As we have previously stated, "Time Psychomancy" is a term used to designate that phase of the phenomena in which one senses objects, events, persons, etc., in the records of the past; and also in which he senses the indications of the future—"the shadows of coming events."

For convenience, we shall separate our consideration of the subject into two parts, viz.: (1) Past Time Psychomancy; and (2) Future Time Psychomancy.

Past Time Psychomancy is that phase of the phenomena which enables one to use his Astral Vision to explore the records of the past, and we shall now proceed to examine.

The first question that naturally arises in the minds of careful students, in connection with this phase of the phenomena, is, "How is the person able to sense the scenes, occurrences, and objects of the past? There are no vibrations emanating from past scenes, and as they no longer exist, how can anyone see them, by Astral Vision, or by any other means?" This question is a most proper one, for even those who readily grasp the explanation of Space Psychomancy find themselves at a loss to understand the Past Time Phenomena without a knowledge of the Occult Teachings on the subjects.

THE AKASHIC RECORDS

The secret of Past Time Psychomancy is found in the Occult Teachings of the "Akashic Records" by which is meant that on the higher planes of Universal Substance, there are to be found records of all that has happened and occurred during the entire World Cycle of which the present time forms a part. These records are preserved until the termination of the World Cycle, when they pass away with the World of which they are a record. This does not mean that there is any Great Book in which the doings, good and bad, of people are written down by the Recording Angel, as popular fanciful legends have it. But it does mean that there is a scientific occult basis for the popular legend, in spite of the sneers of the skeptics. We must turn to modern science for a corroboration. It is now taught by scientists that there is no such thing as a destruction of Energy, but that Energy always exists in some form. The Occult Teachings verify this, and go further, when they state that every action, thought, happening, event, occurrence, etc., no matter how small or insignificant, leaves an indelible record on the Akasha (or Universal Ether) with which Space is filled. In other words, every action, or scene, that has ever occurred or existed in the past, has left an impression in the Universal Ether, or Akasha, where it may be read by developed Psychomancy.

There is nothing especially wonderful about this, when you compare it with other facts in nature. Astronomy teaches us that light travels at the rate of 186,000 miles a second—and that there are fixed stars in space so far removed from the Earth that their light leaving them hundreds, yes, thousands, of years ago, is only now reaching our sight. In other words, when we look at some of the fixed stars, we do not see them as they now are, or where they now are, but merely see them where and how they were hundreds of years ago when the rays of light left them. Astronomers tell us that if one of these stars happened to be blotted out of existence hundreds of years ago, we would be still seeing the light that left them before the event—in other words would be seeing them hundreds of years after they had ceased to be. And our children, and children's children, for several generations would still see them, and would not learn of the terrible catastrophe for hundreds of years after it actually happened. The vibrations of light once set into motion would persist for centuries, and even for thousands of years after their source had disappeared. This is no wild occult fancy, but a well-proven and thoroughly-established scientific fact, as any one may see for himself by reference to any work on astronomy. And the same is true of waves of electricity, or electronic emanations, or waves of any kind of energy. Really, even in the physical view of things, nothing can exist without leaving a record in the Universal Ether. And so the Occult Teachings now find their corroboration in Modern Science.

Another illustration is found in the phenomena of the Memory of Man. Stored away in our brain cells are records of things, events, scenes, occurrences, people, and objects, registered there in past years. You often find yourself thinking about people, things and events of years long since passed away—and by a mere effort of the will you bring the records of these people, things, or events before your mental vision and see them reproduced in detail. Dissect a brain-cell and you will find no trace of the thing there—but nevertheless every exercise of memory proves that the record is there. And there is nothing more wonderful, or miraculous, in the Akashic Records of Past Events, than there is in the Memory Record of Past Events! The Universal Ether, or Akasha, has within itself a true and full record of anything, and everything, that has ever existed within its space. And if one develops the power to read these records at will, he has a full and complete key to the past, from the speaking of the Creative Word which began this great World Cycle.

