This article is also available in Italian: versione italiana.
What is personal magnetism
Have you ever met people whose mere proximity made you feel different?
Personal magnetism is one of the best qualities one can possess: an authentic expression of one’s inner presence. “Anyone who has met magnetic people knows it is an absolutely natural thing. You can naturally feel a magnetic person: there is a flow, a power.” When we face someone endowed with this quality, we immediately perceive an impact that goes far beyond words or conventional body language. It is a direct experience, difficult to translate into purely rational terms, but undeniable on a perceptual level.
The descriptions of those who experience this phenomenon are surprisingly uniform and focus on tangible physical sensations. “People say: I felt an effect, I felt a flow, I felt an impact… you can really feel an energy.” These testimonials confirm that magnetism operates on an immediate perceptual level, where energy and flow between individuals become the primary form of communication. Recognizing this naturalness is the first step toward abandoning the idea that magnetism is an esoteric faculty reserved for a chosen few, understanding instead that it is a potential inherent in human biology.
A mystery documented over the centuries
Personal magnetism is surrounded by an aura of mystery attested by centuries of literature, observations, and documented practices. As early as the Renaissance, Marsilio Ficino described the “spirits” passing through the gaze, a concept later taken up by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa di Nettesheim and subsequently by the magnetists of the 19th century. As the historian and sociologist Bertrand Méheust (EPHE) points out, animal magnetism produced a documented corpus larger than that preserved by official hypnology. In his work *Somnambulisme et médiumnité* (1999), Méheust highlights how the marginalization of these practices was not a true scientific refutation (“le procès en question n’a jamais eu lieu”, he writes in *Devenez savants*, 2004). Regarding traditional “magnetic passes“, Méheust himself admits: “Je l’ignore mais le processus est bien réel”.
Historical literature attributes great importance to the hygiene of the magnetizer, understood as rigorous discipline and care of one’s inner conditions. A hygiene that Dr. Paret summarizes with an ancient and wise warning: “All true, but without excess: est modus in rebus, as the Latins used to say.” The texts of the time emphasized how the magnetizer had to maintain a state of purity and concentration to avoid depleting their vital forces.
Magnetizing to heal is assisting with one’s own life, with one’s vital or magnetic fluid, the failing life of a suffering being. Hence the precautions the Magnetizer must take to avoid taking on, or giving himself the very illness he removes, etc.[1]
This historical view reminds us that magnetic action implied a total involvement of the person, where will and vital fluid were instruments of healing. The hygiene of life was considered essential to keep this inner power intact.
True asceticism consists in submitting to a discipline and in repressing disordered emotions, actions, and thoughts. Indeed, whoever is a slave to their own animal soul will practice vice even in a desert; whereas one controls oneself…[2]
Inner discipline was therefore the fundamental prerequisite to develop and maintain magnetism, a concept that remains central in the contemporary approaches of the ISI-CNV school.
The foundation is in the body: the neurology of magnetism
False confidence and true charisma
In the corporate and training world, magnetism is often confused with external attitudes of confidence or assertiveness. “Personal magnetism is born from within. In many corporate courses, they teach external attitudes that do not correspond to true inner charisma. And most of the self-confidence I see around is false confidence: true confidence relies on a strong parasympathetic base, it does not need action to exist — action naturally accompanies it. There is indeed a particular neurology.” True magnetic confidence is grounded in a state of neurovegetative calm, regaining a balance that needs no forcing or social masks to manifest.
The polyvagal theory and unconscious perception
This “particular neurology” finds solid support in the contemporary neuroscientific perspective, particularly in Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory. According to this perspective, a state of neurovegetative safety (parasympathetic) is unconsciously perceived by others through a complex network of non-verbal signals. Studies on eye contact (Hirsch 2017, Koike 2019) and interpersonal synchronization confirm the relevance of these physiological phenomena, although some subtler dynamics seem to require further investigation. “There is not just one element: the congruence of movement, slower breathing, and many others. But none alone is the signal: the signal is something our unconscious mind grasps. Perception occurs at the level of the unconscious mind.” Our nervous system is constantly engaged in a “neuroception” of safety or danger, and a person in a parasympathetic state is immediately perceived as a safe and attractive element in the social context.
The shift from thoughts to the body
The transformation of students approaching these practices occurs through a fundamental and immediate change of state. “It happens very simply: the person steps out of their thoughts — thoughts are barely magnetic — and enters their physical perception. Physical perception is much more magnetic.” Shifting attention from the discursive and anxious mind to the body allows access to that state of presence which generates true magnetism. Thoughts, especially those linked to worry or judgment, fragment attention and reduce personal impact; the body, on the other hand, when perceived in its totality, becomes a powerful vehicle for non-verbal communication.
How it is developed: the secret revealed
The development of personal magnetism is based on accessible principles, but it requires constant practice and a radical shift in perspective. The first secret to reveal concerns the immediate transfer of attention. “Step out of your thoughts and stay in your body: widen your gaze, pay attention to your sensations and your feet on the ground — you will already have greater magnetism.” This exercise, accessible to anyone at any time, instantly shifts the center of gravity from the mind to the body, activating that state of presence which is the foundation of every magnetic flow. Widening the gaze, in particular, stimulates peripheral vision, which neurologically is linked to the activation of the parasympathetic system and the reduction of stress.
