Serie H brev nr 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of BREVCIRKELN, number 7 in series H from 1999, is titled "The Dynamic Power of Thought and the Human Radiation Atmosphere." Authored by Anna-Lisa Helle, it delves into the profound influence of human consciousness and mental energy on physical reality, health, and the environment.

The Power of Thought and Primitive Beliefs

The article begins by exploring how primitive humans perceived the existence of hidden spiritual beings and believed that all natural forces were expressions of an spiritual world. This belief system, often tied to the deceased, led to the concept of gods and demons who could bestow blessings or curses. To appease these entities, primitive peoples employed rituals involving offerings, music, dance, and incantations, mirroring how they would interact with their own chieftains. The text draws parallels between these ancient practices and elements found within the Catholic Church, such as amulets, relics, and holy water.

It is suggested that demons were believed to inhabit the bodies of weakened individuals, causing illness, madness, or death. Medicine men were tasked with exorcising these evil influences. Australian tribes, for instance, believed in invisible beings possessing a secret power called 'Boyl-ya,' which could afflict people. Sorcerers could allegedly draw this 'flesh-eating power' out of a body using a quartz crystal.

Beyond healing, sorcerers were also depicted as black magicians who could cause harm or death by invoking demons or performing dark rituals. Methods included killing an effigy or using a lock of hair from the victim, which was then fried over a fire to bring about their demise.

The article connects these concepts to modern psychological ideas, suggesting that what are now termed 'conflicting complexes' have their origins in these ancient demonological beliefs. The struggle between the lower and higher self, and the forces of resistance, were personified in folklore as rebellious wills acting independently.

Magic, Suggestion, and the Mind-Body Connection

A common practice across different cultures involved creating an effigy or doll to represent a condemned person, subjecting it to treatment that would inflict the desired harm upon the actual victim. This concept of 'in effigie' magic was widespread in the Christian Middle Ages, where the evil thought was concretized into the figure of the Devil.

Citing 'Encyclopedia Britannica,' the article emphasizes the theory that magical processes are effective because they are believed to occur within the patient's imagination. If someone believes they are bewitched, they can become ill and even die, unless convinced they are recovering and the cause of the illness has been removed.

A case is presented from the British Medical Journal about a woman who died because she believed she would die at age 43, a prediction made in her childhood. Despite a successful minor surgery, she succumbed to shock shortly after, with an autopsy revealing severe bleeding around her adrenal glands, likely triggered by the stress and fear of death, thus fulfilling the prophecy.

The text asserts that whether magic is considered good or evil, directed at others or oneself, thought is the decisive factor in human life. It quotes Prentice Mulford and Professor Charles Baudouin, who state that a person who can create a mental image of themselves as young, strong, and healthy, and identify with it, will remain young. Similarly, the persistent focus on a goal will eventually lead one towards it, almost against one's will.

This principle is explained as a universal law: like attracts like. Positive thoughts are believed to lead to a good, blessed life and a healthy body, while negative thoughts result in a fragmented, unhappy life and a weakened body susceptible to disease. The article concludes that individuals become what they mentally envision themselves to be.

Scientific Exploration of Thought and Energy

Modern psychology is acknowledged for understanding the immense power of thought and its character-shaping force. However, the article suggests that people struggle to apply these insights, particularly the understanding that an idea underlies every thought, whether it originates from subjective experience or the objective cosmic soul.

Even when acknowledging a spiritual existence, people often forget that this principle is primarily responsible for their personal lives, thoughts, and actions. The concept of 'nothing happens without God's will' is presented, implying that everything occurs due to an immutable cosmic order. The text questions how the world would change if people realized that subjective thinking is directly connected to this fundamental objective thought, potentially leading to a unified global consciousness.

Each person creates their own 'thought atmosphere' based on the nature of their thoughts, an atmosphere that others can perceive and be influenced by. This concept is now being increasingly supported by modern science, which is beginning to confirm that thought is a force, a reality.

Measuring Thought: EEG and Brain Waves

The article explores the question of whether thought can be measured. It explains that while previously considered far-fetched, it is now understood that thinking can be measured because electrical alternating currents are generated in the brain during thought processes. These currents, with voltages fractions of a volt, vary in frequency. When the brain is at rest, the current fluctuates about ten times per second, but this rate doubles or multiplies during sharp thinking or strong emotional experiences. New instruments can now automatically record the nature of thoughts and emotions within the brain by analyzing these electrical currents.

These findings are based on the work of German psychiatrist Hans Berger, who discovered that brain activity produces electrical currents that vary with an individual's psychological state. His method, later refined by English neurologist E.D. Adrian, involved placing silver electrodes on the scalp to record rhythmic potential variations. These signals are amplified and translated into audible sounds or visual curves on a rotating paper cylinder by an electroencephalograph (EEG).

Berger identified 'alpha waves,' a fundamental rhythm of about 10 waves per second, which are strong during complete mental and physical rest. During sleep, these waves decrease in intensity. Mental work, pain, or emotional changes produce different wave patterns, such as 'delta waves' (around 25 per second). Specific disturbances, like epilepsy, also show distinct patterns, and the waves are influenced by an individual's character.

