Hypnotism Classes
In which we explore some basic facts about the
way in which the brain and body work.
Specifically we see how words and images can activate
other systems in the brain which relate to feelings,
muscles, senses, sense of balance etc.
These are compared with "tests of hypnotisability"
and "hypnotic inductions"
ENTERTAINMENT hypnotists love to make hypnosis look
dark and mysterious and complicated. They love to
pretend that they have special powers that no-one
else possesses. I love to make things bright and clear
and open, and I do not claim any special powers.
In this first chapter I am going to ask you to try
out various things and to think about them.
These things are simple and everyday,
and will turn out to be not at all mysterious,
and yet they are a foundation on which much of hypnosis is built.
Words can trigger pictures in your mind.
This must seem a pretty obvious fact.
You need only think of reading a novel
and remember the pictures that come to
mind as you do so to realise the obvious
truth of this. But it is still worth doing a little
exercise on it, as follows.
First just think to yourself,
"I am on holiday." STOP NOW; did you see
a picture of it in your mind?
People vary, but it is unlikely, in the
very short time I allowed you, that you saw
anything very clearly. Now allow yourself
more TIME. Think, "I am on holiday." Pause.
"It is my favourite kind of place". Pause.
"The weather is just how I like it." Pause.
"I am wearing my favourite clothes." Pause.
"I am doing my very favourite thing." Pause.
"I am on holiday!" In all probability that
extra time was repaid by a very much more
vivid picture or pictures in the mind.
But it is best, especially if you are a
student of hypnosis, to get someone else to
do the same thing, perhaps with you saying
the words: "Picture yourself on holiday." Pause.
"It is your favourite kind of weather." etc.
In this way you will discover for yourself the
fact that people can have quite different
degrees of clarity of picture, and the
pictures themselves can be quite different.
I, for example, usually manage only rather
washed out images. The conclusions I would
expect you to be able to agree with,
after some experience, are the following simple ones.
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