A Synopsis of Leland's _Mystic Will_

[robertmathiesen]

Charles G. Leland's Mystic Will [1907]

A Synopsis of the Process

by Robert Mathiesen

 

Premises:

1.  "That all mental or cerebral faculties can by direct scientific treatment be influenced to what would have once been regarded as miraculous action, and which is even yet very little known or considered."

2.  "That the will can by very easy processes of training, or by aid of Auto-Suggestion, be strengthened to any extent, and states of mind soon induced, which can be made by practice habitual [9]."

"All that Man has ever attributed to an Invisible World without, lies, in fact, within him, and the magic key which will confer the faculty of sight and the power to conquer is the Will [16]."

"Truly it would seem as if there were no limit to what a man can evolve out of himself if he will take Thought thereto [55]."

Leland's method proceeds by easy stages.  It begins with the use of a particularly effective combination of Forethought and Suggestion.  These are used to develop Attention and Perseverance [21, 106].  Attention and Perseverance then strengthen Interest and Memory, which in turn can be used to develop all other faculties of the mind, especially Will.

The sequence is

•     Forethought,

•     Suggestion,

•     Perseverance,

•     Attention,

•     Interest,

•     Memory, and

•     Will.

 

Forethought

Forethought is the starting point, which prepares the ground for effective Self-suggestion. 

First of all the operator must "know his own mind regarding what he means to do, and therefore meditate upon it, not dreamily, or vaguely, but earnestly" [25-26].  To the task at hand one devotes "long and careful consideration by leading observation into every detail, and, in fact, becoming familiar with the idea, and not trusting to acquire interest or perseverance in the future [26]."

Forethought is "the point from which all projects must proceed.  As I understand it, it is a kind of impulse or projection of will into the coming work. I may here illustrate this with a curious fact in physics.  ...  To shoot an arrow as far as possible, it is not enough to merely draw the bow to its utmost span or tension.  If just as it goes you will give the bow a quick push, though the effort be trifling, the arrow will fly almost as far again as it would have done without it.  ...  Forethought is ... the push of the bow ...  It is the deliberate yet rapid action of the mind when before falling to sleep or dismissing thought we bid the mind to subsequently respond.  It is more than merely thinking what we are to do; it is the bidding or ordering self to fulfill a task before willing it.  ...  If we really understand this and can succeed in employing Forethought as the preparation for, and impulse to, Self-Suggestion, we shall greatly aid the success of the latter, because the former insures attention and interest.  Forethought may be brief, but it should always be energetic [49-50]."

Forethought is "the projection of conception or attention with will [84]."

At first, the operator is to take Forethought for the following day's task as he is falling asleep, and fall asleep with the resolve to act on his Forethought when he awakes.  Later, with experience, one may apply Forethought without the aid of the special state of con-sciousness just before falling asleep.  [50-51]

"If we, after retiring to rest at night, will calmly yet firmly resolve to do something on the following day, or be as much as possible in a certain state of mind, and if we then fall into ordinary natural sleep, just as usual, we may on waking have forgotten all about it, yet will none the less feel the impulse and carry out the determination [31]"

To enhance Forethought, one "must first write, as it were, or plan a preface, synopsis, or epitome of his proposed work, to start it and combine with it a resolve or decree that it must be done...  Now the habit of composing the plan as perfectly, yet as succinctly as possible, daily or nightly, combined with the energetic impulse to send it off, will ere long give the operator a conception of what I mean by Foresight which by description I cannot [51]"

"Forethought means a great deal more ... than seeing in advance, or deliberate prudence — it rather implies, like divination or foreknowledge, sagacity and mental action as well as mere perception.  It will inevitably or assuredly grow with the practice of self-suggestion if the latter be devoted to mental improvement, but as it grows it will qualify the operator to lay aside the sleep and suggest to himself directly [51]."

Fickle and nervous people "generally rush into a novelty without Forethought.  Therefore they should be trained or urged to forethink or reflect seriously and often on the cure or process proposed.  This is the setting of the nail, which is to be driven in by suggestion [37-38]."

