2008/12/15 Donald Robertson <HypnoSynthesisUK@...>:
> Franz Mesmer ... believed that he was channelling an invisible
> energy from outer space, through his body, and into the body of the
> subject. Mesmer therefore believed that the effects he perceived,
> therapeutic improvement, muscular seizures, emotional "crises", etc.,
> were mainly due to his power rather than to the belief or
> expectation, etc., of the client.

Its so great to read this again - it should be on poster boards around
the land!
I explore various alternative things when I can and it amazes me that
when a person is guided to some sort of altered psycho-physical state
by a healer or yogi or 'energy chaneller' they are so impressed that
they believe the 'healers' explanation of what is going on and parrot
it for the rest of their lives. Even to the point that they believe
conflicting explanations simultaneously.
They have no awareness that their unfamiliar state change tends to
confuse and 'open' their mind and makes them very suggestible. It
seems that the majority of humans have 2 'flaws'
1 - They prefer a 'spiritual energy' explanation (lke Mesmer's above)
over a 'scientific' explanation of the form 'We aren't sure how this
works but much experience and experimentation has shown that it does'.
2 - They will take to the first explanation they are given and not
modify their belief in the light of evidence or alternatives.

I think these 2 'flaws' are what allows much of the 'alternative
health' industry to flourish. Another common 'flaw' is that people
will spend money on all sorts of things and dont seem able to
rationally study their own self well enough to notice that they get no
real benefit from so much of what they spend their money on!

Keith.