The phenomena of Psychomancy may be divided into three general classes, depending upon the nature of the "seeing," as follows:

I. Simple Psychomancy, by which is meant the power of "sensing" by means of the Astral Senses in the degree of a mere "quickening" of the Astral Senses sufficiently to enable one to "sense" more clearly any etheric vibrations or currents; the auric emanations of persons and things; and similar phases of Psychomantic phenomena; but which does not include the power to sense actual occurrences happening in distant places; nor the power to sense the records of the past, or to receive indications of the future.

II. Space Psychomancy, by which is meant the power to sense distant scenes, persons, or objects.

III. Time Psychomancy, by which is meant the power to sense objects, events, persons, etc., in the records of the past; and also the power to sense the indications of the future—the "shadows of coming events."

Simple Psychomancy is very much more common than is generally supposed. Very many people are quite sensitive to "impressions" coming to them in this way, which while akin to the impressions of Telepathy, nevertheless belong to the higher grade of Psychic Phenomena known as Psychomancy. It may be well to state here the difference between ordinary Telepathic impressions, and those of Simple Psychomancy. Many students are perplexed by the similarity between the two mentioned classes of phenomena, and we think it advisable to set them straight regarding the matter, at this point.

As we have stated in our previous work in this series, (entitled "Practical Mind Reading") Telepathy is occasioned by the passage of Thought Waves or Currents, passing from one brain to another, just as pass the waves of Heat, Light, Electricity, etc. In Telepathy the brain of the Transmitter sends forth the vibration, waves, or currents, and the brain of the Receiver registers the same, receiving them by means of the Pineal Gland which acts in a manner closer resembling that of the receiving instrument in Wireless Telegraphy. In Telepathy there is merely the sending and receiving of thought vibrations, over the physical organs.

But in Simple Psychomancy, the person may, and does, receive the thought vibrations emanating from the mind of another, but not over the physical channels, as in Telepathy, but by means of the Astral Senses. In this lies the difference.

Now, it follows that the Astral Senses being far more keen and acute than the Physical Senses, the former will register vibrations and impressions far more readily than the latter, and will often register impressions that the Physical Senses (even the Pineal Gland organ) take no account of. In this way the person in whom the Astral Senses are even partially developed will receive impressions of the thoughts of others that even the most acute Mind Reader will fail to notice; as well as words actually spoken by the other person; and ideas forming in the mind of the other person not yet expressed in active thought-waves.

But, it should be added, the development of Telepathic powers very frequently grow into a development of Psychomantic powers, and so the former is one of the easiest paths to the latter, and may be used in developing Clairvoyant power, and in unfolding the Astral Senses. In this way the person possessing even a moderate degree of Psychomantic power often "feels" the thoughts, ideas, emotions, and other mental states of the people around him, and knows without any words being used just what the others are thinking and feeling. This is often perceived by merely the increased power to receive and register the Thought-vibrations, but in some cases the ability to sense the "Aura" of the other persons heighten the impression.

THE AURA

The majority of our readers are familiar with the fact that all persons, and objects, are surrounded by an emanation called an "Aura," or egg-shaped psychic emanation extending several feet around them. This aura is charged with the thought-vibrations of the persons, and is really the "atmosphere" that we feel surrounding people and by which we feel attracted or repelled as the case may be. The trained and developed Psychomancer is able to see the colors by which the various emotions, thoughts, etc., are indicated, but even when that degree of power is lacking, he may "feel" the general character of the various component parts of the person's aura.

While it is not our intention to go deeply into this matter of Auric Colors, in this work, still we think it well to indicate the same here, by quoting from a well-known authority on the subject, who says: "As he looks at a person he will see him surrounded by the luminous mist of the astral aura, flashing with all sorts of brilliant colors, and constantly changing in hue and brilliancy with every variation of the person's thoughts and feelings. He will see this aura flooded with the beautiful rose-color of pure affection; the rich blue of devotional feeling; the hard dull brown of selfishness; the deep scarlet of anger; the horrible lurid red of sensuality; the livid grey of fear; the black clouds of hatred and malice; or any of the other hundredfold indications so easily to be read in it by a practiced eye; and thus it will be impossible for any persons to conceal from him the real state of their feelings on any subject."

