Issue 25 - March 09
Reality Is Plastic
The Art of Impromptu Hypnosis
Anthony Jacquin
114 pages
www.anthonyjacquin.com
Price £22.50
Our spikey haired hypnotist launches us on our mystical journey into the mind by proclaiming that this is not a mentalist manifesto. Nor a therapeutic tome. Not even a hypno stage soliloquy. Nay, fair readers, after this opening volley you would expect the rest of this hypnotext to be an uphill struggle on the scale of Stephen Hawkings climbing Everest with a wheel clamp on his chair. Anthony regales newcomers out there with their hypnotic history, detailing such giants of somnabulistic scholarship from Mesmer to James Braid’s pioneering work on the optic nerve to induce trance.
Throughout there are countless quotes from these forefathers including a classic by Dave Elman: “ Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human mind is bypassed, and the selective thinking established.” Amen brother, and it’s a lot cheaper than lager!
The author stresses the importance of “becoming the hypnotist,” drawing parallels between hypnotists and magicians. A magician needs his illusions to perform his act, whereas for a hypnotist, his unwavering belief in his abilities is his act.
The sections on inductions and deepening are quite basic, yet the photographic examples of inductions do lift this publication up above others that just produce eye strain. He then progresses on to hypnotic convincers, deepening techniques and eventually moves on to stage routines. These include: Uncontrollable laughter. Invisible hypnotist, and the ‘cucumber cigar’ (a variation on the timeless onion eating routine.)
Anthony winds up his book with a section on abreactions and legal obligations of the fledgling performer. For an introduction to the hypnotic arts this publication is well worth a look. PK
What’s Hot: Detailed scripts that are easy to follow. You also get 2 free
manuscripts which are very useful (Proper Mental: Vol 1& 2)
What’s Not: Not enough stage craft secrets
Star Rating: ****
To find a specific review, just click on the relevant letter for the product name
0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
RETURN to the magicseen homepage