283 - (36). Can we evoke the spirit of an animal?

"After the death of an animal, the intelligent principle which animated it is in a state that may be qualified as latent; but it is immediately utilised, by spirits specially charged with that work, for animating new beings, in which new beings the intelligent principle continues the work of its elaboration. Thus, in the world of spirits, there are no wandering spirits of animals, but human spirits only. This statement answers your question."

- How is it, then, that some persons who have evoked animals have obtained answers?

"Evoke a rock, and it will answer you. There is always a crowd of spirits about you, ready to speak for everybody and for everything.

Remark - For the same reason, if we evoke mythic or allegorical personages, we shall get a reply; that is to say, there will always be a spirit ready to reply for them, and the answering spirit will assume the character and peculiarities of the personage evoked. One day, someone took it into his head to evoke Tartuffe, and Tartuffe came at once; and what is more, he spoke of Orgon, Elmire, Damis, and Valere, and gave news of them; enacting the hypocrite as exactly as though Tartuffe had been a real person! He afterwards stated that he was the spirit of an actor who, when on earth, had performed the part of Tartuffe. Frivolous spirits always take advantage of the inexperience of their questioners; but they rarely take the trouble to address themselves to those whom they know to be sufficiently enlightened to discover their imposture, and who are therefore not likely to credit their stories. There are men who do just the same.

A gentleman whom we knew had in his garden a nest of young gold-finches, in which he took much interest. One fine day the nest disappeared. Having satisfied himself that none of his household had taken it, it occurred to him, as he was a medium, to evoke the mother-goldfinch. His evocation was promptly responded to, as follows, and in very good

French: -"Accuse no one, and make yourself easy about my children. The cat upset the nest when taking a leap; you will find it in the grass, and the young ones too, for the cat did not eat them." On searching the spot indicated, the nest and the young birds were found exactly as had been stated. Are we to conclude from this fact that it was the spirit of the bird that answered the evocation? Assuredly not; it was simply a spirit who knew all about it. This shows how much we must distrust appearances, and how true is the assertion just quoted-" Evoke a rock, and it will answer you." (See 234, Medianimity of Animals)