- 22 - Alternatively, one can play a phonographic record of a hymn or other solemn song. The singing and playing of a beautiful song inspire the hearts of the hearers with harmony and solemnity and turn their thoughts to higher things. Such music is also a good safeguard against the influence of the world of evil spirits, which will try to infiltrate the meeting for the purpose of obstructing and disturbing it. • Since evil is discord and does not feel at home in surroundings in which the harmony of good thoughts and sentiment finds expression in words and song. That was why, as the Bible relates, the evil spirit departed from Saul when David played the harp before him and sang beautiful songs to the Lord. • After the singing is over someone present should speak a simple prayer in his own words. Should he be too shy to deliver the prayer without the aid of notes, he may write it down beforehand and read it aloud with due reverence. Everyone who attends these meetings should take his turn at offering a prayer. • Following the prayer, someone should read a passage from the Old or the New Testament, and those present should then discuss what has been read. The singing, the reading and the discussion should take about half an hour. • When the discussion is over, the participants join hands, the light being dimmed as much as possible, each person laying his right hand over the left hand of his neighbour. This is called ‘forming a chain’. It is necessary to unite the odic force of each individual into a closed circuit, just as separate lengths of wire must be connected when one wants to send an electric current effectively through them. It must always be borne in mind that the ability of the spirit world to perform its work at a séance depends on the strength of the odic current, and that the effect of the od is greatly enhanced by dimming the lights. • The ‘formation of the chain’ also has a highly symbolic significance, for, just as those present join hands and thereby become linked outwardly into one unit, so they should be of one heart and one soul. They should love one another, help one another, forgive each other’s faults and banish from their hearts everything that might disturb the internal harmony of the group. It was for the reasons I have cited that also the early Christians used to join hands when they gathered together for worship. They thus sought to signify unity of mind, but primarily they strove to create a powerful odic current in order to enable the good spirit world to deliver its messages. • The ‘chain’ should be maintained for 12 to 15 minutes. During this time everyone should strive to stay composed, to exclude all worldly thoughts and to think of what is good. To this end he may engage in introspection, review his own past life, his shortcomings, his behaviour toward God and his fellowmen, his sins of omission, and the like, make corresponding good resolutions, beg God for forgiveness and the strength to avoid evil. He should give thanks to God for all blessings received, praise and exalt Him and reverently beseech Him to be allowed to communicate with the good spirit world. He may include in his meditation and prayer
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