A bad man with the aid of evil spirits under his orders can cause harm to his neighbors, and certain persons who possess strong Occult and Magnetic Powers of which they may make bad use are always seconded by evil spirits. The existence of these powers have been demonstrated, as there are spirits who give secret signs and words and direct certain acts and with the aid of a sorcerer can perform certain things. It is possible when a person confides and believes in a certain talisman to attract a spirit to him that will assist in performing what he desires, as a talisman has virtue and is a sign which assists both the spirit and a conjuror to concentrate their Occult power and bring about certain things. Those who are called sorcerers and conjurors of spirits are persons possessed with certain exceptional Occult Powers and you may not be amazed if such persons perform and bring about things that you do not comprehend. Occult powers are possessed by some to cure disease and is known as the gift of healing, and has very great action when seconded by purity of intention of soul and an ardent desire to relieve the suffering and infliction. Benedictions and curses have certain virtue, as the soul of man is subjected to opposite influences which are both good and evil.

A curse has also a decided action even upon matter and this action when it takes place is an increase of a trial for him who is its object. Curses are usually bestowed on the wicked and benedictions on the good. But neither blessing nor cursing can ever turn aside the justice of Providence, which only strikes the one who is cursed if he is wicked and only favor the one who is blessed if he merits its protection. Spirits besides working out their own personal amelioration co-operate in the production of harmony of the universe by executing the volitions of God, whose ministers they are. Spirit life is a continual occupation, but one that has nothing in common with the painful labor of the earthly life, because there is in it no bodily fatigue nor the anguish of bodily wants. Inferior and evil spirits all have duties to fulfill, as does the lowest mason, as does the lowest apprentice in the construction of a building, which is as useful as that of the architect. Spirits inhabit all regions and acquire the knowledge of all things, but as is taught in Hindu Sancrit there is a spirit and a time for everything. Thus one spirit is perfect, another will accomplish his amelioration or has already accomplished it at another period, upon the earth, in the water, in the air, etc.

All spirits have to ascend all the steps of the ladder in order to attain perfection. God, who is just, is not willed to give science to some without labor, while others only acquire it through painful effort Thus, among men, no one arrives .at the highest degree of skill in any art without having acquired the necessary knowledge through the practice of that art in all its degrees from the lowest upwards. Spirits of the highest order do not enter a state of absolute repose, as nothing can remain idle throughout eternity, for eternal idleness would be eternal torture and all spirits are incessantly occupied. That is to say, that their thoughts are always active, for living as they do a spiritual existence they live only in thought and mental activity. Their activity is itself a delight through the consciousness they have of being useful. This is easily understood as regards good spirits, but it is the same in regard to inferior spirits. Inferior spirits have occupations suitable to their nature. Would you entrust intellectual undertakings to an ignorant soul. Of course there are some spirits who do not employ themselves always in something useful and at times are idle, but this idleness is only temporary and depends on the development of their intelligence.

Certainly there are among spirits, as among men, some who live only for themselves, but their idleness weighs upon them, and, sooner or later, the desire to advance causes them to feel the need of activity and they are glad to make themselves useful. I speak of spirits who have arrived at the point at which they possess self-consciousness and free will, for, at their origin, they are like newborn children and act more from instinct than from a determinate will.