Introduction

Daily experience confirms us in this opinion, that the difficulties and disappointments met in the practice of Spiritism have their source in ignorance of the principles of that science; and we are happy in being able to state, that what we have written to caution believers against the dangers of a novitiate has borne its fruits, and that many have owed their power to avoid them to the attentive perusal of this work.

Daily experience confirms our belief that ignorance of the principles of Spiritism causes the difficulties and disappointments encountered in its practice. We are happy to say that our warnings to believers about the dangers facing beginners have borne fruit. Many have avoided those dangers by reading this work carefully.

A very natural desire with persons who engage in Spiritism is, to be able themselves to enter into communication with spirits. This work is intended to smooth their road, by allowing them to profit by our long and laborious studies; for it would be a very false idea to think that, in order to be expert in this matter, it is only necessary to know how to pose the fingers on a table to make it turn, or to hold a pencil to write.

People who practice Spiritism naturally want to communicate with spirits themselves. This book aims to make their path easier by letting them benefit from our long and laborious studies. It would be a mistake to think that becoming an expert requires only placing your fingers on a table to make it turn, or holding a pencil to write.

One would be equally deceived expecting to find in this work a universal and infallible recipe to form mediums. Although every one possesses within himself the germ of the qualities necessary to become a medium, these qualities exist in very different degrees, and their development is linked to causes which no one can command at will. The rules of poetry, painting, and music make neither poets, painters, nor musicians of those who have not the genius. They guide in the employment of the natural faculties. It is the same with our work; its object is to indicate the means of developing the mediumistic faculty, as far as each one's disposition permits, and, above all, to direct its employment in a useful manner, when the faculty exists. But that is not the only end we propose to ourselves.

You would be equally mistaken to expect this work to offer a universal, foolproof method for developing mediums. Everyone has the seeds of the qualities needed to become a medium, but those qualities vary greatly in degree. Their development also depends on causes that no one can control at will. The rules of poetry, painting, and music cannot make poets, painters, or musicians of people who lack the genius. They guide people in using their natural abilities. Our work serves the same purpose. It aims to show how people can develop their mediumistic faculty, as far as their individual disposition allows. Above all, it aims to guide people in using that faculty in a useful way when they possess it. But that is not our only aim.

Besides mediums proper, there is the daily increasing crowd of persons who interest themselves in spirit manifestations: to guide them in their observations, to point out to them the stumbling-blocks they will and must necessarily encounter in a new thing, to initiate them into the manner of conversing with spirits, to indicate to them the means of having good communications,—such is the circle we must embrace, under penalty of making an incomplete work. Be not, then, surprised to find in our book information which, at first sight, may appear foreign to it: experience will show its utility. After having studied it with care, the effects that may be witnessed will be better understood; the language of certain spirits will appear less strange. As practical instruction, it does not address itself exclusively to mediums, but to all those who desire to see and observe the spirit phenomena.

Besides mediums themselves, a growing number of people are interested in spirit manifestations. We must guide them in their observations and point out the obstacles they will inevitably encounter in a new field. We must teach them how to converse with spirits and show them how to obtain good communications. Unless we cover all this, our work will be incomplete. So do not be surprised to find information in this book that may seem unrelated to the subject at first. Experience will show its usefulness. After studying the book carefully, readers will better understand the effects they may witness. The language of certain spirits will also seem less strange. This practical guide is not meant only for mediums, but for everyone who wants to see and observe spirit phenomena.

Some persons have desired that we should publish a very succinct practical manual, containing in few words the processes to follow in order to enter into communication with spirits. They think that a small book of this nature could, from the modesty of its price, be more extensively diffused, and would be a powerful means of propagandism in multiplying mediums: for our own part, we should regard such a work as more hurtful than useful, at least for the present. The practice of Spiritism is surrounded by many difficulties, and is not always exempt from dangers, which a serious and complete study alone can prevent. It might, then, readily be feared, that a too succinct indication would induce only experiments made with levity, and which might be bitterly repented: these are things with which it is neither proper nor prudent to make sport, and we should consider ourselves as rendering an ill service in putting them at the disposal of the first giddy-pated mortal who might find it agreeable to talk with the dead. We address ourselves to those who see in Spiritism a serious end, who comprehend all its gravity, and do not make a sport of communications from the invisible world.

Some people have asked us to publish a very short practical guide to communicating with spirits. They believe an inexpensive booklet could reach more people. They also believe it could powerfully spread Spiritism by increasing the number of mediums. For our part, we believe such a guide would do more harm than good, at least for now. The practice of Spiritism involves many difficulties and is not always free from dangers. Only serious and thorough study can prevent them. A guide that is too brief might encourage people to experiment carelessly, and they might bitterly regret it. These are not matters to treat as entertainment. We would be doing a disservice by making them available to any frivolous person who might enjoy talking with the dead. We address those who see a serious purpose in Spiritism, understand its full gravity, and do not treat communications from the invisible world as entertainment.

We had published a "Practical Instruction," to guide mediums; this work is out of print, and though written with an eminently grave and serious design, we shall not reprint it, because we do not find it sufficiently complete to shed light on the difficulties that may be encountered. We have replaced it by this, in which we have combined all the advantages that a long experience and a conscientious study have enabled us to acquire. It will contribute—at least we hope so—to give to Spiritism the serious character which is its essence, and to prevent its being viewed as a subject of frivolous occupation and amusement.

We published a "Practical Instruction" to guide mediums. It is now out of print. Although we wrote it with a thoroughly serious purpose, we will not reprint it. It is not complete enough to clarify the difficulties that may arise. We have replaced it with this work. It brings together all the benefits of our long experience and careful study. We hope it will help give Spiritism the serious character that is essential to it. We also hope it will prevent people from treating Spiritism as a frivolous pastime or amusement.

To these considerations we will add one very important; this is the bad impression produced on novices and ill-disposed persons by the sight of experiments made with levity and without any especial cause: they give a very false idea of the world of spirits, and open the way to raillery and to criticism often too well founded; this is why skeptics are rarely convinced in those reunions, and are so little disposed to see anything serious in Spiritism. The ignorance and levity of some mediums have done more harm than they would believe.

We will add one very important point to these considerations. Experiments conducted carelessly and without a particular reason make a bad impression on newcomers and those who are unsympathetic. Such experiments give a very false idea of the world of spirits. They also invite ridicule and criticism that is often well deserved. This is why skeptics are rarely convinced at such gatherings and are so unlikely to see anything serious in Spiritism. The ignorance and carelessness of some mediums have done more harm than they might think.

Spiritism has made great progress within a few years, but far greater since it has entered the philosophic plane, because it has been appreciated by enlightened people. To-day it is no longer a spectacle; it is a doctrine at which those who made a jest of table-turning no longer laugh. In making our efforts to bring it on this ground, and maintain it there, we feel convinced that we shall conquer for it more useful partisans than were we to draw out at random manifestations that might be abused. We have the daily proof of this in the number of believers which the mere perusal of the Book on Spirits has made.

Spiritism has made great progress in recent years, especially since it became a philosophy valued by enlightened people. Today it is no longer a spectacle. It is a doctrine that even those who mocked table-turning no longer laugh at. We are working to establish Spiritism as a philosophy and keep it there. We believe this will win it more useful supporters than producing random manifestations that might be misused. Every day, we see proof of this in the number of people who have become believers simply by reading the Book on Spirits.

After having, in the Book on Spirits, exhibited the philosophical part of spirit science, we give in this work the practical part for the use of those who desire either to engage in manifestations themselves, or to take into consideration the phenomena they may be called upon to witness. They will here see the dangers they must encounter, and will thus have a means of avoiding them. These two works, though forming a series, are, up to a certain point, independent of each other; but to those who would seriously apply themselves to this matter, we will say, Read first the Book on Spirits, because it contains the fundamental principles without which certain parts of this would be difficult of comprehension.

In the Book on Spirits, we presented the philosophical side of spirit science. In this work, we present the practical side. It is for those who wish to take part in manifestations themselves or consider phenomena they may witness. They will learn about the dangers they must face and how to avoid them. Although these two works form a series, they are, to some extent, independent of each other. But we advise those who wish to study this subject seriously to read the Book on Spirits, first. It contains the fundamental principles needed to understand certain parts of this work.

Important alterations have been made in this second edition, much more complete than the first. It has been corrected with especial care by the spirits, who have added to it a very great number of remarks and instructions of the utmost interest. As they have reviewed it entirely, approved or modified it at their will, it may be said to be, in a great measure, their work; for their intervention is not limited to some signed articles: we have indicated the names only when it has seemed necessary to characterize certain somewhat extended citations as coming from them word by word; otherwise we must have quoted them on almost every page, especially in all the answers given to propounded questions, which seemed scarcely necessary. Names, as every one knows, are of small moment in such matters; the essential thing is, that the entire work shall answer to the proposed end. The welcome given to the first, though imperfect edition, encourages us to hope that this will be received with no less favor.

Important changes have been made in this second edition, which is much more complete than the first. The spirits have corrected it with special care and added a great many remarks and instructions of the greatest interest. They reviewed the entire work and approved or changed it as they wished. So it may be said to be largely their work. Their involvement is not limited to a few signed articles. We have named them only when it seemed necessary to show that certain longer passages came directly from them, word for word. Otherwise, we would have had to quote them on almost every page. This is especially true of all the answers to questions asked, which seemed hardly necessary. As everyone knows, names matter little in such matters. What matters is that the entire work serves its intended purpose. The welcome given to the first edition, though imperfect, encourages us to hope that this one will be received just as favorably.

As we have added to it many things, and several entire chapters, so we have suppressed some articles which made double work, among others the Spirit Scale, which had already been given in the Book on Spirits. We have also suppressed the Vocabulary, which did not specially come within the scope of this work, and which is usefully replaced by more practical things. Besides, the Vocabulary was not sufficiently complete; we shall publish it separately by and by, in the form of a small dictionary of spiritual philosophy: we have retained here only the new words, or those specially relating to the object in which we are engaged.

We have added many things to this work, including several entire chapters. We have also removed some sections that repeated material, including the Spirit Scale, which had already appeared in the Book on Spirits. We have also removed the Vocabulary, which was not especially relevant to this work. More practical material usefully replaces it. Besides, the Vocabulary was not complete enough. We will publish it separately later as a small dictionary of spiritual philosophy. Here we have kept only new words and those especially relevant to our subject.