What's the difference between hypnotism and mesmerism? I had thought that they were the same thing until recently. I have always been fascinated by the character of Franz Anton Mesmer and his healing hands, just how did he do it? Do we all have this power within us? One of my favourite authors is G I Gurdjieff and he mentions Mesmer quite a lot and gives him a big hurrah! As do I and I also give a big hurrah to Clare Mingins and her latest book on both these people and their rather similar views on animal magnetism.