Sleep, Dreams, and Subconscious Experience

The article touches upon the research of Docent in Clinical Neurophysiology David H. Ingvar, who discusses the discovery of 'parasomnia,' a previously unknown brain activity during sleep. Sleep is now understood to consist of two distinct forms: orthosomnia ('old' sleep with heavy breathing and slow EEG waves) and parasomnia ('new' sleep, characterized by EEG waves similar to wakefulness).

Parasomnia is linked to dreaming, with approximately a quarter or more of the night spent in this state, occurring in 4-6 periods of 5-20 minutes each. The article suggests that these subconscious experiences during parasomnia may be crucial for psychological health. Disrupting these periods can lead to irritability, mood swings, and aggression. Conversely, allowing parasomnia to occur naturally helps individuals 'dream themselves' back to their normal state.

Research is also exploring how psychological methods can be used to influence dream content and experiences, aiming to understand the laws governing the subconscious. Experiments have shown that if a need or desire is created during the day, it may manifest in dreams during parasomnia, such as a thirst experienced during the day leading to dreams of drinking.

Invisible Forces and Human Radiation

The article emphasizes that new discoveries in physics and biology reveal that humans are part of a vast, interconnected universe. Many phenomena occur under the influence of invisible forces, such as water vapor, heat, electricity, chemical rays, emotions, inspiration, and thought power.

It is proposed that the brain is the center for these invisible radiations, and since every thought corresponds to a vibration in the brain, it becomes easier to understand phenomena like telepathy, where thoughts might be transmitted without words. The idea is that a person on the verge of death might transmit a thought or movement that affects another person's brain, creating a sensation of the dying person's presence.

The concept of a human 'radiation atmosphere' has long been of interest. It was believed that a certain 'fluid,' known as magnetism, existed in the human organism and could be transferred between individuals. While few modern researchers initially believed in this 'fluid,' many now accept the possibility of some form of radiation, termed 'nerve radiation.'

Historical Research on Animal Magnetism and Aura

Paracelsus theorized about a macrocosmic energy from the universe being absorbed by the microcosm (living beings) and converted into animal magnetism or 'diological radiation.' This theory was further developed by physicians like Friedrich Mesmer in the late 18th century, who practiced 'animal magnetism,' which later became known as hypnotism.

Mesmer's method involved direct physical contact and stroking, which he believed transferred a 'magnetic fluid.' His disciple, the Marquis de Puységur, demonstrated that this trance-like state could be induced without direct contact, leading to the scientific study of hypnosis.

Dr. John Björkhem recounts an experiment with a woman in Bordeaux who exhibited an unusual radiating ability from her hands. She could preserve dead specimens from decay and even reverse the process in decaying matter. This suggested her hands emitted a force that could halt decomposition.

In Sweden, Dr. Alfred Backman conducted experiments suggesting a special radiation from the human body, particularly the hands. He found that plants exposed to this 'magnetized' influence grew twice as fast as control plants. These experiments attracted international attention and were investigated by a joint English-French commission.

Scientific Investigation of Aura and Nerve Radiation

Uppsala established a docenture in Psychic Research, headed by Docent Sidney Alrutz, who became known for his theories on an unknown energy form called 'nerve radiation.' Alrutz proposed that the human organism emits a radiation that plays a significant role in hypnotic experiments and influences human interaction, making people feel stimulated or fatigued.

Dr. Carl von Reichenbach's research is also mentioned, suggesting that all matter, including stones, crystals, metals, magnets, plants, and animals, emits radiation. He termed this 'od-radiation,' which he believed could be perceived by individuals with clairvoyant vision as a bluish, shimmering mist surrounding the body. The intensity and pattern of this radiation were observed to change with the individual's health and emotional state.

Dr. Walter Killner, a physiologist, confirmed Reichenbach's findings and sought to demonstrate the existence of od-radiation through physical means. He developed the 'Killner screen,' a sensitive material that could detect these radiations, and documented his experiments in a work titled "The Human Radiation Atmosphere Made Visible with the Help of Chemical Screens."

Reichenbach's experiments involved over a hundred clairvoyant individuals who independently described the od-radiation in a consistent manner. They all agreed that the radiation emanates from the body as fine rays, forming a bluish-white, shimmering aura. When healthy, these rays extend outwards, but in illness or weakness, they cross and droop, resembling flower stems. The brightness of the radiation diminishes with illness or depression, indicating the significant influence of the psyche on these emanations.

Conclusion

The article concludes by linking the findings on how mental states affect radiation (Reichenbach) and how brain waves are influenced by individual character (Berger) to the dynamic power of thought and its impact on our health, character, and destiny. It ends with a quote attributed to Buddha, emphasizing that our actions, driven by our thoughts, determine our experiences of suffering or happiness.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the power of human thought, the existence of invisible energies and radiations, the connection between the mind and body, and the historical evolution of beliefs about these phenomena from primitive magic to modern scientific inquiry. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploring and validating these concepts, presenting scientific research alongside historical and anecdotal evidence to support the idea that mental states and energies have a tangible impact on our lives and the world around us. There is an underlying belief in a cosmic order and the potential for human consciousness to influence reality.