InTheOutsider,IquotedSartreonthismatterofbelief.Ifthetelephonerang,andavoiceontheotherendsaid:'ThisisGodspeaking.Believeandyouaresaved;disbelieveandyouaredamned,'asensiblehumanbeingwouldreply:'Allright,I'mdamned.'EventheBiblerecommendsustoproveeverything,andholdfasttowhatisgood.

NowshouldInot,accordingtothatformula,totallyrejectalltheclaimsofRobertLeftwich,EuniceBeattieandArthurGuirdham—especiallyGuirdham,since,ofthethree,heoffersleastcorroboration?AmInotflyinginthefaceofabasicexistentialistprinciple—infact,abasicphilosophicalprinciple?

ThisisaquestionthatcanonlybeansweredinthemannerNewmanansweredCharlesKingsley'saccusationsofreligiousdishonesty:bytryingto'explainmyself.

Asachild,Iacceptedspiritualism.Mygrandmotherwasaspiritualist.Mymotheracceptedspiritualism,althoughshenever,asfarasIknow,attendedaspiritualistchurch.Ipersonallyhavealwayshadanaturaldistasteforchurchesandpeopleworshippingtogether;forsomereason,itarousesinmethesameirritablerejectionthatEinsteinalways

feltwhenhesawmarchingsoldiers.Thewhole'outsider'ideaisprofoundlyingrainedinme(as,indeed,itisinGuirdham—hencehisemphasisontheHerd-PersonalityImpulse).Ifeelthat,ideally,everyhumanbeingoughttobestrongenoughtostandtotallyalone;itistheonlywaytotherealizationofourprofoundestcapacities.SoalthoughIacceptedthenotionoflifeafterdeath,thewholeideaofaspiritualistchurchwasdistastefultome.ButIreadbookslikeHarryPrice'sSearchforTruthandConanDoyle'sWanderingsofaSpiritualist.IonceevenattemptedtoreadSwedenborg'sTrueChristianReligion,butconcludedhewasfeebleminded.

MyspiritualistphaselasteduntilIwastenoreleven;thenIfellinlovewithscience.Iusethephrasedeliberately,becausethatiswhatitwas:aloveaffair,anabsorbingpassion,aglimpseofsalvation.TheoriginalimpulsecamefromabookcalledTheMarvelsandMysteriesofScience,andacheapchemistrysetmymotherboughtmeforChristmaswhenIwaseleven.IfGuirdhamisrightaboutreincarnation,IthinkImusthavebeenascientistinapreviousexistence.IreadHolmyard'sSchoolChemistryfrombeginningtoendlikeanovel,thenwentontobookslikeEddington'sNatureofthePhysicalWormandJeans'MysteriousUniverse.Itwasamarvelousfeeling.Boredomwasatanend.Nomoreover-longschoolholidaysinwhichIwonderedwhattodo,nomorehoursoflistlesslyre-readingtatteredcomicsorwonderinghowIcouldraisethemoneytogotothecinema.IhadaninterestthatstayedwithmefromthetimeIopenedmyeyesinthemorninguntilIwenttobedatnight.

Theoddthingisthatthispassionforscience,whichledmetowriteasix-volumeManualofGeneralScienceattheageofthirteen,soonspreadtoothersubjects.IreadToad'sGuidetoPhilosophyandTheConciseCambridgeHistoryofEnglishLiteratureandRobertO.Ballou'sBibleoftheWorld.AbookonballetbyArnoldHaskellconvincedmeforatimethatIwantedtobeadancer.Bytheageofsixteen,Ifeltthatsciencewastoonarrow;InowreadhistoriesofartandmusicwiththesameaviditythatIhadreadHolmyard'sChemistry.Buttheinterestinspiritualismandtheocculthadgonecompletelyintoabeyance.Itwasfactsthatinterestedme.LikeEliot,Ifeltstronglythat'humankindcannotbearverymuchreality',thatmostpeopleneverescapebeyondthe

narrowhorizonofthepersonalandthesubjective.Spiritualismstruckmesimplyaswishfulthinking,Itwastoopersonal—alltiedupwithpeopleandtheiremotionsandtheirdesiretoclingtothepast.Itseemedtomethattheuniverseisbiggerandcolderandstranger,andthatitdoesn'tcaremuchaboutpeopleortheiremotions.Theonlywaytoevolveistobecomemoreliketheuniverse,totrytobeless'personal'.

