THE LAW OF ATTRACTION
IN THE THOUGHT WORLD.
THE
Universe is governed
by Law - one great Law. Its manifestations are multiform, but viewed
from
the Ultimate there is but one Law. We are familiar with some of its
manifestations,
but are almost totally ignorant of certain others. Still we are
learning
a little more every day - the veil is being gradually lifted.
We
speak learnedly of the
Law of Gravitation, but ignore that equally wonderful manifestation,
THE
LAW OF ATTRACTION IN THE THOUGHT WORLD. We are familiar with that
wonderful
manifestation of Law which draws and holds together the atoms of which
matter is composed - we recognize the power of the law that attracts
bodies
to the earth, that holds the circling worlds in their places, but we
close
our eyes to the mighty law that draws to us the things we desire or
fear, that makes or mars our lives.
When
we come to see that
Thought is a force - a manifestation of energy - having a magnet-like
power
of attraction, we will begin to understand the why and wherefore of
many
things that have heretofore seemed dark to us. There is no study that
will
so well repay the student for his time and trouble as the study of the
workings of this mighty law of the world of Thought - the Law of
Attraction.
When
we think we send out
vibrations of a fine ethereal substance, which are as real as the
vibrations manifesting light,
heat, electricity, magnetism. That these vibrations are not evident to
our five senses is no proof that they do not exist. A powerful magnet
will
send out vibrations and exert a force sufficient to attract to itself a
piece of steel weighing a hundred pounds, but we can neither see,
taste,
smell, hear nor feel the mighty force. These thought vibrations,
likewise,
cannot be seen, tasted, smelled, heard nor felt in the ordinary way;
although
it is true there are on record cases of persons peculiarly sensitive to
psychic impressions who have perceived powerful thought-waves, and very
many of us can testify that we have distinctly felt the thought
vibrations
of others, both whilst in the presence of the sender and at a distance.
Telepathy and its kindred phenomena are not idle dreams.
Light
and heat are manifested
by vibrations of a far lower intensity than those of Thought, but the
difference
is solely in the rate of vibration. The annals of science throw an
interesting
light upon this question. Prof. Elisha Gray, an eminent scientist, says
in his little book, "The Miracles of Nature":
"There
is much food
for speculation in the thought that there exist sound-waves that no
human ear can hear, and
color-waves
of light that no eye can see. The long, dark, soundless space between
40,000
and 400,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, and the infinity of
range
beyond 700,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, where light ceases,
in
the universe of motion, makes it possible to indulge in speculation."
M.
M. Williams, in his work
entitled "Short Chapters in Science," says:
"There
is no gradation
between the most rapid undulations or tremblings that produce our
sensation
of sound, and the slowest of those which give rise to our sensations of
gentlest warmth. There is a huge gap between them, wide enough to
include
another world of motion, all lying between our world of sound and our
world
of heat and light; and there is no good reason whatever for supposing
that
matter is incapable of such intermediate activity, or that such
activity
may not give rise to intermediate sensations, provided there are organs
for taking up and sensifying their movements."
I
cite the above authorities
merely to give you food for thought, not to attempt to demonstrate to
you
the fact that thought vibrations exist. The last-named fact has been
fully
established to the satisfaction of numerous investigators of the
subject,
and a little reflection will show you that it coincides with your own
experiences.
We
often hear repeated the
well-known Mental Science statement, "Thoughts are Things," and
we say these words over without consciously realizing just what is the
meaning of the statement. If we
fully comprehended
the truth of the statement and the natural consequences of the truth
back
of it, we should understand many things which have appeared dark to us,
and would be able to use the
wonderful
power, Thought Force, just as we use any other manifestation of Energy.
As
I have said, when we think
we set into motion vibrations of a very high degree, but just as
real
as the vibrations of light, heat, sound, electricity. And when we
understand
the laws governing the
production and
transmission of these vibrations we will be able to use them in our
daily
life, just as we do the better known forms of energy. That we cannot
see,
hear, weigh or measure these vibrations is no proof that they do not
exist.
There exist waves of sound which no human ear can hear, although some
of
these are undoubtedly registered by the ear of some of the insects, and
others are caught by delicate scientific instruments invented by man;
yet
there is a great gap between the sounds registered by the most delicate
instrument and the limit which man's mind, reasoning by analogy, knows
to be the boundary line between soundwaves and some other forms of
vibration.
