Hypnotic Influence
As we have mentioned in the previous lesson, there is a general
resemblance between the manifestation of Mental Influence, known as
"Fascination," and that known as Hypnotic Influence. In the
manifestation known as Fascination, the influence is exerted solely
by Thought-Waves passing from mind to mind without a physical medium
or channel other than the ether. In Hypnotic Influence, on the
contrary, the influence is heightened by means of passes, stroking
or eye-influence.
In Hypnotic Influence the mind of the person affected, whom we
shall call the "subject," is rendered passive by a flow of mental
energy calculated to render it more or less drowsy or sleepy, and
therefore less calculated to set up powers of resistance to the
Thought-Waves of the person using the influence.
But the power employed is the same in all cases, no matter
whether they fall under the classification of Fascination or whether
that of Hypnotic Influence. The two classes of manifestation, as a
matter of fact, really blend into each other, and it is difficult to
draw a dividing line in some cases.
Hypnotic Influence is a form of that which was formerly termed
Mesmerism, which name was given to it in honor of its discoverer,
Frederick Anton Mesmer, who practiced this form of Mental Influence
during the latter half of the Eighteenth Century. As a fact,
however, the force and its use was known to the ancients centuries
before Mesmer’s time, the latter person having merely rediscovered
it. Mesmer taught that the power was based upon the presence of a
strange universal fluid which pervaded everything, and which had a
peculiar effect upon the nerves and brains of people. He and his
followers believed that it was necessary to put the subjects into a
sound sleep before they could be influenced. But both of these ideas
have given way to the new theories on the subject now held by
investigators and students of the subject.
It is now known that the "magnetic fluid" believed in by Mesmer
and his followers is nothing else than the currents of Thought-Waves
emanating from the mind of the operator. And it is also known that
the "deep sleep" condition is not necessary to render the will of
the subject subservient to that of the operator. It is also now
known that the nerves of the arms and fingers afford a highly
sensitive conductor for the mental currents, which may be propelled
over them to the mind of the subject, or to his nerves and muscles.
This fact is explained by the well-known scientific fact that the
material of which the nerves are composed is almost identical with
that of the brain – in fact the nervous system may be spoken of as a
continuation of the brain itself. It is now also known that the eye
has a peculiar property of transmitting the mental currents along
the rays of light entering it and from thence to the eyes of the
other person. The above fact explains the phenomena of hypnotic
influence, as it is now known to science. The question of
"Suggestion" also has a bearing on the subject, as we shall see
presently.
Modern operators do not produce the "deep sleep" condition
usually except in cases when it is desired to produce some form of
psychic phenomena apart from the subject of Mental Influence – that
is, in which they are merely inducing the deep hypnotic condition in
order to get the subject into a psychic condition in which the
phenomena mentioned may be manifested or exhibited. We shall not
enter into this phase of the subject in this book, for it is outside
of the immediate subject. The modern hypnotic investigator merely
induces a passive state in the mind, nerves or muscles of the
subject sufficient to reduce the powers of resistance, and then he
gives his orders or "verbal suggestions" accompanied by a projection
of his Thought-Waves into the mind of the subject.
In order to illustrate the subject, we will give you a few
experiments, which may be easily performed by anyone manifesting the
power of concentration and thought-projection. There is of course a
great difference in the degrees of impressionability of different
persons to hypnotic influence – that is to say, difference of
degrees resistance. Some persons will interpose a strong resistance,
while others will set up a very feeble resistance, which is easily
beaten down by the will of the operator. In the following
experiments you had better begin by getting some person who is
perfectly willing for the experiment, and who will not interpose a
resistance but who is willing to become passive. Some person
friendly, to you and interested in the experiments, we mean.
Begin by having the person stand before you. Then make sweeping
passes in front of the person from head to foot. Then make a few
passes in front of the face of the subject, then along his arms.
Then take hold of his hands and hold them a little while, looking
him straight in the eyes. Make all passes downward. Avoid levity or
laughter and maintain a serious, earnest expression and frame of
mind.
Then standing in front of the subject tell him to take his will
off of his legs and stand perfectly passive and relaxed. Then
looking him straight in the eyes, say to him: "Now, I am going to
draw you forward toward me by my mental power – you will feel
yourself falling forward toward me – don’t resist but let yourself
come toward me – I will catch you, don’t be afraid – now come – come
– come – now you’re coming, that’s right," etc. You will find that
he will begin to sway toward you and in a moment or two will fall
forward in your arms. It is unnecessary to say that you should
concentrate your mind steadily upon the idea of his falling forward,
using your will firmly to that effect. It will help matters if you
hold your hands on each side of his head, but just in front of him,
not touching him, however, and then draw away your hands, toward
yourself, saying at the same time: "Come now – come – you’re
coming," etc. Standing behind the subject and drawing him backward
may reverse this experiment. Be sure and catch him in your arms when
he falls to protect him from a fall to the floor.
In the same manner you may fasten his hands together, telling him
that he cannot draw them apart. Or you may start him revolving his
hands, and then giving him orders that he cannot stop them. Or you
may draw him all around the room after you, following your finger
that you have pointed at his nose. Or you may make him experience a
feeling of heat and pain by touching your finger to his hand and
telling him that it is hot. All of the familiar simple experiments
may be performed successfully upon a large percentage of persons, in
this way, by following the above general directions. We shall not go
into detail of the higher experiments of Hypnotism, as that forms a
special subject by itself. We give the above experiments merely for
the purpose of showing you that the phenomena of Hypnotic Influence
does not require any "magnetic fluid" theory, and is all explainable
upon the hypothesis of Mental Influence by means of Thought-Waves
and Mental Induction.
In the above experiments, be sure you "take off" the influence
afterward, by making upward passes, and willing that the influence
pass off. Do not neglect this.
In your experiments, if you care to undertake them, you will soon
discover the power of your eye upon the other persons. You will be
able to almost feel the force passing from your gaze to theirs. And
this is true in the case of the passes and stroking of the hands.
You will feel the vibratory waves flowing from your hands into their
nervous system. It is wonderful what power is aroused in a person
after conducting a few experiments along these lines. Those who care
to follow the subject further are referred to a forthcoming book of
this series, to be issued shortly, and which will be called "The New
Hypnotism," in which full instructions will be given in the higher
phenomena, in complete detail.
And now a word of warning - Beware of people who are always
putting their hands on you, or patting or stroking you, or wishing
to hold your hands a long time. Many persons do this from force of
habit, and innocently, but others do so with the intention of
producing a mild form of hypnotic influence upon you. If you meet
such persons, and find them attempting anything of this sort, you
can counteract their influence by sending them a strong thought
current (as stated in our last chapter), sending them the thought:
"You can’t affect me – I am too strong for you – you can’t play your
tricks on me. "It is a good plan to practice this counteracting
force when you are shaking hands with a "magnetic" person who seems
to affect people. You will soon be able to distinguish these people
by a certain force about them and a peculiar expression in their
eyes, at the same time using your protective will upon them.
Caution young girls against allowing young men to be too free in
using their hands in caressing them, and a word of advice to young
men in your family would not be out of place in this respect. There
are many cases of sex-attraction, leading to very deplorable
results, arising from a conscious or unconscious use of this simple
form of Hypnotic Influence. The danger lies in the fact that it
renders one passive to other influences, and more readily led into
temptation and to yield to the desires or will of the other person.
A word to the wise should be sufficient. The use of this power for
immoral purposes is a terrible crime and brings down upon the user
deplorable results, which all occultists know and teach. Every one
should learn to resist such influences when exerted upon them.
Forewarned is Forearmed. |