Magnetic

What quality of a hypnotist makes them hypnotic?

You might think that having some sort of prop might make a hypnotist effective at his art. Yet hypnotism via props can only go so far. The subject's eyes hold the focus of attention on the moving prop - coin, watch, lights on the wall - but the moment the subject's eyes close, that prop can no longer serve its function.

What about the hypnotist's eyes? From the early days of cinema, from Dracula's stern, unblinking undead dread gaze through to The Hood, that evil clone of Professor X from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds, from Aleister Crowley's famous staring photograph to the modern illusionist Derren Brown, cinema and TV have long persuaded the viewing public into believing that the soul of a hypnotist's power lay in his eyes.

Yet the limitations of props must also apply to the eyes. If the subject cannot see them, those eyes cannot induce even the lightest trance.

A competent hypnotist could induce a profound trance in a person, in fact, even in a pitch dark room. How? What profound and potent tool could such a hypnotist wield?

The answer: the voice.

It takes a good voice to make a person a competent hypnotist. It doesn't require belief in any kind of "magic powers." Just a calming, soothing voice, and practice in establishing a rapport with your subjects.

Though it does help, it would seem, to have magnetic eyes. I know of a few interesting women who can attest to my eyes' possessing this property.

A pity someone has taken the name Magneto already ...