And there are light waves which the eye of man does not register, some
of which may be detected by more delicate instruments, and many more so
fine that the instrument has not yet been invented which will detect
them,
although improvements are being made every year and the unexplored
field
gradually lessened.
As
new instruments are invented,
new vibrations are registered by them - and yet the vibrations were
just as real before the invention of the instrument as afterward.
Supposing
that we had no instruments to register magnetism - one might be
justified
in denying the existence of that mighty force, because it could not be
tasted, felt, smelt, heard, seen, weighted or measured. And yet the
mighty
magnet would still send out waves of force sufficient to draw to it
pieces
of steel weighing hundreds of pounds.
Each
form of vibration requires
its own form of instrument for registration. At present the human brain
seems to be the only instrument capable of registering thought waves,
although
occultists say that in this century scientists will invent apparatus
sufficiently
delicate to catch and register such impressions. And from present
indications
it looks as if the invention named might be expected at any time. The
demand
exists and undoubtedly will be soon supplied. But to those who have
experimented
along the lines of practical telepathy no further proof is required
than
the results of their own experiments.
We
are sending out thoughts
of greater or less intensity all the time, and we are reaping the
results
of such thoughts. Not only do our thought waves influence ourselves and
others, but they have a drawing power - they attract to us the thoughts
of others, things, circumstances, people, "luck," in accord with
the character of the thought uppermost in our minds. Thoughts of Love
will
attract to us the Love of others; circumstances and surroundings in
accord
with the thought; people who are of like thought. Thoughts of Anger,
Hate,
Envy, Malice and Jealousy will draw to us the foul brood of kindred
thoughts
emanating from the minds of others; circumstances in which we will be
called
upon to manifest these vile thoughts and will receive them in turn from
others; people who will manifest inharmony; and so on. A strong thought
or a thought long continued, will make us the center of attraction for
the corresponding thought waves of others. Like attracts like in the
Thought
World - as ye sow so shall ye reap. Birds of a feather flock together
in
the Thought World - curses like chickens come home to roost, and
bringing
their friends with them.
The
man or woman who is filled
with Love sees Love on all sides and attracts the Love of others. The
man
with hate in his heart gets all the Hate he can stand. The man who
thinks
Fight generally runs up against all the Fight he wants before he gets
through.
And so it goes, each gets what he calls for over the wireless
telegraphy
of the Mind. The man who rises in the morning
feeling "grumpy"
usually manages to have the whole family in the same mood before the
breakfast
is over. The "nagging" woman generally finds enough to gratify
her "nagging" propensity during
the day.
This
matter of Thought Attraction
is a serious one. When you stop to think of it you will see that a man
really makes his own surroundings, although he blames others for it. I
have known people who understood this law to hold a positive, calm
thought
and be absolutely unaffected by the inharmony surrounding them. They
were
like the vessel from which the oil had been poured on the troubled
waters
- they rested safely and calmly whilst the tempest raged around them.
One
is not at the mercy of the fitful storms of Thought after he has
learned
the workings of the Law.
We
have passed through the
age of physical force on to the age of intellectual supremacy, and are
now entering a new and almost unknown field, that of psychic power.
This
field of energy has its established laws, as well as have the others,
and
we should acquaint ourselves with them or we will be crowded to the
wall
as are the ignorant on the planes of effort. I will endeavor to make
plain
to you the great underlying principles of this new field of energy
which
is opening up before us, that you may be able to make use of this great
power and apply it for legitimate and worthy purposes, just as men are
using steam, electricity and other forms of energy today.
THOUGHT WAVES
AND THEIR PROCESS OF REPRODUCTION
LIKE
a stone thrown
into the water, thought produces ripples and waves which spread out
over
the great ocean of thought. There is this difference, however: the
waves
on the water move only on a level plane in all directions, whereas
thought
waves move in all directions from a common center, just as do the rays
from the sun.
Just
as we here on earth
are surrounded by a great sea of air, so are we surrounded by a great
sea of Mind. Our thought waves
move through this vast mental ether, extending, however, in all
directions,
as I have explained, becoming somewhat lessened in intensity according
to the distance traversed,
because
of the friction occasioned by the waves coming in contact with the
great
body of Mind surrounding us on all sides.
These
thought waves have
other qualities differing from the waves on the water. They have the
property
of reproducing themselves, in this respect they resemble sound waves
rather
than waves upon the water. Just as a note of the violin will cause the
thin glass to vibrate and "sing," so will a strong thought tend
to awaken similar vibrations in minds attuned to receive it. Many of
the
"stray thoughts" which come to us are but reflections or answering
vibrations to some strong thought sent out by another. But unless our
minds
are attuned to receive it, the thought will not likely affect us. If we
are thinking high and great thoughts, our minds acquire a certain
keynote
corresponding to the character of the thoughts we have been thinking.
And,
this keynote once established, we will be apt to catch the vibrations
of
other minds keyed to the same thought. On the other hand, let us get
into
the habit of thinking thoughts of an opposite character, and we will
soon
be echoing the low order of thought emanating from the minds of the
thousands
thinking along the same lines.
We
are largely what we have
thought ourselves into being, the balance being represented by the
character
of the suggestions and thought of others, which have reached us either
directly by verbal suggestions
or telepathically
by means of such thought waves. Our general mental attitude, however,
determines
the character of the thought waves received from others as well as the
thoughts emanating from ourselves. We receive only such thoughts as are
in harmony with the general
mental attitude
held by ourselves; the thoughts not in harmony affecting us very
little,
as they awaken no response in us.
The
man who believes thoroughly
in himself and maintains a positive strong mental attitude of
Confidence
and Determination is not likely to be affected by the adverse and
negative
thoughts of Discouragement and Failure emanating from the minds of
other
persons in whom these last qualities predominate. At the same time
these
negative thoughts, if they reach one whose mental attitude is pitched
on
a low key, deepen his negative state and add fuel to the fire which is
consuming his strength, or, if you prefer this figure, serve to further
smother the fire of his energy and activity.
We
attract to us the thoughts
of others of the same order of thought. The man who thinks success will
be apt to get into tune with the minds of others thinking likewise, and
they will help him, and he them. The man who allows his mind to dwell
constantly
upon thoughts of failure brings himself into close touch with the minds
of other "failure" people, and each will tend to pull the other
down still more. The man who thinks that all is evil is apt to see much
evil, and will be brought into contact with others who will seem to
prove
his theory. And the man who looks for good
in everything and everybody
will be likely to attract to himself the things and people
corresponding
to his thought. We generally see that for which we look.
You
will be able to carry
this idea more clearly if you will think of the Marconi wireless
instruments,
which receive the vibrations only from the sending instrument which has
been attuned to the same key, while other telegrams are passing through
the air in near vicinity without affecting the instrument. The same law
applies to the operations of thought. We receive only that which
corresponds
to our mental attunement. If we have been discouraged, we may rest
assured
that we have dropped into a negative key, and have been affected not
only
by our own thoughts but have also received the added depressing
thoughts
of similar character which are constantly being sent out from the minds
of other unfortunates who have not yet learned the law of attraction in
the thought world. And if we occasionally rise to heights of enthusiasm
and energy, how quickly we feel the inflow of the courageous, daring,
energetic,
positive thoughts being sent out by the live men and women of the
world.
We recognize this without much trouble when we come in personal contact
with people and feel their vibrations, depressing or invigorating, as
the
case may be. But the same law operates when we are not in their
presence,
although less strongly.
The
mind has many degrees
of pitch, ranging from the highest positive note to the lowest negative
note, with many notes in between, varying in pitch according to their
respective
distance from the positive dr negative extreme.
When
your mind is operating
along positive lines you feel strong, buoyant, bright, cheerful, happy,
confident and courageous, and are enabled to do your work well, to
carry
out your intentions, and progress on your roads to Success. You send
out
strong positive thought, which affects others and causes them to
co-operate
with you or to follow your lead, according to their own mental keynote.
When
you are playing on the
extreme negative end of the mental keyboard you feel depressed, week,
passive,
dull, fearful, cowardly. And you find yourself unable to make progress
or to succeed. And your effect upon others is practically nil. You are
led by, rather than leading others, and are used as a human door-mat or
football by more positive persons.
