longing on the other side, there must be a medium on
this, capable of receiving the messages. And when this medium is lacking
(as is usually the case) no communications are received. This fully
explains to us, it seems to me, why it is that messages of this nature
are so rarely received: the necessary conditions on this side are
lacking.

8. Such a theory would also enable us to understand one fact, very
puzzling to most investigators in this field. It is that one's friends
and relatives are almost invariably present immediately the medium goes
into the trance! Sometimes there is a wait, it is true, and they have to
be "sent for." But as a rule they are "on tap" at once--and, no matter
where we may be, they are there _instanter_--ready to communicate!

Of course such facts naturally lead one to suppose, _a priori_, that
these personages are not present at all, in reality, but merely the
medium's subliminal, personifying these various personages--no spirit
being concerned, directly or indirectly, with their production. This, I
say, is the natural view of the facts.

But on the theory above outlined the genuine nature of these messages
may readily be assumed. Suppose our friends and relatives are more or
less _en rapport_ with us all the time (like "guardian angels"). Time
and space need not be considered factors in the problem--since all
spirits say that they do not exist in "their" world. Then, all we should
have to do, in order to effect communication, would be to supply the
necessary conditions on this side--when the chasm would at once be
bridged, and communication established.

(I wish it to be distinctly understood, however, that I consider the
vast bulk of such messages the product of the medium's subliminal, and
not at all coming from the source from which they claim to proceed. I am
only arguing on general grounds for the _possibility_.)

9. It will be seen that I have spoken throughout the above argument of
the _trance_ as a necessary condition for communication, or at least
assumed that it is invariably present. Why should the trance state have
this effect? What is the nature of the trance, and what peculiarity
within it renders these results possible?

The sceptic might begin by questioning the fact itself; but I think it
now so well established that argument on this score is unnecessary.
Further, the deeper the trance, _ceteris paribus_, the better the
phenomena. There is no denying that fact. While ce