BEGINNER’S LUCK
Reality is Plastic! The Art of Impromptu Hypnosis – Anthony Jacquin
This is the first time I’ve read this book. I previously twice listened to the audiobook, early in my hypnosis journey.
And what a journey it’s been! The author of Reality is Plastic, Anthony Jacquin, went on to co-found Head Hacking with my now partner-in-crime, Kev. He wrote and released this book in his own right, but they had started to collaborate around this time and I was pleased to spot a reference to Kev (on ‘hypnotic engineering’) on page one!
I bought the audiobook after seeing Anthony speak at a London Meetup about hypnosis. I didn’t even know Kev existed back then! So I can still say without much bias it is a terrific beginner’s audiobook/book: clear, simple, actionable, inspiring.
It certainly provided me with a milestone moment – self-induced arm levitation as my first experience of hypnotic phenomena. Aaand then the standard obsession with sticking people’s hands to tables that proves so alluring to most newbie hypnotists!
Reading the book now, I really appreciate the clarity and cleverness that Anthony (and, later, Head Hacking) brought to modern hypnosis as a concept and construct.
Firstly, via the title – reality is malleable if you can just see through the illusion; a liberating concept to wrap your head around when you’re just starting out. There’s also an exploration of Anthony’s famous “be The Hypnotist” mantra, and advice on examining your own preconceptions and beliefs about hypnosis, and building ‘The Hypnotist’ from there.
I also love the space that Anthony, and Head Hacking, created with ‘impromptu hypnosis’. Saying ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to demands for hypnotic demonstrations at parties and such is a challenge for hypnotherapists and aspirants: protecting professional integrity is a common protest among ‘serious’ therapists; but many a professional or aspirant know they are simply being set up to fail by a combative request for a too ambitious feat.
‘Impromptu hypnosis’ cracked open a space between therapy and street/stage performance so that hypnotists of all kinds could impress and demo in a broader range of social and professional settings. It was cool and collaborative, and put the hypnotist back in the driving seat.
It’s funny looking back on Anthony’s collated history and theory of hypnosis (at the time of writing). I can see how it influenced me – I found the information on Erickson and Dave Elman credible and convincing first time round. I remember spending quite a bit of time trying to figure out what, precisely, “bypassing the critical faculty” (Elman) entailed – it felt like a hurdle I could never leap over no matter what I read, heard or pondered. I try to pay attention to what doesn’t stick these days: I spent a lot of time (and money) on what magic brain-buttons you boop to unlock Hypnosis™ before arriving at… it’s mostly just suggestion.
One of the reasons I was drawn to Anthony and Head Hacking was the attention to detail, be it in scripting, selecting and handling participants, safety or whatever. It’s probably worth having both the audio and printed books – there’s so much tried-and-tested nuance, including via photos, that I couldn’t grasp with just the audio, upon reflection.
But one thing that did stick with me from the audio listens was Anthony saying: “The first time you make yourself invisible using your hypnotic powers is likely to be a bit of an event.” And I got the same thrill reading those words this time around! Achieving invisibility is a pinnacle of hypnotic achievement for many, and I love that Anthony made me – and, I’m sure, myriad others – feel like hypnosis is a superpower.
I’ll forever be grateful for Reality is Plastic piquing my interest in Anthony, Head Hacking and the mysterious wizard-behind-the-curtain that is Kev! But if this blog post, and my love life, isn’t sufficiently convincing for you to add this audiobook/book to your hypno-library, then get yourself down to Blackpool Magic Convention some time.
After the convention, magicians famously converge upon the Ruskin Hotel for a night of drinking and trickery. The lower floor is where the mentalists practice their ‘black magic’ – it is a cacophony of Anthony’s words and routining; I felt like I was infiltrating a Head Hacking clone army. Kev knew some of them to say hello – students from Europe and beyond. It was eerie but lovely to see the legacy of Reality is Plastic and Head Hacking.
PS – Kev is clueless as to why his copy is signed to Anthony from Amit Badiani, a member of the Head Hacking collective (see photo). Answers on a postcard, please…
