Demonstration 12

ERICKSON
I want now to demonstrate a technique that can be used in deepening trances. Is Doctor L here? Do you mind assisting me, Doctor, while I'm talking. Will you step up here, please? Just face the audience. Now, you're well aware of the fact that Doctor L is alert and that he certainly does not know what is going to come next. Isn't that right, Doctor?

SUBJECT
It certainly is.

ERICKSON
This is a rather simple technique. It is also a technique that you can use with many subjects.
Now listen to me, Doctor. You can look at me. You've been in a trance before and you know it. You're an excellent subject. I'm going to suggest something to you. You can go to sleep very easily, go into the trance just by fixing your attention. I think the best way for you to learn to do it and to demonstrate it for the audience is this: As you stand there, I am going to count from one to twenty. I can count front one to twenty by ones or twos, fours, fives, or tens. By the time I count to twenty, you will be asleep. When I've reached five, you'll be a quarter of the asleep. When I reach ten, you'll be halfway asleep. When I reach fifteen, you will be three quarters of the way asleep. And when I reach twenty, you will be fully asleep. You'll take a deep breath and go way, sound asleep. Will you sit down, please?

Now look at the audience and be aware of them, because I'm going to start counting. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 - half asleep - 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, - and three-quarters asleep - 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Take a deep breath and go deep, sound asleep, way deep, sound asleep, deep and sound asleep. Keep on sleeping and really enjoying it.