 

Suggestion

"Mere forethought repeated is the easiest of mental efforts."  ...  "Forethinking in any way is the minor or initiatory stage of Suggestion.  Both are gradual persuasion of the nervous system into habit [27]."

Suggestion is "the action of mind upon mind, or of a mind upon itself, so as to produce a definite belief, action, or result [29]."

"We can suggest to ourselves so as to produce the same results," that is, "if we put an image or idea into our minds with the preconceived determination or intent that it shall recur or return at a certain time, or in a certain way, after sleeping, it will do so."  ...  "There would seem to be some magic virtue in sleep, as if it preserved and ripened our wishes."  ...  "It is not necessary that this sleep shall be hypnotic [30]."

"Resolve before going to sleep that if there be anything whatever for you to do which requires Will or Resolution, be it to undertake repulsive or hard work or duty, to face a disagreeable person, to fast, or make a speech, to say "No" to anything; in short, to keep up to the mark or make any kind of effort[,] that you WILL do it  — as calmly and unthinkingly as may be.  Do not desire to do it sternly or forcibly, or in spite of obstacles — but simply and coolly make up your mind to do it — and it will much more likely be done [32-33]."

"Now I have found that by suggesting to oneself before sleep, or inducing self by Will or Forethought to work gladly and unweariedly the next day, we do not think about self or the quality of what we do to any degree like what we would in working under ordinary conditions.  Truly it is not thoroughgoing or infallible in all cases, but then it must be helped by a little wide-awake self-conscious will.  But this is certainly true, that we can turn out better work when we urge our creative power to awake in the morn and act or aid, than if we do not [72]."

 

Perseverance

The effects of Forethought and Suggestion are enhanced by repetition or Perseverance.

"Before we ... set about devoting Attention to anything, ... pause, as it were, to determine or resolve that we will be thorough, and not leave off until we have mastered it [21]."

"As perseverance depends on renewed forethought and reflection, so by continued practice and thought, in self-suggestion, the one practicing begins to find before long that his conscious will is acting more vigorously in his waking hours, and that he can finally dispense with the sleeping process.  For, in fact, once we find that our will is really beginning to obey us, and inspire courage or indifference where we were once timid, there is no end to the confidence and power which may ensue [39]."

Forethought and Suggestion are "simply a beginning in Attention and Perseverance."  ...  "When we make a wish or will, or determine that in future after awaking we shall be in a given state of mind, we also include Perseverance for the given time, and as success supposes repetition in all minds, it follows that Perseverance will be induced gradually and easily [106]."

 

Attention and Interest

"People yield to the mere repetition in time.  Attention and Interest may in this way be self-induced from repetition [22]."

"Where the Attention is fixed, Interest, by equally easy process, may always be induced to follow [23]."

"If he wishes to learn how to develop his Will and strengthen it, it is absolutely necessary to take an interest in it."  [25]

 

Memory and Will

"When we desire to fix anything in the memory we can do so by repeating it to ourselves before we go to sleep, accompanying it with the resolution to remember it in the future.  We must not in the beginning set ourselves any but very easy tasks, and the practice must be steadily continued [79]."

The same method, in general, that serves to develop Attention, serves also to develop Will and Memory [25].

"If we can not only awaken the Will but also keep it alive, it is very possible that we may ... induce whatever state of mind we please [37]."

Thus one can strengthen the Memory, too, by Will [74].

"Patterns impress themselves very vividly on the memory or imagination, and when studied are easily recalled after a little practice [83]."

"The Will sometimes, when much developed, actually manifests something like an inde-pendent personality, or at least seems to do so, to an acute observer.  And what is more remarkable, it can have ... freedom of action and invention delegated to it, and will act on it [111]."

 

The Use of Formulae

Each step of this process can be greatly enhanced by the use of verbal formulae which the operator devises for his own use, and uses in fixed wording, almost like a "spell" [62].

