This blog contains examples of inner promptings and impulses that had very good results; it also contains details of inner promptings and impulses that led to what I think of as nightmare scenarios – or at least to some very unpleasant experiences.
One article for example describes how I felt a strong inclination to visit a small town in Kent and 'by chance' found a book there that I had been looking for everywhere; another tells the story of how my sudden impulse to take a long scenic bus ride into Kent resulted in an exhausting ordeal.
Then there was the time when I felt an inner prompting to join a second public library, one that I used to go past on the way to and from school; it had all of the Rider Haggard books that I had been desperate to read!
I think of such impulses as good ideas and 'good ideas', depending on their positive or negative outcomes.
I have been wondering where these ideas, promptings and urges of both kinds come from. Do they originate in my or someone else's subconscious mind? Are benevolent or malevolent entities on another dimension responsible? The article about inner demons sabotaging our lives is of interest here, as is the poet Kathleen Raine's mention of daimons and dark angels.
Dion Fortune's occult novels have inspired a string of articles; her book of short stories The Secrets of Dr. Taverner contains some material that is very relevant to this topic. A few extracts from this book speak for themselves.
Dr. Taverner says this in the story The Return of the Ritual:
“Supposing I told you that the impulse which made you break that window was not a blind instinct, but an attempt to carry out an order from your Fraternity, would you believe me?”
The following extracts come from The Death Hound story:
“All thoughts are not generated within the mind that thinks them,” said Taverner. “We are constantly giving each other unconscious suggestions, and influencing minds without knowing it, and if a man who understands the power of thought deliberately trains his mind in its use, there are few things he cannot do.”
"Some people send telegrams when they wish to communicate, but I don't; I send thoughts, because I am certain they will be obeyed. A person may disregard a telegram, but he will act on a thought, because he believes it to be his own; though, of course, it is necessary that he should not suspect he is receiving suggestion, or he would probably turn round and do the exact opposite."
There are some rather disturbing implications here, even though Dr. Taverner says that he practises 'white occultism', implants suggestions deliberately rather than subconsciously, doesn't abuse his powers and sends suggestions to people only with the intention of helping and healing them!
“...she said, “I often get those impulses; it was on just such a one that I came down here.”
“Then,” said Taverner, “it may well be on just such another that you got engaged to Mortimer, so I may as well tell you that it was I who was responsible for that impulse.””
The impulse to become engaged, the 'good idea', came from an evil external force; as the benevolent Dr. Taverner says, he himself was behind the girl's impulse to visit his house. Incidentally, it was very lucky for her that she did.
One of the many editions of The Secrets of Dr. Taverner:
