THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHIC HEALING. William Walker Atkinson
believe that these two books—companion books—"Hatha Yoga" and "Psychic Healing"—will give one the "Key to Health."
This book is not intended as a treatise upon disease. On the contrary, it says as little as possible about disease, and prefers to keep before the eye of the student the Healthy Condition, and the means of bringing it about. Therefore you will see but little of symptoms in this book. Symptoms are but various indications of a cause behind them, and we believe that there is only one general cause for disease and that is improper functioning of the cells. In other words, we believe that all disease is but Cell-disease. And we believe that the general treatments given in connection with the principles laid down in "Hatha Yoga," will remove the cause of the trouble, and the symptoms will then disappear.
We will not take up your attention with praise of the systems of healing taught in this book. We believe that "the proof of the pudding lies in the eating," and we say to you, "Try It."
Have confidence in yourself, and in your healing power. It is your Divine heritage, and is not a gift bestowed upon but a few. It is a general gift and natural power that may be developed by practice and confidence, and instead of decreasing by use, it grows in proportion to its use. It is like a muscle that is developed by practice, but which becomes soft and flabby by non-use.
But when you begin to make cures, and hear wonderful reports of your success, which may seem miraculous to those around you who do not understand the subject, do not become puffed up or conceited, and begin to believe that you have some special gift or power. This is folly, for all healers are but channels of expression through which the natural forces and energies flow. You are but an instrument in the hands of Natural Laws. Do not forget this. This thought may be turned into a source of strength if you will look at the other side of the proposition and remember that you have the forces of the Universe back of you.
We advise the student to carefully study, and acquaint himself with all of the methods taught in this book. After doing so, let him select the methods that appeal most to him—being guided by his intuition. Let him, if he is so led, take a little from one system and a little from another, and combine them into a system of his own. Let him "take his own wherever he finds it." Do not deem it necessary to tie yourself to any one system, or to wear the "label" or "tag" of any one school. Beware of labels and tags on the mind. BE YOURSELF.
Chapter II.
Natural Laws of the Body.
AS WE have stated in our last chapter, we believe that the true secret of Health lies in the observance of the Natural Laws of the Body. These Laws may be summed up as Right Living and Right Thinking. In our book, "Hatha Yoga," we have explained our conceptions of these laws at considerable length and detail. We do not hesitate to state positively that every healer, or searcher for health, should acquaint himself with the instructions given in that book. Without an understanding of these fundamental laws any and all forms of healing are but temporary makeshifts, and the patient, if he pursues the former improper modes of Living and Thinking, will relapse into his old condition when the treatments are discontinued. There can be no successful defiance of Natural Laws.
In this chapter we will run briefly over the principal laws described in "Hatha Yoga," for the benefit of those readers who have not acquainted themselves with the contents of that book. But this chapter cannot begin to give the "Hatha Yoga" instruction fully—for that fills a good-sized book of itself.
In the first place, there can be no Health without proper nutrition. And there can be no proper nutrition without proper assimilation. This being granted, it may be seen that one of the first things for a healer to do is to re-establish normal conditions in this respect, and build up proper assimilation. This is why we have urged the healer to begin all treatments— for all kinds of complaints—with a treatment of the stomach, to restore normal conditions there. The stomach should be treated first, last and always, for there lies the secret of the first step toward recovery. In fact, the majority of diseases may be traced directly to the stomach, and to imperfect nutrition and assimilation. A man can no more thrive on non-nutritious food, or food imperfectly assimilated, than can a tree or plant or animal. Imperfect nutrition causes the blood to become poor and weak, and consequently every cell in the body becomes weakened and starved, and even the brain cells suffer with the rest, and are unable to send the proper currents of vital force and energy to the other parts of the body.
Always begin treatments by treating the stomach thoroughly, by whatever method you use. Insist that it take care of the food given it, and that it assimilates the food and converts it into good rich nourishing blood, which will flow to all parts of the body, giving health and strength. And insist upon your patient partaking of nourishing food in sufficient quantities.
One of the best ways to get the full nourishment of the food partaken of is by perfect Mastication. Food perfectly masticated gives the full amount of nourishment contained within it, which food, half-chewed and "bolted," wastes the greater part of its nourishment. We urge the importance of this matter upon the healer. We have seen cases of ill-nourished people restored to health in a very short time, merely from the change in the manner of masticating the food. All food should be chewed until it becomes soft, pulpy and pasty.
The second important point is the Irrigation of the body, as we have called it in "Hatha Yoga"—we mean the proper use of Water. The physical system requires a certain amount of fluids daily, in order to do its work properly. About two quarts of fluid in twenty-four hours is the normal amount for an adult. Without the proper amount of water the body is unable to do its work properly and the system suffers. Perfect secretion and excretion requires the normal amount of fluids. Otherwise the secreting glands are unable to manufacture the juices and fluids needed in digestion, absorption and assimilation, and the excreting glands are unable to provide for the excretion or throwing out of the waste products of the system through the kidneys and bowels. The liver is unable to act without sufficient fluids, and the other organs likewise suffer.
The third requisite for health is correct breathing. When you realize that unless correct breathing is performed by the patient the blood is imperfectly oxygenated, and is therefore unable to perform its functions, you will begin to see why a person breathing improperly is unable to have health. Practice deep breathing yourself until you understand it perfectly and then instruct your patient in the art. Our little book, "The Science of Breath," gives full and complete direction for correct breathing. We advise you to acquaint yourself with its contents.
Exercise, Bathing, etc., are important things to be observed. The healer should inform the patient as to this fact. Sleep is a needed something that Nature insists upon. Without a sufficient degree of rest the brain becomes overworked and complications set in.
In short, the patient should be instructed to become a normal, sane, natural being. Stick as closely as possible to Nature, and she will do the rest. The Natural Laws are designed for the furtherance of Health, and if not interfered with will produce and maintain normal conditions. The trouble with us is that modern "civilization" has drawn us so far away from Nature, that our natural impulses and tendencies have been smothered and stifled, and we have ceased to listen to Nature's voice until she has become disheartened and has ceased to call us. The only sane plan is to get back to Nature—as near to her as possible. Live as natural a life as possible and you will have the reward that Nature bestows upon those who are true to her.
Our book, "Hatha Yoga," is the Yogi conception of the natural life. Natural life is taught on every page. It holds that there is a great Intelligence permeating all Life, and that every natural law is a Divine Law, and should be so regarded and observed.
We urge upon every healer the duty and privilege that is his to educate and inform the patients to whose aid he is called in these laws of Right Living and Right Thinking. This particular book is not designed to repeat the instruction contained in
"Hatha Yoga," but instead is designed to supplement it to the end that those who have violated Nature's Laws and who are suffering