Ibecameanobsessive.Notonlybecauseofthiscravingforeverypossiblesortofknowledge,butbecauseIwasafraidImightspendtherestofmylifeworkingatjobsIhated.ThisissomethingArthurGuirdhamandRobertLeftwichmightfinditdifficulttoconceive—althoughMrsBeattiewouldn't:thefeelingthatitmaybeashardtoescapeintoamorerewarding,morecreativewayoflifeastoescapefromSingSing.Ihadnoqualifications;whenIleftschool,allIcoulddowastooffermyselfasunskilledlabor,attheequivalentoftennewpenceanhour.Becomingawriterofferedtheonlychanceofescape.SoIgroundaway:atstories,atmynovel,atessaysonShaw,Nijinsky,Hemingway...

Tobecomeanobsessiveistodevelopakindofarmor,likeacrab.Thearmorinsulatesyouandprotectsyou.Italsoimprisonsyou.Whenyousunbatheonthebeach,youcantakeoffyourclothes,butnotyourarmor.Butthen,aprisoncanalsobeausefulplace,ifyouhavealotofworkyouwanttogetdonewithoutinterruption...

Whenanobsessionalpatternisestablished,yougetsousedtolivingwithinner-tensionthatyoufinditimpossibletorelax.Icouldonlytrulyrelaxbyinducingastateofwiderconsciousnessthroughpoetryormusk.Ioncesatcross-leggedatthetopofasmallmountainintheLakeDistrict,tryingtomakemyselfseeGrasmereasWordsworthsawit;butitdidn'twork;therelaxationwouldn'tcome.Itfeltlikeakindofinnerconstipation.

WhenTheOutsiderwasasuccess,IknewIcouldmakesomekindofalivingfromwriting.Imovedtothecountry.Buttherelaxationstillwouldn'tcome.Notimmediately,anyway.Itonlycameveryslowly,takingaboutfiveyears.Imightbelookingoutofawindowasitrained;andsuddenlytherainwouldseemtobefallingintomymind.T.E.LawrencedescribedbeingtakenthroughanArabpalace;thewallsofeachroomcontainedadifferentperfume,whichhisguideprofessedto

beabletosmell.Finally,theguidetookhimtoaroomwithbrokenwindows,throughwhichthe'cold,eddylesswindofthedesert'couldblowfreely.Hesaid:'Butthisisthesweetestsmellofall.'Lawrenceunderstoodthis;buthediedbeforehehadlearnedtorelaxenoughtoexperienceit.ButInowbegantoexperienceit;therewereoddmomentswhenmywindowsopened,andthewindblewin.

IwasthirtywhenJoypresentedmewithadaughter,andIdiscoveredIcouldwakeherupbythinkingaboutherinthemiddleofthenight,orbylookingoutofthewindowswhenshewasasleepinherpram.AndthefirsttimeIheldher,IhadastrongsensethatsheknewIwasherfather.Suddenly,Icouldunderstandwhatitwouldbeliketobeafish,withnervesalongyoursidesthatregisterthepressureofthewater,ortheapproachofanenemy.Oneday,fixedaftermowingthelawn,Iwasabouttodropheavilyontothebedandpulloffmyshoes.Somethingmademelookround;Sallywaslyingneartheedgeofthebed;myweightwouldprobablyhavebrokenherribs.

MyfirstchildhadbeenbornwhenIwastwenty,buttherehadbeennotelepathiclink;Iwasstillinmycarapace—as,Ithink,ArthurGuirdham'sprofessionaldutiesobligedhimtostayinhiscarapaceuntilhecameclosetoretirement.

Inthemid-sixties,Imadeoneinterestingandbasicdiscovery:thatanimmenseeffortofwillservesexactlythesamepurposeastotalrelaxation,andachievesitrathermoreefficiently.In1966,onmywaytoAmerica—andatwelve-weeklecturetour—Iwasfeelinglowanddepressed.Asthetrainpassedaspotwhere,twelveyearsearlier,Ihadexperiencedapowerfulsurgeofinsight,Isuddenlyfeltakindofrage,adesiretograbmyself-pitybythethroatandchokeittodeath.Afuriouseffortofconcentrationforjustaboutfiveminutesproducedasenseofstrengthandfreedom,whichlastedformostofthetour.Butassoonassheerfatiguebegantoaffectme,aftertenweeksofnon-stopflyingandtalking,Ibecameaccident-prone;everythingbegantogowrong...

