Many people possess varying degrees of so-called psychic abilities. Such abilities can be considered natural to them; in other words, they were not acquired through any specific effort.

But no matter how remarkable these natural gifts may seem to both their possessor and the world at large, they are a burden rather than an asset unless they are disciplined through philosophical discipline. Almost all so-called natural mystics have missed the mark because they were satisfied with accepting intangible and vague principles as the guiding light of life.

With few exceptions, such natural psychics consider themselves highly evolved souls, unaware that the lowest dog possesses psychic abilities far superior to their own; but an animal incapable of rationally directing its powers must live, move, and exist in servitude to man.

A psychic who has not mastered these psychic gifts through rational discipline is in no way spiritually superior to an animal and will ultimately suffer some bestial end for their irrationality. The naive illusion that perfection comes to such people "naturally" must be abandoned if we are to attain true consciousness.

Manly P. Hall