Thus, we find that hypnotism offers to us utility in: Curing certain ailments; as an anaesthetic for minor and some of the greater operations; as a means of education; as a means of correcting bad habits and curing those habits that have taken on a material form; as a means of elevating the morals; of awakening latent talent; of creating an interest in life; of aiding the mind in concentration in thus paving the way to success; of teaching the methods of relaxing and obtaining more perfect rest; of aiding nature. In short, hypnotism is the open door through which we may pass to something grander without antagonizing the belief of our neighbors or of our friends.

But, when we mention Psychology, hypnotism forms such a small part that we are prone to cast it aside in our eagerness to see the wonders that lie beyond. These are divided into so many branches that the beginner becomes confused and will see no system to it at all. I will gladly admit that it is rather chaotic. In hypnotism we have some reason for the phenomena that are produced, but in this field, although we have some excellent theories, theories that do not rasp harshly on the ear of reason, we really cannot explain even theoretically some of the things that are known to happen. And these phenomena occur whether the one experiencing them has ever heard of the occult or not. There are more cases on record where the desire to look into these hidden subjects was awakened by some unlooked-for incident than where the desire preceded to phenomena.

Men and women will say, "There is nothing occult in life; why follow anything that is termed 'occult?'"

So there is nothing occult in life? Everything has a scientific system that has been deduced by man, everything is understood? What then, is the purpose of it all, what proof have we that we do not dream? What is life? Answer it in a rational manner - not by figures of speech that imply naught. All that is is occult as far as we are concerned. so, when we term certain phases of psychology occult, we do so on good grounds.

On the one hand, we find some well defined rules to follow. On the other, we stumble blindly along. One man tells us that he produces his phenomena through the agency of disembodied spirits; the next man laughs at the idea and says that the phenomena are all due to the psychic to others inherent in every mind. Both have good claims and, where the moment of fraud does not enter, we find it hard to disprove the claims of either. Build a theory relative to these studies and it is not difficult to a through the help of psychology!

Suggestion is a thing of tangibility. We find it employed in adver-in conversation, in schools, in factories, in politics: in short, in an walks of life. Some know that they are using suggestion and some don't know nor care what it is; they know how to use it and that is the main point.

But we turn to the hidden portions of mind-study and what do we find? Millions of people obeying something they receive in this manner and not daring to say so, simply because they cannot give any reason for their actions, for their belief! When people have reasons for doing things, they will defend their claims, but if they have no footing for an argument they would rather avoid the subject. If a man came to me and said, "Sir, even admitting that you can produce these phenomena, what real good can you see in these things for the human race? I will admit the utility of concentration, of relaxation, of psychology as it can be used, but, I do say that these other branches are all bosh. Can you defend them?" No, I am sorry to say that I cannot. I know that there is much that is true about them; I know that much is false. There we stand. However, we will look at this branch of psychology briefly, trying to find something plausible and viewing the rest from a purely curious standpoint.

Intuition is the first sign we have of the occult. We are not all born with that power. Some men and women can depend on their reason to the exclusion of all other means of gaining knowledge, or of assimilating it after it is gained. Others will find that they "feel" that things are true or false and yet they cannot tell why. How often have you, most of you, said, "I don't like that man but I can't tell why?" There is a something within you that tells you that you do not like him. Sometimes you try to deduce this to a system and believe that it may be the color of his eyes, the way he acts, the shape of his chin or something else. If you are conversant with these means of reading character you will be able to tell much that way. But if you are not, try to use your "system" on someone else. You will find that you are in error. It is that "still small voice" that warns you. If you heed its warnings you will profit thereby; if you do not. you may lose.

Have you never felt that you should postpone a trip or a visit? You didn't know why you felt that way. Perhaps you didn't heed this inner warning; perhaps you did. We will assume that you did not; you forgot the feeling after you had started; you had shaken it off. But on that journey you met with an accident. What was the result? You remembered your warning and were angry because you didn't heed it. Cultivated, in cases where it has been known to exist, this power can be put to account. The man who is born without these powers necessarily cannot see that there is anything to them. He justly says that, even though there may be a primal element there, it will be carried to superstitious excess. Although superstition is one thing and intuition another, people will ever have omens upon which they depend. Great men, brainy men, will have some little charm. Others have some signs; they will not do things on certain days. Thousands of people are believers in these omens. They will not always admit it, but they keep on believing.

The great Bruce, lying on his back and idly watching a little spider make six unsuccessful attempts at swinging to the opposite side of the place where it was spinning its web and succeeding the seventh time, took it as an omen. Six times had he failed; once more he tried. He won! Had he not seen the spider it is likely that he would not have tried again. But we may call this coincidence. We may say that Bruce realized that there was a lesson of patience and perseverance to be learned from that little spider. But it was that awakening of something "occult" that gave him the heart the seventh time. It was his intuition that spurred him on to success.