Reflections are given in this publication about the inexplicable phenomena connected with hypnosis.
The riddle storing secret
U.Churchill
2. Secrets of hypnosis
- a special condition of consciousness – people knew hypnosis from an extreme antiquity. In all centuries its secrets were known to only narrow circle of the devoted – to priests, doctors, sorcerers. As well as all inexplicable phenomena, hypnosis it was surrounded with myths, many of which exist and now.
Word "hypnosis" of the Greek origin. It means "dream". In Ancient Greek mythology Hypnos was considered as Nikta’s (Night) son and the twin brother of god of death of Thanatos. The majority of the people had taboos concerning sleeping and a dream. Was considered that the soul during a dream travels all over the world, and if someone prevents it to return, the person will die, or of his body demons will take control.
The dream was considered as something opposite show. But the dream was far not the unique changed condition of the consciousness, known to the person. Manuscripts and legends report to us about a fighting trance which allowed soldiers not to spare itself and not to feel pain, about branch of eyes which witches and sorcerers used, about sleepwalking (it is planned to the publication), other manifestations. Mentions that the part of these conditions can be caused artificially everywhere meet.
Hypnosis including mass, it was known to ancient Egyptians. In Serapis’s temple healing by means of hypnosis was an everyday occurrence.
By the beginning of a new era Europeans temporarily forgot about hypnosis. The reason for that were: the increased influence of church, later – development of a technogenic civilization. Hypnosis units owned. These are the travelers mastering receptions of hypnosis during wanderings on the East and people, allocated with this talent from the birth. Occasionally this gift was shown at monks. Then it declared a consequence of Big good fortune. In Solovetsky paterike it is mentioned the aged man who punished got to it in a kitchen garden of thieves. Two days thieves couldn’t move a little, and then the aged man left to them. Thieves made the message promise honest life and the aged man released them. After that they worked the whole year in a monastery, helping monks.
Roma at whom art of introduction of the person in a trance was transferred their generation in generation were considered as talented hypnotists.
Not very long ago Kashpirovsky and Chumak’s sessions used huge popularity. Their impact on audience is completely constructed on hypnosis. And, in that that they did, there was nothing essentially new, except unless television.
Surgeries under hypnosis are known from the middle of the XIX century, English doctor James Isdeyl carried out more than 300 such operations. And the charged small bottles with water and creams remind of Mesmera and his patients. Mesmer, on memoirs of contemporaries, used very similar methods: charged the magnetic energy coppers which handles numerous patients held, applied a staff by means of which it carried out contactless influence, small bottles with water. The truth at that time the term "hypnosis" didn’t exist yet. The first it was used by the Scottish surgeon James Breyd in 1943.
Scientists answered a question that represents hypnosis, differently. Sharko considered it as the special nervous condition similar to hysteria, Berngeym – as the inspired dream, some considered it as emotion or sincere excitement (effect), V. M. Bekhterov treated it as special modification of a dream.
Much less disagreements arose concerning hypnosis stages. Stages three: leveling, paradoxical and somnambulistic. Weak – when irritants give weak effect. The person equally perceives easy contact or strong blow, doesn’t do distinction between shout and whisper. At a paradoxical phase of hypnosis weak irritants lead to strong reaction, strong – on the contrary. That is why the word which, in principle, is a weak irritant, finds huge influence, is perceived as the immutable law. The Somnambulagichesky phase comes at deeper immersion in a hypnotic condition. The person is surprised to nothing, is capable will reincarnate in absolutely other image (to feel the child, a being of the opposite sex, any celebrated personality, an animal). The sleep-walker can perceive nonexistent pain, burn about cold subjects (thus on skin there are burns of the second degree), according to instructions of the hypnotist to perceive salty or bitter taste as sweet to simulate driving on a horse to collect flowers etc. In certain cases that occurs to people who were in this phase, doesn’t give in to any logic explanation. Known hypnotist Raykov inspired once experimental that allegedly that known chess player Paul Merfi living in the middle of the XIX century. This person didn’t know anything about Murphy. However at game with Talem in Murphy’s "condition" he played as the person which category above, than was before hypnosis, and, the main thing, got traits of character and a manner of behavior of Murphy (became aggressive, resolute, demanded the big fees, etc.) . If it is possible to explain improvement of quality of game to that the person ceases to doubt the actions and copying of a manner of behavior of the stranger – one of unsolved secrets of hypnosis concentrates on the solution of a task.
After awakening the person who has passed through a somnambulistic stage, usually doesn’t remember anything from this that to it occurred. Though at the order of the hypnotist can reproduce even the smallest details of the behavior and a surrounding situation. The phenomenon rare, it it is possible to reach achievement of this phase only in 20 % of cases of hypnosis.
More often hypnosis was carried out in special rooms, in the twilight, on a couch, with the weakening music which is leading up to a dream. However subsequently it appeared that a dream of the patient not an indispensable condition of hypnosis. Milton Ericson successfully hypnotized the people being in a condition of wakefulness.
Researches with use of medical equipment allowed scientists to establish that the hypnotic effect doesn’t demand cerebral cortex braking, it is enough to create a difference of potentials, that is superexcitement charms. In this case the person doesn’t give itself the report that it is in a trance condition that carries out acts unusual for it. On this feature technologies of neuro and linguistic programming (NLP) are constructed, it is used also by swindlers.
Not so long ago in Klagenfurt (Australia) there was a robbery. Two girls entered into one of banks. They approached to cash desk, hypnotized the cashier and forced it to give out all cash – about hundred thousand shillings. Shortage was found by the controler checking cash desk. The cashier couldn’t explain disappearance of money. The invited doctor noted that the cashier was under the influence of hypnosis.
The well-known Wolf Messing somehow showed a similar trick as the experiment passing under strict supervision. Everything occurred quickly and without problems: To me suggested to receive 100 thousand rubles in the State Bank. I approached to the cashier, put to it the leaf pulled out from a school writing-book. Opened a suitcase and put at a window on a barrier. The elderly cashier looked at a piece of paper, opened cash desk and counted 100 thousand. The witnesses who were present at a hall signed the act of the carried-out experience.
However the robbery of banks with application of hypnosis is interfaced to big risk. The household situation is much more often used. On the street between two women conversation is struck up, then one of them without coercion invites the new acquaintance home, gives it all valuable things, and then can’t understand why that arrived.
At the same time influence of the hypnotist can’t be absolute. In a condition of hypnosis of people can make only to what he is morally ready.
The myth is also that hypnotists – is any special people, with steel will. The majority of hypnotists simply possesses certain skills and knows the corresponding techniques of immersion in a trance.
In turn resistant to hypnosis isn’t present. This condition isn’t than that alien or imposed from the outside. During the day the person repeatedly runs into a condition of a short-term trance. Thus the mentality protects itself from overloads. Earlier wandering conjurers often showed a trick with the hypnotized chicken who couldn’t move until it won’t put on feet.
As at the heart of any hypnosis self-hypnosis lies, people quickly learn to enter into a condition of a hypnotic trance independently. At skillful use with its help it is possible to cure diseases, to open creative abilities of the personality. And for protection against swindlers, according to the experts, rather healthy sense of humour.
Demal.
(On materials of Russian editions).