From the book Dawn of the Awakened Mind
John S. King, M.D.
Founder and President of the Canadian Society of Psychical ResearchASTRAL FLIGHTS
I have also learned among other matters of psychical interest to myself, and possibly to others, that by strong concentration of mind, and exercise of will power, I can withdraw myself from my physical body, at a given fixed time, and thereupon present, in my astral body, at a place I desire to reach, and be recognized there; though apparently debarred, or at least am unable to exercise connected and detailed memory of what I saw and heard during my presence in my astral body; and this psychic demonstration has been verified verbally, in writing, and in a printed book, after its accomplishment.
Before making an astral flight in recent years, I have received assurances from my guides, whom I have frequently tested, and in whom I have confidence, that my body would be protected, and my flight aided, as well as my re-entry of my physical body on return.
I so stated on the public platform in St. George's Hall, Toronto, on Sunday evening, 28th November, 1915; and there promised I would demonstrate it to be a fact sometime in Toronto. Three evenings later I did so, before a private circle for trumpet voices (everyone present knowing me). It was my first effort for that particular phase. On the afternoon preceding the evening séance, I sent a brief intimation to the place for the circle, simply stating, I hope to be at the séance tonight; but don't wait for me. You will hear from me later.
Full particulars have been published by Herbert G. Paull, in a booklet, The Voice of the Spirit. Chapter V or the fifth séance will verify my statement, and my demonstration through a trumpet, and that I was reported by the spirit control of the medium as present in my astral body. However, my astral was escorted to and from the place by spirit guides who had me in my home in time to reply to the spokesman over the 'phone, who cross-examined me, and gave my replies to others present with him. My arrival at the séance was a sudden surprise, and my demonstration produced the conviction of proven.
As promised over the 'phone, I prepared a written explanation of my experiences of the evening, a copy of which was called for the next day, and appears along with the records of particulars, at the séance in question, which is numbered V in the booklet. I include here all that I had then to say, viz.:
Sitting in the occult circle of seven, comprised of the Toronto Bureau Committee, listening to discarnate spirits' voices, at a recent séance with Hugh Gordon Burroughs, trumpet psychic, I was spoken to and questioned by his control.
Dr. King, why are you so quiet tonight? I replied, 'I am thinking'.
This was true, for I was cogitating the trial of another new experiment, which if successful, could be confirmed by my colleague sitters, and thus prepare further evidence of value to prove what I had previously asserted several times regarding astral flights.
Two features I had listed as proven already, viz.: my flight to New York State, where my spirit-picture appeared on a photograph along with a mortal one of my brother's wife.
Again another psychic phase I had succeeded in, by making an astral flight and appearing along with other personalities at a materializing séance held by the Intellectual Circle in Kansas City, on the night of January 25th, 1910. On that occasion my astral body was visible, and my voice was audible to judge Dill, and the other sitters. I there told them I was Dr. John S. King of Toronto, and I would make another visit and would then have sufficient strength, I thought, to sign my name for them. What I here affirm has been verified in writing, and can be corroborated by judge Dill and others among the then sitters.
I introduce another similar instance to the above here, as a matter of convenience and preservation of a more recent experience, viz.: On May 14th, 1916, I appeared at a séance held at J. B. Jonson's, Toledo, and noticed present a Toronto gentleman friend, James Poole, a well-known business man to whom, owing to conditions being unfavorable (a thunder storm had been prevailing) I could not speak, but as I had promised him before he left home that I would meet him there in my astral body, by walking from the cabinet during the séance as others do. I did so and tapped him on his thumb with a small stick I carried, just to remind him that I had kept my promise to him.
Hypatia and des Asia, two of my guides, and my wife May were there also and materialized. I was present in my astral body. The sitters signed a written declaration affirming my presence and demonstration. This ends the new demonstration added, which did not appear in the written record promise over the 'phone, and handed out the following day, and occurred nearly four and a half months later. I now resume the statement as handed out the day after my first experience of speaking through the trumpet: My thinking, alluded to in the beginning, resulted in my decision to absent myself from a séance, and then surprise my colleague sitters by coming in my astral body and trying to talk with them through the trumpet if conditions permitted.
