Comments on: The Mesmer Stare – A Hypnosis Induction From The 1800s

By: Tim Phizackerley

Tim Phizackerley — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:56:08 +0000

Isn’t it funny how we hypnotherapists differ because to me this doesn’t seem strange or peculiar at all. The heights and distances make perfect sense in terms of result sought with maximum comfort of the operator in mind at the same time.
Absolutely as an induction this makes no sense whatsoever but only in the context of the modem view of hypnosis which is all about ccf bypass. That’s not the way to view this because that’s not what’s being undertaken here at all.
This is an inducation for …a different kind of state than the one generally used today which is heavily language dependent. It’s perhaps easiest thought of as a kind of submission rapport which leads to compliance and a trance like state. Hence the term “magnetic sleep”: magnetic often having to do with “charisma” and “personal power” and not magnets (which mesmer initially used) although I agree that’s potentially confusing since the term was carried over for quite some time and used in more than one way. Ive found that these old books often make a great deal of sense but only if one completely abandons the popular 20th century view of what hypnotism is all about whist reading. That’s often not what they’re talking about at all.

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:23:47 +0000

In reply to Robin Hook.

Headbutting the client would more than likely be a swift way to exit hypnosis, but I doubt you’d want to repeat it with all your clients every day, eh?

😉

Good to hear from you Robin, A.

By: Robin Hook

Robin Hook — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:58:00 +0000

After one or two hours I think I would probably fall asleep and headbutt the client. Surely the writer must have realised that, although this could work as an induction, it would be very uncomfortable for the hypnotist?

By: Adam Eason

Adam Eason — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:48:51 +0000

In reply to Mike Reeves-McMillan. I know Mike, I cracked up too! Good to hear from you :-)

By: Mike Reeves-McMillan

Mike Reeves-McMillan — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:11:09 +0000

At first I thought, “Oh, eyeroll induction” – but then I got to the “one to two hours”. Hilarious!