Hypnotism for Professionals E-Book

Konradi Leitner

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Table of Contents by way of introduction The state of trance Some are more suggestible Asleep, or not asleep? The cataleptic test The reluctant subject No rude awakening Illusions, unlimited Memory lane After the trance is over For experts only Induction among friends Establishing rapport The light trance The doubting subject Removing the doubt The overanxious subject A young subject An aid to education The deep trance Detective work Self-hypnotism Assorted helpful hints On stage The opening speech The audience is with you The invisible cord The critical point The chosen few Confidence and control Effective performance Ending the show If MESMER could have known! from cult to craft Scorn's end Hypnotism today . . . and tomorrow Glossary of terms as used in works on hypnotism Selected Bibliography

Leseprobe

Contents

By way of introduction

The state of trance

Matters of degree

Some are more suggestible

Asleep, or not asleep?

The cataleptic test

The reluctant subject

Illusions, unlimited

Memory lane

After the trance is over

For experts only

Induction among friends

Establishing rapport

The light trance

The doubting subject

Removing the doubt

The overanxious subject

A young subject

An aid to education

The deep trance

Detective work

Self-hypnotism

Assorted helpful hints

On stage

The opening speech

The audience is with you

The invisible cord

The critical point

The chosen few

Confidence and control

Effective performance

Ending the show

On stage with

From cult to craft

Scorn's end

Hypnotism today

. . . and tomorrow

Glossary of terms as used in works on hypnotism

Selected Bibliography

HYPNOTISM

FORPROFESSIONALS

KONRADI LEITNER

Bywayofintroduction

Hypnotism, as a phenomenon,is probably as old as mankinditself,althoughithasseenstudied in an organizedway for lessthan 200 years. If there still remains associated with theword an aura of mystery andtheoccult,it isnofault of thedozens of earnest scientists whohaveconclusivelyestablishedthathypnotism can be included amongthemoderntechniqueswhich may be used for man'sbenefit.Butthese same scientistsoften raisethequestionwhetherthepublicdemonstration of the practice of hypnotismhashelpedthe laymantounderstandand accept its role inmodern society.

As a professionalhypnotist,whohasgivencountless suchdemonstrations in EuropeandAmerica formany years, it ismycontention that the more peopleknow about hypnotism,andthe more familiar they are with it as a credible and not at all mysteriousphenomenon,themorethey will prove receptive toward its scientific aspects. Surely there isnodisserviceinwinningtheir attention by arousingcuriosityand interest, andvery often, inmy experience,those whohavecomeonlyto be amused or entertained,have left mydemonstration impressed with thepossibilitiesofthis powerful technique.

There isnodoubtthat charlatansandsensationalistshave taken advantageofthe naturaltendency of manypeopleto seek a thrill at an exhibition of somethingunusualandapparentlyoutside the scope of the“natural.”The association of hypnosis with such performances as that of thenotorious(thoughfictional)Svengali andhis imitators iscertainly regrettable. But I believethatthisunhealthy association can best be broken down,notbysendinga fewdevotedstudentsto pore overthe more profoundmonographs on hypnosis,whichrequireexceptional backgroundto be understood,but rather by reachingthemillionsthroughhonest anddignifieddemonstrations of thetechnique,andalsoby asimple,forthrightaccountofthe practice, history, and theory of hypnosis.Thatis thepurpose of this book.

Howeveritmust be pointedoutthatnoskill can be acquired throughmerereading.The practice of hypnotism by its verynatureinvolves a high degree of personalrelationship,andrequires a capacity tojudgeindividuals,singlyandingroups,andtoreactquicklyandsensitivelytoidiosyncrasies, moods,andunpredictablecircumstances.Such capacities obviouslycannot be transmitted by instruction,certainlynot by a course of reading.What,then, can you,the prospective practitioner of hypnosis,expectto learn from a book suchasthis?

From the theoretical andhistorical sections you will,Iearnestlyhope,derive an appreciation of theworthandimportance of hypnotism as a science.Butthebulk of the material dealswiththe practice of hypnotism,that istosay, with hypnotism as an art. Nowtheclassicmethod of teaching an art istoformulate a system of ruleswhich are supposedto represent a lifetime’sexperiencesboiled down to predigested capsules.This can be a verydull and notparticularlynourishingdiet. I preferthemethodofpersonal,informalguidance.

With you,thereader,invisiblyatmyside,Ishallinduct a numberofsubjectsinto hypnosis,leadthem through thevarious stages of trance, and restore themto a wakingstate. Ishalldisclosetoyou,in away impossibleduring an actualsession or performance,myinmostthoughts, myreasons for reactingtovarioussituations whichhavein fact occurred inmyownexperience.Thus,in precise and concrete terms, I shall offer you examples of thetechnique of hypnotismwhich will serve you as model (butnot as blueprint)to adapt accordingtoyourownpersonality.Forone of the fascinating aspects of hypnotismis its capacity for infinitevariation.Neitherthe art northe science suffers from rigidity.

You will perhaps be surprisedto learn thatno accepted definition of hypnosishas yet been formulated. Likethe good citizen of Moliere's play,whowasamazedtofindoutthathehad been using "prose" allhis life butcouldnotdefine it, just so havemany practiced hypnotismfor yearsand yet nooneknowsjustwhatitis.Theword, ofcourse, comesfromthe Greek hypnos, meaning ""sleep," andwascoinedbythe19thcenturyScottishphysician,James Braid. Buteven Braid realized that there are differences between thehypnotic state andtruesleep,and tried unsuccessfullyto withdraw the term ""hypnosis" from popularusage.Morerecently scientistshaveprovedthatactualhypnosis could be inducedin certain subjectswhiletheyweredefinitely awake; and certain physical characteristics of sleep, for examplethelackof noticeable knee reflex, are not present in the hypnotic state.

Perhaps it will be easiertounderstand hypnotismifweconsider in separate chapters the characteristics of thehypnotic state andthemannerin which that state may be induced.Onthe latter aspect I will draw both on myownextensiveexperienceand on the records of eminent practitioners. Oncewehave clarified thesefundamentalpoints,we will take a lookbackward atthe story of hypnotismin the past, so thatwemaybetterunderstandits roleinourpresent society, both in relation tomedical practice in general,and its potentialities for thelayman.Thus you will discover thathypnotismisneithermysteriousnor remote, but an instrumentwhich mayone day serveyou.

Thestate oftrance

A youngman issittingrelaxed in a chair.His eyes are closed, his handslie comfortably inhislap,hislegs are restingin a natural position,andheisbreathingregularlybut notdeeply.He appears to be sleeping,butheis answeringquestionsIputtohimas Isit opposite hima few feetaway. I am alert, insistentbutfriendly inmyquestioning,neverallowingthe conversationtolag.You are allowed towatchthis hypnotic session only on condition that you remainquiet.But you are naturallypuzzled.

Youhavenot yet seen process of so-called will be later at you do I answers? do more walk eat, or open eyes, see objects room, of you knows? says does, so, will seem a dream or of life? are of probably answers will tell state, as a