have been able to get a relaxed, heavy feeling in
your legs. You have reached the count of five and are ready to proceed
further. Here are sample suggestions you can use: "Six ... My legs are
becoming extremely heavy. Seven ... I'll be unable to lift them until I
count to 15. Eight ... I feel very comfortable; my legs are becoming
heavier and heavier. Nine ... My entire body is completely relaxed, and
my legs are so heavy that they are impossible to lift. Ten ... I'm in a
very deep hypnotic state, and it is absolutely impossible for me to move
my legs until I count to 15." At this point, you actually try to raise
your legs. If you can't do it, you have reached the cataleptic stage.

Should you not be able to raise your legs, don't become frightened. All
you need to say is: "I can now move my legs." You could also say: "As I
count to three, I'll be able to move my legs." However, since we have
elected originally to be able to move the legs at the count of 15, it
would be best to follow out this pattern. You could at this time merely
continue to count to 15, at which time you would be able to move your
legs. I prefer giving suggestions between each count as follows: "Eleven
... The heavy feeling is leaving, and I shall be able to raise my legs
at the count of 15. Twelve ... I can feel the heavy, relaxed feeling
leaving. Thirteen ... I am beginning to move my legs. Fourteen ... I am
lifting my legs more and more. Fifteen ... I have perfect control over
my bodily functions and legs; I am lifting and moving my legs; the heavy
feeling is dissipating; I am in complete control; I can now give myself
posthypnotic suggestions that will be very effective and beneficial."
Give yourself whatever suggestions you want at this time.

Let us suppose that you tried the foot test for some time and were
unsuccessful. Perhaps this puzzles you, and you wonder why it didn't
work. Perhaps you were able to get a heavy feeling in the legs, but the
second part of the test didn't work. The following information will help
you to understand why you were unable to complete this cataleptic test.
Either you had not conditioned yourself sufficiently, or you weren't
really "letting go" enough to enter into a deeper state of hypnosis.
Most subjects need to test themselves and feel secure every step of the
way. They don't just plunge into the cataleptic or somnambulistic stages
immediately. In this connection, I believe it can be compared with the
bather