a persistent self-seeking spirit
will effectually shut the doors upon all visions whatsoever.
Therefore, above all things it is essential for the investigator to
have an unflinching love of truth, to be resigned to the will of
Heaven, to accept the revelations accorded in a spirit of grateful
confidence, and finally to dispel all doubt and controversy
by appeal to the eyes of one's own immortal soul. These are
qualifications with which the seer or seeress should be invested,
and if with these the quest is unsuccessful after a period of earnest
trial, it must be taken as sufficient warrant that the faculty is not
in the category of one's individual powers. Haply, the same
qualifications brought to bear upon some other psychic faculty
will result in a rich recompense.

CHAPTER III.

PRELIMINARIES

Having obtained a good Crystal, as free as possible from blemish,
care must be taken to keep it is much as possible in a dark place
when not in use. The best covering therefore is a black one of soft
material, such as velvet, which will not scratch the polished
surface of the quartz.[*] Exposure to the sun's rays not only scores
the faces of the crystal, but also puts the odylic substance into
activity, distributing and dissipating the magnetic force stored up
therein. It must not be understood that the visions are in the crystal
itself. They are in the soul of the seer. But the odylic substance is
acted upon by the nervo-vital emanations of the body of the seer,
and reacts upon the brain centres by means of the optic nerves.
That is why it is necessary to keep the crystal as free as possible
from disturbing elements. For the same reason, when in use, the
crystal should be overshadowed by the seer, and so placed that _no
direct rays_ of light from sun, or lamp, or gasalier may fall upon
it. The odyle, as has been already stated, rapidly responds to
surrounding magnetic conditions, and to the vibrations of
surrounding Bodies, and to none more powerfully than the etheric
perturbation caused by combustion--indeed, to light of any kind.

[*] It is bad policy to buy a cheap article. A good crystal
is more than worth the outlay. Our publishers supply crystals,
varying from 15s. 6d. upward, and from what we have seen of
them we can safely recommend them as reliable articles.

For similar reasons the room in which the sitting is conducted
should be only moderately warm and shady as possible, provided
it be not actually dark