TheStarsAreRight:EllisMailingIntro

Package One.

NOTE: Compiled during November and December 1930. The terminology used in these documents is somewhat different than "typical Ellis stuff," in that Carl's own personal names for things have been removed and the usages are more traditional. Magical energy is referred to throughout as "psi energy." These energies are not the thrust of the work, which focuses on larger issues as will be seen below.

Most of the package is material of direct interest in its efforts to identify 'real' supernatural phenomena and predict their behavior. This material goes into details of phenomena and explanation, and mechanisms are discussed for measuring and directing the flux.. Sources given are all natural, eg., wellsprings and ley lines.

Discussion of psi energy

its radiation from the body

its sensitivity to 'events'

its normal behavior when not influenced

motion through lines and circles

affinity for silver (copper, gold)

disruptive properties of iron (ruthenium, osmium)

disruptive properties of rapidly varying electric fields

its ability to accept and retain 'commands' and 'impressions' both of physical and mental environments, especially in cases of extreme emotion or stress

the means by which these impressions may propagate widely from place to place and person to person

the sensitivity of certain people to reading those impressions, and ways in which that sensitivity can manifest (clairvoyants, psychometrists, psychics and telepaths, etc.)

how 'legitimate' sensitives reacting to psi impressions in this way can often be identified by the strength and variation of their psi aura while they work, using tools described in a later section

experimental details

how some other animals such as dogs are well known for their sensitivity, and can be shown experimentally to be more sensitive to psi radiations than most people

experimental details

how stronger concentrations of the energy can result in phenomena detectable by anyone

memory "ghosts"

hot spots, cold spots, sourceless emotions and the like

"psi poisoning" or symptoms of sickness caused by over-exposure to the psi flux

how these concentrations may be measured, dispersed or disrupted mechanically, and the consequences of same

measuring devices (a simple 'psychogalvanometer' is described, with the note that these and similar devices are patented in the US and UK and available for sale over the counter in England)

decanting or drawing off of flux using silver conduits

mechanical disruption using iron-mesh "fly-swatters" or solid iron sheets/walls/objects

electromagnetic disruption using rapid alternating currents (examples include protective suit and electric cages)

side-effects, discussing photographic fogging, metal heating and random manifestations (the heating is easily explained as electromagnetic interaction, while the random effects are attributed to a 'mechanism that is not well understood and must be properly researched.') It is noted that in the majority of cases, these effects are limited in size and duration, and usually harmless

how psi energy is more present in densely inhabited places, but also gathers naturally in 'hot spots' and 'ley lines'.

these locations may be used to experiment with the energy and/or to power the simple devices described

these locations, and other spots with high levels of energy, are more likely to exhibit 'weird psychic' phenomena such as the stuff so oft in the papers of late -- so reports on or near the lines are more likely to have some measurable validity

a copy of part of Carl's ley line map of northern Illinois is provided, along with instructions on how to use a psychogalvanometer to find the leys

the level of psi energy, both at hot spots and in general, can be shown to be rising slowly nationwide. One possible cause, then, of the increased number of supernatural sightings in recent months may be related to this rise

some specific cases to illustrate the point, including

Henry Peavey's ghost in Los Angeles, and how it can be detected/measured

Photographic film fogging at a selected hot-spot or two

similar things from the Houdini archives, interpreted in the light of psi

and lastly, importantly, how psi phenomena cannot be expected to explain everything.

Discussion of ritual magic, 'witchcraft', the power of patterns, and critters

This section deals mainly with categorizing observed and anecdotal phenomena into predictable models, without attempting to explain in detail why things are the way they are. The purpose of the document is to allow people to recognize what they see and predict the consequences, in much the same way as a traditional occult investigator might. Thus, this section has some light theory, but most of it is very pragmatic and focuses on the "what" of things without much of the "why."

Elements of Ritual magic

rhythm and repetition gives power

the rules of similarity and contagion hold true

influences (personages, entities, etc) exist that are associated with certain shapes, patterns, substances or elements of nature and can be commanded or influenced to act for the practitioner

blood has great power to unlock these forces

sacrifice (of all kinds) has great power to unlock these forces

Most ritual magicians tie magic and religion closely together, however the essential mechanisms of pattern and sacrifice seem the same regardless of the faith of the practitioner; only the trappings change

Many witches etc are in it for themselves at the expense of others; be wary.

