What is Charisma?

Background:

Charisma is the least understood verified human behavioral phenomena.


Charismatic people exist in all cultures, and this rare quality often leads to world-changing experiences that affect the arc of human history.    Charismatics engage other people at a layer of the human psyche that has very little in common with the real world.

I have learned that charisma is a relatively rare human trait.  It appears to be an inborn quality, and it is not easily taught or learned.  It is virtually unknown to science what causes this strange human attraction that seems to radiate from some people.

Some charismatics can control and focus this effect.  Derren Brown is a famous British "magician" who does no traditional magic at all - but he can buy expensive things with blank sheets of paper, and he can pick up a random ticket from the floor of a horse racing track and present it for hundreds of dollars of winnings.  His personality is simply that powerful.  Here is a link:  Derren Brown buying things with blank paper.

"There was a Master come unto the Earth.  Born in the Holy Land of Indiana, raised in the mystical hills East of Fort Wayne."  Richard Bach, 'Illusions'.

What is known about charisma?

I have studied charisma and mass human influence for over 40 years.  I have discovered that charisma is what we call someone who has the power to completely focus 100% of their attention on the people they are interacting with.  Often they do this without thought or apparent effort - it is woven into the fabric of who they are at the deepest level.  

This ability to fully focus attention appears to trigger an immediate and unexplained response within almost every person with whom they interact.  Very few people are recorded as immune to charisma.

Human beings respond dramatically to charismatics in person, in print, on TV and on the radio - and charismatics create and influence mass movements, create huge cultural and economic shifts, and quite simply change the lives of millions of human beings almost without effort.

Charisma has always been the great unknown.  Doctors, philosophers, scientists… not even psychiatrists and sociologists can explain charisma.  What human quality creates a Hitler, a Bill Clinton, a Che Guevarra or a Donald Trump?

Good people have it, like Ghandi... terrible people can have it too - like Hitler.  Who and what are these people?  Since charisma is very similar to hypnosis, it is important to learn what charisma is and how it works.

In other words, "What is charisma?" 

Let's look it up:

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cha·ris·ma                                                     From:  Wikipedia online

kəˈrizmə/

noun

                           1.  compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.

                   "she enchanted guests with her charisma"

                2. a divinely conferred power or talent. 

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That's it - two extremely vague statements that might as well read "We know it is real, but we have no idea at all what it is and what causes this universal phenomenon."

Interesting facts about charisma:  

The Bible is full of charismatics.  So is every other major religious text or oral tradition.  We need not argue whether Jesus or Buddha or Gandhi were divine - we are drawn to their words like moths to a flame.

There is a strong possibility charisma can outlive the life of the charismatic person.

Powerful charismatics can make almost anyone see, hear and experience things that are not real.  There is some evidence that points to either genuine paranormal (miracle) events or mass hallucination on an incredible scale.

Many charismatics live very ordinary lives - think of your favorite teacher, your favorite Aunt or special person.  It is quite possible they have significant charismatic qualities.