Hypnosis, Magic or Psycological "Trick"...?

Alright, alright. I've been into minor hypnotism for a while now, and have recently been wondering about it. I know magic exists, of course, but are they linked?

When I hypnotise my subjects, I like to get close to them, harness my energy to clear their mind, speak in just the right tone, use comforting magic, and so on and so forth. That really makes it go quicker, and rarely does a subject fail to go into a trance, as compared to "normal" hypnotism (If there is such a thing).

Are there some links between the two? Or is hypnotism a form of magic all in itself? Or... the third possbility, maybe I'm wrong?

Here's where I would say "I know, I know, you think I'm crazy, but bear with me on this." Luckilly, this is probably the one site where that won't happen. ^^

Thanks for reading.

[Edited on 12-4-2004 by kuranrohaen]

i have been under hypnosis 3 times by a very well recomended 1.

i asked her what it really is and she said it's like your half asleep and then you make the concient talk freely.
i asked her that if it is some kind of hokus pokus thing, she said it has nothing to do with magic, spirits exc.....

so no it has nothing to do with magic or some kind of trick...

I don't think hypnosis is magic, but as you pointed out, that doesn't stop you using magic or any other psychic approach to augment the process

A lot of theings we call magic, to this day:
Interpreting dreams: not considered magic by Israites nor was it by Chrisitans. Modern thought that it is magic.
Magnetic displacement: what we see in magnets. Back then was magic; now is science


I think that magick has become WAY too broad a name to slap on anything anymore, personally.

Hypnosis is sometimes used as a mind-altering tecnique. It falls under the realm of what we call magic. We still don't understand it, and the masses still se it as a.) EEEEEvil (ah, my father, the man who will not willingly let someone into his subconscious--just as evil as talking to spirits to him), b.) a parlour trick, c.) is considered paranormal, d.) some psycologists doubt it's value

enh, thats enough to call it magick...

Originally posted by kuranrohaen
When I hypnotise my subjects, I like to get close to them, harness my energy to clear their mind, speak in just the right tone, use comforting magic, and so on and so forth. That really makes it go quicker, and rarely does a subject fail to go into a trance, as compared to "normal" hypnotism (If there is such a thing).

Actually, what you're doing (and don't know it is changing the pitch and modulation (timbre) of your voice.

Are there some links between the two? Or is hypnotism a form of magic all in itself? Or... the third possbility, maybe I'm wrong?

Option #3.

Hypnotism is a natural brain function; hyperfocus (I studied it in some psychology classes.) People enter hypnotic voluntary trances all the time... in dancing, watching tv, etc, etc. There's nothing magical about it, only good old fashioned neurology.

By the way, you can hypnotize some animals (yes, really.) Chickens are the easiest to do.

1 grab the bird
2 tuck it in your armpit
3 place pointer and thumb at eyes (not ON them)
4 move to pinch together about .5 inches from the beak

Overall, this should be a 2-3 in pull of the wrist. Do not do it fast, and do not touch the chicken's head. The relax like kittens carried by their neck, but with less tension.

(I once owned a bastard of a rooster...)

Thank you Byrd, that was the best answer I've gotten. And, uh... thanks... jlc163... I suppose I'll use that on the next chicken I see...

Adding to Byrd's comment:

People in hyperfocus, have been shown to be in an Alpha brainwave state, which is between 12 and 7 hz, is I'm not mistaking.

Do a google on brain waves, beta, alpha, theta, hypnosis and EEG (electroencephalogram)...

[edit on 8-6-2004 by TheBandit795]

you can also hypnotize a chicken by placing it on the ground and then drawing a line on the groun away from it. or so i've heard.

Originally posted by TheBandit795
Adding to Byrd's comment:

People in hyperfocus, have been shown to be in an Alpha brainwave state, which is between 12 and 7 hz, is I'm not mistaking.

Do a google on brain waves, beta, alpha, theta, hypnosis and EEG (electroencephalogram)...

[edit on 8-6-2004 by TheBandit795]

Oof... Although some people suggest that hypnosis lowers your brain frequency and slows it down, initially this is the case. But when you regress someone (move them back to an earlier experience) and he/she goes into an abreaction (responding very violently as well physical as mental to a traumatic experience), trust me, their brain is racin' the cr*p out of the Alpha state.

Brain frequencies are linked to your level of thinking (in my opinion), but hypnosis is merely a tool to reach the sub-conscience, this doesn't mean constant Alpha state (although this is the case right after you "enter" hypnosis).


- Chris