“Even the simpler and purely astral operation is a difficult one to describe, though quite an easy one to perform.  It may be said to partake somewhat of the nature of the magnetization of a bar of steel; for it consists in what we might call the polarization, by an effort of the human will, of a number of astral atoms reaching from the operator to the scene which he wishes to observe.  All the atoms thus affected are held for the time being with their axes rigidly parallel to one another, so that they form a kind of temporary tube along which the clairvoyant may look.  This method has the disadvantage that the telegraph line is liable to disarrangement or even destruction by any sufficiently strong astral current which happens to cross its path; but if the original creative effort were fairly definite, this would be a contingency of only infrequent occurrence.  The view of a distant scene obtained by means of this ‘astral current’ is in many ways not unlike that seen through a telescope.  Human figures usually appear very small, like those on a distant stage, but in spite of their diminutive size they are as clear as though they were close by.  Sometimes it is possible by this means to hear what is said as well as to see what is done; but as in the majority of cases this does not happen, we must consider it rather as the manifestation of an additional power than as a necessary corollary of the faculty of sight.”

I would feel that I had not done my whole duty to the student, or reader of this book, were I to conclude this chapter without pointing out a means of protection against the use of this phase of psychic influence against them on the part of some unscrupulous person; or for that matter, against the meddling influence of any person whatsoever, for any purpose whatsoever, without one’s permission and consent.  Therefore, I wish now to point out the general principles of self-protection or defense against this class of psychic influence.

In the first place, you must, of course, refuse to admit to your mind any feeling of fear regarding the influence of other persons—­for that is the open door to their influence, as I have pointed out to you.  If you have been, or are fearful of any persons psychic influence, you must get to work and drive out that feeling by positive and vigorous denials.  The denial, you remember, is the positive neutralizer of the psychic influence of another person, providing you make it in full belief of its truth.  You must take the position (which is a true one) that you are immune to the psychic attack or influence.  You should say, mentally, “I deny to any person the power to influence me psychically without my consent; I am positive to all such influences, and they are negative to me; I neutralize them by this denial!”