Mesmerism
Mesmerism, a Nightsister ability, was fueled by spirit ichor. This ability empowered a shaman to dominate the minds of individuals with weaker wills, especially men and those from other planets. By simply touching the victim's forehead with a fingertip, the shaman could induce a trance, rendering the target unable to resist their orders.
Behind the scenes
The concept of Mesmerism originated with the 18th-century German physician Franz Mesmer. He proposed that all living entities, spanning humans, animals, and plants, possess an unseen natural force. Mesmer asserted that this energy could produce tangible effects, such as promoting healing (akin to the Force concept in the series). Although Mesmerism is now largely regarded as a pseudoscience in its initial form, it served as the foundation for the later development of hypnosis.