"Prayer is generally regarded as nothing else but an asking or begging from a superior power.  But it is also something which is really very different from this.  It is a formula by means of which man realizes his faith and will.  Tradition and habit (of whose power I have spoken) or repetition , have given it the influence or prestige of a charm.  In fact it is a spell, he who utters it feels assured that if seriously repeated it will be listened to, and that the Power to whom it is addressed will hear it.  ...  An intelligent prayer in this light is the concentration of thought on a subject, or a definite realization.  Therefore if when willing that tomorrow I shall be calm all day or void of irritation, I put the will or wish into a brief and clear form, it will aid me to promptly realize or feel what I want.  And it will be a prayer in its reality, addressed to the Unknown Power or Will within us — an invocation or a spell, according to the mind of him who makes it [61-62]."

"I would advise that such a formula be got by heart till very familiar, to be repeated, but not mechanically, before falling to sleep.  What is of the very utmost importance is that the operator shall feel its meaning and at the same time give it the impulse of Will by the dual process before described.  This, if successfully achieved, will not fail (at least with most minds) to induce success [62]."

"Every magical operation depends on an incantation, and every incantation on the feeling, intonation, or manner in which it is sung.  Thus near Rome any peasant overhearing a scongiurazione would recognize it from the sound alone [98]."

 

The Use of Easy Efforts.

"These preliminary preparations should invariably be as elementary and easy as possible, this being a condition which it is impossible to exaggerate  [23-24]."

One must make an easy beginning in this, that is, "not to will or resolve too vehemently, but to simply and very gently, yet assiduously, impress the idea on the mind so as to fall asleep while thinking of it as a thing to be [31]."

"Violent effort is unadvisable, yet mere repetition without thought is time lost.  Think while willing what it is you want, and above all, if you can, think with a feeling that the idea is to recur to you [39]."

Do not expect success right away; you will fail from time to time, but the failures will become less frequent with repetition and perseverance.  "As soon as you actually begin to realize that you are acquiring such control remember that is the golden hour — and redouble your efforts.  Perseverando vinces [33]."

"I cannot impress it too vividly on the mind of the reader, that he cannot make his exercises too easy [75]."

 

The Use of Temperance

"It must be remembered that for the very great majority of cases, if really not for all, the practicer of this process must be of temperate habits, and never attempt after a hearty meal, or drinking freely, to exercise Forethought or Self-Suggestion.  Peaceful mental action during sleep requires that there shall be very light labor of digestion, and disturbed or troublesome dreams are utterly incompatible with really successful results.  Nor will a single day's temperance suffice.  It requires many days to bring the whole frame and constitution into good fit order.  Here there can be no evasion, for more than ordinary temperance in food and drink is absolutely indispensable [56]."

 

The Use of Altruism

"I would declare that he who would create within himself a strong and vigorous will by hypnotism or any other process, will be most likely to succeed, if, instead of aiming at developing a power by which he may subdue others, and make all things yield to him, or similar selfish aims, he shall, before all, seriously reflect on how he may use it to do good.  For I am absolutely persuaded from what I know, that he who makes Altruism and the happiness of others a familiar thought to be coupled with every effort ... , will be the most likely to succeed.  There is something in moral conviction or the consciousness of right which gives a sense of security or a faith in success which goes far to secure it [60]."

"What we summon by Will ere long remains as Habit, even as the Elves, called by a spell, remain in the Tower.  Therefore it is of great importance for all people who take up and pursue to any degree of success this Art or Science, that they be actuated by moral and unselfish motives, since achieved with any other intent the end can only be the bringing of evil and suffering into the soul.  For as the good by strengthening the Will make themselves promptly better and holier, so he who increases it merely to make others feel his power will become with it wickeder, yea, and thrice accursed, for what is the greatest remedy is often the strongest poison [64]."

