Do not attempt too much at once - Choosing a subject - Avoid mental superiors - Lead gradually to submission - The best subject for beginners - Privacy desirable - The first seance - Drowsiness - How to produce hypnosis - How to think and act - The object - Tone of voice - Making passes - Weariness produced - Second seance - Hand movements - Third seance - Muscular suggestions - Opening the eyes - Fourth seance - The senses - Somnambulism - Fifth seance - Dancing - Anaesthesia - Post-suggestion - Clairvoyance - Sixth) seance - Catalepsy - The perfect subject - Lethargy.

Beginners in the practice of hypnotism often make the great mistake of attempting too much at the first seance. When they realize that they have actually hypnotized a subject, they usually become somewhat excited and are very apt to try to accomplish everything at once. Expert operators, under favorable circumstances, can sometimes force a new subject through all the degrees of hypnotism during the first seance, but such a performance should not be attempted by beginners. It involves a great deal of labor and is tiresome to the operator and exceedingly likely to fail, and failure means discouragement and a consequent loss of self-confidence. Do not expect too much and you will not be disappointed.

After you have thoroughly studied the principles of hypnotism and convinced yourself of your ability to produce hypnosis, then look about you for a suitable subject upon which to practice. In choosing" a subject for your first experiments, several things must be considered, for a great deal depends upon your first efforts proving successful.

Choosing A Subject

Always select a subject whom you know to be capable of being influenced by you - someone you would not hesitate to command, someone who looks up to you and shows in an unmistakable manner that he considers you to be his mental superior. It may take some time to find just such a person who is also willing to subject himself to your influence, but do not commence your experiments until he is found.

Many may express their willingness to allow you to try to hypnotize them, and may be sincere in their desire to aid you, but such persons, as a rule, impress you with a sense of willingness that amounts to condescension on their part andd places you in the position of receiving a favor, which is a fatal position for a beginner in hypnotism to occupy.

Never undertake to practice upon anyone who excites in you a feeling of awe or superiority, or one whom you know to be better educated than yourself or one who occupies a social or business position that causes you to pay him deference. For if you realize inferiority in any respect, you cannot assert the air of superior power that is absolutely necessary to the successful hypnotist.

Having selected a subject that accords with your idea, it is a good plan to lead him gradually to submission. Incidentally tell him of your hypnotic knowledge and relate experiences of others and assert boldly that you have been studying the science and have developed hypnotic power. Do not let him know he is your first subject. Then dare him to let you hypnotize him. It is best to commence on some young man about sixteen years of age, who is accustomed to working under a hard boss for little pay. He is accustomed to obedience and will be glad of a chance to become conspicuous and can easily be induced to submit himself by promising him a quarter or half dollar for being hypnotized. "No hypnotism, no pay," will urge him to carefully obey instructions.

The First Seance

After you have obtained the consent of a proper subject, do not undertake to experiment with him in the presence of by-standers, but make some private arrangements with him and as far as possible secure the influences named in Chapter IV (Favorable And Unfavorable Influences). It is not supposed that a beginner can have everything in his favor, but many of the favorable influences can be provided - quietude being by far the most essential.

Speak to your subject in some such manner as follows: "As this is the first time you have been hypnotized, I will promise you not to put you very sound to sleep. First, I will not put you to sleep at all, but I will find out how easily you can be influenced."

Have him stand up in front of you. Place your hands upon his shoulders and stare into his eyes and ask him to look straight at you. By his expression you will soon realize that he is subservient. Keep staring into his eyes until the stare becomes tiresome and moisture is seen in his eves, then sud-denly relieve the silence by saying: "You're all right. I can hypnotize you without any trouble. Now, sit down in this chair, put your feet close together, take this disk in your right hand, hold it at arm's length and look at it steadily."

Speak to him in a manner that conveys to his mind that you are thorough master of the situation, that you are perfectly familiar with every detail and that there is no element of doubt anywhere. The fact that he will readily do just as you tell him to do is the accomplishment of the first step toward hypnosis. You are the operator; he is the subject. You are commanding; he is obeying. Satisfactory results must follow.

After he has steadily held for five minutes and gazed at the disk, or any article similar to those named in Chapter VI (How To Hypnotize), seat yourself quietly in front of him, place one hand on top of his upon his knee and with the other take from him the disk, saying: "I'll take this now; your arm is getting tired. Keep looking at it steadily till your eyes get tired, too. Now they're getting tired. Wink them if you want to. Shut them. That's it. Now you're drowsy, very drowsy. Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Keep your eyes tight shut. Go to sleep."

The subject will go to sleep. Perhaps not fully. He may smile and almost lead you to think he is shamming. He knows what you are saying and doing. What if he does? He is obeying you and will obey you still more. Don't make a sudden demand upon him, but gradually lead him onward.