Use And Abuse Of Automatic Writing

J. A. White, a trance and clairvoyant medium himself, says of the phase

of writing mediumship: "There is a great tendency, particularly in cases

of automatic writing, to do too much of it. No sooner do some people

find that the pencil will move, than they spend all their spare time in

this fascinating pursuit, which, in their undeveloped state, I believe

to be a dangerous and unwise practice. They are apt to exclaim, when any

question arises during the day: 'Let us see what the spirits have to

say.' This, carried to extremes, leads to one thing, and one thing

only--obsession. I believe in fixing a time, and, unless in exceptional

cases, refusing to sit at any other. Of course I am speaking of

mediumship when it is in its budding stage. A developed medium can judge

for himself, and knows from experience how far to go. It is a favorite

trick of a certain class of spirits when they find they have a sensitive

who can 'feel' them, to give them that pricking sensation in the arm

which denotes their presence. 'So-and-so wants to write,' and away

rushes the medium for the pencil, and sits down. This I do not believe

in. I have seen far more harm than good come from it. The proper way to

develop, in my opinion, is to sit at home in a small, carefully selected

circle, two or three times a week, at stated hours, and with a competent

conductor who knows what he is doing."