Psychic leys and hotspots are often preferred spots for ritual magic

magic rituals performed in these places work better

psi energy responds to closed shapes and repetitious movements

psi energy is released by ritual participants and thus is a component in such rituals

give examples

these rituals and their effects are also impressed upon the psi flux and may cause a site to be "tainted" by them more or less permanently.

Under some conditions psi hotspots may thus be trained through ritual (or, one presumes, natural causes) to evidence distinct persistent characteristics and even 'personalities'. Give examples

• the 'crow hotspot' in Nebraska
• the black altar stone in Ithaca NY
• others

Ritual magic results generally come in one of two forms, bodied or unbodied

bodied results give the impression that a demon, angel, monster or servant has been brought forth to serve the will of the practitioner

such invocations almost always require blood sacrifice

the effects tend to be quite durable

unbodied results (spells, curses) give the impression that the practitioner has caused an effect to occur through force of will

such invocations rarely require blood sacrifice, though some other form may be required

the effects tend to be transitory

this correlation between sacrifice and embodiment is notable; though Carl does not attempt to explain the mechanism, several referenced sources (listed here) from historical texts note that the invoked creature is oft said to feed upon the sacrifice's life, needing that vitality in order to enter our world.

Carl notes here, in passing, that none of the trappings of spiritualists (horns, ectoplasm, knocks etc) seem to have any reality; that while there do appear to be real psychics none of them require these things -- such effects and the usual sèance rigamarole seem thus far to be clear signs of fakery.

Practical occultist's guide

Some resources to go with the two sections above. Some of this is right out of Carl's class notes, some of it prepared for the occasion.

Equipment

Psychogalvanometer and how to use it

As a meter

As a ley-mapping device

Flyswatters and screens and how to use them

Hayes-Waite wards and the Seal of Solomon

Spirit loops and what they're good for

Baxt spices and what they're good for

Leys and hotspots

A map of the leys and charted hotspots in the US, with notes on them where information is available, especially if there is a known weirdness there (such as the "evil crows" at the Nebraska site.)

Brief description of the behavior of a ley, what it will do, and the dangers and benefits of messing with them

Random effects, why not to be afraid, why to be careful

Spirits

Brief discussion of spirits (different from memory-traces) and their behavior

How to identify them (doesn't work well)

How to protect oneself (wards, spirit loops, baxt)

Dangers and limits of astral travel, for those who don't know how

Biggest danger from spirits is delusion

Magic Spells

Again rituals -- they take time, people, sacrifice and are easily disrupted

Even quick spells take time (examples of a few)

Spells can be protected against as they are usually psi phenomena

Guard against them the same as you would psi flux

Don't touch a so-called witch, priest, or their things

Critters

Disembodied things (see spirits)

Life eaters (demons, big and little -- descriptions and behavior)

Can usually be distracted or lured with bowls of blood

Not very smart but dangerous

Vampires

Victims of a blood condition with various effects

See George Parkhurst in Buffalo for more info

Other monsters -- manifestations that many independent eyewitnesses have agreed upon seeing, without explanation

Lesser mythos nasties (shamblers, biyakhee, deep ones, nightgaunt, shantak, hunting horrors, knorri, ghouls, serpent men, Yig snakes), rough descriptions, and their habits and limitations.

Cults and Churches

Discussion of native American shamanism and its virtue

Discussion of some cult "warning signs" -- rites and activities that signal trouble, including a few Mythos names and symbols that may be encountered (include Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, and some others that are not "dangerous" to name)

Remind that the people in these cults are nutters and very dangerous, in the same way that some (not all) witches are.

What to Look For

What makes a place likely to have an occurrence

• Location
  • Population sparse or occasional
  • Proximity to line or spot
• Previous history

What makes a place unlikely

• Extreme crowding, or regular ordinary traffic

Ellis Disclosure Notes