AndinNewYorkin1967,Inoticedthereverse.Paramounthadtakenanoptionononeofmynovelsforafairlylargesum,andIintendedtousesomeofittotakemyfamilytotheUniversityofSeattle,whereIhadajobaswriterinresidence.ButasthedateforleavingEnglandapproached,therewasstillnocontract.Halfadozenfilmdeals

hadalreadyfallenthrough;Ifoundithardtobelievethatthisonewouldcomeoff.Butalthoughtheconsequenceswouldhavebeenfairlyseriousifthedealhadfallenthrough—wedidn'thaveenoughmoneytogetfromNewYorktoSeattle—Ideclinedtoallowmyselftoworry.StayingwithfriendsonLongIsland,IrangmyAmericanagent—whotoldmethatthecontractshadbeensentweeksago.Someincompetentunderlinghadsentthemsurfacemailinsteadofairmail,andtheywereprobablyhalfwayacrosstheAtlantic.Istilldeclinedtoallowmyselftogetdepressed—itisthewriter'soccupationaldisease,andIhavealwaystriedtobullymyselfoutofit.Thenextday,myagentrangbacktosaythathehadgotanewsetofcontracts,andParamounthadagreedtopayupthemomenthehandedthemover.IsetoutfromLongIslandonanAugustafternoon;theheatinthetraintoManhattanwasalmostunbearable;butIwasfeelingcheerful.AlthoughGrandCentralstationwascrowded,Imanagedtogetataxiimmediately.Halfanhourlater,Isignedthecontract;myagentsaidhe'dtrytogetthechequetomewithinforty-eighthours.Ilefttheoffice,foundanotheremptytaxioutside,arrivedatGrandCentralfiveminutesbeforethenexttrainouttoLongIsland,andwasbackhomewithinacoupleofhours.Therewasastrange,sleepwalkingsenseofsmoothnessaboutthatwholeafternoon.

Chance?Ofcourse,inasense.ButIalsofeltthatakindofalertnessandattentionwereallowingmetotakeadvantageofchance.Itwaslikebeinginacanoeonafastcurrent;thepaddledoesn'thavemuchtodo,butitsoccasionalstrokeskeepyouclearofrocks.

Humanbeingshaveadeeplyingrainedhabitofpassivity,whichisstrengthenedbytherelativelylongperiodthatwespendunderthecontrolofparentsandschoolmasters.Momentsofintensityarealsomomentsofpowerandcontrol;yetwehavesolittleunderstandingofthisthatwewaitpassivelyforsomechancetogalvanizethemusclethatcreatedtheintensity.

Butwhetheryouusethenegativemethodsofrelaxation(whichisfundamentally'transcendentalmeditation')orthepositivemethodofintensealertnessandconcentration,theresultisthesame:arealizationoftheenormousvistasofrealitythatlieoutsideournormalrangeofawareness.Yourecognizethatthechiefobstacletosuchawarenessisthatwedon'tneedittogetthroughanordinaryworkingday.Icanmake

dofairlywellwithanarrowawarenessandamoderatemountofvitalenergy.Ihave'peakexperiences'whenIoccasionallydevelopmoreawarenessandmoreenergythanIneedforthetaskinhand;thenI'overflow',andrealize,foradazzledmoment,whatafascinatinguniverseIactuallyinhabit.ItissignificantthatMaslow's'peakers'werenotdaydreamingromantics,buthealthy,practicalpeople...

