When you open your eyes, you will read this article.

On Saturday, January 13th, Student Council hosted hypnotist, Jeffrey Jay Smith, at CLC. However, there is a lot of confusion and controversy surrounding the idea of hypnosis and whether or not it’s real. Many people are unclear about what hypnotism really is or how it affects people. Interestingly enough, people put themselves in a state of hypnosis or a similar state of consciousness every day. Daydreams, meditation, sleep, and escapism are all instances of hypnosis in everyday life.

By definition, hypnosis is a state of consciousness that results in a decrease in awareness and an increased susceptibility to suggestion. But in order to be hypnotized, one must be willing, motivated, and actively participating. Although it seems that when hypnotized, people are under total control of the hypnotist, that’s not true. Hypnotized individuals will not do anything against their moral values or that would jeopardize their life. So, for example, if you told someone to rob a bank, he would not do it. This is because being in a state of hypnosis simply increases an individual’s imagination and creativity. It does not result in a loss of awareness or free will.

Kayleigh Randle, a senior at CLC, mainly used the word “weird” to describe her experience with hypnosis. “I remember hearing his voice, but I couldn’t move my body or open my eyes. I felt really energized after the entire thing though. It felt like I had been sleeping for hours.” Other participants also reported that they did not remember what they did when they were on stage but did possess an unusual amount of energy after the show. That’s because hypnosis possesses similar benefits of sleeping or taking a nap, which is why participants experienced this increase in energy.

Hannah Passapera, also a senior at CLC, was in the audience during the show. She said that the show was a very fun experience and that some people were definitely hypnotized while others simply played along. For those who were truly hypnotized, “it was like they dozed off for a while and when they were asked to do stuff, they would do what he asked and they did it with a lot of action and character.” During the show, the participants on stage were asked to do a variety of silly behaviors. For example, forget the number 6 when counting and talk in an alien language with another person. The hypnotist also had them do a dance competition and baby talk about what they wanted to be when they grow up, all to the amusement of the audience.

In the end, both girls said that their experiences during the hypnotist show were positive and fun and recommend it to anyone interested. So if you have the chance to either participate in or watch a hypnotist show, don’t be afraid to give it a try!