io6 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



The temptation to indulge in those pleasures of 

 the senses which are physically injurious loses its 

 fascination and is seen in its true light when the 

 soul wakes to its real duty and the consciousness of 

 its glorious power. This is the secret of the won- 

 derful hypnotic influence that " cures " the desper- 

 ately ill, and releases youth from thraldom to petty 

 vices that have enchained the will and threaten to 

 wreck the moral being. By hypnotic suggestion 

 the soul is roused to consciousness of its power and 

 duty, and the soul itself works the miracle. 



Moreover, the soul is receptive to suggestion in 

 natural as in hypnotic sleep, for it is then released 

 from the delusions and illusions of the senses, and 

 is itself in touch with higher influences ; consciously, 

 when its aspirations lead it thitherward, but under 

 any and all circumstances more accessible to them. 

 It is not, perhaps, generally recognized that " the 

 night time of the body is the day-time of the soul," 

 which was the creed of lamblichus, leader of the 

 Neoplatonists. This is the divine opportunity for 

 soul growth the saving provision or means by 

 which God retains at least a faint hold upon even 

 ,the most wayward of His children. It explains, 

 also, the inestimable value of the quiet period of 

 introspection and uplifting thought which should 

 precede the laying of the head upon the pillow for 

 the night's rest. Incalculable harm is done to little 

 children by sending them weeping and rebellious 



