A well-known writer on this subject has truthfully told us:  “We all know how great waves of feeling spread over a town, city or country, sweeping people off their balance.  Great waves of political enthusiasm, or war-spirit, or prejudice for or against certain persons, sweep over places and cause men to act in a manner that they will afterward regret when they come to themselves and consider their acts in cold blood.  They will be swayed by demagogues or magnetic leaders who wish to gain their votes or patronage; and they will be led into acts of mob violence, or similar atrocities, by yielding to these waves of contagious thought.  On the other hand, we all know how great waves of religious feeling sweep over a community upon the occasion of some great ‘revival’ excitement or fervor.”

These things being perceived, and recognized as true, the next question that presents itself to the mind of the intelligent student is this:  “But what causes the difference in power and effect between the thought and feeling-vibrations of different persons?” This question is a valid one, and arises from a perception of the underlying variety and difference in the thought vibrations of different persons.  The difference, my students, is caused by three principal facts, viz., (1) difference in degree of feeling; (2) difference in degree of visualization; and (3) difference in degree of concentration.  Let us examine each of these successively, so as to get at the underlying principle.

The element of emotional feeling is like the element of fire in the production of steam.  The more vivid and intense the feeling or emotion, the greater the degree of heat and force to the thought wave or vibratory stream projected.  You will begin to see why the thought vibrations of those animated and filled with strong desire, strong wish, strong ambition, etc., must be more forceful than those of persons of the opposite type.

The person who is filled with a strong desire, wish or ambition, which has been fanned into a fierce blaze by attention, is a dynamic power among other persons, and his influence is felt.  In fact, it may be asserted that as a general rule no person is able to influence men and things unless he have a strong desire, wish or ambition within him.  The power of desire is a wonderful one, as all occultists know, and it will accomplish much even if the other elements be lacking; while, in proper combination with other principles it will accomplish wonders.  Likewise, a strong interest in a thing will cause a certain strength to the thought-vibrations connected therewith.  Interest is really an emotional feeling, though we generally think of it as merely something connected with the intellect.  A cold intellectual thought has very little force, unless backed up by strong interest and concentration.  But any intellectual thought backed up with interest, and focused by concentration, will produce very strong thought vibrations, with a marked inductive power.