|
“There exists in Nature a universal fluid, that it is perhaps better felt than described. Newton called it the ethereal medium. Descartes, the universal mover, the hermetic philosophers, the universal principle, etc.”
Franz Anton Mesmer, B: 5/23/1734 D: 3/5/1815, Physician and theorist responsible for the field of Animal Magnetism. Discredited, maligned, persecuted and branded a Charlatan, his name has become synonymous with hypnosis as a hypnotic state was often an unintended side effect of his treatments and was sited by the Scientific Academy as the reason for his cures. This gave hypnosis a shot in the arm at the time and served to bury Animal Magnetism. To this day utter ignorance about his work abounds. To set the record straight, Animal (human) Magnetism is not the same as the mineral magnetism we are all familiar with. It merely conforms to the same dynamics. Fluid, in the case of Animal Magnetism does not refer to a liquid, but rather a substance which behaves according to fluid dynamics. Two branches of science that can, in this day and age, be used as models for the further development and understanding of of Animal Magnetism. But they likely won’t be. Mesmer was a man of great conviction and I imagine a commanding presence.
“then application of this to the human body one must pay attention to the fact that it is clearly divided longitudinally into two parts: the right side may be regarded as the south pole and the left as the North Pole“
Electric, magnetic. There really isn’t one without the other. It has been a long held understanding in mystical circles that the right side is positive, electric and the left side, receptive, magnetic. Why Mesmer chose this arrangement, the right hand being the south pole and the left being the north pole in human polarity is something we will never know. Was he continuing this tradition, or were there mitigating factors involved? Note when couples walk hand in hand, side by side or the arrangement of people holding hands in a circle. The polarity will be left hand in right hand, or right hand is left hand. Opposing polarities attracting one another. Yet when we shake hands as a greeting, we are guarded, right hand to right hand, south pole to south pole actually creating a barrier if not allowed to repel each other.
“One man can communicate to another the fluid which permeates him and gives him existence. Such is Animal Magnetism.”
“The fluid that permeates,” is another phrase which can be somewhat misleading. It conjures images of a puddle soaking into the ground, saturating it. Instead one should consider the example from mineral magnetism. How the field of one magnetic is increased when it comes in contact with another magnetic. And how a lifeless piece of iron when brought into contact with a magnetic, instantly acts as though itself were a magnetic. Waves that are not as yet detectable pass between living organisms the result of which is a reorganization of one or both of them as evidenced time and time again when people are confined together for a period of time. Thoughts, moods, feelings and even traits are exchanged, as dictated by the equilibrium that exists between them.
“One must never magnetise from below upwards because this can cause accidents, even apoplexy.”
A key feature of magnetism is everything moving in the same direction. In the case of a mineral magnet, all the electrons are caused to spin in the same direction. The magnetic field of each electron is added to all the others generating a large unified field.
When we move in the direction of the single greatest force of attraction, i.e. gravity, our action is smooth. Moving in the opposite direction, i.e. against it, causes turbulence.
“This supposed fluid tends always to put itself in equilibrium and it produces cures in certain subjects without their feeling any sensation, one has seen several patients like this who have been cured of obstructions, hydropsies, diseased glands etc.”
The million dollar question is, “can Animal Magnetism cure disease?” In the strictest sense, no. A majority of medical treatments generally don’t. They ease suffering and provide support to allow nature to do its work. A cast doesn’t mend a broken bone, an antihistamine doesn’t cure a cold and a vaccine won't cure a virus once it’s taken hold etc. The fact that it doesn’t “cure” a specific malady, in no way detracts from, or invalidates it’s usefulness as a therapeutic tool. There is still much work to be done. The suppression of its use in favor of the barbaric remedies of the 18th century has curtailed its development. Science requires collaboration and competition in order to grow. Animal Magnetism, has been denied this by alleged learned men of Science, consigning to the ranks of pseudo science and quackery, a designation it doesn’t deserve.
|
