you have reached a medium state of
hypnosis, and posthypnotic suggestions will be extremely effective. In
the next chapter, you'll learn, psychologically, how to go even deeper
into hypnosis. You'll learn those psychological factors that are
important to know and that can contribute to your development into an
excellent hypnotic subject. Following this, the subsequent chapter will
give you further tests and instructions for developing into a
somnambulistic subject.

Chapter 8

What You Should Know About Becoming An Excellent Subject

Becoming an excellent subject follows the same general rules for
becoming proficient in any other endeavor. It depends upon your
motivation, persistence and willingness to devote time and study to the
subject. Let us agree that most individuals can learn to play a musical
instrument to some degree. This degree is usually sufficient for their
own needs. To become a virtuoso, however, it is necessary to study the
instrument and devote a great deal of energy and time to practice. The
same example could be given for most undertakings. Anyone can learn to
hit a golf ball, but being able to control the direction and distance
and become a skilled golfer is quite another matter.

If you have been successful in accomplishing the first five tests, you
can consider yourself a good hypnotic subject. Becoming an excellent
subject entails following the same procedure used in accomplishing the
first five tests. Some may proceed very easily into the somnambulistic
state, and others may have a difficult time reaching this deepest stage.
Understanding some of the psychology involved and assuming the right
psychological frame of mind for the attainment of the somnambulistic
state is more important than just working blindly in an attempt to get
the somnambulistic tests to work. Being irritable, disgusted and
despondent because of your inability to go further into hypnosis is not
the answer and will only lead to frustration and failure. The reader is
not to assume he will be a difficult subject. If you have come this far,
you'll be able to continue in the same manner. The topic under
discussion now is brought up to prepare readers for any contingency that
may arise. It's like having a life preserver on a boat. You hope you
never need it, but you should be prepared to use it in case of an
emergency.

It is natural to assume that if you are willing and trying to go into
the lethargic, cataleptic or