I will give you a typical case, taken from an old German book, which thoroughly illustrates the principles involved in cases of this kind.  Understand this case, and you will have the secret and working principle of them all.  The story is told by an eminent German physician of the last century.  He relates that he was consulted by one of his patients, a wealthy farmer living near by.  The farmer complained that he was disturbed every night by strange noises which sounded like someone pounding iron.  The disturbances occurred between the hours of ten o’clock and midnight, each and every night.  The physician asked him if he suspected anyone of causing the strange trouble.  The farmer answered that he suspected an old enemy of his, an old village blacksmith living several miles away from his farm.  It appears that an old long-standing feud between them had broken out afresh, and that the blacksmith had made threats of employing his “hex” (witchcraft) powers on the old farmer.  The blacksmith was reputed to be a sort of “hex” or male-witch, and the farmer believed in his diabolic powers and was very much in fear of them.  So you see the ideal condition for psychic receptivity was present.

The physician called on the blacksmith, and taking him by surprise, gazing sternly into his eyes and asked him:  “What do you do every night between ten and twelve o’clock?” The blacksmith, frightened and disturbed, stammered out:  “I hammer a bar of iron every night at that time, and all the while I think intently of a bad neighbor of mine who once cheated me out of some money; and I ‘will’ at the same time that the noise will disturb his rest, until he will pay me back my money to get peace and quiet.”  The physician bade him to desist from his evil practices, under threats of dire punishment; and then went to the farmer and made him straighten out the financial dispute between the two.  Thereafter, there was no more trouble.

So you see in this case all the necessary elements were present.  First there was the belief of the blacksmith in his own powers—­this gave him self-confidence and psychic power.  Then there was the belief and fear on the part of the farmer—­this made him an easy subject, and very susceptible to psychic induction, etc.  Then there was the action of the blacksmith beating the iron—­this gave force and clearness to his visualization of the idea he wished to induce in the mind of the other.  And, finally, there was his will employed in every stroke, going out in the direction of the concentrated wish and purpose of influencing the farmer.  You see, then, that every psychic element was present.  It was no wonder that the old farmer was disturbed.