Look into my eyes; you are getting very sleepy
Jayson Merkley
Issue date: 10/22/03 Section: Life
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Students walk barefoot, talking into their Nikes like cell-phones. A man cries out in agony to the audience for a doctor's help, but receives only laughter. A girl squirms uncontrollably on the ground, trying to rid herself of an invisible frog down the front of her shirt.
These were a few of the surreal moments at Thursday's hypnotist show, during the Homecoming royalty pageant intermission. Hypnotist Bryan Fiese attempted to explain some aspects of the oft-misunderstood practice of hypnotism.
"Science hasn't figured out exactly what happens [in hypnotism]," he said. "There is a shift in the subconscious mind."
He went on to explain that being in a hypnotic state allows a subject to be more open to suggestions.
"If the mind believes it, then it becomes real to the body," Fiese said. He demonstrated this principle by asking audience members to close their eyes and hold their hands out level in front of them. He told the audience there were helium balloons tied to their right hands, while their left hands were holding a heavy bucket full of sand. He continued to describe the heaviness of the bucket and the lightness of the balloons, and when the audience opened their eyes they saw that many people's right hand had risen up in the air while their bucket-holding hand had dropped.
Fiese then called for volunteers to fill the 20 seats on stage. A stampede of pageant attenders thundered through the ballroom to get into a seat. As the dust settled, Fiese returned and asked the audience for complete silence as he attempted to put each of the volunteers into a deep hypnotic trance. Spectators were delighted as many in the sleep-like hypnotic state slumped from their seats, rolling haphazardly onto the floor, often on top of those fallen before them. Others nuzzled peacefully into the shoulders of their neighbors.
Once Fiese had successfully placed his subjects into a hypnotic state, he began to issue suggestions.
"On the count of three you will open your eyes and you will be watching the funniest movie you have ever seen," Fiese said. "One, two, three."