Famed hypnotist appears in Van Wert

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

Sleepy … sleepy … you are getting very sleepy.

Sound familiar? It’s the age-old chant many hypnotists use as their subjects watch a swinging something-or-other.

Today, the world of hypnotism is much more advanced and Dr. Jim Wand is the go-to guy if you’re looking to put someone under a trance.

With over 25 years experience in the field of hypnosis, Wand holds a doctorate in psychology and is one of the most sought-after hypnotists in the nation. He’s appeared on numerous television programs and has worked with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Jay Leno and Larry the Cable Guy.

Tuesday evening, he hypnotized approximately 25 subjects in the Van Wert High School gymnasium who were soon looking through their “binoculars” (shoes in this case), at their favorite horse in the Kentucky Derby. As Dr. Wand encouraged them into a deeper state of relaxation, the subjects began screaming for their favorite horse to cross the finish line as those in the audience couldn’t help but chuckle.

Whether you believe in hypnosis or not, it’s big business. A single hypnotherapy session can cost anywhere from $100 to $250, depending on the hypnotherapist, and people willingly pay the fees in an effort to deal with a number of issues, including smoking cessation, weight loss, and anxiety disorders.

Many people have found success with curbing bad habits, but many have not, and skeptics argue that stage hypnosis, which is performed in front of an audience for the purpose of entertainment, can be explained by a combination of deliberate deception, disorientation, compliance, peer pressure and ordinary suggestion.

Hypnosis is defined as a trance-like state in which you have heightened focus, concentration and inner absorption. When one is under hypnosis, they feel calm and relaxed, and concentrate intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation while blocking out distractions. According to mayoclinic.com, a person is more open to suggestions during hypnosis, which can modify perceptions, behavior, sensations and emotions.

As Dr. Wand prepared his subjects for hypnosis, he advised them to stare into a spinning, flashing light. As relaxing music played in the background, he instructed the subjects to listen to his voice. “Focus on the spinning light, and listen to my voice,” he said. “The light, my voice … the light, my voice. As you watch that light and listen to my voice, you will always be aware of everything going on around you, but more important is the light, my voice.”

Dr. Wand instructed several subjects who had broken concentration to take a seat in the gymnasium, as the hypnotized subjects took their shoes off and jumped up and down because they believed they had a winning $1 million ticket.

Whatever the case may be, the subjects undergoing hypnosis Tuesday evening appeared to be keen on Dr. Wand’s every direction. Dr. Wand informed the subjects they were on a beach and the temperature was at 80, 90, 100, 110 degrees, and the subjects began fanning themselves, with one male subject going so far as to lift up his shirt.

Dr. Wand told the audience people who try too hard to be hypnotized will ultimately not go into a deeper state, and he added that many people seldom realize the power of the human brain.

“They just don’t realize the power of the mind,” he said. “In hypnosis, not only do you work with the subconscious mind, you work with the positive side of the mind, and that’s why hypnosis is such a powerful thing.”

During the 1940s and ‘50s, circuses often employed stage hypnotists who were viewed as successful performers because of their abilities to deceive an audience through a variety of factors, including participant compliance, participant selection, and fake hypnosis tricks.

Regardless, stage hypnosis is wildly entertaining for a crowd, and Dr. Wand’s performances are highly sought after and he appears in front of sold-out crowds at many colleges and universities across the nation.

For more information on hypnosis and the subconscious state of mind, visit www.hypnosis.com.