My preparations consisted in turning out all my front lights at 8 pm., then retired to my bedroom and lay on my bed, when I remembered that the instructions of my spirit guide that our spirit party would reach the séance room somewhere near nine o'clock. I lay awake thinking, but could not then sleep, and when the time was nearly 9 o'clock, I got up and closed my bed-room door to shut off the light from the adjoining hall, and hurrying back, spoke aloud: This is just about the time for my spirit friends to call for me. Then with my head on the pillow, I closed my eyes, still having many proofs of my personality in mind to use. I quickly became asleep. I soon awakened suddenly, and felt satisfied I had just returned, turned on the light, and found the time 9.35 p m., and so went forward to my office, and with my telephone near at hand, felt sure it would ring. Presently it rang. 'Hello!' and I recognized the voice I had expected. 'What are you doing, doctor?' 'I have been asleep and have only been seated here a few minutes,' I answered.
Mr. Paull then told me I had been at the séance room in my astral body, and that the sitters were greatly surprised. He jocularly charged me with having been playing a sharp trick on them. He wanted me to tell him my experience. I mentioned briefly a few incidents, which appeared to be correct from his acknowledgement (and concluded to go into the matter more fully next day). As it was getting late, he said he would call and see me in the morning; and I promised to write for him a description of my experiences, but told him I was not permitted to tell him everything I knew.
When he called the next day, it seemed to me as if a curtain had been drawn in front of my memory; and I could not comply with my promise made to him to give my experience of the experiment.
Did you ever have a most wonderful experience in a dream, and fully realized at the time that it was only a dream, but worth telling at the breakfast table next morning; but when you tried to relate the incidents they had most of them vanished from your memory? This is the situation in which I find myself, with a very few exceptional incidents.
The modus operandi of my 'astral flights' as described in my book by my guides will be interesting reading. Whether or not I succeeded in this my first effort to speak as a carnate spirit through the trumpet, I leave the decision to those of my colleagues present in the séance room on Wednesday night, 1st December, 1915, as they were purposely kept in ignorance of my intention so as not to disturb conditions.
Notwithstanding, I am informed that so very anxious were they to verify something said, that the light was turned on (to see the time), conditions were affected, and I was unfortunately prevented from presenting further proofs, and thus not completing what I have earnestly, and honestly, contemplated accomplishing; but I am hoping that I shall next time be more successful. Thus endeth the statement handed out, and known in the booklet as my explanation.
After the phone conversation was concluded all repaired to the seats they had vacated, lights were turned off and the séance resumed. As to what most immediately followed, I quote from the booklet's record:
SPIRIT MURPHY (the control of the medium) : 'There, ladies and gentlemen, I did all I could to help that manifestation.'
SPIRIT BLACK HAWK (an Indian who can also control the medium) : 'Say, everybody, wasn't that a good idea of the doctor's—ain't he funny.'
SPIRIT HYPATIA: 'I give you greeting, friends, tonight. I am pleased to be here, my dear ones, especially to please my friend the doctor, and help in his interesting experiment. We have done this for a purpose, and I must say I am pleased and gratified at the result. It will have two distinct influences, as it represents before the world the distinction between the physical and the spirit side of life; and proves demonstrably that there is an astral body, which can and does leave at times the physical temple—I leave, and I greet you all, dear, ones, with a message of help and love—goodnight.
Having thus demonstrated an important psychic fact in my home city, as well as in four different places in the United States, I concluded that even though I had done so and that my guides were agreeable to my doing it, they were compelled to prevent me from seeing, hearing and remembering too much, in case that I might not wish to return to my body; and they would encounter difficulty in inducing me to do so.
As the psychic fact had been well established in the presence of sufficient credible witnesses, and my object attained, I shall abandon further efforts in the future; but am fully convinced that after I have passed to spirit realms, and spent a short season there, as a free spirit, I shall be permitted by the Infinite Spirit—and aided by his ministering spirits, who act as my guides—to return and demonstrate through some of the good mediums of earth—as scores of my relatives, friends and strangers have done, to convince me. And if so be that I may, the reader can rest assured that I shall, beyond every doubt, do so; and still try to prove to the skeptic and disbelievers in the spiritualistic creed that they are still in error, as I again prove by my presence, when they recognize me in a transient body speaking, or hear my voice through a trumpet, or hear me as a spirit writing independently on a slate; or through some person's hand automatically these words : 1, Dr. John S. King, have kept my promise as made in Dawn of the Awakened Mind, for I have proven, and do now prove, Continuity, Return and Communion, all true.