Some who are firmly wedded to the spiritistic theory resent the statement of occultists that this form of phenomena may be explained without the necessity of the “spirits.”  But the best ground for the statement of the occultists is that many advanced occultists are able to produce such phenomena, consciously, by an act of pure will, accompanied by the power of mental picturing.  They first picture the astral extension, and then will the projection of the astral and the passage of the prana (or vital force) around the pattern of the mental image.  In the case of some very highly developed occultists the astral thought-form of their body becomes so charged with prana that it is able to move physical objects.  There are not mere theories, for they may be verified by any occultist of sufficiently high development.

I do not wish to intimate that the mediums are aware of the true nature of this phenomena, and consciously deceive their followers.  On the contrary, most of them firmly believe that it is the “spirits” who do the work; unaware that they are unconsciously projecting their astral bodies, charged with prana, and performing the feat themselves.  The best mediums, however, will generally tell you that they strongly “wish” that the thing be done, and a little cross-examination will reveal the fact that they generally make a clear mental picture of the actual happening just before it occurs.  As I have already stated, however, the best proof is the fact that advanced occultists are able to duplicate the phenomena deliberately, consciously, and at will.  I do not think that detracts from the wonder and interest in the so-called “spiritistic” phenomena; on the contrary, I think that it adds to it.

Again invading the realm of the “spirits,” I would say that occultists know that many cases of so-called materialization of “spirit-forms” take place by reason of the unconscious projection of the astral body of the medium.  Moreover, such a projection of the astral body may take on the appearance of some departed soul, by reason of the mental picture of that person in the mind of the medium.  But, it may be asked if the medium has never seen the dead person, how can he or she make a mental picture of him or her.  The answer is that the minds of the persons present who knew the dead person tend to influence the appearance of the nebulous spirit form.  In fact, in most cases the medium is unable to produce the phenomenon without the psychic assistance of those in the circle.  In this case, also, I would say that the advanced occultist is able to duplicate the phenomena at will, as all who have enjoyed the privilege of close acquaintance with such persons are aware.

The fact the medium is usually in a trance condition aid materially in the ease with which the phenomena are produced.  With the conscious mind stilled, and the subconscious mind active, the astral phenomena are produced with much less trouble than would be the case if the medium were in the ordinary condition.