Thatismy'generaltheory'.Myincreasingsenseofthevistasofrealitythatlieoutsidemyeverydaypreoccupationsleadsmetotakeafarmoretolerantattitudetowardsassertionsthatdonotfitintomyrangeofexperience.ThecyberneticianDavidFostercameupwithaninterestingtheory(whichIdescribedinTheOccult)totheeffectthattheuniverseshowseverysignofbeingrunonaseriesof'cyberneticcodes'.Akindofplasticbiscuitwithholesintheedgecodesmywife'swashingmachine;andanacornistheplasticbiscuitthatcodesanoaktree.ThissuggeststoDrFosterthatacornsandhumangenesarecodedbysomeconsciousintelligence,notsimplybytheoperationofDarwinianselection.Hethinksthatcosmicrayswouldbeofsufficientlyhighfrequencytodothecoding—althoughthisdoesn'tprovethattheydo.NowIdon'tknowwhetherDavidFosterisfight.AllIcansayisthatthereissomethingabouthistheorythatcorrespondstomyownglimpsesof'vistasofreality'.

NeitherdoIknowwhetherRobertLeftwichandEuniceBeattieandArthurGuirdhamareright—exactlyandpreciselyright.MrsBeattiesaysthatherowninsightssuggestthatreincarnationisnotafact;Guirdhamsayitis...Butitseemstomethattheyareindicatingfactsthatlieoutsideourpresentsphereofacceptance.BecherandStahlwerenotrightwhentheysuggestedthatallburningmaterialsgiveoffagascalledphlogiston;Descarteswasn'trightwhenhesuggestedthatthemovementsofthesolarsystemaredueto'vortices'.Buttheyweremovingintherightdirection;theywererecognizingtheexistenceofaproblemthathadsofarbeenoverlooked,oronlypartiallyrecognized.Sciencehasanastyhabitofdecliningtorecognizetheexistenceofproblemsthatlieoutsideitsacceptedfield;this,Isuspect,isduetotidinessratherthanfearoftheunknown.Sothefirsttaskofanoriginalthinkeristopersuadescientists—orphilosophers—thataproblemdoesexist.WhenFreudtriedtointroducehisideasonhysteriatotheMedicalSocietyofVienna,their

firstlineofdefencewastodenythatsuchathingasmalehysteriaexisted;Freudhadtoproduceamalehystericbeforehecouldevengetthemtolisten.Eventhen,theSocietyfounditimpossibletofithistheoriesintotheirowngeneralsystem,andsodecidedtoignorethem.Thisistheusualwaysuchthingsoperate,anditistobeexpected.

CharlesFortwasparticularlyconcernedwiththisproblem.Whathewantedtoindicate,infourindigestibleandimpossiblebooks,wasthatsciencekeepsmistakingitsowntemporarytheoreticalboundariesforabsolutelimits.Itisonethingtolearntoignoreextraneousnoiseswhenyouareworking;itisanothertobecomesoaccustomedtoignoringthemthatyoufinallydenythattheyexist.Fortnevermadehispoint.Bycollectinghundredsofoddoccurrencesfromnewspapersandprintingthemallsidebyside—fishesfallingfromthesky,skeletonsofangels,deviltrackswalkingoversnow-coveredroof-tops—heonlyconvincedanyscientistswhohappenedtoopenTheBookoftheDamnedthathewasinfinitelygullible.Fortlackedthephilosophicaltrainingtomakehispoint.ItisonlynowadaysthatscientistslikeKarlPopper,MichaelPolanyi,AbrahamMaslow,arebeginningtomakeitinawaythatscientistscanunderstand.

Andeventheyhaveonlywidenedtheboundariesofscientifictolerance.TheyhavenotreallymadeFort'spoint:thatscienceoperatesinakindofself-imposedblindness.

Beyondalldoubt,thingsarechanging.Inthenineteenthcentury,sciencehadtooperatethatway;theaggressivematerialismanddoubtwasapartofitsstrength.WhatgoodwouldithavedoneifsomeonehadrecognizedthatBaronyonReichenbachwasright,andthatthehumanbodyhassomekindofelectrical'aura'orforce?Thispieceofinformationwouldhavebeenuseless;anditmighthavehinderedFreudinhisimportantworkofgaininggeneralrecognitionfortheroleoftheseximpulseandthesubconsciousmind.Nowinthelightofwhatwearebeginningtolearnaboutthebody'slifefields,andthewaytheyfluctuatewithillness,itcouldsuddenlybecomeasrelevantasthesexualtheorywasin1900.

