Fascination
In this and the next chapter we shall present to you information
regarding the effect of Mental Influence manifested when there is
personal contact between the persons using the power and the person
affected. Then we shall pass on to a consideration of the effect
produced when the persons are not in direct contact with each other.
There are two general forms of the direct use of Mental
Influence, which, although somewhat resembling each other, may still
be separated into two classes. The first we shall call "Fascination"
and the second "Hypnotism".
By Fascination we mean the manifestation of Mental Influence when
the two persons are together, without passes or the usual hypnotic
methods. By Hypnotism we mean the use of the power, also, when the
two parties are together, but accompanied by passes or hypnotic
methods.
Under the head of Fascination are to be found the manifestations
generally known as "Personal Magnetism," "Charming," etc. , is quite
commonly employed, in varying degrees by many persons, often without
their conscious knowledge of the principles employed. Many persons
are possessed of the power of Fascination "naturally" and without
having studied or practiced the principles. Many others, not
originally possessing the power, have acquired by study and practice
the power to influence people in this way. For, it must be known,
the power may be acquired by study and practice just as may any
other power of mind and body. To some it is easy, to others
difficult – but all may acquire a very great degree of the power by
intelligent study and practice of the underlying principles.
Fascination is one of the oldest forms of the manifestations of
Mental Influence. It was known to, and employed by, the earliest
races of men. It was known to, and employed by, the earliest races
of men. It is even found among the lower animals that pursue their
prey or capture their mates by its use.
A recent writer on the subject has defined the word, used in this
connection, as: "Acting upon by some powerful or irresistible
influence; influencing by an irresistible charm; alluring, exciting,
irresistibly or powerfully, charming, captivating or attracting
powerfully, influencing the imagination, reason or will of another
in an uncontrollable manner; enchanting, captivating or alluring,
powerfully or irresistibly. "
As we have just said, this power is observable even among the
lower animals in some cases. Instances are related by naturalists,
which scorpions have fascinated other insects, causing them to
circle around and around until finally the insect would plunge down
right within striking distance of the scorpion, which would then
devour its prey. Birds of prey unquestionably fascinate their game,
and men who have been brought in contact with wild tigers, lions,
etc. have testified that they felt paralyzed in some manner, their
legs refusing to obey their will, and their minds seeming to become
numbed and stunned. Those who have seen a mouse in the presence of a
cat will testify to the effect of some power exerted by the latter.
Birds in the presence of a cat and serpents also manifest symptoms
of a conquered will. And naturalists cite many instances of the
employment of this force by birds seeking to captivate and charm
their mates at the beginning of the season.
Among men it has been noticed that certain individuals possess
this power to a great degree, some of the "great men" of ancient and
modern times having been so filled with the power that they could
manage their followers almost as one would move automatons. Julius
Caesar had this power developed to a great degree, and used it from
youth to his last days. He was worshipped - almost as a god by his
soldiers - who would undertake almost any task at his bidding.
Napoleon also possessed this charm to a wonderful degree. It enabled
him to control men with whom he came in contact, and to bend them to
his will. He rose from a poor student to the dignity and power of
the Emperor of France. When banished to Elba he escaped, and landing
in France, alone and unarmed, confronted the ranks of the French
army drawn up to capture him, and walking towards the soldiers
compelled the latter to throw down their guns and flock to his
support. He entered Paris at the head of the great army, which had
been sent forth to capture him. This is no wild legend, but a sober
fact of history. And in our own times we see how certain leaders of
men sweep people before them and move them around like pawns on the
chessboard of life.
All of the above mentioned phenomena comes under the head of
Fascination, and is the result of the emanation of streams of active
Thought-Waves from the mind of a person, the same being strongly
concentrated and directed toward those whom the person wishes to
affect. The person forms a strong thought in his mind and sends it
out to the others charged with the force of concentrated will, so
that the other person feels it most strongly and forcibly. The
fundamental idea is the forming of the thought, and then sending it
out to the other person.
For instance, if you wish a person to like you, you should form
in your mind this thought: "That person likes me," fixing it in your
own mind as a fact. Then project to him the concentrated thought,
"You like me – you like me very much," with an air of assurance and
confidence, and the other person is bound to feel the effect unless
he or she has acquired a knowledge of the subject and is using
self-protection. The thought should be sent forth with the strength
that usually accompanies a strong spoken statement, but you must not
actually "speak" the words aloud – you should merely say them
strongly "in your mind. "
If you wish to produce an effect or impress Strength upon another
person, the same process may be used, changing the Thought and
vibrations to the idea that you have a stronger Will than the other
person, and are able to overcome his Will – using the silent message
of "I am Stronger than you – my Will overcomes yours," etc.
Some successful agents and salesmen use the following method in
reaching their customers. They form a thought that the other person
desires their goods very much, and then they send out the
Thought-Waves that "You desire my goods – you want them very much –
you have an irresistible longing for them," etc.
Others use the following when they wish another to comply with
their wishes: "You will do as I say – will do as I say – you will
yield to me fully and completely," etc.
You will readily see from the above examples that the whole
principle employed in any and all of these cases consists of:
(1)The Thought of what the person wishes the other to do held
firmly in the mind; and
(2)The projection of that Thought to the other, silently, in the
shape of unspoken words.
In the above you have the whole secret of Fascination condensed
to a small space. You will understand, of course, that the words are
only a means of concentrating and vitalizing the thought. Animals
merely feel Desires, but are able to fascinate by the strength of
them, although they cannot use words. And one person may fascinate
another without understanding a word of his language, the real
strength coming from the strength of the desire behind the words.
The formation of the desire-thought into words is merely for the
purpose of concentrating and focusing the thought, for words are
concentrated symbols of ideas, thoughts or feelings.
The exact process of "sending forth" the Thought-Wave to the
other is difficult to describe. You know how you feel when you say
something very forcible and emphatic to another person. You can
fairly "feel" the force of the words being hurled at the other
person. Well, cultivate that same power in sending forth the
"unspoken word" in the above manner, and you will soon be able to
notice the effect of the thought on the other. It may help you to
imagine that you can see the force flying from you to the other. The
imagination properly used helps very much in these matters, for it
creates a mental path over which the force may travel.
You must not act awkwardly when sending out the Thought-Waves,
but converse in an ordinary manner, sending your Thought-Waves
between your speeches, when the other person is talking to you, or
at any pause in the conversation. It is always well to send first a
powerful Thought-Wave before the conversation is opened, preferably
while you are approaching the person. And it is likewise well to
terminate the interview with a "parting shot" of considerable
strength. You will find that these Thought-Waves are of far greater
power than spoken words, and then again, you can in this way send
out impressions that you could not utter in spoken words for obvious
reasons.
And now do you see how you have been affected by persons who have
influenced you at times in your past life? Now that you know the
secret you will be in a measure immune from further impressions from
others. And when you read our concluding chapter, entitled
"Self-Protection," you will be able to surround yourself with a
protective armor through which the Thought-Waves cannot penetrate,
but which will turn aside the shafts directed toward you. |