But only a comparatively few are able to distinctly see these Auric Colors, by reason of their lack of development along these special lines. But a great number of people are able to feel the subtle vibrations which give rise to these colors. Just as there are well authenticated cases of blind men and women being able to distinguish by the sense of feeling (in touch) the various colors which their blind eyes fail to see, so are thousands of people able to feel the auric shades which their imperfectly developed clairvoyant vision fails to perceive. In this connection it is interesting to note that science informs us that the sense of Feeling was the first developed of any of the physical senses; in fact all the other senses are developments of, and extensions of, the original sense of Feeling. And there is a close correspondence between this phenomena of the Physical Senses, and that of the Astral Senses.

But there are other, and perhaps more wonderful, features of Simple Psychomancy. It is a well established scientific fact that nearly, if not indeed all, objects are constantly emanating streams of Radiant Energy, or Streams of Electrons as they are called by some. The delicate instruments of science are able to detect and register some of the coarser vibrations of this energy, but the more delicate ones have so far escaped them. But the Astral Senses of the developed Psychomancer register and record many of the finer vibrations, and in this way many so-called "miracles" of occultism are explained. Let us examine this phenomena at this point.

It becomes apparent to any student of the subject, early in his investigations, that the Psychomancer is able to "see" things hidden by other objects, and often surrounded by the densest matter. In other words he is able to see through solid objects—to see "through a brick wall" to use the familiar phrase. Now this may seem almost incredible to one at the first mention of the subject. But when the skeptic's attention is called to the fact that the "X Rays" and similar forms of energy recently discovered by science, readily pierce through solid objects, and may be actually "seen" by the eye (aided by the proper instruments), or recorded on a photographic plate—then the impossible feat of "seeing though a brick wall" becomes a very simple, understandable matter, indeed. And in an almost identical manner the Psychomancer sees through solid object—and the most solid material becomes transparent to his Astral Sight.

The fine streams or waves of energy constantly being emanated by all objects, which are invisible to the naked physical eye, are registered and recorded by the Astral Sense of Sight. The Psychomancer even by means of the comparatively elementary power of Simple Psychomancy is able to see what is going on in an adjoining room, or other nearby place; to read the contents of a sealed letter; to describe the contents of a locked, steel book; or to read a chosen passage in a closed book.

To the developed and trained Psychomancer, when he concentrates his power, the solid ground over which he is walking, becomes transparent, and he is able to see down into its depths to a considerable distance. In this way he may see living underground creatures at work, and play; and to discover veins of mineral, coal, etc., or underground streams of water. In these cases the Clairvoyant does not travel in the Astral, but merely receives and perceives the subtle vibrations or streams of fine energy constantly being emanated by the objects. Some Clairvoyants have developed certain other less common faculties of Astral Sight, which give the "telescopic" and "microscopic" vision in these cases, in addition to the main faculty of "seeing" things through solid coverings.

The question will naturally arise in the mind of the student, whether there is any limit to the depths open to the Astral Sight of the Psychomancer (in this phase of the phenomena), as for instance when he is looking into the solid earth. It may be urged that as objects at immense distances underground emanate rays just as truly as do objects nearer the surface, then there should be no difference in the power of vision. Answering this question we would say that the same objection and obstacle arises in this case, as in the corresponding physical phenomena, such as the X Rays. While a far distant object emits rays just as well as a nearby one, still there is a loss of energy according to distance, and the Astral Sense, like the Physical Sense, fails to clearly register after a certain distance is attained. This distance varies in the case of different persons using their Astral Vision, just as it does in the case of the different degrees of eyesight possessed by various persons. And then again, it must not be supposed that the earth becomes as clear as glass to the Astral Vision. On the contrary it presents a similar appearance to that obtained when one is seeing objects through water or mist, with the physical eye. One can see quite a way through water or mist with the physical eye, but after a certain distance the impressions grow dim, and finally fade from view. Of course in the case of the erecting of the Astral Tube better results may be obtained, but this phenomena belongs to the class of Space Psychomancy.

There is another power open to the Psychomancer along the lines of Simple Psychomancy. We refer to the phenomena of "seeing into" the physical bodies of other people; examining the internal organs; diagnosing diseases, etc. Of course, in this case, before the Clairvoyant is able to correctly diagnose a disease he must be acquainted with the nature of the organs, and their appearance in their normal state, etc., so that he will recognize a diseased condition when he sees it. One must needs have an acquaintance with Anatomy and Physiology, as well as possessing trained Psychomantic powers for this work.