This week’s Thurs “D” activity will feature hypnotist Bruce McDonald from New Orleans.
The event will be held on Thursday Nov. 15 in the Gardner Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to come with friends and enjoy the hypnotist for free.
McDonald has been performing at Dixie and around the nation for more than 20 years. Along with his hypnotism shows, McDonald also teaches seminars on stress reduction and relaxation, memory and study skills, and brainstorming and goal setting motivational programs.
“He is so hilarious,” said Mazie Ludlow, a junior communication major from Turlock, Calif., and the vice president of communications for student government. “You’d think people would get sick of having the same hypnotist each year, but everyone always asks for him to come back because his shows are so entertaining.”
While Thursday’s event is purely for entertainment purposes, hypnotism has had many uses throughout history.
The word hypnosis is derived from the Greek word “hypnos,” meaning sleep. Hypnotism is a means of putting the participant in an artificial state of sleep, more accurately described as a state of reduced consciousness while they are awake.
According to Skeptoid.com, forms of hypnosis go back through history nearly as far as history itself. Some of the earliest documented forms of meditation from India and Persia are considered to have been similar to what we now refer to as self-hypnosis.
The ancient Greeks are believed to have had practices comparable to Hindu sleep temples, where people would go to essentially become hypnotized to be put into a relaxed state as a presumed medical cure.
Although McDonald won’t be curing anyone of medical ailments during his show, there will be plenty of laughter and fun to be had.
“I think it’s very entertaining and fun to watch,” said Kyle Schoney, a sophomore general education major from St. George. “I personally can’t be hypnotized, but I think it is fun to watch other people.”
Students will be selected from the audience to participate and will be eliminated throughout the show if they are unable to be hypnotized.
While hypnotism is a mind-boggling phenomenon to some, other students may have their own reservations.
“I don’t believe in hypnotism,” said Lacee Player, a sophomore psychology major from Layton. “I think it is just people pretending.”
For more information on Bruce McDonald you can visit brucemcdonaldhypnotist.com.
Written by Madison Pennie
