The Hypnotist "Abbé Faria"
Since I have noticed that my blog has
english-speaking followers, I’m going to publish a short series of article in
that language. It will be the translation of an extensive article that I wrote
in January 2016 for “La Revue de la prestidigitation” (“The Conjuring Review”).
The translation has been done by the mentalist Eric Bertrand co-author of
“Douceurs mentales” (“Mental Sweets”)
Hypnosis: History and Techniques
The hypnosis process, be it in the street or during a private party,
comprises four crucial steps, known as the “Four As”: Agreement, Announcement, Accomplishment and
Awakening.
1)
Agreement.
You meet someone in the street to whom you
state that you perform hypnosis. This is the educational part during which you
explain what hypnosis really is: it is not something bizarre; it is a
particular state of consciousness that people experiment several times a day,
without even noticing it, when one reads and doesn’t pay attention to anyone
speaking, when one is totally focused on driving a car, when one runs or
meditates, etc. The only difference the subject will feel is that he will be
guided while in hypnotic trance. You also explain that, unlike what most people
think, unlike what the subject may have seen or heard, he will not lose his
free will. You also tell him that, unlike what may happen in some shows by
Messmer or other hypnotists, you will never belittle the subject nor ridicule
him.
This part is what Jean-Emmanuel Combe names
“pre-talk” in his book La Voix de l’Inconscient. In his own words: “As
crazy as this may seem, pre-talk is the key to your success.” A good pre-talk
allows the subject to alleviate his fears and fantasies regarding hypnosis and
therefore to be less tense, more relaxed and ready to follow your instructions
with grace.
2)
Announcement.
According to hypnosis theory, any significant
action that is to happen needs to be previously announced to the subject.
Always give some timing indication and stick to it. And always act according to
the announcement. Describe clearly the pre-hypnotic experiment you are going to
carry out: for example lightness of right arm and heaviness of left arm (you
announce one of the five typical pre-hypnotic phenomena: flexibility, stuck
hands, ring, stuck fingers or elevator). Explain that the subject will fall
into a comfortable sort of sleep. The tone of your voice is key: you must sound
convinced and convincing!
Here is one part of the induction described by
Jean-Emmanuel Combe in his book La Voix
de l’Inconscient: “You will remain perfectly conscious and perceptive. It
is simply through your imagination and your focussing that you will experience
what is known as hypnotic phenomena. […]
Everything becomes possible thanks to hypnosis. And even when I’ll say the word
“sleep” in a short while, it will have nothing to do with sleep as you know it.
It will just be a state of deep relaxation, in which you will remain perfectly lucid.
You will keep on hearing everything, feeling everything. The only difference,
if you accept that, is that you will experience sensations that were unheard of
so far.” Explain (I do that in every session) that you will gratify the subject
with a “hypnotic gift”: you will allow him to live, while under hypnosis, one
of his dearest dreams. I have for
example made a car racing fan experience the pleasure of driving a Ferrari on
the Imola racetrack, allowed a young actress to co-star with Isabelle Huppert in
a movie, etc.
That's all. I hope you enjoy it.
