The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
ODD CURE FOR INSOMNIA
AUTO-HYrSOTIsM MAY BE EN-
PLoYED BY sLEEPLEss PERSON.
nexsces That VIII at Least Not Hurt
Him IL They Do No Good-Any One
Can BE n SyenSali.

ton of the word "hypnotism" suggests an
ocean OF mysteries. Yet. you probably
hypnotic yourself a dozen times daily
without knowing it. OF course you do not
put yourelf invoIuntarily to sleep a dozen
times a day. Sleep is not necessary ac-
compartment OF hypnosis. But you can make
yourself sleep as well as do many other
things not listed In the routine OF your
natural inclinations.
You will rise i'm the morning at an hour
which you have impressed upon your in
voluntary mind before going TO bed. This
phenomenon can work both ways. Hence
you can train yourself TO fall asleep at a
moment which you have kept fixed in your
mind during the day; not the first time you
try IL, perhaps. but you can soon train
yourself to do it.
Here is a practical Illustration of the force
OF voluntary auto-suggestion: Stand erect
with your eyes closed and concentrate your
attention for few moments on the sensa-
tion Of falling backward. You will begin
Immediately to sway in that direction. The
same force with which you here uncon-
sciously contracted the muscles of your
legs and back will assist in taking the
blood from your brain and inducing sleep.
A hypnotic laboratory at home can be
fitted up by pressing into service only the
ordinary articles of domestic use. There
end of needless whirly-gigs sold to
induce the hypnotice state. These mechanI-
cal aids are valuable fo- contrating atten-
ffon, fatiguing the eyes or deceiving the
superstitious subject. But your bedroom
can be converted into fuIIy-equipped lab
oratory by such simple acquisitions as a
candle, hand mirror, lead pencil. bot
lie. stick OF crayon, sheet of wrapping
paper and such common articles as
counted among the sundries OF the hum
bIest abode.
Place lighted candle behind round
bottle blown OF colored glass-an ordinary
green bottle-and gaze at the spot where
the light focuses the opposite side. Let
Athe room be dark Previously disrobe and
be In bed ready for sleep Concentrate your
are upon the light spot on the bottle and
time your eyes will grow so fatigued as
naturally close. The head should be high,
as sleep is produced by the blood's leaving
the BRAIN When the head is elevated grav-
ity aids to drain off such OF the vital fluid
as Is not needed to nourish the brain during
sleep. The bottle will serve as a screen
against the glare of the candle. The latter
can be cut short in order that it may burn
you be nervous about letting the candle
burn while you are asleep set it upright in
q china plate. sticking 1t fast with a few
drops OF its hot grease. Then when it dies
out IL can do no harm.
TO MAKE A HYPNOTIC EYE.
Draw a large picture Of the human eye
upon white paper, using a soft black cray
on. Hang the paper where the rays of your
se
Stare at this eye for quarter of an hour.
ff need be. Try to refrain from winking.
If the eye be sufficiently staring in its as
pect IL viii finally stare you out" Your
eyes will grow fatigued and you will fall
asleep.
Make a cone about eighteen inches long
out of sheet of white paper. Place the
large end to your eyes and stare at the
candle through it. Having maintained your
stare thus for about three minutes, close
your eyes. You will still see the outlines
of the candle. Gaze at this image steadily
THAT is, continue to endeavor to see it,
and after it has disappeared imagine that
you see Ii until 1t reappears. This expert
ment frequently induces sleep in very
short time.
Stare into the pupils of your own eyes
upon stand or table close by your bed
and at a distance of ten inches from your
face Stare until your piece of candle burns
out Even before that time your eyes will
probably be closed in sleep.
Hold one end of long lead pencil be-
tween your teeth and allow your gaze to
run up and down its polished surface until
the eyes close of their own accord. The
same effect can be produced in the dark
by staring at imaginary spot at the tip
of your nose. Touch your forehead with
your finger. Then roll your eyes up under
your lids and imagine that you are looking
through the top of your head at this par
ficular spot. Do this for three minutes,
and drowsiness viii probably cause the
eyes to fall and the lids TO remain closed in
natural repose. One method recommended
by q hypnotist Is to close your eyes and
count the bright spots coming and going
on your eyeiids. ANY one can see such
spots IL he closes his eyes.
EXERCISE THE IMAGINATION.
Close your eyes and imagine that you are
looking at the ceiling Having done this
for moment, make yourself believe that
you are looking into the corners OF the
ceiling, after the other, in order. One
!. hypnotist recommends the following: Close
your eyes Drop your head forward upon
your chest. Then imagine that you are
looking up and down your spine, from be-
hind
Imagine that you are counting the num-
Der OF bricks or the corner of high build
ms. Commence at the bottom and count
MP II you reach the top before falling
asleep then start at the top and work
downward. The eyes must be closed during
ahIs experiment.. which Is recommended by
. teacher o. hypnolism. This same author
ity teaches his subjects to pretend to sleep
~ takins q comfortable position and snor-
tEx lightly. This. he says. tends to encour-
age sleep. the same effect being produced
by trying to yawn again and again. thus
encouraging natural yawn;ng. OF course.
you must be In comfortable position,
ready for sleep. during these tests. 1t is
also recommended slowly to turn over the
leaves OF q book. imagining while you do
that you the word sleep In large
black istters. printed on each page. You
will turn them moro and more slowly and
finally cease. unconsciously. and fall asleep
With eyes closed, imagine that you are
stretching q piece OF elastic two inches
long Go through the actual movements
again and again until you have stretched
n e. far as your arms will reach. One