Through the Astral Tube the Astral Senses actually "sense" the sights, and often the sounds being manifested at a distance, just as one may see distant sights through a telescope, or hear distant sounds through a telephone, for instance. It also may be used as a microscope, as we shall see as we proceed. The student's attention is especially directed toward the fact that in this form of phenomena, the Psychomancer remains within his physical body, and does not travel in the Astral at all. He sees the distant scenes, just as a man sees them through a telescope. His consciousness remains within his physical body.

A well known writer on this subject has truly said: "* * * the limitations resemble those of a man using a telescope on the physical plane. The experimenter, for example, has a particular field of view which cannot be enlarged or altered; he is looking at his scene from a certain direction, and he cannot suddenly turn it all around and see how it looks from the other side. If he has sufficient psychic energy to spare, he may drop altogether the telescope that he is using, and manufacture an entirely new one for himself which will approach his objective somewhat differently; but, this is not a course at all likely to be adopted in practice. But it may be said, the mere fact that he is using Astral Sight ought to enable him to see it from all sides at once. And so it would, if he were using that sight in the normal way upon an object which was fairly near him—within his astral reach as it were; but at a distance of hundreds or thousands of miles the case is very different. Astral sight gives us the advantage of an additional dimension, but there is still such a thing as position in that dimension, and it is naturally a potent factor in limiting the use of the powers of its plane. * * * Astral sight, when it is cramped by being directed along what is practically a tube, is limited very much as physical sight would be under similar circumstances, though if possessed in perfection it will continue to show, even at that distance, the auras, and therefore all the emotions and most of the thoughts of the people under observation."

The Astral Tube, in connection with Psychomancy, is used in a variety of forms. It is often used unconsciously, and springs into existence spontaneously, under the power of some strong emotion, desire or will. It is also observed in some cases of hypnotic phenomena, in which the hypnotist uses his will to cause his subject to form an Astral Tube, and then report his impressions. It is also used by the trained Psychomancer, without the use of any "starting point," or "focal centre," simply by the exercise of his trained, developed and concentrated will. But its most familiar and common use is in connection with some object serving as a "starting point," or "focal centre."

The "starting point" or "focal centre," above mentioned, is generally either what is known as "the associated object" in the class of phenomena commonly known as "Psychometry," or else a glass or crystal-ball, or similar polished reflecting surface, in what is known as "Crystal Gazing." In the two next succeeding lessons, we shall consider these two forms of phenomena, respectively.

  LESSON V.

PSYCHOMETRY.

The phenomena commonly known as "Psychometry," is but one phase of Psychomancy—or it even may be said to be but a method employed to bring into action the Astral Senses. The Psychometrist merely gets into rapport with the distant scene; or period of time; or person; or object; by using some bit of physical material associated with that scene; time; person; objects; etc., in order to "open up communications" along the usual lines of Psychomancy. This has been compared to the use of objects associated with a thing in the case of memory. We all know how the sight of some object will recall at once memories of things long since forgotten to all appearances, but which memories have been merely stored away in the great storehouse of the mind, to be recalled readily when the "association" is furnished. What "association" is in the case of Memory, so is the material object presented as the "associated object" in Psychometry.

The Occult Teachings inform us that there is a psychic connection ever existing between things once associated, and that when we throw ourselves into the psychic current surrounding an object we may readily follow the current back until we reach the associated object for which we are seeking on the Astral Plane. In the Akashic Records (See Lesson IX) all memories are registered and recorded, and if we have a good starting point we may travel back until we find that which we desire. In the same way the "associated object" furnishes us with a ready means of starting our Astral Tube into being and use. This is the secret of the use of the lock of hair; the bit of clothing; the piece of metal or mineral, etc., used by Psychometrists.

A well known authority on the subject has said concerning Psychometry: "It may be asked how it is possible, amid the bewildering confusion of these records of the past, to find any particular picture when it is wanted. As a matter of fact, the untrained psychic usually cannot do so without some special link to put him in rapport with the subject required. Psychometry is an instance in point, and it is quite probable that our ordinary memory is really only another presentment of the same idea. It seems as though there were a sort of magnetic attachment or affinity between any particle of matter and the record which contains its history—and affinity which enables it to act as a kind of conductor between that record and the faculties of anyone who can read it. For instance, I once brought from Stonehenge a tiny fragment of stone, not larger than a pin's head, and on putting this into an envelope and handing it to a psychometrist who had no idea what it was, she at once began to describe the wonderful ruin from which it came, and the desolate country surrounding it, and then went on to picture vividly what were evidently scenes from its early history, showing that the infinitesimal fragment had been sufficient to put her into communication with the records connected with the spot from which it came. The scenes through which we pass in the course of our life seem to act in the same manner upon the cells of our brain as did the history of Stonehenge upon that particle of stone; they establish a connection with those cells by means of which our mind is put in rapport with that particular portion of the records, and so we 'remember' what we have seen."

THE FIVE METHODS

The method of Psychometry may be employed in a number of ways, among which are the following, all of which are subject to many variations and combinations:

1. Locating a person by means of a lock of hair, article of clothing, handkerchief, ribbon, piece of jewelry, bit of writing, etc. In this manner not only may a good Psychometrist locate the person, but will also be able to give an idea of his characteristics, habits, health, etc.

2. Describing a person's characteristics, past life, future, etc., by means of the rapport condition made possible by the person's presence.

3. Describing a present distant scene by means of a bit of mineral, plant, or similar object once located at the place.

4. Describing the surrounding underground characteristics by means of a bit of mineral, etc.

5. Getting into touch with the past history of an object, or its surroundings, by means of the object itself. For instance, a bullet from the battle-field may give the history of the battle; a bit of ancient pottery, the characteristics and habits of the people who made or used it, as well as the appearance of the land in which they dwell, etc.

In all of these phases, with their variations and combination, the student will see the operation of the phenomena under the various heads as classified by us in this work. Each Occurrence or