Mesmerism
From: jocelyne hemming
Date: Tue Mar 27, 2001 9:44 pm
Subject: Mesmerism
Hi,
I need to find out whether the word mesmerism, only used to apply to hypnosis. I have been challenged in my belief,
having been told that in the 19th century people used to refer to mesmerism meaning healing as in spiritual healing.
And the fluid was the magnetic field. Do any of you good people know for sure. Thanking you,
Jocelyne.
From: "Mike Lank"
Date: Wed Mar 28, 2001 10:23 am
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
From www.dictionary.com:
Word History: When the members of an audience sit mesmerized by a speaker, their reactions do not take the form
of dancing, sleeping, or falling into convulsions. But if Franz Anton Mesmer were addressing the audience, such
behaviour could be expected. Mesmer, a visionary 18th-century physician, believed cures could be effected by
having patients do things such as sit with their feet in a fountain of magnetized water while holding cables attached
to magnetized trees. Mesmer then came to believe that magnetic powers resided in himself, and during highly
fashionable curative sessions in Paris he caused his patients to have reactions ranging from sleeping or dancing to
convulsions. These reactions were actually brought about by hypnotic powers that Mesmer was unaware he
possessed. One of his pupils, named Puységur, then used the term mesmerism (first recorded in English in 1802) for
Mesmer's practices. The related word mesmerize (first recorded in English in 1829), having shed its reference to the
hypnotic doctor, lives on in the sense “to enthral.”
From: "Jeremy Bulbeck"
Date: Sat Apr 28, 2001 7:43 pm
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
Dear Joceylyn
If you look in the book of wicker, you will find it in there. It was used in ancient medicine times. To describe states
of trance like healing.
From: jocelyne hemming
Date: Thu Mar 29, 2001 8:15 am
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
Thanks for Mark and Jeremy,
I am getting some confusing info. On Mesmer. The reason I am trying to find out about the technique is that I am
also a practicing homeopath and I am being challenged by some colleagues. They are saying that the technique of
Mesmer has nothing to do with hypnosis but is a form of healing as in laying of hands. In the early writings of the
founder of homeopathy they are references to the master using mesmerism to speed up the cure. It is also said that
Mesmer despised hypnosis, and it is unfortunate that the term mesmerism has come to mean trance state.
So who is right? I can send on the info I have if anyone is interested.
I am still interested if anyone has anymore to offer.
Thanks again.
Jocelyne.
From: "Mark Tyrrell, Uncommon Knowledge"
Date: Fri Mar 9, 2001 3:08 am
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
'Mesmerism' seems to have been the generic term for the state of being someone entered whilst being cured. In the
19th and early 20th century electricity was all the rage as a treatment for psychological conditions such as 'hysteria'
and shell shock. Some ww1 soldiers were actually killed by the use of electricity as an attempted cure for their
trauma. It was believed that people could 'run down' and had to be re-charged with electricity. Although this doesn't
tally with current understanding the 'language of electricity' still remains in common parlance. As when someone is
described as 'having a break down' or 'being run down' or even needing to 'recharge their batteries'.
Mesmer himself was in Paris around the time of the French Revolution. In a very brief scene in the film 'Danton'
with Gerard Depu...(you know who I mean) a roomful of mesmerised subjects are ushered away from vengeful
peasants. Many of the french were impressed by Mesmer's hypnotic cures however an investigation by the French
authorities found know scientific evidence for the 'universal fluid'. Partly because of this Mesmer's treatments
became discredited in France. I understand you can only practice hypnosis in france if you are a medical doctor.
This may have resulted because of the threat perceived by French authorities from Mesmer back in the 18th century.
From: jocelyne hemming
Date: Sat Apr 7, 2001 8:56 am
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
Dear Mark,
Please correct me if I am wrong, as I need to get to the bottom of this so as not to pass on erroneous information.
I thought I had finally got to a conclusion to my question and reading your mail, everything is put into question
again.
I understand that the term to be mesmerised, means to be put in a trance. I also understand that Mesmer practiced
healing not hypnosis, and in fact was not at all in favour of hypnosis. The fluid referred to is what we called now the
energy, vital force, chi etc...
The founder of homeopathy in his writing on homeopathic medicine talks about using mesmerism on his patients in
a way to stimulate their vital force, their healing powers. He does not indicate exactly how he does this but it is
understood that it had more to do with healing than hypnosis.
With regards to the French doctors practicing hypnosis, I think it has more do with the fact that most alternative
medicines are not practiced by lay people as they are here, and the French conventional medicine holds the
monopoly to all other medicines. I know that hypnosis is not a medicine per se, but it is used to treat medical
conditions therefore it would be practiced by trained doctors, in France, in the same way as Homeopaths have to be
doctors lst. They are now a few lay people but it is nor the norm.
Yours, with kind regards. Jocelyne.
From: "Mark Tyrrell, Uncommon Knowledge"
Date: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:07 am
Subject: Re: [Uncommon Knowledge] Mesmerism
Hi Jocelyne I think what we have is two definitions of 'mesmerism'. Mesmer didn't coin the term 'mesmerism'
himself and the word 'hypnosis' was coined after Mesmer's death and did not exist as a concept during his time. So
it's not that Mesmer wasn't in favour of hypnosis but that there was no such concept. Mesmer thought of himself as a
'magnetiser' rather than a 'mesmerist'. His theory of 'animal magnetism' (now a term synonimous with personal
charisma) was that diseases are the result of blockages. This is very much like the more ancient concepts of
universal energies such as chi, ki and prana found in the East.
Mesmer believed he could store his animal magnetism in baths of iron filings and then transfer it to patients with
rods or by using his 'mesmeric passes'. He would sweep his arms about the patients body's for hours on end. Some of
his followers found that their patients would enter similar trance like states and experience similar cures without the
use of iron filings and began to wonder whether it had to do more with suggestion rather than the use of metal. The
word hypnosis came into use as an offshoot school of mesmerists. This is how Mesmer became popularly associated
in the public's mind with hypnosis.
So, strictly, mesmerism is healing through animal magnetism. However as commonly used mesmerism is hypnosis
(according to dictionary definitions).
If we understand hypnosis (narrowing of focus, connection to dreaming, unconscious mobilisation of healing etc.)
then we can also understand why trance plays an important element in healing situations which may not even be
understood as 'hypnotic' by the healer. That Mesmer used hypnosis is certain whether he understood the
psychological mechanism involved is doubtful.
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