The typical mistake that prevents the development of this quality is the excess of rational analysis during interactions. “Rather than thinking about the situation, try to be in the situation.” Being in the situation means abandoning the inner monologue, the constant evaluation of what to say or how to move, to open up to the direct perception of the present moment. When attention is totally absorbed by the current sensory experience, magnetism emerges spontaneously.
A practical exercise to start the day in a magnetic state is the following. “Open gaze, feel your feet planted on the ground, breathe in and stretch: your perception of the world already changes.” This simple physical sequence awakens body awareness, activates diaphragmatic breathing, and prepares the nervous system for social interactions with a foundation of calm and presence.
Magnetism in relationships
In relational dynamics, personal magnetism overturns the usual dynamics of power and persuasion. “When you start deciding to be more present, to increase your personal magnetism, in a negotiation you see that the other person is almost pushed to talk more, to try to convince you: it’s not you who wants to convince, it’s the other who tries to convince you. And if the other tries to convince you, you are already in a winning position.” Magnetic presence creates a perceptual vacuum that the interlocutor instinctively tries to fill, granting the magnetizer a position of active and powerful listening. It is not about imposing one’s will, but about becoming an anchoring point so solid that it naturally attracts the attention of others.
Historical magnetic literature confirms the central role of the gaze and will in the relationship of influence, elements that modern hypnotic fascination has taken up and systematized.
Once a person has been brought into a magnetic sleep, there is not always a need to resort to contact and passes to magnetize them again. The gaze of the magnetizer, his mere will, have the same influence on them.[3]
The will of the magnetizer. The will of the magnetizer seems to be the primary cause of the manifestation of the phenomena. The external signs are merely accessories. The first signs of magnetic action are: the blinking of the eyelids…[4]
These texts show how relational magnetic action is based on invisible yet powerful elements, where inner intention surpasses mere technique. “Whoever develops presence automatically develops personal magnetism as well; however, presence goes beyond magnetism, which is normally understood in connection with others.” Presence thus becomes the foundation upon which the skills of non-verbal hypnosis and gaze hypnosis are built, creating a deep connection that precedes verbal language.
From the masters to the school
Dr. Marco Paret’s ISI-CNV school is part of a historical tradition rooted in the masters of the past, combining ancient knowledge with modern methodologies. “One must start from there — from within — to develop power.” This principle, inherited from prominent figures such as Virgilio, Di Pisa, and de Giudicelli, guides the school’s entire educational approach. Magnetism is not considered an external addition or a behavioral trick, but a natural emergence of one’s inner self when it is aligned and disciplined.
Faced with various theoretical explanations of magnetism, the school’s approach remains profoundly pragmatic and experiential. “From a subjective point of view, it is good to act as if it were all these things together. If one wants to develop personal magnetism, it is good that they start from themselves.” Energetic, non-verbal, and neurophysiological explanations coexist in an epistemic pluralism that leaves the door open to research and direct experience. The ISI-CNV training paths integrate these visions, offering practical tools such as Mesmerismus®, to allow everyone to experience the reality of these phenomena firsthand.
Frequently asked questions
Can personal magnetism be lost?
“If you let yourself be taken over by thoughts, by worries, it is obvious that you lose personal magnetism.” Magnetism is a state of presence that requires body alignment and attention to the present moment; abandoning this state to take refuge in anxiety, memories, or inner dialogue immediately extinguishes the energetic and perceptual flow.
What is the difference between magnetism and self-confidence?
The self-confidence commonly taught in corporate courses is based on postures, tone of voice, and external attitudes, whereas magnetism is born from within. It relies on a strong foundation in the parasympathetic nervous system, generating a deep calm that does not need to force action to exist, but naturally accompanies it.
Are there scientific foundations for magnetism?
The parasympathetic foundation of charisma connects to Porges’ polyvagal theory and studies on interpersonal synchronization and eye contact. However, given the complexity and multidimensionality of the phenomenon, further investigation would be useful to explore all the documented perceptual and energetic dimensions.
Is magnetism a therapeutic practice?
The techniques and exercises described on this page are for educational and personal development purposes and do not replace in any way professional medical, psychological, or healthcare advice or treatment.
How long does it take to develop it?
The first step is immediate: by stepping out of thoughts and shifting attention to physical perception, to the feet on the ground and the open gaze, one already achieves greater magnetism. Stabilizing this state in daily life, on the other hand, requires constant practice to integrate presence into every action.
Future research and field experience open up fascinating scenarios on the deep nature of magnetism and human interactions. “People synchronize, almost telepathically: the moment a person works with this idea, it is as if intention becomes reality.” In this space of presence and body alignment, intention ceases to be a mere abstract thought to transform into a tangible, perceived, and shared reality by those around us. Personal magnetism thus reveals itself not only as a tool for communication or influence, but as a way to access a more authentic and connective dimension of human beings.
Can personal magnetism be used for health issues?
Personal magnetism is a relational quality and a tool for personal development. For health issues and pathologies, it is necessary to consult qualified healthcare professionals.
[1] Joly, Abbé, «Lettre de l’abbé Joly» (French). [2] Sabellicus, Jorg, «Iniziazione all’alta magia» (Italian). [3] Guidi, F., «Vérités magnétiques» (French). [4] Frere, M. l’Abbé, «Examen du magnétisme animal» (French).
Read also: Interview with Dr. Paret on personal magnetism — 15 questions and answers.
Further reading: Magnetic rapport: what it is, how it is created, and the secrets revealed.
Lascia un commento
Devi essere connesso per inviare un commento.