Observations placeholder
Visions, diagnosing disease & writing and drawing with bandaged eyes
Identifier
007900
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
On being asked during a trance state, about what she liked most during her time in trance, this girl replied as follows
A description of the experience
Letters on Mesmerism – Harriet Martineau
"I Iike to look up, and see spiritual things. I can see diseases; and I like to see visions.'
When asked repeatedly whether she could read with her eyes shut, see things behind her, &c., she has always replied that she does not like that sort of thing, and will not do it:-she likes higher things. When asked how she sees them -
"I see them, not like dreams in common sleep,-but things out of other worlds;-not the things themselves, but impressions of them. They come through my brain."
..........Though usually disdaining to try to read with the eyes shut, she has twice written when desired - complaining, when her eyes were fast shut, and her chair was almost in the dark, that she could not see well, meaning that there was too much light, and once she drew a church and a ship, about as well as she might have done it with open eyes.
She drew the ship in separate parts, saying that she would put them together afterwards. In this latter case, her eyes were bandaged, as she complained it was so light she could not see; and then she complained that the pencil given her would not mark, and tried to pull out the lead further, not being satisfied till her strokes were distinct.