Rigidity, or tetanus of the muscles, also occurs, and a thousand and one other phenomena over which scientists have been so puzzled, not having the key. This key is, that every one of these acts, from tetanus to double - tasting or picture - seeing where none exists, are pure "suggestions," many of which are unconsciously made by the hyp - notizer. He has possession of the physical brain of his subject to an extent of which he is little aware, and it responds to his most subtle, unworded thought. "Suggestion" is only the obedience by the subject's body and brain to the same will currents and finer forces by means of which he governs his own body and mind; and could not take place, even in ordinary, unhypnotic suggestions, if the center of consciousness had not relaxed, to a certain degree at least, its hold upon its own body. In lethargic hypnosis this hold is loosened until it amounts to a practical abandonment of its tenement.

But this center of consciousness can not be annihilated. Driven from its physical habitation, it will, under a more determined effort of the hypnotizer, or under the impetus of the self - hypnotizer's will, reappear, functioning in more and more ethereal bases, or "Principles," until it finally retreats or is driven to a point where the will of the hypnotizer, no matter how powerful, can no longer control it. This may be called the Noetic or Man - asic point, as distinguished from the lower, or psychic states. There are many substages before this point of freedom is reached in which this Center, using bases more and more spiritualized, displays apparently more and more "supernatural" powers, which are only those appropriate to these planes of materiality. In all of them the subject is influenced and controlled to a greater or lesser degree by the will of the hypnotizer, and all opinions, ideas, and knowledge modified and measured by his. This, again, is the key to that large class of phenomena just a step above those of which we have spoken, and which may be termed psychic, as those below them were termed physical, and those above Noetic or Manasic.

It is in this psychic realm that almost all of the so-called "spiritual" manifestations find their habitat, when these display any intelligence at all. This is the home of "seers" and "clairvoyants," of fakirs and fortune-tellers. For he who can by self-hypnosis, or by the aid of another, establish his consciousness upon this psychic plane, will find himself possessed of powers which are just as natural here as ordinary sight and hearing are on the physical. One of the most important of these is the ability to sense thought without its having been materialized in words. This is known as "mind-reading," and all those who reach this plane can do this to a greater or lesser degree. Direct perception, without the intervention of the physical senses, at least, appears upon the higher of these psychic or somnambulic planes, as is shown in cases where hypnotized subjects have correctly diagnosed and located physical ailments, unsuspected before their pointing them out, and verified by subsequent post-mortem examinations. These diagnoses, however, are strictly limited upon this psychic plane to self-diagnosis, or at least have little or no value if they are attempted to be made upon another person.

Wonderful as many of the feats done by psychics are, they still fall under the classification of mind - reading; for any information which they give must, to be accurate, already exist in the mind of some one present. Thus, one of the most noted, the celebrated Alexis, failed completely to read an unopened letter, the contents of which were unknown to his interlocutor, although he correctly described the personal appearance and surroundings of the sender, which were known. Had the contents been subjected to even a single reading, Alexis would no doubt have read the letter correctly, although his interlocutor could not have repeated it from memory, which shows how complete a picture of all the acts and thoughts of our life is recorded upon the physical tablets of the brain - an open book to whomsoever has the power to read. It also indicates how marvelously mental powers are quickened when the mind no longer functions through its lowest or molecular vehicle.

But far above all these psychic states lies the domain of true Mesmerism, with a class of phenomena peculiarly its own, and which are very seldom brought to view by the ordinary peripatetic, or even the "scientific,"hypnotizer. Indeed, it is this plane which the hypnotizer seeks to avoid, because, as he complains, his subject "gets beyond his control." Yet it is this very point which divides White from Black Magic; and all who stop short of it through ignorance or fear may know the class to which they belong. The very vibrations of the hypnotic state pertain to a lower plane of matter. They are Molecular', and can be produced by attuning the consciousness to molecular vibration, such as gazing at bright objects, etc., as pointed out above. The Mesmeric, Noetic, or manasic vibrations are Atomic, and proceed from a much higher plane, and in an exactly opposite direction. The vibrations in hypnotism pass from without within; those of Mesmerism from within without, in harmony with the law of evolution.

The one is on the plane of Kama, or selfish desire, and is destructive in its nature; the other on that of Manas, unselfishness, and is creative, life-giving, Cosmic Magnetism. As pointed out by Wm. Q. Judge, * "the process going on in hypnotism is the contraction of the cells of the body and the brain from the periphery to the center. This is actually a phenomenon of death, and is the opposite of the mesmeric effect. Magnetism by human influence starts from within and proceeds to the outer surface, thus exhibiting a phenomenon of life the very opposite of hypnotism." If we remember that the occult definition of an atom is the seventh or conscious principle of a molecule, we can see that the play of the one is on the plane of blind, the other of intelligent, force, respectively. This is why the action of Mesmerism is curative and helpful in its nature. It is acting in harmony with nature's processes; it is the evolution from within without, under which law the whole Universe exists.