In some of the oldest records of the human race, the scriptures of the various peoples, we find that “laying on of hands” was the favorite method employed by the holy men and priests, and other performing healing work.  From the first there seems to have been an almost instinctive recognition on the part of man of the fact that there is a healing power in the touch of the hand.  Even ignorant and savage mothers instinctively apply their hands to the hurt bodies of their children—­a custom that has its counterpart in civilized races, by the way.  The child is taught to expect physical relief from the application of the mother’s hands, and its mind at once pictures relief.  Not only is the mental picture created, but the desire and confidence is established in the minds of both persons.  The same thing is true of all “laying on of hands,” and thus are the principles of all psychic influence brought into play.  But this is not all there is to it.  In the first place, there is an actual transference of prana from the body of the healer to that of the patient, which serves to energize and revitalize the cells and centres of the body of the latter.  In the second place, there is the effect upon the astral body of the patient, which tends to materialize better physical conditions.  In the third place, there is that combination and union of the minds of the two persons, which gives extra force and power to psychic influence.  Is it any wonder that cures take place under these circumstances?

In the modern revival of the almost lost art and science of psychic healing among the general public, there has been unusual stress laid upon the feature of “absent healing,” in which the patient and the healer are not in each other’s presence.  To many this has seemed actually miraculous, and as a positive proof of divine interposition.  But a little thought will show the student that such cures are not unknown in the pages of history, as a casual examination of the sacred books of almost any religion will show.  Moreover, the student will see that to the effect of certain principles of psychic influence there needs but to be added the principles of telepathic communication, or, better still, the principles of astral communication by some phases of clairvoyance, to account for the entire phenomena of “absent healing.”

Space is no barrier on the astral plane, as you have seen in the preceding chapters of this book.  Once the en rapport condition is established between healer and patient, and the rest is simple—­the astral body is induced to energize more actively, and as a result the physical manifestation is improved and normal functioning restored.  Of course, all this is wonderful enough—­all psychic phenomena is, for that matter; but, we see that we do not have to go outside of established occult laws, principles and facts in order to account for some of these modern miracles which have puzzled and perplexed so many good persons who have not known of the occult teachings, and who fear that the world is being turned upside down, and Nature’s laws overturned by these “new fangled” ideas and methods.