The Law of Psychic Phenomena A working hypothesis for the systematic study of hypnotism, spiritism, mental therapeutics, etc.

CHAPTER XX.

Chapter 20121 wordsPublic domain

PHANTASMS OF THE DEAD.

Ghosts.--Scientific Investigations.--Tentative Classification of Phenomena.--Power to create Phantasms demonstrated.--Investigations of the London Society for Psychical Research.--Spirit Photography.--Projection of the "Astral Body."--Witches.--Conditions necessary.--The same in all Cases.--Spirit "Materialization."--Magicians.--Ghosts the Creations of the Subjective Entity.--Eliphas Levi's Views.--Raising the Devil.--Crystal Visions.--Propositions established.--Embodied Thoughts.--Phantasms not Spirits.--Uniform Characteristics.--A New Classification.--Conditions of Objectivity and Persistency.--Haunted Houses.---No General Intelligence manifested.--D'Assier's Statements.--A Remarkable Case.--Ghosts Intensified Telepathic Visions.--Difference in Degree, not in Kind.--Ghosts not controllable by Suggestion.--Other Salient Peculiarities.--Ghosts neither prove nor disprove Immortality.--Mental Atmosphere of Houses.--Remarkable Cases.--Classification of Telepathic Phenomena.--Conclusions 286