Chapter 6 - Awakening Your Subject

The foregoing method shows how easy and simple it is to induce hypnosis in the average subject. Before we go further, the operator should learn how to awaken the subject. No one has ever been known to fail to awaken from hypnosis. If the operator leaves the subject without any suggestion as to when to awaken, the subject will awaken of his own free will and accord. The time of this awakening may be suggested to the subject and will usually be followed, but without any such suggestion, the hypnotic state will turn into natural sleep and the subject will awaken. The length of time varies in each subject. Some subjects will awaken when the hypnotist leaves the room or when he leaves them for another subject in the same room.

To awaken your subject, first suggest that subject will feel fine on awakening. The following has been found best to use, "In a few moments, I will awaken you . . . You will feel fine . . . You will not have any headache . . . You will feel rested . . . You will feel wonderful. Hereafter, when I tell you to go to sleep, you will go sound asleep instantly. You will not be able to stay awake when I say, 'Sleep' to you. (Repeat three times.) "Now I am going to count to three. When I count to three, you will awaken feeling fine. One—you wish to awaken; two—you are beginning to awaken; three —you are wide awake. Wake up." At this point, you may snap your fingers or you may clap your hands for emphasis, but it is not necessary. If you are giving a performance, it may add something to it in the way of keeping attention of the audience.

Most subjects will awaken. The problem of the beginner is to get subject to sleep. In fact, I have never had a subject who did not awaken on command, but I have had some who were difficult to put to sleep. You will note that the first suggestion after the count of "One" creates a desire to awaken. The reason a few subjects do not readily awaken is because they are enjoying the sleep and the escape from reality which it affords and have no desire to awaken. The above formula is meant to overcome this tendency and is based on the theory that if one act or desire can be created in the subject by the suggestion of the operator, then the desire to awaken can also be created by him.

There are also some other reasons for the subject failing to awaken; one is the fact that the operator has lost control of the subject because of an error in his technique. This seldom happens because if an operator can induce hypnosis, he can keep control by talking to the subject and by the additional means of first suggesting to subject that at all times while asleep, the subject will be able to hear every word he says and will do everything he suggests. Any undue excitement in the operator, causing a change in the pitch of his voice, will confuse the subject so that the subject cannot recognize the voice of the operator. You will learn the reason for this later, but do not let this possibility frighten you. It will not happen to you if you keep your head. The other possibility is when the subject becomes frightened at the approach of hypnosis and tries to snap out of it and cannot do so. The beginning of hypnosis may give, the subject a peculiar feeling which varies with the subjects. Some subjects may have personal matters they fear to divulge. If the sensation is fearful, or the fear of divulging some secret is overpowering, the subject struggles to come out of the trance and failing in this, will become nervous and excited. Not being able to come out of the trance, he may withdraw from the suggestions of the operator and he will lose control of him. Whenever nervousness appears, the operator should try to restore quietude by suggestions, but if this fails, do not attempt to proceed with the hypnosis. Speak soothing words to the subject. Say: "Do not be nervous. I will awaken you right now ... Be calm . . . Relax . . . You feel fine . . . Take it easy ... I am going to awaken you. At the count of three, you will awaken feeling fine." Then proceed to awaken the subject as above. Do not try to hypnotize this subject again, unless it is a medical expedient. More will be stated about such subjects later. Only once has a subject of mine become nervous while under hypnosis and I quieted her as above related.

From the foregoing, you have learned the easiest formula for inducing hypnosis and how to awaken the subject. After you have read the above, it seems so simple and easy that it gives you a silly feeling when you think about putting someone to sleep with the formula, but be not deceived by the seeming simplicity of the words and procedure. It will work and with unbelievable force and power. Just try it and you will be convinced.

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