Two teens test truth of hypnosis

Hypnotist Freddie Justice gave three performances on the free stage at the Waseca County Free Fair over the weekend of July 11 and 12. At least one of them drew a crowd of 70 or more–some of whom took seats before the show began, others of whom were drawn in to watch and ended up standing in a bit of a crowd at the back. About 15 individuals of ages from senior citizens to children had found seats on the stage.

 

Billing himself as “the planet’s funniest hypnotist,” the performer’s real name is Dustin Reichert. He is a retired police officer who lives in the Twin Cities. His business offers training services for law enforcement agencies as well as team building seminars for companies of all types.

 

On the side, and apparently because he enjoys it, he offers his hypnotist act as entertainment at fairs all around Minnesota.

 

Midway through Sunday afternoon, Waseca teens Jordan Hinna, 16, and Peyton Ross, 15, arrived early for Justice’s final presentation of the fair saying they wanted to volunteer. The two had seen the noon show and been intrigued–as well as thoroughly entertained. They mentioned one person had become so relaxed during that show, she slumped to the floor of the stage on all fours.

 

“I want to know if it’s real,” explained Peyton. “I mean, how can someone just do that?”

 

Both girls expressed uncertainty about whether people were genuinely “going under” or were simply complying with Justice’s requests because they sounded like fun.

 

Based on his own comments, Justice would likely say the girls’ suspicions were correct.

 

“Whatever you may have heard about hypnotism,” Justice had said during an earlier show, “I’m not ‘controlling’ anyone. People who are under hypnotism are just highly suggestible. They hear what I say and just sort of think, ‘That sounds like a good idea. I’ll try it.’”

 

“It” began with typing on an imaginary typewriter and imitating a washing machine or ringing cell phone and moved to laughing uproariously at a nonexistent movie. There was also spontaneous dancing to a song Justice informed them had just become their temporary favorite. During one show, a particularly energetic subject had strutted through the crowd, sharing his lip-synced rendition of “Call me Maybe.”

 

Before the Sunday afternoon show began, Jordan predicted she might end up “faking” hypnosis. Peyton said she had no idea how it would go for her.

 

Justice had also commented “there is no secret to what hypnotists do.” He explained that being under hypnosis is really only a state of deep relaxation; reaching it is a matter of focusing on one’s breathing and connecting with the suggestions being offered by the hypnotist. Subjects were advised to breathe deeply, let their frustrations and distractions fasten themselves to the air taken in, and then to breathe them out. One portion of their anatomy at a time, they were asked to think of that part–feet, legs, knees and on up to the neck and head–and relax it as they continued to breathe deeply. Justice said having one’s eyes closed is important because it helps prevent being distracted by nearby people or activity.

 

For those who are focused and attentive, Justice said the process takes seven to nine minutes.

 

Being that relaxed, he continued, allows subjects to feel as rested as if they had slept for eight hours.

 

As Peyton and Jordan took chairs on the stage, Justice separated them so they would not be distractions to one another; he did the same for the entire group, working to ensure all 13 subjects were next to someone unknown to them.

 

After his seven-minute “induction” dialog, Justice moved down the line of volunteers. He said there are numerous clues which let him know whether each individual is “under” or not–or even how far under they might be. For those who are “almost there” he uses a set of “deepening” steps which include shaking the person’s arm to see if they are “like rubber”--in other words, that they show no resistance and, when released, their hands simply fall to their laps.

 

Jordan’s prediction turned out to be true–that is, after trying to help her relax more fully, Justice sent her back to her seat among the audience because he could tell she was still alert. Later Jordan speculated she had not gone under because she found it difficult to focus on Justice’s instructions, partly because she had been distracted by the presence of the people next to her.

 

Peyton, on the other hand, was one of about five people on the stage who complied energetically with Justice’s beginning requests that they type, imitate a wash machine, and swat a fly on their foreheads.

 

Later on, she was among about a half dozen who stood up to dance when the music of a certain song “takes over your soul.” In conversation with Justice, Peyton revealed she had studied dance–which became evident when she arched her arms up over her head and rotated to the music.

 

Overall, Justice noted that roughly six of the 13 volunteers had entered a “deep” state of hypnosis, and mentioned that, between the heat and the various people’s personalities, he had a “low energy” group–with the exception of one persistent volunteer known to Justice from last year’s shows who was very open to suggestion, and whose laughter at the nonexistent comedy film escalated each time Justice said the word “funny,” until nearly everyone in the audience was laughing along with her.

 

As the show ended and Peyton returned to her seat in the audience, she revealed everything she had done had been spontaneous and genuine. Asked whether she remembered a “really bad smell” Justice had said would infuse the stage area, she said she recalled it as “really stinky garbage.” When it had been suggested the smell was coming from her, she said she believed it to be true, but couldn’t figure out why, since she had showered and put on perfume earlier in the day. She concluded hypnotism is indeed “real,” although she was at a loss for words to describe what it feels like.

 

Still, she spoke with energy when she said she would do it again and would recommend to others that they try it. “It was fun,” she said. “It was funny. It was different from anything else I’ve done.

 

“I’m glad I did it.”