179. If certain effects produced in the movements of
the table, of the basket, or of the planchette that writes,
be examined, an action exercised directly by the spirit
on these objects cannot be doubted.
The basket is, at times, shaken with so much vio-
lence, that it escapes from the hands of the medium ;
sometimes, even, it is directed toward certain persons
in the circle, to strike them ; at other times, its move-
ments testify an affectionate sentiment.
The same thing occurs when the pencil is in the
hand ; often it is thrown forcibly to a distance, or the
hand, like the basket, is convulsively shaken, and
strikes the table with anger even when the medium
is perfectly calm, and astonished not to be master of
himself. Let us observe, in passing, that these effects
always denote the presence of imperfect spirits; those
really superior are constantly calm, dignified, and be-
nevolent ; if they are not listened to properly, they
retire, and others take their place. Thus the spirit
can express his thought directly, either by the move-
ment of an object in the hand of the medium, or by his
action on the hand itself.
When the spirit acts directly on the hand, he gives
to it an impulse completely independent of the will.
It goes on without interruption, and in spite of the
medium, as long as the spirit has anything to say, and
stops when he has finished.
What characterizes the phenomenon in this case is,
that the medium has no consciousness of what he
writes ; absolute unconsciousness constitutes passive
or mechanical mediums. This faculty is precious, as it
can leave no doubt of its independence of the thought
of him who writes.