Inthemid-1960s,theSanFranciscowriterDickRobertstoldmethathisplantsgrewbetterwhenhetalkedtothemandtouchedthem.Iwasn'tskeptical,butIpigeonholedthispieceofinformationbecauseIhadno

useforit.(Tobeginwith,Iamnogardener.)Sometimelater—perhapsayear—mywifereadouttomeanitemfromanewspaperassertingthatahorticulturisthaddiscoveredthatplantsrespondedtosympathy.Again,Ipigeonholedtheinformation.Afewmonthsago,IreadinabookcalledSupernature,bythezoologistLyallWatson,anaccountofanexperimentthatsuddenlyofferedmethegeneralbackgroundtoDickRoberts'observation.In1966,anexpertonliedetectors—polygraphs—calledCleveBacksterfoundhimselfwonderingwhetheraplantwouldshowincreasedelectricalactivitywhensubjectedtopain.Aliedetectorworkspartlyonthechangeintheelectricalresistanceoftheskinwhenamanbeginstosweat.Backsterattachedthepolygraphtotheleafofarubberplantintheoffice,andtrieddippinganotherleafinhotcoffee.Theplantdidn'tregister.Backsterwonderedwhetherhewouldgetsomeresultbyburningtheleafwithamatch.Assoonashethoughtthisidea,thepolygraphregisteredanincreasein'perspiration'.Theplanthadreadhismind.Hetrieddroppingliveshrimpsintoboilingwaternexttotheplant;aseachshrimpdiedinagony,thepolygraphneedleleapt.Whenadeadshrimpwasdroppedintothewater,nothinghappened.

Anotherplant,aphilodendron,becameattachedtoBackster.Backster'sassistanthadtoproducethevariousshockresponsesontheplant,withtheresultthatitwouldregisteralarmwhenhecameintotheroom,andrelaxwhenBackstercamein—orevenwhenitcouldhearhisvoiceinthenextroom.Butitwasnotsimplythevoiceitrespondedto.Surroundedbyaleadscreenthatwouldcutoutnormalelectromagneticvibrations,itstillresponded.Obviously,these'vibrations'arenotmagneticorelectrical.

WatsonalsomentionedinaninterviewpublishedinTheGuardian(21September1973),thatheandBacksterhadtriedthesameexperimentwitheggs.Wheneggsweredroppedonthefloororfedtoadog,anothereggattachedtothepolygraphrecordedareaction.Thiswasstrongestwheneggsweredroppedintoboilingwater.Oddlyenough,whenthishappened,theeggsconnectedtothepolygraphceasedtoreactforseveralminutes,thenwouldreactagainasbefore;Watson'sexplanationforthisisthattheeggfaintedwithshock.

IcannotresistmentioningperhapstheweirdestthinginWatson'sbook.AFrenchmannamedBoilswhotookrefugeinthepharaoh's

chamberoftheGreatPyramidnoticedthatoldlitterthrownthere—includingadeadcat—didnotdecay.ThisledtotheamazingdiscoverythatacardboardpyramidbuilttoexactlythesameproportionsastheGreatPyramidhasthesamepreservativeeffect.Adeadmousekeptinit'mummified'withoutstinking;asimilarmousekeptinashoeboxstank.Butthestrangestthingisyettocome.Razorbladeskeptinthepyramidremainedsharpiftheywerekeptinaneast-westalignment.Watsonhastriedit—heshavedwiththesamebladeforfourmonthswithoutitbecomingblunt.ACzechfirmhasactuallypatentedthisdevice.Watson'sguessisthatthepyramidmaybuildupamagneticfieldthatcausesanewcrystalline'edge'toformontheblade.

Observationslikethese—whichhavebeenconfirmedinotherlaboratories(Watsonquotessources)—obviouslylendnewperspectivetoDickRoberts'assertionthathecaninfluencehisplantsbytalkingtothem.Butitalsoconfirmsthegeneralattitudeto'theoccult'thatIhavearguedinthisbook.IdonotknowwhetherGuirdhamisrightwhenhesaysthatchildren'snightfearsmaybeduetodiscarnateentities.Butifaplantcansensehostilethoughts,thenitisprobablethatababycan.Andifthoughtiscarriedlikeradiowaves,thenthe'psychicether'ofourworldisprobablybuzzingwithhostilevibrationsthatababymightpickup.

