Few areas of human knowledge are as misunderstood as the one addressed in this book. On one hand, the phenomenon of hypnosis is outright dismissed as nonexistent, while on the other hand, the complex yet entirely natural occurrences are portrayed as effects of some supernatural, mystical forces. Those who delve into the study of this field risk being labeled either as frauds or being pitied or mocked as victims of deception. The writer and occultist Gustav Wilhelm Gessmann presents an overview of the methods of magnetism and hypnosis in this volume. He takes into account the origins, historical development, methods, and manifestations. His work is a representation of this field with particular emphasis on the relationships involved.