The Magic Staff: An autobiography of

ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS THE MAGIC STAFF AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
[pic] THE At A5G C STAFF; AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS. "' Though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for
thou x't with me; thy rod and TaH STAFF, they comfort mg." -fEBREW POET.
NI/TTI EI)lTION;. BOSTON: WILLIAM WHITE & COMfPANY, BANNER'OF LIGHT OFFICE,
158 WASHINGTON STREET. NEW YORK AGENTS-AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY. 1871.
Page 2 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857. BY ANDREW
JACKSON DAVIS, in tlil Clerk's Otfice of the District Court of the United
States, in and for the Sctuthern District of New Yjrft.
Page 3 PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. N MOST singular biography of a most singular
person is here presented to the world. We regard it as the first rational
and readable history of a Clairvoyant's experience that has appeared in the
language; and, irrespective of its doctrines or philosophies, we look upon
it as a valuable accession to biographical literature. This book differs
intrinsically, in style, method, and substance, from any of Mr. Davis'
previous works, which are extensively read and justly held in high
estimation on both sides of the Atlantic. Indeed, no other American
psychologist has obtained a more wide-spread fame, or given occasion for
such extreme differences of opinion. There are, perhaps, thousands who
regard Mr. Davis as a person of almost supernatural abilities, while a
greater number treat him and his writings with unmitigated prejudice.
HIence such a work as we now offer to the public is particularly needed to
institute a mean between these two mental extremes. The brief and
frag'mentary biographical sketches of the man, which have from time
Page 4 4 PREFACE. to time appeared, have neither supplied the demands and
wishes of believers, nor met the objections and allegations of the
unfriendly. Nothing, therefore, but a systenmatic autobiography - beginning
with his first memories and ascending step by step throughl every
subsequent year to the present period-could supply a desideiratum so
generally felt and expressed. This demand the present volume is intended to
meet, gi'ring, as it does, the public and private career of Mr. Davis, and
we respectfully offer it as an unprecedented record, entirely authentic and
beyond refutation. lM{any wonderful events, connected with his
psychological development, are published for the first time in this work;
and the secret of his extraordinary gift is explained and established in a
new and most satisfactory manner. We offer it, also, with the belief that
its pages are fraught with pure sentiments, which may be advantageously
read by parents and children, teachers and pupils, reformers and
philosophers. Indeed, with all due deference to the views of able critics
and scholars, (whose judgments upon this work are yet to be pronounced,)
we'are free to express our opinion that every class of readers will rise
from its perusal, not merely delighted with the simple pathos and dramatic
romance which pervade every page, but with clearer views and nobler
purposes. NEW Yo)R,?Iay, 1857.
Page 5 CONTENTS. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS. BfI rIt AUTHOR'S
COMPANION.......................... PAGE 9 CHAPTER I. TimE USE OF
AUTOBnOGRAH.. 19 CHAPTER II. TImE LOCAL H
ABITATION....................................... 24 CHAPTER III. TILE
NAiE.28 CHAPTER IV. THE VENDUE AND
DEPARTURE.................................. 34 CHAPTER V. My FIRST
MEMEIORIES 41 CHAPTER VI. MI FIRST
TEMPTATION....................................... 46 CHAPTER VII. A CIIANGE
OF SCENE........................................... 51 CHAPTER VIII. THE
DUTCHMAN'S GHOST.................................. 54 CHAPTER IX. IN WVHICH
I BIAKE 31ORE DISCOVERIES............................ 60 CHAPTER X. OTIHER
SCENES IN THIS DRAMAi............................... 66 CHAP TER XI.
SUNSIIINE AND CLOUDS.......................... 72
Page 6 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH I ASK BIANY
QUESTIONS.......................... PAGE 76 CHAPTER XIII. IN IIICIIH I GO
BABY-HUNTING.................................. 82 CHAPTER XIV. THE CURTAIN
RISES AGAIN...................................... 87 CHAPTE R XV. IN
WHIIICII ARE SIGNS OF SECOND-SIGHT....................... 91 CHAPTER XVI.
MY TEMIPTATION TO BE PROFANE...................... 96 CHAPTER XVII. MY
MOTHIER'S DREAMrx........................................... 103 CHAPTER
XVIII. SIGNS, AND THE THINGS SIGNIFIED.............................. 109
CHAPTER XIX. A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS......................................
112 CHAPTER XX. TIHE GAMBLER'S FIERY
FATE................................... 118 CHAPTER XXI. IN WHICII I GO TO
SCHOOL..................................... 123 C HAPTE R XXII. MY FATHER
AND ALCOHOL PART COMPANY....................... 129 CHAPTER XXIII. INITIAL
EXPERIENCES IN HYDE-PARK........................... 135 CHAPTER XXIV. A
CURIOUS CASE OF WITCHCRAFT............................... 143 CHAPTER XXV.
