620. Crystal-vision, then, like hypnotic trance, might have been gradually evolved by a series of reasoned experiments, along an unexceptionable scientific road.

In reality, of course, this prehistoric practice must have been reached in some quite different way. It does not fall within the scope of this book to trace the various streams of divination which converge into Dr. Dee's magic, and "the attracting of spirits into the ball." But it is really to the Elizabethan Dr. Dee - one of the leading savants of his time - that the credit must be given of the first systematic attempt to describe, analyse, and utilise these externalised pictures.1

From the time of Dr. Dee the practice had continued, faintly and intermittently, in England as in many other countries. The "Miss A." of our Proceedings (vol. viii. p. 498) had her attention directed to this psychical artifice by a spontaneous symbolical vision of a golden key lying at the bottom of a glass of water. I saw her use a crystal; tried it myself, but in vain; and begged others to try it. Several of these experimenters proved successful; especially Miss Goodrich-Freer, whose careful observations have been, in my view, of great importance in showing the wide range of phenomena which this simple artifice can induce. Other observers ("Miss Angus," etc.) have followed; and it is already clear that we have here one of the most puissant "autoscopes" (to use a word of Professor Barrett's) which experimental psychology can offer.

621. Before citing individual cases, it will be well to describe briefly the general type of the experiment, and to see how near we can get to a psychological explanation.

Let the observer gaze, steadily but not fatiguingly, into some speculum, or clear depth, so arranged as to return as little reflection as possible. A good example of what is meant will be a glass ball enveloped in a black shawl, or placed in the back part of a half-opened drawer; so arranged, in short, that the observer can gaze into it with as little distraction as may be from the reflection of his own face or of surrounding objects. After he has tried (say) three or four times, for ten minutes or so at a time - preferably in solitude, and in a state of mental passivity - he will perhaps begin to see the glass ball or crystal clouding, or to see some figure or picture apparently in the ball. Perhaps one man or woman in twenty will have some slight occasional experience of this kind; and perhaps one in twenty of these seers (the percentages must as yet be mainly guess-work) will be able by practice to develop this faculty of inward vision up to a point where it will sometimes convey to him information not attainable by ordinary means.

How comes it, in the first place, that he sees any figure in the crystal at all? Common hypnotic experiments supply two obvious answers, each of which no doubt explains some part of the phenomena.

In the first place, we know that the hypnotic trance is often induced by gazing at some small bright object. This may or may not be a mere effect of suggestion; but it certainly sometimes occurs, and the "scryer" consequently may be partially hypnotised, and in a state which facilitates hallucinations.

1 For prehistoric and historic crystal-gazing see Mr. Andrew Lang's Making of Religion, and Miss Goodrich-Freer's "Recent Experiments in Crystal-Vision," Proceedings S.P.R., vol. v. p. 486, to both of which I refer in 620 A.

In the second place, a hypnotised subject - hypnotised but in a fully alert state - can often be caused by suggestion to see (say) a portrait upon a blank card; and will continue to see that portrait on that card, after the card has been shuffled with others; thus showing that he discerns with unusual acuteness such points de repère, or little guiding marks, as may exist on the surface of even an apparently blank card.

Correspondently with the first of these observations, we find that crystal-vision is sometimes accompanied by a state of partial hypnotisation, perhaps merging into trance. This has been the case with various French hysterical subjects; and not only with them but with that exceptionally sound and vigorous observer, Mr. J. G. Keulemans. His evidence (see Proceedings S.P.R., vol. viii. pp. 516-521) is just what one would have expected à priori on such a matter.

Correspondently with the second of the above observations, we find that points de repère do occasionally seem to determine crystal-visions.

This, again, has been noticed among the French hysterical subjects; and not only with them, but with another among our best observers, Mrs. Verrall (see 623 A).