Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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THE SPIRITS’' BOOK
pressions, they would find themselves to be possessed of the same power."
454. May we attribute to a sort of second-sight the perspicacity of those persons who, without
being remarkably gifted in other ways, possess an unusually clear judgement in relation to
the things of everyday life?
"Such clearness of judgement is always due to a freer radiation of the soul, enabling the man
to see more correctly than those whose perceptions are more densely veiled by matter."
- Can this lucidity of judgement, in some cases, give the fore-knowledge of future events?
"Yes, it may give presentiments; for there are many degrees in this faculty, and the same
person may possess all those degrees, as he may possess only some of them."
Explanation of Somnambulism, Trance, and Second-Sight.
455. The phenomena of natural somnambulism occur spontaneously and independently of
any known external cause; but, in persons endowed with a special organisation, they may be
produced artificially through the action of the mesmeric agent. The only difference between
the state designated as mesmeric somnambulism. and natural somnambulism is, that the one
is artificially produced. while the other is spontaneous.
Natural somnambulism is a notorious fact, the reality of which few now dispute,
notwithstanding the marvellous character of the phenomena it presents. Why, then, should
mesmeric somnambulism be regarded as more extraordinary or incredible, simply because it
is produced artificially, like so many other things ? It has been abused by charlatans, some
persons will reply; but that fact only affords an additional reason for not leaving it in their
hands. When science shall have taken possession of it; charlatanism will have much less
credit with the masses; but, meanwhile, as somnambulism, both natural and artificial, is a
fact, and as a fact cannot be argued down, it is making its way, despite the ill-will of its
adversaries, and obtaining a footing even in the temple of science, which it is entering by a
multitude of side-doors, instead of entering by the principal one. Its right to be there will, ere
long, be fully recognised.
For the spiritist, somnambulism is more than a physical phenomenon; it is a light thrown on
the subject of psychology; it i3 a state in which we can study the soul, because in it the soul
shows