Interesting opinions from your fellow Patrons! (Patreon)

Hello everyone, 

Below are some essays if you will written by some of your fellow patrons in regards to hypnosis etc. I think it would be good to hear from you guys and what you think to hypnosis etc. This first article is from 2 separate patrons writing about the connection of hypnosis with vampires. As you may know, vampires are synonymous with using hypnosis to lure their victims so here is what they think to that... 

‘Vampires and hypno-fetishism: a short essay’

Hypnosis is a common feature of much of the lore surrounding vampires, namely the way they are able to seduce, lure and control their victims, making them helpless and easy prey. From the hypnotic charm of the Count in Bram Stoker’s novel along to Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee’s deeply penetrating hypnotic eyes, hypnosis is a very prominent part of the vampire legend. The purpose of a vampire’s hypnosis across decades of portrayals ranges from complete domination over the mind of an individual to incapacitating them in order to feed. So why is it so popular and why do people find it such a turn on?

Well, firstly I feel it is important to establish a few important points and distinctions while talking about this topic. While I have already referred to what vampires do as hypnosis, and will continue to do so, it might perhaps be more accurate to give it the label of ‘mind control’. The realities of hypnosis, the kind of state that it is and what things are and are not possible during that state, differ somewhat from the kind of hypnosis that we observe taking place in vampire-related fiction. For example, an individual cannot be coerced to do anything they do not want to do whilst in a hypnotic state, and yet individuals in the thrall of vampires are completely subject to their will no matter what. Not to say this is not understandable in the boundaries and possibilities of the particular story being told; if a vampire or any individual has advanced mental and/or supernatural abilities, then we can absolutely believe it is possible for them to exert complete power over the minds of others. So this is the distinction; that this fantasy element gives hypnosis that all controlling power in that particular narrative, whereas in reality this is not really the case.

So what about the people out there who enjoy hypnosis, those who regard it as a fetish – ‘hypnokinksters’ we might call them. What is a fetish? A fetish is a sexual desire in which gratification is linked to something specific. For everybody out there who has a fetish for hypnosis, what is it that they are actually fetishizing? On one level they will most likely find hypnosis and trance inherently erotic, whether that be from hypnotising others, being hypnotised, observing it happen to others or possibly all three. The end result of the trance in question may not necessarily be erotic in nature, just experience of or observing the process of it happening can be enough. On a deeper level, they may enjoy the sensations that can be created in trance, the influence of the hypnotist over them, not having to think about anything for a time, or the way their minds and bodies can be effected to name but a few.

There is often a certain level of overlap with hypno-fetishism and mind control fetishism, where typically unrealistic or totally fictional forms of hypnotic control are employed on individuals. Here is where the beginnings of our look at the connection with vampiric hypnosis, starting at a more general level. What reason might there be for people having sexual fantasies of being controlled in that way? Well perhaps the keyword is ‘fantasy’; the knowledge that in reality these things are not possible and so the mind can fully ruminate and explore. The feelings of pleasure that a hypnokinkster might get from hypnosis can be amplified, intensified or exaggerated in these fantasies where they can be completely hypnotically controlled and at the mercy of the hypnotist. In the same way that pornography is an exaggerated portrayal, so these mind control ideas run along a similar process.

So what is it about specifically about vampires in a hypnotic context? Perhaps this has its roots in the inherent sexuality in many portrayals of the vampire. Dracula for instance, is urbane, handsome and charming, and much is often made of the alluring hypnotic gaze of female vampires used to attract their victims to them. So perhaps on one level there is a level of eroticism created in this before any type of hypnosis even commences. With this in mind too, portrayals of vampires often have a rather seductive quality to them; the hypnosis is often done from a perspective of the subject being drawn or lured in. Often it is done silently, with no instructions overtly given and just the melting of one mind into another. Hypnosis and the feeling of trance has been compared to the feeling of subspace, that natural high that an individual will experience when being controlled, or when they enter a state of deep emotional resonance and/or connection. Perhaps part of the appeal of vampiric hypnosis for the kinksters is that it seems to portray that space in its purest form, allowing them to imagine how wonderful it would be to drift inside it at that moment.

The influence that a vampire gains over an individual through hypnosis is one of complete control and power. So again with such a portrayal of hypnosis being safely behind the barriers of fiction, people who are attracted to these ideas can fully immerse themselves in the fantasy. The power, the intimacy of being controlled or manipulated from within, possibly also the transformation aspect be it physical or mental. If for a particular individual the kink for hypnosis is combined with feelings and desires of submission, then seeing a vampire completely take away the will of another could be a very potent fantasy. Hypnosis can certainly be a powerful way to bring fantasies to life, to manifest the imagination into reality for the individual, and so the associations with all these elements may well be a factor.

Part of the appeal may also be rooted in the fact that for some kinksters, seeing a vampire hypnotise someone could well have been the first time they began to realise this was something that appealed to them. The desire that had been hidden in their subconscious, even from them, was revealed in that moment and so it remains a turn on as an expression of the desires they have come to know and love.

