And here it may be observed as a subtle and strange thing, approaching
to magic apparently, as understood by HARTMANN and his school, that
the Will sometimes, when much developed, actually manifests something
like an independent personality, or at least seems to do so, to an
acute observer. And what is more remarkable, it can have this freedom
of action and invention delegated to it, and will act on it.

Thus, in conversation with HERKOMER, the Artist, and Dr. W. W.
BALDWIN, Nov. 2d, 1878, the former explained to me that when he would
execute a work of art, he just determined it with care or Forethought
in his mind, and gave it a rest, as by sleep, during which time it
unconsciously fructified or germinated, even as a seed when planted in
the ground at last grows upward into the light and air. Now, that the
entire work should not be too much finished or quite completed, and to
leave room for after-thoughts or possible improvements, he was wont,
as he said, to give the Will some leeway, or freedom; which is the
same thing as if, before going to sleep, we _Will_ or determine that
on the following day our Imagination, or Creative Force, or Inventive
Genius, shall be unusually active, which will come to pass after some
small practice and a few repetitions, as all may find for themselves.
Truly, it will be according to conditions, for if there be but little
in a man, either he will bring but little out, or else he must wait
until he can increase what he hath. And in this the Will _seems_ to
act like an independent person, ingeniously, yet withal obedient. And
the same also characterizes images in dreams, which sometimes appear
to be so real that it is no wonder many think they are spirits from
another world, as is true of many haunting thoughts which come
unbidden. However, this is all mere Thaumaturgy, which has been so
deadly to Truth in the old _a priori_ psychology, and still works
mischief, albeit it has its value in suggesting very often in Poetry
what Science afterwards proves in Prose.

To return to PARACELSUS, HEINE complains that his German is harder to
understand than his Latin. However, I think that in the following
passages he shows distinctly a familiarity with hypnotism, or
certainly, passes by hand and suggestion. Thus, chap, x, _de Ente
Spirituali_, in which the Will is described, begins as follows: "Now
shall ye mark that the Spirits rule their subjects. And I have shown
intelligibly how the _Ens Spiri