Again,Guirdham'stitleWeAreOneAnothertakesonnewmeaning—orperhapsIshouldsay,takesonmeaning,foratfirstsight,itismeaningless.Wearenotoneanother.Ontheotherhand,thebasicassertionofhisbookisthattherearedeeppsychiclinksbetweentheCatharswhodiedatMontsegur,sothateventsinthepsycheofoneofthemcouldreverberateinthemindofanothermemberofthegroupwhowasatotalstranger.Manyhusbandsandwivesexperienceeachother'sillnesssymptoms.(ImentioninTheOccultthatIhaveexperiencedJoy'spregnancypangsandbeendepressedbyhertoothache,beforeIknewshewassufferingfromit.Ioncevomitedallnightwhenmyfirstwifewassufferingfromfoodpoisoningahundredmilesaway.)GuirdhamclaimsthatmembersofhisgroupofreincarnatedCatharsalsoexperiencedoneanother'sspiritualcrisesintheformofspellsofdizziness.Naturally,weareskepticalaboutthis,foritcontradictsourexperiencethatourinner-worldsarestrictlyprivate.Butwegoonfromtheretoassumethatthis

appliestoallnature.AndifBacksterisright,thisisuntrue;humanbeingsaretheexceptiontotherestofnature.InhisessayTheChildintheHouse,WalterPatertalksaboutthe'webofpain'thatstretchesthroughoutnature;IrememberbeingdeeplystruckbythephrasewhenIreadtheessayatfourteenorso.Butifarubberplantshudderswhenashrimpdies,the'webofpain'maybemorethanapoeticphrase.

Again,IwasstruckwhenthepainterWilliamArkletoldmehowthesnakesinhisgardenseemedtorespondtohisthoughts.Heboughthimselfahugehouse—itusedtobeamonastery—onahilltopoverlookingWeston-super-Mare.Thegardenturnedouttobefullofaddersandgrasssnakes.OneaddermadeahabitofwanderingalongbesideBillArklewhenhewalkeddownthedrive.Hehadfounditcoiledinthemiddleofthedriveoneday,insuchapositionthathecouldn'tdrivethecarpastwithoutkillingit.Hegotoutofthecarandproddeditawakewithastick;ithissedanddeclinedtomove.Hedecidedthatperhapshehadbetterkillitincaseitbitoneofthechildren;assoonashemovedtowardsitwiththisintention,ithissedviolentlyathim.Beingbynatureagentlemystic,hedecidedtoletitlive;thesnakeimmediatelymovedtothesideofthedriveway,andwentbacktosleep.Allhetoldmemadeitquiteclearthatthethingwastelepathic.Again,Ipigeonholedtheinformation.Butclearly,itfits.Alltheindicationsarethatthepoetswererightwhentheytalkedabout'livingnature'.AndTolkien'sforestthathateshatchetsmayturnouttobemorethanapieceofwhimsicalfiction.Alllivingthingsexistinakindofunity,thatisbrokenbythought,theneedtoconcentrateonparticulars.Weexistinakindof'psychicether'ofwhichweareunaware...

AllofthiscertainlylendssupporttoGuirdham'sbasictheories,althoughitdoesnothingtoeitherproveordisprovehisbeliefthatagroupofthirteenth-centuryCatharshavebeenreincarnatedintwentieth-centuryEngland.AllthatcanbesaidisthatthecasehepresentsinhistwoCatharbooksisthemostchallengingeverpresented.Itoffersitselfforexamination.MoreyBernstein'scaseforthereincarnationofaColoradohousewifecollapsedassoonastheHearstnewspapersbegantoprobeit;itturnedoutthatthereincarnatedBrideyMurphyhadlivedoppositeanIrishwomaninChicagoasachild,andbeeninlovewithherson;the'memories'ofaformerexistencedredgedupfromMrsVirginia

Tighe'ssubconsciousunderhypnosisturnedouttobechildhoodmemoriesofherIrishneighbor.ButGuirdham'sargumentsdonotdependuponanythingasambiguousashypnosis.Andtherewereseveralpeopleinvolved.Thiscouldbetheopportunityforthemostthoroughandexhaustiveexaminationofthecaseforreincarnationeverconducted.AndiftheresultsofsuchaninvestigationprovedtobepositivethenMissMills''instructors'wouldhaveachievedtheiraim:ofmakingtheircaseknowntothewidestpossibleaudience.Itwouldbeamilestoneinthehistoryofphysicalresearch.