 

Final Remarks

"I find it a great aid to recall what I can of bygone beautiful associations, and then sleep on them with a resolve that they shall recur in complete condition.  He who will thus resolutely clean up his past life and clear away from it all sorrow as well as he can, and refurnish it with beautiful memories, or make it better, coûte que coûte, will do himself more good than many a doleful moral adviser ever dreamed of.  This is what I mean by self-fascination — the making, as it were, by magic art, one's own past and self more charming than we ever deemed it possible to be.  We thus fascinate ourselves.  Those who believe that everything which is bygone has gone to the devil are in a wretched error.  The future is based on the past — yes, made from it, and that which was never dies, but returns to bless or grieve.  We mostly wrong our past bitterly, and bitterly does it revenge itself [87]."

"It is within the power of man to be his own friend, yes, and companion, to a degree of which none have ever dreamed, and which borders on the weird, or that which forebodes or suggests mysteries to come.  For it may come to pass that he who has trained himself to it, may commune with his spirit as with a companion.  This is, of course, done by just setting the problem, or question, or dilemma, before ourselves as clearly as we can, so as to know our own minds as well as possible.  This done, sleep on it, with the resolute will to have it recur on the morrow in a clear and solved form.  And should this occur, do not proceed to pull it to pieces again, by way of improvement, but rather submit it to another night's rest [88]."

By these processes one can bring "to life within oneself a Spirit, gifted with greater powers than those possessed by Conscious Intellect.  By his astonishing and unsuspected latent power, man can imagine and then create, even a spirit within the soul.  ...  It is a power by means of which we can learn mysteries [90-91]."

"He who can control his own mind by an iron will, and say to the Thoughts which he would banish, "Be ye my slaves and begone into outer darkness," or to Peace "Dwell with me forever, come what may," and be obeyed, that man is a mighty magician who has attained what is worth more than all that Earth possesses [104]."

"We can all have fixed or haunting ideas, on any subject which we please to entertain — but the idea to create good and beneficent haunting has not, that I am aware, been suggested by philosophers [105]."

"Now there are many men who are not so bad in themselves in reality, but who are so haunted by evil thoughts, impulses, and desires, that they, being taught by the absurd old heathenish philosophy that the "soul" is all one spiritual entity, believe themselves to be as wicked as Beelzebub could wish, when, in fact, these sins are nothing but evil weeds which came into the mind as neglected seeds, and grew apace from sheer carelessness.  Regarding them in the light, as one may say, of bodily and material nuisances, or a kind of vermin, they can be extirpated by the strong hand of Will, much more easily than under the old system, whereby they were treated with respect and awe ...  I say that he who uses his will can crush and drive out vile haunting thoughts, and the more rudely and harshly he does it the better.  In all the old systems, without exception, they are treated with far too much respect and reverence, and no great wonder either, since they were regarded as a great innate portion of the soul [107]."

 

Appendix: Leland's Own Use of the Process

Leland first used this process on himself with the following successive resolutions:

•     to work all the next day at literary or artistic labor without once feeling fatigue;

•     to will that I should, all the next day, be free from any nervous or mental worry, or preserve a hopeful, calm or well-balanced state of mind. 

["I had my lapses, but withal I was simply astonished to find how, by perseverance, habitual calm not only grew on me, but how decidedly it increased"].  [31-32]

"When the object of a state of mind, as, for instance, calmness all day long, is obtained, even partially, the operator (who, of course, must do all to help himself to keep calm, should he remember his wish) will begin to believe in himself sincerely, or in the power of his will to compel a certain state of mind.  This won, all may be won, by continued reflection and perseverance.  It is the great step gained, the alphabet learned, by which the mind may pass to boundless power."  [40]

Possible outcomes:

•     To "feel strong or vigorous, hopeful, energetic, cheerful, bold or calm and peaceful."  [39]

•     "To be at peace or perfectly calm."  [40-41]

•     "To feel cheerful or merry."

•     "To be in a brave, courageous, hearty or vigorous mood."

•     "To work hard without feeling weary."

•     "To keep the faculty of quickness of perception alert."

