#radiohypnoticcrystal

[mysteriousplanchette]

Cover shot of Elmer E. Knowles’ “Exposicíon Detallada del Sistema Completo de Influencia Personal y de Curación,” which includes some instructions on our favorite hypnosis device, the Radio Hypnotic Crystal. #hypnosis #hypnotism #mesmerism #hypnotist #radiohypnoticcrystal #psychic #personalmagnetism #occult #elmereknowles https://www.instagram.com/p/CAXnrruFgxM/?igshid=a3m7cx8prag8

[mysteriousplanchette]

Hi! I hope you are hanging in there. Today is Part 3 of a multi-post series on the Radio Hypnotic Crystal, so if you need to catch up, click on my profile and start with the bright red glass globe from a few days back. You’ll know it when you see it. By 1905, the incredible success of various occult mail fraud operations enabled former stage hypnotist Elmer S. Prather to invest in, and then take total control of, F. T. McIntyre’s Metropolitan Institute of Sciences. The operation doesn’t change internally much from what we can determine, but it is *rebranded* to the National Institute of Sciences, under the umbrella of Prather’s former stage name: Elmer E. Knowles. One of my favorite representations of this is the change in the cover illustration for McIntyre’s “The Key to the Development of the Inner Forces” lesson booklet, which featured an ornate door flanked by two columns opening to a light of celestial illumination beyond, promising the secrets revealed within. The content doesn’t really change with the exception of McIntyre being swapped out for Knowles in photos, but later editions also add Knowles to the front cover, his hand now reaching toward the opening door as he looks back at the reader, claiming personal credit for your introduction to the secrets within (see today’s stories for a before/after!) The branding of the Radio Hypnotic Crystal is now in full effect, and it retains its glass bulb form and blue sand interior. The previously lathed handle is now flared to make a base that allowed the device to stand upright more securely without endangering its fragility, and its label now displays the full name shift. This specimen, like my other recently-acquired ones, comes in its original shipping box. Be sure to swipe through to see more of Knowles’ operation, the RHC in use, and the gorgeous cover to Lesson #3! #hypnosis #hypnotism #hypnotist #ocularfatigue #mesmerism #radiohypnoticcrystal #mesmerisme #occult #psychic #suggestion https://www.instagram.com/p/B99LC7Rlsqw/?igshid=4nnqk8s913y4

[mysteriousplanchette]

This dark time is a great opportunity for another themed series! Get ready for the Radio Hypnotic Crystal! For the next week, I’ll be exploring the history and evolution of these unique hypnotic devices with an able assist from the research of my peers in IAPSOP, the International Association for the Preservation of Spiritualist & Occult Periodicals. The device that would come to be known as the Radio Hypnotic Crystal was first invented and used by a notorious hypnotist and mail-order occultist, “Professor” F.T. McIntyre, and sold by his Metropolitan Institute of Sciences. Getting into the details of his notorious career would be more than this format could bear, but give him a keyword search in IAPSOP founder Marc Demarest’s “Chasing Down Emma” blog for more! McIntyre’s invention was first named the “Ocular Fatigue Producer” or “Hypnotic Ball” upon its invention in 1895, and for those familiar with the hypnotist’s classic sleep-inducing swinging pendulum as a source of focus and relaxation, you’re on the exact right track. Essentially a wood-handled glass globe filled with sand surrounding a small, pearlescent ball on a thin rod, the Hypnotic Ball was used in the same manner as the ubiquitous pendulum. McIntyre’s 1903 “Practical Instruction in Suggestion, Hypnotism & Healing” described its creation: “I found myself continually looking for some object which I could use in producing ocular fatigue. At times I would use a pencil, a knife point, or...a diamond ring. In my experiments however I found that subjects would invariably look away from a pencil point and that they would not follow the diamond with sufficient concentration of vision.  I therefore determined to construct a device that would induce a condition of fatigue more rapidly than the articles mentioned. Hence—the introduction of the Ocular Fatigue Producer.” The pictured item is an original McIntyre model with an original box, and the only known surviving specimen, to my knowledge. It is now housed in the Mysterious Planchette archive. Swipe for more! #hypnosis #hypnotism #hypnotist #ocularfatigue #mesmerism #radiohypnoticcrystal #mesmerisme #occult #psychic #suggestion https://www.instagram.com/p/B9389PNFuT3/?igshid=1lhlnwy7k1jr9

[mysteriousplanchette]

There is so much surrounding the history of the Radio Hypnotic Crystal that I can’t fit here, from hair tonic and patent medicine schemes to fraudulent mail-order occultism, which I’ll not only get into with future posts, but also feature the cover of one of each of the company’s six lessons, or “Branches,” at the end of each daily post. Be sure and check out yesterday’s post to get started. Professor McIntyre ran his occult correspondence course business, the Metropolitan Institute of Sciences, under the same framework as most mail fraud schemes of that time, including the system of my favorite occultist and talking board manufacturer, Theodore H. White. These schemes relied on cheap newspaper advertisements for free lucky trinkets or booklets that promised to open the door to wealth, fame, and personal power. It was all a front to harvest your address, at which point you would be bombarded with solicitations for the company’s various occult courses, lessons in hypnotism, and other products, like the Radio Hypnotic Crystal. Last post, we saw McIntyre’s proto-crystal, the “Hypnotic Ball.” At some point, very likely under the influence of our real focus here, Elmer Sidney Prather, or, as he was also known, the world-famous hypnotist Elmer E. Knowles, the Hypnotic Ball switched monikers, to the Radio Hypnotic Crystal, perhaps around 1904 when Prather invested in McIntyre’s operation. Though still labeled as McIntyre’s invention, this specimen is now more refined that the earlier Ocular Fatigue Inducer. The handle is more gracefully lathed with petite grooves, and the red sand of the previous model has been replaced with a pleasant shade of blue. It remains a glass globe, and there is at least one other specimen (in the collection of my publisher and fellow occult scholar, @erikmona) with a much more slender globe, which may date from around the same period (see my stories for a shot of this, and give Erik a follow!). Swipe through to see Prather-as-Knowles, all dashing and debonaire, as well as some shots courtesy, again, or Mr. Mona. #hypnosis #hypnotism #hypnotist #ocularfatigue #mesmerism #radiohypnoticcrystal #mesmerisme #occult #psychic #suggestion https://www.instagram.com/p/B96kEAzF_cg/?igshid=1mvrm9bm15h60

[mysteriousplanchette]

Back shot of Elmer E. Knowles’ “Exposicíon Detallada del Sistema Completo de Influencia Personal y de Curación,” the cover of which I posted a couple days ago. This volume includes some instructions on our favorite hypnosis device, the Radio Hypnotic Crystal. #hypnosis #hypnotism #mesmerism #hypnotist #radiohypnoticcrystal #psychic #personalmagnetism #occult #elmereknowles https://www.instagram.com/p/CAc1Y96FeHI/?igshid=hlo1s5g69noj

[mysteriousplanchette]

BONUS POST!! OK, y’all are probably tired of the Radio Hypnotic Crystals but seriously what else are you gonna do during the Great Boredom? I figured I’d post a family shot to close out the series. Enjoy, saints & sinners. And remember—keep six feet between yourselves to leave room for the Lord! 😉 #hypnotism #occult #psychic #radiohypnoticcrystal #mesmerism #hypnotic #mesmerist #hypnotist #paranormal https://www.instagram.com/p/B-HcSYoFmso/?igshid=10l9cjbk4xmf2

[mysteriousplanchette]

For those who know, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, no explanation is possible... #hypnosis #hypnotism #mesmer #mesmerism #radiohypnoticcrystal #magnetiseur #somnabulist