make the passes

present singular third person makes the passes · participle present making the passes · participle past made the passes · past made the passes

1. To perform a hypnotic technique involving running the hands over the head and body of the subject.

   […] he did not stop to think, but hastened to make the ‘passes’ as the technical phrase styles certain unmeaning motions of the hands and arms.

   1837, anonymous author, Means Without Living, Boston: Weeks, Jordan & Co., pages 37–38

   3 more examples

   Every man and woman, it appears, may magnetize; but the number susceptible of the magnetic influence is much more limited. Every one may make the “passes;” but some mysterious or unexplained condition is necessary in order to imbibe the mysterious fluid. One patient will go into magnetic sleep in a minute or two; another will resist for hours […]

   1838 July, “Animal Magnetism”, in Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume 5, number 55, page 460

   1901, Henry Abbey, “Veera” in Phaëthon, with three other stories in verse and a prose contention, Kingston, NY: Styles & Kiersted, p. 62, Her story done, the maiden begg’d of me To set out for my kingdom, with the dawn. “Not yet,” said I, “not yet,” and then I made The passes with my hands and fix’d my will To sway her will, till, with a questioning glance, She fell into a calm, Mesmeric sleep.

   At six, Dr Andrew came to the Raja’s room and, after a little cheerful talk, began to make the passes. In a few minutes the patient was in deep trance.

   1962, Aldous Huxley, chapter 8, in Island, London: Chatto & Windus, page 126