Yetthereallyimportantchangehasalreadytakenplace.Onmydesk,asIwrite,IhavetwobooksthatIacquiredinthelastcoupleofdays.OneiscalledThirtyYearsAmongtheDead,byCarlA.Wickland,MD,publishedinAmericain1924bytheNationalPsychologicalInstitute.TheotherisTheCosmicClocks,byMichelGauquelin,publishedbytheHenryRegueryCompanyin1967.Theinterestingthingisthatbothbooksapproachtheirsubjectfromascientificpointofview;DrWicklandstatesthatheonlyintendstopresenttherecordsanddeductionsofthirtyyearsexperimentalresearchinthescienceofnormalandabnormalpsychologyandwithinthefirstfewpageshediscussesthefascinatingcaseofSallyBeauchamp,thegirlwithfourdistinctivepersonalities,recordedbyMortonPrince.(IhavediscusseditintheTheOccult).ButhestartsChapterOne:'Therealityofaninvisibleworldsurroundingthephysicalworldisformanydifficulttocomprehend,andthemindsphereisoftenlimitedtothevisibleandtangible;however,itrequiresbutlittlethoughttorealizetheconstantchangeofmatterasitoccursinthreeforms,solid,liquidandgaseous,initsrangebackandforthbetweenthevisibleandtheinvisible...'Andsoon'...Consideringthewonderfuladvancementofscienceintothefieldofnature'sfinerforcesitisinconceivablethatanythinkingmindcanfailtorecognizetherationaleoftheindependentexistenceofthehumanspiritapartfor[sic]thephysicalbody.'Thiswritingisbasicallygobbledygook.Thebookmayormaynotbevalueless;butitwillcertainlyconvincenoonebuttheconverted.

Ontheotherhand,Gauquelin'sstudydealswithbiologicalclocks,howanimalsandplantsknowthetimeofday,andkindredsubjects.Openingitatrandom,IfindinChapterEleven:

'Around1950,aswewerepreparingourcritiqueoftraditionalastrology,wefoundourselvesconfronted,somewhatunwillingly,withastrangeresult.Inoneofourresearchsamples—composedofthebirthdatesof576membersoftheFrenchAcademyofMedicine—thefrequencyofthepositionofcertainplanetswasaltogetherunusual.Thephenomenondidnotcorrespondtoanyofthetraditionallawsofastrology,butitwasinteresting,nevertheless.WhatwehadobservedwasthatalargenumberoffuturegreatphysicianswerebornwhentheplanetsMarsandSaturnhadjustrisenorculminatedinthesky...'Hegoesontodescribehowhetookasecondsampleof508physicians—alongjob,sincetheactualhourofbirthisnotincludedinmostreferencebooks—andagaindiscoveredthatmostofthemwerebornaftertheriseortheculminationofMarsandSaturn.

Onecansensethewholeworldofdifferencebetweenthetwoextractsquoted.Oneisbyaspiritualistwhoisdeterminedtosoundlikeascientist;oneisbyscientistwhofindshimselfflyingtoexplainfactsthatsofarhavenoplaceintheframeworkofscience.Gauquelingoesontoproducevarioushypothesesabouttheinfluenceof'cosmicclocks'onourphysicalmake-up.IdonotknowwhetherheisabetterscientistthanDrWickland,orwhetherheismorereliable.AllIknowisthatheistreatinghissubjectmatterlikeatraditionalscientist.ThisishowRutherfordandhiscolleaguesworkedwhenitwasaquestionofexploringthe'invisible'realmoftheinsideoftheatom;thefactsaretakenintoaccount,hypothesesareconstructedtofitthem,andthenresearchisundertakentotrytouncovermorefacts,toconfirmordenythetheories.

The'occult'hasnotyetqualifiedforrecognitionasascience.Butthedaywhenoccultistsandspiritualistshadtopleadtobetakenseriouslyispast.Certainfactsarelyingaroundwherescientistscannothelptrippingoverthem.Andthatisasituationwhichthetidymindofthescientistfindsintolerable.AsCharlesFortmighthaveexpressedit:Iftheoccultdidnotexist,sciencewouldbecompelledtoinventit.