Everything I have talked about so far here has entirely separated the act of a vampire hypnotising an individual with what they intend to do with them once they have them, and I will have a look at that briefly now. Part of the analysis here perhaps depends on whether an individual has a fetish only for the hypnosis, or for vampires more as a whole. Do the manifestations of desire to be controlled end with the hypnosis the vampire exerts on an individual or do they carry on to what the vampire would be intending to do once they have them? If submission is arousing to an individual then being in a vampire’s thrall, or becoming helpless so they can feed, could well be of strong interest. Feelings of masochism could well pave way for arousal in seeing or imagining the feel of bitten by a vampire. Perhaps the individual fantasises about being a vampire as well, and so the thought of being unable to resist this idea becoming true is very potent.

Of all these questions and ideas I’ve presented, it could be that one is dominant for an individual or it could be a number of them combined. Why is it such a turn on? Power, seduction, control? The fantasy element of a fetish? Many fetishes have various aspects to them, and hypnosis in particular with all the many great things that can be achieved with it. With hypnosis being a large part of the vampire myth, perhaps for some they are intertwined, or the portrayal of vampiric hypnosis is the ultimate expression of a fantasy played out.

This patron is a fellow hypnotist: 

Hypnosis, Vampires and Sexual power

Hypnosis is an extremely confused and often misunderstood topic. There is the fantasy of hypnosis, where it's seen as being in control of others against their will, and the more realistic view that it's a way of communicating with the subconscious in ways that make it easier to get the responses you want from people. In both cases, it can be coercive and can take place consensually or covertly.

My belief is that whether overt or covert, hypnosis is inherently sexy. It's a form of seduction, using language and manipulating the responses of your subject into desired patterns of behaviour, new emotional responses, and rewarding the responses you want with pleasurable sensations - classical conditioning takes time, hypnotic intervention can take place in a single session.

In a traditional therapeutic situation, practitioners avoid attachment with clients, shying away from and managing attraction from their patients, so the sexy aspect of hypnosis is largely avoided and not used at all, so where can we look to support the idea that hypnosis is seductive and sexy?

The answer is easy.

We look at vampires.

A lot of powers are ascribed to vampires in folklore, but it's in cinema where we almost always see the vampire as a mind controller through hypnosis - and I admit my own fetish for the subject is pretty deeply rooted in Hammer movies from the 70s, where sex was placed firmly on the menu. To see where hypnosis was first fully realised as a vampiric power though, we go back to Bela Lugosi as Dracula in 1931. Throughout the film, Lugosi captivates women with his gaze, dominating and commanding them, a subtle sexual predator who both captivates his prey and subsequently consumes them.

When confronted with the gaze of the vampire, the subject (male or female, gender isn't an issue to a hungry vampire) is overwhelmed, quickly or slowly. Their thoughts and desires are replaced by those of the vampire, they begin to respond helplessly - and that obedience is rewarded with pleasure at first. They feel fascinated, aroused, wanted... they don't fight what's happening. Indeed, they want more and become more excited as the scene progresses. The inevitable bite becomes a penetrative sexual act, the pain becomes pleasure even as the victim is fed upon.

Those aren't always screams of pain. Sometimes the best sex you'll ever have will have the neighbors complaining and banging on the walls.

So what's going on here? Are the victim's thoughts simply replaced by a stronger mind... or is this also a sexual arousal so strong it simply overrides survival instincts? The damsel (or dude) in distress knows they shouldn't take off that cross and open the window. It's dangerous. But that vampire is really, really hot looking all of a sudden... and it's getting warm in here... and you know, that throbbing, that pulse, that spreading sense of being wet, or hard... it's really persuasive. And look, they really want you, so, so much... you've never seen someone who wants you so much, so literally hungry for you.

The pulse becomes like a drumbeat to a sexy dance, and all they want to do is hold you, after all, maybe a kiss...

Seduction. Sexy feelings overwhelm sense. We see that all the time in real life, don't we? Sex leads to change and none of us are immune.

The hypnotic power ascribed to the vampire leads to the subject being transformed by the experience, becoming a completely different person because they were seduced, pleasured, had their own thoughts replaced by another. And while being bitten by a vampire and rising from the grave to feed on the blood of the living isn't everybody's cup of tea... isn't the idea of being led to a change you actually want, actually need, through being guided by a seductive experience potentially compelling?

Emotional change is hard work. We've typically carried our demons with us for years, and they're deeply rooted and often resistant to therapy. Why not accept the idea that sometimes pleasure, sexiness, can be the reward that supports you in a journey towards a better life?

*Thank you to these 2 patrons for providing me with your take on this fascinating subject!* 

If you would like to write something for a patron post please let me know! We are a community here and your opinions on these subjects are just as important as mine! Knowledge is power so let's share it! 

Chanel x