[In the little book just mention, “The Human Aura,” I gave some valuable information regarding the influence of colors in psychic healing, which I do not reproduce here as it is outside the scope and field of the present lessons.  Those who may feel interested in the subject are respectfully referred to the little manual itself.  It is sold for a nominal price by the publishers of the present work.]

In the form of psychic treatment which comes under the head of Suggestive Therapeutics, great insistence is laid upon the verbal suggestion to the patient, on the part of the healer.  The patient is told that he will get well; that his organs will function normally; etc., etc.  But the student of the present lessons will readily see that the only virtue in the spoken words consists in their power to evoke and induce the mental image of the desired condition in the mind of the patient.  The mental picture thus evoked produces a corresponding effect in the astral body of the patient, and sets into operation the materialization of desired results.  In addition, the words produce a strong mental picture in the mind of the healer himself, and thus give form and strength to his psychic vibrations which are being poured out toward the patient.  This is really the secret of suggestive treatment.

The many cults of metaphysical healing, in America and Europe, lay great stress upon what they call “affirmations,” which are but statements of the patient of his or her faith in the healing power of God, or of Mind, or Spirit, or Principle (different names are used).  The patient naturally has confidence aroused, and as naturally begins to picture the desired condition; this in turn reacting upon the astral body, and this upon the physical body or organ.  In addition, the healer’s mind is also set to work in the same way, and sets into motion the healing psychic forces in the way just mentioned.  You will notice that the same principle is always involved and set into operation and manifestation.

There is no particular virtue in the form of affirmation used by the healer or patient, except the important virtue of being able to arouse strong mental pictures of restored health, proper functioning, etc.  There is of course this also:  certain forms of affirmations or mental statements are better suited than others to the particular wants of certain persons.  For instance, a very religious person will be aroused better by affirmations and statements filled with religious sentiments and ideas; while a person of a purely scientific turn of mind will receive more benefit from affirmations in which the precise physiological functions are specifically mentioned; while the person who is fond of mystery and strange ceremonies will be better served in the affirmations or statements taken in the form of some magical incantation, etc.  The difference, however, lies in the mind of the patient, rather than in the words themselves.  Words are merely invokers of ideas—­symbols of ideas.  In themselves, words are nothing—­ideas are everything.