OTHER EPISODES IN THIS HISTORY........................... 153 CHAPTER XXVI.
IN WHICH I HEAR STRANGE MUSIC............................ 164 CHAPTER
XXVII. MY L~NCASTERIAN EDUCATION................................. 171 C
ITAPTER XXVIII THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE...................................
174 CHAPTER XXIX. A LESSON OF SELF-DEPENDENCE.............................
185
Page 7 CONTENTS. 7 CHAPTER XXX. MY LIFE WITH IRA
ARMSTRONG.......................... PAGE.13 CHAPTER XXXI. THE DAWNING
LIGHT............................................ 196 CHAPTER XXXII. IN'
WHVIICH I YIELD TO THE MYSTIC POWER.................. 204 CHAPTER XXXIII.
MY FIRST FLIGHT THROUGH SPACE.............................. 218 CHAPTER
XXXIV. TIIE SUMMIIT OF THE FIRST MOUNTAIN....................... 225
CHAPTER XXXV. AN ENTIRE CHANGE OF PROGRAMME........................... 246
CHAPTER XXXVI. MY JOURNEY TOWARD THE VALLEY..............................
260 C HAPTER XXXVII. SPECIAL PROVIDENCES......................2.0..........
270 CHAPTER XXX VIII. A STRUGGLE FOR THE SECOND
EIMINENCE........................ 285 CHAPTER XXXIX. THE MOUNTAIN OF
JUSTICE.................................... 294 CHAPTER XL. THE PRINCIPLES
OF NATURE................................. 303 CHAPTER XLI. THE SORROWS OF
NEW YORE...................... 313 CHAPTER XLII. SEVERAL NEW
STARS........................ *................ 320 CHAPTER XLIII. THE
SPIRITUAL SPHERES..................................332 CHAPTER XLIV. TVENTS
01F THE VALLEY......................................... 344 CHAPTER XLV.
~MISSIONARIES IN THE FIELD.........3.................. 355 CHAPTER XLVI.
VISION OF PERPETUAL PEACE............................. 368 CHAPTER XLVII.
THE FURwNISHED RooM..................... 384
Page 8 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XLVIII. NIGHT AND
MORNING...................................... PAGE 393 CHAPTER XLIX. FACTS
AND F.ANCIES... 404 CHAPTER L. IHE FRATERNAL
MARRIAGE..................................... 414 CHAPTER LI. THE
RECONCILIATION........................................... 420 CHAPTER LI I.
THE FATAL GEMI............................................... 428 CHAPTE R
LIII. READINGS AND TEACHINGS...................................... 435
CHAPTER LIV. iN TIIE OPEN FIELD....................................4.....
4,18 CHAPTER LV. LIFE IN THE
COTTAGE........................................... 460 CtIAPTER LVI. THE
DOUBLE SUICIDE....................................... 468 CHAPTER LVII. THE
THEOLOGICAL ECLIPSE.................................... 479 CHAPTER LVIII.
THE INFINITE CONJUGATION................................ 491 C HAP T ER
LIX. CAUSE AND EFFECT................................ 500 CHAP-TER LX.
GOLDEN TOKENS........... o -..I.............. o........ 516 CHAPTER LXI.
SINGULAR VISITATIONS................................... 533 CHAPTER LXII.
TiE CONJUGAL MARRIAGE.................................... 545
Page 9 INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS. BY THE AUTHOR'S COMPANION. IN commencing ani
Introductory Section to this AUTOBIOGRAPMIY, it occurs to me that several
inquiries, relative to the object sought, will arise in the minds of many
who may peruse the present volume. Some of these inquiries I will briefly
state, in order to assist the reader, by my succeeding responses, into the
pleasurable path of satisfactory biographical research:1. TVhy should this
Autobiography be indited, instead of such philosophical matter as has
hitherto claimed the Author's attention? It is in the attractive garb of
narration that many most important truths have been promulgated throughout
society. But we have no need of precedent. The Author of this work has been
induced to place it before the world by the conscientious conviction that
in no way could the psychological principles which it embodies be so
effectually impressed on the thoughtful spirit, as in connection with and
illustrated by the incidents of a life. The philosophical volumes, already
among the things that are, give detached fragments of Mr. DAVIS's
extraordinary experience; but still, the skeptical "How?" comes ever up
from the restless soul of the invincible logician. As an instanc