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The Life of a Sensitive – Madame Michael Bouissou

Dr. B-'s behest, interested Madam D- who was very skilful in training and directing mediums.

She made me work with objects chosen by herself. At the outset my preference was for photographs, letters and even a simple piece of blank paper which had been in contact with the interested person. Later I was able to work quite easily with soil, a stone, a jewel or a piece of gold which I held tightly in my left hand, without ever, except in the case of photographs, looking at them. Other objects frequently used by clairvoyants-gloves, pieces of clothing, handkerchiefs, certain metallic objects such as keys, lighters and fountain pens-did not appeal to me and did not give such good results.

At the beginning of these exercises I had to overcome various difficulties. The images unrolled before me quite clearly, but upside down: as no one has been able to give me an explanation for this visual anomaly, I merely mention it. After a dozen times, however, the images appeared normally and I had no need to straighten them out.

Another difficulty was that the images always appeared in a symbolic form. I shall give a very simple example. If the vision was connected with a sick person, instead of seeing appear, as happened later, a bed-ridden man or a woman in a setting so clear that I could describe the furniture and the curtains, I would see a flower or a wilting, withered or dead plant.

At this period I knew nothing of symbolic interpretation and I had to describe what I saw, while Madame .D-, who knew the subject of my vision, interpreted the symbols.  Naturally, in these conditions, the work was slow, subject to considerable error and, as far as I was concerned, devoid of all interest and significance. Nevertheless I had such a strong desire to perfect my gift that I persevered and studied symbolism.

Although the mode of expression of the unconscious varies, the same symbolism is valid for everyone. It differs, however, in this respect, that each of us takes from the images offered those which our own personality prefers.

The great symbols, water, fire, the planets, plants- particularly corn, the vine and the rose -certain animals, the lion, the horse, the serpent, the cat, the eagle and others, can be found with the same interpretation even in that fascinating science, heraldry. Certain mediums, however, have, for example, a symbolism rich in animal and others in floral images. It is up to each of them to learn how to recognise, outside the interpretations of classical symbolism, those which are peculiar to them.