Chapter 1 - Hypnotism Simplified

Let us strip the mysteries from hypnotism. Let us view it as a scientific fact and just another faculty of the human mind, a natural endowment of man, a power given him by his creator, along with the power to reason, to remember, to do creative thinking, to love, to hate, to build empires, to make laws and to apply them, to invent such things as gunpowder, electric propulsion, the airplane, and lastly, the hydrogen bomb. In other words, let us sweep the black magic away and look at hypnotism as any other God-given power of man. It is true that scientists do not fully understand why and how it works, but neither do they understand fully electricity, magnetism, gravitation, the solar system, or the operations of the human body and mind. Although not fully understood, none of these subjects are clothed with the mystery and superstition which the general public places around hypnotism.

Such subjects are freely taught in our colleges, but until lately, hypnotism has been denied a place in most of our largest colleges and the medical schools would not teach it. I am glad to say that it is being recognized by some of the medical schools at the present time.

Scientists do know that hypnotism is a fact, and they know some of the things which can be done with it. No longer is it regarded as a fake and black magic by them They know how to use hypnotism to accomplish many startling things. It has made great strides forward in the last quarter century despite prejudice and the sensational misrepresentations of the yellow journals. There is no need for misrepresentation of its powers to be sensational. The power itself and the things which can be accomplished with it are sensational enough without discoloring them with falsehoods and superstition. When a paralytic can be made to walk again, the stammerer to talk normally, the pain of headache removed with a word, teeth pulled and major operations performed without the use of usual anesthetics and without pain, and without the usual effects of shock and sickness, there is sensation enough in these achievements with hypnotism without resorting to false and lurid stories, such as have been hatched up by the longhaired writers for the irresponsible yellow journals. In fact, practically any human ailment depending on the malfunction or misfunction of the autonomic nervous system, for its inception, may be cured or benefited. These things alone are startling and mystifying and should at once recommend the science of hypnotism to the serious consideration and study of everyone interested in the welfare of the human race. The fact that you are about to learn how to use this startling and mystifying power should give you added zest for reading this book. This book will make hypnotism so simple that any person of ordinary intelligence and education can understand its use and can induce the hypnotic state, and remove it at will, by following the plain instructions set forth.

To learn how to induce the hypnotic state is not enough, however, just as learning how to stop and start a car is not enough to learn about driving a car in order to be a good motorist. You must learn how to operate it and how to care for it, how to regulate its speed, and just when and where to use it. Along with this, you must also learn the rules of the road. So it is with hypnotism. To learn how to start and stop it is not enough. It is the purpose of this book to teach you how to hypnotize, how to awaken your subject, and how to control the subject after hypnosis has been induced; what can be done with hypnotism and some of the rules of the mind which control the health, body and actions of the subject. The actions of the mind, its control over the body and how mental action can be changed, reinforced, redirected and otherwise used to benefit the subject, will be taken up and discussed in the proper place.

After learning the fundamental principles of inducing the hypnotic state, one must know how to handle the subject to get the best results and to avoid complications. The operator must know what to do and what not to do. He must know how to accomplish the results he wishes to achieve by hypnosis. He must also know when he can and cannot use hypnosis.

To be a successful operator a person must believe in his power to induce and use hypnosis. The operator must have self-confidence. To have this, he must be well versed in the science. He must believe in it as well as in himself. He must know just what he intends to accomplish and be able to picture it in his mind. He must cause the subject to believe that he can induce the hypnotic state in the subject. He must not show any hesitancy or uncertainty in his voice, manner or words, and he must not feel any, for strange as it may seem, any feeling of confidence or of uncertainty, is communicated to the subject. One thing to remember is, that hypnotism is a science dealing with mental reactions and whatever impresses the mind to create or destroy, the results desired will have its effect in that direction and must be taken into consideration by the operator. A stammering and hesitating operator will not succeed. Neither will one who cannot concentrate on the subject and visualize the desired reaction. He may have mediocre success without these accomplishments, but that is all. In order to succeed with hypnotism, it is necessary to sincerely study the methods laid down in this book, concentrating on them all your mental ability. Confidence will come with the mastery of the knowledge herein contained. Then, given the knowledge and confidence which comes with it, and practice, success is assured. Memorizing the words contained in the formula for inducing hypnosis is not enough, but in addition, you must learn all you can about hypnotism. Read not only this book but every other book you can get on the subject. You will find that each one contains something different about hypnotism. Then real success will come your way.

It is not the purpose of this book to make a stage performer of everyone who reads it. If the reader is a doctor, lawyer, dentist, psychologist, public speaker, preacher, or just an ordinary citizen, the knowledge acquired by reading this book will add proficiency and confidence to its reader. The doctor may use the knowledge in many ways to benefit his patient. Instead of saying the things which he might otherwise say to his patient, to cause hopelessness and a shorter life, he will know the power of suggestion and send the patient away with hope and new strength to overcome his ailment. If he is treating a patient with a nervous affliction, he can even cure him with a few magic words. This sounds rather fantastic, does it not? But it is just as easy as all that. You will understand it all as you read further, and it will seem so simple and easy you will wonder how such a simple and easy thing remained a secret so many centuries. The dentist may extract teeth without administering drugs and without pain, and even without the knowledge of the patient, after being instructed by the patient to remove them. The lawyer can handle his case with more assurance. He will be better able to understand the mental reactions of the witnesses and jury. Knowing the reactions of the mind, he will be able to properly impress those with whom he comes into contact. Just the assurance he will acquire because of the knowledge contained in this book will work wonders for him. Even the ordinary layman will go about his business with better results when he has read this book. He will understand the peculiarities of his fellow-men and will know better how to help him. He will also be able to overcome some of his own weaknesses. Even the behavior of his loved ones will take on a new light, and wise tolerance, instead of intolerance, will become his watchword. He will know that many of his worries are only mental and he will know how to dispel them. He will understand the tremendous power of suggestion to overcome the resistance of others. He will understand its use.

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