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Mesmer and Swedenborg: Or The Relation Of The Developments Of Mesmerism To The

George Orwell

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The Unseen World

The story of Franz Mesmer and Emanuel Swedenborg is a tale of two visionaries whose ideas intertwined to shape the world of hypnosis and spiritualism. Mesmer, a physician, developed a theory of "animal magnetism" that proposed a subtle fluid flowed through all living things, which could be manipulated to induce a trance-like state. Swedenborg, a mystic and theologian, claimed to have the ability to communicate with angels and spirits, and described a realm of existence beyond the physical world.

Mesmer and Swedenborg; Or, The Relation of the Developments of Mesmerism to the Doctrines and Disclosures of Swedenborg

by Hourly History

4 out of 5

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While their theories were vastly different, there were remarkable parallels between the work of Mesmer and Swedenborg. Both men believed in the existence of an unseen world, and both believed that this world could be accessed through a trance-like state. Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism was based on the idea that the subtle fluid that flowed through all living things could be manipulated to induce a trance-like state, while Swedenborg's belief in the ability to communicate with angels and spirits was based on the idea that the soul could travel to the unseen world while the body remained in a trance.

The ideas of Mesmer and Swedenborg had a profound impact on the development of hypnosis and spiritualism. Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism provided a scientific basis for the practice of hypnosis, and Swedenborg's belief in the ability to communicate with angels and spirits provided a religious basis for the practice of spiritualism.

The Influence of Mesmer

Franz Mesmer was born in Austria in 1734. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, and in 1766 he published his doctoral dissertation on the "Influence of the Planets on the Human Body." In this dissertation, Mesmer proposed that a subtle fluid flowed through all living things, which he called "animal magnetism." He believed that this fluid could be manipulated to induce a trance-like state, which he called "mesmerism."

Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism was based on the idea that the human body was a magnet, and that the subtle fluid that flowed through the body could be manipulated by magnets. He believed that this fluid could be used to treat a wide range of illnesses, including hysteria, epilepsy, and blindness.

Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism was controversial from the start. Many scientists and physicians rejected his ideas, and he was eventually forced to leave Vienna. However, his ideas continued to spread, and by the end of the 18th century, mesmerism had become a popular treatment for a variety of illnesses.

The Influence of Swedenborg

Emanuel Swedenborg was born in Sweden in 1688. He studied science and mathematics at the University of Uppsala, and in 1716 he published his first scientific work, on the nature of fire. In the 1740s, Swedenborg began to have a series of visions, which he believed were from God. These visions led him to believe that he had the ability to communicate with angels and spirits, and that he had been given a mission to reveal the secrets of the unseen world.

Swedenborg's writings on the unseen world had a profound impact on the development of spiritualism. He described a realm of existence beyond the physical world, which he called the "spiritual world." He believed that the spiritual world was inhabited by angels and spirits, and that humans could communicate with these beings while in a trance-like state.

Swedenborg's ideas were controversial from the start. Many theologians and scientists rejected his claims, and he was eventually forced to leave Sweden. However, his ideas continued to spread, and by the end of the 18th century, spiritualism had become a popular religion.

The Parallels Between Mesmer and Swedenborg

There were a number of remarkable parallels between the work of Mesmer and Swedenborg. Both men believed in the existence of an unseen world, and both believed that this world could be accessed through a trance-like state. Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism was based on the idea that the subtle fluid that flowed through all living things could be manipulated to induce a trance-like state, while Swedenborg's belief in the ability to communicate with angels and spirits was based on the idea that the soul could travel to the unseen world while the body remained in a trance.

In addition to their shared belief in the unseen world, Mesmer and Swedenborg also shared a number of other ideas. Both men believed that the human body was a microcosm of the universe, and that the laws of the universe could be applied to the human body. Both men also believed that the mind and body were closely connected, and that the mind could influence the body's health.

The story of Mesmer and Swedenborg is a tale of two visionaries whose ideas intertwined to shape the world of hypnosis and spiritualism. Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism provided a scientific basis for the practice of hypnosis, and Swedenborg's belief in the ability to communicate with angels and spirits provided a religious basis for the practice of spiritualism. The ideas of these two men continue to influence the way we think about the mind, the body, and the unseen world.

Mesmer and Swedenborg; Or, The Relation of the Developments of Mesmerism to the Doctrines and Disclosures of Swedenborg

by Hourly History

4 out of 5