I dreamt that I was dead, and wanted to take form and appear to C.
in order to converse with him. And it was suggested by those about me--
spirits like myself I suppose--that I might materialise myself through
the medium of some man whom they indicated to me. Coming to the
place where he was, I was directed to throw myself out forward towards
him by an intense concentration of will; which I accordingly tried
to do, but without success, though the effort I made was enormous.
I can only compare it to the attempt made by a person unable to
swim, to fling himself off a platform into deep water. Do all I
would, I could not gather myself up for it; and although encouraged
and stimulated, and assured I had only to let myself go, my attempts
were ineffectual. Even when I had sufficiently collected and prepared
myself in one part of my system, the other part failed me.

At length it was suggested to me that I should find it easier if
I first took on me the form of the medium. This I at length succeeded
in doing, and, to my annoyance, so completely that I materialised
myself into the shape not only of his features, but of his clothing
also. The effort requisite for this exhausted me to the utmost,
so that I was unable to keep up the apparition for more than a few
minutes, when I had no choice but to yield to the strain and let
myself go again, only in the opposite way. So I went out, and mounted
like a sudden flame, and saw myself for a moment like a thin streak
of white mist rising in the air; while the comfort and relief I
experienced by regaining my light spirit-condition, were indescribable.
It was because I had, for want of skill, dematerialised myself without
sufficient deliberation, that I had thus rapidly mounted in the air.