•     "To be susceptible to beauty."

•     "To read or study keenly and observantly."  [41]

•     "To forgive and forget enemies and injuries." — or "all things which annoy, vex, harass, tease or worry us in any way whatever."  [41-42]

•     "To restrain irritability in our intercourse with others."  [42]

•     "To remember or recall anything forgotten." — including "well-nigh forgotten trains of thought."  [42-43]

•     To "subdue the habit of worrying ourselves and others needlessly about every trifling or serious cause of irritation which enters our minds."  [43]

•     To "cure ourselves of the habit of profanity or using vulgar language."  [43-44]

•     To "cure ourselves of intemperance."  [44]

•     To "repress to a remarkable degree the sensations of fatigue, hunger and thirst."  [44]

•     To "control many disorders or forms of disease."  [45-46]

[This list is to be continued below, see pp. 85 ff.]

With respect to forgiving and forgetting enemies and injuries, etc.:

"I generally put the wish into this form: "I will forget and forgive all causes of enmity and anger, and should they arise I determine at once to cast them aside."  It is a prayer, as it were, to the Will to stand by me, and truly the will is Deus in nobis to those who believe that God helps those who help themselves."  ...  "We can all exorcise our devils — all of them — if we will."  [41-42]

With respect to curing many disorders or forms of disease:

"This, like many other works, depends on the state of the mind; nor can it be undertaken with hope of success unless the operator has by previous practice in easy experiments succeeded in perfectly convincing himself that he has acquired control of his will."  [45]

"We can by means of this Art increase our ability to practice all arts, and enhance or stimulate Genius in every way or form, be it practical, musical or plastic."  [48-49]

"Proceed gradually and firmly through the series, never trying anything new, until the old has fully succeeded.  This is essential, for failure leads to discouragement."  [62]

The series in question may consist of such formulae as:

•     "I will, earnestly and deeply, that during all tomorrow I may be in a calm and peaceful state of mind.  I will with all my heart that if irritating or annoying memories or images, or thoughts of any kind are in any way awakened, that they may be promptly forgotten and fade away!"  [62]

•     "I will with all my soul, earnestly and truly, that I may be on the morrow and all the day deeply inspired with courage and energy, with self-confidence and hope!  May it lighten my heart and make me heedless of all annoyances and vexations which may arise!  Should such come my way, may I hold them at no more than their real value, or laugh them aside!"

•     "May my quickness of Perception, or Intuition, aid me in the business which I expect to undertake tomorrow.  I will that my faculty of grasping at details and understanding their relations shall be active.  May it draw from my memory the hidden things which will aid it!"  [63]

•     "I desire that my genius, my imagination, the power which enables man to combine and create; the poetic (or artist) spirit, whatever it may be, may act in me tomorrow, awakening great thoughts and suggesting or them beautiful forms."

•     "I will that tomorrow I may speak or plead, with perfect self-possession and absence of all timidity or fear!"

"Finally we may after long and earnest reflection on all which I have said, and truly not till then, resolve on the Masterspell to awaken the Will itself in such a form that it will fill our soul, as it were, unto which intent it is necessary to understand what Will really means to us in its purity and integrity.  The formula may be:

•     "I will that I may feel inspired with the power, aided by calm determination, to do what I desire, aided by a strong sense of right and justice to all.  May my will be strong and sustain me in all trials.  May it inspire that sense of independence of strength which, allied to a pure conscience, is the greatest source of happiness on earth!"

If the reader can master this last, he can by its aid progress infinitely.  And with the few spells which I have given he will need no more, since in these lie the knowledge, and key, and suggestion to all which may be required."  [63]

Further possible outcomes of Leland's process [continuation of the list from pp. 39-46 above]:

•     "To recall bygone memories or imperfectly remembered sensations, scenes and experiences or images."  [85]

•     "To master difficult meanings" or other concepts.  [87]

•     "To determine what course to follow in any Emergency."  [88]

•     "To awaken love in one person for another."  [89]