But, in order to avoid a misapprehension, we must say to our students that none but the most advanced and highly-developed Occultists and Masters have clear access to the planes upon which these records are to be found. The majority of Psychomancers merely see on the "Lower Astral Plane" a reflection of the Akashic Records, which reflection may be compared to the reflection of the trees and landscape in a pond of water, which of course, is often more or less imperfect—distorted and disturbed by the ripples and waves occasioned by the passing breezes, and sometimes being made muddy and clouded. The records of the Past, open to the average Psychomancer, are merely "reflections of records," which are apt to be more or less distorted, or cloudy, by reason of the disturbances of the surface of the reflecting medium. This is a brief and simple statement of an important Occult scientific truth, which would require volumes to explain technically. The illustration of the reflecting surface of the water, however, is so true to the real facts that the student may confidently adopt the same as his mental image of the phenomena of Past Time Psychomancy.

In actual practice we find the phenomena of Past Time Psychomancy manifested principally along the line of Psychometry and Crystal Gazing, the consideration of which phases of phenomena has been made in previous lessons in this book. There are to be found, however, many instances of at least a partial manifestation of this phase of power among individuals in every-day life, who when meeting a person frequently get impressions (more or less correct) of his or her past life, past scenes, etc.

The German writer, Zschokke, in his autobiography, writes as follows regarding this power of Past Time Psychomancy possessed by him, and which was often set into operation when he came into the presence of strangers for the first time. He states: "It has happened to me sometimes, on my first meeting with strangers, as I silently listened to their discourse, that their former life, with many trifling circumstances therewith connected, or frequently some particular scene in that life, has passed quite involuntarily, and, as it were, dream-like, yet perfectly distinct, before me. During this time I usually feel so entirely absorbed in the contemplation of the stranger's life, that at last I no longer see clearly the face of the unknown wherein I undesignedly read, nor distinctly hear the voices of the speakers, which before served in some measure as a commentary on the text of their features. For a long time I held such visions as delusions of the fancy, and the more so as they showed me even the dress and emotions of the actors, rooms, furniture, and other accessories, but I soon discovered otherwise.

"On one occasion, in a gay mood, I narrated to my family the secret history of a seamstress who had just before quitted the room. I had never seen the young woman before. Nevertheless, the hearers were astonished and laughed, and would not be persuaded but that I had a previous acquaintance with her and the facts of her former life, inasmuch as what I had stated was perfectly true. I was not the less astonished than they to find that my vision agreed with reality."

"I then gave more attention to the subject, and as often as propriety allowed of it, I related to those whose lives had passed before me, the substance of my visions, in order to obtain from them a contradiction or verification thereof. On every occasion the confirmation followed, not without amazement on the part of those who gave it."

"One day, in the city of Waldshut, I entered an inn (the Vine) in company with two young students. We supped with a numerous company at the table d'hote, where the guests were making very merry with the peculiarities of the Swiss, with Mesmer's magnetism, Lavater's physiognomy, etc. One of my companions, whose national pride was wounded by their mockery, begged me to make some reply, particularly to a handsome young man who sat opposite to us, and who had allowed himself extraordinary license. This man's life was at that moment presented to my mind. I turned to him, and asked whether he would answer me candidly if I related to him some of the most secret passages of his life, I knowing as little of him personally as he did of me. He promised, if I were correct, to admit it frankly. I then related what my vision had shown me, and the whole company were made acquainted with the private history of the young merchant—his school years, his youthful errors, and, lastly, with a fault committed in reference to the strong-box of his principal. I described the uninhabited room with whitened walls, where, to the right of the brown door, on a table, stood a black money-box, etc. A dead silence prevailed during the whole narrative, which I alone occasionally interrupted by inquiring whether I spoke the truth. The startled young man confirmed every particular, and even, what I had scarcely expected, the last mentioned. Touched by his candor, I shook hands with him, and said no more. He is, probably, still living."