Serie A brev nr 29

Magazine Overview

This issue of Brevcirkeln, titled "LAGEN FÖR MIRAKLER" (The Law of Miracles), published in 1917, delves into the nature of unexplained phenomena and miraculous occurrences through personal accounts and metaphysical interpretations. The magazine presents a series of case studies and reflections on how certain events defy conventional understanding, suggesting underlying principles or laws that govern these occurrences.

The Law of Miracles: Personal Accounts

The author, P. Ellsworth, a self-proclaimed metaphysician, shares several personal experiences and anecdotes to illustrate his concept of the 'law of miracles'.

The Chinese Incident (1925)

Ellsworth recounts an incident from a spring morning in 1925 when, while waiting for his wife, he recalled a magazine article claiming that no one would ever see a Chinese person in the USA because they belonged to a 'tong' (a secret society) obligated to help each other. He felt a desire to disprove this. Later, while his wife was in a shop, he observed two Chinese men passing by, each carrying a tree, without acknowledging each other. He questions whether this was a mere coincidence or part of a larger pattern.

The Montreal Radio Station (July 1, 1948)

Another incident involves his daughter returning from a trip in July 1948. While listening to the radio, his wife mentioned how they had once changed their radio's tuning and unexpectedly picked up a station in Montreal. This was unusual, as they could typically only receive Canadian stations during cold, clear winter nights, and never during the summer. The station played "My Lady Green Sleeves." Ellsworth describes how, at the exact moment his wife was recounting this, he fiddled with the radio and, without looking, managed to tune into the same Montreal station playing the same song. He emphasizes the improbability of this event, suggesting it points to something beyond mere chance.

Miraculous Healings

Ellsworth then transitions to discussing 'miraculous healings,' presenting three primary examples.

#### The Farmer's Wife (1890s)

In the 1890s, his father, a doctor in Manchester, Iowa, was called to attend a farmer's wife who had been suffering from severe abdominal issues for nearly a year. Her condition was dire, with hardened growths and damaged organs. Her husband stated she was dying. Despite the grim prognosis, the woman insisted on knowing if it was cancer. When her husband was asked to arrange for a surgeon, she declared she would not be operated on and wished to be alone. Twenty-four hours later, she was up and eating ravenously, with her abdominal condition seemingly vanished. She had been certain of her recovery if she could forgive her husband for a past infidelity.

#### The Cancer Patient

About one to two years later, another patient, pale and weak, presented with what his father diagnosed as breast cancer. The patient pleaded for medicine, but his father explained that medicine would be useless and only an operation offered a chance. The woman refused surgery, opting instead for a form of 'mental healing' that was popular at the time. Her father, though skeptical, made a bold statement: if she was alive and well a year later without surgery, he would publicly acknowledge it. This woman lived for 20 years after the author's father's death, never undergoing surgery.

#### The Syphilis Patient (1917)

In 1917, while living in Seattle, Ellsworth's friend called him about a man contemplating suicide. The man was suffering from advanced syphilis, which had severely affected his throat. He had undergone a three-month arsenic cure without success and was considered incurable. He had already written his will and saw no point in further suffering. Ellsworth advised him to rest and promised to try and help. He suggested that the man had nothing to lose and that perhaps he could help himself or contribute to his own healing. He believed that unexpected illnesses did not necessarily mean unexpected people.

The man agreed to the experiment. The next day, he called Ellsworth, who visited him at his workplace. Ellsworth found him in a room with a strong lamp. The man opened his mouth, and the growths and tissue in his throat were gone, replaced by smooth, soft tissue, as if they had never been there. He pulled up his trousers to show no signs of tumors.

Explaining the 'Miracles'

Ellsworth posits that these events, while appearing miraculous, are governed by a 'law' or principle. He draws an analogy from Albert Einstein, suggesting that just as water heated enough will eventually freeze instead of boil, seemingly impossible events can occur. He argues that these 'miracles' have no lasting value beyond the event itself.

The Law of Desire and Psychic Energy

He proposes that the underlying force is a form of 'desire-force' or psychic energy. He references the concept of 'healing' (botande) as one of many such phenomena. He explains that this force is not necessarily divine intervention but an inherent energy within humanity, a vast ocean of knowledge and power from which desires and needs are fulfilled. He cites researchers like Gustav Stromberg, H.A. Wilson, and Pascual Jordan, who suggest the existence of a force with intelligence, free will, and control.

The Technique of 'Creative Desire'

Ellsworth outlines a specific technique for harnessing this energy:

1. Relaxation: Lie down in a quiet, dimly lit room, finding a comfortable position and allowing the body to relax completely.
2. Mental Stillness: Empty the mind of all surface thoughts. This is achieved by not actively engaging with thoughts, allowing them to pass without resistance. The author notes that the conscious mind's verbal level lacks psychic power.
3. Focusing Desire: Once the mind is clear, allow the feeling of the desired outcome to enter consciousness without using words. This is an instinctive feeling, not a verbalized thought.
4. Holding the Desire: Keep this desire within your consciousness. Do not try to visualize external places or states. Instead, create a 'force field' or 'magnetic field' with this desire, which has the power to produce effects at a distance. Hold this feeling until you feel tired, then cease for the day.

He advises repeating this process once or twice daily until the result is achieved. He acknowledges that some achieve results quickly, while others take longer, but emphasizes that the effect is cumulative, like drops of water filling a bucket.

Conditions for Success

Ellsworth stresses the importance of 'trust' (tillit) and the absence of 'mistrust' (misstro). One does not need to 'believe' in a conventional sense but must not 'distrust' the process. He suggests that being open-minded and taking the process seriously can lead to results.

He differentiates 'actual desire-force' from ordinary wishing by emphasizing the intent and conviction behind it. For results to manifest, there must be an intention to achieve the result and a belief that it can be achieved. He warns against using psychic or spiritual energy for mere sensation or to prove one's abilities; it should be used for practical purposes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the existence of a universal law or force that governs seemingly miraculous events, particularly in the realm of healing. The editorial stance is that these phenomena are not random but can be understood and potentially influenced through specific mental techniques and a disciplined application of 'desire-force.' The magazine promotes a metaphysical perspective, suggesting that human consciousness and intention play a significant role in shaping reality, challenging conventional scientific and medical paradigms. The author, P. Ellsworth, acts as a guide, sharing his experiences and providing a practical methodology for readers to explore these principles themselves.