Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

This early 20th-century guide explores the history of hypnotism, mesmerism, and spiritualism, blending practical induction methods with self-hypnosis techniques. The text examines telepathy, clairvoyance, and the dangers of suggestion, advocating for rational skepticism while detailing the evolution from Mesmer's animal magnetism to modern psychological understanding.

Summary up to 500 words

Published originally in 1903, A. Alpheus's *Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism* offers a comprehensive historical and scientific examination of altered states of consciousness. The work traces the origins of hypnotism from ancient Egyptian mysteries and Biblical magi to the rigorous investigations of the 18th and 19th centuries. The narrative centers on Dr. Frederick Anton Mesmer, whose controversial theory of 'animal magnetism' utilized elaborate apparatuses like magnetic tubs and iron rods to induce convulsive fits in subjects. Alpheus details how Mesmer's initial scientific sincerity eventually gave way to charlatanism, a theme that permeates the text as a critique of fraud and hysteria. The book documents the pivotal transition from physical 'fluids' to the psychological concept of suggestion, highlighting pioneers like Puysegur and Abbe Faria. It provides extensive practical instructions on self-hypnotization, recounting Dr. Cocke's personal experiment where focused attention and imagination induced a trance state characterized by sensations of cold, deafening noise, and eventual unconsciousness. Alpheus argues that such states are achievable without external agents, effectively dismantling claims of mysterious psychic powers held by professional operators. A significant portion of the text addresses the phenomenon of simulation, where subjects feign states like catalepsy or death for attention or gain. Citing historical cases from courts and police records, the author illustrates how deception can be so convincing that even expert physicians are fooled. The narrative also explores the controversial realm of spiritualism through the case of Mrs. Piper, a famous medium studied by the Society for Psychical Research. Through an analysis of her trances and spirit communications, Alpheus contends that telepathy and the dual nature of the human mind—specifically the interaction between objective and subjective consciousness—can explain these phenomena without recourse to supernatural spirits. Ultimately, the work serves as both a practical manual for inducing hypnotic states and a historical critique, urging readers to distinguish between genuine scientific discovery and the illusions of fraud.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/a-alpheus_complete-hypnotism.epub

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Categories

• Psychology
• Occultism
• Paranormal