In
some persons the positive
element seems to predominate, and in others the negative quality seems
to be more in evidence. There are, of course, widely varying degrees of
positiveness and negativeness, and B may be negative to A, while
positive
to C. When two people first meet there is generally a silent mental
conflict
in which their respective minds test their quality of positiveness, and
fix their relative position toward each other. This process may be
unconscious
in many cases, but it occurs nevertheless. The adjustment is often
automatic,
but occasionally the struggle is so sharp - the opponents being so well
matched - that the matter forces itself into the consciousness of the
two
people. Sometimes both parties are so much alike in their degrees of
positiveness
that they fail to come to terms, mentally; they never really are able
to
get along with each other, and they are either mutually repelled and
separate
or else stay together amid constant broils and wrangling.
We
are positive or negative
to everyone with whom we have relations. We may be positive to our
children,
our employees and dependents, but we are at the same time negative to
others
to whom we occupy inferior positions, or whom we have allowed to assert
themselves over us.
Of
course, something may
occur and we will suddenly become more positive than the man or woman
to
whom we have heretofore been negative. We frequently see cases of this
kind. And as the knowledge of these mental laws becomes more general we
will see many more instances of persons asserting themselves and making
use of their new-found power.
But
remember you possess
the power to raise the keynote of your mind to a positive pitch by an
effort
of the will. And, of course, it is equally true that you may allow
yourself
to drop into a low, negative note by carelessness or a weak will.
There
are more people on
the negative plane of thought than on the positive plane, and
consequently
there are more negative thought vibrations in operation in our mental
atmosphere.
But, happily for us, this is counterbalanced by the fact that a
positive
thought is infinitely more powerful than a negative one, and if by
force
of will we raise ourselves to a higher mental key we can shut out the
depressing
thoughts and may take up the vibrations corresponding with our changed
mental attitude. This is one of the secrets of the affirmations and
auto-suggestions
used by the several schools of Mental Science and other New Thought
cults.
There is no particular merit in affirmations of themselves, but they
serve
a twofold purpose: (1) They tend to establish new mental attitudes
within
us and act wonderfully in the direction of character- building - the
science
of making ourselves over. (2) They tend to raise the mental keynote so
that we may get the benefit of the positive thought waves of others on
the same plane of thought.
Whether
or not we believe
in them, we are constantly making affirmations. The man who asserts
that
he can and will do a thing - and asserts it earnestly - develops in
himself
the qualities conducive to the well doing of that thing, and at the
same
time places his mind in the proper key to receive all the thought waves
likely to help him in the doing. If, on the other hand, one says and
feels
that he is going to fail, he will choke and smother the thoughts coming
from his own subconscious mentality which are intended to help him, and
at the same time will place himself in tune with the Failure-thought of
the world - and there is plenty of the latter kind of thought around, I
can tell you.
Do
not allow yourselves to
be affected by the adverse and negative thoughts of those around you.
Rise
to the upper chambers of your mental dwelling, and key yourself up to a
strong pitch, away above the vibrations on the lower planes of thought.
Then you will not only be immune to their negative vibrations but will
be in touch with the great body of strong positive thought coming from
those of your own plane of development. My aim will be to direct and
train
you in the proper use of thought and will, that you may have yourself
well
in hand and may be able to strike the positive key at any moment you
may
feel it necessary. It is not necessary to strike the extreme note on
all
occasions. The better plan is to keep yourself in a comfortable key,
without
much strain, and to have the means at command whereby you can raise the
pitch at once when occasion demands. By this knowledge you will not be
at the mercy of the old automatic action of the mind, but may have it
well
under your own control.
Development
of the will is
very much like the development of a muscle - a matter of practice and
gradual
improvement. At first it is apt to be tiresome, but at each trial one
grows
stronger until the new strength becomes real and permanent. Many of us
have made ourselves positive under sudden calls or emergencies. We are
in the habit of "bracing up" when occasion demands. But by intelligent
practice you will be so much strengthened that your habitual state will
be equal to your "bracing up" stage now, and then when you find
it necessary to apply the spur you will be able to reach a stage not
dreamed
of at present.
Do
not understand me as advocating
a high tension continuously. This is not at all desirable, not only
because
it is apt to be too much of a strain upon you but also because you will
find it desirable to relieve the tension at times and become receptive
that you may absorb impressions. It is well to be able to relax and
assume
a certain degree of receptiveness, knowing that you are always able to
spring back to the more positive state at will. The habitually strongly
positive man loses much enjoyment and recreation. Positive, you give
out
expressions; receptive, you take in impressions. Positive, you are a
teacher;
receptive, a pupil. It is not only a good thing to be a good teacher,
but
it is also very important to be a good listener at times.
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