Look into the eyes of Merrimack’s Dr. Dwight Damon whenever he is speaking about hypnotism and a sparkle will be detected – an inner glow ignited by his love of the subject of hypnosis.

He has a boundless enthusiasm and a lifelong fascination for the often-misunderstood practice of hypnotism, an induced state of heightened relaxation.

Now, Damon is going beyond one-on-one explanations. He is taking colleagues – and the curious – on a journey of discovery through his newly published book, “Hypnotic Recollections: The History of The Development of Hypnotism as a Separate and Distinct Profession in the 20th Century.”

The 186-page paperback soon will be available on Amazon and already can be obtained by mail order.

The “Hypnotic Recollections” book makes it easy for those intrigued by hypnotism to understand how it has evolved in this country from a stage-show novelty, quite popular during the days of vaudeville, to a respected modality employed today by highly credentialed, skilled professionals.

Damon, retired from a career in chiropractic and a lengthy hypnosis practice, is the president of the National Guild of Hypnotists, a not-for-profit organization of some 12,000 members in 73 countries. Most practice hypnosis or have a deep interest in the subject.

Damon recently said that today’s population of certified, professional hypnotists is “helping ordinary, everyday people with ordinary, everyday problems” in their personal lives, in the workplace, in athletics, academics and many other arenas.

“A consulting hypnotist can be of service throughout life,” Damon said. “I think of it as a ‘womb-to-tomb’ process. Hypnosis can make childbirth easier. Students can use it to calm exam jitters. And at an older age, hypnosis may help reduce stress and be of help in grief counseling.”

He credits his high esteem of hypnosis to Dr. Rexford L. North, a Boston teacher, showman, author and entrepreneur who originated a core curriculum for hypnosis certification and launched several periodicals for hypnosis professionals. In the late 1940s, Rexford founded the Boston Hypnotism Center and the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Damon was one of North’s students. He marvels that North, despite losing his hearing as the result of spinal meningitis, went on to become the world’s most famous proponent of professional hypnotism.

Today, Damon acknowledges North’s many contributions to solidly establishing consulting hypnosis as a profession. Damon’s book traces the history of hypnosis through contemporary times and illustrates the growth of the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Two Merrimack colleagues of Damon’s, Ed Morris and his wife Sharon Morris, were trained through the Guild and have had consulting practices for more than two decades. Ed Morris holds a double master’s degree in education and is an instructor for the Guild.

Sharon Morris is an officer in the hypnotist’s union, the National Federation of Hypnotists, Local 104, a subsidiary of the OPEIU, AFL/CIO/CLC. The OPEIU is the Office and Professional Employees International Union.

Ed Morris said even ancient civilizations used hypnosis. He was one of the first to read “Hypnotic Recollections” and said the book covers the most recent and most fascinating era of the science and philosophy of hypnosis.

“We laughingly call hypnosis a brand-new profession that’s over 3,000 years old,” said Ed Morris. “Dr. Damon has skillfully seized on the essentials and put them forward in a manner that’s simple and clear.”

Damon said facts imparted in the 32 easy-to-read chapters of “Hypnotic Recollections” are often intriguing and sure to fuel many lively conversations. Among the nuggets is a revelation about a popular Las Vegas headliner who credits hypnosis for much of his success. Another focuses on a hypnotist – and well-known ventriloquist – who in 1963 invented an artificial heart. Facts, anecdotes, vintage images, photos and historical data abound.

“The book was written right here in Merrimack,” Damon said. “In fact, I must commend my daughter, Melody Damon Bachand, for doing a fine job with the cover design, interior design and production. It’s been a thrill. I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life because I’ve never had a job I didn’t love.”

More information on the National Guild of Hypnotists can be had online: www.ngh.net. The book, “Hypnotic Recollections: The History of The Development of Hypnotism as a Separate and Distinct Profession in the 20th Century,” authored by Dr. Dwight F. Damon, can be ordered for $19.95 plus shipping and handling by calling the National Guild of Hypnotists at 429-9438.