The Mystic Will - A Method of Developing and Strengthening the Faculties of the Mind, through the Awakened Will, by a Simple, Scientific Process Possible to Any Person of Ordinary Intelligence

by Charles Godfrey Leland

During the past few years the most serious part of the author's study and reflection has been devoted to the subjects discussed in this book. These, briefly stated, are as Firstly, that all mental or cerebral faculties can by direct scientific treatment be influenced to what would have once been regarded as miraculous action, and which is even yet very little known or considered. Secondly, in development of this theory, and as confirmed by much practical and personal experience, that the Will can by very easy processes of training, or by aid of Auto-Suggestion, be strengthened to any extent, and states of mind soon induced, which can be made by practice habitual. Thus, as a man can by means of opium produce sleep, so can he by a very simple experiment a few times repeated-an experiment which I clearly describe and which has been tested and verified beyond all denial- cause himself to remain during the following day in a perfectly calm or cheerful state of mind; and this condition may, by means of repetition and practice, be raised or varied to other states or conditions of a far more active or intelligent description.

92 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 1907

About the author

Charles Godfrey Leland (August 15, 1824 – March 20, 1903) was an American humorist and folklorist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Princeton University and in Europe.
Leland worked in journalism, travelled extensively, and became interested in folklore and folk linguistics, publishing books and articles on American and European languages and folk traditions. Leland worked in a wide variety of trades, achieved recognition as the author of the comic Hans Breitmann’s Ballads, fought in two conflicts, and wrote what was to become a primary source text for Neopaganism half a century later, Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches.

Reviews

[Sotiris Makrygiannis]

A rather early, primitive neuroscience book. Now days is known that Agree easily from the OCEAN model, are those that can utilize the power of self-suggestion, visualization,etc
The sceptics like me read more books like this :)

[Alice]

An interesting read with great wisdom on memory and power of mind.

[Matjaz]

One could call it a very basic intro into self-hypnosis I believe. It's a very slow read that won't reward you if you're not reading it with the sole intention of exploring the field of interest. This isn't an inspirational "brute-force will" self-help book but relies more on the sentiment that things should come to you more naturally, easy and in a relaxed way otherwise there's no point of pursuing it.

Read only if you're interested in autosuggestion.

Light 3/5

[Abdullah Almuslem]

A lot to digest in this book. But in principle, the book equates the “will” to the repeated effort of a task until it is mastered and become a habit. So, you want to master something, do it many times, you want to remember something repeat it until it becomes a second nature etc. There were a lot of discussion in the book on hypnotic methods and self-suggestion and other topics which I did not like a lot.

Few highlights:

One should never overdrive a willing horse.

Dante's assertion that :”There is no greater grief than to recall in pain the happy days gone by”.

There can be no greater hero than the man who can conquer himself and think exactly as he pleases.

He who has swam in the river can swim in the sea; he who can hear a door bang without starting can listen to a cannon without jumping.
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Learning to control or strengthen the Will is closely allied to developing Attention and Interest.

Where an earnest and serious Attention has been directed to it, Interest soon follows.

Mere repetition of anything to almost anybody, will produce remarkable results; or a kind of Hypnotism Causing the patient to yield to what becomes an irresistible power.

I would remark that "no one should ever expect full success from any first experiment."

By faith we can remove mountains, by perseverance we can carry them away, and the two amount to precisely the same thing.

Let the aspirant who is to appear in public, or pass an examination, and is alarmed, base his forethought on such ideas as this, that he would not be afraid to repeat his speech to one person or two—why should he fear a hundred?


It is a principle, recognized by all physiologists, that digestion and fixed thought cannot go on together; it is even unadvisable to read while eating.


He who can lead himself, or others, into a habit can do anything.

[Emma Jean]

A Victorian Predecessor to "The Secret", though repetitive (the author himself exercises his own technique by repeating it throughout) I found it far more interesting and well written than the latter book. I'm very glad I read it and will certainly implement the technique contained herein.

[Matt Kelland]

Imagine the worst of Crowley plus the worst of Nietzsche dressed up as a Victorian self-help book. Unreadable, pompous waffle, only of interest for historical reasons.